Again

Part VI

The battle was unavoidable. They spent the last four months on preparations, however nothing could have really prepared them for the bloodiest battle in history. But they had courage, and they had faith. And maybe that helped them win? However the cost was enormous. Many shinigami died, and even more got badly injured. The 4th division had never had so much work before. They were doing their best, but it wasn’t possible to rescue everyone.


The smell of death surrounded her. She had seen a lot of blood in her life and watching dying people was nothing new to her, but this time even she felt shivers going down her spine. She’d never seen so many people screaming and moaning from pain at once. There were corpses covered in blood and those who were close to become ones. She was making her way through that horrific place only to find one particular person. If this person was even there.

“Unohana-san...” Yoruichi caught the 4th division captain “Where is Kisuke?”

“Come with me.” There was something in her voice which made Yoruichi worry. Even if she didn’t want to make her feel like that.

“Is he... is he alright? Just tell me the true. You don’t have to hide anything.”

“His injuries are very serious and his condition is not stable.” Hearing this Yoruichi seemed calm, but in fact she was terrified. Asking next question brought even more difficulties, but she had to know.

“Will he live?”

She didn’t get the answer immediately, which made her more nervous. Other woman was looking for the best way of explaining everything.

“I don’t know.” She replied at last. “This night will be decisive. If he’s strong enough, he will make it.”

“He is strong...” Yoruichi whispered before they reached their destination. She had to use all her strength to hold back tears. All the bandages and attached wires made it hard to recognise him. But it was him, lying unconscious and helpless. It hurt to watch him like that.

“I have to leave you alone, now.” Unohana returned to other patients. She had a plenty of work to do.

Yoruichi touched Kisuke’s hair lightly, than his face. She usually liked to watch him sleep, but now she couldn’t stand the thought that he may never wake up. She immediately stopped thinking about that. He had to live.


It was already evening, but Yoruichi didn’t come back home. She wanted to stay with Kisuke all night. Soi Fong had visited her, few minutes ago, asking if she needs something. Yoruichi told her to relax and focus on healing her own, fortunately not very serious, injuries. Later she had another guest.

“Will he recover?” Kurosaki Ichigo asked, also wearing a lot of bandages, but being able to stand on his own.

“No one knows.”

“He won’t give up so easily.” He wanted to cheer her up a bit, but she said nothing. “You know, Yoruichi-san, he told me something before the battle. He told me that he doesn’t do it for the world, but for you. That he doesn’t care what will happen to the world as long as you are safe.”

“He said that to you? So he was prepared for death.”

“What do you mean?”

“He normally wouldn’t say something like that. He rarely talked about his feelings.”

“Don’t use the past tens. He’s NOT dead!”

She wanted to change a topic. She wanted it badly.

“Do you know what is the situation in general?” She asked. “Who didn’t... have enough luck?” It wasn’t an easy question, but she needed to know.

Ichigo let out a sight. Difficult question, difficult answer.

“Marechiyo, Komamura, Hinamori, Nemu, Iba, Yumichika... they all got killed. I don’t know the others, but the number is huge.”

“Now you understand what the war means.”


The night came and Yoruichi was still sitting at Kisuke’s side. She tried not to fall asleep, even if it was difficult. She had nearly lost the battle with her own will, but than she heard moans. She looked at Kisuke and noticed that he was covered in sweat, his eyes and hands clenched, and he tried not to scream. She realised immediately that he had to be in a terrible pain.

“Kisuke!” She took him by the hand, and it was a moment when he opened his eyes and looked at her for a second. Than he closed them and screamed.

“Unohana-san! Unohana-san!” She panicked and started looking for help. She nearly collided with the other woman, when she was running.

“What happened?” Asked Unohana with a concern in her voice.

“Kisuke suffers! Quick!”

When they came back, his body was twisting in pain.

“I’ll give him some medicine, but it won’t help much.” Explained Unohana “Everything depends on the strength of his organism now.”

A minute later the noises stopped.

“He lost his consciousness. That’s good, he won’t feel the pain.” She noticed that Yoruichi looked very tired. “Maybe you should have some sleep? I have a spare bed.”

“No, it’s not necessary. I’m OK.”


The situation repeated itself several times. Kisuke was regaining consciousness for a few minutes, than losing it again. It was a hard time not only for him, but also for Yoruichi, and Unohana decided it’s high time for her (Yoruichi) to have some rest.

“I’ve already prepared a bed for you.” She said. “Come, I will guide you there.”

“I want to stay with him.”

“Don’t overdo it. It’s not good for your baby.”

Yoruichi gave up eventually and went to bed. She had horrible dreams that night, about Kisuke leaving her, about loneliness and coldness she felt. She woke up in the late morning, and shivered at the thought that Kisuke might have already...
She got out of the bed and ran to see him. When she noticed that he was still lying in the same place she took it as a good sign. If he had died, they wouldn’t have kept him there, would they?
She came closer and take a good look. He seemed so peaceful. She touched his cheek and he slowly opened his eyes. The joy she felt at that moment made her heart beat faster.

“How are you feeling?” She whispered.

“He is still to weak to speak, I’m afraid.” She noticed Unohana standing at the entrance. “But the worst is already the thing of the past.” The woman smiled.

“So he will be OK?”

“Yes, but he needs time to recover.”

Yoruichi was so happy that she wanted to jump, to laugh, to dance... everything. But instead of it she just asked another question:

“Is it possible to take him home? I have some medical knowledge. I can take care of him.”

“I think it’s possible. You know, Yoruichi-san, you’re a very brave woman. Not only as a warrior.”

“It’s not bravery. It’s responsibility.” She answered.