Previous: Recovery
When Tsukiro was finally able to drag himself off of the medical bed, using up the bulk of what energy he had, he shook his friend awake. Kairo had woke up confused, looking around with half lidded eyes. Then his eyes settled on Tsukiro. Safe to say, he had a mental breakdown. When he finally calmed down, Tsukiro asked him where Captain Ukitake was. He was not thrilled to hear the answer:
Out protecting Rukia Kuchiki from a hollow.
After that, Tsukiro changed out of the medical robes and into a new shihakusho that he found lain out for him. He assumed it was from Captain Unohana. He thanked her in his mind and stumbled out of the door. Kairo followed him.
"Where are you going? You should be in bed resting."
"While things are getting worse out there? No way in hell."
"But what can you do in your condition? Besides, I told you. Ukitake-taicho is busy. And I don't think you'd be much help in your state."
"I didn't say I was going to find Ukitake," Tsukiro grunted as he leaned against a wall to rest.
He hadn't felt the captain's sword pierce him. He was too shocked to feel the pain. But now it was as if his chest burned coldly. He could feel where the hole was because the edges of the wound, all throughout his chest, stung like thousands of icy needles piercing his flesh, lungs and heart. No matter how much hot, warm blood his heart pumped through his body, the cold ache wouldn't go away.
He groaned and slid down the wall to the floor. "Goddammit..." He clutched chest, face screwed up in pain.
"Tsukiro! Are you alright?! Come on. Just go back to bed, please?" Kairo begged his friend.
"No," Tsukiro protested, trying to force his body to stand up and stay up. "I can't just sit and sleep while people are in trouble."
"Then what are you going to do?"
He paused, then turned and gave Kairo a half-hearted grin. "I'll think of something. I always do."
Well, that's true... Kairo thought to himself. When Tsukiro was finally able to stand up again, Kairo sighed and stepped forward, grabbing one of Tsukiro's arms and placing it around his own neck and shoulders. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"
"Because I--"
"I know. Because you were born with Stealth Force in your blood." He shook his head. "It was a rhetorical question. I already knew the answer. You always say that."
Kairo helped Tsukiro make it to the front of the barracks and out the front door. The cool night air didn't help like Tsukiro thought it would. It just made it worse. He groaned in pain as his chest just got colder and tighter and fell to the ground, out of Kairo's grasp. Kairo knelt beside him.
"Urrgh. Dammit, Captain. What were you thinking? Were you thinking at all?"
"Well, it is sort of like a double mission. Maybe he had to stab you. You know, so it wouldn't look like he was on our side. He has to obey whatever orders he's given so his cover stays solid."
Tsukiro looked at Kairo with a face that said, "I wish you hadn't have told me that." Yet he knew Kairo was right. Hitsugaya was just doing his job. Over thinking his actions would only make Tsukiro loose sleep over it.
"I give up..."
"What?!"
"Relax, Kai. I only meant that I give up trying to understand my captain." Tsukiro looked up at the night sky to find that the moon was full and directly above him. "I'm a cat trying to understand the mind of a dragon. Two completely different beings."
"But you both have ice zanpakuto, so that speaks to something, doesn't it?"
"Fool," Tsukiro closed his eyes. "That only speaks to our hearts and personalities, not our minds."
Kairo was silent as he studied Tsukiro, laid out on his back, one arm over his stomach, eyes closed. He almost looked peaceful. "Have you visited Lady Kaori lately?"
Tsukiro's eyes snapped open at the mention of his "fiancee." "No. I haven't been back there since the Academy."
"You should go back and visit soon. I'm sure she'll want to see you." Kairo tilted his head. "Or were you hoping she'd give up on you and marry someone else."
"No. I wouldn't want to give her up to anyone else. I don't trust anyone else but myself to take care of her."
"Do you love her?"
"... I don't know..."
"I think you do."
"Kairo," Tsukiro warned, closing his eyes again.
"You act like you do. And besides, you two would do great as rulers of--"
"Kairo, shut up. I haven't even decided if I will take over for Sensei or not."
"...."
"... Do you want to marry her?"
The young but strong, dark-haired, rounded face of Kaori Shihoin appeared behind his eye lids. She was beautiful. He did care about her. She was next in line after Yoruichi Shihoin disappeared. However, Tsukiro...
"It would be in the best interest of both of us..."
"But?" Kairo added.
"But I have to get my priorities straight before I make a decision like that."
They both were silent for a long time, Tsukiro still laying on the ground and Kairo sitting cross-legged next to him.
"Kairo?"
"Yeah?"
"What should I do next? After all this, I mean?"
Kairo looked at Tsukiro. His eyes were open again and confused. "I think you should go home and rest. I'll head back to my own barracks too, and when he gets back, I'll tell Captain Ukitake that you wanted to talk to him.
"Back 'home,' where I just got stabbed by my own captain?"
"There's always your room back inside these barracks."
Tsukiro sat up, with some help from Kairo. "Not a chance."
"Or you could wait in my room."
Tsukiro paused. "But Kotaishi is back in my room at the Tenth barracks."
"I'll drop you off at my room at the Thirteenth then go to your room for it."
"Sounds like a plan."
It took too long for Tsukiro to get his balance, so Kairo shunpo'ed them both to the Squad Thirteen barracks.
Part 10: Stupid Decision
