A/N: I'm back. Sorry about the 3 year wait, but I had a lot of stuff to deal with in my life. I am posting this chapter to see if anyone is still following this story, but I might just end the story after this chapter. I have a few more chapters written, but I don't know if I can dedicate any time to writing, editing, and posting. If I do continue, don't expect regular updates. I have two toddlers who demand almost all of my attention, every day. So without further ado….

Disclaimer:I do NOT own Bleach, or any of the characters.

Chapter Nine

Inoue arrived thirty minutes after we had arrived. She apologized and then got right to work healing Sayuri-or trying to anyway.

"What do you mean 'it's not working'?" I demanded for the third time since she had started.

"Exactly that," Inoue told me. "I have tried several times now, but I can't reject the damage done. Her reiatsu can't be restored by me. I'm sorry, Hitsugaya-taicho."

I looked at Urahara and Ukitake, wondering what to do now.

"Perhaps you should take her back to the Soul Society," Urahara suggested after a few moments. "Unohana-taicho might be able to heal her. And there is more reishi in Soul Society than there is here. She'll heal faster there anyway."

"But…I can't just leave my team," I objected. "Could you take her Ukitake-taicho? She is under your custody."

"Well she has graduated from the academy and is now in your squad, and therefore is now your responsibility," Ukitake said. "Besides, I don't think that there would be a problem with you taking a wounded division member to the Fourth. Leave Matsumoto-fukutaicho in charge or even Abarai-taicho."

"I'll be coming as well Hitsugaya-taicho," Kuchiki said. "I'm going to escort Ichigo to the Soul Society, now that he is dead and all."

"Okay, then let's go," I said.

I kneeled down and gently picked Sayuri up, carrying her in my arms. I noticed that she was very light and despite the fact that we were the same height, she was easy to carry. I was looking at her face, thinking about how peaceful she looked, when Kurosaki entered the room.

"So are we going now?" he asked and I looked up quickly.

"Yes," I replied. I allowed Kuchiki to open the Senkaimon and then followed her through, Kurosaki walking behind me.

When we arrived in Soul Society, I left Kuchiki and Kurosaki and went to the Fourth Division. Thankfully I ran into Unohana as soon as I entered the division's gate. She took one look at Sayuri and led me to a private room.

"Please place her on the bed," Unohana instructed and I did so. "What happened?"

"She was fighting a Hollow and used up all of her spirit power," I explained. "Are you aware of her…past?"

"Yes, Jyuushiro had me examine her when she first came to the Seireitei. So she used up both the Hollows reiatsu and her own?"

"Urahara-san thinks so. Inoue Orihime attempted to use her Souten Kisshun, but it didn't work."

"Then there is nothing that can be done," Unohana said. "She will wake up when she wants to. As to whether or not she will get her spirit power back, we will have to wait and see."

I looked down at the floor, sighing softly. 'I failed…again,' I thought.

(You have not failed.) Hyourinmaru told me. (She will come back, as will Hinamori Momo. Be patient, young one.)

So now you don't care if I like Sayuri? I asked him.

(…I cannot stop you. You are free to choose whom you will love and whom you will not love.)

Glad I have your approval now. My response was as bitterly sarcastic as I could make it and then I ignored the dragon.

He was so irritating sometimes, not giving me straight answers, going against me in some choices. And he was supposed to be an extension of my soul?

I told Unohana that I would be in Momo's room, and to call me if Sayuri's condition changed. As I walked I thought about the battle. What if I had gotten there just a little bit later? Or if I had chosen to let someone else help Sayuri and Tanaka?

(You wouldn't have let anyone else help the girl.) Hyourinmaru said. I didn't answer so he continued. (You didn't realize it, but from the moment you reached the battle field, you had been watching her. That was also when I realized that no matter what I did or said, you would never stop loving her.)

I had reached Momo's room by then and I went in and sat next to her bed. She was still sleeping; the chart said that she hadn't moved in over two weeks. I had to wonder what the chances of her being healthy when she finally woke were. She had been unconscious for nearly three years now, although she had woken up briefly, as though from dreams every now and then.

I had been here more than once when that happened. She would be sleeping peacefully and I would just be sitting next to her, sometimes telling her about my day, when she would suddenly bolt up and scream. Sometimes she would scream Aizen's name, sometimes mine. But then she would become hysterical and need to be sedated, or she would just pass out again. I never got to talk to her and hear her answer me or even call me 'Shiro-chan'.

"Please wake up Momo," I whispered as I grabbed her hand. "I miss you. I need you here, I'm so confused and you are my best friend-my sister. I would even let you call me 'Shiro-chan' as often as you wanted. If only you would just wake up. Please Momo, for me."

At that moment a Hell Butterfly flew into the room and I held out my hand for it to land on.

"Attention all captains, please report to the First Division Meeting Room. All captains to the First Division, immediately."

"Now what?" I wondered out loud as I stood up.

I left Momo's room and met up with Unohana as she left Sayuri's room.

"What could this possibly be about?" I asked her.

"I'm not sure," the medical Shinigami answered me. "We will have to wait to see."

When we arrived we found that all the other captains, except for Abarai and Ukitake, who had remained at Urahara's, had arrived. Kuchiki, as the lieutenant of the 13th Division, was standing in Ukitake's place. And standing in Abarai's place was the third seat, Zhou Jun, a young girl with black hair tied back in a low ponytail.

Unohana and I took our places just as Yamamoto closed the door. I looked up at the head captain and noticed that Kurosaki was standing beside him. 'So that's what this is about,' I thought. I wondered what the head captain was going to do.

"This meeting is to discuss the placement of Kurosaki Ichigo as an official Shinigami," Yamamoto-taicho announced. "But first, I would like to hear Hitsugaya-taicho's report on his mission in the Living World."

I stepped forward and turned my head to look at the old man. "The mission is going well. We have discovered that there was a human leaking spirit power, but that problem has been dealt with. Just recently we fought against some Hollows, one of whom was a Vasto Lordes. He was defeated but one member of my team was badly injured and is currently in the Fourth Division."

"I see," the soutaicho said. "Very well then. You may return to you place, Hitsugaya-taicho."

I bowed slightly before stepping back to stand between Kyouraku and Kurotsuchi. I noticed that the scientist was watching me out of the corner of his eye. I looked back, my eyes narrowed.

"Now, I have decided that because Kurosaki-san is of captain level," Yamamoto was saying, "but has no experience leading a squad or any formal schooling, he shall be placed as a lieutenant under Hisagi of the Ninth Division. Is that understood Hisagi-taicho?"

"Yes Head Captain," Hisagi replied.

"Do the other captains agree to this?"

"Hold on a minute," Kurosaki interrupted. "Don't I get a say in this? What if I don't want to be that guy's lieutenant?"

"Ichigo!" Rukia yelled, stepping forward. "Shut up!"

"Be quiet boy!" Yamamoto said, banging his staff on the floor. "You should be grateful that I am even allowing you to join the Gotei 13 without sending you to the Academy first."

Kurosaki looked sheepish for a moment, before bowing his head and muttering an apology. The rest of us captains then agreed to the placement of the former substitute as a lieutenant. Yamamoto then dismissed us.

"Unohana-taicho, how was Sayu-Tsukino when you left?" I asked as I left the meeting hall with the 4th Division captain. "Have you been able to do anything?"

"She was still unconscious when I left," Unohana replied. "I'm sorry, Toshiro-kun. I don't know if there is anything that I can do for her. She has no detectable amount of spirit power left."

"You…You're not going to give up are you?"

"No, of course not. I can see that she means a lot to you. You should head back to your division and get some rest. I will let you know if there are any changes."

"Thank you very much," I said, bowing.

As I straightened up, I noticed that Kurotsuchi was standing behind Unohana, only a few feet away. Close enough to have heard the entire conversation. I narrowed my eyes at him as Unohana left. The creepy captain just smirked and turned away.

"Oi, Toshiro!"

"That's Hitsugaya-taicho to you, Kurosaki-fukutaicho," I said before turning around.

The orange haired idiot and Kuchiki stood just behind me.

"How's Tsukino-san?" Kuchiki asked and I told them what Unohana had told me.

"Wow," Kurosaki murmured. "Well I hope she gets better soon."

"Kurosaki!" Hisagi yelled from across the courtyard.

"Oh great, guess I have to go now. I wonder if Hisagi will let me go back with ya'll?"

I shrugged just as he ran off to his captain. Kuchiki then politely excused herself as well, saying she was going to go see her brother. I told her that we would probably head back to the living world tomorrow before I too left.

Instead of going back to the 4th Division, I returned to the tenth. I needed to see if my third seat had been keeping up with the paper work and if I needed to fill out or sign anything. As I walked through the division grounds to the office I received a few greetings. I just nodded in return, not slowing my pace any.

I reached the office just as my third seat, Takeda Kimiko was exiting, a stack of papers in her hands.

"Oh, taicho, I had heard you were back," she said, trying to bow.

"Just for a day or so," I replied. "Are you going to turn those in?"

"Yes, and there are some on your desk that need your signature."

"I'll take care of them tonight. You don't have to return here after you turn those in," I said.

"Are you sure?" Takeda asked.

"Yes."

Then I went into the office, closing the door behind me. I looked at the small stack of papers on my desk and then headed to the couch. I sank into the familiar comfort and let out a sigh. A little nap wouldn't hurt; I was exhausted, physically and emotionally. So I lay down and closed my eyes.

~~~OOOoooOOO~~~

I was awakened by the sound of a knock on the door. I sat up quickly and went to answer it. Yamada Hanataro was standing out there and bowed when I opened the door.

"Unohana-taicho requests that you come to the division immediately," the boy said.

"What's wrong? Is it Tsukino or Hinamori?" I demanded.

"I apologize but I don't know. If you will please come with me-"

I shunpoed away before he could finish his sentence. I couldn't help but be concerned, but it was hard to tell who I was more concerned about: Momo or Sayuri. I had known Momo longer but Sayuri's situation was possibly graver.

When I reached the 4th, I found Unohana waiting for me at the front gate.

"What's wrong?" I demanded.

"Someone tried to break into Tsukino-chan's room," Unohana told me. "Follow me."

She led me into the division and then into the main hospital. We walked down the halls to Sayuri's room, where two Shinigami were standing at the door. Unohana nodded to them and they let us pass. Inside Kotetsu-fukutaicho was standing next to Sayuri's bed.

"How is she?" Unohana asked her lieutenant.

"Her condition is the same," Kotetsu replied. "Whoever broke in didn't do any damage to her."

"I think I know who tried to break in," I told them.

"Who?"

I shook my head, indicating that I wouldn't tell them just yet, then said, "Let me set up a trap in case the person comes back, which I am sure he will."

"Of course," Unohana replied. "Do you need me or my division to do anything?"

"No, just do what you would normally do. I am going to set some kido barriers around the room, inside and out. Make sure your squad members know about them."

The taicho and fukutaicho nodded and then I left them to get to work. I was sure that Kurotsuchi was the one who had broken in and I was sure he would come back. I placed the barriers mostly around the windows and the outside of the room. I did place some in the hall and at the door to the room just in case though. Being a captain, he could come and go as he pleased.

Once I was satisfied with my work, I found Unohana in her office and informed her of all that I had done. I had placed the barriers so that they would not accidently be set off. She told me that I could stay in one of the empty rooms nearby.

~~~OOOoooOOO~~~

The rest of the night had passed without interruption; it seemed that Kurotsuchi wanted to wait until we weren't waiting for him to come back. I had gone back to my division to catch up on the paperwork. I was just putting my signature on the last page when there was a knock on my door.

"Enter."

The door slid open and Kurotsuchi-taicho walked in, closing the door behind him. I immediately stood up.

"Can I help you?" I demanded.

"I just wanted to know how your subordinate was doing. I heard that she was injured in the World of the Living," the taicho said.

"She is doing just fine, thank you," I replied tensely. "Although I don't see why you should be concerned about one who isn't in your own division."

"I was merely curious," he smirked before going to the door. He paused and looked back, saying, "I also wanted to let you know that you have something that belongs to me and I will eventually get it back."

With that he turned and left the room. As soon as the door closed it opened again. This time it was Kurosaki and Kuchiki that were at the door. They bowed before entering.

"What can I do for you?" I asked them.

"We were just wondering when we would be returning to the Living World," Kuchiki replied. "Ichigo has been given permission to rejoin us."

"We won't be going back today; something has happened and I need to stay here."

"What's wrong? Is it Sayuri?" Kurosaki asked.

"Yes. Someone tried to break into her room in the Fourth Division last night. I have set up kido barriers that will alert me if it should happen again. I believe I know who the culprit is, but I want to catch him in the act so that I can have the proof I need."

"I understand, taicho," Kuchiki said. "Would you like us to remain here and assist you or return to the Living World?"

"You may do as you wish, although I would appreciate the help," I replied.

"Then we will stay here."

"Thank you."

~~~OOOoooOOO~~~

The days passed and it had already been a week since we returned to Seireitei before anything happened again. It was late at night and I was in a spare room in the 4th Division when the alarms went off. I jumped out of bed and ran down the hall to Sayuri's room. Kuchiki and Kurosaki were already at the door.

I took down the barrier blocking the door and we rushed into the room. Kurotsuchi was at the window with Sayuri in his arms. He held his zanpakuto to her throat.

"Let her go," I snarled, drawing Hyourinmaru.

"She is of no use to you anymore," Kurotsuchi replied. "She has lost all of her reiatsu and will never regain it. Since she is my experiment, she belongs to me and I need to dispose of her because she is a failed experiment."

"She is not an experiment!" I yelled. "She belongs to no one! Let her go!"

Before anyone could react I leaped at the man, my sword raised. Kurotsuchi quickly moved his sword to block my attack. He still held Sayuri in his right arm.

"You will let her go right now," I demanded.

Without answering, the man slashed at me with his sword. I easily blocked and then counterattacked. We kept at it for several minutes before I finally managed to pin him to the wall, my zanpakuto at his throat.

"Release her," I ordered, my arm reaching towards her.

He did so and I caught her easily. Kuchiki then bound Kurotsuchi with kido and took his sword from him. I sheathed Hyourinmaru and then repositioned Sayuri so that she was supported by both my arms before carrying her back to the bed where Unohana was already standing.

After a quick exam, Unohana announced, "She is unharmed."

"Good," I sighed, relieved. "We will take Kurotsuchi to the Second Division and then return."

Kurosaki grabbed Kurotsuchi and pulled him along as I led the way. Kuchiki brought up the rear. The walk was quick, partially because the 4th and 2nd were so close to each other. I went to Soi Fon-taicho's quarters and knocked on her door. She opened the door looking less than pleased.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"I have someone who needs to be contained," I replied.

She looked past me and then asked, "What's going on Captain Hitsugaya? What did Captain Kurotsuchi do to be arrested? "

"He broke into the Fourth Division and attempted to kidnap and kill a member of my squad, who was there recovering from injuries. I believe he is also responsible for those injuries, indirectly."

"Take him to a cell and I will question him in the morning," she said.

We did as told and then returned to Sayuri's room.

"So Kurotsuchi-taicho wanted to kill Tsukino-chan because she was an experiment?" Kuchiki asked as I sank into a chair next to Sayuri's bed.

"I think he has been trying to ever since she graduated from the academy," I replied. "I'm almost positive that those Hollows we encountered in the Living World were other experiments of his; he must have sent them to capture her. I did hear one of the Hollows say something about taking her with it."

"I always thought that man was weird," Kurosaki said.

"I will have to recall Matsumoto and the other's in the morning. Karakura should be safe for now."

~~~OOOoooOOO~~~