Log; Complete

[sciencedaughter.livejournal.com]

When; Sunday, October 08th, evening
Rating; PG
Characters; Nemu {sciencedaughter}, Hanatarou {oh_noes_hana}, & Hinamori {hajikemomo}
Summary; Nemu, injured, is rescued by Hinamori and taken to Hanatarou's for treatment.
Log;
Nemu looked around, trying to keep her eyes focused. She knew Hinamori was on her way, and she needed to be conscious. Looking down, she tightened her grip on her midsection. The long, straight wound ran from between her collarbone and down to her naval, a typical dissection wound. It had been stitched back together, but had begun bleeding again. Tilting her head back, Nemu tried to breathe evenly, deeply. She didn't know how she'd allowed this to happen. How she'd managed to be so careless. But she was alive... again. She had died. She knew she had. She'd felt the pulse slow, slow, until it stopped. And then there had been nothing until she'd woken in the back alley, no longer tied to the medical table. Alive. Dead. One of the two. Or both.

Hinamori frowned as Nemu's reiatsu fluctuated, dangerously close to losing all trace of the other vice captain. But she was gaining ground, and quickly, her shunpyo helping her close the distance between the two. She wasn't sure what she was expecting - Nemu had only mentioned that she couldn't move. Why that had sparked a sense of concern in the younger shinigami, she did not know, but she'd dashed out of the door without alerting the white-haired captain, a move she currently regretted. But she was sure he'd understand this.

She paused at the entrance to the alley, making sure it was indeed Nemu before she moved forward, frown deepening at the sight of blood - more of it the further she went until she reached the source. "Nemu..." she managed to breath as she exhaled sharply, horrified at the sight of the bleeding vice captain before her.”Ah, I'll get you to Hanatarou at once!"

"... I'm so sorry..." Nemu immediately apologized, continuing to clutch at the wound. It was no longer leaking blood steadily, but seeping. Her clothing had been returned to her, but the entire front was crusty with dried blood... among other things. "... I shouldn't have allowed this to happen." Her voice was soft, expecting to be lectured. If Mayuri-sama were here, she would be punished. No creation of his would be so careless, so weak. Unable to resist such an attack. She looked up, watching Hinamori. "... Please forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive! This isn't your fault!" She knelt down beside the older shinigami, gently moving her into a sitting position as carefully as she could. Concern was evident in her face as she bit her lower lip, doing her best not to further injure Nemu. "I'm going to lift you, okay? It's not that far too where everyone else is... Hanatarou-kun's waiting already, but we can take it slowly if you need." She made a mental note to stop by afterwards, to give Nemu clean clothes and some company. Perhaps that could have prevented this in the first place. Whatever this was, whatever it was that had gone on. Hinamori wasn't about to ask, not while Nemu still needed medical attention. She could wait for the answers, as long as the older girl was safe and taken care of first. That was what mattered.

"I should have predicted this." Nemu murmured, easing into the sitting position. "I should have been able to contact someone... not be so easily taken..." She pursed her lips, trying not to flinch. She would not accept that she was not to blame. It was the only obvious answer. She should have been more careful. More alert. More prepared. "... I can't even go back to Seireitei..."

She shook her head violently, exclaiming "Don't say that!" before Nemu had a chance to really utter the last few words. Hinamori wouldn't accept that. "I'll make sure. I'll get everyone out! Even you and Rangiku. I promise!" She frowned again, deep set conviction behind her eyes. She'd promised herself as much when Kira had arrived - determined not to be left behind as weak again. She'd told him she'd do everything she could to get everyone home, no matter what. It didn't matter what happened to her. She was the one that had wound up in a coma, after all. The one that had been stupid and foolish enough to want to believe in the image of a man she thought she knew...

But that was neither here nor there. She stood slowly, taking Nemu with her, trying to support the other girl’s weight as best she could. "It'll be okay..." It had to be. Hinamori refused to believe otherwise.

Nemu tried to put as much weight she could support on her feet, not wanting to make it hard on Hinamori. She kept one arm looped tightly around the smaller girl's neck, the other still clutching the long wound. "... You don't understand..." She whispered. "I was killed. The City, somehow, revived me." She walked slowly, carefully. "I hear that those who die here are unable to return to their homes..."

That frown just kept getting deeper. "But, there's a way to... to get around that. Ranigiku won't let me try but... The deities have exchanged life before." She tried to keep the pace slow for Nemu, afraid that using shunpyo would cause unneeded strain on the older girl. The building was just ahead, anyway. And it was only five floors up... And then Hanatarou would be there, and Hinamori's part would finish. And she'd have to go explain how she'd gotten blood on her robes to Hitsugaya. But that would come later. The first part was reaching the building.

"Exchange life...?" Nemu limped beside her, trying to keep the blood in her mouth and not let it leak from the corners of her mouth. "... I am not worthy of such a thing." Her gaze traveled to the building. She idly wondered if anyone had cleaned up the blood on the floor, the bones. Kimimaro, that was his name. His bones. And she needed to see that door replaced.

"You are." She smiled that smile - the Hinamori patented 'I promise to do whatever you want' smile that had so often calmed the fifth division’s recruits. "The problem is finding someone to exchange with." Hinamori had already been determined to try for Rangiku, to do what she could to let the blonde return. After all, she was the one that Hitsugaya turned to, the one at his side when he needed her. And Hinamori was captain less, probably about to be kicked out of the Gotei 13 too. If she didn't return, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. That was her thinking, anyway. "Um... I'm going to try something, okay? Just to keep you balanced better." Her free hand sought out Tobiume's hilt, and the small blossom haired girl appeared in front of its wielder, listening carefully to the unspoken commands Hinamori gave her.

"... zanpakutou." Nemu nodded, voice solemn. She... missed hers. She did not often carry it. Mayuri-sama would never allow it. But she did possess one, tucked within a velvet lined box in Mayuri-sama's study. She had to have one to become a ranked shinigami, to be a shinigami at all. And she had been wishing desperately to have it when she had been fighting. She then went silent, waiting to see what would happen.

"Ah, well.. This is all I can manage so far! Don't tell Hitsugaya-kun, but I'm trying to get my bankai..." Hinamori laughed nervously at that, as the small girl glided over to Nemu's other side, effortlessly maneuvering herself under her arm and lifting some of the weight off of the smaller shinigami. "She's kind of shy, too..." she murmured, still slowly walking towards the building. There was a hint of fondness behind the words though, the connection to the plum-blossom haired girl a deep seated one filled with understanding and a common desire to protect. Tobiume would always be loved, as long as Hinamori carried her. She was aware that

"... it is something very good to aspire to." Nemu murmured. "... Bankai." But the zanpakutou spirit was helping, and she had hardly any of her own weight on her feet, allowing her to concentrate more on the wound. "... Hanatarou is prepared?" She asked.

Hinamori was glad that Nemu didn't mind the small girl at her side. "He should be." She smiled again, doing her best to appear unbothered by the events. Not that leading a bloody vice captain was normal, but nothing in the City really was. She was just aware that she had been too late again, unable to prevent whatever had happened from occuring. Not that Hinamori could have been expected to, and she knew that. It wasn't like she had to be everywhere at once, helping everyone, but had she known, she certainly wouldn't have spent the time joking with Hitsugaya.

She would have been out there, looking for Nemu, instead of carrying her back now. What if's and if only's had been bothering her more and more recently, especially when it came to her own role. It was a bad habit. "I'm sure he's just wondering what's taking so long!"

"... thank you, Hinamori." Nemu spoke softly. "... I will not forget this." She was uncomfortable, now that she was standing the blood was running down from the wound. "And... I do hope you will forgive me."

They'd reached the building, at least. Opening the door was... Hinamori glanced at the manifested shikai form of Tobiume and was rewarded with a childish grin, the girl moving to open the door for them. "I already told you there's nothing to forgive... If anything you should forgive me for not being there sooner." She manouvered carefully, already wondering exactly how they were going to manage the stairs. Hinamori had nothing on her at hand, but... Oh, it didn't matter. She freed the vice captains badge, slipping the cloth part away and using it to wipe away some of the blood as best she could.

"You could never have known." Looking down at the wound she gave a slow nod. "... thank you, Hinamori." That was more comfortable. Getting in the door was a maneuver. "... I can walk, for the stairs. If you would please walk behind me." Nemu offered, letting go of the other vice-captain to stumble towards the stairs, managing to steady herself by clutching the wall. It was slow going, but constant, one foot in front of the other, able to get herself up the stairs with a minimum of pain.

She nodded slightly, hand reaching out to reclaim her blade, sheathing it before beginning the climb. Nemu was right, she couldn't have known. Wouldn't have even if she'd thought to look, since Hitsugaya had insisted they'd move... But it wasn't his fault, either. It was whoever had done it. She gritted her teeth, doing her best to control her emotions. That there was someone in the City capable of taking down a vice captain... Even an unarmed one, it was still something to be feared. The small shinigami followed slowly, watching Nemu carefully. She'd have said something it if had been Aizen, right? But that wasn't important, getting her healed was. A few more stairs, another door, and then Hanatarou would be there, ready to handle it. Just a bit more, Hinamori repeated to herself. Just a bit more.

"There we go." Nemu breathed, slowly pushing open the fifth level door and walked into the open hall. The fifth floor hall. She was only a level above, a level above was the blood and bone. "... thank you, Hinamori." She said again, walking carefully over to Hanatarou's door. "I'm sure you have more important matters to attend to."

"Ah, um.. Well..." She didn't, not really. And she did live there until the other day... It seemed rather unfair, to have not mentioned as such to everyone else and instead just disappear on them, but Hitsugaya had insisted... But Nemu seemed content to leave the rest to Hanatarou, and Hinamori wasn't sure she'd do much more than get in the way if she stayed. And she still had to figure out the quickest way of explaining her now bloodied robes to Hitsugaya. "Mm. As long as you're okay. I'll come by later to check on you, okay? And if there's anything i can do..." Hinamori smiled nervously, giving the older shinigami a small wave as she turned to leave. "..You know how to reach me," she finished, letting the door shut on it's own behind her.

"I do." Nemu nodded. "I'll have a report as soon as I recover, Hinamori." She gave the other girl one last look. "And thank you once more, Hinamori." And with that she knocked softly on Hanatarou's door.

Hanatarou threw open the door the moment he heard the soft knock, arms full of bandages and the various vials he had managed to find in the stores of the city. He gasped at the sight of her bloodied body, stunned she was even standing. But his training overcame his shock and worry and he quickly took her gently by the arm, leading her to a pallet he had already set up. "Please rest easily here, Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou... Before I start, can I get you something?" He held up a cup of warm tea, biting his lip with a frown. "It will take some of the pain away.."

Nemu followed Hanatarou's lead, easing down onto the pallet, moving slowly, carefully. It took her a few moments to get down, settling gently. Her hands reached out for the tea, cupping it to her, the warmth soothing her palms. "Thank you..." She murmured, noticing too late that it would smear blood over the cup. She sipped nonetheless, shifting to make herself more uncomfortable. The cut had been stitched, but had come open, the wound dipping from the collarbone down to naval. Several other wounds, all less serious, ran also across her body. All consistent with autopsy cuts.

The wounds weren't natural, weren't something a person would get from a fight. Slowly removing the remnants of her clothing and bandages, Hanatarou paled as he realized the exact nature of the wounds. These were wounds for dissection. Swallowing hard, he began to slowly clean away the dried blood, letting her rest and regain some strength from the tea before he tried any healing. She was too weak for anything too intense at the moment.

Hands trembling when they brushed a cruel stitch, he ventured a question. "What happened...?"

Nemu lay back, concentrating on keeping her breath stable. The stitches were well-done, but had come undone sometime when she had... been dead. "I was attacked two days ago." She began, eyes closing, slipping into her report. "Taken to an unknown location, where I was interrogated, examined, tortured, killed, and... dissected." She said it solidly, dissociating herself from it. "When I... revived, I was in an alley between buildings 11 and 10, where Hinamori-fukutaichou found me and brought me here."

Hanatarou's hands twitched again and he bit his lip to keep from saying anything. He wanted to know more, wanted to know who could do such a terrible thing to another person, but it wouldn't be right to question her now. She needed to focus her energy on healing. But looking at her body... He found his eyes stinging as he moved to wrap some of the wounds in white bandages. "You'll be okay.. I'll wrap these and then start healing.. and you'll be alright." He did not know much about her make up, the way her body had been constructed, but he knew enough to know how to heal. Her flesh was real, or real enough, to react to his abilities. "Does anyone else know?"

"I have informed Matsumoto-fukutaichou." She spoke softly. "I believe she will inform her captain. And I will have a report done the moment I am healed." Her eyes twitched, remembering something she did not wish to think about. Mayuri-sama usually used anesthesia when he experimented on her. ... But the man had wanted to test her pain tolerance. "... thank you, Hanatarou..." She suddenly said, eyes still closed.

"N... no, don't thank me ahha..." Shaking his head shyly, he refilled the cup of tea and pressed it gently into her hand. "I.. wish I could do more.." It was times like these he felt particularly worthless, when someone was hurt so badly and he could have done nothing to stop it. First Matsumoto-fukutaichou, and now Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou... Here, where they were so few and so spread out over the different divisions, he wished he could do more. "I will do.. all that I can but ah;.. You should take plenty of time to recover." He focused on the last bandage, wondering how damaged she was underneath those terrible wounds.

"You have done fine." Nemu reassured, propping herself on one arm to sip from the tea. The bandages already helped the feelings of pain and discomfort. Her inner organs were... intact. It was now only the stitched wounds that caused her problem. "I am sorry to have caused you trouble, having to requisition you like this."

"Aha, not at all. It's what I do.." He gave a slight smile, still bothered by the nature of her condition, but pleased at her strong spirit. "It's all I can do, ne.." Settling himself, he slowly drew up the energies he always stored for his healing, the small amount of power he did have welling up inside him. "Just relax... I'm not sure how long this will take, but I will be using some of your strength as well..."

"Very well..." Nemu set the tea cup down, relaxing her muscles and drawing her reiatsu up to the surface. "I'm sure you can do more than this, Hanatarou." She murmured, making idle conversation. "You are eighth seat, yes?" She asked. "I've heard Isane-fukutaichou speak highly of you."

"Uwah.. I ah..." Hanatarou felt himself blush, remembering Isane-fukutaichou's kind, energetic smile. A feeling of homesickness fell over him, remembering those he new in the 4th division. Remembering the feeling that, no matter what, that was his home. Sighing, he found his earlier resolve to help everyone get to home safe, and focused on the problem at hand.

"I just try my hardest.." he murmured before closing his eyes, feeling warmth grow from his fingers, reaching out to touch the wounded energies that suffered by her wounds and rebuild them.

"It's commendable." Nemu's voice was calm and stoically steady. She shuddered slightly at the feel of the healing, the feel of a chill passing through, followed by a warmth. The feel of nerves and cells knitting together with spirit energy. "... How long will I be out of commission?" She asked.

"I'm not sure.." he murmured, directing the new flesh to bridge the gap that the stitches held together, coaxing them to melt and become one in their natural way. The stitches proved a challenge and he frowned, focusing more energy, sending his touch deeper so that he could heal beneath the skin as well. There was damage all around, the wounded cells looking like black upon the light red of life in his minds eye. But with each wound, there was precision behind it. A purpose to each slice of the knife. Hanatarou shivered. "You should heal completely within a day or two, but your energy will be low for longer.."

"... Ah..." Nemu murmured, opening her eyes to stare at the ceiling. "... I see." Her fingers idly curled into a fist and relaxed, still confused as to the whole thing. "Should I return to my residence, or would you like me here for monitoring?" She twitched slightly at the feel of Hanatarou's reiatsu. "... Are you alright?" She asked also, detecting the shiver that ran down his body.

"Aha, I'm fine.." Hanatarou smiled slightly, eyes still closed as he continued the healing. His energy was wanning, but he held out a little longer, only pulling on her own spent energy at the very last to strengthen the new skin. It wasnt perfect, or complete, but her wounds were now hardly serious and not in much danger of opening again. That is, as long as she took it easy. "Ah.. I think.. okay." Opening his eyes with a little smile, he brushed hair out of his eyes and gingerly tested the wounds. "I think this should be okay.."

Nemu did not wince or flinch, nodding her head slowly as he tested the wounds. Craning her neck to view them herself, she drew nimble fingers across the light, different colored skin line the stitched wound had been. "Thank you, Hanatarou." She said, eyes half-lidded as she blocked memories, some of them still hazy and blurred from pain. "... would you like me to stay here?"

"Oh! Yes I think you should... " He stifled a yawn behind his hand, stretching his fingers as he made a last minute check of the bandages. "Tomorrow I can take out the stitches... ahh. So please rest here... " He crawled over to one of the beds and pulled a blanket from under it, bringing it back to cover her up gently. "You should sleep as much as you can... Is there.. ah; anything I can get you..?"

"No... I am fine." Nemu closed her eyes. She was wearier than she wanted to admit. Nestling in slightly, she felt herself drifting off, snapping open her eyes though when the memories came back. Her heart jumped, but she quickly calmed herself down. "... I will try to sleep..."

Hanatarou nodded, closing his eyes to focus his reiatsu again, this time to send a sense of peace through her. It was a simple thing, a trick he didnt use often because it made himself feel sleepy. But this time he didn't mind, checking the blanket around her before settling against a wall to watch in case she woke and needed something. Everything else could come later.