Tears of the Clueless

Dad

I woke slowly. The first thing I heard was voices. I could identify them.

"-says she's going to be fine." Jushiro.

"Thank god. She lost a lot of blood." Renji.

"Kurotsuchi took some to test." Jushiro.

"I wonder what it is about her blood that kills hollows so easily." Renji.

Then my sense of touch returned. A gentle hand was stroking my hair.

"I just wonder when she'll wake..." Oh, it's Jushiro.

"What is Miss Heitsu to you, lieutenant Abarai?" Byakuya?

"What? Why?"

"Answer the question. That's an order."

"Fine," Renji said, sounding annoyed. His large, warm hand landed on mine. "I... Like her... What about you?"

"I do as well," Byakuya said coolly, his just as large, cooler hand landing on my other one.

There was a lasting silence, only broken by my favorite person at the moment. "None of that now. You two can work that out later, when Ali isn't feeling unwell."

Thank you, Jushiro!

"Very well," said Byakuya.

"Fine," huffed Renji.

I sighed softly, twisting a bit. The hands released my own immediately and I brought mine to my eyes, rubbing them sleepily. I cracked open an eye. Jushiro was seated on the edge of my bed, his comforting hand settling on my forehead. Renji and Byakuya were on opposite sides of my bed.

"How are you feeling?" Jushiro asked, concerned. I thought up something to break the tension.

"Like a bad-A mofo," I answered, grinning stupidly. Jushiro chuckled, Renji laughed, and Byakuya even smirked.

"Good to hear," Jushiro said softly.

"What squad did I get?" I asked groggily, sitting up.

"Squad thirteen," Jushiro grinned. "Welcome to the squad, lieutenant."

"What?" I said, shocked. Byakuya and Renji looked just as surprised.

"Captain Ukitake, you haven't appointed a vice captain since...." Renji trailed off.

"Kaien Shiba," Jushiro said, nodding. "But something tells me he'd approve of Ali."

"T-Thank you, Jushiro!" I said, beaming. He smiled and pat my head.

"You earned it."

"Kuchiki-taicho, Abarai-fukutaicho!" Said a squad five Shinigami. "Kyoraku-taicho has sent important paper work to be done!"

"Very well," Byakuya said coolly, and the guy went away. Byakuya looked back at me, his gaze gentle. He took my hand and his lips ghosted against my knuckles. "I will see you around, Ali-fukutaicho."

And he stood, leaving the room before I could respond.

Renji glared at his back before looking at me, softly brushing his knuckles along my jaw. "I'll visit soon, Ali," he promised before exiting as well.

I sighed.

"Quite the dilemma," Jushiro said, smiling slightly.

"Yup," I sighed again, cheeks crimson. "What do I do, Jushiro?"

"I wish I knew," he said, giving me an apologetic look.

"I've never had this problem before," I moaned, putting my hands over my face. "Why can't everyone here hate me like when I was alive?"

"Because everyone here knows there's no reason to hate you," he said gently, beginning to stroke my hair again to sooth me. It worked, though very little. "Are you okay with being my second in command?"

Good, a change of subject.

"Yeah," I nodded. "I'm just a little worried about disappointing you..."

"Just do your best, and I'll never be disappointed in you," he said surely, smiling.

"Jushiro... Can I tell you something?"

"You're not going to say you have a crush on me, are you?" He teased.

I laughed, feeling better the more I talked to him. "No, I'm not."

"Then say away," he chuckled.

"Don't be freaked out, but... You're kind of like the father I wish I had," I admitted, embarrassed as I looked at the wall away from him.

"Why would I be freaked out by that?" He asked gently.

"Well... I'm kinda-"

"If you talk down on yourself, I'll hit you," he threatened.

"You wouldn't hit a cripple," I challenged playfully.

"Try me," he smiled innocently.

I laughed again. "Okay, fine. So, you don't mind...?"

"Of course not," he assured sincerely. "I wouldn't care if you called me 'dad' either. It'd actually be nice, to have a daughter," he hummed thoughtfully.

I blinked. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," he said, nodding.

"O-Okay... Dad..."

He and I shared a smile and I suddenly felt like a gargantuan weight had been lifted from my shoulders with that single, three letter word.

Dad.