It seemed that not all too terribly long ago, Mai was just in her office cleaning off the carnage chaos had wrought upon it. There was a pseudo-argument, between her and her father – a joke. And then concern. Then the chase.

Oh, the chase! She lost him in the chase! Well, it wasn't a chase, not really; she was the lead and he was the follow. And perhaps, in all her hastiness, with all the papers flying every which way and the shinigami falling every other which way, she had managed to thoroughly evade her father, for the first time in her life. If concern wasn't the forethought in her mind, Mai would have been quite proud of herself. But no, the initial panic of her father's frequency of physicals occluded any other emotion.

Tanaka Mai: the embodiment of a one-track mind.

Upon her arrival at Harupia's empty office, she had finally stopped and turned around to wait for her father's uncharacteristically late arrival, and wound up party to the horror of her concerned charge: papers, people and aperpetual panic parting the perambulatory processes of day-to-day functions – the speed with which she walk had disrupted the flow of the workplace, and rather badly at that.

With the lack of her father's white head, it was also purely panic inducing. She had made such a mess, lost her father, and managed to worm herself into a fairly large amount of paperwork. Mai stayed late that night, shame-faced on the inside, and cleaned up. All in all, it was a good thing; odds are that when she got home, as she still lived with her father, a family discussion would take place.

And many of the family discussions between father and daughter ended in shouting matches (although that was mostly due to each of them trying to talk above the other; since that one incident almost fifty years ago, neither had really wanted to go for another bout).

Ever since, Mai had been avoiding Malik. She had taken more shifts, swapped rounds, and even volunteered to do odd and mostly unwelcome tasks. Needless to say, she was very well aware that her father, always proactive, would no doubt make an attempt to seek her out. Maybe she should move her office to a new room and somehow manage to convince the entire division that she was still in the current one. Or, she could just find a closet and hide somewhere. After all, the sheer embarrassment was enough to justify hiding forever, if not to crawl in a hole and die somewhere.

Unfortunately, while the move would be worth her while (she was half-tempted to box up her things and leave her slovenly mates behind), she couldn’t without permission, not after the incident. With a heavy sigh, Mai put the last file in its proper place and sank into her chair. Her back bowed slightly as she shifted forward, putting her elbows on the clean surface of the desk. She dropped her head into her hands, pressing them against her cheekbones with the first two digits of either hand tracing the arch of her eyebrows, and closed her eyes.

She continued this small facial massage for a few short, but glorious, minutes before regrettably pulling away and correcting her posture. Resigned to sucking it up, as the kids say, and remaining in this particular monstrosity of a combined workspace, she started the tedious task of charting. A rustling of fabric caught her attention while still on the first folder, and with a quick glimpse out the door, the number of shinigami in the hall signaled a change in shifts; true to form, her “mates” were on their way in, and she on her way to the main area. Oh, these second shifts were going to be the death of her. Luckily, the afternoon shifts never seemed to have any action, so maybe she could just find some filing cabinet somewhere to organize.....

[bgcolor=000000]And so it was, the Soutaichou of the Gotei Five was pretty much carried into the Second Division. While one member of the third was keeping his wounded leg elevated and one each found themselves under his arm, while he was hopping on his unwounded leg in a comical attempt to walk in himself. "I'm fine really. I can walk under my own power." He insisted as he was brought into the front doors, of course they had no part of it and continued to half carry half drag Malik into the emergency ward.

He really didn't see the fuss, it was only a little cut. Well, maybe not so little but still. He was fine, really!

Soon enough he was brought to a one of the beds that the injured were told to lay upon, which he did with only the slightest bit of a fight. Then his leg was elevated on several cushions in an attempt to keep him from losing much more blood. He didn't understand the fuss, most of the serious bleeding had already stopped. Though he would be lying if he stated he wasn't feeling a little light-headed. As the trio went on their way, looking for a medic, Malik managed to snatch one and pointed at him with a serious look in his eye.

"My daughters are not to find out about this, understood?" The man nodded. Malik eased back and laid down. He felt contempt for a moment, but then a most dreaded thought occurred to him.

Everyone is going to know about this..

"I bet is hard to stay put on such a hot day, but don't worry. Just two more day's at most and you'll be out running with your friends outside, haha. Just don't try jumping of rocks so high again, will you? Air walking isn't something easy to do...though I'm sure you ll make a great Shinigami once you grow up!" Harupia said with a grin, ruffling the young boy's hair a bit before walking away. An example of hos child's play can leave you in a bad state...the boy's fall was so unfortunate his knee was almost completely shattered... It took quite a bit of time to heal up, even with his expertise...but he would be fine. Letting out a soft sigh, he walked away and out of the child's ward. Whenever he didn't need to be doing paper's, he would walk around the different ward's to see how the patients were doing. He liked the kids a lot, they weren't as intimidated by him being a captain...most of them anyways.

As he walked on by, he heard on of his staff call out to him. As he stopped and the Shinigami approached, he found out that none other then the Soutaicho had been brought up here, with a seriously injured leg. Hmm, Malika Tanaka...his leader, the man behind it all... even after all these year's, he couldn't help but to feel like the small boy when him and his father were sitting around, talking about grownup stuff, and him trying to eavesdrop...though the sentiment had been a bit weakened after his last visit... He had heard about the chaos created when he met with his daughter Mai...granted, it was mostly her doing, but Malik could be seen as the catalyst...either way, it was quite an explosive visit.

All these musings went on his head as he made his way to the emergency ward, and once he found the 1st captain propped on the bed, his injured leg carefully elevated, he gave a small whistle as he said "Well now...got to carried away in training, Tanak-Taicho? Or did another wild chase after Mai end even worse then the last one?" he asked with a soft chuckle, while his hands glided quickly over the injured leg, the healing Reiatsu already being put to use, to stop any immediate bleeding coming from the leg.

The rushing of people drew the young woman's attention as she approached the lobby; before she could ask what all the commotion was about, the loud drone of whispers suddenly dropped as she came into full line of sight. One such whisper, however, managed to reach her ears before the whisperer managed to clamp his mouth shut so hard that those next to him winced from the sound of tooth slamming against tooth.

A very slight narrowing of the eyes signalling her suspicion, Mai once more resumed her trek through the tense crowd. Astute eyes, no doubt enhanced and employed by that suspicion, soon spotted a not-so-faint crimson trail, congealing in the dry atmosphere. Then it all made sense, the silent whispering, the uncomfortable awkwardness: someone related to her was here, and not in a good way.

Without increasing her pace, she tersely navigated the crowd, keeping an eye on the trail. As she moved, she pulled a small strip of cloth from within her obi and set upon the task of pulling her mane of white back into a slightly more sterile do: off her face and up in a neat bun with the strip holding it all together tightly. No doubt the taichou would be there, as he was wont to making his rounds at this time of day, she recalled. She paused outside the doorway where the trail had stopped, collected herself, and knocked twice, loud enough to draw attention to the sound.

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[bgcolor=000000]Waiting patiently, the Soutaicho twiddled his thumbs waiting to see which medical official would tend to him. All the while he looked this way and that he saw people looking his way and whispering to one another before wandering off to someone else, pointing in his general direction and yet again the whispers. "Yep, everyone's going to know before dusk.." Still he kept on smiling.

Eventually he was taken into a smaller more private room. Some people were quite considerate after all and like before he was plopped into a bed and had his leg lifted up. Thanking them for their hospitality he watched them leave only to see the Taicho of the Division himself walk in. He shot him a grin. "Well hello there son, how're you doing?"

And then he started healing him, without so much as a word of warning.

He nearly jumped out of the bed, his arms flailing a tad as he yelped. Sure, he was being healed but all things that were good for you either hurt or tasted terrible. In his mind this was no different. "Dear spirits man, warn someone!" These kids, they'll be the death of me! Calming down a bit he rubbed his nose and took a breath before answering the Taicho's question. "Training no, nothing with Mai either." He paused and thought his answer over quickly, he had been pondering what he would say when asked but nothing seemed to be fitting. He didn't want people knowing what had transgressed after all. So! Instead he unleashed the terrible lie.

"I was putting up a bookshelf in my office and the stool I was standing on broke a leg. I tumbled and fell upon one of my clay pots, you know the ones I have my plants in. Well it shattered and cut my leg quite badly." Hey, maybe it wasn't so bad after all. Although that wouldn't explain his 3rd Division escorts... Oh well that would be addressed later.

Knock, knock

Malik's gaze toward the door and then back to Harupia. To the door, then back to him again. A pause, followed by a grin. "Are you going to get that or should I?"

SPOILER: Click to show

Edit for a typo e,,e

Fingers drummed along the arm of the chair Ume patiently sat upon, whilst the other hand's fingers helped pry open a book. Her left leg crossed over the right, whilst the adjacent left foot began tapping the air; and slowly, with time, she began to lazily slouch. Her hair hardly obscured her face, but the book opened out in front of her seemed to accomplish that. Once those pumpkin-colored oculars gazed at the writing contained within the pages, it was difficult to get them to avert elsewhere. Still, it was quite the normal thing to do: read whilst awaiting to be summoned for a routine physical. There was an odd air around her. She couldn't help but feel something was amiss...

That, or she hadn't quite grasped the situation around her.

In fact, Ume was rather oblivious at the moment: the emergency at hand, the chaos and whispers coming from each and every soul within the divisions' medical ward. All she knew was that the female would be waiting for a while, so she brought a new book to busy herself with considering the 'severity' of her appointment. Maybe if she just took a quick glimpse around, would she realize the ongoings!

But no. The frivolous romance between a man and woman obviously took priority to Ume.

Some probably realized there was a Taichou in the waiting room of the medical ward, but that was of no concern to her! Maybe she was too short for them to notice, anyway! Besides, they had more pressing matters to fret about, right?

Harupia gave Malik a small smile getting ready to answer his question...that is until the Taicho didn't try to do a flip out of the bed, or something of that sort, once he went down to heal his leg. He always forgot about how uncomfortable the Captain got during his checkup's...something he didn't quite understand. Then again, his father was a doctor, it would be weird to be frightened of them...

Anyhow, one Malik calmed down and told him to give him a warning next time, Haru let out a small laugh as he said "My apologies Taicho, Its just I hardly ever have anyone react so....lively to Chiyudo treatment, at least by my hands. As for you own question, I am doing well. Not that huge of a crowd, which is a pretty good ting considering the nature of my job", he finished with another chuckle. While he liked helping people, he felt best knowing that those outside of the 2nd Division were doing well, for the most part.


As Malik explained just what exactly happened, he couldn't help but to rise his eyebrow at the elder Taicho. As he worked on patching up the bleeding completely he said "Well, that must have been an EXTREMELY unlucky fall then..Though it was pretty lucky that some other Shinigami were close by to help...otherwise the bleeding could get a bit out of hand...". His men did mentioned he was carried in by members of the 3rd Division, which was...a bit far away from the 1st as far as he remembered. But he wasn't here to pry, but to heal, after all.

After a bit more he said "But now it should all be fine...I managed to seal up all the wounds...though you did lose quite a bit of blood, so I'm afraid we'll have to lay low for a bit before you can get up...erm, Tanaka-Taicho. Apologies, I get a bit informal when treating people" he said with another chuckle, pulling his hands away from the captains leg. As the knock was heard, and Malik asked about who was going to open it, he blinked a bit before grinning in a slightly goofy manner himself "Well, like I said, you shouldn't be standing up for a bit..." before he walked towards the door to the private room.

Sliding the door to the side, enough to reveal his own form behind them, but not enough for someone to see what was behind him without trying to look past a bit, he exclaimed "Ahh, Mai, nice to see you...I'm about to finish treating a patient here, was a bit of a sudden case...is there anything I'm needed for elsewhere?
" before turning his head slightly to see how would Malik react to hearing it was his daughter behind the door. Seeing how relucent he was to be brought into the ward in the first place, he assumed he didn't want to let more people know about his injury if not necessary. Besides, him and Mai could get rather...volatile when they were in near vicinity. While it was amusing to imagine it happen, he wasn't sure if the 2nd Division would survive another chase like last time.

Frowning on the inside, Mai patiently waited for someone to come to the door. She could only hear muffled voices, which left her unable to discern the owners and fed her increasing concern; that was quite a bit of blood, after all. She began fidgeting, a simple touch from the pad of her thumbs to the tips of her fingers; this anxiety, triggered by the conclusion she posited on the way down the corridor, grew with each passing moment she waited. Time crawled by, so it seemed, in that aggravating way it often did when its subjects were awaiting important news.

When the door opened, Mai ceased her analog-esque taptaptaptaping by clasping her hands behind her back, which squared her shoulders and straightened her back, giving her the very air of a soldier at attention - common for the populace, though a sight seldom seen within the private rooms of the medical division and her inhabitants. In this manner she addressed her superior, speaking succinctly and clearly: "Hitoshi-taichou-sama, do you need assistance?"

She did notice Harupia's oblique glance, her eyes following the direction of his despite her intentions (though it was polite to maintain steady eye-contact during dialogue should a justification be required). A brief mask of dreaded concern flitted over her face at the glance, cementing her conclusion; the whispering and glances in the tense room, the blood, the anonymity, the suspicion. What did her father get into this time?

Mai's one-track mindset prevented her from entertaining other scenarios, though a nagging buzz fluttered about her chest. A bleary sensation of hope, dulled to near-extuinguishment by the adrenaline of familial concern, that it was not, in fact, her father, but some other poor, unfortunate being mangled in some fashion. Or even a woman going into labor, though why the taichou would do that by himself escaped the buzz, and why he didn't just answer through the door instead of torturing the heartstrings of a poor, young maiden?!

"There is a great deal of...somewhat-controled...commotion..." she began when her eyes met Harupia's once again, "in Reception." She didn't outright attempt to barge in -- she stayed in her position -- but she did attempt to maneuver herself into the situation via persuasion...or a sneaky passive-aggressive way of saying: hurry up, you're needed to reign in the chaos this patient (presumably my father) created; also I need to make sure he's not maimed in any particular fashion. "There is a rather obvious trail of blood."

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[bgcolor=000000]"Well I wouldn't react so wildly if you warned me now and then. What happened to 'Now this might sting a bit', or 'you may feel a warming sensation.'? Aren't you doctors famous for subtle warnings before treatments?" He questioned, arching a brow while a smirk crossed his features. Oh pleasant conversation, how he loved it so~ "And that is good to know, I would hate to have pulled so many fine workers away from their duties just because of a little tumble."

He watched as the Captain continued his work, his eyes drifting back to the door. Was it common for him to leave someone hanging for so long? Upon the announcement that Harupia had finished mending his leg, Malik looked bewildered at the man. "That was awfully quick, don't you think?" He was no expert one healing practices, but he did know wounds and the one he had received from Kurisuna's blade was a pretty bad one. Such a thing shouldn't have been mended so quickly.

At least so he thought.

He watched from his seat as the resident Captain moved toward the door and slipped it open. And immediately his eyes widened as he heard a name mentioned. Bags.. Fidgeting a bit forward so he could hear better he suddenly yelped as a shot of pain shot up his right arm. He had forgotten all about the wound that appendage had suffered, more than likely because it was rather minor in comparison to the one upon his leg. Cursing himself softly he let out a heavy sigh.

The cat was out of the bag.

"It's okay, Hitoshi-Taicho. She can come in if that isn't against some kind of protocol. She was bound to find out one way or another regardless."

Harupia didn't really have much of a chance to respond to Malik's words before he stepped towards the door, and in between healing the leg. Of course the captains surprise was somewhat justified...perhaps he had addressed the wound incorrectly. Well, that would be death with once he would return. He also realized his quick turn of the head also wasn't the smoothest maneuver, but as he mentioned, the case was sudden, so it wasn't all that out of line to keep tab's on a patient even while talking to someone else. This was a hospital, not a tea for two. Ha sometimes let his manners slip during work.

Hearing Malik speak up, noting the painful yelp which came from his mouth, he nodded as he gave his permission and stepped back, allowing her entry to the room as he said "A bit of assistance is never a bad thing...after all, with one of you pined down, we might avoid any further damage to the facility" he said with a chuckle, before extending his hand to the side in a welcoming manner before Mai and saying "I sent for someone to clean the bloodstain's on the floor, and as for the commotion, as I said, all of this happened rather quickly. If everyone wont calm down till were done here, Ill sort it all out" he finished with a reassuring smile, before he walked back to the Soutaicho, hopefully Mai with him.

As he approached the bed ridden Tanaka, he said "Perhaps I used a bad choice of words before Malik-san. I was finished with all the bleeding, so you could safely rest without losing any more...but now its time to look deeper into the problem...Mai, can you start working on the injured leg? Ill see if there is anything else that was hurt in the fall" giving a pointed look towards the Soutaicho, showing he didn't appreciate him not sharing all his wounds with him. True, he never asked, but with how badly his leg was wounded he assumed that was the only issue. Maybe he was a bit tired...making silly mistakes like that. Either way, having a partner would most likely help now. Approaching the upper body of Malik he said "Sorry for the lack of warning before Taicho, I was simply in the rush of the moment, hehe. Now, it might sting a bit once I come into a sore place, but Ill be as careful as I can be" before his hands moved to gently touch the men's arm, the first thing he would imagine damaged after a fall from the stool. Assuming he missed the hurting arm, he would gently poke around his chest, trying to find any sort of hurt spot...of course if there would be other signs like blood or anything like that, he would omit that step.

As all of that went on, a rather grumpy looking, lower rank member of the Division was marching through the hall's, carrying a bucket of water and a rag, having been designated towards wiping out all the blood from the floor caused by the commotion. Cursing his luck, looking for any sort of distraction...BAH GAWD CAPTAIN HARUPIA?!. The surprise of the young medic was only mental, though he did step back as he saw the white Haori...though closer inspection showed it was clearly not that of his captain. Gulping a bit, but deciding that making sure the book reading Shinigami didn't waste to much of her time he said "Erm, are you waiting for Satoshi-San, Taicho?" before bowing his head down in respect, and also in fear of some form of retaliation. Her wanting to see the captain was the best thing he could think of. Besides, he really didn't want to scrub the floor's

As the 'audience' resumed their chatter about the current dilemma, Ume resumed her reading; her orange eyes moving back and forth as she scanned the pages of that romance novel. As she probably would have assumed, if she weren't so aloof, the larger situation at hand allowed her to go unnoticed, even though there were likely people sitting beside her in the other chairs. Still, Ume was totally concentrated on her novel, except of course when a member of the second division approached her. 

"Erm, are you waiting for Satoshi-San, Taicho?" The irritated yet seemingly nervous male asked, causing Ume to slam her book shut - mainly because she didn't want him to see what she was reading, and she thought she was being summoned for her appointment. Thankfully, he didn't see her blush, due to the black cloth obscuring the lower portion of her face.

"Time for my appointment already, eh? Must be a pretty vacant day here at the hospital. Oh well, onward! Ume completely blew off his question, since she was in her own little world when he asked the question. She was really dense right now; maybe due to a lack of sleep, or just too entranced by the novel she was currently reading. The short woman jumped up from her chair, placing the book within a pocket, before finally glancing around. She rubbed the nape of her neck with her left hand, the other appendage resting upon its adjacent hip. "Wow, or maybe a busy day. Did something happen?" She asked, willing and able to talk and walk at the same time toward any free room. She had yet to notice the blood on the floor...

Nodding, she followed Harupia in the room, frowning somewhat at her father's condition (and conveniently ignoring the jibe at the chaos the family was wont to generate); what had he gotten himself into? At the foot of the bed, she rolled her sleeves up and circled slightly, surveying the wound. Her Taichou had done the outer repairs, but by judging from the blood on and around Malik, there was a bit left to fix.

Following Harupia's suit, she gently poked and prodded around the smoothed skin, feeling for any sort of twitch or other sign of tenderness; upon finding one, her delicate hands would stretch out and hover over the area. Reiatsu gathered at her palms and slowly began to spread over the leg, the healing energy sinking in deep to begin the necessary repairs.


[sry, got all jumbled with the change in the post order x.x]

[bgcolor=000000]Well wasn't this a pleasing situation. Neither of the good doctors had so much spoke to him, aside from giving him a warning. He was just a hunk of bleeding meat on a bed.

How utterly depressing.

Frowning as the healing began, well aware to not flail this time least he kick his daughter in the mouth he cocked his right brow up a half inch and his frowning face turned seemingly dark. Not violent, no no. Just annoyed. Yes, a dark annoyance. "Well hello to you too, sweetling. I'm your father, Malik. Perhaps we've met before?"

Kids today, honestly. Can't even say hello to their pops when he's hurt. To shame, to shame!

Harupia did focus on his work, as at this point he felt a bit awkward to talk really. Especially with how Malik's features darkened. He wasn't sure if his little jib about the "chase" caused that in some manner... he was trying to handle the situation lightly, though in honesty he wasn't sure just what the situation was...he just knew from experience its better to resolve them sooner then later.

In an attempt to ligthen the mood a bit, while continuing to poke around his arm and torso gently as he said " We would save some silly prodding if you mentioned any other pain's you might feel Malik-san...I did catch you wince when Mai came to the door's, so no hiding now. Sorry for doing this all quick and...well, automatically. I sometimes just drone out when a more serious case comes in and there is not time for pleasantries...and your entrance did make it look like a rather big deal" he finished, letting out a soft laugh, not commenting on Mai's silence. He didn't want to get himself involved in their family matters...at least not by intrusion.

In the meantime, the poor ole unseated chap had been ignored, the Captain heading of on her own accord. Was she appointed with Hitoshi-Taicho? Wait...did he say Satoshi? DAMN IT! He wasn't even sure if there was a guy named like that...and even if, he had no idea about his appointments...Still, he had some time to distract her as she asked about the commotion...though he didn't really know much, but he guessed he would say what he knew. Gulping a bit he followed her saying "Erm, I'm not exactly sure what...but one of the other Taicho had been brought to us on short notice, rather heavily wounded...Erm, Taicho-san, now that I think of it, I don't think Satoshi-san is available for any appointments today..." he concluded, hoping he wouldn't get punished because of all this.

By now, Ume was engaged in the conversation between the lowly Shinigami and herself, looking back to speak with him as she took charge and walked along. She seemed rather sad, hearing the news of a comrade gravely injured -- a captain at that. To her, this either meant that he or she injured themselves against a strong hollow, another captain, or perhaps they were nuts and inflicted self pain. She shrugged, assuming it was one of those options, since it wouldn't make sense for someone strong to lose to something weaker. Then again, there are those underdog folk who rise up to the occasion... but now she was just going off on a tangent.

"Well, then maybe I can be of some assistance to this situation... Apply some pressure to stop the bleeding, you know?" She looked back again, which proved to be a rather silly mistake...

Seeing as the male hadn't completely removed the blood off the floor, or perhaps didn't dry the surface, Ume slipped and fell, sliding a little bit down into the hallway with a loud 'oomph'! The trail of blood no doubtfully covered the clothes against her backside, and likely her hands as she tried to prop herself up and back to a standing position. Luckily, the mask shielded some of her face, but she could feel the heat of embarrassment rising to those pale cheeks. She laughed anxiously, glancing around to see if anyone beside the unseated Shinigami noticed. Still chuckling, she dismissed any help with a wave of her hands, "I'm fine, I'm fine! Don't worry about me!" Her orange orbs now focused on the trail of blood leading to an occupied room, coming to the conclusion that the Captain would be within those closed doors. That would probably be her next destination.

Safely positioned behind Harupia, and out of his direct line of sight, Mai shot an equally dark look over her shoulder to her father; a scathing comment died on her lips, as this was not the time or place for such things, not with one's boss standing directly in the line of fire. Or to the boss of one's boss, even if he was one's father. However, in line with her glare, she pressed into the healing wound on Malik's leg with a sudden surge of reiatsu, a sort of non-verbal warning to can it. She didn't bother him like that at work (well, not since she outgrew her child of terror days), so he shouldn't bother her. How very rude!

Shortly, beads of sweat began to form on her furrowed brow, a combination of both her concentration on staying silent and maintaining the constant stream of healing energies. While she was capable of such an ability, she was not wholly practiced in the art, and the effect of her inexperience was gradually beginning to show. She stood her ground, mentally grit her teeth, and soldiered on, determined to see this through until the very end.

[bgcolor=000000]And no response. Not so much as a grunt. At least not a verbal one. He was about to respond to Harupia, let him know it was most alright, judging from the amount of blood he had lost he knew he was in dire straights one way or another and knew haste was required. However, instead he simply yelped and shot Mai a dirty look.

She did that on purpose!! He thought, a scowl edging itself onto his face. The hubris!! Oh, she would be getting a talking to later, you bet'cha. Were she still a child he would be threatening her with a wooden spoon over her bottom, but as she wasn't... A cuff to the back of the head would have to suffice.

Adjusting himself, ever so slightly so not to interfere with those working on him (though one seemed to take more pleasure in further inflicting harm than helping him recover) he washed the scowl from his face and smiled as nicely as he could possibly muster at the Division's Captain. "No problem at all Taicho, I understand. I'm getting rather clumsy in my old age it would seem and hurt myself quite badly. As a result I am forced to do as you bid and accept a lack of some pleasantries.

"However," he added raising his uninjured hand, extending a single finger straight up as to add to the fact he was about to make a point. "Some bedside manner would still be nice. Perhaps you should start teaching your younger members in the practice." He jerked his head in Mai's direction ever so slightly and continued. "Couldn't hurt."

Though he figured what she'd do next would. He really didn't think that through all the way until after he said it. Sometimes words were just as bad as actions.

Harupia blinked a bit as Malik yelped again, as he still didn't seem to manage and feel out any bruises on his arm. He noticed that he shot his daughter a pretty mean look, and as he turned his head towards Mai he noticed her face wasn't all that pleasant as well. Hmm...he wasn't sure just what happened, but he assumed that some slight foul play could have been involved.

As Malik turned his scowl into a smile and spoke first about his predicament, then about manner's, he would cross his hands hands on his chest saying "Well, I do hope that potentially saving you life, and at the very least your leg, will be enough compensation for the initial lack of manner's, hehe. Trust me that I make sure every member of the Division treat's their patients with respect and care...I haven't had any complaints in a while, but if you have any them I'm here to listen" his tone growing a bit more serious by then end. He was i the middle of his work here, and this butting of head's weren't really doing anything good. So that was a subtle way to tell both the Captain and Mai to calm down, at least till the captain was treated. Not waiting to see if his attempt at subtlety was noticed, he would turn to Mai asking " How is the treatment going?" being prepared to take it away from her hands. It was a rather heavy wound, and while promising, she still would need some time to handle wounds like these.

IN the meantime, the distressed seated member was digging himself deeper into the hole. As he wanted to say her assistance wouldn't be truly needed, the Captain had gone and slipped on one of the blood stains. Great...two injured Captains in a row, one of them being pretty much his fault...just great. Rushing to her side as she stood up, dropping his rag and bucket, and would try to help her stand up saying "A-re you sure Taicho-san? Even if your not hurt, maybe you would like to wash yourself? I can lead you to the restrooms..." wanting to do his best and not have her entering the room, but not really having the guts to actually grab a hold of her and lead her away. His only hope was that she really, really liked to be clean.

Ume didn't necessarily ward off the help of the young unseated Shinigami, but she didn't seem to welcome it either. It was as if she didn't notice his intention to also help her up somehow: seemingly akin to one obliviously giving the cold shoulder. 'Wiping the dust' from her clothes, even though the floor was likely sterile and clean - beside the sangria-hued biohazard littering the floor, which was all smeared on her back - Ume simply shook her head.

The young-looking female did like to be clean, yes, but when something probably caught her attention like this, since she was usually one lost in her own head and the clouds, Ume still wanted to know who was behind the door; and what better way to investigate now! Heck, she was covered in the soul's blood! What did she know of disturbing another patient's meeting anyway, right?

"Perhaps it's best I just take a peek, maybe to address my own situation; since I don't really know the extent or contents of this blood." The woman with the fabric over her lower face muttered to herself as she walked toward the door; clenched hand and bloody knuckles tapping moderately against the door. 

She'd kindly wait, hoping to perhaps not disturb anything serious going on in there...

... Well, she could always lie and say she got lost, but then again, she was never the type to do so. Hell, did she know what she was doing?

Absolutely not.

"Some beside manner would still be nice. Perhaps you should start teaching your younger members in the practice."

A subtle stiffening of the shoulders, a disruption in the flow of the reiatsu; were this any other patient, Mai would have been solely absorbed in the task at hand and ignore the banter between physician and patient, but as the current patient was her father, she couldn't. A shame, really, since he was being so obtuse and trying to distract her from her duties with his comments. She merely waited, waiting for a moment she could interject without interrupting.

"If you'll excuse me," she all but purred, "I must bandage this wound, Tanaka-Soutaichou. I have healed all I can, you must do the rest on --

"Shall I get that, Hitoshi-taichou?" She asked as the knock sounded through the room. As she asked, she turned her upper body toward him, unintentionally trembling slightly from the exertion healing the wound (and holding in what she really wanted to say to her father). The knocking provided just the moment she needed to address her father, but only if she had a moment with the man herself; she couldn't do that if she was answering the door, now could she?

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[bgcolor=000000]The sudden realization that his candid attempt at lightening the mood by being amusing had failed terribly dawned upon him. Both Harupia and Mai took his latter comment to heart it seemed, what a bother. Clearly he needed to work on his teasing abilities, they had grown quite lax! Shaking his head he forced a chuckle. "You both are too serious! It's not like this is a matter of life and death, is it?" The question at the end, while meant to add to the fact that he was only kidding may have been unnecessarily cruel, considering the amount of blood he had lost it could have very been that were he any later in arriving.

Mai was addressing the issue of his leg, stating she would need to bandage it up when a knock came at the door. Lovely, more visitors! Let's make this a grand party! Harupia simply waved Mai's comment and left Malik's side to answer the door, to find Ume standing on the other side. Malik, having spotted her shot her a smile and waved her in. "Lady Ume! How lovely to see you, I don't suppose you brought anything to eat?" Harupia simply shook his head, and stepped out of the way. No point in arguing the point now was there?

"I'm going to go get something to disinfect the Soutaicho's wounds, Mai would you please begin work on his arm once you finish work on the leg please start the healing process on his arm." And with that, Harupia slipped out the door past Ume.

Suddenly alone in a room with two women, one of which was from his own loins and another a fearless warrior whom kept them safe from the horrors beyond the Rukongai, Malik suddenly felt very much at peace.. And terrified all at the same time. Strange sensation really. "Hm.." He cupped his hands over his mouth and began to whisper softly, a purple and black glow would fill those hands and a moment later he would open them wide to unleash the tiny black butterfly out into the world. "Just letting some of my officers know where I am and that I'll be needing a hand back to my office.

"So, Ume-Taicho.. About that food?"

SPOILER: Click to show

Haru requested I give him a temp exit until he gets back from his trip, this way we can all continue on with the thread without interuption

Ume was answered by Harupia-Taichou, whom had opened the door enough for him to temporarily dismiss himself from the situation, while providing enough of an opening for Malik-Taichou to notice who it was. Luckily, he was in a rather good mood and invited her in; to which Ume nodded profusely as she slipped inside, quietly closing the door behind her. She wasn't exactly fond of being called 'Lady Ume', so she exclaimed respectfully, "Please, call me Ume, Tanaka-Soutaichou." She paused as she simultaneously removed her haori and twirled to show him her backside, revealing the blood stains that obviously came from him. "Unfortunately, no... I did bring back some of your blood, though... Might have fallen on the way in." She chuckled nervously, obviously embarrassed as she ran her left hand against the nape of her neck in a scratching motion.

She did a quick scan of the room and noticed a young woman with practically the same features and looks as Malik, and Ume did a quick double take with her head, cocking it from one soul to another. She might as well put her thought out there! "You two look related..." She then crossed her arms and waited for a response, nodding to his explanation for sending out those butterflies.

Then she was asked about the food, and Ume looked slightly confused. "Do you want me to go get you something with sugar... Or are you joking, sir?" She tilted her head, loose strands of purple hair falling slightly in her face.

"Hai, Hitoshi-taichou," Mai said, dipping her head in a slight bow as she received her orders. Disinfectant was important, after all, and Malik would need quite a bit of it. And to think, she had gathered up the last of what was in the room just now to bandage up her father's leg. With a slight sigh, she glanced over her shoulder as Harupia passed, then quickly turned to look her father in the eye.

She advanced on him quickly, lowering her face to mere inches from his for the sake of privacy. "I am too afraid for my father's health," she whispered quickly, "to properly address him, despite his insinuations and childlike demeanor in the face of death!" She drew back, unrolling the bandages and setting on the table by his injured leg as the other Captain walked in. "Humor may work for you, Soutaicho-sama, but it does not alleviate anxiety for others," she stated matter-of-factly, aware of another set of eyes.

She acknowledged Ume with a small bow of the head, and gestured to one of the few chairs in the room. "When you're ready, Tachibana-Taichou, please have a seat; unfortunately Tanaka Soutaicho-sama is the priority and Hitoshi-Taicho has stepped out for a moment." A cursory glance, along with a verbal history announced on her way in, would indicate that not much was wrong, though falling on one's posterior was quite painful.

As Ume and Malik made their smalltalk, Mai focused her attention on bandaging the leg. While Harupia had rolled up the fabric of Malik's hakama, it was sodden with his blood and would ruin the purpose of the bandage. Unceremoniously, she draped a towel over her father's pelvis, a gesture indicating her desire to protect some of their joint dignity. "I am going to remove the damaged portion of your Hakama," she warned. "Do not flinch." As she spoke, she drew the shears from beneath the table, a rather small and unimposing, but ohsosharp, silver instrument.

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(Entrance from here)

Hood up, Chie meandered over to the 2nd division, all to aware that orders were orders, and she would pay dearly if it was discovered that she disobeyed them. Having escaped Kurisuna's office unscathed was a blessing in itself, so she knew she ought not to tempt fate any further today.

Going into the correct lobby, Chie peered about for a moment as she stepped inside of the building. She knew the layout of the division adequately, having stayed there herself for some time, though in a different area. Writhing her hands together in a moment of nervous agony, as the room was bustling with people (oh how she hated crowds), Chie looked for someone to address, one that could point her in the correct direction.

As she looked, she wondered to herself how long it had been since she had really any interaction with her remaining family members. She was sure to see her father today, but would she see her sister as well? Somehow, she expected it. Mai tended to be in the thick of things, when there was any manner of duress in the family, Mai was there, as a party or a witness to it.

Hand writing, lip chewing...Chie wished to just disappear into her hood and from sight, ah she hated, hated crowds.

[bgcolor=000000]He smiled at Ume, though only at first as she replied the removal of the haori and the smear of his blood upon it soured his mood a bit. "A terrible pity, I'm sorry Lady Ume. Please make sure to send my office the bill for the new fabric if you are unable to get that one cleaned." To Malik, a Haori was more than a simple piece of clothing, it was a symbol a symbol of the Gotei. A symbol of the struggle they as a people had faced and overcome. To see one soiled, upset Malik quite greatly. However such things did happen, at times it was quite unavoidable depending on one's profession.

As she continued to go on, she commented on the fact that Mai looked like a relation to him. It had then occurred to him, that he had never actually introduced his children to many of the higher ups out there, Kurisuna aside due to how often they used to be with one another. "Why yes, we are." He stole a glance at Mai whom was business as usual strutting about getting this and that. "Mai here, is my youngest daughter, she inherited my charming good looks and personality~"

And then Mai advanced upon him.

Suddenly everything had turned quite serious again and as she went on to explain what exactly had to be done he tensed up. Why normally removal of such attire wouldn't really bother him, this was his daughter after all, plus Ume was in the room. People would most certainly talk then. That would not do! Clearly his throat and adjusting the towel that was laid atop him he shot Ume a look, which consisted of a grin and a wink and then turned back to Mai. "I don't suppose you could just cut above the soiled area, surely complete removal isn't necessary."

Then, seemingly out of no where the shears appeared. He gulped, and if possible even paled a little. Beads of sweat began to form upon his brow and as he went to speak again his voice cracked. "Suddenly I'm not very hungry.."

Ok...so he managed to come off as stiff before the Soutaicho, tell Mai to work on the arm twice, and didn't greet one of the other fellow Taicho's...he wasn't sure what made him so edgy, but he guessed the trip to acquire some disinfection would serve him for the best...maybe the fact the Soutaicho was brought in wounded and was being tended by a family member which he seemed to have a...volatile relationship with was weighing on his mind more then he thought. But the stroll helped him relax a bit,and he had all the needed supplies to clean up the wounds, so all should be well.

Maybe it was the fact he found himself calming down a few other members of the Division, trying to tone down the commotion caused by the sudden appearance of the senior Tanaka. One member with a rag and bucket seemed to be quite shaken up in particular...but ha manged to calm down the speculation, at least to an extent that people went about their daily routine more or less. As he was returning to the room in question, and passing through the lobby in case there was some more discussion going on, he noticed a person which he did not recall before (not a lot of people went around the hall's in a hood after all), standing there and making slight movements as if looking for someone...perhaps a visitor for some fresh patient?

Deciding he had a short moment to spare, he would quickly approach the hooded figure and say "Excuse me? Are you looking for someone who is a member of the Division, or a patient? Either way, I think I can help you find them. Its my job to know every face in this building after all" he finished with a quick laugh, smiling brightly at the lost visitor.

Politely, Ume returned Mai's gesture with a gentle duck of her head, before sauntering quietly over to a seat; where her small, but lithe frame settled down in the chair, while her orange oculars observed Mai as she engaged in conversation. Ume simply chuckled at their banter back and forth, until she went off on a slight thought: "What would the Gotei 5 be like without Tanaka-Soutaichou?" She mused, the fingers of one hand ascending to drum along her chin; stroking the onyx fabric as she pondered the 'What if?,' question.

Realistically, perhaps the Gotei would be doomed… Without a leader to call all the shots, or to establish rules and order, the world as they currently know it would likely crumble and fall into massive chaos! Not that Ume enjoyed thinking about this, but perhaps measurements were to be taken to ensure that situations like this would never happen! If the Taichou had ever discussed this, it was unfortunate that Ume probably forgot… Though, perhaps it would be a good thing to address… maybe the Captains could hold a democracy or have an even distribution of power amongst them, should such a tragic situation happen. However, who knew how long that would last with the odd Captains assembled…?

Onto the next lighter and positive subject!

She complied with Mai's statement and direction, using this moment to snap out of her rambling and ongoing thoughts. "Yeah, it's quite all right; just came in to see which Taichou was injured…" She paused momentarily, to realize and acknowledge her intrusion. "My apologies for waltzing right in, miss. I'll have to let Hitoshi-Taichou know as well, and also with you, Tanaka-Soutaichou." She averted her eyes when Mai went to give Malik some form of privacy, doing the same with her field of gaze.

Ume, however, directed her attention to Malik, regardless of her visage not facing his direction. "Eh, don't worry about it. It was all my fault… should've have been watching were I was going!" She admitted, grinning sheepishly behind the mask, as the embarrassment yet again rose to her cheeks. While she didn't exactly see the importance or at least grasp what dismay Malik was feeling, Ume didn't express her discomfort for upsetting the Soutaichou.

Oh, but how thankful Ume was with the subject change!

"Oh? Well, I guess I was right, then! Nice to meet you, Mai, but certainly upsetting given the circumstance!" She said in a laid-back tone, too aloof to notice Malik's attempt to 'flirt'.

The perks of being a wallflower?

However, Ume would glance over as Malik expressed his uneasiness. Would he pass out? Panic? Would Mai require assistance? Or maybe Ume should provide some reassurance?

"You know, I think you'll be fine, Tanaka-Soutaichou." She calmly stated as she sprouted up from the chair, eying her leader carefully. If he did pass out, hopefully she would move quick enough to catch him… and in all honestly she doubted Mai's strength with a man so towering and huge!

Ume would be there with impeccable timing… right?

Without preamble, Mai began the trimming with practiced ease; she selected an area several inches above the edge of the sodden fabric, ensuring it was completely dry. As her father voiced his suggestion, she merely shot him a look, a lone eyebrow slightly arched in a, "surely you are not kidding" guise. She had said, after all, that she was removing a the damaged portion of his hakama; it wasn't her fault that he was going to wind up with short-shorts. "Perhaps you should've thought of that before you injured yourself, sir," she murmured sweetly in the tone of voice oft reserved for the belligerent child.

Sodden fabric removed, she set it aside and began the task of bandaging the wound. As it was roughly three inches above the knee, she, once again without preamble, adjusted Malik's leg, bending it slightly so she could easily roll the bandage around the thickness of his thigh, and taking note of the crimson soaking into his haori. Two wraps in, she paused and minutely readjusted the top edge; by pulling it up slightly, she enabled herself to place a wad of ointment soaked gauze directly on top of the wound and secure it in place with the rest of the wrapping.

Perhaps, like her Taichou, she was feeling slightly forgetful; she had neglected to mention that, for some patients, the ointment might sting. But Malik was a tough old cookie, as he so constantly reminded her during her childhood, and Mai had no doubt he would endure. After all, old men were entitled to a bit of griping every now and then.

The first layer of the bandage complete, a thick cottony gauze for protection, Mai began the second layer with a thinner, stronger netted gauze for additional security; this was a leg wound and would need all the support it could get, as Malik would presumably not do as he was told by medical professionals his daughter, and use the wounded appendage without regard to its stability. Perhaps she should sedate him...but no, she probably shouldn't without Harupia's leave. She pulled this one tighter, especially over the wound itself, but not so tight as to cut off the circulation, both to keep the lower layer in place and to keep it as thin as possible.

Securing the end of the gauze with a bit of tape, and seemingly ignoring any comments her father was making about her bedside manner (again) or her lack of gentleness with such a painful wound (she wasn't being rough in the slightest, but the numbing from her reiatsu was probably wearing off already), she rummaged around in the kit beneath the treatment bed and pulled out the last of the self-adhering wrap. Her eyebrows arched again, bemused, as the color of the remaining rolls was unvaried and undeniably a sickly, sweetly pink; Malik would be in for a surprise with this, as his newly positioned leg and draped towel had restricted his line of sight. Another win for Tanaka Mai.

A faint ripping sound, prefaced by Mai stating that this was the sound of the bandage, would rise up from beneath the drape, as she was trying to "further preserve his dignity," should he ask. She went over the bandage twice, fully eradicating the stark whiteness of the gauze and replacing it with the garish pink. Finished, she went to replace his leg on the bed, only to pause at the pool of damp red beneath it. Stepping back instead, she collected the tools off the edge of the bed and deposited the soiled ones in the proper receptacles. Now, time for the haori....

"Are you capable of removing your haori, or do you require some assistance?" she asked over the tinkling of falling waste, eyes roaming over Malik's wounded arm, delicate fingers reaching toward the shears she had yet to put away. She knew how important the mantle was to her father, and she didn't want to cause it any undue damage, but the sleeve was in a rather precarious position; when she started working on the wound, it was bound to open and bleed all over, staining the sleeves. He had already been sitting on it as his leg bled all over the place, and she couldn't allow the bandage to get near it.

Feeling queasy...

Feeling dizzy...

Chie blinked, feeling the room swim around her. This wasn't normal. Crowds bothered her, yes, but to this degree..no the reaction was Abnormal. Bowing her head so that her face was shadowed, she thought back.

Then, she began to correlate the occurrences of the day, as if her mind were playing back key points, frame by frame.

Library work

Cleaning duties

Bullied into office cleaning

Falling asleep

Breaking character

And finally, the swirly faint feeling that was washing over her.


"Ah..." she murmured, swallowing. She had forgotten to eat. Thinking on it, she couldn't remember the last time she had eaten. She should had noticed it earlier, falling asleep in the Taicho's office, then her following behavior in said situation was not up to her usual standard.

The Soutaicho was going to have to wait, lest Chie end up in a bed herself, which would follow a severe scolding. With a firm shake of her head, she braced herself to walk away just as she was approached.

With a squeak, she bowed, coming up to apologize profusely, "Oh n-n-no, I'm sorry. I was just on my way out, g-good day to you," she turned and bolted away, exemplifying a timid animal.

And wish sheer willpower, Chie forced herself away to find sustenance.

(exit, due to going on vacation)

A heavy sigh escaped the lips of Kanade as her feet came to a halt, stopping just short of the door leading into the hospital of the Second Division. Her foot began to tap rhythmically as she crossed her arms, her eyes locked on the door just in front of her eyes. Past images began to swarm her head as she debated whether or not going inside was worth it. While she had taken her sweet time, she did receive a message about her Taicho needing help returning to the barracks. Just as she was prepared to turn back, a thought crossed her mind. What if he were to find out that she not only came to the Second's hospital, but turned around and left. What un-imaginable hell could he create? A beat of sweat sudden;y began to trickle down the side of her face. "Maybe I should just go in instead..."

With a final heavy sigh, she stepped to the door, sliding it open before peeking her inside. "Hello?" Her head twisted to the left first before going to the right, looking for anyone that could help her get in and out quicker. Finally, she'd step into the building, her steps headed down the first hallway she saw. After a bit of walking about, her feet came to a stop. Kanade looked about for any signs of where her Taicho might be, while loudly speaking to herself. "Hmph. Where the heck is he?.."