Path to the Valley

Zeiya sighed with relief, then looked at the gorund with a sad look. "Sorry....I didn't sense her either. She might not be around here any longer...she tends to hide her reiatsu really good, too."

Naoki blinked and looked in front of the house. "Akio-san, is that the girl you're looking for?" She said, pointing to Saikah, whi seemed to pass out on the ground......again.......

"Saikah-neechan!" Akio said as he ran to her. He tripped and fell with his head just on her back. He stood up and shook his head, then said, "Hey, help me get her inside! Her reiatsu is completely gone!" He picked her up as best as he could (which wasn't well) and tried to drag her inside.

"Are you crazy? you're in no condition to carry anything!" Zeiya said as he and Naoki jumped down. Naoki took Saikah off his shoulders and carried her inside as Zeiya supported Akio. "She'll be fine. Don't worry about it too much."

"But...but..." Akio said, trying to form words as he saw Naoki take Saikah. He calmed down slightly and let his eyes close, not losing consciousness, just resting his eyes slightly. "I guess too much happened at one time," Akio said in a more calmer tone than before. "I'm alright now. Thanks Zeiya."

Zeiya smiled as they got inside. The house seemed more bigger inside than it looked outside. After a few minutes, they arrived in a room with many beds and medical equipment. Naoki set Saikah down on one bed as Zeiya set Akio on another. "You really should go back to the Seireitei. You're too injured for us to decently heal you." Zeia said.

Akio shook his head and said, "I'm fine, I'm fine! When my reiatsu comes back, I'll just heal on my own. I'm more worried about Saikah-neechan." He turned his head to her, looking at her passed out. "Is she gonna be alright?" Akio said as he started to get up a little bit.

Zeiya stopped him from getitng up and pushed him back down. "She'll be fine. She's been in a worse situation than this. In the meantime, just rest up." He dug into his pocket and pulled out a tablet. "here, eat this. It should help with your reiatsu recovery." Naoki was grinding the same tablet Zeiya was giving Akio and mixed it in water, then poured it into Siakah's semi opened mouth. She instantly swallowed, then cough as she opened her eyes. "....the hell am I?" she muttered.

"Saikah-neechan!" Akio called out. Without notice, or even swollowing the pill, his jumped from the bed and all but tackled Saikah in a big hug. "I was so worryed, Saikah-neechan! A black haired guy said you were doing bad things, but I knew you were good. You are, right?" He looked up at her as he asked.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Saikah shouted as she and Akio fell off the bed. Zeiya just watch her struggle from his hug, sweatdropping. "Damn it...let go of me, Akio!" she said, trying to get out, but not having the strength to.

"A-Akio-kun, you shoudl stop. Remember, Saikah needs to heal." Zeiya said as he grabed him and tried to pull him off.

Moments later, things were calm again. Akio was sitting on the bed, smiling as he saw Saikah was alright. He blinked and said, "Oh yeah, Saikah-neechan, what happened to you before? You put on that mask again and Captain Hitsugaya got really hurt." He looked down slightly and said, "I'm sorry... if I wasn't able to be there for you... I know the stuff with Masa-kun got you upset. But, please don't put on that mask like that anymore! It always tries to hide your pain, but your always so hurt when you put it on!"

Saikah groaned as she held ehr head. ~I feel like I was bulldozed...~ she thought. She paused and lookd at Akio with a questionable look. "Mask? what are you talking about? I didn't put on a mask."

"Yeah you did," Akio said with a sour look, as if he didn't like her implying he was lying. "Hitsugaya said you... what did he say? Hol-Low-Fied? I think that was it." He pointed to his face as he described it. "I guess I know why, since it was a big white ugly mask like a hollow. When you had it, you were really different..." He looked down again and lightly said, "I wanted to get stronger... so Saikah-neechan and Masa-kun wouldn't use masks anymore, but... ITS JUST NOT ENOUGH YET!" He slammed his fists against his knees in frustration.

"Akio..." Saikah musttered as she stared at him. She shook her head and stood up. "whatever...anyways, do you think you can take me back to Hitsugaya or something? I'm pretty sure they're wondering where I am."

Akio stood up and nodded. He wiped the small amount of tears that had begun to secretly build up and said, "I can take you to where I came in. " He walked towards the door and said, "Thanks again, Zeiya! I'll take her back from here!"

Zeiya nodded, smiling as he waved. "Be careful next time!" He called out as Saikah followed Akio.

Akio took Saikah's hand as he jumped. He took her to the gateway he entered from and through it. Inside Seireitei, Akio rushed to the Squad 4 Ward where he knew his captain was at the moment. He smiled and said, "Here we are! Are you really okay, Saikah-neechan?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." she said, trying hard to smile. She started to walk around, trying to find either Hitsugaya or Unohana. She ignored the glares she got from certain shinigami as she found the Squad 4 captain.

"Ah, Saikah-chan." She said, smiling. "Hitsugaya-taicho wants to see you."

She blinked. ~How does he....never mind...~ she thought as she nodded and head to the room she pointed out. "Umm....hey...." she said as she peeked into the room where Hitsugaya was.

The damaged captain was bandaged from his arm and chest, downward. His eyes were closed in his bed as he said, "Saikah... I saw you through the window with Akio, so I know you aren't here to fight anymore. I have something I want to ask you, and your answer could very well determine your remaining life in Seireitei." He glared at her with a serious expression as he spoke. "When you entered the Great Spirit Library with Masataka, what were you told to retrieve? I know the man Jenova put you up to it, but what did he want?"

Her face sadden at te state she saw Hitsugaya. "I'm...not entirely sure...I think it had to do with something called the Valley of Screams...or something along the lines of that." she said, not daring to come inside. "he also said somethig about Akio...but I can't xactly remember."

He stared deeply into her eyes as she spoke. He could tell this time how true her words were. He gave a sigh and then looked up to her again. "I have one more question then... Why did you return wiith Akio? What caused you to change your decision to leave Seireitei with Masataka. I know he didn't return with you."

"..." she glanced to the side, not daring to meet his gaze. "It's.....commplicated..." she said. "Is that all you need from me/?"

He gave a hard glare at her and said, "I need an exact reason. Saikah, this is a very serious matter. I need your honesty now more than ever. I think I deserve that at the very least..."

She winced at the tone he said to her. "...I was just thinking about you said...It really put me in a mess so...I talked ot Masataka. He....he told me to go back." She glanced to the side. "Please, can I go now...? I'm still really weak from that sudden experience and..." she fell silent. Tears started to form in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall and show her how weak she was to Hitsugaya.

He closed his eyes lightly and said, "That's all I needed to hear..." He looked out the window at the Shinigami repairing the Seireitei. As he did, he said, "Jenova wanted whatever he obtained so badly that he went farther than Aizen ever did to assure it. Against an enemy like that, so devoid of caring towards others around him, we need trustworthy allies, now more than ever." He then turned back to her and said, "I didn't tell anyone of what really happened in that building. When asked, I'll tell everyone these injuries came from Masataka and Jenova. The only one who saw you in there was myself and Akio, and I don't think Akio would condem you like that..."

"...all right. Please excuse me..." she said as she turned around and was about to leave. "Captain...I'm really sorry." she said before she left the ward.