Not sure how i hopped onto the 'torture Hanataro then make him feel better' bandwagon, but here we are.

Okay, I own nothing, all characters except Noriko Kuchiki belong to Tite Kubo blah blah blah...

An OC! Why? Hopefully she isn't as perfect and annoying as I was trying to make her not be, tell me if, at any point, she just needs to keep her mouth closed.

Reviews are appreciated. Thanks!

Hanataro Yamada looked up at the eaves of the building beside him, hesitating for the first time since agreeing to meet with the strange woman he now knew to be Byakuya Kuchiki's biological sister. She still scared him a little. Even after she had saved his life, more than once, during the group rescue of Rukia Kuchiki, and the battles that followed that day, it hardly made him trust her any more.

It had been more than a week since that terrible blood bath. The Ryoka had already left the Soul Society for the World of the Living, and Hanataro was finally getting his thoughts re-organized from the ordeal. Now this.

He had spent the day doing his mundane cleaning chores in the Fourth Squad medical rooms, refilling all supplies and straightening beds and shelves. It had felt almost normal, and for the first time since Rukia had been taken to the Repentant Tower, Hanataro was beginning to relax. That is, until his Captain stopped him in the hall and informed him that he had a meeting with Noriko Kuchiki, the newly-returned ex-member of the House of Kuchiki. Hanataro had nearly fainted.

What had he done to catch her attention? Was she, like her brother, going to challenge him for interfering with the scheduled execution? No, Hanataro mentally shook his head. Lady Noriko had been one of the first from the Soul Society to fight for Rukia's survival.

What, then? Maybe he had blundered while healing her injuries from the battles, and someone had told her it had been him and now she was about to scold him and demand disciplinary action, and-

Stop, Hanataro told himself firmly. I'll just go see what she wants from me, and leave. That's all I need to do.

Hanataro took a deep breath and jumped, grabbing the edge of the eaves and pulling himself onto the rooftop. He had always envied the abilities of the stronger Soul Reapers, to be able to leap across buildings without any apparent effort. He wished desperately to be that skilled and strong.

It didn't take much longer to find Noriko Kuchiki. She was sitting on the far edge of the roof, back to him and legs dangling freely off the side. She was wearing a dark blue kimono under a white robe, and appeared to be watching the sun set behind the high wall of the Sereitei.

Hanataro approached slowly. "Uhm, Lady Noriko?" he hesitated, then took another tiny step toward her. He moved to the edge, watching her profile nervously for a sign to either come forward or stay where he was. With her long black hair swept to the side in the front, her face was almost impossible to read from this angle. One thing that was very clear to Hanataro, however, was exactly how much this woman resembled her brother. It made him acutely nervous.

Hanataro hesitated again where he stood. He could already feel the powerful spirit energy she had been suppressing for much of the rescue, now rolling from her soul in nearly palpable waves. All that time, she had spent so much energy to keep it hidden from the others, only to have released it in one devastating blast in her fight to save both Byakuya and Rukia. The strain had nearly killed her. Hanataro still didn't understand why; why did she leave all those years ago? Why abandon her entire family, wander for decades, and come back just in time to nearly commit suicide for the same family she had so willingly deserted? And how had she reconnected with her Bankai after she herself had severed the tie between her soul and zanpakuto? It made no sense at all.

All Hanataro could really do at this moment was wait.

After what seemed like an hour, but was probably only a few minutes, Noriko turned slightly and raised her hand toward the timid Healer. "Come her Hanataro," she said quietly. "Sit by me awhile."

Hanataro wasn't entirely sure what he had been expecting, but it definitely had not been an invitation to sit beside a Noble and watch the sun set. "Uhm…"

"It's alright," Noriko's voice was much more gentle than he remembered it being, and Hanataro found his feet moving on their own. He lowered himself to the rooftop a couple paces away from the intimidating woman and let his legs hang from the edge in an imitation of her own.

"I wanted to thank you in person," Noriko said quietly. She hadn't moved much from her original position. "What you did for my sister, it was very brave of you."

Hanataro looked down at his knees. "I don't mean to disagree with you Lady Noriko, but I'm afraid I wasn't much help, actually." He curled his fingers into the fabric of his hakama, the feeling of weakness returning at an alarming speed. "I wasn't able to help her. At all."

Noriko finally looked at him. "What would make you think that, Hanataro?"

"Ichigo and Lieutenant Abarai," Hanataro started morosely, "they're the ones who saved Rukia. And Ganju too, he fought so hard for someone he considered to be his enemy. The others risked their lives, they gave their all to do everything they could. But I wasn't able to make any difference," Hanataro felt, at that moment, he could sink through the roof and never resurface. "I didn't have the strength to protect her."

Noriko looked away, toward the deep slash of red and orange painting the horizon. "That is not what your Captain has told me. She said you risked your life to help the Ryoka reach the Repentant Tower, were caught when my brother and Ukitake arrived, broke out of your jail cell and saved several lives before the battle was over. I wouldn't call that 'nothing'."

Hanataro leaned forward. "But I wasn't even carrying my zanpakuto! I couldn't have even reached the Tower myself without help from the others."

"Such is life. There is no shame in teamwork, little Healer." Noriko moved her arm to the side, and Hanataro caught a glimpse of a red and silver hilt against the blue of her kimono. The legendary Kaji Hana; The Hell Flower.

Hanataro dropped his gaze immediately. How could he have forgotten who he was talking to? Why did he always have to spout so much nonsense, instead of just keeping his mouth shut?

Noriko seemed to know what he was thinking. "It's alright, you know," she smiled at him. "I am not my brother. There's no reason for you to be afraid of me." She sighed contentedly and leaned back, and Hanataro noticed for the first time that she was holding a small bottle of sake in her right hand.

His sense of duty immediately took control of his brain as Healer instinct kicked in. "Lady Noriko," he started, "I don't mean to assume I know more than you do, but you really shouldn't be drinking while your wounds are still mending." He gave her a once-over, checking for any visible bandages or signs she might be in pain. There were none.

Noriko laughed, and the sound was in startling contrast to her stern, sharp features. "Relax, Hanataro," she grinned. "I'm perfectly healthy, thanks to you. Not a scratch on me, I promise."

Hanataro's brow creased in confusion. He had in fact been the one in charge of Noriko when she was brought in to the Fourth Squad medical building, but he was certain she had been unconscious by then. So, how did she know..? Hanataro looked up to find Noriko watching him in amusement.

"You have a habit of turning your fingers flat," she explained, "so as not to cause any unnecessary pain by putting pressure on wounds, and to open clear paths for Kido."

"Yes," Hanataro nodded. "Its an old technique, but one that is still used by a good number of my squad." He tilted his head, not sure what point she was making.

" Most Healers do this," Noriko agreed, "however, your style is uniquely different, if only minutely. I know you also use the heel of your palm to balance your fingers, therefore making it easier to lift the limb of a patient who can no longer move themselves without straining your own arms. Am I right?"

Hanataro was dumbfounded. "Well, yeah but, how… How could you tell it was me?"

Noriko turned her eyes toward the sunset again, lifting the bottle to her lips as she did so. "I knew it was you who had treated me, Hanataro," she said quietly, "because your mother had the same habit."

Hanataro felt like he had just been struck by lightning. "My…mother?" That couldn't be possible, could it? He had never known his mother, and any reports in the records about his past claimed that he had wandered in from the Wastelands. If this woman was suggesting that he hadn't simply passed over from the Living World, it could only mean that he had been born in the Soul Society. Incidents like that weren't only rare, they were nearly impossible. Noriko must be mistaken, Hanataro thought numbly. It just…It wasn't…

"Her name was Izani," Noriko's clear, quiet voice broke through Hanataro's tumbling thoughts. "Not only was she one of the best Healers in the Soul Society at that time, she was also my best friend."

Hanataro stared at Noriko as she continued to explain, not able to do much else. The Kuchiki woman didn't seem to mind. And Hanataro was certain she was unaware of the nostalgic expression she wore as she spoke.

"Izani was a lot older than me," Noriko closed her eyes and smiled, "I gave her a fair share of teasing for that. She was already a Lieutenant when I joined the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and although I wasn't actually assigned to her Squad, took it upon herself to guide me through training. I didn't appreciate it at first, but we grew on each other over time." Noriko's eyes opened slowly. "She kept me on the right path; when my temper would show itself, Izani always knew what to say to calm me down. And when she left the Sereitei to help all of the souls in the Wastelands, I missed her greatly. So greatly, in fact that a few years later I disobeyed my brother and went looking for her." Noriko took a deep, audible breath. "It took nearly twenty years, but I did manage to find her. My greatest regret in this existence is that I was too late. I'm sorry, Hanataro."

Hanataro moved his gaze back to his knees. "I'm sure you did your best, and I'm grateful to you for telling me all of this, but," he frowned, biting his lower lip. "I just cant believe I'm the son of a Lieutenant. I mean, I'm only about as strong as a noodle, everyone says so."

"Izani was not a fighter," Noriko clarified. "She had a definite fighting ability, but could see no point in the endless battles surrounding the life of a Soul Reaper. She was purely devoted to her work as a Healer, and to a life of giving everything she had to protect what was precious to her. In the end, she taught me everything that truly matters. Without her I would never be as strong as I am now."

"But," Hanataro couldn't help himself, "you're a Fire Master. You were a Lieutenant before you left, and that was only because you refused the Captain's exam. Twice." He shook his head. "I cant ever imagine you as being weak, in any sense." In the last week, he had heard enough about the female Kuchiki to make his head spin, including the fact that everyone had seemed to think she was dead.

Noriko's smile turned sad. "Hanataro, have you been listening at all? Strength doesn't come from spiritual pressure, or a zanpakuto. Power and ability are what define a Soul Reaper, but strength, true strength, is directly connected with your own determination and desire." She took another drink from the bottle and handed it to Hanataro, who was too surprised to refuse.

"Determination and desire?" Hanataro repeated. "But Ichigo is so powerful because of his spiritual pressure," he protested. "He crossed here from the Living World and fought with Lieutenants and Captains. He reached Bankai in two days! He even beat Captain Kuchiki, so he has to be incredibly strong. What you're saying doesn't make any sense, Lady Noriko. How can strength not be connected with power?"

Noriko was quiet for a moment before answering. "Just Noriko is fine," she told him. "Do you know why Ichigo Kurosaki decided to become as strong as he did?"

Hanataro nodded. "Of course. It was to save Rukia, because he promised he would."

"Exactly," Noriko said. "Ichigo was born with the spiritual pressure he has now, but it was his desire to save Rukia that brought it to the fore, and his determination to not fail that made him push himself hard enough to reach Bankai in such a short amount of time. In much the same way, your mother became the top Healer in the Sereitei; because she decided she would stop at nothing to help those protecting the Soul Society."

"But," Hanataro started, "I'm not-"

"You are not a warrior," Noriko acknowledged, "nor should you ever be one. However, your calling is just as important as that which drives the Soul Reapers who wield their zanpakuto in battle." She looked at him, all trace of a smile gone now. "You are a Healer, Hanataro, and the Soul Society cannot survive without its Healers. Never doubt your ability. And if you are not going to drink that, give it back."

Hanataro lifted the sake bottle he had forgotten he was holding and gave it back to Noriko. He watched as she took another drink and set it down on the edge of the roof. Something was bothering him about Noriko's story. Something she had said about following his mother to the Wastelands. "Can I ask you something, Lady Noriko?"

"Just Noriko," she told him again, "and you can ask me anything."

"If my mother died while you were away, do you know how I ended up in the Soul Society?" He had always wondered how a child his age, and as weak as he was, had made it across the dangerous miles of barren desert. Especially since many areas of that place were said to be the hunting grounds of Hollows.

"Yes I do," Noriko nodded. "I brought you here."

"What?" Hanataro spluttered. "How? I mean, how did you find me?"

Noriko tilted her chin, studying the faint stars stretching across the darkening sky. "The last thing I promised Izani is that I would always help her if she needed me. I was too late to save her from that bastard Hollow, but I did manage to kill it before it devoured you as well. I didn't know what else to do, so I brought you to the one place I knew you would be relatively safe, and left you in the care of an old friend. I realize that didn't turn out as well as it should have, but," She turned back to him, and Hanataro could see an impossible vulnerability in her eyes. "Tell me I did the right thing."

He wasn't really sure what to say at first. No one had ever cared for an opinion from him, to the best of his knowledge. "Of course you did," Hanataro answered, realizing it was true even as he said it. "I'm glad I'm a Soul Reaper, and I'm glad I'm here. I don't have any regrets about how my life turned out. I just wish I could be stronger for my friends."

"I have a feeling there will be plenty of opportunity for that," Noriko's grin was firmly back in place. "I doubt that orange-haired boy will be able to stay out of trouble for very long. But don't worry," Noriko reached out and clapped Hanataro on the shoulder which, in his opinion, was a very un-ladylike thing to do, "you'll be alright." She stood up and stretched her arms.

Hanataro stood as well. "Are you leaving?"

"I'm going to see how well my pompous brother is recovering," Noriko said, "and then to get some rest. You should too."

Hanataro still had loads of questions, but he held his tongue and gave a respectful bow. "It was nice to talk to you Lady Noriko."

"I'm not going to get through to you very easily, am I?" Noriko sighed. "Alright. I'm sure I'll see you soon, Healer." She turned with a wave and stepped off the edge of the roof, leaving Hanataro alone with the growing shadows.

"Hopefully," he responded to no one. "And today wasn't so bad, after all."