Fiery Fears

                                    

                                          
The young taicho's mind was a whir and it couldn't slow down when he focused on the idea of getting back to work. It ended up slowing down when he played the video game and he didn't notice when Yukio left again in order to go and stay at Hanataro's place. Eventually the orange haired teen told him it was time for bed and he got ready with a fresh bowl of water that Ichigo brought him. The teen surprised him. "So... can we talk about how you're doing?"
                          
"I'm doing fine."
                          
"You had a panic attack. You can't leave your room. Well... you do get up during the night to go and use the restroom. You're half asleep when you do it."
                          
Toshiro flinched suddenly. "You haven't told anybody about this have you?"
                          
"Just Rangiku-san. I ended up telling her one of the times I went and got a meal. Are you fine with not being able to leave your room?"
                          
"And what are you going to do about it? I doubt anybody can do anything about it." Toshiro looked away from the teen. "I'm guessing that eventually people will figure out my little problem. They'll find a replacement taicho. I'm honestly not that stupid."
                          
"They don't want to replace you. I'm also sure you'll get over this."
                          
The youngster turned over onto his side and pulled his hands up to his head tucked under the pillow. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes so that he would drift off to sleep. The next morning he opened up his eyes and sat up. He looked at both the game system and the laptop wondering what to do. Ichigo sat up and he turned his head to look at Ichigo. "Paperwork."
                          
"I don't know. Rangiku-san has been quite upset with the fact you've been digging into the paperwork and games."
                          
Toshiro turned his head towards the bookcase. "I've read all of those books multiple times in the last twenty, forty years."
                          
"You haven't added anything new?" Ichigo's eyes rose up.
                          
The young taicho's face twisted up into a look of surprise. "New books?"
                          
"You've never thought about picking up a new book that wasn't in my dad's collection? I'm assuming that the collection belongs to the former taicho and not yourself."
                          
Two teal eyes looked over to the bookshelf. "No."
                          
"Will you be all right if I go home today and visit my family? I can get some books you haven't read before while I'm there."
                          
The boy looked away. "I guess. I don't want any messages from your sister."
                          
Ichigo took a deep breath. "You mean Karin? I actually think she's going to be giving me an earful when I get home and if that is the case I'll likely be giving you an earful. I think."
                          
"What ever. I'll be fine." Toshiro felt Ichigo pat his shoulder. "Just be sure to ask Matsumoto for some paperwork for me to work on."
                          
"Are you going to just sit here until I get back? You really should be doing something rather then just waiting. You might fall asleep."
                          
Toshiro found his throat tightening. After a few minutes he let out a sigh and headed over to the television and turned on the game. His fingers began to push the button and he continued to play when a sudden feeling of dread washed over him. His hands started to sweat as if someone was looking at the back of his neck. He turned his head to look towards the door. He felt his chest tighten and the controller dropped from his hands.
                          
M
                          
Every morning Rangiku got up and got dressed in her uniform. She then headed the office to begin paperwork for that day despite the damage to the wall. Everything was almost fixed. She sat at the desk working away only to have the paperwork begin to pile up. The sound of those coming and going didn't cause her to lose focus until...