Renji gave Sora a look that was something like gratitude when the boy let go. When he looked over toward Rukia's table again, though, she was already down, being stuck with one of the damn needles. Seeing that made him feel ill, like his breakfast had turned into stone in his stomach.

He started forward, no longer intending to fight; he mostly just wanted to get to her. The two orderlies headed him off before he'd taken more than a couple steps.

"Just have a seat, Kyle," one said. "We don't want things to get any more exciting."

For a moment, Renji clenched his hands in to fists. Doing his best to sound reasonable, he said, pointing toward where Rukia was, "I just want to go make sure my friend is okay."

The orderly looked over his shoulder. "She's fine. The nurses are taking good care of her. Now, please sit."

He thought about hitting the man, long and hard. But he also knew that would end up with him sedated as well, and no closer to Rukia. He'd just have to get to her as soon as he could after breakfast. Gut churning at yet another reminder of how damn helpless they were during the day - at least at night, they could fight - he went back to his seat next to Sora. He sat down with a thump that set the trays on the table rattling, and put his face in his hands. Somewhere between stewing and fuming, he muttered, "I hate this bullshit."