Waking up abruptly from a dream was shocking. He imagined it might have felt like being born. Coming into this harsh world, naked and cold. His dreams were his haven. They were warm, delightful and everything that Soul Society wasn't, at least for the moment. He was sick and injured. Groaning he kept his eyes closed. The warmth of the sun felt hot on his face. It wasn't pleasant. Quick moments later something had blocked the sun's rays; curiously he wanted to know what. Opening his eyes cautiously he examined the orange glow of the room. The scent's filling the room were therapeutic and certainly designed that way. He soon saw the small silhouette of a close friend."
Inoue" he said embarrassed. By now he should have known that she was there for his every need. So much in fact that she would know everything that was bothering him. She was in tune with Ichigo to the very last nerve, that's what he told himself of their phenomenon anyways.
"Kurosaki-kun, you're finally awake" she smiled warmly placing a damp and cold cloth over his head. For a small instant her fingers slightly brushed across his skin. He could feel the amount of care she placed into her actions. There was something maternal in the way she moved and tended to him. He was eternally grateful.
"How long have I been out"he asked struggling to swallow the phlegm lodged in his throat. Inoue quickly placed a teacup to his lips and instructed him to swallow. The liquid was bitter, but he knew she would put up a fuss if he didn't comply.
"About three days" she replied, lighting up some incense at his feet. She let it burn for a bit and then quickly smoldered the smoke. Too much would be intoxicating for him, but just enough was soothing.
"And the others?" Ichigo continued, wondering about his comrades.
"Well Sado-kun and Ishida-kun were well enough to return home. Rukia-san is attending meetings, but not officially back and Renji has been walking around, but he's still too weak to do anything more" she said absently taking the cloth from his forehead. She placed it back in the cool water and stirred. It didn't take a genius for Ichigo to know that there was something wrong with him. He had been attacked by Aizen in Heuco Mundo and he was willing to bet that there was something in the dagger he stabbed him with. Otherwise Ichigo would be the first to be up and at it. As Inoue was about to place the cloth back on his forehead; Ichigo grabbed her hand and looked her in the eyes.
"Inoue, there's something wrong. I'm sick and you know it right?" he said seriously.There was silence in the room, not even the birds chirping outside had any effect.
Inoue remained silent for some time. She was gathering words for him, the best she knew. "Kurosaki-kun, there is no doubt in my mind that there is something wrong, but wrongs can always be righted" she smiled. "And I promise you that I will do everything to make sure that happens. I won't give up" she continued whole-heartedly. As much as he tried not to hope for the best, he couldn't help but be moved by her words. The gentle determination she displayed in her character, it was hard to discredit her speech. In that moment, when his eyes finally adjusted to the room he found Inoue to be beautiful. He saw her then, not like ever before. Her auburn hair fell perfectly around her face, the soft glow in her gray eyes. She was truly a goddess and he cherished her even more.
"Arigato Inoue" he replied.
That afternoon was a quiet one. She sat outside his room folding fresh laundry and looking at the items Isane suitably brought over. The fourth vice captain was curious about their spiky haired friend but wouldn't over step her boundaries where Inoue was concerned. As she fingered some of the things in the basket she noticed there were things for Inoue as well. A small package meticulously put together included bath oils and other certain remedies for relieving stress. These few items were custom made and most likely made by the gentle hands of Unohana. Inoue smiled then, to think that her first impressions of Soul Society were unpleasant and unfavorable.
The people that existed here were much like the people from home. There were kind and warm, only thinking about the needs of others mismatched together with stubborn, witty and cruel citizens woven together to make a functioning society, most of the time. Inoue ignored the good bad and ugly for the moment and held the package close to her heart. She wondered how such atrocious things could ever take place, why had evil been allowed to be the under current in every living thing, even herself. She thought about it more while looking up at the climax of the sun. Was evil so necessary a thing to be had. Did it define what it meant to be human? Her troubling thoughts faded away when she sensed the stirring wake of her friend.
Love would always be there.
It would be one of his better days. He was sitting just outside his room looking at the beautifully mastered courtyard. Sakura trees growing together on the far right of the grounds, somehow they reminded him of an eternal family growing proudly in a fortress of protection. There was a small man- made brook overflowing with pure mountain water nourishing the greenery of the Kuchiki garden, sometimes late at night Ichigo would listen for the bubbling waters and if he was lucky enough in the morning he would hear the fluttering, chirping birds take their bath in the pond. He told himself that one day he would make his way outside his room and watch them play happily in the clear waters. It was goals like these that kept him sane in his present condition. He loathed the fact that he couldn't do anything and that he was helpless against the sickness. He loathed Aizen even more for placing such a destiny on him.
He was propped up by a hill of pillows, his legs sprawled out in front of him, muscles burning fresh from an exercise with Inoue. Apparently lying in bed long enough would cause him damage, something about an unsightly mess called bed sores plus the fact that his body was underworked. How could doing nothing be dangerous he thought frowning.I noue was off somewhere in the mansion getting them an early supper. So he had some time to himself for once, not that being with Inoue was a nuisance. He just felt guilty for being a burden to her; although he mused she would never admit it. Sometimes he wished Unohana or Isane would take over, but never voiced this desire because he was afraid it might hurt Inoue's feelings.
He was lost in thought when he felt a familiar reiatsu approaching. Looking up he saw the built figure settle down beside him.The man sat crossed-legged and with his hands resting on his knees, he waited for him to say something.
"Yo?" Ichigo replied to his silence. He examined the shinigami thoroughly wondering if he had something to report or if he was just bullshitting him with his silent arrival. "What the fuck Renji" Ichigo growled becoming annoyed at the red-head.
"Just came to check on ya" Renji said maintaining his posture. His eyes narrowed a bit, eyebrows furrowed, their annoyance matching each other.
"Well?" Ichigo replied as though trying to swat a fly. He was sure that the asshole wasn't here to see if he was okay. There had to be something more.
"Well, get better baka!" he yelled breaking the serenity. "You're better than this Ichigo, stop pouting, get over it and get back on your feet. No ones feeling sorry for you ya know" Renji voice dying to a low tone. "Besides we're launching an offensive on Aizen soon" Renji added on a more serious note.
"What? Already?" Ichigo said ignoring all that Renji had said. He was surprised that already they had plans to go after Aizen. Then Ichigo realized that this would be the first time the 13 Gotei would attack Aizen full on. His previous mission was to save Inoue, not confront the Arrancar. Even with Kenpachi and the others showing up in Hueco Mundo it wasn't an assault. Simply a retrieval mission. Ichigo sighed remembering what Renji had just said to him."I'm not choosing to be like this" he looked away from the vice-captain.
"You're not fighting it either" Renji replied coolly getting up. Before Ichigo could argue his side Inoue walked in with a tray full of food.
"Renji-san" she said taken back by his visit.
"I was just leaving" Renji said before anything more could be added. With that he quickly left, his reiatsu faded behind him.
Inoue was going to ask what that was about, but after seeing the pissed off expression on Ichigo she decided to keep her silence.She sat down beside him placing the tray beside him. "Eat up" she smiled looking at the food and deciding what she wanted to dig into first.
Ichigo just sat there looking at the butterflies playing in the garden. He wondered if he was trying hard enough to get better. He remembered his mother and a specific conversation they shared together. He was sick, in bed and being tended to by his mother much like Inoue was doing now. He remembered the warm touch of her skin, the smell of her perfume. The remarkable way in which she kept Isshin at bay from his daily attacks. He had been away from school for days and suspected that his mother wasn't happy about it, although she never said anything. She came into his room one morning and helped him out of his sweaty clothes. After he was comfortable in his bed she offered him breakfast. While he was eating she told him that half of being sick was in his mind .That's all she said that morning but for some reason he remembered it clearly in the years to come. Suddenly the fragrance of tasty fruit was near his nose. He looked down and noticed Inoue holding a strawberry by its foliage. She pushed it close to his lips and grinned at him. "Hmph" Ichigo protested but opened his mouth obediently and let the strawberry enter. He bit down and lets its sweet juices penetrate his tongue. "Mmm" he closed his eyes satisfied and finished the rest the strawberry not bothering to note the joke Inoue had just fed him. It was sweet.
Hot, sticky and just plain uncomfortable. He wrestled with the blankets trying desperately to get them off. "It's too hot" he yelled impatiently. The more he moved the worse he felt. Pin needles all over his body, unbearable heat covering his skin, his head throbbing after every heartbeat. The need to throw up, but nothing to throw up. For a moment he thought he was crying and then he got a hold of himself. He wouldn't let Aizen get the best of him. He wouldn't surrender. He remained still the blankets half off his body. His one foot was naked and refreshed by the draft flowing along the floor.
"Kurosaki-kun" she said running into the room. "I'm so sorry I was speaking with Unohana when I heard you." she said huffing and falling to his side. She looked disappointed and quickly began preparing for his needs.
"It's alright. I'm fine" he said assuring her that everything was okay. "I just panicked when I couldn't get this stupid blanket off me" he mumbled trying to look down at his one uncovered foot.
"Oh" she cracked a small smile. "Let me help you with that." she said taking the rest of the blanket off him, she moved to the panels and opened them slightly to let the cool spring air in. "You must be parched" she said filling up a cup of water.
Ichigo was glad it wasn't the awful tea concoction he was used to, but could never get over. He gratefully received the water and laid his heavy head back into his pillow. Just then Unohana walked in quietly, she knelt down beside Inoue and Ichigo.
"Kurosaki-san, how are you feeling?"
"Like an enormous pileof shit, producing an odd growth and sporting flies and mag-"
"That bad" she cuthim off. "I'm sorry to hear that" she continued. She looked at Inoue and the two exchanged some looks that Ichigo could only interpret as bad.
"So how am I looking doc?" he piped in cheerfully.
"Kurosaki-san, there hasn't been any new developments. The tests we performed from your blood proved inconclusive, but we are still trying. I have a team of dedicated 4th squad shinigamis working on your case, as well as myself." she said trying her best to soften the bad news.
"So it's basically hopeless at this point" he sighed.
"Ichigo it's not hopeless" Inoue said rather sharply. She even called him by his first name to get her point across. "Everything will be fine, just you see" her old warmth returning. Ichigo looked at her for a long moment; he was suprised by her sudden change in tone. He had not heard Inoue like this before and for some reason his butterflies had butterflies when she put him in his spot. He was proud of the woman she was becoming. He nodded in return and turned his head to the courtyard, his eyes were heavy.
"I think it's time Ichigo got some rest" Inoue turned to Unohana. The fourth captain was already to her feet, she bowed and left immediately. "Arigato" Inoues voice trailed off as she saw Unohana out.
Moments later she returned and closed the panels a little bit, enough to let the air flow freely. Tonight she would stay by Ichigo's side until he got the shivers, which she knew he would. She dimmed the lights in the room and sat at his side. She began to prepare tomorrows bandages, but Ichigo reached over to touch her hand.
"Inoue" his voice was scratchy. "Thank you for everything" he said finding her eyes in what light there was. Inoue only smiled and touched his hand in return. She was glad that he wasn't conscious enough to feel the strong pulse of her pounding heart in her hands. After a few minutes Ichigo was soundly asleep.