A/N: Hello! Before you start reading may I say how happy I am you've decided to read my story. ^^ This is my first story. I know its not the best *sobs* But everything is a work in progress and just like you, I have no idea what'll happen next (JK, I have some ideas). But no more stalling. I now present "Hello, Goodbye, and Thank You" *Please Enjoy*
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or MASH *please don't sue me*
Hello, Thank You & Goodbye
Prologue
The sound of bombs echoed off the canyon walls, making the already overwhelming racket rise and fall in a crescendo of deafening noise. Artillery started and stopped in spurts of staccato accompanied by the steady beat of mortar shells firing back and forth like a morbid game of hot potato. When one fired, the other responded until neither side had enough ammo, or bodies, left to throw at each other. This is the beginning of a typical day at the front of one of the latest wars to end all others and it was certainly living up to its name at the moment.
Within a few chip shots of the front line, sat the famous compound of the 4215th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, or MASH, for short. Why this unit was so famous, or rather infamous, was a point of speculation that was never really pondered all that deeply. It seemed as if it had always had a reputation for its crazy-but-remarkable medical techniques and its practically insane staff. Today though all childish antics and neurotic pranks had been put on hold as sirens blared their warnings of artillery fire and mortar shells as both rained down on the camp. Few to none were stupid enough to be caught dead outside (literally) the main building which also served as the base of medical operations.
While outside it seemed like a ghost-town save for the deadly game of monkey-in-the-middle, inside was a swath of bustling people, dressed in varying degrees of white gowns with matching masks and gloves. It was a sea of chaos as men and women hustled back and forth, shouts and orders flying overhead with the whistling of rockets outside. They carried everything from gauze and metallic instruments to stretchers piled high with filthy mounds that resembled human beings. Just as outside, two opposing forces grappled for dominance, inside they were fighting for something far more precious than politics or borders as they struggled with life and death in the balance.
While they didn't look like much, these people were some of the best in the business, considering the circumstances. On a slow day, some would regress to a juvenile state of mind as the boredom and monotony plagued the camp. But when it came down to taking people apart and putting them together again like some macabre jigsaw puzzle, you could count on all of them in a heartbeat.
Not just the doctors and surgeons, but also the nurses and the aides and other staff all pitched in with what they could do and supported others in what they couldn't. Despite their rather strange demeanor, there was always a feeling of comraderie and compassion beneath their infantile taunts and silly pranks. The way they saw it, they were all in the same sinking boat and it was a far better idea to keep it sailing than to swim for shore alone. Of course, that didn't always stop them from rocking it every now and then.
Each member held different ideas about what it meant to be insane, and at one point they tried to debate over who was the most deranged of the group, but this only served to prove how there truly was no such thing as sanity in the first place. But sometimes that same maniacal way of thinking came in handy in a pinch, especially when lives were on the line. Their madly scientific brains had saved many a person from an untimely, and greatly unwanted, demise.
Today too was no exception as bodies poured in through the halls in a river of flesh tangled in metal. At the far table, one Captain Ichigo "Strawberry" Kurosaki stood doubled over a patient, nearly up to his elbows inside one man's torso as he dug around for hidden shrapnel. Other than the fact that he was an outstanding surgeon, there was always an aura of mystery that surrounded him. He didn't really try to open up to others as far as personal matters were concerned. But it was not as if he was completely unapproachable either as he did have friends. But his rather foggy past and aloof nature often led others to speculate about him and the rumor mill was never without a few stories surrounding his origins (the most famous of which is his nickname).
These theories (which were widespread) along with his delinquent appearance (a rather loud shock of messy, bright orange hair) had given many the impression that he was a troublemaker. To the contrary, he was a quiet and thoughtful individual who, on slow days, would usually be off in his bunk or the mess tent, reading or spending time with his fellow bunkmates. (Un)fortunately for him, some of these friendships would result in his involvement (whether warranted or not) in their schemes. Overall, he was, despite some of his own issues, a good person.
Assisting the captain was a slim, petite woman with a mess of midnight black hair pulled back (save a few strands on her forehead) into a neat ponytail. Except for the sporadic clink of metal on metal, there was only silence between them as he gently, though rapidly placed each shard on an outstretched tray. Her critical, bluish-violet eyes missed nothing as she thoroughly observed the operation. Besides the occasional muttering of "Clamp" or "Sponge" they said little as both were fixated on the procedure and did not wish to break the shaky truce they'd established.
Major Rukia Kuchiki was, above all other things, a no-nonsense woman. Being both a regular army brat and the unit's Head Nurse, she was practically trained since birth to uphold the law and all other formalities whenever possible. Unfortunately, the rather laidback attitude of her staff and fellow doctors would more often than not clash with these ideals. Needless to say, the feeling was mutual. However, despite her small stature, her raging temper coupled with her family's military training assured that she would find few actual objections. One of these few (but hardly proud) objectors was none other than Ichigo.
It was either sheer coincidence or very cruel fate that had led to their rocky partnership. Since day one, neither was too fond of the other. Through each subsequent encounter, as well as several very unfortunate situations, this already rocky start had begun to crumble underfoot. His disdain for the pomp and ceremony of war clashed with her outgoing patriotism. At nearly every meeting, at least one punch (usually hers) would be thrown. As far as they were concerned the other was on the opposite pole of another planet at the completely other end of the universe. Their spats, brutal as they may be, provided excellent entertainment for the rest of the compound, and so were not really discouraged.
Their small island of silence, however, was swallowed up by the surrounding chaos as a seemingly endless stream of bodies, young and sometimes too young, flowed through the OR, the buzz of activity within mimicking the cacophony of war just outside.
Whew! So, not bad for a first time, yeah?
I know it gets a little repetitive, but I had this whole image rolling around in my head. I kind of wanted it to have the same sort of feeling of watching a TV show or movie. Historically (and especially medically), it may not be the most accurate. But I am doing my best. As I said above, this is all a work in progress and a learning experience for me. Everything is subject to change. But I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts.
Comments and Critiques (and some plain old advice on life in general) are welcome!