Lost Inside

By Spunky0ne

(Ichigo returns to Soul Society after the quincy war to find that Byakuya has been afflicted with an unknown condition that affects his mind. At first, responding only slightly to the outside world, he drifts further away by the moment and begins to die. When the Kuchiki clan labels him a lost cause and orders him placed in a mental hospital, Byakuya's friends abduct him and strive to find a way to bring him back from the abyss. Whatever the cost, Ichigo vows he will save Byakuya.)

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Chapter 1: Scattered Blossoms

"Hey, wait up, will you?" Renji called after Ichigo, "Are you really that eager to go back? You know, we've been pretty spoiled, being up here while the taichos and divisions have been dragging themselves out of the wreckage and picking up the pieces. I doubt they've been celebrating with feasts like we have. I heard some areas don't even have enough food and supplies to go around. I feel kinda bad, considering."

"Yeah, we should feel bad," Ichigo sighed, lowering his eyes as he entered the tenchurren, followed by Renji, Rukia, Chad and Orihime, and the four sat down in their seats, "I didn't think we should be celebrating at all, but I guess being up here, it's easy for them to forget the people struggling down there."

"I don't know if that's how it is," Rukia said, shaking her head and frowning, "I think after all that's happened, they were just looking for a way to increase morale however they can."

"That's fine if you're one of the lucky ones up here," Ichigo observed skeptically, "but tell that to people like Byakuya and Tetsuya, who had to stay behind and put things back together while we were stuffing ourselves and getting patted on the back. That stuff could've waited until everyone was taken care of, you know?"

"Yes, you're right," Rukia agreed, "I wasn't saying I agreed with them. I was just trying to give them the benefit of the doubt."

"Well, I will be glad to get back and help Taicho with things. I wasn't happy he strong-armed Rukia and me into attending for him, while he stayed behind doing everything."

"I think he was pissed at what they were doing and didn't want to be a part of it," suggested Ichigo, "And there were plenty of understandable reasons for him to stay behind and send someone in his place. Several of the other clan leaders did the same, and only Kyoraku and Ukitake of the Gotei 13 attended."

"I think the rest were as upset as you that the ones up there were celebrating," Rukia surmised, "They just don't realize the level of destruction that took place down in the Seireitei. The king's palace was damaged, but the five surrounding cities were left mostly untouched in the fighting, so they can't conceive of how badly things were broken down below."

"Yeah, well they need to wake up and smell the smoke from the burning carcasses then," Renji said bitterly, "We lost thousands of soldiers...thousands! Friends...family. Maybe those people weren't important to them, but they sure as hell mean something to those of us who live down here. And next time they..."

"Be quiet, you fool!" Rukia chided him, glancing around as the aforementioned taichos entered the tenchurren, "At least wait until we're out of here so we don't get in trouble."

"Yeah," Renji snapped softly, "We might not be invited back. Oh wait, we won't be invited back anyway because of the rules limiting contact between our worlds, except when the king needs our protection."

"Shh!" Rukia hissed, swatting him hard on the arm, "Quit it, Renji! You won't help things by getting your butt tossed in your division's jail when we get home."

"Did you forget?" Renji said sarcastically, "There is no more sixth division jail! The headquarters was reduced to rubble, unless they just want to bury me in it."

He broke off, going silent as Kyoraku sotaicho moved to sit closer to them.

"Kuchiki fukutaicho, Abarai fukutaicho, you must be glad we're going home," he said cordially.

"Yes sir," the two answered together, swallowing hard and trying to look as though they hadn't been maligning their recent hosts in the royal realm.

"I need to speak to the two of you before we get back home," he said more solemnly, "I received word of something that happened that will affect both of you...all of you, actually."

"What is it, sir?" Rukia asked worriedly.

"What happened?" Renji added stridently.

"Well, you know that the squads who still have active taichos are taking the lead in our defense while we pick up the mess from the fighting. There are still small bands of remaining quincies, some just hiding out to avoid being captured and some making suicide runs or surprise attacks on our forces that are trying to keep order."

"Did something happen to Nii-sama?" Rukia asked, her voice trembling, "Kyoraku sotaicho, is he...all right?"

"I'm afraid the news isn't good," the captain commander confessed gently, "Kuchiki taicho was dispatched with a group of his men to an area in the mid-Rukongai, where it was rumored a group of quincies was hiding out. There were twenty officers with him and fifteen unseated soldiers. His cousin, Kuchiki Tetsuya, also shadowed his group, as you know he does when Renji isn't there with Byakuya."

"Tetsuya?" Renji whispered, blanching, "Did something happen to...?"

"We don't know what happened," the captain commander confessed, "All we do know is that Kuchiki Tetsuya staggered into town with Byakuya in his arms. Both of them were grievously injured. Healers in the town stabilized them and sent them to the Seireitei with another military group that was returning. They were alive when they reached the fourth division, but Tetsuya's condition has been in a state of steady decline and he is not expected to survive."

"Oh kami..." Renji breathed, closing his eyes.

"I know the two of you became engaged recently, so I sent back word to have Tetsuya kept on life support to await your arrival. The acting clan leader will be meeting you there to discuss your options."

"What about Nii-sama?" Rukia asked, tears running down her face, "Is he...still alive?"

"He is stable," Kyouraku reported, "But Rukia, he is not doing well."

"I don't understand," Rukia mused, sniffling, "If Nii-sama is stable, then...?"

"He is not himself," the captain commander explained, "He is conscious and his physical injuries seem to have been addressed, but he is not responding to the people around him."

"N-not responding?" Rukia queried, looking confused, "But...?"

"He speaks a little, but he makes no sense. He is barely eating and has horrid nightmares when he tries to sleep."

"What's wrong with him?" Renji demanded, "They must have some idea how he got like that!"

"There was errant reiatsu found in both of their systems, and the reiatsu in Byakuya's body appears to have fused in some way with his own, making it impossible to isolate and eradicate. The healers hope that perhaps Orihime's power can help them, but they were unsure if it would, given the strength of the reiatsu that struck the two."

"Kyoraku sotaicho," Renji said urgently, "Did Tetsuya say anything before he lost consciousness? Did he give them anything to go on?"

The captain commander sighed wearily.

"He only indicated that they were ambushed and that there was a poison inside them. He lost consciousness too quickly for them to question him."

"Damn!" Ichigo swore, "So, what can we do?"

"When we arrive in the Seireitei, we will be escorted to the fourth division, where you all will be fully briefed and allowed to see them. Renji, you will need to see to Tetsuya first, because, from what I understand, the interim leader of the Kuchiki clan feels that he is suffering needlessly and should be allowed to expire."

"Who is leading the clan right now?" Rukia asked, her eyes narrowing.

"A man named Kuchiki Orochi," the captain commander reported, his words making Rukia and Renji suck in surprised and horrified breaths.

"Orochi!" Rukia exclaimed.

"That bastard wants to let Tetsuya die?" Renji fumed, "Over my dead body!"

"The healers are under orders to await my return before taking any such action," Kyoraku said bracingly, "As you know, normally the clan needn't have our permission to take one of their own from our care, but as we are still under martial law, everything goes through me. I figured you wouldn't take it too well if they tried to railroad your fiancè while you weren't around, so I made sure you'd get your say."

"Thank you, Sotaicho," Renji sighed gratefully, relaxing slightly, "It's good to know you're with me."

"We're with you too, Renji-san," Chad added solemnly, "Tetsuya-san is our friend too."

"He is," Orihime agreed, "And I will go to him right away and see what I can do to help. I know I'll be able to do something!"

"Thanks guys," Renji said, swallowing hard.

The group stiffened as the craft they were in rumbled loudly, ending their conversation, then it shot into the sky and began to fall towards the world below.

"Damn, I hate this part!" Ichigo complained, gripping the handles on his arm rest and panting slightly.

"Just so long as it's fast," Renji said in a haunted tone, "We need to get to them."

The tenchurren continued at a furious pace downward for several minutes, then began to rumble and shake as it slowed. Several sharp jolts unsettled the ones within, then the craft landed with a jarring bump on the ground.

Renji had his restraints off and was at the door before the others had fully exited their seats. Ichigo reached his side, sweeping up Orihime and breaking into blistering flash steps as the door opened. The group ignored the ones sent to meet them and raced towards the fourth division, trying not to notice the jumbled ruins of the buildings around them.

"Hell, this looks worse than it did when we left!" Ichigo panted.

"There have been quite a few attacks," Rukia acknowledged, "It's horrible!"

They quieted and flash stepped faster, barreling up the steps and into the Seireitei hospital, sliding to a stop as Kotetsu Isane appeared in front of them.

"Do you have any injured with you?" she asked wearily, then she stopped and shook her head in surprise, "Sorry! I didn't realize at first it was you. We've had so many injured."

"We heard," said Rukia, "Please, can you take us to Nii-sama and Tetsuya-san?"

"Hanataro will take Abarai fukutaicho and Inoue-san to Kuchiki Tetsuya and I will take the rest of you to Kuchiki taicho's room. I can only admit you two at a time, though. These men are in extremely poor condition."

Renji, Orihime and Hanataro disappeared down one hallway together, while the fourth division fukutaicho led the rest down another.

"The encouraging news about Kuchiki taicho is that, although he is out of sorts, he is stable at the moment. We just need to bring him out of the state he is in so that he can cooperate in his care and get well again."

"We'll get through to him," Ichigo said firmly, slipping a hand into Rukia's supportively as they reached Byakuya's hospital room and stepped inside.

Rukia's breath caught, then a sob escaped her as she spotted her very pale and distant-eyed brother, partially reclined in his hospital bed and staring blankly in front of him.

"Nii-sama!" she cried, moving quickly to his side and taking his hand, "Nii-sama, do you hear me? Speak to me, Nii-sama! Please!"

Byakuya only blinked slowly and his hand flinched slightly at her touch.

"Nii-sama!"

"It's going to be okay," Ichigo said, sliding an arm around her waist and hugging her, "Don't panic. He'll come out of it, I promise."

He glanced at the Kuchiki leader, then he froze as Byakuya's dark eyes cleared and focused on him for one shattering moment.

"B-byakuya?" Ichigo breathed, staring.

The clan leader's lips quivered and he managed a few unintelligible utterances. Then one word sounded clearly in the room.

"Ichigo..."

"Yeah, it's me," Ichigo responded, moving in close and taking his slender hand from Rukia, "I'm right here. Are you awake now?"

Ichigo's eyes darkened and a pained jolt gripped him as Byakuya's eyes clouded over again.

"I am sorry, Ichigo-sama," Isane said regretfully, "What you just saw was the most coherent exchanged he has managed since he was found. We..."

The healer broke off as pounding footsteps echoed in the hallway and Hanataro burst in through the door.

"Ichigo-sama! Ichigo-sama!" he shouted urgently, "I need you to come with me quickly. It's Abarai fukutaicho. He was with Tetsuya-san and a group of Kuchiki elders arrived and demanded that we remove Tetsuya-san from life support at once. Abarai-san objected and is holding them off, but...he and one of the elders are fighting!"

"I'm on it!" Ichigo cried, flash stepping away.

He raced ahead of Hanataro, following the sound of raised voices and loud thumps of impact.

"You aren't getting anywhere near him!" Renji roared, shoving the man in front of him back and advancing threateningly, "You son of a bitch! You know Byakuya would never let you do this to Tetsuya!"

"Stand down, you blasted mongrel!" Orochi warned him, his dark obsidian eyes flashing menacingly, "Do you know who you are speaking to? I am the leader of this clan."

"Byakuya is your leader!" Renji seethed.

"Byakuya-sama has been incapacitated and is unable to lead at present. I was elected by the newly seated council and have every right to make decisions of this nature for any member of my clan!"

"You aren't making this one!" Renji snarled, drawing his sword and forcing the other man to retreat several steps, "Take one step towards my fiancè and I'll take off your head!"

"How dare you threaten me!" Orochi hissed scathingly.

"Hey!" Ichigo snapped commandingly, stepping through the doorway and into the room, then laying a hand over Renji's on the hilt of his sword and lowering it slightly, "Take it easy. You guys are in a hospital, not a boxing ring. There are hurt people trying to rest."

"He wants them to take Tetsuya off life support right now!" Renji said shakenly, "Never mind that the healers haven't given up on him, this guy wants him dead!"

"I want no such thing," Orochi said coldly, "Tetsuya is obviously suffering and they have only kept him alive to this point to wait for you to arrive to say your goodbyes. So, say them and let him be at peace, Abarai-san. Do not stand in the way of clan law. Tetsuya is a member of our family and we are only doing what we feel is best for him."

"Like hell you are!" Renji raged, stepping forward again, only to be held back by Ichigo.

"Hey, we won't let him do anything to Tetsuya," Ichigo reassured him, "Just calm down, all right? My clan is higher in status than this asshole's, and he knows it. And the rules of the Noble's General Council give a ranking clan special privilege to officially argue the physical treatment of any clan member, family or not. I object to this and I demand a hearing to discuss it with your elders!"

"We have three elders here, as required by our laws," Orochi said readily, "Go ahead and argue all you want with them. They have spoken to the healers and they know he is a hopeless case."

"HE IS NOT A HOPELESS CASE!" Renji howled, "And you guys are not doing ANYTHING to him!"

"He is out of control," Orochi said icily, "You can see that."

"He's fighting for his lover's life," Ichigo said with equal coldness, "I think any of you would do the same. Now look, all of you know that you would have a hell of a time dealing with what Renji is right now. Is it really too much to ask that he be given sufficient time to deal with that? Wouldn't any of you want the same?"

"I think that is a reasonable request," said the oldest of the present elders.

"Nori," Ichigo acknowledged him, "Thank you. Now, if you look, you can see that Tetsuya is unconscious and is on pain medication. He is not suffering greatly, and there is certainly no rush to make this decision. We've brought Orihime, and as you see, she is making an effort to help him. Please give her time to do that. If it doesn't work, we can certainly give your idea consideration, but to give up hope before everything has been done..."

"Fine then, try all you want!" Orochi spat, "But in the end, he is only going to die anyway. You can't save him or that mindless former leader of ours!"

"Byakuya is not mindless," Ichigo corrected him forcefully, "He looked into my eyes and said my name."

"That's not possible," Orochi hissed softly, "He has shown no sign of response since he arrived here. You are either deluded or lying!"

"I'm not either," Ichigo fumed, "And you are not to take any action with either of these men. I am placing both of them under my clan's protection until a final determination about their prognoses can be made! You know I have that right!"

"As you wish," Orochi said, biting at the ends of the words furiously, "But you are overstepping boundaries Shiba Ichigo! You had best watch your back."

"Get out of here," Ichigo demanded, taking another step towards him.

Ichigo, Renji and Orihime breathed a sigh of relief as the interim clan leader and elders turned and stalked out of the room. As soon as they were gone, Renji returned to his unconscious mate's side and crumpled into a chair, taking Tetsuya's limp hand and kissing it fiercely as tears ran down his white cheeks.

"Just hang in there, okay?" he pleaded softly, "Don't go anywhere."

"Orihime?" Ichigo queried anxiously.

"The reiatsu that is in him is really powerful," the human girl lamented, "but given time, I know I can save him!"

"Do the best you can," Ichigo urged her.

"Is that gonna be enough?" Renji asked in a shaky voice, "Those guys really want him to die! Ichigo, there's something not right with all of this. I just..."

"It's gonna be okay," Ichigo promised, "We're going to watch over them now. No one's going to do anything to them without going through all of us first!"