Chapter II: The Awaken

Standard Disclaimer Applied (SDA)

WARNING: Sorry if some characters are OOC. Sorry for not updating sooner, but I live on the East Coast of the U.S and with Hurricane Sandy raging, I lost power and my laptop crashed. D: I had to rewrite everything. To repent, I made it 3000+ words :D


"The sleepover is put on hold!" Orihime cried, staring intensely at her cellphone screen. "Something's happened!"

"What's wrong?" Yuzu asked as her eyes widened alarmingly.

"Look!" Orihime shoved her phone to Tatsuki and started pacing frantically. "We have to go back now. Who knows their condition? They might be dead. No, they can't be! They are such strong people, this can't be happening!"

"Hime," Tatsuki laid a hand on her friend's shoulder. "What happened?"

"Read the text," She sniffed quietly. "Read it."

"What is taking you so long? Smiley face, Orihime," Tatsuki frowned as she continued reading.

"What does it say?" Karin demanded. The purple haired teenager passed her the phone. Karin's eyes scanned the screen quickly and she gasped. "Yuzu!" The device was sent to her.

"A black haired girl and her orange haired boyfriend..." Yuzu read fragments aloud. "Hit by car...in Kurosaki Clinic..." She blinked and looked at the other girls. "So?"

"Ichigo and Rukia!" Orihime grabbed her jacket and opened the door. "It's Ichigo and Rukia! Come on!"

Tatsuki, recovering quickly from the shock, wrapped up the younger girls. "It's a snowstorm out there now. Stay close."

Karin protectively held Yuzu's hand and both twins nodded firmly. Together, the four of them set off with one goal in mind. Kurosaki Clinic.

What they failed to notice was that Orihime's phone was on the table, forgotten. The moment they left, it lit up as it received another text. Three texts blazed on the screen.

Hey, what's taking you so long? :) -Orihime

A black haired girl and her boyfriend was on the road and got hit by a car. I found this cellphone in the girl's pocket and text the most recent number. Yours, 'Orihime'-san. They are both unconscious, but I transported them to Kurosaki Clinic, the closest doctor is there. It also happens to be the boy's father, I think. Get here as soon as you can. -Isuke Ransiki

The lastest text, the most crucial one, read:

Orihime, this is Isshin Kurosaki, Ichigo's dad. You know me, don't you? Anyway, you probably read the text from Isuke Ransiki. But the thing is, the Frankenstorm is coming and will be worse than ever. DO NOT COME DOWN HERE. Ichigo and Rukia are under my care; they are fine. Stay put. We'll tell you when it is okay to see them. Do you hear me? It is not safe. Whatever you do, DON'T leave the house.


"I am so very sorry," He said for the millionth time. "I didn't mean to hit him, but I take responsibility for it. All of it. I am so sorry!"

"It's not your fault," Isshin Kurosaki tried to calm the nervous man down. "The car slid in the snow and you couldn't stop it."

Isuke Ransiki gave out another moan and Isshin realized his mistake. "That's the point," Isuke wailed. "I couldn't stop it."

A tick mark was slowly forming on the doctor's head. Enough is enough, he thought. "Listen, Ransiki!" He yelled. "It wasn't your fault. Now will you please be quiet? You've been crying for the past half hour. I know my medical studies and they're going to be fine! You blaming yourself isn't going to help anything. Leave now if you are incapable of being quiet so that I can do my job. If you must stay, then don't talk!"

Isuke's volume lowered drastically at the fearsome man's demand. After a few seconds of silence, he whispered, "Y-you're the r-real deal." At Isshin's 'Continue?' expression, he spoke a bit louder. "My friends, they said that you're a fool and that you are very eccentric. That you are one of the world's irresponsible men ever. That you-"

"Okay, okay, I'm a great man," Isshin grumbled. "Get to the point."

"But, when times get tough and your patients are on the line, you change. Y-you become this amazing man wh-who can save lives. You get so serious and smart, it's unnatural. I-it's like...you're a medical Chuck Norris. Or a Dr. House. Something like that."

"I'll take that as a compliment," He grinned, scribbling into his white clipboard.

"Y-you should!"

"Yeah, but-" He was cut off by a red light blinking next to the words: Room 3, followed by a gentle beeping sound. In a diagram, the bed on his left also flickered in yellow. "Ichigo." He breathed. "Ichigo's awake."

The two men ran from the office area to the clinic rooms, passing rooms 1 and 2 in a blur. Isshin tried to open the door of Room 3, but found it locked. Impatient, he kicked it down.

"Hey!" A familiar, slightly squeaky voice called out.

"K-Kon?" Isshin said. "Is that you?"

"Who else is it?" The lion/bear stuffed animal stepped out from behind Rukia's bed. "My foot slipped and hit a button on Ichigo's bed and- hey, why's a human here?"

Both turned to look at Isuke, who was pointing a finger at Kon.

"T-talking a-animal!" He stuttered, eyes bulging like he was going crazy. Isuke tried to run, but his face collided with Isshin's hand and he fell to the ground. Swirl marks replaced his eyes and several stars rotated around his head.

"You knocked him out," Kon sweatdropped.

"Yeah..." Isshin put his hands on his (what do men call it? Hips? Waist? Well, you know what I'm talking about.), proudly standing over the still man. His ears wiggled gently as he heard a groan.

"Where am I?"


The florescent lights burned into his eyes, making Ichigo groan. His vision was blurred and he put a hand over his face to block everything out.

Voices...

"Where am I?" He asked.

"Ichigo, you're awake!" An annoyingly deep voice shouted. An annoyingly deep familiar voice.

"Dad?" Ichigo said, moving his hand. He grunted a flying projectile landed on his face. It was light brown and surprisingly plush. "Kon?"

"Shut up!" He shouted, righting himself. He ferociously started stomping on Ichigo's nose. "What did you do to Nee-san, idiot?"

Ichigo paused, hand raised to knock Kon away. "Rukia?" Jumbled pictures ran through his head; a silver car, Rukia so pale in the moonlight, him finding her to give the scarf, and then it blacked out.

"Where is she?" He pushed himself up into a sitting position. "How is she?"

"She's on the other side of the room," Isshin said, putting a hand on his son's shoulder. "She's fine, but you should get some rest. That was quite a hit you took. I'm proud of you."

"For getting run over by a car?" Ichigo asked, confused.

"For saving Rukia," Isshin answered. "You really care for her, don't you?"

"No..." Ichigo trailed off. Seeing the unbelieving look on his dad's face, he sighed. "Let me see her."

"Sure," The older man stepped aside and helped Ichigo cross the room to where Rukia was laying. Her black hair was swept to the side, skin white as snow. Her hands were clenched and her brow furrowed, like she was having a bad dream.

In her own little way, Ichigo thought. Many people thought Orihime was beautiful, but so is Rukia in her own, unique, special way. Sure she was a pain, but once you really understood her...

"Urgh," Someone moaned. Isuke Ransiki was slowly waking up. "What happened? It's like-" The man was starting to get up when his face was smushed in the ground, effectively knocking him out again. Uryuu stood in all his glory with his foot on the back of Isuke's head.

"Where's Ichigo?" He demanded. Catching sight of the orange haired teen, Uryuu made his way across the room. Chad picked up the unconscious man and (not so gently) dropped him into a nearby chair.

"So," Uryuu crossed his arms lazily. "It's not like I care, but...what happened?"

"So you do care," Ichigo sweatdropped.

"No, I don't."

"You obviously do."

"Are you going to tell me what happened or not?" Uryuu huffed.

"Not til you admit that you care," Ichigo said.

"Ichigo, let's all sit down and talk things over," Isshin settled down in a chair and gestured for the boys to do the same. The four dragged their chairs and sat around Rukia's bed. Kon decided to sit protectively at Rukia's feet, listening to the conversation. "So, what happened? Because apparently, I leave to run to a friend's house and you get into major trouble."

"The injury is nothing," Ichigo fingered the bandages underneath his red shirt, the ones that were wrapped around his torso. "Compared to the ones from the shinigami job."

"Start from the beginning."

"Okay," Ichigo began. "Rukia and I were bored so I called over the gang. Uryuu and I were arguing, Tatsuki and Orihime were talking, Chad was drinking...something."

"Water," Chad supplied. "Then, Rukia felt unwell so she went upstairs."

"I woke her up around dinnertime," Ichigo continued.

"Alone in your room?" Isshin's eyebrows moved suggestively.

"Now that I think about it," Uryuu smirked. "They took quite a while to get downstairs."

"Joking aside," The grown up man held up his hands, saving his son from further embarrassment (even though Ichigo wasn't at all embarassed). "Did she act weird in anyway?"

"Do you mean from how she usually acts or in genral?" Ichigo asked. At Chad's pointed look, he sighed. "Yeah, she was really cold, which is odd because her zanpakuto is Sode no Shirayuki, which is snow and ice based. She seemed kind of dazed when I told her to get out of the street."

"She was really pale," Uryuu added.

"Now that I think about it," Chad struggled to remember. "She told me that she had a headache and was going upstairs to rest."

"Exhaustion, paleness, and freezing cold," Isshin muttered darkly, hand on his chin. "I think I have a faint idea of what and why Rukia's sick."

"What is it?" Ichigo asked anxiously, literally on the edge his seat. He missed the look Chad and Uryuu exchanged behind his back.

"Again, I only have a faint idea and it's a myth..." Silence filled the room as each man thought. Err- each man and stuffed animal. Suddenly, the house shook.

"This reiatsu!" Kon leaped onto his stubby legs. "It's just popped up. Was it hidden?"

"Ichigo, where's it coming from?" Isshin and Ichigo detached from their gigai simultaneously. Chad's arms transformed; the right one a black shield with red design and the left white with red lines. Uryuu was contemplating whether to wear his long white cape or the short one, his current clothes (a blue t-shirt with jeans) or switch into his white Quincy uniform.

"I can't tell where," Ichigo's face scrunched up with concentration. A scream pierced the chilled air. They identified it as the girls.

"I guess now we do," Chad said, opening the window for them to leap out. A gust of snow laced air blew into the room, causing everyone to shiver.

"What about Nee-san?!" Kon gestured to the sleeping girl.

"We'll have to take her with us," Isshin carefully wrapped Rukia up in a cloak and handed her to Ichigo. "Ready?"

"Wait!" Uryuu was still deciding which cape to wear. At Ichigo's I will kill you if you don't hurry up look and Isshin's impatientness, he chose to wear his current clothes with the long white cape. "Let's go."

Chad jumped out of the window, then Uryuu, and then Isshin.

"Kon?" Ichigo offered his shoulder and the lion perched on it cautiously.

"Go! To save Orihime and her valley of pleasures!" Kon yelled, fist raised in the air. "Um...we'll save the rest of them, too."

And off they went.


"Yuzu, Karin, stay here!" Tatsuki sat the two in the cover of trees. "Me and Hime will get the Hollows to stay away."

"Santen Kesshun!" Orihime held her hands out and an orange barrier formed in front of her. "Koten Zanshun!" Tsubaki, her offensive attack 'fairy', was covered by a thin barrier and sliced through several Hollows. Tatsuki was a whirl. She karate chopped some, flipped over others, and overall kicked butt.

Even though the Hollows were pretty small, there was so many. Definately too much for the two teenagers to handle alone. Soon, Tatsuki and Orihime stood back to back, both exhausted.

"I hope Ichigo and the others get here soon," Orihime said, breathing hard. Her shield deflected an oncoming attack and Tsubaki cutted through the monsters, but he was showing signs of wear.

Back with the twins...

"Yuzu, I'm going to help out," Karin said, taking a soccer ball out of her bag. Yuzu looked up at her with wide eyes, but nodded.

"Be careful," Was all Yuzu whispered as she watched her sister dribble away from her location

"Hey you uglies!" Karin aimed a kick at a nearby Hollow and it disintegrated. The white and black ball hit other Hollows. She ran to Tatsuki and Orihime, her soccer ball stopping to rest at her feet. "My soccer ball was enhanced with Hollow killing power." Karin said proudly.

"Thanks!" Tatsuki grinned. But, even with the help of Karin, the girls were surrounded. Tatsuki gulped, "We're dead." A hollow raised an arm to attack them and Karin closed her eyes, waiting for impact.

It never came.

"Missed us?" Ichigo asked cockily as he leaped from tree to tree, Zangetsu slashing hollow after hollow. Uryuu aimed his bow into the air and released several thousand arrows, all coming down as a shower of blue. Chad was protecting Yuzu and Rukia, who Yuzu was holding in her arms. Kon sat with them. Isshin was...well, he was being epic.

"Why are there so many?" Uryuu shouted above the noise, but continued defeating them.

The help of the guys really made a difference. Eventually, the Hollows were gone, either dead or retreated.

"I texted you on your phone." Isshin said, hugging Karin tightly. "You shouldn't have gone outside."

"I left my phone at my house," Orihime leaned against a tree in exhaustion.

"We're all safe," Ichigo slung Zangetsu onto his back and wiped sweat off his brow. "Let's just go home."

Chad lifted up Rukia and offered a hand to Yuzu. "Yes, let's go," he said.

"I'll carry her," Uryuu started to take the body from Chad, but Ichigo beat him to it.

"I got her."

Smirking at one another, Uryuu carried Yuzu while Karin sat on Chad's broad shoulders.

"The hurricane's coming," Tatsuki shielded her eyes and looked at the horizon where a storm was brewing.

"What hurricane?" Ichigo asked, shifting Rukia into a more comfortable position.

"Just because you don't watch the news," She rolled her eyes. Then she saw Ichigo. "What are you doing?"

"Umm, nothing," He said, simply deciding to put her over his shoulder. "And I don't watch the news, but isn't there a Frankenstorm thing?"

"Yes, a mix of various winter storms and a hurricane," Chad picked up Karin's soccer ball.

"Hurricane Shannaro," Uryuu added.

The trees whipped around as the wind gained speed.

"Sleepover?" Kon proposed.


"The people along the shore are evacuated. As you can see, the waves are starting to come up and the storm is not here yet. We advise you all to stay inside," The news anchor droned into her microphone. She pulled her red coat closer to her body as water came close to her feet. "This is Marcia Yamasuko, signing out."

"Thank you, Marcia. You should leave as soon as you can and seek shelter," The male weather reporter bowed. Waving his hand over a Japan map, he said, "We are likely to have snow. Especially Karakura town. Hurricane Shannaro is to dump approximately two feet of snow."

Ichigo whistled in amazement and switched the T.V off. "Did you guys hear that?"

"We did," Uryuu said. "Because you put the volume to 48!"

"Yeah, whatever." He sighed and walked over to the kitchen counter, leaning on it lazily. "Rukia would love the snow."

"You say this because?" Tatsuki prompted. Everyone exchanged glances and snickered quietly.

In response, Ichigo shrugged. "I'll go take a shower."

"That's irrelevant, but I'll go next!" Tatsuki said before anyone could call the spot and use all the hot water.

"Me after!" Uryuu and Orihime claimed at the same time. Looking her awkwardly, he waved his hands. "You can go first."

"Thanks," She answered and turned her gaze else where, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. A similar blush fanned out on Uryuu's face.

"Oh, just look at you two," Tatsuki, being the best friend she is, cooed. "It's so cute."

"N-nothing!" Uryuu stuttered and pointed at their carrot top friend accusingly. "What about Ichigo and Rukia?"

"What about me and Rukia?" He asked nonchalantly, grabbing a glass of water.

"You know what," Uryuu said. Ichigo gave him a confused look.

"I don't think he knows what we're talking about," Tatsuki smirked. "Uryuu's talking about the relationship between you and Ru-chan."

"What about our relationship?" Ichigo said, taking a sip from the cup.

"So you admit you have a relationship with her!" Uryuu poked him triumphantly.

If they were living in an anime, Ichigo would have a spit take. But since this is real life we're talking about, he swallowed the water like a human being. "W-what are you talking about?" He demanded.

"You and Kuchiki-san are dating, right?" Orihime asked, wiping her hands on a towel. Smiling to everyone, she said, "Do you want pancakes with blueberries?"

Isshin started to nod when Orihime continued.

"With ketchup syrup, mayonnaise butter, gummi bears, and bean paste?" Tatsuki shook her head, Uryuu politely said no, Chad stayed silent, Ichigo internally gagged, and Isshin just walked out of the room.

"Fine then, more for me!" She happily wolfed down the concoction. Ichigo mentally thanked her for changing the subject. "Now, back to you and Kuchiki-san." He thought too soon.

"We aren't in a relationship. Just friends," He said. At the disbelieving look on his friends' faces, he thumbed (you know, point with his thumb?) the door behind him. "I'll be right back. Me and the shower need to have a moment."

"That's going to wait," Isshin came in back through the door and hastily picked a clipboard. "Rukia's awake."


She was running through a shallow river, laughing and chasing a fish around. A red haired little boy, about her age, was watching her from the shore.

"Hey, Rukia!" He called. "The sun's setting. Get back here!"

"A moment longer," She answered, eyes still on the koi. Unsuspectingly, she stepped on a sharp rock and slipped.

"Rukia!" Renji threw his fishing spear to the side and waded out to her. Rukia's foot was bleeding badly and she was neck deep in water, but was surprised him the most was that she giggling, hugging something to her chest. "Rukia?"

"I got the fishy!" She cried and moved her arms, allowing him to peek. "Oh!" The koi fish slipped out of her hands and quickly swam away. As the two stared off into the sunset, Renji saw something odd.

"Hey, what's that?" Squinting, he barely made out a large wave heading their way. "Flash flood?"

Before he knew it, the water was upon them. It washed them both in separate directions. As quickly as it came, it disappeared just as suddenly.

"Rukia!" He found her on the banks, spluttering. Her eyes were dull and she was on her back.

"Renji?"


Her eyes cracked open and her blurry vision could make out a hazy face.

"Renji?"

An unfamiliar orange haired boy was hovering over her. He was obviously concerned. His eyes brightened as he saw her awaken. "Ah, Rukia, I was getting-"

"Who are you?


Soooo, how was it? My birthday was on the 25th...There's a poll on my profile...nothing else to say...

What up with Hurricane Sandy, ruining Halloween on the East Coast? I'm in Jersey, but...

Hope you liked it!

~Rikato Tojidofukuto