Withering – Chapter 2

Ryuuken made it through the meeting without further complications, and the next, and the next one. Like everyday he kept going until after dark. Until after most of the administration staff had gone home. He then covered a 12 hour shift for a sick colleague in the ER.

He didn't get home until after noon the next day. Throwing his jacket in the hallway, he made his way to the bright kitchen, where he poured himself a large scotch and lighted a cigarette. He inhaled deeply as he sat down heavily on the uncomfortable kitchen chair. He was tired beyond belief.

Just bone tired.

Too tired to think.

The way he preferred it.

He gulped down the scotch in one go, relishing in the bitter after taste. Bringing the cigarette to his lips and inhaling deeply he was cut short by a nasty rasping cough. The sound of it testified to the fact that his lungs still were under a lot of strain from the pneumonia. It had been a bad bout.

Reluctantly he put out the cigarette and made his way to bed. He just stripped down, tossing the clothes on the floor. One of the perks of having a maid..

An urgent sense of choking woke Ryuuken up. Panic struck as he sat up with a start and immediately began coughing. The damn spasm was rattling his frame through the core.

On shaky legs he found the bathroom and kept coughing over sink, which was quickly stained by the thick plegm that had build up over the short while he'd slept.

He had only just regained his breath when his phone rang.

"Ishida," He answered and winced at the sound of his voice. When had that begun to sound so rough?

"I'm sorry to call you, Ishida-sama. I told them you were sleeping."

"I was up anyway," He pulled the phone away and coughed a couple of times, "-What is it?"

"We have 2 people in cardio and 1 in the ER down with the stomach flu. I have called everyone else, but Aguko-san and Hakura-san are on holliday and Hyuu is sick too." His secretary was sounding truly desperate.

Ryuuken fumbled after a cigarette in his shirt on the floor with hands shaking with the need of nicotine.

"I'll be right in." He answered and hung up. Bringing the cigarette to his lips and lighting it marked the beginning of a new day 6 o'clock in the evening.

He took a quick shower and put on a fresh crisp suit.

Just keep going.

Keep it up.

The next morning Kurosaki Isshin woke up late and relished in the fact that he could back to sleep if he wanted. It was Saturday.

In stead he walked out into the kitchen only to find it occupied by 4 teenagers where only one of them where his own.

"Ohayo Kurosaki sama," squeeled Orihime, "- I've made pan cakes."

"Ohayo," Isshin mumbled. It was still far too early to harass them – he would come back with a vengenge. For now he settled for Orihime's pan cakes.

He wasn't too impressed with Orihime's skills in a kitchen, but admitted to himself that they were better than he'd expected.

"Are there any news from Soul Sociey, Kurosaki-sama?" Uryuu suddenly asked and for a second Isshin could have sworn he heard Ryuuken's voice.

"It too early to talk serious," Isshin moaned and yawned to emphasize, "-so what are 4 healthy young people like yourselves up to today?"

"We were thinking about going over to Kisuke's place later to see if he'd got any news," Chad informed him and shrugged without much enthusiasm. Isshin face quickly formed to one of annoyance..

"You're telling me that you are going to use a perfectly good Saturday to seek out information about war?"

Ichigo nodded.

And Isshin smacked him right across the face.

"THAT IS JUST WRONG!" He bellowed.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" Ichigo howled.

"You should be out playing soccer or see a movie..." Isshin's face where turning bight red "- or something."

He contained himself a bit.

"You shouldn't waste your youth worrying about the wars of Soul Society. You should be out having fun."

Uryuu's gaze suddenly went hard. It took a second for Isshin to figure out why.

That statement was remarkably close to Ryuuken's way of thinking. He wouldn't exactly have phrased that way though. More like "Care for the living instead".

"So you haven't heard any news then?" Uryuu asked again. Isshin let himself fall back into to the chair again.

"God, you're so much more like your farther than anyone of you care to admit. Mr. All business!"

That earned him some stares.

"You know Uryuu's father?" Ichigo ventured.

"Yeah, we're old friends," Isshin answered, looking down into his coffee cup, "-or something like that."

Uryuu said nothing and his lips where even more tight than usual.

"Anyways, there was something going on to the east, but it turned out to be nothing more than an unorganized half hearted rebellion." Isshin explained, sensing that the kids wouldn't find rest until he told them.

"Nothing more than that?" Ichigo asked disbelievingly.

"Nothing more" Isshin confirmed, "It's very quiet."