Chapter 3: Cracks
(I am in a rush to be off to do some family stuff, so I will catch up on shout outs next chapter. I am loving this story, so there will be more updates in the near future. The Spunky train is rolling full-steam this week! My muse is falling all over herself, cranking this stuff out! Enjoy the new chapter. Love to all, Spunky)
Ichigo began to rise out of sleep, and as he did, his hazy mind registered the close presence of a slender, warm body pressing close to his and shivering softly. One handsome golden brown eye opened and slowly focused, coming to rest on the person beside him, the quincy youth who had continued to care for him constantly since the final battle of the shinigami and quincy war. A little sad smile touched Ichigo's lips as he felt Uryu quiver again and heard the other young man's very soft sounds of pain and distress.
Who can blame him for having nightmares? So much has happened to Uryu. Ywach killed his mom too, and Uryu walked in on his dad while Ryuuken was cutting the silver clot out of his mother's heart. He misunderstood, but couldn't explain to his dad. It caused him years of pain and made him afraid to become a doctor.
Uryu's hands when he was helping with my healing…
Uryu is a natural healer. He told me that before he saw his father that time, and misunderstood things, he wanted more than anything to be a doctor, just like his dad. Yeah, Uryu used to look up to Ryuuken, and Ryuuken used to be a person who you should look up to. They both have a lot of healing to do before they can move on.
We all do.
He opened his other eye and shifted slightly to get a better look at his sleeping companion. Ichigo's heart ached at how Uryu's clothes were still so torn and dirty, and how the splashes of blood on his skin hadn't even been washed away.
He said that he didn't feel comfortable asking for healing from people that the quincies were trying to kill only a few days ago. I get it, but I don't like seeing him suffer. Damn, I wanna get outta this bed and get him someone who will heal him. Orihime's here, although she's been so busy with people in danger of dying, she's barely getting enough sleep. Tetsuya would help, I know, but he's been with old Michio, handling the constant arrivals of new injured who keep coming in. The fourth division hasn't arrived yet. They're still out in the wreckage, finding people who desperately need their help. I would try healing Uryu myself, if I wasn't such a mess.
Maybe I should try just a little healing. I can't do much, but maybe I can do a little. Uryu's been there for me. I complain about his bedside manner, and he has been short-tempered, but who wouldn't be, with so many injured people, who are only in that condition because of the hatred and wickedness of the quincies who followed Ywach?
Ichigo carefully pulled free of Uryu's collapsed and deeply sleeping form and he sat up slowly, carefully avoiding putting pressure on his recently healed wounds. He rested for a moment on his knees, breathing slowly and waiting as his heart quickened to the point where he began to see spots in front of his eyes, then more slowly, calmed into a more regular cadence.
Ugh, I still feel pretty horrible.
He gave a wry smile as he leaned over his friend.
At least I'm alive. At least my friends are alive. I'm glad we're still here and we're healing. It's really sad to think that Old Man Yama is gone, that Komamura isn't coming back, and that Unohana-san died too. Then, there were all of the soldiers. I could barely stand to hear when they said how many had died from each of the thirteen squads. In the end, the deaths amounted to over twenty-thousand, and they haven't even finished. That number rises a little every day as they comb through the wreckage.
I have to stop thinking about that.
Not because I don't care, but because we are still struggling.
He turned his attention back to the young man he knelt beside, reaching over to moisten a fresh washcloth, then moving to touch it to Uryu's filthy and frowning face. Uryu gasped and came awake instantly, cringing away from him.
"Whoa, take it easy," Ichigo said soothingly, "It's just me."
"Oh," Uryu said, deflating, "sorry, Ichigo. It was just a dream."
Ichigo smiled and started to reach over to continue washing his face, but the quincy youth turned aside and pushed his hand away.
"You shouldn't be doing that. You should be resting," he chided his friend.
"Well, so should you," Ichigo countered, "and you should get yourself healed. You look really beat up. You should at least let me wash off the dirt and bandage your wounds."
"It's fine," Uryu sighed, "I'll be fine. I guess since you're well enough to be up and around, I'll go back home. I need to talk to my dad about things anyway. I've just been putting it off."
Ichigo gave him a skeptical look.
"That's not why you wanna leave," he said with certainty.
"What do you mean?" Uryu asked, his frown deepening, "If you mean the fact that I'm surrounded by shinigamis that my own kind tried to kill, can you blame me for being uncomfortable here?"
"Uh-uh," Ichigo said, crossing his arms, "That's not it either."
"Then, what…?"
Ichigo leaned forward suddenly, his warm, rough lips capturing his quincy friend's in a fierce and passionate kiss. Uryu stiffened and his hands came up to push Ichigo away, but after a few tremulous moments, he gave a flustered exhale and sagged against his amorous friend. Ichigo ran his fingers through the long hairs that covered part of Uryu's face. He caught his breath in surprise as the drawn back strands revealed that one of Uryu's eyes had been blackened and his cheek on that side was cut and badly bruised.
"Uryu," Ichigo managed in a choked voice, "What the hell happened? Your face wasn't like that before. I mean, I was a little out of it, but I would have noticed. Who did this to you?"
"Who do you think?" Uryu whispered wearily, "Someone who lost family in the quincy war, and who wouldn't believe me when I said I wasn't going to harm anyone."
Ichigo shook his head in disgust.
"Who was it?" he growled, "I'll go and…"
"You don't need to go anywhere," Uryu insisted, pushing him back down onto his bed, "Kuchiki Nori stopped it, and he said that as soon as there is a healer available, he will send them here. So, stop it. Stop worrying."
His fingertips rose and touched his still tingling lips.
"And don't kiss me like that again."
"Why not?" Ichigo asked, touching his arm gently, "I was being honest with you about how I feel about you. Are you saying that you don't feel anything like that for me?"
Uryu paused for a moment, his eyes reflecting intense internal conflict. Ichigo leaned closer so that his warm, masculine scent radiated with his quincy friend, and he gazed into Uryu's tortured blue eyes steadily.
"Your mouth says one thing when you talk to me, but it tells me something different when I kiss you. You can tell all of the lies you want, but I see the truth on your face, as clear as those cuts and bruises. There's a reason we worked so well together in defeating Ywach."
"No, Ichigo, we just had the same goal, that's all."
"Liar!" Ichigo laughed softly, taking Uryu by the upper arms and kissing him again, until Uryu collapsed against him and gave in, sinking deeply into the kisses and shaking softly.
"This is stupid," he whispered into Ichigo's shoulder, "I'm…"
"Shh, don't say anymore," Ichigo said, kissing his cheek, "And don't talk about leaving. Stay here with me and when I'm well enough, we'll go home together."
"What if you have to move to the Seireitei?" Uryu asked, "You're the Shiba heir."
"Huh," Ichigo huffed softly, "I'm who I've always been. I'm Kurosaki Ichigo."
XXXXXXXXXX
Tetsuya woke to the sound of a metal utensil tapping against porcelain and he opened his eyes and found Juushiro sitting up against the pillows and devouring a plate of food. A little smile touched his lips and he sat up and stretched, noticing then the heaping plate that had been left for him.
"You made me sleep all night," he observed, a hint of guilt in the words.
"You needed it," Juushiro said unrepentantly, "Go on and eat. There are people who arrived early this morning, so Michio will need your help."
He watched as Tetsuya lifted the heavy plate onto his lap and gazed quietly down at the food.
"Has the fourth division arrived?" Tetsuya asked, taking a large bite of the hot, savory offering.
"Not yet," the white-haired taichou explained, "but they are on their way. It shouldn't be much longer."
"Mmmm," Tetsuya sighed, relief filling his voice, "thank goodness."
"You and the other healers have done a wonderful job, helping the ones who have been brought here."
He started to say more, but a young man appeared suddenly in the doorway, carrying a wounded and unconscious child.
"Tetsuya-san, there was an attack at the Saito shelter!" the man exclaimed, "There are dozens of dead and injured. We hurried this boy here because he is critical. Michio-san is in surgery and there isn't anyone else to help. Can you help him?"
Tetsuya nodded and slipped out of the bed.
"Lay him here, Eiji," he directed the man holding the boy.
He waited as the boy was laid down, then he moved forward and sat down beside the bed. He leaned over the boy on one side as Juushiro set his food aside and turned onto his knees to help.
"What can I do?" Juushiro asked, "I don't have much power right now, but I have enough reiatsu to help with his."
"Give him an infusion," Tetsuya directed him, "Just…keep the influx steady and not so much that it will deplete you. You are still recovering."
Juushiro nodded briefly and began the infusion.
Tetsuya quickly examined the boy, his brow furrowing and a flicker of distress mounting inside as he read the extent of the boy's injuries. He gave Juushiro a worried look.
"It's pretty bad, isn't it?" Juushiro said calmly.
"This is really beyond my skill," Tetsuya confessed, "Is Orihime…?"
"I already tried," Eiji said dejectedly, "She is with another critical case…a baby that was not breathing when we arrived. Please, Tetsuya-san, this boy is my cousin. Can you please try to save him?"
"Of course," Tetsuya assured him, "I will do everything that I can."
He read the deep bruising and scanned the area more closely.
"He has a broken arm and several broken ribs," Tetsuya said softly.
"I can work a little on his arm," Juushiro offered.
"Good," Tetsuya said in a relieved tone, "I have to address his internal injuries and bleeding. Was he near an explosion?"
"Yes," Eiji said, his head bowing sadly, "A band of quincy soldiers burst in through the barrier and attacked very suddenly, "My cousin, Arata, went down in the first blast. I grabbed him and ran. We couldn't save his father or his mother."
Tetsuya's eyes closed for a moment and he took a steadying breath. He focused on the place where he sensed the bleeding and focused his power, flowing blue light from his hands and into the youth's slightly enlarged abdomen. Sweat broke out on his forehead and his body quivered softly as he sensed the boy's injuries were beginning to overcome him.
I won't let you die!
Tetsuya felt a shimmer in the reiatsu that was flowing from his hands, then out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his zanpakuto, that had been set in a stand across the room, was glowing faintly.
What? What is that glow?
"Tetsuya-san," Eiji said in a scared voice, "Tetsuya-san, Arata stopped breathing!"
Tetsuya stiffened, staring at the boy and feeling a dark sense of doom closing in.
I have to do something!
He felt a familiar flicker in his mind and heard the voice of the pixie spirit that lived in his weapon.
Master…let me help you.
Tetsuya increased the flow of his reiatsu into the little boy's body, wrapping his power around the broken bones and damaged tissues and willing furiously for them to mend.
Master!
"Tetsuya-san, please!" Eiji pleaded, staring in horror as his cousin's breaths remained stilled.
What can we do? Tetsuya asked the spirit, You are a fighting blade. We use waterforms for fighting.
There was a long moment of silence in his mind that clashed soundly with the agonized noise Eiji made as he fell onto his knees at his cousin's bedside.
"Arata!"
Trust me, Master, the sword spirit urged him.
Tetsuya opened his mind to the spirit, offering himself to her.
Re-kuhime, if you know a way to use our power to save this boy, then please do it! We can't let him die!
He felt the close presence of the spirit as she entered his body and took control.
Trust me, my Master. I will save him, but…you cannot see.
Tetsuya felt a bright light envelop him and his mind went into a long, dizzying spin. He heard Juushiro and Eiji make sounds of surprise as power erupted in the room, but he sank down into unconsciousness as his zanpakuto took over. He wasn't sure how long he laid in silence and darkness, and when he woke next, it was nighttime and the boy and his cousin were gone from the room. Tetsuya sat up and was immediately greeted with a fresh plate of food.
"Eat first, and then we'll talk," Juushiro said, an edge of hauntedness in his tone.
"Is Arata…all right?" Tetsuya asked in a wavering voice.
"He survived," Juushiro said solemnly, "Whatever you did, it caused his injuries to heal, and he started breathing again."
"Thank goodness," Tetsuya sighed, digging into the food and eating heartily as his empty stomach nagged him incessantly, "I am sorry if my loss of consciousness worried you. I was just that determined to help Arata, even though I knew it was beyond my ability."
"Hmm," Juushiro said thoughtfully, watching Tetsuya closely, "I've been thinking about that. Can you tell me? Has your zanpakuto ever acted this way before?"
"No," Tetsuya said around a bite of his food, "I told you, we are trained for fighting, not healing."
The white-haired taichou looked back at him thoughtfully.
"What I saw and sensed had the feel of your power, and I sensed it was a shikai, but it was nothing like you described. You said you use waterforms in your shikai?"
"Yes," Tetsuya confirmed.
He paused and frowned as Re-kuhime's words returned to him.
I will save him…but you cannot see.
"Are you all right, Tetsuya?" Juushiro asked, his brow furrowing.
"I am fine," Tetsuya assured him, "I am just…still a little groggy. I will have to speak to Re-kuhime once things have calmed down. I agree that what happened was…unexpected. But it saved Arata."
"It did do that," Juushiro said approvingly.
The two looked up as Tetsuya's attendant arrived in the doorway.
"Tetsuya-san!" Koji said excitedly, "The fourth division has arrived!"
XXXXXXXXXX
Toshiro felt flickers of returning pain, and they slowly grew into splintered shards under his skin. He groaned unhappily, trying to sit up, only to be gently laid back down by restraining hands.
"Do not try to move around," Byakuya's voice warned him, cutting through the gripping blackness around him.
"Where are we?" Toshiro croaked softly, "Is it still nighttime?"
Byakuya paused and an anguished look overtook his handsome face for a moment.
"You…sustained a head injury. It seems to have disrupted your vision," the noble explained, "Rest quietly. I am sure that when we get back to the camp, my family's healers can help you."
He doesn't sound very sure.
This is as close to scared as Byakuya gets, I think.
"H-how long have we been here?" the younger man asked.
Something warm touched his lips and he parted them to let in a spoonful of tea.
"You don't have to feed me," Toshiro chided him, "I can drink my tea in the dark."
He could feel the noble flinch at the words and felt a heavy disturbance in the other man's reiatsu.
"Byakuya, don't worry. I'll be fine. I've heard plenty about head wounds causing temporary blindness."
I hope that is all this is.
"But we should get back to the encampment."
"There was another attack nearby just a short time ago," Byakuya said in a low, anxious tone, "I do not think it is wise for us to move just yet. Are you hungry? There are rations."
"Sure," Toshiro answered.
I feel almost too sick to eat. What if it isn't temporary? What if…?
He jumped as a packet was set in his hands and he nearly dropped it.
"Are you all right, Toshiro?" asked Byakuya.
"F-fine," the younger man assured him, "I was just distracted for a moment."
He set about eating his food, but could feel that Byakuya was watching him and that the noble's thoughts were still heavy.
"I am sorry," Byakuya said finally.
"Sorry for what?" Toshiro asked.
"We should have returned to the encampment as you said. You were injured because I made a poor decision."
"You cared too much about Abarai to go back. I get it," Toshiro said firmly.
"It was wrong."
"No," Toshiro insisted, "You were right about the situation when you asked me what I would do if it was Rangiku. I wouldn't have gone back either. That's why when you wanted to search more, I stayed with you. I made my own decision. You're not to blame for what happened."
"But I am," Byakuya said in a still calm, but haunted tone, "And because I have caused you this injury, I promise you that I will see that you are healed."
He knows he can't promise me that.
We both know this could be permanent…