Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. Except for my OCs and my plot. (Although I do own a 'Bleach' for my clothes in my house) *Cough* 'Kay. I should quit such outdated and lame pun now. My bad.


ブリッジ

Burijji


(七)

Third Person's POV

In a washitsu(1), surrounded by tatami floors and shōjis(2), there were several calligraphic painting adorning the walls. For those who knows about caligraphy, it was a piece worthy of admiring for whilst sipping a cup of tea in a late afternoon. Simultaneously, the soft chirping from the sparrows could be heard from the open yard outside of the shop. Accompanied by scents of herbs and green tea as it wafted in. An air befitting the modesty and the traditional ambiance the room gave off.

However, the noises whichever originated or came from, broke the tranquility and peacefulness the elegance of the room had offered.

"Will Akamine-senpai be alright?" Orihime asked worriedly. Although she has used her ability to treat the wounded third-year for her major wounds, Orihime still hung up on the well-being of Mana and couldn't stop herself from worrying. Even though the writer has already past the crisis and wasn't in any life-danger situation.

"Seriously," Ishida rebuked through gritted teeth, "just what exactly were you doing Kurosaki!? You were there with her when the hollow had attacked, weren't you!?" Hot in his head, Ishida banged the wooden table hard with his fist. Apparently, the fact that a patient was resting and recuperating in the next room was forgotten so soon by the Quincy, who's also the most worried one out of the group.

Ichigo kept his silence whilst his bespectacled friend berated on and on. Ishida was right; he was there when it happened.

Even though it was an accident and something they have no control over, Ichigo still blame himself for failing to protect his upperclassman greatly. The downcast gaze and quietness from the usual irascible carrot head were a giveaway for everyone to grasp what he was thinking.

"I-Ishida-kun..." Orihime hushed, while Sado allayed from aside. "Enough, Ishida. You know it wasn't anyone's fault."

"But-!"

"What happened can't be change. All we ought to do now is to wait for Akamine to wake up and recover. Not dwelling in the past and arguing about who's responsible or whatnot." The last speech from Rukia has shut everyone up, including the miffed Quincy from his incessant complains.

Honestly, Ichigo didn't mind though. Ishida was right. It was his fault that everything ended up in such a mess. He should have took action instantly the moment he had detected the hollow in the school.

Ichigo gritted his teeth, before standing up. Catching everyone in the room's attention. "Sorry, I'm going out for a bit." After the words left his mouth, he started towards the sliding door, before shutting it and exited the shop by himself without a glance back at his comrades.

Maybe spending some time alone might ease his thought and feel better. If not a little.

"W-Wait, Kurosaki-kun-!" Orihime stood up from her seat, wanting to chase after the orange haired. But was stopped by Sado who was seated beside her. The tanned male shook his head as he grabbed onto her wrist. His body language couldn't be anymore obvious; it was best to leave him alone for a while.

Having gotten what her classmate meant, although reluctant, Orihime still obeyed and did what she thought was best for Ichigo. And just resumed sitting back on the tatami floor.

And that was when Mana began to stir and regain her consciousness.

Mana strained her eyes a little when she opened up her eyes half-way. Probably still having trouble to adjust to the contrast of light from before and after waking up. Then, after the scarlet head was used to the sun rays shining through the window in the unfamiliar room, Mana started to process her surrounding as she tilted her head to get a better angle at the place she was at.

For some reason, she couldn't muster the strength to get up from the futon, as well as moving any of her muscles at the moment. Whenever she tried to exert her strength, her body would scream in pain and protested greatly.

Ah. That's right. I was injured...

The realization hit Mana a minute later. No wonder she felt the weight of her torso – all the way down her waist heavier than usual. Those were the works of the bandages. Probably.

Just how badly she was injured, she wondered. The only concern the young writer had was whether her injury would hinder her from her work. Mana seriously hoped not. As if she could afford to delay her work when the submission date for her drafts was just after Winter. And the Winter is almost over, if Mana hadn't lost her sense of time in the period of her slumber - that is.

While the workaholic was worrying over how much time left she has had to catch up if she took time off of her writing, the door slid open just then.

"Oya oya. It seems like you're finally awake, Miss Akamine."

Standing by the door, was a man who wore a bucket hat while holding out a Chinese hand-held fan. As much as Mana wanted to sit up and greet the man out of politeness (despite the shady vibe he was giving off), the fact that her body was a wreck didn't improve the situation any better, she'd afraid.

When the man saw what Mana was trying to do, he quickly interrupted and said. "Ah. It's alright. It's best for you not to overexert yourself and move your body too much, Miss Akamine. You're in a pretty bad shape after all." With a small twist of his wrist, the bucket-hat man explained while covertly hiding behind his fan once again.

"Um... Mister. Pardon my rudeness, but may I know where is this place?" asked Mana. Since the man had said so, she guessed it would be best for her to settle on the futon and lay down for the time being. Even if it had appeared inappropriate and rude in the presence of others.

"You're at the Urahara shōten, missy. And I'm Urahara Kisuke~ The owner of this shop. Pleasure to be your acquaintance, Miss Akamin-"

"-SENPAI!"

Before Urahara could finished his introduction, he was knocked down by a bunch of intruders busting through the door, whom have occupied and seen loitering in his shop ever since they have brought Mana over. Ishida was the first to rush over to the scarlet head's side upon receiving news of her awakening. "H-How are you feeling? W-Were you feeling h-hurt anywhere?" Ishida stuttered. His hands were flailing in the air in a lost of what to do.

The only thought the bespectacled Quincy was now thinking was, if only he was there by her side. If he were there with her when the assault had occurred, Mana wouldn't have gotten injured. She wouldn't have been lying down here like this. Although it was no one's fault, the slight guilt that has been pricking on Ishida's conscience wouldn't go away since then.

Mana smiled warmly at her junior's concern over her condition. "I'm alright, Ishida-kun. Though I wonder why... are you here?"

"We brought you here after you have been severely injured. And Inoue was the one who had healed your wounds," provided Rukia. Entering the room after Ishida and right on her trail, was Orihime. As she saw the current bedridden girl, Orihime scuttled over to Mana with teary eyes and worried expression. "How fortunate... Thank god you have come to your senses, Akamine-senpai. We were so worried about you these whole time..." Orihime sniffed whilst wiping a stray tear that has escaped through her eye.

Two days have passed ever since the school was attacked and Mana fell into a coma. After having investigated by the Soul Society, it turns out that the hollow originally came from Hueco Mundo. Which later deduced that it possibly had wandered into the human realm amidst the full-scale battle between Soul Society and Aizen and his troops not too long ago. The Gaganta had opened and closed multiple times during the battle after all. It wouldn't be strange if a few have snuck into the human realm as a result of that.

Fortunately, the enormous hollow appears to be only large in size. Its intelligence and agility were similar to most of the third-rate hollows roaming in the human realm. So, Ichigo alone took care of it pretty quickly and cleanly. Despite the fact that he underestimated the enemy in the beginning, which he believed has led to Mana gotten hurt was his responsibility. While in truth, it was a factor no one could predict or control over. Much less wanted.

"I see... Sorry for making all of you worried. Everyone." Mana smiled wryly. Trying to mask the pain that was coursing through her body as best as she could, as the effect of the anesthetics was wearing off. And now Mana could pin-point where, and how many wounds she had received from the hollow.

It was definitely going to take a while for them to heal completely.

"By the way, where's Ichigo-kun?" queried Mana. In the room with her, there were only Ishida, Inoue, Kuchiki and Urahara. The sight of the orange-haired she expected to see wasn't there. Though the writer was sure that he was with the others just a moment ago... or did she imagined it? It couldn't be, something has happened to him during the assault. Could it?

Sensing the atmosphere was stiffening with each seconds passing by with no words exchange by any of them, Urahara broke the awkwardness by snapping his fan shut before saying. "Kurosaki-kun went for an errand per my instruction. He should be back soon, Miss Akamine. Don't worry~"

"Then, does that mean he's safe and sound? That's great..." muttered Mana, who later heaved a sigh of relief. The recollection from when she and Ichigo were attacked was blur and there seem to be gaps and holes in her memories. Maybe she was too tired to think or the shock still hadn't leave her body. However, one thing Mana knew for sure was, Ichigo and her were attacked by a being she never knows about. Being she had never comes into contact with until two days ago.

Just what was that, exactly?

For some reason, the room suddenly grew quiet, with heaviness hanging onto the air ever since Mana had inquired the wherabout of the Shinigami Representative. No one spoke or even make eye contacts with one another. They either looked at the floor which they found to be the most interesting thing in the moment, or wore an unreadable expression. Mainly in Ishida's case.

Did Ichigo really went off for an errand like what Urahara said? Mana now has her doubts in regards to that.

-Meanwhile-

"It is fortunate that her broken ribs hadn't pierce her lungs and constricted her breathing, or else it would turn problematic... Don't worry. Other than a few broken ribs and fractures, there's nothing life threatening. Her condition has more or less stabilized. She should wake up after a day or two and be fine by getting plenty of rest."

As he trekked the path alone, what Tessai had told Ichigo a few days ago still rang in the back of his mind. He was there with her. Yet, he couldn't protect her... He failed to do so. An innocent human, who has no connection to the Soul Society or the underworld, was dragged into it. All because of his carelessness and incompetence. She could have died if he was a second later to obliterate the hollow.

If such tragedy did happened, Ichigo doubts he could ever forgive himself.

Thus, he decided to take a breath by sneaking out of the shōten after holing up there for two days. Watching over his senior and awaiting for her wakes due to guilt or responsibility, he doesn't even know which was it anymore. Guess it was a little bit of both. Although he told the others he was taking a short break, in truth he was just running away.

Ichigo didn't know what to do, what to say, and how to face Mana after all that has happened. Knowing the kind-hearted and generous person she was, Mana definitely would have forgive him without needing an apology from him. Regardless of what he do, she'd just smile and say 'it's okay'.

That was the kind of person she is.

And it made the orange haired more the harder for his conscience. If he sees Mana now, the guilt weighing in his heart would have become unbearable. Too much for him to carry.

Ishida was right to be angry at him. It was his fault for underestimating his enemy and allow such inexcusable accident to happen, when he could have prevented given his ability.

Drown in his pessimism and guilt, Ichigo trod around the Karakura streets in circles with no definite destination in mind. Before he realized it, the sun was already setting. The sky which was previously azure and bright, was now stained with hues of orange and red. And half of the sun has already disappeared beyond the horizon.

"Damn... it's already this late?" Ichigo sighed whilst ruffling his hair. Exasperatedly.

'How long are you going to run away for, Kurosaki Ichigo!? Just man it up and face your mistake like a man already!' After he self-reprimanded for his cowardice, Ichigo slapped both his cheeks to snap himself back to reality. There was no point moping and dawdling around for.

What happened, happens. The only way to redeem himself was to promise there wouldn't be a next time. And this would be the last time to see his friend getting hurt because of him.

Having resolved his mind, Ichigo traced back to the way he had came from. He will apologize to her and face Mana properly. Even if Mana has no idea what he was talking about, he'd still do what needs to be done; and that was to stop running away.

"Tsk. Just when I thought I had finally found that woman, it's you instead."

Ichigo froze in his track. His pupils widened a fraction when the ghost of a voice resounded behind him. And when he finally reigistered who this voice belonged to, his heart was beating in frantic and his survival instinct kicks in.

The Shinigami spun around and back-stepped two steps away from the man, before glaring at the figure with hostility and unease.

Why... was he here?

Uncertainity and queasiness flooded in Ichigo's mind as he stared alarming at his foe before him. Swallowing a lump down his throat, the carrot head finally spoke through the midst of raging tension between them.

"Grimmjow."


(1) Washitsu = meaning "Japanese-style room(s)", is a Japanese term used as an antonym for the term yōshitsu (洋室), meaning "Western-style room(s).

(2) Shōji = In traditional Japanese architecture, a 'shōji' is a door, window, or room divider consisting of translucent paper over a frame of wood which holds together a lattice of wood or bamboo.

A/N: Omg. My update time for my stories seem to be increasing and dragging long and longer. Sigh. I have no excuse for that. Sorry everyone. It's just... recently I couldn't motivate myself to write. (Gasp. Another writer's block? Yes.) Sigh...

But, what's important is a new chapter is out! Yay for no tomatoes or banana being thrown at me! Haha. For my next update, I don't dare to promise anything, but I'll try my best not to let you all wait too long. So, until then please take care~

I hope this chapter didn't come out too bad. Since my writing has gotten dull from ny hiatus. Suggestion, feedbacks, criticism are all welcome and appreciated. So, why not drop a review before leaving? ('Cause I desperately needed one... *sob*)

Last but not least, thank you so much for all the reviews! It's motivating to know there's someone out there liked my story. Really.