Hello everyone, we are here with another chapter! A huge thank you to everyone who commented/reviewed on the last chapter it really means a lot. This chapter is probably one of the final ones for this part. Which brings me to my next point, I'm going to finish Growing Pains with the Soul Society Arc and do a part 3 which covers the Arrancar Arc along with the Fake Karakura Arc (as well as the zanpaktou spirits arc). Anyways, I hope you all enjoy read on!
Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo
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Ichigo's head whipped from side to side as his eyes scoured the streets and the side streets as he moved in a slow blur of shunpo. It wasn't made easier by the endless expanse of white stretching on all sides, rising like the moment before an avalanche threatening to consume Ichigo. It stuck somewhere in his chest, curling his fingers into a tight fist as he paused for a second on a street corner, his wounds were burning he could feel the sticky trail of dried blood on his abdomen every time he twisted his torso and the hundred or so tiny nicks from the Captain of the Sixth's zanpaktou stung like a papercut in lemon as sweat cooled along his spine. He felt out of sorts still high on the adrenaline of battle and the euphoria of a plan going mostly successful but also deeply concerned as the clock ticked by and he searched for Renji.
Renji who had sent a hurried message (when he got Ichigo's number he had no idea) about encountering trouble. And then nothing. If Ichigo concentrated he could sense Renji, weak but there, and Ichigo was following his reaitsu like a flare in the night sky as he darted through the streets of Seireitei. Because. Because Renji and Rukia should be in the training base, they shouldn't still be in Seireitei, in the streets of the Gotei 13 and if they were it could only mean trouble. Trouble was the absolute worst thing they could have right now with a plan balancing on a tightrope.
Ichigo leaned carefully against a wall of white mortar with a pale sliver of shadow and wiped away the sweat cooling on his brow, if he closed his eyes, he could still feel the battle, could feel Zangetsu's energy brewing beneath his skin, like chugging too many energy drinks after three hours of sleep. Ossan settled like a wave of calm over Ichigo's shoulders and when he opened his eyes, he could see the older spirit hovering protectively in front of Ichigo. Ossan carefully shifted Ichigo's shihakusho and brushed his hair out of his eyes with a knowing look from beneath the pale yellow of his glasses.
Healing. He could do that. Should probably do that. But Ichigo couldn't waste the time when he needed to find Renji. Couldn't waste the time he was already wasting. Ichigo flashed the older spirit a weak smile and pushed off of the wall with a force of will that was by no means small. Tilting his head Ichigo concentrated and in a burst of reaitsu moved forward in a flash of shunpo.
Ichigo moved through the streets in a blur following the thin pulse of Renji's reaitsu and searching for a shock of too bright red as he rolled around a corner and crossed over a rooftop. It was hard in the endless white of the streets and the sensation of a clock ticking above his head. Ichigo almost missed Renji as he passed a small side-street that led into an area with a small clearing and two other side-streets. Ichigo was ready to keep moving, to explore another street or roundabout but something in his chest tugged and Ichigo paused just for a moment and stared. The black shadow on the ground was enough to drive Ichigo's feet forward as he moved through the street and into the clearing.
Renji was sprawled on the ground, his face pressed into the laid stonework with a growing pool of blood trailing across the pavement. Ichigo couldn't move his eyes away from the blood for a long moment, something about its smooth crawl and the pale bricks beneath it sunk into Ichigo like a hook. Then Renji groaned, low and pained and Ichigo snapped forward tugging on his reaitsu and beginning to shroud his hands in the familiarly prickly feel of healing kido.
Ichigo gently rolled Renji onto his back, carefully feeling for a spine injury as he completed the motion and surveyed the damage. There was a puncture wound in his abdomen, close to a lung and maybe hitting his ribs, but probably not puncturing his lungs on the right side near his heart. Pressing his fingers carefully against Renji's pulse point Ichigo felt the weak flutter and cast a quick diagnostic as his other hand put pressure on the wound. The blood coated Ichigo's fingers and he bit his lip and held back a grimace (it was just blood) as he read the diagnosis; he had been correct no punctured lungs which was more than great, but a few broken ribs and a lot of blood loss happening too quickly.
Taking a deep breath Ichigo pressed both hands over the wound and began the slow process of healing Renji's wounds. It was delicate work, starting with the bone and making sure there were no fragments, healing hairline fractures and then moving to the soft tissues and cartilage. Kisuke said Ichigo's method of healing was different from how Shinigami normally healed, they used the body's reaitsu to heal at an accelerated rate. But because Ichigo knew biology (twentieth-century biology too) he knew how to pinpoint healing in a way that was different. Or at least that was Kisuke's theory. Ichigo wasn't quite certain he was doing anything differently.
Ichigo pulled back slightly as he finished, working on encouraging the red blood cells to multiply and for the water in Renji's body to join in the creation of blood. The wound, which had previously been a jagged puncture was an inflamed scar rising vividly against the pale flesh and black lines of Renji's tattoos. His eyes searched their surroundings only dully recognizing that Rukia was gone, had probably never been there in the first place. A part of him sunk, like being plunged into icy water because the whole point of this was to save her and she was gone. He wanted to get mad at Renji but couldn't, not yet, not until they knew where she was and if any of it was salvageable.
Renji groaned and Ichigo blinked forcing his thoughts back onto his patient he carefully finished the healing and let the kido fade away, prodding at the area gently with his fingers to feel if there were any malformations or odd lumps. Renji groaned again and his eyes flickered weakly open to stare sightlessly at the blue sky above. Ichigo sucked in a breath and gently prodded the area once more earning a hiss from Renji and the slow drag of his eyes onto Ichigo.
The lieutenant sat up suddenly. Or tried to. Ichigo placed a supportive hand against Renji's back and helped him to sit up holding his other hand up in the universal sign of wait and let Renji catch his breath. Ichigo kind of wished he had a water bottle to offer him but he made do with letting Renji breathe for a moment and prod at his new scar with a grimace.
"Fuck."
Renji said in a stuttered exhale as he dragged a hand across his face and tipped his head forward. Ichigo moved his hand in slow circular motions on Renji's back and waited even as impatience jittered like a drug through his body. Renji reached blindly for his zanpaktou and when he had found the hilt, he curled his hands over the blade on his lap, he looked up at Ichigo and without prompting began, "I was close and then Captain Tōsen appeared and he moved so fast I barely saw him. I knew he was all for justice or whatever, but fuck I wasn't sure what to do and then there was a sword in my chest and he had Rukia."
Ichigo cursed and paused before dragging a hand over his face or through his hair staring at the blood there for a long moment before he wiped it off on the side of his shihakusho. Tōsen was probably working on Aizen's orders which could only mean one thing, Rukia's was with Aizen which only spelt out a recipe for disaster.
Renji stiffened beside Ichigo and he glanced up to watch a black butterfly float gracefully through the air before landing daintily on Renji's palm. Ichigo was pretty certain they were used for communication by the Shinigami (which was weird but alright) and his suspicion was confirmed as a female voice that sounded vaguely familiar began to speak.
Ichigo stopped listening after the first sentence because the sound of something like white noise, like when the channel stopped working, filtered through his head; loud and drowning. Because Unohana, Captain of the Fourth division had just exposed Aizen as the traitor he was. Which was great. Objectively. Because Ichigo knew, knew it as easy as breathing, that if Aizen hadn't wanted to be exposed then he wouldn't be. If he wanted to remain in the shadows than that's where he would be. This reveal. This meant he was ready to move on with his plans. He didn't need Soul Society anymore; he just needed the Hogyoku.
He closed his eyes for a long moment, felt the brush of Zangetsu's conscience against his own a wave of reassurance and will, and a reminder of what they were here for. Rukia. Ichigo opened his eyes and saw Renji staring at the black butterfly with a frown, one that highlighted the lines on his forehead and the darkness of the tattoos there. He looked up into Ichigo's eyes and he could see there a storm of turbulent emotions built on a history and society that Ichigo didn't quite understand. But he understood enough.
"Let's go save Rukia."
Ichigo said, the words sharp and heavy, too heavy for the seemingly pleasant afternoon as he rose to his feet and extended his hand. Renji stared for a long moment at Ichigo's hand, stared beyond it and at Ichigo, and he didn't know what the lieutenant was thinking but all that mattered was the grasp of Renji's hand in his own and the determined, "Yeah."
Renji swayed once on his feet before he steadied himself and Ichigo nodded once, some part of him itched at allowing a patient to fight and move so soon after an injury that could have been critical, but he couldn't afford to be overbearing or to be hypocritical and heal his own wounds. Ichigo reached out, searched for the familiar imprint of Rukia's reaitsu across the too broad expanse of Soul Society. It was branded onto his soul, something he could find in his sleep the same for any of his friends, and it should have been easy to find but it was like peering through a film of bubble wrap.
Aizen. That was the only answer. Ichigo's fingers curled to a fist and he cursed at the sudden roadblock. They needed to find Rukia before Aizen could enact whatever plan he had that involved her. Where would he have taken her? The most logical decision would have been some secret base with reaitsu suppression walls and appropriate scientific machinery. But Aizen wasn't always logical, he was theatrical, he wanted to be recognized for his plots, for his plans, he needed an audience to perform to. And with the reveal? He had one, the perfect one. So, he needed a place that was easily accessible. And fuck he probably had an escape route too. But easily accessible. Showy. Dramatic.
"They're at Sokyoku Hill."
Ichigo said out loud, and the words felt right. Renji startled next to Ichigo but only for a moment before he nodded. Ichigo repeated the motion and disappeared in a burst of shunpo, pulling out all the lessons Yoruichi had tried to cram into his head over the years as he headed back towards the execution hill. He could feel Renji a fair bit behind him as he moved and part of Ichigo was tempted to pull out his phone and text his friends, ask them for help. But Aizen was dangerous so instead, he sent a quick text to Yoruichi and paused on the eve of a roof to hit send his heart hammering in his chest. Taking a deep breath Ichigo leapt forward and let his fingers tighten around Zangetsu's hilt.
Clouds of dust billowed around the hem of Ichigo's shihakusho as he landed on the hill, his fingers were tight around Zangetsu's hilt as his eyes swept around. The shriek of metal was loud and jarring as the dust cleared and Ichigo could see Kuchiki-taicho fighting Tōsen, their swords clashed in a blur of silver and Ichigo dragged his eyes away from the fight and to Aizen who had Rukia crumpled by his feet. With a burst of reaitsu, Ichigo darted forward towards Aizen who was grinning at Ichigo; well it wasn't exactly a grin it was more the variety of extremely unsettling smile.
Their swords clashed with a hail of sparks that tore at the wind around them as Ichigo struggled against Aizen's greater strength. He was almost certain that the man wasn't using his Shikai and instead was wielding his sealed blade but a part of Ichigo was tense at the mere thought of what the illusion type zanpaktou could accomplish, had already accomplished. Another part of him knew that Ichigo wasn't a match for Aizen, not really, he just needed to hold on until more captains arrived, and maybe flare his reaitsu a bit.
"Ichigo Kurosaki, I was wondering when you would show up."
Aizen stated casually as their blades skittered against each other and Ichigo widened his stance peripherally aware of Renji's arrival on the hill and the lieutenant joining Kuchiki-taicho. Ichigo frowned at Aizen and refused to respond, the man was a master manipulator and talking was like asking for a slow-acting poison. The man's expression didn't even twitch at the lack of response as he fluidly reversed his blade and Ichigo was forced onto the defence, countering an overhead swing and following through with a sharp jab.
Ichigo struggled against the sudden onslaught of attacks, there was barely a moment to catch his breath or to release his Shikai as his mind viciously tried to see where Aizen would attempt to attack next all while trying to figure out a weakness. Ichigo pushed back, tugging on Zangetsu's strength as he released a ruthless combo Ashido had taught him and then Shinji had added to, flowing from one movement to the next temporarily pushing Aizen back as their reaitsu rose and clouds of dust billowed at their feet.
"You've become quite skilled Ichigo. Of course, it won't be enough to stop me."
With a surge of reaitsu, Aizen pushed back, his blade heavy and sure in his hands. Aizen was all economical movement, nothing was wasted and everything was calculated, Ichigo could barely keep up his heart hammering in his chest and all the way to his hands as they shook and the wound in his abdomen twanged and pulled. Aizen noticed and heavily pushed on that side forcing Ichigo back across the packed dry earth with the dull clang of Renji and Kuchiki-taicho somewhere in the back of his mind.
Aizen jabbed the pommel of his zanpaktou against Ichigo's abdomen, knocking the breath from his lungs in one harsh moment and twisting Zangetsu from his hands in the next. Ichigo unconsciously dematerialized the blade even as he stared up at Aizen's own blade flashing towards Ichigo in a strike that wouldn't kill him but would definitely be critical. The moment seemed to move in slow motion like everything was being dragged through a thick layer of honey and Ichigo's arms felt laboriously heavy even as he remembered Kisuke's advice about injuries and fighting. Better to lose the use of a limb temporarily than to lose the fight.
The zanpaktou bit into his palm as his fingers wrapped around the too cold metal and in his left hand, he materialized Zangetsu ignoring the pain as the metal of Aizen's zanpaktou cut to the bone and blood leaked around the blade and dripped to the dry dust below. With one harsh push, Ichigo swung Zangetsu taking a moment to absorb the shock on Aizen's features before the man sprang back, his blade slicing further through Ichigo's hand as his fingers unclenched and Zangetsu sliced through thin air.
Aizen stared at Ichigo with narrowed eyes for a long moment before he straightened and stroked a hand leisurely through his hair as he stated, "You have no concept of what I am trying to accomplish Ichigo. I shall create a new race of Shinigami, of hollow that shall transcend the boundaries of nature itself. I will destroy the corrupt Soul Society and create a society that is accepting, one that is flawless."
"What will it cost? The death of a thousand innocents? The loss of your own morals? The destruction of the balance of the three realms?"
Ichigo questioned across the rough pants of his breath and the pain pulsing in his hands and through his body like a blaring warning symbol. Aizen paused and stared at Ichigo for a long moment, he could hear the dull roar of fighting in the background, the clash and shriek of swords, and the approaching presence of the captains, some who were only a minute away.
Aizen moved fast, Ichigo could only barely see him, instincts moving his arm and by extension Zangetsu too slow to stop the slice of Aizen's zanpaktou against Ichigo's stomach, it wasn't deep but it was accompanied by a burst of reaitsu and pain that sent him sprawling back across the hard dust. Ichigo rolled to a rough stop, his breath was too loud in his head and everything else was quiet but for the pulse of the wound in his hand, the puncture in his abdomen, the gash across his stomach, and the other cuts littering his body. He gasped out a harsh breath with the taste of blood on his tongue and pressed a hand against the wound trying to channelling healing kido but failing miserably in the disorienting spin of the world around him.
Ichigo rose shakily to his knees, his eyes sweeping across the battlefield, Kuchiki-taicho was unconscious on the ground, Renji was beside him, not moving but not on the ground. The wolf Captain was fighting Tōsen along with a Shinigami with cut sleeves. Yoruichi and who was probably Soi-Fong were attacking Aizen who was fending the two of them off with ease and nonchalance, he could see Rukia, sprawled unconscious in that white robe that Ichigo kind of hated.
A wave of reaitsu rushed like cool water over Ichigo, he could feel Zangetsu's anger simmering at the background, but also his support and Ossan's measured calm (that also covered anger). Taking in a deep breath Ichigo rose carefully to his feet. A line of cool steel pressed against Ichigo's neck, he tensed and then forced himself to relax trying to name the almost familiar reaitsu pressing against Ichigo's back.
"I wouldn't do that if I were ya kiddo. Best ta wait this one out. I like ya, have a real chance of stopping the boss."
Ichigo knew the reaitsu, knew it from the endless expanse of dust, from the cold and endless night. He didn't turn his head but he knew well enough who was behind him. Ichimaru-taicho, an unknown, cunning, a prodigy, and apparently out for Aizen's blood even as he worked with him. Ichigo shifted his head in the barest hint of a nod and the Captain behind him made a humming sound and moved his zanpaktou away just the slightest measure but it allowed Ichigo to breathe easier.
He was helpless to watch as Aizen turned to Rukia, Yoruichi and Soi-Fong sprawled on the ground, the wolf Captain was also on the ground, and the air felt stilted and expectant as Aizen boasted about searching the archives and Kisuke's old research for a device that would allow him to retrieve something from a soul. It crawled across his arm like the plates of a dinosaur or the crocodiles he had seen at the zoo, grey and dull as he held Rukia aloft. In the pale light of the afternoon, the white of her robe seemed too bright, like she was something holy about to be sacrificed by this figure in black.
Ichigo tensed, every muscle in his body screaming at him to move forward, to save Rukia, he could feel his eyes burning with unshed tears and the cold press of metal against his throat. A scream lodged itself in his throat as Aizen plunged his hand into Rukia's chest, it sunk into her chest, like water, and her eyes opened, dull and yet screaming as Aizen smiled, that vacant unsetting smile. With a tug Aizen pulled something from Rukia's chest, it wasn't the Hogyoku that much Ichigo could tell by feel alone; but Aizen couldn't.
The man grinned and dropped Rukia's body and Ichigo couldn't see if her chest was rising from this distance, couldn't feel her pulse and know if she was alive. The other captains were there, Ichigo wasn't sure if they had been there before his vision tunnelled in on Rukia but they were there staring at Aizen with wide eyes and zanpaktou glinting in the sunlight. The blade resting against his neck dropped and, in a voice, barely above a whisper Ichimaru said, "Be careful kiddo."
With a burst of shunpo, the presence behind Ichigo disappeared and Ichigo watched Ichimaru reappear by Aizen's side along with Tōsen, his white hair glinted in the pale sunlight along with his wide grin and he wondered whose side the man was truly on. One of the captains darted forward their zanpaktou held aloft only for a burst of reaitsu to flood the hill, sweeping up a cover of dust as a crack split the sky open. Ichigo recognized those cracks in the sky.
Bone white faces peered from a vast uncompromising darkness as beams translucent and yellow like Ossan's glasses surrounded Aizen and the two other rogue Shinigami. Aizen's eyes roved across the gathered Shinigami with a grin the twisted at the edges as he tucked away his glasses and when his eyes found Ichigo's there was a promise there. The Garganta snapped shut with a loud pop that seemed to echo and hang over Soul Society.
Ichigo couldn't bring himself to care in the awkward and heavy silence as he lumbered forward every step heavy with the cool wash of blood on his stomach as he collapsed beside Rukia. With a shaking hand, he placed his fingers over her pulse and felt the weak flutter there. Ichigo couldn't stop the swell of relief in his chest as his shoulders drooped and he could feel the ache of his body and the shaking of his fingers. Footsteps approached from behind and Ichigo turned slightly, fingers grasped weakly around Zangetsu prepared to fight if he had to.
The Soutaicho stood with Unohana beside him staring down at Ichigo with contemplative eyes, the sun backed their silhouettes and everything hung tense on Ichigo's shoulders, like the executioner's axe. The old man nodded once after a long moment and stated, "Kuchiki Rukia has been absolved of all crimes placed by the Central 46."
Ichigo nodded in a half bow as Yoruichi appeared beside him, everything felt heavy around the edges of his vision, and the blood felt sticky in the crease of his palm. Before Ichigo could turn to Yoruichi the darkness swept over him suddenly and like a tide and all he felt was the cold press of darkness.
X
Everything felt sore and too fuzzy, too warm like the stifling heat of a blanket in the early morning. Ichigo floated, everything distant and numb in that weird space of almost conscious and he could feel it there, almost tantalizing as the rhythm of the darkness surrounding him hummed. Ichigo shifted, pulled at the muscles in his arms twitched his fingers against the sheets beneath his hand. They were worn but soft and cool against his skin. They weren't the sheets of his bedroom or the ones Kisuke had on the bed he sometimes let Ichigo sleep in.
Ichigo blinked or tried to, but his eyes felt heavy and his whole body felt as if it had been pressed into the ground flat like a cartoon character, he was sore his muscles protesting the vigorous training and fighting of the past few days. Right. The fighting. Ichigo stiffened slightly as the events of the past few days flooded his mind in stark relief and he recalled the almost execution and Aizen. Rukia. Who had been pardoned by the Soutaicho, who wouldn't be executed.
He slumped against the worn sheets and focused on his breathing and the hum of the space around him. He could hear the rustling intake of someone breathing nearby, the quiet kind that more often than not meant sleep. Beyond that, there was the distant sound of footsteps, the creak of floorboards, and a metallic sound that Ichigo knew was familiar but couldn't place. Ichigo blinked and forced his eyes open, they felt dry and gritty, the same as his mouth as if something had crawled through his sinuses and died.
He was in an unfamiliar room with the pale cream walls, a door to the left, and a seat and a tray on the right. Ichigo tilted his head slightly and blinked through the blurry film over his eyes until he could make out the vague shape of Chad in the chair, asleep with his head tilted down and resting against his chest. He looked okay, perfectly fine even and it eased something tight in Ichigo's chest as he glanced around the room.
Ichigo closed his eyes and let his focus drive inward until he could feel the worried press of Zangetsu's reaitsu and the quiet reassurance of Ossan. His reaitsu was depleted but not enough that he wouldn't be able to fight if it was necessary. Ichigo doubted it would be, he hadn't seen any cameras or cuffs of any kind, the door probably wasn't even locked. It was far more likely that Ichigo was in the Fourth division.
A knock on the door disturbed the lingering silence and Ichigo opened his eyes and shifted vaguely upwards on the gurney he was resting on. A moment later the door slid open with the familiar click and Ichigo stared at the Shinigami behind the door. She had long black hair tied in a braid in front of her chest, a Captain's haori, and a kind enough face with a pleasant smile; there was also a vague terrifying aura of bloodlust that was easy to dismiss.
"Ah, Kurosaki-san you're awake."
"Unohana-taicho."
Ichigo responded with a half-bow that made something in his chest twist with pain. He grimaced and mustered a pleasant smile for the Captain whose sharp eyes had already noticed and was walking closer to stand at the side of the bed.
"How are you feeling? Any pain?"
She questioned as she looked over a clipboard with a few sheets of paper stuck to it. Ichigo was tempted to shrug and say something minimal but knew better and did a quick self-assessment. Ichigo could tell his wounds were healed but the residual soreness in his body was likely more related to the continuous fighting. He looked up at the Captain who was smiling blankly down at him with an expression that was almost vacant.
"No, just sore."
"As to be expected you overtaxed yourself quite a bit Kurosaki-san."
There was a lot insinuation in that sentence and Ichigo let his eyes fall to the sheets covering his legs as he considered the Captain's words. He had stopped the Sokyoku, fought Kuchiki-taicho, healed Renji, and then fought Aizen. It was maybe a lot for one person to handle.
"Did I go into shock?"
Ichigo questioned but felt as if he already knew the answer. Unohana-taicho finished marking something on her clipboard and glanced at Ichigo with a sharp nod before she returned her attention to the sheet and marked something else. Ichigo rubbed his fingers over the soft sheet unsure of how to progress or what to say, even what to ask, and feeling slightly awkward in the presence of a Captain.
"You are quite a talented healer Kurosaki-san. Who taught you, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Thank you Unohana-taicho. I was taught by Tessai Tsubaki and my father."
Ichigo replied and couldn't help the slight blush that burned across his cheeks because Unohana-taicho, no matter the institution she worked for, had always been a childhood idol for Ichigo ever since Kisuke had mentioned her expertise in healing. Unohana-taicho smiled pleasantly and nodded as she tucked her clipboard against her side and rested her undivided attention on Ichigo, it was frankly terrifying.
"I would recommend bed rest for the rest of today to allow your body to replenish it's reserves and tomorrow you may be permitted to leave the Fourth."
The words were said in a pleasant tone of voice and with a small smile but behind it hid the familiar threat of a healer attempting to care for their patient; Ichigo had used the same aura before in a vain effort to keep Shinji from tearing his stitches. Ichigo nodded his head once and Unohana smiled satisfied by his response she curled her fingers into her sleeves and stated, "You are allowed visitors during visiting hours, please refrain from causing mayhem while in the Fourth Kurosaki-san."
Ichigo smiled in thanks and tried to encapsulate how grateful he was for her care. The Captain nodded and turned walking silently across the floor, she paused at the door and added, "Oh, when you are healed feel free to visit the Fourth any time Kurosaki-san we could always use a healer of your talent. "
Then the Captain was gone and the door slid shut with a click. Ichigo tried not to scream internally but it didn't really work out, Unohana had asked him to visit the Fourth which was kind of crazy and Ashido would never believe him, and Ichigo couldn't really wrap his mind around it either. Chad shifted in the uncomfortable chair, the kind that all medical places had, and his head dipped for a moment before he straightened and opening his eyes.
Chad blinked once slow and heavy, the gold coin on his chest bright against the darkness of his skin, as his eyes slid over to Ichigo and an easy smile crossed his friend's lips. In one smooth motion, Chad was on his feet and beside the gurney, his presence a solid warmth that settled something in Ichigo's chest about being in this strange place, with strange people, and strange laws.
"Is everyone okay?"
Ichigo questioned recalling vaguely that none of them had been at the hill, which Ichigo could only be thankful for considering what Aizen could do. Chad nodded and settled silently on the edge of the bed staring past Ichigo's head at the wall behind him for a moment before his eyes connected with Ichigo's and he understood. They were all safe but they weren't quite in the clear yet, it was better to be cautious.
The door slid open with a loud click shattering the peaceful silence of the room as Chad nodded once and returned to his seat. Orihime was the first to enter the room, bouncing on the balls of her feet in her normal clothing with a smile that seemed to brighten the room all on its own. Tatsuki followed behind Orihime with her arms crossed over her chest and a frown on her lips that was trying hard to hide a smile. Uryū followed last and slid the door shut with a roll of his eyes as he stalked over to lean against a wall.
"Ichigo they told us you were awake! We were all so worried because you were like bam! and then you were fighting all these captains and saving Rukia and there were explosions! Oh, and there was a betrayal plot like a tv show!"
Orihime said in a rush that left no space for breathing as her hands flapped in the air and she beamed at Ichigo with all the force of the sun. Ichigo nodded, the only appropriate response to Orihime's energy and watched as Tatsuki settled a hand on Orihime's shoulder and guided her to a chair.
"How are you feeling idiot?"
Tatsuki asked with a frown that couldn't quite muffle the concern in her voice and the way her hands were clenched into fists as she crossed her arms over her chest. Ichigo shrugged and scratched at the back of his head before responding, "Sore I guess."
"You should have called us; we could have helped Ichigo."
Tatsuki stated staring at him with narrowed eyes, and suddenly Ichigo could feel the attention of the room like an iron rod in the forge glowing bright red and hot. Ichigo's eyes dropped for a moment as he let his fingers trail over the sheets. The truth was always the best answer.
"I didn't want you all to get hurt. I know you all are capable fighters, that you're strong, and I would trust you have to my back any day. But Aizen is dangerous on a whole different level, and with all the other captains involved I didn't want you to get hurt."
Tatsuki was still frowning but she settled slightly with a roll of her eyes against the wall, Orihime nodded with a pout as her lips quirked to one side and she stared at her hands. Chad was silent and Ichigo could feel the weight of the promise he had made, feel how he was letting Chad down, but he understood. Uryū was quiet for a long moment before he adjusted his glasses in one sharp movement and added, "I suppose we could expect little else from you Kurosaki."
"You were all fine though?"
Ichigo asked staring at them and searching for visible wounds but finding nothing, it helped Ichigo's conscious. Uryū nodded, but there was something to his expression that suggested more, a story that he wasn't quite ready to tell as he responded, "Yes, we completed our missions and returned to the training area until Yoruichi came to meet us and informed us of what happened."
He nodded and listened to the quiet hum of Zangetsu's presence at the back of his mind as he stared at his friends. They all looked a bit older in some indescribable way as if Soul Society had changed them all; it probably had.
"After you collapsed, according to Yoruichi, the Soutaicho pardoned the rest of us of the supposed crime of assassinating Aizen and instead let Yoruichi tell him our true mission, which was to save Rukia. We were pardoned and have been granted access to Soul Society until we can return to the mortal world."
Uryū informed with a bored tone already reading Ichigo's mind and the questions at the front of it. Ichigo nodded and part of him questioned why the Soutaicho was being lenient when he had heard enough about Soul Society's mercy but the rest of him was just grateful.
"Hey, Kurosaki?"
Uryū said quietly as Orihime and Tatsuki traded words quietly and Chad rested with his eyes closed. Ichigo tilted his head and looked at his cousin, at the way they looked so different, at the twist of emotions hiding behind his eyes telling a story that couldn't be spoken aloud yet and nodded.
"Don't do that again."
"I won't."
Another knock on the door broke the weird almost tender moment and Ichigo almost wished Unohana-taicho hadn't permitted visitors, he still felt sore and tired beyond that. Like he could sink right through the gurney and into the floor. The door slid open and Ichigo's chest followed through on the previous course of action and dropped out of his chest because there was Rukia, Rukia with a tentative smile who was alive and standing tall.
She entered the room quietly and before Ichigo could say anything, still floundering that she was there, alive and safe, Tatsuki stood up, an iron grip on Orihime's wrist and announced, "I forget, Yoruichi wanted us to meet her right now. We'll be back later Ichigo."
Before Ichigo could protest or even respond Tatsuki was pulling Orihime out the door with Chad and Uryū following behind. Rukia laughed, quiet and bubbly as she padded over and plopped onto the end of the gurney staring at the closed door with an amused smile as she commented, "They're not very subtle huh?"
"Nope."
Ichigo responded with a grin and then the tentative smile was there once more, thick with unsaid words between them. Ichigo peered at Rukia and blinked once at the blurry image of Sode No Shirayuki before the spirit solidified, pale and almost blending into the walls she smiled kindly at Ichigo with warm eyes.
"Ichigo," Rukia began and hesitated as Ichigo's eyes landed on hers and he waited unsure of what to say that hadn't already been said at the execution stand she continued, "I- Thank you for rescuing me Ichigo. Even if it is was an incredibly stupid thing to do… thank you."
"I made a promise Rukia, I don't break my promises. And there was no way in hell I was going to let them execute you."
Ichigo responded staring into the almost-lilac but more sky blue of Rukia's eyes as her expression twitched from a frown to something softer, familiar even from nights curled together on the couch criticizing crap tv, or as she watched him help Yuzu cook, or as they all ate lunch on the rooftop.
"I'm glad you're okay."
She said quietly like the words couldn't be spoken too loudly. Ichigo smiled and responded, "Me too, I'm glad we're okay."
X
Thank you all for reading! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter it was really fun to wrap up everything even if the first scene took forever to write. Also, a bit of clarification for that scene, Ichigo isn't too aware of his surroundings in the last bit of it due to shock and blood lust, he's kind of being a bit of an idiot but it's okay because it all works out. After this chapter, there are only two more chapters for this part just so everyone knows. Reviews/comments are always appreciated, till next time!