Have you ever tried typing while your cat just decides that it needs constant attention all of a sudden? That was my whole experience writing this chapter, if there is something wrong with it blame her! Blame the KITTY!
Chapter 11
Uryuu
I thought there was absolutely no way that I could get a headache worse than what I've had a week ago but I've been proven wrong much to my dismay. This constant pounding in my head is going to drive me insane and to make matters worse Ichigo decided to bring a beat up and mangled Kon in the room with us. He just won't keep quiet. However, Ichigo and Rukia aren't making things any better either by constantly bickering with each other which only helps to intensify the pain in my head.
I understand why he brought Kon in here though and why both of them are in the room with me while the others are in the lobby. I get it but must they be this loud? At this rate the Bounts will be the ones giving us the surprise attack if they keep this up. You'd think that they are a bunch of pre-schoolers or something; you wouldn't even be able to tell that Rukia is easily three times our age when she gets into these arguments with Ichigo.
Ichigo doesn't feel at ease using the combat pass to get his soul out of his body, he doesn't like the idea of leaving his body unattended and defenseless not knowing what the Bounts could do to it so that's the only reason why Kon is here but I seriously wonder what happened to it. The stuffing is coming out of its arm and head, I can see that someone tried to sew him up but did a rather poor job as new tears were made due to neglect.
A knock on the door catches our attention and Kon quickly goes stuffed on the bed as the nurse entered to give me my medication for the pain and finally both Rukia and Ichigo went quiet. The nurse explained to me the basic things if I needed them that all I had to do was to call and someone would come up right away. She further explained what my room had which I already knew before giving me a cup of water and a smaller cup containing the medication for me to take.
I hate taking medication, I can't never get used to the aftertaste the pills leave in the back of my mouth and the amount of water in the cup she provided is not even close to drown the taste, only enough to get the two pills to go down my throat.
I give the empty cups back to the nurse before she leaves the room and all is quiet. Surprisingly Ichigo and Rukia didn't start bickering again once the door closed which I really don't mind. Kon started moving again and even he was rather quiet.
The dizzy spells haven't left me since I regained conscious, they come and go and it's rather embarrassing when I have to get up to go to the bathroom. More than once I needed help to keep my balance so I don't fall over. It's the first time I have a concussion and it's making me feel really strange. I feel so unbalanced and there's a constant ringing in my ears. The nurse earlier said it was probably due to a damaged eardrum but that it wasn't busted or anything just that I got hit to the head really hard. By all means I really am lucky to still be alive, lucky that I haven't forgotten any of my memories or became brain dead.
"Uryuu you should get some sleep. We might have a long night ahead of us so you should get some rest while you can." Rukia tells me breaking the silence. She has a point but it's easier said than done in my case though.
"Kind of hard to fall asleep with this constant pounding in my head." I reply as I try ignoring this constant pain and the hitching of the stitches needed to close the wound on my head. Apparently I needed a total of six stitches to close my busted head and thanks to Ryuuken he was able to give me treatment so my anemia doesn't set in so I should be fine. Ryuuken is a lot of things but when it comes to doing his job… Well, he's great…
"Perhaps Orihime could try to heal your injury, I'll be back." With that Rukia left before I could even decline the suggestion. I was admitted in here with a gash on my head requiring six stitches to close so if Orihime heals me, tomorrow when the nurses come to change my bandages and doesn't see my injury anymore it will be rather strange.
It's getting dark, it must be almost seven by now and Ryuuken is probably going to show at any minute after all his shift must be almost over. When he'll come I'll have to give him my answer if I accept his offer to regain my powers at the cost of losing my friends or I decline the offer and keep my friends but remain powerless. The choice should be obvious, I know what I should choose and yet is it really the right one?
I was never really able to make friends when I was younger, all because I was the sick kid that no one wanted to be around. The teachers would never let me do anything, claiming that I would hurt myself and get sick so I was always the one watching while everyone else did the work. Eventually that caused friction towards my classmates saying that I was a teacher's pet and it wasn't fair that I had special treatment as they liked to call it. That caused the others to shun me in return for something that wasn't my fault. No one saw me for who I was all they saw was the illness and because of that I was alone for a very long time…
When I entered high school it was a fresh start for me, all my former classmates went to different high schools so no one knew me, no one knew my past. I did the only thing I thought of, I kept my illness a secret from everyone as if it didn't exist and no one treated me differently for a change and I loved it. I was even able to make friends for the first time and now Ryuuken wants to take that away from me, that's cruel even for him. So what if Ichigo is a Soul Reaper, he's still human and what is exactly wrong being friends with the Soul Reapers anyway? Yeah I understand that they practically wiped out the Quincies but it was their own fault to begin with, I know deep down that the Soul Reapers had no other choice if they wanted to save this world and the Soul Society. Sensei wanted the Soul Reapers and Quincies to work together, what better way to prove that he was right by fighting alongside them…
The dripping faucet in the bathroom catches my attention as the sound is all that fills the room. That's strange it wasn't dripping earlier and I know no one used it so it shouldn't be doing that. Although it's just dripping water, the sound itself feels like it's three times as loud all thanks to this concussion. Thinking back to Rukia's suggestion to have Orihime heal my injury now doesn't sound too much of a bad idea.
My vision starts to get hazy, the medication must be starting to kick in; I'm starting to feel drowsy as I hear Rukia and Orihime talking in the hall as they're getting closer while the sound of constant dripping mix in with the sounds all around me when I suddenly sensed it. It's different, it's not the man from before but it's definitely not human either so it has to be them.
"Ichigo they're here." I tell him as I rub my temples trying to rub off the drowsiness and fatigue away without any success. Why of all times did the medication have to kick in right now?
"What? Seriously?" Ichigo bolts onto his feet.
"Yeah…" Was all I could manage to say, I can't see straight and it's taking everything I have to stay awake. The medication is numbing my senses, I know there's something nearby but I can't tell where they are or how far away either.
Ichigo grabs Kon in a hurry ignoring its complaints as he stuffed his hand deep inside its mouth to get the mod soul out just so he could pop it inside his own turning into a Soul Reaper and Kon taking over Ichigo's body. Rukia swings the door open with Orihime in tow and without a word Rukia pops her own mod soul to get out of her gigai when she saw Ichigo in his Soul Reaper form.
"Orihime heal Uryuu's injuries fast!" Rukia orders and Orihime complies without any questions. "Renji! Chad!" She yells to get their attention as Orihime called out her Shun Shun Rikka to cast Sōten Kisshun enveloping me inside her shield and immediately I feel it's powers working and somehow it feels like the medication I was given is somehow being rejected from my body as its effect is slowly starting to disappear and the constant throbbing pain in my head is starting to reduce little by little. Orihime's powers sure are amazing and she just keeps getting better and better every time I see her use them.
"Are you done Orihime?" Ichigo asks.
Orihime removes her gaze off me to look at Ichigo as she shook her head. "No not yet just a little longer."
"Can't you heal Uryuu a little faster Orihime? We have to get out of here now!" Ichigo further insist but that's only putting more stress on her. She's feeling an extreme amount of pressure to work as fast as she can right now even though her powers are still new to her. Even back in the Soul Society she never had so much pressure to heal someone in so little time but I also understand Ichigo. He knows if a fight starts here, we'll all be sitting ducks we have to move we don't have a choice in the matter.
The tension is almost unbearable, waiting and not knowing when we'll get attack. Ichigo, Rukia and Renji are ready to fight while Chad is watching Orihime's back just in case we get a surprise attack and Kon well he's in the corner and not doing anything in particular…
So far so good, I know a Bount is here I can feel the strange Spiritual Pressure but something is odd I feel like it's not only one but two and yet their Spiritual Pressures are so similar like they are two sides of a single coin… I know the Spiritual Pressure of the Bount that attacked me earlier but the female Bount, I don't know how her's feels like… It couldn't be her right? Somehow I don't think so but we still don't know what happened to her and how I got here in the first place though…
With each minute that passes I feel a bit better and my senses are starting to return to normal. My gaze fall back unto the dripping faucet in the bathroom, why is that thing even dripping since it's actually new and somehow it looks like it's dripping even more than before actually it's more than dripping it's leaking.
The female Bount had a doll that could control fire so what if-
"The Bount is controlling water! It's coming from the faucet!" Just as I shouted to gain the attention of the others the water started to pour out in full force and started taking an odd shape as it lunge itself towards Orihime and me. Ichigo wasted no time in slicing whatever it was, not waiting to see what the ability that thing had. On contact with his blade the water splattered all over the room but it didn't take long for every drop of water to move on its own and started gathering back together to reform into its earlier form.
Orihime undid her spell as Chad picked me up in his arms wasting no time exiting the room followed by the others. Rukia quickly swung the door closed and placed some clean sheets under the door hoping that it will slow it down.
"Damn it we have to get out of the hospital. Let's go!" Ichigo orders and no one argues as everyone follows but we end up in a dead end instead only to come face to face with that same body of water as before. Ichigo waste no time slicing it again as it splatters around allowing us to pass and run away again.
Ichigo clearly doesn't seem to know exactly where he's going so I have to give out direction to be able to reach the nearest elevator since all the stairwells we've encountered are practically out of order all thanks to the drinking fountains located near the exit so the elevator is our only chance when suddenly the hall goes completely black for a few seconds before the emergency lights kick in.
"Where the hell are they!?" Ichigo growls in frustration not like that'll do much good but I can understand how he's feeling right now. With the elevator right in front of us, we were almost free but the elevators are now unusable without the main power on but still, we were lucky that we were not in them when the power went out otherwise we would have been in serious trouble…
They obviously don't want us to get out of the hospital so it must be easier for them to fight inside an enclosed space. I know for certain that there are two water dolls since I've been sensing some slight differences each time we encountered a doll so I'll assume that there must be two Bounts controlling each one.
"Uryuu is there another way out of here?" Rukia asks.
"Just the stairs-"
Ichigo lets out a sigh before turning his attention to us. "I was afraid you'd say that but I guess we have no choice. Our best bet is to go where there is no water for the Bount to form its doll."
If we take the stairs, it could be a trap maybe that's what they want us to do but there is also the chance that we might put the other patients in danger if we leave this floor. So far it doesn't seem like they are interested in anyone else though so if we assume that their only target is me then taking the stairs and leaving the hospital could be possible but once we're out what next?
"Ummm it's raining…" Orihime's voice takes me out of my thoughts. She starring out of the window and yeah she's right and it's raining pretty hard too. If we leave to go outside it will be a real massacre that we just can't afford to take and who knows how stronger the dolls will become with that much water…
As much as I hate to admit it, we have to choice but to stand our ground on this floor. I have a few Gintous on me but Orihime wasn't able to completely finish healing me, I don't feel drowsy anymore and the headache is a lot less intense then before but if my concussion is still there…? If it is, there is no guarantee that I will be able to cast the spells without losing my balance and causing more problems for the others.
We make our way back to the lobby, it's actually the largest space on the floor and like Rukia explained on the way it be the best place to fight considering our situation. Ichigo and Renji rearrange the tables and chairs so they won't be in the way while Chad lowered me unto the floor in the corner of the lobby with Orihime and Kon standing on guard. If the water dolls attack back, we'll try using her shield to stop them while Chad will be free to attack instead of carrying me around and Kon well I don't see what good he'll be, he should have ran away when he had the chance now he's just like me a burden.
"It's completely hopeless so how about giving us the Quincy and we'll give you your lives in an exchange? Sounds fair right Ban?"
"Yes very fair Ho."
Their voices catches our attention and I was right, it's two Bounts for two dolls and now seeing them it now makes perfect sense why their Spiritual Pressure are so similar. Those two are basically identical. Young boys wearing an orange undershirt beneath a light brown sweatshirt with dark gray rolled up shorts. The only thing that allows us to tell them apart is their headwear. One has chin-length hair parting in the middle wearing a white beanie while the other has short hair with a red baseball cap. They're twins…
Water slowly start dispersing at their feet and just like that it took on its form when both of them dropped what looked like bottle caps on the ground and the water engulfed the object. Ichigo and Renji wasted no time cutting down the water dolls but every time they did, the doll would reconstruct itself, it didn't matter how many times they swung their swords at it. The dolls just didn't want to die.
Wait a minute… Although they look like bottle caps it doesn't change the fact that the water is drawn to it. If that's the case the water itself isn't the doll but those caps are so if we were to destroy the caps itself it should maybe kill the dolls leaving the Bounts defenseless or maybe its life source draws directly from the Bounts themselves.
"Ichigo! Renji! Aim for the bottle caps within the water! Or better Ichigo take aim for the Bounts themselves!" I shouted catching their attention but not without also getting the Bounts' as well. However by their expression I called it right. It's either the caps themselves are the dolls or taking down the Bounts ignoring the dolls altogether is the key to win.
The dolls suddenly started acting differently as it violently twisted and turned in various direction until one of them finally got past Renji's defenses going straight towards us. Orihime wasted no time calling out her shield and as we theorized the shield protected us from the impact giving Chad the time to attack the doll but unfortunately he missed the cap and not long afterwards the doll reformed its watery body but he was still able to get it to back up and Renji took over the rest.
Those Bounts, no matter what they always remain near each other and in a sense their dolls do the same so what would happen if we'd get them separated. Unfortunately I can't think of a way to get them to distance themselves from each other. Even if Ichigo ran to one side and Renji to the other the Bounts won't follow since both of them aren't in their interest at the moment…
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!" A red ball of energy forms as Rukia takes aim. "Hadō number thirty-one Shakkaho!" She calls out as Ichigo and Renji jumps out of the way as she launches her attack towards the dolls but nothing, just like everything else the dolls keep reforming.
No matter what they do nothing is working. Ichigo, Renji, Chad, Rukia and Orihime just how long can they keep this up? Okay Orihime is just calling out her shield on and off but the tension is still there. Ichigo and Renji have started to slow them; cutting at the dolls over and over again is starting to wear them down. Even Rukia's Shakkaho is starting to become weaker as time passes. No one is injured or anything but at this rate if they can't completely destroy the dolls their stamina is going to run out.
So that's it isn't it? That's what those Bounts want; they don't care how long it takes to win all they care about is keeping us in one place to fight and that was our mistake. They know that their opponents are going to run on empty sooner or later and that's when they'll do their finishing blow. Damn! If only I was a hundred percent and if only I had my powers then I could help! I know I'd be able to shoot those caps in a heartbeat, I know I wouldn't miss. I hate being this powerless and at this rate everyone will die just because they wanted to protect me…
"Damn it!" Ichigo barks in anger.
It's hopeless; we're just at a complete disadvantage. Rukia can't use her Zanpakutou's powers in here; if she does she'll not only cause damage to the dolls but to us as well. Ichigo and Renji can't fully unleash theirs either for the same exact reason…
What's that? I'm sensing a dark pressure all of a sudden, no I know that pressure. It's the same as that time when Ichigo fought against Byakuya Kuchiki… I quickly glance towards Rukia as she's being engulfed in the doll's water and so is Renji and yet Ichigo isn't moving. What the hell are you doing Ichigo?
"Ichigo!" Orihime calls out and suddenly a huge wave of Spiritual Pressure could be felt; it's even darker than before. What the hell is going on? Orihime not taking any chances calls out her shield and just in the nick of time too as a large piece of debris was thrown towards us hitting the shield. The Bounts' expression suddenly changed, they seemed worried as they try to control their dolls directing everything they have towards Ichigo.
Is this Ichigo's Hollowfication form? It's maniacal, the voice coming out of him… No that's not Ichigo, it can't be. It's crazy! Swinging its sword not caring whatever it hits and how much damage he's making in the process. He turns around to reveal a red and white mask, the exact same as a Hollow when suddenly the mask breaks and Ichigo collapses unto the floor. What the hell happened?
"Ichigo!" Orihime calls out but nothing. He's reached his limits, they all have leaving Chad to fight by himself without much success as he too got caught in the doll's water body…
I never wanted to be a burden to anyone and yet that's what I've become… What did that do? Everyone is going to die because I was too weak. I couldn't do anything to help them, all because I disobeyed sensei… No there's still something I can do, at this point if it fails it won't make any difference if I do nothing and if it does then maybe we'll have a fighting chance.
I reach for the two metal tubes in my pocket and threw them towards the Bounts catching them by surprise.
"A silver rod strikes the five-fingered stone bed - Gritz!" I call out as the tubes take form into somewhat of a silver casket with the Quincy cross on them completely enveloping the Bounts causing their dolls to become still but they keep their forms.
A blue light engulfs the dark hall as a water doll explodes; its cap completely disintegrates in an instant followed by another blue flash that I recognize well enough to be a Quincy arrow. The second arrow strikes the other doll directly into the cap and just like the other it disintegrated and the form of water that had Rukia, Renji and Chad captive lost its form and they were finally free as they gasp for air.
Gritz then collapsed but what happened next was shocking as the Bounts grasp at their chest in pain as their bodies drastically changed from young children to old men until they turned into dust leaving behind the clothes they had been wearing.
Orihime quickly goes to check on Ichigo as I get up and make my way through the debris to inspect the Bounts who had stood right here only a few seconds ago and now were nothing more than dust with nothing but their clothes left behind. So those caps truly were the actual dolls but the moment their dolls died so did they. Even though they were enemies, it's not a pleasant thought…
"That was unsightly of you, Uryuu…"
Footsteps caught my attention and I just don't get it. The moment I saw that arrow kill the second doll I knew who shot it but how? I just don't understand… He chose not to be a Quincy. He said it was a waste of time and he wanted nothing to do with them so his powers should be long gone by now and yet his bow… I've never seen one like that before, it's not just a bow made out of Reishi but it's actually a physical manifestation. He doesn't just have his powers, for him to have a bow like that he's strong to the point I don't think I could match up if I had my powers right now.
"Ryuuken…" The name slips off my tongue as he came closer to me as his bow dissipated as he no longer had use for it.
"Calling your father by his first name again. You never change, do you… Uryuu?" Not bothering to place much emotion in his tone as he spoke but I caught Rukia's eye for a second. The fact that I called my own father by his name wasn't too welcomed by her. I admit, it's not very respectful on my part but he'd never been much of a father to begin with so why should I?
"Chad help me take Ichigo to Urahara." Rukia orders as she clears her throat. "I think it's best that we leave the both of you alone Uryuu…" She adds as she gives Orihime and Kon a signal to follow. Without a single word they walked away leaving me alone with Ryuuken much to my dismay. I can't tell if he's angry that his hospital just got some serious damage or if he's angry that I got myself involved in another mess that I have absolute no control over.
"Why do you have Quincy powers? I thought you had forsaken your powers a long time ago when I was still a child." I ask his expression still calm and cold as always.
"You're a fool son; I chose my words very wisely. I have no interest in it and you have no talent for it were the exact words I used back then however my powers are not as disposable as yours otherwise I would have lost them long ago." He lectures me but I still don't get it. How were mine more disposable than his?
Ryuuken reaches into his jacket and takes out a large cross that I knew all too well. It was sensei's cross but why does he have it?
"Against my own wishes and interest, it was I who was chosen to inherit all of the powers and techniques from the previous generation Soken Ishida and was given the title of the Last Quincy. The one and only." He explains before placing the cross back inside his jacket.
I can't say anything against that, now knowing that he still has his powers it shouldn't come as a surprise that sensei chose him over me. It's only logical to choose the stronger successor, I was never even near to my own father's strength and I was only allowed to see a fraction of it I'm sure…
"So… It was you… It was you who saved me from that Bount and brought me here…?" I ask and yet I can't even believe my own words that I just asked.
"That's correct." His answer was brief and short.
I can't help but feeling angry and him the more I look into his cold stare. "You never had any interest in what I did in the past so why now?"
He quickly adjusts his glasses by slightly pushing then up the bridge of his nose as he lets out a sigh. "That is why you are a fool, son. Does a father need a reason to save his child? Now son, tell me… Your answer."
It shouldn't even be a questionable debate as to what I should choose and considering what happened tonight, my decision should be very clear as to what my answer should be. "I want my powers back more than anything but… I can't turn my back on the friends that I've made just to get what I lost. You may call me a fool and perhaps that I am but… If I chose power over them… I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something would happen. I have to decline your offer…"
After what everyone did for me tonight, if I chose my powers over them I don't know what to call myself. They risked their lives to protect me and none of them have known me for very long and they didn't have any reasons to do so either. Rukia even went out of her way just to find a way to restore my powers. I can't betray them like that; I'll find my own way somehow.
"Now you speak like an adult." He tells me killing the silence and catching me by surprise but by his expression I knew he wasn't finished. "I will restore your powers but I warn you, it won't be easy on both sides."
Did he hit his head or something; he just doesn't make any sense. He told me to choose and I did. I refused to not associate myself with Soul Reapers which was his condition and yet he says this? "I don't understand, you said-"
"The Quincy's arrows are released in the name of Justice and justice is when you have something that must be protected. From there on, it depends on your heart. Quincies release the arrows from their hearts." He explains. I remember sensei telling me this when I was just learning on how to form a bow and was having a hard time shooting my arrows because at the time I only wanted to be a Quincy in name. I didn't fully understand what it meant until sensei explained to me exactly that. That it wasn't until I found something that I wanted to protect that I was finally able to shoot a successful arrow.
"If I had chosen-"
"Chosen to abandon those you view as allies, comrades and friends for the sake of power I would have had to turn you away. There wouldn't have been any point in restoring your powers if you have nothing to protect." He tells me. So all that time, it was just a trick question as to know how I truly felt but it doesn't change anything between us. For so long he kept his powers and his succession a secret from me and if he's been keeping that a secret what else does he know that I don't?
So I'm going to end chapter like this.
Review and tell me what you guys think as always and toodles.
I'm being pestered to update my other fanfics. Some are over due like Bloodstained Night and Murder They Wrote. You're Mine is more than over due but that one is of no importance. So I'll be working on Bloodstained Night and Murder They Wrote and then I'll come back for the next chapter ;)
