Chapter 11: Insides
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(Gratitude to Winterheart2000 (Ichigo's meeting with Uryuu is here! Enjoy.), Picklez80 (Violence is always a distinct possibility when Ywach is involved.), Aizenfan6969 (I think as long as Ywach has residence in Uryuu's body, romance wouldn't work so well, but they are approaching the point of possibility!), Willow (Uryuu has a lot of fight in him and with Byakuya's support, he's tapping into his stubbornness and strength to battle Ywach's incursion.), PrivateCaller (Ah yes, it's dangerous to piss off a god, but that's our Byakuya for you!), Periwinkle (You are mot welcome!), Kenni-bun bun (Ywach may regret being too obvious, but he never figured his enemy knowing he was there would make a difference. His is real arrogance!), BaerbellHaddrell (Thanks again for the deep insights! Your comments have me diving in deeper and thinking of so many ways to go in this story!), Anarane-Sensei (I love when I inspire people to try new things!), and Hisuiryuu (Oh, he's going to give Ywach a fight, that's for sure!) Enjoy the new chapter! Love, Spunky)
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Ichigo turned the doorknob and started to open the door to Uryuu's room, then he paused and looked back over his shoulder at Tetsuya. Tetsuya returned his gaze curiously.
"You have my back?" Ichigo asked, a little smile touching his lips.
"Always," Tetsuya answered, slipping into a waterform and stepping into the guest room behind him.
Ichigo paused for a moment, just inside, his eye passing over his friend's pale, candlelit form, then meeting Byakuya's quiet gaze as the Kuchiki leader looked up at him.
"How's he doing?" Ichigo asked.
Byakuya looked down at Uryuu expectantly, then observing he was making no attempt to comment, he inhaled slowly and offered an answer.
"You should ask him. Come closer."
Ichigo crossed the room in hesitant steps, then sat down opposite Byakuya at Uryuu's bedside. A soft chill passed through his insides as his friend took a hissing breath, but continued to look blankly ahead and said nothing.
"Uryuu," Ichigo addressed him, "how are you?"
The other youth's lips twitched very softly in reaction, but he remained silent. Ichigo waited, keeping his gaze steady, then reached out and laid a hand on his friend's. Instantly, he stiffened, making a sound of pain and dismay as a familiar, menacing voice cracked across his mind, making him pull his hand back reflexively.
Don't touch what is mine!
"Ichigo, are you all right?" Byakuya asked, sounding concerned.
"Did you hear that?" Ichigo asked in a shaky voice.
"I did."
Ichigo gazed down at Uryuu's tormented face, steeling himself, then placing his hand on his friend's again.
"Uryuu," he said with forced calm, "I'm here."
He half expected a sarcastic reply, but was chilled instead with perfect silence. His friend's hand, too, remained ominously still.
"S-sorry it took a while for me to come. We were all being healed," Ichigo went on, a shiver going through him at the incoherent haze that seemed to float over the surfaces of Uryuu's blue eyes, "You'll be glad to know everyone's okay...Orihime, Sado, Rukia, Renji. Our dads have been around, too, checking in. Hate to say it, but your dad's kind of a prick. Don't take it personally. I mean, you've said it yourself. He's a great doctor, but his bedside manner sucks."
Ichigo paused, considering his words.
"I want to say thanks...for having my back against Ywach. You and I both know I couldn't have won that battle without you. I'm gonna make sure those old geezers in Central 46 know that. We're not going to let them walk all over you."
"Leave!" Uryuu said suddenly, making Ichigo's eyes widen in surprise.
He stared down at his friend, feeling the sudden tension in the hand he was touching and the swell of something hideously powerful underneath. He glanced at Byakuya, who returned his gaze wordlessly, then he looked back at Uryuu.
"Shut up and don't tell me what to do," Ichigo snapped, "That's no way to treat a friend who's trying to be nice to you."
He swallowed hard.
"I know you don't want me here, pitying you and feeling bad for you, but I care about you, whether you want me to or not. I'm not leaving you, not now and not ever, so just deal with it. I don't know why you have to play it so tough around me all of the time. It's okay for you to feel bad, to be hurt and to need your friends. I lean on you and the others all of the time...and it doesn't make me any weaker to do that. in fact, when I'm feeling weak, I think it makes me stronger to think about my friends. And even though you can sometimes be a complete asshole, you're still my friend, Uryuu. Nothing said that louder than the arrow you shot that could have broken my back, that could have let Ywach have everything he wanted, but instead it gave me a chance to end him! And I think you, me and that devil that's inside you all know the truth. So, stop trying to push me away, okay?"
Ichigo hesitated, noticing the sweat that had broken out on Uryuu's face, his shaking fingers and the malevolent hum of power beneath his skin.
"P-please go!" Uryuu managed in a broken voice.
Ichigo made a sound of dismay as a tear leaked onto his friend's face. Fresh shivers went through him as he witnessed just flickers of the struggle that was going on inside the troubled youth. He squeezed Uryuu's hand gently and rose, meeting Byakuya's quiet gaze as he turned.
"Can I talk to you outside?" he asked softly.
Byakuya nodded silently and followed him to the door, breathing a request to Tetsuya as they passed him.
"Stay here with him."
"I will."
Byakuya and Ichigo entered the hallway, outside the guest room and stopped. Ichigo looked back at the door as Byakuya closed it, looking more unnerved as the restraint he had been showing shifted to more overt frustration.
"What's happening to him, Byakuya?" Ichigo demanded, "You heard that voice too. You said you did. I mean, when Uryuu was telling me to leave, it was his own voice, but what I heard in my head, what you heard...that was Ywach! You have to tell me what's happening to him!"
"I think it's obvious what it happening to him," Byakuya answered in an unruffled tone, "Apparently, as part of Uryuu's initiation into the Vandenreich, he participated in a blood ritual that allowed Ywach to give him a quincy power."
"I know about that," Ichigo said impatiently, "Ywach told me, himself! But you and I both know that when someone dies, their powers are supposed to die with that person. The other sternritters still have their own abilities, but the added powers they had died with him. You know that."
"I do," Byakuya confirmed, "But Uryuu is unique among the quincy officers. You see, he is the designated heir to Ywach's power and to his crown. And that means that what has happened within him has occurred according to different rules. Ywach's powers can continue within him because he willingly ceded them to Uryuu when he died."
"But what's going on? I killed Ywach! You mean to say that his power is alive inside of Uryuu? Because of his blood?"
"It would be more accurate to say that Ywach's blood is alive inside Uryuu. It has infected his body inside, and is exerting power to try to influence him."
"Ywach is trying to control Uryuu?" Ichigo asked, his face paling, "So, what can we do?"
"Urahara Kisuke is working on a solution to that," Byakuya assured him, "But while he does, we must do what we can to encourage Uryuu to fight Ywach's attempts to dominate him. And we must keep his condition between us. If a breath of this reaches Central 46, they will have Uryuu killed. It won't be discussed in a committee or subject to any vote. The danger to Soul Society if Ywach should return is extreme."
"That doesn't give them the right to just kill an innocent person!" Ichigo objected.
"If I disagreed with you, Uryuu would be in their possession already," Byakuya said sternly, "This is a collision of Soul Society...clan law with the rights of an individual soul. I can manage Central 46, but Uryuu is going to need far more than just me to help him recover."
"Okay, I'll do whatever he needs. I just...I don't know what that is. You heard Uryuu tell me in his own voice that he wanted me to leave! What am I supposed to do?"
"I would suggest thinking about what those words really mean."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Ichigo asked, looking confused, "He told me to get out. That's pretty straightforward."
"Is it?" Byakuya inquired, tilting his head slightly, "I heard the words too, but only you know the meaning beneath them, Ichigo. Think about your connection to Uryuu and hear the words again. Think...why was he saying them?"
"He wanted me to go."
"Why?"
Ichigo paused, frowning as he remembered other times Uryuu had yelled at him to leave.
"I believe, judging from your expression, he has used these words in this way before...and they had a purpose and a meaning you understood."
"Yeah," Ichigo said more confidently, "He talks to me like that, warning me away...when he's protecting me. He's done that more than a few times. I don't know why I didn't see that right away."
"Your emotions are high," Byakuya observed, "It's hard to have clear thinking when you are agitated."
"Yeah, it is," Ichigo said ruefully, "Thanks, Byakuya."
Ichigo glanced back at the door, then met Byakuya's eyes again.
"Hey," he said more softly, "do you mind telling me something? I mean, I know part of the reason you're helping Uryuu is because I asked you to. But uh...you're doing a lot more for him than I expected. I'm grateful, but I'm kinda curious exactly why. What's going on between you and him?"
Byakuya thought for a moment before answering.
"I am honoring your request," he admitted, "but I am also thinking farther ahead than just his trial. Ichigo, we have an opportunity to make sure that the quincies and the shinigamis forge a better path for the future. If there is something driving me to help your friend, it is that. More than wanting an end to the battles, I want an end to the wars. We have already clashed several times, all for an evil man who was only protecting his own interests. Central 46 is focused on feeding the populace an image of strength that will make them feel safe again, so that they will go back to being quiet and productive. I can't be that shortsighted. I have to think about my family's future, and the futures of every shinigami that will be threatened if this is not handled properly."
"Do you like him?"
Byakuya blinked in surprise.
"What?" he asked blankly.
"I asked you if you like Uryuu?" Ichigo repeated quietly, watching Byakuya's face as he struggled with the sudden question.
"In what sense?" Byakuya inquired, "Are you asking me if I like him in general? I barely know the boy."
"I'd say you've gotten to know him pretty well while you've been taking care of him. I'm asking you what you think of Uryuu."
Byakuya paused, mulling the question over silently.
"Why is that important?"
"Well, I'd say it's important because you're going to be defending Uryuu in front of Central 46. So, what you think? Your impression of him? It's going to matter a lot."
Byakuya considered his words carefully, then nodded briefly.
"He is a person who holds himself to high standards of behavior and accountability. He has a great deal of courage and he is protective of the people he cares about...although he more often conveys his feelings in his actions than through words."
"He's kind of like you that way," Ichigo observed, looking amused, "I guess it's no wonder you two get along."
"If by getting along, you are referring to his attempts to kill me," Byakuya sighed.
"That's not Uryuu. I think you know that," Ichigo said reprovingly.
"I do."
"Then, why'd you say that?"
"I don't know. Ichigo, I'm running out of time. I have to face Central 46 in a few days, and although I do have a defense, there is no guarantee that Central 46 is going to be in any way receptive. I don't want him ending up in their hands again. That happened once and it was disastrous for him."
"And you care a lot about what happens to him? My friend? Your enemy? The quincy heir?"
"I care about much more than that. That is why I am not going to allow Uryuu to be sentenced to death. I might have to resort to extreme measures, but I will get them to listen."
"I know you will," Ichigo said, looking relieved, "If anyone can make those bastards listen, it's you."
"Well, as pleased as I am at your confidence in me, I think I will hold off on declaring victory until Uryuu is safe from them."
Ichigo smiled.
"Then, I'd say that Uryuu's going to be okay."
Byakuya frowned and shook his head unhappily.
"Uryuu is physically weak, his powers are not functional and he is possessed by the infection of Ywach's blood, which makes him vulnerable to use for deadly purposes. And with every minute that passes, we draw closer to his trial. He has to attend. It is the law. But if Ywach's blood exerts control...if he..."
"Do you really think he will? I mean, if does something in front of the council and Uryuu dies, won't this be over and Ywach's blood will die with him?"
"Theoretically, but not only is that not the best path for either shinigami or quincy society, it is not an outcome that would sit well with me. There is a way to bring true peace to all of us, and I think the way to do that is to keep that boy alive, to free him from Ywach and to help him master the forces inside him. So, that is exactly what I plan to do."
"For peace," Ichigo said, pausing as haunting images of his past battles appeared before his eyes, "Yeah, I want that too. I'll do what I can to help. I don't know if Uryuu's going to be the same..."
"No, he won't be the same," Byakuya said solemnly, "But you aren't the same, I am not the same. We have all been shaped by our tasks and our choices...our battles. And however difficult things have been, I like to think that we have changed for the better, that we have grown stronger and more able to protect the important things. That's all any of us can hope for in times like these."
"Well, thanks again," Ichigo said gratefully, "You've more than honored your promise to me already and I know you'll find a way to help Uryuu. You're a good friend, Byakuya."
Byakuya watched in silence as Ichigo turned and walked back towards his own room.
"You are as well, Kurosaki Ichigo," he whispered as Ichigo stepped into his guest room and closed the door behind him.
Byakuya remained in the hallway for a moment, the conversation replaying in his mind, then he stepped back into Uryuu's room. Tetsuya shed his waterform and appeared in front of him.
"Byakuya-sama," he said urgently, "there has been a hell butterfly from home. Renji-san arrived as expected with the quincy officer, Bazz-B, but an hour ago, Taizo, who was heading family security, suddenly became ill. It is odd because, according to Renji-san, he was showing no sign of illness prior to that. He is unconscious and being cared for by our house healers. Renji-san gathered the rest of the security team and they are examining his room and questioning house staff to determine if his illness is from a natural cause or if it was brought on by something else."
"It sounds like you are needed in your other capacity there," Byakuya concluded, "Why don't you convince Ichigo to return home with you to assist with family security? I anticipate we will be traveling back to Kuchiki Manor soon, as I expect Central 46 will be sending the orders for Uryuu's return and incarceration prior to his trial."
"I will speak to Ichigo and return home immediately," Tetsuya said, flash stepping down the hall to his and Ichigo's room.
Byakuya glanced back at Uryuu's resting form, then walked out and to the shop's kitchen, where he found Rukia and Orihime at the table with the house attendants.
"Byakuya-sama," the attendants greeted him, starting to stand.
"Nii-sama?" Rukia inquired, noticing his deeper frown.
"Torio, Koji, please finish your meal. And when you are done, I want you to begin preparations for the return home."
"Is Uryuu going to be ready for that?" Rukia asked worriedly, "He's still so weak, and he isn't really talking to anyone."
"Nevertheless, the order will come to return him to Kuchiki Manor in preparation for the trial, so we need to be ready. Prepare a wheeled transport. Ikazuchi can pull it. I want Arashi near Uryuu at all times until we leave. He is posted just outside Uryuu's room."
"Are you very worried he'll be attacked?" Orihime asked in a troubled tone.
"We want to be prepared for anything," Byakuya answered cryptically, "Rukia, if you and Orihime will watch over him for a while, I need to restore my reiatsu."
"It does feel low," Rukia agreed, "You've been doing a lot of healing. Go on, Nii-sama. Orihime and I will sit with Uryuu until you get back."
Byakuya met Rukia's eyes sternly.
"Be cautious," he warned them, "All is not well with him, and he could be dangerous. Keep him calm."
"We will," Rukia promised.
Byakuya left the kitchen and moved quickly through the house, locating the ladder leading down into the underground training area and heading for the healing hot spring. He paused near the entrance to the pool, disrobed and stepped down into the steaming water to find a naked, purple-haired woman almost hidden in the swirling vapors.
"Senpai," he greeted her calmly, "I thought you had returned to the Seireitei. I wasn't aware you were still here."
"I've been there and just came back," she answered, studying his lovely, bared body for a moment, "You're looking...well. But, you know, your reiatsu's pretty low. Have you been training?"
"No."
Her frown deepened.
"That's from healing?"
"Yes, I have been healing and balancing Ishida Uryuu. That is why I came down here."
"Healing and balancing, huh?" Yoruichi mused, "It's more like something's been feeding on you. You want to explain?"
"Not particularly," Byakuya answered shortly.
"That's okay, because Kisuke's already briefed me on what's going on with him. I'm sure he's already warned you..."
"Repeated sources have warned me there is going to be trouble. I hardly need a reminder, thank you."
"Did you know that a hit was ordered on you?"
"What?" Byakuya inquired, frowning, "On me? Where did you get this information?"
"I have my sources," the cat woman said, smiling at him, "and I was told that although it wasn't known who gave the order, there was an invitation for good paying jobs as builders meant to infiltrate your staff. They were promised a clean record, generous payment and protection and transport out of the area after the completion of their part."
Byakuya sighed and slid down into the hot, bubbling water, where he sat down next to Yoruichi.
"I suppose it's to be expected," he said resignedly, "I was already informed of threats against both Uryuu and the other officer I have placed under my protection. I would be a natural target, considering. But it's fine. Tetsuya is returning to the manor and he will ensure that all work completed at the manor will be double checked by members of our house staff and security. If there has been tampering, we will find it prior to our return home. And actually, I have been considering a preemptive move against such threats to the quincies."
"Oh?" Yoruichi inquired, arching an eyebrow, "So you have taken the threats seriously?"
"Of course. I don't think Kuchiki Manor will be safe, considering the amount of reconstruction that has been in progress. But there is a nearby property that took little damage in the war, mostly because of it's more remote location. It is set further from the troubled areas and is defensible in case of any kind of attack."
"Sakura no Kaiou?" Yoruichi mused, "Good call."
"Thank you. I will send a survey group to prepare the site for our arrival. No one who was hired after the war will be informed. Just because it is a safer site doesn't mean that it's safe. But it should be sufficient to house Uryuu until the trial."
"It's good you're being so cautious," the cat woman said approvingly.
The two looked up as footsteps approached the healing pool. Kisuke appeared out of the haze and moved to the edge of the pool.
"Well, isn't this cozy," he mused, smirking, "I haven't seen you two naked together since Byakuya-san was a teen and ol' Ginrei asked Yoruichi-san to give him a wake up call."
"Hey, that wasn't my fault," Yoruichi laughed, "I didn't know he slept in the nude!"
"And was that any reason to transform without clothing and slide in as Kisuke entered the room to see what the noise was?" Byakuya asked, his face flushing, "It took months to convince my family that I wasn't sleeping with you. The elders almost passed an agreement to have me ask for your hand in marriage."
"Aw, that would have been fun," giggled the cat woman, "We could have caused so much trouble!"
"I would have taken my own life before accepting such a thing, which is likely why they backed down after my grandfather spoke with them."
"Ah well, pleasant reminiscing aside, I need to talk to you Byakuya-san."
"Is there a problem with Uryuu?" Byakuya asked, stiffening slightly.
"Not so much. At least, not yet," Kisuke hedged.
"Then...?"
"It's something I found in Masao-san's newest test results."
"What did you find?" Byakuya asked, his eyes darkening.
"Something I didn't expect. Masao-san has been fully healed, but due to the damage Ywach's reiatsu attack did to him and the psychological trauma he suffered, he still has no powers."
"I was aware of all of that," Byakuya commented.
"Yeah, well, the newest tests revealed that even though he is resting and eating to regain his strength, he is suffering reiatsu drops. I need to talk more with you to be sure, but they seem to coincide with times that Ywach is more active in Uryuu's body."
Byakuya's eyes widened.
"You are saying...he is still draining Masao?" he asked worriedly.
"Looks like," Kisuke said unhappily, "and it gets worse. I've noticed that your reiatsu has been weakening. It's not as noticeable because you're healthy and your reiatsu usually restores itself pretty quickly."
"I have felt tired, but I imagined it was the extended reiatsu infusions the boy has needed. Still, now that you say it aloud, it is suspicious."
"I think that bastard is gathering power," Kisuke posited.
"He wants to overcome Uryuu's mind and control his body," Byakuya mused, "but how is he able to steal reiatsu from Masao when he is not near or touching him?"
"Well, you remember how Ywach was able to share pieces of his soul, right?"
"Yes."
"If what I'm thinking is true, his attacks on you and Masao left traces of his reiatsu in each of you...and now he's using that stolen power to try to overwhelm Uryuu. Thing is, we have to find a way to get the reiatsu out of the three of you before he does that. I have an idea in the works, but we'll need you, Tetsuya, and Orihime, and we'll need to go to a private pocket dimension to do it."
"I assume that Central 46 wouldn't approve of this cure?"
"Not in this lifetime," Kisuke chuckled.
Byakuya's frown deepened and he shook his head disapprovingly.
"Well, it seems there is no alternative. Let's move ahead with this. We need Ywach out of Uryuu's body before that first hearing! We are running out of time."
"You can say that again," Kisuke sighed, nodding in the direction of an approaching hell butterfly.
To Kuchiki Byakuya, head of the Kuchiki clan: High priority message from Central 46...The council has received from Urahara Kisuke the request to continue to house Ishida Uryuu in Karakura Town for treatment. It is the decision of the council that permission to remain in Karakura Town is not granted. You are hereby instructed to return Ishida to Soul Society within the next two days, to be housed in your facilities until the trial. Failure to obey this order will invalidate the court's decision to place Ishida in your custody.
"Looks like our time just ran out," Kisuke commented dryly, "Okay, we do this tonight."
"And what if Uryuu is not strong enough yet to accomplish this?" Byakuya asked warily.
"In that case," Kisuke answered, his eyes glinting softly, "We'll have to kill him ourselves."