"Are you sure about this, Uryuu? Really sure?"
The witch sighed, resisting an urge to shove Kurosaki into the nearest bush because he wouldn't stop asking the same pointless question. There were plenty of them bordering the mountain trail they were steadily hiking. Even with the dark of night deepened by heavy cloud cover he could see four within range of his flashlight that were nice and prickly, perfect for payback.
"Yes, Ichigo, I'm sure. If you ask me that one more time, I swear I'll—"
"Okay, I get it. But can you blame me? I'd convinced myself this wasn't gonna happen, at least not for a few years! Now we're trekking to some secret spot on Halloween so you can try to de-vamp me and it's all just so…"
"Hard to take in?"
"Yeah."
Uryuu readjusted his backpack's straps between strides and replied, "Well, you'd better start believing: we're almost there."
'There' was a location high up on a relatively short mountain that had taken over an hour of hiking to reach after three hours in the car—courtesy of his father, who had graciously let them borrow it again despite his son refusing to divulge what he needed it for. By the look on Ryuuken's face, however, it wasn't a leap to assume he'd figured out the situation on his own. After all, he was the one who had once told Uryuu about the old witch cemetery sequestered behind layers of wards and woods alike. It was their best chance at managing the miracle it would take to re-humanize Kurosaki.
The graves themselves were inconsequential compared with the reason they had been placed there. Due to a coincidental confluence of factors, it was an ancient site of great power. Geographical positioning, constellation alignment, endemic flora, and even the stone comprising the mountain itself were all significant in various ways. Most importantly, there was a pair of massive ley lines intersecting directly beneath the final resting places of nearly a hundred Craft practitioners.
In other words, the entire area was overflowing with energy. He could feel it thrumming around him, stronger with each step. Add that to the blood moon ostensibly rising toward its zenith as midnight approached and they couldn't ask for a better set of mystical circumstances.
"Smells like a rainstorm is brewing," Kurosaki announced, glancing up at the sky. A delayed rumble following a distant flash had him revising, "Make that a thunderstorm."
"Good. That's one more element I can draw from."
The vampire studied him for a long moment and said, "I'll be the first to admit I don't know much about this stuff, but it seems like what you want to do is practically impossible. How much power can one witch control?"
"I can handle it."
"Then why is your dad convinced the attempt could kill you?"
"Ryuuken has always underestimated me. Do you have any idea how many times he's predicted failure, only to be proven wrong? If he'd known about the sun-proofing spell beforehand, he would have said the same thing."
"I'm not suggesting he's right about everything," he argued, halting to face Uryuu, "But you make it sound as if your plan is to channel half of Japan!"
"Hyperbole is not appreciated. Besides, isn't it a little late to be objecting now?"
"I've been objecting since you told me the risks." Kurosaki's expression was harsh but his tone was soft as he continued, "I have a terrible feeling about this and as much as I miss life, it isn't worth jeopardizing yours."
"So you've said. Several times. If that argument was capable of changing my mind, we wouldn't be here tonight."
Uryuu began walking again, only to be anchored by a firm grip at his upper arm. The sudden intensity in Kurosaki's eyes had him biting back a complaint. Was it too much to ask that they not have another futile fight over the same stupid topic? Rather than launch a fresh resurgence of the stale debate, all he did was growl three short words before turning to march further up the mountain.
"Remember your promise."
No elaboration was required. Of course Uryuu hadn't forgotten the vow he'd half-heartedly made not to die so Kurosaki could live but his feelings on the matter stayed the same. The only difference was now they both knew he was powerless to keep it.
He caught up to the aggravated vampire and took point on the path. It didn't take them much longer to close in on the graveyard Uryuu could sense, an ethereal beacon drawing him near like a moth to flame. There was a break in the tree line just ahead but he paused on the edge of a nondescript clearing. The back of his neck was prickling subtle warning that urged caution. Sure enough, he murmured an incantation that revealed a band of potent wards encircling the broad swath of open land. Kurosaki made a surprised noise next to him as the glyphs and hues composing a collection of separate spells shimmered in the air like a mirage. They were intricate, but Ryuuken's were worse and he'd had plenty of experience decrypting those.
"Wait here. This won't take long."
Leaving his partner a few paces back, Uryuu approached the perimeter and set to making it safe for them to pass through. He didn't want to remove the barriers that were serving as protection from those who would exploit or desecrate hallowed ground. An easy alternative was to install something of a doorway for the duration of their visit. Stepping through first, he motioned for Kurosaki to join him on the other side.
They stood transfixed, in awe of the spectacle that had been revealed. It was larger and grander than he'd anticipated. Beyond a field bearing row upon row of worn headstones was a two-story temple, dark and dilapidated from disuse. Several of the roof's pagoda points were drooping, some of the green-glazed clay shingles missing in patches. The once white outer walls were cracked and dingy. Red paint flaked from the support studs and ornate banisters adorning both levels. It was obvious that many years had passed since anyone had tread foot there. Still, the scene held a certain sense of tradition and distinction that inspired reverence.
"Incredible," whispered Kurosaki. "How does something like this stay hidden? We're not even that far from the main trail!"
"You saw the wards, didn't you? These kinds of clandestine pockets exist all over the world. You may have even come close to one without ever realizing it." A light rain started to sprinkle down while they stared. Uryuu nodded toward the temple and said, "Come on, let's set up camp first."
Although Kurosaki accompanied him across the cemetery without protest, he wondered, "We're camping here tonight?"
"What did you think the sleeping bags were for? Odds are I'll be too tired to hike back to the mountain base after the ritual and there's no telling what state you'll be in if it succeeds."
"Fair point."
Uryuu couldn't resist shining the flashlight on some of the tombstones they passed along the way, curiously reading the names etched onto them. None were recognizable but the whole zone had a feeling of familiarity to it. Perhaps his grandfather had brought him there as a child for one of their nature walks—adventures, as Souken used to call them. He wouldn't have been shocked to find the kanji for 'Ishida' or 'Katagiri' labeling some of the weathered slabs.
The stairs leading up to the temple doors were crumbling in sections but sturdy overall. Similarly, the building's interior architecture was in need of repair but it had held up well considering its advanced age. It appeared to be about a century old, judging by the style and accents indicating a former era. The antechamber was arranged like any typical temple, with an altar and a shrine marking prominent centerpiece, but it was devoid of Buddhist or Shinto paraphernalia. Instead, there was an amalgamation of Craft décor characterizing the common area. Designs, symbols, and statuettes that proclaimed paganism in no uncertain terms. Uryuu had never seen the like aside from small-scale home additions. Maybe a subconscious comparison was why he felt so at ease there.
They worked together quickly in the interest of getting to the main event as soon as possible. A battery-powered lantern was stationed in the middle of the room for Uryuu's benefit. Tarp was draped over a section of the floor and sleeping bags were unrolled side-by-side, topped with a pair of pillows. The rest of Kurosaki's pack contained clothes and other camping gear, so it was left leaning against the wall. Uryuu's held all the spell supplies and would be going back outside with them.
"I think that's everything. Are you ready?"
A wry twist to his mouth conveyed the conflicted thoughts Kurosaki thankfully didn't vocalize. He looked around the room and asked, "Am I crazy or is this place weirdly cozy for some reason? I feel like I've been here before…"
The observation took Uryuu by surprise. "I thought it was just me. There could be some sort of enchantment embedded in the walls. Mood manipulation? I don't know."
"Huh." Kurosaki smirked and commented, "Never thought I'd hear that from you. Finally found something you're not an expert on!"
"Good one. Now, if you're done making fun of me can we go—"
Dragged away from the handle he was reaching for, Uryuu was summarily denied the opportunity to finish his sentence. He was too busy responding to the kiss Kurosaki attacked him with. The vampire pushed him up against a closed door and grabbed the arm Uryuu raised to fend him off. Déjà vu set in sharply; it was so much like their first kiss. Same pose, same heat, same hint of desperation. The sole variation was they were in a dusty temple, not a filthy alley.
That, and Kurosaki was the one smoothing a hand south in a wordless request for more. His true goal was so transparent it was ridiculous. Uryuu rotated their positions to cage him against the door instead. He broke the kiss to give his boyfriend a look that clearly said 'nice try'. Kurosaki wasn't allowed to ruin the ritual even if the witch had to cast a sleep hex on the fool! The smile he wore implied he knew what Uryuu was thinking, too.
"Has anyone ever told you you're too smart for your own good?"
"If you're trying to be sly, don't use my own tricks against me." He gave Kurosaki one last kiss before stepping back and adding, "Especially ones that didn't work the first time."
Pushing the door open, Uryuu grabbed his bag and pulled him outside. It was raining harder but that wouldn't hinder the process at all. What they were endeavoring to do went well beyond salt circles and colored candles. The spell he had designed relied more on raw power than anything. All the other accessories he'd brought were embellishments, except for the first thing he took out of the backpack. Kurosaki stepped closer to get a better look at it.
"What's that giant hunk of rock for?"
"It's a focusing crystal," he said, placing the object on a flat slab of black marble meant to serve as an outdoor altar. "Quartz, to be specific. Much larger than the ones I typically use but still not as large as I'd prefer."
The spiky mineral cluster wasn't the highest quality, either, clear in places and opaque in others. There were miniscule fissures and fractures throughout. It had still cost a lot but Uryuu hadn't paid for it. Having tagged along to the shop with him yesterday, Kurosaki had insisted on covering the bill for his ritual supplies and the frugal witch had appreciated his headstrong nature for a change.
Seeing Uryuu fish out a thermos, he whined, "What kind of disgusting potion are you gonna force-feed me this time?"
"It's just coffee. I need to stay alert and a little caffeine can't hurt."
"Oh. Makes sense, I guess."
Kurosaki watched him undo the lid and down a few swigs sweetened with cool raindrops. He gave a sympathy swallow, licking his lips when Uryuu wiped his on the back of a soaked sleeve. The reason for Kurosaki's fixation was no mystery. Actually, it was a reassuring sign.
"You haven't fed for the past week, right? If there is any foreign blood in your system—"
"Then the spell could backfire, I know. And yes, I've been doing the blood-cleanse as ordered which is why I'm glad you're wearing one of your hundred scarves."
"I do not have a hundred scarves," Uryuu automatically defended. "A dozen at most!"
"Do we need to count them when we get home?"
"…Okay, maybe closer to a couple dozen but definitely fewer than fifty."
"Uh-huh. We'll see."
Just for that he unwrapped his scarf to tuck into a pocket of his bag. It was uncomfortably waterlogged anyway and he took fiendish pleasure in the way Kurosaki's gaze fell longingly to the unwrapped column of his throat. A soft moan slipped free and he glared at Uryuu for the tease.
"Hang in there, Kurosaki. With any luck you'll never feel compelled to bite me again after tonight."
"Doubt it," he huffed.
The vampire crossed his arms and turned to stare out at the rows of tombstones as Uryuu finished unpacking everything. A bottle of essential oil and a handful of stones were placed on the altar beside the crystal. Half the preparation had already been done, cleansing the materials before imbuing them with the types of properties he needed for the task. Regeneration, primarily, which was why he had chosen cedar wood oil. It was one of the few purifying essences that wouldn't harm the undead on contact. The sweet, woody smell of it was a nice bonus. It paired very well with the coconut oil he'd mixed in as a carrier liquid.
The witch measured a rough circle around the altar, marking a boundary at four equidistant intervals with the stones he held. Amethyst for healing, obsidian for protection, jade for purification, and a tiny ruby for rebirth. Ideally, he would've liked to have a ruby the size of his fist but even Kurosaki's bountiful bank account couldn't materialize that miracle for them.
With a perimeter established, Uryuu concentrated on erecting an invisible bubble inside it. Kurosaki twitched as it was set and he rotated to glance over in confusion.
"You're already done? No salt or sage or stripping?"
"Strip if you want but I'd rather not catch a cold standing barefoot on the lawn. As for salt and sage, unpolluted rain is just as efficient at cleansing any negativity clinging to our auras." Removing droplet-dotted glasses, Uryuu folded and slid them into a pocket until he could see through the lenses again. He combed damp hair back from his face and added, "Judging by how much you griped during the sun-proofing ritual, I thought you'd be happy this one is less involved."
Closing the distance between them, Kurosaki planted palms against the marble edge to trap him against it. He leaned in until they were almost touching and agreed, "The sooner we're done here the better. Seeing you all wet and messy like this is reminding me of when we shared your shower."
Uryuu smirked and returned, "Which time?"
An attempted kiss was thwarted by a slight tilt of his head but Kurosaki followed up by licking a line along the side of his neck. Although he gave no outward reaction, Uryuu's pulse skipped to prove he was far from unaffected. He was not going to regret the loss of Kurosaki's heightened senses one bit.
"I don't know if it's the thirst or the rain but you taste amazing right now," the vampire murmured against his skin. "Are you sure we can't just—"
"Kurosaki."
The sharp tone of Uryuu's voice broke whatever reverie he had fallen into. He straightened, took a step back, and blinked as though waking from a daydream.
"Shit, sorry…I think my instincts took over for a minute."
Blue eyes narrowed as he asked, "Exactly when did you stop feeding?"
"The day you told me to. But, uh…it'd already been a few days since the last one. Well, more like a week."
"So, the last blood you had was mine? At Madarame's dojo two weeks ago?" Kurosaki's discomfited frown was answer enough. "Great. Now you might be too weak for the transformation. Did you do this on purpose!?"
"I'm not the one who plans every damn detail months in advance."
The witch gave a short growl of agitation and dictated, "Wait here while I invoke the Guardians."
"What guardians?"
"Of the fucking Watchtowers! Have you learned nothing from the books I've lent you?"
He walked off before his temper rocketed beyond retrieval and kneeled in front of the polished piece of obsidian. Uryuu shut his eyes and did a quick breathing exercise to calm down. Whether or not Kurosaki was being difficult on purpose, he wasn't going to let it shake his focus. Not tonight. One by one he went to each of the cardinal directions and called to the representations of earth, air, water, and fire. The rite added extra stability to his circle and allowed him to tap into the intersecting ley lines below much more easily. All of which his boyfriend should've known unless he'd only been turning pages for show. Uryuu wouldn't put it past him.
There was a dazzling flash that cast grayscale surroundings in a split-second color rendition. Menacing thunder boomed immediately after. The storm was at its peak directly above, pelting them with chilly drops that landed like a hundred little shocks on unguarded flesh. He returned to Kurosaki, fiddling with the brown-tinted bottle and watching the witch's every move. Uryuu snatched the oil from him and started unbuttoning his shirt.
Kurosaki stiffened in surprise but didn't impede him with stupid questions or erroneous assumptions. Parting sodden fabric to expose his chest, Uryuu unscrewed the cap and began painting. Ancient runes, symbols, and words that provided the framework of intent became an imperceptible design across an organic canvas. The finishing touch was a simple circle drawn on the center of his forehead to represent continuity, the cyclical nature of life and death.
Their eyes met as he lowered his arm. An instant of that connection was all he needed to remember the countless reasons he cared for Kurosaki enough to risk everything. Suddenly, his anger seemed cruel and excessive.
"Uryuu, I—"
"I'm sorry," he gently interrupted. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."
"No, I'm sorry for making this so hard on you. I should be doing everything I can to help and instead I—"
"I'm scared, Ichigo." The confession drifted out effortlessly even though it had felt so heavy inside him. "I'm scared and I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. I am trying desperately to believe in myself but this…" An awkward, painful laugh squeezed out of him and Uryuu forced a shallow breath past the hysteria it wanted to become. "This is insane. I know that but as scary as it is, I'm more terrified that we'll never have a better chance. I'm sorry for lashing out and for being selfish but I can't let you protect me. I have to do this or I will never forgive myself."
Kurosaki stared, open-mouthed, for a slew of harried heartbeats. Uryuu counted each one until he finally asked, "You think you're being selfish by helping me?"
Wasn't it obvious? It had long since surpassed a desire to grant an important person's greatest wish. Imagining a future where Kurosaki could never be human stung like a sword through the gut and he would've given anything to keep it from happening.
"Of course."
"You're serious, aren't you?"
Uryuu nodded and he slowly shook his head in wonder. Then Kurosaki kissed him so passionately the scope of his perception tapered to just the sensation of their mouths moving together. Not even the rain or the cold factored in anymore. Denying the gesture didn't occur to him. The witch would've blithely continued indefinitely—because there was no Heaven higher than wherever his vampire stood—but fortunately one of them was pragmatic enough to make it temporary.
When Uryuu caught his breath, he stammered, "W-what was that for?"
"I love you so fucking much," proclaimed Kurosaki. "Do you know that?"
He was kissing the curve of Uryuu's jaw and smoothing a palm down the back of his neck. The attention inspired a smile in spite of anxiety and he hummed an affirmative response. He pulled Kurosaki close and whispered the sentiment right back to him.
Another flash of lightning and crash of thunder rudely jolted them out of the moment. They separated and shared a solemn look. Uryuu approached the waist-high altar and nimbly climbed up to sit on one end. Kurosaki mirrored him on the opposite side. The broad marble rectangle was ice cold from wind and rain but that fact was valiantly ignored in favor of attempting what they had traveled there to accomplish.
As always, Uryuu did his best to shed all disruptive thoughts and open himself to the wild energy around him. Emptying his mind had never been tougher. It took several minutes just to manage a neutral mentality, several more to begin attuning to nature's resources. The ley lines roared with a caliber of power he had never even come close to experiencing. The storm churned with chaotic urgency. The forest boasted its own bountiful reservoir. The harvest moon amplified all of it with a dusting of delicate light he could sense but not see. It was more than he had any right to hope for but he worried it still wouldn't be enough.
The witch drew a deep breath, touched the focusing crystal, and started channeling.
It was an avalanche, a tsunami, and an earthquake all at once. It burned. An enormous amount of energy rushed through him faster than he could dream of controlling. Uryuu was disoriented and overwhelmed within seconds, losing his figurative footing in the magical whirlwind. He came alarmingly close to a total blackout. It was only his resolution to finish the ritual he had fought so fiercely to prepare that kept him conscious.
Gradually, he began to acclimate. The physical senses he hadn't noticed were missing started to return. Among them was sound, a message he struggled to decipher. He forced his eyes open and saw Kurosaki reaching toward him.
"Don't touch me!"
The slice of panic threatened to sever his link with the influx of power but he locked it down in time. Kurosaki didn't try to touch him again. He was still speaking, though, his countenance strained by fear and astonishment. Uryuu's mouth wouldn't form the words to offer any kind of reassurance. It didn't matter because he was steadily getting the hang of it, to an extent. The searing subsided and the relief left him lightheaded. He swore, or he thought he did, because the magic was setting him alight in a different way. It felt like tapping into a live wire that supplied the entire cosmos. It felt like a mere witch had somehow transcended to the level of demigod.
The radiant flow ceased like a switch had been flipped and darkness crushed him in its abrupt absence. Kurosaki's voice sifted through to him at last.
"…ou okay? Uryuu, please say something! Are you with me?"
His chest ached on an unsteady inhale. He blinked rain from his eyes, belatedly realizing it was mixed with tears by the warmth that trailed down his cheeks. It took him a few seconds to recover. His throat was sore and his voice sounded ragged to match.
"I'm here, Ichigo. I'm all right."
The vampire gasped in air to nervously ramble, "What the hell just happened!? There was an explosion of light in your chest and you screamed like it was tearing you apart! You were breathing so fast and then you just stopped for a really long time and there was this vortex, or something—"
"I'm all right," he repeated and encouraged himself to believe it, too. "It probably looked worse than it was."
Kurosaki pointed to the sky in silent reply. Uryuu tilted his head back. His eyes flared to see a colossal gap carved into the clouds directly above them, allowing the vermillion-tinged moonbeams to bleed through. The garish spotlight was slowly dimming as the storm closed the eye his actions had precipitated. The crystal cradled between his hands felt hot to the touch. He glanced down to note it was flickering with stored energy like a mystical battery, but he could still feel endless fathoms vibrating inside himself.
What the hell had just happened!?
Reading the incredulity in his features, Kurosaki tried, "Guess it's way too late to say 'fuck this, I'm going home', huh?"
"Take my hands."
There was a gravity behind the phrase that weighed on them as if Fate itself was presiding over their circle. Uryuu's fingers curled firmly around the soon-to-be human's and he launched straight into his spell. The intricate chant had been written in three languages across seven stanzas, although the words themselves didn't matter as much as the intent they represented. He'd wanted to be as specific as possible and some languages just had better ways than others of communicating certain concepts.
The energy began to leave him almost as swiftly as it had entered, drawn into the designated target like iron to a magnet. The spell was already taking effect. He could tell because Kurosaki bent forward in clear discomfort that worsened as the procedure continued. Uryuu saw a muscle in his jaw jump and knew it indicated intense pain. Well, he had warned Kurosaki this ritual would most likely be highly unpleasant for him. It seemed his prediction had been spot-on.
Uryuu pushed harder, speaking the words faster to be done with it that much sooner. The crystal's portion was depleted in a blink but there was still plenty within the witch. Or so he thought until most of that was drained minutes later and Kurosaki was far from the brink of mortality. His eyes shut on a groan as his physical state was mercilessly thrown into flux, every single cell undergoing rapid repair to DNA base code corrupted by the arcane virus.
The reversion was nowhere near finished and Uryuu's reserves were already dwindling. His resolve transitioned to despair with the realization that it wasn't going to work; he had vastly underestimated the power required to complete the spell. It simply wasn't possible with the resources at his disposal. At the same time, he couldn't stop partway through when Kurosaki might not survive the shock. Uryuu's thoughts raced to come up with a solution, any solution that could avert disaster.
From the corner of his eye, he caught a hint of motion just outside the circle. It was a spirit. No, there were several of them hovering on the periphery and keenly watching the pair. More drifted from the shadows to cluster around a metaphysical boundary they could not cross. Ten, twenty, and yet more. The witch could only speculate that these were the inhabitants of nearby graves come to inspect the aberrant gradient of power on the mortal plane.
Messages started swelling in the back of Uryuu's mind. Ideas, images, sounds, and feelings bubbling up into his consciousness like carbonation. The benign attempts at communication coalesced into a single request broadcasted from the gathered collective: let us help.
He could almost hear his father's voice warning against the dangers of consorting with spirits. It was impossible to be certain of their intentions. Even calling on Masaki's ghost had been a huge risk, much less exposing himself to an entire group! But what choice did he really have? Kurosaki could've died right before his eyes and here was a chance to prevent that from happening. He had to take it.
Transmitting a sentiment unnervingly close to blanket permission, Uryuu replied: enter, anyone willing to lend strength to my cause.
The souls immediately eased forward en masse, passing through his imperceptible sphere of protective energy. For a moment, he worried they really were malevolent, planning to take advantage of his dire need and drag them both into the Underworld. Then he felt a stir of offered power rising like a dense pillar of steam. Kurosaki jolted as it was transferred straight into him at the witch's behest.
Posing as conductor for the mystical equivalent of superheated plasma twice in quick succession made Uryuu's insides feel raw and tender. His head wouldn't stop spinning and his breathing was a wreck. He didn't even want to know what his pulse was doing, but Kurosaki was too far gone to monitor it for him. The vampire's muted groans were ascending, his grip shaking severely in Uryuu's. Cringing as if the blades of a blender were grinding away at his organs, he seemed a half step from his limit.
The spell was nearly complete. He could feel it sliding into place, fulfilling its function on a molecular level. Kurosaki's closed eyes flew open and he started gasping at the air as if he'd just breached the surface of a very deep ocean. Color flooded his cheeks in an unmistakable flush and Uryuu gaped in awe of the anomaly. It was working—truly, irrefutably working!
A moment later the flood of energy ebbed as the spirits were exhausted, one by one.
"NO!" yelled the witch, shuddering in abject dismay. "Just a little more, please!"
It was no use. They could not give what they did not have and a sense of sympathetic lamentation wafted from them like delicate perfume. Uryuu refused to give up when they were so close. Kurosaki was more human than vampire and a final nudge was all it would've taken. The witch had that much left to give, he knew he did. Only if he sacrificed his own life force to do it.
And he had always known it could come down to this. He was prepared for that, even though Kurosaki would never forgive him. If Uryuu had to choose between them, he wasn't capable of causing the death of any other than himself. Still, imagining the anguish his decision would instigate made his throat close and his eyes sting.
A last-ditch effort to scrounge for spare power was made on impulse.
Astonishment rocked Uryuu to his very foundations in the wake of discovery. There was an inferno blazing in Kurosaki. The wealth of magic housed within his core was absurd. Uryuu had never met anyone with such an outrageous amount of power. There was no time to marvel over the epiphany, however, when Kurosaki was clinging to the edge of immortality by a meager thread. Uryuu ruthlessly severed it with a generous burst of the man's own borrowed energy.
The clasp of their hands was torn apart as Kurosaki's spine arched out, head thrown back to release a ragged bellow and chest glowing vivid red-orange like a sunrise. There was a flash of light so bright that Uryuu raised an arm to shield his eyes. When it died down, he looked up to see Kurosaki had collapsed on the altar, unmoving except for the rapid rise and fall of respiration.
Uryuu scrambled forward to check on him, fighting back the ice cold panic sweeping through his veins. Kurosaki's eyes were wide open but unfocused, staring up at the nothingness beyond falling rain as he struggled with a barrage of overwhelming sensations. All that it was to be human thrust upon him so violently…it couldn't have been a nice experience.
"Ichigo?"
He blinked. His gaze aligned to meet Uryuu's and he haltingly began, "Th-that felt so…"
Kurosaki's eyelids slipped shut and his head lolled a bit to the side. Uryuu couldn't fight the panic anymore. It took firm hold of him as he frantically checked for vital signs and tried to elicit some kind of reaction. He called Kurosaki's name again and again but the man was past revival. Passed out, Uryuu realized, but alive. Kurosaki was alive! He had a pulse, he was breathing, and he was alive.
The most intense wash of gratitude poured into Uryuu as he bent forward to press an ear against his bare chest. Fingers clenched around the parted folds of Kurosaki's sodden shirt to hear the heart beating between his ribs. He'd never heard anything so beautiful and he didn't bother holding back the elated tears that precious music evoked.
A pale wisp of movement shifted his attention to the spirits lingering on the fringes. Uryuu raised his head to look at each of them in turn, memorizing the smiling faces of those who had helped him achieve this miracle.
"Thank you," he told the witches with utmost sincerity. "Thank you all so much."
As one, they conveyed a warm response that he knew was not aimed at him, but at Kurosaki.
Welcome back, brother.