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Chapter 14

Ichigo

Second time seeing this place and I still can't get used to it but that's just what it is huh… Uryuu's home is beautiful and grand but that's all there is to it isn't it, what lies underneath is nothing to hold up justice to its exterior appearance. Nice, elegant and grand from the outside but empty and broken from the inside…

I was ignorant towards the Soul Society and accepted Uryuu's help on a heartbeat because I considered him a friend and I knew I needed all the help I could get, I wasn't foolish enough to think I could take on the Soul Society all by myself but it was only halfway through the invasion that it hit me. By allowing Uryuu to come with us, I unintentionally made him a target. He's a Quincy after all and two hundred years ago they were said to have been completely wiped out but with Uryuu's presence that status changed and the question they now wonder is exactly how many are really left.

Although Uryuu came with us to help save Rukia and it should be hell obvious that's all it was. Some would think Uryuu might have had an hidden agenda of his own and some might even think perhaps his dad put him up to it which I highly doubt it that he would deliberately place Uryuu in danger.

There's a lot of things that I don't know but over my dead body I'll allow anyone to execute Uryuu for being what he is, he hasn't done anything wrong and I won't stand for it if so much as a single scratch on his head.

Maybe I should have gotten my body back first but I didn't want to waste my time running around to find where Kon ran off to. I doubt it that Uryuu will mind seeing me in my Soul Reaper form anyway, even if he doesn't say it. He's such an idiot and Rukia I know she meant well but she's a few centuries late, her mentality and customs are outdated. We now live in a world where it's rather common for parents to get divorce and use their kids as a tool to hurt one another. Parents having kids and then get drunk day and night while the kids have to raise themselves. In a world where rapist who impregnate a woman has every right to see his kid and there is nothing the girl can do about it. We live in a world that is so sick and twisted; Rukia couldn't even come close to grasp that as a whole…

I can't blame her for doing what she did, she needs answers and she's doing the only thing she knows what to do and that's to inquire the information that she needs to get Uryuu off the hook with the Soul Society but I know that wasn't the only thing she asked him. Otherwise he wouldn't have gotten this upset to the point of skipping school all entirely.

I know she attacked him with his relationship with his dad, I know she did but in all honesty it's no one's business even if we don't like what we see. In the end Ryuuken is Uryuu's dad and Uryuu is his son and how they act towards each other is up to them. Are they content? Probably not but there's a reason why their relationship is the way it is and quite frankly no one can just walk up to them and try to fix something that's been made from years ago in a few minutes. It just can't be done.

I make my way to the backyard as I spot Uryuu's bedroom window opened and waste no time to jump right up the window sill to enter his room and there he is just lying on his bed, not doing anything. He sits up when I entered, can't tell if he's surprised or just doesn't care but at least it looks like whatever Rukia told him, he calmed down.

"You alright?" I ask calmly, just trying assessing the situation.

I know for a fact he doesn't have any intention of returning to school this afternoon, he changed out of his school uniform to a more casual look. Wide white collar woolen shirt with wide sleeves and a pair of white jeans to match with his shirt but if you ask me, Uryuu looks rather tired. I hope he's not relapsing; I don't want to see him in that state again. As a friend, it really wasn't a good period seeing someone you care about so frail and sick.

"I'm tired of being interrogated, that's all you guys have done since we got back from the Soul Society so just give it a rest…" He tells me.

Can't argue with that, to be honest we've all acted rather poorly towards Uryuu ever since we found out about his poor health, it's not like he didn't have those problems before and he was managing just fine. I never should have treated him any differently, because of what I wanted we didn't tell him a single thing about the Bounts and it nearly got him killed.

"It's because we're all worried about you. It's just normal for us to ask questions because you won't tell us anything otherwise." I state as I walk up to his bed and he looks away, not wanting to meet my gaze for some odd reason. Predictable and nothing but a pain in the ass when he acts this way.

"I just don't have anything to say…" He mumbles.

"I doubt it." I blurt out as I sit down on the foot of his bed when something catches my eye and my reflex is to reach for his shirt and pull down on its collar to reveal some sort of pentacle mark on his chest. "Is that a birthmark?" I ask, my eyes glued unto the mark.

It strongly resembles a crest Uryuu often wears, if I'm not mistaken it's a cross or pentacle thing concerning Quincies so do all Quincies have those markings on their chest? It's weird and in a way I wonder if only people with high Spiritual Energy can see it or can everyone see it.

He lightly shakes his head before answering as he brushes off my hand to pull his collar back up hiding the mark. "No… It's a scar that formed after my father shot me three days ago…"

Shot!? My eyes jolted upwards to meet Uryuu's as he looks away in haste. His father fucking shot him!? My jaw is just hanging open as I try to grasp what he just said. His father fucking shot him he said and I'm not sure what is worst the fact that he got shot by his own father or how calmly he said it like it was nothing.

"What the fucking hell? Uryuu-"

"It's alright. Apparently it's what had to be done to restore my powers but nothing's happened so far. My father says that this is the recuperation process so now I wait to see what happens…" He explains but still even if that's what needed to be done how could a father just shoot his own son? The mark on his chest, I take it that the center of the pentacle is where the arrow must have hit… So near to Uryuu's heart, if done wrongly he could have died.

"How are you feeling?" I ask as I try to catch Uryuu's gaze but he shifts away again.

"Fine, the training was just exhausting that's all-"

"No I mean how are you feeling, your dad shot you after all. I know it was for the sake of restoring your powers but he still shot you." I ask. I want to say more, I just don't know what to say. I don't honestly don't know what I'd do if my dad had done that to me, I'd probably be confused and I'd be hurt just knowing that my own dad, someone who is supposed to protect me would be able to do that to me.

Uryuu brings his knees closer to his chest, resting his chin in his knees as he looks down. "Yeah… I didn't expect that, he left that part out before he started giving me his training Tuesday morning and by nightfall I could barely move and…"

"He had to completely exhaust your body and mind before he could shoot that arrow." I finish what he wanted to say. He doesn't want to admit it but the fact that his dad willingly shot him, it hurt. "I get it, makes sense but I thought you said that your dad had forsaken his powers long ago."

"I did but I guess I was wrong. Anyway it's done now…" He answers.

Yeah I guess that's all that matters however if Rukia has been reporting to the Soul Society everything that Uryuu has ever said then she must have told them what Uryuu had said about his dad no longer having any powers and now she had to report otherwise and in a sense making Uryuu a liar. I believe that might be the problem right now and from what Rukia told me, his dad is strong. Apparently Uryuu doesn't even compare so is he friend or foe that's the question the Soul Society hasn't yet decided and if Ryuuken is an enemy, they'll turn on Uryuu also. I can't allow that to happen, I just can't.

"Uryuu, when you get your powers back, don't go fighting Hollows right away." I blurt out catching Uryuu by surprise as he jolts his head up to look at me in disapproval.

"Ichigo-"

"It's not about the illness." I quickly cut him off. "I know you can handle a Hollow by yourself, it's not that. I don't know all the details but you're under surveillance from the Soul Society. Trust me and just stay low for now. Don't do anything that could set them off." I advise and somehow he doesn't seem to be a bit surprise by what I just told him.

"Anyway, we still don't know why the Bounts are after you so be careful."

XXX

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It's been far too quiet for the past few days; we had a major battle with the Bounts not too long ago. It must have been a blow to their forces to have lost two in one go and yet we haven't heard of anything from them since. I doubt it that they've given up on Uryuu but why him? What do they want with a Quincy?

Looks like a Quincy can sense them quite clearly; it can't be just a coincidence and from what Urahara told me about the Bounts. Apparently they've been more active since the annihilation of the Quincies so they must have been a serious threat to the Bounts in the past. Maybe they don't want Uryuu for any real purposes; maybe they just want him to instil their vengeance onto him for what the past Quincies have done to them. It would make sense but that female Bount, she basically stole Uryuu from that freak with the snakes. That's the thing I just don't understand, are Bounts all on the same side or are they all independent and if so that would mean the ones that attacked us in the hospital were there for their own agendas but somehow it makes more sense to me that the female Bount is the one acting independently while the freak and the twins were somehow connected to each other.

From what Uryuu told me before I left his house, his dad had told him that he had intercepted the female Bount to get Uryuu but he didn't say what happened to her. If she's still alive or dead, only Ryuuken knows the truth and it seems like he has no interest in telling either.

For now I'll be content that Uryuu is somewhat safe for now with Ryuuken around leaving me to concentrate on myself. Urahara said that the Visoreds would find me on their own accord but how long do I have to wait? The problem with my inner Hollow is a problem, I can't control it at all and the thing is that I'm afraid of what he'll do if he takes over my body again. He doesn't care about anything but drawing blood, to kill. If any of my friends ever got hurt because of it, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.

Where did Rukia run off to, my Soul Reaper badge didn't respond to anything so I know she didn't get a notification about a Hollow so why did she have to leave her gigai? Lately the Hollows that have started appearing, they seem to be much stronger than the usual ones that come here and there. Either they are getting stronger or I've gotten weaker. I can't tell, with the problem with my inner Hollow I can't rule out the possibility that it might be effecting me in battle. Damn that bastard!

What the hell is Zangetsu even doing? He should be able to pressure the inner Hollow to submit but he's not doing anything! He only ever does what he wants and when he wants… I know Zangetsu is strong so why isn't he doing anything about that bastard? Can't he see that I can't do it on my own, that bastard is trying to consume my entire existence? Damn it!

I don't know what to do with myself, what to do? Why couldn't Urahara just help me fix this problem himself? Why must I wait for those Visoreds to show up…? I wanted to keep Uryuu company a little longer when I visited him but right now I just don't trust myself. If my inner Hollow comes out, would it be dangerous for Uryuu? Urahara did say what consist a Hollow is pure poison to a Quincy so am I-

A noise coming from my window catches my attention as I quickly sit up on my bed only to see that it's just Rukia back in her gigai. About time, I was dying of boredom.

"Where the hell have you been?" I ask as I move away to give her room to enter.

She looks at me before allowing herself to drop on my bed, damn she looks exhausted. Just completely drained. "At the hospital." She tiredly answers.

"Did something happen? Is Uryuu-"

"He's fine. I had to speak with his father, that's all." She cuts me off as she shakes her hands like it's nothing. Damn Rukia don't leave me hanging like that considering everything that's been happening as of late.

"And?"

She lets out a sigh before bringing her hands under her head. "There isn't much to say. Other that I can confirm to the Soul Society that he's definitely not a threat. He has no interest in anything and when I say anything I mean it."

I'll take it she got to know a little exactly how Ryuuken can be then. He's cold and doesn't say more than what he needs to from the little I've seen of him. He might not be home often with him being a doctor and director of a major hospital but even I can see that he's devoted to Uryuu. I honestly don't know how many doctors would place their own careers on the line to treat a family member. It's practically forbidden, but Ryuuken treated his son himself even though knowing full well if Uryuu's condition turned sour he could lose his licence and job but he did it anyway. Not many people would place their whole career on the line like that like he did but Ryuuken did it without a second thought. How Uryuu can still doubt his dad, that he isn't love by him is beyond me.

If Rukia got the same treatment we got when I saw him at the hospital those few times well I can understand that it must have been pretty much a shocker for Rukia. I even asked my dad about Ryuuken because I was worried about Uryuu at the time and I know that dad sometimes has to deal with the director of the Karakura Hospital so he knows him to some extent. Dad didn't tell me much other that Ryuuken cares deeply for his kid. Dad wouldn't lie to me to avoid a discussion that he didn't want to talk about; he would have told me the harsh truth so I believe him.

"Trust me Rukia; there are worst parents out there then Uryuu's. Don't compare my family with others; you'll only end up disappointed." I tell her. I'm not sure if she knows to the full extent of Orihime's family, how her brother took her out of her abusive family once he turned eighteen. Her parents lived in alcohol and prostitution… Orihime is lucky to even still be alive but there are worse families than that still. If Rukia would know about that, then she probably wouldn't think Ryuuken was that bad of a parent. True he's not perfect… A lot of neglect on his part but the reality is that, it's his job. If Uryuu's mother were still alive, Ryuuken's absence wouldn't be such a big deal.

Another thing is that I think Rukia compares my family too much to Uryuu's. Yeah both our fathers are in the medical field and own in a sense both their medical building but there is still a huge difference. Ryuuken manages a huge hospital with probably over a hundred patients daily and he also is responsible for major surgeries and even more while my dad only cares for minor cases. Nothing that is life threatening or anything and another thing is my dad works at home, the clinic is right here so even if he is working we see him often unless he has a meeting to attend. Ryuuken, he can't work at home, he has to be at the hospital long hours. That's the major differences that Rukia can't see well.

"Yeah but still… Uryuu is his only son, the only thing he has left and yet…"

"I don't know much but just by the look in that man's eyes when I saw him that time at the hospital. Yeah they were cold and he did not speak more than needed to but one thing's for sure, he'd kill for Uryuu." I reassure her. I'd really hate to be anyone who would cause Uryuu any harm; I honestly think Ryuuken would really kill without a second thought.

"You'll do things for them that you know you shouldn't do. You'll act the fool to make them happy, to keep them safe by any means necessary even if they do not understand it…" Rukia suddenly blurts out after a few minutes of silence and I just can't help but look at her confused. Exactly what is she mumbling about?

"What?"

She sits up, resting her back against the wall before looking at me. "Something he told me before I left. I wonder what exactly he meant by it… You'll do things for them that you know you shouldn't do. It can mean so many things…"

"If you ask me, sounds like he just admitted to you that he'd do anything to keep Uryuu safe. Whether it be honorable or not, whatever that could be a threat to his kid, he'll eliminate it without a second thought." I explain and in a sense he indirectly gave Rukia a threat but not to her but to anyone who would want to come harm his son. He's a Quincy and he knows what that means in the eyes of the Soul Reapers and I think maybe it's not that he's not interested in being a Quincy, he probably is just as interested in it than Uryuu but for his son's sake he chose to tell him otherwise and it just makes perfect sense only that Uryuu hasn't realized it yet which is surprising considering how good he is putting puzzle pieces together.

"Now that you said it like that, I guess it does make sense but anyway I know he's not a threat." She replies in a low tone.

"Good, now I can properly focus with my own problems." I add. If only those damn Visoreds can show their damn faces and start this fucking training. Time isn't on my side, I need this problem fixed before Aizen makes his move, I need to be stronger. Right now, I can't even beat a damn Bount on my own, how will I be able to beat a damn Arrancar at this level.

The next update might take a bit longer. I'll be working on my other fics while I decide what exactly will happen in the next chapters. I'm debating on certain things so in the meantime I'll just do other things.

Review and tell me what you think.