Bleach: The Afterlife Saga
*Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of its characters. All the characters mentioned in this story, with the exception of OCs, are the property of Kubo Tite.
Chapter 21 Ishida in Darkness
Inside an old abandoned warehouse, three shadowy figures stood in the middle of a five sided star surrounded by a circle. They all wore white clothing, and around their necks or arms they each carried a chain, at the end of which hung a five sided star. Two of the figures were men, one tall and thin; the other short and obese. The third figure was a woman with long black hair. At this moment they were all chanting a strange dialect. As they chanted the circle they were standing on glowed a bright blue.
"I've found the target," said the woman. "He's right where we expected him to be."
"Good. It's almost time for us to make our move," said the skinny man.
"How are we going to persuade him to join us?" asked the fat man.
"Isn't that obvious? We'll use his concern for his friends as leverage," said the skinny man. "But above all, we'll strike at where he is weakest: his pride.
"I can't wait to meet him," said the woman as she licked her lips. "He sounds like such a tantalizing prospect."
"Good morning Ishida-kun!" called out Inoue Orihime. Ishida Uryu looked up from his desk.
"Oh, Inoue, how come you're not at work today?" asked Ishida.
"Heh, heh, it's my day off today," said Orihime with a smile. "I've come to see how you're going."
"Well, things are just as busy as ever," said Ishida. He flicked through the piles of documents on his desk before inputting data on his desktop screen. "Ever since Kurosaki died, all of the patients that formally went to his clinic have now been transferred to my short term care list. I have juggle between treating them and monitoring the people at the surgery. It's a miracle that I get any free time."
"Seems like you've got your hands full huh," said Orihime. "Speaking of Kurosaki-kun, did you know that today is the anniversary of his death?"
"It is?" Ishida checked his calendar. The date marked 'June 7th', had the words 'Kurosaki's death + 1' written in the box under it. "My god, you're right, it is the anniversary of his birthday. It just so happens that I'm off duty for the weekend."
"Shall we arrange another get together with the others? I know Sado-kun and Tatsuki-chan would come at a moment's notice."
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to hold a commemoration, although I doubt people like Asano or Kojima will come; I heard they've both moved out of Karakura Town."
"Oh, that's a shame. Well then I'll see you in the afternoon! I'm going to see Tatsuki-chan!" Orihime waved Ishida goodbye as she left his office. Ishida saw her leave the front doors of the hospital, before he went back to work.
As he scanned through the paperwork again, Ishida's mind brooded about a lot of thoughts. The first thought was about whether he could live up to the standard his father had set in running this hospital. Like Ichigo's father, Ishida Ryuken had bequeathed the entire hospital to his son some three years ago and then promptly disappeared. Ishida had never seen him since, and in attempting to fill his father's shoes he had stopped going out at night to kill hollows. In fact, he had not once used his Quincy powers in nearly three years.
The other thought that filled Ishida's head was his relationship with Orihime. They had been seeing each other ever since the two of them had graduated high school. Yet throughout all this time Ishida was plagued by doubts about Orihime's feelings for him. He knew that deep down the person she admired the most was Ichigo, and he knew how much she had suffered when she heard of his death. There had been many nights where Orihime had phoned Ishida and discussed her dreams about seeing Ichigo come back to live, and Ishida had got the impression that her attachment to a now dead man was as strong as ever. It took Ichigo's reunion with them in March this year for Orihime to finally concede that she would never have a chance to be with Ichigo. Since that day Ishida's relationship with her had blossomed, but he still couldn't bring himself to express his feelings for her. I'm just as pathetic as Inoue, Ishida thought. No matter how hard I try, I will never be able to tell her that I love her.
Ishida's brooding was interrupted by a nurse who informed him of another outpatient arrival. Ishida stopped what he was doing and followed the nurse to the waiting room…
As his shift at the Karakura General Hospital ended, Ishida changed out of his doctor's attire into his casual clothing, before carrying his belongings to his car, a sleek Mercedes Benz C class. He threw his belongings in the back seat before he entered the driver's seat and started the engine. Within a minute he was out of the hospital's driveway.
After about ten minutes of driving Ishida arrived at his apartment. He parked his car in the garage and headed upstairs. After a brief shower he changed into a more formal attire-a gray tuxedo and matching pants, with a blue shirt underneath. Instead of taking the car, Ishida decided to walk to the meeting spot Orihime had designated. It was only about ten minutes' walk from his apartment, and as it was in the downtown area of Karakura Town, he knew it would be a hassle to park his car.
He exited his apartment and made the journey on foot. After fifteen minutes he reached the destination; one of Karakura Town's most lavish and expensive restaurants. Already waiting at the steps of the restaurant was Orihime. She was dressed in an elegant sleeveless purple dress that reached right down to her heels, but was bare at the top, revealing an ample amount of her cleavage. Her hair was bunched up with a large hairpin at the side and she wore a pair of sparkling earrings.
"You look stunning Inoue," said Ishida with a smile.
"Heh, heh, you're looking pretty handsome yourself Ishida-kun," Orihime smiled back.
"So who else is coming tonight?"
"Just Tatsuki-chan and Sado-kun I'm afraid. You were correct about Keigo-san and Mizuiro-san. They both said they couldn't make it. The other classmates didn't bother responding to my calls at all."
"That's okay. I'm fine with just the four of us," said Ishida. "It's fitting that only Kurosaki's closest friends gather here to remember him." The two of them waited at the front steps of the restaurant for another ten minutes. Then they saw two figures wave at them as they approached. It was Tatsuki and Chad. Tatsuki was dressed in a black dress that also extended down to her heels and was just as revealing as Orihime's. The only difference in her attire was that she also wore a large fur coat over the dress. Chad was dressed in a black shirt and trousers with a red tie, and had a pair of sunglasses on this forehead.
"My, my the two of you sure look classy," said Tatsuki slyly.
"Same to the two of you," retorted Ishida.
"So it's just the four of us again," said Chad.
"I've already booked our table. It's a table for four on the second floor," said Orihime. The four friends entered the restaurant after showing the bouncer at the front door their IDs. They were then greeted by a male waiter who instantly recognised Ishida.
"Doctor Ishida, it's a pleasure seeing you here," said the waiter. "The boss said he owes you a favour for treating his back, so for today you and your friends get a ten percent discount."
"Hmm, not bad at all," said Ishida. "Just show us to our table." They followed the waiter up a flight of stairs and past numerous tables until they reached a table for four that provided breathtaking views of the downtown skyline.
"Wow, this view is brilliant. You really picked a good table for us Orihime," said Tatsuki. The four of them sat down beside the table, with Ishida and Orihime and one side, and Tatsuki and Chad on the other. Another waiter came and gave them two menus. They all chose the standard eight course meal, accompanied by some entrée and two bottles of champagne. As they waited for the meal to be served, they talked with each other.
"Hey Orihime, I've heard you're now working at a modeling agency," said Tatsuki.
"What? Is that true Inoue?" asked Ishida. It was the first time he had heard of it.
"Well, it's not exactly one of those big name modeling agencies," said Orihime. "It's really more of an advertising agency. They want to put my face on some new products that are going to be put on the market this summer."
"What kind of products are they going to be?" asked Chad. Orihime's face briefly had the weirdest expression Ishida had ever seen.
"Um, well, most of them are high quality vegetable and fruit products. They got me to hold a leek in my hands and spin it around a few times, and pretend to be all happy and stuff."
"Okay…sounds like a pretty interesting job," said Tatsuki. "At least you might become famous because of this."
"What about the two of you?" Ishida posed his question to Tatsuki and Chad.
"I'm now working full time as a professional instructor at a fitness centre," said Tatsuki. "I teach all forms of martial arts including karate, judo and taekwondo and jujutsu."
"Uh, I'm working as a delivery person for furniture and white goods," said Chad. "Last week I got a promotion and a twenty percent pay rise."
"I see," said Ishida. He didn't mind the fact his friends either found themselves with a new job or got a promotion or pay rise.
The main course dishes soon arrived and for the next two hours the four of them mostly ate their meal in silence, with only the brief comment by any of them.
After they finished eating the meal and paid for it in a joint manner, Ishida, Orihime, Tatsuki and Chad walked out of the restaurant.
"Hey guys, I was wondering if we should visit Kurosaki-kun's grave at the cemetery again," suggested Orihime.
"Are you mad? Look how late it is!" exclaimed Tatsuki. "I doubt the cemetery will still be open by now, and even if it is I wouldn't want to go there at this time of night."
"How about we stop by Ichigo's former house? I heard from the neighbours there that the house still remains vacant," said Chad.
"That might be a good idea," said Ishida. And so the four of them caught a nearby taxi that took them out of the downtown Karakura until they reached the nearest large road to Ichigo's former home. They got out and walked for a few hundred metres of so until they arrived at their destination. The former house of the Kurosakis still had its windows boarded up and the front gate locked. A large auction sign that had been put up nearly half a year ago was still there, but now it was covered with graffiti.
"Huh, they still haven't found a buyer for this place?" asked Tatsuki.
"Looks like the rumours of this place being haunted are as persistent as ever," said Chad.
"I wouldn't blame potential buyers from being scared away," said Ishida. "After all, the police still haven't figured out the cause of Kurosaki and his sisters' death. I doubt they ever will."
"There's something that's different about this place. Look at the window on the first floor," said Orihime. She pointed to a skull like symbol that was hanging from the boarded up window.
"That looks like the Substitute Shinigami badge Ichigo once had," said Tatsuki. "I wonder why it was placed there."
"Who knows? Maybe it's a sensory device of some sort," Ishida shrugged. "Anyway, I think we've stayed here long enough. Let's go home now." The others all nodded. Even though it was Friday night, none of them felt like staying up till the wee hours of the morning.
The four of them walked only a hundred metres at most from Ichigo's former house when Ishida saw a stranger coming towards them. He looked like an old man, somewhere in the mid 60s. He had short white hair with a slight bang that hung down his forehead, and a neatly trimmed beard. But what was most distinctive about this man was the clothes he was wearing. They were pure white in colour, and around the man's shoulders was a flowing white cape. Ishida recognised the clothing as soon as he saw them, and his eyes widened in shock. Those are…the traditional Quincy robes! He thought.
"Greetings, Ishida Uryu-kun," said the man. Ishida couldn't pin down his accent but he knew he wasn't a Japanese.
"Who are you? How do you know my name?" he asked. The man grinned.
"I think it should be obvious by my clothing who I am," said the man. "I am a Quincy just like you. My name is Gunther Gibichung, head of the Gibichung family, and a colleague of your father Ishida Ryuken." Ishida was utterly stunned.
"You…know my father? And you're a Quincy too?"
"Oh I know your father alright. I met him during a year-long exchange study at Tokyo University, and since then the two of us have been rivals in the field of medicinal and spiritual research. And as for me being a Quincy…here's my proof." The man called Gunther showed Ishida a five sided Quincy cross. There was no doubt about it now. This man was a Quincy.
"Your surname isn't Japanese. Where are you from?" asked Ishida.
"Seems like you noticed," said Gunther. "My family hails from Germany, and is descended from a long line of nobles dating back to the middle ages." As soon as he heard the man was from Germany Ishida instantly recalled some words his grandfather had told him when he was young.
"Remember this well Uryu. Our family is not the only Quincy clan around. The bulk of the Quincies in fact lived in Europe. It was there that the Quincy rebellion against Soul Society took place. Almost all of them were killed by the Shinigami, but a fraction of survivors may have escaped the slaughter…"
"Ah, now I get it," said Ishida, after remembering his grandfather's words. "You're a survivor or a descendent of those Quincies who fought the Shinigami during the Quincy wars."
"That is correct," said the man called Gunther.
"Huh, the Quincy Wars? What is that all about?" asked Orihime. Ishida begged her, Tatsuki and Chad to keep quiet for a moment.
"So what do you want from me then?" asked Ishida. Gunther grinned again, but this time the grin seemed sinister.
"I think you ought to know now, why I've come to meet you," said Gunther. "I want you to join me Uryu. Join our clan and together we will strike at the Shinigami who destroyed our pride and honour." Ishida regarded Gunther's proposal for a moment. He then burst out laughing.
"Oh man, do you seriously think I'd be idiotic enough to accept your offer?" asked Ishida. "And join you on a suicidal caper against Soul Society? You must be mad."
"Hmm, I knew you would say that," said Gunther, seemingly unaffected by Ishida's taunt. "I guess appealing to your Quincy pride alone won't cut it, as is appealing to your hatred of Shinigami"
"Of course not. I've long given up that 'pride of the Quincy bullshit'," said Ishida. "I don't have high regard for the Gotei 13 as a whole, but one of my closest friends is a Shinigami, and I owe him a great deal for turning my life around. I would never betray his trust and confidence."
"Ah yes, I know about your Shinigami friend. Kurosaki Ichigo isn't it? The son of Kurosaki Isshin, one of Ishida Ryuken's old pals," said Gunther. Ishida was surprised that this man knew all of their names. "Like father like son I see. You said you'd never betray your friend's confidence? Then what if I said to you that your friend has already betrayed you? What if I said that your friends' father murdered your father in cold blood?" A chill went up Ishida's spine as soon as he heard Gunther's words.
"What, Kurosaki-kun's dad killed Ishida-kun's dad?" asked Orihime.
"That doesn't make any sense," said Tatsuki. "Where is the proof of that?"
"I bet that guy is lying," said Chad.
"I am not lying. Take a look at this photograph," said Gunther. He took a photo out of his pocket and handed it over to Ishida. As soon as Ishida saw it his eyes widened in shock. The image was unmistakable. The bloodied body of his father was lying on the ground at the feet of another man who resembled Ichigo's father. Ishida stared up at Gunther, who was now smiling maniacally.
"I don't believe this is a genuine photo," said Ishida. "Unless I somehow speak to Kurosaki's father by myself, everything you said could just be an elaborate stunt. Even if this is real, it still won't convince me to join your idiotic scheme. If I see Kurosaki or his father again, I'll confront them about my father, but I'm not going to throw away my life in a pointless act of revenge against Soul Society. If you are so determined to carry on your plans, then do them by yourself. Don't involve me in your business."
"Well said Uryu," said Chad. Orihime and Tatsuki nodded. Ishida's retort made Gunther chuckle.
"I really thought you and I were of like mind, Uryu," said Gunther. "But if you won't listen to reason then I'll have to resort to force to win you over!" With a wave of his hand, Gunther signaled two shadowy figures who had been hiding in the shadows to appear behind him. The two figures were a short fat man, and a woman with dazzling long black hair. Both were wearing the same Quincy robes as Gunther.
"Gutrune, Hagen, kill the orange haired girl beside him," said Gunther.
"Oh, you want us to take out the pretty looking whore? That's a pity," said the man called Hagen.
"You're quite the cruel man, Master Gunther," said Gutrune. The two of them summoned large spirit bows from the Quincy crosses around their right wrists and pointed them at Orihime.
"Oh shit!" swore Ishida as he saw them fire two massive arrows at Orihime. The two arrows streaked towards Orihime's head and chest, but just before they hit her Chad got in the way. Ishida, Orihime and Tatsuki could only watch in horror as the two arrows pierced Chad, one going dangerously close to his heart, the other hitting him in the stomach. Chad spewed a glob of blood from his mouth before his legs buckled and he fell onto his side
"Sado-kun!" cried Orihime and Tatsuki. They both dropped beside him. Ishida stared at his fallen friend before turning his attention to the three Quincies in front of him.
"You monsters! How dare you attack a defenceless woman like that?" asked Ishida in a rage. He moved to summon his own spirit bow but he was stopped by Gunther's words.
"Make one false step and the two girls get it straight in the head!" shouted Gunther. "If you want them to live you must slowly move towards us." Ishida froze his arms and grimaced. Damn it, they're holding my nakama as hostages, thought Ishida. He dropped his hands by his side.
"Ah yes, that's the way," said Gutrune. "What is your choice boy? The life of your friends or your foolish Quincy pride?"
"You'd better make the decision quick because I can't hold the trigger finger for long," said Hagen. Ishida considered his options. He was outnumbered three to one, against Quincies who might be as strong as himself. Chad was already critically wounded; had he still been healthy Ishida might have thought about attacking them. But the most important consideration was the safety of Orihime. What a choice-to choose between seeing Inoue dead and possibly not seeing her again, thought Ishida. His closed his eyes and tried to think of what his father or grandfather would say. Their words came back to him.
"There's no sense in saving the dead. That's the Shinigami's job. Your time should be better spent saving the living…"
"What you think is right depends on what you want to protect…" Ishida opened his eyes again, having made up his mind.
"Alright, I accept your offer. Just as long as you promise not to harm my friends," said Ishida. "If I find out that a single more ounce of their blood has been spilt, the deal is off and I will kill all of you." Gunther, Gutrune and Hagen grinned evilly as Ishida slowly walked to their side.
"No Ishida-kun! Don't listen to them!" cried Orihime in despair.
"What are you thinking Uryu? Are you going to throw your life away?" asked Tatsuki.
"I'm not going to throw my life away," replied Ishida as he faced his friends again. "I'm doing this to protect all of you. Inoue, Tatsuki-chan, try to treat Sado's injuries the best you can. I promise that once this business is done I'll come back for you." With that Ishida stood beside Gunther. The four Quincies disappeared into the night sky.
At this moment, the skull placed on the first floor window of the Kurosaki family residence lit up and started flashing. Its signal was transmitted to a certain Shinigami's office in Seireitei.
Notes: Thie chapter begins the mini-arc called the Shadow Quincies. Ishida is obviously going to be the main driving force, but others, including Ichigo and Rukia, will be involved.
A brief comment about the three OC Quincies, Gunther, Gutrune and Hagen Gibichung-Their names are taken from the epic German poem The Niebelunglied, or Song of the Niebelung in English, which was also dramatised in Richard Wagner's play of the same name. I thought it was a fitting reference as Kubo also once referenced a german composer's play-Der Freicschuz by Wagner's mentor Carl von Weber.