White

Chapter 36

Resolve

(A/N Wow, okay. This one's going to be a little more Uryu oriented until about the end. So yeah. Uryu right now is basically my only move able character right now. He's stuck dead in the middle of everything. I'll be using him again a lot in the following chapter as well.)

SOUNDS/sounds

Thoughts

Disembodied Voices

(Last Time)

"I never knew you had a poetic side, Kurosaki," she finally spoke as I raise an eyebrow. "That's the most compassionate thing you've said to me this whole time. I'm a little taken aback."

"Hahahaha! W-well, you wanted t-to talk so… Hmhm…" I state, turning my head away from her. "Hmhmhm… I-if you want t-to I mean… Hehehe…"

I hear her fold up the paper as I turn back to see her move her chair closer to me along the tiled floor. I'm surprised. I feel a little bit of an actual smile slide across my face. Not just one brought by this insane laughter. Maybe she's not as bad as I thought. But… I'm not holding my breath, either.

(Present Time. Uryu's Apartment. Normal POV)

Uryu rolled over and hit the alarm on his phone. It was 7:30. He had slept on the floor. The Shinigami had left about 4 hours ago. He sat up and looked at the mattress for his futon. He really needed a new one now. There was a good bit of blood on it from Abarai and Kuchiki. Kon was still sawing logs on the pillow next to him. He didn't get much sleep but he promised Ichimaru he would return early.

He carefully stepped over Kon and made his way to the closet. He grabbed some clothes and headed for the bathroom. Once dressed and groomed he grabbed his coat and put on his shoes. He even grabbed his original bow and arrows from the closet. Kon was still sleeping soundly as he opened the door and walked out. He yawned as he locked the door and started down the stairs. Thankfully last night he didn't have to meet with Kuchiki Byakuya.

He got in the car and made his way to his father's house. He really didn't get a lot of sleep. He could do with a few more hours but right now that was a luxury he could not afford. In a few minutes time he arrived and pulled into the paved driveway. He got out and stretched a bit, before pulling out his bow and arrows from the back seat. The air was very cold that morning and a gentle wind rushed through his dark hair. He pulled his coat closer to his body as he walked up the steps to the front door. Gin opened it for him and he walked in.

"Glad to see you made it. Are you ready for today?" Gin asked, shutting the door back.

"Yeah," Uryu nodded.

"Good, because today the gloves come off," Gin said, walking to the backdoor with Uryu beside him. "Yesterday was practice and today is your test."

"Meaning?" Uryu asked as Gin opened the back down they stepped out.

"Meaning, I need to put you in situations where you can't back out. I can tell you need a forced education as it were," Gin said as they stood on the deck. "Best way to learned is to do it. I'm going to fight you and you're going to have to fight back. Each fight will progressively get more engaging and more serious."

"You can't be serious! I don't…" Uryu stopped when Gin held up his hand. "I just—"

"Ah-ah-ah! None of that now! You promised me you would do as I asked," Gin grinned, shaking a finger at him. "You're going to be soldier so you need to start acting like one."

Gin walked off the deck and into the yard. Uryu slowly followed him onto the brown, frosty grass. He saw a new target board set up along with several others scattered about the yard.

"First a warm up. I'm sure you see all the targets now," Gin said as Uryu nodded. "I want you to hit each one of those targets, quickly. There are about 9 of them littered about the yard. C'mon, now!"

"R-right," Uryu said, gripping his bow tightly and pulled out an arrow. "What about the—"

"Don't worry the barrier is up. Move it," Gin said as Uryu strung the arrow and took aim at the most obvious one.

He fired at one and quickly turned to the other one and fired at it. He continued until he found all 9 targets. Only 6 made contact. He was ordered to gather them again. However to his surprises with a snap of Gin's fingers the targets rearranged themselves some were even up in the air. He looked back at Gin in surprise.

"Enemies come at you at different angles. Don't expect the same set up each time," Gin said as Uryu quickly strung an arrow. "Now, again."

He quickly started firing off arrows again. Only 5 made any contact with the targets. He gathered his lot and once again the targets rearranged with the snap of Gin's fingers. He went to fire his first arrow when the target moved.

"The hell?" Uryu gasped, whipping around to look at Gin

"Enemies are always moving. Learn to read their movements and make your shot," Gin said, folding his arms over his chest. "Stop gawking! Shoot!"

Uryu quickly turned back to the targets. He strung an arrow and aimed for another one. It was rolling back forth in the air sporadically. He took the shot and missed again. He turned to another. It was moving up and down. He took a shot and clipped it. He continued until he ran out of arrows. He quickly gathered them again as the targets rearranged again and their movements became faster. He turned to look at Gin who just smiled at him. Was this man serious? He turned back and took aim. He fired and missed. He aimed again at another and fired.

He only hit 2. He gathered his arrows again as the targets rearranged and never stopped moving. He couldn't possibly do this. They were moving around like insects. Only holding steady for a moment or two before moving again. Uryu gritted his teeth in aggravation.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Uryu yelled at him as he ran up Gin. "How the hell do you expect me to shoot anything like this?"

"Think, boy, think," Gin said, putting a finger between Uryu's eyes. "Use your head. Oh, wait… You're not mad, are you?"

"You damn right I am," Uryu snapped, grabbing Gin by the front of his coat. "I can't possibly hit any of those!"

"Level head or you're dead," Gin said, coolly, pushing Uryu back. "A solider doesn't have time to think what's fair and what's not fair. They just do what needs to be done. If one way doesn't work and try another."

"But this is impossible! Not even a professional archer could hit those damn things," Uryu contested, pointing up at them. "I'd have to be freaking Superman to even remotely hit those!"

"But, Ishida, in a sense you are super human," Gin stated as Uryu looked at him funny. "Oh, have you forgotten that so soon? You're not an Average Joe standing on a street corner. Not anymore. There are more things in heaven and earth, Uryu, than dreamt of in your sorry excuse of philosophy."

Uryu got thumped good in the forehead by the back of Gin's hand. Uryu just glared at him in return. Although, the ex-shinigami did make a very good point. He could do things that the average person could not. He'd seen thing and knew things that only people could imagine. Mostly nightmarish stuff but still it was something out of the imagination.

"Those targets are designed by me and filled with my own spirit energy," Gin answered, pointing out. "You have the ability to sense objects and people carrying such energy. You need but expand yours out to sense what's around you."

"And just how do I do that?" Uryu grumbled.

"Have you ever been alone in an area when you suddenly feel like you have someone watching you?" Gin asked.

"Everyone does," Uryu shrugged.

"That is the sensation you should be feeling. Much like those concentration exercises last night you just need to focus your energy and expand it out," Gin said, holding out a hand towards the targets. "Focus on one and shoot. Like so… Hado #1: Sho."

One of the targets quickly fell to the ground.

"If done right and with practice your attacks will almost be like guided missiles but there is still no guarantee of a successful hit every time. You're not just seeing your target you're feeling it," Gin said, walking over to the target and sent it off back up with the others. "Do this and you might find a little reward waiting for you. Everyone and everything has varying levels power and each one has their one signature like a fingerprint. For example… If I lost you in a crowd and could not find you I just need but sense where you are. Once you sense it, predict how it moves. Use your instincts. You're not an average person anymore. Get your head out of the reality you think you live in."

Still not really liking the answer Uryu did walked back to where he had been and strung another arrow. Gin stepped back out of the way to give Uryu some room. He needed to sense them. He needed to focus on expanding his energy. He closed his eyes and took in a couple deep breaths. He just needed to level his head and focus. He took a few more deep breaths. He gripped his bow tightly and pulled the cord back.

He looked up at one and took aim. He needed to focus a little more. He needed to use his instincts. Could he even do it? Did he really have a chance? His aim wavered a little. He shook his head. Thinking that he couldn't and second guessing was the worst thing he could do. Even if he missed this shot he still had more chances. Fixing his aim again he focused more intently on his original target.

Please hit… Uryu thought, releasing the arrow.

It whizzed right by the target but it came dead close. He quickly stung another arrow and focused on one more target. He took aim again. He was taking too long and he knew he was going to get that lecture again. Time was a luxury. He took in a breath and fired. The arrow shot up and hit it. He loaded another arrow and took aim again. He fired. Another one. Okay… He tried again. He hit it! When his arrows were spent no targets were left. He heard Gin clapping a little as he turned to face the sly looking man.

"Perfect. Not so hard was it?" Gin grinned, walking over to him. "Still a bit slow but towards the end I think you started to get into a rhythm. Not bad."

"I hit them," Uryu said, picking one up of the frisbee sized targets and pulled out the arrow. "I hit every one of them."

"This is true," Gin said, taking the target from him tossed it back up. "Once you finish removing your arrows I'm going to add something else into the mix."

"Like what?" Uryu groaned, pulling out another arrow and handed Gin the target.

"These," he said, holding up a metal ball about the size of golf ball.

"And what do those do?" Uryu asked, narrowing his blue eyes.

"Well, enemies also attack. You're going to have to learn to avoid them," Gin smiled devilishly as Uryu looked terrified. "Think of these little cuties as miniature bludgers like from the Harry Potter books. They will be flying around with the targets. You knock out one of the targets one of these will fall with it. Of course you can knock these out too but given their size they are much harder to hit."

"You can't be—" Uryu was cut off as Gin shook a long finger at him again.

"Ah-ah-ah! None of that sass! All soldiers play war games," Gin stated. "Now grant it these are going to hurt but it will teach you to dodge while keeping your eye on the targets."

Once all the targets were back in the air Gin released the mini-bludgers up with them. Uryu looked up at them and was already getting nervous. He had to shoot down nine targets while avoiding 9 golf ball sized missiles. Gin raised his hand ready to snap his fingers and Uryu quickly threaded an arrow.

Snaaap!

"Oh, shit," Uryu shouted as he was quickly assaulted by the mini-bludgers! "AAAAGH! OW! OW! Shit! Dammit! Ouch! OW!"

"You're supposed to dodge them!" Gin called out to him, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"OW! Bullshit!" Uryu yelled, covering his head before swinging his bow around like a blind batter. "Ouch! How do I do that? UGH!"

"Yep, this is going to be a long day…" Gin sighed, rubbing the sides of his head. "Do I have to spell this out as well? Just like the targets they have spirit energy. Sense them and move accordingly."

"OW! That's it! I've had it! Ugh! Ouch!" Uryu snapped, pulling back his cord and just shot straight up.

The arrow had a large amount of energy put into it on its release. It managed to make contact with a target resulting in an explosion, taking out all but one. Uryu got up swung the bow like a bat knocking out the last offending mini-bludger before loading and firing an arrow at the last target. Dead on! He then turned around and glared daggers at Gin who just stood there a little perplexed, rubbing the back of his silver head.

"There! I got them! Everyone last one! Happy?" Uryu growled, lightly licking a split lip.

"Yeah... Yeah… You did do that. I'll give you that much… But you didn't dodge worth—SHIT!" Gin dodged as an arrow came at his head. "Hey! Easy, easy! No need to get hostile with me!"

"Sadistic bastard," Uryu snapped. "Your little bludgers were beating me into the ground! How do you expect me to fight when I'm beaten to a pulp before even getting into an actual battle?"

"There are healing Kido spells, you know. I was going to fix you up a bit," Gin snorted. "But obviously you're in a right fine mood."

"Oh, I wonder why that is," Uryu bit out through clinched teeth.

"Well, then if that's the case," Gin said, opening his coat and pulled out a short sword. "Care to actually take me on?"

"Wait? What? I don't think I can!" Uryu quickly took a step back as Ichimaru took a step forward. "M-maybe I got little too hasty!"

"You destroyed all those targets because you got angry. I have no other tools to help teach you," Gin stated, suddenly appearing mere inches in front of Uryu. "I'll have to do it this way, I suppose. I was going to wait but I have no choice now. Let's put that hostility of yours to the test. Just remember to keep a level head and remember to dodge."

Uryu quickly jumped back as Gin raised his sword. How was he supposed to fight? Swords were for close combat and arrows are for long-range. He'd have to keep putting distance between him and Gin. Worse yet what if he actually hit him? Then what was he to do?

"Better be on your toes, Ishida," Gin leered as Uryu stepped back and little more and loaded an arrow. "I'll teach you how to dodge properly one way or the other."

Uryu swallowed a large knot in his throat. He didn't like the sounds of that. Was he really going to have to fight Gin? The prospect looked terrifying.

"Shoot to death: Shinso," Gin called out as his zanpakuto suddenly elongated and aimed right at Uryu's head.

Uryu barely had enough time to get of the way as the massively long blade that whistled past his ear, hitting the shed a good 50 feet behind him. He turned around and watched the blade retracted. Gin smiled as Uryu looked terrified.

"I bet you were thinking because I have a sword I'd have to get in close to you," Gin mused, looking at his shocked opponent. "First rule of a fight, never trust another fighter. Close or long-range works for me. I'm not going to use my full ability but it can still be costly should you make a mistake. So don't make any mistakes."

(Gin's POV)

Oh, this is going to be interesting. I quickly elongate Shinso again as Uryu hits the ground. He crawls a little ways before getting back to his feet. He fumbles for an arrow. I easily swing Shinso back at him and he ducks again. I recall Shinso and flash step in front of Uryu. Oh this is going to be ugly. I quickly start aiming at his head. Uryu can barely get out of the way. I keep cutting his cheeks and nicking his ears. I then kick him in the stomach, knocking him back into the wood fence. He grips his stomach as I send Shinso at him again. He tilts his head out of the way.

"A-are you trying to k-kill me?" Uryu snaps, shrinking to the ground, and covering his head with his hands and bow. This is quite sad. I'm not going to lie.

"No, but I have no problem beating some sense into you," I smile, retracting my blade again and pointed it down at him. "Might want to move."

He barely rolls out of way as the tip of Shinso lands right into the ground where he had been sitting. I see him come at me with his bow raised like a bat. Really? I catch it easily and aim Shinso at him again. He ditches it in favor of not getting hit. Smart move but also a dumb one. I know have part of his weapon. I strap it over my shoulder as he puts some real distance between us. This is really quite sad. Only by a sheer miracle will this poor boy actually have a fighting chance.

I send Shinso back at him again, aiming at his feet. It looks like I made a nice cut into his right calf. My, my. This lesson might be over before it even got started. He gets back up though as I swing my zanpakuto at him again. He ducks hitting the ground. I swing it by him again and he ducks again. I clipped a bit of his hair this time. I recall Shinso just so he can get back to his feet. He can dodge better than I first thought but I'm not aiming true either.

"What do you plan to do now?" I ask as he turns to look at me. "I have your bow."

"I'm not supposed to complain about how unfair this is, am I?" he hisses, knock his hair out of his face. "I'm just supposed to do what I need to one way or another."

"Yes, that is correct," I answer, sending Shinso after him again.

Despite that cut to his leg he keeps moving. I swing my zanpakuto around so the blade is hot on his heels. Oh, looks like I got him closed in. Wait? I watch as he puts his foot on the side of the shed and actually takes a few steps up it to flip over Shinso. I cut into the shed a good few feet before retracting him back to me. Uryu is crouched down, trying to catch his breath. I notice that all his arrows are scattered all over the ground. He really has no chance now. This match is pretty much over.

"Nice move," I complement but ready myself for another attack. "I'm going to be trying to hit a little harder now. Just a head's up."

"What you were you doing before?" he asks in shock as I send Shinso straight at him.

He quickly rolls out of the way, grabbing a single arrow on the way back to his feet. I don't know what he plans to do what that. The spare bow's sitting inside the house. I flash step in front of him and slap him hard in the face he stumbles back to the ground. I rush up to him and go to bring my foot down but he manages to grab foot to keep me from slamming it into his stomach. I hold Shinso over his head. He has a look of total fear on his face.

"It's over," I tell him but he still doesn't seem to want to give up.

"Not yet," he says, twisting my foot as I bring down Shinso. Oh shit!

Whew! The blade comes down just missing his head. I manage to cut his ear pretty good thought. To my surprise he slides out from underneath me with that arrow still in his fingers. He's putting energy into that? What for? I don't understand he—Whoa! I moved out of the way just in time as the thin wave of energy just cuts into my arm. Ah, okay. By using something so thin when he releases the energy his makes it "shaper" in a way. Like thin wire. So he's not completely helpless after all. He swings it at me again. I notice that it does have a limit to it. Maybe 7 to 8 feet is about as far as he can project that wire thin energy.

"Oh? Are we starting to build our resolve a bit?" I ask, pulling Shinso out of the ground and stand up straight. "If that's the case. Than…"

I flash-step forward, closing the distance between us and elbow him in the chest. What? He caught my elbow? He steps back, shaking his abused hand. He then holds up his arrow again. Hm. Interesting… Did he just get a little faster? Let's see. I go to punch him again but he dodges and swings the arrow again. I dodge it again. His reaction time has picked up. Okay, I'm really going to lay it on him. I'm actually going to aim for his face when I punch. I bring my arm back and swing my fist at him. Wow! He actually did manage to dodge that.

"Nice! Very nice," I commend as he catches his breath, still holding out his arrow. "But I'll tell you now. I'm nowhere near what I used to be. Had I been at my former strength I could have snapped your neck with that last punch had it made contact. You wouldn't have even seen it coming."

"What?" Uryu asks, looking surprised. "You mean you really did try to punch me?"

"Yes. But as it stands now I'm nowhere near the strength I once had," I tell him, looking down at Shinso. "I would barely make a seated officer even if I went at you full tilt. I've only been going at around half power. If you want I can amp it a bit more?"

"Might as well," he answers, wiping his mouth a bit. "If you're only doing about half the power of a low rank officer, I can't imagine what you were like."

He looks dead serious this time. I think something is finally settling into him. I can see it in his eyes. He really means to do business this time. I'm half tempted to return his bow. Might as well. I pull the bow off my shoulder and hand it back to him. He takes it and grips it hard.

"You only have one shot, better keep it for the right moment," I tell him as he nods.

We both take a few steps back from each other. My body is starting to ache a bit. I might want to end it a little early but I will give him a better fight. I hold out Shinso. Well, let's see how he does. He really does look like his father with that serious face. I quickly send Shinso at him. He dodges again and takes off running again. I bring my zanpakuto around again. It's close to clipping him in the back. I won't cut him too badly.

I swing a little faster. It's just now cutting into his coat. What…? How did…? He managed to push off the ground and flipped over my blade. I quickly recall Shinso. He looks just as stunned as I do. I know what I saw. He managed to channel energy under his feet to give him lift. He pushed off that. Maybe I misjudged him. Maybe he's got some real talent after all.

"I want you to do that again," I called to him as he looks at me like I'm crazy.

"I don't even know what I just did," he shrugs at me, breathing heavily.

"Just try," I tell him, sending my blade at him again.

We really have torn up this yard. I'm pretty sure Ryuken is about to blow a gasket if he hasn't already. I want him to preform that same maneuver again. I think I know what it was. It's similar to our flash-step. Ah, that's it. I recall my zanpakuto and flash step in front of him. I hold Shinso up over my head. He had better move.

"AAGH!" he shouts, holding up his bow in defense.

I slice right through the bow and feel the blade just touch his shoulder when he moves away from me about a good 10 feet. He's holding his destroyed bow but he did it. That son of a bitch did it. He drops the bow to the ground and holds his cut shoulder.

"Very, very nice," I tell him, lowering Shinso. "That technique you just used… I believe it's called, Hirenkyaku. That's advanced. That's very advanced. It's similar to Shun-po, which is what I used to catch up to you."

"Yeah? I felt like I was almost flying but not. I don't know…" he says, looking down at his feet. "It was this weird sensation under my feet that I just moved on."

"In a sense you are flying. It allows you to move from location to location in the blink of an eye," I tell him. Hm? Where did he…?

"Like this?" I turn slightly to see him, holding an energy charged arrow to my throat. "What was that first rule about a fight?"

"Hmhmhm! Yes, good play," I drawl. "I'll just call it your match for the time being."

He pulls the arrow from my throat but I wonder… I quickly swing Shinso back at him and he dodges me. Hm? He's behind me again? I use shun-po to put some distance between us. How did he get the hang of that technique so fast? I was not expecting him to do this! I think I've seriously misjudged him. This boy is a natural!

"I commend you for learning that so fast but it's still rather slow," I tell him as he looks at me with cold eyes. Yes… For the first time they really are cold. "Now I must ask you this. Have you found it?"

"Huh? Found what?" he asks, holding out the charged arrow at me.

"Your resolve? I have to know, Ishida. Can you actually fight when the time comes?" I ask him as he stares at me. "War is not for the weak and the kindhearted. A solider must keep a level head, he doesn't complain about fairness, he does what needs to be done, and he trusts his instincts. This was a mock fight, you have to remember that. It's going to be different on the battlefield. Are you going to have this same confidence and resolve then?"

"You asked me once before if I was going out with my tail between my legs or with my boots on," his voice is very cold. "I'll be sure to be wearing a pair when that day comes."

I feel a smile split my face. I reach into my coat pocket and pull out the Quincy Cross and throw it at him. He catches and looks it over.

"I think it's time we start using that instead," I tell him as he turns his eyes back up at me. "It's a lot more practical and you don't ever run out of arrows either. I'm honestly surprised. What clicked to make you suddenly fight back like this?"

"As weird as this may sound… I was thinking about the other day during that attack with the demon spiders… I actually felt like I done something day. I kept the spiders at bay while the White Devil actually fought the Queen," he tells me, looking down at his cut shoulder. "After thinking about it some I realized I did hold my ground. I think even he would have been overwhelmed had I not fought back. What I mean is… I watched him fight with so much bravado and strength it encouraged me to fight even though I was uncertain of myself. I just thought back to that feeling I had then and applied it to this."

"So, he encouraged you? Huh… You do realize though he might not be on your side. At that time you had just found a common ground to stand on," I sigh, rubbing the side of head. "I know that doesn't seem too nice but… Well, at least you found your resolve. Let's get you fixed up some. You don't want to lose too much blood. The Kido spells I will use will help to close and heal your wounds. Especially the ones on your face and ears. You're not a spirit so the effects won't be complete but you should have no problems with your wounds… Is something the matter?"

I noticed that he seems to be thinking about something rather hard. He has a puzzled look on his face.

"It can't be…" Uryu turns to look up over my head at the house. "Is he…? Was he here this whole time?"

"Hmhm… I told you there would be a reward. Take a break. Go upstairs and see him. I know he wants to see you," I tell him, hooking a thumb towards the house. "He might fuss at you out though."

"What for?" he asks.

"Uh, look around you," I sigh as he pauses to actually look around the backyard. Or rather what's left of it.

"I'm going to get an earful for this," he grumbles, putting the cross into his pants' pocket.

"Better you than me," I sigh.

"You're a part of this mess too! Don't be putting all the blame on me. Look what you did to the shed," he snaps as I start pushing him towards the deck. "Stop pushing me! Hey! Ow!"

"Just go up and see him, will you? Honestly. Not many people can say that they get a second chance," I state as we reach the steps. "We can fight some more later."

(Uryu's POV)

I look back over my shoulder at Ichimaru. I sigh and turn back to the house. My father has been here this whole time and I never even noticed. I walk up the steps of the deck and on inside through the backdoor. I pause to look at my refection in the mirror by the front door on the other side of the living room. I'm a blooded mess. I grab some paper towels and couple of dish rags.

I'm nervous… I really am. I swallow the knot in my throat and start my way up. What do I say to him? I don't… I step up onto the landing and look down the hall to his room. No, really what do I say? The last time I spoke to him was right when the elevator fell. I mean… I won't know until I actually enter that room. I wipe my cuts a little more and start walking. I pad the cut on the shoulder with a clean dish cloth. I stop in front of the door and raise my hand to knock on the door. Why am I hesitating? C'mon, you can do this. You just took on Ichimaru, how is this so hard? I knock on the door before reaching for the handle to open it. I've come this far now… I push open the door a little ways…

"Open the door for pity's sake," he snaps and I open it more. "You always did have a problem with being apprehensive."

He's sitting in his reading chair by the window. I take notice that he's still wrapped up in the same bandages from the hospital. Come to think of it… That little girl ghost, Akane was it, still had those cords wrapped around her throat… I shake my head. I walk inside the room and shut the door behind me. Now what? What do I say? I have no idea what I should do. Maybe I should ask at least how he's doing…

"H-hello…" I murmur.

"Hm… I see the two of you managed to damage my garden. No, wait. Let me rephrase that. Devastated my garden," he states bitterly, looking out the window. I knew this was coming. I knew. I shouldn't be surprised. "I can't believe this… Seventeen years of work I put into that pot of land."

"Sorry…" I mumble, rubbing the back of my head.

"Sorry isn't going to fix this mess," he sighs harshly, turning to look back at me and shakes his head. I lower my head in response.

I so knew this was coming… Even Ichimaru saw it coming. I can't even get a single how are you doing? No, it's straight to his damn garden. If there was one thing he took pride in more than being a doctor it was his garden. I was so anxious to see him and what happens? I ended up getting reprimanded. I suppose that won't ever change.

"There's no point in fussing over it, I suppose… Not like I'll have a chance to fix any of it. I see you're not wearing your glasses. What happened to them?" he asks me as I look back at him. "You haven't had them on at all have you?"

"Uh, no actually I… Well, they broke a while ago and they just recently fell apart completely," I tell him, shrugging. OW! I quickly remember that cut in my shoulder. "A new pair won't be in until next week. I'm wearing contacts."

"I'm surprised, given that the last time you tried to wear contacts it cost you part of your vision," he says, leaning back in his chair. "But I guess you didn't have choice, did you?"

"Not really, no," I answer, shaking my head. "I had to see somehow."

"Understandable," he nods, slightly. "Ichimaru has been of course keeping me update and told me what really has been going on. I've also been reading the newspaper."

"Yeah?" I breathe.

"Yes and I've seen that lovely little photo," he tells me, pointing towards his bed. I see the newspaper sitting on the nightstand. "Mind telling me more about it?"

"Uh, well… What's there to really tell?" I bite me lip as he narrows his eyes at me. "I'm not really sure myself, honestly. I think I passed not long before that happened. I was just as surprised as you to see it yesterday morning."

"So you don't know how this happened?" he asks a little bitterly.

I shake my head. Of course I know a lot more than I'm letting on and I think he knows it. I was the one that let Kurosaki out of his cell. But after the fight I only remember making it back up to the lobby with the police. I don't remember anything after that until the doctor woke me up several hours later. I also don't think he needs to know that Ichigo and Orihime snuck away to have sex. Or maybe he surmised that on his own.

"You're a weak liar… Always have been," he drawls and I sigh. "I'm assuming you have a good reason though. Also given my current state there's nothing that I can do."

This is true. In all honesty his body is still in cold storage. I need to look into funeral… Okay, I'm not going to lie about how weird this is. I'm standing here talking to him and yet he's in the hospital morgue. This can't get any more awkward. As long as he doesn't ask about his body I think maybe things will be…

"You're being awfully quiet," he says as I snap back to attention.

"Oh, sorry," I drawl.

"Stop apologizing. I heard you went to see Kurosaki last night. Given the photo he looks nothing like when I last saw him," he states, getting up and walks over to his nightstand. "Newspaper photos aren't the best but I can see quite a few major changes. How is he doing? Just out of curiosity."

I feel my voice catch in my throat as he holds up the paper to me. I wonder how much he does know. I let out a long breath. I might as well see.

"How much has Ichimaru told you?" I ask as he perks an eyebrow.

"Pretty much everything. Including my unwilling involvement," he says, turning the paper around to look at it again. "I know what Kurosaki really is, if that's what you want to know. He really is a devil. Some creature called a hollow."

"Yes," I nod.

"I take it his condition has worsened?" he asks and I nod again. I hate talking about this but…

"He's dying. The actual Ichigo is dying physically and mentally," I tell him, walking over to his bed and sit down. "I was told that the hollow in him would literally destroy him from the inside out. He collapsed yesterday after he attacked the Chairman and 3 guards. The Chairman made the mistake of provoking him… I heard he almost drowned the man in the toilet."

My father's eyebrow perks again as he sits down beside me. He has a faint smile on his face. That rare. He actually smiled some.

"Hm. I never liked that man much myself," my dad muses. "Most of the staff doesn't either. I know Dr. Urahara and Chairman Takeuchi had a fight over letting me be co-owner. Despite my record Chairman Takeuchi didn't think I was qualified. Urahara really had to fight to have me put in that position."

"I see…" I reply with a long breath. "Kurosaki is… Well, he's throwing up blood. A lot of blood and his skin is deathly gray. He looks like a moving corpse to be honest. He has around or less than 24 hours left."

"So it's that bad? Huh… I'm sure Isshin is aware, correct?" he asks and I nod again. "How did he take the news?"

"Well, I didn't tell him. I didn't know about his condition until last night. I believe the hospital called him. He was due to arrive after I left," I tell him as he adjusts his jaw. "I did however see Dr. Kurosaki earlier yesterday before any of that happened. I tried to explain things to him. I even showed him what I could do. I picked up a cup and melted it in front of him. He was having a hard time swallowing that. I have no idea what he thought when he visited Ichigo."

"Honestly, had I not seen some things myself, I would be just has hardheaded," he says, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Possibly even more so than him."

That's very true. I can't deny that. Huh. It has been easier to talk to him about all this than I thought. I guess I was nervous that he would be skeptical and cynical like he usually was about such things. He has changed some… I don't think he likes the fact that such things are real but I'm glad he acknowledges it. Well, I guess it would be hard given that he's… I'm sitting here talking to him but I know he's dead… It's odd, really. Last month I would have never had imagined I would be doing this.

"I… I still can't believe I'm talking to you," I mutter, looking at the floor.

"At this point we both know stranger things have happened," he says, fiddling with a bracelet on his wrist. "This is what's helping build up my strength. It also allows me to interact with physical items. It was Ichimaru's, originally. He's not well himself. This is nothing more than a borrowed item. He had saved me in hopes that I knew something but I knew very little. He then told me about you and what had happened to you. I asked him to keep me here until I had a chance to talk to you."

"What? I—" he holds up his hand to stop me from speaking.

"I'm not one for sentiment so I'll keep this simple and straight to the point. Uryu, I know I haven't been the most caring person. I usually let my career get in the way of taking care of you. In some ways I treated more like one of my patients instead of my son," he tells me. I go speak again but he holds up his hand again. "I did try. Honestly, I did. I was always there for your games and holidays, even thought I didn't say or do much with you. I grew up in a rather strict house and I forced that on you. I even made some decisions for you that I shouldn't have forced you into. Such as forcing you to become doctor like myself. I saw a part of myself in you more or less and wanted you to make something of yourself. To sum everything up… I haven't been much of father to you and I've known that for a long time now. I've just been too proud to admit it. Can you forgive me for that?"

I just stare at him. That… That was… I'm awestruck. How do I respond to that? I don't know… I mean… I just… What do I do? He hasn't talked to me like that since mom passed. I think that's when most of his compassion left. He wasn't quite the same after she died. He was forced to take care of me alone and juggle his career. I know what he's talking about all too well. The lines between family life and work blurred a lot growing up in this house.

"I-I'm not mad at you. I never was," I tell him, looking back down at the floor. "Yeah, you would hurt my feelings—a lot—but I was never was truly mad at you."

"That's nice to hear but do you forgive me?" he asks again. I guess he wants it straight. Same old, same old…

"Yes… I-I do…" I breath out slowly. I hear him take a sigh of relief. I can feel I'm about to cry again. I'm trying not to. I've done enough of that these last few days. I'm tired of it.

"I am proud of you, Uryu," he says as I continue to look at the floor. "Not that long ago, you would have run from such problems. But you're facing them instead."

"I am, aren't I?" I force a weak smile on my face. In truth, I'm terrified. "Thank you."

"Go on back downstairs—Hm?" I give him a brief hug. "Uryu?"

"I'll see you later, okay?" I wave as I rush out the door and close it behind me.

I really am about cry again. I hurry back down the stairs to the backdoor. I wipe my eyes and snort a bit. Get a grip on yourself! I don't need this now. I look at the clock on the wall. It's almost 10:30. I'm to meet Kuchiki-taichou and company in 2 hours. I put my hand in my pocket and pull out the Quincy Cross. It's now or never. I slip the cross onto my wrist and open the backdoor. I see Ichimaru sitting on the steps. He turns to look at me with that same creepy grin he almost always wears.

"Are you ready to continue?" he asks, getting back up to his feet.

"Yes," I nod, holding up my left wrist to show him the cross.

"Perfect, let's begin."

(Karakura Mental Hospital. Ichigo's POV)

My mental health started to drop the last few hours. I'm still rational with the exception of this insidious laughter. Oh, I can't stand this! My laughing has intensified so much I can barely form words anymore. Dad sits in a chair right next to my bed and holds my hand. He showed up right at 9 this morning. He did keep his promise and has actually made plans to stay to here with me.

My body is just racked with intense pain but my vomiting has started to decrease a little, though that still wasn't much of a relief. Dr. Aizen has pretty said that I could go within a few hours' time. It's now just a waiting game. I just wish I'd stop this damn laughing! It is really starting to eat away at me. I now have a new nurse and a new set of guards. To my surprise one of them is Chad. He has his head in a bandage but he somehow managed to talk his supervisor into letting him work and watch over me. I don't know why he would want to. Does he feel pity for me or something?

Tears are pouring from my eyes. I look at my dad. We haven't been able to really talk since about 11 this morning. It's now almost 4. I'm still waiting for Dodge Ball to show up. I know he won't leave me. I just hope he shows up soon. I'm scared of what I will become. He knows what he has to do but I don't know if he can. He has too much of a kind heart.

OW! My head… It hurts! I squeeze my eyes shut! It hurts! I just want this all to end already! I just… I just… Hm? It's stopped? I slowly open my eyes only to see a sea of white sand yet again capped with a dark sky. But I'm not at the same sand dune. I look around to see the White Devil carrying my dad under his right arm and the woman over his left shoulder. But he's not… He not what he was when I last saw him. He's wearing a tight fitting white coat and white traditional pants. There's a large white bony mask with sharps teeth and angled horns. But what really sticks out to me most is that his hair is now a bright orange and long enough to reach just above his knees. So that's where I got that strange hair color from. Kind of always wondered. Huh, go figure. His blade is now solid white and looks more like a standard katana. He's keeps running and he's hurt. There that deep gash in his chest I remember in the dream. I want to see… No I think I need to see how this all ends. I pick up my feet and follow after him. I can still hear the army not far behind.

"J-Just leave us," I hear my dad say as he leaves a trail of blood behind him, staining the ivory sand. "You c-can run... Faster without us."

"Shut up, I'm not doing that," he snaps as I catch up to them. "We stay together. Always."

"Wh-why are you doing this?" my Dad asks. "Shiro..."

The White Devil won't answer. He just keeps moving forward. It isn't too long before he stops and drops my dad and the woman onto the sand. I'm curious. I run over to her and—Shihoin? That's Shihoin Yoruichi? I don't understand! This is just getting weirder and weirder by the moment. Why is she like that? Is she dead?

"I suppose it's now or never," the White Devil sighs, turning towards the fast approaching army. "I have to time this just right… I'll keep my promise."

He won't run and my dad has stopped moving. I'm not liking this. It isn't too long after that we are surrounded. I noticed him focus on one person in particular. He must be the head honcho. Whoa! Is his sword on fire? That's kinda cool but he does look rather pissed off. The two stare at each for a couple of moments. I have a feeling this is going to end badly. I swallow the knot in my throat as I continue watching this unfold.

"Did you think you could run from us?" I hear the commanding Shinigami snap.

"No. I'm not going to run," the White Devil says, holding out his sword. "I have nothing to run from. I have nothing to run for."

"Hmph. If that's how you feel then hand over the body of the Oracle," the man orders. "She does not belong to you!"

The White Devil looks down at Shihoin and this back at the man. I can't read his expression behind that mask.

"Never," he growls out. "I loved her!"

"You killed her! Don't you even talk about love, hollow," the man yells under his thick mustache, holding out his own fiery sword. "You know nothing of love. You are heartless like every other hollow!"

"It was an accident, you bastard! I never meant—"

"Silence! She was not yours nor will she ever be yours," the man snapped. "Return her to us! To me!"

I noticed that the air around me is starting to heat up as the leader's blade flares brightly. Even the sand is starting to get warm. I'm not liking where this is headed. I feel a horrible knot build in my stomach. Just like last time all I can do is watch. The White Devil is just staring him down. To my surprise the Devil lowers his blade.

"Do you not wish to fight me?" the head Shinigami asks.

"No. I do not. Because I've already won," he says rather smugly. "You just don't know how."

I can hear the army mutter and laugh. I can see the head Shinigami is not at all mused as the temperature starts to sky rocket again. It really is hot. I can barely even stand it now.

"You dare mock me?" the shinigami bits out.

"Yes, and in the worst possible way," the White Devil says, holding his arms wide open "Go on. Try to kill me."

"What do you have planned, monster?" the Shinigami snaps.

"What? You don't want to?" the Devil mocks again. "Well, then I'll give you an incentive."

I watch as he raises he sword again and aims it at one portion of the army surrounding him. They quickly back up raising their own weapons in defense. What does he plan to do? He wouldn't!

"Getsuga Tenshou," he slashes the air! He totally would!

A blast of white energy edged is crimson tears through the sand heading straight for a large group of shinigami. A few of them manage to get out of the way but the others, they didn't move fast enough. Holy! There is now a large gash in the smoking sand. I turn back around to see a large ball of red energy forming between his sharp blade horns. He has that ball aimed right at the leader and the people behind him.

"Is this enough of an incentive for you, Yamamoto? Hahahaha!" the Devil laughs, glaring at leader. "What to try stopping my Cero?"

"Very well, hollow, if that is how you want to do things," the leader snaps, taking a step forward and raises his sword. The large red energy blast fizzles out.

"Hahahaha! Oh, yes! Do it," he yells, dropping his blade, reaching down to grab Dad and Shihoin. "Like I said I have nothing to lose! I've won! You cannot defeat me! Hahahahaha!"

"You are clearly mad," he the leader snaps, rushing the Devil as he brings down his fiery blade.

I shield my eyes a little as a blast of super-hot fire erupts from his blade! Why isn't he moving? He needs to get out of there! I don't understand what he's doing! Why doesn't he move!

"Run," I shout even though I now he can't hear me.

A split second later the flames reach him! I almost don't want to look as another wave of fire assaults him, Dad, and Shihoin.

"AAAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU'VE LOST! YOU CAN'T KILL ME! I CAN'T BE KILLED IN THE CONVENTIONAL SENSE! AHAHAHAHA!" the White Devil laughs! He's completely engulfed in flames! "COME ON! IS THAT ALL YOU'VE GOT, YAMAMOTO! AAAHAHAHA!"

The ground around him is burning to nothing but he's still standing! How? I don't understand! I turn to look at, Yamamoto was it? He doesn't seem too please as he raises his blade again and brings down another blast of fire; bigger than the others before it, followed by another and another.

"GO! TO! HEEELLLLLL!" Yamamoto yells, sending one last blast at the White Devil.

"NGH! AAAAHAHAHA! FINALLY," the Devil exclaims as he, my dad, and Shihoin finally start to burn away. "I win, Shinigami! She will always be mine! The three of us will remain together forever! I've made sure of that!"

"Why won't you burn?" Yamamoto bites out as he sends yet another wall of fire at them. "You should have been ashes long before now!"

"Oh, I'll burn away soon enough! Don't you worry about that," the Devil states as I watch his mask turn solid black with white strips running down his face. Wait, it's inverted! Whoa! The red hot flames are now a bright white! "I have one last message from her! In a few hundred years' time a great evil will destroy all of existence! This great evil will be a Shinigami! But here's the thing, you idiots! Hahaha! I was the only thing that could have stopped him! Do you see where I win now? You just fucked yourselves over! Hahahahahaaaa—"

Within a flash of white light and fire he went up in smoke, taking Dad and Shihoin with him, leaving nothing behind What? The resulting blast knocks everyone back, including me. I snap open my eyes again and I'm back in the hospital. The pain quickly returns and I'm still laughing like a total loon! I can't control that and it pisses me off! I turn to look back at Dad. He was so young in that vision… On top of that… Who was he back then?

I think back to what I saw. The White Devil said that we would be together forever. I wonder what would have happened I had not been put in this hospital. Would I have met Shihoin earlier? In the vision the Devil said he had loved her. I personally have no feelings like that for her but that was a different life though. Oh, great! I can feel it coming up! I grab my tub again and puke into it! Ugh! I can't keep doing this shit! I can't! I'm pretty much skin and bones now and I look like a dried up old corpse.

What really is the White Devil? They kept calling him a hollow but… Why did his mask turn black? I've never seen a hollow with a black mask. This has just opened more mysteries than solved them. How did he win? I still don't understand that. I… Wait. It's because… No… He's still, I'm still here? All three of us are still here. Dad and I… Isshin and I are still… This Yamamoto didn't really destroy me! Did I find a loophole? I'm still clearly here so I must have… Uryu indirectly told me he talked to someone. Most like a Shinigami. Then there was that warning… This must be… The White Devil is supposed to stop it? I don't see how… Hm? I hear a knock on the door.

I turn to see Dodge Ball walk in. I wish I could talk to him but forming one word alone is extremely difficult. What? Wow… He looks… Serious. Very serious. Something's changed in him. I can tell that. I watch as he starts to put on that stupid protective gear. Dad stands and walks over to him. Something happened. I don't know if it's for better or for worse. What are they talking about? I can't hear Dad and Uryu over my laughter. Dad's keeping his voice down. I want to know what's going on. Dodge Ball just nods and walks back over with Dad beside him.

"I'm going to stay here with you. I'm not leaving," he says, looking down at me. He has changed. I think he knows what's really coming. He told me he was planning to fight. "I've called Arisawa to come and get Orihime out of here. With the relocation going on and Arisawa being her guardian I'm sure she can have Orihime removed from here. She's not high risk. Reading her file I found out she could have left a while ago but kept 'relapsing.' I think she was staying because of you. I'm hoping it will happen this evening or early tomorrow at the very latest. I've already done some paperwork that might help speed things along. I can't make any promises though so keep your fingers crossed."

I shakily raise my hand with my fingers crossed. He smiles slightly as Dad sits on my bed and Uryu takes the chair. I hope they can get her out. I don't want her getting hurt by staying here. More importantly I don't want her to see me when I change. She doesn't need to see it. I would scare her too much.

(A/N Yeah, not my best chapter but I had to focus on getting Uryu ready to fight. Now I know I do show the meeting between Uryu and Byakuya in the next chapter and reveal couple more characters. Please, review like always. The countdown has really started. So yeah! Until next time!)

Millie M. Banshee