Hi there everyone! Kevin back here with this story. This is the last advanced chapter that I have lmaoooo. I have littered wips everywhere so idk when I can update again but here it goes. Hope you enjoy!

Despite the event that happened the other day, Byakuya decided to visit the next day with the hope that a certain orange head would appear like nothing happened but despite that, he would prefer talking about it rather than avoiding the situation altogether.

Disappointed enveloped him when he found the room coldly and empty but it shouldn't surprise him. He should've expected it but he had his hopes up that the slim chance of the younger man to be there.

He let out a rather deep sigh as he slid the now familiar door open, he recalled the sound it made when Ichigo slammed it close that alerted a nurse passing by with a worried look on their face that Byakuya had to wave it off as naturally as he could.

His life felt so stale suddenly because everything went down to a routine but honestly, it shouldn't be any different when he was cooped up in his own office in the building. But at least that had color compared to the sickening white in a hospital.

Byakuya looked for the book that was left unread yesterday. He couldn't continue because his mind was filled with guilt. He let out a sigh in relief when he saw the book again and pulled it out.

As he turned around to go to any vacant chair, his eyes widened when his eyes fell upon something white. Instead of white walls however, it was the long white hair of a man that was looking at the other side of shelves.

He realized that he has never seen him before.

As if he felt eyes eyeing and examining him, the white haired man looked up and fixed his gaze across the room where Byakuya was standing before gracing him with a soft and wide smile.

Soft features and the raven had to admit that the man was decent looking. He looked at least 30 years old and his body looked strong but his posture said otherwise. It was like he just managed to stand up after a long time.

"I have never seen you before," the man said with a tone as soft as his smile.

Byakuya didn't know why he was compelled to reply, "I have been bedridden for at least a month."

The man let out an airy laugh, "I see. I have been bedridden as well. My doctor let me walk out for today since my health improved."

Too trusting. The man was too nice.

The man picked out a book with a smile and walked towards the raven who was awkwardly sitting at the edge of the table when everything else was free. The man sat across from him and Byakuya didn't react.

"I'm Ukitake Juushiro," the man introduced himself.

"Kuchiki Byakuya," the raven slowly replied. Where has his cautiousness gone?

Juushiro's eyes slightly widened, "Kuchiki? So, you're the head of the Kuchiki enterprises?"

Byakuya nodded hesitantly and Juushiro made a sound of awe, "Oh, wow. I never expected to meet a man of your stature here."

"I am simply a man, Ukitake-san."

The white haired man shook his head, "I am sure you know how much you're worth. Your family has done so much."

"You sound like you have done your research."

Juushiro smiled, "I was an acquaintance of your grandfather when I was much younger. Kuchiki Ginrei, yes?"

Something clicked in the raven's head. Ukitake. Of course. Someone that his grandfather has spoken of a few times in the past. Someone who's slightly older than his own father that became good friends with his family.

Taking note of the raven's look, Juushiro continued, "I am a friend of your father but I wasn't able to meet you due to my poor condition." Byakuya noticed the sad tone from the man's voice.

"I apologize for not realizing sooner, Ukitake-san."

Juushiro waved dismissively, "No worries. We haven't met, after all." He then leaned a bit forward, "If I may ask, why are you in the hospital?"

"I was caught in an accident," the raven replied, slightly less hesitant now.

"I see," Juushiro said as he leaned back. He looked at the direction of the balcony, "I was surprised to see someone else aside from Ichigo-kun."

"How so?"

The man smiled sadly, "He was alone reading on the balcony when I first arrived here. I was the first person in years to come by here. Let alone talk to him." He looked back at the raven, "That's why I'm surprised there's not a trace of him here."

Byakuya dropped his gaze on the familiar book as he said, "I believe he isn't here because of what I said."

"What did you say?" The raven didn't miss the protective tone of the other.

"I said I'll be discharged in a week. After I said that, he got up and left."

Juushiro immediately understood and nodded, "I see." he smiled sadly again, "Please don't be mad at him. That news… It sounds to him that he'll be alone again."

Byakuya pressed his lips into a thin line before nodding, "I am not mad. I am more frustrated with myself."

"Don't be," the man replied, "Talk to him when he comes back. He'll come around soon."

"I will," the raven confirmed, "So, I hope he'll come back."

Byakuya decided that he would come to the usual spot at a later time compared to yesterday. He still had his hopes up but now it feels like it would've been stupid if he stayed longer than he should. He would certainly get weird looks from his doctor.

"Any plans today?" Satoshi asked which made Byakuya snap out of his thoughts.

"I do not see anything else to do," the raven replied blandly.

"I know," the doctor chuckled, "You could've entertained the question."

"I will merely stay here."

"There you go again," Satoshi teased and kept his trusty clipboard away, "You can go and visit the library again if you want."

The raven had to hold in a sigh before nodding in acknowledgement, "I will have to see."

"Alright," the doctor replied, "I'll leave you to it then."

Satoshi gave a slight bow towards Byakuya before leaving him to his own devices. When the raven was certain that the other left, he sighed again deeply. Maybe he should go there now.

He got up slowly from his bed and left his room. He doesn't expect any visitors so it doesn't matter as of now. He nodded towards some nurses passing by and he guessed that they knew where he was headed. He has already become a regular.

When he saw that the sliding door was closed, he felt a bit disappointed but at the same time, Ichigo didn't leave the door open lately so he still might be there. He took a small peek inside the room and he felt his chest lighten when his eyes fell upon a familiar orange head.

He slid the door open and it grabbed the man's attention despite having his face buried into the book he was currently reading. The orange head had a guilty look on his face as Byakuya simply proceeded to grab another random book then sitting right across from him.

The raven didn't dare to speak since he thought that the orange head would run away if he said something. He opened the book that he just got. He has been lucky to get good ones despite it being random and proceeded reading.

Byakuya could feel the eyes right across from hear boring a hole in his head as the orange head focused on him rather than the book in his hand.

"Do you need something?" It was a simple question but he could feel Ichigo jolting up in his chair as he talked.

The orange head mumbled something under his breath before saying clearly, "I'm… sorry."

When Byakuya didn't react, Ichigo said it more firmly, "Hey, Byakuya. I'm sorry that.. I suddenly left and didn't go here yesterday."

Byakuya looked up and was surprised that the orange head was looking away from him with a faint blush on his cheeks. He was probably not too used to apologizing that way.

He looked back down and flipped a page, "You don't need to apologize, Ichigo."

"You aren't mad?"

A pause. "Why would I be mad at you?"

Ichigo pursed his lips, "I left you here, remember? I also didn't go here yesterday."

Byakuya set down his book and looked back at him, "That's not a reason for me to be mad. I am sure you have your reasons."

Ichigo was also looking at him for a few moments before slumping on the table as he reached for the man's wrists.

"What did I do to deserve you?" came the muffled words, "When I left you for selfish reasons."

The raven froze under his touch but slowly got used to the warmth that the orange head was providing him at the moment.

Byakuya almost wished that they would stay like this for a bit longer.

When Ichigo retracted his hand, the door slid open and the both of them looked towards that direction. Both of them were relieved that it was someone familiar.

"Ukitake-san!" the orange head greeted with a grin while Byakuya nodded in acknowledgement.

"Good morning Ichigo-kun, Byakuya-kun," Juushiro greeted with a small smile.

Ichigo immediately looked at the raven, "Wait, you two know each other?"

"We got acquainted with each other yesterday," the raven explained.

"Indeed," Juushiro said as he took a seat beside Ichigo, "I was looking for something to entertain me then Byakuya-kun here came along."

The orange head grinned at Byakuya, "He calls you Byakuya-kun."

"It is alright," the raven defended.

"But you got mad at first when I called you by your name!"

"That's a different matter."

"How is that different?!"

"Now, now. Both of you should calm down," Juushiro said with a smile but he was nervous that they would fight."

Ichigo huffed and crossed his arms, "That's unfair."

Byakuya had to hold back in rolling his eyes, "You call me by name already, Ichigo."

The orange head grumbled but didn't complain anymore. The white haired man was relieved that Ichigo didn't push it even further. Juushiro eyed the orange head one more time and he noticed that he seemed weak.

"Are you alright, Ichigo-kun?" Juushiro asked.

The orange head looked at him with a confused look, "Yeah, why?"

"You look tired," the man explained, "Is it acting up again?"

"What is acting up again?" Byakuya asked, surprised by the information.

Ichigo laughed nervously as he waved him off, "It's my cough. It's nothing, really."

The white haired man eyed him as he realized something while the raven looked at him with a frown. It was clear in his face that he was not believable at the moment but Ichigo was slightly relieved that he didn't push it any further.

He wasn't ready.

Meanwhile, Byakuya was torn from asking him about it or not but he decided against it. He shook off the sinking feeling that slowly grew within him.

For now.

"So bored," Ichigo groaned as he was slumping down on the table. He finally finished the book that he had been trying to read for awhile now.

"You just finished the book," Byakuya said pointedly.

"I know but I wanna do something but I don't want to read yet."

Brat. "You're in a hospital so there's no other thing to do but lie in your bed or read."

"I have done both already."

Byakuya held back the urge to hit the younger man, "Think of something else."

"Jeez, what a great help you are," the orange head muttered but he simply received a dismissive shrug from the raven.

Ichigo leaned back on his chair and stared at the ceiling. He suddenly asked, "What does it feel to be free?"

Byakuya raised a brow, "What's with the sudden question?"

"Just answer."

"I believe it's the feeling of doing something that you want."

"Have you ever felt that, then?"

The raven eyed the book, "At first, not. My actions were always for the best of my family." He then raised his gaze to meet the orange head's eyes, "But I want to change that now."

"Eh, really?" Ichigo asked, then chuckled lowly, "I envy you, Byakuya."

"Why?"

"Because I wish I could do the same."

The raven's eyes slightly widened when he saw that Ichigo's expression was fully covered in loneliness. That's when he realized that there was more to him than ichigo was willing to show him right now.

The look slowly dissolved as he masked it and the younger man grinned at him, "Speaking of family, what is yours like?"

Byakuya didn't like the sudden change but went along with it anyways, "You met my sister already, isn't that enough?"

"Is your sister your only family?!"

"No," the man replied, "But it seems enough."

"Byakuya," the orange head whined.

"Fine, so you can stay silent after."

"Hey-"

"I'm sure you know by my surname that I'm the head of the Kuchiki enterprises."

"You're what?!"

The raven looked at him blandly, "Are you pulling my leg, Ichigo?"

"I'm not!" The orange head raised his hands defensively, "I almost have no news about the outside world lately."

Right. No phones. Byakuya then simply sighed, "My family owns multiple businesses. Let us just put it at that."

"I guess that's why you look rich," the orange head said casually.

"What do you mean?"

"You always have that air of arrogance," Noticing the glare from the other, Ichigo said quickly, "I didn't mean it in a bad way. I just mean that you hold yourself in high regard every time you move. It's pretty cool."

Byakuya couldn't help but blink a few times before saying, "I have never heard someone say that to me before."

"I'm glad that I am your first, then," Ichigo grinned.

The raven could almost scoff but refrained to do so. He then continued, "I have been the head in a young age because my father had a fragile body and my grandfather passed away."

"Ah, I'm sorry."

"Thank you but it's fine," Byakuya reassured, "So, my sister and I have been handling it until now. Even my brother-in-law joined in the business."

"Who's that?"

"Abarai. You've met him."

Ichigo's eyes widened, "So, he's married to your sister?"

"Indeed. At first, I was against it."

"But now?"

"I could never imagine a different partner suited for my sister other than him."

"That's pretty sweet of you," the orange head teased, "I bet you haven't told them that at all."

"I haven't," Byakuya admitted, "But they don't need to know."

"I'm definitely sure that they want to know that, Byakuya."

Byakuya let out a disapproving grunt that the orange head laughed in amusement. He leaned forward as he observed the raven more.

"Why do you hate hospitals?" Ichigo has been wanting to ask for a while the moment that Byakuya mentioned it once in the past. Curiosity could kill the cat at these times.

The raven visibly stiffened at the question and simply shook his head.

"I will tell you another time."

Ichigo knew he asked a slightly wrong question and simply nodded in response. It was a sensitive topic that the raven wasn't willing to share right now.

The orange head wanted to bang his face on the table but he resorted to sighing as he leaned back on the chair once more and looked up at the ceiling.

"I told you before but my dad is a doctor in a small clinic."

Noticing the topic change, Byakuya nodded, "Yes, I do remember that."

"My mom passed away at an early age," Ichigo said with a sad tone, "So it's only my dad, me and my two little sisters." He looked down at the table, "But I guess they have gotten bigger by now."

"You haven't seen them?"

Ichigo shrugged and rested his elbow on the table, "No one has visited me in years."

Byakuya was alerted with that information and asked, "Why? Don't you need their support?"

The orange head laughed grimly, "I guess they have given up on me."

Silence dawned on them and Byakuya didn't even dare to speak. That's when the raven knew how lonely Ichigo really was.

Thanks for reading! I have written the finale for Epiphany and will update any time next week (idk when so lol). I'm very nervous for it haha. With it ending, I have other chaptered fics planned so please look forward to that!