Chapter 3: Before Battle
Summary:
Running, they were running.
Running towards an uncertain future.
But for now, they were here with each other.
Chapter 3:
The scene opened following a familiar Quincy, though he was older, more angled and mature. He still had his square frames, but his hair was parted to the left and his attire was a formal, white, military style uniform. It was obviously of Quincy origin.
He was running, and he looked stressed. He looked like he was running out of time.
"We don't have time for this Ishida," the random comment came from behind the Quincy; he pulled up short and spun around, they could see he had another's hand clutched in his own.
It was a hand covered in a black finger-less glove and following up the arm was a black chain. The voice seemed uncannily familiar.
As they soon were informed, "Well you better make time, Kurosaki, because I'm out of it. WE are out of it." The Quincy almost yelled. His voice was full of emotion and his eyes were beginning to tear up.
"Hey, hey, Uryuu…" Ichigo's voice soothed. The hand not in the Quincy's hold came up and cupped his cheek, wiping a tear away with his thumb.
"You're supposed to be the smart, bad-ass, icy Quincy, remember? Don't go shedding tears on me, Ishida. We are going to be fine, I promise you."
"You're a fool Kurosaki," Uryuu's trademark insult was the reply. It was watery and fond. "But I am the bigger fool."
"Ah. Then we can be fools together, you and me," Ichigo laughed.
"Kurosaki…" he looked unsure.
"Remember our promise, Uryuu. I won't die as long as you won't, right," he said in assurance.
The Uryuu of the present started at those words.
The promise was the one Ichigo and Uryuu had made on the riverside before charging into Hueco Mundo.
That he had mentioned it here, meant there was a good chance they were both not going to survive whatever they were running towards.
Uryuu on-screen inhaled sharply.
He broke down more at the words.
"Not this time, Ichigo. This is not the same. That man thinks I am his. His heir, the Prince. His alter-self.
That was the plan. I betrayed everyone. I betrayed YOU. I had to see that look on your face," he said voice full of anger and tears, "I caused you so much pain. If you never forgive me, if you never trust me again it is well within your rights. I never want to see that again. I never want to be the CAUSE of it again. I must knowingly hand you over to that vile man and stand there knowing what he could do to you.
No. This is not the same.
I know you are strong Ichigo. But this man has become a god. If for one second, I think your life is at risk, I will not stand by and watch."
He looked fiercely at Ichigo, "The difference, Kurosaki, is that I am not concerned with my own life this time, I am not concerned with making it out. All I care about is YOUR survival."
Looking defiantly at Ichigo even as the man protested, "Ishida!"
"No! If for one second, I think your life is at stake I will not hesitate to do whatever it takes to buy you time. Even if that means dying. So, I can't make you that promise, Ichigo," he ended softly. "Your life is more important than mine. I'm just a Quincy, but you…" he looked at Ichigo imploringly, "You are the single most important being in The Three Worlds."
"I don't think that, Ishida. No one's life is more or less important than another's, especially mine," they could hear the scowl in his voice.
Uryuu chuckled at the expected reaction.
"Never the less, that IS how it is. So…as I said, Kurosaki. Make time," he said softly, fondly, desperately.
"Okay."
The arms pulled the Quincy in as the screen went dark.
The entire time the scene was playing, no one so much as twitched.
This was a moment from something big. Astronomical.
'That man' was surely the Quincy King they had heard mentioned a few times earlier.
Ishida Ryuuken was frowning in thought. One phrase had stuck out to him, 'His heir, the Prince.'
Uryuu was staring at the screen in dismay. His thoughts were a jumbled mess. He was still getting over Ichigo's apparent death from a few days ago. How could he grasp the idea of leading the man again towards his demise?
How could things possibly become more desperate for them then the situation they were in now?
Enough to consider not even an iota of thought towards his own life?
In what situation would he knowingly betray Ichigo?
