The last chapter, Ichika was on some of you guys shit lists and I get that. I'm not trying to make her character into a bitch to have the hate on her. I'm trying to make her character grow. The reason why I have her sort of like a spoiled brat because reading the manga 686, you sort of got this cocky like attitude and know it all that stems from her parents. You could tell the big contrast between parents with Ichigo and Orihime knowing where Kazui is at all times while Renji and Rukia are like 'Ichika is the best shinigami. We are so proud! Wait, where the fuck is she?' Then with her living in the Kuchiki manor, I kind of felt especially with having children if you spoiled them they tend to get out of hand. Also, in the time of peace, she's never had to deal with the troubles of that her parents went through and all that death. Parents want that for their children to live a life without struggle and pain but sometimes we have to teach them that you shouldn't take things for granted either.
Enough about Ichika and my rambling! This chapter is all about Quincies. Yes, Quincies! I loved the Sternritters, I loved their entrance in the Thousand blood war Arc. Uryu is also an interesting character and I love him. I've mentioned before that at the end of Bleach I got to meet another race that I thought was basically was dying out, with just a few you can name of your hand. But then enter the Sternritter and you got to see a whole another world and weapons, which was great. I was sort of sad that I was left with a big question mark as more and more fucking Quincies were dying and we don't really know what happens to them. I haven't been up to date with the light novels since they are just coming out. So this is my interpretation of the hidden Quincy families and my adorable handsome Uryu and the family he loves. Please enjoy!
Edit 5/6/01: Had to change when Uryu met Mayumi it was conflicting with Kazui's age, from 21 years ago to 18 years ago. I also changed her age when she lost her caretaker, Gina, to 6 instead of 10. I couldn't explain how a Gemischt survived the first reaping when Uryu was the only survivor that was mixed blood. I know it's such a small detail but it was bothering me. lol.
Yumiko wasn't tired, even though she walked with Tatsunari to her neighborhood which was a good distance away. He had been quiet most of the walk, which seemed so unlike him. When he would talk, it was only to ask if he was going in the right direction or to ask if she was okay. When they got to Daichi's place, he was already coming to. A little out of it, Yumiko took it upon herself to express to him that he had such a great time that he banged his head under the table. He only nodded and smiled, removing his keys to open the door, stumbling a few times. After, Tatsunari made sure she got home safe. She had notified her father that she was heading to the house. Uryu thanked the young fullbringer for taking his daughter home. Tatsunari smiled to the older man and reluctantly denied the offer to be driven home.
She sat in her room reading, hoping that he was alright. She loved Miume but sometimes her fears usually caused her to make the wrong decisions, and the decision to keep Tatsunari a secret was one of them. When she spoke over summer break with them, finding out that both her friends became an item. Yumiko was ecstatic. She always knew they cared about each other, simply trying to hide their feelings. She was too observant, waiting patiently until they sorted it out. Now, her stomach did somersaults because she wasn't sure what was going to happen now. Tomorrow was another day, she'll make sure to speak to both of them. Right now, it was just too soon, they both needed some time to calm down.
Having read a few chapters of her book, she set it down by her bedside and went to the bathroom. After brushing her teeth and relieving herself, she began to make her way back to her room. She hadn't noticed that her father's study light was still on as she tiptoed to the door, to softly knock.
"Come in?" he stated. When she walked in, he was so engrossed in what was on his desk, he hadn't noticed her presence already near him. "Oh, Yumiko! You still up?" he smiled as he beckoned for her to come closer. His arms wrapped around her waist as she bent to give him a hug. Spread across his desk were file folders of a patient's chart, brain scans, MRIs, and opened books, regarding the brain.
"You still trying to find an efficient solution to the upcoming surgery?" she looked over his notes as he nodded.
"Just making sure I have everything in order. The tumor is causing intracranial pressure. I need to make sure to remove it without causing permanent damage to the brain," he removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"You're Karakura's ... no Japan's top general surgeon. I'm sure you've made sure of every outcome and planned out certain measures you need to take if something fails," she smiled as he patted the hands that were still wrapped around his neck.
"Is this your bias opinion?" he lightly smiled, seeing his daughter grin in his peripheral vision.
"Just because it's my opinion, doesn't mean it's not fact. You raised me to make sure I acquire data before making a valid affirmation, " she smiled, giving him a kiss on the cheek before she sat in front of his desk. He watched her look out the window, contemplating what she was going to say when she heard her father clear his throat.
"You have that look. Like your worried about someone or how I'm going to react," he told her as she blushed a bit, avoiding his stare. "This is not about the Kurosaki boy is it?" he referenced to his best friend's son as her eyes widen.
"Father! I told you already that I've been over that silly crush," she straightened herself in the chair. Uryu believed his daughter as he nodded. Years ago, she admired the older boy from a distance. She was brought to tears when Yumiko found out that he had a crush on someone else. She matured and learned that her feelings she had developed for Kazui was merely a young girl's fickle heart. He was so proud that she grew into a smart young woman, but he also felt a sense of loss. The loss of losing his little girl.
"You wouldn't keep your feelings for someone else from me?" he asked as she began to laugh.
"Is this about Rangiku's comment?" she quirked up a brow as he blushed an avoided her stare, looking at his paperwork. "You have nothing to worry about. I'm not interested in someone at the moment. It's strictly hanging out with my friends and schoolwork. I promise," she gave him an endearing look as he sighed in relief.
"So what's wrong?"
"It's Tastsunari! I'm worried that because of Miume's incredibly wrong decision, she might mess up, not only a great friendship but a romantic one as well." She paused briefly as she saw her father's brows scrunched in confusion, " Oh! I forgot to mention that," she giggled.
"So how is Ichigo taking their relationship?" he asked her, finding it hilarious that Keigo's son was with Ichigo's daughter.
"I feel like Mr. Kurosaki took it rather well," her tone had a hint of sarcasm as he chuckled.
"Well! Just leave those two alone. Knowing them, they wouldn't let something so small ruin what they've developed over the years," he told her as she nodded in understanding.
"I guess your right, I was going to speak to them tomorrow anyway. I feel like Miume would learn from this, I hope."
"She's a smart girl! Smarter than her father and not as dense," he said as she gave a giggle while he laughed. She was about to get up when she settled back down to timidly look at him.
"Yes?"
"I don't want to speak out of turn. You told me that you yourself had a brief crush on Orihime when you were younger. Were you ever in love with her?" her stomach twisted as she waited for his response.
He looked at the picture of him and his wife on their wedding day as he smiled. "I've always loved Orihime, but like the same type of love the Greeks would translate as Philos."
"Love between friends," she clarified as he nodded.
"Most of my friends you've already met, like Chad and even that insufferable orange-haired idiot. But to truly be in love with someone, the Greek term, Agape."
"The highest and purest form of love."
"There's only one woman that I've ever given my heart to," he conveyed as her daughter blushed a bit.
"Who's that?" she jested.
"Go to sleep! I'm going to straighten things up and head to bed myself," he told her as he began to tidy up.
"Okay, Love you father!" she hugged and kissed him again before leaving his study.
Uryu glanced at the picture of Mayumi happily crying as she held little Yumiko in her arms. 'I can officially say that two women have captured my heart,' he thought, happily smiling to himself.
Eighteen years ago
Ishida Mansion
Ryuken watched as his son entered the mansion. To an outsider, he seemed calm and collected but to those who knew him, he was anything but. He was frustrated.
"Come now, Ishida!" his white-haired father said with an amused expression, "It wasn't that bad."
His son stared at him while his eye twitched a bit in irritation.
"Easy for you to say. When your not the one they want marrying into their deplorable family. The father is crude, who seems to reek of alcohol while the mother was the picture of a trophy wife, I couldn't even have a valid conversation with the woman."
Ryuken couldn't help but smirk, his son wasn't wrong in his observation of the family, "There daughter?"
"A spoiled girl who 's ear-piercing whine grated my nerves,"
"I heard your every word and everyone at that dinner table before they told us to leave."
"Why must we meet with these families?" he asked through gritted teeth as he gripped the grand staircase's handrail.
"One of the reasons being Kyoraku Shunsui has asked us to be responsible in assessing these Quincy families. Make sure they are not a threat and explain to them they have nothing to fear. Since there is no longer any hostility between the Shinigami, only protection."
"The other reason, is for me to have a suitable Quincy wife?" Uryu added, looking ahead as his shoulders hung low a bit.
"Yes! We've talked about this before, son. Though many Quincy families are showing themselves they are still few in number. We're a dying breed." He felt sympathy for his son, the pressure of having this burden placed on him, a burden he fully accepted. "This seems to be something that's taking its toll on you. You don't have to marry someone of Quincy lineage." he offered his son who glanced over at him and shook his head.
"NO! I am Uryu Ishida, deemed successor after Yhwach's defeat. Quincy who helped defeat the Emperor of the Wandenreich. I can't sit idly by while our race dies out. I apologize for my rude criticism, we can continue with the next family," he announced to his father, giving the man a smile that lacked amusement. "Goodnight, Father!"
"Goodnight!" The older man said watching his son nod and head up the stairs to his room. He didn't want this for his son, especially being in a situation similar to his plight. He was willing to accept his fate in marrying Masaki if circumstances hadn't torn them apart. He was glad for Isshin Kurosaki's arrival in the human world, though he wouldn't tell his gratitude to the man's face. His arrival caused the halt of his arranged marriage and then finding his soulmate. Kanae, his beloved deceased wife, was his whole world. A love that could never be replaced even after years of being a widow. He wanted his son to experience finding a wife he could fall in love with, to him it didn't matter if she was a Quincy. Believing that he found someone in that lovely auburn-haired girl but with her marriage to Isshin's son. He knew it was a different type of love he felt for the healer. His son wouldn't budge and he also knew his love for the Quincy. He just hoped fate intervened somehow for the sake of his son.
The next morning, the father and son sat eating their breakfast as the older man read the newspaper.
"I've decided that I don't need to meet any more families in regards to marriage, I trust your judgment in things. I feel like my futile bickering would only hinder and dissuade any more families from meeting us," he expressed in regards to bluntly telling the other families exactly what he thought of them. Ryuken couldn't be more surprised at his son's comment and how mature he grew to be.
"Are you sure?" he placed his paper on the table, to sternly look at his son. His son looked at his plate that he been fiddling with since his appetite had been sedated.
"I'm sure!"
"I was planning for you to meet with a family that I had met with recently. The family was good friends with your grandfather and their son, I vaguely remember from childhood. With your absence, you could probably do a simple task for me," he pushed his plate away as he looked to his son, who perked up a bit. "Kisuke Urahara has received information from the Department of Research. In a region in Kyoto, if you could simply investigate while I tell the father that you've agreed to marry their daughter."
Uryu hadn't expected for his father to already have someone in mind as he swallowed the anxiety that was constricting his throat. "Oh!" his shoulders hung low as his father saw his distressed features.
"Unless you want to come instead and..."
"No! There's no need. If you have already made your decision, I see no reason to delay it any further. I will check on this information and give you the report of my findings. I'll head out this afternoon," he specified as one of the servants grabbed his plate. He thanked them as he excused himself to prepare for his journey.
The place was a three hours drive from Karakura, he wasn't sure how long his investigation would take so he decided to pack for a week. Finding that the area he would be in would have a hotel close by as he reserved a room over the phone.
He arrived at the little quaint town, with an old-fashioned onsen. Traditional shops lined the streets with the population being a meager two hundred. The town was maintained fairly well, even though some shops were closed from the lack of traffic. He entered the hotel room to be greeted by a smiling older woman, who was excited to receive a patron.
"You must be the polite gentleman I spoke to hours ago," she grinned, when he gave her a smile and nod.
"Yes! Uryu Ishida, I'll be staying for a week," he wrote his information in the book, she happily placed in front of him.
"We don't get much visitors. I apologize for my elated behavior, especially with one being so young and handsome, " the woman giggled, as she handed him the keys.
Uryu found the older woman charming, "That's alright! I won't be of any inconvenience to you on my stay."
"Of course not! With such a well-mannered boy like yourself. My name is Junshi Koizumi! Breakfast is at seven am every morning and if you need fresh towels just let me know. Enjoy your stay!" she gave his hand a good shake.
"Thank you, Koizumi-san!" he bowed in respect as he made his way to his room.
His room was small and comfy, there was enough room for him to walk around and not feel too confined. There was a desk in the corner of the room near the drawers while a sleeping mat was in the middle of the room. The closest housed sleeping blankets and enough space to hold his things. When he was settled in his room and after saying his goodbyes to the owner of the hotel, he decided to see what the Department of Research had found interesting.
He used the Denreishinki, in the shape of a cell-phone, he received from Kisuke. The man had configured it to not only locate Hollows but Spiritual disturbances as well. He was coming closer to its location when he felt a familiar power. It was indeed Quincy as his father specified. As he got closer he heard a faint noise of a melody. It was the sound of a violin playing and its melody was familiar probably from the composer, Mozart.
As he got closer, he found the person who was playing the violin, she was female with long black hair that reached to her hips. He couldn't see her face since her back was facing him.
He didn't want to seem like he was invading someone's privacy or be categorized as a peeping tom when he coughed loudly. He heard the out of tune screech of the violin strings come to an abrupt stop as the girl turned around almost immediately with a fearful look. She was stunning he thought, but he was used to seeing beautiful women from the constant barrage of Quincy daughters thrown at him.
"I apologize for frightening you, my name is Uryu Ishida," he held out his hands in surrender, hoping it would calm her. He saw that she looked around her surroundings as she backed away slowly.
"Well, Mr. Ishida! These woods are usually empty, forgive me if I'm a bit suspicious," she told him nervously, her guard still up as she glanced in back of her, forgetting about the pond. He noticed her disappointed look when she turned her head as she looked around for another exit.
"That was Mozart Concerto No. 1 in B flat major?" he asked her as she glanced at him to nod. "Beautiful piece. Although I prefer Vivaldi."
"I do too! I just need something to lighten my mood," she sighed, glancing at her violin in distress.
"I apologize for interrupting your moment. I'll be brief, I'm a Quincy-"
"A Quincy?" she interrupted as he shook his head, "that would explain the familiarity I get when I sense you now." He seemed to garner her interest as she stopped looking elsewhere.
"I've been assigned by Captain-Commander of Soul Society to be responsible for the Quincy and keep them safe."
"Shinigami hate Quincies?" she asked with a furrowed brow.
"Not anymore! That war has ended after the fall of Yhwach."
"My father said he heard rumors from other families he had befriended of the fact of Yhwach's demise," she held her violin closer. "The truth sent relief and fear in our hearts. Relief that we wouldn't be under the rule of that tyrant. Fear that Soul Society would finish their genocidal duty and erase our kind from existence."
"For a long time, I thought the same things. I also thought I was the last of my kind but after befriending a Shinigami myself. Things changed for the better and my whole view of Soul Society has changed since then," he smiled as she glanced at him suspiciously.
"I figured as much, after years of nothing and no men in black and white hakama at our door."
"So both parents are Quincy?"
"Yes! Aren't yours?"
"My father is an Echt (pure-blood), while my mother is-"
"Gemischt (Mixed Blood)" she whispered as she looked away. "My father is very particular with Quincy customs, adopting the practice of true-breeding. Which is why I'm here," she gave a heavy sigh as she comfortably sat on a nearby rock. She motioned for him to have a seat as she seemed to find the stranger some-what trustworthy.
"So what do you wish to accomplish by coming here?" he asked her, regarding her alone in this remote area, that was both quiet and beautiful.
"I come here along to clear my mind. Not only does my father wish for me to marry an Echt. I can't associate with Gemischt, not even our servants. I'm only to speak to them if necessary."
"Something tells me you don't agree with your father?" She laughed at the man beside her, he had beautiful blue calculating eyes and he was indeed handsome. She finally spoke.
"You are correct in assuming as much. Why should I look down on someone who has cared for me and even loved me? When my mother died at a young age, a nanny who was Gemischt came to raise me. I can't think of ever distancing myself from her," she looked torn between doing what her father wanted and what she felt was right as she glanced over at the pond's surface.
"What does your father feel about the influence she has on you?"
"She passed away when I was six," she told him as his features fell.
"I'm sorry!" he told her as she waved it off while she spoke again.
"My father tends to spoil me and give me anything I want. He really is a kind man and I understand the need for true-breeding. There are so few in Quincy. I respect his wishes, in secretly conversating with Gemischt. What he won't know, won't hurt him," she smiled a bit as she looked at the man near him as he stood silently in thought. "Something troubles you?" she asked him. He glanced at her light brown eyes that were staring at him with concern. She was beautiful, now that he was having a closer look at her. Her midnight silk strands of hair that touched fair skin and pink lips that were full with her worried look.
"Though my father doesn't force me. I too understand the importance of true-breeding as well. So I've been meeting families with my him to find a wife. I've decided to let my father deal with selecting my bride since my pass meetings have been a nightmare," he chuckled, causing the girl to laugh as well.
"Are you finicky?" she gave him a critical eye as he looked at her with a scowl.
"Choosing not to marry an ill-tempered, high-maintenance, or feebleminded person is not being finicky," he said through gritted teeth.
"Was that an assessment of one girl?" she chuckled as Uryu pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose as his mood lightened a little.
"Maybe one of them had all those qualities while the others had a few," he said a bit embarrassed for complaining like some child choosing a candy.
"I'm not judging you. There's nothing wrong in finding the qualities you deem worthy for a soulmate. But since you are asking your father to choose your future wife. It seems you've given up on finding that special someone?"
"I guess that's a bit accurate," he sighed as he looked at her while she blushed.
"Unfortunately, the suitors in my life are either too young to speak or old enough to walk with a cane," she giggled covering her mouth, "Before I came here I saw my father speaking with someone. I couldn't really see his face but he seemed a few decades older than me. I won't be surprised if my father hasn't accepted the offer, with so many Quincy females around my age. He would look like an idiot if he passes up the chance for a suitor for his daughter."
"So you're okay with someone old enough to be your father?" he asked with a furrowed look. Her emotions quickly changed to show that she was irritated.
"Well, Ishida-kun! I'm twenty-two years old and I don't have the luxury of being picky. If you'll excuse me, it's getting late," she rose up about to walk when he lightly grabbed her arm.
"I'm sorry ... I have offended you. I didn't mean it that way. Again, I apologize for my rude comment," he lightly smiled as she bit her lip and nodded.
"I accept your apology. Goodnight!"
"Will you be here tomorrow?" his mouth having a mind of its own, surprised he had even asked her.
"Yes! Will I see you here?" he nodded as she gave a hopeful smile, " Then I'll see you tomorrow, Ishida-kun!"
"Wait! What's your name?"
She looked at him with a startled look then giggled noticing she hadn't introduced herself, "Oh! How rude of me, Mayumi Sanada." She extended her hand as he shook it. They made eye contact, noticing they were looking at each other for a while as they both began to blush.
"Goodnight!"
"Goodnight, Sanada!"
He woke up a bit discouraged as he groaned in his bed. It wasn't the bed being uncomfortable, it was actually quite comforting. It was the lack of sleep he had last night, thinking of the Quincy girl he met in the woods. He had received a call from his father that night, telling him that everything had been arranged and he had picked the perfect girl for him. They decided to have the wedding on Jan 6th, an observed Christian German holiday as Epiphany, but to the Quincies, they call it, 'Jahresende', end of the year. Most Quincies who follow customs, married on this day. With last year behind them, they can begin a new with a healthy marital beginning.
He couldn't go back on his word especially with his father giving his to the other family.
Why couldn't he have met her earlier? Even if he didn't tell his father to choose for him, from what he gathered in the conversation her father wouldn't even accept him with mixed blood. After receiving a big breakfast from the lovely hotel owner as she asked him if everything was ok every few moments with his answer of approval. He left to find her again. He wasn't sure why he hadn't left to go back home if his investigation was over. He hadn't even discussed to his father his findings yet, just stating he was still searching.
He watched her practicing with the bow that was almost the same height as her. Face in concentration as she exhaled and shot a powerful strike, hitting through several leaves that hung on trees. She looked like the Greek goddess Artemis, a huntress, stalking the woods as he marveled at her.
She sensed his presence as the blue bow disappeared while she waved to him.
"I should really work on sensing others," she became embarrassed as she moved her hair to the side of her head.
"Did you just sense me now?" he asked her curiously as she nodded.
"Yes! How far can you sense me?"
"Having been familiar with your reiatsu (spiritual pressure). I can sense you from my hotel room," he expressed as her eyes widen.
"That far? How?" she murmured.
"It's rather simple! First, being accustomed to the person's stored energy within their body and soul. Once you've have accomplished that, its easier to follow their reiatsu. Let me show you," he explained.
A little hesitant, she accepted by taking his hand. "I have to warn you that I'm simply bad at learning all things Quincy related."
"Well don't feel all that bad. I'm told I'm an impatient teacher," he quipped as she smiled. "Now close your eyes."
She complied by doing what he asked. He watched her fidget for a while, feeling uncomfortable. "Stay calm and try to concentrate on my reiatsu."
He saw her brows furrow with determination until they eased a bit, "I think I can sense it and other things too."
"The other energies you feel are the trees and wildlife around us. Concentrate on my reiatsu which is different from them and other humans, like a different color."
She concentrated once more, feeling the energies of the small creatures and the plants around her, even the human energies that were a few miles down from them. Then a red color more prevalent she could sense as she smiled. "It's red!"
"Good! Now find me," his voice sounded like he was at a great distance when he was right in front of her a few seconds ago. She opened her eyes puzzled as she saw that he was gone and looked around.
"Where did you go?" she looked a bit worried.
"Just concentrate and find me," he said as she nodded and closed her eyes again. She found that his red energy left a trail like a red ribbon, that felt calm and relaxing as she followed it. Smiling as she followed his reiatsu, she couldn't help felt a sense of accomplishment as she came closer. She dodged the trees and shrubbery with ease since she could sense them before she could hurt herself as she continued to follow the red string. At the end of the thread, she lifted her hands to place them on the glowing red energy. She opened her eyes to find him standing near a tree with a grin.
"I found you," she laughed, her hands on his chest.
"I told you it was simple," he explained, she quickly removed her hands from his chest, embarrassed at the closeness as she blushed.
"Sorry! It could also be that your not a bad teacher," she chided.
"I said I was impatient not a bad one," he corrected as she smiled at him, then her expression fell and looked away.
"I was right you know," she walked away from him, walking in the direction of the clearing.
"About what?" he wasn't sure what she meant.
"About my father accepting the man's offer. I'll be married nine months from now," her smile gone as she took off her shoes and placed her feet in the pond.
"Jahresende?"
She looked at him curiously as he answered, "It seems to be customary for Quincies since my father has found someone for that day."
"Yeah," she looked disappointed as she played with the water's edge, "My cousin, Hansi just turned eighteen and is marrying on that day also. He's excited, he should be, marrying your childhood sweetheart." Her hands drifted in and out of the water as she contemplated her next words. "Does that mean we can't continue seeing each other?"
"We could remain, friends, if that's what your asking, I would like that," his answer seemed to brighten her mood as she gave a bright smile.
"How long are you here for?" she asked him.
"Five more days," he expressed to her as she placed her hand to her chin in thought.
"Let's exchange numbers, that way we'll still keep in touch even when we both go home."
He agreed as they both pulled out their phones, hers being more advanced with a cute white case with the Quincy insignia. After saving his number she sent him a text with a huge smiley face.
The next few days, seemed like a dream to Uryu. Besides Orihime, Tatsuki, Rukia, and the Kurosaki twins there was technically no other girl outside their group that didn't seem to irritate him enough to get close. They spoke for hours about books they've read, him telling her about working with his father in the hospital, finishing up his pre-med classes, and about classical music. She would bring her violin and play music from the composers they both knew and a few pieces having composed herself. He gave his honest opinions as she accepted them and listened to his critique. She seemed to hang on his every word, and he loved the sound of her laugh and insight when they were having an intellectual conversation. The days seem to pass by as she looked more and more saddened at the prospect of him leaving. Their last day, she said she would bother him on his phone with texts and calls until he was sick of her. He said that wouldn't be possible.
Since it was the last day, they let the hours fly by until she finally declared that she should be heading back. While saying their goodbyes, feeling that it was inappropriate to hug each other, they both settled on shaking hands.
Mayumi snuck into her home if you could call it a home with its sheer size. The ridiculous amount of rooms they housed for a family of just two with a small number of servants. It was a mansion passed down when great-great grandfather Sanada came from Germany to settle in Japan, marrying a native Quincy. She tiptoed through the halls, trying to pass her father's study that was right next to the entrance when the lights flicked on. She groaned looking at the light, to find her father sitting at his desk. She entered his study without him having to utter a word as she sat across from his desk.
"You've been going to that clearing frequently and coming back at an appropriate hour but today you seemed to have forgotten the time." Her father had dark salt and pepper hair with a white mustache on his proud features. He took out a cigar and began to light as he looked in her direction expecting an answer.
"I know and I'm truly sorry, father. I won't let it happen again," she explained giving her sincerest apology as she bowed her head.
"That's quite alright! I just get worried and I just want you safe," he told her as he walked across the desk to give her a hug. "I'm not going to be here forever and you lacking in strength, I think about someone who will be there to protect you. I know you don't want this marriage but I assure you he is strong and will take care of you even when I am gone."
Denjiro Sanada was hitting his sixties, she didn't understand the difference of marrying someone that was probably a decade younger than him. She didn't press further as she nodded her head while he kissed her head while she bid him farewell.
She walked up to her room to speak to a framed picture of her nanny. Her long beautiful gray hair covering her still beautiful worn features as the picture captured her smile.
" Gina! I'm sorry for coming in so late but I met him again," she blushed.
"We're just friends though," she avoided looking at the picture of the woman she came to know as a mother by glancing at her window.
"He's really handsome, smart, and strong but-" her words paused as she gave a sorrowful look. "-I'm marrying an Echt and he's a Gemischt who's marrying someone else," she confessed to the picture as warm tears fell across her face.
Uryu walked into his home to find his father reading from a book, pausing to glance up at him to close it abruptly.
"So what did you find?"
"Just a young Quincy who usually goes there to train, not a real threat," he told him, except she was a threat to his mind as she plagued his psyche.
"Hmmm just that?" he questioned as he looked at him as if scrutinizing him while placing the book back onto the shelf. "If it was only that, why take a week?"
"After receiving your message about the arrangement, I felt I needed a week to myself," he told him with an annoyed tone, upset that he was questioned like a child.
"Still having second thoughts about this?"
"No! I already told you, must we go back and forth in circles," he yelled as he swiftly walked up the stairs and into his room.
Ryuken glanced at the stairs, his son recently stomped up to, to give a shake of his head, "Honestly! When I thought he had matured he reverts back to a whining infant."
When Uryu wasn't busy at the hospital, he would use his time to speak with Mayumi with little texts. She was always interested in his time at the hospital, wishing she could visit and meet with his patients, he was so fond of. He would also take time out of his day to meet with his friends whenever they had a get-together.
Orihime moved in with Ichigo in the Kurosaki clinic after they married. After a few months of their marriage, Orihime passed the news to everyone that they were expecting a little one. Many people congratulated the couple and expressed to Ichigo that he didn't waste any time, causing the orange-haired man to get embarrassingly upset. Now three years old, with a charming boy named Kazui, that Uryu had to admit that he adored unconditionally. He spoiled the boy with new apparel he made as Orihime fawned over the clothing and Ichigo felt that the extravagant design wasn't necessary.
Tatsuki and Keigo, not hiding their relationship anymore had been together for a solid three years before they married. It was her winning the All Women's Japan's Championship she worked hard for when she grabbed Keigo and told him they were getting married. He agreed especially with having the strongest woman glaring at him. They had a small wedding at her home with just a few friends that following weekend.
So here he was with his friends, telling them the news about his arranged marriage. No longer going to be the unmarried man aside from Mizuiro who didn't complain about his bachelor lifestyle. He had a whole fanbase of women who adored him, some of them being married themselves.
"So you haven't met the girl yet?" Keigo asked Uryu for the second time that day.
"For the second time, Keigo! No!" he growled out.
"Okay! Okay! What if she's not attractive?"
"I've met a lot of women who were attractive and couldn't even hold a conversation with them. Looks aren't everything, Keigo!" he told the brown-haired man who frowned.
"You say that now, but when you see a woman coming down the aisle with a face only a mother could love and with Ichigo's scowl. You're not going to ask if she reads the same books as you, nerd," he pulled out a pair of glasses to mock him as he was hit on the head by Ichigo.
"Knock it off, Keigo! Stop mentioning my name in your stupid scenarios," he growled out.
They heard the little padding of small feet to find an orange-haired little boy in bunny pajamas who was half asleep.
"Oh! What's wrong Kazui! Did we wake you?" Orihime murmured in a baby voice as she scooped him up and sat him on her lap. Kazui nodded as she looked at everyone else with a smile.
"Oba-ski! Uyu! Bego! Mizru!" his little names he gave to his parent's friends since he couldn't say them correctly yet.
"Hey, little guy!" Keigo placed his fist out as the little boy's expressive eyes widen to look at his hand as he tried to close his fist. He was happy when he achieved a small fist and hit Keigo's. The older man groaned in pain, hiding his tears, forgetting how strong the little boy was.
Mizuiro ruffled the little boy's hair, "I can't believe how cute you are. You won't mind me borrowing him for a day to babysit?"
"Babysit? More like getting sympathy points from other women. The answer is NO," Ichigo eyed the other man who shrugged and continued on his phone.
"That's right, Ichigo! You tell that womanizer he's not teaching my little nephew a single thing from his dirty mind," she grabbed Kazui from his mother as the boy laughed and grasped his Aunt Tatsuki.
"Let's not start calling the kettle black, Tatsuki!" Mizuiro said while texting on his phone, ignoring the glare from the spiky-haired girl.
"What does that mean?" she said through gritted teeth.
"I get most of my 'bedtime' ideas from you and Keigo," he specified bedtime, with his fingers since a child was there. His bedtime meaning sex tricks. Tatsuki fumed as she looked to her husband as Keigo looked at his friend confused.
"Don't worry, Tatsuki! He didn't tell me anything. You didn't give him a chance to hang up the phone before you pummeled him," Keigo and Tatsuki both blushed from embarrassment as the black haired smaller man looked up from his phone to grin, " and it was too interesting to hang up."
"You son of a -" she paused when Kazui glanced up at her with a confused look, "I swear Mizurio you better pray we don't meet in a dark alley."
"That sounds kinky," he jested back.
"Mizuiro would you cut it out!" Keigo mouthed as his friend sighed and went back to typing on his phone.
"Poor Kazui!" Uryu squeezed his little hand, "Having to be surrounded by these people. Just make sure you listen to Mommy and Uncle Uryu and I promise you'll be okay."
"Mommy and Uyu!" the boy questioned as he looked at his scowling father, "What bout Daddy?" he looked a bit sad.
"Yeah, Uncle Uryu. What about daddy?" Ichigo growled at the Quincy who grinned at his son.
"Kazui that's the first person you shouldn't listen to," he chuckled as his cousin huffed in irritation.
"Oi!" Ichigo yelled out.
"I think I should put Kazui back to bed," Orihime went to take him when Tatsuki held out a hand.
"Can I ?" she asked her friend who looked at her with a smile.
"Sure!" She gave her baby a kiss on the head before he left with her best friend.
"I'm just kidding, Ichigo! I'm only going to compliment you just this once but," he looked at the small grinning child before he disappeared upstairs," I think you're an incredible father."
Orihime couldn't help but smile at her friend's words as she watched her husband avoid his cousin's stare.
"Well! Thanks!" Ichigo said very low. His wife could see a tinge of pink on his cheeks as she gushed.
"Thank you, Uryu!" Orihime said as she gave her husband a slight nudge of her shoulder, "I hope this arranged marriage is something that works out. You're a great man Uryu, you deserve someone special."
Uryu nodded and appreciated the praise from the auburn-haired girl. He didn't have the heart to tell her about the girl he met in the woods. When the sound of his message alerted him. He looked at his phone to find a message from her.
'I hope I'm not too forward in asking to meet? (#^.^#)'
He couldn't figure out what the face meant since his phone didn't have an emoji option.
"It means she's embarrassed," Mizuiro told him, sensing that he was having trouble understanding what the Kaomoji face meant. All eyes looked at Uryu who blushed and avoided their stares. "Tell her you'll meet her with a thumbs up," he added.
"Wait! Is this your fiancee?" Orihime gushed as she was beyond excited about her friend.
"Umm .. No!" he addressed as the girl looked at him confused.
"Uryu you dog you!" Keigo yelled out as he patted the man on the shoulder.
"Its... It's not like that. She's just a friend," he stuttered as he began to redden.
"So if she's a friend. Why isn't she amongst friends?" Ichigo quirked a brow at his cousin who shot daggers at him. Hating his observation at a time like this.
"I was embarrassed to have her around you idiots," he said as the auburn-haired girl gasped, "Not you Orihime!" he quickly corrected, feeling guilty as he placed a hand on hers.
"Okay! Why don't you invite her over?" she asked him as he hesitated a bit. "Does she live far away?" he nodded as she felt disappointed. "Well! Text her so she doesn't feel like you're ignoring her."
Uryu nodded as he took out his phone, instead of texting he decided to phone her instead. He waited for her to pick up on the other end as she heard her beautiful voice.
"Ishida-kun?" she was surprised that he called and he could hear it in her tone.
"Sanada-kun! I'm sorry for not getting back to you by text. I was with a bunch of my childhood friends."
"Oh! I'm not imposing am I. I'm sorry!"
"No! They actually are a bit disappointed that they can't meet you since you're so far away."
"I'm actually thirty minutes from Karakura hence the reason why I asked to meet. Daddy has some business partners he's meeting and won't be back until three days from now. So he's left me with my limo/bodyguard who's trustworthy to not say a thing," he heard her giggle as he began to feel himself become extremely hot.
"Why is Uryu blushing?" Tatsuki shouted after coming down the stairs with a grin plastered on her face.
"I... I'm not," he yelled out, "Hello?"
"Oi! My son is sleeping," he shouted.
"So why the hell are you so loud?" Tatsuki argued back before she sat back down.
Uryu heard the giggle on the phone as he spoke, "Hello, Sanada?"
"I'm here! I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable. But just text me the address and I'll be there. It sounds like fun."
"Okay! See you then," he calmly said as he hung up and began to text the location of the Karakura Clinic.
"So no one is going to fill me in?" Tatsuki asked annoyed.
"Uryu has the hots for a friend that he's seeing on the side that's not his wife," Mizuiro recited as Uryu looked at him wide-eyed.
"Uryu! To think that's your that type of guy?" Tatsuki said looking at her friend in a whole new light.
"That is not accurate!" he growled out low, not wanting to wake up Kazui.
"I'm sure there's a perfect explanation, you guys," Orihime defended as she glanced at Uryu who felt a bit guilty since he wasn't entirely sure what this relationship was.
"So what's her name?" Tatsuki bluntly asked.
"Mayumi Sanada," he revealed to his friends, loving the way her name flowed out of his mouth.
"Sounds gorgeous! I bet she's gorgeous, is she?" the spiky-haired champ hounded the man who's brow started to twitch.
"She's not unappealing," he nervously said. Everyone at the table wasn't sure how to take that as Tatsuki had an idea.
"So on a scale from 1 to Orihime. How would you rate her?" Tatsuki taunted the blushing Quincy.
"Oh! I'm interested to know that question?" Mizuiro straightened up to listen to the conversation, putting his phone down.
"Well! He's not answering that. Tatsuki, don't use my wife in your scale," Ichigo warned as she rolled her eyes.
"Why not? The girls in high school used to have a rating scale with you Ichigo. Right, Orihime!" Mizuiro asked the auburn-haired girl who avoided her husband.
"Mizuiro that scale was bullshit," Tatsuki shot back as Mizuiro grinned.
"Why because your husband was in it too?"
"Huh?" Keigo looked confused, watching his friend laugh and his wife become even more upset. "What does he mean?"
"Yeah, what does he mean?" Ichigo asked Orihime who cleared her throat.
"You have to understand that Tatsuki and I were never involved but we heard rumors of the scale. Instead of it being 1 to 10. It was... from Keigo to Ichigo."
Mizuiro seemed to be the only one laughing at his friend's plight as Keigo's shoulders hung low.
"Like I said, bullshit scale. How would his stupid ass scowl and ginger hair rank him a ten?" Tatsuki hollered.
"Tatsuki! That was an awful thing to say to my husband. You can't forget how he has that sexy smirk, how every inch of his body is covered in muscle, his dreamy eyes that cause your whole body to freeze, and his..."
"Okay! Okay, Orihime! I really don't want to hear anymore and puke," Tatsuki shook her head as she hugged her husband who seemed to still feel bad about the scale.
Everyone was talking amongst each other for a while when Uryu's phone messaged again
'Knock, Knock!'
He smiled at his phone when Orihime perked up.
"She's here, isn't she? I'll get it," she ran for the door.
"Wait, Orihime! There's no need for you to get the door," he tripped over his seat, falling flat on his face as Orihime turned around to help him up.
"Oh Uryu! You should watch your step!" she scolded then heard a knock on the door as she ran once again for the door. Uryu followed right behind her.
"Uryu, I said I'll get it!" she pouted when she opened the door.
A very surprised Mayumi looked at the two at the door, she nervously smiled as she waved.
"Hello!" she glanced at the beautiful auburn-haired girl who smiled at her before grabbing her in a tight hug.
"Oh! Hello Sanada-kun! Welcome to the Kurosaki Clinic. It's so great to meet you," she overwhelmed the girl with her sweet personality as Mayumi timidly walked in.
"Hello! Ishida-kun and umm?" she looked at the girl beside Uryu. The man couldn't keep his eyes off of her, being reminded how beautiful she looked.
"Orihime Kurosaki, but please call me Orihime. You're Uryu's friend and a friend of mine also.
Uryu was speechless since the door was opened, she wore a white dress that clung to her body with her Quincy cross as a necklace set. Her hair was down the way she seemed to prefer as did he. He noticed that he was staring when both girl's giggled.
"I'm sorry, Good Evening! Sanada!"
"Well, since Orihime says that we're friends then call me Mayumi. If that's okay?" she asked him as he began to blush.
"Of course! Then call me Uryu!" he stated as Orihime squealed.
"Great! Mayumi I would like you to meet the rest of his friends and my husband," she gently pulled the girl's arm as Uryu smiled at Mayumi laughing at the girl's giddiness.
When Orihime came in with Mayumi all the eyes in the room had a wide-eyed expression.
"Definitely an Orihime!" Mizuiro said under his breath as Uryu gave an irritated twitch.
"That is my best friend Tatsuki Arisawa-Asano and my friend and also her husband, Keigo Asano." The couple shook her hand as Tatsuki gave a mischievous grin towards Uryu. "This is our friend Mizurio Kojima."
"So how old are you?" the shorter man asked as the newcomer looked a bit puzzled.
"She's too young for you, Mizuiro," Uryu growled out as Mayumi looked towards Uryu still confused.
"This is my husband and also Uryu's cousin, Ichigo Kurosaki." The orange haired man stood to shake her hand when he noticed her jeweled necklace.
"So you're a Quincy too?"
She seemed to look surprised and looked towards Uryu as confirmation, to tell the truth.
"Everyone is aware of Shinigami and Quincies in this room. There's no need to hide it from them."
"Oh, Okay! Yes, I am," she smiled at the orange-haired man who gave a sly grin.
"A fun little tidbit, my cousin seemed to have left out," Ichigo glanced over to Uryu as he scowled at him.
"Please don't call me cousin. It sounds demeaning coming from you. I still believe we're not related," he said through gritted teeth as Ichigo scowled at him.
"Well, have a seat Mayumi. Do you want anything to drink?" Orihime interrupted both men's bickering as the younger girl shook her head.
" A bottle of Veen, Please," Orihime looked at her curiously as the girl quickly shook her head at her mistake "I... I apologize. I meant bottled water," she felt embarrassed as she sat down. Orihime smiled as she came back with a bottle of cold water for the girl who graciously accepted.
"It's not Veen but it's water," Orihime said courteously.
"I... I didn't mean to sound offensive."
"Oh, no! That's alright I'm not offended. We have friends who are extremely rich in Soul Society."
"If you hear what we have to put up with, you'll understand that we find your comment nothing in comparison to what they say," Ichigo scoffed as Orihime glared at him.
"Well, most Quincy families are rich because of the long line of accumulating wealth that was acquired and passed down from generation to generation. Also, some Quincies are highly skilled and intelligent that it's easy for them to become successful as well," she mentioned as she heard a few snickers.
"I guess with Ichigo, his Shinigami side took most of the brain than his Quincy side," Tatsuki jested as everyone snickered, except for Orihime who pouted.
"Don't worry Orihime, Kazui gets his smarts from you," she comforted her friend.
"Oi! Don't give me that shit about not being smart. I am studying to be a doctor and I was ranked Twenty - third in high school," he reminded his friends.
"That rank went down as the school year progressed," Uryu added as Ichigo glared at him.
"Hey! Fuck you! I was busy fighting Shinigami, Arrancars, Sternritter, and Yhwach," he challenged his cousin who yelled back.
"So was I or did Tsukishima use his fullbring to make you forget."
"Hey asshole his book of the end doesn't work that way," he seethed.
"Wow! So you both are Gemischt and fought with Yhwach?" Mayumi looked at both of them in shock.
"Gemischt?" Ichigo looked puzzled as he looked at her and then to Uryu.
"It means mixed blood," Uryu told him as Ichigo nodded.
"Oh! I forgot about the Quincy names, I just remember that my mother being pure-blooded."
"An Echt! How did a pure-blood marry a Shinigami?" Mayumi asked interestedly.
"Short version: Ichigo 's Dad, Captain-class Shinigami, came to the human world defeating a Powerful Hollow with the help of Ichigo's Mom. She was initially supposed to Marry Uryu's dad. With her being infected by the hollow, and Ichigo's dad binding himself to her, lost his Shinigami powers. They both fell in love, Ichigo's mom no longer had to marry Uryu's dad and out popped an infected Hollow/ Quincy/Shinigami/Fullbringer/Human." Mizuiro told Mayumi who could only sit there speechless.
"Oh!" she exhaled, releasing a breath she was holding.
"I'm not infected, stop making me sound like a damn zombie or something."
"Well, you could have been a zombie. Wasn't there a Sternritter who turned people into one?" Keigo asked as Uryu nodded.
"Wow! Why didn't you tell me you fought in the war?" Mayumi grabbed his arm and quickly apologized as they both blushed.
"It's probably because Uryu is not a glory hog and doesn't like to boast about his accomplishments," Tatsuki said. "I mean if it was me I would have been telling everyone I helped defeat Yhwach with Ichigo, but I mean that's just me."
"It was you and him," Mayumi pointed to Uryu and then Ichigo as they both nodded.
"Also! This girl fought by my side with Yhwach," Ichigo hugged his wife as she blushed.
"I just helped to defend and protect you," she giggled.
"This is incredible! It's an honor to meet those who helped fight Yhwach and helped to defeat him," she bowed down to Orihime, Ichigo, and Uryu.
"Hey! Mayumi there's no need to bow to us," Uryu took her hand and paused when he saw the tears in her eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked with his voice laced in concern as she quickly whipped the tears away.
"I'm sorry! I'm being foolish," she laughed trying to hide her features.
"Please! You're not being foolish," Orihime walked up to the crying girl as she bent down to her, holding her hand trying to comfort her.
"You have no idea how much I appreciate what you have done for me and my family. Before Yhwach, the years we hide from Soul Society. I lost my mother when the Shinigami were hunting us, the reason why my father is so protective, even in a time of peace. I was too young to remember losing her, " she began to cry as Orihime hugged the poor girl while Uryu froze in place understanding the pain of losing his grandfather to Soul Society. "With my mother's death, my father gave me Gina, who took care of me. She protected me as most Gemischt servants did for Echt children. But I didn't see her that way as a servant. I loved her with all my heart as a child loves their mother. So when Yhwach regained his powers, Gina was one of his victims. As a child, I knew the words of the Quincy folklore of The Sealed King and the 'Kaiser Gesang' song of the Sacred Emperor. I never knew singing it as a child was a death's lullaby as I watched her at six years old becoming weaker and weaker to finally die," her voice broke as Orihime soothed her head like a mother would as everyone seemed to feel sympathy for their newest member. "So I thank you for fighting to take away the fear of being hunted from Shinigamis but also for destroying the man who took something precious from me. Thank you again!" she told the three as they accepted her thanks. "I didn't mean to ruin your gathering with tears, I apologize," she whipped the rest of her tears away.
"Stop apologizing! You're talking to the girl who cries when she's happy," Orihime giggled whipping away tears of her own.
"If you don't mind, can I take a rain check. I would like to have a moment to myself. We should do this again," she murmured as Orihime understood and stood up to help her up. Mayumi said her goodbyes to everyone as Orihime walked her out.
Uryu stood as well but said nothing as he felt someone push him towards the two women who were heading towards the door. Ichigo looked at him like he was an idiot as he pointed to Mayumi. 'GO' he silently mouthed out as he roughly pushed him again. Uryu angrily pushed him off, fixed his jacket as he followed Orihime and Mayumi.
"Mayumi, If you don't mind I would like to join you if that's alright?" the girl looked at Uryu as she nodded as he said good-bye to his auburn-haired friend and followed her to her limo. "Where were you planning on going?"
"Back to my hotel room. Do you need a ride back home?" she asked him as he shook his head.
"I have my car here and if its okay with you, I could take you back to your hotel room?" he told her as she thought for a moment before heading to the driver seat of the limo and telling her driver that he could follow them.
She sat in the passenger side of Uryu's car when he opened the door for her. She sighed and quickly looked at herself in her makeup mirror before he headed to the driver's seat. They left the Kurosaki clinic with different sets of eyes looking out the window to see the couple off.
"Your friends are very sweet," she commented with an amused face.
"Yeah, they mean well when they're not completely driving me crazy," he blurted out as she began to laugh.
"So you became friends with all of them at the same time or you guys had the same classroom?" she asked him as he watched the road ahead of him.
"I was friends with Orihime first, we both had the same classes along with everyone else in the first year and were part of the sewing club."
"A man of many talents," she grinned as she was fascinated at learning something about him. He chuckled as he continued to explain the whole story of Rukia coming to the human world giving Ichigo shinigami powers and having a deep hatred for Shinigami. Eventually telling her of becoming friends with Chad and the rest of the gang. He talked about them invading Soul Society to save Rukia and Hueco Mundo to rescue Orihime.
"Orihime is pretty close to you?" she asked him, watching as his breathing paused while his body tensed.
"You can say that. I have nothing but respect for her," he explained. "Why do you ask?"
"She's very beautiful. You spent time with her in Soul Society by her side and risked to go save her with your friends in Hueco Mundo."
"I don't like seeing women hurt," he clarified as she shook her head.
"Yeah, I get that with you being a gentleman, but you spoke about your time in Soul Society in such detail. But then when you spoke about Hueco Mundo you seemed to hesitate in certain parts, Why?" she wondered as she saw his fingers grip the wheel.
"I tend to block my time there," he said faintly as she didn't pry any further while looking out the window. They got to her hotel room as he parked and walked her to her room that was beside her father's. The large suite was a big empty shell especially with her father not being there. With Uryu's presence, it was an improvement but the silence between them since he came up was a little unnerving. After she gave him the grand tour and handed him a glass of water. She asked if he would like to stay as he declined. He saw the hurt expression on her face as she told him that he was right and that it would be inappropriate. When she made to close the door he held it open preventing her from moving it further.
"I'm sorry if it seems I'm trying to shut you out," he confided, she made to speak but he interrupted her as he held her face, "Our time in Hueco Mundo was very demanding to deal with, for friends who were just in their teens. Pushed mentally and physically, no one shouldn't have to endure. But if I had to do it all over again I would, for my friends, I would," his eyes were so beautiful and determined, her heart skipped a beat as she swallowed. They moved closer into the room as he shut the door. When they sat down on the couch, he began to explain Orihime and Ichigo's plight with Ulquiorra. Him coming to help her against Yammy and then succumbing to watching his cousin die in front of his eyes while they both watched in horror. It tore his heart to see her in that desperate state, she had just lost the man she loved and there was nothing he could do except try to protect her from an Arrancar that was more powerful than him. Then Ichigo's resurrected state and his issue of trying to control him that almost killed him. She listened to his words, understanding the psychological things her heroes had to endure so young and she couldn't help but feel more admiration towards them.
"I get why you would think there was something more between Orihime and myself. I guess in a sense, yes, I admit I found her attractive even having a crush, but she loved Ichigo. I respected them both and loved them both enough to risk my life to help them," he smiled at her as he glanced down at her pink lips. She watched him take off his glasses and place them on the table before he leaned closer to give her a chaste kiss on her lips. She took the initiative to deepen the kiss as she pulled him closer. Their kiss was a bit sloppy, they both figured out that this was their first kiss. After a few moments, they became in sync as their tongues intertwined and hands roamed their bodies. They both gasped for air as he paused to look at her as he brushed her hair against the side of her face.
"We shouldn't do this," he whispered, as she shook her head in understanding. He kissed her head and told her that he'll speak to her tomorrow and bid her goodnight. They both didn't sleep well that night.
The next few days, they spoke to each other on the phone as everything seemed to be back to normal. They never discussed that night. She felt disappointed rather than relief when he never brought the subject up. Deep down she didn't want him to stop, did he somehow find her easy that he initiated but she never attempted to stop him.
Days turn to months as they enjoyed their company more and more whenever her father had business meetings. Also, whenever he had time off from the hospital to visit at the hotel situated where they first met.
"That's not fair, Uryu! You promised you'd show me today," she laughed as he pretended to ignore her. While they sat together at the quiet clearing. "Come on! You've already shown me Reiatsu Manipulation. So come on! Show me how to cast Heilig Pfeil (Holy Arrow)," she pleaded.
He thought for a moment as she felt like he was purposely torturing her by stalling his answer. When he saw her worried expression he smiled and agreed.
"Now that you know Reiatsu Manipulation it will be easier to cast Heilig Pfeil. Instead of releasing several arrows at once, you're going to concentrate all your energy on one."
She summoned her bow and targeted it across the pond, she closed her eyes and began to concentrate. He felt the energy being strained into one arrow. "Okay, that's good enough. Now release the arrow," he told her but she seemed to ignore him when she furrowed her brows.
"I... I can summon more," she pleaded.
"You can't summon something stronger than that, Mayumi."
She released it only for Uryu to shoot his arrow to deflect hers to the sky as it exploded in the air. Both Quincies stood silent while he glanced at the sky and she waited for him to speak. Her bow gone as she nervously held her arm. He turned to glance at her as she seemed to avoid his stare.
"What was that back there? Were you trying to prove something?" he moved closer to her when she finally looked in his direction.
"Yes! That I don't need protection and that I'm strong enough to take care of myself," she shouted as he looked at her confused.
"I already know that you can take care of yourself, Mayumi." he expressed placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I know, I'm sorry for yelling. It's not you. Uryu, you've been nothing but spectacular with showing me how to be a better Quincy and all I've done is be a spoiled brat," she sighed.
"You're not a brat ... maybe spoiled," he told her as she laughed.
"Hey! That's not true, I don't always get what I want."
"Well name one thing your father has denied you," he questioned her as her face seemed to stare at him and then look away.
"You're right," her voice sounded wounded as she agreed with him. They went to the hotel room while she spoke to the sweet hotel owner for a while, and never correcting her when she asked if they were a couple. Especially with her visiting his room, it would only be more of a hassle if they tried to explain that they were just friends.
"Uryu can I ask you something?" he nodded to her, once he closed the door to his room, getting drinks for them while she sat on the couch. " Did you think less of me when I never told you to stop?"
He paused his movements with two cups in hand as he stared at her. He didn't have to question her to know what she meant with her question. It was something he tried to forget and it became harder and harder to.
"No!" he whispered as he set the drinks by her and settled down to sit next to her. "I can never think that about you. I was protecting your virtue and it wouldn't be right of me to take something that ..."
"Doesn't belong to you?" she murmured as he nodded, "I think about running away." Her words seemed to stop his breathing as he finally exhaled. "I think about being your mistress and even think about making love to you."
"Mayumi! You can't say things like that it's in-"
"Inappropriate! I'm tired of doing things appropriate in my life. Yes, I've been spoiled, yes I get everything I need in my life and more. But like an Empress stuck in an arranged marriage who stuck in a palace filled with riches but forced to love a man she doesn't want."
She came closer to him, removing his glasses and placing them at the side of the table. She smiled at him to caress his features as she kissed him. Time seemed to stop between them as they were locked in each other's arms and their tongues danced. While exploring each other, she removed his shirt as he helped her remove hers. Both helping to remove their pants as she giggled when his hands caressed the side of her tummy, laughing at the ticklish feeling. She wasted no time in removing her bra as he glanced at her perfect perky breasts. They filled his hands out nicely while grabbing a nipple with his mouth. He heard the most beautiful melody release from her mouth as she began to moan.
Aside from wearing only her panties, she was naked and vulnerable under him. Rubbing her fingers into his straight black hair while his attention worked on her other breasts. He could feel himself start to stiffen under his briefs as he licked and prodded her pink nipple. Both going by what they read in books and fictional literature, they never felt the need to subject themselves to watch or read porn. Sliding his hand inside her panties, he found her soaked as she whimpered. He lifted himself from her breast to watch her flustered features as he moved his finger inside of her.
"MMmm..." she moaned out. He found her panties in the way of pleasuring her further. He paused for a moment while she bit her lip watching as he removed the rest of her garments. He crawled on top of her once again to lean in to kiss her as she widened her legs more for him to finger her. He started with one finger and then two, listening to her moans to figure out what made her feel good. She couldn't help but act embarrassed at the sounds her wet pussy made as his pace quickened.
When he felt she was slick enough, he suddenly removed his fingers, causing her to pout in disappointment. He grinned at her sadden features as he kissed her lips. Not saying a word while she watched him remove his briefs completely and see her redden when she looked down between his legs. He was fully upright and pink lips now red from biting them caused him to grow in length. Her eyes widen as she swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Are you okay?" he asked her as he leaned down to kiss her neck.
"Mm-hmm," she nervously told him as he felt her nervous energy.
"I know it will hurt, I promise not to make you feel uncomfortable," he told her, holding her chin up to face him as she silently nodded. She relaxed a bit as he went to get a condom and place it on himself. He moved in closer to position himself as he slowly entered. Her nails scrapped his back as he groaned from the pain of her nails and pleasure from how tight she felt. It hurt and she closed her eyes as she tried to relax as he pushed further, opening her more.
Finally sheathing his way fully in, he stopped to kiss her beautiful features as she smiled up at him. She moved around to experiment a bit, to get accustomed to his size. She watched as his features frowned, trying to keep himself still.
"It's okay Uryu," she whispered and smiled. Receiving the okay he nodded his head as he pushed out a little and slowly thrust back in. The feeling was incredible as her tight opening began to slicken and open more for him. Her pain faded away to be replaced by the feeling of gratification. "Oh, god, Uryu!" she whimpered as she gripped his back with both her arms and legs. He wasn't expecting her to forcefully push him in further as he gritted his teeth from slamming back into her. Lifting himself with his arms on the sides of her, he picked up the pace by sheathing himself in and out of her faster and faster.
The feeling within her lower part of her body began to unwind as she moaned louder.
"Mayumi! Someone will hear," he told her as he swallowed her mouth with kisses. She couldn't help but want to yell out how much this felt so good and it only became worse. She cried into his mouth after a few thrusts when he felt her walls constrict around his cock.
"Shit!" he groaned as he felt himself unload. Both breathlessly laid there in each other's arms as she drifted asleep, not noticing when he stood to discard the condom and lay right next to her.
She would leave back home, only to return the next day and continue to make love, for the next few days that week. She craved his touch and he loved making her moan in several different languages.
She came out of his hotel shower with a robe fastened tightly around her with her long hair tied in a bun. Sitting by a sleeping Uryu as she grinned and kissed his neck. "I'll see you in the morning," she whispered into his ear. He lifted his groggy face to glance at the time, to see that it was late. He always hated this, he wanted her to stay until the morning, but she knew she left before her dad arrived from work. That didn't stop him from tempting her, "Stay!" he lifted himself to grab her waist to lay her down as he began to remove her robe. Kissing down her body as she felt his tongue lick lower until it reached its destination. She moaned as he licked his tongue around her pink nub and teased her entrance with his finger.
"Uryu! I have to go," she giggled and moaned. He always did this to her making it difficult for her to leave. She didn't have to plead with him anymore to stop when his cell phone rang. Pausing with a huff. He kissed her stomach before he checked the number. It was his father calling. He proceeded to straighten himself.
"It's my father, I need to take this," he told her as she nodded nervously. He clicked the button to say hello. She semi-listened while she got herself dressed. He seemed to have a serious expression as he glanced in her direction, causing a knot to twist in her heart. When he hung up, he stood there with his shoulders hung low. He felt her wrap her arms around him as she kissed his shoulders.
"What's wrong?" she asked him. He didn't say anything as he remained silent, "I know what will cheer you up," she told him as she moved in front of him to bend to her knees as she lowered his briefs to grab his flaccid length.
"Stop, Mayumi!" he told her as she paused to look at his torn expression. He fixed himself and began to dress. "My father tells me I need to head back. I've been behind with checking on my patients and my responsibilities in dealing with reports on Quincies." He seemed so distant while he explained everything to her with a monotone voice. "He said that I also need to focus my attention on the wedding that's a month away," he said matter of factly as her heart stopped.
A Month away. She had been ignoring that fact as the months passed. Dreading the day that it would come and it was already here. She felt her legs weaken as she gripped the desk to keep herself from falling. "Oh! When will you be available to meet again?" she asked as his lack of words didn't help relieve her lack of self-confidence. Closing her eyes, forcing away the anxiety that was keeping her still. "I guess I should thank you," she expressed, getting his attention as his gorgeous eyes glanced at her.
"Thank me?" he asked curiously as she timidly smiled.
"Of course! You taught me how to be a better Quincy and..." she felt her heart beating so fast as she held her chest, " for teaching me how to please a man."
He scowled at her as she gathered the rest of her things in her purse. "I don't find this a bit funny, Mayumi," he told her condescendingly as she angrily pushed her makeup into her bag.
"I wasn't trying to be funny. I was being serious."
She felt his grip holding her in place as she glanced up to see him calmer then he was a few seconds ago. His expressive blue eyes showing his pain, causing her to feel guilty for her words. "Mayumi, I have responsibilities, you know this."
She nodded as she felt the tears slowly fall, " I know! I was serious when I said I would run away. I would, I would leave it all for you," she touched his chin as his eyes furrowed sadly. "I would leave my father's home and all the riches it possesses, for you. I would leave the comforts of my spoiled life, for you. If you told me to walk away from it. I'll do it."
He looked away not wanting to see her face in tears but the crack in her voice was something he couldn't ignore. He grabbed her hand moving it away from her face as he looked at her once again in silence.
"Just tell me, Uryu," she asked again as he could only shake his head and deny her what she wanted.
"I ... can't," he slowly said, shattering what little hope she had.
She slowly removed her hands from his and left, slamming the door. Uryu tried to rationalize his decision. This was the best thing for both of them. He couldn't ask her to leave everything for him, not when the only remaining family was still in her life. He contemplated to himself that this was the best thing over and over. Washing his face to get rid of this morning's folly. The reminisce of her smell still flooded the room. Packing the rest of his clothes and belongings away. He left the room in a hurry.
Mayumi looked at herself in the mirror, wearing her mother's altered wedding dress to fit her size with a few alterations. The dress was absolutely beautiful and she always thought so whenever she played in the dress when she was younger. Imagining herself walking down the aisle with her father, to marry her prince charming. Her prince was always faceless, kind of like the man whom she had no idea that she was going to marry. Recently, it was no longer faceless anymore when the features turned into Uryu's handsome face. She knew it was time to start heading down thirty minutes ago, to meet her father but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
That day she left him at the hotel, they stopped texting and talking to each other. She was so close to picking up the phone to tell him that she was okay with just being friends but knew she was fooling herself. A week ago, she received several phone calls from him that went straight to voicemail, afraid to answer his calls. He gave up to send her a text, that she felt was a little too late.
'I'm sorry for causing you so much pain. I wasn't sure what was the right thing to do. I fell in love with you and I was too scared to tell you. I'll walk away from my responsibilities as a Quincy, as a Doctor, and even walk away from this marriage if you tell me to.'
She must have read that message about a million times before her phone went dead and all she could see was a black screen. She must have applied so much make-up under her eyes, several, as well as her father, had mentioned if she was alright. Looking at the mirror she managed to look picture perfect even though her heart was in a thousand pieces. There was a slight knock on the door as she beckoned the person to come in. She found her father looking on worriedly as she tried to give him her best smile.
"Hello, Father!"
"Hello, Dear. I hate to impose but we have a whole slew of guests waiting downstairs, including your husband to be."
She nodded her head as she grabbed his hand to help her rise. He watched her daughter's gloomy mannerism as he hugged her. "I understand how this must feel, like the end of the world, but I assure you he is a wonderful man. I just met him, he is so well-mannered and smart. I can safely tell you that I'm relieved."
"Of, course, Father. I shouldn't think anything less, you're always thinking what's best for me," she smiled as a tear fell while kissing him. She took his arm as she went downstairs to face the inevitable.
When her father qued the servants to notify the musicians to play. She heard the beautiful melody of Mozart Divertimento 2nd movement Adante. The soft hum of the string quartet played in the background. She always played Mozart for special occasions or to bring a smile to her face. How ironic to play Mozart when nothing could bring up her mood unless it was his deep ocean blue gaze. She felt her father's arm pull her as the servants were to open the double doors when she yelled, "NO!" The servants quickly closed them at their employers request as she stood still looking at the ground.
"Dear?"
"I... I can't go through with this. I... I'm in love with someone else," she told her father as the tears began to stream down her face.
"In love with someone else? How?"
"All those times, I was late or off somewhere I was with him. He loves me, Daddy! I can't marry this man you've picked for me. Please understand that this is something I truly want."
"Do you understand the situation you are putting me in. This man is important to the Quincy race because of his powerful Echt blood. To have my own daughter snub his family and leave him at the alter is absurd. It would ruin our family name," he begged her as she shook her head.
"The man I love is powerful, father! He taught me how to become a better Quincy. He's destroyed powerful foes, that even our forefathers would give praise to. Even if he is Gemischt-"
"I've heard enough! How dare you! To taint your blood with a person like that. I can't understand what I went wrong with you. I should have never had that Gemischt raise you and taint your views."
Her fury surfaced as she let go of her father's arms to glare at him, "Her name was Gina. How dare you speak unkindly of her. I am not marrying that MAN," she screamed as her father grabbed her arm. If he had to pull her to the altar, so be it.
"Denjiro! What is the meaning of this?"
A man with white hair and spectacles came through the double doors seeing the uncouth sight.
"I apologize, my friend. My daughter is a bit upset and I'm just trying to calm her nerves."
The stranger eyed her as she pulled her arm free from her father's grasp. Whipping the remainder of her tears as she glared at the newcomer. She paused in confusion as she saw the similar blue eyes and features on the man's face.
"I...I'm sorry sir. I can't marry you," she told him looking at him with a confused expression. The man slightly smiled at her as he stepped closer.
"Although flattering for you to even consider me for a marriage prospect. I'm sorry to inform you that it is not I that you are marrying but my son."
"Your son?" her heart tugged a bit, watching as the man's handsome features reminded her of her lover if he grew older.
"How rude of me to not introduce myself. I am Ryuken Ishida."
Her eyes widen as she covered her mouth. Giving herself time to calm herself she asked the white-haired man a question, "Ishida-san, Is your son named-"
Uryu stood in front of the aisle as he looked at the double doors his father just went through. His bride was already late and then they overheard an argument between the father of the bride and who he could only assume the bride to be. He turned to look at his friends who seemed worried. Except for his cousin who held a smug smile on his face. He knew he would never hear the end of it from Ichigo, being stood up on his wedding day. He wasn't sure if he should feel upset or thankful. When Mayumi ignored his calls and text, he knew he upset her to the point of no return. She should be upset with him for the pain he had caused her. Only realizing too late, what was most important to him. Now he was stuck here waiting for a woman he was sure didn't want to marry him.
"URYU!" he heard the yell of a familiar voice that stopped his heart. Quickly turning to see Mayumi frantically running down the aisle towards him.
"M...Mayumi?"
She jumped into his arms in tears as she lifted her head to smile up at him as she kissed him aggressively. He tensed up in surprise as his mouth began to follow her lead. Pausing to catch her breath when she looked around to see that they were not alone. She blushed from embarrassment, bowing in apology to everyone then looking at Uryu who looked at her confused.
"Oh, Uryu," she giggled at the silliness of their last argument and the secret meetings.
"I don't understand you, Mayumi? You told me you were in love with another man?" her father yelled with the gasps of the guests as he continued, " A Gemischt?"
Ryuken coughed to interrupt the man before he walked beside his son, "My son is Gemischt, as was his mother."
They watched the mustache of the older man begin to twitch as his mouth opened in shock, "B...But how can a Gemischt help defeat Yhwach? Impossible?"
"Not quite, if he also had help from another Gemischt," Isshin shouted from the crowd pointing towards his son, who looked annoyed. "With him giving the final blow, of course."
Ryuken looked at the bearded man irritated as he coughed, "Indeed, though my son shot the arrow, provided by myself negating Yhwach's powers."
"Could you two please stop your bickering we're at a wedding. Leave the pissing contest somewhere else," Tatsuki shouted causing both men to look away in embarrassment.
Mayumi chuckled as she looked at her father who looked to be in a distraught state. Moving closer to him as she held his face and leaned her forehead to his. "You were right, he is a good man and a very important Quincy. I'll be safe in the arms of the man I love," she whispered as her father looked up to smile at the return of his daughter's smile. "Please, don't worry father. I'm with the strongest Quincy," she stated as she held Uryu's hand as he shook the hand of her father's with his other.
"Strongest Quincy? That's a bit of a stretch," Ichigo said under his breath as Uryu stared daggers at him while Orihime glared at him causing him to sulk.
"Sanada-san, I'll make sure to protect her with my life," Uryu told the father of the bride as the older man nodded, giving his approval.
Denjiro, kissed his daughter as he gave her away to the man whom he may have misjudged if he hadn't known of his mixed blood. Mayumi walked hand in hand with Uryu as they walked to the altar. Uryu leaned close to his father to whisper to him, "That report didn't come from Kisuke or the Department of Research, did it?"
The older man grinned at his son who eyed him curiously. "Her father may have discussed to me of the location of her training whereabouts." He watched his son's upset look as he chuckled, "You know you could of spare such confusion and heartache if you could have just come to me."
HIs father's words hit hard as his anger subsided as he nodded, "Thank you!"
"Now pay attention to your bride," Ryuken held his son's shoulder as Uryu glanced over to his bride who was timidly waiting for him to finish. He couldn't be any happier as he watched her beautiful features smile at him while the priest began to speak. He gazed at the woman he would have given up everything for, a woman he had given his heart.
I hope you enjoyed my interpretation Uryu and Mayumi's story of falling in love. I see so many people giving hate to Chapter 686, not only for Ichihime and RenRuki but about the isolation of Uryu? What? Let me give you my honest opinion. When I read that chapter and saw Uryu I understood what he was going through. I worked for a Breast Surgeon who was the best at what she did. Patients trusted her with their lives and how to go about removing Cancer from them. A lot of them would even leave a state to visit her if they happened to move, for a check-up. That's how much they trusted her. So Uryu being a very smart guy is probably one of the best general surgeons that are highly sought after. I give props to doctors for their sacrifice. Because the doctor I worked for would sometimes have to work on her vacation time away from her grandchildren because one of her patients had an accident. We couldn't even tell her patients that she was on vacation. It is sad but I respect these doctors who sacrifice their time but I also remember that they are human beings also with families themselves. So when I see people say Uryu looked so alone. He probably wanted to be with his friends to watch the fight but he was probably needed more at the hospital and his friends respected that. It was adorable when the hospital staff gave him a moment or a break to see Chad's fight. I love Uryu's character and the way his character is I see him taking the time to help his patients.
