Chapter Twenty One:

Byakuya woke with a jolt to the sound of alarms blaring beside his head; his eyes opened in a flash as he sat up straighter in his chair and rubbed a hand down his face, forcing concentration to replace his daze. His heart leaping into his mouth as he saw Ichigo thrashing and jerking around on the bed, suffering from some form of seizure before it stopped just as abruptly, and the heart rate monitor flat-lined.

The door flew open and Unohana rushed in, followed by Isane and Hanataro. The Seventh Seat of Division Four tried to make him leave, urging him towards the door but he refused to the point of forgetting all family manners and ignored the young man. His eyes focused on the sight before him.

Unohana was pushing her reiatsu into Ichigo's prone body with a rhythmic motion, the pressure supposedly meant to restart the failing organ; at the same time Isane was pumping a concoction of fluids and solutions into him via the cannula in the back of his left hand.

The noble's mouth was dry and his heart thundered in panic, he watched as they fought to save his lover's life, again.

It had been three weeks since Aizen's defection; in that time Ichigo's physical injuries had healed well, better than expected in fact, apparently his Inner Hollow was at work, providing enough of a boost to his system to aid the process. But beyond that, he remained comatose. His reiatsu was dwindling more and more each day, to the very lowest Byakuya had ever sensed it to be. His body was healing, but his soul was failing.

As he heard pulsating bleeps from the heart monitor begin anew, he slumped against the wall and released a sigh of relief, one which was short lived as Unohana dismissed her healers, leaving only herself and Byakuya in the room.

"Kuchiki Taichou." Her voice was far softer than he was used to, which made his stomach churn, "... Byakuya-san..."

"Yes?" He was gruff, he hadn't intended to be but his worry was beginning to show.

"There are only so many times I can revive him, if he does not wake soon... I fear he never will." She reached out to touch his shoulder, but pulled it back as the noble flinched away from the contact, "I am truly sorry, not to have better news for you."

"I understand. Please do what you can." He dragged his gaze from hers, staring in the direction of the bed.

Swallowing down his hesitations, he moved back to Ichigo's side, he heard the door close again. He found himself to be alone. He sank down onto the edge of the mattress, leaning over and kissing Ichigo on the forehead. It hurt. The idea of never seeing him open his eyes again, it hurt. But he couldn't afford to fall apart in front of another Taichou, he could be temporarily removed from duty if that happened and frankly... His work was all that was keeping him going.

Gritting his teeth, he brushed Ichigo's cheek with the pad of his thumb, "I will be back soon, I need to make some arrangements... Sort some things out... Nothing serious, nothing for you to worry about just... Just don't stop fighting while I'm gone." He whispered.

The noble left the hospital grounds, ignoring the looks and attempted conversations from medics and patients alike. He had no patience for any of them. He cast a glance over Seireitei as he headed back to his own Division. The smoke had finally stopped rising from Divisions Three, Five and Nine, though the damage would take some time to repair. Things seemed almost normal. He wasn't sure why, but that angered him. Everyone was getting on with their new reality, while he was stuck dealing with the outcome of the old one.

Turning on his heel, he started towards his office, pausing only when someone walked into him and stumbled to the floor; his gaze swivelled furiously until he saw a flash of red hair.

"Renji?" He frowned faintly, helping the man stand, "It is unlike you to be... Clumsy."

His Fukutaichou kept his head down, mumbling an apology of sorts, "I wasn't concentrating."

"It..." Byakuya paused and allowed his temper to dissipate as understanding rose in its place, "It's fine. Are you alright?"

"No." Was the blunt reply, brown eyes lifted to reveal a tinge of pink around them, the result of crying, "Unohana Taichou... She... Sent me a message about Ichigo."

"I see." He faltered, "Has Rukia been informed as well?"

"I'm not sure, I was on my way to see her when... Well..." Renji sighed, "How are you coping, Taichou?"

"I am..." Byakuya trailed off, not sure he wanted to divulge his real feelings at that moment in time, "Trying to work out why he won't wake up."

"I had been wondering that as well..." The redhead folded his arms, scowling at the floor.

The noble hesitated, "You have known him far longer than I have... Do you have any idea what would keep him from waking?"

"I'm not sure... I've known him since we were kids but even back then he wasn't like he is now..." He huffed, "He was always hard work... Never really wanted to make friends but Rukia and I... We weren't gonna leave him on his own."

"A wise choice really." He glared at nothing in particular, remembering what Ichigo had described his first few memories to consist of, he wondered if Renji knew. If Rukia knew. He decided that they probably didn't, he couldn't imagine Ichigo divulging that kind of information willingly.

"He never liked the idea of failing. Used to piss him off really badly. Didn't matter what it was, if he failed he'd be angry for ages. But then he'd come back, try again and smash it. It was like a pattern. He had to fail in order to get stronger." The Fukutaichou rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully, "I wonder..."

"What?"

"Well... He kept saying that what he wanted more than anything else was to protect you, and Rukia. But... I can't help but wonder if what he really wanted... What his heart and Soul wanted, was to prove he could stand on his own two feet, without Aizen's hand to guide him."

Byakuya frowned faintly, "And... Even at the end of the battle... Aizen still had a hold over him, I couldn't hear what was said but..."

"Ichigo thanked Aizen." Renji muttered.

"What?" He breathed, frown deepening, "Why?"

"Ichigo... Wanted to know if his family had suffered, the night they died. Aizen told him they didn't." He shifted his weight awkwardly, "So, even after all the anger; conflict; adrenaline... Aizen still had a hand in his success."

"Do you think..." Byakuya leaned against the nearby wall as he considered it, "Do you think Ichigo's subconscious is preventing him from waking up because of... Shame?"

"He has never been driven by his emotions until recently, everything is probably such a jumbled mess in his head and his heart that... I think it is more than possible. If I know him at all... I'd say his subconscious is beating him over the head right now, angry that he failed."

Raising an eyebrow at just how astute Renji could be, he nodded slightly. He agreed. Even if it wasn't a conscious action, Ichigo was clearly punishing himself for something, whether it was what Renji had assumed or something else, it didn't matter.

"If what you say is true," he began, and he was under no doubts that Renji was right, "We need to find a way to drag him out. By force if necessary."

"Urahara-san would probably be able to help with that."

"Urahara can't help from the World of the Living." He dismissed the idea with a brief wave of his hand, sighing deeply.

"Except... Urahara-san isn't in the World of the Living right now." Renji smiled slightly.

Byakuya's eyes flashed and he was standing straight, "Are you... Do you mean to tell me that man is in Soul Society?"

A definitive nod, "Yes, his exile was lifted this morning and he was given passage to travel here in case his expertise was required. Rukia is with him at the moment, she wanted to talk to him about... Well the entire Hōgyoku incident."

"Can you take me there?" He asked.

"Yes, Taichou."

The outskirts of Western Rukongai was mostly immersed in woodland, it was a far more pleasant looking forest than the one he had seen in Fugai, while those trees had been dark and crushing, these were light and twisted up towards the sunlight as if giving praise to each new day.

Within a small clearing, about half a mile into the forest, was their destination. A humble sized cottage with two floors and rickety fencing surrounding it. It was far from the majesty of the Kuchiki Estate, or the Shihōin Estate for that matter, but somehow it seemed to suit the new ideals of the pair who resided inside.

Without breaking his stride, Byakuya rapped curtly on the front door, waiting politely for it to be opened; his eyes immediately fell upon his former teacher, not having seen her since the fight on Sôkyoku Hill. She didn't seem overly surprised to see him.

"Is Urahara here?" He asked.

"Yes, I believe Rukia has finished emasculating him now, whether or not he'll be in any position to see you is another matter... Quite the ferocious streak she has." The woman chuckled, "Come in, Little Byakuya."

"It's... A lovely place you have here, Yoruichi-san." Renji said nervously as he saw Byakuya's jaw clench at the nickname he loathed so much.

The purple haired woman smiled and slung her arm around the redhead's shoulders, "Thanks, Renji! It belonged to a strand of my family for about two hundred years, but it seems the most recent generations forgot about it, and left it unoccupied."

"It's... Very pleasant."

"She is bullshitting you, Renji. This place belongs to her, and she used to train me here. The only reason it is in such a state of disrepair is because we unlocked my Bankai here, quite by accident. I had forgotten about it however." Byakuya sighed, nudging open various doors as he searched for Urahara.

"Oh." The younger man glanced at Yoruichi and gulped as she winked suggestively at him and sauntered off after her former student.

The nobleman found his search ended at the kitchen, seeing Rukia and Urahara sat opposite each other at the table, eating fresh rice balls. His stomach growled silently in protest at the smell of food, not having eaten properly for some time. He ignored it however and turned his full attention to the man he had been looking for.

From the growing bruise on the blond man's jaw it appeared Rukia was every bit as vicious as Yoruichi had suggested. He felt a smug sense of pride at that. He found himself amused by the fact that Rukia had attacked him with her fists instead of Kidō. Perhaps Ichigo did know her better.

"Byakuya-san, I didn't expect to see you all the way out here." Urahara smiled, wiping his face with a cloth as he set his chopsticks to one side, "What can I do for you today?"

"Ichigo's Soul is failing, his body is struggling to maintain his life force and Unohana has specified that she cannot continue to revive him." He stated, "I need a way to save him."

"Straight down to business as always, I see..." The man breathed and stood slowly, plopping his hat on his head as he put his plate in the sink, "If his Soul is struggling as much as you suggest then there is very little that can be done to save him."

"Don't give me that. I know you can find a way. You always do." He argued sharply.

The scientist glanced around at him and let out a sigh, "I understand your attachment, but once the Soul begins to fail there are very few cases of it being able to repair itself again. I cannot help you."

Byakuya glared at him, is fingers twitched towards his Zanpakutō but he resisted the urge to draw it, killing the man would get him nowhere. Nevertheless, he felt that same searing anger returning, anger he hadn't allowed himself to feel fully since childhood. He'd been well known for his reckless temper, short fuse and explosive outbursts. Yoruichi had faced more than a few of them in her time as his teacher. The way her keen feline eyes were trained on him, suggested she had not forgotten the telltale signals that he was close to losing control.

"In normal circumstances, I would agree. But you are as aware as I am that Ichigo is far from normal." He growled, voice barely remaining even, "You have done far more extraordinary things in the past than what I am asking. So why are you refusing to help?"

"I have done many things, some good and some bad. Kurosaki-san is a unique case, as you rightly said. But there are outside forces controlling this as much as inside ones. No technique I have, no suggestion or idea, can correctly calculate the effect the Hōgyoku has had on him. Anything I might normally try in this situation is void. I cannot help you." Urahara stated calmly.

The noble closed the gap between them, hand snatching out and gripping a tight fistful of the man's green overcoat, "So you won't even try? You are many things, Kisuke Urahara, but I never had you down as a coward!" He hissed.

"Aggression will not get you anywhere with this, Byakuya-san. Please release me." The blond said coolly, patting the other's hand with a deceptively gentleness.

"Not until you agree to help!" He barked, fingers tightening.

"Is this about helping Kurosaki-san, or helping to repair your own dented pride?"

"What did you say?" Byakuya breathed.

"You swore you protect him, did you not? Swore that you would free him from Aizen's control. Swore you would put him back together again. And yet, he is lying in a hospital bed, close to death because you failed to uphold your oath." Grey eyes narrowed, "So, I must ask again, is this about saving Kurosaki-san, or saving your pride?"

"You bastard."

It looked for a moment like Byakuya was going to strike the man, but Urahara moved fluidly out of the way, gripping the noble's wrist and ducking under his grasp and pinching the joint firmly until the corresponding fingers loosened. He swivelled around behind the noble, gripping his wrist rather more firmly as he twisted his arm up behind his back, pinning him lithely against the nearest wall, apparently without so much as breaking a sweat.

Renji stared, mouth falling open as his Taichou was immobilised so quickly, and by a man who had been out of uniform for a long time. A quick glance towards the table showed that Rukia was less surprised, apparently familiar with Urahara's skills.

"Who trained Urahara-san?" The redhead asked Yoruichi as he turned his attention towards her.

"I did of course, he was my Third Seat long before he was my lover."

"Lover?" He repeated with a squeak.

She let out a soft peel of laughter, "Yes, he is my lover. I have only ever trained three people in my lifetime, and they were the only people I felt were worthy of my tutorship. Urahara was the first, we grew up together after all, then came Little Byakuya, and finally Soi-Fon."

"Huh... I thought some of her movements were familiar to Kuchiki Taichou's." He murmured.

"Indeed, my three students learned everything I had to offer them, but over the years they adapted what they knew to better suit their own fighting styles. I have often wondered what it would look like if two of them fought... Being so similar but different at the same time." She grinned mischievously, sweeping her long hair over her shoulder.

Renji nodded in agreement, "You all have that same... Fluidity. Like water, when you move."

"Exactly!" She seemed happy with his analogy, "Only Soi-Fon can use Shunko though. Her reiatsu was the only one significantly similar to my own."

"Figures. The lightning would probably interfere with Taichou's flowers." He muttered.

Yoruichi laughed at that, "Can you imagine?!"

Urahara slowly released the noble, sensing his reiatsu had tempered somewhat, "Byakuya-san... You should know better than to attack out of anger. That behaviour will get you killed."

"Giving my life to save his... Is the least I should be able to do." He winced and rubbed his wrist slightly, glaring at Urahara.

"You feel that strongly?" The blond sighed, noting the nod he got in response. He turned his back on the raven haired noble, tapping his fingers against the tabletop for a long moment, "Very well. If you are truly willing to go to such lengths to bring him back from the precipice... Then, perhaps there is a way."

"Kisuke!" Yoruichi snapped suddenly, all humour gone from her face, "I won't allow you to endanger his life with that."

"It is his choice... Yoruichi-san." The former Taichou peered over at his lover, expression solemn, "He is a grown man, not the boy you used to know. He has his own mind."

"I said no!" Her fists were clenched at her sides.

"What is it?" Byakuya asked, looking between them, hope renewed in his eyes.

"I developed a new Kidō many years ago, to allow the merging of Souls. It permits one Soul entry into another, via their Inner World. It is likely, that at this current moment Kurosaki-san is stuck, trapped or lost within his own Inner World and requires assistance to get back out. I would be sending you in there to find him." He explained, "However, if his body fails while you are inside his mind, or if you are defeated by his Inner World..."

"You both die." Yoruichi hissed.

The blond nodded once at her words, "Which is why, initially, I was unwilling to even suggest it. However, you seem very determined..."

Byakuya tensed, swallowing hard at the implications of attempting something so dangerous, but he knew it was his only option, "I cannot sit back and allow him to die, he deserves better than that after everything he has been through. Please... Use your Kidō, Urahara-san, help me save him."

"Understand the ramifications of this, Byakuya-san. If you die, what will become of your Clan, your Division?"

There was no hesitation when the noble answered, "The Kuchiki Clan will survive, true enough it will be hard to find a suitable heir in my stead, but it is not impossible. And Renji would be a far better Taichou than I have been. I believe in him, and if I die, I will be content to do so, knowing only that I died trying to save someone who has come to mean more to me than I ever expected him to."

"Taichou!" Renji exclaimed.

"Nii-sama!" Rukia said at the same time, neither of them looking happy with his declaration.

"Go to Division Four and inform Unohana Taichou of my plans, Byakuya-san. I will meet you there. Make sure you prepare yourself for anything you might face within his mind. Remember, above all else, he was Aizen's long before he was yours." The blond man met his gaze, there was no playfulness there anymore.

"He doesn't belong to either of us. Ichigo isn't a possession." The noble said bluntly, inclining his head respectfully before he swept out of the cottage, leaving without so much as a backwards glance at his Fukutaichou, or his sister.

Yoruichi bristled, shaking where she stood, "You can't do this Kisuke. You can't send him into that boy's Inner World!"

"He has made his peace, Yoruichi-san... It has to be his choice."

"He will die in there!" She barked, stomping her foot hard on the floor as she glowered at him.

Urahara sighed softly and walked over to her, cupping her face in his hands gently, "You saw how he was... Do you believe he would survive the death of another person he has come to love? He barely coped with the grief of Hisana's death... Kurosaki-san's would destroy him."

The former Taichou of Division Two clenched her teeth, "I need some air." She pushed his hands away and stalked off out of sight.

"What... Was that about?" Rukia asked, sliding off her chair as she approached.

The blond man let out a long huff, taking his hat off to fiddle with the rim of it, "I first created this Kidō when her sister-in-law was attacked by Hollows and was almost killed. She was unconscious for six weeks before her Soul began to give out... So Yoruichi-san's brother went into her Inner World to reclaim her... But her Soul failed while they were entangled. They both died."

"Yoruichi-san... Had a brother?" Renji swallowed.

"Yes, Yūshirō, he was younger than Yoruichi but every bit as kind and gifted. It was Yūshirō who first began developing Shunko, only to find that his reiatsu wasn't entirely right for it, so he taught Yoruichi-san how to use it and they found she was perfect for the technique..." He looked down, "Yoruichi-san... Took it very hard when her brother died. She almost died when she drank herself to oblivion and back, her brother was her entire world. There was nothing I could say or do, to console her loss. I felt like I was to blame for it."

"She's clearly forgiven you though, you wouldn't still be together otherwise, right?" The redhead patted his shoulder gently.

"I wonder about that." The blond smiled weakly, "I've loved that woman since I was ten years old, and I doubt I will ever stop. But... If Byakuya-san dies today I don't think there will be any way back for us."

"This is Nii-sama we are talking about," Rukia folded her arms and lifted her head, "Like he'd die doing something like this!"

"She's right, you know, he really is tenacious." Renji mused.

"He prefers the term 'persistent' actually." The smaller Shinigami smiled wistfully.

"I have a few things I have to set up before I can perform the Kidō. Please make your way to Division Four if you wish to wait there, I will be over soon." Urahara murmured, setting his hat down on the counter, "I will not be long."

Time seemed to move so much slower when he was actively waiting for something to happen, Byakuya paced Ichigo's room with a haphazard grace which was dissimilar to his usual elegance. The ticking of the clock on the wall was as aggravating as it was soothing, reminding him only of how he had to wait with some form of patience for Urahara to arrive.

Just when Byakuya was about to find out exactly what was taking so long, that the door to Ichigo's room opened. He looked around, unable to keep the desperation from seeping onto his face as he saw Unohana, Urahara and Yoruichi enter the space. He briefly saw Rukia and Renji sitting together in the waiting room, and he found himself glad that they had each other to rely on.

"I will be keeping Kurosaki-san as stable as I can while you do this, Kuchiki Taichou." Unohana smiled weakly, clearly still uncomfortable with the plan he had relayed to her upon his arrival.

"My thanks." He bowed his head and swallowed back his nerves, looking towards his former teacher and the man beside her, "You are sure you can do this, Urahara-san?"

"Yes." The blond nodded, trying to ignore how tense Yoruichi was beside him, "Please settle yourself on the bed next to Kurosaki-san, as close as you are able, and make sure to rest your head against his."

The noble hesitated for only a moment, and then he slid his arms out of his haori, passing it to Yoruichi to look after. He met her gaze for what felt like an hour, there were so many emotions swirling in those glimmering orbs.

He'd hated her for so long, despised her teaching method, her frivolous nature, her apparently lack of respect for her position in society. But the truth was far simpler. He didn't hate her at all, he envied her freedom, her ability not to care about how others perceived her.

"Yoruichi Shihōin." He said softly, his tone taking her by surprise, "When I get back... I'd be honoured if you would join me for a game of tag."

Her eyes widened slightly before a bright smile crept across her face, not quite hiding her anxiety but coming close, "It has been a while since I played against anyone of any real skill. You had best not underestimate me, Little Byakuya."

"I would never do you the dishonour." He offered her a smile, a real smile before he turned and climbed up onto the bed next to his sleeping strawberry, "You would likely find Ichigo an entertaining target for your games as well, he is almost faster than I am."

"Well then," she folded her arms around his haori, "You'd best bring him back to play then."

Laying on his side, the noble couldn't resist inhaling Ichigo's unique scent, while muffled by the sterile stench of antiseptic, it was no less comforting. He allowed an arm to drape carefully over the younger man's waist, shuffling as close as he could as he dropped his head onto his shoulder, making sure their heads touched as Urahara had instructed.

The nervousness was growing now, even more so when he watched Urahara remove his green overcoat, revealing a small blade and cutting into his palm, drawing blood. The blond was focused, the blood acting as ink as he scrawled across his bared arms, countless squiggles and symbols coiling up to his elbows. The blond drew closer, hands outstretched as if reaching for something far out of his grasp.

"Ye lord! Mask of distance and space, all initiations, swell of hearts, ye who bears the name of Man! On the barrier of light, bind a twin lotus. In the depths of our hearts, hear the demands of the heavens. Bakudō 101: Māji!"

Brilliant green light leapt from his palms, illuminating the room in an almost blinding spark. As he lowered his arms, steam rising softly from the smudged markings on his skin, he winced as his knees buckled, being caught by the firm arms of his partner. He brought Yoruichi in close as she trembled, their eyes both falling towards the bed.

Byakuya had slumped, his expression slack as he drifted. It was up to him now.

"Good luck, Byakuya-san." Urahara breathed before unconsciousness stole him away.