A/N: Special Thanks to all who reviewed last chapter! Your reviews keep me going, and I appreciate them a lot!
Guest (#1) Thank you! I try, but Horror/Angst/Hurt-Comfort fics are where I excel at. I'm just glad you like it!
Lady Ginoza, You are indeed correct! Shiro never goes down without a fight, but neither does Ichigo. I fear all this may have done is prolong the confrontation for another time.
Axelkin, It's okay, I understand. I've done the same thing too at times. Haha. Apologies for not having Chad in this chapter; guess you'll have to wait for the next one to decide if you want to slap him or not, eh?
Gleca, I assume you mean 'didn't' break under the strain of the amulet? Either way, he's not completely broken yet, but he's going to have a few after effects...
Anna, There's still a bit of a ride to go. I'm thinking this story might be around 40+ chapters, so hang in there; things get better!
Isame Kuroda, Yes, Chad knew, and the reason why he didn't say anything comes out next chapter. Luckily for everyone, it was regular Ichigo, not Shiro, in control when Chad took off his amulet. And I've only touched on somewhat what the three of them were arguing about, but hopefully a bit more comes out within the next few chapters on that, as well.
Guest (#2) Thank you! Chad is someone I've always seen as the strong, silent type, trying to be there for his buddy, Ichigo. Glad to know I kept him in character for you!
Baerbelhaddrell, Yes, the amulet effected both of them. Ichigo's going to be wondering why, and in a few chapters, we're going to get to see a confrontation with Urahara. Yes, Chad knew, and the reason he said nothing comes out next chapter. I do appreciate the concrit on the chapter; it's not my favorite either, but I did the best with Chad's character that I could, and it does play in to the bigger plot. Thank you for your continued support!
Storm of Spirits, Haha, thank you so much! Good to see a new face; I hope you'll continue with the story as I churn out new chapters. I try to update once or twice a week, so check back often, and I hope to see you again!
~.X.~ ~.X.~ ~.X.~ (Uryuu's POV)
The moment he heard footsteps he scrambled backward, away from a startled Ryuuken, stumbling and almost falling over something in the middle of the floor behind him. Chancing a glance backward only served to launch him back toward the couch at the sudden orange that flooded his vision. It took his mind long enough to kick in, to remind him that Ichigo had been there before his struggle with Ryuuken, that whomever the footsteps belonged to had charged through the door and into the living room. His eyes widened when once more, orange filled the room, and he felt his breathing hitch.
There was two Ichigos? His sudden panic was struck from him as he realized this orange hair had a rather large chest that a normal male wouldn't have; especially not Ichigo. It was only upon that realization that he calmed slightly, recognizing Orihime finally as he caught his breath. He watched her run to Ichigo's side, leaning down upon him to check his vitals; Uryuu's hand twitched, and he desperately wanted to scream at her to get away from Ichigo, but somehow... Ryuuken beat him to it.
"Step away from that abomination. If he is dead, he is of no consequence to any of us. If he is not... he soon will be."
"How could you say such a thing?!"
Orihime seemed aghast, standing from Ichigo's side and moving in front of him to shield him with her body even as Ryuuken stood as well, at least half a foot taller than her. It was odd, seeing Orihime looking so fierce, and for a single second, he wondered if she would have ever would have tried to defend him from Ichigo if their roles were reversed. His chest stung slightly as he came to the realization that she probably wouldn't have; no one would have. Why would they defend him from anyone? When had they ever done so, anyway?
"How could that boy take advantage of a powerless Quincy, is the question you should ask. How could 'He'."
Uryuu felt another stab in his heart, this one a little more painful than the last. Powerless... Ryuuken didn't speak a lie, but it felt more degrading being said, talking like he wasn't sitting there. He could almost feel the tears prickling at the insides of his eyes again, and though resolving to hold them back was getting harder and harder, he did so anyway. It would do him no good to cry, and would just give his father another reason to insult him further. He heard the second pair of footsteps seconds before Rukia skidded through the doorway, huffing and trying to catch her breath, and drawing not only Uryuu's attention, but the attention of the other two in the room as well.
Another person to see his shame; was there no end to his torment?
"What have you done?" Rukia's cry came, and Uryuu couldn't help but flinch.
She had been the one to show him the most kindness through it all, but of course she only had eyes for Ichigo. It was Ichigo who looked close to death; not the person who actually was close to death. Or had been. Or is. Uryuu felt his fingers curl into fists even as Ryuuken's words vibrated through his very core.
"I will not repeat this again; I have done nothing. Yet. Though this boy does deserve death for his crimes against my kin."
"Kin?! You can't even call him your son?!" It was more of a shriek than a cry, and it was then that Uryuu stopped listening.
The conversation wouldn't go anywhere he wanted to hear it go from here, he knew that for a fact. He would denounce the broken and vile excuse for a Quincy in front of them, and tell them every reason why he did so. He knew it for a fact. Still, the knowledge made his entire body tremble; he'd worked so hard to keep his father out of any kind of conversation in school and with his allies. He'd tried so hard never to mention the man, think about him... and now that they knew, they would find out just how horribly he had failed his entire life. They would learn what a disgrace he was, and they would wish Ichigo had just out and out killed him. He knew this for a fact.
It took all of his focus to force the heated words floating around him in one ear and out the other, but it was Ryuuken's booming voice that startled him into forgetting and listening, his muscles twitching involuntarily.
"You will not insult me in my own home! My SON," the word was spat out in an almost sarcastic sounding manner, "was raped by this viscous excuse for a Shinigami, and you expect ME to take the fall for it? Are all Shinigami devoid of intelligence these days?"
Uryuu flinched horribly, his cheeks flushing with shame. He dared not look up to see Orihime's reaction, nor Rukia's, though it twisted the pain in his chest to hear Orihime's gasp. There went any social life he might have had a chance at getting back, right through his fingertips. His nails bit into his palms as he clenched his fists tighter, shaking visibly.
'Block it out. Don't listen. I don't want to know.' he silently recited to himself, focusing on the syllables of each word just to maintain focus, but it didn't help.
Their words cut through him like a knife, leaving him bare and exposed and vulnerable, as if he hadn't been already. So when more footfalls found his ears, it was a welcome distraction to turn at who else was invading his home unannounced.
Until he saw the orange.
His entire body shuddered with fear, and he felt the scream rising in his throat along with bile. He moved further into the back of the couch, curling his arms around him as his heart tried to pound its way out of his freshly mended ribs, his eyes wide and focused on the orange draped over Chad's wide shoulders. It took him a few minutes to realize the second Ichigo wasn't moving, but even once he did, it made no difference. There were two Ichigo's, and they were going to kill everybody. Just because they weren't moving now didn't mean they wouldn't be in a few minutes.
He watched as Chad walked behind the girls, standing in front of the first Ichigo, and kneeled by him. He laid the second Ichigo down next to the first and looked around the room; it was seconds after their eyes met, and with a frantic hope that Chad would be different, he begged with his eyes to take them away. To get rid of them, to stop them, to keep them from hurting him... anything.
He wasn't even sure why he had hoped for anything.
Within a few more seconds, Chad had turned away from him, none-the-wiser to any of his internal turmoil or his pleas, leaving the pain in his chest to grow even larger. It felt like there was a hole forming, not unlike a Hollow's hole, but somehow more painful and where his heart should have been. His entire chest was constricting, making breathing even a struggle with every shred of hope or dignity being stripped of him. He was spiraling, he knew it; but even the knowledge couldn't seem to save him. No one cared, just like no one had ever cared for him. The only person who actually did was long since dead, with no way to comfort him in his times of need.
How was he supposed to continue on when no one gave a shit what happened to him? He could feel the tears prickling the sides of his eyes: he could feel madness slowly taking over his once rational side. Before he could let his thoughts run further, he heard the sound of coughing and choking, the voice sending chills up his spine like no other could. Even without speaking, he could recognize that voice anywhere from his waking and sleeping nightmares. God, what had Chad done?
He could just see Ichigo springing up, taking out Chad as the closest threat to him, moving on to killing Rukia or Orihime next. His chest clenched harder around the painful hole at that last thought, but the flood of images wouldn't stop for pain. Ryuuken might have a chance against Ichigo, but why would he try to stop him? Let Ichigo destroy him, it's not like he was worth anything in the first place. He wasn't powerful, he wasn't good at anything, he wasn't a son. He wasn't worth it.
He noticed suddenly he was rocking back and forth, and wild eyes flew around the couch, trying to figure out the source of the movement, only to realize that he was the one rocking himself. As horrible as it was, he couldn't stop himself. His throat seemed to be on the verge of closing up, the pain in his chest growing to the point his hand clenched at his shirt over his heart, trying to somehow contain it. Ichigo had to kill him. Had to put him out of his misery.
But he was never going to, and the knowledge only freaked Uryuu out more. He would live with this pain, this suffering, this madness for his entire life. It would drive him past the brink of crazy and back several times over; it would break his body, his spirit, his mind, and his soul until there was nothing left and then Ichigo would break him even further. There was no escape.
He felt a hand come down on his shoulder and without looking up, he knew in his heart it was Ichigo. His entire body reacted violently, shoving Ichigo backward as he sprang upward, running on the couch to the opposite side of the living room. His legs took him where they wanted to; he had no thought of where he was going, had no mind for those behind him who called his name; had no room for anything but panic and the want to escape. He took the stairs three at a time, pulling a muscle in his leg in doing so. The pain was startling, but not crippling, thanks to everything he had endured before. He reached the top of the stairs in record time, sweating profusely and panting, having a hard time catching his breath, but he didn't stop moving.
He was in his room with the door shut and locked behind him, backing away from it before his legs finally gave out, sending him crashing down on his ass. He stared heavily at the door, waiting for the obvious footfalls that would come in a few seconds, signifying Ichigo having given chase.
Those footsteps never came, and Uryuu was left in his room, alone.
A/N: So not my longest chapter, but it's been a while since we've had a full chapter from Uryuu's point of view. Next chapter will be part Uryuu, part Chad, finishing up that loose end there. ~ Sorry you all had to wait so long for this chapter, been a bit going on; had my birthday yesterday, and it was awesome! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and again, my apologies for not updating sooner. See you next time!