Ishida wasn't in school
He hadn't been attending for a whole month now. No one had really noticed the absence of the seemingly transparent pupil, especially since he hardly spoke out loud, or to anyone in that matter. Ichigo noticed. Each day he would glance to the second row, his eyes roaming from Orihime's seat to Sado's and right too Ishida. He would get angry at himself, remembering what Ishida had last told him:
"And I'm not weak now, so leave me alone!"
Ichigo shook his head, ruffling his already messy orange hair. He smiled to himself in false reassurance that the Quincy would be fine all on his own. If there was a hollow, he would kill it. If there was an incident and Ishida got hurt...
"What the Hell!" Ichigo shouted, standing up from his seat; the chair fell sideways, hitting the floor in a loud clash. Everyone stared at the mad-man, the former Ichigo Kurosaki. Ichigo panted, angry at the fact that his mind continuously went to the worst possible explanations for Ishida's absence.
Or was it the thought of something actually happening that angered him?
Ichigo was confused beyond doubt--what was going on with him?! There was a simple and logical solution to all of this: see Ishida. Once he saw that the Quincy was safe and sound, he wouldn't worry and thus not have to think about him as much. It was full-proof!
Ichigo ran out of the classroom, discarding the fallen chair as nothing less than an excuse to leave. "Don't feel good--be back for homework...!" Ichigo shouted, dragging his bag over his shoulder as he burst out the door.
.oO0Oo.
Ishida lay on his bed. His mind was full of curious thoughts and things so strange he couldn't have been Ishida. He was thinking so much that his thoughts collided into a strange concoction of hollows, Ichigo, and--
no...
Ishida shook his head. He wouldn't think about it. Bad enough he had to always be thinking of him but he had to get stronger. He had to regain his power. After all, power leads back to his destiny, and his destiny would have to be fulfilled. Power, of all the thing in reach, was the only thing Ishida could actually obtain. And then after Hichigo's appearance...It was the only thing Ishida wanted; Power.
Power...
Such a word wasn't big enough for it's true meaning. It was in the eye of every Shinigami, every Espada, Every Hollow. It should have been gold plated, embossed in diamonds and hidden in a cave in the middle of the earth... Power kills; Power is killed for. Power is evil, yet even the good seek it...
Ishida's thoughts became one final question. Every fiber of his energy was being spent trying, but failing, to answer that one question:
Is it worth it?
Ishida shook his head, body responding before mind. It wasn't worth it. He will always be a Quincy, He will always be a human. He would never be a power grabbing minion for someone else, much less his deranged father. He had his original powers back, but what was power? He was almost killed by shinigami, almost killed by hollows...
What power did he have to start with?
Ishida got up when a knock on the door startled his thoughts. He made his way to the door and opened it, only to try and slam it. Ichigo grabbed the door and forced it open. Ishida shook, frightened for a split second. "What do you want?" He asked, voice hardening.
"What are you doing? Why aren't you at school." Ichigo asked, slightly embarrassed at the intrusion.
"It's none of your concern. Now go back from where you came from."
"What did I say about talking to me that way?" Ishida shook, memory not fading." You're powerless right now, aren't you? So I can do whatever I want..."
"GET AWAY FROIM ME!" Ishida shouted, shoving Ichigo away. Ichigo was stunned for a moment before responding.
"Ishida! what happened!" Ichigo shouted, reaching out to help Ishida.
"I SAID GET OUT! DON'T TOUCH ME!" Ishida opened his eyes, tears streaming down his pale cheeks. Ichigo gulped, unsure of what was happening. "G-Get out!" Ishida shouted, pushing Ichigo. Once Ichigo was at the door, Ishida gave one strong shove and slammed the door. He slid down the back of the door, face buried in his knees.
Power. We all want it, in one form or another. In the end of the day, whether we side with the light or in the darkness, we have to live with our decisions. Will we be the same person tomorrow? Or will our quest for power lead us astray?
Will we let others help us, or will we loose ourselves in the scour for power?