Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Author's note: Sorry this one took so long! It was a crazy week at work followed by a very family-involved weekend. But the new one is up and next chapter shouldn't take too long. Thanks everyone for reading! :D

Chapter 4: Contact

Uryuu was so lost in his thoughts about Inoue that he didn't even see his father sitting in the living room when he got home.

"It's about time, Uryuu," his deep voice called.

Uryuu froze, the tone in his father's voice meant trouble. He turned and fixed his eyes on his father waiting for the impending verbal blows.

"Where do you think you were last night?" his father started "Is that the sort of behavior a respectable high school student should have?"

Uryuu bit back his responses. He knew it was much better to deal with his father coolly and avoid getting emotional. "I was at a friend's house. I fell asleep, I'm sorry."

His father lowered his eyebrows. "You've been visiting friends a lot, recently. A University bound kid should be home studying for his exams."

He knew that he was being tested, and he bit the side of his cheek to keep from talking. Despite being the best student in his class, his adventures in Soul Society and Hueco Mundo had made up Uryuu's mind on the subject. Uryuu wanted his primary job to be that of a Quincy—any other job would be just be to pay bills. How could he see the souls suffering at the hands of Hollows and give up fighting them? He would carry the name The Last Quincy with pride, and see that it meant something. But he knew that stating such sentiments to his father would end unfavorably.

Instead, Uryuu said, "A friend is having some trouble, I'm trying to help her."

"Yes, I know all about your little friend," his father's voice dripped with scorn, and Uryuu's eyes went wide. How could he know? "The kids from your school visit my hospital too. I know you've been getting close with that Inoue girl."

Uryuu let out the breath he was holding. His father didn't really know the whole situation—he'd count his small blessings later. Eyes narrowed, he listened to his father continue.

"I thought I told you to stop involving yourself with shinigami and their allies!" The volume of his voice was increasing, "When you came back from that stupid trip last summer, all depressed because you wasted the very powers you hung your pride on, I helped you get those powers back. It matters to me not if you have powers or not. I could see losing your powers had distracted you, and knew that without your powers you'd never be able to focus on classes. So I helped you re-gain your center. I even looked the other way when you disobeyed me and went off to save your friend, knowing if something happened her you'd never be able to concentrate.

"But I thought if you came back, you'd finally listen to reason. You'd be able to focus on your school and live a good life! And yet again you betray me, your own father! I've told you before Uryuu, you have no talent. Give up these children's games and focus on something you have a chance at, like academics. And stop hanging around with that shinigami girl!"

A torrent of words and retorts flew through Uryuu's mind, each nastier than the last, but he knew saying them was futile. So he gritted his teeth and said the only thing that didn't seem blatantly flippant. "She's not a shinigami."

"Isn't she?" Ryuuken laughed now, rubbing his low opinions in his son's face. "Don't kid yourself boy. Soul Society is already fawning all over her. The moment she expires she's as good as inducted into the ways of the shinigami. Someone with that much reiatsu as a human, will inevitably become a shinigami." Uryuu's face went blank, he'd never thought of it like that before.

Of course, this only set his father into more fits of laughter. "I can see those thoughts turning now. 'Does that mean, that I'll be a shinigami one day?' You'd like that wouldn't you? Being accepted by those arrogant, filthy shinigami…

Ryuuken got really close to his son's face and began to whisper, his hot breath falling on Uryuu's face. "Do you know what happens to Quincy's when they die? Nothing! There is no Soul burial, no invitation to Soul Society. The shinigami pass their judgment harshly. The price for saving souls and ridding the world of hollows? An eternity of walking the earth alone! Or worse…"

"Worse?" despite himself, Uryuu looked up at his father's face.

"Many Quincies, wandering the world dead and despondent lose hope and become hollows themselves. Then of course they are still denied purification and left to be devoured in Hueco Mundo. They think it is fair as Quincies eliminate hollows instead of purifying them. That is you fate Quincy!"

Uryuu shut his eyes and shook his head. "No!" It wasn't true! It couldn't be true!

The patronizing laughter of his father rang out again. "Wake up Uryuu! Have you ever found those loathsome shinigami to be compassionate? Bureaucratic to the last. They care only for their laws. And now," his father stood up and became serious all of a sudden, "throw out your Quincy robes and grow up. Draw your bow no more. It is not worth risking an eternity for it, when you've no talent. Find something you might make a future with. So long as you live in my house, you are not a Quincy. I've no intention of housing losers here. The next time you draw your bow in my house will be the last."

Though Uryuu burned with anger, he knew the conversation was over. With his last words, Ryuuken turned and left the small living room, leaving Uryuu to his thoughts. In a somewhat dazed manner Uryuu walked to his room, took out his Quincy robs and laid them on his bed. It was almost too much to take in at once.

So far whenever one of his friends was in trouble, the rest banded together and risked everything to bring them back. Uryuu trusted them with more than just his life. But would the same be true if they were dead? If they knew his soul was not at peace would they still try to save him? Or would he be out of sight out of mind?

He was having a hard time conceptualizing death these days. Rukia was dead. Renji, Ikkaku, and Yumichika were all dead. But their souls were alive in Soul Society fighting for the balance of the living world. But when he died, he'd be a ghost forever. Unless he gave up his mantra and became something he was not.

Eternity. It was such a big concept, that he could hardly even imagine it. Would he walk the earth forever, powerless in the world around him? Finally unable to fight for himself, would he be consumed by hollows? Would he succumb to the baser instincts and become a hollow himself?

Could he give it up if he tried? His robe lay there on the bed… it had become part of him. His bow and arrows actually were part of him. How could he give them up? It would take away his identity completely. Could he sit by and watch his friends be threatened and hurt without trying to help?

But his father was serious, if he saw Uryuu using the bow again, he would attack him. Uryuu wondered if his father would kill him or force him to give up his powers again. Presently he couldn't think of which would be worse.

In a wave of frustration he threw himself at the bed punching the mattress as hard as he could. It wasn't fair. His father didn't even want to be a Quincy and yet he was so much stronger than Uryuu. It would take years for Uryuu to become that powerful and he couldn't do it at all if he never trained. More than anything, he just wished his father would stay out of his life.

A persistent tapping brought Uryuu's attention to the window and he was shocked at what he saw.

"Inoue…"

The red head made a quick sign meaning that he should open the window, and in the shock of seeing her there unexpected he didn't even question it. It wasn't until she was halfway through his open window that he came to his senses and started helping her in.

"What are you doing here? It's almost two in the morning, you should be asleep. I didn't even notice you coming!"

Inoue merely shrugged. "I've learned to mask my reiatsu, so it isn't noticeable. It's probably the reason no one else realized that I was bothered before. I mean you noticed based on how I was acting more so than what I felt like right?"

All he could do was nod. It seemed that Inoue was good at surprising him with her abilities. He just watched her as she continued.

"Usually your reiatsu is masked too unless you are entering battle, but I felt it tonight. It was pouring out of you. I was afraid you might be in trouble."

Uryuu sighed. "Sorry Inoue. I didn't mean to worry you. I'm not in trouble, it's just my father."

They sat in silence for a few minutes before she spoke again. "You know you aren't the only one who can tell when someone is upset. Maybe you should try talking about it. It certainly did help me!"

Uryuu was not the type of guy to need protecting or to rely on others. He was the sort to stand with his bow risking his life and limbs for someone else. He didn't need to have people help him or save him. But sitting there looking into Inoue's clear gray eyes, he found that those inhibitions were quickly fading away. Not only did he feel like he could tell her, but part of him actually wanted to. It took him a few minutes of internal arguments, before he launched into a brief explanation.

She sat quietly and listened to him recount his evening. The more he said the more he seemed to have to say, and Inoue struggled to follow the many tangents of his speech. But finally she had the whole story what his father said and what it meant for Uryuu, about the ridiculous demands. And between the lines of his speech she read the sadness of being left behind by his friends and being excluded from what he felt was his job and responsibility—protecting Karakura town.

Uryuu could hardly believe it when he talked so much pouring his emotions out and unloading, letting someone else help him for a change. It made him feel vulnerable and comforted at the same time. For the most part he kept his eyes fixed on the carpet as he spoke, but when he was done he looked up into her eyes and to the compassion that lay behind them. His breath caught in his throat and after opening himself up so he could do nothing but wait for her to speak.

When Inoue did speak, her voice was soft and calm, "Ishida, if I did become a shinigami when I died, the very first thing I would do when I came to this world, would be to find you and release your spirit. Then you could go to soul society and not have to wander the earth forever." Her smile was reassuring and he felt himself calm a little bit. "Even if it were against the laws of soul society."

He was touched. It was a nice gesture, and it almost made up for the fact that his own father rejected his true nature. He didn't realize he had "spaced out" until he noticed that Inoue was talking, "… and it's a big place, so I would say that when we both get there we look for Ganju's house. We can recognize it easily, and I think they would be willing to let us stay until we figure something out. And…"

"Inoue," he interrupted causing her to look up at him with a curious expression. "Thank you."

She didn't say anything, but she smiled and placed her hand over his larger one. After a long moment he pulled away. "But my father, what do I do? He's unreasonable. There's no getting through to him. It's his way or no way. And I can't protect or help you without my powers. I'm just a hindrance without them. I can't even protect myself."

The simplicity of her answer shocked him. "So leave."

It took him a bit to process that. "What? How does that help?"

"Your father said, 'So long as you live in my house…' so leave."

He stared at her wide-eyed for a while before he found his words. "But where would I go? What would I do?"

"You stay with me." The finality of her statement made him feel like her mind was already made up. "I have an extra room and my relatives have already paid off the house. They will take care of the bills until I can graduate and get a job. But you spend so much time there already. And it will make your job of protecting me easier if you are there all the time." She smiled slightly and Uryuu got the impression that she was teasing him. "Your father is inadequate. So leave. It's what Sora and I did. You can't live without being a Quincy, and he can live with you being one."

Uryuu shook his head. He knew that one day he'd have to leave. Living in this house once he graduated would be impossible. But now? Could he really leave now?

He looked around the room, at his school stuff, his clothes, pictures and artifacts of his childhood, his Quincy robes, and finally at Inoue's face. Her mouth was set and her eyes, determined.

"Would that really… that would be okay?"

Her mouth softened into a smile. "Of course, promises go both ways. What good would it be to be there for me if I wasn't there for you?"

"I… I'll get a job. I don't want charity."

"I knew you wouldn't. But it isn't charity. Don't worry as kind as it may seem part of it is me being selfish. You need a place to stay, and I feel safer when you are around. It works out."

Slowly, he nodded his head, eyes casting about the room again. "Yeah," he would do it. He would leave. He'd keep his powers and use them. Live the life he was meant to live—really be the last Quincy. His childhood house would be left behind along with any hope that his father might one day be proud that he was a Quincy. It was time to go.

And hour later and Uryuu had the stuff that he needed packed up in a large duffle bag. It was mostly school and regular clothes, some pictures and things from his room he would like to keep, as well as his Quincy stuff. Another small bag full of schoolbooks was slung over his shoulder. His bathroom took an additional ten minutes to pack up and then they were on their way. On his still-made bed he left a note stating this was his choice in life and that he wasn't coming back.

As he lay in what used to be Inoue's brother's room, he stared at the ceiling wondering exactly when his life had become so complicated. What he realized before he fell asleep was that he didn't regret it at all.

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In the morning, Uryuu was feeling a bit unsure about his decision to go out on his own. Dressed in his old shirt and sweat pants, he ventured out into the living room. He didn't make it very far before a door opened up and he saw something that made him blush.

Coming out of the bathroom towel-clad and dripping wet was Inoue. Uryuu looked away quickly, but even closing his eyes could not get the image out of his head. "Sorry," he breathed and turned back toward her brother's room—no his room.

"No, it's alright. I'm sorry. But I put a towel in there so you can get a shower. I'll make some breakfast."

"Right." Uryuu kept his back turned until he heard her door click shut. He never stopped to think that living with a girl could ultimately be embarrassing. Wondering if it was too late to take it all back and run home before the note was found, Uryuu pushed himself to get a shower.

Fortunately, the hot water washed away most of his unease if not all of his embarrassment. Things were fine, they would just take some getting used to was all.

When he stepped out of the shower, he could smell the food coming from the kitchen and it made his stomach growl. It was slightly embarrassing to see Inoue again after this morning, but the moment passed quickly. They ate and made jokes, and Uryuu realized that he felt more at home here than he'd ever expected.

There was a lot to go over that first day, and they spent most of the morning in discussion about how they should act at school and who should do what chores when. They decided not to tell anyone about the recent move so that they didn't cause a commotion. Eventually, they'd tell their close friends, but they were in no hurry to share their secrets—which seemed to be piling up as of late.

"Inoue, I really can't thank you enough for letting me stay here."

"Don't worry about it." Her smile was infectious as always and they both forgot during the course of the day that there was school tomorrow. Of course after nine, Uryuu remembered that it was Sunday and he rushed them to get ready for sleep so they wouldn't be tired in school the next day.

Inoue giggled, "Do you know how long it's been since someone told me it was time to go to bed?"

Uryuu smiled back. He was really beginning to like this arrangement. That night he had no problem falling asleep.

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A few hours later, Uryuu sat straight up in bed completely alert. Something had ripped him from a deep sleep but he had no idea what. He sat listening for a few seconds trying to figure out what had alarmed him so. There it was again! A noise. Was there someone in the house?

He stood and crept silently to his door to listen. The noise was getting stronger. Opening the door carefully so as not to make any noise he continued to sneak into the hall as he listened for the noise. And suddenly his heart leapt into his throat the noise, it was coming from Inoue's room!

Was she in trouble? How had he not detected a foreign reiatsu in the house? No longer bothering to be quiet, he threw open her door and rushed into her room calling, "Inoue!"

And he stopped short in his tracks. No one but Inoue was in the room. She was thrashing about in her sleep and covered in sweat. The noise was coming from her. The fierce look on his face was replaced with one full of concern and he crossed the room to the sleeping girl.

"Inoue," he said softly and he gently shook her shoulders, and tried to rouse her, "Inoue wake up, it's a dream a bad dream."

She kept thrashing, despite his hold of her, but now she seemed more alert, like she was fighting for consciousness. He called her name one more time and he was about to thing she wouldn't wake up when she screamed. It was a terrible noise, blood curling and it shook him to his core. He hardly had time to react to the scream as the girl shot bolt upright and clawed at his shirt.

She was batting at him with her hands and her voice was fading in and out a strange muttering of half-words he couldn't make out. So he struggled to keep his hold on her slippery shoulders and kept whispering to her, "Inoue, it's alright it's me, Ishida. You've had a bad dream it's okay I'm here now. It's me."

Eventually her hands and heavy breathing slowed as she came to, and she collapsed into his chest sobbing. "Ishida," she said so quietly he could barely hear her.

Not sure what to do now that she was awake and no longer seemed a threat to herself, Uryuu patted the back of her head awkwardly. "Shh, it's alright. It was just a bad dream is all."

When Inoue finally pulled away and looked up at him, her expression was tired and worn. It was a painful expression and Uryuu felt his chest tighten at her distress. His hands were still tangled in here hair and now that she was sitting a little further from him, he realized that his arms were around her. He pulled them back and she was able to straighten up all the way.

"I'm sorry I worried you," she muttered. "I didn't realize I was so loud when I had the nightmares."

Uryuu narrowed his eyes, "You mean you've had them before?" She nodded slowly. "How often?"

Her voice was barely a whisper, "Every night."

Snippets of conversations from the past couple weeks floated back through Uryuu's mind: Inoue asking him to stay later and later, her telling him she slept well when he was there, her shrugging at his suggestion that she should have been asleep when she had come to his house. "You haven't been sleeping well have you?"

Red hair flew around her face as her head shook from side to side. "How long has this been going on?"

"Since we got back. Ishida, I'm so tired!"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Uryuu was slightly put off that she didn't even mention it to him.

"I didn't want to worry you."

He sighed. "Well it's better to tell me first than have me find out like this."

"I guess you're right," she shrugged. "Ishida?"

"Yeah?" he answered.

She yawned, "You look different without your glasses."

His hand automatically flew up to the bridge of his nose, but there was nothing there to push up. "Well I don't usually sleep in them!" he said tersely making Inoue giggle. "I take it you're alright for now?"

"I think, I think so." After a pause she added softly, "Ishida?"

"Yes?" he responded wondering what sort of comment about his sleepy looks she'd pick up on next.

Her voice had grown really tired again. "Would maybe stay here with me for a while. Until I fall asleep?"

And so it was that Uryuu pulled her reading chair up to her bed and sat down obligingly. At least she was smiling.

"Goodnight, Ishida."

"Night, Inoue."

He watched as her eyes closed and he knew she was trying to sleep. It felt awkward to stare at her while she was sleeping so he cast his eyes about the room looking at the many items she had there. The small room was full of warmth, that was the only way he could describe it. Inoue surrounded herself with fond memories and things that reminded her of friends.

After a few moments, he felt something warm slip into his hand. Looked down at his hand that was entwined with Inoue's now. Glancing up at her face her eyes were still closed as if she had been asleep. Silly girl. He thought, and he squeezed her hand. She sighed in response which meant she wasn't asleep yet. Without letting go of her hand he stretched his legs out in front of his chair. She'd be asleep soon enough—he'd go back to his room in a half hour maybe.

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AN: Hope you liked it! I am starting the new chapter pronto! I wanted to include more in this one, but I thought it was about time to update. ^_^ so more fun next chapter! 3