I own nothing
After they left the hospital, Isshin decided to drive by a restaurant and pick up something for lunch. Once he did that, he drove them home. When they reached the Kurosaki clinic and home, Isshin grabbed the food, his keys and Ichigo's medicine and brought them inside, despite Ichigo insisting that he can carry something.
"Here you go," said Isshin, placing a bag at Ichigo's spot at the table before sitting down with his own. "Eat."
Ichigo frowned at his father but sat down and opened up the bag that contained his lunch. It was a bowl of hot soup. He took out the bowl and the spoon and began to eat. As he ate, Isshin watched him while eating his own food. But Ichigo finished eating quickly, having only eaten a quarter of his food.
"I'm going to bed," Ichigo muttered as he stood up.
Isshin frowned.
"Ichigo…" he started.
The teenager stopped him, irritation radiating from the boy.
"I honestly don't give a shit if I need to eat more, Goat Face," the teen interrupted, snapping. "Just be happy that I ate that much. I'm going to bed."
Then, the orange haired boy began to walk away but was quickly stopped by his father, who had stood up immediately and grabbed the boy's arm.
"Ichigo, you need to eat," Isshin told him in a worried tone. "It'll help keep your strength up."
Ichigo gave his father his trademark scowl before ripping his arm out of his grasp.
"I. Am. Tired," the teen growled. "I'm going to go to sleep. That's what you wanted me to do right? Get as much rest as I can?"
Then, Ichigo turned around and stomped up the stairs to his room while Isshin watched with concern and worry in his eyes. He sighed before grabbing the bag that contained Ichigo's medicine and taking out the bottle as well as grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. Isshin went upstairs and found his son getting into bed.
"I'm not hungry," the boy snapped, pulling his covers roughly over him and turning away from his father.
"I know," said Isshin quietly, like he's talking to a spooked animal. "I thought since you were going to bed, you might as well take your medicine that the doctor prescribed."
The teen sat up as Isshin walked over and handed him the pills and water bottle. Ichigo took the pills and water bottle, opening and shaking out a couple of pills before popping them into his mouth, chasing them down with water. After placing the bottles on the bedside table, Ichigo laid down and pulled the covers over him.
Isshin sighed.
"Sleep well," he said.
Then, he left the room to let Ichigo sleep. He sighed again.
"He needs to eat," he muttered to himself as he walked down the stairs. "That might help that temper of his."
While Isshin was used to Ichigo's bad temper, it still didn't excuse his behavior towards him. He was going to talk to him about it but he decided to let it go for now since the boy was getting the rest he needs and took the prescribed medicine. Once he got downstairs, Isshin started on the house chores. He did the chores until his two daughters returned home from school.
"Hello girls!" Isshin greeted cheerfully despite his worry for Ichigo when his girls entered the Kurosaki home. "How was school?"
"How's Ichi?" Karin asked, ignoring the question altogether as she placed her bag down by the door.
"Yeah, how's Ichi?" Yuzu asked, worry in her voice as she did the same.
The older man sighed at the question and walked over to them.
"Well, it turns out that he has a moderate case of the flu," he answered them. "The doctor prescribed a stronger medication for him." Isshin looked over at the clock. "Which he needs to take right now," he continued, looking back at his girls. "Do you think you two can convince Ichigo to eat the rest of his soup and take his medicine?"
The girls looked at each other, deciding something silently, before looking back at their father.
"I think we can," said Yuzu, nodding.
Isshin nodded before going back and heating up the soup. Once it was done, he brought the steaming bowl over to them.
"His medicine is on his bedside table," said Isshin, handing the bowl to Yuzu. "If he's asleep, see if you can wake him up. Gently."
He said the last part to Karin, knowing that she would either shake his shoulders roughly or shout him awake. Karin rolled her eyes.
"Don't worry Dad," she said, turning towards the stairs. "You won't hear any screaming."
Then, she began to walk towards them, Yuzu following her.
"And just to warn you, he's been in a bad mood since we've returned home from the hospital," Isshin called.
Yuzu winced at that information as they climbed the stairs.
"You don't think Ichi will yell at us," she said nervously to Karin. "Do you?"
Karin shrugged.
"Who knows," she answered. "If he does, we yell back."
Yuzu frowned.
"We can't do that," said the light brown haired girl. "He's sick."
"He can't be too sick if he feels up to yelling at us," Karin replied.
"But still," said Yuzu as approached Ichigo's bedroom door. "No yelling. It'll make him worse."
Karin sighed but nodded while Yuzu gently knocked on his door.
"Ichi?" she called.
There was no response. Yuzu raised her hand to knock again when a coughing fit suddenly could be heard from the outside. It didn't sound really good. The twins looked at each other with concern.
"Ichigo?" Karin asked worriedly.
"Ichi?" Yuzu called as well.
The only reply was the sound of Ichigo coughing. But soon, they could hear his cough dying down and the sound of feet walking across the floor. They jumped a little when the door was opened. They looked up and saw a sick Ichigo wrapped in blanket. He pulled the blanket tighter around his shoulders and let out a cough.
"Hey," he greeted in a hoarse voice. "What's up?"
Yuzu and Karin gave each other worrying looks before looking back at their brother.
"We brought you soup," said Yuzu tentatively, holding up the bowl of soup.
"And we came to make sure you took your medicine," Karin added gruffly, hiding her own worry.
Ichigo rolled his eyes at that but let them into his room. Karin took the bowl from Yuzu as she headed towards the bedside table to get the medicine while the light brown haired twin guided Ichigo back to bed.
"I'm alright Yuzu," he told her, coughing some more.
"No you're not," Yuzu replied with a concern pout on her face. "You need to be in bed."
The orange haired teen didn't fight her as she had him get back into bed. She pulled a blanket over him as Karin handed him his medicine and water bottle.
"Take the medicine and then eat," the black haired girl ordered, standing back and crossing her arms.
"Be nice," Yuzu told her twin as he took his medicine. "Ichi's still very sick."
"I'm not very sick," Ichigo rasped, swallowing some water. "I'm just sick with the flu."
Neither one of the twins wanted to argue with him so they stayed quiet while Karin handed the soup and spoon over to her brother, who took it, set it in his lap and began to eat.
"Dad told us that you weren't in a great mood when you guys came home from the hospital," the black haired girl stated, watching Ichigo eat.
Ichigo gave her a sharp glare.
"You would be too if you had to go to the doctor's for an unnecessary checkup," snapped the teenager.
"Dad's just worried," said Yuzu, sitting down next to him. "He probably just wanted to make sure that what you have isn't serious."
"The flu isn't serious," he told them, placing the soup bowl back on his bedside table.
Yuzu huffed as Karin looked over at the bowl, taking note that there's a quarter of soup left.
"Yes, it is," Yuzu replied, looking a little irritated. "If you aren't careful, you'll get sick enough to have to stay in the hospital."
Ichigo sighed at that and rolled his eyes.
"You know what?" he said, looking at her with irritation in his eyes as well. "I'm not going to fight with you about this."
Then, he pulled the blanket around his shoulders off and covered himself with it as he laid back down while Yuzu stood back up.
"Ichi!" Yuzu whined. "This is serious!"
The black haired girl sighed at the display and rolled her eyes
"Quit whining Yuzu," Karin ordered, crossing her arms. "He'll be fine. He just needs to rest."
Then, she grabbed her twin's arm and began to pull her away.
"Get plenty of sleep Ichigo," Karin called as she left.
"We'll be back later to check on you," Yuzu called in a rush as her twin dragged her away.
Ichigo sighed and turned away from his door, curling up in a ball to warm up.
"Man, they drive me crazy," he muttered, falling asleep again.
Then, for another hour, Ichigo slept soundly and when he woke up, he could hear voices downstairs. He got up and went towards the stairs.
"Please can we see him, Mr. Kurosaki?" a familiar female voice asked. "We haven't seen him in a while and we have his homework."
'Orihime!' he thought.
Ichigo rushed downstairs and saw his friends, Orihime, Uryu and Chad talking to his father.
"What are you guys doing here?" the orange haired teen hoarsely asked.
His father and friends stopped talking and turned around to face him. Isshin, Uryu and Chad had frowns on their faces while Orihime broke into a smile.
"Ichigo!" she exclaimed, rushing over to him and giving him a hug.
The sick teen let out a gasp as he was hugged tightly, which caused him to go into a coughing fit.
"Oh, sorry!" she said, quickly letting him go.
Ichigo's coughing fit lasted for a while but once it stopped, he looked at her.
"It's ok," he told her, letting off another cough. "And what are you guys doing here?"
Uryu stepped forward when the question was asked.
"We brought you your homework," he told him. "And we came to see how you were doing."
"And by the looks of it," added Chad, "not so well."
Ichigo glared at them while his father went over to him and placed the back of his hand on his forehead.
"You need to be back in bed," said Isshin, removing his hand. "Go on up and I'll be up in a bit to take your vitals."
"Do you really have to do that now?" Ichigo asked in an irritated voice. "My friends are here. Can't I hang out with them for a little bit?"
Isshin sighed.
"Ichigo…" he started.
Then, he saw the orange haired girl get in front of his son and clasp her hands together.
"Please Mr. Kurosaki," Orihime begged. "We haven't seen him for a while."
Isshin frowned and was about to tell her 'no' when the black haired teenager spoke.
"We promise to keep him calm," Uryu added, stepping forward. "And we'll leave if he gets worse."
The father's frown got deeper as he looked at each of the teens' faces; Orihime's pleading, Uryu's neutral but hopeful, Chad's neutral and his son's irritated face. After a minute of deliberation, he finally breathed deeply.
"Alright," he conceded.
Ichigo looked relieved while his friends smiled, Orihime smiling brighter than the two other boys.
"Thank you so much Mr. Kurosaki!" she exclaimed.
"Yes, thank you," said Chad politely.
The older man gave them a small smile.
"You three head upstairs," he told them. "Ichigo will be up in a minute. I just need to take his temperature."
"Dad…" Ichigo started to protest as his friends followed his father's order.
He quickly shut up at his father's look that told him not to complain.
"Come on," said Isshin, walking towards the kitchen. "Let's get your temperature."
Ichigo huffed but followed his father into the kitchen. His father picked up the thermometer off the table and turned it on. Then, he stuck the thermometer under his son's tongue.
"I'm hoping that your fever has dropped at least," he muttered, placing a hand on Ichigo's forehead.
Ichigo irritably pushed his father's hand away and glared at him.
"And I know you're not happy with being sick right now," Isshin continued, frowning, "but you're going to stop with this behavior towards me."
The teen held a gaze with his father for a moment before turning away. The thermometer chose this moment to beep. Isshin pulled the instrument out of his son's mouth.
"Still 39 degrees," he muttered, looking at the results. "I'm sorry Ichi but your friends aren't going to stay long. Your temperature hasn't dropped at all today and I need you to get more rest."
"But Dad…" Ichigo began to protest.
"Nope," Isshin shook his head. "No arguing."
Ichigo frowned but sighed.
"Ok," he muttered.
Then, he made his way upstairs to his room. He found his friends sitting in his desk chair and on the floor. Orihime, who was on the floor, stood up and went over to him.
"How are you feeling Ichigo?" she asked, getting really close to him. "Are you tired? Do you need water? Actually, you should be in bed."
Then, she grabbed Ichigo's arm and dragged him to his bed.
"Be careful Orihime," Chad scolded gently. "You don't want to hurt him."
"I'm fine," Ichigo complained as he was forced into bed.
He began to cough after that. Orihime quickly covered him with his blanket but frowned at it afterwards.
"This doesn't look warm enough," she said before turning to Uryu. "Can you make a blanket? This one's too thin. Ichi will freeze if he uses this one."
The black haired teen studied the blanket. Then, he studied Ichigo's appearance.
"I can but if he's using this one, then he's…" Uryu started.
"Great!" Orihime exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "I'll go get the fabric! I'll be right back!"
Then, she dashed out of his room to go to her house, the three boys watching her leave. Uryu sighed once she left.
"I'll try not to make it too girly for you," he told him, turning back to the orange haired teen.
Ichigo, in turn, glared back.
"It better not be girly or I'll kick your ass."
Author's note: I apologize if the chapter ended weirdly. I just couldn't figure out how to end the chapter the best way possible so I ended it in way that seemed ok to me. I hope you all enjoyed it.