I actually didn't wanna post this so soon because I haven't written that many chapters yet… but boredom does stuff to you. Ryuuken doesn't have that many appearances, so i'm just gonna make him an ass… " btw, I'm gonna refer to Ishida Uryu as Ishida and his dad as Ryuuken since that is what most people are used to. Although technically they are both called Ishida…

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Standing in front of the hospital administrator's office, Ishida was fighting an inner battle. Although the decision had already been made, he was still in conflict on whether he was really willing to rely on his father again. At the same time, he marveled at how he could charge into battle without hesitation but was now unable to open a door to see someone who was supposedly his father.

Straightening out his thoughts, he grasped the knob lightly and turned it. The door swung open quickly without so much as a creak. Behind the well-finished wooden desk sat Ishida Ryuuken. He wore his usual white suit and a matching tie, which was patterned with blue crosses; something to be wondered about as Ryuuken claimed to have no interest in the Quincies, but now wasn't the time for that. He was the splitting image of his son, save for his hair which was completely white. Yet his face was ageless without a single crease or wrinkle in sight. As Ishida stepped into the office, Ryuuken's cold voice rang out.

"So you've come." He said curtly.

Ishida's eyes widened, but Ryuuken did not elaborate. How did he know he would be coming? He had been concealing his spirit pressure since leaving school so there was no doubt about it. Ryuuken had been expecting him…

After momentary silence Ryuuken spoke again. "I assume you are here to find out the meaning behind it? The reason why you cannot fully utilize your powers, am I right?"

That settled it. Ishida was stunned, but voiced out his opinion nevertheless. "You said that the training would restore my Quincy powers, was that a lie?"

"That is why you are still a fool."

Ishida tried to protest against the unfair statement, but was cut off again.

"Were really so naïve to believe that fully regaining your powers would be such a simple matter? Did you truly think that regaining your lost powers would be so easy?"

Taken aback, Ishida opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it and closed it again. Satisfied, Ryuuken went on.

"Unfortunately for you, fully regaining one's Quincy powers takes two steps. Before you had already begun the second step, but you chose to abandon it. You chose to work with that shinigami and enter Hueco Mundo. That was your first mistake."

As soon as he heard his father's explanation, an ominous feeling began welling up in the up in the pit of his stomach. Before he had think to think, Ryuuken confirmed that feeling.

"You have one last chance. This time you will have to truly distance yourself from the shinigami. The task ahead will require your full concentration so hopefully this time, you will sever your connection to the shinigami."

Ishida's head jerked. How could he have known? But he had no choice. "Understood."

"It's your choice… Shinigamis… or your powers…"

Ishida sat on his bed brooding, something he seemed to be doing a lot lately. But this was a crucial decision, one that once it was made, there was no turning back. If His father could detect the concealed crimson spirit thread hovering behind him, it meant that his own spirit power was no longer strong enough to fully conceal it. That alone was a big push. He sat up. If he accepted the offer this time, he could become more powerful. But it was at the cost of losing his friends.

Sado… Inoue… Kurosaki…All of them were important to him. And although they acted otherwise, he knew that his bond with Ichigo was the strongest. Nevertheless, he understood. He needed to let go. It was for the best. Not only for him, but for everyone. Keeping things as they were would only burden his friends. That alone was the one thing he could not bear. He buried his head in his hands. If he chose the path his father had offered, although he could no longer call them his friends, he could still protect them. Materializing the red spirit thread, he grasped it lightly in his fingers. He knew it then. He did not want to be a burden. Nor did he want his friends protecting him.

"This is right." He told himself.

He had decided. If his feelings were the only cost, then so be it. He severed the connection between red and blue. Sinking down onto his bed, he welcomed the darkness that consumed him with open arms.

On the other side, Kurosaki Ichigo jerked awake. He felt as if something had just gone terribly wrong. Suddenly, he saw his red spirit thread hover in front of him, the end ragged as if it had been torn; just like the first time. Realization flooded him.

"Ishida…?"

XXX

Gonna end it there. It is in my opinion that Ichigo and Ishida always seem to find each other somehow, so I'm thinking there's some sort of connection between their spirit threads. I promise following chapters won't have as many long annoying author notes…