Accidents
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Bleach characters in this story. The idea for this story belongs to a good friend of mine, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Author Note: I accidentally posted the wrong chapter last evening after doing a bit of editing after my initial posting. Sorry for the confusion.
They say accidents happen…but aren't some of them happy accidents?
"Are you the one who brought her in?"
Ichigo heard the doctor ask him as he slumped on the bench outside the emergency room. Lifting his head up sharply, the orange haired man replied, "Yeah…how is she?"
Dr. Ryuken Ishida pushed his glasses up with his finger and replied, "She stable, for the moment. She's lost a lot of blood but luckily her blood type is on file. We've already begun the transfusion but we have no real idea when she'll wake up…if she ever does."
This news hit Ichigo hard. He'd only known Rukia for a few hours but it felt like he was losing a dear friend.
The ambulances had arrived moments after Rukia lost consciousness. She was loaded onto a stretcher and Ichigo had been allowed to ride with them to the hospital. He had been in almost a panic, frantically following after her as they rushed her to the emergency room. Only after Ryuken had pushed him back and told him he would attend to her personally did Ichigo manage to calm down.
"I see. Thank you," Ichigo slowly replied, his voice hollow.
"The next few hours will be crucial," Ryuken further explained, "Just removing the metal was difficult but fortunately, it didn't penetrate any of her organs. At this point, blood transfusion is all we can for her. If her will to live is strong enough, she should pull through."
"She's strong. She'll pull through alright," Ichigo whispered to himself before looking up at the doctor, with a strong gaze. "Please…take great care of her," his voice was almost pleading.
Dr. Ryuken nodded and made his way back to the surgery doors. "You should get yourself cleaned up, perhaps a change of clothes as well," the doctor recommended, pointing out the orange haired man's bloodied hands and torn shirt.
"If it's alright…I'd like to wait and see if she wakes up."
Ryuken halted and turned his head back. Ichigo's eyes were hard and determined. The doctor could see that, even if he was refuse, the young man wouldn't leave without being tossed away by security.
"I suppose since we've been unable to contact her immediate family, that could be arranged. Wait here." Ryuken turned around and just before he passed through the ER doors, he turned back and asked, "But tell me, what is your relation to Miss Kuchiki?"
For a moment, Ichigo was completely silent. Suddenly, he gave an amused huff and looked up at the doctor with a smile.
"I'm her fiancé."
"All I ask is that you keep your voice down," Ryuken explained as he led Ichigo down a long hallway. "I won't be held responsible if you get yourself thrown out for any reason."
"Yeah, I'll remember that," Ichigo replied in a hushed tone.
It had been several hours since Ryuken had last spoken to him and the orange haired young man hadn't moved from his spot. He doubted that he'd be able to see Rukia at all but the doctor had been surprisingly accommodating. Claiming to be her fiancé had been a bit underhanded, considering he'd only met her earlier that day but that didn't make his proposal to her any less real. Either way Ichigo appreciated his good fortune.
As they reached the end of the hall, Ryuken grabbed the handled and pulled the door open.
Rounding the corner into the room, Ichigo's eyes softened. Rukia was sleeping soundly on the bed, her arms at her sides with an IV in one wrist. Her chest rose and fell gently as she breathed slowly. The stray band of her raven hair still hung between her eyes and it made Ichigo huff with a light smile.
As he slowly approached the bed, Ryuken called out to him, "If you notice any changes in her condition, I will be nearby."
Ichigo turned back and bowed as the doctor closed the door and left him alone with her. He took a nearby chair and set it next to her bed, seating himself beside her. He watched her carefully during her peaceful slumber. Her face had numerous bandages but she appeared so tranquil that it seemed to give him peace as well.
Her arm lay outside the bed sheets, the IV connected to it pumping more medicine into her body. Without really thinking, Ichigo reached out and laid his hand atop hers and grasped it gently.
"You better wake up soon," he whispered, "We've got a few things to discuss."
"Such as?" a deep and menacing voice sounded behind him.
Ichigo's head spun around to see a tall man with black hair and fierce eyes glaring down at him. The man was dressed in an expensive black business suit and had an aura of superiority about him. His demeanor made Ichigo despise the man before he uttered his next words.
"Who are you and what are you doing with my sister?"
"Sister?" the orange haired man said in shock, "You're Rukia's brother?"
A scoff sounded as the man in the suit glared at him, moving into the room and closing the door behind him.
"Yes, I am. My name is Byakuya Kuchiki. And now I will ask you again," he stood over Ichigo, his black eyes digging into his soul, "Who are you and what are you doing with my sister?"
Even though his voice was even and calm, the menacing aura this man radiated was nearly suffocating Ichigo. Not knowing exactly how to respond, the orange haired man sat there, perplexed for a moment before looking back to Rukia. Fortunately, she hadn't been awoken by their meeting and she continued to slumber peacefully.
"I…I was there when she crashed. I pulled her out of her car and called the ambulance," Ichigo explained, fighting off Byakuya's accusing glare.
Slowly, Byakuya eased away from him and appeared to calm himself. However, his hostility did not decrease in the slightest.
"I see. I suppose you came to the hospital with her as well. I can understand your concern but why is it that you're still here? After being told of her expected recovery, I imagined you would have left by now. It seems rather strange that you would stay and wait for her next of kin to arrive, considering you don't really this woman," Byakuya said, his tone indicating far more than simple accusation.
Ichigo clenched his jaw and fought back the urge to punch this bastard in the face. Not only had he been insulted, but the suited man's comment was even colder toward his sister! What kind of heartless monster called his hospitalized sister 'this woman'?!
Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Ichigo calmly scowled fiercely up at Byakuya and answered, "Well, since she didn't have anyone listed as an emergency contact in file, I asked the doctor if I could stay. And since she seemed to have no one else to rely on," he let a tiny smirk over his lips for a moment, "I figured having a friendly face to wake up to was better than no one."
Byakuya's eyes narrowed that the boy's subtle challenge. However, as his eyes drifted to his sister's side, he saw that Ichigo still had Rukia's hand tightly squeezed in his palm. Without a word, he laid a hand on the orange haired man's shoulder and gave a forceful tug. Caught unaware, Ichigo toppled forward, emptying his seat next to Rukia, his face slapping into the tiled floor.
Before he could stand, Byakuya's voice reached his ears, "Now that I have arrived, there is no need for you to stay. I suggest that you leave."
Not waiting for a response, the suited man sat next to his sister on the previously occupied stool, his hand gently laying over top his sisters. Behind him, Ichigo picked himself up off the floor and clenched both fists. His teeth were grit and he was ready to knock the bastard out when Byakuya turned to glare at him again. His eyes were deadly and cold, this menacing aura returning.
"I believe that I told you to go. Do not make me repeat myself, boy."
As Byakuya shifted to turn back to Rukia, he was startled when a pair of hands grabbed him by the collar, jerking him up and back around to meet Ichigo's infuriated gaze. For a moment, the suited man was genuinely surprised, it was as if this boy had absolutely no fear of him whatsoever.
His fists tightened around the suited man's collar and Ichigo shook him a bit before narrowing his eyes.
"Is that all you have to say to the guy who kept your sister from bleeding to death on the street?!" the orange haired man proclaimed, completely unfazed by the suited man's chilling glare.
With a smack, Byakuya used his hand to break the boy's hold and push him back. "Do you know who you're addressing, boy?" the suited man seethed, fixing his suit. "I am head of the Kuchiki Family and the owner of this hospital."
Ichigo tensed but said nothing. Byakuya could feel the tension from the young man and finished rearranging his tie. "I think it is time that you left. If you refuse to cooperate, then I will have you escorted out by—".
"I don't give a damn who you are."
The orange haired man's rang in Byakuya ears and if only for a moment, his eyes showed a hint of shock. However, he collected his wits instantaneously and focused his cold dark eyes at the boy. Ichigo took a defiant step forward and scowled fiercely in the suited man's face. There was no fear or hesitation in his eyes, only resolve.
"I risked my life to save her, pulled her from an overturned car and kept pressure on her wound, all while trying to get her to stay conscious and keep her active so she wouldn't fall into a coma!" Ichigo shouted at the suited man, "I deserve to be here when she wakes up and you can shove your pompous attitude right up your—".
"Would you two keep it down…" a weak but familiar voice asked loudly. The men's eyes widened and they immediately turned to see Rukia gently rubbing her eyes. "…My head is killing me and you're screaming isn't helping…"
Releasing her brother, Ichigo completely forgot the point he was trying to stress and leaned down toward her.
"Rukia! You're awake! That's amazing!" he nearly shouted at her, making her cringe at the sudden loud volume. Realizing his mistake, he lowered his voice and continued, "The doctor said it could have been weeks or even months before you woke up. But I figured you were too stubborn to stay down for long."
A pressure on his arms jerked him upward and Ichigo turned to see Byakuya gripping him harshly. "I don't appreciate you addressing my sister so informally. Never mind that fact that your outburst is obviously making her condition worse."
Ichigo tore his arm away and was about to retort when Rukia suddenly said, "Doctor? Condition? Where the hell am I?" She laid her head in her palm and grunted, "My head feels like its splitting open…"
Worry overtook Ichigo and he turned toward the door. "I'll go get Doctor Ishi—".
A loud buzzing cut him off and he looked back to see Byakuya had pressed the nurse call button on Rukia's bedside table. After a moment, the nurse appeared at the door and bowing as she recognized the suited man by Rukia's bed.
"Yes, Mr. Kuchiki. What can I do for you?"
Byakuya gestured to his sister and replied, "My sister is in pain. Please bring her something to ease her suffering. Now."
A light gasp escaped the timid nurse before she bowed and quickly sped off to fulfill his request. All the while, Ichigo glared back at the stoic man, who he could have sworn had a smug look in his eyes. But it was quickly forgotten when Rukia glanced up at her brother and said, "I'm fine, Brother. There was no need to bother her like that."
"This is her job, Rukia. And while I am paying for her employment, I shall have her fulfill her duties to you."
A heavy sigh escaped the bedridden woman and she slowly began to sit herself up. As she did, Rukia suddenly tensed and gripped her abdomen. Her jaw clenched and she began taking labored breaths through her teeth. Byakuya glared at the door, irrationally angered that the nurse had not returned yet.
However, a soft hand landed on his sister's back and he glanced down to see Ichigo already at her side.
"You need to take it easy," he said gently, never raising his voice. "Just lie back and rest for the time being."
Slowly, he leaned her back down into the bed, with her giving him a small appreciative nod. Although Byakuya was irritated by the lack respect this man was showing him and his sister, he knew that interfering at the moment could be devastating. Instead, he stood by his sister's side as the boy carefully tucked her in.
Her head weighed a ton as it rested on the pillow and Rukia's violet eyes stared up at the ceiling as she waited for the pain to pass. Almost without thinking, she grabbed onto something soft and gripped it tightly. She felt warm fingers encase the back of her hand and she managed to tilt her head up enough to see the orange haired man nervously returning her squeeze.
The sight somehow comforted her and she finally let herself lie back and close her eyes.
Ichigo watched silently as she slowly began to relax, her chest rising and falling in a soothing rhythm. Taking a moment to glare up at Byakuya, the orange haired man couldn't help the tiny grin that settled onto his lips. The suited man's black eyes narrowed dangerous and before he did something he would regret, the door opened and the nurse returned.
Sending her an icy glare, Byakuya said quietly, "Please be more efficient in the future. Now if you would kindly assist my sister."
The nurse tensed but quickly nodded before approaching with an IV bag in her hands. As she approached the bed, she motioned for Ichigo to move, which he reluctantly did. His hand regretfully slipped out of Rukia's and the movement startled her. Her eyes fluttered open in time to see the nurse connecting the bag of liquid medicine to the IV in her arm.
Almost a moment later, she signed in relief and let her violet irises rest once more.
After a few moments of the drugs flowing into her veins, Byakuya again took up the seat Ichigo was forced to vacate. Resting his hand gently on her head, she slowly opened her eyes and turned to him, offering a tiny smile.
"Are the drugs taking effect? Are you still in pain?" he said gently, far softer than Ichigo thought him capable of.
A pleasant sigh overtook Rukia before she replied, "I'm fine, Brother."
She could tell he wanted to reprimand her for being stubborn but he was being unusually kind and remained silent. Even if he would never show it, or even admit it, this event must have terrified him. It was rare for him to be out of his office, ever. And yet, here he was, personally attending to her in the hospital. Instead of trying to wrap her aching head around the matter, she simply allowed herself to enjoy his kindness.
Rukia took a few more deep breaths before continuing, "So…is anyone going to tell me what happened?"
Before Byakuya could even open his mouth, Ichigo appeared directly behind him, glancing over his shoulder down at her.
"You lost a lot of blood and they had to do a transfusion, so you'll be weak for a while. It was lucky that they were able to get the metal out before it caused any more hemorrhaging," he explained, reveling in the fact that she was looking up at him with her simmering violets.
Giving a smirk, she almost scoffed as she replied, "The doctor could have told me that. I mean, how did I get here? Why am I here in the first place? And for that matter, who are you?"
Amber eyes widened as her voice echoed in the room. The world seemed to stop for Ichigo in that moment, his brain refusing to accept the information that would tear his mind apart. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came forth. Rukia raised an eyebrow as he stood, paralyzed with shock. And then, he slowly began to back away from the bed.
"You…You mean you don't…remember what happened? Not at all?" Ichigo asked, almost pleading that he had misheard her.
Looking away from him, Rukia closed her eyes and tried to concentrate but winced in pain.
"All I remember is getting into my car and heading for work," she confessed, looking back to him. She focused on him for a moment before she gave him a quizzical glance. "Do I know you from somewhere? I feel like I should—".
"You don't know this man," Byakuya interrupted, glaring back at the boy before returning his gaze to his sister, "You were in a car accident. This man called the ambulance and rode to the hospital with you. I'm not surprised you don't recall such a trivial thing."
Ichigo's hand grabbed the suited man's shoulder and jerked him back around.
"Trivial?! Is that what you think this was?! I pulled Rukia from an overturned car and—!"
His arm was suddenly batted away and Byakuya's hand gripped the collar of his torn shirt. With surprising strength, the suited man lifted Ichigo slightly off the floor. Cold black eyes pierced through him, a clear and unfathomable rage within. The ruffled fabric choked him and the orange haired man was forced to listen.
"I will not have you shouting and disrupting my sister any longer. Can you not see that your outburst is hurting her?" Byakuya hissed, glancing toward his sister.
Even in the vice-like grip, Ichigo managed to turn back to Rukia. Her eyes had squeezed shut and she was obviously fighting back the pain that coursed through her. Had he really been shouting that loudly? Ichigo wanted to say something, apologize or try to explain himself, but he was unable to as Byakuya abruptly released him and he fell back onto the floor.
Glaring down at him, the suited man said, "As repayment for coming to my sister's aid, I will allow you to see yourself out instead of calling security. After all, you have no further need to say here now that my sister has awoken. Isn't that right?"
Ichigo got up onto his knees and was prepared to retort but he stopped himself. He knew that if he lost his temper, it would only make the situation more unbearable. And the last thing he wanted was to upset Rukia right after she'd woken up.
"Yeah…" he muttered reluctantly, his nails digging into his palms to keep calm.
With a scoff, Byakuya turned away from the boy on the floor and took his place by sister's side. Very slowly, Ichigo picked himself up off the floor. He stared at Rukia's pain stricken face and a wave of disgust rippled through him. Not wanting to be a further burden, he turned on a heel and began heading for the door.
Just as his palm twisted the metal knob, a voice stopped him.
"Wait," he froze as Rukia's voice reached him. He turned around and saw her with one eye open, looking directly at him. "Is it true that you were the one who found and rescued me?"
"…Yeah, it is," he answered slowly, still reeling from the shock of her memory loss.
Even through her pain, Rukia smiled at him and replied, "Thank you. I owe you one."
It wasn't much but her words did manage to ease him somewhat. However, that didn't take away the hollow feeling in his chest and he knew that there was no way to fill this void. Nodding slowly, he turned around and opened the door.
"Whatever…" he whispered, not sure if she would hear him.
He pushed his way out and bumped into Dr. Ryuken. However, he barely registered the encounter, moving past the man without a single word.
"What the hell am I going to do with myself?"
Ichigo lazily lounged on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. His arm was draped over his forehead and he had no desire to get up. It was already well passed 2PM and he was still in his boxers. After missing his interview on the day of Rukia's accident, he was told the position had been filled and that he would have to find employment elsewhere.
If he could find a job and get something accomplished, then maybe he'd forget how pathetic he felt about what had happened. Over a week had passed since that fateful day and life had only gotten more difficult. He'd done his best to move on and forget what happened but with no job or goal to focus on, he found himself in a rut.
And today, with nothing to occupy his mind, he found himself drifting back to the moment he'd proposed to that beautiful violet eyed woman.
And each time he did, he felt a mixture of embarrassment, anger, confusion and self-pity. And that didn't solve the issue. After all he'd done to save her, he should have been happy that she was alright. Which he was, but knowing that she had no idea who he was, how they'd met, or that he'd risked his life to protect her, it just felt like the universe was playing a sick joke on him.
And then there was the proposal.
"How lame am I?" he grumbled as he finally slipped out of bed and began to get dressed.
Some part of him had thought that perhaps he'd be able to spend time with her, after she recovered. Get to know her and really see if something could work out. Yeah, it was a stupid and foolish notion but at the time, he felt that a real connection had formed between them. A connection that was now broken by a concussion and memory loss.
Just as he finished pulling a shirt over his head, the door flew open and a middle-aged man drop kicked him in the face. The force of the kick sent him flying back and into his desk, shuffling all the blank application forms atop it.
"Gooood Afternoooon, Ichi—!"
His attacker didn't have the time to finish before he flung himself up and smashed his fist into his offender's nose. The middle-aged man fell over backward with his feet flung up over his head, his back meeting the floor with hard contact.
Ichigo stood over the man and shouted, "What the hell, old man?! You already attack me once this morning! Wasn't your last beating good enough for you?!"
Unsurprisingly, his father, Isshin, merely laughed heartily and kicked himself up from the floor. He placed his hands on his hips and replied, "I have to make sure you're always prepared! How else will my pathetic son get over his recent jobless depression—Guard's down!"
Isshin leapt into the air and extended his foot but caught nothing but air as he son sidestepped. The momentum of the kick rotated him and he twisted to try and recover. However, Ichigo rushed from the side and dropped his elbow into the falling man's stomach. The reckless father slammed into the floor again, but this time, Ichigo's foot came down hard on his face, pinning him down.
"I'll never understand what Mom saw in you, crazy goat faced old man!" Ichigo shouted, pressing harder on his old man's face. "And for your information, I was just about to fill out some applications when you barged in!"
Isshin's hands grabbed Ichigo's foot and abruptly ripped them to the side, allowing the old man to speak.
"That reminds me!" he shouted as he leapt up and from the floor and suck punched his son in the gut. Falling to his knees and gasping for air, the orange haired man could only listen as his father picked brushed himself off. "Since my disrespectful son is having a hard time getting work. I have a job offer for you."
Ichigo wanted to tell his father to get lost, but with his lungs feeling like they were collapsing, he only wheezed as his father continued.
"We've got a patient coming to stay with us for a while. They need physical rehabilitation and I figured that since you have all this free time, you can be the one to take care of them. The actual rehabilitation will be my job but they need someone to help them around the house and drive them to work, which is nearby. That's why they'll be staying with us."
Coughing and finally getting a breath, Ichigo glared up at his old man and said, "…Forget it…I don't need…your pity…"
"Please, Ichigo. Just do this for me."
The orange haired man's eyes widened as he heard his father's plea. He looked up to see his father staring down at him, worry plaguing his features. Even if he didn't show it very often, Isshin was deeply concerned about his son's current financial troubles. In addition, he knew that Ichigo was deeply depressed about something other than being jobless, even though his son had never mention why he never made it to that particular interview.
As far as his family knew, he'd been mugged on the way to the interview. That's why he came home late, with a tattered and bloody shirt. However, Ichigo suspected that his father didn't believe his story but left him alone about it. And now his old man was trying to get his son some work, even if it came out of his own pocket.
His old man was crazy, but her sure loved his son.
"…Fine."
Ichigo's answer was swift but it brought a gentle smile to his father's face. That is, until it warped into a mischievous grin as he kicked his beloved son in the face. Rearing upward before falling onto his back, Ichigo grunted as he held his nose tightly. Through his fingers, he scowled harshly at his father.
"What the hell?! I told you I'd do it, dammit!"
"I know, but you let your guard down again!" Isshin said as he turned and headed for the door, "Anyway, the patient should be here sometime this evening. I've got a medical meeting to go to so could you meet them when they arrive? Thanks!"
"Hey, wait a second!" Ichigo protested but he was too late. His father sped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Not ten minutes after his father left, the doorbell rang and Ichigo dashed out of his room. Yuzu and Karin weren't home so he knew that getting the door was his responsibility, not to mention that he was supposed to greet their new patient.
However, as he opened the door, a man in an expensive black business suit glared at him with dark eyes.
It was official, the universe hated him.
"What are you doing here, boy?" Byakuya Kuchiki demanded, his voice showcasing surprise and frustration. Scowling harder than he ever thought possible, Ichigo prepared the slam the door in his face.
"Isn't that incredibly rude, considering that I'm the one who lives here?" he chided as he matched the man's glare. "Or are you here to tell me to keep quiet about your sister's accident? I never read about it in the paper. I'm guessing that was your doing?"
"What I do regarding my sister is of no concern of yours, boy. Now, fetch me Dr. Kurosaki. He's supposed to meet us here," Byakuya explained.
Ichigo peered behind him and saw a long black car parked in front of his house, the engine still running. He was confused for a moment but then remembered that his old man had mentioned some kind of meeting. And considering that the black suited bastard in front of him owned a hospital, he was probably here to pickup his old man for that meeting.
This brought a slight grin to Ichigo's face.
"My old man's out right now. Is there anything I can help you with?" he said as politely as he could without laughing. He knew that he shouldn't enjoy disrupting someone's plans this much, but this bastard had it coming to him. However, he was rather surprised when a look of genuine shock overcame Byakuya.
"You are…Isshin Kurosaki's son?" the suited man asked carefully.
"Yeah," Ichigo replied with slight confusion. "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki."
He had expected Byakuya to make some kind of demeaning comment before excusing himself but oddly enough, he remained rooted in his spot. Not to mention, the suited man seemed a bit unnerved and kept sneaking glances back at the car. If he was late for the meeting, why didn't he just go?
Raising an eyebrow, the orange haired man continued, "Look, my old man should be at that meeting right about now. Shouldn't you be getting off to it?"
His words were completely lost on Byakuya, the suited man staring at the ground with a conflicted and frustrated glare.
"I did not expect this," he whispered to himself before returning his gaze to Ichigo. "I had expected to speak with Dr. Kurosaki in person before I left…but now it can't be helped. I have no more time to waste on the likes of you."
"Hey—!" Ichigo began but never finished.
Byakuya turned on a heel and walked quickly toward the car. However, just before he reached it, he stopped and glared back at Ichigo and clinic in general. With a defeated sigh, he motioned for the chauffer to exit the car. The servant quickly stepped out and popped the truck.
Ichigo watched quizzically as he pulled something out and took it around the other side of the car. Byakuya followed the servant around to the other side, his voice calling out.
"Are you sure? I have a team of highly trained professionals who could take care of this matter for you. There is no need to go to such extremes. Particularly with this new...development," the suited man said to someone as they exited the vehicle.
"It'll be fine. I'm sure that Dr. Kurosaki will be here soon. I can wait inside until then. Besides, you know that I need to be able to get to and from work without driving halfway across the city. This is a much better option," a very familiar voice replied.
Ichigo froze as he recognized those deep but feminine tones. "No…" he said in disbelief.
A moment later, the chauffer's head peeked over the top of the car and began moving around to the other side. Rounding the edge of the car, the chauffer pushed a wheelchair up toward the building, carrying none other than Rukia Kuchiki.
She was dressed in a simple yellow sundress and had numerous bandages coving her legs. However, she brandished a pleasant smirk as she looked over the clinic, her violet eyes shimmering in the evening light. As her wheelchair came to a halt in front of Ichigo, she looked up at him and smiled, obviously recognizing him.
"Looks like we meet again," she offered her hand to him, "Nice to officially meet you. I'm Rukia Kuchiki and I'm here for my physical rehabilitation."
To Be Continued…
And part 2 is complete! The final part will be up sometime tomorrow. I hope that you're all enjoying the story! It's been something I've wanted to get out for too long and I'm happy that it's finally getting finished!
Leave a review to tell me what you think of it and keep on smiling my beautiful readers! :D