This fic would not have been possible if it wasn't for the best beta ever: EternalDream!
The Ties that Binds
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Chapter 6
New York, two days ago.
It took all of Ishida Uryuu's self control not to roll his eyes as the woman his father chose for him as a fiancé continued to rattle on about the latest designer clothes she saw during her trip to New York's Fashion Week.
After all these years, he's still punishing me, Uryuu thought as he watched Ryuken Ishida speak with Ayame Nakamura's father.
"Uryuu, did you hear what I just said?"
Uryuu raised an eyebrow at his fiancé as he made a move to push his glasses up his nose. Only, he realized he no longer had glasses to adjust. He'd had his eyes operated on just a few short weeks ago, so the action was more of a familiar, comforting habit than anything else. Still, it was embarrassing to be caught doing that, and his hand slid awkwardly back to his side.
"I used to do that too when I first got rid of my specks," Ayame confessed with a cute, small smile before pushing a few strands of blond hair away from her face. "So, will you come with me?" At her fiancé's blank expression, Ayame sighed. "To Vera Wang's boutique. I made an appointment for Saturday morning."
"My apologies Ayame, but I have to study for my exams," Uryuu said, and whatever Ayame had to say was stopped when Ryuken motioned for the pair to join him inside an office.
Uryuu was pleased with the distraction as he offered his arms to Ayame. She grinned as she placed her arms around his, and they made their way to speak with their fathers.
"Uryuu-kun, I'm so glad that you're finally been able to join us," Takeo Nakamura said as he shook his future son-in-law's hands.
"Uryuu has been studying nonstop. He's determined to get a placement at John Hopkins when the time arrives," Ayame bragged for him, and if Uuryu was surprised that she was able to remember what he'd told her, he didn't show it.
"He's always shown great promise, especially when he chooses to use the path he was meant to take."
Uuryu understood Ryuken's words pertained more towards medicine than anything else, but before he could offer a crisp reply, a blinding light assaulted his eyesight, and he fell to the ground unable to breathe as a vast power both crushed and hugged him.
"You will not hurt my child!"
If the powerful spiritual pressure alone hadn't been enough to render him breathless, the voice of Orihime Inoue sure would have. He was sure he had just heard her…the last time he'd felt this sensation was during Ichigo's final battle with Aizen. Orihime had unleashed her Shun Shun Rikka with so much strength, he had felt practically suffocated, the force was so strong, yet at the same time, it had held a distinct warmth and gentleness that was signature to Orihime.
As his vision cleared, he was finally began to hear Ayame's panicked voice, and his father's face came into focus.
"Are you alright?" Takeo replied worriedly as Ryuken assisted his son to stand up.
"He'll be alright. Perhaps he needs to make sure he doesn't study too hard at the expense of his wellbeing." Ryuken replied. "Uryuu?"
"I'm fine, I just lost my balance." The lie came out easily even after all these years after high school. Those days had trained him well. A thought came to him. An almost dangerous thought. He bowed respectfully to everybody in the room and then hesitantly added, "I...I might return to my room earlier than expected."
"Of course," Takeo nodded. "I hope you get some rest. Ayame, please show Uryuu-kin to his room. Ryuken and I need to finish a business proposal."
As soon as the two left the room, Ryuken and Takeo glanced out of the window. Had Uryuu not fallen to the ground when he had, he would've noticed that the two men had looked up in surprise the same moment the blinding light overwhelmed him.
Inside his room, Uryuu's palms started to sweat. He looked at the cell phone lying on the bed and paced around the room some more. Making a decision, he sat down, grabbed the phone, and quickly dialed a number only to change his mind and stop half way. He tossed the phone back onto his bed. As he stood up, Orihime's voice rang in her ears.
"You will not hurt my child!"
After Aizen's defeat, he had turned away from his friends and accepted a scholarship his father had set up for him to study medicine abroad. He'd made a point not to keep in contact with any of his old friends once he'd made a choice to follow the path his father wanted for him. The war was over, and there was no need for a Quincy to hang around Karakura Town. Especially after he nearly got Tatsuki Arisawa killed…
He let his mind drift briefly back to the past. His loyalty had been divided between his duty as a Quincy and his love for his friends. Ultimately, he had chosen to walk away from them, and by the time he'd realized his mistake, Arisawa was seconds away from being killed by Ichimaru. It was only Keigo and Mizuiro's effort to distracting the renegade Shinigami that Ishida had gotten an opening and was able to counterattack and save his classmate.
He clenched his fist and forced the shameful memories away. Orihime's words worried him. He didn't know how or why he had felt that sensation all the way in America, but whatever was happening in Karakura Town, it was bad. And he didn't have to be a genius to figure out that if Orihime ever would have had a child, the father would be Ichigo. If Aizen had returned, Uryuu was certain the exiled Shinigami would stop at nothing to get to Orihime and her child, if nothing else than to punish Ichigo for defeating him.
The Quincy's eyes zeroed in on the cell again. He hesitantly picked it up and dialed one of the phone numbers he still remembered even after years of disuse. This time, he completed the number, pressed SEND, and waited for someone to pick it up.
The phone just continued to ring, and once he realized there would be no answer, he ended the call and quickly dialed another number—the one he should have dialed first. In the back of his mind, he knew Arisawa as the best one to call and the easiest to find. Chad would be in Mexico, and he had no knowledge of what orphanage his old friend was living and working in. He'd chosen not to call either Mizuiro or Keigo and potentially endanger them, as they were both without any powers.
He used his phone to connect to directory assistance in England and hoped that the information his mind retained was accurate. There was a small memory of Arisawa in her karate uniform proudly informing their little group of her scholarship to study in London. He'd deleted the text right after he'd gotten it, but the happy words were burned into his memory.
"Yes, I would like to get a number for Tatsuki Arisawa...in London, England, I believe..." Ishida grabbed a pen from the table and wrote the number on his wrist. "Thank you."
He closed his eyes and debated if he should go through with this. His father would be livid, but could he really forgive himself knowing his friends were in danger, and he did nothing about it? Again? Decision made, his fingers dialled the numbers written on his wrist, and after the fifth ring, a voice answered the call.
"Arisawa?"
In her studio flat in London, Tatsuki could only stare at the phone. It'd been years since she'd last hear his voice, but she recognized it instantly. "Ishida? Where are you?"
"New York."
As expected, Tatsuki accepted his answer and didn't resort to any unnecessary small talk. "You felt it too, huh?"
"I did," he said. He sat on the bed and looked at his wrist, overcome by a sense of nostalgia. The Quincy medallion hanging there reminding him of his high school days even more. "Is Inoue-san alright?"
"I don't know. I've dialled her phone, her father's, the twins'... nothing. I'm guessing you heard it too?"
Uryuu nodded. "A child?"
"A son," Tatsuki replied with a soft smile. "Sora Kurosaki. You should see him, Ishida! He looks exactly like Ichigo, except for his eyes!"
At the mention of the substitute Shinigami's name, Uryuu stood up. "I never felt his reiatsu," he realized.
There was a slight intake of breath before he heard a response.
"We don't know where Ichigo is. He disappeared before Orihime found out that she was pregnant. Which, by the way…you would know had you stayed in touch!" At his silence, Arisawa took another deep breath. She hadn't been able to help the snippy reply, but it was still uncalled for. "Sorry, Ishida..."
"Don't worry about it," Uryuu responded. "When will you arrive in Japan?"
"About to book my flight. I just need to have this massive headache disappear. Where are you heading first when you get back?"
"I'll be flying into Tokyo and from there rent a car to drive to Karakura. In the meantime, you should get some rest. I'll see you at Urahara's. I'm assuming that we'll be meeting everybody there."
"See you, Ishida."
"Aa. Watch your back, Arisawa."
"I will; you too." She paused for a moment. "And Ishida?"
"Yes?"
"It was good to hear from you."
Ishida never had a chance to reply; she had ended the call. With a sigh, he tossed his phone onto the bed and looked out of the window before closing his eyes. It'd been too long since he last used his Quincy powers. If he was going to face Aizen again, he needed to be ready.
Just outside his door, he never noticed the faint presence of Ayame. She hadn't meant to snoop initially, but she hadn't been able to help herself once she heard him start talking on the phone. She was jealous that her fiancé would drop everything for someone in Japan when he wouldn't even spend a morning with her.
Decision made, she took her phone out of her pocket and dialed a number.
"Hello? I'd like the first flight tomorrow to Japan please...to Tokyo."
Karakura Town, present time.
Isshin, along with his daughters and Sora, ate quietly. He could sense there was something that was troubling the trio, but he made a decision to let it slide until they arrive at Urahara's store. The four of them sat inside the hotel room and chose to order room service instead of eating out. As Isshin watched the older Sora, he couldn't help but feel so proud of his grown grandson.
Sora continued to eat quietly, not knowing how or if he should even bother trying to explain his identity to Urahara.
Breaking the silence, Isshin cleared his throat before speaking. "So, I guess we have to prepare for another war?"
Sora nodded. "They couldn't beat us, so I guess they decided to come here and try to win here instead."
"There's been no information about who they are?"
"All Yamamoto said was that their clan was banished for betraying the Royal Family. He wouldn't go into detail."
"You sound like you don't believe him."
"I don't," Sora replied. "The old man will only tell you what he wants you to know, when he wants you to know."
Isshin knew too well the truth in Sora's words. "So, who else is here?"
Sora refused to meet his grandfather's eyes. "Just me, I'm the only one who's been born, so I'm safest."
Isshin accepted his explanation with a nod. "So…I guess you can't tell me if you're going to have some brothers or sisters?"
Sora's nape turned red as he shook his head, and Isshin grinned at Sora's discomfort.
"Any babies for my daughters?"
Both Yuzu and Karin protested loudly at their father, who just laughed as they tried to smack some sense into him. While Isshin continued to tease his daughters, Sora couldn't help but laugh at his grandfather. He had deeply missed these types of moments. When the war began, his grandfather was always on guard duty. His Aunt Karin was hidden in one of the bases, pregnant with her first child. And his Aunt Yuzu…
Well, this was his opportunity to change the future. This time, he was going to save her from Mamoru. He wasn't going to let her die like before. He'd been a fool to think that the attack was over. It wasn't until he'd watched her body fall into the arms of Mamoru that he'd realized his mistake. He remembered teasing her after he saw a photo on her phone. "Yuzu-nee! I'm hurt! How come you didn't tell me you have a boyfriend?"He hadn't been snooping, just wanting to input his new number when he saw the face of a young handsome man with a ghost of a smile looking at him. He remembered how she just turned red, stammered and made an excuse as to who the man was. One week later, they were evacuated to Soul Society, and a few days after that she was dead.
"Are you alright?" Karin asked, nudging him out of his reverie. She could only guess what her grown nephew was thinking. She noticed Yuzu also appeared to be lost in her own thoughts as well.
"I am," Sora replied. "I'm just worried about how all these events could change the future."
"Whatever happens, I'm sure we can face it," Karin said confidently, right as Isshin's phone beeped. She looked at her father who answered the call, and watched as a smile slowly formed on his face.
"Tatsuki-chan! Welcome back!" He paused to let his son's childhood friend speak. "I see. Thank you for letting me know, Tatsuki-chan. We're currently staying at the Park Royal in Harajuku. We'll see you soon, and take care, Tatsuki-chan. We don't know where they will strike next." The three of them watched Isshin take a deep breath after he closed his cell phone. "Tatsuki just arrived from London," he explained. "She's outside our house. Soul Society has sent a few Shinigamis to look around for clues as to who our enemies may be. She said Asano and Mizuiro are with Chad already. Urahara rounded them up and is keeping them in his store, just in case."
"I guess the gang's all here," Karin said softly. "Almost, anyway. Any word from Ishida-san?"
"Tatsuki mentioned before she arrived in Japan that she felt spoke with him. He should be here quite soon."
Back at the ruins of what used to be the Kurosaki home, Tatsuki kept her Bluetooth ear piece on to make it look like she was speaking to someone on the phone as she spoke to the Shinigami in front of her.
"Are you sure it wasn't Aizen?"
Renji Abarai nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. If it was, at least we would know who we are dealing with."
"How was the reunion?" Tatsuki asked. It was easier to focus on lighter topics rather than dwell on the revelation that there was yet another nutjob out there who wanted to hurt her friend.
"What can you expect? Orihime-san and the twins cried, Sora looked confused at who the carrot top was, and Kakei…well, whoever he is, he doesn't seem to like Ichigo that much," Renji replied. He swung his head to his left. "Looks like the Quincy has arrived."
Tatsuki looked over as a car parked to the side and a man neither of them had seen for years stepped out.
"Ishida!" Tatsuki greeted happily. He waved slightly and waked over. The two of them stood awkwardly before Tatsuki gently punched him in the arm as a way of greeting. Her eyes grew wide when she noticed something different about him. She studied his face, trying to pinpoint it, and finally it came to her. "Your glasses!"
"I had my eyes operated on," Uuryu sighed and tried to repress the urge to adjust the eyeglasses that were no longer there.
"How was your flight?"
"Too long. It's good to see you, Arisawa." He nodded in greeting to the Shinigami. "Renji."
Renji just gave him a salute as he massaged the muscles at the back of his shoulder and neck.
"So, Aizen has returned?"
"Mah! I should just use one of those recording things you have so I don't have to keep repeating myself! No it's not that bastard Aizen. And we don't know who they are, either. There's massive research happening within Soul Society's research divisions. They're trying to find out who they were and what their aim is. All clans that have been exiled have a symbol tattooed in their arms. Hopefully they can narrow it down from there."
Ishida didn't need to ask any more questions, so he looked straight ahead at the Shinigami milling about the destroyed Kurosaki property.
"Are they all alright?"
Renji and Tatsuki could guess who he was talking about.
"They're staying at Park Royal at the moment, the one in Harajuku."
"Ichigo?" Ishida inquired, and the three of them continued to watch the Shinigami members sort through the rubble.
At his question, Tatsuki nodded. "Ichigo is with them."
"Good to know he has returned."
Tatsuki smirked. "Just so you know, I get to kick his ass first."
Ishida smiled. "Of course, Arisawa."
"Fukotaichou!" one of the Shinigami cried out. "I found something!"
"Don't touch it!" Renji commanded. He walked towards his subordinate. Tatsuki and Ishida quickly followed Renji, who looked at the piece on the ground and tried to see if there was anything familiar on the broken piece of metal. "Hisagi! Come look at this!"
"A piece from a Zanpakuto?" Tatsuki questioned, and Renji shook his head as Shuuhei Hisagi approached them. The redhead turned his attention back to the broken metal, and he knelt down to study the piece closely. "There's a kidou spell inscripted here, but nothing that I am familiar with." He quickly performed a few hand seals, and after a few moments, he nodded his head. "It's safe. I should bring it to Hinamori-fukotaichou to see if she can get more information."
At the mention of the young vice captain's name, Tatsuki lifted her head up
"Hinamori-san? How is she?"
Renji sighed and didn't answer immediately. "She's doing better, though she is no longer the girl that we know." His voice was soft, and his hands clenched into fists before he spoke again. "We need to return now. Will you be meeting with Urahara-san later this evening?"
"Yes," Tatsuki said. "I got a call from Urahara-san. He proposed meeting tonight at the store."
Renji nodded his head and snapped his fingers when an idea hit him. "Before we leave, where is the nearest place that I could buy some painting materials? I just remembered—Hitsugaya-taichou brought Hinamori some supplies a few months back, but I think she is running out. It would make a nice gift for her."
Ishida took out his phone and entered a few details before showing the screen to Tatsuki, who relayed the message to Renji.
"I can bring these back to Hinamori-fukotaichou. It's been a while since I visited her," Shuuhei volunteered, and Renji handed the kidou-imprinted object to him.
"I'll be going now," the redhead told his long-time friends. "I'll see you at Urahara's later! It is good to see you again, Ishida."
As the Shinigamis disappeared, Tatsuki and Uryuu looked at each other for a second.
"Do you want to see them now?" she asked.
"No, I need to go somewhere for the mean time. What time should we meet at Urahara's?"
"Around seven?"
Uryuu nodded in acceptance. "I'll see you later then."
Tatsuki waved good bye to Uryuu before she turned back to the ruins in front of her. She wondered, would it ever end for Ichigo and Orihime? With a sigh, she took out her keys and climbed on her motorcycle, intending to head straight to Harajuku.
Back at the hotel, in a room adjacent to his father's room, Ichigo watched as his infant son play with the Shun Shun Rikka while Orihime leaned against him.
"Where did you go?" she asked softly.
Ichigo held her hands in his and stroked her palms with his thumb. "I went all around Japan, China... My training with the Vizards wasn't going according to plan; my Hollow was getting too volatile. I thought that if I left and became stronger, I'd be ready when Aizen decided to show his ugly face again."
Orihime looked up at him, and Ichigo felt his heart beat faster as he looked into her eyes. She was even more beautiful then when he saw her last. And when he took in the beautiful picture of her and his son laughing in childish joy, he knew he'd made the right decision, as hard as it had been back then. The time he spend travelling had strengthened his hold on his hollow. He was going to protect her and their son from whatever army of whatever world they might originate from if they ever decided they could just come in and take what was his.
"You never said good bye," she whispered. "I would've understood." She looked away from him to wipe a tear out of her eye before he could notice, and instead of letting her turn away, Ichigo kissed her and held her tighter in his embrace. She'd known about his internal struggle with his hollow since the beginning. She'd seen with her own two eyes how quickly the hollow could take over when Ichigo was provoked, and she saw the desolate expression on his face the moment he felt another piece of his humanity slowly disappear each time the hollow appeared.
"I never would've been able to leave," Ichigo responded, holding her face, savoring the feel of her body against his. "I'll never leave again," he promised. "Not anymore."
Orihime smiled and gave him another kiss, but before he could deepen it any further, he felt a small kick and glared at Tsubaki who glared back at him.
"Control your child!" Tsubaki yelled demandingly, and Sora just giggled as he ran towards Orihime's side of the bed and raised his arms. Orihime smiled and picked Sora up, and once he was on the bed, the young boy squealed in delight and tried to grab Tsubaki. Before he could move away, Ichigo grabbed him and handed him to Sora who giggled as he rubbed his cheeks against the fairy struggling to flee.
The rest of the Shun Shun Rikka just sat on the table, exhausted. Kids were hard work.
"You will pay for this, Kurosaki!" Tsubaki threatened at Ichigo before turning his attention to the younger Kurosaki. "Release me, small boy!"
Sora just laughed in response, and Orihime gently pried Sora's hands open so Tsubaki could fly away.
"Baki! Baki!" Sora called out. The little boy jumped on the bed to try and reach Tsubaki.
"Sora-chan, let Tsubaki-kun rest for a while, ne?"
Sora pouted before he climbed over Orihime to look at Ichigo. "Baki?"
It felt surreal seeing this boy in front of him, and as Ichigo held the boy steady so he wouldn't fall onto the bed, he could feel the baby's reiatsu already. It was weak, but he could feel it pulse through his own veins, a presence which was connected deeply to his own, as his son just stared at him with eyes that started to water. "Baki!"
Ichigo looked up to Tsubaki who sighed in irritation as young Sora looked mournfully up at him. "Fine! Just a few more minutes then that's it!"
As he flew closer to the boy, Sora's pout turned to a smile. He looked up at the Rikka spirit who entertained him by flying around him.
As he watched his son play with Tsubaki, Ichigo's mind drifted to the older Sora. Almost as if she sensed his thoughts, Orihime lightly gripped his hands.
"He's with Isshin-san and the twins, don't worry. We'll all go to Urahara's together."
Ichigo just nodded in response. His mind was still seeing the angry way Sora had looked at him that morning before his father separated them all. There were so many questions that he knew they wanted to ask him, and then there was all the questions they had to ask Urahara in relation to their new enemy—it was going to be hell. He had already felt the Quincy's presence, as well as his other friends, and that comforted him somewhat. He'd missed them all terribly.
Ichigo held Orihime even tighter, enjoying this last chance for peace before they headed off to another battle. He was going to win, and he was going to stop at nothing to protect his family, Inoue, and now his baby son.
Deep inside his mind, his hollow lurked in the shadows and laughed.