Chapter 8: Protecting Her
Uryu and Ashley had made their way back home in no time at all, thanks to Uryu's Hirenkyaku technique; it was quick, simple, and just down right amazing to Ashley. To Ashley, she thought of Hirenkyaku as kind of like a soul reaper's Shunpo, but more faster and difficult to learn. But it was so much more graceful and it didn't even feel like they were running at all; it felt more like they were walking, with everything around them turning blurry in a matter of seconds. She could feel the excitement and exhileration pump through her veins.
When they had made it inside the house, Uryu gently sat Ashley back on her feet; but once her feet touched the floor, she felt everything spin around her in a daze. Ashley backed up one step, and felt as if she was going to fall backwards, but lucky enough Uryu kept her balance by putting his arm around her shoulder, "Are you okay, Ashley?" Everything was starting to slow down around her, though, as everything stopped spinning around her head. She smiled charmingly, "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just a head rush, is all." Uryu smiled down at Ashley then, letting out a short, gentle laugh, "I guess my Hirenkyaku really got to you. I'm sorry, that was not a very smart idea of mine." Ashley shook her head rapidly from left to right, ridding away the remaining dizziness in her head. She blinked her chocolate brown eyes, "No. It's alright, Uryu. I'm fine." Uryu smiled sweetly, "Are you, now?" Another soft chuckle escaped through Uryu's lips, "Well, just to be safe," Uryu helped Ashley over to a nearby chair near the kitchen counter, "I think you should stay here, while I go and get the medical kit from the bathroom. Okay?" Ashley nodded in agreement; even if she didn't, Uryu would probably persuade her to stay, anyway.
It didn't take Uryu that long to get the medicine kit, as Ashley had predicted; it was just a few minutes after he left that he was coming back again. "Okay, I'm back, He declared, even though Ashley knew he didn't have to; she didn't say anything from it, but she just smiled at him. Uryu placed the small, white box on the kitchen counter, behind Ashley, as he took out the necessary items he needed; Ashley turned her body half around to watch what he was doing, curiously. Ashley saw that Uryu had in his hand a dark green-ish towel, and from how darkened and rough it looked, Ashley knew it was probably wet with warm water. Uryu kneeled down infront of Ashley then, on his knees, right at her eye-level. "Could you tilt your head back alittle, please?" Uryu asked in such a soft sweet voice, which Ashley obeyed automatically; Ashley pulled her head back, so that she was looking up at the pure white ceiling.
Carefully, and gently as he could, Uryu slowly placed the towel on her neck, moving it left and right in a soothing motion. Just as Ashley predicted, she felt warm moisture being easily dabbed on her neck. Ashley slowly closed her eyes, taking in this feeling that came upon her: wet moisture cooling her bruised neck, and also the chilling feeling of Uryu's hot breath swiltering her neck, drying up the moisture. Ashley then heard a click, clicking sound, the sound of a bottle sprayer being shaked. "I'll be spraying some alcohol on it, now." Uryu explained, "It might sting abit, so please bear with me." Ashley signed in, as she nodded in agreement. But Uryu did not spray the alcohol at once, as Ashley thought he would.
Instead, he very gently placed the tips of his fingers on the top of Ashley's hand, which was squeezing the edge of the chair. Curiously, Ashley dunked her head down to see Uryu's fingers running soothingly up and down and over her hand. No matter how weird it might have seemed to her now, Ashley hoped that Uryu would not stop; she wished for time to just stop in place. But, unfortunately for her, he stopped abruptly, and looked up at her with the softest of his marvelous blue eyes. "I'm sorry," Uryu muttered under his breath, as he sprayed a small amount of alcohol on Ashley's neck, without telling her to lift her head up.
The alcohol did sting her neck, yes, but Ashley was more concentrated on Uryu's solemn face; he looked as if he was going to tell her something, but decided no to. Uryu was silent from that point on, putting on other necessary medicine on Ashley's neck, finishing it all off by putting on a white fabric bandage around it. He flattened the curled up edges as perfectly and gently as he could, finally closing it down with a short piece of tape. "There. All done." Uryu said, still rubbing his slim fingers over the bandage; he was as still as a statue. "Thank you, Uryu," Ashley said, a sweet smile on her face, her cheeks turning into a burning red. "I really appreciate this, but you didn't have to do this." Uryu then stopped his hand at the side of her throat, rubbing it softly with the edge of his palm. Slowly, he leaned his head against Ashley's shoulder, her hair falling down on his face like a curtain. "Yes...I had to..." Uryu whispered, his sweet breath bathing over Ashley's throat. Ashley was frozen in place where she was, not wanting to move, or for Uryu to stop. Silently, Uryu continued, "It's all...I can do for you, it seems. I can't help you like you want me to, and I can't...protect you in the way I want to. I'm sorry, I'm so useless...to you."
"Please, stop." Ashley whispered low enough for Uryu to hear, as she gently placed her hand on top of his head. "You and I both know that none of that is true. You're a huge help to me, Uryu; if you weren't around, I don't know where I'd be. And you protect me so much, in so many ways that I can't count them all on my fingers. You're a good person, Uryu; a very good person. You always do all the right things, and ignore all the bad things that comes upon you. So, please don't talk like that about yourself, Uryu. Please." Uryu finally released his grip on Ashley's neck, lifted up his head, and fell to the floor on his knees, looking up at Ashley with bewilderment and confusion. Uryu sighed then, as he swifted his eyes over at the side, avoiding eye contact with Ashley, "Thank you for that, Ashley, but I know you're just making stuff up. None of those things are true about me. None of them."
Ashley did not show any kind of grief or sadness as Uryu thought he'd see, but she smiled softly down at him instead. Ashley then placed the tips of her fingers under Uryu's jawline, her palm resting under the hollow base of his neck. She lifted his head up gently, so that he was looking straight up at her. "Stop your negativity already," Ashley chuckled jokingly, while Uryu looked up at her with wide blue eyes from confusion, "You're very strong, Uryu. Very. If you want to get stronger in order to protect me better, then okay. Do it. Do what you think is right, like you always do. So, if you want to train harder, then I'll help you in every way. Let us both train together!" Uryu's eyes started to soften, as a warm and sweet smile creeped up on his lips. "Ashley..." Uryu whispered, as he started to stand back up; he looked down at Ashley, who was still sitting in the chair, with the most gentlest look on his face. "Thank you, Ashley. I appreciate that greatly. I swear, on my pride as a Quincy, I will never ever give up on myself...or you."
Ashley smiled kindly up at Uryu, as she slowly stood up; Uryu went to help her, but Ashley pushed him away, telling him that she's fine. "Thanks, Uryu. That means alot to me. Really." Ashley said, while smiling up at Uryu even more; she found that she couldn't stop smiling at this moment. It was silent at that moment, arkward, that the cars running by outside could be heard. "Um, well," Uryu began, breaking the silence. "I think you should just rest up for the day; let that wound heal faster." Ashley wanted more than anything to stay alittle longer with Uryu and just talk and chat about meaningless things. But, from how Uryu was feeling now, Ashley would jump off of the highest cliff in the universe for him in a heartbeat.
"Yes, you're right." Ashley nodded her head slightly, as she carefully turned on her heel, heading for the stairs toward her room. But before she could take one step up the stairs, Uryu quickly swifted his way beside her, saying, "Hold on. I'll walk you to your room, if you like." Ashley was about to reject his idea, knowing the reason he was doing this was out of worriment, but suddenly decided not to. She felt that she should always stay by Uryu's side, and always agree to anything he says, no matter how stupid it might be. Smiling wistfully, Ashley said, "Oh, sure. If you want to." Uryu smiled, in relief Ashley knew, as he said, "Great. I'll lead the way."
It's not like she doesn't know the way to her room, Ashley thought to herself. But she let Uryu do what he wanted to do, anyway. Down the short hallway, just inches across from Uryu's room, Ashley--inches behind Uryu--and Uryu, stopped infront of the door to her room. Uryu opened the door in one quick rotation of the door knob, as the door quietly creaked open. "Thanks, Uryu." Ashley said kindly, as she stepped inside her room; she stood infront of Uryu, who was still out in the hallway. Uryu smiled sweetly, "It's no problem at all." Ashley stood on the tip of her toes for a while then went back down on her heels, repeatedly, "Well, I guess...I'll be in here if you need something from me." Uryu nodded, as he stuffed his hand in his pocket, as the other one scratched the back of his head, "Yes, of course. And I'll, uhm, I'll be taking a shower in the bathroom if you need me. Okay?"
"Yeah, sure." Ashley said as she took a step back, slowly closing the door infront of her; before she closed the door all the way, Ashley took one last glimpse of Uryu walking away from her. Quietness overtook the room in no time, the wall clock ticking slowly, as Ashley slowly sat at the end of her bed. She laced her fingers together on her lap, with her head dangling down. "I wonder," Ashley spoke to herself and the silence, as she lifted her head back up; a silent tear rolled down her rosy red cheek. "I wonder what would have been if I had my secret powers? I would have saved...both of us. I wouldn't be a burden to you, like I am now...Uryu," Ashley's hands were soon tightened around either of them on her lap, as more tears spilled out of her eyes like a river. "I don't...want to be the reason why you're...why you're...why you're so unhappy, so sad, so depressed! I don't want that, Uryu!! I don't!!!" Ashley hiccuped a cry, as she leaned over toward the ground, trying to withstand her cries so Uryu would not hear her.
Uryu walked in the bathroom, set his clean clothes on the sink and locked the door behind him in one quick motion. He made his way over toward the shower tub, pulling the curtains open, and turning the shower water on steaming hot. Uryu then placed his hand under the running, pouring water; the water stung him from such heat, but he paid no heed to it. Nothing else in the world burnt him worse than seeing one of his good friends nearly getting killed before his eyes. No, not the most hottest of fires or stinging acids could burn him like that. "If," Uryu muttered to himself, as he leaned his head out in the shower, wetting himself, and parts of his clothes. His glasses slipped off his face from being soaked, but he ignored it. "If I were stronger...just a little more stronger...I could have protected you, like I wanted...Ashley."
Uryu slowly lifted his head back up, not bothering getting his now soaked glasses from in the tub, or pushing back his ash-black bangs that were sticking to his face from being so wet. He leaned his elbow on the plain-white cabinet, as he slowly undid his yellow and blue tie that was around his neck; he threw it over across the bathroom somewhere without a care in the world. He then unbuttoned his white shirt all the way down, showing off his muscular physique. Uryu then suddenly slapped his hand over his eyes, now leaning himself over the cabinet. "I want to...protect her..." Uryu muttered to himself, as he dropped his hand away from his face, as he looked over at the closed door. "And I will protect her...with everything I have!"
Quick in a flash, Uryu went over to the shower and shut off the water, then he rushed his way to the door and opened it, leaving his glasses in the tub. He ran, as quickly as he could, up toward Ashley's room. He knew Ashley liked her own privacy, which meant that the door was locked. "Ashley, please open!" Uryu shouted, knocking furiously on Ashley's door. "I must tell you something!!"
In her room, Ashley was laid back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling for the longest time; Uryu's sudden, loud, knocks startled her. "Done with the shower already?" Ashley muttered to herself, as she get up from the bed and walked toward the door. "That sure was fast." When she opened the door, before she could say one word, a soaked and wet Uryu tackled her into a crushing embrace. "U...Uryu?!!" Ashley stammered, her face red as a cherry when she realized Uryu's shirt was unbuttoned and her face was against his bare chest. "Wh...What...?"
"I swear I will protect you." Uryu whispered sternly in Ashley's ear. His arm was slithered around Ashley's waist, and his other one was on the back of Ashley's head; He softly gripped strands of her chocolate brown hair in his fingers. He...really means it, Ashley thought to herself, closing her eyes slowly, as she timidly wrapped her arms around his thin and wet waist. And it isn't like last time. He says it as if he really believes in himself....I'm so glad. He's finally his old self again. Ashley smiled by that thought, as a small tear rolled down her cheek, "Yes. Thank you, Uryu."
Ashley released her grip on Uryu's wet back, as she looked up at him, and noticed something absolutely different: Uryu was not wearing his glasses. She could barely think of any time that she's seen him without his glasses, and that was when he was training with his father, under the hospital, to regain his powers. But he was unconcious when his glasses slipped off, and she never got a precise look at him. Without his glasses on, Uryu seemed to be a different person to Ashley; cute, yes, but very different. Ashley couldn't count down the many times she wished for Uryu to never get contacts or any situation where he would never wear those wonderful rectangle-shaped glasses of his. Ashley could never get over how adoreable Uryu looks when he pushes his glasses up to his nose with his index and middle finger; she would never want to see that stop.
"Uryu, where are your glasses?" Ashley asked, immediately after she realized it. Uryu stared down at Ashley with blinking, confused blue eyes for a minute or two, but then instantly remembered his wet glasses in the tub, back in the bathroom. "Oh, that's right," Uryu said, brushing his arm over his forehead, wiping away the water that trinkled down his face, "I left them in the bathroom. I guess I should get cleaned up while I'm in there." Uryu went over toward the open door, heading toward the bathroom, but first took one last glimpse of Ashley before he left, "Thanks, Ashley." Ashley smiled, as she sat at the end of her bed, "No, Uryu. I'm the one who should say 'Thanks.'"
After Uryu had left, Ashley took a quick glance up at the wall clock, which showed it was almost nine. Which meant a new day of her life in such a wonderful world would start in hours to come. Getting ready for bed, Ashley went over to her closet--which was beside her bed--and rummaged through a few pajama attires that Uryu was able to make for her a few nights back. Ashley pulled one of her favorite ones, which was one of the first ones Uryu made for her: a small, white short-sleeved shirt with light blue lace at the bottom and at the collar and sleeves, and pants to go with it which had small, blue Quincy crosses all around them; there was also lace around the top and at the hems of the pants. Ashley placed them down on her bed, and couldn't help but stare at them in wonder, "Wow, these are really beautiful. I gotta remind myself to thank Uryu for doing this."
Quickly, Ashley skipped over across the room over to her door, closed it, locked it, and quickly changed into the pajamas. It took Ashley no less than three minutes to do this, as she gathered up her school uniform in her arms. "It's been a real long day today," Ashley said to herself as she walked out of her room, and toward the laundry room which was around the corner where the bathroom was. As she walked past the bathroom, the bathroom door opened, and Uryu came out wearing a plain white t-shirt with a pair of gray sweat pants. Uryu then noticed Ashley walking by, "Oh, Ashley. Where are you going?" Seeing Uryu, Ashley smiled cheerfully, "Oh, hey, Uryu. I was going to wash my uniform for tomarrow. If you need something washed, then I'll do it. I won't mind."
Uryu walked up to Ashley then, taking her uniform from her arms, "No, that's okay, Ashley. I'll do it for you, if you want. I don't want to trouble you with these kind of things. Besides, I think it's best if you stay home tomarrow. Let that wound heal, or you might cause suspicion on everyone else." Instead of urging Uryu to change his mind this time, Ashley agreed with Uryu. She didn't feel like getting up in the early morning only to listen to Ichigo's constant questions on what happened. "Yeah, you're right, Uryu. I'm definately not up to going to school to be looked at suspiciously all day." Uryu sighed in relief, "I'm so glad you see it my way. You're more easier to deal with than Kurosaki, that's for sure."
Ashley giggled by Uryu's last comment, as Uryu just then noticed that Ashley was wearing the pajamas he made for her. "Oh, you're wearing the pajamas I made. It looks wonderful on you." Ashley blushed a light pink from that, but also giggled from it once again, "Really? Thanks! I really love them, they fit me well!" Uryu smirked from that, as he walked past Ashley, toward the laundry room. "Good. Well, I'll put these away then we can get some shut eye. It's been a real long day, for both of us."
Ashley opened her mouth half way, but no words came out. Truth told, since she couldn't go to school tomarrow, Ashley hoped that she could be able to stay up with Uryu and both of them could do nothing but just talk. Nothing special at all, just talk about meaningless things that no one cares about; and maybe even order take-out for a midnight snack. Ashley couldn't think of a more perfect thing to do tonight at all. Just being beside Uryu is an exciting adventure to her: she never knows what will happen, and it excites her about what will. She wanted to at least try; and even if he declines, she has so much time to hang around Uryu, anyway. "Alright, your uniform and some of my clothes are being washed," Uryu declared as he stepped out of the laundry room. "It'll be ready in a minute, don't worry." Uryu then looked down at Ashley, as he noticed that she had a thoughtful look about her; she never blinked her eyes. "What's wrong?" Uryu asked, in worriment.
"Well, I've been thinking," Ashley began, looking up at Uryu. "Since we won't be going to school tomarrow, how about we stay up tonight?" Uryu sighed and shook his head in decline, just as Ashley knew, "Ashley, I don't think that's a good idea. You need your rest. I hope you understand." Declined he did, but Ashley wasn't going to give up. "Yes, I know," Ashley sighed in annoyance, "But, when you were in the laundry room, I started to remember something you said to me when I first came here. When I was at Ichigo's place, before me, Rukia, and Orihime went out together, remember that?" Uryu nodded his head once. "Remember what you told me? You said I should do what I want in this world; some things that I can never do in my world. You said I should do many things like that before I go back home. And I want," Ashley sighed desperately, hoping it would work. "I want to just talk to you, Uryu; start up many converstions with you. That's it. That's all." "What do you want to talk about?" Uryu asked, when he realized Ashley was finished. "Anything that comes to mind," Ashley said, her pleading brown eyes gazing up at Uryu's curious blue eyes. "Anything you want to share. And I'll even tell you some things about me you want to know. Please talk to me Uryu, please. Talk to me at least until I fall asleep."
"Well," Uryu sighed desperately, placing his hands on his hips. "If it's what you want, then okay." Ashley lit up bright at that moment, brighter than the moon, as she nodded her head. "Yes! I do! I really, really do!!" Uryu softly chuckled inside from Ashley's sudden excitement, as he descended his way up the stairs with Ashley behind him, "Alright. We can go in my room and start talking. Is that okay with you?" Ashley walked behind Uryu, while she mumbled a Mm-Hm, "Yeah, that's perfect."
When they made it infront of the door, straight across from Ashley's, Uryu opened the door wide enough for Ashley to walk in first. Inside, Ashley timidly sat at the edge of Uryu's bed, realizing how much more softer it felt than her's, as Uryu closed the door behind him. Uryu sighed in, walking toward where Ashley was, and sitting beside her with a few inches inbetween them, "So, what do you want to talk about?" Ashley gasped softly, as if shock came over her, "Oh, yeah. Actually, all I had in my mind was just talking with you; it never crossed my mind what we would talk about." Uryu chuckled quietly by that, "Well, then there are some things I want to talk about with you." Ashley looked up at Uryu, unblinking, "Oh! What is it? I'll tell you what you want."
Uryu sighed in, wondering if it was best to tell her, or just to keep it inside for the rest of his life. But he realized that he may never get a chance like this. He started, "Well, we've been living together for some time now, and it got me noticing something about you: you always seem to be lost in thought over something, that you seem to never tell me. I always wanted to know why and what it was that made you think so much. Can you please tell me? If you can't then I'll understand."
I've been thinking of nothing but you. Ashley thought to herself, but she couldn't say that. There are other things that had crossed her mind more than once, but Uryu was always in her mind all the time. "Well," Ashley began, thinking of starting with what she first thought of when she came to this world. "I've been thinking so much about being here in this world. I mean, everyone dreams of living an exciting life in an amazing place with the greatest friends and enemies any one can ask for. But, for me, I'm living that dream. It's all real for me. Real." Uryu could not help but stare at Ashley with relief that she was actually happy here, in his world, "But, don't you miss your friends and family?" Ashley laced her fingers together on her lap, sighing deeply, "Yes, I do. I really do. They're probably looking everywhere for me, as we speak. But, it makes me wonder...when they figured out I was gone."
"What do you mean? You can't possibly say that you think that they don't care or even notice that you're gone?!" Uryu's voice raised up to a higher volume than it was; Ashley feared it was her that he was shouting at. Ashley slowly closed her eyes, tightening her fingers together. She opened her eyes again, "I'm not the most sharpest tool in the shed, you know. I'm always getting these damn lectures when I don't even do shit. They yell at me for the most ridiculous reasons they could probably think of, and even lock me in my room just for the hell of it. I only had my friends to keep me going...and you as well, Uryu."
Uryu smiled by the last part, glad to be of some help to her, but he also felt so remorseful for Ashley now, "I'm so sorry to hear that. I guess I shouldn't have asked in the first place. Please forgive me." Ashley smiled sadly from seeing Uryu's sad look on his face, as she gently padded his shoulder, "Don't sweat it, Uryu. It's not your fault. You were just speaking your mind; I won't get mad at you for that." Uryu smiled pleasingly from Ashley's true and kind words, while he asked, "So, is there anything you want to ask me now?" Ashley crossed her arms over her chest, her head down, thinking of what she should talk about. Something finally came to mind, whilst she asked, "Yeah. There's something I want to know about uhm, what's it called...oh! Silver Ginto! That's it! Those little tubey thingys you kept some spiritual power in! So, how is it that spititual power could look like liquid? I don't get that."
"Oh, yes," Uryu said, as he got up and went over to his desk: he opened one of the small drawers and pulled something out, and threw it over to Ashley. Ashley steadily caught them in her palms, studying the silver-ish tubes in her hands: Silver Ginto. Ashley stared at them for the longest time; she could not believe that she was holding an actual Quincy item in her hands. "Wow. But, I thought you used your last one with fighting your dad?" Uryu nodded to Ashley's question, as he sat back against the bed frame, "Yeah, I did. But I made some more when my powers were back." Ashley held up one of the tubes with her thumb and index finger, staring up at it, as she layed her back on the bed. "Awesome...a real Quincy device." Uryu smiled by such amazement Ashley showed for such a small item, "You know, you can have those if you want. I probably don't need them since I have my powers back."
"Yaaayyyy!!!" Ashley screamed happily, kicking her legs up and down, repeatedly, in excitement. "This is great! Thanks, Uryu!!" Uryu smiled to himself by how he made Ashley so happy, while thinking, No, Ashley. I should be the one saying thanks, not you.
All through the night, Ashley and Uryu talked about all the things that were on their minds, and even things that randomly popped up in their heads. From Ashley's world all the way toward what might happen if Ashley goes back to or not. (She hopes not.) Now, at two in the morning, Ashley found herself laying asleep on Uryu's bed, breathing slowly, while Uryu went out in the kitchen for a drink. When he came back to the room, he found Ashley dead asleep on his bed. Uryu sighed, sitting the juice box he was holding on his desk, as he gently sat next to Ashley's sleeping body. Putting his hand softly on her shoulder, he slowly shook her, "Ashley, wake up, you fell asleep. Ashley," Ashley then turned her body in Uryu's direction, suddenly wrapping her arms around Uryu's waist; probably mistakening him for a pillow. "Ashley," Uryu whispered hesitatingly, blushing a soft pink. Ashley was dead to the world, alive to her dreams, and she never heard not one word Uryu said. Uryu smiled by her sleeping figure, "I guess you're sleeping here tonight."
As quietly as he could, he picked up the blanket at the edge of the bed, and covered it over both him and Ashley; Ashley never released her grip on Uryu. Uryu slipped off his glasses and placed them on the nearby drawer, and turned off the light. He patted Ashley's head, which was laying against his chest, before he dwelled on to sleep.