Wow...I really thought I had already published this chapter and I guess I didn't. I've been working on both my stories off and on since I've been so busy lately. I've had this file in my computer for a while and already partway through 14. Sorry this took so long.
Sachiel was bent over her microscope, studying the cells she'd placed there. She was working on the fourth stage of the new medicine she had indicated she wanted to try. Ulquiorra stared at her quietly as he watched her work. She would jot down notes now and again, the aura of the lab quiet. In the background, the sounds of her favorite radio station filled the silence of the room. Music helped her concentrate.
The local university's research department had asked her to work on this leg of the formula that she'd presented to them. So far, she was meeting a wall when it came to killing the virus. He knew she was frustrated but he also knew that she wasn't one to give up so easily. Jo came down the stairs, stopping at the last step as she sat down, watching Ulquiorra for a second before turning to Sachiel.
"Is she making any progress," she asked quietly.
"No. She isn't," Sachiel answered, pushing away from the microscope as she picked up her notes again.
After the party, everyone had settled into a routine. As she'd predicted, the university's archaeological department shut down the dig, claiming it was too unstable now to further research. When she'd sealed the gate, the ruins had suffered a lot of damage from the force of the explosion. Those who had attended the joint project had received their grade based upon their participation. Ichigo and Sado chose to remain behind while Ishida and the other two students had opted to go home. Renji had already returned to Soul Society, leaving Sachiel, Ulquiorra and Jo with nothing more to do than return to their routine sans the regular patrols.
Despite her lack of formal education, Jo was amazingly adept at being able to decipher the code of genetics when it came to identifying what was needed to deteriorate diseased cells. She walked over to Sachiel, looking at her notes before looking into the microscope herself. Sachiel was sitting at her computer, re-evaluating the equation that she'd been using.
"Here," Jo said, motioning with her hand behind her. "Look."
Sachiel came back over, looking into the microscope. "See how they seem to be resistant to your formula? They aren't. Your formula is effective but not effective enough. I'm sure that, if you added a very small dosage of the life root, you might see an improvement."
Sachiel turned back to her computer, recalculating her formula. She turned to the vials, adding a bit of the herb as indicated by the formula. She took a small dropper, filling it before she added a drop to the different samples.
Ichigo came down the stairs, wondering at the quiet as Ulquiorra watched the two women work. He'd been amazed the first time he'd come down to the lab and gotten a good look around. The lab was sterile, the equipment in it state of the art, some not even in production, exclusively made by her for what she needed. Beyond another door, he had found her botanica, filled with hundreds of varieties of flowers.
"What's up," he asked Ulquiorra quietly, sitting on the edge of the steps.
"She's about to discover her breakthrough," he answered.
"The stage that's been giving her so much trouble?"
He nodded. "Jo helped her identify the key she kept missing. A fresh pair of eyes usually helps do that."
Ichigo agreed, still watching. "That's what Dad says."
"Shall we go upstairs, Kurosaki? You've been inactive for the past week, since your friends left. Would you like to spar?"
"You bored, Ulquiorra," Sachiel asked from her spot where she was sealing the samples.
"Me? Why would I be bored," he asked, sarcasm leaking into his tone. "I'm having the best time just watching the wheels in your mind turning. I think they might need a little oiling, though."
Both Jo and Sachiel snapped their heads around, looking at him in shock. "Did…did you just make a joke," Jo asked in amazement. Even Ichigo looked at him with his mouth agape.
"It happens," he shrugged.
"Yeah, not," Jo commented, turning back to the fresh slide of cells. "Yes! I was right," she gloated, dancing a little in front of the microscope. Sachiel pushed her aside gently, taking a look at the slide for herself. Sure enough, the added liferoot had caused the cells to begin to deteriorate, the healthy cells beginning to take over.
"Amazing," she whispered. "You did it, Jo!"
"I'm good, I know…"
"Good at getting a swollen ego," Ulquiorra said blandly, giving her a smirk as she flipped him off. "Maybe later," he returned, walking back up the stairs.
Again, he'd left Jo speechless, Sachiel just as quiet as she realized the change over her brother. "Jo…have you two…" She didn't finish her question, holding up her hand for silence as she closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly as if to take the image from her mind.
"What? We're adults, engaged. We get funky," she shrugged.
"Overshare," Sachiel cried, covering her ears as she turned back to her computer, inputting the new data. "I'm so going to have to wash my brain later to remove that image."
Jo laughed, making her way to the stairs. "Like you and Ichigo haven't been going at it like rabbits," she called down. Sachiel could feel her ears go red, the blush spreading to her cheeks.
Ichigo ducked his head as well. "I thought you had a sound barrier around the room," he asked after a moment.
"Umm…I forgot a few times," she said meekly in defense.
"Awesome," Ichigo said, sarcasm thick in his voice as he covered his face with his hand. "Well, at least they aren't teasing me about it."
She shrugged after a moment. "I guess it's natural for two consenting adults," she said, going to the printer to make a hard copy of her formulation before she faxed it off.
|(|)|
"I don't like this one," Jo said, plucking at the skirt of the dress she was wearing. After she'd told her aunts Terra and Cathy about Ulquiorra's proposal the day after the battle, the women had gone into a frenzy. They began to make plans for the wedding, keeping Jo busy with the details. While Terra was more than open to Jo's suggestions, Cathy wanted to plan every last detail.
She had picked out more than a few gowns that she wanted Jo to try. The impression that it left on both Jo and Terra was that of a princess gown. Both women looked at each other, shaking their heads as they frowned.
"What's wrong with them," Cathy demanded. "They're pretty."
"They're not her," Terra answered.
"But they'll look good on her!"
"Cathy…this is Jo's wedding. Not yours."
Cathy stared at her sister, her mouth open as if to speak when she suddenly closed it. She was right. She'd gotten caught up in her vision of an ideal wedding, not considering what Jo wanted. "Alright…which do you like, Jo?"
Jo stared at her aunt for a moment before she made a mad dash off the pedestal she was on. She ran toward the back of the store, coming back with a dress unlike any of the ones Cathy had picked out. The tight bodice was connected to a half sheath that split in the front. The color was champagne on cream. Tulle lace finished the rest of the dress, sweeping down the length as an accented lace layered over the top to cover the tulle. The bodice was embroidered in a beautiful scroll pattern, seed pearls and crystals added at different points to accent the embroidery.
"Wow…," Cathy gasped. "Where did you find that one?"
"Well I've actually had my eye on it for a while," Jo shrugged. "It was love at first sight."
"It's beautiful, bug. Go try it on," Terra urged, taking in the design and cut of the dress.
Jo beamed, taking off to the changing room so that she could model it for her aunts. She'd been dieting so that she could fit into the dress that was a size smaller than she actually wore. She came back a few minutes later, long gloves coming up to almost her shoulder that looked like burnout velvet. The gloves matched the dress perfectly. The dress fit her just right, fitting snug against her body and rear before the rest of the dress trailed behind her.
Cathy was speechless, Terra wanted to cry. "It's perfect," she said after another moment. "You look so beautiful, bug."
Cathy walked around the girl as she stepped on the pedestal, admiring the fit and how well it worked with her coloring. "Yup. It's you, Jo," she said.
"Really? I can have it?"
Terra smiled, wiping away a tear as she nodded. "You can have it."
Jordan squealed, hugging Cathy before she ran over to hug Terra. The seamstress came into the room, smiling as she saw the gown on Jo.
"I haven't been able to sell that dress," she commented. "It looks like it was made for you."
Jordan beamed, running her hands delicately along the front of the dress. "Just a few alterations I think," the seamstress said, coming forward as she tucked in the sides a little. "We'll have to let out the back a bit around the hips," she added, making mental notes.
"When do you need it?"
"One week," Terra said. "Her wedding is July 6."
The seamstress nodded. "It'll be ready."
Terra nodded, walking to the counter as Cathy followed her. "You shouldn't have gotten her that," Cathy admonished. "She's not your daughter."
"No, she isn't. But her mother left her in my care when you were only fourteen, Cathy. Her dad was always too busy with work."
"I'm more of a mother to her."
"Cathy, we are not going to have this argument again. You have your children. I never got to have any. I raised Jo until I left when you were twenty. She was eight."
"Exactly. You left."
"And we lost Bobbie because I did. I left for six years because Mom told me to follow my heart and live my life. For that, I got excommunicated from the family. I come back and everything I built into those girls was lost. They went from mindful, well mannered children to little spoiled brats who felt the world owed them everything. You and Mom did that."
"We did the best we could."
"Yeah? Is that why Bobbie ended up getting killed and you almost?"
Cathy was speechless. "I gave up my life for them," she hissed.
"Cathy, we both know that you stuck around for two years after I left before you were off getting knocked up and then getting dumped by your boyfriend because you wouldn't have an abortion. I sent money back home every chance I got."
"No, you didn't."
"Yes, I did. I sent three thousand dollars home every two months so that mom would have the money she needed to take care of the girls and you."
"Mom never said anything."
"She wouldn't. You know how mom stashed money. Not all of it was found after she passed away either."
Cathy looked at the floor, her mind calculating. "You sent home…over seventy thousand dollars?"
"One hundred eight thousand to be exact," Terra said.
Cathy was floored. "But we lived like we were poor."
"Then take that up with Mom when you get to heaven," she shot back. "I have the receipts if you want proof."
"That's a lot of money."
"Yes, it is. I made more than enough in my small business to send that to her. After I put most of it into several CD's, I kept rolling it over. That's why I have the small fortune I have today. I still have quite a few of them that I keep rolling over."
"Alright, you win. You can pay for Jo's wedding."
"Good. Now hush up and help me pick out some jewelry."
|(|)|
Ichigo looked up at the sky as he lay on the cool grass. He was getting restless with nothing to do. Sachiel had had to attend a meeting at the university and said she would be gone for most of the day. Jo was out with her aunts. Sado had become friendly with the girl he'd met at the birthday party. Ulquiorra was out doing something. He thought spending a few more weeks here would be a good break from his school routine. Classes didn't start again for another month and a half.
He let his eyes drift close, letting his thoughts roam where they would. Zangetsu had been quiet. But then, he didn't usually communicate with the spirit in his sword. He went to him when he was in trouble and needed his help.
"Kurosaki," Ulquiorra called to him.
Ichigo cracked an eye, looking at him from the corner of it.
"Would you care for some entertainment," the arrancar asked. "We can spar if you'd like."
"You wanna spar?"
"Well, you did say that you would like to have a rematch someday."
Ichigo sat up, looking at him curiously before smirking. "Out here?"
"No. In the alternate world where we won't destroy anything that anyone would miss."
"Except each other."
Ulquiorra gave a nod, walking past Ichigo before he opened up the portal to Sachiel's alternate world. Ichigo hung back, confusion on his face. "Sachiel gave me the ability to pass into her world if I should feel the need to let out frustrations. However, with Jo, I find that I do not have such trivial worries," he explained. "I have rarely used this dimension of hers unless we, ourselves, were sparring."
"Then she won't mind?"
"No. In here, we will be as powerful, if not more so than, when we first fought. You said once that you didn't want to win by your hollow's victory. Let us see if you can defeat me," he said.
Ichigo followed, both men coming to the clearing that was used by Sachiel when she had taught them. Ichigo looked over to the camp, smiling slightly as he recalled his first memories of the place with her.
"Shift," Ulquiorra said calmly. Both men were shifted to their spirit forms by the forces in the alternate world. It would seem Sachiel gave him the ability to control this function as well.
Ichigo could feel the weight of Zangetsu on his back, smiling as he realized that he could go all out here with Ulquiorra.
He took hold of his blade, unsheathing it as he brought his guard up. Ulquiorra was standing in his released form as well.
"Bankai form would probably be better," Ulquiorra stated.
"Yeah…you're probably right." Ichigo called forth his tensa Zangetsu, taking up his defensive stance. "I assume you're probably going to attack first?"
Ulquiorra lifted a corner of his mouth in a smirk and gave a slight nod. "If you want, I will."
"Why not? We can go all out. Only thing missing is the anger I had for you before."
Ulquiorra came up, green lance in hand, hovering just before Ichigo. "Give it your all anyway, Kurosaki."
And he did. Like their battle before, Ichigo and Ulquiorra were able to release as much energy as they wanted, their blows and energy strikes making for fantastic concussions in Sachiel's alternate world. As before, walls and spires of rock were demolished into dust, spiritual fire from Ulquiorra's cero oscuras and Ichigo's getsuga tenshou scorched the earth.
After some hours, both men hovered in the air, panting heavily as sweat and blood literally poured off their bodies.
"That…was a draw," Ichigo panted, swallowing hard as he tried get his dry mouth wet again.
Ulquiorra nodded, smirking. "Even without your hollow, your strength is impressive, Kurosaki."
Ichigo managed a smile, making his way to the small camp. Hopefully, the ice chest Sachiel kept there was still full of the cold water jugs she kept. Alighting on the ground, he went to it, finding the ice inside only partially melted, smaller water bottles inside instead of the gallon jugs she usually kept.
He lifted two out, tossing one to Ulquiorra as he sat on one of the rock seats nearby. Ichigo sat on the other side of the dead campfire, taking a long draw of the icy water. "Thanks, Ulquiorra," he said after a moment.
"It was nothing," the arrancar said. "With the upcoming wedding, I'm afraid I should be thanking you."
"Why's that," he asked, an eyebrow quirking up.
"I needed an outlet for my anxiety," Ulquiorra answered, looking away.
Ichigo looked at him, dumbfounded. "Nervous?"
Ulquiorra said nothing, silence answering Ichigo's question.
"If it makes you feel any better, I'm nervous, too."
Ulquiorra shifted his gaze, staring at him from the corner of his eye. "I came here with no expectations except to get out of the country for a while, have some fun on a school trip, meet some new people," he said. "Instead, I find my life totally changed around by a pair of beautiful green eyes and a smile that melts my heart every time." Ichigo stared down at the ground. "To be honest with you, I'm scared as hell that she's not going to like Japan. I'm afraid of not being able to find a place for us to live. Fuck, I'm scared she won't like living with me."
Ulquiorra smiled at the man, having seen his strengths and now to admit to his former enemy, the weaknesses of his heart; he felt for him. It wasn't pity but more a sense of camaraderie. Both men were on the verge of the biggest changes in their lives…and here they were beating each other senseless. "All my existence, I have only been responsible for myself," Ulquiorra said after a moment, his hands toying with the condensation on the bottle. "In less than a week's time, I'll be responsible for someone other than myself. They will depend on me, need me. While I'm used to taking orders, I'm not used to being someone's support system. She wants children. I don't know that I can give that to her. All I can do, is try to make her happy."
"That's all any of us can do, Ulquiorra."
"Kurosaki?"
"Eh," he answered before taking another drink of his water.
"Will you be my best man at the wedding?"
Ichigo sputtered before casting an incredulous look at the man. "You don't even have a best man," he asked, wiping the water from his chin.
"I don't know many men aside from Jo's father and her uncle. Her father is walking her down the isle and I don't know her uncle all that well."
Ichigo gave the man a sympathetic look. He was going into this marriage with Jo, not completely prepared for what was in store and with no support system of his own. "Sure, Ulquiorra," he answered. "It'll be my pleasure to be your best man."
Ulquiorra looked at him, a small smile on his lips. "Thank you, Kurosaki. We better get back. Sachiel should be back soon and I promised to make dinner tonight."
He nodded, getting up as Ulquiorra also stood, opening the portal that would take them back to the real world. Just as he predicted, Sachiel had just pulled into the driveway when they emerged. She smiled at them when they came into view, that smile faltering when she noted the state they were in.
She shook her head, smiling as she summoned a red healing orb, bathing Ulquiorra first before healing Ichigo with another healing spell.
"Can't leave you two alone for a minute, can I," she joked, her hands on her hips in mock anger.
Ichigo grinned sheepishly at her while Ulquiorra scoffed, turning his head to the side as he walked into the house. She grinned at her brother's back before reaching back into the jeep, taking out her briefcase.
"How'd the meeting go," he asked as he came up beside her, taking her briefcase as he leaned in for a kiss.
"Good, I think," she answered. "How'd your day go? Or should I even ask?"
Ichigo shrugged. "Ulquiorra asked me to be his best man at the wedding."
"Really? That's great!"
He nodded. "I guess I should plan a bachelor party," he grinned, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
"It's not going to be a traditional wedding in what you might think," she said. "But I don't know how he'd feel about one of those."
"I can ask. If nothing else, I can take him out for a last night of freedom."
"I don't think he knows how to let loose," she said quietly. "He usually just goes along with whatever Jo and I want."
"Well we'll have to fix that," he said, walking beside her to the door, opening it for her as they went inside.
She took her briefcase from him, making her way back into her lab. Ichigo stayed close behind her, wanting to see more of her research. He wasn't the brightest bulb in the pack but he did want to see what his fiancé was up to now. When he'd told his father about his want of a business degree to help him expand the clinic and help with the expenses, his father hadn't been that supportive, wanting him to follow in his footsteps. Ichigo was used to bloodshed, seeing opponents chopped in half, eviscerated, blood everywhere. Putting it back together wasn't an easy idea for him. He could help at the clinic usually but he was more the muscle than the surgeon or nurse like his sisters.
He sat in a chair, watching as she unpacked her briefcase, studying the notes before turning to her computer and putting in more data. The screen flickered for a moment before the screen changed, showing a DNA strand rotating as various elements were added to it.
"I thought you could cure anything," he commented after a moment.
Sachiel turned to him, her expression confused for a moment before she smiled gently. "I can but the rest of the world cannot. I can't be everywhere at once," she answered. "I know that many of the illnesses in this world evolve even more rapidly than scientists can find a cure for. So what I do, is create a tamped down vaccine that will slow a disease's progression to give them that time," she answered. "It is the cure but so diluted, it merely hampers the effects."
"So, you give them time," he said.
She nodded, turning back to her work.
"What are you working on now, then?"
"Same as I was before," she said. "There's a plague that's sweeping through part of the African continent, very similar to the bubonic plague. Since it's been so long since that plague has ravaged the world, they do not know quite how to attack it. I presented the formulation that would begin to destroy it."
Ichigo's eyebrows went up in surprise. "How…how do you know how to destroy it?" He was afraid of the answer.
She turned to him, a smile of sadness on her lips. "I created it," she answered quietly. "Part of my atonement is to undo what I created. Many of the diseases that are resistant to most medicines, are my doing."
He'd been afraid she would say that.
|(|)|
The next few weeks passed quickly for the pair. With Sachiel away most of the time, Ichigo had much free time in order to plan Ulquiorra's bachelor party, be his best man at the wedding and even had a surprise birthday party given to him by Sachiel, even if it was just the two of them. He had tried to be happy for her since she'd gone through the trouble but that night, told her the reason for his mood becoming so depressed as of late. That night, he'd done something he hadn't done in a while. He cried softly in her arms as he told her of his mother and what he remembered from her life and the battle of the hollow that tried to use her image to keep him at bay. It had been his first time to miss the family's annual journey to her grave.
And then, all too soon, it was time for him to go. Sachiel had armed him with the money needed to find them an apartment as well as extra so that he could help buy furnishings for it. With that knowledge, the realization that she was going to be a permanent part of his life soon hit him full force. Like Ulquiorra, he was going to be responsible for someone other than himself, someone who would depend on him but not like his friends had.
He knew that Sachiel would be a few more weeks behind him, dismissing Terra's time estimate of four months to six weeks. Three had passed.
Sachiel stood at the doorway, leaning against the frame as she watched him zip up his suitcase. A lot had changed for him over the last few months but he felt confident that he could do for her what was needed to make their home. She needed the next few weeks to prepare herself and to settle her business here.
He stood, walking to her before setting his case down. She smiled sadly at him, her hand on his shoulder. He could see the glistening of tears in her eyes, her sadness showing on her face. He put his arms around her, pulling her to him as he caught her eyes.
"The time will fly," he whispered. "You'll be on a plane to me in no time. You'll be so busy getting ready, you won't have to worry about missing me."
She sniffled, nodding to him as she lowered her eyes. She took her hands from behind her back. It was then that Ichigo noticed that her hair was shorter. He thought she had it braided back and it was, but the rest of the length was in her hands. He looked down at the braid that was severed from the rest of her hair.
"What did you do," he asked softly, his fingers finding her severed braid.
"For you…to remember me by," she answered, sniffling as she tried to hold back her tears as she held it out to him. He took it from her, noting how it felt softer, the gold freely tracing through the rich mahogany of her hair. She sobbed quietly, trying to hold it back.
"Hey…none of that now," he soothed, looking back to her eyes, cupping her chin with a finger to bring her face to his, his lips kissing hers softly.
"I miss you already," she whispered as she threw her arms around him, holding him tightly.
"We can talk on the phone," he half joked. "We can also talk through our link. And I'll meet you in your dreams."
"We're on different time zones, silly," she said, trying to laugh at her joke.
"Then we'll talk through our link. I'll miss you," he said.
She shuddered softly against him, taking a deep breath before releasing him from her hold. She took a step back, brushing away her tears.
"It's only temporary, right? I'll be there soon," she whispered, trying to put a smile on her face.
"That's right, love. We better get going, though. If we don't, we're going to be late," he said quietly, nodding at her question. Picking up his suitcase, he tucked her braid into it before walking to the stairs. Sachiel followed him, grabbing her keys as they went out the front door. Putting on her shades, she started up the jeep, taking him to the airport.
|(|)|
Ichigo exited the plane, going through the ramp that led to the terminal. His father and sisters would be meeting him. He smiled as he saw Yuzu waving frantically to him, calling out his name over the noise of the other people in the airport. He walked to them, dropping his small carry on case as Yuzu jumped into his arms.
"Welcome home, Onii-chan," she exclaimed.
Isshin looked at his son for a moment, confusion written clearly on his face. "Have a good time, Ichigo," he asked.
"Yeah. It was definitely a learning experience."
"Sado came back last week. Why did you stay gone so long, Ichi-nii," Karin asked him.
"I'll explain on the way home. I'm starved after that plane trip."
"I made your favorites, brother," Yuzu piped up, walking happily beside him.
Isshin kept his eyes on his son, noting the change in him, the reappearance of his reiatsu. He didn't know how but hopefully, his son would tell him all what had really happened on his trip to another country.
|(|)|
"A WHAT?" The three Kurosakis, sitting around the table for dinner with their returned family member, gawked in disbelief.
"I have a girlfriend," Ichigo repeated. "She's going to be here in three weeks to stay in Japan while she finishes school. She'll be staying here even after that."
Isshin sat there, his mouth moving but nothing coming out as he realized what his son was saying.
"You're too young," he finally managed to get out.
"I know. That's why we're waiting," Ichigo answered, taking another bite of rice. He looked at the bowl for a few seconds, realizing how bland the rice was. He was already missing her cooking.
"You don't have a full time job and you're still in school. How will you support her? Where will you live? In that tiny cupboard you call an apartment?" Isshin was firing off questions faster than Ichigo could keep up with.
He set his chopsticks down, putting on a stoic face as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Sachiel and I will be living in a new apartment. She has asked me to find one suitable for the two of us and also to furnish it," he said after a moment. "She gave me access to her funds so that I could do that for her."
"Is that her name, Ichi-nii," Karin asked, her eyes bright with excitement, despite her tone.
"Don't encourage him, Karin," Isshin said.
Ichigo nodded, reaching behind him to his back pocket where he fished out his wallet. He flipped through a few pictures in it, finding the one of Sachiel. He took the picture out, showing it to Yuzu before Karin took it, both barely glimpsing the woman before Isshin grabbed the photo and stared. And stared.
He dropped the picture suddenly, wailing as he went to the giant poster of Masaki. "Mother! Our son has found a wife! We're going to have grandchildren," he wailed happily to the smiling woman.
"Looks like he took that well," Karin grumped, taking up the picture again. She smiled at it, handing it back to Ichigo.
"We can help you shop, brother," Yuzu exclaimed. "We can pick out things she might like."
"Yeah. We'll have to get her acquainted with life here in Japan," he said. "It's very different from where she lives now."
Isshin continued to talk to the picture of Masaki, exclaiming again about grandchildren. All three of his children looked over at him before going back to their dinner.
|(|)|
"There," Inoue said, fluffing the pillow a bit more. She, along with Yuzu and Karin, had helped him furnish the apartment after he had found the one he thought she would like. It was spacious and gave a view of the setting sun over the river. The air in the apartment was calm, the tones of the furnishings were neutral, like her home back in the desert.
Ichigo looked at his watch. They still had several hours before her plane came in. He checked the bed again. He'd gone with the Western style of bed, similar to the one she had back home. He didn't think she would like the idea of sleeping on a mat and he himself missed his bed back at the clinic.
He smiled as Inoue stepped back, appraising her handiwork. She had been a great help in putting the apartment together. She'd even brought over a vase filled with flowers to brighten up the apartment for Sachiel's welcoming. She also knew that Ichigo was itching for the time to fly by faster. He'd mentioned to her many times how much he missed the angel.
Inoue looked over, smiling as she saw him check his watch for the fifth time in as many minutes.
"No matter how much you look, it won't change any faster, Kurosaki-kun," she giggled.
Ichigo smirked at his long time friend. "You always could read me," he said, walking to her. Inoue smiled, giving him a pat on his shoulder. "Let's go get some lunch. It'll take your mind off the time," she said, walking past him.
He nodded to her retreating form, picking up the keys before he closed the door behind him.
Sado and Ishida had joined them for lunch. Inoue had called Ishida, the man calling Sado and everyone meeting up at a small diner. Ichigo again, kept checking his watch until Ishida finally took it away from him, practically wrestling the man to the ground to get it. Inoue had tried to pry her fiancé away from Ichigo, making no headway until the prized watch was in his hand.
Ichigo fumed silently in the booth until he noticed the clock on the wall. In spite of the conversation around him, he would glance at it from time to time. Not as much as his watch, but enough to annoy his friends.
"She'll be here soon, Kurosaki," Ishida said. "The more you think about it, the slower time will go."
"I can't help it."
"Well, try," Sado said. "I know you're anxious, Ichigo, but a few hours isn't going to kill you."
"With Kurosaki, it might," Ishida retorted.
"Ishida-kun," Inoue scolded. The man looked at her sheepishly before taking her hand and kissing it lightly.
Within fifteen minutes, their order was brought to them. It was simple: cheeseburgers and fries, milkshakes on the side. For a moment, Ichigo felt a bit nostalgic. They used to do this when they were in high school, on their off days.
"Know what really sounds good," Sado suddenly said.
Everyone looked at him expectantly. "Barbecued ribs," he said.
Everyone agreed. While with Sachiel, they had developed a taste for the spicy, tangy foods that were seared over an open fire. Everything that she had cooked was more flavorful than what they grew up on. Her desserts were also exploding with flavor. Inoue had come away from that trip with more than a few of her recipes.
With that thought, everyone began listing their favorites that they had developed while on the trip, again trading stories about their little adventure there.
Ichigo looked up at the clock for the first time in a while. His eyes went wide as he realized the time.
"We gotta go," he said, quickly exiting the booth. "Her plane lands in twenty minutes!"
Everyone scrambled behind him. With traffic, they would be lucky to make it there in twenty minutes. Climbing into the car that Ishida's dad had given him upon his return from his trip, they quickly began to navigate through traffic. Fate seemed to smile on them as every light they encountered was green, giving them free passage to the airport. Ichigo and Inoue both kept looking out the windows, craning their necks to see if they could spot her plane in the sky.
"There! It's that one," Inoue exclaimed, pointing at a plane that was coming in. Ichigo smiled.
"Yeah, that's hers," he agreed. "Looks like we're going to make it in time to meet her off the plane."
And they did. Ishida was able to find a parking place nearer the terminal than they had hoped. Ichigo rushed through the airport, his friends close behind. Sachiel had told him the flight number. Checking the board quickly, he made his way to where she would be disembarking the plane.
The flight attendants were just opening the door as they got there, people starting to mill outward from the hallway. Ichigo could feel her spiritual energies, the sensation of being close to her after being apart for so long sent shivers through his body. They had talked often on the phone, running up a large cellular bill for her as well as meeting in her dream world as often as possible. But those paled in comparison to being with her.
Everyone was craning their necks, on their tip toes as they tried to spot her gold shot mahogany hair among the crowd. Quite a few people came off the plane but there was no sign of Sachiel. After the passengers cleared, Ichigo began to worry. He knew that she had been on the plane, talking to her before she boarded. He could feel her close by as well. But then, where was she?
After another few minutes, Inoue and Sado looked at Ichigo worriedly, unsure how he would react to his girlfriend not disembarking the plane.
"Look," Ishida said, breaking through their thoughts.
Everyone looked back to the gate, seeing Sachiel pushing a wheelchair; an elderly woman in it as they exited. They were chatting like old friends. Ichigo felt his heart stop as he spotted her. She sensed her friends, looking up at them and smiling as she continued to wheel the woman toward them. Another small group came toward her, thanking her before taking the woman. Sachiel knelt down beside the wheelchair, taking the woman's hand and smoothing the hair at her temple before giving her a kiss on her forehead. They couldn't hear what she whispered to her but the woman smiled radiantly at her before her family wheeled her away.
She stood, watching them go. She could sense Ichigo's anxiety, felt him holding himself back from running to her. She turned to him, her face smiling as she looked at him. Before Ichigo knew it, Sachiel was running toward him, launching herself into his arms as she came near.
He caught her. He had stood back, letting her have her time with the frail woman. Her mass of curls had partially hidden her face. He had itched to run to her but this worked out better in his opinion. Her legs wrapped around him as she held on, hugging him tightly to her.
Giving them their privacy, Sado, Inoue and Ishida all turned away as he kissed her passionately. After a few moments, she tried to release him to step away but his hands found her thighs, holding on tightly. She laughed before flicking his nose lightly, just enough to make him let go.
She took a step back, greeting Inoue first before Ishida and Sado.
"I can't believe I'm finally here," she exclaimed taking Ichigo's hand as she leaned up, kissing the tip of his nose.
"We have the apartment ready for you, Sachi-san," Inoue said. "Ichigo's sister and I helped him furnish it so it won't look manly."
Sachiel beamed. "Really? I wouldn't have minded. Thank you, though, for helping him out. He told me that you were a really big help to him."
"She was," Ichigo agreed. "Let's go get your bags."
She nodded, walking next to him as she chatted animatedly with Orihime.
After they collected her bags and made their way to the car, Sachiel lagged behind a bit. She was tired from the plane ride and the excitement of seeing Ichigo and the others. He had told her that his sister had planned a welcome dinner for her and they had a few boxes to pick up as well since he hadn't finished packing. The dinner wasn't until tomorrow night, so she had time to rest and adjust.
Everyone piled into the car as Ishida and Ichigo put her luggage in the trunk. The fit was a little tight but they managed. Within no time, they were at the apartment building.
"This town is…interesting," she said, looking around as if searching for something. "I can see now, why this town has had so much trouble."
All four looked at her in surprise before they realized what she meant. "Yeah, it's the spiritual center," Ishida said. "The main focus of spiritual energies for this world…"
"Is right here in this small town," Sachiel finished. She glanced around, seeing everyone around her seemingly unaffected by the large founts of energies that appeared around them. This was bad. Now she could see the true motives behind her brother sending her here. She was to protect it.
"So how's Ulquiorra and Jo," Inoue asked.
Sachiel turned to her, smiling as they followed the men into the building. "They're doing great," she answered. "They got married. Ichigo even got to be best man! Before I left, they informed me that they're going to be having a baby. If he was nervous about having a wife, he's a mess over the baby."
"Really," Inoue exclaimed. "That's wonderful! I'm so happy for them!"
"Well then that's one worry off his mind," Ichigo added. "He wasn't sure if they could."
Sachiel nodded, knowing of her brother's concern. "I have to go back for the birth, though. I have to place a seal on the baby."
Everyone looked at her as they entered the elevator, surprised. "Wh…why would you have to do that, Sachi-san? Their children should be free, right," Inoue asked.
"Unfortunately, that's not how it is, Inoue. Children born of two guardians are more powerful than even their parents or a hollow. They can become demon entities if their abilities and blood are discovered and corrupted. Usually, a slayer marries a human in order to continue their bloodline and to ensure that this doesn't happen. With Jo marrying Ulquiorra, their children will have a demon soul, or at least a partial one," she explained.
Ichigo jerked, jolted by the news of what she'd said. He could feel his friends' eyes on him as the implications sunk in.
"Does…that mean our children will need to be sealed," he asked her hesitantly.
She nodded. "But not for the same reason," she said. "I am not a demon and not really a guardian like Ulquiorra. Our children will have to be sealed because of your vast power and my own. Mixed, our children could be five times stronger than we, ourselves, are."
"Five times…"
"Stronger?"
Sachiel turned to Inoue and Sado, smiling. "That's just an assumption. We don't know how it will turn out but to be on the safe side, they have to be sealed until their spirit knows for certain they're able to handle and control their powers."
All this talk of children and seals was making Ichigo nervous. Even though he wanted them, he didn't want to worry about them before they were even born.
"Let's not worry about that right now," he said uneasily. "There's plenty of time for baby talk later."
The elevator dinged, indicating their floor. Inoue hurried ahead of the group, smiling as she pulled out her key that Ichigo had given her for deliveries and to fix up the place. She unlocked the door, smiling. Ichigo and Sachiel also smiled, Ishida and Sado hanging back. Everyone had had some hand in fixing up the apartment and were eager to see her response.
She opened the door, Ichigo letting Sachiel in before anyone else. He and the others hung back at the doorway, waiting nervously as she walked in.
She walked around, smiling. The colors were warm and inviting. She could feel the energies of everyone that had helped Ichigo coming from the furnishings, welcoming her.
She turned, still smiling. Everyone was looking at her in trepidation. "I love it," she exclaimed, coming up and hugging Inoue before Ishida and Sado.
"Well, since we got you here, we better leave you two so that Ichigo can explain everything to you," Ishida said, pushing up his glasses.
"But we just got here," Inoue said.
"Yes, I know," he answered, taking her hand and leading her away. Sado smiled at Ichigo before leaving with them.
Sachiel looked at them, confused.
"But…" She turned to Ichigo, confusion evident that they would just leave.
He silenced her by kissing her softly.
"He knew I wanted to be alone with you," he explained.
She smiled, brushing her lips against his before planting a small kiss at the corner of his mouth. "Miss me, did you," she teased.
"More than you know," he said, capturing her mouth again. She returned his kiss, their mouths hungrily melded together as their tongues played with each other.
He ran one hand down her side, cupping her rear as he pulled her as close to him as they could get. He quickly pulled her shirt off, breaking the kiss only long enough to pull it over her head before tossing it on the floor. Her bra soon followed. Working his way down to her neck, he nipped and sucked softly at it as he reached down, unbuttoning her jeans. Sachiel didn't have time to register what he was doing before she found the cool floor touching her bare feet, her pants being pulled off as well as she felt him take a nipple into his mouth, his fingers already teasing the area between her legs.
He pulled her up, setting her on the island counter before undoing his own pants. Sachiel barely had time to take his shirt off before he was inside her, both groaning loudly into the empty apartment. She leaned back on her elbows, Ichigo taking a hold of her thighs and spreading them wide as he began to thrust into her hard, his actions almost desperate.
He leaned forward, his hips still thrusting as he kissed her. He broke away after a moment, still thrusting as he looked into her eyes. Their brilliant green was muted to a darker color.
He took her nipple in his mouth again, sucking hard before biting down gently on it; her cries echoing around the apartment. She could feel the tightness of her release begin to take hold deep in her belly. She moved against him, the sounds of their flesh meeting joined with Ichigo's grunts and her pants.
"I …missed you…so much," he panted against her chest, moving his hands down to her hips as he began to thrust harder and faster.
"I missed you too," she replied to him, her small cries beginning to build as she found herself closer. Ichigo grunted harder, feeling her inner walls tighten around him. Pulling back just a little, he pulled on her hips, bringing her off the counter. He turned her around, spreading her legs just a bit as he entered her again. She leaned over the counter, feeling him deeper inside of her as she cried out with each thrust. Her walls clamped down on his engorged length as she arched, crying out as her release came over her. Ichigo kept up his thrusting, extending her orgasm until he finally pushed as hard as he could into her, his cries echoing hers as he spilled his seed inside of her.
Still panting, he leaned over her, his chest rubbing against her back as he reached under her, massaging her breasts as he nibbled on one of her shoulders.
"No dream world can ever compare to that," he breathed heavily against her ear. The feel of his breath against her skin sent shivers down Sachiel's spine. She turned her face to his, kissing him tenderly.
He broke away first, a smirk on his lips as he felt her womanhood gently massaging him again.
"Are you tired," he asked sheepishly.
She laughed, standing straight. The action pushed Ichigo out of her. She turned, wrapping her arms around him as she laid her head on his chest. "A little. Want to come cuddle with me on the bed after you show it to me," she asked.
He smiled, pulling away from her long enough to fix his pants before picking her up bridal style and carrying to the bedroom. They still had four hours before they had to be at the dinner.
|(|)|
Yuzu stood before the stove, the last dish simmering. Ichigo had come by earlier, without his girlfriend. She fretted over that little detail. He said that he wanted to finish packing up a few boxes before she came over, claiming that she was resting from her long flight, but would be there in time for dinner the next night. The fact that he looked happy was enough to make her not worry too much.
Ichigo packed a few more of his books, taking a look around at the room that he'd had for so long. It was bare now, except for Kon who was silently fuming on the bed. He never did get Urahara to make him a gigai so that he could live a normal life.
"Why can't I go with you," he whined for the hundredth time.
"I told you. I'm going to be living with my girlfriend," Ichigo answered. "There's no way she'd want a smelly old toy around the place."
"Did you ask her?"
He shrugged. "Not really."
"What? You never told her that you have a mod soul living in your room?"
"Quiet, Kon. You can just stay here with us," Isshin said, leaning against the wall.
Kon didn't cower like he usually did at the thought of living with the girls. He was too angry with Ichigo for leaving him behind.
"First nee-sama and now Ichigo is leaving me," he pouted. He suddenly threw himself back onto the bed, kicking and screaming like a toddler having a tantrum.
Ichigo went over to the bed, smacking him before going back to his box.
"So are you going to tell us," his father asked.
"Tell you what," Ichigo asked innocently.
"Yeah, tell us what," Kon repeated, stopping mid-tantrum.
"How you got your powers back," Isshin clarified. "You never did say anything about it over the last few weeks."
"I've been busy. But if you have to know, it was through a ritual that was done over there."
"A ritual," Isshin asked, surprised that Ichigo would go through that.
"Yeah. I wanted to help someone, so when I had the chance, I took it. It was the only way really." Ichigo turned to his father, sighing as he moved the box from the chair, sitting in it.
"So you're all the way back?"
"No. Close the door, will ya?"
Isshin reached over, giving the door a shove, just hard enough for it to close.
"Dad…Sachiel," he stopped, trying to think of how to say what he wanted. "Sachiel performed the ritual. It worked by reversing time in my spirit so that I could regain Zangetsu. I'm to the bankai state and a little more."
Isshin's jaw dropped. "Y…your girlfriend did it? That's next to impossible. She'd have to have the abilities…"
"Of a tenshi?"
"Yes. She'd have to be that powerful."
"Dad?"
Isshin looked at him expectantly, still trying to determine what Ichigo meant by his girlfriend performing the ritual.
"Sachiel is a tenshi. She's a higher level tenshi. Higher than the nobles in Seireitei."
Isshin sputtered, his eyes wide in disbelief. "H…how high," he finally managed to squeak out.
"She's one of the Host. An archangel, they called it."
Isshin fainted. Ichigo started, surprised at his father's reaction. He leaned down, checking to make sure he was alright.
Kon was staring at Isshin, shaking at what Ichigo had just revealed to them both. "A tenshi," Kon whispered. "How the hell did a miserable creep like you get a tenshi," he hollered at Ichigo.
Ichigo looked over at Kon, not sure how to answer and not feeling insulted by what he'd called him. "It was meant to be," he said. "Her brother said it happens from time to time."
"What about nee-sama?"
"Rukia hasn't come back to Karakura and she likely won't. As much as I loved her, I wasn't in love with her. Just like Inoue."
"Then I have a chance with Nee-sama," Kon cheered to himself.
Ichigo shrugged. "If she ever comes back, you can ask her but I doubt she'd want anything to do with a dirty stuffed toy like you."
He advanced on the stuffed lion suddenly, grinning as if he were going to do something to him. Kon cowered, retreating to a corner of the bed. The sound of the doorbell interrupted him. Isshin surprisingly sprang up, running out the door as he hollered that he would answer the doorbell.
"Wait! Dad!" Ichigo went to the door to try to stop him. He could sense her. Sachiel had shown up. She wasn't scheduled to, saying she had wanted to rest tonight. "Why is she here," he thought to himself. He turned back to his box, finishing its closing before he turned back to the door. He didn't see Kon leave the room.
He came down the stairs to find both his sister and his father staring at Sachiel as she stood in the doorway. Rolling his eyes, he made his way to the door, gently pushing them aside as he held his hand out to her. Sachiel took it, smiling as she walked over the threshold. Once she was inside, Ichigo let go of her hand so that he could introduce her to his family.
"Sachi, this is my dad, Isshin," he said.
She looked at Isshin, smiling beatifically at him for a moment before bowing as she had learned from all the research material on culture and tradition.
"Mr. Kurosaki, it is a pleasure to meet you," she said.
Isshin continued to stare, making her feel uncomfortable suddenly. Her smile fading slightly, she turned to Yuzu and again introduced herself. When she was again met with silence, she turned to Ichigo, confused.
"I…I did this wrong?" she asked.
Ichigo smiled reassuringly to her. "No…you were perfect, Sachi. They're just stunned at the beautiful angel that walked through the door," he offered in explanation.
Looking at both of them again, she smiled and then shook Isshin's hand before taking Yuzu's. The contact seemed to break their stupor as both suddenly blushed, laughing nervously.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," she said again, smiling at them, her green eyes twinkling in excitement at meeting Ichigo's family. Karin hung back, also too stunned to say anything to their guest.
"Welcome to my home," Isshin said suddenly in a loud voice, startling Sachiel. "It's great to finally meet you! Ichigo has said much about you. You're more beautiful than your picture. You and Ichigo will make beautiful grandbabies! You just moved to Japan, right?"
"Umm…yes," she replied, blushing at the remark about children. "I did just move here. My plane came in this afternoon. If it hadn't been for Ichigo, I would not have been able to find a place to live until my house is built."
His smiling falling, Isshin asked, "Your house?"
The confused look again crossed her face. Turning to Ichigo, "You didn't tell them?"
Ichigo laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "I…uh…I …it never came up?" he offered weakly.
Smiling in understanding since she'd just told him earlier as well. She turned back to Isshin. "I was able to secure a plot of land where I can grow my herbs and do my research. My house will have a small lab attached to it. I can't do all my research at the school, so keeping it at home works well for me."
"Research? What kind of research?"
Ichigo interrupted, "Why don't we sit down in the living room and discuss this instead of here at the doorway?" He moved forward, taking Sachiel's hand as he guided her, the rest of the family following.
As they all settled in the living room, Karin and Yuzu took a seat on the floor in front of the couch, Ichigo and Sachiel on one side, Isshin on the other.
"So what kind of research is it that you do," he asked again.
"Well…I'm working on my doctorate as a biochemist," she explained.
"A chemist?"
"Medicines mainly. I've got a few patents so far on various formulations that I've discovered that have helped quite a few people."
"So you're like a doctor," Yuzu asked.
"Something like that."
"Where are you from," Karin asked suddenly, her tone sounding a bit suspicious, her look saying nothing less. Being spiritually aware like her brother, she sensed something odd about Sachiel but couldn't pin it down.
"I'm from New Mexico in the United States," she said. "I was working on an archaeological dig when I met Ichigo. Ancient cultures play a big part in my research and we had a dig in Mexico, just over the border."
"So you were in two countries," Isshin asked.
She nodded. "We had permits to join the team that started the dig. My home was actually located right over the border along the river. It was ideal for my bontanica as well as my research since it was so remote and no one bothered us. The nearest city was over 60 miles away."
"That's pretty isolated," Yuzu said, standing up as she went to the kitchen just off the living room. She stirred the pot of beef stew that she was making. She silently wanted to impress her brother's girlfriend. He needed someone in his life besides school and his friends. When he and Orihime broke up, Yuzu had been crushed to realize that her brother had no one to make him happy. She could see already that this relationship was different. She had noted that her brother was more attentive, his fingers locking with the woman's and not letting go. She smiled to herself. She really hoped they lasted.
"What smells so good," Sachiel asked, looking over Isshin's shoulder at Yuzu.
"We're having beef and vegetables," she answered. "Would you like to join us for dinner? I keep forgetting Ichi-nii isn't here any more and I used to make extra for him. There's lots."
Sachiel smiled. "I would love to join you for dinner. On one condition."
Everyone looked at her. "You have to join us for dinner at the new apartment for dinner very soon. I'll cook. You may or may not like it, though."
"We accept," Isshin said, smiling. "It's good to try new things."
"Great! How about night after tomorrow? I have to get situated first at the school and then shop for groceries since there isn't anything to eat in the apartment."
Ichigo put a hand over his face, groaning. He knew he'd forgotten something. Sachiel looked at him, pulling his hand away as she laughed softly. "It's ok. Yuzu is rescuing us by providing dinner," she said quietly. She kissed his cheek, Ichigo blushing at the open display of affection in front of his family.
"Dinner's ready," Yuzu announced a moment later.
Isshin was the first one to make it to the dinner table, Karin helping Yuzu set the table while Ichigo led Sachiel to an empty chair. He left for a moment, coming back with another chair for himself. He sat next to Sachiel, explaining the chopsticks to her and how to eat with them. After looking at them quizzically, she tried to maneuver them so that she could pick up some of the rice. She failed each time.
"I'm sorry," she said meekly, blushing at the rice that fell in her lap. "I'm not used to eating with these."
"It's ok. We should still have some forks at least," Ichigo said.
"Yes! Somewhere," Yuzu said, getting up from her chair.
"Don't trouble yourself," Sachiel said, stopping her. "I have to learn how to eat with these eventually, right?"
After several more failed attempts, she looked at Ichigo for help. Again, he tried to show her to work them. Again, she couldn't do it. Yuzu got up from her chair after noticing her efforts, looking for a fork in the kitchen. She returned after several minutes, her hands empty.
"I…I couldn't find one," she said quietly, her tone apologetic.
"It's fine, Yuzu," Ichigo said. "I'll help her finish her meal." And he did. Every few bites that she took, he would take one as well, Ichigo using his chopsticks for both of them. Yuzu looked happily at her brother, her heart melting as she watched him feed his girlfriend. She didn't know of anyone that her brother would go to such lengths for. Rukia had never had this kind of trouble with eating.
Isshin watched the two from the corner of his eyes, Karin watching as well. Their meal was only interrupted a time or two by questions that Isshin had for her that pertained to her medical training.
"He knows what you are, Sachi," Ichigo said to her mentally. "I told him that it was you who returned Zangetsu to me."
Sachiel looked over at Ichigo, surprised. "Does everyone know?"
"No, just Dad."
She smiled at him before she took a bite of food. "It's fine if they all know. You trust them, they're your family. Therefore, anything you need to tell them about me is fine, love."
"I love you," he said.
She smiled again, taking a sip of her juice. "Make it up to me later." She giggled to him through their link, seeing the blush come over him. She reached under the table, giving his knee a small squeeze.
The rest of the meal passed by fairly uneventful, Yuzu bringing out a rice dish for dessert that had raisins and other sweet meats in it, setting only one bowl between their guests. Sachiel wasn't sure if she liked the dessert but she did eat what she could of it since she shared it with Ichigo.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you," she said suddenly, turning to Ichigo. Everyone looked at her in expectation. She smiled. "They brought my new car over while you were gone."
"New car," Isshin asked, surprised that she would buy one. Ichigo usually walked everywhere he needed to.
She nodded. "It's outside. I had to buy one before I came over since there's two of us now and with my samples, equipment and what not, it'll be easier to carry my stuff."
"Let's go see it," Karin said, getting up from her chair.
Everyone followed her, going outside where a dark green two door hatchback was sitting by the curb near the entrance to the clinic.
Isshin let out a low whistle at the sight of the shiny car. He'd never owned one but he could appreciate the small hybrid that sat near his house. Sachiel came up to him, smiling as she dangled the keys in front of him. "Go ahead and get it," she said. "I don't know if you can drive but you can play with all the buttons." She giggled at the look on his face. He looked like a kid in a candy store. He took the keys, opening up the car. Yuzu and Karin also climbed in, Ichigo leaning forward as everyone played with the buttons and knobs. He looked back to Sachiel, smiling as she tried to hold back her laughter.
Ichigo had to admit that the car looked very nice in his opinion. He didn't know how to drive but figured it probably wouldn't be too hard. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a woman's voice calling him from over the sounds of the stereo that Yuzu had found.
Tatske was walking toward them, smiling at him before looking at the car. She didn't notice the woman standing next to him on the other side. "What's all the fuss, Ichigo," she asked.
"New car," he answered, gesturing to it.
"Really? Yours?"
He laughed nervously, scratching behind his head. Sachiel stepped around him, looking curiously at the woman that stood by them. Tatske looked at the woman, her face reflecting the same curiosity.
"Hi," Sachiel said, holding out her hand as she introduced herself.
Tatske smiled, taking her hand and introducing herself as well. "I didn't know you had enough saved to buy a car, Ichigo," she said.
"I don't," he confessed. "It's not mine."
Tatske looked at the car, confused since everyone in Ichigo's family was still playing with the stuff inside.
"It's our car," Sachiel said to clarify. "I bought it so that it'll be easier for us to get back and forth to class and for my research."
Tatske looked at the woman. "So you're the girlfriend that Orihime was telling me about," she said.
Sachiel nodded as everyone began to climb out of the car, smiling.
"Tatske," Isshin said by greeting. "I see you met my new daughter in law." He gestured to Sachiel.
Sachiel and Ichigo both blushed. "Dad, we're not married yet," Ichigo corrected.
"You will be, Ichigo," he returned.
Tatske smiled at Ichigo. "Well, you'll be happy with Ichigo. I guarantee it," she said.
"Excuse me," they heard a woman say, interrupting their conversation. Everyone turned to her. A small woman, holding a baby stood there, the dried tears still evident on her face.
"I apologize for interrupting, but I need someone to see my baby. He's very sick and I don't know what to do any more. He's burning with fever," she said softly.
"The clinic's closed," Isshin said gruffly, puffing out his chest a bit. "Come back in the morning and we'll see what we can do."
Sachiel looked at the man, shocked at what he'd just said. She walked toward the woman, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Can I see him," she asked.
"Are…are you a doctor," the woman asked.
"Yes. I specialize in illnesses," she answered, her Japanese a little stilted. "Bring my bag from the back of the car, please," she said mentally to Ichigo. "Isshin-san, can I use your clinic for a moment?"
Isshin stood back, surprised that she would ask. "Y…yes, of course," he stammered. He turned to the clinic door, fumbling with some keys as he began to open it. He led them in, turning on the lights before leading them to an exam room.
"I…can't pay you," the woman said. Sachiel turned to her, smiling gently. "I don't need payment," she said to her. "Let me see your baby. I'll be gentle, ok?"
The woman sniffled, letting Sachiel take the baby from her. Through the thin blanket, Sachiel could feel the heat of the baby's body. She took the bag from Ichigo as he came in. She ran the temp meter over the baby's forehead, the sudden cool metal making him cry out. Sachiel soothed him, patting his belly lightly as she read the thermometer. She frowned, setting it down before taking a light scope from the bag next. She looked in the baby's eyes, ears, nose and into his mouth.
"Has he been around anyone new lately," she asked, feeling along the baby's belly.
"No. He's just been at home."
"No visitors or changes made to the house?"
The woman shook her head. Sachiel took out her stethoscope, listening to the baby's heart and lungs before again, inspecting his belly. "His bowels are a bit sluggish," she said. "His heart beat is irregular. Probably from the stress." She began to massage the baby's back, the child whimpering before she turned back to her bag, rifling through it before she pulled out a small pouch. "Your baby will be fine. I want you to give him this in his formula every four hours. Just a half a dram," she said. "If you want, I can give him an antibiotic now to combat the infection."
The woman smiled, nodding to her as her eyes began to fill with tears. Sachiel nodded to her, pulling out a small vial and a syringe. She measured out the dose before swabbing the baby's leg, pinching it up before she gave him the shot. The sudden dose of pain made the baby squeal, the woman bursting into tears at the sound of her baby's cries.
Sachiel held a cotton ball over the injection site, giving firm pressure. The baby quieted after a moment, his breathing evening out as he began to drift to sleep. The woman suddenly hugged Sachiel, crying into her chest as Sachiel soothed her, giving her comfort.
After another few minutes, the mother left with her child, thanking Sachiel again.
Ichigo stood beside her as she watched them leave, his hand going around her waist. Isshin stood off to the side with Tatske, Yuzu and Karin. "What was wrong with the baby," Isshin asked.
"He was starting to develop septicemia. His bowels weren't working properly. The shot I gave him will kill off the infection it's causing in his kidneys and the powder I gave her has an enzyme that will help his bowels work like they're supposed to. He was also turning jaundice," she answered. "Now, I have a question for you, Isshin."
"If you're going to ask why I turned her away, let me explain," he said. "Clinics here are not like hospitals. We have regular hours and we don't open for anyone except in an emergency."
"That baby could have died in the next few hours if he wasn't seen and treated," she said. "Where does that come into play in your conscience?"
Isshin stared at her in surprise. "That's how it's always been done," he defended.
"Then I'll have to open my own clinic which will be run twenty four hours a day to help people like that woman," she said. "We're both bound by the same oath and I will not turn anyone away for any reason."
"She couldn't pay," he defended weakly. Sachiel gave him a slight glare before turning away. "Now I see what kind of man you are, Isshin," she said, walking out of the clinic.
"Now, hold on," he said, coming up behind her. "I have a family to provide for."
"I understand that but it's better to teach your children charity than to worry about how someone is going to pay. For every one that can't pay, four more can," she said. "Being a doctor isn't about being rich, it's about helping. Period. If that baby had died, would you have put that on your conscience? Probably not."
Isshin glared at the woman. "I would have worried about it," he said before sighing in defeat. "And you're right. I should have taken the baby in for treatment."
Sachiel looked at the man, her expression blank. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the cash she had in there. She still didn't remember how to calculate the currency but she put it in Isshin's hand.
"I can't take that," he said.
"You can and will. For letting me use your clinic," Sachiel said, going around the side of the car and getting in. Ichigo stood next to his father, a box in hand.
"See you Thursday night," he asked hesitantly.
Isshin looked as if he didn't hear him. "Yeah," he answered after another moment, pocketing the money. "We'll be there."
Ichigo hugged each of his sister's, climbing into the car beside Sachiel. Despite her upset at her future father in law, she drove calmly back to the apartment.
|(|)|