AN: YAS next chapter! I will try to write as much as possible, but bear with me, ja? Thank you to who has favourited, it is MUCH appreciated. ON WITH THE CHAPTER! :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of it's characters.
The pain. Dear God, the pain. It was nearly unbearable. I let out a groan. Then I heard a gasp and people scurrying around me. I opened one eye, carefully. The brightness of the place I was in was a bit overwhelming, so I squinted, but I opened the other eye as well.
"He's awake!" I heard a familiar voice say.
"O-Orihime-san?" I said very quietly.
My vision began to become clearer and I focused on the place I was in. A hospital. I was in a hospital. I was in a hospital bed with a usual gown and sterile sheets, pillows and everything else. To my right was a bench, containing Orihime, eyes wide with fear, yet relieved, and Sado, a small smile upon his lips.
The memories of that night came flooding in too quickly and I clutched my head in pain. My side also began to throb in pain. I could feel Orihime's hands on my wrists, pulling them from my head and putting them back to my sides.
"Try not to move, Uryu-kun. You have to let your side heal. You're okay now."
But was Shiro?
"Where's Shiro." I half-asked half-said.
The room then became extremely tense.
"I'm sorry, Uryu," said a gruff, yet gentle voice I'd known as only Sado's.
The white walls began to sway.
"Where's Shiro." I said again.
I heard Orihime sniff, and I felt her hand on my shoulder, and I looked up to see her child-like face above mine, smiling.
"Shiro-kun didn't make it. He had been dead when they found you unconscious." She was very blunt about it, but I think her and I both knew it's always better to be blunt about this shit. Shiro is dead. And that was it.
"Okay," was all I said, and I laid back down to sleep, tears still streaming down my face.
.
.
.
When I woke again, there was food on my bedside table to my left. Applesauce, a sandwich, and crackers. I attempted to sit up on my own, but Orihime was quickly by my side and lifting me up with strength I didn't know she had.
"Thank you, Orhime-san." I said, looking at her. She smiled sweetly and nodded.
"Of course, Uryu-kun. Now, you need to eat. No arguing." My stomach growled on cue. I heard Sado let out a small laugh and I looked in his direction. He smiled at me and gave a little wave. I smiled back weakly and turned back to Orihime, who was opening a package of crackers for me.
"Orihime-san, I can open my own crackers." She shook her head.
"Don't care. Now eat." She thrusted the package of saltines in my face and I reluctantly grabbed one. I nibbled on the corner and looked around the room again. Orihime had sat back down next to Sado, both of which were still sitting in that bench.
"How long have I been here?" I asked quietly.
"You were asleep for four days and you just woke up from a day-long nap. So, about five days." Orihime said, chipper.
I frowned. Five days, huh?
"Have you guys been here the whole time?"
Sado nodded. "Yes."
My eyes widened. They were here the entire time? For me?
"T-thank you very much. I appreciate it." They both nodded.
I took another cracker from the package and bit down on the corner. Saltines weren't my favourite food, but they tasted just about amazing right now.
"What hospital am I in?" I asked, still nibbling on the cracker.
Orihime reluctantly answered, "Um, the one your father works at. It was the closest one, okay?" She quickly finished as a glared at her. But I nodded. "I understand. Thank you." She smiled a bit and fished something from her tiny, but stuffed, purse.
"Uh... I thought I should give this to you. It was in Shiro's room when they cleaned out the place."
She handed me a small stuffed lion. It had black little eyes and a mane going all around the head. The orange mane reminded me of his eyes. The soft fabric was comforting and I squeezed the little stuffed paw.
"It was addressed to you. It had a little name tag that read 'For Uryu' around it's neck. So I'm giving it to you." She finished.
My eyes welled up with tears. I'll always have this. Forever. I promised myself. I clutched the small object to my chest and smiled.
"Thank you, Orihime-san." She smiled and nodded and sat back down.
I held the little lion to my chest as I laid back down and slept again. This time, a smile on my face.
.
.
.
The next time I woke up, my side didn't feel as horrible as it did the first time. I looked to my right to look for Sado and Orihime, but the bench was empty. Instead, standing beside my bed was my bitch of a father. I scowled and sat up, though feeling immense pain on my rib cage.
"What the hell are you doing here." I said, practically spitting venom through my gritted teeth. The white-haired man simply smirked and continued writing notes on a clipboard. "Cocky as ever. Is your side any better?"
I snarled, "Why does it matter to you?"
The man rolled his eyes and went to the other side of my bed to check the monitors for my health and wrote down some more number and letters on the clipboard. I growled. He looked at me, an eyebrow raised.
"If you didn't want me bothering you, why didn't you just heed my warning in the first place, and you wouldn't even be here right now."
Oh my god. He was right. He had said that there was an escapee around me, and he'd been right. If I'd listened to him, Shiro wouldn't be...
I jumped up from my bed and tackled my father in a mess of tubes and wires. He simply pushed me off and onto the floor, me being incredibly weak and him being a lot stronger than me. I crumpled to the floor and sobbed, knowing how weak I looked.
I didn't care. I don't care about anything anymore. Shiro was dead and gone. I had nothing to live for.
Orihime suddenly burst into the room, Sado close behind.
"Oh my God, Uryu! Are you okay? What the hell just happened? I leave for five minutes..." She began to scream at my dad and myself. I just sat on the floor, my gaze at the tiled floor. I deserved this.
"You're so dumb, why would you just... just... you, I..."
Suddenly, Orihime hugged me. She sobbed into my shirt and said, "I miss him, Uryu. I miss Shiro too. He was my best friend as well." I wrapped my arms around her waist and stopped crying. I was causing too much grief for her.
"I'm sorry Orihime-san. I'm sorry." She hugged me tighter and sobbed again.
She suddenly stopped crying.
"As for you, Mr. Ishida," She stood up and walked to my father. "Stay away from my friends." She said it with so much anger, I was afraid she was going to possibly punch the white-haired man. He just balled up his fists and walked out.
Sado came over to me and lifted me up. He very carefully placed me on the hospital bed and Orihime pulled the sheets up to my chin.
"Get some sleep, Uryu-kun. We're bringing you home tomorrow. Sleep well." I nodded and closed my eyes. I was lucky to have such friends... I fell asleep.
AN: Aaaaand CUT! So this actually didn't take as long as I thought it would. But I made it longer! :D Aren't ya PROUD OF ME? Okay, just kidding, just kidding. PLEASE favourite, follow, review, PM me (if possible) any ideas and happiness!
~mmbazb