A lot of people seemed to like the 1st chapter which made me really glad! Hope you like chapter 2 just as much!

Chapter 2

Mentally Unhealthy

A white car with the words "Las Noches Mental Institution" labeled on it slowed to a stop in front of a tall, white tower. A young woman with a long black braid got out. She stood outside and tapped her foot.

"Mr. Kurosaki, we are here already. Please get out of the car."

Ichigo hesitated and slowly got out of the car. He clutched his brown suitcase tightly and looked up at the tower.

Las Noches was one of the most famous psychiatric hospitals in the world. The head of Las Noches, Sosuke Aizen, had a strange way of running the place. Whatever he did, it worked.

The car drove away. Ichigo stared longingly at it. A part of him wanted to hijack the car and drive away.

"This way, Mr. Kurosaki," his companion, Retsu Unohana said. She attempted to take Ichigo's luggage, but he didn't let her.

"Just call me Ichigo," Ichigo replied.

Ichigo followed Unohana into the building. The layout of the lobby was like any other hospital except, this one was much fancier. The reception desk was made out a creamy colored wood. The chairs, which were a beige color, looked more expensive than Ichigo's couch. A large blue, disco ball shaped light hung from the ceiling.

Unohana pointed at one of the couches. "Wait there while I go check you in."

Ichigo grit his teeth and plopped onto the couch. The cushion groaned under his weight. It was extremely soft. Am I in a hospital or a hotel?!

Ichigo crossed his arms behind him and leaned back. He wondered what Orihime was doing. Did she regret cheating on him? What did he even do to deserve this? He hadn't been a bad husband.

Unohana walked up to him. When she saw the expression on his face, she said, "I know you're upset about being here, but we will make your stay as comfortable as possible. Hopefully, you'll be cured in no time. Now, follow me. I'm going to take you to your room."

Stifling a sigh, Ichigo picked up his suitcase and followed Unohana.

Unohana pressed the up button of an elevator. After a few seconds, the door opened. A large man and a young man with blue hair walked out.

The man with blue hair bowed. "Good morning, Miss Unohana!"

Unohana smiled sweetly as she and Ichigo stepped into the elevator. "Good morning, Hanataro! Good morning, Mr. Omaeda!"

The large man, Omaeda, grinned proudly. "I'm going home now, Unohana! I'm cured!"

Unohana beamed. "Congratulations!"

Ichigo felt envious.

The elevator doors closed. Unohana pressed the number 15.

As the elevator moved up, Ichigo asked, "Miss Unohana, how long was that patient here?"

Unohana blinked. "Omaeda? He's been here for about fourteen months. He had an eating disorder."

"How long do you think I'll be here?"

Unohana gave Ichigo a reassuring look. "Don't fret, Mr. Kurosaki, I'm sure you'll be out soon."

"You really don't have to address me so formally," Ichigo said. "I prefer being called 'Ichigo.'"

The elevator slowed until it stopped. The doors slid open. Unohana and Ichigo walked out.

Like the lobby, the hallway reminded Ichigo of a hotel. The doors to each room were painted a different color.

Unohana stopped in front of an orange door. "1510" was the room number. Unohana pulled out the room key and inserted it into the lock. A green light flashed and Unohana opened the door.

"Welcome to your room!"

The room was larger than Ichigo thought it would be. There were two beds which were both neatly fixed. In between the beds was a bedside table. A closet stood on the other side of each bed. A plasma screen TV was stationed in front of the beds. There was a large window that showed a grew view of Karakura Town. There was a door at the corner of the room which probably led to the bathroom.

Bathroom. Ichigo pushed away the image of a naked Orihime and Grimmjow.

The room was simple, but had a luxurious feel to it.

Ichigo was annoyed.

"Are you kidding me?" Ichigo snapped.

Unohana was surprised. "Excuse me?"

"This is a hospital," Ichigo said. "Why is this place designed to look like a five star hotel?"

"This is one of Mr. Aizen's ways of helping the sick," Unohana answered calmly. "He believes that if the patients live comfortably, their mind will be more at peace and they will recover sooner."

It did make sense. Ichigo nodded at the second bed. "Why are there two beds? Am I sharing a room with someone?"

Unohana nodded. "Another one of Aizen's strategies is to have the patients get as much company as possible. Loneliness kills, you know."

Trust me, I know. "So who's my room mate?" Ichigo placed his suitcase down next to the first bed.

"Hitsugaya, Toshiro," Unohana said. "He's a couple of years younger than you, 27 I think. He's been diagnosed with OCD."

OCD. Obsessive-compulsive Disorder. An anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that cause the victim to feel uneasy. People with OCD tended to have strange habits and follow a strict schedule.

"Oh," Ichigo said.

Unohana turned around. "Unpack and get yourself settled. I'm going to come back in half an hour and bring you to your therapist."

Unohana exited the room and shut the door. Ichigo opened his suitcase and pulled out his clothes. He opened the closet and hung his shirts and jackets. He tossed his pants into the drawer beneath the closet.

Ichigo rummaged through his suitcase. He took out his favorite books (Works of William Shakespeare, The Great Gatsby, and 1984) and tucked them neatly in the bedside table drawer. There were other books in there already, probably Toshiro's, but Ichigo moved them aside. Next, Ichigo took out some pictures of his friends and family. There was some tape in the cabinet the TV was placed on, so Ichigo taped his pictures up. He smiled as he examined the pictures. All of them told a story; Ichigo and his childhood friend Tatsuki sparring with each other (he lost), Christmas photo of his family, playing beach volleyball with Uryu, Chad, Keigo, and Mizuiro…his wedding with Orihime.

Ichigo frowned. He probably shouldn't have brought that photo.

Ichigo took his laptop out of his suitcase ("Aizen doesn't want the patients to feel trapped so depending on what they're diagnosed with, patients are allowed to bring technology").

As Ichigo was putting his laptop in the bedside drawer, he noticed a framed picture on the table. In the picture was a young man with spiky white hair and bright blue eyes wearing a tuxedo. He was standing next to a woman with dark haired tied back into a bun. She wore a strapless white dress and a veil. This must be Toshiro and his wife.

Ichigo wondered what Toshiro was like. How OCD was he? Was he smart, was he friendly?

Ichigo lay on the bed, which was really comfortable, and closed his eyes.

"Hey, Ichigo!" A fifteen year old Ichigo turned at the sound of his name. His childhood friend, Tatsuki was running up to him. A girl with orange hair was with her.

"Ichigo, this is Orihime," Tatsuki said, gesturing at the girl. "She's new here."

"Hi," Ichigo said curtly.

Tatsuki smacked Ichigo's head.

"What the hell, Tatsuki! I said hi!"

"You don't sound sincere enough!" Tatsuki said. "Orihime's new! You have to make her feel welcomed."

Orihime laughed. Her laugh reminded Ichigo of a bell. "Thank you, Tatsuki-chan, but I feel welcomed already!"

Orihime extended her hand. "Inoue, Orihime."

Ichigo took her hand. It was as soft as a baby's cheek. "Kurosaki, Ichigo."

"Mr. Kurosaki?"

Ichigo opened his eyes. Unohana was standing above him.

"Mr. Kurosaki, your therapist is ready to see you."

Ichigo yawned and sat up. He rubbed his face. "I thought I told you to call me Ichigo."

They say that first impressions were the most important impressions. When Ichigo first saw Kisuke Urahara, he thought, "You've gotta be fucking kidding me."

Urahara was a middle aged man who wore a dark green and white striped bucket hat. His dark green shirt and pants reminded Ichigo of a kimono and he wore traditional Japanese wooden sandals. His dark green jacket resembled a haori.

This man, who Ichigo mentally nicknamed "Candyman" because of his hat, was Ichigo's therapist. He was the one in charge of curing Ichigo.

Urahara lifted up a fan and covered his face with it. "Pleasure to meet you, Kurosaki Ichigo! My name is Urahara Kisuke." His tone was annoyingly cheery. "Please take a seat."

Ichigo wanted to laugh and cry. "Is this a joke?"

Urahara raised an eyebrow. "Is what a joke?"

"First, my wife cheats on me. Next, I'm diagnosed with bipolar disorder and get sent to a mental hospital that's more like a resort. And now, I'm getting treated by a man who's wearing a bucket hat!"

Urahara laughed. "It does sound odd, doesn't it? But life is strange like that. Now take a seat before I ask Unohana to sedate you."

"I thought this place was supposed to be peaceful," Ichigo said but obeyed.

Urahara placed his fan on the desk and took a pen and a notebook. "So, Mr. Kurosaki, you have bipolar disorder."

"I do not," Ichigo said.

"Then why are you here?"

Ichigo clenched his fists. "Look, I caught my wife and a man I've never seen before in the act. Of course I was going to be pissed."

"Yes, but you nearly killed Mr. Jaegerjaquez," Urahara pointed out. "Men who are mentally healthy wouldn't react that way."

"I am NOT mentally unstable!" Ichigo snapped.

"Mhmm well if you ask me, you reacted more than you needed to just now."

Ichigo's mouth hung open.

"Now, tell me about the day you found your wife cheating on you."

Ichigo glared at Urahara. "No."

"Weren't you a doctor? You should know better than anyone that talking to someone is one of the best cures."

Ichigo let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine. I went to work and convinced a guy to get insurance. Then I went home and saw Orihime with that guy and I nearly killed him. The end."

Recalling the event felt like being stabbed in the back. He was stabbed in the back.

"Oh, but it's not the end," Urahara said. "Tis only the beginning. Now tell me the story again but in detail."

"What's there to tell? Didn't you already see my papers?"

"Listen to what you're saying," Urahara said. "You're 29 years old and you're acting like a spoiled, rebellious 16 year old. Is that what happens to people who receive high paying jobs? Act like other people are not worth their time?"

Ichigo was tempted to punch Urahara. "No, I don't think that. And I'm not acting spoiled and I do not have bipolar disorder!"

"The more you deny it, the more true it is," Urahara said. "The first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. Accept that you're mentally unhealthy."

Ichigo shot up. "GOD FUCKING DAMMIT I AM PERFECTLY HEALTHY!"

Unohana stormed in. "Dr. Urahara! Are you OK?"

Urahara smiled. "I'm OK. My client, however, is not."

Ichigo bit his lip so hard, he drew out blood.

"Mr. Kurosaki," Urahara said calmly. "You are not healthy. No matter how many times you deny it, you are not healthy."

Ichigo stared at Urahara. Without thinking, he punched at the Candyman. Urahara effortlessly blocked the punch.

Urahara jotted something down on his notebook. He ripped the page off and handed it to Ichigo. Ichigo took the paper and read it.

"Take about 1800 milligrams of Lithium per day," Urahara said. He tossed a medicine container at Ichigo. He caught it with one hand. "It will help you control your behavior. Drink eight to twelve glasses of water a day."

Ichigo's lip curled. His entire body shook with anger. "For the last time, I'm not sick. I don't need to take Lithium."

Urahara sighed. "There's nothing to be ashamed of, Mr. Kurosaki. If you want to get out soon, you have to take it."

Urahara glanced at the clock. It was 5:30.

"You can go back to your room, Mr. Kurosaki," Urahara said. "We'll meet again tomorrow."

Unohana placed her hand on Ichigo's shoulder. Ichigo shook her hand away.

"I don't need anyone to guide me to my room."

"Sorry Mr. Kurosaki, but it's the rules."

The trip back was quiet since Unohana didn't try to converse with Ichigo. Ichigo was grateful for that. He decided that Unohana was the only sane person in the whole building.

It was strange, actually. Las Noches had thousands of patients yet, Ichigo didn't see anyone on the way back except for the male nurse he saw this morning and a petite woman with violet eyes.

"Where is everyone?" Ichigo asked once they reached his room.

Unohana shrugged. "They could be anywhere. There's a lot of things to do at Las Noches like watching a movie, swimming-"

"Swimming?!"

Unohana nodded. "Some patients find peace in the water."

"But what if someone with depression tries to drown themselves?!"

Unohana unlocked the door and opened it. "Don't worry, Mr. Kurosaki. The doors to the pool are locked at night and no patient is allowed near the pool without a nurse."

Ichigo walked into his room. He turned around. "Thank you, Unohana. I think I just might make it out alive because of you."

Unohana smiled. "It's my job." She paused. "Please address me as Miss Unohana."

Ichigo smirked. "I'll call you Miss Unohana if you call me Ichigo."

Unohana shook her head, but she was still smiling. "It's unprofessional to do that, Mr. Kurosaki."

"Then call me Ichigo when there's no one else around," Ichigo said.

Unohana sighed. "If you really want to…but only if we're alone."

"Yeah," Ichigo said.

Unohana began closing the door. "Remember to take the Lithium…Ichigo. I'll see you later."

"Yeah, see you." Ichigo said. Unohana shut the door.

Ichigo sat on his bed and held up the orange container of Lithium up to his face. After a moment, he opened the container and took out a pill. He reluctantly popped the pill into his mouth.

Ichigo lay onto his bed, crossing his arms behind him. Urahara's words rang in his head.

You are not healthy. No matter how many times you deny it, you are not healthy.

Ichigo closed his eyes. Ichigo had always believed that he was a healthy man. There was no doubt that his physical health wasn't in danger. But now, it seemed that Ichigo couldn't say the same about his mental health.

The first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem.

Ichigo took a deep breath. "I have a problem. I have bipolar disorder. I am mentally unhealthy."