Quietly Isshin opened the door to Ichigo's room, immediately his eyes find Adam sleeping undisturbed on the bed. His little body was nothing but a small bump under the blanket put over him by Yuzu and barely took up any space on Ichigo's bed.
He was a small boy, after all, Adam always was…rather petite even as an infant. He was after all a premature baby. It was expected he'd have this size, nevertheless, in Isshin's eyes, his nephew had grown a little since he last saw him.
Adam's chest rose and fell with each peaceful breath, he was snugged well under the blanket contently. There were no wrinkles or remnants of discomfort or pain anymore Isshin could see or find on Adam's face. Just about an hour ago, after Isshin arrived at Karakura Elementary to get Adam, the poor boy was wracked with anguish. He was still close to Karin in the nurse's office, with Yuzu. The second Isshin's eyes fell on Adam his heart dropped at the sight. Besides everything else, there was heightened fear in Adam's eyes that vanished the moment Isshin came into the room. Adam released Karin and with force leapt from the bed right into Isshin's arms and clung to him.
The crying stopped and Adam remained clung to Isshin all the way back to the house. Yuzu and Karin took them out early, helped, and gathered Adam's things. They were equally concerned about him, they always were.
Opening the door a little more Isshin softly slipped in and tiptoed over. He carefully set a delicate hand on Adam's forehead and for a few seconds checked his temperature.
It was normal, Isshin quietly sighed relieved, and took his hand back. Adam's temperature had gone down since being laid to rest. Isshin examined Adam's face for any flush or show of temperature, there was none only peace. Not wanting to disturb or wake Adam, Isshin quietly left.
Downstairs Yuzu, in the kitchen, while Karin sat on the couch in the living, turned to their father waiting for an update.
"How's he doing?" Yuzu asked, her voice filled with concern matching her eyes.
Isshin gave her a smile, "He's doing just fine. Still asleep, but alright."
Karin's eyes narrowed slightly and glanced quickly at the way Isshin came sensing something else.
It was the looming unspoken question thickening the silence that filled the room.
"How's she going to feel?" She directly asked.
Isshin almost dropped his smile but kept it and in his usual humorous way gave it a thought.
"Huh, didn't think about that. But, I'm sure she'll be fine," he grinned cheekily, "besides we're practically family. So she won't mind."
Karin rolled her eyes dismissively, "Yeah. Sure. We haven't seen her in years. Do you really think she'll be all hugs and love like before? God, you're an idiot."
"Karin!" Yuzu gasped sharply looking at her sister, "Don't say that about auntie. I think it'll be good to see her again."
Karin turned away from them and muttered something under her breath.
Isshin interjected lively, "I know it's been a long time, but I'm quite sure your auntie will be glad to see how grown you two are! Besides," he rushed over to the large picture of his wife Masaki on the living room wall with a huge smile, "your mom will be happy to see her sister again! Wouldn't you, Masaki?"
"Shhh! Keep it down," Karin snapped at him, growling, "Adam's trying to sleep!"
She picked up a pillow and was about to throw it only for Isshin to rush out and back to the clinic.
Yuzu watched him and thought out loud looking at the stairs, "I wonder what Adam's favorite snack might be."
Isshin entered the clinic and shut the door. The smile he had slowly dissolved and Karin's words came repeated in his mind. He heard the apprehension suppressed pain and anger in words, he couldn't blame her. One minute you were here and the next….you essentially vanished. No word. No reason. You just stopped.
It hurt, Isshin wouldn't dismiss that, but not for the same reasons as his kids. He had his own. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he immersed himself in his thoughts releasing a heavy sigh.
What would your reaction be?
"She's a goddess," Keigo swooned with blushed cheeks, cupping his face and staring at you dreamily.
He blocked out what you were saying about the lesson. All he could do was stare at you standing before everyone outside. You had decided to take the students outside, next to their classroom gardens, for Ms. Ochi's lesson for a different experience and to let the parakeet spread its wings.
You stood there with a contagious smile and engaging eyes that lit up delightfully at anyone who spoke. The words of praise that fell from your lips were gracious and adoring. Keigo felt his heart swell and the way the clear skies and sunlight kissed your skin illuminating your features. Such perfection was all Keigo saw, still, he couldn't believe someone like you was his teacher. He didn't understand why Ichigo had his issue with you when someone like you...you were the pinnacle of everything.
Keigo didn't deny his imagination from taking him away from this lesson. Mizurio, attentively listening to the lesson noticed Keigo's mental absence and sighed quietly shaking his head disapprovingly and rose his hand to speak.
The ring of the school bell shook Keigo from his daydreaming, he was startled back into reality and realized the class was over. More importantly, he hadn't heard a single word you said regarding homework and began panicking. His classmates began packing up.
Frantically looking around Keigo grabbed onto Mizuiro's arm desperately, pulling his friend down and causing him to mess up on packing up.
"Hey!" Mizuiro said alarmingly, "Keigo!"
Keigo's hand flew over his mouth before his alerted reaction caught your ear, "Shhh!" Keigo sharply hushed him, with a finger to his lips. "What did I miss?"
"Well if you would have paid attention you'd know," Mizurio said, his disappointment evident, as he let out a heavy sigh. "it was a really good lesson too."
"I know that!" Keigo defended himself, tried to, and tugged on Mizurio's arm more pleadingly, "But what did I miss? Please tell me!" He began whining, "I don't want to Miss Bishop to know I wasn't paying attention! She's nice. Awesome even...lovely. Wonderful," he began going off tandem with an elevated toe, and so much more! Ah, she's just the best, who wouldn't want to daydream abou-"
A bag came down heavy atop his head, causing him to release his hold on Mizurio and fall face-first to the ground. Mizurio frightened, managed to move out of the way avoiding the attack. Standing over Keigo casting a dark shadow with an equally dark, if not annoyed expression, Tatsaki with Orihim behind her looked down at Keigo.
"No one needs to hear about your weird fantasies! Especially about our teacher!" she fumed with a balled-up fist, "Geez."
Keigo remained unmoved for a moment, Tatsaki glared at him knowing he was going to be fine. Rukia who had gotten up before the incident, turned back seconds after and saw Keigo pretty much indented in the ground. She rose a confused brow at the scene before shifting her eyes to you walking over to Keigo. You kneeled down next to Keigo and with fluid and elegant movements, your hair swayed a little, helped Keigo up. She watched you set up right and lightly dust him off while your eyes with kindness, serenely look him over. Keigo was still out of it, even when you snapped your fingers before him. Worry washed over you, Rukia felt something tighten in her quickly and she stopped it from rising any further.
"Ready?" said Ichigo gruffly, breaking Rukia's attention.
She turned to him, finding him standing next to her, and that same look of indignant expression. "Everything okay, Ichigo?" She asked observantly.
Ichigo shifted unsettling and turned around hard, "Yeah. It's nothing. Ready?"
Rukia wanted to ask further but let it be, Ichigo began walking off, and she turned around to the scene, Keigo was up and well and you...with your smile still on, extended a finger upward, let the parakeet land delicately. Rukia blinked a few times, what just happened was something out of one of those mangas she's been reading, she couldn't stop staring at you with quiet wonder. A sense of stillness came over her, her eyes followed you bringing the parakeet towards you and lightly giving it a peck on its beak before sadly, with your smile giving it back to Chad. There was a bit of blush on the parakeet and a sense of sadness as well held in its eyes the way it looked at you as though it didn't want to go and if it could cry out. Rukia highly doubts you'd hear it.
Feeling eyes on you turn your gaze to Rukia and for a moment lock eyes. She quickly realized this and stiffen for a moment before turning and hurrying away.
"What do you mean Adam is not here!" your voice rose while keeping its calmness, with demand and anger at the office attendants at Karakura Elementary, they flinch and cower slightly under your burning gaze.
You had just arrived to pick Adam up from school, after work and the first thing you noticed among the children who were out, Adam wasn't among them. He wasn't in his usual spot waiting for you at the top of the stairs staring at the sky or near the sign kneeling down and talking behind it. You weren't too worried and assumed he might be in the office...possibly again. When you went to ask for him the office attendants told you he wasn't here.
Your heart filled heavy with worry and fear.
No one said anything to you, their lips trembled. Your eyes set on each one and your patience began melting away. You hadn't time for their...their lack of response and-
"He had an incident!" One finally blurted out and tried to collect herself with enough boldness, your eyes shot at her wanting more, she continued swallowing the lump in her throat, "He...he was taken to the nurse and...then some doctor came s-saying that-"
Your eyebrows lowered and eyes narrowed. Instantly you knew who it was and with a swift furious turn, you pivoted on your heels and rushed out. Seconds after you left, the office attendants all expelled a breath of relief, when suddenly the lights popped and shattered overhead releasing frightful yelps.
That man! That dang man! Your mind screamed as the world around you faded into black and within seconds you found yourself before Karakura Hospital. Your eyes immediately lock onto the middle floor, your crystal brightly glowing and with a blink of an eye, you stood in the hall of the middle level. It was quiet and clean. The thudding of your heels against the floor erased the silence and shook the vicinity causing a few hanging pictures to fall off the wall as you made your way to Dr. Ishida's office. His receptionist felt the hairs suddenly rise on the back of her neck and this sudden sense of...fear wash over her she stood up in a panic.
She looked around, stopping when she heard you approach and looked your way. She went white as a ghost and dropped back into her chair, her mouth opened to say something to you, only to shut instantly when you shot her a sharp look and she passed out.
You burst into the office, with a single forceful push to the door, unaware you caused it to swing open and indenting it into the wall.
"Where is he!?" you demand, locking your eyes on Dr. Ishida, "Where is he!?"
The man unbetrubedly remained seated behind his desk and kept his attention on the document set before him. You knew he heard as he lifted his pen and signed smoothingly across the document and set it aside. He picked up another one and did the same thing. His lack of attention simmered your blood; he picked up another document and signed it.
You had enough and wanted an answer. With poise, the most you mustered, took stormy strides across the room to his desk and slammed your hand down on his thicket wooden desk, with such force(you nearly forgot) causing it to splint.
"I hope your salary can cover these incursions you've caused," Dr. Ishida said in a measured voice, with a hint of annoyance in his voice, setting his pen aside, lifting and locking his eyes with yours.
You ignore his remark and composure and open your mouth, when he spoke, "I don't have him."
Your brows loosened slightly with confusion, "What? Of course, you do. His school informed me a doctor came. You are the only doctor who saw him. Do not play coy with me, doctor."
Your words came out like ice, sharp ice with no underline of warning. Dr. Ishida remained unphased, sat back in his chair, and with his hands lifted linked together. His eyes never wavered from your intensity. A small part of you was rather surprised, but you didn't let it show and firmly stared back refusing to break the hold.
"As I said before, he isn't here. Adam is not or was not in my care. Whoever told you was gravely mistaken."
That wasn't an answer for you, so you pushed further, "Where is he then? What other doctor can or could there be? Hmm?"
He didn't answer and instead reached a hand in his left drawer, he opened it and pulled out a cigarette and lighter. He placed it between his lips casually and lit it.
"You should not smoke in an establishment such as this," you chastise him.
He inhaled, turned his head, and blew out a puff, "It's my hospital. My office. Quite frankly you have no jurisdiction here, I can do what I please. Though it seems you think you have the right to suddenly appear out thin air it would seem," your heart skipped a beat, he continued, "to my office floor. Without rising any alarms, except for my receptionist outside who you startled unceremoniously and I will have to send her home after you leave."
Your eyes narrow once again and you give a dismissive wave, "She will be fine. Now, Adam. Where is he? Answer the question, doctor." Your tone sharp once again.
"I told you, I don't have him," Dr. Ishida turned his head and blew out another puff of smoke, "if I did wouldn't I be with him? Yes, it is accustomed for the school to call me, but not this time. Your highly observant," he closed his eyes for a moment and opened them directly at you with a piercing gaze, "and know very well where Adam is. I informed you of this already and you still insist on asking the same question when the answer has already been answered. In other words, you're wasting your time. Now any more questions or can we discuss how you will be paying for my door," he leaned slightly to the side, looking behind you at the hall, and noticed other...expenses, "and it seems I might need a new floor as well. How do you intend to pay?"
You could feel the tightening of guilt in your heart as it griped it as a shade of fear loamed over you with each step you took down the street in the direction of...that place... Kurosaki Clinic. One of the last places you ever expected to go...to return to. It was supposed to turn into a faded memory, despite you remaining in the town...this place was perfect for Adam. You remember how quickly he synced with the town the moment you arrived, the calmness that washed over him, and how he connected with the Kurosaki family, the smile he had despite everything...that transpired. You were quite sure he had no recollection of that...horrific moment, You were glad he wasn't cursed to live with those archival memories. They were yours to bear, every last one of them, the violent and panicked screams. The shades of fear plastered on every one of their faces and...and...their eyes...their eyes looking to you...pleading and begging...with hope, with security...with...everything they expected from you. Every light of hope they held...their protector...their...their specter screams haunting your mind.
Your skin shivered from the phantom hands, appendages clawing and scraping at you, each touch leaving a burning ache. Desperately you wanted to...you did...you really wanted to...help them...you had promised, you had promised to uphold Splinter's words...Bishop's words and Aeons. But you had Adam and you promised...you promised your sister...and you promised her, Marigold.
Layers and layers of promises.
What could you do? What choice was right?
Adam, you thought expelling the sinking thoughts and managing to come back.
You needed to get to him, even if you had to go back to the clinic...though your heart as hard as you tried to deny its joy, restrained it. You had promised her too, Masaki.
"Promise, May?"
You stop walking for a moment, from the soothing tone, you weren't sure whose voice you heard, Masaki's, April's, or Marigold's...they held the same tone. Filled with kindness and comfort. Your heart...it...you felt it began to ache relentlessly, you reached a hand up to set it upon the area, and stop. You couldn't give in to the pain, no matter how excruciating it started to arise. You couldn't...if you did then...
A flash of destructive green flames, emerged in your mind, filled with tormented screams came, and a scaly mouth stretched wide into a malicious smile with a sinister guttural laugh.
Shivers ran like ice down your spine, your breath was caught in your chest, and as you began walking your legs felt...unsteady and you nearly lost your balance. Your hand shot out and latched onto whatever solid thing was there and managed to keep yourself steady. With the other hand, you pat it against your chest until the lodged breath burst out. A rush of cool, late afternoon air filled your inflamed lungs, cooling them and resetting your erratic heartbeat. Your head was spinning, quickly you shake it off the best you could. Remembering Adam, swallow this...incident, quickly collect yourself and hurry to the clinic.
There it was...Kurosaki Clinic. A modest, two-story light-colored building with contrasting dark roof tiles, and a sloping roof on one side. The clinic's name was displayed on its wooden sign. It still had its simple and welcoming presence. There was a small garden in front still, and you noticed those flowers were still there...that shocked you. But you hadn't time to allow such emotions to turn you from your task.
Straightening your shoulders and spine, you wipe away any sense of emotion noticeable on your face to a placid one and walk towards the door. Only to find your legs wouldn't move. They began trembling slightly, annoyed you force them, and make your way to the clinic's side.
You knock on the glass a few times. The curtains covered the glass preventing you from seeing in and for the others from seeing out. There was no response, so you knock again, louder this time. This would be easier if you could just announce yourself. But, you withheld.
Nothing again, you knock with a bit more force.
This time you heard something, something familiar, and felt it. A cheerful chirp. Your eyes widen, the boy?! Your mind raced with thoughts, how was it here, why was it here...it shouldn't be here...it should...if it was here then...did that mean Chad was...your heart dropped to your stomach.
Chad!
Your hand shot, with urgency, to the glass door's handle, and just as you were about to pull it back, it opened.
"Look I said before, I can't take any more patients after that car accident! You need to send them to-May?" said Isshin, stopping when he realized it was you.
He stood there without a word. You did too. The air was heavy with unspoken words. Your eyes, lock with his, and widens, as a deafening silence envelops you, and every word you had dissolved. What could you say...what should you say...you weren't here for him...you were...you...were... your mind couldn't find the reason for a moment.
Until the sound of Adam's laugh in the distance echoed from inside. Everything instantly returned back to you, you were hear for Adam. Isshin had the same realization and snapped out of his trance. His goofy, big grin spread across his mouth, as joyous relief shimmered softly in his eyes. He tried to hide it behind his playfulness.
"Hey, May!" his voice came out boisterously, with a chuckle, "It's good to see you! You're here for Adam? I beat you are, otherwise, why would you come by." He continued laughing while scratching the back of his neck. "I hope you didn't mind me picking him up for you, he had an incident at school, and well...the girls insisted they call me, so yeah. I know you were busy at work and stuff so you know just thought I'd help you out a bit."
You were shocked. He kept going and thumbed over his shoulder, "He just woke up about an hour ago. He was asleep for a bit, but he's doing just fine. You don't need to worry." He stepped aside a bit offering you to come in, "Come on in." You didn't move, "Actually it might be best if I get him. I have a patient rest in here, wait right here okay?"
Before you could even react Isshin turned away and ran back inside. You stood there, your mind trying to process what just happened. Trying to understand and analyze Isshin and his body language. Surely he was aware you'd be coming and...and...
That cheerful chirping rang out.
You remembered, Chad! You needed to see if he was really in here and...carefully you look around ensuring the coast was clear, you inhale sharply and close your eyes. You open them again and see within the hazed dark a greenish outline of Chad...laying in one of the beds inside the clinic and next to him on the nightstand the parakeet. Instantly you felt Chad's pain.
He was injured. You knew it and you knew how. As your heart began fretting your mind kept calm and you move closer. The parakeet turned in your direction, he smiled wistfully. You return his gesture with a gentle smile before attending to Chad. He was your student, he was in your class...he was your responsibility and as your responsibility your assistance was endless. You extend a hand out over him and let the rest follow. Once it was done, you close your eyes again and open them. You were back where you stood. A second after Isshin came bustling back with Adam and his things.
Adam had on the brightest smile set on Isshin, one you hadn't seen in quite a while. Though it touched you, all you could see was...her. You resist your hand from covering your mouth emotionally and instead hold it out for Adam when he came to you. Automatically, he took it, you hold it with tenderness and firmness.
"Do you have everything?" you asked with softness, your eyes lowered to him.
He nods but his attention remained on Isshin, "Uncle, I'll be back again. Soon. I promise!" He smiled waving.
You felt a tinge in your heart, Isshin didn't lose face and softly chuckled, "I'm looking forward to it." He ruffled Adam's hair a bit, "By the way thanks for the drawings. It's going up on my wall."
Adam giggled warmly delighted to hear that. You give Adam's hand a little tug and with a nod to Isshin walk away from the clinic. You didn't look back, but Isshin waited until you and Adam were out of view to let his smile drop dishearteningly and went back inside.
You kept your head forward and continued to the house, with your mind filled with thoughts, but the only you focused on was, Rukia.
At the house, Rukia walked into the kitchen and went to the fridge when suddenly she sneezed. Unsure where that came from she brushed it off and searched for a snack, unaware the candle's flame in the kitchen window turned green.
