Chapter 11

"K-Kurosaki-kun…"

Ichigo felt his ears perk up at the silent yet easily recognizable voice of the girl laid before him. Immediately, he raised his head to check Inoue.

"Inoue?" Ichigo gently tapped at her arms. "Hey, Inoue."

"Inoue…"

Nothing. Inoue remained sound asleep, oblivious to the world. Her face remained unchanged, peaceful yet unnerving in its stillness. The light from the lit lamp casts an orange glow upon her visage while accentuating the shadows that blanketed the room in such a gloomy atmosphere.

Inoue was still, and there was only the slow uneven rise and fall of her chest, accompanied by the mechanical sounds from the medical equipment and machines that surrounded her bed.

Ichigo felt something in his chest gain in weight, and he bit his lower lip to prevent himself from tearing apart. He cupped his face with both of his palms in frustration.

"It's me, Ichigo…"

"I'm here…"

"Please…wake up…"

Knock. Knock. Someone tapped at the wooden part of the sliding doors. "Kurosaki-san…"

Subtly, Ichigo wiped the remaining tear stains from his face before turning around to the sight of Rukia's older sister.

"Lady Hisana," Ichigo stilled. He does not know how to talk or even interact with the Lady of the Kuchiki. A few seconds later, he mustered enough words to bridge the silence that stretched on between them.

"Come inside. Please," Ichigo stood up quickly from his seat, and offered it to the woman.

"It is quite fine, Kurosaki-san. May I come in?"

"Y-Yes, please."

Lady Hisana moved with such grace that she appeared to be floating midair, her elaborate kimono gliding across the wooden floor like gentle waves. Ichigo cannot help but gawk at how Lady Hisana was exactly the opposite of her very brash younger sister.

"You know, Kurosaki-san…" she began, her voice subdued yet it commands attention. "I-I do not exactly have a clear reason why I came here…only that, something inside me tells me so. Hence, I think I would just give my heartfelt gratitude to this fine young woman who granted me a miracle. Would it be alright to ask for some privacy?"

"Uh…" Ichigo trailed off before snapping back to reality. He really needed to get some sleep. "Y-Yes…of course. I will just be outside."

"Thank you."

Ichigo took it as an opportunity to step outside the hallway, only to be met with the sight of Uryuu's mom and his own mother walking side-by-side. They were conversing before they noticed his presence.

"Mom? Ishida-obaa-san? What are you doing here? It's three in the morning," Ichigo inquired.

"Well," his mom answered. "The strangest thing happened. Both Katagiri and I…we're unable to sleep, and once we talked about it between the two of us, we both had this feeling to go here."

"That's strange. Lady Hisana is also inside the room," Ichigo felt his brows scrunch.

Katagiri-obaa-san's face suddenly lit up, as if she just realized something. "Would it be alright for us to come inside as well?"

"S-Sure," Ichigo led the other two women inside the room. "Lady Hisana, my mom and Ishida-obaa-san are also here."

Lady Hisana turned around, and greeted the other women with a gentle expression. "Greetings, Kurosaki-san and Ishida-san. I was just here to thank this fine young lady," she bowed as she gestured towards Inoue.

The action brought Ichigo's attention from the three women back to Inoue…who was stirring for a moment…then she shifted to the left before turning to the right in what appears to be discomfort. Ichigo immediately excused himself to stand by Inoue's side.

"Inoue," Ichigo shook her. "It's me, Ichigo." He shook her again, this time with more force. "Inoue. Inoue. Hey Inoue."

Just when he was about to give up, her eyes opened.

"K-Kurosaki-kun?" She asked, her face showing confusion. Then her face seemed to have tinged red for a moment. "W-Why are you in my room?"

"She's awake," Ichigo heard his mom speak in elation.

"O-Oh, my God," Ichigo breathed out, his eyes stinging from the sudden influx of tears. He gave a hearty laugh. Then before he could stop himself, he grabbed her and hugged her to his chest. "Thank God. You're awake, Inoue."

"I think we should give these lovers some space?" His mom chuckled. "Wouldn't you agree?"

"Agreed," Katagiri-obaa-san affirmed.

"Would you, ladies, mind joining me for a cup of warm tea before going back to your quarters?" Lady Hisana asked.

Ichigo did not care for the world at that time, barely registering the now inaudible echoes of the women that left the two of them to their own devices.

"K-K-Kuros-sak-ki-kun!" Inoue exclaimed.

Ichigo just laughed at her flustered voice, taking in this very moment that she is finally awake. Perhaps, this was the reason why Byakuya has been out of character. He can now understand that being finally reunited with…

Ichigo stopped himself from thinking, as it finally dawned upon him how he was basically violating Inoue's space. Slowly and mindfully, he released her from his hold, and apologized for his crude behavior.

"It's alright, Kurosaki-kun," Inoue smiled as she reassured him. Something in her expression melted something inside of him, to the point that he felt a fresh wave of energy wash over him.

He stood up and ran towards the door frame, his feet loudly clashing against the wooden floor

"ISHIDA! CHAD! RUKIA! RENJI! INOUE'S AWAKE! COME HERE!"

The thunderous sounds of feet grew, swift and unrelenting, echoing down the corridor. Heels struck wood in fierce, quick bursts, each step louder than the last. The floorboards trembled beneath the pounding sound, vibrating with urgency as it reached the room from where Ichigo stood.

SQUEEEAAAKKK! The sound immediately halted as the people that Ichigo called skidded to a harsh halt.

"INOUE!" came the relieved voices of their friends. Rukia rushed forward, her arms wide open and ready to embrace Inoue. Chad and Ishida followed, with Renji being the last person in the line.

"You're awake!" Rukia exclaimed, her eyes betraying hints of tears. She had her arms wrapped tightly against Inoue. "How are you? Are you okay? Are you hungry? I will have the staff-"

"Kuchiki-san," Inoue whispered, her voice lacking its trademark jovial tone.

Ichigo supposed that it should be expected given what Inoue had experienced. She was asleep for a few days, and it was bound for her voice to be this hoarse.

"Sado-kun…Abarai-kun…" Inoue looked at Chad and Renji, her eyes trying to convey how she was relieved to see them unharmed. "I'm glad that you're both unharmed."

Something ticked Ichigo off. There was something wrong with Inoue's expression now. It now lacked something. It lacked its usual luster. Her expression became blank…almost too blank. Ichigo had seen her express her emotions…her highs and lows…her happiness, despair, and everything in-between. This was precisely the reason as to why Ichigo is sensing something wrong. The Inoue he knew, no matter how tired, sick or sad she was, would always muster the strength to express her emotions.

'Just what is it?' Ichigo asked himself. 'What is it that I'm missing?'

"Inoue-san…" Uryuu approached her from behind Rukia, his tone apologetic. "I…I'm…" he hesitated, averting his head away and refusing to meet Inoue's gaze.

But Inoue was not looking at Uryuu. Her eyes were on Rukia, Chad and Renji. That was weird. Then, Ichigo realized it. Inoue addressed Renji before recognizing Uryuu's presence within the room. In fact, Inoue has yet to look at Uryuu. It was as if she was deliberately avoiding looking at the Quincy.

'Is she purposefully ignoring Ishida?'

"Inoue…" Uryuu spoke once again, but perhaps he has now realized that he seemed to be invisible to her. So, he approached her more closely and bowed his head, loudly declaring, "I am truly sorry for everything that has happened."

Uryuu was met with a few seconds of silence, Rukia, Chad and Renji looking over him with a confused expression.

"So, Kuchiki-san. Is this your house?" Inoue continued to converse with Rukia. "It's really big!"

"Y-Yeah…" Rukia stuttered, her attention flinging back and forth towards the smiling Inoue, and the Uryuu that was still bowing down in formal apology.

"Inoue-san. Please accept my apology!" Uryuu repeated.

"Er, Inoue…" Chad began, pointing towards Uryuu's direction.

"Yes, Sado-kun?" Inoue smiled, her expression inquiring. "Ah, you mean this Quincy?" Inoue clarified as she pointed towards the said Quincy without so much as a glance.

Ichigo's eyes widened at the sudden shift in the tone of her voice. It was detached yet full of an emotion that Ichigo never associated Inoue with–resentment. Ichigo then watched Uryuu flinch.

"I-I truly am sorry, Inoue-san," Uryuu stammered, rising from the position and looking at Inoue directly. "I know I should've-"

"I thought Quincies were defeated in the war. I saw Kurosaki-kun kill Yhwach," Inoue asked Rukia.

"Inoue, are you okay?" Rukia asked, her face showing concern and confusion at the sudden change in the atmosphere.

"Please, Inoue-san. Here me out!" Uryuu cried out.

A whistling sound and a twinkling golden light manifested near Inoue, and all alarms went off inside Ichigo's body.

"Run, Ishida!" Ichigo yelled.

"Huh?! What's wrong with you, Ku-" Uryuu complained but he was immediately cut off.

"Grarghhh!" Uryuu howled in pain as the sickening slashing sound against flesh and bones echoed against the silence.

Uryuu's right arm flew midair. It disappeared before it could hit the floor.

The golden light reappeared next to Inoue, and began circling her body threateningly. "There is a Quincy here. We should get rid of him before he could do anything that would harm us."

"Inoue-san. It's me! Ishida!" Uryuu jumped backwards, his left hand holding tightly against his still bleeding arm. Chad, Rukia, and Renji retreated as well.

"Ughhh…" Uryuu whimpered, biting his lips in pain.

"Here," Rukia's palms glowed green as it hovered over Uryuu's wound. Then, Rukia's expression changed. "It's not working."

"Let me try. Sklaverei." Uryuu closed his eyes before light blue particles fluttered towards his bleeding arm.

"You cannot heal or rejuvenate something that does not exist, " Inoue said, her eyes burning with uncharacteristic hatred as she glared at Uryuu.

"Inoue," Ichigo stepped forward. "What's wrong? That's Ishida. He's our friend. Please, stop." Ichigo's voice was hoarse as he continued to plead to her.

"That is not a friend. That is a traitor…a Quincy," Inoue whispered. "Tsubaki."

The flying Shun Shun Rikka grew into full height, transforming into his humanoid form. Tsubaki hovered near Inoue's side, awaiting her orders.

"Koten Zanshun," Inoue began as Tsubaki prepared to launch towards Uryuu. "I reject."

The sprite zoomed towards his target, his body covered in a golden light as he began to thrust his arm forwards as if to fly at lightspeed. Tsubaki made a dangerous beeline towards Quincy's chest area near his heart.

"The Saketsu! Tsubaki's targeting Ishida's Saketsu!" Renji cried out.

"Bakudo Number 81: Danku!" Rukia chanted, summoning a tall, translucent, rectangular shield in front of the Quincy.

CRACK! Tsubaki immediately and effortlessly shattered the Kido Spell with just his hand, the glass-like particles flying like shards before fading into nothingness.

"H-How…" Rukia stammered.

Ichigo rushed forward, placing himself in front of Uryuu.

"Stupid!" Uryuu shouted. "Get away!"

"Inoue. Please, stop. I'm tired of all these fighting between us friends," Ichigo asked, his voice undeniably worn out.

Immediately, Tsubaki stopped, his index finger mere inches away from Ichigo's chest. Inoue, still sitting on the bed, gradually swayed left and right as she began closing her eyes.

Ichigo heaved a sigh of relief, before asking Chad to help Uryuu stand up. Ichigo then rushed forward, catching Inoue's body before it could fall on the floor. Ichigo glanced at everyone in the room meaningfully. Ichigo's eyes landed on the still-released Tsubaki. Seeing as the sprite did not automatically return to the hairpin, Inoue must still be conscious. "You. Talk."

Ichigo then hoisted Inoue's body up until she was safely and securely tucked in her bed.

"I said that you have to find the rest of my siblings," Tsubaki stepped forward.

"What happened to Inoue? Were you controlling her?" Ichigo demanded.

"No."

"Then what! You almost killed us! Look at Ishida, he's bleeding and why is it that the wound won't close!"

"The wound won't close because that part of the arm does not exist anymore. It's not that I sliced it in half. It's that it simply does not exist anymore."

"Does that mean-"

"Yes," Tsubaki cut him off. "Unless it is restored by a Souten Kisshun, regrettably your friend would bleed to death."

There was a collective gasp that came from the whole group. Ichigo grabbed at Tsubaki's scarf. "What did you do to Inoue?"

"Nothing," the sprite responded nonchalantly. "This was all Orihime's will. The Shun Shun Rikka does not exert influence upon Orihime. It's the other way around."

"B-But…Inoue's wouldn't do something like that," Rukia countered. "At least not without good reason."

"There is a reason," Tsubaki explained. "It's hate. She hates the Quincy for how he has betrayed you by joining Yhwach."

Ichigo pursed his lips for a moment. Inoue knew the extent of his injuries when he fought Ishida at the Royal Realm. But, she was someone who would forgive that since she also knew that Ishida was just playing double agent. It would be illogical.

"I know that you're thinking that it doesn't make sense," Tsubaki said to Ichigo. "But consider this for a moment. We are her most definite traits. Shun-o is her Wisdom. Ayame is her Humility. Baigon is her Resilience. Lily is her Love. Hinaigiku is her Joy. I am her Courage. The Shun Shun Rikka balances each other out. Without the others, Orihime's emotional state would be in chaos. Without the other five, the only remaining trait would dominate. An unchecked courage-"

"Leads to recklessness, stubbornness, lack of empathy…and in very extreme cases, hate," Uryuu finished, still struggling from the pain.

"Precisely. So, let me repeat this once again, fa-...Ichigo Kurosaki…please find the rest of my brothers and sisters," Tsubaki – with a certain plea in his voice – said before he disappeared back to the hairpin.