Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

Undisclosed Devotion	By : horrorgal Category: Bleach > Yaoi - Male/Male > Ichigo/Ishida Views: 7352 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor the characters. I do not profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Chapter 14

Ichigo moved on pure instinct and preservation, clutching his badge so hard that he would later find a bruise on his palm. He felt the power of the arrow as he threw his body back to avoid being pierced through the head, his eyes wide like a deer in blinding light. When he left his body, he rolled up and drew Zangetsu and held the blade before him like a shield to deflect a second attack. The said arrow was knocked off course by another and it took a split second to realize that Uryu had shot his own to protect him. He stood in the doorway, bow raised against his father with a look of hurt confusion on his face.

Ryuken did not react, his face coldly neutral as he shifted his position in the room and shot again in Ichigo's direction. Ichigo knocked the third attack aside, his mind a jumble of hectic thoughts. He heard Uryu yell for him to stop, but Ryuken paid no heed, switching his mode of attack from bow to sword; Seele Schneider, Uryu had once told him what the technique was called. The blue glow of the blade sliced at Ichigo's face and he leapt back to avoid it. He resisted the urge to attack, not wanting to hurt him even though he was obviously trying to kill him.

"Ichigo, what's going on?!" Karin came running down the stairs with Yuzu close behind.

"Get out of here! Go to Urahara's and try to find dad!" he just had time to say before the energy sword that was pressed against his blasted him back into the wall with a sudden surge of power. Ryuken didn't let up and was after him before he could even push off the damaged wall. Ichigo used shunpo to move at his back, throwing the hilt of Zangetsu at the back of his head in the hope of knocking him unconscious, but Ryuken was just as quick and disappeared before the blow could land.

"Ichigo, look out!" Uryu yelled, and he ducked just as the sword sliced at the back of his exposed neck. The close confines of the living room wasn't doing him any favors, but when he felt the reiatsu of Karin and Yuzu retreating further away from the house it sharpened his focus more to the problem at hand. He was already moving again, but now it was Uryu that was in trouble. His interference had finally shifted Ryuken's attention on his son.

Uryu brought up a shield of reiatsu. The arrow that was flying in his path deflected in a ricochet and pierced through the opposite wall. Ichigo ran at Ryuken's back, intent on tackling him to the floor, but he was gone in a flash again. Ichigo cursed, sword up. If he had only learned simple kido by now he could at least trap him.

"You okay?" Ichigo muttered as his eyes moved about the room to detect where he went to.

"No, my father is trying to kill us," he hissed back, bringing his bow forth while they had a window of opportunity.

"There's something off."

"No shit!"

"No, I mean, he was acting weird even before he attacked, like he had no emotion."

Uryu's eyes shifted slightly. "He's outside."

"Look, do you think you can trap him somehow if I distract him?"

"I could try, but any trap I set he would detect right away," Uryu said. "He knows them all."

"Well, maybe..." Ichigo's voice got lost in the bombardment of reishi arrows that slammed the house, pouring like deadly rain through the ceiling. "Shit!" They both moved in unison for the front door where Ryuken was already waiting and pulling the bow taunt for another barrage of arrows. Ichigo and Uryu separated and launched to the air in different directions. He couldn't attack them both at once. Ryuken was only indecisive for a moment before he went for Uryu, leaping up to give chase.

"Go get help! I'm heading for the river!" Uryu yelled before he dashed and evaded another attack.

"I can't just leave you to deal with this!" He didn't have to ask why. Uryu wanted to get his father away from the populated neighborhood before he injured innocent people in their homes.

"I said go!" And he was off, leading his father further away into the night. Ichigo could see the blue flashes of light as they went, hoping that Uryu wouldn't take a hit. He had a feeling if he did, it would be dead on. He grit his teeth and resisted following and went towards Urahara's shop instead, seeking out any reiatsu of any of his comrades on the way.

He was trying to rationalize what the Hell just happened. One minute he was quietly making tea and the next, Uryu's father was trying to kill them. What he had said too.. I know what you are, and you're as much of a danger as we are. For now it didn't matter. At the moment, Ryuken just saw him as a enemy, a obstacle in the way of his true target. He moved faster and sensed Renji close by. He altered his path to reach him instead. He was closer than the shop. With any luck, Karin and Yuzu were close and could get help.

He saw the redhead Shinigami heading his way. "Renji!"

He landed lightly on the roof Ichigo waited on. "Ichigo, what's going on?."

"Ryuken came to my house and attacked."

"What?!"

"I don't have time to explain, not that I even understand it myself. We have to get to the river. That's where Uryu was leading him."

"We'll talk on the way," Renji said and took off.

Ichigo rushed beside him and told him all that he could, which wasn't a whole lot. All he knew was that Ryuken could not be doing this of his own accord. The man was stern and even cold at time, but he would never try to kill his son. It sounded like a twisted joke. Once they had him subdued they could figure out what was happening. He just hoped Uryu could keep up his defenses before they got there

"You can do bakudo kido, right?" Ichigo asked Renji as they ran.

"Yes."

"You're sure?" Ichigo pushed.

"Yes, I'm sure! Don't be a smart ass!"

"I'm not trying to be, but I've seen your kido abilities before and they don't seem up to par."

"Says the punk that hasn't even learned any of the techniques yet!"

"When was I supposed to learn it?! I was too busy learning everything else about my powers in a short amount of time!"

"Don't make excuses!"

Ichigo ran faster. It wasn't the time to bicker. "Look, we can discuss that at another time, right now I have to know if you can trap Ryuken without hurting him."

Renji hard expression lessened. "I won't let you down, okay?"

"I know," Ichigo answered back and looked ahead as he pushed away his doubt. Uryu and his father were battling, he could feel it like a wave as they drew nearer to their destination. Arrows flew like shooting stars across the black night sky, beautiful and lethal at once.

"Damn, you weren't kidding," Renji said as they rushed ahead.

"I'll try to get his focus on me."

"Got you," Renji said and let Ichigo get ahead of him to join the fight.

Uryu was dashing and blocking attacks without returning his own, his reiatsu shield up, but wavering from the constant spray of arrows that came his way. Ryuken was as focused as ever, unstoppable as he let fly attack after attack, following Uryu's path as he dashed and backed away. Another shower of arrows let loose and Ichigo saw Uryu brace for the impact, shield before him protectively.

"Getsuga Tensho!" Ichigo aimed his attack between father and son, disrupting and evaporating the arrows in a single blast. "Try and see if you can hit me!" he yelled defiantly at Ryuken who had turned to look at him.

"Ichigo, what are you doing?!" Uryu yelled across to him, keeping his shield up.

"Saving your ass!"

"I can handle this!"

"Can you?! You're just shielding against his attacks! You're getting nowhere that way!" Ichigo yelled back, keeping his eyes on Ryuken who was looking between them once more as if deciding who to go after. He knew Uryu must sense Renji nearby, but if he did, then Ryuken would surely sense him too.

"You both must die," Ryuken said in a matter of fact tone, little emotion in his words. "As I must die. This little display you're both putting on is only delaying what must be done. I don't have time for childish games."

It was chilling to hear him speak of something so morbid and not even show a shred of emotion about it. Soulless is what came to mind as Ichigo stared him down, sword before him, threatening and defensive in his stance. Come after me, he thought as he glared hard at Ryuken. Uryu shouldn't have to face his own father this way. Ichigo pulled forth his hollow mask and the enhanced power that came with it.

"You think I'm not good enough for your son!" he yelled. "Come on then! Try to take me down! Do it!" He wanted to provoke him and he smirked under the mask when he saw it worked. Ryuken sneered, showing the first real brush of emotion since this madness began and lifted his bow, the point directed at him.

"Ichigo!"

"Stay out of it, Uryu!"

The attack was swift, but Ichigo was swifter, another blast with Zangetsu destroyed the wall of arrows out of his path with ease. He heard Renji's voice saying the incantation of a kido, but Ryuken was too quick and twisted his body around to change his target. Ichigo ran to stop him from letting fly, but a single arrow hit Ryuken through the arm before he got to him and his control over his bow evaporated as he yelled a curse at his son for the intrusion. Renji's voice remained strong as he finished and bright light surrounded Ryuken as his body fell to the ground. Uryu was frozen in place, his bow still up and steady.

Renji was already moving to approach Ryuken, but Ichigo went to Uryu first, letting his mask evaporate as he got near. He gently touched his raised arm, and only then did Uryu lower his bow and send it away in a flash of light. Ichigo didn't like the look of guilt that was on his face. Ichigo looked back to see Renji knelt by Ryuken who squirming against the the binding, blood staining the arm of his white jacket. Not a life threatening wound, but it had been enough to throw him off.

"Uryu, it's okay," he assure him. "You had to do it."

"I know." He watched his father struggle and curse with pity in his eyes. "What's wrong with him, Ichigo?"

"We'll figure it out."

"Ichigo!" He saw Urahara and his father running their way and couldn't help but think they were a tad late. "You both alright?"

"Not injured, just confused," he answered as they made their way over. Urahara said nothing, but walked over to where Renji was and knelt on the other side of Ryuken, watching the Quincy as if he were a circus curiosity. "The house is a different story," Ichigo muttered to Isshin.

"Forget the house," Isshin said, troubled as he watched the three men on the ground. "I'm just glad he didn't manage to kill either of you."

Urahara waved them over. "Let's get him back to the shop. I can examine him better there."

~*~

The walk back didn't go as smoothly as Ichigo thought it would. He felt like he was part of a band of kidnappers, skulking around in the dead of night. Ryuken yelled and cursed them all, fighting the binding spell so violently that it began to break under the power of his reiatsu. Even the hold Renji had on him was tested as he twisted in his arms. In the end, Isshin threw a elbow to the side of his head and knocked him out, making the rest of the trip quicker, and blessedly more silent.

Out of the group, Uryu was the only one that didn't speak at all, even when they got back to the shop. He sat apart from them in the room and watched almost stoically as Urahara checked Ryuken over, holding his Quincy cross that Renji had handed him. Ichigo left him to his thoughts and instead hovered close by Urahara as he worked. Isshin gave them all space as well, arms folded, face stone-like in one of the shadowed corners like a protective gargoyle.

Orihime meekly stepped in and touched Ichigo's shoulder. "Your sisters are watching t.v. Neither of them could get back to sleep," she said softly. "Chad is sticking close to them."

"Thanks, Orihime, for everything."

"No problem," she said, having healed Ryuken's arm after they arrived. She looked towards Uryu. "I feel so bad for him," she spoke softly. "It must have been a shock when it happened."

"It was, but the person who attacked us wasn't Ryuken. Not really."

The sudden shriek of pain from the man lying on the floor cracked the silence. "Renji, hold him down!" Urahara yelled. Ryuken's eyes were wide with pain, the change so sudden it was frightening.

"What's wrong with him?!" Uryu shouted as he got up.

Urahara tried to look for the source of his pain. "I'll take a guess and say whatever is controlling your father is displeased with his failure to kill you."

"Help him, dammit!" Uryu rushed over and knelt by him. "Renji, move, I got him." The redhead eased out of the way and Ryuken's hand flailed to the back of his neck as soon as his arm was free of the hold.

"Help me turn him over," Urahara said and pulled Ryuken up and on his side with Uryu's help. He saw the problem right away, the back of his neck red and feverish to the touch. "It's hard to see, but he has a small hole here." He pointed at the area. "We're going to have to cut it out."

"What?" Ichigo said.

"No choice. Whatever it is might kill him if we don't get it out." Ryuken continued to yell and struggle in agony, his skin drenched in sweat. "Isshin, I need you over here. Renji go in the storeroom. There's a red bag in there. Bring it to me." Renji was up and out before Urahara even finished talking. "Orihime, I'm going to need you to heal him as soon as we get it removed."

She looked scared, but determined and gave him a nod. "Okay."

Renji was back in seconds and handed the bag to him. "Need me to do anything else?"

"Yes, help us hold him down," he said as he pulled a box out of the bag and opened it.

Surgical tools were neatly placed inside. Ichigo wondered why he had something like that at the shop, but part of him didn't want to know. He just kept quiet and held down one of Ryuken's legs and looked at Renji across from him who was doing the same. Uryu was holding his father's left arm still and Ichigo tried to give him some reassurance with a soft nod as he listened to Urahara speak.

"Isshin, you want to hold his other arm so I can do this?"

"Let me do it. I'm better with a scalpel than you" He took it from Urahara's hand and moved closer. "Just hold his arm and be ready to examine the fucking thing I pull out of him. Someone is going to have to keep his head still. Renji, hold both his legs, Ichigo, get up here and hold him for me."

"Right." Ichigo moved without argument and grabbed Ryuken's thrashing head firmly between his hands.

"What's going on, is he okay?" Chad stood in the doorway, body tense.

"He will be, Chad. Go watch over my daughters, please," he said sternly.

"Yes, Sir." He was gone just as quick as he appeared.

Isshin face hardened, the scalpel steady in his hand. "Orihime, be ready. I don't know how deep I have to go."

"I'm ready," she answered, voice stronger than before in her determination, hovering above them all, ready to do what only she could.

He cut in, his hand precise and steady. Ryuken's screams withered into a deep pained groan and his struggles lessened under their hold as if somewhere in his frantic and fevered mind he knew they were trying to help him. Isshin sliced delicately further and made a soft sound in the back of his throat. He grabbed the small pair of forceps and reached in as blood ran down both sides of his neck. He pulled the needle out and Urahara was quick to grab the forceps from his hand to get a look at the needle.

"Orihime, now." Isshin said. She was focused as she brought the glow of her Soten Kisshun over the wound.

"It..will..turn to ash," Ryuken rasped, his voice worn from his screams.

Urahara got up quickly and rushed out of the room with the needle still securely latched in the pincers of the forceps. Isshin sat back with a deep sigh. Ryuken's blood was on his hands and the scalpel lay forgotten on the floor beside him. In turn, each of them let go of their hold on Ryuken, all except Uryu who held his father's hand. Ichigo watched the wound seal up, and only then did he relax.

"I'm sorry," Ryuken said, hand gripping Uryu's. "I'm sorry to both of you." He turned his head to look at his son. His face was pale as slate and the dark circles under his eyes only made him look more like death. Yet, he smiled soft. "I'm a weak fool," he muttered and his eyes slipped closed as he lost consciousness.

AN: Hello to my readers. Hope this story is still going over well. I've not gotten much response in ages, but I know I'm enjoying writing this, so all is good. :D As always, apologies for any typos that I may have missed. Also, that emergency surgical procedure there... Probably not accurate. I'm not a medical physician, nor a surgeon. I do know that would be a tricky part of the body to cut into without getting the spinal cord, but hey, Orihime can do wonders, and this is a work of fiction. I mean, I am writing characters that have come back from much worse in the manga. Example: Ichigo pretty much having a hole punched through his chest, Byakuya being pretty much a blood stain on the wall in the current manga arch and coming back stronger.. You see where I'm going here. lol. Anyway, thanks for reading. Comments really are appreciated.
- 13
- 14
- 15
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Undisclosed Devotion