Was It Worth It... ( Bleach ) Chapter 4 Part 4 Hospital

Part 4 Hospital

* Beep ** Beep ** Beep *Ichigo's eyes flickered open, the monotonous rhythm of the heart monitor pulling him from the void of unconsciousness. The sterile quiet of the room pressed against his senses as he stared at the hospital ceiling above' Where am I?"A hospital, obviously," he muttered dryly, his snark a feeble comfort against the creeping unease. But the real question followed swiftly: When... and how did I end up here?The last thing he could recall was...Ah.Oh.Right.He almost died.The memory hit him like a hammer, and Ichigo shot upright —only to be slammed back down by a surge of searing pain ripping through his chest. Gritting his teeth, he glanced down and saw his torso encased in layers of bandages, fresh crimson seeping through from the strain of his sudden movement."Damn it..." he hissed under his breath, the reality of what happened sinking in...Most specifically...He almost died...He almost died and he wanted to accept it.' What the fuck is wrong with me ?! 'Ichigo's thoughts roared, a tempest of anger and disbelief swirling in his mind. ' Since when did I start thinking that dying was okay?! ' The question hit him harder than the pain in his chest, the fury and shame building with every passing second. ' What kind of idiot just gives up like that?! ''Seeing Mom? She's in the reincarnation cycle... there's no way I'll ever see her again.' Hot tears streamed down Ichgo's face, unbidden and unstoppable, as he realized how close to death he was, and he couldn't do anything about it.This was the first time Ichigo truly felt the cold grasp of death so near. Every other time, Zangetsu or his Hollow had been there—urging him forward, forcing him to fight through it. For better or worse—though mostly worse with his Hollow—they had always been with him. If he ever died, at least he believed he wouldn't die alone.But this time...He was truly alon—No.Wait.Not alone.His sisters.HIS SISTERS.The thought jolted Ichigo like lightning through his veins. He frantically scanned the room, his eyes darting around in desperation. But the sterile walls reflected only his own image back at him. No Karin. No Yuzu. No one.Ignoring the screaming protest of his body, Ichigo swung his legs over the edge of the bed and forced himself to stand, the pain be damned.Just as Ichigo reached to remove the wires attached to him, the door swung open with a measured creak."Patients who wake up in a hospital," came a cold, clipped voice, "should have the basic intelligence to remain in bed."Ichigo stared at the man who looked eerily like Uryu, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple at how identical their tone and demeanor were. But there were more pressing matters at hand."Where are my sisters?!" Ichigo demanded, his voice urgent and strained.The white-haired man regarded Ichigo with silence for a couple of minutes making him think the worst, before the man started talking again."They're at your house," the man replied, his tone steady. "Isshin took them back after they were checked as they only had minor injuries and their Reiatsu drained. They recovered within a day. Last I heard, they're doing fine..."Ichigo exhaled, a sigh of relief escaping him, but it was short-lived. Frustration surged back in, choking him with its weight. How could he have been willing to die? To leave his sisters behind, alone, especially with a Hollow still right there? What kind of brother was he ?! The thought twisted in his chest, gnawing at him.But before he could spiral further into his self-pity, the man spoke again, his tone casual yet laced with something unsettling."...But I do find it strange that they haven't visited you once or even asked about you. I should call Isshin to make sure everything's fine and that the Hollow didn't leave any lingering effects."Ichigo's heart sank, a feeling of dread creeping up his spine. "How... How long have I been here?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. It couldn't have been more than a day—there's no way his family wouldn't have checked on him after nearly dyin—"A week," the man replied coolly unaware of what that implied to the boy. "Don't worry, I informed Uryu about your situation. He should have copied any assignments you missed from school. Though, based on his comments, I suspect this won't be the last time you'll need to catch up. "Hearing that, Ichigo let out a weak chuckle, his mind racing to distract himself with thoughts of what Uryu might have said to his most likely relative, trying to avoid confronting the unsettling truth. His family... hadn't visited him for an entire week." Oh... Ye... Ye what did he say " Ichigo barely got out."Uryu doesn't usually mention it, but recently he's started complaining about your consistent neglect of school—weeks of skipped classes, to be precise." at this the white-haired man glared down at Ichigo"I don't know what issues you're grappling with, but it's time to focus on the present and your future, rather than dwelling on the past and your losses..." The white-haired man paused for a moment, as if weighing his words, before his expression shifted into an impassive mask, his eyes were concealed by the artificial lights from the ceiling reflecting off his glasses."That's what Masaki would have wanted, and what she would have told you."Hearing his mother's name made Ichigo's eyes snap open, his previous thoughts evaporating in an instant. How does this man know my mom?! The question blazed at the forefront of his mind."Ah, it seems I've said too much," the man remarked, his tone cool and composed. He began turning away, his movements deliberate. "I shouldn't be distressing my patients."Wa ?, NO! WAIT !"Wait!" Ichigo's voice broke through, urgent and sharp, causing the man to halt."Who are you?" Ichigo demanded, his confusion and frustration bubbling over."Ryuken Ishida," the man started to turn around as like every other time replied coolly, his voice measured. "I am the Director of Karakura Hospital. Now, you should rest... "He paused, taking a moment to fully take in Ichigo's face before turning back from him. There was a brief, almost imperceptible hesitation in his gaze, but then he continued walking his footsteps hitting the floor with a soft thud as he moved toward the door."You appear... stressed," he continued talking his tone unchanged. "A nurse will be along shortly to attend to your needs."The cold dismissal stung, and Ichigo could feel the frustration boiling within him, his anger flaring at how easily Ryuken had blown him off.But then he heard him continue once again"If you wish to speak with me again," Ryuken said without turning back, his tone as dispassionate as ever, "you should recover quickly. "" Click "And the door was closed.The door clicked shut behind him, and Ichigo remained frozen, staring at it blankly."Recover quickly, huh?" he muttered to himself, the words tasting bitter on his tongue as he lay back down in the sterile, too-white bed."How the hell am I supposed to do that?" His voice was laced with frustration as he carefully shifted, trying not to provoke the sharp pain from his chest.But it wasn't just the physical pain that gripped him. The suffocating silence in the room—this sterile, lifeless space where his family hadn't come to see him in an entire week—echoed louder than anything else. It reverberated through his mind, drowning out the sharp sting of his injuries.He tried to push it away, forcing his thoughts to stay on his wounds, on his recovery, anything but this... but the truth was inescapable.His family wasn't there...Wasn't here with him...I wasn't there for a while now...The weight of their absence pressed down on him harder than any injury ever could.Resigned, he pulled the blankets tighter around himself, a feeble attempt to shield from the overwhelming emptiness. He lay there, waiting for the nurse, for something to break the silence.Before long, his eyes closed. Unintentionally, the exhaustion consumed him, and he drifted into a restless sleep, the void in his heart far more painful than any of his injuries..........."So, how's the kid?" Kyra asked, her voice casual as she stood beside Ryuken, waiting for his response. He simply stared at her for a moment, his expression unreadable, before he spoke."Patient confidentiality," Ryuken replied, his tone unwavering and devoid of any trace of warmth. "And even if that weren't the case, I still wouldn't have shared anything with you." He spared Kyra a brief glance, his gaze as unreadable as the expression on his face, before turning away with a deliberate calmness.Hearing that response made Kyra grumble under her breath."You know," she began, "at the very least, you could repay me for punching me in the face." She finished saying that by rubbing her eye.The man didn't respond to her at all, but she knew that these serious types of people enjoyed this sort of shit.Either way, she planned to find out tomorrow what was really going on with this town... or at least that's what she wanted to say. But getting past this man was a different story. Over the past week, he hadn't left Ichigo's side for even a moment.It's not like she could easily overpower him without drawing too much attention to herself. If she released too much Reiatsu, Soul Society would know she was here, and she'd already be taking a huge risk by staying in this town for as long as she had.But why was she even still here? She'd already learned most of what she needed from that kid—what more was there to uncover?But leaving that kid alone, a fellow Substitute Shinigami—even if she wasn't one anymore—didn't sit right with her.And she couldn't quite figure out why...Well, that was a lie. She knew exactly why, but it was something she even wanted to remember, let alone think about it and what that meant about her.Still, seeing how that white-haired man stayed by the kid's side, it prompted a question from her."Is he your son or what?"To her surprise, the man actually stumbled, a rare crack in his otherwise unshakable composure." No. "She shrugged, unconcerned. It wasn't really her problem anyway, and honestly, it wasn't like she cared that much."So, is he an orphan?" Kyra asked, her tone casual.The question made the man pause, his expression tightening slightly before he muttered something under his breath. Kyra raised an eyebrow. ' Huh, maybe he's not as stoic as he likes to appear. '"What do you mean by that?" Ryuken asked, his voice colder now, though it was clear he already suspected where she was going with it."I mean, no one visited him," Kyra pressed, her tone cutting. "He's been gone for, what—four weeks now? And not a single visitor. Not his sisters, and, if I'm right, not even the man I assume is his father.""Four weeks?" Ryuken's voice dropped, colder than ice, as his sharp gaze cut to her.Fuck...Kyra realized she'd slipped up. There was no taking it back now, and the tension in the air made her inwardly curse herself. She silently hoped the man's stoic demeanor would hold—anything to avoid this turning into a confrontation."So, uh... I might have had the kid for four weeks," she admitted, raising her hands slightly in a placating gesture as Ryuken's expression darkened further. She rushed to add, "But don't worry—nothing happened to him. I just... asked him some questions."Ryuken's glare remained, unyielding and cold. His tone sliced through the air like a blade. "And I'm sure he answered entirely of his own free will, without any persuasion, coercion, or manipulation. Isn't that right?" Clearly alluding to the moment he witnessed her ability to commanded Ichigo into unconsciousness.Kyra decided silence was her best option, praying he'd let it go.But as his glare lingered, her nerves got the better of her."At least he wasn't harmed?" she ventured, her voice tinged with nervous humor.Ryuken's response came without hesitation, flat and cutting. "He missed weeks of school because of you."A bead of sweat rolled down Kyra's temple. She blinked in disbelief. "Wait... are you seriously more upset about that than the fact that he was kidnapped for four weeks?"Ryuken's glare intensified, radiating an air of quiet menace.Before she could stop herself, her mouth betrayed her."Are you sure you're not his father?"It was subtle, but she caught it—the faintest twitch of his eyebrow, a fleeting crack in his otherwise unshakable exterior.But Ryuken didn't dignify the question with a response. Instead, he shifted his focus entirely, dismissing her remark as though it didn't exist.Kyra took the hint and decided to leave, unwilling to risk saying anything else that might dig her further into trouble.Ryuken ignored the woman as she went into a completely diffrent direction than him, something far more pressing truly held his interest: her earlier slip. That... was worth addressing later. ' Dammit, Isshin, ' he thought grimly. ' What are you even doing? 'Still, Ryuken reminded himself, it wasn't his problem.Masaki's child was his patient, nothing more. Once the boy recovered, whatever happened to him would no longer concern him.Still..."Inform Sanae Mizuno that there's a patient waiting for her in room 504," Ryuken instructed coolly as he passed the head nurse on his way to his office. His voice was precise, detached, his tone betraying no hint of the heavy thoughts lingering just beneath the surface.The head nurse nodded, accustomed to following his instructions without question.Ryuken continued on his way, his mind already moving toward the call he needed to make...Or at least, he would have, had he not been interrupted just as he reached the door to his office."Father, I heard Ichigo has finally woken up," came the calm, measured voice of his son, Uryu Ishida."Yes, he has," Ryuken replied, his voice flat, yet carrying an undercurrent of something unreadable. He knew his son must have heard the news from one of the nurses, no doubt infatuated with Uryu. "You might need to visit him. Make sure he catches up on the assignments he's missed."His gaze flicked toward Uryu, studying his reaction. The mention of Ichigo's and Kyra's comments about the boy's lack of visitors gnawed at him. It reminded him that neither his son nor the people Uryu surrounded himself with had bothered to visit Ichigo either.Uryu's eyes betrayed a brief flicker of emotion before he quickly masked it, the cold, composed façade slipping back into place—exactly as Ryuken had taught him, and expected of a quincy."I was informed by you many times not to interact with any Shinigami," Uryu challenged, his tone cool, though the faintest tension in his voice betrayed his attempt at indifference."As far as I'm aware, Ichigo Kurosaki is human, from blood to soul," Ryuken responded, his voice cold and unwavering. He saw the flicker of defiance in Uryu's eyes and pressed further. "And if I remember correctly, you've never been one to care much about my orders nor advice on avoiding Shinigami."This made the younger of the Ishida scowl, as he started to leave."So, you're not going to help your classmate, and more importantly, your friend, after he's been through something so dangerous?" Ryuken's voice was level, yet the weight of his words cut through the air, his eyes unwavering."When have I ever referred to Kurosaki as a friend?" Uryu's copied his father's tone and even laced it with an even sharper edge. "Our paths have merely aligned on occasion. If he's foolish enough to face a Hollow when he knows he's powerless, then he got exactly what he deserved."Without another word, Uryu turned and walked away, his back to his father, his face deliberately hidden from view.Ryuken could only shake his head, a faint sigh escaping him as he silently wondered if he had been just as obstinate at that age as he finally went into his office.Still, it was time to call Isshin and ensure everything was under control. After all, the girls were half-Quincy, and Hollows were always a threat to Quincies—especially those capable of disrupting their Reiryoku.Speaking of Quincies, Ryuken opened a drawer and retrieved a Quincy cross.He held it in his hand, staring at it for a long moment."He's far too much like his mother," he thought, the faintest shadow of emotion flickering across his otherwise stoic face.With a quiet sigh, he slipped the cross into his pocket and shut the drawer, the soft click echoing in the stillness.He had always been a man of his word.Unlike the boy's father, it seemed—if the truth of his connection to her still remained buried.The boy had lost his powers, absolutely no Reiryuoku in his system and he still charged in into this world. What purpose was there in keeping him in the dark now? If there ever had been one.Naturally, he would provide the boy with exactly what was asked—no more, no less.With that resolve, Ryuken reached for the phone and began to dial Isshin.And depending on the answer he received...Perhaps the room he'd reserved specifically for Isshin would finally see its intended use...........Meanwhile, Uryu was standing in front of Ichigo's hospital room, a suitcase filled with with notes and books on the subjects, his comrade missed, during the last 4 weeks.' "Comrade" is far too generous a term, ' Uryu mused, adjusting his glasses as his fingers hovered over the doorknob.He definitely hadn't been lingering there for the past five minutes, replaying his argument with his father in his head and absolutely not hesitating to walk in."Ah, Ishida-san," a nurse said, her voice breaking the silence of the hallway drawing Uryu's attention as she approached from the side."Good afternoon, Sanae Mizuno-san," Uryu replied, his tone polite but distant, accompanied by a small, formal nod.She seemed to notice that he'd been standing there for some time. Her gaze shifted to the bag in his hands, curiosity sparking in her expression."Did one of your friends or classmates have an accident?" she asked gently.Uryu turned to her, his sharp gaze briefly making her shift uncomfortably under its weight before he gave a curt nod."Yes... Yes, a classmate had an unfortunate incident," he replied evenly. "He's missed several weeks of school. Once my father learned he was in my class, he insisted I ensure he's received my notes to be caught up on the material he missed."His gaze sharpened, locking onto her with an intensity that made her instinctively avert her eyes to the floor. Being scrutinized by the director's son—a figure who carried an air of authority despite his age—was enough to unsettle anyone."I see now that my presence is unnecessary," Uryu said coolly, his tone precise. " You're more than capable of delivering these to him yourself."He placed the bag into her hands with deliberate precision, leaving her momentarily speechless as she blinked in confusion, a flurry of half-formed words spilling from her lips.And when he started walking away." Wait wait wait ! Ishido-san ! " She shouted making Uryu pause wondering what she want's to say " Shouldn't you be the one delivering this as the classmate and aswell explain any problems he might not understand from your notes ? ""Ichigo is more than capable of handling any problems on his own," Uryu replied coolly, his tone measured but firm, but there was some warmness hidden in it. "He's one of the brightest students in school. If not for his... responsibilities, he could easily have ranked in the top ten, if not higher."And with that said, without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and strode away, his steps echoing with quiet finality.But he still had one more thing to say" I am sure that he can handle everything by himself. "......"What in the world does this even mean?" Ichigo grumbled, glaring at the page of Uryu's meticulously written notes.The meticulously written page stared back, overflowing with overly detailed explanations of biology concepts, complete with diagrams that looked better suited for a medical journal. Squinting, Ichigo tried to decipher the precise handwriting but quickly found himself drowning in a sea of terms."Seriously, who writes like this? Does he expect me to decode it or something?" he grumbled, running a hand through his already messy hair, only to groan louder as phrases like partial pressure gradients and arteriovenous oxygen difference taunted him.As if summoned by his frustration, Sanae Mizuno entered the room to check his vitals. She paused, raising an eyebrow as she noticed his scowl and the open notebook. "Trouble with anatomy, Kurosaki-kun?"Ichigo looked up, unintentionally glaring. "Do you know what arteriovenous oxygen difference exactly means?" he demanded, irritation laced in his tone.Sanae blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She had pegged him as a typical delinquent—scowl, orange hair, the whole package—a complete contradiction to everything young master had said about him. That was, of course, before she started speaking to the teenager and discovered he was surprisingly kind, even somewhat of a gentleman. She recalled how he had quickly averted his eyes when she tried to open the window in his room, and her skirt had risen a bit too high for comfort.So, to see the kind boy snap at her like that now felt completely out of character..But, with a calm breath, she responded." Of course, it's basic physiology. It's the difference in oxygen levels between your arteries and veins. It shows how much oxygen your tissues are using. "Hearing an actual response to his question made Ichigo pause, the sharp edge of his irritation immediately dulling. The realization of how he had snapped hit him like a weight, and guilt crept into his expression."I... I'm sorry," he began awkwardly, scratching the back of his head as his eyes darted away from hers. "I didn't mean to yell at you like that. It's just biology sometimes doesn't make any sense to me, and Uryus's handwriting isn't exactly making it easier."Sanae's surprised expression melted into a small, understanding smile. "It's alright, Kurosaki-kun," she said gently. "I can see why this would be overwhelming. Uryu-san's notes aren't exactly beginner-friendly."Ichigo let out a dry chuckle, glancing at the stack of papers like they were mocking him. "Yeah, no kidding. It's like he wrote them to mess with me or something."Sanae tilted her head thoughtfully, a playful glint in her eye. "Well, maybe I can help," she offered. "I'm not a teacher, but I do know a thing or two about anatomy and physiology. It kind of comes with the job." She paused, then added with a light laugh, "Or maybe the job comes with it, to be exact."Ichigo let out a small laugh, the first sign of his frustration easing. But then his brows furrowed slightly as he glanced at her. "Are you sure you'd be okay with teaching someone like me? Don't you have other patients to worry about?" he asked, his tone a mix of genuine concern and lingering hesitation.The nurse picked up on his hesitation almost immediately—a subtle shift in his tone and posture that didn't escape her notice. It reminded her of the time she had once considered pursuing a degree in psychology before ultimately deciding to focus on medicine.Shaking her head with a warm, reassuring smile, she eased his concerns. "No need to worry, Kurosaki-kun. This hospital is full of capable professionals ensuring every patient gets the care they need. You're not keeping me from anything important... that is, of course, if you don't mind getting a crash course from a nurse "Ichigo hesitated for a moment, his shoulders relaxing as he gave a reluctant nod. "Yeah... I guess that'd be a lot better than staring at this chicken scratch all day..."He shot the note another irritated glare, his brow furrowing."What do these numbers even mean in the middle of all this text?" he asked, completely baffled by the mess of symbols and calculations.Sanae glanced at the notes, a soft giggle escaping her as she quickly replied, her tone light and amused."Giggles Those are the dates, Kurosaki-san."......She paused when she noticed Ichigo's blank expression, her brows furrowing slightly."Kurosaki-san?" she asked gently, her voice laced with concern.When he didn't respond, she repeated, her tone a little softer, "Kurosaki-san, are you alright?"When he remained silent, she lightly shook his shoulder, trying to snap him out of it. The action seemed to work, as he blinked and looked up at her."Huh... Oh, right... What did you say again?" Ichigo mumbled, again staring at herSanae, unsure of what had caused his strange reaction, answered his question again, "It's the date, June 26th 2002."But as soon as the words left her mouth, confusion clouded her features. Ichigo's expression shifted—his face contorted in pain, as though the very mention of that date had struck something deep inside him.Then his eyes became even darker."How long have I been here?" Ichigo's voice was laced with something unfamiliar, a tone that sent a chill down her spine.Sanae felt an inexplicable urge to answer him, a compulsion that pushed aside any questions about his strange behavior."You've been here for nearly a week... five days, to be exact," she replied, though she couldn't help but feel a knot tighten in her chest as she spoke.Ichigo's expression faltered, his eyes beginning to glisten with unshed tears. The sight unsettled Sanae further, and she couldn't help but ask the question that had been lingering in her mind."Kurosaki-san... is... is everything alright?" Her voice softened with a hint of concern, despite the unease settling in her chest.Ichigo remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor as if lost in his thoughts.Tears began to form in his eyes, threatening to fall, but before they could, he quickly wiped them away with the sleeve of the hospital shirt. The action was quick, almost reflexive, as if he was determined to keep them hidden.Ichigo finally spoke, his voice quiet but steady. "Yeah... yeah, I'm fine... Is there a phone I can use?" He began to rise from the bed, his body hunched slightly as a wince crossed his face, the strain on his healing chest evident.The nurse quickly rushed to his side, her voice gentle but urgent. "You shouldn't move too much, Kurosaki-san. It will heal much faster and more effectively if you stay as still as possible."Ichigo's patience snapped. His voice erupted with raw intensity."Just get me to the—cough cough!"His words were cut off as a violent coughing fit overtook him. Blood speckled his hand as he covered his mouth, the sight making his condition unmistakable.Nurse Sanae's eyes widened in alarm. Without hesitation, she spun around and dashed out of the room, calling for help as panic edged her voice."Dammit," Ichigo thought bitterly, the world tilting around him. Darkness swallowed his vision as he collapsed into unconsciousness.To be continued ! So here the link to my shitty discord https://discord.gg/94xPCuVz3j

Chapter 4 - Part 4 Hospital

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