Bleach Family Ties

Chapter Thirteen

By Cindra

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and this story is just for fun.

A/N: I use : : for silent communications between characters otherwise known as telepathy.

Or

I use * * to depict a characters private thoughts.

Orihime sat up suddenly in bed, tears streaming down her cheeks, something was dreadfully wrong with Tatsuki.

"Tatsuki!!!!"

She threw back her covers and raced from her rooms.

Uryū's doors opened,followed by Ichigo's, and then Chad's.

"Did we miss someone?!" Ichigo locked eyes with his cousin.

No...that's not it, but it is definitely Tatsuki's spiritual signature that I'm sensing." Uryū gritted his teeth in frustration. *What now?! Orihime can't take much more of this, but this is Tatsuki...she is here and that can only mean.*

"She could have been in an accident." Chad raked his fingers through his hair in frustration, it was beyond cruel to have Tatsuki taken away from Orihime, but then life could be very cruel.

"What's going on? Why are all of you so upset?" Rukia put her hand on Ichigo's arm. "Did something happen to Orihime?"

"Chad, go find Renji. Uryū, go find Orihime. Rukia and I will find out what's happened to Tatsuki."

The two boys were already gone, leaving him and Rukia alone in the hallway.

Ichigo tried his damnedest to rein in his emotions, he knew that any emotional upheaval was the last thing that he needed right now, but this was Tatsuki that they were talking about.

"Tatsuki?" Rukia gasped, her eyes widening in alarm, knowing what a loss like this would do to her best friend and little sister of sorts. She forced that away for now and focused on Ichigo. He was Tatsuki's friend as well and had been since they were babies. She could feel his emotions as if they were her own and he was really taking the news badly.

"Ichigo, whatever happened was not anyone's fault...you see if it's your time then..."

"She's sixteen! She hasn't even begun to live yet! How the hell is it her time, Rukia!?" Tears burned in his blazing golden eyes. "It's just not fair and Orihime is gonna..."

"NO!!!!!!" Orihime's agonizing screamed echoed throughout the house.

He took off running down the hallway.

"NOT TATSUKI! PLEASE RANGIKU...IT CAN'T BE HER! IT'S NOT FAIR! SHE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN SICK AND NOT TOLD ME!" Her screams shocked him to the core.

"Tatsuki sick?!" Ichigo couldn't believe it. "No way...she's like the picture of health..."

"Ichigo, I know that it's hard to understand...." Rukia put her arms around him, they were in the 'Great Room' now and had stopped just shy of where Orihime was being consoled by Rangiku with Uryū standing just behind them.

"She had an Olympic gold medal in her future...her and Inoue are like sisters, the best of friends, practically inseparable..." Ichigo growled hoarsely, tears streamed down his cheeks. "All of that is gone now...her dreams...everything...gone..." He buried his face in her hair.

"No. Now she'll have new dreams and adventures here in the Soul Society. She'll be taken care of, never have to want for anything..." Rukia soothingly stroked his back trying her best to comfort him as she helplessly watched two of the people she loved most in this world have their worlds crumbled around them.

"It was very sudden. There was no pain..." Rangiku said softly. "She saved a little boy from being run-over by an oncoming vehicle..."

"What...happens to her now? I don't...want...want...her to be alone..." Orihime sobbed against her shoulder.

"She won't be alone." Rangiku crooned softly. "She's in transition now. Kira and Momo just arrived with her. She gave the two of them quite a shock, seeing as she could clearly see them and the proceeded to demand that they take her to all of you. But before either of them could respond to her demand her attention was detoured towards the playground area where a little boy had chased after a ball that had rolled out onto the roadway...She managed to push the boy out of harms way and took the brunt of the impact...It happened so suddenly that all Momo could do was perform konsō and bring her here to the Soul Society. She has an amazing amount of spiritual pressure, her memories are all still very much intact, as is her determination to find all of you. I sent Renji to help Kira and Momo seeing as she knows him..."

"Where is she? Take me to her, please, Rangiku. She needs me. I can help her." Orihime whimpered, her eyes pleading for her to agree.

"Oh...sweetie. I wish I could, but without the Commander-General‘s permission that isn't possible." She gently brushed the tears from her eyes.

"Do it." Ichigo looked over at Rangiku his voice hoarse from tears. "I'll handle my gramps. Take her to Tatsuki, Rangiku, or trust me when I say that Tatsuki will fight her way to get to Orihime."

"All right, Ichigo. You are the crowned prince so your wishes should be obeyed. You need to calm yourself... this isn't good for..." She took in his glowing eyes and knew the signs that he was barely keeping his hollow-side in check.

"That doesn't matter, getting her to Tatsuki is priority." Ichigo narrowed his eyes at her. "I'd take her myself, but she's probably messed up enough right now as it is...seeing me like this would only make things worse." He glared down at his white as snow hands and arms. There was still no change. "Hell, I might be a permanent resident now too."

"Former Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi is literally embedded in thousands of shards of gemstones, so his threat to you or the rest of the royal family has been ended. Nemu might try and piece him back together, but we've got his main pieces so nothing can come of that. Captain Kirio's Lt. Chibia knowing all too well that she would try and piece him back together was already one step ahead of Nemu. It helps that two of the lab techs are loyal to your grandfather too.” Rangiku tried to give him a little bit of good news.

“Well, that’s something at least, if his trap for me backfired on him then maybe being stuck this way isn’t all for nothing.” Ichigo walked over to Orihime and she threw herself into his arms.

“Easy, Orihime, it’s gonna be alright. I promise. I’ll talk to my gramps. My parents are the heads of the royal family, so they actually have to listen to me now. We’ll work it out so that you’ll be able to see her.” He soothingly smoothed her hair as she sobbed her heart out on his shoulder.

“IT’S SO NOT FAIR! I’M REALLY ALONE NOW!!!”

“You’ll never be alone. I won’t let that happen.” Uryū produced a handkerchief from his pocket. “We’ve got more than enough room for both you and even Chad at the penthouse. Dad’s trying to make an effort, but it would be nice to have some company, as he spends the majority of the week at the hospital…Though I do get to see him on weekends.

She slowly pulled away from Ichigo, turning around to look up at him through lashes veiled with tears. “You would do that for me?” She sniffled.

Uryū handed her the fresh handkerchief, but dried her eyes with the pads of his thumbs. “I would give you the world if you asked me to. Take away your pain if I could. I will always be there for you. I know that your heart was broken that you love Ichigo…” He put his heart on the line revealing everything to her.

“Uryū…I thought…I mean…you love Rukia.” Blinking up at him in confusion she clutched the hanky in her hand. “You made her that dress…”

“She’s my friend and was in need of appropriate clothing to wear during her stays back home. Yes, I care about her, but nothing like how Ichigo feels towards her.” He gently tilted her chin with his finger making sure that she was looking up into his eyes.

“Nothing like I feel about you, but I know that your heart is healing right now…so I am hoping that you could lean on me as a friend…then maybe someday you might…”

“Love you?” She managed a weak smile. “That’s just the thing, Uryū. You’ve been so wonderful this whole time and it’s just made me love you more than…” She reached up to place a trembling hand on his cheek. “Well, I’ve never felt this way not even for Ichigo. He was my first big crush, but you Uryū. You’re my only love.”

He turned his head to kiss her hand. “And mine as well, Orihime.”

Rangiku had burst into happy tears and Rukia was also bawling on Ichigo’s shoulder.

Ichigo awkwardly put his arms around Rukia, baffled that she’d just burst into tears like that. “Rukia, what’s the matter with you and Rangiku…?”

“Nothing we’re just happy for the two of them that’s all.” Rukia sniffled.

“Oh, so it’s a girl thing…got it.” Ichigo sighed patiently he could feel that darker side of him just itching to make a snide comment, but managed to rein him in. Of all things Hichigo despised mush. “Uh, sorry to spoil the moment, but…”

“Let’s go see to, Tatsuki. She needs you now. We’ve got forever.” Uryū gently kissed her forehead.

“Transition is located in the 1st district of the Rukongai. Lady Yumiko helps ease the younger arrivals, particularly those with high levels of spiritual pressure, into life in the Soul Society. I see no reason why her own son would be denied seeing his own mother.” Rangiku loudly blew her nose with a hanky, as she dreamed up the proper excuse to get the two of them to Tatsuki. It touched her deeply that her little swan had finally found her own prince. Not only that… but her little man had chosen himself a royal princess. Yes, life minus a tragedy or two was good.

“My mother?” Uryū kept his arms around Inoue, but turned to shoot Rangiku a look that demanded that she explain herself. “I was told that she was a healer…”

“She heals, as does your Grandfather, traumatized newcomers, and nurtures the young arrivals… Gives them a safe harbor to cling to when they are still reeling over their deaths.”

“Tatsuki will need focus and that means attending the academy.” Ichigo frowned.

“She‘d easily excel at the academy and…” Uryū nodded.

“As a Shinigami would be given assignments on the living world…” Orihime’s eyes lit up with hope.

“Look, I’m fairly positive that I’ll be spending a lot of vacations and weekends here. Plus you were all basically adopted by mom…which means that we’ll have our own private senkaimon to traverse by…” Ichigo paused that line of thinking the second that he felt his parents and gramps were near. “All of that doesn’t matter Tatsuki does. So take the two of them too Tatsuki, Rangiku. I’ll clear it with...”

His parents, grandfather, and Uncle all walked in through the front doors.

“Come here, angel.” Masaki held open her arms to Orihime and the girl in question flew into them. “Yumiko will take good care of her, sweetheart. As will I. Tatsuki needs you to be strong for her…”

“I know…” She sobbed.

“She will be well cared for, my dear. You have my word on that.” Yamamoto said softly.

Isshin and Amagai were keeping a close watch on Ichigo. The kid looked like hell, but he was holding it together.

“Tatsuki isn’t handling the transition well. The Reishi here in the Soul Society has increased her spiritual pressure ten fold. Her powers lean toward strength and agility, so Renji and Kira have their hands full right now.” Isshin couldn’t help but smirk. “Chad can’t even handle her mood right now. Lt. Momo has sent for reinforcements, which Renji vehemently resents her for doing.”

“That girl has rage and an unending determination to find you, Orihime.” Amagai said quietly.

“She’s her protector, so that doesn’t surprise me at all. She’ll go up against anyone who she feels is a threat to Inoue’s well being.” Ichigo glowered at his father when he pulled a device out of his robe pocket and scanned him with it. “I can wait, Dad. Tatsuki is priority right now.”

“No one is saying differently, son. This is just a tool to get a read on your spiritual pressure fluctuations. Kisuke, Ryūken, Ret, Kirio, and I all have a theory about why you haven’t changed back and this is just the data that we need to prove it.” Isshin pocketed the device.

“Yeah right, Dad. It’s been over a week. I’ve been put through a battery of tests and all of you are still clueless about what’s going wrong with me.” Ichigo rolled his eyes at him. “Face it. I’m stuck like this for life because that bastard fucked me up for good…!”

"It takes time for a soul to heal. You need to be paitent, grandson."

"While I've been paitent, gramps..." Ichigo's voice grew hoarse. "One of my friends who I have known all of my life..." His voice cracked as tears spilled down his cheeks. "...the only one out of all of them who never gave up on me after mom was killed...died because of me!!" His eyes glowed with fury and the shadow of his mask was forming at the side of his face.

"She died saving her little brother's life. Kenshi was playing on the playground. She'd been watching him, when she spied the two Lieutenants investigating the area..."

"Kenshi can see spirits like Tatsuki...." Orihime whimpered.

"He was chasing after a ball, not paying attention to the student driver..."

"One of our classmates killed Tatsuki?" Uryū's eyes widened in horor.

"The ball rolled out in front of them, followed by the boy...then Tatsuki saved her brother by pushing him out of harms way..."

"Who was it, Dad?"

"That isn't important, Ichigo. Tatsuki suffered minor injuries save for a blow to her head. It was that blow to her head that killed her....she'd been living with a brain aneurysm ever since her accident last summer..." Isshin informed them in a solem tone.

"Aneurysm..." Uryū and Ichigo's eyes widened in alarm.

"Tatsuki was sick, but....but...why didn't she tell me?!" Orihime burst into tears.

"It wasn't severe enough at the time to warrant anything other than caution."

"No...Tatsuki wouldn't let something like potentionally bleeding to death stop her, she's way too stubborn for that. She also wouldn't have wanted any of us to worry, seeing as we were all facing serious problems of our own that mind you was often on a daily basis." Ichigo flung himself face down on one of the long couches. "Yep...just like I said...my fault...as usual...someone gets hurt because of me..." He grumbled darkly.

"I was so caught up with my own problems that I negelcted Tatsuki when she needed me most!" Orihime wailed miserbly against Masaki's shoulder.

"Shhh....there...there...that's not true." Masaki soothingly rubbed her back. "Tatsuki liked to protect not unlike my Ichigo. She thrived on being strong and would have detested being seeing as weak because of her unseen condition."

"I need to see her..."

"Yes, we know that, angel, and you will." Isshin couldn't help but notice how his nephew was watching Orihime and could only imagine what all of this was doing to him having to watch the girl that he loved go through such emotional hell. "Uryū, Rangiku, and Koji can take you to her, but first you need to get dressed for the day, as well as eat something. You need to be strong for Tatsuki and for that you need energy."

"I'm really not that hungry...."

"I know but you need to at least try and eat something." Masaki brushed away her tears. "I know that you have been through so much loss, but know this from this moment on you are not alone. All of us are your family."

"You don't know how much that means to me...I...I..."

"Yes...sweetie...just know that you are loved and will never be alone again..."

"Uryū, go take her back to her rooms. I'll go fix all of us some breakfast." Isshin brushed away a stray tear of his own the scene had been beyond touching.

"DAD!! We wish to live..." Ichigo rolled onto his back to glower up at his father.

"Hey! It was an accident that one time and you only suffered from a mild case of food poisoning!" Isshin glowered down at his son.

"Mild!? I was in the hospital for nearly a whole week! It's the reason why Yuzu and Karin refuse to let you anywhere near the kitchen! If anyone is gonna make breakfast then it'll be me." He vaulted to his feet and stalked in the direction of the kitchen area.

"Oh, like that's gonna work! You're not any better at it than I am!" Isshin stalked after him. "I don't call scorching everything cooking!!"

"Don't worry about those two..." Rukia gave her friend a big hug. "It just so happens that I actually know how to cook and am really good at it. So you two go get dressed while I help referee in there."

"Thanks Rukia..."

"Hey, I love you... little sister, so anything I can do to help just ask." Rukia ran off in the direction of the kitchens.

"Rukia, is so good for him isn't she..." Masaki sighed.

"Yeah, the two of them are perfect for each other..." Orihime smiled.

"It's never dull with those two around that's for sure..." Uryū took Orihime's hand in his own and led her out of the room.

Next

Chapter 14

©Cindra 2008-2009