Chapter Text
The west wind ruffled Uryū’s hair. The sky is so clear today. He thought.
When was the last time the sky was this perfect? After days and weeks of raining... many forgot how blue it actually is.
It looked even better from the rooftop of Karakura Hospital.
"You would love it, mom." Uryū said to the picture in his wallet.
Ishida-uncle, I draw the sun yellow but it looks white. And I draw moon white but it's actually yellow sometimes. Why?
A 4 year old asked him earlier that day.
Uryū smiled at her.
"Good observation, Aiko. But you should not look directly at the midday sun."
"Oopsies. Don't tell my mom." She whispered.
It made him smile. Does the world teach us the opposite of what we think?
Maybe so.
Or maybe... truths change with time.
"Ah, Dr. Ishida, you're here as usual."
Uryū turned around to see his colleague Tetchou with a cup of coffee. He was a bit disappointed as he loved his alone time. Tetchou is nice, but very talkative. He put his wallet back in his pocket.
He smiled at the man and fixed his glasses. Tetchou lit up a cigarette.
Yeah, one more thing he didn't like about this man.
Probably he made his disgust visible. Tetchou looked at him with a frown and asked, "I am sorry, do you not like..."
Uryū replied, "Working with children made me hate things that can harm them."
Not a total lie. He vividly remembered a boy's horrified thoughts when he saw his father smoking a cigarette.
The helplessness, that washed over his small body when his dad scolded him. Asked him to focus on his homework instead.
A child who was afraid of losing his father, after his mother died.
Tetchou immediately threw it away.
"I am sorry. I should have asked before—"
"No no, it's fine. You're good."
He relaxed a bit. His smile returned as he said quietly, "I understand. I should... stop smoking as well now that..."
He scratched the back of his neck and said, "Well, I can't keep it to myself any longer. My wife's expecting."
Uryū's eyes widened, "That's amazing, Tetchou. Congratulations!"
"Yeah, haha... you know, Dr. Ishida, no matter how much of a lone wolf you are... life will not feel worthwhile if you don't settle in time."
Uryū went still. Was that a jab at him?
Tetchou continued, "I used to be all manly- too cool for feelings stuff, but when I actually saw my wife, I was like... damn this girl is beautiful. And we argue time to time but life doesn't feel so lonely."
"What about your parents?" Uryū asked, "Did it feel lonely even with them being around?"
Tetchou paused one second and said, "Huh? Well... didn't notice."
This man doesn't like to think much. Reminds me of Uncle Isshin. Uryū thought.
"They are fine, I guess? But partners are for life."
I am sure that's why the divorce rate is so high. Uryū smirked at his own thought.
After a few minutes, he went downstairs.
Was... being married... that important?
His friends and Ichigo 'settled'. Rukia has a daughter, Ichigo has a son.
They do look happy.
To finish his bedside rounds, Uryū went to check on a 7 years old boy who had a ventricular septal defect that Uryū managed to detect on time.
The kid was so scared and distraught while he was being taken to surgery that Uryū promised him something he never did to any of his patients.
"You will live. I promise."
He didn't know why... his tears made a permanent impression on his heart.
Another reason why he asked Ryūken to supervise it.
He's not a pediatric surgeon, but he's one of the best cardiac surgeons in Karakura, even in his 50's. And fortunately, the boy survived.
His parent was a single mother. She struggled with managing her work and hospital visits. Uryū could see disappointment and sadness on the boy's face when mom couldn't be there for him when he wanted.
When Uryū opened the door to his room, the latter was trying to read a children's book.
"Hi there," Uryū smiled at the child, "Kōsuke, how are you doing?"
Kōsuke looked up and smiled, "Doctor uncle! Did you bring my. Plushie?"
Uryū chuckled and took slow steps towards the stool beside bed. "It's right here in my pocket. Be a good boy and let me check your heart. Then you can have it."
The boy giggled, "I am getting a charmander. Yippie."
Uryū brought out his stethoscope and cleaned it before saying, "Can you unbutton your shirt?"
Kōsuke looked down, stuck his tongue out and did the work with precision. He needed to be a good boy to get his plushie... so yeah.
Uryū checked his heart, no abnormal beats, slightly slower... but nothing alarming.
"Take a deep breath now, don't release it."
The boy comically inflated his lungs like a balloon.
"Slowly. Good. Now release it. Okay. Good job."
Uryū put the stethoscope away and wrote down the reports.
"Give me your hand."
"How?"
"Just... raise it a little."
Uryū checked his eyes, pulse, breathing rate etc. Everything seemed to be going well.
"You're recovering fast. Great job, kid." He smiled at him again.
Kōsuke looked at him with the cutest expression ever.
"Can I have my plushie now?"
Uryū chuckled and handed the little charmander plushie to him. He stayed up late trying to make it.
Well, his dad was right in a way. His crocheting and sewing skills did pay off as a doctor. He was not just children's doctor. He was also doll's doctor. Many many children brought their toys for him to fix it.
This was one of the reasons why Dr. Uryū Ishida was such a popular pediatrician. He gifted custom-made plushies and clothes for dolls to the children.
There was also... another reason.
"Why doesn't my mommy come?" Kōsuke asked, hugging the charmander.
While organising his tools, Uryū said, "I think she's... busy."
"But I am so sad."
"Why are you sad, Kōsuke?"
"I don't... like this place. It smells like medicines."
"Medicines are your friends, you know? They help you get better."
However, Uryū understood. Children tend to be very sensitive to atmospheres. Hospitals are... places of death, anxiety and cries.
He took his little hand and said, "I'll call your mom. She will come to visit you. Meanwhile..." He thought for a bit and said, "I will bring you some good storybooks. You love to read, don't you?"
"Yeah! I love it."
Uryū smiled kindly and buttoned Kōsuke's shirt.
He was about to leave when he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Doctor uncle?"
Kōsuke bit his lips and blinked before saying, "Sometimes... sometimes... it hurts when I am sad."
Uryū turned to him slowly, mouth slightly agape.
Kōsuke blinked a few more times and started to fidget with the bedsheet.
"It is a bad thing too? It hurts. So it must be a bad thing."
"Will daddy know why it hurts so much?"
Why did it hurt him when his mom's body was being cut open?
She was so beautiful. So soft. Was it necessary to scar...
Why did it hurt when his dad walked out in the rain, even when Uryū frantically called for him?
"Why does it hurt? Daddy fixes everything. Why can't daddy fix it now?"
No.
Uryū squeezed his eyes shut for 10 seconds to get rid of these thoughts.
"Are you okay, doctor uncle? You look white." The boy mumbled.
Uryū sat back down.
"Where does it hurt when you feel sad?" He asked gently.
Kōsuke looked at him with wide eyes and thought for a long moment, before replying, "Here." He pointed at his chest.
"When I... I... think about... dad."
Uryū sighed deeply.
"Can you fix it, doctor uncle?"
That innocent question had no answer.
The small photo in his wallet was a proof— some pains never heal.
"I can try, Kōsuke." He said finally.
Kōsuke smiled at that, "You can fix anything. This too, I am sure."
Uryū’s sad downturned blue eyes looked at him. He put a hand on Kōsuke's hand and said, "Just... remember, Kōsuke. You did nothing wrong. And... your dad still... loves you. I know that."
He felt the time slow down.
He watched as Kōsuke's smile disappeared slowly and fat tears rolled down his cheeks,
"Maybe if I was a good boy, dad..."
Uryū caressed his hair.
"It was never, never your fault. Do not think like that. You did not do anything wrong. Trust doctor uncle."
"He still loves me?"
"He does."
"Why did he leave then?"
"I don't know. But, he is in your heart. You can... feel him. Just know that he tried his best to come back."
"Mom says she tries too."
Uryū fixed the collar of Kōsuke's pajama.
"Yes. And she will come. I'll call her."
Kōsuke calmed down a bit and snuggled closer to him.
"Thank you... Doctor uncle."
He chuckled and put off his glasses.
In that blurred vision he saw him.
9 years old Uryū Ishida.
Who needed this hug.
Uryū’s eyes widened for a moment before a small smile formed on his face.
Minutes later, Kōsuke's mom came.
Uryū’s car stopped at the parking lot. Exhausted footsteps brought Uryū to the door to Ishida House.
A staff opened the door for him and took his bag. He removed his coat and shoes.
The house was very quiet, except for a screeching of chairs upon realising Uryū came back. Another pair of footsteps towards him.
Fixing his glasses Ryūken said, "Welcome home. Go freshen up."
Uryū folded his coat and asked, "You're home early."
"We just had staff evaluations today." Ryūken said, while eyeing Uryū down. "You look a bit pale," he commented, "Do you need some hot milk?" He checked the clock, "Might help with sleep as well."
Uryū nodded no, "I am fine. The ward rounds were a bit tiring."
Ryūken didn't say anything else. He was... reading a newspaper.
Uryū took a hot shower. It really soothed his entire body. He could not help but think about the new novel he was reading. Usually Orihime's recommendations are too... cutesy for him to like. But this one was about a young adult who solves medical cases in an imperial family of ancient Japan.
He loved reading about the protagonist's different types of experiences, and the way Uryū could actually piece the clues together to find what was causing those medicinal troubles... was intriguing.
And that quote:
"...You went through nightmarish experiences, you survived. Now be the shield. Be the person you deserved..."
Uryū will be that shield. Atleast... he can be a guide. He remembered the cold and fake smile of his pediatrician (not her fault, she was very busy).
He never forgot to send the correct signals through his spirit ribbons even when most couldn't catch it.
"A lesson in humility and gratitude. Be a pillar of the vast support network that provided for you, protected you."
He came downstairs wearing his sleep pajamas and sat down beside Ryūken.
"What are you reading?" He tried to peek.
Ryūken replied, "Dr. Ruby Anderson had breakthrough in the field of cardiac surgery. I am thinking about doing a seminar on that."
Uryū nodded silently. Ryūken closed the book and looked at his son.
"I'll ask the staff to serve dinner."
"Can I get a fruit sando?"
"Uryū, that's a snack. Eat proper dinner."
Uryū pouted a bit, "Just fruits then?"
Ryūken narrowed his eyes at him and said, "Alright."
He fixed his son's collar.
Uryū was supposed to be embarrassed, was not he?
He forgot to do that.
Instead, he smirked a bit.
A lesson in... gratitude.
Someone provided for him. Someone, didn't do it on time.
It's his turn now, to save the children. Like a perfect complete circle.
He didn't really need to be married for that.
The last reishi arrow was fired that night.
To honor his father's wishes, the wish of the living.
Chapter Text
It was so early in the morning.
Uryū woke up to a flock of birds chirping loudly nearby.
What the—
He rubbed his eyes and tried to remember how he angered a bunch of sparrows and hiyodoris.
He rolled over and scrabbled his way to his glasses and put them on.
Aha, much better.
Putting aside the fear of... getting caught, Uryū had this one fear during his time at Wandenreich.
Not having his glasses with him. Without them, he was practically half-blind.
The birds started to knock the glass windows with their beaks. He staggered a bit as he went to his window.
"Good morning to you too. Why are you guys breaking my window down?"
He asked with a smile on his face.
The birds stopped and took two steps behind, but did not fly away.
"Are you here for food? Uh... hold on."
Uryū grabbed the pouch of bird food he bought a few days ago.
"You know, I never asked anything from my own father the way you're demanding food from me."
He scattered a bit of it and watched as they ate. He stood there for a while, enjoying the fresh air.
Ichigo said he would start practising yoga. But Uryū was damn sure Orihime would try to wake him up on time and fail.
Last week, after Chad's boxing match (he won, obviously), Uryū called him to congratulate him. Talks went on and he mentioned how much he missed their group.
Yes.
Those were the days.
It was such an... high adrenaline-inducing time. Orihime, Chad, Uryū and Ichigo... all of them met due to that stressful time. They needed each other. They were the different ones, who could eliminate a... different type of trouble.
And they did.
Uryū splashed some water on his face.
Normal life.
Uryū and others managed to find a normal life.
But did any one of them know how to live it?
Even after college, internship, and 2-3 years of being a doctor, he struggled with normalcy.
He heard a coughing noise from downstairs.
Uryū rubbed his hands against the cool water tap and the soft towel.
Purely normal sensation, right?
He had a few patients with gaming addiction. They struggled with reality too. They often complained that the kids could not taste the food properly, feel touches or experience any emotions. Almost like infants whose faces were usually blank until they started dreaming.
Dreaming... was more engaging for infants.
Gaming was more real to toddlers and adolescents.
For Uryū, spirit ribbons and reishi were prioritised.
The coughing sound came again.
Then again.
And again.
Uryū frowned. That should not be okay.
He went up the stairs and saw Ryūken downstairs. He was sitting on the sofa and coughing from time to time.
Concern flashed in his mind. His dad rarely got sick.
"Daaad? Are you okay there?"
Ryūken looked up and replied, "What are you doing up so early? There is no call from the hospital."
He paused to cough a bit and continued, "Also, wear warmer clothes, Uryū. What is that, cotton pyjamas?" He adjusted his glasses.
Uryū sighed. Typical dad.
"I will, but I asked YOU. Why are you coughing? Are you coming down with something?"
Ryūken startled a bit and said, "Nothing. Seasonal cold. Do not concern yourself with it."
Uryū quickly put on a cardigan and came downstairs.
"What do you mean by nothing?" He checked his dad's forehead with the back of his palm.
"Feels a bit warm, Dad."
Ryūken looked away and said, "I checked with a thermometer a few minutes ago. 99°c. It is nothing."
He even looked a bit flustered.
Uryū put his hands on his hips and said, "Of course. Did you take any medicine for the cough?"
"I did."
"Hm. Do you need some ginger tea for your throat? I think you should take a day off today."
Ryūken's eyebrows twitched.
"I think you have mistaken me for a child patient of yours. It's just a cold."
Uryū smirked, "Oh ho, if I actually did mistake you for a patient, I'd scare you with a big needle into taking medicine and rest."
Ryūken made a sound that was very close to a snort and a laugh.
"For something as insignificant as a cough? I know you're popular among your patients. Doctors who give injections this frequently, can not be loved by little children like you are."
Hn. That was a lot of words for Ryūken. He was known for his one-liner snarky comments.
During Uryū's primary years of therapy, dad showed him affection, affirmations and the truth. He talked to Uryū, openly hugged him, and verbally assured him all the time.
As time went on and Uryū improved, Dad started fluctuating between his older snowman attitude and doting nature. Now, he was, once more the old stoic Ryūken Ishida. Just more aware. His eyes would widen whenever Uryū mentioned something upsetting. He would sit closer to him. He mastered the way of communication Uryū preferred. But, inherently he was a man of little to no expression. His nature was to put his love into the silent work he did for his family.
But he knew when to press pause on that and use words with Uryū.
Uryū’s face did not hide the concern, "I have never really seen you... sick before. And you usually... work. You are sitting. You haven't changed yet. You did not shave today. Are you sure you're well enough to go, Dad?"
Ryūken looked at him and said, "I have to go, Uryū."
Uryū frowned. There weren't any significant tasks in Ryūken's schedule that day. He checked. Just some staff evaluation, and data entry. He could do it at home. Atleast the patient data entry.
But Uryū... had a long day of casual check-ups and meetings with other pediatricians.
"Aren't you like, 50, dad? You should not work too hard. Besides, I know your schedule. You don't have work today."
Ryūken grimaced at him. His mouth opened and closed. Then opened again.
"There will be... I can not leave you alone there."
Huh? What did he mean by that?
Ryūken read the confused expressions on his son's face and sighed.
"There are a few nurses who... uh..."
"What did they do?" Multiple things that could enrage Uryū. Misbehaving with his patients, (especially admitted ones and those who need sponge baths), slacking off, gossiping about...
No.
Ryūken would not try to hide this from Uryū. Nor would he try to belittle the situation by keeping him away and ignoring the problem. He would deal with it himself.
What was it then?
"Dad, do you think..."
Could it be Yhwach? He couldn't figure out what relation Yhwach would have with... nurses, but, that was one of the only things Ryūken would try to protect him from.
Or maybe petty jealousy. Some doctors accused him of nepotism behind his back. But maybe someone was out there to harm him?
"Dad, tell me. I need to know if someone has the intention to physically hurt me or defame me or..."
"No." Ryūken's eyes widened, "Do you think there is...?"
"No, no. I am just considering all the scenarios. Yhwach or... hollows.. or ... what danger do you sense?"
Ryūken's face was slightly red as he averted his gaze from Uryū and fixed his glasses.
"Some have romantic aspirations about you."
.
.
.
... What?
Uryū’s expression was comical as he tried to process.
"You mean... for your money and status?" He asked.
Understandable. Marrying Director Ryūken Ishida's son would bring a woman plenty of benefits.
Until a hollow would try to eat her.
Ryūken cleared his throat. "Possible. But..." A few young interns and nurses spoke about how 'handsome' and 'sexy' Dr. Uryū Ishida was. Detailed speculations about his body. They surely had some ulterior motives. Shallow attempts to make Uryū notice them. Hn. He and Kanae had been in love. It blossomed through shared care and respect.
Hearing such insensitive and crass— no no, almost harassing remarks about his own son was the reason behind his sickness, maybe.
Or the changing weather.
"You are too kind. You will not be able to stern with them." They needed a father's fiery wrath to burn down the carnal desires.
A teen Uryū would be mortified at that.
A tween Uryū would find it normal.
A middle-aged Uryū realised that he would die as a bachelor.
Ryūken looked very upset at the thought, so Uryū let go of the topic and asked what was important, "Do you want me to stay with you today then? I covered for many doctors on extra shifts."
Ryūken looked at him for a bit and contemplated something. He said, "If you do not want to go, that is fine. But if you feel the need, there is no need to stay for me. This is just a cold, Uryū. Everything is okay."
"Is Mom okay, Grandpa? What- what happened to her?"
Sōken patted his grandson's head and said, "Do not worry, Uryū, your mother is just... sick. Be a brave boy for her and your father, okay?"
Brave boy.
Uryū had always been one.
He never knew any other way.
But Dad showed him some. When he became... dad again, not just an alive corpse of a dad he knew before Auswählen, he showed him the way.
He could relax. He could let go. He could not be brave.
"No, Dad. We are staying. You're not in your 30s anymore. Even a cold can develop into many things if you neglect the early symptoms in geriatric patients—"
“…I am just 54 years old, Uryū,” Ryūken interrupted, raising an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Uryū paused, arms crossed, staring down at him. “54, yes. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you push yourself like you used to. I’ve seen what happens when parents ignore the small symptoms in themselves, and it stresses the children—"
What was he saying?
He cleared his throat, "What I mean is... I want to return your own words to you. If your body and mind want to rest, you rest."
Ryūken leaned back into the cushions, adjusting the blanket over his legs. There was no argument in his posture, only the subtle weight of a man realizing that his son’s determination wasn’t empty words.
“Very well,” he said finally. “Then… supervise my convalescence. You may…” He coughed lightly, “Stay.”
Uryū flashed a grin. He looked like Kanae when he smiled.
"Leave it up to me!"