To Protect

Goodnight


To put it in the simplest of terms the day had been a long one for Ryuuken and he had been quite pleased when he crossed over the threshold of his home's front door into the blessed quiet. There were no screaming children or argumentative grieving relations to deal with, no here there was no one but himself.

Was going on one in the morning so the world outside was even rather dead, making the silence indoors amplified. Each shift of his jacket and the smooth pull of fabric against fabric as he loosened his tie could be heard clear and crisp in his ears. The phone was not checked because no one would call him here, that was the office they called. Honestly he wondered just why he had a home phone other than for emergencies. Perhaps that was the only reason for it to sit by the door, light never flashing to indicate someone's need to contact him.

There was one irregularity. While the enterance was still based in darkness only illuminated by digital clocks from the kitchen on appliances and a small overhead light above the stove deeper into the house there was brighter light. While not alarmed the man was curious. Knowing his luck Kisuke would he sitting around wanting to have one of those lovely heart-to-hearts that he thought were good for him. He was in no mood for his old friend's antics tonight, not tonight. Still it paid to remain in that man's good graces, he was such a well informed connection to the spiritual activity in Karakura that he had little choice but to humor him most often, despite the headache it often inspired.

Shoes off by the door he continued along through the short hall to the living room where he knew the source of light to be. It came as a surprise to him just who was there. It was not his friend but his son. Icy blue eyes widened slightly at the very unexpected guest who appeared to be fast asleep. "Tch..." Leave it to his son to shock him so pointlessly just by being in his home. Still he put the effort into making his footfalls softer than normal despite the carpet already under his feet to mute them as he made his way over to the sofa that Uryuu was stretched out over awkwardly in his sleep. Looked entirely uncomfortable to Ryuuken but by the slow, even breathing it appeared his son was in a deep state of sleep. Who would have thought he could sleep comfortably here with how deeply he claimed to loathe him.

Some of the throw pillows were on the floor, not something he suspected his son would consciously do, and the fleece throw was still on the back of the sofa which led him to believe that Uryuu hadn't intended to fall asleep at all. Would be odd if he planned to spend the night rather.

Other than that there were several pieces of paper scattered along the table. Curiosity again was the motivation for his inspection and when he brought one up it didn't take him long at all to recognize it as an old letter. Why he had kept them was beyond him but perhaps a part of him had remained sentimental despite his normal icy countenance. If they were displayed so openly he'd venture them to be the reason for Uryuu's odd presence in the house. Knowing the boy he likely meant to confront him about it. That idea just brought a faint smirk to his face.

"Messy and nosy child still I see..." The sheet was dropped back onto the low, dark wood table before he tossed the fallen pillows to one of the other chairs in the room since their normal spot was currently occupied.

Ryuuken looked back down at his son feeling somewhat awkward despite the other's obvious unconscious state. Ignoring the voice in the back of his mind that sounded suspiciously like Isshin's he leant down and slid an arm under Uryuu's torso as well as hooked his other arm under his knees. Had been a good dozen years since he'd last done this so he was admittedly out of practice, even just a little nervous. Greatest concern at the moment was that the teen would wake and make a great fuss, because it was just not in his son's character to do anything quietly when it concerned him.

Though Uryuu had legally declared his independence a few years ago Ryuuken still kept the boy's room in order. That entitled little more than keeping a bed in there and having it made for the sparse occasions such as these when he needed somewhere to put the boy for the night. There was no secret or quiet hope in him that his little boy would come back home someday, recognized the boy as much too stubborn for that. Tonight he was immensely thankful that he had kept it though since he hadn't wanted to give up his bed nor leave Uryuu on the sofa, as it would only make him all the more unbearable to deal with in the morning. Each lump on the cushions his son would have no guilt in taking out on him because he was simply there and well himself.

As a doctor it made him frown to feel just how light the teen in his arms was. Uryuu might not be terribly tall or broad but he felt much too slim to him. Thinking about it was pointless though, not as if he could do anything. Any attempt at assistance would be scornfully thrown back at him as an insult to his son's pride no matter how well meaning it was. Ryuuken didn't suspect that Uryuu would honestly ever believe he was concerned for his wellfare.

Now he didn't need anyone to tell him he was far from a model father but there were worse out there. His own son had latched onto his father instead, the very person he himself had hated so deeply for so long. It had stung in a way for more than one reason. Uryuu hadn't wanted to spend time with him and he could accept that, not that he normally had much free time to offer him then nor now. There was also the added fact that his son got to see a side of Souken he never had. Souken had had made a far better grandfather than he had a father that was a certainty, not that he bothered to explain such things to Uryuu even if he thought he might believe him for the briefest moment. That man would remain a rift between them but it was partly his own fault that was so. He had inflicted pain on his own as well which he could hardly blame upon anyone other than himself. One of the most obvious marks was under his son's shirt, such a short distance from his heart.

While it had been Uryuu's choice to go through with that method to regain his powers he had never explained the truth of it to him. Never explained just how the process would work but that was half the point, the boy had to believe he would kill him so he would reach his limit. Ryuuken had been spiteful toward him over their heritage from the beginning though. He never had enjoyed his Quincy powers and he envied Uryuu for taking such a simple joy in them since boyhood. Souken had been harsh and rigid with his own training which had taken all his enjoyment. Never had praise been spared for him and his motivation had slowly turned from gaining his father's favor to just overpowering him in resentment. To further spurn his father he had discarded his powers as being unprofitable to him, it had been a heavy blow to Souken when he found he could do nothing to change his mind on the matter either. Uryuu had been born a few years later and that had given the old man some hope for the Quincy.

It was after that he made his gravest mistakes to allow Souken to train Uryuu but it had been the boy's right as a Quincy to learn. His father hadn't been so heavy handed with Uryuu either and that was originally the only reason he let things continue, turning a blind eye while allowing himself to become swallowed in his work at the hospital.

All that time with his work had left his wife neglected and his son to be raised more by his grandfather than his real father. Almost made him feel more like a distant, older brother than Uryuu's father the way things had played out.

Pushing the door open with some difficulty Ryuuken carried his son into the bare room, ignoring the shifting of the body against him. There wasn't anything personalized about the room, neutral tones, plain and undecorated. Then teen in his arms would likely grumble about his tastes if he were able to do so. Instead he found a pressed just below his collarbone, warmth bleeding through his shirt making him freeze in place. Eyes shifting quickly to assure that Uryuu had not woken, utterly relieved to see his eyes fluttering to indicate he was in R.E.M. sleep. He should be safe to lay him down then.

That was what he would have liked to think. As he was easing Uryuu under the blanket he felt hands grip at his shirt, fingers curled in the fabric forcing him to remain bent awkwardly over the prone form of his son in a cool bed. All he could think was that his boy never could make things easy.

Sliding his arms out from under the too slim form of the teen he reached up to untangle the hands hold upon him to find those eyes fluttering for an entirely different reason. Damn of course he had to catch him at the end of the R.E.M. stage and light sleep just had to follow it.

Blue eyes stared up at him in a sleepy daze still, fingers not relenting their hold keeping him in place, too close for his liking. Was too easy to see the crease in Uryuu's forehead in his puzzlement and to note the frown starting to mar the other's face in a way that was softened by his still sleep addled responses. The warmth that had been against his chest was faded almost completely by now from Uryuu's transport period but it was being replaced by a hot unease that Ryuuken blamed entirely on his now pounding heart. Irrationally he worried that Uryuu could hear it thudding so painfully quick in his ribcage. If he was honest with himself he would say he was afraid of what was going to happen next.

But things didn't blow up in his face like he had feared they would. Instead he felt a faint puff of air against his neck and face as Uryuu muttered something sleepily, with what he thought was a grouchy undertone before that grip on him relaxed. Letting out the breath he'd been holding himself he straightened up and pulled the blankets over the young man.

Why did it feel like he'd done something criminal putting his son to bed? The nagging voice came back, the one that sounded much too much like Kurosaki for his liking, saying it was because of how unnatural doing such things felt for him. No it was that it should feel natural that bothered him.

Ryuuken ran a hand through his white hair and looked down at Uryuu with a frown. "Why must you always try me so?" The room was still and silent around him, but he had not expected any answer.

Simply shaking his head he turned and retreated off to more safe territory, closing his son's bedroom door behind himself. Preparations for bed were quick as he felt much more tired than before suddenly. When he finally pulled himself into his bed he found his mind drawn back to his son resting only a few dozen feet away from him peacefully. Once more he envied the younger Quincy.

Downstairs the living room light remained on, letters scattered on the table to be dealt with in the morning, entirely forgotten.



AN: I would like to thank fellow for the review. It was very much appreciated and I hope that you will continue to read what I can come up with.