It was his father. The gorilla entered his room with a first aid kit in his hand.
Hearing his loud voice, Shirou couldn't help but sigh tiredly. Today wasn't the worst day he ever had, but it wasn't something good either.
"Don't make fun of me, Dad." He said tiredly, slumping into his bed. His body was a mess, the wound had mostly healed, but the fatigue and soreness remained. It would need time to heal.
Isshin laughed as he pulled a chair beside his bed to sit down.
"I am not. That was a praise," He said, putting the box on a small table and opening it. He then turned to his son and continued, "Show me your wound, I will at least sterilize it and give some medicine. Don't be stubborn."
Shirou grumbled in response. He wasn't a child, more than 30 if he combined with his past life. He knew how to treat himself.
However, he didn't argue this time.
"I know." He said as he removed his clothes filled with holes, revealing his wounded body.
It wasn't too bad, his skin was mostly intact, but he got many cuts that made it look worse. Blood seeped from the wound and flowed across his body like red rivers, creating a crimson painting.
A masterpiece that was a sight to see, but Isshin didn't think that way. He was more concerned about his son's wellbeing, though it didn't show on his expression.
"This is bad." He whistled, examining his body. He grabbed some cotton and put it inside the bottle of disinfectant, "What happened? Did you fight a Captain or something?"
"... The sixth division. They come to get Rukia and kill Ichigo, I only managed to stop the latter." Shirou said dryly. He hissed when Isshin touched his wound with the cotton, "Geez, Dad. You're so brutal."
"You can take it. You're a man." His father laughed. "Besides, you look terrible, yet the wounds are not that serious, how did you do it? You should be proud, son. Fighting a captain-level is not something everyone can do!"
"Cut the compliment, I already feel terrible enough." Shirou sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "It was useless anyway."
"Stop sulking. You did the right thing." He smiled and continued to treat him. His voice became somber as he continued, "You know, sometimes you can't save everyone. You will be faced with a choice where you have to decide, and in the end, it's your own decision that matters."
"What a wise advice from you. Are you sure you're my father and not an impostor? You're being too serious right now. It's freaking me out." Shirou snorted.
"Ahahaha, what a bad mouth. I don't like that at all. Take that!" Isshin laughed and suddenly poked the cotton into Shirou's wound, making him yelp in pain.
"OUCH!"
"That will teach you some manners." The gorilla grinned, bandaging the wound, "Now, go back to sleep. We'll talk tomorrow."
Shirou couldn't help but roll his eyes. His father could be so childish sometimes, and it's annoying as hell. At least he could smile a bit, knowing his father cared for him.
Yes, he should be satisfied that he managed to protect Ichigo. Even if Rukia got caught, she didn't die yet. She could still be saved.
'There should still be some time before Soul Society punishes her.' He thought to himself as his eyes were slowly closing.
He hadn't failed yet.
Maybe he would be able to think of a solution later. But right now, sleep sounded like a great idea to him.
***
Meanwhile in Soul Society.
In Sixth division tower, a prison where a certain raven-haired girl was being held captive, a red-haired man stood in front of her cell, staring at her with an eternal frown on his face. His expression was hard to read and his eyes showed a glint of sadness in them.
The small raven-haired girl only kept quiet.
"Oi, Rukia." The red haired lieutenant sighed and slumped on the chair. "How long will you stay like that? Trust Captain Kuchiki a little. He will definitely make your punishment as light as he could. It won't be something serious like you think. That human boy also stopped me from pursuing his brother, so I guess you won't be punished for that."
Rukia remained quiet.
Abarai Renji sighed again, "Rukia..."
"I won't apologize." She finally said, her eyes stared at him. She was determined to keep her decision, "My crime is giving Shinigami's power to a human on my own accord, I am aware of the consequence. Even if the punishment is a death penalty, I won't regret it."
"But you can still get away with just a minor sentence!" Renji exclaimed, trying to convince the stubborn girl to be more flexible. "If you're truly sorry and apologize, the sentence won't be that heavy. You're also from the Kuchiki Clan, you can use that fact to appeal to Captain Commander's decision!"
"Renji." Rukia's voice was cold and low. She turned to stare at him with a glare, "You don't know brother, do you? He will not appeal to anyone. That is not how he works, and I will not be able to face myself if I accept that. I have committed the crime, it's up to the court to judge me."
Renji stared back at her and saw her eyes full of conviction. She wouldn't accept the idea of getting away easily from this mess.
He could see that.
He knew her too well.
That's why he became frustrated. He couldn't say anything else. He knew her. He had lived with her for a while and knew how stubborn she was. That was her strength. And also her weakness.
"Why?" Renji asked in frustration, his eyes filled with sadness and anger. He clenched his fist and looked at the ground, "Why won't you let me save you? I am here, damn it."
"It's my choice." She answered in a whisper, looking at the sky, "I will bear the consequences. Just... Don't interfere."
Renji gritted his teeth, feeling helpless at the situation.
Rukia then added with a soft smile, "You have to take care of yourself and don't make trouble for Nii-sama. Please."
"...Fine. But I can't promise."
Turning around, the red haired lieutenant walked away from the cell.
While exiting the tower, he remembered last night's battle. How the boy fought against Captain Kuchiki to defend both Rukia, the power he used.
His power was strange, unlike anything he ever heard or seen. Something to manifest a scenery filled with blades, it was similar to some Bankai yet completely different.
Only one fact they knew about him—he was a Quincy.
'Kurosaki. One sibling was given the power of Shinigami while the other was Quincy.'
What kind of messed up family were they?
"Captain!" Renji greeted Kuchiki Byakuya as he came back to the barracks. The black haired captain was waiting for him. "How is Rukia's punishment, Captain? I know you've been to the trial."
Looking at his lieutenant, Byakuya spoke in an eerily calm voice, "She'll be executed in 25 days."
Renji's eyes widened.
"Exe...cuted?" He stuttered, the news was a shock to him, "How... Why...?"
Byakuya's eyes narrowed as he gazed at Renji with an emotionless look, "There's no reason for you to ask about that, Lieutenant Abarai. The decision is final."
With that, he left.
Renji was left standing there, his mind blank from the news. He clenched his fist to the point his nails dug into his skin.
'No, she can't... she won't be executed! I'll stop it no matter what.'
(Chapter End)
Good question, Renji. Why would she get executed?!
A lot of you asked, why did Shirou not trace Zanpakutou? The answer is in the next 2 chapters!
Come on, let me cook. Readers always get impatient and comments with some harsh words before the unveiling part comes. I try to make the fanfiction exciting, you know? Leaving some mystery behind *wink*
Also, this Shirou is definitely stronger than his Fate counterpart. He's a Quincy and could use Reishi in the atmosphere. But he's limited in Living World. Why? Duh, because he don't want to destroy the surrounding with a strong Noble Phantasm.
Fate series has Bounded Field that Mage created to fool humans to think that it's a gas explosion. But in Bleach World, strong Reiatsu could as well make people fall into coma.
Realizing this, Shirou used UBW to pull Byakuya inside. Also, he just want to show off a little, cough. Shirou never underestimate his enemy, so he use his all to defeat them.
Projection is always more fragile than real weapon, as its lowered by one rank, being reinforced is what make it stronger than them.
And Broken Phantasm explode upon contact, so its like a bomb! (example: Caladbolg II when fired by Archer)
Don't forget Zanpakutou is literally something that's similar to Noble Phantasm. And by using reiryoku, Shinigami is able to make it stronger. It's normal if a Projection shattered upon exchanging some impact with them.
Okay, now give me power stones!
If you're that impatient, then go read more chapters in my pat- reon / ShuviLily
Definitely not a shameless promotion