Chapter 5

"Toshiro!"

He fell to his knees with the older man in his arms breathing hard. He took a moment not sure if he and the other man were shot or not before turning to find that Ichigo was standing in front of them, Osiren frozen in place, a horrified look sketched across his face, gun still in hand midair as Hisagi made his way to him panicked to disarm the shooter.

"Ichigo?" Toshiro asked tentatively rising to his feet slowly shaking his head slowly letting go of the stranger's body.

"Ichigo."

He watched him turn around and smile

"It's okay Shiro, I'm fin-," he started interrupted by the blood that trickled out of his mouth down his chin. He held his side and Toshiro made his way to him as he fell to the ground catching him in his arms.

"No," Toshiro started softly.

"No, no! Why'd you step in front of me Ichigo! Why?"

Ichigo raised his hand slowly to Toshiro's face a small smile tugging at his lips, blood spilling out from his mouth, his breath hitching uncontrollably as he took short shallow breaths, pupils dilated.

"I told you...you're going to be King one day Shiro... I only hoped.."

"No, don't leave me.. Please!"

Toshiro took a hold of Ichigo's hand as his skin paled.

"Move."

Toshiro closed his eyes and shook his head as pained grunt reaching his ears. Oh Ichigo! He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Dammit kid, if you ever want to see this geezer again, you're going to have to move!"

Toshiro looked up surprised to see the green haired doctor looking down and past him.

"Y-you're awake? But, you were just-,"Toshiro started shaking his head slowly as though in some trance.

He ignored him as he made his way over to Ichigo practically staggering as though he were drunk or hungover.

"Shit, he's lost a lot of blood. Somebody get me a first aid kit please," he asked hand extended. They all just looked at him. He looked up from Ichigo with a pained and annoyed look.

"Move it!"

Juneus ran to find the nearest kit.

"You," he said pointing at Shimura. "Get me some hot water and towels."

She nodded and ran out wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Kid, help me move him," he slurred looking back at Toshiro who was too shocked to move until a slap resonated to his face. He reflexively reached for his cheek.

"Do you want him to die!?"

He shook his head furiously, holding his cheek and wiped the tears from his eyes. With the help of Hisagi and Miguel, he managed to get him onto this table in the hallway which the green haired man cleared unceremoniously breaking several vases.

"Those were antique.. from the Meiji Period," Toshiro murmured looking at the broken pieces lifting his share of Ichigo's nearly limp body. When he was placed on the table the doctor ripped off Ichigo's shirt earning a gasp from the younger man and looked at the wound shaking his head.

"Givenchy," Toshiro managed to say though it was barely audible as the shock registered on his face as he looked at the tattered garment.

"God bless you."

"What?"

Just then, Juneus came back with the kit. The doctor ripped it open scavenging for the tools he needed as Shimura came back with the

"Press this towel on that wound as hard as you can kid!"

"Slyvano."

Toshiro shook his head trying to focus, fully understanding his job.

"Alcohol," he murmured. "The drinking kind please."

Osiren looked up from his turmoil.

"What do you need that for? We have medicinal alcohol?"

"Do what I say or this man dies!"

Osiren ran off to the cellar.

"And a pot please!" He yelled after him.

"Kid you got a flashlight?"

Toshiro shook his head not understanding why he would need one. When he didn't reply the doctor looked back at him just standing there.

"Listen kid, I don't know you or what this guy means to you but if you want to give him a second chance at life, you're going to have to help me out here!"

Toshiro nodded looking at all the blood and mess everywhere trying to focus on what was really happening.

"Yes, of course. My phone has a flashlight."

He didn't know if he imagined it or not but he swore the doctor smiled at him just then and as he fished in his pocket for his phone, he was overcome with a sensation, that of which he could not explain but tears began to stream down his face and he held up his light and did his part. The doctor made quick work of sterilization as Ichigo's breathing became more labored and nearly inaudible. Toshiro was pressing the towel hard down on Ichigo's wound, his flashlight ready.

"Sorry, no time for anesthetic,"the doctor murmured as Ichigo looked up at him from half lidded eyes zoning in and out.

"This is going to hurt."

He gave Toshiro the cue to let up on the wound remove the towel and apply the light as he reached for the metal forceps and dug into his wound trying to find the bullet while Ichigo screamed in agonizing pain. After what seemed like forever, the doctor pulled out the shard then a few smaller pieces as Toshiro looked on pale with wide eyes.

Osiren returned with the materials and the doctor turned to release the shards into the pot making a resonant metallic clink followed by a few more. The doctor took the whiskey and drenched Ichigo's wound to which he groaned in misery breathing hard on the table but alive.

"Alright," the doctor said signaling for Toshiro to press back on the wound with a fresh towel as he eyed the bottle of whisky and took a swig earning a glare from a few.

"This will work fine."

"Fine? Good Sir, that is Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky," Toshiro said incredulously but grateful still pressing down on Ichigo's wound with both hands. He made Ichigo drink quite a bit as well before he began stitching. When he was done, he bandaged him expertly and gave Ichigo the bottle of whisky to finish as he helped him sit up now. He looked about himself, at his surroundings, his head lolling back against the wall to look up at the ceiling.

"Thank you."

The doctor rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged.

"Sorry about your shirt, I'll compensate you," the doctor murmured vaguely as Ichigo took a look at himself weakly chuckling so very softly. He waved his hand weakly, his eyelids getting heavy.

"No, no, It's really a problem at all," Ichigo joked weakly and Toshiro almost cried again curled up by his side as the doctor smiled. "It was only two thousand but hey you saved my life so no worries."

"D-dollars?!" The doctor reeled trying to figure out how much yen that was.

"Thank you so much, I really appreciate it," Toshiro said looking up from Ichigo like a miserable wench hair strewn in all which directions not noticing the doctor's new state.

"Yeah, sure, no problem, but all jokes aside I need medical attention like immediately before I p-," The doctor raised his hand to his forehead feeling lightheaded and woozy and started to turn to sit but fell to the ground passing out once more.

"Seriously! Oh my God," Toshiro exclaimed almost annoyed rushing to catch him in his arms.

"You heard the man but I think we both need to go to the hospital," Ichigo chuckled softly trying not to reopen his wound.

"Yeah, definitely," Toshiro agreed.

"It's what you should have done in the first place," Hisagi murmured as he picked the doctor up and carrying him over his shoulder.

"God, he's heavy."

"W-wait, wait, wait stop! He wanted water. He just wanted...water." Toshiro explained remembering.

"Water, please, Shimura."

"They'll give him some at the hospital," Hisagi said pausing to look at the younger man.

He looked over at Shimura desperately as she stared wide eyed at the scene that was developing in front of her still trying to grasp what had just happened.

"Go!"

Hisagi lowered the doctor again and sat down retiring for the night. The rest took a clue and followed suit. Toshiro dropped down to his knees in relief trying to regain his composure against the nearest wall looking down at the older man who was causing so much trouble. He looked peaceful despite his appearance. Something about him made Toshiro smile.

Shimura returned with a glass and pitcher of water on a tray with lemon slices. I looked up at her as she handed the glass to me, lemon slice and all. Did she seriously just take the time to cut these?

"Thanks."

"Treat him like a guest right?"

I smiled at her comment as I woke him up to drink. I propped him against the wall beside me and watch him drink sleepily with his eyes closed holding the glass with both hands like a child. He drank it so fast the water dribbled down his chin and soon the whole pitcher was done and a complacent smile graced his face.

"Thanks," he said softly looking at me through half lidded eyes as his body called him to rest once again and he fell asleep or died?

"Do you think he has a concussion? If so he shouldn't be allowed to sleep for more than hour at a time."

I looked up at Shimura interested.

"I actually have a medical degree. I'm a dietitian which is why cook and I hate hospitals so here I am but he did what I couldn't amazingly well," she said glancing up at Ichigo who had dozed off, hand over his fresh wound.

I nodded in understanding picking the man up again once more to put him to lay him to rest in the guest bed hoping this time he didn't get up as I arranged had Sirus pull the car around.

"What happened?" He asked horrified. I just shook my head not even knowing where to start.

"Take them to the hospital please." He nodded a little teary eyed but understanding as he recruited Camille, Watson and Pond, who were just as confused to help carry the bodies down to the waiting car. I watched them leave from the staircase feeling a little disappointed. I wish I could have gone with them.

"I don't know about you guys but," I started turning back around to go to bed. I watched Hisagi, Juneus and the others began to clean up the mess.

"I am exhausted and my bed awaits me so do not bother me. I'm taking the rest of the day off. No calls, no meetings, just silence, please and thank you."

"Wait, sir! Please."

I turned almost drunkenly to find Osiren on both his knees, head hung low as though waiting for execution gun idle in his hands. He was looking for punishment. I made my way over slowly to him.

"There is nothing that I can say or do that will-," he started but stopped when I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You could have very easily killed me tonight Ren...," I started looking down at him seeing the memory flash through my eyes again. "But you shot Ichigo.. and he's okay, and I promise I'm not going to fire you but.."

He tilted his chin up so I look into his eyes and I crouched down to see the blueness of his tear filled eyes.

"But... I am going to kill you," I murmured in a whisper taking the gun from his hand to spin the chamber.

"W-what?" He asked confused as I set the cold barrel of the gun against his temple.

"3.."

"Toshiro, No!" Shimura yelled.

"2.."

"Shiro, no!" Hisagi started attempting to make his way across the hall to them.

"1.." I watched Osiren close his eyes tightly bracing himself.

"Bang."

And for the second time that night, more bodily fluids were lost.

I sighed getting up with a groan, finger locked loosely around the trigger.

I grinned at him as I slowly backed away with my hands up stopping only to lay the gun back on the floor. Hisagi fell to his knees, face in hands and quietly running his hands through his hair until they lay on the back on his neck. He looked up at me and rubbed his eyes before covering his mouth, an inscrutable emotion laced in his features.

"You're a goddamn psychopath," he murmured as though he didn't believe it himself.

"Sorry Ren, but look at the bright side, at least you still have a job right?"

He let out a raspy breath and stared at me wide eyed with fear in his eyes.

"Right?"

"Y-yes sir," he replied unblinking tears streaming down his face.

"Good, well like I said, sleep." I was heading in the opposite direction to my room when I remembered something.

"Say hi to the wife and kids for me will ya? Tell them Shiro saved Daddy's life today."

He nodded trying to breathe normally as I shook my head, disappointed.

"Ugh, I still can't believe you peed on my rug Ren... It's Persian for Christ's sake. Persian!"