A/N: I don't know what inspired this story, maybe the Ichigo flying scene in the new opening? xD

Air hostess and flight attendant are used interchangeably here.

I've worked really hard on this story (at least harder than the other fics I did? xD) so I hope you guys will enjoy!

Summary: Ichigo is Karakura Town's famous prodigal pilot, his passion and dedication unrivalled. However, no one really knows his reason for becoming a pilot in the first place...AU/somewhat IchiRuki/Ichihime hinted

Genre: Drama

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bleach

Chapter 1

"I can't believe it! I'm finally going on an airplane!"

A young child with vibrant orange hair and brown eyes, no older than 9 years old, holds his mother's hand, jumping excitedly. The child's mother, Masaki, is a stunningly beautiful woman. As the mother and son stroll across the corridor leading toward the gate, heads turn to look at the woman with light brown, slightly curly hair tied in a loose pony tail, a pointed chin and kind brown eyes. Masaki, however, only has eyes for her son. She smiles at his enthusiasm. "I know, isn't this great? It's our first overseas trip together! But, Ichigo, don't ever leave my sight okay?"

"I won't, oka-chan!" Ichigo says passionately. He silently adds, I made a promise to myself to protect you, oka-chan, so I will be by your side forever.

Masaki and Ichigo are sitting in the waiting area, waiting to enter the airplane. With nothing else to do, the young Ichigo pulls out a small model airplane of a Boeing 737-800. He holds tight onto his model airplane, imagining that the airplane is flying as he makes engine sounds, all the while smiling ever so cheerfully. Masaki chuckles that her son seems more excited about the flight than the trip itself.

A bell sounds. Ichigo looks up from his model airplane as a cool female voice announces, "Flight 8310 is ready to board. Passengers may line up to board the plane. Please let those with disabilities and young children board first."

"Ichigo, let's go." Masaki says as Ichigo grabs his bag and follows her. After they gave their tickets to the flight attendant, they walk down the tunnel-like ramp. A blast of warm summer air greets them as they approach to the entrance of the airplane. Masaki can feel Ichigo's excitement rising.

"Welcome aboard," The air hostess stationed at the entrance says warmly. Masaki nods while Ichigo's smile widens. They make their way through the narrow walkway and find their seats. Masaki puts their hand luggage into the top compartment.

"Ichigo, why don't you take the window seat? You can see what's outside of the airplane while we're traveling."

Ichigo looks thrilled, but says carefully, "Don't you want to look outside as well, oka-chan?"

"Don't worry about it; oka-chan can see it from here."

"Yay!" Ichigo cheers and hops onto his seat. He fastens his seat belt (as all children do automatically when they see them). While waiting for the plane to take off, Ichigo fingers the various brochures, safety instruction booklet, and a paper bag. He takes the thickest book of them and realizes the book contains the plane's information. He unfolds the table and is reading the first few pages -

"Hello there, little boy. Please put the table back up as we're about to take off." An air hostess says politely.

"Oh, okay. I'm so sorry." Ichigo's face reddens, embarrassed.

The air hostess smiles, "That's quite alright. You can unfold the table after the seat belt light is turned off. Thank you." She walks away. Ichigo hates reading books without a flat surface to support it, so he turns to watch through the window instead. He watches as the passenger's luggage are loaded one by one into the plane. Beside their plane is another, smaller aircraft. Ichigo is examining it when the plane finally moves.

Before take-off, the small screen in front of the passengers airs a short safety film, to which Ichigo paid his full attention. Once the film ends, Ichigo glances out of the window and sees the plane slowly approaches the runway. The engine gives a thunderous roar and the plane accelerates. Ichigo gazes at the descending land as the plane flies higher. The Karakura town grows smaller and smaller until even the largest building in town is no greater than a speck. All Ichigo can see are the blue skies and the deep blue ocean, with many clouds flying by. His ears are blocked uncomfortably from the change in air pressure, but thankfully Masaki taught him several ways to counter the effects – he yawns several times until the pressure in his ears lifts.

Once the bell sounds, signalling that it is safe to remove seat belts, Ichigo immediately unfolds the table and begins reading in earnest. Masaki reads along with him. Ichigo spends particularly long time on the pages where they display the different models of airplanes the airline company owns.

"See this one…Boeing 733? That's the one we're riding on right now! And there's this one…" Ichigo rambles on and on. Masaki merely smiles at Ichigo's cuteness.

The skies gradually darken. Before long, one can see nothing out of the window. Ichigo stretches his arms and closes the blind.

Masaki asks, "Hmm? Why did you close the blind?"

"I can't see anything during the night…and it's kind of depressing."

Masaki smiles, "Really? But you can see the beautiful moon and shimmering stars during the night!" Ichigo looks unconvinced, so Masaki adds, "The day is too bright for sleeping anyway. Don't you think so?"

"I suppose…" Ichigo yawns. Masaki notices and says, "Why don't you sleep for a bit? We won't be there for a long while."

"No! This is my first time on an airplane! I can't fall asl-" Ichigo involuntarily yawns again, a hint of blush rising up his cheek.

"Now, now, no need to be so stubborn. Besides, you just oulled down the shade - there's nothing to see outside. Sleep now so you'll feel more energized for the trip later."

"Okay, oka-chan." Ichigo rolls over slightly to his side. Masaki chuckles quietly. She takes one of the blankets provided and pulls it over Ichigo, who is already fully asleep.

At long last, Masaki and Ichigo arrive at New York. As it is still pretty late in New York, they check into their hotel and go straight to bed. Both want to be energetic and not tired down by jetlag.

They wake up to the sound of the alarm clock. Dark clouds cover the skies as they exit their hotel that day. "It looks like it's going to rain," Masaki frowns, "I thought the weather report said that it was going to be sunny these few days. Ah well, let's go and buy a small umbrella while we walk around downtown."

"Sure," replies Ichigo.

They run into a store to avoid the rain. After they bought their umbrellas, they walk out onto the street to look around Manhattan. It is a dreary day, with the relentless rain pouring down, such that it is not the best day for sight-seeing. Yet it does not dampen Ichigo's spirit – as he grips Masaki's hand tightly, he eyes went wild at the sight of so many different things from his hometown. Although he cannot read the signs as they are in a different language, he only feels more excited in the foreign environment. After walking past several fast-food restaurants, clothes shops and CDs shops, Ichigo stops to look at the window display of comic shop, something he can understand without knowing English very fluently.

Suddenly, there is a loud, screeching noise on the wet pavement to the side of Ichigo. Ichigo turns just in time to see a silver car with a panicked driver skids out of control and toward him. He only has a moment to fear before Masaki shouts, "Ichigo!" and pushes Ichigo away. Ichigo falls unconscious as his head hits the ground.

When Ichigo comes to, he feels warm. Wet. Sticky. He opens his eyes.

A confusion of noises greets him. People are standing around him. Through his muffled and perplexed mind, he realizes he is lying on the street with a wrecked, smoking car beside him. He does not understand what is going on. "Oka-chan…what…?" He turns his head toward the head of the car. He freezes.

Masaki lies unmoving next to him.

The rain falls.

A/N: So there you have it! Even though it's AU I try to keep some key points of the original manga in my fic. I'm sorry that Masaki had to die again =(

Thanks for reading! R&R please?

Next chapter will be out on June 10th!