Chapter One ~ I Will Protect You Always
Holding hands with my little brother, Ichigo, I walked down the street. "Nee-Chan! Nee-Chan!" He chimed happily. "Ah…Learned a new word, hm?" I smiled. My little brother was so adorable! "Nee-Chan, what is that girl doing?" I followed where he was pointing to and gasped. A girl was standing on the edge of a bridge. But she was no girl. She was a Hollow. Before I could stop him, Ichigo ran off. "N…..NO!"I screamed. The Hollow turned, I closed my eyes, and I ran right in front of Ichigo. "N-nee….Chan?" I opened my eyes, pain washing over me. "You alright…Ichigo?" I coughed, blood splattering to the ground. The Hollow had hit me in the stomach. "N-n-n-nee-Chan….you're…bleeding…"he said, wide-eyed. "Yeah….Goodbye, Ichigo…"
Darkness.
One Year Later, Soul Society.
I thought, for the millionth time in my…Death? Life? I don't know. The Soul Society sure was confusing. But I thought about Ichigo. He would be four in a month. How was Mom doing? How was Dad, the family idiot? And had anybody new popped up in the family? "Hey… Hotaru…. pay attention." Nudged my best friend, Ame. "Oh…Sorry." I mumbled. My bright orange-streaked black hair fell back, revealing my face and brown eyes. Then I remembered. It was my birthday. Officially, if I was alive, I'd be seventeen. I closed my eyes, recalling the reason my I had come to the Soul Reaper Academy.
'I will protect you, Ichigo, always.'
World of the Living, Ichigo's POV
"Mom…" I sniffled. "I know, I know." Mom smiled, eyes twinkling. Today was my dead sister's birthday. Already, I knew I was starting to forget her. The sound of her voice, her face, and even what she used to say. I t was so frustrating. Sometimes I forgot I had a sister completely. Especially with two new little sisters. I can eyes remember her eye color. "Mom….I'm starting to forget her," I blurted. Mom's bright face saddened. "I know. Soon, we will have to remind you of her." "Mom…..what was her name? I forgot even that…."I lowered my head. "Her name was Hotaru. Your father and I called her our little Firefly."
"Little Firefly….."I murmured, "Was she as bright as one?"
Mom considered this for a moment.
"Yes….Yes she was. Especially with you around."