On the first page of our story. . .
The sun was beginning to set on this gorgeous day, and you couldn't be happier. You and Ichigo sat at the end of the dock out toward the sea, your head laid on his broad shoulder with your hand in his. This is the place you two always went after school. It was perfect. You watched as his foot made beautiful patterns in the water below you with a gentle smile on your face. You love these moments, especially when you were with Ichigo. He alone made you feel special, like no else had. He was different from alot of boys, not just because of his orange hair, but there was something about him that just drew you closer to him. And you wanted to know what.
"Ayame?" His cool voice broke the comfortable silence, you smiled and closed your eyes lightly.
"Hmm?" You hummed your response lazily.
"There's something I want to tell you," his tone became very serious, you picked your head off his shoulder as your smile faded into an emotionless expression.
"What is it?"
He opened his mouth to speak, but it was like he couldn't find the words to explain what was on his mind. He had to tell you. You had to know, your relationship was too important to him. You were too important to him. But a part of him was afraid that you'll run away or hate him or think he's a freak. But he was willing to take that chance.
"Actually let me show you," he stood up and extended a hand down to you; you accepted it without a second thought.
He led you down an alley, which you quickly recognized as the place that small girl got killed a few years ago. Why would Ichigo lead you here? Distracted, you didn't see the four manchildren on skateboards roll right past you; knocking over the glass bottle full of flowers beside the telephone pole. Those jerks. Ichigo quickly jumped the 'man' who did it.
"You got a death wish, pal? Nobody jumps one of our own for no reason and lives to tell about it." One of them spoke up, Ichigo just laughed.
"That's all you've got to say?" He lunges, about to throw a punch at Ichigo. You gasped and quickly shut your eyes. You didn't want to see Ichigo get hurt, but you knew you couldn't do a single thing to stop the fight. Oh, Ichigo, you silently prayed, fight back. All of sudden you hear a grunt, and open your eyes to find Ichigo's foot collide with the man's face.
"Little Yama's down. We got to help him!" One on the men cried out.
"Are you crazy?"
"No way I'm taking on that psycho and his girlfriend." They watched as Ichigo smashes Little Yama's head into the ground. Multiple times. You grimaced, you never knew Ichigo could be so heartless, you knew him as the kind and compassionate, never would hurt a fly type of guy. You've never seen this side of him, it made your knees grow weak but it made your heart flutter.
"Now listen up you pond scum. Do you see that?" He gestured toward the knocked over flowers. "First question: What do you think that is?. . . You, the one in the middle-answer!" They gasped out of fear, you suppose.
"Wait, you talking to me? I guess somebody left those flowers for some kid who got killed here." You blinked, and the next thing you knew Ichigo was in front of the man with his foot in the air.
"Correct! Now, the next question: That vase over there, why is it lying on its side?"
"I guess one of knocked it over when we were skateboarding through here. We didn't-" You shut your eyes again, you hated violence. After all, violence never solves anything. It only leads to more violence.
"You guys catch on fast. Now go and apologize, or else the next time the flowers will be for you!" You opened your blue eyes again, and you couldn't help but laugh at this sight. The manchildren were screaming "We're sorry" as they run away with their skateboards. Ichigo turns toward you.
"There. That ought to keep those punks from showing their ugly faces around here. Sorry about that,"
"It's ok Ichigo. Really I don't mind. . ." You tried to sound convincing but your voice squeaked.
"I'll bring by some new flowers tomorrow," He said to himself, you smiled. You loved how much he cared, even about the little things.
"Thank you for coming to my defense," you heard a child's voice say from behind you, you gaped and jumped to find a transparent little girl standing behind the pole. Your eyes widen, that's the little girl who was killed here! "I think I'll finally be able to rest peacefully."
"Ichigo. . ." You gasped out, trying to reach for the sleeve of his jacket without taking your eyes off the little girl. You glanced away for a second to find him leaning down placing the vase full of wilted flowers back in its original place beside the telephone pole.
"No problem. It's the least I could do. After all you deserve to rest in peace." He waved goodbye to the little girl as she vanished.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! Am I crazy or did I just see the ghost of that little girl? Ichigo- what's going on?" He pulled you to his chest; silencing your endless interrogation. Tears silently rolled off the apples of your cheeks and into his jacket as he buried his face into your long black hair.
"Ichigo. . . Please tell me what's going on." You pulled away from your tight embrace, tears still running down your face.
"Ayame, ever since my mother died, I had the ability to see ghosts. I've wanted to tell you for so long now. . . But I suppose it's another thing we have in common." He smiled down at you, and his smile made you smile.
The future seemed so bright. . .
