Disclaim: All characters from the manga belongs to Tite Kubo.
This is just an idea I have had in mind for sometime and I noticed it's easier to work when you actually get rid of the idea and put it down on paper (screen...?) Anyway, I don't know if this is accurate or not, but as i said, it was annoying me to no end so I wrote it so why not post it too...
Chapter one: Just a normal day.
The lonely boy walked by the river observing the fishes and he courant pass fast. His messy black hair never staying in one place and his uniform net and tidy like he liked it. He never rushed to school, he never bothered. He would come late again but the teacher always let it slide. After all, his grades could easily surpass every one else.
"Good morning," he greeted the young woman that floated on the water. He often passed by just to say hi to the lonely spirit floating randomly in the water and every one else on his path to school, making the walk twice as long. She greeted him back before returning to her crying.
Oh, yeah, because after all, he had a tendency to see spirit. He wasn't the only one in the family but it still annoys him that he was born into a family with great spiritual power, as his uncle tend to tell him.
He arrived after homeroom and after a quick tour to the main office. The class was silent as usual when he entered and he could feel he burning glare of his class mate on his back when he sat down in front of the class on his usual spot. He liked sitting in front as much as he hated it. People had no problem staring at you when you sit in the front of the class, but then, he wouldn't be able to follow the class if he sat in the back since he natural wasn't very high.
The doctor tend to say that he has yet to attend puberty but he just know he's going to be one of those small folks that are never going to grow much. He likes school, it's the only thing that takes his mind of things. That and the sport. His mother always bugged him to do all type of sport. He didn't mind, just that he never understood why.
"Kurosaki Ryuu," acclaimed the teacher yet again, "are you listening? Where were you this morning?"
He looked at her without seeing her. He didn't notice the stair of the woman before she slammed her book down on his table.
"Can you please share with the class what you were doing this morning?" '
Oh yeah, he forgot the teacher had a tendency to ask him that. It was just after winter break and they had changed class and teacher. This woman had a tendency to bug him about his lade back attitude.
"I walked too slow to school," he answered as a matter of fact.
"You what?" Exclaimed the teacher. "You expect to tell me that every morning until the end of the semester?"
He didn't care about what people thought of him. His entire life he's been the out side kid. Never to have friends to back him up. Always alone. Those who actually hang out with him was a bunch of idiots extremely afraid of him.
"Well then," said the woman of whom he never bothered to learn the name of, "I suppose you can start the reading then."
The days were all the same. He came late because homeroom was to boring, then he gets to do all the work for punishment but the teacher will switch fast seeing as he already knows what they are doing. Then at lunch he would go to the roof and sit alone in peace until the bell ring and then he would be late for the next class where the same scenario as the morning would take place.
By the end of the day he would stay in class to clean up after the teacher as a punishment. The time spend in the class room would give the other student time to go home so when he left there would be no one left. Depending on the day, he would either go train or go home.
On the days he didn't have training he usually stroll to his favorite spot in town. Nothing special about the place. Honestly it was close to the walking path but near the end of the day people walking there were few. Nowhere to really sit either but the view, oh the view was majestic, no spot in the entire town could rival it. You could see the town as much as you could see the vast sky burning up under the setting sun. He sat down calmly observing as the day closely near it's end.
His mother used to bring him here when she was spending time with him. Sometimes, if she finishes of early of work, she would come down and watch the sky and he would join her. Other times he would surprise her there in the night watching the stars. She always had that sad look in her eyes when she went alone and though he didn't see her.
He lived in a small home not far away from his mother's childhood home. It wasn't big, just enough for her, his little sister and himself. They had a spar room if one of his uncles or aunts would suddenly come sleeping over for a month. To be honest, he felt like there were always someone there.
Seeing as the sun had set and the light were on, he opened the door slowly. He didn't have the time to say he was home before his mothers body made him hit the wall.
"Nice try," she said, "but you're still weak and slow." And she walked off into the kitchen. "Dinner's ready," she screamed soon after. Rubbing his nose and back, he made his way into the kitchen.
"Happy birthday," made the unison scream of his family as soon as he walked inside. Oh yeah it was his birthday today. He completely forgot that. In his distressful state his mind was overrunning thinking about what to do. His little sister brought him out of his trance by giving him one of those bone cracking hugs she was so good at giving.
"Happy birthday," she said sweetly. The girl in question was 13 years old and loved cooking, but most of all cute things, like dressing up her brother in all kind of cloth.
"Let your brother breath Mayumi," said the hash voice of his mother. She wasn't mean or anything, it's just how she shows affection. His mother made no attempt whatsoever to give him a hug, just patted him on the shoulders to show support and pushed him toward the table. She wasn't of the hugging type, nor was he.
"Happy birthday kid," said the ruff voice of his uncle. He didn't see he was there until now. He usually didn't come visit often, but when he did they usually spend the days together fighting.
"Uncle Renji," He said dumbfounded. "What are you doing here?" The older man played sad and came hugging the boy to his great misfortune.
"My nephew don't want me here, he didn't even notice me." And he kept on playing sad over the irritated teen that soon hit him in the stomach. The smile that spread on his uncle's face was not a good sign. "So you want to fight hein?"
The very loud grunt that came from his mother made Renji back off and sit down on one of the chairs.
"So," asked his mother after putting all the food on the table, "how was your day?"
"Fin I suppose," he trailed off not really interested in the conversation. He looked around the table at the three others sitting there. To think that they should be four at the table all the time, not three. The empty spot that was only filled when they had guests. He felt the pit in his stomach. Why didn't he have a father too?
The quick nag he got under the table from his uncle brought him back to the dinner, his party dinner he supposed. He looked up at his uncle telling him clearly he knew exactly what he was thinking about.
"And know desert," said the happy voice of his sister. At least she seemed unfazed by his moody character. He tried his best to stay happy for her sake. She didn't have a father either but she didn't seem to mind. When the dinner was over he retired to the rooftop, that's where his mother found him soon afterward.
"I never had the time to give you your gift," she said sitting down beside him. "It's something from your dad." At the word of it he sprat up to look at her. Her black hair tied up in a ponytail and her dark gray eyes looking sad back at him. She gave him a small box wrapped in some old paper. He look skeptical back.
"Just open it," she pushed. She looked back at the sky not to bother him. It was a blue box with decorations of all sort that seemed to be century old. "It's inside," his mother presided. Opening the lock he found the gift.
"A necklace?" He asked disappointed. She looked amusing at him.
"It's not a necklace, it's a pin. A very old pin that I got from your father a long time ago. A family heirloom if I remember correctly." Taking it out of the box he could see it more clearly. It was a star like metal badge with different inscriptions. The small stone in the middle was turquoise blue like his eyes. He seemed absorbed by the crystal.
"Should I leave you to your observation or do you want your uncle's gift too?" An amused smile playing on her lips. He felt dumb for observing the star, but it somehow made him happy to know his father had it. Putting it down again he thanked her before taking the next gift.
"Well I suppose you will get a lot of other gifts this weekend when we feast with the rest of the family, but these are the most important."
To be frank, he did not understand why his mother suddenly gave him a sword. Or uncle. The sword was nothing special really, just an ice blue hilt and cover. The blade was dull to.
"Why?" He asked after examine it for a long time.
"Because you deserve it."
"Why? I mean, a sword really? I know I've been practicing sword fight with uncle a lot but why is he offering me a sword? Isn't that illegal?"
"It's not a sword," she answered amused. "It's a Zanpakuto, not a sword."
"A what know? And how does that make it not illegal?"
"You'll figure it out soon," she said standing up to leave. Before going down stairs she turned around and said: "And get in soon, you have classes tomorrow too and a long day since your uncle have no intention of leaving just yet." She left him staring at the silver blade.
Coming down she saw Renji standing just out of view. She started cleaning up the dishes.
"So did he like it?" Asked Renji helping to clean the table.
"Well he didn't trough it away, nor did he give it back, so I'm going to say we're safe for know. I must say you did an excellent choice of color. I'm still impressed they let you take it."
"You do have friends in high places you know? And your brother made it sure his nephew got an excellent zanpakuto when he is going to insert his soul in it." He laughed thinking about the trouble he went through to find that exact zanpakuto. "It's odd to think that they don't make more with a white hilt."
"How is my brother?"
"His doing find and as I understand it, they all are. They are also worried about you."
After a while in silence she asked the question that was eating her up: "How is he?" She was ashamed of herself to ask such a stupid question. No need to precipice who 'he' was, it hadn't change in 17 years.
"He's doing fin, though I would say he works to hard, but then, he hasn't really stopped working hard since that day. He helped me find the gift actually. Don't worry I didn't tell him who it was for."
She looks satisfied but he couldn't shake of the guilt. "When are you going to tell him?" He asked nervously. She just saw away refusing to look at him.
"Karin," he said more fierce, "you have to tell him. We don't know what will happened to him in the next few years and we don't know how his body is going to react to it. You have to tell him." He said before walking of.
"I will," she whispered to no one really, salty tears running down her face like they did each year. She really hated crying.
Walking up to her room she opened the one box always placed on the nightstand. Inside it was a single piece of paper, a photo and an engagement ring. Touching the cold surface of the silver ring, she felt the tears flowing over. Picking up the letter, she started to read the letter again even if deep down she knew she shouldn't.
"My dear Karin..."
She fell asleep in her despair dreaming of a better future.
Many years priory
Clenching to the peace of paper in her hand as if it was her life, she let the small tears roll down her skin. No one could see her anyway, why bother to keep it inn. "Some time when the grief is too big, it's better to let it go," she heard the voice tell her.
How many times had she read the letter over the past few month? She didn't know. What she did know was that each time she did, pain would hunt her in days to come. She had read it forward, backward, sideward, while sitting up side down, even with a candle to see if there was a secret message. But what ever she did, the word stayed where they were. He hadn't left anything out. She had left him, for fifthly years to come, he had left her.
Feeling the raw and cold air of February she lied down on the floor letting her memories drift, feeling safe inside the cold winter air. To the first time she met him. To the second time she saw him, not really knowing it was him. To all those moments he had told her she was holding her zanpakutou wrong or that her stands were messy. She could still feel the cold surface of his zanpakutou, the ice cold surface that never hurt her. The warm breath he had when he whispered her name. The warm he gave away when she was freezing. All those times he would just hold her understanding there were no words to say. Holding her until she no longer wanted to let go.
She fell asleep on the cold floor a late night in February. She didn't care if she was sick, never really cared. The cold was his element, his home and as long as she lives, cold would be the closest she could be to him.
She dreamt of the late spring night were they were sitting outside the house of her father's, talking as if nothing was wrong. She saw the butterfly and she knew it was coming to bring him back. It was always the same. The stupide butterfly would touch his nose and he would go, leaving her behind once again. But not in her dream. In her dream, he stayed until morning, holding her tight in the cold night. He would whisper in her ears. She didn't hear at first but then she understood the words said.
"I must go, Karin. Please forgive me, I would have given you everything you wanted, but I don't belong. Karin, please forgive me." She saw the doors open dragging him inside while her mouth was locked and no sound could be pronounced.
She soon heard her name be screamed as in a distance she could not reach.
"Kurosaki-san, Karin. Oi, Kurosaki what are you doing?" The ruff voice didn't belong to him, no his voice was more soft, more calming. This voice was annoying her. "Kurosaki wake up."
She open her eyes slowly only to be met with a pair of maroon eyes. She did the only thing she really mastered in her years of training: she kicked him in the face.
"Ow," yelled the owner of said face. "What do you think you're doing?" He rubbed the sore place she just punched. Sitting up she took a greater look at her assaulter.
"Abarai-san?" She said surprised. "What brings you here?" She then noticed the wool cover that she had. She smiled at him: " thanks."
"Well some people I know are really worried about you, you know? So After an intense battle of sword with your brother and a lot of convincing the higher up, I was allowed by the higher up to come visit. Only for two days though. If I stay longer I will be punished as the others." She smiled to herself wondering how long since she last saw her brother. Then something clicked.
"Rukia- nee-san beat you up didn't she?" She asked cocky.
"Hey, shut-up," he screamed at her standing up from his crouch position on the floor. "Why were you sleeping on the floor with the window open anyway?" He asked moving around the room.
"I was tired."
"So, you just sat down and started sleeping on the floor?" He looked at her not believing a single word she said. "Are you okay?" He finally asked when she was back in her bed.
"Yes of course," she forced herself to smile.
"You're both pathetic liars. But his words, at least, where actually believable. You're just plainly not okay." She looked down into her lap feeling the insecurity coming back.
"Hey look," he said sitting down on the bed, "I'm sorry it has to be like this but that is how it is. Don't force it. Oh and trust me, he misses you too. A lot. I honestly don't believe there is any paper work left in the Sereitei, he just takes it all, works all the time, to take his mind of things. And when his not working, his watching the sky. Your brother and many others are trying to bend the rule like they did before, but it just doesn't work yet. Have faith."
He lifted his thumb up like he have seen Issan do so many times. He just received another punch. She made a simple sincere smile that made Renji proud of his own work. This didn't last however as he noted what was wrong. Ever since he came inside, he had felt that something was of, but he could understand what before know.
"Please tell me it's not true," he said shaky. She followed his gaze before covering her stomach with the cover even if she knew the damage was already done.
"It's his isn't it" he pointed out. She glared at him.
"It's not 'it', it's a boy, and I intend to call him Ryuu."
"All the same, it's a child, his child."
"You can not tell him," she said suddenly. "You must promise me not to tell him, he can not know." She was holding on to his arm pleading.
"Why? It's his child, he better take responsibilities, don't you think?" He said with a sly smile. This only intensified her already worried eyes.
"It can worsen his sentence, or worse: kill him. You said he was back at being a captain, right? So let him out of this. Don't tell him."
"Wouldn't it be unfair for both the boy and the father growing without knowing each other?"
"Maybe, but as long as the sentence is not set, I will not put my son in danger. You understand, don't you? If you tell him he will try to leave, or break the law and be banned. Who knows what could happened to him if he knows. Abarai you must promise never to tell Hitsugaya before I tell you it's okay, is that understood?"
Her dark eyes stared at him like a predator its prey. Those eyes he's seen so many times when seeing Ichigo fight. No, he had no say in this, and she knew it.
"I won't tell him, but you must promise me you tell him sometime. And that you tell your son about his father."
" That I will do of course," she said in sudden pain.
"When his 16 that's the limit I give you. When he reaches that point, if you don't, I'll train him personally," he said ignoring the woman keeping in the cries.
"What is with you guys? Urahara said the same thing..."
"What?" He said surprise turning toward her, only to find her cramped together on the bed trying to hold back. "What's going on," he cried.
"Nothing wrong really, just take me to Urahara shop this instance."
"Wait what?"
"I said: take me to Urahara shop, my water just broke."
So in a panic state, he was out the window with the woman faster than he had ever run. Yeah he said he was going to watch out for her for both Kurosaki and Hitsugaya's sake, but he thought it was going to be a walk in the park, not dragging the damn girl to give birth. And to Urahara of all places.
Thanks for reading :D