Chapter 1

I am Kurosaki Ichigo, a 37 years old man. I am a doctor by profession. My life has changed a lot over the past 15 years. Back then, money was everything to me. I thought of love and friendship as rubbish. Now I think that everything except the love and friendship is rubbish. Back then, I used to have a belief that I was my own best friend. Now I realize that I had been my worst enemy. Back then, tears had no effect on me. Now I cannot bear to see a teardrop in anyone's eye. I have changed .Yes, I have changed a lot and it was she who changed me. She, who came in my life for what I call just a few moments and changed my whole life forever…..

It was a foggy December morning. I was heading towards my expensive and comfortable apartment after jogging when my phone rang. I stopped, took the phone out of my pocket and frowned to see the number. It was Yuzu, my little sister. I left the Fay the moment I turned 18 and did not want to stay in contact with any of them as I hated the sentiments. I was a very calculated type of person. At the last ring, I finally picked up the phone.

"Big bro, how are you? I hope you are fine. Please come home today. It is Karin Chan's birthday." My sister went on without even bothering whether I was listening or not. This made me smile for a while.

"Yuzu, Listen… I am sorry. I have a meeting today. I will send the present and wish her too. Is it okay?" I made up a reason at which she hung up without saying anything but I knew she must be weeping.

I felt guilty for a moment but that feeling did not last for long. "It is absurd to feel this way. I have just joined the hospital staff. It is the beginning of my career. I cannot afford to waste my time on such things." I tried to convince myself.

Just then, I saw "her". It was not like that I was seeing her for the first time but I was seeing her after some time. She also used to jog on the same jogging track everyday until recently. I had not been seeing her for two or three days. She was an average looking short girl, yet she was very attractive. But then again, love and attraction was a funny business to me, so I never tried to work out my feelings for her and besides, she was a total stranger. Even then, I always looked forward to her coming without realizing it.

She had never noticed me or that's what I think at least. I deliberately looked away from her and just then my phone rang again.

"Damn it!" I said under breath. It was my boss Heyi, a senior doctor.

"It is Kurosaki Ichigo speaking." I picked up the phone.

"Yeah, I had to tell you that I am going on a field trip. I am entrusting you with a very sensitive case…" She told me the details of the case.

It was a young woman, about 20 who was at last stage of cancer. According to the reports, she barely had a week to live. I had to look after her and check on her at least two times everyday. It seemed to be a pain in the ass. I hated to handle that type of cases.

"I don't know why people struggle to live even till last breath". I thought.

I had to gather details from the hospital, so I had to rush.

"Another busy day I guess…" I sighed.

After getting the details and the reports, I drove to that girl's house. After parking the car, I knocked at the door.

"Leave the pizza at the door and pick up the tip. Thanks for coming." came a lively voice from a distance.

"I am not here to deliver pizza, miss." I clarified as my blood boiled.

"Oh, I am extremely sorry." she said as she opened the door.

I could not speak for a while when I saw her. She was the same girl from the jogging track.

"Is she the… No it can't be. She looks perfectly alright." I thought.

"I am here to see Kuchiki Rukia. I am her doctor" I said.

I wanted to clarify my doubts but it was a great shock to me when she said, "I am Kuchiki Rukia. Come in."

"It can't be. She doesn't look like a cancer patient at all and to think that she is at the last stage is impossible." I thought.

"Is something wrong?" she asked as she showed me the way to lounge. Perhaps she read the expression on my face.

"It is nothing." I forced a smile. "I am a professional doctor and this girl means nothing to me. I have taken this case for a living and that's all." I said to myself to bring myself to normal and it did the trick.

Anyhow it was the first time I felt that way and I didn't like that feeling.

"Would you like to have some coffee?" she asked sitting down on a couch.

"Well…" I was about to say something when she cut in.

"Kitchen is upstairs. If you make good coffee, bring a cup for me too." This was enough to piss me off. I was never used to such kind of behavior.

"What exactly are you. I am your doctor, not your butler!" I said overflowing with anger.

I hoped she would apologize but she said, "Doctors can make coffee, can't they?"

Author's note "This is my first dramatic story. Tell me if I should continue or not."