Episode 1: "Memories"
"Ichigo! Ichigo!" She would shout. "Can you come out to play today?" She would always be wearing a hakama. Her short orange hair would be up in two small pigtails…and she would be smiling. But that all changed…After my mom died she changed along with me. She slowly stopped smiling less and less. It was even rare when I saw her smile. I thought when my mom died, that was enough but no…it went further. Before what happened, when we were younger, ah man where those the days, she would always find a way to get my dad to let me come outside to play. Even if it was for only five or ten minutes…she didn't care. As long as she could have some time to play a game with me, she was happy. But that one day, I remember when my dad picked us both up from the dojo. I was holding my dad's hand and hers.
"Ichigo's Dad? Can Ichigo play with me after we get home?" I glanced at my Dad, wondering and hoping he would say the magic word.
"Yes." As soon as my dad said that, me and her would jump for joy…but not literally.
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"Um, Ichigo?" Rukia asked, walking up to me, "Who are you talking to?" I quickly sat up looked at her. She was wearing her usual summer dress and holding a copy of some romance novel.
"No one," I said. Rukia had a look of disbelief on her face.
"I heard you talking," she said, "Were you talking to yourself?" I laid back down and put my hands behind my head. Rukia sighed and sat down.
"I was just saying the lines to a song," I lied. Rukia plopped onto her back and starred at the clouds, slowly migrating east. My eyes slowly gazed at their glory as well.
"What song?" Rukia asked, after a long silence. I didn't answer. My mind was else where and I couldn't think of a song.
"Were you thinking about that girl again?" Rukia asked. I sighed and closed my eyes, hoping Rukia would leave me alone for now.
"Well?" She pushed. I opened my eyes in defeat and sat up, crossed legged.
"Yeah," I finally said. Rukia continued to lay down and stare at the clouds.
"You know what?" She asked. I starred at the ground not really caring. Rukia noticed and continued on.
"You never told me anything about her really," she said, "You never told me her age, how you two met, why you only talk about her alone…" Rukia paused, "D-Did she die?" That was it. I stood up and started walking away. I really didn't feel like talking to anyone right now. Rukia quickly sat up and watched me slowly go away from her. She stood up, brushed her dress off, and quickly caught up with me.
"Ichigo, I'm sorry I didn't-" She didn't continue when I stopped.
"No one ever does….No one ever knows," I said. Sadness overcame Rukia's eyes. When she was about to say something else, I started to run away from her.
"Ichigo!" She shouted, "Ichigo wait!" Rukia started chasing me but she stopped when she ran out of breath. I was used to running far distances. Especially to get away from something I didn't want to deal with at the moment.
"How much does that girl matter to you?" Rukia asked herself. I continued running until I reached the edge of a cliff. I immediately fell down to a sitting position and tried to catch my breath. After a few minutes, I fell onto my back, lazily, and looked at the clouds once more. My mind drifted off and I started talking out loud again…
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When we got home, she continued holding my hand and dragged me off to the playground to play ball. My dad always let me go there because it was only half a block away. I never had a thing for slides. We kind of never got along. But that day, she made me get on it. I sat down first and she sat on my lap. Then, we slid down and I actually enjoyed it. When I first went down a slide with Karin, I was terrified. I thought we were going to fly off. Heh. I know it sounds stupid but I never went on a slide ever again until that day.
We sat on the swings when it was sunset. We always did so that we could swing high enough to see the sun on the horizon. Even though I tried as hard as I could, I would never go higher then she would. After the sun was almost down, we started walking home. Her house was right across the street from mine. That day was going perfect. Until…
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I snapped out of my daze and looked around. I was still by the edge of the cliff and the sun was about to set. With a deep sigh, I got up and started walking home. I didn't notice at first, but my path changed and headed towards the playground I used to play on. When I reached it, the sun was just setting. I sat on a swing and slightly laughed to myself.
"Man I must look like a kid right now," I said aloud to myself. I started swinging and soon, I could see the sun on the horizon…Just like the old days. The sun had completely set when I finally started going home. Occasionally, I would glance up at the sea of stars that seemed to go on forever. Right before I walked through the door, Rukia stopped me.
"Ichigo," she said in almost a mumble. I stopped and glanced at her. She still looked upset.
"What?" I asked, in the calmest tone I could have. Rukia sighed and stared at the ground.
"I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I didn't mean to upset you or reopen any old wounds," she said, "I was just curious about that girl…If you want, will you please tell me everything that happened? It doesn't matter…but if you do, I'm here to listen when you are ready to tell me."
"I'll tell you…but just not right now," I said, "I don't think I could." Rukia nodded understandingly and walked into the house after me. Dad, Karin, and Yuzu were in the living room. Dad was playing a video game with Karin, trying to beat her, and Yuzu was watching, making sure that they didn't get violent. Rukia sat on the couch and joined Yuzu in watching them. Not too long ago, I told them that Rukia was an exchange student and needed a home. They bought it and now she stays with us.
I walked back into my room and shut the door, silently, behind me. I flipped the light switch and my room filled with light. My bed was made perfectly, but it didn't last long. I flopped down onto my bed, messing it up. As I laid there, I started to wonder if I really should tell Rukia about her…About Na-. My eyes became heavy and closed. Before I could finish that thought, I fell asleep.
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I woke up with a voice calling my name. At first, I didn't know who's voice it was. But, I found out when I opened my eyes. It was Rukia. She looked scared. I quickly sat up and looked at her.
"Are you okay Ichigo?" she asked. She took the question out of my mouth. I slightly nodded.
"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked. Rukia sighed in relief and sat down on a chair.
"You were screaming, tossing around, and crying in your sleep," she said. I put my hand on my cheek and it was soaked.
"Did you have a nightmare?" She asked. I looked at my hand and then at Rukia. No duh. If I was crying and screaming, of course I had a nightmare.
"No," I said, "I don't know why I was screaming and crying. That was a good dream." I would rather die then to have that dream again. Rukia looked at me in disbelief and stood up.
"It's time for breakfast," She said, "Come on, before it gets cold." I nodded and got up out of bed. Rukia blushed when she noticed something about me.
"Um, Ichigo?" She said.
"Yeah?"
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your shirt?" I didn't even realize it. I must've took it off in my sleep…weird. I walked over to my closet and grabbed a shirt. As we walked towards the dining room, I put my shirt on. Karin and Dad were sitting at the table while Yuzu was setting everything out on it. Dad was telling some stupid story of his.
"And then he said that he let it go because it was too big!" he said. Karin sighed.
"Dad, that story was so big of a lie that not even a 2-year-old would fall for it," she said. I could tell she wasn't in a good mood. When Rukia and me walked in, Yuzu quickly walked over to me and put her hand on my forehead. She had to stand on the tips of her toes to reach me. I looked at her weird.
"What are you doing?" I asked. Yuzu put her hand down and sighed in relief.
"We all heard you Ichigo and I asked Rukia to go wake you up," She said, walking back over to the table, "I was thinking that maybe, you had a fever or something." I rolled my eyes. Yuzu, you care about every little thing. I sat at the table, a crossed my dad and next to Rukia. Dad started telling another story and, somehow, Rukia seemed very interested. After breakfast, I helped Yuzu clean up and Dad was still telling Rukia a dumb story. Karin had already left to go somewhere. I guess anywhere she couldn't hear Dad.
When were done cleaning up breakfast, I walked outside and started wandering around. I started walking towards the backyard. I hadn't been back there for what seems like forever. To my surprise, it looked exactly the same as before mom and her left. It had a flower garden, still full of flowers, and a spot for you to relax. I laid down there and starred at the sky. There weren't any clouds in the sky. Now I had nothing to stare at. Rukia walked up to me, quietly and I looked at her upside down.
"Ichigo, do you mind if I stay here with you for a bit?" She asked. I put my hands behind my head.
"I don't care, you don't have to ask," I said. Rukia laid down next to me and seemed to be in a daze, looking at the sky. There was a long silence between us. All you could hear was a few wind chimes, the wind, and silence. I never knew it but, silence was loud. I eventually broke it.
"Hey Rukia?" I said. She turned her head to look at me.
"Yeah?" she asked. I sighed.
"Do you want to hear the story now?" I asked." Rukia looked surprised. She sat up and got comfortable. I gave her a weird look and sat up as well.
"I told you," Rukia said, "When you are ready, I am here to listen. So, if you are, I am too." I nodded and sighed deeply.
"Well…Her name was Nanako."
AN (Author's Note): How did I do? Did I do okay for the first episode? Please send a review and tell me what you think! I will be glad to see it. I will up the next episode as soon as I get at least two good reviews. Thank you for reading!
