Breakthrough

by goldenthyme

world w/out supernatural or ghosts. Ichigo witnessed his mother's death, but cannot remember but a few flickers. As the events of the evening come into the light, Ichigo finds himself without anything left to connect him to the living world.

1. Chapter 1

It's something I will always remember.

That June day.

With rain falling from the sky.

Like even the gods were mourning her death.

Mom is…was…everything. She was the center of our entire family. Our sun, our moon, our protector, our judge. Everyone depended on her, especially Dad.

But she's gone.

She's gone because of me. Because I ripped her out of our lives. If I had never ran down there, if that man had never taken us, if…if I hadn't existed, she would still be alive.

Dad says it wasn't because of me, that it wasn't my fault, but I've heard them. I've heard the aunts, uncles, cousins talking at the funeral, at our house. They say I am his son, that I may have Mom's hair, but that I take after him. They never liked the fact Mom and Dad married.

I told you so, they say, I told you that marriage would be the end of her.

They look at me and see a demon, a practitioner of hell that stole away their precious relative. And they're right. I caused it, and even in the end I couldn't save her. Even in the end her life was taken, though I had promised to protect her.

I should have been the one to die. She died to take my place. I'm reminded of this with every sound, with every movement.

Drip, drop.