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It wasn't always like this, what with everyone having to watch their backs every few seconds. Even kids, some who can hardly form words, still peak over their shoulders to see if their being followed by one of them. It makes you wonder how on Earth did such a vile dispute between two fellows end with the whole town pitted against one another? Especially considering the two men that started the ruckus killed each other. It is just so damn hard to believe that the town still stands- if only by a few strings. I've got the strangest feeling that those strings are starting to break, and once they do, the whole place is going to hell- literally.

But it'll be mighty fun to watch.

Vetis 1802

Chapter 1

The axe fell and smacked the wood, cutting it into two clean pieces. Isshin Kurosaki picked up the two pieces and set them down next to each other, then began to send the axe crashing back down to cut them into smaller halves.

"Isshin, sweety, dinner is ready." Isshin looked up to his wife, Masaki Kurosaki, and wiped the sweat from his brow with his forearm. She stood standing a few feet away, a small smile bearing her beautiful face, her light hair pulled back in a low pony-tail.

"I'll be there in a second," He replied and went back to his chopping. Masaki sighed and turned and started walking back to the house, clenching her apron nervously. The many trees surrounding the area rustled in the breeze, the green grass that wasn't covered by flowers or bushes squished beneath Masaki's feet. Masaki closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, reopening them as she continued to walk. She hated to see her husband so distraught.

Isshin's mother had passed recently, and in her will she left him a home in Vetis- a small town about fifty miles south. His mother was very proud of that house and she held all her most prized possessions in it. Isshin, on the other hand, hated the house and all the memories that were in it. When he left, unlike most, he didn't build his home close. He up and moved fifty miles away for a reason. That town gave him eerie feelings, and the house…the house had memories that Isshin had tried for years to muffle. Unfortunately, he still woke up in cold sweats every now and then; sometimes he couldn't even fall back asleep.

When he received the letter that his mother was dead and to be buried the next day, he was at a loss. He was the only beneficiary to his mother, seeing as he was the only child and his father now lay six feet under. He talked to Masaki, but the only advice she gave was to do what he felt right. Isshin didn't have any idea what to do, and so he came outside and began cutting wood. Something he did as a job for the community.

Masaki walked into the kitchen and called her children to help set the table. Yuzu and Karin came from the living room, a German Shepard named Tether bounding up behind them. Yuzu looked down and pet the dog gently atop the head anxiously, as if she had a secret and was trying to calm herself. Masaki noticed. Karin came in just as normal as any other day and the two pre-teens began to put plates full of food on the table.

"Where is Ichigo?" Masaki asked as she placed cups of well-water beside the plates.

"I don't know," Karin answered casually as she sat down. Yuzu was right behind her and shrugged her shoulders as well as fiddling with the hem of her dress. Masaki narrowed her eyes at the two.

"That's a shame, I guess we'll have to wait now to eat," Masaki sat in her chair and stared at her daughters. The twins glanced at each other. They sighed and lifted themselves out of their seats and began to head back into the living room. "Hold it." Masaki commanded. The two girls glimpsed at each other before turning to face their mother.

"Yes?" They said at the same time- almost to innocently. Masaki crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'll ask you one more time," She said calmly, "Where is your brother?" Yuzu and Karin looked at each other once more and released a low groan simultaneously.

One word was all it took.

"Orihime."

./././.

Ichigo looked at Orihime and smiled. He left small little kisses all over her in a playful attempt to take things a bit further. Orihime giggled and pushed him over in the hay, her long, auburn hair falling off her shoulders and tickling his face.

" I love you," She said. Ichigo was about to respond when shouts came from outside the barn. The two quickly got up from the hay and peaked outside the wooden doors. They saw Orihime's brother- Kakei – standing on the porch while Isshin stood on the grass staring up at the man.

"You are a man of terrible deeds! You steal and harm everything you come in contact with! I don't want Ichigo every coming 'round here again, you hear me?" Isshin yelled. Kakei looked at Isshin emotionlessly.

"I don't believe you have a say in what he does. He's almost a man now and soon he won't need you for anything." Kakei spoke coldly. Isshin balled his hands into fists and began to approach him.

Ichigo opened the barn doors quickly and ran towards his father.

"Dad, stop." Ichigo mumbled and pulled his father back to the grass. Orihime followed close behind.

"Ichigo? Do you know what you're doing? Come home. Now." Isshin said and grabbed his son by the collar of his shirt. Ichigo shrugged his father's grip off and then turned to Orihime and mouthed a 'sorry'. Orihime began to cry and ran to her brother, spouting off nonsense like "but I loved him, brother"! Kakei took his sister into the house, all the while glaring at Isshin and Ichigo.

"What were you thinking son?" Isshin shook his head in anger as the two men made their way back home through the forest. "What if she were to get pregnant? Then what? You'll have their criminal blood in your own child!"

Ichigo ran his hand through his orange locks and said nothing. He could care less about the Orihime girl, in fact all she was there for was to mess around with. He didn't really care if her brother was a master thief or whatnot. He just cared that she would put out. But of course he couldn't tell his father that. Then his accusations of her possibly bearing his child would just prove his point a little more.

"Are you listening?" Isshin voiced and Ichigo sighed.

"Yea, I am." It was silent until they got back home. When they went inside, no one spoke a word. Ichigo gave his sisters a cold glare before joining them at the table. Isshin sat at the head, Masaki a seat to the side of him, Ichigo next to her, and Karin and Yuzu across.

"I've decided." Isshin said. Everyone looked up with a puzzled look, except Masaki. "We leave tomorrow."

"To where?" Karin asked.

"To Vetis".

./././.

The family loaded up the wagon, hitched the horses, and never looked back to their old home. Their home of seventeen years. Their home in which they raised three beautiful, healthy children. A home they'd never see again.

And that was strangely exciting. At least to Ichigo.

Ichigo had never been the type to sit still. Even as a small child, he would always get punished in class for talking of wild adventures, or thinking of great escapes on trains and take them to wherever they lead. Isshin had always looked at his son with great pride. Ichigo wasn't stupid, he always talked years wiser than he was. Isshin knew his son would accomplish amazing things, but as soon as Orihime came along, that thought began to disperse. Ichigo lied often about where he was going, and would get lazy with his studies.

All he cared about was sneaking off with Orihime. Isshin would be lying if he said that wasn't the reason he didn't want Ichigo seeing her. Isshin knew that Ichigo was to make his own mistakes, and face the consequences himself, but he saw to much potential to be wasted in his son. That is the reason he decided they ought to move to Vetis. At least, at the time, he thought this a wonderful idea. Maybe not so much now.

A good ten hours later, the sun now beginning to set at a little after five o' clock, the family makes their way into the tiny desert town of Vetis. People walking the streets all turn and look at the newcomers with expressionless faces. They soon all look a little confused, recognizing the man holding the reigns. Some look to each other, others look away. Isshin couldn't care less.

Ichigo, who walked next to the wagon most of the way exhaled in relief as they pulled up to an old, worn down home.

"Well, here we are. Home." Isshin said as he got up and began untying the horses. Masaki stood herself and carefully got down from the seat. She rounded the wagon and joined her son in walking up to the front door, Yuzu and Karin shortly behind.

The house was about a ten minute walk from the town. It sat on the flat, dirt ground. It was elevated slightly by a wooden base. No steps, just a small lift. The railing that surrounded the house was falling apart, and the beams that held the roof above the porch were cracking a little. It felt like home, smelt like home, even looked a little like home.

Isshin walked past his family to release his horses into the pen in the back of the house. Ichigo and his sisters hurried into the house. The twins went running around the place, checking every crevice of the new place out. Ichigo followed casually behind. Masaki came looking for her husband in the back. He was leaning over the fence, staring at really nothing.

Masaki placed a gentle hand on her husband's back.

"It'll be okay. I promise. The memories are here, but the people aren't. We are now." Masaki said and Isshin looked at his wife. He smiled gently and nodded.

"Yea…" He said quietly. Masaki grinned and took her husband's hand. She led him back to the front of the house and they stood as they watched their kids emerge.

"I love it!" Yuzu cried and ran to hug her parents. Karin and Ichigo lagged behind, but soon rejoined the rest of the group.

"Hey Ichigo, to get your mind off of Orihime, there is this great saloon I know…" Isshin laughed as Masaki smacked his arm.

"What's a saloon?" Yuzu asked and Isshin shook his head between laughter.

"You'll learn when you're older." He said and Yuzu stuck her bottom lip out in a pout.

Ichigo couldn't help but laugh a little himself.