Disclaimer: I own nothing
When Worlds Collide
Chapter One,
A Step Away Pt. One
Ichigo Kurosaki stared blankly at the two before him before finally replying with a blunt, two lettered word, "No."
"Oh come on Ichigo, you're about to turn seventeen, why not have a party?" Yuzu inquired, gazing innocently up at her older brother.
"No."
"Ichigo, just have the stupid partly already so your idiotic friends can stop bugging up about what we're gonna do for your birthday." Karen glared.
"Whatever," he finally caved, heading to his own room, slamming his door shut with a loud bang.
Grumbling he took a seat at his desk, planning to get some studying done only to find his mind in a complete haze. He didn't know what, but something had been bothering him lately. As of the last week he had felt on edge, well edgier than usual and the only person who really seemed to notice was Chad. And if the others had noticed, they hadn't said anything about it.
Banging his fist on his desk in frustration, he started to stare out the window in hopes of finding the answer to his unasked question.
Running a hand through his hair, he let out a low sigh before he reached into his drawer to get his math book, only to cut his finger on something sharp. Swiftly retreating his hand, he watched in mild interest as a drop of blood dripped from his finger. Sticking the injured finger in his mouth, he used his free hand to search for the offending object. Seconds later he withdrew a shard of glass. Confused, he reached his hand back in, only to draw out an old, broken photo frame.
Pulling out the photo from the broken frame, he threw it away, and for the longest time he starred at the picture. It showed three young kids, two boys and a girl, all about the same age of ten, maybe eleven, two of which were scowling into the camera as the middle occupant held them in a hug, smiling brightly.
Flashback
"Oh come on Ichigo, Yusuke can't y'all smile for at least one picture." Isshin pleaded to his son and nephew. "Kagome-chan why don't you help them smile while I go look for some more film."
Grinning, Kagome watched as her uncle went inside, before turning to face her two, younger cousins.
"Yusuke, Ichigo." She said, way too sweetly for the two boys' liking.
Taking a step back already knowing how quickly tempered and violent she could be at times, they both stuttered out, "Ye-yes Kagome-chan."
Fully expecting her to yell at them or maybe even hit them, neither were prepared for what she did next, she started to cry.
Paling, the two boys did what they could to try and stop her crying, especially before Isshin came back out, knowing that they would get in huge trouble for making her cry.
"What's wrong 'Gome?" Ichigo asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"It's just a stupid picture Kagome," Yusuke grumbled, hating it when she cried. He knew Kagome was tough for a girl, and whenever she cried he just felt so hopeless.
Hearing this only seemed to make Kagome cry harder. Shooting the younger boy a glare, Ichigo soothingly spoke, "Come on Kagome-chan tell us what's bothering you."
Hiccupping, she managed to snivel out a small sorry.
"You don't have to apologize, just tell us what's bothering you." Ichigo pleaded, watching her closely.
"I, I just found out from my mom this morning that we're moving to Tokyo next week."
Surprised, Yusuke spoke, "What, you can't leave Gome-chan? Who's gonna help me prank the teacher now and beat up all those bullies?"
When Kagome heard this she started sobbing harder. Ichigo hit Yusuke on the side of his head before wrapping his arm around her shoulder, "Don't worry Kagome, we're still family remember. You moving isn't going to change a thing."
Looking hopefully at the carrot top, Kagome couldn't help but let a hopeful smile cross her face. Wiping her tears she asked, "Promise?"
"Promise." Ichigo smiled.
"Yea don't worry Gome-chan. Like Ichigo said, nothing's going to change." Yusuke added in, for once saying something helpful.
End Flashback
Ichigo couldn't help but smile at the memory, though his smile was short live. Not long after Kagome had moved, Yusuke had moved too, to Kyoto. At first they had still managed to make time for one another but the in the end the inevitable happened, they started to drift.
He had lied that day. Kagome moving changed a lot of things. In fact, he hadn't spoken to Yusuke since his birthday and Kagome in nearly a year since he became a soul reaper. He wondered how they were doing. Hopefully he would find out this weekend.
"Hey Yusuke, hurry up man. I wanna play too," Kuwabara loudly complained, watching as Yusuke beat his high score.
"I still got two lives left Kuwabaka. Just go play some other game," Yusuke replied, still completely focused on the game in front of him. All this week he had felt something nagging him at the back of his mind and the only thing that ever managed to get his mind off the nagging were videogames.
Grumbling, Kuwabara was about to tell Yusuke off, when the loud sound of yelling reached their ears. Distracted, Yusuke looked for the source of the yells, fully intending on making them shut up. What he saw sent a smile of nostalgia on his face.
In the corner of the arcade, two young boys fought over a soccer ball, they had no doubt won from earning enough tickets, as a girl glared at the two. Seconds later she was now in possession of the ball and the two boys backed off, each scowling but neither challenging her.
Turning back to his game, Yusuke barely concentrated on the flashing screen.
Flashback
"Carrot top is on my team Kagome." A younger version of Yusuke argued, glaring at his cousin.
"His name isn't carrot top, it's strawberry and he's on my team midget." Kagome snapped, latching onto Ichigo's arm.
"Hey, I have a name you know and it's not carrot top or strawberry." Ichigo angrily yelled out, only to be ignored by his two cousins who were still glaring at one another. Kuwabara and Keiko looked on at the argument in amusement.
"Hey, my name is not midget and I'm the birthday boy, I'm the one who just turned twelve, and I say carrot top is on my team." Yusuke bellowed, yanking Ichigo's other arm.
"So, for my birthday you shoved cake in my face." Kagome retorted, "You already have Keiko on your team anyway while I'm stuck with Kuwabara."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kuwabara asked, only to be silenced by a sharp look from both Kagome and Yusuke.
Sighing, Ichigo spoke up, "Can't I just choose a team for myself?"
"No!" They both shouted at the same time before continuing their glaring match.
"Carrot top!"
"Strawberry!"
Confused, Kuwabara whispered to Keiko, "Are they arguing about his name or whose team he'll be on?"
"I don't know." She answered, shrugging her shoulders.
Too engrossed with their screaming match, neither Kagome nor Yusuke noticed when they were joined by another person, "Hey guys, sorry I'm late. Happy birthday by the way Yusuke"
"Tatsuki!" Kagome squealed happily. Letting go of Ichigo, she immediately went to hug the other girl.
"I missed you too Kagome-chan."
"You're just in time to play soccer. You're on my team."
"Hey no fair, I want Tatsuki on my team." Yusuke said also dropping Ichigo's arm.
"Don't I feel loved?" Ichigo mumbled to himself, watching in mild amusement as Kagome and Yusuke began to argue over Tatsuki.
End Flashback
"Yo, Earth to Yusuke."
"Wha, oh." Yusuke scowled, shoving Kuwabara's hand out of his face.
"I'm out of here."
Storming out before Kuwabara could question him any further, Yusuke let out a low sigh as he made his way back to his apartment. It had been a while since he had even thought about his cousins and he felt kind of guilty.
Being a Spirit Detective took up most of his time, and it's not like he could just tell them he fought demons on a daily basis. He knew Kagome would want to believe him, but no doubt it would be way too farfetched for her to be able too. And Ichigo, he'd probably hit him over the head and say he'd been spending too much time with Kuwabara.
Reaching the apar
tment he shared with his mother, he found a letter taped to the front door. Confused he took it off and opened it, only to find an invitation to Ichigo's seventeenth birthday party for this weekend.
He had completely forgotten that Ichigo's birthday was Saturday. In fact now that he thought about it, he had forgotten Kagome's also which was over a month ago. At this he felt extremely guilty. Both Kagome and Ichigo had remembered his and though Kagome hadn't been able to see him in person, she had sent him a valuable katana that he had on the wall in his room.
Stuffing the invitation in his pocket he turned back around. If he was gonna go, he was going to need a gift for not only Ichigo but Kagome also. Better late than never and nothing short of the end of the world was going to prevent him from going to Ichigo's party. He really did miss his cousins.
Flashback
Blue eyes glazed with concern, stared out the window, hoping to spot either a familiar head of orange or unruly black hair. Being a year older than both her cousins, Kagome unfortunately did not have the same recess as Ichigo and Yusuke. Ignoring her teacher, she tried not to let her worry completely overtake her.
Six months had passed since Ichigo's mother had passed away and still he was withdrawn from the others. Some days she and Yusuke managed to get him to lighten up but when they weren't around, he reverted to this cold persona that was nothing like the Ichigo she knew.
Regrettably that wasn't the only thing she was worried about. The only good thing to come from Ichigo's new demeanor was that he was no longer a wimp and thus it was his job to watch over Yusuke. Who had a knack for getting himself in trouble with the older kids. He just did know when to shut his mouth even though he knew he didn't have what it took to back himself up.
"Looking for Kurosaki-san."
Kagome immediately tensed up. Slowly, she turned her head to meet the gaze of her teacher. It seemed she had been caught. Blushing, she mutely nodded her head yes, ignoring her snickering classmates.
Placing a hand on Kagome's shoulder, she spoke, "Kurosaki is in the principal's office where I'm afraid you'll end up Higurashi if you don't start paying attention."
"Ye- yes Yoshida-sempai"
Diligently, Kagome started to catch up on all the notes she had neglected to take earlier. When she saw that the teacher was back at the front of the room, she went back to gazing out the window, now only worried about Yusuke.
Spotting him, she let out a low groan when she saw Yusuke arguing with a much bigger kid.
"Yoshida-sempai may I go to the bathroom?" She asked her hand waving wildly in the air.
"Of course Higurashi, you may go to the bathroom if you can answer these math questions."
She had seen Kagome's eyes wander back out the window and she did not expect the young girl to know any of the answers. Hopefully this would motivate her to pay attention.
Taking a quick look at the board, Kagome answered, "Three, eight, and eleven."
Shocked, she could only nod her head.
Taking off like a rocket, Kagome hurried to the play ground. It wasn't long before she found Yusuke and the older kid he was fighting with. Yusuke was already sporting a bloody nose and looked ready to cry. Tackling the older boy to the ground before he could land another hit on Yusuke, she started to wail on him. She hated it whenever anybody messed with her family.
Soon she was dragged off by the boy's friend. Unwilling to back down, she kept swinging.
Half an hour later Kagome, Yusuke, and Ichigo were all sitting side by side outside the principal's office, waiting for their parents to come pick them up. Ichigo had ended up back in there after barely getting out and arriving at the playground just in time to join Kagome in the fight.
"Midget, you idiot, you need to learn when to shut your mouth." Ichigo glared at the smaller boy, helping Kagome bandage her bleeding knuckle.
"Don't be so harsh." Kagome hissed in Ichigo's ear before turning her attention to Yusuke. "Strawberry has a point Yusuke. Why do you keep messing with them?"
Fidgeting in his seat, Yusuke reluctantly answered, "They were making fun of you guys."
"What?" Both Ichigo and Kagome said at the same time.
"They always like making fun of Ichigo's orange hair and your name and blue eyes Kagome. I just can't stand it. It gets me so mad." Yusuke made a fist.
Sighing, Kagome wrapped her free arm around Yusuke's shoulder. "Then that's our problem Yusuke. Not yours."
"We can take care of ourselves midget." Ichigo added.
"But Gome-chan, I can't just sit by and listen to them make fun of you guys. You always gotta stand up for your family and friends even if you know you're gonna get hurt."
"Awww, you're so sweet Yusuke-kun." Kagome beamed earning a snort from Ichigo though there was a proud look in his eyes.
"Do us a favor then midget and learn how to defend yourself. We're not always gonna be there."
"You three need to learn not to resort to violence." Isshin glared at the three primarily the two boys, it having been his turn to pick up the kids.
Yusuke and Ichigo immediately tensed. They were both in big trouble. Isshin always was stricter on them, letting Kagome get away with more.
"Kagome, what happened to your hand?"He inquired, taking her hand from his son to examine it. She would most likely need stitches.
Ever since her own father had taken off when she was five, Kagome had always looked at Isshin as her father figure, something he was more than willing to be to the younger girl.
"I hurt it on the other boy's mout,." She sheepishly admitted.
Isshin let out a hearty laugh. "That's right Kagome; you don't let anybody push you around. Stay strong."
End Flashback
Stay strong. Kagome was trying to do that now but she was getting tired, so tired. Her head dropped tiredly but Isshin's words kept her from closing her eyes. She'd get through this like she had everything else before. The others would come for her in the nick of time like they always had.
"They won't come for you miko. You are growing weaker each day and as soon as your barrier falls, you are mine."
His words fell on deaf ears. Kagome had become lost in another memory which was now the only thing that kept her going these days. One thing for sure though was when she got out of here she was definitely going to visit her cousins again.
TBC
