THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTINY
TWO-THE LAST PEDAL OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOM'S
Ichigo stood by the porch of the Kuchiki residents. He looked up to see the cherry blossoms that have blossomed. Some began to fall, as a small breeze blew by. They were indeed beautiful, and to Ichigo it felt like time had stopped, and nothing ever changed.
"Ichigo." Rukia spoke out, as she made her way to Ichigo. Ichigo turned towards her, and instantly placed his arms around her waist, and Rukia smiled. Ichigo then placed his chin on her shoulder.
"You never change." Rukia explained.
"Of course not; was I supposed to?" Ichigo asked.
"It's so beautiful." Rukia replied, as she pointed towards the cherry blossoms.
"Yes, indeed it is." Ichigo replied, as he let go of Rukia's waist, then began walking towards his room.
"I have work to finish." Ichigo replied. Rukia nodded her head, as she watched him disappear.
"Mother." A boy's voice echoed. Rukia turned her head towards the young boy that was trotting towards her.
"Hisato." Rukia replied.
"I just stopped by Aunt Orihime." Hisato replied, as he smiled.
"That's good to hear." Rukia replied, as she hugged Hisato.
"Uncle Ishida, said some weird stuff about hating Shinigami, and stuff like that." Hisato replied, as he shrugged. Rukia tried to smile.
"I see that Ishida still hasn't changed." Rukia thought, as he eyes softened.
"Mother, has father returned?" Hisato asked.
"Yes, he's back, and your younger brother, Kyohei should be with him soon." Rukia replied, as she pointed towards his room.
"I heard mother that we are moving to a new estate." Hisato spoke, as he looked at Rukia.
"Yes, we are moving to our own estate soon." Rukia replied, as she smiled happily.
"Okay, mother." Hisato replied, as he trotted towards his father's room.
Ichigo was reading the list of names of students that have jus graduated from the academy. He sighed. He had so much paperwork to do.
"Another day, another large stack of papers." Ichigo thought. Someone knocked.
"Yes." Ichigo replied.
"Daddy." Kyohei spoke.
"Come in." Ichigo replied, as he got up, and sat on the cushion that was in the middle of the room with a large table. Kyohei slowly came into the room. He looked just like Ichigo when he was small. His hair was orange, and his eyes were big, and beady.
"What is it, son?" Ichigo asked, as he smiled. Kyohei was shy, but he ran to his father's arms, and he smiled.
"Daddy, I heard that we were moving." Kyohei replied, as he giggled, as Ichigo tickled him.
"Yes, we are." Ichigo replied, as he smiled at his young son.
"Kyohei, get off dad. He's busy." Hisato spoke, as he came into Ichigo's room.
"But, I wanted to play with daddy." Kyohei replied with his very large eyes. Ichigo's older son had black hair, and he inherited the looks of Byakuya.
"Father, I know that you are busy, but I have favor that I must ask?" Hisato replied, as he looked at his father. Ichigo nodded his head. Kyohei got up, and stuck his tongue at Hisato, and ran off. Hisato flinched, but held his temper.
"What is it?" Ichigo asked, as he looked at his older son.
"I will soon be graduating the academy, and I would like to join you father in your squad." Hisato replied, as he looked up at his father.
"I see, but that isn't decided by me, and I will have to discuss this with the other captains." Ichigo replied.
"I know, father." Hisato replied.
"I will see what I can do." Ichigo replied. Hisato's head rose and his eyes sparkled, as he hugged Ichigo, and then left the room.
"Thank you, father." Kyohei replied, as he ran out of the room.
"Ichigo." Rukia spoke, as she entered his room.
"My, aren't they energetic and I often times have to ask myself, where they get that energy from." Ichigo replied.
"They get it from you of course." Rukia replied, as she placed tea onto the table.
"My, they have grown fast." Ichigo replied. Rukia sat beside Ichigo, and she nodded her head.
"MOTHER." Toushin screamed, as he entered the small house.
"Yes, Toushin." His mother replied.
"I saw Captain Kurosaki." Toushin spoke, as he entered the one room house.
"I see." Youshin's mother replied.
"Mother, I must ask, is Captain Kurosaki my father?" Toushin asked. His mother raised her head slightly, but did not reply.
"No, dear, he isn't your father." His mother replied, as she looked into Toushin's eyes with sorrow.
"Mother, I don't understand." Toushin replied, as his anger rose.
"You will, when you get older." She replied. Toushin shook his head in disbelief.
"He has to be, we have the same last name." Toushin replied, as he ran out angrily.
"WAIT, TOUSHIN." She screamed, as she ran out to find him, but he had disappeared. Her long hair of purple fluttered, and she reached inside her black kimono, and from there she held out a red ribbon. She looked down at the ribbon, and tears fell from her eyes.
"Ichigo." She spoke, as her hair continued to sway in the breeze. She held the ribbon tighter, and she reached out to the sky, and watched as several cherry blossom trees were losing there last cherry blossoms. The few remaining disappeared in the breeze near her and one of the pedals landed on her hands. She looked at it with her purple eyes, and more tears fell. She knew that nothing will change even is she had wished it too.