AN: I apologize…for the long delay…sorry…time flies by way too quickly…sorry…and I still don't own Bleach. I have enough trouble even coming up with stuff to write. And by the way, I made some edits to the first two chapters, so please feel free to reread those!


Chapter 3: Mourning

Dad… Yuzu… Karin!'

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Karin's head snapped up, eyes wide, from watching the TV from the kitchen table. Yuzu was happily humming while cooking that night's dinner, but the smile on her face gradually lessened and formed into a frown. The once warm and inviting air in the house became dull, almost lifeless. Karin remained rigid in her seat, head turned in the general direction of where she last sensed her brother's presence. Her heart dropped, and eyes burned, as realization sank into her gut.

Yuzu, momentarily confused as to why she felt so uncomfortable, suddenly realized that there was an absence of something that she had always acknowledged in the back of her mind, and tears welled up in here eyes, falling down to her chin, and to the floor.

"…K-Karin-chan…"

Everything seemed muted to her ears. Even her own sister's trembling voice was difficult to register. Karin couldn't seem to focus on anything. It was as if she couldn't comprehend anything anymore, like the state of the world had suddenly become unbalanced in some way.

"Yuzu…" Karin gasped for air, as her voice began to waver.

The smell of burnt food rose into the air, but Yuzu ignored it and absentmindedly reached out to turn off the stove. She turned around to face her elder twin sister, and Karin slowly shifted her head towards Yuzu. The moment their eyes met, there was a silent understanding between the two, that they had both just lost their most precious person in the world.

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"…and so creating partnerships between privately owned clinics and larger general hospitals can potentially solve the issue of much needed funding and provision of medical supplies that smaller local clinics may not have access to. Of course, there needs to be mutual benefit between the clinics and hospitals, which is what my colleague, Dr. Nakanishi, will now be presenting on. Thank you."

Light applause scattered the room as Isshin gathered his notes and stepped away from podium, pausing to smile at Nakanishi, who returned the smile and strode by towards the front of the conference room to begin his portion of the presentation. Isshin walked back towards his seat near the end of the long conference table, and sat down with a soft sigh.

He was so going to take a bubble bath when he got home the next day, and have Yuzu make some of his favorite snacks. Maybe he'd even take a day off. He was self-employed, after all; he was his own boss. Isshin desperately needed a break after having to prep for this ridiculous meeting. He was currently in a neighboring town with his colleagues from other local clinics and other doctors at a medical convention he was attending for the weekend, and he honestly couldn't wait for it to end.

Just as he was about shift in his seat and tune into Nakanishi's words, Isshin froze mid-motion, and a cold sweat ran down his back.

"What's wrong, Dr. Kurosaki?" came a whisper next to him. "Your face suddenly turned really pale… Is something wrong?"

Barely registering the man's words, Isshin merely stood up and quietly excused himself.

"Sorry guys, emergency…" Isshin managed to mumble out, in an attempt to regain some semblance of composure, before briskly leaving the room. As soon as he exited the building, he sprinted towards the parking structure almost in a blind panic.

'Ichigo… His reiatsu just-! No, no, no! Oh god… My son, my beautiful son…!'

Abruptly, he jerked to a stop outside in front of his car.

'Shit! Karin and Yuzu!'

Isshin's hands shook as he fumbled for his phone. As soon as he managed to still his hand, he shot a quick text to Karin, before fumbling for his keys next.

: I'm coming home now. :

The drive back home was almost agonizing. It wouldn't be another hour and half until he could find out what had happened to Ichigo and be with his girls. Stirred up even more, Isshin sped back home, his mind consumed by thoughts of his children, of overwhelming resignation, and of despair.

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Isshin didn't even bother checking to see if he had locked his car, or even shut his car door at all. He slammed open the door and rushed into the house, frantically searching for his daughters. Time seemed to stop for him when he saw Karin and Yuzu desperately clinging to each other on the living room couch. Somewhere deep inside, he had hoped that he was somehow wrong, that his senses had become so dulled that he was severely mistaken, but…

Yuzu uncontrollably sobbing against Karin's shoulder, and Karin in shock with tears running down her face, seemed to seal the deal.

'Oh, Yuzu… Karin… Oh, Ichigo, my boy…'

Reality began to sink in. Isshin's chest felt even more constricted than it already was. He couldn't bear to see his daughters look so hopeless. He gazed across the room at the picture of late wife, and had to wonder how many more members of his beloved family he had to lose.

He turned his head toward Karin and remembered her promise to never to cry after Masaki had died. And he looked at Yuzu, and remembered her joy and pride at being able to feed her brother the best homemade food. Unable to say anything, Isshin let out a deep and tired sigh. He quietly walked over to kneel in front of the couch, and pulled his daughters into a tight yet gentle embrace, silence being the only source of comfort he could give.

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Two days later, passersby and drivers that stopped to glance at the Kurosaki Clinic would look upon a scene of mourning, a vigil for four tragically deceased students. The small building was surrounded by family, friends, and acquaintances, many who were parents, students, and teachers. Some were crying, some murmured condolences to each other, some remained silent, and some were still stunned, at having witnessed the terrifying sight of four classmates being crushed by huge steel beams. At having lost said classmates.

Of the words being passed around at the vigil, the most prominent were that Kurosaki Ichigo, Ishida Uryuu, Yasutora Sado, and Inoue Orihime, had put their lives on the line for the sake of saving three children. The children had thankfully come out of the accident with a few scrapes and bruises, but nevertheless and most importantly, safe. And it had come as a shock to many, that four high school students would be willing to put themselves in such a life-threatening situation, even if to save a few children.

Most of those at the vigil were also watching for three students in particular—watching their facial expressions, their reactions, their expressions of grief. Three students closest to their now deceased classmates. Arisawa Tatsuki, Asano Keigo, and Kojima Mizuiro.


AN: As usual, thank you for your patience, and thanks for reading!