~Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo~

Hello my dear readers! I hope you guys like how the stories moving along so far! A special thank you for Ermilus, Cormag, and Saint Sita! Your comments were so sweet and helpful!

Saint Sita: Thanks for reading this story! And no Ichigo does not have another family nor is he married to anyone else. He did live with someone for the past four years, but there will be more about that next chapter. Keep reading and you'll find out more:)

previous chapter...

Orihime had finally taken a look at him; he didn't have his sword anywhere on him.

His sword was his life.

He wasn't wearing his knight apparel but peasant clothing.

"Orihime! Oh there you are, father and mother were beginning to worry!" Rangiku's voice was heard a few feet away followed by two knights.

"Orihime?" Rangiku repeated.

Chp 4

Father and Son

"What are you doing here alone? And why didn't you take a knight with you! A woman of your class should not be walking by herself and with a child too! Father and mother were beginning to panic! Orihime, you have to start worrying about your-"She stopped as she saw the look on Orihime's face. She looked so terrified, broken. Rangiku then saw the puffy cheeks and tears.

"Hime, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry, I was just worried about you and Daichi!" As Rangiku finally made her way to her younger sister's side, she too stood shocked.

Orihime still had not registered her sister's presence until she moved next to her. Looking up to the blue eyed beauty, she began to speak.

"R-Rangiku, I-It's Ichi," she choked out with a sad smile on her face, "B-But he doesn't remember me, or anyone else, h-he injured his h-head," Rangiku could feel the pain emanating off of Orihime. Giving her sister a hug and allowing her to cry, she moved her gaze back to a still surprised Ichigo.

"After all these years, I'm happy you're safe Ichigo." Rangiku said with a smile on her face, "But your memory…" She trailed off, unsure of how to deal with the new information.

"Do you remember anything from your past?" She asked, worried blue eyes meeting speechless brown.

He shook his head and said a horse ''No". Rangiku sighed, rubbing Orihime's back she looked at Daichi. The boy looked just as confused, different emotions consuming his face.

"Daichi, you alright?" Rangiku asked. He didn't respond. Orihime looked at her only son and her heart broke in two, she knew how much Daichi had wanted to meet Ichigo. She knew how much he wanted approval, someone to call 'dad'. She knew, even though her son didn't meet him yet, that he loved Ichigo with all his little heart. Feeling like a horrible mother for not comforting her own son, Orihime whispered a thank you to Rangiku and moved away.

As Daichi tightened his little fists, he looked up to Ichigo. He was only three and a half, almost four in a few days, but he didn't fully understand the situation at all. Yet he was still a very smart boy for his age, much more mature than the other children around him. From the eyes of a four year old, all he understood was that the man his mother loved forgot her, forgot all the promises he made to her. From his perspective, the man his mother loved didn't even miss her.

He made her cry.

That alone was unforgivable.

But this man, Ichigo, didn't even ask Daichi what his name was.

He hadn't shown any interest in him up to this moment.

Daichi didn't understand what a hard hit on the head causes, he didn't know the meaning of memory loss, and he didn't understand what Ichigo was going through at all.

But from his eyes, Ichigo was hurting his mom, Ichigo was hurting him.

With one last look at the tall muscular man, Daichi ran the opposite way.

He didn't want to be there.

He didn't want to see Ichigo make his mom sad anymore.

He felt unwanted by his own father.

The man everyone looked up to.

The man he wanted to be.

The protector.

The hero.

Before Orihime could make it to her son, he sprinted off.

"Daichi!" She yelled after him, but before she could make another move, Ichigo sprinted after the little boy.

As Orihime was about to follow the pair, a hand held her back.

"He's a strong boy, they both are. Just give them some time. Ichigo will keep Daichi safe and bring him back," Rangiku said to her younger auburn haired sister.

As Orihime looked back at Rangiku, she knew everything she was saying was right, but she couldn't help it. The two men she loved the most in her life, besides her father of course, were now far away from her. In fact, she didn't even know where they were. She had to be there for Daichi, she had to be there for her son.

As if Rangiku knew what Orihime was thinking, she added, "Ichigo will be there for Daichi, it's his turn now." Rangiku gave her younger sister a smile, letting her know eventually this will all be okay.

Daichi didn't know where he was going, Anywhere but here, he thought to himself. Dodging branches and jumping over ditches, Daichi ran. He was so lost in thought he didn't hear the approaching footsteps behind him, right on his tail. For only a three and a half almost four year old he was an insanely fast child, 'You get it from your father' General Zaraki said to him once. But Daichi still had a tiny frame, so when he attempted to jump over a two foot branch, he tripped.

Prepared to meet the ground, he was surprised when strong hands grabbed him around his waist and lifted him up. With his eyes still closed, those same hands brought Daichi's body closer to his chest and cradled him.

"You shouldn't do that, running off on your own, you could've seriously gotten hurt!" Ichigo scolded the boy, his ideal scowl in place. When Ichigo saw the boys bottom lip tremble, his eyes still shut, he unknowingly brought him closer and his face softened. "I feel like this is all I've been doing to you since we've met, but I am truly sorry." Ichigo said in a gentler tone making his way back to princess Orihime.

"A-Are you happy?" Daichi asked finally opening his eyes, chocolate brown meeting chocolate brown. Daichi felt like he was looking at an older him.

"That I found out about my past?" Ichigo asked his look alike, his son. Daichi nodded.

"Well I was shocked at first; it was all so new, this is all so new. I went the past four years not knowing of my past, I only knew my name and I was part of a war on the French side. That was it. And now I find out that I was meant to get married, had a family. A son." Ichigo smiled down at Daichi, "A beautiful family, a handsome son," Daichi blushed hiding his face into his fathers chest. "I didn't think I would ever remember, I still don't. But princess Orihime, your mother, when I saw her… It felt right that she was there, like she belonged there. By my side. It was as if a piece I had been looking for the past four years finally clicked. And when you ran off, I couldn't let you go."

"Will you come home with us?" Daichi asked with hope.

"To France?" Ichigo responded.

"Yes!"

When Ichigo looked at his only sons face, he knew the answer straightaway.

He could never say no.

And he didn't want to.

"If it's alright with you and princess Orihime."

"Yes! Yes! I get to show everyone my father! And Grandpa Ishin will be so happy! Everyone will be so happy…" Daichi trailed off, smile adorning his tiny face. Meeting my father, this... this is the best birthday present ever! Daichi thought to himself.

"Grandpa Ishin?" Ichigo questioned.

"Mommy said grandpa Ishin's your father."

"Oh," Ichigo paused, "Do I have any other family?" He felt something churn in his stomach.

"Aunt Yuzu and Aunt Karin," Daichi said nodding his head.

"And my mother?" Ichigo further questioned.

"She's in a beautiful place!" Daichi's smile grew, "I-I've never met her, but grandpa Ishin and mommy tell me about her all the time. Grandma Masaki's in heaven." Daichi said as a matter-of-factly. Ichigo felt his stomach drop, he was slowly, very slowly, remembering. He was actually remembering.

"Daichi, please, tell me more," Ichigo looked down at his son.

Nodding his head, Daichi spoke away.

He told Ichigo about everything, everyone. The castle, the workers, there family. By the time Daichi was done, they reached the area where they first met.

Ichigo still didn't remember.

Any of it.

Not his parents or sisters.

Not his home.

It was as if all the memories were locked away.

He couldn't find the key.

But may be, eventually, it'll come back to him?

May be he does have the key?

He looked down at his miniature self.

This little boy.

This handsome caring little boy.

His strong little son.

May be he was the key? The key not his past, but his future?


What did you think? I would love to know!

until next time,

loverofliterature_111