ベリーと死神の4

Of Berries and Shinigami 4

She was walking side by side with their mother,tall, pale blonde and beautiful. Ichigo was opposite of her gleefully jumping up and down explaining to their mother about today's karate lessons and how he couldn't wait to beat Tatsuki in a match. She herself wasn't good at karate but just did it because her brother was. She tugged on her mother's arm and pointed up at the sky telling her that it was getting cloudy.

"The forecast did say it would rain today" she responded with gripping her tiny hand lightly. Her short, blonde-pink, chin length bob bouncing with her every step began to get faster.

"Mommy look!" she and her mom looked to the side of the river bank, "she's in trouble!" she, herself shouted.

She pointed an innocent finger at the river bank where said girl was at. Then in her sight she saw her brother running down the hill, with determination to help the girl. She felt the pressure of her mother pushing her back causing her to tumble backwards into the pavement. She heard screams and shouts followed by a screech and a gruesome ripping sound then everything became a blur in her tiny innocent mind. She stood up, calling out to her mom.

" MOM?" she shouted trying to look through the darkness. She began climbing down the side of the river bank looking for any sign of her brother or mom. On her way down she found her mother's cross necklace, gently picking it up with slightly shaking hands she held it up to her chest and continued walking. She stepped into the shallow river, not caring if her karate uniform got muddy. Just as she stepped in the rain began to fall hard. She looked around and finally saw her brothers orange hair flowing loosely in the water. Her heart grew tight as she ran over to the splay of her brothers orange hair. There she saw him surrounded by a pool of blood floating around him staining his karate uniform, their mother lying on top of him in a protective manner as he back bled profusely. Once the image registered she couldn't tell who it was who was bleeding the most. She fell to her knees letting the blood wade over to her, and screamed as tears began streaming down her round rosy cheeks, as her pink hair clung to them. Ichigo's eyes burst open at the sound of his sister's shouts than soon joined her in a heart wrenching, blood curdling wail.

Sakura was woken up by a fierce shake of her shoulder. When her eyes fluttered open she could see a worried Ichigo gripping her shoulders gently, she could feel warm streams gliding down her face with ease. She sat up and did the first thing she could think of, grab her brother's shirt with all her strength and cry into his shoulder. He patted her back, "Shhhhh its OK, you had that dream again didn't you..." she nodded into his now soaked shirt and he kissed the top of her head and let her go for a second. Her eyes were a fierce red, her cheeks pink to their maximum with tears gushing out of her green eyes down to her quivering lips.

He walked over to the door and slightly opened it, " What is it dad."

Their father tried prying open the door, " Is she alright?"

"Yes she's fine I'll take care of it i was up anyways."

"It's the dream again wasn't it," He silently nodded in reply, "It's the fifth night in a row." He sighed. Isshin called out into the room, "Sweetie I'll be just down the hall if you need me." There was no response but instead the sound of shuffling sheets. Ichigo then proceeded to close the door and walked back to Sakura who immediately clung to his shirt when he was close enough.

Once everything seemed quiet Rukia gently slid open the closet door, "Is she OK?" no answer, she peeked out to see Sakura and Ichigo innocently curled up underneath the covers. She gave a heartfelt lopsided smile and gently stepped out. She tiptoed over to Sakura's bed and pulled the covers over them, "Seriously you'll catch a cold this way..." she whispered as she walked back ' maybe I'll get them a gift tomorrow.' She thought as she climbed back into her closet.

Ichigo opened his eyes, "I need more sleep..." he muttered as he looked down looking for Sakura. She was gone and was replaced with a pillow. He sighed sitting up just in time to see Rukia popping out the window, " oi midget, did you see Sakura?"

Rukia looked back, "she left earlier, something about having to do something important."

He sighed as he stood up, "OK. Get out so I can change." She nodded.

"I can look for her if you want."

He waved dismissively, "its OK go to school and don't worry. I'll find her." she gave a silent nod and jumped out the window. He walked downstairs; Yuzu was staring at the dinner table surprised. On it was a full breakfast for the girls, their father and himself.

"I got down here to get breakfast ready and this was already here..." she sat down and picked up her chopsticks. Karin looked at Ichigo who merely grabbed two apples, two juice boxes and a piece of toast which hung out of his mouth. He shrugged his shoulders and walked out the door.

"Wait Ichi-nii! Your lunch!" Yuzu shouted from the table.

"I'll get something at school!"

Sakura sat by the river bank, picking at the grass at her feet, her legs spread across. She had woken up at two am from the nightmare, and then fell asleep in her brother's protective arms till five. She felt a slight cold breeze and a weight on her back suddenly appear. A masculine hand held an apple, the other a juice box. A chin was placed firmly at the top of her head, "You've never acted up this much..." he whispered as he plopped himself down next to her.

"We haven't seen each other for the past couple of years… it got worse over time… scared the shit out of my room mates the first year." They sat in silence for a good half an hour which consisted of Sakura taking small bites out of her perfectly round red apple, compared to Ichigo who pretty much took three bites and was done.

"Do you wanna go to school tomorrow?" she whispered. He remembered the date, tomorrow would be the 16th of June.

"no we should go, don't want to miss one more day than we should..." She nodded then stood up, brushing the grass off her skirt and socks. He followed her up the river bank and back onto the road.

"Can we walk slowly?" she asked," I don't want to go to school yet."

Rukia sat at her desk, it was already lunch time, and still no signs of the berry twins.

"Ne Rukia-chan?" she raised her head and saw the orange haired girl, Orihime looked at her worriedly, "Have you seen Ichigo and Sakura?"

"The berry twins?" she shook her head, " No I usually meet up with them on the way to school but I haven't seen them."

The girl eagerly nodded, "They sure are late today."

Rukia checked her phone, 12:30. She sighed and looked at the candy shaped pellet and the phone in her hands. They'd better get there soon in case something happened. She looked up at Orihime, during the past week they'd saved Orihime from her brother turned hollow, saved a parakeet boy and sent him to soul society. She was lost in her thoughts not even noticing Tatsuki sit down next to Orihime and speak," they do this every year, even before Sakura had left."

This had peaked her interest. They leaned forwards to listen better." I shouldn't tell you, it's really a private family issue..." she cupped her chin," though they are a day early..."

"What's a day early?" they looked back to see Ichigo carrying a plastic bag and Sakura eating a large ice cream cone.

"Oh nothing!" chirped Rukia as she stood up and latched onto the twins arms, " let's go to the roof!" she dragged them along making sure to dodge crowds.

"So why are we up here?" Ichigo asked opening up a melon bread.

"Because since I started staying with you- five days today might i add- you always wake up and seem to always be in a mood." Sakura finished her ice cream and began to lick her fingers, ," So I thought I'd get you a gift to cheer you up."

"What is it?" Sakura asked leaning in. Rukia took out the candy just as the red phone in her hand and the one in her pocket rang, "Perfect timing." She whispered as she clicked through her phone. Rukia smiled up at Sakura and handed her the red phone before putting on her glove and lunging at Ichigo letting his bodies go limp underneath them. Rukia put his designated candy in his mouth and jumped on Ichigo's back, "let's go!"

"But… what about … his body?" asked Sakura confused as she started at the bright crimson phone in her hands.

"He'll be fine; they should work any minute now." Sakura raised an eyebrow but forgot about it as she watched Ichigo jump off the side of the building. Sighing she turned around and crouched down near her twin's body waiting for this 'thing' to work. Getting bored with the waiting she pulled out her phone, why a phone of all things?

"Where to now?" asked Ichigo running his blade through the last hollows mask.

"None for now." She said jumping on Ichigo's back once again, " let's go back to school."

They agreed and headed off towards school, just as they arrived they watched glass shatter as Ichigo's body with Sakura clinging onto his back, jumped out the window.

"H-hey!" Ichigo shouted as they chased after them.

{edit: 12\19\13}