Woohoo! Getting on up in the story now. All the chapters may seem like they're random, but they aren't. Trust me on that.
Anyways, Enjoy!
Story Title: Made to be Broken
Chapter Title: Family I
Author: Sethrine
Disclaimer: Bleach characters and those affiliated with the work are in no way owned by me. I only take credit for Ember and the idea presented.
"So, what about your family, Ember? They must be worried sick about you."
The question had been thrown out in the open quite casually, the mood having been light and carefree since the start of dinner. Yuzu, along with everyone else in the strange but lovable family, had been curious of Ember ever since she was taken in four nights ago. Needless to say, poor Ember had been constantly questioned by the young lady and her father almost ruthlessly, and despite the protests of Ichigo, they continued to bombard her with question after question.
The young woman didn't mind in the least, politely giving the best answers she could to their questions with a small smile. This time, however, the air grew thick with an unmovable tension, a look of desperate concentration finding its way on Ember's pale face as she thought hard over what she was asked.
My…my family? I don't…I can't remember them.
"Ember?" Yuzu questioned lightly as everyone at the table became silent with the pressing anxiety that was coming from the redhead. It almost looked as if she were in pain from trying to bring up the memory of something she had lost within her mind.
"I...I don't think I have a family. I don't...remember. I can't even think of their faces."
All eyes focused on Ember as she looked at everyone in turn hesitantly, her thin legs easily fitting in the dining room chair as she nervously wrapped her arms around the lanky limbs. It was the only means of comfort she could find at that moment; the actions was becoming quite the nervous habit. She then looked up into Ichigo's eyes as if trying to identify what he was feeling before looking at Yuzu's own sorrow-filled ones. For a moment, she thought the girl would start crying with how sad she looked.
"What do you mean? Wha-what happened to them?"
Ember shifted apprehensively in her seat, tightening her arms around her legs in an almost self conscious, instinctive manner. She tried once again, in vain, to think of anyone, of anything that could help her remember things from her past. She didn't want to admit it, but she couldn't remember a thing. No memories of siblings or parents, of best friends or favorite toys…nothing.
"I don't even know, myself. I can't remember anything before the night Ichigo found me; there's just nothing there. But I'm sure you're right. If I do have a family somewhere out there, they must be worried."
There was silence after she spoke, the air about the quaint little family much too serious compared to the earlier mood that should have continued to surround them. Ember's attention had suddenly been caught by Ichigo when he raised his head to look at her, his eyes serious and determined. His mouth opened as if he were about to speak when-
"EMBER, MY LOVELY LITTLE FLOWER! YOU CAN CALL ME DADDY! AND WE SHALL BE YOUR WONDERUL FAM-"
The redheaded young woman cringed when Isshin, having been coming at her with open arms and an obnoxiously silly smile, was suddenly kicked to the side by Ichigo in a flash of movement that looked completely reflexive. Stunned ocean blue eyes blinked slowly as she watched the older man fall to the ground, complementing his son on his quick reaction time.
Ichigo scowled at his father while crossing his arms, subconsciously blocking Ember from Isshin's outwardly violent attacks. The action had Ember almost blushing for some strange reason.
"She's just recovering from her injuries. Are you trying to hurt her?" Ichigo snapped as he glared down at his father's smiling face, giving a deep growl when Isshin laughed up at him.
"Ichigo, I was just trying to welcome Ember to the family! I would never dream of hurting her. How rude of you to think that I would-"
"Whatever, just watch it, old man," Ichigo warned, and with that, he turned away and made to return to his seat. Before he could, however, Isshin had grabbed hold of his son's ankle and pulled his foot out from beneath him. With a strangled sort of noise, Ichigo fell to the ground as Isshin laughed in victory. Ember was mortified and didn't exactly know what to do.
Were they always like this?
"I think it is YOU who should watch it! You didn't even see that coming. You getting soft, Ichigo?"
"Like hell I am!"
And just like that, father and son began wrestling on the kitchen floor. Karin, in turn, who had been silent throughout the whole ordeal, sighed, exasperated at the two. "God, we can't even get through dinner with both the knuckleheads getting into it."
Yuzu was busy trying to pull them apart and get them both back to the table to finish dinner, and in the end, both male family members were forced to do the dishes together, no matter how much either one of them sulked and tried to bribe their way out of it.
Ember watched the display with gentle, now amused eyes. For now, this family would do.
