Chapter 4
The obnoxious sound of the alarm clock rang throughout the neatly organized bedroom of Ichigo Kurosaki. With a pained moan, he lazily extended his arm and turned the source of the unwanted disruption off. Squeezing his eyes shut and widely yawning, he pulled aside the unusually patterned blanket that had a white cross embroidered on it. For several minutes he remained in bed, staring at the ceiling with an indifferent expression. Then he checked the clock - 7:34 A.M. Uttering an annoyed grunt, he begrudgingly got out of bed and unhurriedly approached the bathroom. With a heavy heart, he unenthusiastically started his routine. If only it were possible to remain asleep just to avoid facing that ominous day.
The smell of miso soup and natto saturated the air in the kitchen. Upon entry, Ichigo's nose was bombarded by the delicious aroma of homemade breakfast. His mouth started to water, and a low growl escaped from his stomach. Just as he was about to occupy his place at the table, his younger sister Yuzu quickly entered the kitchen. With an apron tied around her waist, she looked motherly and nurturing.
- Hey, you're up. I was about to wake you up. Thought you might've forgotten about today.
A deep frown made its way to his face, and he scratched his head.
- As if I could. Where is everyone anyway?
- Karin will be down shortly and Dad…well…he told me he can't come with us right now, but he will be there later in the day. He's with a patient.
Ichigo took a bite from his toast and shook his head in disappointment.
- Typical. That old man is never around for his own family. At least he could've closed the clinic for half of the day.
- I heard that. It hurts, you know. Your own children, your own flesh and blood questioning you. How am I going to go on after this?
The overly dramatic voice belonged to Isshin Kurosaki, who dressed in a floral patterned shirt and purple trousers, did not inspire much confidence as a professional working in the field of medicine. He flamboyantly ran towards a large poster of a beautiful woman hanging in the middle of the living room and hugged it.
- Masaki, our son has turned against his family. What should I do?
At such a ridiculous display, Ichigo couldn't control his annoyance, so he took off his shoe and threw it at Isshin.
- Will you cut that crap? You look like a retarded kid. Can't you act your age once?
The noise had reached the ears of Karin Kurosaki, who with an impassive look made her way down the stairs.
- You're fighting again? What a family.
She made her way to the kitchen table and started to play with her phone. Soon the table was covered with all kinds of dishes, and Yuzu sat down.
- Hopefully you'll like the fish. I tried a new recipe. Do you want some, Dad?
Isshin, who had slightly calmed down at this point, took his seat at the head of the table and extended his plate.
- Please Yuzu. You know how much I like your delectable cooking.
The kitchen fell silent for a while. The only sounds came from the pouring of the hot green tea, the clicking chopsticks and the mild chewing.
- Wow, this is really good, Yuzu. You should consider opening your own restaurant someday.
Ichigo's compliment was enough to cause a mild blush to appear on Yuzu's cheeks.
- I don't know about that, but I'm glad you liked it. I'll be sure to pack some for our trip today.
Being the first one to finish her meal, Karin put her chopsticks down and took her plate to the sink.
- So what time are we leaving?
- Well I thought we could leave at 8:45. I still need to clean up.
Analyzing Isshin's outfit, Karin questioningly raised her eyebrow.
- Will you have time to change, Dad? Do you want me to close the clinic?
Ichigo wiped his mouth and roughly got out of his seat.
- Why would he change? He's not coming with us.
Karin let out a small sigh and shook her shoulders. Not liking the tone of his son, Isshin excitedly got up and with a big smile stretched his arms above his head.
- Being the responsible adult that I am, I have a job, kids. Gotta go save lives.
With clear exasperation in his voice, Ichigo went to retrieve his shoe from the corner of the room.
- Spare us. You're not cool enough to save lives. All you do is detox local drunkards for their next booze fix. Responsible my ass.
- It's still more responsibility than you can handle. You still don't have a job, and you can't score a hot girlfriend. What's up with that, Ichigo?
Ichigo's face turned red from rage and embarrassment. He didn't want to admit, but his father was right. He had graduated from college, yet he was still unemployed. The reason was not because he couldn't find a suitable job. In fact, he was offered a position in a rather prestigious law firm. The problem was deeply rooted in himself. Somehow, deep inside he had a feeling that the life of a lawyer was not what he wanted to do. It was too static, routine, uneventful and mundane.
Even throughout his college career he knew that law wasn't his calling, yet he continued to pursue it with high marks. The worst part was that despite knowing that he wasn't interested in his career choice, he had no idea what actually interested him. He had no other goals to chase. He pictured himself as a mindless drone wandering from here to there without finding a purpose.
With his mind so preoccupied with his future, Ichigo hardly was in a mood for romance, thus, his status as a single male. It wasn't that he didn't want a female companion. On the contrary, he was a family man and wanted to build his own family with a suitable wife and several children. However, his confusion about his future did not allow him to so much as consider a possible mate. He still had to figure out what he wanted to do.
- Stop making inappropriate comments in front of your daughters! And I don't see how my personal life is any of your business, old man.
Isshin suddenly lit up, performed a pirouette in the middle of the room and ran back to the poster of Masaki Kurosaki.
- Masaki, our son refuses to marry a hot girl and give us plenty of grandkids! He's so cold!
Ichigo's temper got the best of him, and like a bullet, he was standing in front of Isshin, his fist raised and inches away from Isshin's surprised face.
- That's it! I'm gonna hit you so hard, you'll spit out your teeth!
As he was about to keep his promise, Yuzu quickly got between them.
- Please stop fighting. At least not today.
Both men suddenly snapped out of their moment of confrontation as soon as they heard Yuzu's distraught voice and saw her pleading eyes that were ready to release the tears that had already gathered at the corners.
Ichigo clumsily stumbled back and awkwardly stared at his hands trying to avoid looking Yuzu in her eyes.
- Sorry, didn't mean to upset you. I'll be upstairs. Call me when you're done, all right?
Not waiting for her reply, he hastily retreated to his room, away from everyone. As soon as he closed his door, he sunk on the floor and put his head in his hands. His rage was getting out of control. Isshin wasn't necessarily a conventional parent. Even so, he was still a good father.
After Masaki's death, he was left to deal with the life-changing fallout that was single parenthood. He had to work even harder in order to support his family. Ichigo completely understood the situation. He greatly appreciated his father. The problem was that lately he had turned into an irate tornado, bringing down everything on its path. He was losing his mind in uncertainty.
As the adrenaline cleaned out of his system, the haze covering his mind cleared. Ichigo decided the best course of action would be to apologize to his father for his atrocious behavior. He grabbed his jacket and left the room.
By the time he got downstairs, Isshin was already busy with a patient in the clinic, so all Ichigo could do was wait until Yuzu finished cleaning up.
The drive to their destination was quiet and reserved. No one had a desire to speak. The earlier cheeriness in Yuzu was replaced with sadness, and she had to try extra hard in order not to break down and cry in the car. Karin's impassiveness was nowhere to be found. Instead her face conveyed feelings of concern. She had an arm draped around Yuzu's shoulders in hopes of comforting her sister.
As for Ichigo, he was deep in thought, hardly paying any attention to the road ahead. Being well trained on the exact turns and stops to the family memorial, his brain was functioning on the auto-pilot.
The car stopped at the parking lot, and Ichigo got out. He opened the door for his sisters who still occupied the back seat. Karin's eyes switched their focus onto Ichigo's face, and she softly nodded informing him about Yuzu's readiness to exit. Ichigo left the door open and went to retrieve their small luggage from the trunk.
His expression softened when his eyes dropped on the twin lunch boxes of his sisters: one blue, the other pink. The colors had already faded away, and yet memories were still as fresh as ever. He clearly remembered the day when he bought them with his mother as celebratory gifts for his sisters for starting elementary school. They had spent an entire afternoon figuring out what to purchase. That was one of the best days of his life, spending an entire day alone with her.
He picked up the lunchboxes and other supplies and closed the trunk. By the time he came by, the twins were already waiting for him outside. Yuzu was more relaxed, and Karin was once again back to her usual self.
The walk or, rather, the climb of thousand stairs was quite pleasant. Gone was the depressed atmosphere of the car. An uplifting conversation about the weather and the final high school year of the twins filled the mild morning air, and Ichigo felt at ease for the first time in a long time.
As they reached the top of the hill and made their way through the small forest path, they arrived at their destination. A granite headstone greeted them, and the name Masaki Kurosaki was the first thing they spotted on it. Inscribed elegantly yet simply, the name meant the world for all of the Kurosaki children.
They quietly stopped in front of it and began to set up for the lunch ceremony. Porcelain plates and cups, utensils and delicious food were placed in front of the gravestone, and everyone sat down to eat. The fourth set of dinnerware was designated for the deceased. Filled with rice, fish and green tea, it represented the favorite dish of Masaki.
The siblings ate, occasionally reminiscing about their cheerful childhoods spent in the company of both of their parents. When finished, they individually approached the gravestone and imparted their deepest wishes, promises and regrets to the spirit believed to still be there.
- Karin and I are finishing high school, Mom. I so wish you could be here with us. We love you so much.
- I'm still trying to be strong, Mom. I'm taking care of Yuzu, just like I promised. I miss you so much.
- Happy Birthday, Mom. It's me. I…I'm so lost. I don't know what to do. I need you so much right now…I would give anything to have you back with us. I hope you're at peace and happy…I'll see you later, Mom.
The trip came to an end, and they were confined to the car yet again. The atmosphere changed back to what it was during the drive: depressing, disheartening and emotionally crippling. Yet another reminder that they had lost the most important person in their lives.
The colors of the twilight had already set. Making way for the twinkling stars, the last of the purple hues had vanished into the limitless sky. The beautiful symphony of crickets filled the night with a crisp sound.
Isshin Kurosaki, dressed in a black suit and white shirt, lit a cigarette and nonchalantly took a long drag. After caging the smoke in his mouth for several seconds, he slowly released it to the fresh air of the heavily wooded area and looked at the gravestone in front of him. He gently traced the name engraved on the tombstone and released another puff of smoke.
- How long are you going to hide there? Might as well come out.
No sooner did he finish his sentence, when a man dressed in white came out of the shadows cast by the majestic trees. Both hands in his pockets and cigarette sticking out of his lips, he covered the distance to the gravestone with large yet graceful strides.
- Whoever told you I was hiding? I was simply giving you privacy with her.
Isshin held the cigarette between two fingers and let out a cocky smile.
- Yeah, right. Admit it, pal. I saw right through you.
The man, who was already standing next to Isshin, loosened his tie which had a pattern of crosses on it, and took a drag from the dangling cigarette held between his lips.
- What a childish notion. I see intelligence is still a missing quality in you. Can't say I'm surprised though.
- And I see sense of humor is missing from you. You're as stuck up as always, Ishida.
- At least I'm better dressed and have a more responsible son.
- What the hell are you talking about? Everyone loves my style. As for Ichigo, he…wait! How do you know whether he's responsible or not?
- I have my sources.
- Creepy bastard. Did you hire someone to tail him?
- Hardly. As if I'd stoop so low.
Isshin grunted under his nose and lit another cigarette.
- He's not irresponsible. He's just confused. Trying to find his path and all. I think he still misses her very much.
- I can picture that, after all, she was a big part of his life.
- Doesn't Uryu miss Kanae too?
- I wouldn't know. I imagine he does, to some extent.
- Trouble in paradise?
- We're not exactly close. And you know how reserved Uryu is. It can't be helped.
Isshin deeply exhaled and looked at the starlit sky.
- They're troublesome, aren't they?
- Too troublesome. You birth them, feed them, clothe them, pay for their education, and they are still ungrateful.
- Maybe it's because we're bad fathers? Ever thought of that?
- No, and not planning to.
- Somehow I didn't expect a different answer.
Both friends smiled and spent the rest of the time in silence, alone with their thoughts. The crickets kept singing.
Author's Note
Sorry for the belated update. I'm still trying to figure out the best update schedule that would synchronize with my school and work.
This chapter might seem boring because nothing happens, but I'm trying to introduce the characters and provide backstories for them. This story is going to be a long one.
This is my first fanfiction (actually the first story I've written), so please leave reviews and constructive criticism in order to help me improve.
Thank you, and I hope you like it so far.