Ichigo

That night is burned into their brain, and will be forever.

Ichigo remembers waking up and seeing his mother lying there, so still and stiff and covered in blood, already becoming cold in the rain. He'd immediately started calling her name, and then crying for help at the top of his lungs. He thought, if he could just get to his father; his daddy the doctor; his mom would be fine…Daddy could save her; that's his job…!

Hikari knew, as soon as she woke up, that it was too late.

Masaki's golden retriever dæmon; a warm, comforting presence that did not, could not, leave her side; was gone, as if he'd never existed. As Ichigo screamed for help, the young dæmon quivered at his side as a retriever puppy, staring blankly straight ahead. It was hours before she managed to speak through her shock. And then, it was to Isshin's dæmon.


"Miz…?"

The big black shepherd was curled around the puppy dæmon, providing warmth and comfort despite her own horror and sadness. She was relieved to hear the child's whisper; Isshin had been worried about her non-responsiveness. He was still with Ichigo only a meter away, trying to keep him from falling further into shock.

"Yes, Hikari?"

"I saw…" She bit back a whimper. "Is Haru…?"

All it took was one look into the older dæmon 's mournful eyes to make it all real.

A puppy's wailing cry split the air, accompanied quickly by the mournful howl of a mature canine that had lost her mate.

A few feet away, Isshin clutched his son to his chest, tears leaking from his eyes as Ichigo began to sob in earnest, finally understanding that his mother would not be coming back.


Isshin's Dæmon
Species: Groenendael Belgian Shepherd (Canis lupus familiaris)
Name: Mizuki (Beautiful Moon)

Masaki's Dæmon
Species: Golden Retriever (Canis lupus familiaris)
Name: Haru (Clear Up/Spring/Sun/Sunlight)

Ichigo's Dæmon
Species: Unsettled (at the time of Masaki's death)
Name: Hikari (Radiance/Light)