DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything of Bleach, especially characters. What I own is the plot and the few OCs that are established in this story.
B/N: HELLO READERS! God, I haven't updated some time now, but do not fear! I have my reasons. I've completely, COMPLETELY updated the previous chapters. They are all now in past tense, with more details in certain scenes to give you a clearer view of the story. Therefore, I'm one satisfied writer and you guys are happier readers. ^.^ I also changed Daichi's Okaa-san to be Kyōko, who is actually a Bleach character that appeared in episode 261. I strongly urge you to reread them and let me know what you think of the improvements!
Also, *trumpets sounds* I started another Bleach fanfic! Check out my profile and it'll be there. Won't give any hints to what's it about! Just read and see.
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"So when are you coming, Tatsuki-sama?" a girlish voice asked anxiously.
"In three days Rin!" the person replied by laughing, somewhat like a chuckle that expected the question to be asked once more. "Don't worry, we'll be there soon."
Rin puffed out her cheeks in disappointment, upset that the number of days that were just stated seem so long from now. The ten-year old girl was sitting at a small, white circular table with a cordless phone against her ear. Who was she speaking to with such excitement? It was her Okaa-san's sister, and even though the female might not be biologically related to the healer, she was very close to her ever since they were young. That woman being referred would be known now as Arisawa Tatsuki.
The raven-haired woman spoke once again. "Hope you're taking care of your Okaa-san for me while I'm gone."
"Of course Tatsuki-sama!" Rin replied instantly, sitting up simultaneously to her response. "I would never let anything bad happen to Okaa-san."
Tatsuki smiled. She was residing in her apartment in the bustling city of Tokyo, relaxing on the sofa that sat in the living room. She had cut her hair in faintly sleek form, bangs barely touching shoulders while the rest of locks were shorter in length. Its appearance was complete opposite from her usual rugged look she had when she was younger, but hey, that was 15 years ago, and time had changed. As well, the appearance of her eyes was enough to establish to anyone that she wasn't the slightest bit to be considered 'tamed'.
The retired fighter leaned back against the seats. "So where is your Okaa-san?"
"She's working in the bakery right now." Rin explained as she glanced behind her shoulder. She was at the Kurosaki Bakery, in particular, her Okaa-san's bakery, and Rin was sitting near the front counter as she waited for her. The auburn-haired woman's kind face had patches of flour while her hands were wrapping up a cake within a cardboard box. She smiled happily at the customer who just received the packaged delicacy and thanked them for coming to the Kurosaki bakery—while at that very moment more customers came rushing into the shop due to the hours nearing closing time.
"Okaa-san works too hard, you know that Tatsuki-sama? And," she shoved a piece of cake into her mouth, with her mumbling the rest of the sentence. "and she said I can't help too much because I like to eat too much! Silly, ne?"
"Hey, didn't I say no more Tatsuki-sama? It sounds so formal. Tatsuki's fine."
Rin nodded vigorously. "ai, ai! Taki-sam—" she stopped midway as she felt the dessert lodged in her throat, and with mouth quivering, she guaranteed her face was a deep purple of the prevention of oxygen entering her mouth. After a few hackles, and Tatsuki sighing at the girl's impatience of food, Rin swallowed the mixture with the adult starting the exchange again.
She chuckled. "Eating like your Okaa-san. You know how many times I had to tell her to chew before speaking? But heck, her habits weren't as bad as your Otou-san. Hopefully that idiot isn't teaching you any of his, especially—" she stopped midway as her eyes flared with annoyance. "Oi! Ryo! Stop pestering the old man!"
Rin squinted largely.
"Eh? But he keeps snoring! I can't read my manga with all that noise!" another voice rang out from the phone.
"But he's your Ojii-san! Let the man alone. Or I'll call Hitoshi!"
"You wouldn't! Besides, I'm not scared of him! I'M his brother."
The young Kurosaki sighed lightly.
"Oh my, what's happening over there?"
Rin zipped her head around and saw her Okaa-san walking towards her while wiping the white powder off her face with a small linen cloth.
"Okaa-san~" she smiled joyfully yet snapped out of it when she heard the voices on the phone getting louder. "Oh! Ano… I think Ryo-kun got in trouble—"
CLANG!
"again."
Orihime sat down beside her daughter as Rin clicked the phone on speaker mode as it laid on the table.
"KAMI, I SWEAR! DON'T MAKE ME THROW YOU!"
The two females pouted as they leaned forward to get a better hearing of the threat, and heard shuffling of furniture, some complaining, and even pleading, but it sounded more like whining. Finally the sounds calmed down as a loud exhalation came out of the raven-haired woman's voice in tiredness.
"Sorry." she sat down. "Demon son was being wild as usual. Seriously, Ryo is the oldest yet he acts more immature than Hitoshi!"
"Mou, don't be so hard on Ryo-kun." Orihime replied sadly, trying to defend the boy. "He just acts like his Otou-san. He has a vibrant personality!"
"Ugh. Don't say that Orihime! I would rather not."
"But you love Keigo-san!" Rin declared. "Right, Tatsuki-sama?"
She scoffed. It was strange actually, that out of everyone she, one of top fighters in Japan turned business woman, would marry the idiot she knew from high school. And Ichigo's friend on top of that! Her and Keigo were night and day in many ways, yet somehow, somehow, they work. Like yeah they argued plentiful, but they always got each other's back. Either this relationship was very strong or they were both too stupidly in love to notice. Even now she still couldn't believe it, more so anyone else the matter. The look on everyone's faces when they begun to date nine years ago. That was for the books.
Tatsuki sighed in memory. "I do Rin." she replied honestly, "But he's really a baka. Very much."
A sweat drop appeared at Orihime's head, with her pouting slightly. "What did he do this time?"
"He thought it would be a splendid idea to send me a barbershop quartet at my work. He made them sing to me his reason of stupidly of buying a damn horse!"
"He said you would love it though Okaa-san~!" the same young voice abruptly called out again.
"Ryo!" his mother answered back.
"What? Its true! Make you less boring that's for sure! Oh Wait! I mean—"
Something popped within the ex-fighter. "Sorry you two, but someone needs a little more discipline. I'll call you guys later."
"Bye Tatsuki!" they both shouted awfully loud, probably because of the uneasy tension emitting from the raven-haired woman. Funny she was miles away yet had the strong aura like if she was presently there with them.
Once the line ended and the atmosphere quiet down, Rin immediately jumped up and widened her eyes in anticipation.
"Are you done work yet Okaa-san?! It's seven so its time to close right?"
The healer laughed as she rose as well. "Yes Rin-chan but I need to put away to food in the display. And I also need to help out Sari-san and Hana-san to clean the back."
Rin pouted cutely as she sat down in her seat again.
Orihime smiled. "Don't worry Rin-chan. I just need to clean up so it shouldn't take long." she then trailed into the kitchen to assist her employees as brown eyes watched her figure leave. Once left, Rin crossed her arms over the table in order to create a resting spot for her chin, and decided to watch the trees outside the shop. They were swaying in the wind, and she closed her eyes at the soothing movement of them. In her calm state, she felt her Otou-san's Reishi coming towards the shop, since it was walking distance to their home, and with that Rin whipped open her eyes, a question pestering in her head wishing to be asked.
"Almost done Rin!" Orihime called out as she entered the front again. "Soon we'll go home, ne?"
Her daughter nodded and gazed upon the window again, concentrating her eyes on the outdoor scenery.
"Okaa-san?"
"Yes?"
She slugged down into her seat. "How come you or Otou-san are coming with me to school instead of Tsubaki and the other Shun Shun Rikka? I always went to school by myself before."
She paused her motion. "Well," she continued to clean again. "Your Otou-san and I enjoy our walks with you, and it nice for us. You don't mind that, ne, Rin-chan?"
"No, its just…" she plucked out her lips, mumbling the next sentence. "I was wondering if you're sensing something..."
"What?"
Rin blinked and denied her question. "N-Nothing Okaa-san!" she shook her hands out.
"So you guys ready yet?"
Both females flinched at the sudden voice, and saw Ichigo just entering the shop, in his relaxed posture as usual.
"Ichigo-kun!"
"Otou-san!"
He chuckled lightly. "You guys don't have to seem so surprised."
"No, we're not Ichigo-kun but—" Orihime was slightly confused. "But I thought you were working late today!"
"They let me off early. Besides, the bakery closes late today so I decided to pick you two up."
His wife pouted at his sudden appearance, not in disappointment of his presence appearing, but rather the subtle meaning behind his voice and words. Their daughter didn't realize it, but Orihime vaguely picked it up, and before she could signal a glance about it to him, he was already strolling towards her.
"I assume the cake's ready for tomorrow." Ichigo grudgingly said as he shoved hands into his jean pockets.
Orihime blinked out of her concentrated façade as she bobbled her head happily, whenever sweets or pastries being mentioned she would easily be distracted with. She could ask about it later. Besides, she didn't want any serious talk to be discussed in front of Rin-chan. "H-Hai, Ichigo-kun! I just need to put some French vanilla or triple layer chocolate icing on the cake, but I don't know what! The icing is just as important as the delicious filling inside and—" Grey irises suddenly narrowed with eyebrows following the direction as well, but then her serious demeanor slowly changed with a rather distraught and embarrassed one, eyes broadening in realization.
"Ahhh! The cake! How could I forget? T-That's my responsibly! I run a bakery for Kami sack! Oh no, I'm so forgeeetfuuuuuull!" she then rushed into the back, calling out Hana and Sari to assist her with something.
Both substitute Shinigami sweat-dropped at the sight of the woman clumsily dashing off to the kitchen.
Ichigo turned to his daughter. "Well, looks like we'll be here for awhile. I'll head out to grab some food. Any special requests?"
"Hmmm…" Rin rubbed her chin, pondering about this decision. "Oh! I want pizza Otou-san! Pepperoni flavour please! With pickles, fish, carrots, a-and chocolate spread!"
He gave a strain grin. "Alright... I'll get that. I assume your Okaa-san wants the same thing?"
"Hai~!"
Ichigo adjusted his jacket before turning his foot around to head outside, and before he could contemplate on what type of pizza he should get, his sleeve was tugged lightly.
"Otou-san!" Rin exclaimed, wide eyed, as she turned to the orange-haired adult. "I forgot to give you something before you go!"
His face faltered into a slight smile. "Sure. What is it?"
Immediately a kick was pounced at his jaw, zipping him outside through the bakery door. He landed in an odd position, feet hanging above him, slightly twitching.
She ran to the door, and Rin smiled cheerily, waving her hand erratically above her. "It's a present from Tatsuki-sama!"
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In the midst of the desert, a Hollow was trundling along the white sand in search of a meal. For hours there wasn't a sight for even the slightest possible source to be eaten, and the being was getting tired of the endless search. However, the creature noticed something peculiar—a tree. Its strange appearance was that the entire trunk was cut in half, with both pieces curled outward in a distorted manner. For mere seconds the Hollow observed the sight, speculating that it was an abnormal tree in the vast landscape of Hueco Mundo. As it was about to depart, something pierced sharply into its core and before it could let out a terrible pain-filled cry, it was silenced immediately, for its entire body disappeared into sheer nothingness. Not even blood was left on the white flooring, only some other presence that matched the dull colouring of the evil spirit world. It stood silently and glanced upward, observing every detail of the deformed white structure that stood with it.
Yes… now…it's finally with the tree.
In the dead of night, a Shinigami was overlooking the town on top of a street pole, his eyes not removing from the view of the town submerged in night. However, at a sudden shock, he slowly widened his eyes, as he felt something so eerily familiar, that it was suffocating. It came so rapidly this feeling that it actually strained his eyes for the abrupt large movement of them. He probably hadn't realized it but it was the first time in a long while…
He had shown expression on his emotionless face.
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A/N: So happy that's summer here! yippe! SO gonna do more writing for you guys *~*
Thank you to all those who continuously read, comment and follow my work! (critique/suggestions are welcomed!) ^_^
P.S REVIEW!
Till next time,
WtS