Chapter 9 - Leavings & Returns.
In the previous chapter...
It was the strangest dream ever. I couldn't see anything, but I heard the voices of Renji and Ichigo, and Ichigo had said something about me.
"I think I am in love with her."
It didn't take me long to figure out that the dream wasn't a dream. It was real.
--
I woke up, to find myself in an unusual place. It then occured to me that I'd fallen asleep on Ichigo's desk. I looked around and saw Ichigo shirtless, picking his school shirt off the coat hanger. He turned around and saw me, and yelped,
"Oh my God! Kishiko, s-sorry!!" He quickly put his shirt on and buttoned it up. I couldn't help but laugh,
"Ahh, sorry Ichigo, but it's funny when you panic." He blushed madly, which caused me to snicker even more. I stood up and suddenly realised,
"Oh, crap, my homework! Oh, God, I'm so in-"
"Don't worry, I did it for you last night," I smiled,
"Wow, thanks, Ichigo. You're my saviour!" I skipped up to him and gave him a light peck on the cheek. I stopped when I remembered what I'd overheard him say last night, and blushed lightly. He laughed nervously and continued to button up the rest of his shirt, grabbing his books and placing them in his bag. I collected my books and began to make my way out of the room,
"I'd better go get changed," I mumbled. He nodded and I shut the door. I closed my eyes and sighed. I wasn't sure if he'd known whether I'd overheard or not, but now he seemed awkward. I went into the twins' room to get changed and quickly left the room.
~*~*~
I was almost about to leave with Ichigo when Yuzu called me down the hall,
"Oh, Kishiko-chan! Before you leave, there's somebody on the phone for you!" I turned round and started to walk towards the phone. Before I took the phone I turned around and looked at Ichigo,
"Go on ahead, I'll catch up," he nodded and exited the house, slowly closing the door behind him. I took the phone out of Yuzu's hand, thanking her, and carefully placing the reciever against my ear,
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Miss. Kishiko Ishikawa?" a voice I didn't recognise played into my ears,
"Um, yes, what can I do for you?"
"Yes, well, after the fire incident that occured at your house yesterday, we've managed to find you a small apartment free of charge. Sadly, we still have to find out how the fire was caused, but for now the least we can do is provide you with accommodation and some money to get you by, since the law requires us to provide every citizen a home," my eyes widened at the news, and my expression saddened,
"Okay, I'll come by and collect the keys later. I'll be moved in by tomorrow." I thanked the phone operator and placed the phone down. Yuzu came and stood by my side,
"What was that about, Kishiko-chan?" she asked, I looked down at her sadly,
"It doesn't matter, I'll tell you all at dinner," she nodded and said goodbye as I silently left the clinic.
~*~*~
The day had gone by pretty slowly. Ichigo and I had been fairly quiet around each other, causing a few awkward silences in the group. I'd ate my lunch away from everybody else today, giving Orihime the excuse that I needed time to think. I'd sat under the shaded tree like I'd used to every lunch, thinking about ways to tell them the news. After lunch, things were still quiet with Ichigo, and it was lucky that I hadn't had to walk home with him, since I had to go get the keys to my new apartment. I'd told Ichigo I needed to go to the library to get some books, and he quite easily accepted it. After collecting the keys and shoving them to the very bottom of my bag, I reached the Kurosaki clinic. I used the spare key I had been given and yawned loudly as I entered,
"I'm home," I mumbled quietly, placing my slippers on and making my way into the front room.
~*~*~
"Dinner time, everybody!" Yuzu called. I was already sat at the table, after helping Yuzu prepare it. Everybody quickly gathered, and after saying our thanks, we soon tucked in. A few minutes into the meal, Yuzu decided to speak up,
"So, what was it you wanted to talk to us about, Kishiko-chan?" Yuzu asked. I stopped eating and placed my chopsticks down,
"Yes, well it seems that I've been given an apartment a few blocks down, so I can move from here," Everybody suddenly stopped eating. Ichigo had his chopsticks midair, the noodles sliding between the grip. Isshin was slowly slurping up his noodles, looking at me. Yuzu and Karin had been collecting noodles from the bowl, and had quickly stopped when I'd spoke the news. I looked around at the family and instantly decided that it was the wrong time to have told them. After a few moments, Yuzu spoke up,
"Th...that's great, Kishiko-chan, you'll have a home again. When do you plan on moving in...? Next week, mon-"
"I plan to move in by tomorrow. I only have about 6 things to take with me, so I'll need no help packing. Thank you for all your hospitality, really. I've never felt more at home than I have in 7 years. If you don't mind, I'd like to get all the packing out the way. And don't worry, I'll only be returning here tomorrow afternoon to collect my things, and after that I'll be out of your way," I picked up my bowl, half finished, and emptied the remains into the bin, placing the bowl in the sink. I left the kitchen and made my way upstairs, trying to contian the tears.
I'd grabbed a plastic bag that Yuzu had left out yesterday and began packing my things.
"Hmm... well, I'm wearing my pyjamas tonight, so they have to stay out. I'm wearing my slippers, so they can stay out until tomorrow. I'll need my school uniform, and I'll need my book bag," I looked into the plastic bag, and realized I couldn't pack anything. I looked down at the small frame I'd placed at the side of my bed. Yuzu had bought me a new frame for the nearly-destroyed picture of me and my Father. I sighed as I picked it up,
"Dad, I don't want to leave. What should I do?" I sat there for a few minutes, with my eyes shut, before I heard feet plodding up the stairs. I set down the picture and began to put my pyjamas on. A light knock on the door came,
"Ichigo?" I asked. instead of his voice, came a voice I wasn't familiar with,
"No, it's Karin. Can we talk?" I was shocked. Karin had expressed so much hate towards me that night when she told me she knew. And now, her voice sounded... timid. More vunerable. I quickly put my pyjamas on and called her in. She slowly opened the door and poked her head round, before fully entering the room. She sat on my bed and sighed. I looked the the photo of my Dad before climbing over and sitting next to her,
"So, what's up, Karin?" she looked at me,
"Why are you leaving?" she asked. I looked surprised,
"Well, because I've been offered a nice apartment free, and even though I love it here, I knew it was only temporary. I had to leave someday," Karin sighed, and after a few seconds, wrapped her arms around me in a hug,
"I'm going to miss you, Kishiko-san," she said. I was even more surprised than before,
"Miss me? Karin-chan, I thought you hated me," she shook her head,
"No, I was just... mad at first. But, I can see it in his eyes. He really likes you, I don't think he's ever felt so good about himself," I pondered,
"Him? You couldn't mean..." she nodded,
"Yes, Ichigo. I see the way he looks at you," I panicked at first, thinking she was about to get mad, but she looked up at me and smiled,
"Thank you, Kishiko-san."
~*~*~(The Next Day, After School)~*~*~
Ichigo had been quiet with me all day. We had only talked once during the whole day, and that was a simple 'Good Morning' when we'd woken up. Things seemed even more silent then they had been at school now we were on our own walking back to the clinic. Ichigo gave a hefty sigh before he decided to speak,
"So, you leavin' today, huh? Sure you don't need any help packing?" I shook my head,
"No, I'm okay. Everything's already packed, I did it this morning before we left," he shook his head and we carried on walking in silence. After a few minutes he spoke up again,
"Do you think Urahara will have the results of that test?" he questioned. I shrugged my shoulders,
"I dunno. Let me know if he does, though," he looked at me,
"Y-you won't be coming?"
"Nah, I don't think this whole Shinigami thing is me. I might just forget about it," Ichigo's eyes widened, but didn't say anymore. After a while, we reached the clinic, and we stepped inside. Nobody bothered to say anything, as I went straight upstairs to collect my plastic bag.
~*~*~
I stood in the entranceway, Yuzu clinging to me. I finally managed to pry her off,
"Thank you, Yuzu-chan, and everybody, for your great hospitality. I hope we get to meet again sometime," I waved as I walked outside, closing the door behind me. Soon, it was just silence. I walked foward a little bit, and as I walked away, I looked over my shoulder, a tear fell down my cheek,
"I don't want to go..." I sobbed to myself.
"Then why are you going?" I spun round to see Renji. I sighed and shrugged,
"I dunno, I guess.. I just didn't belong there. We all knew it was temporary, and things were becoming awkward with Ichigo, I mea-"
"Don't you think that's just your feelings getting in your way? Look, I don't know if Ichigo knows, but I know you overheard every word of that conversation me and him had the other night. And Kishiko, I know you love him. It's so obvious. And you loved being in a family again, so why are you going back to square one?" I shook my head,
"No, things are better this way. It's obvious it's how God wants me to live my life, and I gotta acce-" I was cut off when I heard a voice from behind me,
"Kishiko!" I turned my head to see Ichigo running out the clinic and towards me. He grabbed my arms and pulled me into a hug,
"Kishiko, don't go..." he begged. My eyes widened,
"I...Ichigo?" I asked. I turned my head to look for Renji, but he'd already left. I rested my cheek on his chest and he pulled me in tighter,
"Kishiko, I don't want you to go. None of us do. So please, come back?" he voice sounded so pleading it was unbelievable. After a few seconds I wrapped my arms around Ichigo and nodded,
"Okay, I'll come back," he looked at me and smiled, before pulling me into a kiss. I was in pure shock, but as he pulled away, I smiled,
"Woahh... that was one way to make a first kiss," I laughed. He looked at me,
"T...that was your first kiss?" he asked. I nodded my head,
"Yeah... sorta embarrassing, I know," I mumbled. He laughed and took my hand in his,
"Don't worry, it was mine too. Now, c'mon, pick up your bag you just left lying in the road and come back," I smiled as I went over to pick up the bag and ran back to him, walking back only a few steps before we were at the clinic again, to be greeted by my new family.
This is what it felt like to have a family, after 7 whole years.
TBC.
--
Not much to this. I realise I'm getting more and more OOC, sorry, I'll try and get 'em back into character soon :P
In the next chapter...
"I have the results of the test," Urahara spoke, almost sadly. I crossed my fingers under the table,
"And...?"
"They're not good..."