Chapter 11

by: WhiteGloves

Still looking forward to see her... like the way Ichigo feels~

I give you the time skip!


6 years later…

The Kurosaki house hasn't changed a bit. It was still the same house with the small clinic beside it. Now the people inside, after 6 years, have gotten much interesting…

Ishhin Kurosaki, for six years, hasn't changed his fatherly affection for his kids despite them growing up into fine beings. Both Karin and Yuzu Kurosaki are at their best in high school while Ichigo Kurosaki has been busy being a Tokyo University student. Their father couldn't be more proud that on that Monday during breakfast, he was swarming up Masaki's picture on their wall again.

"My love~! My darling, can you see how our children has grown into fine adults now? They've become perfect citizen of this society~ all because of our love, mom!"

"Dad, stop doing that!" Karin shouted as she frowned from across the table in the kitchen in their usual routine, "You're grossing out the food!"

"Dad, you should eat now," Yuzu said in a motherly way, as being the house keeper, she has become a soft and fine lady.

Ichigo quietly ate on his plate as Isshin sat opposite him.

"Well, isn't this a nice day?" the father started looking sentimental. "My family gathered before me! You do not need to thank me for everything, my son and daughters!"

"I wasn't going to do that," Ichigo answered as he slipped out of his chair, "Hey, dad, I'll be late today."

Isshin's eyes flashed as he grabbed Ichigo and twisted him on the floor.

"My boy! Finally! You've found yourself a woman you'll date on! Why didn't you tell your father! Is she a Tokyo super hot girl?"

"Ack—let go you geezer!" Ichigo cried as he was held in a headlock position.

"When are you going to marry her!"

"Stop—kidding around you idiot"

"Is she pretty like your mother! Answer me boy!"

"I said—stop it!" Ichigo hurled his father on the wall, "You really are messed up in the head! I have my part time job—what else is there?"

Isshin stood straight and massage his face.

"So it's not a girl?"

"NO!" and Ichigo stalked away with his bag on his hand, shutting the door close behind him.

"Stop annoying him already, dad," Karin said as she gulp down her glass of water. Then, setting it on the table, she gave her father a look, "Ichigo will never be interested in girls from this side."

Isshin looked after his son who disappeared from the doorway, then to Masaki's picture on the wall. With a serious expression, the father then turned comically to Karin.

"Well, daughter of mine, how is your boyfriend?"

Karin choked, and then threw the empty sauce pan on her father's face.

"Mind your business! Geezer!"

And Karin took off after her brother.

Isshin crawled on Masaki's wall with tears splashing down his face.

"Motherrrr! Our children has become so meeaaann they don't want tell daddy their love affairs! They've become crueel!"

Yuzu smiled in sympathy to her father as she removed her apron and placed it neatly on the counter.

"Bye, dad, see you later!" she called as she hurried after her sister, "Wait—Karin-chan!"

"Wait- Yuzu—how is that boy courting you!" Isshin tried to shout but his little girl has already left the residence. Blowing on his handkerchief, Isshin gave Masaki a loving look. "Our pride, my love…"


"Hey, Ichigo!"

Ichigo looked behind him as he waited on the subway for the train. He sees Tatsuki, in her own Tokyo University uniform runs toward and catches up on him.

"Hey," he greeted as he turned to her.

The two of them waited for the train in the crowded subway.

"Surprisingly, you're not with Inoue." He said as they waited.

"You got to be kidding me," Tatsuki rolled her eyes, "I can't always be around her when she's with Uryu after all."

"So the two of them…?"

"Where are you, Ichigo? It's been two years since they've been together."

"Heh… those two… who would have ever thought…"

Tatsuki looked at Ichigo suspiciously.

"What about you then?" she asked, "Any girls you've been hanging out with on your work at the bar?"

"Now you are kidding."

"Well, I guess I am. Who'd go for you anyway?"

"Shut up."

"Still going to continue being a bar tender?"

"Yeah. It's the last decent part time job I got after the last brawl I got myself in."

"Still onto fighting, are you?"

"Hn."

"You never grow up."

"Yeah, right."

The train signalled to come and everyone in the vicinity started paying attention.

"Why don't you get yourself an apartment in Tokyo, anyway?" she asked as the train rolled before them, "Inoue and I find it more convenient."

Ichigo waited for the doors to open, and then ushered Tatsuki inside.

"Nah, that's just too much trouble." He said as they got themselves a nice spot on a corner.

"Come on now," Tatsuki rolled her eyes again as she grabbed a handle above her head to support herself, "It's not like you're any use to your house. I heard Yuzu and Karin are doing fine on their own. Your father also almost never leaves the house so you're not needed there for the weekdays. It's only you whose thinking they need you, anyway."

Ichigo gave Tatsuki a look and a frown.

"Hey, you're not being helpful."

"I wasn't trying to," she said with a smirk, "I just want you to see reality. I mean, Keigo and the rest have their own apartment in Tokyo. I don't see you hanging out with them during the weekends. Face it, Ichigo, moving is the only solution to your sorry life."

"My life is not sorry at all!" Ichigo insisted as the train started moving, "I just don't feel like leaving Karakura town, that's all…"

Tatsuki's eyes widened suddenly that she shot him a look. Ichigo was looking at his reflection on the mirror of the train and there was this longing in his eyes that Tatsuki had never seen.

"Ichigo… don't tell me…" she whispered, her hand falling silently beside her, "all this time, you're still waiting for her…?"

Ichigo remained silent.


Keigo was waiting outside Tokyo University gate when he noticed Ichigo and Tatsuki coming.

"Guys!" he shouted in excitement as he rushed toward them. Ichigo and Tatsuki both blinked at the man.

"Keigo?" Tatsuki muttered as they stopped.

"What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked, "Your University is not here, idiot."

Keigo grabbed Ichigo around the neck, pulled him close and grinned.

"Come on, pal! I know I'm not a Tokyo University calibre, even though I tried so hard!"

"Idiot," Ichigo hissed, "I meant you will be late for your own class!"

"That aside, do you know that Juliet has a thing for you?" Keigo smirked suspiciously at the orange haired boy, "I heard she's been trying to get your attention for weeks now!"

Ichigo blinked.

"Who's Juliet?"

Keigo's eyes widened in shock while Tatsuki sighed in exasperation.

"Who's Juliet?" he gasped as he clutched his heart, "She's just the most gorgeous girl working at the bar and you tell me you don't know her! You friggin' dude she's after you and you don't know it!"

Ichigo pried himself from Keigo's clutches and massage the back of his neck.

"Idiot."

"Who's the idiot here! Ichigo—wake up dude! Where have you been?"

Ichigo saw Tatsuki roll her eyes and had to close his eyes.

"Look, I don't care about this Juliet girl, okay? If you're interested in her then why don't you have a go? Later."

And he stalked off with his bag behind him.

"You pissed him off," Tatsuki muttered as she stood beside Keigo. Keigo sighed heavily and scratched his head.

"But Julia is interested in him…"

"Not like he'll be interested back. You should give up, Keigo. I don't think Ichigo is planning to have other girls than the last one he has a long time ago…"

Keigo shot Tatsuki a look but didn't speak at once. After awhile, he said as he looked after Ichigo's back walking away.

"Yeah, I've figured as much… he's really an idiot…"


The whole day, Ichigo concentrated on his studies. It's the only thing he was good at next to fighting anyways. He had stopped getting involve with Soul Society a long time ago and would only lend help when necessary to Karakura Town's present Soul Reaper. To his disappointment, however, no matter how many times he tried to speak with the Soul Reaper, it refuses to answer him, barely even giving his name than proudly saying 'Call me, Soul Reaper.'

Ichigo does not plan to get involve in anyway. He had decided a long time ago that it was the best, and he would not land Rukia in any more trouble. He had tried to go on with his life for years and now here he was, the same as ever, except that time was no longer like before. Things surrounding him had been moving… Karin having a boyfriend… Uryu and Inoue getting together… all of them now in University… time had really changed a lot about them.

And still his heart is still the same.

Ichigo sighed heavily as he shook his head and walk to his part time job. The end of the day caught him again. There were a lot of people in Tokyo as he walked that night. He could smell the wind of spring coming to an end. He wondered if he would forever stay the same.

Just then, as he was crossing the streets with a number of people, he saw a familiar face. Frowning to himself, he stopped walking to stare. The boy was walking toward him but hasn't noticed him. The familiar boy was looking ahead; his face clear to Ichigo's memory… there was no mistaking it…

The boys walked pass him without greeting him and Ichigo's eyes widened more. He then turned and grabbed the boy's arm, pulling him into a halt to look at him.

"Hey!" the boy shouted in surprise as they look at each other's eyes. Ichigo was not mistaken as the boy's eyes reflected recognition.

"You…!" he gasped in surprise, "Kurosaki-kun!"

Ichigo kept staring at him.

"Yamada… Hanatarou?"

Ichigo and Hanatarou is seen inside a coffee shop with the latter mumbling to himself.

"What are you mumbling about?" Ichigo asked as he watched the boy Soul Reaper who was probably ten times old than he is.

"Ahh—its nothing—don't mind me!" Hanatarou bowed his head with his usual pitiful expression, "I wasn't expecting to run to you this time, Kurosaki-kun, although I did hear from rumors that you are in Tokyo! They assigned me here, see, so I was really surprise to see you!"

"So Soul Society is tracking me, huh?" he asked without even blinking. Hanatarou blinked and then burst out;

"Oh no—I don't know what you're talking about! No, no they didn't send me to watch your every move, that's just too much pressure on me! I'm just here to check on some phenomenon, that's all!"

Ichigo's glare scared Hanatarou that he fell into his mumblings again.

"Oh no, I've been told not to keep in touch with you and not get you involve in any of my activities, and now this? Oh… Captain Kuchiki and Captain Abarai will kill me for sure…!"

Ichigo's eyes widened.

"Hey, Hanatarou… when you say Captain…?"

Hanatarou glanced up enthusiastically at Ichigo.

"Oh yes, of course you don't know! Abarai-kun has been named the next Captain of 9th Division 2 years ago! And then of course Captain Kuchiki is still the head of 6th Division! I think I'm the only one who hasn't improve yet, haha…"

Ichigo realized Hanatarou wasn't talking about his Kuchiki.

"I see, so that bastard has been promoted…" he muttered as he looked over the glass window with a lost look, "How's Rukia then?"

"Rukia-san? Haven't you heard about what happened to—ahh!" Hanatarou's eyes widened as he looked horror-struck but the damage has been done. Ichigo leapt to his feet and grabbed Hanatarou by the collar.

"Why, what happened to her?" he asked with the most serious look he has ever given anyone, "Answer me!"

"Ahh—I'm not supposed to—I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Hanatarou cringed on Ichigo's hold and tried to free himself, looking at Ichigo with fear, "Kurosaki-kun! Please forget about what I said! I'm really sorry, but the Division Captains will kill me if they found out that you know—please don't give me trouble!"

Ichigo blinked, and then slowly let Hanatarou go. Give people trouble…eh?

Hanatarou slid down his chair and breathed in relief. When he looked up, he saw Ichigo still staring at him quietly.

"Hanatarou," he said after awhile, "I promise I won't cause you trouble… but you need to tell me what's happened to her…I can't just forget it like I didn't hear it. You have to tell me."

Hanatarou looked uncertain as he looked down at his hands.

"But, Kurosaki-kun…"

"Tell me. It's alright." He whispered firmly.

Hanatarou looked at the substitute soul reaper and had to sigh.

Ichigo's eyes widened at what he heard after the fourth squad member told him all about what happened 6 years ago. He couldn't believe it… He remembered Rukia telling him she was in no trouble…

"Damn it…" he whispered as he stood up with clenched fist, "That idiot…"

"Kurosaki-kun! Please!" Hanatarou cried as he leapt on his feet and grabbed Ichigo by the hand. "Don't go to Soul Society! Rukia-san is serving her punishment willingly! I've talked to her many times! She's okay with everything! All she asked was to not let you know! Even the Captains agree about it! We don't want another fight over this circumstance, Kurosaki-kun!"

"How can you ask me that when I care about her so much?" Ichigo shouted as he pulled his arm from Hanatarou's grip, "and aren't you her friend? How can you say these things to her? And Renji—why aren't they doing anything about it? He loved her!"

"Kurosaki-kun, you don't understand!" Hanatarou bit his shaking lip, "I'm not just saying it because I'm not worried but it is as it is! You're not the only one who cares about her!"

Ichigo, stopped, looking struck. Hanatarou looked away.

"Captain Kuchiki has done his best not to have Rukia-san fall in the Maggots nest or have an execution sentence… Captain Abarai has controlled himself for six years not to disobey and help Kuchiki-san at her own request… because a punishment is a punishment, Kurosaki-kun… sometimes you have to obey the laws in order to have peace and balance… you should know it too…"

Ichigo stared at Hanatarou without blinking.

Causing trouble… huh? He thought to himself.

Without further ado, Ichigo turned away that made the fourth seat member to look at him in worry.

"You should do what you must, while I do mine," he said quietly that made Hanatarou gasp. Ichigo half glanced at him and added, "Don't worry, I won't be causing anybody trouble…"

And he ran away after that.

"Wait—Kurosaki-kun!" Hanatarou called but Ichigo didn't look back.

He has already made up his mind as he ran toward the subway station. He can't pretend he didn't hear it. He can't just sit around and let her suffer because of something they did together… That idiot…For six years… and she still needs to serve four more while here he was in his world doing his life some good… In the end, she was the real one who was suffering.

He won't be causing any trouble, not if he's caught, no… but he will cause one person trouble… This person owes him big time.

"Wait for me, sandal man…" he hissed as he went on.


Somewhere in a bar that night, Keigo was smiling at a beautiful girl bartender across the room. The girl ignored him and continued shaking cups.

Keigo sighed as he looked around.

"Man… Ichigo sure is pissed…"


~To Be Continued~

Thank you for reading this story!

Until the next chapter~