Red Light Escape by Boogermeister
Chapter 25- Keep Your Heart Open
"I knew it, he's taking his sweet time to keep on torturing me . . . ." frowned Grimmjow. As soon as he reached his office, he requested for documents regarding the monthly sales now that the new month have started. He wanted enough evidence for his lawyer to finally file a lawsuit. Luppi did the job and gave him the stuffed folder, he frowned awkwardly the moment he glanced at him before turning to leave. "Luppi . . . ." he muttered, and his assistant glanced back. "You've met Ichigo, you think that she's a terrible person just because she danced around the pole for a while?"
"Uh, well . . . ." he mumbled.
"And you can be honest with me, it's not like I'm gonna fire you for it," he assured.
"Oh . . . . actually, I still find her rather plain than those other girls," he smiled a little. "Even if she had said that she was a stripper, I wouldn't have believed it."
"That's a good opinion, coming from you," Grimmjow nodded.
"Yeah, I would have assumed that she's some salegirl working at discount clothing store," shrugged Luppi.
"All right, I get it now go away," he sighed. Now that his assistant was gone, Grimmjow opened the file and skimmed through the papers. The only reason he asked for the records of the sale was that Aizen's company finally had the guff to reveal Ichigo's involvement in his last month issue of Desgarron. As usual, he didn't want her to see the day's papers talking about how the young mother wanting to gain attention on purpose. It was never like that, during that time he asked her to volunteer for the shoot. But he knew that the public would believe the hype of the media no matter what.
He shifted through the papers until he came across the charts of the sales. He observed the papers and frowned lightly, the sales of his magazines had decreased but only slightly. He wasn't sure if it was enough for a lawsuit but he could try. He glanced up when his office door was opened, and Ulquiorra stepped in. "It's about time, I wanna know if I can do something now or someone's gonna get throttled," he frowned.
"Please refrain yourself from doing that, I don't think I can support enough for you if you were to get arrested for that," sighed Ulquiorra.
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Ichigo sighed tiredly, as she lazily brushed her hair. There was nothing to do in the penthouse, other than watching TV and cleaning up. Now that she had thought about it, Grimmjow once mentioned that he had called up housekeeping before her moving in. It was very quiet and dull. After finishing, she placed the brush onto the bathroom countertop before stepping into the bedroom. As usual, Tensa was sitting on the bed as he watched TV, gnawing on a graham cracker.
She sat next to him and stroked his hair. Her son blinked at the contact and glanced up at her, and Ichigo frowned when she looked at his innocent face. He looked almost exactly like Aizen, and yet he wasn't the copy of his ungrateful father. He didn't know who he was, and he didn't even know what the word 'father' was. Grimmjow was his only father figure, but he probably doesn't know how to say 'daddy' or even 'dah-dah'.
Just 'Geh-Geh' . . . .
"Mama . . . .?" mumbled Tensa, his bright chocolate eyes blinking.
"Yeah, Tensa . . . .?" she sighed.
". . . . Geh-Geh?" he asked.
"Grimmjow's at work, sweetie," she replied. "He'll be back soon . . . . Can I get a piece of your cracker?"
"Nuh . . . ."
"Tch, greedy baby," Ichigo sighed. Just then, her cell phone rang and she took it out of her jeans pocket. "Hello, Grimmjow," she answered.
"Hey, Ichigo . . . ." Grimmjow sighed, and she blinked in slight confusion. His tone was very grim and disappointed, as if he didn't want to tell her the bad news.
"Grimmjow, what's wrong . . . .?" she frowned. "Did something happen over there . . . .?"
"Yeah . . . . I'm so sorry, Ichigo," he muttered sadly. "Listen, I've tried to find a way to get back at Aizen but . . . . my lawyer said that it isn't enough to file a lawsuit now. He said that it's still too soon to make a move."
"Oh . . . . I see," she mumbled with a sad frown.
"I'm sorry, Ichigo . . . . there's nothing I can do about it," muttered Grimmjow, his tone shifted to bitter defeat as he sighed. "Listen, I am very sorry about this-"
"No, no, Grimmjow, it wasn't your fault," frowned Ichigo as she shook her head. "I . . . . understand that you cannot do anything about it now. But I want you to know that I, well . . . . I trust you on doing something about it." She could hear him grunt in surprise yet guilt at that, and she frowned. She knew that he was kicking himself over it but even with the man's wealth and resources, it was still out of his hands.
"I'm still sorry about it, Ichigo," he sighed deeply.
"It's all right, Grimmjow . . . . you once told me that one shouldn't be in self-pity, right?"
". . . . Right, that much was true," replied Grimmjow. "I'll talk to you later, Ichigo . . . ."
"All right, later . . . ." Ichigo mumbled as she hung up the phone. But as she did so, she blinked and realized that warm tears were trickling down her cheeks. "Shit . . . ." she mumbled, trying to wipe away the tears but more kept coming. "Stop, stop . . . .!" she began to whimper, her throat tightened while she tried vainly to stop the crying.
"Mama . . . .?" Tensa frowned at her sudden state in confusion and moved forward to grasp at her shirt. "Mama, Mama . . . .!" he began to whine.
"I'm sorry . . . .! Tensa, I can't do anything for us . . . .!" she cried, as she pulled him into her arms. "I'm so sorry . . . .!"
"Mama . . . .!"
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"Ah, Ichigo! I was hoping that you would visit me so soon!" smiled Urahara, when Ichigo entered his small shop with a stroller in toll. Tensa, at three months old, was gurgling quietly as the family friend leaned over him to pick him up. "Geez, you're getting bigger by the day, Ten-kun . . . .! Bet that means Mama's been feeding you right, huh?" Tensa just blinked at him and gurgled, drool stained his light cotton onesie as he nestled against his shoulder and gnawed at his tiny fist.
Ichigo just frowned and placed the stroller aside as they went into the back room of the shop. It was the only way that she can get out of the house was to go to Kisuke's shop to do small jobs. That was her father's suggestion, for Tensa's sake, since the infant would need some fresh air once in the while. "No new shipments for today, I'm afraid, but I don't mind the visit after all . . . .!" Kisuke smiled, as the young mother sat by the low table.
"That's okay . . . . Dad kept bugging me of getting myself some sun for the season," shrugged Ichigo.
"Ah, yes! Time for the sun and fun, since it's Summer," nodded Kisuke, giving her back Tensa. "I suppose iced tea is sufficient for today, no?"
"Yeah, I don't mind, Kisuke," nodded Ichigo. The blonde man left the room, leaving Ichigo alone with her infant son. She inhaled at his common scent of baby powder and milk and sighed, listening to Tensa's occasional gurgles as she tenderly rubbed at his back. It was silent in the room.
Silent.
Aside from the small choking noise emitting from her throat as she felt the tears falling down her cheeks. "No . . . . no, stop it . . . ." she whimpered to herself, trying desperately to wipe away the warm tears. "Please, go away, I don't want this . . . ."
"Ichigo . . . .? Ichigo, what's going on here?" Kisuke placed the chilled bottles down on the table when entering the room, before kneeling down in front of her. "C'mon, girl, what's wrong?" he frowned in concern, but Ichigo just shook her head. "Is it the stress with the baby? Or the stress at home? What is it?"
". . . . Everything . . . .!" she whimpered as she tried to hold it in.
"Oh, you're having post-partum depression . . . .?" he asked. Ichigo tearfully looked at him and frowned, all the while Tensa was unaware of his mother's emotional pain.
"I think so . . . . it's been going on since Tensa was born."
"That's what it means, Ichigo . . . . and the emotions you'd built up during your pregnancy might be exploding out of you every now and then," sighed Kisuke. "Does your father know about this?"
". . . . Yeah, he knows that I'd often cry in my room, and he would try to talk to me about it," snifled Ichigo. "I'm sorry, Kisuke, does that make me a terrible mother?"
"No way, Ichigo, you're a very good parent," he assured with a small smile. "It happens to other mothers most of the time, so you're not alone."
". . . . Yes, I am," she frowned. "I am alone, with a child who's unwanted by his father and no friends by my side. What can you say about that, Kisuke?" Kisuke frowned at that but sighed as he patted at her shoulder.
". . . . Sorry, Ichigo, wish I could magically take away your pain like a genie or something," he sighed. Ichigo blinked but nodded, finally the tears were drying up. "Are you feeling any better?"
"A little . . . ." she snifled.
"Great, then drink this. Green tea flavored are often good," he suggested as he handed her the bottle.
"Thanks, Kisuke . . . ."
"It keeps coming back . . . ." Ichigo broke the silence, shortly after Grimmjow had returned home. Both of them were depressed from today's bad news, though the mother was more so than him. Grimmjow paused taking off his blazer and glanced at her in light surprise.
"What? What keeps coming back?" he asked quietly. Ichigo was still in bed, with Tensa sleeping next to her as she hugged the toddler.
"The depression, the kind that comes after having a baby . . . ." she muttered with a sad frown. "No matter how I try not to get it the best of me, I would feel it coming back. I hate it, Grimmjow . . . . I love Tensa so much but the feeling of being sad and worthless would be overwhelming to me."
"What? That can't be right . . . ." frowned Grimmjow, sitting down on the large bed. "You honestly believed that you're worthless, Ichigo?"
"It's not like I want to feel like that-"
"I get it, you're sad but is there any way you can get over it?" he asked. Ichigo just shook her head, and the blunet huffed. "It haven't been the first time you felt like this since living here?"
". . . . About two or three times," she replied tiredly. "Remember? I was in an episode when I forced a kiss on you, after my apartment got robbed."
"Oh, uh . . . . makes sense," he frowned before glancing at her. "Then that time when you sent me a message, that counts."
"Yeah . . . ."
"Shit," he huffed. He wanted to say that everything is all right but he would be lying to himself. It wasn't all right, there was nothing in his will that can make things right for Ichigo. Except . . . . ". . . . Ichigo," he muttered, standing up to resume taking off his work clothes.
"Hm? What is it . . . .?" asked Ichigo.
". . . . We're getting outta here for a while, this weekend," he said. Ichigo blinked at that and sat up a little. What did he mean by that? "The scandal's getting too distracting. All of us need to clear our heads, and that's a fact," he stated as he found a sweatpant from the closet and put it on. "So . . . . either we become like hermits, or we get the fuck outta the penthouse and the city, away from the media. It's your choice, Ichigo . . . ."
Ichigo just stared at him and her lips tightened into a concerned frown. That much was true, her hiding away wasn't making her any better. It was actually making her worse. She didn't want to be like this anymore, as she nodded a little.
"I understand, Grimmjow," she sighed. "I'm getting tired of being in here for so long." In response, Grimmjow leaned over her and kissed her on the forehead.
"That's all I needed to hear, girl . . . ." he sighed before moving away.
"Where are you going?"
"Gonna find me something to eat, I know how to make those microwaveable dinners," he shrugged, leaving the bedroom.
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"Ichigo, Ichigo, wake up . . . ." Ichigo groaned softly as she was being shaken by Grimmjow, before feeling a playful nibble against her neck. She squirmed by the action and finally woke up, groaning as she tiredly nudged his face away.
"What's with you . . . .? It's too early to get up," she grumbled, shifting her body to return to sleep.
"Nah, I told you that we're getting outta here," Grimmjow confirmed as he promptly slipped his hands under her body and lifted her up.
"Wha- stop it . . . .! Come on, Grimm, I'm still tired . . . .!" she mumbled, rubbing at her eyes. Now that she was fully awake, she noticed that Grimmjow was half-dressed with his dress shirt unbuttoned. "Grimmjow, why're you up so early? It's barely seven in the morning."
"I know, the kid's already up," he sighed as he carried her into the bathroom. "I told you that we're getting away from here."
"But I didn't think that it'd be a whole day, and put me down," she sighed. The blunet put her down and buttoned up his shirt, idly waiting for Ichigo to do something. ". . . . Do you mind? I'd like some privacy," she frowned.
"It's not like I've never seen you naked . . . ." Grimmjow scoffed under his breath before leaving. Ichigo sighed and took off her clothes to shower. With the steaming water spraying over her, her mind wandered to what was Grimmjow was planning to do today. She wanted to ask where was he taking her, but from his affirmative talk yesterday she supposed that it would a surprise. After washing up, she wrapped herself up with a towel and stepped out of the bathroom, but blinked in surprise when she noticed a folded set of clothes on the bed for her.
"What's this? Are these clothes for me?" she asked Grimmjow, who was fixing his shoes.
"Yeah, those are the extra clothes Nel picked up for you a while back," he nodded. "Also . . . . I recently asked her to get a pair of shoes for you, since sneakers wouldn't look good with your outfit."
"What?"
"The box is right here," he said as he bent down to pick up the white shoe box. "Nel thinks flats are more suited, since we're gonna walk around of where we're going." Ichigo blinked at that and took the box. Opening it, she saw a pair of black patent leather flats adorned with a small glittering rose.
". . . . Thank you," she nodded. "Um, Grimmjow, about where we're going-"
"Mama . . . .!" Tensa toddled into the bedroom, before going up to Grimmjow who was now dressed but wasn't wearing a tie. "Geh-Geh . . . . foohn, foohn!"
"Hm? What're you saying, kid?" he smiled. Ichigo frowned lightly and just dismissed her question. She put on the new clothes, a deep red blouse and a jet-black pants, then putting on the shoe that surprising felt comfortable. She glanced up to look at her son, seeing that he was dressed semi-formally with slate plaid shirt and jeans. "You wanna eat before we leave, or we could just go?" asked Grimmjow, his eyes sincerely looked at her as he stood up.
"Um, I suppose we could grab something on the way," she suggested. Grimmjow smirked a little and moved forward to grasp her hand.
"All right, let's go . . . ." he sighed. He picked up Tensa and they finally left the penthouse, Ichigo noticed a pile of the days-old newspapers by the entrance but Grimmjow ignored it nonetheless. That explained why he hadn't mentioned much of the media lately.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Despite the morning glare over the car, Ichigo kept nodding off against the window. Again, they didn't use the luxury car, but this time Grimmjow was driving the rented vehicle unsuspected by the mingling reporters due to the bland look. She opened her eyes momentarily when she felt a speed bump underneath her, before peeking at Grimmjow a little. ". . . . You're driving too fast," she mumbled.
"I'm not, I'm just below the speed limit," sighed Grimmjow. Ichigo inhaled back a yawn before glancing over at Tensa, who was napping in his seat with a pacifier wiggling between his lips. She sighed and closed her eyes, the motion of the car moving freely through the light traffic was calming. She wanted to figure out where Grimmjow are taking her. She doubted that they are going where there are many people around. As Grimmjow turned the car, the position of the sunlight shifted away from her face.
She opened her eyes once again, only to blink the moment the large green sign quickly passed over the car. What was that . . . . just now? Ichigo could have sworn that the sign said to exit to . . . . "Grimmjow . . . .?" she muttered.
"Yeah . . . .?" muttered Grimmjow, taking a brief glance at her but with little hesitation in his voice.
". . . . Where are we going exactly?" she questioned as she stared at him.
"I told you, we're going away from the city-"
"Yeah, but where exactly are we going, Grimmjow?" she asked again, frowning as of what was going on. "I just saw the sign a minute ago. I only saw it for a second, but I think I know . . . . Grimmjow, are you taking me . . . . there?"
". . . . Your Dad insisted on you seeing him, and I promised him on that," Grimmjow calmly answered. Ichigo bristled in total shock and surprise, as she stared at him wide-eyed. Was he really serious? He was taking her back to . . . . Karakura Town? And just to make her see her family?
". . . . Why?" she questioned, not out of anger but out of sheer shock and confusion. "You're bringing me there, without even asking me if I wanted to go?"
"Would you have said yes if I had asked you?" he pointed out, and Ichigo frowned and fell silent on that question. "It was your father's idea to not say anything about it, Ichigo, and I agreed with it. I knew you would act against it if I even mentioned it for a bit, so there's no turning back now. Besides . . . . I cannot break your father's trust for me, or else he would've come to the Seireitei and move you to another town."
". . . . Wh-what . . . .?" Ichigo frowned in surprise.
". . . . Shit, I've said too much," frowned Grimmjow, taking another exit. In the far distance, the buildings of the smaller city could be seen.
"Wait, what do you mean that he wanted to move me to another city?" she pressed on.
". . . . That's something you gotta talk to him about, Ichigo," he sighed. Ichigo stared at him before slumping into her seat, her eyes stared at the blurrly vision of trees passing by which soon diminished as she glanced up at the upcoming sign.
'WELCOME TO KARAKURA TOWN'
She felt her throat tightened in anxiety and anticipation the moment the car entered the small city. Her body shifted downward without herself knowing, as if she was afraid to be seen here. But her hand was clasped gently and she glanced up, as Grimmjow glanced at her in reassurance. "You're that scared . . . .?" he asked softly.
". . . . Y-yeah," she muttered.
"You shouldn't be, now that your family's eager to see you after over a year," he replied. Ichigo still frowned but that was true. She wanted to know if her father was the same goofy but loving parent who would do anything for his children, or if Yuzu had the most cheerful smile. And Karin . . . . Grimmjow told her that Karin was hurting the most, believing she was guilty for her running away. She wondered how she was holding up. She sat up a little, seeing that the tall buildings was slowly shifting into the suburban-type houses.
". . . . Um, are we close?" she asked quietly.
"In about five minutes or so," nodded Grimmjow. Ichigo glanced at him then at Tensa, by now the toddler was awake as he looked out of the window. She looked back at the blunet, who put up a sincere smile at her. ". . . . We're here," he confirmed. Ichigo looked forward and her deep brown eyes widened at the familiar sight. She felt tears beginning to sting at the corner of her eyes and her throat tightened once again. It was the same house she grew up, either she played soccer in the backyard or helping out her father at the clinic.
"Oh my gosh . . . ." she breathed. The car slowed to a stop, parking in front of the house. Grimmjow looked at her and she stared back, before he stepped out of the car. Ichigo stiffened as he opened the back door to get the toddler, before opening the passenger door for her.
"Come on, girl," he smirked lightly, holding out his hand. Ichigo nodded and took it as she stepped out. The warm air breezed by them as he led her to the front door and rang the door bell.
"Grimmjow . . . ." muttered Ichigo.
"Yeah?"
"I'm still scared," she muttered.
"I know . . . ." he nodded, just before the door opened. They froze at the sight of the familiar person for a brief moment, before Ichigo felt a bone-crushing hug around her waist.
"D-Dad . . . .?" Ichigo gasped in surprise before Isshin hugged her again.
"You foolish girl . . . ." Isshin muttered into her long orange hair. "Why, why did you run away from here, from your own family . . . .?"
". . . . I . . . ." Ichigo mumbled but Isshin pulled away to stare at her. She frowned sadly, her father's face was full of hurt and anger but most of all relief when he cupped her face.
"Do you have any idea how much you hurt us all this time, Ichigo?" he questioned. "I had no idea of whether or not you're still okay, if Tensa was still all right, for months at a time. I'm very disappointed in you for what you did, Ichigo, but . . . . you have no idea how glad I am that you're here." Ichigo just stared at him, feeling the warm tears trickling down her cheeks. She then looked down as she tried to hold back her choked sobbing.
"I am so sorry, Dad," she snifled. "I thought . . . . by doing that, you guys would be better off without me. But-"
"No excuses, Ichigo," he muttered, hugging her. "I just don't care anymore, I only care about you and Tensa. You understand that?" Ichigo nodded, and hugged back. Despite his age, she could feel his strength when she felt a pat on her back. "You know, you got a good man for looking after you and Tensa," he whispered in her ear. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't know what to do about you . . . ."
"Yeah, that's true . . . ." Ichigo sniffed as she pulled away. Isshin put up a warm smile and kissed her on the forehead. In the background, Grimmjow just smiled while Tensa looked on out of interest.
"Ah! Oh my gosh . . . .! It's really you, Ichigo!" Ichigo nearly stumbled back by a force hitting against her, before feeling a tight hug around her waist. "Ichigo . . . .! I-I miss you so much!" cried Yuzu, her tear-stained face looked up at her older sister. "You're really here, I can't . . . .!" Her words fell as she sobbed, Ichigo smiled sadly as she hugged her back. The young teen had changed dramatically in her eyes, her sandy brown hair had grew almost past her shoulders and she was only a few inches shorter than her.
"I'm sorry for leaving, Yuzu . . . ." she mumbled.
"I don't care, as long as you're here!" Yuzu sobbed with a smile. Ichigo nodded but felt a soft tug on her arm and glanced to her side. Her eyes widened at her other sister, whose face was stricken with guilt as tears silently fell down her cheeks. Ichigo frowned and stared at her, she had grown as well over the past year like the other twin. Karin stepped forward as her hand traveled down to grasp at Ichigo's, before looking down in guilt.
"I-Ichigo . . . ." she tearfully mumbled.
". . . . Can't remember the last time you cried, Karin," Ichigo sadly smiled, and her black-haired sister blinked in surprise. "It's all right, I'm not mad at you. I was never angry at you when I left, it was my decision to leave."
"But . . . . I was wrong to act like that, Ichigo, I-"
"I know that, but you don't have to be guilty about it," she sighed deeply. "I'd always love you, Karin, it wouldn't be right to be vengeful towards you. You know that, right . . . .?" Karin stared at her and nodded, more tears fell down as it was her turn to hug her.
"I'm still sorry, Ichigo . . . ."
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Ichigo groaned at the dull pain in her lower back, a constant nuisance during the second trimester of her pregnancy as she sat up on her bed. She rubbed her stomach, in response her unborn baby wiggled inside of her. It- she doesn't know the sex of her baby until in the next few months- seemed to be waiting on her to do the routine for the afternoon. It had been that way for the past few months. "All right, I'll get right to it . . . ." she huffed softly. She shifted to reach for her book that she was reading from her desk before finding her bookmark within the pages. "We were up to the part where the gang of orphans pickpocketing passerbys . . . ."
But her routine was interrupted by a knock on her closed door. "Ichigo, can I come in . . . .?" Isshin muttered as he opened the door. Ichigo glanced at him and frowned lightly, judging by his expression he was here for a serious talk.
". . . . Sure, what is it?" she sighed. Her father stepped inside and moved to sit by her desk. She felt apprehension coming from him, of what he has to say. "Is something wrong, Dad?"
"Ichigo . . . ." he started, but cleared his throat before looking away for a moment. "Ichigo . . . . are you all right with this? Knowing that you'll be taking taking care of this baby . . . .?" Ichigo blinked and frowned at him in light confusion, when he glanced back at her.
"What do you mean by that, Dad? Of course I'm all right with this," she replied. "Why do you ask? Is there something else you wanna say?" Isshin frowned grimly as he looked down.
"I'm not saying that you aren't capable of it but . . . . would it be better if . . . . you could give the child a better chance in life than here?" he muttered quietly. Ichigo stiffened in shock at his words and stared at him, what was he saying to her?
". . . . I'm not getting what you're trying to say," she frowned but she knew as her father nervously clasped his fingers together.
"Ichigo . . . . you got the consenquences because of your affair with . . . . that man, but you must understand this," he tried to explain. "You already lost your friends and abandoned your education over your pregnancy. Do you think that you should . . . . give the baby up for adoption?"
". . . . No," Ichigo abruptly answered, and her father blinked in surprise before frowning.
"You're not getting it-"
"Yes, I do. That's why I said no," she frowned in disbelief. "I can't believe you, Dad . . . . I said that I'm keeping the child and that's what I'm planning to do. Why should I give up my own child?"
"Because you can get your life back together, that's why I suggested that," he said. "The child's abandoned by his father and being cared by his mother who hadn't left the house for weeks on end? Just think for once, Ichigo, do you want what's best for the child?"
"Yes, but . . . . I don't want to give away the one who I already love," she shook her head. Already, fresh tears pricking in her eyes as her emotions began to intensified. "I won't do that, Dad . . . . the child's mine to keep. It's mine . . . ."
"But-"
"Leave me alone. I always knew that you never wanted me to have this baby," she huffed, shifting her body to lay on her side as she faced the window.
"Ichigo-"
"Go away . . . ." she sniffed. She didn't try to look back, when her father solemnly stood up and left the room. The teen felt utterly betrayed by his suggestion, as if he didn't want to acknowledge that he was having a grandchild. She didn't want to do anything as simple a reading anymore now, as she forced herself to fall asleep. But when she woke up, she realized that it was already nightfall and she carefully sat up. The dark navy sky was clear, and the bright ivory crescent was shining faint moonlight through her window.
The urge to eat soon settled in her throat, and she slowly got off the bed. She blinked at noticed that her door was cracked open, emitting a sliver of light from the hallway. Ichigo walked towards the door and stepped out, only to notice a large yet flat box in front of her. She took a closer look and frowned in realization and guilt.
The box contained the parts of a brand-new crib.
Ichigo sat down on the ground, leaning against a large tombstone made of grey-speckled granite with Tensa in her arms. Tensa lightly dozed against her chest, since the graveyard was so quiet saved for a few birds chirping. ". . . . I forgot, baby, that you didn't visit your grandmother's site last year," she whispered sadly as she felt the cool stone against her cheek. She was leaning against her mother's tombstone, where it felt nostalgic to be around the last place anyone would be in.
Masaki Kurosaki,
Born June 9, 19XX
Died June 17, 19XX.
'May you find peace in the afterlife . . . .'
She remembered the simple words carved into the stone so many times that it felt unreal when she finally visited her mother's site. Aside from Tensa, only she and her father was here. Grimmjow assumed that he should give her respective space as he stayed nearby with her sisters, after the family decided to come here. She glanced up when she saw her father stepping forward and staring solemnly at the tombstone. ". . . . I'd never thought that I would be here ever again, Dad," she mumbled, and Isshin nodded.
"I had thought the same thing, Ichigo," he frowned sadly. "I honestly believed that . . . . you would be gone from our lives forever. That we would never hear from you again." He looked down at her before exhaling deeply. "I must've been a terrible father . . . ." he muttered, catching Ichigo off-guard.
"What? Dad, you're not a bad father-"
"Of course, I am," he scoffed under his breath. "I promised . . . . Masaki that I will a great parent to our children. But nothing goes as planned, if I had paid more attention to you around that time . . . . then none of this would have happened to you."
"But . . . . when that time, about you wanting me to give away Tensa-"
"I was wrong about that, Ichigo, I just didn't want anything happened to him," he sighed. "You do realize that when the time comes, you have to explain to him that his own father didn't want him. But . . . . I love my grandson, nothing can change that, but I want what's best for him and you." Ichigo frowned and steadily stood up as Tensa stirred slightly from his sleep.
"What's best for me . . . . like forcing us to move to a new city, if Grimmjow can't do anything for me?" she questioned softly. Isshin stiffened at her words but frowned as he glanced away. "Dad . . . . Grimmjow's not a bad guy, like you said earlier. But I trust him, and . . . . I don't know what else to say but I care about him."
"I know that . . . ." Isshin said. "Yet I'm still in the dark about this. Will he do anything about this scandal, because if not . . . ."
". . . . Where would you have move us?" she asked.
"Either Naraki City or Kagamino," he admitted with a reluctant nod. "They're both over thirty miles away from here, even farther away from the Seireitei. Over there, we won't be known as easily . . . . and all of us could have a better life."
". . . . Then what about Grimmjow?" she asked, mostly to herself as she turned to the grassy slope. Down at the bottom, she could see the blunet conversing quietly to her sisters.
"Well . . . . if he cares about you, then he would do what he can to protect you," replied her father.
"Like me going back to my family," she concluded.
"He wants you to be happy, Ichigo-"
"But . . . . that's not fair," she scoffed sadly. "By doing that, Sousuke'll win because of me. I don't want that to happen."
"Ichigo, there are more important things than that-"
"No, no, no . . . .!" she denied, surprising her father then her toddler who woke up from the sudden noises. "I'm really getting tired of this, Dad . . . .! I am sick and tired of hiding and running away from my problems, thinking that everything'll be all right. But this has got to end now . . . .! You expect me to go away to a new city? What if they know of me there, should I run away again? No! This is going on for too long, Dad . . . .!"
". . . . Then . . . . what can you do about this?" asked Isshin. "How can you go against a man like that, Ichigo?" Ichigo's frown tightened at that, Grimmjow had told her that nothing could not be done to file a lawsuit without enough evidence. She wished that something can be done without her running for Grimmjow's help all the time. She glanced at the man down the hill again and felt frustrated. There should be something that she could do.
". . . . . I'll try to prove that Aizen fathered a child out of wedlock, with you. If he wants to fight dirty then I will, too . . . ."
". . . . I got it. I got it, Dad," she said, looking at her father with a determined expression on her face. "If Grimmjow can't sue him, then I can. I'll sue Aizen for paternity of my son."
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""''
Done.
Read and review.
I'll update ASAP!