My Life is a big "What If"

AU What if they lived a so called "normal" life? With a twist… hahaha… Did you ever think of what might have happened after years passed? A story of serendipity… The love between a girl who has never believed in love and a guy who once made her see its magic... Only to prove that years and obstacles are not enough to separate true love and that no matter how far apart you may be, you will always find each other… Ichiruki :D

Disclaimer: I don't own bleach :P ( I wish I did XD)

Chapter 54: His Battle

"Hey kid, wake up. This is the last stop." A man spoke lightly shaking the little boy by the shoulder. He fluttered his eyes open then nodded and got off the bus. He looked around and just like what the little girl said, he did arrive back at the place where he first rode the bus. In his hand was his precious shell. He's been holding it the whole time after eating the bun that Yumi gave him.

This is it. He was ready to go back.

Surprisingly, there were so many people out in the streets. It was a little too crowded. Everyone was huge and towering over the poor little kid. They could easily just step on him and no one would even notice. He tried to fight his way through but he seemed to be carried on by the crowd instead. That was until his treasure slipped through his fingers.

"Oh no!" He cried out and he tried to run after it.

The people kept on kicking the shell further away. Ken'ichi was afraid that the people might actually step on it and break it into pieces, fortunately they didn't. They just kept on dragging it without even noticing.

"Excuse me... excuse me..." Ken'ichi pushed himself through the crowd, although he doubt that his voice got through the noise. He was lucky they didn't crush him.

He kept his eyes on the shell at all cost and it landed on a single spot and remained there. He smiled and immediately pushed himself out of the busy crowd and to where the shell was. He wants it back. So in that place where there were no people, no busy feet, no big crowd, he picked the shell up. And why wasn't there no people on that spot? He found out why.

The last thing he heard was a familiar voice calling for his name before he felt something that sent him flying. The impact was so strong and fast, his mind didn't have time to comprehend it but his hand remained tightly around his precious shell... everything else was a blur... He was lying on cold hard concrete, even the crowd's noise was muffled... He tried to breathe but it felt like something was stopping him from doing so, like something heavy was blocking it. Then he saw a figure of a person—a man, towering over him, then he felt the need to close his eyes.


Something urged him to go there, a gut feeling that THIS is the place. The crowd was heavy. Everyone was so busy with their own lives that nothing else matters unless something out of the ordinary happens. Ichigo pushed himself through the crowd, when he was successful in getting out of the traffic he noticed that he was at the edge of the sidewalk. The lights for pedestrians said "STOP" but when he looked at the road there was someone—no not just someone, it was the person they've all been looking for in the past few days days. The boy was simply picking something up. Ichigo's heart leapt. It was him. That frame. That hair. No doubt. With his eyes just fixed on him he couldn't help but immediately call out the boy's name with all his mixed feelings in it. He was about to approach the boy but in just a second all those feelings, relief, happiness, longing, were suddenly all crushed... because in one swift motion it was replaced with shock, horror and panic.

"KEN'ICHI!" He cried out again running this time towards the little boy. All the world seemed to have stopped when the unnatural happened. All the noise of the crowd was blocked in Ichigo's ears. He saw nothing but his little boy lying down on the cold pavement. It felt like it took him a million steps to get to where the boy was. He saw the boy's eyes looking at him and then they closed. His heart raced as he quickly bent down to get hold of the boy.

"Kichi, kichi, oi, Kichi..." He called out. Ichigo was shaking. All his attention on the boy, everything else was blocked out.


Ishida and Nanao together with Ikkaku and Yumichika noticed the sudden change in the crowd's behaviour. They immediately ran when they heard Ichigo's voice call for the little boy's name with the hint of hysteria. They pushed themselves out of the growing crowd and arrived at the edge of the sidewalk. Ishida saw Ichigo holding Ken'ichi in his arms. He heard Nanao gasped. She saw it too but he immediately ran towards them.

"Ichigo what happened? Oi!" He yelled and tried to shake the man.

"Kichi, kichi, oi, Kichi..." Ichigo kept mumbling as if he couldn't hear anything Ishida was saying. Ishida knew he had to do something. He looked back at the car and saw Ikkaku and Yumichika forcefully pulling the driver out of the red vehicle.

"I didn't see him! I swear it was an accident!" The man said panicking.

"You didn't see huh?" Ikkaku growled and the man received a hard punch on the gut. Yumichika flipped his hair back and looked at Ishida.

"Take the car." He told Ishida who nodded. Ishida understood and he began to pull Ichigo who finally looked back at him.

"Ishida... Kichi's..." He didn't seem to finish. He was still in so much shock in finding the little boy the way he did.

"Idiot! Snap out of it! We need to take him to the hospital fast! Let's go!" He said and they both got inside the car and drove their way to the nearest hospital. Ishida was driving as fast as he could while he looked back and forth at the road and at Ichigo.

Ichigo on the other hand felt so helpless. He was holding the boy like he'd be gone if he let's go.

No Ken'ichi... don't let go...

The boy's head was bleeding. The blood smeared on Ichigo's hands and that wasn't helping him calm down at all. He began to stroke the kid's raven hair. Then he noticed Ken'ichi's eyes slowly fluttering open.

"Dad..." He whispered in a very soft and weak voice but Ichigo could comprehend it. Ken'ichi couldn't feel a thing... like everything was numb and all he saw was a faint image of his father with the man's bloody hands stroking his hair and looking at him with a very worried face.

"Shh..." Ichigo hushed him. "... it's gonna be okay..." He whispered trying to be strong. The boy tried his best to put on a smile before he whispered back, "I found you..."

"You did. You did." Ichigo immediately replied, his voice shaking together with his strokes. "Just... hold on okay, I'm here."

"Where's mom?" Ken'ichi asked faintly, lightly closing his eyes then opening them back again.

"She'll be here. Don't worry okay?" Ichigo tried to hide the panic in his tone but he failed miserably.

"Dad..." The little boy called out again. "I'm sorry." His smile disappeared and lightly raised the shell. This time Ichigo couldn't fight the tears from forming when he saw what the boy was holding.

"It's okay Kichi." He assured the boy. "Just be okay... Please... We'll be there soon."

"Dad..."

"N-n-no, just rest." He said this time gently stoking the little kid's cheek. Blood lightly smeared on it.

There's still so much we haven't done...

It was too short...

Why now...

Please don't take him from me...

"It's your turn..." Ken'ichi whispered blinking his eyes once. "take care... of mom..." His last words barely audible but Ichigo heard it. This time the boy's eyes didn't open.

"And she still needs you... Kichi..." Ichigo pleaded. "I need you... so don't go yet okay...?"

The car stopped.

"Shit!" Ishida's voice made Ichigo look up the window. They were nowhere near the hospital yet.

"Why aren't we moving?" He yelled frantically at his driver.

"It's traffic!" Ishida cursed slamming his fists on the horn of the car.

"Damn it!" Ichigo cried out as he opened the door and immediately got out of the car. He carried the little boy the rest of the way. He didn't need to speak; surprisingly everyone on the sidewalk gave way to him. The hospital felt a million miles away but he could take it. With all the blood and adrenaline rush pumping in him he felt faster than any car could go.

Hold on, Kichi. Just hold on. I got you.

Soon he arrived bursting inside the hospital. "Help! Somebody! Please!" He yelped in a frantic cry. Nurses immediately came to his aid and placed the boy on a hospital bed. They began to put equipments around him.

"Hey we're here. Just hang on." He said stroking the boy's hair. The boy showed no response at all to his actions.

The nurses began to move the hospital bed. Ichigo was about to follow when one of the nurses stopped him.

"I'm sorry sir but you can't go beyond here." She said trying her best to keep him in his spot.

"What do you—"

"Sir, we'll be doing the best we can to save the little boy but please, you have to cooperate with us." The nurse said sternly.

"But..." He didn't know what else to say. In the end he was left standing in the hall. He felt a thrust of pain in his heart and head. He tried to rub one of his temples with his bloody fingers when someone called for his name.

"Ichigo!" He turned around and saw Rukia and the others running towards him. Momo stopped and covered her mouth when she saw the blood stains on Ichigo's hand and shirt.

"Oh my god." Momo gasped. Rukia kept running until she reached Ichigo.

"W-what happened?" She asked breathless and confused.

"I just got a call from Ishida... you were in the hospital... an accident... and Ken'ichi... where's Ken'ichi...?" She was trembling as she clutched the blood stained shirt and stared at it blankly then she grabbed his bloody hand. The blood smeared on her hand as well. "Where is he? Ken'ichi!" She called out letting go of the shirt and pushing Ichigo aside. She was about to run past Ichigo when he stopped her just in time.

"W-wait Rukia, we can't go past there." He said.

"B-but no, my son needs me. I can't let him be alone in there. Please let go." She said frantically yet blank.

"Rukia..." Ichigo tried to sound stern and serious.

"No! Let go of me! Ken'ichi! Ichigo let go!" She struggled with full force to break free from his hold.

"Sshh... Stop..." He whispered wrapping his arms around her tightly. It was taking a lot of his strength to stop her but he has to or else she'll come bursting inside the ER.

"Please..." Her struggles were dying down and so did her voice. "Please..." She pleaded this time her tears fell, "I need to see him..."

"Sshh... I know..." He whispered. He placed his forehead on top of hers and his hands caressed her face.

"He'll be alright..." He whispered hoping with all his heart that he was right.

"He'll be so scared... if I'm not there..." She said in between her sobs as if she didn't hear him. She wasn't struggling anymore but she was clutching his shirt like her life depended on it and like her legs would give in if she lets go.

"He's only seven, Ichigo..." Her voice cracking.

"Sshh..."

"He's only seven..." She repeated and this time he held her close. She buried her face in his chest and continued to shed her tears.

"Sshh... I know... I know..." He said in his best comforting tone while he strokes her hair.

Ishida came running inside next together with Orihime, and his officemates. He stopped at Renji, Rangiku, Momo and Toshiro who were all there sitting together. He took a moment to breathe.

"So? Did he make it?" He asked after seeing Ichigo holding Rukia far from the others and near the emergency room.

"What exactly happened?" Renji asked with a deep scowl.

"Yeah! We just got that call that you were going to the hospital!" Rangiku added demanding for an explanation.

"Well, we found the kid on the street. I think he was picking something up when a car hit the little guy." Ishida said.

"Oh my God that's terrible!" Rangiku screeched.

"Oh Shiro!" Momo buried herself in Toshiro's shoulders wishing she never heard what Ishida just said.

"Where's the driver?" Toshiro asked while comforting his girlfriend.

"He's right here." Ikkaku yelled from behind. With him was Yumichika and two other policeman holding the culprit. The man was as limp as a vegetable and was all beaten up.

"We got him pretty good and we thought maybe some of you might want to add something." Ikkaku said. Rangiku ran slapping the man's cheek hard first then pulling his hair.

"You heartless monster! How dare you hurt a little kid?" She yelled out. Renji tried to stop Rangiku before she actually end up killing the man. Chad helped with stopping the wild woman. Then when the woman stopped and retained her composure, Nanao led her to a seat. And Renji gave a good punch on the culprit's gut before he took his seat as well.

"So? Who else?" Ikkaku asked and it was Momo's turn to step forward. She looked at Ikkaku, Yumichika and the two policemen before she spoke.

"Thank you. My name is Hinamori Momo, the aunt of the little boy in the emergency room." She said in a plain monotonous tone and a blank expression.

"H-hinamori?" The two policemen repeated in disbelief.

"That's right. I'm sure you know my father who's a famous general so, on behalf of him I'll make sure you get proper acknowledgement for all the help you did." She said lightly bowing in appreciation then she turned to the mutilated man. "And you..." Her voice changing into that of fury. Anyone who knew Momo would have feared that since she rarely is angry. Even Toshiro felt shivers in his spine when he heard her speak. He has never seen his girlfriend angry, I mean really angry. This would be the first. "I'll make sure you go to hell." She hissed her face turning into a scary grimace then he kicked the man in the nuts hard. "That's for Kichi... and this..." She did it again much much harder that the man groaned in pain. "...is for my best friend." She continued.

"Okay Momo, calm down." Toshiro quickly came to Momo's side wrapping his arms around her to try and clam her.

"Just take him away already." Toshiro told the two policemen who nodded and complied.

"Hey don't you think the parents of the little kid should have gotten a chance to beat the guy too?" Ikkaku asked as he watched the police go with the culprit.

"I don't think we should bother them, Ikkaku." Yumichika said pointing at Rukia and Ichigo who seemed to be caught in their own world as they wait outside the emergency room.

All there's left to do now, is wait...

Wait...

And wait...

They try to ask nurses that come out of the emergency room but they were all in a hurry. It didn't help in making all those who were waiting less worried. In fact it only added to the impatience that's killing them. Then a tall nurse with short messy silver hair came out. She had a bit of blood on her scrub attire. Rukia stopped her from her tracks.

"Please... Tell us what's going on inside." She pleaded.

"I'm... um..." The nurse wasn't sure of what to answer.

"Please... we've been waiting here for hours and no one's been answering our questions."

Rukia's eyes glanced at the nurse's nametag with the word "Isane" written on it. Her violet eyes then pleaded as she looked straight to Isane's gray ones. The tall nurse sighed.

"Well ma'am what is your relation with the little boy?" She asked.

"I'm his mother." Rukia replied and Ichigo stood beside her.

"Then you must be the father?" Isane assumed facing Ichigo.

"Ah. So, what's going on?" Ichigo replied and he couldn't hide the worry in his tone. Isane let out a big sigh. She didn't know how to begin.

"Well, to be honest, we are having a very hard time right now. You see, the little boy's immune system is very weak, he seems to have not been eating much in the past few days and he is sick. Most of what we do would be relying on his ability to withstand it so right now things are not going to be easy."

"But he's a strong little kid." Rukia assured her.

"Yes, we noticed but still, that won't be enough. He's hanging on but we don't know how long we could go on this way. I mean the damages done on his internal organs are not to be taken lightly. The impact that hit him led for his bones to fracture some of them." The nurse explained.

"So is he... gonna..." Rukia gulped. She held Ichigo's hand tightly. She didn't want to say that word.

Die...

Death...

It was such a scary thought.

"It's hard to say." Was all that Isane could say. She seems to understand what Rukia meant. "As much as I want to say that he'll be alright I couldn't because you're little boy IS fighting for his life but if you say that he is strong then let's pray that he'll be strong enough. We may be doing everything we can right now, but the result still depends on him. We're just helping him... still, he has his own battle." That was the last thing she said when another nurse came out of the room.

"Isane! Come back inside! We need you!" This nurse yelped a bit frantic and in a hurry. Isane complied and ran back inside.


I got back...

Yumi was right...

I brought them together...

I know why I was here now...

I needed to look after my mom...

...until my dad came back...

Dad...

Don't let mom cry again... It doesn't suit her... She should always smile...

Your parents really love you and that they would do anything for you. Don't do this to them Ken'ichi.

But it's over...

And she still needs you... Kichi... I need you... so don't go yet okay...?

I should be happy now... Right?

Right...

But why is it that I feel so sad...

Cry baby.

Mom and dad will be together now... I really wish they would...

And I'll be...

Wishing? You don't wish. You work hard if you want something.

Where will I be?


More hours passed of agony and struggle. The waiting was eating their insides. They couldn't wait anymore. Just sitting there on the bench seeing nurses come in and out of the emergency room, in a hurry. Here and then carrying new and different equipment each time. Ichigo was holding onto Rukia's shaking hands. She was cold and trembling. He wants to be strong for her but even he himself is worried to death. He couldn't find any more comforting words to say. "Everything will be okay?" He couldn't say that. He was not in a position to say that anymore especially after what the nurse Isane just said. Everything is not okay. Things are turning worse and worse by the minute.

After a few moments, there weren't any more nurses going in and out of the room but then all of a sudden a woman with long braided black hair and calm blue eyes came out. Her eyes caught sight of Ichigo and Rukia.

"Are you the parents?" She asked calmly. Her expression couldn't be read. The two immediately stood up and approached her.

"Yes." They answered with eyes pleading for good news.

"I'm Unohana Retsu, the doctor who was in charge of your son." She began to speak. Her voice was calm yet monotonous; you couldn't tell what kind of news you'll get from her.

"How is he? Is he alright?" Rukia questioned worriedly.

"Please... tell me he's okay..." Rukia said pleading this time. She doesn't think that her heart could take any more bad news and so did Ichigo's. Momo and the others were also paying attention to what the doctor was going to say. Because of the silence led to by anticipation, what she said almost echoed through the walls of the hospital and through the ears of everyone listening.

"I'm sorry..." Unohana began. Ichigo and Rukia felt their hearts stop.

As the next words escaped Unohana's lips, everyone fell silent. As if every sound coming from anything at all was blocked. Rukia fell on her knees. She covered her lips with her hand and tears began to fall with her body still trembling. Even Ichigo felt his body gave in from all the emotion that struck him. Momo hugged Shiro tightly and cried her eyes out. Ishida took off his glasses as Orihime began to shed some tears as well, and she wrapped herself tightly around him for comfort.

More tears fell...

Coming from everyone who helped...

For the little boy, who found his way home...


A cold breeze blew in the peaceful cemetery. The trees, the grass swayed to its rhythm. As if they were greeting every soul who was there that morning. Serenity enveloped the two people who came for a visit. They both looked at each other. She nodded and he placed the bouquet of flowers on top of the stone. She knelt down beside him and prayed. For a moment he ran his fingers across the name written on the tombstone. Her hands did the same until their skins touched.

"Hey..." She said to him weakly. He sighed.

"Yeah... I know." He replied and she rested her head on his shoulders. They remained in that position for a moment before they both stood up.

They stood on the grass and bid their good bye.

He kissed her forehead. "It'll be alright." He whispered, this time he was sure of it and she nodded.

From now on... I'll take care of you...

A/N: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! OH MY GOSH! Told you this would be shorter, I think. Not really good with drama either, meh, whatever. Anyweiz, back to reality! Three or two to go including the epilogue! Shit I'm sooo excited. Come on guys, just a little more! Urge me to go on! I know you're mad or angry or upset about how this story is going but if you actually read the whole story, you'll know that I'm not really that much of a bad person. So I promise that I will try my best to end this good I swear so please! Help me and Review! I really need the encouragement right now especially that I am in my writing mode even though I have other stuff to do. But sometimes I really get that epiphany that urges me to just continue. You guys are part of that so thank you very much for all who are still with me up to this point. I couldn't have done this without you guys. I'm a really emotional person so since this is my first story I really want to finish it please? With a happy ending! You guys want a happy ending right? Read and review! And sorry for the errors, I can't stop writing now, don't have time to check, I need to go on! I mean, 2 years? Really? I've been writing for 2 years. Wow. Hehe XD That's all for now. ILY guys and God bless :P

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