Chapter 1

Rukia stopped quite a ways from Ichigo, but kept him in her line of sight. Once the adrenaline rush wore off, tears welled up in the Lieutenant's eyes. "I'm guessing it didn't go so well." Out of the darkness emerged a man with brown eyes and long braided crimson hair. He wore a standard Shinigami outfit, as well as a tiger print headband. He also wore long dark straps on each wrist with bandages over his arms.

Thanks to her sensory abilities, Rukia knew who it was, and quickly wiped her eyes, but not faster than the man could notice. He gently rested his hand on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze before flash-stepping away.

Without a moment to process what was happening, something solid connected with Ichigo's face, which sent him flying. "You were never that good at sensing Spiritual Pressure." The redhead cracked his knuckles. Ichigo picked himself up, holding his face. "What was that for, Renji!" the young captain growled at the Lieutenant. "Tell me why..." Renji began to unsheathe his zanpakuto, running his hand over it. "HOWL, ZABIMARU!!!" the katana transformed into a long 6-part segmented blade; each segment wider than the one preceding it from the hilt, with 2 pick-like protrusions on the front and back of each segment, with the ones on the front much longer than the ones on the back.

"Why did you marry Rukia if you didn't love her!?"

Renji rushed Ichigo, who countered by parrying the redhead's attack, though he was slightly forced back. "What are you talking about!?" finding his footing, the young captain managed to push back his assailant, giving him some breathing room. "Answer the question!!!" in a swift and masterful motion, the fierce Lieutenant extended his sword, grazing the orange-haired boy's shoulder. "I don't want to fight you, Renji." His wound began to seal itself.

The redhead's Zanpakuto started to emanate a strong crimson aura, as he prepared for another attack. "Then you better start talking."

Relying on his enhanced speed, Ichigo flash-stepped away from each of Renji's swings at him. "Don't you get it, I married her because I love her!!!" in that moment, the fierce Lieutenant cut the young captain's side. "STOP LYING!!!" the orange-haired boy hesitated, allowing the redhead to flash-step behind him, using Zabimaru to bind him in place. "How can you say you love Rukia when you treat her so badly?" remembering his conversation with her only a few moments ago, he looked away in shame.

"I didn't mean t..." he started in a sorrowful tone, before being interrupted.

"YOU NEVER MEAN TO!!!" the hold on Ichigo got tighter, though he didn't resist. "The "Great" Ichigo Kurosaki, "Saviour Of Soul Society." Renji mocked him. "You used to always talk so boldly about protecting the ones you loved; but look at you now." the orange-haired boy remained silent. The redhead spat. "You're not even worth." Zabimaru reverted to its katana form, and the Lieutenant flash-stepped away from the young captain without so much as a second glance.

Little did either of them notice that they were being watched from somewhere in the distance by a man with slate grey eyes and long black hair kept up in intricate white headpieces on top of his head and another two on the right side. He wore fingerless white tekkō which only covered the back of his hands. He also wore a variation of the captain haori, featuring a high collar with light gold edges and small, light gold tassels attached to the corners.

"It's time for bed dear."

"But Mom! I'm not tired." whined a small girl with wavy, chin-length black hair and dark-blue eyes. She had fair-skin and soft features, as well as a pair of spectacles. She wore an oversized pink shirt as pyjamas. "Hmm, will you go to sleep if I told you a bedtime story." A woman of average height, brown eyes and long, full and wavy burnt orange hair made a playfully inquisitive expression. She wore her hair tied back with a band and hairpins.

Bouncing on the bed ecstatically. "Yes please, I'd love a story!" the woman giggled. "Fine then, but you have to settle down first."

The small girl slipped in-between her sheets, still visibly jittering with excitement. The orange-haired woman sat on the bed next to the energetic girl. "Once upon a time...there was a strawberry who could see spirits, a talent which let him meet a flower, who floated into the garden the strawberry lived, in search of a weed, a wild plant growing where it is not wanted. The flower was one of the Heavenly Flowers, trusted with uprooting weeds from the ground. The flower was damaged defending the strawberry from a weed she was uprooting, she transferred her pollen to the strawberry so that he could uproot instead of her while she grew her petals back. The flower was then trapped in the garden as an ordinary plant, and advised the strawberry as he balanced being a fruit and a Heavenly Plant. For aid in uprooting the weeds, the pair allied with a trio of other spiritually empowered plants: the strawberry's friend, orange, best friend, hot pepper, and rice, who had the ability to control water."

Realising that the little girl had fallen asleep, the woman smiled, tucking her in, and removing her specs before leaving the room with a smile on her face.

"You're a good mother..." a bespectacled man of average height with a small smile on his face stood in front of the orange-haired woman. He had fair-skin with blue eyes. He had straight, chin-length black hair with bangs hanging mostly on the right-side of his face, and the rest hung behind his left ear, due to his glasses. He was also outfitted in white from head to toe. The woman forced a smile. "Thank you." And began to walk away.

The man reached out his hand. "Orihime, wait..." she stopped abruptly, body tensing.

"Pardon my forwardness." He cleared his throat, regaining his composure and adjusting his glasses. "I meant to ask if you're okay... Tomorrow is..." Orihime interrupted with a deep breath, smiling at the man. "Thank you for your concern Ishida-kun, but I'm fine." Before he could say another word, the orange-haired woman was well on her way out. The Quincy only sighed, feeling completely useless.

As the Fullbringer entered her quarters, collapsing behind the door. Tears streamed down her face as flashes of the past overwhelmed her. There was one memory in particular she could never forget.

I LOVE YOU KUROSAKI-KUN, I LOVE YOU!!!