Good day everyone and welcome back to another chapter of Ballad of the Shinigami. I know the big events haven't really kicked off but that will come, with patience my friends. I hope this is enjoyable to those who read this and I appreciate any and all feedback you may have regarding the story. I also am in need of a beta reader for anyone who wishes to volunteer. All of these chapters will be shorter or longer depending on how long it takes to finish that part of the story. Again I hope you all enjoy this story and continue to read and review. Without further ado. On to our feature presentation!
Ichigo watched with distaste as the skateboarders ran away, tail between their legs. It really was a sad sight to see. Turning to the ghost of the girl he gave a slight bow.
"I'm sorry for using you like that." He moved his hand to sheepishly scratch the back of his head. She simply smiled and shook her head after bowing in return to the orange-haired student.
"Don't be, I should be thanking you for defending me when I couldn't myself." Ichigo let the corners of his mouth turn up slightly at that. It was times like these that made everyone think he was a delinquent worth it. Turning back to grab his backpack he waved over his shoulder to the ghost.
"Well, bye then. I'll come by later and bring you another vase of flowers." The ghost giggled and smiled brightly in return waving Ichigo off.
"Thank you so much Mister! Now I can rest in peace." When Ichigo was sure nobody could see he let the smile creep onto his face. Definitely worth it. Hopefully she could go to heaven now.
Walking up to his house Ichigo pondered if he wanted to face his father or just climb in through his bedroom window. The reason for this? Well his dad, Kurosaki Isshin, was prone to violent acts, but only to Ichigo for some reason. Usually when he was late home or in the mornings but he does have his moments outside of those conditions.
The building Ichigo had come up to was a modest two story structure with a placid yellowish-tan. There was a sign on the front of the building that practically shouted 'Kurosaki Clinic'. Shaking his head at the over exuberance that his dad seemed to put into everything. Just glad he took more after his mom.
His mom, she was his world. She was everyone's world back then, 6 years ago. It had rained that day, Ichigo remembered it all. The rising water. Running. The blood, blood everywhere.
Setting his scowl back into place, Ichigo shook those thoughts away, today was going to be a good day damn it! He felt like he was forgetting something when he reached out and opened the door before he received a harsh reminder.
"You're late again!" It was all the notice Ichigo had gotten before he was flying across the room to crash into a wall. He felt the mark Isshin's foot was going to leave by the end of tonight. So this was what he had momentarily forgotten when he lost his thoughts.
"What was that for!" Ichigo raised his voice to his father.
"Do you know what time it is my delinquent son?! You know dinner is every night at 7! That was 5 minutes and nothing will make this transgression redeemable!" Time resumed as Ichigo willed the screens away. Standing up and getting in Isshin's face he started to scream back at his headache of a father.
"Is that any way to treat a son who was forced to defend one of the dead?! And what is with that curfew?! No healthy teenager should be forced to come home at 7! It's too early!" This got Ichigo a swift roundhouse kick from his father as they started brawling on the ground yelling back and forth. Isshin managed to gain the upper hand and pinned Ichigo down with an arm-bar.
"I made the rules and I'll enforce them if I have to my son! You have disrupted this household's sanctity with your rule breaking delinquency! The price? Pain!" Ichigo claimed the upper hand throwing his father into the air to comically spin into the other room. He rushed back out again and right into Ichigo's raised foot before getting his head curb stomped into the hardwood flooring.
"Stop fighting before your food gets cold." Yuzu pouted at the table with Karin holding out her bowl.
"Don't bother about them Yuzu, they'll never listen. Another bowl please." Yuzu sighed but obliged nonetheless.
Meanwhile back with the brawl Ichigo had Isshin pinned and was arguing his case.
"It's not like I asked to be born with the ability to see ghosts? I try to help them and they go away but more keep showing up and I don't think you should be beating me up just because you can't see them!" Ichigo then kicked Isshin across the room like a sack of potatoes. Rising up Isshin pointed an accusatory finger at his only son. Yuzu beat him to it looking at the blur that appeared over Ichigo's shoulder.
"Ichigo, you got another one." Screaming Ichigo waved his hands around trying to swat the ghost away like some kind of fly.
"See what I mean?! It's not like I ask them to come to me, it's like they're drawn to me for crying out loud!" Ichigo continued to swat at the ever evasive spirit.
"You can see them, talk to them, touch them, and you're practically a spirit medium. Your issues are 4-fold. Must be tough having high specs." Karin drawled as she watched her father complain about unruly children ignoring him.
"I'm actually jealous, all I can see is a blur." Yuzu clasped her hands together in thought of what she would do with spirit medium powers. Maybe start a show like her idol, Don Kanonji.
"Not me, I don't believe in ghosts." Karin took another mouthful of rice before continuing. "If I don't believe in them, it's the same as them not existing at all." Yuzu shivered as the spirit was surrounded in a block of ice.
"That's just cold." It complained before it moved back over Ichigo. Karin looked over at Yuzu and whispered something into her ear. Yuzu giggled at what she was told and Ichigo called out to them, momentarily forgetting the ghost hovering over his shoulder.
"What are you two scheming over there?" Karin grinned and Yuzu crossed her arms and pouted at being found out.
"'Would you like to frolic with ghosts in the winds of early summer?'" The sales pitch made Ichigo's scowl deepen before throwing his arms into the air.
"Stop trying to make money off of my suffering!" It was then that Isshin made his move again and pinned him down in another arm-bar. Having had enough Ichigo just threw Isshin off of his back and walked upstairs.
"Forget it, I'm going to bed, you have a good night." Making his way up stairs Ichigo vaguely heard Isshin crying at that idiotic poster of Masaki, Isshin's now dead wife, about his children not loving him and what he should do about it. Ichigo shook his head before turning to the spirit next to him. Shaking his head, Ichigo collapsed on his bed to stare at his ceiling. Today wasn't that bad after all but he had this gut feeling things were about to change and he wasn't sure if it would be for the better or not. Whatever the change he just hoped it wouldn't put his family in danger.