A few words from the author: readers are appreciated, reviewers are appreciated even more.

Allergy warning: This chapter was made in a factory that processes nut and fruit products.

Enjoy.

March 6, 1969; 1230 local time; Gig Harbor, Washington state, United States

The noonday sun shone down on the bay of the harbor making the green water sparkle. The gentle breeze ruffled the sails of the sailboats out on the docks. A white two-story house with a patio-porch stood on a hill. A man, who looked to be about fourty years old, sat in a rocking chair on the porch, next to the chair was a small white table with a half-empty beer bottle. The man had black hair cut into a a neat flat top. His hands were folded behind his head as he enjoyed the view of the Puget Sound.

A yellow cab arrived and parked in front of the white house. A man wearing an army dress uniform stepped out. The man in the rocking chair jumped up, ran toward him and took him up in his arms hugging him tightly.

"Ichigo you're back." He said with a great beaming smile.

"Ummm, sir are you Isshin Kurosaki?" The man responded, in a rather suprised voice.

"I'm so sorry I disowned you, can you ever forgive me?" The man continued as if he hadn't heard.

The man in the uniform pushed the other man away rather violently, "I'm not Ichigo, I'm here on behalf of the United States Army here to deliver a telegram to a Mr. Isshin Kurosaki."

"That's me." Isshin said, his smile began to fade.

The man gave Isshin the telegram, "I'm sorry." was all he could say before turning around and getting back into the cab.

Isshin read the telegram slowly. . .

Mr. Isshin Kurosaki,

The Secretary of the Army regrets. . .

'Oh no, dear God. . . NO!' Isshin thought.

The Secretary of the Army regrets to inform you that your son Cpl. Ichigo Kurosaki has been

reported missing and presumed dead in Vietnam since 2105 1 March 1969. His helicopter was

shot down while returning from a mission near Cambodia. Due to the remote location of the

helicopter, we have been unable to retrieve the remains to confirm his death. Please accept

our deepest sympathies and regrets, your son died while proudly serving his country.

Isshin's hands trembled as he held the letter, tears welled up in his eyes. He was so sad that he failed to notice his young stawberry blonde and young black haired daughters that had come outside to investigate the commotion. They found their father on his knees with his face in his hands and a crumpled piece of paper next to him. The black haired girl picked up the piece of paper, but Isshin snatched it from her hand before she could read it.

"What's wrong daddy?" the strawberry blonde asked.

"Nothing Yuzu, just. . . just go inside.." Isshin said.

"What did the letter say?" The black haired girl asked.

"Nothing, Karin. . . j-j-just go inside. . . please." Isshin started sobbing. "Ichigo, Ichigo, why? Why did they take him away? My son. . . My only son"

Isshin unknowingly dropped the telegram again and Karin quietly picked it up before heading back into the house. When she got into the livingroom she started reading it. "The Secretary of the Army regrets. . . your son. . . missing and presumed DEAD" Karin stopped as soon as she came to the word 'dead'. Her heart sank to abyssmal levels and she, like her father started sobbing uncontrolably. Yuzu came to see why her sister was crying, she saw the paper on the floor next to Karin and her father holding her in his arms. Yuzu picked up the paper. Isshin let go of Karin and tried to stop Yuzu from reading the horrible message, but it was too late.

The next night, before going to sleep, the Kurosaki household put a framed picture of Ichigo on the wall. The frame had a plaque on the bottom, the plaque read "Ichigo Kurosaki: July 10, 1950 - March 1, 1969. The picture hung right next to another picture, a picture of a beautiful woman. She had long wavy red hair and a gorgeous smile that seemed to cast a loving glow all its own. This picture also had a plaque on the bottom of it. The plaque read "Masaki Kurosaki: June 17, 1929 - January 23, 1960". Underneath the picture was a table, the table had a vase with flowers inside and was flanked by two candles. Isshin put his daughters to bed and walked back to the picture of the woman. Isshin leaned over the table and kissed the picture on the lips.

"I'm sorry Masaki, I failed. I don't ask you to forgive me. I will never be able to forgive myself. . ." He said.