Thank you to all who read my story, and a bigger thank you to all who reviewed it. Extra big thank you to Motoko Aoyama again for beta reading. (Sorry it's so short)

FIGHT SURREALISM: REVIEW MY FIC!! (Lucy in the sky with yellow matter custard dripping from an octopus's garden)(1)

Enjoy

January 26, 1970; 1249 local time; Tacoma Narrows bridge, Washington

The rain poured down as Ichigo drove his truck over the bridge, Tatsuki was sitting next to him. He was going to see his father.

He had not seen him for a long time, not since he was kicked out. Ichigo wanted to settle a few matters and hopefully be forgiven.

They pulled up to the house and exited the vehicle, running up the walkway to the front door. He knocked on the door and Yuzu opened it. . . She screamed and ran back inside, closing the door and locking it.

"Yuzu! What's wrong? It's me, your brother, Ichigo!" He said knocking on the door again.

Isshin opened the door, he said nothing. He just grabbed his son in a tight embrace. Tears flowed liberally from the older man's eyes.

"My son" Isshin thought as he cried.

"Dad, what's wrong?"

"We thought. . . you were dead. . ." Isshin said breaking the embrace.

"Who told you that?"

"The government, they said you were MIA(2) somewhere near Cambodia."

"They didn't send you another letter when they found me?"

"No, they didn't." Isshin said as he led the Ichigo and Tasuki inside.

They all sat down at the kitchen table.

"Tatsuki, it's good to see you again." Isshin said. "Could you please excuse us for a second?"

Tatsuki smiled and nodded, it was nice to see that Isshin wasn't mad at Ichigo. The two men stood up and left the room. Isshin led Ichigo into his room.

"Why did you do it?" Isshin asked.

"I. . . I don't know. . ." Ichigo admitted.

"I know you were too young to remember what happened when I got home from Korea, but still." Isshin said, a caring look on his face.

"It's almost a tradition. . ." Ichigo noted grimly. "Gramps in the 442nd, you in Korea, me in Vietnam."

"I have something for you, Grandfather gave it to me when I came back from Korea. . ." Isshin dug in the back of his closet before emerging with two books. "They helped me cope, and now I'm giving them to you. . ."

"Thanks dad." Ichigo said smiling and trying not to get too emotional.

"So, when are you and that hot thing in the kitchen going to make me some grand-kids?" Isshin asked with a massive grin on his face as he changed mental gears so fast Ichigo didn't have the opportunity to engage the clutch (3).

Ichigo's jaw dropped and he gave his father a 'You did not just go there' look. Then he smiled and gave the older man a half-hearted punch on the shoulder. "Some things never change; do they, Dad?"

--

February 24, 1970; 1903 local time; Tacoma, Washington State

Ichigo was sitting at his desk, he looked over and saw one of the books his father had given him. The tattered spine read The Prophet(4). Ichigo picked it up and looked at the contents. He found the section marked "On Love".

He read through the poems, they somehow reminded him of Tatsuki. How their relationship was not always easy. The years they were apart after High school. One passage stood out to him in particular.

Love gives not but itself and takes

naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be

possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

--

June 12, 1970; 2105 local time; Owens Beach, Washington State

The moonlight reflected off the calm waters as Ichigo and Tatsuki sat on the ledge above the beach. The gentle waves of the high tide made quiet splashes against the pebbles of the beach They had been together now for several months now and in that time they had grown very close. Marriage was referenced in their conversations. He talked it over with Isshin, who was very excited to say the least and gave Ichigo his blessing.

Ichigo had been working hard and putting in a lot of overtime at the port. Now it was time to take the plunge. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. Inside it was golden ring with a modest diamond on it. He passed the box into Tatsuki's hand.

"What's this?" She asked, pretending to be surprised.

"Open it." Ichigo said.

Tatsuki opened the box and smiled as she saw the small glint of a diamond. "It's about time." She said chuckling.

"Huh?" Ichigo said, slightly surprised.

"I was afraid I'd have to pop the question myself if you didn't propose soon."

Ichigo didn't have time to look confused as Tatsuki pressed her lips onto his for a lingering kiss. As their lips locked and tongues started to touch, Ichigo couldn't help but remember the first time that they tried to French kiss in high school. They both kept cracking up at their clumsy efforts (4). Now they were both at least somewhat competent, and it was actually very pleasurable.

As they broke the kiss, Ichigo asked. "Would you really have proposed to me?"

"You bet." Tatsuki said, knocking him down onto the grass for another, more passionate kiss.

(1) A pat on the shoulder to anyone who knows what songs I'm referencing

(2) MIA: Missing In Action

(3) If you ever drove a car with a manual transmission, you will understand the analogy.

(4) The Prophet is a book by Kahlil Girban. It features poetry on various parts of life from love to laws. The author heartily recommends this book but must warn the athiesits out there, it does have some Christian themes.

(5) This actually happened to the author. The author is not proud of it, but it was pretty good for his first try.