My mother was what?!

Ichigo stared at the blond angel in front of him.

"Pardon?"

He thought he saw a flicker of a smile in her eyes as she repeated her question.

"I asked how Masaki is doing? I haven't seen her in ages, maybe I should go visit her sometime soon..."

Her voice trailed of at the looks on Ichigos and Rukias faces. Ichigos face had gone grim and Rukia was looking at him worriedly. She stared at them for a moment before she slowly spoke again.

"Is something wrong?"

Ichigo looked her straight in the eyes as he answered and she was surprised by the deep sorrow in his voice.

"You're saying you knew my mother?"

Mary hesitated a second before answering, the fact that he had used the term 'knew' didn't escape her.

"I know your mother, have known her for a long, long time."

She found it hard to meet the pained look in Ichigos eyes, but forced herself to keep the eye contact. But when he spoke again she had to close her eyes at the self-blame and pain she saw in the depths of his eyes.

"My mother have been dead for a long time. She was killed when I was a kid. But how come an angel knew my mother?"

Mary took a deep breath before answering. She knew this would be a chock to hear but he needed to know the story.

"Because Masaki was an angel. She was born in this realm the same year as me."

Ichigo didn't believe his ears. He stared at the woman in disbelief and by his side Rukia did the same. That just wasn't possible. His mother was a human. She couldn't have been an angel. If she had been an angel she wouldn't have died so easily. So why did this woman stand here and say such things. Beside him, he heard Rukia say the words he himself wanted to say the most:

"Please, explain this to us."

They both followed Mary's lead when she lead them to the flower garden and urged them to sit down. When they were sitting there beside each other she finally started to speak.

"You see, Masaki was born here the same year as me. She was a beautiful, energic girl with silver wings that sparkled like the moon and the stars. We grew up as best friends, but everybody was a little worried about her. Usually, angels who grow up in this realm find their love among one of the other angels the same age before they're 18 years old. But Masaki became 19 before she even showed signs on being interested in boys, so all the adults kept saying that there was something wrong with her. But one day, she looked down on earth, and fell in love at the spot. That made everybody even more sure that there was something wrong about her, but I didn't think so. I just thought that she was meant to be with this human that she fell in love with, and love had just waited for the moment she would lay her eyes on him. She left the realm of the angels one night, without telling anybody. I didn't see her for five years. The next time I saw her, she told me that she had gotten married and was pregnant with her first child. You, Ichigo. I have seen her once more since then, just after your sister Karin was born, but since then we haven't met. I had no idea what had happened to her, but saw my chance to find out when I came to know who you were. I had no idea that it would be so painful news."

At this point, Mary couldn't continue, that was clear to the two listeners, so they stayed quiet, each in their own thoughts. Somewhere along the story, Rukia had taken Ichigos hand, and was now holding it gently, trying to ease his pain.