A/N: Ok Chapter 4! I am not exactly happy with this chappy but I hope you all will like it I guess. I really appreciate feedback. If you don't mind, please check out my other story, Graveyard Musings. Thanks :)
Summary: Ichigo; on the run after being accused of witch craft. Who can he trust? Not many. Modern-day (Despite how it sounds). A.U. ShiroIchi. T.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Don't Take Me: Daddy-Dearest
"Look I don' know you an' ya don' know me but, who tha fuck do ya think ya are? Ya show up out of nowhere an' talk 'bout witches an' shit, then say yer gonna turn my Berry in? Tha' don' sit well wit' me Pineapple." Shiro said, taking menacing steps towards Renji while cracking his knuckles.
"Shiro, wai-"
"Get in the car Ichi."
"Shiro wait! You can't beat him or some shit!" Damn I sound like a chick.
"Ichigo," says Renji, "You know better than anyone the severity of witch-craft in Karakura. As someone who takes his job seriously, you have to come with me!"
"Like hell he is!" Shiro growled out between clenched teeth. Grabbing my hand and forcing me into the car, Shiro locked the doors and turned his attention back to Renji.
"Now, wha' the hell is yer job anyway? Tell me, wha' makes ya think ya think ya got all this power?"
"I'm the lieutenant of the Karakura Police Station, you and Ichigo are now under my custody."
"Psh. Fuck you!" With that, Shiro hurriedly slipped into the car, jamming the key into the ignition, with a furious red-head banging on his wind-shield. Without thinking twice, the albino slammed his foot on the gas-pedal, the car jerking its way forward, Renji barely jumping away in time. I could hear a colorful array of curses leave the red-head, looking back I could see him making a run for the car while pulling out a cell-phone. He was probably going to take a picture of the license plate. I prayed that, for once, Renji was still as stupid as he was back in High School. Shiro made an angry right turn, almost hitting a woman and her young daughter.
"Damn it! Shiro, slow down!"
"Ya wanna get caught!" He screamed back at me, making another turn. We sat there in silence, the quiet unwelcoming as it engulfed the car in an unsettling atmosphere. I didn't want to speak. I didn't want to get caught, but I didn't want to run either. I let my head fall into my hands and felt a cool hand on my back. Confused I looked up to see Shiro, eyes focused on the road, jaw clenched tight. Sighing, I just let my head rest in my hands again as his hand began lightly rubbing my back. After a few moments I finally spoke up.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"Hold on." He replied, turning on a GPS system to check the location. "Southeast Karakura. Any place ya wanna go? But first, food."
"Ok, and yea my dad lives about forty-five minutes away from here. At least I think so."
"We will figure it out after some fuckin' food." I just nodded.
`~D~T~M~`
"I know this place, my dad used to take me and my sisters here all the time when we were younger." I said. Shiro just grunted, sitting in a booth and picking up a menu. We sat there, pondering what to eat, when I heard a familiar shriek.
"Iiichhhiii!"
"Shit," I mumbled under my breath, "Hey, Orihime." Orihime, a once shy girl, that finally came out of her bubble after High School. She slid into the empty seat next to me, glomping me much like Nel had, and kissed my cheek.
"How are you Ichigo! I've been great! Who's your friend?"
"I'm okay, this is Shiro."
"Yo," his simple reply.
"Hi! He's cute! Well, I'm sorry but I have to get back to work!" With that she ran off, notepad in hand. Sharing a simultaneous sigh, we waved over our waitress and placed our order. I was happily drumming my fingers against the table to an imaginary beat.
"Cute, ne? Say, Ichi, maybe this could count as a date? Wha' do ya say?" Shiro said, waggling his eyebrows while reaching for my hand over the table.
"Fuck off!" I shrieked, manly of course, pulling my hand away while blushing. Damn blush! Shiro started cackling that sinful cackle of his, withdrawing his hand.
"Is tha' anyway to treat someone payin' fer yer meal?" He asked with a cocky smirk. I scoffed, ignoring him for favor of looking out the window. It was a nice day, I suppose. The food came a couple minutes later and we dug in like we were starved men. After slowing down a bit, Shiro looked at me with a serious look and cleared his throat.
"Ichigo, wha' did tha' Pineapple mean 'bout witch-craft bein' a serious crime?"
Tensing, I dropped my fork and looked up at the man. I didn't want to discuss this in a restraint. Swallowing the developing lump in my throat, "Can we talk about this on the way to my dad's?" Shiro nodded and I sighed in relief.
`~D~T~M~`
I looked up at the sky and saw clouds gathering in the distance. Maybe it would actually rain. The car hit a pothole, making my already weirdly twisted head twist in a painful way. We have been driving for a good five minutes but he hasn't brought up the witch-craft stuff yet. Maybe he'll drop it! Mayb-
"So, 'bout ya bein' a witch?" Shiro said, his gaze calculating.
Spoke to soon. "See, it's difficult for me," I started, averting my gaze. Sighing I continued, "It kind of started when I was eight. I was with my mom at our family clinic when these people showed up…"
`~D~T~M~`
"Mama! Where's papa?" I asked.
"Papa went with your sister's for a walk, he'll be back Ichigo," she said, her honey-like voice soothing my child-like worries. She gave me her heart-melting smile that I couldn't help but smile back at. We walked into the family clinic, my hand in hers. The little bell on the door rung, making me giggle.
"Hello, I'm Masaki. How may I-"
"Shut-up. Masaki Kurosaki, age 31, you have been accused of witch-craft."
"What? Witch-craft? That's absurd! I hav-"
"I didn't tell you to speak! For conjuring the dead, interacting and helping said dead, for possessing others with dark magic, you Masaki Kurosaki are a spawn from hell." The man shouted at my mama. I was too terrified to speak. The man grabbed my mama by the arm, pain and confusion flashing across her beautiful face, as he forcefully dragged her out to the front of the clinic. I ran after them, making it outside in time to see a crowd of people crowd around my mama, making it impossible to see her.
"Mama! Mama!" I yelled crying.
"Ichigo! Go inside! Go- Ahh!" She yelled, as someone hit her. I couldn't see her! I couldn't see my mama! What were they doing! The crowd parted a little too where I could see a little of my mama. A man ran up to her, pulling out a rag and stuffed it into her mouth. Another man took out s knife and began carving some sort of symbol into my mama's arm. I began running towards her, hearing her muffled screams of anguish. Where was my papa? Where was the help? A big burly man grabbed me by my hair, wrapping an arm around my waist.
"This is all your fault kid. You're a witch's spawn, a devil's child. She was gonna die anyway, you just made it happen faster," he laughed as he dropped me to the ground, tiring of my thrashing. He pinned me with his foot, not letting me reach my mama.
"Mama!" I cried out.
"Shut up, kid!" The man yelled, putting pressure on his foot. I yelped, a rock digging into my ribs. I saw two people pick up my mama and begin carrying her away, the crowd following. The man picked me up, I didn't struggle. He was taking me towards her. We came to an empty field with a wooden cross in the middle of it. They took my mama, bruised, bloody, and hopeless looking, and tied her to the cross. The man, the cause of all this, walked up to her.
"Masaki Kurosaki, you will now pay for your crime with your life," my mama didn't even look up, "You will be burned at the cross, in front of your son." I saw my mama lift her head up to look at me. Tears stained her face, her beautiful, dull, lifeless face. She let her head hang as someone lit up a torch. They said a prayer and threw the torch on the bundle of weeds and corn-stalks below the cross. They lit-up in a sinful dance, the flames reaching my mama's ankles. As they engulfed her body, she did not scream. I did not look. The man let me go as I collapsed. The light, noises, tears, everything, fading to black…
`~D~T~M~`
I woke up in a white room, all alone. I began to panic, the visions rushing back to me. I screamed and thrashed with everything I had. My papa came running into the room, trapping me in a hug as I cried. I wrapped my tiny arms around him as I let my regret, my agony, soak my papa's shirt.
`~D~T~M~`
"Now-a-days they don't go around burning people on crosses. Well the law doesn't if they can help it… I've heard of three other people being burnt on crosses… My best friend included." I said looking down at my hands. Shiro pulled the car over, un-buckling his seat-belt, and pulled me into a hug. I began blushing as he sat there stroking my hair, but I made no attempt to push him away.
"Thanks fer sharin' Ichi." He said, pulling away. I nodded my head and he buckled himself back in, and pulled off. We were almost to my dad's house. My sisters should be home from school by now.
"Take a right," said the monotone GPS. I hate those things. They have no feelings at all. Yea, I know they are robots or whatever but seriously! I mean what if two of them were… Ya know? Getting it on? That would be horrible, all monotone and shit! What the fuck am I thinking!
"Ichi? Ya ok? Ya looked flushed."
"Yea, I'm fine. We're here," I said as we pulled up to the familiar clinic. We got out of the car and began walking up the driveway when I was immediately welcomed by Yuzu.
"Ichi-nii! Ichi-nii! I haven't seen you in months!" She shouted from the doorway, sporting that familiar apron. She looks more like our mother everyday with her wavy light brown hair, which reaches mid-back, her sweet brown eyes, and supple round face. 16 years old already… How time flies… She gave me a hug when I reached the door, Karin following soon after. Karin is Yuzu's twin with shoulder length black hair, black coal eyes, and a leaner build.
"Where's the old man?" I asked.
"Goat-face is in the shower," Karin said, "Who's this?"
"'m Shiro. Nice ta meet ya." He said. After getting acquainted and having Yuzu's amazing dinner, my dad made his appearance.
"Ichigooo~! My one and only son!" And foot to the face.
"Nice to see you too, dad," I said helping him to his feet.
"Glad to see you haven't gone soft," he said clutching his nose. "Who is this gentleman? Is he your boyfriend? Did my little Ichi finally grow up and become a man!" Another kick.
"Shut up!" I screamed.
"Aww! King, yer blushin'!" Shiro, oh so helpfully, pointed out while snaking his arm around my waist. I tried to wriggle out of his grasp but he just held on tighter.
"Don't be shy Ichigo!" Karin said smugly.
"Ya, don' be shy," Shiro whispered in a sultry tone.
"I'm not shy! Damn it! Off!"
`~D~T~M~`
Why is Goat-face convinced me and Shiro are together? Now we have to share my old room. Hmph. I looked at Shiro, he looked so peaceful sleeping. His forehead wasn't creased, his frown non-existent. His lips looked so soft. Maybe I could just… lean in… a little…
"I ain't asleep Ichi." Shiro said popping open a golden eye, making me scramble back, successfully making me fall off the bed. Cackling, Shiro helped my blushing, and highly embarrassed self, back onto the bed.
"If ya wanted a kiss, ya coulda asked…" He said, inching closer. I could feel his breath on my lips, those gold-on-black eyes staring into my soul. As I leant in, just a hairs-width away from those enticingly sinful lips, the door burst open.
"Ichigo here's some extra blankets in ca- Oh! I'm sorry! Continue making me wonderful grandbabies!"
"Dad!"
A/N: Haha Cock-blockin' Isshin FTW!