Bleach Asylum IchiRuki FC Challenge - Day 2 Theme

Title: Ray of Light
Theme: Isshin

This particular drabble is part of the IchiRuki FC fic challenge we are having at Bleach Asylum in honor of Ichigo's birthday. Each day for seven days we will receive a theme to work on, and must write a fic for this. If you wish to read day 1's theme "kitten" please be sure to check out the one shot "furry guests" Thank you and I hope you enjoyed :)

"Ichigo, you are so mean to papa!"

Ichigo growled and grabbed Rukia's hand, pulling her away from the table. "Come on, Rukia," he muttered, a vein popping on the side of his head.

"But your dad was going to tell me a story of the birds and the bees," Rukia pouted and Ichigo groaned and pulled her faster away from the rest of the family. "We are leaving, now."

Isshin sighed sadly as they two left the room and looked over to the other two occupants who were still there, shaking their heads in a similar fashion to that of his older son.

"Really, daddy, now look what you did," Yuzu pouted a similar one to Rukia. "They didn't even have any of the dessert I made."

Dinner had been...eventful. After losing count of how many years it had been, Ichigo had finally opened up to the fact that he and Rukia were together. Something everyone had already known, but decided to wait until the couple themselves were ready to let it be known. Although after dinner, Ichigo wondered whether it would have been just best to not tell his dad at all. After all, no sooner had the news broke out that he found his father sobbing in front of his mother's picture and going on about how their third daughter would be part of their family forever. Maybe that could have been fine, but certainly not him bringing up Ichigo's baby pictures of taking baths and then mentioning to Rukia how he would like a grandson exactly like that. That is where he just had to draw the line. Rukia herself wasn't too sure how to react, although she really found it difficult to look at Ichigo after that.

But at last...at long last, the dinner was over and Ichigo made his way outside with Rukia to watch the fireworks. Karin and Yuzu followed too, as Isshin watched. Making his way to the window, he spotted Ichigo and Rukia settling themselves on the roof where the fireworks could be seen the best. Isshin smirked when he saw the smile on Ichigo's face as he teased Rukia, his hands wrapped protectively around hers.

"So nostalgic...isn't it, Masaki?"

Heaving a big sigh, he crossed his arm and bent towards the windowsill. "Love...is a strange emotion, isn't it? It changes you in such a way that you wonder how life was without it."

He smirked, turning to the poster of his wife. "His smile...something he lost alongside you that night...I think it has finally returned."

The pain had been too much to bear along with the emptiness that his family had felt for many long years after that fateful night. Yet slowly, but assuredly, things had begun to return to normal. Everything...except his son.

He knew with how Ichigo would go visit the same place where his mother was killed every day that the wound in his heart was too deep to heal. The smile that lit his face upon his mother's presence was long forgotten, replaced by a mask of indifference that covered the pain he wanted to hide from the world. A wall was forged too soon and one that Isshin was never able to break down.

And yet, one night many years later, his son had finally opened up to him as they visited Masaki's grave...the guilt and pain he had felt all these years pouring through the tears that had mingled with the cool raindrops.

"Why don't you blame me?" Ichigo asked.

'Because it wasn't your fault...' he wanted to say. 'Because Masaki would never forgive me if I allowed you to feel as if this was in your control...I would never forgive myself.'

And it was at that moment...he knew she was there as well. Although hidden within the shadows, her aura had filled the crisp night air. An almost reassurance that perhaps, this was the first step…and perhaps that there was a glimmer of hope.

Soon the place this stranger had in Ichigo's heart had grown to a point that his son was willing to risk his life to protect her. Though he was well aware of the dangers, he could not help but sure that Ichigo would return. He could sense how strong his son had become in just those few months, something he was most certain now was due to this young woman he had only felt the presence of all these months. Not just physically had his son changed, but a strong resolve had brought him out of the shadows that he had nearly been consumed by.

Ichigo had returned, yet a sense of melancholy could be felt and he knew that she did not come as well. He could only wish that Ichigo had the resolve now to move on, since he could feel a very heavy burden lifted from his son's heart. As if the rain had truly stopped…

Of course, he was delighted and surprised upon finally meeting this young woman again when she asked to stay in their home. Though he was suspicious of just how far his son had gone after eavesdropping on them in the bedroom, he quickly saw just what made this young woman who he proclaimed as his daughter so special to Ichigo. He watched as she slowly became the pillar of support for his daughters as they sought comfort for their brother's disappearance, the way she searched for Ichigo for so long, and the way she remained vigilant by his side as he healed from his battle wounds. He knew at that moment that she truly was his third daughter.

For many years after, he watched from afar as they fought side by side, looked after each other's back, and protected each other. He knew not when the hesitation turned to trust, to acceptance, and to the point that they had reached. But one thing was truly certain.

"She is our son's ray of light," he murmured, his eyes watching Rukia's head slowly lean against Ichigo. "As you are mine, Masaki…"

A loud bang erupted outside and quickly pulled him out of his revelry. He shifted his head to see that Yuzu and Karin had returned and were picking up some of the smaller fire crackers they had bought themselves to use.

"Daddy, will you be joining us?" Yuzu asked as they made their way outside.

A grin appeared on Isshin's face as he nodded. "HAH! Of course I will. I was just admiring how quickly my son is becoming a man!"

The sound of a growl could be heard as Ichigo whipped his head and looked straight at Isshin from the roof. "Are you spying on us, old man?!" his voice boomed, and Rukia just rolled her eyes and ignored the ensuing yelling.

"Well I want grandkids soon, my son. So hurry it up!"

"What?!"

"Although I must say the roof is a very unsafe place…"

"Are you kidding me?!"

"…"

Isshin laughed as he grabbed the fireworks and followed his daughters outside. The cool breeze was a welcome to the rather warm night as everyone finally had made their way down to the front of the house and had begun lighting the small fire crackers. Isshin turned slowly and watched as his family's face were illuminated with the soft glow of the moon and the vibrant flares of the fire crackers. His eyes lingered on Rukia, who was helping the girls with their own firecracker and smiled softly. Perhaps, the rain indeed finally had stopped.


A/N: I decided to continue and post other one shots that I wrote that were T rated here, as well as those that are of course related to the Kurosaki family. So please stay tuned for any more updates =D