Berry Angel by Boogermeister
49- Cookies (guess what kinda cookie is it!)
Tensa giggled lightly as he and his family returned from the supermarket. Usually, Isshin gloated that he could carry up to 15 bags at once. "You had fun food shopping, Tensa?" Ichigo smirked lightly, completely ignoring his sister Karin beating down their father as he settled down the young toddler onto the kitchen table. "It was your first time there, right?"
"Yah . . . .!" nodded Tensa, he had never seen so many varieties of colored packages and cartons and produce goods before. But he was more enthralled with the packages in the snack aisle, and he knew that one of his aunts had picked one, a blue one, out to buy. Now he has to find it, while his family was putting the food away. Glancing around, he saw only bread and cereals being placed next to him.
He frowned slightly, he only want the blue package of snacks. He saw something blue, but it turned out to be a box of oatmeal "Uhh . . . ." he frowned.
"Something the matter, Tensa?" asked Ichigo, noticing his concentrating look. "You want something to eat . . . .?"
"Yah," he mumbled, seeing more food taken out of shopping bags.
"What? You want a snack or something?" Tensa blinked and saw the package in Yuzu's hands, suddenly yelling out in exclaimed.
"Huh? What's with him?" muttered Karin.
"Oh . . . . he wants some cookies," realized Yuzu, smiling a little. Opening the package, she took out a few chocolate-sandwiched cookies. "Here you go, Tensa!" she smiled.
"Yay!" smiled Tensa, he took them and slobbered on the first one. This snack was tasty indeed.
50- Crush (A/N: Shiro-chan's now grown for this drabble! Horrays for puberty!)
Tensa blinked in confusion, why would Toushirou come here if there was no assignment for him? He wasn't really sure if Soul Reapers have vacations, but when the tenth Captain visited the teen and his mother it turned out that it was for something else. "Listen, there is something . . . . that I wish to speak to you about, Ichigo Kurosaki," he muttered, coughing a little in embarrassment.
"Okay . . . ." Ichigo frowned a little, glancing down at the once boyish Captain sitting by the dining room table. "Does it have to do with Tensa?"
"No . . . . but I do wish to speak with a family member of yours," he muttered, and both mother and son blinked in confusion.
"Who're you talking about?" he asked.
"Well . . . . I'd like to speak with your younger sister, Karin," he finally replied, blushing lightly. Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise as did Tensa's. Him? Speaking to Karin?
". . . . Do you like her, Toushirou?" muttered Ichigo.
"It's been years, you could at least try to call me Captain Hitsugaya!" Toushirou exclaimed in annoyance.
"Huh, well if you like my sister, I could call you how I wanna call you," he muttered, glancing away. "Besides, what business do you have with Karin?"
"You wanna date her or something?" Tensa asked obliviously, much to the Captain's surprise.
"U-uh, um . . . ." he stuttered before composing himself. "To rephrase that, I would like to court her . . . . that is, if you're okay with it, Ichigo Kurosaki."
"Well . . . ." pondered Ichigo, scratching at his hair. "I don't really mind, but I think Dad might sob about his 'little girl growing up'."
"Mom . . . . Aunt Karin's nearly 27," his son frowned. "And she's already living on her own now that she's a regional soccer player. I doubt Goat-Face would really cry."
"So you don't really mind?" questioned Toushirou, his blue-green eyes blinking in subtle eagerness.
"I could take her where she lives," he suggested. "I got nothing to do . . . ." Walking through Karakura Town, Tensa and Toushirou finally arrived at a modest apartment building. "She lives on the third floor, numbered 10," he remembered, ringing the doorbell. It wasn't long until the door opened to reveal a young woman, her short black hair in a ponytail and was sporting a royal blue American Football jersey over denim jeans.
"Tensa, what a surprise . . . ." she muttered though frowning a little when she realized the white-haired man. "Wait . . . . don't tell me that . . . ."
"Yeah, Toushirou told me that you met him years ago," shrugged Tensa.
"Toushirou, is that really you . . . .?" Karin muttered in surprsise as she stepped closer.
"Y-yeah, it's really me-" Toushirou attempted to smile, only to get suddenly punched in the face. Tensa flinched in surprise at his aunt's action, did something happen between them that would cause her to do that?
"You retard! You waited this long just to talk to me?" she scowled. "You stupid idiot, I don't care that you're a Soul Reaper or not! I am not the type who would pine for some guy! Drop dead!" With that, the door violently slammed shut.
". . . . Wow," gasped Tensa, before helping Toushirou to his feet. "You're all right, Toushirou?"
"Man, she could pack a punch . . . ." he groaned in pain, holding his bloody nose.
"It runs in the family," he sighed. "Um . . . . what actually happened between you two?"
"Well . . . . I once played soccer with her, then I used to comfort her when . . . . Ichigo was missing during those times," he mumbled. "But after that, I just left without a good-bye. Guess it was my fault that I didn't try to contact her sooner . . . ."
"Yeah, but don't worry . . . . at least I could tell Mom that you got knocked out by Aunt Karin," he joked lightly as they left.
51- Hammock
"That's not fair . . . .!" whined Isshin one Spring day. "He's using what's belong to me, it was mine!"
"Oh my gosh, would you stop complaining?" scoffed Ichigo. "It's not like he would use it every day!"
"But he already did, it's been a week . . . .!" he whined. Whining over the fact that Starrk was using his hammock to nap. The former Primera slept deeply, oblivious to the crying man. Tensa, wondering what was the commotion, step out into the backyard to see Starrk sleeping in the hammock.
"Huh?" frowned the toddler as he wandered up to him. "Th-arrk?" he mumbled, grasping at the cloth to look at him. In response, he was picked up into hammock, the strong arms snuggling him against his chest.
"Sleep . . . ." Starrk muttered before conking out. Tensa blinked at him but said nothing as he simply closed his eyes.
52- Scar
Though it was amazing of making love for the first time, Starrk noticed that his new lover was now reluctant to have sex again. He understood it, Ichigo was molested and raped during his imprisonment by Aizen. He had read books about human nature so he had to be careful and cautious about approaching the subject. Reviewing the self-made Spanish homework Tensa had done, he heard Ichigo walking into the living room. ". . . . Hey," he muttered.
"Hey, Starrk," he sighed, sitting next to him on the couch. ". . . . Aren't you supposed to be working at the shop?"
"It was a slow week, so I decided to take a day off," he sighed. Ichigo glanced at him and shrugged in agreement, snuggling against him. Starrk noticed that, but was hesitant to cuddle back. He was afraid that any wrong move he made would make the young man recoil in fear. Already they started to become a family, and he didn't want to do anything to jeopardize it. "Um . . . . Ichigo," he muttered.
"Hm, yeah . . . .?" muttered Ichigo.
"I'm kind of afraid . . . . to touch you," he admitted. The orange-haired man blinked at that and frowned.
"What do you mean?" he questioned.
". . . . You were hurt those years ago, so I don't know how you will feel about me . . . . wanting to have you again," he muttered. Ichigo blinked again and sighed sadly, nodding a little in understanding.
". . . . I'm just as afraid, too, Starrk," he mumbled. "I am afraid of being hurt . . . . and being used, and I'm still fragile about the death of Masaki. I can't go through that . . . . it's possible that I will lose myself again if Tensa gets hurt as well."
"Don't be ridiculous . . . . I would never hurt Tensa," he frowned sadly, giving him a chaste kiss on the forehead. "He is my son now, and I love him. And I love you, Ichigo."
"I know . . . ." Ichigo nodded, scowling lightly at himself when warm tears pricked at his eyes. "I do love you, Starrk . . . . it's just that . . . ."
"What is it?"
"I still have the scar, Starrk . . . . when Tensa was born and Masaki was ripped away from me," he mumbled, grasping at his shirt. "If we tried to make love again, I'm afraid that you might be reminded of what Aizen had done to me. And you won't want me again . . . ."
". . . . That's not true, Ichigo," muttered Starrk. Slowly, he reached for his new lover's shirt and lifted it. It was true, the disfigured line across the stomach truly reminded him of what he had been through. "It makes me want you more, to protect you and Tensa forever . . . ."
"Really?"
"Yes . . . . in fact, the scar made you more perfect," he muttered. Ichigo couldn't take it, the happy tears trickled down his cheeks as he hugged the former Primera tightly and kissed at his face.
"You're really an idiot, Starrk," he smirked, kissing at his lips. "But that's why I love you for it."
"Then you don't mind if . . . ." he muttered happily.
"Yeah, I don't mind if it's with you," smiled Ichigo as he scratched through the disheveled brown hair. Starrk smiled back and kissed him, taking off his lover's shirt.
"You're truly perfect, Ichigo . . . ."
53- First Day (A/N: Japanese school year starts at early Spring, which I still find odd to this day. But I'm just guessing a little about preschool uniform based on other anime series I've seen before but I could be wrong. Oh well.)
Climbing onto his mother's bed, Tensa smiled as he began to jump up and down. "Wake up, Mama! Wake up!" the four year old squealed, much to Ichigo's tired dismay.
"Tensa . . . . it's too early for that," he mumbled, but Tensa pounced onto his stomach and giggled.
"But I'm starting school today, Mama! Remember?" At that, Ichigo's eyes opened in realization and sat up, a mix of anxiety and excitement was churning inside his brain.
"It is the first day of school . . . .!" he gasped with a wide smile. "Your first time in preschool, Tensa . . . .!"
"Yah, and I'm already dressed!" beamed Tensa as he stood up. Ichigo chuckled a little, the child was wearing a frumpled shirt and a pair of jeans stained with dirt from yesterday.
"I can see that but I believe that you need a different outfit to show off, Tensa," he smiled, carrying the child out of his bedroom. "After that, you will tell Starrk what you're gonna do today."
"Okay!" His mother helped him wear the acquired uniform for preschool, a light blue shirt and a navy shorts, before the child dashed off to go downstairs. "Starrk . . . .!" squealed Tensa, pouncing onto the former Primera who was sleeping on the couch. "Wake up, today's the first day of school!"
". . . . Is it?" Starrk muttered tiredly, slowly sitting up. "Want me to come with you?"
"Yeah! You gotta go with me!" he smiled eagerly.
"All right, let me get ready . . . ." Pretty soon, everybody was ready to leave, only for Ichigo to dodge his father's sudden attack as soon as they left the house.
"Damn it, Dad! Where did you come from?" he scowled, stomping him down.
"I-I just wanna see my precious grandson going to his very first day of school . . . ." whined Isshin.
"Then what about Karin and Yuzu? It's their first day of high school," he scoffed.
"They have already gotten Daddy's love . . . ."
"Come on, let Grandpa come too, Mama!" pestered Tensa, tugging at his bright yellow hat. Ichigo couldn't help but relent for his young son, dragging Isshin down the street. But the anxiety was now overtaking his excitement, Tensa going to school was symbolizing him growing up and gradually leaving the nest. What can he do, his son needed education but was scared of letting him go to the 'outside world'.
"Well are you scared, Tensa?" Ichigo asked, gripping the small hand as they reached the school building.
"Nuh-uhn," shrugged Tensa.
"I think your mother's the one that feels scared . . . ." muttered Starrk.
"What? I'm not scared," Ichigo tried to frown, but it was true now that Tensa was trying to tug away from his grip.
"It's picture time!" beamed Isshin, pulling out a camera as usual. "Come on, give your Grandaddy a big smile!"
"All right, Grandpa!" Tensa smiled, hugging at his mother's waist. Ichigo relented once again and hugged back with a smile, as his father took the picture. Five times. "Come on, I wanna go . . . .!" the child whined in impatience.
"Okay . . . . I'll see you later, Tensa," Ichigo smiled softly, picking him up to give him a big squeeze and a kiss on the forehead. "Good luck, sweetie . . . ."
"Bye, Mama!" Tensa smiled when he was put down and waved as he trotted off. "Bye, Starrk! Bye, Grandpa!"
"Bye, Grandaddy loves you . . . .!" sobbed Isshin.
"See you, Tensa," Starrk muttered with a small smile, waving a little. Ichigo cursed his inner maternal instinct for trying not to cry as he watched his son disappearing into the tiny crowd at the entrance, as teachers were herding them inside. "Let's go, need to open the shop . . . ." the former Primera sighed as he started to walk away.
"Yeah . . . ." Ichigo nodded, but he didn't move yet.
"Ichigo, it's okay . . . ." Isshin smiled softly as he patted him on the shoulder. "Your mother went through the same thing when you first started school."
"Really, Dad . . . .?" he sighed as he glanced at him. "If I remembered correctly, Mom just smiled while you sobbed your butt off."
"Yeah but afterwards, she was actually crying happily that her little boy was growing up," smiled Isshin. "It's all right, Ichigo . . . . this is one of the first part of his life that he will go through as he gets older."
"You're right, Dad," Ichigo smiled lightly, wiping away a trail of tear from his face. "I really am happy for Tensa . . . ."
54- Family Portrait
"Nuh . . . .!" whined Tensa as his hair was being combed.
"Can't you at least stay still, little boy?" Ichigo sighed in exasperation, holding down the young toddler on his lap. "It's not that serious, Tensa . . . ." He was getting ready for a photo shoot for him and his family, a very special one-time event for them. Everybody was dressed up, even the tomboyish Karin, but Tensa was the only one who was fussy in his sailor suit.
"Tensa, if you stay still I'll give a cookie," he bribed, and it worked as the child reluctantly settled down. "Good . . . ." he sighed, finishing his work. "There, now you're perfect."
"Uhh . . . ." Tensa frowned. He didn't care about that, now he wanted the cookie.
"Ugh, I wanna get this over with," frowned Karin, sulking in her flower-patterned dress. "How long do we have to do this?"
"We didn't even start yet," replied Ichigo. "And we're only gonna be in here for a half an hour or so."
"Whatever . . . ." The teen simply shrugged, while Tensa simply pouted over the broken promise for the cookie.
"Don't worry, you're gonna get the cookie after the photo," he smiled gently, kissing him on the head.
"Actually, I wonder why we would need to do this," shrugged Yuzu as she sat next to him. "We've already taken a thousand pictures of Tensa in the past few months already."
". . . . Doesn't matter, I don't really care how many times," he muttered softly, hugging his son tighter. "At least he'll know that he is loved by family so much."
15 years later . . . .
It was always straight in his face whenever he came home, Tensa habitually glanced at the hanged picture on the wall. There he was as the baby in the sailor suit, sitting on his smiling mother's lap. His two aunts standing on either side of him, and his grandfather smiling proudly behind him. The teen smiled at the pictures then the one underneath it, when he was twelve and with his other family.
Him, Ichigo, Starrk, and Lily.
55- Troubles 5
Again, Tensa smiled obliviously at Byakuya, who simply frowned at him. The toddler was left alone with him in the garden after Rukia remembered to do an errand for her Captain. ". . . . She could have given him back to Ichigo Kurosaki when she left," he muttered quietly, as the toddler decided to wander off.
"Ahh . . . .!" he smiled, staring down at the koi fish swimming in the pond before glancing back at the quiet man. "Loh . . . .!" he exclaimed as he pointed down.
". . . . Those are my koi fish, I appreciate your interest," Byakuya remarked, gingerly pulling him away from the pond. Tensa wandered off again, this time to the plum blossom tree.
"Ohh . . . ." he sighed, touching at the bark before glancing up to the ripening fruit. "Fooh . . . .?" he frowned, it looked like fruits but he wasn't sure. Byakuya noticed his interest of the tree now and blinked lightly.
It had been decades since his wife Hisana died, only she was the one who had liked the tree. He slowly walked up to the tree, as the little toddler tried to reach up for the apricot-like fruit. ". . . . You like to have one?" he questioned, glancing down at him.
"Huh . . . .?" Tensa blinked as the sixth Captain reached up to pluck one.
"Here . . . ." Byakuya muttered as he gave it to him, the toddler observed and touched it before smiling.
"Tahh . . . .!" he smiled at him. Far away on the roof, Ichigo and Renji watched the entire scene before them as the teen smiled.
"Wow, guess Byakuya's not much of a jerk after all," he sighed.
"Duh . . . ." Renji scoffed lightly with a smirk. "He really got a soft spot in his own way."
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