Yay! Fast update! Oh, I just had to xP I was too exited to not!

This chapter is going to be REALLY short compared to the other ones… actually, compared to anyone's standards 0_o for reasons that it is serving as more of an epilogue/ prelude to my next project… or more next installment to this little series I'm making.

One thing to explain: Karakura is a small island, but not that small. It's small enough that it only needs one of each section of school and one post office. But it isn't small enough that you know literally everyone. I'd estimate that there are at least 20,000 people. And just so you get a sense of the size of the island, let's say it is about 90 km^2 (or 55 mi^2).

I think that's all necessary explanations are out of the way for now, so just enjoy this last chapter or don't enjoy it, that's cool too…

Chapter 6

If you asked me, how I'm doing

I would say I'm doing just fine

[…]

Finally I'm forced to face the truth

"You know it does no good to just sulk around."

"I know that."

"So why do you do it?"

"I'm not."

"Then what do you call sitting and staring off into the middle of the ocean."

"Being sentimental."

"Sentimental? Big word for a twelve year old."

"Hmm… I've decided to make myself better."

"Better, how?"

"I'll grow stronger, physically and mentally. And becoming something better, I'll protect a mountain of people."

"And what brought up that thought?"

"Someone who would have done the same, I'll do it for them."

"And why would you do it for this someone?"

"Because that someone changed me."

"Ah... Well, that is a bold statement to make, doctor's boy."

"I'm not 'doctor's boy'."

"I know, I know… you are I-,"

"Ichigo… I am Kurosaki Ichigo."

…

"You really shouldn't sulk."

"I'm not, I'm just being sentimental."

They say it's all the bitter things in your life that truly make everything else that much sweeter. And as I walked along the stoned pavement just by the side of the Karakura canal, I couldn't help but think that it was such a sunny day. I reached out my hand, and looked up to the bright sun. My eyes squinted and there was a moment where a light breeze blew by between my fingers. Lids closing, the smell of pear trees swirled around me. It was so nostalgic that my lips turned into a sad smile.

Fluttering across my fingers, I felt something land in my hand: a piece of paper. Bringing it closer, it was a letter with one line of coded chicken scratch handwriting and an all too familiar crappy drawing of… something in the bottom corner.

Did you miss us? It read.

Looking up, in front of me, Rukia and Renji stood smirking their usual happy and overconfident smirks.

"Yo." Renji saluted. "Well? You did miss us right?"

I just stood there in place, not moving. Face stone hard.

"Ichigo," Rukia screamed. "It's been so long, you baka, aren't you going to say hello at least? We went through all that trouble of using that money you sent us to buy those stupid tickets. A week and a half on a boat! Can you imagine that?"

I didn't move. Rukia looked hurt, and Renji just stopped smiling. They looked too real, it was painful. And in one swift movement, they both leaped out to me, arms open wide, inviting. And I opened my own arms, ready to embrace them. I was ready to embrace them.

But just before they reached my outstretched arms, I felt it burn, and they just blew away in the wind. I flailed my fingers, trying to get some sort of grip onto them, but just felt the air as it slipped away. And through it all, I could only smell the painfully nostalgic smell of pear trees blooming in the summer.

"Thank you, Kurosaki Ichigo."

Bolting my eyes open, I was laying on my side in my room. Jolting up to a sitting position, I looked out the large window on my bedside. The streets were just lighting up with the Karakura autumn sun. I ran my hand through my hair. It had grown so that it was hanging just over my eyes now. My body felt too large and too heavy, even if I was used to being this big now.

Dreams… I always have dreams. But when morning comes, I could never remember them. I knew that they were unsettling, giving much more emotions than I could ever want, but I never could remember why. Shuffling out of my bed, I threw my feet over the edge and got up, making my way to my closet. After getting dressed, I gave one full hearted salute to Kon sitting on my desk before heading out.

"Are you leaving for school Onii-chan?" Yuzu asked.

"Yeah, I want to get there early to help the student council to put up flyers for the new trimester lunch menu." I told her, grabbing a toast from Karin's plate.

"Oi, Ichi-nii," Karin fumed, "Just because you're in a hurry doesn't mean that you can take things from my plate."

"Ah, but thank you Karin," I said to her. Waving, I walked to the door, pausing. It seemed oddly quite for the morning.

"Ichigo!"

I had thought too soon.

"Old man," I greeted dryly, lifting my hands in a fist, punching him square in the jaw. He reeled back, stumbling into the couch.

"Ichigo, you baka of a son!"

"I'm heading out now." I called back, ignoring my father's bleeding nose. He could be such a hassle some mornings, this time it was tame.

It had been four years. Four years, two months, and eleven days since… since everything had happened. Not that I was counting. But I was now in my second year at Karakura Senior High School, an eleventh grader. Sixteen years old and relieved that I had passed my midyear exams, keeping my student place as rank fifteen. So many things had changed since then, but I've learned to deal with it as I grew older.

I loved to walk by the ocean side, looking out across the blue waters. My walks to and from school had become longer, but it was the price I always paid to view the open sea. Stopping, I squinted my eyes into the distance. The silhouette of what I thought looked like a ship appeared just on the horizon line. As hopeful as I was, I knew that there were no ships coming.

Ever since the embargo, there had been an immediate decrease in boats going in and out from the docks. With the mainland a week or so's boat ride away, Hokutan had always been the Karakura fisherman's easiest way to sell their produce. Sail to Hokutan in three days, stay for a week till all your fish are gone, and then come back in three days. But with Hokutan being in Seishin territory that was no longer an option. Now the fishermen just stay on shore and sell their catch with the rest of the produce farmers.

Mail has become increasingly less and less frequent to get too, especially since very few of the people have relatives or business on the mainland. Not to mention Karakura had never been a big hot spot for tourism. So three years ago, Urahara had just decided to no turn on the lighthouse at night, leaving chains on the shed dock's sea doors. His inn went out of business as well - not that it ever had very much to begin with - and so he made his income with just selling overly priced goods at the inn's front counter.

It has been four years, two months, and eleven days. So many things had changed about Karakura... about the world... about me... But I was over most of it already. I had grown to be used to it. Now I just laugh at my childishness, thinking it funny that my younger self could have ever found the times in Seireitei to be borning or a waist.

Thanks to Rukia, my summers in Seireitei were never dull. Thinking back now, I can honestly say that it was because of her that my life changed for the better.

I sighed. They always did say that it was the bitter that made the sweet taste that much sweeter. And the sad, the sad times, were what made you really appreciate the happiness you are given.

I'll never forget her...

"Oi, boy," Urahara said. His bucket hat fell just over his eyes, and that annoyingly mischievous grin that I had grown to be accustomed to plastered on his face like a bad rendition of the Cheshire. He had a knack for always appearing out of nowhere. "Stop sulking."

The sun had risen above the horizon, and the silhouette was gone against the blue sky. It really has been four years, two months, and eleven days. Not that I was counting.

"I'm not," I said, "I'm just being sentimental."

No matter what I say

I'm not over you

End The Frittle

This story is FINISHED! Yay! Oh my, I'm so relieved that I finished it xD even if this chapter is about as short as poor, vertically challenged Rukia.

So if it was confusing before, the first part up until the bolded letters, it was a dream. Just so you know :3

But this is the end of my first installment of the A Coming of Age Story. This one was an introduction to this world that I created so that in the next story, some things will make a little more sense, and actually, by reading this part of the story, the next installment will be a much more pleasurable read :) So do look out for it, it will be entitled "A Coming of Age Story: The Fray". I want to start it this summer, but with school starting… I'm not sure how often I can update it. People say this coming year is going to be on hell of a work load -.- But I'm still excited to start as soon as I can!

Anyways, the song is Not Over You by Gavin DeGraw

Please review this last chapter! And I'll get on the next story ;)