Author's Note: Hey everyone, sorry for my long absence! I've been undergoing a major transition in my life, and before that, I was managing my first part-time job at a place I absolutely hated. Admittedly, I had little time to write after my last chapter. However, this one is finally completed and something quite shocking happens at the end! I hope I've managed to keep your interest. As always, thanks for all your continuous support. I always get excited seeing reviews, so make sure to state your thoughts on this one especially because it's been awhile! Enjoy~~~
Disclaimer: All characters belong respectively to Tite Kubo, the creator of the manga "Bleach".
Chapter 16 - His Homecoming
Ultimately, the decision of who would first organize a date with the Princess was determined with relative ease. As soon as Orihime was escorted away from the arena, Rangiku gathered the two winners and brought them inside to the same ballroom where the future Queen celebrated her deceased brother's birthday a month ago. The large empty space made Ichigo feel oddly uncomfortable, considering the fact that the last time he had encountered the room was when hundreds of aristocratic families—as well as peasants—were forced to interact with one another.
"Alright gentlemen," Rangiku stopped walking and spun on her heel to confront Grimmjow and Ichigo with the issue at hand, "I have a dilemma here."
The Prince let out an angered groan, "Jeez, what's the problem now?"
Instantly, Orihime's relative pouted her lips out of frustration and crossed her arms over her enormous chest, "My problem is that I don't know who to send first to have a date with my beautiful niece. After all, you both won the event. What do you suppose I do?"
It didn't take very long for a solution to emerge. Moments after Rangiku expressed her distress, Grimmjow proposed an arrogant answer, "It doesn't friggin' matter to me. Besides, I'd rather be the last memory she has before the next event. If I'm lucky enough, I might be able to influence her to choose me over this idiot after she spends her date with him."
Before Ichigo could muster a response, Matsumoto rejoiced at the idea, "Well, that settles it then! It will be Kurosaki-san and Princess Inoue's date tomorrow."
The peasant remained speechless as he tried to gather what had just happened in front of him without his permission. Regardless, he was unable to formulate an opinion on the matter due to the fact that Rangiku wanted to know his plans for the date.
"Plans?" Ichigo retorted, "You mean, like what I have in mind?"
The woman nodded her head up and down eagerly, awaiting a response.
"Any day," Grimmjow muttered.
"I'll take her to the village," the teenager declared, although quickly regretting his words. What was he thinking? There was no way Rangiku would approve of such a precarious date.
"I'll allow it," Gin's wife considered the suggestion, "It will give Orihime a reprieve from the castle and she can meet the rest of your family. Was it you who mentioned having twin sisters?"
The bright haired adolescent could not believe how sudden she had given her consent to his proposition. He expected her to immediately oppose. Nevertheless, he was fairly relieved. Subsequently, Ichigo would finally get to see Karin and Yuzu after having been separated from the girls for close to four weeks. He could imagine the surprise on their faces when they opened the door to find the Princess and himself staring back at them.
As much as he had hated leaving Renji behind to fend for himself against the other bachelors, deep down Ichigo knew his friend wouldn't be upset with him. If anything at all, Renji would probably encourage him to ditch the palace rather than spend another day locked inside their bed chambers.
The only real worry Ichigo had when it involved his return home was for the Princess. Would the journey be too much for her? Although it was not a very far trip, it would require her to be in a cramped carriage which lacked space for her to rest. He knew she had been exhausted from the day's activities, and if they were to leave in the early morning, it would not give her much time to catch up with her sleep.
Despite how uneasy he felt about tomorrow's date, the one thing he was most anticipating was his reunion with his sisters. After all, it would be a nice change of scenery to see his beloved siblings. He never had to face their judgment from them because they accepted him for who he was, and that was all Ichigo could ever ask for.
The boyish-looking maid had come to collect him from his room around eight in the morning. When he awoke, she threw a pile of clothes at his bed and stormed out after informing him he needed to get changed and meet her outside within the next half hour. Once he fulfilled her request, Tatsuki shoved him into the carriage and asked him to patiently wait for the Princess' arrival.
Shortly after, the door to the coach opened and revealed the energetic person whom he would be spending the day with in the village.
"Good morning, Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime exclaimed brightly as she settled into her seat across from the peasant.
"Hey, Inoue," he warmly greeted back to her.
"Are you excited for today?" she asked enthusiastically, "Tatsuki-chan said we're going to visit your family!"
Ichigo shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal, "I guess. But what about you? How are you feeling?" he inquired. His eyes couldn't help but be drawn to the cast that covered her arm from the fall.
At least it's no longer in a sling, he thought.
The Princess noticed his intense glare, "Oh this?" she lifted up her arm, "Don't worry about it, Kurosaki-kun! Dr. Haichi says I've been recovering at light-speed; the fastest he's ever seen someone heal from a fracture before!"
"Really?" he smirked, "Then do you have some sort of special power that makes you heal faster than everyone else?"
Immediately, Orihime sensed the teasing undertone in Ichigo's voice, "Are you making fun of me, Kurosaki-kun?"
The first-born son of the Kurosaki clan chuckled consequently from her playful question, "I don't know, you tell me."
In all honesty, he was indeed trying to make light of the situation that had unfortunately befallen Inoue. He didn't want a repeat of what happened in her bedroom the night he visited her. For that purpose alone, he wanted to guide the conversation in a more positive direction.
"If you want, Inoue," he said, leaning back into the seat and spreading his arms out over it, "You can go to sleep. It won't bother me or anything."
The unforeseen statement caused Orihime to blink her eyes absent-mindedly, "Are you sure, Kurosaki-kun? It would seem awfully rude of me to-".
Before the aristocratic teenager could continue, Ichigo raised his hand, indicating for her to drop the subject, "You need your rest, okay? Just close your eyes and go to sleep, I won't tell anyone. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."
Despite wanting to tell Ichigo he shouldn't worry about her, Orihime knew he was right regardless. She had been completely exhausted from the tournament yesterday, and as a result, subjected herself to near collapse. Therefore, it would have been wise to take Ichigo up on his offer. She did not want to faint in front of his family and embarrass herself. She had an image to withhold and she had to maintain it to the best of her abilities.
Eventually, her eyes started to feel heavy and ultimately she entered the relaxing state of slumber.
As the Princess slept, Ichigo quietly watched over her, unable to keep from smiling at the not-so-unusual sight. It had not been the first time he had observed her fall asleep. He recalled the first encounter with much fondness. It occurred the night he snuck into her chambers and they had conversed well into the evening. He was prepared to take his leave, but she insisted he stay. Although he was taken by surprise from the gesture, he did not object her request and honored it fully.
He didn't go back on his word then, and he certainly wasn't going to now.
The exact moment the carriage pulled into the village, Ichigo's heart instantly picked up speed. He was almost home, and the thought was practically overwhelming. As the horse carried the coach along, Ichigo swiftly lifted the window's curtain to see how far into the town they had already traveled. Once he caught a glance, he soon came to realize they were about halfway from where his family's cottage was located.
Shortly after, the carriage suddenly came to a halt.
Tatsuki knocked on the door, "Is this the place, Kurosaki?"
Carefully, making sure to not wake the Princess, Ichigo stepped out from the carriage and met with the inquisitive eyes of the maid.
"Well, is it?" she repeated her inquiry.
Indeed, they had arrived at his home. Apart from the other cottages, it was secluded in the forestry. For this reason alone, Ichigo was grateful for the privacy the Princess would receive during the trip.
Before the peasant made his move, he turned to Tatsuki with a serious demeanor and said, "Do me a favor and don't wake up Inoue yet. I want to tell my sisters first before she comes inside."
Without a word, Tatsuki nodded her head and made room for him to pass.
At that moment, the reality of the situation was beginning to sink in and the pressure Ichigo felt was enormous. He hadn't been home in over a month and he was unsure of what the response would be to his homecoming. These pathetic thoughts swirled inside his head as he approached the door to knock. Despite it being his own home, he didn't want to intrude and frighten his young sisters.
Soon after he had indicated his presence, the door creaked open and through the sliver, a pair of toffee-colored eyes peered back at him. Immediately, Ichigo knew who they belonged to upon his first glimpse.
"What's going on, Yuzu?" he greeted his sibling.
The moment the girl standing behind the door realized it was her older brother, she couldn't contain her happiness. She darted out of the house and ran into Ichigo's welcoming arms.
"Onii-chan!" she squealed with delight as the peasant picked her up and gave her a tight squeeze.
Once Ichigo placed Yuzu safely back onto her feet, he instantly sensed an eerie stillness from inside the home - despite having not even entered it upon his return.
"Hey, where's Karin and Dad?" the teenager suspiciously questioned.
"Karin is taking a nap, and Otou-san left on a personal business call," Yuzu explained as she began to walk back to the ajar entrance of their family cottage.
Ichigo followed close behind her, stepping inside their home and swiftly closing the door, "Did he happen to mention a name before he left or the place where he was going?"
The curious question surprised Yuzu, for she had stopped moving in the direction of the kitchen and paused to ponder her father's last words to her, "I think he told me he was visiting Dr. Kisuke - whoever that is."
While the person who Yuzu had unknowingly spoken about may have seemed like a stranger to her, the name was not unfamiliar to Ichigo's ears. He vaguely remembered their introduction to one another at the Masquerade Ball when he had obnoxiously called out to his father across the room. Oddly enough, the two had apparently an established business relationship from a few years ago that Ichigo had not been previously told about until that night. His father had been weary of the physician and Ichigo never learned the reason as to why.
The entire situation angered Ichigo. He understood he couldn't control his father and his unreliable actions, but he did wish the man had taken his sisters into consideration when he left them behind.
"Ichi-nii?" a different voice called from inside the home, "What are you doing here? Did you lose the tournament already?"
At the sound of the affectionate nickname, Ichigo's eyes diverted from Yuzu and immediately met with Karin's dark orbs. Her hair was tousled from her sleep, but besides from that, there was no significant change to her appearance. She looked just as she had when Ichigo had departed from the village.
After his sister's sarcastic comment was spoken, her playful words made Ichigo realize how much he had missed the small interactions with his siblings. They were always very close and never had spent more than two days apart from one another. Therefore, it struck Ichigo as odd when he noticed his sisters had been completely fine on their own without him. Although he didn't want to admit it, his father was on point when he said the girls were maturing into "young women". It almost felt as if Ichigo had missed a major milestone in their lives, despite only being away from them for a month.
Either way, his personal opinion didn't matter, he was just relieved to see them happy and healthy.
With quick steps, Ichigo acknowledged his sister and threw his arm over her shoulder. Then, he shoved Karin into his stomach and ruffled her hair with his other hand.
"Thanks for having confidence in your big brother, Karin," Ichigo joked, "It really means a lot to me to know you have my back."
Karin attempted to fight Ichigo off by shoving him away, but it was all in vain.
While the two siblings roughed each other up, Yuzu turned her back to the lunch she was making and blurted out what she had been thinking since her brother's return.
"Onii-chan," the one who was known for her worrying asked, "Not that we dislike you being here, but why are you back in the village?"
Of course, Yuzu's question was natural and something he had been expecting from his sister. At some point or another, he was going to have to confess his real purpose for visiting. Unfortunately, the time had come sooner than later and Ichigo couldn't withhold the truth forever.
Carefully, Ichigo released his grip on Karin before he went ahead and made his announcement. He wanted to see their expressions once he told them that the Princess of the Karakura kingdom was waiting outside to meet them.
When all eyes were on him, he proudly revealed to the twin girls, "I've got a surprise for you."
The introductions had gone surprisingly well and for the most part, Ichigo sensed the worst was over. He criticized himself for over-thinking that something was to go wrong upon the first few minutes during the meeting. Truthfully, Ichigo didn't even truly know what he had been paranoid over from the start. His sisters always minded their manners and Ichigo had yet to see a person Orihime didn't get along with. Therefore, why had he worried so much over it? As they all sat down at the small wooden table in their restricted living space, the peasant couldn't contain his curiosity. He hesitantly glanced over at the Princess to assess her opinion on the situation. When his eyes wandered to the side of him, he closely studied Orihime as she comfortably adjusted herself in her unsteady chair. Her dilated orbs of color were darting from one corner to another, silently noting every ounce of detail in the cottage. As Ichigo thought on it, he assumed this had been the first time the royal girl had ever stepped inside a home such as his before. In this case, as he had often been, Orihime was now the observer. The surroundings were unfamiliar to her, but in no way was she judgmental to her curtain lodgings. If anything at all, she seemed more lively and fascinated by the littlest of things.
"I apologize for this meager meal, Inoue-sama," Yuzu implored to the table as she sat down several plates of food, "If I had known beforehand that you were visiting, I would have prepared something more to your liking."
The glowing maiden quickly waved off the child's worry and offered an assuring smile in place, "Please, Yuzu-san. There is no need for such careless thoughts. You've cooked such a wonderful spread!"
The shy twin could feel her face begin to burn from the compliment, "T-then, everyone please help yourselves."
As soon as the words were spoken, multiple arms went reaching across the table to gather the delectable goods that were waiting to be eaten. Every plate was overflowing with food and it certainly warmed Orihime's heart to know she would be tasting home cooking that wasn't Sado's very own.
While the food was devoured and enjoyedby all, the conversation had yet to begun. There had been no time for small talk until after the four individuals had finished their meals. After devouring his lunch, Ichigo started to stand up and clear the dishes from off the crowded surface.
"Onii-chan, you don't have to do that," Yuzu began to argue against his actions, "You're visiting us, after all. You shouldn't be the one to clean up the mess."
With his hands full, Ichigo moved in the direction of their faucet and bucket, "Even if I am visiting, I still live here. Besides, Karin and you should get to know Inoue better. Ask her anything on your mind."
"Shouldn't you call her Inoue-sama?" Karin chastised him, looking over her shoulder to glare at her brother.
"Oh, don't worry!" Orihime blushed from the informal name that she was used to Ichigo addressing her, "I don't have a problem with it. In fact, he's always dropped the honorifics with me."
Karin turned back to the conversation and shrugged in her seat in response to her brother's rudeness, "If you say so, Princess."
"You three have such a lovely and quaint home," the aristocrat bashfully admitted, "Did you always live in Karakura? I mean, your father travels so much with his job, did you ever have to move to accommodate him?"
Rather than Karin speak, the twin nudged her sister to engage in the discussion instead, "Uh, yes! We've lived here for as long as I can remember. Otou-san never wanted us to neglect our education and he knew how much it meant because of his own morals. Sadly, Onii-chan had to drop out of school temporarily to support the family, and when he started working at the local blacksmith's, he never wanted to go back for some reason."
"I see," Orihime solemnly added, "That is unfortunate."
Although class was no longer in session for her due to the summer season, Orihime was and always had been very dedicated to her studies. While she did not attend a formal school like the Kurosaki siblings, a private tutor stayed with her for ten months out of the twelve in a year to teach her various subjects that were critical to her growing mind. Even though she was a girl who would soon inherit the throne in the coming weeks, her education was important to her. When Sora was alive and not away handling royal matters, he would assist her in homework and prep her for any upcoming course tests. He wanted her to succeed in every way, shape, and form imaginable. Naturally, she didn't want to disappoint her big brother and would engulf herself in her studies whenever Sora would leave the palace.
She didn't want to pry into Ichigo's reasoning for not continuing to choose to attend school, but naturally, it piqued her interest.
"I'd like to know something," Karin casually put forth as she hugged her legs underneath her chin, "What was your first impression of Ichi-nii?"
The question was one Orihime certainly had not been expecting during their first encounter. However, she recalled the hot summer day with much fondness as she snuck a peek at Ichigo's backside from the table.
"Kurosaki-kun probably doesn't want me telling you girls this, but the first time we exchanged words with each other was at the flower cart in the village," the girl shared, "I was visiting with a friend and got separated from her. I was walking around and spotted his unique hair color. I approached him and asked him if he needed help because it looked as though he was in deep concentration over something. He even had this scowl on his face. Initially, it occurred to me that he was probably choosing a flower for his significant other."
Before Inoue carried on, Karin mumbled under her breath, "Boy, were you mistaken."
The Princess giggled into her hands, "Soon would I come to realize that he was actually getting me a flower because of the Masquerade Ball that was being thrown in my brother's honor. However, I didn't make the connection until much later when we came face to face with one another at the party when your father introduced him to me. When we went out on the dance floor, I couldn't shake this feeling that I knew him from somewhere. After we finished our dance, your brother leaned over to me and asked if I was the girl he had spoken with at the market."
The story wasn't meant to take an extended amount of time, but the Princess couldn't skip out on any of the details. Once she started, she was unable to stop herself.
As she paused to take a breath from all of her chattering, Yuzu appeared to be on the edge of her seat. She stared at the Princess with widen eyes, waiting for the royal guest to proceed further.
"What was your response, Inoue-sama?" Ichigo's sister anxiously inquired.
Orihime's glossy lips turned up into a beautiful smile, showcasing her perfect teeth as she replied to Yuzu's adorable question.
"I said, 'Scowl face-kun?' - That was the name I had given him when we parted ways at the marketplace. And right away, everything clicked in both of our brains!"
"But why Scowl face-kun?" Karin entertained her.
The aristocratic figure was hesitant to give an answer. She, herself, had never given much thought as to why she had created the name. Although, she did find it to be truly fitting to Ichigo's character. For quite some time, even after his arrival at the palace, the peasant often wore a strained expression on his face during their every meeting. She never saw it as being unpleasant. In fact, it was a memorable trait that belonged to Ichigo alone.
Underneath the table, Orihime nervously squeezed her hands together. The pressure to suddenly reveal her reasoning for the name made her heart skip a beat. What if she said the wrong thing, and in turn, caused Ichigo to hate her for it? She most certainly didn't want to offend him.
The Princess quickly gathered herself and presented the truth to the siblings, "Well you see, I was trying to lead into my explanation as to what my impression was of your brother. When I got my first glimpse of him, I was slightly intimidated by his demeanor. However, after talking with him for a bit, I decided he was actually a very caring person."
With the conclusion of her inner thoughts having been revealed, the seventeen-year-old lowered her head to conceal her bright red face.
"Oh, how romantic!" Yuzu cried out with glee as she cupped her own face with her hands to control her reaction the best she could.
The other sister had the complete oppositereception.
"Yeah, what a real life fairytale," Karin rolled her eyes in slight disgust, not finding any appeal in the story.
A few moments passed with unspoken words as Ichigo finished the last of the lunch dishes. When he dried off his hands, he set aside the used towel and joined the girls at the table.
"Since I'm done here, I'm going to go show Orihime around the village," Ichigo declared to his sisters while his eyes gravitated in the direction of the flushed maiden who had glanced up upon the sound of his voice.
It didn't take the siblings very long to take the hint that their brother was trying to convey to them. The girls started to rise from their seats, as did Inoue once she realized she was being spoken to despite how preoccupied her thoughts had become from the previous discussion.
"Good idea, Onii-chan!" Yuzu encouraged him, "I guess that means we have to say goodbye to Inoue-sama now?"
As much as Ichigo disliked being the result of his sister's disappointment, the teenager did not want to keep the Princess in the village for much longer. He was worried that word of her visit may have spread, despite taking all of the precautions to ensure her safety. Nevertheless, there was no telling what could happen if someone spotted and recognized her. He was not willing to take any chances.
Reluctantly, Yuzu and Karin said their farewells and within a few short moments the young couple's intoxicating presence dissolved along with the sweltering heat of the afternoon sun.
The pair exited the cottage in one swift and fluid motion. As a result of his hurriedness, Orihime sensed Ichigo was pressed to leave his home much sooner because he feared his sisters would probably continue to ask more embarrassing questions. As much as she would have enjoyed the young girls' company, it was clear for her to see that Ichigo was not entirely pleased to be back at his place of birth.
As she trailed behind the peasant, she took notice of the direction in which they were heading. Rather than staying true to his original plan, the adolescent man had diverted away from the bustling threshold of Karakura. Instead, he had guided her to the entrance of a heavily condensed forest which grew only just a few short feet away from where his family's small structure stood. When she approached the foot of the forest, she stopped herself from walking further on despite the considerable distance Ichigo had put between them by leading her. She had no clue as to where the seventeen-year-old boy was taking her and she was weary as to whether or not she should question him.
Before continuing on the journey, she nervously peaked from under her cloak and glanced over her shoulder. The sights and sounds of the village were ever more present, and she could not believe how close in proximity she was to the people she was born to protect in due time. However, she knew there would be plenty of opportunities for her to greet the lower class in the future when her Name Day arrived.
Turning back, Orihime inhaled a deep breath of air that she would put to good use. Past the forest clearing, laid a concrete staircase which assisted people up the hill due to the depth of the land. The Princess imagined that at the end of the path she would be treated to a beautiful view. After all, what other reason than that could there possibly be for Ichigo to bring her to the secretive location?
Shortly after taking in her surroundings, Orihime gathered up her dress skirts and began to ascend the stairs, still not knowing what to anticipate when she reached her destination. Unfortunately, as a result of her pausing to take a small break, she had lost sight of Ichigo. She was unable to spot him and his bright hair, yet she was certain that Ichigo would not abandon her in an unfamiliar place. Moving forward at a comfortable speed, the Princess observed that the sun had taken refuge behind the clouds. However, the humidity did not decrease in the slightest. The multiple layers she had on did not help her case and by the time she approached the end of her hike, she could feel her pores start to sweat.
Once she calmed her breathing from the climb, the maiden's heart almost jumped out of her chest due to the shock she was given when she finally recognized the place where Ichigo had led her. From the corner of her vision, past the brush of over grown weeds, a weather-beaten sign jutted out from the ground. The tired girl cautiously walked towards it, at first unable to read the words engraved on it. She skimmed the surface with her fingers and despite the faded words, was capable of identifying the writing:
"Karakura's Cemetery & Mausoleum"
"May the souls of our loved ones finally find the peace in heaven they deserve."
As soon as she came to grasp the meaning of what Ichigo was trying to silently communicate to her, Orihime glanced around for the teenage boy who had left her to her own devices. The tombstones which covered the land were of all different sizes and styles. Furthermore, the level on which she stood on was one of many. If she desired to find her traveling partner, she would have to continue to climb the set of stairs that resided at the bottom of the hill she had stopped to take a rest on. Still slightly uneasy about what Ichigo's intent was behind the unexpected visit, the Princess' stomach began to churn with nerves. Without wasting even more time, Orihime proceeded her journey through the cemetery in silence. She did not want to call out to Ichigo, deeming it herself unfit to do so in such a reserved atmosphere. Instead, for every few steps she would take, she would survey the surroundings, looking for any sort of indication if the peasant boy was close.
Within a few short minutes, as she began to near the very top of the cemetery, the aristocrat spotted a familiar shade of orange hair in the distance from the corner of her vision. When she recognized the unique attribute, she halted her progression and stood on the edge of the pathway. Not much further down the path was where Ichigo resided. He hadn't heard her approach, which was understandable considering he had been kneeling with his head bowed in front of a marked grave.
Unable to say anything, Orihime innocently stood in place and watched as the boy prayed for the person he had lost. After he concluded his private thoughts, he rose to his feet and turned his focus onto the apprehensive girl who was staring at him with distressed eyes.
It was probably time he revealed his reasoning for bringing her to such a private and intimate location. Refusing to allow himself to continue delaying the process, Ichigo began to move his suddenly heavy body in the direction of the Princess. As he advanced, his attention did not waver from her.
Within a few short steps, the gap between them closed dramatically. Once he reached her and stood face to face with the aristocratic girl, Ichigo offered out his hand for her to take with a solemn smile. As she grabbed Ichigo's hand, Orihime was particularly in a daze. Her body was shaking uncontrollably as Kurosaki led her down the same individual path from where she had originally found him. Despite how much she wanted to deny what she undoubtingly suspected as soon she discovered the sign, the Princess refused to reveal her initial thoughts to Ichigo.
When Ichigo guided her to the gravestone, Orihime had by chance closed her eyes. After they stopped moving and no words were spoken, the frightened maiden slowly fluttered her eyelids open to observe what was in front of her. Upon quickly examining the plaque on the memorial, the Princess' heart shattered upon realizing what she had feared all along.
"Masaki Kurosaki"
"A loving daughter, wife, and mother"
"May you continue to spread your infectious smile in heaven with the angels"
Finally, after what felt like an eternity – Ichigo spoke with an unease in his voice, "I haven't been completely honest with you about myself."
The Princess was at a loss of what she should do. What would be an appropriate response for the abrupt situation that she had unsuspectingly found herself in? It felt wrong of her to be standing in front of the grave of a person she had never met before. Yet, oddly enough, despite having never actually encountering the woman in her lifetime, they did share a common connection.
Naturally, the mutual link was Ichigo Kurosaki – the boy who was standing by her side, clutching her hand tightly within his very own.
"Kurosaki-kun, you didn't have to do this," the Princess confided to him, her eyes moving back and forth between him and the tombstone.
She didn't want him to feel obligated to tell her anything. At most, she should be the one held responsible for putting him in such a position. As she thought back to their first date out by the lake, she remembered asking him about his family. His response had been short and simple, "She's not here anymore." In addition, Orihime also recalled a different incident during his visit to her bedroom in the middle of the night. She had noticed that he was acting a little peculiar after talking with him for a bit. Being curious, she volunteered her advice to him if he was willing to share what was troubling him. However, he brushed her off and changed the subject.
Was he trying to correct this particular wrong of his?
"I'm sorry, but it's been hanging over my head for a while now," the dismal teenager indicated to her cautiously. Shortly after saying this, he veered his head to the side of where Orihime was standing next to him and stared intently at her. Without breathing another word, he let a moment of silence pass between them before deciding what he wanted to properly express to the mystified maiden.
The Princess squeezed Ichigo's hand more tightly, physically reassuring him that he didn't have to go through with whatever he planned to do.
"It's okay, Kurosaki-kun," the aristocrat calmly professed, "You don't have to tell me anything you're not comfortable with, alright?"
Unfortunately, her consoling words only seemed to fuel the situation.
"You of all people should know how it feels, Inoue!" Ichigo insisted, jerking his arm way from the caring girl.
Suddenly, it wasn't making any sense. What was he referring to and why he had become so heated within such a short period of time?
"What is it that I should know? Please, Kurosaki-kun, let me help you!" Orihime began to plead with him for answers.
His back was turned away from her, but he was within arms' reach. Nevertheless, she remained frozen in place as she waited for Ichigo to say a single word—anything—t0 calm her restless heart.
"Your brother was taken from you, unexpectedly by an unknown assailant," the orange-haired boy responded in a leveled tone.
How could she forget that devastating day from two years ago? It would forever be etched into her brain as a result of someone's own selfish desire to bring pain upon her already small family.
"My sisters," he went on, "were robbed of getting to know my mother because of me."
As Orihime anticipated for Ichigo to release his skeletons, the stormy sky made its presence known as it rumbled overhead with intensity. The surrounding trees began to sway in the wind, and the leaves rustled as a sign of the approaching rain.
When another cycle of silence enveloped the teenagers, the Princess did not press the peasant for an explanation. She observed Ichigo from her close proximity with him, and sighted the strained expression which began to take form as he remained still for several seconds.
"You're going to be repulsed by me when I tell you this, Inoue," Ichigo heatedly disclosed, reeling his body around to finally confront her with his demons.
The young woman couldn't even begin to imagine what it could possibly be that led to Ichigo's fractured self-confidence. Throughout the majority of the day, she had been following his instruction and she trusted his judgment. Despite knowing it was only the two of them in the cemetery, Orihime could not shake the feeling that they were not alone. As soon as the peasant began to show hints of agitation around the gravestone of his mother, the Princess was aware of the oppressed atmosphere.
"Kurosaki-kun," the teenager's voice unknowingly shook with concern, "I promise you I won't be frightened off by what you have to say."
Her comforting words appeared to ease a fraction of the tension in Ichigo's hardened expression. Nevertheless, Orihime sensed she had not completely taken the burden off of her companion's shoulders. He was still hesitant to reveal to her what he had been keeping hidden from her since the beginning of the trip.
"Only my father and I know the truth about my mother's passing," the troubled individual solemnly murmured to the girl.
"How come it's only the two of you?" the Princess pressed on for the secret which clearly haunted the peasant.
"He and I...," the adolescent paused as the memories came to the forefront of his mind, "were both there when it happened."
Despite Orihime's consciousness urging her not to further inquire about the details of Masaki's passing, she wanted to be supportive of Ichigo and his decision to tell her about the private matter regarding his mother.
While the teenagers shared the tragic bond of losing someone very dear to them at a young age, the circumstances surrounding their loved ones' death were dissimilar in one very large way.
"What happened to her?" the head of the Inoue Family timidly questioned, "Your mother, I mean?"
As she comfortably kept her distance to give him all of the breathing space he required, the Princess glanced up to the darkening sky. At any moment, the clouds were bound to let loose the rain it had been postponing since she first noticed their stormy presence.
Fortunately, after slight coaxing on the Princess' behalf, Ichigo released the heavy weight from off his broad shoulders. Before he spoke, the teenager with the chocolate-colored eyes faced Orihime with a conflicted expression etched into his rigid features.
"My sisters were told that my mother passed because she fell unexpectedly ill," Kurosaki maintained a hoarse tone with her.
"But you say otherwise," the beauty softly acknowledged his claim from earlier.
Ichigo lowered his head, unable to find the strength within himself to confidently look the young woman in her eyes. The compassion she had displayed to him throughout their journey and tournament was more than he deserved.
"The truth is, Inoue," Ichigo went on as his hands trembled at his sides, "I killed my mother."
Seconds after the shocking confession, thunder rumbled at their feet and the droplets of rain spattered their clothing with water.
Orihime's arms wrapped themselves around her waist for she felt the need to steady herself on her feet. She was not prepared for this information, regardless of what she had told herself prior to the revelation. She thought she would have been able to handle Ichigo's secret with composure and sincerity.
However, her world was currently spinning and it had been turned upside down.
"Ichigo is a murderer."
"He killed his own parent."
She lost her brother because he was murdered and taken from her in a very public manner. She would never sympathize with him over his actions. He should be condemn to death just like the other criminals in the kingdom. How was he still standing before her with his head bowed?
It all felt like a cruel joke to her. He has a family who loves him dearly. Why would he ruin the perfect dynamic she could only wish for in her dreams? Furthermore, she found it difficult to give him the benefit of the doubt.
But most importantly, with the truth out in the open, where do they go from here? There was no turning back from this.
Just a little side note, this chapter coincides with Chapter 11 (Stray Dogs) because it give a little insight about what happened with Ichigo at a young age in case you are lost and are looking for an explanation. More shall be revealed in the next chapter regarding Masaki's murder. Stay tuned!