Ichigo couldn't believe the state that he was in now. He, one of the best fighters of all of Karakura since his middle school days, was kneeling in front of a petite woman who had her arms crossed in front of her. She was still holding the big book in one of her hands, which has thankfully stopped smacking him.
How did this happen again? Ichigo asked himself.
Flashback
Rukia, as soon as she saw him in front of her was so shocked that she stood there, with her mouth hanging open, for a few seconds. She finally got out of her trance when Mai started to pull on her sleeve.
"Mama, are you okay?"
Rukia shifted her eyes towards her worried daughter and closed her mouth.
"Yes, I'm alright."
Ichigo couldn't help but allow a small snort to escape his throat as he smiled. But Rukia could hear the sound, so she faced him again, but now, instead of shocked look, she gave him an evil glare that could've made a tree sink back into a seed.
Rukia picked up her purse, which she seemed to have dropped when she saw Ichigo, and started to search for something. "Takeshi, take Mai and go buy some ice cream."
"But okasan—"
"Now," Rukia said sternly as she handed him some money.
Knowing he couldn't argue, Takeshi grabbed the money and his sister's wrist, and walked outside.
As soon as the front door closed, Rukia walked over to the kitchen counter, averting Ichigo's eyes, and grabbed the nearest cookbook. Fortunately, Yuzu left her biggest, hardcover, book out.
"Oi Rukia—" Before Ichigo could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Rukia who smacked the book across his face, sending him flying across the room.
"Bitch!" he yelled out as soon as he sat up, one of his hands placed over his painful cheek, "What the hell was that for—"
He was interrupted again when Rukia walked up to him and smacked him again… again… again…
End of Flashback
Ichigo was now kneeling in front of Rukia and the two weren't saying anything to each other. The tension in the air was immensely thick and Ichigo didn't know how to get rid of it. He was trying to think of something when Rukia interrupted his train of thought.
"What the hell are you doing here, Ichigo?" Rukia finally asked him.
"What the fuck, Rukia. This is my house—OW!" Ichigo grabbed his head where Rukia smacked him again with the book. "Enough with the hitting, you damn woman!"
Rukia gave him another glare, as if threatening him to shut up or else she was going to hit him again. But Ichigo stood up and glared back at her as if to say that he was going to retaliate next time.
Knowing this was going nowhere Rukia gave out a loud sigh as she walked towards one of the couch and sat on it.
"What are you doing here?" she asked again.
"This is my home," he replied, again, still standing and glaring at her, "Am I not allowed to come back to my own house?"
Rukia eyebrows furrowed with more anger. "You still think you can call this place your home when you mysteriously disappeared almost seven years ago?"
Ichigo replaced his glare with his usually "snobby-attitude"-like grin. "This place is more my home than yours.
"You fuck—"
"Let's stop talking about that," he interrupted her this time. He finally sat down on the same couch as Rukia but left the middle seat empty, not wanting to get too close to her while she was still holding the book. "Let's talk about something else instead."
Rukia could feel a vein pop in her forehead. This bastard— "Like what?"
"Oh I don't know, like about Mai?" he said.
As soon as Ichigo mentioned her daughter's name, Rukia's annoyed expression suddenly changed.
"What about Mai?" Rukia asked.
"Let's see," Ichigo rubbed his chin, "Like how old she is, and what color she likes, and WHY THE HELL YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THAT I HAD A DAUGHTER?" Ichigo yelled out the last statement.
But Rukia didn't seem phased by his loud voice at all. Seriously, it's been years since he last yelled at her this loudly but she was still used to it.
"What makes you think she's yours?" she asked.
Ichigo snorted. "I can see enough proof."
"Proof?"
"Her hair," Ichigo pointed to his own hair, "Who in Karakura, or anywhere else for that matter, has orange hair?"
Rukia couldn't help but allow a small smile come across her face.
"Observant as ever," she said.
"So tell me," Ichigo turned to face the woman next to him, "What are Takeshi and Mai like?"
Rukia only turned her head to face the father of her children. She gave out a long sigh and closed her eyes. "You've been gone for seven years, Ichigo," she started, "Why the hell do you want to know about them now."
Ichigo was a little startled by her response. "Rukia, they're my kids—"
"You disappeared when Takeshi was only three," she interrupted as she opened her eyes and gave him a small glare, "You weren't even involved in half of his life, let alone the fact that you haven't been around Mai her entire life."
"I didn't know about Mai," Ichigo whispered his reply.
"But that doesn't excuse what you did to Takeshi."
Ichigo sighed as he leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes. She's right, he thought to himself, I'm not much of a father... heck, I'm even worse than my old man.
Rukia was still looking at the orange-haired man next to her. As if reading his thoughts, she started to speak. "Ichigo, I'm not denying that you are their father. But I'm just worried how the kids are going to accept you into their lives."
Ichigo opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling. "Before you came, the kids and I were talking. Renji was with us to help ease out the awkward atmosphere that was surrounding Takeshi, but he was suddenly called away… something about a burglary. Anyways, I told them that I was their father. Takeshi was a bit too shocked to say anything. But Mai seemed to be over-thrilled at the fact that she now had a dad."
Rukia nodded her head, "She has a cheerful attitude, just like Yuzu. But you should see her when she's mad. Even I admit that she reminds me of myself."
Ichigo let out a small laugh. "I bet. But when Mai tried to come near me, Takeshi kept holding her back. Guess I can't blame him."
"At least you can understand where he's coming from."
"Yeah, since I'd be no different if I was him."
Rukia smiled. "I'm guessing that you can already see the similarity between Takeshi and yourself."
Ichigo smiled too. "Yeah, anyone can see that that kid is just like me, except the color of his hair. He looks like me when I was his age, he can muster up the same frown, and he even talks like me."
"You have no idea how hard I tried to prevent Takeshi from turning into you."
"Oi!"
"I took advantage of your disappearance to do this, but in the end it seems like I've failed," Rukia shrugged her shoulders.
Ichigo didn't respond. He just pouted and looked away.
The two sat quietly for a few seconds, not sure what to say next. What is there to say? Rukia was forced to raise their two children by herself, while Ichigo mysteriously left seven years ago without even giving a reason why. And here she thought time would make him more mature, but he is still refusing to explain his long absence.
"I'm sorry."
Rukia turned around to face the man who broke the silence.
"I'm really sorry," Ichigo leaned forward and buried his head in his hands, "And…Arigato."
Rukia didn't know how to respond but smiled at him. She understood a little bit why he was sorry yet grateful at the same time. He was sorry for having been gone for so long, but grateful to her for having not just one, but two of his children, and was still waiting for him at his home.
"You're welcome."
Rukia looked intently at Ichigo. "Why did you come back? Actually, first tell me why you left. I have to know."
"I know you want to know," Ichigo sighed, "But not yet. I want to tell you but I can't at the moment."
"Why?"
"Because... if I tell you now, you might get hurt."
At that moment, the front door opened and a cool breeze filled the room.
"Nee-san!" Yuzu called from the front door, "Karin-chan and I met Taki-chan and Mai-chan at the grocery store so we decided to come together. Sorry for bringing them back so late—"
Yuzu's sentence never finished because as soon as she set down all of her grocery bags she saw an orange-haired man whom she thought she would never see again.
Karin walked in behind her sister and noticed her shocked expression. "Yuzu, what are you—" Karin also lost her voice when she turned her gaze towards where her sister was staring at.
"O-oni-oniichan?" Yuzu finally called out.
"Oi, Yuzu. Karin. It's been awhile" Ichigo gave his sisters a half wave with one of his hand.
"Oniichan!" Yuzu ran towards her older brother and gave him a big hug. "You're home. You're finally back!" She cried, allowing her tears to fall off her cheeks.
Ichigo hugged his sister back and looked up to see Karin still in a dazed. He slowly got Yuzu off of him and walked towards his other sister. "Karin—"
"Ichi-nii… Okaeri," Karin finally smiled at her brother who was patting her head like old times.
"Tadaima."
Rukia looked at Ichigo greeting his sisters and permitted a small smile across her face. But her expression suddenly changed when she noticed two small figures still standing by the door.
"Takeshi? Mai?"
Ichigo looked up upon hearing Rukia calling out his kids' names. And there they were, still standing outside the door.
Mai had a smile upon her face and quickly walked inside the house. She opened her arms widely as she ran towards the man who was her father.
"Papa!" she exclaimed. Ichigo smiled widely as he finally picked up his daughter and hugged her tightly. Mai squealed at the fact that she was finally hugging the father she has never met but always heard about.
Ichigo felt like he could cry. He was holding his daughter for the first time and it felt better than winning a lottery. He could hear his inside screaming FINALLY!
But Takeshi wasn't moving from his position. He looked at his sister hugging the man who ran out of their lives. How can she be that stupid?
Ichigo placed his daughter down and looked in front of him. He saw that his son still hasn't moved. Ichigo was starting to feel a bit uneasy.
"Takeshi—"
As soon as Takeshi heard his name escape from the mouth of his so-called father, he turned around and started to run.
"Takeshi!" Ichigo and Rukia yelled out together. But their son didn't hear them and he continued to run.
Ichigo quickly got his shoes on and ran after his son. He chased him for a while, but no matter how fast Takeshi ran, he still had no chance of outrunning his father who was twice his size.
"Takeshi!" Ichigo panted as he finally caught his son. But just as he grabbed Takeshi's arm, his son turned around and started to kick and punch him.
"Hanaste!" Takeshi yelled out.
Ichigo could feel his world starting to crumble upon seeing his son screaming and hitting him.
"Takeshi," he said softly.
"No!" Takeshi voice started to crack, "You are not allowed to call me by my name! You have no right! I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU!"
The little boy was trying to stay stern but his young mind was starting to run around in circles. He couldn't help but let the tears run down his face and he kept screaming at Ichigo to let go of him. He kept throwing punches and kicks at Ichigo who knew that they were causing bruises, but didn't retaliate. Ichigo just held his son's arm and allowed him to vent his anger at him.
"AHHHH!" Takeshi gave out one last scream as his knees finally gave out. But his body never met the ground as Ichigo was holding him up by both of his arms.
The tear-stained face of his son's face was making Ichigo hate himself a lot more than he already did. He bent down and pulled his son into his arms, allowing the boy to cry on his shoulders.
Behind them, Rukia was watching her son's cries muffle out from screaming into his father's shirt. She looked away, not knowing how much longer she could handle seeing her son like that. Without another glance she walked back home, knowing well that the two needed time alone… together.
Okaeri-Welcome Back
Tadaima-I'm Back
Hanaste-Let Go
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