The said man looked up from the Shakespeare book (that Rukia threw at him the night before) he was reading. He saw Rukia standing at the edge of his bed, dressed up like she was going out.
"You going somewhere?" he asked.
Rukia nodded. "I'm taking the kids out for a walk. Wanna join us? Might be a good time to try and work things out with Takeshi."
Ichigo agreed and he started to get ready to head out.
It was the beginning of November and so he grabbed a thin jacket and walked downstairs. He looked at the door and saw Rukia standing outside with Takeshi and Mai. Smiling, Ichigo got his shoes on and walked out, locking the door behind him.
"So, where are we going?" Ichigo asked as they turned around the corner of their street.
Rukia just kept walking in front of him, holding on to Mai's hand. "Nowhere in particular. We just like to walk around and let our feet carry us."
Ichigo smiled as kept following his little family. He could be really happy if only Takeshi, who was walking next to him, would smile a bit.
Once they reached a mall (he should've expected this), Ichigo gave (more like forced to give) Rukia and Mai some (reality: a LOT) money to go shopping, while he took Takeshi to grab a couple of drinks at the café. The two sat there quietly as they drank their drinks, waiting for the girls to return. But luck would have it, they were going to spend a long time shopping. Knowing that this was the best time to try and fix their relationship, Ichigo decided he should speak to his son.
"Takeshi," he said, "I know you're mad at me right now. And I wouldn't blame you if you hate me, too."
Takeshi stopped drinking but still didn't look at his father.
Ichigo continued. "I have no right to just leave and come back into your life like this. Heck, if I was in your shoes I would be reacting the exact same way. But—" Ichigo let out a sigh as he looked at his unresponsive son, "I want to ask for a chance: a chance to fix our family."
Ichigo waited for Takeshi to respond but the raven-haired, Kurosaki Ichigo-replica, kept his gaze on his drink. Feeling like it was hopeless Ichigo scratched his orange head and went back to his drink. Man, it was going to be harder to break Takeshi's wall than I thought, he thought.
"Ano—"
Ichigo almost choked on his straw as he heard his son's voice. He looked up and saw Takeshi's violet eyes staring straight into his amber eyes.
"I don't hate you," Takeshi whispered, but loud enough for his father to hear, "I just don't understand."
"I know."
"But, I want to understand!" Takeshi's voice grew louder with determination, "Please tell me, why you left!"
Ichigo stared at his son, unsure how to answer.
"Ne, otousan!"
Ichigo could feel his heart beating like crazy upon hearing Takeshi calling him 'otousan.' I've been wanting to hear that word again for so long.
Before Takeshi could say anything else, his father placed his hand on his head and ruffled his raven hair.
"I'm sorry," Ichigo said with a sad tone, "I wish I can tell you everything, but at the moment I can't."
"But otousan—"
"When you're older," Ichigo interrupted, "I promise to tell you."
Takeshi looked into his father's eyes but couldn't say anything else. His father was determined not to tell him anything, just as much as he was determined to find out.
Ichigo removed his hand from Takeshi's head and looked at him with a smile.
"Do you think we can start all over?"
Takeshi finally gave a small smile. "I'll think about it."
"Sorry for being so late!"
Father and son looked up to see Rukia and Mai standing by their table, arms full of bags. Ichigo could've sworn his mouth fell onto the table with shock.
"Close your mouth, Ichigo," Rukia commanded.
"What the hell did you buy?"
Rukia smiled sweetly at him. "Things you didn't buy us the last seven years. So think of this as your punishment."
Ichigo glared at her. "Punishment? You hit me with a book over a hundred times! Was that not enough for you?"
The two parents started to bicker at each other as their two children just stared at them. Are our parents always like this? No wonder they never got together.
Takeshi's train of thought got interrupted when he saw his father grab all the bags. "Hurry up! I'm not going to wait all day if I have to carry all this shit!"
It seems like his mother was able to persuade his father to carry all the bags. Mai quickly ran after her father when Rukia suddenly placed her hand on Takeshi's shoulder. He looked up to his mother's face.
"Did you have a good time with your father?"
Takeshi gave her a smile to relieve her of her worries. "I think so."
Rukia and Takeshi walked out of the café and followed Ichigo who was leaving the mall.
"But Ichigo, Mai and I aren't done shopping," Rukia called out sweetly.
Ichigo didn't even bother turning around. "Don't care. This is enough shopping for today."
Takeshi and Mai followed their parents as they kept arguing. They suddenly stopped when they saw a familiar face appear before them.
"Ishida-san!"
Ichigo watched as his two children run up to a glass-wearing man standing a few feet in front of them.
"How have you been, Takeshi? Mai?"
"We've been well!" Takeshi answered.
"I'm starting school this spring!" Mai exclaimed.
"And I'm doing well too."
Ishida Uryuu looked up and saw his old friend standing in front of him with his usual grin.
"Nice to see you again Kurosaki."
"How've you been, Ishida?"
The two old friends greeted each other with their usual cocky attitudes. Rukia shook her head with disbelief as she interrupted the two men's "reunification."
"Are you coming tonight for dinner, Ishida?" Rukia asked as she walked towards the men.
Uryuu nodded. "I wouldn't pass the chance of watching Kurosaki over here get beaten up by everyone."
"Oi!"
A/N: ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTER!
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