"Okasan! Otousan! Hurry!" Takeshi screamed from a few yards ahead of them.
"Slow down Takeshi. She's not going anywhere so we don't have to rush," Ichigo called out to him but the smile on his face never wavered.
She laughed as their son still ran the rest of the way to the place they would visit together every year on the same day. Isshin and the twins were some ways behind them, taking their time to let the small family a chance to talk to the person they were visiting before anyone else.
"We're here!" Takeshi squealed as he ran back to grab his parents.
"Alright, alright," Ichigo laughed as he scooped up his son to walk the remaining few feet. When they reached their destination, he stood in front of a weekly-cleaned stone with the etchings Kurosaki Masaki written in the front. "Hey there 'kachan."
"Obaachan," Takeshi started, "Konnichiwa."
Rukia stood next to them as she bowed deeply in a form of respect. "How have you been, Kurosaki-san?" Stepping forward, she used the wooden ladle to spill water over the stone to wash away the dirt it had collected over the week, though it wasn't much. "Looks like your father has been keeping this place really clean," she told Ichigo.
He merely grunted as he let Takeshi down to kneel in front of his mother's tomb. He placed a gentle hand on top of it, not minding the cool water that was drying up under the hot sun. "Sometimes I think he comes up here every night to clean this place up," he said before smiling, "Right, 'kachan?"
Rukia chuckled as she watched Takeshi standing next to his father to place a small bouquet of flowers down. "Takeshi," she called out as she placed a hand on his shoulder, "Why don't you tell obaachan what you did yesterday?"
Takeshi's face immediately brightened up even more as he started his tale. "Obaachan, guess what? Ojiichan and I went to the market yesterday and we played soccer with some melons that we found there and then—"
Ichigo couldn't help rolling his eyes as he listened to his son's tale for the nth time. But that didn't stop him from listening to the story again. Because every time Takeshi talked about it, something new was always added to the story.
He still couldn't believe how much time had passed since the faithful night he and Rukia got pregnant with the child who was now rambling on and on next to him. It still felt like only yesterday that he held his son for the first time. This was the third time he was coming up here with Rukia, the first time being when she was well into her pregnancy. Of course Yume was there with them, but it was to be her first and last visit to Masaki's grave.
Three years have passed and Ichigo still couldn't believe how lucky he was. Never had he thought he would get a beautiful woman to be the mother of his perfect son. Sure it would have been nice if his mother was still alive and if his father wasn't such an idiot, but still everything seemed fine and dandy in his world. And nothing was going to mess it up…
Except his son growing up too fast.
Now he was starting to understand what Rukia was whining about the year before. Takeshi WAS growing up too fast. In a blink of an eye Takeshi was running around and talking like a little diplomat. He was afraid in another blink Takeshi would be going to college, leaving him and Rukia behind.
"And then okasan and otousan took me to the bathroom for a bath and we had another bubble war! It was fun but I fell asleep right after that," he finally concluded.
Ichigo chuckled as he placed an affectionate hand on his son's head. "That was a great story, Takeshi. I'm sure obaachan liked it." He got a bright smile in return.
Rukia smiled as she kneeled in front of the head stone and clapped her hands together I prayer. "Kurosaki-san, please say hello to my obaachan for me," she prayed. But after seeing the pout on her son's face, she included, "And please tell her about Takeshi's story too."
Takeshi's laughed as he wrapped his arms around his mother to give her an appreciative hug. The bright smiles on both of their faces brought a warm feeling in Ichigo's chest. Everything about this moment was perfect and it seemed like nothing could ruin it—
"WE'RE HERE!"
Except that.
Ichigo looked over his shoulder to see Isshin skipping towards them while his twin sisters were calmly walking behind him. With a sigh, he stood up to glare at his father. "Can't you quiet down? It's disrespectful to the dead."
"Nonsense! These dead people have been lying around and are bored to death!—no pun intended. Now, let's get the party started!"
"Yay!" Takeshi cheered. But before Isshin could start the annual 'Kurosaki Family's Tombstone Domino Rally,' Karin jumped up in the air and kicked him to the other side of the cemetery.
"Shut up and stay down!" she yelled at him, with Takeshi cheering for her this time.
"Why can't we visit okasan like a normal family," Yuzu sighed as she knelt in front of her mother to pray. In no time at all Isshin was back, running up to hug his daughter and grandson into his chest while screaming about how his children was growing up too quickly.
Ichigo watched from a few feet away, getting ready to punch him if he did anything stupid when he felt his hand being tugged. He looked down to see Rukia looking up at him, silently telling him to follow her.
Rukia slowly led him away from the others to talk to him privately. "Ichigo," she started, "I need to tell you something."
"What's up?" he asked, shoving his hands down his pants as he watched his father swing his son in the air, barely hitting Karin.
"Last month I sent in a painting I drew for a contest," she told him, finally getting him to look at her. "…And I won."
A brow went up as Ichigo thought about this. "What does that mean?"
"It means I get a chance to work with the famous artist Ukitake Jyuushirou and become his apprentice."
Seconds passed by in silence as Ichigo stared at her, his expression slowly changing as he started to process what she was saying. "Y-you're going to work?"
Rukia frowned at the way his was stuttering. "Why? Can't I?'
"No—I mean yes, I mean—'yes' you can work but…" He scratched his orange head as he tried to figure out what he was trying to say.
"But what?"
With a sigh, he looked away as he muttered, "I just didn't think you'd find a job this quick."
"Is that bad?" she looked at him earnestly.
Seeing her expression as it slowly turned from excitement to worry, he couldn't help but smile at the thought that his opinion mattered so much to her. He shook his head as he pulled her into his embrace. "No, of course not. I should be congratulating you."
Rukia sighed in relief as she melted against his warm body. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He pulled away to place a kiss on her forehead. "I can't wait to see a huge gallery open up with your name on it."
"Me too," she grinned.
He pulled away and asked, "Does that mean you have to leave?"
She shook her head. "Ukitake-san contacted me a few days ago and told me my apprenticeship doesn't officially start until next year. He's out of the country right now and won't be back for awhile. Then, he's planning to come to Karakura and we'll figure things out then."
"But do you have to leave when that time comes?" he asked again, still worried about her leaving him and possibly affecting their relationship.
Rukia shrugged her shoulders. "Hopefully not. If I do, I'm sure it's only up to Tokyo or some other large city, but not for long. He already knows about our little family here and is willing to work things out."
He finally smiled at that. "Good."
Everything was going good up to that point. He was whispering his plans to support her while she was explaining the kind of art she will be focusing on. Things should have just stayed on those topics but Ichigo just had to open his big mouth. "Still," he smirked, "I can't believe one of your horrendous drawings got picked. Are you sure this guy is an artist?"
The next thing he knew he was down on the ground with a big bump on his head.
"See you later!" Pressing a quick kiss on Rukia's cheek and Takeshi's head, Ichigo ran out the door with his hair still damp, clothes all wrinkled, and a piece of toast hanging out of his mouth.
Everyone else who was at home stared off to where a strong gush of wind had just passed through the entire house.
"Otousan?" Takeshi frowned.
Isshin laughed as he patted him on the head. "Yeah, it was otousan. I guess he was a lot late than the he thought."
"Still, he should have had some breakfast instead of a piece of toast," Yuzu pouted.
Karin dismissed the thought with a wave of a hand. "It's his fault for waking up so late."
Rukia nodded as she helped Yuzu clean up his plate. "And it's his fault for missing out on your great cooking, Yuzu." The younger twin just sighed in understanding as she went to the sink.
"Okasan," Takeshi called out, "Can we go to park today?"
Rukia tapped a finger against her lips as if contemplating. "I don't know, Takeshi. I thought we stay home and watch Chappy instead."
At the mentioning of the white bunny, Takeshi's eyes widened and started to sparkle. "Really! Then let's stay home!"
Watching her nephew's enthusiasm, Karin snickered as she looked at Rukia. "He's turning more and more like you."
Rukia nodded. "Just don't tell Ichigo that. Who knows what he might do if he finds out Takeshi likes Chappy."
Karin nodded as she got up and grabbed her bag. "Yuzu, let's get going," she called to her sister who was in the middle of taking off her apron. "We'll see ya later," she waved as she left the house.
"Bye! Have fun." Yuzu kissed Takeshi on the cheek before following her twin.
"Ah, looks like it's now my turn to leave and open up the clinic." Stretching his arms above his head, Isshin got up and made his way out. "If you need anything, just scream 'DADDY!'" He grinned.
"Bye bye ojiichan!" Takeshi waved as the door closed.
Rukia took the remaining plates on the table and started cleaning up. "Takeshi, okasan needs to clean up a bit so do you want to watch Chappy now or play with your toys first?"
Takeshi's face scrunched up as he thought over the two difficult choices. "Me wanna watch Chappy with okasan."
"And I want to watch it with you too," she grinned, happy things are working out so well. "Go up to your room and grab some toys. Play in the living room while I clean up, okay?"
"Hai!" With great excitement, Takeshi jumped off his seat and quickly ran up the stairs to grab his favorite action figures.
Smiling after his tiny form, Rukia returned to her task. She still couldn't believe how much Takeshi had grown over the years. He could now walk and talk all by himself that the thought of him leaving her nest someday was making her teary.
I wonder if Obaachan and Ojiichan felt like this too, she thought, thinking back to her childhood of the two sweet grandparents that took care of her.
By then Takeshi had returned with armful of toys and climbed up onto the couch to start playing. Nothing was going to distract him from his great role-play, not even his mother who was going back and forth doing what mothers always do.
Wash the dishes. Dust the cabinets. Clean the windows. Do the laundry. Vacuum the house. The list went on and on, leaving no time for a break. Seriously, school was easier because at least you get to sit around and there were breaks in-between classes. The vacuum was roaring against the floor of the living room when something started to move next to her leg.
Bzz. Bzz. Bzz.
Pulling the vibrating phone out of her pocket, she flipped it open and answered, "Moshi-moshi."
"Rukia?"
"Ichigo? Is something wrong?" she immediately asked, suspicious of his spontaneous call.
"Yeah, do you see a manila envelope by the kitchen counter?"
Rukia turned around and looked around until the said item caught her eyes. "Yeah, it's right here."
A sigh of relief came from the other end. "Can you do me a big favor and bring it to school before lunch? I totally forgot it was due today."
"Is this important?"
"That thing is my ticket getting out of this high school."
"Fine," she grunted, "Do you want me to bring you lunch too? You were in such a rush this morning you forgot it again."
"That'd be great," he said before adding, "Just as long as you don't burn the food—" His sentence got abruptly cut off when Rukia hung up the phone, ignoring the last comment before she decide to really burn his lunch.
While Takeshi was still busying himself with his action figures, Rukia returned to the living room to put away the vacuum cleaner so she could prepare lunch. "Takeshi! We're going to go see Otousan at school later."
"Yay!"
"Is there anything you want for lunch?"
"Sausages!"
Rukia chuckled, having already guessed he would say that. She started rummaging through the fridge to get his favorite food when suddenly her phone started to ring again. Assuming it was Ichigo again, she answered the call with a bit of irritation. "Ichigo, if you're calling to finish that sentence—"
"Rukia," a cold voice called out from the other end of the phone.
It was not Ichigo.
Rukia stood still, her complexion paling as she realized who she was talking to. "Niisama," she breathlessly gasped.
A/N: CLIFFHANGER!
I know a lot of you (who haven't ready the sequel) have been asking me about Byakuya...well here he is! And find out what happens later! I am so FREAKIN' excited!
...well, not much else to say here so stay tune for the ending!
And if you want your name on that list then please review!
Preview for next chapter:
Epilogue...Where did Ichigo go?
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