Love Me Bitterly Loath Me Sweetly

Chapter 29 *Karakura City : Ugly Measures* Ichigo

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September 2005

The next morning came and I was ready to leave this city with lots of optimism. Last night was so much fun, I drunk and let loose had sex and enjoyed myself.

I made my way to the car and we drove back to Karakura city. But, as Uryu speeds up, I find my stomach tightening nervously.

The streets of my hometown feel foreign to me now. I look at them with the distant eyes. Noting how big everything appears. I realized this City has developed, restaurants, cafes, shopping malls bombarded the place. The once lonely streets are now filled with bystanders.

It's been four years since I left. Even the Karakura school appeared bigger than usual, parched on the too right street. Rain. Her eyes. Kiss. Confession. I love you Kurosaki-Kun, and I pushed the thought away. I don't want to pass her house every day, to think about what I was a part of, the thing that will always be there. So, I brought the house away from her. As we drive down our street, I find myself sinking back in my seat. 'I don't want to see her house or she standing outside.'

"You okay?" Uryu turns, as if guesses something of what's going through my head.
"Y-yeah!"

Yuzu is already at the door when we pull up. I suspect she has actually been standing by the window for the past half hour. I see dad hovering behind her in the hall, wearing his office suit. And, I think they had an agreement to not talk to me or offer me a smile because Yuzu took a step inside when she saw me.

The Paparazzi is behind me, as I make my way up the main house. "Kurosaki Ichigo has finally returned home!" Taking photos and bickering at the same time. "Will he take over the Kurosaki empire, since he succeeded his business in Tokyo?"

Nothing has changed. The wallpaper is the same. The hall carpet is the same. Four years. I feel as if I have been away for a decade.

"We couldn't believe it when Uryu told us you had decided to come back." My dad had no expression on his face.

Off course. Uryu would be texting him or calling each day and everyday, as if he would let me go all this time without some kind of contact.

His face briefly light up when he sees Uryu behind me. "Uryu! You should also go Home, there's someone waiting for you there." He bowed, and drove in the direction of his house.

I walked inside the house and shut the door behind me, away from the 'click click' of the cameras. He throws the newspaper at me and I caught it.

I eyed him. Usually, by now, one of us should've been lying on the ground. So, I read the news out loud. "Ichigo Kurosaki will be the number one business man in no time and he's not even the CEO of his company."

"Not that one," He said, and I read another headline. "Ichigo Kurosaki helped the atmosphere with his new library openi__"

"Not, that one."

I went and read the third statement. "Ichigo Kurosaki booming in his business with right judgement calls, he got the business tender over Liltotto Lamperd." I rubbed my face. "I know, I haven't told you dad, but I can expla__"

"I'm proud of you, Son." He said, a warm smile breaking across his face. And he hugged me tightly, as if he missed me so much.