Insanity of Betrayal

mending

The next day, Ichigo and Nel woke to the usually out-of-commission Kurosaki household up and about.

"Yo, Isshin! Whatcha doin'? You aren't normally up this early." Ichigo said with a yawn, still dressed in his pjs.

Mister Kurosaki looked up to his neighbor's window. "Oh, sorry, Chizaki! Didn't mean to wake you!" he smiled, but ichigo could tell it was forced.

"Hey- old man! I got the food, where's the basket?" Karin called with her loud, bossy voice.

"Ohayogozaimasu, Karin." Ichigo said. "What're you up to?"

Karin looked at her shoes, silent for once. "It's the anniversary," she explained, with a trembling voice. "Six years ago today, my brother disappeared."

She wiped tears from her eyes, as her father continued.

"He was 16. Brilliant boy, that kid. Gifted. Selfless. He'd give his own life for his friends a million times over. We'd gotten used to him disappearing randomly- he did it quite often. But this time... He didn't come back."

Ichigo watched in shock as his dad furiously tried to hold back tears.

"I-I'm sorry for your loss," he stuttered.

"You kinda remind me of him," Isshin said. "You got the same aura. You put on a show of grumpiness, but inside you're a real softie." he smiled at a warm memory. "His name was Ichigo. Ichigo Kurosaki."

There was a moment of silence.

Then,

"Well, Chizaki, if you're not busy, would you two like to join us?"

The question caught Ichigo off guard. "Huh?"

"We're having a picnic after we pay our respects to his shrine," Yuzu said, coming out with a familiar picnic basket. The same one they had used when visiting their mother's shrine.

"We can come," Nel said, popping her head out the window, scaring the crap out of Ichigo. "We'll be down in a few minutes!"

A few minutes later, the five of them were walking down to the cemetery.

They paid their respects, then walked to a nearby park to have lunch.

"Itadakimasu!"

They dug into their meal, eating in silence.

Then, someone rushed out of the nearby woods, into the clearing, stopping by the blanket.

"Gomen na sai!" the out of breath lady said, huffing and puffing. "Sorry I'm late!"

Isshian grinned. "Ah! Rukia, my dearest adopted daughter, we missed you!" he laughed, going to hug her.

They embraced for a few moments, then separated.

Rukia was as short as ever- although she had grown a bit since he had seen her last. Her hair was less of a mess, and she was slightly taller- but still miles shorter than him. The only real thing that changed was that she looked older.

One look at her, and Ichigo could feel old feelings of anger seething inside him.

The ravenette bowed to the sisters and to Ichigo.

"I've never bet you before. I'm Rukia Kuchiki, a friend of the Kurosaki's. And you are...?"

"Oh! Rukia, daughter, this is our neighbor, Chizaki, and his cousin Meli. We invited them to join us today."

Rukia smiled at them, bowing. "Chizaki-san, Meli-san, it's an honor to meet you. Any friend of the Kurosaki's is a friend of mine."

Ichigo stayed silent.