Chapter Text
5 years ago…
Ichigo Kurosaki lay unmoving on a grassy hill. His normally bright orange hair was dull and matted with blood. Most of it was his but not all of it. The chocolate brown eyes stared blindly at the clear night sky. Every inch of his six foot frame was bruised and bloodied.
The pain, however, was something he deserved. What was left of his family died yesterday. Car crash. By the time Ichigo had made it to the hospital all but Yuzu, his youngest sister were dead. The sight of Yuzu covered head to toe in bandages, barely breathing, would haunt Ichigo for the rest of his life. But nothing would pain him more than her last request.
"Nii-san… I missed you." Her voice was so breathy it was barely audible.
"Yuzu… I am so sorry." Ichigo sobbed. "I never should have joined up with the Arrancars. I should have…" A small hand on his stopped him. He looked up into the eyes that were so similar to his, the eyes that were rapidly dulling."
"Ichigo, nii-san… don't. I… get it… we did. Just… don't go back… leave the gang…please." The last word was a whisper. The sound of it brought new tears to Ichigo's eyes.
"I promise Yuzu." She gave him a smile, one so bright and full of memories long passed. As the life left Yuzu's eyes, she kept the smile.
Ichigo kept his promise. He bore the bruises to prove it. As Ichigo lay there under the clear night sky he felt the warm, wet tracks run down his face. He cried for the past, for his and his family's. Most of all he cried for time lost.