A/n: Raito wrote this one for a ichihime group, Five Lifetimes One Love. Sorry about the late update. College have been hectic for the both of us. I mean really. hahaha. But don't worry we will be updating this as much as we can.
Stone
Raito
"Ojii-san!" Kenichi exclaimed as he frantically jumped onto Isshin's arms.
"Ahh… my favorite boy!" Isshin said as he tightly embraced the boy.
"I've missed you, Ojii-san!" Kenichi stated, smiling widely. "Happy birthday!"
Isshin laughed and ruffled the boy's hair, "Thank you, boy!'
"He didn't sleep for a week because of this."
Isshin took his gaze off his grandson to his son. Ichigo was carrying a sleeping toddler on his arms.
"I see you have found the perfect defense to my welcome home kick." The oldest Kurosaki said quietly as he peeked at his granddaughter, who was comfortably slumbering against his son's chest.
"Nice to see you too, Oyaji." Ichigo grunted, under his breath.
"Now, now Ichigo… Isshin-san is just happy to see the children."
Isshin smiled at the voice of his son's wife. "It's good to know that you understand me Orihime-chan." He said, overdramatically.
Orihime giggled. "Happy birthday Isshin-san… good to see you again."
"Here let me take Yuki upstairs" Orihime said as she took both Yuki and the baby bag from Ichigo.
"I'll take the bag myself, it's a bit heavy."
"I'll carry the bag, Tou-san." Kenichi piped in. "I'm strong enough!"
Ichigo tapped his son's head. "Maybe later, when you're as big as Kaa-san."
The boy pouted. The ginger-haired woman laughed. "Give me the bag Ichigo, I can manage."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He reluctantly gave his wife the bag. She carried it on her left shoulder and shifted the little girl in her arms. "I'll see you later." She walked up the steps.
Ichigo exchanged looks with his son. He bent down. "Follow them and make sure they are comfortable." He whispered.
The little boy saluted and smiled. He then zoomed upstairs
Ichigo smiled, a bit. Energetic as always. He thought.
"But when I tried to do so, it would not come out right." Kenichi said, energetically, as he ate yet another forkful of spaghetti.
The adults at the table laughed out loud at the boy's story about pottery. Yuzu and Karin arrived moments after Ichigo and Orihime. Yuzu arrived with her husband, and like always Ichigo could not remember the poor guy's name. Orihime had to remind him for the nth time. Karin turned up alone. She was wearing her soccer uniform. She was a part of the Japan All-Women Soccer Team. She was awarded MVP last season. They always communicated with each other. Both of his sisters never failed to attend this annual reunion at their childhood home. No matter how busy Karin was or how far Yuzu home was, the always came. They loved Kenichi and Yuzu very much and were awfully keen in spoiling them, much to Ichigo's dismay.
"You're spacing off again."
Ichigo jerked his head to the direction of his wife. She smiled. He returned the gesture.
"Happy birthday to you!"
"Blow the candle Ojii-san!" Kenichi said loudly.
Isshin smiled and blew the candle in his cake. They all clapped their hands.
"Keyki… Keyki…"
"Looks like somebody's hungry." Orihime said as she tickled her daughter.
"Let's eat then!" Karin said.
"Can I have soy sauce on my cake, Tou-san?"
The orange-haired man cringed at the concept. "Umm… of course if you want, but only a little."
"Yay! I'm goanna share with Kaa-san!"
"Inherited Orihime-chan's taste, I see."
Ichigo looked at his father exasperatedly, and then nodded. "I hope Yuki doesn't or they will gang up on me to eat ramen with wasabi and honey."
Isshin walked out to the balcony Ichigo followed. He watched as his father poured sake in a glass. He offered it to Ichigo. "Here drink with me."
The shinigami representative accepted the glass.
"Take care of them."
"What are you talking about, Oyaji?"
"Your family, dummy."
"You don't have to tell me that!" He retorted, angrily.
His father snorted. "Just reminding."
Ichigo was about to reply when the sliding door opened.
"Ah… did I interrupt a grown-up talk?"
"Of course not Kenichi."
"Oh, good, they're looking for you inside, Tou-san, Ojii-san…"
For a moment time seemed to stop, as three generation of Kurosaki men stood quietly on the balcony.
"Come on then. It's getting cold here anyway." Isshin said, with a smile.
"I need to be going now." Karin said as she dusted her shorts. "Practice tomorrow"
"Yes, us too." Yuzu agreed. "Kakashi has work too. Happy birthday Otou-san."
She hugged Isshin tightly. She turned to Ichigo and Orihime gave each a hug. She hugged Kenichi and Yuki as well. "Visit us sometime okay."
Kenichi nodded. "Until next time, Yuzu-baa-chan."
"See you next time."
"Karin-chan, Yuzu-chan… Yuki's birthday, please come okay."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world Orihime-chan." Karin said, with a smile. "See you guys later."
The remaining Kurosaki watched as their cars drove off.
"We need to go too, Oyaji…"
Isshin smiled. "Yeah, be careful."
"Ano, Ojii-san…" Kenichi said, while rummaging his shorts' pocket, "this is for you…"
Isshin outstretched his hand Kenichi dropped an odd stone at his grandfather's palm.
"A stone eh…" the older man said. The stone was small, gray and has a unique swirl pattern at one end.
"I got it at the beach last week, when our class went there to pick up shells. Happy birthday, Ojii-san."
"Thank you Kenichi."
"Let's go now Ken." Ichigo said as he carried the boy. "Bye Oyaji… happy birthday"
"Bye-bye… jii-jii…" Yuki said with her hand wide open.
Isshin bid them goodbye. He slid the stone in the safety of his pocket. This was his best birthday yet.