AN: I'm sorry to everyone and I'm thankful to a dearest friend. Thank you.

Chapter 4

Ichigo's Pov

I literally felt my life being dragged out. I couldn't help but wallow at myself as I wondered downtown, mindlessly walking to no place in particular. Looking around I see many faces of different people, all of whom were self absorbed in their own life. Humans tend to think that the world revolves around them, that others held no feelings, no life. I was one like that too, thinking about myself and how my actions had injured everyone else. What am I now? Am I like them, these faces that merge in the background, or am I more? I guess I am what I make myself to be.

I don't know how long I was walking, but it seems that the sun had set a while back, leaving the sky pitch black without stars to brighten its void. I don't care where I am; maybe if I get lost I'll remain lost. Nobody would come looking for me. A child's cry woke me out of my desperate state. He looked to be a young boy with black hair spiked in many directions, like mines. He had tears falling from his face and he kept sniffling from his mucus infested nose.

"Hey, kid," He jumped and looked startled as he just noticed my presence, "Why are you crying?" Even though he was crying not a while back, he managed to look strong and shook his head. I crouched down to his height, "It's alright to cry and ask for help at times, it shows that you care." He still seemed to be a bit hesitant. "The name's Ichigo, by the way."

"S-s-strawberry?" He managed to stutter out, his voice still shaky and broken.

"The one and only," Even though it also means, 'the one who protects' I wouldn't say it to him, he needed a little laugh, "what's your name?"

"Itsuki Minami, but everyone calls me Ikki."

"I like Ikki, it's short and sweet. So, Ikki, what are you doing out here all alone?"

"I was trying to run away."

"What? Why would you do such a thing?"

"I didn't want to be a bother to others."

"That's no reason to run away, think of all the people that would be hurt if they found out that you were gone! You're hurting them more of running away than to bother them." I don't know how to explain myself, but I realize that in a way, I am like this kid. I was wishing to run away, run from my problems than to face them. Was it fate that made me meet this child, to make me realize my own mistakes? "I was planning to run away too."

"You were?! Maybe we can run away together!"

"I don't think so kid, I changed my mind. I'll stay to fight my own problems. What about you? Are you still going to run away?"

"No."

"Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Cause if nii-san will stay, then I will stay!"

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear," well not exactly but it's not like I had a plan for making this runaway child change his mind, who knows what would've happened to him. This world is a cruel place at times. I outstretched my hand and he took it greedily, clutching it as if his life depended on it, "so where do you live?"

For an attempted runaway, he sure did make it very far, took nearly 3 hours to get to his place. If I had never found him, I don't even what to imagine what he would've done. This kid was literally driven by determination. I pray for his guardians, how do you even control a kid like this?! Within those three hours he never released my hand and kept talking about his sisters. We might've had a little stop on the way, he looked hungry, and he ate both the food on his plate and the money in my wallet.

"We're here." Finally after so long, it was well into early morning, the sun would break the horizon soon. Thinking back on it, I never called Yuzu to tell her of my absence, she must be worried sick. I'll call her after I make sure Ikki is safely returned to his family. I raise my hand to the door and knocked. Rapid running and yelling seemed to be heard from inside the house, the door was forcefully opened to reveal the woman I met a few nights ago. Her hair seemed to be a mess, her eyes were bloodshot red, nose bruised a horrible shade of red, and the tear marks would still be seen on her cheeks. Her eyes skipped over me and landed on Ikki.

She fell to her knees in relief and wrapped her arms around Ikki, placing her head into the crook of his neck and sobbed silently. Ikki must've seen the damage that he did as he too began to cry, "I'm sorry."

She pulled herself away from him and held him within arm's length so that they could see each other's faces, "Don't you ever do that again, you hear me?! You had everyone worried and scared, they had searched for you everywhere! Promise me that you won't disappear ever again!" He nodded silently. The woman landed her eyes to me, "Thank you for bringing him home. Thank you."

"Nii-san brought me home!" Ikki yelled happily.

"And what's nii-san's name?" She managed to get a grip on herself, but you can't erase those tell-tell marks of tears.

"Ichigo!" Ikki beamed.

"Ikki! You do not go around calling people names like that!" She scolded.

"My name IS Ichigo." Of course she would've doubted Ikki.

"Oh, well then, Strawberry, I'm Rika, Rika Noyamo. Please come in and meet the rest of the family. I'm sure they would like to thank you as well." As she said that three more teared faces showed themselves in the background.

Tatsuki's Pov

Would I really take that woman up on her offer? Am I really that desperate for a pair of air treks? She seemed to be manipulating and gave a bad vibe. I decided to not visit that eerie woman. Regardless of her acclaimed position in society, she could be an elite leader for all I care. I want to earn my skates the right way; I'll earn all the money for it with my own hard work. I know it will take some time to share a dream with Ichigo but he'll understand, he must understand.

"Don't worry Ichigo, I'll hold on to my promise." I said to myself. Now all I had to do was look for a job.