Chapter 16:

Ichigo Meets My Mum

Strawberries, Cherries, and an Angel's Kiss in Spring


A/N: Hey, everyone. Before you go to read this chapter, I want to start by saying thank you. Thank you for understanding and supporting me. I cannot thank you all enough. Okay, now on to the chapter. I hope you guys enjoy it.

It was a lazy Saturday morning, and I was in my room doing… nothing, as usual, when my Mum walked in with a worried look.

“Mum?” I sat up quickly.

She came and sat down beside me on my bed and looked at me like, really looked at me.

“Mum, what’s wrong?” I asked.

My protective instincts started to kick in as I saw the look on her face. I was getting ready to fight anyone who would upset her, even if it were my father.

“Did… did Dad do something?” I asked.

She shook her head quickly, “Your father did nothing.”

“Then why do you look so worried?” I asked.

“I’m worried about you,” she told me.

My eyebrow shot up as I looked at her quizzically, “What do you mean?”

“Okay…” she took a deep breath.

“I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to answer truthfully, okay?” she asked.

I nodded slowly, worried about what the question might be.

“Are you involved in any gangs?” she asked.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“Are you doing drugs?” she questioned.

“Excuse me?!” I stood up.

“It’s okay,” she stood beside me, smoothing my hair with her hand.

“We’ll get you the help you need, doctors, therapy, whatever you need to get you off those nasty things,” she cupped my face.

“Mum,” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Sit down,” I held her shoulders and made her sit on my bed before sitting on the floor facing her.

“I’m not on drugs,” I chuckled.

“You’re not?” she asked, sighing in relief.

“No,” I chuckled, “Where did you get that ridiculous idea from?”

“Well, you were keeping more to yourself than usual. You were constantly out. I mean, we all know you don’t have any friends,” she pointed out.

“Ouch!” I place my hand on my chest.

Okay, technically, it’s the truth still ouch.

“Mum, first of all, that wasn’t necessary and secondly…” I sigh.

“I promise I’m not involved in any gangs, and I’m not doing drugs or any of that shit,” I chuckled.

“Then why do you always look high?” she asked.

I bit my lip, contemplating whether to tell her that I’m in love with the enemy or I should go pretending I am on drugs and go ahead with the therapy I most definitely will need after my parents find out who I’m in love with. I have a feeling the phrase; “Out of 7 billion people in the world you chose to fall in love with someone we’re no longer associated with?!” will be passed around.

“Okay you’re not on drugs, and you aren’t involved in any gangs… then that only leaves us with…” she gasped loudly making me jump back.

Jesus Christ, lady!

“Is my boy finally in love?” she asked ruffling my already messy hair.

I must’ve looked like a fish out of water with how my mouth fell open.

“I wouldn’t necessarily… love is such a strong word that…” I tried to leave but my mother was stronger and managed to grab my arm and spin us around so we were face-to-face again.

“You are SO in love,” she giggled.

“Mum,” I smiled looking down.

“Oh My God! You’re smitten,” she grinned.

“Mum,” I rubbed the back of my neck.

“I want to meet her,” she blurted making my heart race faster.

“Today?!” I ask.

She nodded, eagerly.

“NO!” I yelled, startling her.

“I mean, no, not yet,” I shook my head.

“Why?” she whined.

“I promise to be good, and I won’t embarrass you, or show her your baby photos, or anything like that,” she crossed her heart.

Baby photos? That hadn’t even crossed my mind, I was too busy focusing on her finding out who she was, not on the different ways she could ruin the reputation, I worked so hard to build.

My mother snapped her fingers in front of my face pulling me out of her trance, THEN this lady proceeded to make a puppy face. Seriously, what’s it with the women in my life making puppy faces to get what they want from me? Too bad I’m a sucker for them too.

“Fine,” I facepalm.

“Yayyy!” she cheered and clapped her hands like a little girl making me chuckle.

“I swear she’s just like you,” I smiled shaking my head.

“Then she’s amazing,” my mother flipped her hair before waltzing out.

I decided to call Ichigo since I thought it would be the best way to handle it instead of text, and within two rings my girl picked up.

“Hey, Kyo, what’s up,” Ichigo yawns.

“Hey, Sleeping Beauty did you just wake up?” I chuckle.

“Maybe,” I could practically imagine the cheeky grin on her face.

I sigh, “So what time were you binge reading till?”

“Umm, what time is it?” she asked.

“11” I reply, not wanting to know.

“Umm maybe until 4…ish,” she yawned again.

“4!” I yell.

“Ish,” Ichigo adds.

“4ish or not go back to sleep,” I tell her.

“You’re hot when you’re bossy,” she giggled.

“Ichigo,” I say, sternly.

“Ooh do that again,” she whispers, seductively.

I try not to laugh.

“You’re impossible you know that right?” I chuckle.

“I know,” she replies, cutely.

“So why did you call?” she then asks.

“Why? Do I need a reason to call my girlfriend?”

“No, but you hardly ever call me like this, you’ll text me, but never call,” she replies.

“Well, I may have called you to tell you something,” I admit.

“Ah-ha! I knew it!” she laughed.

“Yeah, yeah, okay so, before you freak out, my Mum found out about us and now she wants to meet you,” I say, quickly.

“W-what? But if she finds out…” I hear her start to panic.

“Ichigo, deep breaths. Smell the strawberries and blow out the candle,” I tell her.

“What?” she asks, confused.

“Smell the strawberries, inhale. Blow out the candle, exhale.” I explain.

“Oh okay,” I hear her inhale and exhale.

“Good girl, now relax and don’t worry nothing’s going to happen, I know for a fact my Mum will love you,” I reassure her.

“Promise?” she asks, her voice quiet and small.

“Pinkie promise,” I tell her.

“Okay, what time should I meet you two?” she asks.

“At 4 at our coffee shop,” I tell her.

“I’ll see you soon,” she says.

“See you,” I end the call.

I tell Mum that we’ll meet her at 4 and she agrees, I’m so nervous but I know Ichigo is even more nervous, so I need to keep calm for her just in case things go south quicker than I realise.

4 O’clock comes quicker than I would’ve liked and the next thing I know I’m waiting for my girlfriend to turn up so I can introduce her to my mother. A few seconds later Ichigo arrives carrying a bouquet of roses.

“Hello,” she says, looking towards my Mum.

“Hello,” my Mum replies, a big smile on her face.

“These are for you,” she says, passing my mother the flowers.

“Oh, darling. You didn’t have to,” my Mum smiles.

“I wanted to give you these,” she replies, shyly. 

“Thank you,” Mum graciously takes the flowers.

We order our coffee and sit down at a table; I hold Ichigo’s sweaty hands under the table and she quickly retracts.

“Sorry,” she mumbles.

I see her rubbing her hand on her dress before placing it back in mine, I gently squeeze her hands in reassurance.

“Oh, goodness. I forgot to ask, what’s your name, my dear?” Mum asks.

“Akabane Ichigo,” she replies, a mixture of confidence and fear in her voice.

Mum gasps slightly and her eyes widen, our coffees arrive and the tension in the air is thick.

Mum clears her throat and finally speaks, “How are they?”

“Who?” I ask.

“Your parents,” Mum turns to Ichigo.

“They’re fine,” Ichigo looks down at her hands, folded in her lap.

“You know, I was the one who chose your name,” Mum says.

Ichigo and I perk up quickly.

“Really?” Ichigo asks.

Mum nods, smiling.

We were so close with your parents, and your Mum and I were best friends. She always wanted a girl and hoped I had a boy so one day they could get together, and look at the way fate works, you guys are together,” Mum beams.

Ichigo and I pass each other a wide smile.

“I was thinking about you for a long time, what you might be doing, where you are, how you looked, of course, I didn’t imagine you to be as beautiful as you are,” Mum tells her making Ichigo blush, shyly.

“Not as beautiful as you, you’re, gorgeous!” Ichigo says placing her hand on top of Mums’.

“Thank you, my dear,” Mum laughs.

“Oh no,” I say, sadly.

“What?” Ichigo asks.

“You stole my Mum from me,” I say, wiping a fake tear.

“Kyo!” Mum and Ichigo say at the same time, laughing.

I smile looking at my Mother and girlfriend bond, I think this is how every guy feels when the two most important women in his life bond the way these two are. I sip my coffee and sit in silence as the two women get lost in their conversation completely forgetting I exist.

Bear in mind, this is the only time I will allow that, next time they forget about me, I’m gonna give them the silent treatment.

minatika
icon-reaction-3
IceDonut
icon-reaction-3
Katsuhito
icon-reaction-3