Chapter 4 - Memories Hidden In A Dream

*Ichigo POV*
I was blocking that ungreatful brat from the hollow when suddenly she shouted and a massive wave of Reiatsu exploded out from her. It hit us all full force and blinded us. The heat was intense for a split second, then suddenly everything dimmed to nothing and the ground gave away. Noises, pictures, and sounds surrounded us as I and my friends fell. I looked around wildly, trying to locate everyone and make sense of it all. Just as sudden as we fell, we hit the ground. I groaned and stood up quickly. "Where are we?", I asked, looking around. It looked like an alleyway in a city, but the buildings were all dark and twisted. Suddenly, someone dashed out of the shadows and grabbed Uryu's Quincy chain, Chad 's coin necklace, Rukia's Zanpactou, Orohime's pins, and my Zanpactou. The sneaky little thief stopped, turned, and stuck out her tongue before turning around and running away. I became pissed and ran after the little brat with my friends not far behind me. The thief ran into one of the buildings and to the door at the end of the hall marked "1". We ran in right after she closed It and stopped. The scene in front of us was unbelievable. A father lay dying in a hospital bed as a cleaner, more sweeter version of the little thief keeled beside him. Her eyes were filled with tears as she whispered, "Daddy, pweez, Daddy, don't leave me alone!". The dying father smiled and said as he stroked her cheek lovingly, "Don't worry my little angel, i'll always be with you so you won't ever. . be . . . alone. . . .". He closed his eyes and his hand slipped from her cheek. The heart monitor went flat and her little eyes went wide with realization. She threw herself onto his arm and started to scream and kick and cry. Another door opened and we we're sucked into it. The scene then changed to where the girl was a little older and in an orphanage. The kids around her were bullying her. "Your ghost dad is not real, he's not real!", they chanted. She had tears rolling down her face as she yelled, "Yes he is, he made a promise to stay with me and he did! See, he's right here!!" and she pointed to a ghostly image of her father and his chain was tied to her leg. However, none of the kids saw him and they continued to bully her until she cried. Once again, another vortex door and the scene changed and the girl was older. She was the same as the thief girl and she laid in the alleyway. She looked so frail and helpless and dirty. The ghost-father looked unsure what to do. She smiled and said barely above a whisper, "I-It's okay Daddy, well both be able to go to heaven soon.". He looked paniced and tried to call out for help, but no one saw him, let alone heard him. He finally stared at the chain for the longest time before he pulled on it. The chain broke after a couple more pulls and he floated off and into the streets to look for someone to help her. Meanwhile, the girl curled up into a ball and cried. "Alone,", she said, "I'm going to die alone.". However, a gang of all girls suddenly showed up. The oldest looking one extended her hand and said, "Need a hand, kiddo?". The next door opened and the scene was strange. The girl had gotten older, but she was apart of a gang. They fought, swore, and stole. The girl's hair was growing out in a yellow, blonde color. She looked happier, healthier, more alive. However, this moment of joy ended when a hollow emerged out of no where and attacked her and the gang. It was vicious, cruel, and after her. She ran to the top of a building and was cornered by it. It growled then said, "You promised to not leave me, but you did. Now stay with me, FOREVER!!". It lunged for her and she cried, now knowing what it was. A sudden energy wrapped around her and struck the hollow wildly, like a flame in the wind. Her yellow-blonde hair grew out wildly and layers of red and yellow appeared in them. The hollow was destroyed, her friends killed, she had nothing left. She fell to the ground and the energy drew into her hands. She ran down the stairs, out of the building, and into an alleyway where she held herself, crying because she was alone. A blurr of images and scenes appeared as we went through a barrage of doors until we were on the roof. An old screen showed a series of scenes on replay as the thief Sat and watched them. She said in a voice much older then her visual self was, "stolen first kiss." and the scene were Jon-in my body-stole it.  She then said,"broken heart,", and the scene where Kikiyo had punched me after I was confronted by her about it. Her tone got sharper as she said "awful remembrance," and the whole scene where I had saved her from the guys ganging up on her and she repaid me with a fist to my jaw. The girl stood up and said finally, "awful truth.", as the scenes where Orohime blurted out what she did and how I protected her. But, it became more glitched to the point the words 'alone, stuck, hurt' were the only ones. The figure then took off it's mask and the mask became Kikiyo dressed in a long, white gown. The cloaked figure said as it held her, "Help her break down the walls. No one else can, but you.". The figure then placed it's hand over Kikiyo's heart and drew out a bright, flame. It grew blindingly bright and suddenly we were back at the park like nothing happened. Kikiyo was lying on the ground unconscious. Mr. Hat 'N Clogs said with a serious look as he stood atop a tall, now-broken lightpost, "Seems she does need help after all.".