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There were certain things Kurosaki Ichigo weren't good at.

Such as concentrating on one thing for a long amount of time, or rather keeping his mouth shut when the problem was already disastrous, or detecting the mood around him, which usually got a "You're an idiot, Kurosaki," from Ishida and a slap and/or kick from Rukia or Renji.

He was also bad at keeping his temper in check, which got him detention most of the times, and sent him flying over the edge of something trivial and preposterous. And Ichigo was fully aware he wasn't perfect, he wasn't great at everything, and he had scars, just like everyone else, but much, much fucking worst. He'd been through Hell and back, literally. And he'd still survived (well, if you excluded those couple of times his heart had stopped beating) and cheated death more times than he could count.

The war had ended, and for that, he was grateful and so were most of his friends (besides Renji, who had dryly complained, "It's borin' around here now,"). Ichigo had lost and gained things, things he wasn't happy about and things that he regretted through thick and thin. But, still, he couldn't remember the last time everything was so peaceful, where he wasn't fighting to prove a point or worry over his life.

Yet, there was still something that seemed undone, something that would spin out of control and cause his heart to implode – you have a backward ass mind, Tatsuki had implored – and he knew his battles were far from over.

In a flash, he could see wide, wider eyes and flashing amber hair and—

Slap. Kick.

Ichigo clutched his cheek and hopped on one leg, his shin screaming for attention almost immediately. Quickly, he whirled around to face whoever had been dumb enough to mess with the substitute, "W-What the…! Who the fuck hit me?!"

He was almost surprised to see Rukia and Renji. They were dressed in their robes, both supporting cheeky grins – though Renji appeared a bit forced – and both annoying as hell. Ichigo dropped his hand from his face and glowered at the two.

"The hell do you two want?" He groused grumpily. He wasn't exactly happy his thoughts had been interrupted. He'd been almost there – the thoughts that would swirl in his mind all day, and he would chase that lingering one, the one that managed to get away, slip from his grasp, and turn into large silver orbs and—

Another bonk on his head. Tics erupted as he lifted his free hand to curl it into a fist, "Dammit, Rukia—"

She sneered up her lip at him, "We come to visit you and this is how you behave? How cruel."

Renji crossed his arms over his chest lazily, "Don't drag me into this. You're the one who wanted to come he—hmph!" Renji hunched into himself, groaning out as he cradled his stomach, where Rukia had struck him violently.

Ichigo blinked and then sighed. He couldn't help but admit he missed the two monkeys, no matter how irritating they could get. After the war, he had not seen much of them. Renji had claimed that that the Soul Society was hectically busy, assigning officers, prisoning traders, and rebuilding the Soul Society from the darkness.

Ichigo's hand tightened around the strap of his bag. He did not like to think of the past. The Soul Society hadn't been the exact great allies. After the entire battle, he found there were secrets and untold stories that wafted through the Soul Society. Yoruichi-san had lifted an eyebrow when the orange-haired had asked and Urahara-san scolded him playfully for his snooping, teasing, "Curiosity killed the cat, Kurosaki-san," and Yoruichi had smirked, poking out her tongue, her golden eyes twinkling.

Snapping from his thoughts, Ichigo said, "You idiots are not following me to school."

Renji glowered at him, "We weren't gonna follow you, moron!" He barked right back.

Ichigo was about to reply starkly, but Rukia cut in, crossing her arms over her chest, "He's right, Ichigo. For once, we're not here to toy with your daily life."

Ichigo's eyebrow twitched. "Then what's the problem?"

"Apparently, there's been an increase of hollows around the area," Renji explained briefly, "Since us two are the most experienced here, Head Captain sent us. It seems easy enough, right?"

"We won't be here long." Rukia insisted.

Ichigo scowled, "Yeah. Whatever. Just don't hope you two can coop up in my closet."

An uncharacteristic pink colored Rukia's cheeks as Renji grinned wolfishly. "Fool! As if we'd do such a thing!"

Ichigo raised his brow at the two's odd behavior, "You don't have to get so defensive—"

"Shut up! Shut up!" She hollered, flailing her thin arms about. Renji caught one of her wrist and grinned again.

"She's just flustered," he put in nonchalantly.

Honestly, Ichigo did not care.

.

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"Good morning, Ichigo!"

Ichigo lifted his free hand casually, "Yo, Mizuiro."

"Wassup, Ichigo!"

"Hey, Tatsuki."

"ICHIIIIGOOOOO~!"

Indifferently, Ichigo ducked his head in time for Keigo's arm to swing over it, and then pushed back up, slamming his school bag in the brunette's face. Tatsuki whirled around as her friend fell and Mizuiro smiled lightly.

Ichigo, though, continued on his way.

.

.

(maybe,

I've been thinking,

that I can love you

for more than five lifetimes)

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.

Placing his bag on his desk, he slid into his seat with ease. Almost instantly, his dark brown eyes scanned the room. There were few boys in the corner, chatting and laughing, and a group of girls that whispered and giggled. Ochi-sensei wasn't there yet, so it was a little more hectic than usual.

"…Ichigo."

The orange-haired turned curiously, glancing over his shoulder, "Oh, hey, Chad."

The giant stopped beside his desk, frowning deeply. Ichigo, detecting his curiosity, shrugged his shoulders.

"Nah, don't worry about it. Renji and Rukia are just here to clean up." He explained briefly.

Sado's frown lightened, "Should we help?"

"You can. I don't feel like getting involved."

"Hn." Chad nodded silently and then continued on to his seat.

There was the drone of students for a few moments before he heard a clumsy set of erratic feet. Tatsuki entered the room, along with Keigo and Mizuiro. Ichigo glanced around curiously, frowning a bit.

Someone was missing. He glanced at Sado, who just shrugged his thick shoulders.

Tatsuki arched a brow with a weird grin on her face, "Looking for Orihime?"

His eyebrow twitched, "Where is she?"

Tatsuki shrugged, placing her bag on her flat desk, "I went by her house, but she wasn't there." She held up a note, "But she left this."

Dear Tatsuki-chan,

I'm so very sorry, but I'm not feeling very well today. I know you've been worried about me lately, but please listen, I am alright. I went to go see a specialist since I have been feeling a bit under the weather. Please tell the others. Have a super-duper fun time at school today~!

Lots of love,

Orihime

Ichigo's scowl deepened as he took the note. Orihime's neat scrawl was all over it and a few drawings that could rival Rukia's in ugliness. Other than that, it seemed perfectly normal. He could even feel her warm spiritual pressure leaking from it. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but Orihime missing school without the rest of them was unheard of.

"What kind of specialist?" He grumbled to himself. For some reason, Urahara-san's mischievously smirking face flashed through his mind. He scowled again, "It better not…"

"Stop talking to yourself," Tatsuki said as she took a seat. "I trust Orihime and you should too. Besides, she's been acting much more normal since she's returned. She could use some space, don't you think?"

Ichigo pressed his eyebrows together in a straight line, giving off a deadpanned expression, "No. There's no telling what the hell she's doing." He wanted to stand, go find, a strange impulse that made his head spin. Tatsuki crossed her arms over her chest.

"You guys need to stop hovering over her all the time," Tatsuki griped, "She's going to start to feel smothered."

Ichigo tensed and Chad tilted his head to the side. Smothering her? They hadn't been smothering her, had they? It had been a while since the war, since Hueco Mundo, and all the bloodshed. Of course, Ichigo kept a closer eye on Orihime – she'd been emotionally fragile when it came to memories, but she kept on that bright, sunny smile as if nothing had happened. He grimaced.

"Nobody's smotherin' her," Ichigo drawled, "Don't say stupid things."

Tatsuki rolled her dark eyes, "Whatever."

Sado chose that chance to cut in, tilting his head at Ichigo, "…Are you sure everything's fine?"

Expression relaxing, he said, "I'm sure," Ichigo tipped his seat backwards, "Rukia tells me everything and Renji's too scared to lie for shit."

Sado frowned a bit.

Just then, the door opened and Ishida Uryu stood there, arms crossed over his chest, "Does anyone mind telling me what Shinigami are doing here?"

Ichigo sighed. This was going to be a long day.

.

.

"Renji," the redhead turned, finishing slicing through the last of the hollow. Rukia was there, holding a weird device that Urahara dude had once called a 'cell phone'. He glowered at nothing in particular – how he hated the Human World and all its bullshit. Sheathing Zabimaru, he arched a brow at Rukia.

"Yeah? What is it?"

She pressed a few buttons of the phone, "This is getting weirder and weirder…"

He frowned, crossing his arms over his chest, "What're you yappin' on about?"

Cutting him a fierce glare, she said, "The increase of hollows. Don't you think it's weird? And the reiatsu, can't you feel it? Something's going on."

Renji's frown deepened. That was true. He had felt an odd sensation as soon as he entered the Human World. It was spread across Karakura Town in peculiar patterns, as though the person was jumping around randomly. It bothered him and Rukia. Ichigo, being the idiot he was, wouldn't realize it yet since he sucked at detecting danger or reiatsu, but he could already tell the others were becoming increasingly worried.

Rukia rubbed at her temples, "This is getting annoying. It hasn't even been five months, and we're already back at this stage. No answers, just questions."

"Let's not go overboard. It could just be some asshole, leftover Arrancar, or maybe Ichigo's been spouting his retarded reiatsu again." Renji suggested.

Rukia's frowned deepened, but she nodded, "I suppose." She flipped the phone shut, "I'll let Nii-sama know, and we'll visit Urahara-san before we leave."

Renji bristled, "You like that guy?!" Even though Renji had been through Hell and back with that man, he found it highly impossible to even start a conversation with Kisuke, a felon and mad scientist with a sly look in his eye.

Rukia glared at him, "Urahara-san has helped us with a lot. He might know something."

Renji twitched, "Whatever. Don't just expect me to come running when he does somethin' creepy to ya—Oomph!"

Rukia had silenced her redheaded companion with a roundhouse kick. Sliding her eyes closed, she crossed her arms over her chest as he wheezed, "Let's get going."

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Hands tucked deep in pockets, Ichigo walked closer to the shop. It appeared the same, but he hadn't been there in so long, it sent a flood of memories through his mind – from Rukia's execution, to when he went to the man for answers. He scowled, balling his hands into fists.

And when he heard the voices inside, he did not hesitate from opening the door. Jinta hopped in shock, his hands still in the air from shoving down the crying Ururu, and Ichigo sneered up his lip at him.

"What the hell is goin' on here?"

Jinta tossed his hands behind his head in a lazy position, "I should be askin' the same thing. What're ya doin' here, Strawberry?"

Multiple veins began to pound in Ichigo's head, "What was that, Squirt?" He snarled venomously down at the kid. The redhead stuck his tongue out at him, pulling down his left eyelid.

Ururu, somehow, managed to stop crying and climbed from the floor, "Kurosaki-san, what're you doing here? Are you here to purchase the new candy?"

Ichigo grimaced at her, "No thanks," he sighed, running a hand through his thick hair, "I'm here to see Urahara. Where is he?"

Jinta regarded him scornfully, "He's busy."

Ichigo felt like strangling the kid, "With what?"

Blinking, Ururu asked, "You don't know?"

"Don't you and your friends typically come in a group?" Jinta questioned slyly. Ichigo glared at him, "Well, I guess you don't know that that girl is here. What's her name? Inoue, right?"

Ichigo paused, his expression slightly surprised. Inoue? He knew something was up. But what was she doing at Urahara's? He nearly rolled his eyes. He should've known it had something to do with the getaboshi.

"And why do you even c—O-Oi! Where are you going?!" Jinta hollered belligerently behind him as Ichigo stalked to the familiar back room. He placed his hand on the door and pulled it back. First, he saw Yoruichi, she was in her cat form, lounging lazily on the low table. She flickered her golden eyes over to him.

"Ichigo," she greeted.

At the name, Urahara perked from where he sat. Instantly, that bright smile was on his face, and he held up his fan, waving it at Ichigo, "Ah~ Kurosaki-san, Kurosaki-saaaan~! It's so great to see you. Welcome, welcome."

Ichigo grew annoyed, "Shaddup, getaboshi."

The blonde pouted, "How rude."

Allowing his brown gaze to wander, he searched for the girl he'd come here for. But no, he caught no sight of the bright hair over brighter eyes. His scowl deepened, "The hell…?"

Yoruichi smirked, "Looking for someone?"

"Where's Inoue?"

Kisuke crooked a brow, "You mean Inoue-san?" He snapped his fan closed, "Well, well, well~ Lookie who finally came to their senses?"

"The hell're you talking about?" Ichigo asked.

Yoruichi sat up, "Here to confess?"

The reaction was instantaneous. Ichigo's expression changed from confusion, surprise, and then embarrassment.

"Aw~ Look, he's blushing, Yoruichi-san." Urahara exclaimed, waving his now open fan at the teenager, who was sputtering angrily at them both. "Ne, ne, Kurosaki-san, is it true? Are you here to confess to pretty Inoue-san?"

"SHADDUP, YOU DAMN IDIOTS!" Ichigo bellowed belligerently. Yoruichi licked her paw lazily as Urahara's smirk widened. "I am not here to do that so stop putting words into my mouth! Now where is she and why did you make her miss school?!"

Urahara blinked, "There was school today?"

Eyebrow twitching, Ichigo jabbed a finger at him, "You suspicious shopkeeper…!"

"Inoue is below." Ichigo stared at Yoruichi in confusion, "In the training grounds."

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.

He had almost forgotten how long it took to get down to the training grounds. As his feet touched the sandy ground, he looked up and saw her several yards away, her back to him. He opened his mouth to call to her, but he paused as he watched her spread her legs in a fighting stance. She didn't appear very threatening practically eaten up by her tan, school sweater – she appeared delicately small. He snorted through his nose as he thought of the angry pout she did whenever she was frustrated.

But his humor was short-lived, as she raised her arms, and said, "Santen Kesshun." There was a sharp glow, and the golden dome folded in front of her. Ichigo watched as she expanded it, slinging it wider, stretching it until it seemed to rise like the sun. His lips parted, and the giant dome started to fold over, prepared to make a large circle around her, but as Orihime's knees began to buckle, spider-web cracks began to form into the glass-like shield, and with a mighty crash, it sunk to the earth in shards.

It was deafeningly silent for a few seconds, and Orihime lowered her arms to her sides. He saw her tremble a bit before her shoulders slumped. Tentatively, he called out, "Inoue?"

There was her sharp gasp and she jumped a bit. Timidly, she turned and looked over her shoulder, a lock of bright hair falling over her shoulder. Her eyes lit with something and she turned fully to face him, "K-Kurosaki-kun…!" She exclaimed softly, "You scared me."

He stared at her for a few seconds. She seemed well – besides the flushing in her cheeks, but he guessed that was from exertion. After all, if she'd been here since the morning, it had been almost over eight hours. "Sorry." His eyes sharpened a bit. "What're you doing?"

Waving her hands in front of her until they blurred, Orihime gave a forced, large smile, "W-Well, you see, I-I was practicing—"

"You missed school to practice?" He asked, arching both brows up. Orihime skipping school was unheard of.

Orihime blinked, wide-eyed.

"It's six in the evening, Inoue," He told her.

Orihime's mouth parted, and she even had the guts to look shameful, "I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun." She took a deep breath, intertwining her fingers nervously, "I-It's just everyone's been getting much better with their powers, and I wanted to try and—"

"You're gonna hurt yourself if you train too much," he said. When he took a closer look at her, her cheeks were flushed and she was covered in a light residue of dust from the ground. Ichigo glared at nothing in particular. That damn getaboshi…

"Yes. I suppose." She averted her gaze nervously, her small shoulders slumped a bit.

He eyed her, "Inoue?"

"Y-Yes?"

He gazed at her again through his orange, thick bangs. Finally, with a sigh, he took a step back and gestured with his shoulder towards the staircase leading out of the place. He did not like her down here alone. And when he watched that shield shatter, it was as though she went down along with it.

"I'll walk you home," he offered, and Orihime glanced up at him, startled. When she flushed an even deeper pink, he frowned, "You alright?"

"I-I'm fine!" Quickly, she rushed over to him, her long hair billowing down her back in array of sunshine and gold. Ichigo tucked his hands in his pockets again, and relaxed. With her so close, he was able to feel her reiatsu even more than before. It calmed his nerves down to a reasonable level. "Kurosaki-kun is very kind."

"Gah." Ichigo reached up a hand and ran it through his messy hair before jamming it back into his pocket, "I'm not."

Orihime merely smiled at him. Averting his gaze, he heard Orihime begin to climb the stairs.

"Oi, Inoue," he called to her. She paused on the third step, but didn't turn towards him, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

It was a small pause before she replied daintily, "To become stronger."

His scowl came back in full force. Balling his hands into fists in his pockets, he said, "You don't have to, you know. I'm here."

Again, silence. Carefully, Orihime glanced at him over her shoulder with another smile. She turned to him fully, giving a brighter smile. He almost smirked back, that's more like her, but her silver eyes told another story. "Kurosaki-kun is really, really nice, but if you keep worrying yourself, you'll grow gray hairs~ I learned that from Chizuru-chan and she tells me not to worry."

His frown deepened, his mouth curled in a scowl.

"Of course I worry." He scoffed.

She beamed in reply, "You shouldn't worry very much over me." And a part of him knew she was right. Tatsuki and Rukia had told him over and over again that Orihime was not as fragile as everyone thought, that she could take care of herself, and could do the unimaginable. Still, to Ichigo, she was a friend, a good friend, and another person he had promised to protect no matter what. And ever since Hueco Mundo, he found himself gluing to her side, keeping a sharp eye on the redheaded beauty more than he would've liked before.

With a grunt, he walked up the steps and stopped next to her. She was much smaller than him, about an inch higher than Rukia. He hadn't realized it before. She smiled up at him serenely.

He looked down to her with heavy lidded eyes, gazing at her from behind his messy bangs and through his thick eyelashes. He grimaced deeply. "I'll walk you home." He repeated, ignoring her statement. He would worry over her if he damn well felt like it.

"H-Hai!" Pushing down that weird-ass fluttering of his heart, he waited for her to continue walking up the steps, and he followed behind her two at a time. He had promised a long time ago, when she'd left for Hueco Mundo, cried for him, and watched him fall and die again and again, he wouldn't let her go through anything alone, wouldn't let her be alone anymore.

And he intended to keep that promise.

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From miles away, a man sat on top of Inoue Orihime's apartment complex, at the roof, hands tucked deep in pockets, back hunched lazily, and a light frown on his lips.

Standing, he dusted off his old, worn pants, "Well'p, guess I should be going." And with that, he crouched a bit, sighed – a puff of cold air leaving his mouth from the temperature – and then launched powerfully from the roof, creating a deep crator in his wake.

From a few yards away, Rukia's eyes narrowed as she saw the dark figure launch into the air.

"What the…?" Renji scratched his red locks.

Rukia wasted no time, "C'mon, Renji!" She flash-stepped away. Renji sighed.

"They don't pay me enough for this," And then followed after the petite Shinigami.

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Yosh! A new story! Gosh, why do I keep doing this to myself? Creating more stories than I should when I'm busy with others. Oh, well, you can't blame me? I mean, who can resist making a new story every few weeks? Nobody, that's who.

I still have to finish Left You Behind, but I'm so stuck on the last chapter, that it's mentally draining me, so I pulled this story out from picking my brain. I like this one. Ichigo is the adorable tsundere that we all know and love, unknowing of his feelings – even though I prefer the possessive one a little more – and Orihime's is a mixture of cute and adorable~ Cudorable! Hehe!

Well, review for me! I have a lot of plans for this story, but I wouldn't mind hearing your opinions. And don't worry, this is in no way a tragedy, it's more of a dramatic build and the romance. I loooove those kind of stories…

-Star