Oh God I have no idea if people are going to like this, I was in the mood for some angsty, Ichigo-depressed, story writing. But I have some notes to add:

First I'd like to note I DO realize some of these characters might be/are OC. I haven't read of seen any Bleach within a few weeks and the characters are hazy. So please try not to comment about how the characters lack their original attitude.

Second, If you do like it, I'd like to tell you might be more chapters, Maybe. However your input is very much appreciated, if you want me to continue.

Special thanks to StrangerInAStrangeWorld for letting me know about my grammar mistakes.

Finally, please review and leave your honest opinion

Some people knew, like Tatsuki, Chad, and his father. They tried not to make a big deal about it giving a hand on the shoulder, or a comforting nod. He was a master at disguising it from everyone that he could have been lying to their faces. The tight scowl on his face held more than the suggested years he had been hanging by a thread. Slowly climbing up in the downward spiral of his severe depression. How anyone could expect anything else should have been impossible, yet everyone did. He's a strong boy, they said, which was true. He fought every day to get up and go to school, where he would sit day after day.

But for the past months he was doing better, everyone could tell it was from the new presence of the Shinigami and everyone knew that when they left he would return to the spiral. Only no one could predict how hard he would hit the bottom, not even he himself. In his defense he really tried to stay away from them at the beginning.

When they did leave the thread snapped. He would have been swallowed whole if Tatsuki hadn't been there to push him forward. She showed up every day and pulled him out of bed. The first few times the scars caught her off guard, yeah she knew with all the fighting he went through he'd have scars but the sight of them still shocked her. She would sit with him until he regained some semblance of composure, sometimes minutes and others hours; he would always insist on not showing his sisters his pain. Then he would dress himself and she would spend the days with him, sometimes when she had plans Chad would take over or if he was feeling up to it he would go on his own even though no one liked that including him.

When they returned to his house he would thank them. After a while when it was only the two of them, he would hug her or kiss her forehead as a thank you.

She was shocked as his arms wrapped around her shoulders. He was clearly stronger than her but he felt so frail when she returned the hug. His head moved and she felt his lips against her forehead. He pulled away and she felt the tingling spot on her forehead

"Bye, Tats,"

"Se-see you tomorrow." He half turned and the smile on his face sparked something in her. It was worth it, everything was worth it, slowly but surely the rut he was in was getting shallower and she would keep pulling him out even if he couldn't.

Of course that was when the Shinigami came back, Isshin, Tatsuki, were clearly upset about it, Chad was more frustrated, and Ichigo felt himself standing on a crumbling edge. Orihime, Ishida, and all the Shinigami remained oblivious as always.

The next morning the Shinigami watched him through the window careful to not be seen. Tatsuki entered his room and sat on the bed. She said something and ruffled the spiky orange hair only to frown moments after. She tried to pull him out of bed by his hand and instead he pulled her back causing her to fall into his embrace where he held her. Though his face was covered in her hair a faint smile broke through. His arms were hard as steel as she tried to break free. She kicked the blanket away and then resigned to just lay there. The female Shinigami blushed at Ichigo's body, only having a pair of black boxer shorts. At least it settled the long asked question, boxers or briefs. Eventually Ichigo released his hold on his best friend and she pulled him out of bed.

The Shinigami followed the pair around town, secretly. They didn't do much of anything, they caught up with Chad and hung out for the most part of the day. Then at dusk Ichigo slipped his arm over her shoulders. She stared at him in disbelief and he shrugged. He led her home and she slipped away from him. They sat on the front step of her house and talked for a while before Tatsuki blushed deeply at something he whispered in her ear. Grinning he kissed her cheek and slipped off the step, she remained frozen in place as she held her cheek and watched him walk away.

The Shinigami were as surprised as ever, they never expect the famous Ichigo, angry, annoying, brash, giant-butcher-knife wielding Ichigo to be kind, careful, affectionate, and soft. Then again they had never really taken the time to really know him other than Rukia and Renji, maybe, but they didn't try to search beyond the scowl to see if there was more. Just like everyone else.

But that was wrong, no, Ichigo wasn't soft and affectionate, he was the angry, annoying, brash, giant-butcher-knife wielding Ichigo they had originally seen...Wasn't he?

And yes in case your blind, I'm an IchigoXTatsuki shipper. Rukia has not only known him for a little more that a year give or take and goes better with Renji, Also she STABBED him, yeah, blah blah blah "it was so she could share her powers with him" she had enough power to kill the hollow, don't you dare say other wise. Orihime is to whiney, honestly I hate her, but that's not the point she goes better with Ishida.

But then who does Ichigo get? Uh-huh that's right, he gets to be with his good friend he had since childhood.

Alright rant aside, hope you liked it, please review.