During a party (real world) (after Aizen's defeat) (Imagining ichigo haven't lost his powers)

Chapter 1

"Yoohoo! Here's the steak!" Inoue waved a barbequed steak to Ichigo.

"Ahh… Thanks…"

"What happened? Why aren't you feeling happy?" Inoue asked out of concern.

Indeed, even though he had defeated Aizen, Ichigo looked as though he was not in the mood of celebrating the defeat.

"Eh? He is unhappy?" Matsumoto screened his face close enough that made Ichigo embarrassed.

"Matsumoto! Where's my chicken?" Hitsugaya called from behind.

Obviously, Hitsugaya is trying to leave the so called couple behind. He could sense that Inoue is trying to make the move now.

"Inoue, you know what," Ichigo said to Inoue. That made Inoue jumped in surprise.

"Yes?" she asked.

"I think the only thing why Aizen wanted me to defeat him was just to end his life."

"Eh? How do you know?" she looked up to the man who leaned against the wall, face filled with emotions.

On the other hand, while the two was spending their time out, the Soul Society Women's Association was trying to gather the others back into Ichigo's house. The captains were annoyed by it, especially Zaraki and Kurotsuchi.

"What? You want me to go in? You are not even worth fighting me. I want to fight with the tough man outside!" Zaraki tried to shoved them aside by pointing his zampakutou at them.

"Leave them alone! Don't you understand? They are having their great romantic time outside!" Nanao replied.

"If Nanao-chan says so, then it can't help it. Ukitake, let's go visit Isshin," Kyouraku commented.

"Ah ah!" Ukitake accompanied Kyouraku into Isshin's room.

"If you don't want to leave this place, then say your prayers now. Bankai, Konjiki Ashisogi-" Mayuri cried in a sarcastic tone.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura," Byakuya suddenly cried as he tied up Mayuri's sword.

"What do you think you are doing, Kuchiku taichou?" Mayuri said.

"Kuchiki Taichou!" Renji replied.

"I am just doing what I think is right," Byakuya replied.

"Nice one, Kuchiki Taichou!" Renji put up a good job sign.

"Kuchiki Taichou is right. Kurosaki Ichigo is Soul Society's saviour. So, just leave him to do what he wants for the moment," the devilish Unohana came up. The two could not stand against her cold stare and left to tour around the Karakura Town.

"Everyone, let's go up to take a look at our cute couple!" Matsumoto led the way up. Isshin went over with Yuzu and Karin so Kyouraku and Ukitake were forced to go up to Ichigo's room and join the crowd.

"They are over there!" Yumichika pointed out.

Back to the couple… Inoue leaned against the wall beside Ichigo.

"I could sense it when I am fighting with him. His eyes were not burning with the passion to take control of the world but the eyes of a person as though his wish was fulfilled," Ichigo said with a long sigh.

"Eh? I… I think I got what you mean?" Inoue tried to figure out the meaning behind Ichigo's words.

"Ha… What I mean is maybe all he wanted was just to lure me into killing him," Ichigo replied smartly.

"I see…," Inoue replied, rubbing her chin, "Then why didn't he just commit suicide?"

"…Maybe he wanted to die in the hands of someone worthy of killing him? Like me!" Ichigo tried to clear the cold tension between the two of them.

"Haha!" Inoue did laugh after all.

"I think Aizen must be feeling lonely when he had such great powers," Ichigo looked up into the sky and sighed.

"Na… Kurosaki-kun, do you feel the same way?"

"Yea… When I learned the Final Getsuga Tenshou, it really felt lonely when you had no one else to defeat"

"Aizen-sama is such a poor thing… Ulquiorra would be feeling the same too. Just like Kurosaki-kun you, I could feel his loneliness when he hugged me."

"Inoue…"

"Yes?"

"Could you mind not saying about these things when we are already a couple…"Ichigo looked away in embarrassment.

Inoue jumped up in a jolt and looked away too. Her face was totally red like tomatoes.

"Hey, idiot son! Why aren't you making a move on her? Can't you see the beautiful chance here!" Isshin cried out.

"Gambatte, onii-chan!" Yuzu agreed with Isshin.

"Inoue…"

"What now, Kurosaki-kun?"

"I just want to… want to…"

He ended off by walking towards her slowly. He circled his hand around her waist and rummaged his hand through her smooth, silky hair. They exchanged looks for a moment before diving in for their second kiss. As she thought, Ichigo is the best for her, even his kiss too. It was so sweet but his saliva tasted like her favourite donut while to Ichigo, she tasted like his favourite chocolate. He loved her dearly. The risk to go to Hueco Mundo to save her showed it all. Inoue meant a lot to him. He could not just let go off her so easily. No matter what, he would not allow her to meet any danger. He would protect with all his might and power, he promise and conveyed his message through his kiss. Inoue gladly accepted it and they ended the kiss off with Ichigo giving her a last light kiss on her lips.

Up in Ichigo's room, Matsumoto, Isshin and Nanao were busy closing Hitsugaya, Yuzu and Yachiru's eyes respectively.

"Matsumoto! What the hell do you think you are doing?" Hitsugaya bellowed.

"Are, are… I am just doing what a normal adult would do. These kind of scenes are not suitable for children under age," Matsumoto tried to explain.

"Matsumoto… Just go back to Soul Society now!" Hitsugaya is obviously annoyed by her actions as usual.

"Ichigo, you got it tough huh?" Zaraki commented.

Yuzu and Isshin went down to welcome the new couple…

"Where's everyone?" Inoue asked.

"I think they are upstairs…" Ichigo said as he showed he way up.

"Ichigo, what do you think you are doing just now? I saw that all! That's your first kiss right?" Isshin caught Ichigo on the neck.

Ichigo swung him away.

"W…What? What I do is none of your business right?" Ichigo argued.

"None of my business? I am your geezer okay? Nah… Don't be embarrassed. Tell me, is it your first kiss?" Isshin teased Ichigo.

"no…" Ichigo looked away.

"Eh? Then, apologise to Orihime-chan," Isshin dragged Ichigo to face Inoue.

"Why should I?" Ichigo was confused by his dad sudden action.

"Orihime-chan, sorry! Ichigo used to be a delinquent so he might just had lost his first kiss then," Isshin apologised on Ichigo's behalf.

"Eh?" Inoue was the one confused now.

"I told you it wasn't like this! My first kiss was with Inoue okay? Happy?" Ichigo shy away from embarrassment.

"Oh… Then, when is it? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Who would want to tell an old man like you who still act as if he was a young kid?"

"Just tell me. Just tell me…" Isshin begged.

"No way!"

"Tell me" Isshin went round in circles, begging Ichigo.

"Ahhhhh! I get it! I kissed her after fighting with Grimmjow," Ichigo's face reddened up again. Inoue's face too.

"Oh… Then how long have you been dating?"

"Around the same time…"

"Nice one! That's my son!" Isshin patted Ichigo hard on his back.

"Wow wow, what a commotion… Let's get back to our party. Anyway, Ichigo, congratulations on finding a fine and pretty girlfriend," Kyouraku said and went to the yard for the barbeque with Ukitake.

Ichigo glanced over to look at his beloved girlfriend who was busy chatting away with Rukia about some 'girl stuffs' as they like to put it. He gave a small chuckle and for once, his frown disappeared. Renji noticed it and teased him but to his dismay, Ichigo did not retaliate as he normally would. Instead, he agreed with Renji that it was Inoue who trampled on his life and turn his world upside down, making him a person for the better. Renji looked at him looking dreamingly at his girl. For some unknown reason, he felt jealous of him. At least, Ichigo was able to be with Inoue, someone he like, while him, he could only watch Rukia from afar.

Everyone decided to stay over in the real world for some days before heading back to soul society after a tiring evening, eating, chatting, arguing and singing their hearts out. As usual, Renji and Byakuya went to Urakara shop for a nightover. The girls from the Women's Association, except Rukia, headed to Inoue's. Chad's house was occupied by Ikkaku, Zaraki, Yumichika and Yachiru, practically everyone from the eleventh squad. Ishida was from a family who despised shinigami so naturally his father would not allow any of them coming to their house, hence, none was invitied over. Well for the rest, they squeezed themselves in Ichigo's house. With alcoholic smell all over his room and a few drunken who were sleep-talking in their dreams, Ichigo really had his in trying to get some sleep. Peering through the windows half-covered by the windows, he thought of how lively-bustling it would be at Inoue's house. Shoving the thoughts away, he buried himself in his pillow and no sooner later, he fell into a deep slumber… Ssshh