All righty, a short one with Kurosaki Ichigo. Somehow the OC just happened to be in his room. :D Bleach (c) Kubo.

I felt his strong arms wrap around me as he lifted me gently; I kept motionless even as I stirred. He placed me delicately on his bed. I tried to regulate the rhythm of my breath as he sat beside me. He sighed lightly, a wisp of sound blowing away from him.

"I wonder if you know…" he murmured, his voice carried only because of the still air in his room. I stilled instinctively, my heart clenching at his words. He shifted around on the bed. I waited with baited breath, not daring to breathe. I felt his lips on my forehead; my heart bloomed and fluttered.

He removed the skin contact and I flailed wildly in the loneliness of the loss. He stood up and I automatically reached out and grasped his wrist.

"Ichigo…" I sighed, my voice a mere susurrus. I gripped his wrist more tightly, reveling in the feel of his robust wrist. "Don't leave me…"

He settled back on the bed immediately. My eyes slid open and I stared at him; he was illuminated by the silver of the moon, the planes of his face casting sharp shadows over his features. Somehow, it made him look more vulnerable.

"Ichigo…"

I let my hand slip around his neck and pulled him down next to me. His eyes widened and his blush was obvious even in the dim, watery light. He lay on his stomach, but inclined his head away from me. I smiled and reached up to his face. I stroked his smooth skin with my fingertips, trailing up to run my hands through his soft hair.

"Ichigo," I said again, his name a velvet rope on my tongue. He cantered his head back to look at me. "Don't ever leave, okay?"

"Mmm," he nodded carefully. I could feel my gaze soften as my emotions welled. I sat up and embraced him tightly to me, and he immediately tugged me to him as well.

"Kaede, I…" he whispered, his mouth right by my ear. I shivered, a shock of pleasure rushing through my veins. "You don't have to give me an answer, but… I would really like it if we could, you know…"

"I love you, Ichigo," I murmured into his ear. I could feel the surprise and disbelief he was emanating; he pulled back slightly and his eyes were round with anticipation.

"W-what was that?" he asked, breathless, his eyes burning up with hope that he hadn't heard wrong.

"What you want to tell me… maybe?" I stabbed, a smile tugging lightly on my lips.

"I – " He blushed heavily, swallowing. He looked down for a second but met my gaze resolutely. "Mmm. I love you, Kaede. Always have. I don't want to lie to you."

"Good."

I crashed my lips on his and he reciprocated with a soaring passion. He pushed me back on the bed and continued ravishing my lips with his.

"Ichigo… Promise you'll always, always be with me."

"Mmm. I promise I'll always love you, Kaede."

We never looked back, not even for a second.

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