Still fresh from Ichigo's memory was the day of their high school graduation. After the ceremonies, Inoue sought him and asked for a private moment with him. He had always known how Inoue felt for him. It was like a fact that was never spoken but accepted by everybody. Having Inoue admire him boosts his self-esteem, but making her his girlfriend is a totally different thing that is very uncomfortable and very risky. That's why when Inoue asked if she could speak to him privately, he panicked inside.

"uhm.. Kurosaki-kun?"

Ichigo turned upon hearing this and saw a blushing Inoue with her eyes downcast.

"Inoue?"

"Congratulations to us."

"Yeah.."

Inoue looked like she wanted to say more and is looking around them.

"Uhm Kurosaki-kun? Do you mind if I talk to you alone for just a bit?"

The alarm went off in Ichigo's head. Is she gonna confess now?

"…sure." Ichigo turned to his dad. "Dad? I'm just gonna go outside a bit. See ya!"

"Huh?!! Oh hi Orihime-chan! Take care of my Ichigo, ne?"

"eheheheh" Orihime nervously laughed.

Ichigo ushered Orihime out in the hall and faced her nervously, not sure how to evade Orihime's confession without hurting her, if possible.

"Sorry Kurosaki-kun, I took you away from your family."

"Nah, don't worry about it. We see each other everyday anyway."

"Uhm Kurosaki-kun.."

Here it goes.. Ichigo thought, almost biting his tongue. This is making him nervous than on any fight he has been in.

"Thank you so much for everything. I can't even properly thank you and do something for you in return for all the help you have given me and now…"

Eh?! What's this?

"And now I have to ask you another favor. I'm moving away from Karakura. Please Kurosaki-kun, please make sure Tatsuki-chan, Sado-kun, Ishda-kun and… Kuchiki-san is never lonely."

"What? Where are you going? Why do you have to move away?"

"I can't rely on my relatives for everything, A University has given me scholarship. And it's far from Karakura."

"Any University here could probably give you scholarship since you're one of the best student here Inoue. Tell me the reason truthfully this time."

Tears formed at the corner of Inoue's eyes made Ichigo regret being so straight-forward, yet knowing Inoue would probably never tell him if he wasn't like that.

"I.. I want to be independent, I don't want to be a burden. I want to protect myself Kurosaki-kun."

Realization dawned on Ichigo. "So the reason you're going is me?!" By now, Ichigo has this strong urge to grabbed the girl by her shoulders and shake her.

"How many times do I have to tell you your not a burden Inoue?"

"Kurosaki-kun knows how I feel for him right?"

Too sudden. Ichigo's eyes widen, and he froze. That made him speechless.

"I know how you feel about me liking you too. Like how you knew about my feeling without anyone telling you. I'm not confessing, I don't want you to go through the pain of rejecting me. But why is it Kurosaki-kun? You didn't want me too close, yet you didn't want me too far either?"

That question is like a bucket of ice thrown over his head. He might be a very powerful shinigami but Zangetsu and his hollow won't be of any help to him right now.

I don't want her to go, I know what to say to make her stay. But this is her decision. Orihime, please come back when you've accomplished what you want to. I do want you by my side after all. Is what Ichigo thought at that moment, but didn't get to say.

After a moment of silence that felt like an eternity Inoue spoke again.

"What am I saying?" Inoue covered her mouth looking confused and embarrassed and painfully beautiful.

"I should be thanking you again instead of questioning you."

"Thank you Kurosaki-kun, it would've been very sad if you didn't try to stop me."

That's the last thing Inoue told her. It's already been two years. And he still hasn't forgotten.

..........................

Ichigo overheard from his friends conversation that Inoue went to an Art school. That's about the only thing he knows. He doesn't know what school, where, or how she is doing now.

He didn't dare ask for he didn't feel he has the right to, after hurting a friend.

Rukia still "lives" in their house to keep watch of him, and of Karakura. He still occasionally deal with hollows that the resident shinigami can't finish, but aside from that he's living quite a normal college life. Sometimes it's too normal, too dull.

Beep!

That's Tatsuki reminding him of the party for the opening of her dojo tonight. He's pretty sure Chad's going to be there since the two is most obviously an item now. He can't think of a more suitable couple!

Arriving a bit early to the party to help turned out to be a wrong move when he knocked and it took them a minute to open the door only to greet him with swollen lips. That's Tatsuki and Chad, of course.

At the party!

"Oi Ichigo, you're girlfriend is here!" tatsuki yelled referring to Rukia.

"Oi Tatsuki! She's not my girlfriend!"

"yeah, we know, your gay!"

Everyone appreciated this a bit too much and laughed. Especially the boys in their highschool who knew about Inoue liking Ichigo, and Rukia living in his house.

"Whatever.." Ichigo tried to act cool.

Almost all of their highschool friends are there. Ishida (who turned out to be his classmate at University) Keigo, mizuiro and his new girlfriend, chizuru, Ryo and most of the girls. Except one.

He is feeling a bit tipsy by now, because of the tonic that Chad mixed in with the juice, he leaned back and close his eyes on the sofa he's lounging on beside his friends. He was almost sleeping when he heard someone yell " Tatsuki-chan!" and a whiff of fresh flowers passed him. Then he opened his eyes with a jolt, thinking it was a dream.

But when he opened his eyes he found himself in a dream where the back of an auburn-haired girl is facing him while embracing a teary eyed Tatsuki. She turned a bit when released from the hug and he saw Inoue's pin on the girls head. That's about the only thing that didn't change. Wearing a loose off-shoulder top, fitted-jeans and strappy sandals, she definitely looked like an art student, a pretty one. Then she started to greet everybody else. Her presence brought certain happiness to everybody in the room. Smiles are evident on their faces and some are laughing and joking with her. Ichigo was smiling too, eventhough he doesn't feel like approaching her yet. His smile though was short-lived when Inoue turned and called "Renji-kun!"

Almost everybody in the room turned and look at the entrance where Renji stood, wearing a hoodie zipped up half-way with noting underneath it, a good pair of jeans with the hem tucked in on the laced-up boots he's wearing. The people, especially the girls, oohed and ahhed at the sight of him. Much to his surprise Renji's attention was on him.

"Yo! Ichigo!"

Everybody started talking all at the same time. "Is that your boyfriend Hime?"

"Wow! Where did you find him?" "Wah! Hime has someone with her! Oh no my Hime!"

That was where the party really did start actually. And by the end of it, only the people who know about soul society are left at Tatsuki's place. By now Tatsuki knows about everything.

"So? Why are you with her?" Ichigo asked the question he couldn't contain anymore.

"Why do I have to tell you?" Renji challenged.

"Oi Idiots! Don't start fighting as soon as the guest left" Rukia scold them.

"you knew right?" Ichigo asked Rukia.

"Yes."

"Why didn't—"

"You didn't ask Ichigo, you never did."

That pretty much shut him up. But something still bothers him. Inoue still haven't approached him, not even looked at him. Right now she's on the other side of the room having an animated discussion with Ishida, who seems to be enjoying himself.

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Yo, I disclaim ownership to the characters and to bleach...