Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kibo and I don't make any money from writing this.

Title: Night Phantasm

Summary: Kon helps Ichigo through the night.

Contains: Fluff, H/C, some imagined Violence

A/N:

Really really hard for me to write fluff, but at least I attempted it. Once again a "Drawn From a Hat Challenge!" entry. And my first fic I am posting to this site. Maybe I'll be a little less lazy and get some of my others up here too.

Ichigo sleepily snuggled up closer to Kon. Even though he was cuddling him while the modsoul was still in possession of his body it didn't really bother him. Kon always made him feel safe and warm in his arms, something he couldn't remember feeling since his mother was still alive. One of the best things about just laying here with him had to be the absolute peace that would settle over him. He couldn't pinpoint why that was, Kon just had that effect on him.

In the back of his sleep fogged mind he started to remember why he Kon was in his bed at all. It still seemed odd how their relationship had taken such a strange turn. There were small things at first, hardly noticeable. Kon would ask him about his day or congratulate him on taking out a high level hollow. Somehow the little modsoul would always know when Ichigo was depressed, and he'd distract him. Sometimes it was with a movie or a game. But as they became closer, Kon became more physical in his distractions. There'd be a quick pat on his back, a swift embrace, and eventually a soft peck on the cheek that would leave Ichigo both blushing and pondering his intentions for hours. And finally he'd begun to curl up and sleep next to him in bed, like he was doing again tonight.

Except now the memory of the dream that had woken him came rushing back, ridding him of that temporary sense of peace. He could feel his breath hitch and bit back a whimper as his body began to tremble. Did he wake Kon again?

"Was it another nightmare, Ichigo?" Ichigo's question was answered as Kon began rubbing his back, his hands making small circle patterns. He'd always comfort the boy when the bad dreams woke him up. They were a near nightly occurrence. The courtesy of many burdens placed solely on just one person, and of a boy who lost a part of his innocence far too early in his young life.

Ichigo fisted one of his hands in the front Kon's nightshirt, it always took him a moment to recollect himself after his dreams. He considered himself lucky that it wasn't one where he'd woken up screaming though. And at least it seemed he hadn't accidentally thrashed about and hit Kon this time. He took a deep breath, sometimes it would help to drive away the panic.

"It's....fine. It was only the one about the hollows finding out where I live." Ichigo's voice was still low and shaky. He hated feeling so weak and afraid. He'd heard that some people could recognize when they were in a dream, that they could change the outcome. This was never the case for him. Even as he watched his family's souls being devoured, he could do nothing but stand there. His own fear would paralyze him in place. Just stood there listening to the screams as his little sisters, and then Goat Face were torn to bloody strips in front of him. Ichigo couldn't stop his body from shaking just from remembering it. It always seemed so real....

That was when he felt Kon pull him flush against his chest, murmuring soothing nonsense into his ear. It never made any sense to him why it helped, but it never failed to work. Nightmares never seemed as real when Kon was there holding him. Ichigo could feel himself slowly begin to relax against the modsoul. He felt drained, emotionally and physically. Already his eyes began to feel heavy. There was just one thing he needed to know before he could let himself be lulled back into sleep.

"Why? Why are you...helping me?"

Kon ran a hand through Ichigo's short hair, tempted to spill his heart out to the young man. He knew it wasn't the right time though, Ichigo just needed to be reassured of his presence so he could drift off again. Besides, he thought, three in the morning was not the best time to start that sort of conversation.

"I'm helping ya because you need me right now." Of course there was so much more Kon wanted to add. That he did this because he admired Ichigo's devotion to keeping his family and friends safe. That he did this because no matter how sad Ichigo was he'd always try not to burden anyone else with his sorrows. Or that the biggest reason he did this was the one that Kon was still coming to grips with.

It was hard to not see how much of himself Ichigo gave away. How he'd ignore his own safety and comfort in order to help others. Ichigo would never just throw anyone away....Kon knew it.

"And don't worry, I'll still be here when you wake up."

Ichigo let out a contented sigh and closed his eyes, no longer able to keep himself awake. The modsoul smiled as he wrapped his arms around Ichigo's spiritual body. Even if he only got to hold him at night, it was enough for him. He could almost feel Ichigo's heartbeat return to it's normal rhythm against him.

One day he'd tell the beautiful shinigami everything. Most importantly Kon would tell Ichigo that he would always be welcome in his arms. That no one else would ever have that from him. Because there was no one else Kon would ever love like he loved Ichigo.