| 3:47 P.M |

He is a protector...

Her protector.

The protector of Karakura and Soul Society. Maybe even the world as they know it! The boy - no... the man who saved them from certain death, risking his own life several times almost without thought. Because he knew it was the right thing.

And yet at times, she wished only to stop him. To stop him from hurting himself for others... for her.

And yet she mentally already knew his reaction to that...

"I promised, Inoue. I promised to protect you. And I don't break promises!"

His voice shouted in her head, though never rudely, only determined. And she could almost picture the stubborn set to his eyes. Chocolate colored hues, soft and yet stern, clashing with his brilliantly orange hair.

A small sigh fell from her lips, fingers lightly tapping her cheek as she gazed out toward the window.

At least it seemed that way to others.

Her eyes remained lightly trained on the blur of an orange reflection, too fuzzy to see his features, but enough to see an outline. And if she wasn't mistaken...

He was looking at Rukia again...

Not that she could blame him. Rukia was smart. Rukia was beautiful. Rukia could protect herself. She knew more about Soul Society than anyone else, and as she was... well, Rukia.

What could she do?

Cast up a pretty little wall between herself and others.

Narrowly stopping a sigh from passing yet again, she forced her eyes to focus on the scenery outside. Medium sized buildings, with the larger ones slightly off in the distance. Miles of stormy grey sky.

Still she felt her bottom lip tremble.

Stupid blue men... Always trying to make me feel bad. Getting into my head.

She discreetly rubbed her eye, as if something had gotten into it other than her own tears. It was a move she had perfected over the years, so even Tatsuki couldn't tell what she was really doing now.

A small rock. A speck of dust. Sensei's chalk? It could have been anything and they would have been none the wiser.

Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly for a second before the bell jolted her upright.

No more gloom...

| 6:20 P.M |

It was the orange color that caught her attention first as she made her way home from a late study at the library, huddled at the base of a tree beside the Karakura river. The shabby box it peeked out of was nearly nothing more than a strip of cardboard soaked through with water. The soft cry of a baby kitten reached her ears before anything else. And in not a moment later she was kneeling in the wet grass, fingers slipping around the middle of the most tiny and disgruntled kitten.

"Oh little kitty," her voice soothed tenderly. "did someone leave you here alone?" The answering meow was a confirmation of her beliefs. She could understand this poor little kittens cries for help. She had given them quietly as well when her brother died, yet no one had heard them but Tatsuki. It still left many nights lonely, but not nearly as much as it could have been.

She held the fragile little creature to her chest, offering it the warmth it needed from the chill of the upcoming winter. And as it snuggled close, she felt the familiar and pleasant weight of reiatsu she had come to be well attuned with. The feeling of comfort surrounded her, circling her in its warmth and protection. He probably wouldn't ever know he gave this feeling of security to her.

"Oh? Kurosaki-Kun?" She called out bravely, straightening up with the warm spot of fur in her arms. She could feel a familiar warmth to her cheeks, but shoved it fast as he spoke her own name as well. Something she secretly wished he would do more often, but knew he would do only when they spoke.

Which was also something she wished they could do more often.

"What are you doing? Isn't your home that way?" Of course she felt stupid for asking it. Yuzu had probably sent him out for last second groceries, or Urahara had wished to speak with him. He wasn't one to wonder too often without an objective.

"Yuzu wanted me to pick up a few things." He answered simply, shrugging broad shoulders she struggled to ignore.

She had been draped over those shoulders...

"Oh!" She snapped herself from her blush worthy thoughts before they got out of hand. "Well I'll let you be on your way then! We don't want you out in the dark!" Again she felt stupid. If anyone could handle the dark it was him, but of course Yuzu, Karin and his father would worry.

No one would notice if she came home late.

She forced a smile to her lips, something she had carefully mastered and tugged her bag up higher to her shoulder with her free hand, and then gave a tiny wave with an even brighter smile to match it.. The small purring of the kitten in her hand kept her a bit more focused on the objective of keeping him healthy and happy.

He gave a nod, perhaps too deep in thought to have actually been paying attention - she couldn't blame him - and turned toward the shops on main street. And while his back was turned, she allowed herself a small moment to appreciate him. The confident and lengthy stride he bore would take four of her own steps to match a single of his. His posture was perfect, his shoulders seemingly relaxed though she knew he could leap to action at any time.

He would have been a samurai ninja a long time ago, she knew it. Maybe a pirate too.

She would try not to imagine the poofy shirt and the wonders it would do for a peek at his chest.

She nearly missed it when he stopped at the street corner, raising a hand in farewell with a look that clearly meant for her to head home. And in that tiny moment her mood rose miraculously.

Maybe, someone did care if she stayed out too late. Tatsuki surely did, when she knew that the gentle healer already overstepped a made up curfew, but Kurosaki-Kun... her Kurosaki-Kun hadn't ever really failed to make sure she arrived home safely when they crossed paths, or when she had no one to walk her home.

With a new skip to her step, she turned. And though she was heading far away, she suddenly felt much closer with each step.