Hello, sorry for the long wait but here it is. Thanks to all those that read me or review. It makes me happy !!! ^_^ Hope you like it !!! Next update will be sooner. By the way I made a mistake in chapter 1, it's not 1981 but 1991. Ichigo has the same age as Harry, he was just born two weeks before. As for all those questions asked by SilverFlameoftheWindScar (what a name ! ^^) and CHOCOCANDYZ, well just wait and see. I know I am mean, but I can't help it.

Chapter 2 :

Ichigo smiled at his mother as she wished him happy birthday and sweet dreams, kissing his forehead sweetly. He loved his mother dearly but he also wanted to go to sleep as soon as possible to see his lovely Harry.

As his eyes shuted close, his smile widened seeing that Harry was already there, holding a very badly wrapped up gift for him. If there was one thing that they learnt on their "bond" was that they could take some things with them in their dream worlds. An ability that Ichigo would often use to bring some food for his dear Harry.

The small green eyed boy smiled at him even though he had a small bruise on his cheekbone ( courtesy of Dudley)and gave him the birthday gift he had done for him, a small stuffed strawberry with arms and legs. It wasn't very well made, but Harry spent a lot of time to do it as well as a lot of love and that was what made it count so much for Ichigo. He would cherish it forever.

The only one allowed to call him strawberry was his beloved. And his mother of course. Seeing the stuffed strawberry, Ichigo grinned, bent down to give his Harry a sweet and innocent kiss on the lips.

His beloved blushed red and smiled. Ichigo was the only one who ever gave him affection, so when he did, Harry was both embarrassed and pleased.

Ichigo was happy. His Harry had given him a birthday gift and in just two weeks it would be his turn to give Harry one of his own. The thing was, he didn't know what to get him yet. He hoped his mummy would help him.

But for now, he would enjoy and celebrate his birthday with Harry.

As Masaki went to wake up her baby boy, she noticed that he was clutching something he didn't have in his hand the night before. It may be strange but she was sure that the thing had to do with her son's friend, Harry. She was the only one to whom Ichigo would talk about Harry.

At the beginning she had thought this Harry was an imaginary friend until be bagan taking a little in English, then she has been sure it wasn't the case. Harry was real and her beloved son was infatuated with him. That much, she knew.

"Mommy?" Asked Ichigo,startling her temporarily as she was lost in her thoughts.

"Hi, my little protector, what is in your hand?" She questioned. He showed her a strange stuffed strawberry, oddly endearing.

"Harry did it for my birthday. Mommy?" Answered Ichigo.

"Yes Ichigo?"Asked his mother.

"Could we go shopping today?" Wondered Ichigo.

"Why, dear?"

"I want to buy my Harry a birthday gift too." Said Ichigo.

"Oh, and when is his birthday?"She questioned.

"In two weeks."

Ichigo looked though the numerous shops windows crowding the street. There were many things he wanted to give his Harry but nothing would be good enough for his beloved 's birthday. He wanted to give him something special. Something to remind him that Ichigo (and even Ichigo 's mummy because he made her baby boy so happy) would be with him forever..... That he was loved ..... That he was Ichigo 's. As well as to let him know that he has a friend. Forever and ever. He would never let him go.

His mother understood his feelings perfectly and was trying to help him find the perfect gift for his Harry. It had to be something small enough to hide as otherwise his horrid relatives would try to take it from him.

From the corner of his eyes he saw a very small shop stuck between two big and colorful stores. He was drawn to it. He run toward it, his mother following behind him telling him to wait for her before crossing the street. But he wasn't listening. As he stormed into the shop, he knew that there was something for both Harry and him there. At the counter he saw an old wrinkled woman who was cleaning a glass menagerie of fantastics creatures. Dragons, unicorns, nymphs, fairy,,,,,

Hearing the ding of the door as Ichigo stormed into the shop, she looked briefly at him, smiled knowingly and returned to her task.

Ichigo was looking around the store when his mother entered and didn't pay her any attention until she tooks him into her arms so he could have a better view of things that were too high for him.

"Don't do that again Ichigo." She scowled him sightly, obviously shaken.

Then Ichigo saw something sparkled prettily into the heated summer sunlight. It was quite strange though, because it was in a rather dark corner of the store. An overly curious Ichigo told to his mother that he wanted to be let down. As he drew nearer to the thing sparkling in the dark, he saw that it was in fact a shelf where there were all kind of objects. There didn't seem to be any kind of order to it

A set of rings caught his gaze and he stared transfixed at them.

"Ha, I see you have found what you were searching for." Said the old woman that came from the counter with the odd little glass menagerie, putting them on the shelf.

"What are they?" Asked Ichigo, not bothering to specified if he was talking about the figurines or the rings.

"Those" Said the elderly woman "are said to be real magical creatures locked away in the form of little glass figurines. And those, " She continue on " are supposed to be magical rings which allowed souls mates to be linked forever and recognized one another even after death. You see, the kanji for "soul mates" is craved on the top while inside there are many runes. Every objects on this shelf are somehow magical, cursed or blessed.. Those rings are made of white gold but they might be too large for you right now. Though you can wear them with a necklace if you really want them."

Ichigo 's mother looked at her son who was staring at the rings with longing.

"How much?" She asked.

"2000 Yens"

On July 31th , Ichigo fells asleep holding onto a box and a badly wrap-up gift. He opened his eyes to look at the forest before him and then went to the well in the middle of the forest where Harry and himself would always meet when they appeared in the forest world. Harry wasn't there. For once, Ichigo had appeared first and he didn't intend to let this chance go. He prepared his little surprise for Harry and waited for him.

There was a little flash of light as his Harry finally came. His beautiful green eyes widened marginally as he tooks in the scene before him. There were balloons and banners with written on them "Happy birthday". Ichigo was standing near the well, a cake in his hands, grinning.

"Happy Birthday Harry !!!" He shouted.

Harry ran to him, hugged him and then kissed him on the check. He had tears in his eyes but he was smiling thoroughly.

"Thank you !!! Thank you !!!!" Said Harry.

Ichigo just hold onto Harry, not wanting to let him go. But he had to let him go at some point so that they could eat the cake and play a little.

Once the strawberry cake had been eaten, Ichigo went behing a bush to retrieved Harry's gifts. And as Harry slowly unwrap the gift he saw a small box housing a beautiful ring on a chain. Harry was in a daze as Ichigo fastened the necklace around his neck.

"I have the same, see. It links us together." Said Ichigo looking down at Harry with a smile. Harry just hugged him instead of saying anything else.

"It's not all. My mother wanted to give you a birthday present as well, so... Here....Take this." He gave Harry another box, this one was bigger. Inside laid two glass eggs." The old woman that sells those said to take good care of them otherwise they would never hatch but I rather think it was a joke. "

Harry kissed Ichigo sightly before desapearing, waking up.

A few months after Harry appeared in the strange sideway world full of little buildings (Ichigo's mindscape is not totally formed yet) and saw that it was pouring. Ichigo was hugging his legs to his chest, his gaze lost.

"Ichigo?... Ichigo.... What happened?" Asked Harry, his heart aching as he looked down at his only friend. Without a word Ichigo jumped on Harry and hugged him for dear life.

They both stayed silent for a few minutes. Then Ichigo answered Harry's question.

"My mommy.... She.... She is dead." He said shakily. But Ichigo never cried. He promised his mum that he would be strong, he would stop crying and he would become stronger to protect them all. He wouldn't fall again.

Harry just hold onto him, not once letting go of him before they had to wake up. He was crying the tears that Ichigo refused to let fall.

Thanks for reading !!!!Bye !!!!