YAY! Finally a decently long chapter, well, compared to most of my chaps… but yeah R&R please! .

Ichigo and Masaya sat down in a food court after receiving an Orange Julius. Masaya, being the perfect gentleman, paid for it. "Thank you so much Masaya!" Ichigo said, enthusiastic as ever. Masaya just chuckled. 'If Ryou ever took me out there is no way he would pay for it, even though he's ri-' Ichigo stopped mid-thought, why had she thought of Ryou all of the sudden? And why in that scenario?

It was then she noticed the Goth boy sitting a few tables away from them laughing with his friends; that had to be it, that reminded her of him. She was just worried about him, why couldn't he be laughing like that Goth? Yeah, that was it, that's why she thought of him.

Masaya noticed Ichigo seemed to be spaced out, "Ichigo, are you okay?" Ichigo was violently snapped back into reality. "Yes, of course, I'm fine," she replied with a shaky smile. "Maybe I should walk you home…" Ichigo was still jittery although she didn't know why, "No, no it's okay, I'll walk home by myself. Thank you though, bye-bye!"

"Bye"

Ichigo turned around and left, as did Masaya, except out a different door. The Orange Julius sat on the table forgotten.

Ichigo was walking and thinking about why she would ever think of Ryou. She kept telling herself she was just worried but some part of her, didn't agree. It said something else, but she didn't know what it was and it was driving her crazy!

As we all know, Ichigo is not the best at multitasking, so thinking with a deep concentration and walking, not a good combination. Sure enough, ten seconds later,

THUNK!

"Oh I'm so sorry!" Ichigo had run into someone and fallen flat on her behind. Ichigo hear the clink of chains as a hand was extended down to her, as well as a mutter of "its fine," Ichigo grabbed on to the persons hand and got up, "Thanks," When she finally looked at the person, she gasped, it was Ryou. But yet, who ELSE would it be other than Ryou? Although it was still ironic, the reason for her running into him.

Without another word spoken Ryou continued his walk to, well, wherever he was going.

"Hey Ryou, where are you heading?" Ichigo said a little unsteadily, still not used to Ryou.

"A walk through the park," Once again, his voice was emotionless.

"Oh," Ichigo looked up at the sky, it was sunset. "Well, can I tag along? I mean, it's almost dark and…yeah."

"Fine,"

"Oh, okay, thanks,"

They walked for a long time without talking, it was awkward to have a normal conversation with Ryou before and now, well it was even harder. Ichigo also figured he didn't even want her there; he probably just wanted her to leave him alone. However, that was not the case. The part of Ryou that was still Ryou, the way he used to be, was happy in a sad way; happy that she had wanted to come, but sad that she, well, that this was about as close as they would get. Of course, Ryou tried to erase that part of him before, but it was too hard, and he had noticed that it was slowly disappearing on its own. The less of it there was though, the longer it took for it to go away.

They were walking through the park but it was getting dark making it difficult to see anything.

"Ahh!" Ichigo yelped, feeling someone grab her shoulder, she turned to see one hideously ugly face staring back at her own. Ryou had turned around when Ichigo screamed and he saw him too.

"Back off," Ryou's words seemed to be drenched with ice, but they still remained emotionless, making the effect all the more terrifying. The thug wasn't afraid in the least though.

"Oh," he snarled curling his arm around Ichigo's neck, "It would seem we have a tough guy on out hands," Three more thugs came out of the bushes that surrounded them. Ryou still remained calm and in place even as they slowly started to creep up on him.

"Let her go,"

The thug ignored that, "You know, I'm curious, how does a kid like you," he said directing the meaning toward Ryou's clothes, "Get a girl like this?" The way he said "this" sounded like he was hissing it.

One of the thugs jumped at Ryou, but he didn't even flinch, he leaned back so that the thug was passing in front of him, and kneed him in the stomach. The man went flying and landed about six feet away, clutching his stomach. Ryou spoke once more, "The chains may make my moves slower due to the weight but they make the blows all the more painful."

There was one man on the left of Ryou, one on the right, and the man holding Ichigo in front. The man on the left gave a maniacal grin, "Chains may be painful, but we have something better," The man threw a dagger at Ryou, he dodged but he wasn't lying when he said the chains slowed him down, plus he wasn't fighting as hard as he could so the dagger grazed his upper arm.

The second the dagger skidded to a stop on the ground, Ryou went into action, he ran over to the man on the left grabbed the collar of his shirt and delivered a punch to his stomach then chucked him at the man on the right. There was only the man holing Ichigo left now, and he looked about ready to wet himself. "Fine take her," He let go of Ichigo and ran.

"Are you alright Ichigo?" Ryou looked at her, "Yeah, yes I'm fine, th-thank you." Ryou grunted a "No problem" and began to walk Ichigo home. When they got to her doorstep Ichigo noticed that Ryou's arm was bleeding, "Hey you want to come inside I could get my mom to clean that up for you," Ryou wasn't sure what she was talking about at first but noticed her gaze was directed at her arm. "No it's alright I'll fix it when I get to the café," Ichigo was defiant, "No you're coming inside and letting my mom take a look at that come on," She opened the door and dragged Ryou inside by his good arm, "Mom! Will you come here?"

Both her mom and dad came into the room, "What's the matter sweetie?" her mom asked, "AND WHO IS HE!" that, of course, was her dad. "Mom, Dad this is my boss, Ryou, you've met him before remember?"

"Oh, last time I saw him he was dressed differently, I didn't recognize him." Ichigo gave an exasperated sigh, "Mom, will you look at Ryou's arm please? He cut it on a bush in the park,"

"Of course sweetheart,"

"BUT AFTER THAT HE'S OUT OF THE HOUSE!" For once Ryou and Ichigo were thinking the exact same thing, how did she live with this guy?