Chapter 3 officially up. Sorry if Ichigo and the others seem alittle OOC but it helps my story move along. This is my first time posting a story for people to read. I am currently going to school to be a writer so I hope all of you read and review. Feel free to submit ideas.

Thank you. -LDN25

I do not own Bleach nor it's characters. Tite Kubo does unfortunately or Ichigo and Orihime would be together already.

I only own Aislinn and the ones I make up along the way.

Her parents had died in an accident. All alone now, Aislinn is the new student at Karakura High. But it wasn't an ordinary accident. Plagued by nightmare and images, things her mind is trying to remember. What happens when she meets our favorite strawberry? Will Ichigo be able to help her? Or will she help him in the end? And what is going to happen when a dark presence appears? Ichigo x OC

Ichigo's POV

I started to walk to Urahara's after leaving Ash's house. I'm gonna have to explain the reason I am late. My thoughts still circled around the encounter as I reacher the shop. I just walked through the door when I was bombarded with swift kick to my shin.

"What the hell Rukia! What was that for?" I rubbed my shin as I looked down at my friend Rukia. She might be tiny but boy could she hold up her own in a fight.

"You're late! Where have you been!? The meeting was almost two hours ago!" She stood there with her hands on her hips and gave me her most terrifying glare. (Gulp.)

"I'm sorry, alright! We had a neighbor just move in a couple of doors down. She seemed to be having trouble unpacking so I gave her a hand. She thanked me by making lunch." When I was finished everybody had calmed down. I let out a sigh of relief, not sure how much abuse my body could take from the midget.

"New neighbore, Kurosaki-Kun?" I heard Orihime ask from where she was standing in the door way that lead to the meeting room. I turned to look at her and nodded.

"Yeah, her name is Aislinn. Just moved in yesterday. She's in the same grade as us and will be attending school with us as well. She is from California." Orihime smiled at the prospect of a possible new friend. She started jumping up and down, clapping her hands. It was hard not to laugh at her enthusiasm.

"What is she like?" Orihime asked while she was still practically bouncing in place.

"Well she's very nice, great personality and a very good cook." I watched as everybody looked at me before Rukia grabbed my arm and pulled me outside. I was really confused as she turned on me with that all knowing look of hers.

"You like her." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. I just looked at her stunned as I didn't know what to say to that. I never, even for being a teenage boy, thought of a girl in that kind of manner. I guess I was just so busy with everything else. And after what happened to my mom, I guess I kind of avoided getting that close to people. Yeah I had my friends but never anything on a more intimate level.

"Umm, what are you..."

"Do not play dumb with me. The others might be oblivious, but I'm not. Nor am I stupid. You like her Ichigo, I could see it in your eyes when you spoke of her. It's about time."

I blinked at her. What was that supposed to mean?

"Well yeah, I mean, I like her enough but I don't know if..." I stopped. I was at a loss for words. There was something about her that got to me. I couldn't help but think maybe Rukia is right. What I didn't understand was the last thing she said. "What do you mean, 'it's about time'?" She shook her head at me as if it was the easiest thing in the world to figure out.

"Some of us were wondering when you would find someone or even get curious enough to look hard enough. You have to admit, you can be pretty oblivious." She leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. She was a very observant person, but being a soul reaper for that long is bound to change a person. "I guess it just took you to finding the right one for it to kick in, in the brain of yours. Congrats by the way. Are you going to tell her?"

"Umm, not sure. I want us to get to know eachother first. I have no clue what to do in this position. I've never tried to date anyone before." I scratched the back of my head as I contemplated. I was glad though, to have someone to talk to. She let out a laugh before she came to stand in front of me. I looked down at her and she smiled. She really was like a sister to me.

"If you need help or need to talk about it, you know you can come to me anytime." She have my arm a gentle squeeze then walked back inside. I stayed outside as I began to think on the conversation that just transpired. The only thing that kept going through my head was 'did I really want to get involved with someone while doing what I do?' I ran my fingers through my hair. Rukia gave me alot to think about.

Aislinn's POV

I finally got my unpacking done. Everything was in it's place. I just sat down in the living room to catch a breath when I saw the time. Crap! Dinner at Ichigo's is in a half hour.

I rushed up and into the shower. I washed as fast as was humanly possible then went straight to my closet. I picked out my best pair of skinny jeans; ripped and dark washed. My white satin corset with elegant floral embroidery over a soft cream colored peasant blouse. Then to top it off my black suede knee high boots.

"I need to breath and relax. It's just dinner." Just dinner my ass. I knew the second he left that I had a thing for Ichigo. Not that I would ever admit it out loud. I fix my hair into cute bouncy curls and used simple makeup that brought out the color of my eyes. I knew I wasn't a bad looking girl, but I was still to a flaw, self concious. I head down stairs, grabbed my keys and headed to the clinic.

I gently rapped on the door and waited. A moment goes by when I hear footsteps and then the door opens to who I am guessing is Ichigo's father. I take a formal bow.

"Kurosaki-San, it's a pleasure to meet you. Is Ichigo home?" Ichigo's father gave me the up and down look with a quirked eyebrow. I didn't look bad did I? Then his face broke out into a huge smile before I was swept into a hug.

"You must be the girl Ichigo was talking about. Aislinn-Chan right? Your our new neighbor." I was floored. Never in my life had I met someone as enthusiastic and brazen as this man. But, and I wouldn't admit this out loud either, I found that I didn't mind. I even went as far as hugging the man back.

"Hey oldman, let her breath. I swear you are the wierdest father." And there he was. The very man that has taken up almost every corner of my mind. Isshin, Ichigo's father, put a hand over his heart as he got overly theatricle. He ran straight for this poster on their wall of a very beautiful woman that struck me as familiar. I gasped as I realized that must be Ichigo's mom. Now I knew where his hair and his looks came from.

"Misaki! Why is our son so mean!? But he invited a girl..." I tuned him out when I turned to Ichigo andd noticed his face was red and staring at me. He finally snapped out of it and came over to welcome me in before shutting the door. I loved the feel of this place. It actually felt like a home. A place of warmth, safety and happiness. I smiled as Ichigo led me to the kitchen.

"Would you like something to drink?" I smiled as I remembered him being over for lunch earlier in the day.

"Yes please. A water would be nice." He nodded as he got a glass down and filled it. He handed it to me with a small quirk of his lip.

"I'm glad you came. I didn't think you would..." I cut him off right there.

"You didn't think I'd come? I meant it when I said I wanted to be friends," and possibly more, "I'm honored you invited me over." Then I saw him smile, a real smile, and my heart melted. What had happened to this boy that he never smiled like that? If I ever find the cause for his inner sadness, I will beat the shit out of it. He was just about to say something when two girls walked in.

"Oh, you must me Ash-Chan? Ichigo said you'd be over for dinner. I'm Yuzu, it's a pleasure to meet you." I smiled at the sweet girl who I could now identify as one of Ichigo's sisters.

"And I'm Karin. It's nice to see Ichigo expanding his circle. You're very cute."

"KARIN!" Ichigo's face was now as red as a stove burner and I had to fight a giggle. But I smiled and looked at the girls.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too. Both of you. You two are so adorable. I wish I had siblings." Both girls cheeks turned pink and I almost let out a squeal at their cuteness.

"Well a friend of Ichigo's is always a member of our family. We can be your sister too if you want." My smile got even bigger as I hugged the both of them.

"Thank you. I appreciate that." Ichigo was just about to speak again when his father walked back into the room. Only this time he had a seriousness about him. It was such a switch to the man that had answered the door. I could see Ichigo chomping at the bit, for this is the second time he has been interupted.

"Welcome to our home Ash-Chan. It's a pleasure to have a pretty girl such as yourself here. Let alone a friend of Ichigo's. You are welcome here anytime. By the way you could've invited your parents. We all could have had dinner together and gotten to know eachother." I cringed on the inside at the topic of my parents. I knew the subject was going to come up at some point. I just didn't realize it would be this soon. It must have shown on my face because everyone stopped and looked me in concern.

"Are you ok? Was it something goatface said?" Ichigo finally able to speak, walked up and put a hand on my shoulder. I could see the concern in his eyes. But there was something else there that I couldn't quite place. I'd figure it out later.

"Ummm, I am not entirely sure... I uhh..." I looked down as I tried to swallow down the emotions that were trying to battle their way to the surface. I turned to look at Ichigo's father with as much strength as I could muster. "I knew I was going to have to tell people eventually, as I made friends and everything but... The thing is Kurosaki-San... I couldn't even if I wanted to."

"Are you a runaway or something?" My head snapped up to look at him. Really? How did he come to that conclusion. I shook my head in the negative and bowed my head. Then I steeled myself knowing it would be good to tell someone other then a shrink. I squared my shoulders and lifted my head as I stared from face to face to face.

"No sir, actually... My parents both died," Everyone in the room gasped and their faces turned pale. "They, uh, died in an accident a few months ago."