When he was small he paid no attention to his name, or hair. Even the fact that the other kids laughed at him, it did not matter to him in the slightest importance. For him, it only mattered his mother's opinion. He loved her. He wanted to protect her and spend with her every moment. He could not imagine life without her.

She was his sun, smile, strength. As soon as he saw her, the whole joy of life came back to him with a vengeance. All the sadness lurking in the shadows, never reaching his heart. But even then he had a sufficient level of spiritual energy, to see people who he was not supposed to. He could not tell difference between the living from the dead person. They were for him just as real. Maybe he should tell his parents? Maybe if he had betrayed his anxiety, by then he would reacted differently?

How could he live without the sun? Without the person he swore to protect?

But he had to do it, because of his ignorance, by his folly, the sun went out. Forever.

He became absorbed in selfish pain. Did not pay any attention to the other, he saw only his suffering, his sense of guilt. Later, his family made him realize he was not alone in the pain, that they all have the mark of death themselves and to survive, they must supported each others.

Since that day he decided to protect his sister. Since the death of his Mother, he could distinguish the souls and men. He could also see black shadows, which resulted in him goose bumps. In the future, these black shadows have changed in the Hollows. But even then he did everything possible to protect them from it. He did not know whether waving with a stick was enough, but he did what he could to not lose no one else.

He did not want anyone to experience the same pain. He experienced it all too deeply, so that he could not get rid of it. He sat in him, and eat him from the inside. No longer able to laugh and take everything with distance. He could not ignore the comments of others about his appearance or name. It was his way to deal with pain. Each new bruise chased for a while the feeling of emptiness. And on his face appear characteristic scowl. Deterred from him each girl, and most of the boys.

Because he did not want let someone into his heart anymore.

But despite his efforts, more and more people were able to break the walls and become his friends, and yet he began friendship with Chad. He thought that it would like this forever.

But then on a rainy evening, he opened the door for her. He saw in her eyes the same pain that he felt a few years earlier, when he lost his mother. He had the same hope as she, that his father manages to save her brother that she would not have to cry anymore.

Death, however is relentless and does not like to give it victims.

Since that day, as soon as he saw her, he had been watching her. Each time he felt more anxious to see the new bandages on her body.

And when he finally had started education in high school, going to class with new bruises he saw her with Tatsuki.


He walked slowly towards the school, feeling like an internal desire to run. Especially knowing that he is not alone on that day. In corner of his eye he watched at the beaming father, who could not believe that his son finishes high school.

He wasn't surprised in his joy. He was aware that he was frequently absent than present in the school, which sometimes had threatened him repeat a year. It can be argued that he had gracious educator. He was grateful, especially because he was not a humble student.

"Ichigo! It's amazing! Today you'll graduate from high school! In addition, you have a girlfriend and you're not gay!" The father embraced him tightly, practically screaming on the whole street.

„Shut up!" He threw off his hand from himself, sighing heavily. "Who you calling gay?!"

„For most of your life, you even weren't paying attention to women ... my son ..." Isshin replied indignantly, staring straight ahead.

„I have a reason to offend not you!" He growled irritably, flipping his hair. "I'm not such a pervert like you!"

"I'm not a pervert! I just appreciate feminine beauty!" He said with a confident smile. "Women are like the finest works of art."

"You are an idiot."

"Ichigo, you don't have to hide it from me. Yuzu told me about your magazines ..."

Ichigo felt a pulsating vein on his temple, breaking through a wave of shame. He hit his father on cheek accelerating pace. Never in his life, he would admit to having such magazines. But he was a normal teenager, and it is clear that he have interest in the opposite sex. In addition, Hisagi had his part in this. He was ashamed that he have it, and what's worse, it was Yuzu who find them, but he did not want Orihime to found out and think about him as a pervert. Everyone, just not her.

It troubled him. Today he sees for the last time Orihime. It was not a separation forever, but he will be in Tokyo, he studied medicine, and she? He do not know what she has decided and if she folded up some papers to any university, but he doubted it. Even if she would got assigned to the dorm, she would have pay fees for study and she would have to pay for an apartment in Karakura. What would have been impossible for a regular teenager. If she sold the home, or want to rent it to someone, it would solve the problem for a minimum four years. However, after that period, where she would come back? He did not want to push her to just submitted papers to any university in Tokyo, that he could have her selfishly for himself.

„Ichigoooo!" He heard calling by his father, but he did not want to talk to him. He was irritated by his good humor which last perpetually. It was something that had distinguished him from his father, and despite appearances, he envied it.

„It' pointless.." He muttered under his breath, staring at the cloudy sky.


~~ Flashback~~

He entered the room, feeling that his cheeks had covered in crimson. His heart was beating faster than usual, and the muscles stiffened when he saw how close she sits to the place. It would be enough to let her hand landed a little more under his bed and she would have found them. He swallowed hard, putting cups of tea on the ground.

She smiled brightly to him, murmuring thanks. Her hands covered cup and lifted it to her lips. His heart stopped for a moment when in his head appeared a picture of their kiss, which had not yet occurred. Blushed even harder, he was trying to find a topic that would calm his heart and mind.

Ichigo?" She asked softly, watching him intently. " Are you okay?"

"Yes." He answered quickly, too quickly. He want to jump out of a window and run away somewhere far away. He did not know what was happening to him. Why he feels in her presence so nervous after he finally get her back. Again his, not Ishida or anyone else. "What do you want to do?" He asked hoarsely. No matter how much he told himself that he had to calm down, his body knows better.

"I don't know ..." She said softly, leaning close to him, causing even more tension in his muscles. He was even sure that his face look like cranberries. "Ichi ... Could I see your photos?"

He looked at her in surprise. And then he realized that he turned face toward her, causing that their noses were millimeters apart. He jumped up scratching his neck with embarrassed. "Sure, I'll get it."

He ran out of the room, breathing deeply. If he have been thinking that the fight against Aizen and the Quincy was the worst and hardest experience, he's now changed his mind. No fight to the death doesn't equal to having a girl in his room. Especially when he is alone at home. The atmosphere was too heavy for him.

He took a photo album from his father's office and went back to the room. May be letting someone into his heart was not the best idea, but even now he do not regret the decision. He just was afraid that he would hurt her with something.

When he returned to the room, she sat on the bed and looked at the scenery outside the window. He could feel blush on his cheeks. Although she was one of the few people who he let sit on his bed, he could not help the fact that his imagination is going wild. Maybe being a normal teenager was not that easy and fun?

"Orihime?" He walked over to her, giving her album.

The girl turned to him, smiling brightly. She reached for the album and wanted to get up out of bed, but stopped her. Startled, she looked like he sit closer to the wall, laying on her pillow, on which he rested comfortably.

Come here, we'll watch them together." He smiled gently, reaching for her hand.


Wound he finally stopped on the roof of the school, looking at Chad and Orihime, who stood at the railings talked about something. He raised his eyebrows, but they did not even notice his presence. Frustrated he approached them, laying his hand on the girl's head. She turn to him to her big honey eyes, full of surprise.

„Ichi-kun!" She said happily, snuggling up to him immediately.

"Hey, what so secretive?" He looked intently at Chad, who rolled up his diploma.

"About nothing in particular. Ichi, do you knew that Chad is going to the U.S. to study?"

„Something was said, but you seriously going?" He did not hide his surprise. He preferred to have his first friend in Japan, but he could not force him to change his mind. "However, I thought that you change your mind."

"I haven't changed. From America is closer to Mexico. I want to go there again sometime." Answered calmly.

„Eh, it's your roots ..." He muttered discouraged, embracing tighter girl.

„Were you able to escape the girls?" Mizuiro appeared behind him, smiling gently.

He gritted his teeth at the thought of a crowd of girls who for sure wanted to win the tie or buttons from his uniform. He did not even know since when he had so many admirers. Never before he had seen them next to him, and worse Keigo looked at him, with eyes telling "I told you so".

„I had lost a few buttons." He groaned, pulling apart Orihime. "So? Are we going somewhere? We have to celebrate the end of school ..."

He grabbed her by the hand, leading to the exit. Colleagues walked in silence behind them. Everyone feels uneasily with the knowledge that this the last moments they spent together. Ichigo wondered if they could meet Ishida and invite him to joint celebration. Orihime through all the way to the pizza restaurant was silent, lost in her thoughts.

They sat at the largest table, with the entire group of friends except Ishida, who they could not even invite, because he were not found anywhere. Ichigo held Orihime at the waist in an attempt to reassure her. She relied on him, with her eyes closed, she looked like she was going to fall asleep.

„Ichigo." Tatsuki looked at him coldly, pointing at him with a fork. " Listen to me. Maybe you will be the best doctor in the world, but if you fail to save the entire heart of Orihime, you'll suck, get it?

He nodded slightly, swallowing hard. Tatsuki was one of the few people whom he feared. Although she had no major powers, to Ichigo she has always been a person that he cannot be beat, especially when it comes to Orihime.

„Ichigo you lucky bastard, you know how many nurses you'll have at the faculty?!" Keigo chuckled to himself, playing with a napkin.

He narrowed his eyes dangerously, wanted to punch him. This day definitely was not the best. He felt like Orihime hands tighten on his jacket. He lowered his gaze in amazed at her, but she still stared at the ground. He raised his eyebrows questioningly, have wanting to ask her about something, when the waitress came over to take their order.

„You'll miss us, ne Ichigo?" Keigo beamed, looking at him.

"Not at all. Normally I'll dance with joy that I will not watch your gobs for the next 6 years." Ichigo replied in disgust, staring at a bunch of guys at the next table.

He did not like their eyes, which was definitely directed to Orihime. In addition, they said something to each other, he could not hear, but he suspected that it was something they should not talk about his girlfriend. But he was too far away to react somehow.

„Cruel ..." Keigo moaned in despair, hiding his face in hands.

"Even Orihime you will not miss?" Mizuiro smirked, playing with a straw of his drink.

„I was talking about you, not about her." He muttered quietly, pulling her even closer. " Besides we'll see each other."

„How come?" Chizuru interrupted the conversation, still looking at Ichigo with resentment.

"I'll came ..." He shrugged, turning his eyes to a strange glowing waitress.

All remained silent not daring to comment on his statement. They knew that they were on a different level than his girlfriend, but did not think he would be so brutal to them, even in jest. But before they really managed to take to heart his words, in front of them was put ordered pizzas. Celebration was started.

They had been returning by holding hands. In a few hours he had to get in the father car and go to Tokyo. They preferred not to think about, but it was inevitable thought. She sighed heavily, stopping. He looked at her worried. He did not know if she took Keigo joke of nurses to heart or let go of it.

„Ichi ..." She said softly, opening her purse. "You must be the best doctor, okay? You do not have to fight with hollows to be a hero, many people need a good doctors here, so ... do your best. okay?" She took out package with A5 size notebook, staring at him with teary eyes. " I ... I cannot say goodbye to you in the three hours ... Because I do not want to say goodbye to you, I'd rather be with you ..."

He walked over to her, wiping barely visible tears in her eyes. He understood her feelings, He felt the same way. He would not get in the car if she were there, he could not leave her. "You'll see, I'll give my best." He said quietly, embracing her.

"Ichi ... It's my gift for you. Open it when you're in Tokyo, okay?" She smiled softly, handing him a package. He grabbed him with questioning face, but seeing her eyes, he nodded in assent, feeling like a heart bursting with pain. He'll miss her. Much more than he ever thought.

Well baby, you are all that I adore,
If love is what you need, a soldier I will be.


(A/N) My friend asked me to write some IchiRuki, and I was like: Nope, nope, nope. Never gonna happen. xD

Okay I watched Toradora, and her opinion that Taiga and Ryu are the same as Rukia and Ichigo was invalid. They're not the same. So nope, nope, nope.

I'm not IchiRuki hater, but I don't like it.

Even more when Bleach fanpage gives all IchiRuki art, and I'm so sick of it, that I ask them if they're ichiRuki fanpage? But of course they said that they not, they only put art that people wants… I'm like grumpy cat, when some admin tells that he can't put arts, and I'm thinking "good".

And girl who tells "Orihime is stupid and egoist cuz she screaming for help, and she is so useless! Rukia is much better!", drive me mad. What she would screamed when she saw death of her love, her best friend lost his hand, and hello there is no hope to survive? Orihime was in shock, in despair. I totally understand her. And sorry Rukia is also weak and need protection. So sorry your arguments is invalid.

And healers aren't useless! Ask gamer what he think about that! When you have healer in team you're god, when you haven't you're looser, who must repeat game again and again. ( I know this, cuz I don't have healer in my team, and they killing me too many times! Where is my own Orihime?!)

And even if Orihime would have a sword, and was fighter Ichigo wouldn't allow her to fight.

Deal with this.