A/N: Hey guys! Here's another installment. Hope you enjoy it :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

The town had plummeted into darkness and checking his phone yet again the scowler took note that it had now been four hours and still the power had not come back. Frustrated he ran his hand through – what can only be described as a tangled mess of disorganised orange locks. He irritably sighed and removed himself from his seated position against his bed. The manga he had once been reading, lay forgotten on the floor.

It was two hours ago when he retreated back to his room after his father had insisted on sharing more of his 'creative' and 'entertaining' ghost stories – torch to chin and all. To say the shinigami wasn't in the least interested was an understatement. Thus, he made a quick getaway whilst Karin was being hindered from her earlier escape plan.

Peeking out of his door he could hear the familiar drawl of his father's voice as he continued his tale of a . . . haunted chappy doll? Ichigo scoffed silently as his mind continued to chide his father's story telling abilities. Walking towards the kitchen, his path lit by scattered candles that Yuzu had taken great care in setting up. Pausing briefly he caught sight of his father with his two sisters.

Yuzu sat enraptured with the tale, a blanket firmly grasped in her hand as her eyes bulged at the 'gruesome' details of his father's tale. Karin however, was less than enthused but the slight tilt to her mouth indicated she was getting some sort of enjoyment from their father's antics. Ichigo reluctantly agreed that it was a comforting sight, although he wouldn't dream of voicing that opinion anytime soon.

The sun had bid its goodbye and the last remaining hopes of light had fled the town. Candles and torches flicked on and illuminated the windows of neighbouring homes and even Ichigo took it upon himself to light a few more as the darkness settled heavily into their family home.

Story time had finally come to a close when Karin had finally reached her limit and quite impressively laid a solid hit to her father's chin. Sending the old man in a puddle of his own tears, as he cuddled up to the poster of his beloved late wife. Karin rolled her eyes, Ichigo stifled his laughter with his hand and Yuzu took it upon herself to comfort Isshin with a gentle hug and smile.

The highly dysfunctional moment was interrupted when Ichigo's phone began ringing. Pulling the phone from his pocket, his brows furrowed as he read the caller I.D. but instantly he answered the call and pressed it to his ear.

"Inoue?"

"Hai, Kurosaki-kun. I hope I haven't caught you at a bad time." She answered timidly.

Glancing at the scene before him he couldn't discourage the smirk. "No, just enjoying some family bonding." Sarcasm lacing his words like a mastered second language.

"Oh." Orihime replied and immediately he could sense the sadness in her tone. Smacking a hand to his forehead he inwardly cursed himself for his carelessness. "I just wanted to check if the power had come back at your place." She recovered from her earlier state and resumed back to her normal bubbly demeanour.

"Nah it hasn't. Was that all you wanted to ask?" He questioned unable to keep the speculation out of his tone.

"Yep! Thanks Kurosaki-kun." She continued cheerily.

"Inoue, are you sure?" He questioned again.

"O-of course. G-goodnight." She stuttered slightly and if the alarm bells weren't ringing before they definitely were now. Before he could even reply to the sentiment she had hung up. Leaving him confused and feeling strangely dejected.

Staring down at his phone, the conversation he just had replaying over in his head. The substitute shinigami couldn't help but be worried. There was something off, he just knew it. Although he wasn't the best at reading people, when it came to Inoue it was different. She was like an open book or glass case. Instantly he knew something was wrong and as he took another look around him, noticing his family now dismally trying to put together a decent meal, it hit him like a tonne of bricks.

Turning to the door, he called over his shoulder that he was going for a walk and would be back later. Karin and Yuzu stared after their brother's retreating form, confused by his sudden departure but Isshin smirked knowingly as he called to the girls and readied them for what he proclaimed to be best blackout dinner ever.

The sound of Isshin yelping reached Ichigo as he shut the door behind him.

Not too long after, he was facing an all too familiar door. For a moment hesitation seeped in. Was this the right thing to do? Maybe he was wrong and nothing was wrong with her. He was just overreacting, but it was too late now. Can't come this far, only to run back home. No, he couldn't do that.

Straightening himself, he raised his fist and with a final inhale of breath, he knocked.

In that same instant, there was a flicker.

The door creaked open and the town became alight.

She giggled softly at his confused scowl.

"Kurosaki-kun? What are you doing here?" The auburn haired girl questioned. Innocent grey eyes lit with a sense of hope and the faintest pink dusted her cheeks.

"I-uh . . . I-." Damn! He hadn't anticipated that. "I was just – uh – checking in on . . . you?" There was a brief moment of silence as his awkward sentence hung in the air, making him feel far too self-conscience.

"Thank you." She spoke softly, breaking the silence and smiled sweetly. There was so much more behind those two words that he wouldn't be able to properly comprehend now. But soon he would.

"You're welcome." He spoke just as soft and for an instance it was just them two. Caught in lingering stares and unspoken words of promise.

The world could have plummeted back into darkness at that point and they would have been none the wiser.