Author's Note 1: Yes! Finally back with a new story. This was supposed to be for Valentine's Day. But as long as it was uploaded sometime this month, does it really matter?lol Anyway, sorry for the long wait, but what can I say? It's hard to come up with stuff these days. Especially with the exams I had to do. Biology is a

I guess you can say this has some similarities to Unforeseen Affinity. Though I assure you it's not a remake of that story. As usual, I try my best to keep everyone in character. Anyway, hope you all like it.

Twilight Bliss

It was another night for Ichigo as he patrolled the streets around Karakura Town. It was a rather quiet night as he roamed the area. Aside from one short skirmish, he had not seen any hollows that night. Whenever he did feel any of the spiritual pressure from the corrupt spirits, their presence would mysteriously vanish by the time he arrived on the scene.

The substitute shinigami continued his vigilant tour for the next hour. Unfortunately, there was still no action to be found. He yawned as he leapt from roof to roof as only one thought came to mind. "Where are all the hollows?" he asked himself. He soon stopped traveling as he stood on a telephone pole. The strawberry-haired teen scanned his surroundings, but there were still no signs of his quarry. A smile then grew on his face. "Maybe they finally gave up?" he said. "But then again, when has that ever happen?"

He then heard a couple of chuckles below him. Wanting to investigate, the young swordsman hopped off his perch and down to the ground. Walking past him, unaware of his spiritual form, was a young couple. They laughed and kissed as their arms wrapped around one another's hips. Ichigo watched as they passed by him with indifferent eyes. "Looks like I won't be finding anything here," he noted to himself as he turned away from the two lovebirds.

Just as Ichigo was about to leave, he froze as a burst of spiritual pressure was felt. He turned his head around to the direction of the signature. There was no doubt about it, a hollow was nearby. "Finally!" the substitute said as he wrapped his hand around Zangetsu's grip. "About time something showed up!"

Ichigo launched himself into the air and traveled to the source. In a few minutes, he arrived at a clearing at the community park. With his sword drawn, Ichigo stood prepared for an enemy to emerge. His eyes darted from side to side for any trace of hollows. Once he determined there was no enemy, Ichigo relaxed his stance. "Oh, great. Missed them again," Ichigo thought aloud. "Is there a game of hide and seek that I don't know about?"

Suddenly, a small rustle from a nearby tree to his left caught Ichigo's attention. He glanced at the still quivering branch, but saw no one there. "Show yourself!" Ichigo replied as he pointed the end of his blade to the now still limb. There was no response. Thinking the culprit was still present, Ichigo shunpoed to the tree and quickly looked behind it. There was still no one in sight. "Guess it was a bird," he thought absentmindedly. The teen hopped off the tree and stretched his arms over his head. "I guess there's nothing more for me to do," he thought. "I better get back to bed." With that said, Ichigo decided to return to his home.

As he left, a young woman emerged from the bushes on the other side of the clearing. She watched as the teenage shinigami left the park. A smile formed on her lips as she knew just how lucky she was that Ichigo hadn't found her. Now the next phase of her plan was well underway.

Once Ichigo arrived at his home, the teen pushed his curtain to the side and entered his room. He turned his attention to his body and noticed something laying on top of its chest. It was a white envelope that said 'To: Ichigo' written on the front. The discovery of the foreign object caused Ichigo to arch a brow. "What's this?" the young shinigami asked as he picked up the item. Opening the envelope, Ichigo pulled out a letter that was nestled inside. "Dear Ichigo," the substitute read. "As I'm sure you've noticed, there has been a surprising decrease in the hollow population. If you wish to know why, it is because I have decided to lend my services. I hope you find the alleviation of your workload to your liking." After reading that piece of information, an air of realization hit him. It made sense that there was someone else involved. Though who was it? The teen then returned to reading the paper, hoping to find an answer in the text. "You may be pondering of my identity. For now, it wouldn't be too far fetched to call me something akin to a 'secret admirer.' If you wish for me to reveal my identity, I shall be waiting on the roof of the local educational institution: Karakura High School. I'm sure you are familiar with this establishment."

Now Ichigo's interest had really peaked. He knew of the few fangirls in the Seireitei he made after rescuing Rukia. However, he wasn't interested in such celebrity stature. Still, curiosity of the sender kneaded at him. Especially after all the trouble she went through to get his attention. "Maybe I should go check it out. Besides, I'm not the kind of person to leave someone waiting." With his decision made, the orange-haired teen placed the letter on the desk and left his room.

As he traveled to his destination, Ichigo wondered whether it was a good idea to accept the invitation. When it came to the subject of romance, the teen could care less. However, there was a part of him that was curious on the prospect of a relationship. Though with all of his time taken up by his shinigami business and the upcoming war, the strawberry-haired teen felt there was no time for such sentimental things. "I don't know what this is about," he thought. "It could be a prank by either Rangiku or Yoruichi. Whatever it is, I just want to get it out of the way and get some sleep."

After five minutes of flash stepping, Ichigo arrived at the school rooftop. He checked around for any presence until standing against the wall beside the door that leading to the stairway. "I guess I'll have to wait a bit," he thought.

What Ichigo didn't realize was that the anonymous sender was standing on the heating unit above him. It was the lieutenant of the 12th Division, Nemu Kurotsuchi. Thanks to her hidden spiritual pressure, the substitute was oblivious to her presence. She watched him with piercing eyes which held both interest and intrigue. Her long pony-tail swayed gently in the passing breeze, along with the bottom of her robe.

The lieutenant had been keeping surveillance over Ichigo whenever she had the chance. The quiet lieutenant was in awe by his high growth rate. Never had she seen someone gain such high spiritual pressure and surprising fighting ability in such a short time. For the past four months, the project was kept private (not even her father knew of her pass time). It started as a secretive mission to make an assessment of Ichigo's power. However, Nemu soon found herself attracted to the orange-haired shinigami. Whenever she was busy working on errands or studying on her captain's experiments, the bright-haired teen was always on her mind. Her heartbeat would also increase whenever she heard his name. Perhaps it was because of his awe-inspiring power that continually seeped from his person. Or maybe it was his never-say-die attitude and drive to keep those who were close to him safe.

The young woman shook her thoughts out of her mind and returned to reality. She glanced down and saw Ichigo still standing against the wall with folded arms. His fingers tapped against his limb to signify his impatience. "Time to engage the target," Nemu mentally droned.

Ichigo's wait came to an end as he suddenly felt a surge of energy nearby. He pushed himself off the wall and looked up at the heater. As soon as his eyes found her form, Ichigo was marveled by the woman's beauty. Still, the substitute knew that the woman before him was also a shinigami due to her black robes and high reiatsu. She also seemed rather familiar, though he couldn't remember who she was. "Wait a minute…" he said. "Haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

"We have had a brief encounter," Nemu responded before she jumped over Ichigo and landed a few feet in front. The strawberry-haired teen's mouth hung agape from the graceful maneuver she made. "I am the lieutenant of Squad 12, Nemu Kurotsuchi. It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Kurosaki."

As Nemu bowed to the substitute, Ichigo quickly shook himself back to reality. "H-Hey!" he replied. "You don't have to bow! And please, don't call me 'Mr. Kurosaki.'"

Nemu raised a quixotic eyebrow. "Oh? Then what do you prefer I address you as?"

"Ichigo's just fine," the strawberry-haired shinigami responded. "If you're okay with me calling you Nemu."

"I see. I do not mind at all, Ichigo," the lieutenant replied.

Now that the introductions were out of the way, Ichigo took a step forward. "So Nemu, why did you call me here? Is Aizen planning his next move?"

"The reasons for this exclusive meeting are in no regards to Soul Society matters," Nemu said.

"It isn't?" Ichigo asked. "Then what's going on?"

Nemu turned around and walked to the fence. She gazed at the town skyline, trying to think of how to express her feelings. Her heart beat rapidly as she began experiencing different emotions. "Ichigo…" she began. "You are a truly interesting individual." Ichigo cocked a brow from the lieutenant's statement. "You face adversity head-on and you always manage to defeat immeasurable foes through sheer willpower alone."

"Well, thanks for the compliment," Ichigo said with a small smile. He couldn't help but feel his pride rising.

"Actually, it was more of an observation," Nemu replied. "Usually, such reckless and suicidal behavior warrants foolhardy decision making." Now Ichigo's pride had been verbally knocked down a peg. Feeling some offense, the strawberry-haired teen's scowl returned as he averted his focus. "I wish to know what is your reason for fight? Why do you risk so much in a battle that does not concern you?"

Ichigo crossed his arms as he turned his attention back to the ponytailed lieutenant. It had been a while since anyone asked of his motivation. To be honest, there were some times he asked himself that very question (at least, his hollow half did). However, there was only one reason that crossed his mind. "You want to know why I fight?" he asked Nemu.

"Yes," the lieutenant said.

The substitute stepped forward until he stood next to Nemu. The young teen's gaze was now fixed on the town's sleeping people and vagrant souls. "My reason for fighting is so I can protect the people that live here. And above all, I want to keep my friends and family safe. That's why I do what I do. I don't care about the duty of a shinigami or history. I just want to be able to save the people I care about."

Nemu absorbed the information and repeated it in her mind. It was strange to see someone so compassionate and loyal. In a way, it reminded the lieutenant a little of herself. She knew she would do anything for her captain. Still, it wasn't because of anything sentimental like love for her father. It was an instinct, a programmed command of obedience for her creator. "How admirable," she said as she rested a hand on her upper arm. "Perhaps this is the benevolence and perseverance I've heard so much about."

Ichigo only shrugged his arms in response to her spoken thought. "Well, if that's the only thing you wanted to talk to me about…" Ichigo replied, ready to return to his home.

Before he could even step away, Nemu quickly grabbed the teen and pressed her lips against his for a passionate kiss. Ichigo was surprised by the sudden display of intimacy. This was an experience many males his age would relish: being kissed by an attractive woman. Not only was she beautiful, but he knew that she was also quite powerful in her own right. Still, being kissed was the last thing Ichigo had in mind. After a few seconds of blissful paralysis (and a playful whistle from his inner hollow), Ichigo broke the kiss and lightly pushed the lieutenant away. Catching his breath and with his face in a deep crimson, the substitute shouted, "W-What the hell was that!?"

"I-I don't know why…" Nemu stuttered, feeling both panicked and embarrassed. She turned her focus to the ground as her checks became flushed. The lieutenant was also surprised by her sudden uncharacteristic behavior. As she tried searching for an explanation, her heart continued to race. She was unable to keep eye contact for more than a second as she mentally cursed herself. "I-I must go!" Nemu hastily thought. "Perhaps Captain Unohana can find the cause!"

"Hang on!" Ichigo replied as he held a hand out to catch her. However, Nemu had already fled the scene. The substitute stood with a dumbstruck expression from the event. He wanted an explanation, but all he received was a added questions. With the visiting lieutenant gone, probably already at the Senkaimon, the young swordsman left the roof and headed for his home.

As the teen slept in his bed, Nemu was sitting on the roof of the house next door. Instead of leaving for the Senkaimon, she tailed Ichigo from a distance and watched as the boy returned home. The young man's restless body twisted and turned in his slumber. His covers were scattered about his form. Seeing his unkempt sheets, the lieutenant jumped over to his window and entered his room. She inspected the young man to make sure he was asleep before pulling his covers up and tucking him in.

Nemu turned her attention back to the dreaming Ichigo. Though her actions were shocking, she couldn't help but give a small smile. She was drawn to the boy for quite some time. Even with her conflicting emotions, the purple-haired lieutenant was proud of what she did. Still, she wondered whether what she did jeopardized whatever chance, if any chance, she may have had with Ichigo. "Again, I apologize for what has transpired, Ichigo," Nemu whispered. "I apologize for any discomfort I brought upon you."

As Nemu placed her foot on the sill, she heard Ichigo call out her name. "Nemu…" he muttered softly before turning on her side. The young lieutenant smiled again, a warm feeling spreading through her body. She then proceeded to leave, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

Two months had passed since the battle with Aizen. At the moment, Ichigo was surrounded by multiple hollows. Holding a strong stance, the substitute kept his guard as he eyed the opposing forces. From behind, one of the hollows lunged at the teen. However, Ichigo managed to twist around and slice the creature in half. Another two charged at him with their claws extended and jaws open wide. The swordsman sidestepped his opponents before charging through them with a single slash. The rest of the hollows approached him, hoping to use their sheer numbers to overpower the teen. However, their joint attack proved useless as Ichigo jumped in the air, evading the swarm. With his reiatsu charged, the shinigami sent his Getsuga Tensho upon the hoard.

Once the dust settled, the hollows were exterminated. There was only a giant scorch mark where Ichigo's attack had landed. "That should be all of them," he thought. That was before another large hollow appeared from above. Ichigo glanced upward to see the enemy flying toward him. However, it was the beast who would face defeat as a powerful kick connected with it's skull mask in mid-air. As the hollow's body vanished, the owner of the attack landed a few feet ahead of Ichigo. She returned to her feet and dusted off her legs before turning her attention to the substitute. "About time you showed up, Nemu," Ichigo said as he placed Zangetsu on his back, it's cloth wrapping around the blade.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting, Ichigo," Nemu said. "I had a few errands which needed to be completed."

Ichigo gave a smile to the violet-haired woman. The substitute had to admit that she was both cute and sexy. Glancing at her beauty, Ichigo couldn't help but to be reminded of his first kiss all those months ago. At first, he was unsure of whether it was a prank or something real. However, after starting a steady friendship, both shinigami started a discreet romance. Every night, Nemu would sneak her way into Karakura Town and meet with Ichigo. The two would either work together on patrol or simply roam around the city.

"So what do you want to do?" Ichigo asked as he walked over to his girlfriend.

Nemu rested against the strawberry-haired shingami. "A source has confirmed that a total lunar eclipse is present and I wish to investigate," Nemu said. "Would you like to accompany me?"

Ichigo wrapped his arm around the lieutenant's waist. "Of course I would," he assured. "Hang on. I know of a good spot." Nemu nodded and wrapped her arms tightly around Ichigo. With the young woman secured, Ichigo flash stepped from the scene. In a matter of seconds, the two arrived at a the school roof. Nemu observed her surroundings and felt a smile grow on her face. She remembered what had transpired her so long ago and the effect it had later on. "Is this place familiar?" Ichigo quipped.

Nemu turned around, a light chuckle escaping her lips. "Indeed. This is where you and I first met," she said. "You have picked an excellent location, Ichigo." The lieutenant then gave the substitute shinigami a light kiss against his lips.

"Thanks," Ichigo said.

Nemu turned her attention to the black sky and saw as the full moon began to fade. "It's starting," she said. The two shinigami took their seat and watched as the moon reappeared in the sky. This time, it was rather larger than usual and colored in an orange-red tone. It was true show of beauty brought by the heavens themselves.

However, it wasn't the lunar phenomenon that had Ichigo's attention. Though the ethereal sight was something to behold, it was Nemu who was truly radiant. Her pale skin shimmered in the moonlight and her emerald eyes shone like jewels. Her beautiful violet hair was flawless like silk. There was no way he could keep his eyes off the her.

Nemu could sense Ichigo's amber orbs glancing at her. She couldn't help but blush at how the substitute was inspecting her. "What seems to be the trouble, Ichigo?" the lieutenant asked, trying her best to hide her reddened cheeks. "Is my face damaged in any way?"

"Not at all," Ichigo replied. "I just can't believe that I'm with someone so smart and cute. It feels like only yesterday that you and I met."

"Is this the art of 'flirting' I've heard so much about?" Nemu asked as she turned to Ichigo. "I hope you take no offense, but as Rukia Kuchiki would say, that sounded rather corny."

Ichigo sheepishly chortled as he rubbed the back of his head. Ever since the two began dating, Nemu started to develop a sense of humor. Though most of it was either esoteric or observational in nature. "I admit, that was kinda cheesy," he admitted. He then placed his fingers under Nemu's chin, locking his eyes with hers. "But what I say is the truth. And I swear on Zangetsu's blade, I'll never leave you."

Hearing Ichigo's vow, Nemu placed a hand against the young man's right cheek. She could see the emotion and seriousness in the shinigami's eyes. Nemu also harbored such love and trust for the him. He was one of the few people who saw her as a person instead of a tool. Being together with the brave swordsman made her feel both secure and free, something she hadn't experienced before. "Ichigo…" Nemu began. "I promise you that I shall stay by your side until the very end."

The substitute shinigami smiled from Nemu's response. The strawberry-haired teen brought his face closer to the lieutenant's until the lips clasped together. The two shinigami stayed like this for what a minute before breaking the kiss. They saw one another's red cheeks and the passion in their eyes. The two then continued to kiss in a more intimate manner as the colored moon continued to shine in overhead.