Author's Note

I haven't got any reviews for the last chapter as of posting this.:( I like getting reviews.

Anywho, Chapter 10, enjoy!

I admit, I was scared when Rukia pointed her sword at me.

I have no clue what I did wrong that made her so upset, but it hurt to see her look at me with such disgust and I just wanted to fix whatever I did wrong. I can't understand why every time I apologized that that disgust seemed to grow. I hate when I feel helpless like this, when I can't do anything to make it all better. Maybe that's why I like gardening. All you need is a little proper care, a gentle touch of kindness, and a wasteland can be brought into bloom. It always breaks my heart when it doesn't work for people. Why can't acts of kindness fix all our problems?

When she charges at me, I accept that whatever I've done to wrong her must have driven her to this. I probably deserve to be hurt for the torment I've caused her. Maybe once she's made her attack she'll calm down and I can try to sooth her once more.

Then there's heat, and it's so familiar. The gout of black flame startles me, but not as much as the figure that materializes before me, blocking Rukia's path. Tall with broad shoulders, spikey orange hair, and a flowing black coat, I can't see his face, but his presence is unmistakable, it's Guardian-kun.

When he and Rukia begin to fight I'm at a loss of what to do. They're both my dear friends and I don't want either of them to get hurt, but if I jump in, I get the feeling that it will only ensure injury to one or both parties. So I can only watch, and feel a bit relieved that Guardian-kun doesn't seem to have much intention of hurting Rukia.

At least, not until she changes the shape of her sword and fires an ice beam at us! It was really amazing, like some sort of super power or ray gun, except it was her sword! I thought it was pretty neat until I realized that the ice was headed straight for us and we were about to become human popsicles. I don't think I'd make a very good popsicle, I'd always be so cold and my teeth would chatter all the time. Lucky me, I didn't have to worry about becoming a popsicle because Guardian-kun made a flame dome around us and none of the ice got through. The air gets warmer as the dome comes down and the flames gather around Guardian-kun. He growls while moving forwards towards Rukia and back hands her, knocking her down and knocking her sword from her grip.

When he raises his hand to stab her, I grow scared again.

I don't know what it is I think I can achieve, but I run forwards and grab Guardian-kun's arm from behind. I can't just let him hurt Rukia when she's defenseless! I can tell as soon as my hands wrap around his upper arm that I lack the strength necessary to stop him, that I could barely even slow him down, so in my desperation I plead because it's the only thing I can think to do.

"NO! Stop this, Guardian-kun!"

And he goes lax beneath my grip.

The smothering heat that has accumulated since his appearance wears away some as the arm I was so desperately griping onto returns to his side. He stands still, hanging his head, and I begin to wonder if he's alright.

"Why?"

His voice is low and there's a hint of a growl to it. I can also hear confusion and unease in his question. I'm not sure how to respond. Why what? I need a bit more to go on and as I open my mouth to question him he speaks again.

"Why? Why did you save her? She was trying to her hurt you! Don't you get that?!"

He yells the last question as he turns around to look at me and I can't speak. I can't say a word when he's looking at me with those eyes. A molten brown colored by anger and something I can't place. They stare into my own eyes and penetrate deep looking for answers.

"She's my friend. I don't want her to get hurt." I squeak out, diverting my eyes. "I don't think she really wanted to hurt me. She was just hurt and confused, I'm sure."

His eyes tighten at my response and his scowl deepens at my reply.

"And just because she has problems means it's all damn right if she takes 'em out on you?" he growls, displeasure with my reasoning apparent. "Tell me, do you think you'd just survive and have a damn laugh about it later if she ran you through with her damn zanpakuto? Or that no one would give a damn if you didn't survive this encounter?"

He seems to loom over me, impossibly tall, even though he's only about a head taller than me. I don't know how to respond. He's upset and I don't know what to do to sooth his rage, to calm him and let him see everything's alright. Maybe that's what he needs! To be reassured that everything's alright.

"Well, it doesn't matter 'cause everything's alright now! Nobody got hurt and the flowers are happy again. Victory from the power of friendship!" I strike a cool pose as I finish my cheerful speech.

The scowl is gone and he gives me a blank stare.

"The makes no sense at all." he dead pans.

"Yes it does!" I pout back. "Guardian-kun just doesn't understand the magical powers of friendship, flowers, and happiness. But don't worry, I'll teach you all about it!" I finish with a big smile and a giggle.

He stares at me for a moment longer before a smile tugs at the corners of his mouth.

"I'll hold you to that." The scowl returns, "But that still doesn't excuse how you were just going to let that damn midget attack you."

"Well, I'm fine and I'm sure we can talk it out once Rukia-chan wakes up." I pout once more. Why can't he just let it go? "What did you do to her anyways, Guardian-kun?"

He blinks at the question before reaching up and scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"She got overheated." he mumbles.

"Huh?" I tilt my head, "How did that happen?"

"In case you hadn't noticed, I can control fire. Fire comes from heat."

"Oookaaay?" I nod my head, but still don't really get it.

He grumbles something, but I don't quite catch it.

"What?"

He growls a bit before replying, "I said, my control isn't the best when I'm pissed." He looks embarrassed by this confession. Upon seeing my continuing look of confusion he further elaborates, "My lack of control plus fire coming from heat means when I get pissed off things get really hot around me."

"Oooh. I see." A look of understanding dawns on my face. "But if you make things hot, why didn't I feel really hot? I only felt kind of warm."

He blinks once more. "Dunno, maybe I subconsciously focused the heat away from you." he ponders. "Anyways, your midget friend should be alright, it's just gonna take a while for her to come around."

I smile. Rukia's going to be all right and I've calmed down Guardian-kun. Mission Accomplished! I sit down in the grass and check my watch, we've still got about an hour and a half before Rukia and I need to head back for dinner. When I look up, Guardian-kun is just standing there, looking at the flowers. I shift a bit and his attention snaps to me. I smile for him again and pat the grass besides me. He looks a little hesitant, but comes over and sits beside me.

"So, what is Guardian-kun?"

"Huh?"

"What are you? You look human, but I've never seen you before today even though you've been here the whole time. You can control fire and heat. I keep thinking, but I can't remember any yokai or mythical creatures that match Guardian-kun."

"That's not exactly my name, you know."

"Huh?" Now it's my turn to be confused.

"Guardian-kun. It's not my name. My name is Kurosaki Ichigo, and I'm half yokai, half human."

"Mmmm. But how come the marker says 'guardian' on it if your name is 'strawberry'?"

"My name is NOT strawberry!" he bursts out. "It's 'ichi' for first place and 'go' for guardian! Why the hell does everybody have to always jump straight to that damn fruit?!"

I can't help but giggle at my strawberry guardian as he rants about the injustice of his association with the fruit because of his name. It's so nice to finally meet him face to face, to be able to have a real conversation with him.

And through it all, I still feel that warmth and safety that I've always associated with him.

The youngest of the assembled growls in frustration.

"The perpetrators are yet to be identified or caught, Soutaicho. We are still searching diligently, but neither the sealed nor the seal-breakers can be found. If we could just find a clue or a piece of the trail we could find them, but they've shown excellent skill in covering their tracks."

He steps back into his place in the line-up, signifying the end of his report.

"Thank you for your report, Hitsugaya-taicho. Kuchiki-taicho, how are the seals in Daitaiyo temple?"

I step forward to report.

"We have not finished checking yet, Soutaicho. There was an incident that occurred during the checking sequence and I found it prompt to start over to make sure none of the previously checked seals were tampered with. I should be receiving the final report tonight or tomorrow morning." I was rather displeased that my fukutaicho had been slow to report the incident, but one cannot change the past, so I made sure he worked to rectify the mistake and he can hopefully learn from it. Abarai Renji is not a bad fukutaicho, he simply requires more polishing in non-combative duties than most, but he works hard in all areas.

"Very well, Kuchiki-taicho, but I expect that report on my desk by tomorrow evening. Taichos, dismissed!"

The soutaicho bangs his staff against the ground and all the taichos turn on heel and file out the doors of the meeting hall.

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