A.N.: This was commissioned by Anonymous. Please see my bio for information on commissions.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Warning: Lemon!

Berries and Plums

Two months after Aizen's defeat
Karakura Town

Dawn broke, rousing Ichigo Kurosaki from his sleep. The teenager rolled out of bed and got dressed, heading down to breakfast with his family. Passing by a mirror, he looked at himself. He looked at the powerless, Human boy staring back and took a deep breath before smiling.

'It's okay…' he told himself before finishing his walk to the dining room. Sitting down and eating waffles with his sisters, he'd forgotten how good this felt. The feeling of normality. After all he'd gone through it almost felt like a dream.

Almost.

Finishing breakfast, he decided to go out for a walk and get some fresh air. It was the weekend so he didn't need to worry about school today, which was good since he wanted to avoid his friends' constant barrage of questions.

Ever since he'd woken up from his month-long coma, all of his friends, who now knew the truth, kept asking him if he was okay. Tatsuki especially was concerned. But the truth was, Ichigo was okay.

Was he sad that he'd given up his powers? Of course. But he'd do it again if it meant protecting his friends and family. He'd never asked for the power to see ghosts or try to profit off of it. And while it was sad he couldn't see Rukia or Renji anymore unless they were in a Gigai, he wasn't that saddened by the loss. After all, even if he never saw Rukia again for the rest of his life, he could see her again once he passed on.

So all in all, Ichigo was okay.

Rounding a corner, he saw an ice cream shop in the distance. He checked his wallet and decided that today was a nice enough day to enjoy a frozen treat. The door opened up as he approached, however, and a face he certainly didn't expect to see walked out the door, an orange ice cream bar in hand.

"Wait a minute…Momo?"

The lieutenant of Squad Five numbly walked past him, her head slumped while she ignored the world around her, including Ichigo. He called out her name again but it didn't reach her and she just walked on by, staring at the ground.

For a moment, Ichigo was perplexed. He swiftly realized that Momo was in a Gigai, hence why he could see her, but he was confused why she was in Karakura Town. The awful memory of Aizen's trickery lingered in his mind, remembering how Aizen duped Toshiro into stabbing her from behind. Having not heard a word from Rukia or Renji, Ichigo hadn't even been sure that Momo had survived that seemingly fatal blow until now. So what was she doing here all by herself?

'I don't get it. What's she doing here? Where's Izuru? Or Renji? Hell, where's Toshiro for that matter? She looks alright, but she's in a Gigai so I can't really tell. Did something happen to her? Was she discharged from the Squads because of her injuries?' Ichigo didn't really know how people were let go from the Squads but the look on Momo's face told him that the last two months had not been kind to her.

As quick as he could, he dipped into the ice cream parlor before going after the downtrodden Momo…

Minutes later…

The ice cream bar slowly melted uneaten in Momo's hands. The small girl felt like she was trapped in a bubble of misery. Tears ran down her face. She sat on a park bench, staring off blankly in the distance.

A pain shot through her chest, constant and aching. Even in a Gigai the pain was immense. She could steel feel his blade, their blades, pierce her chest. Ever since she'd awoken in the Squad Four medical center, all she could feel were the blades of betrayal.

The melted treat fell to the ground with a plop, slipping off its wooden stick. She didn't even know why she got the ice cream. Part of her wanted to try to enjoy something but all it reminded her were of happier days, days that she didn't want to relive anymore.

Then something fell into her tear-filled vision. She blinked and found another ice cream bar hovering in front of her face. "Huh?"

"Here. You looked like you could use another."

Momo was shocked to see Ichigo Kurosaki sitting next to her, offering another ice cream. "Ichigo…Kurosaki? What are you doing here?"

"I was taking a walk when I saw you. What are you doing here?"

The lieutenant took the offered treat and out of gratitude, took a bite out of it. "I'm…um…on medical leave." A hand went to her chest, where she could still feel the shadow of Aizen and Toshiro's blades pierce her. "Captain Unohana managed to save me after…" Momo turned away. She didn't want to talk about it. She didn't want to talk period.

"Are you okay?"

The harsh glare Momo sent his way was enough to almost make him flinch. "What do you care?" Her voice was tinged with malice. She'd had enough of people pretending to care. "I…I don't need you pity." She took another bite of her ice cream angrily before continuing, "I'm tired of people asking me that. I'm tired of Shiro and the others keep treating me like I'm some object that'll crack in two if not carried gently. I'm tired of everyone thinking I was just a sad puppet whose strings have been cut. I'm tired of being betrayed by everyone. I'm…" She closed her eyes and the tears came back. "I'm just tired…"

Ichigo turned away, not knowing what to say. 'She's still angry at everybody for what happened. The trauma she's endured thanks to Aizen must be horrible. What do I say? Hell, what can I say?' In the end, there was one thing Ichigo could say. "I'm…I'm sorry."

Sighing, Momo sat quietly for a moment and finished her ice cream. "It's alright. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. This is kinda rude for our first real meeting." She'd never formally met Ichigo. By the time she'd woken up after Aizen's betrayal Ichigo had already gone back to the world of the living. And she'd already been taken down by Ayon before Ichigo showed up to fight Aizen. "It's just…it hurts." Her hand returned to her chest. "All I keep thinking about is those two moments and it…it feels like I'm falling. I don't really know who I am anymore. I did everything for…for him…" Momo couldn't bear to say his name anymore. It only made the pain her chest stab deeper. "Now that it's all over, when I woke up I thought I was ready to put it all behind me. But I can't. I can't run the squad by myself. I can't even look Shiro in the eye anymore. Captain Unohana gave me permission to take a medical leave here to the World of the Living. Everyone agreed I needed some space before I could resume my duties. If I'm even still a lieutenant…" she bitterly added.

The more Ichigo listened the more he came to understand Momo's plight. Her whole world revolved around Aizen. Ichigo heard from Renji all about how she'd served him loyally since he'd saved her life during a training exercise. And with the rug being pulled out from under her feet and her best friend being duped into almost killing her, it left her questioning her purpose.

Though he couldn't say he was in the same position as Momo, there was no doubt that the girl was hurting bad. And he couldn't just sit there and let the lieutenant wallow in misery. He struggled to think of what to do.

"Do you have a place to stay? How long are you going to be here in my world?"

"Well…" Momo looked up at the sky. "I was told to take all the time I needed. I…left my squad in the care of my other seated officers. I remember Shiro mentioning that the Head-Captain was fielding options for refilling the vacant captains' position. I didn't really know what to do so I…I just got a hotel room nearby."

"I see…" Ichigo had an idea. "Would you like to come have dinner at my place?"

The mere notion of Ichigo inviting her over to his place made Momo scowl. "I don't need your pity!" she reminded him.

However, she saw something in Ichigo's eyes. He wasn't showing her pity or sadness, but understanding. "Look, Momo. I might not know you very well, but the last thing you need to be right now is alone. I know what that's like." His eyes narrowed. A memory flashed in the back of his mind and a familiar dagger of pain stabbed his heart. "I know what it's like to have your whole world shattered and suddenly you don't know what to do with yourself." He stood up and offered her his hand. "Let me help you."

Momo felt the sincerity of Ichigo's words. The look in his eyes was similar to the understanding look Aizen always gave her but she knew that Ichigo was being genuine about his kindness. "But…why?" she asked as she took his hand.

"Because I want to."

He led Momo back to his house, hoping that his dad and sisters would be okay with a new houseguest tonight. Karin was lounging on the couch and when she saw her brother come in with yet another girl, she raised another eyebrow. "Another girl, Ichigo? You're a bigger playboy than Dad and Yuzu thought."

"Dammit, Karin! It's not what it looks like!"

"Suuuuure…"

Despite herself, Momo couldn't help but give a small smile. Ichigo's house seemed as warm as he was.

A few hours later…

Momo sat and talked with Yuzu for what felt like hours. She liked Ichigo's sisters, especially Yuzu. Ichigo had told them that Momo was an old friend of Rukia's and Yuzu quickly took to the small lieutenant. 'Ironic that they keep thinking that I'm Rukia Kuchiki's friend when I've never actually spoken to her in my life…'

During their talks Momo caught of glimpse of Ichigo and the twin's father when he passed in between the house and his clinic to deal with some patients. He gave his houseguest a quick hello before excusing himself. 'Weird. He looks almost like Captain Shiba. But Captain Shiba was supposedly killed decades ago. His reincarnation, maybe?' Momo pushed out the thoughts out of her mind. It didn't really matter.

Still, she was glad to talk to someone. She'd spent so much time in a hospital bed or alone in her own quarters that to just have a friendly chat with somebody felt almost foreign to her. "Huh?" She looked around and noticed that Ichigo wasn't in the room. "Where'd Ichigo go?"

"Oh, he went upstairs a while ago. He's been kinda down for about a month now." Yuzu's face showed open sadness as she opened up to Momo about her brother. "He's good at putting on a brave face but I know something's been bothering him. He was gone for about two months and when he came back he just hasn't been the same."

Momo was surprised to hear that about Ichigo. He seemed so strong earlier. Ichigo didn't give the impression that he was hurting on the inside. "I'll go see if he's ready for dinner," Momo said, heading up the stairs. She found Ichigo's room and gently knocked. "Ichigo?"

Hearing no answer, she hesitantly opened the door. Ichigo sat at his desk, looking out the window with his back to the lieutenant. Hearing someone enter his room, Ichigo turned around. For a brief moment Momo saw the sadness etched across his face before he smiled. "Oh hey, Momo. Sorry for leaving but you and Yuzu seemed to getting along just fine."

"It's okay. Your sisters are wonderful." Momo closed the door behind her. The sadness in Ichigo's eyes compelled something inside her to speak, despite her hesitation at prying into his business. "Are you okay? You seemed down."

"I'm fine. Just…thinking," Ichigo said.

Momo sat down on the bed. "Um…your sister is worried about you. Is it…because you lost your powers? Renji told me what happened."

Silence filled the room. For a few moments Momo worried she'd overstepped her boundaries but Ichigo decided that if she was going to open up to him, he'd need to open up to her. "Um…have you heard from Rukia?"

"I'm afraid not," Momo said. "I've never actually met Rukia face to face. I do know she got a commendation for everything that happened in Hueco Mundo. Renji told me she'd even defeated an Espada."

"That's good. I'm glad to hear that." Yet Momo noticed that Ichigo seemed to be a little down hearing that Rukia was doing fine on her own.

"Do you miss her?"

'Well…yes," confessed Ichigo. Normally he didn't like opening up but he'd just told Momo she needed to open up about her problems and how could he ask her to do something that he couldn't do? Not only that, there was a kind innocence in Momo's eyes that compelled him to speak. "I do miss her."

Momo couldn't help but speak up. Her friendship to Renji compelled her to. "Do you love her?"

Ichigo comically blushed at the question. He defensively threw his hands up. "What?! No! Nothing like that! Besides, I thought she and Renji liked each other!"

His innocent reaction made Momo giggle. 'Rangiku did say Ichigo could be riled up easily.' "It's okay. I was just asking since…you know, you saved her and all."

Scratching the back of his head, Ichigo tried to put his thoughts into words. It'd been a month since he watched Rukia disappear from his life, both figuratively and literally. "She's…important to me. She changed my life. She changed everything, really." He looked down at the floor and sighed. "It's just…I wish she and Renji would drop me a line, you know? I know I shouldn't be selfish. They have their own responsibilities. But…it almost feels like they don't want to be a part of my life anymore." He flexed a hand in front of him and sighed. "I told myself that I could handle not having my powers anymore. But it's hard getting up every day after spending my whole life seeing ghosts

Sitting on his bed, Momo thought about what to say. Ichigo was hurting. True, it was a different pain than hers but the pain was there. "I don't know Rukia very well. But I know Renji. And I know that if they haven't spoken to you since then…" She got up and walked over to Ichigo, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's because they know you'll be okay without them."

The words were kind. Ichigo had told himself that for a while but it felt better coming from someone else. "Thanks, Momo. Heh, I asked you to come over to help you out and you start helping me." He put a hand over Momo's.

Momo felt her body jolt when she felt Ichigo's hand touch hers. It was…warm. "I'm…just trying to help you. Since you're trying to help me."

Ichigo stood up as the air in the room became awkward. "Let's go see if Yuzu is done with dinner." It felt strange being alone with Momo. She felt like a mature Yuzu.

"Let's…" Momo said, following him out of the room. Still, she couldn't deny that her heart started beating a little faster when their hands touched. The idea made her blush. "Um…Ichigo?"

"Yeah?"

"Could I come back here to talk to you?"

Ichigo turned his head and when Momo saw his smile the pain in her chest started to go away a little.

"That's what friends are for."

Several weeks later…
Karakura Town Park

"-and then, Renji came out of the shower with green hair!"

Ichigo almost fell out of the bench from laughing so hard. The more stories Momo told him about Renji, the more Ichigo wondered how he ever managed to make Lieutenant. "If I ever see him again, I am so bringing that up!"

Momo giggled, putting her sweater sleeve over her mouth to stifle her laughter. Fall was beginning to arrive in Karakura Town and it was getting colder. "That's not even the best part! Right after that, his captain came in, stared at Renji for a full minute with his stone-faced expression and just walked right out!"

This time Ichigo had to struggle to breath, the image in his head so hilarious it almost made him bust a gut from laughter.

The pair had met up regularly over the past few weeks to talk. Momo felt relief in being able to share her life with someone without fear that she was being used. Ichigo was such an honest person that just being near him made her chest pains seem like nothing.

Momo was a lot better than she'd been before. And she could tell that her talks with Ichigo made him feel better too. She didn't know if Toshiro or Renji would really approve of her staying so long in the World of the Living but she was enjoying her time with Ichigo.

Their conversation was interrupted when Momo's cellphone started ringing. Momo's expression soured. She'd been dreading this call for at least a week. Reluctantly she pulled out her phone and flipped it open, hitting the answer button. "This is Lieutenant Hinamori."

Sitting across from her on the bench, Ichigo watched her face became sadder with each "Uh huh" and "Yes, I understand" that she responded with. Part of him knew what the problem was and a familiar pain of loneliness stabbed him deeply. Momo was perhaps the only remaining link he had to his old life as a Substitute Soul Reaper. He truly did enjoy the time they had talking with each other.

Judging from the look on her face, it appeared that time was over.

Sighing, Momo ended the call and pocketed her phone. The pair sat quietly on the bench and stared up at the clouds. After a few minutes Momo finally broke the silence. "That…was Shiro. He said I needed to return back to the Seireitei. The Head-Captain has decided on…on Aizen's successor," she said, forcing herself to omit the man's title. "I'm needed to help ensure a smooth transition for my squad."

Ichigo couldn't hide his disappointment. "I guess…you won't be coming back anytime soon?"

"No, Karakura Town is technically under the jurisdiction of Squad Thirteen. That's why Rukia was sent here. Although…" she looked over at him with hopeful eyes. "I promise I'll come back to see you when I'm able! And I promise I'll talk to Renji and see if he and Rukia can come visit you soon!"

The boy smiled and took hold of Momo's hand, squeezing it gently. "It's okay. If they can't come, then I understand. But I appreciate the thought. When will you be heading back?"

"Tomorrow morning. I um…I need to get back and start packing." The two stood up and before Ichigo could do anything Momo wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Ichigo. For everything."

"And thank you, Momo, for listening."

Momo looked up and her lips formed the widest smile. "That's what friends are for, silly!"

Later that night…
Ichigo's room

The moon was high in the night sky, illuminating Ichigo's dark room. The teenager lay on his bed, lost in thought. He was a little sad hearing that Momo was leaving. 'It's okay…' He closed his eyes and reminded himself to not be so selfish. 'She couldn't stay forever. And I think we both needed each other in our own ways.' He smiled while turning over in his bed. 'I'll miss her though. She was…sweet.'

Then he heard his window open up.

"Ichigo, are you awake?"

Sitting up, Ichigo was shocked to see Momo sitting in his windowsill. She was wearing a large black robe that covered her entire body. "Momo? What are you doing here?"

"I…um…" With blushing cheeks Momo slipped into the boy's room, closing the window behind her. "I was thinking. I might not see you again for a long while…" She hesitantly approached Ichigo. "So…um…I decided."

The look in Momo's eyes made Ichigo's heart start to beat a little faster. Her hand touched his, sending a jolt through his arm just from contact. "Decided…what?" He asked but deep down he knew the answer.

Momo was close, so close to him. She struggled to speak, unsure of whether to really go through with this. But something in her heart pushed her past the point of no return. She recklessly threw her arms around Ichigo and pushed her lips into his. Ichigo went stiff as a board when Momo kissed him. His arms instinctively wrapped around hers, pulling her close until she rested on his lap. When they pulled away, panting for air, Ichigo asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Momo said, throwing all hesitation to the wind. "I don't know if I'll ever see you again. So tonight…let me spend it with you." Leaning back, she pulled the tie to her black robe and let it fall past her shoulders.

The blood inside Ichigo's veins ignited with fiery heat. She wasn't wearing anything underneath the robe. She sat on his lap completely nude. Ichigo had never really considered Momo as a woman until now, forgetting that she was years and years older than him. Her body was small and petite, reminding him of Rukia. Her hips were smooth, wider than Ichigo imagined, leading up to her pink, shaved pussy.

Letting her emotions run rampant, Momo's fingers tugged at his shirt, yanking it over his head. The blush on her face intensified when she saw how fit and toned Ichigo's chest and stomach were. All that training really paid off. Arms, strong and kind, wrapped around her naked waist. This time Ichigo was the one who started the kiss. The pair moaned into each other's lips. Momo ran her hands through Ichigo's orange hair. Shivers ran up her spine when Ichigo's hands ran up her back. Her chest pressed against his, her breasts heating up as they rubbed against him.

"Mmmh!"

Their tongues met and turned the kiss sloppy. Momo wrapped her lips around Ichigo's tongue, surprising him. His hand slipped down to her ass, squeezing her cheeks.

Then Momo felt something press against her moist womanhood.

Breaking the kiss, Momo gently pushed Ichigo down onto his back. Her small hands pulled down his pants and his underwear in one go, freeing his manhood for her. Momo gulped when she saw just how big and thick Ichigo's manhood was when it sprang free. 'Wow…he's…bigger than I expected.'

Kicking out of his pants, Ichigo sat up and embraced Momo again. The naked lovers kissed as they laid down on their sides, unable to keep their hands off each other. Ichigo's fingers found Momo's honeypot, rubbing her wet lips while Momo's soft hand stroked his long length.

The foreplay continued for several minutes before Ichigo finally wanted to go the last mile. "Ready?" he asked, holding Momo close.

"Yes…" breathed the lieutenant, lost in her own emotions.

Rolling her onto her side, Ichigo sidled up behind her and raised her leg. Momo gripped the bedsheets tightly, looking down nervously as she watched Ichigo's cock take aim at her pussy. The head pushed against her folds, slipping inside. "Nghh!" She stiffened as Ichigo slid into her.

Holding her tightly, Ichigo slowly pushed into her womanhood until he'd bottomed out her pussy. He tried to be as gentle as possible. He was rather on the large size and Momo was just as small as Rukia. "Are you okay?" he asked after a few moments. The tightness and warmth of Momo's pussy threatened to send Ichigo into a lustful frenzy and start ravaging her but he willed himself to be still.

"Y-yeah," panted back Momo. She turned her head and kissed his cheek. She wasn't nearly as fragile as he feared. "Move…"

Nodding, Ichigo pulled out until only his head remained inside of her. A groan left Momo when Ichigo pushed back in. The bed softly rocked gently as Ichigo slowly pumped in and out. He'd never felt this good before. The soft tightness of Momo's hole threatened to suck him back in even as he pulled out. Her body, pressing back against his chest, began to slicken with sweat as they continued to make love.

Fucking her faster and faster, Ichigo felt something primal come out of him. Momo moaned when he suddenly pulled out of her. Rolling her onto her back, Ichigo climbed on top of the girl and put her legs on his shoulders. Gripping her thighs, he started to savagely ram his cock in and out of her.

"Ah! Ah! Oh!" Momo had her thoughts fucked out of her skull. Ichigo was so big that his cock continuously started to grind against all her spots. His tip kissed the door to her womb, making her head spin from the sensation. "Yes! Ichigo! Ohhh! Yes!"

The bed creaked and banged against the wall. Ichigo leaned forward, pinning Momo to the mattress with his heavy weight. She cupped his face and gave him a wet and sloppy kiss, mixing her saliva with his. His hand reached between her thighs and started rubbing her clit. "MMMMMMH!" she moaned into his lips.

Minute after minute ticked by as the former Soul Reaper fucked the lieutenant senseless. Ichigo let go of her legs, letting them slide of shoulders to wrap around his waist.

Perhaps it was the Gigai she was in or the fact that it'd been so long since she'd hit the sack with someone, other than a few drunken flings with Izuru, but regardless Momo was brought to a raging climax. "AH! Ahhhhhh!" Her head was thrown back and she came around Ichigo's cock, her juices leaking out of her plugged cunt.

Even with his lover in the throes of climax Ichigo didn't stop fucking her. He wrapped his arms around her small body, wishing this moment would never end. But so new to the art of lovemaking, Ichigo couldn't pace himself and found himself about to blow his load too. "I'm…I'm cumming!" he grunted.

Momo's mind was a haze. 'Is today a safe day? Can I even get pregnant in a Gigai?' In the end she didn't care. She wanted to feel Ichigo release inside of her. "Inside! Cum inside!"

Ichigo willingly obliged. Momo pulled him into a deep kiss just as he released, her body melting into a boneless mess as a hot wet heat flood her pussy, making her have a mini-orgasm.

Holding her, Ichigo smiled as they came down from their highs. "You know, it's a long way till morning…" he suggested.

Momo smiled back. "I know."

Meanwhile…
Yuzu and Karin's Room

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Yuzu's blush made her almost glow in the dark. "Wow…they're really going at it.

"Well he'd better do whatever we say after this," threatened Karin, "otherwise Orihime is going to have a little visit from us."

The Next Morning…
Kisuke's Underground Chamber

Ichigo followed Momo down the ladder to the chamber where Kisuke had his Senkaimon gate. "Why're you going back through here?" he asked once he reached the bottom.

A new voice answered him. "Figured we'd go back together. Get to know each other since we're going to be working alongside each other."

Ichigo and Momo saw Shinji Hirako, standing next to the gate. Ichigo reminded himself that he could see Shinji since his Gigai allowed him to fight with his Soul Reaper powers. "Shinji? You're going back to the Soul Society?"

"Got the job offer from the old man himself. Decided to go back to the squad after Sosuke mucked it all up. So," Shinji offered his hand to Momo. "Looks like you're my lieutenant."

Momo shook his hand, not knowing what to make of the man with the Cheshire grin. "Hello. It's nice to meet you. Um…Aizen…spoke about you often."

Shinji chuckled. "I hope he only told you the good stuff." He looked back up to Ichigo. "Ichigo, I owe you a debt for stopping Sosuke. Don't worry about your powers. I'll work with Kisuke on finding a way to get 'em back for you. We owe you that much."

"Thanks, Shinji." Knowing this was goodbye, he gave Momo a quick hug. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too. I'll tell Rukia and Renji you said hello. Um…" Blushing, she gave Ichigo one last kiss on the cheek before hurrying through the portal.

Shinji grinned from ear to ear. "You'd better be on your best behavior, Ichigo." He pointed a finger up in the direction of a certain orangette's apartment. Otherwise I'll have to tell Orihime what I just saw." He laughed at Ichigo's horrified expression before slipping through the portal.

Despite everything Ichigo simply smiled as he watched the two disappear. 'It's okay. I'm okay.' Turning around, he headed home and had one last thought.

'She'll be okay.'

The End