A/N: Just a quick drabble
Kurosaki Ichigo looked over the battlefield one last time. He sheathed his sword and walked back through the Senkaimon linking Soul Society to the Real World, to his world. Immediately upon stepping foot in Karakura, before the gate even had time to close behind him, she was in his arms.
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The best part about winning a battle wasn't really the victory in itself, it was knowing that he was going to get to go home.
Despite the bravado and confidence Ichigo generally tried to display, deep down he was always very aware that there was a chance that this time, he wouldn't win. After all, as he got stronger so did his enemies. He was only capable of taking so many blows…
This is why Orihime really hated it when he insisted she shouldn't accompany him on a particularly perilous mission. True, she wasn't a fighter. She was a healer. And her healing ability had always come in very handy in the past.
But Ichigo could be just as stubborn as she was. He was always much more concerned about others' safety than his own, an annoying but endearing quality of his. After Orihime gave her arguments for why she should come, he would counter with his own arguments about why she should stay. One being that he would be able to fight better knowing that she was safe and sound in Karakura. The couple usually argued back and forth for a while until someone caved, usually Ichigo, but now things were different.
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She protectively placed a hand over her belly, she had just begun to show. He placed his larger hand on top of hers', feeling their creation give a small kick.
As much as she hated letting him go on a mission alone, she had to think about more than herself. She had to think about more than him. She had to think of their child.
Ichigo sensed her conflict. He stroked her hand comfortingly with his calloused thumb.
"Orihime, I promise I'll come home to you. And to our child."
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Instinctively, he caught her, her legs wrapping tightly around his waist.
"Welcome home, Ichigo-kun"
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The best part about winning was coming home. Because he had her to come home to.