Chapter 3: Attachment ~ Kurosaki Ichigo
I had fallen for him.
I woke up in my bed and stared at the ceiling, it was raining outside. It was a Sunday. And I knew one thing; I would not be leaving the house today.
He was so gentle with me last night, and his voice was soft, and he called me by my name. I had finally relaxed when being held in his arms. His touches were no longer terrifying, and his vocabulary no longer vile.
I stayed in bed all day thinking about this. Later in the day though sleep had claimed me, he was right about how I had not slept the past few days. I awoke in my mind. I was still in his lap, his head resting on my shoulder; he was now the one asleep.
I moved so his head was now in my lap, he appeared almost as gentle as he did last night. His features were soft and he in no way appeared as the hollow side I had remembered from the past. He twitched some. His hand opened and moved like he was trying to find something to grab onto. So…I placed my hand in the empty space. His fingers wrapped gently around my hand and I could have sworn he had whispered my name.
"He has become rather tamed." I jumped; startled and looked up from where I was sitting.
"Zangetsu?" I breathed out my zanpaktou's name. The old man walked over to stand at my side; he bowed down to inspect the hollow more. I watched him. He was wise. The very way his features moved you could tell he was dragged into deep thought. He stayed like this for a moment then stood straight and looked at me. I blinked at him. "Is something wrong?" I inquired.
"He's seemed to just change all of a sudden." Zangetsu muttered.
I nodded. "Yeah…he has…for the better I think."
"Let us pray so." The old man said and then turned. He began to walk away.
"Wait! Old man!" I called to him and he stopped.
"What is it Ichigo?" He held the deep tone of his voice in place.
"Do you really think this change is bad for him?" I watched him.
"You sound like a child." And he just disappeared.
I sighed and looked back down at Shiro. It was the only thing I could think of calling him, with his albino appearance. Zangetsu did not answer my question either. He was to wise for my taste.
After a while Shiro finally stirred and cracked his eyes open. I watched him. His golden eyes opened all the way and he blinked at me. "Ichigo?"
I smiled, loving how gentle he spoke my name. "Hey Shiro." He chuckled.
"Shiro? Is that your name for me? … I love it." He smiled up at me then reached a hand up and placed it against my cheek. He kept his hand there. We both starred into each other's eyes. After a while he sat up and grabbed my face gently with both hands and moved in slowly, placing his lips against mine. I stiffened for a moment so he pulled back, but only a little.
"I won't hurt you Ichigo." He looked at me with a soft expression. I nodded and he moved his lips to meet mine again. I did not kiss back at first. This was all strange to me. But at the same time it felt rather, good. He kept his cool hands against my face.
I kissed him back, and we held it for a good few minutes until he broke it to let me pant from the loss of air. One of his hands moved through my hair, raking it gently massaging my scalp. I looked at him and saw him just smiling at me. He brought me close holding me against him.
Peace could only last so long. A strange spiritual pressure was felt by both me and Shiro. I moved to pull away and I heard a sigh escape him as he let me go. I stood and looked at him.
"I have to go…" I muttered just watching him as he also stood.
"I know" He looked at me. "If you need me in battle you know what to do?"
"Of course I do." I disappeared and woke up to the ceiling again.