Yeah, yeah, I know I'm mean, deal with it! Anywho…I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED THIS IN SO LONG! I've been busy with the kitties cosplay club crisis story, and haven't really had time to update this. Anyway, I just got a review, number 18 on this story, that finally motivated me!

"So, Ichigo-Chan, do you want me to show you around a bit?" Kish asked, walking out, into the sunlit gardens, holding her at his side.

"Oh, that'd be great, Kish!" Ichigo giggled, humoring Kish a bit. After all, the poor boy had been through so much stress lately. She wanted him to enjoy himself.

"Yes! C'mon, I wanna show you my personal garden!" he hollered, pulling her into the open garden arch that was the garden gate's doorway, covered in vines.

"Wow, Kish, you really DO have a green thumb!" Ichigo commented, slowly moving through the white picket fence that separated Kish's garden from the main garden. "And the rose vines are beautiful!" she giggled, walking over to nuzzle one to her cheek.

"Yes, but not nearly as beautiful as you, Koneko-Chan!" as she went to turn and face Kish, she was confronted by a set of deep, familiar, soothing eyes.

"Kish, don't sneak up on me like that! I was so scared!" she stated, putting a hand to her chest.

Seeing his opening, Kish wrapped his arms around his kitty, pulling her into a warm embrace.

"Come, we can sit on the bench and talk." Kish instructed, pulling her to the white, marble bench that sat in front of the matching fountain, covered in Rosevine.

"So, how do you like it here so far? Not scared, not nervous?" he asked, sitting on the bench, cradling her on his lap, wrapped in his arms.

"No, not really. I mean, I've known your brothers for awhile, and your sister and grandparents seem to naturally get along with me." leaning back, she hesitantly unstressed her muscles, making it so that Kish's own chest was what kept her in her semi-sitting position.

"Good, I'm glad. Yet, I've always secretly wanted to have you curled up to me at night, because of thunder or lightning. Or maybe even the ghost of the closet. But, I guess you really AREN'T afraid of anything." he stated the last part, almost as if he resented her courageousness, and Ichigo had picked up on it.

"Kish, what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" she asked, innocently, lifting her head from his chest, staring into his eyes.

"Well, see…it's just that…I HATE IT THAT YOU'RE SO HEADSTRONG! There, I said it." he sighted, bowing his head as he got up and walked off to leave the separated garden behind.

"Kish, I can't change that, and you know I can't. But, to be more specific, you hate that I don't rely on you. Is that it?" she asked, getting up and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Well, I guess so. I mean, I've always wanted you to rely on ME to protect you. Yet, here you are, nursing me back to health and all. I just feel so pitiful! Men aren't supposed to be this defenseless!" he sobbed.

"Kish, it doesn't matter to me. I mean, I'm happy to care for you, and I would get scared if anything ever hurt you. Like when you were so stressed, and it seemed like you were about to fall over…I was scared, beyond words!" she admitted, placing her hand on his cheek as he turned to face her.

"Yeah, I guess. Thanks, Ichigo-Chan!" smiling warmly, he wrapped her in his arms, walking over to the fountain with her.

"The sun, it's so bright today!" Ichigo mused happily, wrapping herself around Kish as he hugged her waist.

"Yeah, and today's all ours! So, that means that we could do anything today. Just name it." Kish exclaimed, gazing deep, into her liquid brown eyes.