BAM! UPDATE! I'm suddenly passionate about this fic, I don't know why. I'm getting a new job soon and I want to finish this before that happens so you don't have to wait infinite time until I update again.

I assume this fic will have... hmm… 6 to 7 more chapters. Maybe less, I'm not sure xD

I need a beta. Seriously. I would write more English fics. Or even put my Spanish ones to English. Spanish Bleach yaoi fandom is like… very very small.

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Ichigo's POV

My throat was still killing me and for the first time I was glad I was used to be completely silent. If I did manage to talk again though then it would be worth it to see Shiro's expression as I thanked him for buying me lunch and for being there with me when no one else would. I felt my lips twist in a slight smile as I remembered the nightmare I had two weeks ago. Even in my dreams Shirosaki seemed to be there to help me. However, my smile was gone as quick as it had appeared. I hated being bed ridden for so long with almost nothing to occupy my mind with. It tended to wander to things I didn't want to think about because in those three days I was there I started thinking about what I was feeling towards Shiro. The answer my heart and soul decided to gave me didn't make me happy in the least. I had a fucking crush. It wasn't the first time I had a crush on someone but it being Shiro freaked me out. He had become so important to me in such a short period of time that I couldn't believe it myself. There was no way he would ever like me that way.

I was finally over the nasty cold I caught from being out in the rain. Kisuke took care of me when I was sick and hurt. As soon as I started feeling better I was forced to go home. Urahara-san seemed to not like the idea of me going back but we both knew there was nothing that we could do to avoid it. If I stayed away from home any longer it would only fuel my dad's anger. I decided to go when Shiro was still away at school. He would have been the first one to be against that idea. I thanked Urahara for everything he had done and I gathered my things before going out on the street for the first time in two weeks. The bright light almost hurt my eyes but it was a pleasant feeling to feel the sun on my slightly paler skin. I decided not to wear a long-sleeved shirt or bandages so there was nothing covering my scarred arms. It was a strange yet good feeling. Maybe… Maybe I was getting better?

When I arrived home my dad wasn't very happy that I was gone for two entire weeks and I got scolded for it but he left me alone after warning me not to do it again. I was left standing awkwardly at the front door, wondering what had just happened. I was expecting some serious beating as a welcome. I gulped, feeling uneasy yet again. What was going through his mind? Maybe Kisuke called him?

I shook my head and decided to shrug it off. First thing I did was having a long relaxing shower and change my clothes into a white t-shirt with a dragon printed on its back and skinny black jeans. After being trapped inside a house for so long I wanted to breathe some fresh air. I took my wallet, my keys, my phone and my small notepad just in case. I closed the door behind me and I took only a few steps before I heard someone calling my name above me. I gulped.

"Where are you going?" My dad asked from the opened window in a strangely casual voice which reminded to his old self. He realized I wasn't going to answer and sighed. "Come back before eight. We are expecting guests."

To say I was confused would be a lie. I was beyond confused but not only because of my dad's odd behaviour. Who would be visiting us? We haven't received visits since Kisuke I think, and that was almost a year ago.

I nodded to him and started walking again down the street. I started wondering who it might be. It was hard to tell, my dad hardly had any friends left. We were alike in that aspect. When mom died we both started getting away from everyone else in fear of hurting them too… I stopped dead in my track as realization struck me. Was Isshin like this because he felt lonely? I was the only one around and even if I hated him for treating me the way he did I couldn't entirely blame him. I stared at my feet as I bit my lip. What was I thinking? If everything had gone downfall from the accident was his dad's fault. Being drunk all the time and beating his son because of it wasn't the best way to cope with Masaki's death.

'He wouldn't be doing this if she wasn't dead in first place.'

Yeah.

'And whose fault is that she's dead?'

Shut the hell up, inner voice.

I lifted my arms and looked at the pink and white scars on them. I was feeling the urge to add more so I shook my head furiously and started walking again, trying to push that urge to the deepest confines of my mind. Shiro wouldn't like if I hurt myself again. I was caring too much about what he thought respecting that matte. It was that stupid crush I had on him that made me really want to hold back. And hold back myself I did. I was quickly searching for a good distraction and someone up there seemed to hear me because in that moment my phone started vibrating. I took it and saw that I had a new message from Shiro. Wasn't he supposed to be at school? I looked at the hour. He must have just finished, I thought.

Shiro: Hey, feelin any better?

Ichigo: Yeah, I'm out of that goddamn bed. In fact, I went back home but I'm out 4 a walk.

Ichigo: Wanna meet?

Shiro: Sure! Where r u?

I looked at my surroundings. I spotted a coffee at the other side of the road and I decided to text Shiro about it. Maybe he knew where it was.

Ichigo: I'm in front of Lily's coffee. Sounds familiar?

Shiro: Ye. I know where that is. Wait 4 me.

Ichigo: K.

I crossed the road and stared at the coffee's menu that was hanging next to the door. I felt my mouth water as I read they served portions of three chocolate cakes. I hadn't eaten a piece of that one in forever. I was getting excited as I read it over and over thinking that maybe it was a dream.

"Hey Ichigo!" I heard Shiro's voice calling my way and I turned to the side to wave 'hello' to him with my hand. He was staring at me like there was something weird in my face and that might be the huge smile that was threatening to split my face in two. "What has got ya' so excited?" I pointed to the menu and he chuckled. "Ya' sure do love chocolate, don't ya?" I nodded energetically.

We got inside and a bell tinkled as Shiro opened the door. We were greeted by a very kind red haired girl that showed us our table. Shiro started chatting about his day and about how bored he was without me. I chuckled and signed to him that I was going back to school so he didn't have to worry. I tried to gesture with my hands as slow as I could so Shiro understood me. It took him a minute or two though. Maybe we should stick to notes a little longer. I took my notepad out, grateful that I brought it with me. The red haired girl came back to take our orders and Shiro already knew what I wanted so he ordered two pieces of the three chocolate cake and two vanilla milkshakes. The girl smiled as she wrote everything down.

"Are you two in a date?" I felt my face heat up at her blunt question but what surprised me more was the crimson red tinting Shiro's cheeks. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen. He looked mortified though. I shook my hands no to her, trying to tell the girl with that gesture that she was wrong. "Oops! I'm sorry guys! You two just look so good together and I thought..."

"I-It's okay…" Shiro stuttered. Shirosaki fucking stuttered. It was so weird yet so cute I felt a laugh bubbling on my stomach threatening to spill out. And I couldn't contain it anymore as I exploded in a loud laughing fit. "What's so funny?!" He yelled at me, his face even redder than before as I found myself laughing harder. My throat hurt so much but it was so funny I couldn't…

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Shiro's POV

When I saw the excited smile on Ichigo's face I swear that if it was possible I would have melted right in the spot. It was the first time I saw him smile so openly and brightly. It made my chest tighten in a strange way. As we got inside and we took a seat, I started telling him what I have done that day as I always did for the past two weeks. I started listing our small order as Ichigo took his notepad out. It seemed like he noticed I still have some difficulties with sign language.

"Are you two in a date?" As the girl asked this I was completely thrown off and I felt my face heat up at an alarming rate. I tried to look away but Ichigo was already staring at me with the same red colouring his cheeks. I saw him shaking his hands frantically trying to tell the girl she was mistaken. "Oops! I'm sorry guys! You two just look so good together and I thought..."

"I-it's okay…" I tried to shrug the matter off. Did I just stutter? I wanted to facepalm myself. What was wrong with me? Getting so nervous over something like that… It's then that I heard Ichigo snorting and when I turned my head in his direction he looked like he was holding something in. And then he erupted in the richest cutest laugh I had ever heard. "What's so funny?!" As I found out that he was laughing at me I couldn't help but yell hack in embarrassment but that just made him laugh even louder. If it wasn't Ichigo the one laughing I would have already kicked his ass into next Monday. I crossed my arms as I frowned. As much as I liked him being happy I admit I was a little mad but not at him… It was just a matter of pride.

Our order arrived and I watched as Ichigo happily ate his piece of cake. His expression was completely priceless as he took the first bite. He looked as if he had just tasted heaven. I took a bit of my own piece and I was surprised at how delicious the thing was.

"This tastes heavenly!"

'Yes it does!' Ichigo quickly wrote before returning to practically devour the cake.

The more I saw his smile, the more I felt my heart fluttering. From the very start I held an interest for Ichigo and now it was going into something deeper. He looked up at me when I was caught staring and he smiled softly, tilting his head. Maybe he was wondering if I wanted to say something. I shook my head as a silent response. Ichigo shrugged and continued to taste his cake.

"What is this feeling?" I wondered as I pressed my hand on my chest. "Do I… Do I like him?"

That seemed to be the case. I expected to be more surprised when I realized this but I was calm about it. Ichigo was attracting me towards him like a magnet. I didn't feel like fighting against that attraction. There was this fear; however, that he might reject me if I told him about these new discovered feelings. I didn't want him to push me away. I wanted to be his helping hand when he falls down and needs someone to help him up.

I took a deep breath. Should I risk it?

"Ichigo," Said boy looked up at me again and blinked. "I wanna know if ya'd like to… how do I say this… " I scratched the back of my head, feeling really nervous. This wasn't usual of me and it made me want to slap myself. "Would ya' like to go in a real date with me?"

Ichigo looked confused then his caramel eyes widened comically. I swear his face was as red as a strawberry. He opened his mouth and for a moment I thought he was going to talk but he didn't which was a disappointment but it was quickly replaced with happiness when he nodded enthusiastically. He started writing down on his notepad and then passed it to me.

'Does that mean you like me?'

"Of course I do. Why else would I ask ya' out?" I chuckled and he blushed furiously again. I stared directly into his eyes and I was quite surprised. I had never seen that spark of life in his eyes before. Ichigo looked like this made him really happy, even happier than eating chocolate cake. Did he reciprocate my feelings?

If he did… I wanted it to last forever.

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A/N: Whoever guesses who is the red haired girl wins a bunch of cookies. And yes, she is a Bleach character.