Minawa: Took me some time to actually put this out there, but here it is.

I don't own the original Bleach.

Shiro was going all out with the Hollow, actually managing to keep it at bay despite it's size. I stood to join him but wobbled in place. Yoruichi was quick to grab me and give me support, not that I could complain. Still, my eyes followed every second of the battle.

"Well, I guess I better do something about this. Good luck kiss!" Ichigo said and I turned just in time to see the carrot-top's girlfriend kiss him on the lips. Then he walked forward and flash-stepped over to the Hollow, slicing the back of its kneecap. My mouth hung open as I glared over to Urahara and Yoruichi, who held on to me.

"Why can the brat fight and I gotta sit out?! Shiro is out there!" I practically yelled at them as I felt a vein pop. Urahara grinned before pulling out his stupid fan.

"Oh, so you can feel concern for another creature? How wonderful youth is..."he said, sounding like an old man. I felt my face flush.

"Wha-what's that supposed to mean?!" I yelled back at him. Still, I glanced over to the two guys and the Hollow. It was obvious that the creature wouldn't hold out for much longer and I slowly took a step forward. Thankfully Yoruichi allowed me to move as I carefully walked over the rumble and towards the fight.

Ichigo finished the Hollow quickly with one of his more advanced attacks but it didn't cross my mind to observe how the guy fought. I had my eyes on my childhood friend.

Shiro hurried over as the Hollow dissolved into a black cloud and met me halfway. His eyes searched mine out and held them, something I wasn't used to so I looked down at my hands instead. It only took him a second to pull me into his arms and holding me close, something I absolutely was not used to so I froze. Still, as he held on to me for a longer time, rocking me back and forth, I started to relax and a sudden feeling of fatigue hit me. My head fell heavy on his shoulder.

"It's all fine now, I'm here." He said and the world blacked out.

When my eyes opened I didn't quite recognize my whereabouts. It wasn't Urahara's house nor the apartment. The ceiling was gray and so was the rest of the room. Simple and nothing special about it. As I made an effort to sit up the door opened and a tired looking Shiro walked in. His face lit up as he noticed I was awake.

"Hi, good afternoon I guess" he said and walked over to the chair next to the bed. I realized I was staring more than usual and looked to my knees.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Kurosaki's residents" he answered and I realized it would be Ichigo's bed I laid in.

"Yew." I simply said and got the blanket off of me. I flipped my knees over the edge and sat, looking at Shiro. Suddenly I felt a mix of relief but also gloom.

"I'm happy you are... fine now, but I wanted you to have a fresh start. No memories of me or the horrible things I've made you do for me..." I said and for the first time felt ashamed. I couldn't even look at him.

"I don't regret anything. I had you." He said and made me look up at him. He had a gentle smile on his lips.

"I wouldn't give you up for anything. You who took me in, fed me and gave me a purpose in life...even when you could have left me to die. You saved me." He said and stroked my cheek with his hand. It was warm and caring, unlike what it had been before. I even felt myself lean into it.

The door flew open and an angry carrot-top charged in. I pulled back from Shiro and stood. Ichigo stopped a few inches away and stuck a finger up my face.

"You owe me now so no more fighting and killing me or my friends!" he came in and yelled up my face. I raised an eyebrow and noticed his girlfriend, Amu, standing in the door with the same blank face as me. I sighed loudly and pushed his chest hard enough for him to take a step back.

"Listen up Punk, I don't take orders from someone like you. I owe Urahara, not you." I said and stood in an intense staring contest with him. I stood straight.

"Still, I decided to give up you, and your friends, a long time ago. That was the deal and I stand by my word." I said and sat down again. As Ichigo realized he looked like an idiot he pulled Amu with him out and closed the door. I grinned and realized Shiro was smiling as well. Suddenly my face burned and I stood quickly.

"We... better go and not over-use our stay, right?" I said and hurried to leave. Shiro grabbed my wrist before getting up. I tensed up and observed as he entangled his fingers with mine until we held hands. He grinned, I hate to admit it but, a very sexy grin.

"Relax." He said and pulled the speechless me with him towards the door.

"Please eat a lot, Ni-chan hardly ever bring friends over." The carrot-tops little sister said. I nodded politely at her, knowing that she'd worked on the stew a long time. Shiro continued to give her compliments, as he too enjoyed cooking (apparently...). I was stuck the flirty dad, whom Ichigo started fighting with after a while.

I turned to the black haired girl, Ichigo's other sister.

"How can you stand this chaos?" I asked. She shrugged.

"You get used to it, just ask Amu." She said and Amu nodded. How we had had ended up staying for dinner was beyond me.

"Well, Shiro and Ayumi, are you staying in town?" Amu asked with a smile. Ichigo looked over, a very irritated look on his face. I raised one eyebrow.

"I don't think your boyfriend would like that..." I said. She grinned.

"Never mind that idiot, so what if you tried to kill him?" She said with a smile "The rest of us don't mind at all." She finished and took a bite.

"Amu! You are supposed to support me, what the hell?" Ichigo yelled. Amu stuck out her tongue at him as his dad snuck up on him.

"Pay attention, Ichigo!" his dad yelled as he grabbed his son in a head-lock. I shook my head and finished my stew.

We had all finished and the blond sister was getting cake when Ichigo and his dad settled for a truce.

"Actually, I'd like to stay in Karakura." Shiro suddenly said. Amu smiled.

"How nice!" she said as both Ichigo and I stared at him in shock.

"WHAT?!" The two of us said at the same time. Shiro grinned foolishly.

"I like it here. I like our apartment" he said and looked at me "and I feel like this is the city where our lives have started over. A fresh start." He said and grabbed my hand. I blushed furiously. He held my hand tight as Ichigo started complaining, Amu trying to make him settle and Yusu coming in with the cake.

I looked from Shiro back to the rest of the people in the room.

"Amu?" I asked, getting her attention. She stopped rubbing Ichigo's hairline.

"I think Shiro is right, we should stay." I said, giving Ichigo a devilish grin. I swear a vein popped on his neck as his face turned red.

"I CAN'T STAND YOU!" he yelled and ran upstairs. Yusu looked surprised.

"Is Ichi-nichan not having any cake?" she asked and Amu said not to mind him. I glanced at Shiro, sharing a smile with him.

A fresh start.

Minawa: I think that will be the end of it, what do you think? Maybe I'll ad like an extra chapter later.