"Ah, Miss Ichigo, did you sleep well last night?!" rushing over quickly, blue eyes sparkling in excitement, the maid leaned over subtly, an eager smile on her face. "So, how far did it go last night?!"

"Lettuce! I don't think that's really a good question to ask so early on! We're not even married yet!" leaning in, she added silently, "But I'll tell you and the others all the details afterwards!"

As the two resumed their full heights, they shared a tiny giggle before Lettuce rushed them quickly into the dining room, seating them strategically around the table.

The order was quite simple, having Kish at the head of the table, while Ichigo sat to his right and Kei to his left.

"Kish-Sama, here's your breakfast! Ichigo, Keiichiro will be out in a moment with yours." As if in a great hurry, Lettuce had proceeded to turn on her heel, heading back into the kitchen.

"Hey, what about me?!" as a large, pulsing red vein popped up upon his forehead, Kei watched in annoyance as Lettuce hurried back, handing him the extra glass she'd been carrying.

"I'm really sorry, Kei-San! I'm just so overwhelmed right now, I didn't remember I'd been holding yours!" after having set down the glass quickly, she hadn't bothered to stick around and hear his response before finally disappearing into the kitchen.

"So, when did you meet Lettuce?" eying the girl curiously, Kish turned fully, his golden orbs studying her with interest as he awaited her answer.

"Well, I'd been on my way to get out clothes for bed when she'd knocked. She said she had been sent to help me dress for bed that night, and so I let her. While she helped me pull on the nightgown, we started to talk." Fiddling innocently with the hem of her deep crimson dress, Ichigo awaited Kish to speak once more.

"Oh, and what did you two talk about then?"

"Um, well, lots of stuff really… Let's see, I found out that her earnings go straight to her mother brother and father, in order to pay off their land. I also learned that she loves to read, and is a wonderful cook! I even saw her blush when she started talking about one of your brothers. I think it was Pai." Tilting her head meekly, she seemed to be floating off into her own thoughts, leaving Kish to resume the conversation.

"That's not everything, and you know it. I heard it loud and clear!" crossing his arms firmly in defiance, he refused to simply drop the conversation that easily, like Ichigo had wanted and had hoped for.

"Oh, heard what, Kish?" blinking once, then twice in a slow, deliberate show of innocence, she hoped Kish would buy it and simply drop the embarrassing topic.

"I heard it, Ichigo! Lettuce asked how far we'd gone last night and you'd wanted to drop the conversation. Then, you said you'd tell her everything when we were married!" locking eyes with hers, glowing honey against tranquil chocolate, it was as if the two were refusing to give in.

"Well, if you'd already known what was said, then why did you bother asking me?" at that point, Ichigo had immersed herself in toying with the black lacy hem of her gown, while still holding Kish's gaze.

"Because I wanted to know what you thought of it…" pouting, as if he were a child who'd been denied any candy, he puffed his cheeks, watching Ichigo's face light up in a sudden blush.

"Um…well, that is…" gulp "You see…" she just couldn't form the right words necessary to explain what she'd been thinking that morning, much less that night.

"Ichigo?"

"Y-yeah?"

"Come with me for a moment please." Motioning lightly for her to follow, Kish calmly stood from his seat, excusing himself from Kei, who simply grunted in annoyance.

As soon as she was up, Kish had caught her wrist in his firm hand, proceeding to pull her steadily towards the hallway.

The door shut, and the faint sound of tapping feet grew ever lighter as the two made their way down the hall.

'Damn, lucky bastard.' Was all Kei could seem to think as he slumped, dejectedly, against the table, strumming his fingers lightly in no real sort of rhythm.

From outside, down an empty hallway, stood Kish, tall and strong, holding Ichigo firmly to the wall, his eyes glowing mysteriously, as if greatly determined.

Meanwhile, Ichigo herself stared up helplessly into his glowing eyes, while her own quivered in innocent fear.

"Ichigo, do you know why I called you out here?" deciding that he would only scare her if he were to act too quickly, he did his best to lower and soften his voice, meeting eyes with Ichigo, who only proceeded to gulp in fear.

Although it had worked, his method of calming her, it had only had a moderate effect. He could still feel her as she shivered helplessly beneath him, her fists clenched on either side of her head as her wrists were enclosed in Kish's steady grasp.

"Mmm" was her whimpered response as she glanced away from his heavy gaze, her knees suddenly buckling beneath her.

"Steady now…" softly and tenderly he whispered into her ear, wrapping her within his strong arms, bringing her to rest upon his own chest for support. "Ichigo, I didn't mean to scare you, honest."

"Then why'd you ask all that stuff? Why'd you bring me out here?" biting her lip silently, she continued to turn away from his gaze, too afraid to feel much else.

"I see… I'm sorry if I scared you, Ichigo. I love you, really I do Ichigo. So, to prove it to you, let me kiss you. I won't hurt you, you're perfectly safe." Suddenly, his eyes began to glow stronger, and his voice became strangely soothing as he released her wrists, allowing them to come to rest upon his firm chest.

"Kish…what are you doing? What's happening to…me?" suddenly her cheeks became flushed, her eyes became glossy and half-lidded, and she groped lightly for a firm hold on his shirt as he held her, not taking his eyes from her as his lips gently caressed her own.

"Just stay still, Ichigo. This won't hurt at all. All I'm going to do is give you a kiss." As he spoke, his lips caressed hers, his soft, warm breath gently brushed against her. Finally, his lips enveloped her and a huge rush of excitement and heat coursed through her body.

It was as if he were slowly but surely reaching out to her, wrapping her securely in his arms, uncovering even her deepest thoughts.

While it was mere excitement for Ichigo, it was pure ecstasy for Kish, his arms encircling her body as he pulled her closer to him, one hand steadily holding onto the back of her head as the other continued to draw her in.

'So far it's been pretty easy to read her. Now though, it's as if there's this giant blockaded wall separating me from her thoughts… Even I'm beginning to lose energy, trying to reach into her thoughts. I guess I shouldn't push too hard right now though, and just stick to getting the information I need.'

'Ichigo… Ichigo, can you hear me?'

'Yeah, I guess… what's going on though, Kish?'

'I just want to know something. So, are you willing to give me an answer?'

'I guess… What is it?'

'What did you think about last night and this morning? I know we didn't go there, but you must've had SOME kind of warm feelings, right?'

'…'

'Ichigo, are you still there?'

'Oh, yeah, I-I am, Kish. It's just that… Well, it's just too embarrassing to put into words…'

'Ichigo, this is only a dream, so whatever you want to say, say it. I won't laugh at you, Ichigo. I love you too much to laugh at you. Besides, you and I will be married soon, so of course I want to know these things, no matter how embarrassing!'

Gulp

'Ichigo!'

'F-fine! … It-it was the best, most sensational feeling I've ever experienced! It made my skin tingle and my legs become weak! My lips started shaking and I could barely concentrate on the dress! Then Lettuce came, and I just couldn't help but to tell her some of it! Then this morning… it was just so great! It felt like I was floating in mid air or something.'

'I see… That was surprisingly easy, wasn't it, Ichigo?'

'Yeah.'

'I love you, Ichigo.'

'I love you too, Kish.'

'You'll wake up now, so brace yourself, ok?'

'Mm… Yeah, ok, Kish.'

The first thing she'd seen when she'd opened her eyes had been Kish's own golden ones staring down at her, sparkling mysteriously as he smiled warmly.

"Are you alright, Ichigo? You passed out pretty quickly when I kissed you. You must really like me then."

"Well… Of course I do, Kish. I mean, w-we ARE going to get married, so it's only natural, right?"

"Yeah, but it was just too cute! You make such an adorable face when you're dreaming." Tenderly stroking the top of her head, he had conveniently forgotten to include the fact that she was literally laying on him as he walked her back down the hall, to the dining room.

'I guess everything was pretty normal. Just regular lack of words… What was that wall all about though? What is it that she doesn't want to remember? Could it be something from that night, all those years ago?' noticing his fiancé's worried gaze, he quickly put on a cheery smile, to prove that all was well. Seeing that it had worked, he simply shrugged off the idea and continued walking with her down the hallway, his arm securely around her waist.

OOOOH! What happened all those years ago? Why doesn't she want to remember any of it? What really happened to her mother? Was it REALLY just an accident that she was killed in that fire? Or, was it something even more, something far too terrible to tell, too terrible for Ichigo to remember?

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God Bless you all!