The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.
Hubert H. Humphrey

Chapter 2

"Can I get you anything else?" I was pulled out of my thoughts by the sudden question.

"Uh, no thank you, the tea is enough," I said. We were at Orihime's. I had wanted to thank her, for saving me. Things were a little awkward, but before I knew it she was pulling me and Kurosaki in to stay for some tea.

"Things have been quiet lately," she said "but I guess when you consider everything that's happened, that's actually a good thing."

I wasn't really sure what to say. Like with Kurosaki, I was nothing more then a comrade, but she treated me as a long time friend.

"I'm sorry," she said suddenly. My head shot up.

"What?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't heal your arm."

"N-no, it's not your fault. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be alive. Hell, I wouldn't even be walking."

"It was just so strange." she said as she placed her cup down. "It was as if something was blocking me, pushing me away."

My hand went up to my shoulder, it did that a lot lately.

"I didn't come here to hear you beat yourself up over this, Orihime-chan. I came to thank you, I owe you my life." I looked down.

"I think we should get going," Kurosaki said. "It's getting late and we still need to get you a gigai. Thank you, Orihime."

"Thank you," and we left without another word.

We walked silently in the night, our footsteps echoing in the once silent world. Street lights led our way, some flickering, others not working. A light was still on in Urahara's shop.

"Oi, Urahara," Kurosaki as he slid open the door. A man appeared in the door in the back of the shop.

"Ah, Ichigo, what can I do for you?"

Ichigo moved to the side to reveal me. I looked up at the shop owner. His face softened.

"I'll be right back," he said and disappeared.

The gigai was a little uncomfortable at first.

"How are you feeling, Hitsugaya-kun?" Urahara asked.

"A little tired."

"You look it," Kurosaki said as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Shall we get going then?"

"Sure. Thank you," I said and bowed to Urahara.

Once again we were walking the dark streets. When we reached his house, he took out his keys and opened the door. He explained before when we dropped off my bags here before we went to Orihime's that his family was away on their yearly camping trip. They would be gone for a good month. I thought that was pretty long to just be camping, then he explained it was this whole club/group thing with a bunch of other families.

"Um, you can stay in my room if you'd like, but you'd have to sleep in the closet. That's where Rukia usually went, so it's all set and ready. Or, you can sleep in my sister's room if you feel more comfortable." Kurosaki said.

"Kurosaki---" He cut me off.

"OKAY! Let's get one thing straight!" he looked a little annoyed. "I've been dealing with it, but now I'm sick of it. My name is Ichigo! Call me Ichigo! Kurosaki is to formal and stuff." He waved a hand in the air.

"Uh, okay, I-Ichigo," I was a little rattled by his sudden outburst.

"Um, I'm sorry," he said smiling softly, rubbing the back of his head "I didn't mean to shout."

"It's okay," I said. I took a look around his room and spotted the closet. I opened it and saw the futon, pillow and blanket all ready for anyone who can fit.

"Like I said, you can sleep where you want."

I was debating what to do. Would it seem weird that I'd want to stay in Ichigo's room when there was a perfectly good one just down the hall? Would he wonder why I chose here even though he gave me a choice?

"Toshiro." I jumped a little at the sound of my name. "I'm going to take a quick shower and you can go in when I'm done if you'd like. Or if you're that tired just go to sleep. You look really tired." Ichigo said as he gathered up his pajama's and head to the bathroom, he stopped before he left. "Make yourself at home," he said.

I was left alone, well, at least I thought I was.

"'Make yourself at home'" said a mocking voice. I turned around quickly, slipping on my own two feet hard onto the ground. "He's never said that to me before!"

I stared at a drawer that suddenly opened. A lion doll looked quite pissed as it poked its head out.

"Not once have I gotten any type of treatment, or offers. No, I just get shoved in this drawer all day. I don't even get to leave the house! All I get is---"

"You're that mod soul aren't you?" I interrupted its rants.

"Hey, the names Kon," it said as he jumped out and walked towards me. "Hmm, you don't look so good. What're ya gonna be sick or something?" he said. He was right, I didn't feel good at all and I felt like I was gonna throw up at any moment.

"Man, you really don't look good." I put my hand to my mouth and closed my eyes.

"Oh man," Kon said. "Ichigo! ICHIGO!" I heard him cry. I suddenly felt a waste basket shoved under me and I gripped it tightly as I emptied the contents of my stomach, not that that was very much. I felt a hand rubbing my back, it was slightly wet as well. I noticed I was shaking really bad.

"It's okay, you're okay. Come on," Ichigo helped me off the floor, I was still clutching the basket. He brought me to the bathroom. He pulled away the basket and placed me by the sink.

"Here, rinse your mouth," he said, he put the cold water on for me. The icy water felt good against my face and down my throat. I noticed Ichigo had left, probably to get rid of the basket. I turned the water off and sat down on the bathroom floor.

"Hey," Ichigo said as he knelt down next to me. I can feel my face burn up as I noticed he was in nothing but a towel and soaking wet. He placed a hand on my forehead.

"Shit, you're really burning up," he said. No, that was only because we were in a steamy bathroom and the blood was rushing to my face I thought.

"Come on, we gotta get that fever down a little," he said as he put the shower on.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"You're fevers pretty high, I don't want it to get worse. You don't mind do you, if I help you, I don't want you to slip or anything." I think I only understood half of what he meant, but before I could stop myself I was shaking my head no. He helped me undress myself and there we stood, both naked, both slightly red in the face.

"Come on," he said as he took a hold of my arm and helped me into the shower. The icy water felt wonderful. I closed my eyes and let the feeling engulf me, that was until I heard clattering teeth. I opened my eyes and saw Ichigo shivering and covered in goosebumps.

"Ichigo you--"

"N-n-n-n-no, I-I'm okay," he said through clenched teeth.

"Ichigo, you're going to get sick."

Y-y-y-you are s-sick," he said.

I lowered the cold water and put some more warm water in. Although the nice cool feeling was gone, Ichigo had stopped shivering as the lukewarm water hit his skin.

"Ah, thanks."

He helped me clean myself up. Neither of us talked through the awkwardness. He helped me out, dried, and get dress. Things that were hard to do with just one hand. When we were both dressed we went to his room. Kon had fallen asleep on Ichigo's desk.

"Why don't you sleep in my bed for tonight, I'll get a cool cloth for you, and I just gotta clean up the water in the hall."

Before I could protest he had left. I stood in the middle of his room. I couldn't possibly take Ichigo's bed. So, instead I slipped into the closet, laying down. It was actually very comfortable.

"Huh, Toshiro?"

"Here," I said. He turned around, cloth in hand, along with a glass of water and pills.

"What are you doing? I said you can use my bed." He walked over.

"Then you'd have no where to sleep." I said simply.

"There's like three vacant beds in the house, let alone all the beds in the clinic." He said with a shrug.

"I'm fine in here, really." He didn't look convinced but sighed.

"Fine. Here, take these, they'll help with the fever." He place the pills in my hand and waited until they were in my mouth to hand me the water.

"Thanks," I said and laid down. He placed the cloth across my forehead.

"Open or closed?" he asked. It took me a moment to figure out what he meant.

"Open, please."

I watched as he walked over to his bed, first placing Kon gently in the drawer.

"Wake me up if you need anything, okay?"

"Okay."

He smiled at me. "Good night."

"Good night."

I laid awake for a few minutes. Thinking about my feelings for Ichigo. They haven't changed, if anything they grew deeper. Soon I feel into a peaceful slumber, feeling better then I have in days.