Author's Note: I don't own Bleach!
Chapter 2 - New People

"Hey, Toshiro… Wake up."

Toshiro shifted, tightened his grip on his pillow, and groaned in annoyance.

He felt a finger press on his cheeks. "Hello, earth to Toshiro."

Toshiro's eyebrows twitched and he shifted once more, adjusting his grip on his pillow.

"…Toshiro wake up 'coz I really have to pee…"

Ichigo's voice came clearer as his head grew clearer and awake. Toshiro furrowed his eyebrows and squinted his eyes shut, refusing to wake up. He tightened his grip on his pillow and felt it squirm. "Oi, wake up!"

The strawberry pressed his index finger on Toshiro's cheek to wake up him even more. The snow head only growled and slapped his hand away, "go away and let me sleep, Kurosaki; go to pee while you're at it."

There was an uncomfortable silence.

"…I can't really go anywhere if you're hugging me really tight."

"…what?"

Toshiro's eyes snapped open and stared straight into Ichigo's broad chest. He tilted his head up and stared at Ichigo who was scratching his head in embarrassment and slightly flushed pink. Toshiro looked back down and blushed as well when he realized that the pillow he's been hugging all along was Ichigo himself.

"S-Sorry!" the white-haired boy panicked and sat up abruptly.

"It's fine," Ichigo smiled and ruffled his hair. "You seemed really comfortable sleeping so I didn't want to wake you up, but I really have to pee."

"Y-Yeah, go do your thing…"

While Ichigo used the restroom, Toshiro was back to his side of the bed, knocking some sense out of himself. When Ichigo came out, Toshiro was on his communicator once again, but he was done talking to Matsumoto as he was closing his device and shoving it into his pocket.

"What happened?"

Toshiro shook his head, "Matsumoto was just asking when she could visit."

"Tell her to come visit when I get us a house," Ichigo grinned.

"Get us a house? Since when did I agree to living in a house with you? A single-detached house with just you and me? No way, Kurosaki. No way in hell."

"Aw, don't be like that Toshiro!"

"It's Hitsugaya to you!"

"Ack, when are you going to stop that?! You know I'm going to keep calling you Toshiro!"

"And I'm going to keep reminding you to call me by Hitsugaya!"

"You are so stubborn…"

Toshiro scoffed, "I could say the same to you!"

Silence got in between the two of them and they could hear birds chirping outside their window.

"So, what are we doing for today?"

The small captain raised his brows, "I was going to ask you that. You brought me here, so I was waiting on your call."

Ichigo gave it some thought.

"Ah, I know a place. Let's go to Ice Palace!"

"Ice Palace?" Toshiro was interested. "There's ice during a season like this?"

"I thought you'd like the place. We might as well eat lunch there too."

"I don't have—"

"It's my treat, come on Toshiro. We only have three days before school starts!"

"Why can't we do anything productive?"

"Nooooo," Ichigo grabbed Toshiro by his shirt's neckline and dragged him into the bathroom. "Let's go take a shower and go!"

"LIKE HELL I WILL! LET ME GO!"

Toshiro was silently cursing at the strawberry while Ichigo dried his silver hair with a towel. Ichigo had a towel wrapped around his waist and the small captain was the same. He sat on the carpeted ground, patiently waiting for Ichigo to finish ruffling his hair with the towel.

"Stop treating me like a kid, Kurosaki," a vein popped on his forehead.

"I'm not treating you like a kid," Ichigo blinked, "I'm just being a good friend."

"Tsk, you don't need to do this," Toshiro growled, grabbing the towel from the other boy's hand. "Is Ice Palace really all we're doing today?"

"Dunno," the orange head admitted. "If I see something interesting, I might drag you with me."

"Kurosaki…"

"I know, I know, I won't waste your time promise."

"Table for two please," Ichigo grinned at the receptionist.

The receptionist blushed and gaped at Ichigo's attractiveness. His black collar was loose and his left hand was shoved into the pocket of his dark blue jeans. He's so hot, the girl checked Ichigo up and down until she caught sight of a puffy silver hair coming out from behind him.

Toshiro looked bored and serious as always. He wore a black collar as well but he wore a light blue necktie that was loose from his neck and both of his hands were shoved in his gray khakis. His aquamarine eyes darted away from the receptionist, trying not to meet her eyes. Holy shit, they're both hot, but he's so young. Is he an elementary student?

"Would you like a kid's menu?" the receptionist recommended Ichigo. He chuckled and shook his head, pointing at Toshiro.

"He's actually eighteen. He's older and much smarter than he looks."

"O-Oh, I'm so sorry!" she bowed.

"I know, he's short so he looks like a child. Don't worry, I half agree with you! He is pretty cute—OW!"

The white-haired boy snickered and kicked Ichigo's leg. Ichigo glared at the small captain and the receptionist looked down at the restrained ice dragon. He tried to hold his victorious smirk and started following the worker that giggled to herself as the two boys followed her.

"What was that for?" Ichigo hissed.

"For calling me cute."

"But you are cute!"

"Am not."

"Are too!"

"Am not."

"Are too!"

"Kurosaki, quit acting like a kid."

"Here's your seat," the receptionist smiled. She placed the two menus on their designated seats. "One of our waiters will come to serve you in just a moment."

When the two of them got into their seats, they nodded. "Thanks!"

Toshiro opened his menu and began looking at the menus. His eyes widened then closed the menu quickly. "There's no way in hell I'm going to order anything here! It's too expensive!"

Ichigo raised his brow and opened the menu. "It's not that bad Toshiro…"

"Considering how I don't have money and that you're treating me to begin with, it's pretty bad, Kurosaki."

"It's fine, I want you to enjoy your time here in the real world. I'll do anything that I can to make it happen."

Toshiro sighed hopelessly. "I'm already here to help you and I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to do all these extra things."

"Too bad, I'm doing it anyway. Now go look over the menu and pick something out."

"Hi!" A girl's voice came from behind them.

It was a girl with her black hair hung down in a bob and a blue clip on the left side. Her nametag, "Momo" was clipped on the right side of her uniform and she had a small pad in her hand and a pen on the other. "I'm Momo Hinamori, I'll be your waiter for today. Would you like to start out with some drinks? On the fourth page we have different types of soda and other beverages. We also have tea and water."

"I'll start out with some water," Ichigo ordered.

"I'll have some water too," Toshiro blinked, turning the page. His eyes sparkled, "Oh… but… I'd like to try some diamond mint dust later on…"

"You have good eyes!" Hinamori complimented. "That drink just appeared on our menu recently and it's really good, believe me I tried, it's chocolate shake with mint! Delicious, I tell you."

"R-Really? Well then I'll take that instead…"

Ichigo smiled as he watched Toshiro order with hesitation on his face. Hinamori smiled and wrote down Toshiro's drink on her pad. "Anything else? Did you look over our food?"

The orange head nodded, "I'll take a spicy dragon roll and karashi mentaiko."

Hinamori nodded, "Karashi? You like spicy foods huh? How about you Whitey-chan?"

"Whitey-chan?" Toshiro twitched at such a blunt nickname but disregarded it. "I'll take some Sekihan and Dorayaki."

"Spicy and beans. You two are a weird combination," Hinamori giggled softly, closing her pad. "Okay, spicy dragon roll and karashi mentaiko for you, and Sekihan and Dorayaki for Whitey-chan."

"I have a name you know," Toshiro twitched. "It's Hitsugaya, Toshiro."

"I'll still call you Whitey-chan, you know that right?" Hinamori smiled, she turned to the orange head. "What's your name?"

"Kurosaki, Ichigo."

"Whitey-chan, and Strawberry. WHITE STRAWBERRY. How cute, okay, I'm gonna go place your order. See you later!" And with that, Hinamori was gone.

"Whitey-chan?"

"W-White Strawberry?"

The two boys glanced at each other and snickered, taking out their devices; Ichigo played games on his phone while Toshiro contacted Matsumoto.

"Taichouuuuuuuuu!" Matsumoto cried on the other line. "I'm so bored!"

Another vein popped on Toshiro's forehead. "Is that what you're going to keep telling me whenever I call to check up on you?"

"But I really am bored! There's nothing to do but paperwork! Everyone's busy and Kira went to the real world for some mission!"

"Ehhh…" Toshiro hummed in amusement. "So your best friend left you?"

"Ew, he's not my best friend. He's gay."

"WHAT? REALLY?"

"Yeah! At least I think he is, he keeps telling me that girls are gross."

"Maybe he's just uncomfortable, you can't assume that he's gay just because he thinks they're gross."

"Why, do you think girls are gross?"

Toshiro paused, "no…" he thought of Hinamori. "I think some of them are fine."

"Some? So you're bisexual?"

The white-haired captain blushed furiously. "Excuse me! I didn't say I'm bisexual!"

"But that's what you're implying right?"

Ichigo looked at Toshiro with a confused look on his face. Toshiro looked at the orange head and mouthed 'Matsumoto' and Ichigo's mouth turned into an 'o', resuming back to his phone, but still listening indirectly to the conversation. The communicator is pretty loud you know…

"I'm saying that some girls are fine, there's nothing more."

"Tsk, some girls are fine because Ichigo's the finest for you…"

"Matsumoto!"

His vice-captain moaned in boredom on the other line. "Take me with you, taichouuu!"

"I'll think about it, so be good."

"Here's your orders!" Hinamori called from a distance with a tray in her hands.

"I have to go, Matsumoto."

"Eh? Why?"

"I'm out with Kurosaki."

"Oooh, you're on a date with Ichigo~?"

Toshiro groaned, "I'm just eating out with him. Stop that."

"You're on a date with Ichigo."

"Am not."

"Whatever~ I think you are. Enjoy your date with your boyfriend~ Kurosaki Toshiro!"

"MATSU—"

The line went dead.

"Annoying little shit!"

Ichigo heard it and he snickered. Kurosaki Toshiro? It rings a bell, to be honest. Hinamori appeared on their table and she handed them their meal. "Here's your dragon roll and karashi mentaiko! Whitey-chan, here's your beans!"

Toshiro's eyebrows twitched, "beans?"

"Sorry, Sekihan and Doriyaki. Let me know if you need anything else!" She ruffled his white hair and left.

"Seriously! Does she think I'm a kid?"

Ichigo smirked. "Well you do look like an elementary student. I could pair you up with my sister if I have to."

"You wouldn't," Toshiro gasped.

"Of course I wouldn't, you're mine." Ichigo grinned and started to eat.

"I-I what? Say that again."

"Say what again?" the strawberry raised his brow, splitting his chopsticks into two.

"Say what you just said!" Toshiro bickered, holding his chopsticks in one piece.

"…say what again?"

"No, what you said before that."

"Of course I wouldn't."

"No! What did you say after that!"

"Say what again?"

Toshiro was annoyed. He held his temper together and gave up, splitting his chopsticks and started to eat as well. Ichigo on the other side of the table grinned playfully, knowing that he was pulling on the small captain's strings.

On the way out of the restaurant and to the parking lot, Toshiro sneezed and rubbed his nose. It was strange, in Soul Society; he never sneezed at such a time like that. The coldness in the human world is not as bad as the coldness back in his time; it must be the gigai that Urahara gave him, making him feel more humane than anything.

They reached Ichigo's car and he opened the back door to take out his jacket and threw it at the other boy. "For an ice captain, you look pretty cold."

"Shut up," Toshiro muttered shyly. "Thanks."

Ichigo grinned, "don't mention it."

"So where are we headed to now, Kurosaki?"

Before Ichigo was about to answer, a familiar sound of shriek came from behind them. The two turned and watched Hinamori running towards them in her black pants and a white t-shirt with red lines on the edges. "Whitey-chan! Strawberry!"

"Hinamori-san…"

"Where ya guys going?"

"We're not sure yet," Ichigo smiled. "Where are you going?"

"To the station, I need to pick up some textbooks. I have classes starting next week."

"Us too! Which school are you going to?"

Hinamori blinked, "Karakura University~"

"US TOO!"

"Really!?" She hugged the small captain. "I guess I get to see you more often than I thought Whitey-chan!"

"Don't call me that," Toshiro growled. "It's Hitsugaya!"

There was a pang of jealousy tugging on Ichigo's chest but he didn't realize it and chose to ignore it. "Why don't we give you a ride to the station?"

Hinamori looked hopefully. "Really?"

"Yeah, consider it as our tip, for being our waiter and everything."

"Oh gosh, thank you! Don't mind if I take you up on that offer!"

Toshiro and Ichigo smiled and nodded at the waiter. Hinamori was more than grateful to have served the two boys; it seemed like they would be good friends in the future. At the station, Ichigo stopped at the side of the street so that the girl could get off.

"Thanks for the ride guys! Thanks Whitey-chan!"

"A-Ah, what's your number?"

"My number?" Hinamori blinked then giggled. She extended her hand to Toshiro, "give me your cellphone."

"He doesn't have a cellphone," Ichigo cut in quickly. "Here's mine, I'll give him your number when I get him one today."

The girl nodded and entered her info on Ichigo's phone. After that, she closed the door, waved goodbye to the two boys and entered the station with a smile on her face. Toshiro looked at Ichigo who was quietly driving. He held unto Ichigo's phone.

"Kurosaki…"

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

Ichigo looked down at the whitehead in surprise. "For what?"

"For… For taking me out to lunch."

He let out a small laugh. "You're welcome. Now let's go get you a phone."

"A what?"

"A cellphone, dumbass. Some girl just gave you her number after you asked, you scored! Didn't think that girl was your type though…"

"It's fine, Kurosaki. I don't think I'll see her again anyway."

"Well I'm still getting you a phone, that communicator is so old fashioned. You can match one with me."

Toshiro frowned and nodded hesitantly. "Okay…"

"Welcome!" One of the workers greeted when Ichigo and Toshiro entered the store.

"Do you guys have any phone like this?" Ichigo said raising his cellphone. "I wanted a phone similar to it so I can get it for my friend here."

"That's such a shitty old phone," a guy's voice came from behind. "Why don't you two upgrade your phone? Jesus."

The worker rolled their eyes and waved their board, "I'm leaving this to you, Grim."

Ichigo turned and glared at the worker with blue hair. The worker smirked and saluted.

"Yo, I'm Grimmjow. I'll be helping you today."

"I don't want any help from you," Ichigo growled. "As a matter of fact, I'd like the other guy we met up with earlier."

"Too bad, shithead. I'll be taking care of ya."

"That's poor customer service," Toshiro growled next to Ichigo. "We can go to another store, Kurosaki."

Grimmjow sighed and scratched the back of his right ear in annoyance. "Damn, are customers now-a-days this fucking sensitive? You want a phone like this right? There's a white and blue one; which one do you want?"

Despite how much Ichigo dislikes the guy, he nodded. "I'll take the blue one."

"K, wait up a sec," before he left, he looked at Toshiro's outfit. "Isn't that jacket a little too big for you?"

Toshiro blushed slightly. "It's not mine…"

Grimmjow looked at Ichigo then back at the small boy. "Oh, it's from your little boyfriend. How cute. Okay, wait up."

"I really don't like him," Ichigo hissed when Grimmjow disappeared.

"We could have left and went to another place, Kurosaki…"

"It's fine, we're already here anyway."

"Hey, Grim! Did you get your schedule yet?" One of the workers called out from the counter.

Grimmjow came out of the room with a box of blue cellphone in his hand. The blue-haired worker placed it in front of Ichigo and Toshiro while he talked to his co-worker.

"Yeah, I got my schedule. Hate it though. Karakura University is gonna be such a fucking drag."

"Oh man, you're going there?"

The blue-head nodded, opening the box and preparing the phone for Toshiro to use. "Plus I'll be working part time here, I don't have a choice 'cause I left my siblings' house. I need money to keep me livin' you know."

"You should just live with me, man!" His co-worker offered. "I'm looking for a roommate."

"Really? That'll help a lot dude."

"No problem! Just focus on your customer for now, we'll talk more later."

"Alright," Grimmjow gave his full attention to the two boys. "Do you have an old cellphone to synchronize all your contact information to this new one?"

Toshiro shook his head, "that's my first phone."

"Holy shit, I don't know how you've been living your life," Grimmjow gaped, turning the phone on.

"Trust me, sometimes I wonder why I'm living at all," Toshiro said sarcastically and Ichigo laughed in the background.

"So you're going to Karakura University?" Ichigo asked.

"Yep, don't got a choice if I want a better job," Grimmjow answered then looked at him in the eye. "I'm guessing you are too since you're asking oh so nicely."

Ichigo shrugged. "Pretty much, guess I'll have to see people like you around."

"Gee, thanks," Grimmjow rolled his blue eyes then handed the new phone to Toshiro. "Here you go, feel free to use it. I looked up your phone plan and added your little friend here so you can get a discount. Thought it's better that way since you two looked like best friends."

Ichigo and Toshiro glanced at each other then scoffed. "Best friend? No way."

Grimmjow laughed. "Little tsundere aren't ya'll? Anyway. Git, I have a new customer behind you. See you at school, maybe."

"Tch," the strawberry said, walking out of the store and into his car. "That guy needs to get fired because he has a bad attitude."

"He's not that bad," Toshiro said, sitting down on his seat. "He got me the phone and everything."

"That's cause that's his job, oh smart one," Ichigo replied sarcastically. "Anyway, give me your phone."

"Why?"

"So I can put my number in, duh."

"I don't want your number."

"Oh, but you want Hinamori's?"

"I didn't say that, Kurosaki."

"That's what you were trying to say."

Toshiro sighed heavily and handed the obviously jealous strawberry. The small captain was looking away, "…maybe… maybe I do want your number…"

Ichigo's head perked up and grabbed the phone quickly to put his number and contact information. When he handed the cell back to Toshiro, the small one's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Seriously? A heart and a strawberry? What are you, a girl, Kurosaki? Why are there no letters?"

"That's called an emoji, dumbass and because I'm special."

"Idiot…"

"Here, you can edit your contact if you want."

Toshiro blinked and took Ichigo's phone.

What should I put? He stared at the blank screen. Then he smirked, typed something in, then returned the phone to Ichigo.

Ichigo looked down and blushed heavily. "M-My one and only!?"

"Yes, your one and only."

"Are you indirectly confessing your love to me?"

"AM NOT—" Toshiro slapped his forehead. "If you think you're special, then I'm assuming I'm special to you as well."

The orange head smiled, "good thing you're aware. Let's go home."

Toshiro stared at him with confusion on his face. What was that all about?

When they reached home, there was silence between the two boys. Ichigo was humming to himself while Toshiro was scrolling over his new phone, checking out new things.

"Hey, Kurosaki… I was wondering if Matsumoto could use this phone to contact me as well…"

Ichigo thought about it, "I don't see why not. Just contact her on your communicator and give her your new information. You should be good with talking to her later on."

"Mmm, okay." Toshiro sat down on his bed. "Kurosaki?"

"Yeah?" Ichigo was taking off his collared shirt.

Toshiro's face flushed pink and turned away, "I-I wanted to say thank you."

"Thank you again?"

"Y-Yeah… For the food, and…. My new cellphone."

"Duh, it's no biggy," Ichigo threw his shirt on the floor. And took out a comic book.

"So what do we do for the rest of the weekend?"

Ichigo flipped a page of his comic book. "I guess we do whatever you feel like doing."

"Seriously? Can we study until school starts?"

"That's fine," Ichigo smiled. "Whatever you want."

Toshiro couldn't help but smile. Ichigo has a habit of spoiling him. There was nothing more to say that night, so he reached for his blue journal that had a lock. Typical, he would say, for the little captain loved anything that dealt with eyes. It reminded him of how his heart was. The snowflake he had was unlike any other melting snowflake; this flake was solid and not solvent. His grandmother, who was able to tolerate the cold winters his reiatsu was releasing, gave it to him before he left and became one of the captains.

His thoughts came to a stop when he realized that he's been staring into space and at the clock. Hours passed and Toshiro noticed that the silence was beginning to make him deaf. He closed his journal and locked the journal with the snowflake to check on his roommate.

Ichigo was asleep with his headphones on and his face flat on the comic book he was skimming through. Toshiro snorted and poked Ichigo's face playfully and Ichigo scrunched his nose together and slapped Toshiro's hand away.

"Even in your sleep, you're a little shit."

"Toshiro… y'er so short…"

A vein popped on his forehead. "You annoying—"

Ichigo resumed to snoring and Toshiro leaned down to kiss the sleeping boy's forehead.

What am I doing? Snap out of it!

He put himself together and walked back to his side of the room and decided to read his textbook.

"Kiss me Tossssshiro…"

"I already did, dumbass!" Toshiro screeched from his desk.

"Noooo you didn't," Ichigo whined in his sleep. "My lips! My lips… kiss lips…"

"No!"

Ichigo let out a childish cry and Toshiro stood up, irritated. "How can you still be so damn annoying even when you're asleep!?"

"KISS! My kiss… kiss kisssssss…"

Toshiro was back to Ichigo's table. "IF I KISS YOU WILL YOU SHUT UP!?"

The strawberry didn't say anything, his response was nothing more than the air from his nose breathing in and the white-haired boy took that as a yes.

So leaned in, pressed his lips against the sleeping boy softly. Even though his lips were cold, Ichigo's were warm, and the feeling that he's getting, he definitely does not want to move away. His eyes widened when he felt Ichigo's arms wrap around his waist; his brown eyes were staring straight into his aquamarine ones.

He blushed heavily and tried pushing Ichigo away but has failed because he tightened one arm and released the other, deepening the kiss by pressing his hand on his head. Toshiro was running out of breath and began to get dizzy. He let a small moan escape his mouth, definitely surprised by the sudden reaction. Ichigo is a great kisser.

But the thing that bothered him now is the fact that Ichigo was awake the whole time. Toshiro's head became clearer and he punched Ichigo's head.

"YOU BLOCKHEAD! START COUNTING YOUR DAYS BECAUSE I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Their neighbors that were sleeping in heavenly peace sat up, awake by Toshiro's loud voice. Several lights opened, along with their windows and people came out to see where the noise came from. Some that were already open, were shut closed, never noticing that one of the rooms contained a poor, beaten up strawberry on the ground by a small little dragon.

Hitsugaya: Of course you don't own bleach, I'd be damned if you were.
Author: Wow, you're really mean tonight. I'm leaving you with Ichi. -leaves-
Hitsugaya: W-What, wait, RINI!
Ichigo: Hey, Toshiro! I got you some chocolates!
Toshiro: It's Captain Hitsugaya, to you! WAIT, RINI, DON'T LEAVE ME WITH HIM!