I don't own Bleach.

Chapter 2: Protect

"Ichi-Nii! Nozomii-san! It's time for breakfast!" Yuzu's voice ringed through Kurosaki Clinic.

Ichigo got up from bed and changed into his casuals. He headed towards the mirror and took a quick glance at himself. "Huh?" He inspected the mirror closer and touched the sides of his face. There were small pieces of hair starting to grow into sideburns.

He exited his room and walked down the hallway to reach another room. He knocked at the door at first, but there was no response. "Nozomi! You awake yet?"

It took a while, and there was still no response. Ichigo debated on whether to knock again or wait for a while. He decided to wait for a while longer before knocking again. But before he could, Nozomi opened the door.

"Oh Nozomi… good morning." Ichigo greeted. Nozomi was obviously still sleepy. Her hair was springing out in random directions, and she was still droopy-eyed. They stared at each other awkwardly for a while, before realizing she was still in her loose nightgown.

"Pervert." She said before slamming the door shut.

"Aye." Ichigo replied.

It's already been a week since the battle in Soul Society ended and Ichigo lost his Reiatsu. Nozomi was still staying with the Kurosakis, since she had nowhere else to go.

"ICHIGO, MY SON! GOOD MORNING!" Isshin dashed at Ichigo and jumped on him. Ichigo immediately sidestepped out of the way, causing his father to hit the wall instead.

"Ow! Why did you dodge?" Isshin complained childishly, complete with anime tears.

"What the hell kind of question is that, dad!?"

"Anyway, what are you doing in front of this room?"

"Haven't Karin or Yuzu told you? Nozomi's staying here with us."

"Ooooh! Your girlfriend! Finally becoming a man huh?" Isshin childishly congratulated his son, repeatedly shaking his hands while still comically crying.

"What are you-"

"Ichigo, what's with the noise?" Nozomi opened the door, immediately getting the attention of Isshin.

"Oh! My future daughter-in law!"

"Ichigo, what-" is all Nozomi managed to say before being interrupted by Isshin.

"You have my gratitude for choosing my son to be with forever! You can call me Dad from now on!" He now congratulated Nozomi in the same manner he did with Ichigo, leaving his son heavily embarrassed.

"What?" Nozomi was completely confused by now.

"Dad, cut the crap!" Ichigo kicked his dad from behind, comically sending him flying out the window.

"Good Morning, Nozomi!" Kon greeted but met the same fate as Isshin after patting Nozomi on the legs again.

"Wow, Kon's been flying a lot nowadays…" Ichigo commented.

…

"Okay, I'm off" Ichigo said before heading towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Nozomi asked, who was sitting on the couch.

"School."

"School?"

"Yep. School."

"What's that?"

"Huh? Well…" Ichigo himself didn't know how to explain what a school is, and so he decided to improvise. "Basically, it's a place where instructors teach you stuff. Some you need, some you don't." It was a bad explanation, but Nozomi, being Nozomi, believed it.

"When will you be back?"

"Probably much later."

"I see…" Nozomi replied, somewhat saddened by what Ichigo said.

"Hey don't worry, Kon will keep you company!"

"That doesn't make me feel better at all." Nozomi said, but Ichigo successfully cheered her up with that joke.

"See ya later, Nozomi."

"Right.

Ichigo went of the house, leaving Nozomi alone. She decided to just continue watching Television. Until Karin went to her after looking around.

"Hey, where's Ichi-Nii?" Karin asked her.

"He said he'd go to… um… school, was it?" Nozomi answered.

"Huh? That's funny, Its already 5 pm. And he doesn't have school today. Maybe he's going there again."

"There?" Nozomi asked, confused at what Karin just said.

"Oh right, we haven't told you yet. Today's the day our mom died. Ichi-Nii spends most of the day by her grave." Karin told her.

"I see, he lied to me." Nozomi thought. She immediately stood up and headed for the door. "I'm going out for a bit."

"Hey wait…" Karin said, but Nozomi was already gone.

…

Nozomi wandered around town to look for Ichigo, although she had no idea where he might be. She eventually ran into Isshin again after a while.

"Oh hey! Nozomi-chan." He greeted, although Nozomi was slightly disturbed by his somewhat perverted behavior.

"…dad." Nozomi said, recalling what Isshin said to her that morning.

"Wow! You don't know how happy I am to hear that! All of a sudden I have a new daughter! So, when will you and my son get married? Isshin once again childishly congratulated Nozomi, who instantly blushed upon hearing the word "marry", and stomped on Isshin's foot out of embarrassment.

"Ouch! You're just like my son! No wonder you two get along!" Isshin cried out, completely weirding out Nozomi.

"Where's Ichigo?" Nozomi asked.

"Oh, miss him already?" Isshin continued to tease her, until she glared at him murderously. "Relax, I was just kidding! He's on top of that hill." He said, pointing to a hill outside Karakura's borders. "I just got back myself, Ichigo said he'll stay with Masaki for a while."

"…Masaki?" Nozomi asked him.

"My wife, and Ichigo's mom." Isshin replied.

"I see. Later, dad." Nozomi said before heading towards the hill's direction.

"I'm so happy!" Isshin attempted to hug Nozomi from behind, but was stopped short when she turned back and glared at him sharply.

"Just kidding!" Isshin said while scratching the back of his head and laughing.

"…Pervert." Nozomi said before finally leaving.

…

"I'm home! Karin! Yuzu!" Isshin shouted out. Yuzu came running and hugged her dad.

"You smell like smoke!" Yuzu complained.

"Oh sorry." Isshin apologized sheepishly, but her daughter only smiled at him.

"Hey dad, where's Ichi-Nii and Nozomi-san?" Karin asked her father, only for him to stare at her with a serious face. Karin thought it was a serious matter, until Isshin talked.

"Nozomi-san…? She's your future sister-in-law! You should call her Onee-chan!" Isshin spoke like the prime minister.

"Uh…yeah." Karin sweatdropped at Isshin's statement.

"Anyway, Ichigo's still on the hill and Nozomi-chan's on her way there."

"Hm? Oh you've been there dad? So that's why you smell like smoke." Yuzu said to her dad.

"So…" Isshin cleared his throat. "Let's start preparing dinner, They'll probably be already hungry by the time they get back." He finished his sentence, and joyfully leaped to the kitchen, with Yuzu following.

"Just what did you think they'll be doing?" Karin sighed before following her father and sister into the kitchen.

…

Nozomi climbed the hill to see Ichigo crouched down on the soil, in front of a grave. She stood there for a while, before deciding to approach him.

"Huh?" Ichigo turned around to see Nozomi, who instantly turned away. "Nozomi? Why are you here?"

"You lied to me."

"Huh? Oh right. Sorry. I just didn't want you to worry." Ichigo admitted.

"You're an idiot." Nozomi blushed slightly upon hearing Ichigo's words.

"I said I was sorry."

"Not that." Nozomi said, who was still looking away. Ichigo faced his mother's grave again.

"It's been around 7 years already." Ichigo said weakly.

"How did it happen?" She asked him. He stared at her for a while before turning back to her mom's grave.

"Nine years ago, mom protected me from a Hollow. I couldn't do anything but watch her die. I was so useless." Ichigo said with a weak voice, but Nozomi was able to hear him.

"That's why I wanted to protect you and everyone else. So I don't have to watch someone die again." Ichigo said firmly.

"But who'll protect you?" Nozomi asked without looking at him.

"I don't need someone to protect me. As long as I can keep the people around me safe… It's enough for me." Ichigo said looking at his mother's picture on the grave.

Nozomi and Ichigo stayed there in silence for a while.

"Ichigo…" Nozomi said while blushing, and embraced Ichigo from behind. He was surprised by this, but he didn't resist. "…I forgive you."

"And… thank you."

Nozomi released Ichigo after a few minutes. She was heavily blushing out of embarrassment, and even Ichigo had a slight tint of red on his face.

"Let's go back now. It's getting late." Ichigo said.

"Alright."

They climbed down the hill together and made their way back home. It's been a long day, and they had no idea that it'd turn out this way.

Hey guys, thanks for the views, favs and follows. It's inspiring to know people appreciate my work. R&R if you liked this chapter. I'll update soon. Ja ne.