Sorry for the delay. I have no excuse. Sorry and thank you to all my reviews as well as the people who message me and say they read this over and over hoping for a new chapter. I will do my best from now on.

Chapter 10:

"You sure like high places, huh?"

"That's because when you're up high, all the stuff that looks confusing or messed up suddenly becomes crystal clear."

"The start of a conversation?" Ichigo thought, as his eyelids slowly raised, a comforting moisture drizzling down his brow. "Crap the Rain!" Ichigo cried sitting up and realizing that not only was he indoors but he was quite comfortable. His head pivoted left and then right before he leaned up on his elbows and found that someone else was in the room with him. That someone looked away a moist washcloth in her left palm and a crimson embarrassment on her face.

"Are you all right?' Senna questioned. Her voice shook as she spoke and Ichigo couldn't help but notice.

"Ya I'm alright," Ichigo responded. It didn't take long for his memories to come back or for him to realize that he had been saved from the rain by Senna. A deep cough exploded out of Ichigo's chest causing the girls face to take on a worried prose. It's raining pretty hard outside. What were you doing?" she asked. The boy thought for a moment as if trying to remember for himself before sighing deeply and responding.

"I was getting rabbit flavored pudding for my girlfriend."

"Ehh?" Senna squeaked, wondering if she had heard that correctly. Ichigo placed his damp face in his palms embarrassed at the words that had escaped his mouth. For some reason admitting it in front of Senna was much more humiliating than it had been with Urahara.

"I'm sorry," Ichigo began before standing and continuing, "I don't know why I ended up on your doorstop but it must have been a pain, especially after..." Ichigo's voice trailed off.

"After earlier today?" Senna finished, trying to hide the crinkle in her brow. Ichigo remained silent; unsure, of where this conversation was going and he realized, for the first time, that he was in this girl's apartment.

"I really am Sorry for intruding," Ichigo said loudly; knowing, that he should be respective to her family in letting them know that someone was in the house. Senna stood up and brushed the dust from her skirt.
"Nobody's here," she said, nervously clenching the wash cloth until little droplets of water fell onto her carpet.

"You live alone?" Ichigo asked. Senna nodded and he took another look around his eyes widening at the realization that her house seemed to have a sort of strawberry theme. The clocks, pillows, curtains, refrigerator magnets, tablecloths all seemed to be either in the shape of or covered in strawberries. Ichigo swallowed hard. "You seem to like strawberries." He added. Senna smiled walking to her kitchen and placing the washcloth in her stainless steel sink.

"Ya I'm not sure why, but something about them, I have always found cute. I dunno maybe it's more than that… That is," Senna stopped. If she was at school she would have had no problem spouting off her "crazy" to anyone who would listen; however, the thought that Ichigo might think less of her because of it upset her. Scared her. She bit her lower lip nervously.

"Go on," Ichigo said whilst motioning to a western style dining table. "Can I sit here?"

"Ya," said Senna. She herself walked towards the table and took a seat on the right side of it. Ichigo sat wondering why he seemed so comfortable. It was if his body was moving on its own. The conversation seemed light and he didn't need to force himself to say anything. It was peaceful.

"So what were you gonna say about strawberries?" Ichigo asked a flush falling on his face. He had been called Strawberry for a good portion of his life and he couldn't get over the feeling that by asking this bright eyed girl about her feelings towards the small red berry, he was also asking about her feelings towards him.

"Don't think I'm weird," she ordered clenching her fists.

"I can't promise that," he responded truthfully. Senna's face fell slightly and Ichigo quickly continued with, "I was kidding, I promise. I promise." For a few minutes Senna looked unsure before sighing taking in several deep breaths and replying with.

"I Think strawberries are reliable."

"Reliable?" Ichigo questioned shocked and confused. The familiar red tint crept onto the girl's perfect completion once more.

"Well, if you think about it they are. A watermelon can taste too watery if it's not ripe, and apples get mushy and brown. They lose their color if they get old. Most fruits are like that," Senna laughed placing her chin in her palms and now looking affectionately at the strawberry printed on the tablecloth beneath her. She started to draw small circles around the print with her index fingers. "But while a strawberry can taste sour or sweet depending on their ripeness, they also maintain that base flavor. They're always red. Be it darker or lighter. They're reliable and I love them," Senna said, planning to continue but suddenly stopping at the words that escaped from her companions lips.

"I love you too," Ichigo muttered entranced by her speech not realizing she wasn't talking about him.

"Wh…What did you say?" Senna yipped, like a puppy that had been given a bone too big to eat. Quickly, she stood up and took several steps back her hair released itself from the red ribbon she had on." Ichigo's eyes widened as he realized what he'd said. His lower lip began to quiver as he stood and slammed his palms against the table several times.

"Strawberries! I meant Strawberries! I love them too!" Ichigo coughed as he spoke desperation clear in his voice. Not convinced that, that was what Ichigo meant she continued to stare at Ichigo her blackberry hair falling all around her face like a beautiful dark frame keeping a white landscape painting from bursting. The two remained silent for several moments before Senna tried to laugh and look away. "No I understand," Senna began unaware of the salty streams running down her face,

"You meant the strawberries. The strawberries." Ichigo's heart gave him an aggravated lurch forward and before he knew what was going on he found his sculpted arms wrapped around the small girl. "Why did things always end up so melodramatic around this girl?" She cried, he wanted to cry, she frowned his chest ached, she smiled and he grinned wide enough to give his hollow a run for its money. The answer came to him faster than he'd expected.

"No, I meant what I said," Ichigo confessed. Senna's mouth hung open and eyes widened to a point in which Ichigo couldn't help but give out a snort.

"Ehh?" Senna responded confused at the look of amusement.

"No, that wasn't for the confession I was serious," he began unaware of his own blush, "Just the look on your face was funny," he said. Senna didn't look so amused and quickly folded her arms looking away.

"Well I'm glad that this is one big joke to you," she responded leaning over to pick up her discarded ribbon and tie back her hair. Ichigo stepped forward his knee hitting the table and causing a stinging sensation to shoot up his leg.

"Damn it! I mean. I'm serious. This isn't a joke!" he pleaded. Senna rolled her eyes.

"I may live alone but I'm not an Idiot Ichigo," She said pulling out one of the chairs from under the table.

"I didn't say you were one!" he half yelled slicking back his hair only to have to fall in his face once more. Senna's unsure look did not change but slowly she stood up on the chair she had pulled up and crossed her arms behind her back. Ichigo's mouth fell open a bit. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm trying to see if you're lying," she responded mater-o-factly.

"By standing on a chair?" Ichigo asked his voice lowering. His desperation was slowly becoming replaced with confusion and thankfully that was causing his nerves to steady.

""That's because when you're up high, all the stuff that looks confusing or messed up suddenly becomes crystal clear. If you lie I'll be able to tell," She smiled looking down at him a warm smile on her face that seemed out of place in the room's previous chaos.

"Alright," is all Ichigo could manage to respond with.

"Were you stalking me the first day we met?" she asked leaning down, her ponytail falling at an awkward angle.

"I wasn't," Ichigo said truthfully. Senna looked into his eyes deeply before nodding and standing up strait again, the table shaking slightly as she did.

"Second question. Did you know where my house was?" She questioned. Ichigo shook his head.

"Of course not! If I'm not stalking you how could I." he responded. Senna looked deeply into his eyes once more but nodded after a few minutes seeming satisfied by his response.

"There's the phonebook but you don't strike me as someone who reads that often," Senna said giggling. An annoyed look found its way to Ichigo's face. "Alright! The last questiehhh!" Senna yelled moving awkwardly and falling off of the chair. In an instant Ichigo was on the other side of the table and she was safely padded in his arms. As Ichigo looked down at her he was surprised to see that she didn't look shocked or even upset after falling. Almost, like she had expected him to catch her.

"Did you do that on purpose?" He frowned. Senna quickly ignored his question.

"Do you really love me?" she asked her eyes closed tightly as if terrified of the answer she would receive. The orange haired youth's eyes and heart fell sadly as he thought of Rukia, his current life, and what the next words from his mouth would mean for him. "Yeah, I do…"

I don't have a beta reader so if there is any mistakes please feel free to ask me about them. And message me if you wanna be my beta reader. Though I will only accept people who have their own stories up.