.first steps;

The day were she finally came out of the hospital had finally arrived. The girl couldn't be more happier.

Ichigo was there, too, to accompany her. And for that, Tsubasa was happy to see him.

"Ichigo-kun, it's good to see you here!'

"Aa. You didn't think I would't come, do you?" - he said with a half smile, and Touya cross-eyed him.

"Hey, you guy. Stop hiting on my sister. She doesn't even remember who you are."

"B-But!"- Tsubasa interveined - "Ichigo-kun was always there with me, waiting for me to wake up. That must mean that he is a important person for me. So please... Don't fight with him, Onii-chan!"

"Tch." - the older brother put his hands on his pockets, still looking at Ichigo with narrowed eyes.

"It's true what Tsubasa-chan said." - their father said - "Otherwise, why would he be such a dedicated friend, right?

"Yes! Please, Ichigo-kun, excuse my brother's behavior!" - she bowed quickly at him.

"No problem." - he got near the girl and put a hand over her head, messing up hair a little.

"Now.. Let's go home!" - Fujitaka annunced, then - "It's getting colder here outside!"

Ichigo watched the family going to the car, leaving the hospital; Not that he cared to have to walk or not getting a ride with them. It was better this way. Tsubasa still didn't remember him, and he was a little afraid she would never remember him again. But that's okay. They had a whole life ahead to get to know each other again.

Febuary.

The plum blossoms were already blossoming in the streets of the city.

Tsubasa knew that valentine's day was close; She liked that Holiday a lot.

Giving chocolates for her family and friends was good. And she was thinking a lot about Ichigo lately. For all of his efforts, and for the time he expend with her when she was in a coma.

He deserved a gift from her, she thought. So she put all her efforts into doing that homemade chocolate, and even asked for her father's help.

Fujitaka then asked about the heart-shaped mold, much to her embarassment.

"It's for a special person, isn't? It's Ichigo-san, I am right? - he asked with a smile and Tsubasa blushed a little.

"A-Ah, this is because he made so much for me, Otou-san! And because of him I won't need to repeat a year in school even having many faults and-"

"You don't need to explain yourself, Tsubasa-chan." - he put his hands on her shoulders - "What matters is that he's a precious person for you, and that is enough." - his words comforted her, and the two got their attentions back to finish the chocolates.

She gave her best, paying attention on her father's explanations.

The chocolate with the heart-shaped mold was for Ichigo.

When she saw the result of her efforts, she was proud of herself.

Tsubasa was very careful packing the chocolate in a little box she buyed for that specific day.

This way, Ichigo would have her gratitude retributed.

She could feel that he was someone special in her life. The reason why she couldn't tell just yet, but something inside her said it was something valuable.

At Ichigo's house, Yuzu was very busy with the chocolates she was doing for valentine's day, and Karin was helping her packing the sweets.

The girl made sure Ichigo was there, so he could taste it, and say if it was good or not; She knew how much her brother liked chocolate.

"They are great, Yuzu."

"Waaah! Onii-chan approved it again!" - she chirped happily.

"Ichi-nii will get too used to it. I think he should eat the chocolates you do only in the valentine's day."

"Mou, Karin-chan!"

"And he doesn't get any chocolate besides from us. That's what you get to keep your delinquent pose."

"Hey, I have a image to keep it, okay? You don't know how hard it is... Being different and such."

"If you cared, Ichi-nii, you would have colored your hair black."

"Aa. That part is true, it's something that I will never change." - he said, picking another piece of chocolate - "And I don't mind to get chocolates only of you two. I'm already used to it."

"Speaking that way... It sounds like Onii-chan had already gave up in having a girlfriend." - said Yuzu, sounding disappointed.

"Who knows?" - he took another piece of the candy and got upstairs to his room.

"Valentine's day..." - he sat on his bed, looking outside the window – "Bullshit."

Febuary's 14th.

Valentine's day.

The date was finally arrived.

"Happy valentine's day, Onii-chan!"

"Happy valentine's, Ichi-nii!" - the girls said, giving their chocolates for their brother, who eated almost all of it right there.

"It's delicious, like always, Yuzu. You're great."

"Yuzu is a great cooker, isn't she?"

"Ah, Karin-chan, you two are embarassing me!"

Then Ichigo resumed his day into going to the school, with no expectations. He just hoped the day passed by quickly.

At the corridors of Mashiba Junior, there were a lot of girls going here and there with their chocolates in hand, searching for the boys they wanted to confess or the friends they wanted to share in exchange for something on White's day.

All of them keep going away from the orange-haired boy, ignoring his presence or scared of him.

"Kurosaki never gets a chocolate, doesn't he?"

"He's pretty but... That scolding face scares me."

"He fights and gets beaten up of a lot of guys, he's a delinquent, better stay away from him."

Yeah, that's right. Keep away from me. - he thought, while he walked beside Chad, who scared people as well with his presence and height, and quiet demeanor.

The two went to the terrace, and Ichigo brought with him some of the chocolates that Yuzu made for him.

"Wanna share some?" - Ichigo asked, and Chad looked at him surprised at beginning, but smiled when he realized that there was someone who understood him.

On his way home, he and Chad had an unexpected surprise;

Tsubasa was there, waiting for them next in a street corner. She was holding something in her hands.

Chad looked at Ichigo and then at the girl, and decided it would be better to leave them alone.

"Ichigo, I'm going home already."

"O-Oi, Chad! Wait!"

The other guy smiled at his friend. And waved a goodbye before taking another route.

Finally, alone. He and Tsubasa.

The girl was wating for him with a shy smile, and holding a package - a little box.

"Tsubasa... How did you-"

"How did I know you were coming this way? Ah, truth to be told... I made a call to your father. He once gave me the number of your house when I was at the hospital, and said it was okay to call if I wanted to." - she admited, a little embarassed.

Ichigo had no idea that his old man would know about the girl; He would ask him about it later how did he know Tsubasa, since he didn't said to anyone where he went after school.

"W-Well, I went out of the school sooner, and came here to wait for you." - she showed him the box, then - "To give you this." - she offered him, and Ichigo took the package from her hands.

He opened the box, surprised with its content;

Valentine's chocolate? For me...?

"... Why?" - he asked, still surprised.

"Because I wanted to thank Ichigo-kun for everything you did it for me. For your visits in the hospital, the flowers... And for the studies!" - she admitted, blushing - "So, I wanted Ichigo-kun to accept this chocolate for my gratitude!"

Gratitude, huh...? - he thought, while still looking at his favorite sweet and the girl had no idea of that.

"I..."

"Thanks, for the chocolate, it's my favorite treat."

"A-Ah! Then I hope you don't bother the taste! I made everything with my father's help, then maybe it's good but I'm not sure, so-"

The orange-haired boy smiled, and took a piece of chocolate, munching.

"The taste is really good. Thanks, Tsubasa."

"That's great! Thank goodness I didn't mess with anything, and-" - she said, joining her hands close to her chest.

"Can I walk you home, Tsubasa? If there's no problem, of course." - for a moment, the girl was silenced for the sudden question.

"Sure!" - she said, then - "I mean, that's okay, but it's just a little far from your way home, so..."

"No problem. So, let's go?"

"Let's!"

After walking Tsubasa home - and finally knowing her address - Ichigo got home and hid the package in his bag, going upstairs like he did when he wanted a little more privacy.

He closed the door, and sitted on his bed, taking the box with the chocolate.

The boy stared at the object for some time, before opening and eating the rest of the chocolate.

It was the first one he received from a girl, beside his sisters.

Valentine's day chocolate, huh?

Maybe this day was not that bad...

Author's notes:
Well, this is the third chapter, and it took some time to finish it but here we are! Updates are weekly and at tuesdays, because I need to write the chapter first and then translate it, since english is not my first language. I have to thank Ridja a lot for helping me with spellcheks and beta the chapters, without her this wouldn't be possible.
I hope to keep the TRC+Bleach section alive, since there's no fanfictions active anymore and that's a pity, since there's a lot of possibilities to explore!
See you guys next time! And thanks for the views and for your input, is really helpeful!