.white's day;

White's Day was getting close. Some weeks ago, since Ichigo had recieved Tsubasa's chocolate, the boy was worried about what he should give her next; Afterall, if he made sure to retribute his sister's chocolates, why not Tsubasa's?

He kept his funds from the past month, just like he always did at this time of the year. Marshmallows was what he bought for Yuzu and Karin use in their hot cocoa, but with Tsubasa, the matter was different.

Does she like marshmallows? - he thought, while looking at the window of his room; Spring had already started.

Tsubasa received chocolates from her classmates, and while she was still learning to cook, she limited herself to only buy things that were done and didn't need to be cooked or sewed.

Her father, like always, sewed something for her, and this year was a scarf, for the colder days.

"Thank you, Otou-san!" - she said, while hugging her father.

"So, Tsubasa-chan... Do you think Ichigo-san will retribute the chocolate you made for him?" - and the young girl blushed immediatly at the boy's mention.

"Eh? Erm... I d-don't know...! I mean, I don't know if I have to expect something back, but I'm happy... Happy for doing and giving something to him in a important day."

"I know. But what if he decides to buy you something? You two are getting close lately, like that time he walked you here home. If Ichigo-san wants to come here more times, you should just call him. It's okay."

"But...!" - she blushed even harder - "How Otou-san knows that? A-And Touya-niichan will pick on him again!"

"Then just call him in a day Touya-kun isn't at home, and it should be fine."- the girl let out a breath, relieved.

Curious about what he should do, he asked a few questions about what they would like to recieve in White's Day.

"Ah! A white chocolate box should be fine!" - Yuzu said, and Karin interrupted;

"But this is only when you do the 'honmei choco', Yuzu. And none of us gave those this year."

Shit, thank goodness - he thought.

"But why are you asking, Onii-chan?"

"I'm just a little curious about it, that's all." - he scrached his neck, a little nervous.

"Ichi-nii didn't recieve a honmei choco from someone, did you?" - Karin asked, with a little smirk.

"Nope, no way!" - he denied, averting his gaze.

"Heeeee. I think someone here got a chocolate besides those you did, Yuzu."

"Whaaaat? Onii-chan, if you got, please tell us who was the girl!"

"My bad, I forgot I have homework to do!" - the orange-haired boy was drifting little by little close to the door, and ready to run upstairs.

"Ichi-nii, there's no homework for those close to graduation!"

And before they could ask him more questions, Ichigo went to his room, considering what to buy for Tsubasa.

He got his funds, and had an idea on what to do.

And there he was, sometime later on, gazing at the window of a bonbon store. Most of those came in heart shaped boxes, and the situation was embarassing enough for the boy, imagine how would it be if he bought one of those for Tsubasa?

He got in the store and chose a box anyway, one that costed the same or more than the homemade chocolate that Tsubasa gave to him; After all, it was the usual to give at least three times what you recieved in Valentine's day.

I hope she likes it. - thought Ichigo, looking at the chocolate box and the white package he just bought.

Going to her house was the hardest part.

Ichigo really, really hoped Touya wasn't there so they wouldn't end up fighting, since he wasn't in a mood to take his shit any longer. Even if said guy was Tsubasa's brother, he wouldn't tolerate any "funny" comments anymore. Especially about his hair.

He rang the doorbell, and for his surprise, it was Tsubasa who opened the door. As soon as she saw him, a smile formed in her lips.

"Ichigo-kun! What are you doing here?" - she asked, without noticing he was trying to hide something behind his back.

"Well... I came to give you this." - he gave her the packages, quickly, and averting his gaze, trying to ignore the fact that he was blushing.

"Eh?" - she looked at the packages then; It took some seconds for her to realize that these were White's day gifts. She smiled even brighter - "Ah, Ichigo-kun, you didn't need to worry about it..."

"You had all that work to make that chocolate for me, right? It's only fair to give you something back." - he tried to forget his blush, scraching his cheek. She chuckled, happy.

"Thank you, Ichigo-kun. Really. Thank you very much." - then she was feeling a little troubled with all the packages in her hands, and asked for him to get in the house - "Want to get in?"

"... Is your brother here?"

"No. Touya-niichan is working in a store today. It's one of those part-time jobs he gets to make some money to help us."

"... Sure. Then, I'm getting in..." - he passed through the door awkwardly, and she invited him to sit on the sofa. She sat on the other side, to see what was in the packages.

"Ahhh! White chocolates! They are so pretty!" - she took one to prove its taste, munching - "Mmm, this is delicious!" - Ichigo smiled softly when he saw Tsubasa's satisfied expression - "This must have costed a lot for you, right?"

"Yeah, but it doesn't matter. I had some funds from the past month, so I decided to use it."

"I see..." - she said, with a little smile and opening the white little package – "Marshmallows!"

"Do you like hot cocoa?"

"Yes! A lot!"

"Then, when you want to drink it, use some of those."

"Thank you. I'll surely use it!"

"So... I know a hot cocoa recipe that is really good. If you want to do, I can teach you how."

"Eh?" - she looked at him in surprise, eyes open wide - "Ichigo-kun knows how to make hot cocoa?"

"Yeah. It is a special recipe from my mom. She taught me how to do when I was little."

"It must be something very precious for Ichigo-kun, right?"

"Aa." - his expression softened.

"Then I surely want to learn!"

"Do you have some cocoa powder here?"

"Yes!" - the two got up and went to the kitchen.

In the end, it was Ichigo who did everything alone. Tsubasa helped him with the ingredients, but that was all. She focused on paying attention in how to do it, rather than trying herself; She didn't want to mess up with Ichigo's mom recipe.

She used the marshmallows on the hot cocoa in that spring cold afternoon.

In the next nights, Tsubasa started to have strange dreams.

They weren't like normal dreams, or even nightmares; They looked real, somehow.

People with broken chains attached to their chests, with an ethereal appeareance. She could touch them.

The images came and went in flashes, and between these images there was Ichigo, with the Mashiba Junior black uniform, holding his bag behind his shoulder, and he seemed to be talking with her; He was smiling and she didn't know why.

Suddenly her vision changed abruptly to a battle scene: there was blood in the floor, a big, scary creature she had no idea of what it was, but its painful howl sent shivers down her spine; And there was Ichigo, dressed with a black kimono, and wielding a sword just as big as he was.
It was him who fought the creature, who had lost its arm thanks to the orange-haired boy.

Then Tsubasa woke up, sweating and scared with the dreams she just saw. They looked so real, it was almost palpable.

"What... Was that? And why Ichigo-kun...?" - she dried off the sweat in her forehead, with a scared look, seeing the pictures over and over in her mind.

Author's note:
So, in Japan, the 'honmei choco' is given when you like/has feelings for someone and it's usually homemade, while the 'giri choco' is the 'obligatory chocolate' that you give to your friends/schoolmates/coworkers. I hope this explains it! See you guys next time!