A/N: So like I promised, a new chapter on Monday! Yay! It's not that great, but you get what you pay for! Just kidding! But this chapter does deal with some misconceptions I see the IR fandom have about Ichihime like how Ichihime is toxic because they bring out the worst in each other. Like who comes up with that BS? Like seriously? Anyways that issue will be discussed here. I hope you all keep reading, enjoying, and reviewing!

P.S. 400+ comments! You guys! I'm so spoiled to have you all as my fans! *cries*

There is something that plagues me as I make my way to the 12th division. A thought that has flittered across my mind probably a few times without garnering much rumination. But there is no possible way that I can ignore it now. Not after what just happened. Not if it'll happen again. And it will, I'm sure.

Inoue has this special ability. With her words, she can invoke courage and determination in me. She's done this when Rukia was taken to Soul Society so many years ago. She just offered me encouragement, and my will became ironclad. And then there was that time when I was losing against Grimmjow. Even when she was scared of me, scared for me, she shouted for me to not get hurt anymore, and I felt a burst of resolve to win. And there was also that time with Ginjō. Even with unspoken words, she gave me more resilience against Yhwach.

Yes, her words have that influence on me.

And with her presence, she coaxes me into states of ease and peace. She has a calming effect over me. By looking at her, by seeing her smiling face, I feel that everything will be okay. At the same time, with her by my side, I feel stronger, almost invincible. It's why she and I fought against Yhwach. It's because I believed that we could take him if we were together.

But even though she makes me better, even though she's a source of strength for me, she's my Achilles' heel, and it's because she's my vulnerable spot that I'll do anything to protect her. I'll lose reason, forget everyone, become a monster if it'll ensure her well-being. My humanity and my life seem to mean next to nothing when she's in danger.

So although she can bring out the best in me, she's the only one who can bring out the worst. Because if I have to become the worst to save her, all of me is willing to give up everything to do it, and I'm afraid that everyone knows that. And if she was my weakness before when we were just friends, it'll only get worse as she and I become closer. She'll be the first person to be targeted to get to me. The first one to be threatened, used, and abused. All because she means so much to me.

And so I have one question I don't want to ask: is being with Inoue the right choice for her?

The answer is one I don't want to accept, but it's repeating in my mind as I enter the Research and Development Institute. It's insistently weighing me down as I look at her while she talks to Rangiku-san, but the weight is suddenly lifted when she turns around as she smiles at me. Any thought or feeling of regret, of distress, evaporates.

She's already told me how she felt about me protecting her. She doesn't want my protection if it means that I won't be next to her. She would rather take the dangerous risk of being with me, friend or something more, than be completely safe.

She took a chance by confessing to me, and she's taking a chance now by being with me. It's well beyond my turn to be the one taking chances. Besides, all I have to do is become stronger, strong enough that I'll overcome any adversaries that come our way. After all, I've already promised to protect her, and I will. Anyone who knows that Inoue is my weakness also knows this.

"Ah, Kurosaki-kun!" She greets as she approaches me. "That was quick! Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. Kyōraku-san just wanted a report about some things."

She looks like she has some questions, but I interrupt her with one of my own.

"What about you? What'd they need you for?"

"Just some quick scans to make sure she's all healthy after being injured," Hirako states lazily as he lounges on a dissection table.

"That's all?"

"Akon and Rin are studying her spirits. Yoruichi-san is keeping an eye on them," Rangiku-san speaks up.

I frown.

"Let's go see them. I have to get the Gentei Rein replaced."

I walk forward, and Inoue skips over to my side.

"Are you sure everything's okay?"

I glance at her, and my eyes roam over her worried facial features. She's so concerned that it's almost funny.

"And you called me a worry-wart," I tease.

She blushes.

"Kurosaki-kun is avoiding my question!" She complains as she crosses her arms.

I click my tongue.

"Inoue is avoiding my teasing!" I mimic her gesture, trying to make her laugh, and she really tries not to. She even pouts for a second to resist the urge, but it's not long before she starts laughing.

The sound of her laughter easily makes me relax.

"You sure took my words to heart. It hasn't even by five minutes and you two are already flirting." Yoruichi comments with a smirk.

We both redden, and she chuckles as if she's pleased with our reactions. Who am I kidding? If she were in her cat form, she'd be downright purring and licking her paws.

"If you have time to be joking like this, you better be making sure Inoue's spirits are fine."

She waves me off.

"Rin is currently talking to them. Come on."

We follow her, and we soon come across a lab. Sure enough, Rin is talking to them. What Yoruichi didn't mention was that Akon is being tormented by Tsubaki.

"Tsubaki-kun!" Inoue calls out. "Behave!"

Not a beat later does that punk come zooming over to us and start pulling on Inoue's cheek.

"You left us alone with these weirdos, and you think you can just boss me around now?" He growls.

"Tsubaki-kun! It hurts!" Inoue whines. His response is to pull harder.

I glare at him as I ready my fingers to flick him off her.

He sees this, and he lets go of her to switch over to me.

He begins to pull on the hair at the back of my head.

"Keep your hands to yourself, you delinquent!"

He punctuates each word with a pull, and with each ache he causes, the need to swat him like a fly grows stronger.

"Tsubaki-kun! Leave Kurosaki-kun alone!"

He ignores her.

"That one sure is fiery," Yoruichi says. "It makes you wonder if Inoue's just as feisty."

I try to imagine Inoue with Tsubaki's personality, but the image is too ridiculous that I laugh.

"I doubt it," I reply.

"I wouldn't," Akon counters. "Her spirits are a manifestation of not only her powers but her personality. I think somewhere deep down, Inoue-san is…difficult." Despite how smart he is, he struggles to finish is sentence without hurting Inoue's feeling. It seems that even he has a soft spot for her.

I smirk.

"Did you hear that, Inoue? You're difficult."

"Am not," she protests weakly.

"Speak clearly, woman!" Tsubaki commands.

She frowns, and it looks like she's going to respond when Yoruichi interjects.

"Although this is highly entertaining, I think it's best I get you two home. You do have school in the morning."

"She's right. Let me just first replace the seal before you go. The Captain-Commander sent a Jigokuchō informing me of its diminished state."

I shrug my shoulders as I cup my hand around the small spirit who has yet to give up. I bring him up to eye-level so I can stare at him, and I blow in his face to get back at him. He wiggles in my hand while screaming at me, but all I do is give him back to Inoue.

"Okay, let's get this over with. I'm tired."

"It shouldn't take long. Especially if you want to keep the same design."

My head tilts in confusion.

"Design? What are you talking about?"

"The Gentei Rein comes in different forms. Yours was costumed made," Akon explains.

"By who?" Inoue asks as she holds Tsubaki close to her cheek. He doesn't like that much if his squirming is any indication.

"Urahara Kisuke."

I'm filled with apprehension immediately as I touch the spot below the nape of my neck.

"What is it of?" I question with hesitation.

For the first time ever, I see Akon smile. It's both weird and unsettling.

"It seems like he's up to his pranks again," he mutters to himself before turning his attention back to me. "Your design? It's of Inoue-san's Shun Shun Rikka, of course."