Author's acknowledgement: To the (and counting)

555 of U.S.A

77 of U.K

45 of Canada

36 of Australia

25 of Mexico

21 of Brazil

25 of Germany

26 of France

22 of Philippines

16 of South Africa

9 of the Netherlands

9 of Sweden

12 from Russia

2 from the Switzerland

7 of Poland

9 of Indonesia

10 of Finland

3 from India

3 from Spain

6 from (I'm not making this up) Isle of Man

5 of Belgium

6 of Belarus

2 from Bosnia

3 from New Zealand

2 of Portugal

4 of Romania

4 of Ireland

4 of Ukraine

The only one of Luxembourg

3 from U.A.E

3 of Kenya

3 from Bangladesh

1 from the Italy

4 of Singapore

1 from Bolivia

1 from (where ever the hell) Brunei Darussalam

2 of Honduras

And 1's from Estonia, Hungary, Norway and Jamaica respectively

Total Visitors of this story

Thank-you for reading my story up to this point, I wish to say thank-you! Hopefully my story offers you the something you're looking for!

Blackout2010: Seriously Ichigo, I'm not seeing things. I mean seriously watch

Ichigo: Fine fine.

Soifon: Why am I doing this again?

Blackout2010: To prove I'm not crazy now please!

Soifon: (sigh) Fine

Soifon: (ahem) Tsun-

Shaolin: -Dere

Blackout2010: That's it right there!

Ichigo/Soifon:?

Blackout2010: What? You didn't see it. Do it again!

Soifon: Tsun-

Shaolin: -dere

Ichigo: I'm not seeing it.

Blackout2010: Oh come on!

Soifon: It seems we'll be here for a while. The rest of you should just continue on with the story. Oh, he (points to Blackout2010) doesn't own anything.

Blackout2010: I'm not seeing things!

Soifon/Ichigo: Yes, yes…

Ch. 8 Be lonely with me

Ichigo was running faster than he even thought possible towards the Rukongai district. Had it been a normal day or any other day for that matter he would have swore he made a record time, but right now that was the least important thing to him.

'No…' he swore to himself as his mind went back to what had happened mere minutes before, before he heard the truth

(Flash back)

Ichigo had burst open the door leading to his Taicho's office, with Hanataro following closely behind him. The room's usual three occupants were incredible somber, but what Ichigo saw in them told him everything about them. Everything that said something was truly wrong.

Shinjiro's normal carefree demeanor was replaced by a hard stony expression, his eyes not even trying to make contact with Ichigo at all, making Ichigo wonder if the samurai was feel either guilty of something he had done or powerless at not having been able to done something, maybe even mixture of the two, though he knew all of it was to be revealed soon.

In Subaru's case her stealth and punishment force mask had been pulled down from her mouth, and her arms were stirring slightly back and forth from the strain her body seemed to be under, as they were placed upon her thighs as she sat in the chair, her head glued down towards the floor.

Soifon however, looked as if she had been crying recently from the redness of her eyes, which was barely masked by her hair. That was the only physical attribute that alerted to the emotionally controlled woman's distressed state but as soon as she opened her mouth, he heard it. The emotional strain in her voice "Ichigo, come in."

Ichigo's eyes darted between all three of them "Alright, what's going on?" The seriousness evident in his voice

"Your mother, Masaki Kurosaki." She whispered out, causing panic to flood his system

"What happened!" he demanded, his eyes opening considerably and his ears ready to burn every word she would say into his mind

"She's…" her voice trailing off not finding the strength or heart to say it to him of all people

Silence filled the room before it finally clicked to the human world team, what was implied "No." Hanataro whispered out horrified, while Ichigo had a look of pure terror on his face

"I don't understand! How!" The man questioned as he slammed his hands hard against the desk, his arms twitching from the adrenaline and horror coursing through him

"It was that hollow." said the loathing captain, hating every second that 'this' conversation continued "The one that got away at the health land incident, it was still at large and it struck again."

'And it's entirely my fault because I stopped Subaru from pursuing it.' She mentally admitted, to perhaps ease her guilt-ridden conscious of her very poor decision as a Taicho…and perhaps as a person too.

Ichigo didn't need to hear another word, as he turned and ran as hard as he could back to his mother's home, pushing past Hanataro, and leaving the rest of them far behind.

Shinjiro moved from his chair to go and comfort the man as he knew such pain shouldn't be left unchecked, but was stopped by the hand of Soifon who held her head down towards the desk "Sis…" he breathlessly whispered

"No, not yet." She ordered, despite her own hearts protest "He needs a little time alone first, let's give him and his mother some privacy."

(Flashback end)

Ichigo continued running and when he saw the building he jumped with all his might up to the second floor. His fear of the truth rising by the second as he saw the door had been viciously destroyed, he entered the building and saw that some kind of struggle took place with some blood on the nearby walls and huge scratch and slash marks on the floors. He gazed into her room and saw it was just as trashed as the rest of entranceway. He continued into the kitchen and saw that everything was destroyed; the only thing that remained was the shattered picture frame and photo of both his mother and himself that she always kept on the center of the kitchen table.

Ichigo took just a few steps more before he fell down on his knees unable to stand up any further and lowered his head over the photo as he pulled it in closer to him, the only remaining thing of the woman who raised him since birth. A strange wet feeling was soon felt by the man on his cheek as some liquid fell down on to the picture, the man blinked for a moment and realized that he: Ichigo Kurosaki, Shinigami of squad two and son of Masaki Kurosaki had started to cry.

(Inner world)

A torrential downpour of rain was soaking the side of the buildings of Ichigo's inner sanctum, while two contrastly colored figures stood underneath it like they always would, now and forever more.

"Seems, like the rains heavier than normal." The dark side commented sadly, his clothes so damp and soaked from the ran they were hugging against him

"Indeed. It also looks like it won't truly let up for quite a while." The older wiser of the two noted as his wet hair pressed against his face, his sunglasses off his face and in his hand

"I don't think even that girl, can clear it up. Not for a looong time at least."

"True. But like all things in life, Ichigo will have to move on eventually. Perhaps that woman will quicken the transition as you say."

The hollow looked away before staring down at the slowly flooding architecture "It's flooding down there. Perhaps we should come together again, so at least we won't be alone."

(Real World)

Ichigo got up from the remains of the broken kitchen before releasing all his spiritual pressure, as he screamed in indignation at the loss of his beloved mother, the goddess of his world to some pathetic hollow who got away by pure chance alone.

His power surged all the way back to the Seireitei and weighed down some of the Shinigami there, nearly all of them wondering who this strong spiritual pressure could possibly belong to, as it could be felt through the sekiseki rock, though a select few being the captains of 2, 4, 8, 10 and 13 respectively, along with the seventh of 4, third of 2, third of 9 and fuka-taicho of 10 knew the truth and the reason why.

After the swell of Ichigo's power had finally started to give out, his body started to get heavier and heavier as he came crashing down to the floor, slowly the man's mind began to close and he started to fade from consciousness and finally blacked out, only faintly hearing the sound of approaching footsteps of several individuals getting closer to his position.

(Sometime later)

When Ichigo opened his eyes again, he found himself lying down in an unfamiliar bed. He got up, straining his tired body to get a better view of where he was. He saw nothing but a clean white room. Hearing a steady beeping noise he turned and saw a heart rate monitor, attached to his arm. 'I must be at the fourth…' he concluded after seeing the medical equipment that could only belong to one place

"Ah, good you're finally awake." The relieved voice of Unohana called as she opened the door feeling the steady increase of his spiritual pressure rise to a far safer level then it was when he first arrived

"Unohana-san…" he said informally to the person who was like a big sister to him as she had visited his mother on numerous occasions. "Did…it really…is she…" he squeaked out trying to avoid having to say the words

"I take it you found out." She said the hurt noticeable in her tone, as an upset frown found its way onto her face the first in a very long time.

Ichigo looked away a forlorn look on his face, which made the healers heart wretch. She walked over to him and sat down in the chair beside the bed "Here, Hitsuguaya-Taicho and Matsumoto-san, found this in your hand when they felt your arrival from the human world."

She handed him the photo that had once been on the table. The photo she had taken of the pair when they went out on an evening stroll together.

"Thanks. How long have I been out?"

"You've been unconscious for exactly three weeks."

"That long?" he asked, to which she wordlessly nodded "Wow…it didn't feel all that long."

"You've had a lot of visitors, ranging from close friends like Hanataro-kun and Shinjiro-kun all the way to captains such as Jushiro Ukitake and Shisui Kyoraku to surprisingly Soifon-san herself." The woman informed, very surprised at the frequency Soifon-Taicho came to check up on him.

The frowning boy looked away "All those people who have my back, and I couldn't even protect a single one of them." He said morosely

Slap!

Ichigo looked at Unohana whose hand was level with his head, his own hand touching the spot where she had whacked him "What are you-?"

"Your mother made me promise to knock some sense into you if you ever started to blame yourself for something, you had no say in. I'm merely fulfilling my late Sensei's promise." She said elated at her work, though not enough to seem inappropriate given the situation

Ichigo smiled knowing, his mother probably would have done the same thing if she were still here "Thanks"

"Not a problem, Ichigo-kun." The medical examiner answered, her face working itself back to the gentle smile she was well known for

Ichigo turned away from the smiling angel and back to the wall, seeing Zangetsu leaning against it "So when do I get out?"

"Tomorrow." She replied picking herself up from the chair "Assuming you lie down and rest immediately." Throwing in her words of caution

"Don't worry I won't run off, well not yet!" the man replied a small smirk returning to his face

Unohana rolled her eyes at the boy before stepping outside. Once the door closed she let out a tired sigh, while she was happy that Ichigo was significantly better than when he first enter, she was inwardly wondering how exactly, a single hollow managed to kill her Sensei 'Miracle Worker' Masaki Kurosaki. 'I suppose I have many years to refine my skill so as to take revenge should Ichigo be unable to beat that hollow alone.' She thought uncharacteristically dark, the pain of the sensei she would call mother still simmering within her heart.

(Next day)

After being medically cleared by Unohana herself he gave her a silent hug, and disappeared to go let some of his friends know he was alright now. Hanataro had been easy since he was practically with Unohana herself. After letting him know he was fine he turned his sights to the tenth since he wanted to see Soifon last.

After much walking and occasional flash step since his body was out of it for nearly a month he finally got to the tenth division's Taicho's office. Ichigo was about to knock on the door when he heard the word "Enter." be emitted from Toshiro who having already felt Ichigo's spiritual pressure from a mile away, allowed his presence in the office

Pushing the door open he was surprised to see Toshiro Hitsuguaya allowing Rangiku Matsumoto, the laziest Fuka-Taicho in the history of tenth division, to sleep on the couch while he did all of the paperwork by himself. As Ichigo passed by the resting Fuka-Taicho he heard her whimper out his name out as she slept, obvious worried for Ichigo about how he was taking his loss in the only parent in his entire life. Ichigo decided to be merciful and let sleeping dogs lie, since she had been as close to him as she had been to his mother, and so the pain of loss was no doubt affecting her too.

"How are you feeling?" the white haired boy asked concernedly to his former sixth seat, while he gestured to the empty chair in front of his desk, grateful that the man took it as he didn't want him to collapse since he just got out of four.

"Better."

The young captain gave wry smile "That's good to know. You're certainly handling it much better than Rangiku over there." pointing his index finger over to the sleeping beauty, who tossed over in her sleep "she had about 17 full bottles of sake the previous night alone. She was completely gone before the paperwork was even halfway finished." he lightly joked, hoping to open things up between the two

"Yeah, that sounds just like her. Then again you allow it" he countered friendlily, glad to be back in welcomed company

Hitsuguaya sighed merrily "That I do. Maybe I got a soft spot for girls."

Ichigo quirked an eyebrow "Oh someone got a yen for Rangiku-chan?" that development coming from left field in the carrot top's eyes

The other boy rolled his eyes jokingly "Hardly, she just reminds me of bed-wetter Momo in a different way. A drunken way." He explained

Ichigo laughed as he joked with his friend "So anything new happen Hitsuguaya-Taicho?"

The most unexpected result happened. The genius captain of the tenth division, who wanted nothing more than to be recognized and addressed by his title, and looked down on those who called him a kid for it, jumped on top of the desk, and whacked Ichigo on the top of the head with his hand.

"That's Toshiro to you pal!" the genius exclaimed

"That…that…that's not fair! You always got angry when I called you Toshiro and now that I call you Hitsuguaya-Taicho" BAM! "You starting hitting me, what's your deal!" he demanded clutching his second head wound

"Simple, I'm talking to you as your friend 'Toshiro' not a captain of the Gotei Thirteen 'Hitsuguaya-Taicho'" the boy clarified, saying it like it was the most easy to understand thing in the universe

Ichigo grumbled out something about double standards, but relented having finally saw the 'genius captain of ten' do something that others would label as childish behavior.

"Anyway, I wanted to ask you something Ichigo." The boy said growing a bit more serious, as he reached into his desk and pulled out folder with some office papers sticking out of it

"And what's that Toshiro?"

"A couple months ago, your current Taicho went to go see, head Captain Yamamoto about something concerning you. What she had requested was the possibility of a permanent transfer from my division to yours, but had asked him not to say or do anything about it since you still seemed to be adjusting. Shortly afterward, she returned back to the Sou-taicho and request that it in fact be processed, and met with me to discuss the allowance, to which I agreed it would ok seeing as how she did ask particularly nicely about it and gave rather elaborate reasons why. So now I'm asking you, Ichigo Kurosaki, if you wish to transfer over to the second division, as it does concern you and while you're under my jurisdiction I am willing to allow you to have a say in all of this, as it is only right."

Ichigo looked away from shock at the request. 'She was planning this even before February eleventh? She had to be thinking about long it before then if she was to schedule a meeting with and bring it up to the Sou-taicho himself'

Look Kurosaki, I do trust you though I…intended for it to be a silent trust between us.

His mouth opened in awe, when his mind replayed the word she had said to him on February eleventh. 'She been trusting me, they…weren't just empty words I wanted to hear at all. She's been trusting me since, since the beginning…!' He silently closed his mouth again, hardening his eyes vowing to meet up to the trust she had placed in him long before he had truly placed it in her. "Grant the request immediately Toshiro."

Seeing his friend's eyes hold such conviction, he knew better than to try and change his mind. After all when Ichigo made up his mind about something he'd keep at it till it was done, he was dead or unconscious. "Request granted." The smiling boy said slamming the stamp that said approval on the paperwork.

"I guess we're done here." Ichigo said getting up from the chair to move to the ninth division, the next spot on his list of places to visit.

"I suppose we are." The captain replied getting back into his usual business like behavior

"Later, Toshiro" the flickering Ichigo said before disappearing

"That's Hitsuguaya-Taicho to you, Kurosaki!" the enraged captain hollered a tick mark appearing on his head, even though his antagonist was long gone. Unable to just simply let his rage go unanswered he turned his head to the unsuspecting Rangiku "MATSUMOTO!" he yelled jumping at her from the top of his desk

(9th division)

Ichigo had never really been to the ninth division before. So when he saw that it was a quiet serene temple-like place, he immediately assumed that things were always peaceful, which indeed it was.

'Must be why Shinjiro likes it here. It fit's his peaceful mentality.' Ichigo thought after he was pointed to the Taicho's office, where supposedly Shinjiro was meeting with his captain to give a status report on the 'experiment'.

He knocked on the door and when the voice he assumed was the captain said "Please, enter." He walked in. At the foot of a small table was a tall African American man with hair done back that ended in a dreaded ponytail and silvery purple shades over his eyes, a few feet away to the right was Shinjiro sitting on a pillow, who cringed when he saw him

"Ah, Ichigo…" the third seat whispered out weakly, unsure of what to say in this awkward meeting, since saying 'I'm sorry your mother died!' seemed really inappropriate for the recently recovered man

"Hmm, this one's aura is disturbed. I sense a recent changed has occurred within you, deep in your soul." The blind Taicho evaluated of his new guest "You must be the son of 'Miracle Worker' Masaki Kurosaki, Ichigo Kurosaki."

Ichigo tilted his head in curiosity "Yes, I am, but why do you call my mother 'Miracle Worker'?" repeating the word having heard of it for the first time ever

The dark captain raised an invisible eyebrow at the younger man's words "You seem to be ill informed, perhaps because she wanted to let that part of her life die to become a mother." He said more to himself than Ichigo "I will tell you all the same though since it is only right. Your mother Masaki Kurosaki was both the teacher of our smiling Angel, Unohana-Taicho and also the previous Taicho of squad 4 with the current head as its fuka-taicho."

"I didn't know that last part." Said Ichigo looking at Shinjiro who shook his head as he didn't know that either

"Well, she was long ago Kurosaki-san. I am truly saddened at your loss, and hope you find some measure of peace, as I too have known the loss of someone close to my heart."

"Thank you for your words." Ichigo said bowing to the wise captain

"Think nothing of it, and may justice be on your path forever alongside you."

Just as Ichigo was about to leave Shinjiro spoke up "Ichigo, I think it would be best if you see Soifon-Taicho eventually, she was rather upset by the loss, herself."

Ichigo nodded his head and continued exiting the room. He then proceeded to head out to the second division. As he was running back on the roof tops, he saw something out of the corner of his eyes. He stopped his running and turned to face what his eye caught and saw Subaru Kujo approaching from the distance, not noticing him.

"Subaru!" he called out, throwing an arm up into the air in order to flag her down to his position

The woman seeing the man performed a sharp turning flash step from her building's tiles and was instantly next to the orange haired Shinigami "Are you well, Ichigo?" she asked immediately, read to perform damage control

"I'm better than I was when I first arrived."

"Finally some good news." She sighed in relief, as she was previously unsure how Ichigo would take such a huge loss in his life and only really had Shaolin's reaction to go by, when it came to unmeasured grief. "You had us very worried when you didn't wake up."

"Sorry, there are just some days that I feel like sleeping in." he joked, running a hand through his hair

The ninja-like third seat put her hands on her hips in annoyance "You are something else, you know that?"

"I try" he muttered weakly

Subaru shook her head, exasperated at his attitude to their worry though she knew it was just his way of coping "You do know that sister was deeply worried about your condition, correct?"

Ichigo nodded "Yeah, Unohana-Taicho told me she visited frequently" repeating the words she had told him

"She visited almost every single day you were out. In fact there were times she wouldn't eat at all when she visited you, and had to be thrown out by Unohana lest she end up in the bed next to you." The frowning third seat informed as she ran her hand through her hair, a habit she had picked up when it came to dealing with stress "She holds it against herself you know. Your mother's untimely death hangs over her head constantly as she wallows in pity for when she had allowed that hollow called Grand Fisher to escape that day."

Ichigo scowled that his captain was holding the death of his mother on her hands when it was the fault of this asshole Grand Fisher. He mentally made a note to slap some sense into her as Unohana did to him "Where can I find her to set her straight?"

The third seat looked on, a surfacing smile gracing her lips "You may find her in the forest area of the second division. She's out there training to both perfect an attack she had come across in her studies, but more importantly to try and keep her mind off the incident."

"Thank-you Subaru."

"No thank-you, Ichigo. Thank-you for being the person she truly sees." The woman bowed, as she saw the man hurry away

With his newfound information Ichigo traveled to the wilderness of the second division's 'backyard' training ground. When he was underneath the vast tree line he closed his eyes and opened up his senses, searching, feeling for the energy signature of his Taicho. 'Bingo. Got it.' the orange haired Shinigami immediately took off to the south heading deeper into the heart of woods.

As time passed during Ichigo's journey, he started to see that some of the tree had been uprooted from the ground or knocked over flat with hole marks in them. He kept going, hearing battle cries and explosions of reiatsu, underneath the dark gray skies of a soon approaching storm. When he reached the next explosion, he saw the beautiful Taicho of two in her combat uniform that she wore underneath her Haori, with her fist buried into another tree, a hole blown through it and the next ten trees in line behind it, a strange white energy, incasing her lithe form and extending outward almost like a second skin.

"Soifon…" he murmured from his spot amongst the branches, his words carrying over to her ears from across the expanse of destroyed surroundings.

Said woman turned around slowly, the white energy fading away at the loss in concentration. An unhappy look upon her face, when she saw the orange hair of her 'number one guardian', she forced her eyes away, angry and sad at herself for being reminded of the boy's deceased mother, someone she had grown close to and even called friend.

When Ichigo saw her turn away from him in dejection, he flash stepped over in front of her, determined to break herself loathing. "Soifon." He spoke again, much harder than before, as he stood directly in front of her

"I heard you the first time, Kurosaki" she said turning her head back up to face him. Her once red tear stained eyes had returned to normal "It seems you're doing better than expected, though I should hardly be surprised" her voice barely above a whispering knowing that if she spoke any louder, he would hear her strain…her weakness

"I heard that you visited me while I was at the hospital unconscious."

"Yes, I did. I was merely eager to have my fourth seat back." She replied giving away nothing that could reveal her own sadness, especially in front of him

"Supposedly, you visited every day to the point where Unohana had to occasionally kick you out. I'd say you were very eager or…" he carefully moved his hand under her chin gently so she could remain focused on only him and his words "or you wanted something else." He alluded wanting to draw her in and heal her pain

"Something more?" she asked her voice a blend of intrigue and confusion, at what he could be hinting at

"Perhaps you wanted forgiveness." He said, and when he saw her grey orbs soften significantly he pressed forward ready to drive into the heart of the matter "I heard from Subaru and Shinjiro that you blame yourself, for my mother's death."

"How absurd." She said indifferently, back handing the man's hand away from under her roughly

He continued on ignoring her statement and resistance "I say you don't need it." causing the woman's mouth to open in misunderstanding, since she had expected him to ask for at least an apology for her failure, after all it was the only reasonable conclusion a grief ridden person would do, lash out against others. "My mother called you a friend just as I do, she would never blame you for what had happened Soifon. In fact when she told me what she thought of you after meeting you for the very first time she said you 'were a no-nonsense woman with a good head on your shoulders', and I believe…no I know she's right."

"She really said that?" She asked in silent wonder, having never truly figured how high of a regard the woman actually held her in 'She really was a kind soul.'

Ichigo nodded glad to know he was getting through to her "She did, and I believe her. It was not your fault. It was that hollow Grand Fisher, not you, Soifon who killed her."

Soifon looked down at the dry dirt floor, a wide variety of thoughts buzzing around inside her. She had come to admit to herself that Ichigo was a really strong person, he just lost his mother and yet here he was trying to tell her not to blame herself, to be strong and put on a brave face. When she oh so long ago had practically flipped out at the betrayal and loss of her own motherly figure and needed a whole month to come within a semblance of reason.

She traced her stare back up to Ichigo's face, looking him into his brown eyes "I'm truly sorry for your loss. Believe me Kurosaki. I know and understand the pain of being left behind by another."

"What do you mean Soifon?" he asked having never heard her every say or mention any death of family before, or the loss of a parent

Shaolin's body started to shake ever so slightly in fear. Fear knowing that if she told him, she'd have to tell him everything. She was unsure if she was ready for that, especially with her growing…attraction to the man before her.

"Soifon please listen to me…is it something personal?" he asked tenderly after seeing the body of the twin banded woman tremble and her eyes glazing over as if in deep thought or reliving a distant memory that wasn't pleasant but also not a nightmare either.

"Very." She said ghostly

"I see." He looked away from her and out into the distance past where the fallen remains of the trees were. His mind was thinking of what exactly to say and with a sigh decided to go all the way "There's something, I want to tell you and only you Soifon."

"What's that?" her mouth throwing out the words from the sudden change in topic, not that it wasn't entirely unwelcome by the navy haired captain

"It's a bit personal and embarrassing." He said frankly, getting a weak smirk from the woman "but I want to measure up to the faith you put in me a long time ago."

"My faith in you?" she asked, her mind working out his words and coming to the only conclusion she could think of in her weakened and emotional state "You know about the transfer don't you Kurosaki? How did you find out about it?"

"Captain Toshiro Hitsuguaya told me, that you actually wanted me permanently in your squad even before your birthday mission." He answered softly, while he closed his eyes "I honestly have to say that I really did doubt if you had any trust in me, but the evidence proves otherwise, and I was a bit ashamed that me a self-proclaimed guardian was both faithless and unreliable to someone I know I shouldn't have been towards."

Soifon remained silent taking in his words fully knowing he wasn't quite done yet with his rant "That's why when you believed in me, I really did think that my mother was more right than she could have ever known."

"Why are you telling me all this?" she asked the man who reopened his eyes ready to answer her

"Like I said to return the trust you placed in me." He said with a smile, before giving her the good news she probably wanted to hear "That's why I decided to join the second division indefinitely. I know Shinjiro, Subaru, Hanataro and even you are there for me as a friend, just like I am for you all…"

"The way you say it, it almost sounds like you've changed your mind on something." She said sullenly, expecting him to say that he was going to go back on it from the tragic loss 'I guess…it's…to be expected.'

"Heh! I know which brings us to the embarrassing and personal part." He said with a blush, while he scratched the back of his head and turned his gaze to the ground briefly.

When Ichigo had looked away, Soifon started to feel a bit more self-conscious about herself. She could literally hear her heart starting to pound faster when he said wished to measure up to HER and coming to the embarrassing and personal part. Her Zanpaktou spirit Suzumebachi was telling her that the wind inside her world had picked up to a nice gust that was perfect flying, and telling her to get ready to spread her wings.

Soifon unsure of what to do with all of these strange feeling inside her started to uncharacteristically panic "Y-you don't say anything. If, If, If it's personal then you don't need to trouble yourself by expressing it when you aren't up to it yet!" she said talking hastily, trying to stop what was coming, before it became…intimate, before it became like, before it could maybe perhaps become…love.

"No, Soifon. I want to say this, to tell you this; because it's something I've been struggling with for a while." He said quickly grabbing a firm hold of her hand to prevent her from possibly running away from him before he could say it "What changed over the course of my stay here was simple: you."

"M-me."

Ichigo nodded solemnly "When I originally met you, I thought you were the most beautiful person in the world, and I still do. I slowly started to learn about you, through Shinjiro, Subaru and the time we had spent around each other if it was a mission or simple conversation. I do know something happened to you and that it made you turn so cold, but I didn't ask as that was something, I felt I should have you tell me about it yourself, when you were ready to share."

Soifon was turning bright red, and absolutely no words even began to come to her. She wanted to say something but she just couldn't think of anything, her mind frozen at his admittance of affection for her. She gulped as her own feelings started to buzz around in her chest, unsure in taking that step forward to be together

Seeing her eyes glaze over with emotion, Ichigo continued "I honestly want to be your friend who you don't have to worry about using you for your status. Someone you can always rely on, but at the same time…" he gulped knowing it was now or never "I'd…also like to be something more with you."

Air started to come to Soifon in short breaths, she gulped, her tongue licking her lips "I…" she started to answer, ready to voice her words, her feelings to the strawberry she had come to enjoy for the past few months showing through

Boom!

The storm clouds that raged over head thundered, let their watery gift of heavy rain to fall down on the pair thoroughly soaking them and their clothes

Soifon looked up to the sky for a few moments, the cold rain washing down her face and hair before looking back at the man who still held her wrist "I think we have the worst luck ever." She dead-panned, seeing how the moment was completely ruined by nature, she tiredly dropped her head against his chest with a small sweet smile.

Ichigo opened his free hand out to the side, letting the cascading water collect into it, until it flooded over the side as it was too much to contain "I guess we do" he replied an amused grin of his own at the turn of events

"Let's go back, Kurosaki." She requested softly, wanting to get out of the rain, knowing they both knew what the other wanted to say and be.

"Ichigo." He corrected the wet woman who was still leaning against him "Call me Ichigo."

Soifon stopped having remembered him saying for her to call him that on his first day on the job. Her smile widened just a fragment more as she turned a loving eye to the man "Only if you call me, Shaolin." She proposed

"Of course." He answered bringing his head closer to hers "Shaolin." Reaching down fully and capturing her lips, letting her hand fall freely as he moved his arm around her waist, refusing to let her go alone any longer. As they broke away for air, Soifon looked away shyly, silently happy that she did take an important step forward by herself. "Come on, Yojimbo. There are some things I think you should know."

"Yojimbo? Is that my nickname now?" he said playfully since he knew most couples gave their significant other a pet name of sorts.

"I'm your girlfriend I can call you whatever I want!" The blushing Taicho vaguely explained, to his infinite joy at hearing her justification "a-anyways it means 'Bodyguard'. I just wanted to shorten 'my number one guardian', as it is difficult to say in a conversation and impossible to hide from unneeded ears!"

"So should I call you 'Lin-chan'? 'My hornet'? 'She-no-be' (1) perhaps?'" he questioned cheerfully

"Do it and I'll kill you." She hollowly threatened, a smirk on her face seemingly despite how things seemed to have turned out, she was enjoying herself.

"Lin-chan, it is." He determined much to her mock annoyance. He softly grabbed the hand of his new found girlfriend and the two proceeded back to the Barracks, happy that they could both be lonely…together.

(1) It's a play on the words Shinobi, since Soifon is a woman who specializes in stealth and hiding, hence 'she-no-be' = 'she's not there'. As well as the fact she and everyone else in the division look like ninjas.

Blackout2010: And thus bring an end to Arc 1: the getting acquainted Arc.

Ichigo: So that means…

Blackout2010: Yup, next chapter things will begin move along and the rating will change to M.

Soifon: It seems your happy this chapter is over.

Blackout2010: Tell me about it, I had to redo the last part between you and Ichigo three times over as I wasn't satisfied with it. Anyway that's all for now, hopefully I'll finish 13 soon so the next one can be released. Till then stay safe!