In Common (Ichigo Kurosaki x Reader)

First Steps.

Saturday morning rose slowly and you cracked your eyes open, feeling an unfamiliar warmth covering your bruised body. Moving your tired [E/C] orbs upward slightly, you could only release a sigh of relief at the sight of Ichigo sleeping peacefully beside you with his arms wound tightly around your body.

A smile crept upon your face as yu observed his rather handsome features. When he wasn't running his mouth all the time, he actually looked much more innocent than what he really was. You scooted closer to the carrot top before nuzzling your nose in his chest, breathing in his scrent and letting it all out.

It just didn't make sense to you. Why would Ichigo cheat on you then come crawling back and make sure you were safe and soung? And out of all the people, why Orihime? Last time you checked, he didn't even see her in that light. Something wasn't adding up and you were determined to get to the bottom of this.

"You keep thinking hard like that, you're gonna get wrinkles." A raspy voice whispered in your ear before you excitedly looked up to clash with chocolate eyes. "Good morning, [Y/N]."

You sat up slowly and ran a bandaged hand through your knotty locks, a tiny smile on your face. "Good morning, Ichigo. Were you here all night?" A nod was your response and guilt began to eat at you. The clinic cot wasn't the most comfortable thing to sleep on, but he sacrificed his own comfortable bed to be with you. You really couldn't hate him even if you tried.

Following your course of action, Ichigo pushed himself up into a sitting position before scooping you in his arms and carrying you out of the clinic into his living room. "No need to worry about me. I'll be fine, bed or cot. What you need to focus on is healing yourself."

Placing you down at his dining table and kissing your forehead, he turned around just in time to bump chests with his father who stared down at the two of you with very intense concentration. He took in a deep breath and slammed a hand down on the table, making you jump. Nothing could prepare your cheeks for what he said next.

"I plan on making this girl the happiest in the world and I can't do that laying around in bed being sad all damn day and night. If there's one thing I hate doing, it's thanking people, but last night.. Thank you for giving me the push to confront [Y/N], Dad. I appreciate it so much. I intend on never hurting this beautiful soul ever again!"

Some confession, huh. Your ears turned a bright shade of red before feeling a pair of arms wrap around your embarrassed and frozen form. You slightly turned your head to see Ichigo giving you a warm smile. Tears prickled at your eyes before you twisted your body a bit and pulled him into a tight embrace. There was no way Ichigo could've cheated on you.

"Well, as long as you understand, then my job here is done. Ichigo, hurt this girl again and I will break your face and kick you out of the house. [Y/N]... welcome to the family." After ruffling both of your heads playfully, he pulled on his clinic coat and walked out of the dining room, leaving the two of you alone. "Ah, that son of mine.. Just like me in my youth."

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The two of you entered the school hand in bandaged hand, talking about whatever came to your minds. Going to your lockers and grabbing some books, you entered the classroom only to be almost mowed down by Rukia. She looked pale, as if she was going to be sick.

"Rukia? Are you okay?" Although she turned her back on you, you couldn't help but worry for your former friend. She's been with you this entire time and you honestly couldn't survive high school by yourself if it weren't for her and Orihime. You reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder before being engulfed in her arms.

Rukia had overheard Grimmjow basically bragging about what he and Orihime did and she couldn't help but feel so guilty. Everything could've been avoided if she had told you what they were planning on doing to her. "I'm so sorry, [Y/N]! It's all my fault! I should've said something before this happened to you!"

You and Ichigo had no idea what she was talking about, but from the way she was shaken up, she knew something that was connected to her injuries and Ichigo's incident. "Rukia.. what are you talking about? Do you know who did this to me?"

Looking up with watery eyes, she nodded and opened her mouth before she caught someone in her peripheral vision that caused her lips to clamp shut. "Well.." She cleared her throat and shivered lightly, raising a single finger behind you. "Why don't you ask her..? She knows everything. Isn't that right.. Orihime?" 

Turning around to meet the gaze of the furious girl, you already knew this was not going to end pretty.