My Love My Life (Ichigo Kurosaki)

Part 11

Jasmine was on her way to Ichigo's home as she needed to speak to Rukia, and she recently found out she  has been staying in his wardrobe. She reached his house and knocked on the front door, and what looked like to be his Dad answered, "hello little lady, what can I do for you?" he asked her, "little?" Jasmine asked a little bit offended but brushed it off, "is Ichigo home?" she asked and the man's eyes lit up, "are you his girlfriend? Has he finally got a girlfriend?" he said getting excited, "I'm not his girlfriend" Jasmine said getting confused, "Ichigo has a girlfriend?" someone said behind him, she had blonde hair and was wearing an apron, "I'm not his girlfriend" Jasmine said getting a little bit annoyed, "guys knock it off!" Ichigo said stomping over to the door, "come on Jasmine" Ichigo said taking her wrist and leading her to his bedroom for some privacy from his family. "Is Rukia here?" Jasmine asked opening his wardrobe, "no she left not long ago if you wanna catch up to her" he said sitting on his bed, "no I'll wait if it's ok with you" Jasmine said sitting on a chair next to a desk, "sure" Ichigo said leaning back on his arms, "I don't know how she does this everyday" Ichigo said sighing, "it's her job, and she's proud of it" Jasmine said playing with his stuff on his desk, "so how did you two meet?" Ichigo asked, and Jasmine had to think of something quick, "I honestly don't remember, I've just known her for so long" Jasmine said giving him a little smile, but Ichigo felt something was off with her answer, "has it got something to do with your past" he asked hoping not to upset her, "a part of it yes" Jasmine said looking down, "Jasmine?" he asked making her look into his eyes, and he looked worried, "is your past going to get you hurt" he asked, Jasmine felt her heart beat as he said this, "don't tell me your worried about me?" Jasmine said trying to lighten the mood, "please Jasmine, the last thing I want is to see you hurt, it worried me last time with Sora," Ichigo said, Jasmine couldn't help but feel safe around Ichigo, but she couldn't let herself become attached, she could have to leave this town in the blink of an eye, "no, I'll be fine" Jasmine said reassuring him, Ichigo let out a little sigh of relief, "good" he said giving her a warm smile. 

The next hour was just Jasmine and Ichgio talking and getting to know each other more, and Jasmine enjoyed every minute of it, she enjoyed being in Ichigo's company, but the more she thought about it, the more she was scared of getting too attached, but her thoughts were interrupted when Rukia came through the window, "oh hi Jasmine, what are you doing here?" she asked coming into the room, "I just wanted to see how things were holding up" Jasmine said leaning back on the chair, but suddenly she felt the pain in her chest again, she let out a little yelp and brought a hand to her chest, "Jasmine are you ok?" Ichigo asked standing up and going over to her, "I'm fine" Jasmine said holding her hand out to stop him, "I think it's time I left anyway" Jasmine said standing up to leave, "wait maybe you should have my Dad take a look at you, he's a doctor" Ichigo said stopping her by putting a hand on her shoulder, "no, I just need to rest, I'll see you both soon" Jasmine said and left to go back home.

The next couple of days Jasmine has been resting, but the pain still hasn't gone away, it comes and goes and she is wondering if it was her gigai was wearing out, she would have to speak to Kisuke about it soon, but right now she was at school on the roof having lunch, but she was currently having a conversation with Rukia about what happened with Ichigo. "A mod soul, and you kept it?" Jasmine said confused, "Kisuke wanted to destroy it like the others were years ago, but it only wanted to be free Jasmine, so we stuffed it into a stuffed toy for now until Ichigo needs to use it" Rukia explained, "I don't know how to feel about this Rukia, they were destroyed for a reason" Jasmine said eating her lunch, "but without giving them a chance, Kon is different" Rukia said trying to convince her, "Kon? Ok fine but I'll be keeping my eye on it" Jasmine sighed and looked out into the view from the roof. "Is something the matter Jasmine?" Rukia asked, "I think my gigai is worn out, I need to replace it, I don't want any of my spiritual pressure leaking out" Jasmine said walking away, but she bumped into Ichigo by accident, "hey Jasmine, can I talk to you for a minute" he said, she nodded and walked with him. 

"Listen I know I have responsibilities as a Soul Reaper, but I need to take tomorrow off" he asked her, and he sounded upset, "I mean I guess it's ok, why?" Jasmine asked, and she watched as his eyes were full of sadness, "it's the anniversary, of my Mom's death, to be more specific, it was the day she was killed" he said, and Jasmine's heart broke for him, "Ichigo, I had no idea, I'm so sorry" she said to him, he didn't say anything he just looked down at the ground, Jasmine then went over and hugged him, but because she was a lot shorter than him she just wrapped her arms around his waist, Ichigo was shocked at first, but he then wrapped his arms around her, and he felt so happy, to him it felt right. "Well, when I first met you I never thought you would do this," Ichigo said, Jasmine looked up at him and gave him a little smile, "well I never thought I would feel happy again" Jasmine said letting go, "and I guess I have you to thank for that Ichigo" she said looking into his eyes, "I think this version of you Jasmine is incredible, please never change" he said making Jasmine blush, Jasmine stepped closer to him making Ichigo smile, "I wouldn't dream of going back to being cold and heartbroken, when your helping to put the pieces back together" Jasmine said taking his hand in hers and squeezing it, "I want to help you, I want to take the pain away, to protect you from your past, but I wish you could tell me what it is I want to protect you from" Ichigo said looking at her, and he couldn't help but think how beautiful she was, and all he wanted to do was tell her how he feels, because he was falling for her. "I wish I could tell you, I really do, but then I would have to leave" Jasmine said with tears in her eyes, she wanted to tell him the truth, that she was a Soul Reaper, but it could risk her Brother finding her, and then she would have to leave Ichigo and her friends that she has made. 

Ichigo then brought and hand on cheek, "I wouldn't let that happen Jasmine, nothing could take you away from me" he said, he then started to lean in, and Jasmine wanted to kiss him back more than anything, but she couldn't. All she could think about was Kaien, flash backs of him kissing her, making her feel loved, and then dying in her arms because she killed him to save him, she couldn't fall in love again, she was too scared to, what if the same thing happens to Ichigo? "I'm sorry" Jasmine said stepping back, "I can't do this" Jasmine said and let go of his hand, "Jasmine?" he said worried at her reaction, "I'm sorry if I was too forward" he said, "it's not that Ichigo" Jasmine said as tears fell down her cheek, "then what is it?" Ichigo asked stepping forward towards her, "I can't, I can't risk losing you too" she said to him not looking into his eyes, "if this is about your husband, you won't lose me like you lost him," Ichigo said trying to help her, "Ichigo please" Jasmine said turning away, "you don't understand" Jasmine said as more tears fell, "then tell me dam it, why won't you let me in" he said begging her to come out with the truth, "because I'm the one who killed him!" she turned around and yelled at him, and Ichigo was shocked at what she said, "I had to kill him to save him" Jasmine said looking down, Ichigo walked over and held her hands in his, "and what were his last words Jasmine" he said and Jasmine looked up at him surprised that he asked that, "he thanked me for saving him, and begged me to not be alone, that I deserved to be loved" she explained, Ichigo then brushed a bit of hair behind her ear, "then you have nothing to be guilty for, just give me a chance Jasmine, let me prove to you that you can love again" he said to her, looking deep into her blue eyes, Jasmine thought about how Kaien begged her not to be alone, to find love again, but she was just to scared. She quickly let go and ran away, "Jasmine!" Ichigo yelled for her, but she was gone.