Stay Close to Me

As bad as it may sound, I’m glad Ichigo decided to leave that house. She doesn’t need that toxicity in her life, and I’m going to make sure it doesn’t return. Tonight, at dinner she was quiet and I wasn’t used to that, nor do I want to be.

I’m used to the chatty, lively, sunshine, Ichigo. Not the quiet, reserved Ichigo. She didn’t eat much either, I didn’t want to force her but I had to make sure she ate, so I asked the chef to put some aside for her, in case she got hungry later.

“Are you okay, Ichigo?” Mum asked.

Ichigo smiled and nodded; it was a fake smile. I know because when she smiles it usually reaches her eyes, this time it didn’t. Normally her eyes would shine, but this time they didn’t.

“Kyo, why don’t you take Ichigo to the garden after dinner,” Dad spoke up.

I took up his suggestion and took Ichigo to the garden afterwards. I think the best way to describe it would be vintage, with lots of flower beds, a rustic shed- which isn’t used for any particular reason apart from aesthetic, and not to forget a swing.

“It’s beautiful,” Ichigo smiled.

I watched as she looked around in awe, taking her time to smell the flowers, the smell of the earth was strong after the storm we had that afternoon. She walked up to the swing and grazed her fingers over the backrest, before moving to the front and lightly touching the chains.

I walked over to the swing and stood behind it, “Sit,” I urged her.

She looked down at it and smiled, “I shouldn’t.”

“You should.”

“I shouldn’t.”

“You should.”

“I will,” she smiled and finally sat down.

Before any of you ask, no the swing is not wet! I am not going to let my girl sit on anything covered in rainwater. The swing has a canopy over it, so if you do decide to sit on the swing while it’s pissing down with rain then you can, although I don’t know why you would want to… I sounded a bit British there.

“Kyo,” Ichigo’s voice brought me back.

“Oh right,” I smiled.

Ichigo’s feet wiggled like they do whenever she’s excited about something, I pulled the swing back a little and gently pushed, and she giggled, “Weee!”

And just when I thought my girlfriend couldn’t get any cuter, she never ceases to amaze me every day. I laughed at how she wanted me to push her higher and higher, knowing fully well that’s not exactly possible with these types of swings.

“Do you want to go inside now?” I asked, pulling the swing to a halt.

“Mm, 5 more minutes,” she told me bouncing up and down, urging me to do it again.

“Okay, okay,” I laughed.

I carried on pushing her for a few more minutes before Ichigo let out a yawn.

“Uh oh. Is someone tired?” I asked.

She froze, probably thinking I didn’t notice.

“Nuh-uh, I’m not tired,” she shook her head.

I walked over to her and crouched down so we were on the same level, not even 5 seconds went by before she yawned again.

“You were saying, Princess?” I smirked.

“Maybe a little,” she looked away, sheepishly.

“Come on,” I smiled getting up and putting my hand out.

Ichigo smiled, slipping her hand in mine as we walked back inside the house. Quietly we walked up the stairs and into my room.

“Oh no,” she gasped.

“What?” I asked.

I started looking around thinking it might be a spider that she probably saw.

“What are you looking for?”

“A spider,” I replied.

I’m not afraid.

I’m not afraid.

I’m not afr-

“Why?”

“That’s what must’ve made you react like that,” I told her.

“No… wait why do you look afraid?”

“N-no I don’t,” I denied.

“Are you afraid of spiders?” she asked.

“…”

Ichigo burst out laughing at my reaction, “How can you be afraid of spiders? They’re so cute.”

“Cute? Kittens are cute. Puppies are cute. Spiders are the opposite of cute!” I told her.

“They keep flies away which are a menace, and besides spiders are good luck,” she smiled.

“Can we please stop talking about them? It’s like I can feel them walking all over me,” I wiggled.

Ichigo stifled a laugh, “Sorry no more talking about the thing I’m not going to mention now.”

“Thank you,” I bowed. “So, what were you talking about?”

“I don’t have any clothes,” she told me.

“Oh right!”

I looked through my wardrobe and found an old T-shirt that’s too small for me now and a pair of sweats.

“Here,” I passed her the clothes.

“Thank you,” she smiled.

Ichigo went to the bathroom to change while I changed in the room, a few seconds later I heard a quiet tap on my door, “Come on in.”

Ichigo walked in wearing the T-shirt but not the sweatpants, the T-shirt was a size too big for her and reached just above her knees.

“Sorry, the sweats were too big and kept falling,” a pink colour rose on her cheeks.

I also looked away, feeling my face burn, “It’s okay.”

A few seconds later we were standing on either side of my bed, Ichigo got in and started braiding her hair to the side, before lying down. I lay down next to her and we both said our goodnights before turning the light off.

I tried to sleep but I couldn’t, for some reason, I wasn’t sleepy at all. I kept tossing and turning trying to get comfortable, but it wasn’t working. Ichigo, who had her back towards me, reached over and switched the light on.

“Are you okay?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

“Don’t apologise. Are you okay?” she repeated.

I shrugged, “I can’t sleep.”

“Don’t worry, I have a solution to that,” she smiled.

She turned the light off and lay down but this time on her back, “Put your head on my chest.”

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Mhm,” came a sleepy reply.

I placed my head on her chest and wrapped my arms around her waist.

“Are you comfortable? Sorry, my chest is quite flat.”

“Shh, it’s perfect,” I smiled.

I felt her chest vibrate a little as she laughed, “Okay, goodnight Kyo.”

“Goodnight,” I mumbled.

Ichigo wrapped her arms around my neck and soon I felt her relax, I also fell asleep soon after. I woke up with the sun shining on my face, looking at the alarm clock I could see that the time was 6 in the morning.

I looked down and saw that Ichigo was still fast asleep, it seemed that we had shifted in our sleep and this time Ichigo’s head was on my chest. A smile made its way to my lips and I gently kissed the top of her head.

I gently moved Ichigo so her head was comfortably on a pillow, I stretched and got up making my way to the bathroom where I quickly freshened up before making my way to the kitchen. I asked the chef to make two caramel lattes, as I know Ichigo loves that in Autumn.

Once the drinks were prepared, I placed the two mugs on a tray and carried them up the stairs, making sure I didn’t spill any on the way to my room. Ichigo was up at that time and was stretching, her hair in a slight mess over her shoulder.

“Morning, sleeping beauty,” I smiled.

“Where did you go?” She asked in a quiet voice, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

“I got you a Caramel Latte,” I showed her the mug.

“Caramel latte?” she asked, excitedly.

“Yup,” I chuckled.

“Yayyy thank you, I love you,” She blurted out.

I almost dropped the mug on the floor and had to compose myself, did I hear her correctly? Did she just say…

“Say that again,” I say.

“I-I don’t…”

“Please, say it again,” I urged, I wanted to hear it again and again and again.

“I love you,” she looked away, smiling.

I ran up to her engulfing her in a hug, “I love you more.”

“No way,” she laughed.

“Way!” I told her.

“I can’t believe this is the first time we’re saying ‘I love you’ to each other,” Ichigo told me, pecking my lips.

“I know,” I kissed her back.

“Why are we like this?” she laughed.

“Because we’re two awkward people who are very much in love,” I looked into her eyes.

“Do you love me?” she asked.

I gave her a look.

“No, I mean do you love me as a girlfriend or as a friend, unclear,” she shrugged.

I sighed before grabbing her face and pulling her in for a kiss, we pulled apart a few seconds later and pressed our foreheads together.

“Does that answer your question?” I asked, slightly out of breath.

“Mhm,” she nodded, trying to hide her blush by burying her face in my shoulder.

“Good,” I wrap my arms around her.

“Kyo,” Ichigo’s voice came out muffled against my shoulder.

“Hmm,” I replied, content in my little world.

“The coffee’s getting cold.”

“Ooh, oh right. Sorry, okay I already put out a new toothbrush for you in the bathroom, go and freshen up, I’ll wait and we can have our coffee,” I told her.

“Yes sir,” she saluted before skipping out.

Ichigo came back 5 minutes later and we both sat on my, now-made, bed and enjoyed our lattes.

“Oh my god that’s so good,” she moaned making me laugh.

“Hey, Ichigo I forgot to ask a question.”

“What question?” I asked.

“Remember when you were sticking up to your Dad, and you mentioned something about sexual assault… what was that?”

Ichigo stopped mid-drink and put her cup down in her lap, taking a deep breath she proceeded to tell me, “About a year ago I got a job, I was sick of everything at home and was looking for an escape. I was working at a café and my Dad’s friend was a regular customer, so I was used to serving him, he also tipped me well. But one day as I was taking his order, he… touched me inappropriately…”

“What?” I gritted.

“I thought it was a mistake so I didn’t make a big deal, but when I came back to serve him, he did it again and this time I knew it was deliberate because he left his hand… there, I went home and immediately told my Dad and you know the rest,” her voice was quiet.

I closed my eyes trying to compose myself. I wanted to know his name, address, the name of his firstborn, his blood type, everything.

“What about your boss, didn’t he say anything?” I asked.

“SHE didn’t. She sided with him and made a comment on the length of my skirt, which by the way was a part of her dress code she got me that skirt,” she shrugged.

I exhaled sharply and had to take a deep breath to calm down, I was feeling pure rage.

“That was the last time you had to face being touched by someone other than me,” I told her, sternly. “Next time I catch someone even looking at you wrong I know 79 ways to kill a man and I can make 70 of them look like an accident.”

Ichigo smiled, “So you’re not just my boyfriend but also my bodyguard?”

“Boyfriend, bodyguard, mechanic, driver, whatever you want me to be I’ll be that for you,” I told her.

“I love you,” She smiled.

“I love you too,” I kissed the top of her head.