Misheard [Ichigo x reader RQ]

"Ichi...go..." The broken words which left chapped (l/c) lips barely reached the brown eyed boys ears. (Y/n) had been shocked, being so suddenly embraced by the orange haired man.

In his warm embrace, her chest pressed against his own, hearts beating in sync...(Y/n) felt so small and frail. Ichigo was quite large when compared to her, and yet the feeling of his strong arms holding her securely against his firm chest was an oddly nice feeling.

His breath fanned out in hot puffs of damp air upon the skin of her neck, her (h/c) locks sheilding his face from anyones view.

Delirious, he had to have been. Perhaps the fatigue from fighting hollows had caused him to become incoherent. (Y/n) refused to believe that what was happening was real, Ichigo couldn't possibly have said those words.

Ichigo was many things, A friend, a good brother, A classmate, a substitute soul reaper, a man, honorable, and much more...but Ichigo was anything but good at expressing affection. He was shy, and timid, yet this made him act rough and distant.

But somehow she couldn't fight the hope in her heart, had those words really left his lips? If they had, would it be wrong to return them?

"I love, I love you so much...don't go."

Perhaps she had misheard them, but regardless of that, she replied anyways.

"I love you too, Ichigo...I won't go."