Author's notes: I've recently had the sudden urge to write IchiHitsu fics due to the growth of my obsession with the pair, so I asked my sister to help me get started on some, and she gave me a few prompts to work on.

This is a series of oneshots and prompts for IchiHitsu. Some will be friendship, some will be fluff, others will depend on my mood, lol. Each oneshot/pompt will get it's own 'chapter' depending on how long it is. If I end up with a bunch of small ones, then they'll be uploaded onto one 'chapter'.

And here's the first one~

Protectiveness

He was always the hero. He always protected those he'd cared about. This was a known fact about the young strawberry. They'd seen it before, when Ichigo was trying to save Rukia, having fought with Byakuya, and stubbornly refused to back down, even with his grave injuries. A few even witnessed the boy defy head-captain Yamamoto straight to his face; something that not even Kenpachi had the guts to do. No matter what the trouble, Ichigo always came to the rescue.

Toushiro was no exception. During the incident with Kusaka, Ichigo had continuously followed the captain of squad 10, even though Toushiro kept pushing him away. During that time, Toushiro learned just how stubborn that man could be. While he'd found it rather aggravating that Ichigo wouldn't listen to his requests, in the end he was grateful, because Ichigo's stubbornness had ended up saving him.

Now, the ice-wielder watched as said man collapsed from what seemed to have been a fatal blow, in what, to him, seemed like slow-motion; as if his brain couldn't fully process the image in front of him. Suddenly, the ryoka boy he'd known to be so strong had been broken so easily. He watched with widening eyes as the crimson liquid sprayed from the seconds-fresh wound that had been inflicted to the poor boy. Then, after what seemed to have been an eternity, Ichigo hit the ground.

Something in him snapped.

Within seconds he was in front of the man that had cut down Ichigo, eyes livid and murderous. His spiritual pressure had erupted, and the temperature around where they were dropped dramatically. The other man had just barely had time to block Toushiro's blade, and struggled to stay rooted to the spot he was standing in. His eyes widened when he saw ice crawling up his blade from where Toushiro's blade was clashing with it. In one quick movement, Toushiro twisted his blade and knocked the other man's away. Before the man could even react, the silver-haired boy drove Hyourinmaru into the man's gut, twisting it as it pierced through, before he violently ripped it out.

He honestly couldn't quite keep up with his actions. It was as if his rage had taken the pilot's seat, and refused to let him drive. All he knew was he wanted this man dead. He wouldn't forgive him for harming Ichigo, and he'd put him through hell for it. No one was allowed to harm Ichigo. Not now. Not ever. And if they did, he would gladly allow himself to be overcome by the instincts of a dragon to tear and shred that person till they weren't recognizable.

A blur of moments passed by, and when he could actually catch up with his mind, he was glaring down at the man, who was now bleeding and practically covered in ice, which was frozen to his skin badly, and would probably pull the skin with it if it was torn off. The man glared up at Toushiro, spitting out a wad of blood. He choked and rasped as he spoke, obviously on his last limb.

"Damned Shinigami…! Unforgivable..! How could I have been defeated so easily? I can't die!" Toushiro looked down at the man with cold, loathing eyes, his naturally narrow pupils seeming to have shrunk even more in rage.

"Your fate was sealed the moment you even raised your sword to my Ichigo. No one has the right to lay even a finger on him. No one. I won't allow it." The man slipped away as soon as Toushiro finished his last words, falling into the darkness that is death.

Suddenly, he was startled to hear a coughing coming from the direction Ichigo was in, and he whirled around with wide eyes. The sight he saw struck him with relief. The fiery-haired boy was breathing, and even sitting up. Toushiro rushed over to the other and kneeled down as the strawberry spoke out, clutching at his still bleeding wound

"Ugh… That guy was a bit of a handful." Toushiro's usual annoyed look returned to his face.

This man… He'd been nearly cut in half, and this is what he says? He was acting as if the severe pain he was going through didn't exist, and that the amount of blood he was losing didn't scare him. If that's the way he was going to play it, then fine. Toushiro stood up and kicked the substitute shinigami's side, causing the other to double over,

"If you're fine, then get up, Kurosaki." He then turned and re-sheathed Hyourinmaru, starting to walk away. Ichigo glared at Toushiro, clenching his teeth as he clutched at his side,

"You fucking brat! What the hell was that for?" Toushiro replied with a 'Hmph', making the teen growl. After a moment, Ichigo suddenly noticed the surrounding area. It was littered with chunks of ice and blood, and the man that had so easily struck him down lay dead among the ice. The sky had just now started to clear from the dark clouds brought on by the powers of Hyourinmaru, and the air was freezing. Ichigo took all of this in with wide eyes before turning to Toushiro, who just stood silent with his back to him.

"Toushiro… You…" Toushiro turned and gave him the same blank look he usually did, although he couldn't hide the obvious worry in his eyes.

"Let's get you to 4th district. You're losing too much blood." Ichigo blinked before a smirk grew on his lips,

"Oho. You actually do care about me. The great Toushiro with a heart of ice actually cares about me!" Toushiro growled, a vein twitching as he whirled and smacked Ichigo in the ribs, which didn't help his wound at all,

"Shut up, Kurosaki! And it's Captain Hitsugaya, Damnit! Get it right for once in your miserable life!" Ichigo groaned from the pain caused by Toushiro's hit, but couldn't help but grin. Toushiro sighed, looking to the side. Apparently Ichigo hadn't been concious for what Toushiro had done and what he'd said to the man about Ichigo. In all honesty, he was a little relieved. The carrottop would never let him live if down if he'd heard Toushiro say those things. So he decided not to bring it up. It took him a little effort, but Ichigo stood up, putting a hand on Toushiro's head and ruffling the white hairs on it, making Toushiro sputter a bit

"I get it, I get it. Come on, let's get going." With that, the teen started to head toward the 4th district. Toushiro watched Ichigo for a moment before a faint smile played across his lips.

Ichigo would never change.

Notice how he said 'my Ichigo'? *snickers*