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Note: This was written for FungusWitch. Enjoy yourself, dear lady! Thank you for just being you! :)

Chapter One – "Welcome Home" (Jushiro Ukitake)

It had been five years since he'd seen her. Now, standing on his doorstep he was afraid to speak or touch her. If he did she might disappear in a puff of smoke. She'd always been beautiful, but in this moment, she was achingly so.

Jushiro Ukitake shook himself mentally and whispered her name. "_?"

A bright smile dawned on her face, the rich hue of her eyes twinkling. "Surprise."

He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. I'm not dreaming, she's really here! His thoughts were tumbling. "I missed you terribly," he whispered into her hair.

She squeezed him back, "I missed you very much, Jushiro."

Hearing his name on her lips sent a happy ripple through him. Her sweet voice was like rain on parched land. He leaned back to look down into her lovely face. His hands remained in her long locks, "You look so different with your hair long."

"I haven't had time for haircuts. Do you like it long?"

"It's beautiful," his smile was soft, "but then, you are always beautiful. It really isn't fair to us poor men that look at you and forget how to breathe."

She quirked a brow, a grin playing at her lips, "This from the man that smiles and reduces women to quivering puddles of goo?"

He laughed. "Come in. Would you like some tea?" He headed for the kitchen to make tea. She shut the door and followed him, taking a seat at the kitchen table. "How long are you planning to stay?"

"That depends on you, 'Shiro."

She suddenly had his full attention. "What do you mean?"

"I know you feel like I ran out five years ago…" She began.

He pinned her with an accusing glare, "You did." His voice held an uncharacteristic edge.

"I'm sorry. There was an important reason." She struggled to keep the quaver of emotion from her voice.

"Which you have yet to tell me in five years. All the letters you sent," he shook his head, "all the hope I've carried that one day you would come back."

Her voice was soft, "I'm here now."

"Are you going to explain yourself?"

"Yes."

The kettle whistled. He poured boiling water into a teapot. She could tell he was using the simple task to compose himself. The hurt she'd seen in his eyes was unbearable, more so because she knew it was her fault.

She waited until he served the tea and sat down at the table across from her. Her throat was suddenly dry, what if he doesn't feel like I do? A sip of tea, a deep, steadying breath, how do I even explain my absence?

Jushiro watched _ wrestle mentally. "Is it really so difficult to say?"

Her eyes held his. "Not difficult, just jumbled up in my head. It seems like no matter how I try to explain, it will sound confusing or like I'm a crazy person, or both."

He was still hurting, she could see it his eyes. He wanted answers, he certainly deserved them. "Did our first kiss scare you that badly? Or, did you simply not feel as I did that night?"

She rounded the table and knelt next to him. She put her hands on his thigh, her face open and looking up into his. "It's because of what I felt for you that I left." He started to speak but she placed gentle fingers on his lips. "Please, give me a few minutes. I promise, I will tell you everything and why I didn't say anything until now."

He stood up.

She crumbled in on herself. She thought he didn't want her that close, that he couldn't endure her touch.

He held his hand down to her. When she put her small hand into his large one, he helped her to her feet. "It's a bit stuffy in here. I think we could both use some fresh air." He led her out to the back deck. The air was pleasantly cool and a nearly full moon was casting a silvery glow on the lake. This was where he had first kissed her five years ago – the night she left the Soul Society.

A large futon was laid out with lots of thick pillows. When Jushiro didn't feel well, he often laid out here. He sat down on the futon, guiding _ to sit next to him.

"When I left here five years ago I went to the Royal Realm to see my mother."

"She is Hannah, the royal healer, right?" He asked.

She nodded. "Yes. I asked her if she could help you."

"I was already healed by a god when I was a child. I doubt your mother could do anything to improve my health."

"My mother explained to me that the god that healed you bonded to you, that he is part of you. She told me the reason you continue to have bouts of illness is because the god is feeding off of your reiatsu. He has to to survive. When he feeds he cannot maintain the healing of your lungs. Once he has consumed enough reiatsu to maintain himself for a while, you get better."

"A bit disconcerting, but it makes sense."

"Mother said that there was a way to improve your condition, a way to allow the god to replenish himself from the god realm and not from your reiatsu. To make that possible, you would need a talisman connected to the reiatsu of the god realm."

His lightning fast intelligence was putting the pieces together. "You've been searching for one for the past five years, haven't you?"

She pulled a white cloth from her pocket. Unfolding it revealed an object of smooth, black stone. The shape was round with intricate lines that were so tangled there was no way for the eye to follow a path. "I found it three days ago. It took me that long to get here." She held the large coin-sized talisman in her hand. "After five years and three realms, I finally found this."

"You did all that for me?" His eyes were searching hers, "Why didn't you tell me all of this before?"

"I couldn't get your hopes up or let you talk me out of going after this. I had to follow this to the end, no matter where it led. If I was successful, then I could return with help for you. If I failed, then at least I was only dashing my hope, not yours." Her voice became a bit thick with emotion, "Jushiro, I knew from that first kiss that I love you with every fiber of my being. I felt it, there was no denying it."

He pulled her into his lap, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that said, I need you, without words. Her lips parted with a little whimper and his tongue swept in with a passion so raw it stole her breath away. His mouth was hungry on hers as if he were trying to make up for five years of lost kisses in one fell swoop.

He pulled back enough to look down at her, "I love you, _." He leaned his forehead against hers, eyes closed, drinking in her presence. "Please, don't ever leave me like that again."

She whispered, "Never again. You have my word." She sealed the promise with a soft kiss.

Jushiro looked down at the talisman in her hand. "Perhaps we should see if this talisman works."

She layed it in his hand. Upon contact, it flashed with a bright pulse of light and lifted a few inches above his palm. It turned a few times before shooting toward Jushiro's chest. They both only had time for a gasp before the talisman slammed into his left pectoral muscle, shredding through his kimono, and embedding there. It flared with a lavender glow, his eyes ignited with the same glow. A clap of power knocked him out and flattened _ to the futon.

When Jushiro woke up, his head was in _'s lap. She was stroking his hair and smiling down at him. "Well, hello, gorgeous man." That brought a smile to his lips. "How are you feeling?"

He sat up, a look of wonder taking over his face. He felt different, amazing. No dizziness, no weakness. He felt strong. "I – I feel incredible. I can't remember ever feeling this good." His looked down at the talisman, his fingers traced it. His gaze returned to her. "I saw him when I was out. He told me to tell you that he is grateful for your help."

She smiled at him. His look took on a predatory edge. "And now, my love," he moved over her, easing her back into the pile of pillows, "it's time I showed you my gratitude."

She layed down, long hair fanning out around her. He layed next to her, leaned over to kiss her. She caught his face in her hands before his lips could touch hers. His look was a bit confused, "Sweetheart?"

Her eyes held his, "The only expression of gratitude I want from you is for you to live your life healthy, strong, and happy." Her thumbs stroked his jaw, "And that will be an end to what has happened. From this moment forward, I want you to make love to me because you love me, not because you think you owe me. You don't owe me anything, Jushiro."

He touched her face, "You've given me a gift, _, more than I could have imagined." He traced her lower lip. "But, you've given me something far more precious – you've given me your heart. I promise to treasure you always."

Twin tears escaped from the corners of her eyes to run down her temples. The emotions welling up in her threatened to drown her. The last five years had been such a long, hard road. Now that it was over and she was safe in Jushiro's arms, the relief was overwhelming. She was still ragged around the edges.

He pressed a kiss to her temple, his thumb wiping the tear away from the other temple. "It's all right, my love, I'm right here." His lips were soft and comforting on hers, "You're home now."

Her eyes were searching his, a look of hope echoing. "Home? Truly?"

Jushiro knew how important this was for her. 'Home' wasn't a word she had ever used. Always moving with her mother from place to place, she'd lived like a nomad in her youth. When she got older and decided to become an archaeologist, she had again always been on the move as she spent most of her life in the field. To have a home, to be rooted, to have a family – this was her secret dream. A dream that he was determined to make come true for her.

He gave her a gentle smile, "Truly." His thumb rubbed her cheek, "No more wandering for you, _. You belong here with me."

She smiled up at him, "No more wandering, I'm home."

He kissed her deeply, their sounds of pleasure mingling with the night air. Their sighs mixed with the sighs of the breeze. Her little whimpers seemed to be echoed by the sweet song of crickets. The need and longing of five years was breaking free, every loving caress of his tongue against hers chipping away at their self-control. A moan as she arched into him made him seal the kiss so he could divest her of her clothes.

Left in her simple, white bra and panties, her lovely skin was a contrast. "I feel a bit plain. Had I thought the night might turn out like this, I would have worn prettier lingerie."

His voice was tight, "Another night, love, I'm afraid I don't have the will to keep my hands off of you."

The bra and panties were history, tossed aside and forgotten. He sat, staring at the beautiful lines and curves of her body. His gaze was heated as he took his time, enjoying the view and deciding where to start.

She propped herself up on one elbow and grabbed his obi with her toes. She pulled the belt loose, dragging it free of his kimono. "You were saying something about your hands on me?"

He grinned, shrugged off the kimono, and joined her on the futon. The feel of so much bare skin touching for the first time sent her senses into hyper-awareness. Everywhere his skin made contact with hers felt like little jolts of electricity.

A flurry of hands, lips, and tongues ensued as they both gave in to the need to touch and taste. Soft sighs and little moans filled the air each time a sweet spot was fondled, kissed, or licked. Neither one of them seemed to be inclined to cede to the other in their explorations. It was nearly a competition to see who could illicit the most pleasure from the other. They both enjoyed the unspoken game.

Jushiro kissed her leg, nipping behind her knee as his hands held her leg up for his attentions. _ shivered then reached for the nearest patch of his skin she could get her hand on. The way he was kneeling and the angle at which he held her, the nearest part of him that her hand could reach was his erection. The moment her hand closed around his velvety length, he went still, lips glued to her inner thigh as his eyes pinned her with a look full of warning. Keep doing that and you're going to get it.

Not ready to escalate the situation, he turned her over onto her stomach. She made a sound of disappointment as the contact with him was broken, only to make a new sound of pleasure when he moved over her on his hands and knees. His hair flowed over her skin like a whisper, his lips burning a trail from the curve of her butt to the small of her back. She sucked in a breath through her teeth as tingling pleasure radiated from where he was licking and nipping at her skin. He took that pattern up her spine, sweeping her hair over one shoulder to give him access to her neck. By the time he placed the first kiss on her neck, she was arching up into him, squirming to make any kind of contact with the rest of his body. He eased down on top of her, holding his weight with his forearm. She layed flat on the futon as he covered her. Her head pushed back into his shoulder, a breathy plea on her lips.

"Jushiro, please, I can't take much more." Her body was humming beneath him, like electric currents running rampant under her skin. He could feel it against his chest along with her heavier breathing. He turned onto his side, taking her with him. Now, he had access to the rest of her body.

One hand held her throat, his fingers gently stroking both sides of her windpipe, feeling each breath as it was drawn in and then expelled. His lips were close to her ear, she could feel his breath when he spoke. "Patience, my love, I've had five years to think about making love to you. I plan to show you everything, tell you everything, even if it takes all night."

A tremor ran through her body as those words led her to a stray thought, He's going to kill me. I'm going to be the first person to be listed as death by orgasms. But, what a way to go. She reached back to touch his face as he kissed behind her ear, sending another tremor straight down her back. He lifted his lips to her hand, kissing her palm as his knee pushed between hers. He used that knee to pull her leg up and over his, laying her open for him, her core exposed to the cool air chilling the wet desire he'd stirred. His hand left her throat to stray down her body, stopping to caress her breasts and toy with her nipples. She undulated against him, trying to rub herself on his thigh. Any contact would do at this point. But, he kept her at an angle where her movements didn't get her anything, but gave him an erotic grind of her supple butt on his groin. "Hhnnggh." He growled then chuckled in her ear, "Would you like me to go lower?"

"Oh, gods, yes!" She was clawing at a pillow, trying not to turn that grip on him. As he turned her on her back, keeping her leg over him, she thought, Finally! Some blessed relief! He didn't disappoint. His fingers slid over the curve of her sex, parting her outer folds so that her clit glided snuggly between two fingers. Her hips lifted into his touch, a groan of pleasure rumbling in her throat. "Jushiro…" His lips halted anything further she may have said.

He murmured against her mouth, "So soft…" before his tongue mirrored the motions of his fingers. When his fingers dipped into her, his tongue dipped in to tease the roof of her mouth. When he withdrew to circle and stroke her clit, his tongue circled hers then stroked. Over and over and over…he seemed content to do this all night. Every so often he would pull back to whisper to her with passion glazed eyes, telling how he loved her, how perfect she was, how he burned for her. She clung to him believing that it was the only thing that kept her from shattering to pieces to be carried away on the breeze. His rhythm was just enough to keep her climbing higher and higher. Until finally, he didn't stop or change pace, he watched her, knowing that he was going to drive her to that cliff and fling her over.

Tink…like the breaking of a delicate crystal glass. Her body arched, head pressing back against his arm, her cry of release piercing the quiet of the night. His lips sucked at her throat, unable to resist indulging in the vibrations of her climactic cries. He kept his fingers buried deep, pulsing against the source of her orgasm wringing as many waves out of her as he could.

He felt the last spasms begin to fade. He removed his fingers, shifted, and moved over her. One slow, smooth stroke and he was wrapped in silken heat. Her eyes snapped open meeting his above her. "Oh, god, 'Shiro, yessss…" Slow, lazy thrusts let her feel every glorious inch of him as he moved in and out of her. He leaned over her, needing to draw her into him as much as possible. His mouth was hungry on hers, his body surging into hers as if he couldn't get close enough and needed more. Her hands were in his hair, massaging and lightly scraping his scalp and neck. He hummed in her mouth every time her nails grazed the base of his skull and down his neck.

She tried to fall into rhythm with him, but he would speed up and slow down at random. His pleasure came more from watching the build to her next orgasm surge and ebb, fueled by his body, his touch. Short, teasing thrusts followed by a long, deep one and a roll of his hips had her clawing at his back desperate for him to let go and just drive deep and hard.

He wrapped both arms around her and rolled onto his back. She didn't hesitate to sit up and take over. She sank onto him, completely taking him all until she thought she would burst. Her head fell back on a moan. It took a moment before she could focus beyond how utterly amazing it felt to have him so deep inside her. When she finally looked down at him, he had stuffed some pillows under himself and propped up to watch her. His hands were tucked behind his head, casual, as if he hadn't been driving her to brink of oblivion and back. The only glitch in the façade was the wild glint in his eyes. His passion was on slow burn for the moment, but those eyes promised a trip to a place beyond just physical pleasure…they promised ecstasy.

_ quirked a brow at Jushiro, "You look relaxed, shall I fetch you a cup of tea?"

He laughed and smiled at her, "Now, now, let's not – Nnnnngh!" She had clenched her inner muscles, pulled up, and then ground down onto him. "Oh, yes, my love, just like that…" But, she stayed very still. She leaned forward a bit so she could reach his broad shoulders. Lightly dragging her nails over his skin in shifting patterns made him start to shiver. The sensation was bordering on unbearable, but so pleasurable at the same time. She grazed his nipples and his breath stuttered, his eyes locked on hers. When she continued down to his stomach, he flinched and his cock jumped inside her, hitting the right spot to push a gasp past her lips. Her walls squeezed him involuntarily and he jerked toward her. She used his momentum to clasp him to her and drag her nails up his back in the same way. He writhed and shook in her arms, his hands buried in her hair as he panted into her neck, "_."

Her hands landed on his face, tilting it up for a deep kiss. She went still for a moment to focus on his mouth. He let her lead, following her caresses with his. Gods, how he loved the way she kissed. Loving and passionate, her kiss was setting his blood on fire and making him feel drunk.

Jushiro layed back on the pillows, bringing _ with him, he wouldn't break that kiss for anything. The end of the world could be upon them and it would have to wait until his beloved _ had finished with him. His hands on her hips helped her stay still while he braced his feet on the futon and thrust up into her. She moaned in his mouth and his eyes nearly rolled into his skull. Slow and deliberate he pumped into her, building those moans into mewls and groans. Finally, she had to drag her mouth away to whimper raggedly.

He looked down through the space between them and felt his throat clog at the sight. He held _ still, right at the brink of the tip of his erection inside her. He tucked her head down next to his so she could see. His voice was thick, "Look, _, look at where our bodies join."

She couldn't form a thought, she gasped, tightening on him. The lips of her sex were stretched around his shaft. With both hands, he pushed her down, both of them watching as he plunged into her. She bit down on the scream clawing at her throat. She lifted only for him to bring them together again. This time he paused to look into her eyes, "Have you ever seen anything so amazingly perfect?" His lips pulled at hers, a loving kiss before he returned his gaze to watching his cock work in and out of her. She dropped her head and watched too. Seeing and feeling him hitting home at the same time had her heart slamming in her chest. His jagged breaths were mingled with grunts and moans.

She was pulled so tight she thought she would snap in half. "'Sh – Shiro, I – aaaaah!" The wail that erupted from her probably reached all the way to the next district. For certain, it sent all the koi racing for the far side of the lake. She was spasming, unable to control her body or her voice. Jushiro held on. Her hips were wild, riding him hard, her muscles clenching and begging him to follow her. She reached a point where she wound down enough to focus on him. She bore down on him, her eyes burning into his and gritted, "Come…with…me, love." He lifted his hips, hard thrusts meeting hers. Her last orgasm never really ended, and now it blindsided her when he hit the same spot inside her over and over that had her seeing shooting stars and rainbows.

Jushiro's voice broke as he tried to say her name. His release washed over him like a giant wave crashing on the shore. An eternity seemed to be rolled up into that few seconds of unmitigated, blinding bliss.

A moment later, _ had gone silent and collapsed onto his chest. Her breathing ragged and aftershocks made her sound like she had the hiccups. He pushed her hair back over his shoulder and rubbed her ear with his thumb, his other fingers curled and rubbing her neck. They layed like that for a while, eyes closed and touching each other in soothing, loving comfort.

Eventually, he rolled her onto her back, reluctantly separating their bodies. A moment of loss assailed him, but he smiled because it seemed that he had rubbed _ into a post-coital coma. He opened a box near the futon. It had supplies for when he was ill which included hand towels. He used one to clean her up, trying not to chuckle when she layed there completely oblivious to what he was doing. He cleaned himself up too before pulling a warm cover over them both.

Feeling him settle next to her, _ curled into his shoulder. He kissed her forehead then shifted a bit to rest his cheek on her head. "Welcome home, _."

She put her hand over his heart and looked up into his loving gaze, "This…this is home."