Okay the characters are quite out of character but i was feeling kinda weird (weirder then usual) so i'll blame it on that... also if i have spelled names wrong thats cos i'm a bit... ummmm i got nothing i'm just silly

Kuchki Byakuya watched

There wasn't much he could do except watch… what could he do when the love of his life was engaged to his sister.

That didn't stop him wanting, there was something so divinely irresistible about Kurosaki Ichigo. But he had too much respect for the man and his sister, he may be cold and sometimes callous but he was honorable so he watched. That didn't at all suggest he wouldn't forget that all instantly if Ichigo ever returned his feelings. He knew he could never say no to him.

Dinner that night wasn't a comfortable affair; Rukia had unexpectedly invited him to the Kurosaki's house for dinner, apparently Ichigo's sister had insisted he was invited in order for their two families to become comfortable. Of course everyone but Yusu knew that was ridiculous. The Kuchki's and the Kurosaki's where about as different as they came, and yet here they were.

"So Byakuya, you're a captain?" Yusu said smiling

Rukia's eyes widened, but Byakuya didn't even seem to notice the disrespect

"Yes" he shifted the food on his plate taking a bite every now and then in order to be polite. It wasn't that the food was unpleasant, it was delicious but the patterns he was tracing absentmindedly on his sisters hand was sending unpleasant curls of jealousy and despair through his stomach.

The nauseas feeling in his stomach grew as the dinner progressed, he was so out of place so apart from the family Rukia had so easily slotted herself into. It hurt, because Ichigo was at his best, shinning incandescently even through his mask of discontent. Each subtle caress between the two intended sent sharp stabs of pain through his chest leading him to distraction until he could take it no more.

"Please excuse me briefly" there was the slightest waver in his voice but he doubted anyone noticed it, no one ever did.

He stood and turned with a delicate flourish

In the bathroom he sunk down against the wall letting out a shaky breath, the pains were increasing making every breath a laborious task.

The slightest click of the doors handle had him on his feet. His eyes wide startled

He fought for control, but when he saw whom it was he lost.

The only person who had ever had such an effect on him

Dark, intense eyes gazed at him

Asking…

Kurosaki Ichigo closed and locked the door behind him

"I know there is something wrong" his voice deep and penetrating entered Byakuya caressing and tearing at him.

"You are going to have to tell me Captain Kuchki what is it is that can make your voice quiver" Ichigo misunderstood Byakuya's expression

"Oh don't worry it wasn't very noticeable, not even Rukia noticed" Ichigo took a step towards him and Byakuya stepped back reflexively. Panic shot through him as he felt the harsh cold of the tiles behind him

Ichigo's eyes narrowed, Byakuya felt as thought the younger man could see into his soul

"It strange, I have never seen you look vulnerable or insecure and yet now… you're practically shaking" he stepped closer until he stood a mere meter from Byakuya.

"Byakuya" it was a whisper but it undid him

He sunk back against the wall his knees weakening slightly until he was slumped; his bangs fell forward across his face obscuring his tightly shut eyes. Pain was driving through him

Ichigo knew

He saw Byakuya's weakness, he could see the trembling child he had become it must disgust him, the man who never gave up, who fought till his last breath.

Heat, a constant delirious heat was spreading through him, it's source, Ichigo's fingertips gently rested against his cheek.

"Please look at me." Ichigo begged, the sudden change in Ichigo's tone shocked Byakuya into looking up

"How long?" Ichigo asked concern apparent in his eyes "How long have you felt this way?"

"Forever" Byakuya gasped hating how weak he sounded. But he couldn't dwell on it not with Ichigo's finger tracing gentle patterns up and down the back of his neck, not Rukia's pattern, his own something familiar but foreign against his skin.

Their eyes met for the longest second and then Ichigo kissed him

Byakuya clung to the hard heat. Being trapped in Ichigo's arms was like being in a furnace it sent his skin on fire but he would never leave that haven unless Ichigo made him.

Ichigo's lips, crushed against his own where eradicating the pain.

All was peace; he was perfectly contented yet desperate in those lingering moments.

"I'm so sorry, my darling one. I had hoped but I just couldn't bear to have you hate me even if it meant concealing my feelings" The words never really reached Byakuya he felt the vibrations through Ichigo's chest where his head lay, and the reassurance in his tone and that was enough. It suddenly occurred to him what Ichigo was tracing against his neck.

'Kurosaki Ichigo' over and over Ichigo branded himself into Byakuya's neck

"I love you too," Byakuya sighed, for the first time, against the beating heart of the man he loved.

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