This is my first attempt at any Bleach fanfiction ever, but this pairing screamed at me all the way through my holiday, demanding that I write something about them now. There is a second part to this, which has been written, but won't go up until I hear what people think of this bit and maybe a third part, which hasn't been written but is being planned.

I apologise to everyone who might have wanted a little more detail on the 'intimate' scene, but you really, really don't want to read my pathetic attempts at smut. Better that I just leave it at implying things and let you use your imagination!

Disclaimer: I do not now and never will own Bleach or the characters used in this fic. I also do not own the song Gorecki. It is by Lamb, and they own it. I get no money from this, just a lecture on how I'm wasting my time :D

Shuuhei buried his face in his hands and sighed. Tomorrow. Tomorrow would be the end. They were going to take on Aizen and his Arrancar, while protecting Karakura and everyone in it. It could very easily be the last battle for a lot of them, and although Shuuhei wouldn't admit it to anyone; he was scared.

Only a fool wouldn't be, really, but Shuuhei couldn't show his fear, as practically the captain of the Ninth and the only representative of that division, he had to be strong and unyielding. He also had an important job to do.

It was late at night, but for once, it wasn't quiet. People were still up, savouring what could be their last day living, or with their loved ones.

Suddenly, there was a knocking at the door. Shuuhei smiled. Speaking of loved ones…

Shuuhei pulled himself up and crossed the room. He opened the door to his quarters and let in the person on the other side. That person stepped through and Shuuhei shut the door behind him, before turning to face him. They regarded each other for a few minutes, soft smiles on both their faces, before stepping together simultaneously and engaging in a passionate, needy kiss. The space between their two bodies vanished as Shuuhei slid one hand into blond hair and moved the other to cup a pale cheek.

They kissed with abandon, holding each other as if they would never let go. When they needed to breathe, they broke apart the smallest distance they could manage, still touching foreheads.

Shuuhei stroked his lover's cheek and murmured "Hey there, Kira."

Kira smiled back, arms still wrapped tightly around Shuuhei's waist and replied "Hey, Shuuhei."

Kira leaned in and kissed him again. Shuuhei responded and while before, the kiss was passionate and wild, a reconnection, this one was soft and gentle and loving, though there was no less passion behind it.

When this kiss broke, Shuuhei took Kira's hand and pulled him further into the room, away from the door. They settled onto the sofa, falling into silence. Both were naturally quiet, and it wasn't unusual for them to fall into a silence, but this one felt thick with tension.

Shuuhei spoke first "How was it?"

Kira shrugged "Alright. They have their orders. You?"

"Same."

Kira nodded, but a frown had formed on his face and it didn't take long before he asked "Shuuhei, what's wrong? You've got that look on your face again."

"What look?"

"That over-thinking look."

Shuuhei sighed and glanced at Kira "It's stupid. I shouldn't even mention it."

"Shuu…"

Shuuhei looked down at his hands. His strong hands, capable of wielding a sword with amazing precision, or fighting with fists, able to slay hollows with ease and no hesitation, were shaking.

He clenched his hands into fists in an attempt to stop them shaking as he met Kira's eyes and opened his mouth to explain… before Kira lurched forward and covered his mouth with a slim, pale hand, whispering "Don't. I got it. I am to."

"Why?"

Kira shook his head slightly "It's natural. I don't want to lose you, I don't want them to succeed and I don't want to see him again. I imagine it's the same for you."

Shuuhei pulled Kira close to him, enjoying the feel of the blond pressed up against him and he muttered "Yeah."

Kira pulled back a bit to be able to look Shuuhei in the face and finished firmly "But we have an important job to do and it's going to be a chance for us to close a door on everything that's happened and for us just to be…"

"Us." Shuuhei completed, a small smile on his face. Kira smiled back, a full, proper smile, one that Shuuhei loved to see and hated the rarity with which it appeared on Kira's face. That was another reason why he was going to kill Ichimaru Gin.

Shuuhei kissed Kira again, silently reassuring himself that he was still here, still alive, and groaned as Kira moved to straddle him, pressing their chests together and pushing Shuuhei back against the back of the sofa.

He groaned louder as Kira slipped a hand down his chest, toying with his nipples before going lower, and Shuuhei fisted his hands in fine blond hair in retaliation, watching wonderful sapphire eyes slide closed in bliss.

Kira pulled the top of Shuuhei's shihakushou off and Shuuhei returned the favour, then before they could be distracted again by the pleasure, he shifted them over to the bedroom, where they finished what they had started.

After their lovemaking, Kira snuggled into Shuuhei's side, head on his chest, sated and sleepy. Shuuhei watched him sleep, one hand idly stroking Kira's hair, as he reflected on what was to come.

This was the final stand against Aizen and the Captains that betrayed Soul Society. It was also something of a test for him, and probably for Kira as well. They were going to see whether they were worthy of facing their former Captains.

For Shuuhei, it was a fairly simple case of a trusted Captain betraying his loyal Vice Captain. For Kira, it was so much more.

Shuuhei had noticed Kira while they were still in the Academy, his bright smile and blue eyes endearing him towards Shuuhei, as well as attracting him.

He hadn't acted on it at the time, expecting it to blow over, but when they met again, Shuuhei was surprised to find that the attraction had neither gone nor lessened. It had grown stronger.

But Kira was not the shy young student anymore. He had grown taller, his hair was longer, covering one of his eyes that although had lost none of their colour, were losing their spark of life. However, the worst thing in Shuuhei's mind was that his bright, happy, engaging smile had gone. Completely.

He had tried to find out what had happened, but while Kira was always polite, he was also stubborn and never answered questions that got too personal for him.

It wasn't until after the Captain's betrayal that Shuuhei found out exactly what had happened to Kira. His love and admiration for him increased tenfold, but it also made him sick to his stomach that anyone could treat someone else like that.

Ichimaru Gin had wanted full control over his Vice Captain and had set about slowly breaking Kira down. Gin took him as a lover, then played mind games, acting the attentive lover in private, so Kira would fall for him, and the indifferent Captain publicly, so he never knew what to think.

Once Gin knew he had Kira on a leash, he had started to see how far he could push him. Gin started to get rougher, and it eventually became common for Kira to have bruises and cuts, visible on his pale skin. When Kira finally had enough and tried to break it off, it became rape. Gin would hunt him down, wherever he was, and physically restrain him so he couldn't escape.

When Gin left, Kira was so broken and confused, he had wondered whether the events were real or not. Shuuhei had decided to try and help Kira get back on his feet, feeling disgusted with himself that he hadn't noticed sooner.

Two years later and here they were and Shuuhei would be damned if he was going to let Ichimaru Gin break Kira again. Even now, after so much progress, Kira still refused to allow anyone to call him by his first name, even Shuuhei, because that was what Gin had called him. Izuru.

Beside him, Kira stirred, and Shuuhei jumped guilty as he realised that he had been holding Kira so hard while lost in his thoughts, that he had been squashing the blond.

Shuuhei kissed the top of Kira's head and whispered "Sorry, love."

"What're you thinking?"

"About him. I'm worried about you."

Kira huddled closer and murmured "Don't. You need to sleep."

Shuuhei wrapped his arms around the blond and pressed his face into Kira's hair, breathing in his scent and allowing it to calm him down as it always did.

Kira shifted back a bit to look up and Shuuhei, then surprised him by whispering "If I should die this very moment, I wouldn't fear. For I've never known completeness, like being here. Wrapped in the warmth of you. Loving every breath of you. Still my heart this moment…"

Shuuhei smiled and finished "Oh, it might burst."

Kira's blue eyes encouraged him, so Shuuhei began again "Could we stay right here, till the end of time, until the earth stops turning? Wanna love you, until the seas run dry…"

Shuuhei's voice trailed off as he noticed Kira asleep on his chest again. With a small smile, and a firm resolution to enjoy this one night, maybe his last, sleeping in his lover's arms, Shuuhei closed his eyes and slept as well.

Tomorrow, everything would turn to hell.