Chapter 01

Bitter Aftertaste

Now—

"Damn this is awesome!" Renji cheered happily next to the small, irritated captain on the bus. "With Ichigo having his Shinigami powers back, ready to kick some ass, we get a vacation to some snowy mountains!" He stood up and pointed at everyone on the bus. "Who thinks they can beat me in a snowboarding race! I dare anyone to try!" A majority of the males challenged him, but not the one that he wanted to challenge the most. "Ichigo, I challenge to you a race first! There's no excuse to back out!"

"A-Abarai-kun… Kurosaki-kun is sleeping." Momo tried to defend the silent Strawberry leaning against the window next to her. "Besides, I think Shirou-chan would like to challenge you before anyone else."
"No…" The captain whispered, "I'm not in the mood to be fooling around with childish games." What he wanted to do, was train to become stronger to protect himself and his childhood friend. "Ask another."
"Ah forget it, I'm going to be picking up some cuties anyway!" It was a little obvious, but Renji was a little drunk right now. "I'm going to pick up ten in one day!" He grinned. "What about you Hitsugaya—"

"Renji," Ichigo spoke firmly, not even opening his eyes. "Shut up."

"What's the matter with you, huh? You can pick up all the chicks and dudes—" The window that Ichigo was leaning on, cracked due to the force of the carrot top's anger. "Okay… okay… I'll shut up now…"
"Kurosaki-kun, have you been to the place where we're going to?" Momo asked curiously since he showed signs of being awake. He ignored her, so she shook his arm. "Is the place really big and wide?"
As Toushirou opened his mouth to tell her that Ichigo was not the one that she wanted to mess with, but Ichigo tiredly looked at her, and patted her head softly. "Ah. I'm sure you'll love the sunset there."

Toushirou sighed in relief to see that Ichigo was going to be careful with the precious childhood friend, it was a miracle that the Strawberry calmed down after five years from the war. The war… Aizen Sousuke… the name began to make the little captain's blood boil as the temperature began to drop about ten or so degrees. Everyone that felt the sudden change in the temperature had believed that it was Toushirou being jealous of Ichigo for sitting next to Momo across from him and Renji. There were five captains that were participating, followed by ten lieutenants, and a handful of other Shinigami and friends. It was going to be just Shinigami, but Sado Yasutora, Inoue Orihime, and Ishida Uryuu were good friends after helping out in the war. The only reason why Soi Fon was there, was that Shihouin Yoruichi was going on the vacation as well—allowing them to be roommates… along with Kotetsu Isane.

"Wah! Taichou! You're making it too cold in here!" Rangiku whined from the back of the bus.
Toushirou heard the woman whine about the cold air surrounding them, and was confused. "Eh?"
"Sorry, I did it." Ichigo lied. "I like it cold." He extended his hand to the heater in the bus; amplifying it.
The captain looked at him in confusion—wondering why he covered for him. 'Kurosaki is different…'

"Actually… I'm getting bored sitting around." The Strawberry stood up, stretching tiredly. I think I'm going to just run there instead." He scooted around Momo to go to the front door. "Hey Urahara, let me out." Kisuke opened the door while driving up an empty road. As he was about to jump, Momo got him.

"Can I come too?" She smiled brightly.

Although he would have agreed, he knew that Toushirou wanted her to stay in his sight. "No, you should stay on the bus where it's warm. What if there's a storm up ahead? I can't make it go away like Toushirou can, right?" He saw Toushirou twitch at his name, but kept quiet because he was agreeing.

"Actually—" Chad was interrupted.

"See ya." He jumped out of the bus, and vanished.

The bus arrived perhaps two hours after Ichigo left to get there first, and everyone was tired from the boring ride there. Toushirou could see from within the bus how Ichigo was standing on the porch of the main lodge, but as soon as he walked out, Ichigo turned to head elsewhere. Ever since coming across him yesterday, it felt as if the Strawberry had been watching over him closely for some reason. At first, he thought that it was his imagination, but then he was defended on the bus when Renji was going to put him in the spotlight. Then right now, it was as if he was checking to make sure that he would get off the bus without any trouble… it was odd to say in the least.

'Why do I have to be the roommate of these two idiots.' He sighed as he went over to check what cabin they had, and collected a key that was for it before colliding into the carrot top that cringed. "Kurosaki?"
"Hinamori wants to ski, I told her that it was up to you." Ichigo held his stomach lightly. "You have a hard head. Be careful next time, okay? You might bump into someone who has a bad attitude about… it."
"I have a feeling that you were going to say something else." The captain watching him open his mouth, but it closed and he looked away. "Is there something that you want to tell me Kurosaki?" He glared.
"No, it's none of my business. I believe you would like to spend time with Hinamori, would you like me to take your things to the cabin?" The other nodded dumbly. "I'll go get them then, please excuse me."

Did… that just happen?

Toushirou watched as the man walked away slowly as if the wind had been knocked out of him, grab his belongings as well as his own, and headed to the cabin in the distance. Since when did the rowdy Shinigami Substitute decide to possess manners—very realistic, decent, manners of any type? Well, if his things were taken care of, perhaps he should hurry up and find the lieutenant that wanted to learn to ski today. Skiing was not his cup of tea, but at least he could give her the slight idea as to what she would have to do in order to do so while being safe. He found her placing skis on as if she were going to be trying the sport whether the captain had decided to agree with this or not.

Momo saw him and smiled. "Is Kurosaki-kun going to participate?"
"No, he offered to put my things in the cabin for me so I can be with you."
"Oh… isn't that nice of him!" Her smile brightened. "He's very nice to me Shiro-chan!"
"I'm glad that he is." It was the truth. Ichigo could have treated her like dirt, but he did not.

That was also something that he did not understand about him either.

Why was he being so nice?

"Watch it!" Soi Fon yelled from above; catching air from the slope she just came off.

The two were too surprised to move as she was about to land on top of them both, but they were down on their backs before they knew it. When they looked to see what happened, Ichigo had dived over and tackled the two out of the way before either one could get her. He asked Momo first if she was all right before removing his arm from her, she said she was fine and had him look to Toushirou. Instead of asking if he was alright as well, he apologized for touching him and stood up first to help them up.

"Are you stupid! Can't you see that this is not a place to make out!" Soi Fon yelled at the two small ones.
Ichigo turned to look at her, standing tall in front of her. "Back off." He demanded firmly, glaring at her.
"Why are you mad at me, I wasn't the one being dumb enough to—ow!" Her arm was grabbed roughly.
"I said, back off." His hand shoved her. "It was an accident. A Taichou of your level should've caught on."
"You think you're so tough with the history you have." She snorted before walking away—tripping too.

"Women." He growled before looking at the two. "Try to be more careful." With that, he walked away.

Momo was worrying about the carrot top that left them there to fend for themselves, and she looked to Toushirou sadly. "Is something wrong with Kurosaki-kun?" The other shrugged; not caring about Ichigo. "Maybe you should go check on him? He's been a really good friend to you in the past, and he's been a great friend to me since he returned to Soul Society for visits!" She smiled—instantly getting to him.

"But what happened to you skiing?" His arms crossed. "Or did you want to ski with Kurosaki?"
"Um…" her cheeks began to redden slightly at the question. "I wouldn't mind the three of us…"
He shook his head at this; she was starting to like that idiot. "I'll tell him to teach you then."
Unaware that she had hurt his feelings, she smiled. "Kay, I'll be waiting here!" She giggled.

His eyes rolled angrily at the fact that she would rather have that Strawberry's attention rather than being around someone who had known her for a long time. Luckily, Ichigo had a very faint reiatsu now that he had become a Shinigami once again, allowing him to pinpoint him at the cabin with Renji. Those two were probably playing a video game or something in order to entertain themselves on the first day to recover from the long drive. He unlocked the door with a key, opening it—only to have Renji shove passed him angrily to leave the cabin in a hurry.

Toushirou ignored it. "Kuro—" When he turned to look at the carrot top, he was buckling his belt and zipping up his pants. "…oh." They were not playing a computer game, it was a little more serious than that. "I… uh… I'm sorry." He needed to get out of there, fast. There was no escaping what happened.

"Forget about it." Ichigo replied, placing a shirt on. "Sorry for being indecent."
"U-Uh… no, it's my fault for interrupting. No wonder why Abarai was eagered to leave."
"We're roommates, you have nothing to apologize for. It was our fault for being inappropriate."
This caught his attention. "Since when did you care about whether you were appropriate or not?"
There was a long pause; he had to think quickly. "Did you need something from me, Toushirou?"
"…it's Hitsugaya-Taichou to you." His arms crossed. "Hinamori wants you to teach her."
Ichigo's head cocked to the side. "Don't you want to spend time with her?"

"She would rather spend her time with you. In case you haven't noticed, Kurosaki, Hinamori has become quite fond of you recently." His icy glare came into effect. "If you do anything to upset her, there will be Hell to pay for, do you understand?" Ichigo did not reply. "I will make sure that you regret hurting her—"

"If I hurt her, I would be hurting you." He whispered softly. Eventually, he pointed to a bed. "You sleep there, I figured you would want to be by the window. Renji get's the other bed." Ichigo sat on the couch.
"Are you going to be sleeping on the same bed as him then?" The other shook his head, causing the captain to prickle. "I may be sharing a cabin with you Kurosaki, but I refuse to share a bed with you—"
"I'm taking this couch." He answered calmly, placing socks and boots on. "I have no intention of making you uncomfortable in any manner. If I do, then please tell me so I can prevent doing it again, Toushirou."

"Stop calling me that, and I will be."

Ichigo looked at him as he strapped his boots on. He had to think about that request for the moment before looking down to continue with the task. "Is it bad that I want to call you like this? I don't mean any disrespect, I just… want to call my friend by his name." His soft gaze came up to look at the captain whom stood a few feet away. "Doesn't really bother you that much, that it makes you uncomfortable?"

"I'm a Taichou, I deserve high respect."

"I sacrificed my powers to get rid of that bastard that almost took everything away from you, doesn't that give me a little credit to be at even with you?" Toushirou stared at him in surprise. "It's my fault that everything has happened. If I stayed in Karakura Town as some human that could see ghosts, you, Hinamori, and many others would not have been harmed in the ways that you have." He said too much.

"You don't know what I have been through, Kurosaki." Toushirou glared furiously. "Whether you existed or not, I would have gone through everything I did!" He then added. "It's Hitsugaya-Taichou to you!"

He thought on it a little, frowning. "Are you saying that you'd rather I not exist, Toushirou?"

Turquoise liquid pools widened at the visible expression on the Strawberry's face; he could see the pain in his eyes as if he were betrayed. There was nothing he could do or say to him without placing his title as Captain on the line of being tainted—not as if it was not already. He opened his mouth to speak his disagreement, but did not know how to vocalize that he was glad that this man existed. Aizen Sousuke would still be terrorizing everyone if it were not for him; …Momo would be dead if it were not for him. A hand slowly grabbed his small pale one, and then the other one was grabbed, making him look at him.

"Calling you as I do, means that I want to be your friend—that I accept everything about you whether you like it or not. There is nothing, past, present, or future, that could change that." Ichigo saw the other flinch at this. "No matter what, I'm going to be your friend. I hope that you reconsider, Toushirou."

"Shut up!" He snatched his hands away. All his feelings changed. "I wish you didn't exist!"
Ichigo stared at him in surprise—he did not mean to upset him in any way. "Tou—"
"Shirou…-chan…" Momo's voice called from the open doorway. "Why… would you say that…"
"H-Hinamori…" It figures; he lashes out, and he gets the punishment. "You didn't need to hear that."
"If it wasn't for Kurosaki-kun, I would still be afraid of you after you tried—" A hand covered her mouth.

"I pestered him about something personal. It's okay that he takes his anger out on me, I can handle it." Ichigo placed his hand down from her mouth to take her hand. "What are you doing over here anyway? I thought you were going to go ski! Come on, come on, I don't know how to ski either, To—" He paused, trying to think. "I'm sure if we ask nicely, this guy over here will teach us." It made him feel worse…

"No! Not until he apologizes to you!" Momo looked to Toushirou angrily. "Kurosaki-kun put his life on the line to protect us, and you treat him like trash! What if I wished—" A hand was on her mouth again.
"That's enough. Have you packed away any of your things yet?" Her head shook to the carrot top. "How about you go do that, then we'll all eat dinner tonight? Everything should be settled by then, okay?"
Her head slowly nodded. "Then we can learn to ski?" He nodded in return. "…okay." She left the cabin, but looked at Toushirou with a cold glare. "I won't forgive you if you don't apologize to Kurosaki-kun!"

After she left, Ichigo sighed softly. "…will you be happier if I roomed with Byakuya and Iba-san?"

Toushirou brushed passed him and slammed the door on his way out.

Ichigo wanted to tell him everything so badly.

"Renji, where's Ichigo? I thought he would've been here by now." A busty lieutenant asked curiously while she devoured her food next to her captain who fiddled with his chopsticks. "Did he get sick or—"
"Got into a fight is my guess. Probably got Hitsugaya-Taichou angry, so he's sulking back at the cabin on the couch." The tattooed male slurped his noodles gratefully. "Let him sleep on it, he's been weird."
"Poor Ichigo." She thought on this a little. "You know, he seems to be agitated recently. Ever since he heard that we were all going on this trip." Instantly she grinned. "Maybe you can unravel him a bit—"
"Tried, we were interrupted before we got anywhere." Renji looked at her plainly. "Perhaps you should try, huh? You like things rough, right?" He glared. "Although we knew how much he loves your melons."
"He's just jealous because he can't have boobs like mine, ever." She squished hers together happily. "I can't believe he prefers flat-chest girls anyway." Her lips turned upside down. "Although… you—"

"What are you babbling about." A firm voice asked behind the woman molesting herself with clothes on.

"Ichigo! There you are! I was worried sick about you! I thought you caught a cold or the flu or just plain died! It was like you didn't exist for a moment!" Rangiku did not notice her captain flinching at this.
"Well, that was the idea. I'm only here to grab some food and head back to the cabin." The Strawberry answered. "Renji," he called. "I asked Iba-san if he wouldn't mind switching roommates with ours, I h—"
"I'm right here Kurosaki, if you're going to be a bastard, you can say it to my face you know." Toushirou glared at the male that was completely ignoring him. "I never said that I wanted to switch with another."
Brown hues turned to him. "Perhaps being in the presence of someone of the same high respect you desire, is better company for you. Whether you accept the offer or not, is entirely up to you." He left.

Renji looked to Rangiku, "yeah… he's sulking alright." He smirked. "Which means that if I go back to the room with him, I can top him—" A fist slammed against his head. "Ow! What the Hell was that for!"
"Don't take advantage of Ichigo just because he's upset!" Rukia hissed at him. "The only 'topping' you'll ever do with him, is sitting on his lap as he rams into you—ow!" Someone flicked her head; it was Ichigo.
Will you all stop talking about my sex life? Everyone knows that I've been around the block three or four times." The carrot top scowled at her. "And you two," he glared at the other lieutenants. "Butt out of it."

"Aw, don't be like that Ichigo," Yoruichi grinned widely. "I loved our threesome last year! Right Soi Fon?"
Said captain looked away, blushing. "That's not something that I want to talk about, Yoruichi-sama…"
"Um… Unohana-Taichou says that Kurosaki-kun is good in bed…" Isane blushed. "I… have to agree."
Kisuke opened his fan, grinning like a dog. "I believe there are only six people on this trip he hasn't—"
The windows to the dining hall of the main lodge, all shattered at Ichigo's anger. "You were saying?"

"M-My, my! I-It got awfully cold in here!" He returned to eating his meal.
Ichigo growled before looking at Yasutora. "Chad, fix the windows. I'm going to the cabin."
"Ah." Using his fullbring powers, the windows returned to being perfect.
"If I catch the slightest hint of me in a conversation, again." He glared. "You'll have nightmares."
"Is that a challenge, playboy?" Kenpachi stood up from his seat. "So ya sleep with guys and girls huh?"

"If you're asking what my orientation is, I am bisexual. As for you, a near pedophile, I don't think you would understand." Ichigo turned and walked away. "I'm too angry to deal with you Kenpachi. Go eat."
"Angry, huh?" He grinned widely. "What, you think a pretty boy like you can top me? Give me a break!"
"Now why would I want to sleep with someone of your capabilities? I might bruise myself inside you."
"You wanna try me?" The game was becoming serious—they were about to fight. "Bring it on Ichigo."
Said male smirked at this, his head shaking. "You're not worth the effort. Goodnight, everyone…"

Almost everyone said goodnight in return.

Toushirou could not believe everything that he had just heard from everyone… Kurosaki Ichigo was actually sleeping around with everyone? He carefully looked around to see that no one was shocked; was he the only person that did not know that Ichigo was fooling around with everyone? As Oumaeda began to ramble and laugh of being 'one of the six' that had not slept with Ichigo, the carrot top appeared behind him and grabbed his head. His eyes glowed for a brief moment before releasing the large idiot that fell to the ground unconscious… Ichigo looked… different. This time he was leaving, Kenpachi decided to follow him out, and the others knew where this was going to end tonight.

'Why the Hell would Kurosaki do something so disgusting?' The thought of being touched made him sick to his stomach. 'If Marechiyo is one of the six, Zaraki is two, I would be the third. Who are last three?'

"Talking about this is making me horny!" Yumichika cried out.

Most looked at him in horror.