Hi, Hello, Hey, G'day mates,

Well I'm back. I was really happy with the response of my first fic 'Sleep Well, My Love' (not a lot of reviews but quite a few faves and follows woot woot), and so I thought I'd give a multi-chapter story a go.

This story was in my head for ages so I decided to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and write it down. It's a simple story, nothing to major, but I thought it was good for a first trial run.

A FEW NOTES: This plot is set in the arrancar arc, but diverges from the normal cannon. Ichigo never meets the visoreds/vizards (?) and thus isn't in control of his hollow; Isshin was never Toshiro's captain and or a soul reaper; Aizen's overall plan isn't revealed so he just messin' at this point.

RATED T FOR SOME SWEARING, A BIT OF VIOLENCE AND THE ODD SEXUAL REFERENCE.

Okay, so enjoy annnddd please drop off a review.

...

Chapter 1: Ichigo.

Blackness seeped into the corner of his eye.

Pure evil.

Someone screamed out to him in warning.

Fear.

His eyes clenched shut.

More fear.

Liquid splattered against his face and onto his uniform.

A pained screech. It didn't sound human.

A wounded grunt. It did sound human.

How did he get here?

Ichigo sat cross-legged on the cold concrete and cradled his lover against his chest. Warm tears spilled out onto his bruised cheeks but he couldn't worry about that now. His hands were covered in the surprisingly cool blood of the person he loved most in this world.

He couldn't lose Toshiro now. He wouldn't.

He could faintly hear Rangiku talking to someone from her crouched position beside him and her injured captain. Perhaps she was talking to him, but he couldn't bring himself to pay attention. He was dimly aware of her hand on his shoulder, and somewhere in the back of his mind he registered her other hand coming down to grip Toshiro's own.

But he couldn't care less what was happening around him.

His boyfriend was lying across his lap; no longer conscious and completely limp in his arms. Deep red spread across the black shihakusho and the once pristine captain's haori, trickling onto his lover's beautiful snow-white skin.

Ichigo pressed his lips to Toshiro's disturbingly cold forehead and prayed silently to the gods. He kept his lips in place as he rocked back and forth, his body running on auto pilot.

This could not be happening. It must be a dream, or a nightmare. Anything but reality.

Toshiro Hitsugaya was dying. And it was all Ichigo's fault.

…THREE DAYS EARLIER…

Light, warm sunlight streamed in through the open curtains. The warm rays tingled the tan skin of the room's orange-haired owner and his little lover beneath him. Birds chirped happily in the trees outside, each singing their own unique melody to signify the start of another glorious autumn day. It was beautiful music to accompany the sensual song of the couple inside as they rocked one last time, struggling to bite back their own screams of pleasure as they reached the pinnacle of their rapture.

Mornings were the best part of his day, Ichigo realised, and he couldn't fathom as to why anyone would disagree; although not everyone woke up to the luscious beauty that was Toshiro Hitsugaya. No, it was only him who was blessed with that treasure. Said prodigy was still dazed following the orgasmic explosion he'd experienced a few minutes earlier, his breaths still ragged and irregular, and his eyelids still stubbornly clenched over those stunning teal irises that sent Ichigo weak at the knees.

Ichigo collapsed down beside his lover, in a very much similar condition, and stretched a hand out to stroke Toshiro's flushed cheek.

"Good morning, indeed."

Ichigo managed to crack open one eye to see the corners of Toshiro's mouth twitch upwards into a lazy smirk. He knew that he was, without a doubt, the single luckiest guy in this world and any other world. He'd know that for just over four months now.

They laid like that for another ten minutes, content with just being as they were – wrapped around each other's bare forms, basking in post-climax bliss – before the harsh sound of Ichigo's alarm clock erupted in the small room.

A loud groan and a few choice swear words later, Ichigo managed to find the 'off' button, before resuming his hold on the ice prince. He was glad he'd been able to have more mornings like this recently now that Toshiro was leading a mission in the World of The Living and Rukia had taken Orihime back to the Soul Society for training. Not that it would have been much of an issue if she were here, since this time his family knew she was staying and she was given her own room instead of his closet, however she did still have a bad habit of barging into his bedroom without knocking whenever she needed him for something.

"You've got to get up, Idiot," Toshiro mumbled, half-heartedly shoving his partner away.

"Don't wanna," Ichigo whimpered playfully into his boyfriend's neck.

"Too bad."

Ichigo released an even louder groan as he propped himself up onto his elbows. This was the only downside to mornings; at some point or another, he had to get out of bed and leave his little snowman behind.

"But it's schoooool," He whined, "It's so boring and I'm too far behind to understand anything now. I shouldn't even bother with it anymore."

"That's exactly the reason you should go, and I'm not sure how your father would feel about you giving up on your studies."

Cursing again, and ducking to avoid Toshiro's lazy swat to his head, Ichigo laid back down and pulled his lover close. He burrowed his nose into Toshiro's hair and took a big whiff of that scent that could only be described as 'winter'.

"I'd rather lie here all day with you, Babe," Ichigo whispered as he gently ran his fingers up and down Toshiro's arm, goosebumps trailing in the wake of his skilful digits.

Toshiro scoffed and wiggled his way out of Ichigo's hold, climbing over him to get off the bed. Ichigo watched as his boyfriend moved about his room, picking up items of his clothing and putting them back on.

"Unfortunately for you, Kurosaki, I have work to do today, and you have school, so you better get up now before your sister comes up and kicks this door down."

Ichigo let out a deep sigh, pulling himself into a slumped sitting position on the edge of his bed. He certainly did not want Karin to come stomping up the stairs and start banging on his door; it was a miracle the door was still on its hinges after all these years. He yawned and stretched before reaching an arm out to Toshiro – whom had been standing on one leg as he pulled on one of his tabi socks – drawing his lover into his lap. Toshiro squawked in indignation at the sudden change in his position.

"Kurosa-"

Ichigo silenced the other man with a firm kiss on his cool lips. God, he could kiss those lips all day long; they were just so soft and velvety, not to mention downright seductive.

"I love you, you know that?" Ichigo whispered, leaning back to stare his boyfriend straight in the eyes.

It wasn't a lie; Ichigo really did love the prodigy. He knew Toshiro loved him too, although it was near impossible to get him to admit it.

"You've mentioned it once or twice," the sarcastic remark came as teal eyes were rolled at him.

"Good," Ichigo grinned, "then you'll probably know what I am going to say next."

Toshiro grimaced, and Ichigo rubbed his back lightly. Ichigo knew that Toshiro did in fact know what he was going to suggest. They'd been dating for over four months and the only person who knew of their relationship was Rangiku, and that's only because she walked in on them during one of their more intimate moments. Ichigo struggled every day with the secret; he just wanted to share the news with everyone, he wanted to gush to anyone who'd listen about his drop dead gorgeous boyfriend and about how happy he was for the first time in ages.

Toshiro disagreed. He believed that some of Ichigo's friends might not take the news well. Ichigo had taken offense at that; surely his friends cared about him enough to be accepting of whoever made him happy? Most of them already know that he's bisexual, so it really shouldn't be much of shock that he'd fallen for the striking Squad Ten captain.

"Please, Babe? I hate that I can't be your boyfriend in front of them and I really hate lying to my friends and family. It doesn't sit right with me," Ichigo pleaded, hoping his prickly dragon would show some understanding.

He had used his most hopeless begging voice and his best puppy dog eyes. He put on a pout and clasped his hands together like he was praying. He had also called Toshiro 'Babe' which he had been surprised to learn that it was something the captain actually liked…or perhaps he just liked it better than 'Shiro' which was what Ichigo was previously calling him. Ichigo now knew that particular nickname was a no-go area and shouldn't be used unless you have a death wish.

Half a minute of silence past and Ichigo was getting very nervous. He could see the prodigy thinking it all through. He saw every pro and con dance across his boyfriend's eyes, and a few factors he must have been unsure about because his brow creased deeper as he tried to come to a final conclusion.

A defeated sigh later and Toshiro nodded slowly. Ichigo felt his heart rate rise with excitement while trying not to let the triumphant feeling be boasted on his facial expression.

"Very well," Toshiro said flatly, "We will start with your family, I suppose."

Ichigo hated seeing the look of apprehension that crossed his boyfriend's features, knowing full well he'd put it there.

"Come over for dinner tonight," Ichigo said as his thumbs made soothing circle motions at Toshiro's hips, "Don't worry, Toshiro, you've already met them and I'm sure they'll be really happy for us."

"It's not them I'm worried about," Toshiro mumbled, getting to his feet.

Ichigo's face scrunched up in confusion but before he could ask Toshiro what he had meant, the captain was already kneeling by the window sill and sliding open the glass, his waraji shoes hanging loosely in his hand.

"I'll see you tonight," and with that the ice wielder was gone.

Ichigo sighed, staring at the empty space that his lover had just disappeared from. Finally managing to pull himself up, he headed towards his closet to pull on a fresh uniform. He wasn't sure what had just happened with his boyfriend, but he was glad that they were finally going to tell his family and friends. He was getting giddy at the thought of being able to cuddle his baby dragon close and kiss him in front of the people he cares about. They would no longer have to sneak around and Ichigo wouldn't have to make dodgy excuses to his family about where he was going and what he was doing…well, he would still have to lie a little to cover soul reaper stuff but not to see his boyfriend and that was what was important to him.

And it was all going to start tonight.

He'd have to tell Yuzu to cook for one more person tonight and to make sure their father and Karin would be home for dinner. They'll be so excited, Ichigo grinned, though he'll probably have to beat some sense into his father before Toshiro arrives.

Ichigo was so thrilled that even the thought of going to school today didn't seem so bad.