Winter Two: Butterfly Post

An: Yay! Thank you for all your welcoming reviews for Winter. As a reward, I offer you a lemon! Maybe even two! There's lots of angst still coming up, but I find it a bit emo to have it chapter after chapter. Here's smexy Byakuya and Ichigo, in the place we love to see them most.

***

Byakuya lay on his back, his arms folded across his chest and over the duvet as he frowned at the ceiling.

"Ichigo..."

"Mm?"

He felt his partner climb into the bed, tugging the blankets up to his chin. He closed his eyes and tried not to sound as cross as he felt.

"Why were you nearly six hours late?"

Ichigo rolled onto his side, and his hand brushed Byakuya's before resting on his stomach. "I'm sorry, 'Kuya. I've been pulling all-nighters the whole week to study for this test, it was the one that determines who will rank where, and who will get a bursary, so it was really important that I ace it. And I wanted to take a quick nap before I arrived, but what was supposed to be an hour's nap ended up being a six-hour sleep because I slept right through my alarms. I'm so sorry."

Byakuya turned to face him. "Why didn't you just tell me, Ichigo? If I had known you were under so much pressure, I would have understood if you wanted to come through in the morning instead."

Ichigo shrugged. "I should learn to manage my time better."

"Koishii..." Byakuya moved closer and put his arms around him. "How do you think I managed to come top of my class when I was at the Shinigami Academy? I didn't sleep for five years because I wanted, no, needed to come top of my year. And I did it, but at the expense of my health and relationships. It was necessary then, and I can appreciate that you need to make these sacrifices now so that you can achieve everything that you want."

Ichigo smiled and nuzzled Byakuya's neck. "You're too good to me."

Byakuya laughed quietly and ran his hand down Ichigo's side. "Don't say things like that. We're good for each other. You're probably still tired after playing zanpakutou tag with the kids, so I'll let you off sex until the morning."

Ichigo grinned, then pounced, knocking Byakuya onto his back and straddling his waist. "You don't get off that easily, Byakuya. I think about Friday night all week, about when we get this time to be together without distractions."

Byakuya sat up, running his hands under Ichigo's shirt and up his back as he licked his neck. "Well then, if you're so amenable..."

"And I usually am..."

"Then you'll have no objections to being on top."

Ichigo blinked, leaning back to look at Byakuya. "But I thought you weren't such a fan of it."

"Oblige me?"

Byakuya didn't want to admit that he felt a little needy and neglected, and that having Ichigo inside and above him made that pain ease off. Made him feel like he was back at the centre of Ichigo's world, a place he was painfully aware was no longer his. Ichigo looked at him closely and must have seen the flicker of pain behind his eyes.

"Byakuya? What's wrong?"

He looked away, occupying himself with Ichigo's neck. "Nothing. Now are we going to have sex or not?"

Ichigo frowned and got off him. "Not when you put it like that. Something's wrong, Byakuya. What is it?"

Byakuya tugged the blankets up around him, and Ichigo sighed as he felt those terrible stone walls rise up around his partner.

"You do not send a single hell's butterfly all week. You consistently arrive late or not at all, without even a message to let me know where you'll be. I know things are hard for you at the moment, Ichigo, but you forget that I have only the twins to fill my time. I am alone every night, and if you don't come through on the weekends, then Rukia and Renji spend time with me out of pity. Most of Soul Society treats me like a leper because of my Hollow energy trail. I have to go to Rukongai to get any supplies because anyone who can sense energy refuses to even look at me. I have that revolting scientist nagging me to let him experiment on me. It's been five hard fucking years, Ichigo, and as time goes on I feel as though I'm getting less and less support from you."

Surprised at the very rare swearing, Ichigo frowned. "Have you not noticed how thin I'm getting? I don't even have time to eat, never mind get hold of a butterfly! I have to study, Byakuya! It's not like Japan is overrun with decent-paying jobs for the uneducated. And remember the plan? I want to get my doctorate, set up a nice practice and get a place for both of us to live in."

"I could buy us a house right now, Ichigo! Why won't you let me?"

"Because in the real world, you have to explain where all your money comes from! You have to pay tax, and you have to pay transfer fees on property and at some point someone will ask you why you have millions in fluid income. You can't just say 'oh well, its family money' when there is no Kuchiki family in the living realm! You don't have a birth certificate or any form of identification and the Japanese government is very tight on these things. And I don't want to live on your handouts and generosity. I want to pay my own way and set myself up."

"Are you suggesting that I treat you like a charity case?" bristled Byakuya.

"Oh, for crying out loud," muttered Ichigo. "That's not the point. I know you feel like I'm abandoning you, but we agreed a long time ago that this is what had to be done. Why are you getting upset about it now years later?"

"Because you've started ignoring parts of that agreement!" shouted Byakuya, and Ichigo winced. Byakuya never raised his voice.

Tread carefully, Ichigo. He's more hurt than he's willing to admit.

Byakuya swallowed hard, and looked down at his lap. "You agreed to make sure we always spent time together, Ichigo. But you've been letting weekends slip, and your almost every day messages have slacked off. You used to tell me everything, about your classes and weird places you'd eaten at, and you used to tell me you missed me. Now I hear nothing, you arrive late and you don't seem to care how my week was. Dammit, Ichigo, I died so that I could save you. I dirtied my hands with the strength of a Hollow because I could not bear to lose you. I would gladly deal with Seireitei's scorn if I knew that you were still as much in love with me as you were even two years ago. But I don't think you are, and that destroys me more than losing my captaincy."

Ichigo swallowed hard, hearing Byakuya's hidden heartbreak under his harsh tone. He hadn't...he hadn't realised he had let so much slip. Byakuya always hid his pain, it was his natural state of being. How long had he been swallowing this all down? Pretending that Ichigo was doing no wrong as long as he showed up every now and then?

"Byakuya-ojisan is very sad! And its all your fault!"

Ichigo moved closer to Byakuya, who had his knees pulled to his chest and his arms wrapped around them. Byakuya looked away, his grip on his calves tightening.

"Ichigo, just go –"

"You don't want me to leave, I know you don't," he said quietly, placing his hands over those white-knuckled fists. "I am away too much already for you to throw me out of our bed. Why didn't you tell me this before, Byakuya? I didn't know, so I couldn't fix it."

"Why should I have to tell you to think about me?"

The bitterness hit Ichigo in the heart, and he suddenly felt sick. He hadn't thought. He had just assumed that Byakuya got on fine without him. That the stoic noble didn't need the reassurances that others did. Ichigo had been independent his whole life, had trained himself to not need anyone after his mother died. As such, he had not felt the need to be reassured about everything. He had forgotten, though, that Byakuya had barely survived his wife's death, was the kind of man that thought deeply and felt deeply about the important things, even if he said nothing.

"Byakuya...I'm so sorry. I didn't realise. I didn't even think." He put his arms around Byakuya, and felt his heart drop into his stomach as he smelt tears. "I won't let it happen anymore, I promise."

Byakuya sighed as he leaned into Ichigo's touch, resting his head against his shoulder. "I know you, Ichigo. You always mean well, but you don't think about things carefully. Sometimes I love your hotheadedness, but it can be hurtful as well. I...I know that this will pass. That someday we'll be able to stay together and annoy each other in the comfortable ways long-term couples do. It's...it's just hard sitting here and waiting for you on the weekends."

"I know. And I won't let the weekends be all that you have of me. And I don't love you any less than I did five years ago when I saw that mask on you and realised what it meant."

Ichigo eased Byakuya down onto the pillows, kissed away those rare signs of his pain and hated himself for being so careless with Byakuya's feelings. Byakuya turned his head so that he could capture Ichigo's mouth, reached into and for him, and Ichigo felt his desperate need to be reassured that Ichigo would not leave him. He breathed Byakuya in, ran his hands over the body he knew so well and loved so much. Cupped the back of his neck and deepened their kiss, and suddenly there was no need for the heavy feather duvet to keep them warm. Heat flared through him as Byakuya ground against him, his elegant hands hurriedly tugging his shirt up. They broke off their kiss long enough for the pesky shirt to be done away with, then resumed the wet, perfectly carnal kiss as pants were clumsily pulled off and blankets were kicked away. Their skin was hot and flushed, and Ichigo blindly reached for the nifty lube kept in the nightstand's drawer. Byakuya opened his legs on either side of Ichigo's hips, and he still wasn't used to being there, no matter how many times it happened over the years. The newness was something he was deeply grateful for, and he thought about what a beautiful thing it was as he kissed Byakuya, distracting him while he dug into the tub of lube and coated his fingers. There was the rewarding gasp as he hit the right spot with just his finger, and the satisfying digging of fingers into his shoulders. Not wanting to keep his lover waiting any longer, Ichigo slicked himself and then pushed slowly in, letting Byakuya get used to the stretch before he got into the usual pace.

"Ichigo..."

"Mm?"

"Move."

"You're always so bossy," grinned Ichigo, drawing back until just the tip remained inside. Byakuya scowled at him.

"You don't listen to--aah!"

Ichigo thrust in as hard as he could, and Byakuya's back bowed with the pleasure, his tongue suddenly better occupied as Ichigo leaned up and kissed him, tucking an arm under the slim waist and lifting it for a better angle. Hitching Byakuya's legs over his shoulders, he pounded slowly and deeply, only releasing his lover's lips to nuzzle his neck, to nip at his shoulder, to lick his chest. Byakuya, who was far less reserved in bed, stretched and arched, moaned and panted, and knew what it did to Ichigo's resolve. Unable to withstand the beautiful onslaught of his lover so pleasured, he grabbed Byakuya's hair and neck, crushing their mouths together as he picked up the pace, Byakuya leaving deep scratches on his back as he tried to keep up, but he came first, his body locking up as climax washed through him. Ichigo threw his head back and almost roared his pleasure as he came, trying to push even further in as he rode out the white-hot, flaring crest of his climax. Byakuya was caught by the sight, and almost forgot where he was. He still couldn't believe he brought that much pleasure to someone. He watched as Ichigo panted and let his head fall forward, his shoulders rising and falling as he tried to get his breath back. Byakuya smiled and gently tugged his lover onto his chest, stroking down his spine.

"It's been a while since we had make-up sex," he said with a gentle laugh. Ichigo grinned in response.

"If it didn't destroy me so to see you upset, I'd goad you more often," he replied. "Although I'd happily forgo make-up sex if it meant that I didn't upset you ever again."

Byakuya nuzzled the orange hair, comforted by the familiar, almost indefinable scent. Ichigo smelt like a warm summer's day at a quiet beach, and Byakuya wished he could bottle it.

"Byakuya?"

"Yes, koishii?"

"Can we have the day alone tomorrow? We can always see everyone on Sunday, but I think we deserve some time alone together. Maybe we can even spar, like we used to. I have been slacking on my training, and I have a feeling it will bite me in the ass if I don't get back into it."

"I do miss kicking your ass," mused Byakuya. Ichigo laughed and gently pulled out before collapsing next to Byakuya.

"Renji's been a bad influence on your vocabulary."

"Renji's just a bad influence all-round," said Byakuya, sitting up and looking around the room. "Where did you toss my pants?"

Ichigo shrugged, suddenly feeling the cold as Byakuya moved to find his pajamas. As wonderful as sex was, it still didn't warm one up all winter night. And it involved trying to find clothes instead of just sleeping happy and naked.

"Winter sucks," muttered Ichigo, leaning over the side of the bed and picking his pants up off the floor. Byakuya got up and walked halfway across the room to get the pants that Ichigo had tossed over his shoulder.

"It is a rather pretty, if stark time of the year. But I do prefer summer; it makes for better night walks."

Ichigo tugged on his long-sleeve shirt and then buried himself under the covers, waiting for Byakuya to climb back into bed. He yelped as cold feet brushed against his, and he pouted at Byakuya.

"What did I tell you about cold feet?"

"That you always love to warm them for me?" smiled Byakuya beatifically, and Ichigo couldn't argue with that smile.

"Oh, alright. Anyway, let's sleep. You'll need plenty of energy tomorrow to keep up with me."

Byakuya bit him on the ear, then curled up, tucking Ichigo into the bend of his body. "Oi, I train every evening after the twins leave. When was the last time you trained?"

"I don't need to train," smirked Ichigo, and Byakuya rolled his eyes.

"The more things change...sleep well, koishii."

"You too, saiai. And as ridiculously sappy as it sounds, this is the place I want to be most."

Byakuya smiled and pressed a soft kiss to the back of Ichigo's neck. "I never tire of you, Ichigo. And I am happy you are here. Dream decadently, koishii."

***

Byakuya sent a hell's butterfly off to Rukia's household as soon as he woke up, then hurried back to bed, practically purring as he curled around Ichigo's back. It had been a long time since he had allowed himself to sleep late with Ichigo, and he intended to enjoy it. Ichigo murmured something in his sleep then snuggled against the warmth against his back. Byakuya buried his face in the soft, longish orange hair, trying to chase away the maudlin thoughts that mourned the fact that he only had this kind of pleasure two mornings a week, three if Ichigo didn't have early lectures on Monday morning.

"Mmrgh, your energy changes so quickly," murmured Ichigo, lifting Byakuya's hand and kissing his palm before tucking the arm against his chest. "What's wrong?"

He knew Ichigo could pick up his moods and knew there was no point in denial. "I was just wishing we could wake up like this every day. But I guess separation does maintain the magic of it all."

"I promise you'd get tired of me quickly if we lived together," said Ichigo, then yawned. "What's the time?"

Byakuya lifted his head to look over Ichigo's shoulder at the clock on the side table. "Just gone past nine. Hungry?"

"Yeah. But let me get up and make for both of us...you don't get to sleep in during the week, so let me get us something."

He moved to get up, but Byakuya tightened his arm around his waist, his fingers slipping underneath the waistband of Ichigo's loose pants.

"Just a few more minutes?"

Ichigo arched his back, making sure to press against certain interested areas, stretching his arms back to loop them around Byakuya's neck.

"A few minutes? You'll need more than that."

"Oh?"

Ichigo's response was cut short as Byakuya wrapped his fingers around his length and squeezed just so. Lips brushed against his ear, and a tongue flicked out to taste the soft shell. "I'm afraid you underestimate me, koishii," purred the elder shinigami, grinding against Ichigo's rear. "I think you've forgotten just how very good I am at getting you to howl my name in a matter of minutes."

Ichigo was pushed onto his stomach and his hands pinned above his head as Byakuya licked a slow trail down the back of his neck. Ichigo wriggled trying to get friction against his now demanding length, but Byakuya had him pinned down and already panting. He tried to growl over his shoulder, but Byakuya captured his mouth and tugged his pants down at the same time, exposing his ass to the cold morning air. Byakuya chuckled as he sat up, reaching for the lube and slowly slicking himself with one hand, the other still pinning Ichigo's wrists.

"Nn, 'Kuya..."

"Ask for what you want, koishii, and you may just get it."

He nudged Ichigo's knees apart and ran his spare hand up over the curve of the perfect ass, down the muscular back, murmuring his appreciation. Ichigo bucked back against him, trying to wriggle free (but not trying too hard.)

"Fuck me," he breathed, his head hanging between his arms, goosebumps marching down his spine as Byakuya ghosted his fingers over his hard length, over his balls. Byakuya let of his wrists and leaned over him, grabbing his chin and tilting his head towards him.

"What, Ichigo?"

They didn't often play games, but when they did, Ichigo rather liked driving Byakuya towards hard, almost painful sex. He turned his face into the hand holding his jaw and licked the fingers, taking in two and sucking them hard, his eyes half closed. He felt his lover's pulse pick up, and knew that he was winning. Byakuya always needed his permission to be rough with him, and he wanted to let his lover have that space to dominate.

"I said, Byakuya, fuck me."

Byakuya practically growled as he moved behind Ichigo, grabbing his hip with one hand and guiding himself in with the other. He pushed in hard and grabbed Ichigo's waist, hauling him back against his lap. Ichigo groaned and pushed back, raising himself to his hands.

"Yesss," he hissed, clenching his muscles and earning himself another hard thrust. Byakuya spread his knees wider and pounded into Ichigo, his hair falling forward and over his face as he bent over his lover, his nails digging into the curves of muscle that led into his groin. Ichigo dropped onto his elbows, spread himself wider so that Byakuya could go deeper, and loved the contrast between pain and pleasure, and how they bled into one. Byakuya grabbed his shoulder and held him in place as he thrust as hard and fast as he could, his almost waist-length hair sticking to his back as he worked towards their climaxes, a hand wrapping around Ichigo's length and moving in time with his hips. He grit his teeth as he tried to hold off long enough to watch Ichigo come first, but his younger lover was stubborn today, clenching his muscles around Byakuya's length perfectly.

Finally, it was all too much, and Byakuya howled to the ceiling as he came hard inside Ichigo, his fingers clenching his shoulder and waist with bruising intensity. Ichigo buried his face in the duvet as he came, muffling his own shout that sounded like Byakuya's name, but with an extra syllable or two. Panting, Byakuya leaned over Ichigo, wrapping his arms around the lithe body and pulling him up into a sitting position, licking the sweat and scent off his shoulders.

"Did...did I hurt you?"

Ichigo leaned his head back against his shoulder, kissing his cheek. "You know you don't have to hold back with me, Byakuya. I like to be fucked hard, every now and then. It's...I kinda like being out of control, and I know I can trust you not to abuse that trust. It's good to have variety and the occasional role reversal."

Byakuya pulled out, then fell backwards, resting his forearm on the bridge of his nose and covering his eyes.

"That was superb, but I'm tired now."

Ichigo laughed and turned around, settling himself on top of his lover's chest and tugging the blanket over both of them.

"We have the whole day, 'Kuya. We can recover from our fantastic, sweaty quickie, and then we can enjoy some breakfast in front of the fire. And then we can spar!"

Byakuya just smiled against Ichigo's shoulder, interlocking his fingers over his lower back and holding him close. "Whatever you want, koishii."