Disclaimer: Kubo Tite owns Bleach. If I owned it, the story would be a little different. *Wink*

Chapter Two

On the other side

Ichigo gets out of the shower and throws some clothes on him. He doesn't care much about fashion, he will wear whatever feels comfortable and thanks to Ishida, he also gets to have some new clothes for free because his friend is an awesome designer like that. He takes a glimpse at himself in the mirror. He wears a green tee and some blue jeans and he wonders if he looks ok for the night. Sometimes, Urahara-san, the owner of the club in which he works most of the nights, tells him that he should dress better; he scowls too much when the customers try to get into his pants. So at least he should be giving them something to look at. Well, women are no trouble for him, because once they find out he's gay, they mostly go like awwww and then they want to be their personal fag hags. Which makes Rukia promptly scowl if she's around. The midget can be quite possessive when she wants to be.

He passes his fingers through his hair and sincerely thinks for a moment that maybe he should just make it look more stylish, but he's a natural disaster at all that so he ignores his mop of hair and just gathers his things in his bag. His apartment isn't big. Basically it's just two rooms and a kitchen with one bathroom but it's his and loves it so much. Ukitake-san, the owner of the building, takes good care of them and every once in a while even throws a meal for them so he just considers himself really lucky. The rent is also cheap and if there's a maintenance problem, it's usually solved really quickly. He also gets to live with his friends, which is awesome.

He smiles seeing how Li Ren peaks at him from under the covers. Soft black eyes check him with silent smile in them. His lover takes out a hand and reaches for him as he slowly drags Ichigo back in the bed and kisses him softly. His lips are made for kissing. That's what Ichigo thinks at least. He passes his fingers through his soft hair while Li Ren almost purrs with pleasure.

"Do you have to go?" His lover mumbles quietly against his lips while a gentle hand strokes the muscles under his tee shirt with small reverent moves. Ichigo sometimes feels as if he is worshipped; his boyfriend always takes his time in discovering his body, as if there always something new to learn and that makes Ichigo feel loved. He briefly wonders if he makes Li Ren feel the same too.

"You know that I would gladly stay," Ichigo whispers gently in his ear, "but that means that you'll have to give all your money to me, support me and feed me."

"I won't mind." Li Ren mumbles again and this time he bites softly Ichigo's jaw, leaving no mark.

"That's what you say now, but wait when you do that for a couple of months." Ichigo smiles and gets up. "You have first shift tomorrow right?" Li Ren works as a waiter to a very important restaurant, very hip and trendy.

"Yeah, so I guess you'll have plenty of time to sleep and get ready for me." Li Ren smiles seductively and Ichigo's smile falters.

"I might have promised Rukia that I will help her feed the orphans tomorrow. You know how she gets sappy when this sort of thing comes to her way. She even bought them books with the goddamn Chappy thing so they could colour together. She's really sick sometimes." He grimaces thinking of her best friend's poor talent and drawing skills.

"So I guess I will see you to dinner only." Ren's smile falters but Ichigo doesn't notice.

"Yeah, how about we go out tomorrow?" Ichigo tries to make amends and Li Ren's eyes hold a little bit of hope.

"I would like that."

"Then I will call you tomorrow after Rukia releases her tight leash on me."

"Oh, poor baby." They kiss again and Ichigo leaves Ren sleep as he takes his bike to go to work.

He moved in the building a couple of years ago, when he barely finished school, when he didn't know where to go or what to do with himself. It was just a few months before Rukia and he did it with Chad's help. Ichigo smiles. In fact all his friends have been more than supportive back then. Keigo and Mizuiro helped him move some spare furniture that his parents lent him. Orihime and Ishida took care of him back then to make sure that he was eating and getting dressed correctly. It had been a hard time for him. Tatsuki used to say that she was reminded of the time of his darkest period. And then he met Rukia and everything changed again.

Rukia isn't like all the other friends. She listens him very carefully and she tends to see his weaknesses, even tries to correct them. The problem with him as she says it, it's the fact that he's good at too many things and he can't decide what he wants to do with his life. Rukia is his anchor and the first one to have found out that he is gay. She helped him come out to his family, although his father had been surprisingly comprehensive, his mother hugged the life of him and his sisters almost smacked him for being stupid enough to think that this might have changed something between them.

Rukia has just two major flaws: she can't draw for shit and her brother is a major asshole with an ego problem. That dipshit annoys Ichigo so much that sometimes he wants to start a fight with him just for the hell of it. Ichigo takes out his bike in the traffic and wonders briefly what it is that annoys him so much about the guy. Could it be the fact that the man is colder than an iceberg? Or his stiffness? Ichigo is sure that he wouldn't be able to be with such a man in his entire life.

Ichigo has always been a free spirit and, sometimes, even Li Ren doesn't understand that. Also Ichigo has his own burdens that he hides from his family because it feels like his duty. He knows that he has disappointed his father when he hasn't chosen to be a medic too. He also knows that it's not easy to have a son like him. In high school guys used to pick up fights with him because of the colour of his hair, but also because he was a friend with Chad who isn't exactly the friendliest guy ever. Well, not to them anyways. Not to mention that he is more than aware of his scowling. He still wonders why people have voted him as the most popular guy in high school and the one that has the best chances to succeed in what he is doing. Most of the times he feels like a loser.

He has learned for years how to play the piano, and then after he has been through a lot of dark times, he quit. He must have disappointed his mother back then too. He knows that she has always been the one to encourage his more artistic side, once his father failed to draw him to medicine. But Ichigo felt at the time that it was the best decision he could have come up with. But he remained indecisive. He studied for four years at the university veterinary medicine. He still works with animals and loves to be around them and yet he refuses to make a permanent thing out of it. Some of the people that don't know him say that he has commitment issues. Ichigo would tell them that commitment isn't an issue. Being through hell and resurfacing from it is.

Ichigo shakes his head and tries to concentrate as he is parking his bike next to the back door of the club in which he works. At the beginning he thought that he might not make it here because it is very difficult for him to take in big crowds but people have been more than supportive with him and he learnt how to handle many things.

"Yo, Zaraki! What's up?" He yells as soon as he enters when he sees the chief of the protection of the establishment. There are only a couple of men handling the security but for most clients that is more than enough. They wouldn't want to mess with a man that has such a crazy grin as fucking Zaraki Kenpachi. Besides the fact that Zaraki is huge as fucking mountain, he is also quite scary with his manic grin and his bangs that are wilder than Ichigo's.

"Yo, kid! Life is good. The usual. You?" Zaraki greets back as he pulls his hand away from the neck of another barista, called Nnoitra who will most likely be fired. No one messes with Zaraki.

"Nothing much. Is there a problem?" Ichigo asks quietly when Nnoitra disappears from the room.

"Nah, the fucking bastard tried to still from Urahara-san and I thought I should teach him a lesson before he finally goes." Zaraki gets out of the room just as a woman with an impressive chest gets in the room.

"He's fired?" Ichigo wonders because he doesn't care much.

"Fucking finally!" Rangiku, one of the other waitresses, exclaims as she gets in the room where they keep their things. "I was sick and tired to see him staring at my ass."

"Ran-chan, nobody fucking dares to look at your ass!" Gin, one of the other baristas, grins and says. Ichigo would swear that there's something between the two of them. But Gin and Rangiku have always denied anything going on and he hasn't much interest in their love life so he doesn't ask questions.

"They better not." Rangiku smiles back as mischievous as Gin and Ichigo feels suddenly that maybe he should defect the room like Kenpachi before something that he doesn't want to see will happen after all in front of his own very eyes. And yes, Rangiku is very sexy for a chick, but not that sexy.

"Who's working tonight? Besides us?" He asks quickly ready to get out there.

"There's just me, you and Soi-Fon behind the bar tonight." Gin answers without taking his eyes from Rangiku and Ichigo finds that a little creepy but he doesn't care.

"Got it." That means tonight he will have to work harder and try to deflect as many glasses of girlie drinks as possible.

Urahara's Shop as the club is named is a very hip and cool place for the youngest and oldest to meet, especially when they have different sexual tastes. It's a complimentary club where both men and women feel as free as possible. This makes things for Ichigo a little bit difficult but nothing that he can't manage. Another cool thing about the club is the fact that people from all social strata can feel great here. There are businessmen with millions of dollars on their name and there are students with different specializations that take over the world at the moment. There are girls who haven't met a man in their lives and women that know men only too well. There are deep-closeted men who pretend not to watch Ichigo's every move or how his muscles move under the tee and there are men so out it's not even funny anymore.

Ichigo still remembers how freaked out was at the beginning by the freedom that was permitted in the club and the people that frequented it. But he got used to it, especially after he has seen more than once how his co-workers would try to help him in case something was upsetting him. Zaraki has saved his ass more than once from clients who didn't understand the word no and his lieutenant, Ikaku has broken one's ribs for trying to grab Ichigo's ass. Rangiku always has something nice prepared for him to eat and Yoruichi explains everything that he doesn't know how to make. All in all he loves his coworkers and knows that he can call most of them friends. Even Rukia likes most of them and sometimes they hang out on weekends at Urahara's place where his wife, Yoruichi cooks wonderful meals and they eat like savages. Ichigo likes those weekends a lot.

But what he secretly likes the most about them is the fact that they don't judge him. They don't care that he is gay. Hell, half of them have suspicious tastes in genders anyways or they are also gay and that helps. He loves them because they have eased him in this choice of life enough for him to finally accept who he is. It has been hard for him to accept the fact that he was attracted by his gender and in high school there were only fumbled moves and stolen kisses in dark rooms. In university things have changed and thanks to his friends, he was finally able to have a steady boyfriend, who taught him a lot of what it means to be gay. But only with Li Ren he finally discovered the contentment to be with a person that is accepted by his family and friends.

Ichigo starts serving drinks while he discards the innuendoes by moving slowly his hips in the rhythm of the music. He doesn't realize how attractive he is in his obliviousness with his muscles hugged in all the right places by that blue t-shirt and those jeans that love his body. He just hums underneath his breath and sees nothing else, continuously oblivious to his attractiveness. There's smoke and loud music but Ichigo likes the way the rhythm thrums in his heart and pumps in his veins. He smiles at some of the familiar faces, nice clients who tip him but don't ask anything in return. The night is young and he feels a strange energy burning through his body. He slowly dances in the rhythm of the music and he feels like he could go on like this all night. His body shines in the semi-darkness of the club and his tee is definitely is more stuck to his body than usual. An old guy makes a lewd commentary but Zaraki is so fast next to him that sometimes Ichigo thinks that the chief of security has some sixth sense when it comes to things that hurt Ichigo.

"Hey, sexy, you look in a good mood tonight." Rangiku yells above the music making Ichigo blush even if the semi-darkness still protects him. He laughs a little breathless and he tries to deflect the attention from him. He artfully prepares the drinks for her clients.

"It just seems like a good night, isn't it?"

"If you say so." Rangiku shrugs as she sees a woman coming closer to Gin and whispering something in his ear. Ichigo looks at her beautiful face as she slowly crumbles and he hopes that the other man won't do anything. Gin doesn't disappoint him though. He smiles all of the sudden very politely at the woman, but both Rangiku and Ichigo know it's the cold smile that never reaches his eyes and she sighs happily.

"You should just fucking tell him." Ichigo says calmly as he arranges the drinks on her tray.

"Tell him what?" She looks at him a little startled, as she doesn't know what he's talking about. Ichigo smiles mischievously.

"That you love him and want to have his babies for all eternity."

"Kurosaki, sometimes I think you were dropped on your head as a child by your mama." She rolls her eyes. "I can't fucking tell him that, because then he would start hanging out with other women just to make sure that I don't get to be too serious with him and then before I know it, he will sleep around and our relationship will fucked up."

"Jesus, see? This is fucking why I love guys. Women are completely insane when it comes to relationships and stuff."

"Oh, just move your gay ass then and do your fucking job." Rangiku sticks her tongue at him and goes to serve her drinks. She is by far the only one of the girls, who is more tipped than all the others combined.

Ichigo shrugs. It's not his business in the end how the two of them see their thing going on, but he cares about both of them and he hopes that sooner or later they will stop being stupidly blind and go for each other. For real this time. The time always moves fast when he works in the club; he smiles and drinks and talks to people. There's Nel, the sexy stewardess that always leaves him big tips and argues with him about football. She usually leaves with a man by her side but Ichigo likes her very much because she's strong and she doesn't care about giving him shit. Just like Rukia somehow. Then there are Shunsui-san, a good friend of Ukitake-san, who likes to be surrounded by beautiful young women, drinking his sake and talk all night about what happened during his university years. He also had some interesting stories about the nice Ukitake-san and how he used to be before he got sick. There are all those people and his co-workers and he likes it here and he doesn't think that he is capable to throw away this job in the near future.

It's almost five in the morning when Ichigo is finally tired and thinks that he should be going home soon when Urahara-san approaches him.

"Hey, kid, how was it tonight?"

"Good, sir." He smiles a wicked smile that is their sign for making good money. Urahara laughs a little and then he furrows his brows.

"No problem, I hope."

"None that couldn't be taken care of." Ichigo feels a little warm inside for being cared for by so many people.

"Well, then, I have a favour to ask you. Help Youruichi bring some cases of whiskey and sake at home. I would send one of the guys but you know how they are and she said that she works better with you."

"Now, sir?" Ichigo asks because he likes Youruichi also. She's a very strong woman and she likes to help him with his voluntary work, so maybe he should make the same thing. She's also very funny and tells some really good jokes.

"Yeah, we have a party this weekend and if I wait to bring the booze at the end of the week, she's going to skin me alive and then fucking torture me more." Ichigo nods understandingly because if he's to be honest, he feels like Youruichi will be most definitely capable of that. "After you're done, I will ask Yumichika to take you home. He'll bring your bike tomorrow, ok?"

"Yes, sir. Thanks."

"Ok, then. Go. She's waiting for you."

Ichigo goes in the back, changes into a white tee and a black hoodie and goes in the back alley where the luxurious car is already parked and Yumichika and Youruichi talk while having a cigar. Yumichika is Ikaku's more effeminate lover and Youruichi loves him because he knows all there's to know about fashion. On top of that he's been working for them for a very long time. Even longer than Ikaku.

"Yo, kid, you ready to go?" Youruichi says as soon as she sees him and she drops the stub of the cigar while grinning widely at him.

"Heard from the boss you want to carry some booze at home. Do you think that's wise? What will your pompous neighbours will say?"

"Do I look like I care, kido? Let's go. I don't have all night."

In the car they banter friendly and Yumichika just rolls his eyes at them. They are known to get along very well. In fact sometimes Ichigo gets really surprised by how well he fits here. It's the only place where he thinks he's at home with himself and who he is.

Youruichi and Urahara live in an incredible high building, exclusively designed for the rich. From what he gathered from Soi Fon, Youruichi is old money, she's the heiress of one of the most important family in Karakura town; on the other hand, Urahara has always been a widely known entrepreneur, smart in investing and the club is just a small part of his business. The building is designed to show just about how much money these people have. Each floor contains just one apartment and the elevator stops with a special password. Everything is high tech and spacious. They have a doorman who apparently is trained by the Special Forces and acts out as security as well. It is said that Kaien Shiba, the owner of the best task force in town lives there too.

Ichigo doesn't like this kind of environment. He thinks that people should know their place in this world and have money to get by. If he had have money, he would start to make shelters for the youth with problems of integration and adaptation and don't spend them on stupid things like owning an apartment in a building where nobody knows their neighbours.

When Yumichika parks the car Ichigo feels a little sick. He forgot the fact that he would have to use the elevator; another reason why he hates the fucking high buildings. For crying out loud, wouldn't it be better for them to live in a house? Or a complex like his? Damn it. He ignores the sudden churn of his stomach and the trembling hands and picks up the cases. Between him and Yumichika, they manage to take most of them. Someone has to do a second trip and of course once they're up, it's clear that person is going to be him.

Ichigo rolls his eyes as he goes down and takes the second share of cases. There are three left and he barely sees where he walks. He gets in the elevator and he barely notices that he's not the only one getting in. Looks like there's another person in it coming from a late night in the town.

"Could you press 24 for me, please? Thank you" He mumbles as he barely holds the cases.

The stranger presses the desired number and Ichigo feels like he grabbed God by the leg. With any luck, he will be home before he knows it and maybe sneak in bed right next to Li Ren, sleep for a couple of hours holding him in his arms. Lured by such pleasant dreams, he almost doesn't notice that the elevator has stopped. His body freezes as a cold sweat breaks on his back. He carefully lowers the cases on the floor and looks a little panicked at the back of the stranger.

"What happened?"

"Apparently there's a small circuit that took a wrong command. If we wait patiently for five minutes, everything will be working just fine."

Ichigo swallows thickly. He knows the fucking voice and he feels like he just wants for that damn elevator to go down. Because he knows now that in the elevator, there's Byakuya Kuchiki and he just doesn't feel like facing him right now. Ok, so he has to wait for five damn minutes. It can't be that bad. I mean, what's five minutes for a guy that hates elevators and freaks out every time they think like they should be stopping between floors? Even in fancy buildings like this one.

Ok, it won't be that bad, he tells himself even as his hands start to tremble more and more and he is sweating hard. He feels like there's a claw taking over his chest, grabbing his bruised ribs and pressing them together. His breath becomes harsh and he feels like back then, when there was no air inside of him, when he was thinking that he was going to die. The claw grabs tighter at his heart this time and his breath comes in hitches. And Ichigo wants to die because he surely doesn't want to show to this dipshit how weak he is. But he can't help it, he can't control his traitorous body and he slowly lets his back lean on the artificial wall, lowering himself on the ground. He keeps his eyes closed and there's nausea inside his system. He doesn't want to feel like that but there's nothing he can do about it other than to cope until everything ends.

"What's the matter?" A soothing voice asks him just as a cold hand brushes his bangs from the forehead and down his scalp. He knows it's Byakuya's and he should at least open his eyes but he's afraid that the man will stop doing this. This calming movement through his hair that makes him want to purr like a cat.

"I don't like confined spaces, like elevators." He mumbles afraid that he might seem weak, that he just managed to humiliate himself in front of this man who doesn't care about anything and anyone. And he blames the conditions in which he is when the other man moves a little closer and he keeps his soothing hand and his nostrils get invaded by a strong musky scent, combined with a strange alluring cologne. Ichigo feels a painful need to get closer to the source of that scent and he lets his forehead slowly collapse at the juncture of the shoulder and the neck of the other man. And he suddenly feels sick for an entire different reason. He feels his stomach churn and his insides want to spill on the outside because there's no way he is feeling that. There's not way he should be feeling this just because of a small movement like that.

Because all of the sudden, Ichigo has the strong immense relief that he is finally home.