Zangetsu undid Ichigo's binds, slowly and with care as to not scare Ichigo further. He kissed those burns and they immediately began healing. Zangetsu grinned as Ichigo stared at him. Sometimes it seemed like Ichigo forgot he was on his side. Then a frown and a glare appeared on Zangetsu's features, as his eyes spotted the cut on Ichigo's cheek. Ichigo squeezed his eyes shut as Zangetsu leaned in to his face. He could feel the Hollow's warm tongue gliding across his cheek, and Ichigo shuddered. It was almost pleasurable, if not for the incident that had happened moments ago.
"There, see?" Ichigo's eyes snapped open at the sound of Zangetsu's voice.
"Thanks…" Ichigo spoke softly. He slowly pulled up his boxers, noting dully to himself that Zangetsu hadn't once looked anywhere but his face the whole time. He smiled to himself at the odd respect that developed between himself and his Zanpakuto.
"Yer gonna want this, as well…" Zangetsu removed his Shihakusho and placed it over Ichigo's shoulders.
Ichigo nodded and slowly stood up. He slid his arms through the white Shihakusho sleeves, and wrapped it around his body. Zangetsu was content to just let Ichigo walk on his own, but then he noticed Ichigo's quivering hands. Ichigo was limping as well. Zangetsu placed an arm around Ichigo's waist, then around the back of his knees, and he lifted him up into his arms.
Ichigo immediately protested, "I am not your damsel in distress! Put me down!"
"Like hell!" Zangetsu chuckled, "And let someone else touch ya? I don't think so."
Ichigo, somewhat shocked by his hollow's concerned tone, slowly nodded. He surrendered right then and there, out of sheer comfort, and let his head rest in the crevasse between Zangetsu's chest and arm.
"We're goin' back to yer apartment, yeah?"
He slowly nodded in response. Ichigo had, in fact, moved out that past summer into an apartment on the other side of town.
Zangetsu slightly sighed as he watched Ichigo drift to sleep. He could still feel his King shaking, and it bothered him how badly those punks had scared Ichigo. He didn't think his King was weak. He knew his King wasn't weak. Those men had really gotten to his King, especially if Ichigo had summoned Zangetsu. He wouldn't do that unless it was a last resort… even Ichigo knew what his Zanpakuto would do to anyone that hurt him. Zangetsu grinned a little at that; he liked that Ichigo knew he was more possessive than the other Zanpakuto. It made Zangetsu feel special.
Once they reached the apartment, Zangetsu didn't bother going in through the doors. He jumped, careful to move slowly as to not wake Ichigo, up to the balcony. It was the only savings grace of this godforsaken apartment: the view. Especially at night, the stars hung low over the town, and just about blended with the town lights. There was, thankfully, not enough light pollution to hide the stars, but just enough that the sky looked like a reflection. Zangetsu opened the glass door and walked in, the light breeze making the curtains dance behind him. He placed Ichigo down in the overly large bed, the blankets wraping around him.
Ichigo didn't care for the blankets, however, and instead snuggled Zangetsu's Shihakusho. The boy smiled as Zangetsu's presence filled the room. It was comforting in all the right ways, bringing harmony to his senses.
Zangetsu gently placed a hand on Ichigo's head, but Ichigo flinched away. When Ichigo was younger, all the bullies ever seemed to do was pull on his hair. Zangetsu didn't doubt that those three men had brought that fear back to life. Zangetsu sighed, this time letting a little more of his reiatsu gather in his palm before moving to pet Ichigo. Ichigo, sensing the reiatsu as safe, allowed Zangetsu's touch. Slow, gentle brushing turned into elaborate playing with Ichigo's hair. It was truly as soft as it looked.
"There ya go, King… nice an' easy." Zangetsu bowed his head to deliver a kiss to Ichigo's forehead.
Ichigo's arms suddenly wrapped around Zangetsu, pulling his head down lower so their lips met. Ichigo kissed him, gently, yet desperately. Zangetsu responded with just as much care to be gentle, not wanting to break Ichigo after the events of today. Ichigo groaned a little, enticing Zangetsu into kissing with just a little more aggression, to which Zangetsu responded with teeth gently tugging at Ichigo's lower lip. He felt Ichigo shiver, this one of obvious delight and pleasure. Ichigo sighed happily as he pulled away. Zangetsu's arms had wound up around Ichigo, embracing him in a sturdy hug. Zangetsu helped lower Ichigo back onto the bed, the young adult's injuries taking too much of a toll on his body for him to properly support himself. As a result Zangetsu had Ichigo in his arms and the King slept soundly on Zangetsu's chest. The Shihakusho somewhat tangled, but still laying across Ichigo's body for warmth.
"What was that…?" Zangetsu questioned as he moved his arms snuggly around Ichigo's hips.
"Mm… I just… really wanted to do that…" Ichigo mumbled.
Zangetsu would've been amused, had he not been just a little upset. "Ichigo… you know you don't just kiss people for no reason."
"…" Ichigo moved around so he wasn't tangled up in the Shihakusho anymore. He took most of his weight off of Zangetsu then rested his head under Zangetsu's chin, a hand also on the Hollow's chest. "I just… wanted to do that, to thank you… to show you… I care about you too…"
"Yeah, well…" Zangetsu did chuckle this time. "Kissing suggests that ya more than just care, King."
Ichigo sighed, "Maybe I do… You're the only one who protects me…"
Zangetsu didn't need to hear any more. He knew the value of that statement. Ichigo protected everyone, and would sacrifice his life in a second. It wasn't that Ichigo wasn't willing to sacrifice himself for Zangetsu, it was the fact that he'd allow Zangetsu to sacrifice his life for Ichigo… to defend him. It's not something the protector of all really wanted to admit to, but Zangetsu knew he was the only support Ichigo had to fall back to, that he'd willingly fall back to.
"Don't ya worry, King. I'll always be here to keep you safe."
Ichigo smiled, "I wasn't worried…"