Completely Entwined.
I hope you've liked my responses to your reviews, I must admit to have quite a good chuckle with you!
Now its really late, so excuse my mistakes please!
The Mansion...
Byakuya enjoyed these quiet moments in the house, he'd never admit it to Ichigo, but he found the mornings caring for the youngest of the Kunicki clan quite refreshing. Okay so it had only been a week, but he loved it.
The infant now nearing his fifth week had grumbled his way through a bath and laid very content now in his fathers arms as he tried to focus on the face smiling down at him.
Byakuya couldn't help but smile at the warm gray eyes that were blinking and staring at him intently. He let one of the waving hands grab hold of his finger with its mighty grip and began to rock his hips swaying the child.
With a quiet rumble of his voice, Byakuya began to sing an old lullaby he had heard Ichigo singing. Yoshinori blinked and made a wide yawn as his fathers tone softly crooned. His eyes slowly closed and his grasp fell from the finger as a contented sigh came from his delicate lips. Byakuya brushed the downy soft black hair and leant to kiss the sweet smelling infant still in awe at the immense feeling of love he felt so quickly for his own child.
Byakuya turned to take the baby to his crib and halted as a rush of discomfort filled him.
Ichigo leant against the door jam and grinned. Renji, leant against the opposite and also grinned.
"Ya got a good voice Taicho." Renji grinned the wider. "Y'ain't going soft nows are ya?"
"Leave him alone, he looks gorgeous with a baby in his arms." Ichigo smiled and approached his lover, leaning in to first kiss the baby and then Byakuya.
"To what do we owe this pleasure Abarai?" Byakuya was not at all concerned about kissing with Renji present anymore.
"I'm trying to arrange a night out, we needed to see you about it." Ichigo said stroking his sons hair. "And I feel a need to feed this tyke."
"How d'ya know when it needs to feed. Looks pretty peaceful if ya ask me."
"Well I sort of get a bit…plumper." Ichigo said as he tried to take the baby.
"What?" Renji asked.
"You call them boobs!" Ichigo shot him a glare. "Start the jokes and I'll set Byakuya on you!"
"So ya even more like a girl. No wonder you're a miserable bastard some days."
"Renji, you can be real dense about these things. But even I had to have some 'lessons' about the monthly shit girls go through and I can tell you, I understand why they get pissed at stupid comments from men about being grumpy."
"You were always grumpy!" Renji retorted and even Byakuya smirked at that one.
…
The idea of a night out appealed a lot to Ichigo and he enjoyed getting dressed into normal clothes. The guys had found a bar with a dance floor and band, not their usual hang out, apparently but Ichigo was in the mood for a dance. He couldn't remember the last time he had a good wriggle on a dance floor. Probably when he was about twelve at an aunts and his dad did his usual goofy moves. Ichigo chuckled at the memory and Byakuya looked over from doing up his tie.
"If I get as embarrassing as my dad, you will let me know won't you."
"I don't know how your mother did it." Byakuya responded dryly and Ichigo chuckled again.
Byakuya looked good in his black suit. He teamed it with a black shirt that had silver stripes and a silver gray tie. He left his hair down much to Ichigo's delight and slid his feet into glossy black shoes. Damn tasty. Ichigo smiled and licked his lips ready to devour him already.
"I know you look good what about me?" Ichigo asked turning on the spot. Byakuya looked his lover up and down admiring the tan leather shoes, brown skinny leg trousers and cream shirt left revealingly open. Byakuya went to his dresser and pulled out a necklace.
"This was given to me by my father, it always looked ridiculous on me, but on you…" He fastened the tight ivory coral looking necklace around Ichigo's throat and turned the man to the mirror. "Looks as if it were made for you." Ichigo ran his fingers round the oval beads that sat just beneath his adams apple.
"What's it made of?"
"He told me some grizzly tale about Hollows teeth, but I don't think it really is."
"You dad sounds as nutty as mine."
"Except mine thought that scaring the wits out of me made me a man." Byakuya shrugged.
"I think our son is proof of your manliness." Ichigo laughed taking his lovers hands and leaning forward into a kiss. "Thank you."
They were just about to leave when an elder stepped out of the shadows.
"My humble apologies, can I have a quick word?" The greying man looking to Byakuya and Ichigo sighed.
One night off shouldn't be too much to ask should it?
"You go on, I'll meet you there." Byakuya shooed Ichigo from the house.
…
The bar was a good choice, not over crowded and the band was actually quite with it. Ichigo recognised several of the songs and could have sworn that the singer was the lead singer of Red Blazers who'd died from an overdose a couple of years ago. Still he guessed even Ghandi was running around the place somewhere.
Matsumoto was happy to be dragged onto the dance floor and wriggle her assets with Ichigo who seemed to be having a wale of a time with his hands in the air, thrusting his beautiful little body around and singing his heart out. It was good to see him like this and the friends shared a happy smile.
Rukia dragged Renji up and they joined the merry crowd laughing at Ikkaku who was drunk way too early and doing his victory dance on his toes like a ballet dancer.
Byakuya slid in the door unnoticed from the others bar Zaraki who's turn it was to get the drinks. He beckoned the noble over.
"What you having?"
"What ever Ichigo is drinking?" He replied turning to search for him. His eyes fell on the laughing face and suggestive dance up against Rangiku and felt a pang of jealousy. Still he looked happy and he'd walk over hot coals to keep that face on his lover.
"What ever your doing to the kid, don't stop will ya." Kenpachi pushed a juice into the nobles hand. "If he's like that just on fruit juice, he must be one happy shit face."
"If he didn't have his children, I guess this is what he would have been doing." The noble found himself confessing and feeling a pang of guilt for tying him down again. Ichigo looked over and saw him and gave him a smile, Byakuya smiled back.
"Well hell Kunicki, looks like the kids just as good for you. I don't think I've ever seen ya smile before." The tall man grinned. "Going to show us your dance moves too?" He asked thinking the man would say no and sit around looking noble all night.
"I might just do that." The noble answered dryly giving the 11th Captain a coronary in the process and moved away towards his lover.
Ichigo smiled widely as the dark haired stunner approached.
"Never!" Rukia shook her head in disbelief as her brother stepped foot onto the dance floor.
"Hey good looking!" Ichigo grabbed hold of Byakuya's tie and pulled the man close. Wolf whistles rang out around them as Ichigo continued pulling him until their lips met and crushed together. Byakuya slid a leg between Ichigo's and held his rump against his hips.
Their lips parted and both men smiled at each other.
"Missed you." Byakuya breathed heavily loving the way Ichigo wrapped his arms around his neck and began rocking them in time with the music. Byakuya fell into the rhythm and pulled Ichigo back for another kiss.
It seemed to catch on pretty quick and people soon coupled off to bump and grind next to the shameless couple who started it and now foreheads together, noses rubbing, stood almost having sex on the dance floor with wide grins on their faces and not caring for the world around them.
The band went for a break and the crowd settled back at the tables. Ichigo sat next to Byakuya and smiled up at the captain as he slid his fingers in-between Ichigo's and pulled their entwined hands onto his thigh. What ever had made the reserved man open up tonight, Ichigo was pleased. Every one knew they were together so the point in promoting a no touching policy out in public seemed a little odd. They had produced a child for pity's sake! However all that seemed firmly behind them as the noble leant in towards Ichigo and they listened in on the jokes flying around.
"There was this old guy sitting on a bench and he looked at a punk who sat down. This punk had a Mohican hair cut dyed all bright colours and a mean attitude. He looked at the old guy and said, 'What never done anything adventurous in ya life?' and the old man says back, 'Yeah fucked a peacock when I was younger I wondered if you were my son!" The tears rolled down Renji's face and Yumichika slapped Ikkaku on the back as he choked on his drink.
Ichigo laughed and shook his head, he wished he could remember jokes and everyone silenced as Byakuya began to speak, not believing what they were hearing.
"I only recall one joke…"
It wasn't only Rukia that was suddenly faced with a dilemma. Several of them suddenly found themselves wondering if they should laugh politely when this joke fell flat as it surely would, death was not the favourable option and all waited tense for the joke of the night.
"There was a man, he felt quite pleased with himself for attracting a pleasant woman in her early fifties. Well she asked him home and he agreed. In the car she asked if he had ever done a mother daughter 'thing' before and he replied no, but he was willing to try. Silently he rubbed his hands with glee, well if this is what the mother looks like the daughter should be great! They arrive at the woman's home and he starts to shed his clothes as he hears the woman stand at the bottoms of the stairs and shout up, Mother put your teeth in, I've brought a boyfriend home!" The table fell into instant laughter and Ichigo looked at the smiling man shaking his head.
"Alright, who are you and what have you done with Byakuya?" The table laughed again.
"Everyone else liked my joke."
"I just need proof of who you are!" Ichigo laughed. "All this dancing socialising and laughing it's not good for your reputation you know."
Byakuya smiled at the teasing in Ichigo's eyes and closed the small gap between them. His lips parted slightly as his tongue pressed gently in between Ichigo's. It was a soft sensual I love you as his tongue just lightly caressed his lovers before tugging gently at his lower lip. Byakuya pulled away and looked at Ichigo's misty eyes.
"Where's the damn camera when you need one!" Rangiku laughed. "Ahh." She added as they sat heads together.
"Bucket of water! Renji get a bucket of water!" Ikkaku laughed nudging the man.
"Proof enough?" Byakuya asked sipping his drink.
"Very." A flushed Ichigo answered. "I've lost the use of my legs."
The band started up again and Rukia dragged Renji up, the others began to follow suit and Byakuya looked to Ichigo as they were the only ones left, even Kenpachi was on the dance floor.
"Dance?"
"Answers." Ichigo refused shaking his head. "What's going on with you?"
"I'm not allowed to unwind?"
"There's unwind and then there's unwind mister."
"Lets just say, we have reason to celebrate." He smiled grabbed Ichigo's hand and dragged him to his feet.
"Hey and where did you learn to dance so dirty?" Ichigo asked smiling widely as Byakuya pressed himself behind Ichigo and the younger man reached around to capture those lips again over his shoulder.
"My misspent youth my father never fortunately knew about." Byakuya whispered before kissing him. "Following Hisana into what could only be described as the dives of Rangoli's lower districts."
…
Ichigo stood urinating into the urinal and nodded at Ikkaku as the bald man came to stand beside him, although Ichigo wouldn't have been too surprised if he fell over any minute now due to how drunk he was.
"Hey, hey. Sgreat to's sees ya appy." He slurred. Ichigo looked at him frowning. "I mean times back then ya didn't seem ta be ya know after tha old bastard Ai…Ai...Aizen did wha he did ta ya…Jusss wanna tell ya, its sgreat to sees yas appy, even if ya with old … frosty face."
Ichigo stood there his mind suddenly recoiling. Just the mention of Aizen and Ichigo felt his evening suddenly going to ruin. The one person he hadn't given any thought to for a good few days now was that bastard and all of a sudden just the thought of him made him want to retreat back to the sanctuary of the mansion.
"Hey yas okays?" Ikkaku patted the shocked looking captain on the arm.
"Oh er yeah." Ichigo shook himself and gave a false smile. Ikkaku gave him a nod and a knowing wink which just looked creepy and left the room.
The music boomed around the tiny bathroom and Ichigo stood against the wall, trying to summon the courage to go back out side without anyone knowing how shit he suddenly felt. He closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths and plastered a smile on his face. The first person he saw was Byakuya at the bar.
Byakuya looked at the face Ichigo had on and immediately was on the alert. He could tell an Ichigo fake smile and sense the change in the man's energy.
"What's happened?" He asked taking one of Ichigo's hands in his own.
"Can we go home now?" Ichigo tried to sound cheerful.
"We can. Why?"
"I'm tired. I want to check on the kids." He smiled and gave Byakuya's porcelain cheek a quick kiss.
"Ichigo." Byakuya slid an arm around the mans waist and pulled him closer. Ichigo rested his head on Byakuya's shoulder and paused taking in the scent that always made him want his lover.
"Please." Ichigo asked quietly.
"Not until you tell me." The deep voice rumbled through his chest and into Ichigo's ear, who raised his head and shrugged.
"Just something someone said."
"About what?" What ever it was, it wasn't easy for Ichigo to shrug off, that much was obvious and Byakuya was not prepared to let it slide. Who ever it was needed a quick lesson in respect for the Kuniki's.
"Not about what, who." Ichigo's eyes finally revealed how much he was off kilter and Byakuya yet again cursed the day Aizen Sosuke was born.
"Who upset you?" He stepped forward looking ready to kill someone; Ichigo quickly put his hands on the mans chest to stop him.
"No, Byakuya, he meant well. Its just me isn't it and my stupid brain. Please, can we go now?"
"You were having such a good night."
"And I still have. But I've got five kids and one of them will want me up in a couple of hours for a feed and I just want to be with you." Ichigo wasn't lying, he had had a good night and enjoyed having some time with Byakuya and their friends. It was unusual to get so many hours in one go without interruptions from the kids.
This many years down the line, Byakuya had never anticipated that Ichigo could still get so wound up by what had happened to him. In his heart of hearts he wanted to wipe the memory of Aizen Sosuke from his memory and replace it all with something else much nicer. Lets face it the technology was there for the use, he just knew he couldn't do it. Ichigo was Ichigo because of everything that had happened to him, without the tyrants influence, he was sure that they would never have admitted they liked each other, hell or even found out they liked each other.
Byakuya wrapped his arms around the muscular shoulders.
"I'd take you to the moon if you wanted me to." He kissed the ear not pressing into his chest and felt the sigh his lover gave. Well, Ichigo wasn't lying when he said he was tired, a five week baby, feeding routines and a return to work must be enough without seeing to the other four children.
…
"Talking has always helped you Ichgio." Byakuya said as they stepped into the darkened bedroom. Byakuya leant to light the lamp next to their bed and watched Ichigo's doubtful face.
"How long can I keep boring you with my emotional rubbish? Its always the same thing over and over; don't you get fed up with me?"
"I told you I will always be here for you."
"No one can make it go away you know. That's the whole problem. Its as if we are linked somehow and he keeps drawing me towards his life. Because of his manipulations I am now leading his old division and having to walk past that house that scares me shitless. Its like its calling to me to come inside and when I do I'll find the bastard sitting there with that smug grin asking me what took so long."
Either that or a skeleton sitting in a rocking chair. Hichigo added for good measure and Ichigo silently thanked the evil bastard for his help.
…
Ichigo had not fallen asleep by the time he heard Yoshinori wake for his night time feed at 2 am. He took the baby from its crib in their room and sat back on the bed to slip a breast into the noisy mouth. The urgent search for the prize ended with a tight damp clamping around Ichigo's nipple and forceful sucking.
The parchment coloured cheeks puffed and hollowed to the sucking motion and wide steely coloured eyes looked up at Ichigo. Tiny hands with razor sharp fingernails clawed at his chest and the waft of baby products filled the immediate area.
Ichigo ran his finger over the soft skin and dark downy hair. Biased or not, this child was going to be a heart breaker. He had all the traits that made his father so gorgeous.
Drawn as ever to the delicate little feet, Ichigo lifted a leg to look at the wonderful tiny toes.
"Are you sure you do not have a foot fetish?" Byakuya's sleepy drawl make the ginger haired mother look at the person watching him with a smile. "You always look at his feet."
"Babies feet are so beautiful."
"Yes and they turn into those huge gangly things that Tamotsu walks around with!"
"Byakuya?"
"Ichigo?"
"I love you you know." The words were soft, sincere and completely out of the blue.
Byakuya pulled himself to sit and leaned to kiss Ichigo softly on the lips. "You've be laying here awake all this time just to tell me something you tell me everyday?"
"No…I don't mean I love you, I mean I love you…I mean that…you're just everything I ever wanted. All that time with Sosuke…I'm glad you kept trying to get through to me."