A/N: Sorry for the long wait. Too much work, too less time... :) This is the final chapter. I hope you like even it once again became a little mushy...

Warnings: English is not my mother language, so grammar mistakes and wrong/missing word(s) and etc. are very possible. Please, try to understand, I still do my best.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything! Bleach and the characters belongs to Tite Kubo. This is just a pure fanfiction! I get no credit from doing this!

Thanks! Hope you like! :)

Chapter 3 – The Alpha Male

The more Ichigo thought about it, the more embarrassed he felt. He was still quite embarrassed about what had happened at the captains meeting – but now more about how he had acted.

It was painful, but he had to admit it.

Kenpachi was right.

Maybe he had always been right.

Ichigo had been so angry that he had almost had a migraine! Then he had had forced himself to calm down. He had sat down – and had thought the whole thing trough. First, he had thought that he had been right and Kenpachi had been wrong. Of course: the man was an idiot and Ichigo did not want to see him ever again.

Dot – or an exclamation mark.

However, Ichigo had also tried to understand why Kenpachi had done such a thing. He had still been very angry and humiliated – but then he had remembered something what Kenpachi had once said to him:

"You know, Ichi, I don't want to just play with you."

Ichigo did not remember when Kenpachi had said that but now he understood what he had actually meant. If it had been: "I don't want to play with you", it would have been okay.

But it had been: "I don't want to just play with you."

That "just."

"He thinks I'm not serious with him…" Ichigo had realized. "He thinks I'm – oh, God, that fucking imbecile!" Ichigo had almost sprinted out – but had then remembered what he had done. He had thrown an inkbottle on him. Ichigo knew Kenpachi was strong. He probably did not even felt that hit.

But that look on his face had been so sad.

Ichigo sat down again, sighed and decided he should probably just bang his head against his desk because he was so stupid. So he did. Three times. The third time hurt so much Ichigo winced and decided to stop and just laid back on his chair and stared the ceiling…

The time had passed and it was now already dark. Ichigo was still in his office. Suddenly there was a knock. Ichigo did not say anything but whoever was behind that door decided to come in anyway. Ichigo looked up – and saw Rukia.

"Hey", Rukia smiled.

"Hey", Ichigo said quietly but he had no strength to smile.

"It's late", Rukia said. "Shouldn't you go home?"

Ichigo closed his eyes and shook his head. Going home meant he had to go to Kenpachi's place. He was staying at that place now when he was in Seireitei. He was not sure if he had enough courage to face Kenpachi yet.

Rukia smiled and sat down.

"Rough day?" she asked, quietly.

Ichigo just nodded.

"Want to talk about it?"

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you", Ichigo sighed. "I don't know what to do anymore."

"It's okay, Ichigo. I don't mind. Actually, I already suspected something. When you told me that you're staying at 6th Division's Barracks and then Renji told me you had told him that you're staying at 13th Division's Barracks."

"I'm so sorry, Rukia…"

"I told you, it's okay", Rukia smiled, shaking her head. "We were just worried about you. We thought captain Kurotsuchi had kidnapped you for his experiments!" Rukia laughed and Ichigo smiled.

"Really, Ichigo, it's okay. Why you're so sad?"

"Because…" Ichigo tried to wipe his tears away: where did that all liquid came from? "Because… I think Ken hates me now", Ichigo noticed too late he had used Kenpachi's nickname – but did not correct it.

Rukia knew. It did not matter anymore.

"Why you're thinking something like that?" Rukia frowned.

Ichigo was too ashamed to talk about it, so he just shook his head.

"Did you have a fight?"

"Yes", Ichigo nodded.

"Well, Ichigo, I've known captain Zaraki for years – I knew him even before you were born. I know his personality quite well. He's not unforgiving."

"You didn't see how he looked at me", Ichigo sighed.

"I think you should go home", Rukia smiled.

"No."

"Come on, Ichigo, what could go wrong?"

"He probably sits there in the shadows with his blade and waits for me to come so he can –"

"Ichigo", Rukia shook her head.

"Okay, maybe not", Ichigo smiled somehow, but not long. He sighed and rubbed his forehead with his thumbs. He had learned that from Kenpachi and felt tears in his eyes once again. How it was possible to love someone so much?

"Oh, God", Ichigo whispered. "I have to apologize him."

Rukia smiled and nodded.

…

Ichigo saw that the whole house was dark. His heart was cold and heavy right then. He managed to open the door. It was difficult since he did not even see the keyhole in the darkness.

Everything looked normal when he came in and closed the door behind him. Oh, he had never realized how much he even loved this house… There were Kenpachi and Yachiru's clothes were in the front hall. When Ichigo had started to spend more time in here, he had tried to keep it clean. Kenpachi and Yachiru were two worst types of bohemians…

Ichigo looked into the kitchen and saw a small note on the table. His heart skipped and he walked closer to see what it was. He was afraid, no doubt about it. But he forced himself to read it:

"Ichi!

If you are hungry, take something from the freezer. But do not dare to touch the banana yoghurt, it is mine!

Yachiru."

Ichigo smiled. Little Yachiru...

"I'm so happy, Ken-chan and Ichi! I always knew you two would be a perfect match! I'm so happy, because I can see Ken-chan is happy and I'm happy because Ichi is happy and I'm happy because you guys are happy because you both are happy and I'm so happy for your happiness and – "

"Breath", Kenpachi had told when Yachiru had whined the last words out and was already bluish.

Ichigo was not hungry. He looked up the stairs. It was dark and quiet. Ichigo swallowed and made a decision: whatever would happen he would deserve it. If Kenpachi did not want him around anymore, it would be okay.

The door was ajar. Kenpachi usually always closed the bedroom door. What did this mean? It was ajar… Was it "come in" sign or "I dare you to" sign? Ichigo collected his courage and stepped in.

The room was empty. Ichigo gulped. Where - ?

Steps.

Ichigo turned around. Kenpachi was standing there behind him. He looked Ichigo for a moment, not even blinking. For a few seconds his hand rested on the doorknob – then he just pulled the door shut behind his back.

"I putted Yachiru in bed", Kenpachi said simply.

"Oh, okay", Ichigo nodded. He felt guilty: it was usually his job to put Yachiru in her bed now days. The reason: Yachiru had told that Ichigo tells better bedtime stories.

Ichigo opened his mouth in order to say something but Kenpachi just sat down on the edge of the bed and started to take his clothes off. That meant he was tired and wanted to go to sleep. Ichigo knew he had to hurry…

"Ken, I –"

"I don't want to force you to stay here, Ichigo", Kenpachi said when he pulled his shirt off. "If you need time then you have to take that time. But I'm tired of this stupid game, Ichigo. I don't want to fight about this anymore, okay? If you still need some time then take that time somewhere else."

Ichigo almost fell down when he heard how cold Kenpachi's voice was. He felt panic rising inside him and tried to talk once again. Was Kenpachi this angry?

Kenpachi pulled his pants off also so he had only his underwear on. Ichigo gulped and forced his eyes to look into his eyes, not anywhere lower. Kenpachi was taking his eye patch off.

"Ken, listen, please…"

Kenpachi just sighed heavily, took the eye patch off and looked into Ichigo's eyes. He looked very tired and also sad – and disappointed.

"Ichigo, I… don't want to be just a toy…"

"You're not!"

"Well, why I'm feeling like that then, huh? It feels like I'm just a some sort of a… secret sex toy to you!"

"Ken!"

"Stop calling me that! You don't even mean it."

"Ken!" Ichigo shouted out very loud. "No -! Listen to me, please. Just this once, please! I have to tell something to you, but please, listen to me first. After that you can toss me out if you want, but… please."

Kenpachi looked at Ichigo. No, it was more a glare than anything else. He sighed, pushed hair away from his face with his hand and just nodded. Ichigo sighed and closed his eyes for a moment.

"I'm sorry. I was stupid. I should have acted differently from the very beginning. You were right and I was wrong – and I'm sorry that I've pushed you around so much. This must have been more difficult to you than it has been to me…" Ichigo sighed, furiously wiping his eyes with his thumbs. Seriously, how much liquid he had in his eyes…?

"I'm sorry I shouted at you and threw that bottle on you. It wasn't your fault. I don't know why this is so difficult to me but I know now that you have been right all along. I'm sorry, Kenpachi, really."

Kenpachi just sat there. He did not say anything.

"Okay. That's all I wanted to say", Ichigo whispered, still wiping tears off. "Bye then."

Ichigo stepped closer the door. He was just reaching the doorknob with his hand when he was pulled back with not so friendly way. He yelped and grabbed the strong arm, which had wrapped around his waist like a snake.

"Kenpachi -!" Ichigo yelped when Kenpachi forced him to turn around so he saw his face.

Oh, God, not that smile again… What's he's up to now…?

Kenpachi grabbed Ichigo's waist – and lifted him off the ground. He had never done anything like that before so Ichigo struggled against this sudden move. Kenpachi held him in his arms so that Ichigo had no choice than keep himself up against his body by wrapping his legs around Kenpachi's waist.

"Kenpachi, what in the -?"

Kenpachi smirked. Ichigo stared into his eyes. He was grinning but there were tears in his eyes.

"Ken… pachi?"

"Ichi", Kenpachi was so close Ichigo had to gulp and he blushed even more. Kenpachi's low voice quaked his whole body. "Where are you going?"

Ichigo just stared. Kenpachi's grin turned into a real smile.

"Huh, Ichi?"

"You mean you let me stay?" Ichigo was still uncertain. "Even after what I've caused to you? Even I threw an inkbottle on you and made you – and Yachiru - feel miserable?"

"Hell yeah!" Kenpachi smiled wildly. "Ichi, I love you."

Ichigo smiled. He wiped one tear off from his cheek. "I love you too, Ken."

"You're an idiot but - hell – that's just makes you cute", Kenpachi grinned.

"I take that one back: I hate you", Ichigo waved his hand but smiled. "Uh… could you put me down?"

Ichigo took a firm grip from Kenpachi when he was about to put him down on the bed. Kenpachi had sometimes a rough manner to put Ichigo on bed, in other words: throw him. Only when Ichigo was completely on the bed he let go off Kenpachi, who just grinned. He also came on the bed, on his back and sighed heavily.

Ichigo smiled and closed his eyes. He did not cry anymore, he had no longer any tears left. He curled closer the tall shinigami and hugged him. Ichigo felt Kenpachi's bony hipbone under his tummy and moved slightly away from it: it really was bony and that is why it was also sharp...

"Did you bring any lube?"

Ichigo blushed: "We're really out of it?"

Kenpachi nodded. Ichigo blushed even more: "I thought it was only a part of your trick…"

Kenpachi laughed and sighed. Ichigo smiled.

"Well, I'm too tired anyway…" Kenpachi said, accepting his faith. "But if you want I could lick or rub you, Ichi…"

"No, thanks", Ichigo blushed: he could never get used to how Kenpachi spoke these things as if they would be nothing more than a tea party. "I'm tired too."

"Sorry I made you cry so much…" Kenpachi still stroked Ichigo's hair and was now also petting his back with his other hand. "I wanted to shock you but not that much."

"It's okay. I needed that wake up call", Ichigo smiled, climbed higher so he could kiss Kenpachi's lips. "Thank you, Ken. I love you more than you know."

"You're welcome, Ichi", Kenpachi grinned. "I love you too… and I'm glad you came back…"

His eyes were already close and Ichigo smiled when he looked at him.

"Ken", Ichigo still wanted to say something.

He got no respond: Kenpachi had fallen asleep. He did not snore but he was puffing. Ichigo smiled and pressed cheek against Kenpachi's chest. Yachiru had once told him that Kenpachi was a good pillow. Ichigo closed his eyes: she was right. He had strong heartbeat and his body was almost abnormally warm…

Kenpachi mumbled something in his sleep. Ichigo was not sure did he hear right but he could have sworn Kenpachi said: "I'm the alpha male…"

Ichigo decided to pretend he had not heard anything.

THE END