Disclaimer: I do not own BLEACH or its characters, Tite Kubo does; I do what I do out of fun and I make no money from writing this.

WARNING: Epic fluff, kitty cuteness, dad/dad smutness danger for this chapter, hope you won't mind!

Thank you for reviewing! As a result, here's a super-fast update! I thought I ought to write as much as possible while I have the time…

BLEACH: Mission Impossible

Chapter 6

'All love that has not friendship for its base,
Is like a mansion built upon the sand.
' ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ichigo felt horrible. No, beyond horrible. He felt like a whole bunch of the most disgusting, lowliest worms of the universe. It tore him apart when he stepped inside his bedroom with a sickening churn in his stomach over the fact that he was probably going to hurt Grimmjow with being honest but knowing it had to be done and… not finding him there. The window was still open and his room and the house suddenly felt very empty. His chest felt like it was some sort of too-tight steel armour and the guilty squeeze felt murderous. Ichigo knew he had to look for his friend, because if he didn't find him, he would never be able to go on.

What happened to him? Was he really so stubborn he ran off to attract Ichigo's attention again? Even if that was a rather sweet thing, Ichigo thought it was too stupid and childish for Grimmjow. But who knows? The former Espada was a sucker for video-games and he saw the look in his eyes when he looked at plushies…

Ichigo's other option was that he was kidnapped. Why would he be kidnapped, though and by whom? He had no real idea, but somehow felt that more plausible. Someone took Grimmjow against his will because it was not possible he would leave them behind out of his free will.

It was not possible that Grimmjow would betray him.

Ichigo shut that idea out, snorting at its foolishness. It made no sense. Grimmjow could be sure he was safe here, that he could have a full life here. That they all were fond of him, himself, his sisters… well, his father not so much after the knife-incident, but Isshin didn't hold grudges for long, he knew.

Ichigo felt a weighing emotion as he sat down on his bed and stared at his hands. What to do? Start looking for him? But where to start? He had no idea! He took a deep breath then let it out to calm himself somewhat. It seemed impossible.

He finally decided he would start looking immediately. He couldn't just ignore this. He couldn't just let Grimmjow not be home. It was not an option.

He jumped past his window again and started running in bigger and bigger circles around their home, desperate to find him.

Sweat was running down his temples and his breathing was laboured, his muscles tense as he was now at the outskirts of Karakura and he found no trace of the blue-haired teen. Where could he have gone…?! He felt sick to the stomach, sick in his chest, a sharp clenching of guilt and worry and he squeezed his eyes shut as he leant against a tree and gave a roar that probably woke half the neighbourhood from their sweetest dreams.

"Hah…" He panted softly, sliding down against the tree and sitting there, unsure what to do.

"…Kurosaki…" He was surprised to hear Ishida's soft voice call to him, his even softer hand smack him out of his resigned state. "What happened? You've been running around all night, your reiatsu fluctuating like crazy…"

Ichigo hadn't realised he was leaking reiatsu so bad while on his scouting for Grimmjow. He hadn't realised anything actually, just the fact that he was out of his mind with worry because Grimmjow wasn't anywhere.

"…Grimmjow disappeared." He muttered finally, sighing quietly, feeling more useless than ever before.

"…we'll look for him." Ishida gave him a small smile. "Pull yourself together. You saved the world once. Finding a lost kitten isn't such a big deal, is it?"

His voice was a little choked, Ichigo heard and his smile didn't reach his eyes, but he was offering honest help.

Please… oh, please don't think that…

"Ishida… you're an amazing person." Ichigo suddenly felt the need to declare that and the blush that immediately fanned across the Quincy's cheeks was the best reward he could get.

"W-what? Where did that come from so suddenly? Kurosaki, pull yourself together!" He repeated, a little bit more sternly, small creases appearing on his forehead as he frowned.

In his slightly dazed mind, Ichigo found that it was just as adorable as his smile. How strange that lately everything seemed to be wonderful and amazing about Ishida. Like his hands. Seriously, has anyone seen prettier hands than those? All soft and pale and long…

"Kurosaki! Stop STARING and do something!" Ishida's words of course concerned the task at hand but Ichigo's hormone-induced mind took that as an invitation.

His strong, rough, large hand wrapped around Ishida's smaller one and that hold spoke about something completely different from friendship. Ishida's very defined blush did too.

"K…Kurosaki…" He mumbled, swallowing. Ichigo simply loved the way his Adam's apple moved from it. "…stop that… ah, I…" He pushed on his glasses, tugging his hand a little, but not really. Ichigo loved that too.

Just as much as it intoxicated him, it also sobered him up. The touch was real, Ishida was sweet, he was blushing and shy and Ichigo slowly stood, giving his hand a small squeeze to reassure that they would continue this, but the sense of responsibility came back full-force and he once more turned serious, his hand slipping away from around his.

"Let's go find Grimmjow."

"A-a…yes." Ishida nodded, clearing his throat and collecting himself too. The two then set off to run through the city again before meeting up by the river and confirming they indeed couldn't find Grimmjow in Karakura town's vicinity.

"Do you think he's in Soul Society?" Ishida suggested.

"No. He was under my full responsibility. The Jii-san said if something happened, I would be executed." Ichigo replied, shaking his head.

"…I do hope he didn't mean that…" The Quincy mumbled, looking mildly worried.

"Well, if he did, I would just escape and continue looking for Grimmjow… because he's my responsibility." Ichigo muttered.

"You really are a hero." There was a smile in the corner of Ishida's lips and Ichigo frowned.

"What? What do you mean? I didn't do anything! The finishing blow wasn't even mine and-"

"I'm not talking about that, Kurosaki." Ishida touched his chest lightly. "…it's not that you fight. It's not that you have that amazing reiatsu. It's this amazing sense of responsibility that makes you a true hero."

"…s-shut up." Ichigo grumbled, looking away embarrassedly. Why was he saying all those mushy things about him, they weren't true at all! He was a bad guy! A thug! Definitely not a hero!

"…you're an amazing person, Kurosaki."

Ishida's voice was soft and sweet and Ichigo felt a pair of lips press to his cheek very shyly. His chocolate eyes returned to the Quincy's thoroughly embarrassed face and he was about to say or ask something stupid when Ishida cleared his throat.

"…and Hueco Mundo?"

Ichigo still didn't think Grimmjow could've returned there out of his own free will.

"...I had an idea that he was kidnapped. I don't know. We should check that out somehow, but who knows how to open a garganta?"

"Well, Kurotsuchi does." Ishida pulled his nose up at the mentioning of that name. He hated that creeper scientist with a vengeance. "But, Urahara-san knows too."

"That's right." Ichigo frowned. "I didn't really want to ask that weirdo Mayuri. He might ask for our brains in exchange or something."

"…he might ask for your heart. After all, that's your biggest organ." Ishida murmured softly.

"Huh?"

"Never mind, Kurosaki. Look, it's dawning."

Ichigo turned to look at the soft, pink and purple and orange lights of the sunrise, for once, feeling the magic of the serene moment. His hand sneaked to tenderly touch Ishida's, who was standing beside him and the next moment he could feel that slender, boyish figure press up to his side softly, the Quincy's raven head leaning against one broad shoulder. Ichigo sighed deeply, closing his eyes as his strong arm wrapped lightly around Ishida's waist, holding him there.

It was new, this feeling. Probably the best feeling ever in his life so far, but also very complicated and difficult. Another responsibility, another thing he would need to take care of, focus on and do his best at. The thought that it was a two-sided coin calmed his worries a lot though. They would work this out, wouldn't they? They saved the world together, after all…

They stayed like that, watching the sunrise and Ichigo didn't feel any sort of harm done to his manly pride by being a little mushy with Ishida. It was alright. With him, it was. It would be okay to sing along to ridiculous 90's songs while doing the washing up, it would be okay to snatch the next bite from his plate and it would be alright to say a joke that wasn't even funny. It would be alright because it was Ishida…

When the sun was up and shining and life began anew in the city, they headed towards Urahara's shop. Ichigo wondered why Ishida didn't feel awkward that he was holding hands with a man who was invisible to every other person. He found that the reason was probably the same. That it was alright because it was him, Ichigo.

They got to Urahara's shop a few minutes later, but they only found Tessai there. They decided they should explaining the situation to him briefly anyways.

"Hmmm…" Tessai hummed, shaking his head. "Kurosaki-dono just can't seem to stay out of trouble." He hummed, but looked deeply concerned as well. "…Urahara-dono will be back in about two days, Kurosaki-dono, Ishida-dono… you have to wait until that."

Both of them nodded in understanding and decided they might as well just stay there while they waited. Ichigo couldn't sleep anyways and Ishida wasn't about to leave his side when he was in such a state.


"Our sons have gone off together somewhere…again."

Sometime in the early morning on the second day, Isshin noted muffledly behind the medic-mask he was wearing.

Ryuuken glanced up at him briefly from behind his glasses then quickly returned to the surgery they were performing on a patient.

"Shut up. We're working, Kurosaki."

Isshin stayed quiet as they finished the emergency surgery. When they scrubbed out and were walking down the corridor leading from the clinic to the Kurosaki-residence, he spoke up again.

"Want a cup of coffee?"

Ryuuken was very tempted. He got up early; the surgery was stressing and tiring so he could use the refreshment.

"Hn. Why not." He finally agreed and a few moments later they were sitting on the couch in the living room with him sipping on bitter coffee and smoking, and Isshin stuffing a ridiculous amount of chocolate chip cookies into himself. "Stop that, you're going to get disgustingly fat." He commented finally.

"NEVER! You know I am the manliest man on Earth!" Isshin roared. "Look at this bicep!" He flexed it then groped, grinning smugly. "I'm as hot as ever, Ryuuken and you know it!"

Ryuuken paused. "…what did you just call me?"

There was an awkward silence between them, because Ryuuken tried to glare but his hands were shaking and Isshin was trying to look innocent but his eyes were too honest.

"…nevermind that." He whispered finally. Unusually quiet from that awfully loud man.

"I told you… I told you when I got together with Ariesu that you can never call me that again."

"You never loved Ariesu."

The coffee cup shook so bad that some coffee spilled on Ryuuken's hand so he quickly put it down and dried himself up, glad that he had something else to look at than Isshin's puppy-eyes while he lied.

"Of course I did. I married her. Don't say ridiculous things, Issh-" He fell silent, closing his eyes for a moment. "…Kurosaki."

"…you can't forget either, can you? It's not that simple. You want to remember, with every fibre of your being…" Isshin moved closer and his hand caught Ryuuken's just when the white-haired man was trying to pull away. "Ryuuken…! Don't make the same mistake again…"

"We're both men, Kurosaki!" Ryuuken snapped, yanking his hand away, his blue eyes trying to glare but he was beyond it now, having felt Isshin's touch after more than twenty years of absence. "Don't be so irresponsible! We have children and-"

Isshin couldn't hold himself back anymore.

The kiss was harsh and sudden and knocking Ryuuken over the couch, pressing him tightly into it with the weight of that heavy, hard body above him and he felt powerless. His lips felt like they were on fire, and his mouth was wide open, his tongue welcoming the familiar, ridiculously sweet taste. His hands suddenly clenched into the back of Isshin's white coat and his eyes clenched shut, trying to block out everything else so he could feel the sensations better, the hot breathing of the Shinigami, the pleasured growl that escaped him and gods…

Ryuuken definitely remembered that part of his colleague. Hard, throbbing, impossibly huge against his thigh and he felt like dying when he felt it twitch at a particularly loud moan that escaped him. The Quincy then knew that he couldn't deny himself anymore… this man was the one because of whom his marriage was a failure, this man was the one that annoyed him more than anyone else and this man was the only one that could drive him crazy with lust

"Ha..ah..!" He tossed his head back with a whimper of rapture when he felt a large, rough hand cup him through the slacks he was wearing, rub and fondle in the best way to make him groan and want to just… just have… him inside again, because GODS he would never forget that… "I…Isshin…" He whispered his name, trying to be as silent as possible even if he knew that the girls were in school and they were completely alone, and the whole empty house only for them…

"Ryuuken…"

That purr, that low, growled, husky purr of his name… heavens, that made him into a whimpering kitty all the time and he was powerless to stop the intense arousal that rushed through his body.

"Nhhh… f-f…ah.. Isshin…oh god…!" Ryuuken shifted, lifting his hips, trying to make their bodies connect better, feel his throbbing need against his and… "Oh… GOD! God…" He groaned, shuddering all over when finally their groins rubbed together, Isshin grinding against him roughly and it was heaven. The heat, the friction and the fact that he's been thinking about this twenty years non-stop made it so wonderful that he almost came.

"…not here…" Isshin whispered then, panting softly at Ryuuken's ear, hot and moist against the sensitive lobe, warmth tingling through his body from it.

Ryuuken moaned dazedly, not really paying attention to anything else than the humming heat inside his body, tightening wonderfully in his lower stomach and throbbing through his veins.

Isshin got off of him and just in time for another call to come in, requiring him immediately by a patient's side. He sighed then leant down to kiss Ryuuken again, now soft and promising.

"…wait for me in my bed…please." He told him quietly, stroking his neck with rough fingers briefly before rushing off to help another person.

Ryuuken shuddered all over, sighing shakily as he scrambled himself together, standing and walking up the stairs slowly, his heart beating hard in his chest, about to jump out. He felt the excitement ridiculous. This wasn't his first time, nowhere near it, but…

He laid down on the comfortable bed, closing his eyes and just letting himself remember because it was wonderful to feel ghost-touches of previous nights together across his skin.

…he was going to make love with Kurosaki Isshin after twenty years of not even glancing at each other strangely.

He felt elevated. Like he was born again. He was so full of desire for it to happen that he couldn't even force himself to think of anything else. He felt restless and wanted to do something, like undress or prepare himself, but he also very much wanted Isshin to do those things…wanted for this to last and be a second first time for them. The thought was mushy but Ryuuken was confident that Isshin had even mushier thoughts at the moment. He knew the man to be a big softie.

…exactly why he fell so damnably deep for him…


Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo, Grimmjow was still staring at the Hougyoku in his mother's and alpha female's body.

"That's fucking crazy." He blurted.

"Isn' it, kozo?" Gerda addressed him with an affectionate 'kid' and Grimmjow wasn't sure whether to want to snuggle with her again or be grumpy that he was no kid. "This here, however, isn' enough for what I want… its remaining power is only enough ta help you evolve."

Grimmjow lifted his eyes to hers then, almost looking greedy. "What is it that you want, Kaa-san?"

"Later 'bout that." Gerda looked away to Ginevra for a moment then back to him. "…come closer."

Grimmjow walked closer and let her touch his chest with her fingertips. He felt her enormous reiatsu flare and burst out around her, heavier than he remembered Aizen's to be. It slid inside him, rushing through his veins and he felt himself howl loudly as the thick blue force enveloped him.

Panting, he fell to the ground, his body aching slightly after the transformation. He touched his cheek, feeling that the mask-remnant was gone. He glanced down, seeing his hollow-hole having had shrunk into a tiny black spot.

"The number…" He muttered as he stood again, looking at Gerda. "…what number is it…?"

"…ten." She murmured softly, moving to touch the new, bloodred tattoo of a roman ten (X) on his back and her eyes glinted softly. She leant her head into his neck and growled softly, nuzzling like a loving feline and Grimmjow loved it.

Then Ginevra joined too and the three Jaegerjaques snuggled up tightly, just enjoying one another's touch and nuzzling, and like good felines they started to softly purr together.

"…welcome to the Arma Blanca, Grimmjow."

To Be Continued

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