A/N: There are various reasons why one should consume citruses, some of which is to promote healthy skin and prevent scurvy. Vitamin C also assist in the maintenance of a strong immune system.

Kira clapped loudly when it was Shuuhei's turn to receive the official Gotei uniform as his investiture ceremony. Renji whooped and cheered, along with a quarter of the school – Shuuhei was popular. The Kido Corps' had had theirs the day before, and today and tomorrow's were for the Gotei. They took in the most graduands.

"And so you have been vested with the duties and loyalties of soldiers for Soul Society. Make no mistake: you will risk your lives out there, so that your home and your family will be kept safe. Uphold your honor above all else, because you no longer belong to you but you are part of something greater and nobler," Tousen-taichou paused, and then went on. "Let honesty and loyalty be your sword and shield, let honor be your armor, and let righteousness be the flame that sustains you through your work and your life. Welcome to the Gotei."

Kira followed Renji's lead to congratulate Shuuhei, who was swamped with girls – Kira bit back the Red Cannon spell that almost burst from his mouth – and was fending off some dozens of envelopes. His friends were also there, some of whom were also carrying their precious burden of shinigami robes.

"Hisagi!" Renji yelled and waved. Shuuhei caught sight of them and grinned, especially when he saw Kira. Somehow the girls were gently but firmly discouraged (Kira knew Shuuhei's friends probably took the chance to know more girls) and Shuuhei was standing in front of them.

"Hey guys," he said. He couldn't stop grinning. Kira couldn't help but respond with the same – he knew Shuuhei had been looking forward to this day for many, many years. "Wanna join our celebration? Where's Hinamori?"

"She's somewhere," said Kira dismissively. He was still annoyed with the girl who was also annoyed at him. "Um, I won't be joining you yet, I gotta go back to Aunt's to tell her about my holiday plans."

"You mean you ain't going home? Thinking of joining the internship program?" Shuuhei asked. "The ninth?"

Kira fiddled with his fingers. "If I could, I would, but there's a subject requirement I haven't met and I'm not sure Tousen-taichou would even consider..."

Before Renji could comment, he was tugged away by Shuuhei's course mate when one of the senior girls commented on how cool the tattoos were. Kira peered over Shuuhei's shoulder and laughed when Renji blushed as red as his hair: a few of them were cooing over his muscles and the tattoos.

Shuuhei scrubbed the back of his head. "Eh, I guess it's impossible then... he's quite a by-the-books kinda guy. But easy t'work with, since he makes it clear what I'm supposed to do."

"Do you know what seat you'll be?" asked Kira. He had heard that he was offered an officer posting but not what number yet.

Shuuhei shrugged. "He said I'll know the day I report. So you can't join us?" He was visibly downcast, a little put-on pout designed to appeal to Kira's sympathy.

Kira wrinkled his nose and chuckled. "I'll see you later tonight, how about that?"

"I'd like that a lot," Shuuhei grinned his lazy grin, the kind that signaled certain thoughts that were playing across the brunet's mind. Kira laughed again, rather embarrassed but amused with how easily his boyfriend - yep, boyfriend was the term – could make him happy.

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"You're not returning for the holidays," stated the imperious old lady, looking Kira from foot to head and back down. "What, we're no longer good enough for you?"

"N-n-no, ma'am," said Kira. He wished he dared to look her in the eye, but she always bore the expression that he needed a haircut and perhaps two more baths before he was qualified enough to step in her house. "I thought it wou-would be good to gain ex-expe-experience in working for the Gotei, since that's, since that's where my parents had wa-wanted me to go."

"Head up, shoulders back, and speak properly, boy," snapped his aunt. "Still have that stutter. I doubt any division will have you with that ridiculous st-st-stammering. I thought we beat it out of you before you headed to the academy! What are they teaching you in that place, hmm?"

"I, um, I, erm, I'm so-sorry, ma'am."

"Tch. Do what you want; I can't be bothered with chasing after an ingrate." She stood stiffly. Kira had barely taken one step forward to assist when she barked an order for him to go to his parents' graves and clear the weeds.

Kira jerked back. "Y-yes ma'am. I'll do so tomor-tomorrow morning at first l-light."

When the old lady walked back to her rooms, Kira slouched and sighed. No matter what he did or didn't do, nothing matched her expectations. Not even his current results: all distinctions. She had merely sniffed and said Kira was only doing what should have been done.

In the end the blond got to his feet and went to his room to retrieve a few of his own belongings, as well as a gift he had wanted to pass to Shuuhei for his graduation into the Gotei.

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"You okay?" said Hinamori when Kira bumped into her at the entryway to the dormitories. "You seem sort of down."

"I am," admitted Kira. The two friends shared a glance and then Kira rubbed his right ear. "Um, thanks for the concern, Hinamori."

"You're welcome. And I apologize for what I said the other day... I didn't think about, y'know. Sorry." She held out a hand. "Friends?"

Kira shook it. "Yeah. We'll meet and drop off our internship applications tomorrow? Renji has mine; he's forgotten the names of our course instructors."

"Okay. I'm gonna go back home for a bit, see Shiro-chan and granny. See you tomorrow at the admissions office!"

Kira watched her run off, and sighed again. Where others couldn't wait to see their family, he went out of his way to avoid his own. Not that he hated his aunt; he just wished she'd see the good in him even once, instead of all the potential that he had yet to live up to. He made his way back to his own dorm room first, wanting to get his laundry put away before he headed to Shuuhei's. The slim weight of the gift gave Kira a tingle; he hoped Shuuhei would like it.

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When he knocked on the door he was greeted by a gang of four – no, five, seven – guys sprawled all over the neat room, Shuuhei's partially packed bags stacked haphazardly in a corner.

"Hisagi!" yelled one of them. "Your special friend's here!"

The tallest of the crew grinned widely. "All right, guys, our job here is done. Time ta go!"

"You don't have to leave-" began Kira, but was cut off.

"Hey, it's his last night in this dorm, so we're bloody well gonna give you guys some private time to, uh, generate memories, eh? Hisagi, we're gone!"

"Yeah!" someone called out in reply from the vicinity of the kitchenette. "Bye guys!"

Kira waited till all seven stumbled out, some less drunken than others, before he entered and shut the door. Shuuhei emerged, wiping his hands dry on a kitchen cloth.

"You're here," he said happily and strode over for a soft kiss to Kira's forehead. "Sorry 'bout that. They insisted on drinking sake in my room to keep me company, and I still have to clear those jokers' empty bottles."

"I'll help," said Kira, picking up two from the floor near his feet. The emptiness of the room made him feel uneasy, like this was someone else's space and not a room he had been visiting regularly. Other than the futon and a few books, Shuuhei had pretty much removed all traces of his residence from the place.

They cleared it quickly and quietly. Kira wondered how to breach the subject of his gift while Shuuhei carted the bag of empty bottles downstairs to the large trash receptacles. He sighed; he wished he had the gift of the gab sometimes, but he was never comfortable around spoken words.

"Penny for your thoughts," said Shuuhei when he came in.

"Nothing much, really," said Kira. Shuuhei sat beside him and looked at the blond closely. Kira fidgeted. "What?"

"Something's bothering you. Your aunt gave you a hard time again?"

Kira bit his lower lip and studied his hands clasped in his lap. "Not really, no. I just... I just wish I'm better than plain old clumsy Izuru."

Shuuhei exhaled heavily and tucked Kira into a hug. "You are already spectacular, Izuru. She just doesn't see what a treasure you are."

Kira moved his head, his lips just touching Shuuhei's neck. "Maybe you're just biased."

"Perhaps," said Shuuhei. He moved his head away to examine Kira. "I got some things for ya." Releasing the blond student he reached behind and grabbed the few volumes spread on the floor. "My notes from the core courses. Hope they'll be useful."

"Thank you," murmured Kira, his chest tight. "They'll be great, I know."

The older man stroked a stray strand of hair from Kira's brow. Kira smiled and then pulled the gift from his pocket. "I got something for you too."

"A journal?" Shuuhei asked after unwrapping it.

"Y-yeah. It can be reused, just replace the pages, and, um, I put in a fountain pen my dad used to use, and a container for ink too and you don't have to carry a brush and ink set with you. The pen goes here, and the, um, ink tube is here."

Shuuhei smiled and put it aside, on top of his bag. "That's very... it's a very considerate gift, Izuru. Thank you."

"You don't like it?" asked Kira, peering up through a puzzled frown.

"I do."

"You're not looking at it-"

"I'm looking at you." Shuuhei's lips brushed Kira's mouth, then swept up to Kira's ear. "I'll miss you so much, Izuru."

Kira gulped and lowered his gaze. He nibbled on his lips and muttered, "I... I wish I was going with you too. I'll miss... seeing you in school d-daily, and it's gonna be so difficult meeting up..."

"We'll work it out." He bent to peer into Kira's face. Kira smelled the faint scent of sake on Shuuhei's breath; the brunet's hands were already slipping to Kira's waist, pulling him closer.

Kira's fingers moved slowly up Shuuhei's chest and then slid over the muscular shoulders.

The kiss started slow, tentative. Shuuhei's mouth was full of the taste of sake, but Kira knew the reason for his dizziness had nothing to do with alcohol. Their lips slid across each other's; Kira parted his and his tongue pushed lightly on Shuuhei's mouth. When the older man opened it and welcomed Kira's exploration, the blond scratched his fingers into the coarse hair at the nape of Shuuhei's neck, drawing him nearer. Their breaths danced over each other's cheeks, and soon Shuuhei's arms were wrapped tightly about Kira, and the slender blond was practically in Shuuhei's lap.

When Kira whined for another kiss after Shuuhei stepped away to turn off the lights, he didn't expect to be pinioned to the futon in a rush that forced the air from his body. Suddenly apprehensive, Kira swallowed. "Shuu?"

"Shh. Just... you're so good to touch, and I want to touch every inch..." Shuuhei's mouth was hovering over Kira's ear, his hot puffs of air sending little jolts of heat into Kira's groin. Kira responded by wriggling closer to the hard body above him, then gasped when a firm thigh wedged itself between his legs and pressed against his arousal. "Izuru... I'm going to miss seeing you every day."

"Me too," breathed Kira and groaned softly. Shuuhei chuckled and ground down again, eliciting another delicious utterance. The younger man spread his legs a little wider, not really cognizant of his actions, but wanting the heat pooling in his gut to meet with the heat from Shuuhei more intimately. The brunet bent to kiss Kira again, roughly, ravenously, releasing Kira's hands to assist Kira in removing the younger man's top. Their hips shifted and moved together and Shuuhei swallowed his own moan of pleasure when their erections rubbed against the other through layers of fabric.

Kira sighed again. "Shuuhei..."

"Hmm?" The brunet sucked on the blond's collarbone; he did love how Kira would curl into him. His fingers brushed over Kira's chest and, encouraged by Kira's hum of excitement, returned to roll the hardened nipples between his fingers.

Kira bucked upwards when Shuuhei's mouth took over from his fingers, his moans barely held back. His hands clutched and kneaded Shuuhei's shoulders, and he forced himself to run his fingers through Shuuhei's hair, to slide his hips against the other's. "Shuu, Shuuhei..."

"Yes, 'zuru?" whispered Shuuhei as he kissed up the slim body. He had to hold back, he must hold back – Shuuhei knew he wasn't thinking clearly, and eager Kira added to a severe lack of judgment right now. "What is it? You want to stop?"

"What?" Kira licked his lips. "No, I just... um. Shuuhei."

The brunet waited. "Yes?"

The blond muttered something too soft, his index finger tracing a circle on Shuuhei's sternum. When Shuuhei bent closer to hear, Kira repeated in a rush, "Canistayeretnightwifu?"

With his lust-fogged brain in the driving seat, it took Shuuhei some time to decipher the message. When he did he was stunned. Kira blinked, wondering if he had overstepped the bounds. Did Shuuhei think he was a, a slut now? Or something? Feeling a rising sense of fear and nausea, Kira started to wriggle from Shuuhei's hold, but was suddenly gripped. The next thing Kira knew was Shuuhei kissing him like his life depended on stealing Kira's breath at one go.

"All night?" asked Shuuhei, drawing back a little to allow Kira some air. The blond, panting, looked away and then nodded shyly. Shuuhei's hands fell to the slender waist and began massaging the firm muscles, before untying the belt and helping Kira out of his clothes.

Kira inhaled sharply when Shuuhei stripped him quickly, and his arousal rubbed against the rough weave of Shuuhei's hakama. The brunet removed his own clothes when Kira protested softly, and both groaned when their hips finally touched skin to skin.

"I've been dreaming of this," whispered Shuuhei. His fingers reached for Kira and slowly stroked, base to tip, running his thumb around and over the engorged and seeping head. Kira whimpered, nails digging into Shuuhei's arms. Shuuhei's voice was rough and hoarse with desire, and Kira wanted to hear it forever. "I've wanted to have you here, under me, writhing, needing... I dreamed of hearing your voice calling my name while you come, of your legs sliding against my skin and then wrapping about my waist... 'zuru, I've waited... and wished..."

"Shuu... let me touch you, show me how you... how you like to be touched," said Kira softly, his left hand moving lightly from Shuuhei's arm down to where Shuuhei's hand was, his long fingers wrapping about the heated length.

Shuuhei hissed with the contact and thrust helplessly when Kira mimicked the brunet's earlier movements. "That's right... but more, yes... gods, 'zuru, darlin'..." Shuuhei took Kira's moving hand and shifted it aside. "Let me love you, 'zuru. I want to be in you, to feel you around me."

Kira kissed Shuuhei, tongues sliding and writhing together. "I don't have... I need..." said Kira as firm lips turned to explore the rest of the face and jaw. "I want you in me too, Shuu... I want to be yours, really yours..."

Shuuhei groaned when he heard Kira. He reached for his bag nearby; there might be hand cream or lotion or something. There was no time to search for the little bottle he had wanted to use on some special day. Finding what he wanted, Shuuhei coated his hand with the cream. Strong fingers moved down and one slid into the blond, who gasped and held his breath in an attempt to relax. Shuuhei's free hand caressed Kira's chest, over his pounding heart, while Shuuhei kissed down the flat stomach.

"Relax, darlin'," he drawled as he licked the tip of Kira's arousal. Kira could swear he saw stars when Shuuhei slid another finger in and then touched a spot deep within. With a soft laugh Shuuhei continued to thrust his fingers – three now – into Kira's body, one forearm holding Kira's hips down. Every now and then Shuuhei would kiss Kira's aching arousal, or lick on Kira's sack; most of the time Shuuhei focused on giving hickeys to Kira's inner thighs.

"Shuuhei, please," Kira gasped after one particularly electric thrust from the older student. "I need you, please, now."

Shuuhei complied, hastily anointing himself with the lotion he fished out. He hovered over the blond, who was blindly reaching for Shuuhei's face. "If it hurts-"

"If you tell me to stop I'll kill you," snapped Kira, hips already bucking for contact. Shuuhei let out a shaky chuckle; he knew there was a bossy, demanding leader in there somewhere, but it took the oddest things to bring that out of Kira. It was alluring in its rarity.

Kira grabbed Shuuhei's head by the back of his neck and then cried out when his body was breached. He cried out again with the first roll of their hips, their thrusts not quite in sync yet. Shuuhei wanted to be gentle, but Kira was demanding and made little sounds that grew louder with every touch and movement. They writhed together, Shuuhei's left hand flexing and stroking between their bodies, Kira planting kisses and bites and scratching along broad shoulders. When Shuuhei increased the pace Kira's hands gripped the strong arms and arched wantonly upwards, trying to meld their bodies.

Kira came first, splattering their bellies with his climax. "Sh-shuuhei!"

With that the brunet came as well, choking out a groan. They rode out their orgasms, each murmuring names and tender nonsense as they shuddered and trembled until the aftershocks calmed.

He wasn't quite up to standard, Shuuhei knew, since he had partaken a little too much of the sake earlier, but the trembling, lithe form beneath him seemed to have enjoyed it. Carefully he rolled to the right, sliding out of Kira who whined at the loss. They stared at the ceiling, trying to calm their minds, and tentatively Kira shifted to snuggle into Shuuhei's side.

Shuuhei ran his fingers through Kira's fine hair. "Was it good for you?"

Kira nuzzled and licked the salt from Shuuhei's skin. "It was nice."

"Nice," echoed Shuuhei numbly. He felt a little insulted – he wasn't fantastic, being sort of drunk, but only nice?

"Nice like 'I can't feel anything below my waist, and that everything seems different now' kind of nice," elaborated Kira, shuffling higher to nibble Shuuhei's earlobe. "Nice like 'I wanna go again as soon as you're able' kind of nice."

Shuuhei unruffled his feathers and pulled Kira flush against his side. The blond was snickering at his reaction, and was rewarded with a pinch to his sensitive upper arm. They lay together, legs draped and tangled across each other. "Izuru."

"Hmm?" Kira nosed his lover – he loved that noun so much! - and Shuuhei sighed. "What is it?"

"Whichever division you attend for the internship, please be careful, okay?"

Confused about the sudden discussion, Kira pressed his mouth to Shuuhei's warm skin. "Of course."

"And... Izuru, about Ichimaru-fukutaichou..." Shuuhei breathed in sharply and exhaled. "Try not to be too close to him, hmm?"

"Aww..." teased Kira, "jealous?" He knew that Shuuhei knew of his crush on the lieutenant, but he was also aware of Shuuhei's continued fascination with the female form. It didn't mean anything: they adored each other more than the temptations outside.

Shuuhei chuckled, a low, rough rumble from his throat. "Maybe. But don't be too close to him."

Hearing that, Kira was intrigued. "Why not?"

"I dunno," admitted Shuuhei. "But he makes me uneasy."

"Mmm. Okay, I'll try to be formal and courteous and stay away from him... for a reward." Kira straddled Shuuhei easily and the brunet blinked up. "If I listen and pay attention and do what you say... what do I get?"

Shuuhei laughed softly. "Let's see you do what I say first, hmm? Kiss me."

With a crooked smile Kira obliged. With further encouragement Shuuhei did his best for subsequent efforts, and finally both drifted to sleep exhausted but imminently satisfied.

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