Ichigo sagged, sitting on the edge of the bed as he watched the floor. "You're mother left you for them... How could she do that?..." I sighed, slipping from Hichigo's lap to lean to his other half. "She didn't know they were out there and in her mind it was just a way to scare me. In fairness she didn't leave me there long, she just parked down the road but that was all the time they needed to grab me." His jaw clenched, knuckles turning as pale as Hichigo's as he hissed through his teeth. "It doesn't matter how far she went!! A mother is always supposed to be there!!" My hands caught his as it swung toward the wall. "Settle down. There's enough holes there as it is." The hand in mine slowly unballed, fingers loosening enough that I could lace mine with them. "How can you get over something like that?..." I hummed lightly. "What would ever make you think I got over it? I'm just clarifying what happened. She couldn't handle my causing trouble so she thought she could scare me into behaving. It just didn't go as she planned." His eyes squeezed, breath shuddering before finally looking at me again. "It should have never happened!" "And I completely agree. But it did happen and there's no point in you getting upset over something that's over." His eyes shimmered with emotion when they found mine again, and he gently tugged me over into his lap. "I'm sorry... I know it doesn't mean much coming from me. But I'm saying it anyhow." Warm fingers stroked over my back as he hugged me tightly and I nestled into him. "Thank you, Ichigo. I'm alright though. Honest." My fingers slid into his hair, tugging softly until he finally pulled his face from my shoulder so I could kiss him. "I love you. You don't have to say it back until you're ready." A soft smile tugged at my lips and I kissed his cheek. "I love you too. Both of you and I'm glad that you're my imprint. Now let's go get breakfast, I'm starving." The sadness faded for the most part away making room for joy as he stood with me in his arms and headed for the door...

There was a noticable amount of tension from everyone when we entered the kitchen and I waved cheerfully in an attempt at alleviating it. "Everything is fine you can all relax now." Orihime ran a few steps to me, catching my hand as she looked me over. "What happened?! Did you guys have a fight?!" Her eyes wobbled with concern and I palmed her head, rubbing gently to soothe her worry. "No. Nothing so sever as that. They just wanted to know what happened to Samantha and weren't ready for the answer." Uryu stood from the table, taking a few steps towards us. "I hate to asked just what happened to her to get that sort of reaction from them." Sarrisa stepped by me, pushing him back with her own body until he fell back into his chair. "Then don't. I imagine even now that she remembers it's a tough subject and she doesn't need to be bothered. Just because she told her imprints doesn't mean she feels comfortable talking about it with everyone." Her boobs were shoved into his face making it go beet red before she finally stepped back to let him breath freely once more. "It's ok, Sam. You just relax now. I'll fix breakfast." A soft kiss was pressed to my cheek and she hugged me before making her way to the fridge. Hichigo bumped my arm lightly, still looking upset but not murderous like he did when he first found out. "Care if I help? I like cooking." I nodded. "Of course you can." A short smile was there and gone so fast I almost thought I imagined it before he was next to Sarrisa, gathering the items she set out.

My head tipped, watching as Sarrisa stepped aside for Hichigo to take her place in front of the pan while she rummaged through the cabinet for a bottle of wine. A second later she handed one up, still scanning the rack with her eyes before plucking out another. This one a burgundy colored bottle. "Pour a little of each in a cup then into the pan then light it with the striker. If the flames get higher than around 6 inches smoother them with the lid I gave you. Do NOT throw water on it!" He nodded, slowly taking the white and red wines as she stood up. "I'm going to shower. You're in charge of breakfast now." The bottles clunked softly onto the counter and he mixed them into a juice glass as Ichigo rounded the table to head to the sink. "How long do you give it until something goes horribly wrong? And do you think is going to mess up?" Kisuke whispered, leaning over to grin at me and I chuckled. "About 5 minutes, and probably Ichigo. He wasn't paying attention at all." The stubble on his chin made a scratchy sound as he rubbed at it. "You're probably right. Are you planning on stepping in?" I huffed lightly. "No, I'll just let things play out. He'll learn more that way." Hichigo looked at the pan for a second as Ichigo ran water in the sink to fill his glass. I lifted an eye brow, waiting and watching as the wine was dumped into the pan in one smooth move and lite on fire. Flames licked up the side just a few inches over the top and Hichigo grinned in success. At least until Ichigo spun around, saw the fire and promptly threw the entire glass onto it. Flames exploded from the pan, shooting up the wall and catching the curtains on fire. "Well you called it. So now what do we do?" I snorted as both men flailed around, looking to me for direction. "Great. Now we need an adult." Ichigo's mouth fell open, stammering as everyone scrabbled around us while the flames grew ever larger. "You're are an adult!! Do something!!" I huffed, stripping of my clothes to phase into wolf form. "Yeah, but we need a more adultier adult. I don't feel like adulting today. I'm fact I don't feel like peopleing today. I'm just going to wolf. I'll be in the corner. Bring snacks." His eyes jerked to Kisuke but meet instance rejection. "I don't want to adult either. I'm going to the corner with Himawari." Hichigo grabbed the lid, slamming it into the flames but it was far too late for that to have any effect but to fan them.

Kisuke flopped back into the corner with me, rubbing my ears. "We really do need someone to adult for us before this gets out of hand, you know. Your house could burn down." I hummed, glancing up at him. "I have insurance. But it would kind suck for it to come to that. Do you think anyone here would be able to take care of this?" He looked thoughtful for a second before lightly dropping one hand into the other as flames licked up the wall. "Rukia!" My head tipped up to look at him fully. "Rukia will adult for us?" An assuring nodded bobbed his head and he cupped his hand around his mouth. "Hey Rukia!!!" He yelled and I followed his lead. "Rukia!!!" "Rukia!!!" "Rukia!!!" We took turns calling. "Ruk!!!-..." She burst through the kitchen door, zanpukato already in hand and didn't even miss a beat. "Juhaku!!" The tip of the blade pierced the floor, ice quickly smoothing out the rapidly growing fire. "There you are! I never doubted you!" Kisuke said cheerfully and I nodded. "I knew if we stayed calm a real adult would come for us." A vein popped out of her forehead, thumping as Ichigo collapsed to the floor still smoldering slightly. "Kisuke what the hell is going on!!" She demanded and he hummed, scratching his chin lightly. "We didn't feel like adulting today." She stomped her foot just as Ginshuri ran in looking around wide eyed. "What the hell happened?!!" He demanded equally as angrily. "Ichigo tried to kill us all." Said man jumped to his feet, pointing indignantly at me. "I was trying to put out the fire and all you did was go lay the corner with Kisuke!! We could have all died while you were laying there!!" I hummed, looking behind me. "Yeah that is pretty odd. Especially since you're the one that tried to burn my house down. Shouldn't it be you in the corner?" His finger fell before snapping out once more. "No one told you to be in the corner!! You're the one that went there after saying you weren't going to adult today!!" I snorted, rolling to go belly up in Kisuke's lap. "No one told me not to go to the corner either, so who's fault is it really?" His hand balled into a fist, shaking it out in front of him as I watched him upside down. "You were really just going to let the house burn with you in it because you were to lazy to do something?!!" I grunted. "I had hoped it wouldn't come to that." Gin's mouth opened a closed a few times before grabbing his head in his hands. "Your behavior is completely unbelievable!!" Ginshuri snarled and my face scrunched up. "Is it though?" He paused for a moment before throwing up his hands. "You're right!! I can totally believe you would do something as stupid as this! I've about had it with you!!" His arm snapped out in anger before stomping off. "Wow. You really know how to get under his skin." I smirked. "It's a talent. *Sigh* I guess I better call the insurance company to get this taken care of. Tell them some idiot threw water on a grease fire."

Ichigo groaned loudly, head falling back just as Sarrisa came back in the room. Her jaw dropped, pulling the towel more snuggly around her as she looked around the stove and the fire scorched walls buried under ice. "What the fuck did you do?!! I haven't even been up there 5 minutes!!" Hichigo snapped a glare at his doppelganger. "It was him!! Not me!! I put the wine in and lite it just like you said then he threw water on it!!" Ichigo skittered back at Sarrisa's glare and I finally got to my feet. "Well. What did we learn today?" "That you're an impossible idoit?!!" My eyes rolled rolled at Ginshuri as he seethed. "That Rukia will adult for me if I don't feel like it?" Said woman spun around to glare at Kisuke. "I most certainly will not! If I would have known what you both were doing I'd have let you in here to burn to death!" He shrank some under her scolding, hiding behind a fan. "That Ichigo is a complete moron!" Hichigo snapped as they glare at each other. "I am not!! You started the fire!! I was trying to put it out!! This whole mess is your fault!!" Sarrisa shoved them apart when Hichigo made a go at him. "He was flambeing the peppers! They were supposed to be on fire!" Ichigo shrank away from her, coming to sulk next to me at the table. "Alright, it's over. We'll just order take out. The restaurant is open now anyhow." Hichigo flopped into the chair on my other side, arms crossed against his chest as he muttered under his breath. I sighed, catching both their hands so they would look at me. "Just settle down now. Everyone is fine and this will be taken care of by the end of the week. Just take a breath, next time you'll know better." A pointed look was given to Ichigo and he looked away from me towards the table. It didn't matter, he would bounce back quick enough.

I groaned as someone dropped to straddle my hips, their butt pressing lightly against mine as firm hands needed the muscles just above my hips. "Feels good..." One hand freed itself from under my chin, traveling back to play with their knee. "That's good. You looked a little tense." Kon. I sighed, removing my hand from his knee. "You know, while I appreciate you trying to help you know that Hichigo will kick your ass if he catches you." He snorted loudly, messy blond hair bouncing as he leaned backward to jerk his thumb at himself. "That hollow doesn't scare me! I let him get away with it yesterday! I'll mop the floor with him if he tries it again!" A deep breath vacated my lungs, just as the sliding door opened for said hollow and Ichigo to step through. "Well you might just get the chance to show me. There he is now." Kon jolted up, arms wind milling wildly as Hichigo grabbed the front of his shirt. "Wait wait wait!! It's 2 against one!! This isn't a fair fight!!" My feet slid back under me from where I'd been laying next to the pool and I caught Hichigo before he punched him. "That's enough. He was only trying help me because he saw I wasn't feeling good. Let him go." A sneer curled up his pale lips, clearly not waiting to but he finally did anyhow. "I suggest you lay low for a while. I know you just wanted to help but you need to understand how possessive hollows are. He wasn't even that happy about Sarrisa joining us and she's a woman. Stop doing things you know will get you beat up." Kon sighed, taking a few steps away from me. "But you're my friend and the only person around here that's nice to me! I don't like seeing you in pain and if I have to take a beating to make you feel better then fine!" My eyes widened before slowly falling closed. Behind me Hichigo *tsk* loudly. "You're awful mouthy for a small fry. But if you're really willing to let me beat the tar outta ya just to help our woman, then fine. Finish what you were doing. But know that if I catch you up to any funny business like yesterday I'll take everything inside of you and put it on the outside!" Kon skittered back a bit, blinking wildly at my imprints. I wasn't much better though. I couldn't believe that he had really relented. A soft smile curved my lips, nodding my thanks to them. "Well if you're so determined, let's go." Kon shook himself from his shock and followed me too the chaise lounge where I flopped face down into the cushions...

Ichigo shifted nervously beside me as Hichigo slipped back into him making them one once more. "I really hope you know what you're doing. When I transform it's not like Hichigo. It's just a monster that I can't control." His hand opened and closed as he watched it. "I know. That's why I'm going to help you get control. He likely acts on almost pure instinct. I just have to bring your higher thought into control." He heaved a sigh, hand falling limply next to his hip. "I still don't think it's a good idea, and it would make me feel better if you had Kisuke open a garganta to hueco Mundo." I hummed, glancing at said man. "I don't think that will be necessary but I'll station him at the pillar to be safe if it will make you feel better." One hand pushed roughly through his hair as he looked around the training grounds. "Yeah. A little bit." The hand in his hair fall and Kisuke flash stepped onto the gate when I motioned him. At my side, Ginshuri prowled around me, eyes fixed on his soon to be opponent. "You seem unusually happy." He hummed, tongue darting out to wet his lips. "Well if he's as strong as you say then I shouldn't have to hold back. It's not often I get to let loose." I chuckled. "No, I guess it isn't. Just remember we aren't doing this to encourage battle, only to help him get a better handle on that power." Bring orange eyes darted down to mine. "Yeah, but we both know that he isn't just going to roll over once he gets in that form. He's going to do his best to absorb our souls." Ichigo straightened up, fist clenching tightly. "Easy now. Don't let Gin get you worked up. Everything will be fine, Ichigo. I didn't live as long as I have by being weak and I don't make empty promises. Everything will be alright. Just trust me. You all ready up there Kisuke?!" He grinned, waving at me with his fan and I finally stepped back. "Let's begin then."

Ginshuri wrapped himself around me as my arm extended, reaching into my imprint where that power lay and pulling it from him. I had suspected it would be a struggle to access it but the second it felt me it gave chase and completely over threw Ichigo. I jumped back a few paces, watching as his body contorted with the transformation. It happened much faster than I'd been ready for and I eased back a few more steps as dark eyes swiveled around to me. Gin laughed in my mind, claws digging up the earth as our tail snapped at the ground behind us. *He is strong! And he's not even flaring his energy yet!* The hollow vanished suddenly and crippling pain lanced through our side making me yelp. *What the fuck was that?!!* Ginshuri snarled, barely managing to get us back onto our feet before we hit a bolder. I shook my head, trying to clear it as I looked around. One hand pressed into our side, feeling blood trickle from the wound. *I don't know!! He shouldn't be that fast!!* A flash of movement was all the warning I had to move before his horns gouged into the rock we were standing in front of. I growled, flaring my power and knocking him away with a kick. Gin huffed. *You think that did anything at all?!* *Besides piss him off?! Not likely! We might actually need that garganta! I never thought he'd make us use even half our power!* Rocks crumbled away from where the hollow landed and we crouched into a fighting stance. Not that it did any good as he body slammed us through what felt like 20 mountains. His strength was incredible and it was only growing by the second. *That's enough! I'm putting an end to this!* My body rolled from his grip when I finally landed, ignoring the few cracked ribs we'd taken and I yanked him into a pocket. "Open the garganta!! Clearly I'm not going to be able to hold back enough to safely fight here!!" Kisuke nodded and I glared at the subspace before picking it up. Inside the hollow was just looking around, likely wondering where I went. *Well. Clearly we underestimated him. At least he's contained now though.* I inclined my head but an uneasy feeling came over me when he looked right in my direction. It was as if he could see through the pocket I'd created out into this world. A shake of my head jostled my hair as I reprimanded myself. There was no way that was possible. He would have to be on a similar level as me to be able to have even the most rudimentary access outside without my intent.

My eyes flicked up Kisuke, listening to him recite the incantation in order to open our battle field. A small pain in my finger made me look down to see a drop of blood forming there. "Whats this?..." A faint crack made my ears twitch, a frown forming on my face. Shock sent an icy jolt through my insides as I saw the hair line fractions splintering through the subspace. There was no way! It was impossible that he could break out of there! "Kisuke!! Hurry up!!!" He jerked around toward me, eyes wide as he speed up the incantation. The screams of the hollow penetrated through the subspace and I swore. "Damn it!!" *How is he doing this!!? Only someone as strong as you could have any chance at breaking through that barrier!!* Ginshuri shouted, just as shocked as me as I focused everything I had on keeping the hollow sealed until we could get out of here. "As soon as we're through you come back here!! I'll have to shed this vessel and you can't help when I'm at full power!!" Another crack spilt the surface, it's screams growing ever louder. "Finished!!" Kisuke yelled and I rushed the garganta, slipping through just as the subspace shattered, freeing it's prisoner. A bright light appeared behind us and I ran as fast as I could but the hollow just stood there watching the cleaner barrel down on him. My eyes widened as I looked back. Watching him raise one hand and completely obliterate it without so much as a flinch before turning to me. A shrill roar shook the cavernous space as a cero formed in front of his horns. I barely managed to duck it as I came out the other end, falling into the colorless desert below. "Get out of here, Ginshuri!!" He snarled, uncoiling as fast as possible but only managed to get a few feet between us before the hollow grabbed him. It seemed hesitant though and after a second he was dropped so it was facing me. Gin gasped and sputtered for breath and I jumped back making it follow me. It's mouth opened, steam leaking from it's gapping maul before I was flattened against a bolder with it over me. My eyes widened, breaths catching. I had never faced anyone that had the potential to kill me! He should have never been able to get this strong! "Himawari!!" Gin shouted and I threw out my hand to form a barrier around him when he tried to help. "Stay back!!"

The hollow leaned toward me, hot breath burning my skin as I shoved at him. A sudden tug deep inside me made my eye widen and I swung at him with Nina only for him to knock her away from me. He was trying to draw out my soul!! My jaw clenched. Of course he was! This was a mass of nearly, if not pure instinct and that's what hollows did!! I screamed, wrenching myself from my vessel as I slashed away at the piece of my soul he had a grip on. It vanished into his own, being completely absorbed but it wasn't nearly enough for him. My empty vessel was tossed aside as dark eyes tracked me like a lion hunting a deer. I swallowed thickly, clenching my chest against the empty feeling. He had taken a full quarter of my soul and it had only made him stronger. The spot he was in emptied suddenly and I jumped straight up only for him to grab me once more and press me back into a rock. It scraped roughly against my skin but the act was shockingly gently for what he had done already. Even like this he knew not to damage my soul too badly or it wouldn't be of any use to him. "Raitoningu-Ryu!!" My eyes widened as Ginshuri brought the full scale of Nina's blast down onto the hollow. It scorched me as the tendrills of lightening licked over my body. An enrage scream resounded around us as her blade sank into the hollows shoulder and he released me to go after Gin. I threw a barrier around him just in time but even that scattered under the the beast's fury. I screamed, forming a new barrier and propelling him through the garganta where Kisuke and everyone else just arrived. Several seals were hastily thrown into place and I picked up Nina, hurling another blast of lightening at him when he went for them. It hit dead center and he roared. The damage vanished almost instantly though and he charged at me. A large hand ceased my throat before I could get away and this time when I hit the rock it was far from gently. I gasped, shoving at him with what little power I had after using such strong barriers. "Close the garganta!! Do it now!!" I screamed as the hollow latched onto my soul again. How could I have possibly been this wrong?!! I seen us!! I knew we'd be ok!! This couldn't be happening!! Kisuke pounded on the barrier I put up, trying to get through to help but there was nothing he could do.

A tear slipped down my face as he yanked at my soul, slowly but surely dragging me into him as I did my best to resist. One hand slammed into his chin, shoving fruitlessly against him. "Ichigo!!!" I hoped with everything I was that he would hear and somehow get control in time. The beast's mouth fell open, teeth coming ever closer until he bit onto my neck. My eyes squeezed closed, expecting pain but the bite was far more gentle than I'd been ready for. His hot tongue licked my flesh and my grip on my soul slipped, allowing half of it to be drawn into him. I couldn't believe this was really how it was going to end... Something plunged into my chest suddenly making me gasp, mouth falling open as my eyes grew impossibly wide. Tears streaked down my face as I tried to swallow back the lump in my throat. A weak croak escaped my lips as it moved inside me, branching out and reforming my very soul. My body went limp, arms dangling at my sides as my head fell to rest against his chest. The last merger hold I had on my soul vanished and he rumbled loudly. His grip loosened against my shoulder, just barely holding me up as he slid through me unimpeded. "Of course..." One hand rose shakily to rest on his forearm as I swallowed thickly. "Your instinct... It was never to eliminate me. It was too bond to me... Ichigo. I hope you're not angry at me when you finally wake up..." My eyes slipped closed, darkness fading in around my vision...

A thick swallow parted my dry throat as I felt something moving around me. I didn't know how long it had been. Even what happened was somewhat blurry. I felt warm though, and oddly comforted for what I was sure should have been my last moments. The memories were slow at coming after passing out but they finally made it. Swallowing against the dryness in my throat, I looked down. Watching as the hollow scraped his teeth against my collar bone. One hand rose in front of my face, looking at it and he lifted his head. Horns scrapped along my skin as he caught my fingers in his mouth. Each one was nibbled on far more lightly than I thought possible and my head thumped back against the rock. His soul pulsed and ebbed inside mine, every ounce of power he had shown now burning within me. My eyes flicked back up toward him, cupping his cheek when my fingers were finally released. "I'm sorry. I made a lot of assumptions and it turns out none of them were correct..." His head tipped to the side and it mattered little that he wasn't likely to understand me. A clawed hand reached to very lightly touch mine, dark eyes watching me intently. Inside me a deep seated need to claim and protect throbbed where none had been before. This new bond felt really odd to me but I chalked it up to never having formed one before. A low purr like rumble tickled from his chest into mine where we were flush. Teeth nipped my shoulder as his tongue petted over my skin. I sighed, leaning into the attention. I never imagined that this is how things would have gone. "Mine!..." The single word rumbled through my body, prickling my skin with goose bumps as his mouth fit around my throat. His tongue dimpled my flesh where it pressed into it's hollow. I swallowed thickly, reaching at our bond instinctually as fear prickled along my mind. He accepted me in instantly, his intent being pushing back and I relaxed back into the bolder. My head tipped back and to the side, giving myself over him. A deep sense of pleasure ebbed from his side and I was rewarded with several light love bites. "Yours..." I whispered, eyes drifting closed. The wounds I'd sustained durning our battle were comply healed but the strain of our bonding couldn't be so easily banished. The drain that it put on me was substantial, though I reasoned, it was probably just as rough on him. He was determined to guard me though, even though I knew he must be just as tried as I was. I really should have saw this coming.

A crack formed in his armor under my hand and I managed to open one eye to look at up as Ichigo forced his way back into control. "I'm ok..." A weak smile was given and he caught my face, cradling my cheek. "What happened?!" He demanded horsely, looking me over with concern. "I several miscalculated everything about you. You were able to access the piece of my soul and draw out the full extent of my power. Thankfully the instinct of the hollow to claim over shadowed the predatory nature of my soul. So instead of absorbing my soul you bonded us together." His eyes widened behind the mask as it cracked and crumbled away on one side. "Bonded us?..." A short smile was managed. "Yeah. It means that we now have complete access to everything we each are. So long as that bond is open I'll feel what you feel, hear what you hear, see what you see, everything. We'll experience the world through each other the same as we do through ourselves. I'll feel every emotion you have and you'll feel every one that I have." He swallowed thickly, the rest of his armor crumbling away. "I'm-... I'm sorry, Himawari..." My brows furrowed, catching his chin when he looked away from me. "Don't do that. Sure it's not how I expected things to go. But the fact that your instincts lead to this end rather than cannibalizing my soul says volumes about who you are the most basic levels. It's not a bad thing. At least not to me." His eyes thinned a bit in confusion before resting his forehead on mine. "Hey. I'm not angry over being bonded to you. I'm just glad you're safe. I was really worried about you, Himawari. I could hear you calling me but I couldn't do anything to help." Fingers tightened into a fist, knuckles paling as the skin thinned over them. I sighed, pulling his hand up to my lips to kiss as he watched me. "You were only aggressive toward Ginshuri, and when I attacked you. Once Gin was out of the picture your focus become binding our souls. I just didn't realize it until your soul was pushed into my body." The hand in mine unfurled and he cupped my cheek before hugging me tightly. "Did I hurt you?..." I breathed a sigh. "Not nearly so much as I have been and I don't want you blaming yourself. This was my fault for under estimating you. None of this was your fault."

He sighed, fingers rubbing through my hair gently as he looked me over. "I could have killed you..." A soft humm escaped and I nuzzled into his chest. "No you couldn't have. Even under attack you held back. You were strong enough to take my soul for your own, but you choose to share yours with me instead. Besides, I looked to make sure you would have control by the end before I bought him out. I just didn't look at how it happened. You were never going to kill me, Ichigo." One hand lifted to my neck, tracing where he had bitten before hugging me tightly. "I'm glad that you're ok... I need you with me." My arms slowly fit around his back, just taking comfort in him pressed against me. "I need you with me too... We better get out of here. Everyone's really worried I bet." A warm breath tickled along my skin before he picked me up and jumped to the garganta as I banished the barriers. Kisuke grabbed me the second we came through, jerking me around as he looked me over until Ginshuri snatched me away. "What the hell were you thinking?!! You you could have been killed and you locked us out so we couldn't help you!! You're just damn lucky Ichigo was able to get control over himself before he absorbed your soul!!" My head wobbled back and forth as he shook me until I was yanked away from him and back into Ichigo's chest. "Cut it out already!! You're making me dizzy!!" One hand held his head as mine swam from being shaken around. "He didn't have to gain control. The hollow wasn't trying to take my soul like I thought he was. He was binding us together." Gin's eyes widened, watching us in shock as the dizziness finally subsided. "He really bonded to you?!!" I nodded. "Yeah... I was just as shocked as you are. It's nothing like the connection I created with you though. This bond gives us completely access to each other mentally and physically when not dampened, which will take a bit to learn how to do. So for now we can't moderate the flow of feelings." One hand was pushed through my hair before my feet left the ground making me throw my arms out to grab his shoulder. Surprise flickered across Ichigo's face from me before settling as I hung onto his shoulder. "Sorry. Still a bit jumpy when you grab at me. Not because of your hollow side though..." Grief and anger flickered from him. "It's alright. You don't have to hide how you feel. I want to make you feel better." I smiled, kissing his cheek lightly as he petted my hair. This sure wasn't how I expected things to go but I was glad for the outcome none the less...

Ichigo POV: My breath hitched, watching the man standing over me holding a taser that sparked with current. "I said undress!" Tears leaked down my face, dropping down onto the dirty and ripped mattress I was laying on. "Now slut!!" The taser was jammed into my neck and I bolted from the bed, sweat dripping down my face as I looked around the room. The vision still played in my mind and my fingers fisted into the blanket. "Stop!..." Himawari whimpered, tears forming in the corners of her eyes and mine widened. I was seeing her nightmare! The man landed over me in my mind eyes, ripping the thin fabric of my shorts and I drug her from the covers. "Wake up! He can't hurt you here!" Wide terror filled blue eyes met mine with a strangled sob and I tucked her face into my neck. Rocking her against me as the flashes of pain faded away. Harsh breaths panted against my skin, cooling it where it was moist with sweat as she scrambled to hang on. "Ichigo!" She sobbed, fingers clinging to my arm as my jaw clenched. "It's ok! It was just a nightmare!" One hand cradled the back of her head, doing my best to offer her what ever comfort I could.

Several minutes were spent like that with her quivering against me and me just trying to stop it. A warm shaky breath tickled my chest and she finally looked up at me. "I'm sorry I woke you up, Ichigo..." I sighed, brushing back her rumpled hair so I could kiss her cheeks. "It's ok. Are you alright?" Her head bobbed lightly. "Yeah. I'm ok now. Thank you." I breathed a sigh, just watching her for a moment as I tried to feel her out. It was like there was a curtain there though, blocking me from reaching her. "Himawari... Please? I want to help you but I can't if you don't let me. Please share." She shivered against me, one hand balling into a fist between us. "I don't want you to feel this..." "Himawari, I love you and I need you to be ok. Even if that means I have to face your past. Let me help you fight." A thick swallow made her throat bob against mine as our eyes caught and the curtain finally rose letting me into her side. Pain and grief hung heavily over there and I did my best at pushing calm and love to her. I wasn't used to using this bond but thankfully Hichigo was better adapted to it than me and quickly had her wrapped up in us. *It's ok now, Queen. No one can touch you while you're with us.* She whimpered, leaning into us both mentally and physically. Sweat slicked hair slid through my fingers as I petted it back while we battled her discontent. Fingers loosened around my wrist, gently rubbing instead of squeezing it in a death grip as the pain finally fled away from us. She sighed softly, lips pressing a light kiss to my chest. *I'm ok now. Thank you both.* My hand was caught, pulling it up to press another kiss there. *It's nothing. That's what we're here for and we'll always take care of you.* Hichigo assured, hugging her tightly when she reached into me and pulled him out. "That's better. Are you sure you're ok?" He asked and she nodded. "I'm sure, thanks to you both. I love you both more than words can possibly express and I'm glad you're my imprints." I smiled, kissing her forehead firmly. "We're glad you're our imprint too." I really was...

My eyes squeezed, the light trail of fingers petting along my stomach bringing me around once more. I smiled, catching them in mine to rub lightly. "Good morning." I greeted, tugging the hand in mine until Himawari leaned over me, soft inhales tickling my face. My other hand tangled in her hair, pulling her down until our lips were only breath apart. They finally met in a gentle hesitant brush that seemed out of place for her normal behavior and I finally opened my eyes. A wide pale grin filled my vision and I jerked away, tumbling from the bed as I grabbed my throat gagging. "Good morning, King!" Hichigo greeted, rolling around on the bed in hysterics as he pointed at me. "I can't!! Ah!! The look on your face!!" He howled, one hand over his face while the other was holding his stomach. I jumped to my feet, stabbing my finger at him as the other held my throat. "That isn't funny!! Why would you do something like that!!?" Himawari finally sat up in bed, glaring between us and my finger wilted. Hichigo snapped upright, clearing his throat into his fist as he sobered up once more. "What is going on?" She finally asked and I gulped at the glare that was aimed my way. "Ichigo kissed me." My jaw dropped to the floor before jumping onto the bed to pin him with a glare and finger. "You were the one that was getting all touchy!! I thought you were her and you know it!!" His hands were held up in placation and Himawari heaved a sigh, flopping back into the mattress and covering over her head with a pillow. "Either shut up or leave! I'm tired!" We both looked toward her before a hand pressed against my chest making me freeze, eyes slowly going from it to the wide grin. "Don't be so touchy, your majesty. You liked it while you were sleeping." My face flushed and I fought down my yell as I jumped over Himawari to put some space between us. A vein throbbed in my forehead but I forced my voice into a low growl. "Don't do that! It's weird!" He chuckled, pushing one hand back through his hair as the other shoved down the band of his boxers until the thin patch of white hair peaked out. Blood rushed to my face and I buried it in my hands, spinning around to face the wall as sweat beaded on my forehead. "Damn you, you bastard!" He chuckled, making the bed bounce as he flopped back into it and curled up around Himawari. "Fine. I'll behave until she wakes up again." One hand drifted along her belly and she rolled into him, a sigh of pleasure escaping as she nuzzled her nose into his chest.

I heaved a breath, sinking back into mattress behind her. "Am I going to be safe if I go back to sleep?" He grinned. "As long as she's sleeping I won't bother you. After that, I make no promises, King." My face flushed and he huffed. "I don't know what you're so flinchy about anyhow. We're 2 halves of a whole. Why shouldn't we be close like we are with our woman?" My teeth clicked as I snapped my jaw closed. "Because it's weird! I've never thought of you even being able to have sex let alone having those sort of feelings towards me!" I ground out and his grin wilted before vanishing altogether as he hide his face in Himawari's shoulder. My glare fell, watching him for a moment before slowly touching his arm only for it to be jerked from under my fingers as he rolled from the bed. "Hey. Where are you going?" He snorted, refusing to look at me. "What's it matter to you, your majesty?" I swallowed, watching him head toward the door before vanishing out it. Himawari pushed me, one hand aiming where he had been without opening her eyes. "Go to him. I'm fine and you guys need to talk this out. You need to realize that you're just as important to him as I am." My eyes widened, jerking to the door before leaning to kiss her head. "I had no idea..." She huffed, finally opening an eye and jutting her chin in his direction once more before I finally left...

Hichigo POV: My fingers tightened into a fist as the other tossed a rock out over the still surface of the lake. The flat of it jumped across the water, shattering the reflections on it. Rictor watched it go before nudging my arm lightly with a sorrowful churr. A sigh left my chest, reaching to rub his head as I watched the shimmering ripples spread until they reached the bank. "Just who does Ichigo think he is anyhow?! Saying he never thought I could feel those things! I'm just as much his imprint as Himawari is, damn it!" My fist hit the ground, crushing a few yellow flowers under it. "*Tsk!* Just because he never gave me the chance to feel he thinks I shouldn't be able!" Another rock bounced off the nearly still water making them dance with pink and orange light of the sunrise. A hand landed on my shoulder suddenly, startling me so that I tumbled down the shallow embankment into the water with a splash. "Give me a break. We've only met a handful of times and you've haven't even been in this world for a full 2 days. I need time to reconcile all this. Hell, it's barely been a week since Himawari showed up." I blinked, watching Ichigo plop down into the space I had been in and offer a hand out of the water. I really hadn't thought he'd come for me. My fingers flinched toward him before snapping closed across my chest as I remained sitting in the shallow lake. "I never asked you to come down here! Go take care of our woman, Ichigo!" He heaved a sigh, rocking back on his hands to watch the sun painting the sky. "I never said I didn't think you shouldn't be able to feel, you know? Just that I never thought of you having those feelings for me. Everything has been turned on its head since Himawari came back to me and I'm really trying to make sense of it all." A small soft smile curved his lips as his eyes slowly fell back to me. I looked away, one hand rubbing my hair more as something to do than it being ichy. A hand invaded my vision once more and this time I fit mine into it after a short hesitation. My butt hit the grass, boxers clinging to my legs wetly as I plucked at them. Eyes flickered over me until I finally looked over at Ichigo making them leave me. "Look. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. There's just a lot to take in and I can't do it all at once. I don't dislike you. I just never felt any attraction to men and now you need that of me and I don't know if I can do it..." One leg was drew up to his chest, arm resting against it creating a pillow for his chin.

My head cocked to the side, sliding a bit closer to him until I was pressed into his side. A faint blush formed on his cheeks and I shivered a bit. I didn't realize how cool it was until now but being wet I was down right cold. Ichigo's brows furrowed, glancing down at me before his arm slowly fit around mine. He was warm and I quickly huddled up against him to soak up as much heat as I could. A deep breath left his lungs creating a soft cloud of vapor in front of his lips. "Let's go back inside where it's warm. My cheek fell to rest on his shoulder, just hanging onto him for a moment longer before finally standing to offer him a hand up. A soft smile upturned his mouth as his fingers slid into mine, letting me pull him to his feet. "Hey... Thanks for coming after me." One hand fell to dust off his shorts. "No problem. Himawari insisted but I was going to anyhow. She's worried about you too." I huffed, starting towards the house. "We better get back then. I don't want her to worry herself. She was enough to deal with without me adding to it." Ichigo nodded, following my clipped pace easily as we headed back to the room.