Chapter 9-

He left. Byakuya shunpo'ed from the room using the open window of his office. Tears running down his face as he could feel his own despair. It was so unlike the noble, even he did not know he could still shed tears.

Master, what are you doing? This is not what you want.

"I can't do it again Senbonzakura. You know! You know I may act as though I have no heart, but in truth it is so fragile. It can break so easily and I hide that fact behind my mask, but can't let him be able to break the small fragments I have managed to hold onto."

Master, please reconsider.

Byakuya was already far from Seireitei. He could not stand the shame that would come with someone stumbling upon him in this state. And he could also not stand to be anywhere near Ichigo at the moment, so he left.

Shunpo after shunpo, not knowing how long he ran or how far his cowardice took him. He was tired, and the sun that had been in the middle of the sky when he left was now just barely above the horizon.

He stopped when he stumbled on a patch of land that was decaying. Damn. These were near the lower districts of Rukon. But he now had a place to stay; knew there were caves here Yoruichi and he found in their younger days and he headed in that direction.

Once situated in the cave with a small fire, created by kido, in front of him to settle for the night, Byakuya's tears continued. His body shifting with suppressed hiccups, the tears he hadn't shed for his late wife, falling. His tears of pain and fear over the years, falling. Tears he wanted to shed for Rukia when his sister would be executed, and then the ones of relief that she wasnt, falling. And finally the ones of Ichigo, the uncertainty, falling.

"Dammit! I am not this weak! Why, is it all I can do is cry!" He choked out, whipping at the slow, fat tears furiously. They ceased, or so he thought, but a quick look at the ground again and the feeling of his soaked face told him otherwise.

"Damn you Ichigo! You had to bring this back into my world, this weakness I have not felt in my entire life. My weak, fragile heart I thought I locked away."

Master, Senbonzakura's voice came out questioning.

"Look how he has me! Crying, swearing and acting like a child! I have decided Senbonzakura. I will cry out all these tears and face Ichigo tomorrow."

And of the clan?

"I have gone against their wishes before. Why can I not do it again? And I never said they would disapprove of the decision."

Then you are going to refuse him? Refuse your heart?

"Well, I never exactly said that..." Byakuya said sheepishly.

Master, Shiro thought me a term that I believe suits you well.

"What is it?" Byakuya was returned. His voice strong again and his tears had stopped, he was going to choose what he wanted and be damned with the consequences.

Bipolar

"..."

*_(*)_*

"Byakuya!" Ichigo called as he gave chase to Byakuya. But without his bankai Byakuya had the superior speed, and he was gone in seconds.

"Damn!"

"Ichi, chill." Shiro said from beside Ichigo, materializing next to his 'King'.

"Shiro, how the hell am I going to 'chill' when Byakuya just ran away? Kami, I havent ever seen him like that."

"That's how he used to be. He is childish on the inside Ichi, but he knows what he wants. Dont worry he'll be back."

"Shrio, you aren't helping."

"Fine go worry your head off then."

That was exactly what Ichigo did, he couldn't even stay still. He was found wandering around all of Seireitei; but that wasnt odd. What was odd to all who saw him, was that Kuchiki-Taicho wasnt with him.

And it had been days now, since Ichigo had seen the sixth division captain. And he was completely overtaken by fear and unsettlement.

Anytime someone was too close to ask questions he would push them away with reiatsu. Byakuya was Ichigo's and it urked the teen how the noble pushed him away, not to mention how deeply it hurt him; and at the moment he just couldn't deal with people.

Damn, Byakuya. Why the hell did he leave? I know he felt it, I know he felt that everything I said is true, even though I didn't know it. It's still true! He is mine!

Ichigo growled his displeasure, he did not like the fact that Byakuya had stayed away from him all this time. He was worried and had searched for the man, because he knew he had returned to Seireitei the day after he left. It was as if he hadn't left to everyone else, but Ichigo knew better and he also knew he was avoiding him.

"AHHHH! Dammit!" Ichigo finally screamed out his frustration. He just couldn't find the noble where ever he looked and no one seemed to know where he was at any specific moment. There had been no captains meetings so there was no way to corner him there, and though he stayed at the house he hadn't even caught the vaguest scent of Byakuya.

"Ichigo," a voice called him and he whirled instantly. Seeing silk black hair, and steel-gray eyes relieved Ichigo immediately. Then as soon as he knew he was there he vanished, only to be on the roof to Ichigo's left. And Ichigo, of course, gave chase, knowing quickly where this was going.

taunting. That is what the noble was doing to Ichigo; he would let him get close then shunpo out-of-the-way quickly. Weaving and turning in the air so quickly it was now Ichigo who could barely see.

Then an abrupt stop. They were surrounded by nothing, no houses, or trees, no animals; nothing. By No one, Ichigo realized.

"Byakuya, listen I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you like that." Ichigo started not quiet knowing how to put into words how he felt. He always had a problem with that. Have to fix that soon.

"Kurosaki, are you serious? Are you telling me that a young teenage, HUMAN, boy wants to be with a century old relic like myself. A stuck up, emotionless, noble clan head with many burdens and responsibilities, rules and restrictions like myself?" Byakuya's expression was dead serious, no room for comic relief in this situation.

"You mean a hurt, scared, caring person who has honor and integrity; a person who will stick to a promise he makes because he doesn't put his trust in just anyone? A person who was crying for an insensitive jerk like me a few days ago?"

"No,"

The answer rung out loud and clear, hanging in the air between the two. Both staring at each other with equal stubbornness and fire; not backing down to the others words.

King, just answer what he asked, please? Shiro quietly whimpered. Like he didn't want to speak any louder in fear of being heard by the noble. And Ichigo had a tugging urge to listen to Shiro, if not this once.

"Yes. A century of smarts and charms that were hidden from everyone, a stuck up noble clan head that has so much responsibilities, rules and restrictions that he seems emotionless. That is who I want. I want the good and bad of Byakuya. Not Kuchiki-Taicho, or Kuchiki-sama or -dono. Just Byakuya and all his sides."

Like Ichigo had accepted earlier, he wasnt very good with expressing his feeling with words, but he had always been good with the truth. And the words seemed to have Byakuya struggling to keep his emotions in check.

He hadn't been emotional for the few days he had been avoiding Ichigo( He just couldn't muster up the courage to face him the day he had returned), but it seemed that the boy just brought out all of Byakuya's underlying feelings.

"Then, yes."

"Wha-?"

"Yes, Ichigo. I'll be your's, but only be your's for eternity." The noble spoke with a slight blush on his pale face and he looked embarrassed, with his gaze downcast.

Within a second of that being said he was wrapped in strong arms again. His face buried in the crook of Ichigo's neck as he was held there. He inhaled Ichigo's scent and loved every second of being held there.

He was been determined to not get emotional during the entire thing but he couldn't help feeling safe, protected and loved in Ichigo's arms. A single tear of joy escaped, being too stubborn to be pushed down.

Ichigo pulled back a bit and tilted the noble's face up to look at his own. He gave him a soft smile, all his emotions clear on his face as he leaned in and captured those soft lips.

The kiss was slow, sweet and soft; just a simple movement over the other's lips as they poured their love into it. An arm slipped down to Byakuya's waist and held him close as a hand found its way to the back of Byakuya's neck leaning him up to pour more passion into the embrace.

Thin, long fingers wound themselves into the slightly long orange locks. They were long enough to have the normal spikes drooping, and his bangs almost reach Ichigo's eyes. And Ichigo loved how Byakuya pulled slightly on his hair to have him closer to his body, and how he moaned for Ichigo.

"Byakuya, hold on."

"W-what? I knew it, you are regr-" Byakuya started pulling away. Ichigo held fast and pulled the noble back flush against him. Byakuya could now feel Ichigo's, Ahem, and a blush crept over his features.

"No, I just need you to hear something before we continue. Because if we continue like this, I will jump your bones and I think we will have a problem."

Chapter 9 1/2:

Well, now there was a predicament within the group. Not only was it the feline and his partner, but all their... activities, have led to another pairing.

Their rescuer and their tall, dark tanned, blonde were involved with each other now.

"So, does that mean that they are fuc-" The little girl was cut off when a hand covered her mouth. She turned and saw her lazy other half was the one who had done it. His hand had moved at a speed that she only saw during battle.

"Yes, they are, and that means they are mates. So don't bother your tias if they are together behind closed doors." The lazy man told his half.

"If they keep it up we're gonna have 'lil tiburones, gamuzas, murcielagos, and panteras runnin 'round." The fox-like man spoke to the remaining 4 people in the group seeing as the other 4 were... busy at the moment.

"Well, I think they would be cute!" the pink hair man said. He and the little girl began an engaging conversation about the topic.

"Ai, Lily nunca is going to change." her other half said shaking his head.


AN: Hi guys, sorry I didnt update friday, but it's because I was packing and dealing with my parents for my trip. But I am now situated in Puerto Rico and will be updating regularly and the next chapter will be this friday c:

Soo I was happy with this one, but you dont know how much it pained me how out of character Byakuya was, so I apologize. Just know it hurt me too.

Thank you to all those who reviewed and the people who pm me. You all make me feel bad that I dont update on time T-T Heheh so thank you again.

Tell me what you thought cuz in the next few chapters things get gooood. In the smutty way ;)