Siting on the cold rough concrete, Ulter's lungs felt ten times denser, and her legs felt like toothpicks. As she inhaled deeply, she took notice of the last bit of fading sunlight through the one window in the room. The sounds of ridged wind hitting the steel roof and the dripping of water through cracks in the ceiling seemed to create an ominous melody that lulled the girl off to sleep. As her pupils began to rapidly move beneath her thin eyelids, she could feel her heart rate slow and her fingers involuntarily twitch. Her consciousness becomes fuzzy as her body fell into an all-encompassing warmth.

Images of the Ryuuji came to her, and the foreboding yet comforting, words of the creature resurfaced as well. Lately, those words were all Ulter could think about. She wondered if her own will could overcome the power that her master had over her. It seemed like her inherent destiny was different than the fate he had in mind for her. It pulled at Ulter's soul. In her heart, she knew who she was, and that helping Aiko went against every part of that, but even knowing this, she couldn't help but want to. She wanted to love him and do whatever she could to keep that love alive.

However, that made her think of the vision of her first mother and what it meant to truly love selflessly. Blood dragon said, that when you love someone you'll do what's best for them, no matter what, even if it hurts them or yourself.

That being said, Ulter had to ask herself if helping her master was truly what was best for him. She loved him, meaning she wanted what was truly the best for him, and not what he thought was best. The whole thing riddled the girl with confusion.

Ultimately, Aiko was willing to give the greatest sacrifice as a means to exact his vengeance. He'd signed his heart away in order for his zanpakutou to bestow him with such abilities. For such a thing to even occur, a human heart filled with true sorrow was needed. It wasn't so much as needed as it was a consequence of using such a form. Truly, it was the embodiment of hate and despair. Once the yielder had ravished the hearts and souls of ten thousand people, their heart would be ripped from them, for such a deplorable person's body would reject a heart. After their heart was ripped away, the person would be exiled to the underworld, punished to spend their days in pure unrelenting agony, never to be reincarnated again. That was the punishment Aiko was willing to bear for the sake of his vengeance. In fact, he was so blinded by hatred that he didn't think of the underworld as a punishment at all, but as means of escape, because all he wanted was to forget and become submerged by his own hatred.

More than anything, Ulter didn't want that to happen, but she couldn't go against the will of her master. How could she? Just the mere thought of someone hurting him or upsetting him was like a stab in the heart.

Finally, the sound of a steel door being opened by the door man awoke Ulter. Ulter had been commanded to stay and train daily while the other three would be out gathering information or performing duties for the upcoming battle.

To her surprise, an exasperated Jessie came and sat right beside her. Throughout the entirety of knowing him and his sister, they had never been much for pleasantries or conversation. However, maybe with no one around, Jessie was different. He wasn't exactly here of his own will either. Maybe the asshole-ishness was all a front, a way to harden his heart so that being trapped here didn't hurt too much. The look in his eyes was one of annoyance, mixed with defeat. Ulter wasn't sure what Jessie's mission was, but it always seemed to take so much out of him emotionally. Even Salim and master would occasionally talk or find it in them to make some snarky comment, but Jessie, he just looked dead. Master truly had been picking at Jessie's soul and emotions like they were his toys. However, Ulter dared not say anything about it, for Jessie would just deny anything was bothering him.

"Training went well today," she said. It was a poor attempt for conversation, but she gave it a go. "I'm getting better, but I'm nowhere near you or Salim."

He scoffed. "You'll be ten times more powerful than Salim, one of these days." His tone was flat and indifferent as his gaze stayed fixed on the opposite wall.

She attempted to lighten the mood with a half-assed joke. "You actually complimented me. You don't want master to hear that."

If he was supposed to be amused, he wasn't. Instead, a stern yet melancholy glare met Ulter's eyes for an unnerving amount of time. She half expected to be yelled at or punched or something.

Surprisingly, his frustrated expression turned into one of defeat, and his eyes flicked towards the ground. "You know, Salim and I don't want to be here just as much as you don't. We just do what we have to."

"I know," she mumbled. For a moment, there was a chilling silence before Ulter continued. "Jessie, do you know what it feels like to be in love? Like really in love? Does it feel the same as this? Does it hurt the same?" Though her voice was trembling, she spoke with a stone cold tone.

Eyes filled with nothingness seemed to brighten with a glint of nostalgia at the question. Jessie clasped his hands in front of him and pursed his lips in contemplation. "It can hurt this much, but it does feel different when it's real."

Big innocent orbs looked up at the man in confusion, telling him to continue. "The love we feel for master is similar to the love a battered wife feels for her abusive husband. Even though she knows he hurts her and that he doesn't love her, she just can't stop herself, like she's under some mind control." He looked at the girl with sincere concern. "That's not what real love feels like. When it's real, it's not supposed to hurt like that. When it's real, the love flows both ways. Yeah, it'll hurt at some point, because we're all feeble humans and we make mistakes. Anything that feels that great will cause you pain at some point too." He paused for a moment, thinking. " Just…..it's not supposed to be like this." Jessie pressed his chin to his knees and tightened his arms around his shins.

Seemingly calmer, Ulter leaned against the cold wall and tried to contain her trembling lips. "I died when I was seventeen and I've only been in the soul society for a year. I never got the chance to fall in love, so I guess I wanted to know what it felt like, since I probably never will." Her frail fingers traced the outline of her protruding collar bones, fingertips feeling the shallow shudder of each breath as they caressed the pale cold skin.

"Don't say that," came the docile reply. "We don't know what's going to happen."

Turning her head to the side slightly, she gave the red-haired man a puzzled look. "So you're not as hopeless as you look. You have the eyes of someone who's given up."

Twiddling his thumb slightly, Jessie gave a serious look towards his hands, as if the answer to all his problems lay within his cuticles. "I guess. Lately I've been wondering the same thing as you, if I'll ever feel real love…" He paused somewhat awkwardly. "A little part of me still hopes that this isn't it for me."

"Lately? What happened?"

Shifting his eyes uncomfortably, he let out a tiny grunt. "You could say I've seen an example of true love that made me change my mind." Shaking his head back and forth, he continued, "I guess too much time on these special duties has been messing with my head. What can I say? It's hard to not thinks something is tangible when you see it right there in front of you."

Seeing this as a possible opening to express her concerns without being beheaded, she tried to find to right words. "Do you ever wonder if what we're doing is right for the master? Like, if we really loved him maybe we wouldn't let him destroy his soul like this."

Without hesitation, Jessie responded, "All the time."

Looking up with speechless shock, she listened as he continued. "But there really isn't an alternative after all this time."

"What if there was but it meant having to do something the master wouldn't like?"

"Sometimes what's best for a person is the hardest thing. I learned that lesson well before I died and came to the soul society." His words were almost verbatim to Ryuuji. Ulter had never known that Jessie had thoughts like this.

He continued, "Me? If it came down to it, I think I could, but Salim… She's so under master's spell that she doesn't even question his motives, not anymore anyway…" He paused for a moment, contemplating something. " But it's stupid to waste time thinking about that. There's nothing we can do about it now, not when we're days away from engagement." He chuckled to himself slightly. "Besides, who am I kidding? Yeah, I talk all this talk, but there's a reason I've been here for so long. I've thought about running, but I just…" His voice trailed off in frustration for a mere instant, "I won't. It's not that I can't, but I won't. It's kind of fucked."

Leaning her head back in contemplation, Ulter closed her eyes as if trying to will the answer to appear. "Maybe…but maybe there is something we can do… Maybe we're just not being selfless with our love…"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After work, Ichigo got a cryptic yet urgent phone call from Chiyo, telling him to come to the hospital as soon as possible.

Without hesitation, Ichigo raced to the hospital with panic flooding over inside of him.

'No, she must be okay. This is too soon. Not now. I'm not ready.'

Every cell in the young man's body was screaming as he ran on pure instinct. Running with only single-minded hysteria through the hall ways of the hospital, his feet almost gave way multiple times. Ichigo barged through Milly's hospital door with alarm. Upon entering, he saw Milly laying on a gurney and Chiyo standing at attention to her side. There seemed to be no panic or rush, in fact, everyone seemed sort of happy…

Ruining off of pure adrenaline, the sight only confused him and made his blood boil faster. His face was filled with dread and puzzlement. "What's going on here?" he demanded.

Quickly, looking as healthy as ever, Milly rose up straight in the gurney. "Ichi! Ichi! We have great news," the tiny girl enthused, raising her hands in the air widely.

Chiyo gave the girl a stern look, signaling her to calm down, but then let a ridiculous smile form over her face. "Oh Ichigo, I don't know what happened. Maybe it was a miracle, maybe god, it could be the work of a witch doctor for all I care." The woman put her hands up in a praying fashion and lifted them up slightly above her head, as if signaling to some divine almighty. "But Milly's getting her surgery, Ichigo."

His saline-stained eyes blinked excessively as a tingle ran through his body. A not- too-comfortable warmth mixed with the feeling of his heart catapulting into his stomach and his lungs failing him made the man feel ill. It was such an overwhelming sense of relief that his body couldn't process every sensation. It was so overwhelming that he thought he had heard wrong. "Excuse me?" Ichigo pondered with a blank face.

"Yes." Chiyo was shaking her head up and down while walking closer to the stunned man. Her hands covered her mouth as if she was still in shock herself. "Yes, today. She's being prepped right now."

Ichigo realized he was crying again when he felt warm tears caress his face. He walked over to Milly and grasped her hands in his. With tears flowing everywhere, he pressed his lips to her tiny fragile fingers, letting his head collapse into her lap. "Oh Milly," he cried. "I'm so happy, so damn happy." More tears came as the little girl took one of her hands and ran it through the locks of orange hair resting on her tummy.

"Ichi, why are you crying, silly? This is a good thing!" The girl's smile could be heard through her tone.

Standing back up, he wiped away his tears. "Because I'm a loser, and not half as strong as you." He paused and looked back up to Chiyo. "But how? What happened? Did the orphanage change its mind?"

Her eyes widened to match her smile. "That's the weird thing, we don't really know. There was an anonymous donation to the hospital today, but the donation came with a stipulation: that it be used for Milly's surgery. We have no idea who sen-"

"I know, I know!" Milly interrupted, jumping back up in the gurney. "It was Byakuya, Ichi's friend. It had to be because he promised!" Now pulling on Ichigo's hand, she continued her pleads. "Don't you remember? He promised that we'd do all that stuff together. He must've known that the only way we could do that is if I had the surgery."

Ichigo's heart jolted beneath his chest, and a million conflicting thoughts ran into his mind. Could it really have been Byakuya? There was no way, right? Why would he do something so generous for him? Sure, they were friends but Ichigo expected nothing, not even the comfort he had gotten from the older man the night prior.

But was their friendship really worth sixty million yen to Byakuya? Could he possibly care so much?

Maybe he'd done it just because he had the means. Yes, that was still a lot of money, even to Byakuya, but considering just how endowed the man was, perhaps it was something the noble considered minuscule. No, that couldn't be it. No matter how much money you have, no one just did that because they could, not that Ichigo believe that Byakuya was beyond being a generous and kind person- Ichigo knew that Byakuya was capable of such things, but for a man who has such a hard time expressing sincere concern, this wasn't just a fleeting thought, but a gesture of affection. Byakuya truly cared for Ichigo, and there was no way to hide it from the light anymore. In what way he cared, Ichigo was still unaware of. All he knew was that he'd been falling deeper for the man with every fleeting moment, each one too short.

'Could he possibly feel the same?'

Still, even after this, it seemed inconceivable to the young man. Although that was definitely a token of affection, there was no proof that it wasn't out of pure friendship. Nothing to indicate any romantic feelings. No signals to let all ships set sail on the proverbial love boat. Nope, nothing. If anything, his anonymity spoke volumes. This was his signal for Ichigo to leave the subject be; it was obvious that he didn't want his gesture to be acknowledged. Byakuya knew how well Ichigo knew him, and knew that Ichigo would understand that if he'd gone through the trouble to keep it a secret, then he didn't want anyone to 'know'. Of course, they would both know that he knows, but just ignoring it would be enough to spare the man his pride, the pride he'd lost at the realization that he cared this deeply for someone, a someone he couldn't stand not too long ago. Even though Ichigo wanted to be hopeful, from this he knew Byakuya was not interested in furthering their relationship or crossing certain lines. The man wouldn't even allow Ichigo to thank him for his generosity. This would prove difficult for the hot-headed kid, for he wanted more than anything to go home and wrap his arms around Byakuya. He yearned for Byakuya to hear him mutter a million thank-yous through the touching of their wet lips. He desired to tell him just how much he cared for him too, and hope that the raven-haired beauty felt the same, yet Ichigo would say nothing. He couldn't do that to the man after he'd given him such a gift, not when this was the only thing the noble had truly asked for. No, Ichigo would find a way to show how thankful he was without words. Byakuya had given him a person to lean on, a person to trust enough to unload his baggage onto, not to mention the precious gift of Milly's health. Somehow, someway, Ichigo would figure out how to get Byakuya to open up like that. Somehow, he'd carry some of the pain for Byakuya too.

"Yeah." Ichigo caressed Milly's cheek with the side of his thumb. "I think you're right."

"A friend, huh?" Chiyo lifted a suggestive eyebrow. "He must be one really good friend, Ichigo. Word of advice: don't let this one go."

With the smile of a person who was completely smitten, he replied, "Never."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxX

Birds chirping and the sound of wind cutting through the crisp air were all that could be heard. The darkness veiled Juushiro as he moved quickly and discreetly through the pathways intertwining the barracks. Even though it would only be a minor setback, he didn't want to be held up by someone inquiring as to his actions. There were a few guards scattered about, but Juushiro was able to easily maneuver unnoticed. Knowing he didn't have much time, he wondered if he should flash-step the rest of the way. It would help with speed but failed in discretion. Deciding against it, he quickened his pace and continued to move in the shadows.

Moving down a long corridor, Juushiro could barely see two steps in front of him. The illumination from the moon lit just enough for him to take steps more carefully. The task seemed especially hard, considering Juushiro's illness had become more active due to the shock of finding out about Aiko. With one hand on his stomach and one holding a golden butterfly cage, he tried to let the wave of nausea pass. Once he steadied his breathing, he continued on.

While Shunsui was preoccupied, Juushiro was making his move to the Senkaimon. Surely the commander only seemed aloof at times; he knew his old friend too well. Making a move to the living world was almost impossible with Shunsui watching over him like a hawk. He'd even resorted to sending Nanao to do random check-ups, under the guise of bad excuses. If Shunsui was here, he would make some smug comment about how if Juushiro could barely make it to the gate, how was he planning on making it in the living world? What he didn't understand was that Juushiro could not feel better until he faced Aiko. For years, his mistake had haunted him. That one paramount decision in his life became the pillars of Juushiro's ideals and actions for the rest of his days. In a way, Aiko had saved him and made him realize the person he truly was all along. Ever since the day of Aiko's apparent death, Juushiro had been trying to be the person Aiko had deserved in his life. Each day, the memory of Aiko's eyes looking upon him with abhorrent disappointment drove him to strive for better. Now Juushiro bore Aiko's goals on his shoulders, no matter how idealistic they were at times. To Juushiro, this was his chance to finally be the person Aiko had needed all those year prior, a friend who was willing to bend the rules if it was for what was right, someone who was brave and held no doubts of who they were. He needed to be the person that Aiko used to be. The lessons reaped from Aiko's death were the only silver lining, but now that Juushiro has a chance to repay that sacrifice, he would not turn his back. If it was the last thing he did, he would save his friend from the dismal path of hate and pain that he was treading. Juushiro was prepared to do whatever it took, even if it meant taking the life of that same friend. He wasn't naïve, but even so, Juushiro hoped it wouldn't come to that; he hoped, but he wasn't a child who didn't understand the way of the world. However cruel, sometimes taking the life of your friend is the only way to stop them from destroying every part of themselves, and to Juushiro's dismay, it seemed as if Aiko's only relief may now lay in death. Juushiro was fully aware of the capabilities of the team currently assigned on this mission. It wasn't doubt in their abilities that was bringing him to the living world. Though people may not understand, Juushiro felt as if this was his full responsibility to bear. If he had've just gone with Aiko that night, had've tried harder to cajole him, if he hadn't've been such a coward, all of this could've been avoided. No one else had been there that faithful night. No one else had looked into their friends frantic and desperate eyes just to tell them their position was more important than the lives of the people they loved. A lot of people felt residual guilt from the incident, yet no one could truly fathom the guilt Juushiro had experienced. He was Aiko's best friend, and in his hardest of times, Juushiro had failed him. That was the reason for the accumulative sum of years of effort and regret. This was the reason that pleads to deter him would not be indulged. For Juushiro, there was no other option.

Finding himself at the bottom of a colossal tower, Juushiro started his way up a set of lengthy steps. After some time, Juushiro made it to the top. He found himself in the majestic courtyard opened to the night sky. Juushiro walked closer to the massive pillars, fully expecting some type of security. It wasn't an issue however. He was a captain, and that meant almost instant respect and compliance from lower ranking soul reapers. Finding himself mere yards from the entrance of the gate, Juushiro prepared a kido spell to open the pathway.

Before he could begin, he heard the sound of familiar smugness. "Well, well, aren't you one clever fox, Juushiro. You almost got away without me even noticing." Shunsui stared at the outline of his friend, only made visible by the faint glow of the moon light. Still, he didn't need to see him to realize the man's somber disposition.

Still standing turned from the man, Juushiro only slightly turns his head to speak. "I knew you would find out, I just didn't think it be so soon. Don't worry, I've informed my lieutenant of my whereabouts, and they're prepared to take command until my return." Juushiro's voice was strong and unwavering as he ignored the pain emanating from his stomach.

"You underestimate me," Shunsui chuckled slightly. "I always know where you are."

The heartfelt proclamation melted Juushiro's somewhat defensive state. For a moment, he had forgotten that even though Shunsui was the commander now, this wouldn't be a repeat of the night with the late Yamamoto. He knew Shunsui, and he was a completely different breed of man. More docile than before, he replied, "I should've know better than to try and get one by you." He turned around to see only slight highlights of his lifelong friend. He could make out a slight smile, which comforted him. "Are you here to try and convince me not to go?" The question was not accusatory or filled with malice, but with appreciation for the concern his friend felt.

Grateful for the return of Juushiro's usual gentle yet strong disposition, Shunsui put on a smirk. "That would be like trying to convince the earth to stop spinning on its axis: fruitless. If anything, I wish I could go with you. This wasn't exactly the way I had dreamed of the gang getting back together, but if anyone understands why you need to go, it's me." Looking a tad more serious, he continued, "He was a great friend, I understand your guilt." He paused for a moment then. "No, I didn't want you to go, but that's because of how sick you are. Besides, I was never crazy enough to believe I could stop you. Even if I could," he said with a grin, pausing slightly, "I wouldn't."

Shaking his head with a slightly goofy smile, Juushiro laughed. "If Yamamoto were alive, he'd die if he could hear us now, two of his first students completely disregarding the rules." Intertwining his fingers, he twiddled his thumbs pensively. "I guess we were always like that though."

"Yamamoto was a great leader, and everything he did was for the good of the soul king. Still, that doesn't mean I agree with all of his ideals. He had a very old-school way of thinking about things, and sometimes he was too stubborn to see that those ways just didn't work anymore. I will always put the protection of the Soul Society first, but like a good friend once told me-" He moved closer to put an sympathetic had on Juushiro's shoulder. "If we can't even save the people we care about, then what are we doing here. A man with morals is a man with something to stand for, a man who will fight for those things eternally. A man who acts out of integrity, instead of the fear of rules, who does what he knows is right instead of what others say is right, that will be a man," he turned his gaze up at the majestic sky, "who can change this world."

Comforted and encouraged by his companion's words, Juushiro let out a sigh of relief. "You truly were the best choice for the Commander-Chief." With his head lowered, he looked up adoringly at Shunsui.

Rubbing the back of his head, he shrugged his shoulders humbly. "I don't know about that, eh, I honestly thought they would pick you. I know Aiko would never believe it. You were always the wise one who leveled us both out."

Looking away thoughtfully, Juushiro lowered his voice to just below a whisper. "That's just it, the Soul Society doesn't need someone to level it out. It needs someone to knock the whole thing over." Chuckling slightly, he shook his head, causing his long white strands to vibrate against the darkness. "That sounds more like you, wouldn't you agree?"

Shunsui smirked and adjusted his hat slightly. "Maybe, when I'm drunk."

Returning the playful smirk, Juushiro grasped his friends forearms and held him at arm's length. "Which is most of the time." Swiftly, he pressed his body against Shunsui in a tight embrace. Letting his arms rest on the man's shoulders, he pressed his face against the scruffy flushed skin and indulged in the familiar intimacy. Just the simple gesture of affection made Juushiro feel ten times lighter. Being in the presence of Shunsui, his dearest confidant, made him feel weightless, as if any problem he faced, it would be alright. Without even needing to explain himself or utter a single word, with just a single hug or look, Shunsui could immediately discern what Juushiro was feeling. To Juushiro, even though he said it was vice versa, Shunsui anchored him.

Whispering softly into Juushiro's ear, Shunsui sent a slight chill down his neck. "Just come back safe," he reminded warmly.

Now pulling out of the embrace, Juushiro nodded slightly. Quickly, he did the kido and the gate opened. Retrieving the cage, he released the Hell Butterfly, ready to follow behind it. For just a brief moment, he looked back at his friend, who was trying not to look too concerned. Taking in Shunsui's expression of encouragement, Juushiro went on with his resolve now fortified.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxX

Once Ichigo arrived home, the sun was already dwindling below the horizon line. Byakuya was sitting cross-legged on the couch, engrossed in a novel that Ichigo had loaned to him. The sight of Byakuya made Ichigo think back to how the noble would lecture him when he put his feet on the coffee table, saying, 'this is where we eat, Ichigo,' and Ichigo would respond with, 'it is my coffee table.' The noble would always just scoff and avert his eyes while Ichigo snickered at his annoyed face. Ichigo loved moments like that.

For a while, he just stood there staring. Not only was he staring, but it must have been painfully obvious. There was a pull on every fiber within the young soul reaper, a pull to ravish the older man. It was as if an invisible force was gipping into Ichigo's being, because he could feel gratitude just oozing out of every pore. Even though he didn't say anything, gratefulness and love poured from him. The way he stood with his body arched towards the noble, the way he fretted his brow pitifully and slightly bit his lip, it spoke volumes. Yes, nothing had to be said, because even though Byakuya wasn't looking at him, he knew that Ichigo knew and just how grateful he was.

"I know I'm beautiful, Ichigo, but this is weird, even for you," the man spoke casually, still turning the pages of his book.

Ichigo decided to be a little more forward that usual. Without words, he got on his knees beside the man and sat back on his heels. Still, his eyes were pinned to the fair-skinned beauty, waiting for another sign of acknowledgment. In that half playful half indifferent way Byakuya had about him, he continued to turn an apathetic eye away from the boy. Feeling like being a little risky, Ichigo decided to mess with the noble a little bit, get a rise out of him. Though Byakuya was a lot more subdued and playful than he let on, he could still be vicious and icy. Admittedly, Ichigo liked that part of him too sometimes. Byakuya's regal serious aura of authority was a part of what made him who he was, as long as he could keep it balanced, Ichigo didn't mind it at all.

After a moment of the noble taking no notice to the younger man, Ichigo playfully yet forcefully slapped the book out of the noble's hand. Fully expecting to be reprimanded, at the sight of the noble's serious eyes, he put on a huge grin.

In a stern tone, Byakuya enunciated his words slowly. "Ichigo, what do you think you're doing?"

Now standing up, Ichigo stretched his arms above his head and intertwined his fingers, while bending from side to side. "I'm trying to start something." Ichigo lifted an suggestive eyebrow.

At first, the noble's skin started to tingle at the prospect of what Ichigo meant. Then as he took in the sight of the fiery soul reaper stretching in front of him, he understood: Ichigo wanted a fight. Even though the idea enticed him, the noble knew being that close to Ichigo and in the heat of a fight, he may be unable to control himself. "Not in the mood," came the stoic response.

"Oh come on, I've been stressed out. Friends help friends loosen up, right?" The still stretching man continued, "We can't fight with swords, and you'd probably beat me with hand to hand combat, so we're going to try a style of fighting you've never done before." Still completely ignoring the man, he explained, "Wrestling, it's extremely close contact, a lot of pinning and head locks." A pause," and rolling around on the floor…I'm not too familiar with it myself, so you won't be at too much of a disadvantage. Chad taught me how to fight this way. It's pretty fun."

'Oh dear soul king, no.'

When Byakuya heard that Ichigo's friend had taught him, he figured this was just something that living boys do. Just as soul reapers fight for fun, some humans must do this wrestling activity for fun. So maybe for Ichigo it was fine to be in such close quarters to another person, but for Byakuya, at least when it came to Ichigo, it was not. "I don't want to have to repeat myself. I said n-"

But before Byakuya could finish his sentence, Ichigo had picked up a cup full of ice water and had dumped it on the noble. Byakuya was seething and Ichigo was eating it up.

Before any words could be exchanged, Byakuya flew out of his seat with his hand grasping for Ichigo's shirt. Predicting this, Ichigo maneuvered from his grip and lunged for the noble's legs, allowing himself the ability to trap Byakuya underneath him. Still laughing, Ichigo held down Byakuya's arms as he squirmed to free himself from the man's strong grip. "Oh come on, I didn't think it'd be this easy." The flash of a challenging smile arose the playful and competitive side in the noble. Since he was already down there, why not have a little fun? Plus there was no way he would let Ichigo dominate him. Byakuya was able to free a leg and wrap it around Ichigo, so he could use his weight to roll them both over. With the tables turned, Ichigo fought against the noble, who was trying to pin his arms behind him. Placing a death grip around Byakuya's neck with one of his arms, he took his other hand and gripped onto the fabric of his pants, right below his waist line and launched the noble off of him. Quickly, before the exasperated man could find his breath, Ichigo placed his knees on both of Byakuya's forearms. Sitting right below his chest, Ichigo looked down at the man with a victorious smile.

For a moment, Byakuya had so much adrenaline and fury that he didn't even notice just how close he was with the boy, but as both of the men's breathing started to slow down, it became increasingly obvious. The memory of Ichigo's presence on top of him was all that he felt. A strong pelvis pushing against him, the feeling of panicked hands grasping at his clothes, the warmth of his groin massaging his extremities with every move he made, and now the pressure of his body completely dominating the noble. It was all too much. It seemed that moments stretched into minutes, as the silence grew, and their breathing dissipated. Ichigo's resolve did not waver as he continued to sit on the noble and stare him down, so much so that it began to make the noble feel uncomfortable, though he didn't show it. Usually, he would just tell Ichigo to get off of him, but for some reason, he dared not say anything. He wanted to see where this was going, and weirder than that, he wanted Ichigo to be in charge of it. Perhaps, this was because, for just a moment, Byakuya felt that Ichigo felt the same ravenous pull to touch one another that he did.

Suddenly, Ichigo relaxed his knees, freeing the noble. Still, he didn't get up from his spot upon the noble's chest. "Do you want to do something tonight?"

Byakuya was unsure which was greater, how turned on he was or his curiosity. Taking note of his half erection, he knew the answer to that. It took all of his concentration to make it only half. So, going and doing something was probably a much more pragmatic solution to his problem, than staying inside with Ichigo. "What do you have in mind?" came the indifferent reply.

Raising an eyebrow, he bit at his upturned lips. "Do you trust me?"

The question was unexpected, yet sincere. Usually Byakuya would think of some witty quip to throw Ichigo off of his tracks, fearing that admitting to something so intimate may lead to pain. However, even though Byakuya couldn't fully trust anyone other than Rukia, Ichigo was the only person he did trust. He trusted him with so many things: his family, the Soul Society, to be a good person and always do the right thing. For this reason, he had to be honest.

"Yes," came the hesitant reply.

A part of him even believed that if he didn't have the responsibilities he did, that he'd trust Ichigo with his heart, but even then, Byakuya knew Ichigo would realize his mistake eventually. Byakuya was incapable of showing the man the love he deserved, and Ichigo would realize that just as Hisana had. Besides that, Byakuya felt that Ichigo would never feel the same, and even if he did, Byakuya could never abandon his duties for the Soul Society for such a childish ideal as love. Not again. Still, Ichigo had burrowed his way in deep. The feelings he gave the noble were like an infection that never left and just laid dormant. They were unescapable, and Byakuya was starting to realize this.

Just like that, Byakuya and Ichigo were off into the night. The couple walked up the semi busy sidewalk for a few blocks until they reached an incandescent neon sign that read, "Hardwire Tattoo."

"What are we doing here?" Byakuya asked, obviously confused.

With a childlike grin of excitement, Ichigo responded as if it was the most obvious thing it the world. "We're getting you a tattoo, duh."

Hands still in pocket, the noble took a few steps backwards while shaking his head back and forth. "Oh no, no, no. This isn't what I thought you had in mind. There is no way I'm letting some brutish man using his plump unkempt fingers stab me with a needle repetitively. Have you lost your mind?" His face twisted humorously. "I think we need to take you home so you can rest, because you must have a fever or something."

Scrunching his nose and clenching his teeth, the younger man let out a mocking laugh. "Ha-Ha, very funny. I'm just as sane as you are, which might not be very much." He closed the distance between the two of them and decided to put on a more charming disposition. "Besides, you said you trusted me." A thousand watt smile came across his face and he set a warm gaze on the raven-haired man.

Seeming a little less resistant, Byakuya relaxed. "What's the point of this? Explain yourself." Now sounding more docile, he asked, "Please."

"That's the point, that there is no point!" Ichigo threw his hands in the air theatrically. "You should just do something fun and pointless for once, Byakuya. You should stop brooding over your internal shit and all the nobility stuff and just," he shrugged his shoulders and spoke more casually, "enjoy life. Not everything has to have a point, ya' know?"

When the noble didn't speak, Ichigo brightened up as if he'd had a realization. "And you forget one important thing. You're wearing a gigai, so whatever you get here won't transfer over to your soul body, so it has no repercussions." He took a step closer and grabbed his shoulder. "That means you have no excuse."

Byakuya felt backed into a corner by this smug little brat. He could barely stand the sight of his sly grin, maybe because he was one hundred percent right, and Byakuya knew this, or perhaps it was because Byakuya was okay with him being right. Either way, he wouldn't show how defeated he felt.

The noble lifted his nose into the air. "What would I even get?" he asked, as if it had been his idea all along.

Smiling and patting himself on the back inwardly, Ichigo thought for a moment. "Hm, well, since it's not really permenant, it could be anything. It could be a portrait of Zaraki on your ass, if you wanted!" Ichigo teased his raven-haired companion.

Not missing a beat, Byakuya teased back, "I would rather get a tattoo professing my love to Renji."

Laughing at the thought, Ichigo replied, "He has such a dude-crush on you, he would die…again, he would die again."

"Well, I wouldn't want to lead him on or take my sister's partner away, so I'll have to think of something else." The man crossed his arms in contemplation. "Something meaningful, it should be something meaningful, like my sakura blossoms." As the words fell from the noble's lips, a curl tugged at the edges of his mouth. He smiled jubilantly at the idea.

Ichigo smiled back lightheartedly. "Yeah, a sakura tree. That totally sounds like you, man. Elegant and free, like your blossoms when they attack."

The noble just scoffed at the suggestion. "I wouldn't say I'm free." He quickly averted his eyes, as if he'd said to much.

If he thought Ichigo was aloof or naive, he was wrong. The younger man simply shook his head back and forth with a silly grin. "Maybe you just forgot how to be, that's what I'm here for, right?" The honey brown orbs met Byakuya's unusually nervous and apprehensive face. Realizing Byakuya was feeling a little too out of his comfort zone, Ichigo took the lead. Wrapping his fingers around the noble's wrist, he pulled him towards the door. "Come on, it's time. No going back now. Carpe Diem."

He literally flung the noble through the door, where he stumbled onto a laminated floor being lit up by blinding florescent lights. As Byakuya took in everything, he became increasingly nervous. First off, the walls were adored with hundreds of drawings. Some were scantily-clad women or mermaids, some were skulls and roses or tigers and dragons. Among those pictures, there were photos of people posing with their freshly done tattoos, some showing off places Byakuya didn't even know you could get a tattoo. The whole atmosphere was unnerving for a man like Byakuya. The air reeked of sanitation alcohol and burritos, the light was blinding, and only made worse by the flashy multicolor display. Guys with large orifices in their ears were head pounding to the sound of distorted screeching that they called metal. Immediately, Byakuya turned around to head back out the door, but was stopped by Ichigo's forceful grasp. Even though he was smaller than the noble, it didn't show in strength.

"Oh, no you don't, scaredy-cat. You're not going anywhere." He turned the man back around to face the obtrusive scene once more.

"I don't think I trust the sanitation of this place. It seems quite below my standards." He scrunched his nose and made a look of distain at his surroundings.

Ichigo just scoffed. "I hate to tell you this, but no one's exactly giving out tattoos in banquet halls. If you want one, this is where you go. Their sanitation is way above the standards, and they're the best in town. I've gone to them, and so have Chad and Hime'."

"Even Orihime?"

"Yep, and she's a doctor." When the noble was quiet for a moment, Ichigo continued. "Any more excuses?" He gave a smug smile.

"Other than the fact it was your idea and those always turn out horrible, no." The regal man bit back sardonically but then followed up with a playful smile.

Before the younger man could quip back, a young girl came walking up to the couple. She was wearing a worn-out Naruto shirt with a green flannel wrapped around her waist. Her arms and neck were covered in colorful tattoos, offset by her jet black hair.

"Ichigo! It's been so long." The colorful girl came and shamelessly embraced Ichigo. After a lengthy reunion, the girl took note of the raven-haired beauty. "I see you brought me a new victim." The girl licked her lips playfully.

Ichigo gave her a threatening glare. "Don't scare him! He's never had one before."

A glint of excitement filled the girl's eyes. "Ah! And he has virgin skin! Perfect," the girl practically purred. "And it's so fair and beautiful, what an awesome canvas." She eyed the man with intrigue.

"This is Charlie, she's a little eccentric but don't worry, she doesn't bite."

"I'm just messing with you. It's just been a slow day, and I've been a little bored." The woman lifted her hands out to Byakuya.

Shaking the girl's hand, he replied, "I wasn't sure if you were eying my skin for tattoos or for a new lamp shade." He was half-joking and half-serious.

She smiled and popped the side of Byakuya's cheek, softly yet quickly. "I like someone with a morbid sense of humor." Turning back to Ichigo, she said, "Thanks for rescuing me from my boredom; we've been deathly slow."

"So that means we don't have to wait?" Ichigo asked optimistically.

"Yep, the other artists already have their hands full, but I'm all yours. What can I create for you today, um-your name is?" She gestured towards the noble as she started walking towards the other side of the building.

"Byakuya."

"Ah, okay Byakuya. So what do you want and where do you want me to put it?" The noble explained that he wanted a sakura tree that would cover most of his back and flow over onto his rib cage, telling her that beyond that, she had creative liberties. This seemed to excite the women which in return, made the noble a little apprehensive, but he figured the tattoo would not be permenant anyway. He could do what Ichigo said: not try and control everything. She took the couple back to a private room and told them to wait on a couch that was sitting in the corner of the room while she drew up a stencil for the tattoo. This environment was not so obtrusive or overbearing, allowing the noble to relax.

"Just so you know, it's going to hurt."

"You always know just what to say," the raven-haired man spat back sarcastically. "I think I'll be fine."

"Don't be all macho on me now. I bet you'll cry like a baby," Ichigo mocked the man by poking out his bottom lip and speaking in a whinny voice.

"Fine, what do you get if you win?"

Amused, Ichigo stretched his arms out and placed his hands behind his head. "Hm, if I win, once you return to the Soul Society, you have to let me come visit you once in a while." Ichigo actually blushed and averted his eyes slightly. Clearing his throat in hopes of hiding his flustered state, he continued, "You know, so I can have some of that amazing cooking of yours."

Byakuya chuckled and instinctively moved closer to the younger man. "You say you're my best friend, but I think it's vice versa. Oh Ichigo," Byakuya fanned his face for theatrics. "How charming it is you feel the need to lie just to spend time with me." An aura of playful arrogance emitted from the man, and Ichigo grew more flustered.

Crossing his arms, Ichigo scoffed slightly in annoyance. "It really is just about the food," he grumbled.

"Of course it is. Well, If I didn't cook for you once in a while, you'd probably die from starvation, so, I guess every once in a while is okay. Although," the noble made it a point to look slightly more serious. "You don't have to win a bet for that to happen. I'd want you over anyway."

Smiling hopelessly like a little school girl, Ichigo was certain that whatever was about to come out of his mouth would be horribly stupid and embarrassing. Luckily, he was saved from his word vomit when Charlie came in the room, ready for action.

The whole ordeal took about two hours. Ichigo made crude jokes with Charlie as he watched her stain the man's perfect porcelain skin. It was all the boy could do to help Byakuya forget that he was laying exposed on a table. Even though he was embarrassed, Ichigo enjoyed the sight of Byakuya's muscles contracting and twitching, his back arching slightly in discomfort. Ichigo so rarely got to see the man on display like that, so he indulged in the moment. To his surprised, the noble no more than winced. He should have known that, a man like Byakuya could get stabbed in the chest and then swear he could go run a mile. It made Ichigo want to kiss the pride right off of his lips.

After it was over, Charlie wrapped it and told the noble to clean it, or it would become infected, but not before the two men got a chance to take in the tattoo. It was a huge watercolor-esque sakura tree, encompassing all of Byakuya's back. Streams overflowing with pink hues of ink tickled Byakuya's hip bone and feathered up his ribs, as if the petals were in motion. The piece was almost as captivating as the noble himself, but instead of drawing attention away from him, it only highlighted his stoic beauty.

Once the whole thing was done, Ichigo and Byakuya walked a little further up the sidewalk, Byakuya pretending that his side wasn't killing him. Every time they walked a little too fast, he would wince slightly before contorting his face back to normal. It was a pretty adorable attempt at being tough, or at least Ichigo thought so.

It wasn't too long before they stopped in front of a hole in the wall type restaurant, the type that looked like it was selling a little more than food on the down low. Another neon sign vibrated against the stark darkness of the night, reading "New York Pizza". Byakuya had no clue what either of those things were, but the smell told him he wanted to find out.

"I figured you'd be hungry after that. Don't worry-" The man shook his hands in a mocking nature. "I know you have a thing with sanitation. After you endured that, I won't make you eat with all the winos and drug freaks." He opened the door but turned once more before entering. "Wait right here, I'll be a few minutes."

Within a few minutes, Ichigo came back out, holding a box that seeped with tantalizing smells. They walked back to Ichigo's building with light-hearted conversation. Once arriving, instead of going to Ichigo's apartment, he suggested they go eat on the roof, to which the noble was very receptive to. The tenents took nice care of the roof; it had a small pond with a green house and plenty of seating, surrendered by a heater. The couple decided to sit near the pond almost instinctively, both remembering the first night they truly spent time together.

Sitting cross-legged in front of Byakuya, Ichigo opened up the box and pulled out a fork and knife. "Usually this is eaten with your hands, but I didn't want you to have a heart attack." The noble rolled his eyes playfully as he yanked the utensils from the boy's hands. Positioning the box between them so they could both eat, Ichigo picked up a piece of pizza as big as his face and let the molten cheese drip in his mouth. "Owch shit-" He took a chomp out of the blazing pie. "Shhh mmhh, it hurts so good." Ichigo grunted slightly as he contorted his face awkwardly.

Completely amused and enchanted at his friend's graceless mannerisms, Byakuya found a way to tease the man. "Did something happen to you as a child, Ichigo? Did you have to eat quickly out of fear of someone stealing your food away, so now you eat like a total barbarian?" Byakuya's voice was so serious and flat that if it were anyone else, they wouldn't have gotten his sarcasm.

Rolling his eyes while swallowing another chunk of pizza, Ichigo quipped, "No, I just have to build up my nutrients quickly. Spending time with you drains me." Ichigo winked at the man playfully and closed the distance between them slightly. "Are you going to eat or just stare at it?"

Seeming almost disgusted, Byakuya scrunched up his nose and pursed his lips. "What exactly is it?" The man eyed the food with skeptical distain.

"It goes by a lot of names: the most amazing thing in the world, what most college students live off of, pizza." He stopped midsentence to take another bite. "It doesn't matter whacha' call it, just eat that shit," Ichigo muffled out with a full mouth.

Resigned and silent, Byakuya figured it wouldn't be too bad to try something new. He cut off a piece of the pizza and bit into it as if he was eating filet mignon. Ichigo found it cute that no matter what Byakuya did, it was always with regal decorum and grace. The fiery man watched in amusement as Byakuya's face went from a passive observer to completely enthralled in ever particle of flavor that smothered his tongue. He looked as if he found the holy grail of fine dining. Until Byakuya ate every bite of his food, he made no attempt at conversation, completely bewitched by the living world food.

"They don't have food like this in the Soul Society, huh?" Ichigo grinned at the man sitting across from him.

Byakuya wiped his hands and mouth properly before responding. "Oh no, but I think as the head of the Kuchiki clan-" He leaned in closer to the younger man and whispered slightly, "I'm going to order that this starts being served, immediately."

"That's a plan I can get behind!" Ichigo enthused as he turned away from the nobel and laid on his back. Head resting on his intertwined hands, he continued, "The Seireitei is definitely too old school at times. God forbid souls enjoy their afterlife." It was a halfhearted attempt to egg on the noble and possibly catch him with his guard down.

As a half-assed attempt, it worked pretty well. Perhaps Byakuya really did just feel more at ease with Ichigo, and opening up was become more and more natural. "Yes…" The raven-haired man gazed into the darkness for a passing moment. "They don't really give us any room to exist outside of what our duties are."

Seeing this as an opportunity to get to know the enigma that was Byakuya, Ichigo pressed on, while trying not to pressure to hard. "Well if you could exist outside of your duties, what would you do?"

For a moment, nothing came out of the noble's still lips besides his frost covered breath. What a simple question it was in theory, but for Byakuya, you might as well have asked him what the meaning of life was. Ichigo was definitely on the 'things Byakuya would want if he wasn't a noble' list, but those were words he could never bring himself to utter. But what else? It had been so long since he'd even entertained such fantasies of being something other than his high ranking position that he'd almost forgotten dreams of days past, the dreams his teenage self would have beneath the sakura trees and would only tell to the blank lifeless pages of his journal. Oddly enough, once he remembered those dreams, every part of him wanted to share them with Ichigo.

"Oh, well, it's a tad bit childish and idealistic of me. I don't want to waste your time." Though he appeared stoic, Ichigo could see a flush of red paint his face.

He felt bad at how hard this was for Byakuya, but he still decided on a 'no bull shit' approach. "I won't make fun of you Byakuya, if that's what you're worried about. Besides, no dream is too childish. If anything, thinking a dream is childish just because it's idealist is idiotic even for you, Byakuya.

If anyone else had spoken to Byakuya that way, they would've fallen victim to the infamous death glare and some threatening words. However, with Ichigo, Byakuya was quick to resign his unwillingness. For some unknown reason, he felt safe to do so.

Leaning back on his palms pensively, the noble shrugged his shoulders casually. "I always thought I would enjoy teaching literature. There are no traditional schools within the Soul Society, just the soul reaper academy. It's never really made sense to me why, considering we spend much more time in the Soul Society compared to our time in the living world. When you think about it, shouldn't that time be spent approving ourselves so we can become better people in the next reincarnation?" He adjusted awkwardly on his palms as he continued. "A lot of children in the Soul Society will never learn how to read or experience the joy of literature. Every person deserved the knowledge to read. It helps us become self-sufficient, learn new things,and escape the dreariness of everyday life through epic tales-" Realizing that he was doing something he never did – rambling - he stopped himself. How odd it felt to share these sentiments, yet somehow natural at the same time, so natural that Byakuya had spoken with a certain degree of passion about the subject without even noticing or limiting himself. Though once he realized that Ichigo was looking up at him like a mesmerized child listening to their father tell old stories, it took all of his composure to stop a flush from running across his cheeks.

A look of bewilderment mixed with pleasant shock was conveyed in Ichigo's eyes. Completely wonderstruck, he'd finally begun to see a shimmer of light through the black goo that veiled Byakuya's deepest self. After all this time, Byakuya finally felt a certain amount of confidence in allowing himself to unravel in front of the younger man. Ichigo couldn't help but feel like this was a gift just for him and he was an impatient child on christmas eve. He wanted to tear and rip through the packaging with no hesitation, bubbling with eagerness to see what was inside. What he saw was well worth the wait. Byakuya's words only clarified that his soul was always pure as Ichigo had figured, it was just smothered with apprehension and pride. To Ichigo's pleasure, Byakuya was a gift that was wrapped in many layers, and each layer must be reveled gently. Ichigo actually enjoyed that Byakuya wasn't an open book, no, he was a puzzle that needed to be figured out. More so, he enjoyed knowing that he had to earn it, that he had earned it. Byakuya's trust was as scarce and valuable as unknown jewels, and only a certain few were allowed to revel in it.

Smiling adoringly up at the noble, he glanced back up to the night sky and said more seriously, "I always knew you were a good man, Byakuya. I've always known you cared about more than just being a noble."

The raven-haired man bit his lip slightly and took on a more nervous look. "If I could, I would implement school systems throughout the Soul Society, but to central 46, none of those people matter. All that matters is the protection of the soul king." Looking away slightly, he put on a more indifferent tone. "But it's for the best, I suppose."

Seemingly angered by the statement, Ichigo rose up and sat directly in front of the noble. "You don't really believe that, right?" Ichigo chastised while fretting his brow.

With a stony expression, Byakuya's voice trembled slightly. "The protection of the soul king means the protection of everyone. We have to have priorities, especially me, as the head of my clan and a captain of the Gotie 13. I already have my duties."

Leaning his head back in exasperation, Ichigo let out a hefty sigh. "That's such a cop-out, and you know it, Byakuya. Yeah, the protection of the soul king is important, but saying that helping to better the lives of the souls is somehow taking away from the soul king is bull shit. If anything, you're only helping those souls become closer to their best selfs and make it to the soul palace. The truth is, central 46 just doesn't care. They wash their hands of souls as soon as they enter the Soul Society, and anyone who threatens their farce of a system is dealt with accordingly. That's why thievery, murder, and poverty run rampant there; there is no law or government or education. They just throw all of these poor souls together in the anarchic society and let them deal with themselves. They probably rely on the fact that they kill each other off to control population" Speaking vehemently, he shook his head in frustration that he even had to explain this. "That's why there are people like Juushiro, Urahara, Yourichi-" A pause." And you. You can do more than you know."

Byakuya felt slightly ashamed, but was running off of his instinctive noble pride. He scoffed and turned up his nose slightly. "Well, it's a lot easier said than done. It's a crazy idea, and even if I wanted to do something about it, I can't make things magically happen with naivety and childlike notions.." Setting his jaw, his voice became slightly more docile and trailed off. "It's impossible.."

A little less rigid, Ichigo once more tried to appeal to the man. "It seemed pretty impossible when I rescued Rukia from the Soul Society." That got the complete attention of the noble, as if Ichigo had struck a sensitive chord. "Or when we brought down Aizen and the Sternritters. According to what you and the consider within the realm of possibility, I should have failed, but because of what you call 'childlike notions' shared by my friends and I, we didn't fail." Speaking softer now, he went on. "It even brought you and Rukia back together, something I thought was inconceivable, but it happened. If anything, that should tell you that nothing is impossible. You just have to be courageous enough to make it happen. Plus, you forget that you are the head of one of the great four houses, and your opinion matters. If anyone could change things, it would be you."

Byakuya wanted to get angry and tell Ichigo how much of a rash punk he was, but he couldn't bring himself to say those words, mainly because they weren't true in the slightest. Ichigo words were undeniable. He was right about the central 46, the way things were in the Soul Society, and about Byakuya copping out. It was just that before Ichigo, he'd forgotten that breaking the rules and having dreams were even an option. Ever since that tenacious kid had infiltrated the Soul Society and made Byakuya see the error of his ways, he'd never been the same, or perhaps now he was more himself than ever. In fact, just being around Ichigo brought out a deep yearning to be a better person and to make the noble decision, the decisions that would make Ichigo proud of him and make him proud of himself. Maybe things could be different, maybe there was room in his life for a few changes. If Ichigo is so willing and ready to stand for what he believed in, then what right would Byakuya have to even be his companion if he couldn't do the same?

A soft subdued smile crept across the nobles face as he pushed stands of raven hair behind his ear. "You really are a force of nature, Ichigo, always so honest and true to yourself." He spoke in a whisper. "I wish I could be as strong and self-assured as you are." Now looking at his companion with sincere eyes, he said, "Being around you makes feel like maybe it is possible."

Ichigo looked away nervously with an apprehensive smile. He was trying to hide the warmth that filled his cheeks. Just one sentimental rambling from the noble was better than a slew of pickup lines given by drunken frat boys. His words melted Ichigo's core, and every synapse in his body was firing with eagerness. His body wanted- nay- yearned for contact so badly, but not with just anyone, no, his whole begin was being drawn to Byakuya like a magnet.

'Is this what love feels like? '

When Ichigo didn't respond, Byakuya attempted to lighten the mood with an air of arrogance. "I mean, I am the head of the Kuchiki clan. If anyone could get through to those barbarians, it would be me." A pause. "You're absolutely right, Ichigo. It's time for me to expire to be more than just the protector of the Seireitei, but the Soul Society as a whole. I've had plenty of ideas, but the clan council is a hard lot to convince of anything. I have a lot of pull, but when they really want something, they don't back down."

Nudging Byakuya in the side slightly, he gave an optimistic smile. "That's why you have me."

A few moments of confortable silence lingered between the two. Ichigo lay back pensively as he played over the day's events in his head. He thought of Milly, Byakuya, and what his future might hold. He thought of all the people he cared about. Thinking of them always strengthened Ichigo's resolve, making him realize exactly what he's fighting for. Though, he was not fearless. What would he do if something happened to the people he cared for? What would his life even mean? The idea was enough to send chills coursing through his body. His whole existence has centered around the protection of the ones he cared for; it was the pillar that he'd built his whole foundation on. If it was taken away, surely he would crumble. It was becoming increasingly more obvious how Aiko could turn love to madness. The man had lost his whole world, therefore, he'd lost himself.

"You know, I kind of get where Aiko is coming from," Ichigo disclosed.

Byakuya gave the man a look as if he hadn't heard him correctly, prompting Ichigo to continue. "I get how a man can go mad once he loses everything…" His words trailed off softly before he hesitantly continued, "He's become who he is because he lost everything." Biting his lip nervously, he glanced over to see Byakuya giving him an insightful glare.

"This is what he wants, you know. He wants you to doubt yourself." Byakuya spoke his astute observation, as if it was obvious. There really was no fooling Byakuya; he was remarkably clever. When he would flex his shrewd mind, it was always with the confidence of a man who was self-assured. Ichigo's insides melted as Byakuya continued in the same cock-sure assertiveness that distinguished him. "He wants people to feel the pain he felt and for them to be destroyed under the weight of their own affection but-" He paused, and a sly grin pulled on his lips. "He obviously has no clue who he's dealing with."

Taking note of Ichigo's inquisitively risen eyebrow, he continued. "You think it's the people you care about that give you the light inside of you when it's really quite the opposite." Byakuya turned and gave Ichigo a heartwarming glance that made Ichigo realize just how serious his words were. "You're the light that draws people in. People can't help it. Your spiritual pressure - its just so warm, inviting, and-" He glanced down pensively, trying to find the right words. "And pure." Seeing Ichigo's features turn from soft to alert, the raven-haired man cleared his throat to clarify. "What I mean is, even if something happened to the people you love, I have no doubt in my mind that you would keep fighting. You would make their deaths mean something, even if it meant fighting for other people's love. That's just the person you are."

Ichigo was looking up at him with heavy eyes. He looked somewhat somber and unconvinced, perhaps a little sad. Sitting up and facing Byakuya, a glint of familiar joy came to his eyes. "Thank you for being my friend, Byakuya," Ichigo bellowed playfully and without grace. Though Byakuya completely grasped the sincerity in the younger man's words. It was as if Ichigo was saying words were not enough but they were all he had right then. Little did Ichigo know he had given the usually glacier-like noble something priceless. Not only had he given him small glimpses of hope, but he'd helped him remember a time before he had forsaken himself. Perhaps, with the help of Ichigo, he could revisit his old self.