The five of them were sat in the Kurosaki Clinic a few hours later when Cloud's phone rang.

"Reno?" he asked as he answered the phone, "what is it?"

"More like where are you!?" the anxious voice shouted, "I went by your place and you weren't there." Cloud sighed and looked at Ichigo's warm smiling face,

"I took a personal day," he said softly and heard Reno scoff, even at the other end of a phone line Cloud knew he was tossing his long red hair around and shrugging his shoulders.

"Is that what I'm supposed to tell the clients when they arrive in about two hours?" Cloud looked at his watch and for the first time realised what time it was. Ichigo saw the frown on Cloud's face so asked,

"What is it Cloud?"

"I forgot about the club," Cloud said and saw Ichigo's face freeze,

"I'm so sorry," he mumbled, "We won't get back in time."

"Reno put up a sign on the front door saying that the bar is closed tonight, as I'm on holiday."

"But Cloud..." Reno never got to finish as Cloud snapped his phone shut and switched it off. He looked at all the Kurosaki's staring at him and his pale freckled skin became red. His blue eyes searched Ichigo's brown ones and then he said,

"Once in a while everyone needs a break," Ichigo grinned in response and stood up from the table.

"Yuzu, how long until dinner?" he asked, his willowy sister looked away from Cloud for a second and looked at her older brother.

"About an hour I think nii-san, are you staying?"

"I think I am, but first there's something I need to show Cloud," with that he left the kitchen and Cloud followed close behind.

"Itikiemasu," they both called as they walked through the door in return they got a chorus of,

"Ieteraishai,"

"So where are we going?" Cloud asked Ichigo looking at the pink and orange stained evening sky.

"Somewhere a friend of Karin's used to go all the time, he was a young prodigy at Rukia's company, but he without a doubt found the best view of Karakura." As they walked out of town Cloud became more and more curious as he walked by Ichigo's side not wanting to touch him, but at the same time not wanting to be too far away.

Eventually Ichigo stopped and sat on a railing at the side of the road that backed on to an incline of one of the slopes of Karuakura. Cloud followed suit and saw that the whole town was stained a deep blood red. In the west the sinking sun was nestled in the valley of two hills spilling out its light. The sky above looked like it was on fire an amazing crush of yellow, red, pink and orange. It took Cloud's breath away.

"It's beautiful," Cloud breathed turning to Ichigo seeing that his face was stained the same way. "Thank you," Cloud said softly and Ichigo turned to face Cloud his own was open and endearing.

"What for?" Ichigo asked feigning innocence

"For sharing this, I've had a really good day." Ichigo took Cloud's hand and moved closer to him,

"Me too," he replied resting his head on Cloud's shoulder,

"Are we going back after dinner?" Cloud asked Ichigo his voice strained, as if he were biting his tongue,

"Yes why?" Ichigo asked puzzled,

"I don't know how long I can hold back anymore," he replied resting his head on Ichigo's.

"You don't have to on my account," Ichigo replied letting a flirty chuckle leave his lips,

"You shouldn't have said that," Cloud almost growled before he kissed Ichigo and melted in to him. When they broke apart they were both gasping for air and looking to the west the pair saw that the sun had been engulfed by the hills.

"We better get back otherwise Yuzu will worry."

"She's very lovely," Cloud said and watched Ichigo pout.

"Is she really now?"

"Yeah, but the guy in front of me is more than enough for a little bartender like me." Cloud replied cupping Ichigo's face lightly

"Dad was right you are a smooth talker," Ichigo said frowning. Cloud smoothed out the wrinkles on his brow with his finger tips making Ichigo shiver.

"Smooth talker or not it's the truth." He said kissing Ichigo's forehead softly as he tried to look away.

"This is the reason I can't say no to you," Ichigo mumbled, "Everything you do is so straight and open; no hidden agenda it's all out there, it makes you hard to ignore."

"No hidden agenda are you sure?" Cloud asked sliding his hand in to the back of Ichigo's waist band, and watched as Ichigo jumped closer his breath coming out in a short gasp.

"Okay I may take that back..." He said his voice catching huskily in his throat. Cloud laid his head against Ichigo's collar bone and sighed deeply,

"We should get going; before I can't stop... you're too tempting."

"What did I do?" Ichigo asked as Cloud stood up and stepped across the rail back on to the road.

"Nothing really. You didn't have to; you have been far too tempting all along. You had my full attention the first night you walked in to the club, that orange hair of yours shining in the neon. You sat at the end of the bar and stared moodily at the bottles on the wall. You were always alone; you looked so lost and sad that I wanted to do something anything to make that go away. You caught me by the throat Ichigo and you've never let me go." He sighed again holding out his hand. "I never in a million years imagined kissing you would feel so good. However each time I do it feels like fireworks are going off behind my closed lids I just can't get enough. I love how my hands fit perfectly on your waist. I love the fact that when I kiss you just so and leave my finger on your pulse not only can I feel your heart beat, but I can feel the small shivers that pass along there leaving goose bumps. I also love the way you openly stare at my ass when I wear dress trousers." At that Ichigo laughed and took Cloud's hand so he could stand up himself. "I love the way you let the ice melt in your whiskey sour instead of asking for soda. I love the fact that when you aren't around I eagerly count down the hours and minutes until I can see you again. I love how you look better in my shirts than I do," Ichigo cocked his eyebrow and Cloud laughed, "It's true, I love that when I hold you, you hold me back no questions asked. Most of all I love the fact that this beautiful orange haired customer brought meaning to my life." Ichigo couldn't help it he just stared mouth open wide, "Now he stands here before me his chocolate brown eyes so warm and honest in his frowning face trying to work out the truth in the tale. Ichigo it's all true."

"Cloud I never took you for the embarrassing wordy type." He said squeezing Cloud's hand tight as they walked down the hill,

"I never took you for one either, but that illusion was shattered the first time we spoke on the phone." He looked at Ichigo smiling slightly and then said, "I meant it, what I said to your mother before I will love you and protect you forever, well that or as long as you want me I suppose."

"Forever sounds nice," Ichigo replied leaning in to Cloud for warmth.

Dinner was a noisy affair, it was something that Ichigo hadn't warned Cloud about. All five of them sat around the table eating, Cloud and Ichigo managed to eat single handed while holding each other's spare hands under the table. The talk at the table was mostly about what Karin and Yuzu were doing at university and it interested Cloud how much they all shared. Karin was doing sports on a football scholarship and was hoping to soon make the women's team. Yuzu on the other hand was at a culinary school and from her demeanour about it; Cloud could tell why all her food was made with such care. As she cleared up the plates Yuzu spoke up,

"Since Ichigo's 'friends' only talk to us by phone when they want to get in touch with Ichigo when he isn't in the city, you must be really special to him Cloud, so how did the pair of you meet?" Cloud felt Ichigo stiffen, so how they met was a secret? He found that ironic, but at the same time sweet. He lightly squeezed Ichigo's hand and then spoke,

"I'm a bartender in the Ginza," Cloud said, "I actually own my own club and it just so happens that your brother was the designer." He felt Ichigo relax and Cloud saw that even though his face was a little less troubled it was still tight.

"Wow so the client fell for the designer?" She asked and Cloud nodded lightly, his blonde spikes moving as sharply as his head.

"Yeah it was something like that; your brother really stands out."

"Yeah it's that dumb orange hair of his." Karin said and Cloud couldn't help but laugh.

"That certainly had something to do with it." He said taking the desert from Yuzu smiling at both of Ichigo's sisters.

"Well I like him," Karin said, "That last one the Grimmjow bloke each time he picked up the phone when we called Ichi-nii his voice scared me. Amongst other things," She said her brow darkening for a moment and Cloud felt Ichigo stiffen, but didn't know why, "Also Toshiro says he's an ass." She added and at that Ichigo's head snapped up from his cake.

"You still talk to Hitsugaya, Karin?" he asked,

"I did, as far as I know he's married to Momo now." At that she sounded bitter but Cloud didn't want to ask.

"I thought she was the one who was stabbed and went in to a coma and was never going to wake up." Ichigo said treading on what looked like thin ice to Cloud.

"She was she came out of it last year, just after he had moved on. They got engaged soon after, maybe about six months ago. I was asked to be the best man, you know the joke the best man for the job is a woman, but I declined. I loved him too damn much to do that and he knew it. After that I didn't want to attend the wedding and I think his secretary ended up being the 'best man',"

"Ah Rangiku-san?" Ichigo asked and Karin nodded "Is she still with Aizen's secretary... that Gin guy, the fox face sorta freaky ass clown?" He asked and Karin snorted,

"From what Ukitake-san told us when he came to see us last month yeah they are. I think the white haired wonder even said that they had got married and had a kid a little girl with her dad's silver hair and her mothers' ash grey eyes."

"Ukitake-san came to visit?" At the way Ichigo said his name Cloud could tell he was someone important, Isshin nodded a little sadly.

"He did. He came to tell us that he was retiring and leaving for a private Island. Didn't he come to see you?" Isshin asked and Ichigo shook his head. "From what I could tell Shunsui was going to go so he could look after him."

"Wow," Ichigo said a small smile on his lips, "I hope they find happiness."

"So I guess Kisuke still won't let anyone come from Soul Serenity Design in to his building." Isshin said watching his son closely,

"Byakuya only for obvious reasons," he sighed, "But it's good to hear about Ukitake-san and Kyoraku-san. They truly deserve this long waited rest."

"Yeah I suppose they do." Isshin mused, "Its days like these that I'm glad I'm a doctor, the only competition I have is with Ryuken and well I find that fun." He finished a smirk on his face. Soon after that dinner was over and Cloud was waiting at the door for Ichigo. As he slid on his shoes Yuzu ran down the hall her blonde hair wild.

"Cloud," she said and Cloud nodded, "How should I tell Ichi-nii that I'm engaged?" Cloud looked confused and Yuzu caught it, "You're the closest person to Ichi-nii right now so you must know a way."

"The truth," he answered his eyes bright "Ichigo likes the truth," At that Ichigo walked out of the kitchen his face red from what Cloud could only assume was another unprovoked attack by Isshin.

"Nii-san," Yuzu piped up, "Before you go I have some news."

"Okaaaay," Ichigo said sounding unsure,

"I'm engaged to be married," She replied blushing, at the news Ichigo looked at ecstatic and hugged her tight.

"Congratulations that's great... who is he?" After he asked the question Cloud noticed that Karin and Isshin took a step back so followed suit.

"Well... you... see... it's... Jinta"

"Oh Yuzu not that office boy." Ichigo chided softly, "Well I suppose you must be happy, so even though I personally don't think he is good enough for you I'm happy." Cloud watched Ichigo lovingly as he kissed his sister tenderly on the forehead. "I mean it congratulations." As they walked out the door Karin grabbed Cloud's hand and as she pulled him back she whispered in his ear,

"You've really mellowed him out and softened him up, thanks," Cloud didn't quite understand what Karin meant, but smiled anyway.

"You're welcome,"

"But just so you know if you break his face, I will break yours." Cloud looked a little taken aback by the comment. "I won't let anyone else hurt Ichi-nii the way the last one did." At that Cloud felt his eyes widen in shock as Karin's earlier comment made sense.

"You have nothing to worry about on that account," He replied glancing longingly at Ichigo,

"Good," She said and kissed him softly on the cheek he smiled at her before he joined Ichigo at the door.

"What was that about?" Ichigo asked lacing his fingers through Cloud's.

"Oh nothing really," Cloud lied and with that the pair got in the car and drove away in to the night.

The drive home seemed to take an eternity. Cloud couldn't sit still every time Ichigo moved Cloud had to stop himself from jumping on Ichigo and stopping the car in the middle of the road to take him. The only thing that Cloud didn't know what that Ichigo felt exactly the same way.

When they got to the apartment building the pair practically ran up the stairs to safely get inside. Ichigo switched on the light as Cloud came through the door. In the light everything that had been catching his attention in the dark of the car was perfectly lit and affected him all the more. The sharp line of his jaw, the arch of his ever frowning brow, his nipples perfectly hidden under the white t-shirt, yet as the material was so tight, they were so visible and enticing. Lastly the line of his neck and his collar bone starting at the opening of the shirt and becoming lost under the cotton. He shut the door and then closed the distance between them in and instant kissing Ichigo so deeply that he felt Ichigo's knees buckle. He ran a hand under the cotton shirt and removed it easily only breaking contact for a second. He then manoeuvred Ichigo towards the bedroom smiling as he did so.

Ichigo wrapped his arms around Cloud and carefully stepped backwards across his room. Before he knew it his calves hit the end of his bed and he fell backwards with Cloud on top of him. He grabbed at the buttons on Clouds shirt and carefully undid each one as Cloud kicked off his shoes and also knocked off Ichigo's.

"Do you have work tomorrow?" Cloud asked his voice ragged from just the kisses,

"Not at the office," Ichigo replied sounding unbelievably calm,

"Good because ten days is far too long!" Cloud exclaimed his sky blue eyes serious. Ichigo looped his arms around Cloud's neck and brought their lips momentarily together.

"I know what you mean," Ichigo said his voice seductive; he slid the shirt off Cloud's shoulders and kissed his neck softly feeling Cloud shiver. He carefully unsnapped Cloud's jeans and felt Cloud do the same to him.

The next thing Ichigo knew Cloud was kissing him deeply tasting every inch of his mouth and then he was inside. They made languorous, slow love all night, each place they touched burned with something deeper than anything either of them had even known and they both savoured the feeling as it lasted. As the sun rose outside the pair fell in to a deep exhausted sleep entangled in each other.