Disclaimer: Tite Kubo still owns Bleach and everything related to it. I wouldn't mind him owning this too if only he would make this pair canon. Oh, how I wished! :)
Chapter eleven
A Kiss Is the Sweetest Poison
A broken sob escaped Ichigo's lips as Byakuya held his body closer still and kept on kissing him. Many people had kissed or tried to kiss Ichigo over the years, some as if they wanted to devour his very essence, others superficially lie they only wanted a relief for their desire. However, none had been so consuming and all encompassing as this one. It was as if nothing could deter Byakuya from kissing him.
This how it must have felt to be addicted to poison: completely helpless in the face of the craving convinced in the knowledge that the sweet kiss of death was the ultimate gift. Moments before the insides of the body were turning to cosmic dust, there must have been a moment when the heart stopped completely and let one dream even if just for a moment that the sweetest poison was the greatest gift. Kuchiki's kiss was that particular poison, his gentle nips, his brushes of tongue, his kissing as a form of worship. Ichigo was holding for his dear life. He knew that the antidote for this bitter-sweet poison was to simply step away but alas, Ichigo had always tipped the border between the good and evil and right now the border was simply erased out of its existence by Kuchiki Byakuya.
He could hear through the haze that wrapped around his brain the small moans of pleasure that he was making, unashamed, unbelievably liberating. It was utterly tempting to give in to such an alluring promise, because having Byakuya Kuchiki and feeling his body so close to his was intoxicating. It made Ichigo dream of impossible things like he could be kissed like this again or have this man wrap himself around him safely and sound like that. This sort of dreams had nothing to do with his mission and what he had planned so regretfully after a long moment in which Byakuya nipped his bottom lip and then licked it gently making him almost whimper in pleasure, Ichigo took a deep breath and settled his open palm over the other man's heart.
"Stop," he whispered tensely, "stop, stop, stop!" He inhaled raggedly, his attempts at composing himself a terrible feat. Kuchiki sighed but made no attempts to kiss him further and just leaned his forehead against his own. Their short breaths filled up the room in an all encompassing mass of noise, almost deafening Ichigo with their persistence at reminding him what had just happened.
"You taste different than what I had imagined." The gravely voice muttered, short puffs of air tickling his nose. "Better. Much better."
"This shouldn't have happened." Ichigo said decisively and with a herculean effort managed to disentangle himself from their embrace, putting some distance between them. This kiss shouldn't have happened, he repeated to himself. He passed his fingers through his hair and finally dared to look at Kuchiki. But it did. It did.
The Ice Lord's dark look, full of heat was contradicting every little expectation that Ichigo had had on the man, which was ridiculous in itself because this sort of thing shouldn't happen. His lips were still tingling with the power of their kiss and Kuchiki was on the same page if Ichigo took his wanton look as a guide.
"What you did this past few days-" Kuchiki began but Ichigo made a gesture of impatience and interrupted him.
"It has nothing to do with you." He half-lied through his teeth. "I merely helped a friend."
"May I ask who helped you in your endeavor?"
"That is none of your fucking business."
Kuchiki's eyes narrowed his face frighteningly blank all of a sudden.
"Few people have died for a lot less than talking rudely to me, Ichigo Shinamori. And while we kissed, I would advise to bear in mind that I had rightfully earned the nickname Ice Lord."
Ichigo stared back at him fully aware that this was a confrontation that he should approach in a different way. Saving Ikkaku was as much about saving a friend as it was about saving face and making Kuchiki completely convinced that Ichigo Shinamori is loyal to him and no one else. He sighed heavily.
"I meant no disrespect but you have a way of pushing people's buttons and I am most definitely not a patient person, Kuchiki. I do understand your position as a revered mobster or whatever you want to call yourself, but I believe that you're confusing me with one of your men. At the end of the day, I am neither." Ichigo passed his fingers through his hair again pulling it a little and took another step back, avoiding this time to look at Kuchiki. "The people that helped me are friends. This is all I am going to say to you about it."
"I understand."
"I have something else for you." Ichigo said. "Wait a second." He went to his room to retrieve the file that Kaien gave him. Maybe he should have shared it with the captain before this but it was too late. Being undercover meant sometimes taking the decisions on the spot and listening to your instinct. His hands shook as he opened the drawer and took the file. And he inhaled deeply because being attracted to Byakuya fucking Kuchiki was so not an option. It was getting increasingly difficult to maintain the distance between him and these people, he didn't need any more complications.
He could feel his lips still tingling with the sensation of being used for the sweetest purpose and by God, what it said about him for wishing he had this man kissing him again, For feeling those strong arms around him, those hands settling on him possessively like Ichigo meant to be his? He took a deep breath in a vain attempt to get a grip on his emotions. No other undercover mission had felt so taxing and emotional draining as this one.
When he rejoined Byakuya back in the living room, his hand was steady when he offered him the file. The other man looked a little surprised before settling on the couch again. Ichigo put a safe distance between the two of them by sitting down on the opposite armchair.
"What's this?"
"While my friends were looking for Ikkaku's location, they dug pretty deep into Aizen's files as well and came up with this information. Apparently Aizen is expecting a pretty big shipment of drugs and dirty money in about a couple of weeks. While the location and time of the arrival might change, the information is pretty solid."
Byakuya's eyes scrutinized the file and then looked back at Ichigo. For the first time his mask as an impenetrable wall of determination and pride seemed cracked and there was a certain confusion with this.
"Why are you giving me this? And for that matter why would you help me? You made your feelings perfectly clear the last time we spoke."
"Look, between you and Aizen, I would always choose you, as long as you remain a fucking asshole with hands into drugs and dirty money. Because Aizen is a complete different class of monster, the kind that uses children for his sick games." Ichigo steeled himself before continuing. "And because he attacked me and my friends for no other reason than that we are related to you. But at the same time, I am kind of sick and tired of your lack of trust so..."
"So what you're saying is that I should trust you." Byakuya's eyes narrowed."It takes more than a file and saving lives."
"Seriously?" Ichigo laughed sarcastically echoing hollowly in the space between them. "You are a tough son of a bitch you know that right?" Ichigo grinned maniacally at Kuchiki whose puzzlement amplified. Ichigo leaned a little bit forward staring straight back into his eyes. "The funny thing is, Kuchiki, is that you haven't realized something yet."
"Which is?"
"I want absolutely nothing from you. There's literally nothing I need from you or that you could possibly give me. I saved your sister, I saved your men and perhaps even your business. I would say the balance is extremely in my favor."
"Are you sure there's nothing you want from me?" A perfect eyebrow raised ironically, the man's gray eyes darkening again and Ichigo pulled away faster than one could have said sex.
"Yes, that is out of the question and won't happen again."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes."
They both stood up at the same time and shook hands. Byakuya threw one last look at his lips and Ichigo bit his cheek inside in an attempt to stop himself from licking them.
"We will see about that." And this threat was more dangerous than anything Ichigo had experienced before.
Ichigo watched Byakuya leaving and something he definitely refused to name made his stomach twist in knots. While he was ready to admit that he was lying to these people, he didn't want to be more of an asshole. Carefully, he said the other man's name and when the mobster stopped and looked back at him, Ichigo swallowed hard before finally admitting:
"Kuchiki, look, I am not the man you clearly think I am." His muscles tensed with the truth of the statement. He wasn't good for anyone. "I am not good for you." His words echoed his inner turmoil. Kuchiki's gray eyes widened at Ichigo's admission. They stared at each other for a long moment before the older man broke the spell:
"I believe this is the first time I am told that." His eyes shone dangerously. "But it is not up to you to decide that, Shinamori. We will talk about this when we have more time."
"Look, there's nothing to dissect." Ichigo felt frustrated by the whole situation especially because he was trying to do this man justice. "I am really not someone to get involve with. Too much emotional luggage and my past is not as clear as it seems. Just let it go, please."
It was the final sentence that seemed to spur Kuchiki into action for into two steps he was by Ichigo's side making him gasp as he grabbed him gently by the chin.
"You are not a man to let go easily, Ichigo Shinamori." He pecked him softly, a mere brush of gentle lips. "Trust me, I have tried." His eyes softened. "But there is something about you…" Almost regretfully he caressed Ichigo's lips with his thumb making him catch his breath. "So like I said, we will talk about this. Later." And with a final brush of lips, his eyes hardened again and walked out of the house without a glance back leaving Ichigo a breathless mess.
Ichigo woke up as if someone has scratched at his soul the whole night and didn't let him sleep. He stood at the table, his head resting on a hand and generally questioning his life choices. Yumi took a good look at him and then just pushed the coffee in front of him for coffee was the cure all.
"How's Ikkaku?" He grumbled not fully awake yet but getting there.
"Grumpy." Yumi smiled softly. "But the fact that he's moaning like a five-year old for me is a blessing so I will put up a brave face and try not to murder him in his sleep."
"When is he scheduled to leave the hospital?"
"They don't know yet." Yumi drank from his own cup of coffee and grimaced. "They are cautious at the moment and want to keep him under observation for as long as they can. Which is probably why he gets so frustrated with them in the first place."
"Hey, it takes some time." Ichigo gently grabbed the other man's shoulder and squeezed. "The fact that he can moan and complain is good. That means he will do his best to be right back by your side so just give it a bit more time."
"I know, I'm sorry for being such a sour puss." Yumi smiled again and Ichigo took his hand back.
"Nothing to be sorry for." He was about to offer to come with him to the hospital today when a knock on the door interrupted them and Yumi went to answer. A couple of minutes later he showed up with Shuuhei in tow, who for all intents and purposes looked like he would rather be anywhere else than there. He was dressed casually in a blue t-shirt and ripped off jeans, more a grunge kid than a mobster's minion.
"Hey, man what's up?"
"Hey, Ichigo."
"Want a cup of coffee, Shuu?" The man in question nodded and took a seat at the table. He squirmed under Ichigo's gaze as Yumi just pretended to be busy pouring coffee. Seriously how long does it take a normal person to pour a damn cup of coffee? Ichigo scowled at Shuuhei.
"I'm not going to like it, am I?" Ha said resigned.
"Nope."
"Ok, tell me, what does he want?"
"He wants you back. Told me to help you pack up and move back." Shuuhei rubbed at his nape. "Told me not to leave without you."
"Of course he said that." Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Fine, it won't take me long." When both men stared at him shocked, Ichigo rolled his eyes so hard that he almost sprained something. "What? I can be reasonable."
"Ichigo, I don't know you for a long time but reasonable is most definitely not a word I would use to describe you." Yumi smiled sarcastically at him as he settled the cup of coffee in front of Shuu's grateful eyes and proceeded to smirk at Ichigo's obvious annoyance some more.
"I have not idea what you are talking about." He scowled harder. "I am pretty damn reasonable."
"This comes from the man that almost got into a fight with a mobster's right hand, had brunch with a pair of assassins and fled dramatically in the middle of the night from the said mobster's house. Oh, yes, reasonableness is definitely a character trait for you."
"Fine, so maybe you got a point but-"
"If you go back," Yumi interrupted him his tone changing slightly more serious all humorous sparkle gone from his eyes, "and I don't say you shouldn't, you should be totally committed. I know that you don't want anything from Byakuya and I think you went way above duty with saving Ikkaku but I also do believe that Byakuya won't give you a second chance at flying in the middle of the night like you did the last time. We can offer you some protection but even our power is limited."
"I rarely saw Kuchiki-dono so mad in his life," Shuuhei hesitated and drank a bit of coffee before adding: "There are very few people in his life that defied him the same way you did. Only you lived to tell the tale, if you catch my drift."
"I am not afraid of him." Ichigo felt the truth of this statement at the core of his heart. There was something about Kuchiki that made him push and prod and his instinct never got him wrong.
"Maybe this is your problem." Yumi's eyes were hard cold steel. "I saw him do some stuff... his nickname as the Ice Lord is one gained on merit alone. There are times when defying him might get you somewhere, but there are times when being silent would be better for you."
"If you come back," Shuuhei looked straight back at him, "and I'm not saying you should because God only knows how much Kensei appreciates your help at the clinic, it has to be a decision, which you will have to respect even the things will get tough. And they will. Sooner or later they will because Kuchiki-dono is not an easy man and blood will follow."
"I understand." Ichigo squared his shoulders. "I have taken my decision and I will abide by it. No more dramatic exists but don't expect me to hold my tongue because this is not a habit of mine and sooner or later this man will say or do something to piss me off. Because it's in his fucking nature, that's why."
"Yes, you're the father of reason. I can see that now."
"Shut up." Ichigo pushed slightly at Yumi and smiled.
Shuuhei waited patiently as Ichigo packed up his stuff again though it wasn't much as most of his things had stayed in his luggage. Then he hugged Yumi and let Shuuhei help him out with stuff to put in the back of his car.
He was in.
All the drive back to the manor was dominated by this thought alone. He managed what other agents before him have failed. He was going to make sure that he would destroy in the process Aizen as well, but at the moment his greatest victory was this moment. Then why do you feel guilty? A perverted voice in his head asked him and Ichigo scrunched his eyes shut, blocking that voice completely. No time for hesitation. No more time for questions. Now he was in, there were just two more things to do on the list. And he would have to act quickly on them soon as well.
Getting back to the Kuchiki manor was really easy, almost unnaturally so. It was as if he never left and unpacking in his room again was so natural he almost puked with the normalcy of it.
"Well, well, well, look who's back." Yachiru leaned against the door frame just as Ichigo was pushing his empty bags under the bed. He looked up at her just in time to catch a glimpse of something in her eyes, something suspiciously similar to regret. She covered everything under a smile fast, but not fast enough.
"Shut up, you missed me."
"Yes, but not in this house." Yachiru smirked. "But then again you were always a bit insane so this really doesn't surprise me. I just hope you know what you're doing."
"I know what I'm doing." He scowled back at her. Her smirk became even broader.
"Ah, the infamous Shinamori scowl. How your enemies must have trembled. But," she paused tapping her finger against her cherry lips, "if I remember the last time you said that, a person whom you thought of as a friend ended up dead. I hope for your sake that this time you won't be the target." His knuckles turned white as he gripped tightly at the cover on his bed, trying to hide the slight tremble.
"I don't want to talk about it." He frowned harder. "I thought we agreed not to talk about it again." There was something almost cruel in Yachiru's eyes as she looked at him appraising.
"It's very convenient not to talk about something when his blood is not on your hands. How convenient it must be for you not to think about it and put everything about him behind as if he didn't exist in the first place. Blame everything on me an my dad."
"Convenient?" Ichigo stood up anger clouding his mind. "What is convenient about his death? You killed him, you killed him," a sob almost escaped his lips even now almost unable to comprehend the extent of the damage that these operations were causing him, "and he was my friend."
"He was a traitor. A lie. Even now you refuse to see the truth about him." Yachiru almost shouted back. "You're a blind fool and one day when everything falls apart around you and it will because you think you're above us, I'm going to buy a front seat ticket and watch you burn along with it. Because your self-righteousness will get you in trouble. It always does. You think you're better than me, than dad, than Byakuya or Renji. But you're fucking not, so don't stay here and pretend that I'm the only one with his blood on my hands. Because if I remember it correctly, you fucking brought him to us."
Ichigo flinched so hard that it made Yachiru's eyes widen in unhappiness and horror at what she just said. And maybe she believed it was the truth and maybe it wasn't, but Ichigo felt sick at hearing the words for it was the truth from which he had been running for so long.
There was blood on his hands, innocent blood which perhaps helped him blend in with these people and be so good at his job. Nonetheless they stung more than anything else and he found himself shaking with unwanted anger and grief.
"Get out!" He hissed when Yachiru made an attempt to enter and maybe comfort him. She looked at him like he might slap her but he never hit a woman and he wasn't about to. "Get you, get out," he repeated as his voice raise steadily, "get the fuck out!" Yachiru sensed that it was a losing battle and she hesitatingly closed the door behind her, leaving Ichigo to wallow in his doubts and self-pity. He was good at that.
He pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes, the added pressure easing up his need to cry. Yes, Ginjou's blood was on his hands and in spite of what he had promised to his friends, he had trouble forgiving himself for it. He took shaky breath after shaky breath. H needed to keep his cool. Yachiru was right about many things except for one: Ichigo never considered himself above them. Maybe for all intents and purposes, he was underneath them for at least they didn't pretend something they weren't. In all their cruel honesty, they were what they said they were. While Ichigo had no idea whatsoever who he was anymore.
He carefully avoided Yachiru for the following days while he barely caught glimpses of Byakuya. Mostly it was just him and Rukia, while Renji would join them for dinner or would come to take Rukia places where they thought were safe. Ichigo stopped fighting against the friendliness and companionship he was feeling for these people and started to get involved. He would chat with Shuuhei about music, the man a passionate guitar player just like Ichigo. With Renji it was constant goading and jokes, friendly slaps on the back and casual dinners. Even Zaraki seemed to ease back into the aggressive banter he always had with Ichigo.
Case in point, one afternoon about two weeks after coming back to Casa del Kuchiki, Zaraki showed up in the living room while Ichigo was watching listlessly a show about fishing. Rukia was at a romantic dinner with her Renji and Ichigo enjoyed his alone time. The half blind man grinned maniacally at him and Ichigo became unsettled.
"What?"
"I think it's time you and I get back in the gym and hit that mattress."
"You just want to kick the shit out of me." He grumbled though he made no attempt of getting up."
"Well, I was going to say that you need to gain your muscle mobility back, but yes that too."
"You scare me sometimes, you know that right?" He said mockingly even though deep down he knew that the phrase wasn't half the lie he pretended it was.
"Sure, kid, that's why I live for. Now let's go."
And while he hated each session with Kenpachi with a passion of a thousand burning suns, he saw the improvement almost immediately. The pull on his back lessened and the range of mobility ameliorated.
It was in his third week back when one night he was called in Kuchiki's office only to see Renji and all the others around the room, even Rukia had joined them. She was wearing a grim expression and he knew what was going on almost immediately. Ikkaku and Yumi had joined them too, the former looking much better after he was released from the hospital, while the latter bit his lips almost nervously.
"We found out the exact date of the shipment." Byakuya said as soon as he settled down confirming thus his suspicions. Bile rose in his throat but he refused to show anything. He feel in the middle of a full blown war now and it was partially his responsibility. "It's going to happen tomorrow night and I want us to hit him with all we have. If we succeed in this endeavor, it will cause massive grievances to Aizen with the Russians and perhaps prepare the ground to hit him again." He looked directly at Ichigo. "Before I continue, I need to ask: are you in or do you want to remain only Rukia's bodyguard? If it's the former stay, if it's the latter go back to your room. All of us will respect the decision you will take."
Ichigo was at the tipping point and he could only do one thing. He was falling hard and fast through the rabbit whole and it was going to swallow him alive.
"I'm in." He said clearly and Zaraki grinned in surprise. Kuchiki just nodded slowly accepting the implications of what that phrase entitled and then continued.
"Then we will proceed like this. From what my sources told me, everything will happen at dock number seventeen the furthest and easiest to control. The whole operation must be no more than twenty minutes. I don't want to take his merchandise, I want to blow it up. I want him to know it was us and I want to send a clear message that he is over his head for the Russians."
"Won't we have any issue with them?"
"Not yet. It would take them too many days to find the necessary force to hit us back with and by then we should be able to counter attack. We would be at clear advantage and they would know that. They can't afford a war right now and I am almost sure that they will take their grievances with Aizen and not with us."
"Why is that?" Zaraki asked.
"Because at the end of the day, he was the one that couldn't guarantee the protection of the shipment and on top of that decided that it was time to engage us in a war. If Aizen wants this war, he shall have it."
"Are you sure we can afford that, nii-sama?"
"Now more than ever. If I am right, and I am usually, then the Russians will be the ones to help us end Aizen." Everyone else in the room nodded and then carefully listened to the plan which employed a careful strategy of divide and conquer; it was almost brilliant in his simplicity and Ichigo couldn't help but feel admiration. He listened carefully at Byakuya's instructions, amazed by their precision. In essence he was aware that his participation in this mission was crucial in gaining further ground in his investigation, but he would be responsible for taking lives. Lives of men guilty as charged but still Ichigo was far from being a worthy judge. This mission was going to leave unshakeable stains onto his soul and he had no choice but to let it happen.
The following evening found him dressed in black jeans and a dark blue sweater, a black anti bullet vest covering protectively his chest. There was a holster on his right thigh, a .9 mm gun already ready for fire. His choice of guns were already resting against his ribs. Several back up cartridge cases already around his middle. He was waiting patiently in a black SUV behind a huge container. Ikkaku and Yumi were going to offer cover from vantage points, their experience as snipers proving invaluable for this mission. They were divided in two squads: the first was led by Renji, in charge with attacking them from the east, along the docks where they least expected; the second squad was led by Zaraki and they were going to attack from the west in an attempt to cut all the communication lines between them and mainland. For the south was guarded by the massive mass of the river, and the north was covered by the shipment yard, a graveyard of abandoned ships and rotting merchandise that never made past the customs controls. Or they were never reclaimed by their owners and thus cursed to build up the skeletons of a half abandoned town which was merely occupied from time to time by smugglers and mobsters.
Ichigo was part of Zaraki's squad. Kuchiki was personally going to supervise the entire operation from the vantage point and offer additional back up in case the operation was going to go haywire, which it wasn't because he made perfectly clear to all those involved that he was going to punish severely anyone guilty of failing to do their part in this operation. About twenty-five foot soldiers were divided among them, in an attempt to cover as much ground as possible and when the door of the SUV finally opened and Zaraki made a sign to go undercover, Ichigo swallowed hard and pushed all thoughts behind.
During the most stressful operations, Ichigo managed to empty his mind so much so that his sole focus was on the mission. And as he and Zaraki's men occupied their positions, he observed his surroundings as a mere way of taking back as much information as possible that could help him survive this night, for Ichigo had no doubt that his life was going to be in danger.
The night was stifling hot and it was oddly quiet though the docks were at he moment filled up with Russians, Aizen's men and in the shadows, Byakuya's men as well. He took a good look at the ship anchored next to the decaying wharf. It smelled of salted air and decay and for a brief moment, Ichigo wondered if they were all going to be swallowed by the waters of the river together with the entire dock. Then the alarm sounded and gunfire blazed through the air and there was no more time to think. He hit the first man in the head, a clean shot before running up behind another abandoned container where he shot at two more goons. A third one managed to escape and kept firing at him and another guy, whose name he didn't know but whose face was familiar from the debriefing that happened earlier that evening.
The enemy was quite clearly taken by surprise, Aizen confident not only in the fact that his reputation was going to keep at bay any potential attempts at his merchandise, but also in the fact that attacking the Russians and their merchandise was a suicidal endeavor and nobody was quite as insane as that. Plus the whole secrecy of the transport was enough of a guarantee of safety and success. Thus everybody was running in all directions, not knowing whether to secure the containers, or protect their lives. For Ikkaku and Yumi were ruthless when it came to offering cover and would kill anyone close to the Kuchiki men, including one who almost took Ichigo's neck, silent in his approach. He managed only to nick him a little before one of the two assassins shot him clear in the head. Ichigo ignored the blood sipping into his t-shirt and proceeded in clean up the west side as instructed.
It was over before he knew it. The surprise mixed with the deceitful terrain which trapped the enemy like rats in a cage had added to their ambush and they managed to grin at each other among dead bodies and fire. The crew of the Russian ship alerted by the exchange had left a while ago ignored generously by the land killers, too caught up in their way against Aizen to care about much else. On top of that, their quarrel was not with the Russians and Byakuya instructed them very specifically on trying to avoid making any Russian victims.
Ichigo looked around him and he ignored the carnage, thinking only of the drugs that he managed to take off the streets if only for a little while.
"You're okay?" Renji put his hand on his right shoulder and squeezed. At Ichigo's puzzled look, Renji shook his head with an amused expression and touched carefully his neck wound.
"Oh, yes, nothing but a graze. The boys took care of the guy before he could do much harm."
"Glad to hear it. We would have missed your ugly mug." Renji grinned and in spite of the fact that he frankly doubted that he would be missed by the this thirsty for blood men, he appreciated the lie nonetheless so he grinned back in acknowledgment of what had happened tonight.
"Come on boys, let's blow this joint up and let's go. Authorities are bound to show up soon." Shuuhei said and before long they were back in their SUVs, the fire glittering in the dark like a menacing ghost threatening to swallow them whole. Ichigo felt a cold shiver down his spine and wondered if he was going to end up like those men did tonight or much worse. The first thing on the list was done. Now he was officially one of Kuchiki's men and his mission could unofficially start for real.
There was one more thing to do.
A couple of days later as he was waiting for Rukia to come out from a woman's lingerie shop, he managed to take his burner phone earlier that day and while keeping an eye on the shop, making sure that he could still see Rukia throughout the colored glass of the window shop, he proceeded in making the phone call that he dreaded but considered absolutely necessary.
"Hat and Clog Gym! How may I help?" His captain's annoying voice answered.
"I want to renew my membership."
"Ichigo, what the heel happened last night?"
"Look, I don't have much time at disposition." Ichigo grumbled the main gist and offered some details He answered quickly at his captain's questions, all the while keeping an eye on his surroundings and on Rukia. When he finished, he sighed heavily and added. "One more thing."
"What is it?"
"I'm going deep, cap."
"What?" The horror poured into the voice as if the end of the world was coming. And Ichigo knew that deep down inside, it was true at least for him.
"I'm going deep underground and I'll call you when I have useful information or to handle someone to you. But in the mean time for all intents and purposes I need o be Ichigo Shinamori and this means no more reports to you until I am done."
"Ichigo, this is insane!" His captain howled on the other line. "You can't do that! You'll be dead before-"
"Goodbye, cap!"
"Ichigo! Ichi-"
He hang up and inhaled deeply. He knew now which path to take and as long as he could ignore his growing attraction to Kuchiki, he was going to end this. He threw the burner phone into a canal and crossed the street, scratching absently at his bandage and waiting patiently for Rukia outside the shop.
He was now Ichigo Shinamori and he could finally start taking down these people. If it was the last thing he would do in this life.
A/N: Long times no see, eh? Real life turned out to be a bitch, so no chance of updating this story and I can still not promise how often I will do so but I hope the next update will be earlier than expected. I'm sorry and I apologize to all of you out there still interested in this story for taking so long but like I said, my real life isn't easy and it kind of dooms me to miss my writing. Anyway, thank you, thank you, thank you for all your reviews, alerts and favourites. And to all special you that sent me messages of encouragement, or plain asking what happened to me: Thank you for your support and for your patience and for not abandoning this story. Because I promise you I haven't. :)