I tell you this had taken some research – hence the delay in updating, not to mention I have the tax man making phone calls to kick my but with my tax returns, word wanting me to do overtime and the weather taking a toll on my ability to do the laundry! Just why is the dirty washing my responsibility I want to know! Having written all that crap above, I'm not happy yet with the scenes that follow where I stop today, so just some bog standard fluff for you to enjoy today!

This follows on from the garden in the last chapter...

"Come." Byakuya stood and pulled his robe back around his shoulders and looked to his lover. Ichigo looked at the extended hand, the softened features yet not fully expressive and then the eyes fill of desire covered with a drape of raven hair. He was smoulderingly hot with is robes loose showing a wonderful toned pale chest with one nipple daringly on display.

Ichigo let one side of his mouth slowly curve up and licked his lips.

"I hope you have thought of a more secluded place to go." He replied his voice husky with need, his eyes sparkling with thoughts of ravaging the man without caring for who would see. He just looked so damn delicious.

Ichigo let his hand fall into the graceful patient hand that had beckoned him and let himself be led further into the garden. Should any of the servants happen to peer out of the windows, they would have seen them walking hand in hand, a sight not seen for half a century. Their slow walk and smiling faces, visually capturing the others beauty as the moon shone brightly down on them. They ducked under weeping willows and curved spruce as they followed a gravel trail through the gardens, passing several beautiful aromas as from the large flowering pink rhododendrons and white hosta's. They passed the red and purples of the maples and crossed the red wooden arched bridge that spanned the large lotus covered lake into the tea house that was designed to look as if it was floating on the water.

Inside Ichigo was surprised by the elegant cane dining furniture, the sweep of an appealing day bed and several chairs to relax out of the hot day's sun. As he stood and looked around, he couldn't help but think that this was probably sturdier and grander than most of the houses in the lower districts; soft lemon walls were adorned with fans or peacock feathers and Ichigo turned as a light caressed the grass roof. He watched Byakuya lighting the candles in the central chandelier and place the each of the flames in their glass holders. The light flickered and teased over that pale skin he still waited to taste. The gloss of his dark hair glinted and his eyes sparked their smile towards him when it he had finished his task.

"This is some garden shed." Ichigo laughed strangely feeling awkward all of a sudden as if they were new lovers all over again.

Byakuya let a gentle smile caress his face amused by Ichigo's sudden flushed face and hands that seemed to want to slip into jean pockets but had to content themselves with twisting the gold band on his finger. His hair seemed to be live fire as the yellow candle flicked a warm glow in his stunning orange locks. His rich brown eyes had melted into pools of soft liquid chocolate and his nervous smile made him look 17 all over again.

Wearing only a thin white sleeping robe, his broad shoulders and pink skin showed the promise of a body Byakuya revered. The past two weeks had done wonders for his thinned body and he looked almost back to his usual size.

"Why do I feel that our eternity starts here?" Ichigo puffed out a small laugh. Well at least it wasn't only him feeling weird this evening.

The two men walked towards each other and Byakuya moaned closing his eyes softly just for the sake of Ichigo running his hand through his dark locks of hair. His fingers grazing his ear and jaw as they slid in; his other hand rested against that pale precious skin and felt the ripened nipple firm beneath his palm.

"Byakuya you really are so incredible." Ichigo whispered pressing his body tightly so he could whisper into the noble's ear and feel the shiver that it caused.

Byakuya twisted his head to capture Ichigo's lips, enjoying the softness of his lips before pressing harder to feel inside the minted mouth and dance with the his tongue. Their relationship had never been about dominance and there was no tussle to appear stronger. The only thing that was stronger was the bond between them. It had survived their ordeals nurtured in honesty and an openness no one could have guessed they would have ever shared.

Byakuya pushed the white robe from Ichigo's shoulders and enjoyed kissing down this chin and over his bobbing Adam's apple. His lips traced along his collar bones as his fingers enjoyed the feel of that sumptuous dip of his spine that separated the toned wall of muscles of his back. His fingers followed the curve of his lower spine and dipped between the pert buttocks before caressing the rounded arse.

"I have wanted this for so long now." Byakuya murmured in the red head's ear. "I've wanted to be a part of you, taste you, feel you…scared almost that I'd break you like some delicate vase."

Ichigo pulled his head back to look into Byakuya's eyes during this confessional. He pressed their brows together and rubbed his nose against the slender one before him.

"I couldn't go back to how I was before." He continued. "All that pain and anger was hard to bare. Too many memories and things I wished I'd done and said. Too many things that we shared and now just left a bitter taste in my mouth each time I tried them alone. It was all over to quickly and then with you…the burden was almost more than I could tolerate."

Ichigo kissed him softly. "We made a promise that we would have forever. You are the reason I am here. You are also the reason why I am going to stay here. Your love and care meant everything to me…thank you for all you did and still doing."

They fell into another kiss, a deep sensual sweep of each others mouths, flaming the already burning embers of their need. Firm tugs at their robes left them both on the floor as Ichigo eased his partner towards the day bed to rob him of any sanity as he was touched, kissed and licked all over. He moaned wantonly, his back arched and his hips pressed into Ichigo's grasp as his scented skin was a dish Ichigo craved and he felt so alive as he listened to the increase in moans as his head dipped between the slender toned legs and teased the inside of his thighs with light bites. His teeth pulled gently at the skin of Byakuya's testicles and louder groans yet were released as Ichigo slid his tongue down the seam towards the knot of quivering muscle.

"Ich…igo!" Byakuya whimpered and rolled his head as his lover darted his tongue and fingers inside him. The intense feelings spasmed around his body edging him further towards a powerful release; a release that nearly claimed him as Ichigo pushed with care into him and looked up at the pleasure pained face of the stunner above him. His hands tugged on the youths hair as he was subjected to the almost unbearable slow pace Ichigo set. "Ichigo…so…close." He panted not daring to touch himself knowing that would be the ruin of these building feelings and he didn't want this to finish so soon.

Hip against hip, chest against chest, their mouths flaming with passion, Ichigo sped up his movements and felt the tremors run through Byakuya as he came with a shout so painful he held his breath and let no sound come from his opened mouth. His eyes screwed tightly together and his chest rattled finally with a hitched delirious pitch.

Ichigo caved into the sights and sounds of the man squirming beneath him and uttered a long shattered exclamation of his limit. Strong arms wrapped around him as he panted and his body fell fowl of the calm down jitters.

"Take me to her." Ichigo asked once he was calmer. He enjoyed the feel of Byakuya's caress pushing his messy hair from his face until it stopped and looked at him a little surprised. "I want to meet Hisana."

"Why?"

"I want to share this life with you, everything. Even a ghost of a past one. Let me show my respects to her."

"Let me clean myself first." He said his face showing his confusion over the request.

They stood hand in hand, a burning incense stick poised ready to leave with their offering of rice and sake. It was midnight now and the house had been quiet as they made their way towards the room reserved for her memory.

Standing back, Ichigo let Byakuya remove yesterday's offering and clean away the ash of the previous fragrant stick. He bowed his head to the photo and said a few private words in his head. Ichigo knew the woman had been important to the life Byakuya once led and she'd made him happy. There was no reason to request that he forget this ritual or deny the love that still burned for her. That was the thing about human hearts, they could contain so much love and still find room for more. The same was true of grief and sorrow he guessed.

"She used to sit in this room and do her sewing looking out of the window…She said she could see my division from here, she'd talk to the open window and hoped the words would reach me as I worked. She said she used to blow kisses towards me." He let out a small laugh as he said that. "But whether true or not, she always knew when I was about to come home and was always ready for me waiting beside the door."

Ichigo moved silently across the room and knelt beside the noble. He closed his eyes and bowed to the stone canister containing her ashes. A quiet prayer past his mind and he felt Byakuya grip his hand in a gesture of thanks.

Ichigo opened his eyes and took in the picture of the pretty woman so much like Rukia.

"Hisana, I just wanted you to know that I'm going to make Byakuya happy. I want to share him with you if you'll let me."

"She never wanted me to be alone. Of course she will let you. It just took me a long time to find you." Byakuya rubbed his hand.

Ichigo laid his head against Byakuya's shoulder. "Would you like some more time alone?"

"No. Lets get you to bed you must be tired."

Ichigo stood near the door letting Byakuya finish his routine of shutting the shrine up and smiled a sympathetic gesture when his lover turned clearly moved by the evening's events. "Thank you Ichigo." Byakuya smiled back and ignored the threatening tears. "But you already make me happy."

Ichigo knew that, but he felt that this had needed doing. His mother had been such an important part of his life and seeking some form of mystical blessing was something that was just required for his peace of mind. That's why they had walked a rainy day up to the cemetery a few years back and Ichigo had smiled at the sun as it peeked through the gray clouds and smiled its rays at him. Coming to share the same with Byakuya, he hoped he'd find comfort too in the blessing of blossom or a gust of wind that could make him feel he was still connected to his wife, the belief she was giving him a sign of approval just the same as the sunshine that time before: a connection that he didn't have to let go of just because he had finally found the courage to move on.

Now they could move on together.

Byakuya settled into the futon and cherished the arms and legs that wound around him. He glance up at the moon as it passed the open window and watched a sukura petal float into the room and down to rest in his palm. He smiled blessed.