After what seemed like hours, Ichigo finally felt balanced again. He looked at Shinji, and saw that his friend looked worse for wear, which is what he imagined he looked like as well. He placed a hand on the Visored's shoulder and gave him a gentle shake.

"Thanks, Hirako." Ichigo's voice was raspy. He had shouted too much, using Shiro's power to fight back and forth with the man.

Shinji shook his head. "No need to say thanks, Ichigo. Look, I know that it's probably not my place to say this, but your boyfriend -"

"Stop," Ichigo pleaded quietly. "You don't have to continue. I know what you're going to say."

"Do you?" Shinji looked at him. "Fine. What was I going to say?"

"That he's an idiot? That he keeps lying to me because it'll make me feel better?" Ichigo walked over to the ladder. "It doesn't matter. I'm tired of this, Hirako. I can't keep going through this."

The Visored stayed where he was. "Where do you plan on going right now?"

"I'm going to go and see if Renji is upstairs, and then probably walk back to my house. I...I don't think I can stay here right now." Ichigo began to climb up the ladder.

"What about Kisuke?"

Ichigo looked down at him from high up above. "What about him?"

"Don't you think you need to speak to him?"

"Good night, Hirako. Thank you for the sparring session. I'll come to the Visored facility tomorrow to train more." Ichigo didn't bother answering the man's question as he pushed the trap door up, reappearing in the hallway of Urahara's shoten. The hallway was dark, with only the natural moonlight filtering in through a few open doors. He could see someone sitting down in the hallway, their legs extended out, back against the wall. He ran a hand over his face, approaching the lone figure. "Look, I don't think I'm ready to speak to you yet."

The shopkeeper nodded his head. "I can accept that." Urahara pulled himself up off the floor and dusted his backside off. "I just wanted to make sure you were still in one piece. You were down there for quite awhile."

"I'm fine," Ichigo said. He began to walk past his lover, and felt his heart pang. Lowering his head, he stopped walking. "Why?" He whispered, looking down at the floor. "Why do you keep doing this to me, Kisuke? Is it because of my age? Is that it? Because I really can't figure out why you keep doing the same thing over and over."

Urahara took his hand. "Let's discuss this somewhere else, Ichigo. Please?"

"I don't care," Ichigo said. He had no more energy left in his body; he was completely tapped out. He could feel Urahara guiding him to someplace, but didn't pay any attention to where they were going. He assumed that they were heading into his bedroom. He was left to stand in the middle of the floor, while Urahara left him to turn a light on. When the light came on, he blinked a few times. "Huh. I thought you were taking me to your room."

The two were in the supply closet, where they used to spend most of their time, before all of the madness began. Urahara sat at his small work desk, leaving Ichigo standing in the middle of the room. Instead of being the stubborn one, he decided to take a seat and lean against the tall shelves that housed the extra candy that could not fit in the store.

Urahara placed his hands in his lap. "I thought it might be a nice change of pace. I didn't want to take you to my bedroom, because I want us to have a serious talk right now. I didn't want you to think that I was avoiding this talk, by presenting my bed to you."

"Thanks," Ichigo said sincerely, running a hand through his hair. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. "So, do you want me to start or do you want to?"

The shopkeeper pulled two sake cups from his bottom drawer, and grabbed the small bottle he kept with them and placed them on his desk. "I think I should be the one to begin, as you are the one that is upset with me. And Ichigo, I'm not going to tell you that you're wrong. You have every reason to be upset with me."

"Then why did you do it?" The strain was evident in his voice. He was trying to keep it together, to not lose his cool, as he was teetering on the edge of both anger and sadness. "Why do you keep doing it, Kisuke?"

Urahara poured two shots of sake, and stared at his desk. "I...I don't know. I guess I want to protect you."

"By lying to me?" Ichigo asked, his voice cracking. "Kisuke, I swear to whatever entity is up above, I was this close to losing my reserve to you earlier. When you showed up downstairs, I honestly didn't care if I hurt you with my attacks. I wanted to hurt you, because you hurt me. You hurt me so much by keeping this from me." He sat up and looked at the pale blonde, blinking back the tears that kept threatening to fall. "Kisuke...I don't think you get this. I need you to be honest with me. I need to know that you're on my side. I need to know that I can trust you." He took a shaky breath, staring at the two cups that seemed to be fascinating his lover so much. "Damn it, Kisuke! Look at me!"

Grey eyes filled with sorrow and despair looked back at him. Ichigo felt his breath hitch, seeing his own emotions in the man's penetrating gaze. "If there was anyone that is on your side, Ichigo, it's me. There are many things that I know that you are not aware of, which is why I tend to keep making the same mistakes. Yes, you are correct. I should be honest with you, no matter how that may affect you. I don't know what else to say except that I am sorry. There really isn't a lot more to say."

"Why does this keep happening?" Ichigo asked, his eyes not faltering. He kept them on his lover, even though he wanted to look elsewhere. The man's eyes looked so...haunted. "What's really going on, Kisuke?"

"I should have told you about the others, but I was hoping that it wasn't going to have to happen."

Ichigo looked away. "But you knew that they were here. They're using gigai's, Kisuke. And unless there's another shop that caters to shinigami, you helped them. The question is, why did you keep it from me?"

"I..." Urahara's eyes looked past Ichigo, who had raised his head up to hear his answer. "I wanted you to have a normal day. I wanted you to have fun with Hirako. I knew that the moment they showed up, that things were going to change, that things were going to escalate at a pace I wasn't ready to throw you into."

The substitute shinigami didn't know what to say. "Kisuke...what aren't you telling me?"

"The two Arrancar you met with were powerful, Ichigo. Even for myself and Yoruichi." Urahara's voice was low, thick with emotion. "I know you heard what Toshiro said when he spoke to you." He looked at Ichigo, his eyes watering. "You understand that this is going to be a very tough fight. Aizen is interested in you. Very much. And, if he's anything like the man that is responsible for my being forced out of Seireitei, then we have to plan accordingly. So, forgive me for being a foolish old man, wanting to let you have a normal day with your friend, and enjoy your human life."

Crawling on the floor, Ichigo moved to be in front of Urahara. He lifted himself up on his knees and placed his hands on both of Urahara's thighs. "Kisuke...I know that it's going to be tough. I realize this. I appreciate you trying to baby me, and hoping that I can have a normal day. But really? This is what I want." He gestured to his body, still in his shinigami body. "I don't think you seem to get that. You keep wanting to protect me from everything, but that's exactly what I don't want. I want to be the one to protect you. I want to be the one to protect everyone." He stared up at his lover's eyes. "Kisuke...I can't do this without you. But...I need to know that you're not going to lie to me anymore."

"I'm not," Urahara shook his head. "Ichigo, I don't want to. I want to be honest with you. I didn't lie to you about them being here. I just...neglected to tell you."

Ichigo sighed. "That's just as good as you lying to me. No more secrets. No more neglecting to tell me things that are important to know."

"Understood." Urahara picked up on of the sake cups and handed one to Ichigo. Ichigo took the offered cup. "Truce?"

The substitute shinigami looked him in the eyes. "I mean, Kisuke. Don't treat me with kid gloves. I think you and I have shared too much to just throw that away because you are an idiot. I know that with the others here, there is definitely a major threat approaching. But we can handle it." He raised his cup to Urahara's, clinking the side. They both raised the cups to their lips and threw back the room temperature sake. Coughing, Ichigo set the cup down.

"I'm not an idiot," Urahara said, setting his cup down on the desk.

"Yes, you are," Ichigo smirked, standing up from the floor. "Look, I'm tired. I need a shower. Badly."

Urahara looked up at him. "Are you going to go home?"

"Did you hear what I said to Hirako?" Ichigo asked.

"How could I hear -" Ichigo shot him a look. "Alright, fine. Yes, I heard what you said to him. It was rather difficult to not hear, as you were halfway up the ladder, I'm almost positive."

Ichigo chuckled. "Now, was that so difficult to be honest with me?" The shopkeeper shook his head. "No, I'm not going to go home. I don't want to be away from you, Kisuke. However, I really need a shower."

"Go, use my bathroom. I'll be in there soon." Urahara said.

"The bedroom? Or the shower?" Ichigo raised his eyebrows up suggestively.

"Bedroom," Urahara gathered the two cups.

"Right." Ichigo said, beginning to walk towards the door. He turned around and went back over to where the pale blonde sat. He turned the man to face him, and lifted his face up, forcing him to look him in the eyes. "You have my heart and soul, Kisuke. I...I really can't keep forgiving you. It's either this, or that's it. Do you understand?"

Urahara kept his eyes locked onto Ichigo's. "I do, Ichigo."

"Good." Ichigo bent his head, kissing his lover softly. He let out a soft moan as their lips connected, a feeling of happiness flowing through him as their kiss deepened. He felt himself being pushed away, a disappointed groan escaping past his lips.

The shopkeeper gave him a soft smile. "Go, shower. We'll continue when you're finished. I promise."

"Fine," Ichigo said. "You better, because you owe me some really hot make-up sex." He grinned as a look of shock crossed Urahara's face. He walked out of the supply closet, feeling a lot lighter than he had since showing up at the shoten in the afternoon.

As he headed back to Urahara's bedroom, he saw a light on in the room next to his. Walking over to the door, Ichigo knocked softly. "Come in."

Opening the door, Ichigo poked his head into the room. "Hey, I just wanted to see how you were doing." He saw Renji sitting on the floor, dressed in what appeared to be a rather pink kimono. "Uh...what are you wearing?"

"Shut up," Renji said, pulling the garment around him tighter. "It's Byakuya's."

Trying not to laugh, Ichigo walked into the room and closed the door. "I bet you miss him."

"Like you wouldn't believe," Renji sighed. "What brings you in here at this time?"

Ichigo leaned against the door. "Eh, I just got finished with Hirako downstairs, and I was going to come here first, but I got ambushed in the hallway."

"He was waiting out there all night for you," Renji said.

Scratching the back of his neck, Ichigo blushed. "He was?"

"Can you fault the guy for wanting to keep this madness away from you?" Renji asked, resituating himself on the futon. "I could have told you the truth, but I chose not to. You can be upset with me, if you'd like."

"Why didn't you?" Ichigo asked. "You've been here for two days. You could have come out with us yesterday."

Renji shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't think it was necessary. Did it change anything that happened? No."

"Well, no, it didn't...but still." Ichigo pulled away from the door. "Why not just be honest with me?"

"Again, it's in the past. Not much we can do to change it now, except to move on. So, why don't you go and do whatever it was you were going to do with the crazy shopkeeper." Renji waved his hand, dismissing Ichigo.

"Right. Fine. Have a good night, then." He opened the door and began to walk out.

"Oy, Ichigo!" Renji called out. He turned and looked back at him. "Try and keep the noise down, yeah? Byakuya said I couldn't touch while he wasn't here, and you are one loud mother fucker in the bedroom."

"Renji!" Ichigo felt the heat race to his cheeks, shocked by his friend's request. "I...I'll do my best."

Renji chuckled. "Yeah, well. You better, because if this is going to go how I think it is, I'm not going to be seeing Byakuya for a bit. And I don't know what the longest you've gone without sex, but I can tell you that after two days of not being around him, I'm already miserable."

"Enough!" Ichigo walked out of the room, closing the door on Renji's laughter. Shaking his head, he walked to Urahara's room, and was met with the shopkeeper laying on the bed, underneath the covers. "Oh, you're in here already?"

Urahara nodded his head. "And I see you must have gotten side-tracked by Abarai."

"Yeah, I wanted to go and see how he was," Ichigo said. "I still haven't showered..."

The shopkeeper motioned to the bathroom. "It is all yours."

"I'll be quick." He saw his body laying next to Urahara on the bed. He jumped back into it, having forgotten all about it back down in the training facility. He turned on his side and looked at his lover. "You didn't do anything with my body, did you?"

Urahara pushed Ichigo off the bed. "You are ridiculous."

"Me? You're joking, right?" Ichigo stood up and walked over to the bathroom. "You're hilarious, Kisuke." He ducked into the bathroom before the shopkeeper could say anything else to him.

After thoroughly cleaning his body, making sure his hair was washed and conditioned, Ichigo turned off the hot water and got out of the shower. Quickly drying himself off, he grabbed his toothbrush and brushed his teeth, wanting a nice, fresh mouth for whatever was about to happen. He finished drying himself off and hung up the towel, figuring that Urahara knew just what he was going to want when he exited the bathroom. He opened the door, and as he began to walk out to the bedroom, he saw his lover on the bed, making a low moan escape from his lips at the sight of him.

While Ichigo had been in the shower, Urahara had somehow gotten himself tied up, his arms handcuffed to the headboard. And somehow, the man was also wearing a blindfold. "Holy shit, Kisuke." Ichigo said, adjusting himself as he looked at his lover, waiting and ready for him. "H-How'd you manage to do this?"

"Well, you better tell Abarai you love him, because he was kind enough to help me with this while you were in the shower," Urahara arched his back, adjusting himself on the bed.

"I thought you didn't have anything like this here," Ichigo said, sitting on the edge of the bed. He groaned, aching to touch his lover.

Urahara blushed. "I didn't...I went and picked up a few items today, after your request last night."

"Well, good choices." Ichigo bent his head and licked at Urahara's pale nipple, groaning as the man beneath him let out a low moan. "I bet you enjoy not being able to see, Kisuke..." He let his tongue flick across the erect nipple, earning another low moan from his lover.

Urahara arched him, trying to push Ichigo's tongue back against him. "Yes..."

"What do you like about it?" Ichigo moved to the other nipple, flicking his tongue across it.

"Mmm...that I..." Urahara moaned louder as Ichigo decided to latch himself to his nipple, sucking on it gently. "Kami, yes..." Urahara moaned, pushing his chest against Ichigo's mouth.

Pulling back, Ichigo looked up at the blindfold. "What was that, Kisuke? You didn't tell me just why you like it." He rubbed the back of his tongue against the erect nipple, pleased with how Urahara had become putty in his hands. "If you don't give me an answer, all of this will stop..."

"Not knowing...is making me..." Urahara groan, lifting his chest up in hopes of finding Ichigo's mouth.

Keeping himself back, Ichigo watched the man flounder around. "Is making you what, Kisuke?"

"Ache to feel more of you," Urahara said, turning his head to the side. "Please, Ichigo..."

Lowering his head, he blew across the tip of Urahara's arousal, watching the small drops of liquid that had pool there ripple with his cool breath. He groaned low as he heard Urahara moan loud at the small touch. "Please...what?"

"Don't stop!" Urahara begged, thrusting his hips upwards.

He gripped the man's arousal with his hand, and pushed his hips back down with his other hand. "You want me to lick you, Kisuke?" He stuck out his tongue and licked the man's arousal slowly, starting at the base and making his way up to the tip. He felt the man quake beneath him, making him moan with him. "Too bad," he pulled back, feeling the power race through him as he watched Urahara struggle with the restraints.

"Ichigo..." Urahara groaned, bucking his hips upward, holding on to the restraints tightly. Ichigo brought his fingers to the shopkeeper's lips, and let out a low moan as the man quickly sucked them into his mouth. Urahara's tongue licked his fingers, coating them with his saliva.

As much as it pained him, Ichigo pulled his fingers out of Urahara's mouth. He heard the man let out a soft moan, clearly not pleased at having them removed. Ichigo leaned down and kissed the man hard, placing his wet fingers against his lover's entrance. They both shared a low moan as their tongues intertwined, both of their bodies grinding against one another as Ichigo slipped his finger deeper inside of the man. He knew he wasn't going to last very long, if Urahara kept bucking against him, as their arousals were pushing against each other in the most pleasing way. He broke off the kiss as he pushed in his second finger, groaning as Urahara made the most delicious moan come out of his mouth.

"Kami...!" Urahara groaned, pushing against Ichigo's hand, attempting to push the teen's fingers deeper inside of him. "Ichigo..."

He hooked his two fingers, making it so he could brush against the man's sweet spot with the new angle. "Say it, taichou...tell me what you need..."

"You!" Urahara moaned loud, bucking his hips as Ichigo worked his two fingers inside of him.

Pulling his two fingers out of him, Ichigo wiped them off on the side of the bed, not caring. He reached underneath the bed and pulled out the small bottle of lube that they had put there before. He poured some into his hand and quickly stroked himself, bucking his hips into his hand, the cool liquid feeling intensely good on his body.

He got between Urahara's legs and placed himself at his entrance. "Tell me you need it, Kisuke.." He groaned into the man's ear, pushing just the tip inside of him.

"Ichi-go..." Urahara moaned, trying to push against Ichigo. "No more...teasing..."

Pushing his hips forward, Ichigo sheathed himself deep into Urahara's body, moaning at how tight the man was. He lifted one of the man's legs, holding on to it as he began to push himself deeper into him, the new angle proving to be favorable for the both of them. The sounds of their moans began to fill the room as Urahara begged Ichigo to be rough with him. Slamming his body hard into Urahara's tight channel, he began to move relentlessly, moaning louder and louder with each thrust. He reached down and wrapped his hand around Urahara's swollen arousal, stroking him opposite of his thrusts, so that the man was receiving the maximum pleasure from what he was doing to him. After a few strokes, Ichigo felt his lover tighten around him, the warmth of his release beginning to flow over his hand as he quickly pushed himself as deep as he could go. He came almost two seconds later, unable to hold off his orgasm any longer.

The two panted in unison, their hearts racing together. Ichigo gently pulled himself out of Urahara, grunting low at the loss of warmth. He reached up and began to untie his lover. Once the bindings were gone, he pulled the man into his arms and held him close. Urahara wrapped an arm around him weakly, panting softly.

"That was..." Urahara spoke breathlessly.

"Wonderful?" Ichigo said, kissing his cheek. "Sorry I didn't talk more dirty...I just wanted to take you." He felt a blush creep on his face at the silly admission.

Urahara lifted his head and pressed his lips against his. "Don't be sorry. I loved every second of it." He rested his head against his chest, trying to regain control of his breathing. "I think I may need to pick up a few more items so we can use them here."

"Did Renji really come in here and help you?" Ichigo asked, holding his lover close.

"He did," Urahara chuckled. "But I had to promise him that he wouldn't have to clean up the kitchen any time soon."

Hugging his lover close, Ichigo smirked. "There's always gotta be a trade, doesn't there?"

"I suppose so," Urahara said, yawning.

"Get some rest, Kisuke." Ichigo placed another soft kiss on his forehead. "I love you. So very much."

"I love you too, Ichigo. I hope you have -"

The man didn't finish his sentence, as the air became thick and heavy. They became overwhelmed with a ridiculous amount of reiatsu closing in on them, seeming to appear out of thin air. Ichigo's eyes widened in fear.

"This reiatsu...It's them!"

…

A/N: Up next...a new player enters the story. ^_^ Thanks for reading!