Disclaimer: Kubo Tite owns Bleach and everything related to it. Therefore he could make this pair canon. Oh, be still my heart! If only...
Chapter Twelve
Falling Through the Rabbit Hole
Ichigo let the night light of the city sooth his fraying nerves as he tried to ignore the fact that he was accompanying Byakuya to a meeting with Aizen. He was sitting in front of the car with Shuuhei who was driving while Renji and Kuchiki were sitting in the back. Kuchiki seemed to ignore the tension in the car as he was carefully studying a file, perhaps one of the many that Ichigo hasn't managed to copy yet. Ever since they acted against Aizen, they expected a retribution from the other mobster, but he had been suspiciously silent. Which in turn made Ichigo even more careful when he was going out with Rukia. Although Kuchiki's sister was usually reticent in letting anybody limit her freedom, for once she accepted her brother's advice and she didn't get out of the Kuchiki mansion unless it was truly necessary. While this in turn made Ichigo's life easier, he still didn't like the fact that Kuchiki accepted to meet with Aizen on neutral territory such as the house of Takaya Akiyama.
Renji explained to him earlier that day that any attack while on the premisses of the Akiyama's mansion would be interpreted as a full on war on the whole family, Ichigo wasn't sure that this move was beyond Aizen. The man was desperate, even now two weeks later after the attack, the repercussions of it were still coming like tidal waves and he wasn't sure whether to enjoy it or not. The Russians had not been happy about the heavy loss and Aizen's operations had ceased for about a week while he had to explain to them what had happened. Several people lost their lives in the process and some of the operations had ceased to exist permanently.
Ichigo glanced in the door mirror, the blue car following them always discreetly was still there. Ikkaku and Yumi had decided to offer them backup just in case Aizen was crazy enough to do something while on Akiyama's territory. Although Ikkaku was still not fully healed, he preferred to tag along his partner rather than stay at home. He was probably going stir crazy.
Akiyama's mansion was built on one of the hills that surrounded Karakura town, encircled by forest and hiding behind a big wooden gate. It was by far the most traditionalist setting that Ichigo had seen and when he got off the car, he made sure to check the premisses as he opened the door for Kuchiki. The man didn't even glance at him as he got off the car like he owned the place. Aizen's car was already there. Akiyama himself was not present, but he had offered his mansion for the meeting and in charged his right hand to make sure there would be no shed of blood on his territory. Akiyama's men were looking like black ops that would give Kaien and his men a run for their money.
"Welcome, Kuchiki-sama!" Hamasaki, a giant among men but with a very clear head for business bowed slightly and Kuchiki followed his example.
"Thank you, Hamasaki-san. I apologize for bothering you with this meeting."
"It is no bother. Master Akiyama was more than happy to lend a hand in solving this situation and I am his humble servant." The man looked scrutinizing at them. "I am afraid that in the best interest of this meeting, you are allowed to take one person with you inside the house. The same happened for Aizen-sama."
"I understand. Very well. Shinamori, follow me." Ichigo hid his surprise well enough for Hamasaki not to spot it but it did make him do a double-take at Renji who just shrugged and didn't seem bothered by the choice. He bowed slowly and then followed silently Kuchiki on the well lit corridor that led them into a beautiful room with a small table on which tea rested already. Aizen was sitting on one side slightly bored, while one of his men, that attacked Ichigo and Rukia some time ago, was respectfully sitting behind his back. His dead eyes looked up at Ichigo, but betrayed nothing. A cold shiver pressed against his spine, deciding that he never wanted to cross against this man on a back alley.
When Kuchiki sat on the opposite side, with Ichigo settling behind him, Aizen smirked at both of them, making Ichigo tense even more. Their host looked at both of them and then said very slowly:
"In the interest of the best outcome of this meeting, I will supervise the discussion but I shall not interfere. I will make sure to relay what has happened today to master Akiyama to the best of my capabilities. Please, understand that this is neutral territory and movement against each other will be considered an act of treason and it will dealt with swiftly. Please, gentlemen, do understand that this discussion is quite vital for the future of your clans as they stand of now." Hamasaki sat quietly in a corner of the room. "Please proceed."
"If you think even for a second that the move you made against me will be forgiven and forgotten, you have another thing coming, Kuchiki." Aizen began smirking as if he was mostly amused by this turn of events.
"I do not wish either, Aizen. But do not believe that you can attack my clan without repercussions."
"Oh?" Aizen raised an eyebrow at him and Ichigo did his best to keep his mask of cool calm as the other man was staring at him now. "I see. So you managed to convince him to get into your service. Well, no matter. Your attack on my merchandise was unwarranted and I will make sure that you pay for it."
"Unwarranted?" It was Byakuya's turn to raise an eyebrow at Aizen's choice of words. "Your attack against my sister warranted everything that has befallen you and while I did not enjoy it, I certainly considered you deserving of it. However, I am confused. I thought we are here to discuss a cease fire if you'd like to call it so."
"A cease fire? On the contrary, my friend." Aizen's suddenly steeled eyes surprised nobody in the room but his following words did. "I didn't come here to negotiate peace with the likes of you. I just came here to ensure that you are aware of your serious tactical mistake. Do you believe I will let this go without any repercussions on your clan? Do you think any of your operations will run smoothly from now on? I will destroy every layer of your business bit by bit, and when I am sure you have nothing left, I will make sure that I give pieces of your men as presents until you will choke in their blood and maybe, as I will end your miserable life, you will finally understand the importance of never cross me."
Kuchiki listened to Aizen impassively as if his enemy was just relying news of dead and long gone relatives. But as he finished his little hateful speech, of which Ichigo had no doubt that he would make happen, Kuchiki replied.
"You are like a spoiled child that lost his favourite toy and I do not deal with children. Come to me with all you possess and I will make sure that you will live to regret this decision. I do not care for your threats, nor do I desire to carry on with these silly battles, but if you want war, then you shall have it. Just one more thing, please remember that the last time somebody dared to make a move against me, they ended up worse than they expected. I came here seeking a peaceful solution, although you have been the one making moves against me. I see you have no further interest in finding a solution to our disagreement, so I shall take my leave."
He rose to his feet followed by a baffled Ichigo. Kuchiki bowed respectfully at Hamasaki.
"Please, Hamasaki-san accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused." Akiyama's right hand bowed back, clearly not happy with the outcome of the meeting.
"You're the one acting like a spoilt brat right now." Aizen replied as he stood up.
Byakuya glanced for a moment in his direction before looking back at Ichigo. "We are leaving."
"Hey Shinamori." Aizen stopped him. "You chose the wrong camp, my friend. Join my side before it's too late." The dig had the desire effect when Kuchiki tensed next to him. The Ice Lord looked at Aizen like he was a snivelling worm and it was quite a funny sight especially since they were both about the same stature and somehow Kuchiki still managed to stare down at Aizen.
"I believe I made the right choice." Ichigo answered blandly. He was about to follow Kuchiki when the man stopped and looked back at Aizen, his posture that of a king among common men. So distinctive was the air around him that even Hamasaki seem to cower a little. The man with the dead eyes looked a bit impressed and decided to further retreat in the shadow of Sousuke Aizen.
"One more thing before leaving." His gruff voice betrayed nothing but utter contempt for the opposition and although even Aizen seemed to square his shoulders in attempt to gain some ground, it was more than impossible for him to do so. "I think this meeting deserves one more reveal. Aizen-san. Do you know by any chance how I came to be called the Ice Lord? No? It was some years ago, I cannot recall exactly the period, but it was after I had another war with someone the likes of you who dared to cross me. You see, the fact that I am called the Ice Lord is not just a metaphoric nickname that my enemies regaled me with because I am heartless." Byakuya faced Aizen dead on. "It's because I kept the bodies of over thirty of his men on ice while carved and cut into them and made sure that they feel everything, while I filmed everything and sent them to their families. It is the same thing I made to a cop that dared to think he was smarter than me."
Cold shivers ran down Ichigo's spine as these two monsters stared at each other, spewing these horrible truths. Both of them are the same, he realized in that moment. There was no difference between Sousuke Aizen and Byakuya Kuchiki other than the manner in which they were conducting their business and Ichigo feared for his life. The silence was deafening as these two heartless bastards measured their egos in stares and Ichigo just wanted to get out of this room and run away as far as humanly possible from such people.
But the reality was that he stood there until Kuchiki seemed satisfied and walked away. Ichigo dared to glance back on their way out and he was not surprised to see the pure hatred that swallowed Aizen's eyes blackening them with its tainted desire to harm the enemy. There was no doubt in Ichigo's mind that these men would annihilate each other. Maybe that was for the better. Maybe it would be enough.
On their way back, Byakuya filled in Renji on what happened in the room and the red head hadn't been surprised by the turn of events.
"Call up the men." Kuchiki ordered as he entered his own mansion, the meeting just a distant nightmare in the dead of the night. "There has to be an emergency council. I am sure that by tomorrow evening, everyone will be able to arrive here."
"I will make it happen."
"And Renji?" Kuchiki looked back at his friend. "Summon him too."
"Are you sure?" Ichigo listened confused to the conversation.
"Positive."
"Very well then. But don't be surprised when this will come bite you in the ass."
"As always, your language is repugnant."
"Ichigo here has nothing against it." Renji clapped him on the shoulder and he simply rolled his eyes at him.
"That is because he doesn't know any better." Byakuya sighed as he loosened his tie. "Tell Rukia what happened too. We need to prepare."
"Will do."
With a wave of his hand, Byakuya dismissed them and entered his office. Ichigo shrugged and followed Shuuhei in the kitchen for a glass of something strong, while Renji went upstairs to probably tell Rukia what had happened. His hands shook that night in the shower, trying to forget the story that Byakuya told, trying to ignore the alarm bells. But even after his soothing shower, even after falling in the bed and trying to get some sleep, he still couldn't forget Byakuya's threatening posture, his icy demeanour and his real threats.
A knock on the door startled his and upon opening the door, he was more than astonished to see Kuchiki standing in the door frame, looking intensely at him. Silently he reached for Ichigo's orange spikes and carded his fingers through them.
"You did well today." He mumbled and Ichigo wanted to be sarcastic and say I live only to please you or crazy and add Is that what's going to happen to me once you find out that I am a cop? But none came out. He opened a few times his mouth, but literally no sound passed his lips. Kuchiki seemed to sense his predicament and pulled him closer to him until he could rest his head at the junction between Ichigo's neck and shoulder. He took a deep breath while Ichigo froze completely barely daring to breathe. This murderer was going to be the death of him and yet Ichigo found himself embracing his shoulders, bringing him closer to him, enjoying the intimacy. There was nothing sexual about it. It was pure comfort. He felt like laughing maniacally. He would have, if Kuchiki hadn't chosen that moment to reciprocate the hug. They stood like that for what seemed like ages and Ichigo lost himself in the moment. He must have been mad. He must have lost his mind.
"Thank you." Kuchiki whispered into his ear and let him go. "See you tomorrow." He caressed Ichigo's face one more time before leaving, making Ichigo close the door, sink down the floor and wonder what the fuck he was doing.
The next morning found himself in Rukia's office, the woman dressed in a smart suit, not a string of hair misplaced. But the purple shadows under her eyes betrayed her worries and Ichigo felt the sudden impulse of reassuring her like it always seemed to happen when she seemed in distress. She made him tell the whole story all over again and once he finished, she made him sit at her desk.
"Because nii-sama showed you such trust, Ichigo, you must understand the importance of your actions now that you are part of the clan."
"Yeah, well, I am a little bit disappointed of the lack of any ritual. I was expecting pledges in blood and maybe even one or more parts of the body."
"Well, I'm sure that nii-sama will think of something." She smirked. "But innuendos aside, I must warn you of the meeting tonight. While you will not participate at it, these are people that pay very much attention to the ritual and the customs of the clan. I wish you could be on your best behaviour tonight."
"Of course, Rukia." Ichigo sighed. "Look, I know I seem like a moron with zero control, but I do know when to keep my mouth shut."
"I know, that is why I ask you to be extra vigilant of these people and tell me which of them might be the most likely candidate to betray nii-sama."
"What?" Ichigo's surprise made Rukia smile sadly.
"In spite of the terrible things that my brother had to do sometimes to secure the stability of the clan, there are still people that would jump at the possibility of betraying my brother and secure a stronger position in the clan and the entire family." Rukia pulled out a couple of photos and laid them on the table. There were four of them, one of which was that of Zaraki. "I believe Kenpachi is already known to you so I won't speak about him." Rukia pointed at a photo showing a lady mid forties with a mild smile on her lips but stony eyes. "This is Retsu Unohana-san. Don't be fooled by her mild manners as she has perfected the knives and one never knows when she stabs you in the back if she sees fit. She has been in the service of my brother since the beginning and although she might appear to be the least inclined to betray nii-sama, I wouldn't put it behind her."
She looked up at Ichigo and when she saw that she still had his attention, she went to the next photo. It featured a young man in mid thirties who held a striking resemblance with Byakuya.
"This is my cousin, Kōga Kuchiki." Rukia sighed as she added. "Out of all of them, I consider him the best candidate to ally himself with Aizen,. He is responsible for the drug trade in the north, but he resents nii-sama for this and considers himself to be the right ruler of the clan." She pointed to a fourth photo that showed an old man with battle scars on his face dressed in a smart suit: "And this is Genryūsai Yamamoto. You should fear him the most for the traditions are all what's left for him. He is a very important part of this clan and your behaviour must rise to his standard."
"And you think any of them could betray your brother to Aizen or ally themselves with him."
"Yes."
"Why? Wouldn't be in their best interest to keep Kuchiki as the head of the clan? Even if I don't know much about Aizen, I still find him an incredible volatile man, incapable of taking the right decision under pressure and his threats and refusal to speak with your brother about peace show that."
"Yes, but each of these people want power. Unohana dominates the prostitution rings, Zaraki the illegal fights which he built them from scratch, Yamamoto came with his connections and his ships that offer the perfect infrastructure for our business and our dear cousin who sometimes enjoys the merchandise a little too much. Each of them could be the head of the clan and each of them has a chance at claiming it. It's just a matter of time."
"And you ask me to keep an eye on these guys?" His incredulity reached new heights. "Rukia, I know nothing of them. How would I know which of them would be the one to betray Kuchiki?"
"Use your eyes, Ichigo. You come in as new and these people are unknown to you. You will be able to study their behaviour and always trust your instinct. I am sure that in time you will spot the puppet from the dark."
"And when that happens?"
"Nii-sama will deal with it accordingly."
"I don't want dead bodies in the ice on my conscious, Rukia."
"That is not up to you to decide." Her eyes betrayed the same steely heart like that of her brother and lately Ichigo started to wonder how she would react if she would find out that he was taking photos of her files. Rukia was not a woman to forgive easily a betrayal. Especially of her brother.
He found out more about the workings of the clan than any other cop and he was going to die for it, of that he had no doubt. His instinct screamed in alarm when the night brought the first guests. None of them were going to stay over the night, for which Ichigo was grateful. He could barely sleep as it was, he didn't need additional stress. While he was politely waiting behind Kuchiki, while the man himself was greeting them, Ichigo couldn't suppress a shudder. These people came on by one and greeted Kuchiki with respect albeit reluctant to show it. The meeting lasted long into the night and Ichigo was glad to see them gone when they left, barely spearing a glance in his direction. He was sure that soon he was going to find out the outcome of this meeting. He would have to find another way to gain information about them. In the mean time, he could take as many photocopies as he could of the files he would find in Rukia's office.
The first time he did it, this hands shook terribly although he knew that there was almost no one at home. He made sure to be aware of everyone's schedule that evening and the fact that almost everyone was out definitely helped. Not that it mattered since his hands continued to shake as he opened one of Rukia's files and took a copy of it. He always had access to her office and nothing was locked up. At the end of the day, who would have dared to make a move against the Kuchikis? Who in their right mind would have presumed to betray them? However, since Ichigo's last fateful phone call to his captain, an awareness of his mission started to creep along his thoughts. And while he was helping Kuchiki defeat Aizen and perhaps annihilate him, he understood at the same time that it was just a question of time before he was asked to provide something for the authorities.
The unrestricted access in Rukia's office was the first circumstance to set in motion a careful plan of gathering evidence. And what best method if not to capture all their transactions? So he started to copy the relevant files, or the ones that seemed relevant to him, then hide them in the floor of his room under his bed. Weekly, he would then store them in a safe at the bus station close to the practice cabinet, knowing fully well that nobody would follow him. The sensation was almost surreal and he was doubting that he was getting alive out of this. Perhaps this constant surge of adrenaline in his system combined with the sensation of insecurity contributed to his severe lack of sleep.
He wasn't sleeping well even before, but since moving back in the Kuchiki mansion, his hours of sleep were cut off dramatically. He was either trying to fall asleep and simply couldn't do it, or he would fall asleep mostly due to the exhaustion, but he would wake up screaming or breathing harshly in the stone cold silence of the house, Ginjou's blood pouring over him over and over again drowning him as the hands of other people that he helped convicting were drawing him deeper and deeper into the deep red tide.
Different night, same nightmare. Time and time again, he would wake up in terror, plagued by the sense of guilt that would wash over him as Ginjou's shadow would follow him well into the morning light. His sense of guilt wasn't helping and the fact that Yachiru reminded him of what happened to his friend, kind of made him wish that Kuchiki would just find out who he really was and just kill him. If Kuchiki would ever prove that merciful. Other times he would dream of an army of carved up men, saved in ice and asking him to save them. And he would try to reach them, but he couldn't do it and in the end he was buried too under mountains of ice, waiting for the merciful death that would never come.
These reoccurring nightmares would make him seek other people's company though most of the times there was no one to keep him company in the dead of the night. Sometimes though, Yachiru would how up in the living room with an apologetic face and some hot chocolate and they would drink it in silence while refusing to speak about the elephant in the room. Most of the times though, Ichigo found himself alone in the room watching listlessly different TV shows, not settling on any.
In spite of his reticence over the Kuchiki's wealth, if there was one room that Ichigo appreciated in the whole house, apart from the kitchen of course, it was the living room. There were several couches one more comfortable than the others, covered by fluffy blankets and comforters and pillow of all shapes and sizes. The giant flat screen dominated the room, with modern dark wooden shelves in the back for the various games and movies that they housed. The couches were displayed in such a way as to offer to the person that sat on them total view of the screen but also access to the dark mahogany coffee table which was low to the ground and always covered with different magazines of all interests (both girly and manly) and different holders for coffee cups or glasses.
Ichigo smiles weakly as he snuggled under one of the comforters in the dim glow of the screen. Yeah, he was definitely enjoying this room. It was two in the morning and after only a couple of hours of sleep, he had enough and decided that maybe he could fall asleep in front of the screen.
"I hope you realize that one can barely see you." The gruff voice startled him and raised his head in time to see Kuchiki holding a cup of something smelling deliciously in his hand. He was dressed in a blue t-shirt and some worn grey sweat pants and Ichigo wined because he was really exhausted and there was no time to pretend he was mature any more.
"Please tell me you brought it for me." He moaned making grabby hands for the cup. Kuchiki raised a perfect eyebrow at him, his icy eyes carefully masked by the dim TV light. But whatever he saw on Ichigo's face must have made him relent because he just gave him the cup and settled on the couch at his feet, another cup which Ichigo didn't see before appearing in his other hand. The realization that Byakuya Kuchiki must have made hot chocolate for him made him slightly blush and he had to hide in his comforter so that the other man wouldn't see his reaction.
"Can't sleep again?"
"Yeah." He admitted reluctantly as he changed to another show on Netflix. He sensed Kuchiki's eyes on him but decided to ignore him.
"I want to watch this show." Kuchiki pointed at True Detective, a HBO show, that Ichigo secretly loved. However, he still made a show of looking back at Kuchiki incredulously.
"Seriously, a cop show?"
"Why not?" Kuchiki took a sip from his cup and made himself more comfortable. "I watched the first two episodes and I want to see the rest."
"You, Kuchiki, are a very strange man indeed."
"It's Byakuya." The older man whispered in the faint light of the room making Ichigo's heart beat a little faster. Kuchiki refused to look at him as he took a part of the comforter and wrapped it around his legs, drinking every now and then from his cup as Ichigo didn't say anything and started the show.
They watched the next two episodes in a comfortable silence, none of them too keen to broach a subject that might make them feel uncomfortable. Perhaps because of the hot chocolate or the warm presence of the man at his feet, Ichigo felt his eyes grow heavier and heavier, until he finally fell asleep in a blessedly deep sleep without any dreams whatsoever.
Safety. This was the first feeling that infiltrated in his subconscious as he started to wake up. He felt safe, a warm presence at his back, shielding him from the real world or the nightmares. He was comfortably trapped between the back of the couch and this presence, a heavy arm on his waist, the hand dangerously settled on his stomach. The other arm was offering support for his neck, soft fingers carded though his hair, softly caressing him every now and then. The chest of that person was against his back and Ichigo sighed heavily feeling relaxed like he hasn't felt in ages. He snuggled closely to that person, not fully awake and was surprised to feel that arm around his waist curling a little bit possessively around him.
"Are you awake?" The question made him tense in two seconds flat. And he opened his eyes in surprise, staring at the beige pillow under him. Byakuya made no attempt at getting away from him. On the contrary, he moved closer and closer until Ichigo could feel nothing but the man and his desire for him and oh, how he wanted to surrender to that desire, if only for a few moments.
"Yes", he mumbled unable to resist. Soft lips breathed his name against the skin of his neck, raising goose bumps in their wake.
"Did you sleep well?" Kuchiki certainly loved to torment Ichigo. He swallowed hard, his breath quickening as he simply nodded knowing that the other man would feel his answer. For a second it seemed like Kuchiki was going to say something else, but nothing got out. Ichigo closed his eyes trying to even his breath. Then he moved suddenly closer to the older man, surprising him. The fingers tightened slightly through his hair.
"Thank you." He whispered suddenly drained of any power he might have over himself. The cold reality was that the comfort he had been seeking was offered by a man that wouldn't have hesitated to kill him if he knew the truth. And yet... and yet...
"You have nothing to thank me for, Ichigo." Byakuya replied and his lips touched him with each word and Ichigo was falling rapidly through the rabbit hole and he didn't want it to end. If only he could keep on falling. The next words made him shudder: "I want you to stop running. We've been going in circles for the past month and you're running from me." Kuchiki pressed himself against him, his hips slightly moving, making Ichigo swallow hard, heartbeat increasing exponentially. He kissed him just behind his ear making Ichigo's legs feel like mush. "I want you to let go." He growled softly as his hips kept on moving and his hand slowly travelled under Ichigo's t-shirt mapping sweet tasting skin, making muscles jump in pleasure and hair raise as the hand finally cupped him, slowly moving, agonizingly so.
"I can't." He whispered harshly, scrunching his eyes, as he was losing grip of reality, making him abandon himself to this man, this man that held his heart and life in his hands and didn't even know it.
"Yes, you can." Byakuya muttered back, nipping at his shoulder and neck, bruising kiss after bruising kiss. His hand moved steadily and the barrier of the clothes between them was an unbearable torment at this point. If only he would have the courage of turning around, of taking hands over that exquisite skin, of having the courage to taste Kuchiki's lips and bruise them, own them, only for him. Just for him. If only he could be that selfish.
"Please..." His broken sob made the other man stop for a second. Because if you asked Ichigo what he was begging for, he couldn't say whether it was for Byakuya to stop or for him to continue and make him forget. Byakuya though seemed to understand his dilemma. He was turning him around and no, no, no, Ichigo didn't want to... He opened his eyes as he was laid on his back, and gorgeous black tresses covering his surroundings like there was no one else on this earth but him and Byakuya and their bodies as they kept moving, almost unconsciously. Hips against hips. Byakuya's arms were bracketing his face, making him stare back at shrewd grey eyes.
Ichigo groaned in pleasure unable to take his eyes from Byakuya, as the older man stared back at him, desire and hunger building behind those shades of grey and Ichigo wanted, oh how he wanted. No, craved for those lips on him again. He could forget. Just for an instant who this man could be for him. He could.
Suddenly, having taken this decision, his hands travelled down the other man's back until he reached the string of his sweats and then pushed them down together with the underwear and Byakuya mirrored his action. And when they touched again skin on skin, he moaned in pleasure and finally finally Byakuya kissed him. He pressed him into the couch and kissed him like he wanted to take everything from Ichigo, his tongue almost fucking him in the same way. Ichigo closed his eyes as his head felt light and fuzzy. He carded his fingers through Byakuya's hair and pulled a little as the older man made a chocked-off gasp, the pleasure of it making Ichigo moan in turn. He was skimming his hands over Byakuya's neck and shoulders settling on his ass as he cupped him and making him push harder, faster. The older man nipped and licked at Ichigo's neck and shoulders like he wanted to leave his mark everywhere. And Ichigo let him, let him do everything because Byakuya's taste on his lips was like a drug that made Ichigo hooked up almost instantly. Ichigo just moaned in pleasure, tilting his head back to give him better access.
"Look at me." Byakuya's gravelly voice made him obey the command almost instantly and he found himself drowning in a sea of grey desire, as this man made the sweetest little sounds of pleasure. He began to thrust in earnest, Ichigo unable to hide his pleasure as it kept gathering behind every molecule of his body, as each muscle and bone wishing for Byakuya's caresses, his fingers, his lips. The man on top of him was flushed, breathing hard, his composure cracked. Byakuya stared back at him as he pushed just so and Ichigo was gone. His pleasure was instant and overwhelming in a way nothing has been for a very long time. Byakuya thrusted a few more times until he was gone as well. And Ichigo held his shoulders like he was drowning and pushed so he could feel everything.
There were tears in his eyes, threatening to fall as he scrunched his eyes, hiding away the overwhelming sensation that this man that could so easily kill him and make it so painful, was the only person to feel so intense, so safe. Time and time again, those hands were caressing his sides, even as their breath was quietening down and they were becoming kind of gross.
Byakuya let his head down again, peppering him with butterfly kisses over his closed eyes, his forehead, his jaw. The air around them was tainted with the smell of sex and their pleasure and he couldn't get enough of it. His fingers laid spread on Byakuya's strong shoulders still covered by his t-shirt.
"When you cannot sleep and you seek comfort, you take your pillow and your comforter and you come to me." He slowly bit at his earlobe, making Ichigo's fingers grab fistfuls of the material. Byakuya made him open his eyes again and looked down at him demanding. "You will have to come to me next time, Ichigo Shinamori."
The name was like a bucket of icy water for Ichigo, making him tense all over. It shattered the intimacy between them like an ugly mirror. Byakuya sensed it and confused looked at Ichigo as the younger man pushed and pushed hard.
"Get off me." Ichigo pushed Byakuya so hard that the man had little choice. "Get off, get off!" Once he was free, he pulled his sweats up ignoring the gross factor, turning his back at Byakuya as if that would erase the past few hours.
"Running again I see." Byakuya's harshness came as no surprise. "I didn't peg you for a coward, but then again I was wrong about you before."
"I am no coward. Don't you see?" Ichigo harsh breaths exploded in the dim light of the room, now offered by the first rays of sun. He looked back at the man seated on the couch, a monument of cold and harsh beauty. And no, this attraction, this feeling needed to go away. Now.
"See what, Ichigo?"
You shatter me, you bring something in my life that should never existed. You'll shatter me and you'll take whatever piece you will find and then you'll ruin me. And I, oh, God help me, I will let you do that to me.
He was gasping for air, suddenly the walls closing in on him, because no, how could he admit now, at dawn, as the first undercover cop on the brink of taking down two of the most important faces in the illegal world, that he was attracted to Byakuya Kuchiki, that he wanted those hands again on hi?. That he wanted those lips bruising him again and his name whispered like a prayer. A broken sob freed itself as he took a step back. This was...
"Byakuya!" Renji's shout broke whatever spell existed between them as the red head entered the living room, not surprised at all to see them together, but choosing carefully to ignore the shattered look on Ichigo's face. "Aizen made the first move! And you won't be happy about it".
A/N: Surprise!:))) I bet no one was expecting this update but there you go. Hope you had fun although this chapter is a bit all over the place. Thank you so much for your encouraging reviews and messages, for your alerts and favourites. Maybe it sounds redundant, but they mean so much to me. Please forgive any mistakes left.