AN: An update! Please review! I will update slower now, because I have to concentrate on my end of term tests. =)

The next chapter will be more emotional...I guess...Ichigo will confess...

Fourteen

Stark smiled faintly as he made his way into the colorful crowd, his dark dress shirt standing out in the sea of traditional Japanese kimonos. The summer festivals were coming to an end. The last few days were the most colorful. He smiled as the warm summer air mixed with the cool breeze of autumn washed over his face. The code from the red-haired shinigami had long faded from his hand but Stark didn't really care too much about that. He wandered through the crowd of busy and happy faces, completely caught in his own little world. It had been almost three months since he had first set foot in the small town. Needless to say, there was a longing deep inside. He watched as a couple walked past him, the girl hanging onto the man's arm with a happy smile. The dark water of the lake reflected his lonely face. The prima espada sighed and ran a hand through his messy locks.

A part of him looked forward to the colorful lights and crowds of people every night and another part of him hated it. The happiness was cut off from him. It was like he was peering past a thick pane of glass and looking into other people's life. He didn't feel the warmth from the touch of a loved one. Instead, there was only eternal night and darkness in Las Noches.

"Help me!!!!!!" the sound of someone's loud panicked cry made him turn around and a bundle of white fell against him, effectively knocking his breath from his lungs and overbalancing the arrancar. For a fraction of a second, brownish amber eyes met his surprised grey ones. Then Stark lost his balance and they fell into the lake with a loud splash.

He resurfaced soon, the water not quite deep enough to reach his chest. The figure that had knocked him into the water clutched at his chest and shivered violently. Stark frowned and the person pushed back his wet pale hair to glance up at the other man. Stark's eyebrow's rose as he recognized the man. It was the clumsy klutzy captain from Soul Society. Ukitake drew in a breath to speak and sneezed. The sound snapped Stark out of his stupor and he pulled the man's legs from underneath him and carried him out of the freezing water.

"Sorry…to get your sh-shirt wet…" the man's teeth chattered as he hugged the soaked yukata and ducked his head. Stark sighed in exasperation.

"Have I wronged you in a past life or something? It feels like you're deliberately getting me into troublesome situations like this…" he rung out his shirt tails and sighed at the rumpled fabric. The pale captain shook his head and looked up with an apologetic smile.

"I sat on you the other day, didn't I…" he asked in embarrassment and flipped his long silvery locks over his thin shoulder, sending water drops everywhere. Stark studied the thin man closely. The fabric of the yukata clung to his slim form and it reminded him of a woman's figure. Not to mention the long dripping locks that glowed like moonlight. "Are you ok? Did you get hurt?"

Stark blinked as concerned eyes fell on him and Ukitake reached up to touch the pale icy skin of the stranger, feeling his heart thump painfully hard in his chest. Stark didn't reply. His winter grey eyes were set on the pale worried face of the shinigami in front of him. Deep amber brown eyes searched his face for any form of discomfort and warm fingers burned his icy skin as the man pressed his fingers against Stark's cheek. Ukitake jumped slightly when the handsome black-haired man closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, his own gloved hand coming to rest on the delicate fingers on his face. Ukitake blushed and lowered his head awkwardly and broke the contact.

A sudden crowd of people shuffled past and one shoved the pale captain hard. Ukitake stumbled and fell against the hard cold chest of his savior and felt his knees almost weaken. Then he mentally slapped himself and drew back with a small gasp. Their eyes met again and Stark felt something warm seep into his skin. The flushed captain in front of him smiled tentatively and Stark stepped forward, his hand catching the other man's soft ones. He didn't say a word as he led the smaller man into the crowd. It didn't really matter why he felt a strange flutter in his heart whenever he met those deep beautiful eyes. After all, he was just Aizen's tool. There was no time for weakness in the man's army. But he couldn't bring himself to deny the simple pleasure of being in someone's company.

The sweet scent of flowers and exotic fragrances almost made Ukitake feel lightheaded. Or maybe it was the man currently clutching his hand doing the job. At first, the captain felt slightly suspicious. He checked Stark over carefully and found his spiritual power just like an average soul. It was odd how they seemed to keep running into one another. Perhaps it was fate? Jushiro mentally slapped himself as he followed the taller man numbly.

Their wet clothes dried slowly as the dry warm air blew over the crowd of tourists and laughing couples. Stark felt slightly out of place in his dark shirt and slacks but the pale haired man didn't seem to mind. The captain had warmed up to him faster than Stark had expected and he was the one dragging Stark around the stalls. He laughed as they pulled away from a game booth, turning to give Stark a delighted laugh. The espada felt surprise wash over him as he saw the simple warmth and delight shining in his eyes. Their fingers were still entwined when a shop owner caught his arm.

"Why not buy a comb for the fair lady?" he smiled at Stark and gestured toward the colorful trinkets in the booth. Stark glanced toward the pale man and noticed he refused to meet his eyes, cheeks flushed awkwardly. He smiled and nodded at the seller. It didn't take Stark long to find the one he wanted to give to the shinigami. There was a deep sea blue comb with a golden and a silver fish entwined together on the comb and Stark picked it. He paid for it and turned toward the blushing figure.

Ukitake's breath hitched as gloved fingers gently lifted his head up and Stark raised an eyebrow at his embarrassment. Then the fingers gently pushed back his long silver hair and smoothly fastened the comb into the soft strands. Stark allowed a brief smile to cross his lips and let his fingers skim over the silky skin of Ukitake's flushed cheeks.

"You're beautiful…" Stark admitted honestly.

Cat calls sounded playfully around them and the prima turned with a frown.

"Kiss her!" a man grinned good naturedly from one of the booths.

"Yeah, kiss her!" voices sounded around him and Stark felt the other man stiffen at his side. Ukitake tried to pull away but gloved fingers seized his thin arm and he suddenly found himself staring into dark intense eyes. He opened his mouth to protest but Stark beat him to it and covered his lips with his own, softly commanding him to open his mouth and yield to him. Ukitake felt his face heat up as he pushed away and stared at the stranger in front of him before turning on his heels and running off into the night.

Stark tried and failed miserably to convince himself that he did not enjoy the man's warm company. He didn't notice the pair of eyes watching him closely from a distance.

--

Ichigo sighed as he sat down at the kitchen table. His eyes flickered briefly over to the casual espada sitting across from him smirking smugly. Ichigo ran his fingers through his messy bed hair and glanced numbly down at his inside out shirt and barely hanging boxers. He felt relieved that Isshin was currently staying over at the Ishida house. His father hadn't showed the usual odd reaction when he found out that his son had been with a man, more over a hollow. There was only an almost sad flicker in his eyes before Isshin tried to hug Ichigo. The teen had shoved his father away but he couldn't help but feel worried about the look on his father's face.

But the current problem was not Isshin's feelings. The current problem was that he was about to drop dead from all the sex Grimmjow demanded from him. It had been a week since he had taken Grimmjow that night and Ichigo had been expecting to be beaten to death by the angry hollow but Grimmjow merely gave him a hard punch in the stomach when he woke up and promptly sealed their lips together in a hot kiss. And that was when it had started.

Ichigo's eyes flickered over to Grimmjow as the espada tossed his long mane and sent his an unimpressed sneer. Ichigo fought to keep his head up, feeling completely drained from their intense night. He stared off into space as Grimmjow moved toward the fridge and pulled out a carton of ice cream. He plopped down next to Ichigo and began to lick at the sweet sticky stuff on the spoon while keeping his eyes firmly on Ichigo. The teen flushed under the intense gaze and lowered his head to the cool counter top.

"Che, just eleven rounds and you're in this state? I wonder how you managed to beat me in that battle before." Grimmjow's sneering voice made Ichigo snap up with a dark scowl and an even darker blush.

"What the hell? Those are very different things, completely different concepts. I didn't know you'd be so…demanding…" he muttered hoarsely and coughed. "Damn, I need to sleep and I need food… feels like I've been coughed up like a hairball."

Grimmjow snorted and reached out to slap Ichigo's head. The teen slipped off his chair and groaned. Ichigo picked himself up with a growl of frustration and collapsed onto the table, his muscles protesting from the movement. He felt like he had been the one to bottom. Even though Grimmjow was pregnant and considered a weak part of society, the espada really tried his best to prove the point was wrong.

"Aren't you supposed to be responsible for me? After all, you did take me with such passion…." Grimmjow's smirk was very sarcastic as he tossed the now-empty carton into the trash bin. He stood up and made his way to the couch slowly, his hand casually curling around his stomach as he sat down, drawing his legs onto the couch.

"No wonder you were single before…." Ichigo ran a hand through his hair and followed the espada. He sat down next to Grimmjow and spooned his body against Grimmjow, his hands threading through Grimmjow's fingers and laying his head against Grimmjow's head. The cat ears twitched as Ichigo ghosted his breath over them .They sat like that for a few moments, Grimmjow feeling oddly content. Ichigo was just about to fall asleep when the front door banged open and both males jumped at the loud sound, Grimmjow wincing as Ichigo tightened his arms around his waist. The espada shoved the teen off the couch and growled as he turned to see Ichigo's sisters giggling and nudging each other.

Rukia grinned slyly at the blushing carrot top and strolled forward. "How cute, you two were cuddling…" she ruffled Ichigo's head and ignored the fierce scowl on the boy's face. Grimmjow crossed his arms with slight difficulty and gave her a dark look as he tossed his hair back.

"So here's the thing." Rukia sat down next to Grimmjow and smiled excitedly. "We went to the mall and picked out a cute yukata for both of you." Ichigo rolled his eyes and gave her a questioning look.

"The Lantern Festival is next week. We are all going to see the fireworks!" Yuzu said as she plopped down next to Ichigo and smiled happily. Rukia nodded as well, drawing Karin to her and patting the spot next to Grimmjow. The girl gave the hollow a glance and saw the annoyed expression and chose to sit next to Rukia on the arm of the couch. Ichigo's eyes widened as he saw Rukia unfold the beautiful yukatas.

She smirked when Ichigo's eyes widened at the sight of the pale white comb with the pink flowers lying on the pile. She met his eyes and grinned. "Well what were you expecting? You have to wear matching yukatas!"

Rukia is such a devil lol. I love her seriously... what do you think? Review!