The restaurant was one he'd never been to before. Uryuu wasn't in the habit of eating out when it was much cheaper to cook at home, but even if he frequented local eateries this one wouldn't have made his list. Just by walking inside he could tell the food there was beyond his budget. At eleven in the morning, the place was dimly lit and conservatively quiet. High-class orchestral music played low on recessed speakers—'Devil's Trill Sonata' by Tartini, if memory served—to the understated accompaniment of fine silverware, expensive china, and spotless crystal clinking at intervals. The color scheme was distinctly sensual in deep reds, charcoal greys, rich browns, and accents of warm bronze. A team of tuxedo-clad servers gracefully swept around the room like a well-coordinated ballet troupe. One of them took his coat and scarf at the door.
Approaching the hostess somewhat nervously, Uryuu half-expected to be tossed out based on the state of his attire. It was fine for lab work but downright insulting to such an esteemed establishment as theirs. He gave his name and referenced Yoruichi's for good measure. The hostess smiled and led him to the very back of the restaurant, where a few cloisters were set up as private dining rooms. A scarlet curtain was pulled aside and the hostess gestured for him to enter through the ornate archway. Inside was a plush semi-circular booth ensconcing a round table, at which sat Yoruichi rather casually with arms draped atop the back rest and a bored look on her face.
"Ishida-kun, welcome," she jovially greeted as he joined her. "Right on time! Glad you could make it."
"Thanks for inviting me," Uryuu returned, trying not to notice the amount of cleavage her violet blouse didn't manage to cover as she passed him a menu.
"Order whatever you like. Don't hold back!"
The words were reinforced by a stern expression and he figured Yoruichi already had a firm grasp of his personality if she could guess he'd choose a plain entrée out of politeness. Yet, the truth was Uryuu didn't care about his meal as much as her story. He skimmed the menu and picked something almost at random when the server came to take their orders. Curiosity was scratching at the back of his mind like a restless pet trapped in the bathroom but he didn't want to come across as rude by jumping into it right off the bat. It was better to start with niceties and work up to the main topic naturally.
"So, how long has it been since you started your own law firm?"
"The credit for that belongs to my father," she shared, pulling a bent leg up onto the seat to face him fully. "I've been running the show for about ten years, though. Actually, I was working out of the U.K. until fairly recently. My little brother watches over things here whenever I'm gone."
"What brought you back to Japan?"
"You."
Uryuu spluttered around the sip of water he just took and gaped at her in confusion. "Me? Have we met before?"
"Sadly, no." Yoruichi studied him for a moment and ventured, "You don't even realize it, do you?"
"Realize what?"
"When I said you were one of the most powerful witches I've ever met, I meant it. Ability like yours is very rare, Ishida-kun."
Thinking of Kurosaki again, he glanced aside and murmured, "Not as rare as you'd think."
"Where were you last Saturday at around midnight?" His eyes flared and his spine stiffened. Yoruichi smirked. "Whatever spell you cast on Samhain, it was strong enough to create ripples in the Underworld itself. I felt it halfway around the planet and knew I had to meet the witch who could pull something like that off."
"You felt it? I…I didn't know that was possible." Uryuu's gaze dropped to the black lacquered tabletop as he processed that information. He glanced up at Yoruichi to ask, "But how did you—"
"Can I see your phone for a second?"
"What? Uh, yes, I suppose." He pulled it out and handed it over, adding, "It's still broken, though. I haven't had a chance to get it replaced."
"Perfect." She held it in her palm between them, shattered side up, but her eyes were on him. "Watch closely."
Obediently staring at the ruined screen, Uryuu gasped to witness the glass mend in seconds. Yoruichi pressed the power button and his phone blinked awake as if nothing untoward had ever happened to it. She handed the repaired device back and he accepted it robotically, mind spinning with a whole new set of questions. The first one was obvious but he asked anyway.
"You're a witch?"
"Yep! And to answer your first question, I knew about your spell because I was scrying at the time. Samhain is the best time to talk with dead friends, as you know, and word gets around fast in the spirit world." The spirits who had helped him and Kurosaki gossiped about the ritual afterward? The notion was sort of funny and unsettling at the same time. "The shift in energy was subtle, a faint tug like snagging your sleeve on a thin branch, but it caught my attention."
"If you were searching for me, then last night—"
"Was not a coincidence, but a test," she guiltlessly confirmed his conjecture. "I wanted to see for myself what kind of witch you were and you did not disappoint me."
In spite of her pleased grin, Uryuu frowned. "Those vampires were working for you? Even the one you set on fire? What if I had killed them!?"
"But you didn't. I knew you wouldn't. You're too kind-hearted for murder."
"How could you be sure of that?" He really didn't like the idea that Yoruichi had staked her hirelings' lives on his conscience.
Touching a finger to her chin, she looked up with a thoughtful hum. "Do you remember coming across a black cat on your way home from school Tuesday night?"
His eyes narrowed as he recalled the mentioned incident vividly. The cat had seemed hungry and lost, listlessly wandering an alley not too far from his apartment. It'd reminded him of Kurosaki for whatever reason and he stopped to call out, speaking to the animal as people tend to do. Uryuu had offered to feed and find it a cozy home as it cautiously sniffed his extended hand. In the end, it'd scampered off rather than allow him to pet it. Now he knew why.
"The cat was your familiar."
Yoruichi chuckled and shook her head. "The cat was me. Oh, don't look so surprised! Transformation magic isn't that tricky once you get the hang of it."
"You've been spying on me?" he indignantly demanded.
"Like I said, I needed to learn more about your character."
"Why? What's your end-game, Yoruichi-san?" His fist clenched around the phone she'd fixed as anxiety and anger bubbled up from the hidden implications. "What do you want from me?"
"Relax, it's nothing nefarious. Trust me, you'll want to hear my offer."
"Why the hell should I trust someone who lured me into a trap, sicced a pack of vamps on me, and pretended to be helpless so I would bring you back to my home—where you tried to seduce me like some kind of—"
"Evil succubus?" Laughing at Uryuu's expression, she told him, "That wasn't part of the original plan. The way you took out my men so easily and gently patched me up after was incredibly sexy. I couldn't help myself."
Having heard enough, he pushed his phone into a pocket and stood just as the server stepped in with a plate-laden platter.
"Don't bother placing mine," he curtly snapped. "I won't be staying."
"You're free to go if you want." The woman's nonchalant tone was layered with an enigmatic undercurrent that had him pausing by the curtained archway to glance back at her. "I won't bother you again. But you'll be missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime."
Turning out clichés like that, Yoruichi sounded more like a salesperson than a lawyer. The two professions were undeniably similar. No one could deny she had the charm, wit, and confidence for either. Which was why Uryuu had to be extra careful about how he dealt with her. She was clearly dangerous, too. The way she had reverted his phone to pristine condition without uttering a single word spoke well of her Craft proficiency—not to mention the shape-changing! Bottom line: he had no guarantee Yoruichi would take him off her radar even if he walked out right then. He also had nothing to lose by listening to her proposition. Admittedly, he was a tad intrigued.
Uryuu released a resigned sigh and returned to his seat. "Fine. Tell me about this 'opportunity'."
She waited until their meals were placed and the server was gone to jump into it. "I've been traveling the globe since I was your age. Thanks to that, I've come to understand a lot about the Craft and its practitioners that most people don't know. For example, how unusual it is to find a witch worthy of the title."
Taking a bite of his tempura shrimp, Uryuu had to agree he'd come to the same conclusion through different means. He still didn't see what she was getting at.
"So, I'm—what? A fascinating anomaly?"
"You have amazing potential, Ishida-kun, but raw talent and a quick mind can only get you so far on your own. A little guidance would go a long way toward improving your abilities."
It was true he had learned faster and stayed more motivated with Souken as his sensei. Uryuu hadn't had a mentor since then and the change in his rate of growth reflected that fact. On the other hand, he hadn't been inclined to devote as much effort to the Craft as his academic pursuits for many years. He was a handful of months away from earning his doctorate, which meant he'd be jumping straight into his career come next spring. Did he really have time to worry about expanding his magical proficiency?
"Be that as it may, I have more pressing concerns than—"
"Than exploring the breadth of mystical knowledge you have yet to uncover? What about embracing your birthright and the gods who granted it? What about honoring your ancestors, who endured ridicule and torment for the sake of holding onto their link to the arcane energy that molded who they became from the moment they were born?"
Oh, she was good. Very good, but Yoruichi's eloquent appeal didn't change anything. He had promised Ryuuken that his career would take precedence. He'd promised Kurosaki that he wouldn't give up any of the mundane elements that had shaped him. He'd promised himself that he would stop pushing his limits no matter how exhilarating it was to exceed his highest expectations. Regardless of his decisions, he couldn't comprehend where Yoruichi thought she fit in the scheme of things.
"Why should you care whether or not I ever reach my potential as a witch?"
"It's what I do," she stated with a single-shoulder shrug. "Outside of my day job, I track powerful witches and train them one-on-one until they've mastered all I have to teach." Reading the skepticism on Uryuu's features, she leaned closer and met his eyes to convey her sincerity. "Witches are dying out all over the world. Our culture is disappearing. Soon, we really will be nothing more than fairy tales. If I choose to dedicate my life to teaching others so we can stick around a while longer, what's so wrong about that?"
He pondered her argument as he nibbled his crispy shrimp and Yoruichi zealously dug into her own entrée in the interim. Part of him was in love with the idea. Here was a witch with wisdom and experience, willing to share it wholeheartedly in the interest of cultural preservation. Uryuu respected that. He couldn't help feeling honored, as well, no matter how small the pool of potential pupils was for someone of her caliber.
More than any of that, the aspect that sold him was what she could do for Kurosaki, who knew next to nothing about being a witch. Uryuu was happy to teach him all about it but he would be lying if he said Yoruichi couldn't do a better job. He wanted to see Kurosaki's awe-inspiring connection to the Craft broaden and flourish. After everything the ex-vampire had gone through, he deserved that much at the very least. Based on what she had told him, there was no question in Uryuu's mind that Yoruichi would accept both of them as apprentices once she met Kurosaki.
"All right," he finally relented. "If you're offering to teach me, I accept. On one condition."
"What's that?" Yoruichi asked around a mouthful of rice. The woman really had no table manners to speak of but he was in no position to complain.
"The boyfriend I mentioned last night—he's a witch, too. We're a package deal."
"Is that so?" For a second Uryuu thought she might have been annoyed. Then she grinned and sanguinely agreed, "More the merrier! When can I meet him?"
"Next week. He's currently out of town, visiting family. His name is Kurosaki Ichigo and he's a stronger witch than I'll ever be."
Yoruichi paused, swallowed, and appraised him intently. The smile she showed him was sharp as she said, "Those are pretty big words, Ishida-kun. I hope you're not teasing me."
A proud smirk served as his reply.
"Stupid Kurosaki," he muttered at the image displayed on his phone. "Handsome bastard."
It was truly unfair how hot the man looked in a tank top. Uryuu swiped to the next picture and bit the tip of his thumb in frustration. He wanted Kurosaki. Wanted him there right that second, but of course it didn't happen. Even if he possessed the power to spontaneously teleport his boyfriend from Fukuoka to his living room, Uryuu wouldn't do it. A spell that selfish would devastate his Karma more than it probably had been by the re-humanizing ritual.
Still, he couldn't help wistfully wishing for a miracle as he glanced at the time and fought the urge to sigh.
It was close to midnight. Normally, he would have been asleep by then but he didn't have to get up early tomorrow. Ise-sensei had given him the day off on account of the occasion. Well, more like forced him to promise not to visit the lab. He had two afternoon classes on campus anyway. Honestly, he was grateful for anything that got him out of the apartment. Otherwise, it was bound to be another all-day mope-a-thon like last year.
Abandoning his phone to the coffee table, he pulled the front of his shirt up over his nose and took a deep breath. The scoop-neck collar was a little stretched out because he'd done this a few too many times. He didn't care; it wasn't his shirt. It was Kurosaki's, and he wasn't there to protest the inconsiderate treatment of his black cotton top. The shirt was one of his favorites, Uryuu knew, which was why he had chosen it. The habitually worn fabric carried Kurosaki's scent best of everything else in the drawer. Uryuu was also pretty sure it was the one Kurosaki had been wearing the first time they kissed. He'd stretched it out that night, too.
So what if Uryuu had stooped to sniffing his absent lover's clothes for consolation? At least he'd refrained from calling Kurosaki and begging him to come back early! Uryuu hadn't contacted him at all because he knew his dwindling reserves of willpower would evaporate once he heard Kurosaki's voice or read one of his texts. It had gotten so bad that he'd briefly considered taking Ryuuken up on his invitation to have dinner tomorrow, although it was guaranteed to result in a fight. Anything to distract him from the ache in his chest.
Two or three more days, Uryuu kept reminding himself, that was all he had to get through. He could do it. He had to do it because the only alternative was insanity and that was almost never a good thing.
The sigh he'd been resisting slipped out as he glanced at his empty wine glass. The bottle was on the other side of the table and he was too lazy to sit up and grab it. Just as well, since he didn't need any more. He'd already drunk about half the bottle but it was doing a very poor job of being a sleep-aid as intended. It certainly wasn't helping him filter unnecessary emotion from the forefront of his thoughts.
Uryuu draped an arm over his eyes and willed himself unconscious with his entire being.
A faint click disturbed the stillness. He tensed to hear his front door swinging inward. Slowly sitting up, Uryuu peered over the back of the couch and froze in unmitigated astonishment.
"I'm back."
"Welcome home," Uryuu automatically murmured in response. Then his brain caught up and he cried, "K-Kurosaki!?"
Yes, it was definitely Kurosaki. He toed off his shoes, set down his bag, shed his jacket, and padded over to prop casually against the back of the sofa.
"What did I do this time?"
"Eh?" His impatient look made Uryuu realize he'd accidentally opted for 'Kurosaki' rather than the more affectionate moniker. "Ah, no, I was just…"
Uryuu glanced back at his phone, which he had been using to cathartically chide his boyfriend for not being there. Except Kurosaki was there and he was very confused by this development. When he turned back to ask him about it, Uryuu was instantly drawn in for a rough kiss.
"You taste like wine," commented Kurosaki before hopping the backrest to tackle Uryuu against the cushions for a lot more kisses. An eternity later, he let up to ask, "Did I make it in time?"
His head was spinning for too many reasons, thoughts uselessly swishing about like fish in a whirlpool. "What?"
Kurosaki reached out to poke Uryuu's phone awake and they both glanced at it. Midnight, on the dot. Gazing down at him with a warm grin, Kurosaki said, "Happy birthday, Uryuu."
Suddenly, every last maudlin emotion he'd been holding at bay with all his might burst past the mental levee and flooded into his chest. He started to cry. There was no warning—eyes dry one second and drenched the next. Kurosaki seemed to understand somehow. He didn't ask what was wrong or watch him with a worried pinch to his features. He simply smiled and held Uryuu tightly, kissing the side of his face and brushing fingers through his hair.
"Ichigo, are you…?"
"I'm here," he softly assured. "I'm really here. As if I'd miss your birthday…Can't believe you didn't tell me. Jerk."
The gentle rebuke won a huff of relieved laughter. "Ryuuken?"
"Yup. Did you give him my number?"
Uryuu shook his head and laughed again. "I think my father has been replaced by a shapeshifter. It's the only explanation."
"We should look into that."
"We really should."
Wiping away tears with a long sleeve, he positively melted when Kurosaki brushed a thumb over his damp cheek and whispered, "You missed one."
They were kissing again. They didn't stop kissing until they hit the crossroads of either easing off or losing clothes. Uryuu wanted to go for option number two, but not just yet. Chances were he'd pass out afterward and he wanted to savor the reunion a little longer.
"How did it go with your dad?"
"Is that really what you wanna lead with, Uryuu? 'Cause I'd really like to know why you didn't call me even once."
Kurosaki wasn't angry. He was upset, which was kind of worse. Uryuu felt very silly as he explained, "I didn't want to intrude on your family time."
"Figured you'd say that," muttered Kurosaki. "Do you know how many times I checked my phone hoping you'd at least sent me a message?"
"Well, why didn't you call me?" he deflected.
"Because I knew you were trying to focus on your thesis. I didn't want to bug you while you were studying or something. Especially since it's my fault you're behind in the first place."
The familiar allure of aggravation arose but Uryuu shoved it away. He was just glad Kurosaki came back early. Nothing else mattered. Uryuu kissed him lightly, apologetically, and found one of his hands to interlace their fingers.
"I missed you so much, Ichigo. I would've called ten times a day, if not at all."
"Me, too," he admitted, nuzzling into the hollow of Uryuu's throat. "Let's never do that again, okay? If we have to travel, we do it together from now on."
"Fine by me."
His nuzzling transitioned to lingering kisses and led lower, down the line of his neck and along the curve of his shoulder. Kurosaki paused as he began to pull the wide collar aside and met his eyes to ask, "Are you wearing one of my shirts?"
Naturally, Uryuu's instinctual response was to blush madly. "I might be."
Kurosaki groaned like he'd been shot through the heart by Cupid himself and declared, "Gods, you're so freaking cute I can't stand it! Can we have sex now? Please? 'Cause I'm seriously gonna go crazy if I can't touch you soon."
Even though Uryuu couldn't help chuckling at his melodrama, he nodded agreement.
Their kisses attained fresh fire and purpose. Hands went wandering, grasping, burrowing under clothes. Kurosaki guided them to lie on their sides and pulled him as close as possible without merging into one body. Parting his mouth wider to deepen the kiss, Uryuu thought he wouldn't really mind if they did happen to fuse together. Being with Kurosaki felt like the personification of yin and yang, like they complemented and completed each other perfectly. Maybe that was why it had hurt so much to be apart from him even for a handful of days.
Withdrawing to steal a quick breath, Uryuu asked, "Do you want to—"
"Just keep kissing me," Kurosaki urged, splayed fingers pressing firmly between his shoulder blades. "I need you to keep kissing me, Uryuu."
He would have nodded if he wasn't already complying with that breathless request. Moaning in gratitude, Kurosaki interlocked their legs and ground their hips together to set the standard. Uryuu was absolutely fine with a little frottage once in a while. His boyfriend was particularly skilled at it, after all. He still remembered how Kurosaki had blown his mind in the library…and he'd been holding back then. Uryuu shivered as a hand pressed at his lower back, holding him steady for a series of smooth thrusts. The delighted noises they inspired were swallowed up by their kiss but Kurosaki felt his approval from the way he tensed in pleasure.
With shirts pushed up, their midriffs were bared to cool air but the heat between them more than made up for it. Uryuu almost wished he'd mastered astral projection so he could hover above and watch them surge against each other—tongues twining, palms sliding, stomachs flexing, spines arching, hips writhing. Imagery added to sensation had him rocking that much faster, eager to hear Kurosaki gasp and groan in euphoria he generated; making him feel good had apparently become Uryuu's favorite pastime.
He didn't have to wait much longer. Kurosaki gasped, grip tightening as he groaned into Uryuu's mouth and shuddered from the intense release. Three quick breaths later, Kurosaki pushed his hand down the front of Uryuu's sweatpants and stroked until he heard the strained call of his name signaling the same. It hit him so hard his hips rolled forward of their own accord.
Kurosaki was nudged back with the motion and he tipped over the side of the couch before either of them could react. He hit the floor with a subdued thud.
Scooting to the edge of the cushions, Uryuu peered down to check on him. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to—"
He yelped as he was promptly pulled to the floor with him. Kurosaki was laughing even as he accused, "You did that 'cause I called you 'cute'. Admit it."
"I did not!"
But Uryuu was laughing, too, which didn't help his credibility. Kurosaki nibbled his ear in retaliation. Then he suggested, "Bath time?"
Knowing Uryuu needed no coaxing for cleanliness, he didn't wait for an answer but shifted to stand. Kurosaki led him to the bathroom and drew a bath after a quick shower. The tub was a bit cramped for two tall men but they were used to it. Uryuu loved long soaks and Kurosaki loved joining him. He even lit a candle and left the light off out of consideration for Uryuu's state of mild inebriation. They sank into the hot water with matching sighs, sitting across from each other for easy conversation. Kurosaki was keen to hear all about his week so far and Uryuu felt compelled to give him an edited overview. No way Kurosaki needed to know how pathetic he'd been acting in his boyfriend's absence! He also didn't need to hear about the gory details of Uryuu's first meeting with the lawyer-slash-witch who was on the hunt for willing disciples.
"So, I told Yoruichi-san I would consider her offer of mentorship if she accepts you, as well."
"It seems kinda fishy to me, though. Why would she spend time teaching a couple of guys she's never met before?"
"I think she's just devoted to preserving the Craft through its practitioners. She made a very persuasive argument on that topic." Although he didn't argue, Kurosaki glanced away in obvious skepticism. Uryuu didn't blame him when he'd felt the same way before talking to her. "We should at least meet with her sometime next week."
"Couldn't hurt, I guess."
"Good. I'll set up a meeting. Now, tell me about the visit with your father."
He smiled as he began to speak of Kurosaki Isshin, who was still rather spry and spirited for an eighty-one year old geezer. Of course, he'd told his dad all about Uryuu and everything that had happened because of him. The fact that he'd instigated the death of one of his sons came as less of a shock than a relief. Despite trying to protect Isshin from the cruel reality, he had intuited the truth without being exposed to Shirosaki directly. He had never believed that vampire was really his kid.
"Dad even asked me to thank you," murmured Kurosaki, shaking his head in bemusement. "Actually, he told me to give you a big hug from him and tell you 'welcome to the family'. That's the kind of dork he is."
"Ah, so that's where you get it from."
"Shut up," he said, poking Uryuu's thigh with his toe. "Mom was a goofball, too. I'm totally normal compared to them."
"Speaking of your mother, did you find out anything about her heritage?"
"Yeah. Turns out Dad knows about everything, including Mom being a witch."
Leaning forward in interest, he laid a hand on Kurosaki's knee cresting the water and asked, "Did he say how they hid your magic?"
His fingers automatically went to meld with Uryuu's. He touched his gold talisman as he replied, "This. It's how she kept our power in check after she passed. Masahiko had one just like it. Shirosaki never wore it, though. Guess it didn't matter once we were vamps. Anyway, Dad thinks your ritual wiped out the enchantment on my necklace and that's why I'm a full-blown witch now that I'm human again."
"That can definitely happen. It's why I always take off my bracelet before invoking a circle." His eyes fell to their clasped hands, where Kurosaki's thumb was drawing light designs on his palm. "An enchantment that powerful would have required massive amounts of energy to conceal magic as strong as yours. Why would she go to that much trouble just to keep you and Masahiko ignorant of your abilities?"
"Well, when I asked Dad that all he would tell me is Mom was trying to protect us."
"From whom? Yourselves?"
He shrugged and gave up playing with Uryuu's hand in favor of massaging his foot. It felt so good he struggled to focus on the discussion but, judging by how deftly Kurosaki changed the subject, that may have been his intention.
"You know, your birthday isn't the only thing your dad mentioned when he called this morning."
"Oh? What other marvelous insights did he impart?"
"He said something about a 'Handfasting' ceremony…?" Already pink from the heat of rising steam, Uryuu's cheeks darkened to a lurid shade of red. He couldn't see his own blush but Kurosaki's reaction confirmed it, eyes widening slightly in burgeoning concern. "What is it? He wouldn't give me any details, just told me to ask you."
Uryuu didn't respond right away. Groaning in pure mortification, he pulled his foot from Kurosaki's lax grip and covered his face with damp hands. Just when he thought Ryuuken's rigid personality was beginning to soften up at last, he had to go and pull a stunt like this! Uryuu should have told him to mind his own damn business instead of putting dumb ideas in Kurosaki's head.
Lowering his hands at length, Uryuu still avoided his gaze as he said, "It…it's nothing, really. Just this lame thing he thinks we should do but I already told him it's way too soon to even consider."
"Okay…but what is it?" When he didn't answer Kurosaki threatened, "Do I need to go get my phone and Google it for myself?"
He shifted as if to stand up but Uryuu grabbed his wrist to keep him seated. The last thing he needed was for Kurosaki to fall down that rabbit hole and climb back out with a million more questions. "No, don't Google it! I'll tell you, all right?"
"So, tell me," he prompted, one eyebrow expectantly arched. "I'm waiting."
The back of his head was propped on the lip of the tub and Uryuu sighed, staring up at the blurry ceiling. "Handfasting is…Well, modern variations are subject to interpretation based on individual beliefs, so the meaning can be quite malleable and—"
"Uryuu."
"Y-you see, when two witches respect and care for each other very much, one of the ways they can express those feelings is by making a…a vow, of sorts, in the presence of friends and family."
"A 'vow'?" He gleaned from Kurosaki's tone that he was getting suspicious. Uryuu's subtle fidgeting wasn't helping. "As in…?"
"As in betrothal, okay?" During the outburst, his palm accidentally smacked the water, splashing them both and slopping over the side of the tub. "Handfasting is the witch version of getting engaged!"
Kurosaki blinked at him, momentarily speechless in light of that revelation. Uryuu looked anywhere but at him as the seconds dragged by, but his eyes automatically snapped to Kurosaki's when he finally started to speak.
"Are you saying your dad wants us to get married?"
The blush that had just begun to fade resurfaced once again. Uryuu shook his head and denied, "It's not like that! I mean, I guess it can be like that but in this case it would be more like…a promise or a contract or…I don't know what he's thinking, to be honest. He really hasn't been acting like himself at all lately and even suggesting a Handfasting ceremony is completely out-of-character, not to mention totally impractical, and I already told him there's no way you would be interested in—"
"You're kidding, right?" Since Uryuu wasn't certain of what he was supposedly kidding about, he stayed silent. Kurosaki grinned and declared, "Of course I'm interested."
Astonishment stole his voice. He barely managed to whisper, "A-are you serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" It was not a rhetorical question; Kurosaki was genuinely confused.
Equally confused, Uryuu pointed out, "We've been together less than six months."
"So?"
"So, don't people usually wait a little longer before professing eternal love in front of everyone they know?"
Amused by his flustered demeanor, Kurosaki leaned forward for dramatic effect and suavely countered, "Why wait when I already know I'm yours?"
Uryuu's heart went spastic for a minute until he could get it under control. He bit his lip, instinctually drawing his legs closer to his body as a tuft of insecurity brushed against his consciousness. Kurosaki was so sure but it seemed too good to be true. Didn't everyone think they were sure at first? Even those who waited years before making the ultimate commitment sometimes regretted it in the end. That sort of thing could change a relationship for better or worse. It wasn't just a simple ceremony, it was a shift in mindset. Uryuu was sure of what he wanted, too, but he worried the pressure of a solemn promise would influence expectations and put a strain on their daily interactions.
"It's normal to have doubts, Ichigo," he weakly insisted.
"Then I must be a freak 'cause I don't have a single one." Studying him closely, Kurosaki sobered as he softly asked, "Do you have doubts about us?"
"No! Gods, no," Uryuu vehemently denied because it was the truth. "If I've learned anything this week, it's how much I need y—"
He cut himself off on a short gasp but it was too late. 'Need' was a word he had resolved not to use. 'Want' or 'appreciate' were preferable, as they did not convey the clinginess he was terrified to show. He knew what it would do to Kurosaki once he understood the profound effect his presence had on Uryuu's peace of mind.
"You need me?" Kurosaki sounded so hopeful, so grateful that Uryuu couldn't bear to lie. He nodded reluctantly and played with a droplet perched atop the porcelain rim. A hand curved around the back of his neck and drew him into a tender kiss. Against his lips, Kurosaki murmured, "I need you, Uryuu. More than you'd ever believe. I'll make any vow, sign any contract, or take part in any ceremony to prove it."
The energy of their next kiss was amped up as he eased closer, tempted to crawl into Kurosaki's lap. But he knew from past experience that was a tricky maneuver in the slippery bathtub even without adding alcohol to the equation.
"Don't you know what it does to me to hear you say things like that?" demanded Uryuu, tone sultry as he combed his fingers through orange hair and kissed along the line of his jaw. "Are you trying to keep me up all night, Ichigo?"
Absolutely unapologetic, he snickered and teased, "Maybe."
"Mm, you're lucky Ise-sensei forbade me from going into the lab tomorrow."
"You told her your birthday but not me?" Rather than answer the obvious, he continued to kiss down the side of Kurosaki's neck. "By the way, I brought back a present from Fukuoka."
"You did?" Intrigued by the prospect, Uryuu couldn't help perking up in curiosity. "What is it?"
Smiling, he rose from the water as he invited, "Come and see for yourself."
They dried off and got dressed like it was a race—one that he won by snatching the t-shirt Kurosaki had picked from the drawer and claiming it as his own instead. Uryuu allowed himself to be pinned against the dresser as payback, moaning softly when Kurosaki nibbled and sucked at his ear lobe. They had just gotten clean and he was already on the verge of getting dirty again!
"What did you bring me?" Uryuu asked by way of guiding them back on track.
Kurosaki relinquished his reddened ear with an attentive hum and went to the travel bag he'd left near the door. After digging through it for a moment, he returned to offer Uryuu what appeared to be a plate wrapped in newspaper. It wasn't a plate, he discovered as he unwrapped it, but a plate-sized disc of black glass bordered in slightly tarnished silver. The mirror was clearly an antique. Plus, he could feel the thrum of an old enchantment set in silver that made the mirror much more valuable than it looked. His eyes flicked between it and Kurosaki in wonder.
"It was my mom's. Dad said it was specially designed for—"
"Scrying," Uryuu reverently finished, gazing at himself in the glossy abyss. "This is an incredibly rare and powerful object, Ichigo. Are you sure you want to give this to me?"
"I figured you could use it to try contacting your mom and grandpa on the other side. It'll be easier if we do it together, right?"
His mouth parted on an involuntary huff of laughter. "Easier? More like effortless. You still don't understand how powerful you are, and with this mirror besides…"
"In that case, maybe you can meet Masahiko, too. I'm sure he would…" Kurosaki trailed off to see his head dipping, a faint tremor disrupting his composure. "Uryuu, what's wrong?" He carefully set the precious mirror on top of the dresser. Then he practically flung himself against Kurosaki for a tight hug. "Whoa!" There was a smile in his voice as he asked, "Does this mean you like it?"
"I love it. Thank you."
"You're wel—Mn!"
The kiss of gratitude caught him by surprise but he recovered swiftly, winding his arms around Uryuu and kissing back just as passionately. Kurosaki didn't hesitate to push his hands under the commandeered shirt for skin-to-skin contact. Heart rate, respiration, and temperature shot into the red zone across the span of seconds. Neither of them cared that it was almost two in the morning. Once they got started, nothing short of imminent disaster could slow them down.
Uryuu broke free just long enough to suggest, "Round two?"
"Hell yes," he groaned.