Two rather uneventful days went by, which Ichigo used to get used to his other sight and push the bounds of his new powers.
On the side of the hunters though distraught and fear spread as they were confronted with the spell Ichigo put on the landscape.
Many fell victim to it, since they got caught off guard or even while asleep.
Even regular residents of the town and some of the remaining vampires weren't spared.

Now on the morning of the third day Ichigo woke from the sound of loud laughing and a high pitched barking.
Shiro though didn't seem to notice anything, so the younger sneaked out of bed to let his mate have some more rest.
He went out of the bedroom to look for the ones who were making that ruckus.
"Hey, hey! Tune it down, both of you. We are still hiding from the enemy."
Hisana who was happily running around the seating area in the living room and the wolf pup that chased her, stopped on the spot like they had been turned into statues.
The girl slowly turned around and awkwardly looked at Ichigo.
"Sorry, Ichigo onii-chan."
It had been very long since anyone had called him that and it filled him with pride and a little sadness at the same time.
"Just be a bit more quiet."
"Okay."
Ichigo nodded and went to the bathroom.

After washing the sleep from his face, he was just about to step into the shower, when something prompted him to halt and take a closer look at himself in the mirror.
Was it just his imagination or seemed the blood moon of his marking duller than usually?
The orange head frowned and just then someone knocked on the door.
"Ichi, you in there?"
It was Shiro.
He probably noticed his absence in bed.
"Uh, yea, one second."
Ichigo brushed the issue aside and let Shiro into the bathroom.
"Morning."
He mumbled to the elder as he opened the door.
"Morning. Is there space for two?"
"Sure."
Shiro gave him a short kiss as he came in and asked afterward.
"How are you feeling today?"
"A lot better."
The pale nodded and noticed the running shower.
"I'll get under that now, if you allow."
"Alright."
Clothes rustled, a glass door slid open and just before Shiro closed it behind him he added.
"Why not join me? You made this real spacious."
Ichigo agreed and entered after him.

They enjoyed the hot shower and just when Ichigo turned his back to his mate to let the hot water run over his back, mentioned closed in on him.
"Are you trying to seduce me, Ichigo?"
Actually, not.
There was running to much through Ichigos mind at the moment, to even be able to build any lust for his mates flesh right now,
Shiro though pressed himself against Ichigo, his erection clearly prominent.
Tender arms grabbed around the orange head, one holding onto his waist, the other wandering down to his limp penis.
The pales erection rubbed against Ichigos butt an his right hand gently stoked him.
Whatever troubled his mind before, was pushed far, far back as he couldn't help but get distracted by the sweet caresses of his love.
Lust welled up in his blood and so he switched places wit Shiro and faced the wall, while he steadied himself against the same.
He presented himself more than willingly to Shiro.
"Take me...now."
How could the elder say no to this sight.
He positioned himself and thrust into the tight hole.
With a steady pace he rocked themselves to climax.
Ichigo breathed heavily and stood on shaky legs afterward.
He had to turn around and lean with his back against the wall, or else his legs would have given out under him.
Shiro looked at him really satisfied and lovingly.
Also it seemed that he knew that Ichigo had a lot on his mind.
How couldn't he, they were bonded in more than one way.

"You don't have to worry so much. Everything will turn out right, Ichigo. Lucifer, me, even Hisana will help you as much as we can. You don't have to shoulder everything on your own. You can depend on us."
Ichigo smiled at the other, who always found the right words at the right time somehow.
"You're right."
There was something, though that needed to be talked about.
Something that bothered him much more, than the coming of their new world.
The orange head left the shower, followed by Shiro.

"I'm actually a bit scared."
"Of what?"
He picked up a towel to dry himself and answered.
"Myself."
Ichigo turned to Shiro and looked into confused eyes.
"That I, with all this power, will misuse it and in the end won't be any better than those angels who created us."
He paused for a moment, thinking on how to explain.
"Shiro, all I want is peace and I try to hurt as less people as possible, since I hate to do so. But on the same time there is something in me that wants to suppress, to dominate, everyone who goes against me, by whatever means. I'm scared that it got stronger, just because I got more power now."
Again he paused.
"I send you away when I saved you and Hisana, because I knew I couldn't suppress this rage, after all that this Cang guy did to you two and I didn't want you to see this disgusting side of mine."
Ichigo looked deeply into Shiro's golden eyes and asked of him.
"From now on, please be he scale to hold me in balance whenever my actions seem unjust to you."
Shiro closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
"Ichigo..."
He looked at him again.
"That's what I've always done. I know of the rage in you and if it rose up again now I will do everything to help you. And even if you kept me away from the direct exposure of your actions against that hunter captain...Ichigo, I have seen it in your mind."
Shiro picked up his underwear now and continued.
"You're right to think that it was cruel and gruesome, but you also acted quite on the christian way."
He lifted Ichigos head by his chin, after the one had looked down in shame.
"An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. Everything was paid back in the same amount. From now on though, your rage should be turned toward the one behind it all, since those humans are just stray sheep who are being influenced by someone who wants to eradicate us."
"Thank you, Shiro."

Ichigo breathed those words, glad that his mate was so caring and understanding.
"I haven't done anything."

Chapter 24
End