AN: Wooooow, It's been so long, like almost two months give or take a week or two. Im so sorry that it has taken me so long to get this chapter out, but school has been preoccupying my mind mostly. Another reason was I was a bit lazy in finishing editing this so it's to its nice plump of detail self lol. But ummm yeah, updates should start to be more regular again, and I will definitely be finishing this story by Christmas. Heeey, there you the last chapter will come out December 25 as the holiday gift.

Thank you to my lovely readers and to my beta XxYoukai-KaitouxX!

Oh p.s. I usually get chapters out if someone reminds me to update if it is getting long between updates. It prompts me to stop procrastinationg and to actually finish editing and to post the dang thing. So if you all also want to do that, it's an option.

Count down: 11 chapters left

~May

Chapter 25-

"Byakuya," Ichigo moaned his mate's name.

"Shhh, I'll take care of you." Byakuya whispered as he leaned in to kiss Ichigo's temple, still rubbing in light soothing circles for his mate.

"What the hell did you do, that feels amazing." Ichigo breathed, leaning his head back onto Byakuya's shoulder. His breath shuddered as he felt what Byakuya was doing, there was a small pinch of pain, but it was mostly curbed with the amazing sensations.

"It's because you were so tense, don't worry I'll help you relax."

"Ah, harder. Deeper." Ichigo groaned reaching to grip Byakuya's long hair. He tugged slightly on the silky tendrils cascading around his lover's shoulders, urging Byakuya to do as he said, hoping he could give him more pleasure.

"Oi! If you two are gonna talk like that get a room; yer makin' me all horny." Nnoitra told them. He shifted uncomfortably on the couch where he sat a little distance away from the alpha pair.

"It's not my damn fault he has magic hands!" Ichigo protested adamantly as he leaned a bit forward to address his pack mate seeing as Nnoi turned to not be looking at them.

Byakuya stopped massaging Ichigo's back when he did so and sat back on his haunches. A small smirk pulled on his lips as he watched his flushed mate. He has to agree with Nnoitra though, all the noises Ichigo was making was getting to him, and especially with the feeling of having Ichigo begging for him to go 'Deeper' and 'Harder', really didn't help the situation.

"Aw, Bya don't stop because of him." Ichigo whined. He turned back to pout at the grey eyed man, which only made said man chuckle and stand up, holding his right hand close to his chest, massaging it gently with the other.

"It's not Nnoitra's fault you went and took care of all those hollows on your own and got sore. Nor is it his fault my hands have gotten tired of massaging and are now sore themselves."

"I can think of a way to get them less sore." Ichgio gave Byakuya a look he knew well. That look went straight through Byakuya and panged in a certain part of his body that was already peeking with interest while he was giving a massage.

"Nnoitra why don't you take the others back to Kisuke's and train for a while?" Byakuya asked, in a low voice. Everyone already knew what that voice meant, they learned quickly what the tell tale signs were so they could avoid any further mental scars. They didn't want any more of those, especially after they all came home to a pleasure laced scream from both alphas and a very vivid picture to accompany it. Needless to say, Lily and Tia didn't go near them for a few days after that, even though they have talked, heard and seen sex plenty of times. (AN: please dont forget Lilynette is an arrancar and though she looks like a child she is almost as old as Starrk and therefore, is technically older than a 'child' or minor. So though she has never been involved in those activities, she has walked in on plenty of people.)

"I think I'll go find a place to get off instead. Come on dipshits." Nnoitra said standing and walking out the door the others already having stood up and made for the door. Grimmjow starting to pick a fight as soon as he and Nnoitra were within touching distance; he smack Nnoitra on the back of the head for his comment which in turn had Nnoi retaliating.

Byakuya moved away from Ichigo but his gaze never left him, the noble had something planned for today that would most definitely make things a bit more interesting. They waited there until they were sure the others were out of the warehouse district and he and Ichigo were completely alone.

"Byakuya, come here." Ichigo's husky voice told him. But Byakuya had a different game in mind, it was the last day of his vacation and he wanted his mate, badly, but Ichigo would have to work for Byakuya today. Byakuya only stared at Ichigo as he still sat on the floor and then backed away from his mate, the glint in the teen's eyes changing from his human desire to the hollow want.

"Byakuya," Ichigo sexily growled out the name this time, showing Byakuya that he was stirring the primal part of Ichigo. The orangette placing his hands flat on the floor in front of his crossed legs, leaning forward and looking for all three worlds like a predator ready to give chase to his prey.

"You wont get me as easily today Ichigo, you are going to have to work for me. If you can catch me then you can ravish me." And he was gone with a gust of air. Ichigo growled low, his hollow part enjoying the thrill of a chase and the ravishing to come and from where he still was sitting on the floor when he also vanished with a gust of wind, in search of his mate.

He found Bya quickly and easily, he had been hiding behind a water tower inside the district. Ichigo watched him from above as he thought of pouncing on him, but the second that Ichigo thought he had captured his mate, Byakuya was in front of him.

"You didn't think it would be that easy Ichi, did you?" And he was gone again with another small burst of wind. Ichigo followed, chasing Byakuya as he teased his alpha, flashing just out of his reach each time. It reminded Ichigo of the time Byakuya accepted his feelings and returned them, that chase they had before Byakuya finally stopped to speak with him. It seemed so far away now, felt like an eternity since that chase happened and it was all because it felt like he has known Byakuya for, forever. But their little game came to an abrupt end when Byakuya stumbled on a stray metal beam and looked down to catch his balance after the unexpected and uncharacteristic clumsiness.

Ichigo lunged at his mate and was successful in catching him in that moment when Byakuya's attention was focused away from his alpha; they tumbled for a bit as Byakuya tried to struggle away and Ichigo trying to hold him down. Finally Ichigo managed to pin Byakuya to a nearby wall of a small shack, Byakuya looked up into his mate's face; they were both panting after so many shunpo in a row. Ichigo's normally amber eyes were now dark and hungry as he looked down at his mate, making Byakuya shudder.

"I'm not sure if I want to torture slowly, driving you mad with pleasure for for making me wait, or so immensely pleasure you that you will also be driven mad, for giving me a wonderful chase."

"Either is fine with me." Byakuya panted out with a very lustful gleam in his eyes; both options were going to cause him 'To go mad with pleasure' in the end anyways. In a second his clothes were ripped off, as were Ichigo's, and Ichigo was sucking at his neck leaving a good sized mark that would not be covered by his uniform or his hair.

"Ichigo," Byakuya warned a little breathy, now looking at the mark.

"They wont know. They aren't allowed to see these marks like I am, and the ones on your face are covered. They need to know who you belong to." He growled out, biting at one of Byakuya's nipples causing the noble to gasp.

"They should know with a glance at you that you are mine." Ichigo had dropped to his knees, pulling Byakuya's legs over his shoulders with his back pressed against the wall, so that his weight was balanced on Ichigo.

"They should never doubt the pain that will be inflicted if they so much as touch you." he licked Byakuya's inner thigh and over his ball sack. Eliciting a whimper of need from Byakuya. Ichigo looked at his mate and loved the fact that only he could make the noble look so delicious, so undone, so sexy as he did in moments like these.

He sucked the tip of Byakua's aroused dick and pulled the entire length into his mouth, immediately deep throating him. Byakuya bit his lower lip, not letting any more of his cries be heard; he wanted Ichigo to have him scream to the top of his lungs because he didn't know when the next time he could feel his lover was.

Ichigo noticed his mate was holding his cries from him and growled low in his displeasure, the action almost broke Byakuya's will and causing him to almost moan. Ichigo plunged two fingers into Byakuya, hitting his prostate immediately as pain and pleasure swirled together; but the noble endured, instead digging his nails into Ichigo's shoulders. Ichigo stretched him, sucked on him, kissed over him trying to break his mate's silence but Byakuya's stubbornness would not give.

Enough was enough and Ichigo sat back on his haunches, positioned himself to where he would sink in perfectly and let Byakuya fall; impaling himself onto Ichigo. At the sudden surprise and the feeling of Ichigo so deep Byakuya finally broke.

His eyes flew open, his head tilted back as a loud scream of pleasure left him. Ichigo smirked satisfied that he finally heard his lover's voice, and pounded into him with enough force that Byakuya thought they might break the small shack they were leaning against.

With each hard thrust Ichigo gave Byakuya gave a loud cry, tears rolling from the corner of his eyes from the overwhelming pleasure. Saliva running from his gaping mouth; Ichigo licked at it and occupied Byakuya's mouth with his. Tongues swirled as hard thrusts were still being dealt.

Byakuya moved his hands into the silky hair that Ichigo still hadn't gotten around to cutting and tugged at it. He thrust back onto Ichigo, deepening their searing kiss and holding his mate close. He could feel himself nearing his finish.

Ichigo could feel just how close Byakuya was, he was close to the edge as well and rammed hard and fast trying to fall off the cliff. He aimed right at Byakuya's prostate as he continued his onslaught. Byakuya clenched around him, tugging tightly on his hair and screamed Ichigo's name to the blue sky above them.

Ichigo spilled his hot seed into Byakuya, filling him to the brim; and grunted Byakuya's name into his ear. He rode out their orgasm and after a few more hard thrusts he stilled leaning his forehead on Byakuya's, both panting. Their breaths mingled for a moment until Byakuya spoke.

"Ichigo, please know. I love you so much. Don't listen to anything anyone else tells you, I love you and only you." His eyes already closing in sleep, but he held on waiting for an answer.

"I love you too Byakuya. I would give my life to make sure you were safe." Ichigo told him sliding out of his mate gently as he fell asleep in Ichigo's arms. He looked down at the content Byakuya, a soft warm smile on his face as Ichigo carried him back to their room in the warehouse.

He set Byakuya on the bed and covered his sleeping form with the silk cover they used, and sighed heavily while dressing. He went around packing the few things Byakuya had brought with him including a few lounging kimonos, a pair of slippers, his shinigami uniform, and the thick leather bound book he always saw his mate flipping through whenever there was spare time.

Ichigo sadly finished packing Byakuya's bag and sat a the edge of the bed his mate was sleeping peacefully in, just as their pack arrived.

"Ichi!" Grimmjow called from the 'pack room', or they liked to call the living room. Ichigo sighed again and moved off the bed and to the others.

"Is Bya-queen sleeping?" Grimmjow asked. Ichigo nodded and heavily sat on the couch, slouching forward.

"Whoa! Did anyone else sense the mood in the room drop?" Nnoitra asked.

"Ichigo, what is upsetting you?" Ulquiorra asked.

Ichigo had finally managed to have the arrancar calling him by his name instead of alpha.

"Byakuya has to go back to the Soul society when he wakes up tomorrow morning." The orangette sighed as he thought of his mate leaving him to go work in Soul Society, surrounded by people he could never be himself around. It really was a miserable existence and he didn't want his mate having to live through it when he didn't have to by any means.

"Your letting him go back?" Grimmjow asked, kind of shocked. The feline recalled the enormous fight he and Ulquiorra in the desert in the days before they were turned into espada, just as Aizen was creating the arrancar ranks. Grimmjow wanted to remain a free spirit of the desert, for his mate's and his safety but also because he was supposed to be free. Though Ulquiorra explained things to him rationally, saying that the desert would come under the brunette's control and Aizen would most likely kill them were they to refuse. In the end they decided to make it seem like they hated each other, seeing as Aizen asked them separately unaware they knew each other.

"Yeah, but I don't like it. I wont know if they are hurting him or not."

"If it were me, I wouldn't even let him go at all." Nnoitra told Ichigo. Not only was the giant very aggressive but he was possessive and territorial as hell, and something like this, would just have never happened. Nor would have the question of allowing his mate to leave after such a traitorous act and being almost killed. He wanted to scoff at his alpha's foolishness.

"What if they let him visit you on his days off?" Szayel suggested, Gin chimed in afterwards.

"Then you'll get to see him and know he is safe."

"Yeah, but they only took three days to execute him. He could be alive Monday and dead by Thursday and I wont know anything until Saturday and by then it will be too late to do anything." Ichigo said getting even more depressed and scared of Byakuya leaving him again. Though he knew this time about the execution, because of Byakuya's quick thinking, there is no way he could possibly rely on Kisuke's information network to get the message through within a few hours.

"Amigo, I think it is very brave. Letting your amor, tu vida, go back to the people that tried killing him. Pero, I do think it is also muy peligroso." Starrk added in his opinion.

"Dangerous indeed. And you make a fair point Ichigo, they could take his life in the middle of the week and you not know anything. By the time you storm back into Seireitei they would have already prepared." Szayel said, pondering the situation on a analytically point of view.

Ichigo was getting antsy and angrier at the prospect that Byakuya would want to leave his safe side, to go back to the Gotei 13. His leg started bouncing, an angry tick he had, his face scrunching into concentration. His insticts were yelling at him to lock Byakuya up in their room and not let him out until, while his heart that was yearning for his mate's happiness wanted him to return to where he wanted to be.

"They will probably kill him the day he returns. If that were Ulquiorra and I, well lets just say he wouldn't leave me." Grimmjow said looking at Ulquiorra.

"I do not believe it is a good idea to let Bya-queen to leave either. I do not trust the word of Central 46, they have been known to bend the rules to their needs. And I heard from Aizen that they would always seek vengeance for any orders that were ignored." Ulquiorra was talking to his mate.

Ichigo was now full out angry, thoughts in his mind and the things his pack was saying only adding to the fire. His body was now full on shaking and a vein had popped out on his forehead. He was having to take, useless, deep breaths trying to tame his temper to little avail.

"Ichi, calm down." Shiro's voice resounded within the walls of the pack room. The raspy, lisping voice of his hollow brought Ichigo the slightest bit of comfort but his words hardly helped his temper, more like fueled it.

"Shiro what if they try something again? I wouldn't know shit!"

"Well, ya'll get to see him on his days off, like Szayel said."

"Yeah and if they kill him in the middle of the week like I said?" Ichigo quickly shot back to his hollow having his reflection to think about his next answer.

"Umm,"

"Exactly! He is not going!"

"Ichigo, ya kno that would hurt 'im too much. And I kno how ya hate ta make 'im sad."

"It hurts me! He isn't going and that's final.I dont give a damn if he is sad, at least he is safe." Ichigo growled out. They had been speaking out loud without thinking but the others had gone on as if no one had said anything and listened while they were talking.

"Ichigo, compromise. Really think about a solution to the problem, if ya do make 'im stay he will start to resent ya."

"But-"

"Listen, how 'bout every other day? Ya must be able ta see him every other day, so if he doesnt make it tha day he is supposed ta, ya'll know something is up."

"But that's complicated. If he stayed here it will be simple." The alpha pouted, crossing his arms over his chest knowing he lost. It was a good solution and true to his stubbornness, he did not want to admit it.

"So his only source of happiness is here with this small group. And during tha day when your gone, and they're gone; what'll he do? He is a man of action Ichi, ya kno that." Shiro shook his head as he appeared on the couch next to his colorful copy.

"-Sigh- I guess your right Shiro." Finally Ichigo admitted defeat, leaning his head on his hollow's shoulder, allowing himself a bit of comfort.

"There see if ya think, ya find solutions."

"See that's what you're here for." Ichigo stood and walked back into the room where Byakuya still slept, leaving Shiro to grin and disappear back to his inner world. Ichigo hated to wake Bya, he looked so peaceful asleep, but this was too important to not discuss.

"Byakuya." Ichigo shook his shoulder lightly. Bya's eyes fluttered open, looking up at his mate groggily.

"Ichigo?"

"Hey babe, sorry to wake you, but we need to talk." Byakuya sat up awake immediately. His mind started working at the possibilities that had Ichigo so serious and he jumped to the worst.

His body language changed, his back straight, his hands resting in his lap and the famous cold-hearted attitude was back. His defense walls went up as he looked serious at Ichigo already hiding the hurt starting to creep into his heart.

He is going to leave me Senbonzakura.

Byakuya, don't be a foolish.

Look at him! When have we ever known him to do this? Being so serious!

Byakuya let him speak, you are jumping to conclusions again. That is a bad habit outside of battle you need to stop.

Even Byakuya's reiatsu changed and the pack could feel the change now also. All listening intently, trying to hear what was being said.

Ichigo noticed Byakuya's change in attitude. His reverting back to the cold-hearted noble everyone knew him as was a bit concerning and Ichigo immediately wanted to help his mate with whatever caused the change.

"Byakuya, what's wrong?" Ichigo leaned in his hand resting on Byakuya's arm gently, a concerned look settling on his features.

Byakuya stared into Ichigo's eyes for a long moment, searching for something. When he found it, or didn't find it, he relaxed again letting out a heavy breath.

"Ichigo don't scare me like that!" Byakuya exclaimed.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean too." Ichigo hugged his mate, his very fragile mate. Okay Ichigo knew Byakuya wasn't fragile, and he would probably be torn to shreds for even thinking that, but he couldnt help it, he would always see his precious mate as fragile.

"What is it? What has you so serious?" Byakuya finally asked, pulling a way from the hug, but staying in Ichigo's arms.

"Gotei 13."

"Ah," Byakuya said as it was a very normal occurrence as of late.

"Yeah, I don't like the idea of you going back there."

"Ichigo, I am going back. It is my place. I have a family to lead, a squad to lead; I have responsibilities that cannot be put aside." Byakuya explained. He loved his mate, loved him possibly more than anything in the universes but he had to go back. And he was working on taking Ichigo with him.

"I thought you would say that. Then you're lucky Shiro thought up of a way. I will see you every other day, if I don't then I know something is wrong."

"But Ichigo that is a lot of traveling. I don't have that kind of time."

"Byakuya it is either this or not going back at all." Ichigo stated firmly. Byakuya was about to argue, but the look in Ichigo's eyes told him this was not a matter that he could get out of so easily. So he decided to listen to the very strong feeling, which he guessed were his beta instincts, and just take the plunge.

"Ichigo, why don't you just go to Soul society? You could just live there, I'm sure-"

"No." Ichigo's voice was final and the decision sounded un-moving.

"Ichigo, that's not fai-"

"Byakuya, I have to stay here. Don't you see all the hollows still coming here? My place is here in my town. And anyway they will have to work to get my trust back. So will you be staying here or will we be traveling?" His eyes like fire; bright, dangerous and powerful, yet still beautiful and hypnotic.

Byakuya's will crumble once again under that gaze as he thought back to how all this started with that same gaze.

"Very well Ichigo, we will be seeing each other every other day." Byakuya said, his eyes on the bed, his voice low and his face in a very strong pout.

"Don't look like that. We will see each other more, and it keeps you safe. It is a win-win." Ichigo said lifting Byakuya's chin and pressing a gentle kiss on his lips. He stood and moved to the door.

"I already packed your things for you, all you have to do is get dressed and you can sleep for another few hours." He opened the door.

"Ichigo, stay with me?" Byakuya asked a puppy dog look on his face, which Ichigo was pretty sure he wasn't conscious of making.

Ichigo closed the door and laid on the bed.

"But I really suggest you shower and change, because if you don't I might be tempted." Ichigo said smacking Byakuya's ass, seeing as he was now on his side curling up next to Ichigo. He yelped in surprise and covered his mouth shooting off from the bed, a blush starting to consume the bridge of his nose.

"I have never made such an undignified noise!" His said around his hand, he was standing there in all his naked glory.

"Oh really? Because I could think of a couple that shouldn't be heard around others." Ichigo said now laying on his stomach, his head propped up on his hands and a Cheshire grin across his face.

Byakuya could swear if he had a tail it would be waving in the air mischievously. He huffed off into the shower and once he was clean, dressed in his captain's uniform. Ichigo had fallen asleep by the time he was out, a smile gracing the noble's lips and he curled up to Ichigo's side on the bed. His arm automatically wrapping around Byakuya as the captain splayed across Ichigo's bigger body.

A few hours passed all too quickly and Byakuya was roused from his sleep once more but this time, it was Ulquiorra waking both him and Ichigo. He had gotten a message from Sou-Taicho informing him that if he still wished to return that the Senkimon he had opened would stay so for three hours. Ichigo's sister would also be returning with the three women of the arrancar pack.

"Well, then I guess it's time." Byakuya and Ichigo walked to the Senkimon and as promised it was open. His sisters, Nel, Tia and Lilynette stepping through and greeting them just as they came to a stop in front of the gate.

Ichigo and Byakuya held onto each other not wanting to let go. Finally Byakuya took the initiative and pulled away from Ichigo and moved forward. He turned to look at Ichigo and the group he had know to call his pack. All their faces held a sad expression, not wanting their queen to leave them and the realization that he was just hitting them.

Byakuya smiled, he had never had so many people care about him to the point that they were sad when he left. Knowing and falling in love with Ichigo had opened his world and not to mention his heart.

"I will see you all soon. Ichigo, I'll come visit in two days, yes?"

"Mmmhm."

"Alright then, I love you Ichigo."

"I love you too Byakuya." And with the knowledge that he was loved and being waited for by his family Byakuya stepped through the Senkimon with a hell butterfly beside him, taking him straight to the Soul Society.

He had a hand on Senbonzakura's hilt, one hand with his bag slung over his shoulder, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end and his steps wary as he stepped into Seireitei. Though he had put up his noble front everyone in Soul Society was used to seeing, he was very nervous.

"Kuchiki-Taicho, I'm glad you decided to return to us." Sou-Taciho greeted. Byakuya looked around and saw that all the captain's were gathered. Even if he knew that they were only following orders and they had faith in Ichigo, that he would stop them from executing him; Byakuya was a bit hesitant.

Sou-Taicho picked up on this, through Byakuya's steely mask, but just motioned for him to fall into formation. Byakuya set his bag down next to a wall and skittishly stood next to Unohanna and Shunsui.

The noble that everyone knew was confident and fearless; taking any challenge thrown at him and handling it flawlessly. If this had happened in the past, before his relationship with Ichigo, he would have stood tall and proud not letting the incident bother him.

But Ichigo had showed him there was so much to live for, and these people he called comrades almost took it all away from him.

All the captain's eyed him and noted the slight difference of how the noble stood, even though his face was perfectly stony. Their stunt must have jarred him more than they thought.

"Now that we are all assembled once again, we have a matter to discuss. Please do take consideration in your decision for this is a choice that will be voted upon."