A/N: Just some suggestive material on the end but nothing that goes beyond the rating.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Bleach characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Tite Kubo et al.
Saying I Will
Surprise, Part Two
Ichigo sat in Byakuya's favorite chair, Rukia on his lap as he was served food and drink by his sister. People came to greet him and congratulate. He smiled and laughed, glad for the chance to meet with the people who had become friends and comrades so long ago. Neither Urahara nor the experts in the Soul Society knew how long it would take him to get to the point where he could separate from his body again and he was glad that he wouldn't have to wait until then to renew relationships that he had missed the last two years.
Looking at the group his sisters made with Toushiro and Momo, he was happy that this crazy gathering had created an opportunity to form bonds with other people. Karin had told him about how Toushiro had helped her and her friends and he was getting to see the white haired captain flustered as he was surrounded by three females near his own age.
Hisagi and Kira had zeroed in on Tatsuki, neither Shinigami having had the pleasure of actually meeting the martial artist before now. Keigo and Mizurio were getting ganged up on by the members of the sixth and eleventh while Chad kept company with the older captains. Ishida was getting a respite by talking to Hanataro and Ichigo figured that the quiet seventh seat would bring a much appreciated escape for the Quincy.
So engrossed in their conversations, no one noticed the first bottle of sake that was dumped into the punch bowl. No one even paid any mind to it when someone refilled their glass and commented on the fact that the second cup tasted different from the first. Luckily for Karin and Yuzu they chose to stick with the last of their brother's soda that was still in the fridge and didn't have to find out the hard way what happens when sake is added to a perfectly innocent punch.
The second bottle of sake was added while the presents were getting passed out. Isshin grinned at his old friend Urahara while the shopkeeper busied himself with distracting Yoruichi. Shunsui added to the conspiracy by trying to make nice with Nanao, leaving her no time to think about anything but saving her own hide. Ukitake merely shook his head and drank his sake straight. While he didn't approve of the fact that several underage teens were going to have hangovers in the morning, it wouldn't hurt this one time to let loose.
Rukia stayed where she was on Ichigo's lap so she didn't figure out what was going on until it was too late. She'd already partaken of a few glasses, and was laughing more than the daiko had ever heard her do before. For his part, he was starting to feel the effects and figured out pretty quick that someone had spiked his sister's creation. Laying off of the drink, he concentrated on opening presents.
As she was his girlfriend, Ichigo felt obliged to open Rukia's first. There were three packages in the gift bag and he opened each with just as much reverence as she had opened the necklace box all those weeks ago. Guitar strings looked back at him as well as a tuner. The tuner would make adjusting the strings to the right pitch faster and easier. "Thank you, midget. I like it a lot." He pulled her against his shoulder, kissing the top of her head.
"You're welcome. Chad helped me."
"Mine next!" Isshin declared, and so on it went. The noise became even more boisterous as the evening went on, the sake consumed and distributed with abandon. Things started to turn for the worst about the time the cake was taken out.
Ichigo finally stood, joining everyone as they gathered around the table. A two tiered cake with chocolate frosting and strawberries as decoration held the place of honor. Pink roses gilded the surface, earning him drunken jokes from those present. "It's nice, Rukia, thanks."
In the center of the top tier sat two numbers, indicating his age. They were lit with a flash of kido thanks to Momo, who for all that she had consumed of the punch was still better at controlling her powers than Kira. The older lieutenant had for his part gone for the pure sake and was starting to lose his clothes.
"Make a wish," Rukia whispered, putting her arms around Ichigo's waist.
"I don't know what I could ask for that would be better than having you here by my side, Rukia."
"How about your powers?" Kenpachi suggested. "Then we could have a real fight."
"Ah…"
"Or being alone with her on a deserted island…" Keigo added. He was hit over the head by an irate Tatsuki for that.
"You could wish to be locked in a room with a bed," Hisagi put in. "How about it, Tatsuki-chan…?" he went on suggestively.
"That's Arisawa-san to you, you pig," she growled, balling up her fist and pouring some of her reiatsu into it before punching him in the gut. The ninth division captain doubled over, coughing.
"Hah! I claim this one when she's dead," Kenpachi declared. "She's a fighter and I like that."
Ichigo listened as everyone except Hanataro, Toushiro, and Nanao made suggestions. Only Momo's and his sisters' were genuine in nature and not suggestive or ridiculous. "How about continued peace?" he asked and blew out the two candles before anyone else came up with something equally as dumb.
Ishida served up the cake with blurry eyes, feeling that he had gotten his wish about the alcohol and was regretting it already. He was going to really feel it in the morning. Orihime giggled beside him, her flowers joining in on the fun and in the punch. Great, just what they needed, drunk flower spirits.
Things disintegrated rapidly after that. The more intoxicated people got, the louder they became and the more easily they seemed to take offense at something someone else said. Reiatsu increased exponentially until the first Hollow alerted the only sober ones in the room to danger. Hanataro and Karin glanced out the window, seeing gargantas open to allow more and more into the Living World while Yuzu joined their watch, unable to see but frightened all the same.
"Time for some fun," Kenpachi said, catching the eye of his third and fifth seats. "Let's go, men." Getting out of their gigais took some effort and they left with hoots of joy, wanting to slice something up.
"Can't let you have all the fun," Hisagi declared, joining in the fray while Kira passed out on the floor. A scramble ensued to leave their gigais and everyone still able to fight gathered outside to take care of the Hollows their out of control spiritual pressures had attracted.
The humans stayed where they were; knowing that they were in no condition to fight. Ichigo clasped Rukia to his side, not wanting her to put herself in danger. "Ichigo," she started.
"You're still a little out of it because of the spiked punch. I don't want you doing anything that might get you hurt. Just stay with me." Together they watched the Gotei members destroy the Hollows, before the whole debacle started all over again.
With the destruction of Ichigo's birthday cake.
A fight broke out between Ikkaku and Renji, the redhead landing with his face in the frosted confection. In their drunken state, they thought a food fight with cake would make things more interesting until the entire living room and kitchen was turned into a battle ground. Kido and flowers were used to fend off cake and frosting, the melee getting worse as the minutes dragged on.
About the time Nanao was getting fed up of having to incinerate the dessert, Toushiro was hit directly in the face with a piece that had bounced off of Orihime's lopsided shield. Even though she apologized, the young captain had had enough. Popping out of his gigai for the last time, he drew his Zapakutou and began releasing Hyorinmaru. Everything was partially frozen over, leaving the fighters stunned into silence.
"Ah, man. Captain Hitsugaya…" The complaint only earned a glare from the white haired taicho.
"That's it, we're leaving. You have brought shame and disgrace to the Gotei and we are going home." A flick of his sword broke the ice, leaving nothing of the mess that had been made. It was the least Toushiro could do in apology.
"Now, Shiro-kun…"
"Quiet, Momo. You're half drunk and you don't want to make things worse." She quieted on his stern order, leaning heavily on his shoulder.
"Captain Hitsugaya is right. This is a disgrace. Kurosaki-san, Kuchiki-san, I am sorry." Nanao bowed in abject humiliation.
"Not your fault," Ichigo excused, knowing at least one person who tainted the punch.
"Do we have to leave?" Hisagi asked, obviously about to make another pass at Tatsuki.
"Now!" Toushiro ordered. He opened the Senkaimon right in Ichigo's living room and shoved the lieutenants through. He kept Momo with him, not trusting her to get through it without hurting herself. One of the captains behind him complained and he heard with satisfaction as Nanao shouted,
"Bakudou Number Two: Chinmoku!" The remaining captains followed the lieutenants, their mouths sealed by the silencing kido.
"Well, it was fine while it lasted," Ganju said, giving a wave and entering the gate. Ikkaku and Yumichika were next, Hanataro bringing up the rear except for Toushiro, Momo and Nanao.
The lieutenant of the eighth was the last to leave, bowing once more to Ichigo. "Congratulations again, Kurosaki-san, and welcome back."
"Thanks." The gate closed and the only thing Ichigo could do was stare at his friends. "We're going to be feeling this hangover for days," he said. His sisters were slumped on the couch, the excitement having finally tired them out. Chad stood from his seat near the window and picked both of them up, following Rukia into her room while Ishida helped Ichigo get his dad into Byakuya's room. Both young men simply dumped the older Kurosaki onto the bed and left.
Tatsuki and Orihime slowly picked up what little mess Toushiro's shikai hadn't taken care of before slumping down and falling asleep. Keigo and Mizurio had already chosen places to camp for the night and no one made a fuss about where they were parked. Upon returning, Chad made his bed near the windows while Ishida simply sank down into a chair and passed out.
Ichigo stood looking at his friends from high school and couldn't help the snort of laughter that came out. "Next time, midget, warn me."
"Next time? There will be no next time. I am never getting those two groups together again. It's a good thing that my brother wasn't here." Rukia frowned, thinking that she had missed something. "Where are Urahara and Yoruichi-san?"
"They left," he answered. "The gigais are gone. She's probably chasing him all the way back to the shop. Any more intoxicated and she probably would have started taking off her clothes too."
"Keigo would have liked that." Sighing, Rukia rubbed her forehead. "You can have the shower first. I'm going to set up some kind of barrier for Arisawa. I wouldn't want those two to get any ideas when they're 'asleep.'"
"Good idea." Squeezing her arm affectionately, Ichigo went and welcomed the relief given by the hot water. The steam helped clear his head and although he knew he'd be feeling the effects of the sake tomorrow, for the moment, he was all right.
Dressed in a pair of night pants and a shirt, he sank down onto his bed and sighed. His plans for a night alone with Rukia might have been ruined and the party had gone to hell in a hand basket but all in all he couldn't complain. "Stupid rabbit balloons," he said; a lopsided grin on his face. Maybe he ought to be glad that there had been no one taking pictures. Not that there was any needed. He had a feeling that once the hangover was gone, tonight would be a night not many would forget.
Lying back on the cool sheets, Ichigo heard the shower as Rukia washed away the alcohol's fog. His sisters were asleep in Rukia's room while his dad snored in Byakuya's. Kon and Chappy had high tailed it for safety the moment the cake started flying and he had found them curled up with Yuzu and Karin.
A soft knock on his door frame had him sitting up. Rukia stood there in a robe and nightgown that he had never seen before. The sheen of the material reflected the moonlight, its pale color undetectable in the mostly dark room. "Rukia?" he croaked.
"I'm ready, Ichigo," she said, closing and locking the door. Stopping by his desk, she turned on the lamp and watched with feminine satisfaction as his eyes widened.
"Ready?" he croaked, sure that his mind was making up what he was seeing in front of him. His girlfriend, his partner in all things, was standing in front of him in a short, satin nightgown straight out of a lingerie catalog. The black material was shot through with some purple pattern that he couldn't make out and really didn't care about.
"Yes," she said simply and shrugged out of the robe. "Aren't you?"
"Yeah but only if this is what you want." She didn't answer him with words, merely stepped into his waiting arms. Rukia pulled his head down, kissing him with all the pent up desire she felt.
"I don't want to leave your arms tonight." She sighed happily when he picked her up, following her down onto the bed so that he was suspended over her by the strength of his arms.
"I won't let you go, not ever," Ichigo vowed. He shuddered when her cool hands lifted his shirt and he pulled it off of him hurriedly. "You're mine now," he said fiercely, giving into his own passion.
"And you're mine," she whispered in return.
A/N: Not that bad, now was it? The bakudou I used here is made up as there is no mention in the series of a number two. Chinmoku simply means silence.