Chapter Four
Pruning a Wildflower
About Six and a half years ago
Osaka, Japan
Ichigo wasn't sure why he was having trouble breathing at first. He couldn't think of a reason that he should be struggling to get air in his lungs. Then, cracking his eyes opened, everything started coming back with vivid clarity. He was tied up in a trunk. The car wasn't moving, but he could hear people now and then outside it. Not only that, but he was in pain, and he felt like his pants were wet. The thought sickened him.
You'll probably forget by morning.
He growled, but the pillowcase gag muffled the sound. Fucking bastard, how could I forget this?
Ichigo understood conceptually what had happened. He just couldn't believe it still. He got that he'd been stupid and put himself in this situation. If he hadn't been so in need of validation that he was still good enough as a human, he wouldn't have been out wandering Karakura at night looking for muggers and street kids. No, he wholly believed that he deserved this. He'd put himself in danger, and he'd failed to see the threat that was standing right in front of him. Still, why would someone do this to another person?
He'd always known he was playing a dangerous game. He figured he'd just get his ass kicked now and then, maybe get stabbed or something. That was it, after all, he was a guy not some chick. Sure, if Orihime had been running around he would have freaked out. She'd get pushed down by the first guy with questionable morals that saw her. He hadn't even thought that there were people like this, that went after other guys.
Before he knew it, he felt tears in his eyes. Why the hell was he crying? He wasn't some girl. Still, he couldn't stop it, or the cascading feeling of panic that settled on him. He was still in this trunk. No one had caught the guy and now he was in Osaka. Who was going to look for him there? Would anyone look for him? It wasn't like he'd been very good the last year of communicating his whereabouts. In fact, more than once he'd taken off to Tokyo for a weekend without telling anyone. Shit. It seemed like his need for privacy was going to be his undoing. He dozed after a while and then he heard a click in the lock of the trunk. He turned his head to look behind him. Maybe he could try something. Maybe…
As soon as the trunk opened, Ogawa plunged a syringe into his thigh. Ichigo stared at him for a minute and the familiar head spinning sensation set in. However, this time Ogawa wasn't alone. There were to other guys with him. One looked about his age, but he had dyed blonde hair and piercings in his nose and ears. The other was younger, but had dyed purple hair and a tattoo covering up the right half of his face.
"Damn Kajiro, look at that. I figured you were fuckin' with me when you said you did it," the blonde said. Ichigo struggled, but whatever he'd given him was starting to take a bit of effect.
"How could I not, look at him," Ogawa said with a smirk. "So pretty, right?"
The shorter and younger one smiled too. "Ojjisan, you sure picked a feisty one. You already had 'im?"
"Yeah, didn't mean to take him. Just the usual, took two fuckin' doses to knock him down enough, though. Kid's not a slouch. But that's why I want to break him," Ogawa said and Ichigo was sure that this was only beginning.
"Let's get 'im inside before someone sees us," The blond said and reached down to grab Ichigo under the arms while Ogawa grabbed his legs. Of course, he struggled, even with the drug he'd been given, he was going to fight them. Who would just go along with this?
"Fuck, I'm glad you found place out of the way," Ogawa commented as they went in the main door and down a short hallway to a second.
"Used to be a warehouse, then the Yakuza were using it as a safehouse, that's why there's two doors coming in, and no windows inside. Perfect for you to hide your boy. Watch the noise though, the house behind here is close enough that if you get too loud, that obasan will hear you," the shorter one said as the other one and Ogawa dropped Ichigo on a low futon. He landed on his knees and fell forward onto his chest. The position was perhaps the least dignified he could think of. He turned his head toward him.
Ogawa reached over and pulled off the gag and smiled. "Welcome home, pup," he said with a smirk.
Ichigo could barely move even if he hadn't been bound, but he snarled at him. "Fuck you, you fucking rapist bastard! Let me go, I'll tear you apart…fuck…" he said as he dropped his head down to the futon. His head had started spinning.
"Damn," the blonde said and grabbed Ichigo's chin, pulling him to an upright position by it. "Yer totally not getting' yer position, are you?"
Ichigo panted and the spit at him. The blond smirked and wiped his face. "You'll regret that in a little while. We're here to help Kajiro break that spirit of yours until you know your place. See, my name is Iho Ogawa, and Kajiro is my older brother. Yeah, I know, handsome thing like me having a pathetic shit for a brother like him, right?" Iho smirked. "But truth is, I'll do anything for him, especially if it involves helping him with his…problem."
"I don't care who you are, fucking let me go," Ichigo growled, panting and seeing double. This was bad. He wasn't going to be able to fight them if they did untie him.
"I can't do that because Kajiro's habit of drugging and fucking boys is getting to be a problem. He's almost been caught a couple times, and I can't have that, y'know? So when he called me this morning on his way from your shitty town, telling me that he found a boy he was gonna keep, I was ecstatic. No more drugging random pretty things when he went on trips and no more chances of him getting caught. Best solution, right?"
"Fuck you both," Ichigo growled, but there were already tears in his eyes. He wasn't sure why, either frustration, or anger. Or maybe it was embarrassment. "I'm going to get out of here, and I'll kill you."
Iho smirked. "Nah, you won't. Trust me on that. I told you, I take care of my brother. He may be an idiot and unable to control his dick, but he can't be caught. He's a good man out there. A salaryman who lost his wife and son in a horrible car accident. So if he's a little depressed, no one will notice. But his need to take out his anger on the prettiest boys he can find…well. That was there when he was a kid," Iho pushed his head back down to the futon. "I used to help him, you know, in high school. Find middle schoolers he could fuck. Surprisingly easy, you know, trick a boy into an empty bathroom, blindfold him, then leaving him crying."
"You…you're both sick." Ichigo couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Yeah, that's true," Iho said with a smirk. "But we're not tied up like a pretty little present about to be ripped open."
Iho stood and walked over to speak to Ogawa again who was nodded as he spoke. Ichigo jerked as he felt the shorter one touch his back. "Ojjisan and Senpai are so perverted, aren't they?" he said as his fingers traced Ichigo's spine. "But then, so am I."
"Who the fuck are you?" Ichigo asked, trying to save any semblance of dignity he had.
"Tohaku Kuroba," he answered as he leaned forward and starting sniffing at the back of Ichigo's neck. "I'm Senpai's perfect kohai. I do anything Senpai asks of me."
"Kuroba, if you want, you can have him first. I have to help Kajiro with the chains. He should be pretty pliant for the next few hours after that dose of valium we gave him," Iho said from where he stood by the pole in the center of the room.
"Oh, thanks, Senpai," Kuroba said and now started licking the back of Ichigo's neck.
"Stop, don't…please…" Ichigo couldn't imagine anything worse than this as his hands slipped down the front of his pants.
"Hey, don't worry, unlike that rude Ojiisan, I'll make you feel good too before I'm done," he whispered.
Somehow, that was worse.
-o-
"Fuck, hold him still or I'm seriously going to burn the shit out of him," Iho said as he held the welding torch up.
Ichigo had no idea why they hadn't just knocked him out if they were going to do something like this. He had a feeling it was to make sure he knew what they were doing. What they were doing was welding a metal collar around his neck. They were doing it bit by bit, and it burned like his whole neck was on fire. Luckily, it wasn't very wide. He ended up passing out before they were done.
When he came back to consciousness, his wrists, ankles, and neck were all on fire. He rolled his head to the side to see where his arm was lying they'd put a metal ring around his wrist. All around it, the skin was blistered, and he imagined both his ankles and neck were in the same state. Who the hell uses a welding torch on something against a person's skin. He felt drugged, though and for that he was glad. At least he was a little numb. He didn't even really notice the fact that they'd taken his clothes. He was in far too much pain. The world faded out.
Whispered voices. "…too much…"
"…was…and necessary…fine."
"…fine…fine…"
Blackness swallowed him and he was floating for a while. He came back to the world when water was being poured into his mouth. He was thirsty, so thirsty, as he tried to grab at the source, but his arms were stuck. He gulped it and felt his eyes come unstuck. He was looking up at a familiar bespectacled face. Ogawa. He didn't have the strength to even say something, he just stared at him.
"Ah, there you are, my pup," he said gently and sat the cup down. Ichigo realized he was lying on his lap and Ogawa was holding his head in his arm. "You slept for a long time, but that's okay. Iho got a bit carried away with his plan. I really didn't think it was necessary to weld them closed, but he doesn't listen well. You're fine now, the fever passed last night. I took off work to take care of you, even," he said as he stroked his head.
"P-please…I wanna go home," Ichigo finally managed. "I won't…I won't tell anyone…just please…"
"I'm sorry, but I'm your Owner now, so you'll have to realize, this is your home now. Tell me, are you going to be a good boy for me?" Ogawa asked.
Ichigo didn't want to do anything this bastard said. What was this, acting like he was caring for him and loving him. He shook his head. "Fuck off," he whispered hoarsely. "I'm not doing anything you say."
"Ah, I was afraid of that. Too much spirit." Ogawa slid his head off his lap and stood up. "I've left a few things on the table, with the new chain, you should be able to reach the toilet and bath as well. And don't try screaming, either. The obasan that lives in the back has gone for the summer. There's no one there or anywhere around here that will help you even if you scream. I'll give you a week, pup. Then we'll see how you feel."
He just walked out and left. Ichigo gasped and managed to get to his hands and knees. He hadn't been bound at his hands, but he guessed the weakness had been why he struggled with moving. He crawled as far as he could go in any direction, and found he couldn't get to a wall or a door at all. He could get into the bathroom and barely could climb into the bath. He did just that, turning on the shower, finding to his displeasure, there was no hot water. There was also no plug for the tub. He still grabbed the sponge and washed as much as he could. He felt filthy everywhere, and his body hurt so much. Had that guy done it to him while he was unconscious? It certainly felt that way as he touched below. Sore, he moaned as he leaned against the side of the tub. He used his foot to shut it off. Maybe if he drowned he would go over to Soul Society. But there was no plug to hold the water anyway.
It was sudden and hit him hard as he started to sob, hands clutching the side of the tub. He couldn't stop it, the tears and just kept coming out of him. When he was done, he just sat there and panted, eventually succumbing and falling asleep like that. The last thought before he slept was to wonder how long he'd be gone.
-o-
A week, it turned out, was how long Ogawa was gone the first time. Ichigo had run out of food after the third day, and spent the rest only drinking water. By the time he came back on the seventh day, he was sure he was simply going to starve to death before he came back. He was curled on the futon, clutching the sheets against his chest when the door opened. Despite his attempts to not look happy, he couldn't help his happiness at not being alone.
"Ah, well, look, I think the pup is happy to see his Owner," Ogawa said and Ichigo felt his heart sink because he wasn't alone. Iho and Kuroba were with him, as were several other people.
"Yeah, well, leave a dog alone and they'll wag their tail for anyone," Iho said as he walked over and grabbed the covers Ichigo was tucked under.
"What… are you doing here?" he asked, trying to sound like he was angry.
"Training, of course, don't you know, all good dogs need training?" Iho said as he knelt and grabbed Ichigo's hands. He snapped the clips on the wrist cuffs into each other with a loud clicking sound. "Now the question is, how trained are you so far?"
Ichigo narrowed his eyes at him and growled. "Fuck you. I'm no one's dog."
Iho smiled. "Kajiro, your dog still has a bad habit of growling at people. We're gonna have to beat that outta him, aren't we?"
Ogawa chuckled from where he stood near the pole. "Well, give me time to turn it on."
Ichigo frowned, looking up and realizing that there was a small camera at the top of the pole his chain was attached to, and it pointed right at the spot where the futon was. He was going to record whatever was about to happen. That didn't bode well.
Then he was being pulled out of the corner he'd crouched in and shoved down on his stomach while Iho wrapped a rope around his waist and then used the rings on the ankle cuffs to tie his calves to his thighs.
"Stop," he cried as someone grabbed his hair and wrenched his head up. He was looking at a man with thin, pink framed glasses and a missing right canine tooth.
"Damn, Iho, he's cute. Not a fuckin' girl-boy either. Good job, Kajiro-kun, you found an actual man, not a child, I'm proud of you," he snarled. "Looks like he's gonna take some work to break."
Ichigo didn't expect the smack of something slapping into his back as he cried out. They laughed as he craned his neck to see that Iho had his belt and was using it to beat his back. After almost fifteen minutes, he was struggling to breath. He couldn't stop the tears from the sheer mortification.
"Well, that made him a bit more docile," Iho said. "I'm exhausted, though. You boys have some fun while I decide how to punish him again."
The one with the pink glasses chuckled as he flipped him onto his back, his hands clutched in front of his chest numbly. He gasped as he back hit the futon, but soon, his worry wasn't his back. It took forever, at least to Ichigo it felt like forever, but he really felt like his sanity was going to break. Finally Iho spoke up.
"Enough, time to try something new," Iho reached into his bag and then came toward him. He was holding a hairbrush. He smirked as he pulled him to sit on his knees then pushed him forward. Honestly, he couldn't move, but he was still surprised when he began striking his ass with the back of the brush again and again. He had no idea how long passed, but when he came back around, Ichigo saw blood dripping off the brush when he dropped it to the floor.
"He's tough, Senpai," the short Kuroba said. "Most the time they pass out halfway through."
"Hmm, yeah, he's going to be fun to break," Iho said with a smirk. "All yours again boys, if you want, I'm done."
Ichigo found the strength to scream again that he didn't know he had.
-o-
It had been a long time. He wasn't sure how long, but if he'd known it had been nearly a year, he probably wouldn't have been surprised. It felt like longer. Iho and his bunch came less and less frequently as time went on, but then, Ichigo had stopped fighting as much. He was mostly without food, which really drained his strength away most the time. Ogawa left him noodles on the table now and then, and if he was lucky, he'd leave with his hands untied and he could hold the bowl. If he wasn't lucky, he had to eat like a dog. He wanted him to be a dog, so it was appropriate. Still, mostly his hunger was gone. He'd gotten so used to that state that it was beginning to feel normal. Even when he did leave food, Ichigo could only eat a small bit of it without feeling sick.
Ogawa would come to him two or three nights a week, and if he was lucky, he would just lay down and sleep on the futon with him. He'd gotten used to his treatment, and it no longer left him doubled over in pain. He used the belt and the brush on him when he wasn't a "good boy", and Ichigo wondered how long he was going to stay human. He'd already forgotten what it was like outside this room.
The dreams nearly killed him, because he dreamed of Soul Society. Those days he'd wake up and sob in the shower. He didn't want Ogawa to know, of course. Still, those memories were pieces of his past, and he was clinging to them for everything he was.
If he held on, just a little longer, maybe he'd be found. Time passed, and he fought, was punished, then he would repeat. One afternoon, Ogawa came home with a dog collar and buckled it onto him, but it had a square box attached at the side. He smiled and held up a remote. He pressed it and Ichigo's body spasmed. When he came back he stared at him, realizing it was a shock collar.
"When you say what you shouldn't, actually, if you talk at all, you'll get this. Dogs don't talk."
"But you can't…" he started only to arch his back as the thing zapped him again.
Ogawa glared at him. "Dogs don't speak unless they're told to. Shocks are for dogs that bark."
Ichigo nodded to him and swallowed against the rising bile in his throat. Ogawa leaned over and ruffled his hair. "Good boy, see I'll praise you if you're a good boy."
It took three months before Ichigo stopped trying to speak. The hardest had been when Iho's group came again, and every time he cried out in pain, every time he'd make any noise, he'd shock him. And of course, Iho striped his back raw until he passed out completely.
-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-
Rukia sat across from Renji at the ramen place and stared at her bowl. Renji looked up from his own finally and spoke up. He couldn't take this anymore. They had all come out tonight together, a weekly night when some of the younger Shinigami would get together and have dinner and a few drinks. Kira, Hisagi, Ikkaku, and Yumichika had come tonight along with Renji and Rukia. Renji didn't know exactly what Rukia's problem was, but she had been almost silent the entire time.
"Rukia, what the hell is going on?" he asked her. Considering that they'd officially been married for two years now, the fact that she hadn't confided in him was bothering him.
Everyone looked up, and slowly Rukia did too. "I'm sorry, I'm not good company tonight. I should go home, Renji. I'm spoiling the mood for everyone."
"Nonsense, Rukia-kun, tell us, what is on your mind?" Yumichika, who sat beside her, said and put his arm around her. "You've been in the dumps for a while, and today it seems worse."
Rukia nodded. "I…well, they moved Ichigo out of the fourth today," she said and glanced up at Renji. She knew he was aware of the transfer. "But they moved him to stay at Ukitake-taichou's estate."
The others all seemed surprised at that. "Why wouldn't they leave him at the fourth?" Ikkaku asked as he sipped his sake. "Seems that what you said, with him being so fragile, that would be best."
"It isn't that; I mean that isn't what bothers me. What bothers me is that person is someone I don't know," she said with a sigh. She looked at Renji. "He's no better than when you found him. I went to see him today at the fourth. He's so fragile, his hand…I broke his hand, Renji. Just by taking it. How can anyone live like that?"
Renji nodded. "I know, it seems hard to accept, but Ukitake-taichou will care for him until they can figure out how to get his soul form separated from his body."
Kira shook his head. "I overheard Isane earlier. They don't think his body will survive the process. That hollow Zanpakutō spirit of his, I guess it was trying to escape or do something to help them, but it was draining energy around it. But doing that, through the human body, it did something. That human damaged him, but his spirit was also at fault for the damage. Between the two, his human body is just like glass."
Rukia reached up and wiped some tears away. "But, the worst thing is what Ukitake-taichou and Kyōraku-taichou said."
"What?" Renji asked, sipping his own sake.
"They said…that the Ichigo we knew is gone and we have to accept it. That he won't come back no matter how much we want him to come back. That asking that of Ichigo is unfair because it is impossible." Rukia picked up the rare cup of sake she never really drank.
"What does that mean?" Hisagi asked with a frown. "That he's gone? I guess I don't understand really what's happened. He was abducted and held prisoner by some human, right? That whole time he was missing?"
"More than that," Renji said, swirling the drink in his cup. The silence stretched for a few minutes. "I…I kind of found him, with Ukitake-taichou."
"What?" Kira said. "You said that you were keeping an eye on him, you didn't mention you were there when they found him?"
Renji nodded. "It was horrible. I know you heard he's blinded now, the guy that had him, his Owner as he called him, had gouged out his eyes, told him to stay in the bath, and then went out and hung himself."
"That's awful. How did you find him?" Ikkaku asked, downing another cup of sake.
"The bastard's spirit was hanging around. Bunch of things but it was odd, so I called for help. But he'd been there three days, in that same spot, because that guy told him to stay there. He would have stayed there until he starved. Lucky for us, the police were after the guy and came in. Guess when the guy put out Ichigo's eyes, he got loud, and a neighbor complained, then when there was a smell from the dead body…" he paused.
"They're his owners." Rukia almost whispered.
"Huh?" Renji asked, frowning. "What's that mean?"
"Ukitake-taichou and Kyōraku-taichou. He needs owners. He needs them so that's what they're doing, helping him by taking care of him in that way." Rukia ran a hand over her head. "I get that he needs it, but I still just want the old Ichigo back."
-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-
"You must eat," Jūshirō said with more than a little exasperation. Ichigo was sitting at the kotatsu with him. He was covered with the attached blanket, because Ichigo seemed to be cold all the time. He'd given him a bowl of plain noodles, but he wouldn't seem to eat more than a couple bites. Even without sight, he'd been able to navigate eating and drinking well. But only a tiny bit. Jūshirō was growing tired already and was about to give up when the door slid open and Shunsui came in.
"Oh, dinner?" he asked as he sat down beside Ichigo. Ichigo turned toward him with a blank expression.
"He won't eat," Jūshirō said with a sigh. "Unohana warned me, but this is far more frustrating than I expected."
"Ah, you just need to help him, Jūshirō-kun," Shunsui said and took the bowl.
Ichigo waited, head down. Beside him Shunsui picked out some of the noodles and leaned in close to him. "Now open," Shunsui said gently. Ichigo opened his mouth and let him put the noodles into it, looking a bit surprised since he couldn't see what Shunsui was doing. He ate it and when he swallowed Shunsui had some more ready. "Not done, Ichi-kun, come now," he said as he continued until the bowl was empty. Shunsui picked up the napkin from the table and patted Ichigo's mouth. "There now, was that so hard?"
Ichigo shook his head but just seemed to stare at Shunsui who glanced at Jūshirō. Even though his eyes were useless, he still turned toward people as if he could see them. Shunsui then reached up and patted Ichigo's head gently. "Ah, such a good job, Ichi-kun. You are such a good boy to eat for me," he said and both Shunsui and Jūshirō saw the change. His face positively lit and he turned into Shunsui's hand. Shunsui took the opportunity to put an arm around him and slide him onto his lap. Ichigo gasped a little but found himself with both Shunsui's arms wrapped around him. Shunsui adjusted the kotatsu's cover over his lap and looked at Jūshirō.
"I think our Ichi-kun likes to be praised a lot, don't you?" Shunsui asked. Ichigo had ducked his head and Jūshirō could see the pink tinging his cheeks below the band the covered his eyes.
"He does. Ichigo, why is it you don't like to speak?" Jūshirō asked, frowning.
Ichigo turned his head upward. Even without seeing his eyes, Jūshirō could see the discomfort that came across him. Finally, he swallowed. "Dogs can't speak," he whispered finally, putting his hand against his neck where a square shaped scar stood out. "Shocks are for dogs that bark."
Shunsui gave Jūshirō a look that spoke volumes. "Oh, Ichi-kun, you will never be shocked for talking to us. That old Owner was so mean and mistreated you, sweet Ichi-kun. You did not need to be shocked for speaking," he said as he put his chin on Ichigo's shoulder and clutched him tighter. "You are so important to us, you must know this. You are ours to take care of, remember?"
"And I have to insist that you forget that other owner's rules. We're your Shujin and Omo now, right?" Jūshirō asked and locked eyes with Shunsui. "So, his rules don't matter, only our rules. So we shall have new rules."
Ichigo nodded. "What…new rules?"
Shunsui smiled. "Well, for one rule, you should speak when you need something, always. Never keep it to yourself if you are in pain, hungry, thirsty, or even if you need comfort. Keeping that from us is a way to make us very sad."
Ichigo nodded. "I…can try. I don't know how anymore," he said nervously. "If I mess up, will…what…"
"Shh, now," Shunsui said, running a hand over his head. "You won't mess up, and we'll help you remember, okay?"
Jūshirō realized what he was fearing. "Ichigo, when you messed up or got in trouble, what did he do?"
Ichigo turned his head away. "Um."
"Ichi-kun," Shunsui said and turned his face toward him, stroking his chin. "You realize that we won't hurt you, right? Even if you describe what he did, we will not harm you in any way. Shocking you for speaking, that was horrible. And hurting you in any way, no that will never happen."
Ichigo nodded. "He…he and the other one used a belt," he whispered.
"The other one?" Shunsui asked.
"Owner's brother."
"Why would he hit you with a belt?" Shunsui asked, still stroking Ichigo's cheek.
"If I resisted…" he said.
"Resisted?" Jūshirō asked with a frown. "Resisted what?"
Ichigo shook his head and turned away. Jūshirō could see the dampness spreading over the white cloth. "Ichigo, why are you crying?"
"I didn't like to do those things to them. But they made me, and sometimes there were so many," he whispered.
"What things, Ichi-kun?" Shunsui asked, squeezing him again.
Ichigo ducked his head again. "Dogs service their masters' needs."
"Service…" Jūshirō said and then his eyes widened. "Oh, Ichigo," he whispered. "He made you do things like that. Of course, he would do such a thing with a young man as lovely as you are…"
Ichigo's head came up and he turned toward Jūshirō, face turning red again. "I didn't want to do it with them. They were mean and hurt me and I didn't love them. But it was wrong and now…I can't do…I'm not…"
"Hush," Shunsui said, picking up Ichigo's hand and kissing the back of it. "That Owner was terrible to not take care of you. To make you services others, to make you do things you detested, that is not right. That is the wrong way to treat someone."
There was a long silence. "I…need to know the rules." Ichigo was trembling, Shunsui noticed.
"Well, other than telling us your needs, I think another rule is that you should stay close to us for the time being. Then another should be that you have to eat your meals and sleep properly." Jūshirō looked thoughtful and continued. "You must always tell us if there is something you don't wish to do when we ask it of you."
"I want to do whatever Shujin and Omo ask of me," Ichigo said quietly.
"I don't want you to do things you do not wish to do, like the other Owner made you do, Ichigo. If is something you dislike, I want you to tell us. Please," Jūshirō said, beginning to feel exasperated. Perhaps it was because his chest was beginning to feel heavy again.
"Do…does Omo and Shujin want to be serviced?" he asked finally.
"Serviced, Ichi-kun, are you speaking about sexual services? Like your other Owner forced you to do?" Shunsui asked with a deep sigh.
Ichigo nodded and Jūshirō sighed to match his partner. "Ichigo, we're not going to ask that of you. That is not what we are taking care of your for. It is not something that we need for you to do. You will never be asked for such a thing."
"But…but if I want to do so?" Ichigo asked in a trembling voice. "B-because Omo and Shujin aren't like Owner. And I want to make Omo and Shujin happy however I can."
Shunsui kissed the side of Ichigo's head. "Ichi-kun, you make us happy just being here. But I think that is quiet enough for tonight. Let us lie down together and sleep. Yes?"
Jūshirō nodded, standing and heading to the futon. He was already dressed in his yukata for sleep. He looked at Shunsui. "His night yukata is laid in the bathroom; your extra is in there as well."
Shunsui nodded and led Ichigo to the bathroom where he helped him undress and got him into the clean yukata. He removed his hat and hung it on the hook nearby, followed by his kimono and his kusodo and haori. He folded his hakama, and slipped into the yukata. Ichigo stood silently while he dressed, head down.
"Come, Ichi-kun, time for you to rest, and us," he said as he entwined fingers with him.
He led him where Jūshirō had already gotten under the covers. Shunsui helped him slip into the middle, then he crawled in beside him. Shunsui slipped one hand down and pulled out the hairtie to relase Ichigo's hair. He'd brush it come morning, he thought to himself. Jūshirō rolled to face Ichigo and Shunsui did the same on the other side. Ichigo rolled toward Jūshirō and the white hiared captain slipped an arm under his head. Shunsui reached up and took Jūshirō's hand while he moved to spoon himself behind Ichigo's body.
"His body is so cold," Shunsui commented as he got settled with his other arm over Ichigo's waist.
"I know, that is why I turned to kotatsu on for him today, but he doesn't complain," he said. Both realized that he was already fast asleep seconds after lying down. Shunsui squeezed Jūshirō's hand where he'd interlaced them.
"He expects to be punished for everything," Shunsui commented.
"But we gave him rules. Perhaps that will help," Jūshirō said with a sigh as he felt sleep coming to claim him.
"Good night, Jūshirō-kun, my love."
"Good night," Jūshirō responded.
Somehow, they felt like they now held the world between them.