Hey y'all! Sorry it took me so long, but my stupid laptop had to get fixed. It was totally agonizing! Well, now i'm back so here ya go :D

CHAPTER 12

Ichigo grunted as he awoke, instantly feeling lightheaded as he tried to sit, his body aching all over. "Aahh!" He gripped his side as quickly as he could, hoping to calm the pain. My body is broken… and I don't even remember what happened. I can't sense any reiatsu. Wait… Toshiro! Where the is my husband?

Ichigo panicked as the thought of his dear husband came into his mind. "Toshiro! Toshiro where are you! Aaahhh!" he screamed in pain as he tried to stand up, his mind spinning from the sudden severe drop of oxygen to his lungs. Damn this disease! How can I let myself be hurt so easily? "Toshiro, please answer me!" Ichigo once again started to drop to the cold floor, expecting to hit hard when he was caught by a pair of small arms that were hard not to recognize.

"Ichigo, please! Stop moving! You're hurting yourself!" Toshiro screamed as he wrapped his tiny arms around his husband. The white haired man froze as he saw Ichigo for the first time since their one month anniversary -also spending that in a cell- having been separated due to Ichigo's need for medical attention. Why they would bother keeping him alive after torturing him is beyond me, Toshiro thought to himself. But only half alive.

Toshiro's attention then dropped to look over his beloved husband, lifting Ichigo's shirt and running his small pale hand over Ichigo's broad, and now severely scarred and bruised, chest. His face twisted with concern as Ichigo winced at the soft contact.

"Ichigo, what did they do to you?" he asked, lifting his hand from Ichigo's chest and rested Ichigo's cheek in his palm.

By now, the substitute shinigami had already semi lost consciousness, drifting in and out of reality, but had managed to hear his dear yuki no hana's voice for the first time in at least a week. Ichigo tried a chuckle, but instantly stopped at the overwhelming pain in his abdomen, deciding to settle on leaning into his lover's palm to convey reassurance.

"Don't worry about me, Toshiro. I'll be fine. I've been through worse than this."

"But you didn't have a sickness that was eating you alive at the time, did you?" Toshiro leaned forward and kissed Ichigo's forehead, wiping away the orange hair. "I will worry about you. It is my right as your spouse, as well as your friend. You are the one suffering right now, not me. I cannot and will not lose you, Ichigo Kurosaki."

Ichigo managed a weak smile, somehow then having the strength to lift up his aching arm and rest his own large palm on Toshiro's small cheek, which the smaller man took willingly and leaned into it. "I don't want to lose you either, love. So that is why I will take this burden of torture upon me, no matter how much it may cost me. But I will not die. Ogichi will see to that."

The white haired taicho's face lit up with concern at the mention of the hollow. "How is he? Is he okay too? Did he get hurt?"

"Calm down, Toshiro," Ichigo chuckled. "Remember, he's the reason I'm still alive. He can't bear losing either of us."

Toshiro tried his best to bring a smirk to his face, for Ichigo's sake, rubbing the larger man's cheek smoothly. "I know, I know. But I'm still worried. About both of you. How long do you think he can keep this up? He can't keep it up forever, you know."

"I can for ya, hana." Ogichi's slurred voice rang through the air, Toshiro finally noticing those familiar black eyes and golden irises. "I'll neva' let 'em take ya or king away. I promise."

Toshiro laughed softly at the hollow's stubbornness. "I know, Ogichi. I'm just worried about what he would do to Ichigo in the process. To tell you the truth, I'm terrified."

The hollow lifted Ichigo into a sitting position, instantly and protectively wrapping the small man in his arms, burying his face in the soft white spikes, a small yet smug smirk forming on his lips. "I'll always protect ya and king, babe. Don't go underestimatin' me now."

The taicho scoffed lightly and tightened their embrace. "Shut up, baka. I love you, but just don't wear out yourself or Ichigo."

"I love ya too, Shiro." Ogichi lifted Toshiro's head with a slender white finger and brought the smaller man's lips in for a kiss, reassuring the taicho that he would be sure to get both Toshiro and Ichigo out to safety. "I know it's kinda unorthodox, but how did we get here anyways? I don' remember walkin' here by myself."

Toshiro's teal eyes filled with hate and sadness, cuddling into the hollow's chest for support. "Well, you remember part of it, Ogichi. It all started almost a month after Ichigo and I got married…"

"Ichigo… come on Ichigo we're gonna be late. Ichigo Kurosaki, you get out of bed this instant!"

Toshiro violently shook his husband's shoulders, wondering how Ichigo could sleep so soundly, and amusing himself by thinking that Ichigo could sleep through an atomic explosion. He had no idea how the read headed baka could do it, but he would sometimes become jealous. Being a taicho of the Gotei 13 called for one to be ready to be called to a mission at any moment. And because of this, one used to be Toshiro Hitsugaya had become a light - very light - sleeper.

This is becoming very bothersome. Toshiro had no choice but to then result to pouring ice cold water on Ichigo's sleeping form. He made his way to the nearest bathroom, filling a small cup with said liquid. Toshiro entered their bedroom - which used to be Ichigo's bedroom, now modified to accommodate two - and poured the icy liquid on Ichigo, laughing at his husband when said sputtering form jolted awake to stare at the white haired spouse.

"Geez Toshiro! You coulda just shook me or something," Ichigo mumbled as he picked himself off the bed and began drying himself with a towel Toshiro had brought with him from the bathroom.

"I did you idiot. I was shaking you for at least a good two minutes. I guess you really can sleep through an atomic bomb."

"Tch. You wish I could, Toshiro Kurosaki."

The small taicho grunted, unwilling yet to admit that he enjoyed being called by his new last name. "Don't flatter yourself. Now get ready fast. We're going to be late for school. You know, the activity we joined and had to quit the first day and haven't been back to for a couple of weeks? Yeah, that one."

Ichigo laughed at his husband, sensing the joking sarcasm, not used to it this early in the morning. How long has he been awake, anyway? Or is he just excited for school? He decided to go with the first option and decided to inquire as he dug through his closet for an outfit. "So, Toshiro, how early did you get up today?"

Said husband turned around and stared at Ichigo, his teal eyes roaming over Ichigo's bare torso, deciding to be a little… sarcastic and seductive. He strolled across the small bedroom that hadn't changed in appearance since Ichigo was in high school, wrapping his tiny arms around the strawberry's large abdomen and made contact with chocolate eyes.

"Well, to be honest, I have been awake since four this morning, just… watching you sleep. You snore so softly when you sleep."

The stronger man in turn snaked his massive arms around Toshiro's small waist, smirking slyly. "So, watching me sleep, huh? When did you become so sneaky Mr. Kurosaki? Should I be worried in the future and get revenge? Maybe a picture here and there for possible blackmail later down the road?"

"If you think you can get me, then have at it, Ichigo Kurosaki. But be careful," Toshiro started as he escaped Ichigo's grasp and stopped in the middle of the room with a gleam in his teal eyes. "I bite back."

Ichigo's sly grin grew even larger in size as he heard those last three words spoken from his husband's mouth. "I'd like to see you try, mister," he said. Suddenly, there was a loud banging at the door, startling both men.

"How long does it take for two men to change? I swear, you take longer than Yuzu!" It was Karin's voice. "If you two lovebirds don't leave now, you're gunna be really late!"

Both men stared at each other with concern on their faces, then thought it was wise to finish up getting ready, with Ichigo rushing to dig anything he could find out of his closet. The newlyweds rushed downstairs, not having enough time to eat a good breakfast.

"Aw man!" Ichigo sighed. "Now I'm gunna be really hungry at lunch!"

"You always are anyway, baka," mentioned Toshiro as he playfully nudged Ichigo in the arm.

Hand in hand, the pair rushed through the kitchen to get to the front door, until they were stopped by the younger Kurosaki twin, holding up two paper bags with a huge grin on her face. "Don't forget your lunch guys! I packed extra things in yours, Ichigo! I know how you're always hungry."

"Thanks so much, Yuzu," said Ichigo as he ruffled his sister's short blond hair. "I can always count on you to read my mind."

Yuzu laughed as her older brother messed up her hair, then turned to Toshiro to hand him his lunch. "Here you go, Shiro-kun! I hope you enjoy it! I tried not to pack too much, but enough to keep you sustained until you come back."

Toshiro had always liked Yuzu, thinking of her more as an equal than a sister. He had never really had any parents, but if he had, he wished his mother could have been like Yuzu. He smiled at the young girl, receiving the lunch.

"Thank you. I shall remember to eat everything, just for you," Toshiro said. He leaned forward and hugged Yuzu, the only other person in the world he would allow himself to embrace besides Ichigo. "Well, we'll see you this afternoon, Yuzu."

"Bye guys! Behave Ichigo! Keep him in line Toshiro!"

Ichigo pouted at his younger sister before they were totally out of sight. "Geez Yuzu! It's like you have no faith in me whatsoever!"

Toshiro scoffed as they were finally out of the house's line of sight. "She has faith in you more than you know, Ichigo. I sense it every time she looks at you."

"You really think so?" the strawberry asked as he took hold of his lover's hand in his own.

"Of course. Why else would she put up with you, baka?"

"Then how do you put up with me, Toshiro Kurosaki?"

The smaller man smiled, squeezing the larger man's hand for reassurance. "I guess, over time, you tend to get used to it. I guess it grew on me."

Ichigo in turn adorned a wide smirk of his own, feeling his heart swell with love for his new husband of almost one month. I have to start thinking about what I want to do for out anniversary. And this time, no Renji to screw things up.

"What are you so caught up in all of a sudden?" Toshiro's voice awoke Ichigo from his thoughts of the planning of their special anniversary.

"Oh nothing, yuki no hana. It's not important right now."

The morning portion of college passed by rather slowly and, to the lovers, things seemed almost too normal. Classes went fine without any interruptions, no hollow alerts, no strange happenings of any kind. It was kind of suspicious.

Of course, Toshiro and Uryu were the first ones to notice and become a little wary. And by lunch, Ichigo had to be told what was bothering them.

"Come on, Ichigo, think about it," Uryu began. "Just a couple of weeks ago, Karakura was busting through the seems with activity. And now, all of a sudden, everything just comes to a standstill? Something's not right."

Toshiro was the next to give input. "I sense it has something to do with Soi Fon and the stealth force. Spiritual activity usually becomes decreased before the arrival of squad two. We need to be ready for anything from this point on."

The substitute shinigami still didn't seem to get the main point. "How does a decrease in spiritual activity relate to Soi Fon and the stealth force being nearby?"

"Look, all I know is that it happens, so we need to be extra careful."

"Okay okay, Toshiro. You don't need to get mad at me. I just hate always being the last person to receive important info on everything."

No sooner did Ichigo get done talking, Renji burst through the crowd to reach the large group. "Ichigo! Hitsugaya taicho! I sense Soi Fon taicho's reiatsu! You need to get-"

Before the redhead could finish his warning, he was knocked from behind, falling unconscious to the floor. It's a good thing no one can see this or we'd have mass hysteria on our hands, Toshiro thought.

There, behind Renji's unconscious form, stood Soi Fon, along with…

"Kenpachi Zaraki!" Ichigo exclaimed, earning him a few stares from other students in the cafeteria.

This is not good at all. That was the thought on everyone's mind. Why would the sotaicho send Kenpachi? This was not going to turn out so well…

Sorry if you think it's short, but I wanted to get out something for you guys since you all waited so patiently! And because it is kinda long, i decided to split up the flashback, so you'll get the other part in Chapter 13. I know, i'm making you wait again. i'm so evil! but i love you all

And, if you wanna read a really good IchiHitsu fic while you wait for mine, read Hidden Truths by Toshirokun13. It rocked my invisible socks off!

I am also trying to get Toshirokun13 to help me co write another story i published called My Life as Yours. Chapter 1 of that is up! Check it out! Read it! and encourage Toshirokun13 to help me co write it!

Please review on your way out! i'll have Yuzu make you cookies... no wait... i'll have her make you brownies... yum...