A/N:
Left you with quite a cliffhanger there, didn't I?
Well, this chapter should make up for it then, hope you enjoy ^.^

Chapter 14
Soothing Almond

"WHAT?" Ichigo yelped while Uryuu yet again managed to bite his tongue, holding back a similar reaction. He kept quiet though, not wanting to give his father the satisfaction of seeing him upset.
When he had come back from Seritei 2½ years ago, his father had been furious. It had led to a fierce fight between two equally skilled Quincies that ended with the surprising result of both passing out from blood loss and exhaustion. When Uryuu had awoken, he found himself bandaged and alone and with the heated words between them burned in his memory.
He had moved out few days later, into the home he had not visited since his grandfather died.
"Uryuu.. You should keep the house.. " Ichigo's voice was low but determined.
"No."
"No?" Ryuuken raised an eyebrow at his son's simple answer and the redhead shut his mouth, jaw completely clenched.
"This is just a house.. Staying here won't change the past but Ichigo is a part of my future." He said while looking straight into eyes identical to his own.
Ryuuken pulled his cigarette box from his jacket too, took one out and placed between his lips. When the box had been tugged away, he lit the cigarette while speaking.
"Good to know. Then I have no further business here." He let out a huff and studied the two young men on the couch before him. Then he turned around and headed for the door.
"The papers in the envelope have already been signed. You deserve it.." and the door closed with a 'click'.

"W-what?" Ichigo stared in the direction the senior Ishida had gone, completely dumbfound. Uryuu snatched the envelope, tore it open and started reading through the papers.
"Rules of property transfer.. Legal transfer of ownership.. Hereby transfer the ownership of the house to Ishida Uryuu. Signed Ishida Ryuuken and lawyer! And the deed to the house is here too!"
"Does this mean he was just messing with you?" the redhead managed to ask, still unable to figure out what just went on. He was ready to give up his home for me..
The Quincy cleared his throat softly, claiming self-control again and put away the ecstatic joy pulsing through him. He had always worried about the day he would have to give up the place he was born and raised, the last physical memento of his mother and grandfather.
"Yes.. It seems he was testing me to see how serious I am about you. Surprisingly, I'm, quite serious." He said and got up to put the papers away in a ring binder standing under the shelve with pictures.
"Good. Because I'm in love with you.." Ichigo bit his lip as soon as he uttered the words, already regretting having said them. Not because he did not mean it, but because he was still unsure of the Quincy's feelings towards him. And he had only just realized his own a few momenta ago when the elder had slapped him in the face with it.
Uryuu slowly pushed the ring binder back in its place, hiding the blush creeping over his cheeks.
"You might have gotten older, but you're still quite dense, aren't you.." you don't do the things he's done over the past few weeks unless you host certain emotions toward a person.. or is a raving lunatic.. Though in his case, it might be both...
"How about that dessert by the way?" he continued and went back into the kitchen, hoping to break the awkward tension while making a mental note to clean that room thoroughly first thing in the morning.
The redhead followed, still slightly stunned by the Quincy's reply. He had not been expecting the other to act so casual after such a confession, but rather be quite awkward about it. Or start a pointless argument like they had used to so long ago.
The ravenhaired prepared a pot of tea and set out cups and plates and Ichigo found the cake he had put in the fridge earlier. He rarely ate sweets, but Yuzu's heavenly chocolate cake was something he enjoyed. For many years, it had been his only wish for his birthday and occasionally, she would make it just to spoil him at random while he was studying or if he had seemed too stressed out. 'Because you're such a great brother, Ichi-nii' she would usually say. I'm seriously never moving too far away from that girl. He mused while cutting the small cake in two pieces and placing each piece on the plates Uryuu had set out.
"Oh god, this is delicious!" the Quincy burst after the first bite, completely overwhelmed by the moist, rich taste of dark, bittersweet chocolate.
"Yea.. Yuzu is amazing like that" Ichigo smiled softly, enjoying the subtle sparks in the dark blue eyes.
"You know, it's getting quite late.. You're welcome to borrow the guestroom again if you want?"
"Hn? Oh.. S-sure, I'd like that."

A hot mouth trailed kisses up his neck until it connected with his own lips. A playful tongue poked its way past them while eager hands explored his naked body. He moaned in response, just as eager.
But soon the kisses turned to bites.
"Ouch! What was that for?" he yelped as blood was drawn from his bottom lip.
Another bite at his neck made him flinch.
"Kurosaki, what're you doing? Stop it!" nails scratched his back painfully.
"Stop it! Stop. Let go of me!" he pushed with all his force to get the redhead off him but he barely moved.
"I-Ichigo, let go!"
A sharp pain pierce his stomach and the redhead finally release him, revealing empty eyes, white bony mask and a gaping hole in the toned chest.
"No.. no this is.. Isn't happen.. ing" he gasped and looked down. Zangetsu, sticking out of his blood covered skin.
"N-cough-no.. Ichi" his eyes lock at the monster in front of him, Orihime hanging lifeless from the hand squeezing her neck
"NOO!"
"Ishida! Wake up!"
Uryuu shot up in his bed, covered in sweat, his heart threatening to burst out of his chest, mind flooded with bloody images.
"I.. Ichigo?" he panted.
"Uryuu, are you okay?" the redhead asked. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding the Quincy's hand tightly with worry written all over his face.
"Yes! Yea, I'm fine. It was just a bad dream.." Uryuu answered slightly disoriented and slipped out of the bedroom and into the bathroom do splash some cold water in his face.
"It sounded like a horrible nightmare.."
"It was.." he sighed and turned off the water. His hair was a mess, bangs clinging to his face while the back stuck out in every possible direction, but at the moment, he could not care less.
Making his way back to the bed, crawling under the still warm covers, Ichigo studied him curiously. He wanted to ask what it had been about but figured it to be a bad idea. He was about to get up and go back to the guestroom when Uryuu graphed his wrist and pulled him back down.
"Don't.." Please..
So instead, he crept under the covers too, wrapping his arm around the slim waist and pulled the Quincy close. Pale lips soon covered his own in an intense kiss. Uryuu entangled his fingers in the orange hair, wanting to wash away the horrid memories with the taste, sense and feel of the former Shinigami substitute.
The redhead's mind was drowning in the sensation of the demanding touch and every fiber of his being was screaming to let lose his desire for the Quincy, wanting nothing more than to ravish him like he had so many times in his dreams. I can't do that; I would end up hurting him.
A slim arm snaked around his waist and pulled him closer, resulting in sudden gasps from the both of them as clothes erections rubbed against each other.
I hated him so fiercely.. Just a few weeks ago.. A pang of regret surged through Uryuu, making him claim the former Shinigami substitute's mouth in a passionate kiss yet again. And the nightmares of that monster.. He gripped the edge of the white boxers covering the tanned skin and pulled them down, allowing the other space enough to maneuver them off completely and tug his own down afterwards.
But now, I want this.. He inhaled sharply when Ichigo rolled over on his back, pulling the ravenhaired on top of him.
For what felt like an eternity, they ley there flush against each other, tongues dancing around each other, exploring the others mouth and lips while their hips softly rolled, making just enough friction to bring jolts of pleasure until Ichigo broke the kiss leaving both of them panting.
"Uryuu.. hah… Please… I want more of you.." he managed.
"H-hold on.. I just had an idea" Uryuu said and trembling crawled off the redhead and the bed. He headed for the bathroom in the hallway and roamed the shelves until he found what he was looking for; a bottle of almond oil he used to bathe in to sooth his skin after getting wounded.
"Here. I think this would work well as lubricant" he blushed furiously as he rejoined Ichigo who examined the bottle for a few seconds before popping it open and pouring a little into his hand. It was a smooth oil that did indeed smell like almond.
Much to the Quincy's surprise, he reached down between his own legs and began softly massaging his own hole, sliding in a finger while applying the lube. Turning his head, he noticed the stunned look and the pinkened cheeks.
"I figured you'd be too sore after earlier" he smiled softly. He let out a quiet moan as he slid in another finger, watching the Quincy blush even more.
Uryuu stayed completely still, watching what the redhead was doing. Never figured him to be that considerate he thought and swallowed hard as a third finger was added. And this definitely isn't his first time..
Then the fingers were extracted and the Quincy was forced from his thoughts by the pleading voice telling him the redhead was ready. Slowly, he positioned himself between Ichigo's legs and started leading his throbbing erection in.
"Oh god" he gasphed, dropping his head down to rest on the tanned chest while the redhead grit his teeth, trying to relax his body. He's bigger than I remember.
When completely joined together, they both held still, adjusting to the feeling. After a few moments of shallow breaths, Ichigo ran his fingers through the raven locks, making the Quincy tilt his head to look at him through foggy glasses. He carefully slid them off and could just reach the small table beside the bed. The blue orbs were completely glazed over with restrained lust and he realized that Uryuu was doing his best to keep still until told otherwise.
"You can move now"
The Quincy let out a breath he had been holding and bit his bottom lip as he moved his hips, pulling out slightly only to push back in, stars already appearing behind his now tightly shut eyelids. The feeling was amazing.
As he repeated the action, the redhead moaned quietly and rolled his hips to meet the soft thrust, each time intensifying the tension between them. But they both kept the calm pace, savoring the sensation of the slowly building climax none of them was in a rush to reach.
Their lips met in a tender kiss and their tongues caressed and explored each other amongst soft moans until Uryuu was close to his limit. He pushed himself up with one arm as support and the other reached down to stroke length that had been throbbing impatiently between them, while still thrusting his hips softly. Within long, Ichigo started shuddering and moaned loudly as his release washed over him, creating a tension that send the ravenhaired over the edge with a yelp, nearly making him collaps.

While regaining their senses side by side on their backs, Ichigo couldn't help but notice the lingering scent in the air. Behind the heated smell of pheromones and sex was a heavy and not at all unpleasant hint of almonds. And I'm sore at all..