Chapter 01

Blooming Narcissus

Now—

"Kurosaki-Sensei, there is a teenager here asking for you. We asked him to go home, but he sounds very determined to speak with you." A nurse frowned. "I would have asked him to wait in your office, but we suspect that he might be a delinquent." She wrapped her arms around the binder that was against her chest. "Would you like us to try sending him away again? We can ask security to remove him if you—"

"No, no, by all means, take him to my office, I'll be there shortly." The doctor replied, as he signed his reports at the counter for another nurse to file once he finished. "But if you left him out of your sight…"
"Then I would surely follow." The teenager finished, crossing his arms. "I have something that I would like to discuss with you, Kurosaki." His tone was icy, but it did not faze the man. "In private, in the least."
"A-Ah, Toushirou…" it was faster than Ichigo could have predicted. "I have three more lines to sign…" he stated as he was doing just that, and closed the file. "And done. Okay, let's go to my office to talk."
"It's amazing that they give you an office." His voice was filled with sarcasm and venom. It was obvious that he did not want to be there. "So? Where is your supposed office Kurosaki? Or are you making it—"

"Right this way, Toushirou." The Strawberry guided him down the hall to an elevator, up one level, and through a door that had a nameplate reading 'Kurosaki Ichigo' on it. "Go ahead and take a seat. Make yourself comfortable." He removed his doctor's coat to hang on a rack by the door. "If you don't mind, I need to check my mail really quick, but I'll be listening to whatever you came here to talk about, okay?"

Toushirou stood next to the empty seat in front of Ichigo's desk, feeling the smooth texture of the wood before encountering the fabric on it. There was no doubt that the furniture in this room was expensive to keep a professional look when visitors or board members would make their appearances. The office was a lot bigger than his own; there were two large couches, a few chairs, dozens of bookshelves, handful of graduating certificates, and many unprofessional photographs of him and his friends. He had found his picture with two women that meant a lot the world to him—not intimately, but still important.

His head shook out of the thoughts. "No." He heard the man stop in place. "This won't take long, and I would appreciate having your full attention for this." Seconds later, Ichigo came over to sit at his desk.
"Is Hinamori okay?" Of course he would ask this; it was usually why he would come. "I can make an—"
"She's fine, thanks to you…" he hesitated. "I'm not here to talk about others. I merely have a simple request that I would like for you to consider tomorrow if you have enough time. I know you're busy."

"Yeah… I am…" Ichigo looked at the large desk calendar in front of him. "I have four surgeries, six cancer patients, and I might have to fill in at the delivery bay if my colleague can't come in." He glanced up to look at the captain, only to see him look away with slight disappointment. "Is it something important?"

"…no," his voice betrayed him as it revealed the hurt in his tone. He cleared his voice and looked at him. "No," he repeated firmly. "These people need you. I'm sure you would need your sleep afterward, too."
Having him snap was not what he wanted to deal with right now after a long day of work. "Toushirou…"
"It's Hitsugaya-Taichou to you, Kurosaki." After ten years of knowing one another, someone would think that he would get this through that thick skull of his. "Anyway, I'm sorry that I wasted your time today."

The captain turned on his heels to leave with what dignity he could muster. "Toushirou," he stopped at his name being spoken. "Come here, sit down, and tell me what's on your mind." Said male merely stood there; debating. "I'm not going to say it again." Although it seemed to be a threat, there was genuine concern in his voice. "You came here to ask something from me. Let me determine whether I can or cannot make time for whatever it is you need from me." Eventually, Toushirou gazed at him.

"Tomorrow is the twentieth of December, Matsumoto, Hinamori, and others wanted you to be there for the party that they were going to throw at sunset." He gritted bitterly. "I told them not to bother you."

An innocent smile slipped on to Ichigo's face so quickly that he tried his best to hide it, but managed to fail miserably when being scowled at. It was obvious that Toushirou was trying his best to have him come to Soul Society for the birthday party that his lieutenant was trying to throw for him. With it being able to start at sundown, there was a good chance that he could make it over there with no problems unless there is an emergency before he left the hospital. Turquoise hues were burning a hole through the calendar on the desk as if trying to either erase everything for tomorrow, or add something to it.

"Are you inviting me to your birthday gathering, Toushirou?" Ichigo grabbed a pen and wrote down 'Toushirou's Birthday' on it to make him happy. If he had said 'party,' Toushirou might have stormed off.

"I suppose I am."

With the captain's pride being slowly hurt, Ichigo stepped in. "I'll do my best to make it there on time. Even if I am late, I will definitely be there." He could not hold it in anymore. "I hope they make enough proper meat for you though. You're quite finicky about it." Ichigo laughed softly. "Unless you only want me there because I know how you like it." The other looked away. "Are you staying over for the night?"

"No thank you, I should return to Soul Society to make sure that I do not disturb you."

"You're going to stay the night at my apartment, no arguing." Ichigo looked at the clock on the wall before standing up with a grunt. "Will stop by the store to pick up some meat, and we'll have our own grill on the patio. I'll even make my grilled beef teriyaki." He grinned when he received a scowl for the temptation. "Oh come on Toushirou, one night alone with me isn't going to kill you. I have a two-bedroom apartment. Kon sleeps on my bed. Besides, if Rangiku-san decides to cook tomorrow night, don't you want a decent meal before getting the stomach flu from her… choice of ingredients…?"

The debate in Toushirou's mind was over, Kurosaki Ichigo won. "Just for the night."

"Great, let's—" the office phone rang, and they both looked at it. Ichigo hesitated before picking it up and answer, much to the captain's disappointment. "Kurosaki." Someone on the other line said that he was needed. "Is it an emergency." They said it was not, but there was someone else that needed him. "I don't care who it is, I have other arrangements tonight, and in two seconds, I'm off the clock." The other understood and ended the call, to he put the phone down. "Okay, now we can leave. You got a coat?"

Toushirou ignored the stupid question because he came in with what he was presently wearing, so no, he did not have a coat. All he had were long skinny jeans and a thin long-sleeve shirt, plus shoes and other garment wears that were necessary. Unhappy about this, Ichigo grabbed his coat and threw it to the captain instead of helping him place it on in case he was somehow offended by it. It was difficult for him to learn that Toushirou strives for independence, but he was sometimes willing to listen when it counted. Ichigo caught him trying to bundle the coat up to his throat, and he placed a scarf around his neck before removing his hands when hearing the captain growl in disapproval.

He opened the door, and security was tackling a redhead with tattoos.

"Wait a minute, it's okay—let him go." The doctor demanded casually; not minding the fact that one of his best friends was being manhandled. Security officers obeyed by removing themselves from the man who instantly went to Ichigo's side. "Thank you gentlemen. Have a good night, and keep up the work."

"Finally!" Renji wrapped his arm around Ichigo's neck. "You'd think if I'd walk to your office, they'd know I've been here before!" He looked over to the other side to see the captain. "Oh… Hitsugaya-Taichou…"
"Will you stop acting as if you didn't know he was here?" The carrot top kissed him on the lips. "Anyway, what are you doing here, you're supposed to be in Soul Society this week." This had the redhead flinch.
"Guilty, and I'll be glad to take any punishment that you want to give me tonight." Ichigo stopped in place, and he stopped to look at him. "Something tells me that you have plans already made tonight?"
"Yeah, sorry about it. Tonight's all about Toushirou, and you'd only be a distraction." With a wave of his hand, he beckoned the redhead to join them. "You can leave the hospital with us, and be on your way."

"How generous…" Renji growled in annoyance, but snatched his hand. "What about next Saturday?"
"Next Saturday—you bastard, you just want to get laid." For that, the carrot top hit him over the head.
He whined. "Ow! I thought you were a doctor! You're not supposed to cause harm to the innocent!"
"We all know how innocent you are." They entered the elevator, only because Ichigo lead them to it.
"Yeah, but you're no saint either, Ichigo." His arms wrapped around the Strawberry's neck. "Right?"

The captain rolled his eyes at their bonding; he had never imagined Renji to be so clinging—they looked like brothers more than they do lovers. Either way, he was grateful that Ichigo was putting him in his place to let him know that the redhead was not the most important thing in the world. After all, Ichigo had many commitments that everyone had to accept; he was a doctor, a son, a brother, a substitute Shinigami, an instructor, a friend, and a lover. Perhaps many people knew this about him, but not many people wanted to acknowledge the double life that he still has to live because of his mixed blood. When the elevator doors opened, the three walked out of the hospital where Ichigo gave Renji one last hug.

"I'll see you another time Renji." Ichigo waved at him before walking in the direction of the store that would carry the meat they he wanted to buy. He looked up to the heavy clouds; feeling the snow coming closer by the minute. "Come on Toushirou, let's hurry up so we can get back to my apartment."

"You just wanted to make it back to watch it snow." The captain scorned, eating some watermelon for desert since the host bought some while they were at the store. "Again, thank you for the meal tonight."
"You're welcome. It's the least I can do because I have no idea what you would accept as a birthday present." They were outside, eating contently. "Besides, there's no guarantee I can bring something—"
"I merely invited you, Kurosaki. A gift is unnecessary." He looked up to the sky, watching as snow began to fall. "Tomorrow is about everyone enjoying themselves. Watching them be happy is good enough."
"Nah… tomorrow is all about you whether you like it or not." Ichigo reached over to attempt rustling his hair, but withdrew his hand before he could. "Sorry, I almost forgot you don't like to be touched much."
"Of course you did," there was no bitter tone to his voice. Toushirou was content from the dinner, the desert, and his favorite season. "Even I have good moods that you can't ruin with your stupidity."

"Oh? Are you in a good mood?" Turquoise hues ignored him, staring at the snow still. "Ah—you have a seed on your face." Without thinking of his actions first, he brushed his thumb up against the captain's cheek, wiping it off the sticky watermelon seed, and flicking it into the air over the patio. "There, gone."

"…Idiot. I could have wiped it off by myself."
"Yeah, yeah. It's a habit that I have, you know?"
"Yes," he wiped his face with a napkin. "I know."
"Well I can't help it when I'm used to helping out."

"Ah…" Toushirou looked at the half-eaten watermelon slice in hand, "I know." Eventually, he bothered himself to look up at the man. "Is there an outdoor bathhouse nearby? It sounds like a good idea with it snowing as it right now." There was some confusion on Ichigo's face. He faltered. "Never mind, it was—"

"There's a bathhouse down the street, the workers there know me and will give us a discount." That said as their answer, he tossed away the watermelon rim in the trash before heading inside the apartment.
"You seem a little too willing suddenly, Kurosaki. I hope you have no ill-manner intentions up your sleeves this evening." The captain glared at the man who was making a phone call right now.
"Hey there, this is Kurosaki, how are you?" He asked the receptionist politely. "Good, good. Listen, a friend and I are going to come by and soak at the bathhouse, so would you mind setting up that room?"
That room, Toushirou nearly glared in suspicion as the other continued talking on the phone. "W—" The Strawberry motioned him to remain quite while he was on the phone still. "Bastard," he mumbled.

"Oh—yes, I would appreciate that. We'll be there in fifteen minutes, bye!" The call was ended, and he looked over at Toushirou. "The bathhouse owner had a heart attack one day, and so now every time I'm there, I get a private outdoor area because I gave her treatment while only in a soaking towel." He waved a lazy hand at him to ignore the story. "So, if you want, a masseuse will be waiting there for us. I'm going to take them up on that offer though. It may all be women, but they do a good job."

"No thank you, I don't appreciate women touching me. Especially when they assume that I am a child."

Ichigo stopped to look at him with concern; hoping that nothing had ever happened between him and a woman in the past. However, seeing how his lieutenant was somewhat perverted, it was not that big of a surprise for him to think she might try something. His thoughts earned him a punch in the gut with Toushirou telling him that nothing had ever happened to him—just to make that clear. All that was muttered was a brief apology before walking over to spew red liquids in the closest sink, which Toushirou assumed was watermelon juice. He was spewing darker, thicker, red liquids… only to be diagnosed as blood, and the captain immediately regretting being so aggressive.

"Kurosaki—"

Said man raised a hand towards him to keep him at a distance. "I'm fine, don't worry about it." He wiped his mouth clean with a napkin before cleaning the kitchen sink. "I got into a fight with some humans, and I'm a little tender where you hit me." In a blink of an eye, Toushirou came over and lifted the man's shirt to see the discolored bruises on his stomach. "H-Hey, what in the world are you doing Toushirou?"

Realizing his actions, he withdrew himself. "Sorry."

"No, no worries… you just, caught me off guard." Ichigo lowered his shirt as well as the captain's hand. "Believe me, I'm not shy about my body." He smiled weakly. "But the bruising is grotesque… I know…"

"Did you manage to get these by protecting a little girl from a group of men that wanted to take advantage over her?" This earned him an odd glance. "Knowing you, you stayed there to take on the beating so the girl wouldn't get hurt. Then judging by the large bruising, they used several weapons."

"Were you stalking me and I wasn't aware of it or something?" He laughed. "That's exactly the case."

The captain stared at him in disbelief for a brief second—just long enough for it to be noticed, and he tore his gaze away to avoid looking him in the eyes. A smile nearly crept upon his lips, but was lucky enough that it did not become visible to the man that might think he was grateful that he was wounded by others. It was true that he was relieved, happy maybe, that the suffering he received had not taken a toll on him… and something more. His attention was drawn into reality when Ichigo carefully held his hand to coax him out of the apartment in order to go to the bathhouse as planned.

It only took a few minutes for them to get the bathhouse, get all prepped and ready to soak in the hot water, and do whatever they wanted from thereon. Toushirou was the first to get in the water while Ichigo was getting a massage that he truly deserved after all the things he would do for others. The captain know, though, that the Strawberry hand godlike hands of his own when it came to given a good massage, but he could not provide himself the great treatment. Thirty minutes later with his backside being loosened, the carrot top joined the bath after removing his towel to get in.

"Kurosaki."
"Hmm?"

There was a little hesitation before he spoke again. "If you would like, I can heal your bruises. I know you're still new to kidou, and you can't very well heal yourself." For the offer, the other smiled weakly.
"I didn't think that my bruises were that horrid to you." Ichigo chuckled. Before the captain could defend himself, he spoke again. "But yes, I would like that. Any help to dim the pain would be a great blessing."
"You're too strong to fully heal, so simmering the pain to a faint discomfort is all that I can muster." His form scooted over to sit next to him to do his work. "How does an idiot, like yourself, get so strong?"
"Because idiots, like me, have friends, like you, that they want to protect." Ichigo saw the confusion appear on the captain's face. "Toushirou," said male looked at him face-to-face. "What's wrong?"
"Other than Hinamori, you're the only one who dares to call himself my friend because of my odd appearance and cold personality." After a few minutes of using kidou, he scooted away. "So why—"

"What odd appearance? Your hair and eyes?" The other looked away. "Now who's the idiot? Toushirou, it makes you who you are. As for the so-called 'cold' personality, it's not that simple—you, are not that simple." He made sure to pause so that the captain would take a moment to embrace his words. "You may be proud, but not cold. How do I explain it… you're misunderstood, and you don't let people get close." Toushirou opened his mouth to argue, but Ichigo beat him to talk. "I understand why you're wary of others after what you've been through, I do. And I know the pain of accusations of being different."

Turquoise hues turned to the water, nodding. "Yes…" He knew this very well. "I know you do, Kurosaki."

"Anyway, is there anything else that you would like to do for your birthday? You ate a non-poisonous meal, you came here to have a bath while being snowed on. What's next on that list of yours?" Ichigo kept a watchful eye on him, watching as the captain began faintly blushing at his thoughts. "What is it?"

"Your guitar," he answered. "I want to sit in front of the fireplace, and fall asleep while listening to you playing the guitar." The red in his face vanished as he realized he was blushing. "That will be enough."
"Last time I played, though, you and everyone else…" Ah, he understood what he wanted. "I guess I'll prepare the couch for you then, or do you want a futon?" This earned him a scowled. "Futon it is then."
"I know I don't say this enough to you or anyone else too often—if at all, but…" Toushirou took in a deep breath, and looked at the man. "Thank you, for everything that you do for me, and for others, Kurosaki."

Said Strawberry smiled warmly, reaching over and rustling his head. "You're welcome, Toushirou."

Flickering flames reflected off the tiredly turquoise hues that were only a yard away from its inviting warmth in the winter cold. They stared deeply into the depth of the fire that he despised so greatly for being able to manipulate the opposite element; water, and ice. Wood cackling from the fire were not heard due to the classic guitar that Ichigo was playing on the modern rocking chair that he claimed to have in case he could not sleep. The notes were carefully struck with fingertips in a tender manner in order to express his passion for the sound of peaceful music.

This was what Toushirou wanted to fall asleep to, just for the night, with no one there to know.

"Go to sleep soon, I don't want to force you." The host whispered softly.
"Ah," he mumbled tiredly, already half asleep. "Bring your guitar tomorrow."
Ichigo smiled softly, still playing the instrument. "If that's what you want, then sure."
"Now then… go ahead… and place me under the spell of your fullbring, Kurosaki. I'm tired."

Obeying his commands, he played a song while using its peaceful melody to bring Toushirou into a nice sleep for the rest of the night. Although the Shinigami badge that he possessed was his first fullbring, it was no longer the only one that he possessed, there was his guitar and other items. Either way, the teen captain fell asleep instantly because of the trance the guitar placed him in before stopping the song. It was all he could do before smiling and tucking the captain in before deciding to pass out on the couch.

The bedroom was too far away, and the couch was just as comfortable.

At least this way, Kon in his dog gigai, could have the bed all to himself.