Chapter 05

Blooming Narcissus

Now—

For the past seven months, Toushirou had been talking nonstop about Kusaka Soujirou.

It was this month—this day that the boy was going to be graduating… and his friend would be killed.

Ichigo could not stomach the fact that he had to keep this information bottled inside when it was a very big deal for his friend. Against his better judgment, he stood in front of the Academy, waiting patiently for the boy to run from the building with Hyourinmaru in hand. A cold feeling penetrated the air—it was happening right now, he could see everything that he was did when he fought the other Hyourinmaru wielder. All of this turmoil had to be subsided somehow, for both the boy and himself, because he kept this dark secret from him. Toushirou suddenly thrust the doors open to escape the Hell of what just happened, only to freeze when seeing the carrot top pretending to be a black-haired man.

"You knew this would happen!" He ran over to him, pushing and shoving—occasionally hitting him. The man said nothing to him though. "Why didn't you tell me that I would have to lose Kusaka! Why didn't you tell me that I would receive the same Zanpakutou as him!" There was still no answer from the quiet man, and he angrily shoved him once more, causing him to fall on the ground. He pulled out his newly obtained Zanpakutou and placed it against Ichigo's throat. "Why didn't you warn me about any of this!"

"It was something that you had to go through." It was the only thing that he could think of. "One of you would have to carry on in the other's place. So now it's not me that you're becoming a Taichou for. You are doing it for Hinamori, and for Kusaka." The blade pressed further into his neck. "Go ahead, kill me."

Prepared to comply, he began to press the blade against his neck more—drawing blood to prove that he was not joking about fulfilling the offer. Just as he was about to finish him off though, his turquoise hues watched as salt-water tears slid down from the eyes of the man beneath him. There was nothing that the boy could see in Ichigo's eyes that said he was not ready to die at his hands… so why was he crying?

"I'm sorry," Ichigo knew he was crying, and brought a hand up to cover his eyes. "It hurts me, knowing that I've hurt you." His hand turned into a fist, clenching his hair tightly. "If you're going to kill me, do it!"

Staring at him… he became lost, and troubled.

The boy threw the Zanpakutou aside because he could not bear the thought of losing another person that he cherished. Tears also fell from his face in dismay towards the situation that he was in; not knowing what he should be feeling anymore. Ichigo slid up into a sitting position to have the crying child lean against him—until he saw the door begging to open. Grabbing the discarded Zanpakutou, he used a flash step with the boy in his other arm, and appearing elsewhere in a large field.

'If I sensed right… that was Aizen… I can't even look at him without wanting to kill him.' Ichigo thought bitterly before he set the boy down. He wiped his eye before helping the boy with his. "I'm sorry—"
"Stop apologizing." He smacked his hand away. "If you say that I had to go through, then I had to go through it." His hand wiped his own tears away stubbornly. "I can place it behind me anyway."
The Strawberry stared at him in surprise as he barely caught the transformation in Toushirou. 'I was right…' He thought in distaste. 'Killing Kusaka changed him dramatically.' This killed him even more.
"Now," Toushirou removed him from this thought, "there's no competition for which man I wanted more in my life." His hands came up to the hem of Ichigo's new attire to blend in with the villagers.
"Saying that there was a competition for who you wanted, is cruel." He softly removed the boy's hands. "It's okay for you to grieve. It's okay for you to feel weak, if only for the moment. I'll be your strength."

Arms wrapped around the man's body, crying silently tears. "You'll always be my strength."

Why… Why did a strong person like Toushirou, fall for someone like Ichigo?

Why was Ichigo confused about what he should and can feel in return?

"Toushirou," the man whispered. "I can't hold back any longer…"

Not sure if he understood him correctly, he looked up at the man to see him go down on one knee as if he were about to propose. It was not the case though, as Ichigo slowly placed his lips against his so he would be aware of what his intentions were going to involve. Toushirou had gone through the first base countless times whether Ichigo knew it or not since he would practice with him when he was sleeping. A pair of slender arms came around Ichigo's neck to invite him to do more—to do whatever he thought was appropriate. There was no turning back for the Strawberry if he were going continue any further with this sexually driven little male.

Toushirou pulled away for a quick breath, "I-I want this…" his voice was shaky. He was still new to most of this. "If I have to wait sixty years to get into your pants, I'll die." Ichigo was about to speak. "I want it."
Smiling softly, "I know you're determined to do this. What I was going to ask is, which position do you want? If you're so serious about this, who do you want to penetrate who?" He watched the boy blush.
"Y-You do it." His face buried into Ichigo's clothing. "I don't know what to do—you're the experienced one." The question made him so undeniable aroused though. "Oh G—just get on with it already Kuro—"

"Ichigo." Said man interrupted. "From now on, when alone, it's Ichigo to you." The other nodded slowly.

He did not know whether he was taking advantage of the boy against him, or if the boy was the one taking the advantages. Either way, he was tired of seeing him being an emotional wreck after twenty minutes, and wanted him to be emotional for a different purpose. Picking him up, they vanished in high speeds from flash stepping, and appeared where Ichigo learned his bankai. To make things easier for Toushirou, they started with the bath where their wounds would heal, and start from there…

After the white-haired graduated Shinigami settled down.

However, Toushirou was not going to allow Ichigo to slither away from sleeping with him; he was going to have him right now if it was the last thing he did. He climbed up on the man's body to wrap his arms around his neck, kissing him shyly until he adjusted to the rhythm that the other gave him. Mouths had began to part open for their tongues to battle one another even thought it was the Strawberry who was easily the winner. Feeling himself get excited, the little Shinigami began to rub himself against the taller one as a sign that he was ready to get things started. It started to rile Ichigo little by little until he growled lightly—startling the boy who thought he did something wrong.

"I have to know that you trust me first," he whispered. "I can't continue until you do."
"Of course I trust you. Do you think I would do these actions with someone I didn't?"
Ichigo blinked for the moment before smiling warmly. "No… not you, Toushirou."
"Good," his hands grabbed a hand full of his partner's hair. "Now stop teasing me."

"Not yet, I haven't even started with you."

Ichigo leaned forth and began to lick his ear… down to his jaw line… down his neck… and eventually reaching one of the already erected nipples. This one was too easily excitable that it was a little bit more than disappointing because there were more things that he wanted to do with him. He lifted the boy up to place his legs against his shoulders, leaning his back up against the rock wall, and serviced him with a slow approach. The last thing that he wanted to do, was to startle Toushirou enough to back out of their playtime by going too fast for him to enjoy. His black-now-reverted orange colored hair was grabbed tightly, but there were no cries of objections… only moans of pleasure. There was nothing stopping him now as he lowered the boy into the water after earning a good taste—and a nice blush from the boy.

"T-That's disgusting." Toushirou stuttered embarrassedly. "W-Why did you do that!"

"Because I haven't had a taste, obviously." He mused at the other's sexual frustration. "I'll make it—"
"I want it rough." Knowing that he was going to say how he would make their session nice and sweet.
However, Ichigo smirked as he told him otherwise. "Maybe when you're older, I'll make it rough."
This made him smirk also. "As soon as you return to my future, come find me, and give me it rough."
"Whatever you say, Toushirou." He gave him a deep kiss—and watched him gag at the taste. "Ready?"

"Y-Yes."

Brown hues watched the small one sleeping soundly with his head propped by his now-lover's lap, and Ichigo did not mind. He brushed through his soft white strands softly to let him know that everything was okay, and that everything was going to stay that way until he woke up. The only problem that he had with this situation, was that the Toushirou he knew… was a Toushirou that he had slept with. None of the things going around in his head were something that he could handle right now because it hurt.

Ichigo did not know what he was doing, but looking at this sleeping bundle on his lap, he knew that he was beginning to have strong feelings for him. Therefore, the question of the moment, was… what was he going to do about the situation that he was in—does he go along with this, or cut it short? Why was there a fleeting thought that he had to choose between two people that were the same person…? As soon as this boy woke up, he would tell him goodbye, and attempt to do what he could in order to go have to his timeline. It has been an entire year—who knew what everyone in that world was thinking about with him missing for so long.

They probably thought that he was abducted!

Even so…

"Ichi…go…" the boy began to stir. "Nh…"

How can he leave this person?

Turquoise hues revealed themselves. "Ichigo…?"
"I'm here," he whispered quietly. "You're okay."
"I didn't say that I wasn't okay." The boy hissed.
"Toushirou, I'll play you a song before I leave."

Said male stood up, looking at the other with anger and horror built into one. Toushirou knew that he could not hear him right—he would not let this man just get up and leave like this after what they did. It was not how they were going to end things. He would not allow Ichigo to go running off to the future to be with his present Toushirou that was not him at the moment. This was making things clear for Ichigo.

"If you're getting upset right now, how long do you think you will be waiting for me in the future?" A hand came up to caress flushed cheeks. "You've already won a part of me, Toushirou, so I should go back and keep my word to you, right?" He smiled. "You're important to me. But there's an entire world of people that are probably going crazy, wondering where I am. And I doubt you'd confess to kidnap."

"I didn't kidnap you!"

"Well, you're holding me against my will in this world, for one thing." His shoulders shrugged.
"Please wait until I become Taichou of the Tenth Squad before you go! I don't want to lose you yet!"
"I'm sorry Toushirou, but I can't do that." It was getting harder to explain. "I have family over there."
"You have me here!" Eyes shot wide as to what he said. "I hate you." He muttered. "You make me—"
"Aggressive, possessive, horny—" Toushirou slapped him across the face in embarrassment. "…ow."

"Just stay with me a little longer."

"We have all the time in the world in the future. There, I would not be so worried about everyone. I know you're in good hands because I've seen the man that you become." Ichigo was trying his best to make this seem a little rational. "I know that you just lost Kusaka, and I know you're scare to lose me. It tells me a lot about how you came to be this supposed icy Taichou." He kissed him on the forehead. "A while back, I would have never believed you to be so trusting and happy—I almost had a heart attack at your smiles and laughter!" This made the boy giggle. "See! Yes, I've finally gotten use to it!" One evil idea came to his mind, and began tickling him. "But now I have all the power in the world against you!"

"K-Kuro—I-I-Ichi—Go! S-Stop-it!"

Toushirou's laughter filled the air for a good ten minutes until his sides ached in pain, and he was sprawled out against Ichigo's body. All of that laughter had made him exhausted, too. Ichigo smiled at him to see how careless this icy boy can be if he was able to open up to the right person who cared enough to let him know that he was not alone. He leaned down and kissed his lips.

"I believed that you may have been forcing yourself to block others out…" His voice was gentle to ensure the boy that he was not making insults. "But then you met me, and realized that it was okay to let others inside your heart." Turquoise hues watched him intently. "When I leave… that ice will once again return, and it will be up to me to melt that ice over your heart one last time. Permanently."

Lips parted to speak, but closed.

Ichigo was right, he knew it.

"Please love me in return."

He turned away, blushing…

Did he really say that to him?

"What do you mean, Toushirou? To love you in return?" Not once had the boy said that he loved him, so what could he mean by this. Did this little man believe that he harbored true feelings. "Toushirou, do—"

"I love you."

Ichigo was silent for the moment, trying to think this through on an entirely different level. "Then it isn't fair when you're waiting sixty years in the future, for me to love you back, is it? The longer I stay in this world, the longer it would be for you to receive your Ichigo in the future. I can't stay here forever."

"…I know."

"Let's go back to the hut, and I'll play my guitar for you. It's actually a new song that I have been working on for you. Then, you'll fall sound asleep, and tomorrow morning you do what you need to, to be the man that I know you'll become." Earning a slow nod, Ichigo shifted his carrot top to black, picked up the boy, and left to return to the hut. "Besides, you won't have time to visit me when you're a Taichou."

"I would make time for you."

"Yeah… I bet you would."

"I said that I would, Kurosaki."

Ichigo laughed warmly at this. "Yes, yes. I know." When they were in the fields near the hut, he set the boy down. "But you have to remember something for me, for the next six decades." Toushirou looked at him seriously. As if he was thinking that this was his first real mission as a Shinigami. "You must remember that, no matter what," he brought a flower out of nowhere, "you are beautiful inside." He used the Spirits within the bulb, and it bloomed into a beautiful flower. "It has been an entire year since I have arrived. Happy birthday. I hope the next fifty or so years are more pleasant. So here's a daffodil."

"It's a narcissus."
"It's a daffodil."
"It's a narcissus."
"Fine, I'll keep it—"

Toushirou snatched the flower away from him. "Give me my daffodil!" He scowled at the man for being so difficult. "How did you make it bloom, anyway? It's winter!" As if on cue, it began to snow. "Well?"
"I'm not your average Shinigami." Ichigo smiled. "I placed some of my Spirit in that flower. It will stay alive no matter what happens—even if I die." He patted the boy's head. "Now then… let's get going."
Without hesitation, Toushirou clung to his hand, and held the daffodil in the other. "I will be the youngest Taichou ever, just wait and see! And when you get back, you better tell me you remember!"

Ichigo nodded.

Despite the fact that he had loose ends to deal with when he went home.

"Ya don' seem happy to be leavin' yet, Kurosaki-han." Gin smiled at that man who stood before him. "Ya sure ya wanna be leavin' that cutie behind like that?" This earned him a glare. "Oh—I ain't gonna touch him. I got Rangiku, remember?" With that said to come Ichigo's nerves, the Senkai Gates were opened.

"The guards won't be gone to long, if yer gonna go, go." He watched him take a step forth, but then had to hesitate in thought. "If yer worried 'bout going to your timeline, I got that taken care of already." The two sensed others coming back in a slow but sure pace. "Come on, they'll be here soon. Ya gotta go."

"You say that, but you have no idea of the pain you'll receive, when you leave a person behind that you care for so deeply, Ichimaru." Ichigo's black hair vanished to reveal its natural orange color. "It's painful."
"Ho? Ya been wearin' a clever little disguise, huh?" He withdrew his Zanpakutou. "To be honest, the color of yer hair matches yer eyes. Now then… get through that Senkai Gate before I gotta force ya."
His eyes glazed over seriously at the threat. "You could never force me to do anything." Just as he was about to fight him, he knew that he was not going to be worth it. "You have enough on your plate."
"As true as that may be, I believe yer father is headin' this way soon. To figure out what's goin' on. He's yer father, yeah? Kurosaki Isshin?" Gin smiled snakelike when he saw him flinch. "How interestin'."

"When it comes to Aizen's Zanpakutou, you'll be immune to its powers. So long as you're touching it."

The lieutenant's brows knitted in confusion to the useful information that he received from the man that he had become to know little by little. However, the Shinigami were around the corner… returning to their posts to protect the Senkai Gate for intruders on both sides of it. Telling him once more to hurry and make his decision about whether or not he was going to go back to his time or stay behind longer. It was becoming a little annoying at how long this carrot top was taking in order to make up his mind!

Ichigo sighed softly, and did what he had to do.

Sometime within the week, I will be DUMPING a LOT of Bleach stories onto the site, but only the first chapters. All of them are Ichigo x Toushirou. If you want to know when they are going to be posted, place my under your Author Alert! There are 15 stories that will be posted sooner rather than later.