Hi hi all. I am so so totally sorry this chapter took soooo long to get here. I was being completely lazy! Have no fear though, i'm well on my way with the next chapter already, so that should be posted sooner than this one took to post...

I'd just like to take a moment to thank the beautiful people who left me those nice reviews that inevitably put a smile on a face. You guys are the best!!! kisses

Disclaimer: if i owned it, i woudn't be writing about it on ff now would i?

Ichigo closed the kitchen cupboards and proceeded to head over to his front door. The door wasn't very far away, so Ichigo got there quickly. As he reached for the doorknob, he heard the sound of the bell again, this time it was louder though, as the bell was nearer.

'What the hell? Why is Yuzu so damn impatient today?'

As he pulled the door open, however, he got the shock of this life.

'That… definitely isn't Yuzu…'

"I-Ishida! What are you-?"

The leaner man looked away, blushing heavily! Ichigo realized why and began to blush also. They just stood there a while, blushing in the uncomfortable awkwardness of the silence that engulfed them, until Ishida spoke gently.

"Kurosaki? Are you going to keep me out here all day?"

"Uh… Ah… S-sorry, sorry…"

Ichigo certainly had no intentions of keeping him outside at all, especially considering the little fact that Ishida was the man of his dreams, or at least the man that graced his dreams every night since the two had met. He didn't understand it at first though, and he was always furious with himself for dreaming about the Quincy, but after a while, he gave in to the dreams and found he quite liked the boy. Everything he did was magic… to Ichigo at least!

Ichigo knew he wanted Ishida badly, and if that blush on Ishida's face meant anything, he wanted him just as much.

Ichigo moved aside to let the Quincy pass.

"Please, come in."

Ichigo closed the door behind them as Ishida walked around surveying his surroundings.

'So this is where he lives… Cute…'

Ichigo led Ishida over to the living room. Ishida sat on one of the couches there and found his mind lingering on the little fact that Ichigo was sitting on that very couch not too long ago, wearing exactly what he was wearing now… nothing but his boxers.

Ishida found himself blushing again, but upon remembering that he wasn't alone, he promptly tried to busy himself with thoughts about anything other than Ichigo, hoping beyond hope that said boy hadn't noticed the streak of crimson along his cheeks.

But it was in vain. The damage had already been done.

Ichigo, who couldn't take his eyes off of the boy since he got there, whose eyes stalked the younger's every movement from the moment he entered the house to when he sat down on the couch, the same couch he got off on often thinking about the one who was currently occupying it, had noticed. He noticed when Ishida sat down, that he almost immediately forgot his surroundings, lost in deep thought about something. But he was content just watching him breathe, the rise and fall of his chest, the chest whose skin he wanted to taste, the skin he yearned for, night after sleepless night. He was content so much so that he didn't think it necessary to alert him to his surroundings just yet. He was briefly startled though when he saw the boy smile, a genuine one, and then a crimson blush flared across his cheeks. He saw him change his disposition from cool and collected, to hot and bothered almost instantly, adjusting his sitting position to a more comfortable one in the process.

Ichigo couldn't help the smile that formed at his lips. He knew Ishida was thinking of him now. To anyone that may have sounded a little conceited and vain, but he knew he was right, he had to be.

One thing still confused him though, and he felt he needed to ask.

"Ishida… why are you here?"

Indeed, Ishida had been wondering exactly the same thing for some time now. It seemed he had feelings of some sort for the 'Soul Society' approved substitute shinigami, feelings he didn't quite understand yet, feelings he was seemingly afraid of, but also wanted to learn more about. But of course he couldn't tell this to Ichigo. No, none of that would ever reach the boy's ears. After all, to Ishida's knowledge, Ichigo was as straight as a needle.

"I noticed you looking through your cupboards as I was passing by and I realized that you may have run out of food. I just came from the grocery store, so I don't mind sharing."

Ichigo was touched. He didn't know that Ishida was capable of ever being nice to him. He was moved beyond words, speechless, dumbfounded even!

"Only if you want it, of course…"

He trailed off at the end, knowing all too well that the substitute shinigami meant to refuse him, when in fact, it was the exact opposite.

"… Arigato… Ishida."

Before Ishida had time to process Ichigo's gratitude, he found himself being embraced in the first hug he had received in years! It felt good. But Ishida wasn't sure he wanted any physical contact just yet. After all, he was still struggling to understand what he was feeling for this… this boy!

"I-Ichigo… sh-show me the kitchen! I'll prepare us lunch."

Ichigo pulled away from Ishida, hesitantly no less. Ishida had seemed somewhat tense about the hug.

'Was I wrong about him? Does he not want me the way I want him? Or is he just playing hard to get? … Or maybe… Nah… But it does seem that way… Is Ishida… confused??'

He smiled at the new realization.

'We'll have to remedy that, won't we?'

Indeed, he smiled deviously to himself.

"Kurosaki? Won't you show me the kitchen? Or do I have to go find it myself?"

Ichigo was on his feet now and was about to lead him to the desired room, when something hit him.

"What'd you call me?"

Ishida was taken aback by the question. He hadn't been expecting it.

"Um… I called you Kurosaki…"

He was a little unsure as to why Ichigo wanted to know this, but he was fairly certain that there was a hint of sadness in his voice.

'Why would he be sad? Does he…? No! Something like that just isn't probable!'

Whatever his thoughts were, he brushed them aside and followed Ichigo who was now leading him to the kitchen. Instead, he chose to ponder what he should, or rather could prepare with the ingredients he had to work with. Ichigo showed him where everything was in the kitchen and then left Ishida to his own devices.

Ichigo went back over to the living room and flicked the television set on to, would you believe it, the food network! It seemed everything was out to torment him about his growing hunger. After only a few minutes of watching Emeril work his magic, Ichigo was officially the most hungry he had ever been in his entire life.

He turned off the TV and stormed off to the kitchen. He arrived just in time to see Ishida looking through one of the low cupboards, probably searching for a pot to cook in.

Seeing Ishida bent over like that with his butt sticking out for Ichigo's viewing pleasure sent all thoughts of hunger out of his head, and a new type of hunger slowly began to consume him. He couldn't control himself. Promptly, he began to walk over to leaner boy.

Ishida suddenly felt Ichigo's reatsu getting stronger, which meant that Ichigo's would have to be getting closer to him.

Ishida stood up immediately from his compromising position. He didn't want Ichigo to see him like that, but that didn't necessarily mean he wouldn't want to see Ichigo like that…

He sighed to himself sadly and turned to see Ichigo looking startled, probably because of fast and unexpected Ishida got up, pot in hand.

Ichigo stepped back a little, giving Ishida his space. He didn't want to scare Ishida away. In fact, he would love it if the exact opposite were to happen.

"So… where's the food?"

Ishida frowned.

"I haven't prepared anything yet Ichigo. Cooking takes time."

Ichigo simply nodded and sat down on a counter top. He watched hungrily as Ishida took the pot over to the sink to rinse and then began to fill it with water. Ichigo noticed how again Ishida became lost in his thoughts. He noticed that ever since Ishida lost his powers, he had started spacing out a lot. Ichigo wanted to know what troubled the boy so deeply. He was genuinely concerned.

He jumped off the counter and slowly began making his way over to Ishida. Ishida on the other hand was wrapped up in his own thoughts.

'Why does this have to be so difficult? What's with these strange new feelings?'

Ishida couldn't understand it all. He knew he wasn't gay, although many people would beg to differ. He just seemed to have some strange attraction to Ichigo.

Ishida sighed slightly as he gradually snapped back to reality, noticing almost immediately that the pot was almost filled to the brim.

Ichigo was almost close to Ishida now when he heard the younger boy sigh sadly to himself. He reached out, more concerned than anything else, and placed both his hands on Ishida's hips, just as he was picking up the pot of hot water.

Ishida jumped as he felt something hold on to him, causing the pot, now in his hands, to fall back to the sink. Some of the water splashed up from the pot and onto Ishida's bare right hand. The boy winced in pain and held on to his hand with the other, completely forgetting the hands at his hips.

Ichigo witnessed the entire ordeal. He felt bad, especially since it was his fault Ishida's hand got burned, causing him pain.

Ishida now had the burnt part of his hand to his lips in an attempt to sooth it. Yes there was a tap full of cold water right in front of him, but Ishida felt like he didn't really like water at the moment, so he was content to just sucking on his hand for now.

Ichigo, however, was not. Since it was his fault this whole thing happened, he felt he should do something to help.

Ichigo removed one of his hands from Ishida's hip and used it to grab hold of the boy's injured hand. Ishida was startled as his hand was taken away from him. He turned to see Ichigo looking at him rather apologetically.

"I-I'm so sorry… Uryuu."

Ishida was very confused at this point. He knew Ichigo couldn't be gay, but that didn't explain why he was acting like that toward him.

'Ichigo… are you...? Do you… have feelings for me?'

As if answering the question, Ichigo took Ishida's hand and placed it to his lips. Ishida was too shocked to do anything. He just stood there, and let Ichigo do what he wanted.

"I'm so, so sorry Uryuu…"

He kissed Ishida's injury again.

"Please forgive me…"

With that last sentence, Ichigo parted his lips and began sucking on Ishida's hand, just as Ishida was doing to himself previously. Apparently Ichigo also had something against water…

Ishida on the other hand, realized he quite liked the new sensations Ichigo was providing him with. He shut his eyes tightly, feeling nothing but bliss. The way his tongue moved across his hand, not too harsh, yet not too gentle, but rather calmly caressing the bruised skin beneath it, sent waves of pleasure throughout Ishida's body.

Ichigo pulled both their bodies closer together just as he began to move his tongue a little more harshly. He was getting horny again, and so more frantic.

Ishida grabbed a hold of Ichigo's hand, the one that was on his hip, with his uninjured hand, just as his knees were about to let out. He let his head fall back onto Ichigo's shoulder as a soft whimper escaped his lips.

Ichigo was more turned on than ever now, and getting hornier by the second. He pulled away from sucking on Ishida's hand in favor of kissing up his arm instead, while the hand, now around Ishida's waist, was keeping him firmly in place against him.

When he finally reached up to Ishida's neck, he began licking and sucking and biting, not too harsh, but harsh enough. After a few seconds of enjoying the feeling of Ichigo's tongue on him, he came to the realization of what Ichigo was trying to do. However, realizing something and doing something to prevent it from happening were two very different things, especially since his voice seemed to give out on him so that he was forced to moan out his words.

"… Ichi… go…"

Ichigo swore his knees gave out on him. He struggled to keep himself standing. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that hearing Ishida say his name like that would have this reaction on him.

"Ichigo… st-stop. Stop. That's going to leave a mark…"

"Mmm… I was kinda hoping that would happen…"

He left Ishida's hand so it was now resting on the edge of the sink, and his hand was now free to do whatever it wanted. He trailed his hand up the front of Ishida's white shirt, over his defined abs and chest, until he got to the top button of the shirt. He immediately began working on it. Eventually he got it loose, but he found he still didn't have enough room to work with.

Ishida's shirt was fully unbuttoned now and lying on the floor. He looked confusedly at his bare chest a moment, wondering where his shirt had disappeared to… He was sure he had it when he walked into Ichigo's house…

'Ichigo! Could he have-? No! It can't be… But then again, he is trying to give me a hickey right now… Wait what?!'

"Ichigo…"

"Hmm?"

"A-Are you…?"

He paused for a moment, unsure of how to phrase the question.

"I'm not gay, if that's what you're asking."

"So then, why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do all this if you're not?"

He stopped as if thinking and then turned Ishida around so they were now facing each other. Ichigo had his hand on Ishida's side now, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the boy's tummy.

"I'm not sure how to explain this…"

Ichigo was telling the truth.

"It's just that, well… you're just so damn sexy! I couldn't understand it myself at first, but now that you're here, it all makes sense. I think, I'm gay for you…"

Ichigo was looking down at this point. Ishida understood perfectly what Ichigo was saying. He felt the exact same way!

"Ichigo?"

"…"

Ichigo didn't budge. Ishida placed his hand under Ichigo's chin and gently forced his head up, so they were looking into each other's eyes. He gave Ichigo a reassuring smile.

"I think I may be gay for you too, Ichigo."

With that said, Ishida leaned in and caught Ichigo's lips with his own. Ichigo wasted no time. He quickly parted his lips to allow Ishida access. Ishida still seemed hesitant though, so Ichigo decided he would take the lead.

Ichigo used the hand at Ishida's back to pull them closer together, while the hand at the boy's side, came up to caress his cheek.

The kiss was slow at first. Ichigo was being careful not to scare Ishida away, while Ishida was just getting accustomed to the situation at hand. As time passed by, however, the kiss grew more intense, and soon they were forced to pull apart for breath.

The two of them stood gasping and panting for a while and when they finally caught each others' gaze once again, they couldn't help but smile, and also blush a little. The whole scene was very cute.

Ichigo looked at Ishida who was now looking away.

"Uryuu…"

Ishida looked at Ichigo now.

"I want to kiss you again."

Ishida was surprised that Ichigo would make a statement like that rather than just kiss him. Ishida smiled in approval and leaned in once again, but Ichigo seemed to have other plans. He put a long finger to Ishida's lips causing the boy's cheeks to go a bright crimson color, and then grabbed his hand and proceeded to pull him out of the kitchen.

"I-Ichigo?! What are you-?"

"Let's find a more secluded spot; somewhere the neighbors can't see us very easily."

Ishida was confused. He hadn't sensed anyone before, but just to make sure, he looked back and sure enough he saw someone peeping out from behind a curtain in the house next door. He looked at Ichigo who now had him pinned against the outer kitchen wall.

'No windows nearby…'

"Ichigo? How long?"

"Huh? How long what?"

"How long has that person been watching?"

"…" Ichigo hesitated.

"Ichigo. How long has he been watching?"

"The whole time."

Ichigo said regretfully.

"But you know how the people in this neighborhood are, if they see something interesting, they watch."

Ishida did know how the people in that neighborhood were, he had been living there for a good deal longer than Ichigo. He also knew that they were the type to talk.

Ishida felt sick. He felt as if he had been twisted and manipulated and worst of all, he felt he had been used. He wanted out, he needed and escape and desperately searched for one.

Ichigo hadn't seemed to notice that the situation had changed considerably. He leaned in to kiss Ishida again, but this time he was stopped.

"Where's the bathroom?"

It was the quickest thing that came to Ishida's mind.

"It's uh, down the hall. What's wrong?"

"I don't feel too well…"

This time, he was telling the truth.

Ichigo was concerned once again.

"Uryuu? What's wrong?"

Ichigo reached up to touch Ishida's naked shoulder, but this time the found his hand was slapped away.

"The bathroom Ichigo." Ishida said flatly.

Now Ichigo was really confused. Ishida brought his hand up to his mouth and covered it and looked desperately down the hall.

Ichigo looked at the boy slumped against the wall, all that pale flesh exposed for Ichigo to see, but not touch though. It was pure torture. He so desperately wanted to lick and taste and just explore every inch of that slim body. But Ishida's well being came first.

He took the boy's hand, not sure of where exactly he was allowed to touch, and guided him to the bathroom.

When they got there, Ichigo propped Ishida up on the sink.

"I'm just going to get you a towel, ok? I'll be right back."

He made his way to the door, but stopped just before he exited the room.

"Uryuu." He had a very serious look on his face now. "You don't look too well. I don't want you locking the door."

With that said Ichigo stepped out of the room and slid the door to close it.

Ishida, however, had no plans to obey Ichigo, even if it was his house. He had all intentions of locking that door. He needed some time alone, away from Ichigo.

Ishida shakily made his way over to the door, just as Ichigo was making his way back. Ishida realized and quickly locked the door. He leaned against it and slid to the ground.

'What has become of my life? What will become of my life now? I'll be even more of an outcast. More and more people would start hating me, and making fun of me. I can't believe Ichigo would do this to me. I can't believe it…'

Ishida remained lost in his thoughts.

Ichigo was at the bathroom door now. He tried to slide it open, but it just wouldn't budge.

'Did he lock it? Dammit! I specifically told him not to!'

"Uryuu?"

No answer.

"Uryuu are you ok in there?"

Still no answer.

"Uryuu!"

He heard a slight movement behind the door this time. He stopped his knocking and leaned on the door to listen in. he heard nothing. Ichigo began to panic now.

"Uryuu! Open this door right now! Uryuu!"

By the end of his sentence he was pounding furiously on the door, and then, all of a sudden, he stopped. Ichigo made a mad dash for the keys. He got it and was back in front of the door in record time. He fumbled with the lock a little because he was in such a rush, but eventually he unlocked it. He slid the door open in a haste, and was about to run inside when something caught his eye.

Ishida.

On the floor.

Unconscious.

And OH GOD! Was that… BLOOD?!

Ok so personally i thought this chapter was like way too long!!! Ok well this entire fic is too long, it was supposed to be a one-shot, but somehow it's managing a lot more than that. so troublesome... XD

drop me some reviws if u're up 2 it. they'll b greatly appreciated.

-toodles!