Here's a longer chapter for you all. It could be split, but I figured a longer one was better than two shorter chapters. Thanks again for all the responses, it warms my heart.

Enjoy,

When the light finally began to fade from around Ikkaku, he had lost all concept of time. The pain in his body was still steady and intense, but he willed himself awake none the less. He felt his eyes open slowly, as if doing so too quickly might rip them out. He gazed up at the ceiling of the healing center for a few moments, taking silent inventory of each and every place that hurt, and was quite impressed by how much of him ached. He tried to move gently, and found that though it hurt to do so, the increase of pain was not substantial, and so he lifted his head.

His body was destroyed. The skin on his chest was raw and places on his arms had muscles exposed. It was quite the sight, but he was alive, and he hadn't expected to be after being hit by that cero. He supposed it was to be expected that he would be mangled in the experience.

Tenderly, being as careful as possible because everything hurt, he sat up slightly in the bed, still resting on the pillows. His arms were weak and as he struggled to get them to do what he wanted, he swore lightly under his breath. When he did, he heard a shuffling on his right, and turned his head to see wide blue eyes staring in disbelief.

"Ikka…" The rest of the man's name was lost as the small shinigami got out of the second hospital bed in the room and came to stand next to the injured fighter, tears welling up in the corners of those big orbs. Ikkaku grinned at the healer.

"Hey Hana. Ya'll righ'?" Hanataro let out a short laugh at that, and a tear ran down his face. At that, Ikkaku frowned slightly.

"Hey, don' cry, baka, tha's no way to say hello." He reached up a weak hand and brushed away the tear, letting his hand rest gently cupping the other's cheek as Hanataro held his hand in place with both of his and closed his eyes, starting to cry harder.

"I'm just glad you're awake Ikkaku. I was so worried. I, I was, I just…" He couldn't finish the thought, and simply sobbed into the other man's hand, feeling the warmth of it against his skin and relishing the moment of relief he felt. Ikkaku softly rubbed his thumb across the other's cheek, trying to soothe the man who belonged to the soft, smooth skin beneath his touch.

"Hush, Hana, it's alright now, eh? I'm alright. Don' cry, my Hana; don' cry." Hanataro sniffed and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, a look of confusion crossing his features.

"Since when am I yours, Ikkaku?" The man frowned slightly in contemplation at the question, then answered calmly.

"Since now, if you want to be." He looked into those beautiful blue eyes and went on, "I was lost in my mind somewhere until I could wake up, and the whole time I just wanted for you to be ok. I kept thinkin' that I could handle the pain I was in, I just had ta wake up to make sure ya were ok. That's all I wanted Hanataro." His hand was still on the smaller man's face and he felt the other lean closer into it in response.

"I…" He closed his eyes and for a moment he said nothing, but then his eyes opened once more. "I do want to be yours, Ikkaku; very much." The healer suddenly looked pained, and this worried Ikkaku. "I want to, Ikkaku, but, I don't think I…"

"IKKAKU!" At that moment a previously exhausted Yumichika who had been asleep on a chair near the end of the bed had woken up and seen his longtime friend awake and talking to Hanataro and had been unable to contain his joy, completely unaware that the two had been having a discussion. He bounded to the side of the bed, hugging his friend around the neck who immediately howled in pain from the rough nature of the greeting, prompting fourth division healers to rush into the room at the noise. When they finally managed to pry Yumichika off the injured man it was only thanks to a strong sedative they had needed to give him in order to regain some order of control. The loopy fifth seat then proceeded to pass out on the chair where he had previously been sleeping as the healers repaired the new damage the well-meaning man had done to Ikkaku.

When they were done, they gave the third seat a quick examination, making sure he remembered who he was and such, in case there was any brain damage, and when they seemed satisfied they left the two alone once more.

"Hana," Ikkaku frowned at the other in confusion once more. "I do remember, right up to the point where I passed out, but at that point, you were still under the control of that hollow, and I was dead. How did we get out of there?" Hanataro had been expecting him to ask. When he had gotten back to the division, he had gone over the facts with several people, at first not believing it himself.

"Well," He thought about where to start, sitting on the edge of the other's bed, "After you got hit with that cero, I could tell that you were still alive, but you wouldn't be for long. I could hear the hollow's thoughts in my mind, and I knew somehow that it could hear mine, so I thought desperately, 'don't make me stab him; I can't be the one to finish him with my own Zanpakto,' and the hollow did exactly what I told it not to. My Zanpakto works differently, though, and it heals instead of cutting. When the hollow made me stab you, it healed you enough to keep you alive, and filled the gauge of my sword. While the hollow was confused, I used all my strength to get back control long enough to let loose a blast on it, and that kind of… finished it off." When he had finished, he was blushing fiercely and couldn't look at the other man. He fiddled with his fingers in his lap, waiting for Ikkaku to say something, but wasn't prepared for what came next.

"So… You saved me." Hana looked back at the man at that. He didn't think of it that way.

"I barely got us out alive –"

"But you did, Hanataro. We're both alive thanks to you. You were brave and fought an incredibly strong hollow all alone. You saved us both. You saved me." The man smiled, but the healer shook his head.

"I only finished it off, Ikkaku. You did most of it. Besides, you almost died anyway, and if you hadn't been there, I never could have-"

"It don't matter, Hana. I don't care what ya say. You saved me." The look on the man's face told Hanataro there would be no changing his mind, so he let it go, instead simply smiling shyly as the other held his hand, eyes drifting closed once again. As Hanataro watched the other drift off to sleep, he wondered how he had been so lucky as to have someone like the fighter in his life, and how he would go about breaking the news of his pregnancy to the man. Just as he thought the man was sleeping, he felt the other's hands pulling him gently down, and as he lay on the man's shoulder, wrapped once more in his arms, he felt the comfort he had longed for these past few weeks as he had watched the man recover. Feeling safe and calm for the first time since returning the broken fighter to the fourth division, he slept, knowing that no matter what happened, now that Ikkaku was out of the coma, things would be alright.

Yumichika walked back into the fourth squad's health center, and felt a smile on his face in spite of himself. It had been four days since Ikkaku had first woken up, and things were beginning to return to normal. His friend had spent a lot of his time asleep, was still going to be spending a while longer at the fourth, and would need a long recovery time after that, but was now at least expected to make a full recovery. Yumichika had stayed at the third seat's side for the first day, not able to quite believe that the man would be ok, but since then had been coming and going on a regular basis, tending to the squad's paperwork that was pilling up drastically, and primping himself with the usual delicacy once more.

The idea of leaving his friend was difficult, but he knew that it would be a while before the man would be able to leave the health center, and that he was in good hands where he was. What was more, Hanataro hadn't left the man's side apart from his own check-ups since he had first come to see the unconscious shinigami after the incident first happened. The healer had certainly taken quite a liking to the bigger man, and the feeling, Yumichika could tell, was mutual. Ikkaku always seemed much calmer and much less pained when little Hanataro was around, even though the fifth seat had been told that every move the man made must be excruciating. He never complained about it; the food on the other hand was evaluated regularly. Yumichika couldn't understand how the other could be in such pain as he saw in the man's eyes from time to time and not mention a word of it, though he knew it had to do with Hana. Ikkaku wouldn't want the other to worry any more than he did already. He had told Yumi in confidence that the healer blamed himself for Ikkaku's pain, and he had no doubt his friend would rather suffer in silence than let the man feel worse.

When he got to Ikkaku's room, Hanataro was missing, but Ikkaku was sitting up with a half eaten lunch tray next to his bed.

"Giving up on food are we?" Yumichika sat down in the chair next to the bed, as Ikkaku sneered at the tray in response.

"I can't wait ta be outa here and cookin' for myself again. Didn't realize how good I had it." Yumichika smiled at the notion.

"I didn't realize how picky you were getting." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sandwich that had been made by a local deli and wrapped in waxed paper, and handed it to his shocked but grateful friend.

"Kami, Yumi, I could kiss ya!" He quickly unwrapped and began devouring the sandwich as Yumichika wrinkled his nose at the premise.

"A brute like you kiss a beauty such as me? Don't be absurd, Ikkaku." The vanity in the words covered the true message, but a sideways glance and wide grin from the injured man told the pampered fifth seat the message had been received.

"Besides," Yumichika went on, "There's someone else who I'm sure you would much rather kiss. Where is little Hanataro, anyway?" Ikkaku nearly choked on his food. He had known that his friend had caught on to the interaction between the two, which had become much more intense, despiite both their injuries, but to have him blatantly state it was a different experience altogether. He stared at the raven haired man.

"Uh, he went for some tests. He's still not up to full strength yet either, ya know." Yumichika nodded.

"It must be difficult to deal with all this. Still, I'm sure you're both grateful that the hollow didn't hurt the baby." At this Ikkaku did choke, his coughing drawing healers, whom he sent away again with a wave of his hand.

"What the hell are ya talkin' about, Yumi?" The willowy man blinked back in surprise.

"You mean to say he didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what, baka!" His voice was rising, and had a strangled edge to it that Yumichika wasn't sure was from the man's injuries or from the news, but which he didn't like none the less.

"Well," he answered slowly, "I don't know if it's really true, but I heard it from Rangiku who heard it from Renji who heard it from Rukia who apparently overheard Isane talking to Captain Unohana when she came in the other day for frostbite after getting hit by her own attack in training, silly girl. Anyway, they don't know how, but… Hanataro is pregnant." Ikkaku didn't move for a moment, unsure of what he was hearing, then started to process it and became confused.

"But, Yumi, Hanataro is a guy, how can he be… I mean, it's impossible, isn't it?" He stared at his friend, unable to wrap his mind around what was being said.

"They said it was something that hollow did to him. It put some sort of reiatsu cage inside him, and now that the hollow is gone, his body used the empty cage like an artificial womb." The man flipped his hair as he often did, "That's why he's been going in for so many tests."

Ikkaku thought furiously. Why hadn't Hanataro said anything to him? How long had the healer known about this? When had he gotten pregnant? Whose baby was it? That last thought set off an alarm in his mind, and suddenly he felt that he knew the answer. What was more, something Yumichika had said came back and smacked him across the face.

"Yumi, you said we must both be grateful the baby wasn't hurt?" Yumichika gave his friend a look of annoyance.

"Come now, Ikkaku. Hanataro isn't exactly known for sleeping around, and you're the one who's been giving him all your attention these past few weeks. From what I heard he's about six weeks along now, and that would put conception right around the time he spent those few days at your apartment." Ikkaku nodded, still unbelieving. How many others thought he was the father, he wondered.

Ikkaku's mind had been blown and for the rest of his collared friend's visit he sat, dazed and deep in thought. He didn't know how to feel. The fact that Hanataro had become pregnant from such a heinous act was more than he thought he could stand. If he'd had his strength, he would be out there stringing those monsters up one by one. On the other hand, Yumichika thought the kid was his, and if Yumi thought it, he woud certainly pass that thought around. If Hanataro hadn't corrected anyone about it, then what did that mean? Did the healer feel that Ikkaku should take care of him because it had been his men? Or was it more than that? Did he want Ikkaku to be a part of it just to be a part of it? They had gotten closer, and though they hadn''t really talked about it, Ikkaku had thought they would date once he got out of the health center. The man's head spun.

Yumichika was barely noticed when he bid his friend goodbye and left the man alone once more. Ikkaku sat there for a while longer before deciding he couldn't any longer. He pushed himself up and swung his feet out onto the cool floor, feeling a chill as the touch of it ran up his spine beneath his Yukata. He hadn't walked since the fight, but being headstrong, put weight on his weakened legs too quick and promptly fell back onto the bed. His second try was slower, more careful and went better than the first, and as he wobbled across the room, holding onto the rack of his IV for support, he became more and more determined.

When eventually Ikkaku got to the doorway of the room, he paused there, realizing that he didn't know where to go. He knew who he wanted to see, just not where he would be, and stood there for a long minute wondering who he should ask before he saw Isane come around a corner, her nose in a patient file. As she walked past the room he reached for her arm.

"Hey, Isane-" The girl jumped and gave a yelp, before realizing who it was and getting mad.

"Madarame, what are you doing grabbing me like that? And what are you doing out of bed! You aren't strong enough yet for that! You could injure yourself further! Is that what you want?" Ikkaku brought his face closer to hers and spoke in a calm, quiet voice that surprised the lieutenant greatly.

"Listen, Isane, I'm fine, I'm not gonna hurt myself, and I'm sorry I startled ya, alright? It's just, do ya know where Hanataro went? I need ta talk to him." The look in the man's eyes was serious and concerned, but not pained, so Isane was inclined to believe him, though she didn't understand how he even had the strength to stand yet. She stared him down.

"What is it that's so important that it can't wait until he gets back?" The frown on his face was slight, but present as he answered.

"I just found out he's pregnant." Isane instantly softened. She had just assumed that Hanataro had told the fighter. The two of them were sharing a hospital room most of the time, when Hana wasn't gone to checkups and such. She had figured they would have come to terms with it by now. Besides, Hana hadn't given anyone so much as a hint as to who the father might be, but if you asked anyone, they would guess Ikkaku.

"I'm sorry, Madarame-san, I thought you knew." The man shook his head.

"I don't get why he didn't tell me neither. I had ta hear it from Yumi." He leaned harder on the IV, getting tired as he stood in the doorway. Isane noticed and backed them up into the room, pushing the man down lightly into a chair.

"I have to see him, Isane, I gotta talk to him 'bout this." Silver hair bounced as the girl nodded.

"I'll take you to see him, but first I want to talk to you about it." She took a seat on another chair facing the man. "You know Hana is my friend as well as a member of my division, so of course I want what's best for him. Now, Madarame-san, Hana has refused to let us determine the paternity of the child, and won't tell us who it is, which is within his rights to do, however we do have our thoughts on the matter." She gave the man a stern, knowing look, and went on. "I need to know now if this wasn't consensual. If you forced Hana to-"

"I would never do that." Ikkaku's voice had turned cold and menacing in a heartbeat, and Isane thought for a second that if the man had more strength left than she thought, she might be in trouble, but an instant later he sighed and leaned back in the chair.

"Everyone assumes that I raped him, don't they?" His red-tipped eyes were closed; his face now filled with the pain that had been missing before.

"It's just that the two of you make a rather… strange pair." Isane back peddled, putting a comforting hand on the man's knee. He opened his weary eyes, looking past the healer.

"Ya, well, love is a strange thing, lieutenant. It don't care what color you are, what your status is, what you look like or how well ya fight. It don't even care what gender ya are. It just gets in there and ya can't do anything about it, except let it out and let it grow, or ignore it and let it die. But if ya do that, a part of you dies, too." He rubbed his face and looked into her eyes once more. "So what choice do I have, eh?"

Isane was speechless. Was this Ikkaku Madarame in front of her? He seemed so gentle, so compassionate, so deep… This must be the man that Hanataro had seen, she thought, because this man was someone closer to who Isane could see the small man falling for.

"Ikkaku, do you… love Hanataro?" The man's face lit up at the mention of the man's name, the half grin reappearing on his lips for a moment, then his eyes narrowed and his grin grew wider still.

"What did you just say, Isane?" She frowned. Surely he had heard her.

"I asked if you-"

"No, you called me Ikkaku. You've never done that before." He tilted his head back in satisfaction. "Does that mean I'm starting to break through your defenses, Isane?" She turned red at the realization.

"You're avoiding my question-" He didn't let her finish, instead getting to his feet and heading to the door.

"I can't believe that Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu is warming up to a thug like me. Hah! Well, I never would have seen that coming in a million years…" His taunts continued as he made his way out the door, and the girl followed close behind, shaking her head in annoyance, wondering what Hanataro was getting himself into.

Next up, a very serious talk with Hanataro...

~Andromeda