Hey Interwebbers!

So I was going to write another scene before this, too, but I decided not to, because it didn't really add much and you can figure out what happened without it. But...

** Drum-roll please!**

Ta-DA! The chapter you've all been waiting for! The awesomeness is astounding! Ooohs and ahhs galore! Hooray! And now without further ado...

Enjoy! ^^

"Did you tell my mother you would leave me!" Ikkaku took an involuntary step back, his eyes wide in surprise at the outburst. Hanataro had simply shown up at his door, pounding on it with a ferocity that was hence unseen in the smaller man.

"Wha- Hana, I, I didn't say-" It was unusual for the fighter to stammer in such a way, but he had been taken by surprise and was unable to form the words.

"Did you tell her you would leave me, Ikkaku? Because she seems to think you did!" He pushed his way into the apartment, seeming somehow taller to the fighter, even though he still came to no more than his shoulder. "Now she's going on about marrying me off to some noble woman whom I've never even met, and there's nothing I can say to even try to change her mind! So tell me if you told her that, Ikkaku. Tell me right now so that I know where we stand. You gave me such a problem before because I made an assumption; well I'm not assuming anymore! Tell me what you said so I know where we go from here and if I should even bother trying to fight my mother's wishes!" He was panting from the effort of yelling at the man. Even as Ikkaku stared, though, he didn't back down. There was fire in his normally cool blue eyes, and a passion that he had rarely experienced. Few things in life got down to the core of Hanataro's soul, but Ikkaku was certainly one of them.

After a moment of uncertainty, the third seat regained his footing and found his voice. "I told her the truth Hanataro." As the look on the other's face turned cold, he quickly continued. "I told her that I would leave ya alone IF that was what you wanted, but that I'd be there fer as long as ya wanted me around." He had nearly yelled the last part, and as he watched, Hanataro's face didn't change from the angry frown.

"Well of course that's not what I want! You know how I feel, Ikkaku!" The fighter laughed harshly at that.

"Oh I do, eh? Hana, ya haven't told me how ya really feel once the whole time we've been together, if that's what you can even call what's between us!" He felt his face getting hot, and knew he was yelling at the man now, but couldn't seem to help himself. His temper was getting the better of him and he knew it, but surprisingly the other didn't cower; far from it, he yelled back.

"Do you really want to know how I feel? What I think? I think you are the most vicious, ill-tempered, rude man I have ever known! You may be the most devolved Shinigami in exsistance! You yell at me when I need you, you leave me when I want you with me and you push me away when I try to move closer! And… Damn it! I don't even care about any of that, Ikkaku!" The fighter could do nothing but stare. His eyes were wide and his jaw was slack. Hanataro had…. Swore! Not to mention all the terrible things he thought about him. His tone softened.

"Hana… I…" The other closed his eyes, his features still knit in a frown as he held up a hand to silence the bald man.

"I don't care about any of it," He looked the other in the eyes, and again they were rounder than the sun and bluer and deeper than the sea. "Because you're also the kindest, most unselfish, most caring person I have come across. You don't look down on me, or belittle me even though I'm weak, and you genuinely care about me. You're just… passionate." He smiled slightly as the bald man looked on in stunned silence. Had he just heard what he thought he had heard?

"Hanataro? Are you… saying…?"

"I'm saying I want to be with you, Ikkaku; more than anything." He took a step toward the other, their eyes connected into their very souls it seemed. Slightly confused as to how they had gotten here, but recognizing a good situation when he had it, Ikkaku felt the scowl fade from his face as he let the words sink in. The healer wanted him. He thought he was rude and vicious, but he wanted him anyway.

"Ikkaku?"

The fighter realized he hadn't said anything, and he was staring at the other man dreamily. "Huh?"

"Are you going to tell me where we stand now? I think you owe me that much." Ikkaku blinked. There were no words; he adored the healer. Instead he simply took another step forward, placing his hands gently on the man's waist and pulling him closer. He leaned down and reached up one hand to the other's cheek, brushing his fingers lightly across it as he held his gaze steady with the sapphire orbs before him. As he closed the gap between their faces his eyes drifted shut and when he felt soft, sweet lips on his, ecstasy flooded his body.

Their first kiss was just how Hanataro had imagined, except worlds better. The electricity that ran through him at the soft touch of lips was heaven. As he pressed deeper, he lost all feeling in his knees and heat surged through him. The hand at the line of his jaw stroked his face, then ran across his neck, bringing with it goosebumps as it went and a shiver ran down his spine to the other hand at the small of his back.

When they finally pulled apart, a small sigh escaped the medic, and his eyes remained closed. The world could wait. He was detached from his body; numb all over, and he never wanted to come down off this cloud.

"Hana?" a gentle and slightly worried Ikkaku stared at the man still standing in his arms, eyes closed and lips slightly parted. "Y'all righ'?" The man smiled and nodded.

"Mmm?" he opened his eyes and looked up at Ikkaku. The love and desire in those blue oceans of his had an overpowering effect on the man, and he found himself leaning in to renew the kiss.

It was every bit as powerful and as wondrous as the first. The two men found themselves lost in the pleasure of the connection, both just as dreamy and distant from reality as the other. As they opened up more and more to each other and to the revelation of being with each other in such a way, they moved seemingly together, of one mind to a common goal.

Hanataro wasn't sure when they had gotten to the third seat's bed, but when they finally pulled away for the second time the man was propped up over him, his chest visible through the opening at the front of his uniform. Hana took it all in, the sight of the man he had so desired staring lovingly down at him, the pleasant look of pure enjoyment written across his face. His muscular form, solid arms and wide shoulders were a dream that Hanataro had long since dreamed and as he ran his fingers across them, assuring himself that this time it was real, this time it was happening, he still was unable to believe it.

"Ikkaku…?" his voice was a whisper, and the man leaned in, brushing his thin lips against the ones that had spoken his name before answering.

"Yes, my Hana?" The reply sent chills up the man's spine and he grinned in joy at the feeling.

"This is real, isn't it?" he asked softly, "It's not just a beautiful dream?" The fighter's crooked half grin lit up his face.

"Naw," he replied, "The only dream here is you." His eyes sparkled in the dimly lit room. "Hana, we should have done this a long time ago." The man could only nod in answer, as he pulled himself up to meet the other in another sweet embrace. As they held the kiss, deepening it, and tasting each other with fervor, the healer felt a course hand slide inside his uniform. All his body sang with the contact and he rose up to meet the touch, wanting more. As the large hand fondled his thin form, he reached up as well, finding the feel of skin under his fingers and nearly shaking with desire. More than he had ever wanted anyone or anything he wanted this man, and in this moment, the pure power of his touch was nearly more than the medic could take.

"Ikkaku…" A pause to catch their breath had prompted another attempt to speak, but the only thing that existed in Hanataro's mind was the other man. As he untied the man's uniform and slipped it off his shoulders, baring him to his chest, the healer felt heat bubbling inside him, stronger than ever before, and he thought the mere sight of this man might do to bring him over the edge. He could feel the pressure building below his waist. The feel of his already stiffened member pulsating with need ran wave after wave of want and yearning through to his very soul, and as the two wandered ever lower, exploring each other as they went, the impact on his body was almost torturous.

The last piece of clothing was removed from Hanataro's hips, and Ikkaku grinned as he descended to lap at the sweet nape of his lover's neck as his hand grasped the leaking member of the smaller man. Clear liquid spread across the head and as he slowly stroked, he felt the boy shudder under him. He knew he was close. He moved up to suck at the other's ear and heard a gasp as he felt him buck up into the slow caress of his fist. Pushing him back down he whispered into his ear.

"Oh no. We ain't done yet." Another shiver ran through the smaller man as he let out a moan that made Ikkaku melt. There couldn't have been a better reaction in the fighter's mind. He ran his tongue across the man's throat, then down to his collarbone, where he nipped at the creamy white skin. As he crossed, then descended to the man's chest, finding a stiff nipple and sucking it softly, the reaction he received was delicious. Hanataro had completely lost all restraint and was moaning and panting beautifully. It was enough to make Ikkaku's hard length leak with anticipation, and it was all he could do to stop himself from jumping the man right then. With all the restraint he could muster, he instead lowered himself once more, and leveled himself with the other's swollen organ. Gently he licked the tip, then all the way up the shaft from the base.

"Ik-kaku!" Hanataro's gasp was repeated more harshly as his leaking cock was swallowed entirely by the bald shinigami. Thin fingers grasped his scalp as he bobbed up and down between the man's legs, finding a rhythm as the man's hips began to buck once more. This time he let them, going with the sway, tasting the salty leak of precum as he swallowed his flower, over and over.

It wasn't long before the healer was overcome, his hips bucking up one final time as he stiffened and released into the other's mouth. As hot fluid ran from the one man to the other, Ikkaku swallowed hungrily, wanting the smaller man inside him, his own member pulsing with pleasure and need. As he rose from the bed, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand, the muscular man was suddenly pulled down into a fierce kiss, effectively melting him. He felt the strong stroke of the other's tongue along his, and a twitch down below before pulling reluctantly away.

"Hana," He breathed, but was shushed by the other, who pulled up one of the man's large hands to his mouth, and sucked on his fingers, his eyes never leaving the fighter's black spheres. Ikkaku shivered.

"Yer sure?" He knew there was a chance the other wasn't ready for this and just wanted to repay him for what he had just done. "Cause we don't have ta-"

"Shh Ikkaku. I want to." He smiled up at the other. "More than anything." The look in those eyes was almost more than the man could take. He nodded and reached down to prepare the other, bringing his mouth to capture the other's lips once more. He slowly entered the man's tight ring and though he squirmed a bit at first, he quickly recovered, and as the fighter added another finger, the medic simply kissed him harder, deeper and more passionately than previously. Scissoring the man open was fairly easy, and when Ikkaku thought the man was ready, he positioned himself and met his lover's eyes. Keeping contact, he watched as the look on Hanataro's face changed from one of discomfort to one of desire, and as the boy began to move, so did he, thrusting in slowly at first, then gaining speed and depth as they found their pace.

The feeling of being inside the healer was extraordinary. Ikkaku was wrapped in the tight heat of the man, and felt as though he was in pure heaven. The way the other moved with him was splendor, and when he repositioned himself and found the man's sweet spot, Hanataro cried out, tightening around him, and nearly bringing him right then. The sounds this man made were exquisite; unlike anything Ikkaku had ever heard, and made his skin shiver. The fighter took in the sight of this willowy creature lying before him, hips raised, legs up in the air, his face locked with a look of hunger and bliss. His face was damp with beads of sweat and his hair was matted to his forehead. The result was the sexiest thing Ikkaku had ever seen, and he watched the other man, as he emitted sounds that would have been enough to stiffen him in seconds all on their own, and with one final thrust, he lost all control.

He came hard, his body going rigid from the effort, and as Hanataro felt the warmth flooding him, he came a second time, spilling onto his stomach without much coercion at all. As Ikkaku collapsed on the bed, the two of them lay there, breathing hard as the heat of their pleasure swam around them.

"Ikkaku… That was… wow." The fighter nodded in agreement, not able to find words to speak. His mind was shutting down, and he could feel himself drifting into sleep. He didn't hear what he said in response as he left consciousness, but as he drifted off, there was a smile on his face as well as his heart.

Hanataro lay there for a moment, listening to the sound of Ikkaku snoring lightly, slightly in shock. The fighter had mumbled something as he fell asleep, and though it had been barely audible, Hana had heard it as if it were a blast of thunder. He had rolled toward the healer, put a kiss on his cheek and said,

"I love ya, my Hana."

He had been about to drift off to sleep himself until then. Now he was wide awake. He looked over at the sleeping shinigami, his red-tipped eyes closed and a smile on his lips. Love? Staring back up at the ceiling, he thought, can this be love? He had been sure of his feelings before. He truly and deeply cared for the man. He wanted to be with him and spend the rest of his life with him… But love was different, wasn't it?

He slipped out of bed, doing his best not to disturb the other man and wincing as he mumbled in his sleep, reaching out for him.

"It's ok, Ikkaku, I'm just going to clean up. I'll be right back." That seemed to satisfy the still sleeping man, who rolled over and was snoring again in an instant. Hanataro did go to clean up, wiping the sticky mess from his abdomen in the washroom, and splashing water on his face.

As he stared into his own reflection, he wondered what had bothered him so much about what a sleeping Ikkaku had said. He had wanted to keep seeing the man, after all, and had even spent an hour or more yelling at his mother, trying to get her to accept the relationship, even when he had no real way of knowing if the other still wanted him. He had been adamant that they had a future together, even though he had had no proof, and only a vague hope that he would be able to make up with the fighter.

Still, the thought that this was love had never entered his mind. Hanataro had never believed in such things as love at first sight or love at first kiss, and after all, wasn't that just what this was? Their first kiss? Sure it had been immediately followed by a flourish of steamy sex, but even so. It hadn't been so long ago that had he sensed the bigger man coming he would have run in the opposite direction. He knew the man better now and certainly realized that his initial impression had been off the mark, but love was something else entirely. Love was something that came after other things had had enough time to develop and grow; things like caring, respect, friendship, trust… Those things were the foundation on which love was established. How could this man who barely knew him be so quick to say something so impactful, so important?

He shook his head, trying to clear it. He didn't need to be worrying about these things right now. After all, he was in no position to complain. He was pregnant and the one man he truly wanted by his side, was. There were much worse things.

When he returned to Ikkaku's room, he stood for a moment watching the man sleep. Perhaps, he thought, the thing that bothered him the most wasn't that the fighter loved him, but that he didn't feel as though he loved the man back. He wanted to, but this wasn't something you could force; it had to come on its own.

Sighing, he slipped into bed beside the man, and as he was immediately pulled into the fighter's arms he hoped that the man would be patient with him. The healer knew there was time for them to fall in love, as long as he didn't ruin it first.

Oh Hanataro! You amaze me with your insecurity! He loves you, you idiot! AHRGH! Whatever... -_-!

More to come... we still have a riled mother to sort out!