Chapter 13

Thrive to Live

Now—

"I know I said a few of you could come—but I didn't mean all of you!" Ichigo yelled in surprise at the large group of Shinigami dressed as humans in their gigai. "What about Soul Society with everyone here!"

"Oh, don't be such a party-pooper Ichigo-kun!" Ukitake Juushirou swayed a hand lightly. "There's only four taichou, three fukutaichou, and a little over a dozen other Shinigami officers…" This struck a nerve.
"Listen here… all of you plus Urahara-san's group, plus my family and other friends, I don't have enough tickets for everyone—" Everyone showed him their authentic tickets to be allowed to his graduation. "I—"
"Everyone's here to celebrate you evolution from becoming an idiot to someone smart, Kurosaki." The smallest captain sneered. "Just be grateful that we decided that we wanted to participate by coming."
Toushirou's busty lieutenant threw herself against the man, sobbing happily. "That's right Ichigo! You have to let us celebrate with you! Let's get drunk and have lots of fun at my place tonight! Oh please—"
"No way, I have…" Ichigo paused, trying to think of away to say it without having to actually say it. "…an errand that I have to deal with, and I don't know if I would be in the mood afterwards. Maybe tomorrow."
"It's actually a little amazing to see that Hitsugaya-taichou lasted so long staying at Ichigo-kun's place." Kyouraku Shunsui stated in amusement. "I almost thought he would have been asking for a replacement."
"Kurosaki-kun took good care of Hitsugaya-kun—taichou." Momo corrected herself, softly giggling. "But their right, we can be here to support you no matter what you say!" She cheered as if winning a victory.
Ichigo grasped a handful of his hair, sensing something that was not right with Hueco Mundo. "Fine… do whatever you want." He turned and walked away. "Promise not to cause any trouble while you're here."

Toushirou opened his mouth to call out to the man—to ask him what was wrong with his head while the others assumed he was annoyed. However, the redheaded male lieutenant softly placed a hand on his shoulder to receive his attention, his head slightly shook disapprovingly. As everyone began to head to the stadium to find some good seats, the two stayed so they could have a moment alone, in private.

"Only a handful of us know that Ichigo controls Hueco Mundo, if the others find out on a day like this, who knows how upset he would be." Renji stated quietly, removing his hand. "This day is to support Ichigo and let him know that we're here for him. For once in his life, I want him to know that we support him instead."

"You may not care about his safety, but I do." As the captain began to turn, he was roughly grabbed.
Rangiku slapped the redhead suddenly. "Don't touch taichou inappropriately." She turned to her captain.
"…Matsumoto…" He blinked at her, trying to snap out of his surprised state. "What are you doing, I—"
"I didn't listen to the conversation, but I was watching to make sure he wouldn't do anything to you."
His eyes regained their regular calmness, almost smirking now. "Thank you, Matsumoto. Let's go."

As the two left, Renji growled in annoyance. "You're here, aren't you, Grimmjow." The creature whom went by the name appeared behind him. "If she didn't slap me, you would have attacked me, right?"

There was no reply as Grimmjow turned and left the scene to watch from another dimension, forcing Renji to know his position in the chain. After everything was sorted out in his mind, he followed everyone to the stadium where they all met Ichigo's family, Ichigo's human friends, and Urahara Kisuke's group. As they were all chattering while they sat in a bunch taking four rows of a couple seats, a few had noted a change in Ichigo's reiatsu. Despite their argument outside, Toushirou seated himself between his lieutenant, and the redhead one as well since they were aware of his unease around others on occasion.

"Shit… tonight's a full moon," Renji hissed as the anthem began to play loudly and graduates coming out to be noticed. He looked to the captain next to him, "did he take anything from you last night or today?"
At first, the small one did not understand. "What do you—" the lieutenant pointed to the spot between his own collarbones, motioning Ichigo's Hollow marking where he obtains reiatsu when weak. "No, why?"
"…that's not good…" he slowly fell back into his chair, swallowing hard as he gripped the arms of the chair. As soon as he caught sight of the Strawberry in a new attire, he swallowed his gikongan. "Ichigo!"

The group of Shinigami and friends watched as the redhead in his Shinigami form stood from his seat, but as he did, it became trouble. Ichigo brought a hand up to swallow his own little pill so that Kon could do the graduating for him as his Shinigami form began to fall over. Renji froze as Stark appeared to catch the man before he hit the ground, glared up at the group in their seats, and vanished from their sight. This caused mainly Juushirou and Shunsui to panic for seeing the familiar face—suddenly, Lilinette appeared!

She stood midair in front of them. "Stark is feeding Kurosaki-sama, he'll be back soon." She disappeared.

"…damn it." The redhead muttered under his breath, causing the others to look at him.
Rukia placed a hand on his arm, "you know he's going to be back soon, why are you so worried?"
"Things get scary when he doesn't have enough reiatsu." He slowly returned into his sitting gigai.
"His reiatsu was just fine last night," Toushirou stated without care. "If you think that—"

"I know exactly what happened, but I'm guessing there's still things that you don't even know about s—"

Ichigo appeared right in front of him outside of a garganta, looking him straight in the eye fiercely, before telling him to be quiet. As soon as the redheaded lieutenant settled deep against his seat with a slow nod to acknowledge, the carrot top vanished to his human body. Renji, as unsettled as ever, kept his mouth shut for the rest of the time being while everyone turned to the ceremony that finally began. There was a person particular that watched the ceremony with partial suspicion; surprised to know that the loudmouth male lieutenant knew something that he, a genius captain, did not. Toushirou felt uncomfortable about the fact that there was a sort of lingering sense of understanding between Ichigo and this idiot next to him.

"Now then, a word from our number one student—not just from the medical district, but throughout the entire University, who should beat all of our highest records!" The woman turned to look at the front row of students, clasping her hands together. "Kurosaki Ichigo, would you care to come up and say something?"

The Shinigami, friends, and family almost jumped as the entire stadium roared with cheers and horns that were supposed to be forbidden from the stadium. It seemed like either they all knew the Strawberry, or they were all just excited that after Kurosaki Ichigo's speech, everyone can receive their diplomas to study and practice their careers. As the man came up to the podium to place a hand up to calm everyone down, but then leaned his hands against the edges of the stand, smirking almost casually.

"I haven't showed my face too much around here for the past few months, so I'm a little surprised that all of you are trying to be nice." Everyone laughed at his words. "No, I'm serious, how many of you know who I am anymore?" The laughs turned to cheers and rooting with pride, and he chuckled. "Okay, I guess you guys do remember me. Alright, alright, where do I begin so I don't bore anyone to death?"

Everyone listened as Ichigo began making his speech and motivate others as he's supposed to while trying to settle everyone down. They all listened to the things that have been practiced by looking at a mirror for hours—Toushirou could recite himself he was told to. After two minutes, his speech was finished, he took a second to think about something, and decided to look up at the friends and families.

"These past few months have been difficult for me and others, so I can't compare myself to anyone, but I have something to say that isn't in my speech." He wiped his face to keep himself strong. "Something had happened a few months ago, it was a life lesson that did not need to be taught, but was dealt with. I won't say anything about what happened, but I will say one thing, and it's the fact that it made me stronger… it made me more determine to do what I believe in before I die and move on to another life." Ichigo quietly chuckled before saying in fake joy. "Everyone knows what I'm going to say right? Keep moving forward—"

"—AND DO WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT!" All the graduates behind him cheered.

As the stadium went through another commotion, Ichigo returned to his seat with the rest of his class, and Toushirou tried to stay in his seat patiently. The little captain wanted to run over there and slap him over the head to ask him what he meant by what he had just told everyone. It took an hour for everyone to walk in front of everyone and shake hands with professors while receiving what they came for—then Ichigo came up when his name was called. Kurosaki Isshin went jumping up and down excitedly, acting like a cheerleader while making kissy faces and shaking his ass; it terrified the Shinigami, so his tomboy daughter punched him in the face. When the ceremony was over, the large group left to wait for him out of the stadium where everyone was looking for their loved one. At least they did not have to, they could sense his reiatsu as he was coming closer towards the group until finally in sight, smiling happily at them.

"Onii-chan!" Yuzu rushed over and embraced him, crying with joy. "Congratulations!"

Ichigo laughed and swung her around, "you're too old for this Yuzu, you're heavy!"
"That's not something you should say to a woman Ichigo!" Rukia scolded the man.
"She's my sister, I can harass her all that I want to." He stuck his tongue out at her.
Byakuya lightly scolded him too. "Kurosaki, don't attempt to coax her to attack you."
"Yeah… pregnant women can be scary." The carrot top should have remembered.
"Are you alright?" Renji asked seriously, earning his attention. "Are you really ok—"

"I'm fine," he smiled as he placed his sister down, and patted his other sister's head. "I'm surrounded by friends and family, there's nothing else that matters." His stomach growled. "…except an early dinner?"

Everyone laughed and headed towards a nearby restaurant where Isshin led them all.

"Who would have guessed everyone would get drunk… even Byakuya," the Strawberry looked over to the small captain and pregnant woman, smiling softly. "You two should get some sleep, you deserved it."

To celebrate Ichigo graduating from university, they went out to eat dinner along with having a few drinks on the way. Having found all the hidden booze that Rangiku hid before going to the graduation, everyone but Rukia and Toushirou began to drink. Now all were unconsciousness and drunk, lying against Ichigo's front room and kitchen—some huddled against each other. Rukia was offered by the captain to take the guestroom since there were clean sheets on the bed, so she did just that to get away from the alcohol. It left the Strawberry to defend for himself as he placed Renji, Byakuya, Juushirou, and Shunsui up to sit on one couch in that exact order. Then, as an impossible fight, placed Orihime, Yuzu, Momo, Karin, and Rangiku on the other couch, where as others were leaned on the sides of the couches so that everyone would be herded into the front room. With everyone collected into one single room, Ichigo came into the kitchen to have a glass of ice-cold water, and Toushirou walked in quietly.

Eventually, he spoke first, "having intercourse drains your reiatsu, doesn't it?" There was no sign of an answer, meaning that it was true. "Why won't you tell me these things when their important? If it causes a risk to you and others, then I wouldn't have asked—" The man looked at him softly. "It's a risk to me, too."

"Yeah, sorry," Ichigo whispered. "Restraining myself drains me. I'm very aware of myself when it comes to you, so I don't harm you." He patted his head softly, caressing through his strands. "Go take my bed."
Turquoise hues widened slightly when realizing something that the man was trying to avoid saying to him, and judging on other reactions, he knew. "Your Hollow wants you to be in charge, until now, you let me—"
"Toushirou, your safety—and your recovery, is far more important to me than my own satisfaction. Do you understand?" His eyes caught glimpse that the small one was going to complain. "Do you understand?"
The firm tone he gave had kept him quiet. "A question," if he said this, Ichigo would have to wait and listen before scolding him. "If I decide to encounter with either a man or woman, I can't always be on top."
Knowing that the captain would say this, causes him to inhale deeply. "You know that I'll let you use my body as you want, but you have to take it easy. We already do it once a week as it is. You need to talk—"

"Let's go right now." A hand grabbed a large callused one before placing another hand on it. "Please, while the others are sleeping before the sun going down." Toushirou saw uncertainty in the man about this. "I don't think I'll have the strength to confront him alone—you saw my reaction towards Matsumoto."

"Toushirou, if I go…" it did not matter as large pleading eyes looked at him, and gave up. "Fine, let's go."

Seeing a silent hidden smile from the little captain, Ichigo watched him swallow his gikongan and told the soul to go to bed in Ichigo's room. The man hid his frown as he swallowed his own and told Kon to go sleep on the floor in the bedroom—that he would kill him if he slept on a bed with someone. With that said and done, the two left for Soul Society to talk with the old man before it became even later in the day. As they entered the realm, they used their speed to arrive at the old man's office without permission as Ichigo usually would. With one glance from Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, Ulquiorra Schiffer made his appearance at the carrot tops side.

"I'm not here to fight," the man warned the elder, "Toushirou has asked to talk with you."
"His question can wait, but as for you," his hand brought out a red collar. "Your punishment can't."
Ulquiorra began to ready himself to attack, Ichigo called him back quickly. "Settle down…"

Toushirou did not know what was going on here, but took a step forward. "Yamamoto-soutaichou." He bowed. "Forgive our intrusion, but this has to do with my stay in Karakura Town." The elder set the collar down momentarily; Ulquiorra returned to his previous stance. "I would like to request an extended stay to recover from being sexually assaulted by humans for days." His fists tightened, trying his best not to falter as he tried to explain. "I did not follow Kurosaki Ichigo's order, and was held hostage across the country."

There was a very long… inaudible silence lingering through the office, and it was starting to make the small captain a little nervous by the gaze. It was exactly what the Commanding-General wanted to see as proof of his confession of being raped by humans in which brought him to send a Hell Butterfly out to get the medical captain as predicted. They all stayed in silence until the woman came in after she announced her presence, Toushirou shifted to be on Ichigo's other side to stay away. Already aware that it was her large breasts hidden beneath her shihakusho and robes, Ichigo allowed him to move for some distance.

"Ulquiorra, you're dismissed, you'll know to come if something happens." Ichigo demanded, and he did as told by leaving them. He then looked at Unohana Retsu. "Sorry, Toushirou has a slight gynophobia still."
"Hitsugaya-taichou claims to have been assaulted sexually, I would like for you to examine him to tell me that this is true." Shigekuni demanded firmly, again, to receive a reaction from Toushirou. "Hurry with it."
"Soutaichou," Retsu started softly after seeing the panic hit the little captain when hearing this. "I can see just by looking in his eyes that he has, indeed, been traumatized. Examining him would do more harm."
"The examination wouldn't matter either, it has been months since the incident occurred. I had to examine him myself with his permission." Ichigo stated firmly. "Unohana-san, Toushirou, and I can talk about it."

The old man glared. "Then by all means, talk."

It irritated the carrot top to have to explain everything in front of the elder, so he purposely began to speak in medical terms of what had happened. Now the Commanding-General would not fully understand what their conversation was about—and neither did Toushirou luckily. Most of the time, Retsu gave a gentle nod when it came towards the explanation of the internal damages were and what phobias had come from it. They talked for almost an hour after that about the progress that Toushirou had accomplished, and then down to the bottom line of where he was at now.

Retsu looked to the old man, "Kurosaki-kun's explanation of both examination and progress are very in depth of detail. I believe that they are telling the truth." Her attention turned to the small captain. "I am sorry that you had to endure such a thing, Hitsugaya-taichou. I'm glad Kurosaki-kun was there to help."

"What do you purpose we do with young Hitsugaya-taichou then, Unohana-taichou?" Shigekuni asked.

"Kurosaki-kun's method seems to be helping his progress of returning to a stage where he would be most comfortable around others." She turned to him again. "With Hitsugaya-taichou's ability to withstand any fear from Kurosaki-kun is actually a blessing due to his normal independence. I will go with their choices."

"Very well, after his examination, I will hear out your proposal of how you see yourself staying as Taichou of the Tenth Squad." With that, he swayed a hand for them to be dismissed, not wanting to hear anymore.

Toushirou was going to object to being touched, but the Strawberry interrupted. "Let's go then," as Retsu began to lead the way, Ichigo followed where as Toushirou found himself clinging to the man as they left.
"Kurosaki, I can't do that—you can't force me to be examined, you said so yourself!" The little captain saw the two tall figures stop to look at him, it started to worry him. "I-I'm sorry, I'll stay in Soul Society, just—"
"Hey, hey, hey, calm down. You'll throw yourself into a panic attack like last time." Ichigo knelt down to his level, placing a finger against his own lips and winking at him. "Everything will be okay, do you trust me?"
The signals that he indicated meant that he was just putting on a play, but for what? "…yes…" With that, the man stood up and had his hand leave his sleeve as they used flash steps to get to their location.
After they went to a secluded wing, the three entered a room where Toushirou knew to sit on the bed to be examined. "I see no reason to examine you, Hitsugaya-taichou, I understand what happened to you."
"…I won't be examined?" He was confused and looked to Ichigo who smiled while nodded his head. It then dawned on him, "this was to have Soutaichou believe that I was going to have one, wasn't it?"

"As you said in the first division, no one can touch you unless you give them the okay." Ichigo sat on a chair next to him. "But you have to think about this, okay? Unohana-san is taking a risk by saying that she is going to examine you when she really isn't, she could get into trouble." He watched as Toushirou began to acknowledge this. "The truth is, you do have a partial scar deep within your rectal that I can't heal." His attention slightly went towards the woman, but knew it was okay. "That's why you cringe in pain at times."

The little one looked away, trying to hide a blush from them. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"She's has a better chance healing you than I do right now, and I'm sure you don't have to undress."
"Kurosaki-kun is right, he's learning under me from time to time." Retsu spoke. "If you want, I can help."
"Maybe, after you let her heal you, you can let her check your vitals as your examination?" Ichigo smiled.
"She would have to touch me for that." The small one earned a nod from him. "…would you stay here?"
"Yeah, I'm not leaving Soul Society without you." He chuckled softly, and the other lied on his stomach.

"I will have to ask you to minimize sexual activities to once a week," Retsu claimed, causing the two to flinch. "Though I understand what you are trying to help him accomplish, Kurosaki-kun, you need to be aware that small things can trigger fear." She looked at the Strawberry. "I know you two aren't together."

"It's once a week, we started just the end of last month as he wanted. Previously he tried to rush it in a belief that he needed it to cleanse himself." Ichigo scooted over to be near Toushirou's head in case he gave a violent reaction. "After giving him more time to adjust and make more progress, I decided to let him have his practice with me by allowing him to decide the pace." As her hand came towards the little captain's rear, his hand caressed white strands to keep him calm. "After one more, it'll be over with."

"I suppose that means you would have to decide the pace instead?" Retsu asked quietly, watching as the smaller captain flinch, and Ichigo nodded. "Well, from what you told me, your method seems just fine."
"At least it's good to know I have your approval." He chuckled quietly as she finished healing the internal scar. "Toushirou plans on coming here to do his work little by little. Rangiku-san knows his situation."
"What about your situation, Kurosaki-kun?" The woman watched him stiffen. "You knew after graduating that you would have to come to have a collar placed on." She moved back as Toushirou jumped up.
"That's why you sounded reluctant to come here!" Toushirou yelled at the man, grabbing the hem of his robes. "You bastard, why didn't you tell me! Why do you keep hiding these things from me Kurosaki!"
"I place family and friends before myself." The man answered. "You wanted me to come with you here, and so I came here as you asked despite knowing what would happen." Turquoise hues filled with guilt.
"And you wonder why everyone has issues with you taking on the world?" Retsu asked beneath her breath in which earned her an annoyed look from the man. "How about a cup of tea then before you go?"

"As great as that sounds, all I want to do is finish here, get my collar, and go home to recover… I should have a futon in the closet." He tried to think about it, only to grumble. "Damn it all, it's going to take weeks to adjust to that collar then if—" His eyes shot open as if he realized something. "That's what it's about…" Ichigo chuckled as he stood up slowly, "that bastard thinks he can control my Hollow powers, huh?" The man's bright orange colored hair began to lengthen to his shoulders. "Unohana-san, take care of Tou—"

Toushirou grabbed his arm, "you're not going to fight!"
"What?" He was taken aback by the firm demand.
"I want to go home with you and sleep the day off!"
His hair returned to normal, "…it can't be helped."

Retsu raised a hand to laugh lightly again, earning their attention. "I'm not used to seeing these sides from either of you." She smiled lightly to the two males. "It's nice to see that the two of you independent gentlemen can depend on each other." Her hands shooed them out. "The examination is done, have fun."

They left the fourth division to return to the office of the cranky old man to report that there was an internal scar that Retsu had to heal. Ichigo then explained for the little captain the plan that he had decided on; it was reluctantly agreed to, and the collar was held up to him. Toushirou then approached this time, telling him that there was no need to leash Kurosaki Ichigo or else there would be less protection for Soul Society and its inhabitants. The arguments they were giving this old man was quite daring of them, and it was acknowledged as the collar was set down—but for a different purpose.

"I want you to write with your blood, that you will not allow another war against Hollow to carry out whilst you live, is that understood?" Shigekuni scooted a piece of paper towards him. "Do so, and I will excuse the fact that you allowed our youngest captain to be violated, and your disagreement to our arrangement."
"Then you better swear on your position that you're not going mention Toushirou's incident to anyone, is that understood?" It was a negotiation, it was a threat, and it was a dangerous situation. The elder slowly nodded and claimed to agree. "Fine," Ichigo cut his wrist, grabbed a brush, and wrote on the blank paper.
Once he was finished, his old eyes read the paper of their agreement, and there was an addition to it. "You ungrateful little—" he bit his tongue as to the addition to the piece of paper held over his head like a blade. "Very well," he spat at Ichigo with venom quickly afterwards. "Both of you get out of my sight!"

With that, the two left Soul Society and returned to the apartment where everyone was still snoring loudly.

"You added something, didn't you?" Toushirou whispered as he got comfortable in his gigai that was under the covers of Ichigo's bed as the other pulled out a futon from the closet. "What was it?"
"If he wanted to sell me out, he would have Hell to pay for." He put the futon on the floor and grabbed some covers. "I'm a valuable piece to Soul Society, without my direction, Hueco Mundo would evolve."
His words from how he said it made the little captain a bit worried, making him crawl out from under the covers to look at the man lying down next to the bed on the futon. "Kuro—" He paused. "Ichigo…"
Brown hues looked at the one who gazed up at him from the side of the bed. "Is something wrong?" He sat up slowly to be face to face with him—accidentally too close. "Listen, if you're worried about—"
"No," the captain whispered softly, before leaning a little farther to kiss his forehead while slightly blushing from doing something that would be down for him. "I appreciate the lengths you go through for me."

"What are friends for?"