A/N: Sorry about the ridiculous delay, but I did say on my profile that this was on a short hiatus! :)
So, now that I've had time to break away and think about this story, I have came up with a kind of plot and I look forward to writing it. So moving on from this note, enjoyyyyy!
It felt like hours before the two broke apart, though they probably wouldn't have if they hadn't heard footsteps approaching from around the corner. They leapt apart, Toushiro wearing a stoic mask while Ichigo stood there and brought his fingers to his lips. Both panting a little, but nothing suspicious. The footsteps drew closer until one of the male servants appeared around the nearest corner behind Ichigo, freezing when he caught sight of the two before bowing deeply.
"I am extremely sorry Captain Hitsugaya, Kurosaki-san, for interrupting." Ichigo thought he heard a fair amount of fear in his voice.
"It's quite alright," he heard the white haired boy say as he walked forward and past him, "Are you coming Ichigo? I think we should return for tea now."
Ichigo nodded, though the captain couldn't see, and followed after him in silence. Neither spoke as they walked into the tearoom and took their seats around the table, but Ichigo did smile at the others.
Ichigo avoided Toushiro's eyes, but he did send sly glances at him all through tea, unsure of what was going to happen now. Had anything changed? Or was what happened just a one off? A spur of the moment thing that won't happen again. He was almost afraid to find out.
They continued tea, Ichigo involving himself in the others conversations, only speaking to Toushiro when necessary out of embarrassment. Rukia sent him a questioning glance after a while but Ichigo just shook his head covertly, he'd tell her later.
"It is getting late, I think it may be time to say goodnight…but there is something I want to talk about first." Byakuya's voice sounded, interrupting his and Rukia's silent exchange and drawing their attention to him. "I feel that now would be the time to reveal the reason for this dinner tonight."
Everybody stared, waiting for him to continue after his enigmatic announcment. He took a sip of tea before his gaze returned to the group. "Ichigo, Renji, I have a proposition for you both."
Ichigo and Renji exchanged nervous glances, "What is it Captain?" The red head asked.
"Well, as you are all well aware, the Head Captain is getting restless with the fact that we have three divisions without captains."
The group nodded, wondering where he was going with this.
"Because of this fact, I have decided to recommend you both as candidates for two of the three squads."
Byakuya's words were followed by complete silence. Renji and Ichigo's mouths were hanging open and were frozen in shock. Rukia was looking between the two, smiling with happiness.
Toushiro's shock was shown on his face for a second before he replaced it with his plain mask. Little did anybody know, he felt like jumping up on the table and doing a little dance. If Ichigo took the position, he'd be here a lot more.
Renji recovered first, stammering as his face lit up, "Ca-Captain, thank you! I'm…I'm honored!"
Byakuya smiled and nodded to his lieutenant, "We are well aware that you are both capable of performing Bankai, so we could put you through the 'Captain Proficiency Test', but I believe that getting the recommendations will be the quickest option. I trust, Captain Hitsugaya, that we can rely on you for a recommendation?"
The white haired captain nodded and smiled in response, causing Renji to react in the same way before he turned to Ichigo. The boy hadn't spoken at all. "Ichigo?"
This seemed to snap him out of his stupor. "Uh, sorry. I'm honored, really! But…I dunno. I guess I'm going to need some time to think about it, you know, talk to my family and friends."
"I understand." The nobles gaze swept the group as he got to his feet, the rest of the group copying his action. "I bid you all goodnight. Captain Hitsugaya, there is a spare bed for you should you want it."
'That's quite alright Captain Kuchiki, I feel like walking for a while."
The captains exchanged a few more words before Toushiro left the room followed soon by Renji, Rukia and Ichigo.
"Wow, I can't believe it! I'm gonna be a Captain." Renji cried, pumping his fist in the air. "I just hope I can get the recommendations."
"I'm sure you will," Rukia smiled, "I'm sure you would too Ichigo, should you want it."
Ichigo barely responded, simply nodding and smiling a little. His mind was trying to think about two different things at once, so conversation was near impossible. Ichigo saw Toushiro disappear down the corridor to his left as Rukia and Renji continued walking forwards and he found one of his thought suddenly overshadow the other.
"I'm just gonna go to the bathroom before bed. I'll see you guys tomorrow." He didn't even leave them time to respond before he speed walked down the corridor after the white haired man. It didn't take long to catch up to him but they were outside before he did, seeing as how he took a few wrong turns on his way to finding him.
"Toushiro!" Ichigo called as he ran out of the Kuchiki Manor gates.
The captain turned and smiled at the boys approach. He'd been so absorbed in his disappointment about Ichigo's response to Byakuya's proposition that he hadn't noticed the man reiatsu following him.
"Hey, I think we need to talk." The orange haired man said, a slight blush reaching his cheeks.
"Yeah."
They continued to walk, slowly, as the silence of the late night surrounded them.
"Look, what happened in the courtyard…what did it mean to you?"
Toushiro frowned, he didn't actually know. Sure, it showed they had feelings for each other, but what did it mean for them now? "I'm not sure, what did it mean for you?"
"I don't know either," Ichigo sighed.
There was silence once more as the men deliberated with themselves. It was Toushiro that broke the silence.
"I want us to be something."
Ichigo's eyes widened. "What, like boyfriends?"
'I don't know, just something…I never been in a relationship before."
Ichigo smiled down on the shorter man, his hand reaching for Toushiro's empty one, winding their fingers together.
"Do…do we tell anyone?" Ichigo asked quietly.
Toushiro frowned, unsure of how people, aside from his friends, would take it. "Maybe we should keep it to ourselves for now."
They walked in silence through the empty streets of the Seireitei, not a soul around them, until they reached the tenth squad barracks.
"I guess I should be getting back to the manor, I've got to be at the Senkai gate early tomorrow." Ichigo sighed, turning to Toushiro and planting a firm but soft kiss on the other boy's lips before untangling their fingers. Ichigo went to walk away but Toushiro's voice stopped him.
"Why do you need to think?" When Ichigo looked confused, the white haired Captain rephrased. "Why do you need to think about taking the captain's position?"
Ichigo ran a hand through his hair, "I have family down in the world of the living, I have a lot of good friends there. It's not like I've died or anything, I belong down there. If I took this position, I won't get to se them much at all. I don't know if I want that."
Toushiro merely nodded and smiled, "I was just curious."
Ichigo swept forward and kissed him again before taking off down the street. "Good night Toushiro!"
"Night Kurosaki!"
Ichigo's quiet laughter could be heard just before he flash stepped out of sight.
"Oh Ichigo, I'm so happy for you!" Rukia squealed as Ichigo looked sharply around him, hoping nobody had heard her. He'd just finished explaining what had happened the night before.
"Shut it woman. People might hear you."
"And?" She asked, still beaming from ear to ear.
"And we're keeping it secret for now so do me a favor and either be quite or shut your damned mouth altogether."
She pouted and grumbled before she relaxed her face into a small smile as she looked past him. "It looks like the gate is ready. You better go."
Ichigo nodded, smiling too and reaching to give his best friend a firm hug. "Take care, I'll be back soon."
She nodded into his chest before pulling away and saying her goodbyes to the others, waving at their retreating forms as they disappeared into the bright light of the Senkai gate.
"Welcome back my son!"
"How was the Soul Society?"
"Did you fight any baddass motherfucking Arrancar's?"
"Karin, mind you r language."
It may seem strange that his family would be so calm about such a thing as his son leaving his physical body to go to a sort of astral plane where he would fight with swords and risk his life for the world if needed. But after the revelation during the winter war that his father was also a soul reaper, hence why Urahara could get him his powers back so long ago, he realised his father had known all along. And they had both felt that with Ichigo disappearing so often, it would be easier to explain it to his sisters rather than lie.
His friends like Tatsuki and Keigo also knew, but that was because they were sneaky idiots and followed him to Urahara's underground training room when he left to rescue Orihime from Aizen's grasp in Hueco Mundo.
The usual events commenced. Yuzu questioned him relentlessly about what he did while he was there, Karin interrogated him about any training he had done and his father was adamantly trying to kick him in the face. It wasn't until dinner that he had a chance to ask them.
"Hey, look. While I was up at the Soul Society, I was given a proposition. Byakuya proposed that I be put forward as a candidate for one of the captaincy positions."
The three of them just stared at him. "So…what did you say?" Karin asked.
"What do you mean 'what did I day?', I said I'd have to talk to you's first."
"What? Why would you say that?"
"You should go for it, it's a wonderful opportunity!" Yuzu smiled.
"My son! A captain! I'm so proud!"
"Hey Hey!" Ichigo called, calming them down. "If I became a captain then I wouldn't be able to come down here much. I mean rarely. Are you sure you's are okay with that?"
There was a couple of seconds silence before they all started again, agreeing and telling him to do it. He smiled, what a strange but supportive family he had.
MisaxMisa: Ichi and Ren are going to be captains!
Renji: I wonder what squad I'll get?
Ichigo: I hope I don't get squad three, I like Kira but he depresses me after a while...
Renji: Hey! Kira's my friend!
Ichigo: Come on, admit it, it's true.
Renji: …yeah.