Hi, next chapter is on! A bit crappy I must admit, especially the ending, but I hope you'll forgive me :) .
Thanks a lot for all the nice reviews, favourites and follows ! Love you guys :D

Enjoy!
- s.

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Next morning, Ichigo woke up with a small smile playing on his face. He stirred in bed before opening his eyes. Byakuya was still fast asleep and Ichigo took his chance to admire his lover's calm face.

Suddenly, Byakuya smiled slightly in his sleep and murmured Ichigo's name. The boy grinned in the direction of the unconscious man. He wondered what kind of sleep Byakuya must be having at the moment. The small smirking creature inside Ichigo crept outside as he reached to pull the light cover off of Byakuya's chest and down his hips. He grinned even more as he realised that under the covers the Taicho was stark naked.

Byakuya moaned silently. Ichigo straddled his waist and buried his own face in the crook of Byakuya's neck. He indulged himself in Byakuya's intoxicating scent. His Byakuya always smelled really good. So good that sometimes Ichigo had to keep himself in check simply not to rip his clothes off him right in front other people.

Ichigo planted a soft kiss on Byakuya's neck. Just then Byakuya's hand grasped a lock of his hair, making Ichigo go back up. Their lips met in a fierce kiss. Two hard evidences of their desire rubbed against each other.

"Byakuya...", Ichigo moaned into the older man's mouth.

Byakuya's hands travelled down his back, grabbed his butt. Suddenly, the man pushed him off of him and for a while Ichigo thought the nice part of the morning was over. But then Byakuya was hovering over him smiling with one eyebrow raised pointedly.

"Good morning.", Ichigo breathed.

"Good..."

"Jesus Christ!"

Ichigo screamed loudly. Byakuya quickly brought the sheets up on their uncovered bodies. The two heads snapped in the direction of the door. There stood, dumbfounded with terror, Ichigo's father.

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Oh shit! Shit, shit, shit, Ichigo thought when he reached impatiently for his clothes. Why me? I'm so screwed. What was his dad doing here? Why did he have to appear in the room in that particular moment?

Byakuya seemed to be more calm but Ichigo knew it was just impression. He noted how his hand hesitated before he put his shirt on and how his lips stiffened almost unnoticeably. Well, it was not the most fortunate thing in the world to be caught in bed with his boyfriend by no one else but the very pissed off father of the aforementioned boyfriend. Especially as the old man refused to even turn round, instead, he tapped his foot on the floor, waiting for the two of them to put at least some clothes on.

Finally, when they were somewhat decent-looking, Ichigo glared at his father openly.

"Explain yourself, young man.", Isshin demanded.

"No," Byakuya suddenly spoke, "You better tell me what are you doing in my house, not to mention, my bedroom, Shiba."

Ichigo frowned. Byakuya knew his father?

"You are not to tell me this shit, Kuchiki. Not twenty years ago, and especially not after you... bedded my only son!"

"Son?", Byakuya's eyes widened at the word. He turned the confused look at Ichigo who scratched the back his head uncomfortably.

"Well, sorry to break it like that but... Byakuya, meet my father, Kurosaki Isshin."

Byakuya remained silent while Ichigo tried to take the hold of the situation. Form the very short exchange between Byakuya and Isshin, Ichigo deduced they knew each other. Thinking about it now, it wasn't anything new, though – Isshin told his son about the time he was a Shinigami and now Ichigo remembered him talking about the Kuchiki heir. But in his stories there was nothing about the reciprocal hostility between the two.

Glancing at his father's glare, he figured out the reason behind it.

"Dad- Could you please give me a moment? Karin is in the last room, down the corridor. I'll be right back, ok?"

Isshin sighed heavily and left the two men alone.

"So, you're a Shiba," Byakuya finally said.

Ichigo frowned, scratching the back of his neck. He chuckled.

"Yeah, it would be the case, I guess. Is there something wrong with that?", he suddenly felt self-conscious.

"Of course not," Byakuya reached and took his hand into his own. "I just never thought you would be... Well, I should've been suspecting at least something; the similarity between you and Shiba Kaien is... remarkable."

Ichigo bowed slightly and captured Byakuya's lips.

"Let's not talk about it now, ne? I need to get going, old man is waiting." Ichigo quickly put the rest of his clothes on. "I'll see you at lunch?"

Byakuya got up as well.

"Aren't you going to spend the day with your father and sister?"

"Are you kidding me? By the noon, I'll have my nerves thorn into pieces and patience's level below zero. Seeing you would be my cure," Ichigo grinned.

"Well, then. I will see you at the training grounds. Good day, Ichigo."

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Ichigo found his father sitting in front of the door to Karin's temporal room. The old man seemed to think hard about something.

"Karin's still asleep?", Ichigo asked approaching his dad.

"Yes. But it's good, we can talk before she wakes up."

Ichigo groaned in light frustration. Wasn't the morning scene embarrassing enough?

"Dad, is it really..."

Yes, Ichigo, it is necessary."

The substitute shinigami took a sit beside Isshin. He remained silent, waiting for the older man to take the first move. He didn't have to wait long.

"So, how long are you seeing each other? He was the reason you told me about you in the first place?"

"No, it was long after that, dad. Sorry I didn't tell you. I wanted to, but at the same time I wasn't sure how to do that. Byakuya's not the nicest person in the world."

"That's true. How did you even do that? Honestly? I'm impressed, son!" Isshin laughed quietly, much to Ichigo's displeasure.

"I just... happened, I guess." Ichigo grinned widely at the memory of that fateful 'morning after'. "Are you very mad?"

For a couple of seconds, Isshin said nothing. He just observed how his son's smile brightened. It's been a while since the last time he witnessed such an expression of happiness on his face. Even if it was caused by the Kuchiki.

"Not at all. Just be careful not to disgust Karin, would you? And try to avoid the situations like the one before, ne?"

Ichigo smirked.

"And whose fault is that? You were the one to barge in like an ass."

"Yes, and some ass I..."

"Dad, if you finish this sentence, I'll to kick you in the face." Karin's voice brought the two men back to reality.

"My beautiful daughter is awake! Come here, Karin, let's face your death with a smile on our faces and family's closeness..."

"Dad, shut up!", Ichigo growled. The man was insane. "Karin, you want to do anything particular today? I could find Rukia or Toushirou to show you around."

"No, thank you, onii-chan. Och, isn't it that little butterfly from before?"

Ichigo and Isshin turned around to see that indeed, there was a hell butterfly fluttering around Ichigo's head. He swiftly reached for it and listened to the short command.

"Oi, goat face. Yama-jii wants to see us in a couple of minutes."

Isshin frowned and shook his head.

"I'm staying with Karin for the moment. Tell him, I'll see him in a few hours."

Ichigo nodded. He ruffled Karin's hair, ignoring her pleading eyes. Oh, he knew well how a hell of a morning Karin had in order.

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"Kurosaki Ichigo, where is your father?", the Soutaicho asked when he noticed the boy standing in front of him alone.

"He's with Karin at the moment but he'll meet with you later." Ichigo explained. "So, what's up?"

The Captain Commander opened his eyes for a second, looking at Ichigo as if evaluating his behaviour.

"What are you going to do about your sister? She can't stay in Kuchiki mansion forever, I presume you know that? Good. So, does she have any plans?"

"Actually, Yama-jii, we thought about her enrolling into the Shinigami Academy. What do you think?"

"I actually believe it's a good idea. Another strong shinigami would be most beneficial. What I am more concerned about is whether we need another Kurosaki to disregard orders and destroy the second part of the city."

"Ha-ha, very funny," Ichigo replied in similar manner. "Is there anything else? I'd like to free my sister from dad's hands."

"Yes, actually, there is, Kurosaki Ichigo. The Research Institute reported some disturbances in the World of Living. Have you sensed something in the last couple of weeks?"

Ichigo scratched the back of his neck.

"No, not really. But I'll send you a word if there was anything. Or I could ask Urahara-san."

The Soutaicho waved his hand.

"You're free to go, Kurosaki Ichigo. Just fetch me you father straight away."

With that Ichigo was left to himself. He could more or less sense that Karin was still with their father. And honestly? Joining them was the last think the boy had in mind when he wandered out of the Soutaicho's office.

He thought about Byakuya but then they were supposed to meet at lunch. He didn't want to disturb his work before that. What else could a Substitute Shinigami do in Seireitei when there were no enemies to fight?

The young man smiled to himself. Peace was the thing he dreamed about for some time. But now, as it was granted, he realized that a good fight would do him much good. He assumed he could visit the eleventh squad barracks. With that, he moved in the direction of Kenpachi's squad buildings.