I don't know how many people read the beginning part where the author just blabs away, but for any that do read this, great! This is my most popular story and I am happy to say that for November I had 83 visitors and December I had 85. In my book that's pretty good. So I would just like to thank you all for reading and enjoy this next chapter. Happy 2013 everyone!

Disclaimer: Don't own Bleach, never have, never will

It had been a long week. After Ikkaku had awoken many things had taken place. For one he was required to remain in the squad four barracks until he was cleared to go. They were all stunned by his sudden recovery. Ikkaku, having heard how close he was to death, was also perplexed as to how he survived. Although awaking to see his best friend there he knew that Yumichika had something to do with it. The look in his friend's eyes had told him that it wasn't a good time to ask, but Ikkaku knew that curiosity would eventually get the better of him. Ever since he had regained consciousness Ikkaku had noticed his friend was acting strangely. He could tell that there was something he was not being told. Even when Yumichika acted like his normal self, Ikkaku knew it was only acting. One day as he laid in his room bored to death he had a strange conversation with one of the nurses that got him to thinking. And that's a rare occasion.

"Where's your friend?" the nurse asked him. Ikkaku shrugged and responded bitterly, "How should I know? I've been trapped here for the past few days."

"Well he was here everyday while you were in the coma, so I just wondered. . . " she stopped when she noticed the quizzical look on his face, "What is it?"

"It's just . . . he's never visited often before," the nurse, knowing of Ikkaku reputation, nodded.

"I don't know what changed, but he was seemed awfully worried this time around and hardly left at all. Most of the time the only way to get him to leave was to drag him out of the room," she said finishing up her job of tidying up the room. Ikkaku began to wonder what had changed while he was out. By what the nurse and Rangiku had told him Yumichika had been acting abnormally, well more abnormal than he usually was. According to everyone he'd talked to Yumichika was still acting strange, though while Ikkaku had been conscious Yumichika had rarely visited and when he did there was always a strange awkwardness that had never been present before. Finally the day came. Ikkaku could leave! He'd made several attempts to escape the barracks but every time he did he was met by a glaring Unohana. As soon as he heard that he was allowed to leave he took off at full speed and didn't stop until he reached squad eleven. Home, he was finally home.

Every time he tried to act as if nothing had happened he had failed. Yumichika had visited Ikkaku after he made his 'miraculous' recovery, but only a few times and none of them had gone well. He couldn't help but look at Ikkaku in a different way than he had before. So his solution was to just avoid Ikkaku as much as he could and refrain from thinking about him. It wasn't the thought of revealing his feelings to Ikkaku that terrified him, it was the fear that he would be rejected and things between them would never be the same. The situation Yumichika was in at the moment wasn't much better, because Ikkaku knew something was going on. So even if Yumichika succeeded in keeping Ikkaku in the dark, things between them could never be the same. This was at least survivable.

The spiritual pressure was drawing nearer. Ikkaku was back. Now Yumichika had no excuse to avoid him. They were, after all best friends and Yumichika had risked his life for Ikkaku, he couldn't just all of a sudden stop being friends. Yumichika sighed and left his room to meet his best friend after having avoided him for several days. As soon as the men caught a glimpse of each other the awkward feeling returned. Yumichika avoided eye contact, hating himself for being so emotional. Ikkaku scowled. He wasn't going to let this continue.

"What is going on!?" he demanded. Yumichika was about to respond with an fake denial, but Ikkaku cut him off short, telling him not to pretend that it was nothing. A smile tugged on the edges of Yumichika's lips. He laughed silently to himself. Ikkaku noticed the look on his friends face and once again inquired what was going on. The reason for Yumichika's sudden changed of attitude was the comparison of how long it took for that secret to be blown (because now he had no other option but to confess) compared to how his other secret, which he'd had much longer, still remained a secret. Yumichika shook his head. He no longer had to wonder what Ikkaku would say or do. It would all be revealed in a matter of seconds. He thought for a moment, trying to see if there was another way out of this, but he knew that there wasn't. So taking a deep breath he squared up and looked Ikkaku in the eyes for the first time in a while. All of a sudden there was a great sinking feeling in Yumichika's stomach.

"I . . . " he dropped eye contact, " . . . can't tell you." He was claimed by shame. Why couldn't he have just done it? Although Ikkaku wasn't going to take that answer so grabbing the scruff of Yumichika's robes he forced the man to retain eye contact. "Just tell me! What happened to you?" Ikkaku's voice almost sounded hurt. When Yumichika realized this he really looked into Ikkaku's eyes and found the courage to open his mouth and uttered the three words that would change everything.

"I love you."

Cliffhangers are my best friends! I love them and they're especially useful when you don't know what else to write. However I do hope this chapter was sufficient. Thanks again for reading!