Sorry for the delay in updates, I hope this chapter is okay, it is a little bit short but it is more of a transitional piece between this section of the story and the next part, so I hope you enjoy! And as always thanks for the lovely reviews!

Chapter Five:

Ichigo stepped back as he admired the signed program for the Phantom of the Opera which was now perched conspicuously among the collection of other programs he had collected over the years; it still made his heart skip as he recalled the day he had spent at the theatre with Aizen, although he couldn't fathom why the man had gone to the trouble of getting him the gift.

He shrugged it off again and headed out of his bedroom, drawn by the smell of cooking which was floating up the stairs teasingly; he went to investigate and paused in the kitchen doorway as he saw Aizen at the oven wearing his sisters green apron and cooking something on the stove.

The strawberry stifled a giggle and he walked over, "Hey, what are you up to?"

"I thought I would supply some dinner for us both today, you have cooked for me every day since I arrived and I am capable of cooking myself, so I thought it would be a nice to return the favour." The brunet answered with a smile in his direction.

"Oh, thanks." He said as he leaned against the counter, "What are we having?"

"Eggs Benedict... Have you had it before?" he inquired.

"No, I've heard of it though, Ishida had some on a medical trip he took with Ryuken about six years ago. He said it was very nice and had lots of variations." He answered.

Aizen nodded, "Indeed there are many variations, I personally enjoy the 'Huevos Benedictos' which substitutes the ham used in the traditional variety for either sliced avocado or Mexican chorizo; it is topped with salsa sauce and Hollandaise sauce."

"That sounds nice... Maybe we could try that sometime?" he asked.

"Certainly, I would enjoy making it for you." He smiled.

Ichigo smiled and went and sat down, ten minutes later he was presented with the finished article which sent a growl of appreciation to his empty stomach, "This looks fabulous." He commented before picking up the fork he had been presented with and tucked in, watching as Aizen joined him and sat opposite him, apparently gauging his expression and enjoyment.

Later that day, Ichigo decided to tackle some homework he had been set; he found it distinctively more difficult than he had first anticipated as he found himself increasingly distracted by the brunet haired man he was currently sharing his home with.

Aizen had been inexplicably well behaved since their conversation precluding to his rampage around the house and their trip to the theatre. That had been just two days since their trip to the opera and they were still spending their free time discussing it.

He found himself peering at him from under his ever lengthening fringe and through his eyelashes, watching the way the man watched the television or read a book, observing the way his tongue flicked out over his lips to moistening them or seeing how he raised a hand and swept it through his tousled hair when he felt it necessary.

The more he observed the more he found himself reeled into his mannerisms and his ticks, the more he found himself engrossed and his homework forgotten by the wayside.

He wasn't sure what it was or why it was but the number of times he found himself staring was increasing daily; and every time he stared he discovered more things about the man that he had not formerly seen, like a tiny mole which sat just by the connection of Aizen's face and ear, it was no larger than a dot you might make with a felt tip pen, but regardless it was something which had otherwise gone unnoticed by him before.

"Are you alright?" Aizen asked, drawing him from his daydream.

"Yes! Sorry, yes!" he exclaimed, turning back to his books as his face reddened in the embarrassment at having been caught looking.

The brunet raised an eyebrow and threw his hand through his hair restlessly as he peeked at him from the corner of his eyes, his lips quirking towards a smile as he saw how red he had gone in the face, "What are you working on?" he asked as he leaned towards him suddenly, invading his personal space and draping an arm around the back of the couch they were occupying.

Ichigo shuffled slightly as he felt his breath on his face and cleared his throat, "An essay... For... My uh... History class..."

"Oh? History was always a favourite subject of mine. What era are you working on?" he asked.

"1800s, the reign of Queen Victory in England and the grand Empire she helped to expand with the use of trade."

"Oh, interesting era, I myself was just in my prime, newly joined to Division Five as a fifth seat," he commented, "I made several trips to the World of the Living, there were a lot of Hollows in 18th Century Britain."

Ichigo paused and looked around at him, "And you wouldn't per chance be offering to assist me would you?"

"No." He smirked, laughing as the strawberry whined like a three year old, "Of course I will assist you, let me see the paper."

Settling into an afternoon of study and bravado, the pair worked on Ichigo's essay together, something which the strawberry was increasingly grateful for as he was able to get several firsthand accounts of things which had occurred and even details about people alive at the time. He quickly figured that he would be getting a high mark for this piece of work and a smirk touched his lips as he considered rubbing it in Ishida's face.

The hours they spent working seemed to fly past, they took breaks to have cups of beverage and a quick peek of what was going on on the television; but neither of them really paused for long enough to allow the conversation to die.

Before he really knew what had happened, seven and a half pages down the line, Ichigo realised that it was getting dark outside and it was past the time he usually ate his evening meal. Finally setting his books and pens aside, he offered a sleepy smile to the brunet before he moved to go to the kitchen. He was taken off guard as Aizen moved with him and he looked at the man, his stomach erupting into flutters as their eyes locked for a moment.

"Allow me." The brunet said suddenly, moving away and disappearing into the kitchen.

"Oh... Sure." The strawberry trailed off, watching him go before he swallowed hard and rolled his eyes, shaking off the feelings before he ran upstairs to out his work away, ready to take in the next day, nice and early compared to his usual last minute stuff.

It wasn't that he was stupid he was simply unmotivated and too busy saving the world from evil criminals. Like the man downstairs. He chuckled slightly as he considered how domesticated the criminal downstairs was, he had actually grown to quite enjoy his presence; fitting conversations and chats in between his school work, his part time job, his shinigami work and his work at the Clinic next door. There was no denying he was busy, but he would rather have it that way then be sat on his ass doing nothing.

For the second time that day his nostrils were assaulted by the sweet aroma of Aizen's cooking skills; hurriedly bounding down the stairs and into the kitchen, almost running the man over as it appeared he had been about to call him down.

"Haha, sorry..." he said, brushing his shirt down, "Are you done already?"

"Yes, it was a quick meal I learned while I was on active duty." He answered, gesturing for him to go to the table.

"Active duty?" he questioned as he sat down, flushing as his chair was pushed in for him.

"Yes, most seated officers above seat seven will be sent out actively within the first hundred to two hundred years of service. I was sent to Hueco Mundo with a squadron of sixty others. There was rarely time for us to sit down to a properly meal which led me to learn this recipe, it was quick to make and fast to eat." He explained.

Ichigo tilted his head curiously as he listened, nodding slowly as he spoke to him, "Huh... Well it smells sublime!"

"I certainly hope so. Enjoy."

The meal tasted as good as it looked, Ichigo barely spoke a word as he tucked into it; he watched the other out of the corner of his eye again, flushing as he saw that Aizen met his gaze and held it for several moments.

The strawberry swallowed thickly and tore his eyes away, finishing his food not long after; he stood up and washed his plate and the other items used to cook. He tensed as he felt a pair of larger hands resting on his hips and he felt heat pool in his face; he looked around slowly and saw Aizen pressed up against him, their faced barely inches apart.

"You shouldn't..." he whispered.

"Why not? You scared?" Aizen asked softly, leaning in closer until his breath was gently puffing against the younger man's face.

Ichigo swallowed hard and looked at him properly, "No." He answered, turning to face him fully before he leaned up on his toes and pressed their lips together lightly.

Aizen, although momentarily surprised, returned the kiss tenderly, brushing his fingers through the youth's hair as their meeting deepened, lips parting and tongues entwining as they pressed together and encircled one and other.

When they parted, Ichigo was red in the face and licked his lips in thought, he smiled weakly before side stepping him and hurrying from the room, his head bowed as he contained the whirlwind of emotions he was feeling, shutting himself away in his room and leave Aizen wondering where he had gone wrong.