I don't own Bleach

Aizen/FemIchi

For my friend Tom!

The Lighthouse

Part one

There are many reasons for leaving the city for Aizen Sosuke: the crowds, the summer heat, the stress of running the families companies, none of those however is the real reason for his hasty departure in the middle of the night. Leaning an elbow on the door frame of the limousine he shuts his eyes for a moment as he sits in the plush black leather seat alone.

The phone in his pocket is ringing and the pile of problems on his desk upstairs in the sky rise office is enough to keep him locked behind it's mirror-like glass walls until he dies. Steel, glass, and concrete are his natural habitat, he was born for city life, but lately it feels so cold to the touch. He needs to get away, to slide his palm through some grass and to feel the fresh winds on his face.

Telling no one of his plan or his destination, he left a note saying he would return in a week and to not look for him. His men will of course try to find him but it'll be impossible Sosuke was very careful in choosing his escape route. Once the limo drops him off, he will vanish in a puff of smoke and travel with cash only by a train.

"We have arrived Sir." The limo driver opens the door and gives a small bow.

Without reply he lifts a long leg out of the car and steps onto a curb. His bags, a briefcase and a simple overnight bag are handed to him. Pulling out a small was of bills from his jacket Aizen steps quickly across the street and down the steps into the subway. Waisting no time he makes way to the counter to purchase a ticket. But where should he go?

Looking up at the list of towns he frowns, not a single one are lacking a member of his group. He takes one step in those towns and he would be sandwiched by bodyguards and inevitably end up back in the city. Next in line there is a old woman who is chatting rather loudly on her cell phone which reminds him to turn off his own. Reaching into his suit jacket he pushed the button down until the phone shuts off. "I almost forgot."

"No, I'm in line right now to buy a ticket. I should be there in about forty-eight hours. I am taking the fast train, dear. Oh you are right it would be faster to fly but I plan on stopping by your Aunt Gloria's in Del Rey. She has been begging me for another visit. Oh now honey, an old woman's gotta stop and take in the fresh sea air or she will rot away."

Sosuke listens to the elderly lady explaining her travel plans with a veiled interest. The place she is describing seems perfect.

"The train goes right through there but doesn't stop. I'll have to go to the next town over, Hattonfield and take a ferry. Remember? Del Rey is a little township, it doesn't even have a Taxi system. I will be very careful, I promise."

He walks up to the counter and carts a course. He wants to see this Del Rey for himself and maybe he can force away the unsettling feeling lingering under his skin for the past few weeks.

The train leaves in a few moments so Sosuke slips into a restroom and changes out of his suits to prepare for travel. Appearing a few moments later he is now dressed in blue jeans and a simple white button up shirt. His short wavy brown hair is covered in a red ball cap making him look more like typical laborer that commutes to the city to work. He sets his tailored made Italian suit on a hanger in the bathroom stall and walks away. Perhaps whoever finds it needs it, he certainly doesn't, this week belongs to him.

~/~

The thin paper tears easily in her shaking hands. "That is the third one this month." Ichigo whispers glancing over her shoulder and down the long winding road leading from the tall cliff side lighthouse to the town below. In her heart, she knows it's only a matter of time before she will be forced to travel on to another speck of a town to escape the past.

With each town she grows more and more restless for the life she left behind. It might be naïve, or reckless but, if she could just keep running until she out runs that person... "It's pointless," she slaps her palms to her face to draw herself out of her misery and continue through her day.

Twenty minutes later Ichigo has finished the checklist for the day and flips the main switch on the lighthouse. As expected the panels flick from red to green telling her everything is in proper working order. "Yes!" A satisfied smile lifts her lips. "Take that Grumpy Gunnerson!" Heh, and the harbor master thought she'd burn down the lighthouse in the first week. This will show him that a woman's work is serious business. Wiping her hands on a rag she flips off the power and travels up to the observation deck to see if the afternoon ferry has arrived yet.

In the wide blue distance she barely notices the boat on it's way. "Hmm, the wind feels about 5 knots." Pulling out a flag she waves to the harbor master to expect the vessel and leans over the freshly painted black railings to look down at the rocky shore below. Heights don't scare her, the distance is comforting. The higher up you go the less details you tend to notice. Everyone looks the same from afar and that suits Ichigo just fine.

Shifting her eyes back to the docks, the typical handful of passengers are walking towards the town on the long wooden boardwalk. She knows each one name by now and that they commute to the town across the bay for college. However, just as she is about to duck her head back inside the lighthouse a tall figure steps off the boat. Fear streaks through her entire body. "I-Is it him?" she winces biting at her tongue. Grabbing the binoculars from around her neck she looks through zeroing in on a shockingly handsome face partially hidden under a red ball cap. "No... that's not him." Ichigo exhales a calming breath, holding a hand to her mouth she realizes how close to throwing up she came. Thank god. Shifting her weight she looks back through the binoculars with a hint of curiosity about the newcomer only to see him seemingly look straight up at her.

Darting back inside like a child caught with a hand in the cookie jar she pushes her back against the glass. "He looked up? No one looks up!" she argues with her eyes slanting to the floor. "Ok, that guy does."

Down below Aizen continues along the boardwalk after noticing the glare of a scope or perhaps binoculars pointed at him. "Tomorrow, I will check that out." Some habits are impossible to shed even if you want to. "Could you point me toward the hotel?" he asks the old harbor master wearing a faded gray uniform.

"No, this town doesn't have anything fancy that might spoil you young ones." Gunnerson waves a wrinkled finger towards the town. "We have one diner, one food store and small department store. You gotta turn around and go back to the mainland just to see a doctor."

"There isn't a place for lodgings?" he asks again sensing the elderly man is holding out on him.

"Tch, go ask at the lighthouse. It was converted into a bed and breakfast a few years back."

"Thank you." he replies walking towards the tall white and red tower.

"B-But no one ever came to this island!" The old man adds following the younger man with a bit of suspicion. "You are better off staying at the mainland until your business here in Del Rey is finished!"

"I'm not here on business." Sosuke says turning his head to see the harbor master stop dead in his tracks. "I'm here to relax."

The old man exhales a frustrated scoff and stomps into the harbor office slamming the door loudly. He talks like a foreigner! Figures!

Aizen chuckles seeing the man peeking through his blinds in the window to gawk at him. This is a really cozy place. They are practically kicking him back into the ocean to swim to shore. Climbing the set of stone steps he arrives at the lighthouse entrance and starts to knock when he hears a woman's voice coming from around the side of the building. Turning the corner his eyes fall on a woman in baggy overalls hitting a small generator with a silver wrench in her hand. It is easy to assume the wretched outfit hiding her figure is for some practical use. Her legs seem long but it's her hair that draws his attention. Flowing in two pony tails her straight thick orange hair is striking with the sunset just behind her.

"Come on you piece of shit! WORK!" Ichigo's right leg crashes into the archaic piece of shit. Did she mention it's a piece of shit? Well... it is! "Why! Won't! You! Work!" she yells kicking the beast. After the fourth bash of her boot it roars to life and she lifts her arms up in the air. "Yes!"

Standing there for the entire victory dance Aizen Sosuke tilts his head in amusement looking her up and down. "Should I lend you a hand or perhaps a foot?"

"What?!" Ichigo shrieks jumping backwards and whirling around in shock at the very unexpected deep voice of a man. "W-Where did you come from?"

"The boat. The harbor mas-" his breath is lost the moment her face turns toward him. "beautiful..."

"Huh?"

"You have a beautiful face." Aizen clears his throat trying to compose himself, but it's pointless this young woman's face is unexpectedly sweet. Small features, plump lips and creamy tan skin make for a killer combination on a woman. From early childhood he has considered orange hair the most sensual and intriguing.

"I... um... okay?" she says in a questioning tone incredibly curious at why this tall man with a red hat traveled here to her. "Did they send him? Well I won't go back. Nothing can make me return to them!"

"Are you sure?"

"What? Oh yeah." Ichigo clears her throat and focuses on the situation. He is talking about her and using the words beautiful, right. "Yes, I was born this way." she replies in a icy tone taking a step back and then kicking herself mentally for showing a hint of fear. "More importantly... what brings you to here?"

"The harbor master said you have lodgings." Pulling out a stack of money he continues to stare at her. "I need a room for four days and five nights."

"You are staying here?" It's almost unbelievable. No one rents a room here... ever!

"Is that a problem?" he asks narrowing his eyes at her surprise. "I was told this is an inn-"

"O-Of course it is." Ichigo waves her hands up in the air nervously. Taking the money she shows him into the the living section of the lighthouse. "You are the only guest," Ever.. she wants to add but keeps that to herself. "...so I'll give you the nicest room." she says leading him down a brightly lit corridor and then up a set of wooden stairs. "Is there a certain time you would like your meals?"

"Whenever you eat will be fine."

"Then breakfast is at seven-thirty, and then there is twelve-thirty for lunch." Opening the door she hands him the key ring and waits for him to enter. Once his tall form is inside she gives a light bow. "I can make a light afternoon snack and then dinner will be at seven." she says looking to him for approval and only noticing his head nod. Weird. He is a quiet type she guesses and not that that is weird it's just kind of strange for a guy to come out here on vacation, alone with a red hat that covers his face. "Maybe he is okay. Maybe he wants to be alone." Turning around to walk away her feet pause, "I-If you need anything there is a phone in your room that connects to mine. Enjoy your stay."

"Whom should I ask for?"

"Oh, I'm Ichigo. Sorry about that."

"And I am Sosuke. Thank you." Shutting the door Aizen slides off the ball cap allowing his long brown hair to tumble freely for the first time all day. The tension on his scalp relaxes, his mouth parts in a quiet sigh. A nervous sort of excitement at his escape makes him smile to himself. By now the family knows he is long gone and they have few clues to follow. Glancing at his watch he sees a few hours before the evening meal and decides to unpack the few things he brought with him then have a shower. "She didn't blink an eye when I pulled out all that cash." Which means to Aizen, that woman isn't some small town girl. "Ichigo, you've been around a lot of money before."

Twenty minutes later and just outside the best room in the lighthouse inn Ichigo Kurosaki stands chewing on her thumbnail. "Just do it!" she screams at herself listening to the shower running from outside the door. So she gently and silently turns the doorknob and slips inside Sosuke's room. Darting her eyes to the bathroom door, she can not believe she is going to nose through his belongings. "I'm terrible!"

Zeroing in on the chest of drawers she slides open the drawer by the metal hoops. Pushing away a few pairs of socks and undergarments the glint of metal takes her breath away. A GUN! "It's them..." Sweat pools above her upper lip and her heart beats out a powerful staccato. They have found her, she isn't sure how but they did. "I have to run aw-"

"What are you doing?"

Utter fear and panic blazes through her, on impulse she grabs the gun from the drawer and whirls around to point it at him. "I-I'm NEVER going back there!" she sputters forcing her eyes at the tall bare chested man walking straight up to her. Instantly she is taken by surprise at his long, thick, brown hair laying down his finely sculpted chest. "Wow..." Her head shakes away the confusion, the gun in her hand feels heavy and cold. "You go back and tell Kenpachi I am not coming back EVER!"

"I do not know, this Kenpachi person." His light brown eyes flicker with awareness, she is standing there with his own gun pointed at him while inside she is terrified. "Interesting woman."

"L-Liar!" she screams back at him with a hint of doubt in her own voice. "Your boss does not give up. H-He always finds out where I am. I-I demand to know how!"

"I have no idea." he answers her calmly allowing his eyes to travel over the light yellow sun dress she is now wearing. Each curve is an display of femininity that promises softness, how he likes that. He takes a step towards her dipping is gaze down the front of her dress to look at the tops of her round breasts. It's not like he needs a woman, but this one is nice. Leaning over her he sniffs at her head. As he thought, it's expensive French perfume. This is no small town girl, she has lived in luxury and now she is hiding from a man named Kenpachi.

"Don't smell me, and don't come any closer!" she barks at him to no avail. Sosuke puts a hand on the wall and leans even closer to her. "Are you insane? I have your gun!"

"I'm willing to over look the fact that you spied on me, and pointed a gun at me..." he lifts his open palm up in front of her completely unfazed by her threats. "If you return my weapon at once."

"But-!"

"I will tell you one more time." he adds looking directly in her confused emerald eyes. "I am not after you. However if you keep pressing the issue I will not be so kind and understanding." Obviously he could just take the gun from her, but that wouldn't give her a reason to trust him and for some reason he wants to pry into her little world and find out what is going on in it. And maybe... see what's under that dress. It's been awhile since he has had an inclination towards a female. This one is pushing all his buttons in the most forceful way it's amusing. "Ichigo..."

"Oh..." her face turns pale as she sets the gun in his hand. "I gave up entirely too easy." Tilting her head down her lips slant into a frown. Why did she give in so quickly to some stranger? He could be totally lying to her and- but if he was she would be tied up by now and on her way back to Paris.

"I would like to get dressed."

"Oh, right." she takes a step towards the door when the gravity of the situation comes crashing in on her. "I-I am so sorry!" Whirling around her knees buckle in a deep bow. "I can't believe I was so rude to you and-"

"Ichigo..."

"No. No I should apologize. I was wrong and I invaded your privacy." Her words sting at her own pride and come gushing out even faster. "I spied on you and though the worst and then-"

"Ichigo..."

"I have to finish." she interrupts slapping a hand to the soft white carpeted floor. "Then I pointed a gun at you." Cold water drops strike her hand making her stop blubbering and look up. Towering above is a completely, totally, bare, naked man. Oh god. No. This is not happening. And the angle where she is crouched is just- "You are NAKED!" Jumping up she finds her feet and darts to the door, just as it opens and freedom is seen on the other side a rather large palm smacks the door shut in her face. "I-I-I!"

"I did try to tell you." he says with a devious smile on his face. "You were just so incredibly... sorry. I couldn't get a word in."

Ack. Her lips draw in and she turns around with her eyes clamped shut in terror. What he is going to do to her? And he is still naked. Why did she get herself into this? And HE is STILL naked. How does she get out of this with a flea sized amount of pride? AND HE IS STILL NAKED!

"Ho? You've gone quiet now?" his voice deepens with each passing moment as he continues to tease her. Hmm, what is it about this one that is so... fun? "I've got it." Aizen snaps his fingers and leans his head close to her still squinting face. "You are like a tiny mouse, scurrying about, getting into things that aren't yours, picking fights with a big, dangerous cat. Mouse."

"I am not!" Her eyes pop open in anger and frustration. It doesn't even matter that he has a point, she is just humiliated and he is rubbing it in! "W-Well you shouldn't be naked!"

"I like to take a shower without clothes. It's more practical."

"Why don't you have a bathrobe?!"

"I was chasing a mouse... I didn't know I would need one."

Damn! He has two really good points and it doesn't even matter because SHE is to blame. "You-" a fingertip touches her mouth making her whole body sizzle and her words catch in her throat.

"Why are you trying so hard to win?" Lowering his gaze once again to her breasts, he can see how quick her breaths are and the blush of her cheeks is extending down her neck and to the tops her bright yellow dress. The sight excites him, stirs his blood to poke at her a bit more. However he looks up into her eyes and finds her near tears and pulls away. "I will eat in my room this evening." It's no fun if the mouse doesn't enjoy being chased. "Well run along." he adds as she stands there dumbstruck. "Unless you would like to watch me towel myself."

"N-No I don't!"

The door of his room slams shut and the sweet smell of her perfume drifts away with it leaving Sosuke with a strange sense of emptiness. Barely knowing her makes it difficult to grasp why she would be so hung up on a misunderstanding, but he isn't the type of man to be offended by it. On the contrary, she seems more endearing now to him. "Her face is beautiful and her personality is cute." And he is now certain, that his little mouse does like to be chased. "I can't wait for dinner."

~/~

To his surprise dinner arrives promptly on time via a silver serving cart and a faint knock. Sosuke's arm slips through the crack in his door and grabs the running woman jerking her and the cart inside his room. Before she can open her mouth to protest he lifts a finger up to silence her. "I'm ready to be served."

"Alright." she grumbles to herself but smiles disingenuously at him. "I'll serve you... right off the top of the lighthouse." Instead of speaking her mind, she strolls to the cart with his food and carries it over to the small table located next to a set of large double- bay windows. The view outside of the west part of the island is just blue on blue for miles out as it reaches the sea. Many times she would come to this room and read perched on the window seat with a cup of coffee in one hand and a romance novel in the other. More often than not she would find herself waking at two in the morning and being too tired would crawl into the extravagant four poster bed to sleep.

But, none of that will happen this week, not with this Cheshire cat here to crowd up her time with his demands. "Your dinner is served." she replies firmly after placing each tray on the table and turning to leave. Again this strange and bossy man grabs her arm and tugs her towards him.

"Sit with me?" he asks titling his head to the side and giving her an innocent grin.

Now, Ichigo has seen that particular look before, felt it's undertone and always knew to rebuff any advance a stranger might make on her. However, as she looks at his carefully groomed hair tied back with a long silver pin and the lose cream colored shirt half-buttoned up that exposes his chest just enough to make her pause, she begins to wonder if he is the type of man anyone has ever said no too. And does she want too? It's been so long since she felt a man's touch... "Are you asking or ordering me too?"

"Ah, it bothers you to be told what to do." Sosuke rises from his seat and walks behind the lovely dressed woman and pulls out a chair for her to sit opposite of him. "Please?"

"W-Well, alright." she mutters feeling scolded and slides into the mahogany seat wondering what it will take to earn his forgiveness for the earlier behavior. If sitting here with him will get her off the hook then so be it. She will sit. But she won't smile or have fun! She isn't fooled by his good looks. Going after the flashy ones never did her any good before, they actually caused all this trouble in the first place. "At least he isn't a bad boy type."

They sit quietly while AIzen eats, the silence stretching as far as her eyes can see. Flicking her gaze out the window she looks at her watch and then back on the window. Instantly a streak of light breifly illuminates the darkening skyline making a smile come to her lips. "Right on time."

His eyes taken in her happiness with a sense of relief. She is pretty when she smiles. "Have you lived here long?"

"Not really. Just about nine months." she replies continuing to keep her eyes focused out the window and off his oval shaped face. "I took over after the previous owner/operator passed away."

"Then, you own the lighthouse?"

"Yeah. I got lucky. I literally stumbled onto it and instantly knew it was a perfect place to-" her voice stops as she realizes she is telling him way too much. Gah! His voice is way to relaxing. "Like honey wine."

"The Lighthouse is like honey wine?"

"No, your voice is-" her lips curl as she suddenly regrets saying something that honest. Oh crap.

Now finished with his meal, Aizen sets his chin in his hand and enjoys the wiggling regret flashing across her face. He doesn't blame her, not many people are comfortable around him. Still... he senses fear behind her silence and it's in his nature to poke and prod if he wants to know something. "How about eating dessert with me?"

"Sure."

The two eat simple strawberry tarts with fresh made cream and he manages to get her to start talking about the lighthouse making the conversation flow much easier between them. Before they know it an hour has tickled by with ease.

"Ichigo, will you have dinner with me tomorrow night as well?"

For a split second she is taken aback by his words but then a small smile shines on her face. "I would like that."

"Good evening, Ichigo." He watches her go with a sense of accomplishment. It's not that she is unfriendly, he thinks about her personality while she slips quickly from the room. "You are a very afraid and guarded woman."

~/~

The following two days go by in a blur for Ichigo. Yet, at the end of each evening she finds herself once again in the room of the long chestnut-haired Sosuke and enjoying his company. Just as he is about to say good night he takes her hand and tugs her towards him. Attraction always works best with a little push of the comfort zones and he isn't the type of man to just let a woman he wants vanish without some sort of payment.

"It's time to kiss." he announces in a effortless tone watching her eyes widen and grow fearful.

"N-No."

"Yes." Taking her hand, he pulls her closer guiding her to sit on his lap. Gently his mouth glides over her lips promising a light feathery kiss, but his fingers grab into her hair and pull her head back to give him more access to her. Suddenly his kiss turns ravenous his tongue slipping inside her warm mouth tasting the hints of chocolate and ice cream she had for dessert. Deliciously tempting, his blood stirs for more of what she has, and he takes it, by wrapping his arms firmly around her waist to keep her arched in his lap.

Shaking and gasping for breath the captured woman wiggles in Aizen's lap while his mouth seizes control of her. Her lips are on fire and her body sizzling under his command. Then the warmth filling her stomach begins to pool between her legs making her struggling become sluggish under a haze of desire.

Sensing her relaxing a hand lifts from her waist and moves to her up turned neck, his fingers slide down the soft skin to gently stroke and soothe her nerves while his mouth moves to nuzzle the flesh near her earlobe.

"Ah!" Ichigo finally sucks in a deep breath of air only to find herself sighing in pleasure.

"Oh... I like that sound."

His words, breath tickle in her ear seductively drawing her towards the lips making her shiver. The need, that horrible need to be touched that Ichigo kept so carefully tucked away in her loneliness reaches it's boiling point and she turns in his lap. "Kiss me again." she says without waiting and wraps her arms around him, her mouth seeking his.

Aizen chuckles as her soft lips pull at his. Her pretty face, petite frame, with curves in the right places, accentuated by the short red dress is so sexy. And god does he want her. So he takes control of the kiss from her by fisting her hair in his fingers and shoving his tongue back inside her hot mouth.

Ichigo begins to whimper. Her hands move to pull the hair at the nape of his neck, his hands are busy exploring, touching, pressing, greedy in their search for more flesh. They land on her thighs sliding up the hem of her dress and holding her legs wide. Hot fingers leave a burning trail towards her inner thigh causing the woman to panic and suddenly shove her hands to his chest. "No." she practically yelps darting from his lap and warm embrace. "No. T-That was more than a kiss."

"I only kissed you." his lips lift in a smirk. "You are the one that attacked me."

"That's not-"

"Little mouse..." Tired of her excuses, he rises from his chair and walks over to the door. "You need to decide what you want. I won't be here forever."

"I know that." Ichigo says stomping past him to leave. She also knows he is right. "Why did I kiss him back? What am I doing?"

~/~

hey all! I hope you like part 1! Part 2 will roll out soon as I update 13! HUGS! Please vote in my poll ok? REVIEW ok I know you might have trouble doing that so if you could sign out and anon review with your name I'd be happy to hear from you! HUGS Fuzzi

Coming soon; Kensei, Toshiro, and Kira (if I can think of a plot for that one. ) Starrk, and Yumichika.