8. Hard Thinking

Ichigo was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The remnants of alcohol still in his system. And although it was still affecting his motoric system, his head was sober - well or something close to that. His mind kept on switching in between crowded and vacant (almost vegetative) state in very irregular periods. He should be sleeping. He should have never started drinking. It would be great if only the alcohol would be to be blamed, or Byakuya for that matter.

I was drunk for crying out loud! I am drunk!

The orange haired captain was holding the bridge of his nose.

How?

Why?

That was about it with the coherency. His mind was not capable of more than that. After a while of repeating this mantra, he fell asleep. It was not a good sleep and the day to come promised an adventure for sure.

And adventure it was indeed. Ichigo woke up barely in time to get to his office for the morning briefing of his squad. Luckily it was only one night he had lacked sleep, so there were no traces to be seen on his face. Thank God for his young body. But his mood? Oh, that was a whole different story.

If he wasn't able to name the feeling(s) he's been experiencing last night, now he was all too clear on the subject as what it is he is feeling. The morning made things very clear.

Rage.

Byakuya pissed Ichigo many times before and never got the payback he deserved. The lecture he has been so loudly asking for never came. But now? Now he did it. He just had to add that very last drop to the cup of patience. The one that makes the whole thing spill, as some say – well, Ichigo himself liked to think that the cup of patience was made out of an explosive mixture of chemicals and now the last drop of chloric acid has been added and….KA-BOOM!

Making Ichigo look like an idiot in front of his friends during that party? Fine. Teaching him but causing him that many injuries during the mission in the Real world? Fine. (Well, that could be classified as Ichigo's own fault technically…but it pissed him nevertheless) Not defending Ichigo as Byakuya's student when needed? Fine! But last night?! NOT FINE! Not at all!

Who the hell does he think he is? He…..

Ichigo still could not bring the thought to end. He could not bring himself to admit, that he has been kissed by another man. Even though it has been Byakuya, who kind of looks feminine….But still! A man doing this sort of thing to another man?! Ichigo visibly winced.

Deep in thought he stormed in his office. Deep frown resided on his face. The captain sat behind his desk, put elbows on it and held the bridge of his nose again.

Fuck. And I still have to meet him. In three days there is the mandatory meeting of all captains…

He laid back in his chair. Hands on his face.

Fuck.

Deep inhale.

Well, it's not like it's all his fault…I…

I was drunk, for one! And…When you are drunk you do not think clearly. You never do! Shit, that is why I never wanted to drink in the first place! I should not have started with this abhorrent behavior!

Huh? Abhorrent behavior? Who the fuck talks like that? Oh, that's right, that's right. Mr. Let's-have-a-discussion-like-grown-men. Apparently I received not only his tongue deep down in my throat but also some of his fucking vocabulary! Argh!

Ichigo made a face and a hand through his hair. The other one formed a fist as he was about to demolish some of the furniture from the office. A voice stopped him.

"Taicho?"

A head peaked in his office.

"Taicho?" His third seat was calling him.

"What?" Ichigo barked. Death glare firmly set in his eyes.

"Uhm…I am sorry, but the men are already gathered in front of the barracks…" The man answered bewildered. It was not like Kurosaki-taicho to act so…so hostile.

"There is not much new that I can tell them, is there?"

"Sir, you..well…"

"For crying out loud! Did you ever learn to speak, huh? Spill it already!" The anger Ichigo felt was enormous, it had to get out one way or the other. Besides his men should be tough both physically and mentally. He is still being mild.

Ichigo, it is not this man's fault. Zangetsu's voice rang through his head.

"Sir, you…you promised to speak to all of us about the decision Captain-Commander had made. You said, you would tell us all in person the morning after your meeting with him, sir."

Ichigo…

I know, old man! Ichigo finally acknowledged Zangetsu's warning.

"That's right. I did say that." he replied in a calmer voice.

"Sir?"

"What? I said, I know! I am coming, see?" Ichigo snapped again.

There was a worried expression on the third seat's face. Something had had to happen yesterday. The worst case scenario – the Fifth Division would be without a captain again. The men liked Kurosaki-taicho though. He was kind and fair. Something very big must have happened to leave him in this state of mind. But their taicho is a good man, he would never yell at all of them for no reason. His third seat thought to himself while watching Ichigo put on the white haori, symbol of a captain, and swiftly walking out the door.

They reached the gathered men in no time. The brisk walk and cold breeze calmed Ichigo down a little. Zangetsu reminded him several times that being pissed is fine as long as he can keep his word and fulfill his duties. Those are important things. Ichigo's anger begun to rise again on those words but then it stopped. He will have all the eternity to pay back Byakuya or come up with ways how to pay him back for that little surprise party (He should have known something was up the moment that bastard started talking to him). Now he will work and his division will be the best there is. It might be a little childish but his men will be ten times better than the Sixthers. He will make even the Eleventhers respect them as equals. That he will.

He stopped in front of his men. Curiosity was radiating off of them. There was determination and iron will in Ichigo's eyes. He stood there tall and proud, which reflected on the squad. They all straightened up and calmed down.

"Listen up." Ichigo addressed the small crowd. His voice was firm. Most of his rage transformed into determination. His hazel eyes were roaming through the faces. He liked what he saw.

"As you all know already, I spoke with the Captain-Commander Yamamoto yesterday. I will not make this announcement long. I am to stay your captain as you may already know."

The cheering and hoorays started. But Ichigo held up a hand to stop it and regain full attention of his men.

"I would not be so cheerful if I were you." He said with a smirk after the noise has quitted down. "The fact that I am to be your captain until death tear us apart means a lot to me. And what I intend to do with that title is to make this division the best of all thirteen divisions. We will train our bodies hard to have stealth as the Eleventhers and train our minds to have better wits than the Sixthers. We will become responsible and reliable as the Fourthers. This," Ichigo motioned with his hands all around himself, "will become the elite squad." He made a pause for the information to sink in. "The journey to that goal is starting this day. We Will Be The Best!"

The younger ones started cheering again and making all kinds of joyful noises, the elders were just nodding their heads. Some were even smiling a little – probably thinking Ichigo's too young to see things like this reasonably. There was a reason why there was not just one division but thirteen of them. There was a reason why not all of them specialized on the same thing. But the young never see that. They are impulsive and full of dreams but that is not bad. No, quite the contrary – that is what makes the society as a whole move forward. The dreams of the young may be high in the sky and they might never catch them. But in the process of trying to do so they will set the limits of possible further and further. The goal itself might not be the most important thing but the path one chooses to take to achieve that goal, most certainly is. That is why the elders were smiling. They knew that Kurosaki-taicho most definitely will not achieve his goal of making the Fifth Division the best but in the process of trying to do so, he will make them better. And that counts.

Ichigo stood there watching his men, taking in their reactions and letting all that fill him with responsibility to fulfill his words. To do the best he can. To prove everyone just how mature and responsible he is. He smiled – this sort of responsibility felt good.

The young captain begun to explain just how they would make that promise come true.

Renji was sitting in the office quite early today. He woke up sooner than usual and didn't quite feel like lying in bed anymore, so he went to work. There were few reports to go through and some to write. He was not in a hurry with the extra time he had on his hands. When he came he just watched the office for some time. He liked how it looked different in the semi-darkness of dawn, the way the shadows played with your eyes. And then when the first rays of sunlight got in and caressed the objects as if a kind mother was waking up her children, he would feel utterly at peace. Yeah, Renji was such a romantic sometimes. Well, he was most of the time but he would never admit that. It is not manly to be a romantic – much less if you are 6 ft tall red-head with bad-ass tattoos from your sword on your upper body, right?

He went for water and begun preparations for his morning tea. As he was about to pour the hot liquid over the leaves, the door slid open. Renji turned his head and much to his surprise, he saw his captain standing in the door frame.

"Taicho…? Oh, good morning, taicho." After the initial shock Renji hastily bowed his head and added the greeting.

"Morning, Abarai." Came the cold answer as always. But Renji was not fooled. His captain's weakness is the love of sleep. Kuchiki Byakuya is not and never has been someone you call morning bird, so what is he doing in the office at this hour?

"Would you like some tea, taicho?" Renji offered.

There isn't even any work to do. Why the hell did he come?

"Yes."

Renji finished filling the cup he had prepared for himself and brought it to his captain. When he was near him, he tried to inconspicuously observe the man and figure out what was wrong. Since something had had to happen. This was the peak of all the weirdness of past few days.

"Is something bothering you, Abarai?"

Renji could not bring himself to look Byakuya in the eye.

"Well?"

Shit!

"No, sir." Renji lied.

"Really?" And was caught.

"Did something happen, taicho?" Renji straightened. And even though he was standing and Byakuya was sitting, he did not in the least feel like he was towering over his taicho.

Byakuya was holding his steaming cup of tea. He was visibly tense.

"Nothing that concerns you, Abarai fukutaicho." Finally came the answer. But then he turned around and looked at Renji. His eyes were terrifying. "Abarai? Could you do a favor for me?"

Now that was bad. Any time Kuchiki-taicho would bring up favors something really not good was going on and it was almost never personal. Was there already a closed meeting of the taichos? Some that no one knew about? Was there another war hovering above them?

What the hell is going on? I told them. I fucking told them that something is off. And they did what? They laughed at me. Idiots! I fucking told them!

"Sure. What should I do?" Renji said in a fake carefree voice.

"Thank you. I will write a message now. Would you be so kind as to deliver it to the Fifth Division's taicho, Abarai?" Byakuya's eyes were like daggers, apparently this was a very important message.

But no name? He referred to Ichigo as Fifth Division's taicho? What the fuck? Don't tell me the punk broke my captain?!

"Of course, taicho. Tell me when you're finished. I will be going through the reports until then." Renji made his way to his desk and started to working. He was not paying full attention though as his mind was frantically working on the possible ways Ichigo could have made his captain behave in such way and there were so many possibilities….

Oh hell, I had to catch the gossip virus from Rangiku or something!

"Abarai?" Byakuya was holding a neat envelope in his hand.

Ichigo was back at his office going through reports again. His determination transformed back to anger. It wasn't rage like in the morning, but the emotion was strong nevertheless. The routine of checking what others had to say about training, housing, clothing and duties they were assigned didn't really help.

I should go there and tell him! Nah, I should go there and hurt him, hurt him bad…No, I should..Fuck! And I can't even ask anyone for advice! This would be way too embarrassing…But why did I…? No, not me – that was my freaking body that did the…the..the responding thing to that. See? That has to be proof of me being finally fit to go home! I should go home. Yeah right, and when I come to the Fourth Division I will tell them what? You know, Unohana-taicho, I really think I am ok again, because when my body was being kissed by another man it responded in the very same manner..You should really talk to Captain-Commander and persuade him of my health based on this very, very, sick behavior of my fucking body!

Ichigo slammed himself into the chair. His fist rested on his forehead.

"Shit." he said aloud and sighed.

Ok, there has to be some reasonable explanation. I was drinking…Why the fuck am I panicking anyways? Huh? It's not like anyone knows about it. That bastard had even a wife, so nobody would be expecting something like this from him, right? Ah, no..But they did already…No! Those could have been just harmless pranks, jokes. Damn, you are over thinking it man. Stop it. Stop it now.

Ichigo's head was one big chaos. Thoughts were running back and forth all the while transforming into unthinkable.

Ichigo! Zangetsu yelled at his master. He sounded annoyed. When Zangetsu was sure that he caught Ichigo's attention, he continued. You know, I was there too that night. Could you be so nice and quit coming up with such nonsense already. You want me to tell you? You really want to know?

Somebody knocked on the door.

Not really…Ichigo answered when he reached the door.

"Renji? Since when are you knocking on the door?"

"So you are still the captain of the Fifth, huh?" Renji stood there, his eyes studying Ichigo. "Oi, are you gonna let me in or what?"

"Depends. What are you here for?" Ichigo's expression changed – hardened.

"Unbelievable." Renji made his way in the office, shoving Ichigo aside. The young captain though made no move as to come to sit with Renji as they always do. He stood there by the door his arms folded and scowl on his face.

"You broke my captain." Renji announced.

"Is that so? And how exactly did I do that, huh?" Ichigo started in a low voice. "Are you nuts, man?! How could I break your captain, huh?!" His voice was much louder and his arms were no more folded but waving in the air in exasperation.

"I don't know how. But I know you did! He is acting all weird! And this morning he even came in early!" Renji shouted back.

Ichigo laughed. "Weird? Weird, that's all you've got? Weird? When is he not acting weird, Renji? Tell me! He is always weird!"

Renji stood up from the chair he's been sitting in. He came close to his friend and said in a voice dripping with danger: "You are my friend, Ichigo. But do anything to my captain, ever, and you are dead."

"I didn't do anything! Are you even listening to me?"

"Yeah, right." Renji snorted. "By the way this is for you." The red-head placed his big hand flat on Ichigo's chest with the envelope underneath it.

When he was out of the door and Ichigo was about to close it, Renji stepped back and smiled. "Oh and congratulations on passing the test somehow. We should celebrate that sometime." He winked.

"Thanks. But I quit drinking – I've had enough of that." Ichigo sounded tired.

"Wait. What?" Renji placed a hand in the doorframe to stop the door from closing.

"What?"

"You were drinking with Kuchiki-taicho yesterday? Is that it?" There was amusement in his eyes.

"Kind of. But I don't wanna talk about it."

"Too bad! I want to know about it." Renji hit Ichigo in the shoulder playfully.

"Some other time maybe. Besides don't you have work to do?" Ichigo waved him off.

"Your mood swings are worse than of a teenage girl. Fine I am going."

"Hmm."

Renji was gone and Ichigo held the letter in his hands. The first impulse was to throw it away or burn it and then go give a lecture to that bastard. Then he tried talking to Zangetsu, who even though earlier offered him to say more to this subject was now refusing. And no explanation was added.

Ichigo sat in his chair and placed the envelope in front of him. He was observing it. It was a regular envelope with no inscription on top. The paper was white and very smooth. Ichigo stretched his hands and moved his head to sides. He took a deep breath and took the envelope in his hands with the intention to open it.

I am acting like a teenage girl, aren't I? Crap. Unbelievable. This is unbelievable.

He tore it open and quickly unfolded the letter.

Kurosaki Ichigo,

meet me in the old training field of the Sixth Division after your duties.

K.B.

Ichigo was looking at the letter for a while. It was writen beautifully almost caligraphically. But that was not was striked him. Byakuya wanted to meet for some reason. For some obvious reason that is. But meet...

What? Meet him? What the hell for? Is he kidding me? Like for real? But WHY?

Ichigo hated himself, his lack of self-discipline when it came to curiosity, as he was walking towards the meeting point Byakuya set. But to take it from the bright side there will be no spectators, so he will be allowed to yell and swear and even hurt the S.O.B.!

Hmm, I wonder what would be the proper response for what he did…Surely a punch or two won't do the trick. Maybe I should already enter there in bankai and send his ass flying….Or…Or I could use some of the kido I learnt I am much better at it now. He would not be expecting that.

"You're early." Came a velvet voice from behind Ichigo.

"And you're late." Ichigo answered never even stopping. He didn't even spare a glance to the other man.

"Very well, we will continue the conversation at the given destination."

Ichigo snorted. They kept on walking next to each other to the training grounds. Ichigo let himself be guided by the raven. He was still the newbie and although he knew the general direction of the training grounds of the Sixth, he didn't have a clue which one of those was not used. They both acted as if both knew the way and none of them needed help from the other.

When they finally reached the field Byakuya stopped but Ichigo kept on walking to show he wanted to get even further from the possible ears and eyes of other Shinigami or souls. He stopped at the far end near woods with an expectant look on his face, which was very obviously suggesting to the other party to come closer if he wanted to discuss anything.

Byakuya had his no-expression expression on his face. They started a staring contest. None of them felt like giving in first. Both of them had their pride. After a while Ichigo bit his lip. It was clear none of them would succumb, so they had to make a compromise.

"Compromise?" Ichigo asked knowing Byakuya would not even talk as the first when challenged for a staring constest.

"Very well."

They both moved to the center of the field leaving a reasonable gap in between their bodies.

"So?" Ichigo had his eyebrows up in a questioning manner. He was prepared to strike instantly if the raven gave any sign of unwanted behavior. He looked like a cat on hunt, watching his prey closely, remembering every detail, noticing even the slightest of movements.

"Thank you for coming, Kurosaki Ichigo."

"Why?" Ichigo barked. Seeing that bastard again made his rage return. His eyes were blazing.

Byakuya composed his stance and leveled his gaze, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"I invited you to come to meet me in order to express my utmost sorrow for what has happened during our last meeting. I did not quite had the chance at the time then. Please accept my apology." Byakuya's face was unreadable. After a short while he added: "For my part." He was clearly expecting Ichigo to apologize, too.

Ichigo was gaping at the man. His mouth hanging open. He could not believe what he had just seen and heard. He was expecting many things but an apology was sure as hell none of them.

"You should keep on breathing, Kurosaki."

"Fuck you." Now that little comment snapped Ichigo out of it.

"Is that the response for my apology?" There was amusement in Byakuya's eyes once again. His stance was more relaxed too, but his hand never left the sword.

"You are expecting me to apologize, too." It was not a question. It was a statement, said in a calm unemotional voice.

"It would be only fair, don't you think? I was not the only one….doing things. You kissed me back, remember?"

Ichigo was on him in one leap.

"You son of a bitch! How dare you?!" He gritted through his teeth and swung at him his first punch. But Byakuya used shunpo to get past him and tackle him from behind.

"I came here to talk to you and solve this problem like grown men. I have no interest in fighting you, Kurosaki Ichigo." He whispered in Ichigo's ear. Their bodies were pressed close to each other. They could feel each other's breath patterns and heart beats.

"I will kill you.." Ichigo growled and tried to get from beneath his grip.

"It's futile. I will keep on holding you this way until you calm down."

"Calm down? CALM DOWN?! How the fuck am I supposed to calm down, you bastard?! How? Huh? You tell me you want to explain something and then you shove your tongue down my throat! Does that sound normal to you? Does that sound fine to you? HOW am I supposed to calm down?! And Get The Fuck Off Of Me!" Ichigo kept on struggling and yelling.

"I apologized." It seemed like there was nothing that could get Byakuya from his high-and-mighty-I-don't-care state.

"And that is supposed to do what, huh?" Ichigo's rage was making herself fully known.

"So you did not want me to apologize then. I see. What exactly did you want me to do then? What reaction did you envision?" Byakuya's calm rational assessment was like fuel to Ichigo's fire.

"What the hell?! Let go of me, you son of a bitch! I am going to kill you! I.." He was cut short by Byakuya's next comment.

"Maybe you expected something more along the lines of…something like this." He turned Ichigo in his grip, making sure he never lost full control over the young man, and pulled him in for a deep kiss. The access was rather easy since Ichigo was in the middle of shouting out more insults. Ichigo tensed as their mouths met and all of his movements stopped for a while.

"Was that it? Was that what you craved from me?" A velvet voice asked. Ichigo could feel the slight humming in Byakuya's chest as the man was speaking.

"You bastard…" Ichigo whispered. "BASTARD!" He roared as the full picture of what just happened (again) came in his mind.

He shoved one knee in Byakuya's abdomen, which made a little opening for him to get out of the grip the raven had on him. He used that and went full on on the other man. There was a red haze in front of his eyes.

But Byakuya was no newbie in fighting and all the games and training with Yoruichi had to show somewhere. He was able to cover most of the blows and when he saw a good opening he bound Ichigo with kido. The young man was struggling and it was only a matter of time when he would break it, nevertheless Byakuya squat next to him and casually said: "When you are ready to offer your apology, you know where to find me. But please do not forget what has been said at my house before that little incident. Fare well, Kurosaki Ichigo. We shall see each other at the meeting of captains."

If looks could kill Byakuya would be dead on the spot. But they don',t so the raven could walk away gracefully as soon as he finished what he had to say. His footsteps were accompanied by the cry of pure rage.

"BYA-KU-YAAAAAAAAA!"

Hey, guys the break was longer than anticipated. I am sorry about that. I hope you will enjoy this chapter. :) And again THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the reviews, favs and follows!