Sugar and Spice – Chapter 19
Boys Just Want to Have Fun
The next three weeks at Kuchiki Enterprises was a mixed blessing for Ichigo.
His boss, Toshiro Hitsugaya, made a point of telling him that he was making great progress in the month that he's been there and that he was showing serious aptitude. 'Which is more than some people around here,' he had said dryly. Ichigo was much more secure with his duties, so secure and comfortable, that the days began to move along at a snail's pace the work becoming repetitive. There were moments when Ichigo felt bored out of his proverbial skull, his butt sore from sitting in his chair all day, his eyes scratchy from staring at his computer screen. It was times like that when he would think back to that day at the chocolate demo.
Everything changed since that day. The words Retsu Unohana said to him would play over in his mind.
"...I have seen countless people working with chocolate, so trust me when I say that you have a special gift for it. I can tell."
Often Ichigo heard those words. They spoke to him even in his dreams, especially on nights he slept at his place in his own bed. That haunting voice of doubt that nagged at him ever since he took this job began to cry louder. He felt a dreadful kind of pressure on his chest lately, as if someone were sitting on him. In addition, there was a constant ache between his shoulders blades.
Ichigo started to wonder, his firm resolution began to wander. Is this really what I want to spend my life doing? Working as a salary man? To eat, sleep and breathe over a job that doesn't satisfy me? Maybe I was happier at the café—maybe I have made a mistake.
He wanted to ignore Uryū and his father's similar comments weeks ago, unable to listen to them then, unwilling. Now... he started to wonder if he was being stubborn.
Then he would think of Byakuya's father and this terrible jolt of guilt would stab through his gut. Over the past few weeks, they managed to build a friendship. Every week Ichigo would stop by an upscale coffee shop on the way to work and pick up two delicious coffees, complete with whip cream and a swirl of caramel.
Turns out Sōjun Kuchiki has a sweet tooth, too.
Ichigo started doing this after Sōjun texted him one day, asking him why he has not come to see him. So, they made a deal to sit down together over coffee every Wednesday morning. Most of their discussion involved work, the financial world and often Byakuya and his café. Ichigo discovered that Sōjun enjoyed cooking also and that his favourite dessert to make was a gooey warm rice pudding made with real cream and vanilla beans.
And that's what made everything so much harder...
Ichigo felt like he was backstabbing Sōjun while he entertained the idea that perhaps this wasn't what he wanted after all. He hated the thought that Sōjun Kuchiki would see him as some kind of spineless worm. Someone that could not hack it at the office, someone so readily able to call it quits. What bothered Ichigo the most was what if he saw him as someone too pathetic to be with someone as wonderful and brilliant as his son Byakuya. What if he lost Sōjun's approval? Ichigo felt mortified with the idea of letting Sōjun down and it left him in a state of unhappiness.
Ichigo was beginning to feel cornered, trapped.
On the up side, he had most of his loan paid off by now and he wasn't a fresh face in the office anymore, the newbie. This did not mean that his co-workers were not gossiping about him. Ever since that phone call Keigo overheard with his father, people in the office kept cutting Ichigo curious glances. Especially the other day, when he wandered passed the water cooler on his way to the photocopy room, that a group of co-workers all stopped chatting suddenly and looked his way, their eyes enquiring and questioning.
"I heard he's dating, Byakuya Kuchiki."
"The CEO's son...?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
"Get out!"
Geesh! Could they not gossip a little less obviously?
It was so irritating and Ichigo nearly stopped to snap something nasty and rude at them. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath and moved along as if he heard nothing. He took the mature route. He didn't want to start problems or make them worse at the office. Instead, he would ball his fists in frustration and think, I'm gonna kill that Keigo!
As for the workload, it did not decrease by a long shot. Sōjun was correct about there never being a shortage of work and Ichigo had to learn to pace himself or he would forever be trying to catch up. He needed to figure out how to prioritize his efforts, something he was learning slowly. Nevertheless, he did not let his workload interfere as much as it did the first week. He did not ignore Byakuya and, as his boyfriend requested, he brought some of his work to his place. It was actually comfortable being there even if he spent most of his evenings glued to his laptop finishing an assignment. Often, Byakuya was in bed asleep before he was done.
Still, day after day, Ichigo found himself staring at the clock, daydreaming about the bakery. He even spent a few moments reading up on baking topics on the Internet when he should have been working, viewing other café sites, reading reviews and interviews done by food reporters and exploring the scientific aspects of ingredients. He read up on why baking powder was called a leavener and how it made things rise, or even the gruesome truth about how gelatine was made. Some of this stuff he shared with his Office Cooking Club via emails. By the middle of his fourth week, Ichigo's club members began asking him cooking advice. He tried his best to answer what he could, but in all reality, he was still very new to pastry and cake making and he told them so. When he was stuck with a question, he would text Byakuya for the answer. It might have taken a while for Byakuya to reply, but he always did and with a clear explanation.
Ichigo hated to admit it, but he saw the fatigue Byakuya was feeling in his eyes, working extra hard and extra long at the café. Sometimes with all this overtime between them both, they snapped at each other. However, Byakuya was too stubborn to confess he was exhausted. And every time Ichigo asked why he hasn't hired someone to help him out, Byakuya waved it off. He would tell Ichigo not to worry.
But Ichigo did worry.
Ichigo felt some relief knowing he was helping him out on Saturdays. It was also the only time of the week that Ichigo forgot about his internal debate—whether or not he wanted to remain working for Sōjun Kuchiki or explore the world of culinary arts. For Ichigo, Saturday's at the café was the highlight of his week. He nearly counted the days until Friday night, when he would rush home to Byakuya. For a little while, everything felt normal again. They would eat dinner together, maybe watch some television, or take a stroll around the neighbourhood for some fresh fall air. Afterwards, it always ended with them wrapped in each other's arms, making love until they no longer could. Because it wasn't like they fooled around much during the week, they were too exhausted.
However, on this Friday night Ichigo needed to blow off some steam in the worst way. It was all he could think about today. It felt like if he didn't hit something soon, he would explode. He texted Byakuya:
Going to the dojo after work. I'll be home by 8.
I'll bring home dinner. Cook nothing :)
Ichigo oxoxo
Ichigo wandered into a traditional but modernized dojo that still had an air of shibumi. There were no large trophies on display or flashy pieces of equipment. It was a simple, clean and an effective dojo. It was large enough to fit about fifty people with its high-ceiling and mat covered floor inside the square room. The well-lit space, with training equipment at the back wall and a set of wooden bokuto at the far right, was completely empty.
"Wow, Ichigo, where the hell have you been?" Arisawa Tatsuki asked brusquely, stunned to see her long time friend. She stood with her hands on her hips. "What's up with that monkey suit? Have you joined a herd of sheep?"
With a scoff, Ichigo took off his shoes before he went further, leaving them by entrance along with his laptop and carryall. He looked over at the woman with shoulder length dark hair still wearing her karate gi. She wore a black belt.
"I guess you could say I joined a herd of sheep." He replied cleverly. "I follow them every morning to work and follow them back home again at the end of the day." He explained that he was working at Kuchiki Enterprises now.
Arisawa raised her eyebrows. "Wow, I guess that's great."
Tatsuki heard of Kuchiki Enterprises only because she read about them in the newspaper like most people, but she wasn't interested in the names or the significance of big financial corporations that ran the world. Her world was the dojo, her students and her friends and family. "Last time I saw you, you told me you had just finished school and no one wanted to hire your sorry ass." She crossed her arms across her chest, over the white karate uniform. "That still doesn't explain why you've been neglecting your training. Geesh, you're going to get all soft and fat on me."
Ichigo had also brought a small gym bag to work today, knowing how badly he needed to burn off some of his frustration. He sighed at her comment, feeling bad about not having seen her in over two months. "I'm sorry Arisawa. You're right I haven't been conditioning myself much lately." He smiled softly and sighed. "I've been caught up with a bunch of stuff, but first tell me how have you been doing? Where is everyone?"
"I'm doing great, Ichigo. I recently got back from Shanghai. I came in second place in a world tournament, men and women."
"That's the Arisawa I know. I bet you really kicked some ass," Ichigo said proudly.
"Thanks," she said modestly. "Anyways, why don't you go get changed and we'll spar for a bit. You came at a great time. I just finished a class. I wanna hear all about what you've been up to while I toughen you up again. Alright...?"
"Sounds good," he replied eagerly and headed off to the change room.
After putting on his own karate gi and after a good stretching and a warm up, Ichigo faced off with Arisawa.
She was probably one of the best karate masters he knew, winner of countless championships and her dojo was respected and successful. Ichigo was truly proud of her—proud even if she was the first girl to ever make him cry. Ichigo hated to recall what a whiny little runt he was as a child. He could still feel where she had punched him in the chest that day, the wind knocked out of him.
Ichigo was only four years old at the time.
It didn't even upset him that she often kicked his ass as time moved on, but eventually he won now and again and that was the only reason she still sparred with him today. Once she told him, 'I don't fight with wimps. If you can't beat me, Ichigo Kurosaki, I'll tell everyone at school that you let a girl beat you up.' A few years later, he was able to beat her and Arisawa finally nodded proudly at him.
They were friends ever since. To Ichigo, Arisawa Tatsuki was like one of the guys.
They went through the motions of blocking and striking, bare feet shuffling over the mat-covered floor. Arisawa pushed him hard. After a good twenty minutes, Ichigo was already puffing for air.
"You're too slow," Arisawa muttered just before she dropped and swept a leg across the backs of Ichigo's ankles, knocking him to his butt with a hard thud.
Ichigo groaned but quickly blocked her next strike aimed directly for his face, her fist striking the mat. He rolled away and managed to get a hold on her arm at the same time and throw her. Arisawa simply rolled with it and was back on her feet before Ichigo was.
"Not bad, Ichigo... not bad," she praised, "Seems like you haven't softened that much."
"Well, it's not like I've been sitting on my ass the whole time." He thought about his new job. "Okay, maybe I have for the last four weeks. But before that I was working in a kitchen—on my feet all day." Ichigo explained as he dodged a foot to the side of his head. It was close enough that it swiped the tips of his hair.
Arisawa was not going easy on him and he expected nothing less.
"Seriously, a kitchen...? I bet your were stuffing your face the entire time," she alleged.
Ichigo muttered irritably. "Not the whole time." He couldn't help it that the cakes Byakuya made were like orgasmic pieces of heaven.
Tatsuki scoffed.
"It was a bakery," Ichigo enlightened.
"Even worse," she replied, rolling her eyes.
That was the thing about knowing someone for almost your entire life, growing up together and going to the same schools. Arisawa knew him too well. Feeling indignant, Ichigo took a nasty swing at her in response and she took advantage of his lack of focus to catch him in a hold and toss him to the mats. Again.
"Damn," Ichigo complained. Then he smiled and chuckled, this is just what he needed.
"So why a bakery, Ichigo...? I didn't even know you could cook."
Ichigo got to his feet, dodging Arisawa a bit more successfully. He wore a goofy dreamy smile on his face. He just couldn't help it.
He murmured. "At first it was because I saw this handsome pastry chef through the window one night. I had to talk to him—there was something about this guy." Just thinking of Byakuya gave Ichigo more focus and drive, it was as if it fine-tuned his skills, Ichigo began to overpower all Arisawa's strikes as he thought of the one person that made him feel superhuman.
He continued. "He ended up giving me a job at his bakery. It's a weird story, but I needed a job and I needed to pay my bills so..." Then Ichigo's eyes took on a faraway look. "I quickly discovered that I was damn good at it, too—working in that bakery. Everyone kept telling me that but I refused to listen."
Ichigo lost his carefree expression and began to frown deeply. "I gave up the bakery for this accounting position, because I thought it would make my father proud of me, because I thought I could pay off my student loan faster, because I thought it was what I wanted!" His blocks turned into hard strikes, causing Arisawa to block more furiously.
A moment later, she got knocked to the mats.
"That's the spirit, Ichigo! Let it out!" Arisawa encouraged, narrowly missing a blow to the left thigh. She got to her feet quickly, caught Ichigo's swinging foot with her hands, and shoved him back.
"I hate this, Arisawa! I don't know what I should do!"
"Do whatever your heart tells you, Ichigo." Arisawa advised hotly.
"But Byakuya's father gave me this new job..." Ichigo was getting worked up, his eyes blazed with anger now. "He'll think I'm the biggest loser."
"So what! When has that ever stopped you?"
"It's not that easy! I don't want his father to disapprove of us. I can't bear it."
"Maybe you're wrong, Ichigo. You don't know what his father is thinking." Arisawa began signalling for a time out. But Ichigo wasn't listening, too wrapped up in his misery. There was only one-way to stop him when he got like this. Arisawa got up fast and jumped, round housing him across the head with the side of her foot.
Ichigo landed hard on his back, sprawled across the floor, breathing heavily. He closed his eyes and groaned, realizing he was taking his frustrations out on his friend. He slammed his fists down at his sides and apologized immediately.
"Sorry about that, Arisawa. I... I don't know what came over me."
Arisawa stood with her hands on her hips, catching her own breath. She wore a look of concern on her face. "Hey, it's alright. No harm done, it'll take a lot more than that to bring me down you big lug." She walked over and held out a hand to her friend. "Come on, why don't we go use the heavy bag? You can kick the shit out of it and I'll spot you. Looks like you still need to burn off some of that stress."
Nodding, Ichigo took Arisawa's hand and he got to his feet. They went over to the heavy bag that hung on the back wall at the end of the dojo. For a while, Ichigo silently pushed himself hard, kicking and punching the kickboxing bag until his hands and feet were sore.
It felt so fucking great!
Arisawa spoke up first. "Sounds like you have a real dilemma, Ichigo. I dunno why you're letting it bother you so much. Wasn't it you that said we shouldn't live by others expectations? That we only live this life once and we should make the best of it?"
Immediately, Ichigo stopped and held the bag still with both hands. He blinked for a moment in thought. "I did say something like that, didn't I?"
"So when did you become such a hypocrite?"
Now Ichigo chuckled softly. "I thought I was doing what I was supposed to be doing when I first took this office job. I guess I figured since I spent two years in school for accounting that I needed to aim for that goal." He sighed. "But what I didn't realize was how much I enjoyed working in the kitchen. I didn't expect that and I thought I was only into it because Byakuya was there. I wasn't at the café for very long but it already became a huge part of my life."
Arisawa peeked from the other side of the bag, her dark lashes batting curiously. "Who is this, Byakuya?" she asked deviously.
Ichigo blushed. Here he was rambling a lot of nonsense but he had not actually told her what Byakuya meant to him. "He's the pastry chef I worked for, as you probably guessed. He's also the guy I've been seeing for a while now." He started to scratch his head awkwardly. "Well... I sorta still work for him, but only on Saturdays."
She sniffed and went back to holding the bag. "That would explain why you haven't been to the dojo. You've been too busy with Byakuya." Arisawa mentioned knowingly.
Chuckling shyly, Ichigo had no crafty reply to that. Because it was true, he was too busy with Byakuya. Busy with my hands all over that fine pâtissier.
Ichigo stepped away from the punching bag, finished with it now. All he could say was, "He's the real deal, Arisawa."
Arisawa let go of the bag guessing their session was done anyways. She made a strange face. "Real deal...? What does that mean?"
"I dunno..." Ichigo looked away bashfully. "It means he wants me to move in with him and stuff." Arisawa might be one of his closest friends and she may be like one of the guys, but when it came to discussions of romance with her, it was like he was talking to one of his sisters. Still, this woman was one of the few people, besides Uryū, that Ichigo could really level with. The dojo wasn't just a great place to stay in shape, but it was also a great place to vent and clear one's mind.
This time Arisawa punched his shoulder in a friendly manner. "You're such a girl, Ichigo."
He frowned and sighed.
When Arisawa was finished snickering she said, "I'm just teasing you. I am really happy for you, Ichigo. I hope you'll follow your own advice and figure everything out before you drive yourself off a ledge. Don't be such a stranger. Exercise is not only good for the body, but the mind, too."
There was still a load on Ichigo's mind, but he felt a hundred times better after he talked about it. "Yeah, I'll make sure not to ignore my training for so long, but I really should be heading out. Thanks, Arisawa... for everything."
"Anytime, my friend," she answered sincerely.
"I'll go get changed." Ichigo wandered off to the change rooms and put his work clothes back on. When he came out, Arisawa was tidying up and shutting off extra lights. He headed for the door, slipped his shoes back on, and picked up his stuff. He turned to wave goodbye.
"See you later, Ichigo." She said and teased. "Oh! And don't forget to invite me to the wedding."
Ichigo left the dojo, his face a dark shade of red.
At the bakery on Saturday, Ichigo was busy melting some chocolate. It was near the end of the day and all the important tasks were finished. That meant he could spend some time improving his skills tempering different types of chocolate, and trying out Byakuya's chocolate molds. He stood at the stove eyeing some semi-sweet chocolate in the midst of melting. And when it was nearly melted he took it off the baine marie and began to cool it off using a rubber spatula.
Playing with chocolate had become Ichigo's newest obsession.
He smiled and looked over at Byakuya who was sharpening his collection of knives on a wet stone, his roll kit laid out beside him on the counter. The baker had a serious assortment of knives and tools in that kit, everything from a melon baller to a potato peeler. Right now, he was sharpening his chef knife.
As if he felt someone watching him, Byakuya glanced over, his cool grey eyes inquiring. Then he returned to his sharpening with a sniff. "Why are you looking at me that way?"
"I'm admiring your sexy butt, what'cha going to do about it?" Ichigo taunted him, feeling mischievous tonight.
Byakuya scoffed. "It seems you're in a good mood this evening." Unlike the rest of the week, when he noticed Ichigo was acting rather solemn and moody. Sometimes he was even downright cranky. But ever since he came back from the dojo last night, Ichigo seemed in a more agreeable disposition. Whatever it was Byakuya was glad to see it.
The chocolate ran off the spatula and ribboned into the bowl as Ichigo cooled it down by swirling it around the metal bowl. He picked up the bowl, holding it almost like a baby and wandered over to Byakuya's station to watch how he sharpened his knife.
"I feel great. And you know what?"
"Do tell," Byakuya encouraged.
"We've been dating for six weeks," he offered thoughtfully.
At this Byakuya smiled gently as he slid the edge of his chef knife along the fine grain on a wet sharpening stone. It made a sound like that of a sword being pulled from its scabbard.
"Yet, it feels like yesterday," the baker replied.
Ichigo was not sure. "Is that a good thing?"
Byakuya sighed and looked over, the long knife clasped in his hand at the hilt. "Of course it's a good thing. It means that my time with you has been so pleasant that I can hardly believe six weeks have passed." He returned to his task.
"You always know how to say it just right. I know, it doesn't feel like that long, it feels like yesterday." Feeling naughty, Ichigo dipped his finger into his bowl and playfully dabbed some melted chocolate on Byakuya's ear lobe. "Does that feel cool to the touch to you?"
Byakuya neither jumped nor flinched. He simply shot Ichigo a dry unimpressed look. "Ichigo," he warned.
However, Byakuya could not intimidate Ichigo as much as he would like. He never could from the day that he had met him and Ichigo always had a way of throwing it back in his face. "Stop being so stuffy, Byakuya." Case in point. "Just tell me if it's the right temperature?" Ichigo requested.
With a sigh, Byakuya relented. "It's still too warm."
"Hmm, I thought so." Ichigo murmured. Then he leaned over, taking Byakuya's ear lobe into his mouth, sucking it wetly as he cleaned off the chocolate he had put there. He moaned a little as he did so, knowing perfectly well, how crazy it made Byakuya when he kissed his ears. "So tasty..."
Byakuya's entire body trembled instantly, his groin throbbed powerfully and he swallowed thickly. "Ichigo," he said again, although this time his voice was deep and smooth like velvet.
"Do you know how wild it makes me—the thought of cleaning chocolate off your skin?" Ichigo shared openly. He shook his head as if to clear it. "You're getting me all worked up. I'm having a hard time keeping my hands off you today." His mind was really beginning to forget about where he was and what he was supposed to be doing. He whispered into his lover's ear, "You're making me horny..."
The baker gave a small chuckle. "I'm not doing anything to you. I am here simply sharpening my knife."
"Don't play coy, Byakuya. You looked at me with those eyes and they spoke to me."
"Did they, now?" Once more Byakuya turned to face Ichigo, his eyes in question now lit up with pleasure. "And what did they say?"
Ichigo cleared his throat and claimed. "They said, 'Ichigo, you're making me hot. I want you so bad. Let's go back to my place before we go to the bar tonight so we can play a little hide and seek." Ichigo had a hard time keeping himself together as he tried to mock Byakuya's deep tone. He was laughing at his own silliness.
Byakuya had to laugh, too. "You're ridiculous. I would never say such a thing and you're doing a very poor impersonation of me," he explained sadly. "However, I like the idea of stopping by the apartment before we meet up with everyone later. Mmmhmm."
He just snickered at Byakuya's come back. It was so easy to get him going sometimes. Ichigo confessed. "I really won't take long..."
"Neither will I..."
Both of them simpered quietly with their naughty secret.
Tonight was the Saturday Uryū was free to go out to the bar. He had already discussed it with Rukia earlier in the day. Ichigo was really looking forward to it. Of course, he was also looking forward to ravishing Byakuya when they finished here at the café.
"Can't you sharpen those knives faster?" Ichigo pleaded.
"Whatever," Byakuya answered coldly. "Temper the chocolate faster."
"I'm trying, I'm trying!"
Sado 'Chad' Yasutora and Uryū Ishida stood out front of The 78th District, the bar that Ichigo agreed to meet them at for exactly eight thirty.
"Why don't we go in, I'm sure Ichigo will find us or maybe he's already inside," Chad offered, moving to open the door, but Uryū stopped him.
"Tell me," Uryū asked nervously, "Do I look alright?"
Chad stepped away from the door with a sigh so that others could come and go from the busy bar. He directed his gaze at the shorter dark-haired man, his face expressionless. Uryū was wearing a pair of dark jeans with nice shoes and a stylish button-up shirt that tucked in neatly around his waist.
"You have asked me that question four times," he said in his deep baritone. "You look fine."
Uryū sighed. Chad was not the right person to ask these kinds of questions. All he wanted to know was if his hair was a mess or if he should take off the glasses or whatever. "Tsk, where's Ichigo?" He muttered under his breath and pushed up his specs out of habit. I'm so nervous and that jerk Ichigo isn't here yet to give me the thumbs up on my wardrobe. Pfft!
"Should we wait for him outside?" Chad offered.
"No," Uryū relented. "Ichigo told me he would text me when he got here. And he hasn't so I guess he's not here yet." Ishida walked over and yanked open the door. "I don't want to stand out here like some loser. Let's go in."
The moment Byakuya and Ichigo stepped into the elevator going up to the apartment they grabbed at each other and kissed in a hurry, unable to wait a moment longer to touch after they had worked themselves up into a horny mess at work.
Ichigo kissed sweet lips, devouring Byakuya's moist tongue, his hands squeezing the baker's firm rear end.
Byakuya's hands were already underneath Ichigo's shirt, his fingers pawing over the smooth skin on Ichigo's back, nails digging.
They weren't paying attention when the elevator doors opened, sighing and moaning softly in their rapture. A woman gasped at the sight of two handsome men lip-locked in the elevator, touching each other in suggestive areas.
Ichigo quickly disengaged, stepping aside and wiping his mouth with his hand. He cast Byakuya a sideways glance full of chagrin.
Byakuya simply closed his eyes and waited for the woman to get off the elevator.
She only went up a few floors and Byakuya's floor was next. Ichigo followed his lover down the hallway and slipped his hands into Byakuya's back pants pockets when they got to the door. He squeezed delicately at Byakuya's rear and purred into his ear, "I'm going to strip you naked as soon as you open the door."
Byakuya chuffed. "I do hate liars," he quipped.
When they entered the apartment, they kicked off their shoes and clothing began to fly. Ichigo pressed Byakuya up against the door, kissing him while loosening his pants, causing them to drop around the pâtissier's ankles. He ground his erection against his hip while Byakuya pulled off Ichigo's shirt.
Still kissing Ichigo with a heated frenzy, Byakuya urged him back, steering him through the apartment awkwardly with his pants still bunched around his ankles. Somehow, he managed to step out of them while Ichigo removed his shirt, which landed on the dining room table, knocking over a peppershaker.
"Ahh, Byakuya," Ichigo moaned out, almost stumbling over a chair blindly.
Byakuya tried to pull Ichigo to him so he wouldn't fall. Yet, the momentum caught Ichigo underneath the knees and caused him to sit roughly down on the seat of the chair. Chuckling softly at their folly and having Ichigo suddenly seated before him, Byakuya leaned in to draw his tongue across Ichigo's throat, making the redhead drop his head back with a sigh.
Ichigo's fingers curled around the edge of the seat as he held onto it.
With his hands on the back of the chair, keeping Ichigo captive, Byakuya nibbled and sucked on his lover's weak spot. He loved the taste of Ichigo's skin. He loved the sweet moans he drew out of him as he moved his hot mouth under his jaw, teeth gliding gently over his flesh.
"Mmm, my Ichigo," Byakuya murmured as he carried out his sensual assault.
When Byakuya was finished sampling Ichigo's neck, he got to his knees to sample something else. With Ichigo's assistance, he worked off the younger man's pants and underwear, leaving Ichigo to sit in the chair with nothing on but his socks.
Ichigo watched as Byakuya wrapped his talented mouth around his cock. He watched his swollen length dipping in and out of the hot wetness passed pink moist lips, the sensation causing Ichigo to curl his toes.
Ichigo shifted down a bit so Byakuya could finger him while he sucked on him urgently, his tongue swirling, teeth rasping over sensitive skin.
Ichigo let out a whimper. "Fuck me, Byakuya. I can't wait any longer."
The baker only shoved his finger into Ichigo's hot entrance faster and harder. It caused Ichigo to cry out and grab into Byakuya's hair.
Ichigo's cries of torment and bliss made Byakuya's erection throb and ache. The sound of their lovemaking was the most beautiful music to Byakuya's ears. He wanted to bring his lover to a maddening peak, to make him shatter into pieces from his strumming fingers. Byakuya had Ichigo fisting into his hair as he noisily sucked him even faster, thrusting his fingers savagely.
And Ichigo succumbed to the delicious demands, groaning loudly as he came into Byakuya's mouth. His eyes wet with sweet surrender. His dick just kept jerking with his powerful climax and Byakuya kept swallowing until it stopped.
"Oh shit." Ichigo voice shakily. "That was amazing..."
Byakuya stood back up and patted his mouth with the back of his hand. He propositioned. "Come with me to the bathroom."
"You must be Uryū Ishida?" Rukia spoke to a dark-haired man that was standing at the bar with his tall dark friend. Ichigo had described his roommate to her before and since Ichigo was not here yet, she didn't want to make them stand around alone. It didn't seem right.
"That's correct," Uryū said over the music. "And who are you?"
"I'm Rukia Kuchiki, Byakuya's sister and Ichigo's friend. I work with them at the bakery. Ichigo told me you and his friend Chad would be here tonight," she said.
"It's Sado," Chad corrected.
"Oh right, Sado," she corrected. "I dunno where those lunkheads are, so why don't you join us and I'll introduce you to the group."
Uryū quietly nodded and they followed the small woman to a table near the back.
The laughter came to a halt when Chad and Uryū took a seat at the table. Rukia introduced Momo, Izuru, Renji and, of course, Shūhei who sat across from them. Uryū knew right away, which one was Shūhei based on Ichigo's description. He shyly looked down at his beer glass. Ichigo was right, Shūhei was really hot.
"So you're both friends of Ichigo's?" Momo asked.
Chad explained how they all grew up together and attended the same high school.
"What do you guys do?" Izuru wondered.
Once again, Chad had to do the talking since Ishida did not volunteer. It wasn't like he didn't give him a chance. "I'm in construction and Uryū here is a medical intern."
"Really?" said Renji with interest. "So would it be okay if I asked you the best way to cure a knee sprain? The last guy I fought pulled a stupid move and now I'm on medical leave until its better."
"Seriously, Renji," Izuru griped. "That guy caught you by surprise. It was your own damn fault." He always paid close attention to the UFC fights and enjoyed taunting Renji about it.
Renji muttered. "Once again, Izuru, I'd like to see you in the ring. You'd get your pussy-ass creamed."
Izuru only sniffed.
Having a topic that he was comfortable with, Uryū finally spoke up. "I hope you've seen a doctor to make sure you haven't ruptured a ligament? But if you're here and you can stand without much pain, it's probably just an overstretched ligament. Keep it rested, iced and elevated."
"Hmm, that's what they told me. I guess I just have to be patient." Renji didn't like to be patient.
"Those kinds of injuries take time to heal," Uryū explained and took a long swallow of beer, still feeling like he was in the spotlight or something.
"So what do you guys do?" Chad questioned everyone.
They all shared what they did to earn their yen. Momo was a graphic artist, Izuru a journalist, Renji a kick boxer, Rukia worked front-of-house for Café on Sixth, and Shūhei was a songwriter and writer in general.
"But I also play in a band from time to time," he added. "We call ourselves the Dead Journalists, but we aren't playing here tonight. I just want to chill out, maybe meet some new people." He smiled softly at Uryū.
"I see... err... catchy name," Uryū murmured, wondering if Shūhei was suggesting he was one of the 'new people', he wished to meet.
"So where the hell is Byakuya and his cute carrot-top boyfriend?" Shūhei teased and wondered.
"Probably making out somewhere," Renji replied logically and with a lazy wave of his hand. "I swear they kept shooting each other these strange looks when I went to pick up Rukia tonight, like they couldn't wait to get the fuck out of Dodge." He chuckled.
Everyone else at the table chuckled, too, except Rukia.
"Renji..." Rukia warned.
"What?" Renji answered innocently. "Ichigo said they were making a pit stop first before they joined us, said it wouldn't take long. That's code for I'm-going-to-get-la—"
Rukia stomped on Renji's' foot under the table to halt him from finishing his thoughts aloud.
"Hehehe, I wonder if they are finished yet." Momo offered with a giggle, her cheeks rosy.
Izuru gaped at her.
Rukia cried with awkwardness. "I don't want to know!"
They certainly were not done yet.
Ichigo had his legs wrapped around his lover's waist while he sat atop the bathroom counter, moaning in ecstasy as Byakuya screwed his brains out. One hand held onto the edge of the counter while the other was grabbing Byakuya's ass as he pounded into him.
Byakuya kissed his lover. His hands weaved into Ichigo's thick orange hair. His hips rocked back and forth at a steady mind-blowing pace, wrapped in Ichigo's tight warmth. Their act was still just as intense, Byakuya still just as hungry to get off. He sighed deeply as he moved his kisses along Ichigo's neck, pressing his lips along his throat and across his shoulder, then back again. He bit Ichigo until the young man whined softly—thrusting into him hard at the same time.
Ichigo began to moan louder, releasing a string of fowl words.
"Oh fuck," Ichigo cursed.
Byakuya moaned with pleasure and urged Ichigo to lean back some so he could wrap his arms under Ichigo's knees, giving him a better advantage. He looked down to watch his cock moving in and out of Ichigo's sweet ass, mesmerized by how well his lover's body fit around his length. Byakuya took a moment to admire the action, slowly sliding back until it was completely out. Without using his hands, he easily re-entered, his cock so hard and Ichigo so wet with lube, it was easy to glide it back in.
Then Byakuya gave it to Ichigo, hard and fast, mercilessly and reckless. He gave it to him until Ichigo cried out again with a second orgasm. Byakuya pulled out and came as well, because listening to and watching Ichigo come was just too sexy. He stroked his cock as he came all over Ichigo's still-twitching length.
"So which one of you is single...?" Shūhei asked out right as everyone else at the table chatted.
Ishida blinked, totally caught off guard by such a bold question when they haven't even gotten to know each other that well yet.
"I hope it's you." The rugged looking man with tattoos on his face said to Uryū.
Uryū pushed up his glasses and blushed. He directed his gaze at his empty beer glass, making his glasses slip down again. "We both are," Uryū managed to say, casting Chad a glance.
Chad just sipped his beer and waved 'not me' with his free hand.
"What about... what about yourself?" Uryū wondered tentatively.
"I'm very single," Shūhei claimed, smirking as he studied the dark-haired med student. "Is your drink empty? Let me get another one for you."
Without a reply, Shūhei got up to go fetch Uryū another beer.
Momo and Rukia were giggling over the spectacle.
When Byakuya and Ichigo finally got to The 78th District, they found Shūhei at the bar in faded blue jeans and a black printed t-shirt that fit snug against his defined chest, ordering a drink from Jushiro and Shunsui. Both bartenders gave the newcomers a pleasant 'hello'.
"Well, look who decided to show up?" Shūhei Hisagi said to them with a clever smile on his face, both hands holding a bottle of beer. "Rukia tells me you brought a friend for me tonight, Ichigo. I'm touched that you thought about me, unlike Byakuya here who never brings me a friend to play with." He was teasing.
Byakuya appeared indifferent. He turned to talk to Jushiro and Shunsui while ordering a drink for Ichigo and himself.
"So you met Uryū already?" Ichigo asked. "I was worried he might have left since I'm about thirty minutes late."
"Yup, he's sitting at our table—Rukia brought him over along with your friend Sado. Your roommate is such a bookworm type—and you know what they say about those bookworms, don't you?" Shūhei clapped a hand on Ichigo's shoulder. "They say that they are really wild and kinky. I love those types."
This time Ichigo blushed, as he thought of his friend getting all 'wild and kinky'. But he chuckled, too, because it was great that Shūhei was interested. Now, Ichigo felt a little bit relieved and nervous for his friend and wondered if Uryū would give Shūhei a chance. While he had Shūhei to himself he said, "Uryū's really shy about meeting you, so go easy on him, alright? He's kinda green around the ears."
"I have a feeling it wouldn't take too much to un-shy him," Shūhei commented deviously. "But I promise not to bite... unless he asks for it."
Byakuya rejoined them and handed Ichigo a beer.
"Play nicely boys," called Shunsui Kyoraku with a happy chuckle.
When Ichigo and Byakuya joined everyone else, Shūhei stole Sado's spot next to Uryū while the man was visiting the men's room. Ichigo and Byakuya sat across from them, next to Izuru and Momo, Rukia and Renji.
Uryū shot Ichigo a scowl for leaving him alone for the last half hour with only Chad for support. However, Ichigo only grinned at him. He was still floating on his cloud of ecstasy.
Uryū scoffed.
"Did you guys get lost somewhere?" Momo asked not so innocently while Rukia turned red.
"They took a wrong turn, landed in a ditch and fell on each other," Renji taunted.
Byakuya wore a cool expression and said calmly, "Something like that."
Everyone chuckled.
"So who wants to dance?" Shūhei offered. "They are playing one of my favourite songs."
The women agreed to happily and everyone had to move again to let them out. Momo dragged Izuru to the dance floor and Rukia hauled on Renji. Ichigo glanced at Byakuya.
"Not a chance," Byakuya said and sat back down.
Ichigo sat down beside him and gave him a warm afterglow kind of smile. He placed his hand on Byakuya's thigh, over the dark jeans that he wore and whispered into his ear. "I regret nothing..."
Byakuya sipped his beer coolly. "Even though we left your friends stranded?"
"They found their way off the island pretty well, don't you think?"
"Perhaps you are right," Byakuya answered.
Ichigo shifted a little uncomfortably and continued to speak to Byakuya quietly. "I won't be able to sit normally for a week." But it wasn't quite quiet enough.
"Geez, guys... I'm still here," Uryū muttered tersely.
Surprised, Ichigo frowned immediately at his roommate. "What the hell, Uryū? I thought you went off to dance with Shūhei. Why are you still here?"
"I'm not much of a dancer," he replied.
Ichigo looked over and saw everyone dancing, including Shūhei. However, the tall man with tousled short dark hair and tattoos was looking a bit lonely, staring over at them.
"You dumbass," Ichigo snapped. "He's waiting for you. Get your ass over there and two-step if you have to. I'm telling you he likes you."
"He does?"
"He mentioned it to me at the bar when I got here. I wouldn't make this shit up." Then Ichigo had an evil idea. Feeling very content about his relationship now and still feeling high from the amazing sex he just had, he leaned over and kissed Byakuya's cheek. His lips lingered close by. "I'll start making out with Byakuya right here, right now, in front of you if you don't get your ass over there." He threatened.
"Do I not have a say in this matter?" Byakuya wondered disbelievingly.
"Not right now." Ichigo answered him shortly. He drew out his tongue and leaned closer to Byakuya's ears, ready to lick them, perhaps wriggle it in there a little.
"Okay!" Uryū Ishida cried with frustration. He got up and left the table.
Ichigo started laughing. "See, I knew I wouldn't have to actually do anything. He's a pansy sometimes."
Later after one too many beers, Byakuya had to guide Ichigo to the men's room. It is a good thing he decided to remain the sober one tonight so he could still drive home.
"Where's that jerk with the glasses? If he's in this bathroom looking for you again I'm going to knock him out." Ichigo rambled. He was totally drunk.
"You're inebriated. Aizen is not here," Byakuya assured. He pushed open the washroom door.
Ichigo ambled in after him, holding onto his lover's hand. "Man, I'm pretty smashed."
"That's what I told you already." Byakuya sighed.
"Hehe, guess what, Byakuya?"
"What is it?"
"I love baking, I love the café and I love you," Ichigo nearly sing-songed. "I think about cooking more than you know. More than your father knows, too."
"I see," Byakuya said carefully. It was almost tempting to see if Ichigo would spill more about that topic and he thought Ichigo was about to do that when the younger man held up a finger as if he was about to make a statement.
"I really have to pee." Ichigo said.
Byakuya closed his eyes patiently. "I'll wait out here for you."
Ichigo gave the baker a salute. "Aye aye, captain!"
It was silent for a moment while Ichigo did his thing, except for a few weird chuckles that followed after he flushed. Ichigo returned and washed his hands. Then he leaned over the sink to splash some water on his face, trying to clear his head.
"I need to find Uryū, he's disappeared somewhere. Have you seen him, Bya-nana?" Ichigo teased, flashing his man a goofy grin.
"I have not seen him for the last half hour. Perhaps he went home?"
"With Shūhei," Ichigo offered gleefully. "I saw how they looked at each other."
Another strange chuckle came from the stalls and this time Byakuya realized it was not Ichigo doing that. And it probably wasn't him that made those sounds the first time either. Both Ichigo and Byakuya heard it.
Suddenly Ichigo got down on his fours and peeked underneath one of the stalls. "HA!" he blasted. "I found you Uryū and Shūhei! Byakuya," Ichigo looked over at his boyfriend, "They're in here!"
Mortified, Byakuya urged his intoxicated Ichigo to get up off the floor and to stop spying like a letch. "That's very interesting, now how about we leave them alone. Yes?"
"Oh, you're right, Byakuya. We should leave them alone." They began to leave the washroom when Ichigo had a dire thought. He turned around and began to lecture like the protective friend that he is. "Uryū, I almost forgot. Don't forget to use protection. If you need a condom, look in my nightstand." He chuckled and added with no filtering. "And use lube, lots and lots of lube."
Shūhei and Uryū burst out laughing. They couldn't help it.
"Ichigo, you kill me!" Shūhei chuckled.
"Gee, thanks, Ichigo. I'll remember that," Uryū murmured sarcastically from the other side of the washroom door.
Byakuya sighed. It was time to take Ichigo home. "Goodnight gentlemen."
"Goodnight," Shūhei murmured.
A/N: Phew! That is a long chapter! I hope you guys enjoy it there is just soo many things going on lol! I hope you got a giggle, too. I really wanted to put the dojo into this story and Arisawa :) I imagine Ichigo and her would be good friends. The next two chapters are the Finale chapters. Because there is a lot to wrap up and it needs two chapters(OMG! I'm still writing the 2nd Finale chapter. It's been so hard to write cause I've been working A LOT!) XD! I'll also have an epilogue containing recipes and some fun stuff with Byakuya and Ichigo.
I'm running away from the city for a few days to live like a caveman lulz! *runs off and doesn't look back* haha!
Reviewers: Weeee! You guys are so great! Love to you all. You guys inspired me, seriously. Thank you to Cerulean Twin, ImSeriousBro (Yay! I'm glad you enjoyed Unohana, she's such an interesting Bleach character. And I'm glad you agree with my choice in making her a chocolate expert lulz! The chump part is one of my fav parts of the chapter! Thanks!), A fellow reader (Lulz! EXACTLY!), AngelaMaeAmatuzio (Awww thanks hun! Much love!), RedRumCrow, Niji Akahana, Yonaka Kyoki Prince (*squishes* thanks so much my friend! Your comments are always so much fun to read. Yay! I"m glad you learned about chocolate a little more. Fun! That's really great that your well-rounded about foods and such. I hope you get to try that sandwich someday.), Castiel4life (Mmm, I know right. I love it when they ride on Bya's bike XD! Thanks hun!), igotmoneymoney, CallMeSenseiKuchiki (Thanks for the comments hun! And no, I don't think we'll see anymore of Aizen but maybe a little something with Inoue and Ulquiorra), Yaoifangirl666, Shenigmatic (*huggles* Eeee! The toe-peeking goodness... I know, it's so cute! Thanks for your wonderful insight and attention to details. I love it!), and NowComesTheNight(A fellow baker, pastry person *grins* I admit I'm better with sugar than I am with chocolate lol! That's cool that you know your strengths :) It is an art, man! I'm glad you're still doing that art on the side. And thanks so much for the comments. Means a lot *hearts*)