Whoever the fuck said that MacBooks were good laptops should get their heads checked! I hate this fucking thing immensely! Twice now I saved my progress on this chapter and when I want to continue it tells me I can't access it for some fucked up reason…

That and coupled with exams and a vacation that just flew past me I am late… I am so sorry.

The bounts and fullbringers will be added in due time but for now, this story is finished. I want to move on to my next story.

Sorry for the shorter chapter but it was intended to be longer but yeah…

Thank you for all the support!

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Chapter 22: Making a house a home

Shinji gasped as he was picked up by Ichigo, his legs wrapped automatically around the trimmed waist as he himself hugged his mate closer. Just to be held by the man again made his heart nearly burst out of his chest.

Ichigo carried him to their new room, it was sparse as well but could and would be quickly fixed in due time but for now making love to his mate was a top priority.

Laying the blonde down and following after, Ichigo looked down and caressed the cheek of his beloved.

"I missed you." Was all Ichigo said and it was all that was needed and Shinji breathed a mirrored response before their lips met in a passionate kiss that sent his nerves tingling. He gasped when warm hands, actual warm hands slid into his clothing to touch and tease all they could reach. His back arched as his blood pumped faster through his body while travelling south to his rapidly hardening member.

Slowly hands started to slip of clothing while kisses remained held for as long as possible before the air was a necessity. Breaking a kiss Ichigo sat up more to gaze down at the body of his beloved, Shinji ogled as well, the hard muscles and sharp facial features that have haunted his dreams were now finally in his life once more, no longer an unwanted illusion.

The tow lovers gazed at one another for a few more moments before Ichigo stretched out and shifted through the side bed table's drawer. He returned with a smirk as he found a half full bottle of oil. Shinji blushed crimson as well as looked away. "Nights were hard without you, I am a man after all…" Shinji mumbled and shivered in delight when Ichigo chuckled.

"Don't worry, from now on the nights will be a different kind of hard." He grinned and grounded their pelvises together to create much-needed friction.

"Please, I need you now…" Shinji gasped as their hips met again and again.

Ichigo didn't tease much longer as he pulled back, gaining a whine for his action. Slicking up three fingers he set out to relax and open him up. It didn't take long as Shinji had continued to soothe his loins in the lonely nights and soon, much sooner than the first time Ichigo pulled out his fingers and lined himself up after adding some oil to his own strained member. Breathing deeply through his nose Ichigo slid inside his mate and both males groaned in ecstasy.

Lying chest to chest, Shinji could feel the odd sensation of something thudding against his chest, it was then when he realised that it was Ichigo's living beating heart. His hands slid from his shoulders to his chest to rest over his heart. The moment Ichigo slid all the way to the hilt he paused and looked at Shinji. The blonde had a look of awe on his face as he felt the thundering heart in his chest. Toffee brown eyes looked up into his red eyes.

"You're really here, with me… staying here with me…" He breathed in a whisper, almost as if he was afraid to say it out loud in fear it would destroy the dream he was surely having.

Ichigo smiled at him with a look of understanding. Slowly he started to move his hips in slow lazy circles. That got the blonde's attention, a loud cry spilt from his lips as the tip of the invading member brushed his sweet spot. "More!"

With the go ahead Ichigo started to ram harder into the one he loved at a faster pace, with each thrust he aimed for his lover's sweet spot. The sounds of skin slapping and husky groans and passion filled cries filled the room. Shinji was glad that the house was a far end away from other homes.

Soon it all became too much as Ichigo's hand came into play with his blood red member.

In all but a few strokes, it was over and Shinji felt the white hot release of his lover inside him flowing into him deeper before it slowly started to seep out as Ichigo pulled out and moved off of him.

Lying motionlessly as well as out of breath Shinji could only watch as Ichigo got up and went to the bathroom to get clean ad return with a wet cloth. He was wiped down and tucked in. Ichigo went back to the bathroom, dumped the cloth into the dirty laundry basket. Shinji thought that the man would join him in bed but Ichigo went out the room and from the bed Shinji could hear that he was busy doing something in the kitchen, it became apparent that Ichigo was making tea when he heard water being drawn, soft bangs of cupboards being opened and later the whistle noise of a kettle going off.

When the red head came back he was holding two cups of steaming tea. Smiling Shinji sat up and accepted the tea gratefully.

After the tea was consumed the two love birds decided to take a nap in each other's arms.

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Akira looked around in amazement, he was walking aimlessly around Seireitei trying to take in all it had to offer. He was so busy looking around him that he failed to look in front of him. He was still walking and taking it all in one moment and when he blinked he was on the ground blinking at a three pairs of sock and sandal-clad feet.

Looking up Akira saw two males and one female Shinigami blinking right back at him. The one in the middle was a raven haired male with scars running down one side of his face while he had a 69 tattooed under his left eye. He was looking at him like he was something new and was looking him up and down all over. The male to his right was a blonde male and had a sheepish look on his face, well half of his visible face. The female was short, shorter than him by a few inches. Her hair was brown and tied into a bun while her eyes were of similar colour. She was also looking at him with a sheepish look.

Sorry there, we weren't watching where we were going." The raven haired male said as he held out his hand to Akira. A faint blush marred his cheeks and he accepted the hand and was helped up. "Don't worry, I wasn't paying attention to what was in front of me as well."

The girl in the group came closer and introduced herself.

"Hello, my name is Momo Hinamori and I am the fifth division's lieutenant." Akira looked closer at the girl and she was rather cute in a typical sense of the word. Seemed friendly enough, though. He smiled and nodded before looking at the shy looking blonde.

"H-hello, I'm Izuru Kira… third division lieutenant." He gave a meek wave, Akira smiled and waved back before turning his attention to the raven haired male who was still looking at him funny. Momo elbowed him and the raven male gave a start.

A blush coloured his cheeks, the two beside him gave each other secret glances when they saw the blush deepen when Akira tilted his head cutely.

"Um…I'm Shuhei Hisagi, lieutenant of the ninth division…"

Akira smiled and tilted his head again.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Akira and I will be Ichigo-sama's lieutenant in the new fourteenth division." Akira nodded minutely afterwards. The three gave startled looks at Akira and once more he tilted his head to the other side. "Something the matter?"

The three quickly shook their heads negative.

"No, no nothing is the matter we just… well, we didn't know that the new fourth lieutenant would be so…" Hisagi suddenly stopped mid-sentence and turned bright red and looked off to the side.

Kira and Momo gave each other a smirk when they noticed this.

"So?" Akira looked at Hisagi for him to continue but the raven haired male refused to look him in the eyes.

"I think what Hisagi-san was trying to say was we didn't expect the new lieutenant to look so normal compared to us. Without seeing your hollow hole you could be a Shinigami if we do not sense your reiatsu." Momo said smirking at Hisagi.

Akira smiled and chuckled softly.

"I suppose so. Ah, can you please show me around?" Akira asked and looked back at Hisagi. The three watched as the brunette gulped and nodded shakily. "S-sure…"

The rest of the day was spent showing the new blue haired male around. Momo and Kira made sure to have both males side by side the whole time. Hisagi later got his cool back and was smiling and lightly flirting with Akira who obliviously flirting back as well.

When the sun began to set Akira looked up at the sky in amazement.

"Wow, so your sun moves on its own?" He asked and looked at his three new friends. All three frowned but nodded anyway.

"You will have to excuse Akira, he is not used to the sun and moon moving on their own." A voice behind them said while giving them all a fright.

"Ichigo-sama!"

Akira walked over to the redhead who was taking in the Shinigami before him.

A small lopsided smile graced his face. "Good evening, I am afraid that I have not yet personally met you three but going by the badges on your arms I am guessing you three are lieutenants?"

The three straightened up at once and nodded before they all formally bowed before the taller male.

"Hai, captain Kurosaki." Ichigo snickered and waved his hand in a calming gesture.

"No need to be so formal."

The three looked to see Ichigo had his hand on Akira's head, patting him gently on the head. "I am glad that you all have taken a liking to Akira. I was worried about him settling in but it seems like I need not worry." Ichigo gave a lopsided grin. Akira smiled up at the red head.

"I met them rather early in my adventure to see my new home, they were very helpful." Ichigo nodded and looked at the three again. "Shinji has decided that we should go out to eat, why don't you all come along. I would like to meet my fellow colleagues and know them better." The three nodded their heads eagerly.

Ichigo tilted his head to the side in thought. "Why not invite the whole group?" Ichigo asked and looked at Akira who smirked and nodded.

"Sounds like a good plan Ichigo-sama."

Looking at the three lieutenants he grinned a closed eye grin. "What are you waiting for then, go and invite the rest. I wanna know all who I will need to know." With a shoo motion and smirk the three nearly ran off before they asked which restaurant the needed to go to.

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Yamamoto glanced around, all captains and lieutenants plus the added tag along officers were all present.

The lieutenants all seemed to be taken in by Ichigo, who was telling a story one an occurrence while he was still in Hueco Mundo.

"Wait a minute, so in that world, some of the Arrancar would literally kill each other to go up the food chain?" Ikkaku asked with large battle hungry filled eyes. Ichigo smirked, revealing a sharp canine. "I killed the previous Cero." Ichigo shrugged but looked around to see most didn't know what he was talking around.

"In the Espada, we do not go from one to ten like you all were led to believe," Akira said next to Ichigo. Renji and the group who knew all nodded their heads.

"Huh?"

Ichigo gave a full-fledged grin, something in his eyes shifted and they flashed orange before it was gone. "We go from zero to nine, I just so happen to be Cero, which is zero." The table went silent for a few minutes as shocked faces started at Ichigo in awe.

Yamamoto shook his head at the new captain's antics, he already knew that Ichigo would be a hand full but he would be a strong ally to have than a powerful enemy. It was clear to him which one was the best outcome of the two.

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A month had passed since then and all was going well, well enough if one would ask some but if one would ask Renji he would claim that all was not going as smoothly.

He groaned interlay as he looked at his captain. How was he supposed to ask the brother of the girl he loved for permission to court her? The fact that said brother was a captain that could easily kick his ass?

Slumping in his seat he missed the knowing look Byakuya threw him while his head was bowed.

There was a knock on the door.

"Enter."

Renji lifted his head to see Captain Ichigo enter the room, followed by Karin and Akira. The group came in and walked till they were in front of the captain's desk. "Yes, captain Kurosaki?" Ichigo grinned at him and pointed over his shoulder at Renji.

"Mind if I borrow your lieutenant? My sister wants to spar with him, says their fight was cut short." The look in Ichigo's eyes was soft however when he mentioned his sister and Byakuya couldn't really find a reason to say no. "Alright, but can I speak to you privately for a moment?"

Ichigo nodded and the rest of the room cleared out leaving the captains alone. Ichigo was giving him a curious look.

"If possible can you convince Renji to have the courage for him to ask me for permission to court Rukia?" He asked in a dead serious voice. He looked up from his papers to see Ichigo giving him an owl-like look. "Um, sure but why?" Byakuya looked him in the eye and sighed. "Renji is nervous that I would decline him and thus will be unable to court Rukia and I know you have seen the looks they give each other. I want my sister to be happy and I do approve of Renji but it seems that he himself does not yet think himself worthy of her. I need someone, namely yourself to give him a… what was the correct term… kick in the right direction."

Around the middle of his explanation, Ichigo was nodding his head along with what he was saying. "Alright, I get ya. Sure." He gave the captain a nod and walked out the room.

The group of four made their way towards the thirteenth division to ask if Rukia could join as well.

"So… Renji." Karin drawled as she placed her hands in her pant pockets. Renji glanced at the brunette substitute.

"Hm?" the tall redhead glanced at the brunette girl walking beside him.

"Asked Byakuya for permission yet?" Renji choked on his own spit. Ichigo who was walking behind him gave him a solid whack on the back. With tears in his eyes, he looked at Karin in shock. "Are you nuts? He'd kill me!" He yelled flapping an arm about. Ichigo arched a brow.

"Why would he kill you?" Ichigo asked, playing his face to look confused. Only Akira saw through him but he kept his mouth shut, Ichigo usually did things for a reason. Renji blinked at him a few times before sighing. "Because captain Kurosaki, Byakuya is very protective of Rukia since the Aizen incident and well… he had high standards I suppose and why would a low life like me be any good for her?"

Ichigo frowned.

"If I recall from what Karin told me that Rukia told her is that both of you come from the same area originally correct?" He asked getting a reluctant nod from Renji. Ichigo nodded and looked into the distance. "Wasn't his wife also from that area too?"

The red head captain didn't give Renji time to reply.

"And also look at who you are now, you who came from a lower level area with no one but yourself and your own talent and skill got yourself into the academy as well as the six division and in that became the lieutenant all without political power. I am certain when I said this that when you do in fact ask permission you will get the go ahead to court Rukia." Ichigo glanced at Renji who had his head lowered as he soaked in his words.

Nodding the man had a look of determination. Ichigo smiled and looked to his sister and lieutenant who were giving him knowing looks. He shrugged and looked in front of him when they reached the thirteenth division.

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A week went by when the news of Renji and Rukia's official courting was made public knowledge. Ichigo just smirked at the blissfully happy Renji.

The usual group was hanging around near one of the large grassy green training areas near the new fourteenth division's office. Renji was being congratulated by everyone for finally manning up. Rukia just laughed along like always. Ichigo, however, was not done playing matchmaker just yet. He glanced to the side to see Hisagi talking to the ever oblivious Akira, he snickered faintly when he saw the flustered look on Hisagi's face when Akira made an excuse to quickly come his way. He straightened his face when Akira was in distance to make out his facial expression.

"Sir?"

Ichigo looked down at Akira.

"Yeah?"

"Hisagi has asked me to join him for drinks tonight, would you like to come along?" Akira sure was oblivious, Ichigo decided to help Hisagi. He was good after all. He made Akira smile and laugh and that was alright in his books.

"Mmm, nah you go and hang out with him. Ya know… one on one time. Just the two of you. I wanna hang with Shinji tonight." The blue hair male nodded and looked over to Hisagi who was seemingly arguing with Kira and Momo.

"You like him don't you?" Ichigo asked leaning down so he could speak softer, which Akira was grateful for as his entire face went as read as Renji's hair. He looked at Ichigo with large eyes. Ichigo was smiling at him, that brotherly smile he gave either him or Karin when they didn't want to talk to him about what was bothering them. It always worked to loosen their tongues.

"I… yes I seem to like him…" Akira reluctantly agreed.

"Then go with him tonight and enjoy it." With that, he was gently pushed towards his friends. Hisagi looked up when Akira came, his face morphed into a large happy grin. Hisagi looked past Akira's shoulders when Akira's attention was drawn to Momo. Dark green met with crimson red. Ichigo gave a small smile coupled with a thumbs up. Hisgai's face slacked with shock before a look of pure relief filtered over it. He smiled at Ichigo and nodded his thanks.

That night neither Ichigo and Shinji didn't wait up for Akira.

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Another two months had passed and both new couples were till in the gossip ring, Akira had been asked out that very night and when the blue haired male came home late, he had knocked on Ichigo's room. He had to let the red head be the first to know.

After that, it went out like wildfire and everyone was happy for the couple.

Ichigo was taking a walk around Seireitei when an all too familiar roar filled the air, he looked around and saw that he was close to the forest that hollows tended to come from. Just then a centipede-like hollow came crashing through the trees and really into Ichigo himself.

The loud crash and roars caught the attention of all those close by. The divisions were the fourteenth, thirteenth, eleventh, ninth and sixth division. They all came rushing to see Ichigo standing in front of a large hollow that looked to be made out of segment like pieces. It was watching Ichigo while it had half its body cocked back. It was cocking its head back and forth.

It roared once before lowering its head towards Ichigo.

"My king!" it yelled revealing a female voice.

"King?" Shinji asked confused. Akira had a constipated kind of look on his face where he stood next to Byakuya who was, in turn, looking at the blue haired male. Akira sighed before he violently rubbed his face.

"Yeah… you see… When Aizen was killed Ichigo took over… sort of I guess. The previous king was killed in the war and well some lesser hollows still believe that Ichigo is the true ruler of the hollow kingdom but obviously Ichigo doesn't as he is here not there…" Akira looked back at Ichigo who was clearly talking to the hollow but the more they talked the angrier the hollow became.

Suddenly the hollow lunged at Ichigo, Ichigo just merely stepped to the side. The hollow tumbled to the ground and skid into a small storehouse. Ichigo frowned and tsked before he grabbed the end of the centipede hollow's tail and yanked the hollow up into the air before slamming it back into the forest's direction away from Seireitei.

"Now now, none of that or I will be killing you," Ichigo said mockingly as he wagged his finger at the hollow. It paused and looked at Ichigo, unsure if the threat was real or not.

"You are the king; you need to come back." The hollow said in a softer and oddly yet imploring voice. Ichigo sighed and walked closer but still stayed out of reach. "Is Starkk, Harribel and Sofia not to your liking?"

The hollow lowered slightly.

"They have not earned it."

Ichigo sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"You all know I am still in charge?" That caught the hollow's attention. It cocked its head to the side. Ichigo nodded his head and took another step closer. "I am here, to help negotiate the relationship of those hollows strong enough to cause harm if they do rebel. Starkk and the rest are only there as my generals." The hollow lowered itself closer to the ground.

"Is there nothing that could convince you to return to Hueco Mundo?" Ichigo shook his head. "No there is nothing. This is my home now. My mate is here, this is where he is most comfortable and I am happy to just be alive and well enough to ensure that all the higher level hollows can have a somewhat peaceful life in the world of hollows. Here I can more easily notice any negative effect on the balance. It is what the Soul King had ordered me personally to do. I am the Guardian of the balance."

All eyes were now staring at Ichigo in awe. If the Soul Kin himself had ordered this, then nothing could make it different. It was sent in stone and would be till said otherwise.

The hollow slumped and nodded. "Understood…Ichigo-sama." With that, the hollow crawled away. Ichigo sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Well, that went better than I thought it would…"

Ichigo walked back to the group and by then Shinji and the rest had come to see what happened. Walking closer Ichigo smiled when he saw his mate. "It was just a misunderstanding. Some hollows seemed to have the idea that I have left permanently. I just reminded them that I am still in charge but just not there." Ichigo shrugged and lifted one arm when Shinji came closer. The blonde snuggled his way into the red head's side.

"So, home huh?" the blonde asked as they all made their ways back to their posts.

Ichigo smirked.

"I didn't really have to try hard to make this my home." Ichigo looked down at the blonde and smiled. "After all, you're here with me, my litter brother is here alive and with me. My family is alive and still care for me. I have friends here and in Hueco Mundo. I have all that I want and more. I have my home and it's here."

Shinji smiled and leant up for a kiss.

Glancing back Renji wolf whistled when he saw the lovey dovey couple kissing. Ikkaku joined in while Kenpachi barked out in laughter. Lips separated and Ichigo flicked his eyes over to where the-the loud mouths were and grinned before he gently kissed the tip of Shinji's nose and then disappeared and Kenpachi was sent flying by a kick to the chest.

Everyone blinked as the two started to spar in the middle of the grassy area. Then chuckles filled the air as they all found a spot to sit that was a safe way away from the sparring duo. This was all that Shinji could hope for and more.

He knew that there would be more problems soon one day but that was a bridge to cross when the moment comes.

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So thank you all for those who supported this story and there will be chapters added to but at a later date. At most the chapters will be around four.

I am sorry if it disappointed anyone but it's done for now.