A/N: Heya. So sorry this chapter took so long. Shit happened, as shit tends to do. This chapter is also really long, so much so that I broke it into two. (Perfect Darkness: Part one, Perfect darkness part two) Ill be posting these in tandem, hopefully no more than thirty minuets apart.

Okay, you savages, I figured I should reward you for putting up with my stephan king length, self indulgent, glorified shippers manifesto, and if you're a freak like me, well all know half the reason we stick around is for the smut. So go crazy, you animals, I'll see you in church.

If I wasnt clear, explicit lemon ahead. You've been warned.

SN: There are still two more chapters ahead of this (Three if you count part two of Perfect Darkness) Ill reply to comments at the end of the next chapter. Please review and keep giving feedback. It's critical for these last two chapters guys.

Terms to know

Wasurenagusa: Forget me nots

Kareshi: Boyfriends

Aibou: Partners

Koibito: Lover

Okasan: Mom

Song: Fink's "Perfect Darkness."

Perfect Darkness: Part one

xXx

"Keep those brown eyes wide open for a.
for this moment we own for now.
And everything we gonna do we do it.
See the black clouds fall out of fear.
Feel it rise up in perfect darkness.
Perfect darkness is all I can see."

Byakuya could feel Ichigo watching him. He could feel his tentative glances and deliberate breaths that held an unspoken question. As they managed the paperwork and discussed varying issues that Ichigo missed in his month long absence, an apprehension thickened their typical dynamic.

It had only been a day since Ichigo returned to Soul Society, and because of their busy schedules, they barely had time to see each other, lest of all address what this heaviness between them actually was. Only, just because they had not discussed the changes didn't mean Byakuya didn't feel them within himself. He had became restless, more conscious of Ichigo's presence than ever. He had been feeling uncertain, not of his feelings, but in how to proceed with them. In the simplest of teams, he was nervous, and he could only assume Ichigo was too.

On his part, it was ridiculous. Besides the fact that he was once married and has had several sexual partners, he was suppose to be unflappable, not wobbling his way into a courtship like some bumbling teenager experiencing their first love. And yet he was. This was wholly new to him, and maybe that was the difference. He had never loved someone who loved him back.

"How are you holding up?" Ichigo asked somewhat abruptly.

Byakuya's pen drifted above the parchment and the space between his eyebrows crinkled with the frustrated abandonment of a balled up piece of paper.

"You do not have to handle me like a cracked vase."

A more sympathetic side understood Ichigo's predicament. He had ran away to his inner world, a world turned black and destitute by his own cruel sorrow, but he was fine now. He would always be fine, because what else was there to be?

"That's not what I'm trying to do," Ichigo said with none of the irritation Byakuya had expected. No, there was an understanding, one that knew enough about Byakuya to possibly destroy him. "I just… care. I know you won't talk about it, but if you need to, I'm right here."

He let the back of his palm bump against Byakuya's, brushing his fingers here and there, offering a subtle comfort that the noble could do nothing but revel in.

His heart was pulsing more intently, each beat feeling almost punctuated, and his skin tingled with this cold heat, as if to let him know how much these touches meant. And kami, did he know. How could he not understand the thrilling heaviness of Ichigo's hands?

He sighed in a sort've surrender. "I am simply… doing, which is better than wallowing. I know you are here," he acknowledged somewhat softly, "and that is how you help me the most, by replacing silence with your presence."

"Woe," Ichigo said, a grin in his voice, "who knew you were such a sap, Byakuya."

Byakuya tutted and redirected his attention. "This is why we can not have a moment, Ichigo."

Ichigo chuckled, and they continued in their work, delegating members of their squad to different assignments. All the while, their hands were still bumping on the desk, fingers mindlessly caressing, at times, even linking. They did this with no acknowledgment of it, continuously focused on their task, almost as if this was a simple part of their routine. This casual affection, it was such a tiny difference in detail to Byakuya's everyday, but it somehow made everything feel more worth it.

After another thirty minutes, Ichigo stood and stretched, yawning as he did so. "I'm getting hungry. You wanna grab some dinner?"

Byakuya rolled his pen and fiddled with the edge of a document in contemplation.

"Come on, Byakuya. If you don't take a break, the only thing you'll be eating is a mouth full of paperwork when you pass out from exhaustion."

He stood and grabbed his walking cane. "I suppose I should eat something," Byakuya said as he joined Ichigo on the other side of his desk.

"Good. There's this place I wanted to check out in the Rukongai."

"Rukongai? I was thinking more of a working dinner."

"Byakuya."

"Ichigo."

"Byakuya."

The noble sighed.

"I can do this all night. Or you can stop being stubborn, and go out with me for dinner. Your choice."

"As much as I would prefer to resist you, I can not do so on an empty stomach. So I suppose I have no other choice."

"Tell yourself whatever you got to," Ichigo said, leading Byakuya by the elbow. "Now come on. I'm starving."

"Fine, but I must return by-"

The noble was hushed by an unexpectant grip on his chin and a soft pair of parted lips against his own. They were gone almost as soon as they were there, and Byakuya was left standing briskly silenced, his words just a jumble of flustered half formed thoughts between them.

"If I knew I could shut you up that way, I would've started doing it a long time ago," Ichigo walked towards the shinto doors, sliding them open. "Come on, we gotta change."

"Change?"

"Yeah," Ichigo said, a satisfied smirk in his voice, "the Byakuya I know wouldn't wear his uniform on a date."

Byakuya stood confused before his eyes fogged over in realization. "Fine," he said, folding his walking stick and putting it away. "But Ichigo-"

Byakuya strutted over to Ichigo, wound an arm around his waist, and pent one of his wrist to the door frame. He pulled their bodies together and kissed Ichigo fiercely, only a tiny gasp escaping before Byakuya's lips were too close for him to do anything but accept their demanding vicinity. Rather quickly, he pulled away from the short yet effective kiss with a smack, rubbing his thumb across the accelerated pulse point of Ichigo's wrist.

"If you are going to kiss me and then request a date, than do it correctly."

"Ye- um, Yeah. I- I'll remember that next time."

Byakuya's lips flickered in victory before he released Ichigo and continued to walk forward.

"Come on, Ichigo. You wouldn't want us to be late."

xXx

"Where are we going, Ichigo?"

"It's a surprise. Consider it payback for that stunt you pulled earlier."

"It was a kiss, Ichigo, not a stunt." Byakuya stopped in his shunpo when Ichigo did. Perking an eyebrow, he asked, "Are you saying you didn't enjoy it?"

Ichigo scoffed, ignoring the blood that bloomed on his cheeks. "Of course I liked it," he muttered, grabbing Byakuya by the hand and yanking him forward. "Come on, it's right through here."

They walked through a brush path and into an open expanse of blue wildflowers. Ichigo stopped them a few feet from a rocked ledge that overlooked a river and dropped Byakuya's hand. "Well, here we are."

"Where is the restaurant?"

"There isn't one." When Byakuya's face stiffened, Ichigo said, "Don't worry, I didn't bring you out here to kill you or anything." He took Byakuya's hand again and led him over to a green blanket, prompting him to sit down.

"A picnic?"

"Mhm."

Byakuya looked almost suspicious, but settled onto the blanket. "How did you get this here?"

Ichigo smirked as he began to take various different food containers from a wicker basket. "I have my ways. Now chill out and enjoy. It's called going with the flow."

Byakuya's skin glittered under the shadowy coral sky, his lips flexing into a tiny smirk. He was always so easy to get caught up in, too beautiful to divert from, but under the locus of colors highlighting him, as transitory as they may be, Ichigo was captured. One thing was certain, this guy had him.

"They did not teach me that in etiquette classes, so I may need your assistance."

Ichigo grinned, sliding closer to the noble. Their hands touched, and Byakuya tilted his head towards Ichigo.

"I think I can do that."

"So, is asking where we are acceptable under the premise of 'going with the flow'?

"It's called The Light's Ledge."

A look of recognition reflected in Byakuya eyes. He stroked the petals of a wild flower, and it sprouted further, flourishing under the noble's gracious reiatsu. "Ah, so that explains the heavy scent of wasurenagusa." He ceased in his petting and moved his hand back towards Ichigo's. "The legend is, before the age of the Shinigami, a woman and her lover snuck away here to met because of their families opposition. Her lover had to go far away, but while he was gone, she died. On his way back to attend her funeral, he got lost, but was guided home by a light that emerged from this ledge. He thought that it was her spirit guiding him."

"Yeah, Jūshirō told me when I asked him where I should take you."

"You asked Ukitake Taichou?"

"Well, it was that or ask Rukia, and I was not about to do that. Don't worry though, I told him I was taking someone on a date, but not with who." At the way Byakuya's eyes shifted downwards in uncertainty, he quickly added, "Not because I'm ashamed of you or anything. It's just, well, I wasn't sure if you wanted people to know, or what there is to know. We haven't really talked about what we're calling this… so…"

Ichigo's head dipped bashfully, eye's taking refuge in their untouched food, but at the feeling of Byakuya's hand overlapping his, he looked to the noble.

"Ichigo, do you want to be with me? In a romantic sense, I mean."

"You didn't know?"

"It thought, for clarity sake, the words were important this time. I think we have had enough miss communications."

Nervousness coiled in Ichigo's throat, but as if it was their relationship's first test of determination, he kept his eyes looking at Byakuya. "Yeah, um- You… You have my heart, Byakuya," he said, only to immediately lean his head against Byakuya's shoulder and let out a muffled groan. "Did I really just say that?".

"To quote your earlier words, who knew who were such a sap." Ichigo let out another whiny groan, prompting Byakuya to whisper, "You have mine, also, Ichigo."

Ichigo lifted his head, nothing more than a moment of poor balance separating their lips. "So… what do we call each other? Are we kareshi or aibou, koibito?"

"We are together," Byakuya said, barring his forehead against Ichigo's, "Beyond that, you can call me whatever you want."

"Right," Ichigo said, "I'm no good at this kind've stuff, Byakuya. It's all new to me."

"Ichigo, do know this is the first date anyone has ever taken me on?"

"Really?"

"Yes. Hisana and I, are relationship wasn't romantic in nature, and any other aibou I had were, to be blunt, only physical in nature. Meaning, this is all new to me also. So we will just have to figure this out as we go."

Ichigo closed his eyes and let out a breathy chuckle. "Were going to fuck up. Alot."

"You are probably right," Byakuya said with his own chuckle, cupping Ichigo's cheek in assurance. "But I think it will be alright. It is thrilling, the idea of messing up, as long as it is with you."

Ichigo blinked at Byakuya, his lover with kaleidoscope eyes, showing him something beautiful at every turn. Disbelief, or perhaps, gratitude, sometimes made him pause like this, look harder, look earnestly, allowing this amazement to silence him. It made no sense, really. Two men like them should've never fell in love, but that just made Ichigo happy that the world could be such a senseless place.

He responded with a soft kiss that, though full of tender innocence, was still able to make them forget exactly why they were there in the first place. They pulled back, and for a few stretching seconds, they stayed the only presence in each others scops.

Ichigo turned to the food suddenly, feeling an anxious giddiness. "We should probably eat."

"Yes," Byakuya said with a smirk, "we wouldn't want all of Fujita-san's hard work to go to waste."

"Hey," Ichigo muttered, "I helped."

The pair ate until the sun completely dipped under the horizon. They spoke in soft, affectionate tones, enjoying the easiness of each others laughter and the taste of a good meal. It was so simple, such a little thing, and yet it gave Ichigo the biggest smile he'd worn in a long time.

Afterwards, they sat leaning against a moss covered boulder with touching elbows, and though he tried to hide it, Ichigo could tell Byakuya was getting tired.

"You can lean on me if you're getting sleepy."

Byakuya looked as if he was almost considering it before he said, "I am fine."

"Pfh," Ichigo scoffed as he swiveled to lay down and perch his head against Byakuya's thigh. "I'm not too prideful to not use you as a pillow."

"You are, also, not too polite."

"You like it."

"Yes," he deadpanned, "what a great honor it is to be used as the place matt of the one and only Kurosaki Ichigo. Perhaps next you could bestow upon me the pleasure of being your personal body pillow."

"Now you're talking," Ichigo said, turning so that he was looking up at Byakuya.

The noble ran fingers through his hair, caressing each one as if he wanted to know them with an individualistic intimacy, making Ichigo sigh happily.

"That feels good. I don't think anyone's played with my hair since my Okasan."

At the memory, he reached into a fold in his yutaka and pulled out a book.

"Happy birthday, by the way. I got this for you."

"Birthday…"

"Yeah, just because you don't remember it doesn't mean other people don't." He smirked. "Old man."

"I will have you know that I am only one hundred and seventy seven years old, a young age in comparison to most souls." He held the book in his hands and ran a curious touch over the spine, asking, "What is this exactly?"

"You said that your favorite book of poetry was the Man'youshu," Ichigo explained as he lifted himself back up. "And how there's over seven editions, each one really different from the others. Well, I, um, remembered my Okasan use to read this one. It's called Ten Thousand Leaves, Love poems." He took the book and flipped it open, running his finger over the margins before handing it back. "This is her copy. She wrote all these observations on the side."

Byakuya's eyes sat wider than usual. They were pink and yellow orbs, suspended party lights that illuminated his darkened face. When he said nothing, Ichigo began to ramble. "I know you can't read it, but I thought I could read it to you, ya know, if you want, or-"

"Ichigo, this is-" He paused, placing his hand on the cover in hesitation, as if he was uncertain on how to touch it. "This is very sentimental. Are you sure?"

"That was kind've the point," Ichigo said, feeling uncharacteristically bashful. "It's been collecting dust anyway. At least now, it'll get some use."

Byakuya gripped the book tighter with a smile, one so subtle yet full of sincerity. "Thank you."

Ichigo smiled back. "It's no problem. I wanted to."

"Do you know anything about the Man'youshu?"

"No."

"It is the first book of Japanese poetry ever created," he explained. "It was written during Japan's first golden age, when the country was not so secluded and the cultural influences encompassed a variety of foreign lands. It is, at times, erotic, but always sophisticated, and it has a bare truthfulness that has not been seen since."

The orange in his eyes only accentuated the subtle fervor of Byakuya's voice, a fervor that had Ichigo leaning in and asking, "Do you remember any of the poems?"

Byakuya nodded. "Yes, there is a poem written in the form of a love letter. The narrator is a woman forced to marry a prince, writing to her ex lover. 'Going over the fields of murasaki grass
That shimmer crimson,
Going over the fields marked as imperial domain,
Will the guardian of the fields not see you
As you wave your sleeves at me?' I believe his response was-"

"'If I despised you, who are as beautiful
As the murasaki grass,
Would I be longing for you like this,
Though you are another man's wife?'"

"You said you did not know anything about the Man'youshu."

Ichigo shrugged a shoulder. "I lied."

"I did not take you for a liar, Kurosaki Ichigo."

"What can I say? You don't know everything about me." He smirked. "... I like the way you talk about things."

Byakuya didn't say anything, but instead, he intertwined their hands. Ichigo went to say they should probably head back, but went silent at the sight of hundreds of firefly lighting up in tandem against the shadowy field of blue. "Woe…"

"What is it?"

Ichigo smiled and squeezed their clasped hands. "This is something I have to show you." Carefully, he laced their soul ribbons together and watched as Byakuya's eyes went from aimless to wonderfully focused. His lips pushed apart from each other and his brows were relaxed and at home atop his airily dazzled glare that wavered with wanderlust, wanting to see everything.

He watched as fireflies nestled into the silkiness of Byakuya's sakura sented hair and circled his head, forming a crown of floating lights. The noble looked so ethereal like this, sitting in a patient admiration with little lanterns in his hair, unintentionally guiding all life towards him. He was a naturalist, a god of fruitfulness. Flowers bloomed at his feet, foliage roused at his touch, and for that, he belonged to the earth more than he belonged to Ichigo or his clan. It made Ichigo wonder how anyone could overlook a man like this. Byakuya was worth so much more than a fleeting glance.

Ichigo forced himself to look back at the radiating scenery, saying, "I guess we know why they call it The Light's Ledge."

A sudden sensation that was not his own gave way to the audible thumping of his heart, a thumping that shut out the gushing river and thickening winds. Ichigo could feel Byakuya inside of him. He could feel Byakuya's passion in the warmth of his blood and his reverence between the beats of his pulse. He could feel Byakuya's love. It thrummed under his skin.

"Truthfully," the noble said, cupping Ichigo's cheeks, "If I can see for even a moment, I would much rather spend that moment looking at you."

A tingling heat sated his face before, bit by bit, hitting every part of his body, and Ichigo thought, 'I haven't been this happy in a long time.'

xXx

Two months later

At the inception of Byakuya and Ichigo's relationship, the noble professed his desire to take it slow. Of course, Ichigo came back with, that's not really my thing. He was impulsive and green and probably didn't understand how one even stepped forward with caution, but he agreed for Byakuya's sake and his own. They both had their insecurities and hang ups, and they both had hearts shadowed by loss and uncertain with inexperience. So, looking past the visor of earnest affection and willing bodies, they tip toed their way towards a possible forever.

Only, Byakuya soon realized that, for the first time in his long, preordained existence, he had no idea how to proceed with caution. Very little had changed in the way of their dynamic. Ichigo had yet gone to his own division and they spent their days as they always had, side by side. They'd do paperwork, share lunch, and spar with both swords and snippy banter. The only difference now was the undercurrent of nonchalant affection.

This was partially because they had yet to go public with their relationship and partially because the two weren't overtly affectionate people. In fact, most of the time, they showed their fondness through teasing comments or a constant yet low key flow of tender gestures. A slight touch here, a brief caress there, punctuated by stolen kisses, all private and delicate.

Yes, nothing much had changed, and yet somehow, everything had, because Byakuya was slipping, readily and with little internal restraint. Everyday, he fell more recklessly in love with Ichigo, and he didn't know how to slow that down. Really, he didn't want to.

There was only one wall he kept up, one he guarded like a fort, the last resistance against enemy fire. But as Ichigo wiggled atop of Byakuya, hands tangled in his raven hair, he began to run out of ammunition.

With each sunset, their thwarted lust would reach new peaks, pushing Byakuya one step closer to rising that white flag. The more he held back, the riskier were his advances. It went from above the cloths exploration to a bold slid of the hand, tilting that line by daring the uncharted expanse of each others blushed torsos. One night, he lost it, flipping Ichigo onto his back, sinking screams out of him with soft suckling bites of his hip bones. Tonight, his hands were squeezing Ichigo's bottom, pushing the younger man's harden frustration right into his own.

Things were getting crucial.

He had his reasons, and though they often got muddied in moments like these, they were still there. Senbonzakura, however, said it was his insecurities, but Byakuya said it was just sound logic.

"Kuya," Ichigo moaned into his mouth, shooting the warning signs of deeper arousal into Byakuya. He had to push back. "Yeah, I know. Sorry."

Ichigo moved to his knees with a huff, and Byakuya could imagine him running fingers through his hair, tugging away his irritation.

"Ichigo," Byakuya began, deciding to distract them with a subject change, "I believe we should tell the Elders about us. They will find out eventually, and I would rather get ahead of it."

"... Okay."

The reluctance in Ichigo's voice yielded a sigh of disappointment from the nobleman. "I can speak on our behalf if the idea makes you uncomfortable, and while they will know, no one else has to find out if you do not desire-"

"Don't you even go there, Byakuya. Don't think for a second that I'm ashamed of you. I've only been so quiet about it, because I know how your family is, and I didn't want to push you into a situation you werent ready for," he explained firmly. "You're not my secret, Byakuya."

There Ichigo went, always finding a way to make the arrogant noble reevaluate, anchoring him with these constant reality checks.

"Of course, I'll go with you. We're aibou, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"Okay then," he said. "Than don't expect less than that of me. I was just surprised is all. It came out of nowhere.

"Perhaps seemingly, but I've been thinking on it for a while now. I do not want to continue sneaking around like a pair of horny teenagers, and I want to be with you properly."

Ichigo responded by scooting over and straddling Byakuya's lap. "Well, guess what, Byakuya, I am a horny teenager," he said with a chuckle, smirking against the noble's budding pulse point.

"But." Kiss. "I think you like it." Nip. "The sneaking." Lick.

"Mhh, perhaps you're right, but only because you are a horrible influence."

They shared deep, open mouth kisses, running their hands all over before Byakuya pulled back and whispered, "You are a very hard man to resist."

"You don't have to resist, you know?"

Byakuya said nothing, just loosened his grip, and he knew his silence spoke louder than any words could have.

Ichigo moved back slightly, still hovering above Byakuya, but with some more breathing space in between.

"Why are you so reluctant?" Ichigo asked, and Byakuya could practically see the scowl Ichigo was desperately trying to bite back. The way Ichigo attempted a more mature approach in their communication was dauntingly endearing, even if the younger man often failed. "Look, I'm not pushing you, but- I mean, I'm the virgin here," he murmured, "shouldn't I be the nervous one?"

Ichigo made a good point. He had this innocence about him that goaded Byakuya in animalistic ways, ways he wouldn't easily admit to, but that morsel of purity was also met with an eagerness to learn, to be taught. That is, if the motivation was right.

With a mixture of impulsiveness and desire, Byakuya wasn't sure if the young man even knew enough to understand that he should be nervous. Surely, in the moment, it would hit him.

But Byakuya had his own reasons to be nervous, and he didn't know how to express his concerns without possibly hurting Ichigo's feelings and certainly hurting his own pride. So he just said, "I see no need to rush."

"That's such a put off, Byakuya." There it was, that gritty voice so obviously delivered through a grimace. "Whatever. I'm going to bed."

The noble understood Ichigo's anger. He was being vague and illusive, obvious in his veiled truths, and he knew it was unfair. Ichigo, a wall of stubbornness, was moving for Byakuya, and here the noble was, not even willing to loosen his bricks.

Ichigo went to stand, but Byakuya grabbed his hand. "Wait, Ichigo. Sit and let us talk."

His hands sat flat and neat against his lap like stationery, and he checked his voice for any clogs that might make him stumble, because he was Byakuya Kuchiki damnit. Even if he was going to be vulnerable, he certainly wasn't going to look like it.

"You know that it is not an easy feat for me to be so open with someone."

"Yeah…"

"Well, there is something… explosive about giving your body to another person. You are laid bare without any means of control. It takes an enormous amount of vulnerability and trust. That is a frightening thing for a man like me."

"But you said you had other aibou, right?"

"Yes, but those were just flings," he explained, waving a hand indifferently. "The thing you will learn about sex is, the more attached you are to your bed mate, the more electric it often is. With them, it was luke warm lust at best, an impassive moment of desire, but with you," he said more softly, "It is an act of love." The noble heard Ichigo swallow, but otherwise stay still, and he decided it was best to finish showing off his wounds. "When you touch me, Ichigo, I am afraid there is nothing I can not hide from you."

Byakuya wasn't sure what he expected. To be teased for the embarrassment that surly glinted in his eyes, for Ichigo to be angered and offended by the implications that he had not earned Byakuya's full trust, they were all possible options.

Only none of those happened. Instead, Ichigo placed a soothing hand against his cheek and said, "I understand."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I know this kind've stuff doesn't come easy for you, but you're trying, and that's all that matters. We don't have to rush this."

"So you are not upset?"

"Why would I be?"

"I thought that you might think I was doubting you."

"Yeah, well, maybe you are, but that's okay," he said with a smirk. "Doubt me all you want. That just means I get to prove you wrong."

Byakuya smirked back. "You have always enjoyed a challenge," he said, leaning in to kiss Ichigo, softly at first and then with the force of all his mounting desire. "Soon," he whispered.

Ichigo let out an answering hum. Then they untangled and stood up, and before the words could become lost opportunities, Byakuya asked, "Would you like to share a bed with me tonight?"

"...Sure, but I can't promise I'll be able to keep my hands off of you," Ichigo admitted, chuckling lowly at the truth of the statement.

Byakuya walked to his sleeping quarters and stood within the open doorway. "Who said I wanted you to?" At the throaty, muffled groan Ichigo gave behind him, Byakuya smirked to himself.

"But I thought you said-

"Yes, and I meant it. So if you start to find me all to irresistible to deny," he went on, perking a brow, "I do have my means of restraining you."

There was an instantaneous swoosh, and Byakuya let out a brassy chuckle and nosed his arms around Ichigo's neck as he was lifted into a bridal position and hauled towards his sleeping quarters.

"Yeah, yeah, let's go to bed, smug bastard."

xXx

In Ichigo's absence, it wasn't so much the lack of words that created an unbearable silence. Neither of them had ever been huge conversationalist, often preferring quality over quantity when speaking to one another. Not that Byakuya didn't love their conversations, as they were always stimulating in someway and never felt stale, but they were also never had just to fill empty spaces. In fact, sometimes the two could comfortably go hours without saying anything at all.

So while their lack of conversations contributed to that month of white noise, it was more of the lack of Ichigo's presence that created such a void. The little sighs and grunts he made, the way his bones popped when he stretched, the muttered obscenities under his breath, those were the real missing treasures in their time apart, and while they stood wordless in front of the Elder's chamber doors, Byakuya needed those more than ever.

It had not really been in his plans to move so quickly with this, but life didn't care much about his agenda. Tomorrow, Ichigo, after months of rigorous negotiations, would finally finalize the peace keeping treaty. Then he would present it to The Grand Elder Council the next day, and if everything went well, Central the day after that. By the end of the week, he'd be inaugurated into the Gotei Thirteen as the captain of the fifth division, which in an of itself would set off a waterfall of cascading duties. If this wasn't handled now, it could be the sort've thing they put off until circumstances forced them to do otherwise.

So here they were, waiting outside of the Elder's chambers for an attendant to come present them.

"You okay?" Ichigo asked, "you seem a little nervous."

"I suppose I am a bit anxious."

Things had been relatively easy for them over the past couple of months, and even though Byakuya held no delusions about the fact that it wouldn't always be this way, he knew this would be a leap into the first of many complications they'd have to overcome. Still, he was nothing but resolved.

"Mostly, I am annoyed. We have been waiting here for over half an hour, and I have paperwork that needs my attention."

"Byakuya, you finished more paperwork in the month I was gone than you probably have since I became your fukutaichou."

"I believe that says more about you than it does about me," Byakuya said with an almost imperceivable smirk.

"It says that I'm a distraction. You just like me too much."

"Or more accurately, it says that you are loud and obnoxious."

Ichigo tutted.

"Ass hole."

"Child."

Ichigo linked their hands together.

"It'll be okay."

Byakuya pulsed his grip lovingly.

"I know."

xXx

The meeting didn't last long. Overall, considering no lives were ruined or swords drawn, it went as well as Byakuya could've asked for.

There were the expected exclamations of disgust and the aplomb questioning of Byakuya's good senses and loyalties. There were words that sounded a bit too close to threats and the bastardization of Ichigo's intentions. In the end, they were sent away with less of a blessing and more of a temporary tolerance, along with a warning from Daichi that he couldn't shield them completely from whatever negative reactions the rest of the council might have.

Actually, it was Daichi who was the most receptive, if not completely accepting, much to Ichigo's surprise. Not so much for Byakuya though. Despite what transpired over the past year, Daichi had always been the kindest to Byakuya. With how long he's been in the family, their ties ran too deep for much less.

However, what had been more pleasing than that was Ichigo's behavior. He met their accusations with declarations of his own determination, asserting himself without being too aggressive.

Of course, once the doors closed behind them, all of that concealed anger was being taken out on the floor as Ichigo stomped his way back to the main wing of the mansion at Byakuya's side.

"What the hell," he grumbled. "Their your fucking family! How could they talk to you like that? Even my family accepted me, and let me tell you, where I'm from, being gay isn't an okay thing."

When Ichigo settled into peeved mutters, Byakuya pursed his lips to hide a charmed smile at the younger man's petulance. He was sure Ichigo wouldn't appreciate it.

"It actually went much better than it could have. I'd say we should take this as a small victory." Byakuya paused, considering. "I was both impressed and grateful for the way you handled the Elders. Thank you."

"Of course, I'm going to back you up. I love you! Which is more than I can say for those dusty bastards."

Byakuya stopped, something his head and feet were not complicit in, and he thought how unbecoming he must look, flabbergasted into stillness and holding his walking cane as if it was something he found, not owned.

Ichigo, on the other hand, kept moving forward, still grumbling indiscernibly as he did so, seemingly unaware of the words he had said, of the words he had never said. Not until right now.

"Ichigo Kurosaki," Byakuya said, speaking in a tone that he would not typically use with his lover, but more likely with his subordinates, because what kind've confession was that? It was abrupt, practically an afterthought to his anger, a reflexive. There was certainly nothing romantic about it. It was so… so Kurosaki Ichigo, and something about that made Byakuya want to laugh.

He wouldn't, of course. Soft chuckles in Ichigo's presence were one thing, but boisterous laughter was another level of earnesty his stringent upbringing just wouldn't allow. So instead, his lips stiffened into a small smile.

"What!?" Ichigo lashed out, seemingly whipping around in a halt.

"I love you, also."

And then all of that anger seemed to dissipate, replaced by one of the most bewitching displays of stammering innocence Byakuya had ever witness.

"Oh, uh- well, I… Good," he finally settled on, saying it as if he wouldn't have accepted anything else from Byakuya. Honestly, Byakuya wouldn't haven't accepted anything less from himself either, because he had loved Ichigo before he had even known he loved Ichigo. It was only because of Ichigo's initial hesitancy that it had never came out.

Byakuya walked forward until he sensed that he was standing beside Ichigo. He dipped his head, and in a voice teeming with implications, he said, "Perhaps when you return, I can show you just how much I love you. Yes?"

A palpable blush emanated from Ichigo. Or perhaps it didn't, and Byakuya just knew him well enough to say that it was most certainly there. Either way, he felt an almost sadistic satisfaction at mortifying Ichigo into silence and decided to leave it at that, continuing on his walk forward.

Before flashing away, he said, "Do try to hurry back, Ichigo."