-1Title: Always Try Something New

Author: Dark Nuriko and Kasey Sanada

Category: Bleach

Genre: Humor/Romance/Action

Pairings: Kurosaki Ichigo/Hitsugaya Toushiro

Warnings: Language, angst, violence, Yaoi, and lemon.

Rating: R for eventual lemon

Disclaimer: Bleach and it's characters belong to the wonderful Tite Kubo. I do not claim to own any part of it. If I did, it would just mean I've finally become insane.

Author's Note: While finding myself at a road block with my Gundam Wing stories, I began working on a story for the live journal community called Ichihitsu. This community is dedicated to the pairing of Ichigo and Hitsugaya. So I hope you all enjoy this.

Chapter One:

Hitsugaya Toushiro was making his nightly rounds. His black hakama and kimono top were covered by his white captain's haori. Across his chest was a green sword belt. At his back was his zanpakuto, Hyorinmaru. His short form belied his age, even as his haori showed he was captain of the 10th Division of the Gotei 13. He was the youngest to ever make captain. Labeled a genius, he had achieved bankai relatively swiftly after joining to become a shinigami. Now... with Aizen causing all sorts of trouble, he was in Karakura, protecting the humans here with a handful of Shinigami.

"Toushiro!" a deep loud voice called out, making the other stiffen and growl angrily.

Hitsugaya closed his blue-green gaze and counted to ten before turning to face the other Shinigami. "How many times must I tell you, it's Hitsugaya-taichou!?"

Kurosaki Ichigo shrugged. "Last time I checked, I wasn't under any obligation to call you that now was I?

"You are a substitute Shinigami. It is respect to call those of captain rank by their title, Kurosaki," Hitsugaya admonished, wondering why they had accepted such a human as Kurosaki Ichigo as a shinigami at all.

"Have you seen any suspicious activity going on Toushiro?" Ichigo asked, ignoring the other completely as he started walking again, school bag over his shoulder.

A muscle over Hitsugaya's right eye twitched. "It's Hitsugaya-taichou. And no, it's been rather quiet tonight."

"Ah." Ichigo stopped again, looking over his shoulder. "Did you want to come in tonight?"

Hitsugaya blinked, realizing he was at the Kurosaki clinic already. "I thought you preferred the Shinigami stay away from your home."

"Well, the fact that you sleep on my roof every night... why not invite you in?"

"I'm not always on your roof every night," Hitsugaya remarked, his voice cool. "I alternate between your place and Orihime's place. They seem like the two that have the most action."

"Anyway, since you're here, you might as well come in," Ichigo continued, opening the door and walking in. "its fine. My dad and sister's are away for the weekend.

Hitsugaya sighed, even as he turned and followed after Ichigo. "I'll stay, but only for a little while."

Setting his bag down and taking off his shoes, Ichigo headed to the kitchen. "Want something? I'm making dinner."

Hitsugaya followed Ichigo to the kitchen, yet since he was in Shinigami form, he had no need to remove his shoes. "Don't make anything special for me. I'll just have whatever you feel like making."

"Rangiku-san told me something that you've wanted to try since you saw it," Ichigo said. "What was it?"

Hitsugaya couldn't help but blink. "I don't know what Matsumoto was thinking. I don't recall anything of the sort," he replied, not about to admit to anything that sounded childish.

Ichigo pulled out some noodles, vegetables, and broth. "Uh huh. So I'm guessing you don't want ramen then, right?"

Hitsugaya's face brightened for a second. "Ramen?" He then caught himself and cleared his throat. "Well, I don't mind trying it. If that's what you're making."

Back towards him, Ichigo smiled to himself. God, but he was cute when he acted like a kid for just a second. "Alright then, ramen it is."

Hitsugaya looked away. "I'm going to have Matsumoto bring my gigai. It would be wiser if you don't seem like you're all alone talking to yourself," he replied, trying to sound professional.

"All right, Dinner should be done by then."

Hitsugaya nodded and slipped away from the kitchen, pulling out his communicator and calling Matsumoto's.

A moment later Matsumoto answered. "Hai hai taichou!" she said cheerfully.

"Matsumoto, I need you have bring my gigai over to Kurosaki's place. I'll be patrolling all night and I don't want to leave it over at Orihime's. Who knows what you'd do to it if I'm not around," Hitsugaya remarked, knowing his vice captain tended to be a little odd at times.

"Kurosaki's?" Matsumoto sounded surprised. "Why do you need it then if you're on patrol?

"Don't question my orders, Matsumoto. Just bring it," Toushiro ordered, not about to explain anything to her.

She let out a sign. "Yes Taichou. I'll be right over."

A little over 5 minutes later, she arrived with Toushiro's gigai. "Here you are."

Hitsugaya had been standing outside and he bowed his head when she spoke to him. "Thank you," he replied. "Keep an eye on Orihime tonight."

"Hai." She started to leave when she sniffed. "What's that I smell?"

Without blinking, Hitsugaya merely shrugged. "Kurosaki's cooking dinner," he replied, keeping his expression neutral.

Matsumoto sniffed again. "Is that... ramen I smell?"

Refusing to blush, Hitsugaya shrugged. "Probably. Kurosaki said something to that effect."

A grin spread over the vice-captain's face and glomped him. "Awww! He's making you dinner!! How sweet!" she teased.

"Matsumoto, you can leave now," Hitsugaya replied, his blue-green gaze chilling.

She giggled and pinched his cheek. "Have fun!" she said before heading off, giggling.

A growl passed the captain's lips before he turned to his gigai and slipped into it. Once settled, he moved back into the house. This time, he observed the rules and removed his shoes at the door. With that done, he headed back toward the kitchen, dressed now in slacks and a white button down shirt with a black tie.

"Was that Rangiku-san I heard?" Ichigo asked, turning off the stove and grabbing two large bowls.

Toushiro nodded. "Yes... and why do you use an honorific with her name but none with mine?" he asked, watching the orange haired substitute shinigami.

Ichigo poured ramen into the bowls and topped them with fishcakes and garnish before bringing them to the table with chopsticks. "Don't know. I just don't see you with having a -san, -kun, or -chan or anything like that. You're just Toushiro to me."

Once more the vein in his forehead twitched, even as he looked at the ramen, merely taking in the delicious smell of the food. "But I'm not simply Toushiro," Hitsugaya replied, struggling to contain his excitement, picking up his chopsticks.

"You are to me. I don't see you as a Taichou or anything like that," Ichigo picked up his chopsticks and grinned. "Right now, you're something about to jump out of his gigai with excitement because of Ramen."

Hitsugaya frowned, his grip on his chopsticks tightening. "I most certainly am not," he grumbled.

"Toushiro, eat it before it gets cold," Ichigo said, digging into his food.

Hitsugaya swallowed swiftly, before nodding and murmuring a soft 'Itadakimasu' before digging into his ramen. After the first bite, he groaned, and dug in more heartily, even as he slurped and almost inhaled the food placed in front of him.

Ichigo watched as the other ate, feeling himself swell up with pride. If there was one thing he could do right it was ramen, and seeing the other enjoy it made him happy. "I'm glad you like it," Ichigo said with a smile, continuing to eat his food in a calmer manner, not saying a word about how fast Toushiro was eating. "There's more if you want it."

Hitsugaya stopped almost instantly as the other's words sank in. With a slight pink tint to his cheeks, he raised his bowl and drank the last of the broth in his bowl, at a much more sedate pace. When it was finished, he placed it down, some juice around his lips. "It's okay. One bowl should be enough."

Suddenly a loud stomach growl was heard, and Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

Hitsugaya's flush darkened at that. "Well, maybe, a little more."

Getting up, Ichigo grabbed his bowl and went to refill it. "Can I ask you something?"

Getting up, Ichigo grabbed his bowl and went to refill it. "Can I ask you something?"

Hitsugaya blinked, his blue-green gaze watching him. "I guess."

"Why do you hate being called anything but Taichou?"

Hitsugaya sighed, sipping some of the tea that the other boy had served with dinner. "I suppose it's because no one takes me seriously normally. So... it gets irritating when people call me anything other than who I am. Making them remember tends to keep them from ignoring me when it comes time for missions."

Ichigo placed the bowl in front of him. "Well, let me say this. You're a great captain. I've seen this myself. You hold yourself up, and your team respects you. I admire you for that."

Hitsugaya flushed a little, focusing on the ramen before him. "You are rather impressive yourself... for a human."

Ichigo smiled. "Thanks." He sat back down and continued to eat.

The 10th Division captain focused on the food in front of him, beginning to eat once more. Occasionally, he slurped, finding he could become rather addicted to ramen.

Finally finishing his bowl, Ichigo leaned back as he watched Toushiro finish his, a smile on his face.

Finishing the bowl with a final slurping sound, he put it down, blinked as he felt those brown eyes on him. "What?" he asked, starting to become uncomfortable.

Ichigo shook his head. "It's just… not even my family likes my ramen like that. It... makes me feel good that you do."

Hitsugaya once more flushed darkly, looking away. It was a little uncomfortable being caught like this. "I've just never had it before. It isn't a major issue."

Ichigo noticed broth on Toushiro's face. "You... have some broth on you."

Blinking, Toushiro moved to wipe it, feeling embarrassed.

Before he could stop himself, Ichigo leaned over and wiped it off.

Pink rushing up his neck and into his cheeks, Hitsugaya couldn't help but pull away after a moment's hesitation.

Standing up again, Ichigo collected the dishes and took them to the sink. "It's off now

Hitsugaya swallowed thickly, looking away. "I... should go back out on patrol. Thank you for dinner."

"Alright..." Ichigo said, washing, not turning towards him, and cursing to himself. Damn it! Why did he let himself lose control like that? He knew he liked the 10th Division Captain. A LOT... but he wasn't sure if the other even SWUNG that way...

Mentally, Toushiro cursed himself. He had given away so much tonight. He had acted like a kid when eating that ramen and had allowed Kurosaki just a little too close. He hadn't pulled away because he didn't like the orange haired man, quite the opposite in fact. He was beginning to like the other man too much. Yet he couldn't hide the fact he looked younger than Kurosaki and he had never really had a chance to be close to anyone. He wouldn't know where to begin.

Hearing the other walk towards the door, Ichigo growled to himself and turned around. "Toushiro!

Hitsugaya stopped, turning around. "You don't have to yell. I wasn't that far away."

"I thought you were patrolling here?" Ichigo said anger in his voice.

Toushiro blinked confused eyes at him. "Of course. That means I have to be outside."

"But... why outside? Why not in here?" Ichigo said, trying not to sound desperate.

"I'm always outside when I patrol. It's faster to get to the scene if I don't have to slip outside first," Toushiro replied, ever logical.

"And you freaked out when I touched you!"

"I wasn't expecting you to get so close!" Toushiro shot back, growing uncomfortable. He couldn't admit it was because he wanted the other to touch him. That would make him sound... well... foolish.

Ichigo walked over to him. "Well, I can't help it if you're cute!"

Hitsugaya frowned, that vein twitching at his forehead once more. "Cute is for kids and women. I don't fit into either one."

"And what is it with you being compared to a kid, when that wasn't even what I was doing?"

"I didn't say you were," Toushiro huffed. "I was merely saying cute is used to describe women and children."

"Or someone you like."

Hitsugaya opened his mouth to retort, but nothing came out. Instead, he found himself staring up into Kurosaki's brown eyes, unable to say a word. There was too much that could be read into that... and he wasn't certain if he was wise to allow the tiny shred of hope to grow because of them.

Stopping in front of him, Ichigo said in a strained voice. "I don't know when it happened. Perhaps it was when practiced together, or fought together... but all I know is... is that I fell for you."

"Wouldn't that hurt?" Toushiro asked, not catching the human slang. "You shouldn't fall for anyone but yourself. In fact, falling at all could be painful."

Cursing out loud, Ichigo did the one thing he could think of that could make Hitsugaya understand.

He kissed him.

Cool blue-green eyes widened in surprise, even as he gasped slightly, his lips parting in shock. Kurosaki was... kissing him! How could...? Why was he...? The whole thing was too hard to grasp.

Wrapping his arm around the smaller man's waist, Ichigo slipped his tongue into the shocked mouth, stroking his tongue against Toushiro's.

Hitsugaya's whole body seemed to stiffen for a second, before slowly, as the kiss deepened, his defenses relaxed and he leaned into the warmth. His inexperience was unnerving, but he wasn't about to be over come. So he shyly began to let his tongue met Ichigo's, returning the kiss.

Time seemed to stand still for Ichigo. Sound seemed to disappear as he focused on the kiss, his tongue stroking the softer one. His hands trailed down the lithe body.

Uncertain of what he was feeling, the second those sneaky hands caressed down his back and over the firm cheeks of his ass, the trance he had slipped into melted and he jumped, breaking the kiss and pulling away. "A... Ah... wha... What are you doing?!"

"Kissing and touching you," Ichigo said, as if it was normal.

Toushiro pushed away, managing to free himself from Ichigo's hold, even as a hand flew to his lips. "Why... would you do something like that? Are you... just teasing me?! I know... I look young... and I have no... experience in these kinds of matters... but that isn't… a reason... to tease me over it."

Ichigo growled. "Is that what you think? That I was just teasing you?!"

"Isn't it?!" Toushiro couldn't help but growl out. "I've seen how things are between Rukia and you, Kurosaki. I'm innocent, its true, but I'm neither blind nor ignorant."

"Apparently you are. Rukia and I are nothing more than brother and sister. If you really noticed things, it would be apparent that Rukia likes Renji!

"If that were true, Renji wouldn't be screwing Byakuya!"

"I DON'T LIKE RUKIA!!!!" Ichigo yelled, eyes flashing angrily. "I LOVE YOU!!!" The words slipped out before he could stop them.

Toushiro froze, his whole body stiff and tight, even as his eyes turned to slowly meet Ichigo's. "What?" he asked in a soft voice.

Ichigo looked back at him. "I said I love you," he said, cursing to himself. He didn't want to tell him just yet...

Hitsugaya felt like he was frozen to the spot. He didn't know what to do. He had never been confessed to before. He wasn't even certain what he should reply to such a thing, especially when he had no experience. "Th... Thank you," he finally managed past suddenly dry lips.

Ichigo blinked. Thank you? That's all he had to say? "You're not going to yell at me?"

Hitsugaya's lips curved down into a small frown. "I... I don't know. Should I yell at you for that?" he asked.

"I don't know... I didn't know you liked guys like that..."

Hitsugaya blinked slowly, before crossing his arms across this chest. "I don't have any right to be picky."

"What do you mean by that?" Ichigo said, confused.

Hitsugaya sighed, even as he began a small pacing motion between the kitchen and the door. "Look at me! I don't look my age. Everyone treats me like a child. They think I'm 'cute' and 'adorable' but they don't see the real me."

Ichigo grabbed his arm. "That's where you're wrong. I see exactly who you are."

Hitsugaya was brought to a halt, even as he turned his head, looking at him while his body was still sideways. "Who's that?" he asked, wondering if the other really saw.

"I see someone that is strong, willful. Someone that protects the people he loves and cares for." Ichigo kept his hand on his arm. "You may look like a child, but you're anything but. I've never saw you as one, Toushiro." A small grin appeared. "And I call you cute because you are, not because you look like a child."

A muscle twitched in Hitsugaya's jaw, even as he swallowed and shook his head. "I... I don't care. I don't like being called cute," he murmured. Hitsugaya looked down, his lashes shielding his confused gaze. "Can you... give me time? I've never... had to deal with anything like this before."

Ichigo nodded, slowly releasing his arm. "Take all the time you need. I'll still be here."

"It... might be a while," Toushiro warned, honestly uncertain of whom he could possibly talk to about such things without having them make fun of him.

"I'll wait then," Ichigo said, with that turning back to the kitchen to finish cleaning up. "I'll wait as long as it takes."

Hitsugaya sighed, before he turned to the door. "Would you... keep an eye on my gigai for me?" he asked, even as he pushed his soul out of the human form.

"Sure." Ichigo nodded. "Be careful out there."

"Of course." Toushiro moved to walk through the door, only to pause right in front of it, his back still to Ichigo. "I'll call you should I need help. You'll be the first one."

Ichigo turned and watched Toushiro disappear, sighing. "I hope I didn't just fuck up by telling him..." he mumbled to himself.