Edited Chapter one – subtly different and hopefully improved!

This is the tale of the end of Ichigo's living life and the start of his 'dead' one! The aim is to show the relationship that he shares with Byakuya and get into the frosty man's mind a lot more. It's a romance between two lovers facing the ultimate separation, scared that it will be just that, a separation, that ends their relationship for ever.

Ichigo is now 20. Living with in an apartment owned by Byakuya and attending the local university. His yearning to help others has focused on teaching and this is the end of his second year there with the finals for that year coming up. He has an English Literature bias to his degree due to his love of Shakespeare.

Byakuya predominatly lives in Soul Society, but brought the flat so that they had somewhere to continue their relationship in private. Rukia stays in the second bedroom, along with her lover Renji, when around. Ichigo and Byakuya have had a relationship for three years and I haven't gone into how they got together, other than to assume it relates to his success in the Winter War which is now over, Aizen is dead and the inner Hollow (Hichigo) does not cause too many issues unless the chance arrives – which of course it will.

Byakuya's character should be read and assumed, that he walks around still very much aloof and with that stoic expression most of the time - even during the most tender moments. Of course however, at this home, he can be more relaxed.

Please R&R and enjoy!

Ichigo couldn't help it, he just needed to sleep. It didn't matter where he sat these days, he'd fall asleep without registering. There was no divide anymore between awake or sleep. No, blimey I'm tired, just damn, I did it again.

"Do you think he's alright?" Renji sat on his haunches looking at Ichigo, crumpled in a heap, fast asleep against the wall and glanced back up at Rukia's worried face. They were waiting for her brother in the 6th outdoor training grounds, just outside the offices. "He slept so much this past few days on this mission." The 20 year old Ichigo, was usually as vibrant as his hair, brimming with energy and zest. But zigzagging their way through the dunes of Hueco Mundo, had been slower than anticipated with Ichigo's lack of energy. All they had to do was check out everything appeared normal and there were no signs of the last Espada's causing trouble.

"He said he didn't feel to good the other day. It was just an odd comment, but he's been studying for his exams at Uni so, he must be under quite a lot of pressure." She recalled the conversation that was just a fleeting comment made over breakfast in the apartment, as he headed for his revision in the study. That sort of 'I've got a headache got any tablets in your bag moment.' Nothing out of the ordinary.

"Lets just get this mission report done and he can go home and catch up with his sleep." Renji stood and looked up into the steel eyes of his captain. How did he manage to always appear like that? Renji startled.

"You've returned?" The Captain raised an eyebrow. They were expected yesterday.

"Hueco Mundo seems quite quiet." Renji answered.

"What's happened to Ichigo?" The cool eyes filled with concern and took the place where Renji had just been, on his haunches staring at the peaceful face and uncomfortable position he seemed to be resting in.

A graceful, pale hand, gently swept over the tresses of ginger hair that sprang out at all angles, focusing on the errant ones that covered over his eyes. Byakuya swept his gaze over his lovers body assessing for any injuries. No blood or bandages were seen and he felt a private moment of relief.

"He just seems shattered. All these exams probably" Rukia suggested.

"He sits for hours revising until late into the night." Byakuya commented. I've had to take the books from him a couple of times. He thought about how hard Ichigo was pushing himself through University. He seemed hell-bent on getting the best possible grades. He'd waxed lyrical at length over his practice days in schools and forced Byakuya to listen to endless passages from the texts he had to read and absorb. All of course fitting in-between the odd missions he took to substitute his student grant and fighting Hollows in the town as usual.

"Well, we'll do the report you can take him home?" Rukia suggested. Byakuya nodded, he was due his leave day and that would make for a long weekend in the real world. A long weekend with Ichigo was just what he had wanted.

"Hey?" Byakuya shook Ichigo's shoulder and a grumbling moan erupted from the younger man. Slowly the eyes opened tired and squinting. "Home." Byakuya said simply.

"Love to." A sleepy smile crept over his lips and an arm that weighed a ton lifted in a gesture of 'help me up, I'm a useless idiot' way. Ichigo chuckled as Byakuya raised him to his feet and swept them towards the gates and home.

Gogo x Bakki

They entered Urahara's and the blonde looked from under the brim of his hat at the couple he'd been expecting.

"Ahh, Byakuya Kuchiki your gagai is waiting. Ichigo, you will have to go to your fathers, Kon is over there." He flourished the fan and hid himself behind it to study the younger mans pale face and absorb any information he could gleam from such an observation.

"What's he doing over there?" Ichigo asked holding his shoulder with one hand and rolling it with another. That really hadn't been a comfortable place to sleep. His bed called and he just wanted to sink his face into a mop of dark hair and float into his dreams.

"I think that some comments regarding forgetting that Karin & Yuzu had a brother were mentioned."

"Typical, well I'll go in the morning. It's too late now." He made to leave the room.

"I think now would be ideal." Kisuke patted his shoulder. "There are times when a body and soul cannot separate the bonds that link them."

Ichigo looked from the devious blonde, he just didn't trust this guy, to Byakuya who seemed just as perplexed. "Good. Off you go." If this was one of his jokes, at least he wasn't the only one being duped by it.

Gogo x Bakki

"I knew it was too late, look their all in bed." Ichigo commented at the darkened house as they approached at shunpo warp speed zero, Ichigo was that tired. "I'll just jump up let myself into my old room."

Byakuya nodded and watched the spirit of Ichigo leap onto the roof outside his old room, kept for Kon in a new gagai and slide the window open.

Ichigo peered under the curtain. Two dark brown eyes, stared at his and Ichigo startled before the strange vision of his father sitting on a chair, holding Kon's hand seemed to filter into his brain.

"Shit goat face! What you doing scaring me!"

"Is Byakuya with you? We need to talk." Isshin was as serious.

"Hey?" Ichigo looked down at his lover who was wondering at the time this was taking. Although with Ichigo's fine rear end out the window the view had been fine. "I think you need to get up here, my dad's acting all weird."

"I am not climbing through a window!" Was the simple reply.

Gogo x Bakki

They'd left Kon in the bedroom sleeping, so Ichigo paced, his hakama billowing around his legs, his head shaking and just not wishing he couldn't hear what his dad was saying.

"I've got two more exams till the end of this year. I can't just forget them!"

"Ichigo, I still don't know what it is."

"Tiredness, that's all. Trying to do all the shinigami duties, university and long distance relationships are catching up with me. Two weeks and I'll have that huge long summer break."

"No, Ichigo, this isn't that simple. Your white blood count is through the floor and I don't know why. Your body is running on empty and things like your kidneys and liver are strained to the limit."

"Ichigo sit down a moment." Byakuya tapped the sofa seat next to him.

"If I sit, I'll fall asleep." He shook his head and resisted the weight of tiredness trying to claw its way up his legs.

"There are times when a body and soul remain connected to each other." Isshin spoke. "If you are feeling that tired…"

"What? Geta-bōshi was saying something cryptic about that too."

"Your soul is being drawn back to the body. It's usually a sign that the body is dying."

"So I'll wear a gagai like everyone else."

"Your soul is linked to that body. When it dies, it wants you to die with it, to go through the usual rituals that are normal when someone dies. This isn't something you can ignore happening. Your time here is nearly over, you have to die Ichigo." It was obviously something incredibly hard for him to say and Ichigo swallowed the lump in his throat. "Kon, leant you his soul to delay the event. When Kisuke noticed something wrong with your body we realised what was happening."

"Just…well…you know, how long?"

"Probably weeks." Ichigo just watched his father's tears fall and knew that the old man was telling him the hardest thing in the world. He scratched his head, it all seemed a little far fetched. He was the guy who killed Aizen. He couldn't just keel over and die could he?

"Kon is going to need his own body after all this." Ichigo approached the man and touched his shoulder in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"He's not finding yours too comfortable right now." Isshin nodded and the two men hugged. "I don't want to loose you Ichigo."

"You know where I'll be dad."

Gogo x Bakki

"Oh my god." Ichigo groaned waking in his own body the following morning. He hadn't even opened his eyes, but the startling difference between when he left for his mission and now was a stark contrast. Before he left, he just felt drained. As if he had a hangover that he couldn't shift, or just that feeling of not being right. Everything all easily explained with falling asleep at the desk in the study once to often. Drinking way to much on his nights out with his friends and too many Soul Society missions in-between.

"What is it?" Byakuya's calm voice stroked him further awake and Ichigo opened his eyes to the dark pools that looked down at him.

"You stayed in bed?" Ichigo stretched and yawned which was ridiculous considering he'd just woken. Usually Byakuya was the early bird, running through some exercises, having a calm cup of tea on the balcony and fussing his few potted plants; well before Ichigo ever considered even opening his eyes.

"No. Its gone eleven." Ichigo groaned, that meant that Byakuya had been up for at least 5 hours whilst he had stayed asleep and ignoring the revision he needed to do for the first of his two exams.

"I've got so much to catch up on." He shuffled up the bed and snuggled into the side of his reading lover. He placed his head on his shoulder and looked at the pages of text. Midsummer's Night Dream. "That's my book."

"I wondered what was so fascinating."

"Like it?"

"I prefer our own masters to European ones."

"Hey this man was a genius."

"Of course." Byakuya put the book down on the nightstand and kissed the top of Ichigo's head. "Go shower and I'll sort you out some breakfast."

"I don't recall it being your turn to get breakfast."

"Then count yourself lucky." The man smiled and slid out of the bed tightening his obi.

"I'd count myself lucky if we'd had sex last night. I'll settle for it now though." Ichigo admired the flash of toned thigh as his lover swept through the large apartment room towards the door.

"You were too tired remember? And as for now, your family will be here in under an hour." With a flick of his hair, Ichigo drooled at the beautiful face and its severe expression. He'd never managed to make the man look any softer.

"Yuzu is bound to bring some food." The legs were reluctant to shift, but Ichigo forced them off the side of the bed. Had Kon been doing serious training, everything felt so stiff and resistant.

"I'd hoped she would." Byakuya gave one of his rare smiles and Ichigo snorted. They were both hopeless at cooking. "Get shifting before I force you with Senbonzakura's help."

"Won't work on me remember!" Ichigo caught the pale blue robe that was thrown in his direction and tossed it over his shoulders and tied the obi before standing.

"I plan to take full advantage of you in a weakened condition Kurosaki. Somehow I feel my sadist side may well flourish."

Oh ha ha ha ha typical Byakuya humour. "I think you mean, that side of you that isn't a sadist. You already use that one fully on your division." Ichigo stepped forward to the man leaning in the door way.

"Are you saying I'm a heartless bastard." One raised eye brown should have warned him he was heading into icy ground, but Ichigo was never one to watch for those signs.

"Nope. I'm saying you're an evil, selfish, heartless bastard." He smiled wrapping his arms around Byakuya's form. The man himself kept his arms crossed and looked defiant. "That's one of the things I admire about you."

"Oh?" Two raised eyebrows.

"Yeah. That it's a complete fabrication." Ichigo unwound the crossed arms and placed them on his rear. "Cos, you are really one soft hearted, caring, loving sex machine." He grinned the boyish grin he knew Byakuya couldn't resist and placed a peck on his lips. "And you're so fucking sexy."

Byakuya smiled at the dripping lust that seeped from Ichigo's eyes and evident hard on that rubbed against his. That damn smile always evaporated his annoyance with the kid. His hands clenched the rump where they were placed and ran the silk fabric over the sensitive skin. Ichigo leaned in for another kiss, unashamedly mouth open.

Byakuya went in for the kiss and pulled away at the last moment. "You think your forgiven for insulting me?" Ichigo undeterred, placed his wet slobbering kiss under the dark locks of hair at the base of his ear and Byakuya moaned.

"Of course."

"Get in the shower, you stink and your breath is foul." Byakuya pushed him back and inwardly smiled at the pouting face as he turned away. He might want to jump on the kids bones, but he needed to know who was in charge of this relationship. No way was he going to give in to such cheek and blatant disrespect. Who was kidding who here?

"Bakki?" He knew he shouldn't have turned back, he knew his weaknesses after all. But turning to see the kid disappearing into the bathroom dropping his robe at the door and shaking his pert rump with a chuckle, was something he would have to deal with now.

One, I hate clothes just dropped on the floor, or towels! He added as a towel flew to rest on top of the robe. Then there was the matter of that back side. So firm, delicious…it always feels so good under my palms. Oh to pull the cheeks apart and slide…Byakuya! He mentally slapped himself. Don't fall for his cheap tricks like you usually do! Walk away, now! He nodded agreeing with himself. The last thing I need is for the flat smell of sex with the twins arriving in…45 minutes…erm, I guess a quickie…I thought you weren't going to give in to him…I know but… He listened to the sound of the water falling and the tuneless singing coming from the bathroom and smiled to himself. He was cute when he sung like that…Cute when he does most things…like teasing you, you soft hearted caring…bastard.

Byakuya stepped into the bathroom and dropped his robe with the hungry eyes of Ichigo smirking at him.

"Yo! You took your time." He grinned at the aristocrat who was now stepping inside the enclosure and seductively rubbed the suds over his chest as any proud shower gel model did on the TV adverts.

"You really are a bastard!" Byakuya watched the hand trailing over the nipples and down the six pack towards the erection that was tipped with foamy suds.

"You really are going to have to work on your self control." Ichigo laughed and wrapped his soapy hands around the man's back as his lips were taken unmercilessly.

A sharp knocking on the door ripped them apart. "They're early." Ichigo sighed.

Gogo x Bakki

"Take your time!" Karin snapped as Byakuya opened the door.

"We were in the shower young lady, would you like us to open the door naked?"

"Perverts." She snorted throwing herself on the sofa. "Where is my brother, I've forgotten what he looks like."

"Karin." Yuzu tutted and gave Byakuya a polite kiss on the cheek. He was always amazed these two were siblings.

"Dressing. Let me get you all a drink." There were a few times that Byakuya missed his servants when in the human world and these occasions were one of them. His upbringing demanded the following of etiquette, yet he had no one to perform this function for him. What he really wanted to do was run back into the bedroom and deal with the look of pain that had flashed over Ichigo's face as the door bell rang for the third time. "How is Kon this morning?"

"Relieved." Isshin smiled. "He was actually glad to return to the plush lion."

"Isshin…" Byakuya wanted more information on how to best help his lover, but his appearance in tight jeans and a smart black shirt stopped the question forming.

Gogo x Bakki

The Captains stood in the assembly room they usually held their meetings in. Today seemed a little short on numbers, but they had continued none the less.

"Well that concludes our meeting…so if no further matters need addressing?" Commander-General Yamamoto paused for someone to speak. "Then you are diss…"

"I would like to ask for extended leave." Byakuya's voice always carried well in these occasions, but it seemed to carry further today since he'd been absent and had only just floated regally into the room.

"You seem to have just returned." Hitsugaya Tōshirō said cooly.

"State the purpose." The bearded leader narrowed his eyes on the usually timely captain.

"I am here to inform you that a decision will have to be made on Kurosaki Ichigo and his position in the ranks. We have recently learnt that he is unfortunately dying from a rare immunity disease."

"We? Your role is not to spy. How did you come by this information?" Soifon never liked being left in the dark and her spies must be lax missing such vital information.

"Kurosaki Isshin discovered his son's condition."

"He would be a valuable asset to the division that secures him." Unohana spoke, "Sadly he does not seem to be orientated to healing. The 11th is surely the most appropriate?"

"He has not decided what he would like to do as yet, surely he has some input in this matter?" Byakuya's tone halted all further discussion on his future.

"Are you hoping to secure him yourself?" Soifon asked. "You stated you needed time off, lets finish one subject before we start another."

"Indeed." The commander was thinking the same point himself as she had spoken. "You have not stated your reasons."

"Excuse me, surely Kurosaki's condition is more important than someone taking leave over and above what they're entitled too?" Hitsugaya couldn't careless why the old stuffed shirt wanted leave and Ichigo was far more interesting. The 10th would welcome a fighter like him.

"Byakuya continue." The commander encouraged him.

"It seems that twice I am fated to watch a loved one die. I wish to be there for Ichigo. It seems prudent that I secure his transisition when I have the most knowledge on his Hollow. If he is to gain control, Ichigo has informed me that he would like my hand to be the one to purify his soul. As his dying wish, I will do so."

If a silent room could get any quieter it just did. Movement, breathing, even thoughts all halted in surprise. Byakuya looked around at the stunned faces and acknowledged the shocked state of his peers. "We have been involved in a relationship for some years. Intimate relationship. When he, and he will control the Hollow, arrives in Soul Society, he will have an equal place beside me as my partner just as Hisana did."

"How long do you feel you would be absent?" The commander regained his senses before the other captains and the noble looked to him as he answered.

"Currently in some denial, Ichigo is struggling none the less. It is felt that it would be a matter of weeks, possibly three months maximum. I recommend my lieutenant to take over from me during that time."

"Would Unohana be permitted to examine him, she may have an answer?"

"Even in his soul form, Ichigo has some difficulties."

"Then he is beyond any help I can give him in the human realm." Unohana sighed. "So young and it seems a shame that another tragedy besets Isshin."

"Leave granted." The sōtaichō looked earnestly at his future replacement. "Guide him well and bring us a healed soul. Dismissed."

Gogo x Bakki

"You promised me you were not going to revise." The stern words of Byakuya infiltrated the sleeping figure that slumped over the desk in the apartment study. A groan later, Ichigo sat looking at his lover with a grimace as he rubbed his back. The long slender hand of Byakuya's reached forward and clicked the desk lamp off and steadied the shoulders as he guided them bodily from the room. "Excuse?" He waited for the response that hadn't come and turned his lovers body to see a pale face look back at him.

"I… Fuck!" he ran towards the bathroom a hand covering his mouth to stem the flow of his evening meal. Byakuya frowned at the sounds of vomiting and sat on the edge of the bath watching the pitiful figure hunched over the toilet.

Finally Ichigo sat leaning against the wall his orange hair in contrast to the natural beige tiles. He groaned and gripped his stomach.

"This is new."

"This is agony. Do you know how much I hate being sick?"

"This is all part of the process is it?"

"Apparently." Ichigo grimaced a fresh as he tasted the foul stench in his mouth. He leaned over the sink, washed his face and hands and brushed his teeth. He looked at the patient dark haired Captain and sighed. "Just kill me now and lets get this over and done with."

"Murder victims and suicides have a greater chance of becoming Hollows due to the abrupt nature of their deaths."

"Great." Ichigo's shoulders slumped and he left the bathroom to collapse onto the sofa. He shuffled over to accommodate Byakuya and slid down to put his head on the mans lap. Those agile slender fingers dipped into the addictive ginger hair and Ichigo let his irritated mind roam free for exercise. "This is going to be the longest ordeal of my life. Its not fair. I hate this already; I'm going to be going out of my mind later on. Why does life have to be so damn fucking unfair! Just think of all those bastards who deserve something like this and they get away scot free! No, that would be called justice or divine intervention."

Well the denial stage didn't last long.

"Where did you go? You said you wouldn't be long and you were gone fucking ages. I thought we were meant to have this weekend together!" He snapped.

Now we have the angry period. Byakuya realised. "I asked for leave. The way you were talking last night. I… I know you want me to stay with you." He referred to their heart to heart that had lasted all of twenty seconds:

Listen you bastard, if I have to fucking well do this, then you promise me that if my damn Hollow tries to muscle in, you fucking end it. Just end it. I don't want to be a Hollow! It was at that point, Ichigo fell apart and cried himself to sleep in Byakuya's arms.

Tonight, Byakuya would make sure he fell asleep from pleasure.

"I'm tired myself. Come to bed with me."

Weeeellll?? What did you think? I would love your comments, suggestions and fluffy renderings. Reviews feed my soul and let me write more stories for your enjoyment. This is my fifth ongoing story and so I'll update each one as i can, just click on my name for links to the others.