The strawberry was shocked to find that Rukia did have hood taste when it came to houses. The home was the right size for two and not too old but not brand new either. He smiled to himself, Toushirou would love it when he finally became lucid enough to look around, at the moment the young captain was heavily drugged to keep him from feeling any thing during the move here.

He heard a soft moan form the bed room and took a bowl of soup into the room where the young captain was walking up.

As Ichigo walked in he saw Toushirou open his eyes and blink confusedly.

Poor baby, you must be so confused, one minute you're in the hands of that bastard, the next you're at the fourth division and now you're here, no wonder you're not acting like your self.

Ichigo sat down on the edge of the bed; he could tell that the drugs were still affecting the small boy because he seemed to be unable to focuses.

Gently as he could Ichigo ran his hand through Toushirou's soft silver hair and began stroking the silky locks. Toushirou closed his eyes in contentment.

He's too thin, Ichigo thought and not for the first time, Toushirou weighed a little less then half of his original weight of around sixty-two pounds. His face was gaunt like a skeleton and the rest of him was no better.

"Toushirou, hey, don't go back to sleep on me."

Ichigo nudged him gently and Toushirou's eyes fluttered back open.

"You gotta eat for me, okay?"

Toushirou sighed but let Ichigo help him sit up. For the most part Toushirou was being kept in a partially lucid state with all the drugs he was on, while it kept him still so that his wounds could heal and form feeling any pain, it also made him completely dependent on Ichigo.

Ichigo spoon fed him up until Toushirou simply refused to eat anymore. Glancing down at the bowl Ichigo sighed, the bowl was still half full. Ichigo stood and was going to take the bowl back to the kitchen when he heard a soft drug hazed voice

"Ichi?"

A smile came across Ichigo's face; Toushirou must be too tired to say his full name at the moment. He turned back to the young soul reaper.

"Yeah?"

"I wanted ta tell y' somethin' . . ." He trailed off with a look on his face that said that he was trying very hard to get his very befuddled brain to work.

Setting the bowl back down Ichigo moved the small boy over a bit and laid down next to him.

"What is it?"

Toushirou's nose and brow up with frustration as he tried to remember what is was that was so important to tell Ichigo.

"I . . . I don' remember, Ichi, I don' remember!"

Ichigo chuckled softly and pulled Toushirou onto his chest with the small boy's head tucked under his chin.

"That's alright baby, I'm sure it will come back to you later." He soothed.

"But it was 'mportan', very 'mportan'."

Ichigo hugged him a little tighter and buried his face into the silver hair.

"Go to sleep, I'm sure you'll think of it when you wake up, ok?"

Toushirou nodded tiredly and sifted slightly in Ichigo's arms. For a few minutes there was silence and Ichigo thought he had fallen asleep but the young captain soon spoke again.

"'m sorry Ichi." He whispered

"What the hell could you possibly have to be sorry about?"

"Fer bein' weak an' fer y' haven ta take care of me."

Suddenly Ichigo rolled over and Toushirou found himself lying on his back with Ichigo on top of him propped up on his elbows.

"Now listen to me, you are not weak, not by a long shot, hell, anyone would have been affected by what you've been through."

A few tears sparkled in Toushirou's eyes.

"As for me taking care you, Toushirou you're my boyfriend and I enjoy spending time with you and taking care of you, alright? So don't cry."

Ichigo gently thumbed away the tears in Toushirou's eyes and smiled at him comfortingly.

Toushirou's only answer was to close his eyes, his face graying with exhaustion The small boy was asleep in a few seconds and Ichigo slowly and quietly slipped over him and out of the bed.

Carrying the now very cold soup to the kitchen Ichigo's thoughts went back to the past few weeks. For the most part Toushirou had been in a drug induced sleep and when he was asleep the drugs befuddled and confused him. This often led to moments like the one that had just occurred in the bed room.

Those moments scared Ichigo almost as much as he enjoyed them. Toushirou was not one to cry and want to be cuddled.

The Soul Society had better figure out what the hell is going on soon he thought and then his mind wandered back to the conversation that he had had with Nel not long after rescuing Toushirou.

"The truth is Ichigo I don't think that I can tell you much of anything, after all if I could I doubt Aizen would have let me leave." She told him as they sat in Urahara's shop.

"Are you sure? Maybe he missed something."

Nel just shook her head.

"Aizen doesn't make mistakes like that."

Ichigo sighed, Aizen's planning something, getting Toushirou had been to damn easy which meant that either he didn't care or he knew that Toushirou's freedom wouldn't last long.

Toushirou weakly opened his eyes, his mind felt fuzzy and unable to hold a thought. Shaking is head in a pathetic attempt to clear his foggy brain, Toushirou's eyes then traveled around the room. He had no memory of how he had gotten here or how long he had been here, what he did remember was Ichigo.

Ichigo's almost constant presence helped to keep him calm even in the strange new setting.

Toushirou breathed in shakily and then pushed himself up wincing in pain as he did so. His fogged mind had decided to explore the new surroundings, never mind the pain of his healing body. The young captain staggered a crossed the room and caught the door frame for support; he leaned there for a few seconds, panting heavily.

He was about to venture further into the next room and had taken a few shaky steps only to run into something very solid, nearly knocking him over.

The something turned out to be Ichigo and he prevented the small captain form falling over. Toushirou looked up at him, blinking owlishly.

"You shouldn't be out of bed, so would you mind explaining to me why you are?" Ichigo scolded him gently while holding him up.

"I . . . wanted . . . wanted . . ." he let out a soft cry of frustration, why, oh why couldn't he hold a simple thought?!

Seeing his lovers distress Ichigo took action to rectify the situation by picking the small boy up and carrying him over to the couch.

After setting him there Ichigo chose as movie at random, knowing Toushirou would not be able to stay awake for much longer.

He returned to the couch and rearranged Toushirou's position so that his head was resting on Ichigo's lap.

"Comfy?"

Toushirou nodded slightly and Ichigo smiled and began stroking his hair absentmindedly as he stated up the movie.

In the end the young captain didn't make it much farther then the opening credits. One of his small hands was curled in Ichigo's large one as he drifted into a peaceful slumber nestled in Ichigo's arms.

Sadness and pain entered Ichigo's eyes as he watched him sleep. He hated seeing him like this, seeing the once proud, strong captain so broken and confused, it was enough to break his heart.

"Take it slow baby," he whispered softly into the small boy's ear "just take your time and we'll pick up the pieces together, alright? You won't be alone; I promise I will always be here for you."

"Baka" the tiny captain murmured without opening his eyes, Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise. "Toushirou! I thought you were asleep!"

"Obviously." Toushirou slowly opened his eyes; the drug haze was finally gone from the emerald orbs. He sat up and wrapped his arms around Ichigo's neck.

"I remember now" He whispered in Ichigo's ear "I wanted to tell you that I loved you."

Ichigo smiled and held him close "Yeah, I know, love you too."

Ikkau's note:

What the hell was that chapter about?!? I can't believe Zx wants me to write a note for such a sappy chapter! All it talked about was cuddling and lovey dovey type stuff! I think I'm going to be sick! But despite my disgusted at this chapter it would be rude of me not to thank you for the reviews, so thanks.

Authors note:

Zx14ninja: Ikkau, that wasn't very nice.

Ikkau: So? It's true.

Zx14ninja: Your lover liked it.

Ikkau: (Sputtering) Lover?! What lover?!? I don't have a lover!

Zx14ninja: Oh come on Ikkau, you and Yumichika are practically drooling over each other with your eyes full of lust.

Ikkau: WE DO NOT!

Zx14ninja: (raises an eyebrow) . . .

Ikkau: OK! Fine! Maybe we do! But is it really that obvious? Please don't tell my captain, I don't know what he would think . . .

Zx14ninja: (pats Ikkau on the head) don't worry chrome dome! Your secret safe with me! Besides Kenny's to busy with his new hobby to notice.

Ikkau: Chrome dome! Why you little . . . wait, what hobby?

Zx14ninja: Oh, Kenpachi took up drawing; see (points to the wall) isn't it pretty?

Ikkau: Um, is that a blood?

Zx14ninja: no it's a butterfly, honestly, why would you paint blood using blood? That makes no sense!

Ikkau: But painting a pictures using blood does? Never mind, I think I'm just going to go find Yumichika and a nice privet closet (walks out shaking his head.)

Zx14ninja: see, what did I tell you?

Yachiur: (pops up onto her shoulder) you where right Stealthy! Baldy and Pretty are together!

Zx14ninja: uh, now how many times do I have to tell you my name is not in reference to a ninja! It's a motorcycle!