Strawberries and Pomegranates
Chapter 4
IchigoXIsane

Warning: Lemon!

Several Months Later….
Outside Squad 6 Captain's office
Ichigo POV

Ichigo stood outside the door to Byakuya's office, feeling a little apprehensive of what he was about to do. He'd been dating Isane now for several months ever since their little cuddle in the barn, but now he felt…confused. He thought about going to his father but he shook his head no. He needed somebody who he knew was serious and could give him a serious answer. If he went to his father he'd be more than likely get some half-baked over-eager reply about how Isshin could finally have grandbabies. Taking a deep breath, Ichigo knocked on the door softly.

"Come in."

Byakuya POV

The stoic captain was a little startled when the door opened and in walked Ichigo. He had to admit, this was the first time the arrogant boy had even bothered to knock. Usually he'd just barge in. "Ichigo, what is it?" Byakuya asked, seeing the boy's worried face. It was an odd look for the boy, like he was wanting something, but at the same time he didn't want it. "You seem troubled."

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Ichigo got on with it. "Um…Byakuya? Can I ask you something?"

Sitting back in his chair, Byakuya nodded. "Go ahead."

"You were married, right?"

Again, Byakuya nodded, his mind winding back to the shrine he'd made in his wife's memory. "Yes, I was married to my wife, Hisana."

"You…you loved her, right?"

The Kuchiki clan leader's eyes narrowed. "That should go without saying, Ichigo," he said with a hint of anger.

Ichigo realized he'd mistakenly hit a nerve and quickly tried to retract his statement. "I'm sorry! That came out wrong! I…I just…when did you know?"

Calming down, Byakuya looked at the boy for a moment. "This is about your relationship with Lieutenant Kotetsu, is it not?"

Ichigo's face turned red as he nodded. "Um…yeah."

Byakuya's eyebrow rose as he spoke. "Perhaps you should've thought about your feelings for the girl before you had intercourse with Isane."

Ichigo's embarrassed face was worth the verbal jab. "But…but how…." He continued to stammer in front of the man. Byakuya had to admit, seeing Ichigo flustered and embarrassed was something he kinda liked. It was a cool reprieve from his snide remarks.

"How do I know? Rukia explained to me…."

While Ichigo and Isane were "Making up"….
Outside Isane's Room
Rukia POV

Rukia was walking to Isane's, wanting to return the girl's romance novel to her, when she came upon her door. The first set of red flags went up when she heard thumping and pounding on the other end of the door.

The second set of red flags came up when she heard voices. "FUCK ME! OH! OHHH FUCK ME!"

A tomato couldn't match Rukia's face in redness. "Is…is she having sex? With who?!" She didn't want to peep, but she knew that Isane didn't have a boyfriend and she had to make sure that someone wasn't taking advantage of her. Cautiously, she cracked the door open….

…and was immediately greeted with the sight of Isane, pinned against the wall, being vigorously plowed by Ichigo. All of the blood rushed to her head and she had to fight the urge to faint. The two were going at it so hard, it should've been criminal.

Closing the door, Rukia, keeping as straight a face as she could manage, calmly and slowly made her way to the Kuchiki mansion. Her brother was just outside her room and saw her expression. "Rukia! What on earth's the matter?"

"Brother…I'm blind."

Back to the present….
Ichigo POV

Ichigo really wished he could just melt into a puddle or disappear altogether. He'd hoped that nobody was around for his and Isane's long and intimate romp but to hear that his friend had walked in on them like that…was quite embarrassing. "I uh…" he really didn't know what to say to the man right now, his mind crumbling from the rush of embarrassment.

Giving a rare smile, Byakuya sat back in his chair and appraised the boy again. "Now, back to your previous question?"

"Um…yeah." Ichigo was glad they got back on track…. "When did you realize that you loved Hisana?" he asked.

"Isn't this a conversation you should be having with your father? He should be better suited to answer a question like that than I am, is he not?" Byakuya asked a little confused.

Ichigo's scowl returned with that question, lifting him out of his humiliated mood. "If I asked, it'd probably be some nonsense about giving him grandkids. I wanted to ask someone who's been married and who could give me a serious answer. So I came to you."

Byakuya's expression softened. That had to have been the closest Ichigo had ever complimented him. Tilting his head back, Byakuya thought about it for a few moments before turning back to Ichigo. "Ichigo. Do you remember when you rescued Rukia?"

Ichigo cocked his head in confusion. "Yeah, of course I do. I had to go through you, remember?"

Ignoring the jab, Byakuya continued his questioning. "Why? Why did you go through all that to save one person?"

Ichigo's response was immediate. "I owed her. She saved me and my family at the cost of her own powers. I wasn't about to let her die because of me; not without a fight."

Nodding at Ichigo's conviction, Byakuya gave him his answer. "You invaded a completely different world and fought through some of the greatest opponents in the Seireitei's history. When you are willing to do all of that again, not because you owe a person, but because you've imagined the world without them and that thought terrifies you, then you'll know."

Ichigo stared at the man, knowing that he was speaking from personal experience and suddenly had a lot more respect for the man. Bowing his head, Ichigo stood up. "Thank you, Byakuya."

The captain watched as Ichigo headed for the door. However, as Ichigo walked out, in walked Captain Unohana. The woman smiled at Ichigo as he left before turning to the man. "Hello, Captain Kuchiki. Here are the papers you requested."

As she handed the papers to the man she asked the obvious. "So why was Ichigo Kurosaki in here? It was my understanding that you two weren't exactly on friendly terms."

"That remains to be seen. Actually, it has to do with his relationship with your Lieutenant."

Unohana gave a wide smile. Ichigo going to Byakuya for dating advice? Now that was astounding. Byakuya quickly gave her the lowdown on their conversation and her smile widened as so many possibilities popped into her head. "Captain Kuchiki. I have an idea…."

One Week Later….
Squad 6 Training grounds
Ichigo POV

Ducking a blow from Renji, Ichigo stepped back and quickly countered his attack with an overhead chop. Ichigo and Renji had been sparring for an hour, many of the captains and lieutenants watching from the sidelines.

The two fighters were interrupted when a bleeding, bruised Rukia flashstepped into the field. "Brother…Renji…Ichigo…." She dropped to her knees, terrifying everybody.

As the named three quickly leapt to her aid, Byakuya picked her up. "Rukia! What happened to you? And where is Lieutenant Kotetsu?" Ichigo looked afraid with that last question. Isane didn't tell him she'd be going out with Rukia today….

"I…I was out in the west Rukon district with Isane, near the woods over by Kukkaku Shiba's," she coughed up blood before she continued. "We suddenly got ambushed by this bizarre hollow! I barely made away but it grabbed Isane…."

"And you just left her?!" Ichigo yelled, feeling dread punch into his heart.

"Ichigo, look at her," Renji said. Unohana came over and took Rukia from Byakuya's arms, laying her on the ground to start her medical treatment. "She's a lieutenant and look at the state she's in. Even if she went back for Isane, she wouldn't have come back at all!"

Ichigo pushed Renji aside. "Move!" he shouted as he ran westward, only to be stopped by Byakuya, flashstepping into his path. "Byakuya! Move!" Ichigo pleaded, fear digging deeper into him by the second."

Byakuya looked at the boy with a sad gaze. "Ichigo, don't. You'll never make it in time. If you go, you'll regret what you see…" the captain said with his stern tone. Ichigo spun around to look at Unohana, desperate for support. Sadly, the woman had a solemn look on her face, telling Ichigo that she'd accepted Isane's fate by now.

"No…No!" Ichigo screamed. Trying to push Byakuya aside, he was stopped when the man grabbed him by the shoulders and held him still.

"Ichigo, stop." Byakuya's eyes bore into him with the same intensity as when they'd last fought….

"She is going to die, Ichigo. Accept it."

All at once, Ichigo's mind retreated to his one darkest memory, the night when his mother died. He remembered the horror he'd felt when he'd realize his mother was dead, that it was his entire fault, that he'd never see her smile again.

And now he'd never see Isane again. Never see her smile, or laugh, or hold her in his arms again. Would never cry with her, talk with her or get to tell her his feelings for her. Never tell her…never tell her…never tell her that he….

Everybody who was watching saw it but would never believe it. In a flash, Ichigo planted his fist into Byakuya's jaw, hitting the man with all his soul and sending him sprawling. As Renji, Rukia and Unohana looked at the scene stunned, Ichigo took off at a speed that would've made Yoruichi proud of her student….

Rukia and Co. POV

Rukia wiped away the cranberry juice she'd coughed up and sat up, wiping away the cranberry smears on her body. "Wow…I can't believe he just did that…." Looking over to her brother she was relieved to see Byakuya sitting up. "Brother, are you ok? Ichigo…hit you pretty hard."

Rubbing his bruised jaw, Byakuya spat out a tooth Ichigo had knocked out. "I wasn't expecting that. I was hoping to drive him into a corner but I didn't imagine he'd be that desperate."

"Well, at the very least, now we all know the answer to Ichigo's question," Captain Unohana noted. Behind them, the various captains and lieutenants were talking about the sight they saw: Ichigo decking Byakuya Kuchiki. No doubt, no matter what happened, this incident would live in their memories forever….

Several Minutes Later….
West Rukon District
Ichigo POV

Ichigo raced through the woods with all the speed he had. "Isane! Where are you?" he called out time and time again. His heart pounded in his chest hard, so hard he thought it might burst out of him. Stopping, Ichigo calmed down and focused, using his sensing technique to search for Isane's spirit ribbon. Seeing it, he immediately grabbed it and smiled. "Found you! 'Thank goodness! If I can see Isane's sprit ribbon, then that means she's still alive!'

Racing to Isane's location, Ichigo tried and failed to keep the images from his head. Images of Isane, dead or dying, continued to torment him, spurning to rush to her faster and faster. Entering a small field Ichigo's eyes widened in shock as he saw Isane struggling against the tentacles of a multi-headed hollow. Grabbing Zangetsu, Ichigo launched a Getsuga Tensho that instantly destroyed the hollow. As the tentacles holding Isane disappeared, Ichigo let go of his zanpakuto and rushed to her, catching Isane before she could hit the ground.

Isane turned her head and saw her rescuer was Ichigo. "You came!" Isane said smiling. "I…I thought I was a goner for sure!"

Ichigo couldn't hold back the tears of relief. "I came as fast as I could. I was the only one who still believed you were alive." Holding Isane, Ichigo wrapped his arms around her and hugged her in a tight embrace. "I'm so glad you're ok…."

"You…you are?" Isane asked blushing.

Smiling, Ichigo ran a hand through her hair as he managed to stop the flow of tears from his eyes. "Of course I do, Isane. I love you…." And with that he kissed her with all the joy and passion of his soul. Isane mentally squealed like a schoolgirl, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him back. She returned the kiss instantly with one of her own.

As they pulled away from the kiss, Isane herself started to cry tears of joy. "Ichigo…I love you too." Smiling, the two continued to hold each other for well over an hour, never knowing that the "hollow" constricting Isane was just a dummy Unohana asked Kurotsuchi to make…..

Later that night….
Isane's room
Ichigo POV

The two were sitting on the bed, talking like they always did at the end of a long day. Isane was completely stunned when she learned how Ichigo decked Byakuya when he tried to stop him. "You really did that…for me?" she asked blushing.

"Yeah…I got so scared of what might happen to you I…kinda lost it…." Ichigo looked at the floor embarrassed, though his mood lightened when Isane giggled.

"Wow, I've never had anyone go so far for me, not even Kiyone!" she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Ichigo."

Turning his head, Ichigo pulled her into his lap. Ichigo pressed his head into her bosom, snuggling with his girlfriend. In return, Isane wrapped her arms around Ichigo's head, holding him tight.

"Ichigo…."

"Isane…."

Looking up, they saw the same fire that had ignited their relationship in each other's eyes. Isane closed her eyes as her lips touched Ichigo's, her tongue swiping at his lips asking for entrance. Ichigo's hands roamed her back as he parted his lips, allowing the silver-haired girl to slip her tongue into Ichigo's mouth.

After several minutes of making out, they parted for need of air, a string of saliva still connecting them. Looking down, Isane saw that Ichigo had already removed her obi. She shrugged out of her shihakusho, letting Ichigo see her breasts as they were uncovered. Isane shivered when Ichigo's warm hands cupped her large mounds. Ichigo had to admit, they were a lot larger than he ever thought, hidden behind that loose shihakusho.

Isane arched her back as Ichigo leaned forward and pressed his lips to her breasts, baking her firm mounds with his hot breath. As Ichigo kissed his way down, lovingly attending to one breast, then the other, Isane continually moaned Ichigo's name, her hands slipping through the boy's clothes to touch at his heated skin. Quickly, she reached around for Ichigo's obi and pulled, tugging off his top and tossing it over to the floor. As Ichigo's lips wrapped around one of her tender pink nipples she saw stars. "Ichigo…" she cooed. Her fingers dug into Ichigo's scalp as he continued to nip at her.

Laying her onto the bed, Ichigo grabbed her hakama and looked up, almost asking for permission. "Go ahead, Ichigo. I want you…" Isane pleaded.

Smiling, Ichigo pulled the garment off, as well as her underwear. Quickly getting up, Ichigo pulled off his own pants and pounced back on top of Isane, devouring her lips in a hot, passionate kiss. Isane wrapped her arms around him as she began to hump her body against his, grinding her beautiful body against Ichigo's. Parting her legs, Isane started to shiver as Ichigo rubbed the head of his thick head against her pink lips. "Shhhh…" Ichigo whispered into her ear. "I promise I'll be slow this time. I won't lose control like before."

Smiling, Isane kissed his cheek. "Go ahead, Ichigo. Take me…." She cried out as Ichigo filled her inch by inch, until her pussy was bottomed out. "So big!" she gasped. Slowly, Ichigo began to pump into Isane, groaning as her tight muscles squeezed him, spurring him on. Isane cried and gasped in pleasure with each thrust, feeling Ichigo press his body against hers and basking her with his heat. Leaning forward she started to lick and nibble on his neck, her arms wrapping around Ichigo. The boy rolled his eyes into the back of his head as her fingers danced across his back, making his skin feel like it was being touched by an angel.

"Ichigo…" Isane cooed.

"Yes?"

"Please…more! Faster! Harder! Deeper!" Isane pleaded, wanting to feel that burning rush from before surge through her. She wanted to lose herself again to the pleasure. More importantly, she wanted to lose herself alongside Ichigo.

Smiling, Ichigo grabbed Isane's legs and put them on his shoulders. Gripping her waist, Ichigo leaned forward and captured Isane's lips in a hot kiss as he thrust into her, plunging his cock as deep as he could go, making Isane moan incoherently into the kiss. The bed thumped against the wall as Ichigo started a fast pace. Pulling away from the kiss, Isane, feeling her legs push against her breasts as Ichigo pistoned into her at a faster and faster speed. "Yes…yes…YES…YES, OH YES!" she cried. Her hands clawed at the bedsheets as she felt Ichigo fill her. "Ohhhhh! Ichigooooo!"

Ichigo was trying his hardest not to cum before Isane. Her walls were tighter and wetter than he remembered. Not only that, the way Isane's face contorted in pleasure and her voice became a nocturne of moans was whittling away at his resistance. "Isane! Isane!" he kept moaning, feeling close.

The silver-haired Lieutenant could tell by Ichigo's strained expression and his erratic thrusting that he was close to spilling over. Luckily for the boy she was on the edge as well. "Ichigo! I'm gonna cum! You're gonna make me cum!"

"Me too! It's too good!" Ichigo moaned. Looking into each other's eyes, the two Soul Reapers kissed as they climaxed. Ichigo ran his hands through Isane's silver hair as he exploded inside her, filling her womb with his cum. Isane rolled her eyes into the back of her head as she came, feeling her lower half melt in the pleasure.

The two stayed glued to each other for several minutes, rolling around on the bed while they rode out their orgasms. Finally pulling away from the kiss, Ichigo slid out of Isane and lay down next to her, spooning the girl. Isane cooed as she felt their lustful cocktail drip out of her pussy, feeling happier than ever.

"Isane?"

"Yes, Ichigo?" Isane answered, turning her head.

"Um…when…when I finish school and turn 18…if it would be alright with you…I'd…I'd like to come here and stay with you...if that's alright?"

Isane mentally squealed. "Are you sure? Won't your family get worried?"

Ichigo chuckled. "It's alright. They already know my responsibilities as a Soul Reaper and I'm sure Captain Unohana wouldn't mind if I stayed here with you. What do you think?"

Turning around, Isane wrapped her arms around Ichigo and snuggled into his chest. "I'd love to. Nothing would make me happier…." Smiling, Ichigo wrapped his arms around his girlfriend and pressed his face into her hair….

Meanwhile….
Unohana's Room
Unohana POV

The two Soul Reapers didn't realize that they had a listener. Captain Unohana had an ear pressed against the wall, rubbing her dripping pussy as she stood naked, pressed against the wall as she listened in on the couple's intimate moment. She smiled warmly as she listened to Ichigo's question. "Heheh, and for a moment I actually thought he'd propose. Oh well, they have plenty of time…." Knowing that she should leave the two alone, or as alone as you could get considering her room was next to Isane's, she got dressed and headed out the door. "Hmm…this was a very good idea of mine….

…I should play matchmaker more often!"

The End

A.N.: Please R&R. If you do, I ask that you be constructive with your criticisms.