"The course of love never did run smooth. Has it?" ichigo found himself quoting also. He closed his eyes ad hichigo leaned in to the press their foreheads together in a soft, comforting way.

"No, it hasn't" the albino replied, smirking soft. He then put his lips gently on the other – almost as if he was afraid the other would fade to dust under his finger-tips.

Ichigo replied by kissing back just as softly.

Care to go check out my poll, people? I'd like that a lot X3 pretty please? I'll love you forever if you do…..

Anyway… here is chapter 8…..

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A couple of days' later hichigo and ichigo found themselves engaged in a conversation of what to do next back at their headquarters. Renji Abari has become the next hot topic back at Shinigami Inc., such as 'how the hell is someone alive who could beat the shit out of BOTH hichigo and ichigo at once?' or 'I wanna beat the living shit out of that little asshole for what a mockery he made out of our corporations assassins.' Ichigo found himself shaking his head at what his fellow….people had to say. It wasn't as if they were indestructible…though that would be pretty cool.

"Well, what are we supposed to do now?" ichigo asked, turning to another assassin, Ikkaku. He didn't really know why he was asking him though, because he was one of those 'psh, fuck off, let's just go out an' castrate that idiot without a plan' kind of person.

"I say we go an' fuck 'im up! Who says we need a fucking plan?" ikkaku spat back, his own lips already curling into a grin. "Anyway, what kind of pansy assassin lets that little bitch get away, neh? Geeze, you're slacking off."

Silence spread across the room as people looked at ikkaku in shock. Ichigo even found himself a little taken aback how someone who was clearly less strong than him could egg the orangette on like that. Hichigo also wanted to rip the bald man's skin off because of what he had to say to the other.

"Shut the fuck up, Ikkaku, or I will fuckin' shut yer little 'pansy ass' for you." Hichigo spat form the side of ichigos seat, growling when the others amused eyes turned on him. They were shining with mirth.

"Oh? So now ya stick up for the little berry? How did he get up into yer emotions so quickly, huh?"

"He aint all up in my damned emotions! s' just tha' I dun like it when ya egg on someone who's about a thousand times stronger than ya will ever be, ya evil son of a bitch!" as hichigo was about to stand and slam his fists down on the table, ichigos own soothing one came down and sat him back down. The look in the orangettes eyes shut him up then, but he still grit his teeth and glared over at the smug asshole. How could he insult ichigo like that? The fucking bitch! Hichigo bit his lip harder. Ichigo shot him another warning look.

"Ikkaku Maradame, I advise you to sit down," the head captain announced with authority. He then took over the conversation. "We are not dealing with a common affiance. Renji Abari was previously ichigo kurosaki's boyfriend, and now the target of our corporation's hit list. As you can see, he is not something that should be played with. Ichigo, care to share with us some of his…past references, for those who do not know?"

Ichigo drew in a breath, but continued none the less. "You are correct, captain. He was my ex-boyfriend, as well as my partner in this corporation. He was once part of our references as an alliance, but that was broken just about as soon as it got there. Most of you do not know him, but there are a few -" he glanced at his best friend, Rukia, then. "- That do know him. Some very well. Renji is an alcoholic, drug induced, abusive person also. He takes his own life and lays it down for others to….uh, grieve on. His mother died when he was 13. His father, 16. And then his sister, at age 18." Ichigo finished, setting himself down as he looked back at Commander Yamamoto with a solid, polite stare.

"Thank you, kurosaki. Since we have our information, what do you suggest we do?" the captain announced to the orangette. Hichigo furrowed a brow. He really wanted ichigo to create a plan? Well….actually, it wasn't a bad idea. But he didn't think it was alright for ichigo to be thinking about Renji this much. It was unhealthy…especially since Renji was abusive. Really, really abusive. You could see scars on parts of ichigos skin because of it – and as much as hichigo loved the other, it still pained him to see those…those things on his back.

"I suggest those who usually stay here to look over his past records – ones I don't know about – and the ones who usually go out to go back to the states to look over his current whereabouts and surveillance him for at least a month. After we get what his motives are, then we will plan assignation." Ichigo bit his lips softly, but held the gaze of all the others around him. He was stronger than this – he was invincible. Ichigo was sure he would be able to beat Renji at his own childish games; after all, he was the one who was a vessel for killing. Not Renji.

"Suggestion accepted. Anyone against this?" no one rose their hand. Captain then nodded as an affirmation. "Then ichigo, hichigo, rukia, and toshiro will go on the surveillance mission. Ikkaku, hisagi, Kaien, and gin will remain here and look over past files. This discussion is dismissed."

People around hichigo and ichigo began to move out of their seats to retire for the night, as well at the couple. Hichigo yawned and stretched as he got up, while ichigo only rolled his eyes at his boyfriends silliness. He then suppressed a giggle as he bit his bottom lip softly.

Hichigo shot him a mock glare. "You laughin' at meh?"

Ichigo looked at him innocently in the eyes. "No, hichigo, why one earth would I ever laugh at you?"

"…" hichigos eyes narrowed then. "Ya little bastard…" he muttered lowly, before turning to go out of the room. He heard ichigo follow him almost as silently.

"Always am, hichi, always am…."

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The next morning hichigo awoke with a groan. The artificial light coming through the door made his groggy eyes narrow at its brightness. He tried to stand, but he then figured he couldn't. Yellow orbs glanced down. Ah. Ichigo. It looked like he couldn't stay in his own bed at night. The thought alone made hichigo giggle softly, before he moves hi boyfriend's arms off of him so he could go to the bathroom. As he stood he stretched, long, pale lanky muscles kinking under his skin.

After taking a well-deserved piss, hichigo walked back into the room. Ichigo was already awake then, and he was now getting into another pair of cloths to get on with their journey back. Hichigo didn't want to go back to see the red-haired bastard, but it was a necessity. At least he could watch over ichigo then.

"Took you long enough. I started to think you were dying in there." Said ichigo, smirking when the pale copy growled at him. He found himself chuckling at the sight of a morning distraught hichigo, all messed and….dis-combobulated.

"I did not, thank ya very much." Hichigo smirked as he made his way over to kiss the other. When he got over enough to stand in front of ichigo, he noticed a bright blush appearing on his face. These made hichigos grin widen further, and the next thing he knew, he found himself kissing tanned lips hungrily. The orangette he had in his arms immediately replied to the kiss, wrapping his arms around the waist hichigo owned. The albino chuckled into the kiss. Sometimes his king was so much cuter than he could ever imagine, even for a freaking assassin.

Ichigo cocked his head to the side to let hichigo better access to his lips, as he also opened his mouth the prodding tongue. The blue appendage immediately invaded as it wrapped around his own tongue, saliva already mixing as he groaned into the heated kiss. He felt a pleasant shiver go through him as the other explored the inside of his mouth.

"Mmmghh…" ichigo murmured out, whimpering as the other bit down on his tongue softly. The other chuckled and pulled away, a wide grin present on his mouth.

"Good mornin', ichi" hichigo stated, his grin going wider. It's a wonder why it doesn't crack his face in half.

"Mmm…? Oh, mornin'…" ichigo muttered, still half-dazed as he stared at hichigo in the eyes with a heavy blush. Once his blurriness faded away to see hichigos face growing with mirth, ichigos blush appeared tenfold as he stared at hichigo in shock. Did he really….did he really just do that? Urgh. He did, didn't he? Ichigo, ichigo, ichigo….

Ichigo then shook his head out of his blushing state. He glanced back at a grinning hichigo as he picked up the un-packed bag he owned for a trip, as well at hichigos to hand it to him. "We should go." Ichigo grumbled, turning away with a heavy blush, as he made his was for the door. Hichigo followed, only shaking his head with a smirk as he caught on to ichigos shyness. Really, sometimes ichigo was just too cute for his good. This was too true. Just was too fucking true.

"Yeah, yeah, 'm on mah way." Hichigo answered while grabbing a black sweatshirt he owned. Ichigo was waiting with the door open for him.

"Slow, hichigo, slow…" ichigo muttered with a grin.

Hichigo gave him a dirty look as he walked out the door.

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Hichigo and ichigo met up with Yoruichi about twenty minutes later. She greeted them with a large grin.

"Looks like you guys are stuck with me again, ichi." she said haughtily as he smirked at a beaming hichigo. It looked as if whatever the fuck was going on with them before was solved. Thank god. There was WAY too much tension between them before. It was as if they were suffocating in the anger from the two, well…at least, before the attack on Renji began. After that things kind of leveled out.

"Pleasure, I know." Replied the orangette with a smirk. Hichigo curled an arm around his waist while he said that, causing ichigo to squeak and blush in surprise. It sounded funny.

Yoruichi grinned, shaking her head as she got into the car.

"You have no idea."