Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach – it belongs to its respective owners. This fan fiction is not a commercial project, and I am not making any money from writing it.

Warnings:

1. Yaoi (male x male). Ulquiorra x Ichigo and vice versa. Other pairings?

2. Ichigo – 20 years old; Ulquiorra – probably a few hundred as a Hollow and about a decade or so as an Arrancar?

3. Post anime (haven't read the manga).

4. Alternate Universe.

5. I'm not a native speaker, thus expect various language oddities.

6. I'm not very familiar with all the details in the anime, and I am also new to Bleach fandom, so I will be straying away from the canon quite frequently. I do my research but Bleach is a vast universe that is not so easy to grasp. I must admit, though, that there are also things in the anime that don't make sense to me and I take the liberty of recreating certain parts of this universe as I see fit.

The Heart in My Hand

by chayron (lttomb yahoo com), betaread by Ash

EPILOGUE

The Kurosaki family was having dinner, sharing the day's news from school, university and work. In the middle of a sentence, Isshin abruptly fell quiet. He and Ichigo looked at each other.

"He's back," the eldest Kurosaki said. It had been nearly a month since Ulquiorra left, and he had secretly hoped that he was gone for good. Yet, Ichigo's suddenly bright face and wide grin made his heart warm up.

About a minute later, Ulquiorra walked into the living room. His reiatsu was still like a beacon, felt in the entire Karakura town. It wasn't high, it just bore a very specific signature. At the sight of the family at the table, most of his reiatsu dissipated.

"Good evening," Cifer greeted.

Five voices answered his greeting, most of them enthusiastic, two not so. Ichigo left his place at the table and walked up to Ulquiorra. In fact, he wanted to run and grab Ulquiorra in his arms and kiss him senseless. He was only stopped by the common sense and the fact that, before leaving, Ulquiorra had told him that, in Hueco Mundo, any intimate display performed in front of others was an invitation to join in. That had made Ichigo retrack his behavior and he had found more reasons for the previous misunderstanding between Ulquiorra and his father.

"How have you been?" Ulquiorra asked him. He could sense some kind of frustration wafting from Ichigo even though the redhead was undoubtedly glad to see him.

"I'm good," Ichigo said, turning to look at the rest of the family at the table. His sisters were grinning. He was embarrassed and wished they weren't here. He started when Ulquiorra's palm touched the side of his face.

"Why are you so jumpy?" Cifer wondered. "Did something happen?"

His face reddening, Ichigo shook his head. "No, nothing happened."

Ulquiorra's eyebrows rose questioningly. "I thought you would be glad to see me."

Ichigo grunted. "Of course I am," he said, and Cifer felt another wave of frustration leave Ichigo. Then the redhead bent towards him and whispered. "And if you finally shut up and climb upstairs to my room, I'll show you just how glad I am."

Cifer chuckled. "Now, that's a welcome I can't resist."

They went upstairs, the stairs creaking under Cifer's weight. Ichigo locked the door as soon as they entered the room. Cifer turned to him, and the redhead couldn't contain himself anymore. He crossed the distance between them in a blink and wrapped himself around the other man. His mouth found Ulquiorra's. They kissed and tasted each other. Ulquiorra maneuvered them towards the mattress.

"Leave your body," he grunted demandingly, his hands sliding up and down the redhead's back and thighs.

"How about we try it like this?" Ichigo suggested.

Cifer's palms froze on the redhead's backside. He leaned back to give him a look. Ichigo's own face appeared to be dubious about his own suggestion. Ulquiorra grinned and leaned in again to capture the redhead's mouth

"I'm all for it," he muttered against Ichigo's lips, "but let me have my fill first. I can't trust myself not to rip this weak shell of yours apart."

"Sure," Ichigo agreed easily. "We'll have plenty of time for that." Then he gave him a questioning look. "Actually, when are you leaving?"

Ulquiorra shrugged, making Ichigo's hands on his shoulders move. "Certainly not before I teach you to create a Garganta."

A pleased grin appeared on Ichigo's face. "I'll make sure you keep the promise."

"Lovely. Now leave your body."

Chuckling, Ichigo did as told, and the two of them were soon rolling on the mattress.

Ichigo sighed into Ulquiorra's mouth. Besides the fact that Ulquiorra was a good kisser, he had also made sure to memorize every sensitive place of his. Humming in pleasure, he enjoyed Ulquiorra's lips on his neck, biting, sucking. His tongue circled and drew ornaments on his skin.

Due to FanFiction net's policy I had to cut the rest of the scene. If you're interested in reading the whole thing, you can go to Adultfanfiction net and ArchiveofOurOwn org. I write under the same pen name everywhere.

"I missed you," Ichigo breathed out quietly a minute later somewhere into Cifer's armpit.

Ulquiorra shifted to look at the tuft of red hair. He patted the top of Ichigo's head.

"Was it really so difficult to say this earlier? In the dining room, as soon as you saw me?"

"Yes," Ichigo admitted in an even softer mutter.

Cifer's eyes went up to stare at the ceiling. It was a good thing that at least sex made the redhead loosen up and swallow his pride. Cifer's palm pressed against the other man's back. The only reason he visited the Human World was Ichigo. The redhead, meanwhile, seemed to still be reluctant to admit it even to himself that he had missed him. It felt quite frustrating.

Cifer's hand found Ichigo's and lifted it into the air.

"Wha…you d..ing?" the redhead asked sleepily.

"Giving you something to think about."

"Mm?" Ichigo muttered. His half-closed eyes opened wider when a thin streak of light appeared from the tip of Ulquiorra's index finger. Then he took Ichigo's middle finger between his, and the redhead felt a tingle of Ulquiorra's energy surround it. Then Cifer let go of his hand, and Ichigo brought it closer to his face to inspect it. It was a black ring, quite wide in diameter, made out of the other man's energy. It was pulsing faintly. It was going to disappear in a minute or two unless he fed his own energy into it; it was like his Shinigami clothing.

Ichigo kept staring at the ring. His mind was blank for several seconds then he lowered his hand back onto the mattress.

"Thank you," he muttered uncertainly. He could already feel the energy dissipating.

"It's up to you whether you keep it or not."

"I'll keep it," Ichigo said rather defensively.

"Will you?"

"Yes," Ichigo said, nudging him in the side. "I said I would." He fingered the ring. "Do you want me to give one to you?"

"The question is whether you want to give it to me."

Ichigo pressed his lips together. "Yes, I do." He suddenly felt himself blushing.

Ulquiorra raised his hand. "Well?"

Ichigo watched the outstretched hand for him. It had bothered him before, but now he had to say it: "Usually, the ring is put on the right hand."

"Doesn't it make uncomfortable to wield a Zanpakuto?"

"Huh… Well, I suppose it does. Alright."

It took Ichigo several tries to form a ring around Ulquiorra's finger, but once he did, he felt a surge of satisfaction.

Ichigo hadn't refused his thought to try sex with Ulquiorra while in his body. Cifer doubted it was a good idea but was also plagued by curiosity and, with some reluctance, agreed.

Ichigo had prepared everything in advance, but even the simple task of buying condoms felt vastly different from what he was used to back when he had been dating Orihime. He had read up about anal sex on the Internet and it really seemed to be a little different from all the intercourses he and Ulquiorra had. The internet had also advised on an enema, but he had decided to pass on it. He hoped that the condoms, some lubricant and some proper stretching would be enough.

"You can't move," he told Ulquiorra while making sure that the man stayed on his back, frozen to the mattress.

Due to FanFiction net's policy I had to cut the rest of the scene. If you're interested in reading the whole thing, you can go to Adultfanfiction net and ArchiveofOurOwn org. I write under the same pen name everywhere.

"Yeah, I'm good. It was pretty intense, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was," Ulquiorra agreed. "I don't recommend repeating it, though."

A Month Later

Ichigo walked into the bathroom and was met by a Hollow scrubbing the bathtub with a large yellow sponge. The green-furred and black-horned creature gave him a look and attempted what appeared to be smile.

"Master."

"Ehh…" Ichigo muttered. He backpedaled out of the bathroom quickly. "There's a stranger in your house!" he shouted in the direction of the living room. "He's cleaning your bathroom," he added.

"Oh, that's Orum – my slave," Ulquiorra said, appearing in the corridor. "Is he causing trouble?"

"A slave?" Ichigo wondered, his eyes never leaving the Hollow's furry back; at the sight of Cifer, the Hollow started scrubbing with twice as much vigor. "Did he do something to anger you?"

Ulquiorra gave him a look. "No, he was walking past and I let him choose between becoming my lunch or my slave."

Ichigo blanched. "That's barbaric!"

Ulquiorra nodded. "I suppose it is, but the bathroom won't clean itself. He does get a few days off once in a while. It's not like there's much to do around here."

The red-head rolled his eyes. Deciding that he'd return to the bathroom once the Hollow was done with cleaning, he went to the balcony and took his previous place in front of a wooden table on a wooden chair. Cifer sat down opposite him, and the two of them cast their eyes over the vast sands of Hueco Mundo.

Needless to say that, after having used a Garganta for the first time, Ichigo was astonished to find out that Ulquiorra now lived in a two-story house. Its appearance had also come as a shock. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary brick house that could be found in the Living World. Only when one came closer did the illusion disappear. The bricks seemed to shimmer from up close. Each one seemed to slightly shift color, the walls becoming black, gray, orange, dark red or a mosaic combination of all these colors. The roof, however, was pitch-black and gave the impression of a tarry substance. The windows behaved strangely as well – one moment they were see-through, the next absolutely matt allowing neither to see in nor out of the house.

It was the inside of the house, however, which made one's eyes bulge in wonder. It was a mix of old and modern, weird and common. Amongst the furniture one could find chairs and beds made of bare planks and then some eye-catching, luxurious and comfortable ones straight from a furniture salon.

There was also an imitation of the facilities in the Living World. The gas stove and oven burned with something that sent shivers down Ichigo's spine – the flame was green and always stank of singed hair. The fridge and freezer consisted of yellow, transparent gel what served as a preserver.

The bathroom and the entire plumbing system in general, was another mystery. It wasn't water that ran from the taps. It did seem like water, transparent and sparkling but it felt much more solid once one tried washing their hands.

There was even a TV of sorts, but it mostly showed either static, the Hollows pumping water into the forsaken fountain or the edge of the black pitch Ichigo had fallen in some time ago. There was also an aquarium in the master bedroom, which was supposed to help one relax, but which Ichigo demanded be removed at once as it was filled with creepy, tiny Hollows, their beady eyes of which followed his every move.

With a sigh, Ichigo lowered his eyes to his mug, which was filled with some kind of slop. Grimmjow and Cifer were so proud of the house while showing him around that he didn't have the heart to tell them how creeped out he was. He had tried asking them where they had found the materials to build the house, but Ulquiorra had shushed Grimmjow as soon as he had opened his mouth. Ichigo had the feeling he knew where most of the materials had come from and it made him even more uncomfortable to be in the house. He had tried to stay positive and kept reminding himself that it had always been this way – Hollows killed Hollows in order to acquire the precious energy particles. Yet, building a house out of that energy was macabre. Or, perhaps, it was only his imagination. He desperately hoped that it was.

"What's in the mug?" Ichigo wondered, sloshing the suspicious substance about.

"I have no idea," Ulquiorra told him. "It's something Orum prepared."

"Could be poison for all you know," Ichigo said.

"Could be," Cifer agreed. "Just pour it over the balcony."

Ichigo did as told; there was nothing in any of the worlds that would make him drink that suspicious matter. He set the mug back on the table, crossed his arms and leaned back into his chair. His eyes went back to the dunes. They seemed so calm and relaxing. He knew that these feelings were deceptive yet his nervousness and even his problems were already draining away.

Surprisingly, the Hollow inside him was content with Ulquiorra as a partner, Ichigo could feel that with all his essence. The dominance had been established and it seemed to be enough for now. Ulquiorra accepted the other Vasto Lorde's superiority without any discontentment. Ichigo didn't know how, but Ulquiorra could tell most of what the other Vasto Lorde felt or thought. It was silly, but sometimes he would get jealous too, feeling that the two Vasto Lordes were leaving him out of certain things. Ulquiorra told him that it was his own fault as he just kept insisting on desperately keeping his Hollow part isolated. Ichigo wondered if he would ever be able to accept the Hollow part of himself or, at least, would ever want to do that.

THE END