Yes, fucking finally. It was about time, right? This story almost hit the two year ongoing mark. I'm horrible, I know. Please don't kill me because of this chapter…. *runs to hide*

Final chapter: Louder than words.

"C'mon one more lap!" An energetic yelled from across the field over the sounds of the boy's exhausted panting.

"Gimme a break dude!" The poor orange haired shouted back as he felt his legs giving up on him. He lost count of how many laps he had ran already! Was the other trying to train him for the Olympics or what? "Why don't you fucking run too?!" He protested between the harsh pants coming out of his dry mouth. Water! He needed the precious liquid right now.

"Hey guys!" A new voice screamed from even farther. It came from the nearest building's entrance that happened to be the sport centre.

Both turned their heads towards the newcomer and with a relieved sigh the orange haired stopped running. He walked a few steps before letting himself fall on the grass surrounding the area. He was so fucking tired. That was some military training!

"Are ya' 'kay babe?" The pale figure asked still from afar, slowly approaching the pair. He received more pants as a response, making him chuckle.

"Good job Ichi, almost broke yer own record!" Grimmjow laughed as he held the chronometer while he was walking towards the exhausted berry.

"It's not funny you asshole! Are you trying to kill me cotton hair?!" The teen huffed taking a sitting position and crossing his legs. The good thing is that he recuperated quickly from the exertion.

"What did ya' say Berry head?!" His friend growled.

"As much fun as it is watching ya' two bicker at each other… "

"Oh sorry, Shiro," Ichigo got up from his comfy position on the grass and leaned over Shiro to kiss the top of his head. "How did it go?"

"Same old same old honestly…" He answered frustration evident in his voice.

Ichigo let out an involuntary sigh that didn't go unnoticed by the albino. No doubt Ichigo still blamed himself for Shiro's actual condition. Amber eyes closed themselves behind the special dark glasses he was wearing and shook his head. He lifted his arms and grabbed Ichigo's cheeks to push him closer to his own face and give him a peck on the lips.

"Stop berating yerself, please?" He pleaded. He felt a sigh over his lips as they were pressed again against each other.

"Shiro-" Ichigo started to complain but Shiro cut him.

"Please." Those pleading eyes behind the glasses made him seal his lips and don't say anything.

It hurt Ichigo. Even after six months, it hurt. Seeing Shiro with his vision partially affected to the point of having episodes of complete blindness and not being able to walk on his own two legs. He was trying to make all the work for the both of them. That's why he had been working out lately harder than ever. Even if Shiro insisted that it was okay, still it wasn't. Not for Ichigo.

"I'm alive, Ichigo. I'm grateful because I get to be with you," Those words filled his heart with love and with the same share of hurt at the same time. "If this is the price for your recovery, then I don't mind."

Did he? Ichigo still wondered if Shiro said that to make him feel better and also feel better about himself. He was going to rehabilitation twice a week but with no progress. His legs were still unresponsive. About his eyes… The surgery was in about a month but Shiro didn't look worried or nervous.

"I wanna sit on the grass," He said shaking Ichigo out of his thoughts. The orange haired teen smiled sweetly and put an arm under Shiro knees to lift him up. Ichigo let him down slowly on the grass and a smile crossed the pale features. "It feels great."

Ichigo nodded so did Grimmjow sitting next to them. At least Grimmjow and his brother had learned to get along together once again and now they were practically glued to each other. Not that Ichigo minded, not being a jealous person he let Grimmjow steal his boyfriend from him from time to time.

"Can ya' take off my shoes? It's kinda hard to reach them." Shiro huffed after making several tries to reach his feet but he wasn't as flexible… Not like Ichigo anyway. But that's another topic kept for the bedroom.

"Of course Shiro," Ichigo took them off, socks included and Shiro sighed blissfully. "Does it feel good?" Asked the teen quite puzzled by this.

"Yes," A giggle, yes a giggle, passed his pale lips. "It tickles."

Ichigo and Grimmjow looked at each other, blinking once, twice, before looking at Shiro at the same time. "Tickles?" They both said.

"Yes… Doesn't the grass tickle yer feet?" Shiro asked confused by the sudden odd behaviour from the other two male.

Ichigo blinked once more and shook his head. Didn't he notice? "Shiro! You are feeling! You feel the grass!" Sounding more excited than he intended he hugged his boyfriend by the neck, throwing both of them on the grass.

"I-I do…" He muttered still not believing he could feel something below his waist. It was the first time in six months that he feels something touching his skin again. It was weird but extremely pleasant. He returned the crushing hug and inhaled the sweet scent of Ichigo. His boyfriend had changed in a good way since he recovered. His lithe body suited him.

"I have to tell Tensa!" Ichigo said excitedly as he got up and lifted Shiro with him, carrying him bridal style.

"Ichigo stop carrying me everywhere like this… It's embarrassing!" Shirosaki protested trying to persuade Ichigo to let him go back on the wheelchair. He had grown accustomed to it anyway.

"But it's faster like this," Ichigo countered. "Besides, don't you get tired of sitting all the time?"

"Actually I do but-"

"Then it's settled!"

"Are ya' actually thinkin' of carryin' me home like this? All the way?" Ichigo nodded with conviction and Shiro snorted. What a hot headed boyfriend. He didn't complain much about that.

Shiro heard Grimmjow chuckled behind them and he threw him a dirty look though the other couldn't see it because of the damn glasses. "I'll carry the wheelchair in my car. I'll see ya' later, princess." Grimmjow mocked his brother after passing by him, ruffling his white hair in the process.

"I'll kick ya' once I'm fine again!"

"I'll be waitin' for it!"

Ichigo rolled his eyes and started walking back home, Shiro still pouting on his arms with his own crossed. The orange haired chuckled softly. Brothers…

x.x.x.x

"Ichigo!" He woke up to the scream and rushed to the bedroom across his own, throwing the door open. Immediately, Ichigo approached the bed Shiro was lying on and held him.

"Ssh, I'm here." He tried soothing his distressed boyfriend by caressing his back softly. "It's nothing… It'll pass soon." He hoped this so deeply. It happened from time to time that Shiro would wake up in the middle of the night, unable to see a thing around him. It made Ichigo's chest tighten painfully.

"I can't see ya'…"

"It's dark idiot." Ichigo tried reassuring him with this lie, making it seem like it was the dark bedroom's fault. "Go back to sleep. I'll be right here."

He felt the cold hands reach his face and he let Shiro explore his face. He seemed to be doing so more lately. Was he in reality worried that he might go blind? For Ichigo it looked like a Shiro tried to memorise his face every time this happened. Anxiety filled him. Usually it happened one or two times per month.

It had been two that week only.

"Ichigo?" Shiro whispered quietly and Ichigo could swear it sounded like a strained sob. "Your skin, your smell… It gives you out."

"What?" Ichigo gave him a confused look that Shiro evidently couldn't see at the moment. Seeing those amber eyes going slowly white broke his heart. The surgery date was so close…He hoped everything went well.

"Even if you were still mute and I go blind… I still would know it's you." Ichigo leaned his head into the pale palm of Shiro's hand and let a tear slide down his right eye.

"Don't say that. You'll recover your vision. I'm sure you'll do."

"Your eyes speak louder than your words, I said so once."

"Yes, I remember." Ichigo nodded, grasping Shiro's hand between his.

"The touch of your skin reaches farther than my vision." He put his other hand over Ichigo's chest and left it there, feeling the heart beating under his fingers. "Your mere presence walks me farther than my legs. I feel good if you are here."

"I won't leave you then. I promise." He hugged Shiro again for good measure and laid next to him shortly after, lulling him to sleep with a lullaby his mom usually sang to him when he had nightmares.

If I look into your eyes I see a star

It looked back at me and said:

"Please love me, love me

I want you to stay by me"

Ichigo kissed his forehead and laid awake, waiting for Shiro to wake up in the morning and tell him that he could see Ichigo's face again. He prayed…

Louder than words they speak.

Stay by you, I'll do.

Louder than words they speak

Shinning through the dark.*

x.x.x.x

That's it the end. Thanks to everyone who favourited, reviewed and read this disaster of mine. But don't go yet! It has a small ending about Shiro's recovery tho. Will the surgery go well? Who knows? You'll have to wait a little more.

*The lullaby is actually from my own mother. I cry whenever I remember it… Rest in peace, mom.