"Ready, Uryuu?"

"No. Why do I let you talk me into these things? I think I've changed my mind."

"Aw, come on," Ichigo goads with a sly grin, settling reassuring hands to Uryuu's tense shoulders. "It doesn't hurt that much. Besides, the next time will be easier."

"You would know, Ichigo. How many times have you done it now?"

"Like you haven't counted," he snickers, bringing a light flush to Uryuu's face. "We can double-check later if you want."

"If you kids are done bickering like a married couple, can I do what you're paying me for?" snaps a short woman with dyed-violet hair and two full sleeves of tattoos. "I have other clients to get to, y'know."

"Sorry, sorry. Uryuu, I won't force you if you're really not sure, but...I still think it's a really awesome idea and you won't regret it. Promise!"

Sighing in surrender, Uryuu gathers his resolve and nods to the waiting woman. She steps forward while he takes a deep breath and stares straight ahead at a spot on the brick wall across from him. Ichigo's fingers slip into his hand, offering moral support as much as something to grip.

The shining silver needle she brandishes makes Uryuu's eye twitch in trepidation, but he doesn't budge as she leans close and takes firm hold of his left ear. A dull sickening snap has him clenching his teeth milliseconds before the pain hits, sharp and fiery but quick to recede to a raw ache. Practiced and confident, the piercing artist deftly slips in and closes the little metal ring to complete the procedure.

Uryuu now has his very first piercing in the cartilage of his ear. First in an eventual series, if you ask Ichigo.

"How is it?" he asks Uryuu with a sympathetic wince.

"Not that bad, actually."

"Told ya. It looks great!"

"Thanks for your patience," Uryuu says to the bored woman flashing them a polite smile before walking off to the lounge for her next customer. Then to Ichigo, "Let's go."

He doesn't realize they're still holding hands as they amble down the sidewalk until Uryuu notices a middle-aged man raising an eyebrow at them. Feeling unusually righteous, he tightens his grip and raises his chin in defiance. The man gives a resigned shrug and passes them without comment.

"I saw that," mutters Ichigo with a pleased smirk. "Keep that up and everyone in town will know we're together."

"Good. I want them to know. If even Ryuuken can come to terms with it, everyone else who matters should be able to. Maybe we should wear matching T-shirts."

Laughing aloud, Ichigo pulls him to a stop to steal a quick kiss. "Since you did this for me, Uryuu, I'll wear whatever you want."

"I didn't do it just for you," he gently corrects as they resume walking. "Your atrocious fashion sense seems to be growing on me, that's all."

"Does that mean we can dress you up in tattered jeans and tight sleeveless tops? Because if that's even a vague possibility, then..." Ichigo trails off as his eyes glaze over, obviously diving into a naughty daydream about lending Uryuu his clothes. There might even be a mall montage involved. "Mmm."

Uryuu slowly shakes his head at his boyfriend's goofiness. He leaves the question unanswered and lets Ichigo ride out the fantasy until they're back at their apartment. The persistent throb of his punctured ear is easily forgotten in favor of reacting to the way Ichigo practically attacks him as soon as they shut the door behind them.

"A little piece of silver turns you on this much?" he has to ask after several minutes of heavy making out. "I think we just discovered a new kink."

"I think you're right," Ichigo growls and tackles Uryuu to the couch, impatiently tugging at his clothes. "It upgraded you from 'hot nerd' to 'smart, sexy rebel'."

"Is that so?" Chuckling at the terminology, Uryuu's laughter turns into a throaty groan as Ichigo gets his pants undone and makes use of the opportunity. "In that case, what would a tattoo get me?"

Pausing in his current task of getting Uryuu nice and hard for him, Ichigo lifts his head to show him a stunned expression. He is briefly at a loss for words as he ponders that prospect. Uryuu is swept up into another long kiss that doesn't end until they're right on the edge.

"Whatever you want, Uryuu," he finally breaks away to pant against his neck. "If you ever got a tattoo...I'd gladly give whatever you want. Fuck, that's too damn hot to think about!"

"Whatever I want?"

The shift of hips hits a crescendo as they teeter at the brink, caught in that moment between crushing urgency and ecstatic relief.

"Anything."

Ichigo bites down the instant he starts to fall, sending Uryuu tumbling right after him. They shout and moan and cling to each other like they have so many times before. Like they will so many times more. Uryuu reaches an unsteady hand up to brush the damp hair from Ichigo's forehead and presses a light kiss to it. Ichigo leans down to nuzzle into his hair, nipping at the unpierced ear

"I've been considering it…"

"Seriously? What would you get?"

"Maybe…a strawberry."

They stare at each other for a beat. Then both of them burst into giddy giggles at the same time.

AN: This story is officially finished. Thanks to everyone for the lovely reviews and I hope you enjoyed the ride!

Oh, and I'm pretty sure every Bleach fan knows this, but just in case: "Ichigo" means strawberry in Japanese, although the kanji is different for his actual name, so Uryuu is teasing based on that pun. Once I pictured Uryuu with a little red strawberry tattooed on his hip, I couldn't resist slipping it in there!