This is another in the series of birthday shorts I've been doing. Thank you to my beta Liralen! XD

Compliments

"Holy shit, Yumi,"

The slighter shinigami-in-training turned away from the bald man's surprised eyes and slid the shoji shut behind him. He set his Zanpakuto against the wall in the corner of their shared quarters and began to unite the sash that fastened his kimono. He felt rather than heard the other man shift uncomfortably behind him on the futon.

"You alright?" Ikkaku asked.

Yumichika slammed the drawer shut after folding his kimono neatly. He knew he was being stupid, but why was his lover such an idiot after they had been together for so long? Did he have to draw up directions for himself? Would it kill the bald asshole to just know to compliment him once in a while? Why did he always have to work so hard for the slightest verbal acknowledgement from Ikkaku?

"I'm fine," Yumichika said. His words were clipped with a sharp edge even though he really didn't mean for them to be.

Ikkaku's voice lowered. "Are you sure?"

Yumichika sighed and looked at the ceiling. "I passed my kido tests today with highest marks, I got that retard I'm paired with in kenjutsu to stop calling me 'Yumi-chan', and I sat outside for almost an hour in the sun. My skin feels healthier already. Why wouldn't I be fine?"

Ikkaku was suddenly behind him, his arms encircling his thin waist gently. Yumichika almost fought to pull away, but relaxed into the other's hold as he felt slightly chapped lips press against his neck. Ikkaku always made Yumichika lose himself when he touched him. Yumichika felt himself wrapped in his lover's warmth, the tension quickly draining from his body as strong arms held him and teeth grazed the flesh of his jaw.

"Yumi…" Ikkaku whispered. "Why're you unhappy?"

Yumichika rested his head against Ikkaku's shoulder and closed his eyes. "It's… nothing… I was being stupid…"

He startled as Ikkaku's hands gripped his hips and spun him around. He opened his eyes to meet Ikkaku's contemplative gaze. Yumichika's heart started to beat a little faster as the bald man's eyes took in the sight before him carefully. He always felt a small rush when Ikkaku looked at him like that. Ikkaku's opinion was the only one in the entire universe that mattered.

Sword-calloused fingers reached up and gently ran over a lock of silky dark hair. Ikkaku's eyes narrowed in thought as he played with the freshly cut tips.

"I… liked it long…" he said quietly. "But..."

Yumichika's stomach did a flip flop. He didn't like it?

"But what, Kaku?"

Ikkaku looked back up into his lover's eyes and smiled.

"But I think I like this more… You look… incredible, Yumi."

Yumichika's heart melted as it had melted a thousand times before. He slipped his arms around Ikkaku's neck and kissed his lover gently.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Ikkaku lifted the slighter man into his arms and carried him back to the futon. Yumichika laid back and sighed contentedly as Ikkaku finished undressing him. Ikkaku might be a little dense sometimes, but he never missed when Yumichika was upset. He might have been a little slow with the compliments and verbal declarations of affection, but when he had his lover in his arms, his hands and his mouth said everything that needed to be said. Now, the time for verbal compliments was over; there would be no more words this night… except maybe the occasional 'I love you',said unconsciously.

Yumichika smiled as he knew now, every inch of him would be worshipped until the sun rose the next morning.

END