"Thinking about something like that now...you should be ashamed of yourself, Ikkaku..."

Maybe he was, but it didn't stop him. No, it only encouraged him to remember more. Maybe it was because the situation now had something in common with the one from the past.

--

It was winter. A cold winter's night, you could say, if there was any part of you that liked such romantic ways to put words after another. Such didn't interest him. Actually, he couldn't care less. It's the same whatever way you put it: Madarame Ikkaku just isn't the romantic type.

To be honest, all the situation had in common with "cold winter's night" was winter. It was actually a morning, a very chipper and shiny early morning. It was cold, but not so cold it's worth mentioning since it was winter. What did you expect from the coldest time of the year? It was actually more like warm to be a winter morning.

There, surrounded loads of new snow that had fallen during the night, was a house. You could only see the roof and half an upper story windows. It wasn't a big house. No. It was the sort of house you'd only call a house if you had lived you life in a shallow shack with pigs and horses. But let's call it house, because the people inside called it a house at that time.

"I'm not letting you out in that shape", an unsuprising verification had come out of lips that were part of an androgynous face. Androgynous indeed. Why did a man have a face like that? And why did that man like to act so female? It really bugged his partner...a friend... or whatever.

"What? You're saying YOU are going take care of snow clearing, huh?" there's no way he would've accepted such a claim as a truth. No way.

"Who said that?"

"Huh? It has to be taken care of, idiot."

"No, it doesn't. We don't need to go out any time soon. We've got anough food and wood for the entire winter. And books to read if you get bored..."

"You can't keep me inside forever."

"Oh, yes I can."

"It's about these stupid wounds isn't it? I've seen worse a million times..."

"Yeah, seen them. But you haven't had a one. Fighting someone of that caliber isn't like playing with butterflies."

Ikkaku didn't answer with word, but he stared right into the eyes of his...partner/friend. Let's say a friend, tho' both words were as close to the truth back then. And are still. Yumichika's eyes were shady blue, something you could look and not be able to name even after gazing back again and again. Even Ikkaku, who had seen those eyes so many times before, felt his thoughts halt because they could not name what they saw. They were bautiful eyes. Sad, maybe, but no too sad.

"You're not gonna let me out", he repeated, trying to get some threat to his voice. He apparently didn't succeed, as the androgyn just laughed lightly.

"No. But don't you worry. I'm gonna make up some ways for you get exercise", was the answer. The bald man frowned:

"Well that sounded even more perverted than usually", Ikkaku's answer brought an even bigger smile to his friend's face.

"You think so...?"

And things went as they both known they would. Ikkaku's was hurt that badly he couldn't get off bed anyway, and Yumichika had been accompaning him in every way. Neither of them thought of it as wierd after having lived together in shallow shack surrounded by snow for an entire two months.

And that's when they really got used to each other's smell, feel and taste. Things had happened between them before, too, of course...but never this scale.

--

Ikkaku jumped over a rock that had appeard before him. The light body he was carrying on his back hopped a littlle too, but his grip around the thighs was tight and there was no danger for the one being carried.

The one being carried was – of course – Ayasegawa Yumichika.

The way this situation reminded the one the bald man had reminded his friend of were simple. First, injuries. They were both injured. This time Yumichika just was the one hurt worse. And they were free to got out, had been out all the time. ALL the time. You could say they missed the indoor air.

"Ikkaku...?"

"I'm okay. Just fell to the memory..." he answered quickly. There was no reason for him to bother Yumichika with his other thoughts. Because of course there were other thoughts. About the conditon of his friend. Oh yes, Ikkaku Madarame was worried.

It took ages to reach Fourt Company stalls, but after that they quickly got attention.

Yumichika was taken from him no matter how he tried to keep his grip from his hand. Right after he disappeared behind the corner carried by four men lead by a woman, Ikkaku fell on his knees, frustrated. Why wasn't he allowed to stay by Yumichika's side? Yumichika had always done that to him, why couldn't he do it!?

The guy that had cut the tendons from his legs stood quietly by as the 11th Company Third Seat shouted curses and words of hatred on him, making his own not-so-fatal injuries bleed worse. Then the man just steadily told him he would carry Madarame-san to an own room now so Madarame-san's injuries could be looked at.

Curse it!

A spell was cast on him from behind. He cursed once more before falling to the floor.

"Isane—I want to stay with Yumichi--" his words didn't come out coplete before he fell to a sleep.