Just so you know I dont own bleach

This is a Ichigo/Uryuu shonen ai kinda story. I had it up before but I realized rather belatedly that I spelled Uryuu incorrectly. (trust me I know how ridiculous that is considering he is one of the main characters of the story) Its fixed now though *does happy dance*

This is my first fanfic so please comments are welcome

and without further ado...

Ichigo could feel the presence long before it reached him, sending not all together uncomfortable tingles up his arms with the simple proximity of it, almost as if his body was trying to tell him something that his mind had not caught up with yet. The feeling wasn't altogether bad, just more confusing as this had gone on for at least two weeks. At first it was just momentary pinpricks letting him know that he was near but as time went on the occurrences became more and more often and the range grew to the point where he could be anywhere it seemed, and Ichigo could feel him. The problem was that this feeling was not for any hollow, menos, bount, arrancar or even shinigami, this feeling was for Ishida Uryuu.

"Hey Kurosaki! Wait up!" Ichigo turned from his walk home to see the very person of his thoughts running towards him, watching as the young Quincy trotted closer, book bag in hand and a stern look on his face. He stopped to wait for him to catch up and noticed that he was alone this Friday.

"What is it Uryuu? And where is everyone, I thought you were supposed to be helping Orihime this weekend with her homework assignment?" Ichigo knew he was smart, knew he was the smartest in the class. He had to respect him for that, even if it was a grudging kind.

"I know I was supposed to but Orihime and Chad are training with Urahara all weekend. Something about getting their strengths up. I should also tell you that Rukia and Renji were sent back to the soul society for some kind of meeting, so until further notice it's just you and me taking care of things here." Uryuu pushed his glasses up on his nose and gave him a hard look. "So I thought we should probably stick together just in case something happens."

"Ok sure whatever. If you want you can come to my place and we can work on this assignment. That way if anything comes up we will at least be together." He stated nonchalantly, hoping the feeling he had could not be read on his face although if it had he was sure it would be confusion. That was the feeling he had most often around this young man these days. Apparently it didn't because Uryuu just nodded and fell into step with Ichigo as they walked towards his house.

"I wonder why Renji and Rukia were called back to the soul society so suddenly." Uryuu said quietly, slender hand resting on his chin in thought, almost like he brought it up mostly to himself but said it out loud, more for making some kind of conversation than anything.

"Who knows, maybe there's some kind of staff meeting or something they have to go to."

"Huh maybe, but if that were the case don't you think they would ask you to join? I mean you ARE a substitute shinigami now." Uryuu had a point and Ichigo pondered that thought for a moment.

"Nah, I'm just a sub, if it were important enough Rukia or Renji would let us know when they get back."

"Hmm, good point." The young shinigami could see that Uryuu was pleasantly surprised at his comment, giving him a quick raising of the corners of his mouth in an almost smile before he turned back to the road in front of them, glasses winking in the afternoon light.

They walked the rest of the way to Ichigo's place in companionable silence, giving Ichigo time to think things over in his mind. He and Uryu did get along but never for long periods of time and that was one thing he was starting to dislike about the situation. Maybe it was the fact that he was a shinigami and Uryuu a Quincy or maybe it was because they just had too much of a clash in their personalities. Recently though this feeling that kept cropping up was different than any he had had before and it bothered him even more that the feeling wasn't bad. He couldn't really explain it, it was more like a hyper awareness and whenever Uryuu came into a room his eyes went directly to him, couldn't take his eyes off of him at some times. He could see the young Quincy now from the corner of his eye, long slender limbs moving in flowing steps alongside him, dark hair falling in straight lines against cool pale features. He visibly shook himself from his thoughts as they reached the front door to his house.

"SON YOUR HOME!!!" Ichigo barely had time to brace himself before his father's foot connected directly with his cheekbone. "I told you not to let your guard down! Haha! See what happens?"

"Come ON!!!! Why do you have to be such a FREAK Dad?!" Ichigo grabbed his father's fist as it zoomed past his face and sent his dad tumbling down the hallway.

"Is this a normal occurrence in your household?" Uryuu looked like he was chuckling, his thin white hand covering the smile on his face.

"Well it's about as normal as could be in this house" Karin called disdainfully from the kitchen. "Ichigo you better take your friend upstairs before dad regains consciousness."

"Good idea, Come on Uryuu." Ichigo grabbed the sleeve of Uryuu's shirt and took him upstairs, bounding up the steps two at a time. Finally at his bedroom door he opened it and let the young man in first. As he walked by Ichigo could smell the clean linen of his shirt and the sweet shampoo that he used, it was kind of a nice smell.

The two spent most of the rest of the afternoon working on their assignments, looking through books and talking about schoolwork helped to distract Ichigo from his earlier thoughts. At one point in time Uryuu even started joking around with the redhead, and he had to admit it was rather cute. That thought had him uncomfortable and confused again, not really knowing what to do about it he decided that maybe he needed a break, not only from the homework but from other things as well. Ichigo's stomach gave a light growl and he jumped at the chance for a little distance.

"Hey Uryuu, you hungry?"

"Yeah sure, I could use some food about now." Ichigo was sitting on the floor while Uryuu was sitting cross legged on his bed, books surrounding the both of them. Uryuu stretched and pushed his glasses back up his nose, face perked at the idea of nourishment.

"Ok I'll make us something, you can stay here if you want and keep working. I'll be right back." He looked back at Uryuu once more but his eyes were hidden by the glare of the bedroom light on his glasses, face already slumped back over one of the textbooks. Ichigo left the room in search for food and a hopefully fatherless kitchen.

He came down the stairs to see that his father was nowhere in sight; breathing a sigh of relief he decided to make something quick, so that his father wouldn't be inclined to sneak attack him – again. He burnt his finger twice, once on the stove and once on the pot he was making the food in and his sister, deciding he needed the extra encouragement, called him an idiot for not using oven mittens. When he opened the door to his room again, two steaming bowls of ramen in his hands, he was surprised at what he found.

The young archer looked like he had fallen asleep on Ichigo's bed; he stopped mid step and took in the scene before him.

The evening glare from the window was coming in bathing the room in gold and orange slats from the half open blinds and the light fell on his glasses, catching the fading sun. His hands were clasped over his abdomen and he was breathing quietly, legs dangling off the edge. Uryuu's head was turned to the side so that Ichigo could get a good view of his profile. His raven hair was draped over the side of his pale cheek, which looked almost pearlescent with the contrast, his long nose and thin upper lip gave him an air of serene aloofness. His mouth was slightly open and Ichigo could see the full lower lip a soft pink color not unlike cherry blossom petals. His ear was peeking out from his dark hair and he could see that it was rather neat and small, the inner cartilage the same pink as his lower lip. The long slender column of his neck was actually rather thick with muscle, giving a hint that the rest of him was well toned and the thrum of his pulse could just barely be seen over the collar of his school shirt.

Without thinking Ichigo placed the two bowls of food on the desk and came closer, leaning one leg on the bed. The movement must have woken the young archer as his eyes fluttered open, a moment of confusion on his face but realization soon dawned on him and he sat up quickly, back ramrod straight and eyes blinking.

"Looks like you fell asleep." Ichigo stated, small smile on his lips. Uryuu's blush was instant, eyes widening at the comment.

"Oh yeah hahaha! I was just closing my eyes to give them a rest uh… yeah how about that food!" Uryuu's hand rested behind his head, laughing nervously.

"Whatever, here" Ichigo handed him the bowl of food, noting how the young man hid his face behind his hair as he ate, hiding his hot cheeks.

The sunlight was fading fast, the sky turning a deep indigo as the first stars started to appear. Conversation seemed strained between the two now and it wasn't long before Uryuu started tidying his books up, announcing that he had to go.

"Well I think I should probably start heading home now. I don't want to come home too late or my father may get angry." It sounded light and Ichigo may have imagined it but it seemed there may have been a note of disappointment in his voice.

"Yeah that makes sense. Ok Uryuu I guess I will see you tomorrow then? I mean I think your right about sticking together, what with everyone gone and all." Ichigo smiled but the young archer didn't crack, keeping his face a somber mask. They started walking down the stairs, Uryu in front, Ichigo following close behind.

"Yeah sure I'll call you. Maybe we could do some patrols or something."

"Yeah ok. Well I guess I'll see ya then." Ichigo held the door for Uryuu as he stepped out into the night. It was cool and a light breeze lifted a few leaves from the trees. Ichigo watched as the young man turned the corner heading towards his house then closed the door softly and went back to his room.

Once safely there he leaned against the door. Uryuu was actually a pretty cool guy once they got to talking. They never really did that before, just hung out together. His eye landed on the bed where Uryuu had been sleeping and a flash came to him of quiet breathing, head lulled to the side in sleep, inky hair catching the evening sun. He was really quite beautiful. He swallowed convulsively and shook himself for the second time that day.

He got up from leaning on the door and sat down at his desk grabbing one of his workbooks from the floor as he sat. I just need to study more maybe. He thought to himself but his mind kept travelling from the kanji lesson in front of him to earlier that afternoon. The way Uryuu's hand lifted gracefully to hide his smile when Ichigo threw his dad down the hallway, how he pushed his glasses up his nose with his two fingers, the way he tried to hide his embarrassment after he woke up on Ichigo's bed… He looked at his workbook and found where he was supposed to be writing he had filled almost an entire column up with stupid little doodles of stars, curly cues and… were those HEARTS?!

"Oh man what is WRONG with me?!" he flipped the pencil and quickly erased the ridiculousness he had just made. "Maybe I need a shower." But barely got out of his seat before his dad came tumbling through the door with his fist raised and a maniacal smile on his face.

Uryuu took his time walking home. He enjoyed the cool evening and enjoyed the cool breeze that lightly lifted his dark hair from his face. He raised his head to catch the breeze full on and sighed. He was kinda pissed at himself for dropping his guard at the substitute shinigami's house but when he found himself alone in Ichigo's room it was nice, a little sparse but it worked. The bed was definitely soft and he remembered moving his books to the side to lie down.

It was comfortable there and he had rested his hands on his stomach as he lay. Is this what Ichigo sees every day these walls and these soft lights? He had closed his eyes and relaxed a little so he could get used to the sounds of the people below him. Ichigo cursing as he burnt his finger on the stove, his sister's murmurings of 'idiot', the passing cars along the street splashing through random puddles. The sounds made him smile a little at the comfort of them and before he knew it he was asleep and Ichigo was leaning over him, so close he could feel the heat of him and smell the scent of his skin. That definitely unnerved him. He was supposed to be his enemy, and he cursed himself inwardly over the fact that he had let his guard down so carelessly in a shinigami's home. Even if it was Kurosaki Ichigo.

"Damn shinigami." He said aloud in an effort to blame the young shinigami but falling rather short of the goal as it was said without much heat. He didn't like shinigami in general; really the only ones he had any real respect for were Rukia and Ichigo. Renji at least wasn't all bad but Urahara was definitely not one that he could trust. It seemed that whenever anything of importance came up he had a hand in it and a dirty hand at that. It's no wonder why he was exiled from the soul society he thought darkly.

His thoughts traveled back to the days storming the seretei, remembered the transformation Ichigo underwent to defeat those shinigami and even through the loss of his Quincy powers, with his head muddled and sadness filling him with his own personal loss he could feel the minute changes in the shinigami's spirit pressure when he came out from training. When he battled Byakuya, that's when he noticed it the most. The feeling of him releasing his bankai, by Kami he never felt anything like it! The sheer power of it resonated within him and for a split second something deep inside the young Quincy wanted to call back to it. He held it back, he had to. Even now Uryuu could close his eyes and feel it, feel him. Like a glowing mass in the darkness radiating his strength. He felt soothed by that and closed his eyes to relish the forbidden feeling just once more.

This wasn't the first time these thoughts snaked their way up to the surface. It had been months since he realized the feelings he held for Ichigo were more than team mates, more than friendship. That's why he had to make sure they couldn't be close friends and why he kept picking those stupid little fights he knew Ichigo wouldn't be able to ignore. It was to keep him at arm's length. If he had these feelings there wasn't much he could do but at least he could keep Ichigo as far from him emotionally as possible. How could he – a Quincy have these feelings for a shinigami! It simply couldn't be. He hung his head dejectedly as he plodded home. He just had to accept it and move on he thought bleakly.

He had reached his house now, and the night had started to grow cold, a shiver passed over Uryuu as he stepped through the door. "If you only knew…" He said quietly to the growing darkness.

Ichigo's eyes opened and blearily looked at his bedroom clock. It was 6:47am. Why the heck was he waking up now? His alarm was turned off since it was Saturday and he was having a pretty good dream about… Running maybe… running to something or maybe someone…. He remembered blue eyes, definitely blue eyes… he looked up at his ceiling as the dream faded from his waking mind. Suddenly his body tensed. That's what woke him up; it was some kind of spirit pressure. It was definitely there and he could feel it clearly. A hollow. He grabbed his substitute shinigami tag and left his body behind, quickly stuffing it under his bed just in case anyone were to come into his room unexpectedly. He had to get Uryuu and find this hollow. Now.

He was half way to the young archers' house when Uryuu came running towards him. Apparently he wasn't the only one that noticed the change and he was glad he didn't have to resort to throwing rocks at Uryuu's window to get him out of bed.

"It's a good thing you felt this one I think it's near that new construction site just over the river." Uryuu stated grimly as he took up the lead, running down one of the back alleys; he always knew the best route Ichigo mused.

"I think your right. Come on we gotta get there fast. Whatever this is it's not good." Ichigo's jaw was set in a hard line. He knew what he had to do and his fingers tingled at the expectation of the coming fight.

"There's just the two of us this time so we will have to work together got that shinigamir?" Uryuu called over his shoulder. Ichigo cringed at the comment. Couldn't he call him by his name just once?

"Yeah yeah I know and call me Ichigo. I hate it when you call me shinigami like that, it sounds like your spitting those words at me." He caught up to Uryuu and they were now running side by side, step for step. It surprised Ichigo at how easily they fell into unison.

They were getting closer to the bridge and the hollow could just be seen over the rooftops of the construction site, its heavy body ambling towards something.

"Not far now." Uryuu puffed. His cheeks were pink from the exertion; face set and impassive, ready for the altercation.

They were over the bridge now; Ichigo could see the hollow easily, it looked like a rank, dark lizard like creature with multiple arms and a set of powerful hind legs. Its long tail swished back and forth soundlessly cutting the air behind it as it tore across the construction site. Ichigo pulled his zanpakuto free, itching to end the creature that encroached on his world.

The Hollow felt their presence more than saw them and reared its head, anger filling its lungs. It screeched out an inhuman roar that sent a shiver down both their spines. This one is stronger than I realized Ichigo thought. Uryuu grabbed the redheads shirt and they stopped short behind a half constructed wall hidden from view of the hollow.

"This one is bigger than they usually are; I think we're going to have to make some kind of action plan." Uryuu looked worriedly up at the ungainly creature, the top of it just barely visible over the wall. Ichigo nodded silent, the twitch of his zanpakuto ready to cleave that mask in half

"This one seems rather large but we don't know if it has any intelligence yet." Uryuu's forehead creased in thought, looking up over the wall at the creature. "I think you might need to use your flash step for this one. Come up close to it, maybe a bit above, which should work." Uryuu said in a thoughtful manner, as if he was about to serve tea or something. Ichigo nodded and started running, not realizing that Uryuu wasn't done formulating his plan.

"…and while you're doing - Kurosaki STOP!" The cry was quick and his hand came out to catch the redhead but it was too late, the hollow saw Ichigo coming and hit his tail against a large stack of steel pipes lying on the ground. With one swish of that tail the sky became filled with pipes everywhere and all of them aimed at Ichigo. The young shinigami dodged them with ease but one of the pipes were hidden from his view as it flew over the half constructed wall, its trajectory directly at Ichigo's chest. Before he could think he was shouldered out of the way, breath knocked out of him as he rolled safely away from the barrage of hailing steel.

Shaking his head and rather annoyed at his counterpart he raised a knee to the pavement, rising up heavily but what he saw had his mouth going dry and his hands shaking with shock.

Uryuu was lying unmoving on the pavement, grey steel protruding from his abdomen and a growing pool of dark crimson surrounding him on the pavement. For a moment Ichigo's heart stalled in his chest with the realization that Uryuu had just saved his life at the possible expense of his own. Then his heart took up pace, seeming to make up for the time it stopped and hammered angrily in his chest, adrenaline filling his veins and giving him an extra surge of power. He looked up to see the hollow and all his anger at that moment became perfectly aimed at the huge creature.

"If it wasn't for you he would still be ok! How dare you! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!!" He raged at the hollow and inwardly raged at himself. How could he be so foolish as to let him get hurt? He was supposed to protect people, his friends, family and Uryuu, even if they were supposed to be enemies, not let him take the fall for his unthinking behavior! The hollow raised its masked head and screeched again while its dark bulbous body turned to swipe at Ichigo for a second time.

"Oh no you don't!" Ichigo growled and jumped over the tail missing it by a fraction of a second. He had to be quick; he could see that this hollow was quicker than the usual. He flash stepped close to take aim at the mask but one of its heavy thick arms came down hard hitting the young redhead across his midsection and knocking out all the air from his body. He dropped to the ground landing soundlessly and out of breath then jumped back to a safe distance to think things through and somehow get air back into his abused system.

I Gotta think. Whats the best way to get rid of this guy? Ichigo thought to himself as he caught his breath. The flash step Uryuu had told him to use would need to bring him close enough to its head but far enough away to keep him safe from its many arms. The creature was on its guard now, head close to the ground and body crouched to jump at him. Suddenly clarity came to him and his eyes lit up. That's it! Ichigo thought. He would wait until the creature pounced; using its attack against him he would come up above the hollow, hitting it from directly behind the head. He would have to be quick and it would have to be at the right place, meaning the step needed to be very precise. He watched the creature closely for the right moment, body tense, waiting.

Luckily he didn't have to wait long. Its leathery hind legs bunched with corded muscle as it vaulted itself off the ground, its aim directly at Ichigo. He jumped fast and landed almost exactly where he needed to. He brought hiszanpakuto down hard on the back of its head, so hard could feel the vibration up to his shoulders as he smashed the mask into pieces. The creature screeched once more as it faded, evaporating like dirty water on a hot summer day.

Ichigo had no time to see it fade but ran straight to Uryuu, dropping Zengetsu beside him as he lifted his head up. He was still breathing but there was a lot of blood and the steel pipe had almost gone right through his left side leaving a bright stain of dark blood on his clothes, the pavement and now on Ichigo.

"You fool! What were you thinking?!"

Uryuu's eyes opened a crack.

"Good question…. I don't think I was thinking… about anything." His voice sounded airy and thick with pain, gasping between words.

"Shit! You picked the worst time to act like me!"

"Huh… tell me… about it" Uryuu wheezed as the ghost of a smile lit the corners of his bloodless lips.

"Don't move Uryuu, I'm going to pull the pipe out of your side and I don't want it to cause any more damage than its already made got it?" Ichigo willed his hand to stop shaking to perform the task at hand. The last thing he wanted was to cause him more pain, it was his fault that this even happened and he was determined to fix this in any way possible. He could see Uryuu's eyes fighting off waves of agony while trying to stay conscious at the same time.

"That's one thing… I think I can handle." His words came out in a breathy gasp which worried Ichigo even more. His heart squeezed at the thought of hurting him but he really had no choice. He placed his hands on the pipe and looked Uryuu in the eye, determination filling him with the action he would now have to take.

"On three ok? One, two…" Ichigo coule see Uryuu clenching his jaw tight, grinding his teeth against the pain he knew would come and could feel the same tightening in his own jaw. "…Three!" Ichigo called out and with one deft motion he pulled the pipe from Uryuu's side. The young Quincy screamed and doubled over as a new wave of fresh blood welled up in the spot where the pipe had once been. Ichigo was already tearing strips of his shinigami uniform to wrap around Uryuu's wound to slow the bleeding. He just needed to hold on until the redhead could get help. The thought of losing Uryuu a nightmarish reality that was all too close at hand.

"Stay with me Uryuu damn it! STAY WITH ME!" The fabric was already wet with crimson, and the archers eyes were becoming more unfocused each time Ichigo looked at him. At this rate he wouldn't last much longer. "Don't go!" His voice sounded scared and panicked even to himself, tendrils of fear slipping into his bones, making his hands shake and breath come short with the fact that the young man that had just saved his life may die. Ichigo grabbed one of Uryuu's hands; they were too cold, too pale.

"…Ichigo" Uryuu breathed, barely a whisper and the tone of the voice caught his attention. The redhead looked down at the pale face of the archer, pinched with pain but the look in his eyes was different somehow, deep as midnight oceans and sparkling in their intensity. The young Quincy's hand rose up, slowly as if underwater and traced the line of Ichigo's cheek softly before it fell lifeless to his side as he fell into unconsciousness. Ichigo couldn't move, couldn't breathe. He bowed his head over the raven haired boy, cradling Uryuu in his hands.

"I'm sorry Uryuu; I should have listened." He whispered into his hair. As it is he would have to run full out to Urahara's shop if he had any hope of saving Uryuu, that is if he could even last that long.

He had never run so fast or hard in his life, every fiber of his being pushing him to the very limit of his speed. The blood dripping steadily from Uryuu's side was a constant reminder of his urgency and what he may lose and he was terrified. The dark head rested on him, fitting snugly to the crook between neck and chest. He could feel the breath of the archer light and fast against the skin of his upper chest and he hoped to Kami that he kept breathing.

Ururu was in the yard probably doing yard work by the looks of the broom in her hand but when the young dark haired girl looked up to the scene in front of her of Ichigo holding a pale, unconscious Uryuu, blood covering the both of them no words were needed. Her eyes had gone wide with shock and she had run inside to promptly get a palette ready and call for Urahara. Ichigo was relieved at the speed of the young girl and mentally took a note to thank her later.

Urahara didn't take long to come up from the training facility under the shop, bringing Chad and Orihime with him. Ichigo said only what he needed to, which wasn't much before Uryuu was scooped out of his arms to be brought into one of the adjacent rooms now set up as a makeshift hospital room. Orihime went to work straight away, using her healing powers to keep Uryuu from slipping away.

"It's a good thing you brought him here when you did, any longer and he wouldn't have made it." Urahara mused to Ichigo. He felt he should say something but the words wouldn't come; throat tight and raw from running and all too close emotions bubbling up under his breastbone had taken care of that.

He could feel Urahara's eyes on him, searching his face with his sharp gaze but all he could do was hang desperately to the doorjamb of the medical room, fingers clenching with tension as he looked on, all the while Orihime's amber healing light flooded the area, her tireless effort a small comfort to the young shinigami.

"Please be okay…" His voice sounded small to his own ears and eventually he let Urahara pull him away from the room. His encouraging words lost as he pulled Ichigo into the common area.

"What happened?" Chad asked as he slipped quietly into the room. Ichigo sat down against one of the walls, legs giving out on him and he hung his head dejectedly as he retold the morning's events with as few words as possible. The retelling of it just another reminder of the fool he was. Urahara, with his unblinking stare looked on, impassive as ever.

"Well what matters now is that your both safe. We'll keep him here for now until he is fully healed up. Once Orihime is finished healing him we'll go back to training in the area under the shop. You should probably stay up above Ichigo just in case another hollow comes along. We need someone out there and Renji and Rukia probably won't be back until tomorrow." Ichigo straightened his shoulders and nodded. He still had work to do and he accepted that. He had accepted it all when he made the deal with Rukia in becoming a shinigami and he wasn't about to shirk it now.

The entire room was tense, shifting eye met shifting eye and back to the floor as the amber healing light broke in pockets against the floor. The waiting was always the hardest part Ichigo thought. He was caught in the horrible sense that he needed to do something ANYTHING to help but what was there to be done? Nothing. All he could do was wait for news of the young archer, and the knowledge of that angered him to no end.

He was almost ready to start bashing his head against the wall behind him when Orihime came from the room. He could see that she was tired, a light sheen of sweat glistened off her forehead and her lids were pulled low over her eyes but her face held no trace of tears, no desperate loss of a friend etched into her features and it eased Ichigo's heart at the sight.

"I've done what I can for now, what he needs for the moment is sleep." She spoke softly and although her tone was serious it seemed she felt confident he would be ok. Ichigo let out a breath he didn't even know he'd been holding, back slumping against the wall in relief.

"Good job Orihime. Are you and Chad ready to get back to training?" Urahara stood up without waiting for a response and headed into the back of the shop. Chad and Orihime waved to Ichigo before they left, smiling a little at the relief of the knowledge that their friend would indeed live. Ichigo waved but only half heartedly and then went into the room where Uryuu was sleeping to check on the progress Orihime had made.

He crept in taking extra care to not wake the sleeping young man and sat on the floor facing Uryuu then let his head fall into his chest. He could hear the soft deep breathing Uryuu was making, so like when he fell asleep on his bed at his house and he smiled a little at the memory. It seemed so long ago that they were laughing and just being friends the way they should have been before any of this happened.

He raised his eyes to Uryuu and took a searching look at him. His cheeks were almost completely white from loss of blood but not so pale as to be deathly. His glasses were off and it gave Ichigo a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach seeing him without them. It was an almost intimate feeling. His shirt was unbuttoned a little and he could see the bandages wrapping his midsection. His pulse could just barely be seen in the hollow of his neck, light as a bird hammering away. He never really noticed how graceful Uryuu was but looking at him now he was graceful even in sleep, his long slender fingers were resting delicately and they contrasted beautifully with the dark blanket. Seeing those fingers again reminded him of what Uryuu did just before he lost consciousness. His hand rose to touch the same cheek and rested there for a moment before dropping it back to his side.

He turned from Uryuu's face and looked to the wall in front of him trying to figure out what was going on inside him. Why was he looking at Uryuu this way? He was nothing more than an annoyance for so long. Uryuu was always the first one to make fun of Ichigo for the longest time, he was the first one to pick fights too and the first time they met he was a jerk even then! Times change though and with time they had become friends, grudgingly but friends nonetheless. Ichigo knew damn well that Quincy's and shinigami were not supposed to get along and he could understand why Uryuu would keep a distance with them considering he was the last of his kind. One thing he was sure of, the young man was damn prideful of that fact. So would he if the roles were reversed though and he snorted at the thought.

He rubbed a hand slowly over his face and ruffled his hair. So what the hell did he feel for him then! He definitely respected Uryuu; he was smart and most definitely strong. When it came to figuring things out with his head he always had the answer and he helped Ichigo out more than once with that. He was funny too when he wasn't being so serious and kind as well. Uryuu coughed lightly and moved in his sleep, a single strand of dark hair fell across his eyes. Ichigo, moved by impulse, reached out to brush the hair away but stopped halfway, hand hovering between them before he let it drop to his side.

The feeling of crashing understanding dawned on him as he realized that the way he had been treating Uryuu for the past two weeks was similar to the way Orihime treated him. He was attracted to Uryuu. Not just attracted though, he wanted to be near him, wanted to smell the sweet scent of his skin and run his fingers through the inky depths of his hair. He wanted to laugh with him, late into evenings while holding hands and sharing glances and to kiss that aristocratic cherry blossom mouth. Damn it he wanted to be with Uryuu!

And just what am I supposed to do with that? His mind asked him frankly and he had to admit it was a good question. Uryuu was prideful, quick to temper with Ichigo and he highly doubted that he even felt remotely the same. The only way he would be able to find out though would be to ask him and that thought left him weak kneed and dry mouthed with the possibility of even broaching the subject. He let out a sigh and plunked his head against the wall, a little harder than he had meant to and rubbed the spot on the back of his head, eyes watering.

The first thing Uryuu thought when he cracked his eyes open was that everything hurt. His arms felt heavy and his left side throbbed uncomfortably. Even his head hurt, a dull aching pain weaving its way up from the base of his neck over his skull to rest in the sockets of his eyes. He groaned lightly and opened his eyes to find a blurry low ceiling and a darkened room. For a moment he was confused as to how he had even gotten into this situation but when one twitching movement jarred his left side he remembered vividly. It was the hollow. That and the chilling thought that Ichigo may have met his downfall with a simple steel pipe that landed him in this predicament. He took a steadying breath and tried to sit up, searching for his glasses.

"Here try not to move." He heard Ichigo's voice somewhere above him and he gingerly moved his head to see where it was coming from.

"… Glasses." His voice sounded weak even to his own ears and he could hear Ichigo, fumbling hands on the floor near his head, apparently trying to find the object in question. They were found momentarily though and placed in Uryuu's searching hand.

"They're a little scraped on the side but I think you can still see out of them." Ichigo said as Uryuu placed them on his nose. He was right; a small corner on one of the lenses had been scraped a little. Nothing too bad but he would have to get them fixed relatively soon.

"Where are we?" He felt he should know this place but his brain was still deciding to not work for him. It was probably this evil headache he thought to himself, desperately wishing for an asprin.

"Urahara's shop. I didn't know where else to bring you that wouldn't ask too many questions. So I brought you here. Orihime healed you as much as she could but she said you would need lots of rest." That made sense, any hospital would probably want to know why there was an accident at a deserted construction site made by two lowly teens on a Saturday morning, probably calling his father in the process and that was something he really didn't want right now.

"Remind me to thank Orihime when I see her next." He said breathlessly. Uryuu tried to sit up and felt a searing pain in his side and stopped immediately.

"What are you trying to do wreck all the work Orihime just did?! Just sit your butt back down!" Ichigo's hand eased him back onto the palette he had been sleeping on. "If you need anything just ask it's not that big a deal jeez." Uryuu gave him a level look, or as much of one as he could in a horizontal state with half broken glasses.

"I am not in the mood for your antics just now, all I want is some water and I can get that for myself just - fine." The last word wheezed out of him as he tried to sit up again but more slowly this time. Ichigo sighed and let him be but grabbed the water and poured a small amount into a cup for him and brought it to his lips.

"You lost a lot of blood back there and you were pretty badly hurt so if you're going to be dumb and move around then just make sure you do it slowly. Can you at least do that for me?" Ichigo's voice sounded soft, sincere and when Uryuu met his eyes they were a brilliant bronze, honest and deep. The young Quincy took the cup of water from Ichigo's warm hand after he had taken a few sips and nodded, mute.

"Are you ok Ichigo?" He looked over the young shinigami. He looked rather the worse for wear, one of the arms of his shinigami uniform were torn up to his shoulder and pockets of dried blood rested along the forefront. His face looked drawn and weary, and when Uryuu asked the question a fire lit up on his face, bringing a light rosy flush across his cheekbones with the emotion of it. For a moment he wanted to smooth the flush away with his hands, wanted to touch that face and feel the warmth of it but kept himself still, knowing that he couldn't let himself get too close.

"Yeah I'm fine but look at you! You almost died back there did you know that?!" The fire was lighting his eyes to a milk chocolate color that he thought was really rather nice and Uryuu quirked the corner of his mouth in response.

"The thought had crossed my mind." He said derisively. Ichigo slid his eyes away, looking dejectedly to the floor.

"Well you shouldn't have done that, I don't need to be saved." He was still angry but it seemed something else was reaching from the depths of his eyes as he looked at the floor. Uryuu snorted then grabbed his wrapped bandage as the sudden movement twinged his side.

"Well my wound would suggest otherwise." Ichigo looked up at Uryuu and smiled a sad little smile. Uryuu returned it with a little one of his own, quick lifting of the corners of his mouth.

After a few more sips Uryuu gave the cup back and Ichigo put it on the table by the palette then noticed as Ichigo sat a little away from the archer. After a moment of silence the redhead decidedly straightened his shoulders, determination showing on his features. He still didn't look at Uryu he noticed, keeping his eyes to the floor.

"Uryuu I gotta say something to you. If you don't like what I say just tell me to never bring it up again and I won't." Uryuu stopped moving and barely breathed. The seriousness in Ichigo's voice brought him to full attention and wondered what it was about.

"When you saved me back there I didn't know what to do and I don't know your reasons although I can hope." The redhead looked up and met Uryuu's eyes for a split second before he lowered his head again and the depth of emotion Uryuu found there was enough to take the breath from him. "I realized something when you were lying on the pavement back there. I don't want to lose you. You're a good friend – more than a good friend. You mean more to me than I ever thought was possible. All I can do is hope you feel the same way but if you don't I understand. I just thought you should know that. Like I said if you don't want me to bring it up again I won't but I just needed to tell you how I felt." His voice was soft and so thick with feeling that the young Quincy had to lower his head. Of all the things he thought he would say this was definitely not among them.

In fact Uryuu was dumbstruck and for a moment his brain simply stopped functioning. All the time and effort he put forth to keep Ichigo at bay suddenly fizzled in to thin air. And it was done with such simplicity that words failed him. Damn him! Of all the idiotic, reckless, stupid things… Uryuu tried to fill his mind with any word that might push the emotions at bay but even as the words came to his mind his heart soared. He felt SOMETHING for him! And the knowing of it eased the ache in his chest that he had felt for so long… So very long.

He could feel his hands trembling as he fought his emotions, breath coming short with tears that were so close to the surface he could feel them prickling along his eyelids.

"Uryuu are you ok? Does your wound hurt?" Ichigo's hand came gently to rest on top of Uryuu's and he could feel the warmth of him, soothing and strong.

"I don't want to forget you said those words Ichigo. How could I ever want to forget something like that?" The young Quincy raised his head to look him full on in the face. There was no point in hiding any longer and the truth of his words rang out in the small room. Ichigo came closer, sitting on the edge of the palette now, hoping, hoping so badly…

"So you feel the same way?" Ichigo whispered. Uryuu had no words anymore and just nodded silently. There was a long pause before the words he needed to say were ready. Uryuu tried to compose himself into some semblance of the proud Quincy he knew he was. He knew he couldn't let this happen and the all too close tears danced on the corners of his sight, turning the vision of the redhead before him into a wavering watery mass. His chest clenched and he braced himself for the words he would have to say next.

"Of course I feel the same way but what was I supposed to say? We're enemies you and I. We both know that. It's what kept me from doing anything, saying anything… And that's why this can't happen." The last word cracked and Uryuu moved his hand out from under Ichigo's slowly, as if all his life were dependant on it.

"What do you mean this can't happen? We feel the same way!" Uryuu could hear the sadness and the desperation in his voice and his resolve fell a few more rungs. Uryuu, wanted to hold him in his arms and damn that stupid Quincy pride of his but he held on desperately.

"Do I need to explain it to you again shinigami?" Uryuu filled his lungs with the bitterest words making sure not to use his name. He had to push him away, had to make him see that this simply couldn't work. "You're shinigami, I'm a Quincy. You hunted my kind, killed them off until I was the only one. I can't have feelings for you. Don't you see? It's just not possible." Uryuu lay down again if only to escape from those beautiful brown eyes and looked up at the ceiling. Those damn eyes had seen into his soul now and knew all the things he had held back for so long. His wound was now forgotten with the pain that flooded him with the heartbreak he knew was coming. It was a good thing though he reminded himself, it could never be. He would just use this pain as a reminder for what he stood for, his pride strengthening against a forbidden relationship. He turned his face away so that Ichigo would not see the single tear escape and run a slick trail down his cheek.

His words did not have the desired effect. Ichigo's brow furrowed and a slow flush radiated a deep rose across his cheekbones, anger filling him.

"I don't care about that! I don't care about any of that I want you! I want to be with you!" Ichigo almost yelled it in the fury of his emotion. He took Uryuu's chin in his hand and turned the Quincy's face towards him, closing the gap between them and cutting off any further retaliation with his mouth.

Uryuu wanted to fight him, he had to but his lips were so warm and before he knew it his arms were raising traitorously to link behind Ichigo's neck. The deep redolent scent of his skin was like liquor running through his veins and he felt as if he was getting drunk simply from the smell of him. What wavering control he may have had fell away then and Uryuu deepened the kiss, tentatively opening his mouth. The redhead needed no further invitation and their tongues met, tasting each other for the first time. Ichigo groaned in pleasure and the hand holding Uryuu's chin moved to cup the back of the archers head, cradling it in his warm hands.

They broke apart then and just looked at each other for a long time, Ichigo's eyes were a deep chocolate and filled with a lazy happiness and he was pleased to realize that his eyes mirrored the same expression. It was Ichigo that finally broke the gaze, soft blush staining his cheekbones.

"Turns out your my first kiss." He had a small smile which only seemed to make him look cuter, if that were possible Uryuu mused.

"I think you're my first too." By this time Uryuu was blushing as well but it didn't matter anymore. Ichigo snorted and looked playfully at the young archer, amusement lighting his eyes.

"You think? What you're not sure if you've been kissed before?" Ichigo's hand had left the back of Uryu's head and came around slowly to take one of Uryuu's hands in his, warmth spreading into his cool fingers.

"Shut up Ichigo." He said it playfully and Ichigo pulled back a little in shock.

"You called me by my name." Surprise was evident in his voice and for a moment Uryuu became unsure of himself.

"Is that a bad thing? I thought you wanted me to call you that."

Ichigo dropped his eyes, blushing again.

"I did, do… Do it again." His eyes were back with a shimmering intensity that had Uryuu's breath coming short with the emotion of it.

"Ichigo." The word was said quietly, a secret between the two and the gap closed again, Uryuu pulling him closer for another kiss. His heart softened with the realization that yes this was actually happening and Ichigo was holding him, kissing his lips so sweetly he didn't want to ever stop. Maybe a shinigami and a Quincy wasn't such a bad match after all and maybe, just maybe with the joining of their hearts the two could help to heal the gap between the two tribes, coming together in something new and special they didn't really understand quite yet but were more than happy to try… As long as it was together.

~symphonyofsilence

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