I DON'T OWN BLEACH

Gin is Seventeen; Yaoi Edit

"There is no feeling more comforting and consoling than knowing you are right next to the one you love."

Chapter1; Comfort Zone

Ichigo follows Urahara's instructions implicitly, and tonight is no different. Setting his french textbook aside he walks out the door at exactly ten o' clock and enters the Kurosaki clinic. Walking down the dimly lit hall into the farthest room his fingers move up to the top button of his pale blue shirt. "How are you this evening?" he asks in a calm voice unbuttoning his shirt. "Would you like to see the massive full moon out tonight?" Dropping his shirt over the arm of a chair near the bed Ichigo pulls back the curtain letting in the silvery glow of the large moon in the sky.

"Kurosaki-san, your reiatsu will be keeping him alive. Only you. It's a big responsibility."

"I'll handle it. It's the least I can do for-"

"I don't know how long Ichimaru-san will sleep. You could be doing this for years."

"Gin-san deserves a better ending. He deserves some peace."

"Alright... remember everyone in Soul Society believes he is dead. You have to keep it that way."

"Not a problem."

Returning to the bed he slips off his house shoes and climbs under the white duvet next to the lean body sleeping. Wrapping an arm around the pale form Ichigo gently pulls the man to his chest. "Gin-san, how long will you continue sleeping?" Placing his hand on the center of Gin's pale chest he begins releasing his reiatsu into him. Day after day Ichigo's routine of a shower, french homework and going to him doesn't change."Inoue asked me out today. Well... Tatsuki actually told me to go out with Inoue. I didn't know how to respond." he says with a sigh, his amber eyes watching the white hair blow near Gin's ear. "I have known about her feelings for awhile, I just didn't feel like addressing it." Spreading his fingers wide over the feel of Gin's heart beating underneath Ichigo can't help but tuck his body closer. "Inoue... is beautiful. I don't know why I can't picture myself as anything but her friend."

Three years later;

Telling Gin about his day is now a normal event."It's been a long time Gin. Won't you wake up? You won't be alone." Pressing his back to his chest the contact feels warm and pleasant. For thirty minutes he talks, almost without stopping. The sleeping silver-haired man is his confidant. With his lips near Gin's ear he confesses his hopes and fears. Everything that bothers him, Ichigo shares. Never running out of things to talk about, the time always passes quickly. "Inoue got married today. Is it selfish I felt relived? It's a good thing." The tear in his eye slips free to land on Gin's cheek. "It's a good thing. " he whispers tilting his head up and looking around the dimly lit room. "It's not easy letting my friends go. Letting someone else protect them." More tears begin to fall and Ichigo sits up to wipe them away. His head tilts down, he stares at his blurry hands before curling his fingers into a strong fist. "It's good though..." Now if Gin would only wake up. That would be good.

The following week Ichigo's life is preoccupied with boxes and packing tape. His dad is moving the clinic across the city to be closer to the private high school Karin and Yuzu got into. The house is left to Ichigo now, and Gin will be moved into the main house to continue to sleep.

"I said I'll call." Ichigo grumbles looking away from his dad's worried face.

"Ok, and Ichigo?"

"Yeah?"

"If Ichimaru wakes up and doesn't remember what side he is on... kill him."

"Yeah, yeah. I have heard it all from Urahara-san." With a wave his sisters and dad pull away inside the large moving truck. Ichigo isn't sad, he feels better actually. He honestly does. Work starts for him on Monday and he is looking forward to teaching primary school. Who knows, maybe staying here was the right choice. The town is small and familiar, but also a chance for him to figure out how to just be him. Just Ichigo.

"Ok... " scratching his head he walks in the clinic and into Gin's room. "it's just me and you now, Gin." Lifting him up in his arms Ichigo carries Gin into the main house and up the stairs. Passing his own room he nudges open the twin's old room that has already been prepared for Gin. Stepping through the doorway he accidentally bumps Gin's head on the door. "Ah shit, sorry." Taking a few steps into the smaller room he lays Gin down on the bed and pulls the sheets over him.. "Any damage?" Ichigo lifts up Gin's long bangs to check for a bruise. "Whew, nothing bleeding. You are pretty heavy." he says looking at Gin's face closely. Smoothing the soft silver hair back into place, he lingers for a moment on Gin's peaceful expression. "Sleep well, Gin." With a small sigh he turns and leaves for his own bedroom.

He spends the day at a workshop. The tricky thing about becoming a teacher is the learning. You never stop. There is always something new to study. The curriculum is harsh and if his students don't pass he gets fired. It's a lot of pressure for Ichigo. It's feels nice to be depended on by something other than his sword.

By the time he arrives back at the house it's dark and the first thing he does is dash upstairs to check on Gin. Flicking the light on with his index finger he exhales a sigh finding the silver-haired man where he left him. "I'm home." he says with a small grin. "How was your day?" Not really expecting an answer Ichigo steps outside the room and turns on his heel.

Passing the next few hours preparing a small dinner and filling out his day planner the time to go to Gin arrives quickly. Rising from his seat he stretches his back and sets his pencil down on the table. "I guess it's time for a quick shower."

No sooner does he lean his head under the faucet, and drench his hair he feels a familiar reiatsu enter Karakura town. "Oh shit..." Twisting off the water he dashes to the back bedroom, grabs the black cloak Urahara made for him, and wraps it around Gin's body. "Gotta hide you." Lifting the long legged man up in his arms Ichigo manages to slide into the closet just as a shinigami uniform floats through the downstairs sliding door. "Not her..."

"Ichigo-kun?"

Ichigo's eyes peek through the slats in the closet door peering into the room as Rangiku Matsumoto's shape passes in front of the bed. Carefully wrapping the reiatsu concealing cloak around him and Gin, water from his bangs drips down the sleeping man's chest. "Please... go away Matsumoto-san..."