AN: Please enjoy the last chapter of IOS. -Bows-

In Other Situations Chapter 10

June seventeenth was a scorcher with a nearly thirty-degree Celsius temperature and a clear, light blue sky, which produced no clouds to allow the people below any breaks from the glaring sizzle of the sun overhead. Weather channels on the televisions and radios warned against dehydration and exerting too much energy in case it resulted in a heat stroke. Water was being distributed by various vendors at a low price, but that didn't stop people and kids walking around the fountains, splashing each other to cool off. Parasols and umbrellas were being sold everywhere, but despite their inflated price, they went quickly. On a day where everyone was more than willing to take the day off work to sit in an air-conditioned apartment, Ichigo didn't let the hot weather scare him into staying indoors. For him, today was important.

When Ichigo was just a kid, it seemed so long ago, but the memory was fresh in his head like it just happened yesterday, and it would always remain so. He remembered walking with her, hand-in-hand down the street, telling her about the day he spent with Tatsuki at the dojo, and how he managed to score a point off her. It was always nearly impossible to do that, and he was feeling extra proud of himself, so why not share the good news? His mother looked so proud of him, which made him smile and talk even more, getting excited and jumping up and down.

And then started the downpour, the torrential rain that cemented their last few minutes away from each other. As they walked along the river, Ichigo noticed someone following them down by the river's edge, but when he asked his mother who it was, she didn't say, merely telling him in a hushed voice that he needed to keep walking and ignore the man. She even pulled out her phone, something she rarely ever did on their walks home together, because it was their time away from his weird father, just the two of them. But even as he heard his father's voice answer over the phone, it had been too little too late. Ichigo heard his mom scream, and he had enough time to let one of his own out as a blunt object collided with the back of his head before he blacked out, his head hitting the ground the same time his mother's cell phone did. His world had gone silent, but the last thing he remembered was his mother's horrible screams.

One day later he woke up, he was on one of the beds in his father's clinic, with Yuzu and Karin curled up on either side of him fast asleep. He was confused and drowsy, but able to shift enough to wake up one of the girls. Karin told him to stay put while she went to get dad, and the rest was history. His father informed him that his mother had been abducted, and Ichigo was found on the street after Isshin called for the police. That had been Ichigo's next feat, convincing them he had no idea what happened, he didn't know who would capture his mother and that he hadn't seen anything. A few of them even tried to get a confession out of him, that he did know and that he was protecting them for some reason, but that didn't last long when he father threw them out the door.

The next day, they found his mother's body, floating down the river, her insides hollowed out. And it progressed from there, people with no relations to each other had been found, discarded in many different ways. In a river, a dumpster, an ally, some people were found on the spot where they were attacked, it didn't matter. The only thing they had in common was that the Hollow King had managed to get a hold of them. Including Kaien.

Ever since he agreed to becoming part of a three-way relationship a few weeks ago, he had promised himself that he would no longer go to Kaien's apartment, and would go to theirs whenever the urge struck him, which had been so frequent that he now had a key, a place for his toothbrush, and a permanent spot in the dresser for his clothes. But there wasn't a single person in the entire world that could deter him from doing the yearly ritual of visiting his mother's grave. And as far as he knew, his family still visited her grave to this very day, though he hoped he wouldn't run into them. Aside from his current not-speaking status with his father, the dynamic of his family could be very weird to a stranger's eyes, and while he was happy that Gin and Toshiro both wanted to come with him, he couldn't help but feel his stomach perform a back-flip with trepidation at the thought of them meeting.

Noon was still a few hours away, so it hadn't reached the pinnacle temperature yet, and as long as people stood in the shade, they were fine. After packing water, incense, some flowers, and telling his boyfriends to behave or he will exclude them from future visits, Ichigo lead them to his mother's grave in the town's main cemetery, the family owned a plot there for all its current members and a little extra. Aside from being a godparent, he didn't know if there would be any kids in his future, it was way too early for that sort of thing. Karin was at the peak of her athletic abilities so far, and Yuzu wants to further her medical studies, neither of them would be very family oriented for a while. The thought of how disappointed Isshin must have felt made Ichigo want to laugh. He could picture the big lug's reaction, getting all teary-eyed and crying to a poster of Masaki on the wall about how their babies are growing up too fast and leaving him.

Ichigo frowned at the thought of his old man. Neither one of them went to the trouble to contact the other after Ichigo walked out of the house about a year ago after they last visited her grave, and Ichigo preferred to keep it that way until his father was able to come to his senses and realize he was being an idiot... More-so than usual. The fight wasn't typical of a normal family. He didn't care that his only son was gay, he didn't care that he didn't want to take over the family clinic, and he didn't care that his son had a disorder since he was a kid. No, Isshin's beef with his son was that he wanted to become an idol of sorts, to stay in his band and perform gigs around the world, to pose on every billboard in the city, to make guest appearances and cameos on certain shows or movies, to become someone adored and envied by the public, to follow in the footsteps of his mother.

It pissed the orange top off to no end, that his father would want to hide away the last remnants of his mother. He had tried to reason with the man that Aizen had killed her randomly, not because of her popularity, but the stubborn goat refused to believe that, and that Ichigo was just going to end up like her. He would never admit it out loud, but he was crushed, angry, that Isshin would think so lowly of him and his abilities to take care of himself, that he would just end up a statistic like his mother. They had quite a few fights like that ever since he had started college, but that last one had been the final straw, and Ichigo moved out a couple of days later, only taking a few things with him: his clothes, guitars, a couple of pictures, and his laptop. That was how he ended up with Sado and Uryuu, and the rest is history. Kaien had tried to get them to speak again, though, but Ichigo wouldn't even do that. Not even after he died. Perhaps it had been a bit childish of him to dismiss his father for an entire year, but Ichigo liked to think he grew up a little in the past few weeks. If he did come across his father today, he would try to at least be civil to him. Just for Kaien's sake.

When they came upon the cemetery, Ichigo's feet already carved out a familiar path straight to her grave marker. "Here she is," he said setting down his backpack and kneeling in front of her kanji before giving a respectful bow. As he sat back up, he inspected the grave to make sure the monument was spotless, that the only discoloration was Isshin's name painted in red, and that the correct number of sotoba were in place. Swiping a few stray leaves away, he set a framed picture of her against the stone for everyone to see. "Gin, Toshiro. Meet Kurosaki Masaki. My mother."

The both of them took a kneeling position next to Ichigo and bowed respectfully at the deceased woman, Gin adding a little wave as he introduced himself afterwards. "Hiya, Kurosaki-chan! Sorry, but we've corrupted your son. I hope ya dun mind." The line made both Toshiro and Ichigo roll their eyes, Ichigo lightly punching his shoulder.

"Gin." Said male looked over at his white-haired lover and tilted his head. "Ichigo was corrupted long before we came into the picture. Stop trying to take other people's credit."

"But Shiro," he complained, throwing his arms around Ichigo's neck and attaching himself to his back. "We're the ones corrupting him right now, ain't we?"

Toshiro sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration at Gin's childlike behavior as Ichigo simply laughed it off. She would have loved all of this. He remembered visiting his grandfather's grave once, it was quite the event. The five of them had a picnic and even brought a single portion of his favorite food to set in front of the stone. At first he was confused, because he'd been taught to be respectful at grave sites in school. Surely a picnic was a little extreme... But his mother just patted him on the head and told him that her father loved Sunday picnics, and it is just one way to honor him. Now it was time to honor her.

He set up three sticks of incense in the corner of the grave and lit them, watching the smoke billow upward into the heavens. Toshiro and Gin were bickering in the background, but he wasn't really paying attention to what they were bickering about, to busy thinking about the old times he shared with his family and how much he missed them. He remembered bringing Kaien here for the first time along with the rest of his family, and that event had turned out a bit strange for him considering how well Kaien and Isshin got along. It disturbed Karin and him as they walked down the road, watching Yuzu, Isshin and Kaien march in front of them, singing about bottles of beer, though in Yuzu's case she sang about bottles of soda when it was her turn. Ichigo compared notes with Karin about how the three of them interacted.

"Ichigooooooooooo!"

Purely by instinct, Ichigo's entire body jerked into movement, knowing that call all too well from years of experience. Forcing himself backwards, he just missed having his head kicked in by his father's shoe. Still acting on instinct from having to deal with this so many times, he grabbed onto the man's passing ankle, flipped him over onto his stomach, and dug a knee into his back while he twisted the leg, pulling it toward his body as he gave Isshin a piece of his mind.

"What the hell, old man?! We're at a grave, be a little more respectful!"

"Papa!" Both struggling males looked up to see two girls walking at a much slower pace toward them. "What have I told you about provoking Ichigo?" Yuzu, now taller with longer hair, bent down to glare a disapproving look at her paternal family member. Ichigo was blindsided at how closely she resembled their mother each day.

Karin walked up, as well, also taller but her hair was tied up in a ponytail. "Geez, dad, how uncool. Still losing to big brother, eh?"

Isshin pointed a finger at his badmouthing daughter as best he could while bracing his other arm against the ground to hold himself up. "I was just making sure that all those lessons as a kid weren't forgotten and made him soft, that's all!" He moved that pointed finger backwards towards his son. "Ichigo, we need to talk!"

Rolling his eyes in exasperation, he kept an arm hooked around Isshin's foot as he gestured with the other to the two adults that were sitting quietly nearby. "Yuzu, Karin. These two are my boyfriends. Gin. Toshiro. These are my sisters. Please make adequate introductions while I'm away."

"Eh?" His father started to roll around, struggling to get free so he could see Ichigo's new boyfriends since they were sitting out of his current line of sight, but the attempt was futile. "What about me," he protested.

Ichigo slapped him upside the head. "You wanted to talk, remember?" With that, he stood up and dragged his father away by his foot, muttering about everyone playing nice, his iron grip forcing Isshin along.

When they were far enough away from the group to feel sufficiently private, and away from any other people visiting graves today, Ichigo let go of his father's foot and turned around and crossed his arms. He stared at the man, waiting silently for him to get off the ground. He would tell Gin and Toshiro about this conversation later, but right now, it just needed to be him and his father. When the man was on his feet and dusting off his clothes, Ichigo ordered to speak up, only barely remembering in time his promise to Kaien to be civil. "You wanted to talk. So talk."

Isshin nodded, not speaking until he was able to light a cigarette and take a long drag from it to soothe whatever nerves he might have been feeling. "Listen, Ichigo... I wanted to apologize." Ichigo lifted an eyebrow in disbelief, but the older man continued. "Yeah, I figured you wouldn't believe me, but I do. I've grown up a little in the past year."

He snorted. "Your greeting says differently..."

"Oh that? Ha ha ha, that's just habit. Whenever I see my son first thing in the morning, I get the uncontrollable urge to kick his ass." His father laughed, causing to Ichigo to smirk a little.

"Yeah, as much as I hated when you would literally kick me out of bed, the good times were when I kicked you back."

Feeling the tension between the two of them lighten a bit, Isshin clasped a hand onto Ichigo's shoulder and shook it a couple times in reassurance. "Listen... I want you to know that Masaki and you three were the most important people in my entire life, and still are, so after Masaki died, I grew overprotective of all of you. I saw the path your walking, but I didn't want you to in fear of ending up like her. But your a young man, an adult nearing the end of your college years, and I realize that I have to treat you like one. I can't control everything you do anymore, you are your own person." Ichigo looked away, not sure how to take his father's suddenly sincere face as he let go of his shoulder. "If becoming an idol and a chart-topper is what you truly want, I will respect that. Besides, I can't wait to see your stuff posted around the city. I gotta jam to your newest music, so I can be cool like the rest of the younger generation!"

The orange-top scratched the back of his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed. First his father was childish, then he got serious, which is way weirder. Then he reverted back to being the idiot him and his siblings had always grown up with. It was kind of hard to think of a response to that speech, but he decided to give an apology of his own. Kaien had been right way back then, now that he's had a chance to talk to his father, he could see and admit that now. "Well, damn. Uh... I guess I kinda overreacted a little, too. I'm sorry it was so abrupt, but I had to get away and prove that I could make it. I should have at least given you a call..."

His father resigned himself to that same mistake. "Yeah, me too."

The younger man perked up. It wasn't everyday he was able to hear Isshin directly admit to something he didn't do. "Really? How long ago did you realize you were in the wrong?"

Isshin went to punch him, but Ichigo dodged easily. "About a month after it happened. Karin kicked some sense into me, like she always does, so after that, I've tried to take a big-boy pill and swallow my pride. I promised Masaki that as soon as I was able to talk to you again, that I would apologize and try to understand you better. And to talk to you more often." He then pointed a finger at his son. "But hey, don't think I'm the only one in the wrong here!"

Ichigo chuckled, thinking of Kaien's own words and his own promise to not continuously shrug off his father. "Hey, I've done some growing up of my own in the past couple of months. More so in the past couple of weeks, really. I feel like, for once, my depression isn't constantly raining down on me in my head."

"Yeah, I remember you used to say that when Rukia was around."

The orange-top shook his head. "That was for when mom died. She was my best friend, she still is. I was able to continue on with my life because of her, Tatsuki and Orihime."

Isshin nodded. "For a while, I wondered which girl you would end up with. After Orihime, I didn't think you would get together with anyone else, but then Kaien showed up and brightened your life." Ichigo gave a small, sad smile as he looked down at the ground, and Isshin had a feeling he knew what was up with his son. "Ah, they still blame you, don't they?"

He shook his spiky head. "If Kuukaku and Ganju were still alive, they wouldn't, and neither does Koganehiko or Shiroganehiko, their hired help. But his parents still do. I Still can't visit his grave."

His father sighed and looked back in the direction of Masaki's grave. "However, you seem lighter, like a heavy burden was eased off your shoulders. Does that have anything to do with those young men that were with you?"

Face resembling very much like a tomato, Ichigo stiffened at those embarrassing words. He chose not to answer that question and instead deflected it with a threat. "Dad! Behave yourself, or I won't introduce you!" Yeah, their father was pretty bad when it was just him and his siblings, but now that Gin and Toshiro are in the picture, things were going to get ten times worse, and he knew no amount of scolding his father would get him to act with proper conduct. He just hoped that his boyfriends(still weird calling them that) were patient and understanding. But then, with Gin's personality, things might worsen if they actually got along. He felt a shiver crawl unpleasantly across his body. That was no good.

Surprised at the threat, Isshin hopped onto a foot, the other leg defensively bent up as a worried look crossed his face. "Me?! Why not?! What did I do?!"

Ichigo sighed. He was doomed. He would just have to rely on Karin to keep their father in line, and Toshiro the same with Gin. "Whatever. Let's go." And with that, he walked past him, hands shoved in his pockets as he silently brooded over having to include him in family introductions. Yuzu and Karin were mature enough to handle themselves, he could trust them not to make such embarrassing statements. Before she died, mother was the one that kept him in line, and just as Yuzu took over her household duties when she died, Karin took it upon herself to be her mother's heavy hand whenever their father started acting like a bozo.

Surprisingly, the oldest Kurosaki wisely kept his mouth shut and followed behind him, a bit sulky, but otherwise compliant. If he started giving Ichigo anymore trouble, he'd just sic Karin on him. As soon as they reached the grave, it was just as he predicted, Karin and Yuzu were having polite conversation with Gin and Toshiro, though it looked more like Yuzu and Gin were conversing excitedly while Karin and Toshiro hung silently in the background. This made Ichigo slightly afraid, because Yuzu...

"Big brother! Why didn't you tell me you were in a relationship!?"

...had a tendency to get bubbly and start acting like their father whenever she meets new his new love interests, especially if they were just as chatty as her.

He sighed again, but ignored the question and pointed to his father. "This is our idiotic dad. Isshin. Dad, that's Gin Ichimaru and Toshiro Hitsugaya." He pointed to each one as he said their names and all of them bowed respectfully at each other, although what Toshiro had to say next had all of them floored.

"Dr. Kurosaki. It's nice to finally meet you in person. How have you been since yesterday?" Everyone there, except for Gin, looked at Toshiro in shock, and the movement of everyone's heads moving at the exact same time so intensely to stare at him had him startled. "What?"

Karin stepped forward. "Wait a minute, you two know each other already?"

Isshin struck a affirmative pose, making everyone wince at how dorky he looked, and confirmed Karin's words. "Yup! Being a doctor and all, I have quite a few patients that have muscle pains because of stress and work, so I often have referrals to point them to! Hitsugaya-san here is a masseur, so I always have to help schedule appointments with him." He lurched forward to vigorously shake his hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person. And I'm shocked to know that you are dating my son. Just when did that happen?"

Feeling his arm about to break off from the violent handshake, he pulled his hand free before it went numb. He rotated his shoulder as he shrugged. Isshin was every bit the dork he sounded like over the phone. "Ah... About a month ago. Just before the phone conference."

Not at all offended that Toshiro had pulled away from his energetic greeting, the older man tapped his chin in thought for a minute before setting a vertical fist on his open hand. "Oh! Yeah, the girls were all gossiping about relationships and was asking everyone weird questions! I tried to keep up, because I have two girls of my own, but that was impossible... The meeting started late and took all afternoon and ran into part of the night!"

Ignoring threats from those said kids about dismemberment and castration, Toshiro nodded at Isshin's correct memory. "Yes. It was around that time. Gin and I met him the night before that. I didn't want to say anything, though, it wasn't my place to. I figured Ichigo would tell you when he was ready, or at least on speaking terms."

Ichigo looked at his boyfriends, frowning. "So you knew who my father was from the moment you looked at my identification?"

Again, Toshiro nodded in agreement, but Gin did the opposite and shook his head. "I heard 'bout him through Shiro, but I never met the guy." He gave the man a lazy wave. "Nice ta meet ya, sir."

Instead of returning the calm and polite greeting, Isshin instantly shot forward, past the two men and in between his two daughters to cling to the tall Kurosaki monument in the background. "Dear wife, you'll never believe it! I just learned our son is polyamorous! Where have we gone wrong?!"

Getting a headache from his father's verbal idiocy, he yelled at the man as Karin tried to pull him off their mother's grave. Yuzu just hid behind her brother. "What the hell, old man?! Give it a rest! It's not even like that!"

Able to pull Isshin completely off the towering stone, Karin then delivered a swift kick to the man's stomach and sent him flying, until he was nothing but a speck of dust in the distance. Even sheltering their eyes from the sun could not help them see any further than that.

"Alright," Karin said, dusting off her hands nonchalantly as the rest of the group sweatdropped. "Who's hungry?"

By the time Isshin arrived back at the grave, Ichigo sat him in the corner, next to Masaki's grave, and told him if he didn't behave he would let Karin kick him again. Needless to say, he sat quietly munching on a sandwich, tears flowing silently from his eyes. Yuzu tried to pay a little more attention to him, patting his back and giving him extra food to placate his childish pouting, but Karin eventually dragged her to sit down with their guests. Ichigo was relieved as the rest of the morning passed by without any further disruptions, and Toshiro, Gin and the girls got to know each other pretty well. Wild stories about their mother were told(when Isshin had been permitted to speak), and everyone got to know how Ichigo met them(the PG version despite Karin's protests). The girls even caught sight of a kiss between Gin and their older brother, and to make up for the PG story, they both kissed either side of Toshiro's cheeks, which had him glaring and flaring red.

When two o'clock rolled around, the group was splitting off, first with Yuzu and Isshin, then with Karin, and when it was three o'clock, it was back to being just the three of them, and after offer a small prayer and a bow, his boyfriends left their cards in the card holder for the grave keeper before making their way to the entrance, promising Ichigo a minute alone with his deceased parent. Ichigo mentally thanked them, and waited until they were out of sight before he sat himself respectfully in front of his mother's tombstone.

"Mom," he began, giving a respectful bow like everyone else had. "How is it, the place where your soul now resides? Heaven? Elysian Fields? Valhalla? Soul Society?" Then he shook his head at that last one. "Sorry, manga reference." He placed a hand on the stone, his fingertips brushing her engraved name. "Well, as you can see, I'm doing better. I made up with dad, and I saw my sisters, and you have met my new... boyfriends."

Sighing, he leaned forward and rested his head against the stone. "I still miss Kaien. I still love him, and it will take me a long time to get over him. But Toshiro and Gin... They're good to me. They understand me, and are willing to give me time and patience. Toshiro knows what it's like to lose someone he loves so suddenly, and Gin... I don't think there will ever be anyone who understands him, but Toshiro and I try. Those two were already an item before I came along, so it feels like they helped me more than I've helped them, but I want to try to change that, and for that reason, I stay with them." Ichigo snorted. "I mean, don't get me wrong, the sex is good, too, but with them, I feel like I can finally heal. I've accepted your death a long time ago, when Kaien first managed to trap me into a date. Now it's time for me to accept his death, and with them around, I feel it's possible."

He paused to give the stone a light kiss. "Love you, mom." Then he chuckled a bit. "And no, I'm not polyamorous. Dad was just freaking... again. Like he always does. You know the drill. I say something, dad freaks out, goes clilnging to you, Karin kicks his ass, and Yuzu hangs out in the background not knowing whose side to be on. It happens all year, every year."

Ichigo stood up, dusting off his pants. "Well, I should go. The others are waiting for me." He gave the stone one last pat and turned around to leave, but stopped suddenly. "Oh yeah..." He turned around to look at the grave again. "I promised to try to stay away from Kaien's apartment. If you see him, tell him hello, if you don't mind?" With a parting wave, he turned and left the cemetery completely.

Gin and Toshiro were waiting for him at the gated entrance, leaning into the ironwork fencing as he made his way closer to them. Once he caught up to them, they straightened almost immediately. "Ready," asked Gin as he adjusted his sunglasses. Ichigo barely had time to nod as the taller man shoved him towards the street, where a taxi awaited their arrival. "Good, because we have one more place to be." Before he could ask them about where they were going, he was shoved into the taxi, and they were all carted away to... the flat?

Confused, Ichigo allowed them to pull him out of the cab and into the garage underneath the apartment complex. "Guys, what are you doing?"

Neither of them answered his inquiries, Toshiro busy with his phone and Gin pulling out a set of keys and a button. When he pressed it, a car in the distance disarmed, and Ichigo looked around to spot a black, sleek little number that was probably worth more than his very soul blink its headlights in acknowledgement of its master's arrival. The orange top instantly fell in love with the modern look, and if his mouth could produce that much saliva, he would be swimming in it by now. His boyfriends no longer had to drag him over, he willingly walked with them, nearly floating little hearts popping around his head, until he attached himself to the car's front hood. And he did not move, even as the machine roared to life, the vibration of the sexy beast beneath him lulled him further into Fantasy land. Right then and there, he vowed that he would screw Toshiro, or Gin, or both inside or on top of this car, while it was running, because he had a hard on just laying there doing nothing.

Gin revved the engine once more as Toshiro leaned out of the door. "Ichigo, let's go!"

Still in a bit of a dreamy haze, Ichigo lifted his head, and only his head, from where he was sprawled over the hood of the car. "Huh?"

Rolling his eyes in exasperation as Gin did nothing but chuckle, Toshiro climbed out of the car, carrying with him a band of black cloth. 'You're hopeless," he told the guitarist as he walked over to him, which made Gin laugh even harder. With Ichigo thoroughly distracted by the black beauty of a car before him, Toshiro was able to loop a blindfold over his eyes, smacking tanned hands away when they tried to take it off. It only took him a few moments to tie the knot and shove him into the backseat of the car by his head, climbing in after him to make sure that Ichigo didn't undo the blindfold at any point during their ride.

"Hey, don't you go chastising him when you were the exact same way during your first meeting with Grimmy."

Confused, Ichigo's head swerved in the direction of Gin's voice, who was starting to steer them out of the garage. "Grimmy?" Toshiro answered for him.

"Grimmjow Jeagerques. Did you notice the silver, big cat fastening on the end of the hood?" Ichigo nodded. "That's the car's name."

Toshiro narrowed his eyes as Ichigo reached up to scratch his head. "Isn't that a bit of a masculine name to give a car? And the name itself is kinda unusual... How did you come up with it?"

"Grimmjow was my favorite guard dog at my mother's mansion. He never listened to her, but he listened to me, and it was almost like he was my dog. Jeagerques is a modified combination name influenced by mine and Toshiro's favorite alcoholic drinks, Jägermeister and Jack Daniels, and was added after I met him. And since you've joined us, you'll need to contribute."

Ichigo sighed, slumping against the backseat. He felt like he needed one of those drinks right about now. "You people are so weird..."

Gin just laughed as Toshiro poked him in the side. "Pot. Kettle. Black." Point taken.

The ride was mostly a smooth one, Ichigo could tell when the car turned left or right, when it stopped and picked up again, but he couldn't tell how long the distance was. He tried asking his boyfriends where they were going, but all he got in response was that it was a surprise and to sit tight until they stopped for good. There were several times he felt the tempting urge to ask "are we there yet" simply to annoy the fuck out of them considering they sprung this little road trip on him last minute, but he kept his mouth in order when Toshiro told him that if he asked that question even once, he'd chop off his tongue.

There had been an amusing moment where they stopped for fast food, and the lady at the window had asked about his blindfolded state. Ichigo could almost picture Gin smirking hellishly as he indulged her in some sort of kinky fantasy. And there was no mistaking Toshiro's sigh of exasperation at the tall tale, as it had been right next to his ear, but he played along, running his pale hand against the inside of his thigh. Seeing as he was the oddball out, he gave a small shrug before looping his arm around the small man's waist. He couldn't see anyone's reactions, so as soon as they left, he asked what happened. Gin merely stated that the look on her face was priceless, and Toshiro concurred, and the subject was dropped while they ate.

Ichigo must have fallen asleep shortly afterward, because the next thing he knew, Toshiro was shaking him awake, telling him that they's arrived and he could finally lift off the blindfold. He did so immediately, wondering just where the hell he was and what made the place so special that they had to blind him on the way there. He wasted no time trying to look out the windows, opting to climb out the door and stretch his legs. Holding his hands up above his head to pop the stiff bones in his back, he took a look at his surroundings. It was another graveyard. Frowning, he tilted his head toward the sign to make sure that he wasn't back right where he started. Nope, this wasn't Karakura's southern plot. In fact, they weren't in Karakura at all. Looking around for Gin and Toshiro found them a little further up the main path that lead into the gated area and he quickly took up a fast-paced walk to catch up to them.

"Where are we," he asked, looking around at all the statues and flowers.

Gin gave a grandiose gesture. "Why, Berry! I should think that obvious. A graveyard of course!"

He was not impressed and slapped him upside the head. "I know what kind of place we're at, what I want to know is where we are going and why!"

Toshiro tugged on his arm as Gin rubbed the back of his head. "Just shut up and follow along. You'll understand soon enough."

They were headed towards the very back of the cemetery and gave Ichigo time to take in all the different headstones, admire the artistic statues of angels and birdbaths dedicated to the dead, and smell the brightly colored floral arrangements planted next to them. In the very middle of this gated place was a white gazebo, looking so calm and serene, Ichigo couldn't help but appreciate the view. Benches were encircled around each other, with only two gaps where people could enter and exit the elevated sitting area. Two or three wooden steps lead under the shady latticework that stretched across the top and around on the sides, large, vine-covered beams holding everything up. It looked like the perfect place to sit and think, an area where someone could get lost deep in thought. Ichigo had to admit that, if he ever got a house, he would love to have something like this in the back yard. But as beautiful a place this was, it was not where they were going, and Toshiro proved him right as he lead their small group beyond it.

Upon reaching the last row where the plot was cut off by well-maintained shrubbery and trees, Toshiro guided them to the left, not stopping until they've reached the upper left-most grave. Still perplexed, Toshiro silently pushed him forward, his face conveying nothing but annoyance and determination. Gin made shooing gestures with his hands, urging Ichigo to take a closer look at the grave Toshiro had pushed him closer to. Not really sure what else to do and wanting to know what was so important anyway, Ichigo knelt down to look at the name etched on the granite.

Shiba Kaien.

Ichigo fell on his ass as the floodgate holding his emotions at bay lifted, overflowing and drowning him in several different sensations so intense, his throat let out a strangled cry as it closed up. This was his dead lover's final resting place. This is where his dead lover's family buried him, he was visiting a place so sacred, more so than that dilapidated apartment, a place that had been off limits to him. He wanted to cry at the sight. he wanted to hug the smooth stone tightly in his arms and never let go. No, no, he wanted to smile with joy at finally being able to see the one sight he never thought he would be able to see for the rest of his life. But at the same time, he wanted to punch Toshiro and Gin for bringing him here and reopening the stitches he'd made in his heart, and the old wound known as Kaien was free to bleed again.

Not quite sure what to act on first, he took his time calming the rapid breathing of his chest before he spoke. "How did you..." He didn't have the strength to finish that sentence, but he didn't need to. His boyfriends already knew the very first question he would ask, and Gin was ready to supply that answer.

"Funny story, that... I had a few of my people look up the documents surrounding your restraining order, and it looks like some technicalities went all askew. They had an order for you to stay away from them, but there wasn't anything against you visiting Kaien's grave. Actually, it's illegal to deny visitation rights on public property. If he had been buried on private land, then they could do it. Basically, Kaien's parents lied to you, as well as the rest of Kaien's family."

Ichigo felt breathless for a moment. "You mean his cousins, aunts and uncles?"

Gin nodded. "Mommy and daddy Shiba told them you don't wanna have anything to do with the Shibas for the rest of your life, and they told you the opposite with the family. So the 'rents lied to both you and their kin. Kinda douche-like if you ask me." He smirked as he leaned forward. "Yer lucky his family likes ya so much, they were very eager ta get ya here ta visit him. So they helped us out a bunch."

Toshiro tapped Ichigo's shoulder to make sure he had his attention and pointed to the graves next to Kaien, where Kukkaku and Ganju Shiba lay, as well. "They are all here."

He didn't know what to say. He would be able to visit those two alongside Kaien. There were many emotions running rampant through his body, but the one that stuck out the most was pure joy. Ichigo had been afraid that the entire family blamed him, and it wasn't just Kaien's parents, so to find out that it had all been a lie, a scheme to alienate and destroy him, yeah he was pissed, but his relief washed over that tenfold. It should have been expected of his parents, considering their disapproval of Kaien's and Ichigo relationship, but none of the other family members had ever shown any signs of hating him until after his death, which made him really believe the lie was true.

Utterly drained and not knowing what else to do but stare in awe and amazement at the graves, Ichigo didn't notice anything around him until he received a kiss on both his cheeks. Surprised, Ichigo turned around to look up at his lovers as they straightened up and backed away, Toshiro talked softly to him. "We'll be at the gazebo if you need anything. Take your time, and let us know when you are done. Okay?" Nodding, Ichigo continued to stare at them as they walked away and didn't look back at the graves until they were on the main path.

Centered between all three graves, Ichigo sat quietly, taking a moment to admire the quality of the stones and the flowers planted behind them. He would have to come back in the late fall to plant a few snowdrops, it was one of Kaien's favorite flowers and he saw none here that resembled them. He promise Ganju and Kukkaku flowers his next visit, as well, though they would have to wait until the spring. If he knew he would be arriving today, he would have brought some along.

Standing up, he went over to the graves, resting a hand on their headstones. "I'm sorry. I'll think of you guys, as well. You three were like extended family to me and the girls. " He turned his head to Kaien. "And yes, even my father. We're talking now. We've made up, sorta... Now that I can visit your grave, I'll bet they want to join in, too. I'll ask them later." He looked up at the sky, where a pair of birds flew by overhead, swooping towards the ground and then twirling upwards, looking like they were having the time of their lives. He envied them, they looked so free. He could only hope that the three Shiba siblings were just like that. "It happened so long ago, but it still feels like yesterday." He put his hand on his heart. "Your pain is gone, but mine still lingers, even as I try to move on. Will it ever leave?"

He got no response, nor did he expect one. "I don't think it will ever go away, but... I'll try to make room for it. Toshiro and Gin are helping. Instead of try to shove and push you out of my heart, they are embracing you, or rather the little piece of it that you represent. They don't want me to forget you, and I can honestly say that I wouldn't be with them right now if they wanted me to." He blushed and scratched the back of his head. "I know you would like Gin. He is the same as you, he doesn't like his parents, either. You would have had fun tormenting your relatives with him, he can be a bit of a prankster at times. The both of you would get into so much trouble. But despite that, he could be very serious at times, he always listens when you got something to say, and he is never ashamed to tell anyone about his thoughts of beliefs, regardless of when or where. He's almost as public as you."

Ichigo turned around and started to pace in front of the graves, locking his hands across his chest. "And Toshiro has your voice of reason. He's always calm when I get upset. It's weird, but I think it's positive. When I was with you, even when I wasn't on medication, I always felt soothed. It's the same with him. And fuck, have you ever gotten a massage by that guy? He owns his own practice, but damn, I got the R-rated version, and it is nothing to shake a stick at! Kaien, Love, your back rubs satiated me to a point, but I'm sorry, Toshiro's are way better..."

The guitarist became silent for a moment as realization at what he was doing fogged his brain, and Ichigo accidentally let out a brief laugh. Whenever he had been to Kaien's apartment, it was always a heavy weight , pressing in on his mind and shutting everything down until he was a big, bawling mess next to that rusty stain. Here, he felt like that weight has been lifted, and he didn't have to talk about anything that was gloomy and disheartening. He didn't feel like he had to apologize for being with someone else, and he could talk about their similarities, differences, and how they would interact with each other had they ever met. "You would have probably been great friends..."

Sitting there for what seemed like hours, but in reality was only forty minutes, Ichigo decided to bid the family farewell with a promise to drop by again. Dusting off his jeans, he gave each headstone a kiss before he walked down to the main trail, slightly giddy - no - ecstatically happy for the first time since Kaien left this world, he went about trying to think of a way to properly thank Gin and Toshiro for this wonderful surprise that they've given. The obvious answer was sex, but he needed something more than just that, something that was meaningful for the both of them, and he had a feeling that was going to take a while.

So deeply embedded in his thoughts, he almost passed by the sheltered sitting area, and he double-backed a few steps to poke his head inside. Laying on his back, with a book in his hands and his head in Gin's lap, Toshiro look up from the to the orange top as he entered, sitting across from them. Gin was slouched, his arms limp on the bench next to him, one trapped under his lover's head. Gin's own head had lolled backward, limp in sleep as soft snores drifted through the air. Toshiro folded a corner to keep his place and put the book down.

"How are you feeling," he asked, lightly rubbing at the corner of his eye. He managed to give himself a small headache with how long he had been reading.

Ichigo smiled. "I'm doing okay. I had a good visit."

Toshiro smiled with him, shifting his head to look at the man. "Much better than the apartment?"

He nodded. "Much better than the apartment. I don't care what happens to that place. I can finally visit his grave, and it's beautiful, more than I could have imagined. I owe you guys a lot for bringing me here."

"You had a good visit."

"I did. Thank you."

"Mmm." Toshiro shook his head gently so as not to wake Gin. "The sly bastard I'm laying on did it all himself and told me all about it. You should really be thanking him."

"Yeah, but you were in on it, you kept it a secret and went along with Gin's antics. Today has been the best surprise of all time. I'll remember it for the rest of my life. Thank you."

He chuckled. "If you insist."

"I do."

Noting the determination and conviction in that short confirmation, Toshiro looked back up at him, slightly astonished at the confident gaze the man was was giving him. He meant it, completely, and Toshiro tried hard not to blush has he looked away. "Okay... Anyway, we should probably get going." He sat up, but Gin didn't give even so much as a twitch. Frowning at the taller man, he crossed his arms. "We need to wake up the beached whale, though."

Chuckling, Ichigo rose to his feet, giving Toshiro a peck on the cheek. "I say beer, pizza, and a lazy Sunday afternoon spent in cool air conditioning watching Movies."

Toshiro sighed blissfully as he allowed Ichigo to pull him up. "Air conditioning..."

Ichigo tapped the sleeping man on his knee, earning a slight hitch in breath, and a "give me back my banana" before falling back asleep. He hid a smile as Toshiro rolled his eyes and poked the man in the shoulder. This also earned them a muttered response of "birds are chirping blue" before snoring again.

Tugging Ichigo's hand closer to Gin, Toshiro knelt by his boyfriend, urging his other boyfriend to do the same. "There's only one way to wake him up when he gets like this. Go on. Kiss him. I'll provide the physical stimuli."

Not quite sure what he was talking about, but interested to see what he had in mind, Ichigo obeyed, leaning to peck Gin on the lips. The guy shifted, but that was it. The musician looked back at Toshiro, who rolled his eyes again and urged him to continue, but he noticed the small man's position, his knee between Gin's legs. Immediately getting the picture, Ichigo went back and gave Gin a longer kiss. With both the kissing and Toshiro knee kneading his crotch, waking the man up was less of a hassle, and Ichigo waited until Gin was kissing him back with full force before pulling away.

When Gin lost the pleasurable touch against his lips and against his groin simultaneously, he could not stop the groan of disappointment vibrating deep in his throat. "Teases, the both of you..."

Toshiro huffed. "Well, you woke up the first two times we tried to wake you, we wouldn't have to resort to this sort of tactic."

"But couldn't ya just shake me awake? It's less torture."

"Did it displease you to have my knee as a rubbing post?"

"That's the whole point, it pleased me too much."

"Don't complain. It was a nice wake up call, wasn't it?"

Gin groaned again, lazily cracking open his eyes to pout at him. "Not you, too, Berry..."

Ichigo took a page from Toshiro's book, figuratively, and rolled his eyes as he held out his arms. "It's time to go home. Beer, pizza and watching movies in an air conditioned living room."

That made him shake his head. "Ya know I dun like the cold."

Toshiro flicked the man's nose and offered his hand next to Ichigo's. "Don't worry. We'll warm you up."

Suddenly feeling vigorous and lively, Gin grabbed both of their hands and helped pull him off the bench. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

~Owari~

AN: Finally finished! I want to thank everyone who helped me on this long journey, and a special thanks to Queen of Citrus. I hope you can proudly say that this entire fic has been an ongoing birthday fic for you. What started as a one-shot, grew into an epic emotional roller coaster of ten chapters! I hope everyone enjoyed reading this and will get the urge to reread it later on.

IMPORTANT NEWS: Yes, there WILL be a prequel featuring Gin and Toshiro. I have to finish Untitled Preface and Mirage, first, but it will come afterwards. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to wait long. I have a large number of one-shots lined up, covering the points I don't cover in both stories. I will post it as a story, In Other Situation - One Shots, and then just keep adding different one-shots as chapters. They won't be in any specific timeline order. I intend to continue the one-shots even when I get to the prequel. If you guys have any suggestions for one-shots, let me know, and I will gladly write them out, too.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR READING, REVIEWING, FAVORITING, FOLLOWING, AND LOVING THIS STORY! (I think I want to cry...)