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Ikkaku lifted Yumichika onto his back as the slighter man groaned and slowly followed suit, weakly wrapping his arms around his collar. He immediately nuzzled the taller’s neck, his feathered lashes tickling his skin in the process.
It wasn’t often that this happened, but Ikkaku was still used to it. You see, every now and then, Yumichika would get absolutely hammered. The shorter was a lightweight, to say the very least. Especially in comparison to Ikkaku himself, who had an extremely high tolerance for alcohol, and the two knew that much. Regardless of this, Yumichika would sometimes give in and drink till his stomach couldn’t take it anymore. It was a privilege he didn’t have during their days in the slums of Rukongai, because someone like him, the embodiment of beauty and elegance, was extra susceptible to potential predators in such a vulnerable state. Thus, ever since they secured a home here within the walls of the Seireitei, he took advantage of that privilege every now and then.
However, he regretted it every single time. The vomiting, the dizziness, the headaches, the loss of control over his emotions, the brutal hangovers… It was all so “not beautiful” as Yumichika always put it. So naturally, Ikkaku always tried to stop him… But of course, the man being just as stubborn as he was, perhaps more, Ikkaku was never successful in these attempts.
Thus, that’s exactly what got him in his current position right now; walking over to their squad’s barracks with a very drunk Yumichika slumped over his back after a long night of drinking with some fellow shinigami.
“‘Kaku?” The shorter slurred from within his neck.
“Hm?”
Yumichika sighed. “Why’d you let me do this to myself?” He asked.
Ikkaku swore he felt a vein physically pop out of his forehead and he clicked his tongue. “You idiot! I tried to stop you and you know it! This always happens!”
Yumichika groaned. “You should’ve tried harder.”
“I swear I’ll drop you right now if you don’t stop trying to pin this on me, I don’t care if you’re drunk, you brat!”
“Hm. You wouldn’t do that.” He quips.
I wouldn’t. Ikkaku confirms in his head. All he does is let out a grunt in response.
“You’re too kind, Ikkaku.” Yumichika says as he hugs him tighter. “So so kind.” He coos.
“Here you go…” Ikkaku mutters under his breath as he rolls his eyes with a small smile.
Again, the loss of control over his emotions was always one of the main reasons Yumichika hated his drunken state so much. The first time Yumichika got black out drunk, Ikkaku had told him about all the sweet, sappy things he said to him the next morning and he was absolutely mortified… Vowing to never get drunk ever again.
Which clearly, was a vow he never ended up keeping.
“I love how kind you are to me, Ikkaku.” He continued.
“Yeah yeah. Well if I don’t do this who else will?” Ikkaku reasons nonchalantly.
Yumichika hums. “Ikkaku takes such good care of me.” He says as he caresses his face softly.
Ikkaku felt his face faintly heating up at the delicate touches. He cleared his throat before speaking. “Well, it’s mutual.” He says. “I take care of you when you need it, and you take care of me whenever I need it… That’s how it’s always been with us.” He finishes.
Yumichika let out a small, pleased giggle. “That’s right.” He says. “And only us, right? Nobody else?”
Ah yes, the possessiveness. That was also another thing that mortified Yumichika from when he was drunk. It had surprised Ikkaku too, actually.
The first time Yumichika got drunk with other shinigami, he had been furious at the fact that Ikkaku was sitting across from him and next to someone else and then forced him to move right beside him for the rest of the night… Proceeding to physically cling onto him by the arm protectively for the remainder of the night as everyone gave them questionable looks and tried not to laugh at the purple-eyed man’s newfound possessiveness.
"Yes, you idiot.” Ikkaku replied.
“Good. I want Ikkaku all to myself.” He said.
Ikkaku did everything in his power to suppress the snort that threatened to come out of him at the statement. Laughing at him while he was in his drunken state was also a big no-no. The last time Ikkaku failed to conceal his laughter at his ludicrous behavior, Yumichika had grown absolutely furious and almost challenged Ikkaku to a duel until he finally managed to calm him down.
“Is that so?” Ikkaku asked.
He felt Yumichika nodding weakly from his spot within his shoulder. “No one else deserves you but me.” He confirmed.
Ikkaku hummed contently. “Well, I can’t really argue with that now, can I?”
“Mhm.” Yumichika said. “I’m yours and you’re mine.”
“Oh really? You’re mine?” Ikkaku asked, genuinely amused at the statement.
“I thought that was obvious.” Yumichika said with a pout, the blush on his cheeks from drinking was prominent, and Ikkaku couldn’t help but think the image before him was absolutely adorable.
Ikkaku then looked up at the dark sky as he contemplated his previous statement. “Well it’s just I thought you’d be more like ‘This beauty belongs to no one!’ or something like that, ya know?”
Yumichika nodded. “It doesn’t.” He said. “My beauty is all mine. No one else's.”
“Then? How are you mine if your beauty doesn’t belong to anyone, hm? How does that work?” Ikkaku challenges.
Yumichika pondered for a second. “I don’t know… You’re confusing me.” He said with a groan. “Why won’t you just accept it, you asshole?” He asked with a pout again, clearly frustrated.
Ikkaku suppressed a laugh again. “Okay okay.” He said. “I accept it. I’m yours and you’re mine. Happy now?”
There was a sudden silence and Ikkaku looked beside him to make sure the sentimental drunkard hadn’t fallen asleep, only to be met with those familiar, gorgeous purple orbs looking at him accusingly, “Do you really mean it?”
Ikkaku gulped. “Y-Yes?”
“You answered in the form of a question!” He cried. “Why are you lying to me?!”
“H-Hey turn it down a notch will ya?! It’s late!” Ikkaku says in a hushed tone.
“Tell me you-” The drunkard paused due to a sudden hiccup. “Mean it then!” He then finished off.
“F-Fine! I mean it, I mean it! I’m all yours and you’re all mine and nobody can ever take that away from us, got it?” Ikkaku sighed. “Sheesh. I mean seriously, after all these decades we’ve spent by each other’s sides, that’s pretty much a given, isn’t it?”
Yumichika looked content with the answer. “Hm… You’re right.” He says.
Ikkaku let out a breath of relief.
“Then… You won’t mind if I do this?”
Ikkaku began to turn his head towards him. “Do wha-”
Soft lips were pressing against his cheek before he could finish voicing his question and Ikkaku instantly froze, fully stopping dead in his tracks at the sudden, unexpected action.
This was new. This was definitely new. Yumichika got clingy, emotional, touchy, you name it during this state, but it never went this far.
Ikkaku was absolutely shocked. His cheeks were burning, his chest was pounding fiercely, and the spot where Yumichika’s lips had made contact with his skin was tingling. He really couldn’t believe what had just happened.
He turned to look at him fully then, “Yumi-”
“You didn’t seem to like that very much.” Yumichika pointed out a bit bashfully.
Ikkaku was taken aback and gasped at that reaction, Yumichika also had a tendency to get a bit insecure during this state, believe it or not. To the point where he’d whine and almost cry until he got Ikkaku’s reassurance about miniscule things. Ikkaku did not wanna trigger one of those breakdowns right now.
“N-No it wasn’t that!”
“Then?”
“I- You just caught me off guard.” He said as he scratched his head.
“So you liked it?” Yumichika persisted, clearly not letting this go.
“W-Well- I didn’t not like it, it’s just…” Ikkaku bit his lip. He didn’t want to upset him. And truthfully, he did like it… He just wished it hadn’t happened under these circumstances.
But that was an entirely different conversation Ikkaku was very much not willing to have with Yumichika right now, especially not in his current state.
“I liked it.” Ikkaku finally mustered out.
“If that’s true, why won’t you kiss me back?” He asked a bit quietly.
Ikkaku's heart skipped a beat at that.
He was seriously going to die. Madarame Ikkaku was going to die. And it was not at the hands of someone stronger than him during a fight, which is always how he desired to go down, no… He was going to die from heart palpitations, which his currently drunk, idiot best friend was fully to blame for.
Ikkaku composed himself and then sighed, turning to look at him for what he’d say next. “Yumichika, I’m not going to kiss you when you’re not in all your senses. That wouldn’t be right, now would it?” He asked firmly.
Yumichika’s face warped into something more stunned for a split second and then he smiled sweetly. “An honorable and respectful man, that’s so expected of you, Ikkaku.” He praises.
“I guess so.” He responds, finally continuing his path to their squad’s barracks.
A silence befalls them before Yumichika breaks it again. “Does that mean you’ll kiss me as soon as I’m sober tomorrow?”
Ikkaku held his breath. He had to pick his next words carefully. For both their sakes.
“I-If that’s what you still want by then, then yes.”
Yumichika wrapped his arms around him and squeezed, holding onto him more tightly. “I will, Ikkaku.” He whispered into his ear, sending shivers down Ikkaku’s spine.
With that, the conversation finally ended, and Ikkaku let out a long breath of relief.
“Ikkaku, will you hold my hair while I throw up?” Yumichika then asked, breaking the silence again.
Ikkaku smiled. “Of course.”
“And help me clean up afterwards?”
“Obviously.”
“And help me wash my face and make sure my feathers are put away where they belong?”
“Mhm.”
“And help me change into my nightwear, come with me to bed, and not leave until I fall asleep?”
“As always.” He replied instantly.
“You truly are too good to me, Ikkaku.” He said as he nuzzled his neck once more, finally succumbing to temporary slumber.
“Just as you are to me, Yumichika.” He whispered back into the night.
***
The next morning, Ikkaku was seated by the door of Yumichika’s room, an amused smile on his face as the shorter man remained hidden beneath his covers.
“There’s no way I did that!” He whined, his voice muffled from the sheets. Though muffled, the embarrassment in his voice was still clear as day.
“Oh you definitely did.” Ikkaku replied with a smirk. “You definitely did.” He reaffirmed.
Yumichika groaned. “I’m never getting drunk ever again. Next time just knock me out before I move onto my third drink.”
“There’s no way I’m doing that.” Ikkaku said, deadpan.
Yumichika groaned into his pillow once more. “I can’t believe I actually did that… Do me a favor and forget it happened, will you?”
Ikkaku sighed, standing up from his spot the floor, he made his over to Yumichika’s bed, plopping himself down on the edge of the mattress.
Sensing his close presence, Yumichika sat up, finally revealing himself. He kept the covers atop of his head, attempting to hide his messy bedhead, and perhaps his shame… His face was also slightly flushed, most likely due to embarrassment as well as his current hungover state.
Ikkaku loved being able to see him like this, it was one of the many privileges Yumichika granted exclusively to him, something Ikkaku took much pride in.
He swallowed thickly before he eventually forced himself to speak up.
“Since you know everything you said last night now I just wanted to ask…”
Yumichika looked at him with wonder. “Hm?”
“You know I’m a man of my word so- Just in case there was even a slight chance that you meant what you said last night… Do you still want that kiss?” He finally let out.
Ikkaku watched as Yumichika’s eyes went completely wide, his flushed face turning an even darker shade of red as his mouth dropped wide open in bewilderment. “Uh-“
He laughed at himself awkwardly as he began to get up. “Yeah, I assumed that’d be the-”
A slender hand is grabbing his arm before he can fully get up, forcing him to sit back down, “Ikkaku…” Yumichika says, breathless. It comes out almost as a plead, and Ikkaku immediately sits back down, facing him once more.
They stare into each other's eyes intensely for a moment before Yumichika finally speaks up again. “I-I do want that kiss...” He whispers a bit timidly. “But more importantly, I need you to know that I meant everything I said. I always do.” He confesses quietly.
Ikkaku continues gazing at him upon hearing those words and then smiles, “Even the stuff about you being mine?” He asked smugly.
Yumichika covered his face in humiliation again as he kicked Ikkaku’s side, “Oh stop it!”
Ikkaku simply laughed.
“But yes.” He then says suddenly, and Ikkaku’s eyes go wide at that.
“I’m yours, Ikkaku… Truthfully, I always have been, even if I’ve never outwardly stated it.” He admits as he bites his lips before continuing. “I never thought I’d say that kind of thing to anyone, because I’ve never wanted to say I belong to anyone but… It’s different with you, Ikkaku. It always is, always has been.”
Ikkaku’s chest hurt again, just as it had when Yumichika drunkenly kissed him on the cheek the night before. His eyes went wide at the unexpected confession, at the words he never ever thought he’d hear uttered from the other man’s mouth, especially not directed towards him. It was almost as if he was dreaming… But Ikkaku knew he wasn’t, this was real, it was very much real. Thus, he finally managed to compose himself and took a deep breath, instantly moving to cup one of Yumichika’s cheeks.
“I understand. And I- I feel the same way, Yumichika... I’m yours, and I always have been, too.” He professed sincerely.
Yumichika gasped lightly at the words, slowly moving his hands onto his broad shoulders. He leaned in right as Ikkaku did, and when their faces were only mere inches apart, Ikkaku took in Yumichika’s expression up close; His eyes were half-lidded, his cheeks were still red, and his soft lips were parted and quivering just slightly, almost impatient, desperate. It was a look he seldom saw on his longtime friend, and he absolutely loved it. Laughing softly, he finally leaned all the way in and placed a chaste kiss on the smaller man’s cheek.
When he pulled back, Yumichika stared at him, shocked and offended, face still red, though this time, it seemed mostly from anger. “I-Ikkaku, you asshole! I thought you were going to kiss me on the lips!”
Ikkaku sighed loudly. “Well I wanted to! But knowing you, you probably wanna make sure you’re all cleaned up for that, don’t you? You probably would’ve smacked me upside the head and gone ‘Ikkaku how dare you kiss me on the lips for the first time when I’m looking like this! That’s not beautiful!’ Or something along those lines.”
Yumichika’s eyes went wide and he grabbed the mirror he kept next to his pillow and yelped upon seeing his reflection. “Y-You really do know me well. I definitely would have slapped you if you had kissed me when I’m looking like this.” He said in horrification as he patted down his hair.
“You idiot, of course I do.” Ikkaku said as he stood up, “Now let’s go and get you cleaned up… Then I’ll kiss you properly.” He said with a genuine smile.
Yumichika smiled back at him, his cheeks still flushed, then he furrowed his brows in confusion. “Wait, you're going with me? Why-” Yumichika’s eyes then went wide and he covered his mouth as his stomach gurgled.
"That’s why, you idiot.” He said as he held out his hand, Yumichika immediately took it. “Hurry up! It’s not beautiful to throw up in your room now is it?”
They began to run towards the bathroom together, Yumichika managing to yell out, “Ikkaku, you really do know me too well!” Before covering his mouth once more.
Later when Yumichika finishes emptying his stomach out one last time, Ikkaku carefully tucks his hair behind his ears, then cradles his head between his hands gently… And the raven-haired man flashes him a weak yet loving smile that has his heart skipping a beat yet again.
As Ikkaku returned the smile, he concluded that maybe, just maybe, this was the one time where he could count himself grateful for Yumichika’s stubbornness and drunken antics.