Like a Tiger Treading on the Flowers

Requested by Chinsui-hime: Kenpachi beating up Grimmjow for Ichigo’s affection.

Summary: Confident uke Ichigo holds a competition each year for the position of seme at his all-boy’s university. Last year’s winner was Grimmjow Jeagerjaques and he’s going to fight to keep his place as Ichigo’s boyfriend. Ichigo isn’t a slut…he just needs someone strong enough to protect him. By the way, when I say confident, I mean borderline arrogance.

Beta’d by KitsuneKiri- thank you!

Competition

Ichigo yawned as he looked over this years pick. Grimmjow was there amongst them, as Ichigo knew he would be. The man was still trying to get into Ichigo’s pants despite Ichigo saying multiple times that just because Grimmjow was his boyfriend didn’t mean he was going to get any. He was on the trial period until Ichigo stated otherwise, hence why Ichigo was still holding competitions.

He knew a few people that looked down on him for doing it, but Ichigo didn’t care. Ever since high school where he had been fighting off guys almost constantly, he made a decision. If he chose one of them, the strongest, then that guy would fight them off and Ichigo didn’t have to worry about anything but his studies and occasionally going on dates and making out with the guy.

Grimmjow was okay, but he was still lacking. His hot temper made him lose control and more often then not Ichigo still ended up fighting off Grimmjow more then he did spending time on other things.

The competition was simple. Each guy drew a number out of a hat and whether it was odd or even decided the one they were going to fight. A one would fight a two; a three would fight a four and so on. The winner of each fight would then fight each other and so on until there was only one man left. It was held over two days so that the fighters weren’t too exhausted, but it also determined their stamina.

Little did they know, it wasn’t a competition so much to be Ichigo’s boyfriend, but to be his bodyguard with benefits. It didn’t matter, they were happy either way.

This year the first fight was between Renji and Grimmjow with Grimmjow winning. The second fight was between two men that Ichigo hadn’t heard or seen before, and assumed they had just transferred. Nnoitra Jiruga and Kenpachi Zaraki. Kenpachi Zaraki was well over six feet tall and had thick dark hair that was shoulder length. A long scar ran down the left side of his face, but it was thin and barely even marred his appearance.

The fight actually lasted a lot longer then Ichigo expected, but he was highly impressed with both of their skills. Kenpachi ended up winning and Ichigo was a little taken aback when his golden eyes flicked to Ichigo, gleaming with something that Ichigo hadn’t seen before.

Ichigo shifted in his seat.

And so the fight’s for the day went on until the preliminary and secondary rounds were complete, leaving the tertiary and final rounds for the next day. Ichigo slipped out of his seat smoothly and didn’t give the defeated semes a second glance as he walked to the café he had planned to meet some of his friends at. He felt somebody’s gaze on him but figured it was just another one of the men who couldn’t help checking him out.

…

Rukia and Tatsuki, like always, couldn’t help chastising him for the ‘barbaric’ competition. Ichigo responded with a shrug. It’s not like he made the semes enter. Rukia ruined any lecture she might have for him by asking if there were any hot guys. Tatsuke glared at her and then draped her arm around Orihime who was blowing bubbles in her milk and grinning.

“I bet hot sauce would go good in milk.”

Ichigo sweat dropped.

They finished up quickly because they all had homework and other things to do, but they liked meeting like this occasionally because they all went to all girls or all guys’ school and didn’t get to talk that much. Ichigo waved good bye and took the alley entrance for a shortcut back to the dorms.

He froze as he saw a tall, broad figure leaning up against the alley staring at him. Ichigo narrowed his eyes as he recognized the man. “Zaraki Kenpachi.” He said smoothly and titled his head to the side. “Is there something I can help you with?”

The man chuckled and Ichigo felt an un-heard of shiver go down his spine.

“You remembered my name, how flattering.”

Ichigo scowled and glared at the dark haired man. “You stand out.”

“Hm.” The man took a step forward and Ichigo took a step back. “Going back to the dorms?”

“Yeah…” Another step forward, another step back.

“I’ll go with you.”

“Er, no need.” His back hit the wall and he turned to dart away but Kenpachi grabbed him and twisted his body so his wrists were pinned to the wall above his head. Kenpachi pressed his broad body against his back and leaned down to whisper into his ear.

“You like being in control, don’t you?” Kenpachi breathed into Ichigo’s neck and tightened his grip on Ichigo’s wrists. “Knowing that all those men would stop at nothing to have you?”

Ichigo whimpered as Kenpachi licked the back of his neck, his tongue flicking over the hard muscle before biting down gently.

“You count on being able to fight them off if they get too enthusiastic and just use them as a convenience.”

Ichigo inhaled sharply as a strong, calloused hand found its way to the front of his pants and slipped inside. Ichigo tried to shift away but Kenpachi followed, forcing him into the rough brick wall. “I wonder if you’ve even let one of them fuck you.”

He tensed as Kenpachi completely bypassed his erection and pressed at his entrance.

“Stop!” He shouted. Kenpachi stopped and chuckled into his ear.

“I guess that answers that question.” He pulled away, leaving Ichigo trembling against the wall with only his shaking legs to support him.

“I will win, and don’t think that I will be as easily dissuaded as your other pussy boyfriends.” He left Ichigo alone with his throbbing hard on and spinning mind. Why the fuck had that felt so good?

…

Ichigo shifted in his seat uncomfortably as he felt Kenpachi’s eyes upon him. The man had practically massacred all the other contestants and now it was down to him and Grimmjow. Ichigo didn’t really know which one he wanted to win. On one hand Grimmjow would back down on his advances and still protect him, but on the other hand Ichigo could see Kenpachi more as actual boyfriend material, but wouldn’t back down with his advances.

And the fight began. Immediately Ichigo could tell that it was mostly one sided. Although Grimmjow’s technique was far above Kenpachi’s, Kenpachi had pure strength and power with enough technique that he completely flattened Grimmjow. Despite the magnitude of the difference, Grimmjow continued to fight, making Ichigo grudgingly respect him a little more for getting his ass kicked and still not going down. But it was only a matter of time before Grimmjow finally collapsed and someone called a medic.

Ichigo frowned and was going to go over to make sure he was okay, he wasn’t completely heartless after all, but Kenpachi grabbed his arm and began to yank him away from the scene. Ichigo protested at first but the tight squeeze on his arm made him shut up.

“Where are we going?”

“My apartment.”

Ichigo frowned and looked up at the large man who gave him a razor sharp grin and slid his hand down to hold Ichigo’s. Ichigo wouldn’t really call it ‘hand holding,’ because that had a degree of romanticism to it that didn’t apply. It was more like Kenpachi clutching his hand in a death grip and didn’t let go. But Ichigo wasn’t a pansy so he didn’t complain, despite wanting to really hurt the man at that point.

Kenpachi’s apartment wasn’t that far away from the school dorm’s, but it was clear that Kenpachi had a least some money because it was four star quality. Ichigo looked around curiously as Kenpachi led him to his apartment on the second floor and unlocked the door. He barely had a chance to even see into the apartment before his back was slammed into the door and Kenpachi’s hand rested above his head.

Ichigo swallowed and turned his head to the side as Kenpachi leaned down to kiss him.

“This isn’t how this works!” Ichigo stated and glared at Kenpachi who didn’t seem to care.

“I know.”

Ichigo shivered as Kenpachi gripped his chin and tilted his head up to kiss him. Ichigo wasn’t expecting something rough and violent considering how physical the man had been, but he wasn’t expecting soft lips that were only slightly chapped and a tongue that only inquisitively attempted to get past his lips.

Ichigo was caught between the desire to give in and to just push the man away. Before he could do either, Kenpachi pulled away with a satisfied smirk.

“You may hold these competitions for boyfriends, but what you really need is someone strong to protect you.”

Kenpachi moved his head down to suck on Ichigo’s throat making Ichigo’s breath hitch.

“But don’t think I’ll let you keep me at arm’s length because you’re being a prude.”

“I’m not a prude!” Ichigo protested and then threw his head back, cracking it against the door as Kenpachi rubbed Ichigo’s erection through his pants.

“Then maybe I should take care of that for you…”

“No!”

Kenpachi stopped and looked at Ichigo’s face in amusement. He pulled his hand away and Ichigo relaxed. Kenpachi moved so that their faces were inches apart and smirked.

“I’ll stop for now, but just remember that I intend to do to you everything that couples do.” He emphasized ‘everything’ with his thigh pressed in between Ichigo’s legs and kissed him again.

This time Ichigo opened his mouth to it and moaned as Kenpachi took the invitation as a chance to explore his mouth. Although Kenpachi carefully kept their hips apart, Ichigo could feel Kenpachi’s erection, large and throbbing against his stomach. He lifted slightly so that he was on the tips of his toes so that Kenpachi wasn’t leaning down so far and tilted his head to the side to deepen the kiss.

Kenpachi pulled away slowly and rubbed his nose against Ichigo’s and then pressed slow, languid kisses to his mouth and along his jaw. He nipped slightly at the skin and Ichigo gasped, moving his head back to give Kenpachi more access. Kenpachi growled as he lightly teethed the strong muscle of his neck before pulling away. He glanced up at Ichigo’s slightly glazed eyes and smirked.

He returned to Ichigo’s neck and carefully picked a spot that couldn’t be easily hidden and sealed his mouth over the area. Ichigo moaned and squirmed as the man began to suck and reached up to tug the man’s dark hair. Kenpachi growled in warning, sending vibrations across Ichigo’s throat that made Ichigo squirm.

Finally he pulled away and admired the reddened area that he felt most appropriate at the moment for marking his territory. Ichigo recovered quickly and scowled at his boyfriend who looked way too smug.

“Bastard!” Ichigo hissed.

“You like it.” Kenpachi said simply and finally pulled away. “Do you want something to eat?”

“Er…”

Kenpachi looked amused by Ichigo’s confusion and chuckled again.

“Dinner on me. It’s a date.”

Ichigo nodded. What else could he do? All of his other boyfriends were usually so enamored by Ichigo that they just did what he said. But Kenpachi wasn’t like that. He made sure that Ichigo knew that Kenpachi might like him, but that didn’t mean Ichigo could walk all over him. Now all Ichigo had to do was to make sure that Kenpachi knew that he couldn’t just walk all over Ichigo. Not that Ichigo liked him or anything.

…

Kenpachi proved to be more then adequate as a protector. Any of the men who wanted to get into Ichigo’s pants took one look at his hulking boyfriend and ran in the other direction. They didn’t have any classes together, but Kenpachi always made sure that he walked Ichigo to all his classes and was waiting outside of the classroom. Ichigo puzzled how he managed to do it when some of their classes were clear across campus from each other, but he assumed Kenpachi easily bullied the teachers into letting him go early.

In one instance where one of the professors tried to come onto him, and pushed him onto the desk, Kenpachi appeared so quickly that it was eerie. The professor had to take sick leave for two weeks to recover from his injuries.

Just when Ichigo thought that he was finally safe from the aggressive semes, he was surprised yet again. Kenpachi had dropped him off at his dorm room, after a deep kiss and a smack on the ass, and left to go home. Ichigo unlocked his dorm room and stepped inside just as Grimmjow grabbed a hold of him. Ichigo gave a surprised shout as Grimmjow covered his mouth and locked the door.

“What the fuck!?” Ichigo cried as Grimmjow released his mouth.

“Your roommate Ishida let me in.” Grimmjow said with a smirk. “Just for a measly gift certificate to a fabric store too.”

Ichigo cursed Ishida in his head as Grimmjow pinned Ichigo against the wall and kissed him, making Ichigo cringe and try to struggle.

“Your new seme doesn’t seem to know what it takes to be your boyfriend.” Grimmjow purred and ground his hips forward.

“Fuck off Grimmjow!”

Grimmjow ignored him. “But I know what it takes, I can protect you…”

“From yourself!?” Ichigo asked incredulously and gasped as Grimmjow thrust his hips forward yet again.

“Of course there will be a small fee…”

He was cut off as the door was slammed open, the locks ripped apart easily as Kenpachi glared mercilessly at Grimmjow. Grimmjow barely had the time to let out a meep before Kenpachi swung his fist and broke Grimmjow’s jaw. Grimmjow sagged to the ground, blood spilling out of his mouth from where his teeth were knocked loose. Kenpachi glared at the unconscious man and glanced at Ichigo who was still leaning against the wall and looking very disheveled.

“Oi, Ichigo, you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Ichigo batted the hands away that were insistently roaming over his body, looking for injuries.

“I said I’m fine!”

Kenpachi didn’t look very convinced but released him to turn back to Ichigo. “What should we do with him?”

“Put him on Ishida’s bed, the bastard was the one who let him in.”

Kenpachi narrowed his eyes and grabbed one of Grimmjow’s arms and threw him onto the bed, not care that his head hit the wall rather harshly.

“The dorms are too dangerous for you, come live with me instead.”

“Er, I don’t know Kenpachi…” Ichigo trailed off uncertainly. That would certainly be crossing one of the lines that he had set when dealing with his boyfriends/protectors. Kenpachi might be different then all of them, but… oh well.

“Fine.”

Kenpachi grinned widely. “Get some of your stuff; we can get the rest later.”

“Right.” Ichigo hastily threw some clothes and textbooks in a bag, which Kenpachi grabbed, and then snagged his laptop.

“You don’t happen to have a spare bedroom or futon, do you?” Ichigo asked as they walked.

Kenpachi responded with a sharp grin.

“Didn’t think so.” Ichigo practically whimpered. Kenpachi smirked and slung and arm around him that wasn’t carrying the bag.

“Don’t worry Ichigo.” He leaned down to purr into his ear. “I’ll make you like it.”

Ichigo let out another whimper and turned around to run back to the school but Kenpachi hooked the back of his shirt with his fingers and tugged him back around.

“You’re being a pansy about this.”

“I am not!” Ichigo was highly affronted by being called a ‘pansy,’ which he wasn’t.

“Then stop stalling.”

Ichigo sulked all the way back to Kenpachi’s apartment.

“Stop pouting, I told you I’d make you like it.”

“I’m not pouting.” Ichigo denied, despite his scowl his lower lip was puffed outward just the slightest bit more then his upper lip.

“Right.” Kenpachi dropped Ichigo’s backpack on the floor of his apartment and wrapped his arms around Ichigo’s slender waist. Ichigo leaned up and kissed him back as Kenpachi carefully slid his laptop bag from his shoulder and onto the floor.

“Mmm.” Despite his protests, Ichigo loved getting kisses from Kenpachi. He was still wary of Kenpachi’s carnal desires, but he was content to ignore that when Kenpachi kissed him.

Ichigo’s eyes flew open as he felt the strong hands move downward to squeeze his ass. He pulled away from the kiss, panting for air as Kenpachi gave another hard squeeze and then released him.

“Bedroom.” Kenpachi demanded and for once, Ichigo wasn’t going to argue. Kenpachi didn’t give him a second to hesitate as he grabbed Ichigo’s hand and led him to the bedroom which Ichigo hadn’t been in before, and for good reason.

Ichigo gulped as he took in the large bed and then stumbled, falling onto it as Kenpachi gave him a light shove. He turned over onto his back and bit his lower lip as Kenpachi crawled on top of him, his golden eyes staring deeply into Ichigo’s as he kissed him lightly then pulled away. Ichigo drew in a ragged breath and then relaxed, leaning back against the bed so he was lying down completely with Kenpachi hovering over him.

Kenpachi didn’t break eye contact once as he continued to press short kisses to his lips, gradually increasing in length until Kenpachi didn’t pull away at all. Ichigo breathed through his nose harshly as Kenpachi’s heavy, broad body covered his. Kenpachi was very large and hard, pressed up against him and leaving nothing to the imagination.

He slowly pulled away and Ichigo shivered as his eyes moved over Ichigo’s body.

“Want help with that?” Kenpachi rubbed his erection through his pants and Ichigo grimaced at the pleasure.

Kenpachi undressed him slowly; seeming to savor the skin that he revealed each time he took off another item of clothing. He kissed Ichigo’s sternum and licked his hip bone as he painstakingly tugged Ichigo’s pants off and then his boxers, leaving Ichigo completely bare.

“Nice.” Kenpachi commented and grabbed Ichigo’s legs, spreading them apart despite Ichigo’s protests and attempts to close them.
“Very nice.”

“Shut up.” Ichigo said and tried to close his legs yet again but Kenpachi moved his hand upward and grabbed his erection.

“Ack!”

“I promised that I would make you like it.” Kenpachi said again and pulled away to take his shirt off, his muscle rippling attractively as he tossed it to the side.

“Do you believe me?”

Ichigo hesitated, and then nodded. He was far too distracted with the beauty of Kenpachi’s body to really think.

Kenpachi smirked and unzipped his pants slowly, the sound seeming so loud to Ichigo’s ear who was trying to figure out how much of that bulge was Kenpachi. Kenpachi got off the bed and took off both his pants and boxers at the same time. Ichigo’s eyes widened as he took in his size and tensed slightly. Before he could go anywhere, Kenpachi knelt on the bed and grabbed his ankles, yanking Ichigo to him so their erections slid against each other.

“Ah!” Ichigo threw his head back and brought his finger up to his mouth to bite down on it.

“Don’t do that.” Kenpachi growled and pulled Ichigo’s hand away from his mouth.

“I want to hear the noises you make.”

Ichigo said nothing and glared at him. Kenpachi stared down at him, not even blinking as he moved his hips, his erection sliding between Ichigo’s crack and pressing at his entrance and then bumping his balls and pressing against Ichigo’s own erection.

Ichigo flinched whenever Kenpachi added pressure to his hole, but didn’t protest until Kenpachi flipped him onto his stomach.

“Wait!”

Kenpachi paused and pressed one hand on Ichigo’s back, holding him their firmly as he spoke directly into Ichigo’s ear.

“I know you want your control, but it will be better this way.”

“I don’t want to be on my stomach.”

Kenpachi growled in irritation and grabbed his erection, pressing the entire length against Ichigo’s ass but not against his entrance.

“Do you feel how big I am?”

Ichigo nodded.

“It will feel better for you if you’re on your stomach.”

“I don’t want to be on my stomach.” Ichigo said a little more forcefully and glared at Kenpachi over his shoulder. Kenpachi glared back. Ichigo tried to flip back over to his back but Kenpachi held him down firmly.

“Ichigo.” Kenpachi’s eyes glowed and he snarled at Ichigo who glared back just as furiously.

“Kenpachi.”

They stared at each other until finally Kenpachi eased up and Ichigo flipped over onto his back.

“Can’t you just…not put it all in?”

Kenpachi didn’t say anything for a moment and instead stroked Ichigo’s side with one hand, staring down at him. He leaned down and kissed Ichigo before rolling off and opening the drawer in his bedside table and a condom.

“Do this a lot?” Ichigo asked a little bitterly with a frown. Kenpachi frowned too and shook his head.

“There’s nothing wrong with being prepared.”

He moved back onto the bed and pushed Ichigo’s legs up and apart so his entrance was totally exposed. He poured some lube onto his head and set it back onto the table before turning back to Ichigo.

“Relax.” Kenpachi ordered as he stroked Ichigo’s entrance.

Ichigo recoiled at first at the cold sensation but relaxed a little as it got warmer. Kenpachi shifted so he was lying beside Ichigo and kissed him languidly before pushing his finger in. Ichigo tensed but Kenpachi’s warning growl made him ease up again. The pain wasn’t too bad, it was something he could deal with at least. But looking at Kenpachi’s cock which was about nine inches long and thick, he felt a little scare. Kenpachi was uncut and Ichigo could see ropey veins along the length, the largest along the underneath.

Ichigo gulped and Kenpachi followed his sight to see what he was looking at and frowned, then kissed him again as a distraction. Kenpachi added a second finger as he distracted Ichigo and Ichigo flinched, but didn’t do anything to deter him. Kenpachi carefully spread his fingers apart and rotated them around until Ichigo’s hips jerked.

“Ah!” Ichigo cried out in pleasure and pressed his hips back to try and get more of it.

Kenpachi chuckled making Ichigo scowl at him. With a smirk Kenpachi added a third finger and Ichigo arched his back, crying out. Kenpachi wiggled them around until Ichigo shuddered, his entire body trembling with want and desire.

“F-fuck…” Ichigo dug his nails into the bedding and rocked his hips desperately to get more of the pleasure.

“Fuck!”

Kenpachi pulled his fingers out slowly and grabbed the condom, tearing the packaged open and making sure it was the right way before rolling it down over his penis. Ichigo bit his lip as he saw the latex stretch to accommodate Kenpachi’s large girth, leaving some space at the top to catch his come. Ichigo looked away as Kenpachi moved in between his legs and squeezed his eyes shut tightly.

“Oi, Ichigo, are you sure you don’t want to be on your stomach?”

Ichigo nodded. Kenpachi stared down at him and grabbed his chin, making Ichigo look him in the eye. Satisfied, Kenpachi released Ichigo once more and grabbed Ichigo’s legs, pressing them together as tightly as he could around his waist.

“Kenpachi?” Ichigo asked in confusion and inhaled sharply as Kenpachi guided the head of his penis to Ichigo’s entrance.

“Keep your legs together, it won’t hurt as much.”

Ichigo simply nodded and then clenched his jaw as Kenpachi pressed inward. He felt even bigger inside of Ichigo, like he was stretching Ichigo past his limits.

Ichigo panted and tried to catch his breath to get past the pain. Kenpachi leaned down and nipped at his jaw, rocking his hips and slowly pressing inward inch by inch. His hands slid underneath Ichigo and massaged his back slightly, encourage Ichigo to relax.

“Fu-uck…” Ichigo shifted and threw his head back as it intensified the pain. “Wait!”

Kenpachi stopped, giving Ichigo a chance to breathe deeply.

“How far in are you?” Ichigo asked, opening his slightly bleary eyes to stare up at Kenpachi.

“I’m almost all the way in.”

Ichigo could see the lie on his face, but it was a nice lie. “Go ahead.”

With two sharp thrusts, Kenpachi was completely in. Ichigo shouted out in surprise and pain, but quickly muffled his cries with his hand. Kenpachi reached up and pried his hand away, looking concerned and lustful at the same time.

“I want to hear you.”

“R-right…”

Kenpachi stayed still for a few moments and stroked Ichigo back to full hardness before beginning to move once more. Ichigo could barely hold back his cries of pain at first, but soon Kenpachi started to experiment with his angle and Ichigo almost sobbed in pleasure.

Although Kenpachi told him keep his legs together, Ichigo couldn’t help but wrap them around Kenpachi’s waist and pull Kenpachi harder against him. Kenpachi took that as his cue to move even faster and soon Ichigo was screaming his pleasure without a care for who heard him.

For Ichigo his orgasm came too quickly, his body being too inexperienced and sensitive to hold out for long. Kenpachi tried to finish quickly as well but Ichigo felt some discomfort near the end as his tight passage was rubbed raw.

Kenpachi gasped out his name as he came and slumped over Ichigo completely. For a few minutes Ichigo allowed, the warmth above him slightly comforting, but soon the ache inside of him became too much and he nudged the large man off of him.

“C’mon Kenpachi, pull out.” Ichigo said through a slightly strained voice and then flinched a little as Kenpachi did as he asked.

Kenpachi pulled off his condom and tied the top before throwing it in the waste can. He rolled back over on his side and stared at Ichigo who was looking up at the ceiling with glossy eyes.

“You okay?” He asked as he traced his fingers through the mess on Ichigo’s stomach and raised them to his mouth to lick them off. He frowned at the taste and used the sheets to wipe Ichigo off the rest of the way.

“I’m fine.”

Kenpachi’s frown increased and he slowly stroked Ichigo’s side while studying his face.

“Sore?”

Ichigo shifted and grimaced. “Yeah.”

“Next time we’re doing it with you on your stomach.”

Ichigo tensed and shifted so he was on his side to face Kenpachi. “I don’t want to do it so I can’t see you.”

“Why not?”

“When I was in high school there was this guy who used to come up behind me and pin my arms down so I couldn’t move. There were always people around so he never took it any further, but I didn’t like the way I couldn’t do anything.”

Kenpachi said nothing for a minute and then cupped the back of Ichigo’s head, moving their mouths together in a soft kiss.

“We’ll do it anyway you want to.”

Ichigo smiled slightly and shifted so he was in a more comfortable position in Kenpachi’s arm with his head resting on Kenpachi’s bicep.

“Did you set the alarm for class tomorrow?” He asked sleepily with a yawn.

“Just call in sick.” Kenpachi said and stared at Ichigo who already half asleep. “I doubt you’ll want to move tomorrow.”

“Kay…” Ichigo trailed off before falling asleep completely.

Kenpachi gazed at Ichigo’s sleeping face for a long time after Ichigo had gone to sleep before finally closing his eyes and sleeping himself.

LINE

Meh, it’s a little sappy, but I can’t steer completely away from it. Kenpachi is the type to not want to no for an answer with sex, but not completely force Ichigo either. I hope that the long length made up for the lack of updates!