Disclaimer: The only kind of Bleach I own is for the laundry.
Story: After the invasion of the ryoka and Aizen's betrayal, Yamamoto decides he should come up with something to ease tensions and let everyone loosen up. Using the concept of the red string of fate, everyone lands themselves "a fated lover" until the game's over. Ukitake is paired with Ichigo, and tries to somehow survive some very jealous people. And there's still the trouble with the three traitors, with plenty of Hollows.
Set after Soul Society.
Spoilers: Soul Society arc, probably Bount arc too.
Pairings: Ukitake/Ichigo
Warnings: My usual crap…crazy writing, some perverseness every now and then, drama, angst, wild humor, drama, romance, yaoi, drama, and that kind of thing…
The Red String of Fate
Chapter One: Well-Served Tea
Ichigo sighed, stopping for a moment from continuing his sorting of Urahara's shipment. Ever since he had returned from Soul Society, he's sort of developed the routine of coming over to the former 12th division captain's shop after school and helping out with whatever he could. Every once and awhile, Urahara would take him down to the training area and offer a spar. But mostly, Ichigo liked sorting in the back the most.
It was quiet and let Ichigo deal with the past happenings of his life. Everything felt normal now, but it wasn't like he could forget. And Rukia was still gone…he had missed her presence sorely. Not that he'd ever mention that to her. But still…
He still dealt with Hollows, that hadn't change. He doubted it would, and he'd be suspicious otherwise. He communicated frequently with Zangetsu to strengthen their connection and their communication, and he'd warily talked with his inverted self less than that.
But Ichigo was bored and lonely.
"Konnichiwa, Kurosaki-san! You've been a little spacey," Urahara's voice sing-songed from right at the store entrance to the back.
"Just thinking," Ichigo grunted, his ever perpetual scowl crossing his face.
Urahara grinned, snapping his fan close and coming closer to Ichigo. "I know that, Kurosaki-saaan! But what about?"
Ichigo glared, "Nothing, Geta-boushi. Leave me alone."
The grin that had been on Urahara's face left for a second before coming back full-force, the former captain leaning his head to one side and chuckling quietly.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, nothing. Come, Kurosaki-san. Let's have some tea. You've done enough today."
Ichigo scowl's deepened, but he followed the blond man anyway. They cross the shop's interior until they made it into the sitting room, tea already readied and served on the low table. The two of them sat on opposite ends facing each other, sitting with their legs crossed and contrasting looks on their faces. Ichigo's scowl was paralleled to the Urahara's grin that grew more mischievous by the minute.
"Oi, Sandals-hat, what the hell? I was almost done back there."
"Hai, hai. I know. But I decided you could use a break, so here we are!"
Ichigo snorted, but carefully reached across and took the tea pot to pour a little more tea into his cup. Diligently, he did the task with a precision that made Urahara's face almost split in half because of his wide grin.
"Anou sa, Kurosaki-san, please pour a little more tea into my cup as well."
"Why don't you do it yourself, baka?" Ichigo narrowed his eyes at him.
"Because you look very dainty and like a woman doing it," Urahara replied nonchalantly.
Ichigo twitched violently for a second, but he didn't rise to the bait. But his hand itched to grab the tea pot and throw it at Urahara's face and wipe that grin off. The images forming in his head caused him to smirk a bit, to which Urahara raised his eyebrows to.
"Hey, has there been any word from Soul Society? It's been quiet lately," Ichigo commented casually, though there was an undertone of eagerness.
"No, no word. Eager are you, for any news? I suppose I could gleam something –"
"Urahara-san, are you there?" a sort of familiar voice cut in, sounding from the back.
"In here, Ukitake-san," Urahara beckoned from where he sat with Ichigo.
Ichigo sat up straighter, hoping this was news he wanted to hear. He had this feeling that this was one of the reasons why Urahara had taken him from the back and in here to drink tea. He didn't know whether he should feel annoyed or grateful for Urahara's manipulations.
The captain of squad thirteen walked into the room and smiled at the occupants. Ichigo nodded back, but Urahara grinned that big grin of his like he was going to have something great happen.
"Urahara-san, Kurosaki-kun," the sickly captain greeted both of them.
"Anou, what is the matter Ukitake-san? Is there anything wrong?"
"No, no. I'm just here to pass on some news and Rukia wanted me to pass her greetings to Kurosaki-kun," Ukitake said as he sat himself beside Ichigo and in front of Urahara.
"Please say hello back for me," Ichigo smirked, "Preferably stating that life's been great here without a certain midget."
Ukitake laughed and nodded, "Sure, but I'm more sure she'll come back here just to beat your head in."
"So what's been going on?" Urahara cut in, his grin turning into a mysterious smile.
"Ah, there's been activity reported around here. They're going to be sending someone here to aid Kurosaki-kun until the problem's been identified and solved."
"Do you know who?" Ichigo leaned forward.
"I'm sorry, no. But I'm guessing it might be someone familiar with the area," Ukitake hinted, winking at the orange-head.
Ichigo gave a small smile that disappeared as soon as it had appeared. Urahara yawned and stood up abruptly, surprising the other two.
"I have to tend to something right now. Why don't the two of you finish the tea and talk some more?" Urahara left before they could say anything.
There was a few seconds of awkward silence until Ukitake hesitantly broke it.
"So how have you been doing, Kurosaki-kun?"
"Ah, okay. I guess. Nothing's happening so everything's been relatively normal. Other than a couple of Hollows, I've gone back to a normal life."
"I see. So no troubles then?"
Ichigo shook his head. They went back to the awkward silence. When Ichigo went back to sipping his tea, he realized that Ukitake hadn't been offered any.
"Damn, Geta-boushi," Ichigo muttered, silently cursing himself as well. "Uh, Ukitake-taicho, did you want some tea?"
"That'd be nice. I'll use Urahara's cup," Ichigo shook his head and headed to a drawer behind where Urahara had sat. He took out another cup and settled back into his place beside Ukitake while preparing the tea for him.
"You wouldn't want that baka's germs. You might catch his stupidity," Ichigo snarked.
Ukitake chuckled quietly, accepting the cup of tea offered to him. He took a sip of the now warm team, licking at his lips.
"Thank you, Kurosaki-kun."
Ichigo shrugged and they just sat drinking tea together in a more comfortable silence than before. Ukitake swiped a bit of his hair out of his eyes, but one lone strand kept falling back. He was startled when he heard Ichigo chuckling next to him, and he saw the substitute shinigami smirking at him.
"No use. Give it up," Ichigo said point of fact-ly.
Ukitake almost pouted, but stopped himself in time. "If that's what you think." Ichigo laughed at the almost sulking tone in the captain's voice.
"Tell me about this place," Ukitake suddenly asked.
"Uh, what about?" Ichigo was startled at the change.
"Whatever you feel like. What's good to eat, the people, just whatever."
Ichigo felt that small smile tug at his lips again, but he repressed the urge and began to talk. Surprisingly, they ended up talking for quite a while until it was nighttime. They said their goodbyes, giving friendly smiles –at least Ukitake did, Ichigo just smirked –and parted ways.
And then Ukitake came over more often, and Ichigo would finish up with whatever he was helping with and the two of them would sit together and talk over tea. Ichigo would admit to himself he was enjoying their conversations and that it wasn't as uncomfortable as he thought a conversation with shinigami other than Renji and Rukia would be.
Of course their talks were varied, but never anything really personal. Ichigo found out about Shiba Kaien, former fukutaicho of squad thirteen, and his likeness to him, how shinigami academy had been like for Ukitake, about Ukitake's brothers and sisters, about the captain's illness, and Ukitake's long-standing friendship with the 8th division captain Kyouraku Shunsui.
In return, Ichigo talked about school, his friends, his family, and about the town. It wasn't until Ukitake hesitantly approached the subject of when Ichigo led the invasion of Seiretei to save Rukia that their talks could be considered personal.
Ichigo had painstakingly talked about his reasons why, even going so far as to talk about the time before Rukia was taken away by Renji and Byakuya. Afterwards, though rare, personal talks were okay.
It was nearing the end of the day again when Urahara approached Ukitake, minutes after Ichigo had left the shop to head home.
"He isn't him, you know," Urahara fanned himself, looking uncharacteristically serious.
Ukitake nodded slightly, just as serious before he replied back.
"I know. At first, I couldn't get over the similarities, but then as I talked more and more with him and got to know him I realized Ichigo is his own person. And I'm quite happy to have met him."
The grin went back onto the former captain's face, "As long as you know!
"I'll see you tomorrow then. By the way, Ichigo's coming early in the morning, so if you want to catch him…"
Ukitake offered a small smile, heading to the back to go back to Soul Society. It was there where he felt his uneasiness grow. Suppressing his coughs, though it cost him some pain in the chest, he was met up with Kyouraku.
"Anou, Shunsui, is something going on?"
"Just in time, Jyuushiro. Yama-jii called in a captain's meeting right now. I brought some tea for you to drink while we're there, since I know you don't like sake."
"Arigato," Ukitake said as he took the hot tea from his friend and drank it gratefully to soothe his coughing fit. He vaguely noted that it wasn't as good as the tea Ichigo prepares for them every time they sit together for a talk.
"If everyone is gathered then we can begin," Yamamoto's voice encompassed the hall. The elderly shinigami sat on his chair in front of them, his fukutaicho Chojiro standing right next to him.
"After recent events, it has come to me that we need to have something relaxing to do. I have decided to hold a sort of game of pairs in which everyone must get to know each other, hang out, have fun, get kissy…"
It went completely silent after Yamamoto spoke the last words.
"Get what?" Hitsugaya asked incredulously.
An explosion of distress followed Hitsugaya's disbelief. The other captains could be heard from outside of the hall, where other lower-ranked shingami wondered what was going on.
"Now, now. It's not that bad. The pairs' have already been decided. Step up together to pick up a scroll. Chojiro, go ahead."
His fukutaicho sighed, but resigned himself to reading the list. Really, he wondered about his captain's sanity.
"First division Yamamoto, seventh division Komamura. Second division Fong, exile Shihoin. Fourth division Unohana, eleventh division Zaraki. Sixth division Kuchiki, thirteenth division Kuchiki. Eighth division Kyouraku, tenth division Hitsugaya. Twelfth division Kurotsuchi, twelfth division Kurotsuchi.
"Lieutenants are to be informed in another meeting so you don't have to relay the information unless you are partnered with one. Captains, please pick up your scrolls –"
"Excuse me, but I wasn't called," Ukitake interrupted with a polite smile on his face.
Chojiro flinched. He had forgotten to call out the pair he had been dreading most calling out.
"Thirteenth division Ukitake, shinigami representative Kurosaki."
It was a worse silence than before.
Started 8/13/07 –Completed 8/18/07