Here's the first chapter of Trying To Hide The Scars. I apologize if it's a lil' slow starting off! Next chappie should be a little longer.
I don't own Bleach or any of the characters (cries).. If I did then it would probably be rated 18A ...
Chapter 1
Battle had always been just a blur of sight and sound to me, but I'd learned to cherish that moment of exhilaration. I learned how to enjoy violence where necessary, and Ikkaku Madarame, Third Seat of the Eleventh Division under Taichou Zaraki Kenpachi, had been the one to teach me about the beauty of fighting.
Back and forth they sparred, Ikkaku and our taichou, and I just couldn't get enough of it. Watching them twirl in that endless dance on the very border between life and death; nothing was more beautiful.
Every week, Ikkaku sparred with the taichou ≈ and every week he, of course, lost. No one could beat Zaraki Kenpachi in battle, but I'd watched Ikkaku become strong from fighting the superior shinigami.
"Ken-chan's gonna win!" I glanced over at the little pink-haired girl who was bobbing up and down excitedly in the seat next to me.
"Taichou Zaraki always wins," I sighed. My exasperation did not seem to affect the tiny fukutaicho in the least.
Both fighters were focused intently on the sparring match; now crouched low in a fighting stance, now sweeping across to meet each other blow for blow. The rising sun glanced off of the whirling blades, scorching the sky with crimson light of dawn and making the two shinigami slit their eyes.
I couldn't really explain what it did to me, the vicarious exhilaration I felt when watching the man I served battle the man I admired most in the world. It was as though the two most important halves of myself were coming together. The way they moved, the way they locked swords; the ring of shinigami steel on shinigami steel. The grace with which they would parry and then pull back. All of these things did some undescribable thing to my heart.
They always fell into the same, ceaseless rhythm, twisting back and forth, until the larger and more feral shinigami taichou bore his opponent down with a 'killing' blow. Today, however, Ikkaku was lasting longer than usual against the shinigami taichou; no small feat, considering the awesome power Zaraki Kenpachi wielded.
I smiled as Ikkaku pulled off a particularly brutal strike-and-block-and-strike-and-parry sequence, forcing Zaraki back a step. Zaraki threw back his head and laughed with sheer enjoyment.
The shinigami taichou came back with a fearsome strike of his own, whirling his zanpakuto, and Ikkaku jumped back, narrowly missing being struck, and leaving himself wide open to the taichou's next strike. Zaraki lunged forward and sliced his zanpakuto across, the point hovering next to Ikkaku's throat.
And, just like that, it was over.
Ikkaku grinned and let his sword drop to the ground until the point rested on the hard floor. He gave Zaraki-taichou a respectful bow and turned away, motioning for me to follow.
"Come on, Yumichika," he called; "We've gotta go check in with the Fourth Division so Unohana-taichou know's I'm not wounded." I rose and caught up to him quickly. After every sparring match - especially those concerning Zaraki Kenpachi - shinigami routinely checked in with the healing division, so they could be pronounced fit for duty.
"You did better than usual today," I complimented him, taking in everything about him from the deep breaths to the sheen of sweat across his forehead.
"Yeah, but I knew that move would leave me wide open," he replied. "I was hoping to catch him off-guard with that last move, but the guy's a friggin' monster! It's like he could predict every move I made."
"He's known you long enough. He probably can." I gave a dreamy sigh and started inspecting my fingernails, ignoring the strange look Ikkaku shot me.
We arrived at Unohana-taichou's office quickly, and she gave us her customary welcoming smile. The Fourth Division taichou was well respected, even though her squad had a long-standing feud with the Eleventh Division, who thought they were all pussies.
"Yumichika-kun, Madarame-san," she greeted. "I see you're not injured today. Does that mean you finally beat Kenpachi-taichou?"
Ikkaku grimaced and ran a hand over his shaved head, fingering the zanpakuto at his side idly.
"Nah, he went easy on me today," he replied. She smiled and tucked her hands into the pockets of her shinigami robe.
"I see. Well, in that case, there's no reason to heal you. I'll see you next week. Tell Zaraki I said hi." She turned away, but not before I noticed the lingering gaze she gave him.
I turned away and sauntered out, recognizing the dismissal, but Ikkaku remained for a moment longer before following. We walked in an easy silence towards the Eleventh Division quarters.
"So that's how it is," I smiled. Ikkaku looked up, startled at my tone.
"How what is?" He said quickly.
"You and Unohana-taichou." Ikkaku turned an amazing color of red, his eyes wide.
"No! It's not like that!" He said hurriedly. I gave him a mysterious smile, trying to contain my glee.
"It's easy to tell."
"Nothing - it's not - I don't like her like that!"
"You know Zaraki-taichou would gut you alive if he found out," I said sweetly.
Ikkaku went from bright red to white in a matter of seconds, and I couldn't control the little giggle that escaped my throat. He glared at me.
"I swear I'll kick your ass," he threatened. "You and your messed-up ideas!" I couldn't help it; I burst out laughing.
"But Ikkaku-san, you look so cute when you blush," I replied playfully, and to my astonishment he went bright red again. He turned away quickly, clearing his throat.
"We should get to the Taichou's office quickly," he said to cover his embarrassment. "Zaraki-taichou had something to tell us."
I smiled to myself. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad day after all.