Hello all. Yes, I am still working on the next chapters for my other stories, but since I have this fixed up, I wanted to post it back up. I had to change a character because of circumstances with a former friend, but aside from the new name, the story is mostly the same. I hope this one goes as well as some of my others. :)
"Blah" - Talking
'Blah' - Thinking
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, sadly lol, just my plot and characters.
A pair of bright green eyes watches from up on a hill, as several people robed in black, go about their work. The barracks of the thirteen Court Guard squads are stirring as well, and the owner of the eyes can't help but chuckle at a disgruntled yell of
"Matsumoto!" that rings out in the early morning air. Sani chuckles to herself as she stands up, stretching her arms, then dusting off the back of her shihakusho. A soft but amused sigh passes her lips as she walks down to the barracks, she smirks a little as the young white haired Captain of the 10th squad comes storming outside.
"What's the matter Captain Hitsugaya? Did you lose your Vice Captain, again?" The white haired young Taichou scowls, crossing his arms.
"Seen her?" he asks, and Sani shakes her head. She then says,
"She likely went drinking last night with the guys again." Hitsugaya sighs, and then he nods at Sani and shunpoes away. Sani heads back toward the 6th division barracks, a light breeze passes through the air as she walks, choosing not to shunpo. She's been the 3rd seat of the 6th division for about a month now, and her best friend Ranami is in the 10th division, but 4th seat. They had met in the Shinigami Academy and had hit it off quite quickly, and have been best friends since.
She's currently in charge, as both Captain Kuchiki and Vice Captain Abarai have traveled to the world of the living to retrieve her captain's sister, Rukia. Sani settles behind Captain Kuchiki's desk, starting on the rather large pile of paperwork sitting on its surface.
In the 10th division Captain's office, 4th seat Ranami Sotana, who prefers to go by Rana, starts on the pile of paperwork while her captain tries to locate his once again missing vice-taichou. She's partway through a rather tall pile, when suddenly a messenger comes in, bowing and bearing a scroll stamped with the third division wax seal. Ranami frowns, asking,
"Can I help you?" and the young girl nods, handing her the scroll, then, with a nervous wave, scurries off. Ranami notices it's addressed to her so she opens it.
Dear R. Sotana,
"I request the presence of yourself and your Captain in my office later tonight, time of 5 o'clock.
Appreciated,
Gin Ichimaru, Captainof the 3rd division.
Rana's eyes widen, what would the 3rd Captain want with her? She sets the scroll on the desk, and resumes signing the paperwork for her Captain. He finally returns, half an hour later, half walking and half dragging a very hung over Matsumoto, who collapses dramatically into a chair. When Toshiro sits down, Ranami hands him the scroll, then she sits down, the scroll still holding her gaze. Toshiro reads the letter, and then nods,
"We will go as requested." He says, and she nods, feeling a little nervous. Her Captain then sends her on some errands, including getting some hangover medicine.
That night, Rana and her Captain shunpo across the grounds to the 3rd division, talking quietly as they wait upon arriving. Captain Ichimaru soon calls them inside as well as dismissing his other officers, save for his Vice Captain, Izuru Kira. He motions to them a bit to sit down, which they politely decline. Gin nods, fox grin still in place. He says,
"After submitting a request to the Captain Commander Yamamoto, which he's now approved, I am now giving it to you. I wish to promote Miss Sotana to the 3rd seat of my division. Do you accept?" Hitsugaya's eyes widen, as do Rana's. She looks down and then at her Captain, who nods at her, though looking a little sad, Gin can see her nervousness, and he nods at her to continue. Ranami takes a breath, then says,
"I would be honored, Captain Ichimaru." She returns to the 10th division along with Hitsugaya so that she can pack her belongings to move to the 3rd. When she's in her room, she packs everything, and then looks around. She then goes to say bye to her former Taichou and Fukutaichou. Rangiku grabs her into tight hug, saying,
"You better visit!" and Rana nods, chuckling. Hitsugaya escorts her back, his mouth in a frown. He doesn't really trust Gin, but knows better than to voice what he just suspects. At the barracks, Gin shows her to her new room, and pats her lightly a bit on the shoulder before leaving.
A couple days later, Sani looks up from a book she's reading, having gotten in all the paperwork needed, when Captain Kuchiki comes in, looking exhausted.
"Where is Vice Captain Abarai?" she asks, and he sinks into his chair, his arms on the desk, and his head down on them, which makes Sani frown.
"4th division." Comes the reply, muffled by his arms. Captain Kuchiki then lets silence resume, not even lifting his head, which is odd, he never gets upset, or angry to the point of acting this way. Sani bites her lip, going over, and moving so that she is behind her captain, and gently lays her hands on his shoulders. Byakuya tenses at her touch, but Sani doesn't pull away, and, she starts to gently massage his shoulder muscles, tight with tension. After several minutes, the noble begins to relax; tense muscles in his shoulders begin to loosen. Byakuya suddenly takes her hand, bringing her over to the futon, where he sits down, bringing her with him. She hesitates, both nervous and confused. Then she moves her hands to his shoulders again, resuming a gentle massage. Byakuya's eyes soon flutter closed, her touch relaxing him. Soon he moves to lie down and actually lays his head on her lap, where she begins to run her fingers through his midnight hair. She can't believe he's allowing her to do things the normally stoic noble would never even think of.
'He must be more exhausted than I thought.' She realizes. She soon notices a soft sigh escape the noble's lips, and she realizes he's fallen asleep, to the feel of her fingers through his hair. She sighs quietly, watching the sleeping noble,
'Oh Byakuya, your broken soul speaks to me, and in tears.' he shifts slightly, silky bangs falling over his eyes as he sleeps. His head turns a bit, and Sani is surprised to see a lone tear make its way down his cheek. She bites her lip, then whispers,
"It's alright, Captain." And to her surprise, his features relax. She's also still in thought about what Rana had told her last night, her promotion to 3rd division under Gin Ichimaru, at 3rd seat. She had also visited Toshiro the night before as well, and she'd noticed he seemed distracted. She also knows he doesn't trust Gin, and knowing that his childhood best friend is now serving under him is unsettling. She looks back down at her sleeping captain, wishing he was more friendly, and open, instead of closed off and silent. She knows a great deal of it is due to the loss of his beloved wife, and she is also sure, well, hopes she's sure, that he's bothered about what's going on with his adopted sister, Rukia. Sani relaxes against the back of the futon, careful not to wake her sleeping Taichou. She smiles a little at how peaceful he looks when sleeping, such a serene look on his face. She soon manages to unwind his silk scarf, which she sees has sweat stains on the inside of it, deciding to take a risk, she gently takes a hold of Taichou Kuchiki's shoulder and shakes it.
"Captain," she says softly, "Captain, you should clean up a little, and then you can come back and sleep, alright?" he stirs, groaning softly, slate grey eyes fluttering open. She can tell he isn't very alert or awake.
"Can you manage, or would you prefer help?" she asks softly, and he stands a bit slowly, and then holds out his hand to her. She nods and gets up; leading him out to the captain, and vice captain bathing springs. Byakuya undoes his haori, and Sani steps up behind him, gently pulling it off his shoulders. She then grabs a towel, as he removes his hakamas, and she stays close to him as he steps into the water, she sits on the edge as he settles into the steaming bath, closing his eyes as he rests against her knees. She cups a hand and uses it to lightly trickle water over his shoulders, her touches gentle and soft. She won't move far; because of how thoroughly exhausted the man is. She's worried he may collapse.
She urges him to lean forward a little and she starts to lather soap into his long tresses. She smiles a little at the soft purr type sound that escapes his throat as she massages his scalp. She rinses the soap out, he then settles back against her legs after she washes his back and shoulders for him. It takes a short time for him to finish washing, and then he stands and exits the pool, as he does, he sways a little, and Sani wraps a fresh robe around him as well as an arm, in concern. She says softly,
"You're weak from exhaustion; hold onto me so we can shunpo, alright?" with a nod, Byakuya wraps an unsteady arm around her shoulders, and she quickly grabs the linen bag she had put his shihakusho in, and she shunpoes them back across the Soul Society to her family's manor. When they arrive, she hands the bag to a young maid, and then, leads the unsteady noble to her rooms. The poor man is nearly dead on his feet he's so tired. She offers him one of her late father's sleep kimonos, letting him change into it in the room, while she slips to her bathing room, for a quick wash and change.
When she returns, Byakuya is sitting on her bed, almost asleep. With an amused, yet concerned smile, she pulls back the blankets and urges him to lie down. As she gets up, he suddenly grabs her sleeve, and when she turns, she is shocked to see the proud Kuchiki noble looking so sad and vulnerable, she's also sure he isn't all that aware of his actions. She nods, sitting back on the bed, and, when she lies down he does as well, moving so that he can rest his head on her shoulder. Unsure at first, she then wraps an arm around him and watches him drift back to sleep, again a lone tear sneaks down his cheek. Before she realizes, she's reached out and wiped if from his cheek, pulling the blanket up over them and closing her eyes as well.
The next morning, she wakes up to find Byakuya sitting up in bed, chin on his knees, looking almost lost.
"Captain Kuchiki?" she asks softly, and he turns to look at her. He says,
"How did I get here?" and she softly tells him about how she cared for him all the previous night. He nods some,
"Arigatou." He says softly. She sits up,
"I had your shihakusho washed and your scarf specially cleaned." He nods still lost in thought.
"Where is this?" he then asks, and she swallows, and then says,
"At my family's manor." He looks at her suspiciously; not a one of the thirteen guard squads, know her surname, her past is a troubled one so she kept it a guarded secret. She says quietly,
"I am the last heiress of the Ukishira family." His eyes widen. Everyone that'd known that family believed they had all been killed. Pulling her knees to her chin, as she wraps blanket around herself, she begins to tell him how she survived. When she finishes, she wipes her eyes, looking down at her hands. Byakuya watches her, every thing he'd known about the Ukishira family had been pretty much false, and it'd been a shock to hear the truth. Sani looks up, startled, as she feels a hand come to rest at her shoulder, as an arm had been wrapped around her. She looks up at him, but the expression on his face is unreadable. Sani hesitates, and then, leans against him, her head on his shoulder. Byakuya watches her, unsure of the feelings stirring inside him after so long. He looks out the window, his hand slowly rubbing her back as she cries into his chest.
That night, Rana sighs as she returns to her bunk, flopping onto her bed and setting her zanpakuto on the floor. She had been working like crazy running so many errands for her new captain, and she's tired. She drags herself to her feet, taking her sash off, letting her hakamas drop to the floor. She grabs a towel, tossing it over her shoulder as she undoes her haori, walking toward the bathroom for a shower. As she goes to turn on the water, she senses someone and turns, finding her captain staring at her, as he leans against the doorframe. She startles, and his usual fox grin widens and his eyes crinkle.
"I apologize; I didn' think ya'd be, well, 'alf dressed." She can hear how his voice sounds amused. She makes sure she's covered, and she says,
"Did you need something?" He shakes his head,
"Nothin' important, I jus' wanted ta see how ya were." She blushes, looking at her hands. Gin chuckles and raises her chin, saying,
"Shy, that's cute. I like it." And he shunpoes from the room. Rana stares, an unsure expression on her face, and then she shakes her head and gets into the bath-room, starting her shower, a million thoughts racing through her mind. Afterwards, a cup of green tea on the table in front of her, Rana brushes and braids her long dark red hair, wondering.
The next day she and Sanishu meet for lunch, and they turn a bit, looking up when vice captain Kira comes over to them soon after,
"Central has decided about Rukia." He says, and their eyes widen. Kira kneels on the ground, saying,
"They said that she's to be executed in twenty five days." Sani and Rana are shocked, executed for giving her powers to help someone?
"That seems a bit extreme." Rana says, and Kira shrugs,
"It is their decision; Rukia knew the risks of what she did." Sani stays quiet as she listens to them, her mind in a blur. Kira soon heads off, Ranami with him as she'd been told her their Taichou was looking for her. Sani gets up, retrieving her sash that she had set down with her zanpakuto from the grass, heading back to her division. It takes her a while, as she'd chosen to walk instead of shunpo. She finds Renji, glaring at the paperwork on his desk as if it were about to get up and attack him.
"It won't bite you, you know." She says, smirking as she watches Renji with a dark brow raised. She laughs as he just grumbles, and dips a quill into an inkpot and starts to write. Sani starts making some tea, preparing her captain's favorite, it's the time of day he usually has tea, and Sani sometimes joins him. Ever since the night at her home, and the conversation that next day, she and Byakuya have been awkward around each other.
She gets a tray with a ceramic pot, two cups, and a small plate of light cookies she had made, a recipe of her late grandmother's. She pours the boiling water into the pot with the tea leaves, letting it steep while she rinses the kettle, and puts it back on the shelf. She then picks up the tray, balancing it carefully as she lets go with one hand so she can prop herself to get up from her kneeling position, as her left leg had fallen asleep. She hands a cup to Renji as she passes, and he nods at her and sips it, then sets it down.
"Captain Kuchiki?" she calls softly, knocking on the frame of the sliding screen doors.
"Come in." the soft baritone answers. Sani opens the door, stepping inside, as she expertly balances the tray with one hand while closing the door with the other. It seems like forever before he says something, and she kneels down, setting the silver tray on the low table he's kneeling beside over in the corner of his office. He looks up as she does, his steel grey eyes thoughtful. She pours the tea into two cups, and she sets the plate of cookies between them.
"Sani." He says, making her look up in surprise.
"I just, wanted to thank you for the other night, and for being honest with me about your past." Sani nods, looking down, which makes some of her raven hair slide down over her face, hiding it. Byakuya finds himself reaching out, and brushing some of her hair behind her ear, which makes her look up, again. And then, not really sure why, Byakuya finds himself leaning forward, brushing his lips over her own, urged on by something even he isn't sure of. She hesitates, and then finds herself replying, his so soft kiss capturing her, her eyes fluttering closed. Byakuya makes a soft sound of approval, moving a hand to the back of her neck, as he deepens the kiss, running his tongue across her bottom lip, and asking entrance. Sani finds herself melting into the soft kisses, parting her lips to allow him. When they finally part, both are lightheaded and breathless, the feelings still washing over them. Sani closes her green eyes, lost in thought, so many emotions swirling in her mind. Without realizing it, she sighs, as she touches her lips, eyes still closed. Byakuya watches her, his own mind's tumblingthoughts confusing him. He can't even explain what compelled him to kiss her. When she heads out later, he doesn't say anything, just as confused as she is.
Rana finds her captain wandering outside near the barracks, seemingly deep in thought, his usual fox grin is absent. He turns when he senses her; the grin covers his lips once again.
"Captain, is something wrong?" she asks, and he just shakes his head. With a nod to his left, she walks over, joining him in his wandering. Rana frowns a bit, she wants to ask him what's bothering him, but she's afraid to. She figures that it's to do with Rukia's impending execution. They end up just walking around to random places for a couple of hours, before finally returning to the 3rd division barracks, and the big living area. The two of them sit on the rug by the fireplace; Gin starts a fire, and she makes some tea for them both.
Gin hasn't told her, but he's watched her for most of the years she had been in the 10th division under Hitsugaya. He also knows that they are and were best friends back in Rugonkai, before becoming Shinigami. The two are still very close friends, almost like siblings. Rana steals a glance at her captain, true she has great respect for him, but she also has a secret crush on him, she's sure it is more than a crush though, the more she's around him, the stronger the feelings tend to get.
As they sit there, just talking quietly and gazing at the dancing flames, Rana finds herself shifting some, resting her head against Gin's shoulder, and sighing, with a light smile, the silver haired Taichou wraps an arm around her waist, keeping her at his side. He buries his nose in her dark red hair, the soft strands tickling him. Gin's nose wrinkles as he sniffs a bit, and she turns to look at him, smiling at his confusion as he sniffs at some of her hair in his hands.
"Mmm." He whispers, dropping the lock of hair in favor of bringing her nearer to him, capturing her lips in a chaste kiss. Her eyes widen in surprise, but she smiles then, bringing him in for another kiss, deeper and longer this time. Gin's slim fingers tangle in her hair as his tongue explores her mouth, his other arm pulls her body into his, around her waist to keep them flush together. Rana moans softly at the contact and responds, adding almost an urgency and passion to the kisses. Gin lays her back on the rug; one hand undoing the sash that holds her haori closed and dropping it on the floor, gently and slowly pushing open her haori. She unties his sash, and he gets up on one arm to shrug it off, before claiming her mouth again. Soon the both of the haoris are on the floor, and the hakamas undone.
"Captain, I…" Kira says, coming into the room, and stopping short as he spots his captain and their 3rd seat on the hearth rug, haoris off and Gin's fingers under the waist sash of her hakamas. Kira clears his throat nervously; his cheeks and ears now tinged bright pink,
"I'll just… umm… go…" he swallows, "b-bye now…" he stutters and then backs out of the doorway, making a run for it. Gin and Rana sit up, pulling their haoris on, their cheeks pink. Gin clears his throat uneasily, and says,
"Maybe… maybe we should be more discreet, next time." Ranami blushes even more, nodding mutely as she reties her sash, and then the two of them head to their rooms.
A week or so later, it has been announced that Rukia's execution has recently been moved ahead, so now it's sooner than before. Sani and Rana have decided to work on getting stronger, and are currently training for bankai. They both possess an extremely powerful shikai, making them two of the strongest 3rd seats in the thirteen court guard squads. Sani has already mastered summoning the spirit that lives inside her zanpakuto, but Rana is having difficulties. She can summon hers, but can't get it to last very long. Sani is also worried about Renji, as he seems adamantly dead set against Rukia being executed, and she's worried about what he might try to do. They had recently heard that the method of execution is to be the Sokyoku, shocking close to everyone that knows Rukia. Sani has visited her a few times, but Rukia is never in the mood to talk much.
Right now the two friends are at the 3rd division training yard, they both tend to alternate the division they train at, since they enjoy training together.
"Sani, you in there?" Rana asks, waving a hand in front of her friend's face a bit, trying to get her attention. Sani startles, and then narrows her green eyes with a smirk.
"Alright, quit that already, would you." She pushes her long dark braid behind her as she gets into stance, facing Rana again, who's also smirking.
"Arise from the ashes, Fushichou!" she commands, lifting her arm and holding her zanpakuto in front of her almost the same way Byakuya does. A piercing cry calls out through the air as a fiery aura surrounds Sani. A bright, flaming outline of a huge crimson and gold phoenix appears behind her, sharp green eyes like her own stare at Rana intensely. The blade of Sani's zanpakuto now burns a brilliant crimson, and its hilt is now golden threaded, and the guard has a pair of golden wings that wind up to wrap around the bottom of the blade. Rana follows suit, and holds her own blade at her side, blade facing the ground,
"Merge with the shadows, Ankoku Ryuu!" Giant black dragon wings unfurl out of her shoulders, spreading wide, then wrapping loosely around her almost as if they are shielding her. Her blade turns black as night, silver dragon wings wrap around its hilt, extending at the tips to become the guard at the base of the blade. They move a bit like a dance, circling each other, looking for the right time to move. Several other Shinigami have appeared to watch, including both captains of the girls' divisions, the vice captains are there as well. Sani and Rana are evenly matched, as proved when they match blows of equal force. None of the present Shinigami notices the way that Aizen is watching the match with unusual interest. Sani suddenly stops; her eyes are closed as a surge of spiritual pressure emanates from her.
'Now Sanishu, make us one.' Fushichou's voice whispers in her ear, and bright light surrounds her blade. Sani opens her eyes, a smile on her lips.
"Bankai." She says confidently, and the firebird behind her screeches, and her eyes close again as the bird's wings envelop her. When the wings unfurl, Sani stands with her blade upright, the end of the hilt resting on one palm, her other palm sitting at the tip of the blade, and to everyone's surprise, she brings her hands closer, until they meet, and then she cups them and blows on them, which sends numerous razor sharp feathers scattering around her in almost a dance. She turns her eyes to Rana and the feathers race toward her, glinting in the sunlight. Byakuya is shocked; this is a great deal like his own Senbonzakura.
Sani smirks at Rana watching the feathers whirling around. She's also tiring, having been training all afternoon, and she lets out a laugh as Rana, entranced by the shining feathers, starts chasing after some. Gin's eyes crinkle as he laughs at his 3rd seat, and several other Shinigami chuckle also. In a few minutes Sani has had enough and dispels her bankai, making Rana pout a bit, which is until Gin calls her to go with him somewhere. Byakuya calls Sani over, and the two of them begin to walk, talking quietly.
"That was amazing Sani, I am very impressed." He says as they walk, and she blushes a bit, nodding.
"Arigatou, Captain Kuchiki." And he nods, the corners of his mouth curling into just a bit of a smile. She smiles too, and the end up finding themselves inside the courtyard outside the 6th division, and they settle beneath one of the many large Sakura trees, laying their zanpakuto's beside them. Rikichi soon notices them, and he brings out a tray of tea, setting it on the grass and bowing.
"Arigatou, Rikichi." Byakuya says and the youth nods, heading back inside to continue working. Byakuya and Sani both sip their tea, talking about Sani's bankai, his bankai and also about Renji as well, knowing how torn he is about what's currently happening with Rukia. Sani sighs a bit, staring into her tea. Renji is one of her best friends, and she wants to help him, but at the same time she doesn't want to go against Byakuya either, which would upset him, which makes their kiss once again run through her mind.
'What did it mean? Could he really feel that way?' she wonders, staring out at a couple division members sparring in another part of the grounds. Byakuya finds himself watching her a bit, noticing the way she tilts her head ever so slightly as she watches the two others spar, studying their moves. How she absently reaches up now and then to tuck a stray lock of midnight hair behind an ear, how she sometimes sighs softly, seeming to be lost in thought, and he sips his tea again, his cheeks a very slight pink as he finds his thoughts starting to head in a direction that's getting inappropriate. Sani leans back against the tree, closing her eyes and just letting the soft breeze brush over her, trying to relax her sore muscles after the hard spar with Rana
"Yer getting' close now Rana. Ya should be able ta call yer bankai soon." Gin says as he and Rana lay on the roof of the 3rd division barracks, gazing up at the clouds idly passing by. Rana raises herself up on her arm a bit, looking at her Taichou.
"You really think so?" She asks, and he nods and smiles.
"Mos' definitely. Yer almos' there now." He says, and she grins too, nodding at him again. He slips an arm around her, rubbing her side a bit as she settles down again, now resting her head on his chest, one hand fiddling with the edge of his white haori. They haven't told anyone about their beginning relationship, though Gin thinks Aizen suspects something. Aizen knows him too well. She soon lifts her head, brushing her lips over his, which makes him open his crimson eyes just a bit. With a soft growl, he tightens his arm around her as he returns and deepens the kisses, his other hand threading into her hair as he holds her close. She smiles when they part for air, panting slightly as she snuggles down, her head resting back on his chest. As they lay there, Rana ends up drifting to sleep, and Gin suddenly finds a shadow has fallen over him and opens his eyes, crimson finding dark brown.
"Captain Aizen, nice ta see ya." He says, and the spectacled captain nods a bit and sits down.
"Gin, are you sure about getting close to this girl?" he asks, frowning some as he looks at Ranami. Gin subconsciously tightens his arm a little.
"Hai, I know tha' we can trust her. She's follow me anywhere I went ta, since I know she loves me." Aizen raises an eyebrow, but nods, soon heading off again, he'd promised Momo he'd have lunch with her. Gin watches him go and sighs a bit; the man is getting rather creepy with his surprise appearances. Gin lays back, letting himself drift off a bit too, his arm still around Ranami, keeping her close.
Well, there's chapter one back up, hope you enjoy! Please review and let me know :)
- Sani.