Written and edited on December 13th to 14th, 2013.

That Horrible Noise – Zangetsu's Reflections

Zangetsu stared into the blue sky. A warm breeze filtered through his cloak and warmed his skin. He considered what these particular weather conditions meant. Many times breezes were just random phenomenon in his master's soul. They had no particular emotional meaning unless they were part of a storm system. Then, they sometimes represented particular grievances and thoughts of what was angering him.

The blue sky though… That was a rare phenomenon indicating a relaxed mind. The warm breeze- was it trust? He might belong to his master and dwell within his soul but even he could misunderstand his master's moods sometimes. As his master spent more time with him he believed he was learning more, however, and he was rather sure that the warm day his master's soul was displaying indicated that he believed that Zangetsu could help him. That he trusted Zangetsu enough not to be concerned any longer.

It was a heady thought and he was filled with warmth himself. He resolved to do his best for his master, even in this task. He began to mentally prepare himself for the situation he would be confronting shortly.

It was a situation he was rather unprepared for. He, as a Zanpakuto, had a certain amount of information about his own self and information on Zanpakuto in general. As his master grew more powerful Zangetsu would come up with new ideas about how they might grow even stronger, based partly on the general information he had, what his master learned about other Zanpakuto, and his own deep mediations on various subjects. However, his knowledge was limited to this sort of information and the things that his master learned. His master was a very intelligent teenager and aware of sex. However, he had little practical experience with females and almost no knowledge on sex with other males. Zangetsu would largely be on his own in deciding just how he was going to go about having sex with the splintered portion of his master's soul.

Zangetsu knew that males could be badly injured if unprepared, just like a woman if she preferred anal. However, he had seen the hollow taking care of that several times. Perhaps the hollow benefited from his master's instincts in this regard- with an instinctive knowledge on sex it likely knew more. He would likely have to ask the hollow how to proceed. It was a galling thought, but he was not interested in hurting his master. Even if this part of his master was a twisted, nearly separate entity the hollow was still part of his master and looked it. He would allow the hollow to guide his actions in this to avoid doing him harm.

He drew himself from his thoughts as the light faded. His master was falling asleep, and on a day like today, one with clear skies, that meant a spectacular sunset. The peculiar state between wakefulness and sleep produced beautiful colors in his master's soul and he enjoyed watching his master descend to sleep.

There was no sun exactly so the sunset was all around him. There was, however, a moon in this sideways world. As the general light of his master's mind faded Zangetsu became aware of the silvery light emanating from his own form.

His master thought the hollow was his reflection. It was not. Ichigo was the sun and the driving source of life (or at least the weather) in this landscape and Zangetsu was the moon. He was his master's mirror, reflecting his light beyond the places that Ichigo could usually shine. He was his master's medium to express his power and as a mirror he distorted it. He was made to reflect the sun and was nearly always dependent on its power. But tonight he would not be. Tonight the moon would eclipse the sun. His master, his sun, had not merely given permission, but had even asked him to. He allowed himself a full body shiver and watched his light dance across the windows of his master's mind. His elevated position on a flagpole allowed the light to spread farther and his master subconsciously relaxed as the silver light told him that he was not alone in the night of his soul. Zangetsu relaxed when another breeze warmed him and stepped lightly from his pole to the glass surface of the building, light spreading under each footstep like ripples.

It was time. He felt his anticipation rising. He had a course of action now and he had no fears towards his own performance. The hollow would not refuse him.

He flash-stepped across the dark glass of the buildings towards the hollow and silver light gleamed reflected all around him on the glass. He could hear it now, over the sounds of his cloak flapping, his steady breaths, it was there- the hollow's lusty gasps. He slowed. He did not have any intention of looking rushed.

His master's hollow was only slightly better at sensing the presence of others at the best of times. Now, utterly distracted by his untamable lust it did not notice him until he stood nearly over it. He had approached it from the side and it cackled hoarsely when it saw him. The pale version of his master arched his back, feet and shoulders taking the weight as he displayed himself. The hollow did not expect aid in its present state and when it spoke, exhaustion and hopelessness were present in the two toned voice.

"Like… what you see, Zangetsu?" He panted.

Zangetsu had not noticed how tired the creature was. He had spent more time finding locations away from the sentient soul splinter than monitoring its condition as he usually would. He felt disappointed in himself. It was his duty to protect his master and in his disgust with the hollow's display had neglected this twisted part of his master.

He knelt beside it and it twisted away laboriously. He reached out and griped a shoulder. It looked up at him and gave up, gold eyes utterly worn. He could see bags under its eyes and where the skin was not flushed with lust it was grey with exhaustion. He lifted the young male's upper body into his arms and ran a hand through the long hair it was so proud of. It was limp with grease and wet with sweat. The hollow's head lolled against his shoulder.

"Zangetsu?" The hollow was confused. Where was the scorn he saw so often in the sword's eyes? His eyes widened in shock as Zangetsu kissed him. It was dry and inexperienced but what in the world was going on!? He pushed himself away, falling back onto the ground- too tired to hold himself up. "I don't want your pity, Zangetsu. I'm not going to be a pity fuck." He hissed.

"I do not pity you, Ichigo."

"Why do you call me that name? I don't have a name- that one is His." The hollow was confused and channeled it into anger. The emotion collapsed quickly. He just didn't have the energy for maintaining anger.

"You are part of him and he knows it. It is your name too. You might not get to use it much, you might not like it, but tonight you will not claim to have no name." Zangetsu picked up the exhausted part of his master's soul again.

No wonder his master had been trying to find some way to fix this. He might only have noticed the aggravating moaning consciously but his soul must have felt this part of itself wearing into exhaustion. His drive towards self preservation, often neglected, must have started spurring his master into trying to fix himself. And Zangetsu was here now. His master trusted him to take care of this.

"It is not pity I feel towards you. Never pity." Zangetsu murmured before kissing the white lips again. He stroked the pale skin from shoulder to hip and gripped him there. The hollow gasped as his intentions were made very clear.

"What then?" Desperate eyes searched his face for an answer.

"Tonight, I shall eclipse the sun, Ichigo. Will you let me?" He smoothed the skin under his thumb as he ignored the question. The hollow would not take the information very well and here and now what it did not know would not hurt it.

"Riddles?" He snarled weakly.

Perhaps the hollow was too tired for metaphors. "I will have sex with you tonight if you are willing."

A weak hand rose to grip the opening of his cloak, twisting it slightly. The hollow was scowling; the mad grin that often graced his face gone as he tried to determine Zangetsu's sincerity. He cradled the man, offering only his resolution and seriousness.

The hollow relaxed and tugged at the cloak. "You'll need to take this off then." It grinned as he set the hollow down and began to take off his cloak. The cloak collapsed into a massive black shadow on the ground as he dropped it and revealed his luminescent body to the hollow's eager eyes.

"Commando, Zangetsu?" It cackled from where it laid, a blue tongue licking its lips as it focused on his genitals.

His face softened and he responded gently, hoping to dispel the hollow's rising nervousness. "What else, Ichigo? You have no problems going around entirely nude in here."

It snorted and made an abortive gesture in his direction. It wanted to reach out but didn't want to suggest weakness. He easily lifted the hollow. He looked down at it before gently laying it down on his cloak, the black fabric almost undoubtedly the most comfortable thing the pale, lonely resident of this world of concrete and glass had ever felt. He lay down facing the man, reaching out to touch the hollow. It eyed him apprehensively before boldly reaching out to touch him in return.

They spent some time exploring the other's body with hands and lips before the hollow clasped Zangetsu's member. Zangetsu waited for the hollow to act. It stared at the flesh it held. It swallowed and met his eyes.

"I… need. I can't wait anymore. Please," It begged softly, ashamed.

Zangetsu took his chin in hand and forced the other to look him in the eye. "I'll never hold this against you, Ichigo. I'll never use this to hurt you. Do not be ashamed."

It glanced away and nodded. Its eyes returned to his and he rose to crouch above the tired man. Gold eyes stared at him defiantly as the hollow spread its legs to hold him. He let it. If the hollow wished to guide him, he would obey tonight.

Let the eclipse begin.

Word count: 1,785

Umm… Well that spun into a completely different direction than I was planning. I hadn't originally intended for the hollow to need help like that- it was originally just going to be rather loud and a bit annoying. I do like this idea better though, for sure. And the Zangetsu is the moon to Ichigo's sun really came from out of nowhere. I think I just wanted him to glow in the dark. It's funny.

I really had planned this story to be a one shot but then I came up with this companion piece… And I have a few ideas on a reaction chapter- one where a few different people find out Ichigo is pregnant while Ichigo tries to conceal the fact that it was Zangetsu that did the deed. But right now it is only a few ideas and I would appreciate a few more if anyone has some thoughts on where it could go.