Reminder: This chapter is going to be told from Third person Tousen, which means you'll get Tousen's thoughts, and a lot of things relating to sounds instead of visual things, although you'll still get visual. I'm just trying to make it seem like you're going from Tousen's perspective, and he's blind so he uses, sound and touch instead of sight.
Warning:Although this chapter is not graphic, this story is still rated M because later chapters will be mature, please keep that in mind.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or any related character and themes. This story is purely fan fiction and in no way reflects the views of the creator of Bleach.
Please Enjoy the chapter.
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"Everything seems to becoming along rather well Tousen," Aizen said and Tousen looked up from the marble he was carving. "What is it?"
"You know you have to wait until it's finished," Tousen said running his fingers over the marble slowly and closed his eyes.
"Is something bothering you?" Aizen asked.
"I am.... unsure," Tousen said and Aizen raised an eyebrow.
"About what? If it has anything to do with the gallery opening at the Seireitei I'll call and have it abandoned at once," Aizen said.
"No," Tousen said raising his chisel and stuck down on it with his mallet, letting small pieces of the marble fall to the floor, and dust settle in his hair.
"Then what is it?" Aizen asked.
Tousen frowned and set his tools down. " I know his voice, and the touch of his hand, but I don't know what he looks like," Tousen said and Aizen's eyes grew wide.
"This is about that boy?" Aizen asked.
"Yes," Tousen said picking up a small fine paint brush and started brushing dust from the side of the marble.
"You don't have time for him Tousen," Aizen said. "You have a gallery opening in Paris at the end of the month, then another in England in the spring. Push him from your mind and concentrate on your work," Aizen said.
Tousen's brow furrowed. "I don't need you to tell me how to live Aizen," Tousen said. "I'm not a child,"
"You're still my responsibility," Aizen said. "And some foolish brat isn't going to ruin your career," Aizen said.
"Enough Aizen," Tousen snapped turning to face Aizen. "I will not tolerate this, most of all from you," He said and Aizen shifted.
"Tousen, think about what a mistake could mean to everything you've been working on for the past ten fifteen years. This boy is seven years younger then you. Besides if exposer got out that you were seeing a younger man, your art could loose value and you'd loose everything," Aizen said.
Tousen looked away. "I'm tired of being alone," He said running his fingers over a curve of marble. "Something about him... is comforting,"
Aizen sighed and shook his head. "You only like him because he likes your art so much," Aizen said. "Forget him Tousen, he has no feelings for you, only for your art," Aizen said. "Think about that," He said and left, leaving Tousen alone in his workshop.
Tousen gritted his teeth and threw his chisel which stuck firmly into the wall.
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Tousen sat, leaning back against the booth his was sitting in, in the small diner, rain hitting the window hard; half listening to what Ichigo was talking about the gallery's preparations. Aizen's words from two days ago, still fresh in his mind.
"Are you alright Tousen?" Ichigo asked nervously. "You haven't said a word, if there's something I'm doing that isn't to your liking, please say so," Ichigo said as a waitress refilled his coffee mug.
Tousen looked at him. "No, you're not doing anything wrong," Tousen said.
"But something is bothering you?" Ichigo asked stirring his coffee slowly. "Never mind... it's not my place to go into details about your personal life,"
Tousen listened to the way Ichigo's voice quivered slightly, and how his breathing stopped for a moment, turning his head slightly. "Is something bothering you?"
"Work is rather busy," Ichigo said. "But it's nothing I can't handle," He said.
"You are stressed," Tousen said.
"It's fine," Ichigo said, Tousen listened to the sound of Ichigo setting his spoon down on the small plate under his mug and lifted his coffee to his lips.
Tousen listened to the sound of Ichigo's breath as he blew over the edge of the coffee mug. He closed his eyes, he loved the soft sounds he caught from Ichigo, they were like miniature treasure Tousen was glad he was able to catch, knowing if he had his sight, he would never have them.
"How has your work been?" Ichigo asked setting his mug down, and turned it slightly, the scrapping sound caught Tousen's ears.
" It's difficult to say at this time," Tousen said and Ichigo looked up at him.
"Is something wrong?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes and no," Tousen said.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ichigo asked shifting his hands over the papers on the table before him. Tousen heard him bending the corner of a paper.
"I have a piece I wish to make, but I can't get a vision of it in my mind fully," Tousen said. "I only have a piece of it,"
"It sounds like your model ran off," Ichigo said.
"You could say that," Tousen said. "But then again, in order to 'see' my model, I have to 'feel' them," Tousen said. "And not many are willing to sit, and let someone touch their bare body," He said.
Ichigo's face flushed and he was so glad Tousen could not see his reddening face. "I-I'm sure there's someone who would be willing, after all you're an amazing artist, and to be a model for one of your pieces would be an honor," Ichigo said.
"I suppose," Tousen said.
The front door of the diner opened and Tousen sighed, realizing that the foot steps belonged to Gin.
"I guess we'll have to finish his some other time," Ichigo said standing as Tousen did.
"Yes," Tousen said. " Please stop by with in the next few days, so we can discuss which pieces you are going to want to use,"
"I'll make sure to call before I do," Ichigo said. "Good bye," He said.
"Good bye for now Ichigo," Tousen said and followed Gin to the car.
"What did you say to 'im? He was blushing up red as a strawberry," Gin said opening the car door for Kaname who got in. Gin got into the back seat then, and shut the door as Aizen started driving.
"Nothing that should cause him to blush," Tousen said closing his eyes.
"Do you need to stop for anything Tousen?" Aizen asked watching from the rearview mirror.
Tousen turned his head towards the tinted window and sighed. "No, we can go home," Tousen said.
' I wonder if he likes the rain the way I do,' Tousen thought and closed his eyes.
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Tousen was bent down against the wall of his workshop, opposite the slab of marble which shape hadn't changed much in the past few days, a vague form of something that could be feathered wings had started to form, and the basic shape of two bodies, one from which the wings came from it's back, the other just plain, but nothing more.
Tousen had his arms resting on his thighs, hands folded together and resting under his chin, his index fingers up against his lips, his eyes closed deep in thought as he stayed balanced on the balls of his bare feet.
The door opened, but he didn't move, he listened to Aizen's footsteps, until they stopped a few feet in front of Tousen, he knew that Aizen wasn't facing him.
"It hasn't changed yet," Aizen said. "What's wrong?"
" I'm waiting," Tousen said and Aizen looked over his shoulder at him.
"What for?" Aizen asked, but Tousen didn't answer. Aizen sighed and walked over to the table where Tousen's tools were set out perfectly, Aizen ran his fingers over them slowly. "Is something wrong with the tools?"
"No," Tousen said.
"The marble then?" Aizen asked.
"The marble is fine," Tousen said.
"Then why won't you finish?" Aizen asked.
"I'm waiting," Tousen repeated and Aizen eyed him.
"This isn't about that stupid boy again is it?" Aizen asked.
"He's twenty-three, not a boy," Tousen said.
"We've talked about this already Tousen, have you forgotten?" Aizen said.
"No," Tousen said.
"Then why?" Aizen asked.
"He is the muse I want," Tousen said.
" Why him?" Aizen asked.
Tousen's face distorted for a moment in confusion. "I don't know," He said.
"Then find another muse, he is trouble," Aizen said. "I looked a few things up about him. He has dated artists since he's been in school, and done nothing but mess with their work," Aizen said. "He's doing the same to you,"
"You seem to be forgetting one part of that," Tousen said.
"And what is that?" Aizen asked.
"I am not dating him," Tousen said.
"You should distance yourself from him. Only talk about the gallery with him, nothing more," Aizen said. "As soon as this is whim of yours is done break your ties with him," Aizen said and Tousen's eyes narrowed.
"Don't give me orders Aizen," Tousen warned and Aizen crossed his arms.
"I'm trying to make you understand that nothing good could come from being with him," Aizen said. "As your friend Tousen, listen to me,"
Tousen closed his eyes, for a moment, then looked up at the slab of marble. "I'd like to return to my work, please don't come back until it's time for dinner," Tousen said.
Aizen sighed and walked from the room and slammed the door.
Tousen stood slowly, and walked over the marble, running his hands over the form with the feathered wings towards it's un-featured face and ran his fingers over it slowly, wishing he could finish it, but knowing he could not yet. Tousen sighed heavily and pulled his fingers away from the face and walked to the table picking up a small chisel and hammer and walked to the back of the slab, and knelt down, and started chipping away at it slowly, takin off the angled corner.
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Tousen sat again in one of the large arm chairs in the corner of his gallery, listening to Ichigo who was muttering to himself. Tousen listened to the sound of Ichigo's pen scratching against the paper, Tousen could tell that Ichigo's writing would have an angular curve and that it would slant to the right, because he was left handed.
Tousen picked up his glass of wine and took a drink closing his eyes to listen to Ichigo who had stopped muttering about art, and was instead singing softly as he walked through the rows of paintings to Tousen's right. Tousen smiled, as he recognized the song's melody.
Ichigo had been working a few hours, and Tousen liked having him around, even if they never spoke. The sound of Ichigo's murmured voice was enough to content Tousen for as long as he heard it.
Ichigo finally came over and sat in the other arm chair, and picked up the glass of wine Tousen had poured for him.
"Is everything alright?" Tousen asked.
"Hmm?" Ichigo looked at Tousen. "Oh... yes," He said.
Tousen smiled. "Are you enjoying yourself?" Tousen asked.
"Very much," Ichigo admitted looking down at his faded tattered jeans, thankful he could dress comfortably while he was here.
"You want to ask something," Tousen said.
Ichigo blushed. "Yea... I noticed that on the second level that you have a few paintings I've never seen before. They are old, so I know that they aren't for your new gallery opening, why haven't you shown them?" Ichigo asked.
Tousen set his glass down. "I have no desire to," Tousen said.
"Why? They are great pieces," Ichigo said and Tousen looked at him, Ichigo couldn't help but blush, Tousen's eyes were very intense to Ichigo, even though Ichigo knew that they couldn't see him. "They are different from your normal style,"
"I painted them when I was very young, for someone who was special to me," Tousen said. "But the affections were not returned, so I never showed them,"
"Then why keep them?" Ichigo asked, his voice seemed... distant.
"My art is a part of my life, I could not throw them away," Tousen said.
"Why not put them some where else?" Ichigo asked.
"I couldn't bring myself to put them into the dark of a storage room," Tousen said.
Ichigo looked down at the papers in his lap and shifted through them nervously.
"Have you decided on any pieces you want to show?" Tousen asked.
"Yes," Ichigo said. "Three statues, so far and eight paintings," He lifted his pen to his lips, tapping it's end against his lips and hummed softly as he looked over the list he'd written down. "I'm debating on wither or not to add this one oil painting of yours," He said. Tousen knew that Ichigo's pen was to his lips, his voice sounded different, so did his soft breath as it past the pen.
"Why is that?" Tousen asked smiling and Ichigo blushed looking up at him.
"I don't know where I'd put it," Ichigo said looking at the sketch of the gallery's two floor plan. "I'd really like to put it on the second floor, but I don't think that it would flow right with the rest of the pieces that are already up there....," Ichigo's voice faded and he reached out for his glass at the same time Tousen had reached to refill it. Ichigo didn't notice until Tousen's hand wrapped around his own. "I-I'm sorry," Ichigo said and started to pull away.
"It's alright," Tousen said, letting Ichigo's wrist and hand slip through his fingers.
Ichigo blushed brightly and looked back down at his papers. "I-I'm going to take another walk through before I leave," Ichigo said standing as he picked the papers from his lap.
"Alright," Tousen said and listened to Ichigo's footsteps move away from him. Tousen lifted his hand up, and put them to his lips, again he felt the warmth and smoothness of Ichigo's hand that made Tousen feel.... content.
Ichigo was murmuring again, letting his thoughts of the statues his fingers ran over flow softly from his lips, forgetting that Tousen could hear him, even from the other side of the large room.
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Tousen blew dust from the hand of the winged form as he finished carving the slender fingers. He stepped away, and brushed the dust from his face and went over to the table, setting his tools down, and picked up a bottle of water and wet his hands before rubbing them over his face.
"You're working again, that's good," Aizen said stepping into the room with Tousen's lunch.
"I haven't done much," Tousen said as Aizen set the plate and glass on the table.
"It's better then nothing," Aizen said walking over to examine the piece. "This is unlike you Tousen," Aizen said. "You've never once done a piece with something like an angel before," Aizen said running his fingers over one of the long carved feathers.
"Everything must change eventually," Tousen said and took a long drink of the ice tea Aizen had set on his work table for him.
"Yea, I suppose that is true," Aizen said. "But is it wise?"
"There is no harm," Tousen said. "I'm not going to be showing this piece in Paris," He said.
"Why not?" Aizen asked.
"It won't be ready, I'm going to keep the original thirteen pieces I intended," Tousen said.
"If that's what you want," Aizen said.
Tousen picked up the sandwich from the plate and leaned back against the bolted down table, and looked at Aizen. "If there is something on your mind, say it," He said.
" I don't know what is left for me to say to you Tousen," Aizen said shaking his head. " I truly have no more words, warnings or advice to give you," Aizen said looking up at the wings of the unfinished body. He ran his fingers over the wings one last time. " I just hope you know what you are getting yourself into," He said and left.
Tousen didn't react, he stayed leaning calmly against his work table as the door slid shut, then looked out the window, it was growing dark rather quickly, winter is on it's way, two weeks and he'd be on a plane to Paris for the gallery opening. 'Would he come with me if I asked him?' Tousen thought.
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Tousen like always, didn't react when the door to his workshop opened, however when it was not Ichigo's footsteps he heard; he did, lowering his tools.
"Excuse me sir, my name is Ishida, I'm working under Ichigo for your gallery," This man's voice sounded so much different from Ichigo's, it wasn't at all pleasant or warming like Ichigo's.
"Where's Ichigo?" Tousen asked.
"I'm afraid that he called in sick today," Ishida said.
"What are you doing here?" Tousen asked lifting his tools again, and knelt down to start working.
"Ichigo asked that I come to speak to you about a problem with the security system," Ishida said, raising his voice so it would be heard over the sound of Tousen chipping away at the black marble.
"What is the problem?" Tousen asked.
" Some of the silent alarms haven't worked in the testing that we've done, and the motion sensors have a delay," Ishida said.
"How long will it take to fix?" Tousen asked.
"About a week," Ishida said.
"Then what are you doing here?" Tousen asked looking at Ishida who shifted.
"I'm sorry, if I'm bothering your work, I'll leave, we can talk at a later date," Ishida said. "Please excuse me," He said and left.
Tousen waited a few seconds, but the door did not slid closed. "Gin," Tousen said and he heard Gin chuckling as he walked into the room.
"He sure didn' stay tha' long," Gin said leaning back against the wall. "Not like the cutie with the orange hair," Gin said and Tousen raised an eyebrow. "You never asked the color of his hair? That's rather unlike you Tousen, you usually like ta get what people look like in yer head,"
"It didn't cross my mind," Tousen said turning back to his work.
"Well I'll tell ya a little 'bout 'im. What do ya say?" Gin said.
" I don't mind," Tousen said brushing his fingers over the area he was working on and frowned and started chipping away at it again.
"Well I don' know if he doesn' know how ta use a brush or if his hair jus' don' lie flat," Gin said chuckling. "And it's bright orange and his eyes are golden brown, rather cute if ya ask me," Gin said.
"I didn't ask you," Tousen said and Gin chuckled again and clicked his tongue.
"I suppose not," Gin rubbed his chin.
"What else?" Tousen asked.
"He's slender, like a woman just without no tits and not really much hips, but still nice," Gin said looking up. " The other day when he came, he was wearing some nice tattered jeans that hung kinda low on 'is hips, and a tight shirt, he got some muscle on 'im," Gin said. "But not much,"
Tousen closed his eyes, picturing what he could from what Gin told him. Gin's grin spread from ear to ear and he chuckled.
"His skin seems really really smooth too," Gin said. "I'd touch it,"
Tousen's hand clenched momentarily around the handle of his chisel. "If you're done, I'd like to get back to work," Tousen said.
"What eva' you say," Gin said shrugging and walked from the room, letting the door close behind him.
Tousen reached up, resting his hand on the winged form, and ran his hand across it's chest before stopping at it's neck. 'What does you skin feel like.... Ichigo?' Tousen thought.
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End of Chapter 3
I don't what it is, but I really like working on this story, something about this pair that just makes my head fill, it's crazy. Anyways, I hope that Tousen wasn't to OC, but it's kinda hard to get a personality out of him, when he's barely in the anime and his spots in the manga aren't much better.... I kinda just had to go with the flow here, and hope it works alright. I think I didn't do to shabby though. I always thought that Tousen would be kinda like this, who knows, it' might be just right in the end. I don't know what it is, but these chapters haven't been as long as I'd like them to be, but at the same time I'm happy with them, it's so irritating, but I'll just have to deal, and I think I jammed my finger when I hit it against the wall, shit I can't bend it that well, make's typing kinda hard, but it will not stop be from up dating, I'll just ice the hell out of it.
Anyways thanks for reading, the next chapter will be back to Ichigo, so just be ready for it.
Please Review and Comment.
ConstantSnow
