I do not own Bleach or any of their characters. All props go to Tite Kubo.
I do however own my characters, territories, ideas, and everything else that is not originally included in the Bleach story.
©Paloma-Paloma
The certain smells rushed through Mao thoroughly. Smells of flowers, last night's rainfall and an unquestionable smell of rice.
Mao took one deep breath before entering the golden grass of the meadow before her. It was still damp, of course, the morning dew wasn't finished with it just yet. Being April in Karakura Town, it was just like any other rainy season.
She walked for a few minutes. He wasn't too far out in the field, but Mao just felt like walking, extra, slowly this time. She eventually reached a point where her voice would be able to reach him and he could hear her. She didn't want to get too close.
"E-Excuse me!" she called, it wasn't too loud, but it wasn't quiet either.
He stiffened visibly, his eyes turned in her direction, though neither his body nor head cooperated with those minty circles he called 'eyes'.
As the sun peered over the mountain for the first time, she discovered he was covered in blood, making her gasp softly. Her eyes trailed down his white, or maybe red uniform, noticing one particular object; his sword.
She gasped again as she realized it was covered in blood as well. Fresh blood.
He looked over his shoulder, just as she began to back away.
Now, he had turned around fully, and she discovered he was far handsome, but her fear overtook the heat that normally would have built around her cheeks.
He took one step toward her, and she took one step back. This repeated a few times, the man seemingly getting more and more annoyed. He stopped stepping forward, though Mao continued her journey backwards.
Luck was definitely not on her side this time.
He Sonidoed in front of her, where he stood more than enough inches taller than her. The man grabbed her by her throat, though didn't grip that windpipe of hers too tightly, lifting her up to eye level. Never had she seen someone move so fast.
Mao was struck with fear from his poisonous glare.
"Why do you bother me, woman?" He asked in a threatening but also calm tone. The power radiated off of him, unlike one she had ever felt. It was different, it was evil. There was only one thing that possessed evil energy like this man's.
She didn't answer out of hesitation. But in truth, his power kept her speech bundled within her throat, as if had she spoken, his fearsome glare would destroy her voice.
He narrowed his eyes and dropped her, and she landed but fell back onto her rump. Such a rough man but with the softest of eyes.
He grunted, "Fool." He noted, staring down into her honey gold eyes. She failed to keep the blush off of her face. Feeling very weak and very embarrassed, she chose to not let the satisfaction of letting the fear within her burst out.
"I-I only wanted to help," Mao said out, being sure to not take ownership of a shaky voice.
He raised an eyebrow, "Help? I don't need your help, human, I am far too busy concerning things other than these small injuries."
Mao found this man unbelievable. Small? That was clearly an understatement! The amount of blood pouring out of his large wounds looked life-threatening. Most of these wounds were on his torso.
Mao's prince, giggled and cooed loud enough for the man to hear him. His attention turned from her to the house, which wasn't necessarily small, though it wasn't a mansion either. He glanced back at Mao, then back at the house.
She swore under her breath.
He then Sonidoed inside the house, Mao immediately got up and raced back to her pouting prince.
As the man was inside, walking through the kitchen and dining area, leaving fair amounts of his blood on the beige tile, he searched for the source of the noise. He walked passed a staircase, knowing good and while the sound didn't come from there, he searched, and discovered an infant sitting on a dark rug.
The man marched over to the child to get a better view. The young boy fearlessly embraced the man's black boot, protecting it with laughter.
The man frowned and scooped the child up gently, engraving his eyes into the infants, the orbs being a noticeable chocolate brown.
He is not hers... He thought to himself. He turned to faced the many, but not too many, paintings and black and white photographs on the wall. One caught his eye.
It was a small girl, who had obviously not reached her teen, or even pre-teen years, holding a small child. He noticed both children had the same honey gold eyes.
'That is her heir - her true heir.'He then thought, not taking into consideration that this painting may be of siblings.
Mao came rushing in, and with a sigh of relief to see her prince had not been harmed, which lasted not very long.
"This infant is not yours," He spoke, facing her.
"He is legally, now please, put him down." She argued.
"Who are you to order me around?" He asked.
"Who're you to march into my home and corrupt my household?" She asked.
"You're such a foolish woman, do you not know what I am?" He then pondered.
"If you told me, I wouldn't care, either way, threatening with a child's life is far beyond one I'd call a coward." She replied.
"Whoever said I was threatening this child, whom I think I've mentioned, is not yours?" He retaliated.
"Being a Hollow, being in our very presence is a threat, knowing how you 'eat' people." She said.
The man chuckled, "I'm far more upper-class in the Hollow stage, mainly to the point where I don't 'eat' people." He said, "That's just disgusting. But I am however impressed you know what I am, and still have the need to help me over my small injuries."
"I still want to, please, put him down so I can tend to them." She replied.
He frowned, "In due time my injuries will heal on their own."
Mao looked at his feet, seeing there was already a puddle of his blood below him.
"But in the meantime," He said, raising his left index finger, pointing it at the child, "Since this child does not belong to you, I will be rid of him." He charged his black Cero at Mao's prince, who began to giggle and reach out to the deadly light.
Mao instantly stole her adopted child away from his arms, backing away slightly to avoid the dark, and powerful light before her.
He stopped his Cero with a 'tsk', "You continue you take care of the child due to your own motherly instincts?" He asked, and didn't expect an answer.
"Why wouldn't I?" she responded, surprising him just a bit.
She turned and placed her prince back into a mahogany cradle.
"Well, I've had enough fun for today," he said eying the back door located in the kitchen, "I shall be taking my leave."
He stepped forward, but suddenly, his injuries gained the upper hand, and his breath came short and uneasy. He the collapsed, though Mao caught him in her arms.
"You must tell me how you received these injuries!" She said with concern noticeable in her tone.
"Mind your own business woman..." He grumbled out as she knelt with him. Mao laid him on his backside, and his stare moved from the ceiling at first, to her.
"I will be right back." she said, "I'm going to tend to your injuries, but I'll need my equipment."
And with that, she left to the kitchen, though there was a wall that disabled any view of Mao for the man. She came back with medical supplies, including bandages and ointments, along with a damp cloth for the blood.
She reached over to him and undid his torso.
She tried so hard to keep that blush off her face after discovering he had an amazingly hot body, even if it were covering in several deep cuts and gashes.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Tokijin." He mumbled.
"Well, nice to meet you, my name's Mao... Kurotsuchi."
She began treating his wounds, and in no time at all he was bandaged fully much to his dismay.
He sat up, watching her every move as she put the medical contents back into the box with a red cross on it. She turned and caught eye in eye with his glare, trapped in her own awe over his eye color.
"What?" He asked, making her notice she was gazing in his eyes for more than enough time.
"Nothing, it's just - you have beautiful eyes." She replied, standing up. Mao returned to the kitchen and placed her medical box back where she got them. She straightened out her burgundy dress, along with her caramel curled hair.
Her dress didn't contrast with the blood on it already from Tokijin, but it needed to be washed either way. It draped down just above her knees. This was her casual wardrobe anyway.
She returned to Tokijin, his reddened uniform and armor off to his side
"You need to rest." She said, running her right hand through her hair.
"No, I do not." He replied.
"I won't take no for an answer," Mao said, "You said that in time your injuries will heal on their own, but you obviously don't have the right amount of energy to do that, so yes, you need to rest."
He growled.
Mao walked over to him and helped him up. She then led him over to the staircase. They ascended up to an area with four bedrooms. She opened a door to a cozy room.
"You can have my bed, I have work in a bit anyways." She said, making him sit on her bed.
"Work?" He asked.
"Yes." Mao replied, "I work at a clinic, now hand over that sword of yours."
"No..." He answered.
"Yes, I'm gonna clean it."
"No, she's mine," He bickered, "You cannot have her."
"It's a girl?" Mao asked.
"Not by my choice." Tokijin stated, "And it isn't a sword, it's a Zanpakutou, so it has a name."
"What's her name?" Mao asked.
"Inazuma." He replied.
"Well hand it over if you want Inazuma to be cleaned." Mao said.
Tokijin was hesitant. He handed his Zanpakutou to her slowly. God, he was such a child.
"Thank you." She said coldly while retrieving it, "I'll clean this along with the rest of the mess you made in my house."
Tokijin narrowed his eyes as she left the room, watching her descend the stairs.
He fully lie down on her soft bed. He closed his eyes, but refused sleep.
Meanwhile, Mao had cleaned his blood-puddles, along with that katana of his, also his armor and bloodied uniform. Mao on top of that, had work in an hour, being a nurse, their uniforms were so revealing, it almost made her want to quit that job.
She thought about earlier with Mayuri. Her emotions were merging with hypocritical, not to mention ironic thoughts.
She sighed, 'I guess I should get ready...'
She walked up stairs with her prince in hand. As she entered her room, she saw Tokijin, eyes closed, and assumed he was asleep.
She placed the infant on her bed, more closer to Tokijin so he'd be distracted by the larger male displayed before him, rather than the edge of the bed.
Mao then opened her closet, and walked inside and gathered her nurse uniform. Seeing no chance of a Peeping Tom, since Tokijin was 'asleep', she'd just change there.
Tokijin watched her change under near-closed eyes. With a small smirk he closed his eyes again.
The infant however, was having the time of his life in his attempt to embrace Tokijin's massive left arm.
Mao walked over, "Now, now Ouji, you leave him alone," She whispered, reaching over Tokijin and brushing her lips on the infants cheek, "He's asleep, and you might not want to wake him up. Especially since he has a grouchy attitude."
She glanced at Tokijin, whose eyes were still closed, but his facial expression was offended. She raised an eyebrow and placed her hand on his chest to feel his heartbeat; there was none.
She gasped quietly, and placed her soft small hands at his cheeks, "H-Hey!" She said, slightly shaking him.
He opened his beautiful mint green eyes, which seemed like they were filled with annoyance.
"What do you want, woman?" He asked.
She sighed in relief, "Just making sure you weren't dead or anything." She replied, rolling her eyes at his rude remark.
"I'm already a dead man." He replied, closing his eyes.
"I guess so," she said, "Well I'm leaving for work now, so, that means my prince will be in your care until I come back." She turned and left her room already descending the stairs.
His eyes shot open, no room to protest.
She climbed back up and rested her elbows on the railing, "Besides, it's the least you could do after watching me undress, you little pervert." She said while chuckling, descending the stairs once more.
"How could she tell?" Tokijin mumbled to himself. He heard her leave the house, and he glanced at the child whose eyes were still set on wrapping his arms around the muscular man's arm, "Dammit." He then said.