When the Sunshine Can't See the Light

A little while ago my brother was telling me about this band he really liked called Minus The Bear. While regaling me with the excitement of his adventures at the concert, he informed me that there was another up-and-coming band that played with them called As Tall As Lions whom, because of the concert, he was now also smitten with. Then he proceeded to describe to me how much his disliked the opener. They called themselves Twin Tiger and by evidence of his colorful confession were rather awful. My immediate response was "Oh my!"

With out further adieu, the song for this chapter is Into the Mirror by Minus The Bear. If you like them, I encourage you to listen to As Tall As Lions, particularly Love Love Love and Kickin' My Self, which happen to be my two favorites of their many splendorous songs.

Big thank yous go out to WestAnimeBrigade and nypsy. Also to the people people alerting/favoring the story, thank you for your support. I might be upping the rating soon for violence and adult situations, but we'll see when we get there. Please help me out and let me know what to rate it if I cross any boundaries. I'm still pretty new here and I don't want to get into trouble.

Story:

A strange surge of hollows have been invading Karakura and when the hero is just not fast enough, the damsel will be disabled. Now Ichigo must deal with his short comings and so must Orihime.

Disclaimer: Bleach is not mine nor any recognizable entities hinted or mentioned here.

Swing. Dodge, roll, block. Swing. Slice, swing.

A blur of black and orange made it's way around the underground training field.

Swing. Slash, jump.

He was drenched in sweat. Had been for days. His breaks were short. If it were his choice there wouldn't be any breaks, but his sparring partners refused encourage his idiocy anymore than they already had.

Turn, block. Step, slice. Flip, turn, swing.

"Alright-" The clash of metal rang loud and proud through the enormous enclosure. "Fuck, Kurosaki! Did ya hear me? Ya ain't fuckin' deaf are ya? I said alright!"

Despite having already removed his mask, the blond's quick reflexes allowed him to block the substitute shinigami's attack before it could do any damage. They stood facing each other, blade to blade in a power struggle.

"It's not even noon yet." Ichigo's reply came in a watery voice through labored breathing and a skull like mask with curious markings. "I can keep going." His golden eyes bore harshly upon his opponent. He didn't let up against the Visard but strained harder against his hold. "I'm not done yet. I have to get stronger." A sudden shove from Ichigo ended the stand-still but someone stepped in before he could complete the arc of his next swing.

"He said that's enough ya bumble-fuck! Ya ain't gonna get any stronger if ya don't pull yer head out'a yer freakin' ass! Got that!" A petite blonde girl stood over the warrior through her rant and made sure to punctuate certain words with a stomp to the head. She was surprisingly strong and quick for her meager 4feet and short pigtails.

"Hiyori...I'd thank ya an' all fer takin' my side but..." Shinji's words were half mumbled on account of his face had been shoved into the ground as well. "Did ya havt'a hit me too...?"

"Shuddap ya dumb prick. Yer lucky I didn't decide ta'..." She switched her foot to the other moron's head and continued to clear up her actions for him.

No longer in his hollowified state, Ichigo rose slowly with a careful hand prodding the tender spot on his now bruised head. He had always been known for his fearsome scowl but it seemed darker these days. A greater sorrow was held deep within his eyes, turning the warm earthy hues to a cold and solid brown.

"It might be best for you to rest from time to time Kurosaki-san." He redirected his attention to the taller man addressing him.

Rose nodded and smiled kindly hoping to lift the younger man's spirits. "It's not helpful to tire yourself out completely. That would only weaken you." Ichigo nodded but formed no intentions of cutting down his training regiment.

At that moment Hiyori must have finished up with Shinji because she decided to add her two cents too. "And take a shower ya dumb-ass! Yer starting to stink up the damn place!" Her "dumb-ass" comment punctuated by a well aimed shoe to the back of his head.

Steam wafted gracefully above the heated water. Lounging within was a young orange headed warrior sunk in up to his broad shoulders with his head lying limply on the edge. He felt confident in his nudity after watching each of the Visards leave to get lunch together. The water burned his toned body into a blissful and relaxed state. He looked down into the water and could just barely make-out his reflection twisting on top of the rippling surface. Alone and recklessly fatigued, the young hero let his mind wander. Memories began to rise like smoke, hazy and slow in his mind's eye.

Before the incident...

"Ichigo..." Her whisper was breathy and warm across his neck. The sensation made him shift uncomfortably. He used his large hands placed on the wall beside her head to support himself as he hovered over her tiny form. His throat seemed so dry, especially compared to the glistening swollen lips he was staring at. "...I'm sorry... I..." A flash illuminated the room and reveled her wide eyes and the small hands clutching desperately at his shirt . An instant later after the light faded the rumble of thunder shook the apartment and she jumped in fear.

She wined and tore her hands from his clothes to hold her head with her eyes shut tightly. "Oi." She looked up with a pathetic, teary expression. "I'm here." The hands gripping her hair loosened. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you." They fell from her head and hung at her sides while a look of awe and hopefulness crossed her features. The lightening flashed again and she turned to face the window as the boom echoed through the night sky.

She licked her lips and after a moment he followed suit, turning her head back to face him while doing so. She let out a shaky breath at his bold actions while her hands rose up beside her head. Something inside alerted him to the submissive nature of her pose as he nibbled at her plump lips. Before he could make much of that thought, a timid pink tongue darted out and returned the gesture. He stilled for a moment in surprise.

"That's not very submissive..." He thought wryly.

This time she ignored the flash but after a few seconds the loud rumble caused her to drop her head and she was biting her lip. The movement nearly knocking their heads together. He moved one hand to slip it just under the bottom of her already bunched up shirt. Nothing too lewd, he just brushed fingertips across the smooth texture of her tummy. Her ticklishness caused her to gasp on contact and he wasted no time swooping in and pulling out her tongue with his own.

He continued to watch her with rapt attention, thoroughly enjoying the breathy moan she surrendered. His hand continued to draw comforting circles on her abdomen and it was beginning to have the desired effect. Her eyes drifted shut and her tense posture loosened as her delicate palms lowered onto his sturdy shoulders.

"There. Good."

She jerked a bit when his other hand lowered to ghost up and down the outside of her thigh. Each run hitched her flowing skirt higher until his callouses met the silky feel of smooth feminine legs. At his discovery, he felt the sharp prick of nails digging into his deltoids and an impatient whimper vibrating into his busy mouth. He smiled and bent slightly to catch the back of her knee. Swiftly he moved his other hand around her small waist to secure her against himself as he hoisted her leg to anchor on his slim hips. He swallowed her squeak of surprise whole as she wrapped arms tightly about his neck for balance.

He nudged her back against the wall and settled himself firmly between her legs while rocking gently side to side. Both his arms now traversed he sides and back soothingly while she used her limbs to hold herself up. The foot on the floor was pointed so that it rested on the ball. He released her mouth and moved to run his nose along her collar-bone. She completely ignored both the flash and the boom now. A small hand began to run tenderly through the hair at the back of his head and sucked gently on her neck in gratitude.

…

Ichigo started violently when a familiar yet irritating laugh brought him back to the present.

"Enjoying the hot springs a little too much, ne Ichigo?"

His head turned so quickly he nearly snapped his neck. "Get the hell out you pervert!" He tried to cover himself from the purple-haired nuisance but failed miserably at halting the red stain from dominating his face. She grinned at the ridiculous picture he made then tossed her head back in laughter.

Ichigo grimaced angrily before attempting to take back his dignity. "Why don't you put some damn clothes on you psycho-"

"Oh relax." She crossed her arms over her ample chest and grinned again, watching him form the corner of her eye. "You're such a prude."

He rose to his full height and pointed hotly toward the exit. "Get out!"

"You're not the only one working up a sweat ya' know. Why I myself just finished up a work out with Sado and Renji at Kisuke's."

He tried not to growl out the next part but it was no use. "Then why don't you use the one at his place." His clenched-teeth reply only made her want to laugh harder, but she had a point to drive home.

"I love fuckin' with this kid..."

Schooling her expression to something more serious and cold she looked straight at him. In a voice to match her expression she replied. "Why aren't you?"

"Bingo." Her expression remained stoic, but inside she was grinning like a Cheshire cat.

He paled instantly. The broad shoulders he had hunched in irritation dropped and his eyes focused on something in the water that even he couldn't see.

Yuruichi hopped from the water gracefully and left him there without saying a word. She glanced back over her shoulder to watch him as she strode away almost upset that her nudity didn't send him into another hissy-fit. The fact that he had not moved though gave her pride in accomplishing her mission. Things would be put into motion soon and once that happened, things could go back to normal. Since he wasn't looking anyway, she returned to her animal form and hurried off to inform a certain shop-keeper of her success.

I'm sorry to inform you all that I'm traveling for the next few weeks with out any internet access so I won't be able to update for some time. I will however (being with out internet access, and for the most part, human interaction) have plenty of free time with nothing to do. That being said, I'll be working on all of my stories and hopefully have something to show for it when I get back. Also, with the Fall Semester approaching fast, writing will have to take a back seat to class-work. I appreciate your understanding and I hope that I can make it up to you. (Any suggestions?) Also I just realized that the title has been posted incorrectly so when it changes don't be alarmed.

Lastly, since one of my personal favorites, Rangiku will soon be showing up, things will be getting a bit more mature. You have been warned.

Comment. Review.

Best,

Aijou