Title: BLEACHed Elements

Author(s): SanadaSayuri & Deragonmaji

Disclaimer: No money is made off this work of fiction. Bleach is not mine. If it was, I would be rich and I wouldn't be writing this, now would I?

Summary: Four months after the events of BLEACHed Blitzkrieg, the Winter War against Aizen is at a standstill. Serieitei is on constant alert and stretched thin as the Shinigami work to repel attacks from Hueco Mundo in both Soul Society and in the Human world. In the meantime, the fragile threads of peace in the human world are unraveling, while humans with high spiritual awareness are getting killed off. Is Aizen the mastermind behind all of this conflict? Only Ichigo can get to the bottom of this mystery, but the actual question remains, can the combined efforts of the Spiritually Aware humans and the Shinigami keep Ichigo alive long enough for him to get to the bottom of everything and hopefully end the conflicts?AU

Pairing: Byakuya/Ichigo

Note: Sequel to BLEACHed Blitzkrieg

SanadaSayuri: Hey there! Sorry about the long wait.

Deragonmaji: -bows frantically- SORRY!!! We've been busy...

SanadaSayuri:

Chapter 3

Byakuya allowed a small smile to cross his face as he trailed his fingers through his sleeping husband's vibrant hair. Almost two weeks had passed since the assassination attempt during the initial entry into Cairo, and to the horror of many people; both human and shinigami; another assassination attempt had been made in the hospital and as a result, Ichigo had yet to wake. In the meantime, the noble tried to make a bit of time every day to go visit the young shinigami.

The Kuchiki's eyes drew themselves unwillingly to the rising sun beyond the windowsill of the quiet hospital room. The raven haired shinigami heaved a silent sigh. It was time to get back to work. As he left the hospital room, Byakuya reflected the sudden change in situations.

Young Kurosaki Yuzu had made the trip down to Cairo to represent her still comatose mother and injured brother under Rukia's protection, and Byakuya was to accompany his sister-in-law in his shinigami form into the conference room and guide her as the talks went underway. It wasn't easy since Yuzu had not been trained to work the political scene as Ichigo and Byakuya were, and Byakuya was only slightly aware of the goals Kurosaki Masaki and Kurosaki Ichigo had in mind for defusing the situation. All Byakuya had to work with was the faintest knowledge of what his young husband intended to do in certain circumstances. It was a difficult position for him as one wrong bit of whispered advice would spell disaster for Kurosaki Yuzu's political career, and would send all of Kurosaki Masaki and Ichigo's hard work tumbling down about them.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The station in the Twelfth Division monitoring the human world was in chaos.

"There's a Garganta opening in Cairo!"

"Where?"

"The energy signature is enormous! It's an Espada!"

"Where is it, dammit?!"

"It… Oh my god! It's headed for Kurosaki Ichigo!"

"Someone report to the Captain!"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Yami stared down that the comatose teenager, feeling revulsion turn in his stomach. The Espada growled.

"I hate this," the Espada snarled. "I oughtta be pounding ya while you're awake, but no… I gotta kill ya in your sleep. Damn Aizen and his crap orders."

Still grumbling, Yami picked up a pillow and pressed it over the boy's face.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"You're pretty good at nearly getting us killed, ain't cha, aibou?"

"Shut up! It's not like I asked for this!"

"Ya wanted ta help your mother, didn't ya?"

"Course I did! It's my duty as a son!"

"Then quit sniveling and get out there, aibou! You're the King, ain't cha? Quit trying ta get us killed an do something!"

"You are in danger. It is time for you to wake up."

"What?"

"Ya heard 'im, King. If ya gotta wake up."

"What the hell? My body… Why is it so heavy?"

"Hurry! If you don't wake up soon, everything will be over!"

"Wake up, Aibou!"

"Wake up!"

"I can't breathe!"

"Aibou!"

"Ichigo!"

"What is this weight? Dammit! Leave me alone!!!!"

And everything exploded into whiteness.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The Senkaimon opened into Ichigo's hospital room in time for Ukitake Jyuushiro to see a dark skinned, heavyset Espada be thrown back by a wave of reiatsu. And there, standing at the side of the bed and breathing heavily while clinging to the bedrails to stay standing, was Kurosaki Ichigo.

"Kurosaki-kun?!"

Yami groaned as he stood up. "Dammit!"

A Garganta opened behind him and Ulquiorra was revealed. Ukitake was immediately between the two Espada and Ichigo, his sword drawn.

"Yami," the bland faced Espada intoned, "This mission is a failure. Return immediately."

"Dammit," Yami growled as he stepped into the Garganta. "Watch your back boy. Aizen-sama will get you yet." And the Garganta closed.

"Well then…" Ichigo panted, his knuckles turning white on the guardrails. "What did I miss, Ukitake-san?"

Ukitake turned and smiled warmly at the ashen faced teen as he sheathed Sougyo no Kotowari, "Nice to see you awake again Kurosaki-kun. I'll let Unohana-Taicho know that you are awake. She'll want to look you over."

Ichigo grinned, "I bet she does," he muttered and his eyes rolled backward into his skull as he collapsed.

"Kurosaki-kun!"

Ukitake darted forward and grunted as he caught the teen's limp form. The sickly captain sighed as he picked up the teen and laid him onto the bed.

"Dammit. He's unconscious again." Then he smiled. "But he woke up. That's good news."

The door slammed open and Kuchiki Rukia and Kuchiki Byakuya stormed in.

"Ukitake-Taicho?!" Rukia cried, "We sensed a pair of Espada here! Is Ichigo alright?!"

Ukitake sighed again and said, "Kurosaki-kun is fine. He woke up for a bit, but I'm afraid he's unconscious again…"

"What?!" Rukia looked angry, "He woke up and I wasn't here to see it?! Dammit!"

"Rukia," Byakuya's voice was disapproving.

"Oh," Rukia looked sheepish. "Sorry, Nii-sama."

"Oi! Injured person trying to sleep here!" a tired voice, hoarse from disuse snapped.

"Sorry, Ichigo!" Rukia said.

"Sorry, Kurosaki-kun!" Ukitake said.

"Kurosaki," Byakuya said dryly, "Ukitake-Taicho said you were unconscious."

"No one can stay unconscious with you lot slamming doors and yelling all day!" the orange haired teen grumbled.

~*~*~*~*~*~

TBC…

~*~*~*~*~*~

Ukitake: Hmm… Kurosaki-kun seems awfully prone to close calls, isn't he?

Ichigo: Will you pair stop trying to kill me?!

Deragonmaji: Again, you wanted Sanada Sayuri to write you as a politician. Politicians deal with assassination attempts all the time.

Rukia: Um… But are they almost always in and out of the hospital like Ichigo is? Maybe the two of you are going overboard?

Byakuya: Indeed. Kurosaki seems to be suffering needlessly. Unless, Deragonmaji-san it is your intention to kill him?

Deragonamaji: I'm just the co-writer and beta! The original idea is hers! –points at SS—

Byakuya: --raises eyebrow-- Well, Sanada-san? An explanation if you please.

SS: --sweatdrops-- Um… No comment.

Yuzu: That's unacceptable! You're hurting Ichi-nii-san and making his life hard!

SS: --flails-- His life has to be hard! He's the son of a world famous peace advocate and a son of a noble house! He is strong enough to fight two captains and win! Of course he's going to be constantly targeted by people trying to keep him out of the picture!

Ukitake: --sweatdrops-- She has a point…

Deragonmaji: --throws hands into air-- Finally! They get it!

SS: Hey! You stole my line! Anyway, in the meantime, Deragonmaji and I would really appreciate some feedback! So please click on that pretty button below and leave a review!