Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Soul Eater or their characters, all of which belong to Tite Kubo or Atsushi Okubo respectively. OCs and anything original from these is my own work.
Brief: After the Kishin was revived, the Madness Wavelength was released to the world and a new form of Black Blood was made that found it's way into the realm of the hollows. Lord Death decided to act by sending to Meisters to investigate, but they soon end up with more than they had bargained. Contains swearing, slight romance and potential gore/shocking imagery.
Pairings: IchiRuki, KaiHime, SoMa, potential others.
Bleached Souls: Black Bloodlust
Chapter 6: The Dark Wedding Gift
Kai groaned as he felt the light sting his fragile eyes, peeling them open with difficulty. His head ached as he thought what had happened, before remembering his decision to fight Renji with a pair of baseball bats as if they were katana, ending with him triumphantly parading around the red-heads fallen form before taking a strike to the head himself; and the fact that he had thrown his own bat into the air to fight the pineapple with his fists, only for it to nail him again on the way down probably did not help. He rubbed the tender part of his head in the memory of the incident, looking down.
Kami, he thought. I am such an idiot.
Ichigo stirred and sat up beside him, looking dazed.
"Are we still in Urahara's?" he questioned. Kai brushed some of the dust from his shirt and nodded.
"Yep, must've passed out down here," he muttered. "Who's idea was it to have a drinking contest in Sake Ryu with a dozen bottles of the stuff?"
"That'd be Renji." Ichigo stifled a yawn. "What time is it?"
"From my watch, half eight..." Kai's eyes widened. "Shit! The wedding's at eleven!"
"Crap, you're right. And the guests are going to be arriving about ten!"
Kai was already on his feet and scrabbling up one of the pillars of rock to get a better view. He spotted the exit a fair way away from where the two Captains stood, but he could not find a trace of Renji.
"Where the fuck is that stupid pineapple-haired bastard?" Kai growled, clearly in no mood to be playing hide and seek with a hungover Lieutenant-rank Soul Reaper. "If we're late 'cause of him, I'll..."
"Hey, relax!" Ichigo called to him. "You go get ready, I'll find that dumbass for you!"
"Thanks, mate. Whatever you do, don't be late!"
And with that, he was off, leaving Ichigo to search for Renji, who had in fact fallen into a pit about a hundred metres away with the remnants of two broken sake bottles lying in his wake.
Urahara Shoten Spare Rooms
Soul fixed his tie for a third time since putting it on. He, Kid, Maka, Liz and Patty had all gone out the day before with one of the groups, girls or boys, to get outfits more suitable for such an occasion as a wedding. Soul had managed to find a fairly cheap rental suit like the one he wore to formal gatherings at Shibusen, whereas Kis opted for a black suit with three white stripes across the chest with breaks around the buttons and the back, giving it a symmetrical look. The latter chuckled a little, his amber irises falling on the annoyed look on his albino companion's face.
"Here," he offered, fixing the awkward black tie. "There, perfectly symmetrical."
"Thanks, Kid," Soul flashed the young reaper a shark-toothed grin. Kid smiled politely before his eyes hardened.
"So Maka's still going to see the Vizards later?" Soul nodded.
"Yeah, she really wants to know how they can control something like they do," the weapon explained with a sigh, hands in his trouser pockets. "And what happened yesterday just made her want to know more, I guess."
"I'll admit, using the Madness as you two do is a useful tool in combat," Kid noted. "But is this really a good idea? The Vizards are some of the strongest fighters on their own; in a mass group they must be near undefeatable. Doesn't that worry you?"
Soul looked away, a slight glint of unease in his crimson irises.
"Of course it does," he finally answered. "It scares the living hell out of me that she wants to become so strong; after all, isn't that how Asura became what he is?"
"Soul, Asura devoured his own weapon out of fear of being outdone by him; Maka's not that weak-willed. You should know that."
"I know that, Kid; I know that Maka would never try to do something so reckless as to put herself in harms way..." Soul paused, a dark look grazing his features. "But... I still worry about her intentions... The day I got that scar on my chest, she said she would get stronger for me, so that I would never have to put myself in such a position for her sake again... Don't get me wrong, I don't mind that, but..."
"You're worried that when she finds out how to control the Madness like Kai did," Kid analysed. "She'll lose control and get hurt in the process. I can see it in your face, you really don't want her to do something that might put her in harms way just to get stronger."
"Of course I do," Soul murmured, his voice a little weak compared to how it usually was. "I'm scared I'm going to lose her, Kid." The reaper blinked. "I know it sounds selfish, but I couldn't bear to see her leave my side like that. I don't care about becoming a Deathscythe if that's the cost; hell, I don't want to be one if it means that I have to get another wielder. I just... I just want Maka."
Kid sympathised with the scythe.
"You love her, don't you?" he said. "All those things you said are too deep to be between friends. Let me guess: when she leaves your side, you feel as though someone just made you go twelve rounds against Black Star in a bare-knuckle fight; she's all you can think about whether she's there or not; and whenever you see her, you feel as if your heart has leapt into your throat, right?" Soul blinked, amazed.
"How did you know?" he asked softly. Kid scoffed.
"It's completely obvious, Soul," he replied. "Hell, Liz and Patty have been betting against Black Star when you're going to tell her how you feel!" Soul looked away again.
"I can't tell her;" he muttered. "I could damage our friendship..." He looked Kid in the eye with sorrowful orbs. "I would rather she never knew than possibly destroy the best friendship I've had."
Just then, Kai burst in.
"Sorry to barge in," the older male panted, his suit half-prepared and one shoe on his left foot. "But have either of you seen my right shoe?"
Kid looked away, trying to suppress an OCD outburst while Soul pointed to the next room, where said shoe had flown through the closed window and struck him in the head. With Kai gone, Soul hazarded a smirk.
"Let's go get the girls," he said, leading the his symmetry-obsessed friend towards Orihime's house.
Orihime's House
Rukia carefully did Orihime's long hair up in a loose bun, the flower clips still at her fringe but accompanied by a dainty white lotus flower. The busty girl was a bundle of nerves, fussing over how she looked and worrying that she did not look good enough. Rukia could not help but giggle a little at the auburn-haired girl's worries.
"Orihime, calm down, you look fine," she said softly, smiling. "Look at yourself in the mirror."
The Shun Shun Rikka wielder nodded and stood to look at herself in the full-length mirror. She was stunned by what she saw; her hair was well kept and looked immaculate, just as she knew it would, but her kimino, a delicate pink garment with intricate patterns of plants growing with blooming flowers dotted all around and a pair of humming birds at the centre, their beaks crossed in a loving embrace. She stifled a cry of joy, her hands blocking her mouth in awe at how she looked. Rukia appeared in the reflection, smiling.
"Is that really me?" she asked the Soul Reaper softly.
"Yes, it certainly is," Rukia replied, pausing for an envious sigh. "You have no idea how lucky you are, Orihime."
"Huh?" Orihime gave Rukia one of her notorious blank looks.
"You're marrying the man you love," the petite girl explained. "That's very lucky; not everyone finds that in a person... And he is a good man, I know you know that." Orihime nodded, but frowned a little.
"Rukia, what's brought this on?" she questioned. Rukia bit her lip then shook her head.
"Don't worry," she said. "Today's about you and Kai, not me."
"It's about Ichigo, isn't it?"
"How-" Orihime smiled coyly.
"I have eyes, Rukia. I can see you like him a lot. What's wrong?"
"It's just..." The Kuchiki girl paused, looking away. "I don't understand him sometimes. The other night we were walking home and he..." A blush tinged Rukia's delicate porcelain cheeks. "He gave me his jacket to wear home and wrapped his arm around me." Orihime let out an 'aw'. "I felt... touched by that action, and kind of like I was meant to be there by his side, but then..." Rukia's light smile which had developed over this tale fell. "Then he acted as though it was nothing. He's been giving me mixed signals for as long as I can remember, ever since he came to Soul Society just to rescue me, and it's just getting so... tedious to work out what his actions really mean. I just don't know what to do about it, I guess."
Orihime smiled and hugged Rukia.
"Oh, Rukia!" she cooed. "I know Ichigo and I know he's a bit hard to understand at times, but he probably doesn't know how to express how he feel either! You just have to stick at it and get him to tell you he loves you, because I know he does."
Rukia smiled weakly up to her soon-to-be-married friend.
"Thanks, Orihime," she replied, hugging her back. A knock caught their attention. "I'll get it, go finish your make-up, Orihime."
The black haired girl opened the door and breathed a sigh of relief, although it was somewhat disappointed at the same time.
"Ah, Kid, Soul, it's only you," she smiled, letting them in. "Sorry, I thought that would be Ichigo."
"Sorry, but it's not," Soul replied, hands in his pockets. "Last I hear, he was trying to find one of his friends... What was his name?"
"Renji," Kid replied for Soul, who nodded. Rukia blinked, then scowled.
"That idiot's missing?" she questioned furiously. "Doesn't he know that Nii-sama is going to be arriving soon? Baka!"
"Huh? What's your brother got to do with this Renji guy?" Soul raised an eyebrow.
"Nii-sama is his Captain and he expects Renji to be ready when he arrives." She looked over her shoulder to a screen door and smiled. "Speaking of ready, I see your friends are finished getting dressed."
Both of the young males turned to their female counter-parts, both staring in stunned silence.
The elder Thompson sister stood there in a white dress which reached down to her mid-shin and was cut low around the neck to show off a silver chain of a necklace with a pair of crossed pistols dangling from it. Along each sleeve was a trio of gold buttons and on the chest a faint skull like the mask Lord Death wears was emblazoned in red stitch. Patty had gone for something much less fancy in the form of a bright yellow, plain dress which ended around her knees, though her short sleeves revealed a pair of giraffe bracelets symmetrically placed on her wrists. Needless to say, Kid was happy to see his weapons had chosen such symmetrical attire for the occasion, and he thought both looked beautiful in their own way.
But Soul's jaw-dropped gaze fell upon his own Meister, who had a shy smile gracing her features. Her usual trench coat and skirt had been traded for a long red dress which reached down towards her ankles, a black bow tied in the middle of her chest to hold the ribbon which twisted around her back and slender midsection. The sleeveless number had been accompanied by a pair of black fingerless gloves which extended up her arms to around her elbows in a netting-like material. What caught Soul's attention most, though, was her face; her hair, usually held in her trademark pigtails, now flowed down her back, cascading like a golden waterfall to compensate for the missing area of coverage behind her. Her jade eyes gleamed like a pair of emerald encrusted moons against the pale complexion and golden cascade which made the background. Though she wore little to no make-up what so ever, as per usual, not a blemish or battle scar showed through on her faint canvas that was her face, though the tell-tale rosy hue to her cheeks told Soul he had stared to long, but he couldn't help it.
"Wow," he finally said, breaking the silence. Maka blushed a little deeper but her smile grew.
"Hey, Soul," she said softly, walking to him timidly. "You look... cool."
Though it would have sounded unflattering to anyone else, Maka knew Soul and his hang up on coolness, so knew this would be the equivalent of likening him to Leonardo DiCaprio, and she was right.
"Maka, you look..." He paused, not for effect like Maka had, but because he had no words in mind. "Wow..." Maka blushed further.
"You don't think it's too much, do you?" she asked sceptically.
"No, not at all."
"I can put my hair up if that's the problem."
"I wouldn't have you change a thing, Maka. You look..." Don't you dare say it! His subconscious blurted, but he ignored it. "Wow..."
Soul mentally facepalmed himself for being so uncool, but he was taken aback by the cute look the Maka put on as she giggled.
"Come on," she said, offering him her hand. "Let's head over while you think of some real adjectives."
He took her hand and, as she sailed gracefully by, whispered in her ear just three words.
"You look beautiful."
And with that said, both Meister and Weapon headed off, hand in hand, blushing red as Soul's eyes, while their friends tagged along further behind.
Later, Karakura Park, Isolated Area
Kai stood there, smiling courteously as each guest arrived. Kid, Soul, Maka and the Thompsons had arrived long before anyone else, as had Uryu, Chad, Urahara, Yoruichi, Tessai, Ururu, Jinta, Ichigo and Renji, once he had come round. Now the Captains and Lieutenants were arriving via a Senkaimon set up within the barrier they were using to keep out hollows and to stabilise the high pressure of the numerous Captain-level reiatsus so that it did not adversely affect the nearby inhabitants.
The dark-haired male rolled his head and fixed his collar. He had opted for something typical for him; a red dress-shirt with a black tie sporting a silver item in the image of Rertyan's mask over the knot, a black pair of trousers and matching jacket, and a pair of shiny black shoes. Hidden in the cuffs of his shirt was a pair of skull cuff links which he had obtained from his father and a set of dark chains arched between the belt-loops of his trousers.
"Yari, yari," came a familiar voice. "Looks like our Captain's all grown up."
Kai grinned to meet the newcomers, all eight of them, and high-fived the grinning blonde man.
"Hey, Shinji," he said warmly. "Glad to see you made it."
"Are you kidding? We wouldn't want to miss a day like this! Besides," Shinji's look went from friendly to slightly sly. "You did say someone wanted to meet us."
"Right, I'll introduce you guys to them after this. Find a seat where you like, we'll start pretty soon anyway."
No sooner had he said this did the Captains and Lieutenants arrive. Everyone took their seats and waited patiently for the wedding to start. Amongst the crowd, Kai could clearly see the turn-out; the afore mentioned cluster and the Vizards, Byakuya, Captains Hitsugaya, Kira, Unohana, Kyoraku, Komamura and Madarame, and Lieutenants Hinamori, Soifon, Ise, Iba and Matusumoto. He had been told that some of those missing had been put on guard but also that Ukitake was still in Seireitei, feeling unwell again, which had been a bit of a blow to Kai; the Head-Captain had been a good friend since he had known him.
Suddenly, Urahara started to play a keyboard he had brought in, playing the wedding march, catching Kai off-guard. He looked down the make-shift aisle an felt a smile spread over his face as he saw Orihime walking his way. Once the two stood side by side, they turned to the 'minister' while everyone watched on quietly.
"You look beautiful," the male whispered as Urahara read out the speech about marriage and it's commitments. Orihime blushed.
"You look handsome too," she replied softly. They shared a smile until Urahara looked to them, telling them he was about to start the important parts.
"If there is anyone present who feels that they bare reason why these two should not be bound in matrimony," he said loudly to the crowd. "Speak now or forever hold your peace." Nothing was said, so he disregarded it. "Good, in that case, I believe you have written your own vows?"
Kai nodded and turned to Orihime, holding her delicate hands in his. He chuckled a little after a brief pause..
"Seem to have forgotten what I was gonna say," he said, getting a faint laugh but also a look of disapproval from Byakuya as he watched on, stoic as ever otherwise. "Sorry. Orihime Inoue, I knew since the day I met you that you were special to me, but it wasn't until you came to find me that stormy night that I realised why you are so special. I didn't know what to do until you came looking for me again when I went berserk." He paused at this point and turned his head to the crowd. "By the way, I'm still sorry about that, everyone." Back to Orihime. "I thought you'd been searching for someone to protect you and be your family ever since you lost your brother. But now I see that you were just waiting for someone to come for you; lost in the sea of people, alone in the crowds. I don't ever want you to feel alone again, and I know I don't want to lose you."
A fews 'aw's passed over the crowd before Orihime smiled and spoke her vows.
"Kai, everything you said is true," she started. "I felt as if I didn't belong until you arrived, and then it was like a light turning on; everything was so clear in that instant. I was a little confused at first, but I knew deep down that I loved you, and I always will."
"That was lovely, thank you," Urahara smiled behide his fan, which he snapped shut. "Do you have the rings, Ichigo?" The orange-haired male nodded and handed both of them their partner's ring. "Orihime Inoue, do you take Kai Friel, Captain of Vizard Squad and holder for the record of the most destruction caused to Seireitei in the course of 24-hours," Kai glared a little at Urahara for this, but the Captain and Shop Keeper went on regardless. "As your lawfully wedded husband and eternal soul mate, in this life and in the next, in sickness and health, for better and worse, forever more?"
"I do," the auburn-haired girl smiled bashfully, a grin gracing Kai's face, side-tracking him.
"And do you, Kai Friel," Urahara went on, before Kai interrupted.
"Huh?" He blushed when he realised what it was. "Sorry, continue."
"Do you take this lovely young lady to be your wife and accept that you will be the envy of many of your classmates and have to fight some of them off?"
"Che," Kai grinned again. "They can try it, but no one's stopping me from marrying the woman I love. Yes, Urahara, I definitely do."
"Excellent!" The crowd cheered as Kai and Orihime slipped the rings into place. "By the power vested in me as Squad 13 Captain under the authority of the Gotei 14 and Seireitei, I now prnounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Without a hesitation, Kai embraced Orihime and the two kissed passionately, resulting in several wolf-whistles from the crowd.
"Ah, the beauty of young love," Kyoraku mused aloud, turning to his subordinate. "Oh, sweet Nanao, when will you be mine?"
"Captain, please," the Lieutenant brushed off the request quickly, fixing her glasses. "Now is not the time for your immaturity."
"Oh, come now, Nanao, there's nothing wrong with feeling affection for a superior officer."
"T-That is not- I don't-"
Meanwhile, above the wedding procession stood a group of people, all watching intently.
"Wow," Ed broke the silence. "So that's why he didn't want to come back."
Jessica and Alex looked down with detached interest, having not known the male who had just been married beneath their feet. Ella, on the other hand, looked as though she were suppressing her desire, an upset look barely visible in her eyes, but Jon had caught it and he could feel his rage boil inside, making his blood burn.
"Let's go get him then," Alex growled finally, reaching for his pocket, but Ed grabbed his wrist. "What are you-"
"Don't even think about it," Ed replied warningly. "You're going back to headquarters."
"By you," Jon asked. "Who do you mean?"
"All of you," Ed responded without hesitation. "Neither of you know Kai that well," He pointed to Alex and Jess, who nodded. "And, I'll be honest, you two don't really look like you want to see him right now," Jon's eyes narrowed but he stayed silent while Ella turned her head away. "But I want to talk with him, so head back, I'll join you all later."
Not being one to argue, Alex and Jess disappeared quickly, whereas Jon lingered to glare a while longer, then vanished. Ella turned to Ed.
"Tell him congratulations," she said shakily. "And that I wish him all the best."
And with that, she was gone. Ed sighed and turned back to the couple as they walked below him, following carefully.
Later, Urahara Shoten
The party beneath the shop was bustling as people talked with one another about the lucky couple, socialised as the music played or just had some fun. The Vizards had chosen a separate area away from the noise and spoke with Maka and Soul animatedly about their hollows, Ichigo and Rukia had gone upstairs and talked in the back rooms, Orihime was fussing over the guests and making sure everyone knew that she was grateful that they had turned up, and Kid was lamenting over the asymmetry about the DJ booth and the punch bowl, due to the three faces on it, two being symmetrical and the third being Kai's original mask.
Said married man was now sat on the roof, watching the afternoon clouds roll casually by. The party had gone on for several hours already and he had let himself out for some air.
"How big is this place?" came a voice, making Kai tense up. "Relax, I'm on my own."
He looked to his left and spotted Ed stood a few metres away, hands in his pockets. Kai remained suspicious, then gestured for him to come over, which Ed willingly accepted.
"Sure is peaceful around here," he commented, looking around. "I see why you like it."
"What are you still doing here?" Kai asked bluntly. "I've already refused to come back, why are you still trying to-"
"I'm not here for that."
"You're not?" Kai blinked.
"No, I know about you and Mrs Friel," He winked at this point. "So I know it wouldn't work. Oh, Ella says congrats, by the way."
Kai turned to his friend.
"Did she see it?" Ed nodded. "Damn. I was hoping she hadn't. Truthfully, I didn't want to give her false hope, but I guess it's too late to stop her hurting, huh?"
"I think so, she looked pretty hurt by it." Ed paused. "I actually came for a few reasons. Firstly, I want to apologise for how we acted a few months back. That was wrong of us, and I accept that it was not the right way to go about it."
"Apology accepted," Kai shrugged it off.
"And also, I wanted to warn you." Ed's eyes were deadly serious.
"Warn me? About what?"
"We think JX might be coming back here, don't know where or when, but there's a disturbance in Alkahmia and the Elders think it's him."
"Probably is..." Kai sighed. "If he comes back, I don't know if we can defeat him or not, but we need to fight as a team; your lot and mine." Ed smiled.
"Just like old times," he replied, high-fiving Kai, each gripping the other's thumb. They released and Ed stood. "I should go, Kai. I'll see you tomorrow at school."
"Hey, Ed!" Ed stopped in his track and faced Kai again. "You're welcome to join us."
Ed shook his head.
"No, I need to get back to the base. See you, Kai." And in that instant, he disappeared.
"Bye, Ed."
Back Room
Rukia and Ichigo stopped speaking as the door slid open and a woman in a white uniform, her face covered, appeared.
"You are Ichigo Kurosaki, yes?" she asked. Ichigo nodded. "My name is Celest. My master, the King of Hueco Mundo, requests that you assemble a team of ten. He then requests an audience with you in Hueco Mundo, in Los Noches."
"And if I refuse?" Ichigo asked. Before he could move, Celest had her left hand around his throat, her right tightened on the hilt of a concealed zanpakuto.
"His majesty does not like to wait," the messenger replied. "Assemble your team and go immediately."
No sooner was this said did Celest vanish. Ichigo coughed a little, then stood.
"Rukia," he said firmly.
"Yes, Captain?" she asked. He turned to face her.
"Let's prepare a team."
Gomenosai everyone, been real busy lately.
A load of exams to revise for and then had to do homework in addition to that.
Anyway, that aside, I think this is coming along nicely.
So, please read and review, and I'll post again when I can; still have some exams though.
Anyway, I'm tired and overheated, so I'm gonna hit the hay.
Goodnight and Sayonara!