Disclaimer- I don't own BLEACH, just Ai, Manami, Shizuko and a few others.
Special Thanks!!! ToIllegitimi- I know you didn't want this but you deserve this! She is my muse!
7. Control
Manami had hard time taking in that she was sitting in Mayuri Kurotsuchi's lap, on his bed, and crying into his chest. However she could not deny that she felt perfectly safe. Did he realize he was petting her hair? She took a deep steadying breath. She wrinkled her nose; his clothes had the sharp scent of rubbing alcohol. Then again it reassured her that he took care of himself. She just sort of let her mind wander. If he didn't want to let go, she sure wouldn't make him. Her thoughts came to rest on his bedroom again, it really was beautiful. Was it supposed to be? The décor emanated understated strength, reflecting the man it belonged to. He wasn't the Captain one would relate to physical strength; however Manami felt differently now… the dark colors of the room spoke of passion, complimenting the silk of the sheets. How many women had seen that passion? Had any? The idea had her entire being heating. She had to concentrate not to squirm. Perhaps it was better not to-
A hand knocking on a door. An aggravated grunt. Ōmaeda.
She pushed back away from him in shock, "What time is it?"
"A little past seven," he estimated. What was wrong with her now?
"Oh, gods," she huffed, "I'm late…" She tried to escape his grasp but he didn't budge. "Please Captain Kurotsuchi, Lieutenant Ōmaeda will be upset with me enough already…I should really be leaving…"
She felt the muscles in his arm flex. "Why?" he demanded. "What does vulgarian have to do with anything?"
"He was supposed to pick me up for dinner at seven," she explained while pushing against him.
"You're in no condition to go to dinner," he snarled. No way in hell would he allow her to leave his care in her state-especially to go on a date.
"If anything happens I'll go to the fourth division," she rolled her eyes. She was aware they probably looked comical; he sat on the bed with his arms around her waist holding her tightly against him with her thrashing about.
He flipped her knocking the breath plum out of her. She was gasping for air while he straddled the top of her. The rage in his eyes had her stilling. What was wrong with him?
"You. Are. Not. Going." He drew the line. Her face was flushed from their tussle; her cheeks accented by pink from exertion. Once again his pants felt confining.
"You're not my keeper," she said reasonably, "I will see whoever I'd like to see."
"But you don't want to see him," he pointed out leaning down towards her face. When her breathing hastened the thrill of it went right to his groin.
"How do-"
"Don't even start that," he laughed, "if you had wanted to you wouldn't have forgotten and would have been sure to tell him where you would be." The satisfaction of seeing he was right relaxed him some. "He's not your type, blind one." With that he sat up off of her and moved to the large desk.
The final statement had lit a spark in her. How dare he be so pompous! She was careful to sit up slowly-to be kind to her head- but it wasn't in anyway dainty. She was not done with the conversation. She stalked over to lean across the desk and into his face
"What is my type then Captain Kurotsuchi?" she challenged in low tones.
Calmly he lifted his head, pleased to have gotten a rise out of her, "the type you think you want?" he didn't give her time to reply. "You think you want someone safe," he grinned, "Such as Captain Ukitake," when the rage flashed in her eyes he was impressed by quickly it was suppressed, "a man that would take his time, that wouldn't question where you got your scars-he'd help you to forget." He chuckled, "well, here are the facts: you will never forget. The fear you live with will not go away. No matter how much you run from the past, it is always there." He paused then to gauge her reaction. Her face was blank but her eyes were lively with capped passion. He wanted to see her when the passion was released to roam free.
"Where is my uniform?" she asked before he could continue.
He only nodded in a direction behind her. She turned to see it lying on the red-upholstered bench in front of the bed. She just wanted out. Swiftly she began to dress, but the ache in her wrists in her wrists had her performing slower than she would have liked. When hands caught her bare shoulders she froze; she could feel the whole of him behind her. Breath caressed her ear and had her shuddering. He took the top from her held it out for her hands.
"I wasn't finished," he purred as he nuzzled her neck. He didn't want her to leave, and that had him unsettled, "do you know what you need?"
She had to stop all the nonsense before it got out of hand. She wrestled away from him and pulled her robe up, quickly tying her obi. Her head was throbbing, but she couldn't let that show. Her knees were weak, "I don't need anyone." She met his eyes when she turned around, "now, if you'd be so kind to show-"
He'd heard enough. He impulsively strode to her. Before either had time to think, he'd captured her lips. Passion erupted and she clung to him. He had her by the waist, but still she strained to get closer. Tongues met and she moaned. One his hands traveled down her back and cupped her firm butt. Caught in the moment, her head fell back when his mouth began a journey down her throat.
The abrupt buzz slammed them both back to reality. She was straightening her uniform as she followed him into the attached office. She took in the ornamentation of the room and felt a twinge. The steel appliances were Captain Kurotsuchi. She sighed; it was a let down to be reminded that where passion lived inside of him so did logic and cold.
He yanked open the door with a scowl. He was pissed that he been interrupted, fuming that she had gotten the best of him, and infuriated that he was burning for more. When he saw Nemu standing with Ōmaeda he felt the tingle of blood lust.
"Can I help you?" he spit.
"Where's Manami?" Ōmaeda demanded.
Before he could tell the behemoth of a man to go fuck himself, Manami pushed past him. When the man took her into his arms petting her head, Mayuri wanted nothing more than to detach the man's head.
"What the hell did you do?" Ōmaeda shouted, putting poor excuse of a protective arm around Manami.
"Its fine," she sighed stepping around in front of her 'protector', "I volunteered to let him do an experiment. It's really all my fault I should have known better…"
Ōmaeda rounded on Manami, "Are you so stupid?" he took her by the arm and began to bustle her away, but Mayuri's enhanced hearing kept him tuned to the conversation, "I got the low down on what happened yesterday from Yachiru, you're a fourth seat Manami can't you ever act like it?"
She was tuning him out completely, "I'm sorry, but I don't answer to you," she sighed.
Mayuri tensed when the foot steps stopped. There was a rustling of fabric, "Manami," Ōmaeda snorted, "Don't get an attitude. Be grateful that I care about your well being. I don't see Captain Ukitake anywhere and I know that he knows you're here. And it is more than obvious you don't care about your own well being."
"My sister-"
"Is a woman that only wants to satisfy herself," he said as though he were talking to an ill tempered child, "take what you can get dear." Mayuri had to concentrate, but it sound like…Did he just pat her cheek? No. He would absolutely not listen to her being spoke in to in such a way.
"Yes sir," she murmured, "Look," her voice seemed to be getting softer, "I'd really just like to go home…it's been a long day and my head is killing me. I-"
"Did this to yourself," he finished for her again.
The site that greeted Mayuri had him ready to rip limbs off of Ōmaeda's body. He had Manami backed up against the wall with an arm on either side of her head. Her head was down, her eyes closed. She wasn't going to say anything…why? The moment the moment the brute took her by the chin, Kurotsuchi's ears were ringing.
"No," Mayuri spoke, "I did this to her." he strode over to Ōmaeda and took the arm still on the wall in his hand, "I believe Miss Takahashi was trying to be polite about this," he promptly removed the larger man's arm from his wall twisting it behind his back, "She is not interested in you. She never will be." He bent down by his ear, "Do not ever let me find you touching her again or you will lose both of these arms." He threw him to the ground, "Now get out of my division." He turned taking Manami by the arm and maneuvered down a separate corridor.
She didn't ask any questions but simply allowed herself to be led. His strides were long and determined. His posture rigid. She knew she owed him, but he wasn't acting smug. He seemed to be extremely pissed off. Personally she thought it was rude. She hadn't asked for his help. Sure, it had been wonderful to feel the thrill of someone stepping in on her behalf. She was used to being the case, where no one came. In the stories a hero always came to save the damsel. Well, Mayuri Kurotsuchi was no hero, but for once she had felt like one of those lucky ladies with a knight in shining armor.
When they exited the building completely she was beyond confused, "Um, captain Kurotsuchi, where are we going?"
"I'm taking you home," he said simply.
"Your mask…" she reminded him softly.
"Fuck," he growled and turned back to the division. The damn woman had him forgetting himself. He stopped and practically sat her on the ground, "don't move," he warned before leaving her side.
He was a very strange sort of man, she decided. It was odd to spend so much time with him. Usually that helped one to understand another, but it seemed the more she was around him; the more fascinated he had her. He was not as twisted as she had believed him to be…just curious. He was grounded to an extent, but after seeing his bedroom she came to understand that he knew how draw lines through life.
The vision was unexpected:
A tea cup shattered against a white wall. A drawn arrow. Flaming red hair. Violet eyes. A dainty hand on a tattooed chest.
She came out of it to see Mayuri in his mask before her.
"Another vision?" he questioned as she stood.
"Yes sir," she nodded and fell into step beside him.
"Answer me this," he said skeptically, "how do they work?"
She shook her head; "I'm not completely sure…" their pace was leisurely, "When I'm going to be involved in some type of hindering situation. They'll hit."
"Why didn't you see the betrayal of Aizen?"
"I did," she sighed. It had taken her a bit, but she had finally come to terms with it, "I just wasn't fast enough to interpret it." she didn't see any reason not to open up to him a little, "you see I see little snippets of things; often some aren't related to one another but there are times when they are, such as last night when I had visions of your lab."
He'd have to be sure and remember that for his notes, "Would you give an example?"
She took in a deep breath considering. The sun had set, she loved night…she turned to look at him, "well, the one I just had for example…" she slightly smiled when she the grin adorn his face, "a tea cup was reduced to shards when it collided with a wall-a pure white and a pure white wall. An arrow pulled back on a bow-I'm assuming Quincy because of the coloring. Flaming red hair in long luscious locks of hair. Violet eyes. And a woman's hand on a heavily tattooed chest."
He thought for a long moment…"interesting."
"Yes," she a half laughed, "I suppose it is…it usually takes me seeing something related to a vision and things will often fall into place…"
They walked in silence for a few long moments. His mind was moving a mile a minute in attempt to decode what she'd seen. He knew they were close to her home, it had him unsettled. He didn't wish to let her out of his site. Not after what had happened with Ōmaeda, but when they reached her door he knew he no longer had a choice. They paused outside.
"Thank you," she nearly whispered, "I think I owe you for getting Ōmaeda off of my back…well, for now at least." She was looking down again.
Gently he pulled her head up until they were gazing at one another, "I meant what I said to him." He seemed to end the conversation. When his hand ran down her neck she sucked in air. She was so…responsive. "I'd like you to go inside and not answer the door. You need your rest if you're going to start training tomorrow."
"Yes sir," she murmured, her cheeks heated. She didn't like the mask he wore; it put a barrier between them, "well, good night." She said hastily as she fumbled with the latch behind her.
"Sleep well. I'll be seeing you tomorrow." he replied before turning and walking away.
Once inside she lifted a hand to her lips. What she would have given for him to have kissed her just once more…
Ok! So once again all stories are caught up! However it could be Tuesday before I update again…sorry!
BUT
Please check out Majestic Harlot! Its Ai's story with Byakuya!
OR
Take a look-see and Tainted Innocence! The romance between Shizuko and Kenpachi!
BTW: Reviews really help keep me motivated…
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Konoha's Storyteller
kudokuchan69
Illegitimi
For your reviews!
-Fallon-
