Disclaimer: The only kind of Bleach I own is for the laundry.
Story: After the invasion of the ryoka and Aizen's betrayal, Yamamoto decides he should come up with something to ease tensions and let everyone loosen up. Using the concept of the red string of fate, everyone lands themselves "a fated lover" until the game's over. Ukitake is paired with Ichigo, and tries to somehow survive some very jealous people. And there's still the trouble with the three traitors, with plenty of Hollows.
Set after Soul Society.
Spoilers: Soul Society arc, probably Bount arc too.
Pairings: Ukitake/Ichigo
Warnings: My usual crap…crazy writing, some perverseness every now and then, drama, angst, wild humor, drama, romance, yaoi, drama, and that kind of thing…
The Red String of Fate
Chapter Seven: This Feeling's Taking Control of Me
Everything that Kyouraku had said stuck to the forefront of Ukitake's mind, refusing to be buried into the deep recesses where they belonged. Not even paperwork helped to distract him.
In just a blur, the rest of the day, and for that matter the rest of the week, had passed by and Ukitake couldn't stop his strange thoughts or that of Kyouraku's words. Ichigo had noticed, but hadn't said anything. Though he was worried, Ichigo didn't want to nag at Ukitake or anything. If Ukitake wanted to say something, he would.
It was only when Ichigo found Rukia on his front doorstep did he had an inkling of what was wrong. But he wasn't even sure it was that.
Ukitake frowned for her entire spontaneous visit, every once in a while looking back and forth between Ichigo and Rukia accusingly. Then he suddenly left and didn't return until she had gone, still not talking. But Ichigo had figured it out.
Ukitake was in love with Rukia.
It made sense. Rukia has been in his division for a long time and he's probably known her for quite a while. And they're close.
Now suddenly Ichigo comes into the picture, takes Rukia's first kiss and is closer to her than most. Ichigo could understand why Ukitake was upset. If you loved someone, you didn't want to see them with anyone else.
Still, Ichigo had to find a way around this if he didn't want to feel that strange ache in his chest, which happened the last time they were apart. They'd hardly ever felt the pain the others did, but Ichigo knew it was because they were getting along well. And now this had to happen, and Ichigo didn't want to be on bad terms with Ukitake.
Even though, Ichigo managed to subtly touch Ukitake so that the ache would lessen. Not that they didn't touch frequently. They did; they held hands, were as physical as friends were –meaning they hugged, bumped shoulders, shoved each other playfully, that kind of thing –they were near to each other whenever possible so that there wasn't any distance, but Ichigo was starting to feel the ache more and more as time passed and they still hadn't really talked about what was bothering Ukitake. A small distance had even grown.
Ichigo had to somehow keep touching Ukitake, the ache was slowly driving him insane. Even his Hollow was getting restless, and that always boded ominously for him.
Regardless, Ichigo had to wait until Ukitake was ready. A small part of him, though (even Shirosaki agreed with that part), hoped Ukitake was feeling some sort of discomfort like Ichigo was going through.
Finally Ichigo had enough and cornered Ukitake at school, school having just ended. Glaring menacingly, Ichigo pointed to Ukitake's abandoned chair and the captain nervously sat down, wondering what was wrong with Ichigo.
Ichigo opened his mouth to snarl out a reply when both of them keeled over from the pain. Ichigo wondered what was going on through the haze of pain in his mind, but Ukitake knew exactly what was happening.
'The second stage is beginning!' Ukitake crawled over to where Ichigo was whimpering on the ground, turning the orange-haired teen onto his back from his curled position.
For a second the captain hesitated before closing his eyes and leaning forward, kissing Ichigo until the pain subsided. Cautiously sitting back, he saw Ichigo staring wide-eyed at him.
"Uh, s-second stage, huh?" Ichigo flinched.
That meant touching wasn't enough and they'd have to kiss more. Even in public. And Ichigo couldn't be subtle anymore, he definitely had to confront Ukitake.
"Hey, Jyuushiro. Are you in love with Rukia?" Ichigo asked bluntly.
Ukitake sputtered, but then to Ichigo's surprise shook his head adamantly.
"No! Of course not. Wherever did you get that idea?" Ukitake stared at Ichigo strangely.
Ichigo shrugged, "You were acting strangely when Rukia came to visit. You know…you were being unhappy and frowning. Then afterwards, you were being distant. I just thought…"
Ukitake's face colored, "I was just having a bad time. There were a lot of things on my mind."
Ichigo tentatively asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, not really," and Ukitake offered a smile to reassure Ichigo.
"Okay, then. We'll go home," Ichigo said finally, shrugging the whole thing off. He stood up and offered a hand to help up Ukitake, and then brushing off the dust and dirt that had gotten on him when he had fallen to the ground.
Ukitake looked uncertain, but then he leaned forward and kissed Ichigo again. Ichigo blinked in surprise, a light blush flooding his cheeks.
"What was that for?" Ichigo asked uncomfortably.
Ukitake shrugged. "I was still feeling a little shaky," he offered by way of explanation.
Ichigo nodded, accepting that answer. "Come on!" Ichigo yelled over his shoulder as he walked out. Ukitake stared after him, before reluctantly following.
Ukitake really shouldn't be taking advantage of the second stage by kissing Ichigo whenever he could.
Ukitake claimed pain whenever he kissed Ichigo and Ichigo never questioned it. The captain felt bad about lying, but he finally accepted Kyouraku's words as truth. Maybe he did like Ichigo more than he should. But Ichigo seemed like he was in love with Rukia.
Funny that, Ichigo thinking Ukitake was in love with Rukia. That was exactly what Ukitake had been thinking about Ichigo.
Sometimes, Ukitake wondered what would happen if he told Ichigo the truth. Then horrible scenarios would play themselves out in his head and Ukitake would try to switch to another topic. But that became increasingly harder as Ukitake kept kissing Ichigo whenever he felt like it, and noted the sweet taste of chocolate on Ichigo's lips with an undertone of strawberries.
Lying was bad. Taking advantage is even worse.
Ukitake reminded himself it was wrong every time he snuck a kiss, but even as he did there was no stopping him. He liked when Ichigo blushed sweetly, when the teen sputtered, or even when Ichigo flicked his forehead to cover up his embarrassment. Sometimes, Ukitake could imagine Ichigo liked him too. The captain scolded himself repeatedly for acting this way, but he did feel infinitely happier than he had been in a long time.
He hadn't gone back to Soul Society in awhile, and it was probably a good thing too. With the way he was acting, Kyouraku would point it out immediately and then deduce what was happening without Ukitake even saying a word to him. And he couldn't see Rukia's face, not when he had a suspicion that she liked Ichigo more than she let on. Especially with that kiss. Not only would he feel guilty, but because she liked Ichigo too then she might've been able to tell that he was feeling the same way.
It was also good to keep it secret because he didn't really want Ichigo to know just yet. Probably never. Preferably.
"Jyuushiro, you're spacing out again!" Ichigo bopped his head, appearing from out of nowhere and at his side.
Ukitake smiled, not really fazed by Ichigo's sudden appearance, but his heart started to beat faster as Ichigo kept leaning closer. The orange-haired teen placed his forehead against Ukitake's, staring into his eyes with curiosity.
"Are you okay?" Ichigo blinked once.
"Yes. Ever heard of personal space?" Ukitake smirked.
"Rukia's right. You have been hanging out with me too much," Ichigo's jaw dropped slightly. Grinning cheekily, Ichigo kissed Ukitake and then straightened up finally. Ukitake blushed red in surprise and delight, but then he composed himself and shook his head.
"You know, we haven't been out in a while. Let's go out somewhere! It's Wednesday and I want to go to the café that opened yesterday," Ichigo said from out of the blue. Ukitake shrugged nervously, though he looked alright on the outside.
"Sure," Ukitake muttered.
"Do you want to? I mean, I'm not forcing you to go out with me or anything," Ichigo asked hesitantly.
Ukitake shook his head, realizing he was acting a little closed off. "Let's go to that café. Though it has to have sweets," he said, already on the move. Ichigo grinned and followed him out the door.
"Let's share a red velvet cake," Ichigo announced as they walked. Ukitake looked questioningly at him. "Well, I think it's sweet and it's chocolate. I love chocolate, you love sweets. Perfect match, ne?"
Ukitake's thumped loudly.
"Yeah."
The café was actually styled traditionally Japanese, with each group separated into their own rooms and with sliding paper doors. Each of the rooms held a floor table, tea already ready and cushions to sit on.
"Is this really a café or is it a restaurant?" Ichigo stared in surprise. Ukitake chuckled, striding forward and taking a seat. Ichigo followed after him, bringing his cushion around to sit next to Ukitake. He leaned on the 13th division captain comfortably, reaching forward for Ukitake's tea and taking a sip from it.
"Like old times, eh?" Ichigo reminiscence, which reminded him that he had forgotten to go to the shop today and that he'd have double work to do tomorrow.
Ukitake nodded, feeling deliriously happy at the contact and that Ichigo was showering him with affection that day. Ichigo poked Ukitake for more of a reaction, seeing as he had begun to space out.
"Hey, don't spaz out, you dork," Ichigo poked one last time, eliciting a roll of eyes and a playful growl.
"What would this couple like to order?" the young waitress came to take their order, her violet kimono complimenting the style of the café.
Ichigo almost said that they weren't a couple when Ukitake lightly bumped his shoulder surreptiously. He blushed and did so even more when he heard what Ukitake had to say.
"My husband and I would like to share a red velvet cake, please," Ukitake said calmly. It was so natural that Ichigo even believed that they were married for a moment.
"Alright. Is there anything else?" she smiled, her face hinting at a blush.
Ichigo observed her slightly. Was she one of those yaoi fangirls, or whatever you call them?
"Just some more tea later," Ukitake smiled warmly, even putting an arm around Ichigo's waist.
"O-okay," she almost lost her composure, but she recovered nicely and left them with a wide smile.
"Sorry, Ichigo. But you know…" Ukitake said, his arm moving away, but Ichigo stopped him and scuttled closer. Ichigo didn't say anything, but just stubbornly stared straight ahead with his usual scowl. But Ukitake was even happier than he was earlier.
"You know, the Winter Dance is coming up. Since we're supposed to be husbands, you wanna come with?" Ichigo twitched, not used to this sort of thing.
"Wouldn't be anyone else I'd rather go with," Ukitake declared, pulling on Ichigo's ear once.
"Better not," Ichigo mock-pouted, returning to normal.
They were interrupted when the waitress came back and held a medium-sized plate with their cake on it and she placed it in front of them. She also held only one fork that she placed right beside Ukitake, before she just hovered near the doorway. Both males looked at her with a raised eyebrow before Ukitake had an idea. Forking a piece of cake, Ukitake held it up to Ichigo's mouth. The teen's eyebrows shot up before he awkwardly leaned forward and placed his lips around the fork and took the piece of cake.
Ichigo immediately sat up straight, chewing on the chocolate piece, when Ukitake leaned forward and slowly licked the corner of his mouth. When Ukitake moved away, Ichigo stared at him in shock.
"You missed a spot," Ukitake drawled, looking at him teasingly.
The waitress let out a loud, embarrassed giggle before she skipped out of the room. Ichigo punched Ukitake in the shoulder, blushing bright red, as Ukitake fell back laughing.
"Dork, I'll get you for that," Ichigo pouted and glared at the same time.
"Promise?" Ukitake looked at him mischievously. Ichigo returned the look, but with suspicion instead. "You'll see," he muttered.
Ukitake suddenly leered, surprising and panicking Ichigo.
"Good. I'm looking forward to it," Ukitake said with finality and tackling Ichigo to the floor, looking satisfied and vaguely…perverted?
Ichigo actually squeaked.
Started 8/31/07 –Completed 8/31/07