AN: Enjoy! The latest chapter! This is unbeta-ed so there will be mistakes and i wrote this at midnight. It's snowing outside! *squeak in joy* Tell me how you like Stark in this chapter! there will be a Stark X Ukitake side pairing in this fic. Oh and the reason there were so many captains in the human world will be explained in the next chapter! thanks tho those that reviewed on evey chapter and had followed me along this fic! =)
Nine
Stark landed softly and sheathed his zanpakuto with a bored expression. The hollow faded away in mid-roar and Stark sighed as he walked into the shade of a large oak. He leaned against the rough bark and reached into his pocket for the pink bottle of pills and stuffed one in his mouth, grimacing again. The prima espada swallowed and closed his eyes at the nauseating feeling of getting his powers suppressed forcefully. Stark didn't find it too painful but it was disconcerting to feel so small and normal. He had slowly gotten used to the feeling of his powers. It was like an invisible shield against the elements and other emotions he knew would be very dangerous for him to feel.
It was quiet under the tall oak and a part of him missed the bundle of energy that always used to bounce at his side. Lilynette was crude with her ways of waking him but the occasional flicker of clear affection in her eyes made him feel warmer in the cold world he stayed in. Stark sighed and carded a hand through his messy hair. It was probably the pills making him feeling depressed. The prima took one last long breath before stepping out of his sheltering showdown under the tree and into the blistering sun. He winced as the heat washed over his pale skin and took a few steps forward. The trees rustled above him and Stark looked up just in time to see a flash of pink and hear a tiny high squeak of delight before the small shape was gone again, concealed by the leaves in the next tree. He raised an eyebrow and was about to keep walking when another louder rustle sounded above him.
"Wait, Yachiru-chan! Kenpachi said I had to look after you…." a feeble voice sounded above his head. Stark looked up and saw a middle-aged man panting as he held his side and leaned against the rather skinny branch. The pale-haired man opened his mouth to speak and Stark's eyes widened as he heard the crisp snap.
Then the branch snapped under the man's weight.
There was a rather high pitched girly shriek before Stark disappeared under the leaves of the fallen branch. The espada cursed his luck as the rather heavy bundle of white collapsed on top of him. The wind swirled the fallen leaves around them as the man struggled on Stark's lap, his long white hair caught in the smaller twigs. Stark tried to suppress his surprise when he noticed the man had a zanpakuto at his side. So it was a shinigami. And judging from the white uniform over the black ones, he was a captain.
"Damn it…stupid tree…" the feeble fumbling gradually came to a stop and the man huffed indignantly and crossed his arms. Then golden eyes widened as he realized he was sitting on another man's lap. Stark raised a hand and shrugged.
"Don't mind me; I'm just going to cushion your precious bottom a bit longer." He muttered and the man flushed pink in embarrassment.
"I…I'm so sorry… OUCH!" Stark's lip twitched up in a faint smile when the white-haired man bowed in apology and the branches yanked his hair roughly. He sighed and reached forward, covering the slender fingers with his larger hands.
"Hold still." He said calmly and gently pulled the hands from the silky white tresses. The man went silent immediately and Stark got to work unraveling the silky strands from the evil fingers of the tree branch. The man remained silent for a few minutes before finally talking. Stark rolled his eyes.
"Uh… my name is Jushiro." He said timidly and clutched at his robes nervously. "Jushiro Ukitake." Stark didn't reply and slowly eased the last few strands free before sitting back and bracing his palms against the ground as he took a closer look at the man in his lap. Jushiro had warm amber gold eyes and long black lashes, a long slender face and an equally slender body. To tell the truth, Stark could barely feel his weight on his legs. The man was about as heavy as Lilynette.
"Thanks for helping me." Jushiro looked up and offered a bright smile, hair falling in his eyes. Stark reached forward without thinking and gently trailed his fingers over the long strands, slowly brushing back the silver locks and managing to trace the smooth pale cheek as well. Jushiro ducked his head and fought off another huge blush.
"Do you plan on sitting on me all day?" Stark smirked faintly as he tilted his head to the side and the other man froze before scrambling frantically.
"So sorry!" his voice was suddenly muffled when Stark pulled him against a sturdy chest and got up himself before letting the smaller man go. Jushiro stumbled slightly, his eyes dazed. Stark picked out a couple of leaves from his dark curls and gave the shinigami a small smile.
"So… I guess I'll be seeing you around." He said calmly and watched in amusement as Jushiro opened his mouth to speak.
"The name's Stark." He interrupted before the shinigami could get the words out and Jushiro's mouth snapped shut automatically. He ducked his head and blushed again. Stark sighed and waited for the other man to say what was on his mind.
"How come you can see me?" serious eyes turned to meet Stark's deep grey ones and the prima espada held the gaze boldly. Jushiro looked away rather quickly, a pink flush appearing on his face.
"I'll tell you the secret when we meet again." Stark replied and gave a mischievous smirk. "So until then, Jushiro-kun." He murmured and Ukitake's eyes widened as the black-haired man reached out and caught his left hand with his gloved ones and gently pressed a teasing kiss against the back of his hand. Their eyes met for a brief moment and Jushiro felt his heart speed up. Those eyes reminded him of the eyes of a wolf.
Stark smirked to himself as he turned and gave a small wave over his shoulder, feeling surprisingly better than before.
Ukitake stood there and watched the black-haired man disappear around the corner, his heart still thumping hard in his chest. A hand went unconsciously to his cheek where those fingers had brushed deliberately. He felt his skin flush again. It was ridiculously stupid, but he couldn't help but feel that they were definitely going to meet again.
--
Grimmjow managed to throw in a few punches before someone yanked Byakuya up rather roughly and he moved away a few feet and glared at the newcomer. A towering man leered at him as he fisted Byakuya's collar. The noble captain glowered at the man and jerked himself away coolly. The newcomer had the oddest hairstyle Grimmjow had ever laid eyes on. The black tresses were fashioned into spikes and each had a small bell attached at the end.
"So you finally get a few deserved punches in the face, princess." The man surprised Grimmjow by throwing his head back and laughing. The black eye patch on his face made something stir in his fuzzy memory. Then it came to him. This shinigami had fought Nnoitra. He growled and moved closer to the two girls and Yuzu clutched at the back of Grimmjow's shirt. Then the shinigami pointed a finger at him.
"so you're the one with the huge spiritual power." He boomed and drew out his blade. Grimmjow narrowed his eyes and braced himself. The shinigami captain stepped forward and pointed his blade at Grimmjow's face. "Fight me. If you win, we let you go. If you lose, then you're going back with us."
The espada glanced around and blinked as black robed figures flashed into view, making a circle around him. Things were definitely going downhill. Yuzu whimpered.
What do you think? T he plot thickens...
