Bleach Reborn: Shadows Within

A/N: Warning, ecchi scene ahead.

Chapter 9

The days that preceded my attack on the 13th Division members were wrought with challenges, my initial egotistical nature and superiority complex towards the rest of the members proved itself constantly a source of suffering on my part. The rest of the members seemed all too delighted in their attempts to break me down, but I found myself rising to each challenge, if only to prove them wrong. I had already proven myself, more than capable of gaining a seat, my powers we're strong, my resolve firm, and my skill, while unrefined, proved to be superior to many of the members that had been a while. Their Lax lifestyle and lack of training showed them up; the more they tried to keep me down.

I revelled in their attempts.

Despite my obvious impressive abilities, the thing that made me the angriest was the sheer ignorance of the Captain. I had taken his hand, hoping to learn something, but something of a drinking session had concluded to be the result, and I sat there in a corner, feeling pitiful and almost sympathetic to the buffoons around me. I had no idea what to do, all I saw was a bunch of hapless idiots and a captain that wouldn't recognise my own abilities.

I sought to show my strengths as often as I could, I fought and fought, my stamina rising each time, I could fight for longer, further, take a little more damage each time. I attacked and attacked, and each time I was defeated, I would just come back for more. I sought to make them all understand that I was strong, but regardless of how good I became, I was never offered a seat, I was never recognised, and all I had attained was jeers.

I couldn't understand it, I didn't know why I was being left out to dry.

The blue sky overhead was marred once in a while by the billowy clouds that progressed along its azure skies; the soft breeze blew through the open window and bristled through the bramble that was my bed-head. I hadn't even bothered to get up out of bed this day, gazing up at the ceiling I sighed to myself, I had the urge to go and beat up one of the other members again, but it was quelled by an ever growing despair inside me. I knew it would do no good.

Closing my eyes I tried to fall asleep, it wasn't working very well, I decided to try heading to a fourth division relief centre for something that would aid me in sleeping. Getting dressed in my outfit, I decided to head out.

The course wind swept up my newly brushed hair and made it cling to my mouth and eyes, and I wondered, not for the first time, if I should have it cut off and placed in a better style. I walked down the paths and watched as several other Shinigami walked by; I nodded to them in turn as I continued walking, feeling rather calm as the wind softly died down to a dull breeze. I was happy at this, not wanting to have a windswept look about my hair after I had just fixed it up. Smoothing down the sides and lengths of my mane, I entered the relief centre and approached the desk.

"Hey, I was wondering if you had anything that could help me sleep." I asked politely to a dark haired, Shinigami outfit clad person behind the reception desk. He nodded at me and I sat down on a nearby chair and waited. Resting my head on my hand I gazed around somewhat lazily at the surroundings and felt myself jump with fright when I saw someone suddenly sitting near me, his blonde hair sheen and golden in the light coming from the doorway, his presence instantly eclipsing the doorway and most other things from sight, his deep red eyes glistening as though they were made of glass, rather than biological matter.

"Hey." He said, resting back on the chair with his wide characteristic grin. I chuckled and smiled, patting my chest to calm the beat of my heart.

"Hey." I replied, with a kind smile, blushing. We had, unfortunately, not spent any time together for a very long time, not since I had joined the thirteenth division. The memories of our times alone bore up in my mind and made me understand how needful I had become. Strange I had begun to convert arousal into anger for combat, it probably wasn't the healthiest of conversions emotionally, but the results were hard to argue with. As it is, my predicament and desire welled up in me and made me momentarily forget what I was doing here at all, an unfortunate fact considering the moment the fourth division member returned he made me jump about a mile when he called my name. Patting my chest again I apologised, thanked him for the medicine and turned to Aroki. "Erm…hi." I greeted again, a deep flush adorning my features.

He stood up, reached out and took my hand, forgetting everything else I followed him. This moment was eerily like when he had taken me into the forest back when I was a trainee, and the idea of repeating that day was not exactly something I would refuse. Following Aroki through the twisting and maze-like streets of The Court of Pure Souls, I clung to his hand tightly, watching his form as it swayed, towering over people and giving off a rather intimidating air. Everyone that looked upon Aroki had preconceived notions of fierceness and a ruthless and almost barbaric nature, but anyone with an ounce of intelligence, could tell he was a gentle soul from the look in his eyes.

It took about twenty minutes of walking before we finally reached the destination; I was rather disappointed that it seemed to only be the twelfth division house.

I looked into Aroki's eyes as he looked at me, whether he saw my disappointment I don't know, but a knowing and almost secretive smile was shared with me, a playful smirk that hung upon his features like a secret waiting to be told.

At a brisk pace we entered the division house, it had been newly rebuilt since the explosion, the building above was fully standing, and the door to the sub levels once again intact and I was sure all the electronical facilities inside where replaced and working. I thought we would be going down, but instead my golden-haired companion led me through a door on the left. Down a corridor we entered and the further we went, the more the air seemed somewhat stifled.

Finally we reached the end of the corridor, he opened up a door and I felt myself gasp in surprise. Billows of steam erupted from the room, which would explain the stifling air pressure, it was full of moisture and the very presence of it tickled and pricked upon my skin, almost daring me to enjoy the sensations. Before me was a hot tub. It was large enough for four people, wooden and stone inside, and looked absolutely gorgeous, surrounding it, lighting the area with a golden glow stood small tea lighter candles, illuminating the gorgeous visage like the point of tiny stars.

I smiled, turning to him and blushed as I watched him pull his Shinigami upper robe over his head, grinning at me. "What about…" I began, thinking of his mechanical parts. He chuckled, and I was very pleased to be informed that they were waterproof.

I smiled as I began pulling up my Shinigami robe, only to be stopped by his hand, he smiled at me and I felt myself blush even more as he bent down, his lips connecting with mine. I melted to his embrace as his hands glided up my side; he began lifting my robe, obviously wanting to undress me himself. I let him do as he pleased, feeling the robe gently lift from my body, exposing my top half of my body, naked for his eyes to feast on. I blushed when his hands came up; gently massaging over my chest bringing forth from me a somewhat lewd moan that caused a deep flush to rear itself upon my cheeks.

He soon stopped his kneading's and caresses, removing the rest of his own garments, displaying his own excitement that only made my desire ache even more, he began to gently lower my lower bottoms, sliding down until his face was at my hips, my body nude for him at his pleasure. I blushed even deeper, sure that my features where now a deep purple.

Knowing what he was about to do, I closed my eyes, and sure enough felt the bristling of his hair upon my stomach, my legs spread slightly wider to give him access and I tried to hold back verbalising my pleasure as he demonstrated skill I never thought he possessed.

This lasted for some time, my back grinding against the wall behind me as he enjoyed something of a late dinner at my pleasure, my face a constant flush, my entire body red and heated in my desire. I thought he might stop soon, until he increased his pace and his attention to my sensitivity, I felt the pleasure building and tried to bite my lip, unable to stop myself from grasping his hair, trying to grind against him lewdly in the pursuit for even more sensations. It was at the panicle that I cried out, blushing deeper than ever before as my legs became week, almost like jelly. He smiled, standing up he picked me up, apparently easily, and carried me, bridal style towards the hot tub. Lowering me gently into the water I winced at first as the deliciously hot water soaked into my aching and tired pores, before relaxing as it engulfed my body up to the neck, making me grin eagerly. He sat next to me, not bothering to cover the fact that he had yet to be satisfied physically.

I smiled, closing my eyes, relaxing for a few minutes, all the while constantly aware of his condition, he didn't seem too worried, but I knew what he was hoping for. I chuckled as I finally straightened my body, I looked at him with a lustful impression, gliding over to him in the hot water, I leaned up and pressed my lip to him eagerly. It was a simple process to place my legs either side of him and position myself to repay the favour, my hands delicately glided over his body, feeling the contours of flesh, bone, and metal all mixed together in a semi harmonious design that kept him alive and healthy.

I smiled, reaching below to help place him correctly, I blushed I eased down firmly, gasping as I began to feel full of his manhood, shaking in pleasure. Gently I hilted myself on him, shuddering and smiling as I began rocking back and forth in the water, the waves lapping over the soft and pickled flesh. I found myself moaning in delight, looking deep into his eyes, watching as I rode up and down on him, watching as his eyes lidded in desire and pleasure, I smiled deeply.

This was perhaps the most romantic love making I had ever encountered, but it was also strange, a chill had soon erupted up my spine, and for a moment I considered it nought but the pleasure rising in my body, but this was different, it was cold, it was dark.

Something flashed in my mind, yellow eyes, a dark visage, suddenly it was like something gripped me, it was like I was being throttled, I couldn't control myself. Everything was dark, everything was strange, everything was around me and the area was also empty, I was confused, I didn't know where I was, or what I was doing, I only knew of the darkest despair tearing away inside my mind, threatening me with the darkest of nightmares…a nightmare I hadn't even known could exist.

I screamed, opening my eyes, the room was still filled with steam; Aroki was shaking me, an agonizingly worried look upon his features as he gazed at me, his body limp, obviously no longer aroused, I looked at him with desperate teary eyes. I couldn't even remember what it was I had saw, it had been a face…and it had seemed ugly, gruesome, yet somehow…close to me, and I had seen it being killed…and for some reason…it felt like I was the one being killed. I didn't know what it meant, who it was I had seen, or what it was all about, but I was very thankful Aroki was here to help me.

We didn't bother finishing our love making, he held me as we soaked in the tub, constantly stroking my head as though I were a pet of some sorts, but I was content, happy to be taken care of. The images ran inside my mind as I thought about them, and for the life of me I couldn't even explain why they horrified me.

We ended our soak in the tub, got dressed and he kissed me goodnight after walking me back to the 13th division, I smiled at him and entered the building, seeking out my dorm room.

The night sky shone its moonlight into my dorm and I sighed as I lay upon the soft bed and without knowing why, without understanding a single thing, I began to weep, crying softly into my pillow with the abandon of the grieved, as though I had lost someone truly close to me.

As though I had lost a child.

End of Chapter 9.