Inked

Rating : T

Here's one that sprang to me a while back and I've finally gotten it to paper (so to speak). It isn't our OTP, but it doesn't violate the Ichi/Hime I swear! (: It's just a touch of what else should be occurring in Bleach-verse.

Hope you enjoy!

Even through the wooden panels of her family home, she could hear his ragged breathing coming from inside the dwelling. Knowing he'd been training with her nii-sama, she didn't fear for his state of health. She did, however, let out a long sigh of frustration – she could only imagine the damage they would have caused to the training area and to each other. Her socked feet made little noise as she reached the room. Rukia knelt low, easing aside the sliding panel and bowing her head before taking stock of the sole occupant inside. Her dark eyes scanned the area, confusion soon filing

their depths.

"Where is nii-sama?"

Renji lay sprawled on the tatami mats, arms and legs akimbo, and his long mane of fiery red hair unbound around him. He huffed another breath, lolling his head until he could see her smaller figure. "At the...barracks," he huffed, sucking in a large breath before slowly releasing it. "He said he had paperwork due to the commander."

Without her brother present, Rukia did away with the usual formalities and strode into the room, throwing an amusing glance at the other vice captain. "I take it he beat you...again."

"Barely," Renji replied, turning away from her gaze.

"Uh huh."

"I was holding my own."

"Sure."

"He activated his bankai two minutes into the spar."

"Oh." This time, her voice held a note of surprise. The petite shinigami settled down near him, getting comfortable as she thought over his words. If her nii-sama truly had activated his bankai so early, Renji was getting much more powerful. She did her best to hide her smile from his gaze, not wanting to let him know how that pleased her. Still, she couldn't resist sending a barb his way. "I doubt he was huffing like this on his way to the barracks though."

"Shove it," he mumbled.

This time, she didn't bother turning away her smiling face. The red head closed his eyes, letting his heartbeat return to normal and seemingly ignoring her presence. Rukia briefly thought about tossing something at his head, but her wandering eyes landed on a sight that held her tongue. In his tired state, Renji had loosened his kosode, letting the cooling breeze trail over his heated skin. Pitch black lines marred the tanned chest hidden beneath his uniform. Rukia had long since known he was tattooed - considering he paraded them in front of her the first time he got one. Though, their number had increased in the last decade. Curiosity nagged at her now...how many did he have?

Rukia checked once more, making sure his eyes remained closed and breathing had evened out, before she continued her perusal. The edges of his kosode had slipped further open and the curious woman slipped a bit closer during her inspection. Thick, dark lines spread across his chest - their patterns dancing around one another in an intricate, chaste dance as they remained close, yet never touched. They arched gently over his body, almost reaching his clavicle before disappearing beneath the cotton of his clothes. Her eager eyes followed their path over his smooth skin, noting the bare patch between the matching works of art.

Facts she instinctively knew yet had never noticed began showing themselves. Renji trained hard, had always done so as he learned his swordsmanship, but when had she failed to notice the definition of his body? The corded muscles of his neck, the width of his shoulders, the defined lines of his chest gently rising with each breath. Unconsciously, Rukia moved closer to the object of her study. Had it hurt? she wondered. Each time he added to the ink covering his muscled frame, every time the needle pierced his skin, did he have to endure much pain for the sake of his artwork? Her head angled, twisting in an attempt to see what designs lay beyond the clothing - though to no avail. It frustrated her; now that she began her perusal she had to see the rest.

Like a child caught in the act of doing something bad, she felt her breath catch when her eyes trailed upwards and met his staring into her own. "Wha...what?" she barked, trying to cover her surprise.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing," she threw out flippantly, raising her chin slightly. "I was just looking."

The barest of smirks came to his face. "At what?"

"Your tattoo, nothing else." Rukia crossed her arms, refusing to acknowledge what would be a blush trying to sport on her face.

"Why? It's not like it's the first time you've seen it."

"I know that!" she spat. "But I've never...I don't know, looked at it...I guess."

He studied her for a moment, enjoying the various expressions that crossed her face, before he sat upright. Red hair trailed over his shoulders in it's unbound state, the dark lines of the tattoo spiking up his forehead peeking through the thick curtain. "So?"

"What?"

"You wanna see the rest of it?"

The petite woman held his gaze silently. What he offered wasn't much and yet, it felt as if it was. Her mouth suddenly felt dry and a sense of anticipation built inside her. The only way she knew to hide her nervousness was to put the proud facade back on her face. Looking directly in his obsidian eyes, she willed her voice not to waver. "Yes, I do."

That smirk was firmly in place as he slipped the kosode from his shoulders. It took all she had not to kick him for that. Rukia held her tongue, but only because she could now clearly see what eluded her earlier. The dark patterns crawled over his chest, cradling his shoulders before breaking off into separate lines. Rukia was no longer concerned with his amusement as her concentration was once again focused on the black lines carved into his body. Closer still she inched towards Renji, her focus locked on the intricate artwork. The ink dipped and curved with his body's lines, giving depth to the picture it presented.

Rukia slid to his side, admiring the bold artwork covering his corded neck. It disappeared into his hairline, hiding its origins from her sight. She followed the bare patch of skin leading to his shoulders where the ink began once more. The patterns from his chest stopped, fracturing off into a set of lines hugging his bicep like a lovers fingers. She suddenly itched to trace those dark colors – see if she could feel the very ink beneath his skin. The thick tracks tapered as they curved his arm, disappearing under the limb. She followed their path, her knees rustling against the floor as her journey moved to his back.

His long red hair obscured her view and, unthinking, she reached out, fingers brushing against his neck. It wasn't until she felt his muscles jump that she realized what she'd done. Renji turned his head, gazing at her out the corner of his eye. Though she felt heat tickling her cheeks, she didn't remove her hand. "I...I can't see," she explained, her voice soft in the silent room. There was a barely perceptible nod of his head before he faced forward once more. Rukia continued on, enjoying the silky feel of the thick strands as she swept them aside.

Patterns exposed themselves to her eyes. Bold, dark lines covered the breadth of his shoulders, sliding over the dips and grooves of his muscles. Curious fingers could hold back no more and reached out to touch what laid before her. There was still a trace of sweat lingering from his earlier exertion, but that was far from a deterrent. Her fingers danced down those paths, marveling at the tiny nuances she could feel in his marked skin. The warmth seeping into her fingers was familiar, comforting, and exciting at the same time. It encouraged her to move forward, sliding along behind him as she explored his naked skin. Though Rukia saw the colors continue down his back, she stayed with the pattern she was exploring, anxious to follow it across his body.

Renji pulled his legs in, crossing them to give Rukia more room as she came to sit before him. Her hands swept his hair back over his shoulder, fingers trailing down his arm and spreading over the lines covering his skin. She had come full circle; the exploration of the tattoo on his upper body complete yet...she didn't want to stop. Rukia had never looked at his body art this closely, never felt his skin like this. Both hands came to explore the identical patterns marking the sides of his chest, fingers sometimes wandering beyond those drawn lines to trace the hollow of his throat. His chest rose and fell beneath her fingers, the pattern erratic at times. Her eyes yearned to see more and she glanced down at the dark lines on his stomach. Because he was sitting, their design wasn't clear. Under his hunched frame, they were hidden from her view.

"Stand up."

Her command went unanswered, the silence breaking her concentration and forcing her to find his eyes. Renji's face was...controlled, brown eyes hiding some emotion she couldn't name. He didn't speak, merely raised an eyebrow in question. She had to pause to find her voice before speaking again.

"I can't see it clearly. Stand up."

Thankfully, her words held strong, the commanding tone reverberating through them. He answered her order, standing slowly before her kneeling frame, her fingers dragging down his skin until it was out of reach. Rukia lowered her head, hiding her face from view as she made to stand as well. This pause in the...observation she was making of his tattoos brought uncertainties floating to the surface. While nothing she had asked of him was untoward, there was a heavy charge in the air - an unusual feeling that made her very skin tingle. Rukia was no longer sure of her actions, something that never set well with her. With that nagging doubt in mind, she wondered if she should even continue - until she lifted her head.

The significant height difference between them never bothered her before and today she found it to be more to her advantage than ever. The dark lines drawn on the bronzed background were eye level with the petite shinigami. They slid down his toned frame, etched into the well worn muscles and teased the eye with their boldness. There was no more hesitation, no more doubts about looking her fill at the painful art he'd carved into his body. Tiny fingers reached out, skittering along his ribs, tracing their journey down his abdomen.

Rukia wasn't aware of the quick smile she showed, nor how her teeth came to worry her lip, as Renji's body twitched with every sweep of her hand. The young woman was too focused, too enthralled with the vast discovery that lay before her. She stepped closer, spreading both hands over the symmetrical lines down his impressive torso. Again she could feel the subtle nuances between his naked and colored skin - and it had her huffing a laugh in wonder. From the top of his ribs to the line of his hakama she stroked the surprisingly smooth skin before her. As before, the lines of his tattoo disappeared beneath the shihakusho and she held back the urge to click her tongue in annoyance.

With her line of sight disrupted, Rukia rounded his body, eager to continue her exploration. The inky pathways she'd abandoned earlier were now perfectly within her reach. Small hands swept wide over his comparably massive back, fingers moving aside the heavy strands of vibrant red hair obscuring her view. He shivered under her touch, sucking in a heavy breath she could not only hear, but feel through the expansion of his body. Her hands curled, nails raking down his chiseled frame. Closer still she moved towards the vice captain, tracing the black lighting bolts encasing his spine. Rukia felt almost dizzy as his scent filled her head. Unconsciously, her eyes closed, letting her hands roam his tapered waist while she breathed deep of him. Each breath revealed a new layer of his scent - wind rushing through the trees, the grass he'd walked upon, the spicy, distinctly male aroma that was all his own.

Rukia braced her weight against him, a languid feeling taking hold of her limbs. Her fingers moved across his skin with a laziness that left goosebumps in its wake. She saw them and, fascinated, would circle that particular patch of skin again in an attempt to reproduce them. Boundaries that had been in place for so many years were being broken; yet, she couldn't find the will to bring a halt to her actions. The strict codes she followed as an adopted member of the Kuchiki clan were the furthest thing from her mind as her eyes caught sight of another tattoo peeking above the top of his pants. Becoming even more daring, her nimble fingers trailed under the very top of Renji's hakama, pulling aside the black cloth and further exposing the art hidden from her eyes.

The clothing taunted her, casting shadows she was unable to see through, keeping his body from her eager eyes. Smooth hands slipped further down his hips, thumbs stroking over the identical patterns on each side of his body. It was unacceptable that this canvas wasn't fully exposed for her viewing. She wanted to see more...wanted to see it all. Heat rose unbidden to her cheeks as the implications of her mental monologue became clear, but she couldn't let a thing like her embarrassment bring a halt to what she'd begun. With her hands gripping his warm flesh, she rested her head against his body and dared to speak aloud her command.

"Take them off."

She felt another ripple pass through his body before an indistinctable sound reverberated in his throat. Rukia could see his hands clench by his side, the muscles of his arm tensing under the pressure he exuded. Her heart pounded in her chest, nervousness coursing through her as she waited for his compliance to the bold order she gave.

"Rukia..."

"I can't," she interrupted his husky voice, forcing him to be silent once more. Talking had not factored into her plan. No matter what he said, Rukia had no idea what to reply with. She knew what she wanted, but articulating those feelings was beyond her ability at this moment. Only by allowing her body to control her actions could she continue. She couldn't explain it and had no desire to do so at the moment. Fumbling with words she couldn't grasp would do nothing but slow down, perhaps halt, this moment. That was something she couldn't allow. "I can't see it properly," she began again, her voice barely a whisper against his back.

She could feel the tension, the hesitancy coursing through him, but she maintained her firm grip on his hips – willing him to comply with her wishes. His hands clenched once more before slowly moving from her line of sight. Rukia almost scoffed at the relieved smile that came to her face.

When had Renji ever denied her anything?

With a soft rustle of cloth, his hakama fell from his body, pooling at their feet. Her head resting against his back had afforded her a view of their descent and a moment by moment exposure of that which was once hidden from her. Odd that the first thing she noticed was the uniformity of his bronzed skin. No sun kissed lines decorated his lean frame. She would file that information away to inquire about later.

Mindless of the potential danger arising from their current situation, Rukia let her fingers curve over the rise of his taut ass, following the obsidian designs etched into his skin. While she traced the patterns, the young woman couldn't help but to wonder who had drawn these? When did he have them done? She wasn't exactly privy to seeing him in such an advanced state of undress so Rukia had no idea how long he'd been marked so extensively. The bold drawings coiled along his thighs, presenting themselves almost like tiger stripes on the fukutaicho. Blunt nails skittered along the surface of his skin, marveling at the beauty of each mark.

The tattoo wrapped round his hips – symmetrical patterns almost completely encircling his body. Rukia was slow to follow their path, finding one more barrier to her inquisitive eyes. The twisted, white cotton of his fundoshi lay through those black lines, shielding their final form against her gaze. Her tongue darted out, wetting suddenly dry lips while her fingers teased closer to that white line.

Regardless of this unexpected barrier, the need to see all of his tattoo was an overwhelming urge she couldn't sweep aside. Perhaps even more so now that she had exposed those patterns layer by layer, building her anticipation with each passing moment. Yet, her hesitancy returned ten fold as the implications of this final article of clothing weighed in her mind. She was going to be asking him to...

Something tugged low in her belly, nearly pulling a whimper from her lips. A fine tremor ran through her arms and she prayed Renji could not feel it – removing her hands from his body wasn't an option she would consider. She chastised herself, hating that – even in this moment – she was allowing a form of weakness to take root in her body. Summoning her courage, her petite fingers ran down his side, deliberately lingering over the white cloth laying in her way. This may be something new to her, but even her own doubts would not stop her.

With her eyes focused on his chiseled frame, she slowly rounded his body, letting her fingers trail behind in her wake. While she couldn't meet his eyes just yet, Rukia could feel his heavy stare. She was almost desperate to know what was running through his mind as his hands lay still at his sides, allowing her to toy with the edges of his fundoshi. It was taking a great deal of courage to continue touching him like this; she doubted she had anymore left to ask such questions of him. She gathered what few strands of bravery she had left and, with a deep breath, tilted her head back.

The emotions he hid before were laid bare on his angular face. His eyes were hooded, swirling with an unspoken heat that had the air rushing from her lungs and leaving her to wonder if she'd ever draw another breath. Rukia could feel the fierce energy humming under his skin, giving off an aura she found herself submitting to. Her hands shook, knees trembled, and the command she'd been poised to give died on her lips. Time stopped for that instance as she fell prey to the hungry expression filling his face.

While there were things in this afterlife she had not experienced, she wasn't wholly ignorant to their meanings. Her close proximity to his large body made one thing abundantly clear; one thing she had no hope of ignoring. She could feel it, pressing against her stomach, making his stance on this moment clear.

Still, Renji did not move.

While her fingers traversed dangerous waters – tracing the tattoo down his defined stomach, dipping under the band of his fundoshi – Renji's hands stayed by his side. Only his eyes moved, flickering between her face and watching the daring move her hands made. She wet her lips once more, eyes staring at the large bulge she pressed against. He was letting her make the decision, waiting to see what course she would take before he followed along. It was the same pattern they'd followed since their days running around Rukongai and, even in this, he wasn't going to change that.

She tilted her head back, meeting his hungry gaze with a curious one of her own. "I can't see..."

He took possession of her lips, swallowing her words as he devoured the flesh which tempted him for so long. Rukia was helpless against his onslaught, having the presence of mind only to grip his shoulders and hold on as his mouth slanted over hers again and again. Large hands soon spanned her waist, effortlessly dragging her up his body until he stood comfortably straight. Renji continued his assault on her lips, even when she felt him move across the room. Rukia left their safety in his hands, content to drown in this new pleasure he introduced her too.

"Just remember Rukia," he whispered against her lips, moving to cradle her against his body. His now freed hand opened an interior door, leading them to a room shadowed from the afternoon light. "You started this."

P.S. I know I didn't do them justice in this little one shot (though perhaps I took a few liberties with the uh...lower half. We haven't exactly seen those – assuming he has them...which I think he would), but I frickin love Renji's tattoos! Though, I could be a bit bias. I do have seven of my own.