Heartsbond Chapter 10
Notes: (is drowning in all the reviews) Holy keeerud! Over 100 reviews! Come on everybody! Push that counter up to the sky!
Why did the Hollow cross Ichigo Kurosaki?
It wanted to eat strawberries.
Sorry. I'm bad. Always hardcore, but bad.
Well, in MUSH news, Aoriya impressed Divine Passage of Flame Brown Omasuth at literally the last second! And for everyone's information, he does /not/ like to be called cute! Omasuth's words on the subject? Flame erupts quite suddenly across your psyche, a billowing shadow looming on the edge. A glimmer of metal flickers brightly, sparks flying off the forge as things begin to solidify. Curiosity wavers, rippling as the flames flicker...and slowly mute into a gentle glow. You there.. We could make it to the top, you and I. Aoriya, won't you come with your Omasuth?
Though some have commented on the brown's striking resemblance to one Colonel Roy Mustang, Aoriya has declined comment. However, the Weyrleader, J'io, had this to say. Omasuth's mindvoice is one of authority. Seemingly born and bred to be the man in charge, he projects that power (whether he has it or not) in everything that he says. There's always that crackling heat of flames, mixed in with a delicate touch of blue fluttering like cloth in the wind. For you, his voice will always take on a softer edge, usually with gentle billows of smoke rolling about his thoughts. For others, it's steel and gunmetal, all together leaving a charred, metallic tang as an aftertaste.
On Soucon, Gwen, rider of Turbulent Sea Blue Saeynth is expecting her second child, just as the Weyrlings prepare to graduate. In her condition, she was unable to assist the Weyrlings when disaster ruined what should have been a simple exercise. A band of renegades, lead by Amantillado (a bandit who bears a striking resemblance to Grimmjow, just lose the hole and make the hair black,) left Gold Merilyth's Weyrling Naltia with a /very/ sore shoulder.
And over at Ierne, once more, Katry was left standing on the hatching grounds along with second time candidate Ryundan. He was seen changing from his candidates robe back into his Haori and going off to the beach to play his flute and be alone with his firelizards.
On PernMUSH, Jazra, Determined Celadon Green Liaoth's rider has discovered a clutch of 13 very flowery looking firelizard eggs. Her dragon even gave them names, such as the "Toxic Thistle Egg" and the "Grieving Snowdrop Egg," for the mysterious flower icons that appear in places on the shell. So far the following flowers have been identified on these mysterious egglets, Chysanthamum, Camellia, Lotus, Yarrow, Thistle and Snowdrop.
Frostfire MUSH has seen the opening of Starmount Weyr, and while the snowy canyon Weyr is far from complete, and far from at maximum strength, J'aiya and his Tribal Drumbeat Bronze Shizarith have made their home in the Moonlight Stray Dog Weyr, a spartan, simple living quarter with fang like stalactites and stalagmites and a wonderful view of Belior and Timor at moonrise.
In fanfictioin news, I'm pairing Byakuya with Uryu. I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing in doing so. I'm hoping to explore what might happen to Byakuya's mental state if he were to bond again, and with a Quincy of all people. But here's the logic /I/ have behind it. They're both the last of something, the last Kuchiki and the last Quincy. They'd probably find comfort in each other over that. That said, Byakuya has to have an heir, and there /have/ to be more Quincy's. There are no more Kuchiki's to uphold clan law and bring it down on Byakuya's head if he pairs off with a Quincy rather than a Shinigami. And Uryu can have his children hiding in Seireitei right under the shinigami's noses. The only worry is Ryuken going utterly psycho. (But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it won't we?)
On the plus side, we get to have Byakuya pregnant at some point. That's gotta be a riot and a half.
A warning to anybody playing pokemon Leaf Green and trying to go up the Trainer Tower on Island 7. I got my ass kicked by a level 64 Shiny Espeon. A SHINY Espeon. And I couldn't lay a claw on it because it belonged to a trainer!
As for Ichigo, yes, he is pregnant, and yes, the signs are starting to show. Remember though, he doesn't know what symptoms to look for to know for certain, and he doesn't know that the charm he and Renji have been using all this time is now no good.
Next chapter is going to have a /huge/ miracle for Ukitake and Shunsui. The main reason for my doing something that unheard of and drastic is because Ukitake and Shunsui never have a happy ending. Every fic I've read that centers on them so far has ended in Ukitake dying for whatever reason. Not fair! Ukitake's so cute and cuddwy!
Ichigo's room in the 13 Division Barracks was spacious. The floors were shiny and dark from centuries, maybe even milennia, of foot traffic. There was a clothes press, a western style bed big enough for two with a sweet smelling mattress stuffed with straw and some herb he couldn't identify, but might have been lavender, a bookshelf, bedside table, and a lamp. The blankets were sewn in bright colors, the patterns drawn from American history and twisted into Soul Society designs. The lining of them was silk, albeit what a weaver would tell him was a poor grade, but it was soft, comfortable.
There was a gentle knock on Ichigo's door. "Aaaaah... Ichigo. I came to see how you were doing." Ukitake said with a cheerful grin. "I brought you a welcome gift too!" He was carrying this HUUUUUUGEEEEE basket of chocolate candy big enough to fit in both arms.
Ichigo's face twitched. "Uuuuuuh."
Kiyone poked her head in with a tray of herbal tea. "Oh, don't worry, he does that all the time! Gives people gifts for no reason other than he feels like it."
"I... see..." Ichigo stared.
She set down the tray and started pouring a cup of tea for each. "Well... I'll leave you both to talk. And Ichigo to get settled."
Ichigo nodded and opened the clothes press. "Replacement uniforms?"
"They get torn up pretty quickly when doing drills." Ukitake explained.
"I think I should explain what a typical day is like. There's a practice ground smack in the middle of the headquarters for the divisions. Division 1 gets their own, because that's the Sotaisho's division. The other 12 rotate who gets the practice court. Individuals, especially ones with rank, are allowed to go there regardless as long as they don't disrupt the rest of the courtyard. So we have a practice every other day for two hours.
"Coming up soon, the new cadets are going to graduate from the Shinigami academy. That's when the captain and vice captain of each division come up with a display of their abilities and talents to try and attract applications to their divisions. 13 needs new people, we have the fewest unseated officers and as you can tell, if I need two third seats to do my work and I still need to call you in, something's wrong. The more recruits we can call in, the more help we can get for our understaffed division. I'm also going to ask Rukia to speak about her time here in the 13th, because you're new here, so I'd get the point of view of a new member who's passing through and the point of view of somebody who's been here awhile.
Ichigo reached for a chocolate, hand snaking out to grab one while he listened. He unwrapped it without looking and nibbled at the candy. It tasted so delicious he was certain he could eat a couple of baskets of them if given the chance.
"Paperwork is near constant. Every soul reaper from our division who goes to the living world on a patrol has to send back a report of their activities saying what happened. These can be anywhere from 1 to ten pages long. I heard Ise-fukutaisho once wrote one that was 20, back when she was still a seat. The Taisho and Fukutaisho have to read them and sign them, and in other divisions, if the Fukutaisho has gone on a patrol, he or she has to both write and make the report directly.
"We conduct drills twice a week on the plateau to the North of the Rukongai. These drills last all morning, its when we divide up the seated and unseated officers into groups, then formations, and try to simulate melee style battle conditions. The rules for these competitions will be explained to you then. Use of Bankai and Shikai in drills is forbidden, it could cause damage and injury and its not fair to the participents who /haven't/ reached that level yet.
"Most of our people are benevolent and tolerant. Most of the other divisions give us a certain amount of respect. Kurosuchi taisho doesn't like me in the slightest, and while Zaraki and I are on good terms, there have been incidents where eleventh division members have picked on thirteenth division members, especially our unseated officers. If you find one of these incidents in progress, do what you can to get our officer out of there, then tell me what happened. Do /not/ pick a fight. I know you can handle yourself against them. But you were a Ryoka then, and later an ordinary Shinigami, now that you're acting vice captain, behavior like that isn't acceptable. Your first job is to help take care of the division."
Ichigo nodded, it was the same attitude that had lead him to allow Rukia to do something as crazy as shove her sword into him in the first place. He wanted to take care of his family, Ukitake wanted to make sure his division was cared for.
"Anything else I should know?"
"Yes, thirteenth and eighth divisions are carrying on an investigation into Aizen's doings. We're trying to figure out exactly what knowledge he accessed and what he was able to take with him. From there we can make a guess as to what he was up to. You'll be coming with myself, my two third seats, Ise-fukutaisho and Kyoraku-taisho into the most restricted area in Soul Society, the Chamber of 46. What you see and hear there will be relayed to the Sotaisho /only/, and by myself and Kyoraku, not you. You are not to speak of it to anyone else, ever." Ukitake's face was dead serious.
Ichigo nodded. "Restricted?"
"Very, our governing body was in there. But while you and your friends were fighting to rescue Rukia, Hitsugaya discovered that the Chamber's members had been slaughtered. Time of death, approximately seven days before your arrival. We know Aizen did it, what we don't know is /how/."
Renji came pelting in then. "Sorry I'm late. I had to tell Kuchiki taisho that you were here and I was coming to... chocolate? Can I have some?" Renji asked eyes brightening.
"Sure. Ukitake gave it to me." Ichigo offered Renji a piece.
Renji gave Ichigo a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks!" And they started unpacking. Kiyone and Ukitake left them to it, and if strange noises and moans were heard from the long empty vice captain's quarters, nobody commented and many cracked a smile.
Nobody really had much of a sign that something momentous was going to happen, certainly not the person it would happen to. No, the signs were far too subtle to be noticed, but perhaps they started something like this.
"CATCH!" It was early evening, and the kids of the 13th division's officers were playing ball in the yard.
Baseball had been brought to the Soul Society first by enthusiastic newcomers to the Rukongai who had gone through the academy and wanted to teach the older shinigami a little piece of home, then by 9th Division Vice Captain Shuhei Hisagi, who had witnessed the game first hand in a city called the Bronx.
According to him "two teams, one in a uniform of blue and white, and the other in red and white, were arrayed around a diamond shaped track in the dust. The object seemed to be to hit a white ball with a club, then run around the diamond stepping on tiles at each point before the other team could find the ball and throw it to catch you."
The simplest form of this game was to throw a leather stuffed ball back and forth, and that was what the children were doing. Ukitake witnessed the game with a small tinge of sadness. His lungs would never be normal again, but he still wanted to play.
Well why not? The kids weren't running around that much. He hadn't had an attack in a long while, and the rasp in his breath that heralded one wasn't present. It shouldn't be a strain.
He got up from the hammock he was curled in, and walked over to the game. "Can I play?"
"Ukitake taisho!" The children, as always, came running over. Ukitake loved kids, he'd always wanted some of his own. But his illness, once more, had dictated his life. Because he was sick, he could not have children. If he were having one of his attacks when he went into labor he'd die.
He'd given up all hope of a family, and didn't think Shunsui would want to have one so soon after they'd forged their bond, mentally he chuckled, he'd never thought that Shunsui would be uke either. Ukitake had wanted to bear them himself. But what other solution was there?
"May I join you?" Ukitake asked hopefully.
The biggest of the children peered at him curiously. Kenta... Ukitake recalled, son of his seventh seat and one of the nurses in 4th division. The boy was twelve years, strong for his small size, and burly. But he never raised his hand to the other children. "I thought yeh would end up on theh ground couhin an yackin iffen yeh ran around to much taisho... sor..." Some boys faked a kansai accent like Ichimaru's to sound tough, but Kenta didn't have to. His father spoke it naturally.
"I'll be alright Kenta."
"Alrigh then... go long..." He pointed a little ways and poised to toss the ball.
It was funny, or might be to outsiders, the way sports expressions tended to get mixed up in Soul Society. After all, those in Edo had games, but nothing like Baseball or Basketball.
Like the balls used here, they weren't white, the only way to bleach leather that brightly available made it far too brittle. They didn't have rocks or lead weights in them, heavier leather and rubber was used, giving them more bounce.
Ukitake hurried as much as he could in his captains robes.
The ball whizzed through the air. Even where he was standing the thirteenth captain had to make a lunge, Kenta's aim wasn't too good.
As he lunged, he realized his mistake. It had rained recently. He'd forgotten to take off his jacket. The ground had been churned up by little boots and sandals.
Jushiro Ukitake's hands grasped the little leather ball, he lost his balence and toppled, falling...
The SPLAT seemed very loud in a suddenly silent courtyard.
Ukitake's pristine jacket was now covered in mud. The captain's expression as he sat up was shocked surprise. Then he laughed. The kids started laughing too. It was really kinda funny. And it felt good to be covered in mud. The taisho had the goofiest grin on his face.
They played for another hour or so, though the captain had to drape his jacket over a tree branch to keep it from being soiled further. It didn't occur to him that he should have fallen over from his condition a long time prior. He felt fine, really.
Ukitake had forgotten one problem, parents always ask their children about their day around the dinner table, no matter what the era. And children always talk. The seventh seat's wife have heard of his little escapade that evening when Kenta recalled the tale of the Taisho falling in the mud. Indeed, she sent a worried Hell Butterfly to Unohana Taisho.
One Jushiro Ukitake would be in for it in the morning.
Karin didn't quite believe her father's story about Ichigo having to go out of town for a scholarship competition. He sucked at almost every skill that might earn him one. Adding annoyance to irritation, Yachiru had insisted on clinging to her the entire time she was out of the house.
Okay, she wasn't that bad, but she had her moments. At least Ururu was coherant. Yachiru didn't seem to make any sense, though Karin did think it was cute, enough was more than enough.
And her kin, Nanao whatshername, was a very nice person. A little too serious, but she liked thinking deep thoughts, which Karin respected. Nanao even took them to a sweetshop one afternoon, although she didn't get anything for herself.
Still, Karin liked to have some time alone. And it was one warm night that she climbed out her window and found herself at the river's bank with a good view of the stars.
It wasn't empty. The spirit sitting on it was african. He wore dreadlocks pulled into a tight ponytail. Karin almost winced at the style, one of the girls at school had gotten her hair in cornrows, which were required for dreads, and said that getting them in was torture, and that they /ITCHED/(1). He wore some kind of orange neck wrapping. His robes weren't the same as the other sword spirits that had appeared in the area, but he /did/ carry a sword. A visor of some kind covered his eyes.
Karin felt a chill up her spine. Bead number nine shimmered blackly in warning. Karin smelled jungle, moonlight, dew and grass. Her forehead started to throb, almost painfully. She also heard a warning growl, faintly, from /inside/ her head. The tiger?
Karin tentatively moved forwards, sitting on the bank a few paces down and level with him. She looked in the direction he was and tried to figure out what he was looking at. She turned her head slightly in his direction. Beneath the visor his eyes were blank. He was blind?
"I see you spirit, and even if I couldn't, my head would warn me of your presence a mile away." Karin said simply.
He didn't answer for a long moment, and then said. "I see... I was not expecting to be found."
"Yeah, well if you're not expecting to be found, I suggest you not come out into the open." Karin thought he meant in the literal sense; somebody hiding from somebody else. She didn't realize he meant "be seen."
"You sound rather stubborn for a girl. How old are you?" Tousen asked curiously.
"Ten. My name's Kurosaki Karin." She glared at him. "And you seem more antisocial than my big brother. He at least starts snarling. I just got monosylables and cryptograms from you."
If she had used her given name she wouldn't have had a problem at all. But the use of her family name had been a death sentence. Tousen's eyebrows shot up. "Ten hmm..." His voice was quiet.
Tousen considered leaving right now. He could tell Aizen he hadn't seen anybody, and still be telling the truth. But he also knew that if Aizen found out about Karin, he'd find her "interesting" as well; as a shield to use against Ichigo if the elder were to defy him and a guinea pig for experimentation with the Hogyoku. Neither of which was the right thing to do to a ten year old girl, Kurosaki's sister or not. "I'm not antisocial. But I prefer quiet this time of night."
Karin rolled her eyes. "You won't get it in a city." She lay back on the grass.
Tousen realized then, if Ichigo had told his sisters the whole story, Karin would have run away by now, knowing that Aizen would be after her. She hadn't. And Tousen would have to leave. Without giving his name either, which could be divulged to one of the Shinigami stationed in the area.
He really wished Shuhei were around. His vice captain was calm enough to usually come up with an idea or two to protect the little one. Tousen sighed. "I need to leave..."
"I see... have a good night then... though... may I ask. If you're blind, why do you come out to a stargazing spot. I'm assuming that's what you were doing since you were looking at the sky when I arrived."
"I came to hear them sing. Stars sound very beautiful if you stop to listen to them."
Karin made a face. "you and the other spirits sure come up with some /weeeeiiiird/ ideas."
Tousen shrugged. "Everything has a voice, even if it can't be heard. You just have to listen for it." He took out his zanpakuto and scratched open a portal. So much for peace, quiet, and flowers. Tousen had heard Karakura had a wonderful public garden too. He stepped through and carefully put Kurosaki Karin to the back of his mind. She did seem like a nice kid, her voice was vibrant and strong. Her spirit force rang with courage and light. If she survived what Aizen would do to her if he found her, she would make an incredible Soul Reaper.
When Isshin made it to Uruhara's, the shopkeeper was waiting on the steps, the sake bottle just opened. "I knew you'd show up."
"You know me too well..." Isshin pulled Uruhara into a kiss. "Lovely evening."
"You look lovelier." Uruhara murmured against him.
"You changed your hair." Isshin murmured. "It used to be silver."
"You're just now noticing." Uruhara said adoringly into Isshin's neck. "Are we going to get this evening started? Its been awhile since... since..." He shuddered, remembering both the severing of his bond to Isshin, and the day Masaki died.
He was with Isshin and Ryuken for a little man to man to man party. You know, drinking, sports, snacks. There was a game on TV and a lot of cold sake and talk of who would win the World Series over in America. Ryuken was pulling for the Yankees, but Isshin had been arguing that since they'd lost one of their best players to an injury, they weren't likely to be winning any time soon. Then, suddenly, Isshin had folded over, just fallen and gone into shock.
Uruhara stayed with him while Ryuken had called an ambulence. While the doctors at the hospital had found no physical cause for his collapse, both men had known what was wrong. Acting on a hunch and the fact that this was about the time Masaki should be walking him home, Ryuken had been persuaded to go streaking after Ichigo, leading a Search party in the hopes that finding one would reveal the body of the other while Uruhara and Uryu rode in the ambulance. While Uryu's granfather had come to get him after awhile, Uruhara hadn't left until visiting hours were over. Uryu's memory was since modified. By the time he met Ichigo in High School, any knowledge that they had met previously was forgotten.
Neither man had spoken from the day the doctors gave Isshin the okay to go home to the day Isshin had saved Kon from Grand Fisher, and the memories of Uruhara and Ryuken's involvement in the rescue had been dimmed for Ichigo.
Their silloettes could be seen in Uruhara's window for a few minutes, kissing, caressing, clothing being slipped off, and then the light snapped off. The moonlight played over the floor of Uruhara's room and the fierce tenderness of Isshin's talented hands played over the merchant's bare skin. "I guess its the sequel to our story..." He hummed softly as Kisuke kissed his appreciation of the muscles holding him tight. "... from the journey tween heaven and hell..."
Tears stung to Kisuke's eyes as he remembered that song, it always made him think of what he'd had with Isshin, so many years ago. "With half the time thinking of what might have been and half thinking just as well..." Their eyes met in the moonlight, as Isshin pulled out the lube and hurriedly squirted some of the lotion onto his fingers, warming it slowly.
Kisuke arched his legs upwards and his lover took them carefully up around his waist. The merchant tilted his head back, relaxing his body for the other, and felt the first finger sliding in, then the second following at a slower pace, twisting, slickening. Then he felt them thrust. "aaah... easy Isshin. Remember, I'm still out of practice."
"Still tight as a virgin you mean." Isshin teased.
"Less teasing, more sex." Kisuke growled, yanking Isshin into another kiss.
"I like the way you think." Isshin purred, pushing in slowly.
Uruhara gasped. Isshin may have acted like an idiot so many times, but there were too many subtleties about the man for him to be dismissed. And a lot of these translated into the bedroom, he was loving, playful, warm. It was this warmth that he felt filling his heart right then as his lover slipped into his body. Kisuke wrapped his arms around Isshin's shoulders, gripping him tightly, then wrapped his legs around his lover's hips.
Isshin leaned in to kiss his lover tenderly, he felt it, Kisuke's aura reaching out to his, the two energies mingling in love and tenderness. The kiss lasted for a long, long time. Then Isshin started a gentle, torturous rythmn, tender, possessive in its tone.
Kisuke normally would have gotten impatient, but he looked up at Isshin, his eyes, and the tone of his riatsu, spoke volumes. //I will never leave you again. That's a promise.// The whisper down the link was soft, husky and burning with lust.
Kisuke was wrapped both in love and pleasure, as the two, enfolded in each other's arms, did their dance in the moonlight.
Uryu approached his lonely apartment across town at a jog, heart pounding in anticipation. He was meeting Byakuya tonight. Hollows seemed to have been coming out of the woodwork lately, he'd been busy, and the fact that Ichigo was going to be gone meant more work for him. Uryu was tired, and the black haired taisho's serene presence was just what he needed. The moon was rapidly hiding his face (2) and dark, menacing clouds were closing in on Karakura town. By the time Uryu was approaching his house, the skies had opened and he was soaked to the bone.
Normally Byakuya was waiting on the steps, in his gigai, dressed business casual. But the taisho wasn't there. If he couldn't be, he normally left a rose tucked against the first step under the apartment's number and nameplate. No rose.
Uryu hesitated. Something felt wrong. He thanked his father silently for helping him bring his powers back, then drew his bow and turned the corner, arrow knocked and pulled.
Byakuya was on the ground, unconscious. Not a lot, but enough blood to be concerned, lay on the ground. He was in his gigai, explaining how he was hurt. He must have been caught by surprise.
Uryu let his bow go immediately and ran to Byakuya. "Byakuya!!" He cried.
The 6th captain groaned awake. Uryu sighed, he must have been attacked on his way here. Gigai varied, not all of them could fight. Usually Kido were the only attacks available to a shinigami in that form. But Byakuya was really good at those wasn't he?
"nnng..." Byakuya came to. "Uryu...?" He groaned. His clothes were torn and his chest scratched up. "I'm okay..."
"Like Hell... what happened?"
Byakuya reached for his Cellphone, the little object was smashed in his pocket. "I was attacked. I'm not sure what it was, it was too powerful for a Hollow, probably an incomplete Arrancar. I need to report it."
"Get inside and take care of yourself first." Uryu insisted.
"I have to..."
"I can get a call to Hitsugaya, he and Matsumoto-san are staying at Orihime's, get in and lie down." He said firmly.
As he helped Byakuya into the apartment, and went to get a towel, hot water, bandages and alcohol to clean Byakuya's chest (he was told that it was better to heal gigai rather than abandon or destroy them if possible), Uryu thought about their relationship.
It had started as two lonely hearts. The last Kuchiki and the Last Quincy, they'd tried to understand each other, and honestly, Uryu had been trying to get peace and quiet. They'd just beaten Kariya, and Uryu was tired as Hell. He went to the public baths one night, and had thought Byakuya had fallen asleep in the tubs. He slipped in, hoping the 6th captain wouldn't wake up.
Byakuya hadn't fallen asleep, he sat up after that, nodded in Uryu's direction, and left it at that. It would have /stayed/ that way, if Rukia hadn't invited Ichigo's group to Kuchiki manor for the few days left that they could stay. Uryu was still depressed over two deaths that he couldn't stop, the bounto woman and the researcher who'd been killed. He'd drunk most of a bottle of sake before Byakuya took it away. He was /seriously/ drunk. Byakuya was dead sobor, so he was polite enough, and desperate enough to get away from the noisy victory party to volunteer to escort Uryu to the room he'd be staying in.
Uryu's inhibitions had been loosened by the alcohol, and when Byakuya set him down on the bed, he'd pulled the Kuchiki noble down for a kiss. Not a chaste one either, but a long, drunken, passionate kiss. Byakuya had flushed an intense shade of red, had responded to it so strongly even though he knew Uryu was drunk. Uryu still had had tears in his eyes, maybe he'd seen that and wanted to comfort him. Or maybe he wanted to make sure Uryu didn't do anything stupid. Or maybe Byakuya /was/ frustrated from not having had any sort of romantic involvement for 50 years. Whatever the reason, he stayed, making out with Uryu for a couple of hours, until the last Quincy fell asleep. Byakuya stayed nearby, until he slept as well.
As a gay teen, Uryu was still in the closet, and he'd wedged the door shut. His family knew, that was it. He wasn't sure how to introduce his father to Byakuya. His dad hated Shinigami. Flat out hated them. Even though Ryuken accepted Uryu's sexuality, he couldn't forgive what had happened to his wife or his father.
The only thing that Ryuken had made Uryu do was have some of his sperm frozen in a bank, though Uryu didn't see the point. "Humor me, you're gay, but the last of the Quincy /have/ to have an heir, and /I'm/ sure as hell not going back to that." Was Ryuken's sour response. Uryu knew he was lying, there was a sample with Ryuken's name on it in the doctor's office next to where he was supposed to put his when he'd come back from the... aherm... bathroom.
Ichigo had heard about that incident, though not Uryu's sexuality and cackled insanely with mirth. Especially at the expression of hurt dignity on Uryu's face when he'd finished.
Uryu had, after the party, gone to apologize to Byakuya. But he'd come back from lunch to find a small box of candy sitting on the bed. The note next to it read, "if you want to talk, I'll be back tonight, Byakuya."
And so Uryu had come to agree that it wasn't just the alcohol that had drawn him to Byakuya. They'd met every night in the gardens to kiss each other, to hold and be held, until Uryu'd had to go back.
Uryu got the first aid kit and closed the medicine cabinet, looking at himself in the mirror. God, was that him? He'd grown! His face was slightly sharper in appearance, though it still had that smooth look. The skin was tanner, juuuust a bit. His hair had grown out about an inch, and he had to be about... three inches taller? The scowl he'd previously worn, before he'd met Ichigo, had softened into a calm, serene appearance.
Uryu thought that after he went home, Byakuya would forget about him. Then he found a chinese bellflower(3) and a rose, tied with six pale blue ribbons laid out on his front steps one afternoon with the notice. "Be by later. Kuchiki Byakuya." That was the start of it.
They'd dated, though Uryu had disguised the dates as other visits, passing Byakuya off as a friend from out of town. Movies, dinner, even a lecture at one of the local colleges. They enjoyed each other's quiet company and the fact that with one look between them they could say everything or nothing at all.
Then Uryu invited Byakuya over for dinner. And he learned something valuable in the process. He'd made some fancy French dish, but Byakuya only picked at it. He ate about half, then excused himself. They curled up on the couch, and watched a movie, but Byakuya never commented on the food.
Uryu tried again the next time, this time making pasta margarita, a fancy Itallian dish, one that usually took hours to make, with tomato, basil, cheese, and pine nuts in a light olive oil sauce. Uryu bought some artisan bread to go with the meal and offered sparkling cider in place of wine. Byakuya ate about the same amount of food, and the same thing happened.
Uryu was starting by then, to wonder what was wrong with his cooking? He'd never had somebody respond so, placidly, to the effort he put into his cooking. Was something amiss with the flavor? No... so what?
Out of ideas, and with an entire week of wet weather making any Hollow fighting miserable, Uryu bought the ingredients for chicken noodle soup and speant the day with the rich, hearty aroma filling his apartment. He found apple cider, the normal kind, and mulled it with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. He made crescent cakes, a simple, shortbread sorta cookie with almonds and confectioner's sugar and shaped like crescent moons. And he had all these laid out and ready when Byakuya came to his door, his gigai soaking wet from the rain.
Uryu was now carrying the first aid supplies out to the living room, he heard Byakuya talking on the phone. "Yes Hitsugaya, the thing just stomped on it, could you please pass that on to Soul Society since you're at Orihime's tonight? Thank you... no I'm fine... I am NOT hiding anything." He emphasized firmly, though his voice shook a little as he slammed the phone down on the hook.
Uryu had watched intently when Byakuya had finally arrived. The noble's nostril's flared curiously at the scent of the soup and the spice of the cider. That night, not only had captain Kuchiki Byakuya eaten every bit of something that Uryu had made for him and drunk three mugs of the cider, but he'd also snagged a few crescent cakes to eat as they sat down to watch the Star Wars Marathon that Uryu had been watching all day while he cooked.
In the end, they'd fallen asleep against each other, and woken about the time the Ewoks were doing their victory dance. Byakuya took a couple of jars of the soup, and a tupperware box of crescent cakes home with him. And he'd actually had a smile on his face!
It was then that Uryu had learned something valuable about Byakuya. It wasn't extravagence that impressed him. He was surrounded by that all day as a member of a noble family. What had impressed Byakuya was the love put into a simplistic dish and the quiet company of a kindred spirit. For Uryu's shinigami boyfriend, simple was best.
And so it was with this memory in mind that Uryu came into the living room with the first aid kit, only to find Byakuya crying pitifully on the couch, holding two limp pieces of silken cloth to his chest like they were the only thing that mattered. "Byakuya-kun?" Uryu asked gently, concerned.
Byakuya looked up, and the object he was holding became appearant. His scarf, the hollow had slashed it right down the center. Uryu blinked, he knew exactly how much the garment meant to Byakuya. Uryu bent down to wrap his arms around the shorter man, offering him a tender kiss before gently uncoiling Byakuya's fingers from the material. "Lets see...?" He asked gently, he didn't try to take it from the captain, simply inspected the damage from where it was held.
The cut was clean, the material would be difficult to fix, but it could be done. Uryu racked his brains, trying to think of what needles and thread he had on hand that was fine enough to fix the tear without causing further damage to the delicate material as well as a way to convince Byakuya to relinquish the scarf long enough for him to fix it.
"I'll be right back okay? Don't go away."
Byakuya didn't even look up, just stared pathetically at the torn scarf with tears streaming from his eyes. He must have been reigning in his anguish the whole time, until Uryu had gone into the bathroom and he'd finished calling Hitsugaya.
Uryu opened his closet door, various sewing objects veritably flying behind him as he dug for the appropriate kit. He hadn't needed silk thread since one of his mother's old kimonos had gotten torn. Kon had come along with Ichigo for a study session and climbed onto the material, tearing it. The silk repair kit was shoved to the back of the closet, in a delicate wooden box painted with a pair of cranes(3).
Uryu carefully unhinged the box and counted the colors of thread in the box. There. That was the exact color. Next he picked through the needles and found the right one. He had everything he needed, the job would be difficult because that fine a weave of silk required a lot of care when under repair, but it could be done. He snapped the box shut decisively, then got up and left the room.
He brought the kit back to the captain. "When I was younger my mother's wedding dress ripped once. I was very upset. I saved my allowance for weeks to get this." He opened the box with the different colors and guages of silk thread. "I wouldn't let my dad get rid of it. It was a reminder of someone I'd lost. I understand what that scarf meant to you... if you want to have someone else fix it I don't blame you... but... may I try?"
Byakuya looked up. The tears falling from his eyes. He nodded. "Thank you. I'm grateful." Hesitantly, almost timidly he offered Uryu the pieces.
Uryu's first action was to haul the standing floor lamp over to where they were sitting. Then he carefully laid the pieces out on the nearest flat and stable surface to assess the extent of the damage. The rip was clean, that was good, because if it had been a jagged one the job would have been far more difficult. Uryu carefully threaded a needle, gauged the entry stitch, and began to sew. He couldn't use pins, because that would damage the fabric, leaving holes behind.
An hour, maybe two crawled by. Byakuya watched intently, despite his aching head and his scraped up chest and stomach. Uryu had a feeling that he was worried more about the scarf than his own injuries. But considering the sentimental, forget the material value, of the garment it wasn't surprising, after all. Byakuya could probably afford another scarf, but this was an heirloom, it was Hisana's! It was given to him by people he loved and who loved him. There was no price that could be put on that.
Three hours crawled by, and though Uryu continued to yawn, though his stomach was growling, he remained intent on the task. Normally he would have fixed the cloth with his usual flare and showy motions. But this sort of cloth would not hold up to him being careless with it.
Meanwhile, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto, both becoming worried about Byakuya, and curious as to why he'd been in the living world in the first place, had decided to drop by to check on him as soon as dinner was over. Orihime had shown them how to use caller ID, so they knew the call had come from Uryu's house. They knocked on Uryu's door, only to find it unlocked and just the living room floorlamp on in the window. Matsumoto indicated that her taisho should be quiet for a second, before carefully creeked open the door and beckoned for him to follow.
Hitsugaya was curious enough not to correct her, and so he stayed silent.
Uryu was just finishing the last stitch, tying the seam off neatly and cutting the needle free. "See? Good as new." He gently draped the scarf around Byakuya's neck and leaned in for a long, tender kiss. "Now... we need to get you cleaned up, don't cry..."
Matsumoto's squeal of childish glee when she caught them made both men jump. Hitsugaya's jaw dropped. Byakuya... and Uryu? Not only that, but Byakuya had actually /allowed/ Uryu to touch that scarf, let alone repair it. The cloth was delicate! It was a priceless heirloom! And the material for such a scarf cost as much as it took to build ten houses!
Uryu flushed as red as a lobster, but it was Byakuya who straightened himself up. "I would appreciate, neither of you telling anyone what you saw tonight?" He said crossly.
"Of course not Kuchiki-san." Hitsugaya said simply. "I'm just... surprised you'd get together with a /quincy/ I thought you didn't like them. And the fact that you let anybody but a master tailor handle Hisana's scarf is unbelievable."
"Ishida-kun had the materials to fix it." Byakuya grunted.
Uryu had, by then, recovered enough from being caught to speak. He leaned in close to Byakuya, and despite his cold tone he felt an arm wrap possesively around his waist. "He was so upset... he was clinging to the pieces like it was the last thing that mattered on Earth."
Matsumoto smiled. "Taisho, lets leave them alone. I think they're the perfect match. The last Quincy and the last Kuchiki." It was true, the only two Kuchiki's still able to have children were Rukia and Byakuya. The others were either dead or too old. These two were truely the last.
And Ichigo and his friends were considered heroes in the Seireitei now. They had come to rescue their friend, even against all odds. Not only had they prevailed, they had opened the eyes of the Shinigami leadership to not just one, but three traitors in their midst. If it hadn't been for them and their determination, their love and loyalty to each other, Aizen would have gotten away clean with the Hogyoku, and Rukia would have been executed, leaving the Kuchiki clan with that much lower odds for its future. Further, despite the way they'd been treated, despite the fact that they hadn't quite trusted the Soul Reapers afterwards, Ichigo and his friends had not only saved Soul Society, they'd offered to help in the upcoming winter war.
"You forget, taisho, as a clan head Byakuya is obliged to give his clan an heir, preferably several, even more so than Rukia!" Matsumoto giggled.
"I will keep this to myself." Hitsugaya agreed. "And you Matsumoto. Kuchiki-san, I don't need to remind you to be cautious. It is very difficult to maintain a relationship between mates when one is in Seireitei and the other in the Living World."
Byakuya nodded. "I am aware of the risks... Hitsugaya... if Uryu is alright with it, you may inform Rukia as well. Other than that, please, speak to no one."
"I won't." And with that Hitsugaya left.
Uryu got out his first aid kit then, and started cleaning up the scrapes. He gave Byakuya a flushed kiss. "Ai shiteru..."
"Hai... ai shiteru, Uryu-kun." Byakuya's voice was soft, but husky with desire. "I want you to know... if I'm ever stiff and formal, or deny anything about us, when you finally come down for a visit. It would be a lie. I want this to be private just a little bit longer, and you said a week ago that you would too." He hissed as the alcohol touched his skin, but Uryu was gentle, and he was soon finished.
Uryu pulled Byakuya into a deep, deep kiss. The older man moaned, and Uryu felt himself starting to get aroused as well. "Perhaps..." He gasped softly. "Perhaps this is the time."
"I agree..." Byakuya's voice was husky, lustful, possessive. He hadn't had sex in 50 years. Uryu's first time was bound to be hot enough, passionate enough, that Byakuya was certain that he would be able to honor the other's body.
Uryu pulled Byakuya onto him. "Take me..."
"We need a bed first." Byakuya smirked, running a hand along Uryu's thigh.
"I think so yes..." Uryu groaned.
Byakuya smirked, scooping Uryu up and using flashsteps to get them up to the bedroom faster than Uryu could blink, the only delay being to grab lubricant from the bathroom, the warming kind that smelled of roses. The quincy pulled his soon to be lover into a demanding kiss again, before wiggling out of the t-shirt he'd been wearing earlier. Byakuya was wearing a suit, and the jacket of this, as well as the scarf were draped gently over a chair. The Kensaiken was set gently on the bedside table.
Then Byakuya fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, Uryu reaching up to help him before demanding another searing kiss, this time their tongues reaching for each other, twining in longing.
Their pace only slowed down when both of them were naked in front of each other, and Byakuya's eyes raked over Uryu's slender frame. The archer had brought his hands up along the pillow, laying himself open for his soon to be lover's access. His erection was straining, already slick, and the sight made Byakuya even harder than he already was.
Still he held back, despite half a century of pent up lust and frustration. Byakuya leaned in, delicately kissing his way down Uryu's body.
Byakuya, like a lot of nobles before him, had read the Kama Sutra (4), and he had been mostly going by that when he'd started pursuing Uryu seriously. Though a lot of things had changed, the basic principles, and most certainly the positions, were unchanged since the book was written.
However, there was greater emphasis in the modern era on communication, even when they were preparing for sex, what Byakuya had read also was that it was better to talk to, to encourage, a first time partner. It was better to figure out what sort of positions to use before hand. The two of them had done that, among other things.
They had agreed that during the first time they had sex, Uryu would be uke, and on his back. Uryu had agreed for four reasons. He knew the theory, but Byakuya would have had experience before. He also had no idea what the bond would feel like once it started to show, he'd rather not be dominating and then be scared out of his wits when it did happen. The third reason was that they were still in the closet, and if Byakuya suddenly was found pregnant, it would raise a lot of questions about the identity of the other father.
The last reason was for Byakuya's sake. According to him, while his zanpakuto spirit, Senbonzakura, had been encouraging his ongoing relationship with Uryu, she was also the overprotective type, and it would be better if Byakuya dominated, if only to show her that this was his choice as much as it was Uryu's, reassuring the sword spirit that he wasn't being forced into anything he didn't want to be doing.
Uryu had shown him how to use a condom. After all, nobody in the Edo period had used them, they hadn't known that sex could spread diseases, or that a barrier between partners could prevent unwanted conception. It was uncomfortable, but Uryu's attentions to him afterwards had soothed any discomfort Byakuya had felt from the rubber rubbing his body.
They'd showered together a couple of times, the first time to save water, and the next couple when the first ended in a makeout/grope session. It was the first time both of them had been completely naked in front of each other. Some amount of clothing had always been between them, even during the condom incident. So for Uryu to feel the strength in the other man's muscles, his skin slick with sweet scentetd soap, was incredible.
Uryu realized exactly what Byakuya was going to do, and his heart raced, his lust intensifying a notch in anticipation. And sure enough, Byakuya took the tip of the organ in his mouth. Slowly he started pulling it in, resting his arms across Uryu's hips to keep him from moving. Uryu moaned, Byakuya's tongue was delicately tracing the most sensitive areas on his by now fully awakened erection. And better, the sucking was gentle, slow, torturous, the other's tongue working up the vein in the underside, then around the head. Uryu clenched the sheets, whimpering in pleasure as Byakuya teased the slit gently. That wonderful, talented tongue worked delicately back down again, and suddenly Uryu was being swallowed. "GAH, Bya... Byaku...ya..." Uryu was utterly incoherant as the pleasure hazed his mind.
Then Uryu felt it, and heard it, a gentle scent, cherry blossoms and roses, and warmth wrapping him up, an almost subliminal hum vibrating through his body, so loving, so tender, and slowly building in strength. Byakuya pulled back slowly. "Byakuya... whaa..." Uryu blinked.
Another, soft, soothing caress against his spirit pressure. Was he? The hum! Was it Senbonzakura, reaching out to bless them both? Uryu's mind was in a wonderful, blissful state of incoherance.
The slick finger wiggling its way into his entrance actually tickled. Uryu wiggled slightly. "Hold still..." Byakuya murmured softly as a second was added to the first. "And relax."
"Mmmm..." Uryu relaxed the muscles in his lower body, arching his hips slightly for better access, and a third finger joined the second, carefully slickening and stretching.
They worked so gently that Uryu barely hurt at all. And the soft, lust filled touches of spirit pressure caressing his, cradling him like a baby, the scent of blossoms, the roiling feeling of pleasure churning in his stomach, had him distracted enough not to notice any pain.
Byakuya finally removed his hand. "Let me know when you're ready..." He murmured softly. He leaned down, wrapping his arms around Uryu and pulling him into a half reclining position in his arms. A human would have said, "last chance" but Uryu had been warned before hand that any exchange of fluid, even if there was no orgasm, would start the bond, and if incompleted, the hormones stirred up by it would result in serious discomfort.
Uryu closed his eyes and nodded, lithe body flushed and utterly pliant in Byakuya's grasp. His neck arched backwards slightly, wantonly. Byakuya felt his erection throb harder. No one else had ever seen the Quincy so open, so vulnerable. I will honor his body... Byakuya thought softly to himself. And he pushed his way in, slowly.
Uryu whimpered, head thrashing back and forth as he cried out in pleasure. Everywhere that Byakuya touched, caressed, and now kissed, felt on fire, including the parts of his innards that were being penetrated.
And finally Byakuya was sheathed to the hilt inside of his lover. It took only a moment for Uryu to adjust before he said quietly. "Do it."
Byakuya started to thrust, allowing his aura to spread outwards, Uryu's tentatively followed, as though his instincts, his subconscious, knew what to do. The two mingled, one a rustling fragrant blossom, the other the summer breeze that moved it.
As the rythmn built, Uryu felt something start to push its way into his mind, into his heart, as the pleasure rolling through his body filled him. Then Byakuya found his prostate, and whatever it was that was trying to get in bashed down the doors. Uryu felt Byakuya's heart, his emotions, his love and anguish and tenderness and joy mixing with his, and he realized just how alike they were, just several centuries, and a side of the tracks apart. He wrapped his arms and legs around his lover. "Faster... ngggn Byakuya... faster... yes... gods yes... mmm..." As his lover obliged him.
The winds were howling then. Uryu felt as though his mind were being pitched around on a choppy sea as his body built towards orgasm. His breath came faster, shallower, and small, incoherant whimpers of pleasure came from his mouth. And then. So loud it almost exploded after his quiet responses. "BYAKUYAAAAAA!!!!" He cried in pleasure as he came, spurting across their stomachs.
"Uryu... Uryu I'm close... Uryu URYUUUU!!!!" Byakuya let out a husky cry. Uryu felt a rush as Byakuya's fluids seared into him, energy too, though since he was human, it wouldn't affect him.
The bond pulled tight, their minds flowing into one. And Uryu was aware this time of the zanpakuto dragging his mind into Byakuya's. He saw Byakuya's life. And knew that Byakuya was seeing his.
Uryu saw, for instance, how even though he was rich, at an early age Byakuya had learned that money didn't by happiness. After he was ten, he was instructed in the traditions of the clan. He had to stay clean, he had to be calm and quiet, he couldn't make a lot of noise or make any messes. He had to study a lot, and hard. He'd had to gain a basic knowledge of the four artistic virtues, poetry, art, music and go. He did okay, but he wasn't that good. What he really wanted was to run around outside, after all, Yoruichi got to didn't she? And she was clan folk too!
There was the matter of the Shinigami academy. His parents, despite his bad grades for almost four of the six years in a row, had him advanced anyway. Byakuya hadn't even had to take the entrance exam, they'd simply used their influence to see that the school board didn't bother. Both facts had angered the young Byakuya, and blown his self esteem to bits for a long time to come. Byakuya hadn't wanted to be /given/ those promotions or the honor of entering, he'd wanted to /earn/ them! He was graduated on time, though with a bitter taste in his mouth, and put, as Rukia had when she'd first started, under Ukitake's care.
Byakuya had broken the rules once, he'd gone against his parents and married Hisana. He'd loved her with all of his heart. He'd almost died when she had, he'd wanted to. There were still marks on his wrists to prove it. But he had a promise to keep to her, and Byakuya was a Kuchiki! They always kept their word! So he'd taken in Rukia, surprised to find her not in the Rukongai, but in the Academy herself.
Ichigo... Byakuya had hated him for a long time for what he'd done. He'd put Byakuya into an impossible position. He had promised he wouldn't break the rules anymore. If he tried to stay Rukia's execution, then he'd be doing just that. If he allowed Ichigo to remain a Shinigami he'd be doing just that. And he'd blamed Ichigo for putting him through it.
Then she was alive and well, forgiven and healed and allowed to return. With Ichigo gone, the old lonliness had set in. He'd wanted a partner, a lover, an equal. He couldn't. He didn't think he could ever love again. And then Uryu, and they'd loved each other... he'd fallen so hard he didn't think he'd ever get up.
Uryu felt it all, and just as they'd gotten to that night, his vision cleared. He was in a forest, on a mountain. The small cabin up there was quiet, with a wonderful view of the ocean, though the cove below was foggy. It was night time, with a full moon as yellow as a wheel of cheese. You could hear a waterfall outside, and smell cherry blossoms near the door as well. There was a small Western style bed with simple flannel sheets and hand made crazy quilts to cover it.
And there were toys. Lots of toys! From little wooden figures and toy swords, pirate or straw hats and other bits of costume stuff, a go board painted on a long piece of leather, with large stones big enough for a child's hands. Even cards and dice. There were stuffed animals, dragons, tigers, eagles, horses! And there were dolls too! One for each important person in Byakuya's life, lined up neatly against his pillow. His parents (judging by their resemblance to him), Hisana, Rukia, Renji, Ichigo? How'd an Ichigo doll get there? Uryu even had a doll! It was slightly bigger, and it was set a little apart from the rest, and slightly rumpled, as if it had been pulled from the collection recently and hugged by small, eager and loving hands.
Byakuya was there, with his arms wrapped around Uryu. Soft, silken ribbons wound around their wrists, their waists, their hips, weaving shimmering strands of burgundy red and deep, cooling, sapphire blue. Uryu blinked in surprise, both at the sudden change of scenery and the ribbons that bound them.
But then he leaned into Byakuya's chest as Senbonzakura appeared, clad in the most elegant silken pink kimono that Uryu had ever seen and carrying a spear. Her hair was unfettered, free to flutter in the breeze off the waters and mountains. Her eyes were dark and dangerous, a warrior and mother protecting her family.
Senbonzakura dispensed with the formal ritual words. "Uryu... take care of him... love my wonderful Byakuya for as long as you can... Byakuya, I'm so glad you were finally able to let somebody into your heart... I told you you would love again... you simply had to be willing to let it happen..."
Uryu looked up, and Byakuya had tears in his eyes. "Yes... thank you..."
Before she disappeared elsewhere, Senbonzakura added to Uryu. "This is what Shinigami call their inner world. It is a space in their mind where they can talk to us if they need us. Every object or figure in it has important signifigance, as well as the state they're in. You can't enter here without him guiding you, but I will watch over you just as much as I do him. I promise." Her smile was so loving and gentle.
Uryu leaned into Byakuya's arms. "Thank you." He murmured, both to his lover and to the spirit who had appeared to protect and bless them.
1. I once got my hair in cornrows for a school portrait. Not only was it painful, they /itched/ like crazy the whole three days I had them in. Then I couldn't stand them anymore, and though the classmate who had done them in such a rush for me had worked very hard, and I'd begged her to do them for weeks, I had to take them out.
2. While many Ancient Western cultures associated the moon with women and the goddess, the Japanese moon deity was the god Tsuki-Yomi, brother to Amataratsu, the sun goddess, and Susonoo, the storm god.
3. Chinese Bellflowers are Byakuya's favorite flower, the bouquet is his way of telling Uryu that he loved him and wanted to continue the relationship if he wanted to.
3. In Japanese artwork, a pair of cranes and a pair of pines symbolizes enduring love.
4. Kama Sutra- a book dating as far back as Ancient China that outlines both the courtesies of courtship of the time period as well as various sexual positions. It was later brought to Japan and considered important reading for a groom seeking a bride. As would be head of the Kuchiki family, Byakuya would have been required to read it, both so that he could show his wife or lover courtesy in seeking their partnership and to make absolutely sure that he either sired or concieved an heir.
5. I figured Byakuya's inner world would be simple and pure, very reflective of a child. After all, that's what he hid away for so long. The collection of dolls indicates the people he cares about the most. Sometimes their expression or physical appearance changes, for example if Rukia were hurt, her doll would be bandaged. but all in all, when all is said and done, Byakuya's inner world is a place for him to play. Where nobody... aherm... dignified... can see him acting like a little kid.
6. The appearance I gave Senbonzakura for this fanfic was, indeed, a woman. But I didn't want a dolled up, porcilline figure, I didn't want cutsy, vengeful, or some kind of awe inspiring goddess. I wanted her to be a warrior, and a mother. I thought that would reflect what Byakuya needed, psychologically. A warrior to fight by his side, a mother because Byakuya had none.