In The Beginning
There Were Introductions
Dark blue eyes flutter open at the feeling of water droplets falling on warm skin. Kira opened his eyes to see a dressed Ichimaru leaning over him with wet, dripping, pewter colored hair and a towel draped over his neck. Another bead of water slowly dripped from a stray lock of hair to fall on the blond's cheek.
"I was beginning ta thinks Izuru was gonna sleep all afternoon." The older man grinned as he watched the cobwebs of sleep being swept away with every bat of pale gold lashes. Ichimaru watched in amusement as Kira's cheeks started to take on a warm blush.
The silver haired man could almost watch the memories of their earlier activities play out in the younger man's head by watching his expressions; Ichimaru watched the show completely fascinated. The fukutaichou tilted his head to the side in appreciation as a belated attack of modesty struck Kira. The blond froze for a moment as the realization he wasn't wearing anything hit him, pure panic transform those delicate features as the healer looked around franticly. Ichimaru's grin twisted to puckish amusement as Kira grabbed the wrong kodose from the pile of discarded clothing littering the floor. The blond looked utterly delectable as he tried to pull the over-sized kimono around his blushing frame.
"Don' Izuru wanna gets cleaned up before he puts ma uniform on?" Ichimaru hummed in growing delight as Kira tried to cover his burning cheeks with his hand but only managed to thwack himself in the face with the extra length of the sleeve. "If 'Zuru wants ta wear ma clothes I gots clean ones he could try." The blond gave the sleeves such a disgruntled look that Ichimaru felt the urge to pull the boy into his arms and keep him there for the rest of the day.
Ichimaru wrapped his fingers around a cloth covered wrist and stood, pulling the slighter man upright along with him. Kira was simply adorable with the too large black and white kimono slipping and sliding across his thin shoulders. The older man gathered a hand full of the fabric and tugged the blond into his arms to take a kiss. The hard kiss was over before Kira even had a chance to really enjoy it, his lips seemed to pulse and throb from the bruising kiss, waiting and wanting more of the same. Firm hands turned the healer in Ichimaru's arms so the blond's back was pressed against the taller man's chest.
"Does Izuru wanna takes a shower afore he goes back ta his division?" Ichimaru's question was whispered into Kira's thoroughly mussed hair. "I gots one here if he wants ta use it." The silver haired man grinned as he felt the slender body pressed against his start to tremble. The fukutaichou slowly pushed the black and white fabric off his toy's unresisting shoulders, letting the over sized uniform top catch on the smaller man's elbows. Ichimaru tilted his head to brush his lips against the nape of Kira's neck. "I am willin' ta share with ma Izuru."
Kira held his breathe as he felt the taller man whisper the offer across his skin. The blond swallowed hard, had Ichimaru just offered to take a shower with him? The petit man didn't protest when the vulpine man run his hands down Kira's arms, pushing the rather rumpled kodose to the floor once again. Cool hands stroked over warm skin, the healer sighed as he was leisurely petted; Kira leaned back against the body behind him, enjoying every moment.
Ichimaru wrapped his arms around the pliant blond, snuggling Kira close before running his hands down to capture a bruised wrist. The healer was caught off guard when the taller man slid past him swiftly and pulled the startled blond along behind him.
"What?" Kira stumbled as the toe of his sandal caught on a pile of sand hiding a chuck of slaughtered leather. Wiry arms caught the tumbling blond before he could hit the floor. Ichimaru tilted the younger man to look up into a grinning face. Kira clutched at the ropey biceps supporting him in wide eyed alarm.
"I don' thinks Izuru should be fallin' for me sa soon." The fukutaichou jiggled the healer in his arms, causing the petit man to squawk in surprise, his blue eyes rounding in horror with every word Ichimaru spoke.
"I-I!" Kira stuttering reply was cut off by a sly grin and a fast kiss that sent the healer's thoughts flying.
"Just kiddin'" Ichimaru jiggled the blond again, enjoying the feel of Kira's fingers digging into his arms. The silver haired man lowered his lips to his toy's to whisper, "I don' mind."
Kira waited breathlessly for Ichimaru's lips to cover his, he trembled in anticipation. The vulpine man grinned evilly at the young healer before setting the blond back on his unsteady feet.
"I thinks ma 'Zuru is in need of a cool showeh. He is lookin' sa over heated." The older man didn't wait for Kira to agree but pulled the healer into a small tiled room that was obviously bathroom.
The small room was tiled floor to ceiling with a shower head set high on one wall with two levers waiting below it and a narrow bench set opposite it for changing. At the very end of the room, a toilet and sink joined a hamper and narrow cubicle filled with stacks of uniforms. With a deft flick of the wrist, Ichimaru turned on a steady stream of cool water flowing from the shower head.
"In ya go!" The argent haired man gleefully pushed the healer under the water, causing the petit man to gasp in a delightful manner.
The cool water quickly soaked pale gold hair plastering it to the younger man's skull. Izuru tilted his head back allowing the water to flow over his face and thin rivulets to run down his chest. Suddenly, the current situation wasn't as amusing as Ichimaru had thought it would be. Damn but his toy was so fuckable when he was all wet like this. The fukutaichou's grin faltered when his little armful ran a hand down his bruised throat, following a small stream to slide the water over his flat stomach. Maybe he didn't need to get back to work after all.
Kira stood under the water enjoying the feeling of it sliding over his skin. There was just something about the way a shower could help clear your head and he definitely needed all the help he could get when he was around Ichimaru. The healer took a step back into the stream only to be greeted by the unpleasant squishy sensation of soaking wet tabis. The blond looked down and fully registered the fact he was still wearing his socks and sandals. Kira was dumfounded.
"I didn't take my sandals off?" The healer looked over at his obsession with eyes wide in shock and growing horror. "The first time we…and I didn't even…" Kira looked down at his footwear in pained disbelief.
"Ahh, don' be like dat." Ichimaru leaned back against the wall to better enjoy the show in front of him. This Izuru was one fascinating kid. Shy and sensual. Bold and hesitant. Modest and wanton. Ichimaru could watch him forever and never get bored. The silver haired man tilted his head as he to regard the offending footwear.
"I'ms da one who tooks all da rest of 'Zuru's clothes off of 'em." Why did it matter if he had left both of their sandals on? Shoes and socks in no way prevented or interfered with fucking, so why was Izuru upset he was still wearing them? Maybe the blond was really proud of his feet? Maybe his lil armful had a secret foot fetish? Izuru really was one complicated and fascinating toy.
"I din' know Izuru wanted dem off." Ichimaru watched as the blond frowned down at the sandals before pulling them off, then tugging his sopping tabis off as well. The vulpine man stared at the narrow pale feet exposed by Kira's action. There didn't seem to be anything different about them, but then he had never really given feet a lot of thought before.
"I just wanted our first time to be…special." Kira held his footwear in his hand giving the soggy gear a sad smile before turning it on Ichimaru. "I guess I screwed that up." The blond's smile wobbled slightly.
The fukutaichou grinned as understanding came to him. "Ma Izuru's got nothin' ta worries about; dis was unlike anythin' I eveh done afore." Ichimaru reached out and took the handful of footwear from Kira. "Next time 'Zuru has another trainin' accident I will makes sure I remember ta takes his shoes offs of him."
Kira blushed and stepped fully under the shower hoping the water would cool his warm cheeks. He turned away from the taller man's knowing grin to reach for some soap resting in a dish set in the wall.
"I don't think there will be a next time…not like that." The blond ran the soap over his chest. Kira thought that once in a life time was more than enough for that kind of accident. Now something like that done in the privacy of his own bedroom with a certain sexy fukutaichou…now that had possibilities. Kira suddenly understood why Yamada fukutaichou had threatened the class. The recreational applications for healing stimulation were staggering.
Ichimaru tossed the wet tabis into the hamper, and then negligently dropped the straw sandals to the bench to let some of the water drain from them. The argent haired man leaned back to watch Izuru sliding the soap over his body in sudsy trails only to be rinsed clean as the blond moved under the water.
"Maybe 'Zuru could arrange an on purpose?" Kira turned to face Ichimaru when he heard the hopeful lilt in the other man's voice. A small, little smile curved the blond's lips as his wet blond hair fell to cover one eye in a wet curtain. Ichimaru resisted the urge to press the younger man up against a tiled wall; the taller man crooned in delight as the heat started to race in his veins. That little smile made him want to do things to his toy that would leave Izuru a breathless heap.
"I thought you said you were going to share the shower with me?" Kira thought it best to change the subject. Thinking too much along those lines and he would end up throwing himself at Ichimaru again. While the older man had appreciated the uniqueness of the earlier situation, the healer was not under the delusion that the fukutaichou would tolerate such behavior for long. Kira had already figured out that Ichimaru really liked control, and gods help him, but he loved what the other man did with it.
The vulpine man grinned in obvious amusement over at the wet healer. "I am sharin' da shower with Izuru." Pale crystalline eyes opened enough to trace every wet inch of Kira's body before hiding again behind squinting eyelids. "Its ma shower and I ams lettin' ma Izuru use it. Dats sharin'." Ichimaru crooned to himself as he watched his toy react to his perusal of him. The older man's voice deepened to rough velvet, " 'Sides, I likes ta watch…"
Kira swallowed hard at such a frank admission. The petit man tremble with the sudden urge to cover himself with his hands as his body reacted to the want in his obsession's tone. A fine blush darkened his cheeks as he looked at Ichimaru. No, he wouldn't hide from this man; he didn't want to. That tiny smile, the one that made the other man tense against the wall, once again spread on Kira's lips. If Ichimaru wanted to watch, well then…
Kira's heart raced as raised the bar of soap to run it along the side of his throat. The blond almost closed his eyes, so he could watch Ichimaru from behind the privacy of his lashes. The healer licked his lips as he slid the soap slowly down his chest to run a sudsy caress over his stomach. The soap slid lower ghosting over his hardening cock. Gods but he was teasing himself almost as much as he was teasing Ichimaru and it was delicious. Kira tilted his head back; a little sighing moan escaped his lips as cool water poured over his face and down his body rinsing away the lingering suds.
"'Nough of dats." Ichimaru grinned in admiration of the game his toy was playing. It was working, heat simmered in him and a hot throb started to build low in his belly. "Izuru earned himself a rewards for dis." Kira took an eager step forward, wanting and ready to receive his reward.
"Finish washin' up, while I gets 'Zuru's uniform." Ichimaru turned to walks out to the other room. He paused and turned around for one long look at the wet healer. "Don' linger ta long." Then he was gone.
Kira sighed then stepped back under the water before turning to adjust the water temperature to something colder. The blond quickly and efficiently ran the soap over the rest of him, only pausing now and again as he discovered little bruises left by strong fingers. Kira smiled to himself as he ran his thumb back and forth across a series dark smudges on his thigh. A warm bubble settled in his chest as he looked at them. He hadn't been alone in the mad drive for completion that had gripped him earlier.
The petit man turned the water off and looked for a towel to dry off with. Kira jumped when a lilting voice spoke from directly behind him. "Is Izuru lookin' for dis?"
The healer spun around to be greeted with a towel hanging directly in front of his face. How did Ichimaru do that? The silver haired man moved so silently, Kira never heard him approach and the blond certainly never felt the tell tale change in reiatsu would let him know that another was near him. Kira felt like the man hidden by the length of towel would always remain something of a mystery to him.
The petit man reached for the towel only to have it whipped away from him just as his fingers brushed the fabric. Ichimaru's curved lips once again filled his view as the taller man held the towel high out of Kira's reach.
"I din't say 'Zuru could haves it; I asked if Izuru was lookin' for it." Ichimaru stepped close to the blond until they were almost touching. Kira tilted his head back to continue staring up at those agile lips.
The taller man draped the towel over pale gold hair, massaging the cloth over the wet locks. The healer closed his eyes to better enjoy the slow sensual rubbing that started at his head then quickly slid down his body. The soft slide of the cloth running over his skin felt wonderful and a sweet counterpoint to the firm touch that accompanied it. Kira sighed when he was dry and Ichimaru's tender administrations came to an end.
"Izuru needs ta get dressed…"The fukutaichou's amused lilting tones caused the blond to give a start, snapping him out of his slight daze. "I needs ta gets back ta da office. I needs to gets some papers done for Aizen taichou."
A blush stained the healer's cheeks, "Yes! Of course! I didn't think…" Kira looked around for his uniform. The younger man saw his uniform draped over the bench, sitting next to his still dripping sandals. Kira slid past Ichimaru to slip his kimono on, tugging the shirt closed quickly. The blond picked up the fabric that made up his fondushi and grimaced in distaste.
"Ya can throw dat in da hamper. Nexts times 'Zuru comes ta play, he can haves it back." Ichimaru lounged against the wall watching his toy's mad scramble to finish dressing.
"Next time?" Kira stopped and turned to give the older man an uncertain smile. "You…you want to see me again?" The blond hadn't really allowed himself to wonder about what would come next after this…what ever today had been.
Ichimaru's ever present grin twisted into a frown, "Izuru thinks he can fucks me, den jus' walks away?" Kira's mouth dropped in shock at the frown and his superior's choice of words. "So ma 'Zuru jus' used me for ma body?"
"NO! I-I?" Kira held a hand out to the vulpine man in protest at the idea. He wanted so much more than that…though Ichimaru did have a nice body…
A pouting frown curled into a delighted grin. "Izuru is sa fun ta tease." Ichimaru's shoulders shook with his mirth as the blond straightened to his full diminutive height, an offended little bantam rooster complete with ruffled crest.
Kira huffed his annoyance at the other man's jest. His head spun with confusion and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. One minute Ichimaru was all rough demands and then soft sweet words and then biting jest. The silver haired man changed moods and directions so fast, it left Kira dizzy and clutching his superior close trying to regain his footing.
Ichimaru's grin crept wider and wider as he watched his lil huffy armful. The healer was a joy to watch as he tossed the dirty fondushi into the hamper then roughly pulled his hakama about his hips. The argent haired man hummed to himself at the fierce glances the gentle little man kept shooting at him. The healer made short work of wrapping obis around his waist and securing ties so the disheveled uniform hung properly on his spare frame. Ichimaru smirked at the look on his toy's face as Izuru pushed bare toes into soggy sandals. The vulpine man crossed his arms across his chest as the blond shot him one last offended look before moving to the exit.
"Dis mean 'Zuru don' wants his reward?" Ichimaru called to the younger man as Kira went to cross the threshold into the main room. Kira foot hovered for a moment in mid air before setting down in its original spot.
"My reward?" The healer sounded so hopeful and so suspicious that Ichimaru had to resist the urge to laugh.
"Izuru still gots a reward he ain't collected yet or don' he wants it anymore?" Ichimaru watched the short inner debate play out on Kira's face. The blond worried his lip as he sidled shyly up to the taller man. Ichimaru's grin turned positively evil as he reached out to stroke his thumb along the under side of Kira's jaw; the blond shivered at the touch. "Now whats Izuru gots ta say ta gets his reward?"
"Please…" Kira's soft plea was spoken without hesitation and without a thought of his offended pride. What was pride worth against the chance at more of Ichimaru's kisses? "Please Ichimaru fukutaichou…"
"Dats a good boy…" Ichimaru slid his hand down Kira's throat stopping at the blond's shoulders; he turned his toy so that Izuru's back was to him. The taller man slid his fingers down Kira's arms catching the healers hand and putting them on the tiled wall in front of them.
Ichimaru dipped his head to whisper in the younger man's ear, "Now don' move…" Kira gave a small nod of his head to let his superior know that he heard him; he waited breathlessly to discover what Ichimaru planned to do to him.
The silver haired man ran his thumbs down the length of Kira's spine, his longs fingers ghosting over the ridges of the petit man's ribs. The blond could feel the warm breathe of the other man on the back of his neck and the lightest brushing of thin lips against the nape of his neck. Kira half expected to hear the whispered count of 'One' that would signal the end of one of Ichimaru's favorite teasing games, but the older man remained silent as long fingers settled on Kira's narrow hips. The healer closed his eyes and held his breathe as a tall lean body rocked slowly against him, warm lips wandered leisurely up the side of his throat along his jaw. Kira tilted his head back and to the side and was rewarded when those wandering lips settled on his. Sweet…so sweet.
"An dat's 'Zuru's one." Ichimaru's hands fell away leaving the blond feeling slightly bereft. "Now, Izuru needs ta be leavin'. I gots ta pretend ta for awhile work afore I starts on ah project for Aizen taichou."
Kira let his hands slide down the wall before tugging on the ends of his obi. The petit man turned to face Ichimaru. "Yes of course…I didn't mean to take all your time…" A slight blush highlighted Kira's cheeks as he remembered this was the middle of the work day. "I-I," the healer paused to collect his thoughts; "I will look forward to seeing you again." Kira looked up at Ichimaru's squinting eyes before dropping them to his bare toes.
When the other man didn't say anything in return, Kira raised dark blue eyes to see an amused smile curling the vulpine man's lips. Ichimaru reached out and ruffled the gold locks topping the younger man's head.
"Dat 'ill be sooner din' Izura thinks." The fukutaichou's grin quirked even higher at the pissy look his toy's threw at him as the younger man tried to smooth his hair. The little healer was just too fun to fuck with.
Kira cast Ichimaru one last glance before leaving the small bathroom. The blond quickly navigated the sand and leather littered practice hall to make his way to the front door. When Kira opened the door, he was surprised see where the sun was. How long had he been here? Without looking back, knowing full well that Ichimaru was watching him, he ran back towards his division.
He didn't slow to a walk until he reached the familiar buildings that made up the healer's complex. It was bad enough he was going to report to Yamada fukutaichou so late in the day and in a rumpled uniform, he didn't want to arrive completely breathless as well.
Kira used the time it took him to walk to his Division's Admin building to sort his thoughts. Of all the things that had happened today, the healer's thought's kept circling back to Ichimaru. By the time the blond arrives at Yamada's office, the only conclusion that Kira had been able to reach was he definitely wanted to Ichimaru again…and soon. The rest of it would have to sort itself out in its own time.
Kira stood in front of the door of the office, taking the time to tug on the hem of his kodose, before rapping sharply on the wood frame.
"Enter," Yamada fukutaichou's voice called from the office. The blond took a deep breathe before sliding the door open and entering the room. Yamada looked up from a paper he was reading at his desk. When he saw Kira hesitating in the door way, the tall brunet gave the younger man a reassuring smiled then motioned to the seat in front of his desk.
"I see you made it back…I was beginning to worry." Yamada's voice was soft with concern but soon lightened to amusement as he took in the usually fastidious blond's appearance. Dark assessing eyes quickly ran over the blushing Kira, taking note of every bruise and the twinge followed by a satisfied smile that crossed the young man's lips as he sat gingerly in the hard wood chair.
A soft laugh found its way past Yamada's lips. "All I can say is I hope the other guy looks as bad as you."
"No, he is fine…he's perfect…"Kira eyes widened in horror as he realized what he just said. "Oh gods, I didn't mean to say that!" With a groan, he dropped his head to the desk in front of him. When was he going to learn to keep his mouth shut?
A soft chuckle interrupted his thoughts. "It's alright Kira-san. I was merely concerned with how long it took you to return."
Kira kept his head pressed to the desk, too embarrassed to look his superior in the eye. "I am so sorry Yamada fukutaichou…I-I ah sort of…I fell asleep." Kira missed the smirk that ghosted across the older man's lips.
"Ah, yes of course. I should have realized." Kira covered his burning cheeks with his hands wondering when they could stop talking about this. "Hanataro wanted me to express his apologies and said he would understand if you don't wish to continue as his lap partner." Yamada's voice deepened in genuine regret. "I would like to express my apologies as well. It was my error that led to your…difficulties. I will completely understand should you wish to be removed from the class."
Kira finally looked up. "No, I don't want to leave. It could have happened to anyone." Kira swallowed before shyly admitting, "And my…difficulties weren't entirely ah unpleasant." The blond colored again before hurrying on, "That isn't to say I want to do that again. But I want to learn…I think what you are teaching is important."
Yamada grinned at Kira, "Now, that is what I was hoping to hear!" The fukutaichou looked down at his desk and shuffled some papers around until he found the one he was looking for. "Now that the issue of class has been resolved, let's move onto your other issue."
"Other issue?" Kira wondered what else could happen today.
"We received a response from Aizen taichou about your training." Yamada read the page silently for a moment before looking over at Kira. "He requests that you present yourself at his Admin building at 1600 to meet your instructor. Hmm, it doesn't say who your instructor is." Yamada frowned at Kira's bruised frame then glanced back down at the letter in his hand.
"If you would like, I can send a butterfly explaining you are unfit to begin practice today." Yamada looked uncertain as he tapped the paper with his finger.
"No!" Kira reached out a hand in protest, his uniform fell to expose a wrist circled in smudges. Kira flushed as he noticed his superior's frown darkening at the sight. "Yamada fukutaichou, I am fine. Really. I just bruise easily. I would hate to inconvenience a taichou." Kira thought quickly about how to salvage the situation. "I…you can do an exam if you want. I'm a little tired and a little bruised but no more so than many who go for training everyday."
Yamada cast the younger man a doubt filled glance before rounding the desk to perform a quick exam with Kido. The brunet humphed as the gentle glow left his fingers. "You do bruise easily. Fine surface capillaries…guess that explains those blushes of yours." Kira cheeks brightened at the mention, earning him a chuckle from the other man.
Yamada turned and walked to a glass cabinet set along the wall. The tall brunet pull the glass door open and took out a large jar filled with skull decorated biscuits. Yamada held the jar out to the blond waiting for his subordinate to take one of the biscuit. Kira hesitate then took one of the supplements.
"Well, eat up. That will get you through training but you should still get an early night so you will be ready for class in the morning." Yamada watched to make sure the petit healer finished the biscuit, the blond grimacing at the taste. "Go change and get your zanpakuto. You will want to be presentable when I take you to meet your instructor."
Kira stood and bobbed a bow to the lanky brunet before heading for the door. He stopped when he heard his name being called.
"Kira-san?" Yamada grinned at the questioning look the blond gave him. "You might want to see if you can find some tabis before we leave for Fifth." He didn't start chuckling to himself until after the youth had murmured a hasty agreement then scurried from the room.
A short time later, Yamada led the way to Fifth's Admin building. Both healers took a minute to do a final check on their uniforms before knocking for admittance.
"Enter." The command was issued in Aizen's smooth cultured tones. Kira couldn't help the twinge of relief he felt at not having to face Ichimaru so soon after their morning together. The two healers entered the office then bowed respectfully to the muscular taichou.
"Ah, Yamada fukutaichou and if I remember correctly, this is Kira-san." Aizen greeted the two medics with a gentle smile and a gracious wave towards a gently used couch. "I am afraid I sent the officer I selected to teach young Kira-san out to fetch me my afternoon tea. I am sure he will be back shortly."
Aizen walked over to his desk; it was covered in haphazardly stacked papers and stray reports were strewn across the entire surface. Aizen pushed his thick glasses on to the bridge of his nose as he regarded the complete disarray that was his desk. The taichou of Fifth smiled at the two men watching him avidly.
"You must forgive me. Gin decided, on today of all days, to be uncharacteristically helpful with my paperwork." Kira shifted self consciously on his feet as cool brown eyes stared at him over thick frames. "I can't help wondering how long his enthusiasm for the activity will last." Aizen's smile turned indulgent as he thought of his Second. "He does tend to bore easily."
Everyone in the room looked up at the sound of a door being roughly kicked open and the gentle rattle of a tea service.
"Aizen taichou! I gots dat tea ya likes! I even found some of dem pretty cups. I tolds ya I din't breaks em all!" Ichimaru strode into the room with little apparent care for the fragile service perched on the tray he was carrying. He set the tray down with an ominous rattle on the edge of Aizen's desk.
Kira went still as the silver haired sex god…death god, entered the room. Ichimaru couldn't be. He just couldn't be…
"Ah Gin, I am glad you have returned." Aizen smiled at his fukutaichou before gesturing at the two healers. "Our guests have arrived. Let me introduce you." Aizen motioned to the tall brunet wearing the Bellflower badge around his arm. "I believe you are familiar with Yamada fukutaichou." Yamada frowned at the argent haired man but bobbed a short bow to the other officer. "And here we have your young student Kira Izuru." Aizen gave Kira a soft reassuring smile.
"How ya doing Izuru-chan? I's is sure yar gonna learn lots while yar undeh me." Ichimaru grinned at the pained, horrified look that had taken up residence on his toy's face. Today was turning into a great day.
"That is no way to address Kira-san!" Yamada step forward, outraged at the overly familiar way that Ichimaru was speaking to his subordinate. "He is an adult and a skilled healer. As a valued member of Fourth, he is deserving of your respect!"
Ichimaru tilted his head to the side and seemed to be staring at Kira, "Ya sure he's all grown? He looks like he just might be a good lil boy ta me."
The blond sputtered in his growing panic. What was Ichimaru doing? Kira fought the urge to cover the vulpine man's mouth with his hand. He was being ordered to spend hours with the man of his dreams and Ichimaru was going to ruin it with his teasing! Kira willed Ichimaru to look at him, his eyes pleading with the older man as his lips formed one silent word, 'Please?'
Ichimaru paused and tilted his head in the opposite direction. The argent haired fukutaichou turned his grin on Yamada. "I don' mind dat he is sa young…makes it easier ta train 'em up da ways ya likes 'em." Kira groaned at that, covering his face with his hands; Yamada was never going to let Ichimaru be his teacher now.
"Gin, that is enough." Aizen turned to the visiting fukutaichou. "I know that Gin is a bit…unpolished at times but he is exactly what Unohana taichou requested in her letter. You would be hard pressed to find anyone except a full taichou among the Gotei Thirteen with his combat experience. Gin also spends more time on the training grounds than any other fukutaichou as his temperament doesn't make him predisposed to paperwork."
Aizen glanced over the chaos that was covering his desk, "Speaking of that, I thought I told you not to ever use my desk."
Ichimaru ran a hand over his hair as he grinned unapologetically at his superior. "I hads ta. I hads ta many papers on ma desk to finish up them reports for ya. Your desk is always sa extra tidy."
"I know. I like it that way and that is why you are not allowed to use it." Aizen gave Ichimaru a fatherly smile as he shook his head before he returned his regard to Yamada. "I will of course understand should you decide that you don't want to leave your young charge to Gin's tender mercies but he really is exactly what Unohana requested."
Before Yamada could speak, Kira's soft tentative voice cut through the tension. "I would like Ichimaru fukutaichou to be my teacher." Kira reddened as everyone in the room turned to stare at him. The blond swallowed but forged ahead, "Fifth does me a great honor by offering their second in command as my instructor. I know I am not worthy but will strive to become so."
Yamada was silent as he thought about Kira speech. He hadn't thought through all the political ramifications of rejecting the assistance of Ichimaru. The creepy fukutaichou was a complete menace on and off the training fields but no one could ever deny that he was utterly brilliant with a sword. To add to that, Ichimaru was so over qualified for the position of private instructor that for him to take the assignment could only be construed as an act of respect to Fourth. As much as he personally disliked the man, Yamada bowed to Ichimaru.
"On behalf of Kira-san," the lanky brunet emphasized the honorific on the blond's name, "and Fourth Division, I humbly accept your generous offer."
"Nows dat is settled; let's gets ta trainin'." Ichimaru grinned as he swept out of the room, leaving the rest of the small group to follow in his wake. The silver haired man led the way to a training field meant for small groups. "Dis will do." Without further ado, Ichimaru drew his sword.
Kira walked out on to the field and stopped across from his obsession, a silly smile spreading across his face. "Are you really going to be my teacher?"
"I thoughts I was alreadies. I gots kinda hurts with Izuru tryin' ta replace me." Ichimaru's grin revealed the lie for what it was. " 'Zuru needs ta pay attention…we ain't playin' with practice swords ta-day."
Kira frowned at the reminder and glanced over at their superior's standing at the edge of the field watching them. Kira licked his lips nervously. He gave a sharp nod them pulled his zanpakuto from its sheath.
The only warning Kira had that the bout was starting was the widening of Ichimaru's grin. Kira scrambled to block as the wakizashi came slashing down at him. The blond rolled to the side then quickly found his ready stance. Ichimaru grinned in delight at the look of concentration that was creasing his toy's brow. The taller man lunged forward.
The clash of swords filled air as the two men fought. When the fight had started, Kira had no difficulty keeping his focus on the other man. Now as the fight continued, the healer was not only fending off Ichimaru but a growing awareness of the Voice inside his head. The cold outrage of the Voice seemed to be escalating to a scale that Kira had never felt outside of his dreams and it was starting to terrify him.
Kira started a silent mantra inside his head, 'Please not now. I can't go crazy here in the middle of training. Please not in front of Ichimaru. Please not now…' As usual, the Voice was not a creature of mercy. Ichimaru brought his sword down in long sweeping stroke that should have been easily blocked, except just at that moment Kira heard the Voice bellow inside his head. The healer froze, his full attention shifted to the Presence dominating his thoughts. Kira's eyes widened in terror as he tried to look behind him; he half expected to see this Voice that had been tormenting him for years.
Ichimaru eyes opened to be clearly seen as he realized Kira wasn't going to block his sword. The blond was not even paying any attention to the fact he was still engaged in combat. Ichimaru tried to pull the downward sweep of his blade but it was no use. Instead of Shinso meeting the unyielding edge of Kira's katana, the wakizashi easily parted the soft flesh of the healer's forearm. Kira's attention seemed to return to his surroundings as his zanpakuto fell from fingers he could no longer feel. Ichimaru quickly wiped his blade and sheathed it before grabbing Kira's arm as blood bubbled from the deep cut.
"What was Izuru thinkin'? I din't tell 'Zuru he could gets hurt like dat." Ichimaru shook his head at the dazed look in Kira's eyes. "Izuru earned himself a punishment for dis."
"Get out of the way!" Yamada roughly pushed his fellow fukutaichou out of the way so he could assess Kira's injuries. The tall healer ripped off a section of his sleeve wishing he had thought to bring his healer's kit with him. He wrapped the cloth around the wound to staunch the bleeding. Yamada glared at Ichimaru. "You are supposed to teach him, not fillet him!"
The silver haired man stepped back and crossed his wrists casually over the hilt of his zanpakuto before addressing the other man's statement with a shrug. "It was a trainin' accident. Don' cha ever has any of thems?" Ichimaru fixed the lanky brunet with a quizzical smile, "Somebody don' pay attention like they should and suddenly bad things start happenin'."
Yamada froze at the question, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he looked from Ichimaru's grinning face to Kira's blushing one. Impossible. There was absolutely no way. Ridiculous to even think it.
"This needs to be properly cleaned and treated back at Fourth. I will not put a stop to this training program just yet, but if Kira-san continues to be returned to my division in this condition…" Yamada glared his warning at the grinning man.
Aizen put a hand on Ichimaru's shoulder to silence what ever comment he was sure to make. Aizen's voice was as soothing as always, "Of course, Yamada fukutaichou. I am sure Gin will be more careful next time. I will make certain that he also sends you regular reports on the boy's progress."
Yamada glared at the two officers, "You do that. Come Kira-san, you need treatment for that arm." The lanky brunet turn on his heel and left the others standing there.
Ichimaru bent down and picked up Kira's forgotten zanpakuto from the ground. He wiped the blade down with the edge of his shirt before presenting it to blond. Kira took the blade in his uninjured hand and awkwardly sheathed it.
The petit man looked up at Ichimaru, shame painted across his features. "Thank you. I…I-I am sorry."
"Izuru can tells me how sorry he is when he is takin' his punishment." Ichimaru flashed Kira small smile. "Now go gets all fixed up."
Kira turned and followed his annoyed superior. Kira's thoughts circled each other once again as he walked slowly from Fifth back to the welcoming confines of Fourth's complex.
"You seem familiar with Ichimaru fukutaichou." Yamada's question cut through Kira's futile musings.
"Sir?" Kira held his breath as he waited for the brunet to clarify what he meant by that.
"This isn't the first time you have met is it?" The older man led Kira into Medical Intake then pushed the slight man into a chair as he went to get some supplies.
"No, I…he brought in a couple of squad members to be treated for injuries a while ago. We talked briefly." Kira blushed at the look of suspicion Yamada gave him as the taller man cleaned the wound. "I…you see." Kira lowered his eyes to his arm as the brunet started wrapping it with bandages. Yamada secured the ends and then matter of factly started healing the injury. The fukutaichou continued silently with his administrations, waiting for the younger man to finish explaining. "When I was at the Academy, I was with a group of students that was out on a training mission. We were over run by these huge hollows…Ichimaru and Aizen saved us."
Yamada paused then let the healing glow fade from his fingers. Maybe that was what he had been picking up between the two of them, a little harmless hero worship and, given Kira's obvious sexual preference, a bit of a crush on an older mysterious officer. Yamada had had to deal with this kind of situation himself from time to time.
"I will allow this to continue for now but you are to be careful." Yamada couldn't help but smile in answer to the grin that transformed Kira's face. "Now I want you to get something to eat then retire. Getting healed is tiring on the body."
"Of course, Yamada fukutaichou. Thank you!" Kira hurried towards his room and away from his superior's awkward questions.
After getting something to eat and finally closing the door to his room, Kira sat cross legged on his bed with his sword across his lap. The blond wanted to test a theory he had, if he was right, then he wasn't going crazy the way he had silently feared. Kira tentatively held the hilt with his injured hand and rested the naked blade on the fingers of his other hand. The healer took several deep breathes to calm and center himself before not only speaking but thinking at the sword.
"Hello?" Kira was silent for a moment while he waited for, well, he wasn't sure what. His efforts were rewarded when he felt a hesitant questioning feeling from the Voice. The blond trembled…it was too soon to come to any conclusions yet.
"Was that you earlier? During the match with Ichimaru?" Kira could feel the Voice actually listening to him! "Are you…are you my zanpakuto?" The healer waited fearfully for some response from the Voice. He didn't expect to be able to understand it but he hope he would at least get some sort of affirmative. What he got was so much more.
'The Shining One mocked me,' a dry raspy whisper filtered through Kira head. 'He mocked my pain.'
Kira startled so badly he almost dropped the blade he was holding. He could understand the Voice! He scrambled to reply, "The Shining One? Ichimaru? You mean Shinso?" Kira paused as he took in the rest of what the Voice had said. "You are in pain?"
'The Shining One said his wielder had a better understanding of you than did I,' the whisper sounded offended to his very core. 'He said even the kitsune knew that you would ever turn away from the shouting of others but strain to hear the softness of a whisper.'
"I'm sorry I couldn't understand you until now." Kira hated the thought that he was the cause of any pain for his zanpakuto. "I don't mean to hurt you."
'You, who would not hear. You, who still refuses to see. You, who snuff the very stars from the sky and leave me NOTHING, tell me you do not want me to hurt?' Kira winced at the rage that seethed in the whispered admonishment. A single tear rolled down his cheek to drip on to the blade.
"I would never want to hurt you." Kira listened for a moment but the sword lay silent and sullen. "Now that I can hear you, maybe I can find a way to make this better?" Kira waited in vain for a response.
The healer stroked his fingertips down the face of the blade. He hesitated before continuing, he had never heard of anyone doing what he was about to do…but it was something he had always been taught was simple good manners.
"Let me introduce myself," Kira could feel his zanpakuto listening to him, a small wobbly smile curving his lips. "My name is Kira Izuru and I am so very happy to finally be able to speak with you…I hope that one day you will tell me your name as well."