A Woman Behind These Clothes
Summary: After concealing her true gender for years, Juushiro Ukitake thought she had the art of hiding mastered...but then Ichigo, in all his brash glory, happened to stumble across her secret. Is there a way to keep the loud orange-hair substitute soul-reaper quiet? Probably not...
Pairings: Ichigo/Ukitake, Kyouraku and Ukitake friendship and Renji/Byakuya yaoi.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters associated with the Anime of Bleach.
Warnings: Juushiro Ukitake is dictated as a female in gender in this story. Yes, I am well aware that he is male in both Manga and anime, but work with me here. Yaoi is featured in this story as well. Don't like? Then back out now...
AN: Hello again. Not much to say about this chapter other then it has an abundant amount of pointless fluff. But fluff is always good, isn't it?
Thanking; ChillyRaven, verunder, CleverPhoenix, Yukilumi, itachiluver397, Grinja, Harteramo, shadowgouf, Tango Dancer, Morssari, Crazy Hyper Lady, PrimeFan and Aoi-Mizu for reviewing the last chapter.
Comments, suggestions and rants are always appreciated. Let me know what you think.
Chapter 10:
Looking down at the tattered remains of her standard black kimono, Ukitake breathed a soft sigh of relief at how close her secret came to being literally exposed. Thank goodness that her bandages stayed intact. She didn't even want to imagine the looks she would have received if her bandages came undone.
It was fortunate, though utterly reckless, for Ichigo to arrive when he did, distracting Kenpachi with his presence so he wouldn't ask any more questions about the bandages he had plainly seen.
However, she was pretty sure that Captain Kenpachi had probably already forgotten about the bandages.
That's not to say that Kenpachi was stupid; heaven's no! He just had his likes and dislikes, and if you weren't in either category, then he didn't care very much at all. He was powerful and cunning, despite the what many people think of him.
Which led her to question her own intelligence; she really should have anticipated that Kenpachi would use their talk to lure out Ichigo (he's very opportunistic when it came to battles, after all) and she can't help but feel utterly responsible for the injuries that Ichigo was currently sporting, though minor, they were still irritating and annoying.
After Kenpachi had wandered off from the debris ridden battle field and the stunned audience started to whisper amongst themselves as they emerged from their hiding spots, she along with her three companions, Ichigo, Rukia and Kyouraku made their way hastily to the Ugendō.
Kyouraku will definitely tease her relentlessly after all this had settled down, but that may take a while as she was certain the Women of the Soul Society will be discussing this during their next meeting.
Oh god, and the gossip! They'll be in full swing now.
Stifling a groan of defeat, Ukitake discarded the tattered robes, folded her light blue kimono tighter around her body and moved to splash some cool water onto her face in a vain attempt to wash away the memories of today. Of course, it didn't work.
Currently she could hear her two third seats, Kiyone and Sentaro question Rukia about the day's events, but Rukia, it seemed, was too busy fussing over Ichigo and his wounds to deal with their enquiries.
Kyouraku had wandered off, back to his own Division a few moments ago, lingering for a minute to make sure she was alright and questioned whether she should speak with Unohana about her coughing fit today. That won't be necessary, though; she just had a frog in her throat from all the dust and smoke, that's all. A little bit of rest and she'll be fine.
"Ichigo!" Rukia's voice rung out through the silence, her tone high pitched with exasperation. "Sit still and let me take a look at your injury!"
"Don't bother," Came Ichigo's voice in a sharp response and even though Ukitake can't see him, she could just imagine him sitting on the tatami mats, his arms folded tightly over his chest as he sticks his nose in the air in a sign of defiance. "It's only a flesh wound, it'll heal."
"It'll heal even quicker if I take a look at it," Rukia snapped back with an equally sharp tongue, which caused Ukitake to imagine the petite girl literally bristling with frustration. "Stop being so stubborn!"
"Well, stop being so persistent!"
Ukitake had to laugh to herself as she gently patted her face dry with a soft towel; musing at the rather unique bond Ichigo and Rukia seemed to share. A little like her and Kyouraku, in a way; Kyouraku could be just as infuriating when he wanted to be, smiling smugly at times when he left her feeling utter frazzled.
And he did that a lot.
Putting the towel away, Ukitake decided that it would be best for her to step in before Ichigo sustained anymore injuries, this time courtesy of a very annoyed and exasperated Rukia. And it seemed her concerns were warranted as when she stepped into the room, Rukia literally had Ichigo in a choke hold with one arm and a wet cloth sitting in the hand of the other, Kiyone and Sentaro holding a flailing Ichigo down onto the mats, all three of them searching for further injuries.
Now that's a funny sight, Ukitake thought to herself as she chuckled and stepped further into the room.
Immediately, her presence made her subordinates realize their places and they scrambled away much to Ukitake's mild disappointment, allowing Ichigo to sit up, appearing slightly dishevelled in his new Soul Reaper robes.
"Ichigo," Ukitake said with a smile as she lowered herself onto the tatami near him, elegantly folding her legs underneath her. "Causing trouble again, are we?"
"Eh, Ukitake," Ichigo said as he scratched the back of his head and eyed her critically with a concerned gaze. "Feeling better?"
"Oh, I'm fine," Ukitake immediately responded with a dismissive wave of her hand. "How are you fairing?"
"Che, I'm fine," Ichigo insisted, but his words weren't that strong, considering the dry blood that was still caked to his forehead, just below his hair line.
"He would be better if he let me take a look at that thick head of his," Rukia muttered under her breath, still looking disgruntled and annoyed with her friend.
This time, Ichigo bristled. "I said I'm fine!"
It appeared that Ichigo didn't liked being fussed over either, but if he was allowed to be concerned over her well-being, she had ever right to worry over him as well. It was her turn to take care of him this time.
"Let me have a look," Ukitake ordered lightly as she reached across and grabbed Ichigo by the collar of his robes. But before the orange-haired youth could utter a protest, she gave a strong tug, forcing Ichigo to sprawl out on the floor with a yelp of surprise, his head resting on her lap.
"Now, be a good boy and don't move," she said in a cheerful tone.
A stunned silence fell over the small group, Ichigo staring up at her with eyes wide in surprise, but made no attempt to move, doing as she had requested. That was the second time she surprised him today. How funny.
A smile graced Ukitake's lips as she gently ran her fingers along Ichigo's hairline and into the spiky tresses, carefully inspecting the injury. Ichigo was at first tensed, seemingly unsure on what he should be doing, but relaxed after a moment and let his eyes slip close, seemingly settling himself comfortably in her lap.
After a short inspection, Ukitake concluded that the injury was just as Ichigo had claimed; it was only a flesh wound. Still, it needed to be cleaned and covered to speed up recovery.
Continuing to run her fingers through Ichigo's short hair, Ukitake took the time to study his face, his hard, chiselled features now less tense, his scowl seeming fading further and further away by each passing second.
Good, he was feeling more comfortable in her presence. When was the last time Ichigo had actually relaxed and unwind?
"Can I have those bandages and face cloth, Rukia?" she asked as she turned her gaze away from Ichigo's face.
Rukia, although stunned by what just occurred, appeared to be looking at her strangely before turning her gaze down at Ichigo. Her brow was creased ever so slightly as she appeared deep in thought, contemplating something important.
"Rukia-chan?" Ukitake questioned, this time her voice holding a sense of concern.
"Ah, yes," Rukia said upon reflex as she snapped out of her thoughts, immediately offering up the bandages in her hands as well as the cloth she was trying to use to clean away the dry blood. "Sorry."
Ukitake gave her a reassuring smile as she removed the offerings from Rukia's grasp. "Thank you," she said before turning to attention back to Ichigo and set about cleaning the wound with slow, deliberately considerate movements.
A comfortable silence fell over the room, Ichigo making no attempt to escape and her three beloved division members not uttering a sound and surprisingly, not offering to be of more assistance.
As she cleaned the dry flakes of blood away, Ukitake couldn't help but wince at how her attempt to help Ichigo regain his freedom utterly failed in such an epic way today. Knowing her luck, Kenpachi might turn his attempts to engage in a vicious battle toward her now.
"Ichigo, I'm sorry," Ukitake said with a gentle apologetic tone. "Speaking with Kenpachi didn't go according to plan."
"Forget about it," Ichigo immediately replied, his tone a little bit stern, yet was holding a sense of guilt to it. "You did it to help me, so this is my fault."
"What?" Ukitake uttered in surprised as she momentarily paused in her first aid and shook her head in disagreement. "No, it's no one's fault."
"Then in that case, you shouldn't apologise at all," Ichigo gruffly replied as he opened one of his eyes to peer up at her, silently telling her that he was in no mood to argue about whose fault it was or wasn't.
Ukitake blinked down at him for a moment before a gentle and warm smile graced her lips again and she nodded. "...Sorry."
Ichigo snorted lightly as he closed his eye, allowing Ukitake to continue with her fussing over him, silence falling over them once again.
"There," she said as she finally secured the bandage in place. "All done. That wasn't so hard, was it, Ichigo?"
She received no response.
Leaning forward just a little to get a closer look, her long white hair cascading over her shoulders, Ukitake blinked slowly. "Ichigo?"
She could have sworn she just heard a very light snore.
Ichigo then muttered something incoherent before rolling his head to the side, snuggling further into her lap and breathed a long sigh, but other than that, made no other movement. Only the gentle rising and falling of his chest was seen.
"He's asleep," Ukitake whispered to herself, more to anyone else, a sense of warmth appearing in her chest at the thought of Ichigo trusting her enough to actually fall asleep on her.
He looked so peaceful, and dare she say handsome, when he slept.
Tearing her gaze away from Ichigo's sleeping face, Ukitake opened her mouth to request someone to bring a blanket to drape across Ichigo's slumbering form so he would be more comfortable, but she was instead startled to realize that they was alone in the room.
When had Rukia, Kiyone and Sentaro left?
Deciding not to call out for assistance in the fear of waking Ichigo up from his much needed sleep, Ukitake turned her attention back to him, lifting her hand to run through his hair once again.
"Sleep well, Ichigo."
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Silently, Rukia slid the door shut with her hands when Captain Ukitake finally seemed to realize they were no longer in the room, and a look of pure perplexity flittered across her face.
And yet, she felt like cooing from the sight she just witnessed; it wasn't every day you get to watch your friend fall asleep on your captain's lap, and your captain to permit this to happen.
The way Captain Ukitake attended to Ichigo's wounds, tenderly, gently, lovingly; was sweet and so very much like her wonderful captain.
She felt fortunate to serve such a gentle, yet powerful and protective captain.
"What do you think is going on?" Kiyone asked from behind her as the three of them scurried down the hallway and into another room, hoping not to disturb the silence that had peacefully fallen over the Ugendō.
Sentaro's boisterous personality was eerily subdued by what he just seen and gave a light shrug, seemingly unsure on how to react or if he should at all. "Do you think they're...you know?"
"Ah!" Kiyone said in surprise, an almost dreamy look in her eyes. "Maybe the rumours are true!"
"Shh!" Sentaro immediately hissed as he moved forward and placed a hand over her mouth and placed a finger to his own lips. "They'll hear you."
Kiyone made a little squeaking sound, but nodded her head in understanding.
Rukia, however, wasn't really paying attention to her fellow soul reapers, too busy musing over the day's events. The moment between her captain and Ichigo just now wasn't a one off thing, she had noticed the way Ichigo protected her captain and then cradled him in his arms when he started coughing today.
They were so comfortable together; it was as if Ichigo...
"Hmm," Rukia hummed as she walked over to the window, sat down on the tatami mats and gazed outside at the gradually darkening sky, tapping her cheek with her finger. "Ichigo knows."
"Knows?" Kiyone repeated as she made her way over to her side, a look of disbelief on her face. "You mean...?"
"Yes," Rukia confirmed with a sharp nod of her head. "He knows that."
Sentaro seemed to flail for a moment as Kiyone's surprise grew. "How?" he asked.
"I don't know," Rukia admitted as she suddenly sprung to her feet, determination blazing in her eyes. "But I'm going to find out!"
She then turned around, ready to march out the room to gain the answers she so desperately wanted, but faltered.
"...Tomorrow," she said as she lowered herself back to the floor, not finding it within herself to spoil such a tender moment between her beloved captain and human friend. "I'll talk to him tomorrow."
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Ah, finally! Tomorrow was here!
Rukia didn't sleep that well last night, her mind abuzz with questions and accusations she wanted to throw at Ichigo when she talked to him today. She thought about skirting around the issue, trying to get Ichigo to slip up as it was always fun watching Ichigo lose his temper as that was when his real feelings shone through.
But this matter was important...very important. She needed to know the truth and she will get it by talking to Ichigo as plainly as she could. Ichigo knew the 'secret' about her captain and she needed, wanted to know how.
He was not getting out of this one. She'll corner him just before he goes off to visit Captain Ukitake; his presence at Division 13 barracks wasn't uncommon these days. He practically walked in and out as if he owned the place, and funnily enough, no one told him off.
Then again, Ichigo wouldn't listen if they did.
"Ichigo!" Rukia yelled out over the bustling streets of the Seireitei and marched over to Ichigo as he turned around to face her, a puzzled look on his face. "I want to talk to you about something important."
"Can't it wait?" Ichigo asked as he scratched the back of his head as his expression twisted into a light scowl. "I want to talk to Ukitake about something."
"It's important," Rukia insisted as she snared Ichigo by the arm and began to pull him within the walls of Division 13, away from Captain's Ukitake's office. "Now!"
"Jeez, alright," Ichigo said as he allowed the petite girl to drag him around, making very little attempt to struggle. He quickly found himself in one of the spare rooms, Rukia lingering within the doorway, looking up and down the corridor.
"What's this about?" he asked as he plonked himself down onto the floor and gave Rukia his full attention.
Seeing that they had no visitors outside her own division, Rukia shut the doors behind her securely before turning around and folding her arms over her chest in a very stern matter, her eyes narrowed in an accusing manner.
"I'll be blunt with you, Ichigo," she said as she took a step forward. "How long have you known our captain is a woman?"
"...What...?"