A/N: Hey guys! So, after this chapter, there will probably be 3 or 4 more, at tops. Things move pretty quickly from here on out, though, each chapter is still really long.
Enjoy! Good vibes!
As the gang entered the bar, they were enveloped by sea of rowdy drunk show goers. The place was packed. The building was two stories. On the first floor, there was a large stage, followed by a horde of intoxicated hipsters, with a fully stocked bar at the back. On either side of the horde were pool tables and a seating area. At the moment, the stage was being prepped, and the room was a roar with laughter and endless yelling, as if they had all lost their herring in the last performance.
Without much explanation, Orihime grabbed Uryu's wrist with one hand and Yumichika's wrist with the other, who also dragged along Toshiro. "Full speed ahead!" she proclaimed, dragging her friends into the crowd of people, Toshiro leaning his head back in frustration.
Poking his lip out slightly, he scrunched his eye brows at the remaining friends. "What the hell?"
Rukia nudged her partner affectionately. "Relax, she's just excited and wanted to get as close as possible for when the show starts, but we'll all end up meeting up sooner or later."
Placing a hand in the sole of the tiny girl's back, Renji leant down and kissed the top of her head. "In that case, drinking will start soon. I'm going to the bar."
Scrunching her nose in slight disgust, she complained, "Dear soul king, it hasn't even been five minutes." Shaking her head in disapproval, she waved him off. "Fine, but when you start doing stupid things, I don't know you."
Turning away from her husband, she stood between Byakuya and Ichigo, with Ikkaku now walking towards the pool table. "You want to show these amateurs a thing or two, brother?" The girl looked up smugly at the man.
Returning the smile, Byakuya spoke confidently. "I wouldn't want to embarrass all these people. However-" He raised an eyebrow challengingly. "It's been a long time since we've played. You'd probably be the only real competition."
Chuckling slightly and wrapping her arm around Byakuya's elbow, she gave him a playful look. "Oh brother, you flatter me. Let's do it."
"Umm, you two play pool?" a confused Ichigo asked, walking alongside the two.
Turning around and shooting the boy a smile, Rukia chirped,"We're full of surprises, huh?"
"Yes, not what meets the eye," Byakuya agreed, smirking slightly. Ichigo just leaned his head back in exasperation, grumbling something about how they needed to stop trying to act cool, because they weren't.
Arriving at the pool table where Ikkaku was already standing, Rukia grabbed a pool stick and some chalk. Chalking the pool cue, she leaned over slightly and stuck her tongue out at Ichigo. "We'll see who's cool after this."
"It still won't be you," Ichigo mocked his friend playfully.
Pushing pass the two, pool stick in hand, Byakuya cleared his throat and stood regally. "Enough talking and more showing. You ready, Rukia?"
Picking her pool stick up enthusiastically, she chirped, "Let's do this."
Ikkaku and Ichigo watched as a masterful game was played before them. Both easily calculating the trajectory of shots, it went by quickly, neither missing but one or two shots. With each having two balls left on the table, Byakuya was bent over the table, calculating the angle of his shot, with Ichigo standing an unnerving distance from him. After his conversation with Jasper, the once comforting presence of Ichigo was causing him dread and anxiety. It was so easy to fall into the boy's honey eyes and the warm conversation they'd became accustomed too, but that was the opposite of his goal. He needed to be cold and unwelcoming to the boy, as he had in the past. He had to push a point across that he wasn't a person worth being with. More importantly, he had to find a way to completely destroy any hope of the two being together that still lingered inside Ichigo. He felt he owed him that much. However, whenever the boy was near, it was so hard to be ridged and distant. Byakuya, leaning down, positioned his hands to take the shot. Ichigo leaned down too, whispering something only he could hear.
"Wow Byakuya, I didn't know you we such a master at handling sticks," Ichigo spoke as suggestively as possible, the feeling of the words running down his neck, causing Byakuya to fumble his shot. The noble stood up with a deathly glare and a slight growl. Ichigo was just smiling like a mischievous child.
Shaking his head in frustration, he grumbled, "You vulgar child, if I lose, there will be a punishment." His glare was fixed and his tone serious.
Ichigo just chuckled slightly and leaned in a tad bit closer. "Sounds like fun."
Stumbling back slightly out of reflex, Byakuya felt a heat of embarrassment rise in him. Had Ichigo always been this flirtatious, without him noticing it before? Had he always been too blind to see what was in front of him? How had they become so comfortable with each other so quickly? This was no good. "Ichigo…" Byakuya said with a mixture of longing and frustration, earning him a look of confusion and concern from the younger man.
Shaking his head, he pushed past Ichigo dismissively. "It's nothing." Then he stood beside his sister, who had been too preoccupied sulking over her own missed shot to give much notice to Byakuya or Ichigo. Byakuya shot his last ball in, along with the eight ball afterwards. After his win, Ikkaku challenged him to a game.
Ichigo gave Ikkaku a mocking nudge, who was chalking up his pool cue. "You have to hit the balls into the hole, not beat them until they bleed."
Giving Ichigo a 'fuck off' face, he reached into his pocket, took out some money, and slammed it into Ichigo's shoulder, pushing him back a few feet. "Can you two do something useful and go get us some drinks? Your face is pissing me off."
Eyeing the money pleasantly, he put his hands up defensively. "Hey, I'm not going to argue." He turned and walked to the bar, Rukia at his side.
Shaking his head and rolling his eyes, the man let out a long groan. "Finally!"
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"Finally!" Renji let out a groan of relief as he saw the bar tender walk his way, but then quickly realized he was going to the girl beside him. Under his breath, he grumbled in frustration, "Damn-it, what do I need to do to get service? Grow a pair of ti-" He was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Ichigo holding out some cash. "Get us all some drinks too, will ya'?"
Smacking his tongue on the back of his teeth, he gave his friend an irked look. "Come on man, I've already been here for ten minutes. This prick won't give me the time of day."
Giving a mirthful smile, he placed the money in the man's coat pocket. "Just give him some of that Renji charm. I'm sure he'll rush right over. Maybe a wink or something," Ichigo teased.
Rolling on his tip toes, he poked his head up to find the bartender tending to a group of scantily clad women, bosoms all falling out of their dresses as if they were trying to run away. "Somehow, I don't think I'm his type." He put on a twisted smile.
Looking up at the girls, he mocked his friend further. "What could they possibly have that you don't?" He licked his lip slightly, while beaming brilliantly.
Smirking slightly, Renji raised a suggestive eyebrow. "Oh, I could think of a lot of things."
Slapping his friend on the shoulder before departing, he warned, "I wouldn't let Rukia hear you say that. We'll be waiting over here for you." Renji grumbled something indiscernible to the boy as he walked to the end of the bar where Rukia waited, trying to keep out of the way of the stumbling drunks.
"Mission make-Renji-do-all-the-work, complete," Ichigo quipped, standing hands in pocket beside Rukia.
"Good, he can stand shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of intoxicated strangers," she replied, rolling back and forth on her heels. Looking up to Ichigo who was staring off, seemingly mindlessly, she said, "Earth to Ichigo." The girl waved her hand in front of the boy's blanked out honey eyes. "Where you at, space cadet?"
His blank eyes turned into a scowl as he nodded his head towards the crowd of concert-goers about six yards away. "That girl, could she be any more obvious and trashy about her flirting?"
At first, Rukia was confused, but then quickly connected the dots. There was a girl who had a body for days and one of the most beautiful faces she had ever seen, shamelessly ogling her brother from a distance. She would whisper to her friends, ogle him some more, wave, and wink in his direction. She'd even turn around and wiggle a bit, hopping he'd take notice of her. Yet this wasn't new to Rukia, her brother was a well-endowed, ridiculously handsome man. Therefore, he got his fair share of lewd stares, none of which he ever returned or even acknowledged. So to Rukia, this was nothing new.
Scoffing and crossing his arms, he continued, "Byakuya has better taste than that." Ichigo wasn't usually the jealous type, but seeing how beautiful this girl was, even Rukia understood why. Also, it was hard to not be jealous when he wanted to be the one to love Byakuya and knew that he couldn't.
Rukia just smiled knowingly, as if she had placed together all the pieces. "You don't sound jealous or anything." She rolled her eyes while beaming.
Throwing her an indignant glare, he scoffed, "I'm not fucking jealous. It's not like that between Byakuya and me. Between you and Uryu, I'm not sure who's crazier." He shook his head in frustration, quickly turning his attention back to the flirtatious girl.
She just let out a breathy laugh, "Ha! Ichigo, even if I wasn't your best friend, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that you ogle Byakuya more than that girl does."
Getting slightly red, he tried to defend himself. "I real-"
Cutting him off, she continued, "I mean, you're so oblivious to what it means to have feelings for someone that you can't even tell how blatant you are."
Taking in a deep breath, he slumped his shoulders and lowered his head slightly, exhaling his reservations. "It's that obvious, huh?"
Placing one arm around her friend, she gave him a tight side hug. "Yep."
Looking down at the girl and returning the hug meekly, he asked, "To everyone?"
The girl shook her head yes, and Ichigo grimaced slightly. "Admitting it is the first step to recovery, I suppose."
Poking her bottom lip out slightly and throwing the man a sympathetic look, she inquired, "Why don't you just tell him, Ichigo?"
Now loosening himself from the hug, he threw a look that screamed 'yeah right.' "Rukia, you and I both know that's not an option. Byakuya could never want me." He rolled his eyes and threw his head back. "I'm not nobility."
Rukia's placid demeanor became fierier. Placing her hands on her hips, she spat back, "I don't even think you believe that. We both know how my brother can be cold, but it's obvious to everyone that you bring out a different side of him. Maybe you're just as much of a scaredey cat as he is." Pursing her lips and scoffing slightly, she went on to say, "Tch- I expect that from him, but not from you. If neither of you ever say anything, then nothing will change. And you know how he is, so it's gonna have to be you." Rukia was up in his face, lecturing him with full on finger in the face action. She then turned and crossed her arms, grumbling something about how they were stupid boys and needed help to figure everything out.
Seemingly ashamed, Ichigo gave Byakuya a glare of longing and then slumped his head in defeat. "I- I-" he stuttered slightly, his words cracking under his reservation and fear. "I just don't want to lose him. What if he walks away?" His words were ridged, yet backed with an obvious anguish and truth. Byakuya meant the world to Ichigo, and if keeping him around meant sacrificing any future relationship, he was more than willing to keep his mouth shut.
Rukia, now more docile, placed a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. With a voice of certainty and warm eye contact that filled her friend with a familiar feeling of reassurance, she said, "Ichigo, you could choose to never say anything to my brother, but if you do that, then you're cheating yourself out of something that could be beautiful. Sure, it could fail, but that's what life is about: going after what you want full force, failing, and not letting things keep you down." Noticing that her words seemed to be getting through to Ichigo, she continued, "If you get to the end of your life and you've never taken any chances, then was that life really worth it? After everything we've been through and all the chances we've taken, this should be an easy one for you."
He looked at his friend blankly, letting her words seep in. Then he looked to Byakuya once more. Smiling slightly, he said, "None as much of a gamble as Byakuya."
Rukia returned the smirk. "True, but you always had great odds. Just think about it, okay? The gang is really getting tired of this unrequited love thing, you two have going on."
"Okay, I'll-" The man's words were cut off by an array of stage lights coming up and the sound of cheering. Looking onto the stage for the first time in a while, there was a beautiful redhead in a sparkling lace grown. Surrounding her was a full orchestra, a choir and an array of glittering lights. Hanging from the ceiling on either side of the stage were gargantuan monitors to display the lyrics in Japanese. Soon, a roar of cinematic melodies enveloped the bar, the woman's deep tenor belting over the climatic sounds of harps and soulful backup vocals. It was truly hypnotic.
Lost in the music, he proclaimed to Rukia, who was swaying back and forth, "Now, that is really beautiful."
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"Now, that is really beautiful," Ikkaku bragged, taking his fourth shot in a row.
Byakuya looked on in awe, as he was rarely beaten, especially by someone as graceless as Ikkaku. "I must admit, I never would have guessed you were so skilled. How did you learn?" Byakuya asked with his usual indifference as Ikkaku sized up his next shot.
Ikkaku used the stick to determine the angle of his shot while nodding his head back and forth, like he was mulling over what to say. "Back in the world of the living, I was really good with numbers. Better than most people, anyway." He set up his shot after finding the right angle. "But what I was best at was geometry." He shot his ball into the pocket, before continuing, "Numbers always made more sense to me than most people. They never change, no matter where you are in the world." He took a break, leaning his weight on his pool stick while he addressed the noble. "Pool is all geometry and angles. You know the angles, you get the shots," Ikkaku proclaimed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Seemingly impressed, which was hard for Byakuya to be, he put on a slight smirk and addressed the man with an amicable tone, "What happened to 'if you don't use it, you lose it?'"
Returning the smirk, he went to set up his next shot. "Well Captain, maybe I was wrong." He shot, yet missed. "I haven't seen you smile since I've met you, and yet here we are," Ikkaku mocked, in a good humored way.
Now setting up his own shot, Byakuya replied, "You're not all brute, Madarame. If you win, I may allow you to buy me a beer," Byakuya quipped while making his shot.
Ikkaku just scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Some things never change." While Byakuya was setting up his next shot, Ikkaku's eyes went to the same girl, who he'd noticed winking and shaking her ass in Byakuya's direction. He chuckled slightly and thought some lewd comment about how some guys are just more lucky than others. "Um, Captain? Oh' Captain, have you noticed your fan club at about six o'clock?
As Byakuya set up another hit, he let his eyes fall on what he had been trying to ignore. "Oh, that?" Byakuya said with complete disinterest.
Ikkaku's eyes widened, and he actually took a step back in shock. "Her? You're calling her a 'that?'" the boy exasperated in surprise, noting the woman's amazing body. "Geez, Captain, I know you're all regal and junk, but I thought even you would want to have fun with," a pause. "that, as you call her."
As he called the last shot, he stood back regally. Pursing his lips slightly and raising an eyebrow, he retorted, "Yes, because nothing says fun like obviously desperate women and possible S.T.D.s."
Ikkaku chuckled at the sarcasm. "I guess you just have finer taste than I do. Even though I don't know much about women in the living world, I know that's one everyone's got their eye on."
Something about Ikkaku's words stuck a chord in Byakuya. It seemed as if the answers to his problems were staring or suggestively dancing right in front of his face. The idea seemed to make him sick to the point he almost showed his discomfort outwardly, which was an oddity for him.'How utterly humiliating and shameful that would be.'He would lose all respect from Rukia and all of his status of couth and refinement that defined his very core. Byakuya Kuchiki did not entertain drunk girls at bars; he didn't even acknowledge them. Yet if he did, not only would Ichigo see that Byakuya didn't return his feelings, it'd also make him think that Byakuya didn't see, nor care for his feelings. In front of their friends and comrades no less, whom he was sure had to know about Ichigo's feelings too, at least some. That would be embarrassing and crushing for the younger man. Yes, this was the perfect opportunity; one he had to take, no matter how indecent he found it to be. He just wished there was a less damaging way, a way he might not lose the respect of his comrades, friends, sister, and Ichigo. Byakuya had thought about just telling him, but he was unsure of how to when Ichigo hadn't even admitted to having feelings for him, and certainly Byakuya might not have been able to hold back his own indiscretions and secret feelings come face to face with such a vulnerable moment. As such, Byakuya was a man of action, not words, and he was sure this action would result in the desired effect, despite the sacrifice to his pride he would have to make.
'The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out.
You left me in the dark.
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight,
in the shadow of your heart'
The sound of the, hypnotic melody lulled Byakuya from his inner plight.
'What a beautiful song,' he thought, readying himself for the decision he had made. 'The perfect song to sacrifice my dignity to.'
"Where are they?" Ikkaku asked, taking note of the absence of their friends and his drinks, swinging his head towards the bar. "I need a drink for this."
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"I need a drink for this." Yumichika let out a distasteful scoff while eyeing Ikkaku from afar.
Fretting her eyebrows in distress, Orihime rubbed the beautiful man's back. "You never drink, Yumi. What's wrong?"
Shaking his head in distress, he ran his pale fingers through his hair. "Ikkaku's over there alone with Captain Kuchiki. Knowing him, he'll somehow get us thrown in prison or something god awful like that."
Smiling positively at her friend, she tried to cajole him. "Now, I think you're overestimating Byakuya's ability to be mean." Bouncing on her heels slightly, she complimented, "He's actually pretty nice."
Wiggling his nose slightly and raising an eyebrow, he clarified, "No, I'm overestimating Ikkaku's ability to be stupid, just so stupid it's ugly…"
Throwing in his two cents, Uryu retorted, "I can't say I disagree with that."
Orihime shot him a look that said 'you're not helping' and gave her friend a puzzled glare. "What happened between you two? You're usually as thick as thieves."
Toshiro interrupted right before Yumichika started his rant."Believe me, you don't want to know," he cautioned with an agitated glare. "Those two haven't stopped bickering, I don't want to hear about it here, too."
Grimacing slightly, Yumichika retorted, "Fine by me, I couldn't care less about that stupid brute."
Uryu let out a breathy scoff. "Real convincing." His sarcasm was not lost on Yumichika.
Obviously he cared. That was the problem; he cared so much that he could only express that affection through brattiness and hatefulness. It was like his last cry for attention, just wanting to hold onto the last bit of the place he had in Ikkaku's life, even if it was through immature tantrums and snarky insults. It made him think of Byakuya and Ichigo, for Ikkaku was probably the only one who hadn't caught on to their affection.
Orihime had brought up mission get-Byakuya-and-Ichigo-to-realize-their-feelings, that she and Rukia had been scheming. Still, he could've guessed without knowing the truth. Byakuya had just seemed weightless in the couple of weeks since the mission had started. It was easy to tell. It gave him a secret kinship to the man, for their situation wasn't all too different from Ikkaku's and his own. He'd only hope they'd figure out a way to be honest with themselves before their relationship was tattered and broken, like his was with Ikkaku.
Perhaps there was room in the world for a beautiful love to bloom, even in the most barren of places. Just because the clock had run out on Ikkaku and Yumichika's romance, the beauty from it could still be yielded. The mistakes made in their relationship were just that: mistakes, ones that could be learned from, ones that could be avoided. He hoped that the two men were wise enough to avoid those mistakes. A part of him felt that if those two could bring love to a dead place, than what was to stop him and Ikkaku. Their love was a beacon of hope that perhaps he too could bring about an improbable love.
Feeling the sentiments rolling up inside of him, he quickly shook them away, the tears threatening to fall. Looking at his friend, he put on a puppy dog face. "I'm going to do something completely ugly and make it beautiful: drink!" he declared, grabbing the girl's hand. "Come, let us get drinks before this starts."
Looking back at the stage desperately, she threw him a torn look when she noticed the show was starting. "Yumi! It's already starting."
Dragging his group of friends through the crowd, he yelled over the music, "Well, you'd better hurry up."
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"Well, you'd better hurry up," Rukia barked at Renji, who was trying to juggle three beers at one time. Holding three of her own, she added, "We've already been over here for ten minutes. Geez, you take forever."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, squirt." he turned from the bar, to face his wife. Leaning down to give her a slight peck on the forehead, before they started walking. "It's not like it's my fault, that guy was a total ass hole."
The two stopped at the end of the bar where Ichigo was waiting. Arriving, they looked to Ichigo to find that he almost looked sick. "Hey buddy. You haven't even drank yet and you already look like you're about to toss your cookies, what gives?" Ichigo's non reply concerned them, for he looked out of it. Then Rukia and Renji found the cause for his aliment.
About six yards in front of the group stood Byakuya with a pair of arms draped around his shoulders. The drunk girl from before was hanging all over him, whispering sweet nothings in his ear, invading every last bit of personal space the noble always maintained. More puzzling, he seemed to enjoy it. A whimsical smile was on his face, with a hand on her hip, anchoring the woman closely. His body seemed relaxed as the girl would lean into the man's chest. He listened attentively and responded accordingly when she would say something. Their lips were an unnerving distance from each other as they spoke.
Eyes widened while letting out a confused gasp, Renji looked at the spectacle in wonder. "Is Captain Kuchiki sick or high, maybe?"
Equally shocked, hands to her mouth, Rukia shook her head back and forth. "There's no way that's Nii-sama. Maybe a doppelgänger?"
"Alien abduction?" Renji posed.
"Mind control?"
Holding a hand up in interjection, Ichigo threw them both a scowl over his shoulder. "Seeing is believing, Rukia." The man's voice was ridged, yet filled with pain.
Rukia's intense eyes swelled up with sympathy as she looked at Ichigo's contorted features. "Ichigo, I'm not sure what's going on, but this isn't him. I'm pretty sure he feels the same way about you as you do about him, " the girl tried to comfort as the rest of the group joined in on the spectacle, just as confused as everyone else.
Rubbing his head in confusion as he came and stood beside Ichigo, Yumichika asked, "What's going on?"
With that, the girl groping Byakuya leaned forward and planted a sloppy deep kiss on the noble's lips. From the look on his face, he wasn't expecting it. His features widened, and he almost stepped back in reflex. For a moment, Ichigo was sure he was going to push her off of him, but instead, after the initial shock wore off, he sunk into the siren's lure even deeper, letting her push through his chaste lips and taint his mouth with her tongue. Ichigo was disgusted at the sight. Throwing Rukia a scowl with fire in his eyes, he snapped, "You were saying?"
Seemingly speechless, her eyes widened as she stared off in bewilderment. "I don't get this."
The sound of Uryu's sympathetic voice seemed to reach him on his island of hate and anger, pulling him back to his surroundings. "Ichigo…" The voice was somewhat pitiful and hurt, as if he truly felt the pain that his friend felt. In that moment, it became unnervingly apparent that he was standing amongst his friends, all gauging his reaction, anticipating what he would do. They all knew somehow, and it was mortifying. Not just Rukia and Uryu; everyone knew, and they were burrowing into him with their pitying glares. It was humiliating for someone as prideful as Ichigo. Now pursing his lips, blinking receptively, and nodding slightly as if to signify that he finally got it, he donned a look of casual indifference. Turning to Rukia, he took one of the beers, took a swig, and turned to walk away. He wasn't too far when he was pulled back by Orihime's scream blaring over the music. He turned around to see her now standing beside Byakuya.
"How many times is this going to happen, Byakuya? I swear, we go out and every time, you get drunk and do this same thing," the girl's voiced boomed in vexation, her face red and seemingly upset. She actually seemed furious. The loud declaration broke up the kiss. Byakuya glared at Orihime in confusion as the drunken girl stumbled back slightly, hands over mouth in embarrassment.
"I-I'm s-sorry, I did-t know he was ta-k-ken," the girl slurred out, face painted red from the alcohol and humiliation.
Giving the girl a bright smile as expected, she patted the girl on the back and cajoled her. "You know men. Total dogs, right? It's not your fault sweetie. Just leave us so I can kick his ass, kay?" Orihime spoke to the girl as if they had been friends for years, prompting the girl to return the smile, nod, and turn to leave.
Turning back to Byakuya, he had a look of frustration and confusion. "Orihime, what's the me-"
Orihime stepped in closely, pushing herself up on her tip toes. Even though the noise of the music veiled their conversation to everyone but them, she still whispered close to his ear. "I get what you're trying to do and why you think it's right, but it isn't right. This isn't you, Byakuya. I'm saving you from making a bigger jerk of yourself."
Byakuya steeped back in shock. Apparently Ichigo wasn't the only one with transparent feelings. Still, looking around at Ichigo and the faces of all of his friends, he could tell his victory was questionless. From the disappointment, confusion, and pain mixed among the expressions, he knew he had outdone himself. Not only had he conveyed to Ichigo that he didn't return his feelings, he'd also succeeded in letting them know that any feelings they'd thought were there, weren't. Still, Orihime, sometimes the most aloof of the group, seemed to be more in tuned than anyone. She was not so easily fooled. Still, all that mattered was that Ichigo bought it. Orihime's words got under the man's skin as he looked around at the pain and confusion he'd caused. For the first time in a long time, he felt lowly and inferior. He started to wonder if the ends were really worth the means. Yet it was too late for doubts; what was done was done. With a nod and a thank you, he turned away from Orihime, leaving the bar, not talking to anyone on the way out.
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Byakuya walked through the town shrouded in darkness. It took a while for the distant music to fade away completely. Throughout his stroll, he tried to collect his thoughts and figure out what happened next. He supposed he'd have to go back to Ichigo's sooner or later, but he was nowhere near ready for that. After a while, he found himself at the park near Ichigo's house. He was alone with the trees and his thoughts. Passively, he watched the wisteria blossoms float through the wind, careless and free. Their beauty seemed to be in stark contrast of the still, silent lake. The translucent onyx felt like an incubus of nightmares and nothingness, a still, vacuous, barren vortex where nothing could thrive and nothing could change. It seemed hypnotic, calling his attention from the blossoms cascading down his shoulders.
Suddenly, he felt a presence behind him. Moving to his feet quickly, he turned to see the barely visible outline of a woman, seemingly bearing child, standing in awe under the Wisteria tree. Unsure of what to make of her, he stood back, positioned in a defensive stance. Seeing a woman, especially in her condition, out so late and by herself was strange. "Are you okay, ma'am?" Byakuya asked from a comfortable distance.
Turning her attention to the man, she looked at him as if they were lifelong friends. Lifting her palm out, she let a Wisteria blossom fall in her grasp. "Do you know what these trees symbolize?" she poised, not giving the man time to reply. "The veins weep in sorrow, symbolizing the loss of a great love, yet they're extremely durable, able to live and flourish through the worst of conditions, symbolizing heart to endure in spite of rejection and hardship." The woman's words were as smooth as silk, and as whimsical as the bark of the Wisteria tree. "Isn't that beautiful?"
Uncharacteristically, the man felt a chill coursing up his skin. This woman seemed to put him on edge. Despite her harmless appearance, some thick aura emanated from her. It wasn't that of malevolence but an enigmatical sensation of despondency and desperation. One thing Byakuya knew for sure was that desperate people do highly erratic, irrational things. Nodding in agreement, he took a step closer. "I suppose so." He paused uncomfortably. "Would you like for me to escort you home? You shouldn't be out by yourself in your condition." Noting that the woman looked ready to give birth at any moment, he then walked closer.
She beamed and met him half way. "Yes, that'd be nice. Thank you," she spoke humbly.
Now turning, he walked slightly ahead of the woman, calculating his next move. Quickly, he spun on his heels to catch the woman's wrist, whose hand was radiating a bright red light, chock full of spiritual power. Smirking slightly, the women asked, "How did you know?"
Not taking his eyes off of the woman, he prepared to exit his gigai. "If you were pregnant, you would have two spiritual pressures radiating from you." He paused somewhat ominously. "You only have one." He pushed the women back, now swallowing a soul pill. Flash stepping back, he took in the cryptic assailant, who was looking cocksure and amused.
Smirking widely, she gave an over exaggerated bow. "That was my one chance to do this clean. Oh well, now that the cat's out of the bag. Let me introduce myself." The woman's form started radiating the same red hue for a mere moment before revealing a new person entirely. In front of him stood a muscular and dapper man with red hair and orbs of liquid silver. His colorful tattoos vibrated against the night. Despite his somewhat silly appearance - a crop top and black harem pants - Byakuya could tell that he was not to be underestimated. "Jessie's the name, but I figured we can skip the whole 'bad guy talks about his power thing' and just get started."
Not letting himself seem perceivably rattled, Byakuya merely held his zanpakutou defensively. "You're one of Aiko's slaves."
Tapping his temple in reiteration, he gave a sardonic glare. "How astute of you, Captain. Nothing gets by you." The man gave a breathy chuckle.
Standing his ground, Byakuya quickly analyzed the situation. "Where is your zanpakutou?"
"Ah." He beamed proudly, waving his wrist around in the air, revealing a sterling silver bracelet in the shape of a sword, the hilt and blade wrapping around the wrist. "When I transform, it turns into this nifty thing here." He examined it momentarily, like a child with a toy. "Dangerous and stylish." He shrugged his shoulders playfully. "Just like me."
Byakuya wasn't sure what to make of this guy. He seemed more in his own world than anything else, like he was just messing around. Was he underestimating Byakuya, or was he that certain in his own skills? He could attack, hopefully gaining the upper hand, but knowing nothing about Jessie's powers, it was the unwise decision. He needed to know more. "Transformation? Like shape shifting, you mean?"
"Ding, ding, ding," the man rang out, head back in exasperation. "But that's all you get from me." He shot the man a bored look. "Of course, I guess it isn't fair that I know all about you and you know nothing about me." He tapped his finger to his chin pensively. "But you know what they say, Byakuya." He gave an eerie look of seriousness while stretching his neck side to side. "All's fair in love and war."
The familiarity he felt at the sound of his name left Byakuya feeling a certain degree of uneasiness that couldn't be described. Jessie's deceleration only left him with a perturbing sensation, as if he was missing a bigger picture, as if the words were merely pieces to a puzzle. "And what are you fighting for?"
With a smirk, the man's skin began to glow once more as the tattoos on his skin started to move and reassemble. His body started morphing and contorting. "I know what I'm fighting for. The question is, do you?" His smirk faded into a glare of pure intensity. "Bankai. I call forth the ink guardian of the great desert. Roar." With that, the red light intensified in a blazing instant, before subsiding, giving way to a humen-esque lion hybrid. His hair turned into a long and thick mane, flowing down his rippled muscles. Whiskers sprouted from his face as his nose turned animalistic, and eyes turned a foreboding tint of yellow. His hands morphed into claws that looked like razor blades. In an instant, readying his sword, Byakuya flash stepped behind Jessie, attacking without hesitation. Certain his sword attacked and sealed, he turned, expecting to see Jessie writhing on the ground. Instead, he saw the unmoved Jessie clamping his sword between two of his claws. Though turned away, Byakuya was sure he could sense the same smug smile.
With cocksure amusement, he turned his head slightly to flash the noble a sly grin, who was surprised at how easily Jessie avoided his Senka.
"Did you really think that you, someone with a weak and wavering resolve, could really cut my chain?" He chuckled arrogantly. "I was trained by Aiko. They used to call him the Emerald Bolt, ya' know. Still, no matter how masterful you are at shunpo, someone who can't admit what they're truly fighting for, someone with a heart clouded with doubt, will never beat me." Clenching the sword tighter between his claws, he let out another breathy chuckle. "Now, my turn," he declared, releasing the sword and spinning around while attacking with the full force of his claws.
Byakuya flash stepped to avoid the attack, but seconds late, was still cut by Jessie's claws. The red aura emanating from them sent an electrical current through the man's body, sending him down on one knee.
Standing patiently, Jessie crossed his arms and shook his head in disappointed. "Tisk-Tisk. It would seem you still don't get it. I can read your heart through your movements. It's clouded by doubt and deceit. You're deceiving yourself." Tapping his foot in thoughtfulness, he continued, "I suppose I can let you sit there for a moment and mull it over. See if anything comes to you."
This capricious man was throwing Byakuya off. One moment, he was ready to kill him where he stood, the next, he was offering advice and a time out. What was this guy's motives? Byakuya couldn't help but wonder, was this just a game to him? Was he merely playing mind games, as Aiko did with Orihime? And whatever did he mean when he said Byakuya was deceiving himself? For no matter what this man said, he knew why he fought. For the sake of the Soul Society and the Soul King, for the balance of the two conjoining worlds. That was his birthright.
'But is that all? Is that all I fight for, and what exactly does it mean to fight for the Soul Society? What drives that need to protect?'
Shaking himself from his inner plight, he tried to focus on a tactic. If this guy wanted to ramble, Byakuya would surely use the time in his favor. He needed to evaluate the man. He needed to know more.
Grunting out through pain while finding his footing, Byakuya held his abdomen, which was torn and charred. "I'm assuming you went straight for your Bankai because your Shikai is weak. It's only for basic shape shifting, turning your appearance into anyone you want." He paused then, panting. "And your Bankai, well it's not the weakest thing I've ever seen, but as a trump card, your pitiful form just won't do," the man mocked through stifling coughs, trying to egg Jessie on in hopes for more information.
Seemingly unfazed, Jessie gave a coy smile and seemed to settle into his spot even further, much to Byakuya's shock. "If you want to know more about my powers, all you have to do is ask. Let's not try to coerce each other, shall we." He raised an eye brow challengingly. "Remember, I'm a genius. No matter how smart you think you are, trust me, I'm smarter." He paused then, smirking wider. "You know, most people don't get the chance to learn where their zanpakutou sprit truly originated from. I suppose I'm one of those lucky few. During my first human life, I lived in a time where there were no countries or much order. In those days, nomads would travel in large packs, sometimes settling down to start little towns or provinces. One of the first nations to ever rise from this was a group of many conjoining towns in an effort to better the lives of the citizens, and despite what historians will tell you, was truly one of the first structured governments. They called it the Land of Ink, a place free of war and the struggles of a nomadic life style. They called it the Land of Ink because, before ink had been discovered anywhere else, there were vast wells of the substance each watched over by guardians. The guardians saw the benevolent intentions of the leaders and allowed them to use the ink, bringing the nation great fortune. Still, other lands were envious of how well we prospered. We were the victims of countless attacks, all for the sake of our ink. That's when my father, the leader of the nation, spoke with the seven guardians. Each conceded to give a tiny inkling of their personal ink, telling him to tattoo the youngest villager, for the bearer of the tattoos must be completely pure. Seven guardians, each of a different terrain, were etched into my skin and my very will. Since then, whenever I die and enter the soul society, these tattoos stay with me. That's my birthright."
He motioned to his outward arms. "Like you, my birthright is to protect, but everyone has to decide what that means for them. Yes, it is my nature to protect, but in each life, what drives that want is something different, not the tattoos I bear, but the things that make this world worth protecting." Now stepping forward a little more offensively, he urged, "Now, I ask you again… What drives you? What memories do you pull from to give you strength?"
Seven guardians meant seven forms, meaning Byakuya had barely scratched the surface on this man's power. Yet his more dangerous power seemed to be the ability to reach into people's heads and turn things around, confusing the person with his ramblings, causing Byakuya to only doubt himself. He was sure that if he had any doubt, it was only caused by this bizarre man.
Now his voice seemed a little more meek, yet still held an intensity that matched the glare in his silver orbs. "What about your memories of Hisana? Do you draw no drive from those? Do you not want to protect what that love meant? Or perhaps, like everything else, you let those memories become tainted by fear and doubt. Or worse, maybe you repress them because you can't deal with the pain that comes with them."
Byakuya felt a bolt of rage jolt through his every fiber at the sound of Hisana's name being used so casually. The man had to stop himself from irrational retaliation towards Jessie, who made such wild assumptions about things Byakuya perceived him to know nothing about. It infuriated him to his core, but still he had to wonder if his anger was in part from the secret acknowledgment that this man, someone Byakuya had never met, could be so aware, so right. Images of the time he'd spent with Hisana mixed with those of her untimely death flooded the soul reaper's memory, causing him a strange sensation of nostalgic fondness, mixed with pain and resentment. Try as he might, he couldn't see the love, for it was clouded by anguish. In that moment, he couldn't help but think that Jessie could be right. Perhaps his inability to recognize their love and moments shared was a shame on her name and the time they spent together. Perhaps it weighed on his heart and made it impossible for him to fight to his fullest. Still, Byakuya held onto the resentment; it had gotten him this far, for he leaned on it. Resentment protected him from that pure anguish, even if it meant closing out all the light Hisana had brought into his life.
Surely Jessie was only playing with his mind. He wanted this, he wanted him to doubt himself and his motives, making himself vulnerable for attacks. Taking a stand, he resolved to not let Jessie probe his emotions anymore. With an air of arrogant stoicism, Byakuya retorted, "For someone who's supposed to be a genius, you sure do give out a lot of free intel." Byakuya grunted, still in pain from the previous attack.
This seemed to agitate the usually placid man. He fretted his eyebrows and set his jaw. "Trust me, any mistakes it seemed I was making were intentional, but now I see there is no getting through to you." He hung his head, looking disappointed. "I was wrong. You don't deserve to take care of him." Lifting his head up, he made intense eye contact. "Prepare yourself."
Without hesitation, Byakuya dropped Senbonzakura straight down, piercing the ground, causing ripples of energy to expand. "Bankai," he commanded as rows of a thousand giant blades rose up, scattering, and completely surrounding Jessie. "There's nowhere to hid-"
His declaration was interrupted by a jolt of electricity sweeping him off his feet, sending him flying back into the Wisteria trunk. Looking up in complete shock, he tried to find his footing as he coughed up specks of blood. How was this possible? No one invaded his Bankai, yet Jessie had done it in an instant and without any trouble. How had he seen Byakuya through all the blades to perfectly execute a counter attack? Perhaps Byakuya had underestimated his opponent.
'Maybe he's too strong, even for me. What if I don't win here?' His self-deprecating thoughts were interrupted by images burning in his head: Rukia, the other captains, his comrades, Ichigo…He couldn't let it end here. This man could shapeshift into anyone, and could infiltrate their team easily. Byakuya had to warn them. He had to protect them if it was the last thing he did. In that moment, Byakuya figured out the answer to Jessie's question. What drove his need to protect, it was all the people who believed in him, the people who've died for him, lived for him, despite his heartlessness. Yes, he wanted to protect the Soul Society, but it was those people who reaffirmed what made this world worth fighting for. Those people, they challenged him to be the best, they gave him the strength to fight when he felt weak, they made him believe he could accomplish his goals and even gave way to new dreams. They believed in him; His father, all the soul reapers, Rukia, Hisana, and especially Ichigo. He wouldn't let their certainty go to waste. He would use the memories of them to pierce anything that stood in his way, for he was his strongest when he let himself feel his own love, no matter how painful and unnerving it was.
Standing ten yards away, Jessie proclaimed, "With animalistic senses like mine mixed with my speed, you're the one who can't hide."
Byakuya tried to think quickly, analyzing his next moves. In this transformation, Jessie's power lay in speed and his senses. Though his attacks were painful, it seemed power was his weak spot, for neither attack had done all too much damage. Byakuya formulated a plan, knowing he'd have one chance to attack, for Jessie could change forms at any time.
This time, Jessie attacked first, running with his hand out, overflowing with the same red electricity. Though, instead of invading the shot or even trying to counter it, Byakuya concentrated on keeping his feet planted. As Jessie ran towards him, Byakuya noticed that his form was starting to change. It was as if he was half morphing, for he was still in his lion form, yet wings were starting to form on his back. Still, Byakuya stuck to his plan, sure that it was his best chance. Jessie swung for Byakuya, his red palm aiming straight for the chest, yet missed. Byakuya had grabbed his hand, purposefully taking the full strength of the shot, standing despite the intense electrical current running through him. With complete determination, he ignored the pain and held tightly to Jessie's hand. Then with his free arm, he rammed his sword through Jessie, making sure to miss any vital organs in hopes to extract intel. As if, he knew Byakuya's plan, Jessie's wings were fully operational by this point, as he used them in an attempt to unhinge himself from Byakuya's sword. Taking his free hand, he tried to shock the blade in hopes of getting away from the noble. Swiftly, he grabbed Jessie's forearm, leaving him floating midair, sword pierced through his side. It seemed clear who was the winner until Byakuya's eyes caught a glance of something that caught him off guard. Jessie's forearm had a familiar tattoo, one he was sure he had seen before: a heart shrouded in thorns, perched on a crown. That tattoo, it belonged to Jasper.
Seeing the man's momentary distraction as an opportunity, Jessie threw up his leg and kicked Byakuya in the stomach. Quickly, he propelled himself from Byakuya's sword, then taking flight, hovering over Byakuya momentarily. Before flying away, he proclaimed, "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe there is hope for you after all, Byakuya."
There it was again: that familiarity in his tone. Only this time, Byakuya knew why it resonated. Though he had found himself discombobulated for a moment, the pieces seemed to be coming together. Jessie was a shape shifter, able to take on the appearance of others, although it seemed that his tattoos stayed with him, despite the form, for even his impersonation of the pregnant women had tattoos. That tattoo was identical and in the same place as Jasper's had been. It all made sense. The answer was so clear. Jessie was Jasper, undoubtedly. Uncertain of anything else, Byakuya now had only one thing on his mind.
"Ichigo," he said to himself.
He had to warn him. He had to protect him.
