Kataritsugu koto
Chapter 14

(This is a flashback chapter)

Kira was an early riser, but a slow waker. He lazily opened his eyes and wondered when the paint had changed color. A few minutes later he realized he wasn't in his apartment, and that the warm hold around him wasn't Shuuhei.

Izuru couldn't help feeling a bit like a slut, sleeping with Shuuhei one night and then sleeping with Gin the very next.

A mutter of his name and a soft kiss behind his ear emptied Izuru's mind of these thoughts. Gin was here with him now, he would be okay.

"Nemu, how is the experiment going."

"So far, a hundred male shinigami have taken the diluted pills in their food. We expect results to start showing in the next few months."

"Good. Keep and eyes on the 5th Seat of the 11th Division, I'm almost completely sure he will be one of the impregnated."

"Yes, Mayuri-sama."

As soon as he heard that a 9th Division squad had had an accident in Hueco Mundo, Izuru shot out of his office to the gate. So what if Shuuhei had broken up with him, so what if he was now with Gin. Shuuhei was still his beloved friend and senpai.

"Shuuhei!"

The 4th Division was already there, treating those who needed immediate help and transporting the rest to their Division. Shuuhei was leaning heavily on Tousen, his arm bleeding and hanging lifelessly, despite still clutching his sword like a lifeline. Part of his face was also drenched in blood from a head wound, his uniform torn in different places. Even Kira couldn't help but gasp at the sight.

"S-shuu..."

The wounded shinigami raised his head to look at him, a smile tugging at his lips and took a step away from his captain.

"Izu..."

Kira had to shunpo to Shuuhei before he fell face first. The blood was still fresh and stained Izuru's uniform as he held Shuuhei tight, feeling the other man still breath and try to whisper him something.

"I...missed you a lot...Izuru..."

Kira felt like crying, he'd cheated on him. He'd cheated on Shuuhei with his captain. Even though they had officially broken up, Izuru still felt bad about sleeping with Gin even though Hisagi was away. He should've waited, couldn't he have waited until Shuuhei returned? Then he might felt less like he was being a slut behind his back.

"I...I missed you too..."

Gin's horrible cackle resounded in his ears. He could see the man grinning at him. He'd lost. He knew he had just lost something, a game? The prize?

Suddenly Ichimaru opened his arm and Kira appeared, looking up lovingly at him, forgetting that there was anyone else in the world. Gin smiled at him, silently saying that he had won and slowly leaned towards Izuru, a hand coming to cup his cheek. Lips coming closer until-

"Izuru!!"

Shuuhei woke with a start, almost immediately feeling the sting of his shoulder wound. He grunted and moved his other hand to hold his shoulder, squeezing his eyes shut at the pain. Soft hands soon came to him, pushing him to lay back down and the pain subsided a little. He muttered a thanks and opened his eyes, expecting to see a 4th Division nurse but was pleasantly surprised by the sight of a blonde lieutenant instead.

"Izu-"

"You should rest, Shuuhei. You almost got your arm torn off."

"Izuru." Shuuhei still couldn't believe it somehow. It was like the last glass of water in the desert, his beloved Izuru was there with him. For all the time he was in Hueco Mundo, he couldn't stop thinking about him and regret breaking up with him. And then that dream...

"Izuru...w-what happened? Your uniform."

Izuru blinked and looked at the blood in his clothes, as if suddenly noticing it.

"Oh. You happened. You fainted on me after you arrived."

"Oh."

Kira smiled softly at him, running a hand gentle through Shuuhei's hair.

"Rest, you're still healing."

"Izuru, I...I'm sorry...I never wanted to break up with you. Forgive me."

The blonde just looked at him, eyes soft, hands soft. "Rest..."

"Will you take me back?"

"Shuuhei..."

"Will you?"

Izuru sighed, there was no way to negotiate with Shuuhei, he'd always been like that, stubborn. But at the same time, it was a bit endearing, at least to Kira. Getting back together...he'd never wanted to be apart from day one, and then Shuuhei came and broke up with him and now wanted to get back. And what about Gin? Izuru didn't like this, he felt like a rag-doll being tossed around and he'd already made a compromise with Gin...

He sighed again, more heavily. "Alright..."

Shuuhei smiled, "Izuru...thank you."

"I was right though, Tousen did deliver you back safely to me."

Shuuhei chuckled and attempted to sit up to kiss him, but apparently, Izuru read his mind as he leaned in first to him. They kissed again, like they did before, and Shuuhei didn't feel the turmoil going on in Kira's head.

He was a slut. A dirty, cheating slut. He'd kissed Shuuhei. He'd given lieutenant Hisagi a kiss when he was still with Ichimaru.

What to do?

He certainly loved Shuuhei with all his heart, no doubt. They'd known each other since the Academy and they've been a couple before.

And Ichimaru...was his captain.They'd shared a relationship too, a pretty intense one. And Gin...could be a jealous lover...

What to do, what to do...

A cold touch, made him shiver suddenly. Turning around, he met the typical smiling face of his captain, his hand reaching to touch Izuru's neck.

"You look a little troubled, Izuru-chan."

"D-do I?"

"Mmm-hmmm."

Gin circled around Kira, like a predator watching his prey.

"I hear that the 9th Division squad sent to Hueco Mundo came back. With a few casualties."

"There were many injured...but, no one died."

"Oh, I see. Hisagi-fukutaicho came back too, didn't he?"

"Yes."

"Are you nursing him?"

"Y-yes..."

"I see."

There was no malice in Gin's voice, only the usual jest, the cold humor. "Come, Izuru."

Kira obeyed. Lover or not, Gin was still his taicho and had to follow orders from him. "Do you love him, Izuru?"

The blonde's steps were quiet behind the fox-faced man. "Yes...I do..."

"Do you love me?"

"I love you too..."

"How is that possible?"

"There's different kinds of love..."

"So you don't love us the same."

"That's not what I--"

"Who do you love more?"

"Taicho!"

"Oh, me? I'm flattered, Izuru."

Kira blushed, hurrying his steps a little. He was answering honestly, did Gin want to make fun of him?

"Ichimaru-taicho--"

"Go back to him, Izuru."

Both stopped, Izuru's hand just about to clutch his taicho's sleeve.

"Go back to him, Izuru. He has something that I can't give you. Not now, and probably not ever..."

"Gin..."

Izuru stepped closer, hand not moving to clutch Gin's sleeve, but to touch the man's shoulder. Slowly, they looked at each other, Izuru's eyes wide and shining. They looked at each other for a seemingly long time, Izuru slowly moved closer, leaning forward to him, lips parted. Gin however, pressed a finger against Izuru's lips.

"No. It's all right. I won't resent you, either of you."

Izuru wanted to say something else, but he was being let out. The bird didn't hesitate when he cage was opened, why was he doubting?

"Go to him, Izuru. And that's an order." Gin offered his usual smile, full of mirth and fake happiness.

For today, Izuru believed him. He whispered a soft thank you and ran back to the 4th, to Shuuhei, to certain happiness.

To be continued...

Next update will be tomorrow. Please comment.