This is going to be a bit of a fluff chapter, and a bit on the short side... Sorry about that, lol. Anyway, I also wanted to say thanks to LHisawesome4ever, taity, darkmachines, and RG-Guest for their continuing support of this work. You guys are awesome.
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter XXXIII: "Private Lives"
The exterior of the collection was solid black, with the words "BEHIND CLOSED DOORS" written boldly in simple white characters inscribed across the front cover, along with the credit "Presented by Yumichika Ayasegawa" included below the publication's larger main titles.
Inside, on the front page, was included a short piece of text. In-brief, it went on to describe the ideas and intentions behind the project: an exploration of intimacy, as it put it. And the importance of all the various subjects- a large number of them, as couples- who had volunteered both themselves and time out of their schedules, in order to be photographed for the collection.
Speaking of the subjects...
The contents listing on the following page went on to show the break down of the photo-collection by the various couples involved in it: featuring solo pictures of the respective partners (how they saw each other), as well as with pictures showing the two partners together (ie, the titular "lovers"). Many of the participants cited the couples aspect of the project as a key factor in taking part...
The fist section featured the pairing of Jushiro Ukitake & Retsu Unohana (as she had requested to be listed at the time). It started out with a solo picture of Jushiro sitting on the sill of an open window, his thoughtful gaze cast outwards. The sunlight streaming in through the window caused his flowing white hair almost glow, while casting defining shadows against his pale skin. The black shadows looked like brush strokes against his exposed flesh- visible through his half-open sleeping robe- from his jawline and neck, and down the lines of musculature running from his exposed chest to his navel.
The companion to this was a solo photograph of Retsu, standing in an open doorway, clad only in a loose robe, with her long main of fine dark hair undone and framing her features and she smiled gently, gazing off affectionately to someone beyond the scope of the camera. One hand rested delicately on the wooden frame of the door, while the other held a small lantern aloft. The hall behind her was bathed in darkness, while the light from the lantern formed evocative shadows on her figure- including the supple curves of her partially exposed breast and the valley of her cleavage.
Among the pictures of them together was one of them in their bed, with Retsu lying against Jushiro's chest and his arms encircled around her. The sheets were drawn up to around her waist, while the back of her head rested against his chest, the man and woman smiling as their light and dark hair falling free around them, ebony and ivory strands seamlessly blending together.
The female Captain had been so proud of their involvement. "I've certainly never been shy with my feelings." She'd been on record as saying. "And once I learned of the project, I soon came to see the merits of it, and I knew this was something I wanted to be part of."
"Captain Unohana is the most beautiful and elegant woman I've ever known." The male Captain had said in the comments. "I was reluctant at first, but once I knew that Retsu was determined to be a part of the project... Well, at that point, it was a given that I would be involved."
Rangiku sipped from her sake as she looked over the pages of the collection. She then set down the cup and effortlessly retrieved the nearby bottle and and refilled the small vessel without looking away.
Seated at the table with her was Lieutenants Kira Izuru of the Third Division and Shuhei Hisagi of the Ninth Division, and Captain Shunsui Kyoraku of the Eighth (who'd just arrived not long ago). The four were sharing drinks and making idle conversation over sake.
She arched a delicate brow and set down her cup as she came across an image of Captains Ukitake and 'Unohana' together in bed. "Shunsui-san." Rangiku began evenly. "You're old friends with both Captain Ukitake and Captain Unohana," she continued. "Were they always together?"
The scruffy-faced man chuckled and poured himself another drink. "Pretty much..." He replied with a smile as she downed the contents of the cup. "Well, Retsu-san was always the nurturing sort... Heh, that combined with the mutual attraction I always figured they had, could only lead to one thing."
"I'm glad for them," Rangiku replied. "they're both good people, they deserve each other."
Kira and Shuhei perked up at the Captain's next words. "Speaking of which, Ran... I don't suppose that there's anyone special in your life at the moment?" He asked with a small smile.
"Wah?!" The buxom woman sputtered. "Uh, no, no one at the moment..." Rangiku lied, while mentally apologizing to her Captain for the statement and silently wondering just how much longer they'd have to continue keeping up pretenses between the two of them.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
One of the next pairings to feature in the photo collection was a particular pair of lovers who just happened to be none other than the two notoriously competitive Lieutenants of the 13th Division: Kiyone Kotetsu & Sentaro Kotsubaki. In their case, the images included focused largely on them as a couple. In particular, it made use of the considerable height difference between the two- making use of how Sentaro towered over the five-foot-nothing Kiyone- in order to create a striking visual dynamic. The expressiveness and energy of the duo was also a plus during the shoot.
A great deal of effort went into distinguishing the younger Kotetsu sibling from her well-known sister, to give her a look that was all her own. This was done by playing up her 'cute girl' look with her bright eyes and short sandy hair distinguished her from her, while also creating the air of a relatable girl next door type that was still appealing- using makeup to subtly accentuate her eyelashes and lips.
One particular image of the two was cited by many as a favorite: In it, a shirtless Sentaro effortlessly held Kiyone in his arms, a la the princess princess carry. A number of factors served to make the image memorable, including that fact that she appeared to be nude- though the combination of the positioning of his arms around her body and her arm around his neck obscured enough of her figure to maintain the largely playful, innocent nature of the image. While in his arms, Kiyone looked up at Sentaro, into his eyes as the male and female Shinigami shared a knowing smile.
And in a related image, her extended an arm and leg (the ones that were toward the camera) aloft at an angle- their position lending a bit of visual flare to the image- while she kept her other arm draped over her chest, as the Lieutenants smiled flirtatiously for the camera.
"Just because me an' Sentaro are together, that doesn't mean I'm gonna let him get an edge up on me when it comes to the Captain!" Kiyone was quoted as saying.
"It's the same for me, too!" Sentaro was quoted in response. "We may be together, but when it comes to the Captain, I'm not going to loose to Kiyone!"
Rukia was in the process of flipping through the collection, stopping to scour over the pictures of male and female Officers, when she spotted Lieutenants Kotsubaki and Kotetsu pass by the distance, the two engaged in one of their frenzied debates they always seemed to be waging.
"Oh... oh my." The petite Shinigami remarked, blushing as the two became more heated- with Kiyone practically climbing up onto Sentaro in an effort to get the definitive word in. "I don't think I'll ever be able to look at those two quite the same way again." She told herself with a sigh.
The discovery of the candid photographs of the two Co-Lieutenants cast their competitive antics in a entirely new light, which Rukia didn't really care to linger on... especially given all the physical contact that always seemed to be transpiring between them.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The next couple to appear in the collection was Arachne Van Gerwindes and Renji Abarai, the former being quite free and uninhibited and the latter much more shy and reserved at first. The alluring female Arrancar had even offered to let herself be photographed topless, and it was only the fervent insistence of her male Shinigami counterpart that had quashed the idea.
At Arachne's suggestion, extra attention was given to showing off Renji's physique and how his tattoos accentuated his musculature. The spider-like woman's enthusiasm for her inked partner was reflected in their pre-release feedback, leaving Renji blushing- including words such as "stud" and "hottie" (as well as some comments that were unrepeatable, such as "thoroughly f**kable"). And the more he blushed, the more Arachne delighted in the situation. By comparison, during the shoots, Arachne had continued insisting that she wasn't an exhibitionist. Rather, as had she explained, it more about the fact that she felt no reservations about letting herself be photographed in the nude.
However, Renji was resolute that this not happen, and had instead suggested that her own long hair be used to cover her figure- as well as using himself to block certain parts of her body during the camera shoots. This, in turn, led to the compromise that no attempt be made to obstruct or obscure her Hollow Hole. Renji fully supported this, stating that her Hollow nature was something to celebrated, as it was a crucial and irreplaceable part of what made her who she was.
One of the most highly received image of the two together depicted a shirtless Renji, with a seemingly naked Arachne clinging provocatively at his side- her arms wrapped across his broad chest and one leg hitched up around his waist, while they both looked at the camera, with one of his hands supporting her knee and the other buried in her hair. An accompanying image of them depicted Renji, sitting, with his hand resting against the silky flesh of Arachne bare hips as she straddled his waist, while the Shinigami and the Arrancar looked intently into each others eyes.
"As soon as I heard about this project, I knew that I wanted to be a part of it, and that I wanted Renji to take part in it with me." Arachne had commented. "The only downside I can think is all the envious women once they realize that I've taken the Lieutenant off the market."
"It's a full time job, being with Arachne." Renji had commented. "But I wouldn't trade the experience for anything, I'm absolutely crazy about her." He'd gone on to add.
Both Soifon and Ggio blushed as they came across the images of their recently acquired friends inside the publication. The cat-like Fraccion had appeared in the Captain's office excitedly, brandishing a copy of the black-bound book, insisting that they should check it out.
She relented, allowing him to sidle up next to her and open it up. They'd become aware of the project when they were approached by Ayasegawa and his cohorts about taking part in the project. Soifon had been quick to veto the idea outright, stating that her private life (and by extension, Ggio's) was none of their business. Still, she'd been a bit surprised to learn that Renji and Arachne had agreed.
"To think that a Lieutenant could be so... uninhibited." Soifon remarked dryly.
"His involvement was probably more to do with what his mate wanted." Ggio offered, the Arrancar and Shinigami mates seated at her desk as the looked over the collection.
After a moment, Soifon looked to the Arrancar, then nodded. "Yes, well... I suppose that does sound like something she'd do." The slender woman reasoned.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Another of the surprise pairings to appear in the collection was the same-sex couple of Franceska Mila Rose and Kyoko Otani, the two women effectively 'one-upping' the other Shinigami/Arrancar duos.
Mila Rose and Kyoko were in a traditional Japanese room, sharing a futon on the tatami floor, with a nearby lamp illuminating them in the black-and-white image. They were both lying on their stomachs, propped up on their elbows (their arms obstructing their breasts), a blanket was drawn over their lower bodies. Neither of the women were looking toward camera. Rather, they were smiling and laughing as they looked at each other, as if in the middle of a discussion.
Both women had undone their hair, their waist-length wavy locks spilling down across the contrasting flesh of their back: Mila's dark mocha locks against her bronzed skin, and Kyoko's bright sunny blonde hair against her pale creamy flesh. The Arrancar, with her powerful toned physique, looked particularly large and imposing lying alongside the smaller, delicate Shinigami.
Another particularly noteworthy photograph of the two women showed them seated on a patio, against the backdrop of the midday sun. They were clad in matching yukata: Kyoko's looked loose and slightly oversized on her comparably smaller body, but still retaining her elegance and femininity. While Mila's clung snugly against her larger physique, her broader shoulders giving her an almost masculine aspect, at the same time that it emphasized the womanliness of her hips and breasts.
Kyoko was seated in Mila's lap, her folded legs nestled between the Arrancar's hips, while the latter's hands rested protectively on the Shinigami's waist. The blonde-haired female gently cupped the leonine woman's face in her hands as she rested her forehead against the brunette's. Sharp blue eyes gazed into light green ones as they both smiled warmly at one another.
"Mila has been so good to me." Kyoko had stated in the text. "She was the first person who wanted to know the real me, and she accepts me for who I really am."
"I'm the lucky one in all of this, the one with the reason to be grateful." Mila was quoted as saying in the accompanying comments. "I'm not just happy with Kyoko, she is my happiness."
Ikaku Madarame, the Third Seat of the Eleventh, had been sent a copy of the "Behind Closed Doors" photo-collection published by his fellow Division Officer, Fourth Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa... Along with a signed photograph of the man- dressed up in drag, no less! The bald-headed swordsman had been less than pleased at receiving the 'gift' from his eccentric friend.
A sound at the door drew his attention, in time to watch the Division's Fifth Seat Yoko Watase enter the room without preamble, and wordlessly deposit her Zanpakuto next to his sword.
"What'cha looking at there?" Yoko asked casually.
"It's a copy of that artsy photo-collection that Ayasegawa made." Ikaku began. "That fucking lunatic sent it to me, along with a little bonus." The Third Seat explained, holding up the autographed photo of Yumichika that he had included in the delivery. "I seriously hope that you have some idea of what I've been putting up with for all these years?" He added with a sigh, audibly annoyed.
Yoko received the photo from him, only to burst into a wild cackle. "Hm, oh, yes, I see... that's Officer Ayasegawa, alright." She managed, looking it over as her laughter died down. "And... quite fetching, I really must say." The female Soul Reaper added with a trembling smile, before erupting into laughter once more as she returned the picture to him.
"Take a look at this." Ikuku resumed, once she appeared to be regaining her composure, sliding over the already opened book for Yoko to see. "It's an image of one of the Tercera Espada's three followers, taken of her, along with her girlfriend."
"Really?" She inquired, taking the book to look over the image. "Oh, the dark-skinned woman? Yeah, she's with the Academy, serving as a weapons trainer for the girls. She lives in the female dorms, along with Lady Halibell and other two Fraccions she brought with her."
"Lady Halibell?" Ikaku asked, his interest genuinely piqued.
"Yes, all the girls in the dorms are quite taken with her." Yoko revealed. "Apparently, they tried using other honorifics, but they didn't really fit, so they settled on 'Lady'." The dark-haired woman explained to him. "Probably because of the more western aura of the Arrancar."
With that, Yoko then took her seat beside him, returning the book as she set a bottle of sake down on the floor between them. "As for the other girl in the picture," she started. "This pretty much confirms her as Mila Rose's much rumored girlfriend." She remarked. "...They make a cute couple."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
While the photo-collection featured the theme of lovers throughout it, great effort was taken to ensure diversity and variety among the couples and the images of them within the pages. Still, the involvement of the next couple came as even more of a surprise than than last... None other than the Captain and the Lieutenant of the Twelfth Division, Szayel Grantz and Nemu Kurotsuchi.
"My darling Nemu approached me with the idea of participating in the project." Szayel was quoted as saying in the pages of the collection. "I expect that most people would think I was far too possessive of my Lieutenant to 'show her off', but it couldn't be more to the contrary."
"Only a year ago, I would never have considered something like this." Nemu was on record as saying in the accompanying text. "I knew no true concept of self... In any meaningful sense, I was not alive, I simply existed. ...Now, my thoughts and feelings are my own. Now, I am alive. And it is my desire to explore the person that I am, the 'Nemu Kurotsuchi' that Szayel-sama helped me to discover."
"I've always encouraged my darling Nemu to pursue her dreams and desires." The Octavio Espada had stated, regarding the above quote. "It has been my privilege- as a Captain, as a Scientist, and as a Partner- to watch as the caterpillar has become a butterfly, and spread her wings."
Of note, was a photograph of Nemu, alone and kneeling on the floor. The top of her kimono was open and hung down above her elbows, while her arms were folded across her chest. A large canvas was set up behind her, as a backdrop, with a large pair of butterfly wings painted upon it, making it appear as if they were sprouting from her back. There was an accompanying picture, this time with Nemu standing in a three-quarters profile, another pair of wings painted on the canvas, as if they were part of her.
Yumichika had been 'recruited' to paint the series of butterfly wings for Nemu. "I was delighted when Captain Grantz approached me with the idea of using the butterfly motif for the Lieutenant, even more so when he asked me to paint them. Not sure who exactly told him I could paint though..."
In the Shinigami Women's Association, Lieutenants Ise Nanao and Momo Hinamori both looked up from from the photographs of Nemu Kurotsuchi- depicted resplendent with her butterfly wings- to the purple-haired Lieutenant in question as she calmly drank her tea.
"Goodness, just look at these..." The taller, bespectacled woman remarked discreetly to the younger woman sitting next two her at the rectangular meeting table. "These pictures, I mean, they're shot really well, but she looks so much more... alive than usual."
She nodded emphatically. "I know, right, who would have imagined?" The smaller female Lieutenant replied conspiratorially in a whisper as they both continued to observe the seemingly oblivious woman further down the table. "We've known her years, but I never would imaged this."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
For many people, both those involved in the project and the readers, the ultimate visual coup included in the collection came in the form of seeing Yumichika Ayasegawa in drag!
Isane's face flushed bright red as she looked over the pictures of Yumichika...
"A man really shouldn't look that gorgeous", she thought to herself, still blushing as she looked over the positively lurid photographs. There was part of her that felt ashamed of herself over the fact that she harbored such desires. And yet, as much as she berated herself, the tall woman knew deep down that she probably should feel more guilty about all this than she actually did.
The Lieutenant just couldn't get over just how 'pretty' her boyfriend looked as a woman. Isane shook her head and brushed a hand through her silver hair. And the more she looked at the images, the more she considered just how easy it might be truly believe that he was a woman. And yet, she knew from very personal experience that Yumichika was most definitely a man. After all, as he himself had once told her: "in spire of my appearance, I can assure you, I'm all man where it counts."
Honestly, he was such a tease! But then, if she was perfectly honest, that very same roguish nature of his was also part of his charm, and part of what made him unique. And he was certainly no slouch as a lover either... When he touched her, she felt like a different person, that transformed her tall unwieldy body into something attractive and elegant, even sexy.
Most people might be inclined to cite his outward appearance as his defining characteristic- and with good reason! However, the truth was that Yumichika was a far more nuanced and thoughtful man than his heavily made-up appearance let on at first glance. From the start, he seemed blind to the so-called 'shortcomings' that Isane saw in herself. He had approached her with a romantic overture, and there was something reassuring in his confidence about the two of them, which in-turn lent itself to allowing her feel more confident. And this confidence wasn't limited to herself, but them as a couple.
And so, Isane sat quietly at her desk in her office within the Fourth Division, intently looking down at the array of pictures spread across her desk...
They were all of Yumichika, taken of him while he was dressed up in various drag outfits. She couldn't believe some of the ensembles that he'd consented to wearing, nor the fact that she was responsible for suggesting some of the more outrageous numbers he ended up in!
There was one of him made-up as an òiran "courtesan": He was dressed in a flashy reddish-orange and gold off-the-shoulder kimono, held with a burnt umber obi tied in the front (for "easy access" as the saying went) with a pair of high-heeled wooden geta sandals (without tabi). His face was made pale with white makeup, along with an application of deep red lipstick and eyeliner, and his hair was pinned back and concealed under an elaborate dark wig.
Isane had been a party to his transformation, having both personally applied his make-up and helped with the fitting of his wig. His "hair" was pulled back on the sides- over his ears- and done up in a bun on top of his head- decorated with numerous hairpins and dangling ornaments. Yumichika had gone so far as to shave his legs, allowing him to "flash a bit of thigh" (as he'd put it) with his pose.
She'd even been talked into joining him in one of them. With Yumichika as "the woman", Isane wound up playing "the man". Thanks to her height, the transformation was comparatively easy. Her hair had been slicked back and extensions were applied to give her a warrior's topknot. Her chest was wrapped and she wore a hip-length haori over her, which was tucked into a man's hakama. He leaned against her in an effeminate posture, her bashfully returning his smile as he looked into her eyes.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Yumichika walked into Isane's room, within the Officers Quarters of the Fourth, just in time for him to be greeted by the sight of the tall woman as she exited the shower. She was dressed in only a bathrobe and still looked to be middle of toweling off her hair, when she spotted him.
Predictably, she blushed and fixed him with a wide-eyed look. "Yu- Yumichika, what are doing, just walking in here like this?" Isane questioned. "I wasn't expecting you?"
"Is this a bad time?" He asked, still smiling.
She shook her head. "No..." The woman replied. "It's just... You surprised me, that's all." Isane added, her previous self-consciousness quickly vanishing.
"I thought this sort of thing was normal among couples. I am your boyfriend, so it's not like I wouldn't just want to spontaneously pay you a visit." The violet-haired man reasoned. "I mean, by now, I would image our comings and goings are common knowledge among our respective Divisions."
Isane sighed and shook her head. "Is there any particular reason you dropped in?" The silver-haired woman asked, before hanging her towel back up and opening her dresser.
"No, not particularly Though..." He began. "I was just thinking that you're bound to end getting a few letters from some swooning girls after you dressed up with me in that one photo."
"What?" Isane blanched, even as she retrieved a pair of underwear and slipped it on.
"Oh yes." Yumichika replied as she watched her retrieve a yukata to wear. "You did cut quite a dashing figure, dressed up as a Samurai like you were." He explained. "And from what I hear, there's something of an industry for women playing men in stage performances."
This time, the look she was giving him came close to a glare. "I'm a medic and an Officer, not some otokoyaku player in some theatre troop to be gawked at on the stage." Isane protested.
"No, but you'd certainly turn plenty of heads as the male romantic lead." He countered. "Though, at the moment..." Yumichika trailed off, briefly glancing at the bit of her cleavage that was visible through the front of the house robe she'd hastily donned. "You're definitely turning my head, among other things."
"Oh you!" She huffed, adjusting her robe in response. "Really now, Yumichika, you're far too pretty of a man to be talking and behaving so lecherously." She finished, shaking her head.
(- End of Chapter XXXIII... -)
I hope you guys enjoyed reading this. The next chapter returns the focus to the Fourteenth Division in Huecco Mundo and the Living Realm, so you can look forward to seeing what's been happening to the places and people beyond the walls of Soul Society.