"I thought we were going on a date?" Nanao asked, her brow lifting with a sense of confusion and a little bit of dread. Yumichika smiled, meeting Nanao's gaze, the grip he held on her hand tightening a little in a gesture of support.
"Oh, we will be. First we need to make a stop here." Yumichika answered, turning his head back to the door of the small shop they stood in front of.
Nanao felt the tension in her body tighten as Yumichika pulled her by her hand. It was no question that Yumichika prided himself on his uncanny ability to appreciate all things of beauty, whether it be art, poetry or even something as simple as clothing. Hell, the man even thought he could die beautifully!
Nanao allowed him to usher her forward, bringing her inside what looked like a small boutique. All around her were bolts of luxurious fabrics, ready made Kimono's for sale, along with all the accessories a girl could ask for; if you were the type of girl who cared about such things…
"Ah, 3rd seat Ayasegawa! How nice to see you again!" The friendly woman behind the counter greeted.
Nanao turned her attention to the woman, feeling her stomach do a mini-flip and plummet. The woman was rather breathtaking, standing there in a deep crimson Kimono, her blonde hair pulled up in an elaborate style of twists and braids.
"Yes, I am sure it is a pleasure to see such beauty, as always." Yumichika smirked.
Nanao shook her head, silently asking herself if the man even realized how coincided he came across with such a statement? Of course, this was Yumichika, one of the proudest men in the soul society, and even though his eccentric style should make him appear flamboyant and feminine; somehow, it didn't. Nanao couldn't deny that when she looked at him, she was able to see the raw masculinity and dominance layered under his appreciation for aesthetics.
"I see you've brought company with you this time; and my, she is a beauty." The woman smiled.
Nanao couldn't help the small roll of her eyes, even though it made her wince inside for coming across as rude to a complete stranger, but, did the woman really think Nanao was unaware of her tactics to butter her up? Wasn't that how all shopkeepers acted?
"I have brought very special company with me, Akane. Are the back rooms free? I will need to use them for at least an hour." Yumichika replied.
Nanao turned her gaze to him, searching his features for some kind of clue. What could possibly keep them here for an hour? What was this all about? And why was he on a first name basis with a shopkeeper?
" For you, of course. I have many new silks that have come in since we designed your last Hakama." Akane answered.
Yumichika paused, his pale violet eyes roaming over Nanao as if scanning her for imperfections.
"What is this about?" Nanao whispered, starting to feel more than a little uncomfortable.
"I'm going to spoil you. It's what a man like me does in a situation like this." Yumichika answered before turning his head back to the shopkeeper.
"Bring me everything you have in shades of blue, red, and maybe even green that are ready to wear." Yumichika instructed her.
" As you wish, 3rd seat Ayasegawa." the woman smiled before walking forward and turning the wooden sign on the door from "open" to "closed."
"W-wait, is she closing her shop just for you?" Nanao sputtered, her eyes widening at the thought.
Yumichika smiled fully, making Nanao's heart skip a couple beats as she tried to hold on to her uncertainty.
"My darling, she's closing the store for us." Yumichika corrected her.
Nanao took in a breath to protest, but instead was pulled forward by her hand. Yumichika changed his grip, lacing his fingers with hers and squeezing gently again as he led her to the back of the shop and through a large pocket door.
"I don't need special treatment…" Nanao grated.
Yumichika turned, his smile now one of amusement, the gleam in his pale eyes sparking off warnings in Nanao's mind.
"Akane does have a pretty selection of hairbrushes; should I ask for one?" Yumichika countered, one dark elegant brow lifting.
Nanao felt her body tremble at the reminder of what he'd done with his own hairbrush, the way the smooth surface soothed the skin right before the stinging slap of heat shocked and excited nerves one wouldn't even think were there. Nanao felt a rush of breath leave her lungs as a wave of heat washed over her, making her cheeks tint pink.
"Not quite the blush I was aiming for; but it will do. Now, come here, my darling." Yumichika insisted, pulling her forward to stand in front of a large mirror.
Nanao met Yumichika's gaze through the glass, her cheeks flushing even hotter as other memories flooded back to her. His smile and the darkening of his eyes told her without words that he too, was remembering.
"That's it, my beauty. Remember yourself as that Goddess." Yumichika whispered into her ear.
The sound of creaking caused Nanao to jump as Akane entered the room with what looked like a dozen or more Kimono's in the colors Yumichika had ordered her to bring. Nanao paused as realization seemed to knock her over the head-He's dressing me up before he takes me out?
"Will you be needing any help with the selection process?" Akane asked from the doorway after depositing the large bundle of silks onto a large wooden bench.
Yumichika half-smiled before he answered.
"No. I think I'll be able to wrap my gift perfectly well on my own."
Akane's smile lifted all the way to her eyes before she nodded and slipped out into the hallway. Nanao heard the pocket door sliding across the wood floor, sealing her inside with the most intense man she'd ever had the privilege to know and the thought thrilled her down to her very bones.
"Shorty?" Ikkaku's gruff voice called out, making Momo lift her head.
"Hey." Momo replied in answer, her soft cheeks tinting the slightest shade of pink, making the side of Ikkaku's lips lift into a masculine smirk.
Ikkaku walked forward, passing his captain as he did. Kenpachi didn't seem to mind the fact Momo had stolen all of Ikkaku's attention. Momo waited for Ikkaku to reach her, tipping her head back to meet his dark gaze.
The memory of the passion they had shared the other night seemed to travel between them. Ikkaku's smile spread across his mouth, lifting into a devastating grin that held no secrets. Momo found that her effort not to grin back like an idiot was pointless. As her smile lit Ikkaku up from the inside out; he lowered his head, leaning down in order to whisper his question.
"You come to see me, or talk to my Captain?" Ikkaku asked.
"Both." Momo answered honestly.
"Captain Hirako has decided to give me his permission to continue the training I've started." Momo explained with a hopeful smile.
"That right?" Ikkaku replied, his gaze averting from her in order to study his Captain.
"Captain Zaraki has given his permission as well." Momo muttered softly, her smile fading from brilliant to adorable.
"I-I was hoping that you would still like for me to train with you." Momo blurted, causing Ikkaku's gaze to swing back to her. His brow furrowed as if confused by her stammering.
"Why wouldn't I, Shorty? You think I want my woman with someone else?" Ikkaku countered, turning his head to glare around the room of sweaty men.
"I wasn't sure if you would still like the idea…" Momo sighed, hating the fact she was reverting back to acting shy even after being pinned between his body and a tree…
"Ain't a chance in hell I'm lettin' anyone else spar with ya." He replied, his deep voice almost soothing, allowing Momo to take a relieved breath.
"I'm sorry. So much has happened these past few days, Toshiro-" Momo began her explanation; only to be cut off by Ikkaku's grip on her upper arm. Momo panted a shocked gasp as Ikkaku abruptly led her to the exit.
Momo turned her head, her expression betraying her anxiety as she sought the squad 11 captain's position. Kenpachi's eye met her gaze and the slight nod of his head allowed her to relax enough to follow. Now that Momo had managed something that had seemed impossible, she wasn't going to push her luck; the last thing she wanted was to upset Captain Zaraki.
Momo fell into step next to Ikkaku, his grip loosening to allow his hand to slide down her slender arm. Momo couldn't help her smile as Ikkaku's fingers threaded with hers. There was something so warming about a man not afraid to show his affection, and when that man was like Ikkaku Madarame it only made it sweeter.
"You gotta stop apologizing for what you want." Ikkaku blurted, turning his head to look down at her. Momo felt her lips part, her large eyes searching his face as the two of them walked down the dirt pathway.
"I-Is that what I do?" Momo stammered.
Ikkaku snorted, his dark eyes rolling as if it should have been obvious to her; but deep down it really wasn't.
"You didn't apologize for asking me to fuck you against that tree. So, why the hell would you ask me if I still wanted to train you?" Ikkaku continued.
Momo let out an exasperated sigh as her cheeks grew hot, no doubt betraying her now sober sensibilities. It seemed that Momo didn't have a problem being bold with the aid of liquid courage. Where was a bottle of Sake when she needed one…
"I just don't want to become something you will regret, Ikkaku. I know Toshiro came and talked to you. He told me earlier. " Momo forced herself to admit.
Ikkaku paused abruptly, hauling the woman up against his chest with a harsh jerk of her arm. Momo's gasp parted her lips, giving Ikkaku the advantage as he slammed his mouth over hers, sealing their lips together, his tongue plunging into her soft heat with punishing force.
Momo whimpered against his invasion, her small hands gripping the black fabric of his top in an effort to keep herself from falling down onto the dirt. Ikkaku growled, his left hand capturing her by the back of the neck before breaking away from her lips. Momo stared up into his face, her chest heaving from the intensity of the man's kiss, it was pure possession.
"Quit acting stupid, Momo. Hitsugaya was just blowing air at me, he's known you for so long, he thinks it's his job to keep you safe, even if he was wrong this time, I can respect where he's coming from. I don't want to hear you talk about regrets, the time for that is over, shorty. " Ikkaku growled, his dark eyes narrowing in a way that felt like a primal warning.
"Yes, Sir." Momo whispered without much thought.
Ikkaku let out a deep sound from the center of his chest, a mixture of both laughter and growling. Momo didn't move, just kept her heavy lidded gaze locked on his.
"I kinda like the sound of that." Ikkaku teased her before dropping his mouth to hers in another deep sweeping kiss. Momo moaned in protest as he pulled back just as abruptly and began to pull her forward down the pathway once more.
"Where are we going, anyway?" She asked.
"To your squad's barracks, so I can help you pack." He answered with a grin.
Momo let out a soft sigh of contentment as their hands tangled together again, the thought of him helping her pack made her smile. It seemed that somehow, someway, she had managed to find the love she'd been longing for in the least expected place; squad 11.
Nanao shook her head at her own reflection before lifting her wide eyed gaze to Yumichika. He stood behind her, his smug smile daring her to refuse him.
"I-I can't go out like this!" Nanao dared.
Yumichika clucked his tongue at her before tilting his head to the side.
"You always choose the hard way , My darling." Yumichika countered, wrapping his elegant arm around her waist. His heat melted through the thin silk fabric, causing Nanao to clench her thighs involuntarily.
The color was unlike anything Nanao would have chosen for herself. A deep crimson red, the cut was just as scandalous as the color. Instead of the traditional high collar with modest silk covering her bosom, this one was cut with a low bodice that fell over her shoulders, exposing her creamy white skin. The sleeves falling into an almost whimsical layering of fabric over her wrists.
"I don't look anything like myself. I would never wear something like this in public." Nanao protested.
Yumichika's eyebrow raised at her statement, his lips pursing a little as he stared her down using the mirror in front of her.
"I've yet to see you wear anything than the standard Shihakusho. I merely thought you might enjoy something beautiful." Yumichika sighed, pulling his arm from her body and stepping back from her view.
Nanao turned from the mirror, watching him as he made his way back to the other Kimono's the shop keeper had picked out for her at his request. Once again, Yumichika's features had turned stoic, his sensual lips thinning in what could only be described as disappointment-Maybe I am being too difficult about this…
"M-Maybe I wouldn't feel so put on display in the green?" Nanao offered her truce.
Yumichika's head snapped up, his eyes flashing mischievously. Nanao forced a deep breath into her lungs. There was something in the way the man looked at her; as if he couldn't help but devour her with his gaze. Even his smiles were for her, teasing, taunting and full of such promise.
"I think you would look delectable in the green, My darling." Yumichika accepted her compromise. Knowing that the green Kimono was cut in a more traditional fashion than the red. He sensed that he would need to take small steps with his love. Nanao was a swan who still felt like the ugly duckling, it would take time for her to see her own appeal. Perhaps in the future, if she accepted his future offer, she would wear something bold and daring, something truly befitting of her on their wedding day.
Yumichika blinked, bringing himself back to the present. It was too soon to think about that. If Nanao knew his thoughts had already been leaning towards forever, she would retreat out of fear-it seems I have my work cut out for me, it's a good thing I enjoy watching her bloom.
"Will you help me out of this one?" Nanao's breathy request had him walking before his mind even registered the movement. Yumichika raised his hands to the band of silk at her waist and pulled, allowing the thin silk to fall from her pert breasts. Yumichika stifled a groan at the sight of her tight nipples. Nanao may not have wanted to wear the crimson in public, but she'd seemed to enjoy wearing it for him.
"I'll need to dress you in the green quickly if I am to keep to my original plans." Yumichika whispered against her left ear.
Nanao's breath hitched at the innuendo behind his words.
"And if you don't do it quickly?" She teased him, turning her head to press her cheek against his chin.
"Haven't gotten enough of seeing your beauty in front of the mirror, My sweet?" Yumichika spoke against her soft skin, his lips lifting into a smile she could feel.
"I thought I was your darling?" She countered.
"Oh, you'll always be that, but I can't deny how sweet you are. I should know." He countered, dragging his lips across her petal soft cheek.
"Yumichika…" Nanao breathed his name, not sure how the man was able to addle her mind so thoroughly. She was standing in the middle of a locked dressing room in the middle of town being seduced by the last man she ever would have imagined, and the worst thing about it was, she liked it; No. She loved it! She loved him!
"I need to dress you now, Nanao, before I take you right here against a mirror that isn't mine." Yumichika warned.
Nanao smiled as she nodded her head.
"We couldn't have that, it wouldn't be at all proper."
Yumichika pulled back, meeting the woman's teasing gaze in the mirrors glass-That's it, my sweet beauty, keep blooming for me.
Kenpachi let out a sigh as he leaned back against the wooden pillar attached to the front porch of his Captain's quarters. Allowing his long legs to stretch out in front of him. Now that the day's work was over, he could allow himself to relax a little.
"Captain Zaraki?" a deep monotone voice called out to him, stirring him from his thought process.
"What is it?" He snapped, not even looking up from the bottle of sake he held in his lap. He'd been about to pour himself his first shot of the afternoon.
"I came to make a request, Captain." The voice continued, making Kenpachi's head lift up. His uncovered green eye narrowed in on the man at the bottom of the steps and he couldn't help the shit eating grin that spread across his lips.
"Well how bout that, I didn't expect to see you come back." Kenpachi countered.
Akon paused at the first step, not sure about how to continue with his plight. If Zaraki refused him, he wouldn't be able to go back to his own squad.
"I would like to. Come back, that is. I've been informed by my Captain I am not allowed to enter squad 12's barracks until I've gotten whatever this is out of my system." Akon replied, deciding honesty would be the best way to win over the battle worn brute.
" You got an itch you can't seem to scratch, Lieutenant?" Kenpachi smirked.
"Something like that…" Akon admitted.
"Tch. Tell ya what, I'll let ya come back on one condition…" Kenpachi growled.
"What is that, Captain?" Akon pounced on the opportunity. He didn't care if the man wanted him to run two miles barefoot. He needed this, he had to see how far he could push himself, what he could accomplish.
"Drink on it." Kenpachi countered, surprising Akon with his answer.
Akon felt the side of his mouth lift in humor, something that didn't happen to him very often. Dropping his bag in the dirt at the foot of the stairs, Akon climbed up to the man's domain, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment as he lowered his body down to the hard wood.
Kenpachi held out the bottle of Sake in his hand loosely, and Akon took it. Meeting the man's uncovered eye, he tipped the bottle back in unspoken agreement. By taking this drink Akon was making a pledge. He would be a member of squad 11, he would work as a member of squad 11, he would live as a warrior in training for however long it took.
Akon swallowed the potent brew of rice wine, then held the bottle back to Kenpachi. The Captain's grin filled his face before he too tipped the bottle back in agreement. Come tomorrow morning, Akon would be tested beyond his limits, but deep down, Akon knew he wouldn't respect Captain Zaraki nearly as much if the man wasn't about to whip his ass into shape.
"Hope that itch of yours is worth scratchin', Akon." Kenpachi grinned.
Author's note: Gah! I know it's been forever since I've worked on this story. My apologies to those of you who have enjoyed it so much. Life kinda hit me in a way I wasn't expecting, had two jobs for a while and was pretty much lacking motivation. I'm still not as quick with my chapters as I was in the past, but I will finish this story eventually, I won't leave you guys hanging. It is a bit of a challenge to come back to something after so long, but hopefully this will read fluid enough to the previous chapters. I hope you all continue to enjoy. Thank you for the support, it means the world to me! -L.J.