Yumichika finally makes his first proper appearance in this chapter. His presence was implied way back in the third chapter, but this is his real debut in the story. I also want to add that he's actually a bit taller in this story than he is in the manga- in this, I've 'promoted' him to 5'10".
WARNING: Contains Adult Content.
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter XII:
"The Courtship, Part 3"
Soul Society- Division Four HQ...
Unohana looked up in time to see as Captain Ukitake casually strolled into her office. He closed the distance between the door and her large desk, before cutting off her greeting with a kiss. She froze, her pen falling from her hand, rolling to the side of the desktop.
After a moment, Ukitake drew back from her, a pleased expression on his face. His dark brown eyes met her's for an instant, looking into her serene gaze as she sat before him
Her cheeks felt flush and warm. "Honestly now, Jushiro, just what's gotten into you?" Unohana asked him in an incredulous tone. "To behave so impetuously... It's not like you at all." She half-scolded him, though her tone was more flustered than upset.
The white-haired man just smiled warmly at her. "I feel good today- I feel alive." He began, taking her hand in his as he continued. "These past few months, I've felt better than I ever have in more years than I can remember... And it's all thanks to you." Ukitake finished, kissing her hand.
She blushed again, left silent by his comment. "Perhaps," Unohana replied. "But what if my Lieutenant happened to have been here at the time?" She asked, mildly worried. "How exactly would I explain the Captain of the Thirteenth Division waltzing in hear and kissing me like that?"
Ukitake flashed her a sly smile. "Well, I suppose you could always just tell her it's because he happens to be madly in love with her Captain." The white-haired man offered.
Unohana's eyes widened slightly, her blush darkening. "Speaking of which, where is the elder Kotetsu sister, anyway?" Ukitake asked, before turning away to look around the office, his gaze finally arriving at the telltale empty desk situated to the side of the office.
"I was starting to worry that she was pushing herself too hard recently, so I ordered her to take some time off and rest before she collapses from exhaustion." Unohana replied. "Isane is very reliable, but I can't help but feel that she doesn't think about her own needs enough."
He nodded in understanding. "Well, it's been my experience that eagerness seems to run in the family when it comes to those two ." Ukitake offered. "Though, since it's just the two of us for the time being, I can think of a few interesting ways of passing the time."
She sighed, then smiled up at him. "Well now, you really are full of energy, aren't you?"
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Isane nervously toyed with the ends of the one of the pairs of narrow silver braids that framed either side of her face. She was presently clad in a simple-looking robe that stopped at her ankles. It was tied at the waist, and front clung snugly against the swell of her breasts, resulting in a gap in the front that exposed a fair amount of her cleavage- much to the delight of Yumichika, sporting an almost leering smile on his face as he paused to admire the view of her for a moment.
To the surprise of some, the preening and pristine Yumichika had been promoted to position of Fourth Seat for the Eleventh Division. Each of the thirteen Divisions had suffered casualties during the Winter War, thus necessitating the need for battlefield-promotions and other fast-tracking methods to ensure that the Divisions had enough Seated Officers to handle executive matters. The only surprise was that Yumichika Asegawa- the incongruous pretty boy of the Eleventh- was now the fourth highest ranking Officer in the Division notorious for it's rough, violent image.
The silver-haired woman blushed under his gaze and crossed her arms over her chest. Yumichika wore a similar style of robe- tied loosely in the front- except that his robe had a waterlily motif embroidered in the fabric. The garment hung languidly off him, against his sleek figure, with the smooth skin of his chest visible through the front. His collar-length violet hair was parted on the side, with his distinctive long yellow and orange feathers adorning his eyebrow and eyelashes. To Isane, there was something downright scandalous in just how pretty this man was- she could envision him on stage, effortlessly playing a woman in a kabuki production. Her heart fluttered slightly as she thought about it...
They were in a small, closed-off study, with artificial lighting set up in the ceiling. There was a large black backdrop set up at the far wall. A canvas mat laid out on the floor, along with a high legged black bar stool. A rather sophisticated looking digital camera was mounted on a tripod, with the specialized lens attachment directed towards the backdrop. A simple, full-length mirror stood nearby, while a set of brushes and art tools sat next to an array of paints on a small table.
"I still can't believe I ever agreed to something like this." Isane lamented with an audible exhale, as she recalled the events that had lead up her current predicament. It had all started the previous week, during a particular night spent with Yumichika. After indulging in a particularly good bottle of red wine, as the two of them lay in bed, she recalled how she listened to him as he explained his idea to her. And, in her intoxication-induced enthusiasm, her suddenly thinking that the idea of posing for him while he took pictures of her had sounded really exciting at the moment!
Yumichika frowned at the unease of the woman. "My dear, you really should have more confidence in yourself." He offered. "I've always had an eye and an appreciation for beauty... But to simply say that you're beautiful would be an understatement." The officer explained. "You are a goddess... With your long toned legs, your flat stomach, your full breasts, your beautiful neckline. Why, when I look at you, part of me wants to show you off- to let everyone know of the gorgeous woman before me... But then, I think about how I'm the only one who knows this side of you."
"If only you could see yourself the way I see you," he continued. "When you lay beside me, asleep in bed, with the sheets half-covering you... When you stand by the bedroom window, while the morning sunlight illuminates your perfect skin..." Isane felt her cheeks go warm as she blushed under the praise that was being lauded at her. "Or the lovely sound of your cries- your body flush, and your long legs wrapped around me- as I thrust into you." Yumichika added with a teasing smile.
Isane went beet red over the last part of his declaration. "Yumichika!"
After a fair amount of prompting, she finally relented and gingerly slid out of her robe, leaving her tall buxom figure clad in only a simple pair of black panties. It was pretty standard fair for her, a functional pair of panties and a sports bra. She never really bothered with anything fancy. The combination of her large bust size and her body type made something flashier- let alone, just matching- to be hardly worth the trouble. And even then, it wasn't like she'd wanted to "show off" to anyone. Not that her complex over her height would ever let her be so bold. She'd been with Yumichika for a little over a year now, and she still had a hard time understanding what someone like him saw in someone like her.
Yumichika moved to behind the camera, watching as she discarded her robe, revealing the milky white flesh of her breasts and the rosy shade of her nipples. Isane quickly made her way over to the stool, one foot on the ground and the arch of the other resting on one of the support struts. He marveled at Isane as the silver-haired woman did her best to relax for him...
Over the next hour, Isane assumed a variety of poses- some achieved through a bit of prompting on the part of Yumichika. They included: one of her sitting on the stool and leaning back slightly, propped up on her hands and looking into the camera with "bedroom eyes" (as he put it). There was another one of her standing- propped over the stool- and looking over her shoulder with an inviting look. And even a shot of her covering her breasts and giving a small, shy smile.
The tall woman gradually discerned what seemed to her like a 'theme' to the pictures- with her looking at the camera as she would him. She lost count of how many pictures he'd taken of her, when Isane was snapped back to reality by the sound of him turning off the camera for the time being...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Soifon grumbled faintly as she knelt down before the garden of the Shinigami Women's Association, as she tended to the flowers, silently wondering how she'd been roped into this. It felt like her inclusion in these events- let alone the organization- was based solely on the fact that by virtue of being both female and a prominent figure in Soul Society, she was ideal for the group...
"Captain Soifon," a small voice began, drawing away her focus. "How are you?" Hinamori asked with a smile as she appeared. "I- I'm sorry that you keep getting roped into these duties..." The slight woman offered her, giving an apologetic smile. "But, regardless, thank you."
This girl- Hinamori- was even smaller in stature than herself, and seemed to the perfect embodiment of emotional frailty and tragic femininity in her mannerisms. Now faced with the delicate girl- who, by all accounts, should be a broken mess- Soifon felt her previous sense of irritation melt away. She frowned inwardly, thinking how Aizen's actions were tantamount to kicking a puppy when it came to her.
She noted that the small Lieutenant was holding a tray, as she carefully knelt down beside her in the soft earth, and handed a cup of tea to Soifon. "I thought you might be thirsty, so I went and prepared tea ahead of time." Hinamori explained with a smile, while the Captain gladly accepted the drink and took a sip- noting that it tasted of faintly of honey and oranges. "With everything that's happened recently, everyone's been so busy taking care of the respective Division duties..."
Soifon lowered the mason-ware cup and turned to listen to her. "In the face of all that's happened to us, it's easy to forget about taking care of ourselves in the hustle." Hinamori reasoned thoughtfully, turning to the woman. "It's still important to think about ourselves sometimes... It's important to remember the people close to us..." She paused. "Speaking of which, Captain, I heard that you have an admirer."
Soifon choked on the tea, her face reddening. "I heard about it from Lieutenant Matsumoto," Hinamori continued, to the other woman's utter mortification. "Hearing about it- it all sounded so cute, thinking about the Captain and her suitor..." She recalled with a wistful smile.
Soifon's blush shifted several shades darker!
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Isane shivered as she felt the cool, paint-slick bristles of the brush slide against her flesh, the skin of her back prickling slightly in response of the clammy feeling.
Presently, the silver-haired woman was kneeling on the canvas, with her back to Yumichika as he went about painting a detailed image on her back: a stylized depiction of a green, serpentine dragon- in flight over a blue sky- with waves crashing against a cliff side. Thanks to the full-length mirror, she was able to observe the progress of his work... And the look of pure concentration visible in the features of the attractive purple-haired officer now kneeling behind her.
"Yumi... How long will this take?" Isane asked tentatively.
The 4th Seat smirked at her tone. "Well, I should be finished pretty soon with your back." He replied, not looking up from his work. "Not to mention that I've only done your back so far," Yumichika calmly as he went about applying final touches. "And... there's still your front. I don't mind saying that I've got some particularly interesting ideas in mind for your breasts and inner thighs." He added, flashing her a cheeky smile as he looked up from the painting.
"The front?!" Isane exclaimed, whirling around to face him.
Yumichika simply shrugged off her indignation. "Really Isane, you can't expect an artist not to make use of a canvas?" He asked. "Especially when dealing with such a lovely canvas."
Indignation morphed into something unreadable, as a dangerous smile began to creep into Isane's face as she regarded the violet-haired man before her. And then, she leapt at Yumichika- tackling him to the canvas, sending paint brushes and other tools scattering across the floor in the process.
The two Shinigami fell about in a fit of laughter, 'struggling' as they feverishly kissed. The taller of the duo hovered over the shorter- one of the rare moments when Isane made use of the strength that came with being so tall and toned as she was. Their eyes meeting in that instant, and Yumichika gave her a roguish smile- with features so pretty that her heart fluttered a bit.
One thing soon led to another, with the two of them on the floor- disheveled and flushed, with smudges and smears of brightly colored paint across their bodies. Isane was presently sporting a pair of vibrant crimson hand prints on her backside, while a long deep purple line ran down Yumichika's face- starting between his eyes, and running down his left cheek, descending down the middle of his chest, ending in a badly smeared kanji character scribbled over his navel.
The tall woman paused, noting that his usually immaculate hair had become a ruffled mess of violet locks and the feathers that adorned his eyelashes and eyebrow appeared to have been lost in the ensuing 'tussle' between them, after she'd sent them both plummeting to the floor.
"Well," Isane began, folding her arms across his chest and propping herself up. "It looks like we ended up ruining your painting." She added teasingly with a smile.
His hands moved to her waist. "Don't worry," Yumichika replied. "I'm hardly about to complain under such pleasant circumstances." He added, giving her ass a quick squeeze. She jumped slightly, and her blush promptly darkened when she felt herself brush against a certain part of him.
When they'd been a couple for a while, and she felt comfortable enough to let him lead her to his bed, they had consummated their relationship. Isane learned some important things about Yumichika during the course of that first night together. That while his skin was immaculate, soft to the touch and largely devoid of any hair, he was still very much a man. And while his hands were perfectly manicured and maintained, it wasn't from lack of use- which he'd proved, as he expertly teased her sex and elicited a climax from her that had nearly made her eyes water in the afterglow.
The top half of Yumichika's robe had slipped down, so that it was pooled around his waist and elbows, while the lower half had ridden up his hips, showing the simple pair of black athletic shorts he had on underneath the garment. In their current positions- with her straddling his waist, she could instantly tell that he was aroused- as the hardness pressing against her stomach made clear.
Isane smiled and leaned down to kiss him. She recalled what he'd said to her, when he'd taken her hand and gently pressed it against his groin- smiling and telling the blushing woman that she was the cause of this, and to make another point: "Don't let this pretty face fool you, I'm all man where it counts." He added with a sly grin, to which she could only swallow hard as he looked into her eyes.
She snaked her fingers into his dark violet locks- the two deepening the kiss- while his hands moved to the small of her back. After a few moments, they broke the kiss and Isane drew back. "You know, you still owe me for ruining that painting." He casually pointed out. "Though, I think you'll enjoy making it up to me, once you see what I have in mind." Yumichika added.
"Really?" Isane asked, now intrigued as she rose up and sat back.
Yumichika flashed her a devious smile and shifted onto his knees. "I'm sure of it..." He replied in a hushed tone, placing a hand on her shoulder and gently urging her down onto her back- until she was propped up on her elbows. He went about undoing the sash around his waist and discarded his robe, then leaned in to plant a quick kiss on her lips, then pulled back and placed his hands on her waist.
He hooked his fingers under the sides of her black panties and began to gently pull at them, prompting Isane to lift her hips up enough so that Yumichika could remove them. He cast the simple garment aside and she blushed as his gaze lingered on her for a moment. He retrieved a discarded paintbrush from the floor and paused before her. "Isane, haven't you wondered why I didn't make a painting of you?"
Isane remained silent. "I'll tell you," Yumichika replied coolly. "It's because it would be impossible to capture your beauty in a painting... You're already a work of art, I'm just adding some color." He added teasingly, savoring her flustered expression as he moved in closer.
"These lovely long legs of yours..." He continued, running the brush along the length of her toned leg and up the curve of her inner thigh. Isane gave a small pleasured gasp, then clamped her mouth shut, her skin prickling in the wake of the soft bristles. "It's so easy to get lost... And I can never get enough of them." Yumichika commented languidly. "And then, there's your firm stomach..." The brush ghosted along the curve of her hipbone and across her lower abdomen, before slowly circling around her navel. The silver-haired woman gasped, he entire body flinching slightly under his efforts.
He moved the brush to her breasts, then up the swelling curve of one. "Both the shape and form really is something to behold..." Yumichika commented coolly. "Not to mention your nipples..." The slender Officer continued in a leisurely tone. "The color... such a lovely rosy hue." He observed, effortlessly circling the brush head over the aureola- around the stiffened peak. Isane's back arched involuntarily under the stimulation, and a small cry escaped her lips. Embarrassed, she chewed her lower lip. He could tell that she was aroused, but remained utterly impassive.
The violet-haired man regarded her tensed form for a moment, then slowly ran the brush back down along the curve of her full breast, pausing briefly over her flat stomach. Yumichika moved lower, until the bristles touched against the soft mound of silver hair between her legs, then teasingly down along the outer lips of her glistening sex. "Yumichika, wai-" She started to protest.
Isane's breath hitched in the back of her throat as soon as she felt the slightest pressure against her slick folds, prompting him to smoothly run the bristles back up her glistening flesh. The moment she felt the feather-soft touch of the brush upon her aching clit, gently caressing the sensitive bundle of nerves, she let out a cry- the 'dam' of her self control at last breaking as she climaxed!
She collapsed, breathless, her chest heaving, and Yumichika hovered over Isane for a moment, before a smile quickly graced his features. "I told you you'd like it." He commented suavely.
Seeing how wet she was now, in the wake of her recent orgasm, brought Yumichika back to thoughts of his own arousal. As he leaned in to kiss her, Isane extended her arms around him and pulled him down onto her, beating him to the punch as she captured his lips in a hungry kiss. After a moment, they parted and he drew back from her so that he could finish undressing. He placed his hands on her knees, and she was quick to spread her legs to allow him better access to her body.
He was taken aback by the sight before him: of the tall, silver-haired goddess, with her long legs parted in silent invitation, and how incredibly wet she was- a searing image to remember. Yumichika suddenly felt covetous of the gorgeous woman before him. Only for him. Isane was more than ready for him so he had no trouble entering her. She let out a muted groan of pleasure as he entered her, savoring the sensation pooling in her lower body as he buried himself within her.
Yumichika withdrew most of the way out, till only the tip remained, before swiftly thrusting back into her heat. After a few more experimental thrusts, he easily settled into a good rhythm- eliciting a series of gasps from Isane as he moved within her tight passage. It took a great deal of self control on his part not be overwhelmed by the slick warmth presently engulfing him. Yumichika had to remain focused on the woman beneath him, lest he risk embarrassing himself with a premature finish...
Not that the silver-haired minx was making it any easier...
Isane wrapped her legs around his waist and angled her pelvis slightly, allowing him to plunge deeper inside of her. It wasn't long before his thrusts found a "sweet spot" within her, and she arched her back at the sudden stimulation overtaking her body. The silver-haired woman did her best to relax and enjoy the pleasant friction between them as he continued.
Yumichika gasped as he felt her inner walls constricting around him, letting him no that he was on the right track and that her body very much approved of his efforts. He began to slowly increase the speed and depth of his thrusts, eager to get as much of a reaction out of Isane as possible. The violet-haired man found the image of the usually shy and quiet Lieutenant now writhing beneath him in frenzied pleasure extremely erotic, and redoubled his efforts.
He knew from experience that she was getting close to her limit, just as he was. It wouldn't be too long before Isane finally came, so he did his best to ignore the growing sensation burning down in his lower body for as long as he could, while he continued. And soon enough, he felt her insides tighten around his shaft and her back arch stiffly. Yumichika gasped and let out strained cry as he thrust into her one last time- cumming inside her warmth, followed by her own climax secants later.
He toppled onto her as her insides quivered around him, trembling slightly as a final spurt of his cum filled the woman underneath him- her arms and legs wrapped tightly around his hips and shoulders as she orgasmed around him, soaking him in her own juices.
After a moment, Isane opened her eyes. She confirmed that Yumichika was indeed still atop her, and noted with some amusement that his head was nestled snugly between her breasts, a contented smile on his face. She could still make out the sound of his muffled breathing. Eventually, he titled his head up- enough to be able to look her in the eyes- though still resting his chin on her sternum. His collar-length purple hair was darkened and slick against his flush skin. Isane smiled, reaching up to brush a few strands off of his face as he smiled up at her.
When he had recovered enough to support his own weight, Yumichika propped himself up on mostly steady arms, and withdrew himself from her. He frowned slightly upon seeing their juices spill messily onto the floor, but quickly shook it off and returned her smile. Isane sat up as well, noting the trickle of fluids sticking to her inner thighs- in addition to the sweat covering her body.
"Yu- Yumichika..." Isane muttered, brushing her silver bangs from her sweat-slicked brow and out of her eyes, as she looked at him. "Please tell me you brought towels?"
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Karakura Town...
Orihime paused in the entrance of her apartment, and removed her school jacket and hung it inside the small front closet. With that done, the teen then slipped off her shoes and knelt down to put them away in the little cove, next to the umbrella stand. The redhead stopped as she took a moment to look at the two standing umbrellas- one was deep green and featured various black geometric patterns, while the other was bright red with orange and gold stripes.
She couldn't help but sigh. They weren't exactly 'broadcasting' status as a couple, yet neither were they taking any steps to conceal their relationship. Orihime hated the idea of sneaking around behind their backs, and so was relieved when they appeared to mostly accept her choice to be with Ulquiorra, even if they didn't necessarily like him- as was the case with Tatsuki. Prior to informing her friends, she'd summoned her Fairies to appraise them of the new situation... Tsubaki was less than pleased with the news, but was overruled by the others, who seemed content to trust her judgment.
The young woman paused en-rout to the living room when she heard the door open behind her, and turned to see Ulquiorra standing in the doorway. She knew that she was only a few minutes ahead of him, and so hadn't bothered to lock the door when she got home, now watching as he set the security bar and locked the deadbolt. Silence fell between them as he went about removing his school jacket- hanging it in the hall closet, alongside hers- then turned to put his shoes away. She said nothing after their brief eye contact, and he was already about to walk past her without comment...
Ulquiorra stopped when he felt her hand snag his sleeve. He turned around to meet her warm brown eyes with his vibrant green ones. After a moment, she finally broke the crushing silence that had been hanging over them for so long. "Ulquiorra... I want to talk with you, it's important."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Huecco Mundo, North of Las Noches...
Renji held up a pair of binoculars, looking out across the endless sloping dunes of Huecco Mundo that seemed to go on forever. The eternal silver crescent moon was present overhead, amidst the inky black firmament of the night sky. He was part of a detachment of Shinigami that had been sent to survey the area around Las Noches. They were there to ensure that the area was safe- or, as safe as the domain of the Hollows could be- before they committed manpower and resources to rebuilding.
Security was also in their interests, as Renji had recently learned that Soul Society was currently in the preliminary stages of setting up a special new division. The 'Fourteenth', as it was simply being called for the time being, would be a mixed division, comprised of both Shinigami and Arrancar. Aside from simply building barracks within the Soul Realm, separate facilities would be built close to the main Arrancar population center- ergo, the Dome- hence the need to make sure the area was viable. He was currently due west of Las Noches, and was scouting the area.
Sure enough, after a while, he finally spotted something in the distance. His cloak rustled in the breeze as the red-haired Shinigami looked on. Nodding to himself, he lowered his binoculars and tucked them back into the satchel that hung at his side. He then reached up to activate the two-way communicator on his right ear. "This is Lieutenant Abarai to Base, reporting in." He mouthed into the speaker.
The small bud inside his ear came to life. "This is Captain Hitsugaya, we read you at Base. What is your current status?"
"Captain Hitsugaya?" Renji replied, momentarily forgetting protocol.
"Yes, Lieutenant Abarai," the voice replied in mild annoyance. "Until twenty-hundred hours, I will be serving as the Duty Officer, in charge of overseeing the patrols." He explained. "So, now that we've gotten that little explanation out of the way, perhaps you'd like to give me your report, hm?"
"Yes, of course, Captain." Renji replied abruptly, composing himself. "I've spotted what appears to be some king of ruins in the distance..."
"I was about to check in with Lieutenant Matsumoto," Hitsugaya replied. "She's in the north quadrant at the moment. But when she's finished giving her report, we could divert and meet up with you."
Renji nodded to himself. "No need to rush Captain Hitsugaya, I'll go on ahead and check things out while you two finish up there..." He offered. "I'll report back if I find anything significant."
"Right." The young captain replied. "Just be sure to maintain radio-contact, it'll be about an hour before we arrive... So don't take any unnecessary risks in the mean time."
"Understood, sir." Renji replied. With that, he made his way across the sloping dunes, until he reached the peak of a particularly tall one, where he spotted the ruins. They were covered with a thick layer of sand, but there was still enough visible to make out the general dimensions of it.
He bent one knee and extended the other foot- to acted like a the plow of a sled- as he slid down the side of the dune, to the level ground below. Upon reaching the base, he was suddenly struck by an odd sense of awareness. He threw his cloak back and reached for the handle of his Zanpakuto- but had to quickly leap to the side, as something tore through the sands!
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Ulquiorra regarded Orihime for a moment, noting the imploring gaze in her soft honey-brown eyes as she looked at him, then nodded- gently taking her hand and leading her to the living room. Once there, the two of them sat down on the couch. Ulquiorra reclined slightly as Orihime propped her hands on her knees and took a deep breath, then turned to him.
Orihime exhaled. "I know that I've been acting weird around you lately, and that I've made things tense between us because of it..." She paused briefly. "I'm not sure how else I can say this... I've been feeling distracted recently, because I've become aware of you." The redhead explained. "It took me till now to realize that I never really considered what you are- that you're not human. Before now, there was so much going on around us that I never stopped to think about us."
He arched a brow at the comment, but she was quick to continue. "I don't care about what you are, all that matters to me is who you are- and I know you, you're Ulquiorra." Orihime explained softly, placing a hand on his as she spoke. "I want to get closer to you... And not just on my terms, as a human, but on your terms, as your partner..." She blushed. "And as your... mate."
Something intense flickered Ulquiorra's brilliant green eyes, and he wrapped his pale hand around her smaller one, as if to reassure her. "When Ichigo came for me and you fought... I think I understand now that it wasn't just a fight between two opposing warriors... You were fighting for me, to prove yourself, because Ichigo wasn't just your enemy- you saw him as a... rival." She paused, collecting her thoughts before she continued. "Knowing that you'd fight for me, that you'd kill for me... I don't know what to say, except... That part of me is excited by the idea, to think that I could mean that much to you." She finished a small, bashful smile as she looked at him.
Ulquiorra allowed a smile as he reached up to caress her cheek. "As I said to you in Las Noches, I will do whatever it takes to prove myself worthy." He replied softly. "Were you a Hollow, I suspect I would have to contend with many others to win your favor..." He remarked. "But then, only a fool wouldn't be prepared to fight for one so desirable as you." He finished, leaning in towards her.
Orihime blushed at the comment, but made no effort to resist him as he move his hand through her hair to the nape of her neck and tilted her head slightly. Without saying another word, he captured her lips in a passionate kiss. The redhead whimpered into his mouth, even as she pressed herself against his frame as she sought to deepen the kiss, throwing her arms around him...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Renji deftly rolled to the side, as a flurry of white sand filled the air. The Soul Reaper quickly got to his feet, tightly gripping the handle of his Zanpakuto, as whatever had rent apart the ground now suddenly fluttered back- through the curtain of falling sand- like a length of wire suddenly being recalled. As the haze cleared, he was taken aback by what he saw before him...
It was a woman- she looked to be about 5'8" tall, with wan skin, sleek flowing dark hair and inhuman crimson eyes. Her bangs hung evenly just above her eyebrows with two locks in the front framing the sides of her face, while the rest spilled down her back. Her eyes were dark red, like garnet gemstones, and were framed by her dark lashes. Bone-white protrusions, starting from above her ears, adorned the edges of her delicate jawline, faintly resembling the mandibles of an insect. Her hand was outstretched towards him, glowing light blue, as an identically-colored thread of energy returned to it.
A long black cape hung from around her shoulders, with black feathers adorning the collar and mantel covering her shoulders. She wore a skimpy black gown underneath, with a gap in the front that showed off her cleavage- and her Hollow Hole just below, at the peak of her abdomen. The bottom half of the garment consisted of only a front and back segment, so that the full length of her legs- from her hips to her knees- were visible. It appeared to be held in place by a heavy sash around her waist, which had a long curved sword tucked into it. Black leather gauntlets covered her hands and forearms, along with knee-high boots- both of which were lined with black feathers.
"A rouge Arrancar!" Renji frantically thought to himself, still firmly gripping his sword, maintaining his defensive posture as he regarded her.
Her ruby lips curved into a smile. "Well now, what would bring a tall handsome man like yourself out to a place like this?" She asked, her slightly elongated canines visible as she spoke. The purple tassel on the handle of her sword shifted, while the hand guard clattered lightly against the sheath.
"And who's this?" Another, deeper voice asked.
Renji turned to see a man standing over the entrance to the ruins. "Shit, another one..." He muttered under his breath as his gaze shifted between the two of them.
The man had a wild, unkempt mop of fiery red hair- brighter that Renji's- that hung messily around his face and down his back. He was clean-shaven, with a fair complexion, uncanny icy blue eyes and thick dark eyebrows. Two bone-white protrusions stood out from his bright red main- at the 2 and 10 o'clock positions- like horns and were angled so that they were tilted back slightly. He brought up a traditional Japanese kiseru pipe- made of lacquered wood and brass- to his lips and inhaled deeply. He leapt down and exhaled, letting out a small puff of darkly sweet smoke.
He was dressed in a full-length dark black kimono- with images of dark red flames adorning the heavy sleeve cuffs, and covering the thick collar and 'rising' up from the base. The front of the robe hung open so that his torso was visible, along with the sarashi wrapped around his midsection (where his Hollow Hole was likely located). His hands and forearms were bound in cloth wrappings, as were the arches of his feet and up past his ankles. He sported a simple pair of straw sandals- tide at the ankles, while a prayer rosary of wooden beads hung from around his neck.
A bright red obi was wrapped and tied around his waist... Three full-length katanas were tucked into the sash on either side (at the hip), with two tucked into the back (crossed) at low angles. A gourd also hung from his waist, with a narrow wooden case tucked behind the knot in the front. Holding his pipe in one hand, he silently advanced towards Renji- briefly exchanging a small smile with the female, before his free hand came to rest on the handle of one his swords.
(- End of Chapter XII -)
This chapter sees the conclusion of the mini-arc revolving around the various established relationships in this story, as well as setting up for the next act.
I planned out and wrote these three chapters to provide an intimate look into the various relationships in this story. However, two of the couples featured were nowhere near to justifying a sex scene. I wrote Orihime's dream as a sort of compromise, as I felt she's not emotionally ready to go that far, let alone that she's only sixteen. She's not ready to have sex, though that doesn't mean that she wouldn't harbor desires for him (it's normal and to be expected). I also wanted to showcase Ulquiorra's side of the coin- that his feelings for her are stronger than his desire- that he would never force her into anything.
I had a lot of fun simply just writing Yumichika's dialogue. He's flamboyant, yet also flirtatious, and a bit of a rogue and a tease. I've always had kind of a thing for tall, shy girls in anime- like Maggie Mui from Read Or Die The TV- who can also be tough if needed. To be honest, it's one of my kinks, along with women with scars or eye-patches... Sorry if this sounds weird, but I love bad-ass females that wear their wounds like badges of honor and don't take any crap. Hence why Kukaku appeals to me.