Pillars of Sanctuary, a KougaxMuramasa fic
Disclaimer: Bleach is not mine. Have you seen Ep 255? Do you really think it would have gone down this way? Nooooooooo. ;.; Still love you bunches, Mura-chan!
Author's Note: Sorry about lack of updates y'all – I'm wayyyy behind at work and I gotta play catch up for a little bit to make sure our finances are in order. I'll try to squeak in a few more updates this week if I can but aiieee – you know how it goes.
I am desperately trying to conclude Year Two – we've been in Y2 for a while now :D We're still in Y2 for right now, but things should start picking up.
Warning: Kinda angsty – 'msorry. *mumbles* - added little light touches of fluff here and there but the plot is kinda bitter in a lot of places. Love me anyway, yes-yes? As usual – AU, OC's, speculative fanfic – slight spoilers for those that haven't watched 250-251.
I totally fan-love all of you Pillars crew that have been hanging on for nearly nine chapters. 3 I never thought there would be this much love for fillerchars. Ok, I'll stop gushing.
There are mentions of storyline from another fic connected to the Pillars universe, 'Faux Whispers', but it is not required reading to get this chapter.
Storytime in the place to be? You betcha!
He couldn't move.
He couldn't move.
He had to. He had to.
"It's for your own good!"
"No! No it's not! I won't let you!"
He sensed the distress of his beloved partner, the desperate cries for help that would have been voiced.
"Muramasa! Help me, Muramasa!"
He couldn't move.
He couldn't move.
He had to. He had to.
There was a pulling sound, and a scream that shattered all the windows in his mind. Kouga! They were locking him away! No!
Muramasa woke up with a start, shaking from head to toe. He was greeted by Kouga leaning over him with a very concerned look on his face.
"Muramasa."
"Kouga...you're safe..."
The slight sneer in the voice that followed made Muramasa feel a little better. "Of course I'm safe. I'm not weak you know." The voice softened as Kouga ran his hand through Muramasa's hair quietly. "You were having a bad dream, it seems. The way you were thrashing around...I woke up but I couldn't wake you...what were you dreaming about?"
What can I say? I can't tell you what I saw. I can't. I love you too much to even think anymore about the possibility of ever losing you.
Muramasa sighed. "It's nothing, Kouga. You're here, that's all I need right now." He pulled Kouga down for a quick kiss, even though he was well aware that such a term didn't exist for the young shinigami yet. Their relationship was still so new that each kiss seemed to drag on and on, not that Muramasa really minded.
There was a sharp tapping on the door, and Kouga reluctantly rolled off of Muramasa just as Sorgi wandered into the room. He waved politely. "Oh, you're both awake, yay! But why are you so redfaced, Kouga-san? Muramasa-san? Hm...it's kind of like when it's my turn to wake up Marleera-sama and Emi-sama beats me to the punch! They always turn red just like you! Is it something I did?"
Kouga blinked, then chuckled quietly. "Ah...ah...no, I'm sure you're just doing your job. Maybe it's the weather?"
Sorgi mulled over the reply and then shrugged. "Oh well! Doesn't matter I guess - anyway, I wanted to check on you! Muramasa-san went hunting the other day with Emi-sama and the rest of the team, but I know Marleera-sama will want to speak to both of you now. Will you come?"
Muramasa had disappeared and reappeared mere feet from the boy. Sorgi giggled and clapped his hands together. "That's so cool! Can you do it again? What is that?"
"Some other time. We should get going."
Sorgi nodded. "Okay..."
Kouga followed suit, getting up and stretching. He had already had his morning run through the small bath that was tucked into the corner of this room. It was nothing like the area he had at home or even the bathroom that was built in that strange inner world of his, but it did the job for what it was. The water could be warmer, all things considered, but he was in no position to complain.
It was time to face the leader of these Hollow head on. He could do that.
The more he thought about it, with Muramasa at his side, he could do anything.
The Hell butterfly was beautiful, but it signaled that someone wanted to see her immediately, which was never a good thing. She knew exactly who that someone was this time, since she was still trying to avoid him.
Nakamura Yoshinori.
Nii-sama.
So high above her.
Perfect from every angle.
The only one she couldn't beat in five lifetimes, maybe even ten lifetimes.
She hurried through the walkways of Sereitei, resorting to flash step even though her brother would criticize her on such a thing. She wasn't good enough to be his sister; something that was silently reinforced every time that they were together.
She finally found the Academy's instructor's wing, walking quietly through rows of offices before stopping to kneel in the doorway of her brother's wide open office. The other instructors had much smaller offices but her brother had been a rising star on the staff for a long time, and knew how to command a greater position than he deserved.
It made her really dislike him.
"Nii-sama, I am here."
"Enter, Mizuki."
She quietly moved to her feet and walked in, then dropped back down.
"Nii-sama, I wanted to know —"
"What seat are you now?"
"7th, Nii-sama."
"Oh. Only a 7th seat. Still. You are a Nakamura, you know. Or have you forgotten?"
"No, Nii-sama! I mean...definitely not, Nii-sama. I will strive to move higher...it's just..you know..."
"I am aware of the incident you are referring to. Is that your admission of not being able to handle life as a shinigami? Do I need to have you moved out into the administrative staff here?"
Life as a paper pusher was not what Mizuki wanted at all. There was no glory there, no way of really distinguishing yourself. She might as well paint herself with invisible ink and get the same effect.
"I will get stronger, Yoshinori-sama. I promise."
"See that you do. I had Matsumori Yuudai ask me why you have not progressed as much. Have you mended ways with your zanpaktou?"
"I was not aware that I had an issue with my zanpaktou, Nii-sama."
"No sass from you! If you are not getting stronger, there is clearly a reason! You may win sympathy from everyone else, but I will not pity you. You will get stronger and continue to rise above all expectation. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Nii-sama. Forgive me."
"Dismissed."
She realized as she slowly rose to her feet that he never once looked at her. In fact, their entire conversation had been carried out in mere minutes with his back to her the entire time.
As she left the room and covered her pain with flash steps, it fully hit her that not only had he had his back to her, he didn't even turn to notice she had entered the room.
One day, Nii-sama, you're going to have no choice but to turn. I will make you see me clearly.
Kouga studied the woman that was sitting on a large stone chair. He vaguely recognized the dark blue robes and remembered this was the woman that healed him. He was feeling better but the memory of how close he came to death frightened him.
"Good day, Kouga-san. Are you feeling well?"
He nodded and the woman smiled. "Excellent. I am so glad. We have been keeping an eye on your recovery for the last few weeks..."
Kouga blinked. He was out of commission for weeks and not days? He wouldn't really know since he was underground and had no way to really tell time other than his reiatsu countdown ball.
The woman leaned back carefully and sighed. "I can tell that you're still hesitant to be here, yet if you are so worried...why don't we simply send you back?"
"Send me back?"
"To Soul Society."
Kouga shivered. Even if they could do that...he was well aware that there would be several punishments launched his way if he returned early.
"There is no need. I am on a mission here."
"You mean you have been kindly shown the door?"
Confusion flickered over Kouga's features. How did...
Marleera chuckled. "It's quite obvious to me that this 'mission' you speak of is not done from your own free will. I have my own theory on why, but tell me - what happened to make them turn against one of their own?"
One of their own.
Kouga thought for a moment. Was he really one of the shinigami still? He had laid down everything he was to serve their principles - and would do so again, if given the chance. Yet this very meeting was a complete mockery of everything he was raised to believe in. He was taught that these were the enemy, that the only thing a Hollow deserved was a deep slash down the center of the head. Even though their masks were cracked and partially removed, they were still Hollow. He was a shinigami.
Something told him not everything was so black and white as this. This woman healed him when she could have easily let him die. He also realized that if he had died, Muramasa would have disappeared with him. They were connected, and Kouga realized that he did not like the idea of the whispering spirit paying such a high price for a mistake he had nothing to do with.
Kouga vaguely remembered being lifted up and carried in the slender spirit's arms. He would never doubt the strength of the spirit ever again - he was aware that he had to have been a heavy load but there was no hesitation in those movements.
One of their own.
He didn't think he could honestly say that anymore. So he spoke the truth.
"We were sent out of Soul Society because of the nature of my power. Soul Society feels it is too dangerous."
A thin smile graced Marleera's lips. "Oh?"
Kouga nodded, pointing at Muramasa. "He's my zanpaktou."
The man next to the woman grunted. "That's bullshit. I've never seen a damn zanpaktou materialize like that before and speak independently! Lying ass shinigami..."
"Emi. That is enough, darling. Our shinigami friend is speaking the truth. That is a spirit."
The man was about to open his mouth again until he noticed the slim fingers curling into a fist. He dipped his head slightly. "My apologies, Cortine-sama."
If the shift in formality was accepted, it wasn't readily expressed. Instead, Marleera continued. "He disappears and reappears in order to refresh his energy. Also, there are not two different reiatsu signatures between them. While the spirit's reiatsu signature is slightly different, there is not enough of a difference to truly say they are two separate entities."
The woman turned to Kouga again. "What is this power that has Soul Society so ruffled?"
Kouga sighed, dreading this question but unable to steer away from the truth. "Muramasa's special ability is to take control of other zanpaktou. He appeals to their deepest desires and encourages them to rebel against their shinigami."
Marleera nodded. "I would imagine that would be quite...startling for the upper crust of Soul Society to handle. That does not affect me in the slightest."
Kouga noticed the man called Emi grunt again. "Hell yeah - let me have a go at the shinigami, Cortine-sama. If they're supposed to explore the world of Hueco Mundo, we can't send 'em home without a good show!"
"No."
"No?"
"Correct, Emi. Let Deera take up the challenge. That is, if Kouga-san is agreeable?"
Kouga was curious to figure out why this Marleera woman was so convinced that his abilities would be useless against her group. He figured that if he could figure it out he could only get stronger.
A shorter woman in dark brown hakama got up, the wide sleeves of her white top partially trailing behind her. She bowed respectfully to Kouga, stepping back to place her hand quietly on her sword. Kouga noticed that like the others, she only had mere fragments of her Hollow mask left. The top of her uniform was parted slightly to reveal part of her Hollow hole and a pretty good view of her cleavage to boot.
"Aw, if you beat me, Kuchiki-san, I'll let you stare at my chest all you like. Until then... Cortine-sama, where should we go?"
"Down to the pit. I'll light the area."
Kouga watched Marleera's hands move, unable to take his eyes off the sight. He heard Muramasa murmur to himself, and then disappear. The slight vibration at his side indicated exactly where Muramasa had gone, and he thanked him silently for being so quick.
It is easier for us both if you aren't focused on me during battle. We need to see exactly what these Hollow are capable of.
He nodded and followed the Hollow down to this battle area of theirs, unable to take his hand off his zanpaktou for anything in the world.
As always, Muramasa murmured his reassurances in his mind.
Do not worry, Kouga. I am here.
Saira trudged through the snow, looking for something to pass the time. The small stone on a string buzzed in the inner pocket of her robes, the fifth time today.
I do not want to bother with you. Even now.
She decided to answer the call, murmuring to herself. "Yes, Hikaru?"
Been a while, Rosen Saira. Are you still waiting on your precious Mura-chan to return to you?
"You and I have nothing to say to each other."
Oh, you wound me. Is it that you don't know how to deal with a man that can't just tear his way into your inner world? Is that what you're into?
"Be quiet, now. You're only trying to upset me."
Maybe. Maybe not.
"No more games. What do you want?"
You.
Saira sighed, expecting that type of answer. The three of them had a long history together. There was a time where Hikaru, Muramasa and she were very close, but in an awkward way. She was aware there was an informal triangle of interest brewing between all of them. Hikaru never really forgave her for encouraging Muramasa to finally let Kouga know how he really felt. If she had stayed out of the way, perhaps Hikaru and Muramasa would have been able to carry on a relationship.
You forget that I made the decision to protect your heart too, Hikaru. As long as Kouga is in the picture, Muramasa can't see anything else. He just can't.
"You can't use me to change the way the situation has to be right now."
We could take care of each other quite nicely. After all, Muramasa left you here, all alone. I sense it's cold there. Why is it cold, Sai-chan?
"The mistress wants it that way."
My, my, times have changed. Mm. I've always wanted to know what cold is like.
"Who said you were coming over?"
You know you want me there. They aren't going to be back for ten years, Sai-chan. Not to mention you have no reason to be...faithful at all.
The words were correct but they still filled Saira with worry and panic. She didn't want to invite him here, really. Even though many years had passed between that early informal triangle of interest and now, she still wished things could be different.
"Indeed. But I'm...I don't...want any of that. If you come here, we start over. As friends."
Of course. I'm just your friendly neighboring zanpaktou. I'm harmless.
Saira snorted. Hikaru, there are plenty of words to attach to you, but harmless is definitely not one of them.
She shivered, but it wasn't from the cold or even from the things Hikaru might have up his sleeve. She wanted to see Muramasa, wished desperately that it was him and not Hikaru coming into this new world of snow and ice. She made a quick check to make sure the mistress was still occupied.
She saw Mizuki resting in her quarters, and she breathed in deeply. She would have at least a few hours.
"Fine. Come on in."
AN: Whaa, cliffhanger ;.; I wanted to include the full fight scene here but I still need to work out the mechanics. Since this is AU, I want to slowly build up to Muramasa and Kouga's full range of powers.
Forgive my Japanese naming - I really liked Yoshinori when I looked up the meaning of the name - I remembered Kouga saying something about Nakamura-san and figured I probably should plug my own plot holes -.- Yes, I'm having Rukia/Byakuya flashes with the whole Nii-sama thing. Meh, for some reason it fit when I wrote it.
I'll leave it up to you whether or not Muramasa's abilities will actually work against the arrancar - honestly, from everything I've read - the zanpaktou controlling angle is ineffective given how the Arrancar actually gain their power...
Plot. Plot. Plot. :) I'm trying to move the story along, as much as I'm enjoying the Ten Years of Seclusion. It's not all lemons and relationship struggles - I want to also highlight the 'stranger in a strange land' angle of being around the arrancar.
Needed some Sorgi :) Aww, so cute!
Am I foreshadowing in the opening scene? (Hollow Ichigo voice) Maybe, maybe not. I wanted to play on Muramasa's greatest fear - losing Kouga - without actually going there. I also had to capture Kouga's cockiness (that man is cocky as all get out, but if I had a hax set of powers I'd be cocky too!)
A little shorter, but I'm trying to update 4 storyverses in one week ;.; go easy on your fangirl? please?
Oh, and Hikaru is an OC zan from 'Faux Whispers', an M-rated story set within the Pillars storyverse, but before Chapter 1 of 'Sanctuary'. I wanted to tie him in and connect the two stories without having to let FW float too long.
I still want Kouga and Muramasa to be lovers, but I don't see these two as the true lovey-dovey type. Muramasa knowing instinctively to return to the sword without Kouga saying a word is one of those 'I do it without being told because I love you' moments without being overly mushy.
Still trying to weave all the classic Pillars running jokes, gags, and wordflow/wordplay (the triple statements, excessive thought trains, etc) on top of getting us out of Year Two - I'll probably touch on Year Three and then skip ahead to Year Five, skip again to Year Eight, and then cover the Final Year in 3-5 chapters. We'll get back to the Soul Society and the ending after TYoS in roughly 5-7 chapters.
I don't want to spoil the ending but all I will say is this: this is a storyverse. Therefore, Sanctuary has an ending, but Kouga and Muramasa do not. :) Make sense? *winks*
And yes, Deca is coming. :D It was realllllllly tempting to put a lemony bit in that opening scene but I had to remind myself this isn't Decadence. *is a good girl for now*
I know y'all are attached to K & M, and all I can ask is that you continue to trust me. It may get a little bumpy, but I will take care of ya just fine ;) *bakes lots and lots of Kouga and Muramasa cookies* I heart you guys for hanging in there :D
Oh yeah. Fanfiction tried to eat it several times - it's 8.44PM now... I've been trying to upload since 5:45pm. *mehmehmeh* - go easy on your fangirl. I'm kinda tired and cranky and FFnet is not helpin'.