Author's Note: Lemonade warning! Again, I've posted the more...ah...complete...version on DA for those of you who are less squirmy. The link for DA is on my profile. Enjoy the IchiRukiness of the chappie, and the background as the plot thickens, and we find out exactly who Hitsugaya is, and what Aizen and his compatriots are up to! -Lex
Chapter Fourteen: Touch and Go*
"The Dragon," whispered Rukia, under her breath. They were headed down another underground passage,
"You know him?" Renji asked.
"I know of him," she replied. "'The Boy Pirate,' he was also called. But, this can't be him." She shook her head as she said the last words.
"Why can't it be the same kid you've heard of?" Ichigo asked.
"The legend of the Dragon is centuries old," Rukia explained. "Unless…" She broke off, turning her head so Ichigo wouldn't see the expression on her face.
"Unless, what?" he responded.
"Unless…," she repeated, thinking quickly, "unless it's a title that's been passed down through generations of pirates."
She was relieved when he didn't press her further, but asked her, instead, "Do you think they're working with Aizen and his men?"
"I don't know," Rukia said.
"Move!" shouted one of the men behind them, poking the tip of his sword at Ichigo's back. "And no talking."
Ichigo scowled, but was silent, following the others deeper into the cave. It was nearly an hour later when they arrived in an enormous cavern which, as before, appeared to be lit by crystals embedded in the cave walls. Ichigo was convinced that they could have reached their destination far more quickly, but that Hitsugaya and his men had chosen a circuitous route to keep Rukia, Renji and him from being able to find the cavern again.
As they walked into the cavern, it became immediately clear that this vast space was used as an underground town for Hitsugaya's pirates. Scores of tiny shacks were perched on rocks that jutted out from the sides of the cave, and a larger encampment, built from the rocks themselves, stood in the center. Ichigo assumed the latter was used as a headquarters, and probably housed Hitsugaya and the other pirates who were in charge of the group.
Ichigo, Renji and Rukia were ushered into a holding cell – although instead of iron bars where one might expect to see them, there were pillars of stone with narrow spaces between. Renji grinned at Rukia and Ichigo, a not-so-subtle way of expressing the opinion that they could easily escape from such a prison.
"What now?" asked Ichigo, hoping that Rukia might shed more light on the pirates that had captured them.
"We wait," she replied, simply.
"Wait?" Renji squawked, impatiently. "For what? For them to realize they've caught a British Naval Officer and kill us all?"
"She's right," Ichigo replied. "We came here to find pirates. If they're working with Aizen, so much the better. If not, well I know at least a few of my superiors in London who would be happy to…"
"Happy to do what, Captain Kurosaki?" Hitsugaya stood outside the holding cell, scowling.
"How do you know my name?" demanded Ichigo.
"I'm not stupid, Kurosaki," Hitsugaya replied, dismissively. "I don't go rounding up intruders before I have an idea of what I'm up against."
"Great," grumbled Renji. "A pipsqueak with an attitude."
"Abarai Renji," said Hitsugaya, ignoring the insult. "First mate on the Soul Warrior." Renji looked shocked. "And Kuchiki Rukia, her captain."
"You appear to be well-informed," said Rukia, eyebrow raised.
"I am not a novice, Captain Kuchiki, despite appearances," came the reply. Hitsugaya's turquoise eyes seemed to burn from within as he looked from one captive to the other.
"What do you intend to do with us, Toushirou?" asked Ichigo, purposely using the boy's first name.
"It's Captain Hitsugaya," said the silver-haired boy who stood before them.
"Captain?" laughed Ichigo. "And since when do pirates follow a boy who's barely old enough to…"
"Ichigo!" said Rukia, glaring at the orange-haired captain. Ichigo was silent.
"What do you plan to do with us?" asked Renji, tired of sitting in the corner and listening to the other two speak.
"I had planned on getting rid of you," replied Hitsugaya, with some irritation. "Unfortunately – or fortunately for you – I have been convinced to spare your lives."
"Convinced?" asked Renji. "By whom?"
"By me," came a woman's voice, warm and musical.
"R…Rangiku?" stammered Renji. "What are you doing here?"
"I live here," she laughed, walking over to Hitsugaya. "At least, I do part of the year. The rest of the year, well, you know where I live."
"I don't understand," said Renji, shocked.
"I'm first mate on the Serendipity," she said, smiling. "Captain Hitsugaya's ship."
"But I thought…," began Renji, his voice trailing off.
"I bought the Roost so I could keep up with what was happening in and around the islands," Matsumoto explained, with a smile.
"You're a…pirate, too?"
"You seem surprised," said Hitsugaya and, for the first time since they had met him, Ichigo thought he saw a slight smirk pass over the pirate's lips.
"I…well," Renji said, at a loss for words.
"You know perfectly well that women can be pirates, Renji," Rangiku laughed, looking over a Rukia.
"Yes, but she's…"
"Not a real pirate? She could be," said Rangiku, smiling.
"Who are you working with?" Ichigo asked, tired of the banter.
"We work alone," said Hitsugaya.
"There are rumors that Aizen has established a base on these islands," interjected Rukia.
Hitsugaya's eyes narrowed – the subject was clearly a sore point for him. "He's sent men to these islands, looking for us. His base is somewhere on Basse-Terre, on the big island on Guadeloupe."
"So the lights the fishermen reported seeing…?" Rukia asked.
"We've taken care not to be discovered," Hitsugaya replied, coolly.
"What are you going to do with us?" Ichigo asked. "You said you're not going to kill us."
"You're free to go," said Hitsugaya, nodding to Rangiku, who unlocked the cell.
"Just like that?" Ichigo asked, suspicious.
"Yes," Hitsugaya answered. "'Just like that'."
"I had hoped you'd consider staying with us for a few days," Rangiku said, winking at Renji, who blushed scarlet. "The Gallant is still in the harbor. You could at least stay until they've given up looking for you."
"Why would they give up so easily?" Ichigo asked, still unconvinced. "They know we're here, somewhere."
"I've sent some of my men to…distract them," Hitsugaya replied, his expression unchanged. "They are quite expert at impersonating other people."
Ichigo looked at Rukia. They had not planned on returning to the Vincent for several more days, and now that they knew Aizen's base was not on the smaller Des Saintes islands, they could do little here. Rukia nodded and Renji grinned.
They were each given small rooms and invited to join Hitsugaya and the other pirates for dinner. Renji, having bathed, this time in water that was not ice cold, wandered about the encampment, curious to see the underground village the pirates had established.
"Impressive, isn't it?" came Rangiku's voice from behind him, as he walked around the huge cavern, peering into small houses and storage facilities stocked with months of dry staples.
"It is," he replied, turning to her and grinning like a kid. "Reminds me of some of the stories I used to read as a kid about underground cities."
"This settlement has been here for nearly five centuries," she said, smiling.
"The Dragon's Lair," laughed Renji. Matsumoto looked slightly uncomfortable, but nodded. "I've heard the legend, too. The boy pirate who managed to subdue all the others and create his own army of men."
Matsumoto said nothing.
"But it isn't a legend, is it, Rangiku?" asked Renji, not expecting an answer. "He is the same boy, isn't he?"
"It is forbidden to speak of it," Rangiku answered, her voice low. "If outsiders knew…"
"It's alright," said Renji, putting his hand on her shoulder. "We all have our secrets."
"Speaking of which," she began, studying him intently. "Have you shared your little secret with your Captain?"
"Not in so many words."
"Renji," she chastised. "Why not?"
"I know when I've lost the battle, Rangiku. I can see the way she looks at Kurosaki. No use crying over spilt milk." His face was bright, but Matsumoto could see pain in his eyes.
"Hmm," she said, hands on her hips now. "I won't tell you I told you so – you have only yourself to blame for waiting too long to tell her."
Renji was silent, but shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, then," said Rangiku, taking his hand in hers, "we'll just have to find something else to cheer you up."
He looked at her with some surprise.
"What?" she laughed. "Did you think I was joking when I said I'd be happy if there were some of you left for me?"
"I…well…," he stammered, looking at her as though she had lost her mind. "I suppose I did think it was a joke."
"Hardly," she said, laughing merrily. "Does it disturb you that I might have better sense than she?"
"Ah…no," said Renji, grinning now. "I'm flattered."
"Just flattered, huh?" she said, in mock disappointment. "Not interested."
"No…I mean, yes," he stammered, "I am interested. It's just that…"
"Show me then," she said, laughing again as she pulled his face towards hers and kissed him soundly on the lips.
"Captain Hitsugaya," said Rukia, walking into the small office in the main complex of the pirate community.
"Captain Kuchiki," Hitsugaya replied, stiffly, nodding for her to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk. "I trust your accommodations are satisfactory?"
"Very much so," she replied.
"Is there something I can help you with?" he asked.
"I realize that we are your guests," she began, looking slightly awkward.
"But?" he asked, never one to stand on formalities. He was always far more comfortable cutting to the chase. "You have something you want to ask me, do you not, Captain?"
"Yes," she replied, slightly taken aback at his forthrightness.
"Please, Captain, ask me then," he said, putting down the pen with which he had been writing and focusing his turquoise eyes on her.
"I have known that the Dragon existed since I was a child," she began, watching his face to see if he would react. He did not, but continued to look at her.
"You want to know if I am the Dragon?" he asked. She nearly choked.
"Yes," she answered.
"I am he," replied Hitsugaya.
"But that would make you…
"Nearly five-hundred years old," he supplied. "Yes."
Her mouth formed an astonished 'oh', but she did not speak.
"That surprises you? But I am no different than you, Captain," he said, the edges of his mouth curling up slightly.
"I don't understand," she said, confused.
"I am a Druid, just like you."
"You're a…?"
"You hadn't realized that?" This apparently amused Hitsugaya, because he chuckled softly. "Why do you think I let you go? Certainly you don't think I would release a Navy officer so he could go report the location of our confederation just on my first officer's advice, or even a hunch?"
"I…," she hesitated, realizing how silly it would sound to say that she believed Matsumoto had persuaded him to release them. "No," she said, finally.
"I had my doubts about Captain Kurosaki, of course," Hitsugaya continued. "But I got the distinct impression that he is on your side, even if he hasn't fully realized it yet. Good thing for him, too, or he'd probably be dead right now."
Rukia stared at the silver-haired boy in astonishment. This time, Hitsugaya laughed – and Rukia saw what she had seen in his eyes before – a wisdom far beyond what his physical appearance would suggest.
"You have the Talisman, then?" she asked.
He nodded. "I am the keeper of the Talisman," he replied. "Our people have asked me to safeguard it, to keep if from those who would seek to abuse its power."
"The stories are true, then," Rukia said, taking in this piece of information. "Those people who remain within the reach of the Talisman cannot die."
Hitsugaya laughed. "Oh, we can die," he said. "But we age far more slowly."
"Aizen wants the Talisman," she said, understanding dawning. "That's why he's here."
Hitsugaya's face darkened. "He will not have it."
"But he knows you're here," said Rukia, stating the obvious.
"Aye," said Hitsugaya. "Which is why we must leave. And soon."
"Leave?"
"The Talisman's rightful place is in Thyelia," said Hitsugaya, with a sigh. "It was only hidden here, with me, until such time as Thyelia would be safe enough for the Talisman to be moved."
"Why are you telling me all this, Captain Hitsugaya?" Rukia asked, although she was pretty sure she already knew the answer.
"I seek your help, to restore the Talisman to Thyelia."
"My help? But I have no ship," she replied, frustration evident in her expression.
"You will recapture your ship," said Hitsugaya. "I will assist you."
"Thank you," she answered. "And, of course, I will do anything in my power to…"
"Kurosaki must not know about any of this," said Hitsugaya, interrupting her. She said nothing, but looked at him in surprise. "He still owes his allegiance to the Navy. I do not believe he will betray us, but I am unwilling to take that risk, all the same."
"No," Rukia replied, "of course not." She felt a queasy, sinking feeling deep in her gut.
"I can tell that you care a great deal for that man," said Hitsugaya, his face cold again. "But you must understand that, if he does betray us, I will kill him. The Talisman is far too important to fall into the hands of the Navy, or worse: Aizen's hands."
"I understand," Rukia said, slowly, standing up and nodding to Hitsugaya. "I know what's at stake."
"Good," replied Hitsugaya, picking up his pen again.
Rukia left Hitsugaya's office, still overwhelmed by what she had learned. The realization that the Talisman was here, nearby, was inconceivable to her. The Talisman – the most powerful tool the Druids possessed – was the key to the survival of her people and the ultimate defense should the secret of their existence become public. In the hands of the military, or a criminal like Aizen…she couldn't even imagine the damage that might be done or the number of lives lost as a result. No, she could not tell Ichigo about this, much as she had grown to trust him. It was simply too important to risk everything dear to her based solely upon her personal assessment of the Navy captain.
She walked along the perimeter of the cavern, absent-mindedly running her fingers over the glowing rocks. She had, in truth, never been completely honest with Ichigo about who she was and what the true abilities of the Druids were. Over time, she had begun to doubt that she done the right thing by not being completely honest with him. Now, the realization that so much more hung in the balance than just the lives of her crew and her people made her feel even guiltier that she could not tell him more. This entire mission – this hunt for Aizen's base – had become far more complicated than she had anticipated. If it weren't for the Soul Warrior and her crew, still in Navy custody…
"Thinking?" asked Ichigo, walking up behind her and resting his hands gently on her shoulders.
She wanted to pull away – she had avoided being alone with him this long – but she did not move.
"Feeling guilty, I suppose," she replied.
He ran his hands gently down her arms, finally catching her hands in his. Her back was against his chest, and she could hear him breathing.
"About your crew?" he asked.
She could smell him – that musky, masculine scent. Leaning against him, feeling his powerful muscles, and the strength that emanated from him made her feel fragile, vulnerable. She both despised her weakness and relished it. Too often, she had had to be the strong one – to protect her crew and her ship. He made her feel like a woman.
"Yes," she said. It was a half-truth, of course.
He turned her around, and she expected that he would kiss her, but he did not. Instead, he took her in his arms and just held her against his chest. In spite of herself, she sighed and felt her body relax.
"Anything I can do?" he asked, his lips by her ear.
She could think of several things she wanted him to do. But nothing had changed, really. When this was all over, when she had recovered her ship, he would go his way and she hers.
"No," she said, softly.
He lifted her hair from her neck and brushed his lips against the sensitive skin there. She inhaled sharply as her body seemed to turn to molten liquid – she felt hot, aroused.
"Ichigo," she began, knowing she should stop him, but not wanting it to stop. "I really think…"
Her words were lost to his lips, words now transformed into a soft moan.
"I know why you're hesitating," he whispered in her ear.
For a split second, she felt fear – fear that he somehow knew she had not been truthful with him – but then she realized he wasn't speaking of some hidden secret, but of her feelings for him.
"You know that we're from two different worlds, that, after this is over, we'll go our separate ways," he said, still holding her close to him.
The sound of his voice, even speaking the words she had not dared to utter, made her feel dizzy.
"Yes," she replied.
He ran his hands over her back and then put them to her face, smiling at her with a hungry look in his eyes.
"Then we should enjoy what we have while we still have it," he said, and he brought her lips to his, running his fingers softly through her hair.
The mood was broken by one of Hitsugaya's men, who walked by them and smirked.
Ichigo took Rukia's hand. "Come with me," he said, his voice barely a whisper. She nodded, and he led her to the small hut he had been given for the duration of their stay.
The tiny room gave them a modicum of privacy, and Ichigo shut the door, lit a small candle, and drew the curtain across the only window. On the floor was a pile of blankets approximating a bed.
"It isn't exactly the captain's quarters," he said, smiling at her. "But it will do."
She smiled, resigned to the fact that she could no longer resist him – that she hungered for him as much as he for her. Gently, she untied his ragged shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. For a moment, she did not touch him, but just watched the dim light dance across his broad chest. She felt dizzy again, as if she had drunk too much wine or rum.
"Yes," she said, her voice husky, "I think it will do." Then, as if exploring a new universe of touch, she ran her fingertips gently over the hard muscles of his chest. His skin was amazingly soft and smooth. Here and there, her fingers touched what remained of the deep scratches he had suffered as a result of rescuing Renji from the river, and she let her fingers warm with her power. He did not need to be healed, but she felt compelled to heal him, all the same.
He smiled and lifted her shirt over her head. It was as if his brown eyes were lit from within as he took in her beauty, her pale skin, the line of her delicate shoulders. "You are beautiful, Kuchiki Rukia," he said, fighting the urge to take her, then and there. He wanted her so badly; he could barely catch his breath.
Following her lead, he focused on the tips of his fingers, which glowed faintly blue, and ran them across her skin. She moaned with delight at the warmth and she thought she might faint from the intense pleasure of it.
"Ichigo," she sighed, pulling his face to hers and exploring his mouth with her tongue. He tasted like the sea, salty and cool. She bit lightly on his lip and felt his pulse quicken.
He laid her gently down onto the blankets, running his fingers delicately over her skin so that she shivered. Then he took off his pants and hers, as well, and lay down next to her, holding her body against his, reveling in the feel of her skin against his.
"Ichigo, I need to tell you something," she began, getting up her courage to come clean, to tell him all the things she knew he would want to know.
He put his finger to her lips and whispered, "Shhh. I don't need to know anything now. I don't want to talk now. I just want to look at you."
She made to protest, but he silenced her with a kiss that made her forget her guilt, and when he gathered her in his arms, she completely forgot about why she had even thought she needed to tell him anything at all. He kissed her lips, her neck, wrapping his arms underneath her and pulling her on top of him, feeling the curve of her slim figure.
He had never wanted to possess anyone so completely. And even though he knew they would probably never be able to live a normal life together, in that instant, he didn't care. Damn the pain of loss – he would deal with that later – for now, he wanted nothing more than to embrace oblivion in her arms. And as their two bodies clung together, seeking release, he found himself speaking words he had never intended to speak – words that came from the bottom of his soul.
"I love you, Rukia."
She loved him as well, of that she was sure, but she would not answer. Her silence felt like yet another betrayal of the man in whose arms she now lay.
"Oh, God," she thought, forcing herself not to respond with the truth of her own feelings. "How long can I keep this up?"
*Touch and Go: The bottom of the ship touching the bottom, but not grounding.