I DON'T OWN BLEACH
Toshiro/Femichi
Shiro-chan is an adult in this one. Just go with it ;D!
"Ever since mom died, I have always... always hated the rain."
What the Rain Gave Me
Chapter 1; Under the Wisteria
"Hello?" Toshiro's rough voice growls into the phone with Matsumoto on the other end complaining about losing her pink scarf, but she is in Karakura town on a mission and can't wait another damn minute to get a new one. "Have you heard of time zones? It's four in the morn- I can't go fetch it. I don't want to that's why."
It's four in the morning and Toshiro is restless. Once he is woke up, like a devil on his back, his mind won't calm and it takes him awhile to get back to sleep. Stepping outside his office his haori billows in the brisk winter air. A thin layer of frost is covering everything outside with a glassy sheen of ice making the land reflect the bold full moon in the clear sky. He loves this time of night when everyone else is sleeping and he can drifting through his division in the cool quiet. His cell phone beeps out a message disrupting his solace and he lifts the plain back phone to look at the number flashing. "It's from Kurosaki?"
"Hey Toshiro! I got your number from Rangiku-san. How are you doing?!"
His right eye twitches. Figures... Kurosaki gives Matsumoto the suffix. With a sigh he reads the rest of the message and frowns. "Matsumoto... why are you bugging Kurosaki with your mission?" Snapping the phone shut he flash steps to the nearest senkaimon and travels to Karakurra town. Setting a foot down on the ground in front of the Kurosaki clinic he smooths a hand through his hair and approaches the door only to sense Rangiku's and Ichigo's reiatsu coming up behind him. "Don't even try it, Matsumoto."
"Awe, you never let me glomp you anymore!" she moans loudly. "Captain, you gotta let a girl have some fun every once in a while!"
"Hey Toshiro." Ichigo blinks at the tall white-haired form turning toward her. "What are you doing out here in the middle of the night and at my house?"
"That is what I would like to know, Matsumoto!" He barks back with his arms folded across his chest. "You can't possibly need Kurosaki's help with a mission this simple."
"Cap-!"
"Ah, I'm intruding." Ichigo says tilting her eyes down to the ground. "Sorry... Rangiku-san."
"Don't pay him any mind, Ichigo. He has been that way for the past ten years." Matsumoto blurts out putting a hand on her curvy hip.
"Ten years, eh?" Looking him over, the tall masculine man makes her feel suddenly self-conscious. Those brilliant teal eyes and the sharp angle of his chin, everyone in Soul Society brags the he is the most handsome of all the Captain's. Ichigo never paid it much notice, until now. "He is handsome. Well he was always attractive... but now he is more... handsome. Something is different about him."
Matsumoto glances at her captain, then back to Ichigo noticing the way the two are looking at each and smiles a wide knowing grin. They like each other! Ohhh this is just too delicious! Now a little nudge is all they need. "Well, I'm going to look for the arrancar on the east side. You go with the Captain, Ichigo-chan and check the west." And she dashes away before Hitsugaya can object. He is going to scold her later, but regardless she will endure it. The captain needs a little fun.
"I guess we are heading west." Ichigo says with a hand pointing up into the sky. What is it? What has changed?
"Yeah..." he replies following her along the vast dark skyline.
"It's this way." Ichigo leads to them to the spot where she sensed the arrancar. "It's at the old hospital." Marching through the double doors she looks left then right. "Come on out. Don't make me hunt you down... again."
"Kurosaki?"
"I recognize this reiatsu. Once I feel one I never forget them. They are all different, like a fingerprint or something. Bingo." she says pointing to the broken chain on the basement door. Deciding to go downstairs and check the boiler room she quickens her pace. "And this guy is mostly harmless."
"A harmless arrancar?" It's almost laughable to Toshiro. They are the enemy. "You know the hollow we are tracking?"
"Yeah, it's a long story."
"Alright." he replies slightly annoyed, but mostly concerned how Ichigo would know about this dangerous hollow. Entering the basement to look around, piles of old hospital equipment and beds stacked up on each are piled in the four corners of the room. "I don't see-" Out of the corner of his eye he sees a small shape the size of a dog dart toward to exit. "Found it." Drawing his sword, he moves quickly behind the small hollow-canine-like creature and prepares to cut it through.
"No don't!" Ichigo cries out but it's too late the tiny dog suddenly growls increasing in size into a huge wolf-like beast. She watches I horror as the creature takes Toshiro off guard. The monstrous tail swings through the air knocking the unsuspecting man into the ceiling then down to the floor. "Damn it Buffy!"
"Grrrrrrr!" The now massive wolf's spiky tail thrashes at the knocking debris and chunks of wall around.
"Bad Buffy!" Ichigo points her finger scolding the arrancar, but it lifts its head up and howls in sadness. "Oh... I-I'm sorr-" But Ichigo is hit by the long tail and pressed to the ground. "Punishment hurts!" Razor sharp fangs hover over Ichigo body, drool drips in large sticky drops all over her and Toshiro's clothes. "Ugh, Not the drool.. come on!" Glancing over at Toshiro, he doesn't appear to be moving and Ichigo grows more concerned. "You hurt my friend!"
"You named it Buffy?" Toshiro growls rising from the floor covered in a thick layer of slime. "Kurosaki! It's not a pet!"
"Buffy is only bad when you try to hurt her! It's YOUR fault she got all big on us!" Ichigo yells back slinging her arms coated in the beasts drool. "Here girl... here girl..." she says in a high pitched voice gesturing to the vicious animal with a smile on her face.
Ichigo is insane. Does she really think calling it in a sweet voice will make it coming running with it's tail between it's legs?! "This is ridicu-" But the animal suddenly shrinks in size and hops up into Ichigo's open palm. "It worked?! I-I can not believe you tamed that thing."
"Awe, she is just a baby." Ichigo pats the tiny dog-like creature on the backside. "Buffy doesn't feed off people. She follows them around until I can Konso them. Don't you~?"
"You honestly think it won't follow it's instinct one day and-"
"If it comes to that I'll take care of-"
"Kurosaki..." he shakes his head frowning at her behavior he can only sigh. He watches the two play with each other with a blank expression. Ichigo lips curl in a sweet smile, her pleasant expression could almost make him smile back. Almost. However, that is certainly an arrancar, and the one Matsumoto was assigned to take care of. It must have fed on something to get that big. Yet, he can't bring himself to tell Ichigo that her little friend is just playing an arrancar game. It will turn on her one day and feed. It's just their nature. "I'm sorry." Toshiro he whispers letting his body flit through the dusty room and slashing the small arrancar in two pieces.
"WHY!" Ichigo watches Buffy fade away, her hands becoming light and empty. "You asshole!" Clenching her jaw she whirls around to punch him but sees him unflinchingly sad. Her fist pauses near his cheek as her chest heaves a heavy sigh.
Tilting his eyes to the dirty floor he doesn't try to block the punch. If she wants to hit him, she should. Toshiro knows he deserves it. He can live with her anger rather than let her be hurt. "Why did you get so close to it?"
The feeling so close to her heart, the emotions, Ichigo keeps locked up are threatening to sufficate her. So used to pushing it back down, over and over the past five years is becoming so difficult. She has become difficult... and she hates herself for it. Just how do you stop a pattern of behavior you adapted for the sake of protecting others?
"Will you tell me why you chose this impossible creature as a pet? Surely you must have expected this outcome?"
Slanting her gaze to meet Toshiro, she is overcome by the concern on his face. What a failure of a woman she has become. He is sitting there worried, and she hasn't protected anyone being this way. So she takes a deep breath and lets it out. The thoughts circling her head everyday, all day fro the past several years. "She was like me..." she whispers sitting down on the steps. "I don't quite fit in anywhere. Should I be put down too?"
Oh god... his heart tightens in his chest. That's why she was attached to it... and he took it away from her. "You aren't an arrancar, Ichigo." Taking a seat next to her, his long legs stretch out in front of him. "You are special. You are nothing like-"
"Aren't I?" Staring at her empty hands she starts to cry, being 'special' hurts. "I have a hollow inside me too."
His hand moves on it's own, he isn't sure of why or what will happen if he does this, but he can't help but want to reassure her of her value. Cupping her chin in his palm, he turns her head gently to look at him. "You are..." Dropping his gaze down to her lips, her mouth opens whispering out his name but he is so distracted by her. The long braid, large round eyes, and the delicate cheekbones of her tan face draw him closer and closer. What is it, that he was going to say? "You are..." Toshiro's thumb moves over her lower lip gently feeling the suppleness of her mouth with an increasing curiosity.
"I'm what?" she manages to say just before his mouth slides over hers, the rush of his kiss strumming it's way through her so pleasantly sweet.
It's instantly quiet around him, the sounds of her tears change into the faintest sigh. Encouraged by her sounds his lips sink into the kiss. Deeper he descends, tilting his head, lingering there with his hand on her chin, the sinful heat growing between their mouths. Scents drift to him from inviting skin on her wrists and neck. The unknown fragrance, surprisingly complicated with vanilla, and amber suits her. He could take it apart a piece at a time to drown in. It's her smell, hers.
Leaning closer together, the dank room seems to glow with softness, his shadow melting into hers on the wall behind him. Toshiro finds himself stripped of the callousness he normally clings too, exchanging it for this usual intimacy with her. Her hands tug at his haori keeping the kiss from ending. Soothed, and lost in the moment he gathers the courage to wrap his arm around her waist and pull her closer. However, his phone interrupts him and her heat vanishes from his lips. "I'm in the middle of something Matsumoto!" he growls into the receiver. This woman is like a disease! An affliction!
"Sorry~!"
"Your timing really sucks, Matsumoto! Did it ever occur to you that I'm busy!"
"Sorry, Captain."
"It's fine." he says hanging up the phone and finding Ichigo gone. "Damn."
~/~
Three weeks later;
Eager for some peace and quiet Toshiro wonders the same well-worn path behind his division towards a small grove of peach trees. In the center of the cluster of fragrant ripening trees is a single Wisteria with it's branches lazily arching it's lavender blossoms to almost touch the ground. Drawn by it's beauty and the welcoming shade it's limbs will provide he dips his head between the branches to settle on the trunk. Soon as he shuts his eyes Ichigo's face flashes in his mind. Again, her scent, the feel of her lips washes over him. Opening his eyes he frowns at the way she has tormented him the past few weeks. "It won't go away." he says with a deep growl, his hand lifting to swipe at his bangs.
Slouching to his side he lays down on the soft spring grass. "Her lips are so soft, she is the softest thing I've ever touched." he mutters to himself turning on his back to gaze up at the pale purple canopy of flowers blocking out the blasting sunlight with it's thick protective branches. Under the comfort of the shade he listens to the stillness while his mind trickles with thoughts of Ichigo. "I like her."
Why can't it be night already? At least then the temperature would be more bearable. The heat is something he can't tolerate very well. It's good to have a day off and not to mention a place where Matsumoto or anyone else can not sense his reiatsu thanks to the dampener the Science division now places on every Captain.
The Soul Shield as Akon called it acts as a ward of sorts blocking off all Captains power levels from not only each other but any enemy that might try and attack them. It's use is just one of the changes made after the Vandenreich attacked Soul Society almost ripping it about in their quest for the destruction of all Shinigami. Warmed and motionless his eyes droop in exhaustion. "I wonder what she is doing right now?"
The breeze carries a coolness and hints of moisture past Toshiro's face waking him up from a peaceful nap. Opening his eyes the darkening sky and the sound of rainfall tells him a rare storm is showering over Soul Society. Flicking his eyes towards a shape standing just outside the dry protection of the tree's branches he sees a pair of sandals. "Who is it?" he asks rising up from the ground and looping his sword around his shoulders. Peering through the branches he glimpses Ichigo Kurosaki standing shyly in the pouring rain waving at him with a ridiculous smile on her face. "Why are you standing in the rain when you could've come under the Wisteria?!" he bellows a little louder than he intended.
"I.. um didn't want to wake you."
"Get in here before you drown on your feet." Toshiro says biting at his tongue to not scold her senseless. Silly woman doesn't have enough sense to escape the rain. Good grief. "Come on then." Grabbing her wrist he plucks her from the rain with a curse on his lips. "Seriously!"
"Sorry." she moans slightly, her head tilting to look at her soaked clothing with a dread creeping up her spine. After working up the courage to come here and ask him about that kiss this is not the impression she wants to give Toshiro. "Um..." she hesitates, wringing the water out of her sleeve with one hand. But she opened up to him once, and it was so nice Ichigo wants to experience it again. "I keep thinking about you, Toshiro and that kiss we shared." Gazing up at him she manages a nervous smile. "I... can't stop thinking about it actually."
"I see." he replies staring up at the lavender petals flitting to the ground. Is that a good thing? Could Ichigo be unhappy about it? Tch, being unsure about someones feelings is hell. "I..." his mouth opens to apologize, but it would be disingenuous. Toshiro isn't sorry for kissing her, those lips are incredible against his. "I will not apologize for that."
"I enjoyed it." she says as her shoulders begin to tremble from the cool rain soaking through her uniform and the confident sound of his voice. "I really... like you, Toshiro." Confessing to someone you have known for so long is scary. The chance of Toshiro throwing it in her face is low, but it has been a year since she has been anyone's girlfriend. After being alone for awhile you start to get used to it. The loneliness begins to feel normal. You adapt and figure why bother finding someone new when you were so miserable at the end of your last relationship. "Is that ok with you?"
"I'm alright with that."
"Yes!" Her arms move on her own wrapping around his neck. Instantly she jerks his body up against hers, seconds later his mouth is colliding with hers, greedy and passionate. The kiss is intense, making her heart beat so loud in her ears that all she can sense is his lips pulling at hers. "Oh, I like him. I do."
"Her fragrance is even stronger with the rain." he thinks feeling the coldness of the rain soak into his haori. Closing his eyes, Toshiro sinks into the kiss finally able to kiss her lips again. Met with a more forceful kiss than he had thought possible out of Ichigo he is trapped between her soft body and the immovable tree behind her.
Ichigo starts to struggle for breath, her body hums with a desire she hasn't felt in so long. It's exciting, and just a bit dangerous, but she wants it, she wants to kiss him more and more. But a tickle at her nose makes her break away from him. "I.. um... Ah! Chuuu!"
"Do you see?" he says after hearing her sneezing. "Let's get you dried off." Quickly grabbing her hand he flashes steps them to his division entrance. "Hmm. I can't let you drip everywhere."
"It's fine really-" But hands lift her up to his side and again they flash step this time landing on a second story balcony. "Where on earth?"
"This is my room." Toshiro pushes open the double doors with his free hand. Making three wide strides across the room he slides open another door and sets her down lightly on a mat. "Here." He points a long finger at the shower, then one at the rack of towels. "And here. I will..." his eyes wonder down to her breasts and the small round nipples poking at the material.
"You will?" she flicks her eyes down to her chest then back up to his face now turn pink. "He noticed." Wrapping an around around her chest she also starts to feel heat rise up from her neck to her hairline.
"She saw me." Toshiro frowns ready to kick himself for looking at her breasts. This is an impossible situation! "I will wait in my office." It's not running away.. this is just being a gentleman. Right? He is still respectable!
"But you are wet from the rain. Don't you need to use the shower too?"
That skin... tan... wet.. skin... the fabric is hugging her curves perfectly. His large eyes blink and shift to the right. It's not really an invite into the shower. She did not say WITH her... although that would be so- "I-I will have Matsumoto bring you a change of clothes. Please come to my office when you are finished!" Hell yes he is running away now. There is no shame in that. "I really want in that shower!"
The door abruptly shuts and Ichigo is alone in the small bathroom. "Well, I guess I'm going to meet him in his office."
Forty minutes later Toshiro paces back and forth anxious to see Ichigo appear on the front step. "Where is she?" Women take a long time to get ready. He knows. Hitsugaya has Matsumoto as a vice captain after all. That woman practically has her own time zone. "I'm not good at waiting." he says tugging at his lower lip with his thumb. "Should I go up there?" It would only be checking on her. Upstairs in his bathroom is a very naked... woman... in the shower.
No! He should NOT go up there. That would be improper, and not to mention he wouldn't be able to stop from touching her. It might be for the best to stifle this emotion before it can grow into something more. If Toshiro touches her again he will need more than those soft lips to satisfy the need stirring in his blood. "Should I talk her to-?"
"Sure." Ichigo says descending the final step on the staircase to find Toshiro standing next to his desk. Giving him a small smile her eyes grow more and more interested as his ears turn a pinkish color. "Tell me what?"
"Nothing at-" he says turning towards the sound of her voice. Upon setting eyes on Ichigo his throat tightens, his pulse strumming a powerful tune in his chest that only a lovely woman could incite. The white silk yukata he had delivered looks stunning wrapped around her freshly washed golden skin. "You are beautiful."
"Ha! You are so weird lately." she replies, struggling to shrug off the intense look on his face, not to mention the determined sound of his voice. "What's going on with you?"
"I have not changed, Ichigo." Walking up to her side he gently sets a hand on her shoulder, the soft fabric barely grazing his fingertips. "It's you who has changed."
"Eh? That's ridiculous. I would never change!" Ichigo chuckles out loud, that is until his palm touched her cheek tenderly the affection Toshiro is showing her can no longer be ignored. The laughter silences and her eyes widen in confusion. She stops to think about it seriously. Toshiro wouldn't lie. "How have I changed?" Ichigo asks quietly, her hands clinging to the cool material of her yukata.
"Why do you believe you are the same as an arrancar?" He looks down at her glazed expression with a twinge of regret. It is difficult to confront someone, even more so when it's a person you highly respect. And nobody deserves respect more than Ichigo Kurosaki.
"Toshiro, I-"
"Captain!" Matsumoto pushes open the door interrupting them much to Toshiro's displeasure. "The Captain-Commander is asking for-" Rangiku has seen a lot of things that makes her happy, but walking in to find these two looking so cozy is just THRILLING! "Oh my! Ichigo! I didn't know you were still here. I'll just go tell the Commander you will be there in a few minutes." Walking back to the door she gives Toshiro a thumbs up. "Do your best!"
When the door shuts leaving Toshiro once again alone he turns to find the slender woman gone without a word. "Why does she keep doing that?!"
I know I uploaded already today, but I really loved writing this one and could not wait to share it with you. Please REVIEW if you like it, okies? I have at least 2 chapters planned but if the response is high I can add more! So lets review my lovely's ;D HUGS Fuzzi Don't forget to follow me on Twitter.