Well...didn't expect to get a chapter out for this story so soon after the last ones. I will WARN you that there is a lemon in this chapter, though to be honest, I didn't expect to put one in. I tried to keep it as cohesive as possible but you know how some things just get randomized and what not. I hope you all don't yell at me for it. .
Ichigo stared at the couple as Ishida kept his arms around Orihime.
"Inoue," he started. "Why did you come here? How did you know where we were?"
"I...Ishida told me," she answered. "His father gave me a plane ticket for me to come here. He helped with my passports. He wanted me to come see Ishida-kun because he said I looked lonely."
"So you didn't know she was coming," Ichigo asked Ishida.
"Of course I didn't. I was just as surprised as any of you when we heard her."
"Who was that woman," Orihime asked to no one. "She said I was to have replaced her…what did she mean?"
"I'm not sure what she meant by that, but that was Sachiel," Renji answered. "Our patron here and a fallen angel."
"She's my…girlfriend," Ichigo added quietly.
"Eh?"
"It's a long story, Inoue," Ichigo said. "We didn't know what she was when we came here. First, she said she was a demon slayer. Then we discovered she was more than that."
"You're…you're in shinigami clothes," she observed.
"She was able to restore my powers to me. She can manipulate time, Inoue. She created an alternate universe to do that and retrained me," Ichigo explained. "She restored me."
"So that's what she meant when she said Inoue was like her," Ishida said. "They can both manipulate time but Inoue can only do it on a small scale. Sachiel can manipulate time for the whole world because of what she is."
"And Orihime Inoue was to have taken Sachiel's post when she passed from this world," a deep voice added.
Everyone turned, seeing Michael, Jo and Ulquiorra standing there, looking at all of them huddled together.
Orihime froze, Ulquiorra staring intently at her.
"Ulquiorra," Orihime whispered, standing up.
Jo's eyes went wide, recognizing the woman from the images she'd gleaned from Ulquiorra's mind. This was her…the woman Ulquiorra had loved in his previous life. He didn't go to her as she'd expected. He stood by her, his hand seeking hers; he found it, holding it tightly.
"Sachiel's gone," Ichigo said, turning to the three.
"We know. She paid us a visit," Michael answered.
"And she didn't fight you," Renji asked.
"No. She gave us a warning, though."
"What's that?"
"She remembers how to get into the secret ritual room. And she remembers the ritual for opening the waygate. She advised us not to try to stop her."
"Then we have to stop her," Ichigo said. "She could open that gate at any time!"
"No," Renji said. "There's particular phases when the boundary would be weakest and the spell the most effective."
Ichigo turned to him in surprise.
"He's right. Sachiel's Gate is that of Fire," Michael clarified. "She will have to wait until the solstice in order to be able to perform the ritual with full effectiveness."
"Solstice?"
"The Summer Solstice is the first official day of summer, the season of the sun. She will have until then to prepare for her ritual. That leaves us with plenty of time as well," Michael said.
"For what," Sado asked.
"To train you all." Another brilliant flare of light and yet another angel stepped into the demolished house.
"Uriel?"
"Hello again, Ichigo Kurosaki," the angel said, smiling warmly at him.
"Uriel is going to help us train you all," Michael said. "Well, aside from Jo and Ulquiorra. They've already received the necessary training from Sachiel and Terra, who were both instructed by me. So all that is left is to train you all. Orihime, you're a healer in a sense. We're going to teach you how to fight as well."
"Inoue doesn't fight," Ichigo answered. "And Sa…Sachiel already trained me."
Orihime lowered her head, looking down at the ground. "I don't fight because you and Ishida-kun won't let me," she whispered. "I have the ability to if it's needed." She looked at Ulquiorra for a quick moment before turning back to Ichigo. "They did teach me a few things in Hueco Mundo. But that was mainly centered on my abilities. I want to learn to fight."
Ichigo and Ishida both stared at her. Sado came forward, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You'll do great, Inoue," he said quietly.
She beamed at him, glad that at least one of her friends had confidence in her. Tatsuke was always showing her different moves and she'd grown proficient in them, but she wanted to actually help her friends.
"Then I guess it's settled," Michael said. "We should go downstairs. I'm sure there's lots of questions and Uriel and I can provide answers to what we know. Ichigo, you will receive full training, not the training that my sister gave you. It wasn't complete but enough to make you competent. Understood?"
Ichigo nodded his assent.
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She walked quietly through the tunnel, pitch torches lighting the path as she walked. She remembered her way down, remembered her chambers, she remembered everything.
She reached the end, coming to the large room where sat only one lone chair. Behind it was the chasm, red and fiery in all its glory. This, was the Seat of Power in the chamber of gathering where she and the other minions often met to confer with their lord…her brother Lucifer. She stared at the monstrous chair, its size was adequate to hold a very large man, the form her brother took when speaking with them lest he make them all terrified of him. He had an image to uphold and he did it well.
She sighed to herself, already missing Ulquiorra, Ichigo and the others. She knew that this was her only path and the only way in which she could have some semblance of a life in this human form.
"You look sad, sister," she heard from the other doorway that led to their chambers.
She looked over, seeing her one true friend here in this dismal abyss. She smiled at him. Were he in human form, he also would have smiled. He had missed her, his friend with whom he had shared so much.
"Alex," she said sadly. "I have returned."
"This, I see. But why, is the question," he said walking slowly toward her. Out of all the creatures here in the abyss, his form was the most startling of all. He appeared as a silver tabby, his body graced by deep gray lines. When he moved, his fur looked almost like mercury. Seeing a cat here instead of a demon was the most off putting of all creatures here.
"Where is everyone," she asked, changing the subject.
"As usual, you avoid the question," he chuckled. "They're all out doing whatever it is they do to entertain themselves. Of your turning, they know, so shortly they will return. Your chamber is as it always was. It was kept as you left it, I made sure."
"Good," she said, turning and going down the hall that led to the chambers. Alex followed behind her, running a bit before launching himself at her shoulder, relaxing over it. Sachiel smiled to herself, reaching up and scratching behind his ears.
"Tell me about him," he said as they walked. "You're different, I sense. The same demon you were then is not the same as now."
"Not here. We'll talk when we get to my room so no one can hear us," she whispered.
Alex enjoyed the scratching of his ears while they walked, content to keep quiet since he knew his friend would answer all his questions when she was ready.
Once they were safely inside her chamber, she began to tell him about her plan.
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"Michael," the angel heard in his mind. He smiled slightly to himself, not letting his face betray anything.
"Yes, sister?"
"I need a favor."
"Ask."
"I need to establish a deeper bond with Ichigo. One that Ulquiorra will not be able to feel or penetrate."
"And you want me to help with this how?"
Silence.
He sighed to himself, knowing what his sister was asking. The bond he could make for them would be temporary but would give her enough time to infiltrate his dreams, make the connection she needed with him to ensure that he reached far beyond his current potential.
"Ichigo," he called, stopping the man who was currently sparring with Uriel. He gestured for him to come over. "Uriel, start showing Orihime some of the techniques that you wanted to."
Uriel nodded, putting his sword away and walking over to the girl who was currently watching Sado spar with Gabriel. The angel wasn't going easy on the human, correcting him as he tried to form his energy attacks into a sword for demon fighting.
Haniel was helping with Ishida while Renji sparred with Raphael. They'd been training for several weeks now, the coming of the solstice was only a few more weeks away. They had to be prepared for anything that came before them. So far, everything had been quiet, which unnerved them more than anything else.
Inoue was growing proficient in her ability to draw forth her energies, using them to form a ball of energy which could be used for both offense and defense, healing and hurting. She could also use her spiritual energy to draw forth a shield and had begun to master using a slim katana, which she had been taught to infuse with her energy to make it more effective. Sado, Ishida and Ichigo were impressed with the speed in which she learned these new things. It made her happy and so, made everyone proud and happy for her.
Michael waited for Ichigo, putting a hand on his shoulder when he came near. He pulled Ichigo away from the training ground that they had created for them, taking him up and outside. Ichigo didn't give any resistance, letting the angel guide him. He knew that he was closest to Sachiel and so, wouldn't do anything to harm him but help.
"Ichigo…" he started. He drew a deep breath, sighing inwardly as he released it. "We have a small problem but it can be corrected."
"A problem? With what," he asked.
"You're not ready to fight her or any of the arch demons that we will encounter," Michael clarified. "As powerful as you are and have become, you're not quite on her level. In the form that she's in, she'll tear you apart."
"So what are we doing this for then," he asked.
"There's a way to help you surpass your current level but you have to be willing to participate in it," Michael added.
"I'm listening."
"I can establish a link between you and my sister but it's only temporary. You will have to make a permanent bond with her in order to tap into her powers," he explained.
"And how do I make a permanent bond?"
"Have…have you been intimate with her," he asked hesitantly.
"I've kissed her, slept in the same bed with her, bathed with her but if you're asking if we've had sex, then the answer is no," Ichigo answered straightforwardly.
"Really? Wow…," Michael said in surprise. "She's a beautiful woman. I'm surprised you've been able to hold back from her."
"Yeah, well it's not like I'm a pushy guy and she's never brought it up."
"Well, she might. When I form this bond, it'll be on a level in which certain side effects have been known to happen."
"Like?"
"Your desire for her will increase. More so if you dream of her since she will be in her purest form but not her true form," he explained. "If you copulate with her in any form aside from physical, it will create the permanent bond. But your self restraint may pose a problem."
"I won't force her," Ichigo repeated. "I may be a lot of things but I'm not the kind of guy to force a woman to do something she may not want to just because I might want to."
"If she initiates it, will you?"
Ichigo looked at him with barely concealed anger. "No."
Michael's eyes widened slightly at this revelation. "Then there is no way we can win this battle, Ichigo. I'll inform the others of what is going on tonight after your evening meal. Then, I will send you all back to your homes and this will feel like a distant memory but none of you will remember Sachiel or Ulquiorra or Jo," he said, walking back toward the entrance.
"What will happen to her," Ichigo asked quietly, his heart feeling as if it were breaking.
Michael stopped, turning slowly, sadness showing deeply in his eyes that were glossy from the tears that formed there. "My little sister is lost. She will be destroyed along with the rest," he answered, clenching his jaw.
Ichigo looked at the ground, studying the small bug that crawled slowly across the caked earth and sand. "There's no other way?"
"Not unless you know a way to increase your power to that of a god," Michael said.
"No," Ichigo said, shaking his head. "I don't have an inner hollow any more."
"Then it's settled."
Ichigo turned his head slightly, watching Michael walk to the entrance.
"Wait."
Michael stopped, feeling hope rise up inside him. He closed his eyes, wishing to hear the words he needed to hear.
"I'll do it," Ichigo said. "I cared about her after that first week. I fell in love with her within the months that we spent together in her alternate world. I don't want to be the cause of her destruction. I want to help be her salvation."
"Well said, Ichigo. Well said," Michael said as he turned back to him. "The bond I make will be temporary, as I stated before. If you dream of her, take the first opportunity to make it permanent. She needs you more than you know."
"I need her, too," he whispered.
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Sachiel rolled her eyes to the ceiling. Everything that was being said around the chamber was nothing new that she hadn't heard of before. Her brother's plan to destroy the humans, his need for minions, his need to overthrow the creator. "Blah blah blah," she repeated over and over in her mind. She knew what needed to be done. She knew how to recite the incantation and she knew what symbols needed to be drawn to open the portal through which her brother and his minions would go forward into the world.
She let out an exasperated sigh, turning away from her brother and the others.
"You're leaving us so soon, Sachiel," her brother asked from his throne.
She looked over her shoulder at him. "You're not saying anything that you haven't said in the last ten thousand years, brother," she answered. "I know my job. I know what needs done. I will help you when the time comes but until then, this is all just boring drivel to me."
"Well…apologies for not saying anything to keep your interest," Lucifer replied. "Would you like to lead a slaughter instead?"
"Boring."
"Pick out a few choice candidates for possession?"
She gave him her best imitation of Ulquiorra's droll stare. She locked her eyes on his for a moment before scoffing, turning away. "Whatever you do to entertain yourself, feel free. I'm going to my chambers," she said, her voice echoing through the chasm.
"Fine, dear. We're going to go destroy that small town of yours that you used to protect," her brother said.
She waved her hand dismissively over her shoulder.
Alex watched her leave, turning to go after her. Despite the fact that they were confidants, he was still enslaved and in service to her brother. He answered to him. He hadn't yet told them about Sachiel's plan but he knew he would have to. He merely wanted out, to be free. When he had sworn his allegiance, he hadn't thought that this was how it would be. He had dreamed of power. He received little, still relying on his own spell magic. Trapped in this body, however, he could do nothing more than spy for his liege. That never did sit well with him. His only ray of hope and the reason he had said nothing so far, was Sachiel's promise to free him.
"Alexxion," he heard Lucifer call to him. The cat turned, looking back at the man demon. "Go see to our sister's little friends. See what they're up to. With the solstice only a few weeks away, I want to know what they're planning."
And that's how Alex found himself in his current position, listening intently behind a rock to what Michael was telling Ichigo. When Sachiel had told him of the human, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. But seeing him up close and hearing what he did from the man, he was beginning to.
He could have cried for the joy he was beginning to feel. This was his chance, his opportunity to change his fate. He would tell his lord about their preparations, their sparring but nothing further in regards to what would be happening with his friend. Sachiel would keep her word. She always had in the past.
All he had to do, was bide his time and help his friend.
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She had felt it. During the meeting with her brother and others that were present, she had felt Michael instill the temporary bond between her and Ichigo. If she had completely succumbed to the taint that now flowed in her blood, it would have been ineffective. Since she hadn't, she knew that it would work. However, she did not know that when it was enacted, she would feel her longing for Ichigo hit her with the impact that it did.
She had felt dizzy at first, catching herself as she began to sway in her brother's chamber. When she'd turned away had been when her tears had threatened to show in her eyes. It took almost all her willpower to keep herself from sobbing, to keep her emotion from her voice. If he knew, even suspected that such a bond had been created, he would have killed her on the spot. Lucifer did not do well with betrayal toward him. He was still as self centered as she remembered.
She lay back on her bed, having abandoned most of the new clothing she had created when she'd turned. She lay there in only her top and skirt, the metal armor adornments taken off. She knew what she had to do. It was almost dark in the human world. Ichigo would be going to sleep soon. She closed her eyes, preparing to meet him in his dreams. They needed to act quickly if she was going to give him a link into her powers and abilities; to give him what was needed so that he could defeat her evenly, make her submit to him, to negate the influence her brother currently had over her.
She curled onto her side, snuggling a pillow close to her as she did so many times at night, imagining it were Ichigo. She let herself drift off to sleep.
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Ichigo walked through the vast field of flowers that stretched out before him, looking around as he did so. Michael had told him that he may dream of something not connected to him at all, but rather to Sachiel. Sachiel grew flowers, he knew this from what she'd told him during one of their long talks that they had at night when they were alone.
The myriad of colors that splashed against the green foliage that grew around him was evidence enough that he was in Sachiel's inner world. Flowering trees filled the sides, their colors were soft, adding to the beauty of the dream world he was in. His shinigami shihakusho was a startling contrast to the vibrant and bold colors around him. He took a deep breath, knowing that when he met her here, he would have to do something he'd never considered until Michael told him. His only hope at this time was that it would be consensual, that Sachiel wanted this. He had hoped it would be during a time when he was married but he knew that many people often did it before marriage. "Playing the field" as Keigo called it, even if the boy didn't really know the meaning of the phrase.
As he walked, he looked for her, feeling her presence more strongly now that Michael had placed their bond. Like Sachiel, he had been overwhelmed by the feeling of his longing, of his wanting to feel her in his arms again. He felt himself speeding up, growing anxious as he walked, wanting to see her.
And he did.
Standing there by a tree, was the woman who had filled his mind after Michael cast his spell. She was reaching up for something, the angel jumping to get it, every time, just out of her reach.
He came up behind her quietly, looking up to see what she was after. Above her was a beautiful flower, shaped like a star and of the most delicate silvery blue that Ichigo had ever seen. The center had five smaller petals of a darker blue but not intense, the blending of the colors almost perfect with each other.
"You need longer arms," he said quietly, reaching up and plucking the flower for her.
She turned quickly, her hand on her chest as if she were trying to calm her heart. And she was. She hadn't intended to find him here so soon.
"You startled me," she said quietly, taking the flower he offered.
"I guess I was kind of quiet," he admitted, a shy smile on his face. She smiled back at him. He noticed first that her hair was back in its curls, the coloring back to its original mahogany shot through with gold. Her skin was also peach colored, her cheeks rosy, her lips red and inviting.
"Come sit with me," she offered, holding out her hand.
"You're back to the way I remember you," he said, accepting her hand and pulling her close. He wrapped his arms around her, his face buried in her neck as he held her tightly to him. He sighed, relishing the feel of her in his arms. "I've missed you so much," he whispered against her neck.
"I've missed you as well," she sighed, her arms holding him against her. She pulled away, putting her palm to his cheek in the way she did when they were together. "I'm sorry for putting you through that. I didn't know of any other way."
"Michael told me that we needed to re-establish our link, to make it permanent so that I could tap into your powers," he said, changing the subject. The idea that she was not the woman he loved in the physical world was not one he wanted to discuss at this point in time.
She nodded. "When I'm in this world, I am free of the taint that is in my body on the physical level," she said. "In this world, I am who I should be. Here, I can be with you, Ichigo. I am coming back to you but you have to defeat me in even combat. You have to make me submit to you."
"Submit to me?"
"You have to overpower me, make me swear fealty to you so that my brother's hold over me is broken. Without it, I am lost," she explained. "I plan on ruining his plans to open the waygate so that he can come through and create his hell on earth. But in order for that to happen, we have to get you stronger than me."
"Yeah, he explained that too."
"Then you know what we must do?"
He nodded, his cheeks growing red with embarrassment. "He said there's no other way for us to make it permanent."
She took his hand again, leading him toward the area of the field where she'd been sitting, studying the flowers around her as she waited for him. She sat down on the blanket that she already had laid out, patting the area next to her. Ichigo took the cue, sitting on the blanket nervously.
He took in the low cut of her gown that she was wearing. It was nothing more than a simple chemise, the delicate pale green silk leaving little to the imagination. He could feel his mouth go dry as he watched the top of her breasts moving in time with her breathing, noting the sharp appearance of her nipples against the fabric. Sachiel smiled, noting the direction of his gaze. She put a hand out, touching his chin as she made him look at her.
"Your desire is growing already, I see," she teased. "I didn't know how it would affect a human."
He didn't answer, his eyes hazy and soft, his breath coming in small pants. "I didn't think it would be this hard to be around you," he said huskily.
"It will get better, my love," she said, touching her lips to his.
(And now the reason for the M rating on this story)
He deepened the kiss, his mouth hungrily taking hers as he pushed her back onto the blanket. He moaned into her mouth, relishing the feel of her tongue on his, her body under him. His hand lay on her hip, his fingers digging in to the soft flesh he felt there, the feel of it enhanced by the silk barrier. He let his hand travel down her leg, finding the edge of the hem just above her knee. His hand traveled back up her leg, under the fabric this time as he felt her soft skin. His hand came around, massaging the flesh of her buttocks as he continued to kiss her, her hips instinctively rolling toward him as she felt his hand there.
She spread her knees a small bit, allowing him to place one of his legs between hers, her leg coming up over his hip. Under the gown, she'd worn nothing, preferring to let him feel her body without any restraints that undergarments provided. He ran his hand lightly over her skin, the pleasure of it causing her to whimper into his mouth, goosebumps spreading across her skin.
He broke the kiss, looking into her eyes for a moment before kissing his way down to her neck, sucking softly at the pulse he felt there against his lips. Sachiel arched into him, the rough fabric of his shihakusho scraping against her skin. He kissed her shoulder, moving aside the strap of her chemise as he made his way further down, feeling the soft firmness that signified the swell of her breasts. He stopped, looking back to her, as if asking silently for permission to do more. She looked at him intently, slightly nodding her assent.
Wanting to feel her hands on his body, he moved onto his knees, undoing the buttons on his top coat, leaving it open for her. She had been confused when he'd pulled away but seeing him open his uniform made her smile. She'd loved to bathe him when they were together, had enjoyed running her fingers along his chest, feeling his muscles under her fingers as she massaged his back. She sat up, reaching her mouth up to his as she kissed him again, her hands finding his firm muscles there, tracing them gently. She took her turn, kissing her way down his neck to his chest, her mouth finding one of his nipples. He hissed at the feel of her small teeth scraping gently against it, her tongue soothing the offended flesh. She held onto his waist with one hand, the other moving his coat off his shoulder as her mouth continued to lay kisses on his chest.
Once free of his coat, he took her face in his hands, kissing her passionately again before laying her back on the blanket. He looked down at her, lying there, her fiery hair around her, one breast threatening to spill from the gown. He hooked a finger around the other strap, pulling on it gently before giving it a tug, the strap snapping. He smiled at her sheepishly as if to apologize for tearing her gown. She smiled back, laying there with both her hands reaching above her head as she stretched. The small action moved her gown further down her chest, the top of her breasts even more exposed now.
Ichigo hooked the fabric with a finger, pulling it down further. He studied her breasts for a moment, noting the deep rose color of her nipples, the flesh taut as they puckered under the combination of his gaze and the cool breeze that played across the field. He could feel his mouth watering, his mind wondering at what they would taste like.
Noting his hesitation, Sachiel took one of his hands, guiding it to her breast. She heard his breath hitch slightly as his fingers touched her first, his hand cupping the flesh and massaging it gently before taking the nipple between his thumb and forefinger, rolling it between them. "It's soft," he whispered, taking her other breast in his other hand. In unison, he massaged them, memorizing the feel. He dipped his head, his tongue stroking against one of the nipples. Sachiel moaned, closing her eyes as she enjoyed his tongue playing with one, his hands massaging.
"They fit right in my hands," he marveled, brushing his cheek against a nipple before taking one in his mouth and suckling gently. The soft cry that escaped Sachiel's lips startled him. "Did I hurt you," he asked, stopping and looking at her.
"No, my love. You didn't hurt me. That was a cry of pleasure," she explained.
He smiled shyly. "I've never done this before," he admitted.
"Don't worry, you won't hurt me, Ichigo," she said soothingly. "I want this with you. When this is over, you'll have me the proper way."
He smiled, moving so that he was positioned between her legs, wanting to see all of her. As Sachiel lay there, she smiled invitingly to him. He hesitated for a moment, his hands on her knees, just under the fabric. He slowly moved it upward, his hands caressing her thighs before finding her hips. He kept his eyes focused on hers, his hand moving under the fabric as he continued to stroke her skin. With his fingers, he began to bunch up the fabric, watching as it slowly began to ride higher, smiling as the most intimate part of her body was revealed to him.
He reached down, his fingers brushing against the very sparse hair that covered her mound. He'd seen her naked before but had never initiated any intimate contact with her aside from their kissing and sleeping together, for which they both stayed clothed in their nightwear.
"Touch me, Ichigo," she whispered, spreading her legs more for him. He did, running his fingers gently down her mound, caressing her lips. That small action caused his angel to moan again, her hips moving gently against his fingers. He smiled to himself, bending lower as he massaged her, his thumb finding her small nub. When he touched it, she cried out again, her legs spreading wider as her body arched instinctively. He could see the glistening of her juices on her inner lips. Cautiously, he moved closer, his tongue running along a crease on one side, finding his way to her nub. His actions must have pleased her, her legs now spread as wide as they would go, giving him full access to her. He licked at it again, hearing his angel whimper a bit more.
That whimper was all the encouragement he needed. Putting his mouth fully on her, he let his tongue play with and caress her, Sachiel's hand reaching down and stroking the back of his head as she cried out. With his face buried between her legs, he reached up, finding her breast, intent on massaging it. Sachiel felt his fingers, taking his hand in hers and guiding it to her mouth. She took two of the fingers into her mouth, letting her tongue play with them as she alternately sucked on them, moaning against them.
The feel of her tongue playing with his fingers was foreign to him but his body was instinctively reacting to her play. He could feel the tightening in his groin, feel his shaft harden. Keeping his mouth on her, he reached down with his free hand, loosening his pants to alleviate some of the pressure by undoing the tie at his waist.
He moved away from her suddenly, wanting to have his pants off now that the loosening wasn't doing anything to provide him with relief. Sachiel looked at him, panting, the flush of her cheeks enhancing the sparkle in her eyes from her desire.
"You sure…you've…never done this," she got out between breaths.
He looked at her, giving her that smirk that sent her heart skipping beats. "I've seen a few shows," he admitted. "Keigo was into girls early and would sometimes have them playing when I went over to his place."
"Remind me to thank him if I ever meet him," she giggled, rolling onto her side and sitting up. She moved onto her knees, kissing him, tasting herself on his lips and tongue as she helped him remove his pants. As they fell away, she let her hands run along his legs, finding his shaft. She smiled against his lips, her hands massaging his length, causing the man to inhale sharply before kissing her again.
They stayed like that for several moments, Ichigo feeling himself harden even more as she massaged him. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. Though he was loathe to admit it, he had masturbated a few times but even that paled in comparison.
"My turn," Sachiel whispered against his lips after breaking the kiss. Ichigo looked at her, confused at her comment. The confusion didn't last long as she laid him back against the blanket, his angel staying over him, still stroking his shaft firmly. He looked down, watching her intently, wondering for a moment if that was all she was going to do.
His mind shattered as he felt her mouth suddenly envelope him, her tongue playing along the head for a moment before taking him further into her mouth. She timed her strokes with her hand and mouth, Ichigo's mind going nowhere, suddenly blank as all he could focus on was what she was doing to him. The tightening in his groin was increasing, his moans filling the silence of the field as his angel pleasured him. Before he could stop himself, his breath hitched, his hips thrusting as he released into her mouth, his cry of pleasure filling their ears. But she didn't stop. She took his release fully into her, swallowing it as she continued to stroke, milking every drop from him.
He lay there, panting, shivers coursing through him. He could feel her come up beside him, snuggling against him as she giggled softly.
"You taste wonderful," she said in a whisper.
Ichigo frowned slightly. "I wanted to do that inside of you," he said gruffly, turning his face away from her.
"You still can," she whispered, her fingers trailing along his side.
"Not now, I can't," he argued.
"Ichigo," she said, coming over the man and straddling him. "Men are capable of doing that more than once."
"I've never tried," he answered, still looking away, the heat of embarrassment high on his cheeks. "I don't know if I can."
"We still have time," she said softly, cupping his cheek so that he looked at her. She leaned down, kissing him softly. Ichigo could taste himself mixed with her own sweetness on her tongue. He rolled them over, kissing her softly. Kissing her was the one thing he knew he would never tire of and now, he knew that he wouldn't be able to get enough of her body. Even if they were on another plane, when they consummated their relationship on the physical, it would be the same for him. She was his first and would be his last.
The knowledge of this and the feel of the woman under him were enough to make him hard again. Sachiel smiled against his lips, giggling as she felt his hardness against her mound.
"What?"
"Nothing," she giggled, kissing him again, her fingers burying themselves in his thick hair.
With her help, they guided his shaft to her opening, both moaning as he entered her. The feel of her tightness around him was intoxicating. Ichigo lay atop her for a moment, relishing the sensation as he kissed her. Instinctively, he began to move his hips against hers, her moans filling his mouth. She wrapped her legs around his waist, Ichigo moving over her, supporting himself on his elbows as he thrust. He watched her, noting the way her mouth was slightly open, panting and moaning under him. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her up against him, taking her nipple into his mouth again and suckling it while thrusting into her. The intensity of her moans increased, her hands on his shoulders as she arched into him. He began to thrust harder, moving a bit faster as her inner walls clamped down on his shaft. He sat back on his heels, supporting them both as he leaned back on his free hand, the other still around her waist. Both moved in unison with each other's thrusts.
It was as they found their release together that it happened. Ichigo gasped loudly, feeling energy fill him, Sachiel locked her eyes with his as she felt the same energy fill her. Her eyes flared in a brilliant green, a golden light covering both of them. From Ichigo's back, energy flared wildly, creating wings of pristine white and gold, Sachiel's wings of black and silver flared out as well, wrapping themselves around him as his did the same to her.
It was done. Their bond was now permanent.
Sachiel sat there, straddled on Ichigo's lap, her head leaning against his shoulder, panting softly. Ichigo held onto her, his arms around her tight as his face buried itself in the crook of her neck, his pants brushing against her skin.
She reached behind him, running her fingers along his wings by the base where they connected to his shoulder blades. Like hers, they had a soft, silky feel to them. Because they were new, Ichigo whimpered against her neck, the sensation foreign to him.
"I never expected this," she whispered.
Ichigo pulled away from her slowly, looking into her eyes. Sachiel gasped, noting that his once intense brown eyes were now a burnished gold color. His hair had turned longer, trailing down his back between his wings.
"I feel different," he said quietly.
"You look different, my love."
"Is it bad?"
"No," she soothed. "This is the first time a bond between a human with your abilities and an angel has ever been created. You are now a guardian, like me."
He looked to the side, seeing his wings for the first time. "They aren't the same color as yours. Why?"
She smiled sadly. "My wings are black because of my taint," she explained. "When I take my true form, they will again be their rightful color. But on the upside, love, you now have access to my abilities and powers."
"Always?"
She nodded. "Our bond is permanent now, Ichigo Kurosaki," she said, taking his face in her hands and kissing him lightly. "Your path is set. And so is mine."
|(|)|
Ichigo came awake suddenly, sitting up and looking around. Since her departure, he had begun sleeping in Sachiel's room, the smell of her still clinging to everything in it. It had soothed his aching heart. He looked around, wondering at the dream he'd had. He would find out from Michael in the morning if they had been successful. Feeling something damp, he looked down, seeing the evidence of what they'd done on a physical level.
He sighed, his body tired, his groin a bit sore. And wet. He grit his teeth, knowing he would have to go out to the bathroom downstairs and clean up. A bath would be in order in the morning.
He reached up, touching his lips with his fingers. He knew they had been successful, still tasting her on his tongue, his lips a bit swollen from all the kissing he had done to her. He could smell her on his skin, the faint scent of hyacinth clinging to him. He smiled, pulling back the covers and making his way downstairs.
The faint light over the hallway illuminated his way as he went to the stairs, making his way to the half bath. He cleaned up, washing his hands before going back to the stairs. That's where Inoue was waiting for him. She'd been sleeping in the spare bed that he'd vacated for her, opting for that instead of letting her have Sachiel's room. To him, that was his sanctum with her and wouldn't let anyone else in since her departure.
Inoue looked at him curiously, Ichigo sighing inwardly. He'd been avoiding interacting with her without anyone else present to avoid any awkward scenarios or situations. From what he'd seen, she was fulfilling a role when it came to Ishida. He knew she still cared for him more than she should.
"Inoue," he said softly. "Why are you up?"
The woman looked at him sadly. "I know you've been avoiding me, Kurosaki-kun," she started. "And I know why. I wanted to apologize to you for coming here. For getting in the way." She looked down at the ground, her fingers fiddling with each other as she thought.
"You don't have to apologize to me, Inoue. You're not in the way. When this is all over, we'll go back to Tokyo and we'll still be friends."
She sobbed softly. "It still hurts that I wasn't enough for you, Kurosaki-kun. I hate to admit this, but I'm jealous of this woman," she said. "Ishida and Sado both explained to me how you two are in love, how it's different than when you and I were together."
Ichigo sighed, moving to the stairs and sitting down. Elbows on his knees, he looked down. "Sit with me, Inoue," he said quietly. She did, kneeling down in front of him, looking up at him expectantly.
"No," he said. "Sit next to me."
She looked confused for a moment before getting up, taking a seat on the step next to him.
"We've known each other for a long time, Inoue," he started. "We tried dating and it didn't work. For me, I did it because I felt that it was what everyone expected of me. I cared for you and I thought that if we dated, it would possibly turn into love. I did love you but it wasn't the kind of love that I wanted."
She sat quietly, listening.
"With Sachiel, it is different. The love I feel for her is unlike anything I felt for you, for Rukia. When I'm with her, I feel like I found my missing piece of my soul. When I kiss her, it feels right, like this is who was meant for me. Just thinking about her makes me happier than I've ever been. I guess you could say that I'm madly in love with her."
"She is the missing piece of your soul?"
He nodded. "They say there's someone out there for everyone. That's what she feels like to me. That she was meant for me despite being an angel. Michael told me that it's one of the rarest types of love to have; between an angel and a human. I guess he should know since he's in love with a human as well."
"He what?"
Ichigo smiled. "He and Terra are mates, just like Sachiel and I are," he explained. "It happened a long time ago."
"I see."
"Please don't be hurt, Inoue. Even if I'm not your boyfriend or future husband, I'm still your friend and I want what's best for you," he went on. "When you meet Sachiel as she should be, you'll understand. Thank you, also. For wanting to help us get her back, to bring her back to me."
"You miss her a lot, don't you?"
He smirked sadly, Inoue's chest swelling as hurt began to spread through her again. "I do. I've only been here for a few months but I've been with her for almost a year in her alternate world. I forced her to train me after I was given images of her torture. No one should suffer like that…and she did it to atone for what she'd done. She's kicked my ass for being stubborn. I felt like every bone in my body was broken after she beat me for following her, for interfering in her work."
"You always were like a bull," Inoue said, teasing in her tone.
He chuckled. "Yeah, well…you know how I get when I have someone to protect."
"I do," she said. "I would do anything to make you happy, Kurosaki-kun. I'll stand by your side as your friend. I will help you get her back."
Ichigo took her hand, giving it a slight squeeze. "Thank you…Inoue. That means a lot to me to hear you say that. I didn't want you to alienate yourself or stop being my friend because of this."
"I'd never leave your side, Ichigo."
He looked at her in surprise. She rarely used his first name, always calling him Kurosaki-kun. He smiled at her, kissing her knuckles.
"We should go back to bed," he said. "Michael and the others will want to start as soon as possible."
She nodded to him, standing and making her way back to the guest room where she slept. Ichigo sat on the steps for a moment, feeling different inside already, feeling the coursing of Sachiel's powers already taking effect. Dreaming of her, holding her in his arms, his ache began again.
"I'll get you back, Sachi," he whispered to the darkness. "Thank you for giving me the tools to do this."
|(|)|
The next day dawned bright and clear, everyone getting up to start their day of training. With Sachiel gone, the school study project had been put on hold, everyone vacating the ruins for the time being. So the group was left to train as they would for the battle that was to come.
"Taicho…are you sure this is the right area?"
"It sure is isolated," the captain responded. "Why would Renji want to come all the way out here?"
"Taicho! It's hot!"
"I know…I hate the heat," Hitsuguya grumbled, walking toward the area where he had felt Renji's spiritual signature. He could feel another, familiar, yet his mind told him that it wasn't possible. Having heard that he lost his powers just before Aizen was sealed, it wasn't possible for him to have his powers back and at this level.
"We should hurry, taicho," Matsumoto said, quickening her pace. "Maybe there's a cool place where Renji is."
Hitsuguya nodded, increasing his pace as well.
Both had been hoping to find a cool spot to escape the heat, to find Renji and take him back to Seireitei since he'd been gone for far too long. Byakuya would have come, but his division needed him even more with Renji gone. And he'd felt the task of finding his wayward lieutenant beneath him. So the soutaicho had sent them instead.
They expected to find Renji with people he knew. What they didn't expect, was to find him currently flying through the air from out of seemingly nowhere. And they didn't expect to see Ichigo or Sado standing in a doorway that looked like it was supported on nothing.
"Toshiro," Ichigo exclaimed in surprise, recognizing the captain even if he was taller and more mature looking than he'd been when he'd lost contact with the shinigami.
Toshiro felt the familiar vein pop out on his forehead at being addressed so casually. Despite being younger in appearance than the former shinigami substitute, he was older than him and still felt he should be addressed as taicho.
"It's Hitsuguya Taicho to you, Kurosaki," he said gruffly.
"Ichigo," Rangiku squealed, running toward the orange haired man.
"Rangiku-san," he called back, smiling at the large chested shinigami as she ran. He'd miss seeing his comrades, those that he could trust on the other side of the spirit realm.
She suddenly stopped, staring at him as if she didn't recognize him. "Ichigo? What happened to you?"
"What do you mean," he asked, looking down at himself. "Aside from getting older, I'm the same guy I was."
"Matsumoto is right," Hitsuguya said, coming up beside her. "You're not the same. Yes, you're older, but what we feel off you isn't what we remember."
"Oh! Well…," Ichigo laughed nervously at them, reaching behind his head and scratching. "You see…"
"Ichigo's powers have changed," Renji explained, joining the trio. "He's been 'modified' so to speak."
"Modified?"
"We should go downstairs and talk," Ichigo said after a moment. "There's some people down there who could explain what's going on better than I could."
Matsumoto and Hitsuguya looked at each, then at the retreating backs of Renji and Ichigo as they disappeared through the doorway that shimmered like a portal. They followed shortly thereafter, going down the free suspended stairs into what looked like a huge cavern illuminated by a hundreds of torches.
"Rangiku-san," they heard from their left, turning to see Orihime jogging toward them, waving her arm happily at the newcomers.
The two were surprised to see the woman there. They knew that Renji had went to see Ichigo for a while but didn't know the rest of the gang would be there. The Quincy, Ishida Uryuu was also there and the gentle giant they knew as Sado.
"Did you come for Renji," she asked, panting a little. "He's been helping us train."
"For what," Toshiro asked.
"Well…," she stammered. Turning around, she pointed to Ichigo, blurting out. "His girlfriend is in danger and we have to rescue her."
"EH?"
Hearing their exclamations, Ichigo turned back to them, smiling nervously.
"Hey you two. Come here a sec, will ya," he called. Orihime continued to smile at them, stepping aside so that they could join him. She followed them, Sado, Renji and Ishida falling into place behind them. As they got closer, they could see that Ichigo was blocking their view of more than a few people.
They were surprised to see the small girl there with large brown eyes and short black hair. She was wearing a black vest shirt that went down mid thigh, close fitting leggings under that. Beside her was a man with black hair and vivid green eyes in similar attire but his leggings were loose fitting. Both had weapons strapped to their side.
"Hi," she said. "I'm Jo. This is Ulquiorra." She gestured to the man standing next to her.
Both looked surprised. "The arrancar?"
Jo and Ulquiorra looked at each other before she turned back to them, nodding with a smile.
"Why is an arrancar helping you, Kurosaki," Hitsuguya asked.
"Because it's his sister that we have to rescue," he explained.
"Arrancars have sisters," Rangiku asked.
"Perhaps you should let me explain, Ichigo," another voice said. Standing not far off was another man in strange clothing. Hardened red leather plated together over a golden looking metal breastplate, along with his short blonde hair gave him a striking appearance combined with his brilliant blue eyes and bronzed skin. What made their eyes widen most was the red aura that seeped around him, glimmering faintly.
Toshiro's eyes almost popped out of his head, Rangiku emitting a small yelp before hiding behind Renji. To make matters worse, another portal opened. Gabriel stepped out in his full silver and gold plated armor that resembled Michaels, metal shielding strapped to his thighs and forearms, his muscled arms bare. Like Michael, his hair was short and a pale blonde, almost silver. A menacing golden aura seeped from him. Uriel stepped out behind him, dressed the same but with light brown hair that curled slightly around his head, a calming purple aura about him. Raphael was the last to step through, again, dressed the same as Gabriel but emitting a gentle green aura that played with his longer deep brown curls.
Toshiro's eyes were as wide as they would go, his mouth moving but no words coming out as he pointed at the angels. All four stood there, waiting as they stared at him. A small groan from behind Sado followed by a thump let them know that Rangiku had fainted, confirmed by Orihime's cry of surprise.
The cry brought Toshiro out of his daze, the shinigami blinking before turning on Ichigo. "What is the Royal Host doing here with you, Kurosaki," he cried at the man, pointing toward the angels.
"Well," Ichigo started. "They're my future brothers in law."
That did it. Hitsuguya Toshiro, youngest of all the Gotei 13 captains…fainted.
"Yeah…that went well," Renji said, breaking the silence that followed their fainting.