This chapter was written as an afterthought to the eighth. It's not really the ninght chapther, it's more like 8.1 or something :D But I had the idea and I just went with it while it lasted. It's really short though. Anyway, I will hopefully wrap up the whole story soon. Thank you for your patience :) Your feedback is much appreciated as always.
9. Enigma
Ichigo stormed into the bar the group usually sat at. He knew he would find Renji there. He looked terrible – there were pieces of dirt and grass and other organics on him, everywhere. His face looked like the one of a raging bull. The young captain slammed the door open and quickly searched the crowd for the one he was looking for.
And found him.
Renji was sitting with the usual company discussing whatever important issue. Good. Ichigo set for the table not really noticing the rest of the people staring at him. In a few strides he reached it and slammed his hand on the desk to make his entrance more obvious – as if that was needed. He focused on the red-head and pointed a finger to his face.
"I broke your captain, huh? That what you said, right?" Ichigo's breathing was quick and short, his eyes were blazing. "Oh, I am going to hurt him now! I AM GOING TO FUCKING KILL THAT BASTARD!"
"Ichi…" Renji tried to say something but was silenced by a threatening finger and a death glare. And with that Ichigo turned on his heels and stormed out of the bar. He said all he wanted to. Renji was right at his six, worried what he might do.
"Drama queen much?" Came a bored comment from Ikkaku, which earned a few chuckles from the whole bar. The customers were now all quiet and watched intently the show in front of them.
Ichigo stopped dead in his pace, so Renji almost slammed into him.
"What did you say?" he sneered through his teeth turning his head to one side.
Ikkaku took the challenge and stood up, grinning. "I said that if you want to do something, you should do it and not brag about it in front of the whole Seireitei."
Renji shot back a warning look. None of them saw Ichigo in this state before – this animalistic rage.
"Is that so.." Ichigo whispered never turning around properly to see the challenger. There was no nee,d he knew exactly what Ikkaku's face looked like when he wanted to fight.
The other Shinigami stood there waiting. He figured if he would be able to get Ichigo to fight him, there will not be any problems later and the guy might cool enough to tell them what has happened to him. Ikkaku's methods of showing his friendship were rather unorthodox, but he had results. He knew what he was doing.
Ichigo touched his sword and made the slightest of movements to suggest to Ikkaku to follow him outside. But he was understood. In fact the whole table stood up and went outside with the three. The rest of the bar was wise enough to know that, when captains and other higher ranks get into a fight, not to follow them. It was a sort of an unwritten rule.
When the group was outside Renji tried to pry out what has happened. "All right man, what has happened? You look terrible."
"You don't want to pick a fight with me now, Ikkaku." Ichigo completely ignored Renji and addressed the boldie in a low voice.
"If that's what it takes to get ya talking." Ikkaku grinned.
"Ichigo.." Renji tried again in a more pressing tone but was waved off.
"You all think you can take me on now, huh?" Ichigo said to Ikkaku in voice dripping with contempt. He had his head bent down and was looking on the other man from beneath his eyebrows.
"For crying out loud! Ichigo! SNAP THE FUCK OUT OF IT ALREADY!" Renji yelled at the orange-haired captain. But in the short moment it took him the form the sentence, Ichigo took out Zangetsu and swung it so it ended within inches of Renji's neck.
"You are wrong. No one. Not one person can fuck with me without consequences. I am done playing the nice boy. You asked for this." Now the sword was pointed towards Ikkaku. "Come at me if you have the balls to do so."
Renji stood there perplexed. What the fuck is happening? He wasn't sure if Ichigo meant everyone in the last comment or Ikkaku specifically. But he was inclined more towards the first option.
Ikkaku laughed out loud and started for Ichigo, getting his sword in shikai in a heartbeat. Ichigo simply stood his ground, letting his reiatsu fill him and the surroundings. The state of his mind helped a lot. The power of the reiatsu even stopped Ikkaku for a split of a second but then his whole face lit up as a Christmas tree and he started anew, thinking how much fun it will be to fight the youngster in the state he is.
Unfortunately Renji did not share his point of view and quickly decided it was best to bring the big guns into this fight or it would end badly. He hoped they will not be late and quickly summoned a Hell Butterfly. He yelled at the other two stunned spectators to do the same – to send for their captain. Kuchiki, Zaraki and Hitsuguya should be enough to tame this wild animal – he wasn't able to call him Ichigo anymore. It was not him. No.
Meanwhile the fight started. It was a blur of movements. Ikkaku seemed to be everywhere and Ichigo looked like a rock. His head was still bent down, his shoulders hardly ever moving. Ikkaku on the other hand was having troubles looking for an opening. Renji was hoping that the captains would make it here before Ichigo decided for offence. That would be bad and Renji sucked at kido if anything went wrong. And Rangiku was no genius in that too. It would take a lot to slow that down – sixty or higher at least, Renji figured.
It was frightening watching the scene in front of him. Even Yumichika seemed worried for his friend. Ichigo took a deep breath and started lifting his head up.
Fuck. Get here, quickly please!
"Abarai." Came a velvet voice from behind him. Renji felt a cold hand on his shoulder. "Leave. Now."
Zaraki came too. His eyes were filled with ecstasy of feeling such a powerful reiatsu.
"Everybody, get yourselves to your respective beds." Kuchiki ordered in a quiet voice but full of authority. They obliged.
The only ones left on the scene now were Kenpachi, Kuchiki and the two fighting.
"As we agreed." Byakuya uttered before he dove in the fight just as Zaraki did.
They both went for one of the fighters knowing that any words will do no good. Once you are in a fight, there could be a nuclear war going on right next to you and you wouldn't notice. Kenpachi went right in the middle, in between swords. He was, after all, a madman. Nobody questioned that fact and right now that was exactly what Byakuya needed. That might be just enough to phase Ichigo for a bit and Byakuya would be prepared for that little chance. Kenpachi was supposed to act as a bait, as a distraction. And also he was the only one who would be able to snap Ikakku out of a fighting mode and get him somewhere ….else. Their plan worked splendidly. Zaraki stepped in and was acknowledged only when the blades of the two swords made contact with his skin, only one of those two pierced it, deeply. Zaraki didn't pay any attention to that, being the junky for fights he is, and shoved Ikkaku outside the fighting range. Byakuya paid no attention to them since he was presented with a small window of opportunity, where he was supposed to squeeze a powerful enough kido to hold the beast down. He started saying the number of the kido, but was cut short, when Ichigo turned around to face him. He was looking at him with a zombie-like glare. "Oh, no you don't. Not again."
"Ichigo.." Byakuya used his first name for the first time. The tip of Zangetsu was at his throat. There was no one here anyway, so he could say whatever he wanted, not caring about his pride for once. Nah, he couldn't. Not even now, he knew that was impossible. But the different way he called the young man seemed to do something. The haze from Ichigo's eyes seemed to be clearing. He looked more like a man now than a wild animal. His stance was not as solid as before.
"What did you call me?" Ichigo whispered, putting the sword down. "I asked you something, dammit! Answer me!"
"Ichigo." Byakuya offered once more.
"Stop mocking me!" The sword was back up. "I said I was going to teach you a lesson and I don't make empty promises." The voice was low and dangerous.
"I am not."
Ichigo was at him in one fluid movement. He had his hand on Byakuya's throat, who let him for some odd reason do that.
"I said. Stop. Mocking. Me." Ichigo whispered in Byakuya's ear. The young man was confused. What the hell was the raven doing? He was not fighting him in the least. It was as if he came there to get beaten to a pulp.
"If you want to know why, I'll explain but not here."
"Why should I even listen to you, Byakuya? Tell me one good reason why."
Even Byakuya had his limits. His hand was now on Ichigo's throat, too. Senbonzakura was called and prepared for action at any moment. "You wanna hear it or not?"
"Fine." Ichigo dropped his hand and so did Byakuya. Both were observing the other warily for quite a while.
They were sitting in the banquet room again. The whole house was quiet since everyone was sleeping already. There was no alcohol this time and both of them were sitting far away from each other, their swords lying next to their legs.
"So…" Ichigo opened the conversation. But contrary to all expectations he did not look like he wanted to really know. He looked unphased, even bored. Byakuya was lost in this man – he just could not figure him out as much as tried to and wanted to.
"I like you." It was said plain and simple without any unnecessary intro.
A shell bomb dropped on Ichigo. He should have known. The first time could be pinned to the effects of alcohol on men. But the second time? Well he fancied the idea of that being just a teasing – now he was forced to face the truth that it wasn't. To top all of that it seemed as if he had to somehow express himself on that topic, too.
Great. Just great! How the fuck did I get myself in a situation like this?!
"Are you sure?" He retorted not even looking at Byakuya. Oh man, could I have made any more lame comment? Argh!
"Yes, Kurosaki Ichigo, I am sure. I would not have said something of this importance if I was not positive of it."
"O-Ok…I guess."
Byakuya shifted closer so that he was within reach of the young man. He had been thinking about it a lot actually. He never thought of himself as gay, he even had a wife a while back. So what changed? What changed was everything. The guy sitting right next to Byakuya turned his life upside down. Realizing he was gay and fancied Ichigo seemed almost natural to Byakuya by this time. Of course the dense head of the youngster would not have noticed, nah, small gestures would have never made the trick. He admitted the fact, the fact he liked Ichigo more than a sane man should, to himself the night of their first kiss. Being his teacher helped him to get to know the rash kid and mature adult (all in one package at that time) and when they had been both screwed over by the Captain-Commander, he felt rage and protective urges towards Ichigo. At that time he dismissed those as normal teacher's feelings for a student. But the evening afterwards… The alcohol took out of him the things he never knew were there. He was drinking with other people before but not once felt the urge to touch the other men or kiss them like he did that other night with Ichigo. His self-control had been weak enough for him to succumb to that urge and made his fantasy a reality. Surprisingly, when drunk, Ichigo willingly cooperated. But when he had fully realized what he was doing he fled, leaving Byakuya alone and confused. The raven did not sleep whole night trying to figure out just what it was that made him do such a thing. He was analyzing and re-analyzing all of his emotions and thoughts he could recollect. He found it very interesting that when he thought of the orange-haired devil, his body and mind gave very distinct reactions. He elaborated for quite some time on the idea of all of that being only sexual, that he was driven by lust only. But that did not appear to be the case. And then the next day when he met with Ichigo again and then kissed him, which honestly was not meant as a mockery (Byakuya was testing out a theory on whether or not Ichigo was on the same page as him, because he could not guess it from his behavioral patterns), he knew for sure. He liked the man.
Ichigo shook his head. " Actually no, I don't get it at all! I don't get you at all!"
"Allow me to show it to you." Byakuya said in a very kind voice. His hand was resting on Ichigo's, waiting for his approval.
"Why?" Ichigo breathed out.
"You would never understand even if I told you. Ichigo…You liked it, didn't you?" He asked carefully. The young man tensed in response, his eyes narrowing again.
"No. No, I did not." Came the level answer.
"Then why did you kiss me back – even today. You weren't drunk today, were you?" Byakuya tried logic.
"Why are you acting like this? It's not you at all! Why? Why?" Ichigo shook his hand off. He looked like a child again. Both of them were so different when they were left alone together for any longer period of time.
"Do you prefer me authoritative and brooding all the time then?" Byakuya smirked.
"And quiet? Yes!" Ichigo added, half smiling too.
Byakuya leaned closer. "Are you still mad at me?"
"Yes." Ichigo said in a not very believable way.
Byakuya moved his hand again, now trying for the upper regions. But Ichigo spotted it and shifted further from Byakuya, then stood up.
"I should really go. "
"No, I am not finished with you." Byakuya said in a barely hearable voice. He smashed Ichigo into a wall, before he could make any movement to defend himself, and kissed him. He was determined to help the young Shinigami see that they were on the same page. Byakuya was pressing against Ichigo with all his body. It did not take long for Ichigo to give in and kiss back. The reasoning of the body won in both of them.
When Byakuya finally broke the kiss, he asked: "Do you still want to go home?"
"Yes." Was Ichigo's simple answer.
Byakuya made room for him to leave and Ichigo did. He collected his sword and went for the door. There he stopped with his hand on the doorframe.
"I appreciate your feelings, Byakuya. It's just that I am not sure of my own just yet. I am sorry."
It was like a dagger made of ice was shoved into Byakuya's abdomen.
"But…" Ichigo took a deep breath. "I definitely like the way you kiss me and stuff." The back of his ears were bright red. With that comment he disappeared into the night, leaving Byakuya behind as confused as ever.