Stand in the Rain
Shadow of an Echo
A/N I wanted to thank everyone for their support and patience. Your words have meant a lot to me, and I am doing better, slowly but surely I am learning how to manage.
This is important for the story. There are two different ways I can write this story, one way that includes mpreg, and one that doesn't. I have a poll up in my profile that asks for your opinion on the topic, please if you have a moment participate so I know what you would like to see. I can write the story either way and it won't bother me, but I need to know in the next few chapters so I can get it set up properly. If you would like to see how I handle the topic, I currently have another story that has mpreg in it Safe in my Arms that you can skim if you want a little more information before voting.
Chapter Seven
I Want To Come Over
Breathe. In. Out. In and back out again. Move, twist, slice, thrust, and then breathe again, before landing for a heartbeat and springing into the next motion fluidly. A nightmare had woken him again, and now Ichigo was refusing to let himself think. It was just Zangetsu and him.
He moved and twisted through the katas he had been shown, the ones he could do without an opponent. He wasn't in Bankai, he wanted the weight of his Shikai, the feeling of wielding a sword as long as him to overcome the memories of confinement and temptation. Sweat was soaking into the fabric of his Shihakusho so he threw off the constricting cloth, continuing in his hakama; chest bare; muscles revealed in the pale early morning light.
Ichigo didn't notice the second person enter the arena until the sound of metal ringing against metal echoed through the training yard. Looking up he found the sedate Captain of the Thirteenth with his Zanpakuto drawn, not in Shikai, "Ichigo, fight me, not your demons." Ukitake ordered, his blade halting Zangetsu's slash.
"I don't want to hurt you," Ichigo protested, shocked he hadn't felt or seen the other man approach, and a little embarrassed at being caught so off kilter.
A soft look of understanding, not pity, but compassion, "You are not going to hurt me, I'm feeling fine today. You need to release your pain, I can help you, let me." Gentle encouragement and a nudge of their still joined swords accompanied his words.
The nudge had Ichigo moving again. Time after time his strikes were blocked, his thrusts parried, Jyuushiro not releasing Sougyo no Kotowari, he didn't need to. It's not that Ichigo wasn't good, or that the younger warrior was not trying, but Ukitake was just that much better. A thousand years of practice had to count for something, and like he had warned in the beginning, he was feeling good that day.
The Visored began to worry less and less about hurting the older Shinigami, and began to concentrate on figuring out a way to at least make him show his Shikai. Even if he couldn't leave a mark on the Captain, he wanted to see what happened when this powerful Soul Reaper called out his double blades.
Jyuushiro had to hide his smile when he noticed the altered tactics. Ichigo was no longer dwelling on whatever memory had locked him in turmoil, focusing on him instead, that was exactly his intention in calling him out to spar. The intense look in Ichigo's eyes, the determination in his stance, he was a picture of speed and agility as he moved. There was delight on Jyuushiro's part in watching Ichigo fight, in coming up against him and seeing what he could do. Oh, he had heard the tales, and seen some of it for himself as this young man fought his way through increasingly difficult opponents to save Rukia Kuchiki, but hearing about his astounding learning curve and experiencing it were two different things.
The Captain found himself moving more gracefully and fluidly than he had in years. The talent and skill of his opponent bringing out his own, Ichigo pushing him to use more of his own ability, and it felt so good to feel like this once more. His lungs not screaming in protest, body not crying out for more rest, he truly did not feel ill in this moment, a rarity he intended to use to its fullest.
Ichigo was using Tensa Zangetsu before he got what he was looking for. In one long breath, Jyuushiro started to recite his release command, the longest one Ichigo had ever heard. "All of the waves become my shield, all of the lightning become my sword! Sougyo no Kotowari!"
Jyuushiro's Zanpakuto was oddly beautiful; two blades connected together, charms hung from the connecting ribbon, the purpose of which Ichigo didn't know. The actual blades were two pronged, like something used to conduct electricity. Going off the shape and the words used in the release command, Ichigo didn't know exactly what he was dealing with, but he didn't want to risk flinging power around wildly to find out. Chances were good this sword could manipulate energy somehow, the questions he needed to answer were how, and could Jyuushiro produce energy or only manipulate his opponent's?
The Captain saw his opponent measuring him up, evaluating the appearance of his Shikai, "What are you seeing Ichigo? This can be a good lesson for you, and I don't really feel like replacing half my squad barracks showing you the hard way."
There was wisdom in the suggestion, and he was growing tired from being out for so long already, so Ichigo answered, "You manipulate energy."
"You figured that out already?" Jyuushiro was impressed, usually someone had to attack him first.
Ichigo gestured to Jyuushiro's Zanpakuto with the tip of Tensa, "The way your sword looks, the blades, they may seem fancy in a fight, but they are more useful for conducting electricity or energy. Also I have fought enough Shinigami to know the wording in a release command is important, yours mentions lightning being your sword, meaning that is your attack."
"Very good, most people who fight me don't pick up on that so quickly, they usually have to attack first." Jyuushiro complimented.
Ichigo shook his head in frustration, "There is too much I don't know. I have no idea how you do it, whether you reflect our attacks back like Nel did, or if you can create your own."
A little grin, "It's a bit of both." He informed. "I do turn my opponent's attacks against them, but it is not a reflection. I control the speed, and the rate at which it returns to them. I can amplify an attack but I usually don't, if I am to the point of true fighting, than my opponent is not holding back and their attack is at full strength. I shouldn't waste my own strength amplifying their attack when it's not needed, I can endure longer that way. That's how I can keep fighting even if my illness does decide to act up at an inopportune time."
"If you can control when it returns, then you have the element of surprise, even just a seconds difference between each return would throw off an opponent." Ichigo analyzed.
"Right," Jyuushiro agreed, "That is the power of Sougyo no Kotowari. Well, the most obvious power anyway. Shunsui's Katen Kyoukotsu has much flashier tricks, but we often trained together when we were younger. I distract while he gets in position for an attack, it works well when coming against multiple opponents. He is definitely the quicker out of the two of us to release Bankai, but we have about equal destructive power when we do."
Ichigo took another good look at his sword, "Is your Bankai like Byakuya's, a more elaborate version of Shikai? Or more like mine, where there really isn't much alike between my Shikai and my Bankai?"
He was asking very good questions, proving his intelligence, and natural ability to learn quickly. "My Shikai manipulates my opponent's offensive energy, my Bankai manipulates all energy around me, pulling from friend and foe alike, whether they are fighting or not. Sougyo no Kotowari is a storm Zanpakuto, an elemental based sword more like Toushiro's Hyourinmaru, which I think you know is an ice Zanpakuto, than Byakuya's Senbonzakura that is wind based. This means in Bankai, I don't have to wait for my opponent to attack, and I am not constrained by how strongly I am willing to amplify my opponent's attack. My strongest attack is actually fairly simple in execution I first make the skies open with rain, then I call the lightning, and most people know water and electricity do not mix."
"If you wanted to, you could just call lightning couldn't you?" Ichigo asked, eyes narrowed in thought.
"Yes." Ukitake admitted shortly.
"…That would be incredibly intimidating." Ichigo was picturing this beautiful man, surrounded by wind blown white hair, lightning forking through the sky around him. Oh yeah, intimating definitely, but that wasn't the only word he could think of to describe it. Arousing would be the other. Very, very, arousing; Ichigo was suddenly thankful for the loose hakama instead of his Living World jeans.
Jyuushiro was not born yesterday, and while Ichigo might be good at hiding his straying eyes and thoughts from human high school students, he was no match for someone as practiced as the gentle Captain was at seeing. "There are plenty of others that say the same about you, but rarely does anyone think me intimidating. They respect me, because of my age and position, but I don't truly intimidate them." They had by now long stopped any pretense at all of fighting, and Jyuushiro was carefully leading Ichigo out of the training yard and towards his office, they could talk more privately there. Sentaro or Kiyone were usually within shouting distance yes, but they were respectful enough to be far away enough he could hold a conversation without being overheard.
"I think you could be intimidating," Ichigo murmured, before realizing exactly what Jyuushiro had just said. "Wait, people say that about me? Often enough you've heard them?"
He couldn't help himself, the soft spoken Captain had to laugh, throwing his head back smoothly, "Of course they do. Ichigo how many people do you think can just walk into the Seireitei and start cutting through the Captains? You fought and won against Kenpachi Zaraki, no easy task I assure you. You eventually managed to defeat Byakuya, despite being unable to achieve the same feat only days prior to that meeting. Not to mention the Lieutenants you brought down without touching your Zanpakuto, including Yamamoto's own, and between you and me, he is on the same level as a Captain he just prefers staying with the First Squad. You caught him by surprise, but you still brought him down quickly, another opponent that would be hard for any rookie Shinigami to defeat. Yes Ichigo, many Soul Reapers here consider you intimidating, and they make no moves to hide their thoughts."
Ichigo sunk to the floor of Ukitake's office across from the Captain in shock. "I never thought of it like that," He confessed after pulling his scattered thoughts together.
"I didn't think you had." Jyuushiro assured, "You definitely made an impression though. You fought well against me today. It felt like when Shunsui and I were younger, I haven't been able to let loose like that in a long time, many are too nervous to simply let go and spar."
"You told me to," Ichigo responded with a shrug, "I didn't disobey Kisuke when he told me to attack, I wasn't going to do any different with you. I admit I was worried at first, but I listen when someone tells me they can handle it. I know I hate it when people don't listen to me because of something I can't control."
Jyuushiro went silent for a moment, a measuring gaze passing between them, "You would, wouldn't you?" He commented softly. "People often underestimate or misunderstand you don't they?"
A hand passed through his hair, messing up bright orange locks even more than usual, "All the time. I admitted to you before that I enjoy fighting, and I do, but that isn't the only reason I am so good at it. I get into a lot of fights, usually more than one person against me, and until I met Chad I fought them alone. It was either fight, or let myself get hurt, and I wasn't about to let that happen. Especially when I realized the stronger I became, the better I could protect others."
The older man watched Ichigo as he talked, taking in the strong form, the easy grace, and tanned body; he still hadn't put his Shihakusho back on, draping it over his arm instead. Jyuushiro's gaze was drawn to his face, the way he was so expressive in his eyes, the warm brown showing everything Ichigo was feeling. His mouth, jaw, and brows were nearly always in a slight frown or scowl as he thought or remembered something, betraying just how much he had been through.
"Protecting others is a very noble goal, something that should be attempted by all, but I have to wonder how much you have ever simply taken care of yourself as well?" Jyuushiro found himself asking, not even realizing he was going to say the words until they were already spoken.
A short, almost derisive, laugh, "I'm honestly not sure how to do that anymore." He confessed. "My dad and sisters need me to be strong, and my friends need me to have their backs. I mean I thought I was doing an okay job taking care of myself, but Retsu kept yelling at me about taking better care of myself, so I guess I must not have been."
"She is quite good at making those she cares about take better care of their health, yes." Jyuushiro was speaking from experience there. "So much should not be pushed on one person though."
"It's nothing I can't handle." He had managed this long, he could keep going for awhile longer.
A raised eyebrow, "I didn't say you couldn't handle it Ichigo, I said you shouldn't have to, there is a large difference. There are many times in life we are pushed into dealing with something that while we can endure it, we should not have to."
"It's my turn to say you would know, wouldn't you?" Ichigo noted, "Your illness. You should not have to endure that, there is no doubt you can and have managed it for far longer than most could have, but you should never have had to deal with it."
"You are the first besides Shunsui to ever say that to me." The point blank way Jyuushiro spoke made Ichigo's heart clench for him. "Oh sure there are many that have wished me better, but none that have said I shouldn't have had to endure it at all."
Before he could stop himself, Ichigo reached out and brushed a bit of white hair out of the Captain's face, "Well you shouldn't have to!" He stated forcibly, his protective side coming out.
That was until he noticed what he had just done. He looked from his hand, to Jyuushiro, and back to his hand. Not letting Jyuushiro speak or react, Ichigo bolted. He could not believe he had just done that. Yes, this was a man that knew his secret, but he was taken damn it! He could not let himself do this. Not with him, not now, and not ever, Shunsui and Jyuushiro loved each other; a blind man could see it when they were in the same room with their guards down.
Ichigo put all his strength and power into his Flash Step, every trick Yoruichi had ever shown him or even mentioned he used now. He needed to escape, to run, to not look back.
"King! Hey, King! Calm the fuck down!" Junichi's voice eventually got through to him in his frazzled state of mind somewhere in the outer Rukon districts, he was almost out of the populated areas of Soul Society.
It took him a moment, and a few stumbled steps, to collect himself enough to respond. "I just screwed up big."
"It might not be as bad as you think, he wasn't screaming at you, or slashing at you with his sword." Junichi pointed out. "You only touched his face a little, it ain't like you kissed him."
"…I wanted to." Ichigo admitted to his Hollow, still trying to leave people behind, looking for a place to get away from everyone.
If Ichigo wasn't mistaken, he got the distinct impression his Hollow just face-palmed. "He told you himself temptation isn't a crime. It's okay to want to, the point is you didn't."
"I really, really, wanted to." His cheeks were burning up as he finally came across what he was looking for, an open field he could drop into and let himself think for awhile.
"Do I need to point out the lack of screaming and pointy objects again?" Was it just Ichigo, or was his Hollow amused with all this?
He shook his head sharply, vaguely wondering if Junichi would feel or sense the movement, "He is Shunsui's. They love each other, and have for centuries; I will not come between them."
"Now isn't that a thought…" Junichi was being cruel to his King, but it was for his own good.
Ichigo was admittedly lost, "Look, there is no way in Hell I am going to try to split them apart. For one it wouldn't work, and for two I respect them both too damn much to try."
"Who said anything about splitting them apart?" Junichi teased. "I happen to like your suggestion of between them just fine. A thousand years of practice, they must know what they are doing King."
"Junichi!" Ichigo was shocked, and beet red from the top of his head to the tip of his toes.
"Yes King?" The sarcasm was sharper than Zangetsu, "You can't say you haven't thought about it. I see your dreams King. They aren't ALL nightmares. Jyuushiro has been in them since he gave us the badge, nice choice by the way, I approve. Shunsui is a little more recent, not until he came to see us in the recovery room, but you like him too. You might be blind to the way people look at us, but I am not, and trust me Jyuushiro was looking."
Ichigo huffed and tried to ignore him, until the second voice in his head decided to join the conversation, his deep voice soothing in counterpoint to Junichi's mocking. "Ichigo, he may have a point." Zangetsu intoned. "You need healing, a deeper healing than we can provide, or that can be done by the hands of a doctor. He was concerned about you, to the point of asking a question he was unaware of, you could see in his manner he surprised himself. He is strong, but gentle, a traditionally submissive soul. His partner is the dominant side, the one to care for the both of you if you let them. You know they would, the signs have been there all along."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ichigo replied stubbornly.
Both Zanpakuto and Hollow had to suppress their reactions, one wanted to sigh, the other growl. Zangetsu answered for the both of them. "Yes you do. These men have done nothing but help lift you from the shadows of your pain and memories, helping you face the turmoil. Without them you may still be lost in Aizen's hold, freed in body, locked away in mind. They care for you, very much so. Junichi is right, you were being watched today, in a way not entirely friendly."
Ichigo wasn't sure he wanted to let himself believe it, "Really?"
"Yes King!" Junichi broke out. "I saw him checking you out. He liked what he was seeing too. We aren't exactly hard on the eyes King, and he was laying on the compliments about our strength and abilities. They might have been second hand, but he could have kept them to himself like everyone else has."
"What about Shunsui?" It was Jyuushiro himself, which Junichi had pointed out, that mentioned temptation wasn't a crime but giving into it could be. Even if Junichi had seen something, that didn't mean anything would come of it.
"One down, and one to go." Junichi wasn't real concerned. "I don't think we have much to worry about. I think he likes us. He's at least curious about us, so we could use that to get to know him better, relationships have been built on a lot less."
The words brought Ichigo up a little short. "I think that actually made sense."
"Geeze King, you sound so shocked, have a little faith in me. I am a reflection of you. You aren't exactly stupid, it makes sense I wouldn't be either." Junichi pointed out.
Zangetsu had one more thing to add, "The two of you are the night, and the day, when one fades the other shines brighter. If you join your lights together there is nothing you cannot conquer."
Neither Ichigo or Junichi could respond to the Zanpakuto though, because there was someone else coming into the field. He had progressed enough to sense when a powerful Shinigami was near, but not quite far enough to tell who, so he was forced to open his eyes.
All the blood drained out of his face, because the subjects of his thoughts were standing near him, both of them.
"Ichigo, I think we need to talk," Jyuushiro told him calmly, coming over to sit near where Ichigo was scrambling upright, Shunsui following and settling beside Jyuushiro.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done what I did. It won't happen again." Ichigo was quick to apologize, bowing his head down.
He was honestly shocked to hear laughter from Jyuushiro, and chuckling from Shunsui. "What are you apologizing for? Comforting me? That isn't exactly something you should be sorry for." Jyuushiro objected.
"Jyuu told me what happened, it's alright." Shunsui assured the nervous young man, "We aren't mad at you, neither one of us, but we do want to talk to you about it. This is a good place to do it, when you decide to run, you don't make it easy to follow."
"I needed a place to think," Ichigo admitted.
"Thinking too much can get you in just as much trouble as thinking too little," Jyuushiro warned, "Just like this morning when you tried to escape your demons by fighting them. You can't fight something that isn't solid, and now you can't run from a wrong you didn't commit."
"A wrong I very much wanted to," He mumbled it so lowly he wasn't sure any of the two men in front of him would hear, but Shunsui did.
"Can't blame you, my Jyuushiro doesn't know how wonderful he is, though I do tell him often. I think he believes I'm just sucking up to him." Shunsui was using his teasing tone, but he was being serious about both of them.
Jyuushiro hit his shoulder playfully, Shunsui rubbing the abused limb, "You behave, he isn't used to us yet."
"He won't get used to us if we don't relax around him," Shunsui defended himself.
"I am relaxed, it's him that's more tense than a rabbit being chased by a fox." Jyuushiro pointed out.
Ichigo was just trying to follow the exchange, but he felt he was failing miserably. He was missing something important, but he couldn't figure out what it was, and for once his alter egos were staying silent. What a wonderful time for them to leave him high and dry. It was when Ukitake made the rabbit comment that Ichigo realized he was right, every muscle in his body was coiled tightly like he was about to bolt again, and he hadn't noticed until it was pointed out to him.
"I just…Really have no idea what to do." Ichigo finally admitted.
Both older men smiled at him, Shunsui taking the lead, "That is a good place to start in truth. Saying you have no idea what to do, means there is something to be done, even if you need help finding out what that is. There is no shame in needing help, some things are naturally confusing, especially in these situations."
Ichigo ducked again, "These situations?" He asked a bit weakly.
"You are confused and unsure, a little afraid probably, and you don't know how we are going to react to you. Am I right?" Jyuushiro responded gently.
Not trusting his voice, Ichigo nodded.
"The biggest concern I would have if I were in your shoes, since we are already aware of your situation, is that Jyuu and I are already together." Shunsui added his analysis. "Having a crush on someone available, but straight, is one thing; a taken man is another."
"I would never do anything, or even think I could, ever break the two of you apart. What you have is special and should be treasured." Ichigo wanted that to be clear before anything else was said. It was pointless to deny his attraction, these two were too good at seeing what he had worked hard to hide for so long.
Shunsui and Jyuushiro shared a long look, and a nod, looks like it was a good thing they had that little talk already. Shunsui once again spoke first. "Ichigo, maybe you should ask what we want before you say certain things."
That made Ichigo look up in surprise, "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"
"I think you heard me," He was definitely amused, but attempting to keep a grip on it. Shunsui wanted Ichigo to know he wasn't teasing him. "You are right of course, there is absolutely no force on any world that could break Jyuushiro and I apart, but well it wouldn't exactly be the first time we have had a third."
His shock was obvious, and Jyuushiro took over for his lover. "Ichigo, our love is strong enough to support us adding in a third person when we chose to. Not all couples can, in fact most can't, it requires a level of trust and honesty that is rarely accomplished, but for Shunsui and I it is second nature. We are not speaking on physical terms, we are talking about taking you into our hearts, and our lives, you would be with both of us on an equal level."
"This kind of thing is not easy." Shunsui warned. "Not only is there the taboo against homosexuality in Soul Society, there will be additional opposition against a trio. Beyond that, there is the difficulty of maintaining the relationship itself, like Jyuu mentioned there is a certain level of trust and honesty that is incredibly difficult to maintain. We believe you, probably more than just about anyone else we have ever seen, are capable of this, but it is still worth warning you about. We have attempted adding in others who have caught our attention before, and the pressures become too much over time, that is why they are no longer with us, the same very well could happen with you."
It took prodding from both Zangetsu and Junichi before Ichigo could respond he was so blown over, "You are talking like you've been discussing this for awhile." That was the safest comment he would allow himself to make.
"We have been." Jyuushiro confessed with a small smile.
Shunsui finished for him, "We like you, and we think it could lead to more if you allow us to get closer to you. You are strong and kind, protective and gentle, plus you just went through Hell and it would probably do you some good to have someone to lean on in hard times."
They watched as Ichigo seemed to shrink in on himself, "What Aizen did, I can still feel his hands on me sometimes. I hate him, but I can't forget him, I want to forget him."
"We might not be able to make you forget," Shunsui was honest if nothing else. "We can replace Aizen's hands with ours though; give you something else to remember."
Ichigo found himself smiling softly, "I think I'd like that."
"Are you sure you want to do this Ichigo?" It was Jyuushiro asking. "We would like to have you join us, you are welcome, but it is a big decision. It will be difficult, there will be a lot to overcome, and we can't guarantee the rewards will outweigh the hardships. You started this conversation admitting you didn't know what you wanted to do, if you want to take some time to think about our offer please do, you won't offend us."
Ichigo was blushing a bit, "Ah, about that. Before you got here, I spent a good bit of time getting lectured at by both my Hollow and Zanpakuto, they were trying to convince me that maybe, just possibly, you might be interested in me too and I hadn't screwed up as badly as I thought."
"They were both yelling at you this time?" Jyuushiro asked curiously.
"Yeah," Ichigo admitted, "Not just Junichi, even Zangetsu was saying about it, so I couldn't pass it off as my Hollow messing with me again."
He ignored the indignant, "Hey!" Echoing in the back of his mind.
"So you were thinking about it before we brought it up?" Shunsui realized, an easy grin on his face.
"There may have been some mention about it, yes." Ichigo confessed, cheeks and neck still red with his blush.
"Aww, Jyuu, he likes us!" Shunsui couldn't stop himself from teasing anymore, not with such a golden opportunity right in front of him.
"…Yes." Ichigo said quietly, blush growing.
Jyuushiro knew what Shunsui was probably going to do in response, but Ichigo didn't, so he was understandably a bit surprised to find himself glomped by the Captain of the Eighth.
Shunsui was a very tactile and affection person, he touched the people he cared about. Even to Nanao he slung his arm around her shoulders or hugged her often, even if it got him hit by a book, he still did it. So while he wasn't going to be too forceful with Ichigo too fast, he was going to touch him, it was in his nature.
Ichigo was picked up bodily, dragged into the Captain's lap, and a soft kiss was pressed to his temple; all done in one quick motion. He was now shrouded in a cloud of pink silk, feeling comfortable despite the unusual method of getting to his current placement. The butterflies in his stomach increased tenfold when Jyuushiro leaned over and pressed a kiss to his other temple.
Whatever came from this, Ichigo had a feeling he was not going to regret this choice.