Stand in the Rain

Shadow of an Echo

A/N Remember the warnings in the beginning about homophobia and gay bashing? They come into play in this chapter. For anyone reading this thinking the scenario I wrote wouldn't happen, or is blown out of proportion, trust me, it isn't. Things like that really do happen, and more often then most people know about because it can go unreported. Much like rape victims have trouble talking about it, so do the victims of violent hate crimes. The best thing someone can do to help them, is to be there to support them, and be their voice when they are in too much pain to speak for themselves.

Do not walk away no matter how much easier that path might be.

Chapter Nine

Toy Soldiers

When Ichigo woke up from his nap, it wasn't even close to dark yet, the danger of summertime and getting up before dawn with nightmares. He needed to kill some time if he was going to keep himself sane during his wait. He wasn't the most patient of people at the best of times, this did not even begin to qualify. He needed a distraction, and for once, training was not going to cut it.

Time to make good on his promises and start visiting some other squads, with how late in the afternoon it was, at least some of the people he knew should be done with their duties for the day. Now who to bug?

Well he was at the Thirteenth now, so there was only one direction he could go, if he started wandering, surely he would bump into somebody he could occupy himself with. The Twelfth was skirted by a very large margin, there was no way in Hell he was allowing Kurotsuchi to corner him without Retsu as a buffer. The Squad Twelve Captain was still smarting from the rebuke he had received in the last check up he had attended.

The Eleventh wasn't avoided when he realized he didn't hear the trademark maniacal laughter of their crazy Captain, but his cursory search didn't turn up Ikkaku or Yumichika either. The high Officers must be out terrorizing some other poor souls, maybe in the Rukon districts. He had barely stepped into the Tenth Squad compound when he heard the tiny Captain ripping into his Lieutenant again, it made him turn right back around. Rangiku was on her own, she probably deserved the lecture anyway.

He didn't have much interest in the Ninth right now, Shuuhei was really busy with both his duties and those of his missing Captain, just like Izuru. Ichigo liked him, but didn't want to get in his way, so he passed up his squad. He was horribly tempted to go into the Eighth, but with the looming surprise, he didn't want to spoil anything. Color him a romantic, but he hadn't experienced anything like this before, no one had teased him with something just out of his reach intending to make him happy. No, he would wait for tonight to see Shunsui again.

Maybe the Seventh? He didn't know anyone very well from there, but if he never ventured inside, then he wouldn't ever get to know them. If he understood it right, the Lieutenant of this squad was friends with Ikkaku. He was on his way over to their squad barracks, when something caught his eye down a side alley, a group of people gathered in a ring, laughing and jeering at something on the ground.

That tripped every one of his danger instincts, something was very wrong down that alley, and he wasn't about to ignore it.

"What is going on here?" He called out threateningly, not pulling Zangetsu yet, but he knew he could reach him quickly if he had to.

A Soul Reaper he didn't recognize turned to him, "Come watch the show, we are putting a couple maggots in their place."

"Maggots?" Ichigo really didn't like the sounds of that.

The same man answered, "We caught them together! One is even a Seated Officer, how shameful! Always knew those Fourth Squad guys were wimps. A good beating should take care of it though, smash some of the shame out of them."

With that comment, Ichigo felt his heart leap into his throat, at the same time as Zangetsu landed in his hands. The tenuous control he had over his Spiritual Pressure snapped with his anger, and the huddle of people realized they were in big trouble.

Shinigami scattered like flies.

Ichigo's fears were confirmed when it was Hanataro on the ground, and he wasn't alone, he had himself draped over someone else; protecting him as much as he could. "Hanataro, it's all right now, they're gone."

Hanataro tried to sit up, but the movement caused him to hiss and moan. "Ichigo?" He asked weakly, his breath coming shallowly. "Check. Him." The order came slowly, but firmly.

Ichigo knelt down by the two injured Soul Reapers, but there was a problem with following the command. Hanataro was dealing with what looked to him to be broken ribs, it would be dangerous to move him without being stabilized first; that kind of injury could cause damage to the fragile lungs and organs below the bones if they shifted while moving the person. "You know better, I can't move you."

"He's more important." Forced out in a strained demand.

If his father ever found out about what he was about to do, he would skin him alive, and Ichigo didn't even want to think about what Retsu would do; but there might be a way. "Hanataro, I want you to hold your breath while I move you, I'm going to pull your clothes tight and go slow. It's the only way I can think of that might work."

A little nod to show he understood, and Ichigo carefully gathered up the cloth of Hanataro's uniform. If he could get it pulled tight enough, it should work like a pressure bandage, and having him hold his breath during the actual move would add further protection for his lungs. "Okay on three, hold your breath, one... two... three." He smoothly and carefully lifted his light friend; moving him to the side, laying him down as flat as possible.

"Don't move any more, I'm going to get in enough trouble for doing this much," Ichigo warned, before letting go of his Shihakusho. "I'll do what I can for him."

Hanataro had managed to get his head turned so he could watch Ichigo check over the other Shinigami. He was pale and unconscious, he was breathing better than Hanataro, but there was red staining the ground under the back of his head.

"They hit him first. He went down. I covered him. They kicked me. You came," Hanataro tried to explain, it was so hard to talk, he had to fight for every word.

"So he hasn't been out long, good." Ichigo realized. The longer someone was out after a concussion the worse it was. "With head injuries it's better to see blood than not, the pressure has somewhere to go." He figured Hanataro had been healing a heck of a lot longer than he had, and would already know all this, but talking might help keep him still. "You two need the Fourth, badly."

"Pulse Spirit Pressure. Works like flare." Hanataro couldn't do it, he was too drained right now; he would just end up unconscious too.

His Spirit Pressure was already spiking wildly, but with Ichigo that wasn't unusual since starting his Kido training. Every once and awhile he just lost control and it poured out of him again, probably why no one had come running yet.

He was still so angry with those men for laughing at and hurting two people for the crime of love, and he was scared for Hanataro and the other Shinigami he hadn't met before. How in the Hell was he supposed to relax enough to regain control to do what Hanataro was saying? He didn't know, but he had to.

The first few attempts failed miserably, like he had never had a single lesson with Izuru. "Focus King!" Junichi snapped at him. "Stop thinking about failing and just do it!"

Realizing his Hollow was right, Ichigo took a deep breath and just let go, unclenching his fists, exhaling the breath, and when he drew in the next lungful of oxygen he brought his power with it. Over and over he let it burst out of him, before drawing it back in, and letting it go, all in time with his breath.

Within ten minutes he was joined by the Captain and Lieutenant of Squad Seven since they were the closest squad to them. "Ichigo what happened here?" Iba knew of him threw Ikkaku.

"I found these two getting beaten for sport." Ichigo practically growled out, "They need to get to the Fourth quickly."

"I have seen this before," Komamura observed going over to the fallen Shinigami, "Tetsuzaemon, go immediately to the Fourth and fetch a team with all haste. Level 2 situation."

"Yes Captain," Iba responded, Flash Stepping away, leaving Ichigo with Captain Komamura.

The animalistic Captain looked over the injured ones, "I suspect what happened, but I will not ask, what I don't know I can't be made to put into a report." He explained quickly. "Level 2 means there has been an injury that requires the attention of at least the Lieutenant in the Fourth. They will be safe."

"You're protecting them?" Ichigo was wary, and Sajin couldn't blame him.

He nodded, "I do what I can, but it isn't much, there is a lot I have to work around. I don't have the respect, or the age, on my side that others do."

"Thank you," This was not Ichigo, but Hanataro. He had known Komamura was an ally, even if he was a quiet one.

"Hey now, don't speak, you're hurt," Komamura ordered, and Hanataro quieted again, letting the Captain see who Hanataro was with. "Captain Kuchiki is not going to be happy about this, he is from the Sixth."

"Good, I will have help hunting down those guys and tearing them into bits, Senbonzakura is good for things like that." Ichigo growled darkly. "I don't have to get too specific about why, they were beating up my friend, and they will not get away with it."

There was a spark in golden eyes that Ichigo identified with in that moment, controlled anger, "You might be the only one who can. The rest of us have to keep our heads down, otherwise we get asked too many questions about why we are reacting the way we are. We could lose our positions and then we can help no one. You have a record of defending your own with force. I think these thugs have gotten away with their crimes for too long."

"Starting now, that is going to change." Ichigo promised.

"Good." Komamura agreed, just as they felt the approaching Spirit Pressure of the medical team from the Fourth, headed by both Isane and Retsu. They had felt Ichigo's pulsing call, and were already preparing to come when Iba got to them.

"Isane, see to Hanataro, I will get Rikichi," Retsu started giving orders as soon as she saw their condition, the head wound the more immediate threat.

Captain and Substitute stepped back out of the way to give the healers room to work, but stayed to keep wandering eyes at bay. This was not a time for spectators. At least doing this let Ichigo could know that Hanataro and his partner were going to be all right, that he had made it to them in time. Ichigo was glad to put a name to the face of Hanataro's companion. There wasn't any doubt that was who he was, with the way Hanataro still hadn't taken his eyes away, even though Isane was working on him with healing Kido.

"Ichigo! Are you okay?" Shunsui, with Nanao following him, had arrived; they had felt Ichigo's flare too. It had taken the Captain a little while to persuade his Lieutenant to let him check out the situation.

"I'm not hurt, just pissed off," Ichigo was quick to inform, "It's Hanataro that was hurt."

The sudden lock down of all emotion spoke to Shunsui's rage, "Not another one." His hands were clenched into fists, but he was quick to hide them in flowing pink silk.

"I am going to find who did this, and they will pay, I don't have anything to lose like all of you do." Ichigo promised, fire in his eyes and tone.

"You will have a lot of people to hunt down," Not a deterrent, just information.

Ichigo only felt his anger grow, "Oh I know, but that isn't going to stop me, someone has to do something!"

"I think you are exactly what we needed to be able to make some changes around here," Shunsui agreed. "This has to stop."

"It will if I have to beat it into them one ignorant asshole at a time," Ichigo growled.

Komamura spoke then, surprising Ichigo a bit, but he made sense. "Normally I would say to hold back on violence. It would only make you more like them, but words haven't worked, and you need to defend yourself. I say fight back until you find a way to make people start listening to you."

"I don't intend to only use violence," Ichigo assured, "Just on the ones that deserve it. An eye for an eye leaves the world blind, but damn it, they can't get away with this."

"Keep that perspective," Sajin advised. Anger could be helpful in many cases, but it could backfire far more easily than it could help.

Retsu interrupted them, "We are ready to move them. Ichigo, it was good you got to them so quickly or the outcome may have been a lot different, as it stands they should both make a full recovery."

A ghost of a smile on Shunsui's face, "That is good news, even if this shouldn't have happened in the first place."

"A lot of things shouldn't happen, at least this time; someone was there to stop it before permanent damage was dealt." Retsu was tired, but it was mental draining this time, she doubted this would be the last time she was called out to deal with a situation like this one.

"We should get out of their way," Shunsui reminded them, and the group of four followed his lead to give the healers room to evacuate the injured parties to the healing units.

Ichigo felt a heavy hand come down on his shoulder and squeeze, it was not Shunsui, "You need to calm down for now, there isn't anything more you can do for them until we find out more about the attack." Sajin could sense the substitute's distressed Spirit Pressure swirling around him, it had gone out of control again once Ichigo was no longer focused solely on it.

"All I want to do is punch those Damn bastards," He gritted out through clenched teeth.

That gave Shunsui an idea, "Hey Sajin, have you ever sparred with Ichigo?"

"No I haven't, but he needs to calm down, not get more worked up." He responded with concern.

Despite all that happened, Ichigo had to smile ruefully at the comment, "Ah yeah, fighting does calm me down. When I'm this angry, it's usually the only thing that does."

"Come on, we can go back to my barracks then," If this was what Ichigo needed, the Captain would do as Shunsui had suggested.

Ichigo went to follow him, only to have Shunsui call to him, "Remember about tonight, Jyuushiro will be expecting you back. Don't be late." With that he finally allowed Nanao to drag him back to the work that had been neglected for most of the day already. It did need to get done since he was planning on slipping away again later on.

Sajin stayed quiet, knowing this was another thing he shouldn't ask about. He wasn't close enough to the people involved to feel comfortable asking. It wasn't a very far walk to the Seventh squad training grounds, and soon enough he was turning to the Shinigami substitute. "Do you have a preferred method of fighting?" He asked once they had arrived.

"I was told you were very good at hand to hand, would you mind leaving Zanpakuto out of this?" Ichigo requested, he needed to get rid of his anger, a good brawl did wonders for that sometimes.

A hand went unconsciously to the hilt of his sword, and a worried grimace crossed his wolf like features, "Are you sure you want to do that?"

"Yes, don't think I missed it back there, you got pissed too. So let's pummel each other. Don't worry I can take it, I'm tougher than I look," Ichigo cajoled. He was on the opposite side of the debate from the early morning, when it was Jyuushiro talking him into fighting.

"Fine, I will give you a chance, but I will call the fight if it goes too far," Captain Komamura warned.

Wasn't the Captain surprised when during the battle, Ichigo made good on his word. Months of having nothing but his body as protection against the Espada had honed his reflexes and speed to heights he had never reached before. The Captain was bigger than him, and stronger than a normal man, but that meant nothing if he couldn't catch him, and there were points on the body that could drop a person no matter how strong they were.

Sajin found himself on the ground often while fighting Ichigo. His size being used against him. It was hard to land a blow on someone who could move so quickly, so even when he was on his feet things weren't going the way he thought they would. Ichigo could have easily won a place in the black ops with his skill, and when the fight was over, Komamura told him so.

"Thanks, but I like being a Substitute Shinigami just fine." Ichigo replied.

"Well come back for another round any time." Komamura responded, glad it had gone so well, normally when a new opponent came against him they ended up regretting it. It wasn't often his sparring partners actually enjoyed what they asked for.

"Well I need to get going, I am expected back at the Thirteenth tonight," Ichigo excused himself when he realized he had time to get a shower and changed before sundown and his surprise.

He had by no means forgotten about the horrific event he witnessed, but with them in the care of Retsu there wasn't anything more he could do until the two men were awake and able to talk. Until he could get a few details about who attacked them, he couldn't enact his plan of vengeance, the only one he had gotten a good look at was the one he had spoken to directly. There was plenty more people in the group to find.

He had barely managed to get himself redressed after his shower when Jyuushiro was slipping into his room, and he had to do a double take, because it was the first time Ichigo had ever seen him without his Captain's haori on when he wasn't in the Fourth division. He was wearing a standard black Shihakusho and hakama, with his hair carefully tied back in a single tail to reduce the amount of silver that might catch someone's eye in the dark.

The Captain smiled mischievously at Ichigo's speechless stare, "Ready to go?" He asked, knowing exactly what his altered appearance was doing to the younger male.

"Yes, I want to know what you two have planned for me." That smile was infectious.

Jyuushiro was happy as he carefully explained what needed to happen from here. "Good, now remember, step quickly, and the trick is to make sure no one sees you. If we do get stopped, the simplest lies are the easiest ones to remember, and mixing the truth in with a diversion can make it more believable."

"I'm guessing Shunsui is going to already be there?" Ichigo fished for information, his curiosity starting to bite at him now that the surprise was bearing down on him.

"He will be there first yes, and that's all you're getting from me, now let's go," And with that, Jyuushiro was physically pulling Ichigo from the room, a spark of childlike glee to him in the moment that helped wash away the remnants of Ichigo's earlier anger. Ichigo needed this, and badly.

If any residents of Rukon had looked out their windows at just the right moment, they might have seen two Shinigami in black leaping through the night, but they would have been gone just as quickly.

When they arrived at the same clearing the trio had used earlier in the day, Shunsui was already there as Jyuushiro had confirmed, his pink kimono spread out on the ground under him. He was dressed similarly to Jyuushiro, in that he was not wearing his Captain's haori, the pink silk looking even brighter next to his black clothing.

Shunsui just spread his arms and waited. He soon had a lap full of his loves, and he kissed them both in greeting, "Glad you two made it without problems."

"You didn't give Nanao fits again did you?" Jyuushiro asked in concern for the Lieutenant, but there was amusement in his voice too.

"Nah, my little Nanao let me go, I got my work done," Shunsui responded proudly, drawing them closer, nuzzling into them.

The three of them sat together, soaking up the closeness for several long minutes, until Jyuushiro broke the silence. "So, are either of you going to tell me why I felt your power flare Ichigo, while you were in range of Shunsui's squad?"

Shunsui spared Ichigo the task, and informed Jyuushiro of the earlier events. Two sets of arms went strongly around the youngest in the trio, "Ichigo now you have seen a taste of the dark side of what we are doing. All the warnings we gave you about this were because of events like that. You were there to stop it this time, and there were still injuries, but there has been times when no one came. People have been lost, and scarred beyond repair, from attacks like those. That was only the beginning of what you might see, are you still sure you can do this?" As much as it would hurt, it was not too late to back out now, much longer and it would be much more crippling.

"I am not running away." Ichigo insisted firmly. "I was a prisoner of Aizen, he did everything in his power to make me give in to him, to do what he wanted. If I was strong enough to take that kind of pressure, I'm sure as Hell not going to let those bastards drive me away from the people I love." Here both older men were shocked at the vicious grin Ichigo allowed to bloom across his face now that no one else was around to see it. "They have no idea what kind of danger they brought on themselves messing with Hanataro; Junichi likes him."

"Generally angering a Hollow is a bad idea," Shunsui agreed, he had suspected there was this side to Ichigo, but hadn't seen it. He liked it.

The grin changed to a smirk, "Especially when that Hollow is mine." Now Shunsui really, really, liked what he was seeing.

"So, Shunsui, ready to give Ichigo his surprise?" Jyuushiro recognized that look in the other Captain's eyes, this was going to be fun. Ichigo had no idea what he was in for.

A teasing smile, "Thought you would never ask." Shunsui turned his full attention on Ichigo, "You stay here and enjoy, it's our turn to entertain you tonight. I think you will like what you see."

It was a very curious Ichigo that hauled himself out of Shunsui's lap and laid down on the silk covered ground as he watched the two captains walk away from him. They were so close to one another their shoulders were brushing. He felt a thrill of excitement work its way down his spine as he watched the two powerful men draw their Zanpakuto. Entertain him indeed.

As Jyuushiro and Shunsui fought, his body heated up, and he couldn't tear his eyes away. They were dangerous, and handsome, and beautiful, and there just wasn't enough words to describe the way they looked as they twisted and moved against each other fluidly. Normally Ichigo liked being in a fight far more than he liked watching it, but he stood corrected when it was these two.

When the two got back flushed and excited, they were practically pounced on, not that they minded. It took less then a minute for them to get situated, with Shunsui on his back, enjoying the show of Ichigo and Jyuushiro kissing as they sprawled on top of him. Before long though his hand was pulling at the tie in Jyuushiro's hair, freeing the fall of silver strands, while his mouth was kissing up Ichigo's neck. Jyuushiro returned the favor in causing his own brunette hair to come free of its bounds, running pale hands through it as they kissed, Ichigo watching with heat radiating off him.

When Jyuushiro and Shunsui broke apart, eyes met and they both looked at Ichigo at the same time, "If you are not ready for more yet, say so now, and we will stop." Shunsui promised. They knew enough about his captivity to not take consent on faith, better to ask directly.

"If you stop now, I am letting Junichi loose," Ichigo threatened. This was better than anything he had ever felt before, and he wanted to enjoy it.

A nod and a kiss followed, Shunsui shifting Ichigo around so he was settled more comfortably in his lap, Ichigo's back against Shunsui's chest. Ichigo loved the feel of those strong arms around him, and his mouth kissing his neck. The feeling of utter heaven only increased when Jyuushiro's weight came down on him, pressing their bodies against each other, and kissing his lips deeply. The removal of clothing was a slow process. An exploration of new things for the trio, Ichigo had two new bodies to discover, and the Captains were not going to let a single inch of Ichigo go unseen. Whenever a memory of capture and foreign hands threatened to surface, kisses and soft words drove them away, and Ichigo could breathe again.

Shunsui kissed up his neck again to whisper in his ear, "Jyuu is going to take you first, he is gentler, and then I will if you are still wanting to." He kissed Ichigo's temple after speaking.

Ichigo's breath hitched at the touch and words but he nodded.

One of the things the dark had hidden from Ichigo's view was the bottle of oil Shunsui had brought with him. He slid it into Jyuushiro's reach, and helped to distract their lover from the slight pain of preparation.

Ichigo loved being able to look into the face of the person taking him. He wasn't a virgin, but Grimmjow was behind him. He could kiss, and touch, holding onto Jyuushiro as much as he wanted to. The older man's body was slender, but muscled, comfortably heavy. It felt so good when he moved with him. Shunsui wrapping his arms around him, and snaking a hand between them to toy with his sensitive stomach and groin only added to the pleasure he was feeling.

When they finished, it was accompanied by a passionate kiss, so full of fire and hope Ichigo forgot everything but the three of them.

It was a perfect night, and it wasn't over yet, because it was Shunsui's turn now. Ichigo wasn't immediately ready, it took a bit of teasing, but that was something Shunsui was more than happy to provide. When Ichigo was reduced to a moaning begging mess in Jyuushiro's hold, Shunsui swooped in and gave him what he was asking for.

Spent, nude, and tired, they lay entwined together under the stars. "Thank you," Ichigo said sleepily, head resting on Shunsui's shoulder, Jyuushiro on the other side.

He was kissed by both of them, but it was Jyuushiro who spoke, "Thank you for trusting us, it couldn't have been easy with all you have been through."

"But it was easy, with you two I didn't even have to think about it," Ichigo revealed.

Shunsui's arms tightened, "Good, because we aren't letting go."

Jyuushiro chuckled slightly, "It's kind of a good thing we sparred first though, all the Spiritual Pressure we released might have drawn some attention."

"I think we are far enough from the Seireitei we should be safe," Shunsui disagreed playfully. "Not the first time we've had to do a little fast talking if we do get caught though. Just say we were training Ichigo to beat up those punks."

"I think I have learned some from watching you two fight," Ichigo added.

That earned a laugh from Shunsui, "You really are amazing, you know that? You can remember and learn something like that while being so distracted? Some would find that scary."

"I find it useful." Jyuushiro defended the now red-faced Ichigo.

"I can't help it!" Ichigo protested, hiding his face in Shunsui's shoulder as laughter spilled into the night.

A/N2 I have decided that this story will contain MPREG. Why? Because I read something that pissed me off. I know not everyone likes every kind of story, I don't ask that of my readers. If you don't like it, there are many other wonderful stories out there to enjoy. The comment I read was in what was essentially a rant/parody fic about what this author doesn't like in cliche fanfictions. I enjoy reading these. They can help me keep my stories fresh and original if I keep up to date on what readers are finding overused. If the comment was just about not liking Mpreg, I could have laughed and walked away, it's an acquired taste that not everyone has, I get it.

The actual comment said Mpreg was dishonoring yaoi. WTF? Okay I believe I have mentioned this before, but I will say it again, I am gay. How in the hell is mpreg written by a homosexual author a dishonorment to yaoi, when I have seen whole fanfictions that are nothing but sex scenes, of dubious physical possibility in of themselves, written by preteen straight girls not?

I write mpreg because I enjoy writing about pregnancy, birth, and children, and there are possibilities in stories like Bleach that allow for males to give birth. Notice I am not using the word human, because they are not. Of all the crazy things that happen in animes, I don't really think mpreg is that farfetched. I also happen to know several loving homosexual couples, that if they had the opportunity to have their own biological children, they would take it. It can't happen in real life yet, so why shouldn't I write it?