I do not own anything bleach, only my OC.

This story takes place before TYBW, but after the end of the original anime.

Chapter 4 – Close to the Sun

Previously

"Don't go…" Kisuke whispered.

She smiled at him before replying "I'm not going anywhere, just grabbing the blankets." She reached towards the end of the bed and pulled the sheets and comforter up around them settling back into his embrace.

"Good night, Kimiko… Welcome home." Kisuke whispered into her hair.

"Good night Kisuke…" she replied, allowing sleep to claim her.


Kimiko slowly woke, letting her eyes adjust to the room, her body tensed, it took a moment for her dual sets of memories to merge with each other, reminding her that she was in Kisukes room, and she had merged with her reincarnation. The involuntary tense that her body did upon waking up caused Kisukes arm to tighten around her.

"What's wrong?" he asked, kissing her shoulder lightly.

"Nothing, just letting the dual memories merge. I told you I didn't think through every outcome when I did this." Kimiko smiled at him over her shoulder as he looked at her with concern.

"Is there a chance your memories will revert?"

"Don't think so, but now I will know for next time." Kimiko said to him trying to make light of the mood, but the darkening of his eyes clearly showed it did not work.

"There won't be a next time." he said darkly.

Kimiko sighed, turning her body so she could lay on her side and face him, running her hands up his chest to his neck.

"We still don't know how this works Kisuke, I am not a soul reaper, I don't know how long my life will be." I whispered to him, feeling him tighten his hold on me.

"Then we will figure it out. I will get your soul reaper powers back again. I did it for Ichigo…." He started to say, but I stopped him by placing a finger on his lips.

"But he is still mortal. We are playing with a different set of rules here."

"I will figure this out, I promise you…. Though I may need to run some tests" He said sheepishly running his hand up her back, grazing the sides of her breasts as he went, causing her to moan quietly.

"You can run whatever you want…" Kimiko whispered leaning forward to capture his lips and burying her hands into his hair pulling him forwards forcefully.

Kisuke returned her kiss demanding her to open her mouth to him, allowing him to slip his tongue into her mouth moaning quietly.

Suddenly a knock came at the door "Boss! Are we still going to get those supplies today?" Jinta's voice flowed through the door followed by Tessai's.

"Jinta! I told you to leave the boss alone longer."

Kisuke pulled back slowly opening his eyes to hold Kimiko's gaze.

"I guess we have to get up…" he whispered rubbing his nose against hers.

Kimiko laughed at him. "I supposed so…." Kisuke rolled off her, so she could slowly start to stand. He watched as she walked around his room naked and couldn't help but smile at the familiarity of it.

FLASHBACK

Kisuke laid on his bed with both his arms stretched behind his head watching Kimiko rush around his room. She was frantically trying to find all her articles of clothing that had been thrown around the room just a few hours ago.

"Why are you just lying there? I completely blame you for this, I was just supposed to deliver the paperwork to you and pick up the ones for my captain, that was two hours ago!" Kimiko shouted at him causing him to laugh at her.

She stopped as she was pulling her pants up to glare at him.

"Kisuke this isn't funny!" Kimiko finally found her top that was thrown across the room and pulled it on before pulling on her modified shihakusho.

"Calm down Kimiko – do you really think Shunsui is going to notice, he's probably napping under a tree right now." Kisuke replied with a grin. "And really, this distraction was your fault if you think about it….." he said to her causing Kimiko to slowly turn to him again with narrowed eyes.

"Care to explain how this was MY fault?"

"Well…. If you hadn't dropped that pen and bent to pick it up, I wouldn't have gotten distracted." Kisuke shrugged at her, still having not moved an inch, and the sheet barely covering his lower half.

Kimiko growled at him before taking a step forward. "You pervert! You dropped the pen and told to pick it up because your back hurt from moving things in the lab!"

"Hum… I suppose I did say that didn't eye."

END FLASHBACK

Kisuke continued to watch her, disappointed that she had finished pulling her shirt over her head, destroying the view he was enjoying. She turned to look at him and laughed.

"Déjà vu?"

"I was thinking how the last time we were in this situation you were much more frantic, worried Shunsui was going to notice your absence." Kisuke started to sit up in his bed, throwing his legs over the side not bothering to take the sheet with him. He watched as Kimiko's eyes traveled down and swallowed, he stood and slowly walked to her, his bangs falling in front of his eyes. He placed his hands on her hips pulling her into him.

"If you don't get dressed, you'll be late going to get your supplies…." She whispered to him, looking up to his face while wrapping her arms around him.

"hhmm, still concerned that this is a dream I am going to wake up from." Kisuke said, lowering his head to her so he could capture her lips with his. She kissed him back feverishly, making him groan into her kiss and lift her to push her back into the wall, while grinding himself into her pulling a gasp from her mouth.

"Kisuke…" he smiled at her gasp before trailing his mouth down her neck nipping when he reached the junction at her shoulder. He lost himself in his task before he heard knocking on the bedroom door again.

"Sorry boss, but Ichigo, and some of the others are here also." He heard Tessai say through the door.

Kisuke stopped his attentions resting his head on her shoulder groaning.

"Be right there Tessai." He replied to him, giving Kimiko's neck one more kiss before slowly lowering her to the ground. "This will be continued later."

Kimiko leaned against the wall catching her breath, watching Kisuke move to dress himself. Before she knew it, he was dressed and placing that damn hat on his head, adjusting it so it covered most of his eyes. He turned to her before reaching his hand out.

"Coming…"

Kimiko smiled before placing her hand in his and letting him pull her out of the room, towards downstairs.


Kisuke entered his living area, releasing Kimiko's hand right before so he could pull out his fan to cover his face. He cast his eyes to Kimiko who covered her mouth with her hand trying to stifle a laugh.

"Really into the showmanship now huh?" she asked lightly watching as he blushed slightly while shrugging.

"What another pleasant surprise! Now what brings you by this time?" Kisuke asked smiling at the group.

Kimiko followed him in and looked at the group of visitors. Their attention was clearly drawn to her, causing Kisuke to turn his head.

"Ah yes! You haven't had a chance to meet my guest." He moved to stand next to her. "This is Kimiko Hoshi. Kimiko these are friends of mine; Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, and Renji Abarai." Kimiko smiled at them while she waived.

"Hello." Her gaze stopped at Renji, tilting her head to the side. Kisuke watched her, waiting to see if her memories went back fully. "Renji…." She mumbled, as Renji raised his eyebrow.

"Have we met?"

"You know Renji, she almost looks like she could be related to you, with the hair. All she would need is the tattoo." Ichigo said.

Renji's face scrunched his, deep in thought. "Tattoo…." He whispered before his head popped up. "Holy Shit."

Kisuke smiled as recognition finally hit Renji. Kimiko narrowed her eyes as she stepped closer to him, looking at his tattoo before looking up into his face.

"Did you copy my tattoo Abarai?!" She yelled, poking him in the chest. Renji sweat dropped, waving his hands in front of him while trying to back away from her.

"Copied is such a strong word, mine looks different." He defended, still trying to move back from her.

"Just because you made the ends point, and go up your head, doesn't make it different you idiot! Couldn't you come up with your own idea!"

"Isn't the saying imitation is the fondest form of flattery?" Renji laughed before turning and running out of the shop.

Kimiko just stood there watching him leave, cocking her hip and placing her hand on it before turning back to the group behind her.

"I still got it."

Ichigo and Rukia just stood there with their eyes wide shifting between the open-door Renji ran out of and this woman.

"SOOO….. how do you fit into this?" Ichigo asked slowly. "Are you a soul reaper?"

Kimiko stopped next to Kisuke before looking back at them.

"I used to be, a long time ago." Turning she left the living area to find Tessai, Jinta, and Ururu.

Kisuke watched her go, before turning back to the remaining two visitors.

'Hm… how far did Renji run….' Kisuke thought to himself.

"What's the deal hat and clogs?" Ichigo said crossing his arms.

Kisuke held his gaze from under his hat, debating with himself about how much to divulge. "Have a seat, it's a bit of an interesting story, hopefully Mr. Abarai will grace us with his presence again soon." He turned to sit at his table waiting for the two to join him.

As they sat down, Renji peaked his head around the door looking for Kimiko.

"She's not in here Abarai, you're safe." Kisuke said with a grin watching him exhale sharply before coming to sit down at the table with them.

"Kimiko was the third seat to Captain Shunsui when I was Captain of Squad 12." He watched as Ichigo lean forward on the table listening intently. "Her and I were close you could say. She was becoming close friends with Yoruichi, Tessai, even Mayuri." He laughed as he said that last name.

"Captain Kurotsuchi, that's hard to believe." Rukia said shocked.

"Yes… it's still shocking to me as well, but she has a way about her." Kisuke sighed. "She was one of the most powerful soul reapers I had seen in a while. Her spirit energy was off the charts, honestly if she had been there when we went to save Rukia, I would have told you to run the other away as fast as you could if you came across her."

Ichigo gasped at Kisuke high regard of this woman but decided to keep his mouth shut.

"Renji here was actually saved b Kimiko while he was still in the academy." Renji blushed and looked away as Ichigo leered at him raising his finger.

"You were saved by a girl…."

Renji turned to while glowering "I was a kid you moron!"

"Settle down you two…." Rukia said as she stood grabbing both their heads and forcing their faces onto the table before sitting down again. "Please continue Kisuke."

Kisuke stared at her for a moment before coughing. "Yes…. Renji was training in the forest and attracted the attention of a hollow. Since he was still in the academy, he didn't really have any real battle experience yet. Thankfully he chose the forest that Kimiko used to use as a hide out when she wanted to be alone." Kisuke smiled as his mind wandered back.

FLASHBACK

Kimiko was lounging in her favorite tree, laying on a branch high enough that she could see who was coming but could not be seen. She closed her eyes, sighing contentedly enjoying the peace and quiet.

Suddenly she popped her eyes open feeling someone's spiritual pressure that she didn't recognize enter the clearing beneath her. She turned her head to see who it was that was disturbing her tranquility when she saw a scrawny kid with long red hair like hers.

'hhmm, who's this….' She thought to herself, watching him pull out one of the wooden training swords she remembered from the academy. Kimiko smiled at the kid as he raised his spiritual pressure going through the fighting stances.

She laid on her branch watching him, and seeing his spiritual pressure get stronger and stronger, feeling slightly impressed. Then she sat up completely.

'Uh oh. The kid went too far.' Kimiko thought watching the tree line across from the kid below her, he hadn't felt the incoming pressure.

Before she knew it a hollow burst through the trees going straight for the kid. He looked up but froze, not knowing what to do. Kimiko jumped out of the tree landing between the kid and the hollow.

She looked behind her shoulder at him before smiling. "You might want to back up kid." She told him as she pulled her zanpakuto out from behind her back and turning back to the intruder. "You know, this is supposed to be my day off, you are ruining it." She told the beast while pointing the tip of her blade at it.

The creature started to laugh at her but stayed in one spot.

"You think you can kill me with that itty bitty sword soul reaper?" The hollow mocked.

Kimiko just grinned at it, before stretching her arm out to the side. "Suiro, Taifu hoka!" she yelled while swinging her blade and leaping in the air at it. The hollow barely dodged the attack, but moved exactly where she wanted it to. Kimiko flash stepped above its head, raising her blade up while she came down slicing its head off.

Kimiko landed on the ground on one of her knees while it disappeared. She stood up straight returning her zanpakuto to its sheath before turning to the kid.

"You, ok?" she asked, walking towards him. "What's your name?"

"Renji…. Renji Abarai." he said, staring at her. Kimiko watched his eyes take in everything about her, even the tattoo.

"Well Renji Abarai, next time you want to come practice in the forest, try not to expel so much spiritual pressure unless you're prepared for what you will attract." She told him while rubbing his head fondly and disappearing.

END FLASHBACK

Kisuke finished his tale and watched the group sitting across from him. Renji was looking to the side and had his arms crossed. Ichigo and Rukia sat there blinking at him before falling over laughing. Kisuke sighed and shook his head at their antics.

"SHUT IT YOU TWO!" Renji yelled, turning to them. Rukia and Ichigo stopped laughing and sat back up after a few moments.

"If you two are finished, I'd like to continue my tale now, unless you don't want to know anymore…." Kisuke watched as the three of them stopped their bickering and turned back to him.

"Years later, as you know Aizen started his master plan. Unfortunately, Kimiko was caught in it. He wanted to make me hurt where I would feel useless. She was there trying to save the Visored's, by the time I arrived Aizen had a hold of her. I watched unable to help as he ran her through with his zanpakuto and watched me, for once be so utterly useless." Kisuke said, turning his gaze away from them.

"Apparently, before she died, she was able to get off a forbidden reincarnation kido, which brings us too today. After that Arrancar attacked her, her soul was able to merge with her reincarnation and restore both souls into one." Kisuke finished.

"So, she remembers her old life, but since she was reborn, she is no longer a soul reaper." Rukia said. Kisuke nodded to her. Hearing movement from behind him he turned to watch Kimiko walk in with Jinta and Ururu.

"Boss we should probably be going if you want to pick up those items you wanted." Jinta said.

Kisuke nodded and started to stand. He looked back at the three guests.

"Jinta's right. You three feel free to use the training grounds, I'll be back shortly." He turned to Kimiko and went to stand in front of her and Ururu. "You stay put huh. No need in attracting any Arrancar attention when I'm not here." He said jokingly to her, grazing his fingers against the back of her hand.

Kimiko glared at him before sighing. "Fine, just this once… I'll stay and help Ururu and Tessai with the shop." She mumbled.

Kisuke smiled at her before walking out the door with Jinta. Kimiko turned to the three others and smiled.

"So, he filled you all in?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm sorry that happened to you." Rukia said, closing her eyes briefly before looking at Kimiko again.

"No need to feel sorry for me. I lived a very long life before that death." She smiled at Rukia. "Kuchiki, huh. Any relation to Byakuya?"

Rukia gasped before nodding "yes, he is my older brother."

"Ah. Tell me is he still the serious stick in the mud he used to be?" Kimiko asked, catching Rukia off guard, as Ichigo laughed.

"You bet he is! It's like he's never smiled a day in his life" Ichigo continued to laugh even as Rukia turned to glare at him and smack him in the back of his head. Kimiko laughed at the three of their interactions, it reminded her of Kisuke, Yoruichi, and herself.


A/N: Chapter four done! Hoping you guys are enjoying it, I'm trying to get everything in my head to make sense with how I want this story to go. Please review and let me know what you think.