Disclaimer:

I don't own Bleach or any ideas/characters. I only own references and images for my OC.

Chapter 21

Kimura POV

I found myself leaning against the boulder by the pond at the center of Squad tens barracks. I stared at the waterfall as it cascaded into the pond. I felt the shimmer to my left, when I glanced over, I saw Tianma and Shenron kneeling there watching me.

"Milady, it is time, we need to place the plan into motion." Tianma said as she came to kneel next to me, apparently opting for a human manifestation today.

I took a deep breath in, I had been thinking about this since I came to yesterday. Toshiro has been busy trying to finalize a plan with the other captains, so I have had the time to try and strategize.

"I need to see Kisuke." I said looking at Shenron, only momentarily shocked that he was not in his dragon manifestation.

"I will handle it mistress. Tonight?" Shenron asked me, bowing his covered head slightly.

"Yes please, but before the captains meeting is over. I cannot have Toshiro catching wind of my plan." A moment later he disappeared.

"He will understand milady. If he loves you as he does, he will understand." Tianma said, I merely hummed in response, turning back to watch the waterfall.

'Does he though?' I asked myself.


A few hours later I stood on the roof of a building, my zanpakutos strapped to my lower back and my high ponytail blowing in the breeze.

"You summoned my lady." I heard Kisukes sarcastic comment and smiled as I turned to him, he was bowed at his waist in a mocking way, with his hat in his hand, out to the side. I laughed at him, as he rose to a standing position. I tilted my head at him before shaking my head at his antics. "You know that dragon of yours is very pushy, he threatened to burn my hat if I didn't figure out how to meet you with out anyone knowing." He walked to stand next to me, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye, getting serious.

"Want to explain all the secrecy?"

"I need you to help me with a plan. You're not going to like it." I muttered.

"Oh, horrible plans, high chance of death and failure, are the best ones." He replied smirking.

"I need you to get me to Grimmjow, then I need you to delay anyone from the soul society for three days before letting them get to Hueco Mundo." I briefly explained. I felt him turn his head towards me shocked.

"Kimura, I love crazy idiotic plans, but this does not seem smart." Kisuke stated.

"I know, but this is my path Kisuke. It will work. I have every step planned out to a certain point, help me get to that point." I face him, my eyes begging him. I knew the moment he had had given in, because he sighed, and his shoulders slumped.

"Fine…. When do we start?'

"Tomorrow evening." I replied steadfast.


After my meeting with Kisuke I flash stepped back to the courtyard, for a moment I started to second guess my plan, but knew I had no choice, this was the way it had to be. I stood there a moment longer before I felt eyes on me.

I turned towards them and saw Toshiro standing there on his porch watching me. We stared at each other for what seemed liked hours, finally he reached his hand out to me, beckoning me to him, my body started moving of its own accord. I started to hum as I walked to him, I watched him tilt his head at me.

"What are you humming?" He asked quietly once I was standing in front of him.

"Would you like to hear it?" I watched as he nodded. I put my hand on his stomach pushing him back to enter his living room, keeping my eyes on his.

"Natsuhiboshi, why are you so red, Because I had a sad dream last night, my eyes are red from the tears I shed, swollen as I cried." I sang as I continued to walk him backwards, I slid the door close behind me and latched it. I saw Toshiro's face scrunch trying to find the meaning in my words.

"Natsuhiboshi, why've you lost your way, I'm searching for a child who's gone afar, she can't be found, Though I search all day, my sad dreams come once more." His eyes never left mine as he let me push him to his bedroom. I finished my song staring at him.

"Another." Was all he said, sitting on the edge of his bed, watching me. I smiled at him, he had told me once, that he loved hearing me sing, that it made time stop for him.

"Cast away your worries, my dear for tomorrow comes a new day, hold to me, you've nothing to fear, for your dreams are not far away." I watched as Toshiro closed his eyes, letting my lyrics wash over him. I knew this was probably going to be my last night with him, before my plan was put into motion, and if it didn't turn out the way I hoped.

"As you lay your head and you rest, may your dreams take over my love, listen close, my son of the west, for your destiny lies above" I walked towards him slowly. As I approached him, I started to untie my sash around my waist, letting it fall to the floor. Toshiro opened his eyes, watching my movements, his eyes started to glaze as each piece of clothing fell from me.

"Though the world is cruel, there's a light that still shines in the darkest days of our lives, when all hope seems lost, and you can't find your way, Think of me as you look to the sky," My Shihakusho slipped from my shoulders falling behind me as I continued to step forward. Toshio's breath started coming out quicker, and I saw his hands clench with restraint, to keep from grabbing me.

"Child mine, your future is bright, for your father's bloods in your veins, in dark times, I pray you will fight, For the world will soon know your name" I reached him, standing in only my sleeveless shirt and stretch pants.

I grazed his face with my fingertips, staring into his eyes. I could see all the pain he held in them.

"Let me remove all your pain." I whispered to him, lifting his chin.

"You can't change the past." He replied in the same hushed tone.

"No… but I can ease your hurt." I kneeled in front of him between his knees, pushing his legs apart as I knelt. I started to push his Shihakusho open to reveal his chest, his breath hitching as my hands grazed his skin. Once I had his top half bare, I moved to release the ties of his hakama, so it loosened. I held his gaze, silently asking him to lift so I could remove them. Toshiro complied, now sitting completely naked in front me, I ran my hands up his naked thighs, grazing my nails on the inside of his thighs, and at his hips.

He leaned back on his hands watching me with hungry eyes and panting with anticipation.

"Let me help you forget everything, even if just for tonight" I kissed his inner thigh. "Let me comfort you, heal your emotional wounds, and scars."


Toshiro POV

I opened my eyes slowly the next morning. I turned my head looking at the body sleeping next to me. Last night when she told she was wanted to help me forget all my scars and wounds, just for one night, I didn't have the words to tell her that she helps me forget them every time she is near me. I had never had anyone care about me or worry as much she does. It made me want to keep her safe even more, I feared losing that.

Something in her eyes last night held a tint of sorrow and fear. I wanted her to tell me what it was, I couldn't help if I didn't know what the issue was, I pushed it aside in my mind, telling myself that I was over thinking what I was seeing. She was safe.

I heard Kimura stirring as she started to wake. She lifted herself up onto her elbows and turned to look at me with a blush on her face. I smiled seeing that, even after all the times we had been together, she stilled blushed with me.

"Good morning." I told her, my voice coming out husky.

"Good morning." She replied, leaning towards me to rub her nose against mine as she always did when she woke up next to me, it was our tradition already. I leaned my head capturing her mouth with mine. I would never get tired of tasting her, I realized she was like air to me. She slowly pulled away from me her eyes shining, I stared as the ring of ice blue around her eyes glowed brighter today.

"I want to stay here with you all day…..." I mumbled, running my hand through her hair whish was cascading down her back in a bright red wave.

"But you can't, I know. How is the strategy coming along?" She replied while nuzzling her face into my hand, kissing my palm.

I sighed before sitting up to get out of bed. "We have a good plan. Kisuke said that he would need three days from today to get a functioning and safe portal ready for us. We know where Grimmjow is so, finding them should be easy." I said as I stood walking to my closet to get dressed.

"Who will be joining the rescue mission?" I heard her ask; I peeked out from the closet see her stand from the bed and walking around the room naked. I stayed silent forgetting the question she had asked me.

"Toshiro…..."

"Huh?" I looked at her face, tearing my gaze away from her body, seeing her stare at me with a smug expression her face. "You cannot expect me to pay attention to your words when you're walking around this room naked can you?" I said, looking away, she had the uncanny ability to make me blush when she stared at me like that.

I heard rustling and when I looked back, she had slipped on her stretch pants and backless top.


Kimura POV

"We have a good plan. Kisuke said that he would need three days from today to get a functioning and safe portal ready for us. We know where Grimmjow is so, finding them should be easy." I listened to Toshiro say as he stood from the bed.

'Good job Kisuke.' I thought to myself, knowing that he was sticking to my plan. I knew he would question if I stayed silent too long.

"Who will be joining the rescue mission?" I asked nonchalantly as I stood from the bed walking around the room, not even thinking about the fact that I was naked. When I didn't hear a reply, I turned to look at him and saw him staring at my naked body.

"Toshiro…..."

"Huh?" he said vaguely to me. I cocked my hip to the side, giving him the smug look, I always give him when I've caught him and his mind turning. I watched as he turned his head away and a faint blush hit his face.

"You cannot expect me to pay attention to your words when you're walking around this room naked can you?" he muttered, and I couldn't help but laugh as I pulled my stretch pants on and backless top. I looked around and found my shihakusho and sash by the bedroom door, I slipped them on, adjusting it so it hung evenly down my front and back of my body.

I moved towards Toshiro's mirror and shelf, I couldn't help but smile seeing the hairbrush and the strip of cloth that I tied my ponytail with now. I remember the day he put that brush in front of me, it was a morning after a night I stayed with him, and I was trying to brush my hair with my fingers. He smiled at me while I looked at him in the mirror, saying something about how I might as well have things here.

I brushed my hair into my high ponytail, tying it with the cloth that Toshiro had ripped from his scarf, what seemed like so long ago now, so much has happened since. I heard him emerge from his closet, dressed and his captains haori on, he had his scarf in his had as he looked up at me and smiled.

"What are you handling today?" I heard him ask as he wrapped his scarf around his neck, keeping his eyes on me.

"I figured I would get started on all that paperwork that is piling up, I can imagine how overdue they all are." I laughed and smiled at him. My heart stung a little bit for having to lie to him, but it could not be helped.

Toshiro laughed as he grabbed Hyorinmaru pulling him over his shoulder. "That should keep you busy all day. I'll be in the captains meeting all day, but I'll see you tonight. You'll stay with me." He said as he stood in front of my placing his hand on my face.

I rubbed my face into his hand involuntary and sighed. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." I said in a sad voice. His eyebrows scrunched at my tone.

"What's wrong?" He asked with concerned eyes, but I just shook my head.

"Nothing, just my head aching a bit." I leaned up and kissed his lips softly, drawing my tongue against his bottom lip, causing him to groan.

"I'll see you tonight." He whispered against my lips as he pulled away, letting the cloth holding my ponytail slip through his fingers. I watched as he walked towards his bedroom door.

"Toshiro…." I said, causing him to stop and turn around to look at me. "I love you." I said to him, trying to put all my emotion and feeling into those three words. I watched as his face lit up and he gave me the biggest smile, before turning and walking out of his house. He had not said those words to me, and I was fine with it, I knew he sometimes couldn't put what he needed to say into words.

I sat on his bed and let my head fall into my hands squeezing my eyes shut. After a few moments I steeled myself and got back up. I went to his living room, finding his desk where he kept his paper and pens. I quickly wrote the letter, with as much detail as I could. I folded it and went back into his bedroom, placing it on his pillow where I knew he would find it immediately when he came back tonight.

I turned, marching towards the back door, grabbing my zanpakutos strapping them to my lower back. I slipped my boots on and left the haven that was Toshiro's home. I flash stepped out of the seireitei, towards the east Rukon district forest.

Kisuke told me that he had created a hidden portal from the soul society to the world of the living and hid it in the forest for me to use, it could only be opened with either his spiritual pressure or mine. I went through the woods, finding the cave he mentioned, placing my hand on the rock, and sending my spiritual pressure into it, suddenly a swirling light appeared and stabilized. I looked once more behind me before walking through the portal.