Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

Tag	By : LilMonk Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 11404 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Disclaimers: Bleach is the
sole property of Kubo Tite. I only own this fanfic.

A/N:Words in Italics denotes personal
thoughts (hence scenes of the past are in this font, as they are being
remembered).

To make the scenes clearer:

*******

Followed by words in this font = Past

*******

*******

Followed by words mainly in this
font = Present.

*******

Previously:

Shape-shifting into a cat that
blended in with shadows of the night, slit pupils watched a distracted
shinigami get attacked by one formidable tailor armed with needles and a
measuring tape. Purring in agreement at Ishida�s ruthless wrestling tactics,
she slipped away to retrieve something back at her lair before heading on to a
certain place.

What was the end? You guessed it.
But there was more than I�d be willing to tell you, Ichigo.

0o-------------------------o0

Friends?

It never rains, but pours.

A line they�d read many times
before, to the point that it sounded corny and
practically invited their mockery. Now that the scenario due to such an
underlying cause (no holding back) was real, the perception was rather
different. So was the reaction.

�Shh� what are you crying for� silly
girl��

During that decisive confrontation,
Urahara Kisuke had regained control at the most (un)fortunate time.

Clear droplets fell to cracked earth, mingling with scarlet
flecks.

Loud, raspy breathing that sounded
like a cross between choking and nausea came from the woman, whose skin was
studded with many tiny pieces of dissolving redness.

The taller figure�s robes were no
longer pristine, red spreading outwards where the cloth had been burnt. His
hilt was on the ground, lying on top of infinite scattered fragments that had
formerly been part of the Blood Mist Claws. The rest of a bloodstained Benihime
protruded through her left shoulder. Her left hand was embedded within blood
and tissue. Repulsed by the feel, she yanked it out of his gut. A mask was
crumbling in his fist. Greenish-grey eyes resembled murky glass panes, as
chapped lips remained parted and his furrowed brow of anguish and self-loathing
were an apt reflection of her traumatic sorrow. Remembering the times they�d
shared such agony� when he was on the verge of becoming a Hollow. When she
would have turned into ashes, until he�d expelled all the unstable power.

She caught him, as he staggered and
fell forward into her arms.

He hugged the lithe figure while
preserving her modesty, even as her tears dampened his clothing.

�I�m sorry, Yoruichi� I cause you
such pain again��

It hurt to move. Awkwardly rubbing
one hand across her eyes while holding him, gritting her teeth so as not to
give in entirely to uselessness, with a minor adjustment she carried him over
the right shoulder. Yoruichi had never seen him in such a� feeble state. Slowly
stooping to pick up the broken weapon and straightening, she drew on the last
reserves of her strength and fierce will. Laughing weakly, she yelled at him.

�Don�t you dare go all mushy on me.
I didn�t give you permission to die, and we�re going to Kuukaku to patch you
up. The human world beckons at last.�

Other shinigami would not
understand. For all she knew, the death warrant had likely been issued for his
resistance of �justice�, then attempting to kill a fellow captain. They would
fight it. She would not let Kisuke be consumed by the Hollow in him. No matter
how long it took, she would aid him in winning completely. Knowing him, he had
probably vowed to die, than become a danger to those he cherished. This choice
had determined others as well.

Byakuya, I�m sorry�

*******

Kisuke, you are right. He
probably concluded that you and I were lovers, which is why he was so angry�it
must seem as if I threw everything back in his face without caring, and played
him for the fool�

Watching from the rooftop, she
observed the young girl attending to the figure lying on the futon, while
listening to the soothing words of a worried sibling.

�Nii-sama, how are you feeling?�

He uttered something the concealed
observer couldn�t hear and then with a rustle of creased linen, the concerned
sister departed. A solitary individual was left staring at the ceiling.

She had spied for long enough. It
was better to leave Soul Society while her ex-colleagues were not expecting too
much from her. I�m sorry, Soi
Fong.The humans had to return to their world and needed a guide
anyway-

�How much longer do you plan on
hiding?�

The invalid was now glaring right
at her. Even from this distance, his gaze was piercing enough to leave her
discomfited. Chilling hostility only encouraged her to get it over and done
with as soon as possible. Leaping off slippery tiles and descending noiselessly
into the room, she walked over to his bedside. Older, wiser, sadder� she had
fully matured into the person her grandfather wanted her to be.

From the looks of it, he might have
had a harder time than she did. It confirmed the first impressions of him after
all those decades� he had suffered terribly somewhere along the way. If only
she could help him recapture some joy, to see those eyes with some semblance of
life, as opposed to dull listlessness that hinted of one who was hiding too
much in self-defence. Yoruichi felt awkward. She didn�t know what he was
thinking, but at least she could try to extend some consolation for whatever
unknown problem(s) plagued him� as friends normally do.

Sitting down on the recently
vacated cushion, both hands were clasped on her lap in a demure fashion as she
crossed her legs.

�She�s still sweet to you, despite
your diligence in sending her to her execution; although I don�t remember you
having a sister. Just concentrate on recovering and if Ichigo still worries
you, he�ll be under capable jurisdiction so-�

�You�re rambling. And leaving.�

Surreptitious blinking was the
only change in her external appearance. Eyes, like dimmed lanterns gazed into a
distance only she could see. A gentle breeze stirred gauzy curtains. Simmering
fury had been his first reaction on clearly seeing her enter, but now� He could
tell she had finally learnt to deceive like everybody else, and it pained him.
Anger had died down. She was still unscathed but seemed unusually exhausted, as
if the edges defining that unique inner fire had thinned and eroded. What
happened to you all this while�?

�Your generation has taken over
rather efficiently. There is nothing for relics like myself to stay.�

A gaze brimming with melancholia
drifted towards him, then retreated. A small smile graced her lips but did not
affect her eyes.

�More room for legends to be created,
and a chance to fade into a dream. That is life.�

Leaning forward with each word, for
a moment her contentment was real before it vanished. Standing, she turned to
go but biting scorn stopped her.

�So you would run away again, from
all that made you what you are. You�re not the senpai that I respected. You� lied.�

Shifting to face him again, her
eyes were downcast as she ruminated in silence. Byakuya ached to see the
individual he�d known, who was always vibrant and ever ready to react, telling
him not to address her as such but there was no explosion. Jet-black pupils
widened as he watched the woman bend at the waist until she was halfway bowing
towards him. Regretful, infinitely gentler and humbler, her actions induced an
uncomfortable tightening in his chest.

�Rokuban-tai taichou-sama, Kisuke
was right. I should have answered you one way or another back then, before
running off without any explanation. What I could have said before does not
matter now. Let the past die-�

Breaking off abruptly, her voice
became harsher.

�No, it should already be dead.�

Catching a glimpse of shadowy
irises that were enlarged due to some incomprehensible emotion, she continued,
eyes averted towards the floor once more. It was getting cooler. He needed his
rest and she would close the windows on her way out.

�I have never deceived you. He
needed my help. His friendship has sustained me all these years. I would do no
less for him. If I hurt you unforgivably back then, I can only apologize now. I
wish you all the best for the future, and that whatever caused you such hurt
will become less bitter with time.�

A muffled �flumph� was the only thing she heard and straightening
up, was just in time to see him cast aside the thick blanket and leave the
futon. Reaching out and ready to support him if he faltered, a hiss of �Idiot,
what do you think you�re doing!� was no deterrence to the hand closing around
her wrist.

�What if I refuse?�

Frozen with indecision and
confusion, Yoruichi stood there like a gawky adolescent, unsure of what to do
next. Byakuya was gritting his teeth, trying not to give in to the
sudden urge to give her a good shaking by the shoulders. Hearing that extent of
seemingly rehearsed and clipped formality from her had infuriated him (having
to mention Urahara Kisuke was even more maddening), and it was a struggle
trying to maintain serenity when he wanted to do something� unusual. Not that
he could figure out why.

�I fumed over your departure.
Mourned over your supposed death. The only thing you can say is �forget it
all�? You- If it wasn�t for Hisana, I-�

�Hisana?�

The body in her grip sagged.
Tightening her hold, she helped him to lie back down. Cold fingers remained locked
around her wrist. He looked so� lonely. Following the insistent tug and her
sympathy, she pulled the duvet over him before lying down on top of it, next to
him. Respecting healthy boundaries, while giving him comfort.

�Tell me about her. She sounds very
special.�

The only sound for the next few
seconds was deep, ragged breathing becoming even. She waited.

�Hisana� was the reason why I
adopted Rukia as a sister. Fifty-four years ago, she-�

0o--------------------------o0

A/N: For those who got this
far, you may be wondering why I drafted in Byakuya as a vice-captain to Ukitake
Juushiro, back when Yoruichi was officially part of SS. There wasn�t anything I
could dig up about Byakuya, before he became 6^th Division captain.
In terms of seniority in SS (not comparing age here, and from highest to
lowest): Juushiro > Byakuya > Shiba Kaien > Rukia� hence I figured it
was possible to put Byakuya in there. And by that reasoning, eventually when he
left the 13^th division and became 6^th division captain, it
was not long after that Kaien took over the position and became VC to Ukitake.
It�s just me filling up that perceived gap in the manga with my imagination.
- 12
- 13
- 14
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