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Inconceivable	By : wolfkin59 Category: Bleach > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 1393 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
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Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Inconceivable:
Chapter Two:
It's with great surprise that Kisuke, whose aim had been to find a convenient bush, falls forward and tumbles down an incline. This particular incline, he discovers when he looks back up, is so steep it might as well be called a cliff, and even animal trails crisscross it but rarely.
Shrugging to himself, he uses the convenient cliff instead of the non-existent bush, then decides to explore the cave before climbing back up to his horse.
He discovers that it's a very, very large cavern, so big even the wildcats and other creatures don't care to call it home. And every so often it has openings off to the sides, little caverns that would be good for young dragons. The roof of the cavern is so high above him Kisuke suspects Zangetsu and Benihime might not hit their heads on it even if they raised their heads high, though he could be wrong about that. Thinking back, he's certain he passed by this side of the mountain at least once, so he should have seen the opening... But the cavern mouth doesn't have much level standing room; the stone floor tilts downwards into the caves, and there are trees growing around the opening. Plus, there's an overhang at the top of the cliff, and this is a ways down.
In short, it looks like the perfect place for a community of dragons and their Dragon Lords to start.
But if he doesn't get moving soon, he'll be trying to climb the cliff face in the dark, and that's a hassle Kisuke would rather avoid. Besides, his horse is still up there, saddled. He'd rather not leave it there; it's a pretty decent horse, even if he'd prefer to ride Benihime.

Urahara Kisuke holds his hat to his head with one hand as he reins his horse in with the other. He's reached a town that's close to the cliffs, and he wastes no time on greetings as he drops by his old shop to leave his horse, its tack, and a note. Probably when Yoruichi sees him next she'll knock him sprawling, because the note is rather...abrupt. Especially considering he's been gone for six years already.
But, all things considered, he doesn't want to have to lie to his old friend, and until there are enough Dragon Lords well enough trained to take on the armies that had invaded from Hueco Mundo in the last war, he won't be able to tell her the truth. Kisuke knows this, and so he sneaks off again, so low-profile that even the Shihoin clan leader can't tell he's been and gone. And okay, so leaving a horse and tack aren't going to bother her much at all; he's left stranger things before. The note, on the other hand...
Long time no see! Well, I guess longer still, now... Anyway, I'm sure by now you've figured out that I'm up to my ears in something big, but it's not really my secret to tell so you'll just have to wait and find out when the time is right. Tell everyone we sent greetings and will visit when we can! (Ichigo still loves his sisters, but I don't think he wants anyone else to hear him say so. Such a tough guy!)
Kisuke
P.S.- Ichi's taken to playing hermit. He's so cute sometimes.
...yeah, Kisuke doesn't have to be present to know that as soon as she reads his note, she'll alternate between amusement, annoyance, and irate temper. Probably he deserves every bit of it, because Shihoin Yoruichi knows him well enough to tell without any hints what his emotions were as he wrote. Not to mention he doodled little chibi versions of himself and Ichigo here and there, too.
Mischief is such a wonderful thing...

The white female, Sode no Shirayuki, is close to laying her eggs, has maybe a week left before she has to, when a familiar, scruffy blond head pokes over the edge of the seaside lair. For a long moment, Ichigo can't believe his eyes. Then he's up and running and helping his lover to his feet, and neither of them knows who instigated the kiss but damn, that need is burning them alive!
They come up for air only briefly, more due to bodily requirement than anything else, and Ichigo gasps something about want, need, and how he misses the eccentric pervert when he's gone. He doesn't need to feel the amusement wafting about the cavern to know he's going to be embarrassed as all hell tomorrow evening when they wake up. (There are so many witnesses here, even if they are dragons.) But that's tomorrow, this is today, and the blond is irresistible when he gets that rogue-ish, sweet look.
Kisuke's eyes catch just enough star light to glint dangerously, and the smile on his face makes the orange-haired rider shudder. That look alone is capable of seducing entire castle populations in a split second, but Ichigo isn't worried. If there is one thing the scruffy blond man is, he is loyal. The only one who gets that look has orange hair, eyes of molten amber, and is already easing forward to tease that sinful mouth with his own. And as they stumble to the bed they share to enjoy their reunion, Benihime's gray-green eyes flick a look at Zangetsu - a look that speaks volumes about how fond she is of not just her own rider but also the other dragon's.
In unison, great scaly heads of silver-edged black and crimson-edged black lay down. It's no accident that the view of recently reunited riders is suddenly gone, blocked by facades of nonchalance as the two most dangerous dragons in the cave curl their enormous bodies with an eye to protecting the humans present from spying eyes.
Humming softly with satisfaction, the dragons drift off to sleep, knowing that they'll be moving come next nightfall.

Moving the dragons is time-consuming and risky, and damn if it doesn't feel like an adventure. Kisuke smiles to himself as he watches Ichigo scan the ground for humans to avoid. There is nothing like the thrill of a reunion followed by the threat of death and disaster to focus one's mind. His mind is currently locked on the orange-haired, serious rider of the silver-and-black dragon flying next to him, and perhaps this is not the smartest way to go about sneaking dragons to a new home, but Urahara just can't help himself. Or, well, if he can, he won't. Because at this point humans would just get killed for sticking their noses in dragon and Dragon Lord business. Better all around if caution allows avoidance. And if that means he can ogle his lover discreetly - or not so discreetly - then the blond is happy.
As darker-scaled dragons, less likely to be noticed at night, both dragons with riders are flying lower and providing cover for the lighter-scaled dragons - mostly for Sode no Shirayuki, whose white scales can only draw attention at night. As the only two dragons currently bonded to chosen riders, Benihime and Zangetsu are flying the lowest of all the darker dragons. It's not that the dragons are incapable of fighting - it's just that they fight better in concert with Dragon Lords, and only two are known so far.
No one disturbs them the first day, and the dragons alight on a cavern lip in the very edge of the Senkaimon mountain range. It borders Seireitei and Karakura, and the passes are guarded by the noble houses of Seireitei. Eventually it meets the Rukongai mountains, where Seireitei's outcast Shiba family make their homes. I should drop by and visit Kukaku, thinks Kisuke, but only once the Dragon Lords are well established again.
Dragon Lords. According to the common people the blond man met on his search, dragons are extinct and Dragon Lords are a myth. Strange how quickly humans forget. The only people left who believe are the long-lived mage-born - and most of those are from either Seireitei or the Rukongai. Probably the Senkaimon range would have mage-born, too, except that there are monsters there that don't take kindly to humans, period. Urahara wonders idly if the creatures that live in the Senkaimon range would accept dragons, or if whatever lives there wants no sentient beings to trespass, period.
Then Benihime is landing, the last dragon down because her scales blend so well with the night. She tilts her head and laughs as her blond rider tumbles off to one side, rolling until - with a thump that knocks his breath from his lungs - he hits a wall. When he can breathe again, he throws his head back and laughs, the hat falling off and landing on his right side. Benihime lets out a pleased rumble, somewhere between a growl and a purr, and chuffs quiet laughter as her rider picks up his hat and tries to point it at her chidingly. Due to its floppy nature, however, the bucket hat proves a disappointment in his pointing endeavor. To one side, honey-brown eyes roll as Ichigo shakes his head at the antics of his lover and the equally quirky dragon.
Zangetsu snorts softly, scoffing at their childish antics but understanding that stress relief comes in different forms. ::I doubt they will ever grow out of that habit, youngling,:: he tells his orange-haired rider. ::They are both of them stubborn in ways that aren't always obvious to people not paying close attention. And besides, they know how to be serious when the situation calls for it.::
It's Ichigo's turn to snort, and he retorts sarcastically, "Yeah, but how often do you see them actually get serious? Unless there's a life or someone's mental well-being on the line, they joke and goof off."
The silver-and-black dragon sets his head next to his rider and ever-so-mildly says, ::True, but doesn't it make you feel better to laugh? They are doing their part to lighten the load for us all, though they two are solely responsible for our plans of action at the moment. It does them no good to fret, so they jest and act up.:: His tone gains a wicked edge as he adds, ::And you know you love his single-mindedness and odd tendencies, exhibitionism and ignoring you in favor of experiments aside.::
Red suffuses the young rider's face, and he doesn't seem to know whether to laugh or snarl as he lightly smacks Zangetsu's snout and growls, "Shut up," before stalking in his lover's direction. Kisuke, now wrapped up in a conversation about spell-making, doesn't notice him.
Benihime is just as enthralled in the discussion as her rider is, and Zangetsu decides he has just enough mischief left in him tonight for this last bit of wickedness. Winking at the other ten dragons, he raises his head high, craning carefully over the large female. If they weren't in a cavern, she would notice a shadow sneaking over her, but as it is she merely continues exchanging theories with Urahara, who is so involved in the debate that he doesn't notice either.
Zangetsu blows a breath over her nose and drops his jaw in a grin as she jerks backwards. Benihime's eyes narrow, and she looks about ready to dive head-first into open combat when the scruffy blond rider tosses the furled fan at her cheek.
"Hey, now, hime, no fighting until we have the other Dragon Lords, remember?" He grins broadly at her, head tilted back and one hand holding his hat on.
She huffs and bares her teeth at the silver-and-black dragon, but he merely tilts his head minutely and watches her with patient, quizzical amusement. Sooner or later, she will get paybacks. Meanwhile, she carefully picks up the infernal fan between two claws and drops it on the blond's lap so he can annoy others with it.
Weary of being ignored, the orange-haired rider seizes the blond's wrist and yanks him around, leading him to a quiet corner where they can sit and cuddle until they get tired. The only bedding they have here is their blankets, though, and stone is neither a comfortable pillow nor a pleasant mattress. Their old mattress was left behind by the seaside, due to a lack of sufficient rope to tie it to a dragon.
Two pairs of eyes watch fondly over the humans, and Benihime snorts softly to indicate that she's dropping the anger and is willing to - at least temporarily - forget what caused it. She wants to lay down near her rider; it's a comfort thing, and though she hasn't experienced it before, she knows that this yearning, this need to be near her blond rider is caused by the bond between them. Dragon Lords are mage-born, every last one. Only ever mage-born, because the magic they have and tend to use instinctively is what binds dragon and rider when the oath is spoken. Benihime doesn't mind this craving; it is and has always been her choice, and Kisuke is great company. Zangetsu must be feeling the need to be close to his rider as well, because he lays down on the humans' other side, and once again the dragons form a barrier between their riders and the world.

Kurosaki Ichigo wakes up the next evening to a certain blond trouble-maker tossing bits of rock at him. Rolling, the orange-haired rider mutters the obligatory expletives and stretches. "Okay, okay, I'm up already!"
"Damn," says a crestfallen Kisuke. "Wish we had time to stay, then. But Sode no Shirayuki's getting close to her time, and we need to get moving."
Growling choice words about his lover as they pack up what little bedding there is, the lean and wiry younger man loads his portion onto Zangetsu and settles in for another long night's flight. Not that it isn't wonderful to be flying with his beloved friends, but going from almost no flying to suddenly being in the air all night...it's hard on the body.
The next two nights of careful flight pass without incident, as does most of the third and final. But just approximately two-thirds of the night through, someone spots a glimpse of one of the lighter dragons, and suddenly they're under fire.
::Go!:: Zangetsu calls to Benihime. ::You know where the cave is and they need someone to guard them in case they run into more problems! We'll be fine! I'll track you when I can!::
It tears at Kisuke's heart - at all their hearts - to leave the younger man and the veteran dragon behind. But parts of his own and Benihime's minds never shut down, and before too long they realize they've evaded what pursuit managed to dodge Zangetsu and Ichigo. They're well on their way to the cave Kisuke found on his last trip. Which is good - very good - especially for mother-to-be Sode no Shirayuki, who is a highly visible oh-shoot-me-now snow white target at night. Urahara would much rather she make it safely to the cavern and lay her eggs.
Meanwhile, Zangetsu circles above the raiding party. He recognizes their insignia and makes sure to pass the information to Benihime, and then time is running out; if they don't manage to break contact with the enemy this time, they won't be able to. So he circles higher and higher and higher, until Ichigo's holding on for dear life, and then he drops. They plummet down towards the enemies, and Zangetsu breathes waves of flame on them before lashing out with claws and tail even as his rider draws a large sword. Orange hair rippling in the wind of their wild flight, Ichigo uses one of the combat magics Zangetsu has taught him.
"Getsuga Tensho!" With a single swing, half the raiders' camp is leveled. No more supplies, and plenty of people in dire need of help.
Too bad, thinks Ichigo. That's what they get for trying to hurt those I want to protect. Besides, if I remember right, those raiders were from Hueco Mundo, and we'll have to fight them sooner or later. Though later might have been preferable; more time to muster riders and raise dragons.
As they turn towards the mountains once more, screams and curses sound behind them. The noise doesn't bother them for long, however, since silver-traced black wings take them higher and higher in the sky. Zangetsu orients himself according to the images he takes from Benihime's mind, and Ichigo relaxes slightly as they finally come in for a landing. All things considered, perhaps he should have stayed tense, because he isn't prepared for the unfamiliar angle and goes flying when Zangetsu stumbles. Luckily he falls onto Kisuke, who lets out a startled grunt and collapses backward, landing hard, but manages to keep their heads from hitting stone.
Sitting up, the blond laughs, hand on his hat like he's embarrassed, but Ichigo knows better. "Ahaha, yes, the incline is rather disruptive at first. Hime had to help balance Sode no Shirayuki during her landing, so don't feel bad."
Molten amber eyes glare daggers at the former shopkeeper. "And yet you didn't think to warn us?"
"Well, Zangetsu's usually pretty graceful, and he's not pregnant. Sooo... We didn't think about it." Gray-green eyes crinkle with amusement, and Ichigo huffs disgruntlement at his lover.
Love the man, but he can definitely be infuriating at times.
Then one of the dragons lets out a long, tense hiss, and the others pitch in with a croon so hushed it doesn't even echo. Sode no Shirayuki has chosen her lair, and the strain of the move has pushed her to lay her eggs early.
Sharing happy glances - in Kisuke's case, borderline gleeful - the two riders join the semi-circle of dragons surrounding the entrance to her new home. Times like these are for friends and family, for spending with whomever is close and beloved. Ichigo darts a glance at his lover's face and sees a look of anticipatory pleasure. It warms his heart - until the blond opens his mouth.
"I can't wait to babysit!"
Oh hell no! Kill me now, pleads the younger Dragon Lord. The last thing we need is him teaching the baby dragons to act like Benihime in miniature!
If anything ever hears him, Kurosaki Ichigo never finds out. To distract himself, he focuses on the multi-colored eggs.
::As the young ones grow, the shells will lose color. Then they will hatch, and if need be their mother will help crack the shells.:: Zangetsu sounds weary, as if he'd had young of his own at one time and they'd been slaughtered. And perhaps he had; his last rider had been alive during the time of the Dragon Lords, and had died in the war that wiped them out. It's a reasonable assumption, though not a pleasant one.
Ichigo isn't sure how to comfort Zangetsu, so he's relieved when Benihime nudges the morose male and leads him to her chosen resting place instead of his. Even as the red-and-black female shows her dominant side and push-push-push-push-pushes the silver-and-black male down so she can lay half beside and half on top of him, the orange-haired young man's attention is drawn back to the eggs Sode no Shirayuki is laying.
This is life, and it's going to be safe, it's going to survive. That does more to cheer up the rest of the dragons than anything else so far.
Looking at the nine dragons crowding close to watch, to be part of the birthing of the next generation, Ichigo can't help but wonder, Is this what it was like when I was born? He doesn't have an answer for that, probably never will, but for some reason this doesn't bother him. Ichigo doesn't need to wonder about his birth, about his family, because every time Kurosaki Isshin hasn't been able to be around for his own children, Urahara Kisuke has made sure someone trustworthy has. It's just one more reason for Ichigo to love him, as if he doesn't have enough.
For all that Kisuke has his doubts, Ichigo doesn't. He knows why he loves the blond, and those reasons won't go away. He also knows that the ex-shop owner is with him by choice, because he wants to be...because no one and nothing can keep Urahara Kisuke with anyone he does not want to be around. What he worries about - and he knows how irrational it is, when Kisuke's the one who taught him survival and combat skills in the first place - is that someone will kill him if he, Ichigo, isn't there to watch the blond's back. But however irrational, however unreasonable, this worry is one he can't stop. And Ichigo even knows why: if, by some quirk of fate or luck that the irascible rogue couldn't predict, someone managed to kill him, then Ichigo's world would collapse, and he would shortly follow his lover into the next life. Without Kisuke, the one person who has never once failed to find a solution for any problem plaguing the younger man, Ichigo will lose his will to fight. Fighting and Kisuke are synonymous. Both are glorious, hectic, often dangerous, and both offer Ichigo a chance to figure someone out. Only, Kisuke is in so many ways an enigma. The one riddle he has fought against and not understood completely, because Kisuke doesn't fight with his all unless it's to the death, and he doesn't want to kill Ichigo.
Kurosaki Ichigo isn't a fool; there are very, very few in the world that would so readily help five orphaned children without even asking for some form of repayment. And he's even more in love with Kisuke because of that little factor, too. Urahara Kisuke will help people who aren't fighting him just because, and that is a very endearing trait in a man so handsome. But the blond's act of insanity and his truly awful sense of humor mean that no human except Ichigo and the friends and family at the shop have ever come close to the inner, hidden self. It isn't that some haven't tried - it's that Kisuke is a really irritating man, and he doesn't like letting people figure him out. So most never make it.
It's an honor to be someone who knows the blond as well as anyone ever has. Urahara Kisuke is a complicated man, and though he doesn't necessarily need to, he sometimes deliberately cultivates an air of mystery. Underneath it all, however, he is simply an eccentric man with strict codes of honor and an odd sense of humor. Of course, he's perverted on top of that, too, but that much is obvious to pretty much everybody.
Beside his orange-haired lover, Kisuke's eyes have drifted from Sode no Shirayuki and her eggs to Benihime and Zangetsu. It's quite a sight, two gigantic forms tangled together. Blood red edging on black scales gleams as the female shifts, and fond gray-green eyes watch her coax the unsettled male into relaxing. He isn't entirely certain, but he suspects the dragons are forming quite an attachment to each other, and he's curious to see how far their mutual interest will take them.
Benihime opens one eye and flicks a content, pleased glance in her rider's direction. She doesn't need the bond to know exactly what he's thinking; they're so much alike they might as well be one being instead of two. ::He is honorable and generally even-tempered, and he balances my extreme tendencies well. But there is a wound in his heart that has not healed, and I would like to see him whole, as I know he can be. If that means nesting...:: An inelegant mental snort sounds in Urahara's head, and Kisuke grins. ::You know me; I would not consider it with any other we know. Dragons are arrogant - yes, I know, I am included in that list; you can quit laughing at me already! - but Zangetsu is...confident in his abilities but humble for all that. He does not presume himself the strongest, nor smartest, nor...well, anything.::
Urahara smiles quietly, happily, and nods. Good luck is his only sentiment, and he doesn't need to say it because she knows it's what he's thinking. After all, it's what she thought during the start of his relationship with Ichigo. His smile widens, and he turns back to the nesting mother and her eggs. Healing Zangetsu's heart will take time, but somehow he knows it's worth the effort.
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Inconceivable