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A Shadow of What Was	By : katami Category: Bleach > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 49594 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 1
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
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Author's Notes: To those who hated the cliffhangers, I never claimed to be a good person and I am way nicer than my beta (she wanted a week between updates). *grin* I am good at building suspense (I hope anyway) and the eventual payoff will be worth it (again I hope).

Shiruy, there will be no Grimmjow/Kisuke, you have my word. I have other plans for the kitty. This story does end up with an interesting threesome or two though. I've given one already (look sideways and squint at chapter 20), so how about a game? The first person who can guess the second threesome in this story can request a scene of me or ask a question - anything they want to see or anything they want to know. Sound fun?

*sigh* This reminds me, I really need to update my summary and warnings.

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This was all Abarai's fault, Byakuya thought as he trudged back toward the base, his body beginning to ache and his head throbbing from the overload of reiatsu. All he wanted was a nice hot bath, a good meal, and perhaps some peace. Preferably in that order.

He would deal with Abarai after he'd had time to ponder over a suitable punishment. And to think he had almost missed the man! He was going to kill his former vice captain when he next saw him. Yes, it would lose him the chance to have Izuru but the satisfaction of separating Abarai's head from the rest of his body would make up for that. The whole evening had been a debacle from the start, but Abarai had not helped matters by stealing Urahara or Mizuno or whatever he was calling himself these days.

Byakuya sighed and glanced at the figure at his side, his other surprise of the evening and perhaps the only good to come from it. He had never dealt with Aizen's Arrancars much aside from across a battlefield, but the former fourth Espada had accounted himself well. And Byakuya would not have been adverse to having the other man at his back in battle again. Which rather shocked him. He had not expected to find the Espada at his back or to become accustomed to him so quickly. They had slid around each other easily though. There had been none of the awkward moments of working with someone new, hindering one another's attacks, stepping too far away from each other, or staying too close and fumbling each other. They had worked together as seamlessly as Jyuushiro and Shunsui, who had fought together for centuries. Once or twice they had even been able to use each other's attacks as cover to strike blows of their own.

"You fought well," murmured the pale ghost of a man at his side, a tiny smile on his lips. Byakuya felt his eyes drawn to the man and a hint of a smile tugged at his own lips. He gave the Espada the tiniest of nods, thanks for the praise and a silent acknowledgement of the other man's own prowess in battle.

They walked on for a few meters in comfortable silence, neither in the mood to hurry. "I should rejoin Grimmjow," murmured the Arrancar eventually, but making no move to do so.

"He is in the hands of the Fourth, I can take you to him should you wish it once we return to base," offered Byakuya, rather surprised to find that he meant it. He would be willing to forestall his rest to see that his companion was made comfortable. The other man had fought and bled with him and he could respect that.

The Arrancar inclined his head in silent thanks.

"Kuchiki-taichou, the park is secure and we are working on restoring it. Hitsugaya-taichou, Kurotshuchi-taichou, and the Arrancar are being transported back to the Fourth and Kurosaki-taichou is seeing to Urahara-san," reported a tall woman from the Tenth, Byakuya didn't know her but he nodded his thanks for the report.

"Thank you. You may tell Ukitake-taichou that I am returning to base with...,"

"Ulquoirra Schiffer," offered the Arrancar. Byakuya nodded his thanks and dismissed the woman.

"Kuchiki Byakuya, captain of the Sixth," he murmured before turning back towards base and his much desired bath.

He and Ulquoirra walked in silence, leaving the park and taking in the cool night air. Shunpo could have carried them to their destination in a matter of seconds but neither one seemed inclined to expend the energy. The fight had been quick but fierce and filled with too many surprises, Byakuya sensed they both wanted the time to unwind before they were forced back into the stress of trying to handle the fallout. It was not every day two of Aizen's former Espada betrayed their master, after all. Or that a man who should have been dead returned to life.

"Your companion will be well cared for by the Fourth," he told Ulquoirra, wondering how to bridge the question that really interested him. Why the other man had betrayed his former master. Ulquoirra did not seem the type for betrayal. Grimmjow, yes, easily; but it seemed odd to think of this quiet, immovable force of a man surrendering.

"Grimmjow will survive. He is too annoying to die," muttered the Arrancar with a slight frown, his look of distaste drawing a small chuckle from Byakuya. The smaller man blinked up at him in surprise, likely to see if he was the one being laughed at, but smiled faintly as he caught sight of Byakuya's face.

"If you are not fond of him, why leave Aizen with him?"

"Grimmjow is brash, violent, and annoyingly independent; he is clever and vicious, however and his honor can be relied on. I chose him because he was preferable to the alternatives," explained Ulquoirra crisply.

Byakuya nodded his understanding, much like his taking Renji as his vice captain all those years ago. The partnership had worked well though and he sensed that it was the same for Ulquoirra. He had taken the best of a bad lot and found himself unexpectedly pleased with his choice.

"If you are in no rush, I would like to explore a bit. It has been a number of years since I was last here and I likely won't return for some time," he murmured.

Ulquoirra nodded his consent. "I will only need to look as far as the human to locate Grimmjow and none of my wounds requires immediate attention." The Arrancar must have caught his look of surprise for rather than falling silent he went on with a look of distaste. "Grimmjow has become fond of the human, although I have yet to understand why."

Byakuya chuckled, trying to picture Ichigo tolerating anyone being 'fond' of his lover and failing. The conflict should prove violent and explosive - it should also be highly amusing, he noted. "I do not imagine Kurosaki taking that well."

The tiny smirk that blossomed on Ulquoirra's lips pleased him, as did the sparkle that lit his green eyes. "That might almost be worth the hassle the human has provided."

"I would expect nothing but from Urahara, the man is notorious for it."

They walked on in silence, past the high school, noted Byakuya, remembering Hitsugaya's reports of the place and how much he had detested it. He wondered if he asked Ulquoirra to dine with him whether the Arrancar would? He was good company, soothing and not feeling the need to fill every small silence with noise. It was refreshing. Plus, he had been given charge of overseeing the Arrancar until they could be debriefed, a dinner invitation would not be out of bounds. It was either that or be forced to dine with Jyuushiro, Shunsui and Yoruichi. He had no qualms about the first two, but dinning with Yoruichi was never fun, she enjoyed needling him too much and Shunsui tended to follow her lead with enough sake in him.

"Why did you seek asylum from us, if I might ask, Ulquoirra?"

The Arrancar paused and stared up at him before shoving his hands into his pockets and continuing to walk. Byakuya thought he was going to ignore the question but then his soft voice filled the night. It really was a very nice voice, he realized, controlled and even. "I would not have you think I am afraid or unwilling to die, Kuchiki-taichou."

"Byakuya," he prompted softly, not sure why, but fairly sure he would enjoy the sound of his name in that soft, measured voice.

"Byakuya. I am not unwilling to fight or to follow my master into death. I will die gladly if my master commands it. I am unwilling to see my life tossed away for nothing but a madman's amusement, however. Aizen-sa...Aizen intended that my Espada and I should die as nothing more than a distraction for his attempt to seize Urahara. We were to die for no other reason than he willed it," growled the smaller man, his reiatsu flaring briefly, the first time Byakuya had felt it since the battle. Silence fell between them, and Byakuya could tell Ulquoirra was not inclined to speak of his former master further.

He tilted his head slightly to show his understanding and gratitude for the Arrancar's words, not seeking to break the heavy silence that hung between them. He sensed Aizen's fall in Ulquoirra's eyes was still a tender spot for the other man. He could understand and respect that. Realizing he had never come first in Hisana's heart was still a difficult thing for him to accept when he had loved her so fiercely. He would not push at another who had become so disillusioned.

They turned toward the river and the base, not in any hurry; but Byakuya had no desire to pass the Urahara Shouten and was fairly sure that Ulquoirra would rather avoid it as well. There was also no need to tempt Kurosaki's wrath by letting him sense the other man's reiatsu there. With the drugs that were likely still in his body, he might lash out at the Arrancar.

They passed the ruins of a hospital and then a few blocks later came to the entrance of the base, both lingering outside the door to the warehouse. "I would be pleased if you would dine with me once you have seen to your companion and your injuries, if that is agreeable to you?" murmured Byakuya softly.

Ulquoirra stared at him for a moment, clearly shocked although his face showed little beyond mild surprise. "That would please me as well. Thank you...Byakuya."

They nodded faintly at each other, hands brushing for the briefest of instants as the doors to the warehouse opened and they walked inside.
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A Shadow of What Was