Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

Prize of Victory	By : NovaAlexandria Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 87207 -:- Recommendations : 8 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor make profit from this snippet

Chapter List
- 34
- 35
- 36
Warnings: None

Once again Yammy was off on a mission, leaving him free to wander at will. That had been happening a lot lately and it was something Byakuya was actually starting to wonder about.

He did spot Orihime as he walked through the first district, but she seemed to be highly distracted looking at baby clothing, which was highly unusual, and never made any sign of noticing him.

Being nothing more than a pet to Yammy he was unfortunately not nearly into the loop of things as he would wish. Perhaps Yoruichi’s informant might be able to fill him in on why the girl would be looking, and apparently also buying, baby supplies.

“Ah, Kuchiki-sama. The usual for you today?” Vendor asked as he approached the stall.

A soft nod was his answer, his eyes still on Orihime as she seemed to be deep in thought. He actually cringed a little when she slammed her head on a pole.

“Orihime-san has been busy today. She said her friend Karin-san just had a baby girl.” Vendor clearly noticed where his attention was, and also looked at the girl.

His gaze shot to Vendor in shock.

“Karin! As in Kurosaki Karin? Is that what project Aizen had been talking about at the Claim Meeting? She was pregnant? If so, than Grimmjow must be the father.”

A lot more about what was said during that meeting suddenly made some sense and things clicked into place. It had been difficult to concentrate when he was also spending the time praying Yammy wouldn’t ask Szayel if he could borrow Renji again.

Ever since that one, horrid afternoon Yammy had started to threaten him less with Szayel’s attention, and more with Szayel’s pet. Byakuya was not sure he would be able to handle being raped by his former subordinate a second time.

It wasn’t the pain, for Yammy inflicted far more, it was the fact the one doing it stared at him with a dead gaze. No emotion reflected in those eyes. No soul. The only possible way it could have been worse was if Rukia had been the one in that position. He thanked whatever power was out there that she had been spared.

“I am afraid I don’t know this Karin girl, but Orihime-san seemed pretty excited about it. She was saying it was a human, female custom now a days to have something called a Baby Shower.” Vendor added, and Byakuya pulled his attention away from such dark thoughts and back to the present.

He gave a nod of his head to indicate he was listening as he watched Orihime skip further down the street without noticing his presence.

He shouldn’t have been overly surprised one of the human girls had been knocked up first. Humans did have a higher fertility rate than any of the dead races. He idly wondered how much power such a hybrid could have.

Thinking of hybrids made him think of Ichigo, and he wondered if the boy knew his sister had given birth to an Arrancar brat.

“Well hello there, Neko-chan.”

Byakuya’s gaze whipped around to face the black cat purring and rubbing against Vendor’s feet. He would recognize that creature anywhere and could not believe she would be so foolish as to approach him so openly.

Vendor bent down to pick her up and scratched behind her ears. The purring increased, but not once did her gaze shift his way and for a moment he thought he might have become so desperate to see a friend not broken and enslaved that he had deluded himself into believing it was her.

The familiar feeling of a Garganta opening and closing, followed by the oily, gross feeling of Yammy’s reiatsu seeking his nearly set him into despair. The cat hissed and for a brief moment their eyes locked before it leaped from Vendor’s arms and was gone.

It was her. He wanted to chase after her, to hear what news she might have on Rukia, but he didn’t dare risk exposing her, and the informant. He trembled only slightly as he forced calm over himself, paid for his purchase, and headed back to the Kuchiki Estate.

Yammy’s reiatsu was heading towards the First Division so he knew he had a bit of time before the brute would be done giving Aizen his report on the mission. He was greeted by the staff as he returned.

His clothing was changed out from the expensive Kimono, its entire purpose to display the wealth of the family when he went out, to a more comfortable Yukata. Yammy had apparently left orders to the staff on what he had better see when he returned from his mission before he left.

As much as it sickened him, Byakuya let the staff usher him about the Estate and get him ready for his Master’s return. He kneeled on the cushion provided by one of the many Koi ponds and forced himself to clear his mind.

“Aren’t you a pretty sight, Byakuya-byo.”

His eyes snapped open in shock to stare at Yoruichi, who was sitting calmly in her cat form in front of him. He could not believe she could be so foolish.

“I can’t wait to tell Rukia-chan her older brother has been raiding her wardrobe in her absence.” She laughed.

He almost reached out to strangle her. Of all the things she could have said to him, that was definitely not something to waste precious minutes with. The worse part was he was damn sure she was going to do exactly that.

He let his glare speak the words he could not while subconsciously fiddling with the edge of the Yukata. The moment he noticed the action, he stopped, scolding himself for letting her get to him even after all this time.

“I don’t have much time.” Yoruichi turned suddenly serious.

He could feel Yammy’s reiatsu leaving the First Division and knew she was right.

“Something strange has been happening in the Living World. Is there any possible way for you to find out if anything strange has been going on here and then drop that information of to Vendor?

“I thought about asking Jushiro, but the Claim makes him, and the others in the know, a liability where as your ‘handicap’ makes it more difficult for Yammy to simply order you to tell him anything.”

“What kind of strange things?” He wondered at once, even while he quickly tried to think of ways to gain the information she was seeking simply because he also wanted to know what was going on.

She seemed to predict his question, for she answered it.

“There have been sightings of, well, they kind of look like some kind of giant, demonic locust. They aren’t hollows, in fact they seem to have a particular dislike of the race. I watched a swarm tear one to shreds. But they are also eating the plus’s. Human’s don’t seem to see them.” She reported.

Now he was definitely interested to know what was going on.

He gave a short nod of his head to indicate he would accept the mission shortly before she bolted away. A few seconds after she had cleared his sight he felt his Master come up behind him and rest a hand on his head.

“Did you miss me, my Chicchai Hime?” Yammy asked.

He forced himself to give a small nod of agreement.

He could practically feel Yammy’s smirk of pleasure at his response and the other settled in behind him.

“You have been rather obedient these last few months.” Yammy noted.

He had been rather docile. It wasn’t because he had accepted Yammy as his Master, but because he never wanted to go through being raped by a lifeless Renji again.

“You know, I been thinking,”

“I was unaware you were capable of such a feat.” Byakuya thought coldly.

“that pet bitch of Grimmjow’s actually pumped out a kid. I wonder if that means that human females have better chances of getting knocked up.”

Byakuya had a strong feeling he did not like where this was going.

“I know Szayel can change gender, but I wonder if he can change race too?” Yammy wondered softly into his ear.

He was right. He definitely didn’t like where this was going. He really wished he could speak right now. He would point out that Humans were still alive and Shinigami and Hollows were dead. You could not turn a dead thing into something that was spiritually alive. He hoped. All bets were off where Szayel was concerned.

“Think I should look into it, Chicchai Hime?” Yammy asked with a chuckle.

He gave his head a firm shake. Yammy laughed.

“I guess you have been behaving, so I don’t have cause to punish you. Of course, you are mine, Chicchai Hime, and I can do to you as I please.”

Byakuya closed his eyes and willed his body to remain still and not tremble. He wouldn’t put anything past the uncivilized brute. Hell, his family would probably be happy if he was turned into a woman and bore a child. At least then they would finally have their precious heir.

Servants started to arrive and set up dinner. Yammy settled comfortably onto the ground and pulled him into his massive lap, turning him around until they were facing each other.

The Espada smirked down at him, lifting a massive hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Byakuya’s ear. The other’s breath was foul and Byakuya had to hold back a grimace as it washed over his face.

Yammy seemed to notice and laughed, which made the situation worse. To his surprise the Espada picked him up and set him aside while he stood up and disappeared somewhere into the mansion. Byakuya looked after him in surprise. The servants just continued to set up a table and lay out dinner as if nothing was going on.

Yammy returned just as the last dishes were being placed. His hair was still wet from a shower, his clothing was now clean and his breath smelt like toothpaste instead of decayed meat.

Byakuya was honestly surprised. Cleanliness wasn’t something Yammy tended to notice much.

“Perhaps the Elders had a talk to him about it.”

After six years he had no doubt the Elders now had a feel for how the Espada worked and had started to manipulate him into doing things their way. Now that he thought about it, Yammy’s clothing had been in better condition lately and he didn’t reek as often as he use to.

Yammy took his place at the now prepared table and patted his side. With an inward sigh, Byakuya made his way over and settled down next to him. He poured the Espada a cup of sake before starting to fill the plate provided.

There was only one plate, but he didn’t think much of it. More often than not he ate alone sometime later after he regained his appetite from watching the shear amount of food Yammy could throw back.

Thus when a piece of beef was held to his lips he looked up at Yammy in surprise.

“You are far too thin, my Chicchai Hime. Eat.” Yammy ordered.

Byakuya blinked in surprise, but opened his mouth and accepted the piece of food. He had never felt so humiliated, other than the time Yammy had forced him to suck him off in the 1st division hallway, as Yammy fed him like this was some sort of lover’s tryst.

Still, if he wanted to learn what was going on he had to play Yammy’s game. Granted, if Yammy really wanted him to do this there was nothing Byakuya could do to stop him. The Claim would make sure he obeyed his Master’s will.

They were mostly done dinner when he dared to broach one question to his Master, one that had been bothering him that Yoruichi had brought up and Yammy had confirmed. Byakuya liked to know what was going on around him and this sounded somewhat important.

Pulling out a pen and note pad he kept on his person for times he did need to communicate, he wrote out his question. Yammy looked down at him before turning his attention to the paper.

Byakuya was not a fool, he remembered Yammy had told him years ago he couldn’t read, but he was still doubting the Arrancar’s words and believed they were nothing more than childish taunting.

If Yammy was lying, he wasn’t ready to give up his game yet as he waved one of the servants over to read what Byakuya had written. The servant read the question completely as it was written.

‘Is it true that Kurosaki Karin and Grimmjow-sama had a child together?’

“So I been told.” Yammy grunted. “A girl I believe. Why? Interested in having kids of our own, Chicchai Hime?” Yammy asked with a smirk.

Byakuya gave his head a definite shake. He had no interest in a gender or race change. The mere thought of it made his skin crawl and feel like he was covered in some sort of slick, grainy slime while being doused in a bucked of ice water.

‘I am acquainted with the family and was curious.’

“A friend?” Yammy asked.

Byakuya thought briefly before answering with a nod of his head. He would not actually consider the Kurosaki family as ‘friends,’ but any excuse to get out of the estate and learn what he could would be worth it.

“I suppose you will want to congratulate her then.” Yammy grunted.

He gave another nod of his head.

Yammy leaned forward until his mouth was next to Byakuya’s ear.

“Convince me.” Yammy breathed.

He felt his hands clench in anger momentarily before he gave another soft nod of his head and turned to face his Master so he could ‘convince’ him to let him have the freedom to see the Kurosaki girl and her child. But more importantly, freedom to leave the estate and learn what information he could about the mission Yoruichi had trusted him with.

Three days later Byakuya walked down the street towards Ukitake’s estate. It had come as a very pleasant surprise to learn the girl was staying there. Seeing his mentor outside of Enemy influence would be pleasant, assuming Ukitake was actually home from work at this time of day.

He had no idea what was wrapped in the gift he carried. He had left such a trivial thing to the servants who were no doubt better suited to finding something appropriate for the new mother and baby.

It didn’t take him long to arrive at the estate via Shunpo and knock on the door. An Arrancar girl answered, half her head covered in a horned Helmut. She frowned as she looked at him.

“Who the hell are you and what the hell you want?” She demanded.

He had already pre written his intent before leaving the estate and simply handed her the piece of paper. The girl took it and looked at it with clear confusion. It took him all of four seconds to realize she couldn’t read.

“Apparently a large population of the Arrancar are vastly under educated.” He couldn’t help but to think in slight annoyance.

“One sec.” The girl finally spoke and close the door.

He tracked her reiatsu as it approached a small group and shortly after he felt her returning with one other. Fortunately this one didn’t feel of Hollow energy. The door opened again to reveal the Arancar and a teenager that, despite her black hair, was clearly a Kurosaki.

It was her eyes that gave her away, and the set of her face. Even had he not known the boy had a sister he would have guessed these two were somehow related.

“I am Kurosaki Karin. Who are you?” She questioned.

He handed her the second prepared letter. She accepted it and leaned against the door frame while she read it. He felt relief that she was at least educated. She got to the end and looked back up to him before sighing and steeping aside.

“Please come in, Byakuya-san.”

“At least she had slightly more respect than Kurosaki, though not by much.” He couldn’t help but to think.

She led him through the Estate to a living room where a young girl was playing with a set of wooden blocks and a baby was asleep in a basket. The young girl looked up at him curiously as they entered the room.

“Hana-chan, this is Byakuya-san.” Karin introduced.

The girl waved shyly at him.

“Lilinette, would you mind watching her for me for a bit.”

A smirk that practically radiated evil lit up on the Arrancar’s face.

“Oh, I can think of a few things to keep her busy with.” Lilinette promised.

“Ones that won’t bother Starrk-san?” Karin asked.

“Ummm.” Lilinette looked abashed.

“I don’t want to hear about it.” Karin sighed.

“Hana-chan, want to come play with me and we can see if Starrk-ji wants to play too?” Lilinette asked sweetly.

The little girls face lit up with delight and happily followed the Arrancar out of the room, leaving him alone with Karin and whom he presumed was the baby Yammy had been talking about.

The relationship in this household was far different from his own. Lilinette had acquiesced to Karin’s request rather easily and without any signs of annoyance or discomfort.

Had he dared to give an order to Yammy he would probably be screaming in agony while the other raped him violently to remind him who was boss. Of course this girl was not the one who had Karin Claimed so perhaps it was Karin’s Master’s will that the girl obey his pet.

“So, are you are related to Kuchiki Rukia than?” Karin asked, rooting through what he presumed was Hana’s toy box while keeping one eye politely on him as she spoke.

He gave a nod of his head. His introduction letter had included the fact he was unable to speak due to damage done to his throat.

“Brother?” Karin guessed.

He gave another nod.

Karin seemed to find what she was looking for and pulled it out. He blinked in surprise, and instantly decided that when it came to the Kurosaki siblings, clearly Karin had gotten all the brains. In her hand was a chalk board and package of chalk.

“Here.” She handed them to him. “I think this will work better than forty pounds of paper.”

He accepted the items and wrote a polite thank you on the board. The sleeves of his rather expensive Kimono would probably be covered in chalk by the end, but a small, rebellious part of himself kind of liked the fact.

“So, what is it you would like to talk about, Byakuya-san?” She asked, settling down near the basket holding the still sleeping baby.

He had to stop himself from writing so formally, for it would take an eternity if he wrote full answers, so he forced himself to remain short and simple.

‘I have heard of attacks on the Living Realm. Have you heard anything about it from your master?’

“No, but Grimmjow and I have been cooped up after Ajuga-chan was born for four months.” Karin answered.

He blinked in surprise that she used no honorific’s while referring to her Master. She was polite enough to him so he doubted she was being disrespectful.

The baby suddenly started to fuss and Karin excused herself politely while she tended to the baby. He got a good look at Ajuga as she was pulled out of her nest of blankets. He couldn’t help but to stare.

Snowy white fur covered her from the waist down, appearing soft like fluffy down and covering what was clearly cat legs that even tapered off to paws with little black pads. White cat ears were perked up out of a small, growing sea of black hair and a small tail twitched slowly.

Karin flung a blanket over her shoulder before covering Ajuga with another and adjusting her clothing to feed her daughter.

He couldn’t help but to stare. In all of his years of ‘living’ he had never witnessed a mother feed her child. His own mother hadn’t fed him. That was what wet nurses were for and then he was weaned quickly.

“Where did you hear about this invasion?” Karin asked him.

He stared at her stupidly until the question registered and he gave himself a mental shake, scolding himself for becoming distracted.

‘A friend told me.’

Karin frowned.

“A friend?” She asked.

He nodded.

“One of the two women that showed up with my brother a few months ago?” Karin asked.

He blinked at her in surprise. He knew there had been a disturbance because Yammy had been bitching about it and he had felt some of it, but that was all. He had no idea that Ichigo had been here, and if he had did that meant Rukia had been here as well?

Karin must have noticed his distress for she filled him in on what had happened. He let out a soft sigh of relief when he learned Rukia had escaped once more without complication. What more it was relieving to have secondary confirmation his sister was alive and well.

One of the women had been Yoruichi, but he didn’t confirm nor deny his source. After all he had no idea if she could be trusted. Or more accurately, if her Master would force her to speak through the Claim.

Karin finished feeding her daughter and adjusted her clothing accordingly. After caring for her daughter, Karin put the girl back to bed in her basket before once more turning her attention to him.

“So is that all you wanted, Byakuya-san?” She asked. “To see if I had heard anything about these creatures invading the Living Realm?”

He gave a nod of his head again at her second question while writing a response to her first.

‘I like to know what occurs and was curious about your daughter as well.’

She nodded after reading his response, before looking up past him towards the entrance. He looked over his shoulder but saw no one.

“Ukitake-san is home.” She frowned. “He usually isn’t back from the Division until later in the evening.”

Sure enough he could sense Ukitake’s reiatsu, but what was more astonishing to him was that she was able to detect it before him. Clearly she wasn’t only smarter than her brother, but more talented as well. Once more she seemed to notice his questioning look.

“I can physically see reiatsu.” She answered.

Ukitake entered the room after several minutes and he greeted the Taichou politely the best he could without being able to speak.

“Byakuya, what a pleasant surprise.” Ukitake greeted him warmly before taking a vacant seat. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”

Byakuya considered how best to answer the question, and rather or not he should let Ukitake know of his mission to learn more about what was going on. In the end he turned to Karin and gave a small nod of his head.

Karin was definitely smarter than her brother and had he met her first his opinion of the Kurosaki family would not have been so low. She understood his nod immediately and turned to Ukitake.

“Byakuya-san was here to see if I had heard anything about attacks on the Living World.” Karin offered.

Ukitake frowned and looked at him sharply.

“So there has been.” Byakuya quickly concluded.

Karin seemed to get the same answer for a frown touched her mouth as well.

“How long has this been happening?” Karin asked.

“Definitely smarter than her brother.”

“Only a few months that we are aware off.” Ukitake answered slowly. “Since they were attacking low level hollows at first no one really paid them much mind until they started eating the Pluses and attacking Shinigami.”

Byakuya and Karin both had deep frowns on their face at Ukitake’s answer.

“Is this why Aizen was determined to drag Grimmjow out of his Paternal Protective Phase?” Karin asked.

Once again Byakuya noticed she used no formalities with the two names while also wondering what she was talking about.

“No doubt it was one of the reasons.” Ukitake reluctantly conceded.

“Is there any danger to us here?” She asked seriously.

“There has not been any of the creatures sighted here as of yet. I am not sure how much to reveal.” Ukitake sighed.

Byakuya picked up the chalk board and started writing.

‘Is it safe to presume a team has been sent to Hueco Mundo to see if these creatures have shown up there as well?’

Ukitake sighed, but admitted that a team was being sent.

Byakuya nodded to him in thanks and leaned back, working what he had learned through his head.

“I see Yammy-sama hasn’t seen fit to get Orihime-chan to fix your throat yet.” Ukitake sighed.

‘Since Szayel-sama was the one who did the alteration, I doubt she could ‘fix’ it anyway.’

“Szayel did what?” Karin asked sharply.

He was actually taken aback by the bite in her voice. Apparently a strong sense of justice was something she shared with her brother. By now he wasn’t surprised she didn’t use the suffix.

Ukitake sighed and looked at him for permission to explain. After a moment he gave a nod of his head. It wasn’t like it was a secret. Yammy had boasted about it for an entire year.

“Szayel-sama surgically modified Byakuya’s throat at Yammy-sama’s request.” Ukitake explained.

Karin frowned. Deliberate surgery was different from a wound. Perhaps Orihime wouldn’t be able to fix something like that; a deliberate alteration that had become part of his being.

There was little more he could learn here, and yet he was reluctant to leave. Karin was nothing like her loud, disrespectful brother and the only thing that awaited him at home was the cold shoulder of his family and Yammy.

This was probably the first time Yammy had ever given him permission to go somewhere and he planned on milking it for all it was worth.

Ajuga began to fuss again and Karin offered him a polite apology as she turned her attention to her daughter once more.

“I can take her if you would like to keep talking.” Ukitake offered.

“Thank you, Ukitake-san, but I am still a little wary of Grimmjow’s instinct. I am pretty sure he doesn’t see you as a threat; actually I think his instinct almost sees you as a father figure to me, but I would like to give it a month or so just to be on the safe side.

“If something is going on and he’s being pulled in, it could bring his instinct back up a bit and I don’t want to antagonize it, or him, unnecessarily.” Karin explained.

Ukitake nodded in understanding and Byakuya hated to admit he was lost on the conversation. Ukitake seemed to notice his confusion for the man took the time to explain what they were talking about while Karin bounced Ajuga in her arms to calm the baby girl down.

They spoke about various things for a while before Ukitake excused himself, requiring to go back to work. Ajuga was apparently wide awake but seemed content to just gurgle and stare at him with such intense blue eyes that he would have known the child’s father from those alone.

Staring at the baby he suddenly recalled the package he had brought with him, for both appearance and courtesy, and offered it to her. Karin stared at it in surprise before accepting and opening the package.

Of course he had no idea what the servant had gotten for her and she never removed the item, or items, from the box. She did offer him a smile and her thanks for the gift was genuine.

As much as he wished to remain, the conversation had turned sterile and it was starting to get later in the day. With a large amount of reluctance, he bid her good day while asking if she would be affronted if he visited again at a later date.

He was pleased she agreed. She escorted him to the front gate and they bid each other good day.

Indeed, Karin was a far cry from her rude and loud brother. But then, he hadn’t known her from before the War.

Oh I love you all so much. It is definitely a pleasure to receive your wonderful reviews. It leaves a warm and tingly feeling.

I was thinking about reviews and how even I am bad about leaving them simply because it’s difficult to think of things to say and ‘good work’ just feels so lame to leave. So I thought of an idea. How about leaving a question to give the reviews a base to work with?

So today’s question is this: What do you think Rukia and Ichigo’s reactions would be learning her Brother was ‘wearing her clothing?’

So I hit page 669 today (this chapter ends on 351) and god there is still so much more plot to write. I got a feeling this things going to hit 1k pages. It is already my largest piece of work to date and I still feel like nothing has happened, but when I back up to post the chapters I get this kind of ‘woah, I am posting way back there? I wrote that ages ago.’

And before you ask, beg, plead, threaten etc. I don’t plan on posting faster. I want to make sure I stay well ahead so updates remain regular if I hit another writers block like I did around the 400’s.

Next Chapter: Szayel and Ajuga have a reunion and a bit of family history begins to be hinted at. Szayel also begins a new experiment, ‘get’s some,’ and the reason why Renji is soulless is explained. The chapter after we go to Rangiku again.
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Prize of Victory