Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

Tag	By : LilMonk Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 11505 -:- 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
- 3
- 4
- 5
The past tells one story (from my
imagination). The present tells another (following the manga for now). I'll be
reconciling these two together eventually so if it seems somewhat disjointed
for now, that is the intended effect. Sorry if it gives anyone headaches.

To make the scenes clearer:

*******

Followed by words in this font =
Past

*******

*******

Followed by words mainly in this
font = Present.

*******

Previously:

Trampling any murmurs from a
conscience at this brutal method, she yanked out her hand.

Forgive me, K-Ichigo... this is
the only alternative you left me. I will not let you foolishly throw away your
life and his aims here.

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

Senpai

Humming a melody way off-key as
she strolled towards the north gate, Yoruichi was going over the latest mission
objectives in her mind. At the same time, she was struggling to decide on...
dessert. Her grandfather's birthday was coming up, and he had a fondness for
sweets. Wanting everything to be perfect made choosing much harder. Nevermind,
she'd approve of anything their chief cook suggested. Besides, there was still
the matter of herbs she'd buy for her ji-san. He loved his o-kayu and even
though it wasn't the correct occasion, preparing his favourite type personally for him at this celebration every year was an enjoyable ritual of hers. What were the herbs?
Nazuna, hakobe, suzuna, seri, hotokenoza, hahakogusa... uh, what was the last one
agai-

Leaping forward and falling into
a half-crouch, she was then propelling herself up and over the sweep of a scabbard. On
landing, the warning bite of steel against her throat was accompanied by
scathing frostiness.

"Did you presume to escape me... with that level of shyunpo?"

What sounded almost like a purr
tickled hair tucked behind his ear, one hand locking around his wrist as she
was braced against his back, sticking like a limpet to a rock.

"Did you presume to catch me... with such shyunpo?"

Both parties did not move.

"Before I am wrongly accused of
molesting you in broad daylight, what is the meaning of seeking me in this
manner?"

Ignoring the wafer-thin threat
in firm contact with his skin, he watched the illusionary duplicate fade away.
His manner of requesting made her blink.

"Are you certain? I'm one
unrelenting taskmaster, my training timetable is erratic, plus I have a
tendency to pester people into perishing of irritation. I'll decide when it
ends. Do you still wish for me to formally tutor you?"

"I won't repeat myself."

What an unpleasant man. This
kind of behavior reminded her as to why she considered him to be a skilled,
arrogant... bore. Somewhat like Kisuke though, in the way they both strove for personal power, thus with a high possibility of eventually standing head and shoulders above their peers. Whether the reasons were the same was doubtful. However, that he would actually ask her for something spoke volumes about the effect of their previous encounter. Very well, she would test his mettle to see if he was worth her time.

"The fundamental basis of
Shyunpo lies in Gomoku. Being able to see well ahead of your opponent's plans
is an asset the best warriors master. The greater your hindsight at gauging
circumstances and formulating accurate solutions while countering your enemy, the
more adept you become at this aspect of the demon arts."

"Shall we commence training
then, Shihouin-senpai?"

Cold metal grazing his throat
wavered dangerously. There was a tic above the corner of her left eye, as a
slanted eyebrow twitched.

"Good grief! Are you always this
serious?! Don't call me 'senpai'; that makes me feel so old..."

Withdrawing and re-sheathing the
slim tanto, she turned around and began walking off. Acutely aware of the tall,
somber noble who had no trouble keeping up, nevertheless she wondered if Kisuke
had been right when he'd scolded her for being too charitable at times. Then
again, that generosity was what strengthened her bonds with the likes of
Shunsui. Her best friend had always been fiercely protective of his privacy,
while she was... similar in this aspect, but chose to deal with it by using a
different approach.

Right now though, all it brought
was restless frustration and the feeling that somewhere along the line,
agreeing to help this one improve had not been such a good idea...

"Kuchiki-san, we'll pick up
where we left off in your garden."

The deliberately emphasized
monotony of his reply elicited an unprecedented response.

"This way... Senpai."

Never had he reached home so
swiftly in his life, his annoyed pursuer giving him invaluable experience on
coming up really fast with an escape plan. She did not see the fleeting
flash of bemused satisfaction across his face. With her assistance, he would be
able to increase his powers at a much greater and faster rate. That was all that
mattered.

*******

An unconscious youth was cushioned in the partial embrace of her arms. Leaning forward and bending her knees to take and support his weight, with a small shrug he was lying draped over her right shoulder. Expression set with unyielding determination, the truth from her colleague stopped her.

"... It's a drug."

Now the other man facing her had
her attention. That one had always been too perceptive. He was unraveling her
plans. Understanding was evident on that somber visage.

"Releasing
a strong tranquiliser directly into the internal organs..."

Please don't say anymore-

"...You're trying to save him,
Yoruichi?"

It was not a question in body language, despite verbal tone. Denial was futile. This was one of the few people she could not bear to lie to. The mask had been dispelled, stoic calm now filled with sorrow
and appeal. The first words she uttered to valued remnants of her past came out as a softly humble plea.

"Ukitake-"

The moment of unspoken agreement
between them was shattered by a sense of dread creeping up her spine. It was
inevitable. Solemn hostility chilled her to the core.

"Did you think I would allow you to,
Senpai?"

The battle lines had been drawn.

*******

"That's not so pathetic."

He was improving rapidly.
Despite her brutal bluntness and strict guidance during their weekly sessions
(using a kaiken instead of chalk), it was getting much harder to score a hit on
him. She had to really elevate her usage level of shyunpo to easily deal with
him, especially after imparting Senka to him. The numerous shallow cuts on his
body would heal without any scars, if his vanity concerns extended as far as
his hair.

Somersaulting backwards off the
elegant blade to increase the distance between them, he appeared behind her in
the next instant. Pivoting against his wrist with one hand and warping at the
same time, she felt fingers graze a slipper. That was too close.

Re-appearing on a tree branch,
she grinned at the man situated at the opposite end of the garden.

"Your ability to anticipate and
plan ahead has strengthened vastly."

A slight nod of the head was his
way of acknowledging her hard-earned praise.

Yoruichi sighed. If he didn't
lighten up, he'd die old and huffy before his time. Probably buried as the best anchor known to Soul Society, due to the sheer weight of his pokerface syndrome. Besides, Byakuya still hadn't been able to tag her so he would have to get her something again. Hm, what to ask for... he'd been gracious enough to accommodate her little fancies, such as crepe paper in a hundred different colors for Kuukaku's origami fetish, a small
flask of the finest-quality seishu for Kisuke, and a baby turtle that she had
given to Soi Fong (her subordinate's dumbstruck reaction had been highly
entertaining). She wasn't about to exploit his wealth when she had plenty of
her own.

Darn, no ideas as to what her
prize should be- oh wait... Retrieving her cloak, she sauntered triumphantly towards
the man who was shrugging on a navy-blue haori.

"We are going into the third
district of East Rukongai."

Gazing down at his much shorter
colleague, his grave reply momentarily left her debating between exasperation
and socking him in the jaw.

"Lead the way... Senpai."

"I told you not to call me
Senpai!"

Jet-black eyes gleamed, mild crinkles surrounding them giving the impression of something akin to amusement at her reaction. He (of the infamous stonewalled countenance) had to be a closet sadist. She smiled at his teasing. Subtlety was an art to be appreciated and knowing they shared similarities along that line made it easier to relate to him. He'd never be as free-spirited as Kisuke but... she liked having a variety of friends.

They walked.

*******

"No. He can only dream of leaving."

He despised this traitor. Throwing
aside all that Soul Society stood for, abandoning duty and honour... Helping his
detestable enemy and extending her protection over that pathetic upstart, the
insult (intended or not) was more than he could tolerate. He didn't want to
think about the other issues. But just seeing the gentle, caring manner in which she caught and handled her precious burden...

They had to die.

Her slim frame stiffened, head
turning away from Ukitake Juushiro so he could see that familiar side profile.
Grim resolution was accompanied by a narrowing of seductively fringed eyes, followed
by temporarily scathing scorn.

"...Hn! Your speech has become insolent,
Byakuya-bo."

A smile was tossed his way
and brought back bittersweet memories, punctuated with quiet confidence that
taunted.

"When did you win against me in Onigoto?"

He would not be swayed by the past.
Lack of compromise was his frigid answer.

"...Should we try again?"

Another shared experience... their
duel was underway once more.

*******

Freedom to travel anywhere,
while unescorted by a retinue of bodyguards and subordinates was priceless.
Sniffing in the enticing aroma of freshly cooked buckwheat noodles as they
passed a restaurant; the off-duty commander could never resist exploring
everything around her./i>

Watching his companion happily
buy a beggar boy a rainbow-coloured paper windmill from a street vendor, pale
lips twitched as he fought the urge to smile. Further on, she stopped to peer
into a shop window. Kuchiki Byakuya had never met such a curious/nosy person in
his life... with the exception of the captain of the twelfth division. Amazing,
that one who bore such heavy responsibility could still be so carefree and
childlike at times.

Seeing that she hadn't lost
interest after more than ten seconds, he ventured over to take a look. She was
muttering to herself.

"When was Soi Fong's birthday
again? Wonderful, I can remember everything else but social events-"

Her attention was fixed on two
glass shelves arrayed with earrings. Gazing disinterestedly at the sparkling
trinkets, a pair of hairpins caught his eye on the shelf below.

The jewels were oval in shape
with tapered tips, a rich burnished hue that shone as if illuminated from
within, as rays of sunlight fell across them. Separated from each other by a
thin filigree of rose gold, the seven topaz pieces were arranged like flower
petals encircling a central pearl. Opaquely snowy by comparison to the gems,
with a mildly smoky hue depending on the angle one perceived it from... these
elegant accessories were perfect.

The Kuchiki heir wasted no time
in paying the stated price; collecting the velvet case they were kept in, he
brusquely handed it to his friend. Opening the small rectangular box, her
smooth brow became wrinkled.

"Isn't this somewhat
extravagant? I haven't even decided yet-"

"I'm tired. Take it or leave it."

Something felt... absurd. This
bauble seemed too personal even as a frivolous gift. Standing there and staring
at the 'prize' for a moment, she was uncertain of how to respond, as he strode off.
Catching up with the man, his usual calm and aloof attitude made her reprimand
herself for being ungrateful. He was probably having a rare attack of niceness
before retreating back into distant indecipherability.

*******

In a flash, the target was behind
him. Keeping track with his eyes, Senbonzakura was free and slashing across her
location.

She was not there. It became clear
in an instant, the knowledge ramming home to give him a clear view of the
surroundings in one sweep. Her fleetness still had the ability to shock.

Behind Ukitake! Bringing the
rest of his senses into play, Byakuya deduced he had to heighten his awareness and
expand his field of perception. Time to end this game.

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

List of Definitions by Alphabetical order

Gomoku: Board game derived from ancient China involving black and white stones on a 19x19 square board. The stones are placed on the intersections of the board, with Black going first. The winner is the first player to get an unbroken row of five stones in any direction, either straight or diagonally. Hence, one has to stop the other
(while attempting to achieve the same) from getting four stones in a row, or a cross of 3 x 3, since creation of either patterns means it�s impossible to effectively block.

It's not certain if Shyunpo does
have a basis in Gomoku and/or Shogi (japanese chess), but from the manner in
which Yoruichi countered Soi Fong's subordinates so easily in chapter 154, I'm
going with Gomoku for now.

Kaiken: Dirk. A short blade
carried by female ninjas.

O-kayu: From the evening of the sixth day of the New Year, a special type of rice soup is prepared, using the seven herbs of spring. Kayu is made by boiling cooked rice in water until
it breaks down and forms a porridge-like texture, to which the seven herbs are added. Consuming this mixture is thought to bring health, good spirits and extended longevity for the coming year. The actual composition of the seven herbs varies from region to region, but a typical group includes nazuna, hakobe, suzuna, seri, hotokenoza, hahakogusa, and suzushiro (otherwise known as
shepherd's purse, chickweed, turnip, water dropwort, henbit, cudweed and radish root). The herbs are prepared in a ritualistic manner, chopped 28 times on the evening of the sixth, then 21 more times on the morning of the seventh, before
being placed in the soup.

Here, Yoruichi treats her grandfather's birthday as the seventh day, since it's a deviation (i.e. not New Years) that she uses to suit her needs.

Rukongai : A place where all other spirits dwell in Soul Society. Divided into North, South, East, West, the 1^st district being the one with the best order (and presumably
wealth, living conditions, etc.) and the worst being the 78^th district, where Renji and Rukia came from.

Senka: A move Byakuya used on Ichigo and Renji. It is a specialized shyunpo technique, whereby he revolves around and severs the opponent's hakusui (i.e. link between soul of the spirit and the
actual spirit itself). In human terms, it is similar to the soul being separated from body.

Tantō: It is a smaller version of the katana, with a blade length of about 15 - 30 cm. The Tantō differs from the others as it was designed primarily as a stabbing instrument, but the edge can be used to slash as well. They were generally very thin and therefore would cut soft targets extremely well. Secondary weapon always
carried with a samurai, and interchangeable with the wakizashi (an example of the w-sword is the Soul cutter Ichimaru Gin uses).

Note: If Yoruichi carries a weapon,
it's not obvious so I looked at the smaller ones that can be concealed.

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