Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

In the Aftermath of Winter	By : Nakkinomiko Category: Bleach > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 5655 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters, and make no money from this fic

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
A/N: Oh, wow, it has been a long time on this one! Unfortunately, there’s this evil thing called writer’s block. :P Had to step away from this one for a bit before I could get back at it and make it work. A little bit of a time jump between this and the last two chapters. About six months have passed since Grimmjow was adopted into the Kurosaki family. Silverblaise, thank you for your review and the push to post more! Yes, Aizen is a bastard, and yet I find myself liking him anyway. :P I always go for the bad guys!
*****
Chapter 5: A Visit to Karakura
When Yamamoto Soutaichou forbids the Shinigami from visiting Ichigo in the living world, Hitsugaya actually considers a vocal protest. He understands Yamamoto’s point of view—Ichigo should be allowed to live his human life in peace. At the same time, though, Hitsugaya can’t help but think that Ichigo should have been consulted before that particular decision had been made. Hitsugaya suspects that Ichigo sorely misses his Shinigami friends, and that somehow, Yamamoto has inadvertently wronged him.
Before Hitsugaya can protest, however, Byakuya Kuchiki beats him to the punch. The young Tenth Division captain can only stare along with the rest of the captains as the Kuchiki heir forcefully, yet respectfully, suggests that perhaps Yamamoto might want to reconsider the matter. Ichigo sacrificed much for them, and to cut him off from the friends he fought so very hard to protect is hardly kind, and in fact borders on cruel. Yamamoto takes his words into consideration for all of twenty seconds before he reiterates that they are forbidden to have any contact with the young Substitute Shinigami. Several of the captains visibly deflate as the Soutaichou passes his final judgment, and Hitsugaya does his very best to not let his disappointment and irritation show. He manages, but the injustice of the situation eats away at him and never really leaves his mind.
Perhaps that is why, three years later, he finds himself standing outside the Kuchiki Manor and contemplating rebellion. He stares at the gate for nearly ten minutes before he steels his resolve and finally raises a hand and rings the bell. It takes mere seconds for a servant to appear, and the young girl’s eyes momentarily go wide before she schools her expression and bows low.
“Hitsugaya-taichou. How may I be of service?”
“Forgive me, I know it is somewhat late and unexpected, but would I be able to see Kuchiki-taichou this evening?”
“Please wait here and I will inquire.” Another low bow and the girl disappears from the gate.
Hitsugaya waits for only two minutes before the servant appears again.
“Kuchiki-sama will see you, sir. Please, follow me.”
Hitsugaya has been here before, but he still finds himself in awe of the simple beauty of the grounds and the house itself. He can’t quite help a faint smile as he follows the servant through the immaculate central garden. There are several sakura trees here, and Hitsugaya takes a moment to mentally mourn the fact that it is Fall rather than Spring. He can only imagine how spectacular the garden must look when those trees are in full bloom! Hitsugaya follows the servant through the garden and up the porch stairs and into the house proper. He is led to a sitting room, and there Kuchiki Byakuya awaits.
The Kuchiki Lord is kneeling at a small table and pouring tea for the two of them. He is dressed casually, a pale blue kimono with a navy obi and his kenseikan are missing. His ink-black hair falls freely over his shoulders and Hitsugaya thinks that it makes the Kuchiki lord look significantly younger, and much more approachable. He looks up and smiles slightly at Hitsugaya.
“Please, join me,” Byakuya says. He gestures Hitsugaya into the room and motions to a cushion opposite him. “What brings you here, Hitsugaya-san?”
“I am here to ask a favor of you,” Hitsugaya says, and settles himself on the futon. He figures there is no point in beating around the bush, and in his experience, Byakuya appreciates it when people get right to the point.
“What would you ask of me?” Byakuya finishes pouring the tea and hands a cup to the younger captain with a slight bow of his head. Hitsugaya carefully accepts the cup and takes a small sip.
“Perfect,” Hitsugaya says, and he offers the older man a smile before he continues. “Kuchiki-san, I would like to use your private senkaimon.”
Byakuya pauses with his lips upon his cup, and then very slowly lowers it back to the table. His gray eyes are piercing as they look at Hitsugaya, and after several quiet moments, a dark brow arches upwards.
“You wish to check on Kurosaki.”
“Yes.” Hitsugaya takes another sip of his tea and then sets the cup down. He tucks his hands into his sleeves and waits.
“You would go against Soutaichou’s orders?”
Hitsugaya doesn’t answer right away, because he is trying to figure out what Byakuya will do if he answers “yes”. He is almost one hundred percent certain that the other captain will not turn him in, but there is a tiny part of him that fears Byakuya will not bend the rules for him. As usual, Byakuya’s expression reveals nothing of what is going on in his head, leaving Hitsugaya at a distinct disadvantage.
“Yes,” Hitsugaya finally says. “His edict is unfair, not only to those of us that actually care for Ichigo, but to Ichigo himself. I do not believe isolating him from Soul Society was the right thing to do.”
“It was cruel,” Byakuya agrees.
Hitsugaya nods. “Ichigo sacrificed so much for us, and now we ignore him. It is not right, and it continues to gnaw at me, even after three years. I have to see for myself if Ichigo and his family are doing well.”
“Are you sure you want to risk Yamamoto’s anger?”
“I do not want to risk it, no, but I will none the less. I’m afraid my conscience will allow for nothing less.”
Byakuya is quiet for several moments, and Hitsugaya does not begrudge him the time. He is asking the Kuchiki Clan Head to break a direct command from Yamamoto, and it is not the kind of decision that should be made quickly. It took me three years to finally decide, Hitsugaya thinks. I’m asking him to make a decision in a matter of minutes.
“I will grant you use of the senkaimon,” Byakuya finally says. The corners of his lips turn up slightly. “Were it not for the weight of my own responsibilities, I would go with you. However, I must think of the Clan. I can do nothing to jeopardize the honor and safety of my family.” He unclasps a thin silver bracelet from his right wrist and holds it out to Hitsugaya. It is lightweight and a single charm is attached to it. Hitsugaya turns it over and finds that it is stamped with the Kuchiki crest. Hitsugaya gives him a questioning look.
“It is a key to the family senkaimon. Keep it, as I have others. I will notify the house guard that you are to be allowed access at any time you wish, indefinitely.”
Hitsugaya nods and fastens the bracelet around his wrist. “Thank you, Kuchiki-san. Words cannot express how thankful I am.”
“I envy you the opportunity,” Byakuya says quietly. He hesitates for a moment, seemingly waging an internal war, and then finally speaks again. “I have many regrets where Ichigo is concerned.”
Hitsugaya goes very still as Byakuya makes the admission. He says nothing, as he can sense that the Kuchiki Lord is not yet finished, and he is afraid that any words on his part will derail Byakuya’s momentum. Hitsugaya suspects that Byakuya needs to get whatever it is off his chest, and he is more than willing to listen.
“These kinds of things are difficult for me,” Byakuya continues after a long silence. “Years of conditioning as Clan Head have left me more than a little inept when it comes to expressing my own emotions, and the last time I did so, I got hurt.” The last words are spoken in a near whisper.
“Hisana?”
Byakuya gives a sharp nod. “I loved her deeply, but she did not love me as much, I think.” He sighs before he continues. “I swore to myself after she died that I would not set myself up for such a fall again. It was a promise easily kept, at least, it was before…” Byakuya’s words trail off, and his gaze drops to the table top.
“You don’t have to do this,” Hitsugaya says gently. “I mean, I am more than willing to listen, and I will keep whatever you say in the strictest confidence, but if you are not ready to discuss this then you shouldn’t. Don’t force it.”
Byakuya shakes his head and continues. “My greatest fear is that I will never see Ichigo again and that he will never know the truth,” Byakuya says. He lifts his gaze, and Hitsugaya’s heart turns over in sorrow at the pain he sees in those grey eyes. “I know he thinks that I dislike him, that I only tolerate him because he is Rukia’s friend, but that could not be further from the truth. I do not dislike him, and I respect him a great deal. I wish that I had spent less time pushing him away and more time getting to know him.”
Hitsugaya suddenly knows where this is going, and he hopes that when the confession finally comes it doesn’t completely destroy the man before him. He can see that Byakuya is stuck, that he doesn’t quite know how to finish what he wants to say.
“Why did you push him away?”
“There were many reasons, but the foremost was simply my own fear,” Byakuya admits. “Every time I lay eyes on Ichigo, my heart urges me to break that promise. Do you understand what I am saying?”
Hitsugaya gives a solemn nod.
“It can never be, of course,” Byakuya continues. His voice is nearly a whisper again. “The scandal marrying Hisana caused would be nothing in comparison to the scandal caused should my feelings towards him become public. But at the very least, I would have liked the chance to be his friend.”
Hitsugaya gives a solemn nod. “I do not plan on contacting him directly, at least, not until I watch for a while. If he is happy and has moved on, then I do not want to disrupt that. But if I do speak with him, is there a message that you would like me to pass on?”
Byakuya seems to think about it for a few moments, and then slowly shakes his head. “The things I wish to say are words better delivered in person, I think.”
Hitsugaya nods and rises to his feet. He is not surprised by Byakuya’s answer. “I will update you when I return, then.” He bows low to the Kuchiki lord. “Again, thank you.”
Byakuya nods. “Safe journey.”
*****
The weather over Karakura Town is clear when Hitsugaya steps through the senkaimon. He pauses and notes that it is late afternoon, and then closes his eyes and tries to locate familiar reiatsu. It takes him a few moments, but then he pinpoints Uryuu, Sado, and Orihime in quick succession. If he remembers the locations correctly, all three are in their own homes. His lips curl in a smile as he notes they seem to be healthy and happy. He turns his attention to locating a specific reiatsu, and he has it within moments. It doesn’t take him long to find her.
He finds her on a soccer field, which is no big surprise. What surprises him is how much she has changed. The last time he saw her, Karin was a 12-year old girl. Now, she is going on 16 and moving into the realm of young woman. She is taller than he remembers her being, and she has begun to develop curves. Her dark hair has grown out considerably, and it is currently secured into a braid at the nape of her neck. Hitsugaya cannot help but smile when she slides past the defense and scores a goal. She had been good at soccer when he first met her, but now she is spectacular.
She is impressive, is she not, Master?
Not now, Hyourinmaru!
But Master…
Hitsugaya ignores his zanpakutou in favor of watching the rest of the game. Karin’s team wins, and when it appears she is finally ready to leave the field, he allows his reiatsu to flare for a quick moment. She whirls around, and her eyes unerringly find him in the bleacher’s top row. Her eyes are impossibly wide, and he knows the only reason she doesn’t call out to him is because she doesn’t want the few team-mates left on the field to think she is crazy for speaking to thin air. After she recovers from sheer astonishment she turns her head and yells at her retreating team mates.
“You guys go on ahead! I think we might have lost a ball behind the bleachers. I’m going to go check it out and I’ll be right there!”
Hitsugaya drops easily from the top of the bleachers to the hard-packed earth below, and he cannot stop himself from smiling when she runs around the corner and all but throws herself into his arms.
“Toushiro!” Her arms go around his waist and hug him tight. “Toushiro!”
“Hello, Karin.” He wraps his arms around her shoulders and returns the hug. She’s grinning when she finally releases him.
“It’s so good to see you!” she exclaims. Her smile fades a little, and he can see that Karin is fighting tears. When she speaks again he can hear those tears in her voice. “I didn’t think I would ever see you again.”
“I know, and I’m sorry,” Hitsugaya says. “We were forbidden to make contact with your brother.”
“But you are here,” Karin says.
Hitsugaya gives her a wry smile. “Yes, because my conscience wouldn’t allow me to stay away any longer. I did not agree with Soutaichou’s decision, and I was not the only one. I am, however, the first to come here, I think.”
“You came to check on us?” Karin asks.
“I did. I had to see for myself that Ichigo and his family were safe.”
Karin frowns a little and her eyes fill with worry. “But won’t you get in trouble?”
Hitsugaya smirks. “They don’t know I’m here, Karin. Kuchiki-taichou gave me use of his family’s senkaimon. He is the only one that knows where I am right now.”
“How long can you stay?”
“Not long, I’m afraid,” he admits. He hates how his words bring disappointment to her expression. “But long enough to walk you home?”
Karin’s smile is so wide it nearly splits her head in two, and Hitsugaya’s breath hitches in his throat at her beauty. He did not realize until this moment just how much he has missed her.
“I’d like that. Let me go grab my things.”
*****
They barely have time to catch up in the fifteen minutes it takes Hitsugaya to escort her home. The entire time Karin is torn between elation and fear. It feels so wonderful to be talking to him again, and yet, she worries that the captain will sense Grimmjow’s presence in their home. The last thing the Espada needs is for Soul Society to learn that he survived the war!
“Karin, are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Karin says. She gives him a sad smile as they approach her home. “I just wish you could stay longer.”
“I can’t, not this time.”
“This time?” Karin’s smile is soft. “Does that mean there is going to be a next time?”
Her heart nearly skips a beat when he gives a quick nod. “I should be able to return in about two weeks. And I promise to stay longer next time. Perhaps we can go out to dinner? I’ll get a gigai from Urahara-san.”
“I’d like that,” Karin says. She can feel her cheeks heat with a blush.
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Hitsugaya says. “I have to go, Karin.”
Karin swallows the sudden lump in her throat and nods. “I know.”
She loses her battle against tears when he suddenly wraps his arms around her in a fierce hug.
“I’ve really missed you,” he says. “I won’t stay away this time. I’ll be back within two weeks, I promise.”
Karin returns the hug before reluctantly letting him go. She watches as he opens the senkaimon, and her breath catches in wonder as she watches the doors slide open. Another captain is waiting on the other side, and while Karin has never actually met Kuchiki-taichou, she has heard him described enough to know that it is him. The dark-haired man acknowledges her with a nod as Hitsugaya crosses the threshold between worlds. Karin gives him a quick bow, and then waves as Hitsugaya gives her one final glance over his shoulder. He returns the gesture, and then the doors slide shut and disappear.
She is unsure how long she stares at that spot before Grimmjow joins her. She feels a tentative touch on her shoulder, and she can’t explain why she suddenly turns and buries her face in his chest.
“That was Hitsugaya-taichou?” He asks. She feels his arms wrap around her shoulders and he hugs her close.
Karin can’t speak for the knot in her throat, so she only nods. Tears start to burn her eyes, and she can’t quite swallow the sob that escapes her. She is afraid that Hitsugaya’s visit was just a waking dream, that she will never see him again.
“He promised to come again, didn’t he?” Grimmjow says, as if reading her mind.
Another nod. She feels his arms tighten slightly around her.
“Then what are you sad for?” Grimmjow chides. “From what you’ve told me about him, he’s the sort to keep his promises.”
Karin nods again, not quite able to find her voice.
“And don’t worry about me, Karin-chan. I’ve got enough sense to stay hidden when he’s around,” he says.
“I don’t want you to get caught,” Karin finally manages.
“I won’t,” Grimmjow promises. He gives her another squeeze before releasing her. His fingers slide beneath her chin and he tilts her head upwards. His expression is one of concern. “Okay?”
Karin nods and wipes the tears from her eyes with the back of a hand. “Yeah.”
*****
Much later that evening Grimmjow lies awake in the room he shares with Ichigo, unable to sleep. He can’t quite forget how it felt to hold Karin in his arms. The memory of her warmth makes something in his chest ache with longing. He wants to hold her like that again, as often as possible. He rolls over on his side and stares out the room’s window. His futon is situated so that the moon is clearly visible from his position on the floor, and it’s nearly full this evening.
Is this love, then? he wonders. He thinks about the things he has read about love on that computer internet thing, and thinks that it very well might be. He’s only been with the Kurosaki family for six months or so, but already Karin has become the center of his world. She is brave, fierce, loyal and kind all at the same time. Her mere presence makes Grimmjow feel more alive, and there is nothing he wouldn’t do to win one of her heart-melting smiles.
I’m so stupid for letting this happen, Grimmjow thinks. I’m only going to get hurt this way. She’s still so young, and she obviously likes that captain. He is what seems to make her happy.
But Grimmjow can’t quite bring himself to care, because her happiness means more to him than his own. He would never make her choose. Never.
Love, then, he thinks. He gives the moon a wry smile and closes his eyes. Now that he has named and accepted what he is feeling, sleep comes easy.
*****
TBC
- 4
- 5
- 6
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

In the Aftermath of Winter