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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: I think this is finally ready. *crosses fingers* And I know this one day is progressing slowly in the timeline but I would remind everyone that the devil is in the details and the small things going on here will snowball.

Acmarache, Grimmjow is mommy and the very idea that he might have a sex life is traumatic for Kisuke. Especially a sex life involving his old friends.

Erin, you snuck in and read my notes while my back was turned, didn't you?

Irana, dear lord, you are leading another onto the primrose path of one-shot madness. Welcome to the insanity, Zorathenne. I'm glad you're enjoying the story.

To all those who are reading Shadow, thank you.

* * *

He had snuck out of the office after lunch, not that there had been much sneaking necessary. Rukia had left with Matsumoto and Karin muttering something about a dress and plans. If had been another woman, Ichigo would have said she had a date, but Rukia's last date had been during the Bush administration. Having Byakuya as a brother was not conductive to dating - especially since last he'd heard, Byakuya had the standing policy of anyone touching his baby sister would be touched by Senbonzakura.

He had wandered the base for a bit, avoiding going back to his rooms to begin the clean up before escaping into Soul Society. The Eleventh was always up for company, although visiting often meant having to spar with Zaraki. And more fearsome yet, it meant playing with Yachiru and Nel.

The young vice captain had become fast friends with the little Arrancar and the two were the terror of Soul Society. Nel was still trapped in her childish form, although Ichigo was never sure if it was a matter of her not being able to grow up or not wanting to. She had found a sister in Yachiru, a father in Zaraki and she had the entire Eleventh as her playmates.

Of course not everyone was thrilled with the demonic duo. As far as Ichigo knew, Yumichika and Ikkaku still hadn't forgiven him for bringing the young Arrancar to Soul Society. Yumichika had never really gotten over the girls dying his hair green and cutting it into a mohawk. was a great rainy day activity.

He was just passing the Sixth on his way to the Eleventh when a massive burst of reiatsu washed over him. A rush of power coming from the Sixth was odd and caught his attention. Byakuya wasn't big on large showy displays of power and most of his people learned to emulate their captain - at least they did if they didn't want to be glared at. The Eleventh was the place for blowing things up, although the Fifth and Third were getting a reputation for it too.

He saw a flash of pink in the distance and wondered just what the hell had was going on; Byakuya didn't often train with his people and he never brought out his shi-kai. Curiosity getting the better of him, Ichigo hopped up onto the roof of outer walkway of the Sixth and looked around. A glimmer of green drew his eye and he leapt nearer. When he saw what was happening, Ichigo could hardly believe it - well away from the eyes of the division, Byakuya was battling Ulquiorra.

Ichigo couldn't remember the last time he had seen Byakuya spar and he had never seen the noble like this. His hair was free of the Kenseikan, pulled back into a simple braid, and his haori had been abandoned. He was sweaty and even a little bloody. Ulquiorra was similarly mussed and there was even a tiny smile on his lips and a glimmer of excitement in his green eyes.

Byakuya smirked and a graceful wave of his hand sent a wash of blades hurling at the former Espada. Ulquiorra easily avoided the deadly barrage and sent a cero blast straight at the noble. A wall of cherry blossoms appeared between the captain of the Sixth and the blast, absorbing it, before whipping forward at Ulquiorra. Ichigo watched in utter fascination as the Arrancar parried the storm of blades with a bright green blast. Not many people would have been able to counter Byakuya and the fact that Ulquiorra was swinging a blade for Byakuya's head a mere heartbeat later was truly impressive.

A quick step to the left took Byakuya from harm's way and his sword was at Ulquiorra's neck a second later. The Arrancar froze, his green eyes sliding closed in a silent admission of defeat. A tiny smile settled onto the noble's lips, "That is a boon you owe me, Ulquiorra."

The smaller man nodded as the sword was withdrawn from his throat. "What would you have of me?" murmured Ulquiorra, his voice soft and differential. There was an odd tension to the former Espada's stance though, as if he expected violence.

Ichigo watched as something tender settled over Byakuya's features, softening his expression. A graceful hand stole out to caress Ulquiorra's cheek and the smaller man flinched before he could help it. Byakuya frowned and Ichigo watched in utter amazement as the normally reserved noble drew the Arrancar into a gentle embrace. "I would never betray the trust you have given me in such a manner," promised Byakuya softly.

Ulquiorra nodded, looking both embarrassed and uncomfortable, it was the most blatant display of emotion Ichigo had ever witnessed from the former forth Espada. And he still couldn't quite believe that it had been Byakuya - cool, reserved, stick-in-the-mud Byakuya - to draw it from him. "I know. To suppress a lifetime of instinct however," began Ulquiorra softly, something almost apologetic in his voice, before long, delicate fingers brushed his lips and silenced the Arrancar.

Byakuya tilted the smaller man's face upwards and he brushed his lips over the Arrancar's. He then knelt, gazing up at the other man solemnly, "What came before has nothing to do with us. I swear never to show you such disrespect."

Ulquiorra's hand brushed Byakuya's cheek, earning a small smile from the noble, and a moment later the Arrancar was leaning over to press his lips to the other man's. Ichigo watched as the kiss went from a tender brush of the lips to something heated and filled with passion. Pale fingers tangled in Byakuya's hair and Byakuya's went around the Arrancar's waist, drawing him nearer. There was something odd about the idea of the two them together; but seeing it, seeing the hesitant affection, it was beautiful, thought Ichigo.

The kiss ended and the two men nuzzled affectionately. "Dine with me in two nights time," pressed Byakuya, rising gracefully, one hand twining with Ulquiorra's while the other caressed his cheek. The Arrancar nodded his consent and the satisfied smile that bloomed on Byakuya's face was something the Shinigami Women's Association would have paid through the nose to get a shot of.

"I had wanted to wait until then to ask, but I find myself unable to do so," murmured Byakuya. "As you know, in a few days the discussion as to your dispensation will begin. It is likely that you will be granted entry into Soul Society and asked to join the Gotei Thirteen. I would ask you to consider joining the Sixth."

The small satisfied twist of Ulquiorra' lips was smug, but there was something grateful in his eyes. "You just want someone to help you with your paperwork. Most shrewd of you," murmured the Arrancar. And then the world turned on its head because Byakuya laughed, his gray eyes filled with warm amusement.

"You expect me not to press an advantage?" purred the noble.

Ulquiorra regarded the other man for a moment before giving him a small smile. "I would be honored to serve under you, Kuchiki Byakuya," murmured Ulquiorra, kneeling and offering his sword to the captain of the Sixth.

Graceful fingers ran over the blade before Byakuya nodded. "It is I who would be honored, Ulquiorra Schiffer." The fingers shifted to caress the bone mask for a moment before taking one of Ulquiorra's hands and drawing it to Byakuya's lips. "I fear I must return to my office, but thank you. I have enjoyed myself greatly."

Ulquiorra nodded and Byakuya gave him one last small smile before leaving. Ulquiorra watched him go, something very near to longing on his usually impassive face, before he turned and left.

Ichigo shook his head and sighed, wondering if it was too early in the day to start drinking, because Byakuya dating Ulquiorra definitely warranted a few shots. "Oh fuck!" he moaned as he realized that eventually news of the relationship would get out - meaning eventually Rukia would hear. Somehow, he didn't see her handling the information well. And if she learned that he had known about it and not told her... Well, there were a lot of ways a vice captain could make her captain's life utter hell if she wanted to - and Rukia knew all of them.

Ichigo sighed, letting a few quick steps carry him to outside Byakuya's office, figuring it would be a good idea to have a word with the noble about what he had seen. Let Byakuya be the one to tell Rukia and face her ire, he only had to see her at family events, Ichigo had to had to see her everyday. The serene, almost smile on Byakuya's lips vanished as he saw him. "Kurosaki," he murmured, calm and cool, like he wasn't mussed from sparring and other activities.

"Byakuya," he nodded in greeting, following the other man into his office and closing the door. The dark-haired noble turned to frown at him, eyeing the closed door with annoyance.

"May I help you with something, Kurosaki?" he bit out.

"Look, I know it's none of my business, but if your serious about Ulquiorra, then you need talk to Rukia. And the sooner the better." The angry flash of the other man's reiatsu was startling and made Ichigo wince.

"How I choose to conduct my affairs is none of your concern, Kurosaki. If you must know however, I intend to speak to Rukia this evening," ground out Byakuya, drawing himself up tall and rigid, his bearing icy but his eyes blazing.

Ichigo sighed and rubbed at his eyes, feeling the beginnings of a headache, but that was nothing new with him and Byakuya. "I'm sorry okay. I'm not going to go telling everyone, I just wanted to make sure...Rukia's ...fuck," he muttered.

Byakuya seemed to understand, some of the frigid hatred leeching from him. "I am aware of my responsibilities regarding my sister."

Ichigo nodded. "Good, then I'll just go."

"Please do so," growled Byakuya.
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A Shadow of What Was