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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

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Karin watched the scene silently. She knew this was going to happen sooner or later, but she honestly thought it was going to be �later� and that Hana and Lilinette would be the instigators.

But no, it seemed Ajuga didn�t need those two delinquents� assistance in becoming one all on her own.

�A gift of her father no doubt,� Karin mused.

For a girl barely a year old, Ajuga possessed a large amount of patience when it came to hunting, perhaps even more than her father. She stalked slowly towards her target, pausing for long periods of time before moving in again. A butterfly even landed on her head at one point and still she did not move until long after it had flown off on its own. Apparently Ajuga must have been in the position she had been working towards, for she suddenly sprung out and landed heavily on Starrk�s chest.

The other gave out an �umph� at the impact and jerked awake to glare at the little innocent girl that was pretending to ravage his stomach.

�Not that area hun, the neck,� Karin called to her daughter helpfully.

�She hardly needs assistance,� Starrk groused as Ajuga made for his neck instead.

He held her back with one hand and transferred his glare to Karin, who just smiled innocently.

�Well, she�s a little girl and still learning. Besides, I am not the one who insists on encouraging this behaviour; you can talk to her father about that.�

�Grimmjow hardly listens to Aizen-kami, what makes you think he will listen to me?� Starrk asked.

He caught the little girl and flipped her off of his stomach to land gently on her back on the ground before pinning her down and attacking her stomach with his own mouth.

Ajuga squealed in delight.

� �ark. �ark,� she giggled.

Karin smiled some more and finally moved from her place to �rescue� her errant offspring. Ajuga had just started talking and it took them a few times to realize �ark� was short for Starrk.

�ill e� was Lilinette and �ann ah� was Hana. �oo e� had them going for the longest time until they realized she meant Ukitake. The only word she seemed to get fully right was �food,� even if she tended to draw out the �oo.�

Starrk finally let the girl squirm free and she darted behind her mother with a speed Karin had never seen in such a young child. Ajuga wasn�t walking yet, preferring to sprint about on all fours.

The biggest scare yet had come when the little devil managed to sneak out and ended up stuck halfway up a tree. Truthfully, Ajuga was becoming more of a handful than one woman could honestly manage.

After the second bug attack, Aizen made it clear that he expected everyone to participate in patrols. Szayel was the lone exception; his job involved maintaining and monitoring the defence grid. That grid was what had given the defence force enough warning to get into position before the damn bugs got too far into the city. Even Lilinette had to go out on patrols, leaving a pouting Hana behind.

Of course those with the fastest speed got the patrol routes with the largest perimeters. That meant that Grimmjow was frequently gone from early in the morning until late at night six out of seven days. On the seventh day he was so exhausted from patrolling the large area assigned to him that all he wanted to do on his day off was sleep.

The same could be said of Starrk. He was saddled with an exceptionally large patrol area as he was apparently the fastest of them all. Karin could not follow his trail when he discarded his usual slothfulness and launched himself into a Sonido. It was as if he would just vanish from where he was and reappear when he came to a stop. She considered it an amazing feat considering how lazy he acted the rest of the time.

Ajuga seemed to regain her courage, for she left the relative safety of her hiding place behind Karin�s legs and this time launched herself at Starrk�s back. Starrk playfully collapsed face-first with an �oof� and Ajuga tried to get to the back of his neck.

Karin chuckled and scooped the child up. Ajuga struggled a bit before settling down as Karin pulled her into a hug.

�Enough for now, Ajuga-chan. Starrk-ji is very tired. He�s been doing a lot of patrolling,� she pointed out as a consolation for removing her daughter from her captured �prey�.

Ajuga pouted.

�Maybe we can see if Szayel wants to play.�

��zay,� she cheered. ��zay, �zay, �zay.�

Karin gave a small laugh, but stopped when Starrk shook his head.

�I think he had a meeting with Aizen-kami today,� the First Espada explained.

Karin looked off in the distance before sighing.

�You seem to be right. Maybe we can see if Orihime or Tatsuki are home.�

�Fay, fay,� Ajuga agreed.

Her child seemed utterly fascinated with the spirits that were the manifestation of Orihime�s powers. The one known as Tsubaki definitely seemed to enjoy playing with her and would let her stalk him. The others would play with her as well, but they were not big fans of the cat and mouse game.

�Karin-bachan, I am done!� Hana shouted as she ran into the garden waving a pile of papers above her head.

�Alright, let me see.�

Karin set Ajuga down and accepted the papers. Hana was a rather intelligent young girl, something Ukitake said came from both parents. Ukitake told her once, with a small, melancholy smile, that despite his laziness, Shunsui had often been far too smart for his own good.

Hana�s kanji left something to be desired but she had exceptional mathematical abilities. She wasn�t even seven years old yet and Hana could multiply and divide faster then she could. Not even fractions seemed to stump the girl.

Truthfully, Hana already surpassed her in mathematics; it was something Karin ruefully attributed to her own interrupted, and therefore limited, sixth-grade education. She also had to admit that she was nearly out of material to teach the girl when it came to performing anything higher than fractions.

�Looking good, Hana-chan, but you need to slow down. I can�t read these at all.�

�But it�s done!� Hana pleaded, trying to make her case. �Can Ajuga-chan and I play now?�

�Hai, hai," she said after a moment, giving in to her pupil�s desires.

�Yay!! Let�s get him Ajuga-chan!!�

Starrk just sighed, looking skyward in sufferance as Ajuga ploughed into his legs while Hana aimed for his waist. He collapsed on his side this time and both girls began to wrestle with him.

�C�mon Starrk-ji,� Hana begged.

� �ark-ji,� Ajuga called happily.

Karin just giggled as she watched the three of them roughhouse. The best part was that, although Ajuga was still too young to control her own strength, Starrk�s strength was such that the little girl couldn�t accidentally hurt him.

�Oi,� Lilinette demanded, stomping into the garden. �Who started this party without me?!�

�ill e!!� Ajuga cheered, launching off of Starrk and into Lilinette�s arms.

�Traitor!� Hana cried as Starrk flipped the young girl under him and started to tickle her mercilessly.

��ana!� Ajuga cried.

�Quick Ajuga-chan, we gotta save her!� Lilinette set Ajuga down and the little girl raced on all fours before barreling into Starrk.

Being the good sport that he was, the First Espada fell onto his side once again, releasing Hana and letting her escape out of range.

�Get him!� Hana cheered, egging on her small companion.

Karin had to clutch her sides as she watched them all play, laughing hard at the girls and their unofficial jungle gym.

�What�s going on?� Nanao asked as she walked up behind Karin.

�Just some fun,� Karin answered, wheezing for breath.

�So I see,� Nanao smiled softly at the scene. She took her glasses off and cast a speculative glance at Karin. �Shall we rescue Starrk-san from his assailants?�

Karin gave it some thought and then shook her head in regret.

�Tempting, but honestly, now would be a good time to actually get some housework done around here while he has the rug rats distracted. That is, if you don�t mind?� Karin aimed the last bit at the besieged Espada, raising her voice so that he could hear her above the girlish shouts and squeals. �I�ll even clean your room and change the bedding,� she offered, as compensation for �babysitting�.

He groaned, but gave a nod of his head in agreement before Hana made another try for his left arm.

�Thank you,� Karin said, smiling softly in gratitude.

�You have no idea how much I appreciate you taking care of Hana-chan for me,� Nanao commented as the two women retreated before Starrk could think twice about it.

Karin fetched a pail, some rags and a mop from the small closet next to the kitchen while Nanao changed out of her uniform and into something better suited for housework. While the mansion certainly wasn�t filthy, having two active children and one overtly-enthusiastic, childlike Arrancar rampaging through the common areas on a regular basis meant the floors, even with the house rule of leaving shoes outside, for those that even wore them since Ajuga did not, needed frequent cleaning. It was also Karin�s least favourite task, so having someone else to share it with and being able to carry on a conversation to detract from the unpleasantness of scrubbing on one�s hands and knees made the chore less dreary.

�I wish I could say it�s nothing, but with Ajuga getting older the two of them are running me into the ground,� Karin sighed as she wiped a bead of sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. �Hana does try to help, but she�s still just a child and children will be children.�

�Sounds like you need some help,� Nanao laughed, attacking a mud stain with her own brush.

�This is a pretty big estate to keep in shape with just one person. How on earth did you manage it?� Karin asked.

Nanao paused, a thoughtful look on her face, before she moved to rinse her brush out in the bucket.

�Things were a lot less hectic and I had Lilinette-chan and Ukitake-san around a fair amount,� Nanao admitted, her shoulders drooping as she went back to her task.

�You look exhausted,� Karin noted with sympathy and her conscience chided her.

Here she was lamenting chores when Nanao looked ready to drop from her assigned tasks with the Fifth Division.

�We still haven�t found any replacements for the seated officers we lost in the attack. The paperwork is starting to pile up and we are falling behind in our training. Half of the outer city is still in ruins,� the captain replied. �And then there are the defence patrols and networks. At least Szayel-sama is being more co-operative than he used to be, but I am spending so much time hashing out the issues with those systems that I hardly have time to train anyone. The squads are spread rather thin, our ranks severely depleted when you consider the number of the wounded and dead.�

�What about the students?� Karin asked.

Nanao shook her head and when she spoke her voice sounded heavy with frustration. While her face didn�t betray anything, the younger woman noted that Nanao�s scrubbing had some suppressed anger behind it.

�I have them working on repairs and such and helping out at the Fourth Division. They�re also not experienced enough to include on the patrols.�

�And the civilians?� Karin inquired.

�What about the civilians?� Nanao stopped scrubbing and sat up on her heels, looking at Karin in confusion.

�You have an entire city full of people out there,� Karin pointed out, frowning. It surprised her that no one had seen the Soul Society�s non-combatant population as an asset to put to use. �There is no reason why they can�t help rebuild or even stand guard on the walls. They don�t need to fight, just act as an extra pair of eyes in case something gets past the sensor network Szayel set up,� Karin explained.

�I never thought of that,� Nanao mused after a moment of silence and then a wide smile spread across her face. �Thank you Karin, I think you just eased one of my burdens and created a million more.�

�These districts must have leaders, right? Just tell them what needs to be done. I am sure they can organize their people better and get them to listen as well, provided that they understand they�ll be helping themselves as well as the squads,� Karin said, gesturing with her brush and inadvertently splattering an area she�d just cleaned with water.

She growled a few words that she would have never said in the presence of the children, while Nanao gave a small laugh. While she didn�t seem any less tired, some of the lines around her mouth had smoothed out, a sign that the Captain had at least begun to relax a little.

�I will do that. Good thinking. Now, if we could just keep the children from coming inside covered in dirt��

It was Karin�s turn to laugh now. Nanao sighed and glared at the pail of muddy brown water. There really was no hope for the rest of the Estate until things either quieted down or they could miraculously find a maid capable of withstanding Starrk�s incredible reiatsu.

　

　

Orihime lay awake in bed in the dead of night, finding sleep hard to come by. The house was much quieter now that Tatsuki was living with Tesra and Orihime found she greatly missed her friend�s presence. Loneliness was something she hadn�t considered when she�d given her blessing to Tatsuki and her chosen Claimant.

She�d grown used to having the other woman by her side for the last six years and her absence, at least to Orihime, left a hole she wasn�t sure she knew how to fill. A hole that reminded her far to much of her Niisan, Sora, and the events that had taken place that night.

Orihime instantly perked up, with far more than a small sense of relief, when she finally felt Ulquiorra�s reiatsu returning. She would not be alone much longer.

Aizen had all of his Espada out searching for the breach and doing regular patrols. Tatsuki said that Matsumoto also commented that Nnoitra was frequently now an early riser and often late to bed.

�Welcome home,� she greeted as he walked, or rather staggered, into their bedroom.

�You are awake,� he said, his equivalent of a greeting.

�Um hum. I couldn�t sleep," Orihime answered, and then frowned with growing concern as she took in the sight of him.

His shoulders were sagged in clear exhaustion as Ulquiorra made his way across the room. It looked as if he was having difficulty keeping himself upright. She had never seen him so tired. Even his reiatsu fluctuated weakly. He barely seemed to have enough energy to get the door close and stumble into the room.

Orihime sat up and watched as he stumbled into the bathroom before stumbling back out several minutes later. His finger fiddled with the belt of his hakama but he seemed far too sapped of energy to get the knot undone and looked just about ready to tear the damn thing off; a true testament to his exhaustion.

�Here,"

She brushed his hands away, undid the knot and loosened the belt before pulling his hakama down for him. He stepped out of them and let his jacket fall from his shoulders to land on the floor before collapsing face down onto the bed.

Orihime frowned. Ulquiorra was a bit of a neat freak and leaving his uniform on the ground to get wrinkled was definitely not like him. Nor was his imitation of a plank of wood. He just lay there prone beside her, unmoving.

�You look burnt out,� she stated, resting a hand on his shoulder.

He made a sort of half-grunting noise and she frowned at the knots she felt under her hands. The healer in her could practically see the knotted muscles through his skin. Her frown deepened and she shifted about to straddle his waist.

�Onna?� he questioned, but didn�t move.

�Just relax, and let me see what I can do,� she soothed before running her hands along his back.

His muscles were so full of knots that she wondered how he could even move without pain. Orihime sent a mental curse in Aizen�s direction for working his minions so hard and started doing her best to get the kinks worked out of Ulquiorra�s back. She was by no means trained as a masseuse, but after a good ten minutes of kneading she could feel them start to loosen a little.

Ulquiorra let out a long sigh and she felt his muscles further relax as she sought out each knot and found a few trigger points, releasing more of the tension held in them.

�When do you get a day off?� she asked.

�In two days,� he replied, his voice muffled in the pillow and slurred a little with fatigue.

Orihime frowned, but didn�t stop trying to ease the tension in his muscles. She didn�t know how long she worked on them but when she finally stopped she could not help but to smile softly as she realized he was asleep.

She curled up beside him and pulled the blankets over them both. It was a mere four hours later when she woke up to the mattress shifting about. She blinked her eyes open to see him crawling out of bed, his posture betraying his continued fatigue but he made no complaint as he pulled his uniform back on.

�When will you be back?� she asked.

His back stiffened briefly before he turned to look at her.

�Late,� he answered.

�How late?�

�Late. You do not need to wait up for me.�

�Would it be alright with you if I helped out again at the Fourth Division?� she asked.

He paused by the door on his way out.

�Do what you want. I trust you,� he answered before he disappeared from her sight.

A part of her smiled at the compliment, another part of her felt pain at how hard he was clearly being worked.

Orihime lay back down and stared up at the ceiling, thinking.

Most of the wounded had been treated to the point they could heal well enough on their own in time. Perhaps she could meet up with Tatsuki and they could train like the use to when they were younger. Maybe she could even train with Karin.

Tsubaki had been thrilled that she had got to use him in combat.

�Maybe I could be a field medic,� she mused aloud.

With a flash of light her hairpins lost their flowers and the six lights floated around her for a moment before fading to reveal the six fairy-like beings.

�Orihime-chan,� Shuno greeted her warmly.

�Hello,� she smiled at them.

�You better not have summoned me here for any sissy nonsense,� Tsubaki threatened.

�Well� ouch!� Orihime cried out as Tsubaki irritably smacked her up the side of the head.

�Forget this.�

�Tsubaki-kun, wait!�

�This had better be good,� he crossed his arms.

�We need to get better,� she said.

�No kidding. Yeow!� Tsubaki complained as Lily smacked him.

�Of course we will do our best, Orihime-chan,� Ayame assured her.

�Thank you," she said, beaming at them. �I bet Ajuga-chan would be more than willing to train with Tsubaki-kun," she smirked.

�Oi," he protested.

The others all laughed at him while he tried to pull off the �tough guy� look. In truth, they all knew he had a soft spot for the little hellcat. But then, who didn�t? The little girl seemed to capture the hearts of all who met her. Just look at how quickly she had Szayel, of all creatures, wrapped around her little finger.

�You should get some more sleep, Orihime-chan," Hinagiku insisted.

�You are probably right,� Orihime smiled at them.

With a flash of light, the snowflake-shaped pins returned to their normal place in her hair, signalling an end to the conversation. Satisfied, and feeling better now that she had a plan in place, Orihime lay back down to get a little more sleep, but not before she reached out to trace Ulquiorra�s empty spot in the sheets. He was already beyond the city gates and despite herself and her resolve, she sighed sadly into the silent, nearly-empty house.

　

　

Oh, I love all you wonderful reviewers. You make my life worth living, or failing that, posting new chapter for you to enjoy a far easier task. I would like to thank Blackfox for, not only finding a slue of errors I have been making, but taking up the task of agreeing to edit this monster, including some of the earlier chapters and chapters yet to come.

It would seem the delinquent who left that rather foul review had either removed it herself, or you all hit the �report abuse� button and an admin removed it because I see it is gone now and I know I didn�t remove it. Judging by the content of the review I have my doubt the person was of age to be here anyway�.

Isane is dead.

I have to admit the responses for Jushiro-san were interesting. I was simply asking in general who you would pair him with without any regard to this story, but I must say the mentioning of Nel is intriguing and workable. Unfortunately it would have to take place in the epilogue or a sequel.

Aizen and Ulquiorra both are difficult to write because they are both so in control all the time. Aizen is a bit easier because he does more with his body and voice. He smiles, he sips tea, he waves a hand dismissively etc. He also uses that father tone, an amused tone or warning tone. Ulquiorra stands there with his hands in his pockets and hardly speaks. It�s like he has one voice box setting.

Aizen lets some emotions flow, Ulquiorra does not. Aizen would kiss a girl just to see her reaction, Ulquiorra you need to make up a long pros/cons argument in his head to convince himself it�s worth doing.

This weeks question: Why do you think Yaio is so popular? See my answer in the next chapter.

Next Chapter: Karin and the kids come across Byakuya while attempting to purchase groceries and are invite to his Estate.
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Prize of Victory