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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

Chapter List
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Karin walked down the street with Hana and Ajuga by her side. They were running woefully low on supplies and to her surprise Starrk had given her the coin needed to restock the shelves.

That was all fine and dandy, but Karin really didn�t know much about the district, let alone where all the shops were and which ones had the best deals. She was use to going to the Science Building and nowhere else.

She stood at a fruit vendor, keeping one eye on Ajuga and Hana while checking over the produce. It looked good enough but without any real shopping experience in this world she wasn�t sure if the price was high, low, or normal.

She sighed in frustration and absently hooked Ajuga with her foot and pulled her back as the little girl tried to sneak off yet again. It seemed to be a game to Ajuga now and Karin held back a sigh of exasperation.

�Ajuga-chan, stop that," Karin sighed in annoyance after her daughters� third escape attempt at this vendor alone.

�Look, Karin-obachan. It�s Byakuya-san," Hana pointed down the street.

Karin turned to look and sure enough Hana was right. The noble was walking stiffly and Karin�s limited medical knowledge led her quickly to believe he was injured heavily on one side of his body.

She had felt his reiatsu flashing in the last battle and figured he must have been injured in it, which would explain the limp. He seemed to be recovering well and she suspected the limp was due more to muscle pain and tension than actual damage.

He seemed to spot them as well for he started to weave his way towards them. Karin smiled and greeted him politely as he stopped before her. To her surprise he pulled out a small chalk board and chalk and wrote a message out.

�Karin, it is pleasing to see you.�

�You as well, Byakuya-san. You remember my daughter, Ajuga-chan.�

His eyes fell upon the girl looking up at him curiously.

�She seems to have grown a fair amount.�

�You have no idea. Girls, be polite and say hello to Byakuya-san," She prompted.

��ello, Bakya-san," Ajuga said shyly, hiding behind her mothers legs.

�Hello Byakuya-san," Hana bowed politely.

Karin picked Ajuga up and held her while Hana looked instantly bored with the conversation.

�What brings you out today?�

�Shopping. We are almost out of food, but I must confess I am lost. Lilinette-chan or Jushiro-san usually take care of this. I don�t have a clue where things are, who to trust, and what�s a decent price," she admitted.

He nodded in understanding.

�It would please me if you would join me for tea at my Estate. I will send one of the servants to take care of the issue.�

�I think that would be wonderful, thank you. Both Jushiro-san and Nanao-san have mentioned the Kuchiki-estate is a sight to behold.�

She fell into step beside him as he led her through the city towards the estate. She had to admit that he was leading her through a neighbourhood that made the one Jushiro-san lived in look like the slums.

�Oh wow. It�s so pretty," Hana breathed in appreciation.

�Pwetty," Ajuga agreed.

�Yes, very pretty," Karin agreed with the girls.

They reached the main gate guarded by two men who completely ignored her and the kids as they entered. Karin had to admit the place was astonishing as they were led through the manor to the porch of one the gardens.

�Is it alright if I set the brats lose to play in the garden a bit?" she asked a bit nervously.

They had passed what she was sure were some pretty damn expensive artwork and statues.

He gave a nod of his head.

�Behave, stay in sight, don�t touch anything or, heaven forbids, destroy anything. Stay out of the flower beds,� she ordered sternly.

�Hai," Hana agreed with a smart salute.

�Hai," Ajuga added her own salute and bounded off of the porch and out onto the grass on all fours, tumbling after Hana with her tail swishing in excitement and looking every inch the excitable kitten she was.

�I mean it. Stay in sight," Karin called after them firmly.

The two girls moved a bit away from the porch before they started to play wrestle with each other. Karin sighed and shook her head.

�I apologise now if those two rug rats wreck anything," she turned her attention to her host and kneeled beside the small table he was already seated at.

A servant was already setting out the appropriate seasonal tea and snacks.

�Do you have the shopping list?� Byakuya wrote out.

�Yes, it�s right here," she pulled it out of her pocket and set it on the table.

Byakuya nodded to the servant, who collected the list and retreated silently with a bow. Being a proper host Byakuya poured her a cup of tea before pouring himself one as well. They sat in silence and just watched the two girls tumble about.

�Away from the flowers," Karin called out when their tumbling brought them close to one of the flower beds.

The girls shifted tumbling direction and Karin just sighed and gave her head another shake before taking another sip of her tea.

�Those two have so much energy I wish I could siphon some of it off for myself," she mused.

He gave a slight nod of his head in understanding.

�This is a wonderful tea and you have a beautiful Estate, Byakuya-san," she commented.

�My family is a rather old and prestigious one.�

�So Jushiro-san told me,"

Karin held back a frown as she wondered if his blood would come back with royal markings as well, but tossed the information aside as irrelevant. It wasn�t like he could bear Aizen a child anyway.

Karin was pretty sure Byakuya hadn�t invited her here just for tea and crackers, so she got right to the heart of the matter before he could ask; after about four minutes of silence and simply enjoying the first two cups of tea of course.

�Unfortunately, Szayel hasn�t really learned much more about the invaders other then those beetles have a carapace that seems nigh impenetrable and that liquid they spew is a highly concentrated acid that he hasn�t been able to store to research as every container he has tried to collect it in has melted.�

�That does not bode well. A swarm of those creatures could melt a path through the city. Has kido been tried against the acid?�

�I don�t know, but giving how thorough Szayel is I would say yes. As far as I know no one knows where the breach occurred, if there even is one. Honestly, I think Aizen is over reacting and running his troops ragged.

�Grimmjow, Nanao-san, Jushiro-san, Starrk-san and Lilinette-chan are so exhausted when they get home late at night that if another attack occurs they would hardly have the strength to fight efficiently," she sighed. �And I am being run ragged caring for the Estate and trying to raise these two hooligans.

�I have been trying to give Hana-chan something resembling an education, but with the destruction of my town I only have a measly grade 6 level and Hana is so damn smart, in math especially, that she can do it better than I can," she sighed in frustration.

�Forgive me, Byakuya-san, I doubt hearing me complain is what you desire to listen to," she apologized.

�It is natural for a parent to worry for their child�s future.�

He seemed to pause and slowly erased his message before hesitantly writing out a new one.

�If you desire, I am sure I could find an instructor for Hana,� he paused in writing before finishing the sentence, �as well as yourself if you wish.�

She didn�t take offence to his offer to find her a teacher. After all it wasn�t her fault her world had been ripped to shreds and she had been �enslaved� since she was twelve.

�I would like that, at least for Hana-chan and eventually Ajuga-chan. Thank you Byakuya-san," she offered him a bow of her head.

They sat in comfortable silence again before a servant waited silently to be acknowledged. Byakuya gave the servant a wave and the man approached to kneel before them.

�Forgive my intrusion, Kuchiki-sama, but the weapon stock reports you requested are ready.�

Byakuya gave another wave of his hand and the servant started to recite the information. Ajuga and Hana came tumbling up the porch, the first jumping into Karin�s lap while the second sat at her side and snatched up a snack.

The servant continued to drone on about supplies and numbers.

��..forty full quivers for 460.�

�480," Hana absently corrected.

The servant stumbled in his report and the three adults turned to Hana.

�Pardon?� The servant asked.

� A quiver is 12 arrows a piece right?�

�Yes," The servant agreed.

�12 times 40 is 480, not 460. Your math is wrong," Hana said firmly.

Karin paused and had to think about it before giving her head a shake. Without writing it down it was too much of a pain.

�Let me see that," Hana snatched the paper from the stunned man�s hand, going through it quickly.

�Oi," he protested.

�Dear lord, who does your math," she grouched. �Let�s see," she ignored the protesting servant. �Forty bundles of 12 arrows a piece is 480, plus six bundles of 24 arrows for the stationed archers is 144. Add the four piles of unbundled arrows consisting of 50, why 50? I mean, that doesn�t even divide into the bundles you want! Anyway, that�s 200, for a total of 824. That�s a lot of arrows.

�So 824 plus the lines of un-full quivers, lets see here. 824 plus 8 is 832.�� Hana continued to mutter to herself as she read the sheet. �1673 arrows. Not the measly 1594 you got here," Hana said proudly, handing the sheet back.

The stunned servant took it.

�Hana-chan, that was rude," Karin sighed embarrassed.

�What? I am right. Do the math yourself," Hana huffed. �It�s not my fault they can�t count.�

Karin turned to apologise to Byakuya for Hana�s behaviour, but he had a slight twitch to his mouth that led her to believe he was actually more amused then upset.

�Recount the stock and report once the number have been accurately counted.� Byakuya wrote out.

�Hai, Kuchiki-sama," the servant bowed and scuttled off embarrassed.

Byakuya seemed curious now and looked at Hana with what Karin could only call a studying expression. After a moment, he wrote something out on the chalk board and handed it over to Hana.

�46," Hana answered before Karin had even finished reading the equation.

Byakuya did seem pleased and this time wrote out a line of fractions before handing it over.

�12 and three fourths," Hana answered quickly.

The girl suddenly seemed interested in the game and leaned forward eagerly. The next equation Karin didn�t even have a clue how to tackle as it involved letters and brackets. Hana also frowned in confusion. Since Karin didn�t even recognize what was in front of them there was no way she could even begin to teach Hana the basics.

Hana continued to frown before snatching the board and staring at it.

�What do the brackets mean?" she asked.

Byakuya held out a hand and after a moment she handed the board back so Byakuya could write out an answer to her question.

�And the letters?�

He wrote down another answer.

�Oh. That�s easy then. X is 4.�

Karin blinked. Even though Byakuya had explained the purpose of the brackets and letters she hadn�t even began to work it out through her head before Hana popped out with the answer.

�Like I said, a wiz at math," she shook her head. �Jushiro-san said she gets it from her father.�

Hana preened at the compliment.

�I hunt good," Ajuga piped up, clearly becoming upset that Hana was getting all the attention.

�Yes you do, Ajuga-chan," Karin agreed.

�There is no animimal can �scape me," Ajuga said proudly. �Wash," Ajuga bounded out of Karin�s arms and ducked into the nearest flower patch.

�Ajuga-chan, careful," Karin called out, but Byakuya raised a hand to still her and watched.

Hana ignored them and snatched the chalk board, solving the next equation Byakuya had written out for her. The only sound other then the wild life and wind was that of the chalk over the board as Hana solved the equations Byakuya wrote out for her and her humming.

A servant refilled their pot at one point, but otherwise all was comfortably silent. Karin only knew where Ajuga was in the flower patch because she could see her reiatsu. Not a leaf or flower trembled as Ajuga calmly and slowly stalked her way towards a field mouse that was nibbling on some seeds that had fallen from one of the bird feeders.

Ajuga moved ever so slowly and patiently into position. Karin couldn�t tell, but she was sure Byakuya seemed to know where Ajuga was for his eyes were focused approximately where the girl was hiding.

�Oi, Chicchai-hime!�

The mouse started as Yammy barged into the garden. At the same time Ajuga leaped forward and even though Karin was watching she never saw the actual capture, nor did she realize Ajuga was now huddling under the table with the mouse caught in her teeth growling at the approaching Espada. Her daughter had moved that quickly.

�Chicchai-hime?� Karin questioned confused.

Byakuya sighed in clear annoyance as Yammy seemed to get over his surprise they were there and walked up to them. Hana ignored the Espada and cried out in triumph as she solved the latest equation.

Having been raised around Starrk and Lilinette her entire life Yammy�s presence didn�t phase her too much, but she did look at him wearily and inched closer to Karin now that her attention was away from the chalk board. Karin didn�t blame her.

Yammy was unpredictable and the few interactions she had with him were not pleasant memories. He hardly seemed pleased to see them and it was reflected in his reiatsu and body language.

�When did this place become a daycare?" he demanded, stopping at the edge of the porch. �And I thought I had left instructions for my return, Chicchai-Hime," he glared at Byakuya.

Karin felt her frown deepen but she didn�t dare speak up. It would only make matters worse, but her hatred for this brute grew by the second as she watched how he treated Byakuya.

�Forgive me, Yammy-sama. I was not expecting you to return from your mission so soon. Your missions as of late have run late into the evening.�

Karin blinked when he passed what he had wrote to her instead of his Master.

�Well?� Yammy demanded.

�Huh, oh," Karin read the message. �I guess like Lilinette-chan he can�t read either, only unlike her he clearly never bothered to even attempt to learn," she guessed correctly.

The response seemed to appease him slightly. Karin had a feeling they had overstayed their welcome, at least as far as Yammy was concern.

Ajuga was still under the table growling, tail lashing and ears pressed firmly back. It might have looked more threatening if she didn�t still have the mouse caught in her teeth.

A different servant arrived and waited politely off to the side.

�What is it?� Yammy snapped and Karin noticed the poor man nearly fainted.

�Karin-san�s packages have been delivered to the Estate," the servant bowed and stammered.

�Thank you," she thanked politely. �I do believe it is time to go. Hana-chan, Ajuga-chan, let�s go," Karin stood up.

Hana looked disappointed, but also stood up. It took a bit of coaxing to get Ajuga out from under the table and up into her mother�s arms.

�Thank you for your hospitality, Yammy-sama, Byakuya-sama," she bowed to them, �I do hope we can sit down and have tea again," she turned her attention to the petrified servant. �If you would be so kind to show us the way out.�

The man looked more than pleased to obey. Karin forced herself to remain calm as she led the children behind the servant. Even though she didn�t hear the backhand, she could definitely see it as Yammy�s reiatsu visibly collided with Byakuya�s.

She felt and �watched� the noble�s reiatsu flash in shock and pain several times as they made their way to the entrance. It took all of her willpower to keep walking and not interfere. She gritted her teeth, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop the assault and that somehow they were to blame for it. To even try to interfere would most likely bring out a worse fate for everyone involved.

�I don�t like that man," Hana said firmly once they were seen out the main gates. �He feels wrong, not like Starrk-ji or Lily-chan at all.�

Ajuga nodded in agreement, the fur on her tail still fully up and the odd growl leaving the back of her throat.

�He is a dangerous man, and you should definitely stay away from him," Karin agreed.

Despite herself she looked back at the outer walls of the Kuchiki-estate. She couldn�t see either of the men�s reiatsu any longer but she could still feel it, and it made her sick. Judging by Hana�s comment the girl was becoming adapt at sensing reiatsu as well and Karin wanted to get her away from the fluctuations going on behind them quickly before she could ask questions.

�Here, hop up on my back Hana-chan. I am going to use Shunpo to get us home.�

Hana jumped up onto her back and the moment Karin was sure the girl was secure she launched into a Shunpo. It wasn�t until they were back at the Estate that Karin realized Ajuga still had her prey in her mouth.

Her daughter launched herself out of her mother�s arms and raced up a tree to consume her catch the moment the little girl felt it was safe. Karin couldn�t bring herself to scold the girl about eating a raw, diseased infested mouse.

�Can we visit Byakuya-san again? I like him. He�s smart," Hana asked.

�Perhaps another time. Here, can you help me with the groceries Hana-chan?�

�Hai, Karin-obachan.�

Karin saw the flash of reiatsu shortly before Grimmjow materialized behind her, coming out of his Sonido. Exhaustion was in every inch of his frame but he still stood somewhat straight.

�Welcome home. I figured you would be back soon," Karin smiled at him.

�Oh?" he questioned.

�I was visiting with Byakuya-san when Yammy returned. He scared Ajuga-chan pretty good. She�s in the tree over there," Karin pointed to one of the trees out the kitchen window.

�Bastard," Grimmjow growled as he stomped out of the house towards the tree Ajuga was currently hiding in.

He was barely at the bottom before a joyful �Papa� rang out from the tree and Ajuga launched herself at her father.

�I good hunt," she exclaimed happily.

�Oh?�

�Yeah yeah. No even ug�e one scare pwey �way. It run, I ca�ch," Ajuga said proudly, puffing her chest out. �Good eat.�

Grimmjow chuckled and walked back into the kitchen, Ajuga perched happily on his shoulder.

�You look exhausted, and it is time for someone to have a cat nap," Karin turned her attention to her daughter.

�No sleep," Ajuga pouted.

�Are you hungry, or do you want a refresher first?" she asked.

�Sleep sounds good.�

�Alright."

Grimmjow closed the distance between them and captured her lips with his own before retreating to their room to catch up on much lost sleep.

Karin wasn�t that surprised to see Starrk and Lilinette also returning. She didn�t see Jushiro or Nanao so she reached her senses out and found them both in their division offices.

�Hana-chan, can you go see if Starrk-san and Lilinette-chan want something to eat please?�

�Hai," Hana trotted off.

Karin finished putting the groceries away. When Hana didn�t return by the time Karin was done she traced the girl down. It was late in the afternoon, thus well past nap time. Therefore when she knocked on Starrk�s, bedroom door and received no reply she honestly wasn�t that surprised when she peeked in on them to see the Espada passed out on his pile of napping pillows with Lilinette curled up on his left and Hana passed out on his right

Karin chuckled softly and retreated to her own chambers to find her mate similarly passed out on their bed still in full uniform and on top of the covers. Ajuga was curled up on his chest, tail swishing slowly and clearly as deep asleep as her father.

She pulled a spare blanket out of the closet and nestled in beside her mate, pulling the blanket over them both and letting herself drift into exhausted slumber as well so she wouldn�t have to disturb him to crawl under the covers.

　

　

　

　

Awe, isn�t it cute, well except for when Yammy showed up but ah well. He really knows how to crash into a really sweet scene doesn�t he?

I think Yaio is so popular because often times Anime, unless if its one of those �harem� ones(ie Tenchi, Negima etc), frequently have far more male characters than female, and in many cases those male characters are well developed where most of the women are not, or they are just down right annoying (Like Hinamori).

Another reason I believe Yaio is popular, particularity around dark ficts, is because it is very devastating for a male to suffer being raped. As women it is a silent fear we constantly have but most men don�t even think about it happening to them, so when it does it is that much more shattering; especially because unlike a woman, their anatomy is not built to receive and the damage is that much more violent.

This Weeks Question: If you could have any Shinigami tied to your bed, who would it be? I know it�s a hard question and you are more than welcome to have more than one ;).

Next Chapter: Szayel get�s recruited to be a Nanny while Karin, Orihime and Tatsuki get some training in. Clothes will be ruined, hair will be mussed, and Szayel will get in trouble. It will probably be a double post because the next two chapters go together.
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Prize of Victory