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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: YCon story is nearly 50% done! I think I can make the deadline and not go too mad doing it. The next chapter of Shadow is in the works - although lots of people are popping up to poke at me for face time when they know we have an order to this madness. *glares pointedly at Gin and Byakuya*

AJS, I am not touching the classification for a Zanpakutou-Hollow relationship with a ten foot pole. As for any interesting dreams Ichigo and Kisuke might have...well, you can judge for yourself in the next chapter. All I will say is that the kids really should have given more thought to their fun since the fallout is going to be quite...interesting.

Irana, Shirosaki is the master of enlightened self-interest, or that is my take on him. Yes, there is a measure of darkness, but I tend to regard him as more bored and restless than evil.

Once again, thanks to all the people reading this. Hope you enjoy.

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"Going somewhere, sweetheart?" purred Renji, turning the endearment into a mockery.

Uryuu turned to glare at his lover, who was sprawled temptingly on their bed. The redhead was naked, his head propped up and his hair framing his face in delightful disarray. He looked sleek and powerful and utterly delicious. He remind Uryuu of nothing so much as a wolf that had heard the sound of something that caught his interest. And just like a wolf he was not about to be stirred and then quietly let it go. No, he was going to hold in and shake his stupid muzzle until the truth tumbled out, no matter how much trouble it caused. Miserable, arrogant Shinigami.

And of course he wouldn't have wanted him any other way, admitted Uryuu, wondering what that said about him.

He gave a soft snort of resigned amusement and pulled on the light, black sweater he had picked up to put on before his lover had so rudely proven he was not asleep. He supposed he ought to have been used to Renji surprising him. Abarai was far smarter and more devious than his gutter drawl led others to believe. Behind all that brute strength Renji was clever, he just had to be motivated. And where a certain Quincy was involved he was always motivated.

"I couldn't sleep. I thought a walk might help," he murmured, stealing a glance in the mirror. He looked human and respectable, just a late twenty-something year old out for a midnight stroll. He would have no trouble gaining entrance he decided with an imperceptible nod.

"And you just decided to dress entirely in black," snorted Renji, rising and coming up behind him, wrapping the Quincy in his arms and pressing against his back.

"I'm allowed to wear black. Just because not all of us have only one color in their wardrobe..."

Renji laughed and silenced him with a kiss. "Where are you really going, love?" he purred against the archer's lips, his eyes glittering dangerously, a silent promise that Uryuu wouldn't be leaving the room unless the redhead got the answers he wanted.

"I told you - for a walk." It wasn't a lie, he would be walking, he just had a destination in mind.

"This is about that thing with the wards, isn't it?" grumbled Renji, releasing him to stalk over to his wardrobe and begin pulling on clothing.

"I can handle it," Uryuu growled.

"And I'm going to let you. But I'm still coming with you," the redhead told him, pinning him with determined ruby eyes before returning to kissing him hard and fast. Uryuu sighed but nodded his consent. "Dress casual but respectably," he told his lover, grabbing some shoes while he waited for Renji to dress. Years with Abarai had taught him that arguing with the redhead in this mood was futile - it only led to them shouting at each other. And their shouting usually had only two conclusions; the first was blunt objects hurled at one another's head, the second was them hurled against one another. Neither option was conductive to handling the break-in. Although the second could prove a lot of fun.

Slipping past Ichigo was ridiculously easy and Uryuu had to fight the urge to toss a throw pillow at the sleeping Shinigami - especially since he was groaning softly and his reiatsu was fluctuating wildly. Waking the redhead would probably save his couch another stain. Of course it would also mean another person tagging along. And he wasn't sure having Ichigo along on this particular errand would be safe.

He trusted Ichigo at his back but the redhead had to be growing frayed, his emotions had been tugged every which way over the last few days and he needed some time to recover. And Uryuu didn't exactly relish the idea of trying to contain the other man again should he become angry again. Ichigo was downright scary when he was truly enraged.

The night air was cool and crisp and the streets were deserted. Renji had tossed as arm around his waist the moment they cleared the base and Uryuu couldn't bring himself to shrug the limb away. Renji enjoyed lavishing attention on him and the brunette couldn't deny privately delighting in the easy and constant affection Renji offered.

"Remember, you promised to let me handle it," he told the redhead, earning an amused snort and a gentle tightening of Renji's grip on him.

"I'll remember. Can I be told where we're really going now?" murmured the Shinigami, his voice warm.

Uryuu felt a swell of love and amusement wash through him. He stopped, turning to smirk at the redhead before pulling him close and kissing him. This man would follow him into the depths of Hell, he realized with awe. It was such an insubstantial thing, little more than idea really, and yet to hold another's trust so completely... to be able to put your life into someone else's hands and know that they would value it as much, if not more, than their own life - it was a powerful and heady sensation.

And it could also never be repaired once shattered, he realized. No matter how many apologies, no matter how much atonement, once that first fragile trust was broken it could never be made whole again. There would always be doubt.

"I love you, Abarai Renji," he murmured against his lover's lips, foolishly pleased by the smile that drew.

"I love you too, Ishida Uryuu - even if you are a secretive, manipulative, son of a bitch sometimes."

He kissed the Shinigami once more before moving close to him and laying his head on Renji's shoulder, burying his face in the redhead's neck. Suddenly he didn't want to do this; he wanted to go home and just have Renji hold him. Strong hands ran in soothing passes along his back and Uryuu sighed, relaxing into the embrace.

"Better, love?"

He nodded, slowly straightening, his blue eyes growing cold and hard. He might not enjoy the task he had set for himself but it had to be done. No one threatened the people he loved. A Quincy looked after his own and he had made these Shinigami his.

And someone had betrayed them.

They began moving again and he tried to understand how someone could do that. Betrayal was one thing, but what did it take to not only turn your back on things you had once believed in, but to willingly sell out those who had once stood beside you in battle? To betray people you had called friends?

There could be no forgiveness for such a thing, he realized. Only retribution.

He led Renji to an apartment complex and up to a second floor apartment, knocking firmly on the door. The porch light flipped on and a man opened the door, blinking dazedly at them. "Can I help you?" asked the man sleepily around a yawn.

"I think we're a bit lost. You wouldn't happen to know where the Arisawa family lives would you?" asked Uryuu politely, his hand slipping to grab the doorknob before slamming the door inward. He had to put his whole weight into the move, but he was rather pleased that he had been able to pull it off. Renji was certainly pleased, he was grinning like a fool as he stepped past the threshold and closed the door.

"You're getting pretty good at that," purred the redhead, kissing him and groping his ass before planting a foot on the man's chest and shoving him back to the floor.

"Could you keep an eye on him? I need to have a word with an old friend," growled Uryuu. The smirk he got in return was a mixture of heat and amusement.

"Anything you want, baby." The words were softly purred but there was lust and fury shining in his lover's eyes and Uryuu suspected that Renji knew exactly where they were and who they were there for.

He had known who was responsible at the shouten from the second he'd understood that the wards were still in place. There were only two people capable of opening 'doorways' in wards. One of them was the Vaizard Hacchi; but the Vaizard hadn't been seen in Karakura in twenty years. The other was staring at him, bed sheets clutched up around her throat.

Inoue Orihime.

"You treacherous bitch," he snarled, wanting suddenly to hurt her, to watch her bleed. This woman had nearly gotten his lover killed once and now she had betrayed them all...And for nothing beyond paltry fear and jealousy. "What did he promise you? The chance to be normal again? The chance to undo the decision you made? You stupid, worthless, little fool." He ripped away the bed sheets.

"Ishida! I-I don't..."

"Don't bother to deny it!" he snapped. He didn't need to hear her lies or see the tears he knew she would begin shedding. "I know it was you. There are only two people who can open doors through wards and Hacchi is noticeably absent these days.

"Tatsuki nearly died because of you, or don't you care? But why would you? Just one more dead Shinigami, right? Good riddance, am I right?"

"NO! He swore..." she cried before realizing what she had admitted.

"He lied," retorted Uryuu, his voice dripping with contempt. "You have five minutes to get dressed and come up with a lie for your husband as to why you're coming with us. Be aware that regardless of what you tell him, you are coming, even if I have to drag you along by the hair. And I wouldn't suggest running unless you think you can take me."

Uryuu turned on his heel and stalked back into the living room. He didn't have to say anything more. She couldn't have taken him when she was at her best, as she was now wasn't even worth considering. Renji caught his eyes and a comforting hand touched his arm, making him glad the other man had come.
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A Shadow of What Was