Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

Tag	By : LilMonk Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 11404 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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
- 6
- 7
- 8
A/N:Words in Italics denotes personal
thoughts (hence scenes of the past are in this font, as they are being
remembered).

When I use the word �man�, I�m using it in the context of gender and not (im) mortality.

I may be following the manga but I�ll
be looking at aspects that one may not necessarily see� That includes my views
on the fights. Too much �Art of War� and psychology interests to add to the
mix.

To make the scenes clearer:

*******

Followed by words in this font =
Past

*******

*******

Followed by words mainly in this
font = Present.

*******

Previously:

Had he lost his mind? What was
with this weird behavior? That did it; she was going to have to hurt him- His
body was reassuringly pliant against hers. He smelled like an intriguing combination
of grass, earth and steel. She didn�t like the path her thoughts were taking.
What if Kisuke was right-

�Kuchiki-sa-�

Startling pressure of his lips
on her throat numbed her with shock. That moment of paralysis was all it took
for him to swiftly flip her over, so that they were face to face. What she saw
frightened her. There was such�gentleness in his features.

0o-------------o0

Breaking the rules

This was dangerous. She was defying normality while obeying Kisuke. Who was the one who'd said contradictions could not be reconciled?

Standing at the crumbling peak,
watching Kurosaki-kun combat the mysterious entity that was the soul of his
zanpaku-tou. Seeing him stumble, lose a false sword and retreat to find
another, before charging forward to fight bravely once more�. Her helplessness
burned, even as admiration slowly grew.

Glimpsing defiant courage so
similar to that laidback nutcase, separated from her in another world. How many
times had he fallen, experienced the brief scalding bitterness of failure
before re-mustering resolve that strengthened with each try? The determination-
Forcing herself not to wince as the teenager was sent flying backwards into a
pile of rocks, narrowed eyes not leaving the scene of fierce battle. It was not
her place to interfere.

To watch one fight without
looking away, that is another aspect of utmost honor a warrior can pay to
another. You and I both know it, which is another reason why you�re a respected
leader. Sometimes, it is all we can do. No matter how much it hurts�

It hurt, all right. Unlike Urahara
Kisuke, she�d never quite mastered the art of not caring when necessary,
despite knowing that compassion could be more detrimental than indifference
(depending on the situation). For Kurosaki Ichigo however, it was his emotions
that fuelled his strength. She would aid him in refining and channeling that
power, as it was obvious he had a unique gift of inner balance... The amazing
combination of what was best about Kisuke and herself. In the meantime, all she
could do was to maintain an unaffected front, as she�d done for so many years.

A wide grin spread across proud, youthful exuberance as Zangetsu
was forced back. With each second of perseverance, Ichigo was winning although
he didn�t know it yet. His influence was like a fever you couldn�t avoid, and
it was this indiscriminating passion that would save more than just a prisoner
on death row.

Byakuya, you and your �adherence
to the law and honor, till death do us part� still pisses me off, you know
that? Strangely, that�s one of the things I�ve always valued about you. From
what I can see, I�m guessing that you�ve painted yourself into a corner, so
I�ve to extricate and rap you on the knuckles in an indirect fashion this
time.

Willing Kisuke�s hope to win, even
as Abarai Renji crashed through the cavernous ceiling.

Hearing the latest update and
tasting the ashes of impossibility in her mouth, so acrid�

�You suggested this method, so
don�t you be the first to give up. All I have to do is achieve it before noon
tomorrow!�

Guiltily crucified by the blaze of
his conviction, she continued observing him voraciously overcome each hardship
and renew her flagging faith.

Why should I doubt one who was
born to achieve Bankai? Just like you, Kisuke� Except the student may actually
surpass his master!

Left with the role of a silent
observer, she had too much time to think, even after pondering the plans of
Kisuke regarding Ichigo. As usual, she could not avoid drifting back to
memories of happier times and wondering if he too, was�

Back at the headquarters of the
sixth division, a broken teapot lay in scattered ceramic fragments on wet wood. The sole occupant in his
private office was staring at disintegrating tealeaves, wishing he could crush
certain unforgettable experiences as easily as the limp remnants.

*******

This valued companion was so graceful that he could
scarcely note her weight on his arm, as she evaded his movements. It felt like
some age-old ritual between Light and Shadow whereby one party would act and
the other would respond, before both interchanged roles repeatedly in their
dance. The brutal force of that kick knocked him over and then he heard the
subtle nuance of finality in her tone. The ending implications were unthinkable
and� It inspired him to act.

Now she lay beneath him, faint
amber eyes wide with confused apprehension. Deceptively frangible features
displayed how stunned she was, but those lips�He couldn�t stop instinct this
time.

Molding his mouth over hers as
her lips parted to inhale and/or speak, feeling the slender frame beneath him
shrink back as if wanting to bury herself into the ground. Tasting the mild
tang of oranges she had eaten earlier, heightening the heady craving as his kiss
became possessive and passionate. Holding her closer as he gave in to the odd
indefiniteness that dictated his actions. Losing track of time as tentative
sweetness became ravenous urgency.

Curling fingers bunched up in
the fabric of his yukata no longer pushed but pulled. Willingly returning his
ardor with equal enthusiasm, pressing up against the leg wedged between hers.
It was as if that one small gesture had reopened a sub-conscious craving that
had been successfully repressed. He had thoroughly frustrated her with that
unexpected move and now� she wanted relief.

Restless fingers slipped between
the overlapping folds of cloth to brush a nipple, then stole downwards but were
stopped by a hand grasping her wrist. He was now kissing her forehead, the other
hand sliding beneath her knee as she draped a leg about his hips.

�Byakuya� Please��

There was no mistaking her
request with such suggestive body language and withdrawing slightly, he found
himself looking into half-lidded eyes, pleading expression reflecting growing
desire in his own.

Gathering her into his arms and
rising as long legs wrapped around his waist, he used his highest level of
shyunpo to return to his private chambers.

*******

Strolling towards the execution grounds as the appointed time drew nearer, inner turmoil became even more disturbing. He didn�t want to think
about Hisana, but he did. He didn�t want to be reminded of Rukia, but soon he
would be. As to one other that only opened up a gaping quagmire of bleakness�
he didn�t even want to go there. The only avenue left to him was trivial
distraction: Abarai Renji.

The man wasn�t dead. Having him
placed in a holding cell, so the buffoon wouldn�t be prone to dying a second
time round was in vain. Attempting to get him discharged hadn�t worked either,
since he�d disgraced himself on the battlefield by surviving his defeat,
despite being alone. After clashing with the Kaien-like ryoka, Renji�s brain
must have been addled to the extent that he would challenge his superior in a
fight he couldn�t win. Rebellious flames had to be doused.

At the instant that his vice-captain
had collapsed before him, zanpaku-tou breaking into two, Byakuya pitied the
man. There had been a tightening twinge somewhere in the region of his chest,
which he ignored. Gripping finely-woven silk covering his left pectoral and
holding it for a moment before pulling the cloth off, he dropped it on top of
the motionless form sprawled at his feet.

Walking away from the bloodied
figure, not caring if he lived or died, there was only one thing that plagued
his mind. Why hadn�t he conclusively finished him? Defying the rules to such an
extent only merited immediate death. Is it because I want a small
compensation of conscience for what I�m about to witness? Renji, at least I
spared you the pain I am about to suffer.

He didn�t know� or maybe he did.
Memory skimming back to those earlier days, when he�d first joined Gotei 13 and
Urahara Kisuke had once said to Ukitake-senpai �

When somebody matters, I�d
prefer to see that they are able to break my heart over and over again, rather
than a silent corpse. Of course, there�s always a limit to that�which is why
Yoruichi�s the drastic opposite. She slays them at once, so they don�t hurt her
anymore. One day, maybe I can change her mind�

The woman who would cross his path
had been affected. That one time she could have killed him with a blast spell
but didn�t, when it was obvious he did matter to her. What she had advocated
thereafter� Byakuya had been mellowed in turn, and the end result was the
minimal preservation of life, without compromising on his values. He had not
been able to completely erase her influence after all.

Why did it apply only to Renji, and
not Rukia? Then he remembered.

I promised you all. I wouldn�t
allow any more crazy impulses that corrupt the heart to overrule the mind. I�m
sorry�

0o---------------------------o0

List of definitions in
alphabetical order

Ryoka: vagrant or outsider

Senbonzakura: A Thousand
Cherry Trees (Byakuya�s soul slayer)

Zangetsu: Cutting Moon
(Ichigo�s soul slayer)

Should have defined the swords
earlier. If I�ve translated a Japanese word before, I won�t repeat it again in
later chapters. If your level of japanese is better than mine and you do spot
any mistakes, I don�t mind corrections in translations. Thanks.
- 6
- 7
- 8
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