Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

In the Aftermath of Winter	By : Nakkinomiko Category: Bleach > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 5655 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or its characters, and make no money from this fic

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
A/N: Another chapter! I’m honestly amazed that I got this one out so quickly…a close family member passed away two weeks ago and I’ve been really struggling with that loss. Anyway, thanks to everyone that responded to the question I asked in the last chapter…you’ve all given me a lot to think about as I start to outline future chapters. Raymy, I, too think there is a lot more to Isshin than his goofy exterior. In fact, I think he’s grossly underestimated by most. Silverblaise, I’m just going to call it for you now. Yes, there will be eventual Ichigo/Aizen/Byakuya in this fic. You’ve already figured that out, I think…just confirming for you. :D Wikedsinn, yes, I’m being cruel to Aizen, and he still has a storm or two to weather before he comes out on the other side! Lalaith Quetzalli, I’m glad you’re finding this story so interesting! Thanks for reading!
And now, on with the fic!
*****
Chapter 8: Distractions
A week later finds Ichigo and Grimmjow sparring in Urahara’s basement. Grimmjow is in his gigai, and even though Ichigo no longer has his shinigami powers, the Espada has learned that even as a mere human Ichigo is a formidable opponent. Ichigo actually likes sparring with Grimmjow, because it keeps him in shape for that moment when his powers return. Even after nearly three years without, Ichigo refuses to give up that hope. He spars with Grimmjow to prepare for that day. He wants to be ready. He wants that no holds barred match with Grimmjow. He wants to be able to protect his family and friends again. He wants to be able to go to Soul Society again, to see his Shinigami friends.
He wants to check on Aizen.
Since the first, Ichigo has had two more dreams of that hilly meadow and the enigmatic Sousuke Aizen. Each time they talk of Aizen’s past. Each time Aizen’s reiatsu gravitates towards Ichigo and envelops him, and it never frightens him. In those moments Aizen’s reiatsu had actually made Ichigo feel safe. It confuses him, because when it comes to Aizen Sousuke, he should feel anything but safe. Aizen should scare the hell out of him. Aizen should make him tremble with fear.
But this dream Aizen is anything but frightening. Ichigo tries to let the memory of the last dream go and concentrate on the sparring match, but it is harder than it sounds. He can’t help but remember . . .
*****
“Here to visit me again?” Aizen’s smile is gentle and holds a note of self-depreciation. “Have you nothing better to do than fraternize with a madman?”
Ichigo snorts and flops onto the grass beside Aizen. “This is my dream. It’s not like I can really go anywhere else.” He lies back, his head cradled in his hands and watches fluffy cotton ball clouds scud across the blue sky. It’s peaceful here, and Ichigo finds that he likes it. “And you’re not really acting like a madman right now.”
“Would it make you feel better if I were?”
Ichigo glares. “Really?”
Aizen’s handsome face melts into another smile. “I apologize. I get bored here all by myself. I cannot help but push buttons.”
Ichigo’s breath catches as the smile reaches the older man’s eyes. It completely transforms Aizen’s countenance into something less fearful and much more attractive. Ichigo’s brain grinds to a halt as he registers the thought, and at that very moment he feels Aizen’s reiatsu make contact. He inhales sharply, a soft gasp that makes Aizen sit up straighter and give him a questioning look.
“Ichigo?”
His name rolling off of Aizen’s lips affects him like it never has before. His voice is pure sin. Ichigo’s breath hitches again as the warm reiatsu flows across his hands and twines around his wrists and arms. Soon he can feel it tickling his elbows, and then he can feel it sinking in. He meets Aizen’s gaze, and wonders if his sudden fear shows in his eyes. It must, because Aizen frowns slightly and his expression becomes one of worry.
“Ichigo, what is wrong?”
Ichigo feels a blush rise to his cheeks. Aizen’s reiatsu is warm, and it is wrapping around him and flowing through him and Ichigo feels like he’s drowning, but not in a bad way. It feels good. Aizen moves closer, and it is all Ichigo can do to not instinctively pull away from him.
“Your reiatsu,” Ichigo manages. His voice sounds breathy in his own ears. “It’s all around me, I can feel it.”
“Is that why you look so frightened?” Aizen asks. He tentatively reaches out and touches Ichigo’s hand.
Ichigo swallows another lump. Aizen’s touch feels like fire and it ignites something deep in Ichigo’s gut.
“No,” he finally manages. “It’s not that.” He can’t stop himself from flipping his hand over and lacing their fingers together.
Aizen’s expression melts into astonishment, but he does not try to free his hand. The astonishment once again gives way to worry when Ichigo starts to tremble. Ichigo clings to his hand, terrified of his own emotions and sudden realizations. Aizen’s touch somehow anchors him.
“Then what is wrong?” Aizen prods.
“It doesn’t scare me,” Ichigo manages. He meets Aizen’s gaze again. “In fact, I like it.” He squeezes Aizen’s hand gently. “I like it a lot.”
“Oh!” Aizen’s eyes are wide for a moment. Ichigo feels the burn of another blush on his cheeks and looks away.
“I’m just trying to deal with the fact that I seem to be attracted to you.” Ichigo’s voice is barely above a whisper, but he knows that Aizen heard him because he feels the older man’s fingers tighten around his hand.
“Is it because it’s me, or is it because I am a man that you are fearful?”
Ichigo takes a deep breath and tries to calm himself. “I think it’s both,” he finally answers.
“You did not know before now that you were attracted to males?” Aizen prods.
Ichigo can feel himself blushing again as he shakes his head. He stares at his lap because he doesn’t think he can stand to look Aizen in the eye at this very moment.
“I never had time to even consider a relationship, much less whether or not I was into boys or girls. First it was school, then saving Rukia, then the Bounts, and the Zanpakutos, and then . . .” Ichigo allows his words to trail off.
“And then me,” Aizen finishes quietly.
Ichigo feels gentle fingers beneath his chin. They gently lift his head so that he has no choice but to look Aizen in the eye. Ichigo is blown away by the remorse he sees there.
“I’m so sorry,” Aizen whispers. “I’ve ruined your life, haven’t I? You made so many sacrifices just to stop me, and now here I am again, laying more waste and ruin to your already injured soul.”
Ichigo merely shakes his head, because he is unable to form words. They are close now. Close enough that Ichigo can feel the heat radiating off Aizen’s body. Close enough that Ichigo can see flecks of amber in the chocolate of Aizen’s eyes. Close enough that he is completely blanketed in Aizen’s power. It caresses his skin, slides beneath his sleeves and under the collar of his shirt, spreading tingling warmth as it goes. He can feel it sinking beneath his skin and spreading everywhere. Ichigo swallows convulsively as the urge to lean forward and close the distance between them becomes stronger.
“Ichigo?”
“Kiss me.” The words are out before he even realizes he is speaking them. Aizen’s eyes grow wide, and he can feel the man pulling away from him. Ichigo tightens his grip on Aizen’s hand. Suddenly he needs this, and Ichigo won’t let this moment pass him by. “Please.”
Aizen goes still, his expression suddenly unreadable. Time seems to stand still, and Ichigo wonders if his dream has somehow suspended itself, but then Aizen moves. Ichigo barely has time to register that the man is moving even closer before he is tugged forward by their linked hands and onto Aizen’s lap. Ichigo ends up straddling Aizen’s lap, his hands on Aizen’s shoulders and their foreheads pressed together.
“This probably isn’t a good idea,” Aizen says. His brown gaze bores into Ichigo’s. “But I find that I can deny you nothing, Ichigo Kurosaki.”
Ichigo barely has time to make sense of his words before his lips are covered with Aizen’s . . .
*****
Ichigo is wrenched from the memory by an explosion of pain in his shoulder. He hits the packed dirt hard, a grunt leaving him even as Grimmjow starts to curse a blue streak.
“What the fuck, Kurosaki! Why in Hell didn’t you block that!” Grimmjow appears in his line of vision. His expression is fierce and disapproving.
“I’m fine,” Ichigo manages. He sits up slowly and rubs his right shoulder. “It’s just a bruise, Grimm.”
“Only because I pulled my punch at the last moment!” Grimmjow exclaims. “What is wrong with you, kid?”
“I keep dreaming about Aizen.” Ichigo decides not to beat around the bush.
“What?”
“It’s happened twice since the first,” Ichigo says. “His reiatsu keeps blanketing me, and the last time, I felt it sink in.” He leaves out the part about how that affected him, and what it led them to do. He’s not sure how Grimmjow would react to that, and he doesn’t want to find out today. Ichigo isn’t sure he even knows what to think of it all yet.
“But it’s just a dream, right?” Grimmjow’s tone suggests that he doesn’t really believe that, but that he desperately wants it to be true. He sits on the ground next to Ichigo.
“I . . . I don’t know anymore,” Ichigo admits. “It feels so real when they’re happening.” Ichigo draws his knees up his chest and wraps his arms around them. “I don’t know what to do.”
“I don’t think there’s anything we really can do, outside of going to Urahara.”
Ichigo sighs. “I know.” Ichigo shakes his head and carefully gets to his feet. “At any rate, I’m sorry I let it distract me like that. You deserve better in a sparring partner, Grimm.”
“Don’t sweat it. You’ve got a lot on your plate with school and all. We can try again tomorrow, okay?”
“Yeah.” He offers his hand to Grimmjow and levers the Espada off the ground. “Are you going to the movies with the girls tonight?”
“Yeah,” Grimmjow says.
“Another chick flick?” Ichigo asks. He can see a faint blush stealing over Grimmjow’s cheeks.
“Yeah.” Grimmjow gives a resigned sigh. “But they really want to see it, and there’s no way in Hell that I’m leaving them unprotected.”
“You know, Grimmjow, you should just tell Karin how you feel.”
Grimmjow goes very still, and for a split second Ichigo thinks he might deny it. Ichigo is ready to let the subject drop if he does, but much to his surprise, Grimmjow allows his shoulders to sag slightly and flashes Ichigo a wry smile.
“That obvious, eh?”
Ichigo nods. “Maybe not to anyone that doesn’t spend a lot of time with you two in the same room, but I’ve noticed. I think she knows it, too.”
Grimmjow is silent for a few moments, and then he shakes his head. “I can’t do that to her, Ichigo. I can’t make her choose. I won’t make her choose.”
“Hitsugaya?”
“Yeah. She loves him. I could see it when he dropped her off at the house the other night.”
“But I think you’re important to her, too,” Ichigo offers.
“I know,” Grimmjow says. “But I won’t make her choose, Ichigo. It would be really shitty of me. I don’t want her hurting.”
Ichigo smiles slightly as he watches Grimmjow. It is very evident that the Espada cares a great deal for Karin, and Ichigo is enjoying the rare glimpse of Grimmjow’s softer side.
“You’re a good guy, Grimmjow. I don’t care if you are an Espada. Don’t ever let anyone tell you differently,” Ichigo says.
Grimmjow’s answering grin is predatory. “I’ll kick your ass if you ever tell anyone that I’m nice. I’ve got a reputation to uphold!”
Ichigo laughs out loud. “You’re secret is safe with me, Grimm.”
“It better be.”
*****
TBC
- 7
- 8
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In the Aftermath of Winter