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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: Good lemons take time, satterb. Plus, Grimmjow has massive emotional walls to work through. We can't rush him into a relationship or bed or he will freak. We will get there though.

Irana, I didn't get your emails, hon. *growl at Yahell* I'm doing alright, just hitting a rough patch in terms of time - like when I have it I have no desire to write and when I want to write I have no time.

Greetings to all the new people, Yami, Reigh, Dorkchic, Ness-chan and anyone I missed. I'm glad you're enjoying and I hope no one was seriously harmed by sleep deprivation. I promise that someday soon I will get that support group going (and post that warning about reading this story in one-shot).

For now, since I have a wedding looming and a chapter to try and finish before going I will content myself with saying thank you to everyone reading and all those who take the time to review. If hints of het scare you, run for the hills or about the half-way mark of this chapter.

* * *

The sun was already well into the sky by the time Rukia awoke. She stirred slowly, warm and comfortable, reluctant to give up the simple pleasure for the stress and trials she knew loomed in her future. She sighed and opened her eyes, smiling faintly as she realized where she was - curled up against Ishida Ryuuken on his couch. The blanket they had been sharing was draped around them and Ryuuken's arms were strong and secure around her. It felt wonderfully safe and Rukia mourned the idea of giving it up. With just the two of them it felt as if the outside world and all its problems were far away.

She stared up at the sleeping Quincy, smiling faintly. Sleep made him beautiful, softening the frown he normally wore and washing the years from his face. Rukia lifted a hand and ruffled his hair lightly, imagining how Ryuuken would frown if he were awake. He looked wonderfully boyish with his hair tousled, and she could almost imagine a rakish smile twisting his lips and a brilliant sparkle in those gorgeous blue eyes. Her fingers ghosted over his lips, captivated by the image.

"Mmm..." A large hand trapped hers as she attempted to pull her fingers away. Ryuuken kissed her fingertips before releasing her hand, an easy sensual smile on his lips as blue eyes slid open to regard her with an intensity that stole her breath away. "Good morning," purred the Quincy.

"Good morning," she whispered, a blush coloring her cheeks, unable to look away from those amazing blue eyes. He really was too pretty - and from the smirk he was giving her, Ishida Ryuuken knew it. His hold on her tightened and Ryuuken sighed softly, the smirk softening.

"You really are too lovely," he murmured, one hand gently brushing her hair away from her face as his lips met hers. The night before he had been controlled and gentle, now his lips were a firestorm burning away everything but him. She made a soft sound of arousal, her hands tangling in his hair as his arms went around her, pulling her tight against him. He was all hard angles and firm lines, still a warrior under those suits.

Ryuuken groaned as she returned the kiss, tugging on his hair and arching against him, their legs sliding together. Large hands slid to her waist, almost able to encircle it, and then up her ribs as those scalding lips began traveling down her throat. She gasped breathlessly as a searing palm covered her breast, dragging Ryuuken's mouth back to hers and kissing him hungrily. She whimpered softly as her nipples tightened, the Quincy chuckling darkly, the sound rich and full of sin. She tugged his shirt from his pants, her small hands sliding beneath to caress his chest.

She made a tiny sound of surprise when her sweatshirt was swept up and tossed away. Some part of her said she should be embarrassed; that she should put a stop to things. As Ryuuken's lips traced a path down her neck and over one breast all she could do however was cling to him, whimpered sounds of pleasure coming from her. Lips found her nipple and Rukia gave a soft shriek, nails scoring the Quincy's shoulders.

"Where the hell are you, you goddamn prissy bastard?" Kurosaki Isshin's voice cut across them like a bucket of ice water. Ryuuken shoved her away, sitting up and panting heavily. There was murder in his eyes and as he stood Rukia couldn't help but think that he might just throttle the elder Kurosaki.

"Is there some reason you felt compelled to barge in on me?" he demanded in a frigid tone that was sharp enough to cut glass. Rukia hastily covering her breasts with the blanket and peeked above the back of the couch. Isshin's eyes widened as he spotted her and the grin that split his lips was positively beaming.

"One word, even one, and I swear to the gods that I will kill you," growled Ryuuken.

Isshin held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I didn't say a thing. I would appreciate it though if next time you were going to ignore your cell you gave me a little warning. I must have called you a dozen times. I spent all night fielding calls from the hospital for you and when you didn't show up for work this morning your secretary was ready to file a missing person report," muttered Isshin.

"My cell?" The mention of his phone seemed to snap Ryuuken back from the cold place he had retreated into. "I turned it off, I thought that would have been obvious. Kuchiki-san was very upset and I didn't want to disturb her," he murmured, managing the lie smoothly even if a faint blush colored his cheeks. "I'll call in after I see Kuchiki-san home." Isshin chuckled a bit at the formality but seemed to understand it.

"Alright. Since you're heading to the base, can you apprise Ichigo of the situation?"

"You didn't speak to him? I thought you were going to handle things," interrupted Ryuuken with a frown.

"I was a little busy last night dealing with your patients and hospital staff. This is the first free moment I've had," retorted Isshin as Rukia glanced around for something more concealing than the blanket. "If you're looking for your top there is a sweatshirt behind the chair, Rukia-chan."

"Thank you, now get out," snapped Ryuuken.

"Sure. I'll see you for lunch about two," chuckled Isshin, darting from the house before Ryuuken could contradict him or kill him.

Ryuuken glanced at her and for the briefest instant she thought she saw a blush on his cheeks, but it was gone before she could be sure. Her own cheeks were certainly pink enough for the both of them. "I'm sorry about that...Isshin doesn't have many personal boundaries and has little recognition for other people's." She nodded, she had lived with the Kurosakis and knew all too well how the elder Kurosaki tended to stick his nose into everything.

"It's alright. Do I want to know what exactly you're apprising Ichigo of?"

"Not if you want plausible deniability when Kurosaki hits the roof," replied Ryuuken, making her wonder what had happened now. And just what part Ishida Ryuuken played in it?

Ryuuken must have seen the doubt on her face because he paused and returned to her side, one hand tenderly caressing her cheek. "You know Isshin would never do anything to hurt his son," he murmured gently. "A small hurt now saves him from a much larger one later. Kisuke needs time to recover and he can't do that with Ichigo and the rest of you pushing at him to be who he was"

"That's easy for you to say, you don't have to deal with Ichigo when he's worried about him," whispered Rukia, leaning into the touch and brushing her lips against the Quincy's palm. A tiny, gentle smile touched Ryuuken's lips.

"Well...You could always stay here. Purely to spare you Kurosaki's ire, of course," he teased, warmth and laughter sparkling in his eyes.

"Naturally," she rejoined, unable to suppress her own amusement at his suggestion. She found it amazing that despite all that had happened Ryuuken could still make her laugh, make her forget that her world was in tatters...

But sitting there in his sunlit living room, it didn't feel like her world was ending, more like it was simply changing, growing and expanding into something both frightening and wonderful. Ryuuken's warm palm lingered against her cheek and something uncertain passed over his face. "I wouldn't mind...you staying..." he admitted very quietly, looking as if he wasn't sure he should be making the admission. Rukia smiled at him, nuzzling his palm, and watching the awkwardness and uncertainty fade from his face.

"Have dinner with me?" she asked almost shyly.

The smile Ryuuken gave her was warm and genuine, without any of the cutting edges his smiles normally held. "How would you feel about staying in? I could cook something, we could watch another movie, and hopefully maintain a safe distance from the fallout."

Rukia laughed, "You just want to avoid Ichigo," she accused, unable to contain her mirth.

Ryuuken drew her close, laughter twinkling in his eyes. "And you don't?" he challenged teasingly. "I have seen Kurosaki fallouts - both Isshin's and Ichigo's - and I have no desire to be anywhere near-by when one occurs. " His eyes grew serious, the laughter draining away and his touch grew soothing. "Are you going to be alright going back? Your brother and all?"

Rukia sighed, she wasn't looking forward to the confrontation with her brother; but she couldn't avoid it. Sooner or later she would have to face him and it would be better to do so while he was still off balance. Byakuya would only be hiding behind his manners then - he would not have had time to process the anger over what she had done and hence he would simply shove it aside to handle the situation as protocol demanded - without feeling. "I have to speak to him," she murmured. "And it will only be worse if I put it off."

Ryuuken gave her a measuring look but nodded that he understood. "Meet me here at six?" he asked quietly.

She smiled at him and nodded. "Just try not to get killed by Ichigo."

Ryuuken smirked at her, blue eyes gleaming. "That won't be a problem," he assured her smugly. "For one thing, Kisuke would be most annoyed by him killing me." Rukia shook her head, laughing despite herself.
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A Shadow of What Was