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Prize of Victory	By : NovaAlexandria Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 87205 -:- Recommendations : 8 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor make profit from this snippet

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Steps in a Darkened World

He had been bedridden for weeks, and now they were finally dragging him out of it. While the thought of fresh air was somewhat appealing, the thought of stumbling around blind had Jushiro terrified.

However, the silver-haired Taichou put on a brave face for the two girls, holding a hand each as they led him out of the building and out under the mid-morning sun. The heat felt like a warm, welcoming blanket wrapping around his shoulders and the bright light did seem to register through his blindfold, at least in one eye.

It was too soon yet to remove it, but that ray of red in the sea of black he had been living in was enough to bolster his courage and renew his hope so much that his next step was confident as the two girls led him.

He knew where they were due to their reiatsu and he could feel Lilinette as well as she took the lead. He honestly didn�t know where they were taking him, only that they promised to bring him out to stretch his cramped legs and to get some fresh air before taking him home.

Home. He hadn�t been there is some time and he missed the familiar comfort of his belongings. Szayel and Karin both felt confident that he could return to his Estate for the rest of his recovery, and he felt a wave of relief that he would at least be back around familiar surroundings and that the nightmares were finally over. His wrists were still bandaged from fighting against the restraints they had been forced to keep him in.

The girls led him around until he notice that the paved street beneath his feet had given way to the �crunch� of gravel, and then the softer, plusher feel of freshly-mown grass. He was pretty sure they were not at the Estate and considered the possibility that they were at one of the parks not too far from where he lived.

�Over here, girls!� he heard someone call.

He was pretty sure it was Tatsuki and his guess was confirmed when Lilinette called back to the woman. He was lead across the grass and helped down onto a blanket that had apparently already been laid out.

�Okay, we�re here, �take-ji!� Hana announced.

�Where is here?� he asked, feeling around a bit.

�One of the parks Lily-chan picked out,� Ajuga answered. �Here,� she grasped his hand and pressed a warm mug to his fingers. �You have to drink this because Mama said you have to when we got here,� Ajuga ordered.

�I think it is medicine for your lungs. Something about exertion and stuff�� Lilinette piped up.

A sniff told him that it smelled like the usual concoction and the small sip he took of it confirmed it. None of the girls let him set the cup down until he was finished it and he couldn�t help but to smile in amusement at their insistence. It was good to know he had such good friends in the absence of the ones he had lost to the war.

�Where are Hime-chan and the baby?� Hana asked, sounding a little impatient.

�She is coming,� Tatsuki assured them. �I brought some snacks. Are you two girls hungry?�

�Nah, we are alright right now. Szay made us eat before we came here,� Ajuga said.

Jushiro listened to the girls make small talk and let out a soft sigh of contentment. The sun felt like a warm blanket against his skin and the fresh air was definitely welcomed. Drowsiness quickly assaulted him and he found himself lying down on the blanket, enjoying the feeling of the grass beneath the blanket and the sound of playful banter backed by bird song.

Ajuga, Hana and Lilinette were currently scattered throughout the park, each one determined to be the one to spot Orihime and her new baby first. The winner got the first pick out of the lunch �tsuki-neechan had made.

At first the girls had been reluctant to let �take-ji out of their sight, but �tsuki-neechan has assured them she would keep an eye on the napping man. Szay had told them he expected �take-ji to sleep a lot while he recovered and to let him drift off if he wanted to.

Assured by the adults that all would be well, Ajuga had quickly launched herself into hunter mode. She stalked through the bushes for any prey. It had been a long time since they�d had fresh rabbit, as she had been too distracted caring for �take-ji to find the time to hunt, and she could smell the large rodents all about her.

Fresh rabbit would be the perfect dinner to celebrate �take-ji coming home. Easily picking up a trail of one of the creatures, she wasted no time dropping to all fours and stalking her prey, at least until a new scent hit her nose, one that smelt like food at yet one she didn�t recognize.

The thought of new prey sent a thrill coursing through her and she abandoned the hunt for the rabbit to go after this new scent. When she finally caught up to it, she had to try a number of different positions before the creature came into view. It was gliding low to the ground before landing, bounding a few feet on all fours, and leaping up to glide again. It appeared to be completely oblivious to the fact it was being stalked.

It smelled delicious. Ajuga could feel her saliva start to flow as she moved further up the path and prepared her ambush. She could smell �hime-neechan as well so she had to make this quick before her hunting time ran out.

Her target flew by and without any warning she launched herself at it, landing on its back and digging her claws in for purchase. Her target cried out in a shockingly human-like way, taking her by surprise, and they both fell heavily to the ground.

A horrified scream assaulted her ears and she instantly forgot her prey to turn her attention to �hime-chan, who was staring at her with wide, horrified eyes. Vaguely Ajuga became aware that her �prey� was still struggling and sounded like it was trying to hold back sobs.

�Uh-oh��

If it was one thing she knew, it was that prey shouldn�t cry. She turned her attention back to her victim and straight into green eyes that stared right back at her, their colour familiar. Now she knew why it smelled like prey. It was because the creature in her claws it was �cora-san�s baby and �cora-san smelled like food.

�Diaemus-kun!� Orihime cried as she reached them.

Chagrined at her mistake, Ajuga untangled herself from her victim, wincing at the blood she could smell. Fortunately, she hasn�t done much damage. Her fangs had missed the back of his neck in the tumble, but the puncture marks on his body from her claws were deep.

Diaemus ignored his frantic mother and kept his green gaze on her, a healthy amount of respect with just a little bit of fear reflected in them. Ajuga had to give it to the kid; he wasn�t bawling his eyes out or crying for �cora-san to save him.

�Ajuga-chan, why?� Hime-neechan screeched angrily as she reached her child and her shield surrounded him. If anything, he looked a little miffed at it as it covered him.

�I am sorry,� she apologized sheepishly, embarrassed now by what had turned out to be huge mistake, and certainly, a bad hunting call. �I didn�t know he was yours, I thought he was prey.�

�Orihime-chan!� Tatsuki�s voice reached their ears as the woman ran up to them.

The commotion had gained the attention of the others and had also apparently awoken �take-ji. Eventually, the situation slowly sorted itself out after Tatsuki determined Ajuga hadn�t hurt Diaemus too much. Orihime fixed her son�s wounds with a flash of golden light and by the end of it most of the group�s good humour had been restored. Tatsuki actually couldn�t stop snickering.

�It�s not funny,� Orihime grouched.

�It�s damn funny,� Lilinette laughed, clutching her sides. �Oh I can�t wait to tell Ulquiorra about this,� she laughed.

Diaemus looked less than thrilled with the thought of his father learning about his failure and Ajuga didn�t blame him. She would be horrified if her father learned someone had gotten the jump on her. But still, Diaemus had just learned an important lesson; it was wise to be aware of one�s surroundings, for you never knew where danger lurked.

Now that everything was completely calmed down and everyone was settled on the blankets, there was a large chorus of �oohing and� ahhing as Orihime formally introduced her son to her friends. He took it all in stride and didn�t protest the attention too much until someone actually attempted to touch him.

Nanao and Karin both arrived shortly after Orihime had finished fixing the cuts that Ajuga had inflicted. They wouldn�t be able to stay for long but at least they had the time to say hello and meet the newest addition to their growing band.

Most of Diaemus� attention was on the other little Hollow child as she sat on her haunches and stared right back. Blue and green eyes bore into each other, both refusing to back down and trying to get a read on each other.

�He has grown so much already,� Nanao exclaimed, her voice full of wonder.

�Yeah, I thought so to but Ulquiorra pointed out from conception date to now, Ajuga-chan was already also at this level. It just seems faster because Diaemus-kun spent more time in the womb,� Orihime explained, ruffling her son�s hair. �Apparently Hollow children grow up quickly because Hueco Mundo is so dangerous and very few make it to adulthood. Ulquiorra said he would be an adult in only ten years!� she exclaimed.

�Yeah, Szayel said something about that. It�s why Ajuga-chan seems to be growing so quickly. It�s kind of a shame and a blessing all at the same time. Does he feed on your reiatsu as well?� Karin asked curiously.

�No, he does feed on my blood though. He was born with two little fangs and excretes an anti-coagulant to prevent the small incisions from closing too quickly. He seems content to feed from his father as well. Szayel suggested we give him a glass of milk with some pig or cow blood mixed in as he gets older.�

�At least you have a viable option. Until Ajuga-chan was capable of eating solids, the only way for her to get the reiatsu she required was from breast feeding.�

�Oh, how silly of me! We have been so distracted with the kids I haven�t even asked,� Orihime suddenly blushed. �How are you feeling, Jushiro-san?�

�Better, thank you,� he smiled at her. �It will be good to finally go home and sleep in my own bed and know where everything is.�

�I am relieved,� she sighed in relief.

�Has he started talking yet?� Jushiro asked.

�Not yet,� Orihime answered. �He does like to throw himself off of high places though. I worry about what I am going to do when he actually manages to start flying. I won�t be able to keep up,� she complained worriedly.

�Tie a ball and chain to his ankle,� Lilinette suggested, taking a bite of a sandwich.

�I couldn�t do that!� Orihime gasped.

�Sure you could,� Tatsuki spoke up, teasing her friend. �You�ll keep him tied by a string to your belt while he flies circles above you��

Diaemus did not seem amused by the conversation and broke off his staring contest with Ajuga to look at the girls in a very displeased manner. The girls caught the look and chuckled, causing him to pout before turning his attention back to Ajuga.

�Can we go play?� Ajuga asked in the break.

�Yes, but just stay in sight,� Karin ordered.

�We will,� Ajuga promised. �Come on,� she ordered.

Hana was quick to join her and after a moment Diaemus turned his gaze back to his mother, silently asking permission.

�Stay close, and be careful,� Orihime ordered.

He nodded his head and stumbled after the two girls. He had a score to settle with the other Hollow child, after all.

The adults watched them worriedly before determining that the three of them were playing safe enough and staying close by. Their innate Heirro did much to mitigate any damage that their horseplay might have caused and Ajuga had pulled on her training gloves so her claws wouldn�t accidentally hurt anyone.

�I wonder how long Tatsuki-chan will be pregnant for,� Orihime was the first to break the silence.

�Well, we will have to wait several more years to find out,� Tatsuki huffed. �Because I am not even thinking about having kids until this Swarm thing is dealt with.�

The others laughed at her in amusement, even Jushiro. He was definitely doing better. The fresh air, warm sun and wonderful company seemed to return a bit of his vitality to him, despite the fact he was still blind.

�That could take years though!� Orihime protested.

�And?� Tatsuki snorted irritably. �There is still plenty of time to think about having kids. I want to make sure I am going to have the time to take care of any potential offspring, and this war is not helping with creating that time.�

�I can understand that perfectly. I wish I had more time to spend with Hana-chan.� Nanao said this regretfully and sighed. �I feel as if I�m missing her childhood by being away all of the time.�

�Yeah,� Karin agreed. �Well, as much as we would like to hang out longer, Nanao-san and I do need to return to work.� She groaned as she stood up and stretched, feeling several vertebrae pop back into place.

�Is everything at the Division fine?� Jushiro asked worriedly. Karin laughed.

�Byakuya-san has been doing a marvellous job of keeping me in line,� she reassured him and offered him a smile, even though he couldn�t see it.

�How has he been doing?� Jushiro couldn�t help but to ask softly.

�Better, much better,� Karin answered. �Ajuga-chan, Hana-chan, we have to go back to work. Come, give me a hug!�

Hana and Ajuga rushed over to give their respective mothers a quick embrace and a �love you mom, bye� before rushing back out to play with Diaemus. Karin chuckled and Nanao just shook her head before exchanging farewells and a mutual promise to be home for dinner at a reasonable hour.

It was comforting to be lying in his bed again. Jushiro let out a pleased sigh as he nestled under his blankets and mentally went over the layout of his Estate. The walls of his suite were infused with his reiatsu and as such gave him a sort of mental image.

He reached out further and was pleased to note that everyone was home again. Home. His actual family was no longer here, which saddened him for he missed his mother and siblings, but a new family had moved in to fulfill the role that the others had left behind.

A knock on the door took him by surprise and he rose from his bed to answer it. His Zanpakuto made for a surprisingly reliable cane and the twin�s voices were more than willing to warn him if he was about to walk into something.

He made it to the door with ease and felt around for a minute to find the handle before sliding it open.

�Yes?� he questioned.

�May I come in?� Starrk asked.

�Of course you can. Technically I couldn�t stop you, even if I wanted to,� Jushiro pointed out.

�Perhaps, but it is not an excuse to forget one�s manners,� Starrk replied as he entered the suite.

�True,� Jushiro agreed with a soft smile. �Can I get you something, some tea perhaps?� he offered.

�Lilinette would be displeased with me if you burnt yourself attempting to fix such a thing while you are still visually impaired,� Starrk pointed out. �Sit,� he ordered, �I will prepare it.�

Jushiro wanted to protest, but conceded the other was right. Playing around with hot elements and open flames was not something someone who was blind ought to do. Instead he made his way gingerly to the dining table and sat down on one of the cushions.

�So what is it you wish to talk about?� Jushiro questioned.

�What makes you think I am here to talk about anything specific?�

The other shook his head, feeling the strands of pale hair brush his cheeks.

�Because in all the time I have known you, not once have you ever come to me seeking companionship in the evening past bed time when you could be sleeping,� Jushiro answered with a soft smile.

There was silence for a moment, as if the Arrancar in his room had stopped what he was doing. Then it was broken by the delicate �clink� of a pair of teacups being set on a tray. The sound of rushing water followed, filling the kettle he kept on the back burner of the stovetop.

�Fair enough.�

Jushiro could hear his guest moving about his small kitchen before the First returned with a tray of hot tea. One long-fingered, calloused hand took his and placed a cup in his hands. He heard the sound of a body settling itself on the cushion on the opposite side of the table and liquid being poured. They sat in silence for several minutes and simply drank their tea, the fragrance of it curling through the air between them.

�Your reiatsu is still rather low,� Starrk was the first to break the quiet between them.

�It is, but it has been growing stronger, albeit slowly,� he agreed.

He could hear Starrk let out a frustrated sigh and could imagine the Espada running his hand through his hair like he always did when something was bothering him.

�Something has you worried. What is it?� Jushiro asked him outright.

If the normally nonchalant Starrk, the master of detachment, was this concerned about something, dancing around the subject wouldn�t solve the problem.

�I have been holding back because you have been weakened, but I fear it cannot wait any longer. When you were injured I caught only the vaguest hint you were in trouble, but it was so weak I didn�t think anything of it at the time.�

Jushiro jerked in surprise as he realized where this conversation was going. His Claim was wearing off, if it hadn�t already.

�With your reiatsu so weakened I am not certain you would survive a recasting. However, not to recast the Claim will definitely lead to your death.�

He swallowed nervously. It was certainly one hell of a conundrum. In his weakened state he didn�t think he would make it even halfway through the Claiming process, not with all of Starrk�s power to contend with.

�What should we do?� he asked in a whisper.

�I spoke to Grimmjow about it,� Starrk admitted.

The thought of being Claimed by the blue-haired Espada felt wrong on just too many levels and Jushiro shivered despite himself.

��and he agreed��

�Kami no,� Jushiro thought in horror, his hands tightening around the cup he held.

��that as long as you remained on the Estate, he would say nothing about your Claim running out until you are strong enough to survive the recasting of it,� Starrk finished, giving no sign that he had noticed Jushiro�s racing emotions.

It took a moment for the sentence to register, and when it did Jushiro couldn�t help but to let out a long breath, deflating a little as relief washed through him.

�At least one thing in my life seems to be going right,� he thought grudgingly. �What about Ajuga-chan?� he asked.

He heard Starrk take a long sip of his tea and then shift on the cushion. Despite his concern, Jushiro smiled slightly. Trust Starrk to try to find the most comfortable position on a pillow.

�She is old enough to understand how Claiming works and I doubt she has anyone to talk to about it. Lilinette, of course, will also remain discrete. I spoke to Karin about it as well, but she is already stressed keeping Szayel�s Claim up. She offered to cast a temporary claim if an emergency were to arise, as she could always take it down once any situation is resolved.�

�I see.� Jushiro sighed softly, taking a sip of his tea.

That Starrk had thought things through to this extent and that he�d considered a number of different options to spare Jushiro�s life, to try to work around the laws Aizen had laid down regarding the Claim, stunned him.

It was something to ponder for the future. The peaceful silence descended on them again and when Starrk had finished his tea and Jushiro had politely refused a second cup, the Espada gathered the cups, teapot and tray and set them on the sink, to be dealt with in the morning. He found Starrk at his elbow, guiding him back to his bed.

�I am going to turn in. You should rest as well.� Starrk said this gruffly, and excused himself.

�I will,� Jushiro promised, as the sound of the door clicking closed reached him.

At the end of the month, on a dark, overcast day that threatened rain, Szayel showed up at the Estate with Nemu in tow, an excited smile on his face and a bag of unknown items. They sat Jushiro down on his porch and everyone gathered waited with baited breath as the pink-haired Espada slowly removed the bindings around Jushiro�s face.

The scar was gone and ever-so-slowly Jushiro opened his eyes. His right was a pale white and clearly blind, but his left was still a soft brown and the breath of utter relief he let out indicated that sight still remained, although how much of it was still to be determined.

Szayel ran him through some tests, from flash cards to making him follow his finger, before the bindings across his eyes were replaced so as not to stress either the eye or the brain with too much activity too quickly. The treatment of his tuberculosis was also going well and his reiatsu was once again beginning to climb, slowly but steadily.

�So far, it would seem that you have retained full sight in that eye,� Szayel announced happily as he finished tying off the binding.

The girls cheered and jumped about merrily at the news while the adults smiled and Lilinette clapped him hard on the back.

�Your reiatsu is also rising, at a steady rate I might add. That�s a good sign. I would give your recovery another two weeks before you should be able to return to work,� Szayel added.

�Thank the lord for that,� Karin commented. �Not that I don�t mind helping out, but running a Division is a pain in the ass.�

�I do appreciate your sacrifice, Karin-chan,� Jushiro smiled at her.

�You can show it by getting better and returning to work so I can go back to my own Division. Curse the Heavens, the 2^nd and 5^th Divisions have almost been at each other�s throats over who has the right to me as a coach for their respective soccer teams.� She shook her head in disbelief. �You�d think I was some kind of good-luck charm or something!�

�Those are still going on?� he asked, amused.

�You have no idea,� Nanao laughed softly. �There is an entire newsletter about it now.�

�I want you to put this in your good eye twice a day. It should help to alleviate the strain you are going to suffer while your brain adjusts to seeing with only one eye. If you find your vision getting blurry or find you are getting headaches, I want you to stop using your eye at once and rebind them,� Szayel instructed, ignoring the Division talk going on around him.

�Thank you, Szayel,� Jushiro offered him a small smile. �Karin-chan was right, you are a remarkable scientist,� he complimented.

�Yes well, I do have a reputation of perfection to maintain,� he commented with far too much pride in his voice and a puffing out of his chest. �Do you want a patch for your damaged eye or would you like me to replace it with glass?� Szayel asked.

�A patch will be fine for now,� Jushiro answered.

�A patch it is. Any preference in color?�

�Black will do.�

�Chain or cloth straps?�

�Cloth. A chain would just tangle up in my hair.� he pointed out, earning him a round of laughter from the rest.

�True enough,� Szayel agreed.

The scientist took his hand and pressed a piece of cloth into it, presumably the eye patch in question. He tucked it into one of his robe�s pockets and felt the Espada move away. He braced himself not a moment too soon as Hana and Ajuga all but ploughed into him, hugging him excitedly and expressing their joy.

�I can�t wait to show you the newest Kanji Bya-san taught me and Lily-chan,� Ajuga announced happily.

�And you should see the math equations Szay is getting me to solve!� Hana added.

For some reason he felt moisture at the corners of his eyes. In response he hugged the girls to him tightly. Ajuga was almost as big as Hana was now and growing rapidly. In two years she had gone from bouncing about on all fours and barely able to talk to running gracefully on two legs and speaking in full sentences. It wouldn�t be too long until Ajuga out-aged Hana, although Hana was rather mature for her age, a gift inherited from her mother no doubt.

He recalled Nanao at that age, a strict-faced little bookworm if there ever was one. Hana definitely reflected her mother in most ways, with perhaps a little bit of mischief thrown in from her father to alleviate the discipline.

Here�s the chapter, enjoy. Thanks for the reviews. Going to go curl up and die now. Oh right, since I seem to keep forgetting to post the link on this story, check it out: scarletscorn.deviantart. com/#/d4u60kp
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Prize of Victory