Marin Liliz

[Ficlet] Perspective

2009-11-01T00:03:29Z

[Characters]: Kyouraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jyuushiro. OFM (Original Female Character)
[Pairing]: ShunUki (actually Shunsui x Ukitake x Shunsui)
[Summary]: Truth doesn't exist. There's only different points of view.
[Word Count]: 1800
[Prompt]: Truth/Honesty
[Finished]: 31.October.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Content/Warnings]: Academy days. Angst. Sex.
[Rating]: NC-17
[Notes]: for shun_uki weekly prompt. I think I completely failed the prompt, I can think of several other prompts that would apply to this so much better. Truth/Honesty turned out to be lot trickier than I could foresee. Anyway, I think ravens_rising objective was to have people writing ShunUki and at least I got that right. Sort of^__^'

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite.

The truth is rarely pure and never simple. ~Oscar Wilde

I.

The girl is here again asking after Jyuushiro. I tell her he’s still in class. She asks if she can wait for him here in the room. Our room.

For some stupid reason I say, “Yes”.

She walks in and sits on his bed, facing me. She’s been here before; I can tell by the way she does not look around trying to take in the place.

She’s nothing like Ukitake’s type. She’s blond, her hair waving down her back; she’s loud, annoying, too forward and big breasted.

She’s sitting on the edge of the bed, chatting about frivolous things that I don’t listen to or care about. She leans my way to show her cleavage; legs crossed high to hike up her hakama and reveal well toned and tanned limbs.

She’s my type. Big boobs, large hips, round thighs. I bet her ass is nice and plump. She’s got flesh in all the right places, in all the right amount. Voluptuous, Ukitake would call her. Hot, I say.

She bats her eyelashes and keeps talking and it’s nearly an hour before she shuts up. Ukitake is home.

He walks in and smiles faintly at me before turning to greet her. She jumps him; her lush lips smudging two loud kisses on his cheeks. He laughs at her, chats inanities I don’t care to listen to and then they walk out, arm in arm, plans of dinner in their talk.

Right before closing the door behind them, Ukitake looks at me and smiles that little smile he has that always confounds me. I’m never certain if it’s regret or anticipation.

II.

The minute he walks back into the room I pin him to the wall.

The door has barely closed and my tongue is in his mouth, tasting for foreign tastes. Tonight he tastes of ramen and green tea.

She’s a cheap date.

Before I drag him to bed he has come against the wall from three quick pulls of his cock and my wandering hands on his body, searching signs of her on his skin.

He is clean. Maybe she’s not the bruising type. I am.

He now has purpling finger marks on his hips and pink butterfly kisses everywhere else. He is mine to mark, she’ll see.

I take him. Hard. Rough. Possessively. And he doesn’t complain. There are hardly two fingers in him when he pushes my hand away and pulls me deep inside him.

And we’re exhausted, satiated, collapsed in a heap of tangled limbs. And we smell of come and sweat. He smells of camphor and cough syrup. Of Ukitake.

And I know his smell but I don’t think I know him. Who is this being lying next to me, his arms wrapped around me so tightly?

If he means this, why does he go out with her? Why does he taunt me? Why isn’t he honest? I want the truth!

When I can’t work out any answers, I turn to him and kiss him. He rises from sleep as needy as I am and slips into me with a harsh sigh, taking as much as I have.

It burns. It aches. It’s fucking awesome!

III.

She’s waiting at the Academy entrance wearing a scarf I think I’ve seen on Ukitake.

He stayed behind to do some credit work with Yamamoto-sensei; always the top student, solicitous and diligent. He hasn’t told me to wait but I do so anyway. I always do. Chances are he will go with her. In any case I’ll be his shadow.

She spots me and comes bouncing my way, breasts sawing and again asks about Jyuushiro. Stupidly I tell her. Again. I can’t seem to stop myself from it.

She leans against to wait and flaunt her attributes and with no apparent reason tells me about things she likes and other such nonsense girls like to splutter about. I drone her out after awhile.

She keeps bumping her shoulder into mine, pulling her hair from side to side of her neck, showing off the top her breasts, keeping up her boring conversation as far as I can tell.

Suddenly she pulls away and turns to face me; a severe blush covers her face and all the way down to her fleshy bosom.

She mutters something I don’t quite get. I make her repeat. She says she’d like to go out with me.

ME?! Not Jyuushiro! Here’s my chance.

I tell her why not? She asks for a kiss.

And why not? If this gets her away from him.

I kiss her and tell her we can go someplace. Your room? she asks. Someplace else. I’ll deal with that later.

I can date her for a few weeks and then end it. She’s probably just looking for a few good tumbles.

There is no truth. There is only perception. ~Gustave Flaubert

IV.

She’s waiting at the Academy entrance wearing a green scarf very similar to one I own and told her Kyouraku likes.

She asks me to stay behind when the classes end. She has a feeling today is the day to tell Kyouraku she likes him. I concede as I always do with her.

After class I tell him to go on ahead. He doesn’t look happy but goes. I think he’s more upset by the fact that I’ll be doing some extra work than by anything else. He only ever does the precisely necessary amount of work.

I stay back and actually manage to get some things done before my curiosity overwhelms me and I have to see how he’s reacting to her.

They are facing each other. She’s flushed red. He’s studying her face. She says something and he looks at her with an avidness I’ve not often seen in him. He steps closer and she pouts her lips.

There’s a calculating look in his eyes before he strokes her face and kisses her. She melts against him in a way only I should. He grabs her hair in a way it’s not possible with my shaggy, short hair.

And it kills me.

I set this whole thing up. I introduced them. Told her how to seduce him.

But I didn’t expect that mine and his tryst would mean more to me than its initial goal: a bit of fun and relieve. But it does, overwhelmingly so.

They are walking away now. She’s draped on his arm, her hand in his. Something else I can’t have.

The minute he walks back into the room I pin him to the wall.

I kiss any trace of her from his lips.

And I’m on my knees fumbling with the ties on his hakama and the folds of his fundoshi. He is hard and I wonder if it’s for me or a lingering reaction from being with her.

My fingers ran through the curly, coarse hairs that frame his cock. He twitches next to my mouth.

I nuzzle him, trying to determine if he smells any differently. If he smells of her.

I can’t tell and it drives me mad. Did he wash afterwards, so I couldn’t tell? Did they not lie together? Why not? Is he waiting for her to be ready?

Girls are like that. Taunting, playing and tricking you.

Men just need a look. A simple, single look of desire and recognition was all we needed to fall in lust.

When we reach the bed he has come down my throat. And my fingers have left bruises on his thighs and hips. I’m sure his testicles feel sore from my messy fondling.

He comes loads. So maybe they weren’t together. There are no signs of her contact with his body. No markings of territory. I’ve been leaving those. Not her.

It’s a comforting thought.

And what’s more, he’s ready again at the sight of me on the bed, stretching myself for him. I know we’re young. I know he’s Kyouraku. But I also know his limits. He can never go thrice in a row.

He takes me. Hard. Rough. Possessively. And I don’t complain. How could I complain? This is what I want.

I know I pushed them together. But we’re lying here, unrecognizable as two and I wonder. If he has her, why is he here? If he means this, why did he go out with her? I want the truth!

So I ask about her.

He shushes me and pulls me on top of him. Bruising my lips. Purpling my nipples. Marking my chest. Spreading his legs to welcome me in him. Scratching lines down my back as I hit there over and over and over and over again...

I’m his. But he isn’t mine. He dozes off with me in him. The room smells of sex and I of him and him of me. It’s a consoling thought that lulls me to sleep.

VI.

The girl is here again asking after Shunsui. I tell her he is out. That I thought they were together.

She comes in anyway, waving and kissing hello.

She’s wearing a pink flowered kimono and her hair is pulled up on a neat ponytail. No bared bosom or hair flowing down her back. She has him now.

Still she’s gorgeous with her bright blond hair, cheerful shining eyes and voluptuous figure. Kyouraku says plainly, she’s hot.

A month and still going strong, she tells me amongst all the other things she talks while she waits for him. I listen.

He seems surprised to see her here. Asks what she’s doing here, weren’t they supposed to meet later? Elsewhere.

She says she’s missed him. That she couldn’t wait a moment longer to see him.

As she saunters through the room, a happy bounce to her feet, he looks at me over her shoulder. There’s regret in his eyes. For her invasion of our space or him being found out, I can’t tell.

She throws her arms around his shoulders, kissing him with a smack of lips and a slurping of tongues.

I fear I might retch from the saccharine sight. My stomach gives a little lurch of sympathy.

She leads him to the bed and sits.

The bed he fucks me in. The bed where I fuck him.

She pats the place next to her. Like a trained dog, he sits. With glee in her eyes she fusses with his hair and says that she’s sure I’ll give them a little alone time. She says she knows I’ll understand.

Oh yes, I understand it perfectly well.

I grab my things and make for the door before they get hot and heavy. And before my heart dissolves into nothing and all that is left in my chest are my ailing lungs.

Right before closing the door behind them, I look at Kyouraku and grimace a little smile that I’m not sure is of regret or self loathing.

October2009©MarinLiliz

Pregnant Belly [Sandbox Society]

2009-10-29T19:15:43Z

[Characters]: Abarai Renji and Kuchiki Byakuya.
[Pairing]: ByaRen
[Summary]: What is it with people and touching a pregnant belly?
[Word Count]: 588
[Finished]: 29.October.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: AU | Mpreg
[Rating]: PG-13
[Author's Notes]: Found this in my notebook yesterday while looking for space to write something elseXD, it was in pencil and hastily written, polished it up a bit this afternoon. I remember writing it but totally forgot to post it and since I haven't posted anything in a month...^^'' Incidentally there should be another chapter of Building from the Ashes by the weekend and an entry to the weekly prompt at shun_uki. I'm inconstant like that^__^''

other sanbox stories

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite except for a few original characters product of my imagination.

I am walking down the street heading to the Division’s barracks and have to stop every other step to talk to people I have never seen before or people I merely exchange a few words with in my entire life. And here I stand having to answer absurd questions about my life.

My very private life. They always snicker when mentioning Renji and how you were conceived.

Renji is you father, by the way, the one that gave you to me. That made you possible to exist. I assume he will insist you call him dad or some other ridiculous moniker. I shall be father.

Anyway, the women are the worst, giggling absurdly and wanting to pat my belly. You.

What is it with people and touching a pregnant belly? When have I ever been approachable? When have I ever given off the impression I am amenable to being touched.

Never! That’s when! And especially not now that I have you in me. I Do Not Want To Be Touched!

But do people listen to me? Do people notice my glare? Do they not perceive my exasperation as they try to feel you moving and kicking through my skin? Even Zaraki has tried it. ZARAKI!!!

That Renji does it, I understand; he has something to do with my pregnant belly, something to do with you. But everyone else is just too much. They coo and pet and fuss and ask the most inane of questions and actually expect me to answer them and look happy about it. And have the audacity of saying I am not happy. Of stating I am not happy by the existence of you!

I am overjoyed about it. You. I just do not show it to the world. Renji knows I am happy and he is the only one that needs to know and see it.

I fight a sudden urge to roll my eyes as yet another idiot asks me if she can touch my belly. I deny it. Only Renji is ever allowed to touch my belly. Me. Us. She huffs her disdain and wanders off. Good riddance!

If it is like this now, I do not want to think what it will be like when you are born. Hopefully it is just fascination with the pregnancy. A pregnant man is not seen every day, I concede.

But if not, my child, we will have to move somewhere where people are not so dim-witted and do not turn into cooing idiots at the sight of a child. Slim chance in finding such a place, I know.

Renji is here now. Cooing and talking to you. Well he is allowed. He kisses you and explores the belly, waiting for you to kick. He has an uncanny ability to predict where you will strike next but you aim for the kidneys this time.

The hitch in my breath lets him know where you have hit. He sooths my back with warm hands and chases the pain away. It is a good pain, it means you are – pay no mind to the cliché and bad pun – alive and kicking.

And then the hands run up my spine, stop by my shoulders and down my chest – that will never produce milk but that feels oversensitive and sore – before wandering back to you

He kisses you again and then kisses me. And I am happy.

He knows.

I know.

You know.

That is all that matters.

Goodbye for now, baby. The rest is not for children.

October2009©MarinLiliz

Unexpectedly Expecting 3 & 4

2009-09-29T21:06:50Z

[Characters]: Unohana Retsu, Yamada Hanatarou and Zaraki Kenpachi.
[Pairing]: KenHana
[Summary]: Something is wrong with Hanatarou and Kenpachi wants to know what but Unohana isn't very forthcoming.
[Word Count]: 630
[Finished]: 28.September.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: Mpreg | Crack | AU
[Rating]: PG

Unexpectedly Expecting 3 at sandbox_society

[Characters]: Yamada Hanatarou and Zaraki Kenpachi.
[Pairing]: KenHana
[Summary]: It's truth telling time but Hanatarou just can't stop crying.
[Word Count]: 1530
[Finished]: 29.September.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: AU | Mpreg | Crack | Angst | Fluff
[Rating]: PG

Unexpectedly Expecting 4 at sandbox_society

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Been Blind [Sandbox Society]

2009-09-23T18:09:25Z

Hope you're having the best of days. Here's your present.♥

[Characters]: Komamura Susumu and Kuchiki Hikaru
[Pairing]: HikaSusu
[Summary]: Hikaru has been rather blind this last few years. Well, make that decades!
[Word Count]: ~1300
[Finished]: 23.September.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: Heavy kissing and grinding teenage/young adult Shinigami.
[Rating]: PG-13

Been Blind at sandbox_society

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[Building From The Ashes] XI. Kuchiki Dealings

2009-09-19T22:15:52Z

[Characters]: Kuchiki Byakuya, Chiyo-san and the Kuchiki Elders.
[Pairing]: ByaRen.
[Word Count]:~2250
[Finished]: 18.September.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Contents/Warnings]: AU
[Rating]: PG
[Notes]: Finally the Kuchiki Dealings chapterXD) This one took a while to get around to, neh? The Elders weren't very forth coming^^'
Also some action from an original character in this chapter, I've mentioned her in the 1st chapter, Chiyo is a character I created and used a few times in my fics ("Os Anos de Renji" and "Threads of Different Yarns"); she is a servant in the Kuchiki family and has served Byakuya since he was a child. She is one of the few people he truly trusts.

Not so good news for you lovely, faithful readers, as I had said last chapter, I'll no longer be able to update weekly, the chapters will be posted every two week from now on. Sorry.

I.Mind Sight Sound | II.Search Incessantly | III.Battleground | IV.To Get To Renji | V.Evil Plots | VI.Recount Regroup Retreat | VII.Secession | VIII.Return Home| IX.Ingrained | X. Sleeping Arrangements

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite except for a few original characters product of my imagination.

The way to the Kuchiki Manor was swift and uneventful. The streets were nearly deserted this early in the day. Or perhaps they were nearly deserted, not because of the early hour but because the casualties of war had been so high and everyone else was still recovering from close to fatal wounds or trying to pick up the pieces.

Byakuya suspected that, except for Fourth, most Divisions were still half gas, trying to cope with the loss of their Taichou and some even the combined loss of Taichou and Fukutaichou. There was so much to do and rebuild; the replacement of the loss and defeated captains and vice-captains, Aizen and his Arrancar to sort out, Kurosaki Ichigo... There was need for a Captain’s meeting, very soon.

And then there was his Division that Byakuya had all but abandoned. Renji would be disappointed in him. Renji who had acted as a true fukutaichou and made him see that bureaucracy and rigorous training was all well and dandy – those had been his actual words – but that Byakuya hadn’t paid his men half the attention they deserved and merited. At the time the accusation had sounded unfair but Renji had made him see his error, insisting that he spend more time with the men, organizing training sessions, and later drinking ones. It hadn’t made the men any more efficient than before, they had already been at their optimal fighting point, but it had made their response to Byakuya as a commander reach an optimal state as well, ultimately a deciding point in their fighting and winning.

Now, they certainly deserved more attention than Byakuya was bestowing them but until Renji was settled at the house and on his way to a steady recovery, he would spare little effort in any other matters. A wry smile crossed his face as he envisioned what Renji would say of his neglect of their Division. But Byakuya was discovering that once he had let go of the self-imposed restrictions, he wasn’t in any hurry to acquire them again. Especially if it meant leaving Renji’s side.

***

The house was bustling with activity; gardeners tended to the flower beds and ornamental trees, children fed the nishikigoi[1] on the ponds and women ran around all over the place, getting the house into shape after another night.

Whispers followed Byakuya into the house, self-interested family members and concerned servants stopped to greet him and ask him of his health and well being. Byakuya replied briefly, thanking them for their care and attention but didn’t stop on the way to his personal quarters. At their entrance he said, “have Chiyo-san bring me some tea.”

Three minutes later, after he had undressed the standard issued Shinigami uniform he had been given at Fourth Division, there was a light rap on the sliding door, quickly followed by said door opening and a kneeled Chiyo-san saying, “your tea, Byakuya-sama.”

“Thank you, Chiyo-san. Please come in, I require something from you.”

She stepped inside, setting the tea tray in a low table at the back of room, overlooking the gardens, and turned to him, readily, when done.

“First I need you to assemble the Elders to a Council Meeting.”

Chiyo-san looked up at Byakuya, curious but trying to mask it with professional nonchalance. Knowing he would surprise her even further, he continued, “I also require you to arrange suitable accommodations for a convalescent person, preferably near my quarters.”

Byakuya nearly smiled, this time she didn’t tried to mask it, Chiyo-san just looked at him with a questioning looked; too competent and experienced, she didn’t ask mindlessly as others would have, but the curiosity was completely readable on her face, still she just asked, professionally, “what type of arrangements need to be made to the room?”

“I still need to speak with the physician and Unohana-taichou will send further specifications, for now an airy room with a bed should suffice, the physician will tell you what else might be needed.”

“Very well, Byakuya-sama.” Just before sliding the door close, she said, “it is good to have you back, Byakuya-sama. You were missed.” She gave the tiniest of smiles, bowed and closed the door.

A few minutes later the physician arrived. Byakuya explained the situation and got assurance that he would be up to the task and would deal with the situation accordingly.

***

Byakuya was arranging the Kenseikan[2] when Chiyo-san came back to tell him the Elders were assembling, noticing what he was doing, she batted his hands away, pulled a small wooden bench she used to stand on when minding his hair or clothes – for she was as small as Rukia, if not smaller – and started composing his hair, chiding him in a familiar tone that made Byakuya feel at home instead of admonished.

“You should have called someone to help you fix the Kenseikan, Byakuya-sama. I swear you’ll be an old man with great-great grandchildren and still need someone to arrange your hair for you.”

Byakuya’s lips turned up in a slight smile; she was correct, he had no talent whatsoever to fix his hair. Not that he needed the skill with the amount of servants in the Kuchiki household, but Chiyo-san would always call attention to his under achievements, not to berate or accuse him of failure, but to point out his more than ample capacity of attaining those skills if he so wished. According to her, his under achievements were only due to his disinterest on the task and not lack of talent. Byakuya rather liked her point of view.

While she brushed and braided his hair and set the Kenseikan, Byakuya mused that if anyone had a right to know what was going on was Chiyo-san, she was the closest thing to a confident he had, she had only known him all his life, after all.

“Abarai Renji, my Fukutaichou, is in a comatose state due to injuries but no longer in need of constant attention by Unohana-taichou. And Fourth Division is in dire need of space to tend to other, more complicated patients.

Hence, I’m bringing him here.”

“We will accommodate him adequately, Byakuya-sama.”

“I know you will. Thank you, Chiyo-san. Am I ready now? The elders are most likely waiting by now.”

With one last tug on his hair and the Kenseikan she concluded. “You’re ready, now!”

Byakuya rose and made his way to the door.

“Byakuya-sama,” Chiyo-san called.

He turned to look at her.

“The Kuchiki Elders have to wait for the Head of the House. Never the other way around.”

Byakuya let the smile that had graced his lips since she had accused him of not having any hairstyling skills, spread into a grin. “Thank you, Chiyo-san.”

***

The elders had in fact been waiting for him and none were too happy about it. Byakuya stepped into the large Council Hall and nodded slightly in way of greeting.

The seven members of the Council – all plump from lavish repasts and well attired with silks and velvets, if a considerably wrinkled from old age – all looked his way, bowing to him from their high places and in various states of wakefulness. Obviously it was too early for most of them to be out and about. This could work to Byakuya’s advantage, catching them off guard, still half asleep; or it could just go completely wrong if they were more inclined to morning crankiness than beatific mellowness. From what Byakuya knew of the Elders, the later was considerably improbable.

“Byakuya-sama, why this abrupt summons?”

“What could be so important this time of the day?”

“Hope he hasn’t decided to marry another one of those lowlifes from Rukongai.”

Crankiness it was.

That last comment was made barely above a whisper, but in precise loudness for Byakuya to hear it. He let it pass, there were other, more important business to address today. But it would not be forgotten and if everything worked the way he was planning they might have an answer they were not expecting, soon enough.

The Elders lack of sympathy only served to strengthen Byakuya’s resolve of not asking permission to bring Renji to the House but simply inform them of the fact. So he told them, “I am bringing my Fukutaichou to the
Kuchiki Manor.”

The silence was telling of the Elders shock, mouths opening and closing like stranded fish; they were rarely rendered speechless much less driven to utter muteness.

“He will be staying in the House until his full recovery under the care of the Kuchiki physician.”

Byakuya waited their reaction; bewilderment and confusion, anger and outrage but mostly that askew self-righteousness that they all possessed. Still, as salmon on their way upstream, they kept struggling, several versions of the same excuses provided:

“Byakuya-sama, certainly he will be better in the care of Fourth Division.”

“Our physician has certainly enough on his hands as it is, Byakuya-sama.”

“Your Fukutaichou, Byakuya-sama, certainly has family that would be more than happy to tend to him.”

And, like the bear on the shallow waters, Byakuya just had to wait for them to jump to his claws. With a hint of boredom, he answered, “Fourth Division is more than happy to have Abarai stay here, as he is not in any danger and the extra space will be more than welcome to Unohana-taichou. As for our physician, the sensei is bored out of his mind with cases of measles and hypochondriac old men, Abarai will certainly be a new challenge for him. And as for Abarai himself, he has no family to speak of to look after him. I am certain you can see that, as his Taichou, I am responsible for his welfare.”

Caught between the teeth of the bear they struggled. “We will not allow it!” one said and all the others agreed vehemently. If only it would be this easy with the matters of the estate.

“This is not a request,” Byakuya said with the same vehemence the Elders had used in their protest. “I am merely being courteous and respectful of your positions as Kuchiki Elders by informing you before the arrival of
Abarai Renji. I am not asking permission to do so.”

The Elders were nearly stunned to silence, once again, even so, one managed to find his voice and yet another attempt at turning the situation their way. Struggling salmon would struggle.

“Certainly this being a matter of captaincy overzealousness that the headquarters of your Division are much more appropriate.”

He could have a point there but Byakuya didn’t knew the state of his men yet, nor did he want to lose the advantage he had on the Elders; it wasn’t often he had the upper hand with them. That and he did not want
Renji away from him.

“I still need to assess the state of my Division and according to Unohana-taichou, the installations might be needed to house some more convalescing Shinigami. Certainly you understand the need to have my Fukutaichou on a different location from all the other, more common troops,” Byakuya told them, appealing to their elitist nature.

“Certain...” the Elder caught himself briefly, before continuing, “for sure the injured aren’t that many, there should be enough space for the adequate separation between officers and mere unseated members.”

It was made clear to Byakuya that these overprotected Elders of the Kuchiki House had no inkling of what had been happening right under their upturned and disdainful noses. The war that had been mongered at their door and that had shaken the core of Soul Society meant little to nothing for these men. It also crossed his mind that had Aizen won, as long as their status quo had been maintained, they wouldn’t have cared less who held the power, provided they kept their misguided sense of security and nobility.

Tired of a pointless discussion, Byakuya terminated the audience. “I will be arriving with Abarai-fukutaichou later in the day. All arrangements are taken care of, nothing further will be required of you. Have a good day.” Byakuya inclined his head just barely and made his way out of the Council Hall.

***

Chiyo-san was by the Hall entrance when he exited; he acknowledged her with a nod and made his way to his quarters. She followed in his steps.

“It went rather well, Byakuya-sama,” she said.

“Hmm, it could have been worse,” he agreed. “I will leave now, I need to go by my Division before bringing Renji ho... here.”

“Certainly, Byakuya-sama,” she replied in a tone that left no doubts she had been listening the audience with the Elders.

Byakuya couldn’t help but smile.

“If I may be so bold as to ask, Byakuya-sama, what of Rukia-sama?”

“She went to the Human World with Kurosaki Ichigo.” It had been remiss of him not to have informed her of Rukia’s whereabouts and general condition. Chiyo-san had always been quite fond of Rukia. “She hadn’t
sustained any injuries.”

Chiyo-san gave a small sigh, most likely of relieve and then said, “All will be ready for Abarai-sama upon your return, Byakuya-sama.”

Byakuya stepped out of the house thinking Renji would be thrilled to be called Abarai-sama.

[1] Nishikigoi (or simply Koi) are ornamental domesticated varieties of the common carp that are commonly kept for decorative purposes in outdoor ponds and water gardens. They are sometimes also called Japanese carp. - from Wikipedia

[2] The white headpiece Byakuya wears; it symbolizes his noble rank as the head of the Kuchiki family.

September2009©MarinLiliz

Unexpectedly Expecting 2 [Sandbox Society]

2009-09-19T21:52:14Z

[Characters]: Yamada Hanatarou and Unohana Retsu. Mentions of Zaraki Kenpachi.
[Pairing]: KenHana
[Summary]: Hanatarou finds out why he has been feeling under the weather with a little help from Unohana-taichou
[Word Count]: 1000
[Finished]: 17.September.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: Mpreg | Crack | AU
[Rating]: PG
[A/N]: Continuation of the first drabble.

Unexpectedly Expecting 2 at sandbox_society

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Unexpectedly Expecting [Sandbox Society]

2009-09-16T16:55:22Z

[Characters]: Yamada Hanatarou and Zaraki Kenpachi
[Pairing]: KenHana
[Summary]: Hanatarou has been waking up sick. Kenpachi helps out.
[Word Count]: 550
[Finished]: 16.September.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: Implied Mpreg|Crack|Fluff
[Rating]: PG
[A/N]: Complete crack pairing and once again it is all gokuma 's fault.

Unexpectedly Expecting at sandbox_society

other sandbox stories

For anyone wondering about Building from the Ashes new chapter should be up tomorrow.;]

[Building From The Ashes] X. Sleeping Arrangements

2009-09-05T21:54:59Z

[Characters]: Kuchiki Byakuya andUnohana Retsu
[Pairing]: ByaRen.
[Word Count]:~ 1850
[Finished]: 05.September.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Contents/Warnings]: AU
[Rating]: PG
[Notes]: You might notice this isn't the promised 'Kuchiki Dealings' chapter; again Byakuya wasn't too inclined to talks with the elders. That and the explanation Unohana gives about Renji's condition turned out to became rather complicated (had to rework it twice) and serving as a mean for me to breed some plotbunnies. So please tell me if it sounds plausible or not.

Something else that made this take much longer; I discovered I'd been making a mistake with some terms from canon, reiatsu and reiryoku. According to Bleach wiki, "Reiryoku is the amount of energy a being has stored within their body or soul, whereas Reiatsu is the pressure that a person’s Reiryoku exerts."

From what I understood, reiatsu is a force that can be wield by the Shinigami, it's that static that shows on the screen whenever a powerful opponent shows up. It is also that black energy thing around Ichigo's zanpakutou whenever he strikes a Getsuga Tenshou (is that spelled right?) or the black rimmed red aura around Zangetsu.

On the other hand reiryoku is the Spiritual Energy of a Shinigami, the power that makes a Shinigami what it is. 'Every spiritual being has a unique pattern to his/her emitted Reiryoku. One can recognize the pattern of his friends and acquaintances after some time, being able to sense their presence and their physical and mental state from relatively great distances. Sudden changes in Reiryoku pattern can mean that the person in question is in great stress (e. g. fighting) or has received a grave wound.'

Which means what I have been calling reiatsu is in fact reiryoku. So I had to make all the adequate alterations to the whole story.^^' From now on whenever I write Spiritual Energy, I mean reiryoku and not reiatsu. Amends will be made to the previous chapters.

I.Mind Sight Sound | II.Search Incessantly | III.Battleground | IV.To Get To Renji | V.Evil Plots | VI.Recount Regroup Retreat | VII.Secession | VIII.Return Home| IX.Ingrained

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite

When Unohana-taichou came to find him, Byakuya was brushing out the wrinkles of the standard issued Shinigami uniform he had just dressed and trying to block out his near break down.

“Kuchiki-taichou,” she greeted quietly, barely disturbing the silence. “I see you are finally awake.”

Byakuya turned to look at her, acknowledging her presence and, curious by her ‘finally’, asked, “how long was I asleep?”
“For three days.”

He raised an eyebrow, surprised. Three days! It hadn’t seemed that long.

“You should be recovered by know.” Professional as always, she moved closer to Byakuya, placing a hand on his chest and thoroughly examining his condition.

When finished, she told him, “as I thought, you are nearly fully recovered. Hanatarou-kun did an excellent job on you in the battlefield.” Her eyes shone with pride for the small Shinigami as she continued, “and these three days of sleep have left you as good as new. I do recommend more rest, in a calm environment, for the next few days for complete recovery. So please try to avoid any stressful situations.”

Byakuya thought of the stressful moments of despair he had just experienced and wondered how much that had set back his recovery. In any case it was all over now. It had served its purpose and he could always rest and recover later. The main point was Renji, so he asked, “What of Abarai?”

He eagerly kept watch as Unohana kneeled by Renji’s futon and examined him, though taking much longer than she had with Byakuya; prodding here and there; measuring reactions and finally changing the bandages on Renji’s torso.

Byakuya was not vain; he strived to always look composed and presentable out of need, another method of demanding respect and deference from the much older and condescending members of his clan. But Renji took pride in his appearance, in the clothes and headwear he wore and especially in the tattoos on his skin, the marks of all his achievements in life. To discover that the surgery had left them as perfectly aligned as before and with little signs of scarring was an immense relief to Byakuya; it was one less thing to trouble Renji when he woke up.

As Unohana-taichou was finishing the bandaging, he dared to take her attention from the task and asked, “any change?”

“Physically, Abarai-kun is healing remarkably well; a week or so more and he will be able to have full use of his body and with considerable few after-effects, given the extent of his injuries.”

“But his Spiritual Energy...” Byakuya could hear in her voice.

“But his Spiritual Energy,” she repeated, acknowledging his concern. “His Spiritual Energy, that I believe we were successful in separating fully from that of Zabimaru, has not evolved since the surgery. Which can be a good sign; it means he isn’t getting any worse.”

Byakuya gave her a sceptical look but tried to explain what it felt like to him, “his reiryoku, although now it feels distinctively like Renji’s, has a strange quality to it. It is not the amalgam it was before, I can easily discern the different parts within but... it still does not feel like the real thing. It feels...” he searched for the right word to describe the awkward sensation. “...dampened.” Was all he could come up with. “Could this be because he remains unconscious?”

Unohana-taichou pondered the question, her eyes closing as if assessing the feeling Byakuya had just described. “I confess I cannot relate to the dampened description you’ve made, I merely sense no development since the surgery. But I am not familiar with Abarai-kun’s reiryoku and have no readings prior to the surgery,” she said and shaking her head in disapproval, added, “there really should be a database of the Shinigami’s energy for occasions just like this one. It would make things so much simpler. To answer your question, Kuchiki-taichou, it isn’t unheard of a comatose state to tone down one’s reiryoku, although normally isn’t something blatantly discernable. However it is perfectly conceivable that you being his...” She paused ever so slightly. “...his Taichou, you are more in tune with what Abarai-kun’s reiryoku feels like and so more susceptible of noticing the slighter changes. Can you please try to describe this sensation further?”

“It feels like, like he isn’t right here, next to me; like he is miles away from me. It is rather closely similar to the feeling when he leaves Soul Society through a Senkaimon.[1]”

Unohana-taichou, who had been observing Renji, looked back up at Byakuya, her face with an unusual display of surprise. “You can still feel his Spiritual Energy when he passes through the Senkaimon?”

“Yes. I feel his Spiritual Energy right until he reaches the Human World. The other way around as well, the minute he crosses the gate to return home, I can sense him.” Byakuya didn’t understand what her surprise was about; he was a powerful Shinigami – and so was Renji – and furthermore, they had been working together for several years, it was only natural for him to be able to feel his fukutaichou’s reiryoku over great distances. And even more so, Renji was not the only one he could sense across the gate. He thought he should add, “I can sense Rukia as well.”

It occurred to Byakuya that he also could sense Ukitake, although it had been a while since the white-haired Taichou had left Soul Society, but before he could provide that information, Unohana asked:

“Were you also able to sense your wife?”

This stopped his random thoughts. “My wife did not have Shinigami powers,” he replied dryly.

“I see.”

It was odd! Was she implying that he could sense Renji that far away because they had been together? If so, what about Rukia and Ukitake? He had never had that kind of relationship with either of them. True, Byakuya had had a boyish crush on Ukitake, but it had been more like blind admiration than carnal desire; he had been but a boy.

“In any case, I should have a few of Abarai-kun’s friends and other Shinigami, who have close contact with him, come around to ascertain this sensation you describe. Do you have any suggestions of who I might ask?”

She deflected the conversation expertly, Byakuya noticed but – for the moment – decided to let it go, choosing to focus on the more import matters at hand. Who could offer close Intel on Renji’s reiryoku? Rukia was the obvious option, as was Kurosaki Ichigo if not for the fact that, as far as Byakuya was aware, they were both still in the Human World with Kurosaki most likely still unconscious – another issue to address at a more appropriate time. So, who else was that close to Renji to be able to discern his Spiritual Energy well enough? Byakuya should’ve paid more attention to Renji’s acquaintances.

“Hisagi Shuuhei.” He remembered the fukutaichou’s concern for Renji the day of the surgery. “And Kira-fukutaichou and Hinamori-fukutaichou.” If Byakuya was recalling it correctly they had all attended Shinigami Academy at the same time, if not the same class.

“Hinamori Momo died in the fight against Aizen.”

Byakuya hadn’t known that.

“But I can work with Hisagi-fukutaichou and Kira-fukutaichou. Is there someone else you can remember? I’d like to have as many as possible for an accurate analysis.”

“Perhaps some members of my Division.” His mind provided an image of Rikichi, but he too had died in the war with Aizen. He searched his mind for more. “And Madarame Ikkaku and Yumichika-san.”

“I don’t think Madarame-kun will be able to assist; he still does not remember much. But I believe the others should suffice, thank you.” She looked at him for a moment before continuing. “And there’s nothing else you can do here, Kuchiki-taichou. Go home! Tend to your clan and your Division,” she said without censure in her words.

Byakuya mused, his dedication to Renji had shifted his priorities and made him disregard his duties in a way that, at any other point in his life, Kuchiki Byakuya would’ve felt terribly ashamed of his conduct. Right now, he just wondered when he would have all his duties completed and when could he be by Renji’s side again.

In a demanding tone, he said, “You will tell me immediately of any change to his condition. Either good or bad!”

“Yes, of course, Kuchiki-taichou.” Unohana studied him for a while then said, “in fact I was wondering if it’s possible for you to take Abarai-kun home with you?”

For the first time in years, Byakuya felt the inability to keep surprise out of his face. He just stared at the other Taichou, blinking stupidly he was certain, before composing himself adequately and asking the first practical thing that came to his mind, “can he be moved?”

She smiled, probably at his effort, and replied, “there is no impediment to Abarai-kun being moved.”

“What will he require? As treatment, I mean?”

“I’ll have a treatment guide written up. As I recall the Kuchiki clan have a private physician, am I right?”

“Yes, you are correct. But I was in fact thinking of sending him here, to help you.”

“That is most generous of you, thank you, Kuchiki-taichou. But I don’t think it will be necessary. My Division members are enough, what I’m lacking is space. I’ve been trying to move all non-critical patients to their homes or Divisions. If you can take Abarai-kun, and perhaps a few others later, it will be help enough.”

“Very well, then. You will give me some time to address the Elders? I cannot make a decision like this without their consent.” Well, he could, but he would never hear the end of it. He had plans for the future that would enrage the Elders; it was good politics to keep them content for a while longer.

“Certainly, Kuchiki-taichou, while you tend to your affairs I shall have the people we discussed come here to feel Abarai-kun’s reiryoku,” Unohana said.

He inclined his head to her. Getting home, assembling the Elders, convoking the physician, arranging the suitable quarters. “I will return later,” Byakuya said after a few calculations, “In the evening.”

“It will all be arranged by then and Abarai-kun ready to be moved. If you’ll excuse me now.”

He nodded a silent dismissal and then turned to Renji, taking a deep sigh. This unexpected development had made him feel lighter, less pressured and definitely reassured. The weighing anguish that had consumed him earlier, clearly abated and a sense of relief and hope was starting to flood his chest, making it easier to breath.

He knelt by Renji’s head, carding fingers through the red mane and pressing a soft kiss to the still lips; the hand caressing the marked forehead. “I’ll return later, Renji, to take you home with me.”

Byakuya rose and headed for the door, sparing a last glance at the red-haired Shinigami lying so still.

[1] The gates used to travel between the Human World and the Soul Society.

September2009©MarinLiliz

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Next: X. Kuchiki Dealings

Books meme

2009-09-02T19:47:02Z

stolen from gokuma

According to the BBC, most people will have read perhaps six of these books.
Instructions:
Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (x)
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (x)
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (x)
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (x)
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee ( )
6 The Bible ( )
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte ( )
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell (x)
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman (x)
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens ( )
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott (x)
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy (x)
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller ( )
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare ( )
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier ( )
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (x)
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk ( )
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger ( )
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger ( )
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot ( )
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell ( )
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald (x)
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens ( )
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy ( )
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams (x)
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh ( )
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky (x)
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (x)
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (x)
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame ( )
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy ( )
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens ( )
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis (x)
34 Emma - Jane Austen ( )
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen (x)
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (x)
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini - ( )
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres ( )
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden ( )
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne ( )
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell ( )
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (x)
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez (x)
44 A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving ( )
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins ( )
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery ( )
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy ( )
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood ( )
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding ( )
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan ( )
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel ( )
52 Dune - Frank Herbert ( )
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons ( )
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen (x)
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth ( )
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon ( )
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens ( )
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (x)
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon ( )
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez (x)
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck ( )
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov ( )
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt ( )
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold ( )
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (x)
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac ( )
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy ( )
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding ( )
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie (x)
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville ( )
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens ( )
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker (x)
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett ( )
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson ( )
75 Ulysses - James Joyce ( )
76 The Inferno - Dante ( )
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome ( )
78 Germinal - Emile Zola ( )
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray ( )
80 Possession - AS Byatt ( )
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens ( )
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell ( )
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker ( )
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro ( )
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert ( )
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry ( )
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White ( )
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom ( )
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ( )
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton ( )
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad ( )
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery (x)
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks ( )
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams ( )
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole ( )
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute ( )
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas (x)
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare ( )
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl ( )
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo ( )

Does it count if I recognize all of them? And have them on my to read list? That I know the plot for more than half? Or seen the movie versions? :P

Anyway, the ones I read to the last word. Final count: 27

[Building From The Ashes] IX. Ingrained

2009-09-01T15:55:44Z

[Characters]: Kuchiki Byakuya and Abarai Renji.
[Pairing]: ByaRen.
[Word Count]: 1020
[Finished]: 30.August.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Contents/Warnings]: AU/Character-Death
[Rating]: PG-13 bordering on R
[Notes]: Have you, perhaps been wanting to know just how far our boys had taken it before all of this mess started? Then this is the chapter for you. It wasn't what I had initially planned, but Byakuya wasn't willing to just let go of the memories. Well it didn't matter, I like the end result and Byakuya can get bored by the Kuchiki elders next time.

Be aware that the rating is a bit higher in this but it's nothing too blatant or crude, just some heavy petting.

And finally just letting you know that from now I'm back to the usual scheme of chapter/week. And later down the fall, I think I'll have to start posting every other week.

I. Mind Sight Sound | II. Search Incessantly | III. Battleground | IV. To Get To Renji | V. Evil Plots | VI. Recount Regroup Retreat | VII. Secession | VIII. Return Home

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite

Byakuya woke in the green-walled room, next to Renji. Turning on his side, he watched the familiar face looking for signs of change. The skin was less clammy but still deprived of that wonderful colour – he was even paler that Byakuya – but his breathing seemed steady and with a good rhythm. A hand still held fast to Zabimaru but the other lay in the space between their futons, where Byakuya had let go in his sleep. He held the hand again, tracing the cold fingers, one by one, before bringing his lips to the palm and kissing it.

“Good morning, Renji,” he spoke softly and tried to feel the reiatsu in the air. It was recognizable as Renji’s but there was something missing from it, like Renji wasn’t right next to him but very, very distant. Byakuya searched his knowledge of spirit energy to determine if it was just the comatose state or if there really was permanent damage to his fukutaichou’s reiatsu. He should ask Unohana-taichou for more details, but that meant leaving Renji. And Byakuya didn’t feel like he had the strength to leave Renji right now.

In the battlefield, after Renji had gone into saviour mode – mimicking Kurosaki Ichigo’s trademark resolve – Byakuya had had the strength to destroy all the enemies that had come his way with only Senbonzakura by his side. When that last horde of Gillian had come out of nowhere and it all seemed hopeless, he had held strong until the last one of them had been obliterated and before collapsing to the foul sand, his last thought had been of Renji.

I won’t let you! Renji had said, but here he was lying like the dead and Byakuya wasn’t sure he could keep the strength.

***

Carefully placing his head on Renji’s bandaged shoulder, Byakuya inhaled deeply, reacquainting himself with Renji’s scent. How could he have forgotten such a strong, recognizable scent? It should’ve been ingrained deep in his skin, a part of him by now. They had been so deep in each other that Byakuya should reek of Renji even after all these weeks and yet he only smelled blood, weakness and Kuchiki in himself.

He nuzzled his face to the bony shoulder and then to Renji’s neck, where the scent was richer, headier, trying to bring memories, then lazily sat back up and held the limp, cold arm – the one not holding Zabimaru’s hilt – and again, pressed it to his lips, then across his cheek copying Renji’s first tentative touch to him, some night after a training session between the two of them. Dirt, Renji had claimed but then his hand had traced Byakuya’s left eyebrow and then trailed down to his ear, lingering just a moment too long on his lobe.

At the time, it had felt odd but Byakuya had paid it half a mind, attributing it to another of Renji’s eccentricities, like his terrible taste in headwear or his unusual habit of marking the achievements of his life on his skin, as satin black tattoos.

Now, Byakuya retraced that first touch with these stone cold fingers, tracing across his brow, trailing down to his ear. It didn’t linger on his lobe.

The scorching sensation that that first touch had ignited in Byakuya – consuming, addictive – had driven him to seek it again. And then their dance had begun. Byakuya had lingered after work hours; had watched more intently his fukutaichou; had sought Renji for training sessions. And Renji had known, had played the game and, on a moonless night, just outside the main gates to the Kuchiki Manor, had sucked the breath out of Byakuya with a frenzied kiss. There he had learned not only the smell but also the taste of Renji. And it had lingered on him, feeding the attraction.

Now, Byakuya touched the lifeless-like fingers to his lips, but they didn’t taste of Renji, they weren’t warm like Renji’s; they lacked the passion and fire.

Then, he had craved more: longer touches, steadier caresses, the feel of Renji’s body pressed flushed against his skin. And if the contact with Renji could not be attained quickly, the burn would flare up again. Agonizingly so. And so they danced, like moth and flame.

Now, Byakuya let the limp fingers slide down from his lips, caressing the skin of his neck, eliciting a brief shiver, a pale comparison to the shattering tremors those fingers, warm, had drawn from him. The cold hand was made to travel down his chest, forcefully pulling open the light summer yukata, exposing pale skin and a dark nipple. He brought the hand to it, but it lacked the steady touch to make it pebble, to stir him lower.

After awhile, anywhere and everywhere had been a good place for encounters; for heated crushes of bodies and rushed kisses; for hands inside uniforms and grinding on tabletops; for scorching mouths and devilish tongues.

Now, Byakuya led the hand to his navel, his own on top, lending heat and warmth, keeping it there by force. Tentatively, he let go of the hand on his navel, hoping against hope that it would stay in place, pressed there in remembrance of a favourite place. It didn’t hold. It fell to Byakuya’s lap and in a desperate attempt to rekindle the burn, he crushed it to his genitals, weighing, reaching, craving... Surely here it would flare alive, warm and groping like only Renji could.

It didn’t.

Not only didn’t Renji stir, Byakuya too was limp, cold, dormant. He took his hands away, not bothering with Renji’s. His head dropped to the white-ligatured chest, remembering that last night as they waited for Yamamoto to drive Aizen and his army back to Hueco Mundo.

***

“Because I won’t let you!” He was petulant.

“Won’t let me?!” It was challenging.

“I won’t let you! He was unyielding.

“How far do you want to go?” It felt hopeful

“... far.” He was determined.

“That’s quite an accomplishment.” It was stunning.

“Even further...” He was tentative.

“Renji...” It needed caution.

“Shut up! We can die tomorrow.” They were scared but had burned the sand beneath them.

August2009©MarinLiliz

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Next: X. Sleeping Arrangements

[Building From The Ashes] VIII. Return Home

2009-08-28T00:24:38Z

[Characters]: Kuchiki Byakuya, HIsagi Shuuhei, Unohana Retsu. Mentions of Abarai Renji, Kyouraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jyuushirou.
[Pairing]: ByaRen.
[Summary]: The Shinigami return to Soul Society to heal their wounded and buried the dead.
[Word Count]: ~1500
[Finished]: 26.August.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Contents/Warnings]: AU/Character-Death
[Rating]: PG
[Notes]: And we're back to the main pair.

I. Mind Sight Sound | II. Search Incessantly | III. Battleground | IV. To Get To Renji | V. Evil Plots | VI. Recount Regroup Retreat | VII. Secession

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite

The passage through the Garganta was a creepy walk. There were things in the dark, lurking on their steps but not coming close enough, never allowing the Shinigami to get a good look at them.

Byakuya was walking by the cart that carried a still unconscious Renji, the only sign of life, the firm grip on his zanpakutou’s hilt. It was trying to see one so full of life lie so like the dead.

From the sidelines the things in the dark kept following their passage, most likely drawn to the Hollows in their procession. Or perhaps Aizen. It was worth keeping an eye on them.

The things and Aizen.

But as long as they kept to the dark the Shinigami would keep their tread forward. This was the things dwelling, after all.

As for Aizen, the attention had to be doubled; alerting a few of the able Shinigami and keeping his senses keen and sharp on the traitor Taichou, Byakuya continued his walk along the dark, narrow space of the Garganta, closeby Renji. If Aizen had any plans for escape or revolt they were not put to work on this journey.

The cortege reached the end of the long dark tunnel without any incident and stepped into the light of dawn on Soul Society.

***

It was anti-climatic and awkward. After so many weeks in that desolate hell, of endless fighting, of yearning for home, returning did not bring the elating sensation of peace, did not cure the ails that tormented the body, did not bring the dead back.

There was a welcoming party, of those left behind unable to fight, of families and of the general inhabitants of Soul Society; they waited by the gate, seeking familiar faces. Two members of the Kuchiki clan were there, waiting to see if they needed a new leader.

There was crying and hugging and screaming. And Byakuya could not care less. It was petty and hypocrite but he knew that if Renji had been well, he would have felt all those feelings of welcome and homecoming. Like this, it was disconcerting watching the hug and cry fest at their arrival.

So Byakuya just passed by them and followed the path of the dead and injured to Fourth Division Headquarters, never leaving Renji’s side.

They were sent into a small, bland room with green walls and very little medical supplies and followed very shortly by Unohana-taichou. She fussed over Renji and then turned to Byakuya.

“He will need surgery,” she said in her calm voice.

This startled Byakuya, wasn’t the worst over? “Why?”

“We need to stabilize his spine. Replenish his blood. Do something about all that ragged flesh. You wouldn’t want your fukutaichou all scarred like that, now would you?” Her light tone was comforting.

Byakuya looked at Renji, a hand trailing along the hair line in his forehead, through the tangled locks, his finger tips dissolving stubborn knots. Renji was a mess; bloodied, torn, his skin unnaturally pale and clammy and in deep contrast with the remaining tattoos. It crossed his mind that it would be quite a feat to sow all of his skin back together and manage to get the tattoos lines to match correctly. But it was the hand tightly gripping the zanpakutou that caused Byakuya worry. The feel of Renji’s spirit energy felt wrong; it was still Renji but there was something missing and yet, there was something not belonging. It made the feeling of Renji foreign and Byakuya didn’t like that. It scared him. And Byakuya did not like fear.

“What of his reiatsu?”

“We’ll try to separate Abarai-fukutaichou’s own particles from Zabimaru’s. But you must be warned it is a very delicate procedure. You are no doubt aware that a zanpakutou is made from the same spirit energy particles as his Shinigami’s reiatsu, barely distinguishable, separating them is a complex and meticulous process. In Abarai’s case, even more so because his zanpakutou is made out of two different entities. You should be aware, Kuchiki-taichou, that even if the procedure is successful, it does not guarantee Abarai-kun will fully recover his zanpakutou powers.”

Byakuya closed his eyes. Was nothing ever easy? He opened them again to gaze at Renji. Could feisty, strong, proud of his abilities Renji be able to adapt to life without his zanpakutou powers? Could Byakuya?

“Kuchiki-taichou, there have been Shinigami known to live without their zanpakutou.”

“As a shell of themselves.”

“They still retain their Shinigami faculties and perfectly capable with Kido.”

“He is dreadful at Kido,” Byakuya whispered.

Unohana remained silent and then, “We need to prepare him for surgery. I suggest you rest while we operate on him.”

Byakuya shook his head no.

“Kuchiki-taichou, you’ve suffered severe injuries. The fact that you are standing is only due to your ...”

Byakuya looked sharply at her.

“... to your sheer stubbornness. You need to rest in order to recover fully.”

“I won’t rest until my fukutaichou is out of surgery,” he said, adamant. “Don’t fight me on this. It will only be a waste of time and rest.”

Unohana knew a lost fight when she saw it and didn’t press the matter further, instead she called a medical team to prep and take Renji. Byakuya followed.

At the surgery room door, he was denied entrance. “From here on it is our duty. Please wait outside. You will be informed of any major development.”

Byakuya nodded and sat on the uncomfortable sofa in the wall opposing the door.

***

The thought that he should go and tend to his Division crossed his mind. He knew he was not acting like himself, skirting duties and responsibilities and drowning in apathy. But nothing short of an invasion would drag Byakuya away from Renji’s side. Even if he wasn’t technically by Renji’s side. Byakuya placed a hand to his face and sighed deeply, shaking his head; this last thought unmistakable proof of how unlike himself he was.

The time seemed to happen in blocks.

Now, he was waiting and scrutinizing every little detail of what could go wrong and time didn’t seem to move. Now, he was looking at the white door behind which laid Renji and time didn’t seem to move.

Distractions and leaps in time were provided by outsides influences: the banging of doors as Fourth Division members ran to and fro; cries of pain or hurt from the closed rooms; crying and sobbing as the failed result of surgeries and treatments was known.

Ukitake and Kyouraku, bandaged and healed, stopped by and stayed a while, giving strength and support. As they were leaving Ukitake kissed his head and Kyouraku gripped his shoulder. It made no difference.

At some point during the afternoon a bellow came out of a room nearby, “HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!!!” A door banged open and out of the room came Hisagi Shuuhei; he paced back and forth before sitting next to Byakuya on the cramped sofa, a weary look on his face.

Feeling like moving time forward, he asked, “Kira-fukutaichou?”

Hisagi eyed him, only now registering who he had sat down next to, and then nodded. “Yeah, Kira...he’s mostly fine it’s just...”

Byakuya had heard that line a thousand times this day; physically they were well but their minds just... A heavy price to pay for peace. He just nodded to Hisagi and looked ahead.

“How’s Renji-kun?”

“The last time he was fine. Doing just fine.”

It was his turn to receive a nod.

“How long was the last fine?” Insightful Hisagi.

Somehow he seemed to have kept track of those time markers. ”Two hours ago.”

Eventually Hisagi left. A few more fines were added but there was nothing else coming out of that white door behind which laid Renji.

Some blocks of time, a few more fines, some members of his Division and one Kuchiki clan representative later, Unohana-taichou exited the room; looking like she always does, she smiled calmly at Byakuya and said, “We’ve done all we could. Now is up to Abarai-kun.”

Renji followed suit, wrapped in white with only his face visible, still unconscious but without the foreign feeling to his reiatsu. The tattoos were covered and Byakuya couldn’t assess Unohana-taichou’s deftness in aligning black markings.

“Now you can rest, Kuchiki-taichou,” she told him and lead them back to the same room as before. Settling Renji on a futon and fussing over Byakuya, making him eat and drink before leaving them be.

Byakuya knelt by Renji, securing Zabimaru to his fist; setting his red mane about his face, just like he liked it, framing Renji’s face. Then bent down to kiss the chapped, rough lips and whisper in his ear, “Do not dare to leave me.” Before laying on the futon right next to Renji’s, holding his hand for comfort, closing his eyes to rest.

August2009©MarinLiliz

----------------------------------------
Next: IX. Ingrained

[Building From The Ashes] VII. Secession

2009-08-24T16:23:28Z

[Characters]: Kuchiki Rukia, Kyouraku Shunsui, Ukitake Jyuushiro, Stark, Urahara, Hiraku Shinji and Yamamoto. Mentions of several others.
[Pairing]: ShunUkiStark. Mentions of ByaRen.
[Summary]: Yamamoto-sotaichou's orders pertaining to the Hollows are not well received.
[Word Count]: ~1500
[Finished]: 07.August.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Contents/Warnings]: AU/Character-Death
[Rating]: PG
[Notes]: It didn't go well and I wasn't able to get it completely finished before going on holiday. And I had so much to do/see/visit that I didn't really got much written while I was away. I did do a lot of plotting ahead, though. XD

I. Mind Sight Sound | II. Search Incessantly | III. Battleground | IV. To Get To Renji | V. Evil Plots | VI. Recount Regroup Retreat

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite

It suddenly hit Rukia; the madness of it all. Or better yet, the acceptable strangeness of a battleground. Things that anywhere else would have been dubbed insanity or outright surreal – and therefore impossible of ever occurring – were vividly displayed before her eyes, leaving no doubt of their real manifestation.

Then again it could all just be a horrific nightmare. But no! The pain was too sharp and the desperation too dull.

Having stumbled, yet some more, about the blood red sand, Rukia had finally found her Taichou. It was the circumstances of his finding that had her musing on the oddness of life and death and love.

Relief hit her like a wave when she confirmed he was still alive and apparently well. Grief struck her like a bolt when she saw the bodies of Kiyone-san and Kotsubaki-san. Reassurance steadied her like a rock when she noticed Kyouraku Shunsui by her taichou’s side; their constancy, comforting. Uncertainty shook her ground like a quake when by Kyouraku-taichou she spotted the Primeira Espada – Stark, a protective arm about Ukitake’s-taichou shoulders, showing as much concern and care for him as Kyouraku.

And what was more unsettling, the Eighth Division Taichou, not only did allow it, he seemed to bestow upon the Arrancar some amount of care as well. His hand – the one not holding Ukitake – was soothingly stroking Stark’s wrist’s skin in small circles.

“Ukitake-taichou?” Rukia called, uncertainly. And not even her intruding presence seemed to break their spell.

Together the three of them gave the sense of a perfect triad; three equal parts of a whole. They stirred and turned to acknowledge her presence, but didn’t cease contact.

Rukia watched, mesmerized as Ukitake’s lingering tears were wiped from his cheek by the Arrancar and his hair straighten by Kyouraku-taichou; as Kyouraku dusted the sand off Stark’s clothes and as Stark put a crumpled straw hat on Kyouraku’s head.

“Rukia,” Ukitake-taichou addressed her. The other two stared at her, as if daring her to judge the situation.

Rukia nodded to them and reported all that she knew of the situation to her captain, the professional tone easing all the madness and awkwardness.

“Thank you, Kuchiki-san.” Ukitake understood her need for a semblance of normalcy. “We should take care of Kiyone-chan and Kotsubaki-kun,” he said, moving to them.

Together they readied their bodies and called the team for their removal and then moved towards the Garganta, for their own extraction from this world. Kyouraku-taichou and Stark never leaving Ukitake’s side, walking just a step behind him and Rukia, as a guard escort.

***

As they neared the Garganta, Yamamoto-soutaichou’s voice rang clear in the air:

‘We have obtained the victory we sought. The army of Aizen has been destroyed, but for a few individuals. These will be taken into custody of the Shinigami and dealt with, accordingly.’

A blinding light of a Kidou spell enveloped the kneeling form of Aizen, before it faded into the eternal night, showing a bound Aizen. Red light tight around his neck and travelling down to his wrists – much like Rukia’s bindings when she had been arrested – only Aizen’s didn’t stop at the wrists, they continued down to his ankles. Another flash and a blue light wrapped around his torso, much like a bandage, tightly holding his power from Aizen’s reach; the former Taichou’s face never for once showed a single emotion.

A third flash and the red light bound the four remaining Arrancar: Stark, Halibel, Nelliel and Grimmjow.

Ukitake-taichou let out a pained cry and Kyouraku placed himself in front of Stark, protective but defying.

“Soutaichou, what do you mean ‘dealt with accordingly’?” Rukia’s taichou asked, standing by Kyouraku’s side, a protective hand on Stark’s shoulder.

Eyeing them quizzically, Yamamoto replied, “They will be stripped of their Shinigami powers. They will stand trial in Soul Society. Their sentences will be carried out in Seireitei or in Hueco Mundo.”

“Stripping them of their Shinigami powers will revert them back to common hollows, how can this be beneficial to Soul Society peace?” Kyouraku-taichou asked.

‘They will be taken prisoners and stand trial. THIS IS NOT up for this discussion! NOT HERE! NOT NOW! Shunsui. Jyuushirou.’

To Rukia, the use of the given names seemed to instil an even greater command than if the Soutaichou had simply called them by their titles. It was the weight of proximity, of years of acquaintance and authority. And even so they weren’t convinced and seemed intended to pursue the defence of their newfound... ally... third of the triad...

Stark stopped them. Holding Kyouraku and Ukitake by their necks and joining their heads together, the Arrancar whispered something that sounded to Rukia like: ‘don’t bother with it. It will work out one way or the other’.
Reluctantly, Ukitake and Kyouraku let him join the other imprisoned Arrancar.

Yamamoto continued, ‘The Vizard proved to be no threat to the Shinigami but even and true allies and are thus allowed to do as they please, including return to Soul Society if it’s their wish.’

Hiraku Shinji made a small bow to Yamamoto-soutaichou.

‘The exiles Urahara Kisuke and Shouhein Yoruichi are hereby pardoned and reinstated as full citizens of Soul Society.’

Urahara-dono looked startled and Yoruichi just nodded and placed a hand on Urahara’s shoulder.

‘All other matters are to be solved once we’ve moved the injured and wounded to Fourth Division Headquarters and the bodies of our dead to their final resting place. Let us move out of this place.’

An excitement wave flowed through the assembled Shinigami, a sense ofcalm that had not been felt in a very long time settled over Rukia.

Now! Now she could breathe a sigh of relieve, now it was finally over, now she could dare look at him, think of him. Hope it all would turn out fine.

Him.

ICHIGO.

She looked at the still Hollowfied form seeing the white mask starting to lightly flake and crumble. Trying to sense the familiar reiatsu returning; there was something there, very faint but definitely there.

Unohana-taichou, that’s who she needed to give a professional assessment of Ichigo’s condition but the pained look she received from the kind Taichou froze Rukia’s heart.

“Unohana-taichou?” Rukia didn’t understand, she could see and sense Ichigo’s recovery why wasn’t Unohana-taichou helping speed his recovery? “Unohana-taichou!?”she asked again.

“I’m sorry, Kuchiki Rukia. There’s nothing I can do!”

“No! No, no, no, no. .. Ichigo’s recovering! I can feel it!”

Unohana-taichou bowed her head and said, “I have orders not to treat Kurosaki-kun!”

“Orders?!!!” Rukia didn’t understand. “Orders from whom?”

“Yamamoto-soutaichou.”

“What?! Why?! After all Ichigo’s done! We owe it to him this victory. This...”

“It isn’t in my hands.”

Rukia’s blood ran cold and she screamed, “NOOO!!!”

Her brother, standing by Renji’s unconscious body, turned to her. “Rukia?”

“They are going to leave Ichigo here. To die,” she whispered. Her whisper was carried in the dead air, heard by all. A commotion rose.

Hiraku Shinji drew closer to Ichigo and addressed Yamamoto, “IS THIS HOW SOUL SOCIETY REPAYS THEIR HEROES? LEAVE THEM TO DIE IN HELL?”

‘The ryoka[1] can take him back to earth. Treat him with their medicine’, was Yamamoto-soutaichou’s only reply.

They were still calling them ryoka[1], even after all this time. Rukia made her decision in that instant; knelling by Ichigo’s body and grasping his cold hand. She was not letting go, wherever he was going, so was she. She looked at her brother, expecting disapproval but found an understanding look. Had this war and the nearly loss of Renji made Byakuya realise that the rules were just a pre-set for life and not life itself? His nod of assurance gave her the answer.

By the Garganta, they were now discussing the faith of Ichigo. Urahara-dono tried to argument that he was quite harmless and that the mask should fall anytime soon. And even if he presented any danger, being in Soul Society was much safer, all round, than being left on the Human World with billions of souls to feed on.

The Vizard added arguments. Yoruichi, Kurosaki Isshin, even Ishida Ryuuken.

The soutaichou did not give in! Ichigo’s time as a Substitute Shinigami was over. He was to return to his world and live his life.

“I forfeit my pardon!” Urahara declared and joined Rukia and Kurosaki Isshin by Ichigo still unconscious body.

The Vizard opened a new passage to the Human World and stepped through it. Chad, holding Orihime’s sleeping body was followed by the Ishida, Ryuuken supporting his son unsteady steps and then by Yoruichi and
Urahara and finally by Isshin carrying Ichigo.

In the end they took him back to the Human World. To Urahara Shouten.
Rukia looked back at the last moment, before the passage closed, to see the Shinigami leaving Hueco Mundo and a wicked smile in Aizen’s face.

[1] A Ryoka is a term given by Soul Society to invaders.

August2009©MarinLiliz

-------------------
Next: Return Home - The Shinigami return to Soul Society to heal their wounded and buried the dead.

No Second Chapter Building from the Ashes

2009-08-07T23:08:26Z

I know I said I would have another chapter up today, but I could not finish it in time to have it posted:( I'm so sorry. Too little time and too many people demanding it.

I will try and have 3 new chapters when I return, two weeks from now, as a sort of consolation prize for failing this one.

See you in two weeks time.

Hugs and kisses.

Fish [Sandbox Society]

2009-08-06T01:02:24Z

[Characters]: Susumu and Kuchiki Byakuya
[Pairing]: Implied ByaRen and KomaSen
[Summary]: Susumu spends some fishy time in the Kuchiki Manor.
[Word Count]: 700
[Finished]: 05.August.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: Mpreg
[Rating]: PG
[A/N]: To know more of Susumu and the other Sandbox babies' favourite things join sandbox_society comm and get access to their Character Sheets

Fish

[Building From The Ashes] VI. Recount Regroup Retreat

2009-08-04T20:04:25Z

[Characters]: Kuchiki Rukia, Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika. Mentions of Byakuya' Renji, Shuuhei and Kira.
[Summary]: Gathering of troops and returning home turns out to more complex than antecipated.
[Word Count]: ~1300
[Finished]: 03.August.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Contents/Warnings]: AU/Character-Death
[Rating]: PG
[Notes]: If all goes well first chapter of this week, before I leave for 2 weeks of vacations.

I. Mind Sight Sound | II. Search Incessantly | III. Battleground | IV. To Get To Renji | V. Evil Plots

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite

Dry eyed now, Rukia was still by Byakuya-niisama’s side, watching as he watched over Renji and attentively observed every effort Unohana-taichou dispelled in trying to save his red-haired fukutaichou.

Byakuya’s distress, palpable, and his unawareness to the surrounding area made clear the intensity of his feelings. Baffling, but clear as ice.

It made Rukia feel like she was intruding and witnessing something she shouldn’t have; something that was secret and precious and that the sorrows of war had brought to light. It made her wonder if it was mutual and required and assumed or if it had all been just one-sided, secret, hidden. Made her regret being away from home for so long, avoiding staying at the Kuchiki Mansion even if she was in Soul Society. And not paying much attention to Renji; take notice of his mood, for she would know for certain if it had been mutual and active, because Renji never hid his happiness like he did his sadness; it always showed in his eyes, in his crocked grin and the spring in his gait
.
Yes, there had been a war and a megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur wanting to destroy bouts of Human Life just as a means to even more horrific ends. Yes, there was a Substitute Shinigami who, at each action he took, managed to surprise and shock and dazzle her, and the world of living and dead and everything else in between.

But these were excuses. Rukia had not been a good sister and she had not been a good friend.

The tears were back in her eyes, but were kept from spilling as Renji moved and let out a strangled cry as Unohana-taichou aligned his spine back together with a sickening snap. Byakuya paled to impossible whiteness and bent down to whisper soothing nothings into Renji’s ear.

Even if his aloof mask was still in place and the expression in his eyes could simply be interpreted as mild concern for his fukutaichou, it all was betrayed by his attentive cares: the whipping of the blood out of Renji’s face, the holding of Renji’s hand around the hilt of Zabimaru preventing the fukutaichou from loosing vital contact with his zanpakutou. His whispered words, the small caresses, the demands for Renji to fight for his life were blatant displays of affection.

It was unsettling watching that amount of emotion transpire from someone has her brother. Because of the way she was accustomed to seeing him behave, collected and composed. And because of what it meant and what would happen if Renji didn’t pull through.

The shivers down her back made Rukia tremble and look away from them. They were taken care for now.

She needed to and find her own captain, receive new orders, do something... So Rukia treaded back through the battlefield, closing her heart to the mayhem.

***

She found Hinamori-fukutaichou’s body, quiet and calm, even in death. A single wound to the heart. Rukia composed her uniform and got the fukutaichou’s zanpakutou back on her hands before calling for the team that was handling the removal of the dead.

To the side she saw Matsumoto-fukutaichou do the same for Hitsugaya-taichou and then move away slowly towards the Garganta that had been opened by the fallen walls of Las Noches, presumably by Urahara-san.

The order to move out had been given and the prospect of going home, of leaving this void, retched place seemed to give Rukia extra strength.

She stopped by Hisagi-fukutaichou and helped him with Kira-fukutaichou, carrying the apathetic blond to the way out. It frightened her, the loss and distraught in his eyes. The killing of one’s Taichou, even if said Taichou had been a traitor, was a devastating blow at least for Kira-fukutaichou; Hisagi-fukutaichou, having done the same, didn’t look as perturbed. Or perhaps he hid it better.

On her way back to the field, in another failed attempt to find her Taichou, she spotted a familiar bald head. She had seen Ayasegawa-san’s frantic search and now understood why he had not found Madarame-san. The Eleventh Division officer was buried beneath several bodies of Shinigami and gooey remains of Hollows of all kind, most likely dampening his reiatsu.

Fearing the worse, Rukia climbed down into the shallow ditch and placed her hand on Madarame-san’s face. She sighed, it was still warm. He was still breathing.

She had no medic skills to speak of but a war this long, a battlefield such as this... Well and her everyday life as Ichigo’s supervisor had given her some basic knowledge, so Rukia made a quick scan for injuries noting all seemed well but for a nasty bump on his forehead.

The chuckle startled her.

“Lady, I’m all up for it if you take all of this crap from atop of me!”

Rukia blinked and then moved to help him from under all the bodies and debris.

“Thanks!”

“It’s all right, Madarame-san.”

“We know each other?” Madarame-san asked, watching her with interest.

Rukia looked puzzled, was he mocking her? But then he continued.

“Come to think of it, how did I get to be in a war zone?”

Oh Dear! “You don’t remember?”

“Not really. And what the hell is this place?!”

What to do? Did she tell him of the war and risk and even bigger shock? She played it safe. “What’s the last
thing you remember?”

“Hmm... not so sure about that, either.”

This didn’t bode well at all. “Well you know your name, it’s a start.”

“Well, I guess.”But he didn’t look much convinced.

“I’m going to get Ayasegawa-san.”

He nodded and replied, “’kay. Is that a medic?”

Rukia’s felt her eyes widen. “You don’t remember Ayasegawa Yumichika?!”

“Should I?” Madarame-san looked confused now.

“Er... Stay here, I’ll see if I can find him and we’ll go from there.”

She found Ayasegawa-san seated on the sand, not far from the place Madarame-san was. The franticness of before had worn out and he just looked apathetic now. Yachiru-fukutaichou stood by him, unusually silent and quiet, a small hand patting his knee.

“Ayasegawa-san,” she called.

He looked up. “Kuchiki Rukia-san!”

“I’ve found Madarame-san!”

He was on his feet instantly, nearly sending Yachiru-fukutaichou to the ground, asking, “WHERE! Take me to him.” There was a plea in his voice.

“Sure, it’s just...er...”

“OH... NO! He couldn’t...”

Rukia realised his assumption and corrected it. “Oh. No, no, he’s alive...he just...”

“Is he injured?”

What to say? “Somewhat. I think you better see for yourself.”

“Is he disfigured? Is that why you...? I won’t care! He is all I ... I Will Not Care!!!”

It seemed to Rukia he was trying more to convince himself than anyone else, but before she had the time to tell him, Ayasegawa-san spotted the familiar bald head and took off running.

When he reached Madarame he launched himself into his arms and held tight, placing multiple kisses to the bald head and when Madarame raised his confused face, Ayasegawa kissed his mouth desperately.

Until he was pushed away by Madarame

“WOAH! Woah it right there. I’m not into that kind of kink, fellow! You’re kinda good looking and all but... I’m more of a gal’s kinda guy.”

Ayasegawa took a step back and then another, stumbling on the bodies on the ground and falling on his back with a horrified expression on his face.

Madarame whipped his lips with the back of his hand.

Rukia closed her eyes for a moment. To find out that the love of your life is alive after a war is not always a good think.

She turned her body in the direction of Hollowfied Ichigo, eyes still closed.

Before opening them again and inform Madarame-san and Ayasegawa-san that they were starting to retreat back to home.

Next: VII. Secession - Yamamoto-sotaichou's orders pertaining to the Hollows are not well received.

[Building From The Ashes] V. Evil Plots

2009-07-31T01:17:20Z

[Characters]: Aizen Sousuke
[Summary]: Aizen assesses the situation.
[Word Count]: 1135
[Finished]: 30.July.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Contents/Warnings]: AU/Character-Death
[Rating]: PG
[Notes]: Since I'll be going on vacation sometime next week, you might get two chapters instead of one next time; that is if I manage to finish it before leaving.^^' Oh and remember me saying this would have mpreg somewhere in the future? There's actually a very veiled hint in this chapter. I dare you to find it.

I. Mind Sight Sound | II. Search Incessantly | III. Battleground | IV. To Get To Renji

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite

His reign was crumbling into dust and blood by the hands of the Shinigami.

His creations – the made Shinigami and the intricately created beasts – were destroyed. Or flawed beyond repair. How could creatures of the darkest matter stand to be near beings of self-righteousness and such weakness? To, in fact, choose to be with them, on their side and not for the victory but for affection? Inconceivable, and therefore flaws!

The other two had never truly been far from their Hollow essence and so counted little, as flaws or successes.

Inconsequential! He could always construct a new, improved, flawless plan.

From within, – Again! – from the Shinigami midst and their ranks, Kyouka Suigetsu[1] would be, once more, instrumental in the completion of His design of a new Universe. A Universe ruled by Aizen Sousuke.

A fleeting smile crossed His lips; all was not lost, there were still things in motion, echoes of past actions and repercussions of inactions that would keep the wheels turning until He could rise and resume His plans to the old goal and the new order.

And things seemed to be looking up for Him if the sight in His eyes was anything to go by.

Yes, His army was dwindling. But Hollows abounded in Hueco Mundo. His currently destroyed army was just a tiny scrape of the surface of the whole the Holloworld had to offer; He had just to raised them again and apply the Hougyoku. A new – and why not learn from past mistakes – improved army of Arrancar would be at His disposal.

The loss of His two oldest followers, even though difficult to suppress was by far not impossible. The absence of the ever inventive and scheming Gin and of the strategic and sometimes Shinigami-like mind of Kaname – that had so often provided insight to the bizarre plans of the fools – would be missed but easily surpassed.

***

Aizen turned His head, mindful of the old man’s staff to His shoulder – pressed close to His neck – and looked to the red and white fields of death for inspiration.

The Vizard had had their revenge. And within such a close-knit group, three members to mourn would give Him enough time before they realised anything was in motion.

The Hollowfied body of Kurosaki Ichigo. Most exceptional and valuable.

The inanimate body of Inoue Orihime. She was so precious and such an asset to Godliness.

The comatose Quincy.That was a power worth garnering, combine it with the hate for the Shinigami and the devotion to Kurosaki and it would be delicious.

There was also that unexpected human boy with such a handy handled power and control over spirit energy. Truly unexpected and oh so profitable.

Then there were the Shinigami, Aizen thought as He looked to the other side of the death fields – still mindful of the old man’s staff. Their numbers reduced to a few hundred, the loss of two Taichou and five Fukutaichou not the devastation He had anticipated, but there were still souls between salvation and perdition, so the toll was likely to grow higher.

Not to mention the division amongst their ranks that this war and Aizen’s betrayal had sparkled, and that was likely to achieve more damage than the loss count. The old loyalties, the new affiliations and their low capacity for reproduction and multiplication would be the end of the Shinigami while Aizen surveyed from the throne.

***

Aizen eyed the Shinigami critically, assessing their remaining power, usefulness and capacity for defection and being ruled under Aizen’s thumb as His abiding subjects.

The old man would never turn, if only to prove he would never ally himself with Aizen. He was stubborn like that; nothing would turn Yamamoto from his goal. Surprisingly, he actually sported a look of achievement hidden in his eyes, most likely deceiving everyone else into thinking his expressionless face was concealed grief; well everybody but the Master of deceit. Not even the loss of beloved and companion of old, old times, Sasakibe, seemed to prevent the fulfilment of victory. More the fool...

The little flower of Second Division was gone and with her the support He could have gathered from the Shihouin heiress and her loyal, brilliant and horridly annoying dog, Urahara. A shame, but if He played His cards right He might commission them for some shady work they seemed so fond of. Unbeknownst to them, evidently...

The blond punisher had taken His Machiavellian supporter’s head, so he proved worthy of consideration as he had before, when he’d been put under Gin. But, and there was always a but with these Shinigami, he was tainted in unexpected ways and broken by that taint and his actions. Still, He could monitor Kira’s situation and see if the outcome was favourable. This taint could prove as valuable as its maker...

Unohana was Unohana. Unwavering pure and impartial. She would never take sides. Nor would she bring harm to another. Willingly...

Hinamori was gone...

The Kuchiki Master was interestingly involved with his dedicated Fukutaichou. The intensity of the nobleman’s feelings baffled Aizen; what he saw in the rebellious pup was beyond Him but maybe Aizen had overlooked Abarai, he had become fast friends with Kurosaki. Nonsense, when had He ever been wrong...

The fox Taichou and the tattooed Fukutaichou seemed worth putting under surveillance like Kira. The one’s who kill their friends and idols should be rewarded for their courage and anaesthetizing of the soul needed for such feat. And if they made it once, they could always do it once more and then again...

Kyouraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jyuushirou had always been unattainable. They had the power and years and wisdom of the old man but lacked the ambition, the stubbornness and the callousness of heartless leaders. That, and their lives had always revolved around each other, rather than power or anything else. Blind like moths and flames. They were in for a treat if they though Stark was gonna have some fun and leave. They would soon be revolving around the Arrancar’s darkness...

The voluptuous, oblivious Rangiku not even Gin had managed to bring their way...

The oaf Zaraki, his merry men and his pink, portable doll of a Fukutaichou didn’t even qualify as worthy of analysis. Unless He needed fodder...

Mayuri was a curious case; it wasn’t loyalty to the Shinigami and it wasn’t power or need for affirmation, it wasn’t wealth or even resources and supplies. So if Aizen could learn what moved Mayuri, He would have him on His side. Research, research...

And finally, the petite Kuchiki Rukia, who so instrumental and instrumented had been in His rise and fall. Well, she would be where Kurosaki Ichigo would be. And he certainly was in His plan...

***

If all should fail, then there were inexhaustible amounts of humans...

----------------------------------
[1] Aizen’s zanpakutou

-----------------------------------
Next: VI.Recount Regroup Retreat - Gathering of troops and returning home turns out to more complex than anticipated.

[Drabble] An Annoying Spring

2009-07-27T00:57:56Z

[Characters]: Kyouraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jyuushiro
[Pairing]: ShunUki
[Summary]: In Academy days, Shunsui and Jyuushiro find ways to overcome an annoying Spring.
[Word Count]: 510
[Prompt]: Spring
[Finished]: 26.July.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: Masturbation.
[Rating]: R
[Notes]: for shun_uki weekly prompt. Certain liberties were taken with the prompt.

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite.

Shunsui shifted in his bed for the hundredth time this night, trying to get into an - unattainable - comfortable position. The bed creaked and he stopped moving.

Blasted old beds! Why couldn’t they have futons in the Academy Dorms like any other normal, respectful household? And then, Shunsui snorted to himself; he sounded like his gramps, always complaining about everything.

Seeing as sleep wasn’t coming around his way and Jyuushiro was snoring lightly on the other bed, Shunsui thought that fooling around a bit was right about the only thing he could do to distract himself into sleep.

A lazy hand slid down his pecks and the sensual glide of fabric teased his skin and made him shiver deliciously. Going further down, the hand scratched his pubes sluggishly, passing over an interested cock - slightly petting it - then moving further down to cup his balls, holding them comfortably then pressing them against his body in a satisfying play of comfort and hurt.

His interest picked and growing, his other hand joined the fête, stroking and marking up a delightful rhythm to thoughts of a white-haired beauty, looking back over his shoulder and smiling just at Shunsui.

He must’ve been vocal because Jyuushiro yelled, “STOP IT, Kyouraku!”

Shunsui hands flew away from his crotch and he asked, innocently, “what?!”

“You know perfectly well ‘what?!’”

His enthusiasm deflating, Shunsui ventured an explanation. “There’s a nasty spring on the bed, digging into my back, I couldn’t help but groan.”

“Does that spring make you moan out my name?”

“When it hits the right spot!”

A swoosh was heard and the next thing he knew a pillow - Jyuushiro scented – was hitting his head, full on. Shunsui raised his arms in capitulation.

“Okay, okay. I admit to jerking off to thoughts of you. But really, there’s a bloody, nasty spring sticking up my back. I was just releasing some stress and trying to get some sleep. Honest! Thinking of you was just the bonus.”

Jyuushiro huffed affronted and remained silent for the next few moments before some rustling was heard from his side of the room, then he said softly, “Okay you, but just for tonight.” He held the sheets to his bed open in invitation. “Tomorrow you’ll get another mattress sans digging springs or you’ll sleep on the floor. Deal?”

Shunsui sprung from his bed, crossed the room in two strides and lay down next to Jyuushiro’s warm body.

“Hya, sweet thing,” he said, kissing his roommate sweetly on the lips and nose. “It’s a deal.”

“If you don’t behave, you’ll go straight back to your springy bed!”Came the admonition, followed by a tongue to Shunsui’s neck and a hearty laugh. “Sleep now.” And Jyuushiro lay back down, facing the wall, back to Shunsui.

“Yeah.” Shunsui assented and spooned behind, dozing off immediately.

***

“Shunsui, that better be a spring!”

“You know this ain’t no spring.”

“Just happy to see me?”

“Always, sweet thing.”

“I might be springing for you, too.”

“Gotta do something about that.”

“Yes, please.”

“Nhmm, sweeee thinnnghhh...”

Perfect Synergy [Sandbox Society]

2009-07-26T01:38:17Z

[Characters]: Kaname Tousen, Komamura Sajin, Unohana-taichou and newborn Susumu.
[Pairing]: Komamura/Tousen (Komasen)
[Summary]: Komamura and Tousen meet their child for the first time.
[Word Count]: 1125
[Finished]: 25.July.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: Angsty | Male-Pregnancy.
[Rating]: PG
[Notes]: syn·er·gy (noun): The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.
gokuma 's Tomorrow works as a prequel to this.

Susumu is a joint creation of bosska_ak, gokuma and me.

[sandbox_society]:
Fics / drabbles:
Of Pink Haori and Twin Zanpakutou | Zaraki Day-Care | A Zanpakutou and a Chocolate Problem | A Friend in Need by me
Something Right | Sources | The Beginning | Forgivings | Past by gokuma (she has more drabbles, if you know Polish check out her LJ)

Art by bosska_ak and marianek at y!Gallery (might need an account)

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite. Save a few OCs product of fangirl brainstorming.

Komamura Sajin paced the front of the room they had taken Kaname when the first signs of labour had started.

It had been eight hours ago.

Medical personnel had gone in and came out. Seated officers ran errands for Unohana-taichou and her second-in-command, but gave little notice to the giant fox shinigami, nervously striding back and forth in the hall. Only diminute Yamada-kun had taken the time to reassure him all was well and that the labour in first pregnancies often took this long to be concluded.

So Sajin continued to pace outside the room where his husband and nearly born child were, worrying about everything that could go wrong, hoping it all went right.

Not even his keen sense of smell was very good in the Medical Centre, the sterile environment and the acrid smell of disinfectant overwhelmed his nose and he couldn’t smell Kaname’s unmistakable scent of marzipan, or that new and fresh fragrance that was the baby’s own, from the rest of the clinical scents in the air. This only served to distress him further.

So he paced and clawed.

Until a relieved sob followed by a triumphant wail were heard from the room where Sajin’s whole life was being decided. He stood in front of the door, still as death, waiting for news of life.

The door opened and a troupe of shinigami exited the room, Unohana-taichou last.

“Congratulations are in order, Komamura-taichou! You are now the father of a beautiful baby boy. Five pounds and nine ounces. He is small but healthy. You may go in and see them.”

Sajin nodded and went into the room, breathing in the air.

Blood, sweat and disinfectant.

Marzipan, love and something new, resembling almonds.

Kaname lay asleep in the bed, face ashen and tired but a smile on his lips. The baby was in a crib, right next to the bed and within reach, quietly observing his new world.

Sajin stepped closer, nuzzled Kaname’s temple, caressing his sweaty dreadlocks. He mumbled something but didn’t wake, so Sajin turned to meet his new son.

The child looked at him through huge eyes, as if he too was greeting this new person in his life, then wriggled a little and started whimpering until Sajin placed a soothing paw on his belly, rocking the baby and the crib, gently.

The animal instinct took over and Sajin slowly placed his muzzle to the baby’s nose and neck, chest and belly. Memorizing his almond scent. Recognizing him as his son. Marking him as his own.

The child fussed at the intrusion and wriggled some more, disentangling his small feet from the wrappings and dislodging his head from the green bonnet.

Sajin took a step back, away from the crib.

The baby was a pup! He had fox ears and a fluffy fox tail.

Komamura’s taint, his macula had been passed on to his child. His bestiality, his non-human nature had been passed on to his poor child. He had been fooling himself thinking that his offspring would have been spared his curse and had a chance at a normal human life. He had tainted this poor soul.

And then a terrible though afflicted him. What if Kaname didn’t want such a child? What if he refused the pup? Refused Sajin for giving him such a burden? Sajin looked in despair at his husband and found him wide awake, perhaps sensing his distress.

“Sajin? What’s wrong? Is something the matter with the baby?”

“No. He’s healthy and well. Maybe a little restless.”

Kaname nodded and smiled. “Give him to me. I wanna meet our son.”

Sajin hesitated but then took the pup from the crib, licking one of his ears and placed him in Kaname’s arms.

Kaname held him close and then smelled the baby’s belly. “He smells of almonds!”

Sajin hummed. “I noticed. Very sweet almonds.”

Kaname nodded and continued his acquaintance with his son, stripping the baby for skin to skin impressions. The pup seemed to enjoy this for his ears perked up and his tail was starting to unfurl.

Sajin watched raptured, his heart draining the dread and replacing it with incommensurable love and affection for these two beings that owned his life.

Kaname’s hands patted here and there, making sure all was in place. Ten fingers. Ten toes. Two ears. A tail...

“Oh!” he exclaimed. “He’s a boy all right!” And then chuckled at Sajin’s snort of relief and amusement.

Inspection complete and approved, Kaname dressed the pup again, tucking him in his wrappings and kissing one ear before placing the bonnet in place, casually commenting, “he might not like so constricting bonnets. We need to get some that allow his ears to be free. I’ve no experience with this, does it hurt having a bonnet on, or is it comforting?”

“If it’s not too tight and doesn’t constrict the ears, it shouldn’t be any problem.” Sajin didn’t quite grasp what was happening; casually discussing the effects of bonnets on pup’s ears was the furthest away from his mind when he imagined their first discussion about the pup. He shook his head, clearing it.

“Seat by me, Sajin,” Kaname asked, patting the bed.

He sat on the bed, his massive body, support for Kaname to relax against him; their child held between them.

“What’s troubling you?”

“He will have a troubled future, tainted by my...”

“NO!” Kaname interrupted. “He will grow to accept himself as he is. He will be loved unconditionally by us. We will teach him Truth, Justice and Loyalty. And he will be a happy child, proud of being our son.”

Sajin nuzzled Kaname, licking his ear, as he had done with the pup, thanking him silently for the admonishment.

Kaname sat back comfortably, cradling the baby to sleep, a finger caressing the ear that had become free from the bonnet.

“What’s he like?” Kaname asked.

“Tiny!” Sajin spoke in his ear.

Kaname chuckled. “Next to you everything’s tiny. What colour is his skin?”

“Four shades lighter than yours. Just like a cup of coffee with a few drops of milk.”

“And his fur?”

“Auburn. Fiery red and lush gold.”

Kaname hummed into the baby’s head, a smile on his lips. “His hair?”

“Dark and thick. I think in time we'll be able to make tiny dreadlocks with it.”

“I expect he will be a whirlwind, so I guess those are nice and easy to keep. What of his eyes?”

“Huge! Maybe they’ll change colour but I hope not the size. They’re like beams, curiously searching...”

“He is perfect!”

“All your doing.”

“No! Ours.”

Sajin’s arms folded around Kaname and the baby, nuzzling his husband and gently placing a paw on the tiny belly; sighing in relief and contentment.

</div>

[Building From The Ashes] IV. To Get To Renji

2009-07-24T03:20:55Z

[Characters]: Abarai Renji, Kuchiki Byakuya and Yamada Hantarou.
[Summary]: Byakuya is determined to reach Renji.
[Word Count]: 1020
[Finished]: 22.July.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Contents/Warnings]: AU/Character-Death
[Rating]: PG-13
[Notes]: Did I say this was gonna have less than 500 words/chapter? Yeah, who am I kidding, since when do I write so little? Lets raise the stake to 1000 words/chapter, shall we?

I. Mind Sight Sound | II. Search Incessantly | III. Battleground

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite

It had not been the Espada that had made the deepest wound. It had not been the lower Arrancar, all had been the enemies of old; the Gillian and the Menos Grande. Andnot by renewed strength or new obtained powers but by sheer force of numbers. They had been tens of millions and the already drained Shinigami had been nearly defeated.

By Byakuya’s side, as a ruthless and fiery warrior, Renji had been a precious ally. Their combined strikes had decimated countless foes and Byakuya had found enjoyment in the midst of battle.

But then, that which defined Renji and set him apart from Byakuya – his stubbornness and blind affection for his friends – had Renji leaving his place by Byakuya’s side to run in aid of a Hollowfied Kurosaki Ichigo battling Aizen or to save Rukia from a thousand Gillian and the last Byakuya had seen the red head, was protecting the Quincy boy, while he reloaded his bow with fantastical arrows.

And Byakuya, alone, had managed his load of enemies until something had struck him right in his stomach and all went black.

***

Now, a prickly feeling and a healing, humming warmth were soothing and calming Byakuya as he felt himself drift up to conscience slowly but steadily.

His senses became gradually aware of the surroundings: the sounds were still harrowing; sounds of death and despair; the air had an eerie stillness to it and nothing seemed to move but it crackled with untamed reiatsu,; rippling on skin, billowing on hair; the smell of sand, blood and electricityleft a metallic taste in his tongue and the underworld was still painted red. Not Renji’s vibrant red but a dull, dead red.

As sensation moved along his body waking nerves and muscles, pain flared. His abdomen hurt as if something had been pulled out of him, his head swam in fuzziness and his limbs were so heavy he barely could lift them.

But this time he was plainly aware of where he was, how he had come to be here and why he wasn’t feeling Renji anywhere near.

***

Wandering.

Aimless.

Lost.

That was how the Shinigami spirit energy felt in the air. As if the lost Shinigami had spilled their life force and were now searching for their old bodies or a way to return home. Or both.
The air sparked and flared and Byakuya’s senses — and the senses of those awareof spirit energy, he supposed — were on overdrive.

Blindly he reached for Senbonzakura, needing to feel the hilt of his zanpakutou in his hands,as a grounding force, to know it was still there to keep Byakuya focused on the life ahead. But Senbonzakura too, felt lost and it took a few tortuous moments to gather in its sword form. It hummed reassuringly and the familiar scent of sakura petals, calmed Byakuya as very little could in that moment.

The spirit energy seemed to settle in his immediate surroundings and he could feel the energy pertaining to living beings and the energy scattered to the white and black. His mind spotted Renji’s after a few moments of searching.

***

Byakuya now felt ready to face the conscious world. Registering the hyper voice next to his body, he concentrated on it to fully re-emerge and opened his eyes to face the small Fourth Division officer tending to him.

“Oh, finally!” he exclaimed, running his hands over Byakuya, assessing his current state. “Yes, you seem to be fully back. How you’re feeling,” he asked, relieved.

Byakuya didn’t answer but tried to get up, his stomach lurched and he felt annoyingly dizzy but after a resting period managed to attain a seated position.

“NO! What do you think you’re doing?”

Byakuya could have explained the reasons. He just rasped out the name.

“Renji!” And tried to get to his feet.

“NO! What are you doing?” The boy - he couldn’t remember the name – helped him steady on his feet, but continued worrying. “You can’t get up; you were nearly dead just now. I must insist you remain lying down. For your own health.”

Ignoring the nagging, Byakuya took a few steps in the direction where he continued to feel Renji’s reiatsu, before his legs gave up beneath him and Byakuya fell to his knees.

“See! You’re too weak to move just yet. Rest a few hours and then we can go look for Abarai-fukutaichou.”

He wouldn’t give up till he saw Renji, so leaning on Senbonzakura and the little Fourth Division boy, that despite warnings and advises seemed determined to keep a close eye on Byakuya, the Sixth Division captain made his way through the horrid battlefield towards Renji.

Byakuya knew the way to reach Renji even if the boy – Yamada Hanatarou, he had called himself – insisted to move in the opposite direction. Byakuya knew the way to Renji.

***

Unohana-taichou, braid undone and zanpakutou hovering above, expectant and Rukia, tears flowing down her face– when Rukia never cried – gave him an idea of the gravity of the situation.

Byakuya neared the bodies, apprehensive, heartbeat irregular with uncertainty and gasped at the sight before him.

“Oh, Renji!”

It wasn’t the copious amount of clotting blood on the ground, nor the unnatural angle the legs seemed to make, not even the tears to the chest that mangled his gorgeous tattoos; it was the shards of Zabimaru – that Renji appeared to be reaching for – that tore at Byakuya’s heart.

The physical wounds, gruesome as they looked, were well in reach of Unohana’s mastery as a healer but the loss of one’s zanpakutou...

Holding Senbonzakura to his heart for assurance and taking a deep breath, Byakuya dropped, ungracefully, to his knees by Renji’s red head. His lap serving as a pillow and the Kuchiki scarf gently cleaning the dried blood from Renji’s face, Byakuya reached for the hilt of Zabimaru and placed it in his fukutaichou’s hand, his fingers squeezing over Renji’s holding the bony hilt.

Leaning close to his ear Byakuya whispered, “it’s here now. It hasn’t gone anywhere. I’m here now. I am not going anywhere. NOW, FIGHT BACK! ABARAI!”

July2009©MarinLiliz
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Next: V.Evil Plots - Aizen assesses his situation.

A Friend in Need [Sandbox Society]

2009-07-19T21:51:58Z

[Characters]: Hikaru and Susumu
[Summary]: Susumu runs into trouble and Hikaru saves the day.
[Prompt/Inspiration]: Hikaru wielding a bokken and protecting little Susumu from bullies - an idea from gokuma
[Word Count]: 1111
[Finished]: 18.July.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: Implied Male-Pregnancy and just some EXTRA fluff.
[Rating]: PG
[Notes]: Hikaru is marianek 's; Susumu and Ren & Yuu are a joint creation of gokuma, bosska_ak , and me.

sandbox_society:
Of Pink Haori and Twin Zanpakutou | Zaraki Day-Care | A Zanpakutou and a Chocolate Problem by me
Something Right | Sources | The Beginning | Forgivings by gokuma

Art by bosska_ak

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite. Save a few OCs product of fangirl brainstorming.

Hikaru skipped down the road, bokken1 in hand, slaying imaginary foes. A humongous Menos Grande. Or the evilest of overlords, just like Aizen. Or better yet, blocking a huge cero from a joint force of many Hollows. And all this easily handled solely by Kuchiki Hikaru.

“Howl and Scatter!” Were his parents’ zanpakutou release words.

Hikaru couldn’t wait to learn the name and release form of his own zanpakutou. Would it take the form of an animal, like his dad’s? Or would it have a strong, albeit flowery, presence like his father’s? Although his father had told Hikaru that Senbonzakura could also take a human form and had, at one time, met and taken care of baby Hikaru, though the Hikaru now didn’t remember a thing, being a baby at the time.

His reverie of zanpakutou forms and names was disturbed by three boys, older by the looks of it, up the road. They stood around something, blocking the view and the road from Hikaru, laughing, pulling and exclaiming over whatever they were surrounding.

“I’d never seen anything like this. It’s got...” one of them said, gesturing over his head and yanking on it.

It growled lowly.

Another of the boys poked it with his foot.

“Yeah! And look there... behind it...” This one, too, yanked at it. “It’s got a tail!!! Really there! Attached to its back!”

“Eww! Gross!”

The growl grew louder and menacing.

“Oh! It’s snarling. Do you think it’s gonna bite us?” the third one, who had stood back a little, asked with an almost trembling voice.

The one who‘d spoke first, mocked again. “You gonna bite us, little freak?”

It must have made a sudden or threatening move because the three boys jumped back, startled and Hikaru could see what they were taunting.

He gasped.

Susumu!

They were taunting little Susumu. Pulling his cute ears and yanking on his fluffy tail. And Susu-chan stood there, brave and bold, ears back menacingly and tail out threateningly, but no match to three much bigger boys.

Hikaru didn’t think. He ran up to the group, passed them in a flash and stood between them and Susu-chan, bokken out in attack mode. Susumu behind him. Protected.

“Hikaru-niichan!” Susumu exclaimed with reverence and stood closer.

Hikaru put a hand behind his back and held Susu-chan close to him. Protected.

The three boys looked at Hikaru, alarm on their faces, as if expecting to see another fox-boy but when they realised it was just another regular boy, even smaller than them, relief showed on their faces.

Just you wait! Hikaru thought. Another taunt at Susu-chan and you’ll regret it all. He firmed his hands on the wooden sword, fingers apart, breathing under control and waited for their next move.

They did what they knew best.

“What?! You gonna protect the little freak?”

Susumu flinched and stood closer to Hikaru but the menacing growl was back in his throat.

“Yeah! He and who else?” They all laughed but kept their distance.

Susumu bared his teeth.

“Aww! The little thing is gonna chew on our legs.”

“HE IS NOT A THING! HE’S KOMAMURA SUSUMU! AND HE IS MY FRIEND!”

“Oh! He is your friend?! Don’t you mean your pet?” They guffawed louder, holding their bellies with the laughter.

His father had always taught Hikaru to ignore taunts. And he had so far. But Hikaru had also been taught to stand up to bullies and protect his friends. So Hikaru bared his teeth, just like Susumu had, and struck forward, growling.

“Aw! The other one wants to bite too.” This one was the first to lose a tooth.

“Oh, you little...” The next one was hit on the knuckles as he tried to reach Hikaru.

The third one didn’t dare to move forward, instead he kept back and grabbed a stone from the road and aimed it at Susumu. Hikaru followed its trajectory and moved into it to prevent his friend from getting hurt. It hit Hikaru on the forehead.

The three boys ran screaming threats and insults.

“Freaks!”

“We’ll tell on you.”

“You wait and see. You won’t get away with this!”

Susumu stepped from behind Hikaru and snarled loudly as Hikaru tried to run after them, yelling, “Just you try it again. You chicken!”

Susumu held onto his arm preventing Hikaru from chasing the three boys.

“It’s okay, Hikaru-niichan.”

“It is not. They were making fun of you. They could’ve hurt you.”

Susumu lowered his head and bit his lower lip. “I know. I’m sorry, Hikaru-niichan.”

Hikaru stopped looking at the retreating form of the three boys, now far enough that they no longer posed any threat, and looked at Susu-chan.

“Silly! You don’t have to apologise.”

Susu-chan nodded but didn’t seem in better spirits.

“Sorry I yelled at you. Friends?” Hikaru hugged his friend, tenderly tugging on his ear.

Susumu relaxed with the hug and in no time was purring contently and giggling.

“Why were you alone?” Hikaru demanded to know. They weren’t too far from the Komamura house, but even so Susu-chan shouldn’t be out on his own. He needed to be at least as old as Hikaru to do so.

“I was chasing butterflies like we do with Ken-chan! And I was following them and ended up here. And then, I know you come home this way, everyday, so I was looking at butterflies and waiting for you to pass by when they showed up and started pulling on my tail and ears with force. Not tickling and playing like you and the twins do. Or Masaki-chan, even though she sometimes hurts me, but that because she’s still a baby. And then you got here and chased them away.” Susumu said in all this in one go and then smiled up at him, adoringly.

Hikaru nodded in understanding. “Well, next time wait by the house. I’ll come by and visit.”

“Next time, I’ll join you and we’ll fight them together, just like you did!”

Hikaru admired his braveness but Susu-chan was still too little. “But you don’t know how to fight poperly! You’ll get hurt and...”

Susumu interrupted him and explained, “my daddies said it was okay for me to go and train with you. So I can start learning how to fight and stuff!” He beamed at Hikaru.

“That’s great!” Hikaru squealed.

“Isn’t it?”

Both boys jumped and mocked played till a trickled of blood flowed down from Hikaru’s forehead into his eye.

Susumu pulled Hikaru down and licked the blood and the wound until it stopped bleeding.

At Hikaru’s dazed look, Susumu explained with a bloody grin, “my papa always licks my hurts better.”

1Bokken - is a wooden Japanese sword used for training.

[Building From The Ashes] III. Battleground

2009-07-15T15:54:08Z

[Characters]: Generic but right about every shinigami I could think of, plus some espada and vizard.
[Summary]: Anguished aftermath of a deadly battle.
[Word Count]: ~950
[Finished]: 07.July.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Contents/Warnings]: AU | Violent Imagery | Character-Death
[Rating]: R
[Notes]: Character-Death abounds in this chapter, some more crude then other.
The war with Aizen has just finished. A very devastating war, so I had to kill a lot of characters. I mean a lot!
I made a rough estimate and I killed about 40% of characters! I tried to eliminate the ones I had no special affection to but even so, some of these were kinda hard to let go.
And I'm not known to like the usual mainstream characters so... Be warn as you read ahead.

I. Mind Sight Sound | II. Search Incessantly

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite

Consuming screams echo in the air, muffled by the stillness of death.
And the players of the game crowd the ground, aimless and erratic, stumbling on the lifeless pieces of each other.

The four remaining Espada mile about, uncertain of the faith that awaits them. They mean not, nor do they aspire to, pose any threat to the Shinigami. Their prodigious healing properties have them speedily recovering by themselves, albeit the loss of some limbs; Grimmjow seems to have lost his arm, again; Halibel is lacking three Fracción and seems a hollow of her former glory. Nelliel and Stark appear to have defected from what’s left of the Arrancar ranks and stand by grieving and torn Shinigami.

***

A yellow bow-tie, an orange scarf and a frilly white shirt are all that is left from three of the Vizard. The five remaining ones stand about, wayward and blown by the loss. Semblance of the Hollow mask still partially visible, as if the environment has a grip on their inner demons or the sacrifice is so colossal that they lack the strength to turn back fully. Shinji and Hiyori both stand by Kensei who kneels down, gripping an orange scarf in his hands. Love and Lisa, respectively, hold the frilly shirt and the yellow bow-tie. All carry vacant expressions and dried eyes. Hollows don’t cry!

***

Yamamoto-soutaichou reigns over the destruction of Las Noches, Aizen Sousuke and his army of Hollows. With an expressionless face, but a sense of fulfilment and accomplishment that not even the sight of his soldiers lying in the ground, lost – his fukutaichou among them – seems to dispel. Aizen kneels by his side, held down only by the wooden staff - that is Ryuujin Jakka in its unreleased form - pressed to his left shoulder; no fighting in him but no sign of defeat, either.

***

Frantic are the members of the medical Division. Seemingly the only moving things in the landscape. Running back and forth amongst the salvageable, the lost and the dead. Paying no mind to the losses in their ranks. What are one less fukutaichou and a few seated officers in this bedlam?

***

Mayuri maunders about the disrespect and carelessness with one’s work as he wanders about the red tainted white collecting pieces of Nemu’s torn body. An arm, here. An eye, there. Strands of hair, everywhere.

***

Urahara – green-stripped-white hat in hand, head bowed and tear-streaked face – places a consoling hand on the back of an inconsolable Yoruichi who bawls over the dead body of Soifon. Beautiful, serene and fierce even in death.

***

Shunsui holds Ukitake close to his body. The cold hands of Stark – also enveloping Jyuushiro – help steadying them and keep Jyuushiro from reaching the maimed bodies of Kiyone and Sentaru. The brave third seats of 13th Division, both killed trying to protect their captain.
The guilt and hopelessness rake sobs from Jyuushiro’s thin body that are nearly too painful to bear witness to, but the Shinigami and the Arrancar bear it. The love, admiration and devotion demand it. Jyuushiro grips the arms around him seeking the strength that eludes him, grounding the sanity that escapes him.

***

Kira cradles his stomach with both hands as he hurls his guts out, next to the Wabisuke-weighted down and headless body of Gin. The vomit alternates with tears that run down his face silently. He unhooks one hand from his belly and tries to reach the outstretched hand of his long time tormenter but then the bile rises up again. Shuuhei keeps just one soothing hand on his back, as the other holds Tousen’s broken glasses, snatched from the traitor in a bout of furry as he too killed his former captain. No remorse; they do not merit remorse. Not after the desertion, the attacks, the killing, their comrades, his friends; Kira, Renji, Hinamori...

Komamura Sajin keeps close by, an eye on the bodies of Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname as if to be certain of their permanent demise.

***

Yumichika frantically searches the bodies on the ground for a bald head with matching red eyelids, a look of mad despair on his face. Dishevelled and missing his eyelashes’ feathers he keeps calling out for Ikkaku. Zaraki and Yachiru search with him; for Madarame; for Maki-Maki, for all and every single warrior of 11th Division, cataloguing the damage and mourning the dead, quietly.

***

Hitsugaya lays trapped in a tower of blood and ice, mixed in, deadly and horrifying. His still opened eyes are lifeless as his body melts away. Matsumoto too, stares lifelessly at the melting of her captain, no response, no reaction, no tears, no bawling. She just stands there as the ice weeps for her.

***

An injured Chad cradles an unconscious Orihime. Her Shun Shun Rikka zoom around them like bees over a particularly succulent flower. Trying to turn back the time to a more joyous instant and heal. They heal the strong one holding their Orihime and persist in healing her. Only, nothing seems wrong with Orihime.

Ishida Ryuuken feels lost and out of place trying to calm down a wailing Isshin, when he isn’t at all calm. Thrown in this fight where he did not belong, did not want to belong. And made to use the powers he never wanted in the first place. Made to watch a boy, his son’s age, turn into a Hollow and then into something harrowing. Watch his son suffer till near death and now veil his still, unaware and comatose form. And on top of it all, assuage Isshin, grieving over the still Hollowfied body of Kurosaki Ichigo.

Senselessness infests the white.
Dead bodies everywhere pollute the taintlessness of the black.

Next: IV. To Get To Renji - Byakuya is determined to reach Renji.

[Building From The Ashes] II. Search Incessantly

2009-07-08T16:06:13Z

[Characters]: Kuchiki Rukia and Unohana Retsu. Mentions of Byakuya, Hanatarou, Renji and Rikichi.
[Summary]: Rukia searches Unohana-taichou through the wounded and the dead.
[Word Count]: 455
[Finished]: 05.July.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Contents/Warnings]: AU | Mild Violent Imagery
[Rating]: PG-13
[Notes]: ByaRen AU, where the war with Aizen has just finished. How to deal with the rebuilt of Soul Society and life after such a devastating war. (mpreg in the future) Still very generic.

I. Mind Sight Sound

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite

Rukia ran.

Like she had for Kaien-dono.

Like she would for Renji.

Like she did for Ichigo.

She ran, absurdly fast. At shunpo speed, that she had never attained before.

Aimlessly through the mayhem and the blood, the bodies and the pieces, the wounded and the dead...

In a frenzied search of Unohana-taichou. Against time and nausea. Trying not to look too closely at the friends and foes lying scattered in the immense sanguine sea on the monochromatic scenery.

***

She kept the fields around her a blur, only focussing when she thought she’d seen Unohana-taichou, but the healer was proving difficult to find. And the blurring no longer kept the faces from her eyes. And her imagination ran wild.

Twice did Rukia thought she had found the captain and twice had she looked intently at a laying body, only to see what she did not want: her fellow Shinigami suffering; her friends dead.

And still Unohana-taichou was a lost white point in the vast red expanse, against a black sky. Her zanpakutou released form – Minazuki – did pass over Rukia, but it was without the captain. Just carrying the wounded to the campaign hospital, set inside the halls of the Las Noches Palace, taken victoriously, from Aizen. Or the dead, to assemble and later take back to Soul Society.

***

“Unohana-taichou!” Rukia ran and fell beside the 4th Division captain in relief. She had found her. Her black uniform soaking darker with the blood off the ground.

“Unohana-taichou! My brother... Please, he needs... Hanatarou-kun can’t for much longer... He’s...” The words jumbled at her throat and choked her.

“Breathe, Kuchiki Rukia!”Unohana demanded.

Rukia breathed.

“Now from the start.” The healer prompted, without taking her eyes and hands from what she was doing.

Rukia refused to look and acknowledge the red form the captain was tending to – breathing his lasts breaths, from the sound of its ragged intake of air – as she explained Byakuya-niisama’s injuries and Hanatarou-kun’s treatments.

“I believe I’m not needed there. Hanatarou-kun has done all he could. It is up to Kuchiki-taichou now,” Unohana-taichou replied.

“But...” Rukia tried to express the utter importance and the urgency. But the words... just... wouldn’t...

“I cannot leave here. I’m all that stands between the life and death of Abarai-fukutaichou...”

And then, Rukia looked and acknowledged the body Unohana-taichou was tending to.

Renji.

Bloodied red hair; torn flesh in his arms and torso; legs at a weird angle from the rest of his body; ragged and very shallow breathing. And still he cradled the mangled body of Rikichi under his own. His left arm protectively around the body of his most devoted fan, his right one outstretched and trying to reach the hilt of, a broken to shards, Zabimaru.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Next: III. Battleground - Anguished aftermath of a deadly battle.

A Zanpakutou and a Chocolate Problem [Sandbox Society]

2009-07-06T21:21:19Z

[Characters]: Zaraki Kenpachi and the babies: Hikaru, Masaki, Susumu and Ren & Yuu.
[Summary]: Hikaru runs into trouble with a Zanpakutou and with Chocolate.
[Word Count]: ~850
[Finished]: 06.July.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: Implied Male-Pregnancy and just some EXTRA fluff.
[Rating]: PG
[Notes]: Hikaru is marianek 's; Susumu and Ren & Yuu are a joint creation of gokuma , bosska and me.
In the last fic I had a hard time with Hikaru; this time he just wouldn't let any one else speak. The twins tried but just managed a cameo.XD
sandbox_society previous fics: Of Pink Haori and Twin Zanpakutou | Zaraki Day-Care

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite Save a few OCs, product of fangirl brainstorming.

“So, Hikaru-niichan did you get to see your father’s zanpakutou release?” the twins asked, eager to hear of the famed Senbonzakura, as they walked along the grass path to the little spot by the creek Ken-chan had chose for them to play in,.

“Yeah, I did,” Hikaru replied, not very excited.

“AND?!” Yuu and Ren insisted.

“Well it was a bit girly, really. It was just a bunch of pink flowers.”

The Kuchiki heir remembered his father releasing the zanpakutou. The anticipation of seeing the great Senbonzakura in all its glory. Only to be sourly frustrated at the flurry of pink (PINK!) petals that swarmed the room they were in.

Okay, he could feel the power enveloping him, protective and strong, just like his father, but it was all very unsatisfying. He was sure Masaki would find it pwetty, but he was a boy! He liked big, shiny zanpakutou.

The twins felt disappointed with Hikaru’s reply, Uncle Byakuya seemed like a strong fighter. All their papa’s and daddies said so.

He was famed for being very powerful and instrumental (whatever that was) in the Great War a long time ago, before they were born. Having a pink and flowery release didn’t show that, all very well. Their Papa and Daddy both had twin zanpakutou. That was four swords (they now knew how to make sums)! Well, their daddy also said that the size and number of a zanpakutou didn’t mean how strong it was, but still...

“Maybe he didn’t show you all its release?” they asked, hopefully.

“Yeah, maybe.” Hikaru didn’t sound very convinced.

They tried to cheer their friend by remembering him how (HOW!!!) cool was his dad’s zanpakutou. “Anyway uncle Renji is way cool. Big and with the baboon and the snake tail. Don’t you love it when he screams...?”

Hikaru grinned at them sheepishly, thankful for their support and scream with Ren and Yuu, running down the green grassy hill.

“HOWL ZABIMARU!!!”

***

Later that afternoon, Hikaru found himself in a dilemma: what to do with a hand fully smeared with chocolate? They’d been eating the chocolate covered cookies the twins’ daddy had sent for tea and was now faced with this problem.

Did he use the goods manners those annoying Kuchiki old ladies tried to teach him?

In a class right before his sword training that was nearly impossible to pay attention to, as Hikaru earnestly revised the techniques taught by Madarame-sensei, or Yumichika-sensei or Yoruichi-sensei the day before.

Still his dad said it would make his father really proud if he could show those Kuchiki (and here dad would mumble a bit and Hikaru never quite got the word) how polite he was. So Hikaru did pay attention on occasion (just to make father proud) and knew the polite thing to do was to walk all the way to the creek to wash his hands.

Only the creek was quite far away and he would probably fell into it and get himself all wet and in even more trouble.

So did he clean it up on his hakama?

Like his dad did sometimes on those fancy dinners, they never let Hikaru attend, and that father said dad always tried to muck up to embarrass him in front of the elders. To which dad responded by hugging father and (gross!) kiss him and tell father that he knew he really didn’t give a flying baboon’s ass with pink blossoms about it (which always made Hikaru giggle like mad and be discovered eavesdropping in on them).

It seemed a bit of a messy solution but more was having his hand chocolate-sticky till he got home.

There was another solution. Hikaru could join the twins’ game: Who could get more chocolate in whose face?

Right now, Ren was wining, having just slopped Yuu’s nose with a very healthy dose of chocolate. Not that he was in the lead for much longer; Yuu crumbled the few cookies left and sprinkled his brother with the melting crumbs. Giggling like mad as he ran from his affronted twin at full speed to hide behind Ken-chan.

Ken-chan, who was supposed to be watching over them was really was taking a nap. Well they were all big boys and Hikaru, being the oldest, could look after the smaller ones, like Susumu-kun and Masaki-chan.

‘Still it served Ken-chan right!’ Hikaru though, grinning. Masaki was drawing chocolate coloured and flavoured whiskers on the man’s face.

As Hikaru pondered his options, the solution walked over from the tea set and plopped down in front of him, fluffy tail swishing happily.

Drawing Hikaru’s chocolate stained hand to his soft tongue and licking it all away. Hikaru laughed at how simple the solution was and at the itchy feeling of Susumu’s smooth tongue running down his hand.

Susumu giggled back at him licking his chocolate covered lips. To return the favour Hikaru licked the remains of the chocolate sweetness from the corners of Susumu’s mouth and the tip of his cold nose.

There, all cleaned now!

[Building From The Ashes] I. Mind Sight Sound

2009-07-03T18:24:03Z

[Characters]: Kuchiki Byakuya, Kuchiki Rukia and Yamada Hantarou.
[Summary]: Byakuya is in and out of consciousness.
[Word Count]: 375
[Finished]: 17.June.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Contents/Warnings]: AU
[Rating]: PG
[Notes]: Because this is an AU I'm taking a few liberties with story, cos if we're waiting for Tite Kubo to wrap things up, we might as well seat back and enjoy the fanfiction.
*[Spoilers]So this is, more or less, canon-compliant until chapter 364 of the manga; the invasion of fake Karakura Town by Aizen and his minions, the initial fights and the arrival of the Vizards all have happened,[Spoilers]* from here I'm not even going to try and guess what's on Tite's head.

In my AU, at some point they move the fight to Hueco Mundo and there is where the war ends. The story begins in the immediate aftermath of the fighting:

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite

Byakuya was rudely awake by an insisting shaking of his left shoulder. It was intriguing!

It wasn’t like Chiyo¹ to wake him so... physically. She would just shout in his ear and Byakuya instantly would be up and ready to his morning tutoring, the one right before training.

Oh! But wait... wasn’t he already in Shinigami Academy, top of his class?

The sleep-stealing shake to his left shoulder turned to bodily jostling. Rather uncomfortable, really.

It wasn’t like Hisana to be this forceful. She was always so gentle...

Oh, but Renji! Red, fiery, hot Renji! Yes, he was brute and demanding and would certainly try and wake Byakuya this way.

Only...

Byakuya didn’t felt like waking.

Not just yet.

Not right now.

Perhaps maybe later...

***

He blinked, trying to get his eyelashes untangled but there was nothing beyond them but white.

An expanse of rippled white in a void black canvas.

He blinked his eyelashes some more and could discern a sea of red in the black and white.

Renji, his mind supplied.

But no, it was too dark for Renji’s red. More like clotted-blood red.

A shift in the universe and he now could see that the red wasn’t uniform but splashes fed by dark-clothed shapes lying in the white sand. His world shifted some again and...

WAIT! Was that a dark-clothed shape with Renji’s red?

***

Piercing screams of a battle field assaulted his senses but his attention remained focused on the red-haired body in a pool of blood until the world shifted once more.

NO! Take me back. Back to Renji!

But nothing more than raspy, hoarse sounds clawed their way out of his throat.

Voices nearby tried to sooth him.

Familiar voices.

Hisana?!

No, it couldn’t be.

Rukia then; the similarity between their voices had always haunted him.

He couldn’t make out the words.

Just get me back to Renji, his mind pleaded.

Something prickled his arm and the voices became clear as everything else began to fade out. All but the red.

“Get Unohana-taichou! QUICK, Rukia-san! I don’t know how much longer I can keep him like this.” - A shrill.

“Please don’t give up, Hanatarou-kun.” – Pleading concern.

“There’s so many of them. Wounded... Dead...” – Whispered hysteria.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
¹Chiyo is a character I created and used a few times now (in "Os Anos de Renji" and "Threads of Different Yarns"); she is a servant in the Kuchiki family and has served Byakuya since he was a child.

Next: II. Search Incessantly - Rukia searches Unohana-taichou through the wounded and the dead.

Zaraki Day-Care [Sandbox Society]

2009-07-02T22:44:38Z

[Characters]: Zaraki Kenpachi and the babies: Hikaru, Masaki, Susumu and Ren & Yuu. Also, Abarai Renji, Kurosaki Ichigo, Tousen Kaname and Ukitake Jyuushiro.
[Summary]:The Sandbox Society have fun with Ken-chan.
[Word Count]: 2500
[Prompt/Inspiration]: "WOW! You’re almost as tall as my Dad!" prompted by gokuma and this drawing by bosska_ak.
[Finished]: 29.June.2009
[Beta]: not beta-read
[Warnings]: Implied Male-Pregnancy and just some EXTRA fluff.
[Rating]: PG
[Notes]: Hikaru is marianek 's; Susumu and Ren & Yuu are a joint creation of gokuma , bosska_ak and me.
We've decided to call this AU, sandbox_society . ^___^

Disclaimer: Do not own Bleach and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters © Kubo Tite. Save a few OCs product of fangirl brainstorming.

Susumu hopped down from his Papa’s lap and toddled down towards the twins. Midway to Ren and Yuu he stopped and came back up to give his Papa a big hug, so that Papa knew he loved him very much.

For some reason - Susumu didn’t understand very well yet - his Papa couldn’t see when Susumu smiled at him or threw his kisses, nor did he have a bushy, furry tail like Daddy did; a tail Susumu could hold on to and show all of this fluffy, warm thing that filled his chest. The same warm thing he felt whenever he got to sleep tucked in between Dad and Papa or jump in the puddles that appeared on the garden after it rained.

So because his Papa couldn’t see it, Susumu had to turn back and give him a very strong hug - strong like Dad hugged Papa and him - so that Papa knew.

“Bai, bai, Papa!” Susumu said as he nuzzled his Papa’s legs.

“Goodbye, Susumu.” His Papa held him close and gave him a kiss on his furry right ear; it tickled and his ear twitched twice against Papa´s smiling lips. “Be good.”

“’kay. Bai, Papa!”

And now, with all the proper goodbyes said, Susumu ran to join the twins.

***

“HMPH!”

Susumu hit something very big that nearly sent him to the grass.

He looked up.

And up.

(Could this be Dad?)

And up.

(It sure was big enough!)

And finally up into the face of a man (not Dad then!) with an eye patch and spiky black hair with ticking thingies on its ends.

He was very tall and Susumu let him know it: “WOW! You’re almost as tall as my Dad!”

The man made a strange face, like Susumu did when he sucked on a lemon, and said, “Ah! Am I now?”

“Hum-hmm,” Susumu agreed.

The man eyed him for sometime wearing that lemon-eating face and then flashed him a wicked grin that Susumu couldn’t help but return, his tail swishing happily from side to side.

“Ya go and join th’ twins till the other squirts get here.”

“’kay.”

Susumu took three steps but then remembered something the twins had said about the man that looked after them. Of him being huge and with an eye patch and spiky hair. Seeing that he was to be looked after by the same man today, that must be him. He did have the eye patch and spiky hair but he wasn’t that huge; his Dad was way bigger than that!

But Susumu was a well behaved little boy, everybody said, and so remembering his good manners, he turned back and bowing said, “I’m Komamura Susumu. Nice to meet you, Sensei.”

The man let out a laugh that kinda sounded like a bark and told him, “no sensei here. I’m Zaraki Kenpachi, but you can call me Ken-chan. Now get going to the twins.”

“Uhm. Okay, Ken-chan.” Susumu waved and finally ran over to where the Kyouraku twins were, sitting on the grass with blue and green haori, munching happily on something sweet.

***

“Hello! Yuu-niichan! Ren-niichan!” Susumu waved at them, knowing exactly which was which. Not many people did that, besides Daddy and Papa. It was one of the reasons they liked Susumu so much. That and his fluffy tail and silky ears.

“Hi, Susu-kun!” They both answered in unison, getting up from the grass to greet the smaller boy with pets to his ears and soft tugs on his bushy tail.

“Want some?!” They offered to share the treats their Daddy had given them with Susumu. Who took the sweet and ate it, his tail rapidly swaying in delight.

Yuu looked over at the man that had brought Susumu that was now standing with Ken-chan and asked, “is that your Papa there, with Ken-chan?”

After a quick glance back at Ken-chan, Susumu smiled, his ears perking up. “Yeah, that’s my Papa.”

Ren, after studying the man from afar, commented, “he’s strange.”

“What you mean?” Susumu demanded.

“Well, he’s got those strange glasses.”

“That’s because he doesn’t see with his eyes!”

Both the twins’ eyes widen with the revelation as Susumu continued, “he sees with his hands and listens really, reeeaally, well.”

“Wow, really?” Yuu asked, fascinated with this power of Susu-kun’s Papa. He knew of a lot of Papas’ powers but he’d never heard of seeing with the hands.

“Hum-hmm!”

Ren still wasn’t that convinced. How could anyone see with his hands? This needed more finding out.

“How does he do that?”

“Well, you know when your Dad or your Papa looks at you to see if you poperly washed your face in the morning?”

They nodded with dread. Their Daddy could be very strict with face-washing. He had, on occasion, threatened them with a full bath, had they not washed their faces poperly.

Seeing they were familiar with the ordeal, Susumu kept explaining, “my Papa looks with his hands, to see if I’ve watched it all away. He never misses a single bit. Even bits me and Dad didn’t find!”

Yuu was amazed with Susu-kun’s Papa ability. He looked again at the dark-skinned man with new interest.

But Ren still felt a bit suspicious of that amazing feat. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe Susu-kun, but he needed to know more before he would completely accept such an awesome power. He’d have to ask his Papa and Daddy. But for now he would admit a little awe and ask Susu-kun more about this fantastic Papa of his.

“What is your Papa’s name?”

“Hmm?!” Susumu didn’t look sure of what Ren meant. “It’s Papa.”

“No, silly! That’s what he is!”

Susumu’s ears flattened against his head in distress. And Yuu stepped in.

“Don’t bully him!” he said, as he put an arm around Susu-kun.

Ren cried out, in his own defence, “I wasn’t!”

Ignoring his brother, Yuu pulled Susumu closer and told him softly, trying to reassure him, “what Ren means,” and here he looked with a Ken-chan-like stare to his twin, “is that Papa isn’t your Papa’s name.”

If possible, Susumu looked even more confused and his ears, had they been the same colour of his hair, would have disappeared into his little dreadlocks. Yuu tried to explain a bit better, but this was hard stuff for a little kid like Susu-kun.

“You know, like me and Ren have a Papa too and then Hikaru-niichan has a Papa too.”

Susumu nodded looking a tiny bit less confused but he still inched closer to Yuu when Ren moved towards them.

“And you know that we’re our Papa’s and Daddy’s kids. But our names isn’t kids?!”

Susumu nodded again and this time remained still as Ren tried to pet his ears back up to their normal place, and as he too joined the explanation.

“Our Papa’s name is Kyouraku Shunsui and our Daddy is Ukitake Jyuushiro. Do you know what I mean?”

“Oh, I think I see now.” His ears twitched a bit in Ren’s hands.

“It’s prolly what your Dad calls him. At home.” Yuu supplied.

“Yeah, I know that! Dad calls Papa, Kaname. And Papa calls Dad, Sajin.”

“That’s it then. That’s your Papa’s name!” Yuu confirmed. “Kaname.”

Susumu’s ears went straight up again, in wonder, grinning at Yuu and turning his head so that Ren’s hands could pet behind his left ear.

***

Hikaru, heir to the Kuchiki house, trotted down the small hill away from his Dad and uncle Ichigo and in the direction of the twins and Susumu, followed by closely by the very small little girl that held onto his hand for support with a surprising strong grip.
When the three boys — who had been huddled together — spotted him, they ran up to meet him.

“Hikaru-niichan!” They greeted him, enthusiastically.

“Hello! Yuu-kun. Ren-kun. Susu-kun.” Hikaru greeted them in return, smiling widely like his Dad did. Or so he hoped.

The little girl, still holding onto his hand, was hidden behind his legs but peering at the three boys with awe.

The boys looked at her curiously and then at Hikaru, waiting for introductions. Hikaru felt proud at his choice of friends and grinned.

“This is Kurosaki Masaki,” he introduced. “Masaki –chan, these are my friends.”

The boys smiled at the orange-haired little girl with huge dark-blue eyes. “Hello, Masaki-chan!”

Masaki’s eyes became even wider as she looked between the boys, clearly not certain where to keep her attention, if on the boys with the same face or the one with a swishing tail and perky ears. The waging tail proved too hypnotic to his little cousin and she yelled: “Doggy!!!”

Susumu growled low in his throat and Masaki, scared, hid completely behind Hikaru.

“I’m not a dog! I’m a fox boy!” Susumu explained, affronted at the mix-up with his species.

Hikaru felt Masaki peer out from behind his legs - the firm grip of her tiny hands wrinkling his hakama – and whispered, “fox?!”

Susumu, a bit calmer now, nodded.

Masaki stepped forward bravely, tentatively trying to pet the fluffy tail. After a few strokes Susumu was purring and had gained a friend for life, as Masaki started on one of her never ending chats. The ones she only imposed on people she liked and trusted.

“So where did you find the broad?” Ren asked.

Hikaru laughed. He sounded just like uncle Ikkaku.

“What?! My Papa says that sometimes. And I bet yours does too!” Ren said defensively before joining Hikaru in the laughter.

“Yeah. Dad sometimes does! And when Father hears him, he gets really cross with him and usually says something like ‘he’ll never get any again’. But I never really got what it is that he won’t give Dad again.”

“Yeah. Adults are strange!” Yuu agreed, smiling. “So, the girl?”

“Oh! She’s my cousin. Uncle Ichigo is her Dad and aunt Rukia is her Mommy.”

The twins nodded at the information but Susumu looked up from his talk with Masaki with a puzzled expression and asked, “what’s a Mommy?”

They all looked between them.

“Hmm... well it’s... hmm...” Yuu tried.

“It’s when...” Ren said.

Hikaru who knew a bit about this subject, having been around an actual Mommy and all, explained, “It’s like a Dad only she isn’t a boy. She’s a girl.”

Susumu looked even more confused. “It’s a girl Dad?!”

“Yeah, something like that.” Yuu helped, patting Susumu’s back.

“Hmm. ‘kay,” Susumu said, still looking doubtful.

“You better ask Ken-chan.”

They all looked at Ken-chan, who was talking to the Dads and hitting Masaki’s Dad on the back in what looked like a very harsh hello.

“Hmm... Maybe I’ll ask my Dad,” Susumu whispered.

They all nodded and agreed wholeheartedly. Hikaru knew Ken-chan was way cool but some things were better asked to your Dads and Papas and Fathers and, he heard, even Mommies.

The adults were now coming back down to say goodbye to their kids so that they could go on their next adventure with Ken-chan.

Hikaru wondered what they would do today.

Frog catching?

Maybe fishing, he’d really like fishing.

Or play zanpakutou with sticks found in the woods.

His wonderings distracted him and he didn’t notice his Dad coming up behind him and hugging him. He didn’t mind it. At home! Here, in front of his friends, not so much. He was a big boy after all and he told his Dad that by trying to break loose and protesting.

“DAD!!!”

“Yeah. Yeah. I know. You’re a big boy now. Sorry, I keep forgetting.”

But even saying all that, he didn’t loose the hug any less. Well, Hikaru could do what his Dad wanted. It wasn’t like the twins weren’t being hugged by their Dad or Susumu nuzzled by his Papa.

So Hikaru hugged back, just as tightly as Dad and even gave him a quick kiss to the face.

***

“Troops, let move out!” Zaraki called out to the band of kids.

“YAY!” They all screamed and jumped up and down around Zaraki.

“Weapons ready?” he asked and they all picked up their butterfly nets, waving them about in the air.

“Then let’s move out! Single line! March!”

They all fell in line; red-haired Kuchiki heir taking point, the twins at the back and in the middle, fox-y boy with Masaki toddling behind, holding on to his tail. Butterfly nets on their shoulders like a riffle, they marched down the narrow path through the grass ahead of Zaraki.

He swept up the little girl who squealed in delight as he put her on his shoulder; a most advantageous point of view for something so small.

“March, troops. Left! Right! Left!”

“LEFT!”

“RIGHT!”

“LEFT!”

[OMAKE]

“Do you think they are safe with Zaraki?” Tousen asked his companions, as the kids marched off in front of the 11th division captain.

“Yep! Couldn’t be safer than with Zaraki,” Renji replied, a smile on his face.

“I don’t mean will he be strong enough to protect and fight to keep them safe. I know he is capable of doing so. But I mean he’s so... and they are just...”

Ichigo nodded and placed a calming hand on Tousen’s shoulder. “He’s brilliant with them. Didn’t he take care of Yachiru for all those years? She didn’t turn out that bad.”

“Yes, well... he has no love for me or Sajin”

Ukitake too put a hand on Tousen shoulder and added, “He doesn’t care who their parents are. It’s all about the kids. Don’t be worried, he will be all right and have loads of fun and be safe.”

“And as a bonus,” Renji piped in, “tonight they’ll get home so tired and spent that they’ll drop dead in their beds and only wake late tomorrow morning. And you know what that means?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Ichigo looked confused. Tousen missed the gesture. And Ukitake grinned.

“Me and Shunsui always have such lovely nights when the twins spend time with Ken-chan!”

Now both Ichigo and Tousen looked confuse.

“It means some extra time with your man, or in your case,” Renji elbowed Ichigo, “woman. With no interruptions. No tummy aches or nightmares.” Renji leered.

The confusion turned to embarrassment and a lot of cleared throats. Renji and Ukitake chuckled, mischievously.

“Seriously, you guys! And I’m the one married to the Ice Prince. Looking at you no one would know that you have children. Prudes!!!”

“Not everyone can be a pervert like you, Renji!” Ichigo attacked.

“Yeah. Yeah. Prude!”

“You...”

Leaving the two hot-headed men to solve their differences, Ukitake approached Tousen and once again tried to reassure him of Kenpachi’s qualities with children.

“Kenpachi is amazing with the kids and always gets them back in one piece, dead tired but always wanting to return for some more time with Ken-chan.”

Having finished their scuffle Ichigo and Renji joined them.

“Have no worries about it.”

“Susumu will have a blast.”

“I will trust your judgement. Thank you for your words.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Anytime.”

“Sure thing.”

___________________________________________________________________________________

In case you have any doubts:

- Hikaru's dad is Abarai Renji and his father is Kuchiki Byakuya.

- The twins', Ren & Yuu, papa is Kyouraku Shunsui and their daddy is Ukitake Jyuushiro.

- Susumu's dad is Komamura Sajin and his papa is Tousen Kaname.

- Masaki's daddy is Kurosaki Ichigo and her mommy is Kuchiki Rukia (she actually has "ordinary" parents). Also she's named after Ichigos's mother.