Elysium ~ Chapter 1~
Author: casisgummi + grownupneko
Title: Elysium
Rating: PG-15 or so for sexual refs in this chapter. Will be M next chapter.
Pairing: ByaRen. With KyoUki, a IchiIshi/Ruki triangle and others as we come up with them.
Warnings: Swearing, quite clear sexual refs. Angsty.
Summary: Without a word, he left without a trace. I need to get him back, if that's the last thing I do.
Casisgummi: Hello everyone~! Oh wow first evar proper collab fic!!! It's so exciting!! <3 XD I get to write with like one of my fave authors! =D Chapters get written faster when two are working on it lol Also first Bleach fic! It feels speshul! Wow! I never realised I like Kyoraku so much till now w w w Anyway! I hope you like it! Tell us what you think ^_~
Grownupneko: Hi everyone! This is our collaborative work and I hope you enjoy it! We certainly had fun writing it! Next chapter will come along soon, just got to finish finals season first!
Chapter One
Sweat ran down his spine, making his nagajiban cling to his back like a clammy second skin, his hair stuck to the back of his sweat soaked neck. He hadn't had time to tie it back before he'd grabbed himself a jigokuchou, so it fell past his shoulders, vivid red against the dark night sky. It was stupid. It was getting in his eyes. He shook his head roughly to somewhat clear his vision, trying to keep up the rapid pace he'd set himself. Racing to the land of the living... Hoping to find that stupid idiot before he got too far. Renji gritted his teeth, his hand resting on Zabimaru, he was sure it could feel his stormy mood as well, it was probably thunder-storming inside his mind. He was going to kill whoever it was that harmed his Captain.
Kill them dead.
"Renji!" Hisagi Shuuhei shouted and the redhead turned round, it took a moment to realise who it was. He could tell from the look on his face that he'd realised something was wrong immediately. Renji wasn't sure he had the breath to explain what was wrong, the summer heat seemed to be sucking all the oxygen out of the air as he doubled over, swiping at his face to wipe away the sheen of sweat with the sleeve of his kimono. Shuuhei ran over to Renji, which was good because Renji wasn't sure he could continue to run any more. He was fucking furious at the moment and that was all that had kept him going this far.
"Hey man, What's wrong Renji?" Shuuhei asked, brow furrowed in concern. Renji saw him looking around and noticed that in the Division Six building all the lights were on and people were running about. Word had got out then. "Tell me."
"Can't... breathe!" Renji replied, straightening as he took a shuddering deep breath and tried to decide how to phrase it. He decided for bluntness. It was the best and only way for him. His philosophy in life. His lungs burned and he refused to acknowledge any other pain in his chest other than that- it wasn't the time to indulge in feeling anything else.
"It's Captain Kuchiki. He's gone missing!" Renji announced after he was sure his voice wouldn't crack. He took in the shock on Shuuhei's face and looked over that sentence again. "We've got to stop him getting to the land of the living but just keeping up with him is impossible."
"Captain Kuchiki?" His friend seemed totally confused, like a lot of them were at Byakuya's brisk, sudden disappearance. "Why?"
A jigokuchou passed Shuuhei's head, stopping before Renji. He put his hand out for it to land on, watching it's wings flutter nervously. Yeah, you and me both, butterfly.
"Sixth Division Vice Captain, Abarai Renji. You have been cleared to enter the human world," A female voice announced as large gates materialised before the two men, slowly swinging open. Renji didn't even pause before he began walking towards it, totally ignoring his friends question. He knew the reason. He just didn't want to say. It hurt too much, even if it was selfish to feel that way.
"Renji! Wait!" a female voice shouted. He turned to see Rukia scrambling towards him, her shinigami uniform not quite tied together right, her hair in a tangle and her sandals in her hand. He waited for her to straighten herself out when she reached him, almost falling over trying to tie her waraji. She smoothed over her hair with her hand hastily and adjusted her collar, her worried eyes observing the gate.
"He's somewhere out there?" she asked. Renji didn't look at her.
"Aa."
"...then come on!" she said, adjusting Shirayuki no Osode's positioning at her side. "Pull yourself together, idiot!"
It was quite clear she was nervous too, but she looked slightly more confident than Renji felt. He knew he had to draw strength from her- If Rukia was confident her brother could be saved, he would be. It was almost certain that they'd be able to save him. A hand of hers found itself at the small of Renji's back, and with surprising force he felt himself being pushed roughly through the gate, to the other side.
"Oi! What if you'd pushed me in front of a car huh?!" Renji yelled, turning and watching Rukia step calmly through the gate. She just smiled at him and began to survey the place they'd come out.
"This is near Ichigo's," she said as she looked around the dark street, they could hear cicadas trying somewhere nearby, and god, it was perhaps even more humid here then it was in Soul Society. Renji decided to ignore the almost wistful nature her tone took there. He wasn't in any mood to humour Rukia's love interests, or the progression of her love life. Not with his emotional state right now. Even just the subject made his heart ache, and he didn't have time to be drowning in his sorrows. He would do that later. When he knew his Captain was safe again.
"We don't have time to gather Team Kurosaki, Rukia," he pointed out, trying desperately to sense Byakuya's reiatsu in midst of the swathing heat that made the air thick and heavy. He gritted his teeth in frustration. He could feel nothing. Not even a trace.
"What do you mean you have no time to gather us, fool!" a voice from behind them made Renji whirl round to come face to face with a slightly offended looking Ichigo, 7/11 bag in hand with Ishida, Chad and Inoue behind him. So Team Kurosaki were already here, he thought somewhat dryly. Rukia seemed happy though. He saw her face light up and sighed. I wonder how long it's going to be before one of them does something stupid to be with the other...
"Ichigo!" she said, then managed to reign her expression into something more sombre. Renji folded his arms impatiently. He had no time to exchange pleasantries.
"Glad to see you look like you're pleased to see us," Ichigo said somewhat sarcastically, though he had a grin on his face as he patted the shinigami on the shoulder. "What's up? Why are you two here?"
"Nii-sama has dissapeared!" Rukia spoke up when Renji didn't say anything after a few moments. Well, he'd let Rukia do the explaining. It suited him well, he was a little scared if he spoke too much too soon it would give away his weaker feelings to the others.
"Waiiit....What? Byakuya? Are you sure about that?" Ichigo stared back at them in shock. "That doesn't sound like him."
Renji's hands were clenched into fists. He wanted nothing more than to get moving already but he wasn't sure which direction to go in. He couldn't sense Byakuya at all and that made him wary. Had the other remained in Soul Society? Renji was certain that he was heading to the real world... He even checked with the Gate Authorisation Control and they had confirmed, a Kuchiki Byakuya had requested and been granted a gate only a few hours ago.
"Nii-sama is... He..." Rukia didn't seem to know how to explain. Renji growled.
"He's an idiot," he replied firmly. A few eyebrows in the group raised at his blunt words. Renji never talked of his Captain in that way. Now they knew something was seriously wrong. "We've got to find him. Trust me, he's in trouble." He dropped his arms from where he was holding them and looked up at Ichigo, waiting for him to either accept the explanation and help or complain, hoping the urgency in his eyes would explain the emotions Renji could not with words.
"But wait..." Ichigo held out a hand as Renji looked as if he was going to disappear in a flurry of shunpo steps any moment. "Are you like, sure he didn't just go somewhere..uh for his own personal matters or something?" he asked cautiously with a frown trying to process the information with what he knew of the man in question. Indeed, Byakuya wasn't like the two redheads, and was usually very reserved and calculated in his actions, and most wouldn't think he would up and leave for any rash or foolish reason. "There must be some reason he-"
"Fuck the reason. It's not fucking important now." Renji snapped irritably cutting Ichigo off. Oh great. now everyone's staring at me like I've resurrected into a fucking tutu wearing Menos Grande. With pretty sparkly wings.
"Renji calm down!" Rukia hissed at him from his right. It was easy for her to say. She isn't the one who had- Renji sharply shook his head. He had promised himself not to think about that.
"Well, we would think so too, if Nii-sama hadn't left a rather concerning note." Rukia carried on her explanation, not trusting her childhood friend to talk at all now. She had her suspicions as to the reasons for his behaviour but she wasn't going to say something unless Renji told her. It wasn't her place. She knew that.
"Huh? What did it say?" Ichigo asked, as always willing to listen and help one of his friends in need, though to Renji at this moment in time it felt like he was butting in on his business, just a little.
"Shouldn't we talk about this inside somewhere? Not in front of a convenience store, like we are a bunch of high school delinquents with nowhere better to hang out?" Ishida said from behind Ichigo looking quite displeased that now everyone who walked past were staring at them awkwardly, weary of Renji and his shouting and swearing, not to mention he was in a full kimono and hakama get up in midsummer. "I would invite you all to my place as it's nearby however, I don't think we would all fit." Ishida's place was a tiny, typically Japanese, rabbit hutch type affair.
"Yeah...Well.." Ichigo looked stumped aswell, chewing his lip in thought.
"....How about Urahara-san's?" Chad suggested helpfully.
"Yeah, that's actually a great idea," Rukia replied, eyes shining. Renji was happy for her. Really he was.
"Yeah, I'll meet you guys there," he said, getting ready to ditch them all and begin the search. Rukia's hand grabbed his wrist, strong for her small hand.
"No. You are coming with us. Urahara-san might know what we can do," she said firmly, and the look on her face said she would kidou-bind and drag him there if it came to it. Renji stared at her determined face for a few moments. The way she frowned was similar to Byakuya. Had she learned that from him?
"Che. Fine," he growled, pulling his arm out of her grip and refusing to look at any of them. Please be safe... Byakuya.
~~~
"Jushiro-chan...."
A voice whispered softly from behind Ukitake Jushiro, warm breath brushing his earlobe as strong arms wrapped around his waist. Kyoraku Shunsui had positioned himself behind the other man, clearly trying to disturb him from working on his new novel.
"Mmm?" Ukitake, however was quite determined to finish Chapter 6 by the end of the night. He had been meaning to finish it the night before, but a certain someone who was in the same room as him right now had made it impossible. It just wasn't right to be writing children's novels while someone was trying their best to get their mouth round certain parts of your anatomy.
"Ne..." The arms at his waist squeezed a little tighter.
"Mmm?"
"It's not good for you to work so hard you know? Remember what the doctor said?" Kyoraku pointed out. Ukitake sighed and lowered his brush.
"It wouldn't be half as hard work if you weren't so set on distracting me from it," he pointed out as he carefully blotted the paper. He'd learned about computers from the ryoka, but he still preferred to hand write all his books. It didn't seem right unless it was written in his careful handwriting with accompanying sketches in the corners.
"Am I?" Kyoraku asked almost innocently, pressing his cheek against Ukitake's neck. The white-haired Captain shivered as stubble brushed against the sensitive skin.
"Yes, you are distracting me," he laughed, swatting the other over his shoulder. "I have deadlines you know!"
"How? I'm just holding you," the brunette replied as he swiftly avoided Ukitake's hand while still holding him. "Can't the deadline wait till tomorrow?"
"You should go back to your own Division tonight. Don't you have a ton of paper work to sign again?" Ukitake pointed out as he placed the page on the side where all the other finished pages were, before moving onto the next. "If you hold it off any longer, Ise-san's going to really kill you this time."
"Aww but Nanao-chan's so capable, she manages just fine without me~" Kyoraku replied lazily, his lips brushing against Ukitake's neck as he moved his head back to where it had been a few moments ago. "I'm lonely there, Jushiro-chan... Don't send me away..." He was using his kicked puppy voice again. Ukitake sighed patiently.
"Well if you keep that up, I'll tell Ise-san you have been hiding here since yesterday morning," he warned with a small smile as he started the page.
"No! Please don't! She'd kill me for sure!"
"Then are you going to behave?"
"...yes."
Ukitake wasn't too sure how long that promise would last so he started concentrating on the work at hand almost immediately, letting the feel of his lover's warm body pressed up behind him fade to a background sensation. He had even managed to ignore the subtle way the other Captain was groping his body. (Mainly his ass.) It was working until he felt a hand expertly slide between the folds his yukata, a little too late for him to avoid, and tweak a nipple, making his hand that held the brush pause so as not to end up spoiling the page.
"Kyoraku... I'm going to spoil all my hard work if you carry on doing that," he said, feeling Kyoraku's fingertips lightly pinching the trapped flesh before soothingly stroking over it. He let out a quiet gasp and felt the man smile against his neck.
"Then put your brush down, Jushiro-chan," he replied, his voice low. Ukitake looked down at his work, but Kyoraku's lips began to brush against the nape of his neck then so he ended up setting the brush aside in surrender, melting into his lover's arms.
"You're such a bad influence," Ukitake said, probably for the thousandth time. Kyoraku didn't even both to reply, his free hand sweeping Ukitake's hair over one of his shoulders so he could kiss more of his neck. Ukitake closed his eyes, slowly breathing out as the kisses turned into licks, one hand untying the sash that tied Ukitake's yukata easily letting it fall on the floor, before the same hand pushed the two folds of the garment away from each other, exposing pale skin.
"Mmm....Jushiro-chan's so erotic..." Kyoraku purred, using both hands to pull his lover away from the low table, before running a hand up the man's thigh, brushing over his covered groin. A small embarrassed smile came to Ukitake's lips at the comment. They knew each other since what seemed like eternity, but the Eighth Division Captain's playful perverted comments never seemed to fail to get a reaction from him.
"I think you're the only one who thinks so," he replied, his toes curling as Kyoraku stroked along his half-hard cock beneath the fabric. He let out a quiet moan, spreading his legs a little.
"No one else gets to see Jushiro-chan with his cute orgasm face like I do though," Kyoraku was back to teasing and Ukitake felt his blush spread down his neck. He was about to turn around and tackle his fellow captain when he heard footsteps leading to the door and felt an erratic reiatsu signature outside. He accidentally elbowed Kyoraku in the stomach as he scrambled away from him.
Kyoraku made a defeated sound, though he had felt the reiatsu too and didn't complain too much. "Oww......Jushiro-chan...." he whimpered, rubbing his stomach. He was sure strong for one of "Ill health".
"Captain Ukitake Jushiro, Captain Kyoraku Shunsui." So the old man knew they were together. Why did he see through everything? It was creepy, though Ukitake guessed him and Kyoraku both should have known there was no way to hide something so major from a man who was almost their father. Exactly how long had he known? Usually he sent separate jigokuchous even if the two were together, but clearly the old man was in too much of a hurry this time to do such shows of discretion. "You are summoned by Head-Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto for an emergency meeting. Please gather immediately, the Gotei 13 require you both." A voice said on the other side of the door. It wasn't even a jigokuchou this time. Something major was up.
"Oh dear...it seems I'll have to be patient..." Ukitake heard his lover sigh as he stood up slowly, picking his hat off the floor nearby to perch on his head. "I wonder what it's about huh? It seems pretty damn serious if Yama Jii-san is calling us both, personally...." Aizen came to both of their minds as they exchanged looks.
"Aahh....how bothersome..."
Ukitake felt more than worried. If this was something to do with Aizen, it was too soon. They had been told there was no way that he could make a move and the preparations to replace squad members killed or fill positions had not yet occurred. Ukitake got to his feet, arranging his clothes into a more precise order and trying to ignore the way his cock was trying to tent in his hakama.
"Don't look so worried. The Soul Society isn't falling down around our ears," Kyoraku said with a reassuring smile as he stood up. Ukitake didn't want to say anything to that. When the Soul Society had been falling down around their ears, he'd been convalescing and had almost allowed a subordinate to die with his carelessness. He wouldn't do so again.
"Let's go, Kyoraku."
~~~
"So let me get this straight.... Byakuya thinks your sister is...alive?" Ichigo asked with a frown. The whole gang had sat down at Urahara's store now in a circle on the tatami floor.
"Yes. His note mentioned he couldn't loose her this time.." Ruika replied, this discomfort clearly showing. "He believes she reincarnated....."
The silence in the room was extremely uncomfortable. Ichigo looked so utterly confused.
"But even if she was, she would not retain any of her memories right? It's like she is a new person...isn't it?" Ishida asked carefully, knowing this was all a very sensitive subject.
Renji stared at the floor, trying to pretend this conversation wasn't happening. He didn't want to debate Byakuya's love for Hisana. He didn't want to think about how the Captain had dropped him like an old rag to run away with an old love. Though somewhere in his mind, something told him it was coming. What noble would spend his time seriously with a street dog from Rukongai anyway?
"The why and how doesn't matter. We just need to find him," he pointed out. He saw Rukia turn to him, something like sympathy in her eyes because he refused to believe it was pity. How would it be? She knew nothing of...them.
"Nii-sama... He must know that it isn't his Hisana. When we find him... we might have to convince him to come back with us..." It was clear that by 'convince', Rukia really meant 'fight'. He saw Ichigo's hand twitch slightly and saw Orihime glance at him worriedly. Ichigo had beaten Byakuya before, but that had been a fight that Byakuya himself hadn't truly wanted to win.
"Well then, we just have to go and get him back then right?" Ichigo said after a few moments pause, standing up. "Dunno what's going on in his head, but hell, we gotta try right?" he said glancing over at Renji, giving him a reassuring smile, one that Renji couldn't return.
"I'm sorry to put a damper on everyone's spirits..." Urahara Kisuke's voice cut in from behind them. "But we have a slight, tiny problem."
"W..what?" Renji asked, a sick feeling in his stomach. His nerves made him forget his manners in speech all together.
"We are finding it a little...tricky to trace Captain Kuchiki's reiatsu." The blond man said, sounding a little embarrassed as he scratched his head. "Almost like...he was spirited away. Quite peculiar."
Renji had been afraid of that. He stared down at the floor. He wasn't sure how Byakuya was hiding his reiatsu. He'd only ever heard of Urahara's ability to do it with his cloak or Kenpachi's eye patch that ate his spiritual power. He wasn't sure when Byakuya had learned that ability.
"It must be whoever Captain Kuchiki is with" he deduced. "I'm certain the Captain doesn't have that ability."
Ichigo nodded. "Yeah. I get the idea that if he was able to do something like that we'd have seen it."
"Don't think you know everything about Captain Kuchiki just because you beat him once, Kurosaki," Renji warned with a glare.
"H-hey...I was just sayin'...." Ichigo replied defensively, raising his hands in surprise. "What's up with you anyway huh?"
"Do you know something?" Renji snapped back, his temper rising with the situation "I dunno why you have to always get involved in everyone's fucking business Kurosaki."
"....What?" Ichigo sounded like he hadn't heard the other's words right.
"Always butting in like you're a fucking hero or somethin'.....it's annoying. Hell, its past fucking annoying! Leave yourself out of this!"
"Hey Renji. I dunno what you think you are on but why the fuck are you talking to me like that?" Ichigo's expression was stormy now as he glared back. "Isn't that saying a bit much?"
"Just sayin' it like it is!" Renji glowered at Ichigo for a moment before getting to his feet. "You know what, I'll find Captain Kuchiki without you."
"Oh yeah, cuz you're Renji the mighty and so much better at finding people than me, or even, all of us!" Ichigo pointed out. Renji growled.
"Shut the fuck up Kurosaki!" he uttered as he took a threatening step toward the orange haired boy, his fists clenched.
"Make me Renji!" The substitute shinigami didn't seem to back down either, stepping up and closing the gap between them. Renji really saw red this time, grabbing a handful of Ichigo's shirt and dragging the shorter boy up.
"Won't you cut it out?!??"
Renji was grabbed from behind with that crazy strength of Rukia's and dragged back rather roughly, making him release Ichigo.
"What's got into you Renji?" Rukia exclaimed now "Why are you being like this? Ichigo's only trying to help us!"
"Don't go defending his busybody attitude just cuz you're into him!" Renji snarled. "What the fuck is it with you? Can't you see his glaring faults or something? Get him involved this whole thing will turn into a massive melodramatic fight. I just want to get the Captain and get the fuck home!"
Rukia had turned bright pink, but she looked mortified at the same time. She clenched her hands into fists.
"Oh what? You upset I gave your little game away huh?" Renji couldn't stop his running mouth. "What's up with you two anyway? If you two fucking like each other why don't you both just go and screw or something instead of openly showing your interests to each other in front of everyone like they give a shit?? It pisses me off!!"
"Get out, Renji," Ruika said quietly, refusing to look at Ichigo as her face burned a darker pink. Renji stared at her for a few moments before she looked up, eyes furious and swung for him, catching his jaw hard enough for a burst of pain to bloom and his head to snap to the side sharply.
"I said GET OUT!"
~~~
"My beloved Byakuya...... please come to me...find me...quickly..."
The soft ethereal whisper captivated, gently, softly guiding the black haired man forward.
"Hisana.."
The reiatsu, the scent.... yes. It was her.
"I have missed you, it has been so long..."
Title: Elysium
Rating: PG-15 or so for sexual refs in this chapter. Will be M next chapter.
Pairing: ByaRen. With KyoUki, a IchiIshi/Ruki triangle and others as we come up with them.
Warnings: Swearing, quite clear sexual refs. Angsty.
Summary: Without a word, he left without a trace. I need to get him back, if that's the last thing I do.
Casisgummi: Hello everyone~! Oh wow first evar proper collab fic!!! It's so exciting!! <3 XD I get to write with like one of my fave authors! =D Chapters get written faster when two are working on it lol Also first Bleach fic! It feels speshul! Wow! I never realised I like Kyoraku so much till now w w w Anyway! I hope you like it! Tell us what you think ^_~
Grownupneko: Hi everyone! This is our collaborative work and I hope you enjoy it! We certainly had fun writing it! Next chapter will come along soon, just got to finish finals season first!
Chapter One
Sweat ran down his spine, making his nagajiban cling to his back like a clammy second skin, his hair stuck to the back of his sweat soaked neck. He hadn't had time to tie it back before he'd grabbed himself a jigokuchou, so it fell past his shoulders, vivid red against the dark night sky. It was stupid. It was getting in his eyes. He shook his head roughly to somewhat clear his vision, trying to keep up the rapid pace he'd set himself. Racing to the land of the living... Hoping to find that stupid idiot before he got too far. Renji gritted his teeth, his hand resting on Zabimaru, he was sure it could feel his stormy mood as well, it was probably thunder-storming inside his mind. He was going to kill whoever it was that harmed his Captain.
Kill them dead.
"Renji!" Hisagi Shuuhei shouted and the redhead turned round, it took a moment to realise who it was. He could tell from the look on his face that he'd realised something was wrong immediately. Renji wasn't sure he had the breath to explain what was wrong, the summer heat seemed to be sucking all the oxygen out of the air as he doubled over, swiping at his face to wipe away the sheen of sweat with the sleeve of his kimono. Shuuhei ran over to Renji, which was good because Renji wasn't sure he could continue to run any more. He was fucking furious at the moment and that was all that had kept him going this far.
"Hey man, What's wrong Renji?" Shuuhei asked, brow furrowed in concern. Renji saw him looking around and noticed that in the Division Six building all the lights were on and people were running about. Word had got out then. "Tell me."
"Can't... breathe!" Renji replied, straightening as he took a shuddering deep breath and tried to decide how to phrase it. He decided for bluntness. It was the best and only way for him. His philosophy in life. His lungs burned and he refused to acknowledge any other pain in his chest other than that- it wasn't the time to indulge in feeling anything else.
"It's Captain Kuchiki. He's gone missing!" Renji announced after he was sure his voice wouldn't crack. He took in the shock on Shuuhei's face and looked over that sentence again. "We've got to stop him getting to the land of the living but just keeping up with him is impossible."
"Captain Kuchiki?" His friend seemed totally confused, like a lot of them were at Byakuya's brisk, sudden disappearance. "Why?"
A jigokuchou passed Shuuhei's head, stopping before Renji. He put his hand out for it to land on, watching it's wings flutter nervously. Yeah, you and me both, butterfly.
"Sixth Division Vice Captain, Abarai Renji. You have been cleared to enter the human world," A female voice announced as large gates materialised before the two men, slowly swinging open. Renji didn't even pause before he began walking towards it, totally ignoring his friends question. He knew the reason. He just didn't want to say. It hurt too much, even if it was selfish to feel that way.
"Renji! Wait!" a female voice shouted. He turned to see Rukia scrambling towards him, her shinigami uniform not quite tied together right, her hair in a tangle and her sandals in her hand. He waited for her to straighten herself out when she reached him, almost falling over trying to tie her waraji. She smoothed over her hair with her hand hastily and adjusted her collar, her worried eyes observing the gate.
"He's somewhere out there?" she asked. Renji didn't look at her.
"Aa."
"...then come on!" she said, adjusting Shirayuki no Osode's positioning at her side. "Pull yourself together, idiot!"
It was quite clear she was nervous too, but she looked slightly more confident than Renji felt. He knew he had to draw strength from her- If Rukia was confident her brother could be saved, he would be. It was almost certain that they'd be able to save him. A hand of hers found itself at the small of Renji's back, and with surprising force he felt himself being pushed roughly through the gate, to the other side.
"Oi! What if you'd pushed me in front of a car huh?!" Renji yelled, turning and watching Rukia step calmly through the gate. She just smiled at him and began to survey the place they'd come out.
"This is near Ichigo's," she said as she looked around the dark street, they could hear cicadas trying somewhere nearby, and god, it was perhaps even more humid here then it was in Soul Society. Renji decided to ignore the almost wistful nature her tone took there. He wasn't in any mood to humour Rukia's love interests, or the progression of her love life. Not with his emotional state right now. Even just the subject made his heart ache, and he didn't have time to be drowning in his sorrows. He would do that later. When he knew his Captain was safe again.
"We don't have time to gather Team Kurosaki, Rukia," he pointed out, trying desperately to sense Byakuya's reiatsu in midst of the swathing heat that made the air thick and heavy. He gritted his teeth in frustration. He could feel nothing. Not even a trace.
"What do you mean you have no time to gather us, fool!" a voice from behind them made Renji whirl round to come face to face with a slightly offended looking Ichigo, 7/11 bag in hand with Ishida, Chad and Inoue behind him. So Team Kurosaki were already here, he thought somewhat dryly. Rukia seemed happy though. He saw her face light up and sighed. I wonder how long it's going to be before one of them does something stupid to be with the other...
"Ichigo!" she said, then managed to reign her expression into something more sombre. Renji folded his arms impatiently. He had no time to exchange pleasantries.
"Glad to see you look like you're pleased to see us," Ichigo said somewhat sarcastically, though he had a grin on his face as he patted the shinigami on the shoulder. "What's up? Why are you two here?"
"Nii-sama has dissapeared!" Rukia spoke up when Renji didn't say anything after a few moments. Well, he'd let Rukia do the explaining. It suited him well, he was a little scared if he spoke too much too soon it would give away his weaker feelings to the others.
"Waiiit....What? Byakuya? Are you sure about that?" Ichigo stared back at them in shock. "That doesn't sound like him."
Renji's hands were clenched into fists. He wanted nothing more than to get moving already but he wasn't sure which direction to go in. He couldn't sense Byakuya at all and that made him wary. Had the other remained in Soul Society? Renji was certain that he was heading to the real world... He even checked with the Gate Authorisation Control and they had confirmed, a Kuchiki Byakuya had requested and been granted a gate only a few hours ago.
"Nii-sama is... He..." Rukia didn't seem to know how to explain. Renji growled.
"He's an idiot," he replied firmly. A few eyebrows in the group raised at his blunt words. Renji never talked of his Captain in that way. Now they knew something was seriously wrong. "We've got to find him. Trust me, he's in trouble." He dropped his arms from where he was holding them and looked up at Ichigo, waiting for him to either accept the explanation and help or complain, hoping the urgency in his eyes would explain the emotions Renji could not with words.
"But wait..." Ichigo held out a hand as Renji looked as if he was going to disappear in a flurry of shunpo steps any moment. "Are you like, sure he didn't just go somewhere..uh for his own personal matters or something?" he asked cautiously with a frown trying to process the information with what he knew of the man in question. Indeed, Byakuya wasn't like the two redheads, and was usually very reserved and calculated in his actions, and most wouldn't think he would up and leave for any rash or foolish reason. "There must be some reason he-"
"Fuck the reason. It's not fucking important now." Renji snapped irritably cutting Ichigo off. Oh great. now everyone's staring at me like I've resurrected into a fucking tutu wearing Menos Grande. With pretty sparkly wings.
"Renji calm down!" Rukia hissed at him from his right. It was easy for her to say. She isn't the one who had- Renji sharply shook his head. He had promised himself not to think about that.
"Well, we would think so too, if Nii-sama hadn't left a rather concerning note." Rukia carried on her explanation, not trusting her childhood friend to talk at all now. She had her suspicions as to the reasons for his behaviour but she wasn't going to say something unless Renji told her. It wasn't her place. She knew that.
"Huh? What did it say?" Ichigo asked, as always willing to listen and help one of his friends in need, though to Renji at this moment in time it felt like he was butting in on his business, just a little.
"Shouldn't we talk about this inside somewhere? Not in front of a convenience store, like we are a bunch of high school delinquents with nowhere better to hang out?" Ishida said from behind Ichigo looking quite displeased that now everyone who walked past were staring at them awkwardly, weary of Renji and his shouting and swearing, not to mention he was in a full kimono and hakama get up in midsummer. "I would invite you all to my place as it's nearby however, I don't think we would all fit." Ishida's place was a tiny, typically Japanese, rabbit hutch type affair.
"Yeah...Well.." Ichigo looked stumped aswell, chewing his lip in thought.
"....How about Urahara-san's?" Chad suggested helpfully.
"Yeah, that's actually a great idea," Rukia replied, eyes shining. Renji was happy for her. Really he was.
"Yeah, I'll meet you guys there," he said, getting ready to ditch them all and begin the search. Rukia's hand grabbed his wrist, strong for her small hand.
"No. You are coming with us. Urahara-san might know what we can do," she said firmly, and the look on her face said she would kidou-bind and drag him there if it came to it. Renji stared at her determined face for a few moments. The way she frowned was similar to Byakuya. Had she learned that from him?
"Che. Fine," he growled, pulling his arm out of her grip and refusing to look at any of them. Please be safe... Byakuya.
~~~
"Jushiro-chan...."
A voice whispered softly from behind Ukitake Jushiro, warm breath brushing his earlobe as strong arms wrapped around his waist. Kyoraku Shunsui had positioned himself behind the other man, clearly trying to disturb him from working on his new novel.
"Mmm?" Ukitake, however was quite determined to finish Chapter 6 by the end of the night. He had been meaning to finish it the night before, but a certain someone who was in the same room as him right now had made it impossible. It just wasn't right to be writing children's novels while someone was trying their best to get their mouth round certain parts of your anatomy.
"Ne..." The arms at his waist squeezed a little tighter.
"Mmm?"
"It's not good for you to work so hard you know? Remember what the doctor said?" Kyoraku pointed out. Ukitake sighed and lowered his brush.
"It wouldn't be half as hard work if you weren't so set on distracting me from it," he pointed out as he carefully blotted the paper. He'd learned about computers from the ryoka, but he still preferred to hand write all his books. It didn't seem right unless it was written in his careful handwriting with accompanying sketches in the corners.
"Am I?" Kyoraku asked almost innocently, pressing his cheek against Ukitake's neck. The white-haired Captain shivered as stubble brushed against the sensitive skin.
"Yes, you are distracting me," he laughed, swatting the other over his shoulder. "I have deadlines you know!"
"How? I'm just holding you," the brunette replied as he swiftly avoided Ukitake's hand while still holding him. "Can't the deadline wait till tomorrow?"
"You should go back to your own Division tonight. Don't you have a ton of paper work to sign again?" Ukitake pointed out as he placed the page on the side where all the other finished pages were, before moving onto the next. "If you hold it off any longer, Ise-san's going to really kill you this time."
"Aww but Nanao-chan's so capable, she manages just fine without me~" Kyoraku replied lazily, his lips brushing against Ukitake's neck as he moved his head back to where it had been a few moments ago. "I'm lonely there, Jushiro-chan... Don't send me away..." He was using his kicked puppy voice again. Ukitake sighed patiently.
"Well if you keep that up, I'll tell Ise-san you have been hiding here since yesterday morning," he warned with a small smile as he started the page.
"No! Please don't! She'd kill me for sure!"
"Then are you going to behave?"
"...yes."
Ukitake wasn't too sure how long that promise would last so he started concentrating on the work at hand almost immediately, letting the feel of his lover's warm body pressed up behind him fade to a background sensation. He had even managed to ignore the subtle way the other Captain was groping his body. (Mainly his ass.) It was working until he felt a hand expertly slide between the folds his yukata, a little too late for him to avoid, and tweak a nipple, making his hand that held the brush pause so as not to end up spoiling the page.
"Kyoraku... I'm going to spoil all my hard work if you carry on doing that," he said, feeling Kyoraku's fingertips lightly pinching the trapped flesh before soothingly stroking over it. He let out a quiet gasp and felt the man smile against his neck.
"Then put your brush down, Jushiro-chan," he replied, his voice low. Ukitake looked down at his work, but Kyoraku's lips began to brush against the nape of his neck then so he ended up setting the brush aside in surrender, melting into his lover's arms.
"You're such a bad influence," Ukitake said, probably for the thousandth time. Kyoraku didn't even both to reply, his free hand sweeping Ukitake's hair over one of his shoulders so he could kiss more of his neck. Ukitake closed his eyes, slowly breathing out as the kisses turned into licks, one hand untying the sash that tied Ukitake's yukata easily letting it fall on the floor, before the same hand pushed the two folds of the garment away from each other, exposing pale skin.
"Mmm....Jushiro-chan's so erotic..." Kyoraku purred, using both hands to pull his lover away from the low table, before running a hand up the man's thigh, brushing over his covered groin. A small embarrassed smile came to Ukitake's lips at the comment. They knew each other since what seemed like eternity, but the Eighth Division Captain's playful perverted comments never seemed to fail to get a reaction from him.
"I think you're the only one who thinks so," he replied, his toes curling as Kyoraku stroked along his half-hard cock beneath the fabric. He let out a quiet moan, spreading his legs a little.
"No one else gets to see Jushiro-chan with his cute orgasm face like I do though," Kyoraku was back to teasing and Ukitake felt his blush spread down his neck. He was about to turn around and tackle his fellow captain when he heard footsteps leading to the door and felt an erratic reiatsu signature outside. He accidentally elbowed Kyoraku in the stomach as he scrambled away from him.
Kyoraku made a defeated sound, though he had felt the reiatsu too and didn't complain too much. "Oww......Jushiro-chan...." he whimpered, rubbing his stomach. He was sure strong for one of "Ill health".
"Captain Ukitake Jushiro, Captain Kyoraku Shunsui." So the old man knew they were together. Why did he see through everything? It was creepy, though Ukitake guessed him and Kyoraku both should have known there was no way to hide something so major from a man who was almost their father. Exactly how long had he known? Usually he sent separate jigokuchous even if the two were together, but clearly the old man was in too much of a hurry this time to do such shows of discretion. "You are summoned by Head-Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto for an emergency meeting. Please gather immediately, the Gotei 13 require you both." A voice said on the other side of the door. It wasn't even a jigokuchou this time. Something major was up.
"Oh dear...it seems I'll have to be patient..." Ukitake heard his lover sigh as he stood up slowly, picking his hat off the floor nearby to perch on his head. "I wonder what it's about huh? It seems pretty damn serious if Yama Jii-san is calling us both, personally...." Aizen came to both of their minds as they exchanged looks.
"Aahh....how bothersome..."
Ukitake felt more than worried. If this was something to do with Aizen, it was too soon. They had been told there was no way that he could make a move and the preparations to replace squad members killed or fill positions had not yet occurred. Ukitake got to his feet, arranging his clothes into a more precise order and trying to ignore the way his cock was trying to tent in his hakama.
"Don't look so worried. The Soul Society isn't falling down around our ears," Kyoraku said with a reassuring smile as he stood up. Ukitake didn't want to say anything to that. When the Soul Society had been falling down around their ears, he'd been convalescing and had almost allowed a subordinate to die with his carelessness. He wouldn't do so again.
"Let's go, Kyoraku."
~~~
"So let me get this straight.... Byakuya thinks your sister is...alive?" Ichigo asked with a frown. The whole gang had sat down at Urahara's store now in a circle on the tatami floor.
"Yes. His note mentioned he couldn't loose her this time.." Ruika replied, this discomfort clearly showing. "He believes she reincarnated....."
The silence in the room was extremely uncomfortable. Ichigo looked so utterly confused.
"But even if she was, she would not retain any of her memories right? It's like she is a new person...isn't it?" Ishida asked carefully, knowing this was all a very sensitive subject.
Renji stared at the floor, trying to pretend this conversation wasn't happening. He didn't want to debate Byakuya's love for Hisana. He didn't want to think about how the Captain had dropped him like an old rag to run away with an old love. Though somewhere in his mind, something told him it was coming. What noble would spend his time seriously with a street dog from Rukongai anyway?
"The why and how doesn't matter. We just need to find him," he pointed out. He saw Rukia turn to him, something like sympathy in her eyes because he refused to believe it was pity. How would it be? She knew nothing of...them.
"Nii-sama... He must know that it isn't his Hisana. When we find him... we might have to convince him to come back with us..." It was clear that by 'convince', Rukia really meant 'fight'. He saw Ichigo's hand twitch slightly and saw Orihime glance at him worriedly. Ichigo had beaten Byakuya before, but that had been a fight that Byakuya himself hadn't truly wanted to win.
"Well then, we just have to go and get him back then right?" Ichigo said after a few moments pause, standing up. "Dunno what's going on in his head, but hell, we gotta try right?" he said glancing over at Renji, giving him a reassuring smile, one that Renji couldn't return.
"I'm sorry to put a damper on everyone's spirits..." Urahara Kisuke's voice cut in from behind them. "But we have a slight, tiny problem."
"W..what?" Renji asked, a sick feeling in his stomach. His nerves made him forget his manners in speech all together.
"We are finding it a little...tricky to trace Captain Kuchiki's reiatsu." The blond man said, sounding a little embarrassed as he scratched his head. "Almost like...he was spirited away. Quite peculiar."
Renji had been afraid of that. He stared down at the floor. He wasn't sure how Byakuya was hiding his reiatsu. He'd only ever heard of Urahara's ability to do it with his cloak or Kenpachi's eye patch that ate his spiritual power. He wasn't sure when Byakuya had learned that ability.
"It must be whoever Captain Kuchiki is with" he deduced. "I'm certain the Captain doesn't have that ability."
Ichigo nodded. "Yeah. I get the idea that if he was able to do something like that we'd have seen it."
"Don't think you know everything about Captain Kuchiki just because you beat him once, Kurosaki," Renji warned with a glare.
"H-hey...I was just sayin'...." Ichigo replied defensively, raising his hands in surprise. "What's up with you anyway huh?"
"Do you know something?" Renji snapped back, his temper rising with the situation "I dunno why you have to always get involved in everyone's fucking business Kurosaki."
"....What?" Ichigo sounded like he hadn't heard the other's words right.
"Always butting in like you're a fucking hero or somethin'.....it's annoying. Hell, its past fucking annoying! Leave yourself out of this!"
"Hey Renji. I dunno what you think you are on but why the fuck are you talking to me like that?" Ichigo's expression was stormy now as he glared back. "Isn't that saying a bit much?"
"Just sayin' it like it is!" Renji glowered at Ichigo for a moment before getting to his feet. "You know what, I'll find Captain Kuchiki without you."
"Oh yeah, cuz you're Renji the mighty and so much better at finding people than me, or even, all of us!" Ichigo pointed out. Renji growled.
"Shut the fuck up Kurosaki!" he uttered as he took a threatening step toward the orange haired boy, his fists clenched.
"Make me Renji!" The substitute shinigami didn't seem to back down either, stepping up and closing the gap between them. Renji really saw red this time, grabbing a handful of Ichigo's shirt and dragging the shorter boy up.
"Won't you cut it out?!??"
Renji was grabbed from behind with that crazy strength of Rukia's and dragged back rather roughly, making him release Ichigo.
"What's got into you Renji?" Rukia exclaimed now "Why are you being like this? Ichigo's only trying to help us!"
"Don't go defending his busybody attitude just cuz you're into him!" Renji snarled. "What the fuck is it with you? Can't you see his glaring faults or something? Get him involved this whole thing will turn into a massive melodramatic fight. I just want to get the Captain and get the fuck home!"
Rukia had turned bright pink, but she looked mortified at the same time. She clenched her hands into fists.
"Oh what? You upset I gave your little game away huh?" Renji couldn't stop his running mouth. "What's up with you two anyway? If you two fucking like each other why don't you both just go and screw or something instead of openly showing your interests to each other in front of everyone like they give a shit?? It pisses me off!!"
"Get out, Renji," Ruika said quietly, refusing to look at Ichigo as her face burned a darker pink. Renji stared at her for a few moments before she looked up, eyes furious and swung for him, catching his jaw hard enough for a burst of pain to bloom and his head to snap to the side sharply.
"I said GET OUT!"
~~~
"My beloved Byakuya...... please come to me...find me...quickly..."
The soft ethereal whisper captivated, gently, softly guiding the black haired man forward.
"Hisana.."
The reiatsu, the scent.... yes. It was her.
"I have missed you, it has been so long..."