Three Times Three is Nine

Fondling Kira’s hair, Shuuhei remembered the first time they shared a kiss. Although it seemed a while ago, it was only less than a year, during the preparation for the Winter War. Now they had been together for six months, sharing fears and hopes along with dreams. Not to mention one another’s beds from time to time. Often Kira curled up alongside Shuuhei; resting his head on the other man’s bare chest while the covers cocooned them.

Tonight the silvery moon cast a glow over Kira’s hair transforming it to the same hues of blue and grey. Through the window, the moon teased, keeping Shuuhei awake. Sometimes he would pillow his spiky haired head on Kira’s chest, throwing a possessive arm over his lover to make sure he remained until morning. Despite what Kira may think, Shuuhei found great comfort in his lover, who was serious and kind. Not hotheaded and impetuous like Renji had been.

Smiling, Shuuhei let memories tumble through his head in order to lull himself to sleep. He caressed the strands of Kira’s hair that fell over his face and thought back through time.
***

Kira was convinced he could achieve it. There in the training grounds of Squad 9 he held Wabisuke over his head, ready to bring it down. Across from him, dodging out of the way of the swing was Hisagi. Kira's released zanpakuto only touched air, sizzling brightly with its aura.

Pale blonde hair stuck to the left side of Kira's face. Twisting his wrist to the side, he swung the blade shaped like an angular question mark, blocking the hail of throwing stars Hisagi hurled towards him. A pair of dark eyes met his, from under that fringe of dark hair. Kira flash stepped, trying to outpace his faster opponent.

Reiatsu flared, hissing the air molecules into frenzy between them. So far, Hisagi had refrained from drawing his zanpakuto, while Kira barely grazed the air where Hisagi had once been. The throwing stars landed prematurely when colliding with Kira's Wabisuke, their weight instantly doubling.

"Anything you can throw at me, I can block," Kira challenged.

"Just have to keep throwing things at you so you don't get ME," said Hisagi, appearing above Kira. Blue kidou exploded in a rain, causing Kira to dodge and block with his weapon.

Clever, Kira thought. Using kidou and forcing him to block with his transformed weapon. Hisagi then shunpoed once more, causing Kira to stop, transferring Wabiske to one hand. Perceptions reached out, anticipating invisible patterns in the air. Then he swung backwards, dropping to his knees as the blow came from behind.

"Damn it," cursed Hisagi, deflecting the blow with his unsheathed sword.

Kira pushed up from a kneeling position, feeling Hisagi pressing down. Then slipping Wabisuke out from under he spun and slashed again. Arching his body backwards, Hisagi pushed off with one foot. Then bringing up his other he swept out. Kira dodged, and then swung again menacingly close to his opponent's hips. This forced Hisagi to block again with his untransformed Zanpakuto.

"Sword getting heavy?” Kira asked.

"You know I don't give a damn if it is," Hisagi laughed, pushing off. His brow blistered with sweat.

Kira again swung, and Hisagi blocked a fourth time. He leaned his whole body weight, while Kira continued his relentless push. Then Hisagi brought up his knee and hit Kira in the chest, winding him. With the flat of one hand he punched, and broke away, releasing his weapon.

"I know you don't like your sword, but you may wish you'd kept it," Kira taunted, stepping over the abandoned Zanpakuto. Now Hisagi dodged shunpoing and tossing more stars towards Kira once again in a strange hail.

"No good if it weighs almost as much as it does...” Hisagi laughed. Kira then propelled himself forwards, blocking the stars, and slashing dangerously close with Wabisuke again. This time his blade touched Hisagi himself and he gritted his teeth, as he suddenly felt his body weighed down.

"Feeling run down?" Kira asked. Hisagi crashed on his back, not quite believing the sensation of his own body pressing flat. It took all he could muster to flip over and struggle to sit up. Over him loomed Kira, with a smug expression, his weapon raised.

"I've faced worse," Hisagi said, grunting as he struggled to stand, his legs pushing hard to thrust his body to a standing position. Another slash whistled close, ripping his pant leg. Gasping Hisagi felt the weight of his shihakusho double as well. Kira's weapon cut from another side, and all he could do was lean and stumble to avoid another blow.

"Had enough yet?” Kira asked, his blue eyes fixing firmly and seriously into Hisagi's. The next blow slashed Shuuhei's arm and he cursed, dropping to his knees.

"Shit...” Hisagi panted, unable to stand. He well knew that Kira's blade could affect his body as well as his clothing, which was ripped in several places. Invisible chains held his legs down, while his arms could barely push and he could not even stand let alone kneel except on hands and knees. Now the relentless pull of four times his own body weight forced him to quiver, straining to straighten his traitorous legs that were lumps of lead.

Something cold hooked around his neck, and he bent even more forwards, squeezing his eyes shut. From behind, he felt the warmth of Kira's body, arching over him. "Do you give up?"

"Damn it, I guess you've got me," Hisagi panted. Ever since squad 9 had decided to train with squad 3 the two of them had spent more and more time together. While Hisagi had initially felt worried dealing with a depressed and despondent Kira, he soon came to see the former classmate of his had not lost his skill or spirit pressure. Those sad eyes still held much wisdom and a firm resolve to please. While serious and taciturn, Kira had faithfully and willingly trained alongside him, keeping no secrets from his Senpai.

There were small glimpses of the Kira he once knew in the Academy. Today was the first time Kira had actually won a match. Until now Hisagi had successfully teased and dodged, keeping one-step ahead and then using kidou to disarm Kira. The gap between their melee skills had slowly closed with each sparring session. Yesterday Kira almost had caught him.

Now today Kira had won. Rumors of squad 3's continued treachery still poisoned its reputation even a while after the rebellion. Weighed down by the sins of their captain they slogged along as best as they can. Ironic how he was the one forced to bow on his knees and prepare to die.

Kira however swung around, keeping the caress of Wabisuke on Hisagi's throat so his shadow fell over his former classmate. Unable to lift his head and see his opponent, Hisagi pressed hard on his hands and sat back on his knees. Immediately before him, the light was blocked, along with the chilly wind whipping over the training field from Kira's body kneeling just before his.

"So, are you going to let me go?” Hisagi asked calmly, puzzled that Kira had not removed the sword from around his neck. Still he bowed under that spell.

"Eventually, Sempai," whispered Kira, his hot breath fanning against Hisagi's bangs. Then the cold metal of Wabisuke slipped away, accompanied by the sound of something being laid down at the side.

"What the hell... why haven't you... broken the... effect yet?” Hisagi gritted. Hands gently touched his bare shoulders, one of them tracing over the bands on his arm.

"Because, I've something to do first," Kira whispered, touching his knees to Hisagi's. A cool hand brushed under his jaw, caressing softly. Then a pair of soft lips touched his briefly, deviating up to trace a path along the blue tattoo over his cheeks.

"K... kira... don't screw around," Hisagi muttered, not sure of where this was going. Granted Kira was reasonably good looking, but he had no idea how to react to the next soft press of those lips that lingered and drew a hot tongue across his.

Grunting, Kira pushed back, causing Hisagi to topple backwards. Overhead the blue sky arched, soon eclipsed by Kira's soft blonde hair and hooded eyes. This time they were gleaming with something mischievous, far from their depressed sullen state. Flat on his back Hisagi blinked up at his classmate, who dropped to his knee, then swung one leg over to straddle him.

"You... what are you doing, Kira? Let me go. This is starting to get old," Hisagi sighed laboriously, rolling his eyes. He let his arms drop, splayed out spread-eagled on either side. Though he struggled to lift them, they flopped down helplessly. While Hisagi was not afraid of Kira trying anything foolish, he was getting sick of being trapped like this. Kira seemed downright aggressive as he straddled him, causing Hisagi to gasp with the pain of additional weight.

"Not yet. Not when I have you here like this, Sempai," Kira said softly. The tone of his voice was sweet and even, that appealing upturn of one corner of his mouth compelling. Curious, Hisagi narrowed his eyes and stared up at Kira's change in demeanor. Just a spark of his old self twinkled in those blue eyes, now the color of the sky instead of a dull slate grey.

"I'm already half crushed and now you're going to seduce me?” Hisagi quipped, schooling his face into a serious expression though his heart skipped a beat.

"Mmm hmm," Kira answered, pressing his hands to intertwine with Hisagi's. His blonde hair tickled Hisagi's nose as Kira's face lowered, and the lips again met his. Teasingly the tongue again advanced, ghosting tentatively across Hisagi's lips. Yielding, Hisagi opened and allowed the hot breath to surge over his palate, his teeth nipping on the warm tongue brushing over his own. He felt Kira tensing in surprise, and inhaled the sharp gasp, exhaling through his nose.

Though his head weighed almost forty pounds Hisagi managed to move it side to side, bringing his lips in teasing half arcs keeping Kira guessing and maneuvering his lips to counter. Then Kira's tongue retracted, causing Hisagi to nip on his bottom lip and caress it with his heavy tongue, which dropped an instant later into his throat.

Grunting Kira buried his mouth into Hisagi's, stretching out on top of him. Dark brows creased in a frown, Hisagi twisted his hips to the side. His muscles twitched in those toned arms, pushing up and tensing. Panicking, Kira broke the kiss when he felt his body shifting over, rudely dumping him so they lay front to front. Hisagi's heavy arm pinned him down.

"Want me... to roll over and crush you?” Hisgasi whispered against Kira's lips.

"N... no...” Kira panicked.

"Then release your shikai like a nice guy," Hisagi ordered, smirking so the triple scar along the right side of his face creased with his expression. Now his dark eyes twinkled with mischief.

"W... wabisuke return," Kira panted, feeling his side almost crushed by the weight of Hisagi's arm. Grunting, Hisagi slid his leg over top, pinning and pressing him down so he could not move.

Immediately Hisagi felt the crushing pressure withdraw. His chest heaved in and out more easily, greater lungful of air making it far easier to breathe. Wrapping his leg around Kira's hip, he jerked the other man to him, and then rolled completely over so he straddled Kira's hips now.

"Now you're going to get it, Kira, my friend."

"S... sempai?" he stammered.

Blue eyes widened with fear, Kira blinked up at a wickedly smiling Hisagi shifting his weight with an exaggerated grunt. Now that things were as they were, the vice captain of squad nine grabbed and pinned both Kira's wrists, dipping his nose to within inches of Kira's. Suddenly his lips felt dry, and Kira drew his tongue nervously along them, his heart fluttering like a scared sparrow.

"What...are you doing? I... I'm sorry...” Kira suddenly apologized. Hisagi blinked in surprise, feeling Kira's muscles twitching under him spasmodically. Why was he hyperventilating all of a sudden, gasping, and squirming. Not that Hisagi minded the shifting against his groin since it was arousing.

"Kira, you're really freaked out aren't you?” Hisagi asked, frowning.

"Please... get off me," Kira gasped, his eyes wide and round. Brushing his hair back from his face Hisagi gently bent down and covered Kira's parted lips.

Tight bands constricted across Kira's chest. He desperately pushed against Hisagi, but when the lips covered his he flinched tightly, squeezing his eyes shut. However, Shuuhei kept his mouth closed, instead moving in small tantalizing lip presses that rubbed and massaged Kira's lips in a tender way.

Lightly Hisagi pulled his tongue along the groove of Kira's lips. Interlacing their fingers, he pressed the tip of his tongue past Kira's quivering mouth, breathing softly so his breath surged across Kira's inside cheeks and palate. Leisurely Hisagi teased Kira's tongue, and then pulled his back, sweeping it over the chattering teeth before closing his mouth again. Kira sighed in relief at the sweet kiss, tension melting from his body. Hisagi's weight felt comforting, not assaulting, pinning him there and warming him in ways he had not realized were possible.

"Mmm," Hisagi murmured, before breaking the kiss. Hovering over Kira his dark eyes gleamed kindly into the still widened ones of his companion pinned under him.

"Wha..." Kira stammered, now licking his lips as if missing something instead of out of nervousness.

"Isn't that what you wanted?” Hisagi asked voice deep and reassuring as possible. Firmly he squeezed Kira's fingers with his, brushing his nose over the other's.

"I don't know... I thought for a moment you were... that you were going to..."

"Then don't start things you don’t' want to finish, Kira," Hisagi reprimanded him.

"I wanted you but I didn't know if... and then...” Kira murmured, realizing he was not making much sense.

"I'm not angry Kira. Relax," Hisagi, sighed, shaking his head. He pushed himself up a bit, still sitting on Kira's hips. "If you want me to stop, just say so."

"But you do want to... I mean for a minute you did..."

"Look Kira, did someone do something to you... once...?” Hisagi asked, eliciting a look of confusion crossing Kira's face.

"I don't know what you mean," Kira said, turning his head to the side. He closed those blue eyes, tensing his muscles again. Hisagi released Kira's wrists. He moved to the side and climbed off, but still kept hold of Kira's hand. Kira laid there, immobile, eyes pressed tightly shut. A long low breath rasped across his pale lips and he turned over so he faced away from Shuuhei.

"Kira, you can talk to me about it. I promise I won't tell a soul. Just... you can't expect to return a kiss like that and not have me wonder?” Shuuhei began, reaching over to caress Kira's cheek.

"Why because I tried seducing you, and you think I'm screwing with your head? Is that it? You going to ridicule me for mucking with your brain like you expect all squad 3 members to do?” Kira asked, pushing Hisagi's hand away.

"Kira, stop it. Do not go there. That's NOT what I mean," Hisagi said, squeezing Kira's shoulder. He flipped the man over and tugged him up to a sitting position.

"Then what DO you mean?” Kira asked bitterly, his fair face contorting into a frown. Now his eyes were cold and hard, distances falling between them like that lock of hair that hid half his face now.

"I'm no idiot Kira. I know enough that I don't resent you or blame you for what happened or didn't happen. Moreover, if you don't want to talk fine. But you're not going to just try making a pass at me, then letting me kiss you and then shut me out like this," Hisagi scolded him, grabbing Kira's chin while holding onto his wrist with his other hand.

"I don't want to talk. Everyone wants me to talk about it. But I don't want to," Kira protested, still averting his gaze from Shuuhei.

"Then don't talk about it. However, don't shut me out. Because I was the one who kissed you. I could have just pushed you away."

"You didn't HAVE to kiss me, Sempai," Kira answered, his voice devoid of emotion.

"No I didn't. You didn't have to flirt with me either, or use your power to have your way with me. It surprised me, but I didn't say I didn't like the effort," Hisagi chuckled slightly.

"I thought you were pissed," Kira sighed, turning his head towards Hisagi. Besides those fingers were insistently pulling his chin anyway.

Now Hisagi knelt, sitting his bottom on his ankles. Releasing Kira's hand, he instead held him by the shoulder. He pressed down hard enough to inform Kira he did not want him to move from where he sat before him. Rather he should continue in that pose with folded legs, with his knee touching Hisagi's thighs while the vice captain shifted and pressed down more firmly to hold him in place.

"Now," Hisagi said, tipping Kira's chin up. Kira took in the scars that covered that right half of Hisagi's face, remaindering how he was responsible for their creation that fateful day.

"Now?"

"Would I want you to kiss me back if I was pissed, Izuru-kun?” Hisagi asked.

He gasped at the sound of his first name from his classmate's lips. How quickly the barrier had crumbled, leaving him feeling uncomfortably naked. "Apparently not... sem..."

"Please, drop it. It's Shuuhei, idiot." Hisagi frowned.

"Really? I suppose... it's fair since I did not protest you calling me Izuru."

"Now do I get a kiss or not, Izuru?"

"Mmm, I suppose, Shuuhei," Kira mused. He reached up to grab the front of Shuuhei's top with one hand, while tracing a finger over the tattooed sixty-nine on his left cheek with his other. Feeling the weight of those strong hands and the gravity of those eyes gleaming expectantly Kira leaned forwards and claimed Hisagi's lips.

Hisagi pulled him forwards, causing their chests to collide. KIra grunted through the kiss, unfolding his legs so he could sit on Shuuhei's knees. Lips clashed more aggressively as Hisagi nipped Kira's lower lip, and Kira thrust his tongue past his sempai's. How different from Gin he tasted, Kira thought. Not elusive and silver, but something like bronze and earth. A hint of something dangerous but controlled. Tightly reigned in and stable, not flirting with death and the past.

His hands brushed over the badge tied to Hisagi's arm. Likewise, Hisagi's muscular arms rubbed his sleeves absent of his own adjutant badge. Reaching down he slid his hands over the small of Shuuehi's back, feeling the muscles and the ridges of his spine. He sighed pleasantly at the hand gripping his backside to hold him imprisoned on Shuuhei's knees.

No longer was Kira weighed down by his past. Nor was Shuuhei by curiosity. Somehow, the load had lightened and things would not be as difficult. Three times three was nine, Kira thought as Shuuhei and he removed one another’s clothes and explored more thoroughly.

Three to the second power. An exponent. Shuuhei was vice captain of squad nine, and he of three. He would puzzle through the implications later. Rather now, he would enjoy the love that he had found in an unexpected classmate whose life he had saved years ago. His Sempai, his Shuuhei.