[Dicontinued] Fire and Ice

Title: Fire and Ice

Author: BrucesGirl and R. Brightside

Pairings: Kurosaki Ichigo/Kuchiki Byakuya (Hints of Other Pairings)

Summary: Ichigo is called to replace Renji as Vice Captain temporarily. Sparks fly between Byakuya and Kurosaki, and they aren’t necessarily the nice sparks.

Warnings: Yaoi, Anal, UST, Angst

Disclaimer: We don’t own Bleach or Ichigo or Byakuya because we are not Kubo Tite. If he were a friend of ours, we’d force him to draw a Yaoi Omake of Toshirou and Kira-kun.

Note: A huge thanks to ShadowsNight for helping out with the true translation of the Hollow’s name in Japanese. Some of us… (Ahem… BG) who know quite a bit of Japanese know nothing about basic grammar and phonetics. (*cough cough* Take classes, BG!)

Chapter 11: The Pelting Rain and Zangestu


The servants had come and cleaned the room while Ichigo and Byakuya slept, and the raven haired captain only woke to find the blonde boy wiping down his body with a soft cloth that was lightly scented with sakura and jasmine, the Taicho’s favorite combination.

The boy started when he realized Byakuya was awake, having not asked permission to touch him, but when the Kuchiki heir didn’t move to push him away, he continued to wash his master’s body, not even a blush appearing on his young cheeks as he finished wiping away the last of the sweat and remnants of blood from Byakuya’s inner thighs.

Byakuya noticed that the room was spotless again and that the scent of vomit, blood, and sex had been removed along with all clothes that had blood on them. “Byakuya-sama…” The boy whispered. “…Do you want breakfast?” The Shinigami nodded to the boy, and he disappeared out the door.

Ichigo stirred softly, a frown creasing his forehead as he pressed close to Byakuya, his hands not letting go of his lover's. His chocolate brown eyes opened slightly, and the teen merely closed them again when he became aware of his surroundings, murmuring what could have been an apology.

He hadn't been able to stay awake, as he had told himself he would, but Byakuya seemed no worse than he had done yesterday. One hand left the captain's to gently caress the dark locks of hair that spilled over the pillow and his shoulders, the frown deepening as he realized someone else was in the room with them, although he didn't seem to care that much.

The boy returned with breakfast, enough for both, but only sat it down in front of Byakuya and tilted his head. “Anou…Byakuya-sama. Please eat more onigiri this morning to help you get stronger.” The stoic captain gazed down at the blonde expressionlessly.

When the boy’s azure eyes gazed up and saw Ichigo awake, he shrieked out in fear and scrambled back, his eyes wide with fright. Byakuya’s followed the boy without emotion, and he snatched out a delicate hand and his fingers wrapped around the boy’s gently. “Stop. Come here and serve us, Jiku.” The boy was wide eyed, but he conceded anyway.

Ichigo's expression softened as he slipped into thought. He was a monster. Byakuya's servants were terrified of him, and he didn't blame them. He felt the urge to leave, but his limbs felt heavy, and the warmth of Byakuya's skin was much too alluring to leave.

He didn't move, however, the rising and falling of his chest the only sign that he was indeed alive. He'd have to discuss this with his lover when Jiku left. This was so frustrating... he grit his teeth, and he frowned once more. He hated this thing residing within him... hated it because of what it had done to Byakuya, and what it had done to him.

It had clawed away all the carefully applied layers of thick skin, and he was a vulnerable child once more, sobbing for his mother outside of her grave. Ichigo's hand tightened it's hold on Byakuya's, but he didn't move otherwise, the warmth of the skin in his hand comforting in it's own way. Byakuya wasn't dead... he had that much satisfaction.

Jiku offered Ichigo a cup of tea, his tiny hands shaking terribly, spilling a little bit of the hot liquid on Byakuya, making the Shinigami hiss slightly and then blink at the boy. The boy suddenly put the cup in Ichigo’s fingers and threw himself on his knees, his eyes hidden from Byakuya.

“Gomen nasai, Byakuya-sama! Onegai!” Byakuya rested a delicate hand in the boy’s hair before tilting his chin up tenderly.

“Don’t apologize.” He ordered quietly. He picked up his cup of white tea from the tray, and he waved the boy away. “Go home, Jiku. Come tomorrow to finish the flowers in the garden.”

The boy’s smile suddenly stretched from ear to ear. “Hai, Byakuya-sama!” And he left. Byakuya turned to face Ichigo.

“He is my overnight servant.” He didn’t say anything other than that, but in truth, it meant the boy had heard everything from the night before.

Ichigo placed the cup next to the futon, and ran his hands through his hair. "I'm a monster, Byakuya." He brought his knees to his chest, resting his forehead ontop of them and shaking slightly. "I let him out to hurt you. I was so angry... that you didn't deem us as equals any more. I don't deserve to love you... I've hurt you so much."

He could hear it cackling in the back of his mind, and then speaking brightly, the words passing as murmurs on Ichigo's lips without him being able to help it. "You're so weak. I could take you over right now, and rape him again, break him again, tear him apart and ruin him. Naa, and he can hear me, too. Hear that, Byakuya-chan? I'm going to…"

Ichigo grit his teeth together, his hands tightening into fists as he willed the thing away. "Get out... get out of my head!" He hissed out, trembling with the effort of keeping the Hollow at bay. "Get out!"

Byakuya’s expression changed at the higher pitched, more insane voice of the Hollow, and he snorted. “You will not. Kurosaki is not so weak as to let you out again. I have faith in my acting Vice Captain.” His voice so full of confidence that he believed it himself.

Surely if the boy was able to best him in battle and in bed, he’d be able to block this bastard from taking over again. Byakuya’s hands gently threaded into Ichigo’s hair, and ignoring the prickle of slight fear that ran up his spine, he pulled the boy to his chest and breathed in the scent of human shampoo and fresh soap. “Kurosaki Ichigo has no place for you in his life now.” Byakuya warned the Hollow as he held Ichigo against his chest.

The vice captain bit back the reply that the Hollow started, wrapping his arms around Byakuya, the warmth of the bare body against his comforting. The being within Ichigo finally gave up, retreating into a layer of mind further back, his presence lingering.

"Byakuya... there are times that I won't be able to stop him in. Run if I give signs, please. Unohana-taicho said that there could be emendable damage to you if it happens again." His tone was firm, and he pulled back to rest his forehead against Byakuya's. "Please... promise me that, Byakuya."

The Hollow rammed his way to the front of Ichigo's mind again, and his voice rang out clearly this time. "I'm going to get you, Byakuya-chan. I'm going to fuck you raw, and I'll break you, time and time again. And no-one will save you." Ichigo gripped onto Byakuya tightly, slumping against him and willing the Hollow to go away.

When he finally did so, the teen let a single tear slide down his cheek. "Byakuya... I don't want you hurt. I can't live here... I can't sleep here any more."

Byakuya was not the type to beg anyone to stay, so he released Ichigo coldly from his arms, his eyes suddenly hardening. If the boy wasn’t going to remain, there was no point in humoring this weakening affection any longer. He stood from the futon abruptly, wincing in pain as the stitches pulled at his sensitive skin.

He pulled on a yakuta over his shoulders, and without looking at Ichigo, his voice was harder than stone, he spoke to him as a Taicho to a Fukutaicho. “If you are not going to stay,” He paused and turned his head, resting his ice cold gaze on Ichigo’s handsome face.

“…Then get out.”

He left the room to walk carefully towards the bathing houses, noticing Jiku had stayed and was carefully grooming the flowers in the garden as he’d been asked to do the next day. He called to him.

“Jiku, bring healing salts for the bath and come tend to me.” The boy looked up and nodded happily, running to wash his hands and do as he was bidden. When Byakuya reached the baths, he shed his yakuta and stepped in, his face contorted in mild pain. Jiku was behind him immediately, pouring the salts into the bath and picking up Jasmine soap for his master’s hair.

Ichigo grit his teeth, but honored his decision, bowing to Byakuya before gathering up his robes and slipping them on, hitching Zangetsu onto his back and leaving quickly, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, until he got as far away from Byakuya as he could - the other side of Soul Society.

He rested against the wall, and rested his head in his hands. The teen swallowed, his body overcome with emotions and the mental instability that the Hollow had not so graciously given to him. He pulled off the sleeves of one of his inner white yakuta, and made a tight mask over his mouth, not permitting words to leave it.

His inner torment would be kept to himself, the Vice Captain reasoned. The Hollow couldn't take over his mouth, any more. He closed his eyes, and then pulled Zangetsu off his back, holding him close. He was his only friend, now. The only person he could depend on. He rested his cheek against the flat of the blade, hearing the soft pulse of Riatsu, almost like a heartbeat.

Yes... he and Zangetsu were one being. He would make it so. He would become stronger... he would unite his mind with the Old Man's. He stood, a determined scowl on his face. And then, he thrust Zangetsu through his heart, his breath robbed from him before he slumped against the wall, and he began his long conversation with his Zanpaktou. They were behind, after all.

~*~*~*~*~

Zangetsu watched as Ichigo stepped over the reflective glass. His long legs had him balanced on the precious flagpole as always, waiting for the words from Ichigo that had come so rarely as of late. It wasn’t as if though he’d had no interaction with the boy. The battle against Hane no Kokuchou had been immensely satisfying, and he was waiting for the day that he would face Senbonzakura again, but until then, he would settle for gentle fingertips along his blade.

The rain had pelted him ferociously lately as well, making him bruise and hurt. As Ichigo came closer to him, Zangetsu stepped down off the flagpole, his movements nearly god-like in the world inside of Ichigo. His dark eyes flickered up to the sky before he stepped forward towards Ichigo, his boots not making any noise on the glass. Power was all around him. It moved in the air and it wrapped around Ichigo like a blanket, drawing him in further to the world of his beautiful sword.

“Ichigo.” He acknowledged. “Control the rain. It is taxing.” He stood, stoic, quiet, gentle as always. He was neither above Ichigo, nor was Ichigo his master. His fingertips brushed out over the Shinigami robes, and he touched Ichigo’s mouth where the sleeve of the yakuta had been tied in Soul Society. He was saddened by Ichigo’s acquiescence and quiet voice. In the end, his allowance of Ichigo controlling Zangetsu’s Bankai had not been a defeat on part of Zangetsu, or a domination on part of Ichigo, but rather, a partner ship which neither regretted.

"Aa. Gomen, Old Man." Ichigo managed a soft smile, but the rain didn't lessen. "It's the Hollow. I need your help... to fight against it." His face became serious, and he folded his arms against himself. Zangetsu's presence had always calmed him, but now, it didn't seem to do much. The crackling of power around him aroused him slightly as it always did, but now, he felt no comfort in the presence of his blade’s avatar.

"I need your power. I want to join with you - to become one." Ichigo ran a hand through his hair, and he held out his hand facing palm up. "I'm a danger to everyone. And I need you to help me fight him." He couldn't grind down the hurt he felt - he was more a danger to Byakuya than anyone, and surely, Zangetsu knew that.

“Hmn.” Zangetsu tilted his head to the side slightly, and then, he stepped forward, pulling his thick coat off and dropping it over Ichigo’s head, making a comical religious figure almost. Ichigo frowned as the coat was dumped onto his head, and he winced at the sight of Zangetsu's bruises, but there was something oddly satisfying about seeing the boy in his own clothes though Zangetsu hardly understood the reason why.

Zangetsu winced as the rain cut into him, bruising him even further. The coat he’d dropped over Ichigo protected the Shinigami from the punishing drops and winds, but in turn, Zangetsu stood, and the rain pasted his shirt to his lithe, elegantly defined body.

“Maintaining Bankai for that period of time is not possible.” Zangetsu answered cryptically. “You know the results of a Shinigami fusing with their Zanpaktou. There no way we can join. Take me out of this rain.” He whispered. “It hurts.”

"It's possible! There's a way for everything, Zangetsu." He growled, scowling heavily at the tall man that stood before him. "Old Man, I'll become stronger for this cause."

The rain lessened slightly, and Ichigo clenched his fists. "There's a way for us to join. And I'll find it, even if it takes training that lasts more than obtaining Bankai." Determination written across his face, and showing in his eyes, expression grim.

"I won't let this thing win this fight, and only our joining will prevent that. There is a way to join for that period of time... or at least become synched with each other, without pain. A way to become stronger, with or without a permanent Bankai."

The rain still hurt, and Zangetsu sighed, his dark eyes flickering away from Ichigo’s face. “There is no way. You must fight him yourself. He is your opposite.” His Master’s frustration bled into his consciousness, and he wanted to will it away to protect Ichigo, but he could not.

“I can protect you from the world. I protected you from Senbonzakura and from the Bountou. However, Ichigo, I cannot protect you from yourself.” Zangetsu’s hands clenched at his sides, the rain pelting him once more. It hurt terribly. It had hurt for days since the boy had arrived in Soul Society. “Ichigo…This is too much for me.”

"...Aa. Gomen, Old Man. I'll try my best to make it stop." Ichigo managed a soft smile, and put his hand against Zangetsu's forearm. "It'll be difficult, but I'll try and make it stop." Just as he opened his mouth to bid his Zanpaktou good bye, he was wrenched from the reflective glass world of the Old Man unceremoniously.

He took a deep gasp of air, grasping out to the sword that had been embedded within him, and looked up into the concerned eyes of Jyuushiro and Shunsui. "Maa, Kurosaki-fukutaicho... you shouldn't go around trying to kill yourself." Ichigo scowled, and stood, the mask preventing speech but his Riatsu reeking of fury.

He took Zangetsu from Shunsui's grip, holding the blade close to him, speaking softly to the Old Man in the back of his mind. "Gomen. I'll make the rain stop, Zangetsu.”

“Do your best, Ichigo. It still hurts.”

Ichigo shot off, leaving two confused captains behind. He spent the rest of the day with his Riatsu hidden, sitting on the top of the Soul Society walls, facing outward with Zangetsu in his lap, his hands flat on the blade as he settled his mind, and with it, the rain slowed, and then come to an abrupt stop.

And he found that the Hollow couldn’t pierce the layers of optimism that he’d built up. With a hidden smile on his face, Ichigo lay down on the Wall of Seireitei, and slept, albeit fitfully.

Up Next: Chapter 12: The Mechanics of Drowning Sorrow

…He was allowed to, after all - an act never hurt any one, and it would simply serve to arouse the to-be Captain further. "Shuuhei..." Ichigo breathed, a tremble racking his body. "I haven't bottomed before. I swear, I'll kill you if this hurts too much."

Shuuhei chuckled deeply before wetting two of his own fingers with his saliva and shoving them into Ichigo’s body without preamble, sure he’d at least given the younger man something to complain about. “It’s going to hurt like hell.” He grinned rakishly. “But you’ll be begging for more.”

BIG HUGE THANKS to the following reviewers! ashke (It’s alright, we didn’t like hurting Byakuya either.), Hanyou-elf (Hey everyone…she’s my girlfriend. I told her so last night.), setsuna (Uke Byakuya is hot. Seme Byakuya is hotter. Just wait.), ShadowsNight (Thank you SOOOO much. Keep reviewing. BG need good critique. We’d say Brightside needs it too, but she’s perfect. *snicker*)