[Dicontinued] Fire and Ice

Title: Fire and Ice

Author: Kokuchou Kayou Studios

Pairings: Kurosaki Ichigo/Kuchiki Byakuya, Others…As We See Fit!

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, UST, Angst

Disclaimer: We don’t own Bleach or Ichigo or Byakuya because we are not Kubo Tite. If we were guys, this wouldn’t be half as much fun.

Note: Total…severe…tear wrenching Angst in this one!!! ENJOY!!!


Chapter 27: The Battle of Friends


Mayuri was close to tears in his fury. The Quincy was gone, the only thing left of him the charm that hung around the captain's wrist. "Nemu, you bitch... you LET him escape!" He lifted his daughter by the neck, and slapped her viciously, just as he felt a familiar Riatsu in the doorway.

Shunsui gazed at the situation with a bit of annoyance, but he covered his true fury at Mayuri and kept his Riatsu tightly contained. He stooped to help Nemu from the floor, and he gazed up at Mayuri, his lazy chocolate eyes filled with something akin to disgust.

“Yare, Yare… Such a temper.” He sighed. Nemu brushed herself off after being helped up, and she offered a small bow to Shunsui before turning back to Mayuri. “Forgive me, Kurotsuchi-taicho. It is my fault.” Shunsui snorted. “Nonsense. Oi, Mayuri, let’s drink some sake together. I would like to ask some questions about the Quincy, if you don’t mind.”

Mayuri snorted gently, hiding his fear of the captain. Why is he here? He had distanced himself from everyone in Soul Society, and Shunsui had hated him even before he had done so. He supposed that they had been close friends with Urahara at first, but now he found that it ran deeper than that.

"Why is it, Kyoraku-taicho," Mayuri's voice was a purr, even though the modifications near restricted him from dropping it that low. "That you wish to see me? You would usually distance yourself from me, even in a situation like this."

“Just curious.” Shunsui offered pleasantly. “Plus, the boy wants to stay in Soul Society. I want to know more about them.” He was lying through his teeth, but it didn’t seem to make a bit of difference to the other captain who was already on his guard, so Shunsui gave up on trying to convince him, and he held up a bottle of sake.

“Let’s drink.” Nemu stepped back quietly and left for the lab as Shunsui stepped closer to Mayrui, avoiding the urge to throw up on the bastard. He offered the bottle. “This is…of course…unless you can’t drink with all those extras on.”

Mayuri frowned, the expression alien on his face. "I can drink perfectly fine with the modifications, thank you. I remedied that a century ago." The 12th Division captain gestured vaguely to his desk, taking a moment to express horror while he back was turned.

Shunsui had come here for a reason, and as much as he wanted to throw him out of his office, he wanted to understand why the captain had come to see him in the first place. "I have some cups here." He held out the ornamental cups, dragons and tigers intimately carved into the sides. "Pour, drink. Tell me what you want to know."


~*~*~*~

Saijin stepped into the 12th Division headquarters, his heavy footsteps echoing on the tiles. The tall kitsune ducked through the doorway towards Mayuri's office, and frowned, growling gently at the site that greeted him. Kurosaki Isshin managed to move past the captain, and had to grimace.

There wasn't much to be said about the scene.

The soft creak of rope as the corpse swung gently from side to side, spinning with the gentle sway of what could have been a haughty shove only a short while ago, filled the silence, although Saijin finally stepped forward and pulled Mayuri from the noose, dropping him into a chair.

He pulled the rose pinned to the half-opened rose, and crushed it in his wide palm. He turned to the 6th division captain and the former Shinigami and spoke softly. "This," He held out the crushed rose, his scowl prominent, "Will not leave this building."

He couldn't risk Ukitake-taicho finding out about this. Shunsui's cruelty was undoubted by every other Shinigami, but he didn't want to know the kind of reaction Jyuushiro would have to something such as this.

Byakuya’s cold blue eyes didn’t even sparkle in worry at the sight. He’d hated the rat bastard anyway, with his constant scheming and cruelty, but Isshin’s eyes had darkened considerably. The blood that dripped down from the body that had obviously been twisted and tortured was making him sick to his stomach, even surpassing what he was able to tolerate as a doctor.

Byakuya’s eyes flickered up to the tall fox, his cool voice cutting the shock in the air. “It will be labeled a suicide. “

Isshin paused, and his dark eyes glinted with something akin to satisfaction. “Bastard hurt Ryuken. He deserved what he got.” Byakuya’s steel eyes snapped up to Isshin’s face.

“It’s not for you to pass judgment, Kurosaki-taicho.”

Isshin nodded absently. “There’s a lot of information in this place. I wonder what he was doing with all of it.” Byakuya glanced around. There was a lot of information, and it was all neatly organized and packaged as if…”He’s giving it to someone.” Byakuya concluded.

Tousen had kept his Riatsu thoroughly cloaked, held tight to him and almost undetectable as his quick movement took him to the 12th Division headquarters, where he would deliver punishment to the clumsy, quite disgusting scientist.

Although, as soon as he stepped through the door, the cloaked Riatsu from inside hit him straight in the face. He almost stumbled back, but he allowed himself to stay where he was. Saijin, Byakuya... and an older captain. He remembered him from his days as a low ranked Shinigami, possibly summoned as help for the three captain's departure. And from the lack of Mayuri's Riatsu, it seemed like one more captain would be needed. "You're correct, Kuchiki-taicho. Mayuri was feeding us information. Although, the Quincy that he held was permitted escape. My presence here was simply to exterminate Mayuri and leave once again."

It was foolish not to run, but he refused to be deemed as a coward once again. Not again. Perhaps he was a blind fool as he had once been called.

Byakuya gazed upon Tousen evenly, his cold expression not wavering from its usual indifference. Isshin stared at Tousen, his dark eyes widening. “Kaname-taicho…so it’s true. You did betray Seireitei.” Tousen’s body language stiffened slightly at the thought that he was a traitor, but he remained calm.

The soft presence of Saijin’s Riatsu made him relax, and with slow steps, he approached his friend, his voice sadly cutting through the air. “I had hoped we’d meet under different circumstances, my old friend.” He whispered, “But this cannot be helped.”

Isshin stiffened and moved to step forward, but Byakuya stopped him. This was no longer a struggle between Seireitei and a traitor. Now, this was a struggle between old, legendary friends that had remained close through the long millennia of life in Soul Society.

“Saijin…” Tousen whispered. “…do you hate me, my friend?”

Saijin, right at the bottom of his heart, wanted to embrace his friend and attempt to convince him to stay, to go in front of Yamamoto and apologize severely and die and Shinigami's death. But Tousen almost seemed like he was asking for a the execution of a traitor.

"I would sooner impale myself on Tenken than hate you, Tousen." He growled softly, his eyes soft. "But on behalf of those in Seireitei who wish you death, I must put on a facade of such an emotion. I do not wish to kill you, Tousen... I don't wish you to die the death of a traitor. But I will do so, should you remain here in front of me. I give you the choice, Tousen... go back to Aizen, or face Tenken."

The one man who had accepted him as a friend, truly, and he would have to kill him.

What had he ever done to make fate turn on him so?

Byakuya stepped away and turned his back on the two, leaving Isshin to make a choice. He wanted to stay and help Saijin, but he knew deep in his heart that this fight would not be between enemies, but between friends. Isshin turned, and with a tender hand to the fox’s arm, he followed Byakuya up the stairs and out of the labs, leaving Tousen and Saijin in the wide open basement together.

Tousen stepped forward and reached out, his hand searching for Saijin’s face, something he’d never asked to see before. He had to know that his friend spoke the truth…that he didn’t hate him and that his expression didn’t show disgust. “Let me see.” He whispered, the soft, mocha colored hand extending sensually. “Please…” He would die by Saijin’s hand, and Tousen made no qualms about telling himself such. He would never kill his friend.

Saijin flinched back from the extended hand, reaching for his face. "I trust you... because you can't judge me." The kitsune felt the sadness welling up inside him. He'd fooled himself for so long that Tousen could see, and simply saw him underneath his fur... saw him for the person that he was rather than judging his face. "I don't want to have to give up my trust for you... I don't want you to die without my trust."

He grit his teeth, but the stubborn hand remained extended, and he stepped forwards, kneeling down so that Tousen could finally feel the face he couldn't see. And hopefully, his old, blind friend wouldn't feel the wetness that hung in the fur beneath his eyes. No... Tousen was the only person who didn't know what his face was like.

He had to give him this, even if his trust crumbled. His closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable touch, keeping his body stiff and Riatsu curled tight against him. He refused to show sadness aside from the tears that refused to stop. His pride needed to remain intact.

Tousen’s fingers trembled. It was soft. Like the soft pelt of a rabbit that had been stroked too many times. Long. Like the snout of a beautiful dog, and then, it was soft again. Impossibly soft where ears protruded from the top of the fox’s skull, and reflexively, the long, dark fingers curled tenderly against the base of the ear and scratched fondly, a soft whisper of ‘beautiful’ escaping the South African’s lips as he stroked fingers over his friend’s face.

His fingertips paused at the wet, cool fur beneath Saijin’s eyes, and his brows knitted in frustration, a soft expression of his worry. But he said nothing of the tears, knowing that Saijin’s automatic reaction would be to deny his pain, no matter how deeply it ran. “I regret you hid yourself from me, my friend.” Tousen whispered. “You are beautiful.” He wanted to kneel down and embrace his friend, but he stopped himself short, instead, waiting for Saijin’s reaction.

Saijin looked up into the pale eyes of his oldest, his only, friend, his dark chocolate eyes swimming with his oh-so-human tears, the only part of him he considered truly humane. "Do you truly feel me as such?" He whispered softly, ears twitching softly under the strange feel of fingers, swiveling slightly to better catch Tousen's words. It felt strange, these trembling fingers on his face.

Something he'd never allowed anyone to do, something he'd grant only the beautiful captain that he knelt before. He reached up with one of his hands, covered in fur softer than that on his face, and touched Tousen's wrist with just his fingertips, unsure of such affections - the word, it's strange meaning, was all alien to him. Tousen and Tenken were the only two to have known his touch, and only one needed the gentle touch he was almost incapable of, and that was his beautiful friend before him.

Tousen’s breath caught delicately in his chest, and very slowly, he slid to his knees in front of Saijin, his pale eyes shedding only a single tear as he looked into Saijin’s soul with touch. His long, delicately muscled arms wrapped around the neck of his friend as he’d never done before, and he clung to him slowly, his warm body pressing against fur, muscle, and captain’s robes.

Very quietly, he whispered his wishes in Saijin’s ear, his warm, tender breath making the soft fur in the fox’s ear twitch slightly. “My friend, I’ve never been this happy.” He held tighter to Saijin, and Tousen’s world finally came together a bright, shining moment where he realized his place.

It was not with Aizen, and nor was it in Heuco Mundo with the horrible Hollows and Arrancar. He belonged in Shuuhei’s bed and by Saijin’s side. But he wouldn’t voice his discoveries. He had a job to finish first, and with complete trust, he held to the fox devotedly. Saijin would never hurt him.

Saijin grit his teeth, holding Tousen to him, and silently drew his Zanpaktou. He held Tenken in one shaking hand as the tears streaked his cheeks. "I'm glad, Tousen." The joy washed through him, and a soft smile turned his animal mouth up at the corners. It slowly faded away, and his emotions burst through him rattling his nerves violently and almost forcing him to drop the blade he held. He refused, his grip tightening on the hilt.

"Tousen..." He drew back the blade, his stiff body hardly moving. "...I love you."

The blade was driven forward, directly into Tousen's heart. The smile didn't fade from the full lips, his breath almost immediately stilling. Tears spilled down his furry cheeks as he held his friend close to him, gently whimpering his sorrows as he pressed his nose to Tousen's forehead, an imitation of a kiss he could never give.

"I'm so glad for you, Tousen." He whispered softly, his great chest heaving with his tears. "I'm so glad you died painlessly." Saijin pulled Tenken from the delicate chest, slowly, but he didn't watch the blood soak the pristine white fabric, merely pulled Tousen close to his chest and letting loose a roar of his agony and sorrows, his anger at killing his friend rolling throughout Seireitei. He pulled Tousen into his arms, steeling himself to whisper soft words to his friend. "...Please, give my greetings to your friend upon the hill, Kaname."

He pressed a hand to where his friend's torn heart was, and managed a soft smile. "Rest in peace... my love." He closed Tousen's eyes with his thumb and index finger, and let out another soft whimper as he pulled the man he loved into his arms and stepped out of the 12th Division building, steeling himself, holding his head high.

Simply because this was the Saijin that Tousen Kaname knew... the proud 7th division captain. He managed another smile down at the South African in his arms, and then took him to the 1st Division, where he knew Yamamoto-taicho-dono would arrange a service for the former Captain. Tousen hadn't been that bad a man, nor Shinigami, to be denied the burial of a Captain.

Up Next: Chapter 28: The Difference Between Fire and Ice

"I can test you, Taicho. I have tested you." Renji grasped hold of Byakuya's robes, pulling him forward so hard that their forehead's butted together painfully. "And I'm going to keep testing you until you finally break and realize that there's no reason for you to be an asshole anymore." And with that, he crushed his lips against his captain's the silk-like feel so much alike sakura - but the emotion behind them like the razors that had made so many scars on the mongrel's chest.

Thanks written by Brightside! Domo arigatou to our wonderful reviewers! Setsuna (Well, I personally advised against the title, but I guess it gets you thinking, huh? Just wait until a few chapters on, I think it is, and you’ll find out what it means ;D), ryuuta (Well, we did kinda need a plot device, but hey, the only reason was we just wanted smut for a few chapters, and we successfully managed it! And the tears and angst – we can’t help it, they’re our drugs. Well, mine, anyway…), Pip, Kage, baby boo and shikamaru1211 (Thanks! We’re glad you’re enjoying it!), Aenilas (Wow! We’re so happy you left such a long review! To answer your questions, Rukia is out in the real world taking care of Yuzu and Karin whilst Ichigo and Isshin are out in the real world; That’s partly my fault. I hadn’t read all the way up to the manga, hence the slightly bad twists in the story, and so I didn’t know about Isshin being a Shinigami at the time. And, as I’m the one in charge of writing Ichigo, I didn’t know what to do with myself at the time; And that? Okay, blame that on me as well. I was the one writing Shuuhei for that chapter, and we were too busy sobbing to really acknowledge the fact that I wasn’t mentioned Kira anywhere. It was my last day in the US for a while that we wrote that on so I was tired and emotion and all that jazz, see. And that’s my pitiful excuse for leaving out that detail ^___^;;; We’re very glad for your review, and I hope I answered your questions the way you wanted them heard), sweetsatincocoa (No, thankyou for your review! Keep ‘em coming, we’re glad you’re liking it!), AT (Uh, yeah, they’re hiding in the yuri/het den hidden under Seireitei. Honest!), and finally, Focus (We’re glad you enjoyed it, even if you did spend most of your review ranting about what you didn’t like. Byakuya being bottom we thought was more fitting, and we’ve also decided that we like our yoghurt stirred through rather than having all the fruit on the bottom. I’ve never really liked natural yoghurt, though.).