Mimic

Part III

Authors note : Believe it or not, I already had this chapter done 3 days ago... yay hard drive failures. *shakes fist at computer* Anyways, thanks to everyone who reviewed, and thanks to everyone who put up with my masturbation scene in part II... I've never written one before this and can't believe how challenging it is. Heres the next part for your perverted enjoyment :P
Enjoy
Serpia-chan

Disclaimer : Despite my numerous bids on it on ebay, I still do not own Bleach.

Last chapter “Horrified and feeling dirtier than he ever had before, Rikichi curled up into a ball and waited for either sickness, exhaustion, or guilt to claim him.”


Rikichi woke up some time later to the sounds of footsteps echoing down the hall. He knew, since his was the only room down this particular corridor, that whoever it was, they were coming to see him. He quickly pulled the thin blanket over the stain on the bed, cringing when he thought again of his earlier activities, and retied his belt. As he had predicted, the door slid open seconds later, revealing the 4th division captain, Unohana Retsu, behind it. She gracefully stepped into the room, white robe fluttering behind her.

“I see you're awake, Rikichi-fukutaicho. How are you feeling?”

Rikichi sat up, propped against the pillows.

“I'm doing alright. My headache is almost gone, and my nose doesn't hurt as much.”

“It will. Right now you are under the influence of a powerful pain killing spell. When it wears off, you should return, the pain from a break like that is almost unbearable. But right now, I think it would be best if you went home. I will need this room in a few hours when they bring in the injured shinigami from the 11th division mission. I can move you upstairs if you wish to stay, but...”

Unohana-taicho smiled kindly, her beautiful blue eyes twinkling even in the harsh light of the fluorescent overhead. Even so, there was something about her caring, quiet demeanor that Rikichi found innately powerful, and rather terrifying. He pitied the poor fools who would inevitably piss her off later today. Suddenly, Rikichi too thought it was best for him to go home.

“It's alright Unohana-taicho, I'll go home.”

“Then before you leave, may I give you a little advice?”

Rikichi stopped his attempts to disentangle himself from the sheets and looked at her. A captain? Give him advice? He nodded.

“Rikichi, I know that you do not get along well with your captain, your visit here is evidence of that. But you need to know, Kuchiki Byakuya is not as cold, or as mean, as he may come across at times. And also, despite his temperament and attitude, he is probably very glad that you have replaced Renji during Renji's visit to the Living World. God knows, he's lonely enough as it is.”

Rikichi raised an eyebrow. Lonely was not one of the words that Rikichi would have used to describe the cold man.

“Lonely?”

“Yes, lonely. Wouldn't you be, with your wife dead, your sister gone to the Living World, and your only friend left for a long term mission?”

“I guess...”

“Anyways, Rikichi, what I am getting at is that you should tolerate him a little better. Maybe try to get to know him ... he needs a friend Rikichi, and you don't need him as an enemy. Well, off you go, then. Good luck.”

Rikichi nodded and murmured his thanks before quickly pushing himself out of the bed. Bowing to the tall woman, he slid out of the door and walked rather quickly out the main door. The frustration, the pain, the horrifying thoughts, they were all swimming around in his mind, driving him insane. Suddenly, for no reason, Rikichi broke out into a run.

It was something he had done since he was a child, racing through the lower districts of Rukongai in order to escape feelings of hunger and fear. Like now, when he was running from ideas and thoughts that made him shiver with fear. Instead of heading home though, Rikichi ran for the training forest in the middle of Seireitei. He ran into the thick brush without a second thought, for he couldn't think. He was being tormented by his own mind. He was thinking about things which he shouldn't, the passionate sex Renji and Ichigo had on the old desk in Renji's office, the wild kiss Renji and Ichigo shared before Ichigo left, right in front of everyone, and what the two might be doing at that moment. A stab of jealousy ran through Rikichi. It wasn't fair that Renji and Ichigo were so free to experience those things. It wasn't fair that they had each other, it wasn't fair that Rikichi had no one. It sure wasn't fair that Renji had the trust and even admiration of their captain. Renji had everything. What did Rikichi have? Rikichi had a broken nose.

Rikichi stopped running. It had started raining in the time Rikichi had been running, but he didn't care, or really even notice. He sat down, leaning against a tree, not knowing where he was, what time it was, what he was supposed to do. He was so confused. Did his jealousy of what Renji and Ichigo had mean that was he was gay? He didn't know. More importantly to him, why was he jealous of Renji? Why were these feelings coming out, why were they even there? Renji was his idol, and Rikichi couldn't see it any other way. Soaked to the bone, the boy was lost in his mind.

He didn't notice nightfall, he didn't notice when his pain killer wore off, he didn't notice when a white robed figure stopped mere feet away from where he was sitting.

“What are you doing out here, koso....”

Rikichi jolted back into reality and looked up. Midnight blue eyes gazed back down at him. The confused expression on Rikichi's face deepened.

“Taicho?”

Author's note again :
Just to let everyone know, I'm planning on keeping with the shorter, chapter style that I have been using in the last 2 chapters. Laters!