[Dicontinued] Fire and Ice

ANNOUNCEMENT: BrucesGirl has finally gotten her MySpace Profile, complete with updates and a friends list that needs more friends! Please take a look and add her! She’s MySpace happy now!

http://www.myspace.com/brucesgirl_writings

Title: Fire and Ice

Author: BrucesGirl and R. Brightside

(Please look up Brightside-chan and rate and review her stories. It is because of her kindness that we were able to publish this story for you!)

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, Hot Man Sex

Disclaimer: We don’t own Bleach or Ichigo or Byakuya because we are not Kubo Tite. If we had a change to, however, we would steal Kubo-san and hide him in our basement.

Chapter 3: The Battle of Hearts

Byakuya couldn’t see straight. Rage clouded his judgment, and he flash stepped in front of Ichigo on a rooftop and knocked him the ground in a mighty rain of dust and rock. Lower level Shinigami scattered and went to higher ground to watch the Captain and his Vice Captain duke it out over past transgressions.

While Byakuya’s face remained passive, he charged Ichigo, drawing Senbonzakura, the sword singing with the chance to face Zangetsu once more. The other Shinigami watched in shock from their safe perches as Byakuya fought hand to hand combat, something he rarely did with his Zanpaktou.

He was obviously furious. He hadn’t even noticed that the punch had split his lip and he was bleeding down his chin onto his scarf, but even so. he didn’t care. All he wanted was to beat Kurosaki Ichigo as he was unable to do the first time.

Ichigo parried, dodged, and got hit, over and over again, but didn't put one hit forwards. As one hit sliced straight through the old scar Renji had given him in thier first battle, the teen gasped, the place more sensitive than any other scar on his body.

Rage began to fill his consciousness, furious that he had been forced into this without anyone asking him what he’d wanted. He’d signed up to be a Shinigami for a few days…not a few hundred years. Just because he was Byakuya’s fukutaicho didn’t give the bastard the right…to attack him! His hand clutched over the wound.

It hurt, and he lost control. Riatsu spilling from him, Ichigo charged, swinging the blade viciously, his eyes going blue with the energy building in him. Even Zangetsu was starting to get into it, the hilt sending back waves of positive energy.

The vice captain roared his fury, drawing back Zangetsu and thrusting at Byakuya, viciousness forming his very being, the tenderness he would have taken any other time no longer there, merciless rage filling every swing and parry. And finally, Ichigo lost it, leaping back and swinging Zangetsu by the hilt wrap, eyes wide and amused, a pale white shell covering half his handsome face.

Not Ichigo at all.

He released his sword once again at Byakuya, a cry of battle passing his lips. This was a fight... something he had grown to love. It made his soul ache for the blood to be spilt, the Hollow he had long since abandoned rising to the surface of his personality. He wanted Byakuya dead. And he would die.

Senbonzakura sang her worry to Byakuya, and the Shinigami flash stepped out of the way and onto a rooftop for a split second before moving again. He’d seen this power before, and he could not win against it. Suddenly, his fury seemed very foolish. He parried a blow, his Zanpaktou still whispering into his soul, her soft voice worried and compassionate.

What are you doing, Byakuya-koi? It’s no longer another game. This is a battle. Take him out of here! Byakuya flash stepped away from the center of the city into the forests, the wind carrying around him.

Ichigo was too powerful to stop as he was with just scattering his sakura blossoms. He only had one choice left. As he landed on the forest floor, he rose Senbonzakura and dropped her as water into the earth, and he closed his eyes. “Bankai.”

Ichigo had followed, and upon seeing the Bankai being performed, he realized that he had to chance to kill Byakuya. He poured his Riatsu into the blade in his hands, almost laughing as he came to his true power. "Ban...kai!"

His blade became black and sleek, the perfect sword to parry away the blows... and the perfect sword to take the captain's life. He charged forward, a cry leaving his lips as he jumped at Byakuya, eyes wild. As he held out his blade to kill the Kuchiki, something awoke.

Zangetsu was telling him to stop. He didn't, forcing the blade against the skin of Byakuya's throat, drawing a line of blood. His frustration and gentleness was starting to show through... he couldn't kill him. No matter how hard he tried... there was something about the dark-haired Shinigami that he didn't want to erase.

Senbonzakura rustled around them, and she turned into a cocoon around them, the sharp blooms whirling around them threateningly. Byakuya had several choices. His Bankai would not hurt him, but if it closed in around Ichigo, it would kill the orange haired Shinigami.

Byakuya came face to face with the realization that even as he had a chance to finally win the battle against the boy, he didn’t want to kill him, and he would never be able to supersede him unless he snuffed out his young life. Kurosaki Ichigo would not lose unless he died.

So the great Kuchiki Byakuya made the ultimate decision and lifted his chin, tilted his head to the side, and he bared his slender, delicate throat to Zangetsu and Ichigo. “Do it.” He said passively. His face never changed, but his eyes shone with worry and concern.

He watched in amazement as the mask melted away from Ichigo’s face, leaving him exhausted, his breath coming in hard pants against the air that surrounded them from the rush of razor sharp sakura blossoms around them. His russet, deep eyes trained on Byakuya’s face, his lips pursing in a straight line.

Zangetsu trembled against the skin of Byakuya's bared neck. He could, but he couldn't muster anything enough to kill a fellow Shinigami. Let alone the beauty that stood in front of him. Ichigo pressed his sword to his back, releasing the Bankai, and turned his back to the Kuchiki, stopped from the wall of sakura blossoms.

He didn't want to vent his anger here, in front of Byakuya. He just wanted to be alone, no matter for how long. Just away from everyone else, to bask in his own thoughts. "Let me out."

His voice was a soft demand, and his Riatsu was concealed once again, a soft undertone the only noticeable power. The concern that had been in Byakuya's eyes... he thought he would have killed him. He would have to mention later that he'd never be so heartless or stupid to kill him.

“I cannot.” Byakuya warned. His throat was pouring blood out onto his pristine white coat and over his silken scarf. “Hollows are not permitted in Soul Society.” Senbonzakura still whirled, her soft whispers and trills nearly unnoticeable through all the noise of the tiny blades, but it was there nonetheless.

Byakuya stepped forward, his blue eyes hardening again. “At first, I was unfamiliar with your Riatsu as a Hollow. After spending some time in the Real World, I know now what it is. You cannot return to Soul Society. You will disrupt the peace.” He stood firm, his Bankai rustling and shivering restlessly, wanting to either be dispelled or put to good use.

"If I'm a Hollow," Ichigo murmured, "Then where's my mask now?" Ichigo turned to face Byakuya, frowning. "I may have the Riatsu of a Hollow, but that is because I was Hollowed. I got rid of that beast long ago." The teen itched to simply back through the wall of Sakura blossom, to rip himself to pieces, just to be alone.

The blood that was spilling from Byakuya's neck alarmed him, slightly, and he stepped forward to put pressure against it, trying to stop the bleeding. "There's no danger of me becoming a Hollow. If there was, I would be eating every Shinigami here by now. I would see no point in biding my time to get a meal."

Byakuya didn’t stop Ichigo from touching him. Instead, he stood rigid, and around them, Senbonzakura threatened menacingly before melting back into Byakuya’s sheath, leaving them in the middle of the forest. “The beast still resides within you.” He answered evenly.

He shivered as Ichigo’s Riatsu touched his own, but he kept his composure. It had been years since another had touched him, and even if it was just to put pressure to a wound, Ichigo was much too close for comfort, and yet, he was not close enough.

“You will leave Soul Society.” Byakuya demanded. “You will corrupt Sereitei should you remain.” He couldn’t help but press into the hold slightly, liking the slight amount of pain that came along with the touch. It reminded him he was alive.

"You need someone to do your paperwork." Ichigo murmured, pressing his hand firmer against the wound, decidedly liking how Byakuya leaned into it and how the skin felt like silk beneath his fingers. He decided that he didn't want to leave Byakuya's side, and if it required paperwork, or forcing Renji into a more extended retirement, then he'd do it.

He lifted the Kuchiki into his arms, carrying him like a groom would carry his bride that brought a sudden annoyed growl from the captain. Even if he had wanted to fight however, he would have been overpowered since he’d lost too much blood from the deep wound in his neck.
"We'll just get back to the manor, and I'll treat that properly." His voice had quieted, no much higher than a whisper. He flash-stepped back towards the manor, and retired to his room, ignoring Byakuya's protests as he lay him down on his bed, and pulling up a chest of drawers.

One of the items that had gone missing from his room first had been a first aid kit... and there it was. He picked it up, and went through it, picking out a bandage and a gauze, pushing the gauze to the wound and then wrapping the bandage around it, carefully so that he didn't choke Byakuya, and firmly enough to hold it in place. He didn't want to explain the circumstances to a 4th Division unit, anyways, so this would have to do until the Kuchiki healed.

Byakuya was thoroughly disgusted with himself, but he was quiet as Ichigo tended to him, his silver blue eyes refusing to meet the fiery headed youth’s gaze. He stared straight ahead of himself, his expression never giving away any emotion or turmoil even though it churned inside of him, making his Riatsu shiver and dance around him in confusion.

He was hoping Ichigo couldn’t feel that. He leaned back in the pillows and avoided even looking at Kurosaki, his eyes closing in exhaustion. “Leave.” He growled softly. He was knew his voice was still hard, but his Riatsu lacked the usual ‘fuck off’ attitude that he carried with him so well. “Get out.” He insisted. Ichigo’s own Riatsu was warming him, curling around his consciousness, and he wanted it to go away.

Ichigo sighed, looking over at Byakuya. "Don't strain too much. There's every chance it could open up again." He didn't want to leave... he could tell that the captain wanted him there, even if he refused to show it. His Riatsu was no longer threatening, but wrapping around his in a comforting manner, betraying Byakuya's want.

And yet, he left - if his temporary captain wanted him gone, then he would go. Ichigo sighed, reserving his frustration for his fight with Zaraki. After all, the 11th Division captain seemed to find him a better fight when he was angry or scared. As if on cue, Yachiru appeared out of nowhere, giggling softly. "IchiIchi, Ken-chan is waiting for you!"

Fucking. Perfect.

Next: Chapter 4: The Rules of Engagement

Words were not necessary when a man looked as Byakuya did onto Ichigo. His eyes burned with unchecked emotion, even as his face remained always passive. It might have scared anyone if he’d ever smiled…It just never happened. His gaze flickered to Ichigo’s lips before he raised his eyes back to the gaze, and he spoke quietly, his voice strained and thick. “Is this so fruitless, Ichigo?” He asked. Ichigo’s name rolled off his lips like a sweet lullaby right before he leaned down and covered the boy’s lips with his own hungrily…

Big Thanks to the following reviewers! Tenohikari (Arigato!) Akume and ashka of course! You guys are the best for following along with us! Serpia-chan and Firestarter! Thank you so much for your kind words! Ja ne!