Jigoku no Monko

Warning: This chapter not only contains Smex, WOOT, but is twice as long. Kazes, I am looking at you. Make sure you got your cup of tea before you start trying to read it in under 2 minutes.

Chapter 8
Beginnings and Endings

“Welcome home, Kinomi-sama.” Hurón greeted her as she exited the Garganta.

Rata had a pout on his face that poorly hid the look of relief in his eyes that she had returned unharmed.

“I trust your business trip was satisfactory.”

“It accomplished its intended mission.” She answered. “All I would like right now would be a large, undisturbed bath.”

“Shall I have one drawn for you before or after the reports?” He asked.

“Give me the critical ones only, everything else can wait until morning.”

“Very well. There were four challenges to your title as ruler ship while you were gone. They were dealt with accordingly.”

“How many other, how many meals?” She asked.

“Two meals.” Rata was quick to answer, a smug look on his face. “One was killed by Hurón, and Szayel dealt with the last one.” He grunted.

“Just so long as it stays in the lab.” She sighed, not wanting to know why Szayel might take an interest in the contender.

All she wanted right now was a hot bath, a good meal, and some real sleep without any emergencies popping up.

“Jerk, moron, useless.”

Kinomi came to a halt in surprise as Kazeshini’s voice echoed in her head, followed quickly by Kyattsuai’s purring. Hurón and Rata looked at her silently at her sudden halt, but didn’t say anything as she shook her head and announced she would really like that bath now.

She tried to tone out Kyattsuai’s heavy purring and Kazeshini’s ranting until she was up to her neck in hot water. Only then did she retreat to her inner world.

Kyatssuai was sprawled out on a log, tail twitching and head rotating back and froth as she watched Kazeshini’s frantic pacing.

Kazeshini was in a clear rage. Tail lashing, feathers up, ears back, wings alternating from mantled to flared, words being clipped to the snap of his beak. Oh yes, the gryphon was in a right royal rage.

“KAZESHINI.” Kinomi snapped, causing the gryphon to freeze mid rant in a rather amusing pose. “While I have indeed offered you sanctum in my mind, I did not give you permission to come into here tearing it up and screaming so loudly that I can’t think straight.” She rebutted coldly.

“I have had a long day and so help me I am going to enjoy this hot bath IN SILENCE and if I hear a peep out of either of you, you,” she pointed to Kazeshini, “will be kicked out faster then you can blink and you,” she pointed at Kyattsuai, “well be meeting the bottom of the nearest well. Do I make myself clear?” She asked.

Both gave her sheepish nods and the sound of Kyattsuai’s purring dropped considerable.

“Good. Whatever is bothering you Kazeshini, we can talk about it tomorrow after I get a full nights rest.”

A nod once again from the two of them and Kinomi returned to her bath, taking a deep breath and sighing as she sank just a little deeper into the hot water. Peace and quite enveloped her and she woke up when the water was almost cold.

Sighing she got out, dried herself off, and climbed into her warm bed, once more sighing in contentment as she drifted back into a worriless sleep.

“I really wish I had more time to study her.” Szayel complained.

“I am sure Stark-san would love to know you were experimenting on his daughter.” Hurón commented as they walked down the hall together.

“Yeah, that would have gone over well.” Rata snorted from his place on Hurón’s shoulder.

“I could have discovered a way to control her reiatsu.” He sniffed, fixing his ‘glasses.’

“If you say so.” Rata shrugged.

“How is your wife doing?” Hurón changed the subject.

“Well.” Szayel answered.

“Now that ain’t a very scientific or informative answer.” Rata heckled.

“I am interested in knowing how Hinamori-chan is faring as well.” Kinomi’s voice broke into the conversation. “She is what, seven months now?”

“Eight.” Szayel corrected with a grin. “She and the child are both doing fine and I expect her to give birth to a healthy girl.”

“That is good to hear.” Kinomi smiled wistfully.

“I trust there is a reason for your summons.” He asked.

“Yeah, although I am not too sure on how much help you might be.” Kinomi sighed.

Szayel scowled at her.

“It’s not that I don’t trust your intelligence, it’s that the subject is not one you have had a chance to study, although we might have a bases to work with considering my unique relationship with my namesake.” Kinomi explained, gesturing for them to sit at the meeting table.

She took one of the seats herself, forgoing the throne like chair she only ever used during official meetings.

“Are you trying to tell me another Zanpakuto has latched onto your soul?” He asked with a sudden grin, leaning over the table eagerly to look at her expectantly.

“Something like that.” She sighed. “I should have expected you would figure out the problem so quickly.” She offered him a smile. “Are you familiar with Kyoumei at all?” She asked.

“No.” He frowned, pulling out a data pad and looking at her expectantly.

Kinomi quickly explained the basis of Kyoumei to him, Szayel writing down notes as fast as she spoke and demanding an example at once.

“Unfortunately the other half isn’t here, so to say.” She sighed. “However, his spirit is, and he is giving me a headache. AND SO HELP ME GOD IF THE TWO OF YOU DON’T KEEP IT DOWN.” She suddenly shouted out loud, jumping to her feet, slamming her hands on the table; taking the others in the room by surprise and causing them to jump at her sudden out burst.

Realizing what she had done she groaned, slapped a hand to her forehead and sat back down.

“The nearest well, so help me lord.” She grumbled.

“Are you telling me you have another Zanpakuto spirit stuck in your head?” Szayel asked with far too much excitement.

“You have no idea.” She groaned, ignoring his sudden eager expression.

“Which one? How long has this been happening? When did it start? Can you manifest it?”

“Slow down.” Kinomi sighed. “I wont reveal which one, it is rude to even talk about another’s spirit. He showed up last night permanently, but had been able to visit for a while now. I would never dare to dream to try to manifest him. It is not my place. I want to know only one thing.”

“But there is so much we could…”

“Szayel.” Kinomi snapped.

He fell silent.

“All I want to know is how long he can stay before his soul starts binding to my own and he can’t return, or that his partner’s soul starts to close off from him, trapping him here, for as much as I love him he isn’t mine and if he and Kyattsuai don’t start to tone down their relationship they are both going to find the bottom of a well.” She grumbled.

Her head suddenly cocked to the side, indicating she was listening to her inner world, something they had all gotten use to seeing her do when she communicated with Kyattsuai.

She sighed and slammed her head on the table, groaning loudly.

“So help me if you don’t give me a straight answer I am going to throw you back out of my mind, Kyattsuai’s wishes be damned.” She grumbled out loud.

“Kinomi-sama, why is this other spirit in your mind?” Hurón asked.

“He’s pissed at his wielder and wont tell me why.” She sighed. “Just keeps ranting he’s an idiot and refuses to live without Kyattsuai any longer.”

“The answer seems obvious to me.” Rata snorted.

“It really isn’t that simple. There are duties that need to be tended to, and I am not so sure he would be happy living here, few Shinigmai can truly feel at home here.”

“Ah I see.” Szayel suddenly smiled.

She glared at him. He was smart enough to connect the dots and figure out who she was talking about from sheer context alone.

“What? See what?” Rata suddenly demanded. “Oh.” The rat paused and looked at her. “Of course, how silly of me.”

Kinomi felt her head hit the table again. Was nothing secret in this fortress? Granted one of them was far too smart for his own good and the other wasn’t the head of intelligence for no reason.

“Kinomi-sama, one of the representatives from Soul Society is here.” Ulquiorra announced as he entered the room.

“Show him in please.” She ordered, straightening herself up so she wasn’t slumped over the table in defeat.


When Hisagi came to it was to see the walls of the 4th and to a very quiet mind. Kira was sitting beside him, eyes closed and clearly asleep.

“Fool has probably been here the whole time.” Hisagi sighed, eyes slowly focusing as he looked up at the ceiling and tried to work everything through his exhausted brain.

He had known for a long time now that Kazeshini was infatuated with Kyattsuai, he had just been in denial that one Zanpakuto could love another. Kazeshini’s own pushes towards his feeling for Kinomi did not help matters at all either.

He had known her for a long time now, and admitted she was a strong woman, one of the few who could keep up to him in training and liked, he refused to use loved, every aspect of him, including his Zanpakuto.

Hell she was the only person he knew of that the feathered menace acknowledged and almost worshiped. Every time he tried to approach another woman Kazeshini would start giving him headaches, and heaven forbid he not be near her at all times when able.

“I see you are awake.”

Hisagi jumped a bit, as did Kira who was startled awake by the voice. Both men looked at the woman standing in the doorway before she glided over to check on him.

“Unohana-taichou, sorry for the inconvenience.” He apologised in embarrassment.

“Kira-kun, can you go ask Isane to bring Hisagi-san something to eat.” Unohana asked with a smile.

“Of course.” Kira was quick to agree, all but jumping to his feet and rushing out the door to complete his set task.

Now that they were alone Hisagi felt suddenly nervous, especially when Unohana got up to close the door and returned with a solemn expression on her face.

“As a trained medic I have a deep respect for ones privacy, however I do believe that this is something that should be talked about.” She picked up the featureless blade that had once been Kazeshini and laid it on the bed beside him. “If you do not feel comfortable talking to me about what caused this, perhaps you can suggest someone you would be more willing to share with, but Hisagi-san, this does need to be addressed, and soon.”

He nodded his head in understanding. He was severally weakened without his Zanpakuto, and no one would respect a fukutaichou who lost his and used a plain katana. He gathered his thoughts, trying to work up the courage to let it all out and where to even begin.

Unohana remained patiently silent beside him, letting him gather his thoughts and didn’t pressure him in the least.

“When Kinomi was attending school, Yumichika-taichou ordered me to assist in her training, to teach her how to duel wield….

…..and then he called me a coward and just left.” Hisagi finished, head hanging in despair.

Unohana had remained silent through out his entire story, and remained silent almost a full minute after the end.

“An interesting problem.” She agreed. “But then nothing seems to be easy when those poor children are involved. Have you decided upon a course of action yet?” She asked.

He bit his lip. Kazeshini had made it clear that if Hisagi wanted him back he was going to have to go to where his Zanpakuto was, which apparently was somehow with Kinomi, which meant he had to find a valid excuse and a way to Hueco Mundo.

And then what? He was still the Fukutaichou of the 9th and Kinomi was ‘unofficial exiled’ and the Queen of Las Tardes. Well okay after the visit from the king it was made quite clear that any rulings Central 46 had made against the HMKs were now void but it was a little late giving how deeply entrenched they now were in Hueco Mundo.

And his division still needed him as much as Las Tardes needed her. It wasn’t like either one of them could just pack up and go to the other. It helped that he was the official liaison but that meant he saw her about two days a month. Kazeshini had already made it quite clear that 2 days a months was not acceptable.

Hell did Kinomi even return any feelings of affections? She did seem happy to see him and was thrilled with sparing with him, but was that for him or Kazeshini? Somehow the thought of coming in second to his own Zanpkauto was a pretty depressing thought.

“I commend your loyalty to your division and duties, Hisagi-san, but in the end we are all still human.” Unohana’s voice broke him out of his whirling thoughts. “I am sure Yumichika-taichou could spare you a few days and would no doubt push you through the Garganta himself.”

His eyes fell back to the nameless blade laying by his side. Either way he had to go get Kazeshini back. And then he was going to have a very long talk with the feathered terror. Things could not keep going the way they were.

An hour later saw Kira and Isane forcing food down his throat before releasing him to return to his division, and its Taichou, to beg for a reason to go see Kinomi in Las Tardes.

Yumichika was at his desk, sitting beside him with a smile on her face was a brown haired girl that looked vaguely familiar but Hisagi couldn’t quite put a name to the face. She was oddly wearing the uniform for the 4th and briefly he wondered if she hadn’t been here delivering his medical report.

“Ah, Hisagi, I see you are back on your feet.” Yumichika grinned at him, his eyes darting to the nameless blade and back again, his smile falling into a frown.

“Ah, Hisagi-san, it has been a while.” The girl greeted warmly.

She was a rather pretty little thing and it was no wonder Yumichika had taken a liken to her. He was a lover of all things beautiful after all and with that wavy, long brown hair and big, chocolate brown eyes she was definitely a unique beauty. But still she seemed familiar, and clearly know him.

“My apologies for interrupting, but I need to request a few days off and to….” He hesitated, the two sitting at the desk waiting for his words. “I need to go see Kinomi-san.”

There was only a moment of stunned silence before Yumichika laughed and smiled.

“About time.”

Hisagi looked at his Taichou in shock.

“Ikkaku and Tatsuki-chan were a thousand times easier than you, and I had been working on you two for a while now.”

“Yumichika.” The girl scowled at him, although the effect was lost as it just ended up making her more cute looking than angry.

Tatsuki; a human friend of Ichigo’s who had passed over after being shot in the line of duty and who had quickly made her way through the academy and claimed the Fukutaichou position in the 5th under Renji, the previously assigned fukutaichou having been all too pleased to pass it on to someone more capable.

“My apologies, Yuzu-chan, but I have been working on these two for years now.”

Ah, so that was why the girl looked familiar. This was the twin to Karin-fukutaichou and Ichigo-fukutaichou’s sister. He briefly wondered when she had passed over and joined the 4th.

“I can get you a gate and time off, do not worry about that.” Yumichika waved his problems aside. “The division is more than caught up in its paper work…”

“But I haven’t even done my report from Jigoku.” Hisagi protested.

“I copied Yachiru’s and handed it in for you.”

Hisagi felt mortified. Yachiru was not well known for her paperwork and report skills and the thought of anything of hers being used as his work was horrifying to an editor like himself.

“Anyway, I figured this day was coming quickly. Fortunately Ruri’iro Kujaku let me know you would be coming so we have everything you will need ready.” Yumichika held out a pile of papers that clearly contained the permission forms he needed to have the 12th open the Garganta for him as well as a wrapped package addressed to Kinomi.

“Tell Kinomi-chan I send her my love please.” Yuzu requested.

Numbly Hisagi nodded his head as his feet took him to the 12th even while his brain remained on stand by as it tried to compute everything. It was rebooted when he remembered all too clearly the feel of her body flushed against his, her warm lips brushing his neck as she worked on his chocker.

He quickly knocked those thoughts aside, his face feeling rather flushed. Now was not the time to think about how the sweat rolled down her body as when they spared, or how she moved with the grace of her namesake while she danced the dance of blades with him……..

“Dear god I am in love with her.” he realized with a start. “And have been for a while.”

He arrived at the 12th and handed over the paperwork. He was led to the room where a large device was set up and waited for the familiar maw to open before traveling through to Las Tardes.

He was met on the other side by two Shunigami and two adjucas guards. They were use to seeing him come through and let him pass with little more than a nod of acknowledgement.

He wasn’t even out of the room when he was met by the former 4th, who even to this day left his skin crawling. Here was a being who could kill him before he even blinked if it desired. He still wondered to this day what Kinomi had done to earn this creature loyalty.

“I trust you are here to see Kinomi-sama?” Ulquiorra asked.

“Yes.” He answered.

It was still strange to see her addressed so formally. He felt his palms get sweaty and nervousness descend upon him as he followed the former espada through the familiar corridors to the meeting room.

He paused just outside the door, Kinomi’s voice as well as the ones he recognized as Szayel and Huróns coming from the room before him.

“If she is busy I can come back later.” He said quickly, not wanting to interrupt an important meeting for something personal.

Ulquiorra ignored him and entered the room, announcing his presence. Kinomi gave her consent and he walked in to see her looking slightly haggard. As he had expected Szayel and Hurón were also here, as was Rata, who was sitting on the table.

For some reason the hollows grinned at him and excused themselves, tossing knowing grins at their queen before departing.

“I can always eat him.” Rata offered on his way out.

Hisagi had to hold back a snort of surprise at the comment.

“Thank you Rata-san, I will keep that in mind.” Kinomi smiled at the departing adjucas.

Hisagi noted that, even with her haggard appearance, there was true amusement in her eyes at Rata’s offer. Now alone they stared at each other in silence.

“I believe I have something of yours.” She commented, gesturing for him to sit down with her.

He sat down, still not sure what to say. Kinomi sighed and closed her eyes for a brief moment before opening them again and staring into his own deeply, as if searching for something.

“Will you tell me why Kaezshini had some rather unpleasant things to say about you and why he is hiding out in my mind?” She asked surprisingly softly.

“I honestly don’t know the answer to the second part.” He answered, his mouth feeling very dry. “But the first…..” He found himself dropping her gaze.

Her eyes softened ever so lightly.

“Kyattsuai.” Kinomi called.

Sure enough the panther appeared before them. Hisagi’s eyes went to the amazing beast and he could easily see what Kazeshini saw in her. He felt so honoured to be permitted to see Kinomi’s Zanpkauto’s spirit.

“Kazeshini, enough games. Return now.” Kinomi said aloud.

Hisagi felt a jolt go through him as Kazeshini returned to his half destroyed inner world, all of the pillars having collapsed and destroyed a good portion of the forest. Ever so slowly some of the damage began to fix itself.

“Summon me.” Kazeshini ordered in a cold, clipped voice.

In this situation Hisagi wasn’t about to deny the request. After several moments of intense concentration Kazeshini materialized before them.

No sooner had he arrived then the room erupted with loud purring from Kyattsuai as she nuzzled the gryphon. Kazeshini returned the affection and mantled one wing over his chosen mate before turning his golden eyes to Hisagi with a rather intense and highly challenging gaze.

“Enough.” Kinomi sighed. “We all know how you feel about the situation.” Kinomi admonished the two Zanpakuto.

To Hisagi’s shock Kazeshini actually looked abashed, but he didn’t move a feather from his position wrapped protectively over the white panther.

They sat in silence, even as a thousand sentences raced through his head, each one sounding more stupid, corny, or could be taken the wrong way than the last.

“I am not well known for my words.” Kinomi finally sighed, breaking the silence. “And any time I sound all wordy I assure you it’s due to proper coaching from Reina-chan.”

“I can not express the words I want either.” He agreed.

“So, how about we try something different.” She offered.

Kinomi stood up and drew Kyattsuai, holding the blade towards him leisurely. Nodding in understanding her also stood up and drew Kazeshini. Both of them looked into the others eyes as they let their Zanpakuto’s tap each other, blade resting against blade.

Instantly all of Kinomis feelings rushed into him, and it was far more than that. There were thoughts and memories racing through his mind. It was like her entire history was being played out before him from her point of view. Every thought, every emotion rushed through him like a storm. His world went black.


Kinomi gasped as Hisagi’s memories raced through her. His every thought, his every feeling rushing into her and through her. She felt the pain of learning about Kensai’s death and from Tosen’s betrayal. She knew what he felt when Hinamori was trying to recover from Aizen’s defection.

She felt his love of music, particularly the guitar. His fear the day he was attacked by a hollow as a child. His awe and terror the first time he met Kazeshini. She was sure she blushed when she felt his thoughts while they were suspended above the magma pit together, their bodies flush and the feel of her own lips against his skin.

“Well that was unexpected.” Was her last thoughts before she followed him into darkness, having far more memories to sift through than he did giving their age difference.

When Kinomi finally came to the first thing she saw was a haze of pink and white. Ever so slowly it resolved itself into a familiar, boyish face that lacked glasses.

“She’s awake, Okaasan.” Dion reported cheerfully.

“Thank you dear.” Hinamori smiled at her son as she appeared in Kinomi’s view.

Hinamori clearly showing her second pregnancy and to this day Kinomi still wondered how in the seven hells someone as sweet as Hinamori is had ended up married to Szayel of all people.

“Hisagi?” She asked, her voice rather dry.

“He’s in the bed next to you. Orihime-chan checked you both over, but she couldn’t find anything wrong.” Hinamori reported. “What happened?”

“A rather powerful blast of Kyoumei.” Kinomi answered.

Her head was starting to pound painfully as images and feelings not her own flashed across her visions. She didn’t notice the stunned look in Hinamori’s eyes at her statement and totally missed all the questions a rather excited Szayel was trying to ask her.

Her ears were ringing, her head was throbbing and her vision was wavering. She felt blackness creep up on her again. She didn’t sleep, instead she saw someone else’s life flash across her dreamscape.

Some memories she recognized, others she did not. Some of the people she knew, most she had never met before. When she finally woke again it was to gaze into the warm eyes of Unohana.

“I see you have decided to rejoin us.” Unohana smiled warmly at her.

Kinomi gazed up at the woman in confusion. This was still Las Tardes, not the 4th. Why was Unohana here?

“Kinomi-sama.” Rata cried as he landed on her chest. “Just say the word and I’ll eat him for hurting you.” Rata hissed.

“Rata.” Kinomi croaked.

“Yes. Please, say the word.” He begged.

“No, you can’t eat him. Not yet anyway.” She smiled.

Rata pouted and stormed off.

“How long have I been out?” Kinomi asked.

“Two weeks.” Unohana answered.

Kinomi froze in shock at the answer. She had been unconscious for two weeks?

“Hisagi?” She asked.

“He woke up a few days ago. He is sleeping now though. Szayel-san has been by frequently to monitor your reiatsu levels. He has been making enquiries about Kyoumei.”

“Not surprising.” Kinomi groaned as she forced herself to sit up. “Kazeshini and Kyattsuai have been resonating for a good 70 years or so, but never before has this happened.”

“Would you please explain what happened.” Unohana requested.

“One second.” Szayel far too excited voice stopped her before she could start. “Let me get the recording equipment set up. I want to capture every detail.”

“Like a kid in a candy shop.” Kinomi chuckled to herself.

She waited patiently while he set up his recording equipment before giving them the abridged version of what happened and how all of Hisagi’s memories, thoughts and feeling had flooded into her at a rate she had never experienced before.

“Ah I see.” Szayel seemed pleased with her explanation.

“I take it you figured out what went wrong already?” Kinomi asked.

“But of course.”

“My brain is a little sore right now, what with having two sets of thoughts in here, so for today can you please use the smaller words.” She requested.

He pouted but did comply.

“To put it simply in ways that even a child could comprehend, you both had your minds completely open to the other. When you are sparring your mind is focused on the duel, that is why you only get flashes. It definitely explains why your reiatsu is all mixed and matched.”

“I comprehended that.” She sighed.

“You need to eat, and rest.” Unohana broke in.

Kinomi nodded, knowing better than to argue. Food was quickly devoured and she found herself drifting back to sleep, Kyattsuai’s loud purring once more in her mind.


It took a week for Hisagi and Kinomi to recover from the backlash of each others memories, Unohana returning to Soul Society once they were both stable. Szayel was all but hovering over them until Kinomi threatened that Kurotsuchi was still begging for an alive Arrancar to experiment on.

The threat never failed and Szayel disappeared quickly. One day she really did need to learn what went down between the two that Szayel was so terrified of the 12th division taichou.

Granted giving that it was Kurotsuchi that was involved it was probably up there on the list of things ‘she really didn’t want to know.’

As usual looking out over the desert of Hueco Mundo put her mind at ease. No matter what she was this was still home in her heart. Heart.

She felt a bit of pain for their could be no denying the feelings that had truly snuck up and ambushed her about the 9th division fukutaichou. Not when all of his feelings had torn through her.

There were things about him she had learned that were very private, and things he had learned about her that were equally as private; such as how he had cried at night after Tosen had left and he wasn’t sure he had the strength to go on and lead the division alone. Or how she still, to this day, vividly recalled how Aizen had forced her to kill that hollow for his own amusement when she was barely six. How she had sobbed about it afterwards and could still see the blood on her hands.

But above it all, she had felt it. The respect and admiration he had for her. How they had both risen up to lead their troops, in his case the 9th in her case the HMKs, through the events that had plagued them.

“A worthy mate. A strong mate.” Kyattsuai commented.

Kinomi smiled. Kyattsuai had been subtly pushing her towards him for years, and now that she knew what to look for Kyattsuai hadn’t been the only one. Yumichika was the next biggest red flag. The ‘care package’ he had her had been a big help figuring his involvement out.

“Seriously. Flavoured.” She groaned, thinking about the various items the package had contained, all of them involved around only a singular form of exercise that was best performed with a partner, or several and the bed optional.

The worst had to be the books that, despite her mortification, she found she just could not put down and had read six times. The worst part was she was starting to dream about doing a few of those things with a certain fukutaichou.

“My innocence has been ruined.” She groaned.

Kyattsuai chuckled in her mind. Before those books and the back lashed Kyoumei sex was not something that Kinomi had even really thought about. Now she couldn’t get it off of her brain. It was like some sort of infection. An irritating rash begging to be scratched.

Every time she was alone she wanted it, but when they were together it never even crossed her mind.

“Kinomi?”

Except for now.

Looking over her shoulder she saw the man of her dilemma. Hisagi was standing at the top of the stairs, looking like he wasn’t sure if he should go to her or run away.

“You two kids have fun now.” Kyatssuai purred in her mind before disappearing.

Judging by the look that crossed Hisagi’s face, and the slight blush, Kazeshini had imparted a far more detailed command of what he wanted done. Kinomi couldn’t help it. She laughed. Hisagi looked at her in surprise, before joined her, and finished coming the rest of the way up the stairs and across the platform to join her.

“You would think with each others thoughts and memories this would be easier.” She chuckled.

“Indeed.” He agreed. “Hinamori-chan alone would love to have the opportunity to know everything about her husband.”

“In her case I am not so sure it’s a good idea. Hollows don’t exactly have a peaceful upbringing.” She pointed out. “Has Kazeshini been more cooperative lately?” She asked.

“Relatively.” He admitted, once again a blush on his face.

“Let me guess. He said if you don’t make a move soon he’s going to ‘insert random evil act here’ to you. Right?”

“You know him far too well.”

“Well then, seeing as how our Zanpakuto’s are technically part of our souls, and thus our souls are telling us to stop hesitating and get on with it, who are we to deny them?” She smirked at him.

“Kinomi.” A serious expression crossed his face. “Because of our…..sharing,” he settled for, “I know you have never done something like this before. Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Yes.” She answered honestly. “I think I have wanted it for a while but just drowned myself in work and excuses, just like someone else I know.” She smirked at him.

He coughed a bit, for he was extremely guilty of doing exactly that on far too many occasions to count.

“Come on.” She smiled at him, leading him back down the stairs.

He followed silently. She didn’t lead him to her room like he had expected, but rather to an empty room, locking the door behind them.

“Too much chance for an interruption in my room.” She answered his unspoken question. “No one would think to look for me here, especially if you put a kidou barrier up. I would, but I still hate doing Kidou and suck at it.” She requested.

He nodded in understand and quickly set about setting up the barrier while she removed most of her accessories. She didn’t want her feathers getting bent or to listen to her bell jingle non stop.

Her back was turned to him so when he came up behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her it took her completely by surprise. The embrace was warm and she relaxed into it.

“For sure you want to do this?” He asked softly.

“Yes.” She answered. “And if you keep asking I might just change my mind.” She threatened playfully.

Despite her outward calm her heart felt like it was slamming against her chest while her stomach was just a little unsettled. She took a calming breath and relaxed completely into his embrace, just enjoying the feel of his strong chest against her back.

After a moment his hands moved from around her waist to her shoulders, pausing to rub his thumbs against them before hooking around her outer cloak and slowly pulling it off of her shoulder to pool on the ground between them.

She nearly jumped when she felt his lips on her neck a moment after, distracting her from the fact his hands were untying her sash and sending it to join her cloak. She sighed and closed her eyes as he laid soft kisses against her neck.

She remained relaxed, letting him lead her gently through this dance. He paused briefly in disrobing her once her sash was gone, just laid more kisses on her neck and held her against him.

It was unlike anything she had ever felt before, this warm feeling that was quickly overcoming her. It was frightening and comforting at the same time. She pushed the fear aside.

She was Kurosaki Pantera Kinomi, daughter of Ichigo and adopted niece of Grimmjow. Like bloody hell a bit of fear was going to stop her from doing something she wanted and hold her back.

Will once more fortified, even if the queasy stomach was still there, she turned in his grasp until they were facing each other. He looked down at her and she found her hand reaching up to trace along the three scars running over his eye before cupping his face and shyly brining his head down for a soft kiss.

The kiss was indeed soft, but only for a moment before his arms tightened around her and he deepened it. She brought her hands down and untied his sash, letting it join her cloths on the floor between them.

They broke apart from the kiss, giving her a clear view of that toned chest she had noted while they were hanging together over the magma. Entranced her hands played over it, pushing both pieces of his uniform aside and eventually off of his shoulders to join the growing pile on the floor.

She ran her hands over the skin now bare to her, noticing when she brushed past his nipple he stiffened briefly. Curious, she did it again, once again getting a jump from him. A small smile tugged at her lips and she replaced her hand with her mouth, feeling him go ridged and something poked into her stomach.

He gave a little whimper and feeling far more emboldened by the reaction she moved a hand up to pay attention to the currently ignored bud, earning another whimper from him. She was so busy getting those little moans out of him that she didn’t notice that he had brushed the top of her own uniform aside until most of the weight settled at the crock of her elbows.

She stopped teasing him long enough to let the top of her uniform fall to the floor. She let out a bit of a yelp when he suddenly picked her up and set her down on the edge of the bed, kneeling between her legs.

He caught her mouth with his and they shared a kiss while he worked her hakama loose and finally off. His mouth went from hers to and down her neck, sucking gently at the juncture while one hand messaged her breast.

Any embarrassment she had been feeling was long gone as endorphins flooded through her system at the gentle caresses being laying upon her by his experienced hands. He pushed against her until she was on her back on the bed, her eyes closed to better strengthen her sense of touch.

He removed the rest of her clothing and kissed a small trail down her chest and stomach, pausing at the top of her curls. His hands snaked around her thighs to hold her steady and she wondered what he was up to until something warm and wet swiped up the most intimate part of her body, earning a gasp of mixed shock and pleasure to race up her spine.

Her eyes snapped open and she stared down to the black hair that was between her legs. His mouth was attacking a part of her that send her entire legs shaking and she gasped out in shock at the strange feeling.

He continued to attack her bud with his tongue and the only thing holding her still beneath him was his arms wrapped securely around her legs, holding her in place. The feeling started to get too intense for her to handle and her hands shot down to try and push him away.

He backed off from his assault and she fell back against the bed, panting. Something was poking into her but she couldn’t bring herself to notice or care at this moment. It wasn’t until he added a second finger that she felt her walls stretch uncomfortably.

She reigned in her breathing and once more looked down to see his gaze locked onto her as he pumped two fingers slowly inside her, preparing her for what was to come.

She hissed a bit when he added the third and his other hand thumbed over that little bud that had her legs quivering yet again, forcing her eyes closed and her to collapse fully against the bed again.

He finally stopped the torture and the rather uncomfortable feeling of his fingers inside of her disappeared to be replaced by a feeling of emptiness that against all reason she wanted filled again.

There was the sound of clothes being shuffled and suddenly Hisagi was crawling back up her body and manoeuvring her the rest of the way onto the bed before settling between her legs, flesh rubbing against flesh.

His mouth found one nipple and sucked on it slowly before moving to the second to pay it the same attention. She sighed and kept her eyes closed, just relishing in the sensations of skin on skin she had never experienced before.

His mouth left her breast and continued up to her neck, sucking harshly on her neck which was sure to leave a mark. She tilted her head to give him better access. One hand held him above her, the other reached down between them and brushed her nub a few times, causing her to squirm and her legs to shake slightly.

Once more his fingers slipped into her as his mouth closed over hers, giving just a few pumps to assure himself she was as ready as she was going to be before something far larger, and warmer, started to push slowly in.

She felt her walls stretch and her hands shot up to grip his shoulders at the uncomfortable intrusion. She grimaced and latched onto his neck with her own mouth, sucking on his flesh to distract herself from the intrusion, the salty taste of his flesh highly addicting and before she knew it she was sucking and licking every ounce of his neck and shoulders she could reach, relishing in his flavour and leaving a long line of red marks.

She bit into his shoulder harshly and her nails dug into his back when he broke through her virgin walls and sheathed himself fully into her with one full thrust. He remained still while she adjusted to being filled and ever so slowly her nails and teeth pulled out of his skin, leaving a small tendril of blood.

He pulled slowly out and moved back in, earning himself another set of teeth and nail marks. He was panting heavily above her and didn’t seem to mind the pain at all. His hands stroked her nub again, causing her legs to shake and another bit mark to be added and more nail marks in his back.

Slowly the slight pain and uncomfortable pressure turned more and more into pleasure and he quickened his pace inside of her. Her head fell back to the bed as he moved above her, her nails still raking down his back as she tried to grasp onto something to station herself.

The hand that had been rubbing her nub was now holding her leg slightly up and to the side to give him more diving room. His mouth latched onto her neck and was sucking and licking her sweat up the same way she had been doing to him earlier, but without the biting.

She could feel something start to build up that was both painful and pleasurable and she found herself panting for breath, her nails making more frequent and slightly deeper journeys down his back as she thrashed beneath him.

His pace quickened and his head rested beside hers now, his own breath coming just as fast as her until the only sound in the room was that of heavy breathing and the slick sound of flesh meeting flesh.

“Hisagi.” She groaned out as she felt that pool that had been building suddenly explode.

Her nails dug deeply into his back and her mouth latched onto the clear side of his neck, biting far deeper then before as she rode the wave out.

“Ung.” Was the only noise he was able to make as he also let out a shudder and something warm was flooding into her shortly before her own high finished.

They lay entangled for a moment while the blood slowly started to flow back into the brains in their heads instead of the brains elsewhere. Her hands slowly relaxed as did her mouth until she fell exhausted onto the bed once more, the taste of his blood in her mouth.

It was strange, kind of almost sweet tasting and she found herself looking at the very deep bite mark she had left behind in sex dazed wonder. Moving her head forward she licked the wound, earning another shudder from her partner.

The atmosphere was broken by Kyattsuai and Kazeshini returning in a rush, shouting into their partners minds that something important was up and that they were sorry shortly before the door burst in and Taka came running two steps into the room followed by Zan until their brains caught up with their eyes and they grounded to a speechless and shocked hault.

Kinomi wasn’t sure if she should be mortified or enraged at the intrusion and wasn’t sure who she wanted to start screaming at first, Kyattsuai or Taka and Zan.

“Oh god.” Zan was quick to slap a hand over his face and turn away beat red before making a hasty retreat.

Taka had a look on her face like she was trying to hold back a laugh and failing miserable.

“I am sorry Pantera-chan, but you are needed immediately.”

“And what pray tell is so god damn important you had to come barging in on me?” She snapped in rage, distantly aware that she was still firmly entangled with her partner.

“Enma-sama is here and request an immediate audience. I am sorry for bursting in on what looks like you having one hell of a good time,” Taka winked, “but I figured something like this warranted it.”

Kinomi groaned and leaned her head against Hisagi’s neck as irritation washed over her.

“I’ll have Reina-chan meet you in your room, because boy are you going to need her help to make you look presentable.” Taka laughed as she turned about to leave. “Oh,” she paused at the door turning back to the two entwined people, “it’s about bloody time, by the way.” She grinned as she ducked out of the room before Kinomi could thing of a retort.

“I hate my life some days. This is going to be all over the palace by the time I am dressed.” She groaned to herself, Kyatssuai chuckling in her mind.

The sex daze now violently ripped away she looked back to her partner to see the bite marks all over his neck, including the rather deep one that stood alone and very noticeable on the left.

Ever so slowly he pulled away, and out, from her, causing her hands to fall from his back. She looked at the blood on her fingers in surprise before darting her gaze back up to him.

“It’s fine.” He assured her quickly, giving her a soft kiss to bring the point home.

“Are you sure?” She asked, sitting up and forcing him to turn around to better look at the marks she had left.

She was dimly aware of the small amount of fluid flowing out her nether regions and the still sweet taste of his blood in her mouth, but fore most on her mind was the damage she had done to his back.

“I believe Pantera is a very fitting name for you.” He smiled over his shoulder at her.

His entire back was nearly shredded from her nails, granted only one set of furrows was deep, the rest were just surface base and had already stopped bleeding. But still, he looked like he had been mauled by a tiger.

“Or a panther.” Kyattsuai chuckled in her brain.

“I am so sorry.” She blushed.

He turned around and used one hand to capture both of hers and the other to tilt her head so she was looking into his eyes, those very deep, dark green eyes that were almost black.

“It is fine. Truthfully,” he crocked smile, “I actually enjoy it.” He assured her.

Well that was unexpected. He released her chin and patted at the deep bite on his neck, looking at the blood on his hand with a wince that had her feeling guilty at first until he mumbled something about ‘hiding that one from the others.’

“The meeting.” Both Zanpkauto’s reminded their partners at the same time.

There was another moment of silence before both of them suddenly burst into action. Kinomi quickly pulled on the basics of her uniform while he rushed into the bathroom. She shunpo’d back to her room in a rush, where yes, Reina was waiting for her and to this day Kinomi had never seen such an expression of shock on the woman’s face.

“Kinomi, the state of your appearance is going to require time to correct that we are appalling deprived of.” Reina sighed.

Kinomi finally caught sight of herself in a mirror and was forced into stunned silence, her body locked in place as she looked at her very sexed up appearance. From her ruffled hair to the very obvious red marks on her neck.

“Well, Hisagi-kun looks a lot worse.” She couldn’t help but to think as Reina grabbed her arm and led her stunned body into the bathroom to do what she could to make her presentable.




Stay Tuned for Chapter 9: King Enma

Where the king of Jigoku comes to officially thank them for saving his realm and Matsumoto arrives……….need I say more on that one?

I didn’t realize how long this chapter was until I copied/pasted it into my work document, a document I use to edit all the chapters and put the spaces between the paragraphs and input the formatting.

I was going to divide it into two chapters when I realized it was so big, but I promised Smex this chapter and so I delivered. Please tell me what you think about the scene. I hope it was different and caught the uncertainty I wanted Kinomi to feel. This was completely uncharted territory for her as unlike others she never even cuddled in her life before this day, so the thought of Sex I figured would be daunting.

As usual /love my faithful reviewers and please, let me know what you thought about this chapter. Remember you don’t need to be logged in or have an account to review.

Now to go post the second chapter to Lover’s and I want you all to know I finished writing the epilogue to Jigoku yesterday. The full story will be 110 pages over 11 chapters, so just as long as Crossbreeding was.