Beyond the Hourglass
folder
Bleach › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
12
Views:
2,744
Reviews:
18
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Bleach › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
12
Views:
2,744
Reviews:
18
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Bleach, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Map of the Problematique
A/N: Well, I was struggling there for a bit, but I think I'm back on track now. This story is officially the longest thing I have ever written. I blame that on the fact that it is summer, and I have absolutely nothing to do. Thanks for the reviews, they are my inspiration when I feel down about the story. And remy, I'm debating whether to add Shuuhei/Kira on the side, but they're not the focus of this story. And no, Kira is not jealous of Ichigo. He's just joking around. Anyway, here's the chapter, and don't forget to review.
Map of the Problematique
They were at Orihime’s for the conference. Byakuya was in the middle of retelling the events from the previous night to the Commander-General and Ichigo could not be bothered to pay attention because if he focused too much on what Byakuya was saying he would probably go to a very bad place and freaking out in front of everybody like that would not be good. So he just stood there and leaned back into Renji a bit and he let Renji put his arm around his waist and he was breathing lightly on his neck. But suddenly Unohana was moving forward and Ichigo thought he could probably stand to listen to what she had to say.
“First,” she began, “I should report that these enemies possess reiatsu that interferes with my ability to heal their injuries.”
“This is very serious,” Yamamoto said, “Have you looked any further into the matter?”
“Yes, but I still cannot find a way around.”
“Hmm,” Yamamoto began, “I will have the twelfth division look into the matter.”
“Thank you,” she said, but then paused and looked to Shunsui as if seeking permission, and when he nodded she started again, “There was something else. The woman who attacked us, I know her. She is my sister, Masako.”
“Really,” Yamamoto replied, “this is quite the turn of events.”
Shunsui stepped forward.
“I have something to add as well,” he began, “The man who raped Ichigo is a man named Ryu Hihara.”
“This is very troubling. And so far you have run into three?” Yamamoto asked.
“Yes.”
“And the third, who is still unidentified, you say is a very large man?”
“Yes.”
“If this trend holds, then I fear that there is a fourth. I shall not disclose anything more until my suspicions have been confirmed, but if you should find yourself facing an enemy you have not met before, I advise you to get away as fast as you can,” Yamamoto paused, seeming to collect himself, “Was there anything else?”
Shuuhei and Kira stepped forward.
“Yes,” Kira began.
“While we were patrolling last night,” Shuuhei continued, “we believe we found their headquarters.”
“This sounds promising,” Yamamoto said.
“We do not know how long they will remain at this location, though,” Kira began again.
“And we think it wise to attack it before they have a chance to relocate,” Shuuhei finished.
“Hmm,” he said in a tone indicating that he was thinking heavily on the matter, “I agree. I do not think it wise to allow them to slip through our fingers. Is everyone ready to fight?”
“Yes,” Unohana said, “Everyone is in fighting condition.”
“Good. Then you shall move out at nightfall.”
He flickered off the screen.
The conference had provided more questions than answers and Ichigo’s head was swirling about with the new information. How did Shunsui know Ryu Hihara? Why was Unohana’s sister fighting them? Whet trend was there? Did they have something in common he did not know? He wanted very badly to ask them questions, but the looks they wore indicated that it was best to leave them alone. Ichigo took Renji outside for a walk to try and clear his head.
“I hate this,” he began, “They know more than they’re letting on.”
“Yeah. So?”
“I don’t get it. Why don’t they tell us more?”
“This is obviously something very personal.”
“And? What if they’re withholding information, and someone gets killed? What then?”
“I’m sure they won’t let that happen.”
“But how can you be sure?”
“Because I know them, and they’re good people.”
“I don’t know. . .”
“They won’t let someone die needlessly.”
“I still don’t like being left in the dark.”
They stopped. They were in a park, surrounded by lush foliage with shadows everywhere. Birds were singing and Ichigo really wished they would stop because this was not the time for merry chirping. Perhaps if they knew a dirge or two?
“Look,” Renji began, “We all have things we don’t like to talk about. Dark things. Things from our past that never seem to leave us alone.”
Ichigo thought about his mother and the man who raped him.
“I guess you’re right.”
“Look. Shit happens. And sometimes it’s best not to think about it too much. Gets you depressed, you know?”
They stood there for a while as they just listened to the birds.
“But enough of that philosophical crap,” Renji continued, “We should probably start heading back.”
And then they made their way back to the others, to prepare for the night’s ordeals. They walked slowly, hand in hand, in silence. Ichigo was beginning to understand just a little, but it still annoyed him that he was being left in the dark.
Map of the Problematique
They were at Orihime’s for the conference. Byakuya was in the middle of retelling the events from the previous night to the Commander-General and Ichigo could not be bothered to pay attention because if he focused too much on what Byakuya was saying he would probably go to a very bad place and freaking out in front of everybody like that would not be good. So he just stood there and leaned back into Renji a bit and he let Renji put his arm around his waist and he was breathing lightly on his neck. But suddenly Unohana was moving forward and Ichigo thought he could probably stand to listen to what she had to say.
“First,” she began, “I should report that these enemies possess reiatsu that interferes with my ability to heal their injuries.”
“This is very serious,” Yamamoto said, “Have you looked any further into the matter?”
“Yes, but I still cannot find a way around.”
“Hmm,” Yamamoto began, “I will have the twelfth division look into the matter.”
“Thank you,” she said, but then paused and looked to Shunsui as if seeking permission, and when he nodded she started again, “There was something else. The woman who attacked us, I know her. She is my sister, Masako.”
“Really,” Yamamoto replied, “this is quite the turn of events.”
Shunsui stepped forward.
“I have something to add as well,” he began, “The man who raped Ichigo is a man named Ryu Hihara.”
“This is very troubling. And so far you have run into three?” Yamamoto asked.
“Yes.”
“And the third, who is still unidentified, you say is a very large man?”
“Yes.”
“If this trend holds, then I fear that there is a fourth. I shall not disclose anything more until my suspicions have been confirmed, but if you should find yourself facing an enemy you have not met before, I advise you to get away as fast as you can,” Yamamoto paused, seeming to collect himself, “Was there anything else?”
Shuuhei and Kira stepped forward.
“Yes,” Kira began.
“While we were patrolling last night,” Shuuhei continued, “we believe we found their headquarters.”
“This sounds promising,” Yamamoto said.
“We do not know how long they will remain at this location, though,” Kira began again.
“And we think it wise to attack it before they have a chance to relocate,” Shuuhei finished.
“Hmm,” he said in a tone indicating that he was thinking heavily on the matter, “I agree. I do not think it wise to allow them to slip through our fingers. Is everyone ready to fight?”
“Yes,” Unohana said, “Everyone is in fighting condition.”
“Good. Then you shall move out at nightfall.”
He flickered off the screen.
The conference had provided more questions than answers and Ichigo’s head was swirling about with the new information. How did Shunsui know Ryu Hihara? Why was Unohana’s sister fighting them? Whet trend was there? Did they have something in common he did not know? He wanted very badly to ask them questions, but the looks they wore indicated that it was best to leave them alone. Ichigo took Renji outside for a walk to try and clear his head.
“I hate this,” he began, “They know more than they’re letting on.”
“Yeah. So?”
“I don’t get it. Why don’t they tell us more?”
“This is obviously something very personal.”
“And? What if they’re withholding information, and someone gets killed? What then?”
“I’m sure they won’t let that happen.”
“But how can you be sure?”
“Because I know them, and they’re good people.”
“I don’t know. . .”
“They won’t let someone die needlessly.”
“I still don’t like being left in the dark.”
They stopped. They were in a park, surrounded by lush foliage with shadows everywhere. Birds were singing and Ichigo really wished they would stop because this was not the time for merry chirping. Perhaps if they knew a dirge or two?
“Look,” Renji began, “We all have things we don’t like to talk about. Dark things. Things from our past that never seem to leave us alone.”
Ichigo thought about his mother and the man who raped him.
“I guess you’re right.”
“Look. Shit happens. And sometimes it’s best not to think about it too much. Gets you depressed, you know?”
They stood there for a while as they just listened to the birds.
“But enough of that philosophical crap,” Renji continued, “We should probably start heading back.”
And then they made their way back to the others, to prepare for the night’s ordeals. They walked slowly, hand in hand, in silence. Ichigo was beginning to understand just a little, but it still annoyed him that he was being left in the dark.