Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Different Circumstances ❯ The Fight ( Chapter 11 )

Tite Kubo owns Bleach and the characters depicted therein. The characters in this story are not mine.

 

The Fight

 

The door was flung open and storming into the room, Zaraki kicked it shut behind him. He grabbed me, pulling me to my feet, ripping my uniform off with one hand as the other pulled my head close to his. I did not know how to react and expected him to kiss me, but pulled back, still feeling anger and fear. Instead of the expected kiss, he bit my neck, the teeth sinking into my flesh and causing blood to flow out of the wound while his fingers dug into my shoulders. I cried out, trying to push him away, beating at his chest, scared by the violence and unprepared for the pain. Zaraki had scared me in Soul Society when he looked at Gin with hatred in his eyes and now he was scaring me even more. I had never experienced this type of violence from him and struggled in his firm grip. “Stop it. Let me go,” I cried.

 

“Does it hurt? It hurts to have your bride betray you on the day you marry her and then defy you in front of the people who witnessed the marriage. It hurts when your stupidity is revealed in front of other captains. You've played me for a fool, haven't you? Pretending to love me, all the time waiting for your lover to come and get you. I don't care; you're not going with him. I married you, mistakenly thinking you loved me and I'll keep you. You didn't have to tell me those lies about the rape, I know now it was just a ruse to gain my trust.” Zaraki looked crazed with anger as he stared at me, my blood on his lips. He licked his lips and the blood was removed, but the anger in his eyes intensified. It made me wonder if the taste of blood further inflamed his rage.

 

“I didn't lie to you; I promised I wouldn't lie to you. Why would I lie about being raped? If you want to believe the words spoken by a man who hates me, then you're as bad as Gin. You can ask Renji…” I was feeling anger now, more than fear.

 

“Ask your former lover? How big a fool do you think I am? You've lied to me from the beginning, I can't trust you. When I entered the alleyway, the traitor was kissing you; he had his hands on your breasts and I couldn't see any resistance from you. You must have heard me arrive and pulled away to make it look convincing. All the lies you told him about loving me; it was good, I believed it, but he didn't because he knew you only said the words to convince me. It all makes sense, the flinching, the way you react to me when I touch you, the strange expression you had on your face when I told you I cared. You pretended it was because you were trying to stop yourself from telling me you loved me.” His hands were now holding me, by my wrists, hurting me as he applied more pressure in his anger.

 

“Why would I go through all this, Zaraki, just to find out some tactics? Aizen wouldn't need to have a spy here, he knows everyone, how they think, how they react. In all the years he was here, he observed everyone, and watched us all. If he wanted a spy, why not leave Gin or Tosen here to report to him as they would be involved in all the strategic decision? I'm only a lieutenant, as you keep reminding me. It hurts me that you believe Captain Kurotsuchi, the one who made the comment about you not reaching bankai.” I saw Zaraki become still at the statement. “I recognised his voice once he started speaking to me. He tried to disguise his voice when he made the comment, but he wasn't as clever as he thought.”

 

“More lies.” Zaraki's eyes blazed into mine as his grip on my wrists tightened even more. It hurt.

 

“Zaraki, think, please, think. The man hates me for some reason, maybe because I didn't try to seduce him, or he has some other reason that I don't know.”

 

Ignoring me, Zaraki mused aloud, “I can't believe how blind I've been. You kept me sidetracked by constant sex and told me some sob story to gain my pity. Now you deny the truth when you've been found out. I've said I'm keeping you; you will remain my wife in name and you will continue to service me sexually, but that's it. We will live in the same house and sleep in the same bed so I can fuck you whenever I want, but don't expect any care. I'll be watching your every move and you will never leave my side. Do you understand? When you are not at 10th Division you will be with me every moment.” He released my arms and watched my face closely.

 

I closed my eyes in despair. If he loved me, I would want nothing more than being with him every moment I could, but his tone, his manner made it sound like an unpleasant threat. If he disliked and distrusted me as his attitude implied, any time spent with him would be disagreeable for both of us. I felt a sting of pain and put my hand to my neck where he had bitten me. Drawing it away, I noticed fresh blood on my fingers.

 

“You think that bite hurt, do you? I told you it hurts to be betrayed, like you've betrayed me. You wanted to see what was under this band of cloth earlier. Think of the bite as payment for what I'm about to show you. Feast your eyes, Ran; have a good look.” Zaraki pulled the band of cloth from around his neck.

 

The use of the name was a shock. Gin had used it, but until now Zaraki had never called me by that name. I didn't like that name on his tongue; I wanted him to call me `beloved' but that would never happen again. It was proof that what we had was now broken.

 

Looking at his neck, it was obvious why he wore the strip of cloth. A large, livid welt had been hidden under the band; the welt encircled his whole neck and looked as if something had cut in deeply. I suppressed an exclamation as I looked, horrified at the sight. I didn't want to look but couldn't drag my eyes away. “How? Why? Who?”

 

“This, this is the result of a betrayal of trust, or the product of stupidity. Shortly after I became captain, Tosen asked me to visit him and toasted me with some sake. It was drugged. He tried to hang me, when I was unconscious. I don't know if he had any help, but I expect he did. At the time I didn't believe that this place is as corrupt as any other, and to trust anyone is the act of an idiot. Ikkaku and Yumichika had followed me, against my instructions and found me, cutting me down before my neck broke. The rope cut into my skin and the mark won't fade. If it hadn't been for the drugged sake, it wouldn't have happened. There was an enquiry but it was his word against mine as there were no other witnesses and no one would believe Tosen would do something like that. The story was hushed up because it made it look like the captains weren't united. For a short while Tosen was under investigation, but Aizen spoke on his behalf, saying that no harm was done and I was being difficult, trying to provoke trouble because I was new and undisciplined. No harm was done: to him or Tosen; bastards, it didn't matter what happened to me. Now you're betraying me with another one of the traitors.” Zaraki's voice was harsh and angry and it made me nervous.

 

I reached out a hand to touch his neck, but he grabbed it tightly before I could reach him. “Does it hurt?” Why had I asked such a stupid question?

 

“No. Come on, I want to fuck. You're still my wife and I don't care if you enjoy it, or if I hurt you.” His grip on my hand tightened and I felt my fingers being crushed by his. Zaraki growled and began to drag me to the bedroom and I resisted, scared of how it would be.

 

“Please, Captain, please don't. Not like this, not in hatred and anger. I didn't lie to you, why would I?” I began to cry as I felt everything destabilise. I didn't even know why I was crying, except I couldn't help myself. I pulled my hand from his; fully intending to run away, but instead I found I was putting my arms around him, holding him to me as I wept. The scar, the bite and the story had shocked me, as did his anger and the feeling I was standing on the edge of a knife. Zaraki had believed the accusations. I wished today was over, it had gone on far too long.

 

His body felt hard and unyielding against mine and I knew this wasn't going to work. “I wouldn't go with Gin. I meant what I said; I love you, more than I ever loved him but it's all so strange and new. How do you think I feel? Do you know how much I didn't want to see Gin again, how much I want to be held by you, loved by you. Damn you Zaraki, how can you doubt me? Would I marry you, have sex with you, want to be near you to get some stupid plans? When have we even talked about strategy? We've been too busy screwing to even talk about the arrancar. What sort of spy would do that? Wouldn't I be more interested in asking you questions about what plans are in place than about why you kiss me the way you do?” I was trying to think of anything that could prove that Captain Kurotsuchi's words were lies.

 

“You defied me in front to the other captains, saying you wanted to stay in 10th Division. It was humiliating. Any normal woman would want to be in the same Division as her husband….”

 

I cut Zaraki off, “I wasn't betraying you; I was being loyal to my captain, to my division. I have to remain loyal to them, despite my personal feelings and I thought you respected loyalty. If you swapped lieutenants, think how Yachiru would feel. She already hates me and wants our marriage to be dissolved. If you moved her to another division, you would hurt her, it would be unforgivable.”

 

“Cut the crap, woman and don't call me captain, I'm your husband. You kissed Gin.” Zaraki's voice was harsh.

 

“I didn't kiss that scum; he kissed me when I was unprepared. Why would I want to kiss a man who dumped me when I told him I loved him? I didn't realise how dead my love for him was until he kissed me and all I could feel was revulsion and the wish that it was your lips on mine, your hands on my breasts.” I paused a little, gulped and continued, allowing my feelings to dictate my words. “Zaraki, I'm fixated on you. I'll stay with you even if I'm your wife in name only. I'll have sex with you whenever you want and you don't have to pretend you care, or even care. Please let me stay with you.” The tears were spilling out of my eyes unchecked. “I got angry with you because you pulled rank on me and called me a fool in front of the other captains. You wouldn't listen to me when I wanted to be loyal, even though the thought of being away from you during the day hurts me like a physical pain.” I clung to him tightly; scared he would push me away.

 

Zaraki was silent for a few minutes. Imperceptibly his body began to relax, but only a little. “The old man told me to apologise to you for treating you badly but I don't want to. He also told me Kurotsuchi was twisting the truth for some reason to try to drive us apart. You keep trying to run away and I thought you were going to run away just now.”

 

“I didn't run away and I have no reason to apologise to you. I don't recall calling you a fool and I didn't believe other peoples' lies about you. If you apologise to me, I won't believe you.” I felt him relax a little more at my words.

 

“Good. I won't apologise, you won't apologise.” I felt his arms encircle me loosely and he rested his head on my shoulder, just for a moment. With a tiny feeling of relief, I pressed myself against him, feeling his reaction to my proximity and nudity. His hands travelled over my back to my waist and his arms tightened around me. I rested my head against him and kissed his skin, wanting him to love me once more.

 

“Beloved.” The word was an apology and a declaration from Zaraki. He lowered his head and licked my neck where he had bitten it. I gasped at the sting of pain as his tongue touched me. “You're still bleeding. Come on, let me wash you.”

 

He carried me to the bathroom and gently washed the bite, removing any blood he could find and then rubbed in some healing salve. I stiffened under the water and the salve, the sting returning. The bite struck me as a strange reaction, especially the ferocity, as if Zaraki was doing more than trying to inflict pain. Looking in the mirror, I saw the teeth marks were clearly visible and a large bruise was forming around the site of the bite. I drew in a sharp breath at the sight and noticed Zaraki looked a little abashed. He kissed my forehead, my nose and then my mouth, so gently and sweetly that I almost began crying again. He was apologising without words.

 

“I love you, Matsumoto.” The words were a whisper and a benediction. I closed my eyes as I heard them, wondering if the worst was over for now, or if this was only the eye of the storm.

 

“Why did you bite me, Zaraki?” As usual, my curiosity was roused by his actions, even though I realised it was not the right time to ask. It seemed an odd action for him to take and a painful one.

 

“I don't slap women.” His voice was terse at the reminder of how the bite had occurred, and he was looking at the sponge he had been using on my neck.

 

“You don't slap, but you bite?” It made no sense to me. I wanted to know what was going through his mind.

 

`I'm not talking about it; it won't happen again.” He gently kissed my neck near the bite mark, refusing to look at my face. His voice held some contrition and regret, but there was an additional element that eluded me.

 

“Why? Why bite me?” The questions were out of my mouth before I could prevent them.

 

“To mark you; put my mark on you. It won't last, the bite will fade. I want some ownership of you, woman, you aren't even wearing a ring and I want people to know you belong to me. I will never give you up to him or anyone.” Zaraki sounded slightly penitent and annoyed.

 

“I'll never go. You didn't give me a ring, but if you want I'll wear one.” The man was taking this very seriously. I started to understand that his behaviour in the Captain-General's office was some perverted claim of ownership to the threat that Gin had made, and the bite was yet another reaction to the claim that Gin pronounced on me.

 

“Ichimaru wouldn't believe we were married. I'm sure he still doesn't, and he wants to take you. Don't you understand how that makes me feel? No-one, and I mean no-one, will take you from me unless I'm dead. We belong with each other, and I intend for you to remain with me.”

 

I raised my head slowly and looked at Zaraki, shocked by the passion and the anger in his voice. He glared back at me as if challenging me to deny his words, his statement, and I did not dare. The fear which had subsided reappeared once again.

 

“Come with me.” He ordered and led the way into the bedroom. I wondered what he had in mind. “In our home, when we have are alone, I want you to be naked or wearing this gown. I had it made especially so that you can slip it on quickly if we are interrupted and I can take it off quickly.” Indicating a box, on the bed, Zaraki gave me a distinctive look. On opening the box a white and black garment was displayed. Drawing it out, I noticed it was a replica of his captain's coat made to my size with a proper sash. I looked at him questioningly after gazing at the `gown'. “I like seeing you in my coat, knowing you are wearing nothing underneath; it shows you are mine. All I have to do is pull it apart and I can be inside you in seconds. It will mean I don't destroy your uniforms as regularly. Put it on.”

 

Thinking that this was rather strange, I put on the clothing, using the sash to belt it around me. It covered me properly, and was not too long. The soft cotton fabric caressed my skin and the skirt of the coat was somewhat fuller than that worn by Zaraki. On looking at him, I noticed his eyes had become intent on my cleavage which was not obscured by the coat. With a few quick strides he was in front of me, pulling the skirts of my new `gown' apart, one hand reaching between my thighs as his other hand sought to undo the sash.

 

“I've got to have you now and I won't listen to any protests woman. You've defied me enough today and I want to fuck you. I'm going to make you want me.” The sash now undone, Zaraki got to his knees and buried his face at my nexus, his tongue quickly licking me as I stood there, stunned at this change and aroused by the way his tongue was touching me. Zaraki pushed my legs further apart, making my feet slip a little on the floor. As he pulled the gown away from me, I didn't know how to react. Zaraki's head was between my thighs, his tongue pleasuring me, confusing me as to my next move. Of course I was stimulated, the touch of his tongue ensured that; but I was still scared, shocked and uncertain. The fight and unexpected violence made me wonder if he had really stopped being angry and while I wanted him and loved him, I now feared him. As if realising my fear, Zaraki began to tease me, licking me delicately, lightly as if trying to make me focus completely on what he was doing and he succeeded. Forgetting my fear, my rising lust beset me. Of their own volition my hands threaded through his hair, and I opened myself to him. Pausing, Zaraki observed, “That's better. Give yourself to me fully.” Getting to his feet he pushed the coat off my shoulders as I struggled to remove his clothes.

 

For the first time, he stood in front of me completely naked: the livid mark on his neck evidence of the hate one man held for him; the visible scar on his face a memento of another battle, both reminding me that his life had been full of violence, disappointment, anger and loss. The scars did not indicate love, care or friendship, but I knew from his friendship with his division that they must exist in his life. His eyes were watching me as I looked at him, his expression wary; anticipating a rejection. The look diminished my fear and reminded me of my love for the man.

 

“Never pull rank on me or insult me in front of anyone, otherwise I'll withhold sex,” I said, halfway meaning the threat.

 

Zaraki relaxed at my words. “You, withhold sex, from me? Don't make threats you can't keep Matsumoto,” he replied laying me on the bed and lying beside me. “Deny me now,” he continued as his hands touched me, exciting me even more.

 

I said nothing.

 

“Deny me now,” Zaraki said, his hands stroking my sides, his breath hot on my cheek.

 

“You know I can't, beloved.” The endearment slipped from my mouth with ease, but I had not meant to say it. A glance at Zaraki showed me he was transfixed.

 

“You called me beloved, not Zaraki. I always wondered why you called me Zaraki and not Kenpachi and now you've called me beloved.” His voice was full of wonder, and it seemed, relief.

 

“Do you want me to call you Kenpachi?” I asked the question, hoping he would not probe further.

 

“No, it would sound wrong from you, but why do you call me Zaraki?” He was being persistent, mimicking my questioning attitude.

 

“I've always called you Zaraki in my mind when I first started watching you. Gin always called you Kenpachi and I didn't want to associate you with Gin. I wanted you to be only for me, beloved Zaraki.” I bit my tongue, realising this declaration was more revealing than I wished. He knew I loved him, but I was exposing so much about my thoughts.

 

“Woman, you constantly astound me.” He leant on an elbow and looked into my eyes attentively. “From a quick fuck, you're turning into something else: first a lover and now a wife. We've got two more days together, unless the frigging arrancar attack again. I want to know more about you, and I'll tell you a little about myself, but I want to screw you most of the time. Still scared about the sex?”

 

I shook my head. How could I be scared of something I wanted so much? Zaraki kissed me, starting with the gentle kiss, but building up to a passion that left me breathless.

 

His mouth moved from mine and went toward my neck. When I tensed, worried he would touch the wound he had inflicted, he stopped abruptly as his lips touched my chin, apparently reminded of the bite. “I won't bite you again.”

 

“I know.”

 

“I didn't think…”

 

“I know.”

 

“I was infuriated. Seeing Ichimaru kiss you made me question everything, but then you defended me and I felt reassured. I didn't doubt you, but that pasty faced deviant made me look at the invasion in a different way and almost convinced me you were untruthful. He has always been good at twisting the facts, but he overlooked one thing I also forgot. You're crap at lying.”

 

“I know”

 

Zaraki examined the bite closely and then spoke again. “I'll get you a band of cloth to wear around your neck until it heals. That's an idea: you wear a band of cloth around your throat like mine, that way people will know you belong to me.”

 

I sat up, feeling rather peculiar at the suggestion. “Zaraki, don't you think you're a little too possessive? I've told you I'm not leaving you; that I love you.”

 

He drew me to him in a tender embrace. “You don't get the picture woman; I don't know how I'm meant to behave. I'm new at this love stuff. I want everyone to know that you belong to me.”

 

“Everyone in Seireitei knows, you made certain of that and I think most people in Soul Society will know now.” I kissed him to prevent any further discussion and began to touch his chest, exploring the planes and ridges with the tips of my fingers. I loved the feel of his well muscled torso, with the heat radiating from his skin at the touch of my hands. My hands strayed down further, stroking his stomach and his hips, just touching the edges of thighs. Taking my hand in his, Zaraki placed it on his erection and then acted in response by allowing his fingers to touch me where his tongue had so recently explored.

 

My skin seemed sensitised to his touch, and I wanted to join with him but at the same time I wanted to spend as much time tantalising him as possible. My lips moved from his and down to his neck. He hissed between his teeth as I touched his scar and immediately I stopped, worried I had caused him pain. I put my face next to his, so I could look in his eyes, an apology already forming on my lips.

 

Catching my worried look, Zaraki gave a quick laugh. “It doesn't hurt, beloved. I'm not reacting to that. No-one has touched the scar since it was healed and I thought the nerve ending may be dead because of the damage, but they're not. If it disgusts you, don't kiss it.”

 

Before he finished his sentence my mouth was again on his neck, licking it gently as my hands continued to play with his erection. His skin had a sweet and salty tang, combined with his scent that seemed stronger here, confined as his skin had been under the band. The flavours of his skin made me yearn to kiss him further; lick all of him, suck him once more. I could feel the effect of my kisses as his erection seemed to become even stiffer in my hand

 

“Enough, woman,” Zaraki said as he pushed me onto my side, facing away from him and holding my legs apart with one hand, moved the head of his penis inside my entrance and began to ease into me from behind.

 

I wriggled as I felt the rounded head of his penis enter me slowly, deliciously, but wondered a little at this new situation. “I don't know if I'll be able to come in this position,” I began and then felt Zaraki's hand touch my centre as he continued to slowly push inside me. After the arousal and the relief that the fight was over, the feeling was so intense that I almost came, but Zaraki removed his fingers.

 

“I don't think you know what you're saying; you can come in this position, in any position with me. You'll have to wait a little while, though woman. I intend to make you remember the reasons you love fucking me.” Zaraki murmured into the back of my neck. He began to trail his tongue down the nape, as his hands stroked my breasts, gliding gently over the nipples. With one hard thrust he fully pushed his penis inside me.

 

“I can't touch you,” I complained as he continued to play with my body. I tried moving my arm around to touch him, but it was uncomfortable and distracted me from the sensations he was causing me to feel. I hadn't known I could feel this way from brief contact with him.

 

“You are touching me,” he growled and began to slowly withdraw and push back inside. “You're touching me where if counts most. You feel hot, Matsumoto. Is it because of me?”

 

“Yes.” I wanted to concentrate on how he was making me feel, the molten lethargy that was overtaking me but spurring me on at the same time. I pushed back on his erection as he thrust into me again. He quickly responded and I reacted wanting to feel him taking his pleasure with me as I took mine with him.

 

Now one of his hands was concentrating on arousing my nipple; while the other trailed down my stomach, almost reaching, but never getting close enough to the area I needed him to stroke. I sighed, knowing that I could not force Zaraki to stop the torment, unless I took action. Reaching my hand down between us I found his sac and just touched it with the tips of my fingers, gently rubbing as I squirmed with desire on his erection as he pushed into me. His response was to plunge into me repeatedly as his fingers stopped their torment and found the place I wanted them to explore.

 

“Zaraki,” I sighed as I felt him touch me, opening me wider to him. I wanted him so much and from the way he was moving he wanted me.

 

He grunted and increased the speed again, pumping into me as my body gratefully received his thrust. One hand was now pinching the nipple and the other was touching me so delightfully that I lost control and came yelling his name. Zaraki lasted a further minute and I felt his orgasm overtake him as he held his breath.

 

Instead of withdrawing or turning me around, Zaraki kissed the back of my neck, his arms around my waist, holding me to him. “Let's go to sleep like this.”

 

I thought about it. I was too tired to move and the idea of sleep was one of which I approved. Closing my eyes, I considered responding, but fell asleep once more, comforted by his proximity.

 

A.N.

 

Thanks to the people who have reviewed.