Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Different Circumstances ❯ The Hope ( Chapter 27 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Tite Kubo owns Bleach and the characters depicted therein. The characters in this story are not mine.
The Hope
I couldn't accept what he was saying as true. My mouth fell open and I gaped at him. “Me? Pregnant? How? Oh, don't answer that, I know how, but how do you know? I don't even know? You can't know; you're guessing.”
He smiled at me waiting for me to finish my rationalisation. “Your reiatsu is different. I bet you feel tired and you like having your breasts touched,” his large hand cupped a breast as his thumb grazed the nipple, rubbing it in small circles.
While I found his touch intensely pleasing, I wanted more information about his insight. I reluctantly removed his hand, wishing I didn't have to give up the sensations but knowing it would make it impossible to concentrate if he continued. “But how can you tell I'm pregnant? I'd only be 4 to 5 days at most. I doubt if Retsu could tell even if she examined me,” I wanted an explanation. It seemed wrong that he could tell when I hadn't even thought about the possibility.
“I told you, the main thing is your reiatsu. It's different from the last time I felt you in Las Noches. Thicker, like there's more leaking out of you. Usually it doesn't leak like that,” he didn't seem to want to talk about it and I wondered why.
“It could be because I've been training,” I suggested, remembering my fight with Captain Fong. The man must be uttering his fantasy aloud, wishing I was carrying his child and for a moment I yearned for it to be true. I remembered the look on his face the night before he left the Seireitei as he spoke of his desire for children. That might be the reason for this crazy idea.
He laughed and I felt offended at his ability to take my training so lightly. “That's nice beloved, but it doesn't cover it. The pressure was so strong that I wondered what it was until I recognised you. Retsu told me if you got pregnant your reiatsu would increase and you'd probably be horny, hungry and tired and you are,” Zaraki looked at me hopefully and then his mouth sucked gently at my neck.
I wanted him to stop, but wished he wouldn't. “Retsu wouldn't have said horny,” I protested slightly. I couldn't imagine her mentioning it, but then she knew about Zaraki's desires.
His grin indicated that he hadn't quoted her directly, “She said something about increased sexual desire.”
I leant against his shoulder, my hands eager on him, proving Retsu's words correct. I desired him and could not abide the thought of being parted with him for days but I couldn't believe he was right.
Pulling away from me he looked at my body, his eyes moving from my face downwards and he murmured reflectively, “My bite didn't break the skin which is good. Your nipples have changed colour; they've darkened like they had when you returned from the human world…” he said and then stopped as I jolted against him.
I knew what he was going to say and I didn't want to hear it. Rejection of these ideas was better than accepting what he was trying to tell me. My thoughts had presented the possibility to me many times, but I'd blocked it from my mind. Warm though Zaraki was my skin cooled as the truth was being forced upon me. In spite of all my promises and brave words, tears dripped down my face and I buried my head in his chest. “Don't say any more,” I asked quietly. “I guessed but I don't want to know.”
He ignored my plea and continued to talk, his words reverberating through my body and my mind. “Retsu told me only recently. When she examined you in the bathhouse, just before the party, she noticed you were pregnant,” he paused and kissed me deeply. I enjoyed the kiss more than the truth he was imparting and I tried to prolong it as long as possible, but of course, he had to finish what he wanted to say. “She almost told us then, but decided to wait until after our honeymoon. When we rescued you, you weren't pregnant anymore. There was no sign that you had ever been pregnant and it worried her. She couldn't understand why it seemed like you were a virgin. Because she couldn't believe the evidence, she didn't tell us as about the pregnancy or the return of your virginity. I told her what the girl did and then she understood.”
The truth had now been spoken. No matter how much I denied it, he knew and it must have hurt him. I'd wanted his child and it had been taken from me even before I knew it existed. Grief overwhelmed me and I lost all notion of time as I cried; bitter recriminations forming in my mind; hate, anger and sorrow fighting within me as I struggled to accept what was unacceptable. He'd told me he wanted me to have his child and recently he'd found out I'd been pregnant when I'd been abducted. I wondered how he would have broken the news if he did not believe I was now carrying his child.
Recovering a little from the first fit of grief, I noticed my husband was holding and comforting me as he would a small infant. He was patting me tenderly on the back as he rocked me in his arms, humming tunelessly. The noise was comforting. “I love you, Zaraki,” I said, still crying, hoping he didn't hate me.
It seemed that this time, when I needed his comfort so desperately, he could provide it. When I told him of the rape, we were still too wary of our recently declared love, but now we had more knowledge of each other and a shared grief. He continued to rock me and I found the movement soothing. The way he was holding me and caring for me convinced me he would be a good father and I wondered where he had learnt to soothe like that. Then I remembered that he had cared for Yachiru since she was a baby. He might not know much about love or understand woman, but he knew how to care for someone who was hurt. This realisation only deepened my love for the man. He wasn't speaking but what words would provide comfort at this point?
Aizen and Gin had taken so much from me. Gin had taken up so much of my love and energy. Aizen had stolen my confidence and more when he raped me, but I had permitted them to take these things from me and I was to blame. The loss of my child was not my fault, nor could I blame Orihime. I knew enough about her healing abilities to guess that when she had healed me and restored my virginity, it also caused the pregnancy to be rejected. Remembering her reaction to me and the Arrancar, especially her request that I stay with her, I guessed she knew what had happened, but had been forced to act by Gin and Aizen. I continued crying, my sorrow mixed with pity for my friend.
I would make those men pay. It was time that they suffered failure and I wanted to be the person to make them aware of their loss. Even though Zaraki wished me to return to the Seireitei, I didn't think I would be safe there and I was concerned that there might be another attempt on my life, or that of my unconfirmed child. How safe had I been the night I was abducted? I was staying where I felt safest; with my husband. I was remaining here, and I would confront those people who had harmed me. Back in the Seireitei it was expected that other people would fight my battles for me, but now I wanted to fight on my own behalf. I had more reason than ever to gain strength and learn to protect.
Gradually the tears dried and my sobs eased. Wiping my face, I kissed Zaraki trying to express my love and gratitude as I clung to him. According to his words, he believed I was now pregnant and that thought reassured me. I was still sad, and it would take a long time to mourn the loss, but the belief that I might bear his child made me feel some comfort.
He kissed me in return, his hand still firm on my belly and he possessively stroked it and then slipped it lower.
“Retsu said you probably got pregnant the first day, maybe the first time,” he continued, unrelentingly. “So my threat to the Captains' was real, but we didn't know. She told me a few signs to look for in the future.”
“The first time? In the bath house?” How could it have happened that quickly?
“Well, I didn't take any precautions. I was too intent on fucking you,” Zaraki said meaningfully.
“I…, neither did I,” I admitted. I had been so careful in the past, except with him. I refused to consider Aizen as that had not been planned or welcome. “I hadn't expected that you'd rape me.” Every time we'd had sex I hadn't thought of doing anything to prevent pregnancy. I'd been too interested in how he was making me feel.
He kissed me hard and then glared at me. “I didn't rape you, remember? You came in and demanded that I have sex with you because you were so hot for me you couldn't stand it anymore.”
“That's not true,” I spluttered, outraged at how he had rewritten history. It wasn't like that, well not completely. “You ripped my clothes off, pinned me down and had sex with me. I tried to fight back.”
He laughed as his fingers stroked my stomach and his eyes gleamed. “Yeah, you really tried. You tried so hard that you ended up imploring me to fuck you. You wanted me. You wanted me so badly that you interrupted my bath.”
That was true. How could I counter it? Each time we talked about our first encounter it made me feel that I had acted as little more than a sex mad slut who had been prepared to go to any lengths to get this man to fuck me.
“You didn't have to screw me,” was my weak protest.
“I would have eventually, whether you interrupted my bath or not. I was giving you time to get over Ichimaru,” was his surprising reply. The shock made me sit very still. Until now he had never indicated that he had a strong interest in me before I took the initiative. He held me loosely, as if he was not restricting my movements.
“What?” Not the best question I could ask, but I didn't know how to frame a proper query.
A deep sigh lifted his chest. “Don't be so surprised. I thought there was some competition from your friends, but looking the way you do, I've wanted to fuck you for years.”
“You never told me that,” I said, colour flooding my face. From the things he'd told me before I thought he'd only casually thought about me. Why had he waited?
“Why would I tell you? Get real woman. I wanted to fuck you; that's all. But not while you were suffering. I gave you time and watched you to see when you might be ready. If I'd made a play for you it might make you think I was easy,” he said his mouth close to my ear. He breathed warm air into the ear and I shivered at the change in temperature.
“You were easy,” was my answer. Everything he was telling me didn't change my feelings for him. However, it did make me feel that the sex hadn't been all my idea.
“For you. Other woman; yeah, you know none of them lasted. They only wanted to check out the rumours about the size of my cock. None of them was important, only a convenient lay.”
Something sounded wrong and I wanted to clear it up. “What about Retsu?”
A small, complacent smile played over his lips. “It really gets to you that I screwed her, doesn't it?”
Of course it did, but I liked Retsu. It didn't seem fair that I was jealous of the woman who had been so kind to me and helped me so many times. Why did emotions have to be so blasted irrational? What happened between Zaraki and Retsu had commenced while I was still with Gin. I wasn't sure when it had ended, but I thought it might be before my experience with Aizen. I had no right to be resentful of something so far in the past, but I was. My feelings put me in the strange position of wanting to know the details about each woman he'd screwed, but at the same time I didn't. Thinking of him with another woman made me feel sick.
“You're jealous, admit it,” he urged me.
The bloody man sounded so damned smug. His fingers were now tracing the veins in my breasts, occasionally grazing my nipples, making me jump each time he did. Zaraki was too good at arousing me.
“No, I won't,” I said, tensing against him. If I told him anything like that he'd become so damned full of himself, he'd never let me forget it.
He kissed me slowly, taking his time. I kept my lips pressed tightly together and he licked them softly, teasingly lapping at my mouth. His fingers then pinched my nipples. I gasped at the sensation, opening my mouth and he took advantage and kissed me with complete concentration. As his tongue explored my mouth and his hands stroked my body I began to lose my reason.
“You're jealous of Retsu, aren't you?” he said finally finishing the kiss.
“Not only her. I'm jealous of every person you've had sex with. I don't care who they are. I want them to vanish,” I said passionately. How much did the man want me to abase myself?
“Good. Because I'm so fucking jealous of the men who've had you I want to rip them open. Each time I see Abarai, I want to castrate the bastard and I like the man. As for Aizen and Ichimaru, tearing off their balls would only be the start,” he clutched me to him so tightly I was scared I would get bruises where he was holding me. The fury in his voice was very convincing. Suddenly he seemed to notice how tight he was holding me and released his clutch, a little.
“Don't be jealous of Retsu. She showed me how to please a woman even though what we had was only sex,” was his next confounding remark.
I found that hard to believe. “Don't be jealous of Renji. He's a friend and I never loved him. But Retsu. Why did she agree?”
“Some guy she was interested in; he'd left the Seireitei and she knew it wouldn't happen. She wouldn't tell me who it was, I didn't ask. What we had was casual, nothing more,” was his answer.
Who could the man Retsu liked be? Had she liked one of the traitors? But this would have pre dated that. I wondered when it had been and who it was.
“Why are we talking? I'm hard for you and from what I can tell,” he said as he slid his fingers between my thighs, “you're wet for me. Do you want me?”
I lowered my eyelids. “I want you badly,” I admitted as I felt his cock fully roused against me.
“So, Matsumoto. I got you pregnant as soon as I took your virginity. This time, I want our child to be born. I love how it's made you so hot for me that you demand I suck your breasts and fuck you. One more screw and then you go back.”
“Only one?” I pouted. If we screwed again maybe I could persuade him to let me stay with him. “You come back with me,” I suggested.
“And miss out on the fighting? Be reasonable woman! I can't leave until the traitors are either captured or dead and I had fun beating the last guy. He was a bit of a test.”
“Then don't try to send me back because I won't go. I don't feel safe in the Seireitei anymore without you,” my voice sounded petulant and I knew I was being unreasonable, but I couldn't leave him, not after spending so much time and energy in getting here to be with him.
Before he could say anything else I decided I had to distract him. I chose the method that most appealed to me. I kissed him hard as I moved from his lap. Releasing his lips I held his penis, stroked it as I straddled him and slowly pushed myself on his erection, feeling it slide into me hungrily. It was an interesting position, one I had not tried quite like this. The closest time was when we'd fucked in the bath. I pushed onto him a few times, watching his eyes become hot and eager and then I stopped.
“If you send me back, I'll think you've screwing Retsu,” I said, my voice catching in my throat.
“Don't say something so fucking ridiculous, beloved. How could I want her when I have you? Keep moving,” he urged me his hands pulling at my hips.
“Not until you agree that I can stay,” I said and then lapped his neck, tasting his skin. He groaned at my touch and impatiently thrust into me, holding me up so he could manoeuvre me the way he wanted.
“I mean it,” I tried to say calmly as I felt fire coursing through my veins. If Retsu had taught him how to pleasure a woman I owed her, but I knew that the pleasure we took in each other was more than that. We just wanted each other so much that the sex was bound to be good.
He paused and his eyes lost their unfocused stare. “No. If you're here I'll want to fuck you and I won't give attention to the fighting.”
I kissed him again, while I frantically thought of any leverage that could be used to make him keep me. Then I remembered that I was actually on authorised duty. As I kissed him I locked my legs around his thighs and remained still. He retaliated by slipping his fingers between us and gently rubbing my clitoris rousing me so I found it hard to speak.
“I am here on an official mission. New information has come to light that I have to tell everyone,” were the words I uttered between gasps. My hips were undulating on him now, as I lost any thought of trying to continue this conversation.
“Talk later. Fuck now,” was the only answer I received.
I nodded. There would be time, later, there had to be and he would let me stay. If I could drive him to the brink, I'd get him to agree. I was staying even if it meant I had to keep screwing him until he agreed. That didn't sound bad to me.
His lips travelled down my left breast and fastened onto my nipple, drawing it deep within his mouth as he continued to drive upwards into me. The combination of his hot mouth sucking hungrily on my flesh, causing me to shudder and the strength of his thrusts made me feel like I was melting in his hands, my body moulding to his needs and desires. He was very restricted in his movement, but he still managed to plunge into me deeply, matching each move of mine with one of his own.
It became obvious that he didn't like his movement so restricted. Holding me against him, he lay on his back and then rolled us both onto the side. Grasping my leg he pulled it over his shoulder and began to push into me recklessly. I matched his recklessness, wanting to drive him to lose control so he would agree to keep me with him.
“Don't send me back, Zaraki,” I gasped brokenly. “Keep me here, even if it's only for this.” One of my hands slid down and stroked his sacs gently.
“Fuck! Stop doing that,” he grunted and plunged into me as if he there was no choice.
“No,” I groaned in reply. “Not until you agree.”
He didn't answer, pushing his face into my neck and sucking hard on the juncture where the neck met the shoulder. I shuddered under the touch of his tongue and lips.
“Bastard,” I tried to say, but the pleasure washed over me and I came, forgetting everything and I trembled with the rush of sensation that ran through me. I could hear Zaraki's groan of pleasure as he emptied into me.
As soon as we returned to our senses, and he withdrew, he pulled me close and held me tightly, not saying anything. I didn't wish to break the silence, fearful that to do so would mean another demand that I return to the Seireitei without further postponement.
When he finally heard my news it would be the deciding factor which would keep me there. If not, I'd have to tell him about the attack, without revealing the identity of the attacker. Even as I thought this I knew that I'd have to tell him everything because as soon as we arrived in the Seireitei, he'd hear all about it.
I shifted slightly in his arms, awaiting the demand for my return and dreading the inevitable argument. Deciding to distract him a little, but in a different way to my previous idea, I asked, “Why haven't the Arrancar come to try to take us? We couldn't offer much defence.”
He laughed a little. “Tactics, woman. We came here and took over this part of Hueco Mundo. Killed any Arrancar we found and established a base. We're taking turns to guard the perimeter and I'll have to take my place. It means we can sleep comfortably and plan. Tomorrow we move out and take over more until we get to the headquarters of the traitors. It's more fun for me because it means I get more fights.”
Now I understood why he felt he could spend this time with me. “Did you meet up with Rukia, Renji and the others?”
“Yeah, of course. That stupid kid was nearly dead by the time I got to him,” he hissed. “I thought he'd be a bit more competent, but he disappointed me. At least I got a good fight out of it.”
“Do you mean Ichigo, Uryu, Renji, or Chad?”
“Ichigo.” He fell silent and I tensed, waiting for him to tell me to leave. “So, what's the important thing you were sent to tell us? Why couldn't we get this news through normal channels?”
“Because I can't tell everyone and it is important. There's a traitor in 12th Division. They think Akon has been in communication with the traitors since they left.” Now I'd told him I'd lost my bargaining chip. Why was I so quick to tell him? I could have used the situation.
I felt him move me so he could kiss me and he did, deeply, almost as if he was rewarding me. I let my senses be overwhelmed by the passion and the love.
“I know there's a traitor in 12th Division. God, woman, do you think I'm stupid? So now there's proof? Big fucking deal. I'll handle it,” Zaraki seemed unimpressed with my news. “I can tell the others.”
I waited, knowing what he would say.
“So, you've told me, you can go back.”
He'd said it and now the fight would begin. I didn't want to argue against him, but I was not going to obey him. “I'm not going back Zaraki. It's not safe in the Seireitei.”
He exploded “And you think it's safe here?” He still held me but his body was tense against mine.
“No, of course I don't,” I snapped, but I had to make him understand. “Someone tried to kill me in the Seireitei after you left.”
He took my chin between his fingers and pulled my face to look up to his. His eyes searched mine for any sign that I was not telling the truth. He sighed loudly and then demanded, “What happened?”
Indicating the place I'd been stabbed I said, “Someone stabbed me here with a poisoned blade.”
His face darkened and he pushed me down on the bed, and checked the area between my breasts, his eyes inches from the skin. I had believed that it was impossible to see any scar but he kissed me exactly where the knife had struck me. “How did you know I was stabbed there?”
“Don't you think I know your body, wife? There's something a little different there so of course I saw it. Who hurt you?” I knew that tone and knew that I would have to tell him and try to explain. I felt guilty because it was my selfish desire to remain with him that might get Momo into trouble.
“Momo. She's pregnant with Aizen's child and she only found out recently,” I didn't disclose her revelation about having sex with Gin. I still had trouble accepting that `truth'.
“Your friend tried to kill you? Damnation,” Pulling me into a tight embrace he tucked me as close as he could and seemed to be thinking hard. “If they can get at friends and influence them, that's bad. Now I understand why you said those weird things about the girl. Is she going to keep it?”
“Iemura has asked her to marry him and has agreed to bring up the child as his own,” I explained.
His laugh was loud and I watched as he tilted his head back and continued to laugh. “What a pair! The eunuch and the twit.” I smiled, but did not appreciate my friend being called a twit; at least I think he was calling her that. “Iemura offered to marry her? It's a good thing he did so before Hitsugaya let his sense of honour overwhelm him,” he said and I found I was nodding.
“Toshiro asked my opinion and I told him it was a very bad idea to ask Momo to marry him. Iemura seems very happy that Momo accepted his proposal.”
Pulling me close he kissed me again. “Thanks for the laugh, beloved. With any luck Iemura might actually grow a spine and some balls. But why did finding out she was up the duff make her try to kill you?”
“Akon told Momo about the rape and I think he twisted the facts a bit. He also gave her the weapons.” Short but it contained enough information, at least I hoped so.
“Akon? He didn't think of that himself. Wait a minute, if anyone tried to kill you…Shit. You're not telling me everything. What happened to my Division? To yours?”
This was the part I dreaded. Keeping my voice steady I tried to explain it as impassively as possible. I tried to be fair in my explanation and provide the most balanced interpretation of events possible. Each time he interrupted I kissed him until he became quiet. He interrupted constantly and I began to wonder if he was doing it on purpose in order to receive a kiss. It took some time and all the kissing was becoming a means to a different end. Eventually I finished talking. He was silent for a time as he thought it through. He was still holding me and his erection was present but in spite of his arousal he was considering the information I had given him.
“So how did Ikkaku and Yumichika get released from the cells?”
“Captain Fong had something to do with that. Here she gave me this note to give to you,” I had forgotten about that, and a number of other things, since I arrived due to the many pleasant distractions he provided. After a brief struggle to release his grip, I rose from the bed and searched through my uniform pockets finding the note which I handed to him. I watched his face as he read it through and noticed he glanced at me a few times and then back at the note. I hadn't read the thing. The Captain handed it to me at the last minute. Actually I had a few notes to give the deputation to Hueco Mundo, and I wondered why I was being entrusted with all these personal communications. Some of the correspondents were unexpected.
When he'd finished reading the note, Zaraki folded it and looked at me with an assessing expression on his face. His gaze did not drift to encompass my form; instead he concentrated on my face. “Is what she said true? Did you really defy Yamamoto and organise to get my men released?”
“Captain Fong did that,” I said. I had only stood there while she made her case to Captain Yamamoto. I didn't provide much support.
“And you worked out a way to get around the lockdown so I'll still have a Division when I get back,” he said, his voice deep and husky.
I began to shake my head and then shrugged. “I made a suggestion.”
He continued to regard me and his expression softened and a smile of relief and pleasure crossed his face. “Sweetest Matsumoto. I owe you now and I don't know if I can ever repay you.”
I wondered what Captain Fong had said and how much she had exaggerated the events. “It's nothing. I'm worried about the effect of the ban on alcohol and sex and how it's going to affect everyone.”
Pulling me close he embraced me with considerable fervour. I surrendered to him, feeling a sense of relief flow through me that he seemed pleased with me. As he said he owed me maybe I could use that belief to persuade him to let me stay.
“No ban on sex here. They'll find a way around it if I know my Division. The old man's gone nuts. People will focus on the things they can't have rather than preparing for a war. Fong writes about it here and she seems pretty sure she can change his mind,” he said. As his lips moved down my face until they found my mouth I wondered what she would do, but when his mouth began working on mine I forgot to think.
Then I remembered that he was insisting on sending me back to the Seireitei and I pulled away from him. “Zaraki, if you make me return without you, I'll go and hide in the human world.” I meant it, though I knew it was probably not much safer than the Seireitei, but I was sure there was some place that might be safe, especially if I had a gigai that concealed reiatsu.
“Not the human world! You're being pushy, woman. I'm almost convinced you want to stay with me. We're here to beat these bastards. If I let you stay you have to prove you can fight. I'll talk to Retsu about it.”
Hope which had been dimming suddenly resurfaced. “Of course I can fight. I wanted to show you before but you treated me like a helpless creature. Why do you have to ask Retsu? Why not Captain Kuchiki or the other one.” I didn't want to mention Kurotsuchi by name. Why did he have to mention Retsu now? He'd made me admit my jealousy of her and I felt nervous about seeing her, wondering how I would react.
He smiled at me, a malicious glint in his eye. “I keep reminding Kuchiki that as she's the longest serving officer, Retsu has seniority. It really burns him that I won't accept his authority.”
Hearing the reason made me laugh as I could imagine the situation.
Then he became serious. “If you are pregnant she has to know that so she can assess whether you'll be a liability or an asset.”
I poked my tongue out at him. “Why should being pregnant interfere with my fighting ability?”
“It might distract me. Now put that tongue away or I'll make you use it for my benefit,” the teasing note sounded semi-serious. “Get dressed, Matsumoto. I want to have you again but I think we should get this sorted first. If you stay, you can stand watch with me.”
Nodding, I washed and dressed. I was going to stay and we would be together. I wondered what standing watch with him would be like. Somehow it might not be a good idea as our attention might become focused on something more interesting than watching for people who wanted to fight us.
Then I suddenly felt hope grow within me. Maybe Retsu would be able to confirm my pregnancy. For all his words of wishing to send me back to the Seireitei, I knew that Zaraki would want to keep me close if I was carrying our child. He wouldn't want to lose this baby.
A.N.
Been updating `For the Love of a Friend' in an attempt to make it catch up with this. At present it's about 4-5 days behind the events in this story. So, I guess I have to live with it.
Thank you to Bastion (I know I said I was going to try to get Friend up to date, but I wanted to post this ;p), sheastarr334 (glad you like both stories and you know the time gap now), ldymoon (Sleep is important. I will finish this story. Regret would taint my life if I didn't), and Mors (As I am an evil so and so it is my pleasure to make characters suffer).
The soundtrack got a little unconventional this time.
Soundtrack
`Where I end and you begin' Radiohead
`Tristan and Isolde Prelude to Act One' from Tristan and Isolde by Richard Wagner
`Twist' Goldfrapp
`Take me with you' Cosmos
Review. I like reviews.