Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ The Night is my Sun ❯ TALK ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

DISCLAIMER: BLEACH characters, manga, and anime will never ever be mine. It solely belongs to Mr. Kubo Tite.










“That was fast.” An old man with an enormously long beard commented. He had half-expected the Kuchiki heir to take a few moments to savor the last moment he would have with his younger sibling. He hadn't met up with the Kuchiki heir nor his family for over a decade. However, it seems that dark times lie ahead of them and the old man needed the help of all the purebloods left in existence.

Byakuya said nothing as he entered the car, his features once again becoming stoic and daunting.

“He's clearly not in the mood, Yamamoto-sama.” The red-haired guy who was in the driver seat abruptly said.

“And so you are right, Abarai.” Yamamoto replied, “But this was for the best, for both us and Kuchiki's sister. You do understand, Kuchiki? If Aizen knew that your sibling has not yet awakened her soul, the chances of him using her power for himself is something we can't ignore.”

Byakuya simply looked out the window car, his gaze at the black car that past by them.

A disgruntled sigh erupted from Renji Abarai as he started to drive the car. "Yamamoto-sama, was it really necessary for Kuchiki-sama to do this?"

Yamamoto-sama, a man who lived long enough to make wise decisions and act upon it gently stroked his beard.

"We have our reasons, Abarai. I suggest you concentrate on manouvering this moving contraption rather than Kuchiki's personal affairs."

The guy with flaming red hair with distinctive tattoos that covered his forehead raised an eyebrow as he looked at the aristocratic man in the backseat using the car's rearview mirror.

"As you wish Yamamoto-sama. This moving contraption is called a car, by the way. And yes, I will gladly shut up now." Renji Abarai said, deciding to keep his mouth shut as soon as he saw Yamamoto-sama's disapproving look.

"Sosuke Aizen is on the move as we speak. As the young one is the only one left untainted in the four noble families, it has to be done this way."

"Sosuke Aizen will never lay a finger or a fang at my sister." Kuchiki Byakuya spoke, each word spoken with restrained menace. "Sosuke Aizen will have to face me before my heart."

Silence followed as his words hung in the air. In the all of the times that Yamamoto spoke to the Kuchiki family, never has he heard the heir speak so much until now. Was his bond to the younger Kuchiki already that deep?

"Of course, he won't." Yamamoto replied gruffly, "Since the Kuchiki family had decided to spread its clan all over the world, Aizen has been silent about his moves. Naturally, I am assuming that his spies are also put on hold. I doubt that he knows about the young one."

Byakuya merely gave a nod, his persona slowly turning into the icy, stoic man he used to be. Completely apathetic and void of any lingering emotion. He had to. There was no need for him to show what he was feeling. It was only for his younger sister that he was able to freely show his true nature. Things were once again turning back to the time where he had to put up a front. Byakuya had to put on back his mask.

"My help to our race is a proof of my allegiance to your ruling. The Kuchiki family is ready to help."

Yamamoto nodded, "I asked for you to come and command our clan, the Gotei 13. I believe that with your leadership and expertise, we shall emerge victorious. I try to avoid wars but it would seem that this one is inevitable."

Renji Abarai inwardly rolled his eyes. Well, if such a feat was indeed possible. Bloody hell, the way the two men spoke to each other reminded him of feudal japan. Feudal japan was nice but the 20th century is way more to his liking. 20th century clothes are downright bad assed and gave him an even cooler image to project. He was planning a major shopping spree with a certain orange-haired idiot a few months back for new clothes when the old man suddenly put them on red alert. Sosuke Aizen and three of his followers rebelled against their code and fled somewhere out there in the world. From what new reports say, Aizen had brought back to existence the beings that harbored a great amount of hatred against them.

The old war between the vampires and lycans was back.








At the plush building of Gotei 13



"Kurosaki, if you want to sulk like an old, bitter woman, please do it at Rangiku's place." A raven-haired man with glasses admonished at the guy sprawled on his living room.

Ichigo Kurosaki ignored the other man and continued to sprawl against the plushy sofa bed. No, he wasn't gonna go all bitch-out fight with the glasses boy. Renji had been on his back weeks ago asking him to shop clothes. He pestered and annoyed the hell out of him for days he could remember only to find out that Yamamoto had called on that idiotic redhead to slave away on his orders. That old man too had been on his nerves recently. He had been pushing Ichigo at the end of his limits to hone his abilities. Day after each day, Ichigo was pummeled to death with mind and body exercises that he finally resorted to begging the old manto give him a break. He had successfully mastered some of his abilities and was also pleased that he gained new abilities in the process. He also had Zaraki on his back when he found out how much of a skilled fighter Ichigo was. When Zaraki wasn't busy, he would drag and charm an unwilling Ichigo to a spar that lasted hours.

Seriously, his mind was so screwed up the only place that looked like a breather to him was Uryu Ishida's place. It was monochromatic in color and had few vital things. Compared to his place, this was a haven to clear off screwed-up minds. So, no, he wasn't sulking, Ichigo was just meditating with his trademark scowl.

"Ishida, I ain't being bitter or bitchy. It just so happens you have cleaner place than mine at the moment." Ichigo muttered, adjusting the pillow behind his head. "I also want to relax and I happen to adore this black sofa of yours. Are you expecting Inoue to come by?" A smirk was on Ichigo's face as he turned to look if the blush was tinted in the other man's face. Oh wait, they couldn't blush. Instead, Ichigo visualized a blushing Ishida in his mind.

"Kurosaki!" An indignant shout, one hand raised to cover one cheek. "I swear if you have anything obscene to say, I'd be more than happy to kick you out of my place. Literally!"

Ichigo waved it off, "You can't beat me at your current stage, you should know that by now. Which reminds me, you haven't answered my question, are you gonna go happy hunting with Orihime? "

"That is none of your business, Kurosaki." Ishida made a move to seat at one of his immaculate chairs. "The sun has started to set down so I might go outside in awhile." He narrowed his eyes at Ichigo, "That is why I want you out in a few minutes. You might turn my place into an exact replica of that dumpsite you live in."

"Hungry eh? Fine, I'll go as soon as Orihime gets here. Sheesh, you neophytes might go bloody hell ballistic on me." Ichigo drawled, stretching out his body like a cat. He was getting a tad stiff from avoiding sparring with Zaraki and his followers. He was being a lazy bum nowadays since he mastered how to control his blood thirst. Ichigo told himself he was allowed a few weeks of lazy bumming without any idiotic bloodcrazed vampire wanting to duel with him. He did want good fights here and there but with Yamamoto's training regimen, even for a strong vampire like Ichigo, there were times he can get drained and knocked out.

"Neophyte? Kurosaki, you were just blooded a few generations earlier than us. That does not make you high and mighty out of us." Ishida retorted back.

"True," Ichigo admitted, "But I'm not the one who goes happy hunting almost everyday just to avoid thirst, am I not?"

Ichigo gave Ishida a wicked smile before standing up, "Orihime is here now. That must be my cue for leaving you boys and girls to frolic away." True enough, Ishida's doorbell rang twice. Ishida swiftly moved from his chair to his front door, sparing no glance at a smirking Ichigo who followed suit. Ishida opened the door to reveal another orange haired person wearing the smallest red dress he had ever seen in his life.

"Uryuu! Are you ready to go? Ichigo's there, isn't he?" Inoue Orihime let out a bubbly laugh, "It makes me happy to see that you two are getting along so well!"

Ichigo appeared beside Ishida and placed his arm around the other boy's shoulders. "Nice to see you too, Orihime. It also makes me happy that Ishida and I finally have the foundations for a budding bromance. You wouldn't mind, would you Orihime?"

Ishida swatted Ichigo's arm with his own. "Don't disgust me, Kurosaki. I hate to see our civil relationship permanently severed. For the sake of Inoue, I tolerate your presence."

Orihime smiled at the two bickering men before her. It was good to see them communicate with each other. She will never forget that it was Ichigo who made them feel welcome and at ease in the Gotei 13. Ishida and herself joined the clan almost at the same time. Though they were blooded by different persons, they found refuge in each other as they were the ones new at the time. No one else exactly bothered with them with the exception of the busty Rangiku Matsumoto who blooded Orihime. Ichigo, on the other hand, probably had nothing better to do and decided to hang out with them.

"Uryuu!" Orihime chirped out, "Is Ichigo coming with us? After all, the more, the merrier, the bloodier!"

Ichigo shook his head, "Afraid not, Orihime. As busty and chirpy as you look, I might just retire for the night with a good book in hand." he replied.

Orihime pouted and let out a whine. "But Ichigo, I specially bought this dress so that we could have a feast later!" she whined, tugging down her dangerously low neckline to bare more cleavage. "Rangiku said I would get more attention if I do that outside!"

Ishida's eyes widened, "Inoue, you haven't been taking up Matsumoto's lessons, have you? Didn't I tell you not to believe every word that woman tells you?"

"Uryuu!" Orihime exclaimed, admonishing the bespectacled man in front of her, " That was a mean thing to say, you big bully! Rangiku means well! She would never teach me anything to that could led to my demise!"

Ichigo frowned, "Orihime, Rangiku might mean well but her thinking capability is on the crazy dangerous side. You shouldn't take advices from old drunken women, remember that."

"Not you too, Ichigo! Rangiku actually gives useful advice! She told me the other day that whenever I cook chicken curry, I should put horse radish in it to make it more spicy, melted mallows to add sweetness, and to use cinnammon for more aroma! My chicken curry tasted even better when I tried those ingredients!"

Both men flinched at the thought of another diabolical recipe made by the two women. Although they need not eat food to live, they occasionally ate for pretences and as an excuse pass to pass off as human beings in the world. However, vampire or human, one should never eat Orihime's home cooked food without medical preparation and excellent defenses. For humans, it could actually render them unconscious as it makes normal vampires sick and nauseous. It was a wonder how the two busty women liked their weird concoctions. They had similar personalities it wasn't difficult to figure out why Orihime admired her so greatly.

Ishida sighed in dismay. Indeed, Orihime would be too gullible to actually take Rangiku's advice and lessons in context. She never judged people by their appearance or actions. Maybe that was the reason he was so drawn to the cheerful busty lady chattering animatedly in front of him. He was skeptical, so very skeptical in making friends. An antisocial, an introvert, never really bothering about other people. Why bother? If they don't serve a purpose in his life, why simply bother? He was and always will be an independent man, never askin anyone for help. That would just dampen his pride and way of living. He initially thought that their kind was that kind of type, preferring solitude and seclusion from the world. Ishida was more than surprised when he found out that his conception was more of a misconception. Most in their clan seemed even more humane than he was. And Kurosaki, that man was another thing. When the two first crossed paths, dislike was evident in their eyes. Orihime liked him from the start, it was obvious as the striking color of their hair. Although Kurosaki was a bit apprehensive in befriending the two, he became relaxed in Orihime's company as the years flew by.

Ichigo Kurosaki was apparently popular, both in vampires and humans combined. He had a cool and detached persona in other people's eyes. He wasn't as pale as the rest of them. He actually looked tanned when not thirsty or craving for blood. His body wasn't overly built but had muscles to show off the rigorous training he always had. He was blunt, agressive, impatient, and rude. Kurosaki was the complete of him. But, putting aside those hideous qualities, he had a sense of justice and pride. A quality Ishida grudginly admired. Perhaps that was the sole reason why he continued to be civil towards the orange-haired man.

"And I have to pass." Ichigo reaffirmed, moving past Orihime and shaking Ishida out of his thoughts, "I'm not in the mood to be flocked by women with raging hormones." He waved them goodbye as he continued to walk in the direction leading to his place.

"Take care, Ichigo!" Orihime called out to Ichigo's retreating figure. "Rangiku recommended Icha Icha series to me! It's a good book, Ichigo!"

Ichigo waved his hand as goodbye without turning to look back. Icha Icha series? A smirk formed as he tried to remember what kind of book it was. Oh yes, it was that best seller about adult and comedic experiences about love. Ichigo rolled his eyes, Rangiku can sometimes be a perverted woman.