Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Winter Kisses ❯ Part 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Title: Winter Kisses - Part 2

Author/Artist: theablackthorn

Rating: 15 +

Prompt/Summary:

Warnings: BL shonen-ai males kissing

AN:

 

Ukitake awoke slowly, cold air skimming down his cotton covered back and sides. He shivered, hands clenching tight as he tried to draw the thick comforter back up over his shoulders. His eyes eased open, still heavy with sleep as he stifled a yawn into the pillow. He raised his head slightly, looking out into the mutely lit room assessing the time from the amount of light seeping in through the matt white shoji.

 

The air felt oddly crisp and chill even for the time before the dawn when the house was at its quietest and most serene, the other members of the household still asleep in their beds. Ukitake could hear and feel Shunsui's gentle snores from behind him, hot breath ghosting across the nape of his neck were his hair had fallen away to expose the sensitive skin beneath. He felt the weight of Shunsui's warm arm draped across his waist but he realised then as he blinked slowly that something or more precisely someone was missing.

 

Ukitake didn't raise his head, instead sending his senses out into the chilly room, searching for... ah there. He shifted just enough to press back against Shunsui's broad chest, absorbing his warmth through the thin cotton of his yukata before tilting his face upwards so that he could look across the room to where he had sensed the man missing from his futon. What he saw there brought a furrow to his brow worry filtering through the sleepiness that had lingered.

 

From what he could see of the other man he stood turned with his body mostly hidden from view. He looked to be staring off out into the garden through the open shoji doors. That explained the fresh air nipping at his pale skin and from what he could see his other lover was staring out at the thick blanket of white that now covered the garden beyond and likely most of Sereitei.

 

The sight of Stark standing in his thin sleeping yukata made him feel even colder, a shiver rippling through his body, but it was the look in those now familiar blue-grey eyes that had him most concerned. Ukitake hadn't seen that particular expression in months and he'd hoped that they'd finally gotten the ex-Arrancar to the stage where he was content. What he saw in his lover's posture, those arms cradled around a slender waist, the stiffened muscles in his shoulders and the dark shadows that he could just make out marring that alabaster skin under his eyes spoke volumes.

 

The brunet was remembering and Ukitake wished he wasn't.

 

He and Shunsui had noticed that absent look when they had first met the other man and had worked hard to bring Stark back from it time and again since the war had ended. Ukitake made no sound as he shifted in his futon turning to look at Shunsui's sleeping visage and nudging him gently into wakefulness with a cool hand pressing against his chest. He couldn't get up as he was, the cold air in the room would agitate his illness even further and he'd be sick for days so he had to rely on Shunsui to do this for him, as much as he'd prefer to do it himself.

 

“What's the matter Jyuu-chan?”

 

Ukitake looked up at Shunsui taking in the drowsy looking man before purposefully catching his eye and raising a finger to press against plush lips when the brunet went to speak again. He motioned his head back in the direction of their silent lover who stood staring emptily out the open shoji into the silent garden.

 

Ukitake watched recognition flit across the other captain's features seeing sadness bloom in familiar stormy depths as Shunsui took in Stark's silent vigil. He didn't need to say anything else; Shunsei pulled him in close, wrapping his chilled body in his warm embrace, his reiatsu cocooning them both for a few moments. Shunsui gave him a tender squeeze, before brushing a kiss across his forehead and then carefully slipping out from under the covers, ensuring none of the warmth escaped the snug futon. Ukitake watched as Shunsui moved silently across the tatami floor drawing up behind their melancholic lover with a wary grace.

 

They made a striking tableau together, Shunsui's slightly broader frame draped in the thin white cotton yukata that contrasted with his lightly tan skin and Stark's lithe toned contours wrapped in the palest blue. If he'd had his ink's he would have painted them their together but that would have to wait for another day. They had been lovers for only a few months and the ex-Arrancar still sometimes found it difficult to except their combined affections. Though they had yet to fully consummate their relationship in his and Shunsui's minds he was theirs just as much as Lilynette.

 

He watched from where he lay having turned onto his side, face resting on his upraised palm braced by his elbow so he could watch them both from his position. Ukitake drew in a deep breath not realising that he didn't release it as Shunsei came up behind the solitary man, resting a hand on his shoulder in comfort and to bring Stark's attention back inside.

 

The solemn man turned then and Ukitake stiffened unconsciously, unsure how Stark might react to his disturbed thoughts. It happened a time or two that the usually lazy and sedate man had lashed out however unintentionally, unused to the touch of anyone but the young girl that was a part of his very soul. But as Ukitake watched, slender fingers rose to rest atop Shunsui's and he could see that there was pressure there, a confirmative squeeze to the elder brunet's hand. Ukitake felt a little bereft at the sight of Shunsui giving Stark comfort in this way, he could only watch from where he lay as the long haired man gently wound his arms around Stark pulling him back to press into, what he knew, was a warm chest.

 

He knew what he felt on these rare occasions were he couldn't be close to either man was a form of jealousy but it wasn't the type of jealousy that involved a deep darkness inside that festered and turned black with time. This jealousy he felt inside stemmed from the fact that one of the men he loved was hurting and he couldn't go to him. He wanted to be part of what took their pain away, he was a man that had always put others first. He need to help people and these two men where everything to him.

 

It was then that he realised two sets of eyes watched him from their position by the door. He could see that Stark's back was pressed against Shunsui's chest; a protective arm curled around his waist, the ex-Arrancar had laid a hand against it, fingers rubbing in tender circles as they watched him. He felt heat flood his face, and he ducked his head from their curious stare before he looked up from between long pale strands that had fallen forward as he'd turned away. Shunsui's warm baritone filled the quiet room, “Hmmm looks like Jyuu-chan misses us. Shall we.”

 

He watched from behind the veil of hair as the two men walked across the tatami floor, hands never leaving each other's skin as they drew closer. He felt a stir of need low in his belly but pushed it aside, the pale light filtering through the shoji lit the two brunet's with an almost ethereal glow that made his breath catch in his throat. When they stood at the top of the futon, looking down at him as he lay braced in bed he felt a little foolish for such unwanted feelings. Though he loved to help other's he knew these two men would and did do everything and anything they could to bring a smile to his face.

 

He looked up from under silvered strands to see one set of charcoal grey and the other stormy blue grey staring down at him with emotions lay completely bare. There was love, trust and longing all mixed together and he sat up slowly, rolling the futon back and held out a hand to them, only one whispered word spoken “Please.”

 

He gave them both a tender smile as first Stark then Shunsui settled back into the futon with him. Though Stark's body felt a little chilled against his own Ukitake shifted closer, slender arms gently wrapping around and pulling him in to press against his own body. His fingers grazed against Shunsui's warm stomach muscles were they pressed along Stark's back as they cradled the brunet between them. He felt the ex-Arrancar's lips move as quiet words slid out to brush across his ear as they all held each other, “It looks so familiar… white…empty… the bare, battered branches of the trees thrusting through.”

 

Ukitake nuzzled his nose against Starks' cheek, nudging the other man to look up at him from under furrowed brows. Shunsui's hands didn't remain idle, caressing both their bodies leisurely, big calloused palms tenderly soothing and warming them both as he nuzzled into the thick bronze locks at the nape of Stark's neck.

 

Ukitake spoke in a gentle tone, something that could be said he might use with a child but there was no condescension there just a deep sense of what their lover needed, “It may look like that now, but snow isn't like the sands of the desert. As the seasons shift and winter's barren planes fade into spring the snow rolls away to leave behind fresh buds for the new year.” He leant in locking gaze's with troubled grey-blue orbs before leaning in to press a chaste kiss to the ex-Arrancar's cool lips.

 

Ukitake inhaled the rich scent of Stark's body as he kissed him tenderly, the crisp scent of snow and fresh tilled soil filled his nostrils as he let his lips caress gently across Stark's. He pulled away when a gentle hand eased through his pale locks, stroking him with a deep affection. He would recognise Shunsui's hands anywhere and he turned his face to press a kiss to the broad palm of his oldest friend. He looked up at them both listening as Shunsui spoke against Stark's cheek, “Winter is but one of the seasons, it will come every year without fail but it let's the world start anew ready for the warmth of spring.”

 

Ukitake heard a soft chuckle and looked down to see Stark's face, warmth creeping in where that frown had been as the ex-Arrancar laughed. He couldn't help but chuckle at the rich sound or the words Shunsui had spoken. He smiled at Stark's amused feature's as the brunet spoke, “Jyuushiro has he always been this poetic or has he had a few to many cups of sake?”

 

Ukitake's lips twitched as he looked up into Shunsui's stunned expression, amusement seeping into his words, “I am afraid it is a lifelong ailment that no amount of coaxing or bribery will cure.” As Stark and Ukitake laughed at their lover's aggrieved expression they couldn't help but feel warmed by the familiarity of the situation. They exchanged a swift glance and quickly shifted enough so that they could sandwich Shunsui between them, leg's tangling as they leant up on elbows to brush kisses across the suddenly smiling mans features.

 

They all laughed at Shunsui's next words, “Now I may die a happy man.”

 

Ukitake watched as Stark leant a little further over Shunsui's body and whispered against his parted lips, “Not just yet.” He smiled at Shunsui's expression of pure unbridled lust as their lips locked together in a hungry kiss. When they separated his own blood was heating frantically, they looked absolutely stunning together and what was better than that - they were both his and he was theirs. Two pairs of eyes turned to him then and he felt his blood reach boiling point, his stomach tense with anticipation and knew that they wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.