A/N: I know, I know. I've got tons of stories that need updating. But, to be perfectly honest, this plot in particular is one that I've had in my head for well over five years now. I'll tell you right now that the use of Lucy from Fairy Tail is simply because I can't control myself. I love pairing her with people. This was originally a Kenpachi/OC story, but I decided that Kyouraku/Lucy is just… So much yes. I hope you all enjoy it!
Just like with my other crossover, I'll apologize now for any OoC-ness on the part of the Bleach characters, since I'm still trying to find their voices in my head. Let's just call this an AU of sorts… Set in the Bleach-verse.
On to the story!
It was just barely Spring, and Shunsui let out a quiet sigh as he sat under the newly blossomed sakura trees that dotted the grounds. Just beside him, with an umbrella shading his pale, nearly lifeless body from the few modest rays of sunlight shining down on them, was his best friend, Jushiro Ukitake. Hardly conscious for more than a few minutes, and under strict orders to get fresh air, regardless of whether he was awake to enjoy it.
"Blossoms are looking mighty fine this year," Shunsui mused, tipping his cup back slightly to sip at the sweet sake held within it. "Right, Jushiro?"
There was no response aside from the shallow breaths the white-haired captain took.
"You're not getting better," Shunsui whispered, looking from his old friend to the sky. "What am I gonna do with you?"
The whole winter and a good portion of the fall, Jushiro had been bedridden. Whatever was making him ill, whether it was allergies or something else, no one seemed to be able to pinpoint. Captain Unohana had even taken over his care, personally seeing the sickly captain at least once a day to check on him. She didn't have a clue as to what was doing this, but all she had been able to say with any certainty was that he wasn't bouncing back like he usually did.
As if Shunsui had needed her to tell him that. He could see for himself in the way Jushiro's cheeks had hollowed out a little more. Or the fact that he hadn't seen those deep brown eyes, so soulful and caring, in nearly a month. Whenever Jushiro was conscious, his eyes still wouldn't open. He would speak though, or mumble, really.
"We've been together a long time," Shunsui sighed, taking the last few sips of his sake in one pull. "There's just gotta be something we haven't thought of yet."
He knew there had to be something that could be done. Hell, he'd even considered asking that sweet little orange-haired beauty that hung around Ichigo for help. Except, Rukia had beaten him to the punch on that one. Orihime didn't have clearance to come to the Soul Society, even if she had the ability to heal Jushiro. At least, he thought she would. Which meant they needed to get creative. Something had to give, because Shunsui just wasn't ready to let his oldest friend go so soon.
"Captain Kyouraku, I'm sorry to interrupt," Nanao whispered, kneeling several feet from Shunsui and lifting her head from a bow. "But a hell butterfly has come for you. From Research and Development."
Shunsui tipped his hat back while looking over his shoulder, a lazy smirk pulling up the corners of his mouth. "Ah, my Nanao-chan. You're more than welcome to join us. Let loose for a little bit."
She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment in agitation. "No, sir. I don't drink alcohol during work hours, and neither should you."
He shrugged, leaning back on one hand while the other lifted for the little black and purple butterfly to perch on his finger.
"Captain Kyouraku. It's Akon, from Twelfth. I think I may have found something that could help you in what you were asking me about last week. It's risky, but if you can make it work, then this could be Captain Ukitake's best shot. Come by as soon as possible. You owe me for this..."
Shunsui sighed and looked down at Jushiro again. He'd almost forgotten talking to the strange third seat under Mayuri the week before. Then again, he'd been a little more intoxicated than usual, and was trying everything he could think of to get his friend back on his feet. Hopefully, for good.
"Nanao-chan," Shunsui whispered, giving the lazily floating clouds a lingering stare before standing up. "Make sure he gets inside soon, alright? I've got something to handle."
Nanao nodded, her eyes softening sadly when her captain walked away without another word. Ever since Captain Ukitake had fallen ill again in the fall, her own captain just hadn't been the same. The teasing, overly flirtatious nature of his that she'd grown accustomed to had been abandoned for the most part. She could see that he still made an effort to do it, to keep things relatively normal, but that's all it was for him. An effort. "We'll find a way to help you Captain Ukitake," she whispered, bringing a cool cloth to his forehead to blot away his sweat. "Captain Kyouraku is stubborn when he needs to be."
"This had better be good," Shunsui said as he handed Akon a bottle of his own personal stash of sake, one of his favorites. He raised a brow as a folded piece of paper, a printout from what he could tell, was slipped into his hand. "Love notes?" he chuckled, looking back to the shinigami as the man put out his cigarette and lit another right away. "So sweet, Akon."
"Very funny. That's what I called you here for," Akon replied flatly while gesturing to the folded page. "There's a prisoner that's rumored to have a strange ability to heal people. I couldn't gain access to anything in the file, because it's all locked up tighter than…"
"No analogies right now," Shunsui said with a frown. "What am I looking at?"
"All the information that I could pull out about Prisoner UL24SP." Akon leaned over slightly, letting his finger trail over the page while he explained what the Captain was looking at.
Prison ID: UL24SP
Location: Central Great Underground Prison
Level: 8, Muken
Basis of Conviction: Murder
Previous Occupation: Shin'o Academy
Previous Affiliation: Classified
Name: Classified
Age: Classified
Gender: Classified
Sentence: 3,000 years. Probation to lower level pending completion of first millennium of sentence.
Notes: Do not allow physical contact. Unidentified healing capabilities; warrants research, pending approval. No zanpakuto present for confiscation.
"Apparently," Akon sighed, "Whoever this person is, they caught Captain Kurotsuchi's attention. It's the only reason I saw it in the first place."
"Which helps explain why you wanted me here so fast," Shunsui nodded. "But, Muken? Really, you think I'll be able to even get close to someone locked away in that place?"
"I obviously don't have all the details here, but what I was able to pull out didn't seem to add up. There were some psychological notes that I couldn't replicate to show you, but it seems this person is sane. I don't know why he was sentenced to Muken for murder, considering there are quite a few shinigami that are just put in the Maggot's Nest for worse than that, but that's really not important."
"It could be," Shunsui mused.
"Regardless, this guy has some sort of ability to heal people," Akon continued with a roll of his eyes.
"And what makes you think he'll do any better than Captain Unohana can?"
"Because you know just as well as I do that Captain Kurotsuchi wouldn't waste his time on a normal healer. If it was kido, he wouldn't care in the slightest. But, this is something else..." Akon stiffened when there were heavy footsteps that he recognized all too well coming closer to the back door. "I'll be able to stall the approval of the request for a couple days," he said quickly. "You've got two days, tops. If Kurotsuchi gets his hands on that guy…"
"Yeah," Shunsui nodded quickly. "Got it. Anything else I should know?"
Akon paused for a moment, taking one last drag of his cigarette before putting it out. "This guy's been locked up for about three hundred years, so… There's that." His eyes cut to the open doorway off to his side when he heard Captain Kurotsuchi's voice. "I've gotta go. Two days."
Shunsui nodded, frowning as he made his way through the Seireitei. How he would go about getting to this person in Muken was beyond him, but there was always one place he could go when he was out of ideas and needed someone to talk to. Down one corridor, then another, he let out a quiet sigh once he was standing before the large doors marked with the crest of Squad 1. Once he was granted entry, Shunsui made his way into the room and stood before Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
"What is it, Captain Kyouraku?"
He sighed and removed his straw hat, then gave the older man a pleading look. "I, uh… I need some advice, Yama-jii."
Genryusai's eyes peeked open a little more than usual, his face a stoic mask while he took in Shunsui's posture. After several moments in silence, he let out a slow breath and nodded to his lieutenant, letting the silver-haired man know that they would need a few minutes of privacy. As soon as Sasakibe was out of the room, he stood from his desk and motioned for Shunsui to follow him to the balcony overlooking the Seireitei.
Shunsui stood in silence for several minutes, wondering if he should be the first one to speak. Even after all this time, he still had a hard time reading the old man next to him.
"This is about Jushiro," Genryusai mused, his voice solemn.
Shunsui nodded. "There's nothing more Captain Unohana can do," he whispered. "And I know you already said no to Orihime coming-"
"And my answer stands," Genryusai sighed. "While we have an ally in that human girl, we cannot abuse the power that she holds simply to prolong the life of a friend. Shunsui, it might be time to just accept that this is the way things are."
Shunsui scowled and forced his hands to stay still instead of reaching for the printout that he'd tucked into his top. "I know we can't just let humans come and go here. I get that, Yama-jii. I was just bringing her up as a point, not asking you to let her come."
"I see," Genryusai nodded.
"I just… There might be a way to help him." Shunsui paused and wiped a hand over his face, feeling the exhaustion he'd been fighting back bearing down on him once more. He hadn't really been able to sleep all that well, knowing that he could wake up and Jushiro would be gone. "But there's a problem, or a bunch of 'em, and I can't tell if I should even put the effort in to try. It might be too late… And I don't think I can cope with getting my hopes up over this, only to have it fail and lose him..."
There was a long moment of silence that filled the air around the two shinigami captains, and Genryusai eventually turned his head to fully look at Shunsui. "Tell me."
Shunsui sighed again and finally pulled the printout from his top, handing it over to the older man. "There's a prisoner in Muken with some healing ability that Captain Kurotsuchi is interested in researching. I don't know what it is, or anything else, but-"
Genryusai frowned while looking at the few details on the page. "Prisoner UL24SP… Is that…" He looked back to Shunsui, his brow pinched. "Where did you get this information?"
"I, uh… I really shouldn't say, Yama-jii," Shunsui said, shifting uncomfortably. "I just know that this guy has been locked up for a few hundred years, and I was told that Mayuri will be pulling him out to do tests…"
"And, what are you considering doing?" Genryusai asked.
"That's the rub. I want help for Jushiro, and if this prisoner is the one that can do it, then I'm all for it. I just don't know if I'll be able to get to him in time." When the old man was silent again, Shunsui resigned himself to failure. Or, at least disapproval. He could talk his way out of most things - or into them, when the need arose - but pullinga murderer out of Muken? Just so he could get Jushiro the help he needed? 'I doubt Central 46 would go for that…'
"Would you be willing to do anything?" Genryusai asked. "For the sake of Captain Ukitake, how far would you go? Central 46 does not send people to Muken for trivial things, Shunsui."
It didn't take any time for him to come up with his answer though. "I'd do anything to save him, Yama-jii. He's my best friend. I would go to Hell and back for him."
A fond, rarely seen, smile twitched at the older man's aged, wrinkled lips. "Then," he said softly, "I think you have your answer. I would suggest exercising great caution, however, if you are successful in gaining custody of this particular prisoner."
And that was all Shunsui had needed to hear. Just that small bit of approval, veiled in sage words from the old man. He could do this. If it was for Jushiro, he would find a way to move heaven and earth. He grinned over at Genryusai, taking the paper back and tucking it into his top once more. "Thanks," he chuckled. "I've only got a couple days to figure it out, but… I'll think of something."
"Yes, that may prove to be a little more difficult than firming your resolve," Genryusai smirked.
Shunsui hummed in thought, then frowned as he looked to the old man again. "I was told this guy was locked up about three hundred years ago."
"Yes."
"But, if someone was crazy enough to get sent down to Muken, wouldn't the captains have been told about it?"
"Ah, I was wondering if you would bring that up," the older man replied. "This one… is a classified case, Shunsui. Only myself, Central 46, and few others know about this."
"Why, though… If you can say, that is…"
"Not many wanted the news that a student from the Academy was being sent there," Genryusai sighed. "And the family also asked for discretion. Because of certain circumstances, Central 46 and myself decided to keep it quiet."
"So, you can't really say," Shunsui smirked.
"No, not really."
"Think I could get your support for the petition to Central 46?"
"Do you think it would help?"
"Couldn't hurt," Shunsui countered. "I already know that if it was as simple as you pardoning this guy, you'd do it to help Jushiro. But… Since he's in Muken…"
"Yes, you would need a majority vote from Central 46 as well…" After another quiet moment, Genryusai nodded. "I will make a statement for you, Shunsui. I hope you know what you are doing."
"I do, Yama-jii," Shunsui sighed with a small smile. "I'm gonna go see Jushiro again. Maybe I'll think of something that'll really convince them to allow this."
"I hope you do." Genryusai watched in silence as Shunsui made his way out of the room, the flower-printed kimono he wore over his haori flowing slightly as he walked away. After a moment, once Sasakibe had returned and closed the door behind him, Genryusai went and sat down at his desk again, pulling out a sheaf of papers to start scribing his recommendation for Central 46.
"Eijisai-dono," Sasakibe said, bowing respectfully. "You look... Off..."
"Yes. It seems Captain Kyouraku is looking to get himself into a spot of trouble."
"Trouble?"
Genryusai set his pen down, frowning at the blank page before him. "Do you remember," he whispered. "Three hundred years ago… the one that was sent to Muken?"
Sasakibe's eyes widened slightly. "Y-Yes… What does she have to do with this?"
"Captain Kyouraku is hoping to remove her from prison, to help Captain Ukitake."
"Does he know, though? Who she is?"
"No," Genryusai sighed, shaking his head. "He thinks she's a man."
"And you did not tell him…"
"It is not my place to say anything about her. That information is classified, Lieutenant Sasakibe."
"He should know though, don't you think? If he's really going to get her released…"
Genryusai shook his head in resignation. "What I think, and the orders that I must follow, are sometimes two different things. Still, as long as he follows the laws set forth for us, he will have my support in this."
"But, she's a murderer. What she did… Does she really deserve freedom, Eijisai-dono?"
Genryusai nodded solemnly while picking up his pen once more. "Deeds of the past should never be forgotten, Chojiro. She will never truly be free of the monster within her, but that does not mean we should allow one of our most powerful captains to die because we could not find it in ourselves to use the resources available to us."
"It would be less taxing to just allow that human girl here on a pass, wouldn't it?"
"But that would also show that we rely on her. It is not something I can allow. It is bad enough that we have needed Ichigo Kurosaki to aid us several times in the past." Sasakibe was silent after that, and Genryusai focused all of his attention on the task at hand. 'I never agreed with their ruling to begin with,' he thought. 'No one is aware of that, though. Now, hopefully, my assistance in this will get her released. Lucy, I hope you will be set free…'
Shunsui's eyes were lowered as he was taken into the prison beneath the first division, led by Captain-Commander Yamamoto and his Lieutenant, Chojiro Sasakibe. All he could assume was that something in the old man's recommendation had helped to sway the councilors in Central 46, because he'd really only been able to go in and just wing it when he'd been summoned to the meeting.
"It has come to the attention of this council that you, Captain Shunsui Kyouraku, Second Son of the great Kyouraku clan, wish to seek a pardon for Prisoner UL24SP, imprisoned in the eighth level, Muken, of the Central Underground Prison."
"More or less," he muttered to himself before clearing his throat. "That is correct," he said loud enough to be heard.
"And what is your justification for this request?"
After that, Shunsui had simply said exactly what he felt, that whoever this prisoner was, whatever his abilities, he could be a great asset in saving Captain Ukitake's life. A statement that he'd gotten from Captain Unohana at the last minute helped to back up his case, at least a little. That there was nothing the best healer in the Gotei 13 could do, aside from try to make Jushiro more comfortable with the time he had left.
Things had been just a little too easy, as far as he was concerned, and Shunsui had a sinking feeling that he was going to find out once he had the prisoner in his custody. Maybe it was the small, contented smile on Genryusai's lips, or the frown on his lieutenant's, but Shunsui was sure that whatever he'd gotten himself into…
"We are here, Captain Kyouraku," Genryusai said. "Just through this door. It's a little on the dark side in there, but you'll find the prisoner easily enough."
"And I just have to… do what, exactly?" he asked, turning to face the old man when they came to a stop in front of two enormous iron doors, with the edges etched in deep, unreadable markings.
"Don't allow any physical contact," Genryusai said, pulling a small key from within the folds of his shihakusho. "At least, not skin contact. Use this to unlock the restraints. I doubt you'll have any real difficulties."
"Even though you're releasing a murderer," Sasakibe mumbled.
Shunsui frowned and looked down at the small, golden key in his hand, then clenched his fist around it. He couldn't get cold feet now. Jushiro needed him, and he needed the healer that was just on the other side of that door. "Anything else?"
"Sasakibe will wait out here for you, and he will escort you to the exit," Genryusai said, raising one hand and pressing it to the seal on the door. Soft green light shimmered from the top to bottom for only a moment, then disappeared. "Use discretion in who knows about this, Shunsui. You are responsible for the prisoner now, after all."
"Do I get to know this guy's name, yet?" Shunsui asked as the old man started to walk away, his cane clacking softly on the tile floor. "Guess not…"
"I will wait here for you," Sasakibe said. He raised one hand and pushed the door open, gesturing for Shunsui to go inside. "Don't get lost."
"Cryptic," Shunsui smirked. His eyes unconsciously widened once he was closed in the prison, the darkness surrounding him so intense that he could almost hear it. Blackness stretched immeasurably far beyond him, and the first step through the voided darkness had him stumbling slightly while trying to find his footing. The ground was perfectly even, as he found out the further he walked, and the disorienting feeling from being surrounded by only the dark lessened the longer he was there.
He squinted when a soft spotlight glowed in a circle only a few feet from him, off to the right. A small figure was kneeling with their back to him, with long golden hair flowing down and pooling on the ground. He could only assume that this was the prisoner he was looking for, and circled around the light on the ground until he was standing in front of the person. "Prisoner UL24SP?" he asked carefully.
"Is that what they're calling me?"
Shunsui's eyes went wide as the figure's head lifted, revealing a young woman with large, chocolate eyes and a sweet, almost innocent smile. "Y-You're… uh…" A dark blue kimono was stretched over what he belatedly realized were more than generous curves, the soft white obi tied around her thin waist only accentuating her breasts. She was the picture of modesty, and he found himself simply standing there and staring when she lifted one hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, only to let out a quiet, lilting laugh when her sleeve got caught on the tips of her fingers.
"Prisoner UL-something-or-other," she laughed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain…?"
"Kyouraku."
She bowed her head slightly, closing her eyes for a moment. "Captain Kyouraku."
"I don't mean to sound like an idiot here, but… You're a woman?"
"The last time I checked," she laughed.
"Locked in Muken…"
"It would seem that way, yes."
"Well, uh… Alright then." Really, he should have known. Somehow. The first thought in his mind, though, was that the old man was most likely laughing at him. He'd so quickly assumed that this prisoner, the one with some unfounded healing ability that had murdered… some number of people… was a man. In his mind up until that moment, he realized, she had appeared to be a mirror of Aizen. Now, he knew better.
"Was there something you needed, Captain Kyouraku?" she asked, placing her hands in her lap with the long sleeves trailing over her fingers and down on the floor.
"Right, sorry," he chuckled. "I got a little stuck on the fact that you're a woman."
"You thought I was a man?" When he nodded, her head tilted to one side in curiosity. "You don't know who I am."
"No, I can't say that I do." The way she smiled at him then, Shunsui was sure he went blind for a moment. It was bright, cheerful even. 'She sure doesn't look like a murderer.' Then again, maybe the fact that she was just so innocent-looking was how she'd lured her victims to their deaths.
"My name is Lucy," she said.
"Nice to meet ya, Lucy," he chuckled, taking a single step closer to the light surrounding the blonde. His brow lifted when she tensed only a moment before relaxing again. Her eyes flickered down to his sheathed swords, then back up to meet his gaze, the smile never leaving her face.
"You're not here to execute me, are you?"
"No," he answered, watching curiously as her shoulders relaxed just a little. "You've actually been pardoned."
Lucy's eyes widened at that, her jaw dropping open in shock. "I… What?"
"Yep. There are some stipulations, of course, but you're being released into my custody."
"Wh-Why?"
"Well, it was either I got you out, or you would have been experimented on by Captain Kurotsuchi for that ability you've got." At the simple mention of the strange ability she seemed to possess, Lucy's face shut down completely. Her smile morphed into a thin line and her eyes hardened.
"Is that why you're here?" she hissed quietly.
"Well, I'd think going with me would be a nicer experience than whatever that lunatic has in mind for you," he sighed, opening his hand to reveal the key he'd been given. "We can talk about the details later. This place is creeping me out."
"I kind of like it here," she whispered as Shunsui knelt in front of her. She looked down at the key held between his fingers, then up to his face to see that he was utterly confused on how to use it. With a heavy sigh, she lifted her hands and let the overly long sleeves of her kimono slide down to her elbows, revealing a pair of elbow-length, black metal gauntlets that had been shackled to her. "Right there," she said flatly.
"Thanks."
Lucy nodded, her eyes narrowing while she took in every detail she could about the man before her while he examined the gauntlets that held her captive. He smelled sweet, yet masculine, like berries and pine. She couldn't see too clearly, since she'd been in the dark for so long, but she could still make out his slightly pointed jaw, his long, thin nose, dark hair tied into a ponytail and hanging over his shoulder, and a fair dusting of stubble as though he hadn't bothered to shave in a few days. Even when he was a little on the blurry side, she could tell he was handsome. It wasn't hard to tell that he was a shinigami - or a captain, since she could see a bit of his haori beneath the pink, flowery kimono over his broad shoulders - but she couldn't remember ever having seen someone quite like him before she'd been locked up.
As her vision cleared a little, and when she could hear the key shifting the tumblers in the locking mechanism, she saw that his eyes were gentle, as though he wouldn't dare hurt a hair on her head. His smile was an easy one, one that only came from finding and holding tightly to a certain inner peace. Still, she could see it in his eyes. Pain, lurking just beneath the surface. "I hope you've said your goodbyes to whoever you want me to heal," she whispered as the gauntlets were removed, pulling her sleeves back down to cover her now-bare hands and arms.
Shunsui's eyes widened as he pulled the gauntlets away and Lucy's fingers accidentally brushed over his own. He was instantly cautious, considering he'd been told to make sure his skin didn't touch hers, but he didn't feel a thing.
Lucy gasped as that single brush over Shunsui's calloused fingertips caused a sudden swell of power to surge through her body. The gauntlets hadn't done a whole lot of anything to her, except for making sure her hands were immobilized, and anyone that came to visit - although, she'd never once seen a person in the time she'd been locked up - wasn't able to touch her. Her reiatsu hadn't been cut off before, simply encased in a tight shell around her body. But this, just that brief bit of contact, and feeling the overwhelming power that lurked within the captain before her, had her eyelids fluttering as she lost consciousness and crumpled to the ground.
He blinked in surprise, dropping the heavy metal gauntlets to the ground as he stared at the blonde. "Lucy?" he asked, carefully leaning over her. "You alright?"
"..."
"Well, this oughta be interesting," he sighed, pulling the kimono from around his shoulders and carefully wrapping it around the blonde. Once he was sure that the only skin of hers showing was her face, he slowly pulled her into his arms and stood, then started making his way back over to where he hoped the door was. He refused to dwell on the fact that there was a damn beautiful woman in his arms. Mostly, because she was unconscious, and that was just a level of creepiness that he never wanted to get near. 'That's probably more Kenpachi's style…'
The thought made him chuckle, and the small smile stayed on his face as the doors opened just ahead of him, revealing Lieutenant Sasakibe wearing an unamused expression. "What can I say?" he smirked. "Ladies always fall for my charms."
"Lucy… Lucy…"
She let out a quiet whine as the familiar, deep, growling voice echoed in the air.
"Damnit, I'm trying to talk to you here."
Her eyes shot open into a glare, and she sat up, nearly falling from the branch she was lying on. Sakura petals drifted down lazily, the scent of them filling her sinuses with every breath she took. "Why do we always do this in the tree Onii-chan broke his leg falling from?" she asked, leaning back against the trunk while looking to the branch just next to her own.
"You know why."
She rolled her eyes at the man by her side. His long black coat with gold trim, opened to reveal a small portion of his bare chest, the white fabric wrapped over it and knotted on his shoulder. Black hair that would touch his shoulders if it wasn't wildly spiked, and piercing red eyes. Pale skin stretched over lightly corded muscles on his slender frame. And barefoot. Every time she saw him, he was always barefoot. "Yeah, because it's the first time I healed someone…"
"So, why ask stupid questions?" he chuckled.
"Did you want something?" Lucy asked.
He smiled and leaned back on one hand, pulling a leg up onto the branch to properly lounge. Just like the blonde's eldest brother had done when he fell that day. "Just wanted to check up on my favorite girl. I worry about you."
"I've spent the last, Kami-only-knows how long, doing nothing but talking to you," she huffed. "Why do you think I'm even partially sane?"
"Oh, but Lucy," he crooned, his voice sinfully sweet as his eyes darkened to a deep wine color. "You know I love it when you go a little crazy. My sexy little psycho."
"And the creep-factor just keeps getting higher."
"Take off your kimono, and I'll show you just how high you can go."
"And we're done!" Lucy scowled as he started laughing, a light blush on her cheeks. "It's not funny!"
"It is!" he cackled, tipping back and forth and nearly falling several times. "You're just… Oh, this is too easy." When he caught sight of the blonde moving to get up, then promptly losing her footing, he lunged forward and pulled her to his chest, rotating in the air as they fell to the lush grass so she landed on top of him. "Well, would you look at that?" he chuckled. "You're right where I want you."
Lucy squawked when his hands glided down her sides to lightly squeeze her behind. She fruitlessly smacked him in the head, then rolled away as soon as his grip on her loosened. "I hate it when you do that!"
He sat up on his elbows, giving her a cheshire grin. "If you hate it so much, then-"
"What is it you want, Chinogishiki?" she asked again, crossing her arms under her chest.
Finally, he sighed in resignation, his head falling back so he could look up into the frozen sky. "I felt it," he whispered.
"Felt what?"
"That captain. He's a powerful one."
Slowly, hesitantly, Lucy sunk down to her knees by his head. She could never explain just why it happened, but just like every other time, his head rested in her lap and she gently toyed with the soft black strands of his hair. "He said I was pardoned," she whispered, her voice trembling. "He wants me to heal someone…"
The red-eyed man scowled and reached up to lightly hold one of her hands. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Lucy. Not anymore."
"But, if I don't… They'll just lock me up again. I miss being able to see the sun. Or anything… Memories just aren't the same."
"Sure, but even if you're locked up in that pathetic place they called a prison, you've still got me," Chinogishiki whispered.
"Or they'll just tie me down and make me do it," she whispered. "He mentioned some other captain wanted to experiment on me…"
"Well, there's nothing stopping you now," he sighed, giving her slender fingers a gentle squeeze. When her soulful, brown eyes locked onto his own, more depraved red, he smirked. "You know how to let me out."
"I can't do that…"
"Sure you can," he grinned. "Just let me out, and we'll kill him. Then we can go and find the ones that locked you up, and-"
"That's enough," she said, pulling her hand from his and placing her fingertips over his thin lips. "I don't want to kill anyone, Chinogishiki. You know that..."
"Y'know," he sighed. "You make me wanna just force myself to manifest. Then I could kill anyone I wanted."
"Why are you so bloodthirsty?" she asked sadly.
"Why aren't you?" he replied, his tone mirroring hers.
"Because I want to help people, not hurt them."
"But helping them only hurts you. And when you're hurting, so am I. Where's the good in that? What have they ever done for us, Lucy?"
Lucy shook her head, remaining silent for a time while she looked back up to the clouds that never moved in the pale grey sky. Her fingers sought out his hair once again and she listened for any sound to echo in the distance, like the memories of herself and her siblings running through that same field. Anything.
Chinogishiki frowned while looking up at the blonde, then turned on his side to bury his nose in the pale blue obi around her waist.
"Just behave yourself, Chinogishiki," Lucy whispered. "We're not doing anything like that."
"Suit yourself," he whispered. "Just remember… I'm right here when you need me."
A tender smile pulled up the corners of Lucy's lips while she looked down at her zanpakuto spirit. "And most especially when I don't," she giggled.
"You wound me."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you," she teased.
Chinogishiki grinned and barely turned his head to look up at her, his eyes fading to black and half-lidded while she kept running her fingers through his hair, calming his bloodlust slowly as time went on. "You know me so well."
"... Lieutenant Sasakibe," Shunsui said with a lazy smile, waving off the silver-haired man as he carried Lucy to the exit.
Lucy let out a quiet moan, her brow pinched together as she regained consciousness.
"You're awake," he sighed in relief.
"I guess," she muttered, her eyes slowly opening and squinting against the bright lights surrounding them.
"Well, I'll carry you until you're ready to stand," Shunsui offered with a small smile.
"I'll be fine. Please put me down, Captain Kyouraku."
He shrugged and carefully lowered the blonde's feet to the ground, smiling when she stumbled and leaned against his side. Once she was steady, he carefully pulled his kimono from around her shoulders and set it back on his own, taking extra care not to touch her skin. "I do hope you'll change your mind," he said as they began walking. "About helping my friend, that is... Unless, you'd rather I carry you." When she frowned slightly, he chuckled. "I definitely wouldn't be opposed to carrying you."
"You don't know what you're asking me to do," Lucy replied, ignoring everything else he'd said after the mention of his friend.
His brow pinched at the small tremor in her voice, but he didn't say anything.
Lucy looked up at the captain with a frown. "I won't do it."
"Even if you won't," he sighed, "We're still leaving. I'll explain everything once we're back at my division."
"Which division?" she whispered, lowering her eyes and keeping pace beside him.
"Eighth."
Lucy nodded, keeping her head lowered and clenching her jaw tightly as they walked through the doors that led to the outside world.
He didn't dare to get much closer than he already was as they walked away from Squad 1's sector, further north toward his own division. And he really wasn't sure of what he could say to the woman at his side. He did, however, keep a close eye on her while they made their way through the streets, and found it curious that she was keeping her head down so no one could see her face, and still managing to dodge the odd shinigami that nearly bumped into her.
Lucy wanted to look around, to see what had changed in the time she'd been locked away, but she couldn't. It was too bright outside already, and she didn't want to get her hopes up that it would be something she'd get to see again. For all she knew, she was going from one cell to another. That's just how it was for her. Still, being able to feel the reiatsu of others, the sounds and smells of the outside world that surrounded her, was more than she could have hoped for. Things were different, sure, but it was all familiar enough that she didn't feel as though she was completely out of her element.
"Y'know," Shunsui sighed. "You're right about something."
"What's that?"
"I don't really know what I'm asking you for. At least, not where you're concerned. What I do know, though…" He paused and looked down at the blonde, giving her a sad smile once their eyes locked. "Is that I'll do anything to save my best friend."
"Must be nice," she whispered. "Having someone like that."
"It is," Shunsui nodded. "And I'll be damned if I just let him die, when there's someone like you that can help him."
"If you didn't even know my name," she said slowly, "How do you know I can help this friend of yours?"
"Because if you couldn't, then Yama-jii wouldn't have even let me think about talking to Central 46. And, if it doesn't work, then there's nothing else that can be done."
"I'm a murderer," she frowned, closing her eyes for a moment when she felt her zanpakuto growling within her. He never did like the way she'd so willingly accepted her sentencing for what had happened, after all. "I could just as easily kill this person you want me to save."
"That's a risk I'm willing to take," Shunsui sighed. "He needs help, and nothing else is working. I can't lose him, and if that means putting my faith in a criminal, then all I can do is hope you have enough of a heart to see that he's worth saving."
"And you just expect me to jump up and help this person," Lucy mused, looking back down at the ground. "I don't owe you anything.
"I did just get you pardoned," Shunsui mused. "So, I guess you owe me something."
"I never asked for your help, or anyone else's," she scowled. "I was tried by Central 46 and convicted. I accepted my punishment for killing all those people, and that was that."
"You're telling me you really wanted to spend the next few thousand years in Muken..."
"It's better than anything out here for me," she whispered, missing the shock that registered on Shunsui's face when he heard the sadness in her voice. "I just want to be left alone, but you still want to force me to do this."
"I never said I was forcing you," Shunsui sighed. "I'm asking you to do this. I'll beg, if I have to. Jushiro's dying, and I don't want to lose my best friend."
Lucy blinked, pausing in her step as the name left his lips. "What did you say?"
Shunsui turned to face her, watching as her wide eyes slowly lifted to look at him. "My friend," he said. "Jushiro Ukitake. He's been sick for a while now, but ever since fall, he's stopped getting better. Captain Unohana says he doesn't have long."
"Ukitake," Lucy whispered, her eyes darting one way, then another, before returning to his penetrating gaze. "And you said… Captain Unohana…"
"Says there's nothing left for her to do," Shunsui repeated, his brow furrowing when he saw her arms bar across her stomach.
"Can I… Can I see for myself how bad it is?"
"You'll help him?" he asked incredulously. "Really?"
Lucy nodded, nibbling her lower lip. "Yeah. Take me there. You said he doesn't have long, so it's probably a good idea for me to start as soon as possible, right?"
Shunsui nodded, then moved forward and led her into a nearby alley. "This will go faster if I carry you," he said quietly. When he saw her hesitate, he shook his head. "I won't touch your skin again. That was an accident."
After a slow breath, Lucy nodded. She tucked her hands into the sleeves of her kimono and blushed when he walked forward and easily lifted her into his arms. Her eyes closed when Shunsui began flash stepping through the Seireitei, moving up to the rooftops to draw less attention to the two of them. Within minutes, she was being set down on the ground again, and opened her eyes once she was upright. Only to find familiar deep, blue eyes looking back at her.
"I see you found a way to bring her, Captain Kyouraku," Unohana said with a small smile.
"Lemme guess," he sighed. "You also knew she was a woman."
"Didn't you?" Unohana asked, her eyes closing as her sweet smile widened.
Lucy bowed her head when the fourth division's captain looked back at her again. "Captain Unohana," she whispered reverently. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"Yes," Unohana said softly, looking down at the blonde. "You may want to see him. He doesn't look so good."
"Has he gotten worse since this morning?" Shunsui asked worriedly, his stomach dropping when the brunette nodded.
Lucy lifted her head and peeked around Unohana, to the partially opened door with a short brunette woman standing just outside, her hand on her zanpakuto and a band around her arm with the insignia of Squad 13. "He's a captain, isn't he…"
"Yes," Shunsui sighed. "Let's get you in there." He led Lucy up the few steps that led to Jushiro's room, giving Rukia a small nod. "You can go ahead and head out, Rukia-chan. I'll stay with him."
Rukia bowed respectfully to Shunsui, then turned to look at the blonde woman by his side. "And who are you?"
Lucy blinked at the icy tone in the woman's voice, but before she could speak, Shunsui said, "This is Lucy-chan." He completely missed the surprised look in the blonde's eyes at the honorific. "Yama-jii asked that she come down to see him."
After a moment, Rukia nodded and Lucy let out a sigh when the woman walked off.
"Everyone's pretty high-strung right now," Shunsui said as he opened the door fully and led the blonde inside once his sandals and her geta - the surprisingly high clog sandals he hadn't even realized she was wearing until that moment - were off.
Lucy nervously chewed on her lower lip as she was led around a privacy screen, and her breath died in her throat when she saw the white-haired man lying in the bed. "Oh, Kami…"
"Yeah, he's-"
Once she saw his too-pale, sunken cheeks, the dark circles under his eyes and the sweat dotting his brow, Lucy rushed past Shunsui and dropped to her knees beside the bed. Her hand reached out to him, and her trembling fingers brushed his matted hair from his forehead. "It's really you," she said, a strangled cry catching in her throat when his head turned toward the sound of her voice and his eyes barely opened. "Onii-chan..."
And there's chapter 1!
So tell me, what did you guys think? Shunsui is surprisingly fun to write. I hope you guys liked it, at least a little bit! Really, I don't have any words for what's to come, aside from… This is gonna be so much fun!
This story is the one that got me thinking about even becoming a writer in the first place. Every time I watched a new Bleach episode, I'd think about this. And now, five-plus years later, I'm actually doing it.
I will say that the majority of Fairy Tail characters won't be making an appearance in this story. Although, Lucy's zanpakuto decided that he was going to look like Zeref, and have a little of Loke and Virgo's personalities, so we'll see what happens!
So, Review, Follow, Favorite! I love you, guys!
~~GemNika