READ FIRST PLEASE!: This story will have original bleach characters, NOT an OC, as in ever I am NOT a fan of them, and I never use them. So please rest assured the flutist is someone you know. Who? Well you'll eventually find out, part of the story! Work with me! _

WILL BE YAOI! ByakuyaxFlutist

Characters: Byakuya, Renji, Jushiro, Rukia, (and a few more cameo's)

Time line: Just after Winter War (may have spoilers for that arc)

Well recently someone on DA posted a bit of fan art for this Story. Needless to say I was very shocked and very flattered. So as a way of thanks I am posting this here a little bit earlier than I originally wanted to :) I hope it's okay, and for those interested here is the link to DA:

art/Again-347873899

Under Whelmed

The Flutist was something of a legend in the Seireitei.

A mysterious man who, during chance festivals, would pitch up with a tengai over his head, sit down on a rock and play music so old the trees had forgotten them. It was unusual, a little bizarre, and many stories had been spun regarding the strange and silent hermit.

Some say he plays the old songs in the hopes it would lure his lost love back to him from the dead. Others say he is a music spirit, there to prevent old hymns from dying out, and others more claim he is a guardian of the earth, keeping the world safe with his ancient flute music. Because should the songs ever be lost, the story goes, evil will prevail.

But in fact, no one really knew. No one had ever seen his face, heard him speak, and no one knew where he came from or what his true purpose was. But one thing was for sure, he was welcome wherever he went. His music spoke to you on levels no song ever could. It whispered to your soul, and some say that if you close your eyes and listened long enough you will be pulled back twelve thousand years to ancient Japan, where these songs were first heard.

Many had tried speaking to him but he never raised his head or acknowledged them, all the money that was given to him was left where it fell. He never came for any other reason than to perform. He was a mystery, a riddle, and in respects a living legend.

The first time Byakuya ever saw the Flutist was in the Lantern festival, and he was… under whelmed. So many stories surrounded the man that he had expected something more out of a fantasy book than… this.

"At least he plays well," Renji said apologetically, watching the flutist with a curious stare, "I mean… not like the other musicians,"

Byakuya raised an eyebrow, and Renji obediently went quiet.

He was dirty. His fingers stained black from… something. His clothes were ragged, grimy and his blistered feet were bandaged. He looked like a bum. He was sitting on a rock, playing a flute neither had ever seen before. It was short, chubby and sounded like a water loon's song.

"Not as well as I expected," Byakuya said in a dry voice. His lieutenant nodded wordlessly, and a moment later was dragged off by his friends. He bowed hastily to his captain, and left Byakuya alone with the… rather filthy musician.

The song finished and the flutist picked up another instrument, this one he did recognize, it was a Xiao. Not as old but it had a pleasant enough sound. Still, he had heard what the man could do and it was nothing of interest to him. Turning he headed in the direction of the silk stands. There was one he'd seen earlier that had caught his eye-

Then the flutist played.

And Byakuya stilled mid stride. He listened to the voice of the song, it was calm, beautiful and yet… it sounded so… alive, almost as if the music itself wanted to dance, and the flutist swayed to the music like a boat sways to the mercy of the tides. And the music did flow like water, in and around you, capturing you in warm comforting hands, and holding you close.

The world was still bustling around him, the festival still in full swing. But the sounds and activities were drowned out, disappeared into a veil of mist as his ears and very being focused solely on the flutist.

He watched him, as the song continued, so much emotion and feeling poured into the haunting notes, and somewhere Byakuya felt the need to touch it. He stepped closer, until he was but a foot from the man and gently extended his reiatsu.

There was no signature.

He frowned but forgot to try again when the song drifted higher, and took Byakuya with it. It whispered and sang of times he remembered as a child, of moments in time he wished he could regain but had no regrets of losing them. Times spent in company he missed but didn't yearn for, a perfect balance of memory with no regret.

And the song ended.

Byakuya opened his eyes, having no recollection of ever closing them. He looked down to find the tengai tilted to him, he was staring at him. Byakuya blinked and the basket tilted left in playful confusion. Feeling elevated Byakuya smiled at him, and without thought he reached forwards and touched the flute, earning him curious gazes from the passers by.

But the Flutist said nothing, and waited patiently.

"Again," Byakuya whispered.

And he happily complied.

There we go. Thank you Gollumfryingeggs!