Solace 7/12
The sessions continued off the record for quite some time, each one brought the two of them irreparably closer together; allowed them to know each other on a deeper level than either of them could let anyone know.
That fact alone plagued Jushiro. He wanted to confide in his friend Shunsui about his relationship with the young hollow. It pained that this was a secret he had no choice but to keep, even as he slung a friendly arm around his shoulder and pulled him close.
His friend’s warm brown eyes, soft stubble, straw hat and frock of cherry blossoms he wore over his haori made him look so gentle and casual. He was always so comforting and always a joy to be around. His free and open attitude made it easy to the man anything.
…but this…how can I tell my closest friend, my confidant, my long-time lover, nearly my own brother, I am involved with a hollow?
“What’s troubling you Jushiro-kun?” He asked, his face contorted with warm concern.
“Nothing…” Ukitake lied.
“You know you can trust me.” Shunsui placed his hands on his friend’s shoulders and peered at him, stopping the fellow captain in his tracks.
“I don’t think I can tell you this. It goes beyond anything Soul Society has ever encountered let alone is ready to accept.” He shook his head.
“Please…Jushiro-kun.”
It wasn’t that he worried how his friend would react: far from it. Rather he worried the other man would not be able to keep it a secret, even amongst his best friend, revealing it could mean Yylfordt’s death, regardless of the fact he had done nothing wrong since showing up here. He shook his head and walked away.
The other captain followed, his natural grace made his steps seem fluid as if his easy going attitude transpired to his physical actions despite the concern on his face.
“If you insist on following me, let’s do lunch then.” Ukitake glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes; despite the humorous remark his serious look did not leave his face.
“Whatever your wish…” Kyouraku smirked and laughed, “…as long as you’re paying.”
At that he turned the corner and headed towards a small concealed eatery at the edge of the Seireite, where he knew he would find privacy. He knew his friend would not leave him be. The least he could do was find a place he could talk to him alone.
Ukitake sipped his tea as a plate of umematsu was brought to the table. His friend, as expected, opted for sake. He rested his head on his interlaced fingers, his face as friendly as ever. Both of them were mild-tempered and wise in their old age. They ate and drank in refinement, using gestures ingrained into them from their long years of upbringing and routine.
“I’m assuming you brought me here to talk.” Shunsui broke the silence after they had a decent amount of time to savor their food and drink.
Ukitake looked at his urging gaze with a bit of apprehension.
“It’s about one of my students.” He sighed.
“I’m assuming you mean the one who couldn’t learn kido on his own, you talked to me about a while ago,” he mused.
“Yes. It’s not his studies that are the problem now. It’s his personal life.” He looked at his friend apologetically and sighed heavily.
“What is it?” Shunsui asked and took a sip of his sake.
“I’ve become involved with him….and…” He looked around nervously.
Kyouraku chuckled. “You know as well as I do that love isn’t something to be ashamed of.” He closed his eyes, grinning as a warm feeling of nostalgia passed over him. “I’ve chased countless beautiful souls. I know you inside and out, and you have a nice catch.” H looked at him with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
“Yes…but he isn’t a normal soul-”
His friend pressed his finger against his lips, cutting him off mid sentence.
“You don’t need to say more Jushiro-kun. The boy’s a decent man. I know you will do the right thing.” He leaned back resting on his arms for a moment. “Hmm… it’s getting late. If I stay too long Nanao-chan might come looking for me.”
He climbed to his feet followed by Ukitake. He placed his hands on his shoulders again.
“Trust your instincts.” He smiled. “I support you, whatever your decision.”
He then turned to walk away, but looked back over his shoulder and tilted his hat as he did so. As he watched his friend walk out of the door to the restaurant a warm smile crossed his face. He had his closest friend’s approval, and a wave of relief washed over him to know that he already seemed to know what his student really was, that he was not hiding anything at all.
The more time he spent with Yylfordt, the more the man gained control of his inner monster; and the closer he grew to his student. He found himself more and more wishing the arrancar would give up his desire for Abarai-san, although it disgusted him that he even thought to take something that precious away from him in the first place.
He wanted him for himself.
He couldn’t help but feel a wave of shame well inside him as he held his shuddering student against him; the beautiful man panted from their shared ecstasy and quivered with every touch, lost in the experience; the kido binds on his arms were far looser than they were the first time, almost as loose as if they weren’t there at all.
All the man talked about recently was how much he looked forward the day he would be ready to tell Renji that he wanted him without the fear of consuming him.
My heart belongs with him…
A cold loneliness pierced through him when he remembered hearing that exquisite man’s words; those words signaling the end of them as anything but sensei and student.
He knew he would be alone again: even with Shunsui, he would be missing a piece of himself: a piece of his soul he left with Yylfordt.
He gently ran his hands through the man’s silken hair and before he could catch himself the words were out.
“I love you,” he said solemnly barely a whisper, as a single tear slid out from the corner of his eye.
The young arrancar pressed his head into his sensei’s chest and snuggled closer in response; like a child, like his child.
I don’t want to lose you… Ukitake thought as he gazed longingly up at the watchful full moon, under which they just made love.
Ukitake stared in utter horror as he watched the unexpected end of Yylfordt’s training battle with the upperclassmen swordsman that he noticed in the courtyard between errands. He stood at the fringes of the large crowd that gathered to witness what was probably one of the best and longest lasting battles between students, which the training yards had seen in recent memory. Shrieks, inhaled breaths and howls erupted from the crowd as everyone witnessed the senior pierce his wooden practice sword straight through the other man’s chest; push the fabric of his uniform out from the back of his body; Yylfordt immediately dropping his swords in shock and disbelief, then grab a hold of the one through his body.
Shit! He fought back the urge to rush in there and throw a protective arm around him.
He was a captain after all: He knew about this, and letting anyone know that would be a sign of treason, conspiracy.
A guard stepped forward and sliced his student’s hat, kimono and shitagi right off his body, exposing the man’s heritage for the whole room to see.
“…a hollow!” Confused, frightened shouts rang out from the crowd. The people in the area glanced around rapidly. The students’ faces contorted with a mixture of confusion, disbelief and fear. A few shakily drew their swords and crept forward. Some stood still, not knowing what to make of the situation, scarcely able to believe their eyes. Most others started to back away, in a collective flinch away from the center of the courtyard. Nearby black robed shinigami ran towards the edges of the crowd to assist the students who started backing away to give some semblance of order to the rising panic; some of the guards pushed through the room headed directly towards Yylfordt while more converged to his sides.
Despite his instincts, he steeled himself to keep his cool and forced himself to look at his student with as much as a disappointed look he cold muster.
The man took off running. He pushed through the crowd, tossed people aside and sonidoed where he could past the confused, terrified onlookers until he was confronted by a group of guards with their swords drawn, pointed directly at his neck, that blocked the welcoming open gates of the Academy that would have been his path to salvation.
Ukitake glided through the panicked crowd that now flowed in the opposite direction of the hollow, trying his best to get to him before it was too late. Three students quickly joined his side in the chaos and then ran out in front of him; Kuchiki-taicho’s sister, Renji and Hanataro who had finished “treating” his student before the match. Two followed soon after, brushed past him in a blur nearly toppling him over in the process: one he recognized as Yylfordt’s roommate, the other; a bald upperclassman he didn’t know.
He made his way to the guards who all bowed in respect for his status. He listened as the other students confronted the exposed hollow, and then pleaded with the guards to spare his life.
Ukitake cleared his throat, at which point the noise died and everyone looked at him.
“This is a special case. He must stand trial. Take him to the Maggot’s Nest. If he tries to consume you, only then are you allowed to kill him,” he spoke gently, but his hardened look and firm manner carried the command.
The guards bowed and replied “yes sir”. Then they hoisted Yylfordt up and forced his arms roughly behind his back tying them together rapidly with their years of practice.
He glared at his student with as much of a stern look he could muster to make it believable, but inwardly he felt horrible for it; looking at his student’s fearful, apologetic expression as he was led away from the place that had been his home for nearly a year. The man’s eyes were open wide, his brows knit, unsuccessfully fighting back tears, as he struggled to reach Ukitake one last time till the doors of the Academy were closed shut behind him.