Fic: Guilty Until Proven Innocent 2/? Hisagi/Kira.
Title: Guilty Until Proven Innocent 2/?
Author: winteraconite
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Hisagi Shuuhei/Kira Izuru, Iba+Nanao
Notes/Warnings: Formerly titled "Never Let This Go". This chapter is for ceestar who constantly motivates me like a madman with a whip (in a totally good and very much appreciated way, of course ♥) as well as all those who read and commented in the first chapter. Mild angst. Spoilers for the Soul Society Arc.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its sexy characters. I just borrow them and make them do my nasty bidding. They like it. A lot. >:)
Previous Chapter:
Chapter One
The rain that had stopped hours ago returned with a vengeance, pounding against the roof with all the rage of Mother Nature, yet surprisingly the sound of heavy raindrops barely reached her ears. The entire 1st Division Headquarters was darker than usual and it did nothing for Nanao’s bad mood as she quietly made her way toward the lieutenant’s conference room. Three captains had betrayed them and all of Soul Society was in disarray. The 4th Division was filled to the brink with injured shinigami; two of them captains, two of them lieutenants-all in critical condition. The ryoka they had all been fighting against for days have suddenly become allies and somewhere along the way Kira-fukutaichou had been taken into custody for questioning. The oppressive gloom of the building mirrored the anxiety in her mind.
She shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose as the events from earlier that night replayed in her mind. Ahead of her the door to the conference room loomed into view and relief washed through her when she identified the reiatsu emanating from within.
Iba opened the door for her just as she reached it. The outside world was unusually dark because of the rain but in here it was almost pitch black, total darkness averted only by a single lit oil lamp. Again the gloom did nothing for her mood.
“What’re ya still doin’ here?" Iba said gruffly as she stepped past him and into the room. She sighed and walked farther into the room, lighting more oil lamps along the way before taking a seat.
“The same as you,” she said tiredly, stifling a yawn. “I’m waiting.”
Iba’s gaze moved from her face to the single burst of colour in the otherwise listless room. Hisagi was a silent silhouette in the semi-darkness where he sat with his head pillowed on crossed arms, a bright pink shawl he recognized to be Matsumoto’s over his shoulders. Iba nodded and moved to take a seat beside Nanao.
“It’s been hours since she went in; who knows when it’ll be over?” he told her, tossing his sunglasses to the table and then rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hands. “You oughta go home, get some rest. Ya can always come back when all this is over.”
To his surprise, she chuckled softly and smiled, lifting her glasses off her face and placing them neatly on the table in front of her. “I’m not waiting for Rangiku, Tetsuzaemon.”
“Well, Hisagi ain’t wakin’ up anytime soon either. Almost had to knock ‘im out, the stubborn shit.”
Nanao shook her head. “I’m not waiting for him, either.”
He stared at her blankly. Nanao sighed and rubbed at her temples then stood up and walked to the other side of the room. She rummaged through a small supply closet and came back with an armful of blankets. She carefully draped one over Hisagi then handed another one to Iba who took it without a word.
“You don’t gotta,” he said once she sat back down beside him. She smiled at him then placed both their glasses at the center of the table where they couldn’t accidentally crush them in their sleep.
“I know,” she said and draped the blanket over herself.
*
The dream was terrifying, roaring into an eddy of chaos with him at its center. When Hisagi looked up he saw blood-red eyes glinting in a flurry of flames, and sharp claws waiting to tear at his flesh.
The Soukyoku.
It howled with fury, drowning out his screams as the beast reared back to tower over him, snapping its beak, its heat unbearable.
Where am I? What’s happening? The words echoed hollowly in his mind.
“Hisagi…”
A voice called out to him, barely above a whisper. That voice. He recognized that voice but couldn’t place a name on it. Flames licked at his skin. The great beast hovered over him, circling him, waiting to make the kill.
“Hisagi-san!” Another voice came, louder than the first-Kira’s voice he was sure of it. It was gone as soon as it had come, lost to the roaring of the flames. He raised his head to respond then gasped when he saw his friend. Kira was there then, standing by Soukyoku with his head held high-perfectly calm and seemingly untouchable-as if he did not have the incarnation of death hovering over him menacingly. He shouted for his friend but his voice was drowned out when the great bird gave a mighty screech. The Soukyoku glared at him balefully, looming over the small figure that was Kira looking back at him solemnly. He seemed to be glowing under the light of the flames.
Then the voices suddenly came in all at once.
“The charge is treason!”
No.
“Kira Izuru, vice-captain of the 3rd Division, is to go into trial for conspiring against the Gotei 13 and against all of Soul Society-”
“Hisagi-san, please…you have to go.”
Why?
“-and assisting the felons Aizen Sosuke, Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname in their defection!”
They’re gone, Kira.
“Should he be found guilty the penalty is death!”
You. Are. Innocent.
I’m not gonna let them kill you, Izuru.
The voices warred against each other; Yamamoto-soutaichou, his own, and Kira’s. The Soukyoku reared back, screeching as if in response to the turmoil of voices. Hisagi looked to his friend desperately, shouting for him to run to him. Kira smiled.
“Hisagi-san…please let go.”
Tell me you’re innocent, Kira. Tell me!
“Shuuhei, you have to let go.”
Hisagi stared in horror as the flames flared up and the Soukyoku spread its great wings. For a moment Kira seemed to have disappeared in the blaze and Hisagi’s heart clenched painfully in his chest. Then Kira reappeared at the center of the flames, his face hidden from view by his hair. The Soukyoku’s wings closed in around him almost lovingly, cradling Kira against its gigantic body. It let out a soft, almost crooning sound and Hisagi thought he saw a ghost of a smile on Kira’s lips.
“Forgive me.”
Kira’s screams were almost as loud as Hisagi’s as he was quickly incinerated by the power of a thousand soul slayers.
There’s nothing to forgive.
*
With a start, Hisagi bolted upright in his seat, his heart hammering in his chest. The flames, Kira’s screams-the last vestiges of the nightmare burned away from his mind even as he shook from the horror of it, disoriented and with nothing but frightening half-images to help him make sense of it all. For a moment he stared unseeing into blankness, his mind reeling. And then slowly the world seemed to snap back into place until he recognized walls of the lieutenants’ conference room. The world sharpened around him. The rain registered in his mind almost immediately. It was impossible to tell what time it was but the room was faintly grey with what he knew was the light of a new day. Hisagi had slept there through the night.
“Fuck,” he gasped out, breathing as if he had just had the wind knocked out of him. The room was silent save for the rain and he brought his hands to his face to rub away the last dregs of sleep. They came away wet with cold sweat.
“Fuck,” he said again.
“Hisagi-kun?”
He looked up from his hands at the sound of his name and saw Nanao standing across the room. “Ise-san,” he greeted and she gave him a small smile. For a moment he wondered what she was doing here then spotted Iba’s hulking form slouched over the table, asleep, and wasn’t really surprised. She followed his gaze and blushed lightly. Her long black hair was down, flowing freely down her back, and she swept it back from her face with one hand before coming toward him, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She handed it to him and he took it gratefully.
“What time is it?” He asked after taking a sip. The scent of green tea wafted around him and he closed his eyes, letting it soothe him, and missing the worried look on Nanao’s face.
“About half past nine in the morning,” she answered.
Hsiagi’s eyes snapped open. He hadn’t realized it was that late. “I’ve got to check on Kira,” he said, setting his cup of tea on the table and moving to get up. Damn it, why didn’t anyone wake him up? He pushed his chair back and Nanao got up when he did, deftly catching the thick fabric that slipped off his shoulders which he hadn’t even noticed until now. As she rolled it up in her arms he caught a glimpse of bright pink cloth he recognized instantly.
Nanao caught his gaze. “She was called to testify in Kira-kun’s trial last night,” she said, answering his unasked question. Hisagi’s eyes widened at the news. “She was in there for hours and came out exhausted.” She saw concern now in his storm grey eyes and knew he was unsure of whom he should go see first. She wished Iba was awake; she had hoped she wouldn’t be the one to have to tell him.
“She was asked to come back this afternoon,” she began tentatively and Hisagi stared at her, confusion clearly written on his face, before the implication of her words set in. She put a hand on his shoulder sympathetically as he slowly sat back down. “I’m sorry, Hisagi-kun,” she said. “The trial isn’t over yet.”
He nodded dumbly. Deep down he supposed he had already known when he woke up and Kira wasn’t there. The others would have woken him up the moment Kira got out and he would have been there in an instant. He buried his face in his hands and groaned.
Nanao looked at him worriedly and sat back down next to him. “Rangiku says you should go home,” she said softly and he lifted his head to look at her. The look on his face suddenly made her want to take him into her arms but she couldn’t assume that she was in any position to. Instead she tried to smile but failed miserably.
Hisagi looked at her piteously. Her blue-violet eyes showed more emotion than they usually did hiding behind her glasses and right now they radiated sympathy. Sympathy and exhaustion. Hisagi looked away.
The events from the day before came back to him in an unwelcome rush. Tousen-taichou was gone. His Division had no captain. Renji and Hinamori were hurt. And Kira…where was Kira? Vague images from his nightmare suddenly flashed through his mind and Hisagi felt himself begin to tremble.
Fatigue, he told himself. It’s because of the fatigue.
“Why can’t they just let him out already?” He grit out. He put his head in his hands and sighed, trying to calm himself.
Nanao moved to lay a hand on his shoulder then stopped when she saw movement from the corner of her eye. Iba was staring at the two of them from across the table. Their eyes met and she nodded before they both slowly stood up from their seats. She made to move away to the other side of the room just as Iba headed for her recently vacant seat. Before the large man could sit down, however, Hisagi’s head came up and he spoke.
“Where is he, Ise-san?” He asked.
She didn’t have to ask who he was referring to. She and Iba glanced at each other. The 7th Division Lieutenant cleared his throat and Hisagi looked at him as if just noticing he was there.
“This is bullshit, Hisagi,” Iba said. “Ain’t nothin’ you can do. Ain’t nothin’ any of us can do.”
“Your Division needs you, Hisagi-kun,” she added, hoping to reason with his sense of duty.
Hisagi closed his eye and took a deep breath at the mention of his Division. When he opened them again Nanao was taken aback by the anger she saw there. “I’ll find him with or without your help,” he said tersely. “Without it will only take longer.” He stood up quickly, shoving his chair back so hard it toppled to the floor.
Nanao jumped at the sound and Iba leapt off his feet, grabbing Hisagi’s arm as he made for the door. Before Nanao could make a move, Iba slammed Hisagi against the nearest wall with an arm against his throat.
“Tetsuzaemon!” she cried out and ran to them, taking hold of one of the burly man’s arms. For a moment she was afraid he would throw her off but he merely ignored her and she hung on, at a loss as to what to do.
“Listen to me,” Iba spoke and Nanao felt as if ice cold water was trickling down her spine. She had never heard him speak like that before and judging by the look on Hisagi’s stunned face, neither had he. The temperature in the room seemed to have dropped lower and she unconsciously tightened her grip on Iba’s arm.
“I slept on a fucking chair the whole night for your sorry ass and this is the thanks I get,” he grit out. Slowly. Dangerously.
“Bastard,” Hisagi choked out, struggling against the bigger man. “I didn’t fucking ask you to!”
“Damn right ya didn’t but we’re still here!”
Nanao saw Hisagi’s eyes dart to her face then back to Iba’s. Anger raged in his storm-grey eyes and Nanao feared he would lash out at them. Then all of a sudden the anger changed into wide-eyed helplessness and Hisagi stopped struggling. He lowered his gaze and Nanao pulled at Iba until he let the younger shinigami go.
“Sorry,” Hisagi said. His voice was hoarse.
Iba clamped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Ya got it tough, you and Kira,” he said. “I understand why ya think you gotta be there for him but stayin’ here like this ain’t doin’ either o’ ya any good.” He shook his head. “Ya look like shit. Go home. Ya don’t need this right now.”
“But Kira…” Hisagi blurted out and then looked ashamed of himself. He looked to Nanao like a boy being scolded by an older brother. It almost made her smile. Almost.
“I’ve got to see Kira,” Hisagi said and interrupted Iba when he opened his mouth to speak. “Just to see if he’s okay.”
Nanao looked quickly to Iba. The 7th Division Lieutenant muttered something that sounded like “stubborn bastard” under his breath but to her surprise, he was smiling. “Yeah, yeah, all right,” he said and she gasped inwardly. Iba glanced at her sharply and she took the hint and kept her mouth shut.
Oblivious, Hisagi looked at Iba hopefully and the large man heaved a great sigh. “I got no clue where Kira is,” he said. Hisagi cursed under his breath. “But I tell you what…he’s in here somewhere. Them guards o’ his? The ones from last night? Bet ya they know.”
At this Hisagi snorted derisively. “They’ll sooner arrest me than tell me where he is.”
He’s probably right, Nanao thought as she decided to step in. “Ikkaku-san went to see him earlier,” she said.
“Oh, yeah. Guess ya’ll just have to follow the mess then,” Iba joked and Hisagi actually grinned. Nanao rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile.
“If there’s anyone who can find out where Kira-kun is, it’s him,” she continued. It was true. Madarame Ikkaku was known to go to extra measures to get what he wanted. “And if I’m not mistaken,” she said slowly, reaching out with her reiatsu to see if she was right. “He is still in the building.” She smiled.
Hisagi’s face held the look of someone concentrating very hard and she knew he was searching for their bald-headed comrade’s reiatsu. He eventually looked back them.
“Why can’t I feel Kira’s reiatsu?” He asked and Nanao faltered.
“I…”
“Kid doesn’t wanna be found. Hell, would you?” Iba said smoothly and Nanao bit back a sigh of relief. Hisagi looked stricken with worry but he said nothing.
Iba heaved another great sigh. “Just go already,” he said gruffly, giving his friend a shove toward the door. “And if I catch your ass around here before this afternoon, you’re a dead man, Hisagi.”
Hisagi stumbled then righted himself, laughing. The sound lightened Nanao’s spirit. “I’m going, I’m going,” the brunet said as he made for the door. Halfway across the threshold he turned to look at the two of them and smiled.
“Thank you, Iba, Ise-san,” he said with a slight inclination of his head.
“Don’t mention it,” Iba said and Nanao smiled and gave him a short bow.
Hisagi was gone when she looked up again and Iba moved to gather their things from around the room. She followed him quietly. Rangiku’s scarf had been in her hands the whole time and she deftly folded it and laid it on the table. Iba handed her her glasses. She felt the familiar weight of them in her hands.
“You didn’t tell him,” she said as she put them on.
Iba put his own sunglasses on and shrugged.
Nanao shook her head, her long black hair swaying behind her. “He’ll be angry, Tetsuzaemon,” she continued, worried.
Iba looked at her unflinchingly. “Not at us,” he said then looked to the door where they could still see Hisagi making his way down the hall. He sighed and shook his head.
“He ain’t gonna be mad at us.”
TBC
A/N: The next chapter (because there will be one...someday...) will have IkkaKira and IkkaYumi. ShuuKira will remain the main pairing, though, once I get all the other characters out of the way. You'll have to bear with the plot being torn apart by a multitude of characters. Am not used to using a lot of different characters in one story.
Comments? Suggestions? Violent reactions? Bring it! No, seriously, if you don't like how this is going feel free to let me know. ^^
~ Chapter Three
--------------------------------------------------------
My Master Fic Index here.
My 30_romances Fic List here.
My 50scenes Prompt Table here.
My 7snogs Prompt Table here.
--------------------------------------------------------
x-posted: 50scenes, all_for_bleach, asterisk_plus, bleach_yaoi, kurosaki_clinic, sanbantaifuku and shuukira
Author: winteraconite
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Hisagi Shuuhei/Kira Izuru, Iba+Nanao
Notes/Warnings: Formerly titled "Never Let This Go". This chapter is for ceestar who constantly motivates me like a madman with a whip (in a totally good and very much appreciated way, of course ♥) as well as all those who read and commented in the first chapter. Mild angst. Spoilers for the Soul Society Arc.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of its sexy characters. I just borrow them and make them do my nasty bidding. They like it. A lot. >:)
Previous Chapter:
Chapter One
The rain that had stopped hours ago returned with a vengeance, pounding against the roof with all the rage of Mother Nature, yet surprisingly the sound of heavy raindrops barely reached her ears. The entire 1st Division Headquarters was darker than usual and it did nothing for Nanao’s bad mood as she quietly made her way toward the lieutenant’s conference room. Three captains had betrayed them and all of Soul Society was in disarray. The 4th Division was filled to the brink with injured shinigami; two of them captains, two of them lieutenants-all in critical condition. The ryoka they had all been fighting against for days have suddenly become allies and somewhere along the way Kira-fukutaichou had been taken into custody for questioning. The oppressive gloom of the building mirrored the anxiety in her mind.
She shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose as the events from earlier that night replayed in her mind. Ahead of her the door to the conference room loomed into view and relief washed through her when she identified the reiatsu emanating from within.
Iba opened the door for her just as she reached it. The outside world was unusually dark because of the rain but in here it was almost pitch black, total darkness averted only by a single lit oil lamp. Again the gloom did nothing for her mood.
“What’re ya still doin’ here?" Iba said gruffly as she stepped past him and into the room. She sighed and walked farther into the room, lighting more oil lamps along the way before taking a seat.
“The same as you,” she said tiredly, stifling a yawn. “I’m waiting.”
Iba’s gaze moved from her face to the single burst of colour in the otherwise listless room. Hisagi was a silent silhouette in the semi-darkness where he sat with his head pillowed on crossed arms, a bright pink shawl he recognized to be Matsumoto’s over his shoulders. Iba nodded and moved to take a seat beside Nanao.
“It’s been hours since she went in; who knows when it’ll be over?” he told her, tossing his sunglasses to the table and then rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hands. “You oughta go home, get some rest. Ya can always come back when all this is over.”
To his surprise, she chuckled softly and smiled, lifting her glasses off her face and placing them neatly on the table in front of her. “I’m not waiting for Rangiku, Tetsuzaemon.”
“Well, Hisagi ain’t wakin’ up anytime soon either. Almost had to knock ‘im out, the stubborn shit.”
Nanao shook her head. “I’m not waiting for him, either.”
He stared at her blankly. Nanao sighed and rubbed at her temples then stood up and walked to the other side of the room. She rummaged through a small supply closet and came back with an armful of blankets. She carefully draped one over Hisagi then handed another one to Iba who took it without a word.
“You don’t gotta,” he said once she sat back down beside him. She smiled at him then placed both their glasses at the center of the table where they couldn’t accidentally crush them in their sleep.
“I know,” she said and draped the blanket over herself.
*
The dream was terrifying, roaring into an eddy of chaos with him at its center. When Hisagi looked up he saw blood-red eyes glinting in a flurry of flames, and sharp claws waiting to tear at his flesh.
The Soukyoku.
It howled with fury, drowning out his screams as the beast reared back to tower over him, snapping its beak, its heat unbearable.
Where am I? What’s happening? The words echoed hollowly in his mind.
“Hisagi…”
A voice called out to him, barely above a whisper. That voice. He recognized that voice but couldn’t place a name on it. Flames licked at his skin. The great beast hovered over him, circling him, waiting to make the kill.
“Hisagi-san!” Another voice came, louder than the first-Kira’s voice he was sure of it. It was gone as soon as it had come, lost to the roaring of the flames. He raised his head to respond then gasped when he saw his friend. Kira was there then, standing by Soukyoku with his head held high-perfectly calm and seemingly untouchable-as if he did not have the incarnation of death hovering over him menacingly. He shouted for his friend but his voice was drowned out when the great bird gave a mighty screech. The Soukyoku glared at him balefully, looming over the small figure that was Kira looking back at him solemnly. He seemed to be glowing under the light of the flames.
Then the voices suddenly came in all at once.
“The charge is treason!”
No.
“Kira Izuru, vice-captain of the 3rd Division, is to go into trial for conspiring against the Gotei 13 and against all of Soul Society-”
“Hisagi-san, please…you have to go.”
Why?
“-and assisting the felons Aizen Sosuke, Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname in their defection!”
They’re gone, Kira.
“Should he be found guilty the penalty is death!”
You. Are. Innocent.
I’m not gonna let them kill you, Izuru.
The voices warred against each other; Yamamoto-soutaichou, his own, and Kira’s. The Soukyoku reared back, screeching as if in response to the turmoil of voices. Hisagi looked to his friend desperately, shouting for him to run to him. Kira smiled.
“Hisagi-san…please let go.”
Tell me you’re innocent, Kira. Tell me!
“Shuuhei, you have to let go.”
Hisagi stared in horror as the flames flared up and the Soukyoku spread its great wings. For a moment Kira seemed to have disappeared in the blaze and Hisagi’s heart clenched painfully in his chest. Then Kira reappeared at the center of the flames, his face hidden from view by his hair. The Soukyoku’s wings closed in around him almost lovingly, cradling Kira against its gigantic body. It let out a soft, almost crooning sound and Hisagi thought he saw a ghost of a smile on Kira’s lips.
“Forgive me.”
Kira’s screams were almost as loud as Hisagi’s as he was quickly incinerated by the power of a thousand soul slayers.
There’s nothing to forgive.
*
With a start, Hisagi bolted upright in his seat, his heart hammering in his chest. The flames, Kira’s screams-the last vestiges of the nightmare burned away from his mind even as he shook from the horror of it, disoriented and with nothing but frightening half-images to help him make sense of it all. For a moment he stared unseeing into blankness, his mind reeling. And then slowly the world seemed to snap back into place until he recognized walls of the lieutenants’ conference room. The world sharpened around him. The rain registered in his mind almost immediately. It was impossible to tell what time it was but the room was faintly grey with what he knew was the light of a new day. Hisagi had slept there through the night.
“Fuck,” he gasped out, breathing as if he had just had the wind knocked out of him. The room was silent save for the rain and he brought his hands to his face to rub away the last dregs of sleep. They came away wet with cold sweat.
“Fuck,” he said again.
“Hisagi-kun?”
He looked up from his hands at the sound of his name and saw Nanao standing across the room. “Ise-san,” he greeted and she gave him a small smile. For a moment he wondered what she was doing here then spotted Iba’s hulking form slouched over the table, asleep, and wasn’t really surprised. She followed his gaze and blushed lightly. Her long black hair was down, flowing freely down her back, and she swept it back from her face with one hand before coming toward him, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She handed it to him and he took it gratefully.
“What time is it?” He asked after taking a sip. The scent of green tea wafted around him and he closed his eyes, letting it soothe him, and missing the worried look on Nanao’s face.
“About half past nine in the morning,” she answered.
Hsiagi’s eyes snapped open. He hadn’t realized it was that late. “I’ve got to check on Kira,” he said, setting his cup of tea on the table and moving to get up. Damn it, why didn’t anyone wake him up? He pushed his chair back and Nanao got up when he did, deftly catching the thick fabric that slipped off his shoulders which he hadn’t even noticed until now. As she rolled it up in her arms he caught a glimpse of bright pink cloth he recognized instantly.
Nanao caught his gaze. “She was called to testify in Kira-kun’s trial last night,” she said, answering his unasked question. Hisagi’s eyes widened at the news. “She was in there for hours and came out exhausted.” She saw concern now in his storm grey eyes and knew he was unsure of whom he should go see first. She wished Iba was awake; she had hoped she wouldn’t be the one to have to tell him.
“She was asked to come back this afternoon,” she began tentatively and Hisagi stared at her, confusion clearly written on his face, before the implication of her words set in. She put a hand on his shoulder sympathetically as he slowly sat back down. “I’m sorry, Hisagi-kun,” she said. “The trial isn’t over yet.”
He nodded dumbly. Deep down he supposed he had already known when he woke up and Kira wasn’t there. The others would have woken him up the moment Kira got out and he would have been there in an instant. He buried his face in his hands and groaned.
Nanao looked at him worriedly and sat back down next to him. “Rangiku says you should go home,” she said softly and he lifted his head to look at her. The look on his face suddenly made her want to take him into her arms but she couldn’t assume that she was in any position to. Instead she tried to smile but failed miserably.
Hisagi looked at her piteously. Her blue-violet eyes showed more emotion than they usually did hiding behind her glasses and right now they radiated sympathy. Sympathy and exhaustion. Hisagi looked away.
The events from the day before came back to him in an unwelcome rush. Tousen-taichou was gone. His Division had no captain. Renji and Hinamori were hurt. And Kira…where was Kira? Vague images from his nightmare suddenly flashed through his mind and Hisagi felt himself begin to tremble.
Fatigue, he told himself. It’s because of the fatigue.
“Why can’t they just let him out already?” He grit out. He put his head in his hands and sighed, trying to calm himself.
Nanao moved to lay a hand on his shoulder then stopped when she saw movement from the corner of her eye. Iba was staring at the two of them from across the table. Their eyes met and she nodded before they both slowly stood up from their seats. She made to move away to the other side of the room just as Iba headed for her recently vacant seat. Before the large man could sit down, however, Hisagi’s head came up and he spoke.
“Where is he, Ise-san?” He asked.
She didn’t have to ask who he was referring to. She and Iba glanced at each other. The 7th Division Lieutenant cleared his throat and Hisagi looked at him as if just noticing he was there.
“This is bullshit, Hisagi,” Iba said. “Ain’t nothin’ you can do. Ain’t nothin’ any of us can do.”
“Your Division needs you, Hisagi-kun,” she added, hoping to reason with his sense of duty.
Hisagi closed his eye and took a deep breath at the mention of his Division. When he opened them again Nanao was taken aback by the anger she saw there. “I’ll find him with or without your help,” he said tersely. “Without it will only take longer.” He stood up quickly, shoving his chair back so hard it toppled to the floor.
Nanao jumped at the sound and Iba leapt off his feet, grabbing Hisagi’s arm as he made for the door. Before Nanao could make a move, Iba slammed Hisagi against the nearest wall with an arm against his throat.
“Tetsuzaemon!” she cried out and ran to them, taking hold of one of the burly man’s arms. For a moment she was afraid he would throw her off but he merely ignored her and she hung on, at a loss as to what to do.
“Listen to me,” Iba spoke and Nanao felt as if ice cold water was trickling down her spine. She had never heard him speak like that before and judging by the look on Hisagi’s stunned face, neither had he. The temperature in the room seemed to have dropped lower and she unconsciously tightened her grip on Iba’s arm.
“I slept on a fucking chair the whole night for your sorry ass and this is the thanks I get,” he grit out. Slowly. Dangerously.
“Bastard,” Hisagi choked out, struggling against the bigger man. “I didn’t fucking ask you to!”
“Damn right ya didn’t but we’re still here!”
Nanao saw Hisagi’s eyes dart to her face then back to Iba’s. Anger raged in his storm-grey eyes and Nanao feared he would lash out at them. Then all of a sudden the anger changed into wide-eyed helplessness and Hisagi stopped struggling. He lowered his gaze and Nanao pulled at Iba until he let the younger shinigami go.
“Sorry,” Hisagi said. His voice was hoarse.
Iba clamped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Ya got it tough, you and Kira,” he said. “I understand why ya think you gotta be there for him but stayin’ here like this ain’t doin’ either o’ ya any good.” He shook his head. “Ya look like shit. Go home. Ya don’t need this right now.”
“But Kira…” Hisagi blurted out and then looked ashamed of himself. He looked to Nanao like a boy being scolded by an older brother. It almost made her smile. Almost.
“I’ve got to see Kira,” Hisagi said and interrupted Iba when he opened his mouth to speak. “Just to see if he’s okay.”
Nanao looked quickly to Iba. The 7th Division Lieutenant muttered something that sounded like “stubborn bastard” under his breath but to her surprise, he was smiling. “Yeah, yeah, all right,” he said and she gasped inwardly. Iba glanced at her sharply and she took the hint and kept her mouth shut.
Oblivious, Hisagi looked at Iba hopefully and the large man heaved a great sigh. “I got no clue where Kira is,” he said. Hisagi cursed under his breath. “But I tell you what…he’s in here somewhere. Them guards o’ his? The ones from last night? Bet ya they know.”
At this Hisagi snorted derisively. “They’ll sooner arrest me than tell me where he is.”
He’s probably right, Nanao thought as she decided to step in. “Ikkaku-san went to see him earlier,” she said.
“Oh, yeah. Guess ya’ll just have to follow the mess then,” Iba joked and Hisagi actually grinned. Nanao rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile.
“If there’s anyone who can find out where Kira-kun is, it’s him,” she continued. It was true. Madarame Ikkaku was known to go to extra measures to get what he wanted. “And if I’m not mistaken,” she said slowly, reaching out with her reiatsu to see if she was right. “He is still in the building.” She smiled.
Hisagi’s face held the look of someone concentrating very hard and she knew he was searching for their bald-headed comrade’s reiatsu. He eventually looked back them.
“Why can’t I feel Kira’s reiatsu?” He asked and Nanao faltered.
“I…”
“Kid doesn’t wanna be found. Hell, would you?” Iba said smoothly and Nanao bit back a sigh of relief. Hisagi looked stricken with worry but he said nothing.
Iba heaved another great sigh. “Just go already,” he said gruffly, giving his friend a shove toward the door. “And if I catch your ass around here before this afternoon, you’re a dead man, Hisagi.”
Hisagi stumbled then righted himself, laughing. The sound lightened Nanao’s spirit. “I’m going, I’m going,” the brunet said as he made for the door. Halfway across the threshold he turned to look at the two of them and smiled.
“Thank you, Iba, Ise-san,” he said with a slight inclination of his head.
“Don’t mention it,” Iba said and Nanao smiled and gave him a short bow.
Hisagi was gone when she looked up again and Iba moved to gather their things from around the room. She followed him quietly. Rangiku’s scarf had been in her hands the whole time and she deftly folded it and laid it on the table. Iba handed her her glasses. She felt the familiar weight of them in her hands.
“You didn’t tell him,” she said as she put them on.
Iba put his own sunglasses on and shrugged.
Nanao shook her head, her long black hair swaying behind her. “He’ll be angry, Tetsuzaemon,” she continued, worried.
Iba looked at her unflinchingly. “Not at us,” he said then looked to the door where they could still see Hisagi making his way down the hall. He sighed and shook his head.
“He ain’t gonna be mad at us.”
TBC
A/N: The next chapter (because there will be one...someday...) will have IkkaKira and IkkaYumi. ShuuKira will remain the main pairing, though, once I get all the other characters out of the way. You'll have to bear with the plot being torn apart by a multitude of characters. Am not used to using a lot of different characters in one story.
Comments? Suggestions? Violent reactions? Bring it! No, seriously, if you don't like how this is going feel free to let me know. ^^
~ Chapter Three
--------------------------------------------------------
My Master Fic Index here.
My 30_romances Fic List here.
My 50scenes Prompt Table here.
My 7snogs Prompt Table here.
--------------------------------------------------------
x-posted: 50scenes, all_for_bleach, asterisk_plus, bleach_yaoi, kurosaki_clinic, sanbantaifuku and shuukira