#maybe they were looking for Ichigo and found the girls inside

[black--sun]

He’s not expecting that. He didn’t think Shiro would hand out private details, but he really didn’t expect him to ever date a cop either. Or sleep with. Ichigo only recalls Shiro scorning any kind of authority, especially the few times they’ve interacted with law enforcement. Ichigo’s never had any real animosity toward the police until they put his dad away. And it doesn’t matter that he knows Shiro dating a cop isn’t related to his situation at all, it still feels like a stab in the back. “You’re right. Why would he try to kill you? You probably pay him well.” 

Ichigo crosses his arms, tempted to roll over. That might’ve been a little low. But also a little deserved. 

Back to flirting. Ichigo ignores it the same way he used to back when they first met. Only, now he knows it’s not just suggestive banter to throw him off balance. Shiro is probably serious. “I’d like it if you got back in the car, yeah. But I’d settle for you wearing protection and not standing out in front.” It’s not like he’s being paid to be agreeable. Not like Shiro’s boyfriend. 

He huffs an almost laugh. “Not a chance.” Shiro already has enough money and power to wreak havoc, as if Ichigo would introduce him to a small, private army. 

He isn’t quite grinding his teeth yet, but he also doesn’t have to keep Shiro happy anymore. “Like you need to remind me. That’s just about your life motto, isn’t it?” Now he does roll onto his opposite side.

His eyes coast to the side to find Ichigo, but he doesn't actually turn his head. He can't tell if Ichigo is genuinely asking, or if he's implying he thinks Shiro's wrong. Or maybe he's just trying to figure out who Shiro's screwing around with... Except that implies jealousy and Ichigo wants nothing to do with him.

He shrugs. "He's a cop." Not that he'd succeed if he tried to arrest Shiro. Shiro's pockets run deep and so do his connections. He sells to half the force. "I didn't know that when we first met, but I figured it out quick." And he chose to see him again anyway.

There's enough alcohol buzzing in his system that he catches that ire, but in a lazy, mostly unbothered sort of way. He's usually a pretty happy drunk, as long as he's not too drunk, and right now he's hovered right on that perfect plane. "I'm already a target. I'm gonna be a target the moment we roll up. Unless you thought you'd hide me in your car the whole time. Only way that's happening is if you're in my lap to keep me there."

Ichigo sounds so exasperated already and it hasn't even happened. He snorts. "Good, it sounds fun. I love a good mess. You'll have to introduce me to 'em when we're done." He highly doubts Ichigo has any intention of damage control, let alone damage control that stays out of the way. Ichigo has always enjoyed a good fight and being right in the middle of everything. "I'll jump in where I see fit, if I see fit." It's his nice way of saying no one can tell him what to do.

[thewritetofreespeech]

Byakuya, Uryu, and Ichigo receiving an elaborate cake for Valentine's day while everyone else gets chocolates?

Byakuya/Uryu/Ichigo+ get Valentine’s Day Cakes

**sorry this took a little bit. i wanted to wait to post during doki-doki season  ^_^**

💜Byakuya💜

Byakuya sighed through his nose as he diligently worked on his files. Ignoring the distractions that seemed to plauge his squad today.

Since the inclusion of Valentine’s Day into the Soul Society some time ago, Byakuya had always been on the receiving end of gifts. So much so that the Shinigami Women's Association has seen fit to collect all his gifts at their headquarters and deliver them en masse as to not disturb to 6th Squads duties more than necessary.

He found the whole thing frivolous. A waste of time, money, and resources to hand out gifts for no greater reason than a date on a calendar. Only a fool would be excited about that.

“Captain! Captain! Look what I got!” Renji yipped loudly as he came through the door. “[Y/N] made them for the whole squad. This one is mine! It’s dark chocolate and red chili powder. Want some?”

The lieutenant shoved the brightly colored pouch of chocolate hearts into his face. Making Byakuya frown. “No. Thank you Renji. Have you finished those reports?”

“Oh…right…” The red head seemed a little crestfallen and popped another sweet into his mouth, as if for comfort.

“What’s the matter with him?” [Y/N] asked. Appearing in the doorway just as Renji sulked out.

“He forgot it was a workday.” He quipped while continuing his work. “I take it you’ve caused quite the distraction around the barracks.”

“I don’t think it’s that much of a distraction.” She replied as she stepped further into his office.

“A pretty girl handing out sweets to unsuspecting, unworthy men on Valentine’s Day. It’s the worst kind of distraction.”

[Y/N] giggled. “I was just trying to be nice. I thought it would lift everyone’s spirits.” Byakuya humped. They could have their spirits lifted when they got their work done.

He heard the sound of rustling beside him, and turned just in time to see a box being placed on his desk. “What’s this? More chocolate hearts?”

“No. I made those for Renji. This is for you.” Her smile was enthusiastic and blinding as always. Compelling him to do as she wished.

Byakuya sat his pen down and opened the box. Shocked to find inside six elaborately decorated cakes. Each more intricately designed than the last in what looked like a pictograph of the changing seasons.

“I know you don’t really like sweets, but I thought you might like them a bit more if they were small and different flavors. The spring one is cherry blossom. The summer is citrus jelly filled. The fall is a maple custard. And the winter is a human world plum pudding idea. I wanted to try something you maybe hadn’t had before.”

The captain looked at the beautiful cakes as she explained. Two of each, to clearly share.

He stared inside the box for a moment longer before he closed it and returned to his work. “Bring it by the manor later. We’ll have tea. After work.”

[Y/N] beamed and took her box back. “Ok!”

She all but skipped out the door, just as Renji was coming back with his paperwork. “What’s gotten into her?”

“Distraction.”

💙Uryu💙

He hated Valentine’s Day.

Well…perhaps hate was a strong word. But he didn’t care for it.

Always being the shy, small, pasty kid with glasses, who liked sewing, Uryu wasn’t the type to be sought out by valentines. Therefore, he spent most of the day alone. Watching other happy couple coo and gush, and try not to get a headache from all the pinks & red splattered downtown.

“Uryu-kun.”

The quincy looked up at the sound of his name to find [Y/N] there. A girl from his class. He had noticed her in the past for her warm smile and clear, distinctive way she articulated poetry in their Japanese Literature class. They hadn’t had many conversations, other than good mornings & take cares, so he wondered what was up.

“Yes [Y/N]? Is there something you need?”

“Well, no. Not really need. I just….I wanted to give you something.” She handed him a box. Bigger than the ones currently being passed around on break, and with a distinct silver bow. Not red or pink. “H-Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Uryu was shocked by her words, and what was clearly now a Valentine’s Day gift. “May…I open it?” [Y/N] nodded. Her cheeks pink as he pulled off the ribbon to find a beautiful, small white cake inside.

“You said you didn’t like chocolate.” He looked up from his present to [Y/N] in confusion. “You said you didn’t like chocolate once. Back at Christmas? Sensei gave everyone chocolate Santas and you didn’t want yours. So I thought you might like cake better.”

He was shocked yet again to realize she had remembered that. He had only said it in passing, to no one in particular as he figured no one was listening. She was listening though. “I…I….Thank you. You didn’t have to spend so much on a present just for me.”

“Oh, it wasn’t that expensive. I made it.”

His heart seemed to race in his chest. He had a homemade cake from a girl in his hands. “W-Well…Well…Your very talented.” He floundered as he pushed up his glasses. “It looks like it came from a store.”

[Y/N] grinned. “Thanks! Baking is my passion. I…I hope you like it Uryu-kun.” She then darted off, clearly to detach herself from the situation now that the ‘grenade’ had been dropped.

Uryu just sat there with his box and flushed cheeks thinking ‘I got my first valentine’.

🧡Ichigo🧡

“I’m heading out.” Ichigo announced as he pulled on his jacket. He then walked back up to the front by the counter and stopped next to the register. “Unless you need anything [Y/N]?”

“No, No. It’s fine.” She replied. Waving him off. “Besides, Ikumi-san will be mad if you rack up much more overtime.”

Ichigo shuttered at the thought of Ikumi’s angry, ugly scowl. Practically hearing her growl “what are you trying to do?! Bleed me dry?!” in his ears.

Zipping up his jacket he caught a glance of a slice of Swiss Roll cake on the counter. “Hey. Since when have we had these?” He asked. Noticing it was part of a larger display of slices, and picked up one for himself.

“I.I.I….we…” [Y/N] stammered in alarm while her hands waved.

Ichigo didn’t seem to pay attention to her alarm as he took a big bite of cake and swallowed. “Wow! These are pretty good. Where did we get ‘em from? That bakery across the street?”

“N-No..uh…actually…I made it.”

“You did?” The red head asked. Wiping a dab of cream that had been left on his lips. “Why didn’t you say anything? Oh man, this wasn’t your late-night snack, was it?” He knew she liked to pack her lunch when she worked the later shifts, as not to fall into the financial trap of convenience food.

“N-No…” She repeated. “I uh….I made it for you….” Ichigo was surprised, but relieved that he hadn’t callously stolen her food. Why was his usually confident friend being so weird about it though? “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

His eyes went wider in surprise. He had to think about it. Oh yeah, February 14th was tomorrow. Since he was working today (and a guy) he’d completely forgotten about it. “I knew you weren’t going to be working the rest of the week, so I wanted to give it to you now. But….I changed my mind. You can still take it if you want. It doesn’t have to mean anything though. This was a stupid idea. I--“Your working tomorrow right?”

[Y/N] looked up at Ichigo when he cut her rambling off. She blinked. Trying to reset her brain. Then nodded.

“I’ll be by then tomorrow.” He announced. Popping the rest of his cake slice into his mouth and reaching over to take his hidden plate of remaining slices out from behind the counter. “Can I give some of these to Yuzu & Karin? They’d really like ‘em, but I don’t know like the etiquette of share Valentine’s Day presents.”

[Y/N]’s lashes fluttered happily. Her cheeks pink. Her heart racing. “Y-Yes. You can share them with them if they want. It might be nice for your sisters and dad to share them after dinner.”

“The old man can get his own cake.” Ichigo muttered. Securing the plastic wrap around the cake before he took off. “I’ll see you tomorrow [Y/N]!”

“See you tomorrow,” [Y/N] called back. And when the door closed, they added quietly to themselves, “valentine.”

[howlingday]

Ok so since you've opened prepare for the Pandora's box.

- First a follow up on the two dead Jaune sisters comeback grimmverse style giving our boy a lot more trauma, angst, and moral dilemma. I asked a while ago

- Second so you know about @arc-misadventures magical girl Pyrrha post where Pyrrha has a Sailor Moon transformation, (if not I'll grab the post and send it) can you do one but with Bleach Ichigo for Jaune, Bankai style with the whole environment shifting and vortex of pure aura. And maybe the rest of JNPR with RWBY watching.

Thank you!

A twofer? That's a first. But I think I can do it.

---------------------------------------------------

REUNION

First/Previously

Jaune was shaking. He'd just survived a horrifying experience straight from his nightmares, as if the Grimm had found a way to reach into the very depths of his soul and found exactly what he feared to make this happen. He sat in the Bullhead, only minutely concerned about taking off soon. The rest of his mind was occupied by near-death experience with his sisters.

His two oldest sisters, Kassandra and Polly were alive. Or, at least, that's what he thought when he saw them. However, their return from the grave was not without its horrors. Like some horrifying macabre portrait about the origin of humanity, his sisters looked like they emerged from the bodies of Grimm, their skin pale as death with eyes bloody red.

Kassandra towered over him on horse-like hooves, her eyes framed by blinders blocking her peripherals. Her arms hung low, like twisted, black vines sprouting thorns and spines until reaching the connected tip of a hooked blade, almost like it was a cross between a harpoon and a spear. She easily closed the gap between herself and him, taking him into her perforating arms to squeeze the life out of her baby brother. He almost puked from the smell of death from her.

Polly was shorter, standing taller than Jaune but not Kassie, while her face was framed by a thick shell similar to a boxing helmet. This went well with massive arms she sported, about as large as a Beringel, that ender in thickly armored fists that hit like a truck against his shield. Of the two, she seemed the most eager with her fanged mouth spread into a sinister smile. When she had him pinned against the tree, he heard her speak...

"Jauney... Cry..."

And yes, he did cry. He wept int front of his sister as she crushed his lungs against his ribcage against his chestplate. If it wasn't for the sudden rescue by his team, Professor Goodwitch, and Ruby's uncle, he was certain he was going to die right then and there.

"Jaune?" He flinched, looking up to see his partner standing over him. "Are you okay?"

"No." He then grabbed her and sobbed into her chest. It was awkward for them both, but Pyrrha rubbed his back, cooing reassurances. Jaune Arc had been through hell, and he survived. But knowing his sisters were still there only made him feel worse.

(Also, I was recommended to look to this post for inspiration, so credit to @ratchetmath for his work)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jaune panted hard as the Grimm Hound continued to wear him down. Apparently, Salem had learned her lesson about her previous attempt with the Grimm and decided to improve on what was already a deadly killing machine. It was stronger, faster, and definitely smarter than the one before, being able to speak full sentences instead of barks of only one word at a time. To make matters worse, Jaune's aura was starting to slow on its recovery.

"You will die." It growled. It wasn't the first time it said it, but with what Jaune had planned, he hoped it would be the last.

Taking a deep breath, he sheathed his sword. He could feel his aura build inside him, then changing its color from yellow to white. As the Grimm barreled down on him, he held up his shield, hand firmly gripped on the hilt of his sword.

"Ban... KAI!"

With a draw of his blade, blinding light shot high into the sky. The Hound roared in pain as it covered its eyes. As it regained its vision, it saw Jaune had completely changed. Seated atop a pristine white mount shaped like a cross between a horse and a rabbit glared with indignation at the black beast snarling at them. Its golden antlers glittered in the dark environment. Jaune had also changed into pearl white armor with golden frames, and in his hands he held a massive shield shaped like a teardrop and a longsword of pure light.

Chevalier Blanc du Ciel

As the Hound leapt towards Jaune, the mounted paladin raised his sword, which had shifted into a spear. In half a blink, the spear had torn through the Grimm, and a new spear had taken its place in Jaune's hands. It roared as it continued its pursuit, ready to tear through the knight and his mount. The spear changed into a sword and Jaune cued the jackalope forward. The two passed, the Grimm finding itself perfectly split in two by a gaping slice in its shoulder while the cavalier remained unharmed.

"Thank... You..." Jaune nodded as the Grimm disappeared and its human host was finally put to rest.

(This post was also recommended as inspiration, so please also credit @arc-misadventures)

(Also inspired by my previous bankai posts here and here)

[bleachanimefan1]

Bleach Shadow Redux Part 5

Renji and Rukia,

Kenpachi ran along the rooftops of the houses in the Seireitei, hopping from one to another. Yachiru was on his back, enjoying the ride. "Damn it! Where'd she go!?" He growled in frustration. Yachiru laughed.

"Wow, Kenny! I've never seen you this worked up since yours and Ichi's fight! She was really strong! Tomato head wasn't even fazed by your spiritual pressure, while most usually pass out or struggle to stand!"

"Will you be quiet! I'm trying to concentrate." Kenpachi closed his eye as he started to sense around for anything. He wasn't great at sensing spiritual pressure, but he can always tell when there's a fight. 

"Found her." Kenpachi smirked and darted towards Akari's spiritual energy, heading towards the Rukongai.

"Get her, Kenny!"

In the Rukongai, Ikkaku and Yumichika showed Akari the best shop to eat at. They sat down at a table eating some dangos and some dumplings. Yumichika and Ikkaku watched in disbelief as they saw Akari finish off her 23 bowl of ramen.

"You know, for a skinny girl, you sure do love to eat." Ikkaku snorted.

"What? I'm a growing woman. I can't help it." Akari said.

"Yo! Ikkaku! Yumichika!" Akari saw a red-haired man walked up to them along with a woman who was standing beside him.

"Renji!" Ikkaku called out to him and waved and so did Yumichika.

"Who is this?" Renji asked Ikkaku and Yumichika, noticing Akari. Rukia wondered as well.

"You're looking at the newest member of our Squad!" Ikkaku smirked. Rukia's eyes widen  in shock, along with Renji's.

"You joined Squad 11!? But you're a girl!" Renji shouted.

"And what's wrong with that?" Akari frowned.

"You must be really strong then! I'm Renji. Renji Abarai. I used to be in Squad 11, but now I'm a Lieutenant in Squad 6."

"I'm Akari. Akari Agawa." Akari introduced herself to them.

"I'm Rukia. Rukia Kuchiki." Rukia spoke.

"Rukia?" Akari's eyes widen a little. "Oh, you're Rukia! So, you're the one this someone called Ichigo saved?"

"Yes, I owe him my life, along with the others who came with him."

"Kuchiki. Are you related to them?" Akari asked.

"I'm adopted by my brother Byakuya. Do you know the Kuchiki's or something?" Rukia asked Akari.

"Well, they were a starting well-known family back from when I was."

"Starting? Back when you were? What do you mean?" Rukia questioned.

"It's a really long story." Akari told Rukia and Renji what happened "I'm not exactly from this time period. I'm from 1000 years ago. There wasn't any soul society as it was still being built and neither of the squads haven't been formed yet. Ikkaku and Yumichika found me trapped inside of a crystal all this time."

"Oh...I see. How did you end up here then?" Rukia asked her.

"I don't really know. The last thing I remember was fighting a-"

"Fighting a what?" Rukia asked. Akari paused for a moment, wondering if she should tell them the truth. They seem trustworthy enough even though she had just met them. "Have you ever heard of a shadow hallow?"

"A shadow hollow?" Renji questioned.

"I think I've heard of them before. But I can't be for sure...Maybe in a book somewhere." Rukia murmured. Akari explained to Rukia and Renji what a shadow hollow was like she told Ikkaku and Yumichika. "They're extremely dangerous." Rukia and Renji's eyes widen in shock.

"Yikes." Renji cringed.

"Oh! You mean like vampires!" Rukia shouted. Akari blinked, confused.

"Vampires?" Rukia smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, instead of spiritual energy they suck blood from your neck. But they're a myth."

"It sounds nicer the way you say it. I guess you can call them similar to each other." Akari replied.

"So a shadow hollow did this to you, trapped you for 1000 years?" Rukia asked.

"Yes. And that's not all..." Akari bit her lip. She was going to have to trust them. But she also wanted to see how they would react. They seemed capable of themselves to hold their own. Rukia frowned.

"What is it?"

"You two have to promise not to panic and freak out. You cannot tell anyone. Only Ikkaku and Yumichika know so far. And I trust them with my life. I hope I can trust you two for what I'm about to tell you..." Akari told them.

"About what?" Renji questioned.

"I am one." Akari told Rukia and Renji. Rukia and Renji's eyes widen a little in surprise. So did Ikkaku and Yumichika, who looked at Akari confused. 

"WHAT!?" the two of them exclaimed.

"You're a holl-" Ikkaku and Yumichika's eyes widen, along with Akari's. Akari quickly covered Renji's mouth. "Shh! This is exactly what I'm talking about! I don't want to start a panic. Now, I'm going to let go but you better not scream." Renji quickly nodded his head. Akari slowly removed her hand from his mouth. 

"This is a lot to take in." Rukia said.

"I can't believe it! How are you not ravenous and mindless, right now?" Renji asked Akari, still in disbelief. Akari shrugged her hands.

"Well, she is ravenous..." Yumichika commented. "But she can control it."

"And you're fun to mess with." Akari smirked at him before turning back Rukia and Renji. "I guess I'm just lucky. But I do feel a little insulted that you would compare me to them. I am not one of those things. I am still a soul reaper." She replied.

"So you're on the hunt for whoever did this to you?" Rukia asked her. Akari nodded.

"Yes. If the leader's taken out, they'll all scatter. I just don't know where they are at the moment." She told them.

"How are you going to find them? Didn't you just say that anyone could be one of them?" Rukia's eyes widen. "What if it's one of us."

"Don't worry. You're all are fine." Akari told her.

"How do you know that?" Renji asked. Akari frowned when she glanced over Renji's shoulder. She got up. "I need you guys to get everyone out of this shop." She told them before she started to walk over to a man.

"Akari?" Yumichika questioned. Everyone's eyes widen in shock when they saw Akari stab the guy with her zanpakuto.

"What the hell are you doing!?" Ikkaku and Renji shouted at her. Their eyes widen when they saw the man's eyes turned a deep shade of purple. He glared at Akari.

"How did you know!?"

"I can see you." Akari smiled when she told him in a sing songy voice. "You're purple reitsu gave it away." Several customers ran out of the shop terrified. Renji and Rukia helped some out as well who were too scared to move. The shadow hollow's eyes widen in fear at Akari and they tried to run. Akari quickly grabbed them by the shoulder and slammed them against the wall, pressing her zanpakuto against its neck hard.

"Tell me where he is."

"I-I don't know who you're talking about-"

"I think you do." The shadow hollow let out a hallow shriek as it felt the blade dig deeper. Akari was smacked back as it kicked her and she was sent flying back.

"Akari!" Ikkaku and Yumichika shouted. Akari flew out of the tatami window, crashing through the paper, and landed on her back out on the streets.

"Found you!" Akari groaned and opened one of her eyes to see Kenpachi grinning wildly as he stared down at her. Yachiru popped over his shoulder, smiling.

"Great job, Kenny! You found her!" She cheered.

"Now we can get back to what we started-"

"Not now! I'm busy!" Akari shouted at him. Kenpachi huffed.

"Get up." Suddenly, Ikkaku and Yumichika were sent flying out as well, landing a few feet behind Kenpachi and Akari. "What the hell?"

The shadow hollow stepped outside, crashing through the front entrance. It's body had transformed, growing larger. More centipede in appearance as many legs sprouted from it's body. The shadow hollow's dark purple eyes glared down at the soul reapers below then let out an ear piercing hollow shriek. Kenpachi smirked.

"This is going to be fun!" He laughed and charged at the hollow with his sword.

"No, you idiot!" Akari shouted at him.

[myrskytuuli]

So, confession time, when I was twelve I was like Huuuuge Kishigo shipper and that’s how I for the first time found my way tot he wonderful world of fanfics and fanart, but now as an adult I obviously see how toxic and problematic the ship- HAHAHAH GOT YOU GOOD! In this house I don’t grow and don’t become better.

Anyway, now that I’ve dusted off my almost 20 years old Kishigo ship-sails, let me just say how pleasantly surprised and absolutely hopeful I am about their dynamic in the reboot, based only off the short clip in the opening. Because we all know that the original Kishigo dynamic was fucked up as hell. It would be really funny and enjoyable most of the time and then briefly take a sharp turn to completely fucked up and then return back to the genuinely funny like nothing had happened. Oh early 2000s you were truly a different time and Ichigo’s three weed smoking boyfriends were all very much trapped in their 90s boyfriend harem archetypes. The gentleman. The tsundere with a heart of gold. The actual psychopath.

(As an aside, remember how fucked up it was that every girl with several suitors always had to have one of them being an actual sex offender. Like that was just a thing. Remember when we as pubescent girls said shit like “I wish I was raped by character X” like that was just a normal thing to say. And we would all blush and giggle. How did any of us survive puberty in the early 2000s?)

Getting back on topic, the fact that they replaced the nonconsensual kiss in the intro with Kisshu just jumpscaring Ichigo fills me with hope that they have gone the sensible route and toned down the uncomfrotable intensity of Kisshu’s “crush” and maybe kept him as an annoying flirt without it veering into disregarding Ichigo’s actual boundaries. (aside from the fact that they’re fighting obviously.)

The relationship between kisshu and Ichigo was really funny when they weren’t being weirdly sexual, and I want more of that best nemesis dynamic from them.

I want Ichigo and Kisshu to immediately have the very special kind of chemistry that only two people who understand each other at their base clown level can have, the kind of where they immediately dumb each other down and truly bring out the least dignified version of each other that there is.

The kind of where they both think that they are L and Light from that Death Note opening, standing on those colour-coded pillars, the only equals to each other’s genius, expect that they’re both dumb and make each other actively dumber. Casual strangers on the street describe them as “those two best friends who were yelling at each other in the park again.”

The kind where they will both ditch much more important tasks to fistfight each other in the 7/11 parking lot. Both of their teammates are begging them to please just focus on the mission and ignore the other, but the clown music taking over their minds the closer their proximity is to each other is too strong. Nobody thinks their rivalry is impressive expect them. They also know stupid amount of useless information about each other because they cannot help but overshare a weird amount of personal and emotional information to each other while punching each other in the face. One time while fighting Kisshu accidentally teleported them both inside a movie theatre. They were both so tired that they decided to take break and watch the movie together. It was okay, Kisshu thought the spacecraft in the movie looked stupid and unpractical, Ichigo didn’t like how only female character was a love interest, but they both agreed that the special effects were good.

Aoyama-kun, being the saint that he is, understands that sometimes a girl needs time with her alien nemesis. He just wishes that it was less often in the middle of their date-night.

[hoetachi]

WUSYANAME? + Ichigo Kurosaki

mulan’s input: he got the drip for this song, if we being honest summary: in which he just wanna know the name that goes with that pretty lil face genre; fluff pairings; ichigo kurosaki x black! reader

drabble

what’s your name?

it was a question he had on replay whenever you showed up. You was new to his town and based off of what his boys been saying, you were an angel to be around. A heart of pure gold & love, an welcoming energy and a smile to turn away any storm that might approach. That was you, and he wanted to witness these things for himself

“Are you gonna ask her or stare like a creep while we’re here?” Rukia scolded as she whacked the back of the ginger’s head with a rolled up magazine

“Ouch and what the hell are you talkin’ about? i’m not staring at no one” He lied as his glanced towards your direction. The both of you locked eyes and a bright pink blush swarm his cheeks as he quickly looked away obviously, causing a sweet giggle to come from your person which only deepened his already flustered cheeks

“Obviously there’s no hallows around for you to be staring intensely like that. so are you going to go introduce yourself or not?”

“He’s probably gonna scare her off with his rep or maybe he don’t got the balls to go and talk to her” Karin teased as she kicked her feet up with a smirk.

If there’s one thing that anymore learned about Ichigo, it would be don’t underestimate challenging him. Any previous fear or nervous can be wiped away with determination, if he put his heart into, which currently was the reason why he was approaching your booth with the confidence of an king

You noticed his stride towards, which caused you to put down the pen inside your notebook, giving your aching a small break to hear what this kid had to say

With a charming grin, he stood before with a cool demeanor. “Hey there beautiful, I’ve noticed you around school and some parts of town so i decided to come and finally introduce myself to you” He winked as he stuck his hand toward you. Your eyes darting from his hand to his face before you gently took it and gave it a firm shake before letting it out

“Really? so what’s your name?” You gave him a smile, one that light up the darkest spaces in his mind. He really looked like he was gonna turn into putty if you decided to simply tap his shoulder for his attention.

At first was amusing until you noticed he was just standing there looking at you. You waved your hand in front of his face, yet you didn’t get a reaction out of him

“Umm… your name, ginger?”

You rolled your neck at him as he stared at you— basically with heart eyes. You couldn’t help the giggle that erupted from your throat once again. You wasn’t expecting someone like him to be so all over place at the sight of you. In other words, you found it’s kinda cute in a way

“Hey! tell her your name, you dimwit!” Rukia hid her laughter behind her hand as Karin irritatedly threw a can at the dumbstruck reaper’s head, bringing him back to his senses and making him remember why he even approach you in the first place

“Oh- my name is ichi—” He whipped his head to an empty booth. Thousands of questions ran through his mind as he looked around the small restaurant for you, but to no avail. He audibly groaned at the missed opportunity due to his obvious drooling, but how can you really blame him when your that girl. You have—no, you are star quality behind those gorgeous warm eyes and just standing there in those seconds before you vanished from his presence, you could say he fell in love with the way the sun shined against your sephia, reddish-brown, skin or the way barbie-styled silk press ponytail elegantly perched just an inch off your shoulders

Whatever it was, it definitely did a number on his thoughts about you. Who would’ve thought a basic question like that would caused the delinquent soul reaper to freeze like a deer in headlights. Thinking about the stolen moment due to his confidence falter for a second in your beautiful presence

A frown emerged on his features whilst he stuffed his hands deep in his pockets. Only if you said your name first, maybe he wouldn’t feel so… lost at the moment

“..just wanted to know your name”

karin rised from her seat with a witty grin a she rested a hand on his shoulder. “You win some, you lose some” She shrugged, attempting to get him out his little feelings over something so little. However, her attention was elsewhere as her brow raised at a small folded piece of scratch paper was laid out neatly on the wooden table you once sat at

“Hey bro, i think she left something behind” She brought to his attention while walking over and plucking it from its spot

Suddenly his mind became curious once more at the mention of you. “Really? what is it?”

“A note of some sort. It’s probably for you.”

He took the piece of paper before taking a lone seat away from peering eyes. On the folded part it read ‘for ginger ♡’ and the way his previous blush came at back, was on tenfold.

Taking a shaky breath as his heart beat out of his chest at concerning rate he finally decide to unfold the small paper and it’s contents eagerly

‘You cute and kinda silly… and i have a gut feeling you have pure intentions, ginger. So here’s my number (xxx-xxx-xxxx) as a second chance. Call me y/n, and also if you ever get lost too xoxo’

if anyone who was wondering what the hairstyle looks like

reblogs are ALWAYS appreciated <3.

[animeloverskylarmoon]

Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach) Chapter 3 (Short Story)

"Fight me!"

"No!

"Please!"

"No!"

"Just one battle, I won't even use my zanpakuto."

His vein popped.

"ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF ME!! I SAID NO SO QUIT IT!!" Everyone on that street certainly heard that yell, and you sulked to the side.

"I didn't realize humans were so mean."

A few passers by sent Ichigo dirty looks, and he could feel his annoyance rising.

"Let's go!" He grabbed your hand, pulling you away from the public eye, and you followed with a snicker. Maybe if you pissed him off enough he'd give in. After a few minutes of walking, your eyes drift to your linked hands. His hold had lessened considerably. In some strange way, it felt kind of nice.

"Where are you taking me?"

"To get a snack." you smile at that, tighten your hold on his hand. Ichigo's cheeks flushed at the action and you move closer, walking in step with him. "What kind of snack?" He stopped at one of the buildings, and you were too busy admiring it all to ask anymore questions. He bought something, walking out. Once you were outside he released your hand, opening the small packet he purchased.

"They're called gummy bears, try one." He passed the snack to you, and you stared at the packet, placing your hand inside as you popped one into your mouth. Your eyes light up as you continue to chow down the gummy bears. "This is delicious!!" Ichigo smiles. He'd found your weakness apparently.

"You know this world has a lot more to offer than people for you to fight." You're a bit distracted by the fruit snack, so he figures you didn't hear that last comment. "Why do you like fighting so much anyway?" That you seem to register. You stop eating, looking over at him. Ichigo is a bit taken by the look in your eyes. He was so used to your excitement. That vulnerability you display is foreign.

"I just do, you got a problem with that." He can feel the hostility.

"Hey, no need to get worked up, I was just curious."

You don't speak, dropping the remainder of your snack on the floor. You look away from him. "Call me when hollows start to show up." you jump onto a building nearby and Ichigo yells. "Hey where the hell are you going!!" you don't offer a reply, just vanish. He sighs scratching his head.

"Damn it."

~~~~

"Where's (Y/N)." Ichigo shakes his head. "No idea, she just took off. " Renji's brows furrowed.

"What'd you say to her you idiot."

"Who are you calling an idiot, idiot!!" They both glared, and Ichigo huffs, folding his arms. "All I did was ask her why she likes to fight so much. Then she got weird and took off." He was glad you were no longer chasing him for a battle, but something about that look in your eyes just felt so...lonely.

"You dumbass, you really don't know a thing about girls huh."

"What's that supposed to mean? I'm not psychic, she just took off!!" Talking to Renji was just making him more annoyed. Renji smacked him over the head. "Find her and apologize." He sprung up, kicking Renji in the face. "What the hell, I didn't do anything!!" A fist came hurtling in his direction, and the minute it connected his body hit the floor of Kisuke's shop.

"It doesn't matter, just apologize!" Renji screamed after his vicious punch.

"That doesn't make any sense!!"

~~~~

With a deep sigh, you stare at the night sky.

"I shouldn't have run off."

It was a childish move. He did nothing wrong, just asked a question. One you couldn't truly answer. Growing up in the Rukongai, it was a kill or be killed situation. Everyday was a battle. For food and survival. You couldn't count how many times you'd almost been devoured by a hollow, or attacked by another soul who was desperate for food or shelter. Survival of the fittest they say. As a child, you had no choice. You had to fight. You needed to survive. Your clench your fists, and the sword on your back shifts in it's hold.

"I need to be strong."

"You don't always have to be strong. " you flinch at the voice. Turning, you stare at the reaper. Ichigo is in his black robes, and he sends you a grin. "Gotcha." your eyes widened. Those were the exact words you'd said to him when you met.

"I figure you'd be on some building scoping out the city. " You are perched on a tower, looking down at the many lights.

"I'm sorry." you mutter. You're a bit embarrassed. You usually never get worked up for such silly things.

"Don't worry about it. " Ichigo takes a seat next to you. "I get it, you don't have to explain anything to me. Next time don't go running off. I was worried. "

"You were worried..about me?" He nods. "Course I was, we're friends now. It's normal."

"Friends." you look over at him, and his gaze shifts to you. There's that look again. He's not sure why, but he feels like he has to protect you, so you never have to look so sad ever again. He knows in the soul society it's more about loyalty and subordination, so a lot of the concepts that applied in his world don't truly exist in yours. He's unable to fight the urge, he reaches out, and your eyes shake the minute his hand touches your cheek. It's so soft and warm.

"I'll show you everything I can. Don't force yourself to be strong alone, I'll help you. You can lean on others for your strength, you can lean on me. " You don't have any words. None. When he'd told you there was more to life than fighting, you wanted to laugh in his face. But now, you can see that. There is apparently a whole lot more that you never even considered. It takes you a few moments to realize he's gotten closer to you. It's only when his eyelids lower, and he leans in that you blush and panic. You shoved him back, and Ichigo faceplants.

"W-WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING!!

"N-nothing!!"

"Liar! Y-You were trying to kiss me!"

"NO!! T-THERE WAS A BUG IN YOUR HAIR, I WAS GETTING IT OUT! "

"THE HELL YOU WERE!!" With a smack to his face, you flash step, cheeks still blazing. Your heart was hammering as you made a stealthy escape.

"W-What the hell was that?"

A part of you felt..disappointed that he didn't actually get a chance to kiss you. You clench your eyes close, moving quicker. You needed to get this mission done and get far away from him.

[cooliogirl101]

If Sayuri was transported to Bleach canon alone (assuming the same premise of the lightning mist au, where Sousuke is dead so she doesn’t seek to find a way back), what would she do?

Well in the lightning mist AU, she basically went into a deep, deep depression and didn’t come out of it until she found Sakumo and Kakashi. I don’t think she would bother seeking out canon!Aizen-- she wouldn’t be able to bear having him look at her without any of the warmth, love, and recognition her Sousuke looked at her with. She’d wander the world lost, grieving, not wanting to live but not having the energy to die either. 

Ichigo first meets the woman in white when he is nine years old. He sees her standing by the river as he’s walking to karate practice, staring blankly into the distance. 

She’s not the first person Ichigo’s found wandering around Karakura Town looking a little lost. The others, they’d mainly looked confused, unsure of who they were or what they were supposed to be doing. This one, though...this one just looked sad. 

“Hey!” He calls out. She doesn’t respond and so he runs up to her. “Hey, are you alright? Do you need help?”

Close up, Ichigo can’t help but notice that the woman looks...really, really thin. He swallows, looking up at her sunken eyes, the dark bruise-like shadows underlining them, her hollowed-out cheeks...

“Are-- are you hungry?” He asks the stranger hesitantly. “Do you want to come home with me? Mom would be okay with it, she loves having guests over! And she’s a really good cook, everyone says so. You should come! I think we’re having curry tonight.”

Her eyes flicker down towards him, gaze sharpening for the briefest moment as she takes in his face. Then she turns away, walking off. Ichigo watches her go, expression thoughtful. When he gets home that night, he makes sure to sneak some extra snacks into his backpack for tomorrow.

Ichigo seeks out the woman in white every day for the next three weeks. It isn’t always easy to find her but something about the water seems to calm her, and so more often than not Ichigo can find her standing by the river. He still hasn’t managed to convince her to take any food but on the bright side, she seems to be tolerating his presence more. She hasn’t walked away from him since that first day and although she still hasn’t spoken, she’s starting to listen more-- her focus on him rather than the water’s depths. 

One day in mid-June, it starts raining really hard and so Ichigo sneaks an extra umbrella into his backpack in addition to the multitude of untouched snacks. He doesn’t get a chance to look for her after school-- the rain had started really coming down and Isshin had showed up to take him straight to karate-- and so once karate practice ends, he hardly even waits for Masaki before sprinting out the door.

“Hey, hey, slow down!” Masaki laughs, chasing after him. “What’s the rush?”

“I’m looking for a friend,” Ichigo replies, scanning the riverside for a hint of white. “She’s got brown hair and she always wears white. Do you see her?”

Masaki pauses, pulling Ichigo under her umbrella. 

“I don’t think so,” she says after a moment, peering into the rain. “With it raining this much, your friend is probably inside, Ichigo.”

“Maybe,” Ichigo says dubiously, cupping his eyes with his hands in an attempt to see better. Masaki looks at him, a fond smile on her lips.

“Tell you what. We’ll come back and look for her together tomorrow, okay?” She says warmly. “For now though, let’s go home. I don’t want you to get a cold.”

“Fine,” Ichigo says begrudgingly. “But tomorrow, I definitely wanna-- wait, I think I see her!” Before Masaki can stop him, he runs towards the faint figure he sees in the distance, where the rising water is especially turbulent. 

As he gets closer, he can tell that the figure isn’t the woman in white-- instead it’s a kid, a little girl probably around Yuzu and Karin’s age. She’s crying, clutching onto a stuffed bear, eyes swollen shut with tears.  

“Hey,” Ichigo says softly, so as not to scare her. Behind him, Ichigo can hear Masaki shouting his name. “Hey, are you alright? Do you need help?”

At the sound of his voice, the girl stops crying for a moment. She blinks, looking up at him with large, teary eyes. 

“The water is especially high today,” she whispers, so quietly Ichigo can barely hear her. She smiles, squeezing her teddy bear with both arms. “I love to swim. Will you swim with me, nii-san?”

The girl turns back towards the river, bending her legs as if preparing to jump. His heart leaping into his throat, Ichigo lunges towards her with one arm outstretched. 

“Don’t--!”

He never makes it. Instead, he feels a pair of arms encircle him from behind, pulling him into a secure embrace.

“Look away, Ichigo-kun,” an unfamiliar voice murmurs, even as a strange tiredness spreads through his entire body, causing his eyelids to droop. “This is not for you to see.” 

The last thing Ichigo hears before his vision goes dark is a sickening squelch, not unlike the sound of a butcher knife slicing through a fresh cut of meat. 

~~

“Forgive me, I don’t think I introduced myself last night.” Sayuri opens her eyes to find the same red-haired woman from last night in front of her, a kind smile on her face. “I’m Kurosaki Masaki, Ichigo’s mother.” 

“...Sayuri,” Sayuri answers, after a sluggish pause. She blinks, gathering her thoughts-- she remembers the weight of Ichigo’s body in her arms, handing him over to his frantic mother, the scent of blood in the rain. “How...how is he doing?” 

She has a general idea of Ichigo’s wellbeing-- his spiritual energy is bright enough to sense clear across town, even at this age-- but it’s always better to confirm. 

“Asking for you,” Masaki replies, her lips quirking up. “It was all I could do to keep him from following me here-- but then, I wanted to speak with you first.”

Her smile fades, expression sobering.

“You know, I spent hours rehearsing what I was going to say to you this morning?” Masaki asks. “I don’t even know where to start. You saved my son’s life.” She exhales shakily. “I mean, how do I even begin to thank you for something like that?”

There’s another pause before Sayuri figures out she’s expecting an answer. She rewinds the last minute of their conversation and comes up blank.

“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” She asks after a moment. Masaki’s expression softens. 

“I said, I would very much like to thank you,” she says gently. 

“Oh.” Sayuri thinks about that for a moment. There was a time where she would have held on to the favor. It’s what Sousuke would have done, collecting debts and loyalties until-- 

She shakes her head.

“That’s not necessary.”

It isn’t like those debts had done much good in the end, anyway.

“Then at the very least, come over for lunch,” Masaki implores. “Allow me to do that much. Please.”

Sayuri closes her eyes for a brief moment, focusing on the other woman’s spiritual energy. Even that is a struggle, and the fact that she has to think about it at all...there was a time when she would have scanned it automatically, when the act would have come as naturally as breathing to her.

But then, it is so very hard to concentrate these days.

“I can’t eat,” she says finally, a statement that should have seemed obvious to her in retrospect.

“You leave that to me,” Masaki says, eyes warm. “I’ll figure something out. All I need is for you to come with me.” She extends her hand to Sayuri. “Shall we?”

There was a time when Sayuri would have analyzed every possible meaning and connotation behind such a gesture before accepting. Now, though...now it’s difficult to think, hurts to remember, and Sayuri is oh so tired. 

And well, it was just lunch. What could it hurt?

(What could possibly cause her more pain at this point?)

She reaches up and takes Masaki’s hand. 

~~

Sayuri, six months later, wearing a Kurosaki family sweater, sitting on the bleachers squished between Masaki and Yuzu at one of Karin’s soccer matches: ...I feel like I’ve been tricked, somehow

(idk I just like the thought of Sayuri getting aggressively adopted into the Kurosaki family. No, she did not have any say in the matter)

[odelschwanky]

Come See Me (Shinji Hirako x Reader)

*This is a speed write I'm super proud of. I'm not normally the type to get things done fast, because I always want it to be perfect, but I wrote this all in one day! I hope everyone enjoys it. And feel free to request different characters!*

Word Count: 1967

"Shinji!"

The factory warehouse was strangely empty, and you didn't know where everyone had gone. You looked for them at all the places they frequent here in Karakura town. Maybe they were in gigais, out on the town. Or maybe they went... somewhere else?

"Shinji!" You called again, slumping down in an old, rickety chair. The light streamed in from the tall window overhead, illuminating the dancing dust particles in its wake. The rest of the place was dark. The chair was one of the only pieces of furniture in the warehouse, besides the hundreds of boxes.

It creaked under your weight and you sighed. You hadn't seen the Vizards for a while, so you decided to pay them a visit. You were on your lunch break actually. You checked your watch. You still had a half-hour before you had to be back at your desk. "Why isn't he here?" You scratch the back of your head and frown.

"Hey doll, why are you so down?"

A grin graced your face as you leaped up and hugged the wiry blond man. His arms encased you gently and he rubbed your back.

Shinji was the first person you met, strangely enough, when you moved to Karakura town. It was late and you were moving the last of your boxes into your new apartment. A hollow was actually anchored to the building.

***

"Hello?" you called. You gripped your late brother's pocket knife close to your chest as you walked up the stairs to your new place. Your shoes scuffed the stone and your hand was warm and sweaty on the freezing cold doorknob.

The main room was deserted, save for the few boxes in the middle of the floor. The cobwebs still plagued the corners of the ceiling, since you hadn't cleaned them up yet. You heard a slight gurgling noise, faintly coming from the bathroom. That was funny... since you hadn't called to have the water turned on yet.

The wood creaked under your feet and you winced. You were a lot louder than the thing in your bathroom. You reckoned it was probably a mouse or something. With the rest of the apartment was in such a despaired state, that wouldn't be such a far fetched idea.

The hallway to the back of the apartment split into left and right with the balcony door in the middle. You took a deep breath before opening the bathroom door.

"Oh!"

It was hard to get a good look at the beast because it was dark, hidden in the shadows like a seventy-pound bat.

You screamed as it rushed at you. It seemed to laugh, loudly, unapologetically. Suddenly the balcony door burst open behind you from a gust of wind and before you knew it, you were scooped into the hands of the large and furry something. Your head spun as it whisked you down into the street below. Just when it came to you to open your eyes, you jammed the knife into its body and it let out a wailing growl.

You fell to the snowy ground in a heap of aching limbs. Your coat wasn't enough to protect you from the chill you got when you looked at the monster in the eye. You had seen hollows before. Ever since you were a little girl you could see them, but never this big, and never this close.

"Well, well. You're not welcome here, not at all."

It was simple and swift. A blond-haired man in an orange dress shirt came down with a single swipe and sliced the hollow in half with a sword. You were left trembling and cold, covered in snow and dirty wet slush from the road.

"Are you alright? You took a nasty fall." He towered over you, outstretching a hand down to you.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm okay," you say, letting him help you to your feet. "You can see hollows too?"

"Sure can. Come on, let's get you inside."

He helped you up to your apartment.

"What's your name?" You ask, turning to him before you go in.

"The name's Shinji. Shinji Hirako." The way he talked was slow and deliberate, soothing, sultry, confident.

You smile softly and take his hand appreciatively. "Thank you, Shinji."

"Not a problem for me, love." He gave you a toothy grin that you found quite charming. "I think we'll be seeing some more of each other."

Things went from there. He would come to visit every now and again, then you two started going out. You didn't understand that he wasn't a human at first, and you finally figured it out one day when he came to pick you up for a date and he had to pop a candy in his mouth before anybody else could see him. Then he explained to you the whole business about being a Vizard. You surprised, sure, but you weren't scared. He was part hollow, but that didn't have to be a bad thing. He saved your life, and you slowly found yourself falling in love with him.

***

"I just really missed you," you said, breathing in the scent of him. His blunt cut brushed against your ears and he held you in the embrace. You didn't know how much you missed him until you saw him. Your voice broke a little. "I missed you a lot."

"Come on, (y/n). You don't gotta cry. I'm here now."

You hadn't seen each other in a few weeks. It's not a long time when you think about it objectively, but when you're talking about the person you love... it feels like forever.

You and Shinji sat down and talked for a few minutes. Everyone else was on their way back from town, and you wanted to stay to see them... but you just really wanted some time alone with him.

"Are you doing anything tonight?" You ask, lighting the occasional cigarette that you smoked with Shinji. That was probably the worst thing he had done to you, this loose and casual habit of smoking every now and again.

"Yeah. This guy, Ichigo. We think he's one of us. I gotta talk to him before he gets tangled up with some bad news. Things get complicated, you know?"

You sigh. "So that means you won't have time to stay over tonight?"

"Ah, don't make me feel guilty. If I can find this Ichigo guy and talk to him like Hiyori wants me to, then I'll come over and see you. Is that okay?"

You nod. You could be satisfied with that. There were certain things that came with being involved with supernatural beings, and your "boyfriend" being unavailable most days was the least of your problems. You were okay now that you at least have gotten to see him.

"Okay, well I have to go. I can't be late back to work."

"Alright, bye doll." Shinji grabbed hold of your neck and brought you toward him in a deep kiss. You sunk into it willingly, putting both your hands on either of his cheeks. This made you all warm and tingly inside, making up for the lost days in a matter of seconds.

"I hope that Ichigo guy doesn't take too much time," you say. Shinji's eyebrow raised and maybe he knew what you were getting at. You had more than enough bedroom for him tonight, and by hell, he'd better come and use it. You squeeze Shinji's hand. "Stay safe, you hear?"

"You more than me, love."

***

You squinted at your keys in the dark. Fumbling them into the lock haphazardly, you nearly fall into your apartment. Something about today, being at your desk for hours exhausted you. You made an egg sandwich for dinner, brushed your teeth, and took a long hot bath, probably your favorite routine out of all the ones you had made for yourself. It wasn't until you were brushing your hair, wrapped in a towel, that a slight knock on your door shook you out of your daydreams.

You hurriedly scramble in your bedroom, which you had recently tidied up, looking for something to wear. You finally decided a T-shirt you had cropped a long time ago and some pajama pants would do.

You open the door slightly, trying to look in the peephole, but it was too dark outside to see.

"It's me."

You couldn't keep yourself from smiling as you opened the door and wrapped your arms around Shinji for the second time today. You wrapped your legs around him as well, gripping his torso with your thighs. "You're choking me, doll." You could hear a hint of laughter in his voice. "I don't care," you said happily.

He walked you inside with ease, wearing you like a necklace. Carrying you was never a problem for him. He shut the front door behind him and turned off all the lights on the way to your bedroom.

"I'm exhausted, can we just watch a movie?" You say, finally coming down from his shoulders.

"You don't have to ask, y' know. We can always do whatever you want."

That was music to your ears. Shinji was so sweet and thoughtful even though he acted so aloof and cocky. He cared about you and it was the most precious thing you thought about.

After he undressed and put his hair back, he turned off the lights and fell into bed with you.

"Kisses," you whine, pressing your lips on his.

"You just want a little attention, huh?" Shinji's voice grew dominant and strong.

That's just what you wanted: attention from the man you loved.

Shinji plants kiss after kiss on your lips, letting his hands skim over you in no particular pattern. It wasn't rushed, but smooth and natural. It just felt so right.

Your hands find their way to his hair, which you played with gently, keeping his bangs out of his face, swipe after swipe. His body was hot against yours, making you ache and want more. Curse your stupid job. If you weren't so tired, you'd let him do whatever he wanted with you.

His long fingers tipped your chin up, exposing your neck. He went into it assertively, leaving smooches, love bites, and a wet trail of tongue up to your ears. You moaned and held him tighter. "You sound so needy, (y/n). If you don't watch it, I'm gonna get you tomorrow."

He said this, putting his fingers to your lips to hush you. Now that was an idea you could get behind. "Who says I don't want you to?" You fire back with a smirk and giggle. Shinji pets your hair, laughing deviously. If he had it in his mind to have you right now, you'd let him. You couldn't wait for tomorrow.

You burrowed into the blankets and snuggled your way under his arm, draping your legs on him. You just couldn't get your fill. Being close was never enough, and you always felt like you had to be closer to your love.

"Shinji?"

He looked down at you, moving some of the blankets so he could see your face. "Yeah?"

"I love you. And I want to be with you forever and ever."

He laughed, holding you closer to him. The cold room mixed with his warm touch was absolutely calming. "You're so gushy..."

You continued watching the movie until your eyes grew heavy. Your grip tightened on Shinji as you start drifting off to sleep.

"I love ya, (y/n)."

[bakubabes-tatakae]

Request by @usuratonkachiuchiha​:  Hi bb, can I request some renji smut ? 👀 in honor of our mans birthday id like to request something nasty w jealous renji x fem reader 😏 maybe reader is ichigo’s bff or ex crush/gf or something but they’re still close and it drives renji crazy? Ughh i love renji so muchh he’s definitely in my top three of bleach men id sell my soul for lmao

Hello bby. Of course I’ll write some Renji smut for you. I’m OBSESSED with my mans Renji so I’m always happy to do that. I love writing smut for him as much as I love writing smut for Dabi. So here it is, I hope you like it. 🥺❤

Claimed || {NSFW} Renji x Reader

Warnings: smut, jealousy, 18+ content, claiming, unprotected sex, semi-public sex, dirty talk, daddy kink

Word Count: 900

As you took a bite of your ramen you couldn’t help but laugh at the orange-haired man sitting across from you. Ichigo Kurosaki had been your best friend since he had been introduced into your life by Rukia. And there was one person that wasn’t too happy about it. But he wasn’t happy about any man that was in your life that even remotely made you happy. Renji Abarai was one of the most jealous men you had ever met. 

You could feel his brown orbs piercing into you as he watched you. The intensity in his gaze almost made you want to stand up and say something. It had been years and he still acted this way. 

If you hadn’t been sitting in the common area of Squad 6’s barracks you probably would have. That was the only thing keeping you back. You knew that Renji was stronger than you and you didn’t want the hassle. Ichigo had just come for a visit and it had twisted Renji’s entire mood. 

Ichigo placed his soup spoon on the table and glared back at Renji. The two of them had never gotten along, that was nothing new. They fought like brothers, but if you asked if they liked each other it was an instant no. He cleared his throat and wiped his face with his napkin. “You know he’s staring again right?”

You sighed loudly, hoping that Renji would hear you. “Yea, I know. He’s a baby. Just ignore him.”

“It’s hard to ignore him when he’s glaring at me like I’m trying to bring you home with me.” Ichigo raised an eyebrow at you. 

You turned and looked at the crimson-haired man, narrowing your eyes in hopes that it would make him leave. “Maybe he’ll just go away if we don’t pay attention to him.”

Ichigo huffed. “You know as well as I do that Renji Abarai doesn’t work that way.”

As you approached him you could feel the anger radiating off of him. You placed a hand on his chest and smiled, playing with his robes. “Renji… why are you staring at Ichigo and me?” 

He cleared his throat and glared over at the orange-haired man. “You know I don’t trust him alone with you. Not one bit.” He placed his hand on your chin. “And I’m gonna show him that he doesn’t stand a chance when it comes to my girl.” He tilted your head up and placed his lips to yours. 

Your lips danced with his and you could feel Ichigo’s piercing eyes on you. Renji broke the kiss and grabbed your hand, dragging you down the hall behind him. He looked for the nearest closet and when he found it he opened the door and pulled you quickly through it. His hands were on you before you could even find your bearings. 

You giggled as his lips met your neck. “Renji… what’s gotten into you?” 

His lips trailed up your neck and stopped at the base of your ear. “Daddy needs to show you who you belong to. Clearly, you’ve forgotten.” 

You were confused by his words, but as his hands wandered more you forgot all about it. He grabbed the waist of your pants and pulled them down before wrapping his arms around your waist and lifting you from the ground. Renji pinned your back to the wall of the closet and fumbled around with his pants to get his erection free. 

As you felt his hand underneath you, lining himself up with your entrance his words rang through you. “I hope you’re prepared for this.” With a rough thrust pleasure coursed through you. The shelf on the wall beside you shook as Renji pounded himself in and out of you.

“God, you’re so tight.” Renji’s deep voice filled the small space around you. “Fuck.” His nails dug into you as he gripped onto you. 

“Shit…” His name left your lips as you let your head hit the wall. Euphoria coursed through your body as you tried your hardest to hold out a little longer. 

“Don’t worry doll,” He bit your lip and slowly pulled. “Daddy will take good care of you.” His hand wrapped into your hair and tugged. “Come for me, baby.”

At just the sound of his words, your walls clenched around him. A strangled sound from his throat followed as he emptied himself out inside your cunt. He slowly let your feet hit the ground again and pulled up his pants. When you reached for your pants he stopped you, pushing you against the wall again. His hand slowly rubbed over the fabric of your panties and he lifted them back up. “You better pull those up quickly and keep that in there darling, because if any of it escapes we’ll be doing this again.”

Your knees grew weak at his words and he finally let you pull your pants up. You attempted to walk around him and when you went to grab the door handle when he grabbed your arm. “What’s the matter Renji?”

His lips pulled up as he thought about how he had just claimed you. “Make sure you sit in what we just did the entire time you’re with Ichigo. No wiping it away.” He winked as you rolled your eyes and opened the door, leaving the man in the closet to gloat to himself. 

[skylarmoon71]

Ikkaku Madarame - (Bleach) Oneshot

"Hey when are you gonna help us over here!"

"We've been waiting all day!"

"It's true what they say about the fourth squad, they really are useless."

You cower back at the three men standing before you.

"G-Gomen, i-if you guys will just come in one by one maybe I'll-" one of them shoved you, and you stumble, knocking into the wall with a small grunt. You were used to being pushed around by other squad members, it really wasn't anything new. But your shy nature made it far worse. If you were half a reaper Unohana was, you probably would have told them off.

"Just hurry up, will you, It's starting to ache!" he pointed to the bruise on his arm , and you picked yourself off the ground.

"I-I won't help if you're being mean about." you stuttered out. His eyes raised and he gave you a mean grin.

"Would you look at that, you really think you can get away with talking to us like that." you shuffled back into the wall.

Suddenly being brave sounded like a pretty dumb idea. You flinched, shutting your eyes when you saw his fist coming straight for you. After a few seconds, all you could hear was some punching sounds. Hesitantly, you opened your eyes. You were shocked at the bald headed reaper now standing there with a snarl on his face. All three men were on the floor unconscious. He turned to you with a wide smile, giving you a thumbs.

"Keh, I'll get rid of these idiots for you."

You flushed watching as he picked all three of them up like they weighed nothing.

"See ya later!" Just liked that he was gone, and you were standing there stunned.

"Madarame-san.."

He was one of the more decent reapers you'd met. Many said he was a brute, a violence loving psycho, but to you he was amazing. He'd made so many trips to the fourth squad you lost count, and the first time you healed him he was so nice to you. You nearly thought you dreamed it, because of all the rumors you assumed he would probably treat you like all the rest. After that he came by regularly. Always wearing a broad smile when he saw you. He never hesitated to stand up for you either, even against his own squad members. Hanataro walked in blinking at your dazed state. "(Y/N)-san are you alright?" he tilted his head, and you blushed.

"H-Hai!"

~~~

"My arms sure are sore. It was nice seeing Ichigo again though. " You smiled, packing up the remainder of bandages as you prepared to leave. The day was coming to an end. Between healing patients and almost getting caught in a battle with Ichigo and Kenpachi, you were exhausted.

Whenever Ichigo visited you expected the destruction. He cut through half of the Gotei squads just to get a hold of the Ichigo who inevitably just got away. It left a lot of collateral damage. That being the poor reapers who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow (Y/N)-san!" Hanataro waved happily, taking off to his room and you smiled, watching him leave.

"Bye Hana-kun!!" you beamed.

"Why are you smiling like an idiot." you jumped at the voice behind you.

"M-M-Madarame-san!" He looked partially bored as he watched you. "I-I was just saying bye to my friend." you muttered. His presence never failed to make you flustered.

"W-What are you doing here?"

"I needed to get a little bit of gauze. That punk Ichigo kept running so Kenpachi went berserk. "

It was then that you noticed the large gash on his shoulder. There was blood running down his arm and your eyes widened. Despite the very prominent wound he looked completely unbothered.

"W-We need to get you healed up immediately!!" you freaked, taking his uninjured arm and running off in the direction of your quarters. Ikkaku didn't have a chance to refuse. Before you knew it he was at your door. You pulled him inside, sitting him down and shuffling into your cabinets to get a cloth and a bowl of water. When you had the needed materials. You made quick work of wiping off the blood. Ikkaku just sat there, watching as you worked so diligently to clean up his arm.

He had no idea why he had such a soft spot for you. He was never one to get in the middle of stupid scuffles, yet anytime he saw someone trying to take advantage of you, he found himself stepping in.

"When the hell did I become a lovestruck fool." he just closed his eyes, a bit embarrassed. If Yumichika saw him he'd surely laugh. Ikkaku wasn't one to get pushed around. He supposed though, if it was by you, he wouldn't even mind.

"Alright, I think I got all the blood." Now that the area was clean, it was a bit easier to see the wound. You placed the cloth down, raising your hands and healing the long gash. The entire time he just sat there quietly, letting you work. Your eyes shifted for a second from the green glow of your palms to the side of his face.

It was stupid to pretend you didn't care about him. For you, it was a little surprising that he even gave you the time of day. He was a well respected reaper. Strong, passionate, handsome.

In your eyes he was incredible. You on the other hand were the completely opposite. Your eyes lowered, nibbling on your lip. So taken by your own thoughts, you didn't realize that his wound had completely healed. Ikkaku's eyes opened when he could no longer feel the slight throbbing. His eyes moved in your direction, taking in the crestfallen look on your face.

"Hey what's wrong!! Are you hurt!" He grabbed your shoulders, startling you. He was right in front of you now.

"S-Shit, you've been healing people all day you must be exhausted! Why the heck didn't you say anything!" he seemed almost angry at the prospect that you might have overworked yourself. Your eyes shook, face immediately turning red. Ikkaku was confused at the reaction. You just looked away.

"I-I'm not tired I-I was just thinking. " you stammer. Ikkaku didn't quite believe it.

"Then why did you look so torn." you stared, wide eyed. "I may be a muscle head but I'm not stupid. Geez why is it so hard for you to just ask for help. You heal me all the time without asking for shit. The least I can do is make sure you're alright. If those dumbasses come again just let me know."

The tips of your ears were still pretty red, so you looked down nodding. Ikkaku wore a smile at your cute reaction, patting your head.

"You know, you shouldn't invite men into your room so recklessly, people might get the wrong idea." your eyes darted up, and you realized then that he was right. You acted so rash when you saw the injury, your body just reacted. You didn't even think about it. "I-I-It's nothing l-like t-that I just w-wanted to h-heal your wound!!!" you were waving your hands around crazily, and it just made Ikkaku chuckle.

"That's kind of harsh, is that really the only reason you brought me here."

"W-What.." Ikkaku moved closer, and it made you panic. You tried to get some distance, but it only made you fall unto your back. He smirked, leaning over and pinning your wrists to the floor. At this moment, you weren't sure if your heart was still functioning.

"W-WHAT ARE DOING!!"

The little confident smirk never left his lips, and you swallowed letting out a shaky breath.

"It seems a certain little reaper has sparked my interest, and I always follow through with my missions (Y/N)-san. " When he got closer your heart rate picked up. He didn't close the space, he was just looking at you, with a softness that you weren't used to.

"I'd like to protect you, no matter what it is tell me and I'll be there. Hell I'll fight the entire Gotei if I have to." this was far from what you expected, especially from him. Your eyes trembled, the tears starting to blur your vision. Ikkaku was a bit stunned at the bright smile you wore. "I love you Madarame-san." His heart gave a flutter, and he blushed despite himself.

"I..love you too." he murmured. You just giggled. He was being so bold just a minute ago. Those simple words and he was bashful. He still had you pressed to the floor, and you wanted nothing more than to kiss him.

So you did.

Leaning up, you captured his lip in a sweet kiss. His entire face colored, shocked by the bold move you made. With your chests so near, you feel his heart beat in rhythm with your own. Ikkaku's hold loosened around your wrists, and when he responded, you couldn't stop the shot of electricity that ran through your body. He rolled over, pulling you on top.

You didn't separate for a second, too caught up in the kiss. He was so gentle with you. His hands ran over your body. One settling at the back of your neck and the other gripping at the robes on your waist. Ikkaku nibble on your lower lip, and your brows knitted, unsure of how to proceed.

You had never been kissed like this. Ikkaku pulled back slightly, and your hands fisted into his robes, trying to catch your breath. He licked his lips seductively, and you had to close your eyes to keep in a moan. When you felt his hand on your ass you stammered.

"M-Madarame-san!" He grinned, giving it a squeeze, and you clenched your eyes shut, trembling.

"You like that don't you.." he whispered in your ear. It was irritating that even though you were the one on top, he remained in control. His other hand trailed down, giving the other cheek the same attention, and that point you were positive you couldn't hold back your sounds.

"You're secretly kinky huh (Y/N)-san, naughty girl." he whispered, nipping at your ear, and it really wasn't helping to calm down your heart. You let out a soft mewl, he didn't seem to be letting up. It was driving you over the edge. This time he closed the space, silencing you with a deep kiss.

He loved it, your responses, innocence. It excited him. 

"Looks like I'll have to keep protecting you." 

He guessed now he didn't mind if Yumichika found out.

Who would have imagined, this was how the day would go.

[recurring-polynya]

I loved whatever snippets you gave of Renji and Momo in the Academy (and Momo's cookies!) I'd love to see more of Renji+Momo, or even Renji+Ichigo but really any Renji you write would be God Tier Renji so I await his birthday in eager anticipation!!

HERE IS SOME ACADEMY ERA RENJI+MOMO FOR YOUUUUUUU

Momo was concentrating so deeply on her homework for Mathematics of Interdimensional Travel that she didn’t even hear anything before her roommate, Kajita, cocked her head and said, “Do you hear… something? A tapping?”

The window was directly over Momo’s desk, and when she looked up from her page of calculations, it was directly into the face of her good friend and classmate, Abarai Renji, smushed up against the glass. “Lemme in,” he mouthed.

Momo’s face abruptly turned scarlet and her tongue sputtered uselessly. “Maybe someone’s at the door!” she finally managed, jumping up and trying to block the window with her body.

“I don’t think so,” Kajita replied, scratching her nose with her writing brush.

“That reminds me!” Momo yelped. “Teramoto said she had something to tell you! She lives on the first floor, I think?”

Kajita made a half-hearted mark on her paper. “I’ll see her tomorrow. We have hohou together in the morning.”

“Hmm, it was something to do with...someone named Kenmotsu?” As if Momo could possibly be oblivious to Kajita’s enormous crush on Kenmotsu Sawao, a third year who used far too much hair product.

Kajita sprang to her feet. “That sounds important, I should go check in with her!”

As the shoji slammed shut behind Kajita, Momo frantically spun and opened the window. “What are you doing?” she hissed, as Renji tumbled into the room.

“I dunno. I got lonely,” he shrugged. “Whatchu up to?”

“You got-- where’s Izuru?” Momo demanded. It would be just like Renji to misplace his own roommate.

“Oh, I mean, he’s there,” Renji frowned, scratching the back of his neck. “In our room. I got restless and it’s a nice night out and I wanted to take a walk and he didn’t want to and then I guess I just found my way over to this side of campus and thought I’d swing by and say hi.”

Of course Izuru didn’t want to go for a walk, it was past curfew, they were supposed to be in their dorms. Not that things like curfew concerned Abarai, who had a somewhat uncanny ability to disappear into the shadows, in spite of the fact that he comprised nearly six feet worth of bright red hair and bony elbows.

Momo started to open her mouth to scold him, when it hit her what Abarai had actually been doing. She wondered if he had done it consciously, or if he had really intended to just get some air, and his feet had wandered naturally over to the girls’ dormitory. She wondered how long he had stared at Rukia’s old window on the second floor before coming up here instead.

“As long as you’re here, help me with this,” Momo said instead, shoving at her homework. “I’m doing travel time estimates, and you’re supposed to get the same answer for #12 and #13, but it always comes out longer through the dangai than through the senkaimon. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”

Renji peered owlishly at her homework, wrinkling his nose. “You know I’m no good at this stuff.”

He always said that.

“Well, what good are you, then?” Momo sniffed, and Renji cracked a grin.

When they first met, Renji had scowled almost all the time. The only time he ever grinned was when he was around his best friend, a girl called Rukia. She was from his home district, they had come up to Shin’ou together. As Renji got to know Momo and their other friend, Izuru, as he started to feel comfortable here at school, they had started to get a few grins, too. Renji had wonderful grins, all big, pointy teeth and mischief. Momo and Izuru competed, a little, sometimes, to see who could get more Renji grins. They didn’t compete against Rukia. That would have been no contest.

Then, Rukia had been adopted, mysteriously whisked away to go live with the elegant Kuchiki family, and it had been back to scowls, with the occasional wistful, thousand yard stare thrown in. Momo hated the wistful thousand-yard stares. It had been months now, and they had started to get the occasional grin back now and again, but sometimes they also got this.

“I don’t have any treats from Grandma right now, I’m sorry,” Momo blurted out. “I stress ate the last of them before the Kidou Theory midterm.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” Renji shrugged. “They were yours anyway.”

Momo fidgeted. It wasn’t that she didn’t want him here. Renji was her friend, and he was cute, and it gave her a rather fluttery feeling in her stomach that he’d taken the trouble to come see her, but her roommate might be back any minute and also, she wasn’t sure what to do with him. “Renji,” she finally said. “When you used to visit Rukia, what did you do?”

Renji stared at her blankly. “When I used to… aw, jeez, I mean, you think this…? I mean, I was just walking by, and… uh…”

“It’s okay to miss her,” Momo replied, rather bluntly.

“It’s been four months,” Renji pointed out in a way that indicated he knew the exact time, down to the minutes and seconds.

“It’s still okay to miss her,” Momo repeated.

Renji chewed the inside of his cheek for a moment. “I dunno. Usually, we just shot the shit, I guess. Just liked to see her a little every day and we weren’t in any of the same classes, y’know. See if she’d come up with any new insulting nicknames for me.”

Momo frowned thoughtfully. “Do you want me to call you by an insulting nickname?”

Renji gave a big snort through his nose, and his face cracked into a huge, genuine grin. “Nothin’ personal, Momo, but--”

“You noodle-headed dingdong.”

A huge guffaw burst out of Renji’s mouth.

“Treelegs. Stripey head frowny-face.”

Renji was doubled over now, wheezing with laughter.

“Porridge pants.”

“Stop-- stop,” Renji gasped. “You are going to kill me.” He took a deep breath and managed to straighten up.

“Butts-for-brains.”

That time, they both lost it. Renji had to lean on her desk to keep from falling over. Finally, he wiped his eyes and shook his head. “How are your insults so terrible and also so cutting?”

“I have a younger brother,” Momo intoned. “I learned it from him.”

Renji rubbed one eye with the heel of his hand. “I’m sorry I bothered you, Mo. I was just walking around and got feeling real down and I wanted to see a friendly face. Thanks. I really needed this.”

Momo shrugged. “Look, my roommate’s probably gonna be back any minute.”

Renji nodded. “I understand.”

“She’s in a singing group that meets on Tuesday evenings. Come back then. We can shoot some shit. I’ll work on better insults between now and then.”

“Shitty insults only,” Renji demanded, ruffling her hair with one of his big paws, before climbing back out the window. “And you reversed the sign on the time dilation term, that’s why your dangai numbers are coming out too big.”

“Teramoto forgot what she was going to tell me, can you believe it?” Kajita announced a few minutes later, when she returned. “Why’s the window open?”

“Just thought it was a nice night out,” Momo replied, as her numbers came out perfectly.

[lo-55]

Shattered Chains of Fate Ch. 13

End of an Era

 Ichigo was going to kiss Yoruichi for teaching him how to move so damn fast.

 Or maybe just buy her a bunch of over priced cat food.

 Yeah, that sounded better.

 Something to show her that he appreciated what she’d done when she had drilled him between bouts with Zangetsu when he was learning his new skills and techniques. It was more or less like a second ascension, this Bankai he’d learned to use.

 (One day, all in all, and he had shattered so many swords even EMIYA would have been hard pressed to keep pace with him, before he finally found the right ones. He had to. After the show they'd put on Rukia was scheduled to die in just one day, barely enough time to prepare a scaffold.)

 If she hadn’t shown him how to use reitsu to launch himself off the ground and really move faster, he would have never gotten there in time. He would have never arrived in time to see Gin, the man who had attacked him at the Shiba house, half covered in ice and a man next to him completely coated while Rukia stood over a bleeding Renji.

 Ichigo had barely noticed she’d been pulling on his powers again. Yet there she stood, a perfect white blade held in steady hands, and determination pinching her brows.

 He came just in time to see Kyo shatter her zanpakuto into snow flakes with his bare hands and hit her with the roughest kido Ichigo had seen yet before grabbing her by the horrible red collar that was still stuck around her throat.

 “Hey!” Ichigo shouted, levelling his sword point at him. “Drop her.”

 Frantically, he searched Kyo’s eyes for that flash of recognition from before. There was nothing. Just calm, flat brown eyes. It was just like when they’d first met, only this time Kyo is a much better liar. He looks docile, even though he’s holding Rukia by the neck. Mild and kind.

 Ichigo isn’t fooled. He hasn’t been fooled by Kyo for a long, long time.

 “Ichigo Kurosaki. You’re quite the interesting one. Sad to say you’ll have to tell Kisuke that your mission ended in failure.” Kyo waves his hand and chants a spell and light smashes into Ichigo from all sides. It’s the same spell Byakuya had used in the human world, just a billion times stronger. Kyo rips the ribbon off of Rukia’s wrist and Ichigo’s power fades from her, leaving her in the simple white kimono.

 Ichigo paused, frowning. He is loath to attack Kyo without knowing more about what he’s doing here, or where he’s been. Is he the captain that had ‘died’? It sounds like something he would do. He’s smart enough to fake his own death.

  “What does he have to do with this?” Just because he opened a gate for them?

 Kyo smiles, a smug phantom, and Ichigo realizes suddenly that he’s been chasing on thread on a tapestry the entire time.

 He’s completely missed a bigger picture.

 “Did you not wonder why Gin came to visit you? Or knew where you were? It was because I knew you would arrive in western rukongai. I even had him waiting at the gate for you, in case you charged in. You see, I knew you would have to use the Shiba canon. With such a dramatic entrance-”

 “It left you free to move around without anyone noticing,” Ichigo cut in. He narrowed his eyes. “You used us as a distraction. Was it you who brought Rukia back, to lure us in? Why the west?”

 “In part,” Kyo tilted his head, the smile still in place. “And the west was simple. That is where Urahara Kisuke’s referencial residence is, you know… oh.”

 Ichigo grit his teeth. His temper was starting to flare, and with it so was his reitsu. Urahara had been using them for something. Kyo was using them for something. He wasn’t a damn puppet!

 “I was under the impression that you were his subordinate. That you came here on his orders. I see now. So he told you nothing at all about what was happening here, or who I am or what I might be doing. I bet he didn’t even tell you about what he needed Rukia here for.”

 Ichigo listened with half an ear as Kyo explained about the limits of shinigami powers, and the only way to break through them. The only way that Kisuke had ever found to break through them.

 Hollow hybrids. White masks. Holes in the chest. Still shinigami. Rukia was just a container, and a hiding place.

 Ichigo grips Zangetsu tighter. He stands somewhere between the present and the past. America and seireitei blur together and he struggles to piece apart the Kyo he knows and the man who stands before him, cold smiles and distant dreams. He is insubstantial and untouchable.

 The bindings on his arms tighten.

 Without warning the world explodes under a massive sword stroke from-

 A werewolf?

 *

 A day before the execution, after they have been freed by a wanna be porcupine,Uryu wonders if he’s ever admired so or been so afraid of a girl that chases butterflies before.

 Orhihime had changed somehow during the fight they’d had with Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Before that she had skittered around fights, even when they’d first been attacked. Uryu had vowed to protect her, but somewhere between the explosion at the start and the wall of gold that signalled the end of the fight she had changed.

 Oh, she was still kind. Still gentle. She treated their former enemies with care and healed them back up to their fullest potential. She greeted their strange, rambunctious new allies with smiles and delight.

 But when it came time to fight she didn’t hesitate anymore. She picked her target and put them on the ground, missing limbs most of the time. She hadn’t killed anyone since the Mayuri, no one else had deserved he guessed. At least not in her mind.

 But she was vicious and determined when she had to be.

 She was also, apparently, a frightening hand to hand fighter.

 Uryu watched with muted horror as she and the little pink terror cleared the way for the rest of them to march up the hill, where Ichigo was.

 “Geez,” Ganju scrubbed his hand over his head. “Why are women so damn scary all the time?”

 “I wish I could tell you,” Uryu winced in pity when Orihime slammed someone into a wall with enough force to crack it.

 She turned to them with a bubbling smile. “Let’s go! We need to hurry everyone!”

 “Yeah,” Yachiru bounced at her side, blood on her tiny knuckles. “Let’s go lets go! Maki Maki let’s gooooo~”

 Aramaki gave a long suffering sigh. “It’s not the worst nickname she’s given me… Okay, it’s a le-”

 “To the right!” Yachiru declared.

 “...we’re gonna be late.”

 * *

 The werewolf lasts a total of twelve seconds before Kyo goes right back to monologuing. Ichigo almost pities him.

 “Of course, once you were here,” he said with only a small under current of smugness, “I assassinated the entire Central 46.”

 Ichigo stares at him, and starts laughing.

 He can’t help it.

 After everything Kyo had told him before about the way this place was run, he’d finally offed them.

     Maybe I shouldn’t have told him to ask Robin how to commit a coup?  

 He can’t help feeling it's partially his own fault, and entirely justified. If no one even questioned the orders sent out they were clearly just as power hungry and arbitrary as Kyo had described, all those years ago.

 “Sorry, sorry,” he waves his hand as best as he can, feeling hysterical and worn out in all the worst ways. Somewhere under the betrayal is the twisting need to understand everything. This hogyoku, trapped inside of Rukia, was some kind of super powerful object. He’s getting sick of those.

 “Sorry,” he says a third time and finally manages to get himself under control. “Okay, so your grand plan failed. Give me Rukia and we’ll all go our separate ways. Or, no,” he holds up a hand to stop Kyo from speaking. His mind turns. He still knows Kyo. He still knows how he thinks, even if Kyo doesn’t know him anymore. “You’ll have a back up plan.”

 Kyo looked mildly miffed at being interrupted.

 “You’re impertinent.”

 “You know that old man said something like that when I told him to grow a brain, too.”

 “...My point stands. All the same, you’re right. There’s another way. Another method developed by Kisuke Urahara. “ Kyo held up a small cylinder and tapped it on Rukia’s chest. A hole opened up.

 Ichigo twisted and thrashed. A burst of energy shattered the bindings at last, but by the time Kyo had already pulled out something from Rukia’s chest. Small, faintly glowing and blue.

 The energy hit him suddenly. Unshielded, unfettered energy.

     The curl of fog. Electricity along his skin. Children lost in the river. Sorrow. A desperate wish for change.  

 Kyo pulled his fist back to strike Rukia. Ichigo lifted his left hand, pouring power into it. He’d done it a million times before. He’d never done it alone. He’d never done it as a ghost.

 “      Gandr!    ”

 Kyo freezes. Ichigo darts forwards, his hands outstretched. He gets knocked off course at the last second by Gin’s zanpakuto. He ends up stumbling, and wasting precious few seconds while the spell holds. He doesn’t have time to think of the how or the why, only that it works, but now he only has time for one.

 Rukia or the Hogyoku.

 Rukia or the _______

 It’s not even a question. He snatches her off the ground and rolls to protect her body.

 He comes to a stop hovering above her, Zangetsu raised in defense.

 Kyo twitches back to life a heartbeat after and looks at him with new eyes.

 “An interesting kido, I’ve never seen it before,” he says idly. “You really should have taken the Hogyoku. It’s much more valuable than one girls life. Even a noble one.”

 “I don’t give a shit about any of that. Kings or rebels, gods or demons, the only part I care about is if they’re my friends. You should know that!”

 “Should I?”

 The words bite harder than anything else. Ichigo actually flinches.

 He opens his mouth to say something before a blur shoots out of nowhere. Yoruichi lands with a knife to Kyo’s throat.

 No, he’s not Kyo anymore, is he?

 * * *  

 Kisuke hated having to make the call. He really, really did.

 He wanted to have faith in Ichigo, but he was no fool. He knew he needed to be prepared for the worst case scenario. He knew that Ichigo, as bewildering of a child as he was, could still fail against Aizen.

 Probably would fail.

 But he needed Ichigo for other reasons. He needed him stronger. He needed him more motivated. He needed him to see first hand just what he was up against, and how desperately they needed to put a stop to it.

 Ichigo wouldn’t forgive him for his trickery. Another sin Kisuke could live with.

 He did have to wonder what was going to happen to Ichigo now. He’s already lost faith with his father. If he hadn’t already he soon will lose faith in Kisuke, and Yoruichi too.

 What will happen to an already isolated boy when he’s further pushed away?

     “It’s heavy,” Ichigo says, his brown eyes dark and distant. The brilliance he’d displayed during their spars is gone. The vicious gleam and the near recklessness on him is gone, tempered and stamped down.  

     “Heavy?” Kisuke repeats, eying this boy. Perhaps not as much of a boy as Kisuke had thought. He’s seen eyes like these before.  

     “The weight of their lives.  

 So he makes the call and he gathers the army, scant as it is.

 * * * *

 Kon likes this guy, and the lady too.

     She’s    terrifying, and she nearly killed him the first (and only) time he tried to cop a feel, but the second she met the girls she basically adopted them. Kon would have left them in the spare house, but neither of them was letting him go anywhere without at least one of them.

 They have a trick where they go invisible, it makes it easier for every day life.

 The guy is fun. He’s agreeable and gentle, and he doesn’t mind people watching with Kon. Even if he would rather go fishing most days. He’s kinda weird, too, and he insists that Kon practice fighting regularly. Ichigo’s body knows what he’s doing, if nothing else.

 They wile away the summer days while waiting for Ichigo to return.

 * * * * *

 They’re surrounded by people. Enemies and allies, all of them focused the man Ichigo had once called friend. A man he would have trusted with his life.      Had    , trusted with his life.

 Blades gleam in the sunlight and fury weighs heavy across the battlefield. Rukia lies beneath him, her strength vanished, and one man comes to stand between them. His hands are red and raw and his hair is faintly damp but Byakuya puts himself between the pair of them and the traitor.

 “He’s surrounded. It’s over now,” Byakuya says surely.

 “Don’t be an idiot,” Ichigo cuts in. He raises to his knees, then his feet. “He wouldn't come this far without a back up plan.”

   The sky splits open. Ichigo hates it when he’s right.

 Beams of light encompass the three traitors and throw everyone else aside. They’re untouchable inside of them, and menos grande hover at the mouth of the tear, floating through it. Dragging them up and out of reach.

 There’s a buzzing in his ears. Fury roaring under his skin.

 “No one starts at the top.”

     “I was born in the-”  

 “From the very start, no one has stood upon the heavens. Not you, not I, nor even gods. However, that intolerable vacuum has come to an end. Henceforth...I shall stand upon the heavens.”

 All Ichigo can think as he watches      (Kyo)     Sousuke get swallowed by a hoard of menos and darkness is just what the      fuck    happened in the last two hundred years?      

 “Farewell shinigami, and Ryoka. You were… interesting.”

 Brown eyes watch Ichigo, and Ichigo alone as the darkness closes in around him.

 * * * * * 

[straycat-writes]

ichigo ichie // 一期一会 (akutagawa ryuunosuke)

ichigo ichie // 一​期​一​会  (japanese, phr.) - “one life, one encounter”. Once in a lifetime, never to happen again 

requested by: anonymous

The first time he met her, they were both very young. Way too young to be where they were, but the world doesn’t care about stuff like that. He had just been led into the building that the Port Mafia called its home, and everything around him felt much too colossal and intimidating and beyond his reach, because he was just a child and the world was, indeed, too big.

With so much fear and apprehension coursing through his veins, he almost didn’t notice her small figure in the periphery of his vision. She was hiding behind another, taller figure, trying to make herself as small and unnoticeable as possible. But with curiosity getting the best of her, she couldn’t help but slightly peer out from behind the beautiful red-haired woman, to whom she still clung to for dear life.

As he looked at her wide eyes, full of wonder, staring as he and his sister were led away, he had the strangest urge to stop and stare too. She looked about the same age as him, and he briefly wondered what misfortune had befallen her for her to end up here, and whether it was greater than his own. But he didn’t have time to give it much thought. The man wrapped in bandages, the one who had picked him off the street, looked back at him and there was just something about that one glance that seemed to turn every single drop of blood in Akutagawa’s veins to ice. Despite being merely a couple of years older than him, there must be a reason they called him the scariest man in all of Yokohama. So, he clung tighter to his sister and didn’t look back.

The second time he met her, he was almost on the brink of death. He had to do it, he needed to. He needed to prove to Dazai-san that he was strong enough. But he wasn’t. And now he was lying in a dirty back alley, bleeding out from his stomach as the world faded from his vision, because he was weak, and pathetic.

Her voice was the only thing that even faintly made it past the loud ringing in his ears. From where he was lying on the ground, barely able to move, he saw her rush over to him. She dropped to her knees beside him, eyes wide and frantic as she fumbled for something to stop the bleeding with.

“Why would you go that far!?” she ranted desperately, swearing under her breath as she tried to make her scarf into a makeshift tourniquet for his wound, “Are you a complete idiot!?”

Akutagawa coughed, and even through the pain induced haze, he could remember wondering why she was helping him. They barely knew each other, aside from occasionally passing by in the hallways. He didn’t think they had exchanged more than a dozen words in all this time.

Then came the anger. At the enemies he had failed to capture, at her for being so patronizing, but most of all, at himself for being so mortifyingly weak, and letting anyone see it. He was just about to scream at her to leave him alone, when a voice interrupted, and they were both frozen stiff.

Akutagawa screwed his eyes shut, half hoping that the earth would swallow him whole. Anything was better than opening his eyes and seeing Dazai looking down at him with poisonous disdain in his eyes. But he deserved it, deserved whatever was coming to him, because he had been weak and pathetic and useless.

“Leave.” Dazai said to her, and she got up mechanically and left without a word. He didn’t blame her. She ducked out of the alley from right beside him, but Dazai’s gaze was fixed on Akutagawa, still laying on the ground, bruised and bloodied. There was not a drop of sympathy in his eyes.

The third time he met her was on the worst night of his life. Imagine you’ve been running after something your whole life. It’s right in front of your eyes, so close you can almost touch it, but every time you try, it moves just a millimeter more out of reach. Yet you keep trying. And then one day, it just suddenly disappears and you realize that all this time you never had any hope of succeeding at all.

Dazai-san had left. He had just gone and left, disappeared overnight and Akutagawa knew he wasn’t coming back. He doesn’t remember how many things he destroyed that night, or how many people he killed or maimed in his frenzy. What he did remember was that he didn’t stop until he couldn’t physically stand up anymore, and she was the one who was sent to retrieve him after the carnage. She wordlessly helped him to his feet, put him in a car, and drove him back to the bleak and threadbare flat that passed for his home. As if he had ever had one of those.

The next morning, by the time he was lucid enough to understand it, she had left too. Had followed right in Dazai’s footsteps and taken with her a piece of him he didn’t even know he had. And even though he didn’t think there had ever been anything inside of him to begin with, Akutagawa had never felt hollower in his life.

The last time he saw her was four years after that. She looked….different somehow. Brighter and more carefree, although he could still see that characteristic look in her eye that people who have once been a part of the mafia can never seem to get rid of. He had just turned the corner of a street, hands buried deep into the pockets of his coat that was still splattered with blood from his last job, when he saw her. She was standing at the florist’s shop, picking out flowers as the shopkeeper made a bouquet. Akutagawa stood frozen in his tracks, unsure of what to do.

Sometime after she had tried to save him in that dingy back alley, he had realized that he still had her bloody scarf with which she had tried to staunch the bleeding. So, he washed it as best as he could, and thought he’d give it back whenever he ran into her. But whatever perfect opportunity he was looking for never presented itself, and before he knew it, she was gone and all he was left with was the scarf of the girl who had saved his life.

That scarf usually went with him wherever he went, for some reason, and right now he was glad of that fact because it gave him a reason to approach her.

Hands still jammed deep into his pockets, he walked up to her wordlessly and coughed slightly to get her attention. But instead of turning around, she froze. It had been years, and it was just a cough, but there was no way she could ever forget him.

“Akutagawa.”

When she finally did turn around, the look on her face was not what he had expected, and all words seemed to flee from his mind. She looked alarmed, eyes darting every which way, as if trying to calculate the best route to escape. She looked scared.

“I –  this - “ he cleared his throat again as he produced her scarf, “This is yours.”

She looked down at the faded garment in his hands, and something in her eyes softened a little. “You…you still have that old thing.”

His eyebrows raised in involuntary surprise. Did she think he would have thrown it away? He quickly replaced the expression on his face with his usual scowl, and thrust the scarf at her, “Take it.”

She shook her head, smiling faintly as she pushed it back, “No.”

“What do you mean ‘no’?

She didn’t answer. Instead, she turned around, took the flowers and paid the florist. When she faced him again, her face was lined with a conflicted frown, as if two different urges were battling in her head.

“I’m leaving Yokohama tomorrow.”

Akutagawa stood there mute for a while. But I’ve only just found you again, he wanted to say. “Wh – where are you going?”

She shrugged, “Anywhere. Nowhere in particular.”

“You’re running from something.” He said, more as a statement than a question.

“You could say that, I suppose.” She ventured, “It’s this place. I don’t want to be haunted by it anymore.”

“So…”

“So,” She gave him a forlorn smile, “You hang on to that scarf for now. Maybe we’ll run into each other again someday, in some other place…under different circumstances. You can give it back to me then.”

Words failed him at that, and even if they hadn’t, she had barely stopped to wait for him to reply. Giving him one last smile, she turned around and walked away. He didn’t follow her.

To any passer-by, the sight might have seemed strange. A boy in a black coat standing in the middle of the road, open mouthed and clutching a scarf. Maybe we’ll meet each other again someday, she had said…What a blatant lie, he thought and scoffed. Fate doesn’t just throw around happenstance like that. He looked at the scarf still clutched in his hand, and gave a dry laugh when he drew the parallel with himself. Nobody wanted either of them.

Standing there in the midst of the busy road, he wondered how many people will leave him this way.

[dearcat1]

Alessandra AU

Fandom: Bleach, Katekyo Hitman Reborn.

Relationships: Ichigo Kurosaki & Xanxus.

Summary: Ichigo reborn as Xanxus’ little sister.

.

[Part 1]

Xanxus knows his sister. Or maybe he doesn't know her so much as he understands her. They're different, the two of them, but their cores are almost the same. Which is why Xanxus is not surprised at all when his cute little sister awakens her Dying Will.

Wrath Flames. Powerful enough to make everybody in the room stager. 

But as much as he wants to feel proud, Xanxus can't quite ignore the glaring scars in his sister's soul. It makes no sense, she was 6, almost 7 when he found her. Young and already scarred, yes. But nothing that would justify this. 

Which means that this somehow happened under Xanxus' watch and he didn't notice. That's unacceptable.

Why hadn't she told him? Xanxus pushes that flavour of frustration away as soon as it crosses his mind. Because she does come to him when she's feeling unsafe. Xanxus never asks questions but he knows some things. Knows of a candy shop owner who thought her to fight, of some little girl called Rukia with an obsession of rabbits. 

Xanxus knows things, just not this, apparently. 

And he feels a little guilty about pushing now but this he needs to know and Alessandra will answer. Xanxus knows that well. After all, his sister looks at Xanxus like he got bored one night and hung the stars and the moon in the night sky and then decided to add in the sun to the morning sky for good measure. 

He is his sister's world and he knows it just as Alessandra is the most precious of his treasures and she knows it. 

If Xanxus asks, she will tell him and Xanxus will hunt the bastard down and teach him or her a lesson or two. By the time he's done, the bastard would beg to die. Xanxus is not a merciful man. 

So Xanxus ignores the sudden silence in the room, the sharp intake of breath of Lussuria beside him and picks up his sister instead. She's getting a little too big to carry but Xanxus feels like hiding her away for the moment and she doesn't complain. 

Bringing her to her room is out of the question, it's her safe space and Xanxus will not contaminate it. His office is out for the same reason. His room is where she hides when Alessandra doesn't want to be disturbed so that's out too. So Xanxus carries her to Lussuria's division. 

Better that way because the Sun will surely ask to perform a full examination soon enough. 

She’s already scowling. Xanxus doesn’t sigh because it would help nothing but he wants to. He recognizes that scowl, he has seen it in the mirror enough times. “I’m not angry, Ale.”

But that only gets Alessandra to cross her arms with a glare. “I know that! I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Alessandra,” Xanxus starts and doesn’t touch her even if he wants to, “what happened to your soul?”

And his sister flinches, scared and wide-eyed, and Xanxus wants to scream. He wants to rage and destroy but right now it’s not the right time so he pushes that down instead and waits. 

“I…“ She raises her hand slowly to her chest and her face furrows like she’s trying to remember. “I don’t know.” But his sister goes on before he can say a thing. “It was unstable, in the end. I died.”

Xanxus closes his eyes, bites his tongue until he tastes blood. It’s one thing to suspect, another entirely to have it confirmed and he hopes. Oh, he hopes that his sister died in battle because he knows both of them enough to realize neither of them will die of old age. But the way she’s clutching at her chest… Xanxus doesn’t hold his breath. “Unstable?”

His sister hums and he can’t help but eye the way she’s clawing at her chest but Alessandra doesn’t like to be touched this close to a panic attack. Not unless she starts the contact so he holds back, looks at her as she thinks her answer through. “There were too many pieces? Too many pieces meshed together and too many wounds. I… it bled out, I think. The last few months… I can’t remember.”

Fuck it, Xanxus swears. Fuck everything. Because Xanxus can't exactly go around killing people that may as well already be dead. This is something he can’t keep his sister save from and he’s never felt this helpless before. “Ale? Look at me, sorellina. Can I touch you?”

“Urahara didn’t know what was happening,” she murmurs against his neck and Xanxus picks her up slowly, hides his fury at the obvious terrified disbelief in his usually spitfire of a little sister and rocks her instead. 

“Ok, Ale. It’s ok.” He gestures Lussuria inside from where the Sun has been hovering by the doorstep. “We’re going to let Luss check you over, ok? We’ll figure it out.”

“I’m stable now,” Alessandra tells him and he’s not sure whether she’s trying to convince herself or him. He nods anyway, agrees and hopes with everything he is that he’s not lying.

[jadekitty777]

Baker’s Dozen, Part 1

Oh my god we are at the home stretch and I am still amazed I managed to do all eight days. This is a two-parter, so the second chapter will be up tomorrow.

Day 7: First Morning @taiqrowweek

Rating: K

Words: 6,000

Summary: When a desperate escape from fans leaves Qrow seeking shelter in a nearby restaurant, he expects little of the rundown, failing business that offers him a table. One bite is all it takes to change his mind. [Actor and Chef AU]

Ao3 Link: Baker’s Dozen

~

Early Saturday afternoon found downtown L.A. bustling with traffic on the sidewalks and the road. Qrow found himself in the heart of Pershing Square, lying on the grass and enjoying the midday sun beaming down on him, wondering why he didn’t do this more often.

“Oh my god! Qrow Branwen?!”

His eyes shot open, seeing a small gaggle of women hurrying his way as every head within earshot turned to look right at him.

Oh right.

That was why.

He shot to his feet, yelling over his shoulder as he sprinted away, “Sorry! No autographs today!”

He thanked whatever gods might be out there that his last role forced him to stay in excellent shape, because he was easily able to outdistance his pursuers. Unfortunately, as he skirted around the foot traffic, their yells only seemed to be attracting more attention his way. He ever spotted one desperate teenager pulling a phone from her purse.

He was about to be all over Instagram, wasn’t he?

Knowing this called for every actor’s Superman disguise, Qrow pulled his sunglasses from his pocket, shoving them onto his face as he took the first alleyway he could find. Coming out on the other side, he slowed his pace to a fast walk, lowering his head to avoid further detection and slipped into the doorway of one of the businesses a few doors down before the other crowd could catch up.

He sighed, grateful for the dark atmosphere inside the building as he pulled out his phone. Alright, time to call his driver and get out of dodge.

“Table for one?” The question had him jerking around, seeing a young woman in a cowboy getup smiling his way from a little podium. Her golden hair was particularly eye catching, long and untamed in a way that reminded him of his twin sister’s. Her name tag, which was in the shape of a star, read ‘Yang’.

He took in the environment around her, noticing the array of booths and tables that made up the majority of the room, and realized he’d ducked right into a restaurant. “Uh, no sorry I uh-” He started to say, only to trail off as he actually considered it. Why the hell not? It wasn’t like he’d eaten, and it would take his driver about the same time to get there when having to slog through the weekend traffic. “I mean, yeah, just me. Can I get a booth as isolated as possible?”

“You got it!” Yang agreed, picking up one of the menus and leading him to a booth in the back. He couldn’t help but notice she even had spurs on her boots that clanked when she walked. The walls were decorated with a similar Texan flair, bull horns and deer antlers interspaced with paintings of farm homes and woodland creatures and metal lone stars. How quaint.

Despite the aesthetics though, it was obvious from the minute he sat down and the bench creaked loudly, that upkeep wasn’t a priority. Or, he reassessed as he took note of the lack of patrons despite it being the lunch hour, it probably just wasn’t in the budget. That probably wasn’t a promising sign on the quality for his upcoming meal.

“Ruby will be with you soon.” Yang said, setting the menu before him. The cover had the name ‘The Dragon’s Den’ proudly printed across it. Wait, that wasn’t southern. Did he somehow run all the way to Chinatown instead?

“Uh, thanks.” He flipped the menu, but with the lighting so low, he couldn’t read the finer script. He pulled off his sunglasses, setting them on the table before looking through his options. Despite the slightly confused name, everything within seemed pretty par for the course; roast beef, fried chicken, catfish, and a large array of barbequed meats that any Tramp off the street would gladly steal for his Lady.

“Howdy there, can I get you started w- Oh my god!”

Ah, shit.

He looked up, seeing yet another starstruck gaze aimed at him by a petite girl in a similar get up to the hostess but was a few years younger – was she even old enough to work here?

He held up his hand in a desperate attempt to ward off any screaming. “Kid, I swear to give you the best tip of your life if you keep quiet.”

His waitress pressed her notepad against her mouth, a muffled squeak escaping around it. After a moment, she took a breath, then lowered the notepad slightly to reveal a sly smile. “I’ll make sure Yang seats any customers far away from you if you promise me an autograph and a picture too.”

He snorted. What a devious little brat! He could appreciate that. “Deal.”

“Hehe, yes!” She gave a little hop before quickly composing herself, placing her pen to the page. “Alright stranger that I’ve never met and do not know the name of, what would you like to drink?”

“Don’t oversell it kid. And water’s fine.”

“Coming right up!” She scurried away. He watched her detour towards the front, dragging the blond woman to the back where they disappeared behind a set of swinging double doors.

He counted down from five in his head.

“EEEEEEEEEEEE!” Came two screams from the kitchen.

Right on cue.

“OUT! BOTH OF YOU, OUT!!” Was the next shout he heard, the tone definitely masculine.

Yang came back out first, her gaze lingering his way before she hurried away, giggling all the while. Ruby was next, setting a glass of water on his table along with a straw.

“Your drink, mon-sir.”

He laughed. “Did you mean monsieur?”

“Yeah, that one!” She giggled good-naturedly. Despite the fact she was an obvious fangirl, he found himself taking a liking to her.

“Heard a bit of yelling back there.” He gestured towards the doorway.

“Yeah, dad just thinks we’re being dumb. He doesn’t believe you’re out here.”

Dad? Well, that might explain why it seemed this rustic establishment was getting away with breaking child labor laws. “Eh, it’s probably better that way anyways.” Kids were cute; but adults fawning over him was always a little weird, especially if they were around his age.

“He wouldn’t know how to appreciate the moment anyways.”  Ruby clacked her heels together, spurs chiming when she did. “So were you ready to order or did you want a few minutes?”

He glanced down towards the menu. He wasn’t really used to food like this. Growing up, his dad would favor getting the rice cooker going rather than tend to the BBQ gathering dust outside. As for now, his career tended to call for strict dietery needs depending on what shape he needed to be in for each role – none of which ever called for anything steeped so heavily in grease and fat. “Any suggestions?”

“Ooo,” She tapped her chin with her pen thoughtfully. “Well dad just took out the kolaches a half hour ago, so those are extra good right now.”

The question was out of his mouth before he could think to fake it, “What’s a kolach?”

“Oh, it’s a Texas thing. Basically, it’s a pasty with filling. Today’s strawberry, which is my favorite.”

“Trying to sell me dessert before the main course?”

“Well yeah! That’s like the highlight of being an adult, right? When I move out, that’s how I’m gonna do it.” Ruby said proudly. “But if you want to be all traditional about it, then by far dad’s best dish is the country-fried steak.”

He knew what that dish was at least. Steak fried in batter and slathered in gravy. It sounded like a heart attack on a plate. He closed the menu decisively, handing it to her. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“Great!” She quickly wrote it down.

As the girl hurried over to go place his order, Qrow took the opportunity to look up the address and text it to An. ‘Pick me up in forty-five?’

‘Certainly sir.’ She replied.

He had just switched back to his browser, when Ruby came back, setting a small plate in front of him. The Kolach was about the size of a cookie, with a breading cooked to a nice golden brown and the bright red strawberry filling dusted over with powdered sugar.

“Here you go! The best dessert you’ll ever have.” She proclaimed.

It certainly looked good, but it wouldn’t have anything on his mother’s Ichigo Daifuku. “Maybe second greatest kiddo.”

Ruby looked about ready to defend her dessert’s honor when a call of ‘waiter’ had her drawing back. “Um, gotta go. Enjoy!”

Picking up the pastry, Qrow turned his attention back to his phone. He eyed the 2.9 rating the restaurant had on Yelp, his stomach turning with trepidation as he took his first bite. The outer crust had a nice crunch but the inner dough was fluffy and light, with a hint of butter. The sweetness also hit with less punch than he was expecting, the strawberry standing mostly on its own with only the sugar on top adding to it. Just the way he liked it.

He was right, it didn’t out beat the Daifuku… but it was pretty close.

As he polished it off, he pulled up the reviews, scanning through them.

‘Great food but the decor is just awful. Pretty sure the place hasn’t had an upgrade since the 70s.’

‘Nice staff but everyone looks like they should be operating out of a western drama.’

‘Terrible! The kid waiting on me didn’t even look fifteen. She was super clumsy too. Dropped a whole cup of BBQ right on my sweater. When I demanded to speak to the owner about it, the hostess gave me attitude about how he was too busy and called ME a blowhard! What a circus show! Never coming back!’

‘The food’s amazing, but the wait times are ridiculous. Forty-five minutes for a rack of ribs? Is there only one cook back there?’

And on they went. Complaints about the location, the confusing name, more on wait time and the staff. But, beyond a few issues on the food arriving too cold, there was nothing but stellar compliments for the taste. He lent back in his seat, hearing it give another dying groan. He watched Yang sit another table of five while Ruby bustled about to get their drinks. Eyed his crumb-dusted plate, realizing the treat was probably offered to him because someone hungry was more likely to notice the wait for the main course. What a sad state. Apparently great food but poor management and lack of funds to fix anything. The place probably wasn’t going to last another year.

Ruby was all smiles when she came back to him, clearing his dish. “So, did you like it?”

“It was excellent, just like you promised.” Qrow told her honestly. For a split second, he almost let that be the end of it all. To just have his meal and leave, forgetting all about the reviews that foreshadowed the Dragon Den’s closure and the innocent kid whose family would be facing thousands of dollars in debt.

Instead he found himself strangely invested. Perhaps it was just human curiosity or pure boredom, but whatever it was, something made him lean forward, cross his arms over the table and ask, “So Ruby, you said your dad’s the one cooking, but who runs the place?”

“He does.”

He arched a brow. “He’s the owner and the chef? And he makes his kids work here?”

She shifted on her feet. “Uh well, I only help out on weekends and maybe a weekday here or there when dad really needs me. Yang’s got it real bad tho. She has to rush from her classes at Cal State to here five times a week.”

As the suspicion niggled at the back of his mind, he almost asked, but figured the deliberate omission about the whereabouts of their mother was all the answer he needed.

“There’s no other waiters?” He asked instead.

“No, we’ve got a few part timers, just not enough for a full day. Dad keeps saying when business picks back up he’ll hire a few more and a new chef too but,” Ruby averted her gaze. “That was a year ago.”

“What happened?” He pressed.

She shook her head. “We kept losing staff and now I just think he’s too busy. He sometimes doesn’t even come home. He’ll just sleep at one of the tables and then be up for the next day.”

“He’s here every day? From open to close?”

“Yeah.”

He whistled low between his teeth, placing his palm under his chin. He’d had some rough shoots over the years, but at least he had the solace of taking breaks. “Wow. That’s awful. And I bet a teenager like you hates having to work when you’d rather be at home playing video games.”

“Oh, no. I don’t mind.” Ruby refuted, before amending shortly after, “Uh well, most times, at least. Jerky customers kind of ruin my day. But otherwise, it’s okay.”

He had a feeling it was anything but. “You sure ‘bout that?”

“Yeah. I mean, when we first moved here, this place was dad’s dream.” She waved vaguely in the air as if to encompass the little establishment. “He always loved making people happy by cooking for them. Even when I was a kid he’d tell me that the gift of a good meal is the smile on someone’s face when they eat it.” She faced him, resolute and steady. “I know it’s important to him, so if I can help him keep this place by working here every now and again, then that’s just what I’ll do.”

He studied her carefully, but nothing he could see seemed imply she was lying in any way. It was a value he could certainly respect, as he and his sister had grown up being told the importance of caring for and respecting their elders. But living in America taught him that not all families operated this way. It was surprising, but uplifting, to see it here. “That’s rather admirable of you.”

Before they could say more, a hiss of ‘Ruby!’ drew her up short, and then Yang was sidling over, an impressive stack of plates balanced precariously along her left arm. “Table 3 needs their check before they bounce on us.”

“Oh right.” She paused, just long enough to place the pastry dish on top of her sister’s already full load with an overly sweet smile.

Once his waitress had left, Qrow said, “Guess I’m distracting her.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised. You can distract half the nation.” Yang replied. “Must be awful, never having enough privacy.”

He shrugged it off, as if he hadn’t sprinted several blocks twenty minutes ago. “Comes with the business.”

“Well, I’d hate it. I get enough attention as it is.” She shifted some of the weight on her arm.

“Ah, what? You’re the total heartthrob in school or something?” He could see that. She had other assets that matched Raven’s – and he remembered how often that had the boys trailing after her like stray dogs desperate for affection.

“Or something.” She echoed vaguely. “I’m going to go check on your meal.”

It was only as she turned away, he noticed her right hand as it caught the faint light from above. The shine to the skin too bright to be natural and its immobility too revealing that the limb was anything but real.  

Or something indeed.

God, maybe he should pitch a show because this was starting to feel like a classic TV sitcom. A single dad, running a failing restaurant and just struggling to get by to provide for his two kids, one of whom was disabled and the other was sacrificing the last of her childhood. Ruby, with her boundless optimism, would be the star of course. Yang would be the sassy, fiery-tempered co-host. Their dad would be a bumbling fool with a heart of gold. It would either top the charts or fail after the first season.

Not having much else to do as he waited, he texted the inane thought off to his agent.

Your writing leaves a lot to be desired. Stick to acting Qrow. Willow ordered.

He chuckled silently, replying: Is this why you gave your daughters such icy names? Because they were born from someone so cold?

Watch your tongue Branwen or I’ll tell Tommy Wiseau you want to co-star with him.

Ouch, I’ve got freezerburn.

I’m again questioning why I work with you.

You love me. He sent an obnoxious amount of kiss emojis along with it just to really annoy her.

She sent back swords. Ah, she was the best.  

He decided to leave her alone, switching over to one of his racing game apps and immersing himself in the competition. Every now and again, he’d catch sight of the girls in the corner of his eye. Ruby taking orders and checking on customers. Yang fetching refills or cleaning up. His red Alpine racer was just passing the finish line of the second race when Ruby was coming back.

“Here you go, the best meal in the house.” She set down the dish before him. It was an excellent presentation, like it came right out of a cooking magazine. The fry-battered steak was a light, golden brown, slathered with a brownish-white, peppered gravy. A generous helping of fluffy, buttery mashed potatoes and bright yellow corn, both flecked with more pepper, completed the meal. All of it was framed by the plate with its dark blue flower trim that made the colors pop and really sold the southern charm.

“Thanks kiddo.” He said, feeling his stomach grumble.

“Enjoy!” She hesitated, adding in a small rush, “Just um, call me if you need me!”

He unrolled his utensils as she hurried away, shaking his head. She was probably hoping he’d call her every five minutes, just so she’d have more of an excuse to talk to him. Poor kid probably thought she was missing the opportunity of a lifetime. He didn’t let it bother him. After all, everyone who’s ever sat down with an interview with him knew he was a terrible conversationalist.

He cut down into the steak, finding it came apart easily and was perfectly cooked through. He dripped the bottom in the gravy, twisted it around on his fork, said a silent prayer to his arteries, and took the first bite.

Oh.

Oh.

Holy Mother of Mary.

The fried breading crunched nicely but the steak practically melted into his mouth, combining with the gravy and a series of spices he couldn’t even begin to name but knew it was doing something wonderful to his taste buds.

He hummed happily. It was good. It was beyond good. As he cut another piece and took another bite, finding it as delectable as the last, he still couldn’t believe it. There was just no way anything could be this delicious.

He was over three-quarters of the way through the steak by the time Ruby came to check on him.

“Sooo,” She glanced at his plate then to him, smirking, “You like it, don’t you?”

“Don’t look so smug.” Qrow replied halfheartedly, stuffing another forkful in his mouth and hearing her fading giggle.

He didn’t get it though; with food like this, the place should be packed. If people could wait in line to get his autograph for six hours, then why couldn’t they wait a measly half hour for an incredible meal?

“Hey kid.” He said when Ruby came back around again, this time to collect his empty plate.

“Yeah?”

“We still got to take your picture. Any chance I can give my compliments to the chef while we’re at it?”

“If Yang can be in it too, you got yourself a deal.”

He chuckled. Should have expected that. “You got it.”

“Eeeee!” She squealed, hopping in excitement. “Okay, okay, let’s go now!”

He obliged, finding it hard to move at first. Wow, he was stuffed. He managed to follow Ruby to the back, seeing her wave her sister over before he was led through the double doors.

Walking into the kitchen was like walking backstage on a set – wherein the stage was just a collection of pieces meant to play their positions and what was behind the curtain was where the magic truly happened to bring it all together. But instead of sound design and lights, it was sizzling grills and knives chopping down. And instead of half a dozen people rushing about, there was only one. He was mincing up an onion with a swift finesse only the best of chefs had while singing along with a cassette player that was peddling out country tunes.

“It’s a quarter after one, I’m all alone and I need you nooow.”

Singing badly, Qrow thought, cringing inwardly.

“Dad, no!” Ruby cried. Not even looking their way, the man just continued on, more loudly and off-key then before.

“Oh god, please smite me.” Yang groaned as she walked in, hiding her face in her hand.

Her sister raced across the room, pulling at his sleeve, hissing insistently. “Dad, we have company.”

“Meaning I have an audience that actually appreciates my performance?” His laughter was hearty as he peered over her head. The cutting stopped immediately. “U-Uhh…” Was all he managed to splutter before looking down at his daughter. “Uh?!”

“Told you he was here.” She said in a know-it-all sort of tone.

Used to this, Qrow just cleared his throat, introducing himself even if it felt a bit arbitrary. “Qrow Branwen. A pleasure to meet you.”

The man didn’t reply straight away, still taken aback by his very presence – or perhaps, from the faint lines of panic crinkling his brow, weighing over the fact he’d just served a celebrity without actually knowing it. Whatever it was, he seemed to catch his bearings, setting down his knife and crossing the kitchen. As he introduced himself in turn, he held out his hand, “Believe me, pleasure’s all mine. Name’s Taiyang Xiao Long.”

Xiao Long? Strange, he didn’t appear to have any Chinese in him, which likely meant he was married into the surname. At least now he really understood the restaurant’s title. Qrow shook his hand, surprised by the strong grip. He could feel the calluses built onto his hands from years of using cooking utensils.

“I apologize,” Taiyang said as he pulled back. “Had I taken my daughter’s word for it, I would have offered you a meal more extravagant. Or at the very least, some good wine.”

He had to keep himself from chuckling at the way Ruby stuck out her tongue at her dad’s back. “That’s alright. If I’m being honest, that was one of the finest meals I’ve had in quite some time.”

The chef’s cheeks turned a little rosy but his smile was just like his daughter’s, toothy and bright. “That’s mighty kind of you to say.” Heh, cute. He even talked like the aesthetic.

Before they could converse more, the ringing of a timer drew Taiyang’s attention. “Ah, pardon me.” He hurried to the stove, pausing only long enough to wash his hands.

“Sooooo,” Ruby stretched out the word as she slid back over, pulling out her phone. “Picture?”

“Wait, hold on!” Yang ripped off her hat, finger-combing through her golden locks. “Does my hair look okay?”

Her sister gave her a thumb’s up. “Like a rat’s nest. So yes- Ack!” She got smacked in the face with the hat.

“Girls, don’t be bothering him like that.” Their father chastised, stirring something in a large pot.

“We’re not!” Yang claimed.

He shook his head, but it was hard to tell if it was at her or at the soup he was tasting. “Really Mr. Branwen, you don’t have to.”

Ruby looked scandalized. “What?!”

“He owes us. I kept all the other customers away from him.” His eldest explained.

His head whipped around. “That’s worse! A man shouldn’t have to pay for his privacy!” As he pulled down some spices, he continued, “What you two ought to be doing is just appreciating the moment.”

“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea dad. Now if only I had something to capture it with and keep it forever. Oh wait!” Ruby waved around her phone violently. “I DO!”

Unable to hold it in anymore, Qrow started to laugh. He was right; they would make a good sitcom. “It’s been a long time since I’ve met such interesting people.” He addressed the chef, “It’s alright, really. I did promise them.”

Taiyang opened his mouth to protest further, but another timer went off – how many did he have? – so he just said, “To each his own I suppose.” Before he turned to go check something in the oven.

Taking the opportunity for what it was, he held up his arms. “Alright, bring it in ladies.”

Ruby tossed her own hat next to Yang’s, giggling as his arm came around her shoulders. Yang was a little more uncomfortable, so he let his hand rest on her shoulder, above where he assumed her arm ended, and felt her relax almost instantly.

“Okay, 3, 2, 1!” They all smiled widely as the camera shutter clicked. They pulled away and Ruby looked it over to make sure it was good, before squealing happily. “Oh gosh it’s perfect! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“You’re – oof! – welcome.” He huffed out when she nearly tackled him with a hug. He pat her back. “Now, I believe I promised an autograph too?”

She grinned hugely. “Right, yes!” She grabbed Yang, “Come on we got to find something for him to sign!” The two hurried to a small office, and he caught Ruby saying, “He could even sign your arm!”

“You think?” Yang’s voice faded to the background, overtaken by a loud sizzling.

As Qrow came as close as he dared, Taiyang said, “Thank you for this. You really made their year.” He was stirring the onion he had minced earlier around a nice heap of melting butter in a hot pan.

“Like I said, it’s fine.” He echoed.

“Still, it’s appreciated.” The burner was flipped off and the pan taken from the heat, but the onions continued to sauté.  “‘Fraid I can’t offer you much in compensation though, beyond giving you your meal free.”

He tilted his head. “Can you afford that?”

“Really, I insist. As they say, happiness is priceless.” Was the curt reply.

Only the rich say that. He scoffed at the obvious farce – not that Taiyang noticed as he turned away to attend to something else. Subtlety by words had never been his strong suit, and it wouldn’t be in the next five minutes either. So, he cut to the chase, “Listen bud, I’m not going to sit here and pretend I know everything, but it’s pretty obvious from the state of this place to the lack of non-relative employees, that you’re not exactly in good standing.”

“An astute observation, but I don’t believe you needed to bring up all that just to make a case to pay for your meal.” He was back to chopping – this time, potatoes. Stubborn as a mule was a term invented for this guy, wasn’t it?

“It wasn’t.” Qrow assured. “It was a case to buy your restaurant.”

The knife chopped down so hard, it went right into the wood. Taiyang turned around to stare at him. A clatter to their left caught Qrow’s attention. The girls were both standing just outside of the office, the things they’d brought for him to sign now strewn across the ground.

No one spoke.

A beeping filled the air, and still no one spoke.

“Uh. Timer?” He said, awkwardly.

Taiyang seemed to blink out of whatever daze he was in. He came forward, almost aggressively enough that Qrow tried not to shrink back, but the other man only reached over his shoulder to turn off the timer, side-eyeing him as he walked away.

“Really?” Ruby’s small but hopeful voice shook the tense air.

Yang’s was more suspicious. “You do know you’re buying a failing business, right?”

He offered the duo a smile. “Won’t be failing when I’m done with it. This place just needs a bit of sprucing up. More staff. Maybe a new location-”

Slam! Went a cooking sheet on the countertop.

“No.” Taiyang said rigidly.

Unperturbed, Qrow carried on. “Alright, no new location. Kind of a bad move but I can work with that. But the name has got to-”

“Stop.” He commanded. “Do not treat me like a fool. I may not have grown up here, but I learned rather quickly that folks around here will do a lot for 15 minutes of fame. I will not allow you to do the same to my family.”

“What, dad-!” Yang started

“Can’t you just-!” Ruby spoke over her.

“Quiet, both of you!” He bellowed, before turning his back to them, grabbing some tongs to turn the racks of ribs around a bit more aggressively then needed. “The answer is no, and that’s final. Now, I will thank you kindly to take your empty offer and walk it out the door.”

When the girls started to raise protest again, Qrow was the one to silence them this time, raising a finger to his lips, before he took a few steps closer to the chef. “Believe me when I say the offer is not empty. Your daughter over there tells me how much this place meant to you when you first got it, but now you’re letting it rot under your feet. Is that really how you want it to go out?” The other man’s jaw clenched and he refused to look at him. He took that as a good sign, reaching out to place a tentative hand on his shoulder. “Let me help you and your family.”

For his efforts, a set of tongs were shoved so close to his face, they almost touched his nose.

Behind the makeshift weapon, Taiyang’s eyes bored into his own. He spoke steady and sharp, “Mr. Branwen, I will say this once and only once. I have put everything I got, my entire heart and soul, into this restaurant. It is the only thing I have for my girls and I am NOT about to gamble it away on some publicity stunt to stroke a rich man’s ego. So, you ask me to believe you? Then come back with a lawyer and a contract full of terms we both agree on, as I will settle for nothing less. Am I understood?”

The storm brewing in those blue eyes didn’t intimidate him, because this close, he could see the dark circles etching a deep exhaustion around them. The mark of a person desperate and at the end of their rope. Despite only knowing him for a few minutes, Qrow could tell that he was a good man, as well as aggravatingly hardheaded.

“Got it.” He told him, reaching into his pocket to fetch his shades. “I’ll see you in a few days then.”

As he pulled them on and turned away, he thought perhaps he heard Tai give some biting remark about how tomorrow, perhaps he’d be offered the moon. But he didn’t let it faze him. Instead, he crossed over to where the girls still stood, frozen – but unlike their father, they did nothing to hide the tentative hope on their faces.

Qrow lent down, fetching the sharpie and two sheets of paper, using a nearby counter to pen out the autographs. He even took the time to add his signature calligraphy, making the tail of the Q look like a feather. He offered each one in turn, “Ruby, Yang. Thank you for the pleasant experience.”

Yang was slow to take hers, as if she might say something. In the end she only thanked him.

Contrastingly, Ruby’s vibrancy was back, an almost nervous energy pitching her tone as she quickly offered to walk him to the door. It didn’t take him long to figure out why, as she hid her face in her treasured autograph and groaned. “I’m sorry about my dad. He’s just so, so, embarrassing!”

“He’s not so bad.” He refuted, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Against his fingertips, he felt the buzz from his phone signaling an incoming message – no doubt An letting him know she’d arrived. “He’s playing it smart. Even I don’t do a job without a contract.”

“Still, he could have been more polite.”

Her tone allowed no argument, so he didn’t bother to tell her that for him, it was actually a refreshing change of pace. He had all sorts of people tripping over themselves to fawn at his feet and, while some celebrities ate up all that attention, Qrow had certainly never been one of them. It was nice being talked to like an equal – a privilege often reserved only to his closest coworkers and manager.

There was also just something so honestly genuine about Tai. Call it simple intuition, but he knew what it took to play all sorts of characters and he could say without a doubt that the blond wouldn’t be able to fool a preschooler if he tried. He was the kind of man who hid nothing and wore his emotions right on his sleeve.

Qrow, who shuttered his behind fake smiles and sunglasses all day, could really appreciate a quality like that.

“It was really amazing to meet you.” Ruby said as she pulled open the front door for him. “Like, as in the-best-thing-to-ever-happen-to-me amazing.”

“You’re setting the standard pretty high there, considering it won’t be the last time you see me.” Qrow said, stepping outside.

Her expression lifted, her youth seeing to shine through in her eyes. “You mean, you’re really coming back? Ever after dad was, well, a total jerkwad?”

“Well, you know what they say. You feed a crow once, and it’ll come back to roost.” He pulled down his sunglasses, enough to wink at her. “See you ‘round kiddo.”

“Y-Yeah! See you! Thank you so much, Mr. Branwen!”

He was pretty sure she waved after his car long after it left the street.

~

Three days would pass before Qrow would return to the Dragon’s Den. Like a knight readying for battle, he stood in front of the door over an hour before opening time.

When Tai finally arrived, he almost dropped his keys in the gutter at the mere sight of him.

“Why hello thar pardner.” Qrow drawled, tipping an imaginary hat. “Fancy meeting you here.”

For a moment, he just stared blankly. But finally, a snort escaped him. “You need to do more westerns if that’s the best you got, pardner.” He stepped forward, adding more softly, “You, came back.”

He nodded. “’Fraid I don’t have the moon to offer you, but I got the next best thing.”

Taking his cue, the gentlemen standing nearby fixed up his tie and strode forward. “Mr. Xiao Long? I’m Hei Xiong. I work in property management. It’s my understanding Mr. Branwen here would like to strike a deal with you.”

“Does he now?” That same bite Qrow’d heard in the kitchen was back, the blonde’s hackles already raised. Not missing a beat, Hei ruffled through a few papers in his folder, pulling out the top one to show him. Tai read it aloud. “Claim of co-ownership?”

“Yes. Mr. Branwen is interested in becoming your business partner.” The manager supplied.

“…Does he now?” He echoed as he looked towards Qrow, but the fiery attitude he’d expelled like a shield had doused some.

“We would be happy to discuss it in more detail this morning, if you’ve available?” Hei asked.

Anticipation held Qrow’s breath and anxiety jumped his heart as he waited for the other man’s response.

For the second time, he was rewarded with another of Tai’s bright and toothy grins. “I certainly am.” He stepped past them both and opened the door to the Den. “Please come in.”