habitcbd

[tuliharja]

This is a kind of redraw from my older drawing of Mazu, but not fully. In this, you can see the full body picture, unlike in the other one, but I did change Mazu's outfit a bit. I wanted to make it appear more like a ballerina's outfit -light and beautiful. After all, Mazu is really athletic and talented dancer. To add more movement to this picture, I made Mazu hold a cloth that is the same color as her eyes. ^^

Artwork: @tuliharja

Note: I’m fine with reblogging, but ask me first for my permission, if you want to repost my artwork.

DeviantArt I Pixiv

[alexiethymia]

little things about hitsuhina and ginran I love (design-wise)

how kubo really designed them to be complementary

in the manga, rangiku’s hair is golden while gin’s hair is silver. even when they changed their hair color to strawberry blonde in the anime, they also changed her eyes from blue to silver-grey

even when gin defects, you have his white arrancar outfit with the aqua-blue sash, which complements rangiku’s black shihakusho and blush-pink scarf. it’s quite striking in the colored manga.  

the snake and virgin motif between the two of them, and even hades and persephone, I mean the both of them are also virgos (seriously the fact that they have the same birthday, and they count it on the day they met, they’re such soulmates)

the association of autumn and winter with the both of them (their favorite foods are dried persimmons, and rangiku most often remembers gin with snow)

you wouldn’t normally think that they have thematic links with their zanpakuto unlike say hitsugaya and hinamori with their ice and fire elements, but the fact that gin is also associated with foxes, and haineko’s hilt looks a bit like a fox is very cute to me (EDIT: Apparently, they do have a connection with their zanpakuto! Upon the reread, it seems that Shinsou’s bankai isn’t about how long or fast it contracts, rather it turns to dust for an instant, the moment it expands and contracts. Dust and Ash, wow. I don’t know if Kubo really planned all these out, but idc, I still love these bits and pieces.)

hitsugaya and hinamori are pretty obvious - smol to her tol, cold white snow to her earthy brown, ice and fire

despite hitsugaya’s element, I often associate them with spring and summer, especially since summer is when hinamori would visit home and they’d eat watermelon together

although both hitsugaya and rukia have ice as their element, their thematic connections with their respective childhood friends differ enough.

this is best reflected in hitsugaya’s and renji’s duet about their childhood friends. renji associates himself with dirt and being a stray, while he associates rukia with purity and the cleanness of snow. he’s a howling dog who longs for the moon, and one of rukia’s most famous attacks is tsukishiro or white moon. red and white are their colors.

hitsugaya meanwhile personifies the coldness of ice, while he considers hinamori’s smile and laughter to have been a “spring breeze” which warmed him

color-names and flower-names: there’s also slight symmetry as to their names. both gin’s and hitsugaya’s (or nick)names can refer to their hair colors (silver, white) while rangiku and momo’s names refer to flowers. rangiku or chrysanthemums are supposed to represent truth, and well we all know what gin is like. meanwhile, peach blossoms are spring flowers, while toshiro has the character for ‘winter’ in his first name. plum blossoms (or the ‘ume’ in tobiume), meanwhile, also bloom in late winter and early spring

[neo-zone]

"In another life, I would've really liked just doin' war crimes and manipulatin' people with ya, Sousuke."

- Shinji Hirako (probably)

[bleachposting]

yes your honour that’s her that’s my oc!

[gallusrostromegalus]

Does the weather in the Soul Society differ from that in the world of the living? As in, are there never Thunderstorms in the Seireitei because of the barrier? Are weather phenomena chased by the environment or by Kami and spirits or both? Do Zanpakutō influence the weather with their releases? As in, it stays frosty for a long while after Hyōrinmaru or there's a storm for a while after Sasakibe?

The weather in soul society is broadly better that in the living world because they don't have global warming, but often specifically worse because there are Kami and Zanpakuto other weird things wandering around doing unlicenced meteorology.

It's why Zaraki's mom has the position and title she does. She Who Rules The Sky By The Mandate Of Heaven was appointed to her job by Nobody Themselves because Shinso had told him that some of the Kami were getting rowdy and causing calamities. At least some disturbance is key for any environment, but this was excessive, so Nobody chose The Great Firebird, daughter of Wind and Flame and still burning with divine power despite being totally of the spiritual plane, to make sure things didn't get Too Rowdy. Being eagles, her brother Kikoo is only about two thirds her size and simply not in the necessary weight class.

The Seireitei in particular has fucked up weather, but not because of the barrier. It only filters out things above a specific threshold of spiritual power, so birds and clouds and spiders or whatever can pass through uninterrupted. Seireitei has fucked weather because it's:

1. A city, a thing that get notably hotter than the surrounding area

2. The only elevated feature for dozens of miles on a large flat plain

3. Is full of weather-effecting Zanpakuto.

The first two features lead to the Seireitei getting way more thunderstorms than the surrounding area- clouds catch on the city mount and heat spike, and release their rain and thunder. It also gets more intense blizzards for the same reason.

Zanpakuto, especially powerful ones with Bankai can effect the weather in say, their district of the city, but Seireitei is HUGE and Hitsugaya training in the 10th won't change the weather in the 7th (as much as Komamura wishes it would), but it will dry things out in the 11th, something Yumichika bitchea about loudly while applying more lotion.

The way elemental Zanpakuto effect the weather is somewhat counterintuitive though:

Hyorinmaru and other ice Zanpakuto suck a lot of ambient moisture out of the air for their attacks, or cause it to freeze out of the air into frost, so the air around the Hitsugaya and Rukia tends to be kind of dry.

Ryujin Jakka and Haineko can often increase the humidity because the rise in temperature will make any standing water evaporate. Until a certain point when they dry things out again by sheer heat pushing all the moisture into the stratosphere. Yamamoto often makes a little cumulonimbus over wherever he's training.

Electrical Zanpakuto are actually really important for weather mitigation, since setting off a lightning bolt on command is a lot safer than waiting for a random bolt to hit who knows where, and doing so reduces the overall ionization. Part of the reason Sasakibe gets along so well with Yamamoto is that the heat of Ryujin Jakka ionizes the air for Gonryomaru, making the latter's strikes more powerful.

Water Zanpakuto are a mixed bag. Some pull moisture from the air like ice Zanpakuto do, but others bring their own with them. Minazuki tends to make things humid because she has a body made of flesh that drinks water (Unohana frequently has to take her to the beach so she can drink and soak) and respirates it back out. Miss Fish can fog up windows for blocks around in under an hour just by breathing.

Wind Zanpakuto like Kazeshini aren't nearly as effective at changing weather as they are at combat, simply because it takes so much less energy to fuck with the volume of air in someone's lungs than it does the MASSIVE volume of a cloud.

[brittscafe]

Shinji with a s/o who uses a water type zanpakuto? (s/o is calm and peaceful) I love your writing a lot btw 😻

Awww of course and thank you! <3 <3

Your words and emotions flow like the water, soft and gentle. Unfortunately, Shinji was the exact opposite. He's cocky and rough with his words.

Somehow, you ended up together. You and Shinji were definitely an enemies to lovers story.

In the beginning, you were at each other's throats. You could never agree on anything and argued all the time. It was only until you saw Shinji's sweet, hidden side did you start to like him.

Shinji has learned to be more careful with his words and actions. He's been put under a spell by you. His touch is soft and gentle, lips lingering apart, or even liking to be the little spoon.

Of course, there are times when Shinji is rough. When his kisses get deeper and rougher, biting on your lip. Or when he's protecting you, rage filling him as he sees you hurt.

Shinji definitely would pull out his Bankai if you're seriously injured, but he makes sure that you are far away.

He isn't really sweet with his words, tbh. He'll whisper dirty words into your ear as he's pleasuring you, loving to see how your face flushes.

Shinji's favorite thing to do is tease you. It can be dirty, especially in public. Hands running all over your body as he whispers into your ear about the things he's going to do to you later.

Or he just be using it as a way to flirt with you. He would never pass up on the opportunity to flirt with you. He'll tease you about how you're too nice, a little weak, or even how cute you look right now.

You are Shinji's rock. His place where he needs to go when he needs to calm down or be comforted. Your words are smooth and warm, just what he needs.

Regardless, the two of you couldn't see each other with anyone else.

[iamumbra195]

MY favourite bleach head canons in no particular order

1. the idea that all shinigami in gigai give off uncanny valley vibes

Basically like Isshin, whose not quite human but not quite shinigami, meets some of Ichigo’s friends when he was a kid like Tatsuki and she obviously met his mom before and she was nice so she wasn’t expecting much from his dad and then she meets him and her first reaction is ‘what the fuck is that???’

The kurosaki kids, who have grown up with their dad and have pretty high levels of reiatsu, don’t actually realize this while their human friends just instinctually avoid Isshin ‘cause they feel like something’s off about him

of course over time and with extended exposure to Ichigo’s reiatsu, the weirdness kinda fades away but anyone outside of Ichigo’s circle generally avoids all the shinigami that come to Karakura in gigai for those reasons

2. all animals hate shinigami except cats and crows

literally for no reason besides the fact that I like them

I love the idea of shinji with his creepy ass smile just perched on top of a telephone pole and if he stays still long enough, crows will start sitting on him XD

I also have cats that I love and I love the idea of Ichigo just chilling on his bed with an orange cat and doing the purring thing with it while he’s sleeping

And then when he goes to a pet store with Rukia because she wants to see bunnies, all the animals go ballistic anf they get kicked out XD

3. the visored + ichigo with animalistic traits

laying down on hot things because it feels nice on their skin and soothes something in their lizard brains

eyes that flash hollow yellow when they feel intense emotion (inspired the scene in the anime where Aizen says that hollowification is faster when agitated so emotions heavily affect their appearance

I like the idea that they get very tactile with people they care about (not in a romantic way) and they get into little wrestling matches over stupid stuff because that’s they’re idea of playing and bonding

Shinji gives cat vibes, you can’t even tell me he doesn’t just look at him. When cats make eye contact as they push something off the table- that’s him

I also really like the idea of the hollowification affecting their zanpakuto. Given that Ichigo was pretty much born with his hollow, he doesn’t notice the different the way the Visored do 

Shinji’s whole standing upside down and reversing the gravity on himself, I like the idea that it came after his hollowification and if he wishes he can do it to others

Idk if there’s any jjk manga readers her but you know that attack kenjaku has where he makes you feel like you’re falling but you’re not really? He does it to Yuji a few times when he’s fighting mahito and I love the idea of Shinji having that ability, just completely fucking up their sense of reality and direction

I haven’t thought of the other visored abilities but from my other AU that I will never write, I mentioned that Kaien was hollowified as well so I love the idea of him just being completely obsessed with everything water related and having an affinity for any water type kido and being able to control minor amounts of water without actually drawing Nejibana and being able to breath under water

4. all zanpakuto spirits do commentary in their weilders head

but only ppl like Ichigo and Toushiro who have incredibly powerful spirits that they can literally talk to in the middle of a fight can actually hear

Like Zabimaru, haineko, and all the other zanpakuto are just constantly making fun or nitpicking the way their weilder uses them

But Ichigo is the only one who has to suffer through Zangetsu (Shiro) cackling in his head while Toushiro gets useful feedback and Ichigo’s just completely done with him

a sadder headcanon: all zanpakuto spirits talk to their weilders regularly however, the Visored because of their own fear of their hollowification have estranged themselves from their zanpakuto spirits and like Shiro is hostile with Ichigo in canon, the others are like ten times worse

5. If Ichigo every actually seals his zanpakuto, he’d be incredibly sensitive to reiatsu (I forgot to add this one the first time and I didn’t wanna make another post XD)

I personally love this little explanation of Ichigo’s powers and you know how Ichigo is just really shitty at sensing reiatsu at the beginning? Shinji commented on it a couple times and seemed pretty confused by it.

I think that part of the reason why he’s so bad at it-- especially after the SS arc ‘cause remember he was actually pretty good at sensing back then-- is because after he achieved Bankai, Hollow Zangetsu was in control rather than OMZ and with that switch in power came a significant uptick in his own reiatsu to the point where Ichigo actually feels like he’s being crushed by his own power and he can feel how close Shiro is for the first time and he’s actually scared of his own power

Hiyori even comments about how he’s scared of his own bankai because the distance between him and Shiro decreases everytime he gets stronger since Shiro gets stronger with him

Anyways, we’re not devolving into an analysis about Ichigo and Shiro but eventually Ichigo learns how to sense things properly even with his own reiatsu

So when he finally seals Zangetsu and he’s no longer covered by his own power because it’s finally sealed, he’s gonna be sensing things so much stronger and get sensory overload only it’s ✨reiatsu sensitivity✨

6. Souls in the Society age until they find an appearance both they and their reiatsu level is comfortable with (Another one because I’m an idiot and I forgot)

Excluding Toushiro’s weird case of appearanc shifting but I guess that could be attributed to his bankai’s weirdness that I don’t know much about

I don’t think we’ve gotten on actual explanation on how souls age so I’ve decided to apply this hc

Basically the reason why ppl like Unohana, who looks incredibly similar to herself from a thousand years ago, the only difference being how much less sinister she looks and how calm she looks

Plus, all the characters from the Turn back the pendulm arc barely changing over a hundred years is wild

I initially thought of it as comparing every decade a soul lives to ever year a human lives but that didn’t feel right so I chose this

[peppermintquartz]

He was very young when he understood, and what he understood was Everything.

His zanpakuto whispered to him when he first opened his heart to it, and from Kyoka Suigetsu he learned about illusions, and from illusions he saw the truth. The twisted, ugly, grotesque truth of the world that no one wanted to see:

-- there was no God.

And because there was no God, the delineation between good and evil, moral and immoral were all arbitrary and ultimately pointless.

The only thing that truly mattered was control.

The ones who could control what others saw, what others heard, what others learned, controlled how they reacted.

And over time, Aizen weighed the different means of gaining control. Control of self -- that was easy and impossible. He could not lie to himself into thinking he was doing this for a greater good. No, wielding Kyoka Suigetsu meant he always, always knew what was real and what was illusory. He had to master himself first. Parts of him were buried deep beneath the calm waters of Kyoka Suigetsu's lake: compassion, compliance, surrender.

Control through relationships was not difficult. He knew how to be charming yet appear genuine. What people liked to hear to reinforce their vision of themselves. Even Tousen Kaname had his weaknesses, and that was how Aizen won him over. Some, he kept blind to his real self. Some he allowed glimpses, just for the fun of it, for while he was aware of the Truth, one terribly enlightened, he was also a person with his individual needs and delights. And one he allowed to see everything. He knew that Ichimaru Gin would have to betray Aizen or himself, and Aizen was curious as to what Gin would choose.

Finally, control through power. Not a challenge at all: Aizen ousted Hirako, caused the mass exile of the vizards, thus destabilizing the divisions and putting his own into positions of authority. The Central 46 were nothing but administrative blowhards; he left them to Gin's mercies.

The hougyoku... If Aizen could have won Urahara over to his side, he could have attained his goals so much sooner. But in the end he got what he wanted.

And still... Nothing mattered.

He had set a goal for himself, just to see if attaining ultimate control would change something. Anything. It worked for a while, giving him something to work towards, distracting him from the illusory nature of the world. Can't pay attention to how pointless everything is if his attention was directed at one single point. Tunnel vision had its uses.

But it was all illusion. He had only managed to fool himself, just for a short while. A hundred odd years, give or take. A blink in the long endless span of pointless existence.

He let Ichigo win. He let Urahara trap him. He let the hougyoku reject him. Rage - the rage was against their blindness, their ignorance, their headlong rush towards deceit and falsehood.

Well, he had learned something anyway.

There was no point to victory.

Maybe there would be something to learn in defeat.

Ten thousand years bound to a chair in the dark. Nothing more than an inhale and an exhale.

[cosmichorrorsarestillnicerthanme]

I wish for an ask of an !MS/O artist Giving rukia art and drawing lessons

I had fun writing this, thanks for the request!

Now! Your Wish Is My Command!

Rukia had a spot where she went when she needed to cool off.

Was she aware of how Ironic that was considering her Zanpakuto?

Yes.

Did she care?

No.

It was a small, extremely old courtyard in the middle of nowhere on the edge of the Soul Society.

There was a fountain in it. It was a small thing, not really impressive in any way, but despite its age water still flowed out of it and the sound was quite calming to her.

There was also a large patch of wildflowers surrounding it.

Dozens and dozens of different colors surrounded the spot.

And to top it all off?

There was a nice little bench in the middle of it.

She often sat there to mull things over when she needed to.

Or to relax.

Something about this place… was just perfect for her.

It was away from her responsibilities as a Soul Reaper, and away from the things that shaved away at her patience.

Not to mention, it had you there most of the time.

Always working on a painting of something, usually the landscape around you.

As of late though… you’ve been indulging her in a request she asked of you.

Teaching her how to draw.

It was slow going at first.

Eventually though, she started to improve.

Now however, nearly a year after her learning under you began, you were going to have her do her first free hand drawing.

No help from you, no prior template for her to work off of, nothing.

She would be lying if she didn’t feel a bit apprehensive about this.

But, she had faith that you taught her well.

Not to mention… she had something that calmed her when she was drawing.

A memory of when she was just starting out.

You, gently holding her hand, guiding her as you softly whispered into her ear, leaning close to her and holding her lightly by the waist, the smell of the flowers, the faint smell of paint coming off of you, the cool breeze rolling across the two of you.

Whenever she recalled that moment, her chest grew warm and her mind seemed to clear, to rid itself of all of the things that were bothering it and replacing them with one thing.

You.

She didn’t know why.

Well, she did, but she wasn’t quite ready to admit that to herself just yet.

What she did know however, was what her first drawing was going to be of.

Would it have been easier to take a picture of you?

Yes.

Was this going to confirm to her what she was denying?

Definitely.

Was she going to make a portrait of you anyways?

Of course.

[obsessedwhim]

Office Time

You were ecstatic to hear that Ichigo would soon be spending some quality time in the Seireitei with his dear friends and probably training, which was always an inevitable option.

Though his arrival was in a few days you were bursting with glowing nervous energy, not that he was aware of your lowly sixth-seat self but man! You sure were aware of him!

Not only was he the courageous Hero who saved your home more times than you have fingers, but he was also kind, interesting and.. and... soooooOOOOOoooooo a t t r a c t i v e !

So tall and cool, you could barely look at him whenever Ichigo had somehow made it near your vicinity. Not to mention his intimidating Zanpakuto, shaped unlike any sword you had ever seen!

The first time you saw him in person was... admittedly- seeing Yoruichi pick up the youngster after his defeating of The One and Only Kenpachi Zaraki, Capitan to Squad Eleven.

She watched for a moment as you and your squad mates rushed to the scene of the crime and after that, it's like the bright burn of his hair scorched itself into the very wrinkles of your brain. Burning brighter with every thought that passed through your simple little scull.

There was this one time when you had to make a house call to a Lieutenant and the ginger just happened to be there. You kept quiet and tried so hard to keep your eyes on the bandages before you, but then a shadow covered the sunlight you needed and so, you glanced up with a question in your throat only to swallow said question like a cold rock once you saw it was the legendary Kurosaki, leaning over you with a curious stare. Sunlight glowing from behind him as if he were some sort of stunning.. glowy.. person- thing...

"Oh, hey there" he flickered his eyelids in blissful innocents, as if not sure if you were a person or not. Not that you've been acting like a normal person since noticing his spiritual energy which surrounded you like water, as though you had somehow sunk to the very bottom of the deepest lake- oddly, very much like a suffocating hug. You wondered what pressure Ichigo would use on you with his bare hands, not that he would, but say he would...

Before any more lude thoughts were able to flush the blood to your cheeks you blinked and began packing your things away quickly "Welp, that's all the help I can give ya Renji, stay well- be safe! Byyeeeee!"

With a medical box underarm, the smallest of the three ran out of a nearby door and hoofed it over the first garden wall you came across. Leaving both males blinking in your wake.

Though the memory itself was keeping you awake at bedtime with wave after wave of cringe, seeing his eyes up close- the way you could recall the different layers of brown in his almond-shaped gaze and still feel his room temp breath fanning on you from above- it was all worth it. The strange smell he emitted clung to your nostrils, but you being you enjoyed the odd scent coming from him, which you learned later on was a human realm aftershave.

Would it be weird if you bought it? That's weird, right? No... is it?

Whatever, because now was the time to completely indulge yourself in your work, with Hanataro off sick for the next couple of days you were chomping at the bit to get rid of this mountain of paperwork. You couldn't take all these tumultuous emotions and so it was time to forget all about 'em and focus on the perfect piles you had created, both alphabetically and essentiality wise.

It was perfect! Just you, this warm cup of tea and a wonderful breeze that drifted through the window. Nothing would take you away from your office space on this day!

Letting out a slow breath you sat at your desk, flickering through a handful sheets until a few squad mates ran by your open window, glancing at the outside world while black uniforms blurred past the square opening. The stampede pulled the forms you held to your chest in a strong rush of air and the white reports danced across the moving flashmob of rushing Reapers.

"No!" You reached after the vanishing articles, going limp and accepting your fate for now with a wince "Those were the forms to confirm public bathrooms..."

"Here" a hand held out a crumpled pile "I dunno if I got 'em all, but.. This is what I was able to get"

You felt it as soon as he held out those crumpled papers, his pouring energy washing over your skin as if the very sun itself took a moment out of its day to shower you with that good ol' fashioned Vitamin C, trying to ignore your burning flesh you held out shaky hands with a bowed skull "T-thank you, you.. didn't have too"

Though you couldn't see it, Ichigo's shining eyes widened and he near dropped the pile into your little hands before clearing his throat "Naaah, it's.. no problem" he scratched the side of his head before realising you weren't moving.

"Yooou uh, you okay there?" the local Hero quirked a brow as you took a moment to quietly whimper to yourself "I... can't move"

Ichigo bent his knees and squatted before you, glancing up through his lashes and the strands of your hair it was becoming increasingly harder to breathe normally, he was absolutely breathtaking, even more so than you thought from all the distances you'd seen the wonderful Kurosaki form, from all angles. Which was rather annoying at this point in time, but oh well.

Your lungs squeezed at the window corner internally slicing you in half and Ichigo chuckled as blood filled your cheeks "You want some help?" he questioned, grinning widely and you couldn't help but hold what little breath you were getting.

Keeping his eyes matched with yours the male grabbed the scruff of your uniform and lifted you back into your office window all while your fingers shredded the at sheets mercilessly as you imagined his strong hand wrapped around your throat instead.

"Well.." Ichigo turned with a salute, not letting you see his blush rise at how light you were, he could just pick you up and take you away from here "See you 'round"

And there he left you, before anything could register through your shocked being but still that strange aftershave drifted through you and proceeded to stay with you for the rest of your office time.

[reiiishii]

just a lil bit on her- - Espada of Vengeance (I don't have a number yet) - Zanpakuto: Serpiente (Release: Come to me) - Her Fracciones consists of her "sisters" and her daughter (Egeria) - Her hollow mask are the two horns atop of her head - Leucosia has insane control over water (Hydrokinesis) as well as a siren song she had as a hollow. - in her Resurrección form, Leucosia gains 6 monstrous heads (All who have a mind of their own) when on is cut off two more grow back in it's place. - Egeria has no father, much like Starrk and Lilynette, Leucosia split her soul in two just to have someone to love and care for. She's never once forced the girl to return to her- Leucosia, despite her violent and destructive nature, loves her daughter with every fiber of her being. - Her hollow hole is directly above where her uterus would be.

[poundcakecrm]

Ichigo noticing it one random evening, when their sore bodies are still sewing themselves back together in the healing springs and the false sun of Urahara Shoten is still 'hanging' yellow and golden in the sky (just why the shopkeep decided it was necessary to install the dawn and death of each new day with the actual planetary orbit was beyond him, but hey, at least it was a mere oddity and not a threat this time).

His hands are exploring chiseled muscle that seems to never tire, and pale skin that never tans, taking advantage of the fact that he'd kicked Grimmjow's ass hard enough that the Arrancar doesn't throw him halfway across the room on the spot. Ichigo figures he has about five more minutes soaking in the springs before that happens, and so he makes dutiful use of his time. His fingers just barely graze as they move, down from the nape of the other's neck where blue hair lays plastered, and ghost over bruised shoulders before heading down his torso.

Grimmjow watches, silent, both arms propped lazily over the edge of the pools but his eyes are still as sharp as they'd been during their actual sparring match. They watch every movement with frightening focus, and Ichigo doesn't miss the way his fingers twitch every so often; but he doesn't stop him. They've seen too much and touched too much by now for that, this is skin carrying the memory of years of friendly sparring now, not just battles. But Ichigo still treads carefully, as always; just as watchful, as always.

That is how he notices it for the first time, the way blue eyes suddenly narrow to mere slits when his hands cross over the scarred tissue carving down Grimmjow's chest, so fast it was like a flash bomb had gone off. It's an entirely silent reaction, followed yet another subtle twitch of the Arrancar's hands, but even that is enough to make Ichigo pause almost instantly - because Grimmjow doesn't react, not to touch. Not to the featherlight human-level touch Ichigo uses even outside his body whenever they aren't crossing blades. He's mapped out an impressive amount of the former Espada's skin by now, with rough holds and lazy caresses, and Grimmjow bats an eye to none of it. It's the hierro, Ichigo had eventually figured out. Also spite no doubt, and battleworn experience, and stubbornness; but mostly the hierro. Ichigo was pretty sure he could smack a mace across the fucker's back and it wouldn't do anything but put the Arrancar in a sour mood.

Grimmjow never reacted because Grimmjow didn't feel touch half the time. Until now. Until blue eyes narrow so quick it can be nothing but a reaction. Ichigo doesn't comment, but he stares with fiery curiosity and Grimmjow doesn't comment, but he glares with cold warning that he'd better not.

So he doesn't. Ichigo remains silent even when his hands begin moving again, this time tracing the path from the other's neck all the way across his chest, his abdomen, down to dip of his hips. Grimmjow's hands twitch a few more times, droplets of healing water lazily dripping off onto the rocks; but the Arrancar does an impressive job of keeping absolutely still and silent until Ichigo's hands are satisfied with their discovery.

There's no hierro. Or at least, practically none, not anywhere where the skin has turned dark and rough from natural scarring. Anywhere his Getsuga Tensho or Nnoitra Gilga's zanpakuto had touched had devoured the layer of protection like acid, leaving nothing but mere flesh in its wake. It was a crack in the shield, a gaping seam in the system, and it was everywhere it was most vital. And he'd left it. "Left it" being the proper, consciously-chosen wording because it'd been long enough that Inoue actually baked Grimmjow his own set of cookies around the holidays even if the Arrancar never ate them, and had even offered to force Ishida into knitting him a stocking once. And even before, back when their interactions were far from pleasant, Grimmjow had made Inoue heal his Sexta Espada tattoo once. She could heal anything, reverse any damage. Grimmjow could have had the scar, his hierro, healed at any time over the span of years by now.

But he hadn't, and Ichigo's curious eyes just continue to ask "why" while Grimmjow's deadly glare just continues to warn "don't."

So he doesn't, not today anyway. His hands eventually draw back to him, and Yoruichi eventually speaks up from where her perverted-self is hiding amongst the rocks, and Grimmjow eventually launches himself from the springs shamelessly in the nude to gut her with his claws. Ichigo will stay sitting there in the water, shameful in the nude, and watch.

And he'll try not to wonder if his is the first real touch that's managed to slip past the Arrancar's defenses, ever since he'd slashed himself an opening all those years ago.

[chaotic-nick]

Favourite Human - Unohana Retsu x Reader

note: This was supposed to be smut -_- but the opening scene was fluffy enough and now you have this. 

Wc: 630 warnings: none

note: Secret relationship (Shinigami x human partner)

She’d be caught dead if a soul like Kisuke decided to walk up the steps to (Y/n)’s flat and saw the Captain of Squad Four clad in a human’s kimono. One that was more . . . unnatural to the skin and didn’t fit her body the way she wanted. And then Kisuke would laugh if he dared to do so in front of her face. He’d laugh while pointing his cane at the poutful look her face was stuck in. 

Retsu was confident that no one would ever catch her in their human world. Not Ichigo or any of his friends. Until she learnt of (Y/n) being the only one close to their age —almost— and working in the only university’s admin department. That had made her . . . someone whose name was called everywhere she went and then waved at.

Like the diligent ryoka they are. Ichigo and his friends would definitely ask around.

So, to avoid that, Retsu slumped her head on the locked door and knocked her fist again. “(Y/n)?” 

“(Y/n)?” She allowed herself another pout when it was unanswered, her hair falling in front of her face. Almost a defeated soul, she forced herself to turn around and stopped again when she heard tired footsteps dragging themselves on the stairs.

Quick to run to (Y/n), Retsu stretched her arms out for (Y/n) to fall in to her embrace without question. “Tired my dear?”

——

Kimonos made by humans aside, human-packaged food was an unexpected pleasure Unohana fell in love with. Heated food, not hot enough to hurt the human tongue packaged in a plastic container and available to be taken off shelves . . .something that had her thinking what if Mayuri’s mind invented such a thing rather than changing zanpakuto genders*. (*Reference to the Shingami shorts at the end of every bleach episode.)

“You expected me?” She asked through a mouthful of Chicken croquette, chopsticks pointed at the stack of other packaged food (Y/n) put on an empty chair.

“I wish.” She sighed and motioned to the bag fat with papers she took home with her.  “Substitute soul reaper’s going to university now.” Standing up to throw her empty box on her way to her bathroom, Unohana quickly swallowed what she chewed to follow (Y/n).

She stood behind (Y/n) scorched over the running water, collecting water in her cupped hands. “Is university like the soul academy?” Asked Retsu fingers combing through (Y/n)’s hair as her eyes scanned the counter for a comb, running water muffling her voice.

Retsu’s used to the many screams of agony, especially the type from her zanpakuto. She’d lived long enough to be unphased by it. And she loves (Y/n) enough that a scream from nowhere worried her.

Rather than an answer when their eyes met on the mirror, (Y/n) pressed her face on the blue towel and—“AHHHH”

“Heard one of the students tell their friends they do that, tried it last month. It works wonders.”

“You should’ve sent a call,” said Retsu, taking a mental note to check on the messenger butterflies at she put on (Y/n)’s window ledge.

“They can handle themselves, I trust Isane that much.”

“You’re captain there—” at the feeling of her fingers scratching her scalp, (Y/n) sighed into her touch. “Please keep doing that.”

Cracking an eye open, (Y/n) wanted to remind her of the time Retsu sighed so much because of Isane’s anxious demeanour.

“I needed to see my favourite human,” dipping her fingers in the moisturiser, she offered a smile to calm (Y/n)’s mind down. “My mind was telling me to come see you . . . my instincts told me I was right.”

“Stay longer this time please.”

“I will.” 

[hollowfyshunsuikubo]

The Swans Grace

I adore breaking my own heart SO here's my first foray back into the Tumblr fanfiction scene. I'm rewatching bleach and Yumichika in episode 28 and 27 has really got me going thru something.

Contains: angst, literal tears, swearing

Themes: Soulmate AU

Pairing: Yumichika Ayesegawa x GN!Reader

Word Count: 2.8K

Beta read?: No

What was beauty? It was the material face, the slide of an eyeliner brush against your eyelids, the careful picking of the right accessories to go with the days outfit. It was the way you smelled, the way you spoke, the way you looked in the eyes of others.

Yumichika was beautiful, perhaps the most beautiful thing in the Soul Society. He took great pains to look as good as he does, and he takes great pride in it. His lashes, perfect. His skin, divine. His very presence is a blessing to be in. He knows it too. The way he walks, the way he swings his Zanpakuto, shows how he knows he is the personification of beauty itself.

Yet there is a hole within him. It aches, poisons, leaves him empty. It's the only thing that ruins his perfection. He is without his soulmate. He longs for them, he wants to hold them in his arms and wake up beside them in the mornings. He wants to take them on lavish trips to the mortal realm to go shopping, to go through his long morning routine with someone by his side. He aches for his other half. Yet he has not met them yet. His little string, that red string that would wind about his finger and connect him to his soulmate, has not appeared. He can't even focus on training. He lowers his Zanpakuto and huffy, turning his head away. Ikkaku scowls and storms over.

"Focus! What's wrong with you huh?" Ikkakua gets a little too close for comfort, causing Yumichika to take a step back, then finally turn away. The black haired man sighs again and sheaths his Zanpakuto, causing Ikkaku to grit his teeth.

"Oh it's nothing, my friend. I don't think I applied my foundation right today and it's been… bothering me." He waved his hand behind him as he started to walk home. Training everyday, all day, is no good for him, even as a 5th Seat. He sweats too much, and sweat equals smell, and the kind of smell sweat brings is not something he likes at all. Ikkaku fumes as he's left behind, but lets it go. He knows something is up with his best friend, but if Yumichika isn't ready to talk about it he won't push.

Yumichika walks home, alone, his fingers gently caressing the handle of his Zanpakuto. It's his one source of comfort. Without his soulmate, he relies on his trusted Zanpakuto. He can't confess to Ikkaku, who doesn't feel the hole within him as much as Yumichika does. He doesn't feel how it eats away at him at night, cutting into his beauty sleep as his heart aches and aches. He doesn't hold back tears that would ruin his skincare routine as he looks in the mirror, hoping a smiling face would come and gently kiss his shoulder.

Ikkaku doesn't know how much Yumichika, the most perfect and beautiful man in the Soul Society, desperately wants his soulmate.

Yumichika gets home, the moon risen, her pale eye gazing down at him merrily. He doesn't feel very merry. He shuts the door and goes to his room, and begins to gingerly remove his robes. He let's them fall to the floor, for once not caring how rumpled they'll be in the morning. The feeling of need, of a loss not yet named, and the aching pain filling him to the brim. He gently, with great care, places his Zanpakuto on his bed. He walks to his bathroom, getting ready for his nightly routine, starting off with a shower. Well, with the feeling of despair and pain in his chest, he might not make it past the rosehip scrub and cleanse. He steps into thr shower, his water temperature already perfect for his gorgeous skin, and simply turns it on.

It helps mask the tears that finally fall. He sobs, beautifully, as he does everything, his tears indistinguishable from the water. His makeup, wiped off by his hands, comes off easily. He didn't apply waterproof anything today-- he was too caught up in how his heart felt to pay attention to what he grabbed.

He washes off all his makeup, and shakily grand his exfoliating soap. He washes himself gently, still crying. His tears remind him of the one thing he tries to escape: his mortality. That even after everything he does to look perfect, to look beautiful, to look beyond what is expected of a Soul Reaper. Yet he is still just Yumichika Ayesegawa. Fifth Seat of the 11th Division. Just another man with a sword, fighting against hollows.

Times like these, where he already missed what he never had, mixed with his cruel reality behind his gorgeous mask, his pain increases. He falls to his knees, clutching his chest, the soap falling to the floor of the shower.

Even in such internal pain, he was beautiful. The grace he displays never truly leaves him, even in his most vulnerable moments. If anyone saw him now, they would liken him to a swan, pale and beautiful, possessing grace in his agony.

Yet he did not feel graceful. He felt alone. Shakily, he stood, turned off the shower, and stumbled back to his room. He forfeited drying off. He did not have the energy. He simply collapsed on the floor, before his window, and looked up at the moon, begging her in silence for a sign. A flicker of hope. For that little string, so small, almost missable, to appear on his finger. Yet it did not. He was left in his agony, for a long while. The night passed slowly. The moon, ever diligent in her course, slowly rose with the grace Yumichika has when he cries. She reached the highest point in the sky, her eye glowing as she beheld her Soul Reaper children, loving them gently.

Yumichika, after all these hours, finally stood. Still without the strength to dress himself. He manages to open his window wide to look up at the moon, his eyes glistening with tears once again.

"...why?" He whispers. "Why have you not shown me my heart?" The moon does not answer. He grips the ledge and looks down, closing his eyes as he grits his teeth, much like Ikkaku does, his perfect hair falling about his face. For a time, everything is still.

Then, from beneath his eyelids, he sees a faint, red, glow.

And his heart all but stops. He opens his eyes and holds up his left hand. There it is.

His tie.

The very thing that will lead him to his soulmate. His agony is quickly replaced with excitement, his gorgeous naked form whirling around the room to freshen himself and dress in the most beautiful clothes.

The moon has blessed him. Beauty recognises beauty, after all. And Mother Moon is endowed with more beauty and elegance than even Yumichika.

And where are you? Where is the other soulmate, the one who's heart calls for Yumichika? Such a proud thing, you are. You are the most beautiful person in your own right- a soul filled with pure light. No matter if sometimes you have a bitter tongue or a sharp wit. You work so hard, the days and nights you live filled with exhaustion and paperwork. You even dream of it, tall towers of paper spiralling into the sky, each one needing a signature, to be re-read, or the be written on. Yet you never complained. You took your life in your stride, finding little pockets of relaxation where you can. You adopt animals, little kittens and a few dogs, to ease your ever growing stress. You ask for no help, and gently refuse it if it is given. Although, as of late, you have been forced to bedrest.

You are alone. It is midnight, you are trying to sleep. Yet tonight, your blasted soulmate tie decided to make itself known. You sit up in your bed, scowling. You look and feel like shit, yet your inner beauty remains.

Unlike Yumichika, you do not have such a… rigorous nighttime or daytime routine. Indeed, you are perfectly average. Now, that is not a bad thing. In fact, you rather like it. You wash your face every morning and night with warm water, but sometimes you get a stray pimple, but it goes away eventually. You have had plenty of nice people you dated, none ever lasting long. You don't mind flying under the 'beautiful' radar. It means you can focus.

But you can't focus when you're in bed, recovering from the flu, drinking upwards of too many litres of water a day.

So not the best time to discover your soulmate. You already don't have time for whoever they are- you're busy! Far too busy! Your squad needs you, and there's so much paperwork, and the animals need attending to, not to mention you're currently sick. You thought soulmates were cool, when you were younger. As you grew, though, you realised just how much you didn't need one.You're perfect on your own. You get shit done and you get it done fast. Sure, you wouldn't mind somebody in bed with you, but that's fixed via an extra pillow. Boom, something to cuddle.

You grabed said pillow and put it across your lap, folding your arms and resting them on top of the pillow. If your soulmate has any sense, they'll come in the morning, maybe you'll be feeling better and won't be a bitch and a half to deal with. You groan and rub your head, your vision is swimming slightly. Your spiritual pressure is much lower than usual. It fluctuates every now and again, but has been staying low as of late. Having the flu sucks, even as a Soul Reaper. It just reminds you that even people with great spiritual pressure can get absolutely fucking knocked by nature.

Speaking of nature, you heard the trees outside your window rustle. You're absolutely boiling, so you left your window open a little. You look outside and sniff. Your eyes hurt a little. You really wanted to go back to sleep and forget about this whole soulmate bullshit and focus on getting better. You spared a glance at your red tie one more time, before stowing just that hand under the pillow on your lap. You went to lie down again, feeling your exhaustion tale over you, when your window is gently pushed open.

The red tie trembles. You sat back up and tried to focus, but you really just wanted to go back to sleep. You are beyond pissed off now. You watch through half-lidded eyes as a graceful figure climbs through your window and gently steps onto the floor.

You swear you'd seen it before, but you're not awake nor feeling nice enough to care. The soulmate ties pulsed and glowed. Your finger started to ache.

Who in the name of the Soul King had broken into your house while your were sick and exhausted?

Yumichika could barely hold his excitement. He leapt over the rooftops, his smile growing with every step he took. He finally came to the end of his tie, and when he did, he felt his once aching heart begin to race with happiness and anticipation. He leapt into a tree, and saw that his tie ran into an open window. Someone's bedroom.

Your bedroom. His breath caught in his throat, his eyes shining. His entire body seemed to shine. The moon had given him the answer to his pain, the way to end his agony and loneliness. Her kind silver eye had lit the way as he followed his tie, and he had never felt such joy in his life. He slowly opened the window wider, his graceful fingers pausing for just a moment before he placed his hand on the ledge and swept himself inside, his elegant frame landing lightly on the floor. The tie was glowing, almost burning. Like his need. Like his want. Fire has its own beauty, vicious and untameable.You were like fire, though he didn't know that yet. Yumichika gently walked to your side, the moonlight sparkling slightly on his skin, and he reached for you.

You lifted the pillow on your lap and blocked his touch. You turn your head away.

"Leave."

Yumichika felt his heart break, his agony returning. All his tears, all his pain, back in an instant. All because of a single word. Hurt flashed across his face, perfect like the rest of him. He simply kneels by your bedside, his soft purple eyes flashing with devotion and pain.

"...why? I have spent all this time-" You cut him off. You want no impromptu speech, only some much needed rest.

"Because I don't want it. I don't want you. Leave, and don't come back." You still don't know who it is. Your vision swims and you have to lay back again, turning away, jamming the hand with the soul tie under your body. You put the pillow behind your back, to ward him off.

There is beauty in the world. The swan, for example. She has the most gorgeous white feathers, the most graceful of necks and the strongest of wings. She can fly for days on end, and fight hard to protect her offspring. Many myths have been written about her, just like the moon. Mother Moon and the Swan go hand in hand. Two pale beauties, together under a starry sky. It is no wonder that swans in myth are killed during the day. The sun may be beautiful, but it is fire. It's flame kills and weakens. The sun is wild, untameable. The sun and the moon. Two sides of a coin.

You and Yumichika, two sides of perfect halves.

Yet you believed you were whole alone, and Yumichika was dependent on even the thought of you. He was pitiful, a swan without purpose. His graceful wings clipped until he can bask in your light, your touch, your soft words. Yet you greet him with a command, bitter and stinging. He cannot help but stand and stagger back, his swans heart breaking. Oh, Odette! Why did you pursue that which was not yours to have? Oh, Odette! Flee now, forget your shining sun, and take solace in the beams of Mother Moon.

He cannot bear it. He makes a mad grab for you but you shove the pillow back into him, stopping him from touching you.

"Don't you dare touch me!" You hiss, a flash of fear running through your angry gaze. Yumichika recoils in shock. How… could you look at him like that? Which such vehemence? With such disdain? Was there something wrong with him? Maybe he just needs to comfort you… are you sick? Yes, that's it! He'll offer to help you get better. He puts on his softest, prettiest smile.

"You don't sound too well. Let me help you, my rose." He says softly. Your lips curled in anger. Your tie almost burns you. Oh, this pain… there are tears in his eyes. But he will never leave if his heart is intact.

"Get the fuck away from me, and dont you ever call me anything ever again."

Yumichika recoils. Before he knows is, he's trembling, all his dreams crashing down aeound him. There would be no shared morning routine. There would be no waking up next to you. There would be no morning kisses or steamy nightly showers. There would be no date nights, shopping trips, stargazing or even sending letters to one another.

His heart all but shatters. You do not want him. You… you hate him.

He bites his lip, hard, his tears beginning to fall, as he flees your room, running back to his own quarters, his soul tie hurting him every step of the way. He had you, for a brief moment. But you denied him. You sent him away. Your voice, hoarse and harsh, burned him like the sun.

"I don't want you." No, that cannot be true. You cannot not want him. He was perfect! Did you… did you think he was less than that? Did you view him as…

As ugly?

No. That can't be. He crashes back into his quarters just as you realise who your soulmate is. He begins wildily pulling out every vial, every cream, every product. Every beauty and skincare item he has is torn from its place and put on his floor in mania, as he makes himself as perfect as possible, his tears glittering like diamonds in the moonlight.

You fall asleep. You resolve to just leave it be. He's a Lieutenant, right? Yumichika Ayesegawa is strong, body and mind. He can handle rejection. Mother Moon watches on, even as the sun begins to rise and throws his arrogant flame into the dawn that rises upon the Soul Society.

There is beauty in life, but there is wretched sadness too. And it can destroy even the most beautiful of things, like the graceful swan, Odette, who just wanted her prince to love her with his whole heart. To complete her.

[gallusrostromegalus]

So now that we're getting into the nitty-gritty about the zanpakuto, I'm immensely curious about what you're gonna do with Kaname's zanpakuto. Cuz if I remember canon right, he "inherited" (graverobbed?) the sword from his deceased friend, who we are told is the impetus for his whole crusade and made it his own to honor her. I'm interested to see your thoughts :))

You are remembering canon correctly! Suzumushi is NOT Kaname Tousen's Sword! It's the Sword of his friend/unrequited love interest Kakyo NoSurnameInCanon, who was fridged murdered, and when the central 46 refused to prosecute her killer because of his Noble status, that's when Kaname's crusade began, carrying Suzumushi.

...yeah.

In AEIWAM, it's similar, but instead of a friend/unrequited love interest-

Kaname is twelve when he dies suddenly, and reincarnates in the Soul society as a Tween. He is unceremoniously dumped on a country back road in West 51 with only the clothes he died in and no memory of his previous life besides his given name. Kakyo is also about twelve when she dies, and is dumped about four feet away from Kaname five seconds later, and sprains her ankle on the fall. She remembers her past life ("It Sucked"), and reassures Kaname that the guy that left her here said there was a 50-50 chance she'd lose her entire memory. That must be what happened to him. Kakyo can't walk on her injured ankle, but she can see where she's going. Kaname is a strong lad with great balance, and offers to carry her on his back if she can navigate him towards a village. It takes several freezing cold nights, scavenging for food and a terrifying encounter with a rabid dog before they finally reach the village.

Since neither actually knows their birthday, but were both 'reborn' on November 13th, and because they look extremely different, they decide that they are now brother and sister. And ever since then, Kakyo and Kaname regarded each other as twins.

They actually stumble into a library at the edge of a fairly large river trading port, run by Tomoko Tousen, a retired Gotei-13 Archivist, and her husband Yasuke, a retired shinigami, who gained a surname when they married. They never had children of their own, and it's nice having the young things about, so they adopt the 'twins', and they become Kakyo Tousen and Kaname Tousen. Fortunate, as it rapidly becomes apparent the twins have spiritual powers of their own.

Kaname is the gentler and shyer twin, and closer to his godmother, who figures out how to enchant a pair of glasses so they can 'read' text he looks at and speaks it to him, and he takes to books and archiving and data science like a duck to water.

Kakyo is a litter rougher and more gung-ho twin and takes after her adopted godfather, and dreams of leaving home and becoming a Shinigami herself... but their godparents are elderly, and can't run the library on their own, and she doesn't want to leave Kaname completely on his own.

Still, when she wakes up one morning from fitful dreams to discover she's holding a sword of her own, the whole family rejoices. Suzumushi is a not very powerful Zanpaktou, and strangely eager to avoid conflict for a weapon, and is content to stay in the river town, practicing Katas with Yasuke and occasionally lightly Harassing her weilder's brother- but before the year is out, Kaname has gotten used to sometimes having what feels like a clockwork cicada climb up his back or sit on his head, chiming and chittering while he works.

One day though, Kaname is talking with Yasuke, about how neither of them remembers their previous lives. Yasuke confides that while he doesn't remember who he was or where he lived, there are some memories that not even death can erase, like how his body remembered exactly what to do the first time he picked up a sword.

Kaname has nightmares after that, of picking up Suzumushi and knowing exactly how to wield her.

Time passes, Their godparents pass. And Kakyo stays with Kaname. Neither one really wants the other to be alone.

Then one day, A komuso monk comes to the library, body covered in robes and face hidden by his Tengai. ... A Really Big Monk. His name is Komamora Sajin, and from the way he acts around Kaname, Kakyo can tell he's taken care of people who are frail and missing senses before. Kaname is very fond of him- they have similar natures, and the actually-nine-foot-tall Sajin is very good at getting things off of high shelves and convincing difficult patrons to behave themselves. Eventually, he asks to stay on a more permanent basis, and Kakyo begs him to do so- she needs to become a Shinigami, but she can't abandon Kaname. They agree, and when she tells Kaname "Stay here, and stay gentle." it her telling her how much she loves him, and wants him to be happy.

...So you can imagine how devastating her death was for him.

Doubly so when he arrives in Seireitei to handle her funeral arrangements and touches Suzumushi's hilt for the first time- the rage, the grief of the sword spirit courses through him, baying for vengeance- and worse still, so does his body's memory of how to weild a sword.

He and Kakyo were about as close as humans can get, and Suzumushi knew him for as long as the spirit had known Kakyo- if there's someone who'd be willing to avenge her master's death, it's her beloved 'twin' brother.

...but this implies a lot of WIERD stuff about Kaname and his relationship with Suzumushi.

Sometimes Zanpaktou can be passed from one person to another, incarnating a bit differently each time (like how Senbonsakura is the Kuchiki Family Sword), but other Zanpaktou will die if thier wielder does. Suzumushi is not a particularly powerful zanpaktou- Tousen and Suzumushi are regularly ranked last in the "most powerful captains" fan-polls and rightly so I think. Rightly so, because I think Kaname's power is significantly nerfed by carrying a sword that is not his. Even if he and Suzumushi are particularly close, that's different than his own, and I don't think Suzumushi ever intended to be a heritable sword. Actually using her probably takes a ton more energy for Kaname that it ever did for Kakyo. Futhermore, Kaname might also be spending a ton of energy keeping Suzumushi alive past her time.

Suzumushi only has one potentially-lethal maneuver and that's an alternate form of her shikai. The regular forms are "Spell of take a nap and stop rioting" and "Spell of no for real you're losing your sensory privileges until you calm down". Both are way more crowd control abilities rather than Deuling ones, which fits with both his and Kakyo's characterization of wanting Soul Society to be a better place- Suzumushi is a sword that's practically built to get in the middle of a major battle and get everyone to STOP. And I gotta wonder- were these the original abilities of Suzumushi, or something she crafted for Kaname? Especially his Bankai- That's a weird Banaki for a sighted person like Kakyo to have. Or is it the original, drawn from Kakyo's experiences living with Kaname? Either way, he's either using tools not intended for him, or Suzumushi is heavily deviating from what she was meant to do, as a weapon.

My point is, as good as Kaname was- and he was good, he made Captain (and not just because they were... out of officers after the Turn Back The Pendulum Incident), but he did apparently hold his own in battle against everyone but fucking Kenpachi.

In AEIWAM, he does this by focusing on his technical skill as a swordsman- what he lacks in power or Zanpaktou abilities that are actually useful in Duels, he makes up for in learning really advanced, high-level Kido* and getting damn good at actually using his sword as a sword. In the fic, Kenpachi is a huge admirer and actually kind of Jealous of Kaname's technique- he declares that of all the captains, Kaname is the strongest, because he's the one punching highest above his weight class, while eveyone else (including him) is coasting by on their enormous power reserves or more duel-adept Zanpaktou, yet Kaname can go toe-to-toe with all

"It's like watching a little bitty Bat beat up a Tiger!" He says.

So, if Suzumushi is not Kaname's Zanpaktou, what is?

For that, I think we need to look at what happened to him after his hollowfication.

After dinner. this takes up a lot of brainpower.

[stanurines1mp]

Honor

Pairing: Byakuya Kuchiki x Fem!Reader

type: angst

an: im back loves! i have also just recently finished Bleach and let's just say I am obsessed! Byakuya is defo my top 5 fav Bleach men and here's a little something about him. he's so smexy i want him to obliterate and desecrate me with Senbonzakura heh. also this angst may not be that angsty idk but yuh lets go. dont forget to follow me on Tumblr and Wattpad. and share or comment :) enjoy!!

warnings: ANGST(heavy on the angst), death, blood, maybe cringy (reader calls him Byakuya-sama bcoz im obsessed w that idea even tho i dont typically write honorifics in my fics), Byakuya lowkey demanding and smexy (highkey smexy). i think thats all. lemme know if i missed anything :)

~~~

As head of the noble Kuchiki clan, Byakuya had his honor to preserve. Nothing and no one will be exempted if they dare taint his pride. With such a responsibility, he knew just as well that he had to live carefully, aware of each action of his in fear of ruining the sacred name bestowed upon him. 

The only time he had ever let himself slip was when meeting his wife, Hisana. But it came to bite him back in the neck with the event of her death. And not fulfilling her dying wish was a taint in his honor. 

He couldn't let that be. 

So despite the objections of others, he sought the young girl called Rukia, only to find her thriving in the Academy. But that was it. 

He wouldn't let anyone or anything else cause him a slip-up.

He wouldn't listen to his emotions. 

Only to his pride and honor as the head of the noble Kuchiki clan. 

That's what he promised himself. 

But even the great Captain Byakuya Kuchiki couldn't foresee the future. 

Maybe if he did, he wouldn't have decided to visit the pond in the Kuchiki mansion's compound on that day. 

But because he couldn't, that's what he did when the morning sun had crept up the Soul Society's horizon. It was his routine, something to keep him in check as if a constant reminder that he was honorably trapped under the duties of the clan. 

He was enjoying nature's morning warmth that relished over his skin. His white scarf wrapped softly around his neck, his hair held up with the kenseikan; all a reminder of his position. 

And as a man with such responsibility, he's made it his duty to be well-informed regarding the staff at the mansion along with his squad members. With such knowledge, he was more than surprised to see your figure by the pond. 

With his past days a routine cycle, he knew that no one would be there. Except on days when the pond demands a cleaning. But when it came to feeding the aquatic creatures, only he was responsible. 

And his surprise didn't just come from seeing your figure perched over the edge. No, it also came from the fact that he had never seen you before. And the fact that you were wearing a black Shihakusho, indicated that you were, in fact, a Soul Reaper. 

If you had business with him, a Captain, it would make sense for you to meet with him at his office. But certainly not the Kuchiki mansion.

So why were you there?

And who were you? 

He knew each and every member of the staff that served his family and he knew each and every member of his squad. 

So, who were you?

Your Reiatsu was average, not showing any signs of danger to him or anyone. You had your Zanpakuto in its case safely by your side. Your hands were knitted together at your back, your eyes almost void as you stared into the pond. 

Your lips were relaxed, your mind focused solely on the peaceful way the fish swam in the water. And he could tell that you weren't aware of your surroundings when he finally made the decision to approach you. 

Remaining his guard at a high level if in any case, you were an enemy infiltrating the clan. Your chest was heaving as you breathed at a calm pace. And for some reason, the fact that you immediately didn't notice him there made him feel rather, awkward. 

For almost all his life, the mere feel of his Reiatsu would gain everyone's focus on him. 

He's never had to make his presence known. 

Still, what choice did he have?

"Who are you?" His words slipped out rather rushingly as if begging to be heard and acknowledged.

And sure enough, it did bring you out of your reverie. Eyes following the voice, you were met with the tall man, his grey eyes narrowed slightly. Realizing the identity of the man, your eyes widened and the upper half of your body immediately lowered into a bow of respect. 

"Captain Kuchiki!" You let out.

"I asked you a question," he simply replied rather coldly. 

"L/N Y/N! I've been assigned to the noble Kuchiki clan!" You informed briefly. 

That's right.

He remembered the head of his staff at the mansion informing him of the new additions. And he remembered reading the names of said staff, thus remembering the name L/N Y/N somewhere in the documents he was given. 

Right, you were meant to be the clan's new caretaker. 

He didn't expect you to be so...

Young. 

"My job is to serve the Kuchiki clan, Captain!" You added, your body still bent in a bow. 

"Stand up straight," he ordered and you heeded his words. Eyes intimidatingly staring into yours, he said, "As a servant of the Kuchiki clan, you may call me Byakuya." 

No, that was wrong.

What the hell?

It was supposed to be Master Byakuya. 

Not just his given name.

That's much too familiar.

And you realized that with the way your eyes widened again.

"I'm sorry, Byakuya-sama, but I'm not really comfortable with that," you objected politely.

Now it was his turn to be shocked. 

Though his eyes gave very little away. 

At least you were smart enough to understand the difference between you and him. 

"What are you doing here? As a caretaker, you have your own room," he simply let out, barely any emotions following. 

Just as others had said, he indeed was a cold man.

"I was just admiring the scenery, sir. I'm sorry if it's out of line," you said, eyes on the ground. 

He could tell how tense you were at the moment. Gaze glued to the grass-filled lawn, fingers fidgeting over your Shihakusho, and your shoulders were stiff. He supposed it was a greeting lacking warmth. 

"It's alright," he said. "You can stay here."

Your body relaxed almost immediately. He could tell by your sudden confidence to look him in the eyes with the brightest pair of your own. A smile tainted your lips widely, showcasing your happiness.

"Thank you, Byakuya-sama!" 

It was odd but he was fighting the urge to let the small grin creeping up his lips. Too used to his stoic act, he managed through it. And you stood there all the while he fed the fish in his pond, even offering to help him. But he was nowhere near interested to share his routine with anyone. 

Though that soon changed the next morning when he saw you standing by the pond. 

The same manner, the same spot. 

And you were there again, morning after morning after morning. 

You provided him a silent company day after day, he actually found it rather nice. 

And you certainly enjoyed the mornings since you began your duty at the mansion. It was an honor to spend such moments with the head of the clan. 

Since the 6th Division Captain was truly a strong man, he seldom fell victim to any sickness which rendered you useless since that was your job anyway. But when he did get sick, it would affect him terribly. In the past, it's happened before and sure, he'd always fight through it but it would take at least days if not weeks for him to get well. 

That was why he was shocked to hear that he had been healed only overnight.

His eyes had opened to meet the view of his bedroom ceiling. On his right, perched on the floor was his adopted younger sister, Rukia. Her eyes feigned worry but such a sentiment dissipated the moment their eyes met. 

"Brother, you're up," she chirped with relief. 

"What happened?" He softly asked, voice heavy and tired.

"You got sick," the young girl answered.

"How long has it been?" He did not remember spending days lying down, being tended to. 

"You got sick last night. You've been sleeping ever since Ms. L/N healed you. I should go get her," Rukia gasped, her hands about to push herself up but was stopped by Byakuya's fingers wrapped gently around her wrist. She turned, watching with worry as he got up. 

"No need. I'll go find her," he said.

Despite his sister's objections, he went anyway. Searching for you, he walked to the one place he knew he'd find you. 

Just as expected, you were standing by the pond. 

A small smile had been drawn up your lips. It was not one Byakuya was estranged to. He'd seen it on you all too many times. 

But for some reason, he never cared to have it wiped away from his field of vision. 

He approached you and just like that day of your first meeting, you didn't care to notice him. But in contrast to that day, he didn't feel awkward or ashamed to make his presence known. 

"Y/N," he called.

A voice so soft in the light of the darkened sky called upon you, how could you not turn? So you did, met with a rather loose picture of the man you were used to. 

"Byakuya-sama," you softly smiled. "You're up. How do you feel?"

"Different," he answered, hesitant in his own voice as he scanned over his body. "What did you do to me?" 

"I healed you," you frowned, confused at the question. "That's my job, sir."

Your answer was not enough for the man to have his questions satisfied. Taking slow and intimidating strides towards you, your body glued frozen to your spot. But you weren't scared. 

"I rarely get sick. But when I do, it's terrible. It would take days if not weeks to heal me-"

"I know, Byakuya-sama-"

"Don't interrupt me!" He let out sternly but there was a slight hint of childish irritation. 

"I'm sorry, Byakuya-sama," you mumbled gently, gaze falling to the ground while your hands fidget nervously. 

"As I was saying," he continued, using a finger of his to hook under your chin, guiding your gaze to meet his under the starry night. "How did you heal me so fast?" 

"It's my Zanpakuto's ability, sir," you answered promptly. His brows rose questioningly, a look of curiosity obviously flashing through his grey eyes. His lips remained still, the silence an offering for you to answer his silent inquiry. "It's the power to manifest things." 

Processing your words, his mind began to work around to understand them. He got the gist of it but such a power seemed quite rare. He's never heard of anything quite like it. 

"What is the name of your Zanpakuto?" 

"Her name is Amaterasu," you answered with a smile, appreciative of his curiosity. "She's quite powerful but really quite useless in physical combat. If I were to join the Gotei 13, I might be of help in Squad 4 but other than that, I might have some trouble," you sheepishly shrugged.

"You keep referring to your Zanpakuto as her and she as if it was your friend. Why?" His tone sounded both confused and slightly condescending but you took no offence to heart.

You pondered your thoughts. You knew the answer to his question but you weren't sure if it was something you wanted him to know. 

Especially with him just getting better from the sickness, you wouldn't want to trouble him with a sob story of your boring life. And it seemed as though he knew just how your mind works with the way he used his finger to bring your eyes to his again. 

You hadn't even realized how close he had gotten. You wondered if he realized it too or not. Either way, his grey eyes bored deeply into yours, a certain sentiment you weren't sure of its origin taking place in his orbs. 

"I asked you a question, didn't I?" He let out, a slight mix of gentleness and demand swirling behind his tone. 

"R-Right, Byakuya-sama. I'm sorry," you mumbled. "It's because, to me, Amaterasu isn't just a sword," you sighed, eyes painted with nostalgic despair. At this, Byakuya's eyes widened slightly, losing the composure he was strongly holding. "She was my first friend," you said, biting your inner cheek with embarrassment. "I've always been alone but when Amaterasu was first awoken, well," you breathed out softly. "I could always talk to her. Amaterasu isn't just my weapon. She's my friend."

Byakuya watched as your lips gently curl up in an unknowing smile. But he knew that your smile was one different than what he was used to each morning. Tonight, at that moment, your smile had yet to reach your eyes. And your eyes still remained that sullen despair.

"Pathetic, aren't I?" You humorlessly scoffed, tears threatening to flood out of your eyes.

He didn't understand it at the moment or maybe he did but refused to believe it.

Either way, he didn't like that you'd think he'd say such a thing about you.

His hand under your jaw slowly lifted up your face. With your eyes meeting again, you couldn't help but get lost in his eyes. 

The way his grey orbs held a glint of comfort that you were foreign to yet found yourself addicted to. And the way his hair was falling over his complexion, messy yet controlled despite not having his hairpins.

You could only let yourself be engulfed.

Still, you were almost all too aware, sensitive to the skin of his finger that sweetly caressed your cheek, eliminating your fallen tear in one fell swoop.

A small, barely audible gasp escaped your lips, surprised at his action. You wondered if he was aware but it seemed like he was. And maybe, in your heart, you secretly longed for this. For his comfort. For his touch.

Oh, aren't you just head over heels for your superior?

"Show me," he carelessly whispered. Your eyebrows twitched in confusion, allowing him to add, "Show me her ability."

"Wh-What?"

"I'm curious," he simply replied.

"Oh," you let out softly. "Well..."

More than the fact he could sense your hesitation, he could clearly see it. "It's an order," he added, causing you to frown.

"Does that not count as abusing your power?" You let slipped out, only realizing once the question ended. Struck by fear, your hands immediately clasped over your mouth as you gasped. "I'm so sorry, Byakuya-sama!"

You apologized over and over again. The sight of you in such a frenzy amused him. And maybe it was the late night's air or the aftereffects of his sickness but he couldn't hold back the chuckle he let out.

And by whatever God that was listening in to your heart's requests, you thanked them. 

You thanked them for bestowing such a sound upon your ears. 

Sure, your eyes displayed surprise but your heart swelled with warmth as the melody of his chuckle passed by your ears. 

"Why are you so hesitant on heeding my wishes, Y/N-san?" His head was slightly tilted, eyes reached by that barely visible grin that you noticed tickled his skin. 

"I just don't understand what you wish to see, Byakuya-sama," you replied hesitantly. 

"I'm curious at how your Zanpakuto can heal others so quickly," he said simply. 

"Well," you stammered, fingers going to scratch at the back of your neck. "It does not work on myself and I can't heal an injury if there is no injury."

His eyes narrowed as he took in your words, mind turning gears to reach a solution to fulfill his own request. 

Well, no one said Byakuya was a man who easily gave up. 

"I see," he hummed aloud. Shedding no warning, he took a step forward, almost too close in the distance between you two. 

Widening eyes and stammering words, you gasped, "B-Byakuya-sama!"

Lacking any sense of hesitation, Byakuya's right hand held firmly on the hilt of your Zanpakuto. He unsheathed the sharp weapon from the case that hung by your side. 

Too late for objections, the head of the clan slashed his left palm with the blade of your sword. Warm crimson-colored substance began to ooze out, staining the pale skin of his hand, ultimately falling to the ground, drop by drop. 

"H-Have you lost your mind, sir?! This is not funny!" You let out, too shocked to even process his actions. 

"You wanted an injury, now you have an injury," he simply said. Holding out his hand, he casually tipped his head, "Here. Heal me."

"Byakuya-sama!" You frowned. "You're crazy!" 

"Maybe. But you shouldn't let your Master bleed, should you?" He rose a brow daringly, causing you to let out a scoff. 

Letting out a defeated sigh, you took the sword from the man's hands. Gently, you gripped the hilt of the weapon with both your hands. You twisted it so the edge would face downwards as the hilt neared your lips. In a small whisper, you let out its command. 

"Breathe, Amaterasu."

And Byakuya had no idea if he should look at you or your sword. But since this was all happening due to his curiosity, he decided to focus on the Zanpakuto's release. 

He watched as the blade you held slowly dissipated into the light until even the handle was gone. Instead, both your palms were radiating the similar light that he saw earlier. 

And it was like whatever God was there had granted him the slow-moving time to allow him to properly, truly watch you and your Shikai. 

He knew the transformation was anything but slow. 

But it seemed like the process was meant to purposely allow his view of each and every passing second. 

Then, you opened your eyes and directed your palms to his wound. 

As if time was intentionally moving slowly for the moment between you and him, he was intent on watching everything. 

From the way your eyes had been lighted up by the radiance near your palm to the way his wound began to close, flesh regenerating due to the light you let out. 

And soon, it was as if he had never cut himself. 

You clasped your hands together again and closed your eyes for a moment. When they opened, your sword was already back in between your palms. You sighed, inserting it into the case. You looked up at the man, seeing how his eyes scanned intriguingly at his healed palm. 

"It's an amazing power," he murmured, causing your cheeks to flush with heat.

"You didn't have to hurt yourself like that, Byakuya-sama," you lowly let out. 

"I'm sorry for that," he apologized sweetly. "It was the only solution I can think of," he pursed his lips, letting his hand fall to his side. "Can I ask you something?" 

"Hmm?"

"With such a powerful healing ability, why weren't you assigned as Captain Ukitake's caretaker?"

"You ask me that as if I'm the one who assigned Shinigami to their jobs," you let out, a tone of sass pairing your words. "But, I initially was. Captain Ukitake refused my treatment. He said I'd be better off helping others."

"I see," Byakuya hummed. "In any case, I'd like to thank you."

"Thank me? What for?" 

"You healed me," he said with risen brows as he took your hand in his. "Twice."

And maybe it was the way his voice silkened out of his lips. Or the way his eyes doted into yours under the night's sky. Or the gentleness of his touch on your hand. Or the proximity that you could barely call a gap shared between you two. 

But you couldn't fight the smile creeping onto your lips. 

"Of course! It's my duty to protect you, Byakuya-sama!"

And maybe it was the crease formed under your eyes as you closed them. Or maybe it was the sound of the small giggle you let out as if he had said something amusing. Or maybe it was your smile that showed all kinds of sincerity. 

Either way, he realized something. 

Something about him. 

Something about you. 

It wouldn't be good for him to have fallen for his servant, right?

Well, it didn't matter. 

Because no matter how badly injured he was in battles, Byakuya would refuse wholeheartedly on receiving treatment from the 4th Division. All because he wanted to hurry up home to see you and be healed by you. 

Most of the time, he'd first meet your nagging but then you'd heal him either way. It was such an occurrence that at one point, you had stopped being shy around him. 

Still, it wouldn't be good for him to have fallen for his servant, right?

And regrets would soon fall through on a night that showered the Seireitei with an empty sky. 

Byakuya's eyes immediately shoot open, meeting the view of his bedroom ceiling. His body tensed, chills rushing throughout his skin. His body straightened to sit, his head turned in the direction of the doors. 

A loud commotion was heard from the outside, his eyes widening at the realization of the situation. Standing up, he grabbed his Zanpakuto and slid the doors open. 

He sensed the Spiritual Pressure of the intruder and began to head there. But his heart skipped a beat in panic upon realizing the Reiatsu that accompanied the intruder's. 

Just as his heartbeat increased, so did the pace of his run. And he found himself not too far from your favorite spot, his eyes wide and shocked, frozen by the sight. 

You were holding onto your Zanpakuto fiercely, your stance ready for combat as you swung your sword in an attempt to slash the intruder. And before Byakuya could fulfill his duty as your protector, everything flashed before him all too quickly. 

Maybe he could shrug it off as just a nightmare. 

But how could he? 

When he himself could feel your presence slowly disappearing from him? 

Too caught up in the moment, he hadn't even cared enough to arrest the intruder, only just killing the man on the spot, letting his emotions run free, escaping his pride and honor because that man had tainted his pride. 

He tainted it by stabbing you right in a vital spot, rendering you helpless as you fell to the ground, blood emitted by your coughs and your wounds. 

If only Byakuya was fast enough, he would have stopped the man before you could do anything. If only Byakuya was fast enough, he would have had time to catch you in his arms. 

But he wasn't. 

So he had to pick you up from the ground and lay you over his legs. Your head was placed softly above his palm, your left hand under his on your stomach despite the blood that had stained your skin. 

"Y/N? Y/N!" He called, but you were barely able to open your eyes. 

You fought hard for it. 

To see him. 

Just as you could feel him. 

By his touch. 

By his Reiatsu.

By his soul. 

And by his heart. 

Slowly, your lids fluttered open, allowing him one last view of your eyes. 

"Byakuya-sama," you whispered out, cut off by another blood-emitting cough. 

"Shh, don't move," he cooed, about to stand up but you stopped him. 

"It's too late," you weakly hiccuped. 

His eyebrows were stitched together in a frown before he shook his head. "No-"

"It is and you know it," you breathed out. 

"No," he let out again, firmly. "I refuse-"

"Byakuya-sama, please listen to me for once," you weakly chuckled, your heart hurting each time you moved but it didn't matter. 

You just wanted another moment with the man. 

"Y/N-"

"You're different than what others had said," you smiled tiredly, a hand slowly going up to caress his cheek while pushing his fallen strands away from his complexion. "People say you're uptight and cold but you're not like that at all, are you?" 

"Please, save your strength-"

"Can you let me talk?" She let out a small chuckle of amusement, a trail of blood leaking out of her lips. "You changed my life, Byakuya-sama."

"I'm sorry," he cried, letting loose that part of himself he's fought so hard to keep inside. 

"Whatever for?" 

His cheeks were tainted, tears embracing the outermost part while his heart felt the twisted pain for the second time again. 

He's felt this before. 

And he swore to never let himself feel it again. 

That's why he refused to feel anything.

Yet somehow you got to him. 

Somehow, you made him feel. 

You made him fall in love again. 

Only to snatch it right out of his hands. 

"How can you still smile?" The question audibly escaped him. 

"Because I'm with you, Byakuya-sama," you softly whispered as you fought the urge to close your eyes. "Thank you so much, Byakuya-sama."

His head lightly shook, his nostrils flaring with that same grief that had once eaten at him. 

"Thank you for keeping me company. With you by my side, I could never feel lonely again."

His eyes fluttered, lips parted emptily, no words able to escape them as his throat itched with pain. 

"Why did you fight, Y/N?" He suddenly asked. "You said it yourself. You're not a good fighter."

"Because," you coughed out, eyes meeting his again with a soft beam. "It is my duty to protect you, Byakuya-sama."

What more could he say?

"Can you, stay here while I look at the scenery?"

A gasp slipped out of him, his eyes flying open to see you looking to your left where the pond remained. Even with the pain he knew you were feeling, you still managed to tingle a small smile on your lips. And though it was small, it reached your eyes. Your saddened yet somehow bright eyes. 

Right.

It was that smile of yours.

He remembered when his days got better each morning he'd wake up, a small hint of excitement swarming his heart as he would head to the pond. 

Because then he'd see you. 

And you'd be there. 

As always.

Only always didn't last forever. 

Because you were gone. 

And his mornings were spent alone. 

And he was alone. 

Byakuya Kuchiki was a man of honor. 

But that night stained his honor crimson with the memory of your blood.