Bleach - Minutes to Midnight - Ficlets
Aug. 24th, 2011 07:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dracoqueen22a/n: And these are the last two tiny ficlets for the Minutes to Midnight universe. I don't anticipate writing any more. Or the sequel for that matter. There will be a lot of unanswered questions, I know. But the main storyline is complete.
Series: Minutes to Midnight
Title: Breakout
Characters: Renji, Rukia, Byakuya
Description: In which Rukia and Renji commit the act that pins them as traitors.
AN: Set before Bitter Masquerade.
Title: Meet the Parents
Characters: Isshin, Gin, Ichigo
Description: Gin meet Goat-face. Goat-face, Gin.
AN: Set after Ripples and At World's End.
a/n: It's so nice to stamp complete on things. Gives such a feeling of success.
Feedback is welcome and appreciated!
Series: Minutes to Midnight
Title: Breakout
Characters: Renji, Rukia, Byakuya
Description: In which Rukia and Renji commit the act that pins them as traitors.
AN: Set before Bitter Masquerade.
It was past midnight by the time Unohana-taichou finally left the fourth division. The halls were quiet and shadowed with every patient sleeping quietly and only a minimal guard. It stood to reason that no one, no villain anyway, in their right mind would attack a hospital. So at most, they had only to worry about patrolling division members who were keeping an eye on their few patients.
The fourth had never been known for their soldiers. It was easy enough to sneak around. Easier even when one could explain their presence. Though Rukia had the feeling it would have been a lot easier if she hadn't needed to bring Renji along.
Clatter. Thunk.
“Goddamnit!”
Rukia worked her jaw. “When I said quietly, I didn't mean make as much noise as possible,” she hissed, tossing a glare over her shoulder that he probably couldn't see anyway.
He muttered under his breath, but knowing better than to argue with her, he shut his mouth. Which was good because Rukia was feeling on edge enough as it was.
Peering around the corner, finding it empty, Rukia crept into the hallway, Renji right on her heels. She'd been here often enough; she could find her brother's room with her eyes closed and both hands tied behind her back. Fifth door on the right, probably closed because nii-sama couldn't sleep with open doors. One of his many random paranoias.
Her heart was pounding in her chest, and not for the first time did Rukia question the logic of her actions. The reality of her decision. If she was really doing the right thing or if she was just overreacting. Or maybe, it was just time that she decide rather than straddle the fence.
Ichigo was her friend, and he hadn't killed nii-sama though he had the chance to do so. Yamamoto said he was a traitor, but Rukia wondered who had really done the betraying first. She knew Ichigo, or at least she thought she did. She trusted Ichigo had a good reason for the decisions he made. At the very least, Rukia wanted to ask him herself.
But first, she had to help nii-sama. And he wasn't going to find that help here in Seireitei. Not only would she not allow Kurotsuchi-taichou within ten feet of her brother, she suspected that the crazed scientist wouldn't have the first clue how to help him properly. There was only one other person Rukia could think of who could be any help. And if she had to turn traitor to find said person… well, Rukia would do it.
She and Renji arrived at her brother's door, closed as she expected it would be. Rukia slid it open quietly, ushering Renji in ahead of her as she glanced into the shadowed hallway again. Nothing stirred; no one was watching. All was well so far.
Inside nii-sama's room, it was equally silent and still. The moon filtered in through the thin curtains. Allowing enough illumination that Rukia could see her brother lying in his bed, tucked into the blankets and fast asleep. Drugged, more like it, on one of Unohana-taichou's special concoctions. Something to soothe frazzled nerves and assure a dreamless sleep.
Rukia stood at the end of her brother's bed and chewed her bottom lip. One hand fell to Sode no Shirayuki, seeking reassurance.
Beside her, Renji shifted from foot to foot.
“Rukia,” he whispered though it wouldn't bother nii-sama in the slightest. With the drugs, her brother wouldn't wake until mid-morning, and by then, they'd be long gone from here. “Are ya sure about this?”
She turned toward him. Her face was full of disbelief.
“Don't tell me you're backing out now, Renji.”
He shook his head. “No. I'm jes makin' sure ya know what yer doin'. We can't exactly turn back after this, yanno.”
Renji was right, of course. This was a one way street. There'd be no turning around once Rukia took that first step. They couldn't come back. Well, they could, but their return would find them in a jail cell awaiting execution. Rukia had already been down that road before. She didn't want to travel it again.
Was she sure?
They betrayed me first.
If you want to know why, ask the fucking old man.
He claimed that I was not his enemy. That he did not want to see me dead.
Rukia sucked in a deep breath, opened her eyes. She had only spent months sleeping in Ichigo's closet. She'd trusted him enough that at their first meeting, she was willing to break the rules so he could save his family. He'd come for her in Soul Society against all odds. He'd risked his life for a woman he barely knew. Had risked everything to keep his promise to her and see it through.
She trusted Ichigo if nothing else. So yes, she was sure.
Rukia inclined her head and stepped toward the bed. She gestured to nii-sama's sleeping form.
“Yes,” she replied with absolute certainty. “So help me pick him up. We've got to leave before someone decides to check on him.”
Renji, for his part, did so without argument. Why he'd chosen to help her, Rukia did not know. But she suspected it was for the same reasons as Rukia herself.
He trusted Ichigo just as much.
There had to be a reason, a valid explanation. Rukia wanted to hear it for herself, from Ichigo's own lips, and if she had to run away in the dead of night with her friend and her unconscious brother, then so be it.
The fourth had never been known for their soldiers. It was easy enough to sneak around. Easier even when one could explain their presence. Though Rukia had the feeling it would have been a lot easier if she hadn't needed to bring Renji along.
Clatter. Thunk.
“Goddamnit!”
Rukia worked her jaw. “When I said quietly, I didn't mean make as much noise as possible,” she hissed, tossing a glare over her shoulder that he probably couldn't see anyway.
He muttered under his breath, but knowing better than to argue with her, he shut his mouth. Which was good because Rukia was feeling on edge enough as it was.
Peering around the corner, finding it empty, Rukia crept into the hallway, Renji right on her heels. She'd been here often enough; she could find her brother's room with her eyes closed and both hands tied behind her back. Fifth door on the right, probably closed because nii-sama couldn't sleep with open doors. One of his many random paranoias.
Her heart was pounding in her chest, and not for the first time did Rukia question the logic of her actions. The reality of her decision. If she was really doing the right thing or if she was just overreacting. Or maybe, it was just time that she decide rather than straddle the fence.
Ichigo was her friend, and he hadn't killed nii-sama though he had the chance to do so. Yamamoto said he was a traitor, but Rukia wondered who had really done the betraying first. She knew Ichigo, or at least she thought she did. She trusted Ichigo had a good reason for the decisions he made. At the very least, Rukia wanted to ask him herself.
But first, she had to help nii-sama. And he wasn't going to find that help here in Seireitei. Not only would she not allow Kurotsuchi-taichou within ten feet of her brother, she suspected that the crazed scientist wouldn't have the first clue how to help him properly. There was only one other person Rukia could think of who could be any help. And if she had to turn traitor to find said person… well, Rukia would do it.
She and Renji arrived at her brother's door, closed as she expected it would be. Rukia slid it open quietly, ushering Renji in ahead of her as she glanced into the shadowed hallway again. Nothing stirred; no one was watching. All was well so far.
Inside nii-sama's room, it was equally silent and still. The moon filtered in through the thin curtains. Allowing enough illumination that Rukia could see her brother lying in his bed, tucked into the blankets and fast asleep. Drugged, more like it, on one of Unohana-taichou's special concoctions. Something to soothe frazzled nerves and assure a dreamless sleep.
Rukia stood at the end of her brother's bed and chewed her bottom lip. One hand fell to Sode no Shirayuki, seeking reassurance.
Beside her, Renji shifted from foot to foot.
“Rukia,” he whispered though it wouldn't bother nii-sama in the slightest. With the drugs, her brother wouldn't wake until mid-morning, and by then, they'd be long gone from here. “Are ya sure about this?”
She turned toward him. Her face was full of disbelief.
“Don't tell me you're backing out now, Renji.”
He shook his head. “No. I'm jes makin' sure ya know what yer doin'. We can't exactly turn back after this, yanno.”
Renji was right, of course. This was a one way street. There'd be no turning around once Rukia took that first step. They couldn't come back. Well, they could, but their return would find them in a jail cell awaiting execution. Rukia had already been down that road before. She didn't want to travel it again.
Was she sure?
They betrayed me first.
If you want to know why, ask the fucking old man.
He claimed that I was not his enemy. That he did not want to see me dead.
Rukia sucked in a deep breath, opened her eyes. She had only spent months sleeping in Ichigo's closet. She'd trusted him enough that at their first meeting, she was willing to break the rules so he could save his family. He'd come for her in Soul Society against all odds. He'd risked his life for a woman he barely knew. Had risked everything to keep his promise to her and see it through.
She trusted Ichigo if nothing else. So yes, she was sure.
Rukia inclined her head and stepped toward the bed. She gestured to nii-sama's sleeping form.
“Yes,” she replied with absolute certainty. “So help me pick him up. We've got to leave before someone decides to check on him.”
Renji, for his part, did so without argument. Why he'd chosen to help her, Rukia did not know. But she suspected it was for the same reasons as Rukia herself.
He trusted Ichigo just as much.
There had to be a reason, a valid explanation. Rukia wanted to hear it for herself, from Ichigo's own lips, and if she had to run away in the dead of night with her friend and her unconscious brother, then so be it.
Title: Meet the Parents
Characters: Isshin, Gin, Ichigo
Description: Gin meet Goat-face. Goat-face, Gin.
AN: Set after Ripples and At World's End.
“Dad, this is Gin,” Ichigo said and felt like he was sweating bullets as he stood between his lover and his father, who were eyeing each other warily. “Gin, this is my father.”
And with that, Ichigo took a step back and watched the ensuing show. He wasn't quite sure how this was going to play out. He'd never brought a girlfriend home before, much less a boyfriend, and the fact that his lover was a Shinigami-slash-Vizard and Ichimaru Gin meant that Ichigo wasn't sure how Isshin was going to react.
Though to be fair, Isshin owed Ichigo a good bit of tolerance. After holding that secret about being a Shinigami for years and not telling Ichigo until after the war, Isshin really had no leg to stand on. Besides, if Isshin did attack, Ichigo was quite confident that Gin could take down the old man in two seconds flat. Especially since Isshin was woefully out of practice, grown lazy over the years in his gigai.
His gigai!
Ichigo was still pretty pissed about that. Where the hell was Isshin when Ichigo needed advice? He could have used his damn father's input!
But no. Now was not the time to bring up that discussion again. Now was the time for Ichigo to watch his father and his lover size each other up and intervene if necessary.
Gin tilted his head in a shallow but respectful bow. “Kurosaki-san,” he greeted in a tone of polite coolness that he must’ve learned from Aizen. “It's interestin' ta meet ya at last. I've heard a lot 'bout ya.”
Lies. Oh, but it was a smooth one. Ichigo barely talked about his family aside from his sisters. But then, that seemed to be the standard response to any initial greeting.
Ichigo's eyes shifted to Isshin, who was peering at Gin as though he were a new sort of Hollow. One that needed immediate smashing.
“Well, I haven't heard anything about you,” Isshin retorted, belligerent and curt. Reiatsu radiating outward as though he planned to launch himself forward and attack.
Ichigo tensed. Gin could squash his dad in about a second or less. But it’d be such a pain to peel Isshin up from Aizen's immaculate floor. And really, Ichigo didn't want to see so much blood on what was a nice day.
Though the fact that he was treating Gin as though he were courting on Isshin's daughter as opposed to his son – who could take perfect care of himself thank you very much – was a bit aggravating. Okay, not a bit. It was a lot aggravating. In fact, Ichigo was starting to get a tad peeved himself.
“I can tell ya all ya need ta know,” Gin replied with a bit of a smirk curling his lips.
If anything, Gin's response seemed to make Isshin angrier. He puffed up like a frazzled lizard, gaze getting darker.
“I don't need you to tell me a damn thing about my own son. I'm more interested in what you think you're doing with him.”
Gin quirked a brow, perfectly nonplussed. Not at all intimidated despite Isshin's posturing. In fact, an amused twinkle started gleaming in the corner of his eye. Ichigo felt a small stirring of dread, hoping that Gin didn't go the route that would result in fisticuffs.
“Are we talkin' long term or short term?” Gin asked.
Ichigo groaned. He swore on all that was holy that if Gin taunted his father with details of their intimate life, then Ichigo was going to sock Gin for Isshin. Just because.
Isshin's eyes narrowed. “Long term,” he ground out.
Gin grinned, and to Ichigo's utter relief, most of the teasing slipped away in favor of seriousness. “Well, in that case, I plan ta keep him. Forever if possible. And if he'll let me.”
Some of the wind let out of Isshin's sails. Ichigo was impressed. Gin had said everything Isshin wanted to hear without sounding overly sappy. Perfect.
“I see,” Isshin returned, though a shred of suspicion remained in his tone. “I still don't trust you, kid. But it's not really my place to stop anything.”
“No, it isn't,” Ichigo spoke up and reminded both of them that yes, he was still here. And no, he wouldn't let them decide anything for him. “I didn't let you meet so you could drive him away, dad. I just thought you should meet.”
Isshin harrumphed. “I get that, son.” He glanced at Ichigo from the corner of his eyes before turning to Gin with a look of near-gleeful malice. “But wait until you meet my daughters. Karin and Yuzu aren't so easygoing.”
Ah. Isshin had a valid point. Gin didn't look concerned, but then, he hadn't met Ichigo’s sisters yet.
That would be interesting to say the least. Ichigo couldn't wait.
And with that, Ichigo took a step back and watched the ensuing show. He wasn't quite sure how this was going to play out. He'd never brought a girlfriend home before, much less a boyfriend, and the fact that his lover was a Shinigami-slash-Vizard and Ichimaru Gin meant that Ichigo wasn't sure how Isshin was going to react.
Though to be fair, Isshin owed Ichigo a good bit of tolerance. After holding that secret about being a Shinigami for years and not telling Ichigo until after the war, Isshin really had no leg to stand on. Besides, if Isshin did attack, Ichigo was quite confident that Gin could take down the old man in two seconds flat. Especially since Isshin was woefully out of practice, grown lazy over the years in his gigai.
His gigai!
Ichigo was still pretty pissed about that. Where the hell was Isshin when Ichigo needed advice? He could have used his damn father's input!
But no. Now was not the time to bring up that discussion again. Now was the time for Ichigo to watch his father and his lover size each other up and intervene if necessary.
Gin tilted his head in a shallow but respectful bow. “Kurosaki-san,” he greeted in a tone of polite coolness that he must’ve learned from Aizen. “It's interestin' ta meet ya at last. I've heard a lot 'bout ya.”
Lies. Oh, but it was a smooth one. Ichigo barely talked about his family aside from his sisters. But then, that seemed to be the standard response to any initial greeting.
Ichigo's eyes shifted to Isshin, who was peering at Gin as though he were a new sort of Hollow. One that needed immediate smashing.
“Well, I haven't heard anything about you,” Isshin retorted, belligerent and curt. Reiatsu radiating outward as though he planned to launch himself forward and attack.
Ichigo tensed. Gin could squash his dad in about a second or less. But it’d be such a pain to peel Isshin up from Aizen's immaculate floor. And really, Ichigo didn't want to see so much blood on what was a nice day.
Though the fact that he was treating Gin as though he were courting on Isshin's daughter as opposed to his son – who could take perfect care of himself thank you very much – was a bit aggravating. Okay, not a bit. It was a lot aggravating. In fact, Ichigo was starting to get a tad peeved himself.
“I can tell ya all ya need ta know,” Gin replied with a bit of a smirk curling his lips.
If anything, Gin's response seemed to make Isshin angrier. He puffed up like a frazzled lizard, gaze getting darker.
“I don't need you to tell me a damn thing about my own son. I'm more interested in what you think you're doing with him.”
Gin quirked a brow, perfectly nonplussed. Not at all intimidated despite Isshin's posturing. In fact, an amused twinkle started gleaming in the corner of his eye. Ichigo felt a small stirring of dread, hoping that Gin didn't go the route that would result in fisticuffs.
“Are we talkin' long term or short term?” Gin asked.
Ichigo groaned. He swore on all that was holy that if Gin taunted his father with details of their intimate life, then Ichigo was going to sock Gin for Isshin. Just because.
Isshin's eyes narrowed. “Long term,” he ground out.
Gin grinned, and to Ichigo's utter relief, most of the teasing slipped away in favor of seriousness. “Well, in that case, I plan ta keep him. Forever if possible. And if he'll let me.”
Some of the wind let out of Isshin's sails. Ichigo was impressed. Gin had said everything Isshin wanted to hear without sounding overly sappy. Perfect.
“I see,” Isshin returned, though a shred of suspicion remained in his tone. “I still don't trust you, kid. But it's not really my place to stop anything.”
“No, it isn't,” Ichigo spoke up and reminded both of them that yes, he was still here. And no, he wouldn't let them decide anything for him. “I didn't let you meet so you could drive him away, dad. I just thought you should meet.”
Isshin harrumphed. “I get that, son.” He glanced at Ichigo from the corner of his eyes before turning to Gin with a look of near-gleeful malice. “But wait until you meet my daughters. Karin and Yuzu aren't so easygoing.”
Ah. Isshin had a valid point. Gin didn't look concerned, but then, he hadn't met Ichigo’s sisters yet.
That would be interesting to say the least. Ichigo couldn't wait.
a/n: It's so nice to stamp complete on things. Gives such a feeling of success.
Feedback is welcome and appreciated!
