Goodbye Halcyon Days (Akira and Benny JT)

[Benjiro Hiroto]

In the tranquil silence that enveloped them, Benjiro felt a profound sense of intimacy he had never experienced before. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, wrapped in each other's arms. It was a blissful moment of vulnerability and connection. Benjiro's heart swelled with love as he leaned into Akira's embrace, finding solace in his touch. Akira's arms encircled his bare chest and back, and in that simple act, Benjiro felt seen and cherished, his soul laid bare for the one person who had stirred such emotions within him.

As Akira stammered out an awkward but endearing sentence, expressing his contentment, Benjiro couldn't help but agree wholeheartedly. "It really is," he replied, his voice soft and tender, his eyes shining with affection. This closeness felt like a revelation, a new form of connection he had never experienced before, and he cherished every moment of it.

The atmosphere between them was charged with an unspoken understanding, their emotions flowing freely between their souls. And then, in a moment of brave vulnerability, Akira leaned forward and gently kissed Benjiro's cheek. The touch sent a delightful shiver through Benjiro's entire being, and his face flushed an even brighter shade of red. Akira was adorable, and Benjiro couldn't help but think how lucky he was to have this moment with him.

In the hush that followed, Benjiro found himself unable to contain the surge of emotions that flowed from his heart. His soul, bared and open, allowed the words he had never spoken to anyone before to escape his lips. "You're the first person I've ever liked, Akira," he admitted, his voice filled with a mixture of wonder and affection.

As he spoke, something remarkable happened. A warmth radiated from within Benjiro's chest, pulsing both deeply and profoundly, and with it, his Zanpakuto responded in a way he had never experienced before. "Consider this a freebie, Benjiro~ You've finally freed yourself from this secret, and thus I share mine. My name is-" "Futan Juzemasu." The sword shattered, revealing the true form of his soul: one hundred and eight prayer beads, glowing a beautiful scarlet. They floated above them like lanterns, bathing them in a gentle crimson light that mirrored the blush on their cheeks.

Feeling overwhelmed but emboldened, Benjiro pulled away slightly, gazing into Akira's eyes with adoration. "You're beautiful, Akira." he whispered, his voice brimming with affection. In that moment, surrounded by the glowing lanterns, their souls entwined, Benjiro knew that he had found something precious and irreplaceable. Their hearts had connected on a level that transcended words, and he cherished every second of it.

[Akira Hinosai]

There was a fire burning inside Akira. It threatened to consume him, body mind and soul, leaving nothing in its wake. Had he not known any better, he'd say he'd caught some awful disease. Unlike Benjiro, this hadn't been Akira's first rodeo. He'd been on this mechanical bull ride before, and he'd been knocked off. The whole thing was...a lot. He didn't know if he'd ever get used to it. Part of him wanted to run away, to disengage and forget the whole thing ever happened, but he wasn't going to do that. He couldn't do that to Benny, or himself. However long Akira had left, he didn't want to do it without someone like Benny.

"Futan Juzemasu." Benjiro broke the awkward silence. "Huh?" Akira asked, unsure if it was supposed to mean something. It was only when he looked down did he notice the weird Buddhist rosary thing that emanated light and seemed to register as a kind of release state. Akira stared, spellbound. He was only a little jealous. All Benny had to do was kiss a boy and Akira had to trek through a goddamn asteroid field and get his throat slit for his shikai. He decided for once that it would be better if he said nothing. Benny called Akira beautiful, and suddenly Akira decided he could hold back no further. "You too..." Akira had a dumb grin on his face he couldn't seem to remove.

As passionate as this scene was, it wasn't like Akira could say nothing about the whole shikai thing. "How fucking shit Benny! Did you just get shikai? What's it do? What's it do?" Akira leaned in to inspect the prayer beads intently. Akira now had something to focus on besides the crushing weight of his own awkwardness. "Oh man, we've gotta figure out what you're working with, powerswise" Akira looked up at Benny with wild eyes. "Not to brag, but uh, I've kinda got my shikai too. Wait, oh shit, where are my manners?" Akira drew his blade. When his social intuition and very flexible moral compass failed him, he had his code. 

One such tenant was the idea of "You show me yours I show you mine." "Remake the world, Mikaboshi!" With a flash, his matte gray blade turned into a technicolor nightmare. A wicked blade made for taking life not defending it. Akira understood powers. He understood combat. It was the human connection that he didn't get, so if there was another topic to jump headlong into, he'd do so without hesitation. "Yeah, we definitely need to have that rematch now...I mean not now but you know, soon...I...I don't know what we're supposed to do now..." aaaaaaaaaand it was back to the human connection thing. He couldn't escape it.

[Benjiro Hiroto]

Under the velvety night sky, amidst the whispering leaves of the tranquil forest, Benjiro and Akira shared an intimate moment, their connection deepening. As the whispered name of Benjiro's Zanpakuto left his lips, his Shikai was unleashed in a cascade of glowing red energy, enveloping them in a passionate, scarlet embrace. It was a surprise to them both, the sudden and unexpected cooperation of his Zanpakuto spirit. Benjiro's heart swelled with pride, gazing upon Akira within the warm, crimson glow. It was strange though, the warmth in his chest seemed to echo throughout the vicinity, amplified by Futan Juzemasu's aura. 

In the radiant, passionate aura of his Shikai, Benjiro couldn't help but compliment Akira, his voice filled with genuine admiration, "You're beautiful, Akira." The words flowed effortlessly from his heart, and in response, Akira mirrored the sentiment. Benjiro's cheeks warmed even further under the enchanting lights he had created, although the red illumination concealed it well. Their exchange was endearing, a genuine moment of connection amid the otherworldly power that surrounded them.

Yet, this sweet interlude was playfully interrupted by Akira's exclamation about Benjiro's Shikai, his curiosity getting the best of him as he inquired about its abilities. It was so adorable watching him get all excited, losing all of the bravado he normally had, or all the edge from their earlier fight. All that was left was a little adorable dork with a passion for Zanpakuto. Chuckling softly, Benjiro responded, his tone tender and affectionate, "I'm not entirely sure yet! But it's adorable how excited you are about it."

Akira then revealed that he too had unlocked his Shikai. As he whispered its name, Mikaboshi, the matte black blade in his hand transformed into a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of colors. Benjiro's eyes widened in genuine surprise, captivated by the dazzling display. It was something he couldn't quite place his finger on, discordant and different from any release he had seen, but wholly perfect for Akira. His laughter was a melodious symphony in the night, and he couldn't help but express his thoughts, "You know, it suits you perfectly."

With gentle affection, Benjiro brushed his fingers against Akira's cheek, his smile tender and adoring. "Some might say chaotic, others colorful, but I see unpredictability. Spontaneity. Fun. Unafraid to be themselves. Just like you," he whispered before placing a loving peck on Akira's cheek. It was true though. Akira was unlike any other Shinigami he had met. No, he was unlike anyone he had ever met. Something about him was just so unapologetically genuine, despite his deceitful streak. He never changed who he was, and Benjiro loved that. There was an excitement he felt just from being with him.

However, the excitement didn't end there. The realization that they had both unlocked their Shikai was a thrilling one. After all, Benjiro adored the prospect of Zanpakuto releases as well, though clearly not to the same extent that Akira did. Benjiro's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he suggested, "Since we're here, why don't we have a rematch right now? Test out our releases with each other, should be a fun date, right?" A date. As the word left his mouth, he couldn't help but smile just a little wider. All that he could hope for was for Akira to feel the same.