Disclaimer: I hold no legal rights/possession of Bleach or it's characters and only write for fun- no profit!
Ever since the beginning, he had been praised for his lineage- one which commanded respect and displayed the prowess- the very right to lead their pack. He'd been primed from infancy on the ins and outs of being tribal chief, and for four cycles through the seasons had he proven his rightful place as leader, all for it to end like this? Strung over some damn heathen's shoulder after being forcefully mated and bonded to the cursed being.
Grimmjow wanted to scream, to scratch, bite, curse and ultimately pummel the larger male into the ground his long, ice-blue locks dragged over, but sadly he barely had enough energy to stay conscious after the mating. Ah yes the "mating" he had not wanted to occur regardless who his partner would be. The bluenette simply did not feel ready: not for a mate to care for, much less cubs, after all, he already held the responsibility of an entire pack to watch over and he was not about to put that aside for a family. Besides, he had plenty of time to preserve his panther blood through offspring. With these priorities set, come the spring-time, more specifically mating-time, he kept his distance from all potentials by trekking further into the forest than the rest. His official reason being to keep watch, though the elders knew better, they always did. This turned out to be a major mistake.
Not a day in the new landscape he had encountered the current, and for some time to come, bane of his existence. After all, bonding was permanent as it was only done to ones supposed life-mate. Rather surprising seeing as how the ritual was quite easy to initiate. With just a deep bite to each partner's neck, a branding, the ceremony was complete and by the laws of their kind they became a mated pair no longer eligible to freely mate any other. At this moment, Grimmjow truly resented those laws.
As he watched the grass rush beneath him, another thought occurred to the panther hybrid: even if he managed to make it back to his pack, the others would never follow a submissive, 'Submissive!' he leered mentally in disgust, 'How long have I acted as the alpha to now be put off as a weakling submissive?' and he could blame it all only on this barbarian.
The bluenette snarled and renewed his struggles, only to be rewarded with a tightened grip and warning growl from the orange lion hybrid. This did not deter him however as he fought viciously in the other's grasp, 'He has no idea who he is messing with!'
Energy almost fully restored from his rage, he managed to break the larger's grip and lunge off the sturdy shoulder. The panther crouched down, baring his wickedly sharp teeth at the lion, tail lashing behind him. The tall, strongly muscled lion studied him, before his sharp ochre eyes glinted in amusement causing the bluenette to release an outraged hiss at not being taken seriously. But Grimmjow knew all too well how easily the other had taken him earlier and decided on a less violent method. Although the lion possessed more power and strength, the panther had speed and agility.
Before the other could blink, the panther began to rapidly ascend a nearby tree in order to escape the lion's clutches. He only stopped when he reached a solid branch some twenty feet up and smirked down at the other victoriously. The lion's smug look dropped and he roared his anger at his new mate's disobedience, "Come down NOW!" Grimmjow simply smirked down at the other, calling back mockingly, "Make me!" suppressing a giggle as he knew quite well lions were not known for their climbing ability, if they could climb at all.
He swung his legs merrily as the other glared up at him; he only needed to wait the other out and he could leave mate-mark be damned. Technically the bonding was only halfway completed since he had not marked his 'dominant'. He figured he could request his sweet cub sister Nel to craft a necklace for adequate cover over the mark. Then he would just pretend this whole incident never happened. His train of thought violently crashed when he noticed the lion had disappeared completely. He scanned the area with a critical eye, blue and green ears twitching anxiously when a sudden blunt pain erupted from the back of his skull and he lost consciousness.
The lion, who had been hiding behind a nearby tree at the panther's back, swiftly caught the body of his mate which had lost its balance along with its consciousness. Grinning down at his catch, the red head finished the journey to his family's den, eager to introduce them to his feisty new mate.
Grimmjow startled from his forced sleep when he heard the loud cry of, "OH MASAKI! OUR LITTLE CUB HAS GROWN UP!"
The bluenette glanced around his new surroundings seeing he was in a rather nice den. It was multi-leveled with stair-like protrusions in the wall connecting all three floors. He currently laid on the middle and main floor where the entrance, a large, well-maintained fire pit with a long rotating spit above it, and multiple doorways leading deeper into the den were located. He then observed the inhabitants: the damned lion who brought him here and what appeared to be his family- two young female cubs appearing to be around ten summers old though definitely not identical in appearance nor demeanor, an adult lioness with long locks the same shade as her son's, and the loud, burly, dark haired male assumed to be his captor's sire, "SOON HE WILL LEAVE THE DEN TO MAKE A PRIDE OF HIS OWN WITH HIS BEAUTIFUL NEW-" the meaty sound of a foot connecting with the side of the large male's head cut off his fanatical ravings. Grimmjow watched in astonishment as the younger male continued to stomp on the elder while growling at him to stop being so embarrassing. In his own society the elders were to be respected, though none of them were half as eccentric as this one.
A gentle touch brought his attention from the spectacle before him. His eyes met with the serene visage of who he figured was the mother, her voice sweet and genuine, "Hello, I'm Masaki, Ichigo's mother,"-'So his name is Ichigo then,'-"these are my daughters Yuzu," she motioned to the light, strawberry blonde cub who seemed as sweet-natured as her mother, "and Karin," pointing to the more serious of the two, she had her father's pitch black hair. All three females had light-tan colored ears atop their heads, though the stripe of color at the tip varied with hair color from Karin's black, Yuzu's light brown and Masaki's soft orange. The same held true for their tails, colors varying at the tuft of fur at the tip. Masaki completely ignored the males' fighting, so he figured it was a regular occurrence.
Although he felt quite peeved at her son, he saw no reason to be rude to her. He answered, "I'm Grimmjow, leader of the nearby tribe of panthers," he added the last part with a tad bit of resentment. He supposed he was now the ex-leader. The elder male previously brawling with his son jumped to his side exclaiming, "My name is Isshin, but seeing as how you are my son's mate-," Grimmjow cringed at the word, "-you can call me dad!" The panther laughed weakly, planning ways to escape all the while. Ichigo, as the male was now identified as, proudly strode to his side and wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him close, "I'm going to take my mate to our room to rest. We'll see you all at dinner," and proceeded to drag him off to do just that.
When they passed the curtain separating Ichigo's room from the others, Grimmjow tore himself from the lion's grasp and viscously hissed, "Who the hell do you think you are? I was taught that a mate-bond was to be consensual, so who are you to bring me here acting as if all is fine and normal?" Livid was too mild a word to describe his feelings on the matter.
The lion surprised him with an apologetic look, "I'm sorry. Mating season already strips some of my control, but I've never taken someone who was unwilling," the red head took a deep whiff of the bluenette's scent, "It's your scent. I've never smelled something so intoxicating. I just couldn't control myself," he placed a clawed hand gently on the panther's cheek, staring into the stunningly gorgeous blue eyes, "As you know, we can discern the one who is meant to be our mate by their scent. Well, yours proves to me that you are that one. My mate," Grimmjow swatted the hand from his cheek and retorted, "If that is so, why don't I feel this uncontrollable attraction for yours? It appeals to me no more than any of my friends' scents do," Ichigo chuckled, "We both know that's a lie. During our mating you sure acted attracted," Grimmjow's face flushed bright red, "Shut up!" Ichigo only laughed harder as he dodged a claw swipe and watched the other bury his crimson face in the bed of fur situated in the center of his room, tail encircling his waist.
Ichigo slipped next to the panther, once again wrapping his arm around him as well as his tail and nuzzling into the warm neck, "I wan't kidding about resting before. I'm beat!" When he received no answer, he gently turned his partner over to discover he had fallen asleep already. With a soft smile, he cuddled him closer and followed his example.
Two pairs of ears twitched, one set blue and green, the other golden tan and orange as the sound of an argument reached them, "But they're SOO cute! I don't want to disturb them!" a sweet, soprano voice whined. A duller, unimpressed voice answered, "He said that he would see us for dinner, probably for us all to get better acquainted to Grimmjow, and you know if we don't wake them, dad'll barge in there soon." Just as she said the last words, feet were heard bounding up the stone stairs, curtain flinging aside with a raucous cry of "ICHIGO! PROVE YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR MATE!" Isshin flying towards the bed.
A foot to the stomach stopped him cold; he collapsed to the floor gasping for breath, "Excellent *wheeze* work my *hack* boy!" At that, Karin strolled in, walking over her father's back, nonchalantly shoving his face into the floor saying, "Supper's ready," and leaving while dragging Isshin behind her. "Wow! Your sister's as tough as you are!" Grimmjow laughed.
"Yeah," Ichigo laughed back, re-wrapping his arms around the other's middle and nuzzling the mating mark on his neck. Grimmjow shivered in reaction before shoving the lion away, "Don't think I've forgiven you, I'm definitely still pissed!" he snarled, throwing the curtain aside and skulking down the stairs angrily, the fur of his tail flared out, proving his agitation further. "Darn, I'd hoped he HAD," Ichigo grumbled to himself, following the other to the dining area.
"Hello boys," Masaki greeted in her usual charming manner. They all gathered around the roomy fire pit to take part of the roasted kill caught earlier. Not two bites in Isshin asked, "So, is Grimmjow with kittens yet?" said panther promptly began to violently choke on his food. "DAD!" Ichigo reprimanded as he slapped Grimmjow's back to dislodge the choking hazard. "Well dear, that is a perfectly normal question to ask," his mother calmly explained, then turned to Isshin with a slightly disapproving, "Albeit much too early," Isshin rubbed the back of his head and laughed awkwardly. "Sorry boys, just excited to be a grandfather," Grimmjow glared at Ichigo after his windpipe cleared. He knew the gender(s) of the pair did not affect the ability to kit, the only thing that mattered was that the pair had bonded properly. Since their bond remained incomplete, there was no chance he was pregnant at the moment.
Ichigo laughed nervously at the murderous look the panther wore and decided distraction to be the best option at the moment, "Wow, this is delicious! You are excellent cooks, mom, Yuzu," Yuzu beamed at the compliment before adding, only trying to help and too young to understand the implications of the offer, "Thank you! If you want Grimm-chan, I can show you how we prepare it!" Grimmjow's glare only intensified. He had been among the best hunters in his clan. Now he was expected to wait in the den and prepare the food for his 'dominant'? Grimmjow had one answer to that, 'Like hell,' Ichigo winced as he caught sight of the sour look on the panther's face: thankfully, holding his tongue. Grimmjow bit back his mental retort and strained out, "That is very kind of you Yuzu," knowing the youngling meant no offense. Not noticing the bluenette's discontent, the little strawberry blonde giggled in delight that she would get to bond with their new pack member.
Despite the rough start, the rest of the meal went off without a hitch. The girls volunteered to show Grimmjow around the den and enthusiastically dragged him away, though he didn't fight it as he was rapidly growing used to this treatment. After the three completely disappeared from the room, Masaki and Isshin shot their son a rather severe look, "Sit down," Isshin ordered his son, all previous goofiness gone.
"What were you thinking?" Isshin growled, "I see no mating-mark on you, so I can only assume you'd not given the panther a choice! Do you realize how serious this is? How will the rest of the clan react when they find out-" he was silenced by a soft hand on his shoulder. Masaki continued where he'd cut off, "Now Ichigo, I know it is not easy to contain instinct, especially at your age, but you know this is unacceptable, "her voice calm yet chastising, "You are supposed to court your mate if they are not immediately willing. You know this." Ichigo hung his head in shame. He knew this well; his shame augmented by the fact that the very people scolding him had originally taught the fact to him.
He tried to defend his position, "He is nomadic. Had I not acted, I may have never seen him again and my instincts practically screamed that he was to be my mate!" His parents' stern looks softened slightly, Masaki sighed, "Well, what is done is done. Now you can only repair the damage," Isshin added in, "Court him properly so that he will complete the bonding for both your sakes," he slid a hand down his face in exhaustion. Ichigo took that as his cue to leave.
"That boy," Isshin huffed. Masaki smiled her sweet smile at him, "Oh you know how it is at that age! Ichigo has a heart of gold and I have no doubt he will make a loving, protective mate. You saw how those two interacted, how they looked at each other- they are perfect for one another," Isshin smiled fondly at his love and could only agree wholeheartedly.
Ichigo searched the spacious den for his mate in order to begin making amends. He figured he should begin the treacherous journey ahead by getting to know the bluenette and telling him more about himself in return. He winced when he realized he truly knew virtually nothing of the other beyond his name and breed, 'I have a lot of work to do.' When he found him, he encountered the rather adorable sight of the panther painting on the cave wall with the two young lionesses. Yuzu had painted flowers with smiley faces, Karin drew herself and her friends playing with the woven ball mother had made for her that she often kicked around and batted, and Ichigo cringed when he saw Grimmjow's picture, one which reinforced his displeasure earlier; he drew himself hunting a large prey animal- gory details and all. Though the most disturbing feature of the drawing had to be the coloring of the beast- orange. Ichigo cringed harder. The task ahead suddenly seemed all the more daunting
The young lion mustered up his courage and entered the room, "So, how do you like your new home?" When the panther's shoulders stiffened and he stopped painting, Ichigo knew he said exactly the wrong thing. Grimmjow answered in a surprisingly controlled manner, "Your home is very impressive," his cerulean eyes clearly told Ichigo he had more to say, but he would resist doing so in front of the cubs.
Despite the tension, Ichigo released a pleased smile as he recognized how good Grimmjow was with and around children. His mind swam with visions of orange haired and blue haired, cat-eared toddlers joyfully playing with their beautiful mother in a den of their own and then excitedly pouncing on their father, himself, after he'd come home from a difficult hunt, prize in hand for his family. The panther and mother of his cubs slinking up to nuzzle his neck and rub cheeks with him while purring happily.
His lovely daydream was cut short by a growl and a kick that sent him tumbling to the floor in astonishment. He looked up to see an ill-tempered Grimmjow in the place of the affectionate one in the daydream to his extreme disappointment. He never thought too deeply on the matter of having a family of his own, but in that instance he realized he'd never desired anything more in his entire life. And if he ever wanted the vision to come true, he had to gain the bluenette's respect, trust, and love. Only after that could he achieve a mutual mating mark and the wonderful future he had envisioned. With this in mind, Ichigo stood back up and tried his hardest to be polite in asking, "What the hell was that for?" Well he did say tried.
"You had this dopey look on your face and wouldn't respond. The twins left. We need to talk," the panther answered with ire. "I get it. You couldn't beat back instinct- that's normal, but that doesn't mean I'll stay here due to that one impulsive move on your part. I have a pack to lead who are wondering where the hell I am at the moment, not to mention a cub sibling that I care for personally. Now, if you don't mind," the panther attempted to pass the lion and leave the room. An iron grip on his arm stopped him, "You are not going anywhere," Ichigo snarled. Grimmjow sneered back, "Watch me," Ichigo roared his fury and viciously pinned the disobedient bluenette to the wall behind him, "You are my mate, my submissive! You answer to me!"
Something seemed snap in Grimmjow. He began to hiss, spit, writhe and snarl, trying with all his might to break the larger male's grip. The unwavering hold reminded him that the lion was indeed stronger and after several minutes of struggling, he tired himself out. Ichigo leaned in close and spoke in a tone which left no room for argument, "I will take you to your village so that you may tie up the loose ends of your absence, but you will come back here with me afterwards, otherwise I'll drag you back," Ichigo knew that the panther would not want the last impression of himself left to the people he had led to be of him kicking and screaming as his dominant easily overpowered him- it would be humiliating for both himself and the people who looked up to him.
Grimmjow scowled as he considered his options, neither prospects looking very nice as they both would end in his humiliation, but not going back at all definitely wasn't a choice; he had to. No matter how embarrassing, "Fine," he snarled, "but you will not rush me along. After all, I will be saying goodbye to my family and my life with them." Ichigo finally felt the guilt of his actions sink in.
He looked his reluctant mate in the eye and tried to reassure him, "I know this is a huge change, but everyone goes through at least one in his or her life, usually for this purpose in fact. It's alright to feel unsure or scared; change is a good thing," when he didn't get even a glance, he continued in a strong voice full of sincerity, "And I promise you, I will do whatever I can to make you happy in our new life together," Grimmjow only gave him a hollow look and whispered, "If that were true, you would let me leave," this shocked Ichigo enough to loosen his grip. The panther trudged away dejectedly.
After ensuring the panther remained in the den (the stubborn male had chosen to sleep in an extra room as far from Ichigo's as possible), he went to his parents in order to tell them of tomorrow's plan to visit Grimmjow's tribe before they left. Their reactions were quite mixed, "Are you sure you can keep track of him out there? I thought you had to knock him out to get him here in the first place and by the arguments I've overheard, you're not getting along any better now," Isshin was doubtful. Masaki was supportive, "He did say that the panthers would not stay in the area forever, so this trip is necessary. Besides, I think this is a chance to better your relationship Ichigo, but do be careful and watch over your mate," she probably meant for dangers, but he'd more likely be watching him to keep him from slipping away into the forest. As the young lion settled down for the night, something occurred to him- after having napped with his warm mate in his arms, Ichigo found it unpleasant to sleep without him: yet another reason to gain the blue-eyed male's favor.
The next day came and after breakfast, Ichigo and Grimmjow left the den to seek out the later's previous home. Grimmjow's bright blue eyes darted around as he thought. He knew his best choice at this point was to accept his fate with grace, despite how much he really didn't want to. He would rather leave on a positive note than to shame his tribe and himself. He then unenthusiastically began to mull over what needed to be done before his permanent departure.
It astounded Ichigo that the other had not tried to elude him yet, but he kept on guard for that eventuality. Sooner than he expected, they came upon the not-so-obviously temporary settlement. Various hybrids with a wide-range of physical features- really, no two looked alike- milled around the small grass-roofed huts. At Ichigo's confused look, Grimmjow explained, "What makes a panther a panther is natural stealth, speed, climbing ability and unique facial markings we are all born with. That is the reason we all look so varied in appearance. The houses are so nicely built because we stay in places for at least a month at a time. That time is almost up and we- I mean they, will be leaving this time next week," the bluenette saddened at this admittance; they really would be leaving without him.
Ichigo noticed his mate's sorrow and grasped the other's clawed hand in his own, though it hardly helped. Since Ichigo had yet to be marked by him, Grimmjow knew that he would need to play the role as willing, loving mate very convincingly. He wouldn't like it, but it was necessary in order to avoid confrontation and further loss of respect. He sighed upon reaching the village, 'Here goes,' and pressed himself into the red head's side to feign fondness.
Ichigo blinked down at the other male in pleasant surprise, completely ignorant of the other's true intentions. A ripple seemed to go through the settlement at their arrival and soon almost everyone dropped what they were doing to greet their returning leader. "Where on Earth have you been?" one of the elders cried, "We were all so worried! We thought you'd been killed!" another added in. Grimmjow took a deep breath to mentally prepare himself and responded in what he hoped to be a jovial manner, "I have found my mate," he raised their joined hands for emphasis, "I met his family. I'm sorry for worrying you all," he ended brokenly, hoping they mistook it for guilt.
The bluenette waited nervously for their response and was taken aback by the loud cheer from the crowd, "How wonderful!" a female elder exclaimed, "By the way you would always avoid everyone during the season, we'd begun to think you would never mate! This is a grand occasion, let's celebrate!" The crowd agreed emphatically and began to prepare for the celebration. A powerful hug brought him from his stupor. He looked up to see the joyful ochre eyes of the one he just had admitted to being his mate, "See! They're happy for us! Why can't you be?" Grimmjow drew his hand back to swipe at the bold lion, but resisted the urge when a familiar face approached them, "Now I see why you wouldn't mate with me, you're a little submissive!" a deep violet-haired, orchid-eyed hybrid sneered derisively. The large purple raindrops on both cheeks proved her a panther as well.
Grimmjow growled low in his throat and bit out, "Hello Cirucci, you're definitely one I did not miss during my absence," Ichigo smirked as he saw the outrage on the spiteful female's face. She "Hmmph!," -ed and turned away with her nose high in the air. His attention was brought back to his own panther when he felt himself being pulled deeper into the community. The pair received numerous congratulations and well wishes from everyone they passed. Ichigo noticed an interesting quirk of the society: he figured the whole population would be panthers, but that was not the case. Other species of cats were bustling around as well, though they were notably in the minority. Noticing the baffled look, Grimmjow patiently explained, "Our pack has no problem with taking in other species. It happens, usually as a result of mating," Ichigo smiled at his mate's helpfulness. It was nice to get along with him instead of fighting all the time.
They stopped in front of one of the nicer huts near the center of the village. As Grimmjow pulled aside the grass curtain a small blur of aquamarine flew into his chest. The coloring actually turned out to be the hair of a small panther cub. She buried her face into the older panther's chest and sobbed, "BBRRRUUUDDDEERR! BRUDDER, NEL MWISSED YOU SOOO MUCH! WHY DID JOO LEAVE NEL? WHY?" she would have continued her wailing if a strong embrace and comforting nuzzle hadn't soothed her, "Hush now Nel. I'm sorry I couldn't return sooner, but there is a good reason for that," the older sibling gently nudged the younger into turning her head to face Ichigo.
The tiny girl gaped up at the bigger male, "Whoozat?" Grimmjow sighed before responding, "The new member of our family." She stared up at the other curiously from her position in her older brother's arms. Upon meeting his golden brown eyes, she quickly buried her face in Grimmjow's chest again.
Ichigo smiled down at the cub; he found her adorable. He tried to be as nonthreatening as possible and carefully approached the pair, "My name is Ichigo. I look a bit different to you because you've probably never seen a lion hybrid before. You know, I have two younger sisters myself," at the wide hopeful look he received he continued, "I'm sure they would love to play with you anytime," the little girl's hazel eyes lit up and she squealed in delight. Grimmjow blinked in surprise at the implications the offer carried. Well, that was one thing he no longer had to worry about; his sister was welcome to stay with him. He had been prepared to fight tooth and nail for that right, but it was no longer necessary. He gave the lion a small, grateful smile, which left the other practically glowing.
After seeing how nice this "lie-yon" was, Nel let her natural curiosity show. She really wanted to touch the newcomer's hair. She'd never seen anything like it before: a bright orange, wild and sticking up everywhere. When she asked, Ichigo claimed his hair just grew like that; it was his natural 'mane'.
"Pwease big brudder! Can I touch his mane?" Grimmjow sighed, "You'll have to ask Ichigo if that's alright." The giant pleading, tearing hazel eyes turned to said lion. Even her lower lip wobbled. Ichigo chuckled at the pathetic sight and lifted her up onto his shoulders drawing another squeal.
As the three turned from the house (Nel still gleefully riding Ichigo's broad shoulders), another familiar face approached, "So this is why the village is abuzz- wild, unpredictable, fiercely opposed to mating Grimmjow has finally decided to settle down. I thought I'd never live to see the day," the dry comment originated from a very pale panther hybrid with shoulder-length black hair with matching ears and tail, large, intelligent green eyes and vertical blackish green lines under his eyes which streaked down both cheeks.
By the look on Grimmjow's face, he did not appreciate the sentiment, "Like you're one to talk Ulquiorra! Every day I see you still in the village I'm shocked. I've expected you to leave and go out on your own for years!" The two males stared each other down for a bit before a small grin and minuscule tilting of the black lips appeared on each of their faces. Then the green-eyed male spoke again, "I suppose we were both wrong then. I found someone this season as well," Grimmjow's eyes widened as a lovely auburn-haired cheetah hybrid with big gray eyes came out from behind the male's back. Her voice cheerful, "Hi! I'm Orihime! It's so nice to meet you! So you're the leader here? I expected some harsh old person, but you're really pretty and I've heard from the other's that you're a fair leader and you must be his mate~ Wow! I've never seen a lion hybrid before-" at that point in her rambling, Ulquiorra gently put his hand over her mouth.
Grimmjow blinked a few times, stunned, then burst out laughing, "She's your complete opposite! How in the world did that happen?" The glower the other panther wore did nothing but increase the bluenette's mirth. The laughter immediately choked and died at the next comment though, "At least I am on top," now the roles were reversed with Grimmjow sending Ulquiorra a dirty look, tail lashing as the brunette let loose barely audible snickers.
Although Ichigo was not happy about it, they stayed overnight in Grimmjow and Nel's home since the village refused to let them leave before the promised party. The next day Grimmjow showed Ichigo all around his soon to be ex-home, pointing out the craft places and introducing him to just about everyone they passed. Dusk arrived and while Grimmjow was showing Ichigo the healer's place, someone rushed over to them.
"There you are!" the female elder from before cried, "Come! We've a party and you two are the guests of honor!" The younger hybrids followed her, Nel excitedly running around their feet, to an area just outside of the settlement. Even though he was far from enthused for the purpose of the party, Grimmjow's face lit up when his eyes fell upon the setup. Numerous lanterns lit by glow worms strung across the trees and even more exciting were the small bridges along side them and connecting the watch stations placed in various positions high up all around them. Nel's shriek of delight mirrored his feelings perfectly, "Wow! Do you guys always do all this for celebrations?" Ichigo wondered aloud.
"No," Grimmjow breathed, "this is reserved for very special occasions because of all the work that goes into it, especially since we never stay too long anywhere." Grimmjow felt truly touched that his village had done such a thing for him. Then, he realized, this was not only a celebration of his mating, it was also for his leaving; they knew.
After all the effort they'd put into this he decided that he needed to have the greatest time possible for their sake. Hopefully he could fool himself too. "Come on!" he laughed while gripping the lion's hand, "We traditionally play until the feast is ready!" a flabbergasted Ichigo followed behind. Lucky for Ichigo, there were hanging ladders set up for the non-climbing breeds of cat. He did his best to catch his teasing mate, "Oh come on! You'll never get me moving that slow!" but truly the trees were a panther's domain. His ego hurt a bit, but it was certainly a treat to see his mate so lighthearted.
The food was finally put out and large rocks and logs situated all around were used as chairs with Ichigo and Grimmjow placed in the center. Many of the cubs ran around everywhere and it seemed the whole village had attended. Before they began to eat, someone proposed a toast, "Friends and family, we are here in celebration to honor our strong, young leader. This is a gathering of happiness for he has finally found his other half, his life-mate," Grimmjow rolled his eyes at this, "but it is also a gathering of sadness for he will be leaving us," there were a number of startled gasps from the ones who figured the lion a new resident, "Yes, we take in the mates of our citizens, we also must remember that we let go of the same amount to live with their mates elsewhere. Though, let us not dread his departure. Instead let us think of the happy future that awaits him and his new family. Now, this is a night of festivity, so let us feast!" Everyone supported the notion and dug in.
Half way through his meal (which took much longer than it should have because of the hard decision he'd just made) Grimmjow stood up to speak, "Since I am leaving, it's required I take care of an important matter: the passing on of my leadership," all eyes were now on him.
"I've really been stressing over who I should leave in my place as there are many potential candidates. Since I've never been one to revel in the dramatics, I'll just tell you," the throng of hybrids leaned closer expectantly. Grimmjow smirked, "I've chosen Ulquiorra," the crowd reverberated in shock at the news. The two were rivals, and had been ever since they'd first met as cubs. The largest reason for their dueling was that both had competed for leadership over the tribe. After Grimmjow had been chosen, they figured the rivalry would fizzle out, but it only grew, "Not all of you are aware of this, but on more than one occasion in my rule I've asked Ulquiorra for his opinion or aid on an issue. He is very intelligent and always levelheaded so he makes an excellent problem-solver. My biggest reservation about choosing him is his coldness. From growing up with him I know he cares about the village and its people, its just not as apparent as it should be for chief," the crowd murmured in agreement, "I feel confident in my choice though because I have met his fair mate and seen her vivacity. As such, I believe she will balance Ulquiorra out nicely. I wish them both great luck in leading, guiding, and watching over all of you and have faith Ulquiorra will make an excellent chief," convinced by Grimmjow's logic the crowd once again cheered, though this time for their newly appointed leader.
The majority of the hybrids flocked around Ulquiorra, curious of his reaction and wanting to hear what he thought of this bestowal. They were disappointed to see him as stoic as always. As the attention turned from him, Grimmjow sat back down at Ichigo's side and heaved a huge sigh. Ichigo tried to support him, "By your words of him, you have made a sound decision," Grimmjow sighed again, "I was being completely truthful; Ulquiorra is the best choice. That doesn't make it much easier though- I had expected to be leader for far longer," Ichigo really did not know what to say to that, so he pulled the other closer.
Soon after, a huge blazing bonfire burst to life and the musicians of the village began to play their drums, flutes, tambourines, and every other instrument that they had crafted and mastered. The music quickly drew many to dance. Grimmjow felt content to watch, though everyone else seemed to have a different idea, "Come! Dance with your mate Grimm-chan!," Orihime called from where she had forced Ulquiorra out. The crowd echoed her request. The blue panther had decided to ignore them. That plan flew out the window when Ichigo drug him closer to the dancing. He glared at the lion in contempt. Ichigo interrupted the glare with a kiss to the tip of the panther's nose, which left him blinking and twitching his ears in bewilderment. The collective "Aww!" from the spectators did nothing to help.
As he danced with Ichigo he had to grudgingly admit to himself that he really was having a lot of fun- not that he'd tell the lion that. They danced together quite well, seeming to know what the other had planned to do next and accommodating appropriately.
The rapid song finished and Grimmjow just then noticed the position himself and Ichigo had finished in: he'd been tightly pressed into the lion's chest in a slight dip, their faces mere inches apart, and Ichigo's still in motion. His eyes fell shut at the soft press of the other's lips to his own; the barest hint of a purr rumbled in his chest.
He was forcefully brought back to reality by a chorus of happy cries, more enthusiastic "AWWW!" 's, and loud whistles of encouragement. He jerked free of the lion's arms and stumbled back, face pink and ears pressed tightly to his head as he fought the urge to run and hide in embarrassment. The coos doubled in volume. Ulquiorra's sudden presence saved him from further ridicule and he immediately followed the other panther to a quieter area.
"You always did like to defy expectations," Ulquiorra began, "I myself had not anticipated your choosing me for one second and…" he had trouble getting the last part out.
Grimmjow smiled at his old rival, and now that he thought about it, friend, "You're welcome,"
Startled green eyes flashed up to his and the owner allowed a small smile to show.
The party continued late into the night. Cubs valiantly tried to stay awake, but continuously nodded off only to jump right back up to avoid being put to bed. Their parents did not agree, and after each and every cub gave their former leader a big hug and an "I'll miss you Gwimm!" they were put to bed, Grimmjow grinned at the affection of the younglings. Their parents gave him a respectful nod, little bow, or strong hug from the more familiar.
The time to depart finally came much to the bluenette's displeasure and he received each and every farewell with a heavy heart.
Seeing the glum atmosphere, the newly appointed leader decided something, "We will return here mid-summer next year. By then we should see your first litter Grimmjow. Right Ichigo?" The grinning red head gave an emphatic nod while his mate sputtered in shock, both elated at the promise and flustered at the assumption. The remaining hybrids roared their assent.