Chapter 1: The Bidding Begins
"Shiro-chan, relax. It won't be so bad." Momo said soothingly to her white-haired friend who was in the middle of almost having a heart attack.
"It's Hitsugaya or Toshiro to you, Momo," Momo rolled her eyes at the non-acceptance in the name she'd given him. If he would just accept the name she given him they wouldn't have to go through this meaningless argument over and over again. "And how do you expect me to relax?! Where about to be sold to someone we haven't even seen or heard about. To make things worse, were going to be separated!" He ranted as he sat on an uncomfortable, dirty mattress. Momo sighed, weariness sinking in.
"Shiro-chan –Toshiro hissed irritably-, you have to admit, anywhere is better than here." Indeed the black-haired teen was right. The place they resided in (Los Noches) was horrible. It was basically a place for orphaned kids who were slaves. They slept in cells that offered no protection against harsh winter nights. Beds that were as old as dirt and filthy like they belonged in garbage, was their beds. Moth-eaten blankets were their "warmth" for cold nights.
Their clothing was made from tattered, brown, pillow cases that shredded to pieces ate the simplest fall to the ground. But each gender had their own style of clothing. For example, the girls wore in the style of a dress. On the hand, the boys wore a shirt and loose-clinging shorts that provided the minimum of comfort.
Food was another depressing thing. They ate a usual twice a day. If your punished you don't get fed at all. This usually was the case with Toshiro. Not that he cared anyway. Who in their right minds would eat melted rice with a side of water that had dirt drifting in its depths, in plain view? Like hell Toshiro would! It was unsightly! So, he would usual still some fruit from the kitchen and share it with Momo. If he got caught…well the punishments were severe.
Toshiro frowned as he realized the truth in his friend's words. She was right.
"I know, but I don't want to leave the pack, Momo." The pack was their family. A family of kids that depended on each other to make it through their miserable lives in Los Noches. And that was all they had in this hell hole.
"I know Shiro-chan," she paused. "But we can't stay here. Where being auctioned and so the others." Toshiro bit back a languishing groan. Truthfully, half of him rebelled at leaving. The other desperately wanted to escape; to have a new life. A life that he yearned to have for seventeen years. Seventeen excruciating long years…
Momo put on a smile to try and cheer up her life-long friend. But he saw through her small façade and snorted sternly. "Stop it Momo. It's not worth it."
Pulling up his dirty sheet, Toshiro sighed and wrapped around his short body, clinging to the very little warmth it provided. The shifting of covers a few centimeters away told him that Momo had done the same. Just to be sure, because you could never be too careful, glanced over his shoulder to make sure the covers were on her small body. They were. He inwardly smiled and lay back down, assured. Momo had a rather annoying habit of kicking of the covers, leaving herself bare to the midnight air.
If you get sick in Los Noches, you were likeable to be on your own. No one would want to catch the sickness. For there was no pity or treatment to your sickness.
"Goodnight, Shiro-chan." Mumbled a giggling Momo.
"It's Toshiro or Hitsugaya!" Toshiro barked. "And goodnight Momo."
"Up and at em's slaves. It's feedin time." A man yelled as he rapt the bars to their cell with gnarled pole. Toshiro stirred quietly already fed up with barsterd that woke them up everyday. Mind you, it was 6:00 a.m. "You 'ave five minutes to ge' up." The man walked of quickly to wake up other kids that probably would be pissed off at being woken up so rudely.
"Momo, get up." He ordered. She moaned and mumbled something incoherent to his still ringing ears. Toshiro frowned. Having to waken up to the sound of a barsterd with a pole, always left him in crappy mood. "Come on you bed-wetter. I don't feel like going through this procedure that we do every morning. It's agonizing." His complaining, unfortunately, fell on deaf ears. Momo was like a hibernating animal that wouldn't wake.
Teal eyes searched the small cubicle for anything that might arouse his friend from her annoying slumber. Nothing, except for his pillow. That wasn't even nearly as good enough. But it would have to do.
Toshiro grabbed the dirty pillow, aimed accurately at his target, and let loose his worthless projectile. Bullz-eye! It worked like a charm. The pillow had hit Momo directly on her head, making her wake up instantly.
"Where's the bananas?!" Momo asked innocently. Toshiro looked at her ludicrously at the mention of her favorite fruit. Why in god's name was dreaming of fruit? Even if she did love the yellow things with a strong passion not known to this world, she didn't need to dream about it. Maybe he should stop giving her bananas and something else that wasn't yellow. He grinned. Knowing Momo, she would probably smack him into oblivion.
"It's time to go." He bluntly said. She mouthed a small "Oh" and preceded into her morning stretches. Sleeping on a mattress full to the brim with offending springs wasn't healthy for your back. Take it from her.
"Hey Toshiro," He looked up from his stretches. "Do you want to hear about my cool dream?" Toshiro inwardly groaned at her request. Of course he would have said no to a regular person. But Momo wasn't a normal person. She was his friend. Best friend to be exact. So he couldn't exactly say no to her. It would hurt her fragile feelings and she would cry. And tears weren't easy to handle. Especially, if it was coming from the one and only Momo. To calm her, he would have to pamper her and soothe her. Toshiro did not feel like doing that; it was extremely uncomfortable to for him.
"Whatever." Momo squealed with uncontained joy. She could read Toshiro's words by now. Spending your whole life gave you that gift.
Toshiro rolled his eyes heavenwards. Maybe saying no wouldn't have been such a bad idea…
"I gave you enough time. A lot more than usual. Let's go." The barsterd from earlier came back, grumpier than usual.
"Pfft. You mean thirty more seconds than usual? How generous…" Toshiro uttered under his breath as he Momo stepped out of their cell. The man stopped and twisted around angrily to look at the mumbling Toshiro.
"Ya' want to run tha' by me again runt?" The man snarled, grabbing Toshiro's shirt by the hem, lifting him up threateningly into the air. Toshiro defiantness began to show as his eyes locked with the man in challenge. Before he could retort with a foul comment, he felt like eyes were burning holes into his back. He looked over his shoulder to see Momo giving him a pleading look, silently telling him to not start something with this man.
Begrudgingly, Toshiro complied with her unspoken wish and narrowed his eyes to the grimy ground, faking his submission. The man smirked triumphantly and dropped the boy to the merciless ground unceremoniously. If it for Momo, he would have probably be whipped, like the other times.
Getting to his feet, Toshiro and Momo walked behind the man to the dining hall. The dining hall was a steel, cold like room that fought the prospect of being warm for its occupants. Of course, their caretakers didn't give damn-when did they ever-. And for one reason. They actually had warm and decent clothing. Clothing that should have been shared equally with the freezing teens. The caretakers only teased and sneered when they were actually asked for more appropriate clothing. At that point, Toshiro wondered if people can be that heartless.
Noticing something odd about Momo unusual silence, Toshiro peered closely at his strangely quiet friend. Throughout their walking, Momo hadn't said a thing. Not even a mumble or an out-of-place-giggle. This unsettled him greatly. To resolve this dilemma, he decided to take a crack at asking her about her inner problem.
"You ok Momo?" The girl looked at him reassuringly, but Toshiro knew better to fall for such a trick.
"Perfectly fine!" Momo exclaimed falsely, making her friend frown angrily.
"Don't lie to me."
"Whatever gives you the idea I' am lying?"
"Your awkward silence, your troubled expression, your whole demeanor is just off. Shall I go continue?" Toshiro observantly listed, startling the poor girl into stare of amazement.
"H-How-?"
"I know you just as well as you know me. We are friends, are we not? It wouldn't be proper if we didn't know each other by now, correct?" He answered perfectly. Momo could never actually figure out how he could read her like an open book. It was like he was some type of genius that's knowledge was sheltered from the world. She couldn't help but admire her friend's talent.
"You've caught me red-handed." She chuckled lowly. "I' am just scared about today. Today is the day we separate for a while. Maybe even forever. I just don't want to leave your side. I've been by it for seventeen years and leaving it is scary." Toshiro sighed in understanding. He understood her problem because he himself is going through the same thing. He just knew how to keep it locked away into the not-so-far recesses of his mind.
"I understand. But don't dwell on it. It will only make the process more difficult, ok?"
"Yeah, thanks." Toshiro crossed his arms and rolled teal eyes, trying to hide his caring side, but he wasn't fast enough. Momo giggled at her friend. As many times he tries to not act like he cared, he really did, but despised showing it.
"Where 'ere. So move along." The barsterd pushed them through the steel doors that led them to the dining hall, making Momo fall. Before her breath could touch the ground, Toshiro had snatched her up protectively. He turned around sharply to hand out a round of tongue-lashing, but to his disappointment the barsterd had left to join his peers.
"Asshole." Grumbled the still furious Toshiro. Momo shook her head at Toshiro's vulgar language and got to her feet. Toshiro my have hated their caretakers, but he did learn one thing from them: their form of speaking.
"Oi, Momo-chan, Toshiro-san. Over here!" Their attention turned to their addresser. It was Isane, a fellow member of the pack.
"Come, come Toshiro! Let's go!" Momo blurted out loudly, making Toshiro scowl.
"Must you be lo-hey! Hey!" Without his consent, Momo dragged him off to Isane, who was patiently waiting for their arrival. "Are you listening to me Momo?" He tried once more. His plea went unheard as she maneuvered through the mass of dining teens.
'How the hell can she ignore me like that? Hn…' Toshiro thought sourly.
Once the two got to their waiting friend, they pulled out some extra chairs. Like everything else in Los Noches, the chairs were cold, colorless, and the signature steel. Isane started conversing with Momo about trivial things that he paid no heed to. It was impossible to keep up with a girl conversation. He tried on numerous occasions. But he found it pointless and unnecessary. So he gave up.
Sometimes, other boys would try to strike a friendly talk, but he would regard them with an uncaring and icy look that sent them packing. He didn't do this purposely. That was just his usual expression. Those who couldn't withstand his icy exterior couldn't or did not deserve to get to know him. The only people who knew him as a person were Momo and Isane.
"Hey Toshiro, you going to eat?" Isane asked out of curiosity. Toshiro looked at her with a weary face.
"Do you honestly believe that I could consume this crap? You must be sadly mistaken." Teal eyes closed. "This isn't food! Food supposed to be warm and tasteful! Not cold and flavorless! I'd rather starve!"
Cheers broke out from the teens mouths, voicing out their agreement and approval. Toshiro was right! They were flat out tired of this synthetic crap.
"Shut the fuck up! All of you!" A caretaker roared as a whip cracked through the air. The teens fell silent, scared out of their wits, except Toshiro. He wasn't scared and never was. Starting now was useless and pointless.
"You all should be grateful to us caretakers. With out us, you would be dead." Ranted the caretaker.
"Tch. Rather be dead then be alive in this hell hole." Toshiro bravely said, making all eyes fall on his courageous being.
"You're rather foolish, kid. Speaking out of line isn't accepted here." A whip flashed across Toshiro back bringing him to his knees. Toshiro looked up and saw his usual tormentor: Ryo. This guy was in charge of Los Noches and the punisher. Seeing him was a usual for Toshiro, as he always got in trouble for his unwavering defiance.
"Toshiro you just don't learn." Each word Ryo spoke was enforced by a strike from that leather black whip. He winced as it dug deep gashes into his skin, adding more to collection. Pain wasn't new to him, so he had developed a high tolerance for it. But that didn't stop the stinging and the warm blood it brought.
'Damn…'
Sharp amber eyes fell upon the depressing building that was Los Noches. The owner of those beautiful orbs ran a perfectly tan hand through orange-hair.
"Los Noches…" Whispered the shady being, as he smirked. As long as it took to reach this place, he was expecting much more. He expected a building of grandeur and riches. But all he got was pure a white building on the outskirts of Hueco Mundo; a sandy like town.
"Not to your expectations, prince Kurosaki?" A tall, red-haired figure that was draped in a black kimono asked; a hidden smirk in those words. The orange-haired figure didn't reply, feeling that there wasn't any need to answer such a stupid question. "Ichigo?"
"What Renji?" Renji growled angrily. He hated when Ichigo just ignore the things he say. It was an annoying habit, which unfortunately was part of his personality.
"I hate when you do that. Anyway, why the hell are we here? This place is infested with lowly humans." The redhead stared at his companion. Yet again, Ichigo wasn't responding. The git was just…staring. Staring at what exactly, he didn't know, but it was biting his nerves.
"Renji." Said person ear twitched. "I want a mate." Renji jaw dropped at the surprising news. This was new. Usually the prince would turn down any offered suitors, without even sparing them a passing glance. Now he suddenly wanted a mate? This guy was too complicated.
"Well then, why didn't you take any that was offered?"
"They were just sluts that wanted to get in my pants, or just wanted to rule when it was time for me to take the throne." He said, disgust making itself none. "I want a suitable lover." Renji rolled his eyes at his friend. Ichigo was a difficult person to be around. He always figured out a smart way of avoiding questions, getting on peoples nerves, and always had a frown on his face; like he was always displeased with something.
"Ichigo, what makes you think that you'll find someone like that? Especially in a slave house no less?" Ichigo merely gave Renji a sly look, making Renji nervous.
"Just trust me. Now let us be on our way." They were gone in a mere blink of an eye.
"Come on you miserable teens or where going to be late for the auction." Toshiro rudely ignored the caretaker order and continued at his own pace.
After his public beating, the teens had to take showers. They were separated into different rooms for each gender. The showers, were cold and it made his wounds burn like hot knives were twisting into his back. Blood was drawn as the water slid down his back, passing over the tender wounds. It was like he was bathing in lava pit. But he held his own like always.
A pair of hands that belonged to the man, who spoke earlier, forced a white bundle into his arms. He looked at it, distrusting, before he slowly opened it. To his surprise, it was a simple, clean, white yukata. How unusual. They never got anything new, nonetheless clean. Shouts of delight told him that his peers had got their yukata's as well.
Toshiro hurriedly put it on so he wouldn't get left behind. It wasn't long till he was reunited with Momo. And shockingly, Momo was smiling. He figured that it had something to do with her new attire, which was also a yukata.
"Oh Toshiro! Isn't this just grand! New outfits! Aren't you happy?!" She squealed, voicing out her happiness. Toshiro did not share excitement and replied simply by saying…
"They are ok."
"Toshiro, your-!" Whatever ever caught her attention made him curious? What was so fascinating that made Momo stop her rambling? He turned around and went wide-eyed. They were on a stage with thousands of onlookers staring at them. Some of the owners of those eyes looked at Momo lustfully. Toshiro noticed this and sent them all heated glares that made the men shudder at the intensity of the look. They backed off right away.
"Alright, gentleman and lovely ladies, welcome to Los Noches. My name is Kai and I will be the host and auctioneer on this lovely after noon." The person called Kai announced. The crowd, with little to no enthusiasm, clapped.
"Now let the bidding begin!"
Author Note: If you made it this far into this fic, then you either like it, or you hate it with a fiery passion. Either way, I'am happy some one read my foolish attempt at a fanfic. Now the only way I'll continue is (dun dun), if I get some postive feedback from readers. Reviews are addicting. So review your little hearts out readers, that is if ya llike, ne?