I apologize profusely for my erratic updates. College has me terribly busy, as does work. I do try to get these out in a timely manner but it just never works out. I beg your forgiveness.

Dusk two, here we go! Thank you to everyone who reviewed and left such great love and those who pointed out mistakes 8P thank you. I edit my own work and I don't always catch everything (which is almost always, by the way). So thanks again. This one's to you!

There's only one more chapter after this! And of course, the epilogue 8P

Warnings! Slight language, suggestive themes

.:.~O3O~.:.

~.:. Chapter Two.:.~

It'd been just over two weeks of nonstop walking and nothing looked even remotely promising; in fact, quite the opposite. Walking through the sun as much as I was, it was definitely draining my energy. Always, I felt drowsy, always in need of more sleep. It was so unbearably hot and the sun's rays were unforgiving.

I swiped at the sweat running down my brow, panting. I couldn't understand how anyone could stand this heat. My high hopes were dashed and I was in pure misery.

And don't even get me started on my companion.

Oh god, Ichigo was far worse than I was, greatly so. I caught a sneaking glance behind me. I watched as he stumbled on a stone and grabbed blindly for a tree, his claws digging in violently. His arms shook with the effort and his tan skin was pale. I watched his chest heave for more air, constantly short of breath. He was definitely becoming weaker. His hair was even less bright than it had been before, now I could make out individual strands poking out instead of a river of light.

My breath hooked itself somewhere in my throat and I choked on it, unable to make my lungs work. He lifted his head, eyes blinking, dully looking about. His eyes had lost their shine and his once pink lips were white, no blood to color them.

And then there was the hole. No longer was it a small gap. It was now a small chasm, two fists could easily fit through. And it bled. Constantly it oozed. He once told me that it was not that simple to kill his kind. He said that they could never bleed out completely and would heal rather fast. I'd asked him what would happen to him in his weakened condition. He'd just stared blankly at me until he whispered that it would hurt constantly and eventually the pain would become too much and his mind would break. He'd become a mindless monster.

Of course, shortly after, he started laughing and said that he wouldn't live that long for it to happen anyway. The hole was devouring his body too fast for it to make any permanent damage to his mind. And not like it mattered if it did or not, he was going to die either way.

That's what he told me… What a cynical sense of humor. Tch.

I grasped the trunk next to me in my hand for support. I looked about again, seeing nothing but trees and rocks. With a sigh, I hoisted myself up the tree, near the top. Cupping my hands around my sensitive eyes to protect them, I looked around again. I was searching for any kind of human life. Anything.

And yet I always saw nothing. Grumbling, I sat down and leaned against the trunk, my feet dangling and my tail swishing in aggravation.

That was the other issue. There seemed to be no one around. We hadn't seen a single hide nor hair of a single person. What the hell was going on? Where did everyone go? Certainly, I knew that there weren't many people who lived in these mountains but there were still tribes. I'd hit every single area I knew of in the past couple weeks and found nothing.

Only empty huts and broken tools. Even their animals were gone. It's like they'd disappeared.

My stomach clenched and worry beat at my mind. If I couldn't find Ichigo praise and soon…. What was I going to do?

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I clenched the tree tighter, my lungs feeling like they were shrinking. That fucking hole was killing me. It was throbbing constantly, always shooting needles of pain through my entire body. Not to mention my blood constantly leaking out left me terribly light headed and disoriented. My mind was so frazzled.

I needed rest and I needed it now. With a pained gasp, my hand slipped from the trunk, my hand blindly flying through the air for purchase as I collapsed to my knees. I crouched there on all fours, panting for air, my lungs feeling tight. I watched the blood as it dripped slowly from my chest.

It was all hopeless. And Grimmjow, the stubborn fool, wouldn't have any of it. He always pushed on ahead saying it would all be fine; that the answers were just over that hill. I couldn't tell what it was keeping him from giving up: pride, optimism, or obsession. Either way, he was still a stubborn fool.

I gasped as my left elbow gave out, my body collapsing upon my forearm. Slowly, I lowered myself to the ground and rolled over onto my back. It was grim, I know, to so readily accept my fate but I couldn't help myself. After years of being alone, years of slowly fading, my near infinite drive to prosper was almost completely depleted. There was nothing holding me to this world anymore.

All the humans left me to the devices of the night walkers. I felt no sympathy for the cruel fate they had inadvertently caused themselves. I say fuck them. A smirk twisted my lips. Fuck… I still felt bad though. Everything else in the world would suffer because of humanity's stupidity. So many animals, plants, life would fade. It made my heart hurt.

And as adamant as Grimmjow was to find me praise, I didn't want it from the likes of them. People had turned their backs on me, so I'd turn my back on them. Of course, that didn't mean much considering I was dying anyway.

With humorless chuckling, I stared at the weak sun, shining through the barren tree branches. It was so cold out. I half expected it to start snowing, though I was sweating feverishly with strain. I looked through my blurry eyesight to the night walker resting in the tree limbs. Even from here I could sense his irritation, could smell the sweat running down his brow.

I smiled. Honestly, he was so innocently dedicated that it was cute. Of course I'd never tell him that, I'd never hear the end of it and I just couldn't ever say something so embarrassing myself.

With a grunt, I stumbled to his tree, staring up. He was weakening. I know he tries so hard to hide it, but I can smell it. If he continued the way he was, we'd both end up dying. Even though he is a night walker, I wouldn't- couldn't- wish that upon him. Why did everything seem so bleak anymore? I had lost hope long ago, the only reason I pushed on because he would force me to; was forcing me to. I wanted to lay down and let the inevitable happen, I'd lived a long life. I could die with dignity.

I heard him sniff above and jump to his feet. I looked up and watched as he blurrily leapt onto a higher branch. He stuck his nose higher in the air, eyes closed with his deep breaths.

His eyes shot open and a huge smirk ate the lower half of his face, cackling laughter filling the empty air surrounding them.

What could it be?

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I smirked and laughed, I could smell them. My brothers.

All hope was not lost! They could help me search. I turned to the sun. At this time they would be hiding in the dark, sleeping. I will have to confront them at night.

Things were beginning to look up. I leapt down to the ground, confidently striding up to Ichigo. Subtly I sniffed him; his weakness growing and over powering my nose. I'd have to make sure I stayed by him, my scent covering his. That way enemies would know not to mess with us.

We night walkers weren't the only things that went bump in the night. Or during the day for that matter.

With a huff, I hefted his arm over my shoulders and began to help him along.

"I don't need your help," he growled tiredly in my ear. I snorted a laugh.

"Bull shit. And I'm the king of the night walkers."

His head whipped towards mine, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You have no king."

I glared into his eyes. "As if I didn't know that. Haven't had one since the war, thanks to you. We night walkers have been free lance, scattered across the lands ever since, constantly moving to new areas to live. I'd be surprised to find if there are other clans besides my own."

Ichigo hummed in thought and turned his head back towards the direction we were heading. The travelling was slow and painful. He was forced to put most of his weight on my shoulders which in turn caused my back to ache, and with the sun beating down upon my skin, it made me even weaker.

We had to finish this and soon. I looked to the sky. The sun was setting.

I sniffed the air again, my brothers and sisters scents filled the air more prominently. They were directly in front of us, located in a huge cave.

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I felt so heavy, my feet didn't want to work. My brain was telling them 'walk' but I'm certain they didn't hear a word of it. I looked to Grimmjow as he sniffed the air.

I turned my bleary eyes to see what had caught his attention. It was a cave. I sighed in relief. Finally, we could rest. My body was aching so terribly. He hefted me higher up on his shoulders, teeth gritted in a grimace. I know he tries to hide how tired he is, to make me feel better. But I'm no fool. I know we don't have much left in us anymore. Myself especially.

"Hold on just a bit more, we need to get to those caves before we go anywhere else." His eyes, shining in the night, turned to mine. They were crinkled in a strained, but hopeful smile. "There's help in there."

My lips twitched upwards. Honestly, he really was too cute for his own good sometimes. I chuckled quietly. He pulled me closer. "Boy, you're never ending courage is refreshing…. For a night walker."

He threw his head back, cackling to the moon, fangs sparking with the light. His mirthful eyes turned to mine, "Is that so, my love?" His laugh filled the air again, his gorgeous smile stealing the very breath from my lungs. "Well, glad to be of such service to you, my dear."

He chuckled again and I turned my face away, cheeks stained red. I muttered, embarrassed, "… Don't call me that… It's terribly embarrassing."

He just laughed harder and pulled me along towards the quickly approaching cave. I pulled my head down further, heart fluttering in my chest, my hand held up to my face to hide it all.

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They were there, right down that passageway, so close I could practically taste them. I pulled Ichigo closer, his body hanging more limp than it probably should have been. He coughed, his whole being shaking with the force of it. I turned to look forward, scanning the rocks for any sleeping brothers.

"Where are we going, Grimmjow? I can't see a thing."

My hand wrapped itself more firmly around his stomach, rubbing it comfortingly. "Don't worry, love. I'll be your eyes."

He nodded feebly, head tilted towards the ground. Even in the dark I could see the blush running across his cheeks. I smirked in triumph, my blood burning to hold onto him and just do sinful things to his gorgeous body.

A lone howl interrupted my dirty train of thought, my ears perking up. I knew that howl. Lifting my nose to the ceiling, I answered the call. Ichigo's eyes rose to mine, wide with fright.

"What? What is it?"

I smirked like the beast I knew I was. "My clan."

He choked an inhale and looked forwards as a light filled the cavern, a torch hung on the wall. A voice filled the tunnel, "Nnnnn, Grimm… You're losing your touch. I heard you a mile outside the cave."

I laughed. "Well, rest assured, Starrk, it was quite intentional."

My brother stepped forward into the light, lazily smirking. He glanced to Ichigo and his eyes flashed, glancing back to me with intense questioning. My smirk twisted slightly in answer, I'd tell him later. He inhaled deeply, eyes popping wide open.

"I smell blood, it reeks of it." His eyes flashed worriedly to me. I shook my head.

"No, no. That's why I'm here." I hefted Ichigo up further, he grunted in pain, me showing him more fully to Starrk and my approaching clan. I grimaced, "we need your help."

Their eyes turned to a shell shocked Ichigo.

"Uuuhh…." Ichigo's wide eyes looking between each and every one. Their eyes were watching him in amazed curiosity. I could clearly see what they were thinking. What was that creature wrapped upon Grimm's arm?

Ichigo pressed closer to my side, mouth rising to my ear, whispering harshly. "Is this some kind of sick joke, night walker? Taking me to your nest of brethren?" His fist clenched shakily against a long tress of my hair, pulling steadily down.

"Ow…" My eye scrunching shut, head tilting down with it. I heard laughter fill the air again and I turned traitorous eyes to my 'family.' "Thanks, everyone. Really."

They just snorted and laughed more. I rolled my eyes and sighed, looking to Starrk. "We need to talk."

He tilted his head and nodded once. He motioned further back into the cave and we moved along, leaving my brothers and sisters watching in awe as we passed by, staring at whatever Ichigo could be. We turned a sharp corner and into a circular room. Starrk lit the torch placed in there and turned to me, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

"Grimm." His voice was serious and tight. "Where on Earth did you find him?" His night eyes flashed to Ichigo again. Ichigo, now more swathed in light gasped violently, eye bulging at the sight of my dear friend. Confused, I turned to Ichigo as I answered.

"Remember that feast I ransacked? Well, turns out they were right above the cavern I found him in." I slowly turned to my brother, his eyes wide and looking into mine with shock. He glanced to Ichigo then back to me.

"You disrupted their festivities?" Starrk groaned loudly and pinched his temples. "Grimm… of all the places to explore and cause mischief… You choose that one."

I was thoroughly confused. Starrk then turned to Ichigo, expression hard.

"I did not know you yet lived, I had believed you all to be dormant."

Ichigo smirked at him defiantly. "Yeah, well no. Thanks to your pal here, I'm going to die… And fairly soon at that too. And believe me… You'll know when I'm dead, seeing as how I am the only that yet remains, thanks to you."

Starrk's eyes narrowed more, more dangerous. "It's not as if we knew. Had we known Aizen's true intentions we would not have followed so blindly."

Ichigo scoffed but his expression softened. "As much as my kind shows the true ferociousness of that war, I suppose we were all victims to his war mongering. I, the last of my kind and you, running wild without a leader. We have not been able to rebuild the pieces he has torn this world into."

Starrk nodded sagely, eyes sad. And of course, there was me and my thoroughly confused and pissed off self. Did they forget I was there and that I didn't understand a word of what they were saying. What the hell was going on?

Starrk suddenly shook his head. "But you… To think, out of all the sun children to still live, it would be you." Starrk suddenly bowed his head. "We have so greatly wronged you and your kind, m-"

"That is quite enough," Ichigo quite hurriedly interrupted. "That was in the past. Whatever I was back then, am no longer and I no longer hold you at fault. Holding grudges and guilt will not change what has been done. I have learned this the hard way and I know you have too, First Commander Starrk."

With shocked confusion my eyes shot to him, his shoulders squaring, mouth set in a grim line. "Yes, we both have learned how cruel the world can be. " His eyes were sad, lonely, haunted. He turned away to stare to the wall, the torch casting flickering shadows across it.

Ichigo gently pushed away from me and I let him, too confused to try and stop him. He stumbled over to Starrk and gently grasped his chin, tilting it down and turning it towards him, little jealous butterflies battered around in my stomach.

Ichigo's eyes were soft and understanding, pliant; everything he wasn't when he was with me. That shot a pinprick of pain through my body.

"Lilynette should not be thought of as dead, but remembered as how she was alive and how she died in battle like a true warrior. Feel pride for your sister, she was an amazing and formidable warrior. Remember what she was and be glad in it."

Ichigo's eyes were sad and Starrk's were hurt, but he nodded. They had a connection, I could plainly see it. Within minutes of seeing each other, they were closer than I was to Ichigo. Anger filled my blood. Who the hell was Lilynette? Since when did Starrk have a sister? What was going on!

Starrk pulled Ichigo's hands down from his face gently, holding them in a loose grasp. "You speak from experience. Is this how you coped?" Ichigo nodded and Starrk smirked lazily. "Then you are far stronger than I first believed. I will… try. It has been many years."

Ichigo nodded once in approval and then stepped back towards me. I grabbed onto him possessively, holding him close, glaring at Starrk. My brother simply rose his eyebrow in question and smirked, quietly laughing.

"Of course you would, Grimm… Never did pick the easy path." Starrk shook his head fondly and crossed his arms again. My ears were flattened to my head in anger.

"Would ya guys mind tellin' me what the hell you were all just talking about?" I voiced my anger quite loudly.

Starrk shook his head, "That is a conversation for another time. First things first." He nodded to Ichigo. "He needs help now. I'm going to assume you're trying t find willing followers, correct?"

Ichigo nodded. "We have been unsuccessful thus far. I know not these lands and we have found few vacant homes, but that would be the extent of it. No one remains."

Starrk nodded once. "That would make sense. It is near time for winter and they have moved to warmer lands, seeing as how winter is so long and harsh in these mountains."

I sighed, rubbing at my face. "Damn… Why didn't I think of that? We've been going the wrong way the whole time. If we had just turned around, we would have more than likely ran into someone."

Ichigo shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Trust myself to get stuck with a directionally challenged night walker."

I narrowed my eyes at him, smirk lecherous. "Be careful, my love. I am more powerful than you. I will make you eat those words in any way I choose," I all but purred in his ear. I felt him shudder against my chest as I pulled him closer. My hand travelled lower on his stomach, rubbing in soothing circles around the bandaged hole. I heard his breath hitch and a quiet moan bubble up in his throat. I let my hand start to wander lower.

Starrk cleared his throat, hand to his mouth, smirking. "As much as I love watching my younger brother molest my once was enemy… I'd rather you didn't." His voice was shaky with laughter. He stood up straight and stretched, a huge yawn racking his body. He smacked his lips and ran a hand through his hair.

"If you're looking for possible areas of prospect, I'd say Seireitei would be the best place to start looking." He rubbed his chin in thought. I heard Ichigo inhale and choke on it, I looked to him, eyes bugging out again.

"Why of all places there? You know for a fact that it is empty," Ichigo's voice shaky. Starrk looked up from his fingernails and to him.

"I thought you had the looking pools, or did those die out with your kind? I thought perhaps you could use those to find people."

Ichigo shook his head. "But taking a night walker there? Unheard of…"

Starrk put his hands on his hips. "No choice. It's that or die."

"Then we will go to Seireitei," I interrupted. I looked to a scowling Ichigo as I spoke. "Where is this Seireitei and how do we get there?"

Starrk yawned loudly. "I'll let him tell you that. As for me, I am going to bed and taking a nap. All this talking has me beat."

And with that he meandered out of the room, leaving me full of questions and anger.

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Grimmjow growled under his breath as he watched Starrk leave. I could feel and understand his frustration. He helped me over to the wall and laid me down against it, the torch above my head. He sat down cross legged in front of me, fists scrunched against his knees, eyes narrowed in a scowl. I could see the jealousy warring through his eyes.

Really, he was too cute.

"Ya gonna tell me what just happened, or no?"

Always right to the point with him. I sighed. "Very well. Back those many years ago, during the war, Aizen had many armies. And each had a commander to lead them. There were ten of them, each one a rank. To name a couple, there was Luppi the Sixth Commander and Ulquiorra the Fourth Commander. Starrk was Aizen's First Commander."

I paused when I heard Grimmjow's sharp intake of breath. I looked to his eyes and saw the wide wonder filling them.

"He… Starrk- my brother, Starrk- he was a Commander? He was part of that world?"

I smiled and nodded. "I can tell by your reaction that you did not know that." I turned my face away, smile falling from my lips. "Many of us kept our experiences to ourselves…"

Grimmjow shook his head in wonder. "I believe it. I did not even know his age. I'd merely assumed he was of my year." There was a slight pause. "…. Was he as lazy as he is now?"

I laughed and looked to him. "Well you certainly assumed wrong, about his age I mean. As for his laziness… Yes, indeed, when he wasn't in battle of course" . He tilted his head and I watched, satisfaction filling me. Shaking my head, I returned to my tale. "Anyway, he and his army were very formidable. He led it with his sister as his second hand, Lilynette. They were inseparable and they were quite the team. They fought like beasts, true soldiers to the end.

"One battle, the battle of Hueco Mundo, oh what a fierce battle that was. It went on for days on end, each side suffering staggering casualties. But Starrk, he was not there that day. His lord Aizen had called him off on other duties to attend to; Lilynette ran this fight.

"She was a great commander, fierce and headstrong but our numbers were greater. As her men around her dropped like flies, the others running for their lives, she stood and fought, taking as many as she could. Even as my enemy I could respect her tenacity.

"She died fighting in that battle. Such a young woman. Too many young lives lost to that war…" I shook my head in shame and regret. It was such a bloody and useless war. What had it accomplished besides the destruction of my race and the fall of the would be night walker empire?

We sat in heavy silence, Grimmjow's tail flicking with thought. His glowing eyes lifted to mine and we stared into each other's souls. His eyes were so deep, I began to lose myself. My heart quickened, my body tingled. I could feel my inner flame rushing to the surface, dancing beneath my skin, my breath pushing in and out of my lungs quickly.

He crawled forward. "There's so much I don't know, so much I haven't seen. There's so much I long to know, yearn to understand. There have been so many hardships in your life, that much I can tell already. I can understand why you so readily except death, I know that you want it."

He crawled until my legs were between his, our body heat mingling, his hand reaching up and brushing along my jaw. I couldn't think correctly. His face pulled closer to mine.

"But I also know what I want. And I want you to live, to flourish. I want to see you glow, feel your heat. I want you to be mine."

My eyes widened as my heart stopped, his eyes intense, inches from my own, staring straight into me, burning my core. My face flooded with heat. I wished to speak but my mouth was not listening to my brain; my body pressing closer to his. He pressed our chests together, my hands flying up to tangle in his hair.

His steady breathing was pushing with my erratic ones, my back arching to push us more firmly together. He pushed close enough that our mouths gently brushed.

"Be mine?" He all but whispered and I fought for control. I wanted him. By the sun did I want him. But now was not the time or the place. He pressed our lips more firmly together and I gently pushed him away. His eyes were filled with rejection and hurt, his tail flicking with anger.

"Now as tempting as an offer as that is, boy…." I narrowed my eyes playfully at him. "If you waste my energy now, how will we ever make it to Seireitei?"

His eyes widened with understanding and he pouted, tail again flicking indignantly like a petulant child. I chuckled.

"Besides… If you're so certain that you're going to save my life… then there will be plenty of time for such deeds later."

He turned his shocked eyes to me. I smirked like a lecher and he slowly returned the sentiments, grin stretching across his face. He pushed me to the ground and climbed on top, tail whooshing through the air with his excitement.

"I'll hold you to it. Just remember, love, when it comes to time for us to actually take part in each other and I am quite ravenous…."

He tilted his head, tongue running up my neck. He lifted his head and his glowing eyes stared into mine, my heart galloping away.

"It will only be your fault for denying me now," and his lips descended upon me. I lost myself to the moment, pleasure swirling in my body. I pulled his face away, smirking to him.

"Very well night walker. I eagerly await that day then." I laughed as he smirked. "Then, I will show you my true fire. You will learn what it is like to challenge a sun child." He cackled, throwing his head back, gorgeous long neck exposed. He looked back down to me.

"Then I gladly wait for that day too."

.:.~ End of Chapter Two~.:.

The "challenging a sun child" part is a reference to chapter one when Grimmpa stated "Alright old man, let's see who can't handle whom, you game?" et cetera et cetera. I'd also like to take this time to say that Starrk and Grimmpa aren't actual brothers. It's more of a endearing term than anything. Like a friend in war or a fellow soldier you might call 'brother.' They are of the same clan and call each other brothers. They are not in any way related. Same with someone they might call sister, besides Lilynette of course. She really was Starrk's little sister.

Things are moving along quickly and we have got great development. I'm even considering writing a sequel to this… which is odd because I like to just end it and let it be but I've got events that could happen after this story bouncing around in my head.

I'm even considering of writing a prequel. Of the war, ya know? Cuz there's a ton of ideas of that bopping around in there too.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YA'LL THINK ABOUT THE PREQUEL/SEQUEL AND THIS CHAPTER! THANK YOU AND LOVE YA 8D

~8DRainbowManVan8D