Chapter 02
The Great Divide
Now—
"Are you starting to fancy that Vampire Prince?" A redhead asked curiously.
"Aren't you a little curious about the cub being out in our forest? A human and a vampire being together are not unheard of, but if the Little Prince were infatuated with her, it would be nice idea to inform the District about it." The carrot top answered casually as they heard a high pitch from a whistle. "Every damn bloodsucker that we've encountered was calm and collected before being destroyed, but the cub had attitude after a while. Would you believe me if I said, I tamed him to not bite me last week, Renji?"
Abarai Renji blinked before snorted. "With you both next in line to rule our worlds, it's not surprising." He placed his hands in his pockets. "Do you intend to manipulate him to fight for us? Against his kind?"
"It's possible, but as soon as my fangs get a taste of his blood, we can kill him." Both of them perked at the feelings that they were getting. "Don't those punks ever listen to a word I tell him? Good grief."
"I suppose you'll like back up?" Before the other could answer, they both turned into wolves and went towards the troublesome scenario. Renji spoke mentally—telepathically rather. "What will we do?"
"Besides chew their heads off?" Ichigo snorted, both running as fast as they could.
They made it to the scene where Toushirou was surrounded by three wolves and a cub, and Ichigo took care of the largest one first. The group that stirred trouble was taken by surprise as their soon-to-be alpha was defending the enemy for no reason whatsoever. Ichigo stood in front of the small vampire, glaring at the group to challenge any of them that would dare fight him, but they backed off. The cub, on the other hand, barked cheerfully as she ran up to the lead male in the area since she was happy to see him after the past few hours. Renji came over to pick the albino cub up in his powerful jaws carefully before leaping out of the area with the others reluctantly following.
"You're… the one that's going to be alpha soon, right?" Toushirou asked cautiously… not having been around for a week. "My friend is still in this forest, I would like to see her." The wolf turned to lead the way, so he casually followed the creature. "I wonder where that Kurosaki fellow is," he mumbled softly.
Ichigo mentally snorted with pride at easily working this vampire cub, but he would boast about it later when he was not occupied. There was something following them, causing them to stop and look—it was a tall slender man with long teal hair—almost turquoise even. Nevertheless, he was a vampire, and Ichigo whipped around to kill him for being on his turf until the smaller one called out.
"Wait you two!" Toushirou's words went unheard as the two began to fight; one with fangs and claws while the other with strength. "Hyourinmaru, stop fighting!" The other stopped as told, and Ichigo tackled him to the ground, about to rip his head off—literally. "Please wait Alpha!" Since he did not know the name of the beast, he could only call it by title. "This man is my servant, he's not fighting!"
The wolf bristled at the decision that he had to make; if he let this one live, then other vampires would assume that they could come into the forest. However, if he decided to kill this one as an example, then Toushirou would most likely not give his blood up any time soon. Attempting to think of the best solution for this case, he sank his fangs into his left arm and ripped it off as the man yelled bloody murder. Hyourinmaru's blood had been tasted by the aggressive wolf before it decided to take a step away to have him stand up. To make sure that he knew that he was not going to receive special treatment, Ichigo began snapping at his feet to have him back off.
"Hyourinmaru, leave…" It was an obvious defeat. "I will return later tonight. Wait in town for me."
"Yes, my Lord." The man turned and ran off to be treated, and four wolves chased after him in case.
He turned to the wolf, "they're only planning to chase him to the border or the forest and town, right?"
With a light nod, the wolf began to hop the jagged rocks to the top of the hill where the tent was still most likely there. Toushirou gracefully leaped to the top before calling the female's name, but she did not answer with in any manner. He grumbled in annoyance before zipping open the tent to find out that she was not there—why did he not lock on to her before coming? Having bothered to do so now, it had turned out that she was farther out in the forest right now, so he walked past the tent—
Ichigo jumped in front of him with fangs bared; obviously, he was not going to allow the enemy to go any farther than the tent. This was going to be a problem though as the wolf began to walk away and the vampire attempted to follow him just once. He growled darkly as his final warning to have him stay put before he went to fetch the girl for him so that the enemy would not be familiar with the territory. There was nothing that the night-walker could do except wait by the tent as patiently as possible with hopes that the damn werewolf would bring her. Toushirou heard whining and giggling approaching in which meant that she had been found and brought to safety thankfully. When the giant beast returned with the female on his back, she hopped off happily to approach her not-so enthusiastic friend. He was relief to see her well, though her upbeat attitude always made him feel completely exhausted…
Moreover, utterly defeated…
However, he glanced over at the tent to recover from the momentary defeat. "You said you were only going to be here for a night." His attention drew towards the female. "Are you, living here, Hinamori?"
This caused the cheerful one to frown sadly. "It's not what you think, I'm still going to school, okay?"
School meant nothing to him since he did not attend it. "Why did you not tell me about this? Why are you out here in the forest for that matter?" That was one thing that confused him, why was she here.
"Oh… I go to school with Kurosaki-senpai. He told me that if I ever wanted to run away, I could run to the forest where I would be safe." The wolf nudged her arm, earning a few ear scratches. "That's why."
"K-Kurosaki?" To think that those two went to school together! Toushirou knew he was young, but still in school? "Just how old is that fool anyway?" He crossed his arms. "Is he a freshman too or something?"
"No, he's a senior, that's why I said 'Kurosaki-senpai,' he takes care of me at school." She began to catch on to something, and gasped with excitement. "You know Kurosaki-senpai, don't you Shirou-chan!"
More or less…
How was he supposed to tell her that he had met the… high school student, half-naked in the forest a week ago, and went out to dinner with him? Was he supposed to drop the bomb on her by announcing that he took his blood from him without biting him as a vampire would? No, of course not, he should confess and explain that the fool bit his lip for it to bleed so that they could kiss—two males kissing! Just thinking about that man's blood pulsing inside him for a good three days began to make his throat dry with a desire to quench his thirst. Having been locked up in the mansion for twelve hours, he should have eaten his meal before coming to visit a human that he would not bite.
"I met him last week—" something then occurred to him. "Is he a wolf?" The female blinked confusedly as the wolf intentionally cocked his head. "It seems odd to find wolves and that man in the same day."
"Not that I know of…" she tried to think about it. "He brings me to school and to the forest, but the wolves take care of me." Momo began to giggle. "I think he believes we're a couple Shirou-chan!"
His turquoise hues rolled when hearing this. "Humans are disgusting with their thoughts. I bet the wolves have been thinking the same thing." Suddenly, they heard snarling from down below.
Ichigo came over to see the opponent, only to find out that it was Renji who warning him about an intruder in the forest. Ear flickered rapidly with displease before the beast began pacing in thought upon how he would take care of this mess. Renji barked at him in hopes of receiving an answer before it was too late, causing the soon-to-be alpha to give a deep echoing howl. The birds all fled to the sky to flee the path of the Forest's Chief—it's Guardian, and said chief kicked the vampire into the tent. Toushirou was about to attack him for the rude attitude, but Momo had quickly joined him to tell him to be quiet.
"The pack is outside the tent," she whispered.
"I'll have my father's group hunt down the intruders. Kill or drive them back! My group will surround the cubs and families. Renji, you're with me! Everyone, go!" Ichigo watched as the groups fled to go into their areas to do whatever was necessary. Renji leaped the hill's side to be next to Ichigo. "Take her to the village, alert my father but not the cubs. I'll get rid of the Little Prince." He ran out of sight for a brief moment as Renji fetched the female, got dressed, and came over to the tent, acting as if he just arrived.
"Toushirou, what are you doing out here? It's dangerous right now!" Ichigo offered his hand. "You have to get out of here, it's too dangerous for a kid like you!" The small vampire was a little taken back by the yelling, so he grabbed his wrist before forcing him to jump down the hill. "Don't worry about her, Renji will take care of her when she crosses the water." The both began running towards Karakura Town.
Not enjoying this, Toushirou stopped and yanked his wrist away. "It's Hitsugaya to you, and exactly what is going on?" He pointed accusingly. "What trouble have you brought towards Hinamori you imbecile?"
"Funny, I was going to ask you the same thing. I don't have any enemies, do you?" He watched as the small one flickered unhappily; obviously realizing that he might be at fault for this sudden attack.
"Yes, my… family, doesn't approve of my relationship with Hinamori." Though that group was not his family, he could not say a group of vampires. "Also, Hinamori and I are just friends you pervert."
A tree was falling down quickly in their direction. "Look out!" He hurriedly shoved the other away before barely jumping out of the way. "…Kenpachi must really be having a blast since he was scolded earlier."
'Damn,' Toushirou looked at his ankle, feeling blood seeping from it. 'I'll have to wait a few minutes for it to heal—' "Hey!" He barked as the other lifted him in his arms as a newly wedded bride. "Put me down!"
"You landed badly on your foot, there's no more time to waste in the forest. If these are your enemies, they might be after you too." Renji appeared in his wolf running, catching up in order to run next to his leader. "Take the kid first!" Ichigo tossed Toushirou towards the beast to be saddled on before jumping up on his back as well. "Is alpha going to watch her and the cubs?" Renji snorted in response to the easy question, and something was charging at them. "Left, now!" An arrow barely dodged as he made the quick turn. "Head for the underground!" Renji could not fight Ichigo's command and made a sharp turn.
Within seconds, it was as if the three had disappeared without a trace; only the pack members knew of the underground system that was created deep beneath the forest. Ichigo hopped off the panting beast, petting his face for the good job that he did by coming to their aid on such short notice after given a job to deal with first. Renji whined pleasingly of the praise he received from his pack leader—he might just allow Toushirou to stay on his back if he would get more praises. Toushirou looked around the pitch-black tunnels, trying figure out where he was and how they managed to escape the attacks. His nightly vision returned to its daytime sight as they began to head past small bundles of light; as if candles.
"It smells like dogs, but it's the safest place to travel from Karakura Town to the forest. If you ever mention this to anyone, you will be killed." Ichigo stated quietly, leading the way. "The wolves use these tunnels for multiple purposes, the main one would be to treat the wounded. But don't think you can just sneak in here." As he said this, a wolfish sheepishly appeared towards the group, but caught sight of the small pale one. "It's okay, the others are fighting above. We're just taking him to the borders, okay?" The black wolf turned away to turn right, and the three went forth. "Hey, let's treat his ankle before we go."
Renji growled unhappily, but obeyed by turning left to a small den corner.
They arrived to the small hole in the dirt wall, allowing Ichigo to lift the small critter from the wolf's back to set him down on the stacks of straw. Toushirou glanced at the large beast to see that it sat in front of the den to keep a watchful eye around the tunnels—but flinched when touched. The shoe that covered his sprained ankle had been removed, along with the sock taken away and his pant leg slightly lifted up.
"W-What are you doing, Fool?" His foot was lifted into the air, causing him to fall back into a lying down position. "H-Hey!" A tongue lapped over the blood that was slowly seeping wound. "Y-You're warm."
Ichigo ignored the statement as he licked the sprain for it to be more comfortable, feeling the small vampire's blood coursing through his veins. His fangs were beginning to lengthen, causing him to finish carefully before ripping his sleeve off to wrap around his ankle. Toushirou looked at the quick work that was done for his ankle; trying to flex it slowly to see if it was any better, which it surprisingly was. He felt some blood rise to his cheeks before turning away to snort stubbornly without as much as a thank you.
The carrot top licked his lips, "and you're cold." He stood up slowly before picking up the other. "Come on, if Alpha finds you here, you could get in trouble. Your scent should be masked by this big guy." Ichigo helped him up on Renji's back, and they began to head towards the border. "We're almost out anyway."
"Why did you tend you my ankle? I did not tell you to do such a thing." His voice was low with a mumble that could barely be understood. However, his audience had great hearing. "If you have some angle—"
"I don't know what kind of life you live, but not everyone has a motive or an agenda." Ichigo stated as he picked up the sock and shoe in one hand. "You're hurt, so I helped. That's all there is to it." He began to walk away with Renji following him. "If necessary, then my angle was because I wanted to help you."
The vampire stared at him confusedly; never having met someone that would do something for another because they wanted to. For his kind, everyone would have to fend for himself or herself… or just die, simple as that for one who walked through the night. He stared at the fur of the wolf that he was seated on, remembering well that the wolf did not like him during their last meeting. Hinamori seemed to be a person that would try to help whenever it was possible… which was rare in a way for sure. His hands grasped the fur lightly as he tried to understand why humans were such foolish creature to help others.
"Why did you want to help then?" Toushirou suddenly asked aloud. "There's no benefit for you at all."
Ichigo looked at him, trying to figure out what sort of answer would be suited for him. "I just wanted to."
"I am asking why you wanted to, Idiot. Do you think you'll gain something from it?" He glared viscously.
The carrot top growled. "I don't know, can't you just shut up and say thank you or something! Jeez!"
His mouth hung open at the cranky foul attitude. "I bed to differ! You don't deserve a thank you!"
"Oh yeah? I just saved your life probably. I didn't have to, but I wanted to. The same with that girl too!"
"Y-You leave Hinamori out of this!" Angry about the small one's attitude, Renji sat down to allow Toushirou to fall off his back, and crash on his butt. "You damn wolves are a menace I tell you!"
Slightly annoyed that Toushirou was insulting his pack, Ichigo looked at him while Renji came to his side to receiving praise. "Look kid, these wolves together are called a pack, and the pack means family." He scratched behind Renji's ear. "They do everything together—they hunt together, feed together, and they all look out for one another." A gentle smile appeared on his face. "I've grown up with these guys."
'Family' was nothing to him, but from the sound of things, having a family was something nice to have when you were alone. Ichigo knelt down to carefully place the sock on the pale one's foot before placing the shoe on and tying it afterwards for him. At the mansion, he ordered others around to tell them what to do and what not to do because that was his relationship with everyone. Everyone was below him, there was no equal that he had to look in the eye, there was no one to look up to either, it was just him.
"Kurosaki…"
Ichigo looked at him slowly to see eye to eye—watching the light pale beige cheeks tint slightly red as turquoise hues tried to look away from him in a guilty fashion. He stayed in his knelt down position for a few good seconds to hear him out until he realize that nothing was going to be said from there on. The orange-haired male gave a soft smile once more before collecting him in his arms to stand back up on his feet. His attention went to the wolf, nodding to him with assurance that his services were no longer needed for the moment, and to check on the others.
The wolf left the scene casually to check on the village and its occupants.
"…thank you…"
Not sure he heard him right, Ichigo looked down at him to see the little bundle try his utmost best to hide his face into the man's chest. It was obvious that this creature had shyly gave his gratitude when he obviously did not want to—nor knew exactly how to. The dim sunlight graced them as they left the dark tunnels in the underground that revealed Karakura Town, and Ichigo placed him on his feet.
Toushirou turned to him curiously, trying to figure out whether this man would join him or not.
"Are you coming, Kurosaki?" He hoped the carrot top would follow, but no indication was made.
Said male looked around quietly as if trying to decide on what to do. "The others might need me."
"That Alpha seems really strong, he wouldn't need a human's help." The words did not help him.
It took a little more of his mental debating and constantly listening to know things were okay. "Sure."
"Good, then your dinner is on me as gratitude for your unneeded assistance." Toushirou turned away—
"Want to tell me how your red hues turned sea-green?" He watched him freeze. "I noticed it last night."
"Those were my contacts, I'm not wearing them today obviously." Hopefully this was good enough.
" I don't think so." Ichigo came closer to him, towering over his form. "When did you take them out?"
"When we were kissing…" The thought of his blood was getting to him again. His hues started to change.
"So, if they were contacts, did you just place them on so fast that I didn't even see you do it this time?"
His red hues were looking through Ichigo's clothing to stare at the veins, his fangs were starting to grow.
"To think that vampires really exist in this world, huh?" The carrot top watched the other stare at him in fear. "Do any other fairytale creatures live amongst humans?" He lifted Toushirou's lip to look at the fangs—poking them no less. "No wonder why the wolves don't like you then." Ichigo laughed lightly.
Toushirou smacked his hand away to look him up and down. "What makes you think I'm a 'vampire,' Fool? Some humans have sharp canines too." He earned an annoyed look. "Did Hinamori tell you?"
"Nah… I'm into that Vampire and Werewolf thing, I totally love Halloween. The fact that you weren't eating when I was and how you jumped at the word blood made it obvious." He chuckled before biting his tongue—watching how Toushirou's reaction to it became acute. "Besides, I don't know any humans with your high and mighty attitude, except for a few teachers." Toushirou grabbed his shirt, starting to pant at the teasing that he was getting, so he began to oblige. "Same rules apply as they did last time."
Arms quickly wrapped around his neck, tongue plunged into the carrot top's throat to recover the blood that was swallowed as a tease. This action earned him a growl, causing the desperate vampire to back off a little to suck on the bleeding tongue that offered him his meal. His thoughts of why this man was being casual of the news about him being a vampire and taking his blood like this, but they were gone. The only thing that he could focus on was the pleasing taste off his tongue that went down into his belly as he began to gather some unidentified. Arousal from the blood-lust began to strike him as his fangs began to graze the sealing wound—earning another growl of dominance.
Ichigo pulled away slowly so the other's instincts would not give in to chase, "I said no biting."
"S-Sorry… I've… always had… to bite… for blood." He began to reach for more, but was turned down.
"That's enough for now," the carrot top stated quietly. "If you took any more, you wouldn't need me."
Cheeks reddened, "w-who would need a weird human like you!" He turned and fled in embarrassment.
