The next morning, Kuro had snuck back into the house. He had a couple of new scratches near his left eye that seemed to mimic Shuhei's. Ichigo was already up and doing chores. Right now he was in their tiny backyard in the herb garden with a woven basket. He was kneeling down and bent over, picking what looked like basil and Rosemary and putting them in the woven basket. Selling herbs and spices was one of the ways Ichigo helped make money, and it was something he enjoyed doing. It paid little, but it made him happy that he could help. Kuro came back out of the house, making sure his hair covered his left eye, hoping his mother wouldn't question why he switched sides on it. He went over to Ichigo. "…Sorry about yesterday" he said, looking down and his ears flatten on his head.
"It's fine, Kuro, but where have your manners gone? I thought I had done a good job raising you..." Ichigo sighed, straightening so he was sitting comfortably. He softly wrung his tail in his hands nervously. "Kuro, I'm just worried about you."
"Sorry…I just…I…I am not a child anymore, I'm growing up…I can look out for myself…I feel like you don't trust me…and mom…I think I am more wild blooded like dad, I just follow my instinct rather than logic" Kuro said like it would explain everything.
"Kuro, that's the problem! I-I don't want you to grow up! Your my son! I don't want you to not need your mother anymore!" He trailed off, looking down at the tail in his hands. He was gripping it tightly now. "I'm your mother... It, it hurts to see you not need me anymore.." He whispered.
"…All kids grow up eventually…you will always be my mom…besides Yuki and Fuyu need you…and if you need more love dad would probably be happy to help you get another child" Kuro sighed, hugging his mom.
Ichigo hugged his eldest son tightly. "I don't want to replace you, and nothing can.. your my first son... You have no idea how much you mean to me." He sighed.
Kuro sighed softly, letting his mom hug him. "I know" he murmured softly.
After a moment Ichigo released his son. "Why don't you go do your chores... For one, wake up your father, you and him have a hunting party scheduled today, and we need the money." He sighed, turning back to the herb garden.
"Mkay mom" Kuro replied before getting up and heading inside to his parents' room. He walked straight over to his father and kicked him in the head. Hard. Then he dragged his awaking father outside. Kuro seemed happy with his work. Shiro seemed a bit pissed at his son.
Ichigo huffed, glancing over at the two of them. "Shiro, you need to wake up. You and Kuro are in today's hunting party." He stated as he busied himself with the herbs and filling the shallow basket up.
"I'm up…but did he have to drag me?" Shiro pouted.
"C'mon…we have food to catch…the party's probably waiting idiot" Kuro sighed.
Shiro got up, glaring at his son. Kuro started to leave. "Bye mom" he called before racing off. Shiro gave Ichigo a quick kiss before following his elder son.
Ichigo shook his head a little but smiled slightly despite himself. He couldn't ask for a better family.
It was now nearly lunchtime, and Ichigo was cooking a little of some of the leftover meat with some of the fresh herbs that he had picked that morning. Yuki was sitting on the dirt ground at his feet with a few wooden figurines that he was playing with. Fuyu was down for a nap at that time. Shiro came back. Kuro had promised his father he would be back in a little bit. Shiro had to wonder how like was Kuro to him. He would laugh if he found out Kuro was sneaking into the ruins and hitting on some beta, just like Shiro had done for Ichigo.
"Hi Shiro." Ichigo smiled a little as he glanced at his shirtless mate -something he would never tire of seeing- before bending over to grab some herbs from the basket on the ground. Shiro went straight to Ichigo, kissing his mate's cheek. "Hey Ichi" he chirped.
"Don't even think about it." Ichigo murmured under his breath with a small smile as he stood back up.
Shiro pouted. Then they heard two voices, one was familiar the other not so much. "Is this even legal…or fair?" an unfamiliar voice growled.
"All's fair in my games blueberry" Kuro's voice carried amusement.
Kuro came into view, dragging another male behind him. This other male was a 6'3, towering over Kuro's 5'7. He had blue hair, the color of the ocean blue with eyes to match. Kuro had bought back the man from his picture. He may have had to tie the bluenet's hands behind his back and choked him half to death with a makeshift collar to get him here, but Kuro bought back that man.
Ichigo gaped at them. "...Shiro, go get father and the guards." He said quietly. Yuki hid behind Ichigo's legs, his figurines forgotten on the ground.
Shiro nodded, giving Kuro an eye that meant to watch the bluenet and protect his family. Kuro nodded to that. Shiro rushed away. Grimmjow raised an eyebrow. "Now will you untie me?" he asked.
"Nope" Kuro rolled his eyes.
Ichigo's ears went back as he picked up Yuki. "Kuro, consider this your first job as an alpha of the house." He said before slowly edging over to them.
"Mkay…that's a nice way to look at it" Kuro said, amused.
"Nii-san?" Yuki asked.
"Hmmm?" Kuro looking at his little brother.
"Nii-san is strong!" Yuki grinned and giggled.
Kuro gave a grin. Grimmjow shifted and Kuro growled, glaring at him. Ichigo backed up a little while Yuki seemed oblivious to the possible threat in the house. Shiro, Aizen, and some of the guards came back. Aizen stared at the human.
Ichigo hissed and lay his ears back when Grimmjow took a step forward to him. Kuro pulled on the 'leash' which yanked Grimmjow back. "Kuro…where did you find this creature" Aizen asked.
"Down by the shore…near where I found the boat and things yesterday" Kuro replied. Grimmjow looked slightly confused at Kuro's answer.
Ichigo took a step forward, seemingly studying the new creature. Grimmjow bared his teeth jokingly, which were sharp like a hybrid's teeth instead of dull like most humans' teeth. "As far as I can tell, he is exactly like us…without a tail…but he had ears…just different than ours" Kuro explained, moving closer to Grimmjow. He moved the blue hair to reveal a human ear.
Ichigo backed up a little. "...Its some kind of defect... Or something..." Yuki frowned a little. "...Defect?" He asked. "Something that goes wrong when the cub is still in the mothers belly." Ichigo replied with a small purr.
Grimmjow didn't look amused. "Ichigo is right…this young male just has a simple defect" Aizen nodded.
"THIS" Kuro growled, pointing at Grimmjow. "isn't a defected hybrid…it's a different race" he finished.
"There isn't anything wrong with me…I am a human…the kid tugging at the leash is correct" Grimmjow stated.
"What's a leash?" Shiro asked.
"Maybe I should have bought a dictionary" Grimmjow muttered.
Ichigo growled a little. "Father is never wrong! And what have I told you about your manners!" He said lowly, glancing at his father before focusing back on his son. "If father says so, then there's no such thing as another race."
"Mom, what about your manners…you are being so rude, talking about blueberry like he is a defected piece of prey" Kuro huffed.
"Calm yourself Kuro" Aizen sighed.
"Then stop being an idiot, you can't and aren't always right…I think blueberry is proof enough that you are wrong" Kuro growled.
"Kuro" Shiro sighed.
Kuro quieted, glaring at Aizen. Aizen stared at Grimmjow. "Do you have a name?" he asked.
"Grimmjow Jeagerjaques" the bluenet replied.
Aizen continued to stare at him. "Kuro…please take off the bindings" he stated.
Kuro stared at him. "Excuse me?"
"Listen to father." Ichigo stated. He hadn't moved from his spot.
Kuro gritted his teeth. He took out a small knife, slicing the ties he made with a single swipe before replacing his weapon in whatever pouch he had gotten it out of. Then he stepped away, crossing his arms. Grimmjow shook his slightly numb arm. "Ichigo…I trust you can help teach this lost one our right ways" Aizen stated.
Ichigo whirled around to stare at his father with wide eyes. "Father, you have to be joking." He stated, his voice quiet.
Kuro got a smug grin. "Listen to father" he mocked.
Shiro gave Kuro a stern glare. "I don't joke Ichigo" Aizen stated.
Ichigo pouted a little. "Yes father." He muttered before turning a glare onto Kuro. "And you! As far as your passage is concerned, you wont even BEGIN to see it ahead of you for a long while! No matter how many clean kills you make!" He growled.
"Uh oh... Nii-san got in trouble.." Yuki mumbled, burying his hands into the thick fur on his tail.
Aizen looked slightly amused at this. But it was quickly wiped away.
"…Whatever you say mother" Kuro replied, coldly. Then he walked away.
"Stop. Now." Ichigo growled.
Kuro stopped and turned around. "Yes my dear mother" he growled back.
"You, will NOT leave the house for the next week. Not even for hunting party's." Ichigo stated, his voice even and his eyes hard. There was nothing that could change his mind. Not even the fact that they would not get as much money as they had been without him, no matter how little the amount was or how much that little would impact the small amount of money that came in.
Kuro's visible eye flashed. "You can delay my passage all you want, but you will NOT make me stay in the house…I have things to do" Kuro snarled.
"I can and will. You may be an alpha, but I am your mother and the Alpha Beta roles do not apply here." Ichigo stated angrily, setting Yuki down and taking a few steps forward.
Kuro stood his ground, glaring at Ichigo. "You set such an example for our guest…aren't ya" Kuro growled. "But before you can stop me, you have to beat me black and blue and snap both my legs" Kuro added with a humored note.
Ichigo gaped at him. "Kuro!"
Shiro was about to step forward when Kuro suddenly growled. Then the black eared male turned and raced away.
Everyone looked surprised at that. Ichigo looked hurt more than anything. "Where did I go wrong..." He muttered softly, staring after his son's retreating back long after it had disappeared.
Aizen went to comfort his son, waving the guards to leave. "It is not your fault Ichigo" he sighed, hugging his son.
Grimmjow looked between the upset oranget being comforted by his father and the place where Kuro had been before he disappeared. Grimmjow could have swore he saw a flash of sorrow and fear in Kuro's eye before he disappeared.
The oranget sighed, backing away from his father after a moment. "...Grimmjow, was it? I'll, I'll show you your room." He sighed, motioning for the other to follow him.
Grimmjow's attention snapped to Ichigo. He nodded, following the oranget. Aizen stood and watched.
The room Ichigo had given him wasn't... exactly a room, per say. More like a storage. It looked even older than the rest of the 'house'. There was a really old nest in the corner of the room, the straw bedding starting to crumble. Ichigo almost looked embarrassed. "Tomorrow, we'll start on history and how things work in the village." He stated softly before walking out of the room just as crying sounded from some point in the small house.
Yuki apparently had followed him because he spoke up once Ichigo was out of sight. "Mommy's been having a hard time lately... He has to take care of me and Nii-san and Fuyu... And Sofu's not been real nice to mommy ether... and he has to take care of you now.." The boy mumbled, his ears drooped and his tail dragging on the ground. He then peaked around the door frame to watch Ichigo try to calm Fuyu down. "Daddy has to go hunting allot too... and we don't get to keep most of what he catches ether!" You could see a small amount of anger filling his golden eyes before it disappeared.
"Don't worry…I am not useless…I will not be a bother" Grimmjow replied. Shiro went to help Ichigo calm their youngest child.
"You might be but..." Yuki mumbled, scratching his ear before sighing a little. He simply walked out of the room without another word.
And Grimmjow is in the village xD
Kuro doesn't like the blueberry much and he is rebelling even more...and mocking his mom...he is SO gonna get it later xD
And Aizen lets Grimmjow into the village. THAT easily...damn, someone's going soft xD So maybe he's not a total dick
Kuro: Is too
Me: We aren't at that part of the story yet...SHHH
Kuro: You update this too slowly
Me: Screw you Kuro
Kuro: Alpha...I screw
Me: SHIRO! TALK TO YOUR KID!
Anyway, Review plz...ask questions...tell to piece the confusing parts (Cuz they have to be some) together...but most important REVIEW DAMNIT
IS-Ichigo/Yuki/Fuyu
Me-Everyone else?
