What is this? Well it's an update! I hope you guys can forgive me for not updating in like 2 months…please? Anyways I hope you all have an awesome new year and enjoy the story! Oh and just a heads up I think I made Nnorita and Ulquiorria a little out of character.
Thanks for all the reviews they really made me feel better! Please R&R!
Chapter 4!
Helper
"Nnorita."
"Why are ya in Grimm's bed? Is that the new pet?"
Having not been asleep long, Ichigo moved upright underneath Starrk hitting him in the face, resulting in a hiss of pain from each. Ichigo rubbed his cranium while watching the man who had just appeared. He was in Ichigo's words "freakin' tall" and "weird." Both could be called understatements. The tall lanky man had an eye-patch and black hair and just as weird a wardrobe to go along with it. Nnorita as Ichigo had heard cocked an eyebrow at him appraisingly. He sauntered toward him with a shit-eating grin. Ichigo thought his face was going to cut in half.
"Ya should stop lookin' at me like that; it makes me want ta eat ya." Ichigo sank back into Starrk as Nnorita's face came ever closer. Not that Starrk minded or anything. As Nnorita continued to advance and grab Ichigo by the collar, Starrk pulled the boy into a hug, shrugging off Nnorita.
"Ya kno sharin' is carin'"
"I'm not going to be shared!" Ichigo voiced loudly. "I don't even know you!" He continued. As Ichigo went to push out of his oppressor's arms, Starrk leaned in and stared at him hard. Ichigo 'eep-ed' (manly of course) and leaned his head back only to be met with Starrk's hand, holding him still. Starrk continued to press forward until his forehead rested against the other. He stayed like that for some time, ignoring Nnorita's complaints and noises of discomfort.
"We'll see about that Ichigo."
"…"
The berry boy didn't respond but blushed a shade of pink that Starrk could only describe as 'adorable.' As Starrk shifted away from him Nnorita invaded his space instead, making Starrk watch him closely. Apparently Nnorita didn't like to be ignored but he liked the idea of having a new toy to play with. Of course this time he wouldn't break it. Ichigo sat back on the bed making the covers pool around his waist. He really hated it when his leg would get tangled in the covers; it made his life so much more complicated than it needed to be. As Ichigo grappled with the covers Nnorita stood right before him, smirking.
"Need some help wit' dat?"
"Yeah"
Poor Ichigo and his automatic responses. Before he could even fix what he said Nnorita jumped him and began throwing him around in the sheets, making him more tangled, Nnorita just cackled. As Ichigo was pulling himself from the bed sheets Nnorita's hand brushed his side and he giggled a little. Both he and Starrk smirked at this. As Ichigo realized that both of their hands were roaming over his torso, he tried to squirm away, but ended up in a fit of laughter.
"Hahaha…c-can't breathe…haha!"
"What are you three imbeciles doing?"
Everything stopped, with Starrk holding Ichigo around his waist and Nnorita on top of him tickling him. It made for a weird spectacle to anyone. Ichigo recognized the man in the doorway and automatically shifted out of the other espada's grasp. He sat on the edge of the bed wide eyed. He didn't think he would meet his biggest rival but he did. When Ichigo moved to stand up he felt a hand grip his waist making him swivel his head around. His eyes met with two others that did not look very pleased, Ichigo ignored them and shrugged the appendage off. He hobbled half way between the bed and doorway and stood. Anyone else viewing the scene would have thought there was going to be a showdown. Ichigo eyed the pale man carefully, he had to be, as he did though he spotted something under his arm.
"What's that?" Ichigo pointed to the black covered book. The espada continued to be emotionless, but Ichigo knew better. "What are you reading?" Ichigo hobbled closer until he was standing before him. "Well-"
"Nothing that would concern you."
"I bet you don't even understand what's in it! " Anyone else would think that Ichigo had lost his mind. He just called Ulquorria an idiot but of course Ichigo didn't care. As Ichigo stopped laughing and looked up at the espada his breath got caught in his throat. Ulquorria seemed angry, like his aura had changed or something. Just like in the alley the aura was the same. Ichigo paled slightly and edged backwards while Ulquorria moved one step forward for every step Ichigo moved back. When he reached the bed again Starrk and Nnorita were already standing. You could hear a pin drop it was so quiet, Ichigo thought the tension was going to snap him in half.
"That is the point of reading is it not?" Ulquorria said while turning and leaving.
Ichigo deadpanned. Couldn't he of just said that earlier?
"Uh yeah I guess." Ichigo sighed in relief. Relaxing his stiff muscles Ichigo sat on the bed again. He looked like he was going to pass out from all the excitement that had just occurred. For some reason Nnorita walked out as well. Ichigo hadn't noticed the look Ulquorria gave Nnorita. Relaxing on the edge of the bed Ichigo let out an exasperated sigh.
"You're like a puppy." Starrk stated rather factually.
"What? I'm not a dog." Ichigo glared at the still standing man who was in a mid yawn.
"You get into trouble a lot. Almost like you enjoy it." Starrk finished.
Ichigo gaped at him. He was just called a puppy…a dog. If Ichigo's life couldn't get any worse his nagging headache returned. Rubbing his temples Ichigo leaned his elbows against his knees and closed his eyes wishing his headache away. While busying himself, Starrk went to the door and closed it quietly, went over to get Ichigo his painkillers, and a glass of fresh water. Sinking into the spot next to Ichigo Starrk placed his hand on the boy's shoulder gently shaking him out of thought. As Ichigo sat up Starrk handed him the water and medicine that Ichigo grimaced at but took anyways. Quietly Ichigo handed the glass back to Starrk who went and placed it back at the table.
"You have mood swings too pup." Starrk said
Ichigo looked up at the arrancar again scowling at him as if he could bore a hole through his head. Instead of possibly embarrassing himself further Ichigo pulled his broken leg up onto the bed and rolled over on his side, ignoring the espada. At a few moments of silence Ichigo looked over his shoulder to see Starrk right behind him, startling himself. After collecting himself Ichigo peered up again through his bangs wondering if the man would just go away. After having a staring contest ending with Starrk yawning, Ichigo rolled back over thinking the man would leave to sleep since it seemed like he was unnaturally tired. Well, Starrk was going to sleep just not in his room…
Looking down at the boy Starrk pondered just how the boy was raised to be so…interesting. While evaluating the boy, Ichigo moved toward more to the middle of the bed giving his leg more support instead of almost dangling on the edge of the bed. Starrk took advantage of this and laid behind him staring at his tense back filled with apprehension. Reaching an attentive hand out Starrk rubbed little circles between Ichigos shoulder blades resulting in the berry scuttling closer to the other side of the bed while making a noise of discomfort. Starrk followed. Really Starrk didn't know what was wrong with him he never put much effort into anything especially if it involved doing something as tedious as a massage. Following behind Ichigo and leaving him no placed to go, Ichigo huffed and mumbled under his breath.
"Are you always so annoying?"
Starrk smirked and continued to rub Ichigo's back with his hand while propping his head up with the other. Occasionally he rubbed his hand up the whole length of Ichigo's back feeling the toned muscles underneath ripple. After a couple minutes Ichigo relaxed and sighed letting his shoulders slum forward to a more natural position. The calm air in the air caused Ichigos heavy eye lids to droop and a happy sigh to escape his lips. As Starrk noticed the change and stopped his little massage he could hear the quite puffs of breaths from the boy. Pulling away from Ichigo he rolled off the bed and went and placed a new pair of clean clothes, a towel, and a glass of water on the table for when Ichigo would awake. Taking to the chair in the corner of the room Starrk laid back and decided to join Ichigo in a quiet nap.
(Switching POV here)
I was running with Rukia among the rooftops of Karakura chasing after a group of strong hollows. It was a normal night filled with our usual routines of hunting down reported hollows in the area. We had cornered the last of them with Rukia's Sode no Yuki and all but one was left. It was a grotesque looking creature with a body that looked like it was part bird with a mask that descended all the way down its back. After getting around it with a few flash steps and slashing at its neck, bludgeoning it I noticed that it hadn't dissipated at all but seemed larger. Zangetsu rattled in my grasp as if begging for the moment to kill the hollow. I stepped back around with Rukia to the right of me lunging and attacking it at the same time, but it disappeared.
At a few minutes on honing in on the hollows location and chasing it as it darted around buildings I saw a strange figure in the distance, a womanly looking figure. Letting my guard down for a moment I lost sight of the hollow that had moved to the back of me.
"Ichigo, look out!" Rukia suddenly had shouted while pushing me out of the way of the beasts attack leaving Rukia to the brunt of it.
"Rukia!" I rushed over to her and she gave me nod that she was fine and made me refocus my attention on the hollow in front of me.
"Are you afraid for those around you Shinigami?" The hollow spoke in a strange crackled voice while moving farther down the street. Stopping mid-step I shifted Zangetsu in my grasp and jumped towards it slashing diagonally across its body. Disappearing into was seemed to be air the hollow reappeared about twenty yards from me with no damage what so ever.
Staging my stance again I saw the womanly figure behind the hollow cowering behind a light post, stuck in its place from fear. A spirit was here, just great. It seemed as if the hollow hadn't noticed yet until it moved farther backwards resulting in the screaming of the spirit woman and it abruptly reaching towards her. Crap. Flash stepping forward I managed to push the woman out of the way before it got to her but not me.
"Run! Get away from here!" I ordered her. As I turned to stop the oncoming assault its claws had dug through the right side of me lifting me and then tearing its claws from the side of my body leaving literally torn pieces of my flesh everywhere. I staggered backwards leaning against the very place the woman was a few moments ago and braced myself for the next attack the best I could with what little strength I had. I was tossed like a ragdoll against the brick wall beside me knocking me out. It was dark, like an abyss pulling me farther in. I opened my eyes to find a white hand in front of me. I took it without thinking of the consequences.
Immediately my hollow took over incasing my face with its signature mask while mutilating the hollows body so swiftly it almost seemed as if I wasn't even a spectator to the horrid spectacle. I could hear Shiro's cynical cackle as he tormented his prey. I could do nothing but fight his control over me, fight for my soul back. Finally pulling my hollow into me with an ear piercing shriek and curses my hollow subsided back to its depths. I awoke to Rukia hovering over me crying as if the world was destroyed. I was puzzled.
"Rukia…" I managed to speak to her getting her attention and having her eyes widen in disbelief.
"Ichigo? Ichigo!" Rukia yelled, "D-don't scare me like that!" she continued as she quickly wiped tears from her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"You, I mean, I thought you were…dead." She finally finished.
"Dead?"
"Well your side was- I can't believe it…y-your body repaired itself?"
I wondered what she was babbling about until I remembered when the hollow about tore half of my stomach from me. I shuddered. I sat up to see blood everywhere. On me, Rukia, the walls and street all covered in blood.
I couldn't take it the smell and the sight it was too much I blacked out right in front of Rukia.
(Switching POV here)
"chigo…Ichigo…Ichigo!"
Snapping his eyes open Ichigo gazed up into a pair of hazel blue eyes staring down at him, with his arms shaking his shoulders. He could feel wetness on his face, he had been crying in his sleep of all things. Moving to sit up Ichigo could still see the flashback of the past from days before flitter through his head until disappearing. Nightmares he was having nightmares that had led up to…
"Ichigo."
The voice was quieter now almost a hush, Ichigo turned his head to see Grimmjow hovering over him with Starrk beside him releasing one of his legs. The bluenette moved away from Ichigo and let out an irritated sigh.
"Damn ya scared the hell outta me." He stated to Ichigo. Ichigo sat there dumb founded. I scared Grimmjow? Moving forward Starrk sat next to Ichigo on the bed pulling the covers off of Ichigo.
"I seems you were in the middle of having a nasty nightmare when he came back in here. You were screaming, flailing, and grasping at yourself in the bed. We had to restrain you. Grimmjow had to talk to you for awhile before you woke up." Starrk informed Ichigo who casted his gaze to the angry sexta espada.
"T-thanks…" Ichigo mumbled to him quietly.
"I really can't deal with ya, you're such a pain in the ass, dammit." Grimmjow huffed. "It means I have ta do more stuff ta help ya through yer trauma."
Ichigo wiped his eyes after remembering that a few stray tears were still ghosting down his face, embarrassed Ichigo hung his head downward to hide his grimace and slight blush.
"Just because yer an idiot and a moron doesn't mean I won't help ya." Grimmjow finished while patting Ichigos head reassuringly.
Well I hope you guys liked it! Please review and comment please I enjoy hearing from you guys and things you think would be nice to have in the story. See you next time!
Tata :3
