'Fifteen men on the dead man's chest-
...Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest-
...Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!'
~Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!"
Rukia could do nothing but stare as the drunken man was pushed off the tavern's balcony in a fit of rage. His pusher just smiled as he slowly walked down the steps and took the unconscious man's money and pistol. To her left were the prostitutes, the top of their dresses were pulled down showing their breast to the other men, or 'advertising' to put it nicely. Men were just strolling causally towards them, putting the money in their hands, and following them to back rooms of the tavern. Rukia turned her head away and looked at Ichigo instead. His arm was draped protectively around her shoulders, his eyes glaring at the men who were giving Rukia lustful glances, until he sat them down at the farthest corner of the building. The captain captured the attention of the barkeeper and gestured him to bring him some ale.
"So what are we doing here, Kurosaki?" The princess asked, pushing her sleeves down so that they fully covered her arms, as if hiding herself from the filth of the room.
"Relaxing." He stated simply, chugging down the contents from the metal, unwashed cup.
"I hardly find this place 'relaxing'." She glared at him. "Why are we not on my boat sailing towards Venice?"
Yes, Venice. Rukia had finally decided where she was going to live her carefree, no-rule life in Italy. She told Ichigo, unrolled a map of the world right in front of him, and drew a circle with a large arrow pointed towards the destination. But still the bastard paid no attention to her or her orders. It was her ship, and he was the passenger, not her.
'Fair enough I don't know how to sail or run a ship, but still!' The raven haired woman thought as she began to sink into her chair, waiting for a reply from the 'idiot'.
"One, because we need food and water supplies. And two, we need to meet someone."
"We?"
"Alright, I need to meet someone." He sighed. "It's just safer for you to be by my side."
"Aww, is Kurwosaki scwared? Does he want me to hold wis hand." Rukia cooed at Ichigo, childishly.
"Not for me, you stupid midget. For you."
"Idiot! What makes you think that I need your protection?"
"Princess, you may not have noticed it but on the way here you kept on gripping my shirt everything someone got too close to you."
"I can perfectly take care of myself, Kurosaki." She hissed at him through clenched teeth.
"Then you're protection is doubled when I cover your back." Ichigo said, smugly.
"Go to hell."
"I'll see you there." And with that Ichigo drank the rest of his alcohol.
"You know, it has been a while since I robbed anyone." Orihime whispered to her husband, as she picked the lock of the door.
"You never were a lover of crime, woman." He murmured as the black haired pirate looked over his shoulder.
Grimmjow was their watchman as they broke into the philosopher's workshop. Orhime's delicate hands skilfully moved the hairclip and quill into the right positions and slowly began to turn.
"What I really want to know is why is the captain expecting to find a map in a philosopher's workshop?"
"Why bother asking? You know the reason will be even more perplexing than the request." Ulqiuorra said, nonchalantly.
"I guess…" his wife sighed, and with one final twist of her clip, the door was unlocked.
"Right now, let's hurry to find what we're looking for." Ulqiuorra stated as he pushed the wooden door open and ran inside.
"Kurosaki."
A masculine voice ceased Rukia and Ichigo's pointless argument. The pair both turned their heads at the same moment to stare at the newcomer. His lanky form was slithering towards them. Silver hair covered most of his forehead apart from his tightly shut eyes which seemed to give him a dangerous appearance, that and his sadistic smiles which gave Rukia a strong urge to slap him and hope to get rid of it.
"Ichimaru." Ichigo greeted him.
He and Rukia upright, the female dusting off imaginary dirt from her outfit. Ichigo looked at Gin and noticed his attention was on his companion, so the captain gave out a slight chesty cough to get Gin's attention back on him. As expected Ichimaru's snake-like eyes were on the orange haired captain in a second.
"What was I called here for, Kurosaki?" he sighed, sinking down into the wooden chair.
"You know why, Ichimaru. You know something and I want that information."
"I have no idea what you-"Gin stopped midsentence when Ichigo grabbed onto his shirt and pulled him across the worn out table.
"Listen here, Ichimaru," Ichigo hissed through clenched teeth. "And listen well. You know exactly what I am talking about. Now, where is he?"
"Unhand me."
"Where. Is. He?" Ichigo sounded out every syllable, try to make his words more intimidating.
But his method didn't affect Gin. "I repeat. Unhand me."
"Not until you yell me where he is."
"I won't tell you until you unhand me." Gin's grin widened.
"Why you son of a-"
"Ichigo, that's enough." Rukia ordered, her voice layered with authority and seriousness.
Ichigo let out a huff of aggravation and released the silver snake man. "Fine, now tell me where Kaien is."
"Ulqi-kun, I found the map!" Orihime beamed as she proudly held up the cylinder-shaped case.
It was heavier than it looked and also rather beautiful. The markings looked like that of a tribes, curls and waves all around the case. The fabric was royal blue while the markings themselves were made of gold.
Orihime took hold of the leather strap and tossed it over her shoulder. "Ulqi-kun, let's leave before anyon-"
The auburn haired woman and her husband turned their heads sharply towards the door as it slammed open. Grimmjow was in the doorway, trying to catch his breath. He quickly closed the door and moved to where the two spouses were standing.
"People… coming… this way!" he huffed.
"Fuck," Uliquorra cursed "Let's make a run for it." He urged.
"To late…" And as if by queue, the voices where audible, as where their footsteps on porch steps.
"Hide." Orihime hissed at the two men.
They both scattered away, only to hide on different sides of the doorway. Grimmjow and Ulqiuorra held their breaths, staring at one another as if they were talking. Their connection was broken when the wooden door of the building opened; the squeaking sound from the unoiled hinges was like sharp nails being dragged down a chalkboard.
"Who are you?" A voice asked. "Why are you here?"
Both Ulqiuorra and Grimmjow stiffed and glanced at Orihime, who was fixing her dress. She began to unbutton the first three pink plastic button of her dress, which normal had the entire buttons closed all the way up to her neck.
"Who are you?"
"I'm from the 'bar'," She said seductively "Miss told me to bring you down something to drink but I accidentally forgot it."
"Well," the man said, his frown turned into a lustful grin, and Orihime inwardly cringed. "We must do something about that, mustn't we?"
"No," Ulqiuorra said nonchalantly, pressing his pistol against the man's head. "You don't need to do anything at all."
Suddenly, Ulqiuorra came crashing to the ground as an extra person came to the man's aid. The grey haired man grinned once again, his rotten teeth were visible through his chapped lips, and turned his back on Orihime and stared at the newcomer.
"You took your time, Simon." He said, stuffing his hands in his pocket casually.
"I should just leave you to die, Jones, if that is the thanks I get." The tall, chestnut haired man hissed in reply.
"I'll thank you once these people are nothing but corpses in master's workshop."
"Fuck this." Grimmjow growled in aggravation, slamming the door shut so it would hit Simon in the stomach and forehead with a great amount of force. The tall man fell over in agony as the new cut on his head began to bleed, the red liquid oozing out of the wound. Jones eyes followed his friend as he fell to the floor, than shot back up to Ulqiuorra and Grimmjow as they began to approach him, the teal haired man pulling his hunting knife out of his back pocket. Jones backed away, trying desperately to create some space between him and the two intruders, but, to his horror, forgot about the third intruder.
Orihime's small pocket knife pushed into Jones' lower back, the sharp point's cry for blood shed loud in the old man's ears.
"Now, Mr Jones," Orihime whispered quietly into his wrinkled ear. "You have something we need."
"Why would you think I'd know the whereabouts of your rouge companion, Kurosaki?" Gin asked, intertwining his fingers and then laying his chin casually on top of them.
"A reliable source told me you have had a little chit-chat with Kaien a few days ago. I want to know what it was about and why'd he talked to librarian such as yourself." Ichigo told him as he signalled the bartender for more ale.
"Kurosaki, the matter is none of your concern. I do not have to tell you if I-"
"Ichimuru-kun," Rukia called from across the table, disliking the aftertaste the man's name left in her mouth. "I must know where Kaien-dono is."
Gin's sadistic grin widened at the sound Rukia's voice. "Oh? And why might that be?"
Rukia began to search her mind for a believable answer. She glanced at Ichigo who was giving her a 'what are you thinking' face, his light orange eyebrows pressed together in confusion as Rukia spoke.
"You see… Kaien-dono is my… teacher. Yes! Kaien-dono has been teaching me the way of the sword for quite some time now, but… he never appeared for our lesson a few days back you see," Rukia had, at the point, pulled out a silk handkerchief that she had placed up her sleeve earlier that day and had begun dabbing away her fake tears that were flowing freely and continuously from her violet orbs. "And I am thoroughly worried that something has happened to him. So I requested Kurosaki-kun's assistance in find Kaien-dono, since I met Kurosaki before."
Ichigo, even though he did not want to, had to admit her was impressed by her performance. Her teary doe-like eyes, her occasional sniffle, and her lack of eye-contact to show insecurity, the vixen made sure her act was that of perfection.
"Well then, I guess then I should tell you why I was talking to Kaien before his departure, but I am not supposed to tell you that Kaien came to me in need of a map, in which the original is still in my procession, or that he has set sail for the island of Aiteé in search for the legendary artefact, the philosopher's stone."
Rukia's and Ichigo's eyes widened at the statement. "But… he and I…" Ichigo began to stutter. "We… we tried to-"
"Go after the stone yourselves the first time? Yes I know." Gin sighed, appearing bored as he flicked a piece of dirt of the filthy wooden table. "But apparently he believes he'll have better luck without you," Gin grinned at the orange haired captain before turning his slit-pupil eyes towards Rukia. "Isn't that so…
.
.
.
Kuchiki-san?"
DUH-DUN-DUN! here be a hanger of cliffs for youz!
How does Gin know Rukia's name?
What will happen to Ulqiuorra and the others?
What is the philosopher's stone and why does Kaien want it?
So many questions yet to be answered and truth be told... I've yet to discover those answers. Heh... yeah.
Ah well I hope you like the chapter and the story. PLEASE REVIEW! I LUVS REVIEWS! :3
See ye next time
~Tenshi-no-Megami