I'm sorry I haven't updated this story in forever! But I'm back with a new chapter so life is all good. Thanksgiving break has given my brain the opportunity to unwind and my story ideas to come rushing forth. They just don't seem to be leaving me alone (which is perfectly fine with me). But enough about me, ON WITH THE STORY!

Warnings! yaoi, possible OOC, and sad attempts at humor

I do not on Bleach, I simply own this plot.

Grimmjow sighed heavily as he waited for Ichigo to get done saying goodbye. They had ate breakfast and gotten all their gear ready. Yoruichi was kind enough to give them a backpack full of food to last them to Neima as well as some money to use when they get there. Now, they were saying their goodbye's, which was taking way too long for Grimmjow's liking.

"You make sure to come visit again soon." Said Yoruichi, her hands gently shaking Ichigo's shoulders to get her point across.

"I promise." Ichigo said and as gently as he could, took her hands off his shoulders and grabbed his pack. Giving her and Urahara a small wave goodbye, he hurried up to catch up with his group, which had decided to not wait a moment longer. They traveled for days. They steadily grew to like each other's presence and Hanataro was a nice addition to their group. His medical skills were outstanding and he kept Shiro from flipping out on Grimmjow when he and Ichigo went off by themselves to have some one-on-one time with each other. At first, he flipped out when Shiro was forced to transform into a cat before his eyes. But after being explained the situation, he took it all rather well, stuttering that Shiro was a beautiful cat and that he understood and regardless of knowing that they were mutants, wanted to stay with them.

They had just reached a day's walk away from Neima when Hanataro had his first attack. At first, it started out with a simple cough. But as the day wore on, it quickly became a gut wrenching cough that forced the group to stop and make camp midday.

"You okay Hana?" Asked Shiro as he held Hanataro in his arms after another episode.

"F-f-f-fine." He managed to stutter out. He sagged against Shiro's chest, his eyes drooping shut from exhaustion.

"King, I think it's best if we stay here for the night. He can't move and trudging on will probably only worsen his cough."

"You're right." To emphases that they were staying there, Ichigo dropped his pack. Grimmjow did the same and walked into the surrounding woods, looking for food they could cook for dinner. He spotted a doe, not even 15 meters away from him. He lifted his makeshift bow that he created two days ago and aimed it at the doe's vital regions. Just as he was about to release the arrow, the doe's ears perked up and it run off. Grimmjow cursed and was about to get up before the sounds of footsteps stopped him. He froze and intently listened as they got closer. Soon, two men dressed in Soul Society military uniforms walked through where Grimmjow's doe was once standing, chatting amongst themselves.

"Man, why do we have to give them the message?"

"Aizen's orders. Or do you want to defy his orders and explain to him why his message never made it?" The first guy paled slightly before he focused back on the path they were walking on.

"Still, I don't see why where working with the Visards. I thought we were supposed to be eradicating them."

"Same here. I think Aizen is trying to make peace with them." The two soldiers looked at each other for a second before bursting out in laughter.

"Yeah right! That man making peace!"

"If King Kurosaki was still in office, we wouldn't even be having this war to begin with."

"You don't even know if he is or isn't in office."

"I say he isn't because Aizen is doing all the ordering around."

"Maybe King Isshin planned it that way."

"Maybe." They walked out of sight, the rest of their conversation un-audible to Grimmjow. Grimmjow swore and raced back to camp, making as little noise as possible in case the soldiers were still within earshot of him. He busted into their camp, a barrel of a gun automatically in his face.

"The hell Grimm! I could have almost killed you." Yelled Ichigo, lowing the gun when he realized who he had pointed it at.

"That's not important right now. What's important is that maybe your theory of the King being replaced is actually true." As Grimmjow explained what he had heard, he noticed Ichigo's face pale then turned red with rage.

"You said the one who gave them orders was Aizen?"

"That's what the soldiers said."

"Then that means that the situation just got more complicated. He's my uncle on my mom's side. My father never truly trusted him so when my mom died, my dad put him on a tight leash. The leash only grew tighter when it seemed like Aizen was helping groups who were against my dad. As far as I know, he was sent out of Soul Society and was told to never return."

"Looks like he didn't stay out very long." Said Grimmjow.

"That's what worries me. If he really did take over my dad's position that means he will led Soul Society to its downfall."

"Well, Soul Society will have to wait seeing as Hanataro can't move right now." Meowed Shiro, raising his head from where it was resting against Hanataro's chest.

"I know you like Hanataro but Shiro, we can't bring him with us to Neima. He's not like us, he's human and-"

"I'm not leaving him."

"Shiro-"

"I said I'm not leaving him." Shiro looked at them, determination in his eyes. He wasn't backing down on the subject and Ichigo knew it. But that didn't stop Ichigo from trying to convince him it was the best decision for the fragile man. Hanataro wasn't a hybrid like them, making him an easy target for the enemy to kill.

"I know he isn't one of us but I will protect him," Shiro gently touched his face with his paw "Even if it kills me." Ichigo's eyes widen at the confession and Grimmjow just stared at him out of the corner of his eye as he put kindling in the fire.

"But Shiro-"

"It's not up for discussion."

"H-h-he's right." Whispered Hanataro. Shiro was up and by Hanataro's head within seconds, gently rubbing his nose against the man's cheek. "I-I'm only a li-liability and the a-attacks won't stop."

"You don't know that." Reassured Shiro

"I do. I-I should h-h-have told you from the st-start; I'm a dead m-man walking. I-It's a miracle I'm even a-al-alive now. I have a disease th-that attack my lungs and makes m-me like this." Shiro whimpered when Hanataro coughed, his body shaking with the force of them. Ichigo turned away from the scene, unable to handle the angst that was fluttering through Shiro's face. He squeezed his eyes closed and walked away, Grimmjow quickly getting up to follow him. They walked quite a ways away from the camp before Ichigo slowed to a stop. Grimmjow watched as Ichigo's shoulders tensed and un-tensed and before he could blink, Ichigo was punching a nearby tree, his eyes a vivid blue like when Ichigo fought Kenpachi.

"Ichigo." At the sound of his name, Ichigo snapped out of his anger. He looked at Grimmjow who slowly walked up to him, pulling him in for a hug. It was awkward on Grimmjow's part because he didn't know how to properly comfort but it seemed to help Ichigo for he sagged against him, burying his head into Grimmjow's chest.

"He finally got over her and now he has to deal with losing him." Grimmjow didn't ask who 'her' was; he simply continued to hold Ichigo as he calmed down. After what seemed like hours, Ichigo pulled away from Grimmjow's chest, looking up at him with an unreadable expression before he made his way back to camp. When they walked back into camp. Shiro glanced up at them but turned back to Hanataro, his yellow black cat eyes never leaving his face. Grimmjow patted Ichigo's back in comfort before he went to their backpacks and pulled out whatever meat they had left to cook for dinner.

Dinner was ate in silence. Nobody mentioned Hanataro's situation and nobody dare say anything when Shiro tried to feed Hanataro, only for the small guy to cough it all back up. Ichigo left the camp to take a bath in a small creek nearby and Grimmjow saw this as the opportunity to talk to Shiro.

He sat down next to him, glancing at him from the corner of his eye.

"Why don't you change him like you did with me?" Shiro tensed and turned to look at Grimmjow. In his human body, Shiro's pain was easier to tell in his facial features; from the downturn of his mouth to the tautness of his jaw.

"I would end up killing him."

"How do you know? You changed me but I didn't die."

"You had the will to live; Hanataro doesn't." Grimmjow's eyes widen minutely before he looked down at Hanataro who was sleeping in Shiro's lap.

"I can see it. In his eyes. I don't think he even realizes that's he already accepted his end." Shiro's hand gently brushed Hanataro's hair from his face, his fingers pinching a stray piece of hair that refused to join the rest.

"Grimmjow…I don't want him to go…" This was the first time Shiro seemed to be seeking comfort from anybody. The fact that he was seeking comfort from Grimmjow, a man who he made clear from day one he only tolerated for Ichigo's sake, let Grimmjow realize just how broken Shiro was about the whole situation.

"I can't lose anyone else." Shiro seemed to ignore the tears that were streaming down his cheek and instead, focused on the man in his lap. "I know I don't know him for very long but he's special. Do you understand?" He looked up at Grimmjow, the question in his eyes.

"Yeah. I understand."

'I understand more than I would like too.' Grimmjow thought to himself, thinking of Ichigo.

"S-S-Shiro" Hanataro whispered, his eyes slowly opening.

"Hey. Your attacks done?" Hanataro shook his head before he forced himself to curl up in Shiro's lap. Hanataro raised his hand, his fingers reaching for Shiro's hand.

"Why a-are you cr-cr-cry-" Hanataro was interrupted by a sudden coughing fit. Immediately, Shiro raised him to where he was sitting up, patting his back gently as Hanataro's body was consumed in gut wrenching coughs. Blood splattered the grass as Hanataro continued to cough, his face paling as he lost more and more oxygen.

"HANATARO!" Shiro frantically shouted as Hanataro continued to cough and choke on his own blood. Grimmjow slapped Hanataro's back, hoping it would help the man who seemed like he was dying right in front of their eyes.

"Don't leave me Hana. Come on stay with me. COME ON!" Shiro cursed and pulled Hanataro's face to his.

"Come on, breathe! Breathe! For me!" Hanataro looked in Shiro's eyes and something shifted. His once resigned eyes burned alight with the will to live and Shiro knew he could change Hanataro and know he might have a chance to live.

Pushing his neck sideways, Shiro barely registered Grimmjow's minute gasp of shock or Ichigo's running footsteps and instead focused on biting the field of skin that was before him. As soon as Shiro's fangs pierced Hanataro's skin, he moaned in delight as his warm blood. Unlike Grimmjow's blood, which was revolting, Hanataro's blood was warm and it made Shiro feel like he was being consumed in a sea that was Hanataro. Shiro heard Hanataro give a slight moan from underneath him and Shiro forced himself to pull away. His pale skin around his mouth was stained red and he looked into Hanataro's eyes once more before they slipped shut, preparing for the change that was going to occur.

"I thought you weren't going to change him." Said Ichigo, who had walked back into camp just in time to see Shiro change Hanataro.

"His eyes changed; he wanted to live." Answered Shiro, cradling Hanataro's body close to him.

"Why do I get the feeling this is going to be a long night." Grimmjow said to no one in particular.

And he was right.

Just as everyone set up their beds for the night was when the shit actually started to hit Hanataro. He cried out in pain, only stopping when Shiro shushed him and rocked him back and forth in his arms. Grimmjow asked Ichigo if he sounded like Hanataro when he was transforming and Ichigo nodded, his eyes solemn as he remembered the fear he felt when he thought about Grimmjow not surviving the change. Now Shiro's eyes mimicked the fear Ichigo felt that day.

The next day, everyone woke up to Hanataro's scream. Ichigo and Grimmjow woke up in a flash, watching as an alive and breathing Hanataro gripped a poofy black tail, his eyes wide in shock and fear.

"Hanataro." Ichigo gently said, knowing that Hanataro was probably more than a little shocked at the tail.

"I have a tail." He said in disbelief, still griping in his shaking hands. Ichigo figured it wasn't the best time to mention the fluffy ears on his head but Grimmjow thought it was.

"Not to mention ears." In a flash, Hanataro's hands went up to his head, grabbing on his twitching ears. If possible, his eyes widen further and his mouth fell open, another small scream coming from it. This time, Shiro did wake up. He jerked up, scanning the area for the source of the scream, his eyes landing on Hanataro.

"Hanataro?" A part of Ichigo's heart clenched at the hopeful tone in his brother's voice, knowing the Shiro believe he was hallucinating.

"Why do I have ears? And a tail?" As if to empathize his point, he grabbed his tail, waving in front of him.

"I can explain but first you need to calm down." When Shiro spoke, Hanataro's eyes drooped and his ears flattened back in bliss. A slight blush graced his cheeks and Ichigo knew it was his and Grimmjow's moment to give the two privacy.

"Well, while you explain to him everything, me and Grimmjow will go hunt for breakfast." He ignored the look Grimmjow gave him and instead pulled him along, making sure to be out of hearing distance.

'The last thing I want to hear is my brother having sex.'

Hanataro swayed in place as he listened to Shiro's soothing voice. He caught a few words like "hybrid", "like us", and "changing" but he couldn't seem to focus on anything else other than how Shiro's voice seemed to roll over him in waves, making every fiber of his being quake with need.

"Hanataro, are you listening?" He zoned back into the conversation just as Shiro gripped his shoulders. A moan slipped from his mouth and he shivered as gold-black eyes widen in shock. Hanataro's tail wrapped itself around Shiro's arm, rubbing sensual circles on it.

"I'm hot. So hot." In an instant, Hanataro was on his back, Shiro hovering on top of him. Shiro shook with lust at Hanataro's slutty expression and swooped in for a fierce kiss. Hanataro could do nothing but mew as Shiro plundered his mouth with such ferocity that it left the small hybrid breathless.

"Shiro."

Hearing his name murmured in a breathless tone pushed Shiro's control to his limit. He stripped off his clothes, eyeing the man underneath him.

"Ya know, black ears suits you. Ya look like a little black minx." Shiro's accent came out in his hazy lust filled state. Hanataro blushed at the compliment and raise his hands to cover his flaming cheeks.

"I'm having none of that." Gently prying his hands away from his face, Shiro licked at his flushed cheeks, groaning lightly at the taste of his skin. While his mouth was busy on Hanataro's cheeks and lips, his hands removed Hanataro's clothes, ripping them away when they were being too stubborn. Finally, Hanataro laid naked below him.

"Why do I feel so hot?"

"It's because of your transformation." Shiro swept his hair from his eyes, grinning down at him.

"I'm sorry if you didn't' want the transformation but I couldn't just let you die."

"Why not?"

'Well, shit I was hoping he wouldn't ask me that.' Shiro just continued to look at him, his lips forming a tight line.

"Tell me. Please." Begged Hanataro.

"It's because ya different. Ya special." Hanataro's eyes widen but before he could ask any more question, Shiro planted his mouth on his, sucking on it like his life depended on it. Shiro's hands hiked Hanataro's legs up on his shoulders, exposing his entrance.

"This may hurt."

"It's okay if it does. I've done this before." Shiro pushed away the jealously that he wasn't Hanataro's first and instead focused on sliding his finger into the man. Hanataro threw his head back, his face twisted in ecstasy.

"It's wet." Shiro said, surprised by how easily his finger went in. He quickly pushed a second finger in, amazed when Hanataro moaned in pleasure, not an ounce of pain in his voice. He quickly pulled his fingers out and positioned himself at his entrance. If his theory was correct, Hanataro's body had prepared itself for this moment.

He gently rubbed Hanataro's sides till his eyes slipped open to look at Shiro in confusion.

"I want ya to watch me as I enter ya." Hanataro nodded. So while keeping their eyes locked together, Shiro shoved all the way in, burring himself to the hilt in one go. Hanataro's eyes widen and his back snapped up, a scream leaving his lips as his orgasm unexpectedly washed over him. Shiro stared, amazed that Hanataro came from just penetration alone. Hanataro's body shook with the force of his orgasm, leaving him wiped out and coated in his fluids. He opened his eyes (since when did he close them?) after what seemed like hours and stared at Shiro who was still rock hard inside him, his face twisted up in pleasure.

"Hana, can I move?" Hanataro's heart melt a little when he realized that Shiro stayed still for him, foregoing his own pleasure to make sure he was okay.

"Yeah." Shiro pulled out before pushing back in, his mouth falling open as he panted helplessly in pleasure, Hanataro's heat around him more than he could handle. He continued a slow yet deep thrusted pace, wanting to draw out his orgasm as long as possible. Hanataro's hands came up to grip Shiro's biceps, tingles of pleasure going through his body with each thrust. He wasn't going to come anytime soon but he couldn't help but groan at the feeling of Shiro inside of him.

"More! Please!" Moaning as the breathy plea, Shiro bent over, nibbling at Hanataro's cat ears. He slowly but surely started to move faster, gripping his hips in a death grip.

"Gonna cum!" Shiro warned, his hands shaking with the built up pleasure.

"Inside. I want it inside." Hanataro pulled himself up to where he could wrap his arms around Shiro, clinging onto him like a vine. Hanataro's command for him to come inside was what sent Shiro over the edge. With a loud cry, he poured his essence into Hanataro, stilling his hips as he continued to gush into the warm pliant body underneath him. The feeling of Shiro branding him with his cum made Hanataro moan in bliss, a small spurt of cum squirting out from his worn out cock. They stayed like that, clinging onto each other as their breaths slowed down.

"I thought I had lost ya" Shiro muttered into Hanataro's neck, his voice pain filled. Hanataro's heart clenched at how vulnerable the albino man sounded and wordlessly promised himself to never make him feel that way again. They stayed in that position for a little awhile, just basking in each other's presence.

"Are you guys done fucking?" Both heads whipped up to look at Grimmjow who had entered their camp with an Ichigo in tow, who was looking at everything but them.

"For the moment yeah." Shiro replied, a satisfied grin on his face. Hanataro's face heated up as he realized the state of his body. He tried to leave Shiro's arms but they only tightened around him, making it nearly impossible to move from his embrace.

"How are you feeling Hanataro?" Asked Ichigo, glancing at him for only a moment before staring past him.

"Better than I've felt in a long time."

"Hey, you're not stuttering anymore." Commented Shiro as he looked down at the man in his arms.

"You're right." Hanataro said in surprise. He stuttered for as long as he could remember, ever since he was little.

"Well that's good you lost your stutter but can we get a move on? You were loud last night and some troops may have heard you. I want to get out of here as fast as possible." Said Grimmjow, who let go of Ichigo's hand in favor of packing up their stuff. Everyone wordlessly agreed and started packing up. No one talked about how Shiro helped Hanataro dress or how Hanataro blushed when a white substance trailed down his leg from his butt or how Hanataro was walking with a limp. Soon, they got everything together and they restarted their trip to Neima.

As their group got closer to Neima, Grimmjow noticed that Ichigo was silent for most of the day, only talking when spoken to and generally ignoring everyone.

'I guess finding out about his uncle is hitting him harder than he's letting on.' Thought Grimmjow as he trailed behind the orange head. Taking bigger steps, he caught up with Ichigo. He threw his arm over Ichigo's shoulders, not looking at him when Ichigo gave a questioning hum.

"Don't think so hard, you're going to hurt yourself." He got the reaction he was looking for when he felt a solid thud against his head from where Ichigo had thumped him.

"Jerk!" Grimmjow chuckled as Ichigo continued to hit the back of his head, calling him every name under the sun (surprised by the fact that Ichigo knew such a phrase like 'cum dumpster'). Laughing, he picked Ichigo up, ignoring the man's protesting to put him down and instead sung him over his shoulder and smacking his back side.

"Naughty Ichigo. Don't you know you shouldn't use foul language?"

"You curse too!"

"But I'm different."

"A dumb different…"

"What did you say punk?!" They bicker back and forth and Ichigo's worry lines soon disappeared, leaving only a playful expression. He and Ichigo continued their verbal battering all the way to the gates of Neima. A shadow fell over them, making them both stop and look up. Neima was well renowned for its intricate design in their walls. The charcoal colored brick looked like it was woven together, forming was looked like a basket weave. Every mile or so, a watch tower stood, the peak of it adorned with Soul Society's flag and Neima' city flag. Guards stood at the entrance, their armor shiny even in the shadow of the wall. Ichigo clambered down from Grimmjow's shoulder and tied back his hair and grabbed some ash from his pocket before he threw it on his hair, making his hair a dirty, dark red. He grabbed some more and threw it on everyone else, ignoring Hanataro's sneeze and Shiro's hiss as it got his pure white coat a grey color.

"Our story is that we are coal miners looking for a job." Informed Ichigo. They got into the guards sight and the guards immediately straightened up, their hands gripping their guns.

"What is your business?" The guard on the left asks, his hand never once leaving his gun.

"We're here looking for a job." The guard gave them an once-over before motioning them forward.

"The gate closes at 9. Make sure you're in the city by then or we shoot you on the spot if we see you." Ichigo's group nodded in agreement and they stepped forward, pushing past bystanders who were standing in the street.

They looked at the town around them and Grimmjow couldn't contain his grin.

They did it.

They were in Neima.

Whew-glad I finished it. Depending on how long it takes me to upload the next chapter for my other story Slave, I may have the next chapter of this story out. We'll just have to see if I can pull it off.

I got a question on why Hanataro's body prepared itself for Shiro but Ichigo's didn't. The reason is that Ichigo wasn't the one being changed when he and Grimmjow first had sex. If Ichigo had been the dominate partner their first time, Grimmjow's body would have been in a similar state as Hanataro's.

I've been asked by a lot of people what music I listen to when I'm writing and to be honest, it varies with each story. For this story and specifically this chapter, I listened to Massive Attack, Five Finger Death Punch, Kerli, and an underground band based in Dallas, TX called Marquis Of Vaudeville (I am commanding you to listen to them because they are so fucking awesome!) My cousin Gordon knows them and made me listen to their CD and I have been in love since. Their website is www. marquisofvaudeville. com if you are interested in listening to them.

Thank you for reading and please review!