Hello, Darlings.

2/24/12

Trees.

Skinny, sick black trees. Their gnarled trunks rose up from the snowy bowels of a wasteland that had never felt the touch of human presence. With out-stretched fingers they scraped at a skeleton sky. Grimmjow was laying there propped up against a slope of snow, his brilliant blue eyes squinted against the harsh bright light. The Vampire laid frozen in a daze. His eye lids fell drowsily as he watched the snow. The chill against his back crept further into his body, and became the only thing that connected him to the frayed world.

"Grimmjow…"

His name. Said as softly as a trailing gentle hand. Lungs were forced to empty at the very sound and passionately fight refilling. A sound that physically grabbed you in that achingly overpowering way...

It was utterly ridiculous, and Grimmjow bloody well knew it.

He opened his eyes again.

Ichigo was standing there before the winter stricken forest. He was tall, and lean, and wearing clothes of the deepest ebony you could possibly craft. Against his bright hair the combination was shocking to the eye, and clean to the palate. Rich in contrast... He looked good. Yes, he looked very good.

Ichigo laughed softly and leaned forwards as if he'd been able to hear that. Flakes of snow clung to his shoulders and hair as Ichigo met the Vampire's gaze again.

That look.

Grimmjow shook his head and cocked a frustrated smile. He breathed out a sigh of disbelief. Ah those fucking cat eyes... they did things to him he couldn't believe.

Soon Ichigo's hair and eyelashes were littered with snow and his face grew serious as if it were freezing. His amber gaze flitted between the Vampire's and again from his lips passed a haunting,

"Grimmjow."

Then Ichigo vanished.

The Vampire's expression sobered immediately. He looked around in confusion before realizing that in Ichigo's disappearance, images had begun to project themselves upon the snow. Familiar images... For they were his life. Before long the trees became rooted on nothing more than memories and dreams.

Some painful. Some triumphant. Some vicious and some kind. Some marvelous, some disappointing. Some he would never forget… and some he wished he would.

A nod to his left a ship burst forth upon a wave of shimmering frost that splattered across the face of an old woman whose eyes told a story no one would ever hear. Fire roared furiously on his right- strangling a plantation house and all the dreams and trinkets it held inside. As a beam collapsed and the roof caved, the embers from its burning frame soared over French cobblestone streets stained with dark puddles and an even darker time period. In the court yard of a guillotine square, a mouse-haired woman with large eyes sold bread to a familiar old friend in spectacles and a ratty old scarf. They both turned and looked at Grimmjow with smiling faces as steam rose from their muted words. Old friends that left even older scars.

All these memories told the complicated and long tale of his life. A life that held experiences that could line the pages of history books. But history books aren't commonly written from the eye witness accounts of a single man, who was in fact, still very much alive... Or... well... in a way.

The images disappeared, as did the snow and trees, and Grimmjow was alone. Alone in a vast expanse of nothing. He looked around in shock.

"Ichigo?" the voice he produced sounded foreign to his own ears. He waited for a response but was only met with his own echo. Grimmjow called several times, becoming somewhat aggravated. Again and again he shouted until he ran out of breath.

"Ichigo!"

The Vampire bellowed, practically screaming. His returning distorted echoes left an eerie vacuum in their wake- pushing Grimmjow to silence of his own.

...As if he were being threatened not to speak.

WHAM.

Grimmjow threw himself from where he'd collided with a hard surface and slammed right into the leg of a desk. As pain ebbed from his head the dazed and frightened man clutched his face and tried to ease his coordination issues. Grimmjow became very still. The man was finally realizing that he was no longer in a dream, but he was in his room. As the confusion got the better of him, he attempted to catch his breath while under the mercy of it.

"Ahhh-oooh bloody hell…" he moaned painfully in the dark. Grimmjow's nocturnal gaze traveled sluggishly over his room. From his vantage point on the floor his room was just how he'd left it. The Vampire looked behind him and saw the trail of destruction he'd left in his wake. Blankets and pillows and sheets were battered and yanked to hell with all his unconscious struggling and they spilled off the large bed and were strewn about the floor behind him in a hazardous array.

Grimmjow's snarl retreated then. His hand slowly sliding from his throbbing head as his face became deeply lost in thought. His heart was troubled and sad. The Vampire murmured quietly to himself, or perhaps to no one at all,

"….I never should've been a Vampire…"

"Ichigo… what are you doing? This is going to get you nowhere, you'll see. You're gonna get caught, and you'll be in trouble….Fuck it, that room isn't a room it's a prison! Go ahead! Leave!…..These people don't give a shit about you… God, I have never been so angry in my entire life." The orange haired teen whispered to himself as he peaked around a pillar he had been hiding behind. He had just narrowly escaped from the infirmary, and had decided that today was the last day he was going to spend one more freaking second in this horrible castle, surrounded by these horrible people. He was done with this place.

He. Was. Miserable. Ichigo had been forgotten about for a week. He hadn't seen that douchebag Grimmjow and had no other chances to leave that god damned hospital bed for days- except for a few sparing times at night to help Ulquiorra garden, but even his mild-tempered friend seemed to want to see less of him as well and shooed him back as soon as he could. Right now the teen was missing his home and family terribly and was tired of staying in a place where nobody wanted him.

Pfft, like they actually gave a shit about Werins… Just leave us the fuck alone, and we'll leave you the fuck alone, was Ichigo's new-found philosophy.

It wasn't that he hated Vampires, not at all, they were just… too different. They confused him, creeped him out, scared him a bit. Ichigo swallowed dryly as he thought of the Vampires who'd actually talked to him in the time he'd been there… Ulquiorra, Ururu, Jinta, Grimmjow… Although all of them were different, they were all people he rather liked, even connected to.

With the midnight chats Ulquiorra and him had shared in the garden, and the little things Ururu and Jinta taught him about Vampire culture. How you must never show your teeth unless you want a fight. How you mustn't lay a hand on anyone unless they be your mate or close close friend. Kicking and punching are alright for enemies but you aren't allowed to pat someone's back, touch someone's face, hold their hand, etc. unless they were very very close or it was an emergency. (That's why Ururu and Jinta got many strange looks when they led Ichigo back to his bed by holding his hands) They showed him some of the different types of hand gestures you make when meeting someone of higher rank. It was all so intricate and strange, but Ichigo loved learning about it.

Even Grimmjow. In all his violent, intimidating charm. There was something so very wise about him. Tragic. It was almost painful to look within his eyes. The eyes of someone, that would never truly meet his own. Eyes that reflected everything around them as in he were impervious. Eyes that saw him as nothing more than a child, and always would. The teen swallowed dryly again feeling his stomach churn.

"Ugh…" He sighed rubbing his neck.

Forget them, forget this place. You'll never belong here. There's nothing for you here.

He forced himself onwards, smothering any disagreement that dwelled within his heart.

And with that final thought, the sharp smack of his bare feet darting over the marble floor led him away down the vacant white corridor.

Ulquiorra was sitting in his lavish study at an ancient-looking mahogany desk. The wood was a rich rippling red, just like the other furniture in his two-step sunken living area. The yellow soft light of his over head lamps glowed across his papers and shimmering pens in the well-decorated room.

The dark haired man was bent over a small leather-back book and was writing madly, the pen catching the light from the lamps every so often as he flicked his hand around the page. He was wearing a very casual long sleeved white work shirt rolled up to his elbows and deep grey trousers. Well… it was casual to Ulquiorra's standards.

Delicate looking wire spectacles were perched upon his nose, and he stopped for a moment to adjust them with the back of his writing hand. It was a bad habit he hadn't been able to shake in the last four hundred years, and it always resulted in poking himself in the face with his pen.

"Bollux." He mumbled rubbing his assaulted eye with annoyance.

Suddenly a rapid knocking disrupted him and his gaze traveled to the door with intrigue. Another knock came more violently this time and a familiar voice yelled through the wood,

"C'mon you git, I know you're in there."

It left Ulquiorra sinking his head into his desk with an annoyed moan.

Brilliant…, he thought to himself as the knocking and cussing fervently continued.

The blue haired Vampire roughly fell into one of Ulquiorra's chairs with an already furious expression. He crossed his legs quickly, showing off his old scuffed pair of black leather Brogans and tri-buckle gaiters. The Vampire layed a hand against his face and tried to collect himself as his foot shook angrily back and forth- fancy foot wear and all. Ulquiorra watched the display and poured tea with a blatantly sarcastic smile.

"Bad dreams?-", the dark-haired Vampire quietly murmured before getting interrupted.

"Fuck off." Grimmjow barked.

Ulquiorra was a bit surprised he was met with such a prompt response but showed no emotion on his face. He knowingly blinked at Grimmjow. The Vampires were silent for a few moments before the blue-haired man sighed,

"…What gave it away?"

"Oh I don't know," He said cheekily with his gaze rolling towards the ceiling, " The fact that you've been in that god forsaken room of yours for a good week's usually a good tip off."

"A fucking week? ….Ahhhh…." His hand slid down his face as he let out an aggravated moan.

"I must say, one of your shorter hibernations, chap… It wouldn't hurt to be a bit more careful Grimmjow, you could go out for another few years if you're not careful. You know our age is a dangerous thing. What did I teach you? Always tell someone before you go to sleep, or you might never wake up."

Grimmjow kept his hand on his mouth and furrowed his eye brows. He murmured, "I know…I wasn't thinking…I… Oh and we've got Lab tomorrow ohhhhh damn…." He hissed in sudden realization.

"Well, luckily for you, Ichigo won't have to wait another day. We don't have lab tomorrow."

"I don't care about- …we don't? Why not?"

"Well since you missed the last Council I'm not surprised you still don't know. Queen put a hold on all Hogyoku treatments."

"…What? No one tells me shit around here!"

"Well you missed the Council…" Ulquiorra whispered snidely taking a sip of his tea.

Grimmjow squinted his eyes in disbelief, "…I was in the hospital…"

"No, to be specific, you were in the hospital for five minutes before you proceeded to tell any medical personnel who dared to approach you to kindly go fuck themselves before you stumbled out of the infirmary, dragged yourself back to your room, and cussed at yourself in lowly-lit drunken stupor for a good bloody fortnight."

Grimmjow's frown intensified and he tapped his hand against his knee impatiently.

The other's smile widened tauntingly and he laughed, "…I was right wasn't I-"

"-Oh you've known me for over a century I'm pretty sure you'd be able to learn some of my bloody habits by now- brilliant do you want a fucking prize?"

A fuming Grimmjow and a gleeful Ulquiorra drank their tea in unison. One shot it back in a vulgar manner more suited for a pub, while one sipped gingerly and clasped the handle instead of the entire cup like his companion- I think you can discern for yourself just who.

They did not speak for another few moments while Grimmjow gave another chug to the cup. Ulquiorra eyed him behind his own.

"…So," he began, "Why are you dressed civilly today, Grimmjow? What a change. …My god you're even wearing a cravat, I can't believe it! Oh and it's silk… You've called me fop every time I've worn a silk anything. Just being nostalgic today or is there a special occasion I've not been informed of?"

"Let's just call it a passing fancy, don't get excited."

"…Hm… I wonder…" The dark-haired man pondered fancifully taking in another glimpse of Grimmjow. The Vampire was wearing, true to Ulquiorra's words an ocean blue silk cravat that held his lovely calligraphic silver crest stamped with the symbol of the Council. Something he was already supposed to have been wearing at all times. Signifying him as one of the Council members.

The ebony trimmed Edwardian morning-coat which he wore was sewn with a line of five impressively carved silver buttons. His vest was the same black as his coat, but unlike his coat was full of embossed shimmering silver spirals. Although his shoes were still scuffed, every other article of clothing was crisp, clean, and well pressed. Grimmjow looked magnificent. His vibrant hair the color of his cravat even seemed tidier.

Yes something seems to be bothering our poor Grimmjow, the Ulquiorra thought without any real concern.

"Look let's just get down to it shall we?," Grimmjow announced suddenly to change the subject, "I only came here because I wanted to know why the bloody hell this was left under my door by that cock sucker Mayuri- and if you'd received something similar…. Can you even tell what this is?"

The teal-haired vampire reached into his thick coat and produced a folded picture from the inner pocket of his coat and held it before his companion's face. After a few tense moments Ulquiorra asked "…Grimmjow what the hell is this? …"

"Really? You can't tell? It's a… uh… urh….Christ I knew two seconds ago…"

"Here here you, I haven't received a thing from that mad man, and I don't expect him to send anyone a post card anytime soon… You can't even tell what that blurry piece of crap is. …Hmm…. Although… I will admit, he was pretty steamed about the Queen's decision. Perhaps…"

"He's always had it out for her anyway, but I could imagine his reaction when he heard that…"

"Wait." Ulquiorra blurted out ripping the picture from Grimmjow's grasp. His gaze intently flicked over the image in sudden realization, " Are these?... fingers? …Oh nevermind, this is a horrible photograph, I think I've seen a corpse with better artistic eye…"

"No! No I remember now, I think it's a hand, yeah. See that glare there? I think it's on an operating table. And you can kind of see the room here. It's too dark to tell but…"

"Do you suppose this wasn't taken in the Lab?"

"Exactly. It's too dark, and this hallway and shelf here? They're in the wrong place entirely. It's… Well I have no idea where this is…"

"…Well… I haven't received anything like this, but what I am going to assume is…. It might be a threat."

"Do you really think he's stupid enough to threaten someone who's got at least 130 years on him? He's a child compared to me."

"A child, but a child genius… He's a bonnefied surgical Da Vinci, with the passion of an Auschwitz gold tooth plucker…."

"…I'm not going to be intimidated by that scum. I don't care if he wants to keep testing- I won't be his lab rat."

"…Maybe something in the picture is supposed to convince you that you must. That you have no choice…"

"What?" Grimmjow hissed, staring hard at Ulquiorra.

"Well, "he began innocently," it's not hard to see the black veins in the hand here," Ulquiorra said running his finger along them in the photo.

"Whoever's hand is in this, is on their Thirst."

"Christ… then it's not just a normal Vampire, this is a VampX?"

"Precisely. A VampX who's starving."

"…What does this mean?"

"I'm not sure… your Thirst isn't up for another few weeks right?"

"What day is it today?"

"The… uh…blast… I'm terrible with days now, you know that. Ah…I believe it's the seventeeth. Yes that's right because Ichigo's birthday was on the fifteenth…"

"Yeah then I'll start in three weeks. Queen keeps track of it now for sure…"

"Good that you're on top of it. I'll be gone probably next week or so, I can already feel it coming on… so..."

"So what?"

"No comment about the child's birthday?" Ulquiorra questioned.

"Birthday's a birthday… Vampires don't celebrate that kind of thing. Don't be an ass. Anyway I've only spent a day with him, how would I know? More importantly why should I care?" The teal-haired Vampire said brushing his thumb against his lip while he looked the other over.

"So…business aside, have you at least seen Ichigo yet today? You know the Queen'll be very disappointed you haven't spent time with him all week. He is your pupil- but it does seem like you don't rather enjoy his company… so is he still?...Hmm I wonder…" The dark haired Vampire said pouring himself another cup of tea with a knowing smile.

"Christ if you wanted him, you should just take him then. I don't want him. He's a pain in the neck."

"Ohhh Grimmjow," Ulquiorra started in a facetiously dramatic way, "But Mother was so very happy to see you with him. She thinks he's good for you. You're never around a soul, but that boy seems to keep your interest."

"Look, it's just not a responsibility I want. No matter what the Queen thinks, I don't need a pet."

"Certainly not. It's obvious he's not become the pet."

Grimmjow's gaze intensified angrily but he said nothing.

"Ha… he'll have you trained in a month's time. You're hopeless. The more you push something away, the more you like it…isn't that right Grimmjow? You actually like having a friend. Admit it. It's not so hard Grimmjow. Being a person is actually nice. Having people around you who share common goals, interests, and senses of humor- god what a travesty." Ulquiorra swirled his tea with a laugh.

"Jealousy is very unbecoming on you Ulquiorra." Grimmjow snorted.

"Jealous. God no, in all honesty I feel empathetic for the poor boy- in all seriousness-

"Oh Ulquiorra being serious I'm terrified-"

"In all seriousness…" Ulquiorra interjected before taking back control of the conversation, "he's a good, kind child Grimmjow. A good kind child… And I feel that you're going to let him down just like you do with everyone else."

The blue-haired man's body became stiff but he continued to look off at nothing.

"You'll do something silly because of this mid-afterlife crisis you seem to be having, and hurt his feelings, let the queen down, and embarrass the hell out of you oldest living friend- me…If we even are friends anymore… you're just so fucking miserable...You're- Well god, you know what you are. Are we even friends? I don't remember ever feeling you have this much contempt for me before, or vice versa. And passed all of my playful taunting… I mean some of the things I say.

"…I don't want Ichigo around you, Grimmjow- because yes- he's become a good friend of mine. Is that so hard to believe? And I'm good enough friends with you to know that I don't want him to be acquainted with you either. "

You could see the tension in Grimmjow's form become more and more apparent, but Ulquiorra was actually quite angry behind that smirk he was championing. This talk had been a long time coming, and it was unlike Ulquiorra to hold a grudge, but well, this was Grimmjow we were talking about. Grimmjow seemed to bring out the worst in everyone.

"Can't you understand that? I'm not saying this because I hate you, my friend, but I am just… I've been worried about you for so long. And you've just gotten worse and worse. You're like this corrosive acid that destroys everything it touches. I don't know how much lower you can sink. I can smell misery on you like a disease. Can't you understand? Can't you understand, Grimmjow? When you're like this no one deserves to even be around you!-"

But finally Grimmjow had had it and threw his porcelain cup to the floor and spat across the table, "WELL ICHIGO DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE A FUCKING REPLACEMENT EIETHER YOU HIGH AND MIGHTY FUCK!"

The dark-haired man's eyes burned with a sudden intense anger. His expression sobered in an instant, but Grimmjow continued smiling, his own senses bitten with manic unadulterated rage.

"Yes by all means father of the year, take on another son, since you're first one ended up SO bloody SUCESSFUL! My, and the Queen would be so fucking disappointed if her little prodigy ended up the same!"

"HOW DARE YOU." Ulquiorra roared horrificly slamming his tray onto the table sending the sugar pot flying to the ground. His voice was suddenly haggard and strained with emotion as he continued, "You KNEW him! YOU KNEW HIM AND YOU'RE STILL ABLE TO TALK ABOUT HIM THIS WAY!- YOU ARE GODLESS, GRIMMJOW…. You are a FUCKING disgrace and a bloody nightmare…"

The pair of breathless, tortured men stared each other down with eyes of intense pain and frustration. Niether moved.

Ulquiorra's voice turned quiet and became overwhelmed with remorse, "Just fucking leave." He strained before putting a hand over his face and sinking into his chair.

Grimmjow's jaw was tense. He didn't move at first, shocked with what the reality of what he'd just said.

The dark-haired Vampire jumped and made a fist with his hand and brought it down onto the table, slamming with all his might. The tea set flew off the table as it collided with the floor. The room was suffocated with an intense stillness.

"The only reason …why I'm not ripping you apart, is because I am a better friend than you are…or ever will be… to anyone… Now I'm begging you…," he growled; voice breaking,

"Leave…"

The pain on Grimmjow's face was indescribable, again he was silently staring at Ulquiorra for a few moments. With many reproachful glances he turned away from him before finally deciding to leave. He fled the room as quickly as possible and slammed the door behind him with all his might.

Ulquiorra was left alone then after the sudden burst of noise. And in the profound silence that it seemed to leave- …it was possible to hear the man's heart break, right then and there….

Grimmjow hated the walk away from Ulquiorra's room. It was down a hall that led to a huge, absolutely massive corridor that held hundreds of stained glass windows. Truly, they were beautiful to see glimmer in the light, but it was lost on this angry hopeless fool as he walked briskly across the hall. Grimmjow slowed to a stop in the middle of the hulking room, it's ceiling so high it was hard for even a Vampire to see. He hung his head in his hands and sunk to the floor. God, what had he said? He was a fucking monster.

He felt a tension growing inside him- building and building. It was uncontrollable and left his entire form tense and shaking. He slammed his hand palm down onto the slick floor, the chain of his pocket watch trailing below him- he screamed out unable to take it any more. God he was angry. So much anger welled up inside him it was painful. All his frustration, all his disappointment… hearing it echo and rattle off the walls, shaking the glass around him…it was unsettling to say the least. Grimmjow hung his head unable to breathe, he pressed his forehead into the cold forgiving marble. He tilted his head and from a cracked eye he gazed up, head still resting on the floor. Grimmjow took in the array of windows in the hall like the memories he'd seen on the blankets of snow in his dream. It was painful. It was so painful.

The flood of emotion Ulquiorra had released upon Grimmjow- still held him tight in an unrelenting stranglehold. Combined with his own tremendous guilt, Ulquiorra's practically killed him.

Finally Grimmjow was able to catch his breath. He sat up slowly, keeping a hand to his throbbing temples as he pushed himself off the freezing liquid stone.

"What are you doing, old man?…" He quietly mused.

Grimmjow must have sat there, counting the stained glass windows, for hours. He challenged himself to study each one until it was ingrained within his memory. Some were images of old nobles, of flowers and stars and the great pines below, but most of them had origins that had escaped the memory of even the oldest Vampire living within the castle. And Grimmjow, was one of them.

In the midst of his attempts to forget what he'd done, the sound of frantic footprints filled the room. Grimmjow did not lower his gaze to acknowledge them, his gaze mysteriously lost on a golden orchid composed of shimmering crystal.

"Grimmjow we've been looking all over for you! It's that Werin brat! He's out!", one of them called, interrupting his composure.

"WHAT!" There he was again, his face immediately formed into a familiar snarl.

Ururu poked her little head out from behind Jinta and whispered to clear things up, "It's Ichigo…He gave us the slip in the Infirmary…He seemed very distraught…oh if only I'd seen the signs beforehand more clearly…I guess… we just forgot about him …Ichigo's… gone."

It took a moment for Grimmjow to fully comprehend the information. He just stood there like an idiot. Just fantastic. Another problem. Another big problem…. As soon as he got his wits about him he sprinted off away from the messengers.

"Grimmjow! Where are you going!" Jinta shouted after him.

The blue-haired man turned mid-run and and in a sort of apology to not only Ichigo, but to Ulquiorra as well he growled with passion, "Doing my fucking job."

Ichigo sprinted down a passage way and found himself in a huge hall in what looked like the lobby of a very ritzy mall. He slowed subconsciously to take in the different levels and the sheer space of it all. It was exactly like a shopping mall, he thought to himself. There were small shops as far as the eye could see. Art shops and shoe shiners and watch shops and more! The only thing missing was the food court but of course, that was understandable.

The orange haired teen flew past empty shop after empty shop, apparently this mall did not open until night fall, when most Vampires chose to be up. But one vacant shop in particular with a large glass store window, piqued his interest. He slowed again but this time to a stop and gave it a look over. Ichigo read over the name of the deserted shop, "Marcus' Fine Fabric Distributor and Tailor. From hoodies to tail coats, we literally have everything. Every wear for every kind."

Ichigo laughed to himself.

Almost identical to the ending of a corney Western, a tall masculine figure dressed in a fine well-fitting black suit and top hat strutted away from a pile of broken glass and naked manikins. Along with his new found duds, we also wore a brilliant smile. The only thing on him he didn't have to steal.

As Ichigo walked, enjoying the proper feel of clothing around his body once again, he began to grow more confident after ridding himself of that horrific old night shirt.

To his surprise, he had encountered a few Vampires during his escape and with each meeting he slowed in his pace. Now he was simply taking a casual walk, waving and nodding to the smiling faces that greeted him. Strange, apparently his new found clothes didn't just make him feel better, but it made other people feel better too. Another round of "Hello Chansellor" s acknowledged him and he smiled back drunk on his role. He was such a card, he probably would have made a fine actor if he didn't break out in fur and paws whenever he felt like it, but hey, what would be the fun in that?

It was the first human, or… non-human contact he'd ever received here in the castle besides Grimmjow and the other guards. Ichigo felt… that it was truly wonderful.

He was also surprised to discover most of the Vampires walking around were wearing clothes from the 2000's, only two or three men wore something of his era. Some were wearing clothes in between both eras such as 20's 30's 40's clothes. It was a kind of trademark to the time you were turned, but if that were true than most of the Vampires in the castle were very very young by their standards.

In the back of the teen's mind he felt silly for wearing something out of a cosplay catalog but….there was something about the finely dressed manikin he'd stolen this outfit from that led him away from the hoodies and jeans…. As soon as Ichigo had thrown on the sleek hand-tailored coat from an era he'd never known, something clicked inside him. It was art. He was wearing art. It wasn't just a cotton shirt with a band name on it that had been mass produced and made in china- but these clothes made him realize what clothing could be. Not just something to throw on, but…something that a man took hours to sew, and shape. Someone who poured his blood sweat and tears into something like a coat. To pick the matching mother of pearl buttons and plan the pockets and the thread. The inlaid silk, and the deep maroon of his paisley waistcoat beneath his black smoking jacket. The many different layers, the many different styles. He felt older, he felt proper. Maybe it was some kind of stockhome syndrome, but he'd really come to love this style of clothing…. Except for the cravats… he had no idea how to tie them… so instead of tying his he just twisted the black piece of fabric and shoved it below his vest hoping none would be the wiser.

A black gloved hand came up to the brim of his hat to adjust it as he nodded to a couple of young ladies who giggled at him. His smile widened as he noticed one of them was just in a hoodie and jean shorts and the other was wearing an old Victorian skirt and blouse. This place… might not really be so bad after all. These Vampires were so different… yet… they could co-exist. Even the new ones. Even ones as new as him.

"Woo take a look'it that guy."

"Ooooo, Chancellor? In these parts? What is he lost?"

"… I've never seen him before have you?"

"Niether have I. But whoever he is he's pretty brave walking into the hornet's nest in full Council garb. I hope the poor guy doesn't get robbed or something. He looks cute."

"If he's on the Council and wearing all that- I'm pretty sure he's older than all of us combined. He'll be fine."

The orange haired teen casually eyed over a group of seven teen Vampires that looked to be about his age, or ….they were… when they were turned. Which again by their clothing, didn't seem to be very long ago. Three boys. Four girls. Interestingly enough they were all wearing a mixture of normal pedestrian clothes, and seemed to incorporate a steam punk Victorian twist to them. You could tell they weren't real Victorians, but it was interesting to see. Vampires combining their own heritage with their ancient roots. He decided to approach them.

"Hello, I'm sorry to have overheard your conversation but yes I am new." The way he began was actually rather cheeky if you would've heard it yourself, but he continued without interruption, "My name's…. Earl, by the way. I was just curious if you could help me out a bit. As you said, I don't really know where I'm going." He asked as charmingly as possible.

The girls seemed to light up by his gentleman's approach. The guys seemed kind of intimidated.

"Wow a real council member.," One of them began, "And he's actually talking to the likes of us….. I'm Randal." A green eyed, spikey haired fellow said adjusting the goggles around his neck as he made the sign of courtesy to a higher ranked Vampire.

Ichigo smiled wider remembering the symbolic exchange from one of his chats with Ururu and Jinta.

This is so fucking cool, he thought to himself as the others introduced themselves as well.

"Well," one who called himself Jeremy took the burden upon himself to explain, "You're headin' to the Works, man. It's like, one of the nastiest places in the whole castle. A bunch a' creepy dudes hang down there doin' back alley deals and other dark shit. Prostitues… All in all, you shouldn't go down there."

"Ah, well… thank you. I'll… uh… make sure not to, haha." Ichigo said silently thanking him more than he knew.

"Can't believe nobody told 'yah about it. It's kind of a heated topic among the stuffed shirtssss- oh… sorry." Randal laughed apologizing.

"Ah, no worries." Ichigo pardoned him with a wave of his gloved hand.

A blue-eyed girl in low pigtails named Rio spoke next. "Hm funny, he's new and he's already on the Council…." She adjusted her knit beanie as she murmured outloud.

"Well he must be one of the Scouts, duh." Clara laughed, waving a bangled wrist. She wrinkled her nose when she said this and it shifted the black glasses on her face.

A number of communal voices spoke at the same time, seeming to form their own council with each other.

"Ohhh."

"The Scouts."

"Yeah, must be."

"A what?" Ichigo said interrupting the coos with a cocked eyebrow.

"Well," Rio took this question, " the Mother has agents outside the castle see, and they're always lookin' for fresh blood (pardon the expression) and these agents search for already created Vampires to offer them a place here if they're causing trouble or struggling on their own. But Scouts, are strong often times well known Vampires scouted and sought out by the Hive reps. That's what you are right?"

"Uh… yes. Yes I was brought here… quite recently." Ichigo said speaking slyly with half-truth.

"Oh? So where were ya from?" Randal asked with interest. The others followed suit, all at once.

"How old are you?"

"Were you raising hell? Is that how they found you?"

"Uh… well… I was a ways away from here. I lived with a family… I didn't really cause any hell, and uh… I'm eighteen." Ichigo said with a wink about the age thing, trying to make his truth seem like a lie. Ichigo thought he was being quite clever.

"Poor dear… you were turned young, like us huh?"

"So does it ever get any better?" Rio asked quietly.

"Yeah being turned so young, was it as hard for you as it was for us?"

"You're all complaining about being young forever? It's the greatest thing I could've ever asked for!"

"Randal… you didn't have a family you had to leave."

"Yeah well… you all had the choice to turn them and you didn't. Since you saw it as such a curse you chose to be alone. No use cryin' about it, Christ…. But since I saw it as the gift it was, I've had nothing but a great time-AND… I've never killed a single person."

An uneasy silence fell over the group. It was apparent that Randal had struck a nerve with some of the Vampires. Expescially Lidia and Mike, who seemed to still be struggling with their own personal demons.

Ichigo was caught off guard by these questions. He looked around nervously, fidgeting with his gloved hands but slowly came to the realization that this was something he did know about. Whether it be Vampie or Werin, the change to either was a tough thing to go through. He wouldn't have to lie.

"Yeah. It does." He began quietly, ", I know how afraid I was the first time I tu- I… bit someone… and it was really…really bad. But sometimes it just takes one person to remind you that the wrongs you did in your youth, are in your past are unchangeable. That even when you screw up royally, you can either let it consume you, or you can make peace with it. That doesn't make you heartless. It doesn't make you not sorry. It just means it's something you can live with now. And that you can still be you, because of it. In spite of it. One day I will go back and apologize for the things I've done, but until then… I won't let it destroy me…. I'll see my real family again one day. Explain to them what happened, why I left. Maybe they would decide to become like me if they wanted. But again, that's all up to them. When they were ready.

"At first I was afraid of my own powers… I thought they were terrifying. It's common to fear when you don't understand… Unlike all those stupid fucking Vampire and Werewolf movies- the power I was given, ended up making me happy and feel different than everyone else. They were a part of me, and felt more natural to me than being human ever did. If I never would've become a We-Vampire… I never would've met the people I had… never would've known what it was to be truly happy. And for that I'm grateful…. It makes you a lot more confident when you learn how to control your powers. After that you know the level of shit you can deal with, and find your comfortable pace. Now my powers are just a really fucking cool add on. I… hope all of you didn't have to go through too much….and I hope you can one day come positively to terms with your powers. It really does no good to put 'em down when they're a part of you that will never go away. It's like hating your nose. It won't ever disappear because of your hatred for it, but maybe you'll realize you don't want it to afterall."

The entire group was silent taking all the things Ichigo had said in. After Ichigo had become quite uncomfortable with the silence, they slowly one by one smiled.

"…wow man… that… was really nice to hear."

"The lack of bullshit you answered that question with really touched me, Earl."

"Thanks Earl. You're a really wonderful guy."

Ichigo smiled at them understandingly, "Well… I'm not liked around here very much, but thank you for saying that.

"Oh! Neither were most of the VampX's but look at them now!"

"Jeremy… they're still hated." Randal said poignantly.

"Oh…. yeah." He said looking confused.

Ichigo looked just as confused, "The VampX's? But don't they protect the castle…? Why in the world would they be hated? Haven't they been here longer than anyone else?"

"Well- I mean we don't hate them… It's just that the Vampires who are older than us, but younger than them- don't trust them. It's weird. You'd think the older you got the more you understood. It seems to be the opposite most of the time. The VampX's are all extremely powerful and the Vampires that were here originally feel a bit cheated since they used to be the big shots around here or something. Plus since they were all Scouted it's hard to trust them."

"…You mean all the VampX's were scouted? What were they collected specifically?" Ichigo pondered.

"Yeah, they're the oldest Vampires the Queen's men could find in a transmutable distance."

Randal took up the conversation now. He slid his fingers through his spiked black hair and began, "The original royal Vampire colony here died out a long long time ago. It was actually the Queen's mother who came here with her small band of followers in the 40's and set up shop again. The oldest follower she had there was probably 70, 80…? (except the old Queen who was… if I recall… 600-ish?)

"Anyway the new Queen came into power after her mother passed on the crown and left to travel the world. Inari wanted to expand the like never before seen in her Mother's time. She wanted to find older Vampires to strengthen our ranks, and learn more about the culture of Vapirism from their wisdom. She even searched for the mythical Hogyoku. All this was thought radical by the old Vampire's of her mother's reign, like chasing a Unicorn… And if you know anything about the forties from past experience or a textbook- they were, and stayed very very racist."

"And sexist." One of the girls added.

"Yeah and sexist…. anyway- Inari assembled a pretty proficient team of older Vampires, scientists, artists- Gin was one of the first to join her and became her trusted assistant. She found her husband Aizen who's 100 by Scouting. But then, out of the blue Inari's mother returned a few years ago, with the Hogyoku. She's apparently napping somewhere in the castle (Inari won't tell anyone where so they don't disturb her), but, before she went into hibernation she told Inari of some old friend of hers who had come to sleep at the castle for a few years."

"Yeah apparently they never got a wake-up call."

"Pfft I'd be pissed…"

"So Inari and Gin dug them up two years ago, and to this day they've been thriving members of the Hive."

"Mayuri came around right about the same time they woke up, and Hogyoku testing has gone on ever since then-"

"Wait." Ichigo interrupted Lidia before asking, "Who were the Vampires who'd been sleeping in the Castle?"

"Why, Ulquiorra and Grimmjow of course."

"Haha two Vampires that will live down in history forever."

"It's just so disappointing most people don't like them since they're VampX's."

"But again not us though, we think they're entertaining as hell."

"It's the same thing from the Council every frickin' time they open their mouths-"

With this part they all imitated in unison, "Blood is becoming unbuyable! The crime in the Works is rising just as fast! The damn sun! Werin, Gays, Blacks oh my. VampX demons! And those filthy Coloreds!"

"Especially that Grimmjow." Randal added with a winded british accent.

"Hell yes." Jeremy laughed.

"Ok Ichigo, I see your expression right now- 'Coloreds' isn't what you think it is. They're using the same term for Black people, for Vampires without black hair- Like Gin, Inari and Grimmjow. (They don't ever mess with the Queen though, not if they want their faces boxed in)"

"Tch, I know right? Now black is a good thing to them? Those damn Council members seem to just need to find something to hate."

"Assholes…" said a conflicted girl with deep purple hair. It was obvious by her expression she'd been a victim herself of harassment.

"Ah… I know how that is…" Ichigo said adjusting his top hat over the orange of his hair again. He'd never understood hatred, himself. Maybe… he was too young to understand. Or maybe he was young enough- but it was his soul that was incapable of comprehending something so meaningless. Perhaps the fact that he had been a stranger of war… of treachery… he was thinking like a child. Maybe all children promised themselves not to bear the hate they'd seen in their fathers only to succumb to them later in life when the very same blows hit them. Ichigo believed that, if being young meant to be incapeable of hate- then let him stay young forever.

"Man I'll be honest, that guy scares me sometimes…" Mike said scratching his face in thought.

"…Who Mike?" Randal asked.

"Well Grimmjow of course!"

The group let out a collective jest at Mike.

"Goin' on about ol' blue hair again are ya Mike?"

"Hey I have personal authority on the subject!"

"Oh please, Michael. You met him once, get over it."

"Hey it was a very serious chance encounter….even if it was once."

"Riiiiiight…." The group sighed.

"Go on Mike, what happened?" Ichigo asked with interest.

The group laughed, "No Ichigo don't encourage him!-"

"Well…" he began ignoring the others, "This one time… I saw him in the library. And I was going to ask him if he wanted some help with the lift. …but you know what he did? He threw a book at me and told me I was a tool. He made me feel like I was twelve…."

Everyone in the group looked at Mike with questioning gazes. He laughed nervously, "Hey you would too if you would've gotten snarled at by the fucking Chuck Norris of Vampires."

The group all nodded and murmured their agreement before being interrupted by Lidia one of the feistier girls of the group.

"Scary, sure-! but you allllll know, you want a piece of that mutha fuckas! Don't even lie!", Lidia waved her hands like a magician over her audience, casting a spell on them with that Ulquiorra-like smile and those brilliant red eyes.

The girls smiled without a second though and let out a chorus of 'mmm hmm's and 'oh yeah's.

Jeremy stuck his arm around Lidia's neck playfully (scandalous physical contact) and leaned into the center of the group and chimed, "Look. I'm straight, and I would still let that man do horribly dirty things to me."

"Ohhhh!" The group shouted. Not only at his comment- but of his socially questionable approach on Lidia.

"Jeremy you're just a slut- you'd let anyone do dirty things to you." Lidia snorted, unfazed by the advance.

His expression became lascivious. His adgenda suddenly became darker and he whispered, "Is that an offer?"

The group erupted in another chorus of laughter and he quickly withdrew his arm, the joke apparently ending as he'd hoped. Although Ichigo laughed, he kind of grimaced realizing he actually felt that way.

"Hey speaking of nefarious characters- any news on Chro?"

"Chroooo…!" They all sang out the name like it was some kind of chant.

"Well, as I hear it, he's just taken up tutoring, and you'll be shocked to discover the teacher."

"Uh… Nnoitra?"

"He put Nnoitra in the hospital remember Michael?" Rio said pinching her brow at his stupidity.

"Ohhh yeah…so who then?"

Ichigo gulped feeling a knot of guilt form in his stomach as the conversation seemed to be taking a turn for the worse. Worse meaning in his direction.

"Ok, listen to this- Grimmjow."

The group erupted in cheers.

"Are you kiddin' me?" The red eyed girl cackled with the very thought.

"I ain't! See, I saw Rav yesterday- you know the guy from the Library? And he said they're the ones who caused the little mishap in there last week. Apparently they're a regular duo now."

"That's like, the coolest thing I've ever heard."

"Queen's gotta be out of her mind though…."

"Yeah I know…. But in a way it does seem quaintly poetic, don't it?"

"You're right it kinda does. They'd at least share some things. They at least know what it's like to be hated… but loved by us!"

"You're talking about the Werin, right?" Ichigo asked once more trying to get a word in edge wise with the talkative teens. His voice was a bit softer now.

"Yeah, the boys in the Council already told you about him at least?"

"Yes they did… But you're saying, you don't feel that he's…uh what's the word- dangerous?"

"Of course not! You know I haven't ever seen a Werin before. Have you? I really really wanna meet him! I hope Grimmjow brings him out in the open more."

The orange haired teen thought the question laughable. They talked about him like an exotic animal, "Ah, yes I've met my fair share of Werin-"

"Really?"

The conversation stopped and suddenly all eyes had turned to him, silently expecting as much information as he could possibly produce. The teen gulped.

"Well… yes… they think you're just as strange as you do of them haha…" he began nervously.

As soon as the infantile musing spilled from his mouth he was hit with a barrage of questions.

"Oh! what are they like!"

"Are they really controlled by the moon?"

"What about silver? Is it true they can't handle silver?"

"Where did they come from?"

"Where are they now?"

"AGH!" Ichigo hissed holding his ears, "Quiet and I'll tell you! Agh…!"

He eyed them while they settled again. Ichigo sighed thankful the noise had ended and began slowly, "Well-"

"WERIN!"

"Oh fuck…" Ichigo moaned.

"GET YOU ASS OVER HERE RIGHT NOW BEFORE I BEAT YOU WITHIN AN INCH OF YOUR PATHETIC LIFE!"

It took all of two seconds for Ichigo to figure out just who the voice belonged to, but for added conformation, the group around him began to fervently whisper to each other:

"Ohmygosh,ohmygosh,ohmygosh-"

"It's Grimmjow. It's Grimmjow. And he's angry. –insert girly sigh here-"

"Michael… that noise should never be made by any male at any time- ever."

"This is insane."

"…Is he talking to us?"

"Well… I should be going…." Ichigo stated with a good-hearted sigh.

"ICHIGO!" Grimmjow continued his sound-barrier shattering rant, "DON'T YOU DARE ACT LIKE YA CAN'T FUCKIN' HEAR ME!" His voice sounded rather taken a back.

"Wow look at how fast he's walking over here."

"…Did you hear him say the word, Werin earlier?"

"But ...we're not…"

Ichigo removed the hat from his head and bowed slightly to his fast-made companions before smiling and saying, "Thank you."

As they all took in Ichigo's springing mop of vibrant orange hair, and the fact that Grimmjow was practically running over here ready to strangle someone with his eyes- it all just seemed to click.

"…I was waiting to meet you all too." The teen said with a meaningful glimmer in his eyes. Because it was true. Vampires, who didn't hate his guts. He needed the warmth and kindness of his cheering section.

"WERIN! YOU'RE NOT RUNNING OVER HERE! THAT'S TELLING ME THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DIE KIND SIR. THIS IS YOUR FINALWARNING... IF I HAVE TO TAKE ONE MORE BLOODY STEP TOWARDS YOUR PANSY BEHIND- I'LL BE WALKING AWAY FROM YOUR GRAVE. SO…GET THE FUCK OVER HERERIGHT NOW!"

Ichigo turned to gaze at the furious Vampire, his brain signaling the flight response. Althouh he wanted to properly say goodbye to his new pals, now was not the time for casualties. Ichigo's expression turned from fear to one of absolute taunting. That smug, sly expression he made as he waved sarcasticly had a tone of innocence in it. He made his little gesture and then sprinted off at full speed in the opposite direction. Grimmjow was never more ridiculously angry in his entire life. He was in such shock and disbelief that Ichigo had DARED to run away from him it made him feel… well it… he was so horribly insulted. This blatant disregard for his yowling only fueled his incredibly stupid outrage.

The group of teens watched the pair pass by them in a matter of seconds, their faces were set in masks of disbelief as well. They'd just met both of their frequently talked about icons up close and personal, hell they even talked to Chro… but they never would have expected in their wildest dreams that their heroes would turn out to be…so very… ridiculous.