Chapter 10

Woohoo~! Double digits again~!

Oh yeah…. Please forgive me for taking forever on this story! I got dragged into DMMD, Tokyo Ghoul and Magi! I apologize!

Speaking of Magi… I have a poll on my profile about which pairing I should do…

I just have so many ideas! I want to write them but when I start one I get bombarded by another bunny. It's so not fair to you guys! (Or to me really… so many good ideas… *drools*)

Fight

After Ishida left, declaring them as enemies if they met again, and Orihime and Chad were dropped off Infra turned his friend and planted a kiss upon his nose before jumping off the carpet in front of his home.

"Chuu~!"

"Gah!"

"Haha! See you later Ichigo~!"

"Hey, Ichigo!"

Infra smiled as the bus pulled up and the orangette got off looking annoyed.

"What's going on with that face? If you keep scowling like that your face will stick," he teased, getting up from his sitting position on the ground.

"Just my dad being a pest again."

"Ah, come on. Don't be too hard on the old man! He does love you," smirked the arrancar.

"Speaking of love… Since when were you with Starrk? I thought he was your guardian."

There was no disgust on his friends face. Just honest curiosity and some worry. Infra smiled blindingly.

"Well, Starrk took me in when I was on the run. He knows exactly why our relationship could be considered wrong but I'm consenting. Who gives a crap about underage laws?"

It wasn't a lie at all, really…

Infra stuck his tongue out, making Ichigo smile. They both passed through the doorway into the school, ignoring the hostile looks sent from some of the gang kids, and passed through the hallways casually.

"I hope we are in homeroom together again."

"We always are~!"

"You know, I swear you somehow manipulate that but…"

"Ah, come on! Actually… that's a lovely complement."

"Infra," Ichigo sighed in exasperation.

"I-CHI-GO~!"

Keigo slammed straight into the sub shinigami's raised fist.

"Morning Ichigo," the brunette whimpered from the ground.

"Haha! You should know better than to attack like that, Keigo! Good morning, Mizuiro," Infra chirped happily.

The smaller brunette greeted everyone happily before standing on Keigo's head.

"Good morning, Kurosaki-kun, Infra-kun," Orihime greeted as she cheerfully waved as the two boys walked into their classroom.

Chad waved a hand and Uryuu pushed up his glasses commenting on both arriving students' messy hair. Infra just stuck his tongue out childishly in response to the Quincy. Ichigo looked irritated but did nothing but head over to the odd threesome. Infra laughed at Keigo as he whined about being left out, being stood on, and how the trio was super odd. He also lamented the fact that Ichigo was joining them.

The morning passed uneventfully, or as uneventfully as their normal class with Orihime being molested and Tatsuki kicking the pervert to hell and back. It was when class started that things got a little funny. Tatsuki could see Ichigo's present from Ukitake… Interesting. Perhaps Infra would have to be more wary of her after all.

Then the little skull of acceptance blared out about hollows and Ichigo, Orihime, and Chad fled the room. Infra stayed, keeping an eye on the room. Tatsuki, who sat right next to the window, was staring at something with wide eyes. He frowned and glanced over seeing Ichigo in his shinigami uniform disappear off the grounds.

She could also see him fully then. Jeez. Just how many of his friends was Ichigo going to turn into special reiatsu people?

Nothing special happened the rest of the day. Really. Except for the fact that the new arrancar couldn't help but feel a sense of dread curl in his stomach. Who was this new kid that randomly disappeared when Ichigo went after a hollow? Because that student was in here earlier right? Where the hell did he go!?

"Ichigo! Wanna come over now?" Infra asked trotting after his friend.

"Ah. I can't I promised Kon I would bring Uryuu over."

"Kon?"

"Oh! That's right," Ichigo spun on the spot to face his friend. "You don't know about him. He's the mod soul that inhabits my body when I'm in shinigami form. You can come meet him if you'd like?"

"Oh… No. Starrk is home and he actually brought Lili with him-"

"Who is Lili, then?" the orangette questioned curiously.

"She's Starrk's little sister but she's been with their parents. Recently she decided she wanted to live with us! She's so cute~! And she totally kicks both of our asses sometimes!"

"Really? She must be strong then."

"She is but she doesn't fight like me or even Starrk. She's just hot tempered. A little like Karin, actually," Infra said thoughtfully, putting a hand to his chin.

"How was school today?"

"Well, I tried getting Ichigo to come over but he had things to do with the Quincy."

Starrk grinned lecherously.

"Good. Lili is out buying groceries for our stay. Now we have time to-"

"Starrk!"

Both arrancar sighed.

"How the hell did she get back so fast?" the goateed man whined.

"I'm sure she knew what was on your mind," Infra chuckled.

Lili always seemed to know when Starrk wanted to have sex. She would either interrupt or let them at it after making sure they knew she was gone. It was kinda cute actually. No matter how lazy his alpha was, he always seemed up for a round of horizontal dancing.

"Lili," Infra called heading into the kitchen after leaving his shoes and his lover in the entry hall. "How was shopping?"

"Great! I got some fantastic prices! And I used the list that you left on the fridge so I hope I got everything…"

"Even if you didn't I can always go out and get more later. For now show me what you have so I can whip up some dinner."

"Oh! Can I help?" She yipped excitedly. "I've never cooked before!"

"Sure, just follow my instructions okay? I really don't want to destroy my kitchen like Starrk is wont to do whenever he tries to make anything."

"What can I say," the man mumbled through a yawn. "I hunt the food not cook it."

"Yeah right! You're too lazy," Lili scolded with a hand on her hip. Her new sweater (way more modest than what she wore in Hueco Mundo thank goodness) slipped down over her hands making the action even cuter.

The wolf shrugged disinterestedly and plopped down on a kitchen chair. His head immediately thunked down on the table followed by soft snores. Infra sighed and Lili tsked pushing her sleeves back up but neither moved to wake him. Instead they turned their attention to the food.

"Shinji Hirako. Pleased to meet you all…"

Infra stared at the name on the board. Who wrote their name backwards in their class introduction? Really? The boy was just trying to get attention.

Ichigo wasn't really paying attention to the boy's introduction and neither was Infra... really, he wasn't staring at the weird writing. Not at all.

Nope! He was too focused on the feeling of dread that intensified around this guy. The blonde hair, styled in a bowl cut, was lanky and past the boy's ears and that creepy grin was pasted onto that pale face. If the arrancar wasn't used to Gin, this smile would definitely unnerve him…

"Hollow! Hollow!"

Infra jolted and glanced over as his friend fled the classroom again.

"Please excuse him," Chad rumbled. "That's just how he is."

"Oh no! It's okay. He's pretty much how I imagined him to be."

Well. Wasn't that ominous? He was seriously starting to dislike this blonde. He would have to warn Ichigo away from him soon…

Infra jolted from the bed. It wasn't too late at night but Starrk and he had been going at it for a few hours now. He had been tired and content to be with his alpha and so had slipped into a dreamless sleep.

Feeling several other arrancar was definitely a good alarm clock. What the hell were they doing here? Aizen hadn't said anything!

"Calm puppy."

"But-"

"Gin-san warned Lili earlier that they would be coming. Aizen-san believes that Urahara has contacted some old experiments to help Ichigo with his inner hollow."

"You mean those captains and vice-captains he turned into half hollow half shinigami?"

"Exactly," his mate grunted sleepily wrapping his arm around Infra to prevent movement.

"Starrk," the husky whined.

"No."

"Ichigo is-"

"In no danger," the brunette growled dangerously. "We are not to interfere. Ichigo is strong enough to take on these low level arrancar."

"But-"

Starrk shifted on top of Infra, growling. The husky arrancar whimpered and bared his neck. It was clear. This was an Alpha's Orders. He would not interfere no matter how much he desired too.

"I really hope everything works out," the smaller murmured as Starrk nuzzled his cheek in apology. "Hey… Do you feel that spiritual pressure…? It feels like Isshin-san but… a shinigami version? Didn't Aizen-san say something a looong time ago about his shinigami friend sealing his reiatsu? Why now..?"

Starrk mmphed in disinterest and displeasure.

"All right, all right. I'll leave it alone."

Infra growled as he rushed through the hallways towards his homeroom. Really, Starrk should know better than to make him late to school with all the groping. Stupid alpha!

Arriving at the proper door, he paused before he knocked politely and pulled open the door.

"Sorry I'm late Ochi-sensei," he said bowing deeply.

"It's fine. You're not usually late so I'll let this one slide," she replied with a smile. "Just take your seat."

Infra nodded before turning and marching to his seat next to Chad behind Hirako. He glared at the back of the vizard's head the whole class time (at least he was pretty sure this one was a vizard). If only he could let a little of his hollow aura out for intimidation… (Not that a vizard would be truly frightened by that, but startled surely?)

When all their classes ended and Ichigo dragged the blonde out into the hallway, Infra followed and leaned against the door listening to the furious conversation.

So, they had already contacted Ichigo and were intent on pursuing him and dragging him into their group. Infra wasn't exactly sure how he felt about that. It would be good to have Ichigo train his powers but the Vizards hated Aizen with a passion. They would make it very difficult to get Ichigo to his leader without a fight.

Oh the woes of a spy…

RING

"Oh?"

Infra pulled his newly acquired cell phone out of his pocket and glanced at the caller ID.

"Hello?" he answered. "Whatcha need Lili?"

"Starrk just came back from a summons from Aizen-san. Ulquiorra and Yammy are coming down. And Aizen-san says thank you for the information."

"Why are they coming?"

"Surveillance apparently. And making Aizen-san's presence known."

Infra frowned and glanced around. "Intimidation then, which means some people are probably going to get injured or killed."

"Probably. Wouldn't worry too much about it."

"I wouldn't say that, Lili. When people get hurt Ichigo gets involved. Where Ichigo gets involved I have to get involved… I've still yet to have him come home and be marked as a pack mate. He only has my mark which makes it my duty to protect him."

"Aizen might get mad if you get involved," the small girl fretted.

"He knows Ichigo has my mark! Either he wants me to get involved or well… he didn't think Ichigo would be in danger."

"Well, Starrk is not very pleased. He's going to immediately intervene when Ulquiorra shows up."

"Aizen probably already knows then."

"Yeah," she sighed. "I don't know where or when they are going to arrive so you should probably stay out and about if you're so determined."

"I am."

"Be careful."

"Aren't I always~!"

It wasn't very long before the heavy spiritual pressure of the two highly ranked Espada appeared in the middle of the only park in Karakura. It was in fact the park that Tatsuki always went to practice after school.

Infra cursed violently and shot off like a rocket. They just had to be where one of his friends was, didn't they? And this one they had no reason to leave alive.

Within minutes, Infra arrived on the spot and watched as Orihime rushed past with an exhausted Tatsuki. Well, good news was that she lived the Gonzui that he felt take place. Bad news… Chad was still over there. He could feel his Mexican friend and he knew that he stood no chance against either of the Espada. Where the hell was Starrk? Wasn't he supposed to be pissed with Ulquiorra or something?

"Stop it," he screamed barreling straight into Yammy before he was able to hit Chad. The result sent them both spiraling into a tree across the park clearing.

"You little punk!"

Yammy grabbed the scruff of Infra's neck and tossed him at Ulquiorra's feet with a huff.

"Out of the way, pup. I've a bone to pick with this one."

Starrk blurred into the clearing with a growl and the husky arrancar hurriedly obeyed the implied order. Neither of the two 'invaders' stopped him. Scrambling to his supposed safety, Infra knocked into Chad making sure to push them both further away.

"Are you alright?" the giant asked quietly, dragging them both away.

"I'm fine."

He glanced back at Starrk and frowned. The two ex-captains were on their way (far, faaaaaar away…) as was Ichigo. Infra wasn't exactly sure what Ulquiorra did to piss off his alpha to such an extent (They had always been cordial previously and Ulquiorra was loyal to Infra to an extent) but he wasn't about to step in front of their fight. He just hoped neither of them gave away their spying. Well… it was more his alpha he was worried about considering the furious expressions on the bearded man's face. He'd only ever seen him like that once and he never wanted to deal with it again… Though the sex afterwards was fantastic...

"How is Tatsuki?" Infra asked as the two made their way over to Orihime.

"She'll be alright for now but we can't stay here much longer."

"I agree," the giant rumbled, quietly eyeing the stand-off in the clearing.

"You guys go. Starrk is my guardian and I can't leave him alone with these people. Ichigo will be here soon as well. I'll be safe."

"But Infra-kun-"

"Go Orihime. Chad. These guys are at least captain level, if not above. They're too strong for you."

They both glanced back again before Chad grabbed Tatsuki carefully and started walking away with a worried female following close behind. Infra turned and made his way back into the clearing.

"Alpha," Infra acknowledged quietly, not willing to draw the brunette's ire. "What exactly did you do, Ulquiorra?"

The fourth Espada turned his apathetic eyes onto the slightly smaller arrancar.

"Lilinette was wandering into my territory after I had repeatedly told her not to. She learned her lesson this last time."

Infra sighed miserably before turning to his alpha.

"Can we not resolve this later?" He questioned the brunette beseechingly. "I don't like it any more than you do but the shinigami are closing in fast and I'd prefer not to have our cover blown so soon."

Starrk growled menacingly and turned to his young lover. The puppy dog eyes stopped him in his tracks. Whatever the wolf had been about to say was immediately cut off as Infra gave him the new and improved (with the help of Lili) Puppy Eyes of Doom.

"We both know," Infra continued, "that Lili has a habit of pissing off other hollows. This isn't the first time she's gotten in trouble with them and been given a lesson (beating) in response. I'm sure Ulquiorra was nicer than all the others you've gone after because of her."

Starrk sniffed in response and turned his head away.

"This is boring," Yammy piped in loudly. "When are we going to get back to-"

"Ah. The shinigami has arrived."

"His name is Ichigo," Infra groused feeling his friend's spiritual pressure.

Not even two seconds later the orangette appeared on the scene in full shinigami garb right in front of Starrk and Infra. Zangetsu was pointed at the two arrancar threateningly.

"Are you alright, Infra? Starrk?"

"We're fine pup. These two aren't-"

"Don't worry Ichigo. Everyone's okay," the husky cut in elbowing Starrk behind his friends back. "We weren't alone with them very long and so far they've yet to make a move."

But something was off. Ichigo wasn't answering Infra's reassurances. In fact, his spiritual pressure was starting to fluctuate and there hadn't even been any threatening moves from the other side yet.

"Ichigo?"

"You should leave," the boy replied.

"What!? No way!"

"Is this the one we are looking for?" Yammy questioned eagerly.

Infra frowned at him but Ulquiorra answered in the affirmative. Lili had said they were here for surveillance… but maybe they were actually here as a test. For Ichigo?

"Ichigo… I think we should leave."

"I'm not going to let them hurt anybody else. They've already killed so many…"

Infra bit his lip and stepped closer to Starrk when the orangette released his bankai. Ichigo was pissed… He had probably seen Tatsuki on his way over then.

"Are you the one who did that to Tatsuki?" Yep. He saw her.

"Hah! The weakling?"

Ichigo grit his teeth and replied, "Let me return the favor… Bankai!"

Oh dear… This was not going to end well. And what the hell was wrong with Ichigo!?

Infra yelped as Starrk picked him up and chucked him over the right shoulder before jumping back out of range.

"Starrk," he whispered. "You can't stay! You're not supposed to be able to use spiritual pressure. Seeing it is easy to explain but you being able to stand around it will be so much harder!"

"What about your friend?"

Infra used both hands to push himself up and twisted his torso to glance at the battle taking place. Well, more like one-sided slaughter at the moment considering Yammy was missing a few limbs.

"I think Ichigo can handle himself while the shinigami make their way over. I hope so anyways… I don't know what's wrong with him."

His spiritual pressure was fluctuating again. From nothing to sky high and back in just a few seconds. It was actually quite terrifying and now Yammy was drawing his own Zanpakto.

"We should at least hide our presence… Aizen-san would be mad if we blew our cover…You can squabble with Ulquiorra later."

The alpha let out a long breath through his nose before he jumped up and lightly landed on a tree branch even further back. Infra wiggled and shifted until he was halfway sitting on his mate's shoulder, being supported by a steel arm, instead of being held like a sack of potatoes.

And then Ichigo was hunching over in pain without sustaining a single injury. The husky hollow leaned forward in concern but couldn't go anywhere. The arm on his legs was supporting as much as restraining. He kicked uselessly in irritation.

Yammy was able to get in a few nasty hits yelling 'Die!' all the while and Infra swore he would get the idiot back when it was his turn to report to Hueco Mundo.

Come on! Where were those stupid…. ah there they were. Infra relaxed again leaning into Starrk's hair.

The finishing blow from Yammy's meaty arm was blocked by a shield (where the hell did that come from. Is that what the scientist's Zanpakto could do?) raised by Urahara. The battle was over quite quickly after that, Ulquiorra stepping in to stop Yammy from getting himself killed in a battle with the two shinigami.

Though Ulquiorra's parting 'trash' shot at Ichigo was not appreciated…

"Infra…? Wait! Where's Infra and Starrk!?"

"We should probably head back down there," the husky arrancar murmured.

"Hm."

"Don't worry Ichigo. We didn't sense anyone else in the area when we arrived. They most probably escaped," Yoruichi was saying as she rubbed her arm (the one she hit Yammy with… Did she underestimate his Hierro?) with a slight wince.

"Ichigooooooo~!" With a grin and a cheer he flounced off his mate's shoulder ignoring the grunt his, completely unnecessary, kick off caused and headed into the clearing. "I sensed that he was gone so I came back!"

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Urahara eye them suspiciously (forgot they had 'no' reiatsu right now…easy to hide but suspicious if you can see high powered spirits) That one was extremely sharp. No matter how intelligent Starrk was, he was too lazy to be careful. He'd have to keep them away from each other.

"Man, you look awful! Were they really that strong!?"

Ichigo released the hand that was clutching his orange hair and gave a relieved smile.

"Yeah… they… were in another league. If Yourichi-san and Urahara-san hadn't shown up…"

"Ahaha~! I totally would have had to come back and help you!"

"No," the orangette yelped, thrusting both his hands out in the universal stop sign. "You can't even stand up under spiritual pressure! There's no way I'd let you get into a fight like that!"

"You're too cute, Strawberry~ Chuu~!" With quick footwork and some twists he slipped past the outstretched arms and planted a light kiss upon the others nose. "Now," his voice deepened and became serious arms slithering out to clamp onto the other's forearms with vicegrips, "You're going to come over to my house so Starrk and I can patch you up, alright~? I couldn't bear to lose you like I almost did in the Seireitei. I might even cry..."

Ichigo glanced nervously at the shark like grin and and narrowed eyes. His friend did not look happy at all. He risked a glance over at Starrk who seemed to be answering questions from Urahara (while looking especially sleepy and not interested). So no help from that direction.

"Sure?"

"Eh, was that a question or an answer, my friend~?" The grip tightened, starting to cut off circulation.

"An answer!"

Man, he did not want to have to deal with another depressed (or angry!) Infra. It had be terrifying the first time. No jokes (well some but they were half-hearted at best), no random nose pecks, and no hair trigger temper. All in all it was rather exhausting and harrowing.

And then there was the inquisition he had faced from the scary Unohana captain. He still didn't understand why she kept asking how his friend was doing with that horrible smile on her face. It was almost like she suspected his friend of something… but there was no way!

"Heeey!" A finger snapped in front of his face startling him from his memories. Infra was pouting at him (thank god he was back to normal!), one hand on his hip. "Are you spacing out on me? I think we really need to patch you up! Staarrrrrrk!"

And then he turned and flounced over to his guardian/lover… that Ichigo still had no idea how to feel about. On one hand, their relationship seemed to work for them; on the other hand Infra was was way underage and apparently this had been going on for years. It was also something society didn't look upon too fondly… but this was Infra. The boy who said screw the rules and did what he wanted as long as it didn't hurt his friends.

Ugh. Thinking about this stuff made his head hurt. For now he would choose to trust within his best friends decisions (ignoring the small voice that said Infra had gotten hurt from his decisions before).

"So, Infra said you're going to our house. We have some medical supplies and you'll be wrapped up in no time," Starrk muttered as he wandered over lazily with Infra attached to his arm like a limpet.

"And you'll finally get to meet Lili!"

"I think it's a good idea Kurosaki-kun," Urahara laughed as he made his way over with Yoruichi trailing behind. "We could let your friends know you're alright and your father-"

"Won't mind because this isn't the first time he's stayed over," the raven grinned sticking his tongue out at the shop keeper.

"Anyway~! Yoruichi and I need to go over some data so not having to patch you up will free some time!"

"Oi! Nobody has ever asked you to 'patch me up'," Ichigo growled in offense at the slightly teasing tone. The only one that was allowed to tease him was Infra!

Starrk only sighed before turning and slouching out of the park ignoring the bodies all along the ground.

It was a strange sight seeing someone nonchalantly walk around so many dead… bodies…

"Oh god," he muttered as he sunk into a crouch. How could he have forgotten all of these people? These were Tatsuki's friends and random innocent strangers and the were all DEAD. How could he have been so selfish!?

Death obviously wasn't a new concept considering he was the son of a doctor… but on this scale it was horrendous.

"Whoah! Whoah! Hey, Strawberry don't go fainting on me," his friend yelped and he knelt in the grass next to him.

A soothing hand came to rub at his back but he didn't want comfort. He didn't deserve comfort. He had let all these people die… The sun seemed to dim and his hearing was starting to ring. His breath was coming in short pants. Oh god he couldn't breath. How could he let this happen!?

With a grunt he forced the others hand off and ignored the irritated (and slightly hurt?) huff.

"Oh hell no. I'm not gonna have you sink into depression right before you're about to join the family."

Join… the family…?

And then a nasty punch to the jaw brought light (and black spots) back.

Infra rubbed his knuckles as he stared down at the sprawled orangette. Symptoms indicated that his friend was having a panic attack and he had to stop it somehow. Punching probably wasn't the best but it was the only way he knew how to do something. Shock them out of it right?

"And I thought you liked him," Starrk snorted as he watched from a few feet away.

He stuck his tongue out at his Alpha.

"It worked didn't it?" He muttered as Ichigo started cursing up a storm and giving him the evil eye (conveniently forgetting… or ignoring?... the corpses again).

"Come on Mister Grump Face. You have a little sister to meet!"

AN: OMG! I actually finished the chapter! Hurrah! Hip hip hurrah! I hope you guys enjoy the slightly longer chapter and don't hunt me for not continuing for such a long time… '-_- Let me know what you think please! It was slightly difficult to come back after such a long time and I really need to stop doing that...