A/N: sorry for the wait got distracted from my story. This one is long to make up for the wait. There are some things that are explained in further detail and some things I left a little hazy around the edges on purpose.
As always thank you much for the reviews and the favorites they encourage me to write, but my story doesn't hinge on them
O.o ;) -_- O.O :D xP :3 o.o -.- x_x
Satoshi flicked his eyes open; the pain in his side was bearable for now. His eyes caught the bright yellow color of Kon next to him as he lay on his uninjured side. The warmth around his body revealed itself to be a pelt covered with hollow skulls. Groaning he sat up slowly the dull ache in his head stopping him from doing anything. The blood on his shorts made him a little sick the sudden sticky feeling on his neck and cheek nearly made him gag. A cup appeared in his vision holding much needed water. His voice was soft when he spoke. "Thank you Ashido." The man nodded but said nothing looking tense. Unable to understand the reason, he reclined against the cave wall, watching the light against the walls. His mind couldn't focus on anything significant and he felt only slightly less nauseous from sipping slowly at the water. He wanted to sleep some more but the man in front of him gently shook him awake again. "We need to leave here, your pursuers have come." Nodding he saw Ashido wrap the pelt around himself again and gave a soft cry as he was suddenly pulled over the others shoulder. Kon's voice sounded out reprimanding. "Be careful you dolt! He's still in pain after getting injured!" Consciousness flickered in and out as they continued to slink from shadow to shadow in the forest.
He felt the need to be sick but held it in, it would leave a trail and his… his mother had told him not to leave trails. He didn't remember why she said that or when but it seemed right. Her words kept him from making sounds as each jump jostled the stiches in his still tender flesh making waves of agony rush through his nerves. Like what you did to those hollows. The thought made his whole body flinch and then tense; he was suddenly aware of a tight grip on his tail and realized that he had been lashing it. Panting from the strain and unable to stop the soft mews of pain he gently tugged on his tail, the grip let go and he curled it tightly around his uninjured leg so that it wouldn't be in the way.
"We need to find somewhere to rest quickly I think Satoshi's stiches might have ripped!" Ashido seemed surprised at Kon's knowledge, if the slight flex of muscles from his shoulders was any indication. "Just a little further, my main haunt is a few miles deeper in the Menos Forest. Hold on kitten." Numbly he nodded his tail tightening punishingly against his leg, one of his hands pressed tight to his now bleeding wound. His other hand firmly gripped the fur in front of his face; nausea got ten times worse at the sudden lurch to the side a small scream escaping his throat. Worried he strained to hear what was going on but his ears rang and all his sense seemed overrun by the pain. The last thing he remembered was being dropped onto the ground near one of the trees before he blacked out.
...
Ashido didn't like it; he'd never seen Aizen use his resources in such force before. The amount of infected swarming in the Menos Forest was unprecedented. He knew that he needed to move to his home, it was undetectable and better protected than the small hidden cave that he only used to rest when hunting at the outer edge of the forest. He felt the hot liquid drip against his shoulder and arm realizing the kitten had pulled the stiches he had so painstakingly sewed last night. The soft mews and the slick with sweat skin against his own told him the kitten was suffering from the injuries. Gritting his teeth against the helplessness that threatened the rip into him at this inopportune moment he moved a little faster feeling sweat run down his own face at the punishing pace he put himself through.
He sensed the reiatsu a split second before the cero blast hit; his quick movement caused a small scream from the vulnerable creature over his shoulder. Shunpo brought him to the base of a large tree where he lay the poor creature down and turned to face his opponent. Grinding his teeth in an effort not to lash out irrationally at the infected in his way. The supposed Guardian of the Menos Forest had been hindering him for hundreds of years; neither of them gaining any footing in their never ending struggle against each other. This time was different though, he had someone he had to protect. The kitten could easily get an infection just from the stiches that had ripped through the tender flesh. Not to mention any bacteria that was floating harmfully in the forest.
He didn't have time for this! "Move." The hollow sneered at him glowing yellow eyes narrowed in affront. He tossed the plushy behind him and reified his blade. The blade gleamed menacingly with the fabricated twilight of the forest. "That little creature you are so intent on saving is property of Aizen. Just hand it over and we can part ways for today." The cajoling tone scraped across his nerves, he couldn't linger here and wait for the Gillian class to assemble around their leader thus surrounding him and leaving him at a disadvantage. A slight vibration in the ground warned him of the Guardians tail whipping attack. Scoffing silently to himself he sidestepped and lashed out in fury slicing the tail off. Slightly surprised that it had worked so easily he realized his mistake a moment too late when the creature roared his rage. The sudden tremors in the ground warned him of the incoming company, despair prepared to overwhelm him as memories of his lost companions resurfaced from where he had buried them deep within his mind.
Another tremble through the earth and then nothing, blinking in surprise his body moved on instinct. Lifting up the unconscious kitten he grabbed the yellow plushy who was yelling something grabbing a rock he stuffed it in the plushy's mouth. Shunpo brought them to the pitch black of the dead center of the forest knowing the path by heart he weaved in and out of trees so thick there was no clear path. Then a slender crack in a giant towering tree came into his limited night vision, he slipped through and went down and down and down into the winding pathways beneath the forest. Finally when he touched the path he had created, he shivered slightly from the cold and held out his hand a soft glow appearing on his palm. Throwing the toy down he struck his newly reified sword against a rock which lit the tinder in the center of the room. Soon after the fire blaze softly in the middle of the room, gently laying his burden down he noticed the other was slightly pale but there were no signs of fever.
Wincing he pulled up the black cloth stopping when he realized the blood had congealed causing it to stick to the now open wound. Moving to the corner of the room he picked up a small hollow skull and poured water in it then set it in the fire. Pulling the kitten to a sitting position against his side he gently poured the rest of the water from the ladle into his mouth. Venom green eyes trained on him skeptically for a moment before softening. "Sleep." The other shook his head, green eyes searching for something. Remembering the annoying toy he found him trying unsuccessfully to pull the rock out of his mouth. Carefully leaning the kitten against the wall of his little hovel he stood and grabbed the toy, he glared warningly before jerking the stone none too gently out of his mouth.
The toy walked over to his owner and let the kitten pick him up with a long suffering sigh. Then slowly the green eyes closed. "Well…. Erm…. Thanks." Blinking he nodded and slumped, the strain from the run and the fight had left him slightly shaky and the adrenaline that had pumped through his system was now causing him to crash. Breathing deeply he promised himself ten minutes… No five minutes rest, then I'll set some traps and false leads in the tunnels. Nodding to himself he watched the flames flicker, his hovel was actually larger than the cave, having painstakingly dug it out himself over the hundreds of years he had been living here. A rounded room with walls of tightly packed dirt and thick tree roots, he had actually found that if he cut into one of the roots they gave him a constant water supply. It had been one of his main concerns when creating this little hideaway, having to leave constantly for water. It was a single room seeing as how he had never thought to have company. Hv-infected bones had been repurposed into utensils and other tools that he had found useful.
Time's up. Looking at the small skull in the fire he noticed that the water was boiling and simply plucked it up out of the fire. The startled gasp from the side reminded him that the toy while seeming alive was still a piece of machinery, intricate perhaps but still a machine. "You okay!?" Nodding and uncomfortable with the concern he walked over to a small hollow in one of the walls. Pulling one of the S-reaper uniforms that he had stripped off his companions for survival he ripped into it ignoring the slight pang of regret. After shredding it into strips and making one large rag he knelt next to the prone feline hybrid.
The steaming bowl had already cooled some so he dipped the rag in and soaked it before wetting the cloth covering the wound. Working slowly but diligently he had removed the black uniform and was working on the bandages when he felt a gaze on him. Surprisingly it wasn't the kitten but the toy who was watching intently. "You are protective of him… why?" It had bugged him this entire time how close the two beings were, sure the kitten had clung to the machine, but for the machine to cling back was surprising and slightly disturbing.
The lion looked ready for some dramatic outburst before suddenly settling. "He's special; I have to watch out for him because he gets in trouble so easily. He can't help it." The lion seemed sad as though the child was destined for tragedy. "He was kidnapped like me… he lost his memory and was confused he didn't know better. Then they started doing tests on him and making him go out of control, he hurt and wore himself out trying to protect everyone. If I don't look out for him he won't do it himself, just like my original owner. Ichigo was always putting others before himself leaving me to deal with the collateral when he got hurt."
Looking away from the toy… Kon he lifted the bandages and sighed softly. Only a couple of the stiches had split an easy fix. "There's a small pot with a paste in that small hollow there, grab it while I fix the stiches." The lion moved easily and brought the pot back… Ashido ignored the tears sliding endlessly down Kon's face. He too knew the pain of being left behind to pick up the pieces. Perhaps the lion was not the mere machine he had first assumed. Dipping his fingers in the pot he spread the salve on thickly before rewrapping the wound.
"I am going out. If I don't come back in thirty minutes there is a large supply of food in that hollow where the salve was and never ending water from that tree root." The large eyes and agape mouth he ignored. "You should last a week on these supplies alone." He sensed the other was about to interrupt but held up his hand to forestall him. "The exit is the left hand pathway; at every fork just keep taking the left path and it will lead you to the edge of the forest away from Aizen's fortress." Kon seemed unhappy about it but stood straight and nodded. "I'll see you in thirty minutes then Ashido." A small smile made its way to his face; yes the kitten had a good protector indeed.
…
A white clad figure grunted as the last of the menos in their way fell, arrows dissolving them to nothing. He was irritated; their quarry had been within their grasp! Then that filthy S-reaper had disappeared from their sight within the pitch black of what they all assumed was the center of the forest. He had been slightly surprised at how delicate the child had been. From what his sensors had picked up he was injured and bleeding though otherwise seemed fine. The Führer would not be happy to hear this news, especially now that they had visitors. Sighing he wondered why all these insolent fools made it their lot in life to get in his way. He just wanted to finish his mission to perfection like he always did.
"Master Aizen will see you." The blonde-haired blue-eyed female R.A. gestured out of the forest towards what he assumed was Aizen's fortress. Muttering under his breath he suddenly paused. They could use this opportunity… Yes, capture the R.A. and get the information they needed out of her. "Dispose of her companions, capture the blonde one." His men followed his orders flawlessly and he nodded in satisfaction when the arrancar was on her knees bound in front of him. "Now tell me where is meine Kapitänes son."
The blond arrancar looked back at him silently not a single emotion on her face. Snarling he backhanded her and barely resisted the desire the stab one of his arrows through her defiant blue eyes. "Let me repeat myself. Where is the cat hybrid!?" The arrancar remained silent; losing the last of his restraint he materialized an arrow and stabbed it into her bent leg. Not even a single flinch from her unmoving face. Suddenly he heard a loud roar blinking he looked up to see a large hv-monster. Strangely his vision was askew and he was falling sideways, blinking he stared as he saw his own two legs falling in the opposite direction of his torso. Laughing weakly he saw the blond woman jerk the arrow out and crush it before speaking softly her weapon covered in his blood. "He belongs only to my Lord Aizen… Quincy." Blue eyes dismissing him was the last his severed corpse saw.
…
Ichigo snarled and slammed himself against the door of his own ZFJ knowing that if he didn't get out there soon his companion would be in trouble, the fatal kind. The fool had left him asleep in the comfort of his chair sleeping off the fatigue from the last couple of days before leaving the safety of his ZFJ. The fighting had been more and more intense as time continued to stretch on this hateful planet! Ignoring the damage to his own body he rammed his fist against the door again, clearly hearing the conflict just outside the stupid metal door in his path! The Quincy was losing and it was quite clear that he needed help! "Open up Zangetsu! Open now or I will rip you from my skin myself!" His roar of outrage was met with silence.
wAnT sOmE hElP kInG? Eyes wide he was suddenly tempted to let the maniac have his way. Shaking his head from the thought he reified his sword but Zangetsu was stubborn and just as quickly disappeared. A sudden scream made his blood run cold. No it couldn't be! No… no it wasn't Uryuu! Becoming desperate he whirled when he heard a strange voice that was most definitely not Uryuu. "Well well looks like your little friend wasn't worth my time. How about you s-reaper?"
His hollow was strangely silent, he faintly heard Zangetsu trying to talk to him but he ignored his z-chip just as it had him. "Your name?" Laughter echoed through his ZFJ's audio system then it abruptly stopped. "You are serious aren't you? Well then, my name is Kokuto." Ichigo felt his own laughter but when it escaped his throat it sounded more malicious than usual. "Remember this well, my name is Ichigo Kurosaki." C'mon you psychotic freak, let's kill this piece of trash! He felt the porcelain substance of the hollow creating its little mask earing and drowning out Zangetsu's voice in his head. jUsT ThIs oNcE kInG I cOmPlEtElY aGrEe WiTh YoU!
His sword reified but he knew it was different from Zangetsu, with a single slash he ripped open the door. Uryuu lay unmoving on the scorched land of this wretched world. His skin was deathly pale and his entire body was so still it was hard for him to focus on little else. His eyes seemed to be glued to the morbid sight of his friend on the ground unmoving… He can't be…not again…
Kokuto laughed his black blade hovering over Uryuu like he was some sort of god who was holding his friend's life in his hands. "He's already dead Ichigo!" The venom in those words made his rage that much more powerful. "Liar!" An arrogant smirk pulled at thin lips set in a pale face. lEt'S cUt HiS fAcE oFf! His nod of agreement was subconscious and his opponent seemed confused for a moment before shaking it off.
His blade seemed heavy in his hand but he wasn't paying that any attention; his eyes were fixated on Kokuto as he gripped Uryuu by his collar and held him over one of the fissures of lava his smirk vicious. Red filled his vision and he felt the porcelain, the physical representation of his hollow, as it grew lava hot against his skin. He made no move, but as the fingers let go of his companion he felt his hollow roar with outrage in his mind.
"yOu ArE dEaD!" The fact that his hollow's words came from his mouth instead of his mind didn't matter. In a split second his body moved and he had his friend in his arms. He could see his reflection in his opponent's wide eyes and in that one moment he saw everything.
His skin was pale, his iris' sickly golden yellow and the rest black. Long black claws bit into his palm from where he gripped his weapon as he swung it in a wide arch towards the other. His hair usually short cropped against his neck was now long and wild barely held away from his face by the hollow mask earing which had changed form from a rounded mask to a grotesque open fanged horned demon. His skin was tinted with demonic black designs curling against his collarbones and down around his pectorals to the center of his chest like some sort of symbol of imminent death. Out of his mouth peeked twin fangs drawing across bloodless lips which curled into an animal snarl.
Holding his bonded around the waist he pointed his sword forward. "BaNkAi!" A rush of red and black reiatsu surrounded him making the air even more scorched than it had been. Roaring he pointed his sword forward now a narrow black blade with wicked curves. All the red and black converged into a large cero.
The blast roared through the air like a flaming tornado of fury, pleased he watched as it flattened several out cropping's. His opponent seemed pleased with this but he ignored that, this power would kill the person who thought to take his bonded from him. Who had taken what was his! He would regret, this thief would… his pain would be slow and agonizing. "You are quite powerful, not surprising since they sent you here, but a hollow's powers? Now that is quite impressive Ichigo. Together…" Laughing scathingly he smiled his lips twisting with dark humor over gleaming fangs. "nO oNe KiLlS mY bOnDeD aNd ExPeCtS tO LiVe!" A frown as the other seemed to realize there was something off. It was too late for that anyway; he was ready to kill this piece of thrown out trash.
His speed increased to near impossible heights as his blade rained down retribution. As the other strained to block his attacks he pressed harder and hard feeling exhilaration even though he was still so angry. FaStEr…HaRdEr…MoRe… mOrE…dIe…RoT…sUfFeR! Suddenly he appeared behind his opponent and with a certain amount of relish he slit the convict's throat spraying his blood over the blackened earth. Red reiatsu glowed along his blade which he pressed to the pale throat to cauterize the wound. The resulting scream was music to his ears as his victim struggled, he heard the guardians approaching. Looking up unimpressed he stepped away from the writhing figure, his bonded held carefully though tightly in his arm. Baring his teeth he snarled. "MiNe! mInE!" The guardians paused staring soullessly at him then one reached forward and suddenly past him picking up Kokuto and promptly eating him before they all turned and left.
Growling lowly in his throat he moved back towards the piece of junk that had kept him from helping his bonded. As he walked up the ramp and into the cockpit he gently laid his bonded down in his' seat. Suddenly he collapsed the hollow mask earing shattering as tears poured from amber eyes. He couldn't speak; the grief choked him squeezing his throat like a noose making his breath short and gasping. Gripping the arm rest he bowed his head unable to look at the deathly pale skin and the blood covering his friend's entire form. He was too late… always too late. His voice came back to him as he wailed his grief into the air like the broken man he was, his hair still long fell in his face as if to hide his shame. If there were animal howls and screams interspersed in his grief they went unnoticed as there was no audience to tell him they existed. No one, but himself… always just himself. All alone…always.
…
Urahara blinked as he stared at the holo-screen and the message written there. Stiffening visibly he gripped his cane like a lifeline. When he heard the door open behind him, Benihime was unsheathed and at the throat of Ryuken before he could take another breath. Narrowing his eyes menacingly he let his blade bite deep into the other's throat drawing a thin line of blood. "If you are a spy Ryuken, your life ends right here." Silver eyes widened in surprise then understanding lit them up. "I have no association with the Quincy movement; I left them long ago and have never looked back." Eyes still narrowed he didn't move his sword. Then suddenly he smiled and Benihime was gone as though she had never been. Fan flicking in front of his face he motioned the other to sit. "They have moved on Heuco Mundo."
The former Quincy shook his head and merely held out his hand a small chip lying innocently in his palm. Picking it up he blinked when the other simply turned and left the room showing no other interest in what was happening. Looking at the small chip critically he made sure to run some tests on it to make sure nothing malicious was hidden from him. Finally appeased he slid it into his holo-computer and blinked when he noticed several video files.
Clicking the oldest one he felt himself stiffen when the view in front of him revealed a lab, filled with hybrids. All of them seemed sedated and in various stages of experimentation, some of them had ears and tails cut off and stuffed in jars next to them. The ones doing the experiments were undoubtedly Quincy, the white with the blue cross a stark indicator. A voice spoke in a deep German accent though he couldn't see the speaker. The camera moved throughout the room. Words were spoken but his mind was too busy identifying the various liquids and substances he could see being injected into the poor creatures.
When that video was done he barely moved before clicking on the next. The same lab, different species, different torture devices. Every video was the same until he clicked on the second to last. His blood ran cold as he noticed a very familiar cat hybrid young and sedated. She lay in an operating room unconscious and he had a bad feeling. "This will be our first test to see if we can use enhanced genes to birth an exceptional specimen." Feeling bile in the back of his throat he watched as they injected genetically altered sperm into her uterus.
The video abruptly switched to show that the female was still sedated but her round belly was showing with signs of pregnancy. Blood was drawn from her arm and other tests were done but mostly she was left alone. On and on it went, at the end of the second trimester they stopped sedation as it was too dangerous to the fetus. It was a mistake on their part, it seemed, as the moment the female was awake and aware of her state she was enraged. Green eyes flashing viciously as she used claw and fang to kill, she stared at her belly sadly and he felt fear suddenly. As she raised her hands to kill the child she was shaking tears running down her face before turning and running away leaving the child unharmed.
Breath stuttered in his lungs as puzzle pieces fell into place; that was why all of them were after the cat hybrid. He had a feeling that Aizen was unaware of the genetics surrounding the hybrid he had kidnapped. That's why his mother had moved so cautiously and it also explained why she abandoned him randomly on planets without explanation to him. She had been trying to get rid of him, let him be killed on one of the unsavory planets that they "visited." Too coward to kill the child herself she had tried to get him killed, that's why she let Aizen onto their ship! Growling deep in his throat he turned to his holo-computer and typed rapidly his fingers flying on the keys. Eyes dark and intense he didn't notice the bunny M-S walk into the room with her owner, the clearing of a throat had him pause a second before he muttered to himself.
"Yes Rukia?" The female paused before speaking stoically. "There is a human here who has been infected… but." Nodding he waved the concern away. "Orihime was in close contact with an infected and it seems that the infection merely enhanced her reiatsu abilities but didn't leave her with the madness or physical alterations that endues most infected." The other shifted for a moment before speaking again. "I would like to train her." Pausing his typing he actually thought about that, she would make a good ally considering her ability. It would be more beneficial than not having someone to train her. He didn't have the time nor the resources, Ichigo didn't have the patience to teach anyone anything, and he couldn't spare Yoruichi. "Good, good."
The female left and he went back to his calculations and typing often muttering before he sat back and looked at the screen. There in front of him was the entirety of medical files and data he could find on the young cat hybrid that was recorded on the hybrid fleets records. They had been encrypted but nothing too consequential, and the firewalls were paltry at best. Scanning he was pleasantly surprised to see they had kept rather thorough records of his health. Most of them were general records and not the information he wanted. Perhaps… "Ahh!" Smiling genuinely he hacked the captains record's and found a secret file about the child's DNA. Reading the file he was surprised at the amount of data that was practically useless there. "Injected nanites… failed: talent too strong… ability to erase own memory…induced emotional trauma failed due to erasing of memory… split abilities…eye coloring changes…"
"Wait…" Rereading the section he frowned. "The subject showed remarkable abilities when under extreme emotional stress. Causing both eyes to go from green-yellow to bright gold, upon this happening his ability to manipulate technology increased. Yes, but the power supply was too short, the bursts took most of his energy and left him vulnerable afterward…" Tsking he scrolled some more reading details about the golden aura, increased violent tendencies towards "perceived" threats. "Hmm… that's not all… fascinating. All green eyes…" When the child's eyes were all green it meant his "ability" was spent and recovering. This supposed "survival mode" made Mael's senses heightened, he showed tendencies towards tunnel vision in regards to his health and safety. Plotting escape routes, insomnia, and extreme paranoia were normal during this time. "So interesting…"
"Urahara." Blinking he looked up from the file suddenly aware of the world around him again. It had been a while since anything had caught his attention so deeply. Looking up at the Kuchiki, the older one, he smiled. Then he noticed the other was tense and stiff, more than normal anyway. "Something happen R-1Kuchiki?" The other stared at him with chrome colored eyes unflinching. "I am leaving." Startled he stood; this definitely wasn't part of the plan. Once Ichigo and Uryuu left D-world they were going to meet up with the Kuchiki siblings and retrieve Kon and Mael. "What happened?" The Captain's eyes narrowed and he frowned, a mere twitch of his lips downward. "I have been recalled to S-World by the Head Captain, it seems there have been kidnappings of R-2's from several divisions. Renji being one of them." With this the other turned and continued walking away.
Sighing his eyes flicked to the screen of his computer showing the many Hybrids being experimented on and he shuddered. The Quincy didn't stand a chance against Byakuya if they harmed Renji, he wasn't naïve enough to think that Byakuya wouldn't take any harm but on the scale of giving and receiving damage… well Senbonzakura wasn't known for its mercy. "Tessai make sure that Rukia brings that human girl Orihime here to train. We might need her more than we thought." The hulking large man wasn't in the room but their communication system could be activated when they wished, wherever either of them was inside the house or basement. Flicking his fan open he was about to stand and suddenly felt hesitation eyes flickering back to the screen. With a snick the fan closed and he turned back to the screen to continue his research. DNA… Ancients DNA…
…
Rangiku felt exhausted, she had been very close to simply knocking Renji unconscious a couple of times. But she didn't have the heart to, not when she could understand how he felt at the moment. Thankfully for her and embarrassingly for him, he had remembered Byakuya's scarf. It was pristine, neatly folded, and tucked very carefully in Renji's uniform. She didn't know how or where he had gotten one of Byakuya's scarves but its presence was an anchor for Renji's mind and so long as he had it with him the madness was kept at bay.
That crisis had been terrifying, watching everyday as Renji lost a little more of himself. Even now his temper was hotter than normal, but surprisingly all he had to do too calm down was to pull out the scarf rub his hand or cheek against it and he was calm again. So far nothing had been done to or with them. For the past couple days they were in the same room, they were given food and water but nothing more was said or done.
She had continued her little game with the stranger across the hall whenever she had time. It helped keep her relatively sane and it was challenging. The patterns had become increasingly complex and some of them she hadn't been able to duplicate. Every once in a while she tripped the other up with a flamboyant pattern and she felt a little thrill when she heard the soft whooshing sound that told her the other was secretly impressed.
The cold from the first day hadn't returned thankfully, but she couldn't say the same about the dreams. They continued to be depressing and sad but somehow more bearable than the first one she had woken up from. Sometimes it was simply dark and there was a deep voice full of unbearable sadness and loneliness. Other times she was sitting in a small home staring at an older woman who smiled patiently back at her talking about something she couldn't hear no matter how much she strained. Then there were the terrifying ones… about the… "Hey Rangiku you hear that?" Blinking she tilted her head and frowned when she heard footsteps they were light but somehow threatening to hear. It wasn't unusual but the timing was, their captors were rigid with their scheduling, the times that food and water was delivered was always timed exactly.
"You think they are looking for a fight?" Renji frowned but looked ready to do what needed to be done. Feeling better now that he was back to his semi-usual self, she prepared herself for a fight. What she wasn't prepared for was who was standing at the door. "Hinamori?" Even Renji seemed shocked at who was standing there, his posture slackening. A sudden whoosh and scraping sound alerted her that something was wrong; she lunged forward and shoved the girl out of the room and shut the door. Renji seemed stunned but didn't question it helping her hold the door closed against whoever was actually trying to get in. "Is she real or do you think it's an illusion?" Rangiku shook her head, she didn't know, but what she did know was that Hinamori was close to reifying her weapon before she had shoved the smaller girl out of the room. "Something isn't right." Renji nodded his muscles straining to hold the door closed.
As they struggled suddenly the temperature dropped so quickly that in the next breath she saw the condensation in the air. She also noticed ice forming around the door frame making a solid barrier. Pulling away warily she rubbed her arms against the cold and noticed that despite being cold as well Renji merely laid the scarf gently on his knees after he sat cross legged against the wall. "That was strange." Renji nodded then spoke softly as though afraid to be heard. "Did they ever tell you about the old ones?" Eyes widening she thought back to her dream, and sitting down next to Renji she nodded, unable to speak. "I… I think they have one here. Who else would be strong enough too, well…?" As he trailed off Renji waved towards the door and the thick ice blocking them from the outside world. "I know; it's a scary thought though. How could they even capture an old one?" Renji frowned for a moment then went pale and she could swear she saw shame in his eyes. "The same way I would attempt to capture Byakuya, threaten to harm the person he loves the most." Feeling ill she thought back to the sweet older looking woman from her dreams. For her new friend's sake she hoped that her friend's precious person was safe.
…
Gin found himself fighting the down-turning of his lips when Harribel returned with reports of Quincy. It wasn't a huge problem but certainly one that they did not need while Satoshi was still missing. Ulquiorra had returned from his search with a report similar to Harribel'. Aizen didn't seem worried but that could mean anything, the man was a master at illusions.
So far he had been dealing with the R.A. personally considering Aizen's recently foul mood. Not to mention the increasingly heavy burdens and threats he was putting everyone under. Thinking for several moments he ignored the R.A. in the room and turned to look behind him to the throne Aizen had erected in the back of the room now empty. Humming softly his grinned wickedly and he heard a soft sigh from Harribel but dismissed it. "R.A. 3 Harribeeelllll." His drawn out pronunciation of the R.A.3's name was a little added flair. "Yes Master Gin?" Turning slowly he gazed happily at the map in front of him. "Take Aaroniero and Szayel with you and keep a watch out for any more Quincy attempting to land on the planet." The R.A. nodded and turned to leave, Ulquiorra didn't even turn to watch her go, but he shifted slightly as though uncomfortable with his position.
Interesting, he's still not fully recovered from when Satoshi attacked him. Grin still in place he addressed the other R.A. "Ulquiorra wake up Grimmy and have him track down Satoshi." Ulquiorra frowned. They had purposefully drugged and kept R.A.6 out of commission so that he couldn't interfere with Aizen's experiment. But now that they had a problem on their hands he saw no need for such precautions, Satoshi needed to be found and brought back under surveillance. Ulquiorra was the only one who had any sort of respect from Grimmjow and seemed the most likely one he would listen and respond to the quickest. Also Grimmjow was the best tracker out of all of them, not even Stark and his wolves had anything on Grimmjow's hunting and tracking abilities.
"Master Gin…" Before Ulquiorra could protest his plan Aizen spoke from the doorway his voice pleasant but threatening. "Are you questioning the only other person whose words have the same power as my own Number four." Ulquiorra didn't flinch which impressed Gin considering the sudden amount of venomous disdain that coated the word four. "Forgive me Lord Aizen." With this the winged arrancar left the door closing softly behind him. "Impressive as always Gin." Smiling widely he shrugged then gestured to the map. "We found Grimmy in the dessert but I've seen enough to know that he knew the menos forest quite well when he was lower in rank." Aizen nodded a genuine smile on his lips making Gin's stomach churn in absolute revulsion. Oh how I hate this monster. Letting his smile drop he nodded, it was the highest compliment he could give if he wasn't smiling at someone. Though it doesn't mean it's the most genuine one.
"Our guests were quite rude I hope you are having them dealt with correctly?" Nodding he sat on the stairs, in truth he had been doing a lot of work for the past couple of days organizing everything while Aizen went into his version of a sulk. "Szayel had a couple in his labs where was…extracting information from them. It seems Toshi-chan is quite popular neh?" Aizen sighed but walked past him and sat on his throne. "No worries I have Tosen keeping watch not to mention my little spy in the Quincy's base." Keeping his body relaxed he huffed in frustration to his z-chip irritated at the man dangling the information in front of him like a test. "No worries then, always good. Grimmy should find Toshi-chan soon and we'll be all set."
Standing he was startled when he felt Aizen's hand on his shoulder. Hot breath against his neck and ear nearly made him flinch. "You hurt my feelings when you don't play along, Ichimaru." Grin firmly back in place he laughed harshly and turned not detaching the hand on his shoulder but putting some distance between him and the other. "Another game then?" This seemed to intrigue the narcissist who rubbed his shoulder a bit before pulling away. "Always so intriguing, indeed let us play." Smiling wickedly he motioned towards the door his fatigue fading with the thought of what they were going to do next. "Who can make the Quincy talk first without breaking them." A raised brow then an interested glint in Aizen's eyes. "Rules?" Baring his teeth a little he leaned forward as though in on a secret. "Harribel caught ten of them so five for each of us, whoever breaks the least of them and makes them talk first wins!" Aizen didn't laugh but his eyes glowed at the thought. "Dear Gin you do make the best of games as usual. Shall we?" With a dramatic flourish he motioned Gin to go first then followed behind him. Gin wasn't a good man; he wasn't even all that moral either. It was the honest truth when he said that he was going to enjoy torturing the Quincy's for the frustration, weariness, and pain they had put him through! He would enjoy every minute of it!
…
Grimmjow…
The tiger lay resting looking peaceful.
He's asleep…
He should rest…
Hmm who is that?
An orange haired man crying, he lost someone, of course he's howling in hurt and outrage.
What is that sad sound?
The old one suffers nightmares, he whimpers in his sleep trying not to feel fear, but it consumes him anyway.
So sad why are my brothers in so much pain?
Should I help…?
An unmoving unconscious cat hybrid resting deep beneath the earth started glowing, unnoticed in his deep slumber.
Yes…
The lion companion next to him was startled at the unusual color of the glow, this had never happened before. The golden glow yes, but this…
I will help.
The silvery white light of the moon shone around the prone body like a halo. Cat ears and tail seemed to disappear in that instant, instead brilliant silvery white wings spread out to encompass the form of the sleeping hybrid.
My brothers, here…
A broken man, as he wept for his friend looked up at the soft words whispering through his mind. He sat feeling confused at the peace warming his broken heart. He struggled against it before the gentle emotion swept away the agony and sleep tugged him into her warm embrace.
Take heart…
The old one, whose blood was ancient, but whose heart was young; relaxed in sleep as the nightmares faded. Leaving only pleasant dreams of a warm home and the flamboyant taps that echoed in his thoughts from the one across the hallway during the day.
Be strong…
Omega
In the depths of a child's mind there was a power that glowed and shone with the light of the moon, silver and pure. It consumed the darkness and left light as only the sun could on the darkest of days. The power stretched ignoring distance as only light can, reaching and searching out its brethren. Some called this power "bond" for it only reached those who were like its bearer, the stars to the moon. Other's called it "demonic" for it was an unknown and the unknown was always a call for fear.
To the child, the bearer, it was something that only happened when everything went absolutely still. No fear, no hurt, only the quiet peaceful stillness. So still was this peace that he could hear across the universe, past worlds, and to the places where his brothers and sisters dwelt. Because the "bearer" felt and understood loneliness, pain, suffering, guilt, and self-hate he could see the dimming of the "stars" lights. He was unaware of this gift in the deepest parts of his being until he used it again; until it rose in the absolute stillness. When he found dark emotions, dimming stars, he touched his brothers and sisters and gathered them to himself for a time, to give strength, hope, and peace. The blood of an ancient one was a burden that this child didn't know he had dormant inside him.
His mother had, but she despised him for his existence, an experiment that she was too coward to kill off herself. She had said his father was not one being. Rather he had no father, for his blood and genes came from so many others spliced and put together to create him. A being that was not couldn't speak. The creator had hoped to see the stirrings of the ancients' DNA in his little experiment but was never given the chance. The hybrid was such in the truest sense, for in his creation, his genetic code, he had multiple genes from multiple other beings. Most had been crushed under the mother's stronger genetic code, all but one. The single cell, the single gene from, what most humans would cal,l Angels.
But this gift came with a hefty price as all such things do… The lion plushy went frantic, when the wings had disappeared and the glow dimmed; his charges' breathing slowly disappeared. Satoshi's heart had stopped.
Beginning and endings.
The start and the finish.
Alpha and omega.
But really do Angel's fall so easily? Or do they close their eyes only to open them once more; to see that the light is worth everything they have suffered. That in the end loneliness is only for a short time and suffering ends. That we fall ten times only to rise even higher in the end.
Satoshi's heart stopped. Kon frantic and worried watched as the white light of the wings faded and dimmed. Then they flared to a painful brilliance and were absorbed back inside the small hybrid's body. Satoshi's cat ears and tail returning with no physical sign that anything strange had ever happened. The price was ignorance: a gift that could not be used freely.
Alpha
To be continued…
A/N: Ok I know it seems kinda off in the end; let me know what you think. Also if you feel there is something missing let me know, always open to thoughts and ideas. Old Ones and Ancient Ones are different it will be explained so bear with me. There are a lot of different facets to this story that will all come together in the end. It's going slow but that's better than terrible ;)