Author's Note: Thank you all for responding to my list in a rational and reasonable manner. A lot of people made comments and I defended my reasoning while conceding certain points. As I pointed out to one such reader, the age old conflict in anime fans will always be a potential conflict between 'what if' scenarios. After much deliberation, I have decided to move Yamamoto up the list. He will be placed within the upper echelons of the Satan Class.

On another note, for those of you leaving guest reviews, please PM with your ideas or thoughts because I receive between 15-20 guest reviews per chapter. It isn't viable for me to respond to all of you in an author's note.

I will address one thing: Yhwach...uh uh...no way in hell I'm touching that guy with a fifteen foot pole. That dude is more broken than Yugi's deck.

Two things actually, will Ichigo meet with the residents of Karakura Town again? Yes. Yes he will. Just not for a few more chapters...maybe more.

Tiamat! I'm very pleased that her character is being received so well. People have asked me what I derived her appearance from and I'm honestly surprised no one's guessed it yet. There were two, actually, muses for her. The first and obvious, Storm from X-men in the 90's cartoon and Evolution. The second was from Fran of FF12.

100k words!

Hope You Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Dirty

The cool sensation seeping into her skin had her ancient eyes watching in amusement as the beginnings of the bond began to coalesce in an ethereal chain between herself and the little Devil.

Her master, the thought filling her with mirth.

A feeling only further riled by the fact she had yet to even ask for his name.

Not that she didn't know already.

His descent into the abysmal bowels had left its mark to those old and wise enough to read the signs.

She slipped her eyes away from the bubbling magic and sifted over his features. Strong and angular with just a hint of softness. Tiamat had eaten such men before…both figuratively and literally.

Soft laughter rumbled within her throat, the sound easily carrying to his demonically enhanced ears and causing him to glance up and look at her. The moment their eyes met, he stiffened and a she could practically see the mental shields snap in place behind those brown eyes creeping with a hint of red.

His very touch possessed the potential to forever mar the sky and earth on the barest whim yet he could barely restrain his instincts to mate with her.

What an adorable little abomination her new master was.

Ancient that she was, her sight was not limited to the flesh of the world and that of life. Rather, it was a simple matter for her to perceive with heart and mind that which was alien and unknown to the common rabble that paraded themselves across one world to the next.

And what a perception the child, for even by the lives of Man was he entirely too young, before her provided. Beneath bone and sinew. Past the Soul that yearned to Pierce the Sky. She could easily see the darkness swarm along throes of fire and enmity.

For many, what she saw would be an undeniable evil. For one with an understanding as deep as hers, she comprehended it as a thing far, far worse.

It was judgment.

Sentence taken to such an extreme that it became the initial reason that Mortality came to be a thing dreaded and the Reaper's touch to be abhorred with vehemence.

And this young creature, barely out of the domains of Man's childhood, was bound forevermore to the Primordial aspect of retribution.

Pushing past her musings, she smiled demurely as the final words fell from his lips and the chant ended. A soft glow ruptured between them and suddenly Tiamat was assaulted with passive impressions and thoughts that did not belong to her.

"So the bond is done," She whispered quietly as she overturned her arm, examining the magic bindings that linked her to the young Devil from across her.

"Yeah," A hint of uncertainty ringing in her ears from him.

Her lips quirked at the thought of him regretting his decision to bind himself to her. A hasty decision on his part, but that was the privilege of the young. Allowance of mistakes was that which willed growth.

With a graceful fluidity, she drew herself to her full height and set her shoulders back. All too aware of his stolen glances towards her bosom, Tiamat set her countenance of stone and spoke with a regal tone that ruptured whatever lust-laden thoughts had imbued upon his mind.

"I am Tiamat," Her voice dropping to a gravel-like vibrato. "She who arose from the Primordial Oceans and gave life to the power that would be Mesopotamia in the lesser tongues."

There was a slight widening of his eyes and he moved to speak but she did not allow him to deny her moment. "Upon distant shores of the river Time did I erect glorious constructs of the Transient and the Undying."

She pressed the fingers of one hand to the hollow of her throat and willed the full majesty of her stare into his being. "I am Mother and Destroyer. I am the Life at the Beginning and the Chaos at the End. To you, One of Fire and Shadow, do I offer myself. In Prosperity and Ambition, let the world tremble beneath our wake."

Again, he made to say something, yet she cut him off swiftly.

In one powerful step, Tiamat closed the distance between them and leaned in to mesh their lips firmly together. He gave a muffled cry of surprise and made to push back, but she locked her hands firmly across the sides of his jaw.

The heat radiating from him trickled onto her soaking skin and filled her lungs with the scent of flavored smoke.

She kept them together for a moment before slowly leaning back and giving a teasing flick of her tongue over his lips.

Tiamat gave a low laugh as she felt the blood rushing through his face. He gave a rather fair impression of a fish deprived of its water. 'Really now, how delectably endearing this child is.'

"Little one." Patient tone warring with her mischievous eyes. "You are meant to introduce yourself."

He swallowed quite audibly and stammered out. "I-Ichigo Kurosaki."

Her lips curved dangerously as her eyes fell half-lidded. "Well met, my new master."

He continued to stare at her, much to her great amusement.

"Hmm," Tiamat hummed as she dropped one hand onto his shoulder and allowed it wrap around him as she walked behind him.

"What are you doing?" He finally seemed to regain his bearing as his query came out a wary half sigh and she dropped her chin onto the soft skin between shoulder and neck.

Momentarily ignoring him, she pressed herself onto him, willing the warmth searing off his body into hers. If anything, she had gained a fantastic heat generator in the form of her new master.

"While Wyrmkind do not fully appreciate the meaning of modesty, I doubt our guest will welcome my bare nature." She nuzzled his neck with her chin, allowing her white hair to spill over his shoulder.

"Guest?" He softly murmured even as she felt him reach out with his senses. She was surprised when she felt a moment of horror through their shared bond as the sensation of frost and snow gave way to familiarity.

The figure approaching them was quite a distance away, albeit rapidly closing the distance, and was not so powerful as to warrant concern.

Whoever it was was certainly stronger than her newfound master was, yet that was only as he was now. She had no illusions as to whether or not he could defeat the approaching being in his true form. And even if that were not the case, Tiamat herself was here and together, there were but a handful in the world who could weather their combined might.

"You wouldn't happen to have a way to clothe yourself would you?" He whispered while staring off miserably.

Tiamat in fact did have ways of covering herself in mortal garb, uncomfortable that she found it to be. Unfortunately for her master, his current distress was far too amusing for her to do anything to end it.

"I do." Her arms tightened around him.

"But you're not going too." He breathed dejectedly as her chin fell along with his shoulders. She allowed a gentle rumble from her chest to demonstrate her enjoyment of the situation.

"Already you begin to understand me so well, little one. I do believe we will work out quite adequately."

He let out a soft sigh. "Nee-san is going to kill me."

Tiamat straightened herself, letting her arms slip from his shoulders. Surprisingly, her master dragged his shirt over his head and deftly took it off in one flexible movement. He shook droplets of water out of his hair and Tiamat was left appreciating a rather acceptable specimen of a humanoid male.

She tilted her head to the side, watching droplets of water run down his torso and slowly trace over the V forming just above his groin. The heaviness of the water had pulled down his trousers and left just enough for the imagination to have its fair share of entertainment.

Power in spades, physically appealing…all that was left was to ascertain his mental fortitude. A most satisfactory master indeed.

A wave of demonic power rolled off him, instantly drying the body she was appreciating as well as the clothing apparel he surprisingly offered her.

"If only for the sake of my sanity." He gave a dry huff as he averted his gaze. Though why was beyond her. He had already stared enough to burn a permanent image into his mind.

Following his example, Tiamat touched her inner fire and promptly dried herself as well and accepted his shirt. She looked at the strange piece of attire before mimicking the way he had worn it and slipped her neck around the center hole while her arms through the side ones.

What a novel experience. The last occasion of her spending time amongst mortals involved them wrapping the cloth around themselves or having it pinned together.

It was quite large on her, despite her being taller than him, and the garb left a great deal of room for her to maneuver inside of. She felt as if she were inside a makeshift bag.

While it fell to just above her thighs, leaving her entire legs bear, she thought it quite comfortable. "What manner of garment is this?"

Her eyes returned to look at him and a bewildered expression crossed her face as she found desire and need coloring his gaze once more. 'How odd. Why does the addition of apparel arouse him? Surely the lack of should be cause for lust.'

He closed his eyes and drew in a heavy breath as he pinched his nose. "Why do I even bother?" She heard him mutter.

He swept his hair back and turned towards her. She noted he put in extra effort to only look into her eyes. "It's called a jersey."

Tiamat fingered the soft and silk like material.

"Ever changing mortals." Her mouth twisted in humor. "You will have to bring me to the bazaar at some point little master. I am eager to see what other designs pass as garments in this age."

He raised a curious brow at her. "You've been out of touch for that long from the world? And stop calling me that. I have a name you know and I prefer it being used."

She walked over to the young Devil and placed her hands on his shoulders once more. About to respond, Tiamat's eyes suddenly swept to the side as silver lined the edges of her vision. The arriving had finally arrived.

Tiamat cast a careful eye as the female Devil carefully swept tresses over her brow before freezing halfway through the motion. Her eyes widened ever so slightly as they shifted back and forth from Tiamat to Ichigo.

Curiously, she noted how the female Devil was concentrating on her master's garment that she was wearing in a furious piercing stare.

Jealousy? Perhaps the silver haired she-devil was her master's lover.

However, Tiamat quickly dismissed the notion as silver eyes raptly shifted to her master and began checking him over for injuries. Not jealousy then, concern with a hint of indignation.

"Ichigo-kun," The Devil accentuated slowly as the rock beneath her feet crept with a thin layer of ice. "Why are you half naked with a Dragon King?"

Her eyes flicked over to her master as he took a nervous step back.

'How interesting.' Humor danced lightly across star sapphire eyes. 'He is the mightier of the two but still he fears her…perhaps she holds an authoritative position amongst the Devils.'

"I swear it's not what it looks like!" He raised his hands in appeasement.

Tiamat gave a soft laugh as she repositioned herself behind him.

The She-Devil tensed as Tiamat gingerly placed her fingers on his chin and tilted his head back onto her shoulder, despite his protest and struggle. She was physically stronger than he was so long as he refused to reveal his true form.

Turning her sight downwards and meeting brown eyes, she firmly proclaimed, "We are bonded."

"You bonded with a Dragon King?!"

"Yes he did." Her tone falling flat while her eyes slit. "Is that an issue?"

Disregarding any subtlety, she flared her impressive might and allowed her will to crash onto the Underworld.

Surprise crossed the other female's face before it quickly hardened into a stern glower and she began to push back, albeit just barely.

"No. It is not." She said tersely.

Tiamat gave a victorious smirk. "Good."

Sapphire and silver warred against one another momentarily. The message having been said wordlessly so as to not alert the sole male.

"It is most certainly an issue."

The tension was cut abruptly when her master broke in. "What are you doing here Grayfia-nee?"

The two continued to stare at each other for a moment before the newly identified Grayfia broke off the stare and said to her master. "Mathers may have indirectly informed me of your predicament when half the Underworld felt two near Satan level powers clash together rather violently."

She gave a dry stare towards the two of them. "Though it seems I worried needlessly."

"Uh, yeah. Sorry about that."

Grayfia crossed her arms. "Do not be. I have understood that in no part of this were you in the wrong."

Tiamat arched an eye as the silver haired devil turned towards her. "Grayfia Lucifuge. Dragon King Tiamat, I presume?"

"You presume correctly."

"Will you be returning with us my Lady? If so, my master Lucifer would like to speak with you. There are a number of things which must be addressed if a person of your stature is going to be Ichigo-kun's familiar."

Tiamat allowed her words to sift through her head before giving a solid nod. "You need not refer to me as such, merely my name will do. I forfeited all titles of Lordship millennia ago save for Dragon King, but yes. I will accompany you and my new master to speak with your lord. It has been nearly fifty years since Sirzechs and I last spoke. I am curious to see how that child has grown."

Her master gave her a surprised glance before schooling his features. She resisted the smile threatening to form on her lips. He would quickly learn that everyone was a child when compared to her.

"Very well then."

Grayfia spread the fingers of one hand and a rotating white circle of magic appeared before her. "If you will step in then."

All three of them treaded into the circle and Tiamat felt a twisting sensation along her spine as the world collapsed around them and distorted.

Once the feeling dissipated, Tiamat found herself standing in a magnificent courtyard with sculptures of substantial size and a bubbling spring fountain.

"Welcome to Bastion Lucifer," Ichigo muttered from beside her.

She cast an observing eye over the colossal building and its winding archway architecture. Various gargoyles sculpted to make the impression of them scaling the walls fit in among gigantic glass windows.

"Most impressive. Several of the palaces in the days during my reign could not compare to this structure. Admittedly, we had the habit of building skywards rather than expanding across the ground."

He snorted from besides her. "If you want tall, I'll take you to New Lilith. You can't even see the sky without craning your neck all the way there."

"Very well then," She slipped an arm through his. "I will hold you to your offer."

He eyed her for a second before giving a barely perceivable shake of his head.

Grayfia turned towards the pair. "I assume you would like to freshen up and, perhaps, clothe yourselves before meeting Sirzechs-sama?"

Tiamat found it unnecessary but looked towards her master even as he did the same.

"If it's all the same to you," he said tonelessly. "I'd like to get this over with."

She nodded her head and both turned Grayfia.

"Very well, let us be off then." She didn't sound too pleased.

If Tiamat had to guess, the she-devil was quite used to a certain level of decorum and did not appreciate their current state of attire. It was a shame for her that dragons valued practicality right under sleep and their pride.

Never wake a slumbering dragon.

She had burned more than one kingdom down for a nap ruined.

As they passed through massive halls and winding staircases, Tiamat kept her fingers lightly wrapped around her master's forearm. He barely seemed to register her presence as a wall seemed to have erected over their fledgling link from his side. Not that she couldn't do the same.

However, there was something peculiarly different about him all of a sudden. No more was he consistently stealing glances at her. No more was her ancient allure pulling at the base desires of his kind that ran so strong.

She marveled at the abrupt change. Gone was the child and standing instead was an adamantine resolution mired with ire. What change was occurring in that head of his?

Eventually the three of them found themselves before a pair of massive doors coated with numerous engravings save for one small flat square of wood.

Grayfia did not bother to knock and simply pushed the giant slabs forward. The moment she did however, they were rewarded with the sound of music and a rather odd sight.

Snapping his fingers while his hips gyrated in a bizarre, if not rhythmic manner, the child she remembered as a hardened war veteran and slayer of thousands sang with an unnaturally high-pitched voice.

"Show them how funky, strong is you-"

With a kick to the air, the young leader of the Devils spun around and froze in his spot at the sight of his newfound audience.

A thick silence descended onto the chamber and Tiamat subtly appraised the reactions of the other two with her. Judging by the lack of surprise, this was not something that was considered odd to them.

Granted she knew very little about Devil culture.

"Uhh…this is exactly what it looks like."

Grayfia pinched the bridge of his nose while shutting her eyes tight. Her master on the other hand looked as impassive as he had on the journey towards here.

Sirzechs cleared his throat.

"Right…well it seems you've returned safe and sound Ichigo-kun! And you've even brought back Dragon King Tiamat with you! So how was your trip to…Ichigo-kun?" Sirzechs' face fell uncertain as he trailed off.

Halfway through the Devil speaking, her master had gently pried her fingers off his arm and began to stalk towards the redhead.

Uncertainty gaining strength on his countenance, Sirzechs tried called out once more. "…Ichigo-kun?"

As he stopped before Sirzechs, Tiamat noted the clenched fist by her master's side.

It was swifter than any mortal eye could follow as, white and tight, knuckles crashed into Sirzechs' face. Even from across the considerable distance of the chamber, the crushing of cartilage and the fracturing of bone made themselves audible to her ears.

For a single, measly second, Sirzechs stayed still as her master's fist dug deep into his face. Nevertheless, he was quickly picked up off his feet and launched forward with considerable force.

His body twisting through the air, Sirzechs went sailing over his desk and smashed clean through the window in the back.

Her master straightened himself quickly and shook his hand, sending small flecks of blood to the floor while ignoring the fading sound of a girlish scream.

"Ass-hat," he muttered.

Turning back around, he spoke with a light frown. "Sorry about that Nee-san, but it was long overdue. I'll pay for the window, by the way."

Tiamat heard a long-suffering sigh from beside her. "It's quite alright."

He nodded. "Well in that case, I'll be off taking a nap."

He grimaced as he stretched his back. "For future reference, I don't recommend sleeping in a cave."

"Duly noted," Grayfia said dryly.

As he approached her, Tiamat had a teasing smile in place.

'Really now…he's absolutely adorable.'

Ichigo let out a grunt of contentment as he collapsed onto his bed in a soundless crash and shut his eyes. He really needed a good sleep because, as things stood, even though he wasn't injured, his battle with Tiamat had taken its toll on his body.

Speaking of said Dragon…

His eyes slowly drifted open as he fingered the soft cotton sheets.

Standing at the foot of his bed, still wearing nothing but a conjured jersey, which was due to fade any minute now, Tiamat smiled with half-lidded eyes.

"Right," he sighed as he dragged a tired hand over his face. "I should get a maid to set you up with a room."

Her smile sharpened.

"No need." She bent over and crawled slowly onto the bed on all fours. All too big for her, the collar of the jersey fell down and graced him with the sight of her free cleavage.

Three seconds later, he felt the warm sensation of her naked thighs pressing on his still bare abdominals…dammit. He just remembered that his cargo pants were also conjured and the magic supporting them was due to expire as well.

She leaned back, her firm buttocks pushing against his quickly hardening lower self.

"Hmm."

There it was again.

That dark purr that immediately got a reaction out of him. Her jeweled eyes fell into a gloom and looked down at him with a shadowed gaze.

Ichigo held in his breath as his fingers dug into the mattress. He tightened his abdominal muscles, willing his body to ignore the responses she was lacing out of it.

"I really want to sleep." He gritted out.

Those eyes.

Those damned eyes that turned his head in and out.

How could something be so appealing yet terrifyingly hungry at the same time?

She leaned in; pressing her breasts onto his chest and the only thing that separated their bare skin was a thin layer of magical polyester.

Spangled and impish eyes devoured his thoughts as a mane of wild white hair fell on either side of his face. Ensuring that all he could see was her. Oceanic breeze, cool and light, washed over his face as her lips parted. "Do you not wish to mate with me?"

Hell yes.

"I want to sleep." He reiterated with strained difficulty.

Her hands brushed back the orange strands that lightly fell across his eyes. "Why not?"

"I'd rather save my first for someone special."

A majestic and fine brow rose at that. "You are no innocent maid."

Scowling, he said, "How would you know that?"

Her expression remained unbelieving but a hint of teasing came back. "One with his virginity intact would not have so possessively placed his hands on me."

Ichigo blinked in confusion. What was she talking…?

His eyes widened in disbelief as he realized that his hands had subconsciously moved to wrap themselves across her lower back. The cool touch of her amber skin sending jolts of electricity up into his arms.

Her lips curved back into that infuriating smile. "Almost habitual I would say."

Ichigo clenched his teeth.

"Is there another? A lover that causes you to stay your…hands?"

He exhaled sharply across her face. "There's no one."

She fell silent for a moment before understanding lit her eyes. "Ah…I see."

Her vexing mien fell away into carefully constructed neutrality. "Heartbreak then…or rather severe disenchantment."

A wave of cold ran through him, running fierce against the river of fire that her body enthused out of his.

"You need to stop," His voice had fallen to a flat menace.

She traced his jaw with her fingers as she sat up on his waist and regarded him coolly. "So be it."

He looked away from her, regretting having momentarily lost his temper but closed his eyes rather than apologizing. There were certain things he really did not want to talk about.

Several moments passed where Ichigo did his best to force himself into a slumber but it was to no avail. The constant beating of his heart thrummed in his ears and even worse, was the enticing beat of hers.

Supernaturally enhanced senses working heavily against him in his current situation, Ichigo placed his forearm across his eyes and huffed.

"I've made my decision."

He nearly groaned aloud as she broke the appreciated silence.

"What decision?" He intoned from behind his arm.

"The decision to invoke your owed debt."

His arm fell away as he gave her a cautionary, if somewhat hostile, look. "Me owing you does not mean you get to go digging through my personal life."

She shook her head, leaving heavy weaves of white strands to fray lightly across her shoulders. "I simply wish for you to do something."

Ichigo felt his eyes narrow in anger. "You are not forcing me to have sex with you."

She allowed a deep chuckle to rain over his ears.

"No no." A single finger fell on his lips and traced them softly. A dark purr ripped through her throat and the blue in her gaze waved in a silent furor. He was faintly aware of his fingers tracing rings across her lower back with the lines of his nails. "Nothing so crass."

"Tonight…"

He raised a brow. "Tonight?"

She froze for a moment before her lips twisted wickedly. "Every night."

A sense of foreboding and, dare he say it, anticipation rushed through him. He wouldn't lie to himself. He wanted this woman.

He wanted to do things to this woman.

"Every night what?"

She tilted her head and allowed her hair to pool to one side as she held him with a predacious gleam. She let out a soft growl, sending a sea-salt wind over his face and revealing ivory white canines.

"Every night," Conquering light shone out of her eyes. "You are going to kiss me."

He stared blankly when her fingers tracing the edges of his mouth stopped and set to a soft tapping across his jaw. "I'm going to what?"

She smirked in satisfaction and a guttural sound escaping her throat sent shivers into his skull. "A simple meeting of the lips. A chaste moment for the rest of the nights we are bound. This, I decree to be your repayment for obligation owed."

"For the rest of the nights we are bound?" An unnerved light passed his eyes.

She nodded slowly, biting her lower lip as her half-lidded stare remained transfixed on him.

He took a moment to actually think about it. It could not be that simple. It was never that simple. "What's the catch?"

She blinked in confusion. "Catch? We are not hunting anything."

He parted his lips to respond but merely dropped his head onto his pillow. "Underlying context which generally portrays an ulterior motive."

What a way for the charged atmosphere to be dispelled. He rolled his eyes at the sheer ridiculousness.

"I see," She said after a pause and looking away in thought. Her hands moved away from his face and spread flat against his chest. She leaned over, pressing herself onto him again and stared with serpentine blues. "I believe it is obvious what I am attempting. Regardless of my reasons, will you accept or will I be required to select a path more radical?"

He looked at her.

This absurdly beautiful creature that had lived for an extraordinary number of years he didn't even want to imagine. Why on earth was she so dead set on doing this? With him of all people?

He sighed in defeat as he let his body go slack and stared up at the ceiling. He brought up both hands, pushed back his hair, and blew out a long breath of frustrated air.

His eyes shifted down. "Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to regret this?"

That infuriating smile came back as she kissed him for the second time that day.

Ichigo let out a soft groan as a hefty knock on his door woke him. "Yeah, yeah. Come in."

He blinked away the daze and only realized too late, that there was weight comfortably settled across his chest.

He ignored his bedroom door swinging open and opted instead to examine the spray of white silk flitted along his torso. He trailed down the wild mane with his eyes and felt his hand holding the velvet curve of her hip.

Their lower halves were concealed by white furs but nevertheless, the sensation of her skin rubbing against his, as her entire leg laid over him, sent sparks through his nerves. The clothing he had summoned having long since dissipated.

"Nii-sama, I-" As the boy abruptly ceased speaking, Ichigo threw a hand over his eyes.

"Oh fuck me sideways."

Ichigo quickly yanked the furs and drew them to up to Tiamat's chin. The Dragon King shifted in her sleep as she released a warm breath over his bare chest.

"Who's that Nii-sama?" Ichigo looked over to Millicas. The young boy had his head tilted in question as he politely stood with his hands behind his back.

Quite unsure with himself, Ichigo elected to go with the truth.

"Dragon King Tiamat," He grunted out.

Millicas' eyes lit with excitement as he nearly hopped in place. "Really?! She's a real Dragon King?! Like Tannin? That's so cool!"

Tiamat stirred and her nails dug into Ichigo's chest painfully as she let out a growl of discontent. He instinctively began to rub the small spot opposite of her navel and her growls steadied into a set of quiet harshness.

Pressing a finger to his lips, Ichigo shifted momentarily and Millicas nodded his head vigorously in understanding.

He cast a glance in her direction, an unconscious hand reaching up to stroke the crown of her head.

"Why is there a dragon in your bed and why are both of you naked?" Ichigo cast an amused glance in Millicas' direction as the nine-year old leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially.

Pretending to glance over at the clock at the wall, the time having settled well into the afternoon, Ichigo pondered how to navigate this delicate situation, which would see Grayfia murder him in all likelihood.

"Why don't you wait outside for and we'll finish this conversation elsewhere?" He whispered. "Let's not wake her."

As Millicas smiled in agreement, a third voice added itself to their talk.

"Too little too late for that."

He frowned as he turned down to see her eyes glazed in sleep yet darkened with irritation.

"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."

Nuzzling her face into his shoulder and shutting her eyes, she expressed a pleased thrum from her throat as she wrapped her arms around him tighter.

"Such a wonderful heater you are." Her voice still laden with drowsy fuzz.

"I aim to please," He drawled with a roll of his eyes and attempted to move out of her grip but she remained vice-like around him. So much for clothing himself and taking Millicas as far away as possible from her.

"Hnyaaa."

Her mouth stretched in a yawn, almost unnaturally wide, and her eyes drifted open once more. "The hatchling belongs to Sirzechs and the silver-haired one?"

Off to the side, Millicas mouthed 'hatchling' in puzzlement.

"Yeah." A minor frown formed on his lips. "How did you know?"

Her nose twitched. "His scent is a brew of theirs."

A moment passed and Tiamat lifted her head off his chest and fixed Millicas with a stare. As the young boy stiffened, Ichigo immediately snaked an arm around the neck of the ancient dragon and pulled her back to him.

Tiamat's stare had been overwhelming to him. For a child such as Millicas, it would strip him of all free will and leave him an enslaved thrall to her primordial spirit.

"Don't do that." His fingers on the back of her neck tightened ever so slightly.

"As you will, little one." Her eyes closed once more, as she rubbed her head against him, very much in a manner a cat would.

"You need not concern yourself. I do not prey on younglings."

He looked down at her in minor alarm as she seemed to relax back into sleep.

"Did you just…?"

"The familiar bond has many uses, little one."

Her eyes opened once more, swaying with teasing mirth.

"I meant no harm to you, young one." Tiamat's voice called. "And to answer your question, I am his familiar."

Millicas, who had remained silent up until now, took in surprise at being abruptly addressed. "Oh…wait a minute. You made a Dragon King your familiar! Nii-sama that's amazing! That's even cooler than the Satan Rangers!"

Ichigo gave the young boy an indulgent smile even as he caged his arms tightly around Tiamat. Least she do something to scar the poor kid. "So what can I do for you Millicas?"

"Can we train again?" He asked in an excited rush.

Ichigo let out a chuckle. "Sure, meet me out in the courtyard in fifteen minutes."

"Yes!" Millicas gave a childish cheer before spinning around.

Ichigo watched with an amused smile as Millicas ran out in a rush, leaving the door wide open. With a shake of his head, he flicked a finger, sending a sliver of magic to close the door and regain his privacy.

He then turned towards the woman in his bed with a dry glare. "You gonna let me up or what?"

"I am tempted to keep you."

He gripped her arms and, futilely, attempted to pry her off. At best, he managed to enter a sitting position, his back to the headboard. "I'm starting to wonder who the master and who the familiar is here."

She gave that laugh of hers. "While I shall endeavor to limit my mischief, let this be a lesson to you, my master. You'd be wise not to always trust a Wyrm. Direct in our pride we may be, our cunning knows no bounds."

"Not even a day gone by and I'm learning that all too well," Ichigo let loose a tired sigh.

He the cast a glance at the clock again and swore as he recalled something. "Dammit, today's Saturday isn't it?"

"What does it matter?" She intoned from her place in his lap.

"I promised Yasaka I'd come and visit her today."

Even as he finished muttering to himself, Ichigo distinctively felt a petrifying vim charge the air.

He watched somewhat warily as Tiamat's head slowly rose at a low angle. It was quite disconcerting really, seeing her shadowed face trough a messy veil of hair. A single clawed hand fell on his shoulder and roughly pushed him back.

Her other hand fell onto his chest, nails first; and like a jungle cat, Tiamat drew herself to hover over him. A fine white brow arched over a feral stare. "Her?"

Right.

Dragons.

Immensely powerful. Possess a vicious temperament. Have a sex drive to put succubae to shame. And absolutely hate having to share.

Ichigo set his stare flat as he gripped the one hand that was digging into his shoulder. Calmly he took a hold and lifted her nails out of his flesh, his regenerative powers healing the incisions.

"Yes. Her." Despite the slow and pacified manner he was pushing her arm back; Ichigo was utilizing a tremendous amount of physical strength to accomplish the feat. "Yasaka is a good friend, albeit a recent one."

Ichigo held back a wince as he heard the bones in his hands crack. Instead, he simply continued to hold her passive glare.

"Where are you going?"

He raised a single eyebrow at her demanding tone. Although, she didn't give any inclination of apology or guilt.

"Japan," He said coolly.

Their eyes remained locked. A cold seething through her gaze as his own remained neutral and distant.

"I will accompany you." She finally said.

"Oh?"

Tiamat laid her head down onto his lap again. "It has been a long time since I visited my son who lives in the coasts of the Isle to the East."

"Your son?"

She did not take offense at his disbelieving tone. "It was my son who held the title of Monarch amongst Wyrmkin before he retired and passed it on to Yu-Long. He is quite well known to the mortals of Japan. Ryūjin, they call him."

Ichigo's eyebrows rose to nearly meet his hairline. "The Ryūjin? The legendary dragon of the seas? The ruler of the oceans? That Ryūjin?"

He could still feel the waves of jealousy through their familiar bond rolling off of her. "My epithet is not merely for regalia. All dragons and serpents of the sea are of my blood."

"Huh."

Absently, he placed a hand on top of her head and ignored the bout of irritation that flared from her.

"Should you not meet the child now?"

He blinked. "Right, thanks for reminding me."

Tiamat rolled off Ichigo and drew the covers around herself once more as she deposited herself onto his pillow once he stood.

That was another thing about dragons, he remembered.

The damn things were incredibly lazy.

"Nii-sama!" Millicas greeted him cheerfully.

"Hey, listen up." Ichigo said as he crossed his arms and shifted his weight onto one foot. "I'm running on a short schedule so we're going to have to make this a quick run. So let's get started right away."

Millicas gave an eager nod but suddenly hesitated momentarily.

"Nii-sama, Okaa-sama took Otou-sama to the hospital because he broke his face. Do you know how that happened?"

"Nope, not a clue." The lie coming out smoothly. "Now show me how far you've gotten."

Millicas immediate jumped back and gathered an impressive amount of demonic energy. The young boy pressed the energy between his hands and sent it hurtling with a cry.

Ichigo merely unfolded his arms and held out an open palm.

The cascade of crimson and black collapsed onto his hand, pulsing wildly and hissing against his skin. Ichigo dug his fingers into the warped orb and, with sheer brute force, he tore the attack apart. A small cloud of energy sent small ribbons of demonic vitality crashing against the grounds.

He turned his palm towards his face, examining the steam slithering off his slightly burned skin. The minor wound only increasing Ichigo's desire to learn to activate his Hierro.

"Not bad," Ichigo said with a one sided grin. "But did you notice how the shape kept shifting?"

Millicas bent his neck in acknowledgement. "I can't get it to stay in a perfect sphere."

"Try and condense the attack."

"Condense? How do I do that?"

Ichigo held up a single finger. "One thing I like to do is, instead of simply drawing the energy in one spot, I bring it in like a spiral. I, how do you say…I twist it into place."

He demonstrated by allowing demonic power to swirl on the tip of his finger and launched a massive cero into the sky.

Millicas nodded with a determined glint in his eyes and proceeded to try again. Ichigo wore a pleased smile as Millicas managed to create a much smaller and tighter orb of his family's signature Power of Destruction.

As the attack shot towards him, Ichigo once more held out his hand, however, this time he drew on a slight shard of his power. A thin layer of energy covered his hand as he caught the attack once more and let it discharge of to the side.

The kid was veritable genius in terms of combat. Given a few years and he'd be making massive waves through the Underworld.

"Much better." Ichigo said with a proud smile. "Now, let's reduce the time it takes to charge up the attack and get you to aim while facing a moving target or moving yourself. Hell, we might as well cover them simultaneously."

Millicas widened his stance and flared his small power, sending a wind of dark intentions across the courtyard.

Ichigo smirked in response.

"Is it just me, or is the sun really glaring down?" Ichigo shadowed his eyes with his hand as he and Tiamat floated in the sky a distance away from the city of Kyoto.

The Dragon King, in her natural form, wound her long body around his much smaller frame. He turned to look at her as he felt a mental touch. "The Sun does not appreciate a brewing storm."

He gave her a curious look. "Amaterasu is doing this?"

"T'would seem I am unwelcome. No matter, I have no quarrel with her. I will content myself with a visitation to my child. Keep yourself wary my master."

With a monstrous gale that whipped his hair about and a thunderous roar in defiance of the setting sun, Tiamat stretched her wings and hurtled into the darkening sky.

Ichigo shook his head as the harshness of the horizon lessened considerably and, indeed, became affectionate if anything. He could practically taste the message in the wind.

'Welcome home.'

He gave a light chuckle as he deposited his hands into his jeans and Sonido'd away.

Seconds later, he was walking through the streets of supernatural Kyoto that was filling up with the nocturnal Yōkai. More than once he was accosted by thugs attempting coerce him into shady dealings. A general small burst of malevolent power sent them scrambling away.

As he approached the massive palace gates, Ichigo felt a prickling at his neck and turned around. He cast a sweeping gaze and found nothing. Only the average Yōkai going about their business and the pale light of a rising and waxing moon, harsh and remote.

It wasn't too long afterwards he found himself being lead through the familiar winding halls of Yasaka's palace. A brief extension of his senses informed him that mother and daughter were located in the same place.

As one of the palace maids bowed to him and drew aside the door, Ichigo walked past the threshold and froze right there.

"Wow. What's the occasion?"

"Onii-san! How do I look?!" Kunou twirled around while giggling.

"You are late, Ichigo-san."

Both nine-tails had changed out of their traditional priestess garb.

Kunou was sporting a light pink kimono traced with white petals of a plum blossoms as she danced in front of him. However, Ichigo only had eyes for Yasaka. The regal blonde has draped herself in a carmine kimono.

Her waist length golden hair was tied up and held together by elegant pins of jade. The light blush dusted across her pale skin drawing in his admiration and fully bringing out the brightness of her eyes.

"Wow." He said again, this time slightly breathless.

Yasaka's blush became deeper as she averted her face but kept her eyes on Ichigo.

A stolen moment shared by the two went on for a few seconds before Kunou grabbed Ichigo's hand and tugged. "Come on Onii-san! Let's go, let's go!"

He opened his mouth before promptly shutting it and gathered his thoughts in one coherent sentence. "What's going on?"

Yasaka held his eyes. "The humans are holding a festival and Kunou and I were wondering if we could trouble you to accompany us?"

Well that was surprising. He was expecting a hopefully quite evening of watching Kunou's antics while conversing with Yasaka over a cup of tea.

"I don't mind," He said with while absently scratching the back of his neck. He then glanced down at his apparel and frowned.

Jeans and a t-shirt were hardly appropriate for a festival.

Ichigo snapped his fingers, weaving a web of magic over his clothes and transforming them into something a little more festive. He was quickly adorned with a light yukata of black dye and lined with navy blue.

Deeming it a suitable fit, Ichigo nodded in content and looked back towards the two Kyūbi. "We're going now?"

While Kunou looked wildly about in childish wonder, Yasaka committed herself to carefully observing her husband.

Throughout the evening, he had appeared distracted and immersed in his own thoughts. More than once, she was forced to reiterate a question or expressed thought as he had not heard her.

She looked at the ground sourly, having expected a night of quiet merriment while Kunou thoroughly enjoyed herself. Instead, he was on a completely different world despite walking right beside her.

From the corners of her eyes, she saw him constantly glance up at the sky, as if expecting something to rain down at any moment.

"Okaa-sama!" Kunou's voice snapping her out of her thoughts as well as grabbing Ichigo's attention.

Yasaka turned towards her daughter as she shook in excitement while pointing to a stall on the side. "That one! That one!"

She examined the small front. A simple ring tossing game for children offering stuffed animals as prizes.

She smiled fondly as Kunou led her by the hand towards the game. Yasaka offered the elderly woman behind the counter some mortal currency and patted her daughter gently on the head. Their fox ears having been concealed by a magical glamour. "Try your best."

As the elderly woman turned away from another patron, she said, "Really dear, I wouldn't be so keen on leaving a husband as good looking as yours by himself."

Yasaka blinked in surprise and a strong blush quickly adorned her cheeks.

"He can take care of himself," She responded demurely.

The old woman chuckled. "A good wife takes care of her husband because he tends to be lost without her. However, you don't have to take it from me and my forty-seven years of marriage. Just take a garner at him."

Yasaka turned around, humoring the old woman, however, the smile on her face rapidly slid off. Standing there, his arms folded in the sleeves of his yukata and expression stony, Ichigo was being accosted by several young women. Most of them appearing to be but a few years younger than him.

A flare of irritation crossed her face as a single girl placed an inviting hand on his arm. Having been watching Kunou the entirety of the group of girls' obvious flirtations, Ichigo slowly turned to appraise them.

Yasaka smirked in smug delight as the young humans flinched under the weighty gaze of her husband. Without so much as a, by your leave, Ichigo left them and walked back over to her and Kunou. As she moved to stand next to him, close enough to show a sense of intimacy, Yasaka sent a feral glance over her shoulder.

The human girls practically ran away in fright.

"Awww," Kunou's whine regaining her attention. "This is too hard."

"Let me try," Ichigo said quietly, sliding his hands out of his sleeves.

As she accepted a few coins from him, the elderly human sent Yasaka a knowing grin and caused the golden nine tails to blush once more.

With a lazy grace, Ichigo managed to secure all five rings around the metal rod and scored a prize, much to her daughter's delight.

"Which one do you want?" He looked down at Kunou and asked her.

Kunou placed a finger to her lips, thinking for a brief moment, before pointing out her desired prize. "That one!"

Yasaka smiled softly as he plucked a fluffy blue serpent off the wall and handed it to Kunou. Momentarily snuggling her prize, Kunou showed off her new toy.

"Okaa-sama, look! He's so cute!"

Yasaka offered a gentle smile as the hissing face of the snake was shoved towards her. "It's very nice Kunou."

They spent another hour walking around and visiting the many shops and attractions. Kunou played several more games while buying a few toys here and there. Eventually, the three of them settled down at a small sweets store.

Yasaka nibbled on bits of dango while Ichigo sat with a cup of seaming green tea. Their shoulders touching, Yasaka took a chance and leaned, pressing her soft curve onto his muscled arm.

"Onii-san," Kunou interrupted the hidden moment and waved a white porcelain mask at him. "Do you want one? I have two."

Whatever uncertainty had been clouding his eyes melted away and a faint smile, brimming with roguishness, formed on his lips. Yasaka quickly looked away as she felt a throb in her chest.

"No thank you. I have a life-time supply of masks." Amusement layering every inch of his voice, he laid a gentle hand on Kunou's head.

"Oh, okay."

She regarded the cryptic statement for a moment as she gave him a searching look. It was then, being so close to him, that Yasaka noted something of great interest.

"Ichigo-san," He regarded her curiously at her questioning tone. "Forgive my curiosity but, why do you smell of dragons?"

Entirely ignoring Kunou, who leaned in to sniff him, Yasaka felt a constricting feeling as uncertainty flashed in his eyes and he stiffened just barely.

She tried to imagine that his avoidance of her eyes was a mere triviality. "My new familiar is a dragon."

"I see." She said nothing further.

"A dragon?" Kunou's awed voice drifted through the 'imagined' tension.

"Yeah," Ichigo gave a slight laugh. "She's a handful."

Too late, Ichigo's breath sharpened as he realized his mistake and Yasaka's eyes froze wide. Dragons were notoriously avaricious of their mates and viciously fought off any member of the same sex, regardless of species, when they approached a potential mate.

Though Yasaka eased herself in knowing that a simple dragon wouldn't be of any trouble to her. After all, what threat was there in a mere beast?

"Maybe we should get going. The fireworks start soon, right?"

"Ah…yes." Yasaka said quickly.

They finished off their small snack and went along the path of stalls.

As Kunou skipped ahead of them, the rush of ongoing human traffic increased and the pathway became congested.

"Kunou," She heard him call out, much to her surprise. The young girl quickly scampered over to him and, unexpectedly, Ichigo leaned down and swept the young girl into his arms.

Yasaka looked on with minor surprise as Kunou wriggled briefly as she made herself comfortable and settled her arms around his neck. She even wrapped her furry snake around him and placed a mask, crafted in the image of the moon, so that it was tilted on the side of head.

Yasaka gave her a fond look of exasperation right before Ichigo did something to lurch Yasaka's heart into her throat.

He deftly snaked an arm around her waist and drew her towards him and Yasaka's cheeks swiftly colored in hotness.

She swallowed the thickness in her throat as his eyes sharpened and he allowed a fragment of his darkness to rise. The effect was almost instantaneous. Dormant evolutionary instincts awoke and the humans began to subconsciously shift away from his maleficent and cloying aura.

Although, all of that went widely ignored by Yasaka as the heat of Ichigo's hand, wound around her hip, oozed past the silk fabric of her kimono.

She snuck a glance at him. He was busy with entertaining Kunou's nonsense and did not appear to be paying attention to his arm resting on her. Yasaka flexed her fingers a few times in hesitation before she steered a step to the side and touched sides with him.

Practically in an instant, his arm tightened as it drew her closer to him. Yasaka would spend the next five minutes grinning down at the ground, her earlier apprehension all but forgotten.

As they settled down on a riverbank, Ichigo having conjured a small blanket for them to sit on, a sudden epiphany occurred to the ruler of Kyoto.

With Kunou sitting between his legs and chattering away and with her leaning against him as his arm still rested on her side, Yasaka realized that the three of them must appear as what they secretly were.

A family.

The revelation brought a sense of euphoria that dispersed the long-standing tensions of the last few months.

Ever since Amaterasu-sama's decree, she had been dreading the sort of person she had been entwined with. But she knew that regardless of his dark allegiances, Ichigo Kurosaki was a sincere young man. Looking at the way he brought a smile to her daughter's face tugged at her heart. A wrenching sensation of both longing and bliss.

However...tonight...tonight would the moment.

Once they returned home. Once Yasaka tucked Kunou safely into bed, she would take Ichigo aside and tell him the truth. Would he be upset? Perhaps.

But he was not a person of malicious vindictiveness. If anything, he would take it up with Amaterasu-sama who had taken him on as pseudo-adopted child. And given time, maybe…just maybe…she and Ichigo could have something.

As a line of fire soared into the air and boomed into a magnificent display of patterned colour, Kunou clapped giddily in Ichigo's lap as she let out a squeal of elation.

The bright shower of sparks illuminating her pale skin, Yasaka inched her head onto his shoulder and allowed golden hair to spill over. She felt his hold on her solidify in an all too affectionate manner.

Yasaka closed her eyes, content with the sound of bursting fireworks, of the thrilling laughter of her darling and the soft breathing of her husband. A perfect moment, a picture caught in time for the rest of her days.

A barely audible breath escaped her when she felt his chin nudge over the top her head.

Absolutely perfect.

And that's when she felt it.

A suffocating cold wind dredging over the entire park.

Yasaka immediately sat up straight, iron ramming itself through her spine as a monstrous presence thickened in the air. The absolute density of the power so evident, that even the mortals around them noticed and began to grow disquiet.

"No," Ichigo breathed from beside her as his eyes remained locked on the sky.

Far off, and deep into the blackness of the sky, a churning darkness amassed in a swirling wrath. Slowly roiling forth, every few seconds or so, it erupted in a brilliant flash of purple and blue volts.

The wind ripped through the air and Yasaka held her hair down as it threatened to fray about in the whipping gales.

There was something there in the sky. Something impossibly old and powerful. Something, which Ichigo seemed to be quite familiar with. He let rip a frustrated growl as he brought forth a surge of power.

"Onii-san?" Kunou looked up at him nervously.

He gazed down at her, worry and guilt streaming through his eyes. "I'm sorry Kunou. I'm so sorry. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"Wha-" Before she could protest, Ichigo passed a hand over Kunou's eyes and her daughter peacefully fell against his chest in blissful unconsciousness. Yasaka looked at her for a moment before turning a furious gaze at him.

"What are you doing?!"

He didn't get a chance to respond as a blackened roar shattered the sky and sent the humans screaming.

"Fuck it all," He grunted as he thrust his hand and unleashed burst of magic that soared in all directions. It passed over her, absolutely ineffective, but the humans all fell in place as it hit them. Finding sleep in his woven enchantment.

Yasaka took Kunou as he gently passed her into her arms and stood. Carefully, Yasaka also stood and looked skywards in horror. Clouds, darker than even Susano'o's rage, swirled with a massive surge of electricity.

"Stay behind me," He said gruffly. "And no matter what, don't look into her eyes."

Before she could respond, Yasaka let out a shriek as she buried Kunou in her arms and turned around protectively. A pillar of thunder slammed into the earth, sending a wave of debris and lightning all around. It was only Ichigo's quick flaring of power that shielded the two Kyūbi from the electrical onslaught.

Turning a worried glance back, Yasaka followed Ichigo's furious gaze, and never had she seen him so upset in the short time she had known him, past the cloud of dust and arc of lightning. A single shape stepped forward, one that set Yasaka's heartbeat frantically.

Centuries ago, new to the Throne of Kyoto, she had briefly rested her eyes upon this creature during a visit to Ryūjin's palace. A monstrous being older than even the sky-palaces of Takama-ga-hara.

Yasaka's eyes fell wide as long, shapely legs of amber cut through the flying dirt and currents of lightning. "I've returned, my little master."

Like a flood of power, her voice raged over Yasaka's ears, filling her with an ancient dread and terror. But it was her actual words that punctured her soul the deepest.

'Not her…anyone but her.'

"Tiamat." Ichigo's voice barely leveling above a snarl, shattering whatever securities Yasaka had left.

She laughed, a throaty sound that, despite filling her with fear, caused a heat to drift into her core.

And it was then, despite his warning, Yasaka looked upon the full form of the Dragon King and met her eyes.

Immediately, she was assailed by a crushing force, a fatal hunger that demanded her very soul. She felt a need to give in. A sense of appropriateness to bow down in submission to the ancient being. Every ounce of her will was being stripped from her. It was utterly petrifying.

Petrifying…and exhilarating.

The spell was broken as Ichigo stepped in between them and blocked Yasaka's vision with his back. She gasped sharply, as if she were drenched in ice water and Yasaka held onto her daughter for dear life.

"Shouldn't we return home, master?" Her enchanting voice leveled with dark amusement.

Ichigo took a hesitant step, slowly peering over his shoulder in remorse and mortification.

"I'm sorry…I…I didn't think this would happen." He sent his gaze forward and she felt the monster in him roar to life. "And it won't happen again."

"As you wish." Darkness rolling of her tongue.

He gave a defeated sigh and snapped his fingers, twisting a hole into the fabric of space and opening a portal to the Underworld. "I'll make it up to you. Both of you. I promise."

He then put the full load of his fiery eyes on Tiamat who took it all in stride. "We're leaving. Now."

The dragon dipped her head and walked into the opened pathway. Ichigo followed her, turning back to give her a forlorn look, before disappearing into the void.

The tear in space collapsed and with it the presence of the two behemoths.

As the world righted itself, a cold whisper of the air drifted through Yasaka's ears.

"He's not coming back…he's sleeping with me."

The wind carried on with a harsh laughter.

Author's Note: Oh...Ohhh. You thought this was going to be one of those stories where all the girls fight over the protagonist in a comedic yet semi-hostile fashion? No no no. This is going to be an utter bitchfest.

Once again, back to Tiamat. It's no secret that I'm a metalhead but mad respect to the late, great King of Pop who helped inspired her personality.

By the way, if you didn't notice, this was the classical anime festival episode for my story. I tried writing a beach one but it always ends in Armageddon...

On a completely unrelated side note, I would greatly appreciate it if a few of you would answer whether not someone, who is unfamiliar with either or both fandoms, could read my story and not be entirely lost to its contents. Thank you.

Hope You Enjoyed

CE-NEX