Chapter 10

A Birthday Surprise

"Don't be so stiff," Shiro cackled as his brother pulled on a pair of skinny jeans and a skin tights shirt. The jeans were charcoal grey, and the T-Shirt was bright white with neon designs.

"I like slim fit clothes, not this crap," Ichigo growled. It had been three days since he had first woken up here in Los Noches. Ichigo used to have a bag filled with some clothes, but they had mysteriously disappeared, forcing him to borrow his brother's.

"Suck it up, little bro." The albino gave him a crazed grin. "Today's our birthday. We're going to party all. Night. Long."

Ichigo adjusted his clothes with a glare. "Fine. But you had better get laid!"

"Why?" Shiro asked with a raised eyebrow. The younger brother gave him a sickly sweet smile. He batted his eyelashes a couple of times.

"Because the sooner you move into Gin's room, the sooner this room becomes my own."

Shiro snorted. "Not going to happen. I spent my first few months in Gin's room. I like having my own, and his is just across the hall, anyways."

Ichigo was a little surprised at hearing about his brother staying with Gin for a while. He had learned a bit about the supernatural beings here over the last two days. Vampires had a fledgling-sire system. He supposed it wasn't too outlandish for his brother to have stayed with Gin at first.

"Well that sucks," Ichigo finally said. Then he smiled. "Oh well, I kind of missed sharing a room with you."

Shiro studied his brother as he stripped out of his night clothes. "You don't have to worry about becoming a wolve or something do you? I mean, if another wolve bites you, you would become one too, right?"

Ichigo held his chin thoughtfully.

"I'm not entirely sure," he replied slowly. "A vampire had to change you in order for you to become one, so maybe it's the same thing."

"Don't look at me," the albino said defensively. "I'm a vampire. Ask a werewolve about something like that."

Ichigo sighed. He really didn't like talking with any of his 'own kind'. There was something about them that he didn't trust. There were a few exceptions of course. Grimmjow was an honest person, almost always looking for a fight. Aizen was pretty impartial. And Stark seemed friendly. Those were the only people he trusted to be around. And only one of them he felt comfortable enough to ask about werewolves.

。o.0.o 。o.0.o 。

~Outside~

"If a werewolve bites a human within a week of the full moon, drawing blood," Stark explained, "then that human has about a twenty-five percent chance of turning."

"That low?" Ichigo asked incredulously. He hadn't expected to hear that there were restrictions or that the chance was so small.

"Whereas vampires can turn as many as they want, we cannot. We also only possess males in our race, so many of the born-wolves have two fathers. There are rare cases in which a vampire or human can birth a half breed."

"Like me and Shiro," Ichigo murmured slowly.

Stark nodded. "It is even more for the mother to be a vampire, but I have met others with your situation. Technically you are a werewolve; your genes are simply in dormancy. There are several things that can activate them. For example, if a werewolve draws blood using teeth; you have sex with someone; if you mate, it can activate them."

Ichigo was thankful Ginjo had not drawn blood. He leaned against the back of his chair. They were seated at a table on the patio, and Stark had kindly woken from his afternoon nap to talk with him.

"What exactly is mating?" he asked. "Does it have anything to do with Alphas, or markings?"

"Yes and no. A marking is simply a bite that draws blood. It is a precursor to mating, like an engagement if you will." Stark hesitated. "However a marking can be made permanent when consummation occurs."

Ichigo tried not to blush at the word.

"Mating is a little bit different. It requires werewolve magic to bind a pair together, something instinctual. And it can only be created consensually. I don't know how to explain it," Stark apologized.

"And Alphas?" Ichigo asked.

"Alphas are simply 'leaders'. There aren't very many of them, though I, Aizen, and Grimmjow are. "

Ichigo drank in every word. It was interesting to hear about markings; that seemed to be more like what he thought mating would be, but perhaps not. According to Shiro, werewolves possessed mates. While vampires could be their mate, vampires didn't always have them. And mates had to 'match up' with each other. As half vampire, half wolve, would he have a mate?

"I don't know if I am disappointed that I can't have sex without out changing or if I'm relieved," he admitted bluntly. Stark scraped an eye over Ichigo.

"I think you wanted a little more freedom to do as you wish," he replied. "But if it is your wish to remain as a dormant werewolve, then I suggest you try not to bite people."

"I can turn people?" Ichigo exclaimed in horror.

"No!" Stark was shaking his head emphatically. "No, I meant that biting is simply a turn on for werewolves and vampires. It's an invitation to us."

The orange haired thought about it. It made sense, especially when he thought back to the incident with Gin and Shiro. His brother had told him that it felt good to drink his sire's blood. It had turned both of them on, and made Ichigo a little curious as to experience something similar himself.

"Biting is off limits, no sex. Is there anything else I need to worry about?" he asked. The lazy man yawned.

"Unless we get the fae or incubi here, then no," Stark answered. He noticed the uncomfortable expression on Ichigo's face. He recognized it. The now seventeen-year-old had just became aware of his hormones. They made him curious towards dating, kissing, sex; and considering how easily embarrassed Ichigo was, Stark was pretty sure he felt ashamed of it.

"It's natural to want to do these things, Ichigo."

The orange haired Kurosaki grimaced. He hadn't meant to be so easy to read. "It isn't that, really. I just wanted to save it for someone I actually care about. Someone I love. And being a werewolve makes it more difficult for me to find someone, right?"

"I will admit, the longer life span does not mean you will find someone quickly," Stark told him. "I myself have waited over a century. I haven't kept my chastity like you want to do, but it hasn't helped any."

Ichigo saw the longing in Stark's eyes. It made Ichigo sad.

"Well, at least we can suffer together." He looked up at the sky and scowled. "It looks like it wants to rain on my birthday."

。o.0.o 。o.0.o 。

~At the Kurosaki Clinic~

Isshin carefully wrapped the gauze around Shinji's forearm. Kensei stood nearby, watching every move.

"So a human slayer did this?" he asked. He already had a suspicion as to the person's identity.

"Yes. He was one of Ichigo's classmates, a friend," Shinji replied. "He didn't appear to be part of the organization, though he apparently teamed up with them in order to investigate your son's disappearance."

Isshin finished the wrap. He would have to talk to Ishida the elder about collaring Uryu. With Ginjo and slayers running around Karakura, things would quickly escalate into complexity. Many secrets would be exposed.

"Let me deal with that," Isshin told them. "Is there anything else I should know?"

"I don't think so. The slayers are still here. There is no sign of Ginjo," Kensei added. "Where did you meet that guy anyways?"

Isshin went over to the sink so that he could wash his hand. There was a small smile on his mouth.

"Slayers' Corps. At that time they allowed vampires and werewolves to work with them as well; it's how I met Shiro's betrothed, Ishida, and my wife," he replied carefully. Isshin watched their expressions, not surprised to see that they so easily accepted his story.

Shinji chuckled ruefully. "Kensei and I used to work for them as well. We can't exactly judge you too harshly for what we ourselves have done."

The blonde's smile faded.

"Do you miss your sons?" he asked. The old werewolve snorted.

"What a foolish question." He pinned Shinji with a hard stare. "I could barely go through the day when Shiro left. Now that Ichigo is gone as well, the only comfort I have is in knowing that they are both safe. I want them back."

Isshin leaned against the counter, looking uncharacteristically sad.

"Today my boys turned seventeen."He looked at the clock; half an hour to midnight. Isshin pulled his phone out and dialed the number Aizen had given him. It was Shiro's room phone number. No one answered (he wasn't surprised, but disappointed nonetheless).

"Hey Ichigo, Shiromusha. I just wanted to tell you happy birthday." Isshin smirked. "And don't forget to have protection okay~"

Kensei raised an eyebrow at that line, obviously finding amusement in that last line.

"Daddy loves you both very much! So good night, and sleep tight!"

The man hung up, catching the stares. Isshin scowled at them.

"It's not like I want them to worry," he grumbled. He had successfully managed to call them without letting any of his worry through. Ginjo was still on his mind. He may have looked calm and collected but inside...

Isshin had an animal inside of him raging for the blood of the one who had hurt his son.

。o.0.o 。o.0.o 。

~The Next Morning, Los Noches~

Ichigo's first stirrings had been caused by the morning light. It confused him at first, like it always did, but then he remembered that his brother was not a normal vampire. The seventeen year old sighed and snuggled deeper under the warm covers. He could feel the cool air wafting over his bare shoulder. A strong heart beat under his ear. Shiro's chest had never felt so firm or smooth. A calloused hand cupped his hip as he lay on it. Someone else was resting their head against his lower back.

Ichigo opened his eyes in confusion. The chest he saw beneath him, though pale, was darker than Shiro's Neither did the calloused, or the head on his back.

The young man carefully tilted his head up, heart leaping into his throat. He craned his head to see who was laying on him. His stomach plummeted.

And when he carefully turned his head to see the owner of the hand, his breath caught.

Ichigo had been using Stark's chest as a pillow, the strong beating heart belonged to him. On his lower back Grimmjow nuzzled into him much like a cat would. And whereas Stark, Grimmjow, and Ichigo was huddled together, the last person was as far away from the as possible with his limbs sprawled out. It was Aizen whose hand Ichigo was laying on.

Ichigo eased himself up, wincing at the stiffness in his body. He feared he knew the reason for why he was naked. It wasn't as if he could feel much, for his body was oddly numb. He could only pray that he hadn't really slept with these three wolves, that the fuzzy memories of them being inside him had been a dream.

Ichigo suddenly felt trapped when he eased too far up. He felt Grimmjow shift in his slip before moving an arm over Ichigo's waist to loosely hold him. The seventeen year old froze, fearful that he had woken up the wolve. It was then he realized that he couldn't possibly get away without waking one of them; they were all touching too much.

"The hell did we do?" he wondered. He had nothing more than a few fuzzy recollections, and none of those could explain the cuddling.

"Ichigo, what are you doing in my room?" Ichigo turned to meet cool grey eyes.