Sorry, I've been really busy. Babysitting... I hate kids T^T Watching my cousins only strengthens my desire to never have them. Anyway, I wrote the next chapter to Derailed, but I'm not posting it yet. Next update, okay? I also started to rewrite my Supernatural fic. I like it a bit better this time =) As for my other ones, I'm working on my book so it'll take a while to get to them. I'll try my hardest though =) Okay, that's about all I have for now. Just so you guys know, I haven't had a single day to myself this whole week. This is the first day I've had to work on writing. Now that my one cousin is starting school, I might have a little more time on my hands... unless my mom's friend needs a sitter for her little girl. Then I'll have to put off writing again. Kids need too much attention.
Ichi: Tell me about it.
Shiro: You ain't got any kids. =(
Ichi: ... Yeah... no kids. Just an inner demon with the mentality of one. *rolls eyes*
Shiro: Point taken... Well... gotta start somewhere. XD
Chapter 12
Shiro screams against the tape covering his mouth, fighting the bonds that have begun to tear into his wrists and ankles. It's been hours and those holding them captive have done little by way of caring for them. Shiro's been fighting since he woke up. He's the only one that's been bound up so completely, the others only having been shackled to the wall or a support beam. Since they have more room to move, the gang has been trying their best to help Shiro to the bathroom and such. They would free the volatile male, but added to the duct tape is rope and chains with combination locks to them. It would take hours for anyone to finally unlock them. Ichigo was the only one trained in locks like this… he took it as a challenge and it quickly became a hobby for him. Even Yorouchi had long since given up practice on those, preferring to carry bolt cutters when she knows she'll encounter one.
"Please stop, Shiro," Shinji whines. "You're not doing anything but hurting yourself and annoying the rest of us. We're sorry we can't free you, but you're the one that sent Ichigo away."
"This troubles me greatly," Kisuke murmurs.
His voice quiets everyone within the basement, even Shiro. It isn't often he voices his worries, as Kisuke is the more eccentric of the twins' parents. They grew up knowing the fun-loving genius that spent money simply to spoil his children. The fact he was a mafia leader never touched their minds until they turned seven, though it was Shiro that brought it to Ichigo's attention. The orange headed male could never think badly of his family, so it took about half a year for Shiro to convince him.
"If they're smart enough to know our weakness where captivity is concerned… I fear they've managed to learn of Ichigo's past affiliation with us," he sighs out. "If that's the case, they'll be out there searching for our youngest. Ichigo may be in far more trouble than we had first thought."
"Or he could be standing at the bottom of the staircase with a bobby pin," Ichigo comments in amusement. "But if you guys don't want a rescue…"
"Baby!" Yorouchi cheers as quietly as possible. "What are you doing here?"
"I got bored on the run," Ichigo shrugs with a smirk. "Now hold on, I'll get you out of here."
He heads for his parents first, as Shiro's already struggling against his ties eagerly. If Ichigo were to free him first, Shiro would automatically take off toward his captors… or beat the shit out of his twin for returning. Personally, the orange head doesn't want to take the chance at the moment. Kisuke and Yorouchi sigh in relief when they're let go, the two hurrying over to start on Shiro's ropes and duct tape. They leave the tape on his mouth though, to nullify his shouting from tipping off those upstairs.
"Thank goodness you showed up, Ichi," Shinji says anxiously. "I thought we'd be here forever! We were so worried they'd just show up with you in chains, or come down to off us all..!"
"That's not the plan," Ichigo comments absently as he listens to the combination lock click. "I heard them talking on the way down here. They're planning on waiting for Grimmjow to show up at home to capture him as well, and then they're going to recruit all the strongest members of the Visoreds and Espada before taking out the Shinigami. Whoever their leader is has huge ambitions."
"You heard all that?" Kisuke questions.
"Of course I did. You guys are being guarded by three people, all of whom I've already met in my first place of relocation. The woman's name is Yoshi and then there are twin males named Ban and Ho, they're all pretty tough. Ban and Ho, however, fight like myself and Shiro do. Unlike us, though, they don't seem to be able to fight separately."
Shinji cheers silently when he's let loose, trying his best to help Ichigo free the others. It's taking too long with only one person and soon their captors will come down to check on them. The flamboyant blonde stands guard at the base of the steps, just in case he needs to warn the others to pretend to be tied up yet. Ichigo will also need time to hide himself.
Love and Rose are next, locked up only by a shackle around their ankle. Afterward, Ichigo lets Kensei and Mashiro loose. Hiyori smacks him upside the head for waiting so long to get to her, yet stays still in order for him to work. Soon, the only one left to free is Shiro. Before Ichigo can get to his twin, however, footsteps sound upstairs near the door. Ichigo is relieved he locked the door again before coming down. There's a mad scramble as everyone hurries to get to their spot and sit down, Ichigo diving beneath the stairs and behind a stack of boxes.
"Poor Visoreds, no longer sitting atop the world," Yoshi laughs spitefully. "Look at all of you, locked in your own basement. You're lucky I've been ordered to feed you all, or you'd starve! Well… that one will. The boss doesn't feel comfortable letting him loose. Poor baby, no food for you."
She laughs again and drops a box of pizza on the floor uncaringly. It's just out of Kisuke's reach should he be tied up, which means no one would be able to reach it since he's the closest. Yoshi sweeps her gaze over them all before turning around and heading back upstairs. Ichigo sneaks from his hiding spot and crawls over to his twin, the other glowering heatedly at the door. They were too close to his twin for his liking.
"Sorry, Shiro," Ichigo whispers as he starts on the other's ankles. "I would've let you free first, but you're a very hostile person. I couldn't have you ruining the element of surprise."
Shiro scoffs and rolls his eyes. Those golden eyes, however, suddenly go wide. Ichigo notices and his hands still on the locks, sweat trickling down the back of his neck at the feeling of eyes on him. He begins to turn slowly, his breathing picking up with his heartbeat.
"Well, what have we here?" Yoshi grins sickeningly. "I didn't think I'd see you again."
Before Ichigo can move, something hard hits the back of his head. He falls against Shiro, his vision blurring as he opens his mouth to call out for Grimmjow. Yoshi wastes no time in covering it, eager to tie up her new find. She doesn't know who this kid is, or why he looks like Shiro, but she'll ask the questions later. Right now, she has captives to lock up again.
Ichigo wakes a few minutes later, groaning in irritation. He can't move his hands or feet, but he's sitting beside Shiro. They work well together, so this is the last place these idiots should've placed him. Either they're stupid or just plain lazy. He sighs and adjusts his hands to hold the dial of the combination lock, closing his eyes and listening as well as feeling with his fingertips. Shiro nudges him from his right, his voice muffled against the tape there as he complains.
"Shut the hell up so I can hear," Ichigo hisses. "Or would you rather stay locked up here?"
The other immediately quiets. Ichigo knows what his problem is, as the others are tied up once again. All that hard work and he has nothing to show for it but a bump on the head. He bristles as he goes back to unlocking his own chains, making quick work of them. They're more difficult than the others since he can't see what he's doing, but that doesn't stop him… it's just another challenge. Grimmjow must be getting impatient out there by now; Ichigo can't have him jumping headlong into another fight like on the beach. He barely stood a chance then against the twins, he won't win this time.
"Okay, let's try this again," he mutters bitterly. "This time, though… let's try a different approach."
Getting caught like that only serves to provoke his own wrath, so Shiro is the first to be untied this time. Before his twin can run off and tear apart the house, Ichigo grabs his ear and tugs. It brings the other back to his senses for the moment, those amber eyes leveling Shiro with a no-nonsense glare.
"We're doing this my way," Ichigo growls. "Or I'll tie you back up myself."
Shiro nods with a pout and falls in line. Ichigo and his twin head to the only window within the basement, it's thin and not many people can slide out of it. Ichigo can manage with a little tug from the outside, so he prays Grimmjow is still there waiting. Shiro pushes the window open and weaves his fingers together to act as a step for Ichigo. Ichigo sets his foot in his brother's hands and lifts himself up, sticking his head out and glancing around. Grimmjow is crouched by the corner of the house, sighing in irritation at the time it's taking.
"Grimm," Ichigo whispers. "Over here."
"… Who?" Shiro comments. "Ya better fuckin' tell me ya ain't talkin' 'bout that Espada!"
"Shut up, you dumbass!" Ichigo snaps back quietly. "You don't want to alert them again, do you?"
"Like it was my fault last time," the other scoffs bitterly.
Grimmjow rolls his eyes and grips the hands reaching out to him, tugging hard enough to get Ichigo out and not harm him. Shiro is next, though he's less than happy to see Grimmjow there. He's especially pissed with the way the two look at each other, it just screams 'we fucked real hard and we're gonna do it again'. With a silent growl at the Espada, Shiro positions himself between the two to show his annoyance with their relationship. Ichigo rolls his eyes and begins to plan their next move.
Yea! Update! Finally! XD We're getting close to the end... forgot how many chapters are in it ^^; So, I don't have much to say today. I'm excited for tomorrow! Might go to the movies... maybe the zoo. Not sure yet ;p Anyway, I really need to get back to my book. Finally on chapter 21 of Asylum, the original not the fic.196 pages! Go me ;p
Shiro: Too much... makes my head hurt T^T
Vae: You? I wrote the damn thing!
Shiro: You write too much. =(
Vae: I can always cut back on fanfiction, you know. *glares heatedly*
Shiro: You don't write enough. =)
Vae: Yeah, that's what I though.
