Briar: Hmmm, honestly, I thought I could bring this story out a lil longer but I think it's good here. This is the final chapter. I'm inspired. Been watching Deadman Wonderland. Lovin' that show. Hummingbird, ah, her language is just great. I don't mind Greg Aryes dubbing either but enough about that. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Monster!
Ichigo could only feel satisfaction if that was what you called it. Sangre had been in a foul mood the past few months but he had left Ichigo alone. Grimmjow hadn't been injured and Cyn was left alone. It seemed the king of Las Noches was busy and brooding most of the time. Karin was still in the world of the living and though Ichigo regretted his decision he knew he would not recall his order; Karin needed to learn her place. Not in the way he was taught by but by learning that you can't go insulting anyone you see fit. He may not have chosen Grimmjow and Sangre but Ichigo knew that it was best not to fight them and Grimmjow had changed over the years. The man wasn't soft but he wasn't as hard as Nnoitra's hierro either.
Ichigo could still remember the days he was beaten senseless, raped, talked to as if he were nothing but a pet. He knew he was a consort and that on occasions both kings referred to Ichigo as their pet but he knew to Grimmjow he was not just a pet but the housing unit for their cubs. Being in that dark room for two weeks Ichigo remembered the time Grimmjow had cupped his hand around his cheek and how he reacted to Ichigo's tears.
"I hate to see you cry," the older male admitted.
Ichigo hadn't moved from his spot like he normally would have because of the words spoken. They sounded honest and Ichigo couldn't help but believe it when Grimmjow brought him food. The man never dropped his façade in front of Sangre but that was no doubt because Grimmjow feared punishment; Sangre was far crueler than Aizen ever was. Aizen thought of his men as pawns or toys he could easily dispose of and though Sangre believe that too sometimes he knew that his toys were not meant to be thrown away. His pawns were meant to be played with once they lost their purpose.
Sangre unlike Grimmjow had roughened up and became far crueler over the time of his ruling. Not enough to be dethroned but enough to show people that the king was not a marshmallow. It made sense because weakness was death in Hueco Mundo and though Ichigo noticed the small changes he no doubt knew that the others would notice if they slipped up. Grimmjow never showed softness in front of others of course but that didn't mean he didn't go overboard with cruelty. Ichigo knew Sangre did all this for a reason and though he hated the man he knew that there was no changing the facts of life.
Though cruel, Sangre had brought Ichigo Caius and though it was only a brief moment Ichigo saw him with Sangre, he knew the man loved the cub and the morning after when Caius died Ichigo was no fool; Sangre was upset about Caius' death. Ichigo was surprised that the hollow king hadn't ordered an execution for Orihime for failing or choked the life out of her with his own hands.
It had been tough on them all, especially Cyn. Most of the time Cyn called Ichigo papi but that one time Cyn called Ichigo mami was from happiness. Ichigo was surprised that Cyn continued to call him papi after the death of Caius. There wasn't much that Ichigo could do about the slipups but he still remembered when Cyn had called him mami instead of papi. It had brought shock and tears to his eyes before he laughed. Of course Cyn had cocked his head to the side and said mami in a questioning tone. Grimmjow had laughed too as well as Sangre. They had been at the dinner table with the captains and espada. Nnoitra had made a crude joke, Ichigo kicked his shin while Isshin had cooed over Cyn and his silliness; it had been the cub's first word after all.
A wail had Ichigo brought out of his musing. Ah, his third cub. He sure was a screamer. Ichigo didn't know who he got that from but he blamed his own father since Grimmjow had been more talkative. Yes, Ichigo did scream but only every so often. He used an angry tone most of the time while Isshin screamed in a fit of childish joy. A small smile touched Ichigo's lips at the memory before he began to feed his child an energy ball.
"All better Arian?" Ichigo asked as the cub began to feed.
This time Grimmjow had named the cub. Kurosaki Arian. At first the older male had thought of naming the cub Quinten but decided it was too close to quincy and he disliked that. The quincy king, Juha Bach had tried to invade but Sangre had blown the man out of the land with ease, using his vast reitsu. The man had been daunted and swore he would return again for Ichigo but Ichigo wasn't scared. That had been in the beginning of Ichigo's capture and he had to guess it had been four years since then, who knew. He really didn't know how much time had passed. Karin never revealed her age and he never asked Yuzu; the docile twin had become quite fierce when riled. It reminded Ichigo of himself the time some punks knocked over the vase of the departed girl.
Sangre didn't seem as interested in Ichigo producing an heir but it was probably because they needed to space out the time for cubs. It was possible for Ichigo to become pregnant once more since his human side seemed to make fertility. Regardless of it being by the reitsu combining from two different souls. Ichigo was thankful because he didn't know if he could handle another cub screaming at night. It wouldn't be long before Arian was sleeping through the night with ease but the cub was only a week old and Ichigo barely got any sleep. Hell, Sangre even gave him his own room since that piercing shriek left him with little to no sleep. Arian cred if he was hungry, tired, and more recently for no reason but because he wanted to be held. If Ichigo wasn't holding the cub at night the cub would wail up a storm. When Grimmjow tried Arian was not pleased and Ichigo was forced to hold the cub.
"Do you think we should go see your daddy?" Ichigo asked Arian.
The cub didn't reply, too busy eating the reitsu bundle Ichigo had given him. Though the cub was frail something Ichigo was terrified of, the cub ate twice as much as Cyn did. The cub was a true hollow with the never ending emptiness and the reitsu drain was hurting Ichigo far more than it should. He had a vast pool but the cub took way more than his oldest did. What made it worse was just like being coddled at night by only him, Arian only took Ichigo's reitsu. It seemed the cub for now preferred the vizards type of reitsu and not the flip side that was one of an arrancars. The lack of sleep from waking up throughout the night and reitsu drain took its toll on Ichigo's body and the bags under his eyes were clearly visible as was the pale skin he had. Yet, regardless of how he felt he still cherished Arian; he was alive and that was better than nothing.
"I think we should go see your daddy," Ichigo decided.
Grimmjow wouldn't be too hard to find since he was probably with Sangre or Cyn. The three usually were either in Hueco Mundo hunting or they were in the throne room. It wasn't around the time that they trained Cyn so Ichigo went to the throne room. The walk wasn't long and he was greeted by a few arrancar and even ran into Hisagi. The lieutenant nodded his head in a greeting but he didn't talk much. He reminded Ichigo of Kira though Kira was emo in his own way. After he attacked Momo he seemed to go off into the deep depression but Ichigo figured the man always looked that way but who wouldn't after being fooled by Gin.
When Ichigo reached the doors he was slightly shocked how easily they opened. The white doors creaked open before revealing Ichigo in the middle of them. He said nothing as he moved forward but the look on Grimmjow and Cyn's face almost had him falter. He wanted to say that their expressions were grim but that was more the undertone. The looked that they had was more shock than anything. It had Ichigo apprehensive but he continued to move forward; nothing could be worse than the first few years as their fuck toy.
Moving to sit down beside Cyn, Ichigo gave Grimmjow a kiss on the cheek as well as Sangre. He knew if he gave one more affection than the other he would be punished. At least Sangre seemed pleased with the kiss since he allowed Ichigo to sit where he desired.
"What's going on?" Ichigo wondered.
"I've decided to let you return to the world of the living," Sangre told Ichigo.
"What?" Ichigo gaped.
"I've talked to Uruhara for some time now, before you had Arian," Sangre informed. "He made gigais for Cyn, Arian and Grimmjow. There are also fake documents made up for them and he will even give you an allowance for the time being until Grimmjow gains a job. Nothing was owed since he decided that you, Ichigo, he was indebted to you enough."
"But why?" Ichigo wondered.
Sangre had a small smile on his face. "That is an answer I cannot give you until we depart."
"What about my things?" Ichigo wondered.
"All gone," Sangre told Ichigo, "aside from Zangetsu on your back, your father returned them to his house. You will be living there I guess. Everything was prepared and now you'll be leaving."
There was a strange feeling of pain in Ichigo's chest. He didn't know what it was but it hurt at hearing those words from Sangre. He had to leave? Las Noches had become his home, why would he leave now?
"Did I do something wrong?" Ichigo asked hoarsely.
Sangre shook his head in the negative.
"Then why?" Ichigo asked.
"You'll have to wait for my answer," Sangre replied.
"Walk with me through the garganta?" Ichigo requested.
Sangre nodded his head. "That I can do."
The older hollow stood from his seat and lifted his finger to open the portal between two worlds. Ichigo couldn't believe this was happening. His heart was beating loudly within his ears and he didn't know if it was from fear or excitement; this would be the first time Ichigo returned to Karakura Town since before his capture.
Is this what I really want? Ichigo asked himself.
He didn't know. For so long when he was younger all he wanted was to go home even though he shouldn't have been allowed. The world of hollows had become his home and there was no chance he thought he could return to Karakura Town. Ichigo didn't know how to create a garganta let alone create his own seinkimon. It was just something he never knew how to do. Now that he was able to leave he had mixed feelings. How could he explain his newborn son and eldest son who looked almost as old as him? The child looked so similar to Grimmjow and though they could say the child was from Grimmjow's first marriage, assuming they would be telling others that they were a couple, how would they explain the cub that looked like Ichigo? Arian's orange locks matched Ichigo's but he had blue eyes that were exactly like Grimmjow's. Rather than having horns or a cat tail, this one actually favored Ichigo's old lizard form and had a lizard tail. There were three red stripes over Arian's left eye like Ichigo's old mask as well. The cub was rather adorable and he was often cooed over for his eyes that were as deep as the sea.
While those thoughts jumbled around Ichigo's head he wasn't aware that he was being transported through the garganta until he felt the cool breeze of the wind. He blinked in shock at seeing the river he had once gone to in sorrow. Everyone he knew that still remained in the world of the living was waiting for him, waving at his arrival with happiness and cheering his name. Ichigo was standing on his own, outside of the garganta with Sangre, Cyn and Grimmjow. This was his home. Karakura Town hadn't changed at all it seemed.
Tears welled in Ichigo's eyes but he refused to cry. It wasn't from joy but from sorrow. Sangre nudged Ichigo forward but the younger male didn't move. Instead, he turned around to face the man who had held him captive for so long.
"Why?" Ichigo croaked out.
"There is a human saying, "Sangre began, "if you truly love something, set it free."
Ichigo couldn't help but have those struggling tears fall. There wasn't a lot but a few managed to escape and run down his face. After all these years Sangre was finally letting Ichigo free.
"I'm not a good king," Sangre continued. "I'm not a good mate either. I want you to live with Grimmjow, live your life like it was meant to be before everything went wrong. I won't return for you, not yet. Not until I'm worthy to be your mate. Orihime will be my judge. I know this isn't what love is supposed to be. I'm not a true hollow. I have no hole anymore but before that my hole was sealed. Now it's just non-existent. When the time comes I'll reclaim you. Until then, this is goodbye."
Sangre gave Ichigo a chaste kiss on the lips before pushing Ichigo forward towards his friends and family. Ichigo couldn't help but smile through his tear stained face. This was truly happening. This wasn't some cruel joke. Sangre wanted him to leave and was allowing it all to become a better hollow. Even though this pained Ichigo his heart couldn't help but swell in happiness. Sangre finally understood everything that went on was wrong.
"Be happy; you deserve it," Sangre told Ichigo and gave Ichigo one last push. Ichigo wasn't facing Sangre but more so his friends but he couldn't help but look back at the pale hollow king with a sad smile on his face.
"See you again," Ichigo promised Sangre.