Ahhh! So much things happening in this chapter . . . .!
Wolf's Love for Moon by Boogermeister
Chapter 25- Blood
Ichigo yelped out as she was harshly tossed into her bedroom, breaking her fall to the floor out of instinct to protect her stomach. She glanced up in absolute fear, inching away from the looming nobleman. ". . . . You believe that I was foolish enough not to know, you whore?" he questioned lowly as he stepped forward. "You believe that you can hide your secret from me like that?" She didn't answer, whimpering as she protectively caressed her stomach. "Why then . . . .? I am your husband, didn't you love me?"
"I . . . . I've never loved you, ever since I first met you when we have gotten married," she whimpered softly. "You're not the type that I would imagine myself with . . . . I've never wanted to be married like this, I just wanted my old life back."
"Is that right . . . .?" he frowned. "You wish not to be with me, Ichigo?" Ichigo didn't answer as she backed away, but the older man stepped closer as he glared down at her. "I am superior over everyone, including you, and there is no way that you can defy me any more than you can right now. If that . . . . thing is turned out to be Starrk's, then I'll get rid of it . . . . then I'll have that bastard executed for his ultimate betrayal against me."
"No . . . . you can't do that . . . ." whimpered Ichigo, flinching when he stood over her.
"Would you rather have your own family perish instead?" he threatened and she stared up at him in shock. "Remember, I bargained for you in order for you sick sister to live. Do not let me regret my decision, Ichigo. It's either him or them, your choice . . . ." He then stepped away, as the teen sobbed, and left the room. "Lock the door and guard it, I deal with her later . . . ."
"Yes, sir," muttered Ulquiorra who was waiting outside.
"And . . . . see to it that she will not try to escape, no matter what," he muttered. "But I doubt that she will . . . ."
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No matter how he can try, Starrk kept collapsing whenever he tried to stand up, only to get kicked down by the big brute named Yammy. He bit back his painful groan when he was pulled by his hair and was tossed against the stone wall. Without his guns, the Primera was practically useless when it comes to physical fighting, especially against someone like him.
"Aw . . . . he can't be dead already," sneered Yammy as he glared down at the bruised man, who was breathing harshly. Screaming out in pain would egg him on further. "I was just getting started."
"Stop it already, you fucking prick," scoffed Grimmjow, who was simply staring at the sight. "You got your chance to mess with him, now I'm telling you to fucking leave now. Aizen left me to look after him until he gives out the order."
"Tch, you're no fun ever since you got your rank back," the tenth Espada grumbled. "Every time Aizen-sama gives you an assignment, you act like a dick like Ulquiorra. Why, you're afraid to get cut up like last time?"
"Fuck off, Yammy," he frowned, narrowing his eyes. "Either leave, or I'll just simply kill you for not listening to me."
"You fuck off . . . ." scoffed Yammy, stalking out of the cell-like room. Grimmjow said nothing else, simply glaring down at Starrk as the brunet silently glared back.
". . . . Why'd you betray us, Grimmjow?" he muttered lowly. "I thought that you wanted to help since it involves Nel, I thought you care about her."
". . . . It couldn't be done, it was inevitable anyway," he simply shrugged.
"So you lie, just so you can save your ass?" he questioned. "Is that what you're saying, Grimmjow?"
"What is there to say? You're the one that knocked up Ichigo," he flatly replied. Starrk flinched at his cold words and reacted quickly to stand up, but fell down when sharp painful spasm shot at his legs. "Stop trying, Starrk . . . . who's there to save you anyway?"
"You bastard-" he gritted but something suddenly came to his mind and he panicked slightly. ". . . . Where's Lilynette?"
"You mean that mutt of yours?" Grimmjow muttered.
"Where is she, damn it?" he demanded.
"She's still here, locked up like you though," he muttered, scratching through his hair. "You're lucky that Aizen didn't ask to put her down, at least not yet."
"I hate you so much, Grimmjow Jaegerjaques . . . ." Starrk muttered through gritted teeth, his slate eyes darkened at the thought. "You went against us, and because of that I'll die for my actions."
"Of course you will," frowned Grimmjow, taking his phone out after the first ring. "Yeah . . . .?"
"Grimmjow . . . . it's me . . . ." The Sexta's eyes narrowed at the voice, avoiding Starrk's glare as he stepped out of the room. "What happened over there, Grimmjow . . . .?"
". . . . You can't call here anymore, it's too dangerous now," he muttered under his breath.
". . . . I see, ouch . . . ."
"You're injured . . . .?"
"I escaped from the Noveno, but now what . . . .?"
"I'll figure out a way but you need to try to get here without getting killed," he muttered softly. "Be safe, Nel . . . ."
"All right . . . ." Grimmjow was truly conflicted but knew what he was doing, only to protect Nel until the time was right. His jaws tensed strongly as he went back into the room, glaring down at the frustrated Primera. "Now what, Starrk . . . .?" he frowned.
"Who was that?" he questioned lowly.
". . . . Does it matter? It's hopeless now," he sighed deeply as he glanced away. "Even if you're not the father of that kid inside Ichigo, you're gonna die just for being with her . . . ."
". . . . You're as worse as Aizen, Grimmjow," he gritted. "You're nothing but a pathetic piece of shit . . . ."
"Keep talking . . . . it wouldn't do any good."
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Kaien frowned slightly in annoyance when he arrived at the Kuchiki manor, realizing that it was too eerily quiet. "Tch, I should've known . . . ." he sighed, after trying to open the front doors only to realize that it was locked. "I should've finished her when I had a chance if this was gonna happen." Wincing slightly from the minor injury on his left hand, he discreetly grasped at his gun underneath his jacket as he glanced around to see any opening to get in. "Don't think that Byakuya would be too angry about me breaking in, I've done it before," he muttered with a small smirk on his face.
". . . . And where do you think you're going, Kaien Shiba?" Kaien stiffened slightly from Byakuya's voice behind him, before putting on a wide grin as he turned around.
"Hey there, Byakuya!" he grinned. "I thought nobody's home, but it seems that I was wrong."
"It is late . . . . people are already asleep at this hour," Byakuya answered stiffly, narrowing his eyes at him. "What are you doing here? Do you have any business to my younger sister?"
"Oh, right, she left in a hurry before I can say something important to her," he replied with a shrug, crossing his arms.
"Then it can wait until tomorrow," muttered the nobleman, as he turned to leave.
"But it's about that friend of hers, she might be in trouble." Byakuya paused and turned back to gaze at him.
". . . . Then give me the message and I'll tell her, Kaien Shiba," he muttered. Kaien sighed and nodded as he stepped forward; his darker side egged at him to take him out now. And he would do it, as an evil smirk crept across his face.
"It's very important that you give this to her . . . . Byakuya Kuchiki," he muttered darkly, quickly pulling out his gun.
"NOW!" In an instant, a dark shadow twisted Kaien's arm behind his back. The man didn't even have time to react, as the weapon suddenly slipped from his hand.
"What the-" he stammered out in surprise and shock before another shadow grabbed his free arm and twisted it. "Argh, the fuck's going on here . . . .!" he gritted out in pain.
"Yoruichi-sama, you could've left me to disarm him myself," muttered the shorter woman with plaited black pigtails.
"Please, I did it just fine, Soi Fon," smirked Yoruichi as she tightened her hold on him.
"You bastard . . . .!" gritted Kaien, glaring behind him then at Byakuya. "I knew it . . . . I should've killed that so-called sister of yours, Kuchiki! You're nothing but a fucking prick, marrying a common whore to taint your family name!"
"And what makes you any better, Kaien Shiba . . . . or is that who you really are?" questioned Byakuya as he stepped forward, undeterred by the other man's heated glare.
"Fine then . . . ." he sneered. "Under Aizen-sama, I am Aaroniero Arruruerie the Noveno Espada . . . . and I came here to assassinate you and Rukia under his orders."
". . . . So you're admitting it," Byakuya muttered through gritted teeth.
"So what? What can you do about it?" spat the two-faced man. "You can't go against Aizen-sama, he's too fucking powerful for you to handle! He'll kill you just like he's gonna kill his slut of a wife . . . .!" Byakuya stiffened at that, so Rukia was telling the truth. "Go ahead, kill me . . . . but it wouldn't change the fact that you won't win against him."
". . . . Tie him up, we'll interrogate him further," he suggested. "We shouldn't kill him . . . . yet." At that, Kaien spat at his face and chuckled lowly.
"You'll regret it, Byakuya Kuchiki . . . .!" he sneered as he glared at the rigid nobleman. "I wish death on your fucking life as well as my digusting fiancee's!"
"Trust me, that would be the last thing you would want to wish on me and my family," Byakuya muttered threateningly.
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Ichigo flinched from her quiet sobbing when the door unlocked and opened, she cringed from the soft light seeping into the darkened room before two silhouettes blocked it. ". . . . You're still on the floor . . . .?" frowned Ulquiorra as he stepped forward. "No matter . . . . Aizen-sama told us to hold you down if needed."
". . . . For what?" she mumbled in apprehension.
"To test if that child is Aizen-sama's legitimate heiress or Starrk's bastard," he merely replied. Ichigo flinched as he reach to grab at her arm.
"N-no . . . .!" she winced, but was no match in her condition as she was pulled to her feet and was held down onto the bed. "What're you doing to me . . . .!"
"Hold still . . . . unless you want to do this with pain," muttered Ulquiorra, holding a syringe given to him by Szayel.
"Ahh . . . .!" she gasped sharply when the sharp needle pricked into her arm, shivering when she felt the numbness and unconsciousness quickly taking over her.
"Don't worry, the anesthetic won't harm the unborn . . . ." mused Szayel. Ichigo sobbed quietly but couldn't utter a noise, as she barely felt another needle pricking into her abdomen.
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". . . . What's the point? I can't run away without a weapon," Starrk mumbled bitterly, glaring down at the shackles attached to his wrists.
"Fine with me, but I'm just taking a break," grumbled Grimmjow. "Another 36 hours to go, Starrk . . . ."
"I curse you, Grimmjow Jaegerjaques . . . . you're going against Ichigo-"
"Enough, this is getting fucking boring," he scoffed softly as he turned to leave. "Next time I'll see you, it'd be a bullet to the face." Not wanting to hear any more, he simply left into the dimmed hallways. Making a few long turns, he arrived at the closed cell door and immediately heard a sharp whimper. "Fuck . . . ." he frowned of forcing the dog into here.
". . . . Mutt," Grimmjow muttered when he went into the Primera's room earlier today. On cue, the wolfdog perked up her ears and frowned at him. "Come here, there's something going on with Starrk and I must take you." Lily huffed in surprise then frowned again in confusion. "Damn it, mutt, I have to take you so you can help your damn master," he muttered quietly. "Don't you like Ichigo also? You need to help her too."
Lily blinked at that and whined, reluctantly padding up to him. "Quit looking sad, mutt . . . . I know what I'm doing," he grumbled, grasping at her collar and led her out of the room.
Lily whined as Grimmjow opened the door and walked in, her tail drooped down as she yelped out in distress. She could smell the scent of her master on the Sexta as he knelt down. "Stop that, mutt," he frowned, when she yelped out a few more times. "I know that Starrk's here but I need you to do something for me." But the dog shook her head from his touch, the chain attached to her collar rattled loudly.
"Damn it, do you wanna help Ichigo or not?" he gritted. At that, Lily whined softly as she dropped her ears down and Grimmjow sighed deeply. "There's one way you can help Ichigo . . . ." he mumbled, taking out a ripped piece of fabric from a worn shirt. "Remember Nel . . . .? I need you to find her so she can help Ichigo and Starrk. Can you do that, mutt?"
Lily glanced at him and seemingly nodded, her wet hypersensitve nose wiggled at the sweet smell of Nel. Almost immediately, her light pink eyes narrowed at the imprint and huffed out in anticipation. "Once I take you off this chain, you must run into the city and search until you find her," he muttered, grasping onto the chain. ". . . . Go." In an instant, Lily jolted off as soon as the chain was taken off, nearly faltering her steps when Starrk's scent was nearby but pressed on to continue, darting out of the sub-basements and into the maze of white hallways.
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"Aizen-sama . . . . Starrk's pet escaped from the mansion," muttered Harribel, quickly bowing her head after rushing into his office. Aizen narrowed his eyes and scoffed softly, the tanned woman stiffened in case he would berate her for bothering him.
". . . . Nobody caught the dog?" he questioned in scolding manner.
"It was too quick, it slipped underneath the gates before disappearing into the city," she answered.
"Tch, there's no point of tracking it down now . . . ." he scoffed dimissively. "What of Starrk, what is his condition?"
"Grimmjow informed me that he was quiet but muttered hateful words every so often, Aizen-sama."
"And what of Ichigo after Szayel took sample of the child's blood?" he questioned.
"She is finally asleep, sir . . . ." Harribel muttered. Aizen narrowed his eyes again and dimissed her with an impatient wave, she bowed her head and quickly left. He was deeply furious of the embarrassment he had been put through. Even through all the resources and the working staffs, nobody had noticed the illicit affair between his wife and the first Espada, taking him for a fool. But he wasn't a hypocrite, he mentally admitted that he was into affairs before marrying Ichigo, mainly Loly.
But when the maid revealed to him that she was four months pregnant with his child a long time ago, he proved that he had no actual interest in her except for lust. If it had been a girl, then he would had let her keep it since he only wanted an heir but insisted an abortion when it was revealed to be a boy.
Soon after that, he wanted to rid her away and he did after Ichigo caught him with her. But it didn't mean that he was sorry, he was superior over her so nothing mattered to him. But being betrayed by something as significant as his subordinate impregnating Ichigo was actually unforgivable. Ichigo was his only, not anyone else's. Especially not Starrk's.
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Nel breathed heavily as she fixed her wound with a makeshift tourniquet, she was lucky that the bullet wasn't stuck in her shoulder and it didn't hit any major artery or vein. Tightly wrapping her injury with her shredded jacket, she gritted in pain as she staggered out of the alley. "Damn it . . . .!" she panted harshly. "Ichigo, how can this happened . . . .?" Her mind reeled from the revelation earlier, before getting shot at. Who could have known that, who found out and reported it to Aizen? It would be diffiicult to go back, with her condition. She could smell the upcoming rain in the air, adding more problems.
"Damn . . . ." she gritted, trying to walk steadily down the street, avoiding the stares from a few passerbys. How can she get there, back to the mansion? She would get shot on sight just for knowing about Ichigo's secret. She tuned out the sounds of dogs barking and growling nearby as she was thinking of a way to get back, when one suddenly ran up to her. "Wh-what-" she startled before blinking in surprise. ". . . . Lily?"
Lily yelped and barked in distress, trying to explain her what had happened to Starrk. "If you're here to find me . . . . then something really happened to Starrk?" she gasped, wincing slightly from her injury. "Now I can't call Grimmjow . . . . Aizen'll know . . . ." Lily whined at that and yelped some more, urging her to go. "We can't, Lily . . . . it's too difficult, and we'll get killed . . . ." Out of nowhere, her cell phone rang, startling her. "What . . . .?" she frowned slightly as she took it out, it was an unknown number.
". . . . Yes?" she mumbled as she answered it.
"Wait, is this Nel . . . .?" Nel stiffened at the familiar voice and a gasp escaped from her lips.
"Rukia Kuchiki, is that you . . . .?"
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Gotei 13 was the main judiciary system of the Seireitei, responsible for holding peace within the city as well as the Rukongai districts. It consisted of 13 main leaders of the laws that enforce the civilians, both nobles and commoners alike. But to be called for an emergency court on such a late hour was anything but unusual. Nearly everyone was present, except for the leader of the Gotei 13, Genryuusai Shigekuni-Yamamoto.
The eldest of the lawmen finally arrived, steadily walking with his hand grasping tightly on his cane as he reached to the back of the room. His eyes, though buried under thick white eyebrows, peered around to see that everyone was present. Even Byakuya, who happened to be one. "This is troublesome . . . . Byakuya Kuchiki, you have proof that one of the nobleman Kaien Shiba were ordered to assassinate you and your family. Is that correct?"
"Yes sir, he verbally admitted it himself," Byakuya replied quietly. "Youruichi Shihouin was present during his confrontation, since I had asked for her assistance. You see . . . . my younger sister had overheard him to Sousuke Aizen as a superior and it turned out he was leading a double life."
"Is that so . . . .?" he questioned.
"Yes, he revealed himself to be an Espada, under the name of Aaroniero Arruruerie," answered the nobleman. "And it seems that he has informations about us as well as Sousuke Aizen himself." The white eyebrows raised slightly to gaze at him before nodding.
"Send him in . . . .!" he commanded with a harsh tap of his cane to the floor. A set of wide doors opened, and two guards came in as they hauled in the hancuffed Kaien. The two-faced man simply sneered, despite being forced down to kneel before Yamamoto. "You have disgraced yourself and the family name to the extent, Kaien Shiba . . . . ." he muttered. "You betrayed your noble duties just to follow Sousuke Aizen's commands. And in doing so, you have broken laws by attempting murder of the noble class. Is there anything you wish to say to defend yourself?"
"Why? You already said what needed to be said, you old fool," he smirked. "Nobody, not even the Gotei 13 could stop Aizen-sama. So what can you do about it? It'd be his words over yours . . . ."
"You believe so . . . .?"
"You're fucking too dense to think that you can stop him," he sneered, nearly chuckling at the thought. "There are eight other Espadas, what makes you think you can diminished his powers just like that?"
". . . . Because we have a way to know the Espadas," muttered Byakuya, Kaien's grin nearly faltered and he glared at him.
"What . . . .? What makes you say that, Kuchiki?" he scowled. "You're just bluffing-"
"Neliel Tu Oderschvank," he said, and the Noveno stiffened in surprise at that name. "She is the former third Espada, is she not . . . .?"
". . . . How the fuck do you know of her?" he questioned lowly.
"We found her contact number on your phone when we apprehended you earlier," he merely replied. "Considering of what Rukia had told me, she decided to contact in order to help her friend."
"That bitch . . . .!" he seethed. "Both of them, I should've killed Neliel the moment I saw her!"
"Byakuya Kuchiki, are you telling that this former Espada can be trusted?" asked Yamamoto.
"She is willing to help us since she is no longer affiliated with Sousuke Aizen," he answered quietly. "She will inform us of how to take him down."
"Fuck . . . .! You still won't have a chance against Aizen-sama, you bastards!" scowled Kaien, struggling from the hold on him. "He'll destroy all of you . . . .! You won't stand a chance . . . .!"
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Just not to confuse people; Izuru's the third, Shuuhei's the ninth, and Urahar's the fifth. . . . . Yeah . . . . it's easier not to ask. Yeah, do not ask cuz I could really care less.
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I'll update ASAP!