chapter 36
Yokai Academy outskirts-5 days later
Having eliminated all the uncanny looking Hollow bait like contraptions from all over the area, Toshiro's team has destroyed most of the Hollows and for the last 5 days, they have been cleaning up some of the remaining stragglers. After rotating patrols and taking turns resting, the gang has finally found a semblance of peace although sometimes they will encounter a Hollow or two along the way. So far there seems to be a seize fire of sorts between the two opposing forces at the moment. The gang took advantage of this lull in hostilities and tried to relax as best as they can although there seems to be an ominous tension in the air.
Rukia and Renji were patrolling their side of the school property. Toshiro divided the vast school grounds into manageable territories that each team had to patrol. Each of the so called territories were about 2.5 miles each as the school does own a sizable amount of property. The teams then made their rounds and then reported back to him of anything unusual. If they encountered the enemy, they were authorized to use full force and call for back up just in case they needed any assistance. Rukia and Renji were finishing their rounds when suddenly they felt an anomaly not too far off from their position.
"Captain Hitsugaya, Renji and I are feeling an unusual energy signature about 100 yards from where we are located. Permission to investigate." Rukia reported.
"Rangiku and I have felt it too." Toshiro admitted then he said. "Permission granted, however if it gets too hot retreat and wait until the others get there to assist you."
"Captain, Ikkaku and I are about to finish our rounds and we are about 5 minutes away from Rukia's position. If we even get a hint of trouble we will be able to assist them should the need arise." Yumichika reported.
"Good...I'll report in to Central Command and I will ask them to send reinforcements from Soul Society...just in case it gets ugly."
"Hitsugaya-san, Chad and I have finished our patrol and we are on our way to Rukia's position right now." Uryu informed the young Captain.
"Alright, people you know what to do. If you get into trouble call for help. The teams should be near enough should you need the assistance."
Everyone answered that they understood and the radio chatter stopped. Toshiro then sent a dispatch to Central Command that he may need assistance should the situation go sour and that the enemy they are facing are Espada. C. C. answered that the volunteer has been informed and is on standby and Toshiro only has to give the command to deploy him/her. The Captain said his thanks and took the communicator out of his ear and gave it to Rangiku who seemed a little tense.
"Get ready Matsumoto, I have a feeling that this is going to go down south rather quickly..."
Shuzen family castle-the next day
Captain-General Yamamoto is sitting down on a comfortable chair and sipping his freshly brewed, piping hot tea. The old man said his thanks to the servant who served it to him and the young lady curtsied and quietly left the room. At this time, he is in Victor's study having breakfast with the head of the household. Apparently, the vampire lord invited the old man to apologize for his behavior yesterday. Since it's been 500 years that the two men have seen each other, Victor wanted to get reacquainted and to catch up on some news. Yamamoto couldn't pass up the opportunity to discuss an alliance between the vampires and Soul Society against the traitor Aizen.
"So have you been all these centuries, grandfather?" Victor asked.
"I've been doing quite well. Between taking charge of the Soul Society, running the Seireitei, and signing all the mountains of paperwork in the office; getting old is but an added bonus."
"It does indeed." The vampire chuckled. "Can't blame nor envy you either. So why the sudden visit, it's not like you to skirt your responsibility to Soul Society just to visit me?"
"You don't beat around the bush do you?" Yamamoto said. "Very well, I'll tell you but you might not like where this is headed."
Thus the old man told the story about Aizen and how he has been working against the Soul Society and conducting illegal experiments on Hollowfication in order to go beyond the limitations of the Shinigami. Yamamoto then discussed current events and what happened as recently as 3 months ago in the Soul Society and finally Aizen as well as his two accomplices Tousen and Ichimaru has fled to Hueco Mundo with an item called the Hogyoku. Then he elaborated that the Soul Society will go to war this coming winter, the time the said item would have fully awaken. Victor listened with great interest and didn't interrupt the old man until he was finished.
"Interesting story grandfather, but what does this have to do with your visit?"
"I am proposing..."
"An alliance between our people and Soul Society, didn't I mentioned it to you before dear?" Akasha interrupted. The lady of the household entered giving the old man a kiss on the cheek and her husband a quick kiss on the lips. Akasha is wearing a black spaghetti strap silk dress. A white shawl is draped and tied around her well toned shoulders. With each step her long, creamy legs flashed as she seem to strut on her way to them. She then bowed down to Yamamoto and her husband...
"I'm sorry to interrupt gentlemen but I think I should be a part of this discussion."
Victor is about to object but the old man cut him off before he can protest too vehemently...
"It is quite alright, I believe Akasha has the right to hear this as well."
"If you say so, grandfather." Victor said as he glared at his wife.
Akasha however, didn't wilt like a dainty flower and defiantly glared at her husband. Seeing as this might prove to be a problem, Yamamoto had to intervene before this little spat turned ugly. A fight between two powerful S-class monsters especially with two very old vampires like Victor and Akasha will be disastrous to say the least. Between the two of them, they probably would have leveled the entire castle, destroyed the entire countryside that it resides in and everything else within a 50 mile radius. To keep the peace between husband and wife, he might have to be their referee just in case somebody starts swinging. Yamamoto inwardly chuckled, he remembered being the go between for these two when they were first dating some 800 years ago...
"Alright you two, it is way too early in the morning for you kids to fight." Yamamoto told them. "Akasha if you insist on being in on this conversation..sit!"
"Yes grandfather." She said with a rather uncharacteristic submissiveness. Akasha meekly sat opposite of the old man. She made sure Yamamoto is looking away before she stuck out her tongue at her husband and pulled down the skin from underneath her right eye. A huge vein popped on Victors forehead but he tried to ignore her...
"As I was saying before we were rudely interrupted!" Yamamoto glared at Akasha who shrank a little bit on the other side of the table. "I wanted to propose an alliance between the Vampires and The Soul Society..."
"But grandfather, that is all well and good but does that have to do with anything?" Victor asked puzzled. "This Aizen has not moved against me and if he did, he's going to find out Vampires are not to be trifled with!"
"Victor dear, I love you and I adore you and I hope that you don't take this the wrong way..." Akasha began. "But you're an damn idiot!"
"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO ME!"
"VICTOR SIT DOWN!" Yamamoto shouted at him. "And YOU no insults, do you hear me!"
Victor sat down and looked away grumbling while Akasha nodded all too eagerly...
"Yes grandfather!" She said smiling at him.
"Alright, alliance between Vampires and Soul Society...Discuss!"
"I think that this Aizen is a threat to all monsters so I think it's a splendid idea!" Akasha said.
"But, Akasha dear why would you think that?" Victor said sarcastically. "He has not shown that he is a threat to us..."
"Well Victor dear, being one of the Dark Lords that you are, I am sure that you are well aware of the fact that he has sent Hollows and these Espada whatchamacallits so that they can kidnap your daughter! Do you want me to spell it out for you...They...want...to...abduct...your...daughter!"
I for one consider that an act of war if I do say so myself!"
"Moka is all grown up now and she can take care of herself. The blood of the vampires pumps through her veins and she has so far thwarted their efforts to getting herself kidnaped rather nicely."
"I am well aware that my daughter can take care of herself!" she said heatedly. "And do you know why she hasn't been kidnapped yet? It is through Ichigo-kun's hard work and bravery that why!"
"If I may add to the discussion..." Yamamoto said. "The enemy is very strong and because three Captains turned traitor and fled to Hueco Mundo, as you two are well aware is the world of the Hollows; Soul Society is severely undermanned."
"But how can that be grandfather? I thought Soul Society has thousands of Shinigami between all the 13 squads. Surely there are among them that you can replace those Captains that defected?"
"That is true but we do not have time to find them, evaluate them, and train them of their duties in such a short notice."
"Regardless, dearest!" Akasha said sweetly. "You STILL do not get it do you?"
Yamamoto however, noted that her tone changed and the subtle changes in her facial expression which is rather deceptively angelic and that rather made him nervous. The old man is well aware that it is a hint that the lady of the household is about to explode. Akasha may be a sweetheart most of the time but when someone gets on her entire last nerve her temper can be volatile...very volatile. It irked him even more that her idiot husband whom she had married has somehow missed the danger signs because of his own irritation and he can't believe these two have been married for almost 800 years!
"And what would that be Akasha?"
"That you would obviously turn a blind eye to the threat to this world and..."
"And..."
"God you are so dense!" Akasha said in frustration as her seemingly delicate hand crushed the thick oak table in two. Yamamoto calmly lifted his cup and slid slightly backward as the two halves crashed on the marble floor in a loud thunk. Her Yokai energy flared violently. "DO YOU NOT CARE THAT YOUR DAUGHTER IS IN DANGER!"
"YES I AM WELL AWARE THAT DAUGHTER IS IN DANGER. DON'T TELL ME THE OBVIOUS!" Victor shouted. His Yokai power also going through the roof.
Then suddenly, an overwhelmingly crushing Yokai energy blanketed the entire room. Weaker beings would have fallen ill and would have been rendered unconscious from the vicious pressure the Yokai energy exerted. However, since the two people in the room were S-class vampires, they did not succumb to it's affects. Still the vampires felt a pressure that even they couldn't ignore and the two of them like two sheepish children looked at their adopted grandfather in shame. As soon as the old man thought that they have calmed down somewhat, he sighed and said.
"I see that you two have finally calmed down. We shall discuss this important matter at a later time when the two of you are calmer, thinking strait, and more civil to each other...understood?"
"Yes sir..." Both of them replied.
"Good, now if I may take my leave then..." The old man said.
He slowly shuffled towards the door and closed it, leaving husband and wife alone. At first the two of them didn't say anything but then the door opened again and Yamamoto casually said.
"Not that it's none of my business or anything but you can make it up to each other now if you'll want to..." he said chuckling. Then he closed the door quietly behind him.
The two were rendered speechless. Akasha blushed like a school girl and Victor looked at her reluctantly. The silence seemed to permeate every square inch of the room however, it didn't last long. Akasha seeing that it wouldn't do her any good to argue with a stubborn mule of a husband at this time will let this matter go for now. However, in her own stubborn pride as a vampire, she couldn't see herself apologizing for something that she thought is very important to her as well as what she thought should be important to her husband. Still, just this once, she will humble herself and apologize for her rather unlady like behavior and is about to say something when she got a little surprise that she thought would never happen. Her husband got up, set aside the two remnants of the table easily enough, kneeled down before her, took one of her hands with his own, kissed it and said...
"I'm sorry Akasha I didn't know what came over me..."
Shocking as it was, Akasha is pleased that her stubborn goat of a husband is trying to set things right with her. She then felt her cheeks redden again like a little school girl, a feeling she thought she had almost forgotten in a very long time. Still she was not going to make it easy for him and toyed with him a little bit.
"Huummphhh!" Akasha said as she turned around with puffed cheeks.
"Aww common, don't be like that..." Victor said as he caressed her beautiful face. "I said that I'm sorry didn't I?"
"Well ya..."
"So do you forgive me?"
"Why should I!" she said petulantly.
"It's because you love me right?" he said grinning.
"Ha, don't count your chickens before their hatched mister!" Akasha said heatedly. "But...I'll think about it!"
"Well think about it as much as you want...We have all the time in the world!"
As he said this, he planted a kiss on her lips. She stiffened at first but eventually she relented and let the moment go where ever it would take them. She's somewhat surprised though, he hasn't been this much of a smooth operator since they started dating all those centuries ago. Akasha began to melt and she hadn't felt this satisfied in while, not that she's satisfied with her lot in life now. It's nice that he actually tries to be romantic instead of the boorish, prideful, stubborn mule of a facade that he usually presents to the world. He may not look like it but Victor can be a softy and sweet romantic if he put his mind to it. During the centuries that they were married, Victor is far more mellow now than he was when they first got together so many life times ago. Of course this is a side of him that never leaves the castle, because, he is one of the Dark Lords and he has a reputation to maintain after all. Then she suddenly giggled as her husband began to tickle her without warning. One particular vicious bout made her lean forward and she ended up falling on top of him. With all her strength she held his arms above his head giving him an ample view of her well endowed assets. That didn't escape her notice and she began to blush immediately.
"Stop it..." Akasha said huskily. "You big pervert..."
"Only for you love, only for you!"
Akasha giggled and she leaned in and kissed him again. Well, they should argue more often if making up is this good. After awhile, she reluctantly has to leave him because she needed to do some errands during the day. She got up, pulled him up and to her delight, he embraced her. She lovingly looked deep into his crimson eyes and told him.
"As much as it's fun messing around with you, I need to do some errands today, dear."
"Why where are you going anyway?" he asked her.
"I promised all your daughters that we were going shopping all day today and I was going to bring the rest of the girls with me."
"Ah I see...get them whatever they want then." Victor said. "Do you need any money?"
"No dear I think I have enough." Akasha told him. "But if you're kind enough to give me more though I'm not complaining!"
"Alright that sounds good...Do you need an escort? I'll put a whole contingent of men to go with you now if you would like."
"Hmm, I think I'll pass dear. I have two strong and strapping young men in the castle that would do quite nicely. I'm sure that they are more than glad to give a couple of beautiful ladies a lending hand...with a little bit of motivation of course!"
"If you say so..."
"Well, I should be going now..."
Akasha kissed her husband one last time and as she turned around she had a surprise when Victor playfully slapped her in the bottom. She giggled and told him he's such a big pervert and playfully punched him on the shoulder. He chuckled and he's quite glad that Akasha's mood has improved and he reluctantly let her go. Victor then called some people to replace the table that his wife destroyed and then he quietly looked out the huge windows contemplating about the future...
Ichigo's room
Ichigo woke up, yawned, and stretched his stiff arms. However, he had a surprise when one of his hands so happened to brush something round and soft. He reflexively squeezed and then he heard a squeal and when he started moving his hands he suddenly heard a giggle. Fully awake now, he slowly turned his head to the left and to his delight/chagrin, he saw Orihime, in her bra and panties. Her right hand stretched upward while her left hand covered her yawn. Their eyes met and everything seemed to be in slow motion for some reason. Orihime then decided to break the silence and said to him.
"Good morning...my dearest Ichigo-kun!" she said in an uncharacteristic sultry and sexy voice. "What are you doing groping me this early in the morning? I don't remember...giving you any touching privileges!"
It didn't register at first but it began to dawn on Ichigo that he remembered specifically that he escorted her to her room with the rest of the ladies last night. After kissing her goodnight to his embarrassment seeing that his friends were hooting and hollering at the time, he went to his room, locked the door and crashed on his bed. Then he realized that he is groping her and he comically and quickly lifted his offending arm as if he got burned on a hot stove...
"GAAAHHHH, w-what a-are you doing here Inoue!" he yelled as he got up quickly, retreated to the far wall and pointed an accusing finger at her. "A-and why the hell are you in your underwear!"
"Oh this...it was rather hot last night and I needed to cool down a little bit!" Orihime said with a strait face. "Why is there something wrong?"
"N-no err I mean yes!" he stuttered. "Y-your fricking half naked!"
"Oh this..." Orihime said innocently. She then got out of bed and she slowly but deliberately walked to him in a sensual strut. Ichigo had to admit though that his girlfriend did look hot in the sexy underwear. But they had a talk that they were not going to go the next level in their relationship until they got to know each other better. In fact, both of them were rather embarrassed talking about it. Then suddenly she does this out of the blue...something seems to be fishy here. But before he can figure out what's going on, Orihime effectively trapped the hapless strawberry with her arms from either side of his head. She leaned over and he got a good look of her well endowed assets. He swallowed...hard
"Don't you like the show I'm putting for you my love?"
"Y-yes, I m-mean n-no, well you know what I mean!"
"No I don't my dearest, why don't you break it down for me?" she whispered in his ear sending a tingling feeling up and down his spine. She then looked at him lovingly and expectantly.
Ichigo stood rigidly trapped between the wall and his girlfriend's assets. To a normal guy, this would have been up there with winning the lottery, going on a date with a hot idol, and meeting a Hollywood celebrity all at the same time. But since Ichigo is somewhat "shy" and "conservative" when it comes to the opposite sex, he resisted the urge not to touch her and let his hormones rage and do things to her that they might regret later...out of respect for her as a woman of course. However, one aspect of him had other ideas and is feeling a little pressure down his nether region. Orihime noticed and she uncharacteristically giggled, licked her lips slowly, deliberately, and looked again deeply into his eyes. The strawberry swallowed the big lump on his throat again and began...
"Didn't we discuss this the other day?"
"Why don't you remind me..." she whispered.
"Aww common Inoue, you couldn't have forgotten, we just talked about it when we first became official!"
"Oh really, please do tell me!"
Something is definitely wrong, how could Inoue have forgotten what they talked about a few days ago! Still he didn't feel any threatening spiritual pressure from her. But he felt something off about her for some reason that he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Perhaps he is still tired from the brutal fight yesterday but he has this feeling that there's something wrong with Orihime.
"Before I tell you anything, are you alright?" Ichigo asked her. "You're acting a little strange this morning."
"I'm alright now that you're here in my arms..." Orihime told him. Then she whispered to his ear. "And..looking...at...me...you...little...pervert!"
With too much pressure building up, the poor strawberry turned his head so that the massive amounts of blood from his nose bleed won't spray all over Orihime. The said redhead, covered her mouth and giggled. With a swiftness that Ichigo didn't see, she disappeared and come back with a wad of paper towels to staunch the bleeding.
"Oh poor baby...there, there; let nurse Orihime take care of you!" she said in a sultry voice. But "nurse" Orihime had more things in mind than taking care of him. Instead, she is about to entrap his head and probably bury it into her assets but Ichigo found an opening and he shunpo'd out of her reach. He ended on the opposite wall, trapped yet again. Unperturbed, Orihime walked towards him but Ichigo began moving to his right. She literally lunged for him and he swiftly retreated backwards but he didn't see the chair behind him and tripped on it. Since he didn't want to her hurt even she's acting way too weird, Ichigo caught the girl and they both fell on the floor. Orihime ended up being on top of him and leaving him trapped yet again.
"You can't get away from me now Ichigo, dear!"
"Dear?...Akasha-san is that you?"
The Orihime that was on top of him melted and disappeared. Akasha emerged out of the shadows giggling. She was wearing a silk dress and with an unlady like fashion she leaned over to get a look at him.
"Oh my, how did you know that it was me dear?" She asked curiously.
"Number 1: Orihime's only pet name for me is "babe" and "Kurosaki-kun" and she never called me dearest nor my first name...yet. Number 2: She has her bold moments, but she would never deliberately go into my room in her underwear trying to seduce me when we discussed that we were going to hold off going to the next level which by the way factors in with reason number 3 which is we discussed that very subject a few days ago, you wouldn't have known that. Number 4: I remember specifically that Orihime's hair pins had 6 points, you had eight. Reason 5: I felt you use your spiritual pressure when you disappeared and got the paper towels. I may be not have seen and I don't have the greatest senses in the world but I could still feel you use your power...at point blank range. And finally the only person that calls everyone "dear" is you!"
"Damn, I got foiled!" she said snapping her fingers. "Oh well, it was fun teasing you while it lasted. You should have seen the look on your face though. It was the most precious thing...te hee hee."
"Ha ha, you're so funny!" he said sarcastically. "So why in the world you woke me up anyway?"
"You wouldn't wake up so I had to do some drastic measures! Besides, I needed you and Tsukune-kun to accompany us shopping! Doesn't that sound so much fun!"
"YOU WOKE ME UP FOR THAT!"
"Tsk, tsk..I wouldn't be yelling if I were you Ichigo-kun, you're room is across the girl's room remember?"
Then and there is a sudden knock on his door.
"Babe are you alright?" Orihime said with concern. Her voice muffled sounding quality. "Why don't you open the door?"
"I'm alright honey, I just had a nightmare and I fell off my bed, that's all!" Ichigo said while he glared at Akasha who tried the best she could to stifle her snickering.
He heard her giggling from the outside.
"So are you going to accompany us or not?"
"Alright fine..."
"Good boy, I'll see you in 30 minutes then. I'll go get Tsukune-kun!" Akasha told him. "Bye bye for now...lover boy!"
"Dammit just get the hell out!"
Ichigo heard her laugh and is astonished that she disappeared again melding with the shadows. He never knew vampires can do that, hell he didn't know that they can conjure some pretty convincing illusions either. Anyway, he didn't want to keep Orihime waiting and hastily got up and opened his door and hastened her to come inside. When she has done so, his girlfriend however, blushed madly and tried to cover her eyes. But she wasn't really sincere since she still tried to sneak a peak and admired his muscular physique. Ichigo realized that the only thing that he is wearing is his boxer shorts and he too began to blush to his ears.
"Well I didn't expect, to wake up to a show and all." Orihime began. "But I really can't complain and I rather like what I see!"
"Inoue...I'm shocked!"
"Well, anyway... good morning babe!"
She closed the distance between them and kissed him on the lips. Whatever protests he had died down and never saw the light of day as he embraced her and somehow to his satisfaction, she seemed to meld right into his arms...
A/N Sorry for the delay...and sorry if it's a little short...I decided to break this chapter down a little bit because I would have ended up writing an entire novel if didn't...I'll start on the next chappy soon and it would be more or less be part two of this chapter...Anyway for those of you who are wondering why I still call Issa, Victor...I decided that I might as well work with what I have...It would be easier on me in the long run and it would keep the flow of the story going...Dammit every time they publish a chapter of the manga, it messes me up since I had to make up all this crap...lol...Anyway what do you'll think...As you noticed I slowed it down for a little bit and went for the laughs...Don't worry action junkies, there will be more action soon enough...Read and Review as usual...Well anyways, it's way past my bedtime and I'm really sleepy...lol...I'll cya kiddies til the next chapter.