A/N next weeks chapters MAY be posted Monday 12/2 as I may not be able to post Sunday. We are travelling for Thanksgiving and get home on Sunday. If I am able to dear readers I will post Sunday. If not I ask for your patience in this matter=)
Panda Master: Wow! You did read a lot and I thank you for it!
SexyBVirgo: As always it's lovely to see you hanging in there and reviewing! I have 4 pre written chapters and it is building up to it;)
Please review, this is all the thanks the writers here get and it means so much to us, and doesn't take much of your time!
Renji entered the small bedroom he shared with Szayel to find his pink haired mate sitting on the bed they now shared scribbling furiously in his notebook, beakers, plants, wires and other questionable objects adorned and completely covered the other bed. A small smirk played on his feral lips as his tongue darted out to wet them; the sight of his mate working turned him on. His smart and talented mate who was working tirelessly so for them all. His entrance caused the scientist to look up, and adjusting his glasses his tired honey colored gaze fell onto his fiery mate. Renji smiled warmly, taking note of the exhaustion in the other man's eyes and he padded over and settled himself on the bed behind him. Stretching out his legs he wrapped the smaller man up in them and while Szayel continued to write he began to softly massage his shoulder and caress his head, running his rough hands through the silky pink hair, as he did so he felt Szayel's tension begin to leave him. They remained like that for awhile, Renji showing his silent support and lost in his own thoughts.
They had come a long way since they first met, considering at that time they had tried to kill each other, or rather Szayel had tried to kill Renji. The road to forgiveness not just of each other but of themselves had been rocky and hard as they each struggled with their own demons. Surprisingly it had been Szayel to overcome his first, making small advances on Renji who tended to reject and ignore them yet who at the same time made advances of his own. Renji was considerate of his mate, and always brought him small trinkets just for him from his scavenging missions, if Szayel was busy with his work and wasn't eating properly Renji would prepare him a meal and take it to him, sitting idly by while he made sure the man ate. Of course, all of this went unnoticed to both men and it took a few sentences from Ulquiorra to Renji to remove the red head's head from his anus. Renji was glad he had, his mate was pretty damn amazing and their inner worlds had morphed into something rather beautiful, a literal concrete jungle. The skyscrapers were endless on the horizon, except now the streets and buildings were overrun with vines and wild flowers; deep jungle trees with theirs canopy's providing shade for the animals that roamed within. It had taken both zanpaktou a while to get used to it and once they did they found they were content. Fornicaras, who had previously been confined to buildings with their white walls and sterile rooms, found the jungle pleasing and frequently was found sitting with Zabimaru by the waterfall.
"Renji" Szayel's voice broke through his thoughts, "when we get back, if we get back, what will happen?"
Renji scratched his head "I supposed we will try to save everyone that we can."
Szayel sighed "I meant with us." His golden eyes locked onto warm cinnamon and Renji saw fear dancing in them. Letting his mouth curl into a lopsided grin he pulled the smaller man flush up against him.
"Well" he said, nuzzling into Szayel's ear, his voice a low husky whisper. "I think that they will have no choice but to accept you as my lover." He gently kissed the back of the espadas neck as his hands tightened around the slim waist, causing a small noise of protest from the man.
"Renji" he poked the red head with a pencil "I have to work."
"You've been working for hours, some stress relief might be in order." As if to prove his point he ground his hips into Szayel's back, his erection clearly evident. Despite himself Szayel smiled, maybe his wild lover was right.
"Fine, but we do it my way. Get on your back shinigami" he commanded and Renji complied. He loved it when the man dominated in the bedroom, not physically but verbally. On occasion he had completely restrained Renji while he rode him, and he had loved every minute of it. As their energies wrapped around and entangled with each other everyone in the whole house felt it, and was sure to leave the two men alone.
In another corner of the house a very sweaty Grimmjow was paying homage to a certain pale espada's body. As he plunged into Ulquiorra's tight depths he groaned, his mouth greedily finding the smaller mans and dominating it as his tongue swept in, eager to taste. The dark haired man was slowly becoming undone, his hair sticking to his face with sweat and his green eyes half lidded and lust clouded. His hands gripped Grimmjow's tight ass, pulling him closer and closer as his mate was coming to his peak. He bucked his pale hips up roughly in a silent demand and Grimmjow complied. Tucking his head into Ulquiorra's shoulder he dropped down onto his forearms and began to thrust into the slender man as if his life depended on it. Ulquiorra raked his nails down the panther's back as he felt the coil of pleasure inside him, he wouldn't cum but the pleasure Grimmjow was providing him was more than enough. With a snarl he felt his lover stiffen and bite down on his neck ferally. The seeping warmth of his release invading him in quick spurts as Grimmjow erratically thrust into him. He groaned at the sensation as his overly sensitive body welcomed it and relaxed into the larger man's arms. Grimmjow kissed him deeply on the lips before disengaging himself and going to find a towel, padding back into the room he cleaned his lover and himself up before settling back into the bed, drawing Ulquiorra into his arms.
Ulquiorra had suffered so much for him had been made into a mere sex toy for Aizen, that the thought made Grimmjow grind his teeth in anger. If the stupid bat had just told him, no he couldn't say that he would have accepted him at that time. In fact, he wasn't really sure when their dynamic had changed from one of indifference to loving acceptance. Maybe the whole end of the world shit had something to do with it, after all it seemed to have happened after that, no after Ulquiorra imprinted on Byakuya HIS precious mate. That's what set it off, he had been so pissed that the dark haired man had the nerve to imprint on his territory, yet it wasn't as if he had a choice in the matter. Instead he had acted like a child and yelled at both of them for consummating it in front of everyone; he realized Byakuya had only done as he thought needed and saved Ulquiorra from a rather painful situation. Then he had learned of the man's alterations, courtesy of Szayel who had been forced to perform the surgeries. He had to admit he was a little pleased when he learned the Kuchiki was dominant in the relationship, yet he felt bad for Ulquiorra at his punishment for a love that wasn't even returned, then he found out it was him. Szayel had gotten so angry at Grimmjow as he had teased poor Ulquiorra that he had snapped, yelling out exactly why Grimmjow was an insensitive ass and could get bent since it was his fault anyways and stormed out. It took him a few moments, but he put it together quickly and immediately felt terrible.
Ulquiorra had avoided him for awhile after that, until they had a heart to heart, and somewhere along the way their tentative friendship had turned into affection. He looked to the mop of dark hair and the man who was snuggled into the crook of his arm and smiled contentedly. He was amazed that at the end of everything he was dominant to not just one, but two rather gorgeous men. Both men who could, even though he would never admit it out loud, kick his ass on any given day in a fight. It made his chest puff out in territorial pride every time he saw them, they were his and he was theirs. One mate by instinct and the other by choice, they were his own little pack. Grinning stupidly he kissed the top of Ulquiorra's head and slid from the bed, leaving the snoozing man undisturbed.
Starrk jolted awake at the rather raucous energy that was winding its way through the house. Lifting his shaggy head he sniffed at the air, detecting 4 distinct energies, he grimaced. Obviously he wasn't about to get any sleep with all of the rutting going on, so pulling on some pants he went in search of some peace and quiet. He wandered outside to see Nnoitra engaging a rather furious looking Kasai, not that this was unusual, since Tatsuki had gone to soul society the hollow had been inconsolable; in a constant state of rage except for when around his daughter. The only ones that enjoyed his temper were of course the rather insane pair of mates, shaking his head he ventured over to see what was going on. He sent out tendrils of energy searching for his mate, but couldn't locate him, sidling up to a rather bloody looking Nnoitra he paused for a moment.
"Have you seen Ichigo?" Nnoitra shook his head, but Kasai must have heard.
"Yea, he came by earlier, fore' these two. I threw him." He saw Nnoitra's eyebrows shoot up.
"You what?" The giant man rumbled, clearly trying to check his laughter.
"I threw him, he was buggin' me" the hollow scratched his arm absentmindedly. Starrk narrowed his eyes, throwing someone around as if they were a sack of potato's wasn't exactly normal.
"And do you recall where you threw him? I can't seem to locate him." He said tonelessly, careful not to piss the already edgy man off more than usual.
Kasai at least had the decency to look embarrassed "ah, well. I used mah full strength, so he prolly flew kinda far."
"Hollow" Starrk growled under his breath "it is not nice to toss someone else's mate into oblivion. I realize you are my alpha however you should also want to protect your pack. As Ichigo is my beta he is therefore part of your pack, and please be assured I will not hesitate to take action if my mate is harmed. Are we clear?" Oddly enough Kasai grew quiet as he studied his beta, Starrk was powerful, but Kasai would win in a fight. He knew it was Starrks instinct to protect, just as it should have been his because Starrk was right, Ichigo was part of his pack; and he had harmed him. Taking a step back he dipped his head, his white hair obscuring his face.
"Starrk, I think maybe ya might make a better alpha than me." Nnoitra almost choked at these words and then stood there grinning, watching the proceedings with growing interest. Starrk was trying not to choke the hollow, he certainly had no desire to be the alpha, it was too much work.
"No, I won't. I just want to go find my mate that you decided to launch into the middle of nowhere." He stated simply, really that was all he wanted, and the longer it took the more demanding his instincts got. Black gold eyes met with grey blue and a silent battle of wills took place, one that Starrk won as Kasai sighed and closed his eyes.
"I can't pin point him, but he is that way" Kasai said, pointing a pale hand to the west. Starrk nodded and immediately launched into a sonoido.
"You think he'll find him?" Nnoitra asked the pale man. Kasai just shrugged.
"I kinda felt him that way so hopefully he can. Ichigo is good at survivin' though, so I don't think he's in any danger." With that he consoled himself that his other half was ok, that and he knew he was, he felt it. He just hadn't told Starrk he knew, after all it would do the wolf good to sweat for a bit.
Ichigo yawned and stretched; he had found suitable shelter for the night and decided to make the most of his foray into the unknown. He slipped his clothes on and headed out; thinking that maybe he could gather supplies, after all why let this opportunity go to waste? He cautiously opened the door, placing zangetsu on his back, seeing that things were relatively safe he stepped out into the crisp night.
It didn't take him long to find a store, if you could call it that, in reality it was an old run down gas station but when you are starving anything looks good. Stuffing some 99 cent plastic wrapped snack cakes into his mouth the young man sat on the counter enjoying his moment of zen. Ichigo never would have thought that sitting on a convenience store counter stuffing his mouth full of cheap sweets could have ever been so heavenly. When he had gone through multiple packets of the sweet treats he set to work at gathering supplies, as it was painfully evident that Starrk was either still sleeping or, well, still sleeping. Procuring some plastic bags from under the counter he began to load up on the basics or at the very least some snacks for the way back, he was so absorbed in his hunting and gathering that he didn't notice someone else in the store until he heard the clearing of a throat. Looking up into haunted brown eyes his heart began to beat faster than it had in quite some time.
"Jushiro!" He gasped, as the bag and its contents dropped from his hand and crashed to the ground.