A Bleach Fanfic
Chapter 1
Summary: Birth, growth, sold, then owned. This was the life of a neko. No exceptions, no easy way out, no death. They prospered with the help of mankind, birthing more so their race would never disappear. Born as a neko, Ichigo is forced into this life of misery, forever tied to the man with the highest bid. He just wished it hadn't been Grimmjow Jeagerjaques.
There were lines and lines of children and women, the men put in different pens as the shouts from the many humans outside rang, the stomping of their feet rattling the worn through floorboards of the pens, frightening many children who had the unfortunate luck of being chosen too soon. Their bodies have prospered, but hidden from humanity for so long, their minds have yet to. Some, who had the unfortunate fate to meet their owners before they were given to them already knew the cruelty that was life. The pain of knowing that the person who stood in front of you would soon have full control over you, would soon own your body and dirty it with their seed so the race they call family can continue to prosper. Ichigo knew all to well how depressing and messed up the life of a neko could be. His body, riddled with scars that told many stories of what he was put through to prepare for this turn in his life. Not one he regretted, but every single one he could no longer bare to see. His eyes, the molten honey that had hypnotized many were no longer burning, void of heat and life. They portrayed the death he was never to be granted, for a neko never dies, their bodies the soul, and the soul their vessel. They were immortal to all, beings that were once demon's that were hunted down. But not anymore.
Ichigo watched the humans swarm from the crack in the wood wall, their thoughts held in their eyes as women and children went first. A young girl he had never met before in his time in the area he had grew up in showed no fear as she stood before the men and women who whistled and hollered at her, her grey eyes watching them carelessly like as if she had better things to do in her spare time. Ichigo smirked at her fight, knowing how far that would bring her in this life. She was sharp, tough, and smart, all things she carried on her shoulders to show other's the demon side she has yet to shed. Ichigo's smirk fell slightly. With the person who buys her, not all are so diligent enough to let that fight last. For all must struggle before they die. Ichigo looked away when the rope around her neck was pulled, the signal that someone had been caught in the eye of the seller's favor. Many men and woman began to scream in outrage, light footsteps as she was guided off the stage, Ichigo closing his eyes as he rested his head against the wall. He would have to wait till everyone has left before the man who had claimed him would come to receive him, the underhanded dealing of the seller on a need to know basis.
Knowing it was going to take a long time before the place was to be cleared, Ichigo decided to think over everything. His mother, his father, his sisters. His mother had been human he knew, and died when he had been nine. Most neko's, even though birthed from a human, never created any true ties with the human, mother or father. But he had. She had been the first person he knew who treated neko's like they belonged. Not like the demon's or the birthing machine's human's had made them in to. She had loved him, cherished him with all her heart. She put a smile on his face, gave him a reason to laugh and be happy. She had been the main part of the family, the one person who kept everything together. When she died, it affected everyone. Isshin, his father had been severely affected, and even though he carried the playfully aggressive nature of neko and tried to remain happy, Ichigo knew it was only to hide his true feelings from his offspring.
Karin, the name brought a smirk to his lips. Like the girl who he had just saw, she was strong. Out-spoken and authoritative, she was the symbol of neko pride. She would not be brung down, she would fight tooth and nail then to bow to the rules of society. And in her fight for freedom, she ran away after the death of their mother, Yuzu by her side. She had ran away to America, where neko's and human's lived alongside each other with a choice of who they would to bare offspring with. She had sent him a post card, the picture one of palm tree's she called them and a beach that stretched for miles, the sand looking hot to the touch and the water warm enough to sooth any ache, the sun shining as it ventured on it's way down. The sky had been the brightest of blue's, no cloud's able to be seen. Inside she had written about everything she had experienced with our aunt and the many different foods they had tried and all the kids she could play with and how Yuzu, the shyest of the double had been faring. The last words she put he had installed in his memory, words he repeated at night to the stars, hoping she and Yuzu would hear him.
"I love you, Ichigo. Mama gives you a kiss goodnight."
The words were written but they stringed so much emotion as if she poured her heart into it so he could have that last piece of her and Yuzu. The post card he had inside the pocket of his jacket, his thumb running over the thick paper as he smiled. As long as they were okay, he felt he could face the world with a sword in his hand, all power in him as he fought off the people who tried to tear him down. But it was only a feeling. Night crawled by slowly, Ichigo watching the sky as the sun ventured down, lighting up the sky with color as one by one neko's were sold, and one by one, the human's began to drift away, ropes held in their grasps. When the door had been opened for the last time, Ichigo had been the only one left. He looked up to Urahara, the seller of his region. His cat Yoruichi walked in, his golden eyes holding deep sadness as he walked up to him, Ichigo smiling sadly as he picked him up. Urahara signaled for him to get up, his own eyes hidden. As a seller, showing affection for his merchandise caused nothing but trouble. But Urahara may have been tad of a pervert, but he cared more about neko's than he ever would admit.
To save Yoruichi from an abusive owner, in true form a neko woman, he had took her in and proclaimed she had ran away when it was time for her to get picked up. The man who's name was never mentioned in this region had almost killed him in anger. Using her own power when she found him, Yoruichi gave him a part of her, loosing her ability to stay in female humanoid form. She was the bravest of them all.
Ichigo stood up, pressing his cheek against Yoruichi's in a form of saying good bye, his legs feeling heavy as he kneeled to let him jump from his arms, Yoruichi looking back to him as he stopped his slow stride, his eyes sad as his ears twitched, separating far from each other, the only way he could show his sadness. Ichigo stood up, Yoruichi sauntering away as he walked up to Urahara, his hand stiff as he grabbed the rope. No words were spoken as Urahara guided him back to the back entrance, Ichigo's orange tail curled slightly as it hanged low, his orange ears upright as he tried to not show his fear. His palms were sweaty so he pulled them out his pockets and let the cool air dry them, swallowing as he calmed himself, furrowing his eyebrows as he frowned, his brown eyes brightening as they began to burn, recreating the molten honey that sealed off his true feelings from the world. Fifteen, and already he had become the stone wall he had created and built constantly over the years. In a strange way, he felt his mother would be proud.
When the door was opened, Ichigo had squinted to get used to the dark of the night, rising his head high as he strode forward with purpose, daring any man or woman to push him off the stool he sat high upon. Many will struggle before they die, but the struggle they preserve is what matter's the most. He wasn't going down without a fight.
"You're late Grim," Urahara informed, Ichigo's eyes snapping to him, narrowing dangerously. Grimmjow Jeagerjaques was a tall man, his hair an electrifying teal blue that was spiked up in the front, a rebellious touch as the rest spiked out like a porcupines thorns. His skin was lightly tanned, his eyes a darker blue than his hair, blue tattoo's that almost appeared green on his skin were under his eyes, giving him that look that would intimidate many yet be chased by just as much. Ichigo didn't like him. He reeked of destructive behavior and sex every time he passed by or got close enough to him, like just before he came here, he had came into a willing body of another. It sickened Ichigo to know he was a human of such loose moral's, his eyes meeting his for only a second before Grimmjow looked back to Urahara as he discussed the normal rules and regulations of how one was to treat a neko in Japan. Ichigo wanted to laugh. Those rules, once a neko took the first step into any new home, would no longer exist.
Urahara handed Grimmjow the rope, tilting his head down further so his hat would conceal his eyes, Grimmjow taking full hold of it as he smirked. Urahara spoke no more, turning to leave as he ventured back into his shop. Ichigo watched him go, looking back to Grimmjow when he pulled on the rope. "Let's go Strawberry," he ordered, Ichigo frowning as he followed obediently, knowing putting up a fight here would only ensure his arrest. His struggle would start once they reached his home.
Grimmjow had a Cadillac painted in all black, his eyes bright as he turned around and untied the rope from his neck, letting it drop to the dirtied alleyway floor. "We won't be needing that, will we Strawberry?" Grimmjow asked him, Ichigo's eyebrow twitching as he bit his tongue to hold back what he wanted so badly to say. The ride to his home was silent, Grimmjow driving and sliding through traffic easily, Ichigo staring out the window as he watched the light's from street lamps go by, fear and nervousness twisting in his gut. He was capable of baring offspring he knew, his people having to evolve to keep their race from going into extinction during the many years before when they had been hunted down and murdered, and he feared more than not if Grimmjow was going to take advantage of that. He rested his head against the cold window, seeing the first droplet's of rain fall from the sky, closing his eyes.
I love you, Karin, Yuzu. Mama gives you a kiss goodnight.
Ichigo opened his eyes when they arrived at his house, not realizing he had fell asleep. He unbuckled slowly, letting the smooth material slip through his fingers as he sighed, getting out the car and stepping into the rain, Grimmjow standing behind him as he covered him with an umbrella. Ichigo put his hands in his jacket pockets as they advanced to the doorway, his breathing speeding up as he wondered what would happen when they would pass that threshold. He lowered his head, a frown permanently stained on his lips. The steps seemed to far apart, the door too close as Grimmjow got out his keys and unlocked it, pushing it open before shaking than closing the umbrella. Ichigo looked to him in a two second glance before he walked into the house, his heart in his throat as he raised his eyes slowly. The interior wasn't to fancy or too common, red carpet covering most of the floor, Ichigo wondering how it would feel against his feet as he kicked off his shoes. His tail swished back and forth lazily as he stepped into the house fully, his eyes wide as he looked around in amazement. The walls were covered in murals of different things from Japanese history to Greek mythology, the murals telling many stories as they stretched all around the house, Ichigo smirking as he waled up to a particular mural, seeing the Norse god Thor as he used his mighty hammer to strike gown Loki, his face twisted into one of pain and anger as he striked down his own brother, lightening shooting from his hammer as Loki shot out a darkness that was burned away by the light, the lightening striking his heart.
"Do you like it?" Ichigo was pulled back into reality as he turned around, meeting Grimmjow's eyes, his own hardening once again.
"It is interesting," he replied, Grimmjow snorting as he stepped onto the red carpet, walking up to Ichigo who refused to back away in intimidation, standing tall as he leveled him with his gaze. "You do not have to act tough around me Strawberry," Grimmjow told him, Ichigo's eyes narrowing. "My name is Ichigo," he replied, Grimmjow smirking as he stood beside him. "I had three men draw this for me, it's only on the level floor to awe those who enter. Upstairs is more modern. I'll show you if you would like to see," Grimmjow offered, Ichigo looking back to the mural. He would have to finish this later. "If my room is upstairs than yes," Ichigo replied, Grimmjow signaling for him to follow as he headed for the spiraling staircase, Ichigo touching his hand to the smooth mahogany as he ventured up them. There was three floors, the third the roof that was encased in glass, the second floor consisting of soft and rough shades of blue, Ichigo expecting so as he was led to his room. The door was red, contrasting vastly with the rest of the area as Grimmjow opened it, Ichigo noticing it had no lock. He felt a little uneasy by the fact but his unease was washed away as he walked into it, looking around as his frown fell. The room was consisting of shades of red and orange, the walls a blood red as the flooring was mahogany, the blinds a light shade of orange and the sheets on the bed a dark red and fading out into a light orange, a splash of purple on it as a smaller quilt like blanket was laid on the end of it, Ichigo walking further into the room as Grimmjow rested against the door frame, watching Ichigo explore lazily.
Ichigo touched the soft though itchy fabric of the the quilt, smirking slightly as he just ran his fingers over it, enjoying the texture. He looked up to the closet when he finally noticed it on the right wall of his bed, opening the double doors and walking inside, nearly on the verge of laughing as he saw all the clothes and shoes lines up and hung up neatly, hardly believing he had a walk in closet the size of his old room with a mirror on the far wall the size of his old bed. He walked out and walked to the window on the left side of his bed, opening the curtains and revealing a large window that showed the view of half of Karakura Town, though unable to see the pens. This was the rich and wealthy side, the pens would never be able to be seen from here. They were the darkest are of the slums. He sighed, looking to the stars, never being able to see them so clearly. Bright lights in the sky, each one an individual as Ichigo connected several into an elephant, smiling as he let out a deep breath.
"Do you like it?' Grimmjow asked, once again snapping Ichigo back to reality. His face hardened again, turning as he leaned against the windowsill, crossing his arms over his chest. "It is very spacious and different," he replied, Grimmjow shaking his head with a smirk. "Have you ate anything yet?" he asked, Ichigo shaking his head. "Not since this afternoon," Ichigo told him, Grimmjow signaling for him to follow as he descended down the stairs. Ichigo followed, his eyes lighting up when he was the many Japanese delicacies that were spread on the long table, walking up to it like he was hypnotized. He sat down at the end of the table, Grimmjow at the other as he rested his chin in his palm, a smirk playing on his lips. "Eat as much as you want. Than after i will show you the training room," Grimmjow told him, Ichigo nodding as he reached for the sushi, picking up one before sniffing it, taking a small bite of it. It tasted like heaven in his mouth, such food lost to him as he put the rest in his mouth, chewing happily as he reached for another. Grimmjow watched him lazily, a smirk permanent on his lips.