Neko Syndicate
(Modern Human AU)
Warnings/Tags: Bullies, Unreasonable amount of kittens, Grimm is King of Kitties
Many thanks to my discord friends: Dev, Shini, Ari, Nova, and LeVath, for all the idea bouncing lol.
When highschool graduate Renji rights a wrong, he catches the eye of the local mob boss.
In a secluded corner of a park, a young man knelt over a box. The innocuous-looking box emitted soft mews, and the young man reached into the box to stroke unbearably soft fur and gently touch tiny toe beans.
"I'm sorry, little guys. I ain't got no food right now. Don't worry, I'll figure something out."
He stood, heart aching at the plight of the box of kittens and the cruelty of humans. Maybe the meat market down the street would have some odds and ends they were planning to throw away.
He jogged down to the market, lucky enough to catch some ham and cheese scraps. He only kept one for himself, chewing it slowly.
As he crossed the park, his auburn eyes narrowed at the sight of a group of other guys near where the box was.
He broke into a run when one of the boys kicked the box.
He hit them like a thunderbolt, surprise giving him an advantage.
But he was underfed and sleep-deprived, facing a group of other young men that were in a much better state of health.
The young man soon found himself on the ground, curled around the box protectively as blows and kicks rained on his thin ribs.
He tried to hold on to consciousness for the kittens' sakes - if he were knocked out, they'd be alone, and making far too much noise to be forgotten.
It just so happened that another young man was walking through the park at that moment, dark silver eyes catching sight of the scene.
"Kenpachi, Grimmjow."
The two men with him grinned as they went into action. They laid out several of the bullies, only one punk getting away.
The raven-haired young man walked up to the boy who'd been getting beat. He was surprised to hear tiny mewing sounds, and as he stepped closer to the redhead on the ground, he saw the box.
Several tiny kittens were licking wounds on their savior's face.
His companions came closer, and he gestured at the young man on the ground. They crouched, trying to coax the redhead to his feet.
With a groan, the beaten boy clutched onto the box, refusing to be separated from it.
Grimmjow glanced up at him, his expression irritated but his blue eyes soft. The fierce fighter's love of cats was something of an open secret, and the young man who was his boss nodded.
"He can keep the box with him. He acted admirably to protect those kittens. It'd be a disgrace to force him to leave them now."
Kenpachi and Grimmjow got the redhead on his feet, box clutched to his chest.
Kenpachi gently patted the young man's cheek.
"Hey kid, where d'ya live?"
An address was mumbled through bloody lips, and they left the park. The regal-looking ravenette followed close behind his companions and the tall redhead. While not as tall as Kenpachi (few people were), their rescuee seemed to be the same height as Grimmjow, about 5 inches taller than himself.
The beaten young redhead was skinny, but it was clear he had potential from the broad shoulders and big hands.
He shook his head; here the boy was, knocked nearly senseless, and he was thinking of recruiting him?
"Boss? We're here."
He looked up, seeing the ramshackle building, with its busted windows and sagging roof.
"Surely not!"
"This is the address he gave us."
Grimmjow asked the man they were supporting, "Hey, guy, this your place?"
The redhead nodded, pulling free and stumbling up to the door of the run-down shack. He shouldered the crooked door open and went inside.
At a nod from their leader, Kenpachi ducked in. A few moments later, he called out.
"Hey, boss...you should see this."
The ravenette stepped in, leaving Grimmjow as a guard outside.
The inside was even worse. It was one open room with no real dividers. The wood was missing from several spots on the floor, just asking for a rolled ankle, and the bare ceiling was nearly caving in. The small room was only illuminated by the sunlight from the busted windows and cracks in the wall.
The redhead had collapsed on a threadbare couch, holding the box on his lap and softly cooing at the kittens.
"Did those meanies scare the babies? Don't worry, Uncle Renji's here now."
The raven-haired boss came close.
"Renji, is it? You'll come with us."
The redhead blinked up at him as if just noticing his presence. Then he shook his head, voice rising.
"No I won't. I ain't goin' anywhere with a couple strangers."
The smaller man frowned, unused to being told 'no'.
"You must see that this isn't a suitable living situation."
Another stubborn shake of the head.
"I'm fine here. I still ain't goin' with strangers."
Kenpachi stepped forward, lightly touching the boss's shoulder before speaking.
"Look, kid, this place is fallin' apart. That ceiling alone looks ready to crush you in your sleep. And it's obvious you ain't eatin'. Your name is Renji, yeah? My name is Kenpachi, and this is Byakuya. The guy outside with blue hair and eyes is Grimmjow. See, now we're not strangers."
The redhead hesitated, then Grimmjow's voice came from the doorway.
"If you ain't eatin' how ya gonna feed them?"
The bright cerulean eyes narrowed.
"Even if you don't care that this place is no good for you, think of them. You saved them; do you want them to live in a place like this?"
There was a long time with no response, auburn eyes gazing into the box.
"I can bring 'em with me?"
Byakuya nodded, mentally thinking that his two companions would be getting a raise. The redhead stood with the box, watching them with a wary anticipation.
Byakuya frowned.
"Are there not things you wish to gather?"
Renji blushed and shook his head, brushing his hair away from his face to reveal sharp black tattoos on his forehead.
"Nah, I ain't got nothin' to my name."
Byakuya nodded and turned to leave. Kenpachi and Renji followed, joined by Grimmjow as they all walked away from the ramshackle building.
Renji held the box close as they walked the short distance back to the park. He noticed that Grimmjow kept stealing glances at the box. Finally, he asked, "What?"
The blue-haired man glanced at the others a few paces ahead, then asked softly, "Can I touch them?"
Remembering the man's vouching for the kittens, Renji nodded. Grimmjow had a serious face, but his eyes shone as his fingers touched the tiny, fuzzy bodies. Fierce little meows rose up at the strange hand, but soon, the kittens were purring and rubbing their cheeks on the long fingers.
Renji began to smile at the notion that he was in the company of another cat-lover.
"Ain't they precious?"
Grimmjow nodded, finally yielding a smirk.
"Adorable little floofs."
Renji looked into the box again, noticing the different breeds and colorations. Somebody had abandoned multiple litters. He shook his head sadly, but grateful he'd found and protected them, and very grateful to these 3 men.
He realized suddenly that the others had stopped.
Renji looked around, realizing they'd stopped by a silver limousine. To his shock, the men got into the stately vehicle, then waved him in.
Carefully, he slid his thin, ragged self onto the black velvet-and-leather seat and shut the door. Covertly glancing around, he saw champagne and a phone and 2 small tv's.
"Who are you people?" he blurted out, then blushed deeply at his own rudeness.
Byakuya looked at him calmly.
"You have heard of the Kuchiki clan, I assume?"
Renji's eyes widened comically.
"Of course! The Kuchiki family is the richest family in the tri-city area, and they run the mafia syndicate for the city. Do...do you know them?"
Kenpachi laughed.
"Know them? Boy, you're talking to the new leader of the clan!"
Renji stared at Byakuya, who still radiated calm. Unconsciously, his grip on the box tightened and he glanced out the window. But the limo was moving too fast to attempt escaping.
"Umm..."
Byakuya spoke quietly.
"It seems as if you've alarmed our new friend, Kenpachi. I expect you to make it right."
"Sure thing, boss."
Renji blinked as Kenpachi leaned close, wearing a deranged-looking grin.
"Relax, kid. If he wanted you dead, you wouldn't be riding in the fancy car."
Renji swallowed loudly, hearing Byakuya sigh.
"Kenpachi, you know that's not what I meant. You've just frightened him more."
Kenpachi just grinned wider.
"Sorry, Princess."
Byakuya snapped, "I've told you to stop calling me that!"
In spite of his nervousness, or perhaps because of it, Renji gave a small laugh at the banter. Byakuya glanced at him.
"If this hulking barbarian amuses you, you will likely fit in."
Renji blinked.
"Uhh, fit in where, exactly? Um Mr. Kuchiki, sir?"
"My estate, of course. You're not going back to that deathtrap."
Renji blinked again, but was distracted by the limo slowing down. He looked out the window as they drove through a huge set of black wrought-iron gates. The driveway seemed to be a large cul-de-sac. There was a majestic mansion dominating the end of the small road, with beautiful, picturesque houses lining either side of the lane leading to the cul-de-sac. Gardens and fancy landscaping were everywhere.
Renji realized he was staring like a fish. Suddenly self-conscious, he spoke uncertainly.
"Uhhh, Mr. Kuchiki? I...I don't think I'm gonna fit in here, sir. I'm gonna stick out like a sore thumb."
Grimmjow grinned at him.
"Don't worry. Nobody's gonna give you a hard time here, not with us and the boss watching out for you."
Renji was still confused and not sure what was going on here. He tried to discreetly straighten his ragged, ill-fitting clothes as the limo parked and they got out. He held the box tight as he stared up at the mansion in front of him.
"Hey buddy, don't worry."
Not recognizing the voice, Renji turned to see a young man with shocking orange hair dressed in a driver's uniform.
"My name's Ichigo. Byakuya's not a bad guy. From what I heard on the way over here, sounds like he intends to take you in."
Byakuya stepped up, frowning.
"I have told you to not use my first name so casually, Kurosaki. Your lack of respect disturbs me."
Ichigo just grinned.
"You know I respect you, Byakuya."
"Hmmm."
Just then, a blur shot out of the front door of the mansion.
"Brother, you're home!"
Renji froze, almost dropping the box as the voice tickled his memory.
'Don't worry, Renji. In a few years, we'll be able to leave this rotten excuse for an orphanage. Nobody is gonna want to adopt me - I always show my ass when someone comes. I won't leave you, my brother.'
Renji blinked back into the present, seeing the diminutive girl greeting Byakuya. Short black hair and big violet eyes...
"Ru-Rukia?"
She turned to face him, surprise and confusion on her features. Then the violet eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with one hand.
"Renji? Is that you?"
Renji didn't notice Grimmjow gently take the box from his hands as he swept up his fellow orphan in a joint-popping hug.
"Rukia! Oh my God, it's been so long!"
"Renji! I'm so glad you're still alive!"
He set her on her feet, tears in his eyes.
"You shittin' me, squirt? You got adopted by the fuckin' Kuchikis?! Nobody at the orphanage would tell me where you'd gone. You were just...you were gone and I didn't know where."
Rukia smiled tremulously, her own eyes filled with tears.
"It's a long story, my brother. But I promise I'll explain everything."
For the first time, Rukia seemed to notice his bedraggled appearance, his filthy thinness, and the bruises and cuts he wore.
"God, what happened to you, Renji?"
He shook his head with a smile.
"Also a long story, sis. But hey, look!"
Grimmjow handed the box over so Renji could show Rukia the kittens. She covered her mouth to muffle her squeal of delight.
Byakuya spoke up, reminding the long-lost friends that they had an audience.
"We found him defending them from a group of miscreants. He was ...not living in favorable conditions, so I decided to bring him to stay here."
Rukia seemed even more delighted by this announcement.
"He's gonna stay with us?! Oh, that's wonderful news!"
Byakuya wasn't sure what exactly had driven him to bring the redhead home, but his adopted sister's obvious happiness pleased him greatly.
Rukia could be quite shy, though she'd opened up a bit in the years since her adoption. She'd even progressed to enthusiastic greetings when he came home.
But this...this was the happiest he'd ever seen her.
It was clear she adored the tall redhead, this other man she also called her brother. The two were chatting excitedly to one another, again heedless of their audience. Kenpachi and Grimmjow were quietly watching the reunion, clearly loathe to interrupt.
Just then, a loud rumble interrupted the conversation, and Renji covered his stomach while blushing deeply.
Byakuya frowned, but before he could say anything, Rukia planted her hands on her hips.
"Renji Abarai, when was the last time you ate?"
The redhead replied rather meekly, "I had a strip of ham earlier."
"And before that?"
When Renji hesitated, Byakuya stepped forward.
"That's enough, Rukia. That doesn't matter - what's important is he'll eat now. Come, Renji. Lunch should be getting served in the dining room. Afterwards, we can take you on a tour of the estate. You should get to know your new home."