'You,' it spoke in his mind, lips not moving, 'You. Let me out.' It sounded like a command rather than a plea. Ikkaku sat there cross-legged in front of its cage, sighing once again. The straw on the floorboards was dark with dried blood, but it seemed to be okay, even after being stabbed like that. It had been about a month since the harpy had almost escaped.

It had sulked and moped and ignored him for almost that long, but recently, in the past few nights, it had reluctantly come out to look at him, simply sitting at the edge of the bars, tilting its head innocently and letting him talk to it. 'Why do you keep coming here,' it seemed to ask, but it never spoke. Sometimes Ikkaku could hear it in his head, and it was almost always asking for freedom.

Yumichika. Its name was Yumichika and it was a he after all. Ikkaku had been right.

He was beautiful, and Ikkaku loved him. He loved this boy with his vulture's wings and his bloodthirstiness. Ikkaku was so fucking hopeless. He could've married a milkmaid and had a son, but no, he had to have feelings for a feathery bratty cannibal who would sooner bite a chunk off him than kiss him.

'Let me out. Let me out. Let me free,' it repeated endlessly, staring into him and pacing around behind the bars. It tried time and time again to plant its intention in his mind, and although it was tempting, Ikkaku's willpower was like steel. 'My wings hurt. Let me out of here.'

Ikkaku just sighed and rested his face on his hand. "I can't let you out. What if you hurt someone again?" he accused, and Yumichika just shrugged absently.

'I couldn't help it,' he responded, and Ikkaku blinked for a minute. It usually didn't reply to him or acknowledge that he had spoken. He'd been wondering for a while if it had even been able to understand him. It seemed unable to make any sort of verbal reply, because it didn't open its mouth other than to eat or scream. Maybe it was finally willing to have some kind of telepathic conversation.

"Hmph," Ikkaku grumped. "Sure, sure. Why should I let you out?"

'Let me out. I wish to fly. Let me out.'

"Why should I? You're just gonna' eat somebody."

'Such is life.'

"No!" Ikkaku said incredulously, "Not such is life - Such is death!" Ikkaku stubbornly crossed his arms. This feathery guy was pretty infuriating, but entertaining nonetheless. Ikkaku just wished they could touch, but he didn't dare to anymore. He had before when he'd been about to free the beast, but now he was sure if he came within reach, Yumichika would take a bite out of him.

'Let me out, mortal. Let me free.' Yumichika stared at him, eyes open wide and gazing into his soul. Ikkaku scowled, moving his hands in a 'no way' gesture.

"No way," he punctuated, glaring back into its eyes to show it that he wouldn't crack and that its little siren song was no use. "You messed up my friend's face and you got me in trouble with my boss. I'm not letting you out."

Yumichika slumped to the floor, shoulder first, hitting the boards with a whump and then staying there miserably. "Look, I… I can't, okay?" Ikkaku said guiltily. Yumichika didn't move, simply staring out through the bars into the night, and although Ikkaku tried time and time again to goad him into ceasing his tantrum, it didn't work. Yumichika just lay there, unresponsive.

By the next morning, he hadn't moved, and still lay there as the sunlight crept in. He was close enough to the bars for people to see. Ikkaku couldn't bear to go over there and tried to ignore the cries of excitement and disgust. Kisuke was certainly happy that night, but still Yumichika was not fed. Ikkaku decided he'd had enough, consequences be damned.

"Get out of this shithole," he said, the door swinging open, the squeak being the only sound in the still night. "Fly away," he hissed, and Yumichika's head snapped up from where he'd been laying despondent.

Renji's words came back to him. 'She'll kill you if you set her free.'

Ikkaku saw its eyes turn red, but he turned his back and ran. He ran and ran as fast as he could through the woods, but it wasn't long before talons sunk into his shoulders and he was sent tumbling to the ground hard. Damnit, Yumichika should just fly away and not waste time with him! Shit, he was getting eaten!

Ikkaku balled himself up and put his hands over his head, feeling sharp claws raking his back, tearing at his flesh. This is what he got for being so stupid. What kind of fool ran from a predatory bird? Ikkaku screamed, rolling over and kicking when teeth pierced his skin and ripped. Yumichika was trying to eat him, but he was still alive!

"Stop!" he begged, "Don't waste time with me! Fly away from here! I did this so you could be free! So go!" he shouted, surprised when the cutting sensation stopped abruptly.

He looked up warily, guarding his eyes from any swiping claws that might come. Ikkaku watched the harpy fall to its hands and knees, its wings drooping to the ground.

It eased back on its haunches, perching on the balls of its feet like a bird, and Ikkaku blushed a little bit at the sight of its bare body. It was stark naked and so beautiful. Yumichika held his stomach and whined. He shuddered and moaned aloud pitifully through his sharp teeth, gazing at Ikkaku longingly.

'I'm so hungry,' Ikkaku heard in his mind, and the voice sounded so choked and desperate that he almost offered his arm as a chew toy again. 'They never fed me.' Yumichika dropped to one forearm, then the other, head hanging. 'They never…' He was so weak, shaking all over.

"How long was it that they kept you?" Ikkaku asked, but there came no answer.

Yumichika looked up at him and licked his teeth, clawing his way towards him on his belly, strength almost gone. He was looking at Ikkaku like he was the most delicious thing in the world, and his mouth was watering like crazy. Ikkaku just backed up out of reach and the harpy stopped dragging itself, reaching weakly for his ankle, but ultimately giving up.

"I'll bring something. Just stay here," he promised, hurrying off. "Don't eat anything that can talk until I get back!" he called behind him.