I DON'T OWN BLEACH
The Nephilim
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty; power is ever stealing from the many to the few.~ Wendell Phillips
Chapter3; Genesis 1:27
"Three days before your arrival we came to a small village of humans..."
The city of Icarus lies behind a small levee near the river Ebudae. The village consisting of a barn, a large barracks, and three dozen shanty's is spread out in the small area inside a stone wall that provides very little protection from the harsh cold winds that blow down from the nearby mountain. Impoverished from a previous battle with a nasty demon that burned the crops and razed the town. The peoples only income depends on the very angels that destroyed their homes and caused their fields to burn.
"Aizen-sama, there is plenty of daylight for us to travel to the next town beyond the river."
"That is true, Hinamori-chan. However..." Aizen glares over at Ichigo as she sleeps in the back of a open wagon. Her bold orange hair sticking to her sweaty brow and her oddly sallow color showing how sick she is makes him rethink moving on. "We will rent lodging in Icarus so that the Nephilim may rest."
"Hmpf." Hinamori replies with a disdainful glance at the woman in the wagon with a wolf curled protectively next to her.
"Come now, Hinamori-chan." Aizen gives is young vice commander a wide smile. "You are still my favorite."
Starrk watches the two angels with a suspicious eye as the group settle into the barracks for the night. They have some sort of affection between them. He can't quite decide if it's healthy or not. Following Aizen as he carries Ichigo into his room and lays her down on his bed with a tight jaw, his wolf eyes glow bold red.
"I know what you are." Aizen tells him, pulling a blanket over Ichigo's legs. "And I also know, that you are aware of me." Giving the wolf a wide smile he lifts a white gloved hand to Ichigo's hair. "We are similar creatures after all."
Starrk rumbles out a low warning, and the hand moves away. Padding over to the bed he hops up on the quilt laying down next to his master. Laying his chin on her shoulder he keeps his eyes open until Aizen leaves the room, then he finally drifts to sleep with Ichigo's heart beating in his ears.
A few hours later he wakes to a loud commotion, instantly his ears and eye search for orange. Glancing around the dark room he finds Ichigo sitting in the window seat looking out to a gathering of people in the center square.
"Something is going on." Ichigo tells him lacing up the leather straps of her moccasins. "Shall we check it out?" Without waiting for his response she grabs her brown cape tying it around her neck and dashes out the door. Arriving on the scene Ichigo watches from the back of the crowd leaning a leg against the barracks porch.
"A crime has been committed and our laws are specific." Sosuke Aizen lifts a hand while they bring out the criminal. "Our food supply cart was entered and grain was stolen."
Ichigo narrows her eyes as a a small child with pure white hair is dragged up on the platform, his tiny wrists shackled with a long heavy chain that keeps the boy from being able to move freely. "What the hell? A kid?"
"The punishment for theft is clear." Unfurling a long black leather whips Aizen listens to the silence of the crowd relishing their passiveness. These poor humans have no will. How disgusting they are to even be allowed to live. "Thirty-nine plus one lashes with a cat of nine tails. In suffering he will know forgiveness..."
"Screw you forgiveness! We are starving and you angels are the cause of it! My grandmother! She died last fall after your group came through here and ripped everything apart!" The young boy screams clinching his fists as two guards lift the chains on his wrists to hang on a hook. "You take everything!"
"The creator is not without mercy, young one. Admit your crime and you will be absolved." he replies coldly.
"We don't need your creator! We need seed grain to plant the harvest!"
"Unfortunately, that seed belongs to the creator. Thou shalt not steal, heretic." Aizen lift his hand up to strike the boy when a hand reaches out and clutches the whip.
"This village worships Gabriel." Ichigo says pointing the ornate state of an winged man in the center of town. "Not the Creator... an Ark." She steps up to the platform clenching the end of the whip, her fingers dripping with blood. "Behold all children are of the mind of God and speak with God's voice." She can't allow this boy to die just trying to survive.
"Do not quote scripture to me, Nephilim."
"Gabriel's book condems Any man that harms a child." Ichigo snaps the chains binding the terrified child. "They are condemned to the Lake of Fire for eternity."
"Are you saying Gabriel's words are greater than OUR Creator?" Aizen bites at his lower lip growing more and more annoyed with Ichigo's interruption.
"No." she shakes her head. "But the Creator... gives humans a choice who to worship and these human's chose an Angel. Gabriel's commandments should be First considered."
The villager's begin to whisper in fear. They realize a Nephilim is among them... an Angel born from both the light and dark realm.
"Release the boy!"
"The Boy is protected by Gabriel!"
"Gabriel will curse you!"
Aizen hearing their groaning is concerned. If these stupid human's would rise up, it would trigger another rebellion. That isn't what the army needs while the Rift to the dark realm is open. "Very well... I will defer to Gabriel's wisdom." Turning on his heel he orders Hinamori to bring Ichigo to his quarters. She will suffer the sting of this defeat. Soon as the door shut to his room he backhands Ichigo sending her to the dirty floor. "What are you up to? You speak against me in front of the humans? The humans!"
Instantly Starrk's fur turns blue, his eyes a fire red. "I will kill-"
"No Starrk." Ichigo touches her face, calling off her friend. "You would have killed that child." Gathering herself to her feet she clinches her fingers into fists.
"Have you forgotten out deal?" Reaching into his pocket he pulls out a small crumpled piece of paper. "I know a thing no one else does."
"I.. have not forgotten." she replies, knowing he will always...always have the upper hand. If only her father hadn't trusted Aizen, hadn't confessed the truth to him. Then she might be free. "I... apologize." The words turn to bile in her stomach. Disgusting words she doesn't even mean.
"Come then. In suffering you can know forgiveness..." Opening his arms he waits for her to walk toward him.
"Grrrrrr!" Starrk growls even louder, the fur rising up, and blackness seeping from his paws. His anger growing at the injustice that Ichigo must endure to find out the location of something precious.
"Shh it's ok." She reaches down and touches Starrk's neck. "Sleep..." Waving a hand in front of his eyes, she waits until he falls asleep before walking into Aizen's arms. "What will it be this time?"
"Oh... I think the punishment should fit the crime. Don't you?" he smirks holding out the whip in front of her glowing golden eyes. "Of course you do... My Nephilim."
Sometime later Starrk awakens to the sounds of a whip crackling. Rising to his feet he glances around finding himself collared in silver chains to the towns statue. Instantly he begins to panic, wildly thrashing at the only chains capable of holding him in this form. Aizen found out that silver binds him! He knows too much... he must die. Aizen Sosuke will die! The fury in him rises as he lifts his nose up in the air and howls out a long cry.
End of flashback;
Dodging the long black jagged fingernails aiming for her throat. Ichigo bends her knee attempting to knock the demon on her back. Finding nothing but air she tumbles forward, and feels the hot flash of pain of her attack on her side. Exhaling a deep breath she jumps backwards and the black haired spirit shoots a blast of ice where Ichigo lands causing her to fall directly on her back knocking the wind out of her. Shaking her head to gather herself, her orange hair lifts as the artic winds begin to freeze her skin. "I'm getting pissed!" Ichigo says allowing her dark miasma to begin seeping from her skin. The coils of black swirl around her arms to her fingertips.
"Can she defeat a demon that hasn't broken the Veil?" Byakuya asks, his dark eyes following her shape as she manages to land a punch on the demons face. The Veil is the only thing that keeps the earth from total domination by the demons. Only the highest level demons can break through creating a Rift in the realms between the light realm and the dark. Lesser demons like this one can only influence hearts or make a contract with human souls to materialize fully. The angels, and demons, fight over the human plane because the Creator demands it, and because God in all his wisdom cast the Angel's out of the higher plane just after the Demons departed. The Creator wrote the rules of engagement and then left through a door sealing himself inside heaven. Now the Angels fight for earth in the hopes of one day earning the right of returning to the Creator's side.
"No... Ichigo can not violate the Veil. The angel blood in her is holding her in this plane. However, her demon blood is constantly rejecting her presence here."
"That would mean she is in pain when demons are nearby."
"Yes, that is correct."
Byakuya has heard enough. Rising from his crouched position he pulls out his own blade and releases it into the ground. "Be drawn into the light."
A sword made of divine energy suddenly bursts from the ground impaling the demon through the chest phasing it into the human realm. "Oh?" Ichigo takes a step backward for a moment a turns to look at the man who just helped her. "T-Thank you, Commander Kuchiki." Ichigo says giving the dark-haired man a hint of a smile before turning her head back to the demon. "You are in my world now." Moving her right leg quickly the instep connects with the demons neck. The cracking sound making Byakuya's right eye wince in surprise.
Is Ichigo that strong? Slanting his gaze over to the demon he watches the human looking woman with a long white dress transform into a seductress the dress tearing away exposing a lithe looking young man with very long blonde hair that curls around his feet as he floats in the air.
"I can return her to you. Your wife..." The man suddenly appears in front of Byakuya with a slender hand outstretched. "Just say the words... and I will make it happen. Bind your soul to mine and I will have the power to bring her back."
"Ridiculous... you are a vile creature. I will never make a covenant with a filthy demon." Byakuya answers holding his palm down to the ground. "I will scatter your ashes with my blade."
"Filthy demon..." Yes, that is what she is too. A filthy demon half-breed with out a single living relation. Ichigo watches the commanders long sword lift from the ground and returning to his hand. Turning from the demon she moves backward in a flip and takes her blade from the icy snow, the barrier holding Byakuya instantly fades away allowing him to move freely. "I can not expect any Angel to treat me differently." Giving him a nod she starts to walk away when her blood begins to resonate. "N-Not good... Starrk..." she whispers, curling forward as the liquid in her veins starts to heat up. "It's made a pact with someone."
"Move back Commander." Starrk's fur turns a lighter blue, and he lifts his head to howl, but a sword slashes at his back sending him to the snow. The blood seeps out staining the white crimson.
"Show yourself!" Ichigo yells, letting the power in her rise to a boil. "Come out and fight me!" glancing around a shadow appears from the edge of the forest with a thin grin. "Who are you?"
"I-Ichimaru-sama." The blonde demon begins to tremble from the power pushing at his lungs.
"Shoo little one. Let Gin handle these two." He replies holding up a small dagger that begins to pulsate. "Just being around me will hurt you."
"C-Commander run..." Ichigo groans rising to her feet. "it's an Ark..."
"Run?" The dark-haired noble quickly slashes the lesser demon in half, the crystals of his life grumbling to the ground in an ash. Lifting his blade in the air, he walks in front of the woman to face this Ichimaru. "I am from the house Michael. His only living descendant..."
"Ichigo lifts her head toward the man and blinks in shock. "You're... a living Ark?"
"Do I need to say it again?" he answers tilting his head over his shoulder at the gawking woman.
"It's just... I thought they all turned to stone?"
"A few still yet remain." Byakuya walks toward the silver haired Ark with his sword still drawn.
"Try not to drool like a girl in love..." Starrk grumbles trying to stand.
"I-I am not!" Ichigo replies wiping the back of her hand on her face. "I'm just surprised is all!" Turning toward her wolf she leans down to look at his wounds. "Hold on. I'll get you to a doctor..." she says with a kind voice. "...soon as I deal with this asshole!" Glaring up at Gin she lifts her blade furiously.
"Relax~ I'm not here to fight." Gin lifts his hands up showing his weapon is still sealed. "I just need to deliver a message to Commander Kuchiki."
"Then why did you attack Starrk?" she yells back only to see Byakuya lift a hand in front of her.
"Give your message."
"A new rift in the Veil is appearing. It will break through in three days. You are to leave your troops here, and take the Nephilim to Jerusalem where she will rest before fighting whatever comes through it."
"Understood." Byakuya replies as the silver haired man turns his back on him. Narrowing his eyes in annoyance, he keeps the concern for this action to himself. "It's almost as if they mean to kill the Nephilim." One thing is certain... an Ark should NEVER allow a lesser demon to escape. Or is this Ark just careless? He can not decide. Perhaps he can figure out Ichimaru's personality after meeting him one more time. "How is your..."
"LilStarrk." she replies, holding up a small bundle wrapped in part of her shirt.
"He shrunk?"
"Yeah... it's how he heals." Ichigo says with a slight smile as the tiny wolf cub licks at her chin. "He will be back to normal in a few days."
"I see. That size is more convenient for how we will need to travel." Byakuya walks back toward the village with her following after him. "We leave at first light. Do you have a place to rest properly?"
"I am sleeping close enough to the town-"
"Unacceptable. You will use my room." he replies firmly. Not expecting any resistance he hears the tiny wolf begin to growl and looks over his shoulder at the orange-haired woman stunned where she stands. With a small sigh he adds, "I will sleep in a different room."
"Oh, alright." Ichigo then pats LilStarrk on the head as she follows Byakuya through the oddly quiet hallway of the barracks. "See... not every guy is a lecher."
LilStarrk sneezes turning his head to dip inside her shirt. "How untrue... Ichigo... every man is out for something... even the son of an Ark Angel."
"Ichigo Kurosaki..."
"Y-Yes?" she blinks when he suddenly turns around to stare down at her.
"Why did you protect that child in the village of Icarus?" He opens the door of his room and waits for her to step inside.
"How could I not? God made them in his image." she answers walking through the door and turning on one foot to look up at him. But the door swings shut in her face. "Did I say something wrong?" she whispers pivoting on her foot to go to sleep.
"Genesis 1:27... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Comes a deep voice from behind the door. "You protect them... God's favorite creation... a very interesting answer."
Hey all! I hope you like it and please review! Chuuu! Fuzzi