Part 3- Revelations

Grimmjow tells them everything, leaving out nothing, and as he goes on the clan gets a little more infuriated. Grimmjow and Ichigo had both been devoted to their clan leaders, doing anything and everything to make them happy. Ichigo had been close to dying on many occasions because of this, as he was probably the strongest of he clan and therefore the most often used. Ichigo is young, only just turning of age to mate, which only angered Goliath and his clan more. A gargoyle that young, no matter how powerful, should never be used in such ways. The two had met on the battlefield, just another day doing as told and hating themselves for allowing a collar to be placed upon the free spirits.

"That was the day Ichigo had turned of age to mate," Grimmjow sighs. "I had never before smelled a scent so alluring… I just couldn't resist. When it was over, we were both shocked and nervous. We decided it would be best if we just tried to ignore it."

"Nonsense, even evolved gargoyles shouldn't be able to ignore a scent that calls to them," Hudson scolds. "You should've known better. Her, I could understand, she's just a young one. You, on the other hand, are old enough to know the mating game."

"… I know," Grimmjow murmurs. "But… she just looked so scared, like they would punish her worse than death if they found out. I didn't want her to be scared, I wanted her to feel safe… so I told Ichigo to just pretend it never happened."

They can understand that, the majority of the older gargoyles know how difficult females take their first mating… having it with an enemy is only that much worse. They wait a few moments for their new companion to continue, taking in his strangely human features as they do so. His hair is teal, the strands spiking up with an imperfect effect that he pulls off well with a few stray locks hanging into his face and down his neck. His skin is tan, his figure ripped with the perfect amount of muscle, and his eyes are a brilliant shade of cyan. No long fangs or claws, no wings or a tail… just slightly sharper canines and a feline swagger to his movements.

"We met in secret as often as possible, keeping the others from finding out. Eventually, we met again on the battlefield… it was inevitable," he sighs sadly as he continues. "We just couldn't do it… We couldn't hurt one another. Aizen was infuriated I was protecting Ichigo, but so were the Shinigami. They accused Ichigo of betraying them, so I grabbed her up and flew off. The Shinigami couldn't fly… but my clan could. I'm one of the strongest, but running with a non-flying gargoyle female is difficult to do against nine others. I protected her as best I could, eventually losing them and making my way here. After that, we fell into stone sleep during a storm… and then you found us."

"What a lousy thing to happen!" Angela growls. "All because you loved each other?"

"But that's not…"

"Quiet!" Goliath hisses. "I hear the beat of wings… and the sound of footsteps."

Grimmjow stiffens, his hands automatically gripping the feminine wrist of the statue he's guarding. Everyone looks around, cautious and nervous, before Demona stands, tall and proud with a slight dangerous edge to her. She stomps over to the door, swinging it open with Goliath on her heels in case she should need him… not that she needs protecting, she's perfectly capable of handling herself. Grimmjow listens intently, his eyes narrowing at familiar voices.

"Good evening," Aizen says kindly. "It's so refreshing to see natural gargoyles in these parts."

"What brings you?" a voice filled with age and strength asks.

"The big city life was grating on my nerves," Demona states. "So I asked my mate to find me and his clan a more peaceful place to raise my daughter."

"There is no better place than here," Yamamoto offers. "I do hope you enjoy living in these parts…"

"Demona," she answers with an almost cruel hiss.

"The gargoyle of Macbeth," Yamamoto whispers, something Grimmjow barely catches. "You… you are the oldest of us… One of the most powerful."

"Yes, I believe I am," she comments in superiority. "I like this place, is the territory claimed yet?"

"No, not this territory," Aizen states, though his voice is now wary.

"Good! Goliath, I think we should make a new nest here! I like this scenery and it'll be good for Angela to get away from war."

"Yes, I agree," the large male nods. "Please, I'd like to know our boundaries… wouldn't do for us to start something now that we've finally settled down."

"Certainly. And… you haven't, by any chance, see a man with teal hair have you?"

"No," Demona scoffs with a laugh. "What an utterly ridiculous question to ask. Who on earth has that shade of hair?"

"What about a young boy with orange locks? His statue would have black eyes," Yamamoto says hopefully.

"Again, I haven't seen such a thing," comes the frustrated reply. "Honestly, what sort of clan can't keep tabs on one of their own. Why, even when my mate and I were at odds he always knew where I was."

There's a long silence, obviously neither willing to anger the infamous Demona, and then a couple quiet apologies and promises to keep a look out. Once that's over with, the two gargoyle leaders leave and Demona reenters the mansion with Goliath. Everyone is quiet as they take up their seats again, the silence laying heavily upon their shoulders.

"I'll leave as soon as Ichigo wakes," Grimmjow offers.

"No, you were here first," Goliath states. "And we protect our own. You're welcome to stay as long as you like."

"Thank you."

"That man said your female is a boy," Demona points out curiously.

"He'll answer to both, but you guys seems so comfortable with calling him a female that I thought it best."

"Those men are awful," Angela bristles. "They sounded so worried about you two, but they just want to kill you!"

"It's not even that, though. I mean, sure we angered them for falling in love, but… Ichigo is the only natural born evolved gargoyle in all the clans," Grimmjow confesses. "His power is limitless, his abilities mind boggling, and his potential is unbelievable. Aizen and Yamamoto have been fighting over him since he was found."

"Found?" Goliath wonders.

"Yes… He was with his mother at the time, his father had been killed by a rival clan from another area," Grimmjow explains. "She went into labor shortly after getting away. His father was a Shinigami, but his mother was an Espada. Not a powerful one, but one just the same. She died during labor, Yamamoto found Ichigo there."