Part 5- The Mysterious Hat-and-Clogs
The next night, as the Shinigami and Espada rarely sleep during the day, Grimmjow slips out of the mansion before Ichigo notices. He's quiet, his body taking on the slinking figure of a white while cat… his complete gargoyle form. Not many have a form like this, usually only higher powered Espada who've trained for it. Aizen refused to allow them to, but Grimmjow needed something to keep him out of trouble. He's probably the only one alive of the evolved gargoyles capable of taking on a completely different form. His footsteps are soundless as they step through the trees, heading straight for Visored territory with a mission weighing heavily on his mind. He's never met the Visoreds, never seen one alive, and this mysterious clan leader of their's has not been held in high regard with Aizen in the least.
"Where do you think you're running off to, kitty cat?"
Grimmjow stiffens, the teal fur on the back of his neck standing on end as he lets out an embarrassing yowl of surprise. Demona laughs, something skin to a cackle though smoothed over nicely with the sweetness of youth, and the feline snarls as she floats around to land before him.
"You're awfully jumpy," she says in humor. "Maybe you shouldn't be out for a midnight stroll."
"Go back," Grimmjow growls out. "You'll only get yourself in trouble here."
"Oh please. I'm Macbeth's demon, I live for trouble," she grins wickedly. "What are you up to, anyway?"
"I'm going to find the leader of the Visoreds," he sighs. "This is his territory… or, it just past these trees. He lives in the town called Karakura."
"I thought Aizen and Yamamoto shared that town."
"No. Aizen's town is to the northwest, it's called Los Noches. Yamamoto's town is called Seireitei, it's to the northeast. Karakura is the smallest, but the most powerful. It's down this way, to the south. Nobody comes here because the stories of the Visoreds and their monstrous strength frighten even the clan leaders. Apparently, this leader of theirs was seriously powerful and dangerously smart."
"What are we waiting for?" Demona grins widely. "Let's go!"
The two walk together quietly, Grimmjow's paws letting a soft padding sound fill the air while a sharp clicking accompanies Demona's clawed feet. The night air is frigid, though winter is just begging to turn to spring, and the teal furred feline is glad he can't feel the chill through his thick coat. He wonders how the crimson haired female beside him can walk through this mess in nothing but a tattered sand colored belly tank and a matching loincloth, but pushes that to the back of his mind upon picking up a scent that's obviously not human. His snarl puts Demona on edge, her body slowly dropping into a defensive position as she searches for the threat.
"And who do we have here?" a humored voice calls. "A trespasser and a… is that a blue panther? Oh my god! Guys, look at this, I found a blue panther!"
"No way, there's no such thing, Shinji!" a snappish girl shouts. "You just drank too much."
"I thought you were supposed to see pink elephants when you drank too much, not blue panthers," another female muses. "Whoa, wait a minute… I drank too much, too, but I didn't even have anything!"
"He's not lying, Hiyori," a masculine voice chuckles. "Mashiro didn't have a tiny sip of alcohol, I watched her like a hawk."
Grimmjow finally pinpoints them at the same time as Demona, the two turning to face the four arguing over them. There's two blondes, a small female with pigtails and a male with his hair cut perfectly straight midway on his neck. The large muscular male is built like Grimmjow in his human form, his hair white and spiky though it's cut very short. The last is a female with short green hair, her body curvaceous and her expression sort of ditzy. Demona doesn't relax, but the feline is tempted to snort derisively at these imbeciles.
"Anyway!" the blonde girl says after beating the lanky male up. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"My name is Demona," the female gargoyle offers. "I am the mate to the clan leader that just moved into the unclaimed territory, so I wished to speak with the other leaders. We've already spoken to two, but I was told there are three. I don't want any misunderstandings and such, so I figured I'd take the initiative and pay them a visit. Do you mind taking me there?"
"… Who says we know what you're talking about?" the larger male scoffs.
"I'll take you."
"Why thank you… um…"
"Shinji. I'm Shinji Hirako, I'm the second in command," he grins. "This is Mashiro, Kensei, and Hiyori."
"Shinji! Why are you helping her!"
"Hiyori, she's a really powerful elder," he hisses. "If we tell her no, she'll kill us and get what she wants anyway!"
There's a soft 'whatever' that only Grimmjow hears, and then Shinji is waving the crimson haired gargoyle to follow. She unfurls her wings and lifts herself into the air, the panther opting to take rooftops to keep up… it wouldn't do for them to find out what he is before he finds the one he's searching for. He has to hand it to Demona, though, she's really quick when it comes to finding plausible excuses.
They stop their journey at a small candy shop, a female feline stretched out on the porch as they head closer. Her skin is a light brown, her hair long and purple in it's ponytail, and her golden eyes cut through the dark surrounding them.
"Don't worry about Yorouchi, she's as lazy as she is powerful," Kensei sighs.
Demona nods, leading the large panther of teal past the curious gaze of the female. She says and does nothing, though she gives the panther a lecherous wink and grin. Grimmjow hisses at her, hackles raised as he tucks his tail and skirts past her. Once inside, the blue skinned gargoyle is asked to take a seat at a small tea table circled with cushions and Shinji goes to find the clan leader.
"I don't like this place," Demona grumbles. "It just screams danger."
"… We're sitting in the middle of a candy shop, how does that scream anything more than 'cavity'?" Grimmjow mumbles quietly.
"I don't know… it's just something in the air."
"There's plenty of sugar in the air," the feline offers. "I think I'm getting a sugar buzz off the scent alone."
Demona snorts in humor, resting an elbow on the table and her chin on her fist. From the doorway Shinji disappeared into, a tall man with blonde hair walks out. His head is covered with a green and white stripped hat, the shadow cloaking his green-blue eyes. His gaze is calculating in those eyes, a gaze that sends shiver through Demona.