Right, I just realized I never changed the spelling for Kurotsuchi's name in this fic. ^^; Sorry! I recently learned how to spell it correctly, but I had already written this fic long before Maid for Crime and never went back to change it ;p Just so you know, I am aware his name is spelled wrong.
Now for the fic! Now that things are coming to light (Yama's such a liar ;p) things will go on a downward spiral! Yeah! Downward spirals!
Part 13- Dun, dun, dun!
Byakuya is shocked beyond anything he's ever felt before… and he's been through a lot. Yamamoto lied to him, probably to Ichigo as well, and he's been keeping secrets from his own clan to keep them under control. He won't stand for this, not from one who isn't even a Shinigami. They only let him lead them because he was powerful and fair… or so they thought. Once the others hear of this treachery, things will begin to change and Ichigo will be free to live whatever way makes him happy. That's all Byakuya cares for right now, his siblings' happiness.
"You want to get back to Grimmjow, Ichigo?" he asks quietly.
"Yes, I do! I miss him so much."
"I will find a way for you to get back to him, but for now you must stay here. Only three of us know these caves inside and out, only three of us know the hidden way to you, and only three of us know exactly how scents are thrown within the tunnels. You are safest here, but be on your guard," he warns. "Just because only three know the way, doesn't mean others won't try to find it… some many even stumble upon it like we did."
"I understand, I'll be very careful."
Byakuya nods and rises, setting the satchel he had with him since arriving on the blankets beside Ichigo. Inside is filled with fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, meats, and a few bottles of chocolate milk. Ichigo beams up at his caretaker, the other blushing lightly as he pats his youngest on the head.
"You need to eat healthier," he mumbles.
"I know, Byakuya, you tell me all the time," the orangette laughs. "I'll try, okay?"
A curt nod and the noble is moving out of the cave and into the tunnels, leaving Ichigo with his egg once more. The orangette knows it's getting late, he can feel it by the internal clock the evolution never damaged when creating the perfect gargoyle, so he eats a healthier dinner and puts everything away before slipping into bed. As he nods off, he can't help but remember… the cupboards and fridge were always well stocked when they were younger, even when they'd forget to fill them. Such a random thought, but one that never seemed to catch his attention.
Grimmjow is ready to strangle someone, his nerves frayed and his entire being on edge now that he knows Ichigo is protecting their egg alone. Every plan they've come up with so far has ended with one of the others pointing out a flaw, which is usually between the Shinigami watching Ichigo too closely or Aizen waiting for the perfect opportunity to intervene. What the teal haired feline is worried about, however, is that they get to his mate first.
"That's it! I'm going to go get Ichi," he growls.
"You'll only get yourself killed," Kisuke points out. "Then where would Ichi be?"
"Where will he be if they reach him first?"
"I told you, no one can navigate those tunnels," Rukia pipes up confidently. "Their senses are thrown off completely, you'd have to have practically lived down there in order to navigate correctly. Ichigo and I spent weeks at a time in those tunnels on vacations, we told our nii-sama we were going camping. He would've had a heart attack if he knew exactly where we were camping."
"Are you sure he didn't?" Yorouchi wonders. "I don't recall a time where Byakuya didn't know every little thing that goes on around him… not even as a boy."
"There's no way. Nii-sama would've paddled us till we couldn't sit down anymore," the small female scoffs. "He never lets anyone back in those woods, they're Kuchiki property and very dangerous because of the tunnels."
"… Byakuya spent most of his free time exploring those tunnels as a boy," Yorouchi comments. "They were his special place. You know how selfish that boy can be, he probably didn't want people to know where he hid himself away."
"Oh no!" Rukia gasps. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know! I'll go back right away and…"
"Byakuya raised Ichigo, he's not likely to bring about any circumstances that may harm him," Kisuke points out. "He's always been a softy, that one. He's also been smart as a whip… which means he's probably piecing together everything that doesn't seem particularly… truthful."
"Truthful? What are you talking about?" the violet eyed female asks.
"Was Ichigo lying?" Angela questions.
"Ichigo does lie! Not ever!"
"Okay, jeez, it was just a question."
"… Yamamoto is lying," Grimmjow purrs in satisfaction. "He chose the Shinigami over the other two clans, but he's not one of them. I heard he led them well when they started out… but with no one producing eggs that survive and the war taking out more of his perfect evolved gargoyles each day, he probably got a bit desperate."
"Correct. The conversion process that been used thus far takes years to produce a single child, which is the most successful age to convert," the shopkeeper grins. "Yamamoto will most likely see Ichigo, one who can lay successful eggs and also unlock the ability in others, as the means to their future. He wouldn't want just anyone to know that… not even the man who raised him."
"He lied to nii-sama?" Rukia gasps. "No one lies to nii-sama!"
"No, they don't," Yorouchi laughs.
"… And what does the evil chuckle mean?" Demona smirks. "Something bad I hope."
"It means that Byakuya, being the strongest Shinigami, will have decided Yamamoto has no good intentions for his kind," the feline woman grins widely. "That means…"
"He'll have the right to challenge the clan leader," Goliath realizes. "If he wins, he'll take over leadership of the clan and he'll be able to decide Ichigo's future."
Silence, everyone trying to figure out what he would choose… if he could win. Rukia has no doubt in her mind, but the older gargoyles know how difficult challenging a clan leader can be.
"Aizen needs challenged as well," Grimmjow murmurs. "He's been ignoring the needs of the Espada for his own selfish purposes."
"Who will challenge him?" Lexington wonders.
"… No one can… except me. I'm the only one strong enough to take him out, because I'm the only one that prefers fighting in my weaker human form at all times."
"So… what's the problem?" Demona growls. "Get your butt over there and decimate him!"
"… I don't want to be a clan leader."
Meanwhile, back in Ichigo's little area, the orangette lies curled around his egg as he slumbers happily. He doesn't hear and voices in the tunnels, nor does he hear the footsteps drawing nearer to the overlapping walls. The egg is warm against his stomach and it lulls him into an unguarded sleep, blissfully unaware of the danger around him.
For those of you curious about how long this fic will be, I just checked and it has 21 chapters! We're about halfway through! XD
And Yeah! New clan leaders! Who will they be? Will they manage to overthrow the current ones? I'm so excited! Wait... I already know how this ends ^^;