AN: This one is a little shorter than normal, but theres a lot of development and info in it if you know where to look! And if any of you haven't seen this yet, go take a peek at Storm's wonderful work!
http : / / blackstorm . deviantart . com / art / GrimmIchiShiro - Of - Monsters - and - Men - 266999256
Enjoy~
The cheerful melodies of birds could be heard, muffled by the thick glass of the window but no less beautiful as they welcomed the day. Bright, early morning sun streamed through the parted curtains from a cloudless sky, falling across a tangle of tanned limbs, lean, pale muscle and disheveled, crimson sheets.
Ichigo slowly pulled himself up onto one elbow, using his other hand to rub the sleep from his eyes before finally prying them open. He yawned and peered around, slightly confused about waking up in one of the spare rooms at first. As he stretched, an ache presented it's self and he smirked a little, face tinting a light shade of red as the previous night's activities flashed in his mind.
Beside the orange haired Caster, his pale copy shifted in his sleep, hand dipping below the sheets to a tell tale bulge. Ichigo's smirk grew and he leaned forward, pressing his lips to the side of his twin's neck where he placed a few light kisses.
"Having sweet dreams, Shiro?" He whispered against the exposed skin, twirling his fingers in a lock of silky, white hair that was fanned across the pillows. The morning sun glinted from the feathery mane, creating the illusion of an almost silver halo, a fitting image for Ichigo's once deceased twin.
Shiro mumbled something unintelligible, adjusting in his sleep again. Crimson sheets pulled away with the movement, revealing more of his toned, milky abdomen and a lean, muscled leg.
Ichigo chuckled, giving the pale flesh before him a slow, teasing lick before pulling away. Shiro gave a soft moan, hand shifting where it rested across his lap under the thin blankets.
Rolling over, the Caster tossed his legs over the edge of the large bed and sat up. He stretched his arms over his head, yawning again. A slight frown tugged at his features and he looked back over his shoulder, searching the large bed for vivid blue.
"Hey, Shiro, you know where Grimmjow went?" He asked, voice loud enough that his brother would hear him through whatever he was dreaming about.
The pale man groaned tiredly, peeking one golden eye open briefly before shutting it again. "No." He said, voice thick with sleep. "Yer interruptin'. Now go away er take care a this." He threw the sheets off of himself, revealing the impressive erection he was sporting.
Ichigo snorted and stood up, making his way slowly around the bed, a slight limp in his step. He grabbed his discarded boxers and jeans from the night before and quickly slipped into them.
Crossing the room, he smirked at Shiro's resounding "Tch" as he shut the heavy wooden door behind him.
••••••
Renji ran a hand through his long red hair and hiked up his loose, dark colored boxers as he exited the room he and Rukia had been given.
The petite woman was still sound asleep, for which the red head was thankful. If he had to be honest with himself, he was a little surprised he had woken up to find that she was still there. He had half expected her to try to leave while everyone was asleep.
He made his way to the bathroom, relieving himself before heading down the stairs and toward the kitchen. The stone flooring was cold against his bare feet and he entertained the thought of buying the twins some carpet next year instead of just making them breakfast.
The red head yawned and scratched at his tattooed midsection, crossing the kitchen and opening up the refrigerator. Bending slightly to peer inside, he rummaged about for something to make. He felt kind of bad for raiding Ichi's and Shiro's fridge, but figured if he made enough for them too they wouldn't complain. They always seemed to enjoy his cooking.
A shiver ran down his spine and he paused, slowly straightening when he felt a piercing gaze land on his form. He turned to look, a little wide eyed, over his shoulder at the owner of intense, nearly glowing blue eyes. He had walked right past him and hadn't even realized the man was there.
"umm...Good morning..." Renji greeted, the werepanther making him a bit nervous as the man continued to stare at him. It wasn't a threatening glare, or a lecherous look in anyway. There was just something about the guy that made the red head uneasy on a more primal level. The feline had never showed any aggression toward him since they met and Renji wasn't really afraid of him, just unsure what to think. He assumed it was caused by the man not being human, but a creature that was generally considered deadly and taboo.
The man continued to watch him for a few moments more, like a cat, a really big cat, that was hunched over a dead mouse, waiting to see if he would try to take it away. Then the bluenette nodded to him fractionally and grunted in greeting as he stuffed another bite into his mouth, glacial gaze still pinned to his form.
Renji got the feeling he would get more than a scratch if he tried to take the man's meal away.
"You, uhh... want me to cook that for you?" Renji asked, grimacing a little at the red that dripped from the man's fingers and pooled on the plate he was using.
"Nope." The werecat brought another strip of the meat to his mouth, his sharp teeth easily tearing another piece away.
Renji continued to gape at the man, unsure how to react as he chowed down on raw, bloody meat.
"What are you eating?"
The red head jumped, spinning around to face a stunned Ichigo. He turned back to the bluenette in time to watch him sniff at the meat held between his fingers.
"Smells like beef" Grimmjow shrugged and stuck the bite in his mouth, throughly enjoying the treat, unfazed by the state of shock the two men before him were in.
"But it's...And you... It's raw!" Ichigo said, blanching slightly when Grimmjow curled his tongue around his fingers, savoring the bloody juices. He shivered slightly, ignoring the blood in favor of watching the mockingly arousing sight the man unwittingly made.
"Yeah, it's good that way." Grimmjow said, looking up at the Caster. He gave another unconcerned shrug. "Would have preferred the horse, it's fresh, but it stinks like mutt slobber." He curled his lip, showing over large, sharp canines in disgust.
"You went outside to check that horse?" Ichigo asked, still watching the man in slight disbelief. It really shouldn't have surprised him that Grimmjow preferred fresh, uncooked meat. He was a creature of the forest after all, a carnivorous predator. It served as a reminder that the man sitting at his counter was more than he looked.
Grimmjow nodded, blue eyes consuming the Caster's shirtless frame as he stuck the last bite in his mouth.
"Could you tell if the werewolves were still around?" Ichigo asked, looking to Renji. It would probably be best to get them home as soon as possible. Ichigo didn't want to put them in danger by keeping them out here in the forest.
"Starrk tucked his mangy tail and ran as soon as he stopped pissing himself." The werecat practically spat. Seething furry swirled just below the surface of his blue orbs.
Ichigo wondered about the change in the man's attitude, but didn't comment as Grimmjow continued.
"There are no other predator's in the immediate area. My presence alone should be enough to keep the lower ranking and stray werewolves away." Grimmjow said, voice and attitude returning to normal again. He shrugged, then turned to Renji, standing from his perch on the bar stool. "The Pack usually sleeps in the day, now would be a preferable time to escort you home."
"Grimmjow, you don't have to..." Ichigo was cut off by the cat.
"I will accompany you. I didn't..." He raised a hand gingerly to his still deeply bruised throat with a slight wince. He hadn't gotten his ass kicked to save the red head to let him get killed on his way home the next day. "I'll go."
"Alright, uh...thanks" Renji said, glad that the man had pulled on a pair of shorts before he had showed up down stairs this time. "I'll go wake up Rukia"
"Guess I'll go wake Shiro, then" Ichigo said, turning to leave the room as well.
A big hand fell on his shoulder. Grimmjow spun him around; a single, quick twirl that left the orange haired man stumbling into the cat's broad chest.
The feline smirked down at him, hands lowering to come to a rest on the smaller man's hips. He looked down into expressive, warm eyes. The look the Caster was giving him was almost the same one he had given him in their first meeting in the forest; a mix of confusion and awe. The only thing missing was the fear he had seen swirling in their depths that night, but Grimmjow found that he didn't miss that particular look.
The werepanther bent down, seizing the Caster in a deep kiss. The moment was all too short for Ichigo, but it left him breathless all the same and he stared up at the man with wide eyes when he pulled away, completely taken aback and surprised.
"Allow me" Grimmjow rumbled in a low tone, smirking at the resulting shiver from the Caster. He released the human and stepped around him, bare feet padding silently out into the hall.
Ichigo turned to watch him go. He stood rooted to his spot for a moment before shaking himself from his stupor and heading toward the stables to ready the horses.
••••••
Finding the pale twin was an easy task. Grimmjow entered the room the three had shared, quietly closing the door behind him. He stalked in silence to the edge of the bed, hovering by the sleeping man for a moment, contemplating how he should wake him.
Shiro was still sprawled across the mattress, pale complexion standing out in stark contrast to the rich crimson of the sheets around him. He had shifted, laying on his stomach now, his face turned toward Grimmjow and the sheets completely pulled away from his body, giving the bluenette a wonderful view of his lean, muscular build and backside.
Smirking, the feline crawled onto the bed, careful not to disturb the sleeping occupant. He positioned himself to hover over Shiro's bared body, knees on either side of pale hips and his hands on either side of Shiro's shoulders. Then he leaned forward, nuzzling at the nape of the pale man's neck.
Shiro groaned in his sleep, burying his face further into the pillow he was clutching below him.
Grimmjow trailed his tongue across the smooth skin, making his way to Shiro's ear, where he paused to nip at the sensitive area before speaking.
"Wake up, Shiro..." The bluenette called softly into the man's ear, flicking his tongue over the shell of ashen skin.
"go 'way, Ichi." The near-albino mumbled in his sleep. He shifted his face away from the bluenette hovering over him, unconsciously rubbing his ass across Grimmjow's groin as he moved.
The werepanther's smirk grew into a leering grin as pressed his lower half against Shiro's, supporting his weight with his corded arms.
"Not Ichi" He said, voice dropping to a seductive baritone. Grimmjow let a deep purr rumble through his chest as he continued to nuzzle at the back of Shiro's neck.
The pale twin shivered at the sound slowly rousing him from his sleep. Warm lips and a hot, wet tongue teased at his neck, making him shift his position as his lower half began to stir awake again. A solid body ground back against him, a warm hand trailing down his bare back to halt on the curve of his ass.
"Tryin' a sleep" He mumbled, still not quite awake enough to register all of what was going on.
A finger trailed along the seem of his cheeks and he furrowed his snowy brows, slowly prying his eyes open and lifting his head. The finger pressed forward, teasing at his entrance.
"What the ffmnnnn..."
Grimmjow smirked as the man's question became a low moan when he delved his finger into Shiro. He pumped his hand a few times, delighting in Shiro's responsiveness. It was obvious he was usually the dominate one in his and Ichigo's relationship and that made him all the tighter and more sensitive.
"Grimm...jow?" He panted, craning his neck to peek behind him at the larger man.
Grimmjow hummed in answer and added a second finger, a wicked grin on his lips.
••••••
As the sun rose, rays of bright light cutting through the surrounding trees and illuminating the entrance to the den, Starrk and Nnoitra finally pulled themselves home.
Wolves scattered. Some of them rushed to get out of the way, others rushed to the side of their Alpha and second. All were curious about the odd smell wafting from singed fur and what had kept them away so long. It was a rarity that Starrk, or any other member of the Pack, was gone for so long and returning so near to day break was unheard of.
Nnoitra curled his lips in a snarl that sent the majority of the wolves running, tails tucked between their legs in fear. The night had been long and he was tired and sore. He wanted food and sleep, but at this point, would settle for just the second.
Speeding through the forest in their usual ground devouring pace had been impossible as the magic the Caster had used continued to work through their systems. They had deemed that there would be no lasting effects, all they had to do was wait for the magic to run it's course. It seemed the human hadn't wanted to really harm them, only keep them away. Either that, or he was still learning and didn't know what he was doing.
Neither wolf could see that being a possibility with how powerful he had been.
Lilynette stormed up to Starrk's side, sticking her tongue out at Nnoitra, who had his blind side toward her and the leader.
Starrk clapped his hand over the back of her head lightly, but gave her a small smirk when she glared up at him.
"This was that damn cat's fault, wasn't it?" She asked in a petulant tone, wrinkling her nose as she got a strong whiff of the spicy, tell tale scent of magic.
Beside them, Nnoitra bared gleaming fangs and snorted.
"No. Not really." Starrk said in a tired drawl, heading in the direction of his quarters. "Before you think about it, do not go after him. And don't send any of my wolves after him either." He added, not needing the she-wolf to say a word to know what she was thinking. She had been out for the feline's blood for months now. He still couldn't fiure out why.
"You can't let him get away with this! It's unacceptable!" She shouted in disbelief.
"Tch. Didn't ya hear him? Said it wasn't the cat." Nnoitra growled at her, the menace in his voice giving her pause. It was an aggressiveness he usually didn't direct at her. "Was a damn human."
"What? You're kidding me. There hasn't been a strong human Caster in decades." She crossed her thin arms over her chest, giving the large, black wolf an incredulous look. There shouldn't be a human strong enough to do the damage Starrk and Nnoitra had obviously taken. Humans were weak; beneath the were-races. Not that the cat could Cast, not that she knew of anyway. But how should she know, no one wanted her around him long enough for her to find out.
"Hasn't been a Necromancer in centuries." Starrk mumbled to himself, still pondering over the smell and flavor of the Caster's magic. Necromancy was the only thing he could come up that could produce such powerful results and have an icy bite mixed with the spicy magic.
"A... Necromancer? Really?" Lilynette's eyes lit up with mischief and wonder. "Oooh, I've never seen one of those before!" She clapped her hands together, unable to conceal her excitement.
"No." Starrk said sternly. Lilynettte certainly wasn't weak, but she was still young, still learning her strength. She still had the mentality that she was invincible. And she was wrong. The Alpha feared she would find that out sooner or later, after it was already too late.
"He'd tear ya apart, kid." Nnoitra put in, wincing as a sharp pain shot through the left side of his face. He raised his clawed hand and gingerly rubbed at the scar tissue. "If La Pantera didn't take care a ya first."
Starrk huffed a tired, worn out sigh and turned to face Nnoitra, letting the scared wolf get a look at him with his good eye. He gently pushed Lily away, silently telling her to scram and leave them be. "You realize this could get messy, Nnoi?"
The wolf tilted his big head, black ears perking slightly as he gave the Alpha a curious look. "What'da ya mean?"
"What happens when a Fallen deidad gains followers?" Starrk turned and left his second in the hall, climbing into his sleeping quarters.
Nnoitra stared after the smaller Alpha in confusion. He watched Starrk disappear into the dark, his one remaining eye slowly widening as realization dawned on him.
••••••
"Ganna... have to hurry, Shiro..." Grimmjow ground out, panting as he thrust up into the man straddling his lap.
Shiro growled out a curse, tossing his head back and dragging his black nails down the bluenette's built chest as a sensitive bundle of nerves was ruthlessly prodded. He tightened his legs around the bigger man's waist and did his best to meet the bluenette's thrusts.
Grimmjow moaned, low in his throat, when the white haired man slammed back down onto his cock, repeatedly impaling himself. The nails digging into his flesh pulled and tore at his healing wounds, but the sensation was driving him crazy and he didn't care if Shiro tore them open.
He growled, sinking his sharp teeth into the juncture of Shiro's neck and shoulder as he quickened the pace even further. He ran his own nails down the flesh of Shiro's back, pressing just hard enough to draw slightly raised, red lines, but not actually breaking the skin.
The albino hissed between his teeth, back arching at the sharp nails digging into his flesh. He couldn't deny that Grimmjow's brutal, violent sex got him going and he grunted and moaned his pleasure with each thrust as his peak hurtled toward him.
The werepanther retracted one of his hands from Shiro's back and began pumping the man's neglected shaft. Shiro moaned and cursed at the added pleasure.
"Grimm...sssshit..." Shiro hung his head, grip tightening around the bluenette. With a grunt, he came, covering Grimmjow's hand and clutching at the man's shoulders like his life depended on it.
Grimmjow growled, pulling the pale man close as he thrust up into constricting, silky heat a few more times before he, too, reached his peak.
He could already feel the cuts and furrows Shiro had dug in his chest healing. The flesh knitted back together too fast to form scars. In a matter of minutes, there would be no evidence that the marks had existed at all. While a bit slower, he could also feel that some of the gashes from the wolf that he had been having trouble healing were beginning to knit closed at a quicker pace as well.
Something about that stuck him as odd, but as he rode out the waves of his release and slowly came back down from his pleasure induced high, he couldn't bring himself to dwell on it.
Shrio relaxed in his grasp after a few moments. He took a few deep breaths before untangling his long legs from around the feline's waist and gingerly climbing from the bluenette's lap.
"Why the hell weren't ya that aggressive last night?" He asked, shooting the man a heated look as he combed his fingers through his disheveled hair. He didn't bottom often, King not having the same dominate side he had, but he certainly enjoyed he and the werecat's unexpected romp.
The werepanther snorted lightly. "Ichigo is softer than you, I don't want to hurt him. Or you, but you can handle it." He said with a shrug, voice a little softer than it probably should have been. He quickly stood, cleaning himself off before slipping back into his borrowed shorts, blue eyes refusing to meet inverted golden ones.
Shiro watched the man as he readied himself, avoiding his gaze the entire time. It had sounded like the feline really cared for he and Ichigo. The idea almost confused him and he pushed it away, quickly dressing so he and the bluenette could join the others outside at the stables.
••••••
Ichigo patted the side of his horse's neck and stepped away from the beast. He turned just in time to see his brother walk through the large double doors. Grabbing the bridle, Ichigo led his horse out of the stall, his riding boots clunking on the wooden floor.
"Morning again, Shiro" He said, a smile that reached his warm eyes formed on his lightly tanned features. Shiro snorted at him and the Caster continued. "Where's Grimmjow?"
"Tch. Outside. Wont come in here" The pale twin shrugged not entirely understanding the feline's reluctance to enter the stables.
He walked up to the front of his favorite horse's stall, opening the gate just far enough to slip in. His was one of their more wild ones, a stallion that would bolt if given the chance. It was usually fine once the tack was on, but getting to that point could be an issue.
The Caster watched his twin disappear into the closed off stall, then turned and walked his horse outside, joining Renji and Rukia in the front yard.
He had leant them one of their other horses, since Renji's had been killed by the wolf and they both sat, already mounted in the saddles of their respective horses.
Grimmjow was standing a safe distance away, warily eyeing the animals. He backed away as Ichigo tried walking to his side, his mount in tow.
The orange haired man frowned, looking at the cat then up at his horse. Backing the animal up, he handed the reins to Renji, who had been watching the odd reaction, and headed back toward the bluenette.
"Don't like horses?" He asked, trying desperately to hide his amused smile.
The bluenette shrugged. "we don't get along."
"Ours, other than Shiro's, are pretty friendly. I'm sure you could ride one." Ichigo said, grabbing the feline's hand and trying to lead him toward Renji and the horses. "It's not hard"
Grimmjow allowed himself to pulled a few feet closer, than halted again, his larger body mass jolting the human to a halt next to him. The Caster turned to look at him, curious why he stopped.
Shiro pulled up beside his brother, already astride his horse. The beast tossed it's head, nostrils flared and eyes wide as it stared at Grimmjow like it thought he might attack it.
The bluenette took a step away from the agitated animal, giving it some space. Horses were big animals, and they could deliver quite the punch to anything they perceived as a threat. The werepanther was alway perceived as a threat.
"What's a matter, kitty? Can't ride a horse?" Shiro asked, wide grin splitting his face as he watched the man. He really didn't look afraid, just cautious, but the albino couldn't help but tease him.
"You can ride with one of us" Ichigo said, turning back to the man. "You'll have to get on. It'll be much faster."
"No." Grimmjow stated in a flat voice, baring his teeth at the albino for the mocking comment he had made. "I can promise you none of these horses would tolerate me. And I will have no problem keeping up." He said, turning away from the group of human's and their animals and starting down the path he knew lead to the village.
Ichigo mounted his horse, taking the reins back from Renji, and the four of them set off after the man, easily catching up as he continued to walk. All four of the horses shied away from him as they neared, tossing their manes and flicking their ears. Shiro's horse even reared up, pawing the air slightly as it attempted to scare the blue haired man and side step away from him at the same time.
Regaining control of animal, Shiro raised a brow while he studied Grimmjow.
The bluenette stood perfectly still, unamused expression on his face and arms crossed over his chest. The bluenette abruptly turned, disappearing into the tree line. A moment later a pair of shorts flew out at Shiro.
The air crackled slightly with energy, again causing the horses to shy away and act nervous, braying and snorting. Then all fell quiet. The horses stilled, though the quivered slightly under their riders, as if ready to bolt. The birds stopped singing and the forest seemed to hold it's breath.
"Shall we?" The feline's deep voice carried to them on the morning air.
The humans kicked their horses into a trot, catching glimpses of sleek, blue black fur and muscle between the gaps in foliage.
••••••
Starrk yawned, stretching his arms behind his head and looked up at the ceiling. He was tired and worn out. The magic and long hike back to the den had taxed his energy and even though he had been back for hours now, sleep eluded him.
His thoughts and mind wandered to distant, long gone times for a while. The memories of a past when he and La Pantera had been worshipped as gods played in front of his mind's eye. He knew that Grimmjow had been happy to Fall and disappear after the War, a great battle lost to human memory. The battle had been bloody, even in terms of most wars. But then, they always were when deidades were involved.
The feline's followers had been decimated, his temple ripped asunder and his godhood nearly stripped from him. That was when a human had managed to snag La Pantera, binding the feline to his will when the cat had been at his weakest. It had been low and cowardly, but it had been effective.
Starrk shuttered at the thoughts. He had found the injured Pantera after the cat had finally killed the human. Grimmjow still bore the scars of his enslavement.
Since then, the werecat had done his best to stay hidden from human eye. How he had managed to hold onto most of his power was a mystery to Starrk and the other Original wolves.
The werewolves weren't worshiped any longer either, but the human race still knew of their existence, or at least their rumored existence. Their fear gave power to the Originals and Deidades of the race, Starrk ranking at the top.
The feline's power was diminished from what it once was, true. But he still held an immense strength that was unheard of in a Fallen deidad with no followers. He was still a rival to an Original's own strength, and that was without the backing of faith to boost his power.
If the cat hadn't already been in such a torn up and fatigued state, Nnoitra wouldn't have walked away from that last scrap so unharmed. The black wolf had been lucky.
What really confused Starrk, though, was why Grimmjow would allow himself to be so enthralled by these new humans. Especially humans who held such great power. The panther had made it clear he didn't want his godhood any longer, he was happy to stay in the shadows and live in solitude. And after he had been bound, Starrk had figured the werepanther would kill off any Caster he met, yet the orange haired one still lived. And the panther seemed almost protective over him and the rest of the humans around the Caster.
The werewolf sat up, shoving his thoughts aside for later. Perhaps he would just ask Grimmjow what he was doing. For now, though, the smell of a fresh kill was drawing his attention.
••••••
Sleek muscle easily propelled the panther over the uneven forest floor. He ran parallel to the path the humans and their horses were using, relishing the feeling of freedom his four legged cat form brought him. Ears swiveling and keen nose testing the air, Grimmjow could tell he had been correct in his prediction. Not another predator dared show it's self, undoubtedly being able to sense that his strength was returning.
He had woken up this morning feeling particularly energized. The wounds and his body had lacked the ache they had held for the past few days and his senses had felt sharp and honed. His appetite had be peaked, and not just for food; something that had not happened in quite some time.
Grimmjow knew something was off, something was different, but couldn't quite put his finger on it or bring himself to care enough to really try. He hadn't felt quite this great in a long time. The werepanther believed it to have something to do with the humans, but that was as far as his thought process went.
For now, he would relish the feeling and enjoy his renewed strength and swiftly healing body. He could deal with the rest later.
"Hey, Grimm, you still there?" The Caster's voice asked from the werepanther's right, somewhere down the path.
"Of course" He replied, slowing his pace so he wasn't so far ahead of the humans. He shifted his steps to bring himself closer to the path and loped along the tree line, letting himself enter the human's view.
He was unsure of the reason, but the Caster's question had made him want to be near to the man and his copy. A slight, irritating tremble of fear wormed it's way into his gut as he remembered being bound to a different Caster. He quickly shook the feeling off.
While the orange haired Caster held potential for that level of power, the man seemed careful about how he spoke Grimmjow's name. It was like he was treading carefully and trying not to invoke the power his name could hold over him. The werepanther hadn't felt that possessing tug since the first morning he had woken up in the human home, for which he was thankful. He liked these men, he didn't want to have to kill the Caster.
"We're nearin' the village." The pale twin said, glancing at the feline form as he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head to hide his ashen features.
The panther nodded his head, training his sharp blue eyes back in front of them. "Should I stay in the forest, or would you prefer I accompany you?" He asked, still scanning the path and forest ahead of them.
Shiro and Ichigo glanced at each other, the pale copy shrugging. It would probably be best to keep the werepanther out of sight. Shiro's presence would bring enough attention. The last thing they needed was the villagers thinking King had brought back another person.
Renji watched the silent exchange before speaking up. "We should be fine once we reach the village. There's really no reason for any of you to follow us the rest of the way." He shrugged and glanced over to Rukia, who happily nodded her agreement.
"Alright, sounds good." Shiro said, watching the way the small woman gave the werecat a slightly disgruntled and almost hostile look. It was a look he was used to seeing trained on himself by the woman when she thought no one was watching. Shirosaki rolled his inverted, golden eyes and dismissed the little wench.
Grimmjow disappeared back into the forest as the four humans pulled their horses to a halt at the village limits.
Ichigo and Shiro bid farewell to Renji and Rukia, making the red head promise to visit again soon.
Renji laughed, a wide and genuine smile on his face. "I will, promise." He told the twins as he climbed up behind Rukia on her horse. He turned to scan the tree line. "Uh, see you later, Grimmjow" He called, not sure where the cat was or if he would hear him.
A deep, rumbling laugh answered him and Renji smiled as he and Rukia headed into the village.
The twins waved at them as they retreated into the town, then turned their horses around. Shiro tied the lead rope of the spare horse to his saddle and they nudged their mounts into an easy trot, headed back toward their home.
"Ya sure ya don't wanna ride, kitty cat?" Shiro called after the feline he knew was slinking around in the forest somewhere.
"Quite sure." The deep voice of Grimmjow called back. "Oh, and fuck you."
"Tch, maybe later, kitty. Maybe later." Shiro could imagine the cat curling his lips to bare his teeth at him for calling him 'kitty cat' and he chuckled.
••••••
Rukia and Renji dismounted, the smaller woman leading the horse by the reins as they walked through the more crowded streets.
"Sooo... what's wrong?" the red head asked, looking at the raven haired girl from the corner of his eyes.
"What makes you think anything is wrong?" Rukia asked back, forcing a playful smile on her lips.
Renji shrugged lightly. "You've just been awfully quiet this morning." He said, glancing around at some of the stalls in the open air market around them. People bustled about, enjoying the warmer weather. Sunny days were an increasing rarity this time of year, the leaves had yet to start shedding, but it was only a matter of time.
"Yes, well." The woman said, a bit of bite showing through in her tone. The red head turned to look at her, but she shook her head, dismissing it and forcing another smile onto her face. "Just kind of tired, I guess." She said light heartedly, reaching up to pat the horses neck gently.
The real issue was Shirosaki and that monster. Ichigo should be living in the village still, he should be with his friends instead of sulking around in the forest. The orange haired man that was once her friend should have been trying to lead a normal life and leaving his dark arts behind. Instead he was busy doing who knew what and associating with monsters that could and would destroy him.
Renji had nearly gotten killed because of the werepanther and Rukia had a feeling the monster was going to be around to stay. The beast was even given a room in the twins' home! He would be the death of Ichigo, she knew it. Between the monster and Ichigo's dead twin...
The woman shook her head and rolled her eyes. Ichigo would never learn and he would never listen to what anyone said. He would have to find out the hard way.
Renji gave her an incredulous look, but didn't press the matter. He could tell when she was brooding over something, no matter how convincing her smiles were. And he could guess closely enough where her thoughts were. She hadn't exactly hidden the fact that she didn't like Shiro and Ichi's new friend, or the pale twin, for that matter.
••••••
Grimmjow had outpaced the twins and their horses, disappearing into the forest and staying out of sight. It put the men on edge slightly, but they trusted the feline and knew he would keep an eye on the surrounding area better than they could.
A low rumble from up ahead reached the twins' ears, the first signs of Grimmjow either had noticed since dropping Renji and Rukia off at the village edge. Matching frowns stretched across their features.
Shiro sent King a glance before turning back toward the sound. There was a bend in the path just ahead, the view blocked by the trees and thick under growth. His hand instinctively reached under his cloak to his favorite gun strapped under the opposite arm. The motion was so second nature to him, he hardly realized he had done it.
The two men cautiously guided their mounts around the bend. It couldn't be anything too dangerous. Aside from the low growl, Grimmjow hadn't given any indication that he had run into a problem, and the growl seemed more annoyed than angry. It hadn't held the wild furry the two men were used to hearing when the cat battled.
The source of the feline's agitation finally came into view as they rounded the bend. Grimmjow sat in the middle of the path, slim black tail flicking about behind his feline body and his ears lay flat in silent threat.
In front of him, the lithe, brown werewolf stood blocking the path. It's ears were still held straight, it's grey eyes looked only at Grimmjow and it's posture was none threatening, almost relaxed. It payed the humans and their horses no attention, even when Shiro drew his gun, almost as if he was purposely ignoring them.
"Good afternoon to you as well, Grimmjow" The wolf said in answer to the panther's growl. It's voice seemed friendly enough and held a hint of amusement.
"Yeah yeah." Grimmjow said, standing and walking around the werewolf to continue down the path, his padded paws making not a sound against the dirt of the earth. He paused to veer into his resurrection, the form that gave him the most bulk and strength. The air crackled with his shift and the horses snorted and stamped their hooves behind the werecreatures.
"Why are you up so late? I know how much you love your sleep." Grimmjow asked without turning to the wolf, stretching as he continued to walk.
Shiro and Ichigo followed after the werepanther, their horses shying away from the wolf and dancing nervously. The horse tied off to Shiro's saddle tugged at the lead rope, tossing it's head without a rider to keep it calmed.
Starrk looked at the animals as they passed him, his eyes wandering to the humans. Such small creatures; the humans. They didn't look like much, but Starrk knew better. These two were certainly deceptive. Both held more power then they let on, maybe more power than they realized.
A low, rumbling growl had his attention snapping back to Grimmjow. The cat didn't bother looking at him, just continued to walk away. His ears were flattened again and his tail lashed back and forth in angry swipes, warning him against touching the humans.
The Pack leader carefully followed after the feline, sticking to the very edge of the path and away from the men Grimmjow seemed so protective over. He wasn't here to anger the cat, only to talk.
He yawned, as if in answer to the cat's question, as he matched Grimmjow's steady, sure strides, careful to keep his own movement easy and none threatening. The cat seemed relaxed, but the grace and fluidity of his movements hinted at his readiness and awareness.
"Yes, Lilynette can be quite the handful" He told the cat. He didn't see a need for Grimmjow to know what he was really losing sleep over.
Grimmjow snorted. He could tell Starrk was hiding something, but he didn't think the wolf was here for an attack. That wasn't Starrk's style and his keen senses were only picking out one other wolf in the area. Starrk's second went everywhere the leader went. It was just good business, one never left their leader alone with a dangerous predator.
"What do you want, Starrk?" Grimmjow asked, still not bothering to meet the wolf's eye. "And tell your lap dog to get out here. I don't like him lurking around."
The werecat heard Shiro's second gun slide from it's holster when he mentioned the second wolf. The crunch of hooves paused for a few moments before continuing. The two men had dropped their horses back a few more meters behind them, putting a little more space between them and the wolves. He didn't need to look to know that Shiro and Ichigo were being careful and though he didn't think Starrk meant trouble, he was thankful they were smart enough to be cautious.
"I don't know if that's really a good idea, Grimm. Nnoitra isn't too happy with you right now." Starrk said, almost afraid to go against what the cat said, lest he anger him and Grimmjow decides he's done talking. He could sense the cat's renewed strength and confidence and he had no desire for a repeat of the encounter they had the night before.
"Well, good. The feeling's mutual." Grimmjow grunted, ears swiveling slightly to keep track of the second beast. "Get your ass out here, mutt!" He half shouted, raising his voice to a purposefully mocking tone.
"Now, Grimmjow..." Starrk's words were cut off and he heaved a hopeless sigh as the big, black wolf stepped from the forest edge on Grimmjow's other side.
Nnoitra had his ears pinned back, a snarl full of sharp, glistening fangs on his features as a growl rumbled from his throat. He glared at the feline with all the menace he could muster as he stalked from the cover of the trees.
Grimmjow's ears dropped back again, his icy blue eyes darting to the wolf, but he refused to acknowledge it's presence and continued walking down the path. Nnoitra wouldn't try anything with Starrk around to keep him in check. Grimmjow was, however, a little nervous about the unpredictable beast being so near the humans, but at least if he was in the open they would have sufficient warning if he attacked. The Caster and Shiro would be able to see it coming and defend themselves.
"Now, what do you want, Starrk?" Grimmjow asked, keeping his gaze neutral and trained ahead, his body and muscles loose but ready for anything.
"Always quick to the point" Starrk sighed. He too kept his vision trained ahead and hoped Nnoitra wouldn't do anything stupid. He watched Grimmjow's slight nod of agreement from the corner of his gray eyes and continued. "I thought you enjoyed your solitude, Grimmjow..."
"Aww, are your puppies worried about me associating with humans again?" Grimmjow asked, not quite able to keep the bitter, mocking sarcasm out of his voice. He could already see where this was going. It was none of the wolves' business what he did.
"Something like that." Starrk answered. "What are you doing with them, Grimmjow?"
To Grimmjow's left, Nnoitra stalked in a little closer than he needed to and Grimmjow spun around, teeth bared and a hiss thrown the wolf's way. Nnoitra's lone eye looked to Starrk, slight surprise lighting it's depths, then he took a step back and gave the cat his space.
"Your right, Starrk. I do enjoy my solitude. I have no need for followers, nor do I want them." Grimmjow answered, his tone a bit clipped as he turned back around and continued walking. The human fortress wasn't far away now and the one eyed wolf was making him nervous. If an attack was forthcoming, it would happen soon.
The werepanther stopped, knowing that the barrier was only a few meters ahead, through the trees. He spun to face the opposite direction, backing off the path and keeping the wolves in his sight.
"Then why...?" Starrk began to rephrase his question. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew Grimmjow wouldn't give him a straight answer, but he tried anyway.
"Because I can." Grimmjow said, cutting the Alpha wolf's question short. "Because I want to. Because they have gained my attention."
Just down the path from them, Shiro and Ichigo halted their nervous horses, unsure what was going on. They watched as Grimmjow backed out of the path, standing on the edge. The wolves followed his lead and left the path as well, neither of them setting eyes on the twins.
Grimmjow waved them forward, motioning for the humans to go past and into the safety of the barrier before he did. He wouldn't be able to get through in the form he was in, but he would be damned if he relinquished his resurrection while they were still on the wrong side of the invisible seal.
Shiro looked over at Ichigo. The Caster looked wary and at the ready, but returned his gaze, confidence shining in his warm eyes. Shiro nodded, then using his knees he backed his stallion up a few steps, letting Ichigo move his own mount in front.
The pale man kept his weapons trained on the wolves; one on either side of the path. His horse flared it's nostrils and snorted, but listened to his commands well enough and followed Ichigo's horse, sticking to the very middle of the path. Shiro watched the way the creatures around them acted. The brown wolf resolutely held his gaze away from them as they passed, the black one seemed almost jumpy and Shiro could see, from the corner of his eyes, that Grimmjow watched it. The cat's posture and body language gave his nervousness away to anyone that looked close enough.
The werepanther carefully watched the wolves, paying attention to the moved and shifted. Starrk was relaxed and laid back as always, his larger second was more tense, watching the humans from his lone eye. He didn't like Nnoitra, never had. The big brute made him nervous, and now was no exception.
An almost imperceptible twitch in the mongrel's muscles sent Grimmjow into a ready crouch, teeth bared as he glared at the giant wolf. The creature's violet eye darted to watch him warily, glancing to Starrk and back to the cat several times before it took a reluctant step back and away from the path.
The humans were past them by this point, having just crossed the barrier. Grimmjow backed away from the wolves, stopping only once he could feel the tingling of the magical seal only mere inches away.
"We're done here, Starrk." He said, watching the wolves. He was done entertaining them. They had nothing to talk about that could possibly be worth his time. He understood Starrk's fear. The leader of the Pack was worried he was out for power again; afraid that he would become a threat again. He was right to fear.
Grimmjow smirked. "You've been at the top for too long."
AN: Let me know what you think!