Disclaimer: Doesnot own. Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo

Chapter 8

Rukia was shocked. And for a good reason. She had just been confronted with proof that a member of the Yamamoto clan (one of the most law-abiding clans in the Soul Society) had broken a law. Not just a minor one at that, but one that could have the culprit serving a prison sentence of a few centuries if not executed.

"You're supposed to be dead," the words had slipped out of her mouth before she had time to stop them.

Isshin's frown remained for a second, before he burst out laughing. He found her outburst amusing. Still, perhaps part of the truth was in order, if only to throw her off the real reason.

"I almost did die," he commented once his laughter subsided. "If it hadn't been for Kisuke, I would be. I take it you know what a spiritual coma is? I was in one for five years. By the time I woke up, I had already been declared dead, so I just stayed dead. And I'm glad I did."

He was glad, because in the long run it was worth it. He never intended to fall in love with his beloved Masaki; it was just something that had happened. She had crept under his skin one day at a time until he realized he did not want to live without her. He turned his attention back to Rukia who was trying to make sense of what he had told her.

"That doesn't…" She trailed off as he held up his hand to silence her.

"If you had a choice to be dead in the Soul Society's eyes, wouldn't you stay dead?"

She paused thoughtfully at his question. Would she? Truthfully, she didn't know. She would like to say no, but after her almost execution she wasn't so sure. Her crime had been a minor one, and in no way it deserved the sentence she got: the maximum as set by the Soul Society's law for such a crime was ten years in prison, no more.

"I don't know," She finally said. "Don't worry though, No one will know of your survival, after all I was only asking because Ichigo overheard Urahara talking about a captain Isshin, and he was curious." Isshin laughed, glad that his son had managed to make such loyal friends in the Soul Society, and that his secret was still safe. He only had to deal with Ichigo's reaction now.

"Thank you."

I

Grimmjow returned to his quarters soaked in blood. He always felt refreshed after a good slaughter. He had just finished killing all those who would betray Shiro first chance they got. He wasn't foolish or arrogant enough to believe he had got them all, but he got the majority of them. Las Noches was a lot emptier now.

A quick shower and a change of clothes later Grimmjow was heading to Shiro's quarters. When he entered, he was shocked at the small changes Shiro had made. The most visual being a bookshelf filled with books from the human world, and a second wardrobe.

"What the hell? Since when do you read?" He asked the lounging Shiro, choosing to focus on the books since neither of them read for recreational purposes, although Shiro had written a book or two when he had really been bored.

"It's for Ichigo. To keep him occupied, as we both know that if he isn't busy, he's in trouble."

They shared a grin at that comment.

"How'd you meet the Strawberry anyway?" Grimmjow suddenly asked.

"I was watching you fight him through his eyes, if that helps."

Grimmjow's eyes widened. "And he was still strong enough to wound me. What is his true power then?"

Shiro look thoughtful. "Hmm. As he is now, pregnant and missing a piece of his soul…"

"Why is he missing a piece of his soul?"

"I ate it. Now, don't interrupt me." Grimmjow looked sheepish as Shiro continued. "Now as I was saying, he's probably say on par with your level one sealed form. Oh, and about that wound, I may have helped." Shiro was pleased with Grimmjow's reaction. "And you want to know something else?" He leaned closer and dropped his voice to a whisper. "He hasn't even reached his full potential. I know you think he's a couple of centuries old, but he's not. Compared to the other Shinigami, he is an infant, and has only had his Shinigami powers for a few months. Months Grimmjow, and look how strong he's grown."

Grimmjow shivered. Sure, he was actually a lot stronger than he let on while Aizen was in charge, but Ichigo was just out of cub hood if what Shiro was telling him was correct, and was already on par with his weakest form. Grimmjow suddenly felt rage flare up at the Shinigami who hid behind Ichigo. Young ones like him had no business on a battlefield. Especially since, he was submissive. Did the shinigami have no instinct?

"You're angry, aren't you? That they let a submissive so young on the battlefield? They didn't let him, you know; he decided that all by his self. He's stubborn and head strong, and he doesn't let anyone tell him what to do, but those who he absolutely trusts. He may be a submissive, but he isn't a stupid one who will obey the first dominant that comes around. He's quite a find actually. He doesn't understand his instincts either which I shamelessly will use to my advantage."

"In other words, he's perfect for you," Grimmjow smirked. "The perfect Queen to the King. One to make those around him stronger just by being in his presence, all because he has no control over his immense power, and the cubs, they'll be powerful too." The last part was said in a dreamy voice as Grimmjow imagined how powerful his and Shiro's cubs would be. Then his grin turned perverted as he imagined practicing making said cubs.

Shiro agreed with Grimmjow's statement. It was one of the main reasons why he chose Ichigo. The second was that he had seen that Grimmjow wanted him too. He didn't love either of them by any means, he was too hollow for that, but what he shared with Grimmjow was very close; at least that was what he believed. Also, during his confinement within his Ichigo's soul, he found himself to start caring. He didn't want the boy to die, so he initiated the Bond of Eternities, but didn't complete it. He wouldn't complete it until he had Grimmjow within it too. It would bind all three of them together. Even if he cared for Ichigo, if he had not seen Grimmjow's interest, he would have let Ichigo wither away and slowly become a Hollow from the never ending emptiness of missing a piece of his soul. Not that he would leave Ichigo as a Hollow, if he had let that happen. No, he was too attached to allow that. Ichigo would have made a beautiful Arrancar, but he would only be a shadow of what he was now.

Ichigo would have become a being, stripped of most of his emotions, and Shiro was drawn to the intensity of the emotions Ichigo produced - another reason why he initiated the bond. He desired Ichigo as he was. It confused and frustrated him to no end. He was an Arrancar, a Hollow who had gained higher reasoning and his less intense positive emotions back. He could not love, but he could cherish, and he cherished his Grim-kitty, and his Ichigo.

Ichigo would probably never love him, but Shiro didn't care whether his Queeny loved him are not. All that mattered to Shiro was that Ichigo was his mate. All he wanted from Ichigo was that acknowledgement, that and his beautiful body. Still, to get Ichigo to fall in love with him was his ultimate goal, even if he didn't expected it to pass, because, as he saw with Rukia - Ichigo would invade the heavens and tear them asunder for those he cared for.

"Yeah, he's perfect, but then so are you."

Yes, all that mattered in the end was that his Grim-kitty and his Queeny belonged to him. Love was unnecessary on his part, he only had to pretend, and that would be easy enough. After all, he's had a millennia to practice.

II

Orihime was lonely again. There was just nothing to do in this barren place, and it was so quiet, it was almost enough to drive her insane. She was a being that flourished in activity, but here she was given none. It was frustrating. At least there was Ulquiorra to stave off the boredom when he came with her meals, and to let her out. It was a far better treatment than she expected, truthfully.

The door to her room opened and she brightened up almost immediately. Ulquiorra was here again, she wondered what he had brought her this time. The food was pretty tasty, although, she preferred her own recipes. The cooks here could never get it quite right.

She turned confused, when it wasn't Ulquiorra who spoke, but instead Shiro.

"I have a proposition for you Hime-chan," Shiro said as he made himself comfortable on a couch.

"I…What is it Shiro…" She trailed off not sure how to address him. He waved his hand in a gesture she took to mean he didn't really care how she addressed him.

"Ichigo's going to be brought here soon, just like you were. I need you to agree to keep him out of trouble. I'd rather not have to kill you, if he doesn't behave. After all, you are more useful alive than dead, especially your power to reject. Aizen was right when he said it crossed into God's domain, and I plan to make use of it."

She was silent, not quite sure what to think.

"How did you know what I like to eat? I've never met you in my life, so how?" She finally asked, carefully avoiding what Shiro was implying.

Shiro grinned. "But you have Hime-chan. You've met me through your precious Ichigo. I was what he thought was his inner hollow. As you can see I am not." His eyes narrowed and his tone became menacing as he spoke his next sentence. "I know of your affection's for him, girl. I do not like them, but I can tolerate them if you pretend they don't exist." He fingered her hair admiring the color, as it was so much like his Queeny's. Then he jerked hard on a strand, forcing her to look at him.

"I despise your closeness to my Ichigo, but he would never forgive me if I killed you. And while I don't need you here to control him, it will keep him compliant, and I'd rather not have to fight over every little thing. So Hi-me-chan, if you want to continue living, I suggest you keep yourself and Ichigo out of trouble."

Orihime dropped to her knees as he talked. She nodded when he finished. That had been one of the most terrifying experiences in her life. She recognized what this entire situation was about: jealousy. Shiro was jealous, because he held affection for Ichigo, and she was a competition.

"I understand, Shiro-sama." She said brokenly. Anything she did would be monitored closely. She was only alive as long as she was useful. In a normal situation, she would fight back, but now. What was the point? She was alone, with no one to back her up, and she wanted to survive. She was still human after all.

Shiro stalked out of the room satisfied with the silent sobbing coming from the girl. He passed Ulquiorra whose eyes widened slightly before narrowing in worry, as he realized from where Shiro had just come from.

"Go make sure she doesn't kill herself. She didn't really like what I had to say." Shiro grinned as he walked past him; it seemed the emocar was attracted to the little princess. That information could be useful at a later date.

III

Dinner at the Kurosaki's was quiet for once, and for a good the reason. Isshin was taking dinner in his office, and had requested Ichigo to visit him after he had eaten. The twins found this strange, especially Karin. She knew something was wrong with her brother. His spiritual pressure, as she had learned it was called, felt different: stronger, yet weaker at the same time, and the dark taint that had been there lessened - not gone but, barely noticeable.

Yuzu also noticed something was off, but for different reasons. Ichi-nii had been eating strange food lately, and that confused her, but she couldn't dwell on it. She smiled at her siblings to hide her unease as she gathered up the dishes.

Ichigo got up to help her with the dishes, but ended up falling on the floor in a dead faint; his head hitting the corner of the table on the way down. Yuzu screamed when she saw the blood.

"Daddy! Ichigo's hurt."

Isshin was in the room in less than a minute.

"What happened?" He asked bending down to take Ichigo's pulse. It was sluggish. That wasn't good.

"He got up to help me with the dishes and just fell. He hit the table on the way down. What's wrong with Ichi-nii, daddy? He's been sick and I wasn't worried at first, but now…" She trailed off, tears in her eyes.

"Karin, Yuzu, go get a neck brace and a stretcher so we can move him. I'll need x-rays." Karin nodded, dragging Yuzu with her.

"Come on. Ichi-nii needs this. I'll get the stretcher, you get the neck brace, and I'll meet you in the kitchen."

Yuzu nodded. She would get her answers. Just not now, now, she needed to help Ichi-nii.

Isshin was at a loss. He should have seen this coming. The twins were drawing too much energy too quickly, and Ichigo's gigai couldn't handle the flow, causing it to temporally shut down. He patched the gigai up best he could, but now Ichigo was going to have to be monitored. With a heavy sigh, he knew what he had to do.

He grabbed Kon, and forced Ichigo's unconscious body to swallow the Soul Candy. Then he swallowed his own. He didn't want to leave the girls like this, but Ichigo needed Kisuke's help at this point. He really wished this ordeal would go away, but he knew it wouldn't. He held Ichigo close, knowing it would probably be the last time he would be able to do so in a long time. He was giving Ichigo to the Vizards, so that thay could protect him. They should be able to stabilize Ichigo's energy problem, because the fetuses needed both shinigami and hollow spirit particles, but were only getting shinigami energy with only the barest taint of hollow.

He brushed Ichigo's hair, something he remembered doing after Masaki died, in an attempt to comfort the both of them.

"Goodbye, Ichigo, you've got to disappear now." He whispered as he laid him down on a futon in Kisuke's shop.

"What happened?" Kisuke asked as Isshin exited the room.

"The energy drain is happening far sooner than predicted, and I want him gone before the hollow comes to get him."

"It's too late for that, pops. I didn't know you were a Shinigami, but it explains much about Ichigo's delicious taste - the taste of a true born. I see he got that from you." Shiro stepped out of the room holding Ichigo's prone form. "He sleeps so soundly, doesn't he? My beautiful mate."

A rip sounded from the space behind the Arrancar signaling the opening of a garganta. Isshin lunged, but the blue haired Arrancar who had nearly beaten his son to a true death blocked him. What Isshin couldn't understand was why he couldn't sense either of them.

"What cha think Grim-Kitty, should we let them live?" Shiro asked, shifting his head so Isshin and Kisuke could see the glint of a gold circlet. Kisuke gasped recognizing him for who he was.

"Shirosaki of the Crimson Sands. King of all Hollows."

"I remember you. Almost lost a horn that day, I think I should return the favor."

Isshin blinked and Kisuke was falling backwards, a slash from his hip to shoulder, not exactly life threating one yet.

"Oops. Swung a little too hard." He shifted Ichigo a little in his hold, as he fell back into the garganta. "Remember pops, yer only alive because I decided to spare yer insignificant lives."

Then the two Arrancars and his son was gone. He had failed again. He had failed them all again.

"Masaki, what should I do?" He whispered as he got to work on stopping Kisuke's bleeding. "I didn't even see him move."

III

I am not satisfied with that last scene, but I'm too pissed to care at this point. I had this chapter one scene from complete and the whole thing got erased when the school computer timed out while I was finishing up. I have never been so enraged.

Oh as for Shiro. I hope this chapter explains his thought process a little better, and his treatment of Ichigo, I didn't realize I was making him such a… well I really don't have a word for him. But hopefully this chapter should fix that, and hopefully show some character development. I hope. God I'm tired. It's dead week. I hate dead week, it all work and no play and…

Ichigo: Shut the hell up you're starting to ramble….

Noriykoi: O_O! oops. Sorry. It's just its dead week, and exams then three weeks without a computer or Internet. So yeah it might be a while before I update Hollow Affections. Sorry. I'll try to get Chapter nine up before the break, at the very least.