AN: I'm so sorry that I couldn't get to this earlier
AN: I'm so sorry that I couldn't get to this earlier. But I decided to be dumb and mess up my arm twice with only a week's space in between injuries
Blackpelt: You're just clumsy.
Kyuubi: Watch yourself. Just do the Disclaimer.
Blackpelt: Whatever.
Disclaimer: Kyuubi owns nothing. No Bleach characters or anything. She does however own the plot of this story and any characters that do not appear in the manga
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The figure stopped his joyful laughter several minutes later but retained his amused smile. That had been too easy! He snorted softly and returned his attention to the situation at hand, finding that stupid building! The wolf ears atop his head swiveled, searching for a hint of any more pursuers that dare chase him after his little performance on the roof top. He hunched back onto his four legs and kicked some speed into his running. His tail streamed out behind him, a sort of sensor that could alert him to an attack from behind. He observed the buildings as they passed under and around him, looking for the painted "one" that would end his journey. Running was the best way to think for him and the past two hours of running from his home in the between realm to his destination had done wonders for his fogged mind.
Three days. He would stay no more than three days. He'd visit his family's graves, grab supplies from roukongai and get out of there faster than you could say zanpakutou. He's probably stay with Takoyo at his place. Maybe earn some money by working on Takoyo's farm. He always enjoyed that. The sound of several people gathered in one area drew his attention back to the world around him. He skidded to a stop on the roof and carefully masked his reiatsu, his emerald eyes shining with the tethered power. He crept forward quietly and pressed his ear to the glass panel that covered the meeting area meeting beneath him. Voices drifted up to him softly and he was immediately interested in what they were saying. Unfortunately, he caught the closing end of the discussion. " So keep watch for any person with strange reiatsu that was not here before." An old voice spoke with authority, daring anyone to defy him. He heard a chorus of "Yes Sir!" and he removed himself from the area to hide in the shadows. The figures filed out of the meeting hall one by one, the light of the hall casting long gloomy shadows on the ground. He sat for a few more moments, only until he was sure they were all gone. Making his move, he jumped off the roof and crept silently into the meeting hall where the object of his search sat.
"Nice to see you again." An old voice intoned behind him. His head whipped around so fast his neck gave a sickening crack. As he sat nursing his neck, he managed to grind out between clenched teeth, "And you, old man." He focused some of his reiatsu in the hand that cradled his neck and a soft green glow enveloped the area of his neck. There was a soft hiss and the skin on his neck squirmed under his hand. "Great job old man, you made me tear a muscle!" He exclaimed. The soft green glow continued its work and the old man stood watching with an amused grin as the younger shinigami sat his tail swishing angrily as his face contorted from pain to one of relief. The older man decided to interrupt their little silence and get to the bottom of why the younger shinigami was there. "So….. what brings you here?" he questioned. The Young man looked up sullenly and glared balefully at the old man. "I'm here…." He began, testily, "So I don't get arrested while I'm here visiting my family. I would have come during the meeting, but that would have caused mass commotion as to why a notorious criminal from forty years ago has been visiting here for the past thirty-five years. And you know me, I like to stay under the radar." He added at the end, his emerald eyes sparking hotly with a defiant fire. The old man looked solemnly at the young half-breed and observed his features. He was six feet tall with broad shoulders, and, from what he could see from the open shirt, he was not ripped, but he was not baby fat and neglect. A rare attribute that blessed few people.
A mess of spiky black hair sat upon his head, sticking out in soft, unruly spikes. Emerald eyes glared at anyone who dare challenge him. His most astonishing feature however, was the white wolf ears and tail that stood out against his dark clothing. Snow in the night some might say to this striking color pattern but the old man had a feeling that the wolf would not take kindly to being compared to art. He considered the wolf's request and stared at him questioningly. "You've never asked for protection before…why now?" he asked softly. The wolf's head snapped around madly, not as harshly as before, but enough to cause a small twinge of discomfort in the nape of his neck. " Do you think I'm dumb?!" He questioned hotly. The old man felt a wave of surprise, but did not let it show. "You must think I haven't been payin' any attention. I know exactly what happened. I've had to deal with more than my fair share of hollows in the between realm lately. They kept getting stronger and stronger and I was wondering what in Fenrir's name you guys were doing. So I headed to Hueco Mundo to take a look around and what do I see?" He ranted on, glaring vehenematley at the old man. "Almost twenty Vasto Lorde and three, count 'em three, deflected captains. What have you idiots been doing?" By now most people's voices would have risen in volume, yet, Shiro-arare was managing to keep his voice quiet but a flame of anger illuminated his eyes brightly and a snarl marred his face giving him an almost feral look. " Relax, we are working on solving that particular situation currently." The older man spoke calmly, trying to sooth the other's rage. "Yeah, well, you can't tell." He spat sarcastically, though his anger was slowly subsiding . Another silence drifted between the two men, interrupted by nothing. "So, do I have your support?" The question hung in the air for several minutes before the Sou-taichou nodded his head. Finally Shiro-arare stood, sighed and turned and moved to leave.
"You know, old man, I never got to thank you for savin' m-" Shiro's sentence was cut short by the other man breaking in gruffly. "Never mind that. You very well earned what I did for you forty years ago. No questions asked." Shiro lowered his head and just barely hid the smirk that slid across his tan feature. "Good bye, old man. I'll be gone in three days, no worries." And with that statement hanging the air Shiro launched himself onto all fours and sprang out the open doorway into the cold, starry night. Sou-taichou watched from his place at the end of the large hallway, shaking his head sagely. "Oh, how we could use your strength right now, Shiro-arare."
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Shiro-arare ran onward over the rooftops, not bothering to look around him as he ran. Rukongai was his next stop, to see if Takoyo would allow him to stay and work on the farm for a couple of days. Takoyo never had a problem with it before but with all the hell-raising the Vasto Lorde and deflected captains must be causing, he would probably be extra cautious, even to his own best friend. But how could Shiro blame him? He was never around, so no one could keep tabs on him or check up on him. He only came around once a year and even then it was only for a short amount of time. Hell! For all they know he could've joined the enemy side and be spying for them and no one would know!! 'I need to stop being so anti-social.' He thought to himself glumly, sweat-dropping. He sprung along easily ignoring the approaching smell of rain on the wind and clouds that came from the west. The smell of freshly turned soil and several types of animals filled his nose as he approached a large white building with gray fences.
The sun was just peeking over the horizon as he heard the loud crow of several rosters reach his ears. He kicked speed into his running and in no time he was waiting at the front door, hesitating slightly with his fist waiting half way in the air. Gathering his courage, he knocked on the solid oak door, the sound resounding in the silent clearing. He heard several loud crashes from inside following a long string of colorful curses laced with a heavy southern accent. "I'm comin' ya' incompetent moron!!" His shout echoed again in the clearing, the southern accent making him sound more pissed than Shiro thought he would be. His ears pinned themselves subconsciously to his head, shame making his face burn red. The solid oak door slammed open in front of his face, making him yelp in surprise. "The hell ya' want, numbskull!!" A man with short blonde hair of average height stepped into Shiro's sight line. The man's shoulders were hunched with sleep and anger.
Bright blue eyes looked up with unfettered annoyance, snarl marring his face. Above the silent duo, lightning cracked and thunder grumbled angrily above them the storm about to break. Realization dawned on the older man's face and he made a surprised noise in the back of his throat. "SHIRO!? The HELL are you doing here!?" He yelled. Shiro's ears pinned themselves harder to his head and his eyes took on a kicked puppy look, tail tucking itself firmly between his legs. He didn't like getting yelled at…. It brought back too many bad memories. "I'm sorry." He whispered softly to the older man. Behind him lightning cracked again and rain began to pour from the heavens. "I'm sorry, Takoyo." He murmured sadly. Takoyo made a questioning noise in his throat again as he looked up at the young half breed. He was at least seventy years old whereas he looked like he was a wet behind the ears thirteen year old. Takoyo knew Shiro's past and how he didn't take well to being yelled at or struck. He calmed himself and lowered his voice to a soft breezy tone. "The hell are you sorry for?" he questioned softly. Shiro turned his sad emerald eyes to look woefully at the other man. "I didn't mean to make you mad. I didn't mean to disturb. I'm sorry." He murmured sadly, bowing his head. Takoyo shook his head and snorted softly. Why did Shiro have a way of always blaming himself for everything? And he wasn't kidding. He blamed himself for everything.
Takoyo snorted gruffly, shaking his head wearily as he reached up and encircled his arms around Shiro's shoulders, pulling him down for a tight hug. "The hell are you sorry for?" He repeated. "I had to get up any way, so there was no way in hell this was your fault. Okay?" He felt Shiro nod from where his head rested on Takoyo's shoulder and the tension left his body like a rush. The wind blew in violently from where they stood and Shiro's tail fur rose from the amount of cold air and rain mixed with it. "Come on. Lets get in side before we catch cold, okay?" Shiro nodded and followed him inside the large house. A fire was crackling in the hearth in no time and both men were seated in comfortable arm chairs. "So..I take it you'll be heading to the cemetery today?" Shiro nodded his head mournfully and stared out the window into the howling gale.
"Your clothes are still upstairs in your room if you need them. I take it that that's Fenrir on your back?" He asked in question. Shiro nodded and unhooked the black and red serrated strap from his chest. The sheath was a midnight black with blood red wisps dancing about the entire length of the beautiful plated steel sheath. The handle was a most gorgeous sight, a stunning black wolf head stood out nicely against the white wrapped handle and the black star shaped guard only added to the beauty of the weapon. Takoyo let a whistle escape as he turned the sword around in his hand. The beauty and sheer power of the sword never ceased to amaze him.
"Watch that while I'm gone please." Takoyo nodded his head and watched as the hybrid moved toward the door, rain or no he always left on January eighteenth, no ifs ands or big or little buts about it. Thank god he lived on the warmer side of Rukongai. He watched as Shiro sprang from the door, kicking it closed behind him and out to the fields, rain soaking him right away. Takoyo shook his head sadly and stared down mournfully at the sword.
" Tha' poor kid has ta' carry 'round such a curse."