Mama Ichi
(A/N) Okay, sorry I haven't updated in a while. I'm hoping to get a lot more on here today. (I'm very lazy...)
Chapter 3
Ichigo growled in frustration. He was at his wits end. In addition to his lack of sleep and food, Grimmjow and Gin had started a game of tug-of-war, with Ulquiorra as the rope. Nel and Harribel were holding Nnoitra down while Syazel and Sunsun did his hair, and Apache and Mila Rose were whispering suspiciously while eyeing a very nervous Tesla.
Running his hand over his face, he sighed. Shaking it off, he started giving out orders. "Nel, Hal, let Nnoi up. Sy, Sun, he looks fine. 'Pache, Rose, whatever you're planning you might as well give up. Tesla, go stand by Nnoi just in case."
As Tesla complied quickly, Ichigo rescued poor little Ulquiorra from Grimmjow and Gin. Scooping him up and balancing him on his hip, he said, "If you two keep pulling on his arms, you're going to hurt him. And then Ulqui and Sy get to choose what you wear for the next month."
Yldfordt snickered and moved closer to his pink-haired brother to whisper in his ear, no doubt promising humiliation for Grimmjow and Gin.
Ichigo took a short glance around the condemned apartment they were staying in for the time being, then set Ulquiorra down beside Stark, who was bouncing Lilynette in his lap. "I'm going to get some dinner, okay?"
Stark nodded. "Be careful."
"Yeah..." mumbled Ichigo as he headed out.
He glanced around casually, looking for anyone who could be a Soul Reaper. Alright, I'd better go now, while the coast is clear.
Slipping down the alleyway silently, he stayed alert, struggling to find even a hint or reiatsu from his pursuers. Taking a deep breath, he bolted down the street, around the corner, and sprinted three blocks straight before slowing to a walk. He still wasn't used to the way American's built their towns. It was weird, and kind of random. Hurrying past shop windows, he moved just slow enough to check the reflections for anyone suspicious. Paranoia was a life saver.
He slipped into a small grocery store, away from the low-ranking Reaper he'd spotted on the roof across the street. Prayinghe hadn't been noticed, he pulled all of his reiatsu inside, carefully sealing it off from anyone who might sense it. He browsed casually, stopping here and there to admire something, eventually grabbing a basket. He grabbed non-perishables, beef jerky, canned ravioli, canned pears, a large jug of apple juice(the kids loved it, it was safer than tap water, and he could reuse the jug), and a box of crackers. Checking out, he flinched slightly at the price before handing over the cash. He worked the occasional odd job, but it wasn't enough. With a polite goodbye and a slight wave of the hand, Ichigo left the store, walking back towards their den. What is with me? Cubs? Den? This is getting so weird, he thought. He yawned slightly and tried to pick up the pace a bit.
Tired as he was, he barely managed to dodge the sudden sword-swing. "Kuso!" he snapped, taking off, the Soul Reaper in close pursuit. He ducked down an alley only to run into a dead end. No badge, he thought franticly. He dropped the bag of groceries to the ground and dove towards the Soul Reaper, determined to cause some major damage. He punched the brute right in the face dropping him instantly, but wasn't expecting the powerful kick to his side. He slammed into the wall backwards, coughing up a bit of blood before leaping out of the way of the second Reaper's sword. Swearing, he rolled to the side again.
"Stop moving, traitor!" the Reaper barked, swinging again.
"Not on your afterlife!" the orangette retorted defiantly.
A loud thud echoed throughout the alley. Ichigo struggled to breath, a third Reaper's kick having hit him right in the gut. Blood soaked his hair, trickling down into his eye from where his head had collided with the bricks. He staggered to his feet, vision blurring. The second Soul Reaper came at him again, but was left groaning in pain on the cold pavement.
Ichigo grinned viciously at his victim, eyes jerking wide open when he was slammed into the wall by his throat. He struggled weakly, clawing at the hands around his neck, spots beginning to blur his vision.
King!
A far-off sounding cry nudged his conciousness slightly, but he was to tired to comprehend it. His struggling grew weaker.
King!
The voice was more insistent now, but Ichigo slowly went limp, slipping into darkness. The last thing he saw before losing conciousness was a flash of white.