Read, as part of it is relevant to you. My wonderful fans, I am so, so sorry, both for the lack of updates and the timeskip. Hope you enjoy this, I'm leaving for a vacation soon so updates probably won't happen for a while. Don't worry, it won't be too long, and I finally got my room clean and my fanfictions organized (After I found them all.) I hope to update more often. Again, I'm sorry! Please don't kill me! Does anyone want an explanation of why Stark and Lilynette are different? I can't remember if someone asked me about that or if I'm hallucinating. Oh! Unless there is a large demand otherwise, Ichigo will be paired with an OC. In this story, he and Shiro are like brothers. I'm still building him, so bear with me, and give me ideas about how to make him. Names are important. Twins Stick Together hasn't been updated because I can't find a good name for the OC I'll end up pairing with Ichigo. HELP ME, IN THE NAME OF ALL THINGS HOLY AND FAN CREATED! Also! This is a pretty big update!
Chapter 5
Ichigo collapsed onto the sleeping bag. He, Shiro, and the brood had masked their reiatsu and he had booked a decent room for the night.
So much for college, he thought, annoyed.
He lay still for a moment before struggling to sit up. Stark caught his shoulder and pushed him back down. "Rest. I've got it."
"But-"
"No complaints, Ichigo. You're no use to us if you're exhausted."
"He's right ya know,"asserted Shiro.
Ichigo's inner hollow had decided to manifest permanently to protect his king better. When Ichigo's health had started to decline, Shiro had ended up taking the lead position of the pack. His desperate and instinctual devotion to caring for his cubs and the need to fight off Soul Reapers was hard on his body, especially since he was in his human form all of the time. It helped conceal his reiatsu, as did the children's gigais, a parting gift from Urahara. Both Ichigo and Shiro still retained their full range of abilities, both drawing from a joint well of spirit energy. Ichigo was a beta, but had no alpha to help him shoulder his burdens. The mindset of an unmarked beta was somewhat fragile, the beta unconciously seeking an alpha and suffering from the lack of attention. Ichigo was more independent than most, but was still barely scraping by with the kids. They stole, dumpster-dived, and in extreme circumstances, used the money from Ichigo's bank account for supplies. They tried to work odd jobs for the spare handful of cash, but they had to keep moving to avoid a confrontation with the soul reapers.
Yamamoto had been unwavering in his resolve to "Cleanse the Earth of Hollow scum", despite how upset about it most of the captain's were. Central 46 had been re-established, adding to the problem. They, too, were against the survival of the Arrancar.
Shiro sighed and walked to the phone, dialing room service and ordering a ridiculous amount of food. It wasn't like they would be there to pay for it later anyway, so why not eat while they could?
While he waited, he pondered the possibility of Ichigo finding a mate in Hueco Mundo during the next season, only a week or two from now. It would definitely be dangerous, and some alphas wouldn't take in betas with cubs, but Ichigo was incredibly powerful and had a sort of ethereal beauty. He was considered quite the catch to any hollow alpha, and would probably be doted upon, even as just a member of the pack instead of a mate. Betas and cubs were one of the most important members of any hollow pack, as surviving cubs were hard to come by and betas strong enough to defend themselves and their litters were rare and prized.
Turning back to the task at hand, Shiro took the cart of food and ushered the deliverer out. The kids scrambled from their hiding places and went after the food, tearing into it enthusiastically. Grimmjow, an alpha, was hand-feeding tiny Ulquiorra, who lacked the same aggressiveness as the other due to his beta status. Ylfordt, with his cornsilk hair and feminine looks, was definitely a beta, and, as Grimmjow's former fraccion, he was very close to him. Gin completed the group, smirking terrifyingly as he slipped a few sauce packets into his sleeve. That one had no sense of self-preservation, really. Hallibel, while female, was still an alpha and the keeper to Nel, Sunsun, Mila Rose, and Apache, who were all betas. The girls giggled and talked as they ate. Nnoitra, usually a bully, had developed a soft spot for the betas Tesla and Syazel. Stark had somehow remained a teenager instead of a child, and Lilynette had become a baby.
Shiro, noticing the sauce packets disappearance, grinned hugely. That kid was his favorite. They pranked pretty much everyone else, but Ichigo was off-limits. He couldn't cope with that kind of surprise. He'd probably destroy a building. Or several.
He filled a plate with food. Setting it on the nightstand, he gently shook his more colorful 'twin' awake.
"Shi?" he murmured sleepily.
"Dinner time aibou," Shiro explained.
"Not hungry," Ichigo mumbled.
"Ya need ta eat somethin'," argued Shiro. "Yer gonna get sick."
Ichigo sighed and relented as Shiro getly helped him up into a sitting position.
Shiro frowned. Aibou's kinda light.
Ichigo blinked blearily, opening his mouth to speak, and let out an indignant (but manly) squeak when Shiro popped a riceball into his mouth. Wait, we're in America, so why is there Japanese food? He chewed and swallowed quickly, opening his mouth again to ask Shiro, only to have some kind of American food that tasted like potatoes stuffed in his mouth. Growling around his food, he resigned himself to the coddling.
It wasn't unusual for Shiro to hand feed him, sometimes even the cubs did it. It had begun with a particularly nasty shoulder wound, and quickly became a practice. Shiro smirked evilly, Ichigo shuddering in fear. That look never meant anything good. Shiro was actually planning to have one of the kids off Ichigo a rat or a cockroach. What a reaction that would get!
Gin noticed his pleased smirk, smile widening as he faded into the background.
After they'd eaten their fill, Ichigo decided to take advantage of the running water in the facility.
"Alright," he started. "Kids in the bath. I'll get your pajamas. When you're done, wash your dirty clothes in the sink."
He walked back to the other end of the room, grabbing an armload of tiny clothes before heading back at Stark's distressed cries. The kids had revolted, outnumbering and surrounding Stark before trying to stuff him into the bath.
Laughing, Ichigo intervened. "Okay guys, knock it off or I'll cause you bodily harm."
Stark and Shiro froze in fear. Despite knowing Ichigo would never do that to the kids, the orangette never ceased to strike fear into their hearts.
The cubs (except the stoic Harribel, sleeping Lilynette, and silent Ulquiorra) all snickered at their poor "Uncle Shi's" expression before turning back to their 'mother'.
Nel, (older than in the anime, with longer hair, probably 5,6 years old) piped up. "I don' wanna bathe with the boys!"
Ichigo facepalmed inwardly. He'd forgotten about that. "Okay, girls bathe first. Boys, out!"
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nnoitra slink out happily. "Nnoitra Jiruga, so help me, if I catch you peeping at the girls again I will let Ulquiorra dress you for a week."
Nnoitra paled with fear, hurtling out into the far end of the bedroom and facing the wall. Everyone knew how bad the tiny arrancar's fashion choices were. He was only 3. And currently wearing rainbow unicorn pajama bottoms, a batman pajama T-shirt, an extra pair of rocketship underwear on the outside, and a rather interesting technicolor beanie. And fuzzy rainbow-striped socks. (What an amazing mental image...)
After the kids had bathed, Ichigo managed to get them all to bed. Shiro and Stark watched in awe as he rounded up the little monsters.
"I will never understand how he does that," commented Stark, bouncing Lilynette on his lap.
"Me neither," agreed Shiro. Snickering, he changed tactics. "Ichi's a mommy!~"
"Never forget I took down half the Gotei 13."
"Yes, Ichi," Shiro pouted.
Stark stood up, weaving his way across the room before collapsing backwards into a heap of bedding.
Ichigo yawned. "I'm ready for bed too."
"No yer not, not yet," contradicted Shiro.
"Huh?"
"Ya need ta take a bath," clarified Shiro. "Ya don't exactly smell like roses."
"Smell better than you," muttered the orangette. "I'll just show-" he stopped halfway through, yawning again.
"Looks like ya need some help," offered Shiro.
Ichigo nodded, stumbling over to the bathroom. Shiro started the water, and the two undressed before hopping in, Ichigo barely awake. Bathing together was also common. Ichigo was generally too tired to do much, so Shiro ended up helping him a lot.
Shiro stopped Ichigo, who was groping for the ridiculously slippery bottle of shampoo and cursing generously. "Ah'll do it, Aibou," he whispered.
Ichigo leaned back against him as he lathered his Strawberry counterpart's hair with soap. Ichigo turned slightly, beginning to return the favor. Looking up, he saw Shiro scowling.
Those lousy Soul Reapers jus' threw 'im out, no one even tried ta help him after the order 'cept Hat'n'Clogs. Stupid gits. Ah'll make sure ta break some more houses next time ah'm in Soul Society.
"Shiro?"Ichigo's timid voice startled him from his rapidly darkening thoughts. "You're scowling," he explained, setting his fingers against pale lips.
His mouth twitched up a little. Ichigo was watching him curiously, amber eyes shining luminously in the darkened shower and taking on a decidedly ochre tint, head tilted to one side in a purely feline fashion.
Shiro chuckled.
"What?"
"Yer cute when yer worried, King. Yer nose gets all scrunched up.'
Ichigo blushed and swatted at him. "Am not!" he huffed.
"But ya are, Kingy," insisted Shiro playfully. Ichigo scowled jokingly at him.
The hot water felt fantastic to the both of them, but they were too tired to linger long. Getting out, they dried off and dressed, Shiro mumbling irritably as he scrubbed a towel over Ichigo's head, blinding him momentarily as he dried to get his hair dry.
Ichigo lead the way back to the bed, crawling beneath the covers, Shiro close on his heels. Wrapping his arms protectively around Ichigo, he tucked the smaller male's head under his chin, pulling him close. The last thought that ran through his head was, Wonder what 'is friends faces would look like if they knew he was a cuddler?