Ch 13
The screeching sound of grinding metal echoed between the old stone walls of Zaraki's castle as his ragged and beat up katana slid across Ichigo's chosen weapon. Ichigo was wielding a curious type of European sword which much resembled those that the noble knights of royalty would use, just much broader and heavier. On the sidelines Ayasegawa and Madarame wondered why on earth the slender and lithe built youngster would choose such a heavy and nearly un-wieldable sword like that.
When Ichigo had walked through the large weaponry his eyes had strayed from the many traditional Japanese Katana to land on that particular sword. Out of pure curiosity he had picked the sword up and had felt its heavy weight as he tried a few swings. Ichigo had fallen for the blade immediately, though difficult to wield without training he quickly saw its potential for doing great damage once he mastered it.
Now the blade was clashing heavily against Zaraki's unusually long and lighter Katana. Zaraki's blade was beautiful in Ichigo's mind. The way the sword edge was ragged made it seem like the blade had been through endless of battles, and the hilt which was wrapped with bandages intrigued him. Its guard which seemed like a 3dimensional star painted rust golden caught the light in a beautiful way, and Ichigo thought it fit the huge brute sparring against him perfectly.
Then there was that steady thrum of power and presence coming out of the blade in rapid waves each time his borrowed one clashed with it, Ichigo doubted that the man even knew what he really had in his hand. It lied in Ichigo's genes, the ability to know a spiritual sword from a normal one. After all his original clan were the guardians and wielders of those magnificent swords, and somewhere in Aizen's castle his own Mugetsu laid waiting for him to return.
Ichigo grinned as he and Zaraki broke apart and put some distance between them. The brute's skin was incredibly tough and thick and up until just recently Ichigo had not managed to cut through and wound the man. But about 2 minutes ago Ichigo had finally found the right pressure to lie on his blade when striking, and within those 2 minutes his speed had allowed him to leave the man in roughly the same condition he himself was in. Zaraki cracked his neck and flexed his torso a bit before tilting his head back to laugh loudly.
"Thanks Ichigo, this is great. I haven't had this much fun in ages!" He roared and Ichigo grinned back at him.
"I could say the same to you, being holed up in a mansion treated like a rare jewel I haven't been allowed much fun for a while," Ichigo snarled with a wide grin before lunging forward at the brute tossing his blade carelessly to the ground.
On the sideline Madarame and Ayasegawa's jaws hit the floor as Ichigo veered mid-air to his anthromophorbic form, deadly hooked talons growing from his nails, a long slender tale allowing his balance to stay perfect as it guided him through the air. Ichigo's round ears were perked forward and his muscles rippled as he bared his sharp fangs, landing on the brute's wide chest and digging his claws into the skin latching on. Ichigo snarled right into the man's face before kicking off in a backflip turning his palms upside down to allow his claws to rake up the man's torso. Zaraki grunted before eyeing Ichigo with a wicked grin tearing up his face.
"Hell yeah!" he growled before his own tail and ears sprout out, although he couldn't veer into an anthromophorbic state like Ichigo.
Only the breeds closest to the great animal and human spirits were gifted with such ability and the form held great powers. Ichigo had only discovered his about 4 years ago, and it took him 3 to fully master and draw out the forms potential.
"A bison? Well that's surprising!" Ichigo said, thrilled to finally meet a bison hybrid.
They were rare in Japan seeing as the mammal originated in the western part of the world. Ichigo grinned as those large and incredibly deadly horns grew from the brute's head and leapt at him. Snarls, yowls, grunts and roars shook the castle for a good hour more as claws shredded flesh and horns pierced skin. Finally both of them fell to the ground and returned to their human selves, their chests heaving as they panted heavily.
"Man that was so much fun!" Ichigo grinned before falling backwards to flop out on the floor with a satisfied sigh.
"Ya took the words right outta my mouth kid!" Zaraki grouseed before doing the same as the kid as they caught their breaths.
Ayasegawa nudged Madarame in the shoulder and winked, pointing his thumb behind them as a signal to leave and they quietly left the two combatants inside the large reception room.
"So will you listen to King Jaegerjaquez request now?" Ichigo finally rasped out.
"Ya earned it kid, spill it," Zaraki chukled.
"His majesty King Jeagerjaquez the 6th requests your assistance in an upcoming war against the gathered forces of the previous Feudal Lord of the East and his ally King Barragan of Hueco Mundo," Ichigo formally declared.
"A war kah?" Zaraki grunted. "Sounds good, my men haven't had much to do in ages. There's practically no one whom dares to stir up trouble in town anymore," Zaraki groused. "Fine, I'll lend you a hand. When will you be advancing?" Zaraki asked.
"As soon as possible, hopefully in 3 to 4 days," Ichigo explained.
"Sounds good, stay the night and I'll accompany you to Seiretei along with my men," Zaraki said.
"That sounds like a plan, now there's one more small favor I'd like to ask of you," Ichigo said.
"And?" Zaraki pushed.
"I would like to take a look at that Katana of yours, if you don't mind that is?" Ichigo questioned.
"Sure, I don't see why not," Zaraki said and bent up into a sitting position handing Ichigo the ragged blade.
Ichigo grasped the hilt gently and studied the blade closely, holding it up against the light and admiring how perfectly it was forged. The ragged edge seemed to have been made on purpose as it was just as sharp as any unharmed Katana would be. Ichigo ran his fingers down the blade in a gentle caress and his eyes widened as the blade responded to his touch eagerly.
Zaraki watched as the young man studied every aspect of his blade and even did a few swings it and he curiously studied the quite attractive male in front of him licking his lips at the arousing sight of torn clothes and battered skin, he wouldn't mind bedding the cheetah once.
Ichigo didn't notice the hungry eyes laid upon him as he slid his own shut concentrating on the blade in his hands. He focused on visualizing his reiatsu and a steady blue glow hugged his being as he concentrated it in his hand, pulsing it against the sword delighted to find the sword responding. Oddly enough the sword told him it had no name and Ichigo opened his eyes to see a steady yellow glow shroud the ragged blade and smiled gently.
"Such an amazing Zanpakuto," Ichigo whispered sliding his fingers down the blade once more.
The blade oozed of power and brute force and Ichigo loved it. Just then he caught Zaraki's baffled gaze and stiffened just a bit as he realized he had just revealed something that the great soul king had told him should never be shown to anyone not of proper lineage.
"What the heck were ya doin kid?" Zaraki asked and was shocked to find himself quickly pinned by a snarling Ichigo.
Ichigo's eyes glowed yellow as he with ease restrained the brute beneath him as he raised his reaitsu, the air becoming heavy and crushing as he stared into the green eye of the man beneath him. Ichigo pulsed his reaitsu into the man steadily and searched for any trace of reaitsu the man might have within him. After going deep his reaitsu got a response much to his surprise and he released the brute with a relieved sigh.
"Luck smiles upon me today. You are of an acceptable lineage," Ichigo declared. "For a moment there I thought the Senkaimon would open and the Soul King would have my head for showing you what I just did!" Ichigo said with a relieved laugh.
"Senkaimon, Soul King? Just what the hell are you babbling about kid?" Zaraki demanded. Ichigo sighed loudly, his shoulders dropping before he looked at the brute.
"It's a long story, but I'll tell you," Ichigo declared.
"Everyone knows the myth saying that in distant countries there are still humans whom have not joined with the animals, and there are animals that have not joined with humans," Ichigo began. "The myth is not so, it is a true story. Millennia's ago the human population and the animal population made a deal to unite their souls so that they could overcome the awaiting threat that lurked in the shadows at the time. That is the origin of you and me, human and animal hybrids as we are," Ichigo continued.
"The Soul King descended upon his creations and sealed the deal, merging our souls with those of the animals. Whilst doing so he chose a selection of lineages to protect the pact and bestowed them with great powers. I am of the ancient Shiba clan and our lineage was one of those given the responsibility to guard the pact," Ichigo said and took a short break.
"The sword I hold in my hand," Ichigo said and pointed at Zaraki's Katana which still laid in his grasp "is what we call a Zanpakuto. A spiritual type of sword bestowed upon us as a tool of maintaining the pact between humans andanimals by the Soul King," Ichigo said.
"Yours is the famous nameless Zanpakuto, one of the strongest the Soul King bestowed upon his guardians," Ichigo continued. "Myself I have a Zanpakuto, but it lies within Sosuke Aizen's mansion as he stole it when he annihilated my clan when I was six," Ichigo said the last part ending up in a growl.
"My mom was of the great winged clan, the rare joining of eagle and human, but she was killed by Sosuke when he raided our grounds. I, my father and my twin sisters were the only survivors until just recently when I found my own twin brother alive and well as he ironically tried to kill me. Last time we parted I was sure I had killed him," Ichigo said.
"My family and I ended up on the streets in a small town called Karakura and we lived there until just a couple of months ago. Dad and the eldest of my twin sisters went to work for Lord Kuchiki, and were gone for 5 years. The youngest of my sisters Yuzu fell ill with an incurable fever when we lived a life as poor people, and about 6 years ago I took in a slave whom escaped his master and he became part of our little family. He helped care for Yuzu while I worked at a nearby farm, but one day I got attacked by Hyena's, but then Toshiro tried to help and was taken hostage," Ichigo finished and took a long break.
"My lineage has very thick blood and my blood as an individual is even stronger due to the successful mating of two breeds that should not have been able to create offspring. I have a strong blood lust and if provoked enough I may lose control and give into my animalistic heritage completely, and should it happen during battle I would not have been able to distinguish between enemy and foe," Ichigo explained.
"By coincidence his majesty was out on a patrol and came to my rescue as he bit my jugular. He is of a stronger breed and his saliva can momentarily paralyze me," Ichigo explained. "His majesty and his solider killed 2 of the remaining Hyena's and the last one fled. Sadly the latter gathered his friends and fate would make it so that I fainted at work due to a damage I received in the previous battle. His majesty had come to check on me and found me in the field and brought me to Seiretei. When I woke I rushed back home only to find my house on fire and Yuzu not breathing, while Toshiro was barely alive and heavily injured. I killed both of the Hyena's that were inside and successfully revived my sister. Both her and Toshiro made a full recovery, but my little sister died not long after from her illness, my dad and her twin got to say goodbye at least as they came to the mansion with me after I delivered his majesty's order of assassination to Lord Kuchiki," Ichigo continued.
"Since then I have stayed at the mansion and I worked my way up and became his majesty's personal assistant," Ichigo ended. "Usually I am not allowed to tell anyone this, but since you have reiatsu you're qualified to be a guardian of the pact," Ichigo explained.
"Ok, I think I get everything you just said but what is reaitsu?" Zaraki asked.
"Reaitsu is a sort of spiritual power residing within your body. With proper training you will be able to control it and release and use it at your own will. It can be a huge advantage in battles seeing as when you use it your physical powers are amplified, and if you have a Zanpakuto your reiatsu can activate it. When a guardian and a Zanpakuto work together their power is incredible, and each Zanpakuto has their own unique ability," Ichigo explained.
"Your sword is a spiritual one, and we like to call them Zanpakuto. It has no name but I can sense its powers are great. If you would let someone at the mansion train you in reiatsu you and your Zanpakuto would be a formidable opponent," Ichigo ended.
"You refer to my sword as if it was a person, why is that?" Zaraki asked.
"Why indeed. Zanpakuto are swords with souls of fallen warriors inside, yours is a formidable one. It is the nameless Zanpakuto, it hosts the spirit of an ancient outlaw samurai whom held no name," Ichigo explained. "Are you willing to train so that you can partner up with your sword? As the heir to the Shiba clan it is my duty to inform you of your potential and to try and recruit you as a guardian," Ichigo spoke.
"It sounds like fun; I'll take you up on that. It'll be interesting to see what this baby can do!" Zaraki cackled which made Ichigo smile.
"Then it is settled, if you wouldn't mind I'd like to retire for the evening," Ichigo declared.
He turned around to pick up the blade he had discarded and sheathed it behind his back before heading for the door. When he grasped the handle he gave of a rather unmanly squeal as rough arms locked around him from behind and a strong masculine smell filled his nose. It turned him on immediately as the smell was full of pheromones and he leant back into the touch.
Ichigo's thick blood made him more instinctual than most and when a strong and willing partner presented himself to him it was hard to resist. Though of course Ichigo had the power to turn away if he did not like the person, he was not one to bed the strongest partner available.
"Accompany me in my quarters?" Zaraki asked as he noticed the young man was releasing his own pheromones in response to his request.
"Hmmmm…What are you implying Zaraki?" Ichigo purred out teasingly moaning a tiny bit when Zaraki nuzzled the crook of his neck.
"A night you will never forget," he growled in response and a pleasant tingle went down Ichigo's spine at the promises beneath those words.
Though Ichigo did love Toshiro, Grimmjow and Starrk very much cheetah's weren't loyal to a single mate by nature, and his animal side was so much stronger than theirs. There was no way he could feel guilt for bedding the beast currently holding him; it was simply part of his nature.
At the thought of Toshiro though, Ichigo's heart clenched painfully. He knew he had neglected his beautiful little caracal mate and he made a mental note to pay extra attention to the albino when he got back.
"Hnnn…I'm not impressed just yet," Ichigo teased pressing back into the warm embrace squealing when Zaraki lifted him up bridal style and carried him up a spiral staircase belonging to the largest tower of the impressive castle.
Zaraki kicked open the heavy oak door to his room and carelessly dropped Ichigo onto the sheets immediately crawling atop of him, his intimidating frame casting dark shadows over Ichigo's body in the dim light. Ichigo purred and moaned wantonly when their lips joined and he felt a surge of power entering him from the brute that subconsciously leaked some of his reaitsu.
Ichigo growled to entice him, and minutes later the tower walls echoed with wanton cries, lustful moans and cries of pleasure as Ichigo rode the proud bison, the latter driving the cheetah insane with his power and they would soon fall asleep in each other's arms, ready to set out on a short journey to Seiretei the following day.
~~~~BMBD~~~~
Ichigo and company rode up to the mansion walls and Ichigo smiled at the familiar gate guards.
"Open up, I've brought Zaraki Kenpachi and company," Ichigo announced. He smiled as the large gates slowly slid open and beckoned for everyone behind him to follow as he guided them through the courtyard belonging to the estate.
"You can leave your horses at the spare stables, there should be enough space for all of them," Ichigo said before drawing his breath.
"Luppi!" he shouted and was highly annoyed when the tiny and intolerable man took his sweet time aiding his call. He impatiently tapped his foot on the stone floor when the feminine man finally arrived.
"Luppi, gather your subordinates and make sure to care for Zaraki and his company's horses. I want them fed, cleaned and taken care off, dismissed!" Ichigo barked and smirked when the man did as he was told quickly as the intimidating shadow of Zaraki appeared behind him.
"God I hate that man," Ichigo snarled beneath his breath. He drew is breath once again and shouted loudly once again.
"Inoue!" his voice rang and immediately the orange haired girl appeared at his side. Ichigo's eyes took on a softer look as he addressed his personal servant.
"Inoue-san, please show Zaraki's men to their quarters and make sure they have everything they need," Ichigo said and the girl nodded quickly, her grey eyes sparkling as she sped off with a Hai! To do as she was told.
"My don't you seem like a pure bred royal," Zaraki chuckled.
"Shut up, I hate ordering people around. It is expected of me to do this much at least though," Ichigo sighed before turning to lead Zaraki into the reception hall.
Once they entered Ichigo's ears easily caught a distressed mewl coming from none other than Toshiro, and for a moment he forgot about Zaraki completely as he hurried towards were the sound had come from. Hurrying down a couple of halls not taking notice of Zaraki following him be dashed into their family's shared living room only to find Karin pinning a struggling caracal Toshiro to the ground as she tickled him. Ichigo couldn't help but crack up in laughter at the adorable sight before he made his presence known with a loud cough.
"Karin would you stop torturing Toshiro?" Ichigo requested and laughed when Toshiro wriggled free of Karin's grasp with a loud mewl, sprinting towards Ichigo in his caracal form still, before jumping and veering midair crashing into Ichigo crying his name. Ichigo winced as his wounds were torn at by the unexpected weight as he fell to the ground with a human Toshiro on top.
"Ichigo! I've been so worried, are you okay? What's with all the injuries, did he hurt you?" Toshiro began rambling but Ichigo silenced him by cupping his face and smashing their lips together making Toshiro blush a beautiful red.
"Ichigo! Not in front of Karin," he complained and Ichigo only chuckled before standing up with Toshiro in his grasp.
"We'll talk later ok Toshi? I have a few things to do," Ichigo said and Toshiro's beautiful teal eyes fell upon him with an understanding look before he veered and curled up around Ichigo's neck with a content look on his feline face.
"Tha's a very cute kitty ya've got there," Zaraki snickered and Toshiro lashed out for him with a clawed paw and hiss. "He's got fire as well," Zaraki chuckled.
"Well yes, now if you would stop embarrassing my mate I will personally show you to your room. I'll come and get you when it is time for your audience with Grimm-…. Err I mean his majesty King Jaegerjaquez," Ichigo quickly corrected himself.
When inside the mansion it was so easy for him to slip his tongue and call the King by his real name. Zaraki didn't seem to notice much to Ichigo's relief, and they chatted quietly as Ichigo led him down a labyrinth of halls until they finally arrived at the room he would be staying at.
"I'll come and get you in an hour's time," Ichigo declared before leaving Zaraki on his own to greet his blue and brown haired lovers.
He couldn't deny the fact that he had missed them even though he'd only been gone for two days, and he found himself in need of one of Starrk's magnificent massages, he was really stiff and sore. With a content smile Ichigo made his way down towards Grimmjow's office. For just a small while his mind was somewhere else than on the upcoming war and he enjoyed the minutes of relaxing as they would most likely be the last he would have for a good time forward.
I'm so sorry it took so long for me to update this… I'm just really in love with my newest story Embrace the Enemy at the moment and I literally had to force myself to not open that story and write on it instead of this one. Embrace the Enemy has received the best welcome I've ever experienced and I'm pretty sure it has about 60 followers and 36 reviews after just four chapters. Anyways, no I did not write a full smut scene for Ichigo and Kenpachi. They're not going to be a main pairing so I felt there was no need, I leave it up to your own imagination XD Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter, and do stay tuned for the next!
Please review!