Thanks to TriOblivion for reviewing, my other reviewers seem to have abandoned me anyways, enjoy the cookie *gives cookie*

And on with the chapter.

Chapter 8 – Demonic Help

The memories flooding into her mind forced Saeko into the embrace of unconsciousness, falling softly to the ground. Her group of friends started forwards to take her back but stopped at the low growl that came from the giant wolf that was standing protectively over the girl, his eyes challenging them to take her away from him.

Allen and Lavi were holding back Ichigo and Hichigo, respectively, from charging in anyway, killing the demon and grabbing the girl. The demon seemed confused at the actions of the exorcists, himself sensing the power in the ginger and albinos. He relaxed slightly with the lack of murderous intent aimed at him but was still wary of the teens before him, not so concerned about the child for now, as she was she was harmless, but he still sensed the trapped power beneath the child's exterior.

The exorcists sat on the ground across from the wolf and conscious girl, pulling the other two down with them, Nel crawling into Ichigo's lap as soon as he was down. The demon, acknowledging this show of peace, curled around Saeko, laying his head on his paws, never taking his eyes from the boys and Nel.

What is your connection to Saeko? The demons voice rolled around them, no words were spoken aloud yet the voice didn't seem to be in their heads either. The voice was deep and rumbling, one that would be associated with a much more guttural language.

"We're just friends, she's helping us find some people that shouldn't be here," Allen replied politely, stopping Ichigo from coming out with a far ruder comment, he didn't want to offend the demon that could probably kill them all without caring.

I know the ones you seek, they have been brought here from another world but need to return. If you are searching for them, that should mean that you are from another world as well. Why is it you seek them? If it is to join them I will have to stop you here, whatever your connection to Saeko. The demon watched them closely, not wanting to kill them if they were Saeko's friends but knowing the necessity of it if they were to join the unknowns.

"We have no wish to join them, even in our own worlds we were fighting them," the reply came out rather hastily, fear of death by this demon's hands overcoming the need for politeness. The demon peered at them closely, suspicious of the hasty reply but saw the truth in their eyes.

Very well. If Saeko will help you, so will I. Other demons of this world will not attack you if I am near and the demons of your worlds avoid me if possible. Once Saeko awakes I will lead you to the unknowns. The demon fell silent and turned his attention to the unconscious girl he was curled around, still keeping his senses open to the movements of her friends.

It wasn't long before the girl stirred, escaping from the grasp of unconsciousness, Aeshma, Saeko reached to her adoptive father over the telepathic link that, though faded, had survived the time apart. She cuddled into the warm fur around her before her mind snapped back to the present, causing her to sit up, searching frantically for the others.

Calm yourself child, your friends are fine, they wait for you. The girl then spotted the boys sitting a little way away with Nel snoring loudly and drooling on Ichigo. She stood slowly, a little wobbly from the weakness caused by the flood of memories. The wolf rose with her, helping her to stay balanced. He watched the rising teens, still wary of them due to his nature and experience of humans.

You needn't be so wary of them, if they have made no move against you already then they surely won't as long as you don't attack them. They are good people, which is more than I can say for the hunters that came to visit me in that hospital to see if I was possessed by some demon, if it wasn't for the doctor in the room I dread to think what they may have done. Saeko was trying to act as intermediary between the demon and her friends, neither of which where completely happy being near the other.

The demon's eyes burned with an eerie red hue, examining the boys before him. He nods, accepting Saeko's judgement, and pads silently behind the girl as she makes her way back over to her friends. Little is said as she rejoins them but for the inquiries as to whether she was ok, the giant wolf soon leading them north, to the last known position of Aizen and the Millennium Earl.

With the fall of night came the return of Timcanpy, who had been checking on the others. The golem instantly panicked at the sight of the demon near the group, confused as to the lack of action. Even Allen's attempts at calming the frenzied golem were ignored, the little, winged, golden ball flying in frantic circles, too fast to catch.

Calm yourself, strange bird. I mean no harm to you or your master.The demon's voice washed over the golem, a hypnotic quality in it causing Timcanpy's circles to get slower until it drops onto Allen's head, chewing absently on a few errant strands of snow white hair. The wolf lowers his head once more onto his paws, silently watching the strange antics of the humans, and other human-like beings, in front of him, amused at the amount of energy being spent on such useless things when the lifespan of a human is so short.

Even with the addition of a large wolf the sleeping arrangement was much the same, Saeko and Nel, now with a wolf curled around them, Hichi and Ichi, until Ichigo gets fed up with his hollow and sleeps outside, and Allen and Lavi, the former up early to watch the funny positions of the sleeping Ichigo.

"Everything seems to be going as planned, only those pesky native demons getting in the way but all of them too weak to do anything." I recognise the voice coming through the trees, a voice heard so many times in my visions of five years, the voice of the Millennium Earl, the enemy of the exorcists.

"Indeed, but I feel that strange presence again, it seems to be eavesdropping but I can't tell what it is." Another dreaded voice, Aizen Sousuke, betrayer of the shinigami and starter of the great war that I had taken them from. I know they speak of me and hurry away, scampering as far away from that pair as I can get, hating them for instilling so much fear, wanting to wake up that I may escape them.

"Who are you?" I whirl around to the owner of the voice, another familiar one, leading me to a familiar face, Ulquiorra Cifer, fourth Espada, exactly as I remember, right down to the teal tear tracks. Darkness consumes my sight.

Saeko jerks awake, looking strait into the concerned face of Aeshma, only a few inches away from her own. Her breathing slows back to normal as the dream fades and her mind returns to her body from the northern location of her dream. The demon gently licked the girl's face comfortingly, letting her take her time before explaining what she had seen. Allen came over from his position, watching over Ichigo, to listen to her dream.

A few minutes after she had finished, the dawn broke over the horizon, its light filtering through the trunks of varied trees, heralding the awakening of the other boys, Nel staying in her log-like state. The dream was relayed to the others, giving them a reason to hurry on with little delay. Aeshma carried the sleeping Nel, that still hadn't woken, the others running alongside the trotting wolf. Timcanpy was sent to tell the other groups that they had a guide to Aizen and the Millennium Earl's location and give them directions of where to meet up.

Nightfall brought Kanda, Renji, Rukia and Lenalee back to Saeko's group with much explaining and attempted killing of the demon on the newcomers side. Rukia and Lenalee were accepting enough of the new addition, although both Kanda and Renji, for all their differences and resulting fights, agreed on the fact that they didn't trust the demon, said wolf not really caring much as to whether he was trusted or not as long as they left him alone so he wouldn't have to kill them.

By morning the others had caught up, with less attempted killing than the first group, and the enlarged group continued on their way northward.

Oks a shorter than normal chapter but it was a good stopping point,

Please review, I still give cookies

just saying that my computers broke (again) so I'm reduced to grabbing time on school computers, may take longer than normal to update but I'll get there.

till next time

your happily-getting-kittens-tomorrow-author

Kouseki