Pandemonium
Ch 4 New Beginning
Wow, I can't even begin to describe how awesome you all are! Thanks a ton for all the reviews, faves and alerts! A special thanks for these awesome reviewers: hitsuzen-hime, XDesertXRoseX , BettyeK , ejsoul, Ashesfalllikesnow , tsuki, Sever My Sweet Tooth, Vardlynn, xDaRkxRaINx, vanity-issues , lemonlimediddies, .Yumi , Nanlinchou, MuffinzRBeast24 , Lioange, mietharules , whuzaaaap, AvariceOfTheTulips, sweetdesserts , forevereden , Larn555 , and LuckyV . You guys are the chocolate chips in my cookies!
Author replies for those without accounts:
tsuki: Sorry for the slowness of plot ^^; It was a needed break from the action that happened earlier and pushed more character development. Thanks a bunch for reading and leaving a review! You totally rock!
xDaRkxRaINx: -laughs- Grimm does need a little relaxant, doesn't he? But Ichi was... Ichi :P. Thanks for reviewing! You rock!
Nanlinchou: Woo thanks for the compliments! Glad to know you're enjoying it :) Thanks for reviewing! Cheers!
whuzaaaap: Another helping of compliments! Thanks a bunch! I usually update every other week if everything goes well :)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Seriously, I really don't... so don't sue me because I can't give you anything... The amazing Tite Kubo does. But I don't recommend suing him either. Lol.
Chapter outline/warnings: Picks up a little after last chapter. More plot and some interesting questions raised will hopefully intrigue you. Time passes quickly to get the plot on an action roll so hopefully it's not very confusing. This chapter kicked my ass ten times over along with a raging cold.
Rain or shine, they were ushered out of their beds by Kenpachi's morning wake ups. Another day filled of body breaking, sweat dripping training had the recruits all yearn for any type of break. However, what they found in themselves was the endurance that once lay dormant; the strength to push through and persevere.
It made the ranking officers proud. The young crop had buffed up and filled out their expectations. Someone taking a passing glance would not have assumed that these young men were still in the training stage.
While Kenpachi sent his lieutenants out on the now five mile run with the trainees, he himself diverged on his usual path to seek out the intelligence center. Another week had quickly come and went, not allowing for the dark haired general to find free time to explore his curiosity. However, with this small moment of reprieve, Kenpachi took this chance to delve into the important task of figuring out who this Ichigo Kurosaki kid was.
Ichigo Kurosaki... there was just something about that name and the guy's looks that intrigued the scarred male's interests. Ever since the orange haired recruit landed that blow on him the other day, the large warrior wanted to know just exactly what Ichigo's background was.
After arguing with one of the officials manning the computers to search up his target, Kenpachi's thoughts were confirmed. "Medical background eh? Smart little shit aren't ya, Ichigo."
The impassive photo of said male stared back at him before he closed out of the information system and headed towards Brigadier General Urahara's office. Kurosaki...
Stomping through the hallways on a determined stride, making other officers quickly jump left or right to avoid the general's bulldozing route, Kenpachi let himself into his commander's room, making the personal assistant out front bristle at her position being ignored.
As soon as he shut the door behind him, Kenpachi wasted no time. "Brigadeer General, mind informing me why one of the new recruits is named Ichigo Kurosaki?" Kenpachi stressed the last syllable.
Blond eyebrows rose before coming back down into a pulled look of confusion. "Kurosaki?"
Kenpachi crossed his arms over his chest, frown deepening. "Yes, I don't think I need to repeat myself."
Urahara straightened. "Watch your tone General Kenpachi, I'm not in the brightest of moods this morning."
"Well ain't that a turn." Giving a gruff grunt and eye roll, the larger male out of the two grabbed a nearby chair and seated himself. "Pardon my questioning Sir, but I am still going to ask you why it is that Kurosaki's name is on the roster. Or better yet, the hell has got a stick up your-"
"Don't even finish that sentence." The blond commander ground out. His morning went from pleasantly simple to absolutely frustrating in the span of one hour. The usual laid-back man now had a tension headache he longed to be rid of. "I received a summons this morning to head back to Karakura Central Command. The Chief Commander Yamamoto is calling in an urgent meeting in regards to Aizen's forces advancement."
"What do you mean?" Kenpachi had known about the enemy advancing, that's why other forces had been deployed- such as Air Commander Kuchiki's arrival the other week. Central Command was strengthening the outer ring of defense... Just what the hell was Aizen up to?
Urahara shook his head tiredly. "I don't know as of yet, that's why the Brigadier Generals are being called in to conference with Yamamoto. It's all my assumption however." The blond smirked without any glee. "Then again, he could just be calling us in for a personal status report. No one knows what he's planning."
"As much as I enjoy the battles, this war has been escalating far too quickly for my liking. Two weeks ago Base 13 was completely obliterated."
Urahara nodded. "Yes, that seemed to be the first signal that Aizen was going to be pressing harder."
"Ukitake was one lucky bastard." Reinforcements had managed to scramble into a hasty formation, quickly heading over towards the attacked base and backing up those stationed there. Able to push back Mundo troops, the Karakura soldiers managed to pull their brethren out of the rubble and retreat back to a stronger base. Computers and any other intelligence gathering system was destroyed, ensuring Aizen's failure to gathering more critical data.
Thumping his fingers atop the wooden desk, Urahara nodded solemnly. "Lucky... the gas they used seems to still have lingering effects on him. Him and a few other lucky survivors. Still, what is a Kurosaki doing here?"
Sighing, rubbing the side of his head, Urahara scrambled through the jumbled collection of earlier thoughts in his mind. Kurosaki... Kurosaki... oh. "Ichigo Kurosaki, you said?"
Kenpachi nodded. "Correct. He was the son of Isshin Kurosaki, right?"
Urahara's eyebrows knitted together. "Yes." This was an interesting, dangerous turn... He would have to bring that matter up with Chief Commander Yamamoto when he next saw him in the upcoming months.
xxxxxxx
Grimmjow's ever prominent frown was a full blown glaring scowl whenever the haughty Air Commander Kuchiki decided to grace the room with his presence. The other week when the man and his cohort of fly boys landed, recruits seemed to worship the ground the new comers walked on.
Grimmjow hated it.
Why was it that everyone thought so highly of those flying prissy individuals? They thought themselves "cool" because they were issued a multi-million dollar jet to fly around, shooting heat seeking missiles which decimated targets in a nano-second.
The blue haired commander rolled his eyes when Byakuya focused his attention on him. "What?"
Obsidian black eyes continued the leveling glare, un-relenting to Grimmjow's own fierce stare. "I wonder why it is that you of all people are here."
"The fuck's that supposed to mean?" That Byakuya was as arrogant as always.
Brushing off imaginary dirt from his pressed white uniform, Byakua stated so simply that any other would have thought it to be a joke."Is it you who is the inner mouse?"
Grimmjow wasn't just anyone however; he knew exactly what it was the other was implying. Icy blue eyes roared to life. "You trying to insinuate something?"
Instead of replying, the older male merely turned around from his position by the training area and headed back inside the shaded base. Grimmjow grit his teeth, feeling the enamel rubbing together as he tried his damnedest to not lash out at the other who was provoking him.
For nearly two weeks he had been putting up with the other's arrogance, quiet jabs and seemingly knowing silence. "Tch. Fucking asshole."
Blue eyes turned back towards the running recruits along the course, catching a glimpse of orange hair before it disappeared amongst the horde of others. Unwilling to admit it to anyone, even himself, Grimmjow had found himself watching the recruits progress from afar.
His trips to the training grounds seemed to be the only thing he found to be of any source of entertainment. Come on, ass kickings were amusing to watch!
Remembering Kenpachi bickering about his side hurting after one punch from Ichigo had the blue haired male smirking, earning himself a punch to the arm by the older general. All the young men who once couldn't seem to go through the rigorous trials laid out before them now completed the tasks with ease.
Their former city-folk life, their original imprinted cycles of day-to-day livelihood, was now covered by the way of the soldier.
Grimmjow, though he loathed to admit it to anyone- and even himself- found his constant wandering eyes searching time and time again for that familiar tuft of orange hair. Of course he berated himself for trying to find the punk. After all, it's not like he knew Ichigo.
The younger man would probably be stationed somewhere beyond Grimmjow's line of sight. It's just a passing phase, he told himself. Wait a second... since when was thinking of Ichigo a phase?
Blue eyes narrowed. Fucking Ichigo, making him think of such pointless things!
It's been what... three weeks since they first happened to cross paths in a most undignified manner?
Three weeks of Grimmjow tagging along with training sessions, pinning it all on sheer boredom, as he watched the new recruits push forwards and excel beyond what limits they once thought they had.
"Yo boss man."
Grimmjow, caught unawares, tensed from head to toe. He hadn't even heard Shinji walk up to him! "The fuck you want?"
Pursing thin lips and narrowing his eyes before delivering a toothy grin, Shinji jibbed his leader in the side. "You've been out here a lot Sir. Been scoping out some good replacements?"
Replacements? Oh, that's right, Grimmjow thought. Two days ago, Monday morning when Brigadier General Urahara called the squadron leaders and, to Grimmjow's distaste, their new arrival Byakuya Kuchiki, to a briefing.
It was here that the base leader informed them that their squadrons would be taking on the new batch of recruits. Why Urahara had made it seem like they themselves would be choosing their new peons Grimmjow would never know. There was no way they'd be able to bypass the regulations to hand pick their new privates.
"Shinji, I can't choose anyone like a fucking man does in a brothel."
"Woo someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today." Shinji snickered, further aggravating the blue haired lieutenant general. "Chill man, I was just messing with ya."
"Hn." Grimmjow turned around, squaring his shoulders and crossing his arms over his chest. "Whatever."
xxxxxxx
He felt it. Eyes on him, watching his every move yet again.
It had been happening quite often after he happened to run into the other man in the barrack washrooms, though Ichigo could never, for the life of him, pin the feeling onto one particular person.
It wasn't until Renji just so happened to point out earlier that afternoon that the trainees were yet again graced with the presence of a blue haired soldier off to the sidelines. Neither had any idea whom the newcomer was.
"He's back again Ichi." Renji said as he jogged alongside his companion. "Ohhh and so is Kuchiki." The red head slurred out. When the Air Commander made his arrival and Renji first caught a glimpse of the Byakuya Kuchiki, the guy would not cease his constant appraisal of the other man.
"Fuck you." Ichigo panted out, not wanting to turn his head to see just who 'he' was, knowing all too well that it was the same man from before.
Keeping at a steady pace as they rounded a corner, the red head let out a snickering burst of panting air. "Is he the one that... ah, y'know... nearly killed ya?"
Angry brown eyes dug into laughing midnight orbs. Renji had not once let Ichigo live it down. He constantly jibbed the younger man ever chance he got which in turn earned a snarling comeback followed by a friendly punch- one which packed a real stinger at the end.
It was a night that the group of them had for themselves that Ichigo accidentally let on to Renji of his little secret. Surprisingly, Renji didn't just ditch him right on the spot during their little friendship session.
Renji had laughed at it, saying that it was more like a heart to heart conversation since both found themselves discussing issues regarding their own personal lives before their enlistment. When Ichigo had dropped the 'I don't like girls' he instantly regretted saying it, clapping a hand over his mouth as if in shame.
The red headed man's eyes widened in anticipated shock before thumping his friend on the back, letting out a bark of laughter. Ichigo wasn't sure what the hell was going on until Renji gave him a reassuring grin. "You should know by now that things like that don't matter to me Ichi. Swinging both ways, I have the best of both worlds."
Ichigo gave a rightful blush. "You're such a greedy bastard."
"Fuck yeah I am! Do well to remember that."
He would consider himself and Renji close friends by now.
He really would.
But even sometimes, close friends aren't privy to certain facts that only oneself should know.
What Ichigo failed to enlighten Renji on was the fact he- Ichigo- had more than one good dream staring a particular blue haired man. The first night that it happened, the orange haired boy thought nothing of it, writing it off as something his mind conjured up merely days after their brief encounter.
When it happened the following night and then the night thereafter, Ichigo began to worry.
It's not right, he told himself. There's no fucking way this can be happening!
But it was and there was nothing Ichigo could do about it. Having no control over his unconscious mind whilst sleeping, he had to succumb to the pleasing visions flashing across his closed vision. It was a wonder no one had woken up when he let out a groan after one particularly exotic scene of them in the showers together.
Ichigo, who was lonely as hell, was dreaming about a man he didn't even know the name of.
And for some fucking reason, it had turned him on.
Even now, as he continued running alongside Renji, blaring sun grinding down on their exposed limbs, Ichigo wondered if he'd have another dream of his mystery blue haired man again.
The very same one that he'd seen a couple of times watching their training sessions. Knowing that the other was standing there watching him, Ichigo tried to push the thought of the man's presence out of his mind. Trying hard to focus on their training.
He had failed a good number of times earlier, loosing focus and completely getting his ass kicked. However, his comebacks were killer, swiftly taking down his opponents with ease using small jabs here and there with medical precision.
No he was not trying to impress the mystery man!
I hope he'll be there today to watch me, Ichigo thought.
OK fine... maybe... just maybe he was trying to impress. Only a little!
Ichigo mentally halted his thoughts. Woah, since when was he trying to go after a guy he didn't know? A man who quite literally scared the shit out of him weeks ago with his raging temper and brash attitude? That was most certainly not the type of guy Ichigo was wanting. Ever!
A passing phase, he thought. It's all just a fucking passing phase. I'll never see him again after we get assigned to our now squadron.
Besides, the angry blue haired beast didn't even seem like someone who would be in charge of any kind of military force. Who in their right minds would place such an asshole as a high ranking officer on the battlefield?
That's right, no one. Ichigo would never see the other ever again, his little fancy would pass, and he'd hopefully be placed on Air Commander Kuchiki's team. The man was a god.
He pushed the thoughts of his little secret out of his mind- well tried to- and continued along his run with Renji. Everything was becoming easier now; running, hand-to-hand combat, even his sharpshooting skills. Just goes to show what one is capable of when they put their minds to something.
As the weeks passed and the Saturday of their advancement into the military commenced with the ceremony, Ichigo, not in a million years, would have even thunk it that the shower hour blue haired asshole was a Lieutenant General of the very squadron he'd be assigned to.
Standing amongst his fellow recruits, he let his eyes wander some around the alignment of high ranking officers. When Urahara called off the ranking officials, Ichigo nearly had a hear attack when Grimmjow's name and rank was stated. When he saw the very man he had been dreaming about for the past few weeks standing there with the others, Ichigo's mind couldn't help but erupt with embarrassment.
That one night, all those weeks ago when he had talked back to the blue haired man, saying that he 'should watch where he's going', rushed back through Ichigo's memory. He- Ichigo- had told a Lieutenant General what to do.
He had talked back to an officer!
Oh. My. GOD. Holy fuck, Ichigo shouted in his mind. What the fuck was I thinking?
How did he happen to look over the ranking badges marring the tall soldier's chest?
Oh god, he's looking at me, Ichigo said to himself as he locked eyes with Grimmjow's own twin sets of cool blue, feeling a blush run across his cheeks. Fucking mental images!
Please, please, please don't let me be set on his squad...
"Ichigo Kurosaki, you are assigned to Lieutenant General Jaegerjaques frontline battalion."
Fuck. Well, Ichigo told himself, at least I know his name now.
xxxxxxx
Two weeks came and went, with the final Saturday of the month ending in a celebration for those recruits who had managed to push through all the shit boot camp dished out to them. To a vast majority of high ranking officer's surprises, only a handful of the earlier recruits left.
A strong collection of hardened men stood before them proudly, awaiting their command.
As Brigadier General Urahara addressed the waiting crowd, Grimmjow stood loosely but not offensively so. Eyes scanning the group and landing on, you guessed it, Ichigo.
What shocked the blue haired male the most was not the fact that the other was gazing back, no, it was the fact that the younger recruit's cheeks were reddening.
The fuck is going on? Grimmjow asked himself.
As Urahara read down the list and assigned the now privates to their squadron, Grimmjow's eyes widened marginally when-
"Ichigo Kurosaki, you are assigned to Lieutenant General Jaegerjaques frontline battalion."
-erupted from Brigadier General Urahara's mouth.
Holy fuck you've gotta be kidding me, Grimmjow inwardly shouted.
How, how, how did this happen?
From what Grimmjow over heard with Kenpachi, Ichigo was skilled in the medicinal field. Wouldn't he be better suited amongst Commanding Medical Officer Unohana's staff? Wasn't that the plan?
No, of course it wouldn't! It wouldn't be nearly as fun and amusing for Grimmjow to receive some small contingent of relief from this orange haired little punk.
The recruits were placed where they were going to be most useful. Just how in the hell was Ichigo going to be useful on Grimmjow's squad? He should adress the situation with the upmost professional appearance and tolerance. Should. Be professional my ass, Grimmjow thought.
This was going to be one fucking awkward first official meeting.
After the ceremony droned onwards, Urahara calling out other recruits and their assigned squadron according to their abilities demonstrated during the long weeks of training, it finally ended some odd hours later with a loud applause.
As the recrui- privates, they were privates now- as the privates exited the ceremonial auditorium, Grimmjow was pulled aside by Urahara. "Grimmjow, I need to speak with you for a moment."
Eyebrows knitting together, the taller male followed his commander towards a secluded room. Shutting the door behind him, he crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for Brigadier General Urahara to continue.
Didn't he realize that he needed to go greet his new soldiers? There was no time for-
"I know this is sudden, but Air Commander Kuchiki brought up a little matter from the past concerning you."
"Oh you've got to be fucking kidding me!" Grimmjow snarled out.
Blond hair shook from side to side. "You don't even know what it was I was going to ask, Lieutenant General."
Grimmjow puffed his chest out in defiance. "I'm not some fucking kid Urahara. And to answer your question no, I'm not."
Urahara lowered his voice. "You know I needed to confirm Grimmjow. Air Commander Ku-"
"He can kiss my ass." Grimmjow ground out, hate oozing from every syllable. "It was years ago, Urahara, you know that and so does-"
The blond silenced him. "Sh."
Voices could be heard in the hallway as a group noisily passed by.
"It doesn't matter how many years ago you were part of Aizen's force Grimmjow, to those within the military who harbor such deep hatred, they'd use you as a scapegoat for anything if it was thought intelligence was being given over to Aizen."
A murderous air floated around the blue haired male. "I'm fucking loyal to this nation. I've denounced any affiliations to Hueco Mundo. Lest you forget, Urahara, I'm the one that enlightened you with certain knowledge regarding the H-weapon creation. We all know how well you and the science department rolled around with glee."
Aizen's science expert had somehow crafted a deadly gas coded the Hollowfication weapon. Odorless and colorless, once a few breaths of the sickening fumes were pumped throughout ones body, they literally went insane, attacking anything near them that moved. Grimmjow's untimely revelation not only saved the lives of future Karakura soldiers, but also saved his own skin when he decided to 'switch sides for the hell of it'. It was Urahara who happened to cross paths with Grimmjow that one fateful day. It was he who provided the blue haired ex-Mundo warrior sanctum.
The older man narrowed his eyes. "Don't try to use blackmail on me Lieutenant General. Besides, as long as you are under me, I will personally vouch for you. I know you are loyal, it's them I worry about."
"Tch. Yeah, those like Byakuya who only know half the fucking story!"
A small smirk tugged at the corners of Urahara's lips. "I know, and I'm sorry but we must keep this information within a closely knit circle. Leave the officer convincing to me, you do what you do best."
Blue eyes rolled. "Whatever. What is it that you wanted besides confirming the obvious?"
Moving towards the window, Urahara gazed outwards, crossing his arms behind his back and lacing his fingers together. "I have been summoned back to Karakura Central Command by Chief Commander Yamamoto. Aizen has become unpredictable as of late as I'm sure you've known. The bout in the Wastelands and Dead Zone areas have reached back to central- as well as numerous other accounts from our sister bases."
Grimmjow had a feeling that he knew what was going to be coming next- of what was going to be asked of him. "Urahara, get to the point."
Said man turned around, facing his subordinate. "You and your group of troops need to infiltrate the now captured Wastelands sector. General Valez was unsuccessful at maintaining our foothold on the area. Aizen once again pushed quicker than we anticipated."
Of course, how could he have forgotten? It was just last week when word that their Wastelands sector had been overrun, Valez and his team pulling a hasty retreat.
"Air Commander Kuchiki will be on standby. You are to take your squad and proceed with a night assault, taking out Mundo troops- one by one if need be. They've set up a weaker defense around the western side, focusing on the center where their command center is most likely at."
"And why is it that out of the other commanders stationed here is it that my team is the one called? We were just out there!"
"You're the one with experience facing Nnoitra Jirgua."
Fuck it all to hell. That fucktard is the one who's there? "The hell he's doin' out here?"
"My thoughts exactly. Our spies say that Aizen's stretching out his forces. It seems like he too is scrambling for ground control."
"I can't take any of the new guys with me. They have no experience. It'd be a liability I am not willing to have on my hands."
Urahara's lips thinned. "That simply cannot be done Grimmjow. You have two days to prepare before you are shipped out." He walked towards the door. "And please, for the love of my paper fan, don't do anything stupid."
"Fuck you and your paper fucking fan."
TBC
Ah thank goodness Ichi and Grimm are finally together on the same page. No more double points of views for me for a while. -pops two cold medicine pills-
I hope you enjoyed this chapter regardless of me being sick :)
Review for a un-contaminated chocolate lolly!
~ChaosGarden