Morning rolled around a little too quickly, and Ichigo was already up as usual, and in his garden. He was a bit upset that Kuro had yet to return but he tried to ignore it. At the moment he was bent over the vegetables that he had managed to grow in a small spot next to the herbs. He didn't sell those, even though they probably would've gotten more money than the herbs, his family needed it more than it needed the money.
Grimmjow was up early too. He had been watching Ichigo work for a while now. He pushed off the wall he had been leaning on and made his way silently over to Ichigo. He crouched next to Ichigo and smirked slightly. "Whatcha doing?" he asked.
Ichigo jumped, nearly dropping the basket of vegetables that he had picked up. "Oh! Y-your up!" He yelped, fumbling with the small basket in his hands.
"Yeah…I'm not one for wasting daylight" Grimmjow chuckled.
Ichigo fumbled a little more with the basket before finally stilling. "Once I finish the mornings chores we can start." He stated softly before walking past him quickly and into the house.
"Mkay" Grimmjow nodded. He got up and was about to follow when he noticed a small bag next to the 'door' that Ichigo didn't notice. He went over and picked it up. "Ichigo…what's this?" he asked.
Ichigo glanced over at him. "I dunno." He stated as he set the basket on the dirt ground in the kitchen.
Grimmjow followed Ichigo into the kitchen as he opened the bag. Inside was some fresh meat and some herbs that Ichigo didn't grow in the garden. They looked like mountain herbs. The meat was probably rabbit or squirrel.
Ichigo walked over and looked surprised as he looked inside of the bag "...That's more meat than we get in a week..." He murmured.
Grimmjow looked surprised. "This isn't that much meat" Grimmjow blinked.
Ichigo nodded a little. "It's allot in this house." He sighed. "We have to go see father later." He stated before walking back to the basket. Yuki walked out of his and his sibling's room as he yawned. "Morning mommy..." He mumbled, walking up to him and hugging his leg. Ichigo ruffled his hair softly before bending down and picking up the basket.
"We get to have meat today." Ichigo smiled a little as he set the basket on a small table that looked like it would break. Yuki visibly brightened. "Really?" He asked and Ichigo nodded. It made Yuki giggle a little and his tail to wave around happily.
"You go see that father guy ALOT" Grimmjow stated.
Shiro came out of his and Ichigo's room, he went straight to Ichigo and kissed the oranget's head. "Mornin' Ichi" he chirped.
"Father is a very important person." Ichigo huffed before nuzzling Shiro a little. "Morning Shi. We get to have meat today." He stated as he took the bag from Grimmjow. He set it on the rickety table next to the basket.
"Great" Shiro chirped. Then he nuzzled close to Ichigo's ear. "You can have my meat later too if you want" Shiro purred into Ichigo's ear, low enough Yuki couldn't hear.
Ichigo scowled a little and smacked Shiro upside the head with a blush. He then huffed and turned back around to the table.
Shiro grinned, he loved teasing his mate. Yuki hugged Shiro's leg. "Morning daddy." He giggled a little as his ears twitched.
"Mornin' Yuki" Shiro smiled, scooping up his son and giving him a kiss on the forehead.
Yuki covered his forehead childishly with a squeak. "Daddy!" He giggled. Ichigo smiled a little and picked up a smallish cabbage from the basket. Shiro went on to tickling his son. Grimmjow watched with a light amusement. Then he shifted his gaze to watch Ichigo.
Yuki laughed loudly as he was tickled. Ichigo had set the cabbage on the old wooden counter and was using what looked like a sharpened rock to cut it up so he could put it into a metal, beat up old pot full of water.
Grimmjow felt a bit bad. This family was pretty poor. And he wasn't helping much with that.
"Shi, can you go get Fuyu?" Ichigo asked as he put the cut up cabbage in the water. There was already a fire going underneath the pot so the water was already warming.
Shiro nodded, setting Yuki down. He went into the other room and came back with Fuyu, who he hadn't bothered to wake up yet.
Fuyu cuddled closer to Shiro with a yawn, his tail wrapping loosely around his wrist. Shiro smiled and kissed his youngest son's forehead gently. Grimmjow smiled at that before quickly turning away.
Fuyu opened his eyes slowly before yawning and tugging on Shiro's shirt with his claws as he mumbled something. "Mornin' Fuyu" Shiro said softly to the tired child.
Fuyu giggled softly and pulled himself up a little more with his claws. Ichigo had put the meat in the water with the cabbage and was now sorting through the herbs and cutting some of it up to put it into the soup, or whatever it was that he was making.
Grimmjow watched.
"Shi, I'm taking Grimmjow up to the temple and Yuki's coming with us. Father's been wanting to see him." Ichigo stated as he dropped a handful of herbs into the pot.
Shiro nodded. "Be careful Ichi…Yuki be good" Shiro commented.
Yuki nodded and nuzzled Shiro's leg. Shiro gave Yuki a kiss on the forehead and Ichigo a sweet, peck of a kiss.
"After everyone eats we can go. I'll brief you on everything on the way, Grimmjow." Ichigo said, gently pushing Shiro away when he tried to hug and grope him all at the same time.
Grimmjow nodded, and was amused by Shiro's attempts.
After breakfast, Grimmjow, Ichigo, and Yuki left the house.
As they walked closer to the entrance to the ruins, everything seemed to get nicer. Looked more expensive. After they finally entered the busy streets of the ruins, everything just seemed to be brighter. Everything just looked better. Was better. "This is the center of the village. The richest live here. The temple is in the very middle of it all, and its were the elders live. They control the whole island. That's were we are going." Ichigo stated. He was holding Yuki's hand tightly and vice-versa. It would be really bad if the small child were to get lost in this place.
Grimmjow looked slightly annoyed. Just like home. The poor get poorer and the rich get richer. "Why are there some who are richer…why can't everyone just have the same amount of money and food and such" Grimmjow asked, more wondering if there was a different reason than in his home.
Ichigo shook his head a little. "It's just the way it works. And don't speak out or against the elders." He said. They were near the temple now.
"Mkay" Grimmjow sighed, he didn't sound very sincere.
They were in the temple all too soon. It was unusually empty again. "Father?" Ichigo called out, talking a few steps forward. His soft steps echoed off of the marble ground to bounce around on the stone pillars and walls.
There was a slight silence. Then louder steps headed towards them. Aizen appeared in the doorway walking towards him. Two other male followed, two other elders. "Ichigo…Yuki…Grimmjow…what can I do for you" Aizen asked.
Both Ichigo and Yuki bowed their heads a little when they came closer. "Hello father." He then glanced behind him at Grimmjow. "Father is the head of the elders." He said softly before looking forward again. "It's tradition to bring new members of the village to meet the elders, father.." He stated quietly.
Grimmjow raised an eyebrow to Ichigo but copied the bowing motion, guessing it was some respect thing.
Aizen nodded to Ichigo. "It is nice to see you again Grimmjow-san" Aizen stated.
"Grimmjow is fine" the bluenet replied almost instantly, surprising Aizen.
"Grimmjow" Aizen nodded.
Ichigo sent a small glare Grimmjows way, the glare translating into 'be more respectful'.
"Hi Sofu." Yuki mumbled, bowing slightly again.
Aizen smiled and nodded at Yuki. The two other elders stepped forward. One had long white hair that he tied back in a ponytail while the other had bit shorter brown hair, also tied in a ponytail. "Ukitake" the white haired one introduced.
"Shunsui" the brown haired one stated.
"Nice to meet ya" Grimmjow replied.
Ichigo glared at Grimmjow for a moment before bowing to the two other elders a little. Grimmjow rolled his eyes. He thought Ichigo acted a bit too much like a chick, always giving evil looks when a guy 'messed up'. Then again he was pretty sure that beta meant either woman or submissive. Either way.
"Father, you wanted Yuki to visit you, yes?" Ichigo asked after a moment.
Aizen nodded. Ukitake and Shunsui had excused themselves. Yuki was hesitant to walk over to his grandfather but he reluctantly did so when Ichigo's tail gently nudged him forward. "I'll come pick him up in a few hours." Ichigo said, his ears drooping just a tad.
Aizen nodded, motioning for Yuki to follow him. Grimmjow raised an eyebrow. "Do you often give your kids away?" he asked after Aizen had left.
Ichigo glared at him again. "No. But if father wants to see them I have to." He stated, his tail looping loosely around his waist. "Now I have to show you around the village." He said stiffly and walked past him back to the entrance of the temple.
Grimmjow rolled his eyes, snorting. He glanced around the temple. Boring. Then he followed the oranget.
They were back in the main street. "This is the main street. It's the busiest place in the whole village. It's also were all of the shops are." Ichigo said as they weaved through the crowd.
Grimmjow nodded, following Ichigo. He could feel eyes on him and hear whispers about him. He was the defected hybrid. Grimmjow resisted the urge to roll his eyes at these people.
"Over there is the school," Ichigo started, pointing at a rather large building. "Its where all the young hybrids go to learn how to read and write.. and history... parents teach the alphas to hunt and beta's to do chores and whatnot.." He continued as they walked past it. "Yuki would be there but... We can barely afford our life now so school is out of the question.." He sighed a little.
"You have to pay for school?" Grimmjow asked, a bit shocked. Why hadn't he grown up here. He hated school. Ichigo nodded a little. Grimmjow pursed his lips. Yet another way to make sure the poor stay poor.
They were nearing the edge of the ruins. "Anywhere outside of the ruins is, I dunno, the slums, I guess... There's never really been a name for it. The closer to the ruins, the more money your likely to have. Inside the ruins and your an average hybrid. If you live close to the temple, your rich. If you live on the edges of the slums, your the poorest of the hybrids..." He paused then, looking almost shameful for a moment before it went away.
"Kuro, if he completes his passage, he'll be able to choose his mate and live inside the ruins. I'm happy of that... that my decisions have not affected his future negatively.." He sighed a little there. "Sorry, I'm rambling now aren't I..."
"You aren't rambling…you are explaining stuff…also why would Kuro get to live in the ruins…if he comes from the 'slums' as you put it" Grimmjow asked.
"His bloodline. My father is the king of the village, and I... was the prince... Or, rather princess since I am a beta... but I am mated to Shiro so I have lost my title. But my children have royal blood, and, that means they must live in the ruins. I am happy on that... It means that they may lead, in the least an average life and don't have to work through their lives in the slums..." He smiled a little to himself at that point. "Kuro will take over once my father dies, since I am unable to now."
"…no offense, but Kuro doesn't seem like the ruling type" Grimmjow stated. Then he shifted his thoughts to that other hybrid. The one who helped Grimmjow out, telling him what he knew. And Kuro seemed very upset when he found Grimmjow there with the younger hybrid. "Is Kuro allowed to choose any mate? Or can he lose his 'title' as well if he choose someone not approved of?" Grimmjow asked.
"No. It's his choice. Shiro had chosen and had become my mate before the hybrid my father had picked out to be my mate was able to.." He sighed a little. "Kuro will do fine, he may seem that way but he will be a good leader.." They were walking in the 'slums' by now. "Since you have not gone through your passage, I will be teaching you. Shiro will show you how to hunt, and, on your first clean kill you will be able to go through your passage and become part of us." He stated, looking up at the sky.
Grimmjow blinked. He's been here a few days and he is already this close to being one of them. Damn. Then he wondered, how do they hunt? Like an animal would, chasing its prey or more like traps or something. He considered himself an excellent hunter, since he normally had to find his own food when he went on trips like this. "Wait…what exactly is a passage…I am getting the feeling it's a test…but what kind?" Grimmjow asked.
"It's something every alpha goes through when their young. Once they make their first clean kill, they are able to start their passage. Though they must be of age to do so. Kuro has just passed the right age and is near his. The up and coming alpha will go up against the alpha of the house, in a match." He paused to take a breath. "Kuro will be up against Shiro. If he manages to win against him, he will be a true alpha, and will be welcomed into the village in whole. Then... They may choose a mate from the ready betas and move into the ruins to begin their life and a family." He licked his lips and sighed sadly at that.
"What if the alpha doesn't want to take a beta? Or if the beta they want is with another alpha…? And do the betas get a say in it? And what makes a beta 'ready', is it an age or just there are ready to have a mate? And would I be fighting Shiro since I am staying with you?" Grimmjow asked.
"... An alpha must take a beta. The beta's whom have mates are unavailable either way. ...Betas do not have a say in it, so no. And it's age. ...I don't know. Father will make that decision... any more questions?" Ichigo said and huffed, glancing at him.
"Not at the moment" Grimmjow shrugged.
"Well, I have things to do. Don't wander from the house." Ichigo huffed as they walked back into the old house that Ichigo called 'home'.
"…Does he think I'm an idiot or a child?" Grimmjow asked, slightly annoyed.
"Probably the first one" Shiro snorted, suddenly at Grimmjow's side with a big ass grin.
He was holding Fuyu, the small child looking around wide-eyed and curiously. His claws were gripping onto Shiro's shirt so he could balance and stay upright as he sat in his arms while his tail flicked around lazily.
Grimmjow eyed Fuyu slightly before returning his gaze to the trees. He wondered why Ichigo and Shiro seemed to only have boys. Fuyu was suddenly staring at him, a serious look on his face as if he was thinking really hard. He then babbled something loudly before turning around with a huff and pressing his face into Shiro's shirt.
Shiro chuckled. Grimmjow pursed his lips in a manly pout. Fuyu mumbled something again before lifting his head to look up at Shiro. Shiro looked back at his son, smiling and kiss the young child's forehead.
The boy giggled a little and reached up with one hand to pull on Shiro's hair.
Shiro let the boy grab and pull on his hair. Fuyu yanked hard on his hair a few times before he released his white locks and held onto his shirt again. Shiro smiled, kissing his son's forehead again.
"Shiro! Your in another hunting party today, they said that the haul from yesterday was not enough to feed the hybrids in the ruins... And they said that since you didn't get much last time but got the full pay... that you won't get pay for this one..." Ichigo was reading off of a sheet of paper as he walked up to them. "You might as well take Grimmjow with you if he's going to learn to hunt." He sighed, looking slightly upset, probably because Shiro was not going to get money for this hunt.
Shiro nodded. He gave Fuyu to his mate, kissing the oranget's forehead. He looked upset as well. Grimmjow followed Shiro.
This is a long chapter...too lazy to cut it up so...deal with it xD and don't go expect long chapters from me okay? Good
Okay so lots of questions and answers xD Those who are anger or annoyed with Kuro...can you imagine him as a leader xD Oh my god that is a hilarious thought
Kuro-You are SO nice
Me- Oh shut up
Anyway any questions? Yes? Type them plz...No? At least review
REVIEW or Kuro will kill ya
IS: Ichigo, Yuki, Fuyu, the village activity
Me: Everyone else