Burning Down the Mountain

Ch. 3: The Scent of Sakura

The sun was setting over the mountain by the time Grimmjow returned to camp with his prisoners. He had weaved an intricate path through the deep woods to confuse the captured teens. He devised this plan if the twins escaped they would be helpless to find their way back home. The blue haired man noted every move of the pale white haired teen as he watched their every turn making note of every tree and rock as they approached the camp.

The camp was a modest settlement deep in the forest located at the edge of the mountain about half a day's ride, without stopping, from Katakura. It was a good location to ambush traders whom were crossing the mountain or coming by stream. At the edge of the loosely fenced area was a corral that housed five horses and a smaller fenced in area that held some goats, one pig and a milking cow.

Shiro was quietly counting the tents wondering how many men made up this bandit army. He wondered which one of them had killed his dear Aniki and then would not return his body. He would find out and slit that bastard's throat before returning home with his older brother.

Grim lead the horses to the small corral where he dismounted his white steed and turned to untie Ichigo from his bindings. "You're a rather attractive young lad." Grimmjow purred as he reached further down Ichigo's backside then necessary to assist the bound male off the horse. He ran rough, calloused fingers over the teen's smooth, supple backside chuckling when the teen yelped and pushed him away.

Ichigo glared as he moved to stand closer to his younger brother. What a mess Shiro had gotten them into again. He turned to his brother to find the white haired youth was trying to stare down their blue eyed captor.

"Keep your hands off Ani or I'll cut them off." He snarled making the blue haired man laugh harder. "My, my noble brat's these day." He moved towards them taking his time to attach the rope around Ichigo's wrist to a rope in his hands. He learned close to the orange haired teen and whispered something in his ear that made his ears and cheeks glow bright red.

The boy stammered and turned towards his brother. "This man is a pervert!" Ichigo stated matter of fact blush still clear on his face.

Shiro growled a Grim, partially out of protection for Ichigo and partially out of jealousy. He personally thought he was more attractive than his brother, so he was slightly offended only Ichigo, whom Shiro was fairly certain liked women, was getting all this good looking rough man's attention. Shiro devised a plan. If he could get this idiot to fall in lust with him maybe he could find out who killed Shuuhei. He had read in one of his father's books that after sex men tended to drop their guard.

"You're dismissed Ryuunosuke" He waved off a young dark haired teen who bowed at the waist before walking off towards one of the tents in the camp. "Midori, let's go present these nobles to Ren and the others." He handed the rope attached to Ichigo and Shiro's wrists to a young man with green hair cut in a page boy style.

He nodded taking the rope in slim but firm fingers and gestured the Kurosaki twins on their way.

Ryuunosuke ran through the camp until he came to the medical tent. A young man was inside setting Nnoitra's nose. The tall man glared.

"You little runt!" He snapped pushing the medic and lunging at Ryuunosuke. "You ratted me out to Grim!"

Ryuunosuke backed out of the tent and turned to flee.

The lanky man reached out and grabbed for the shorter teen. "I will beat you for your insolence!"

The dark haired teen covered his head ready to receiving his pounding.

"Nori... what are you doing?" A calm voice asked.

Nnoitra turned to see Renji standing over him hand on his waist.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were still busy breaking in your new toy." Nnoitra snapped.

"You're still upset Leader gave him to me?" The redhead teased. "Leave Ryuu alone and get back to your post. A large caravan will be leaving Katakura in a few days you can let all your frustrations out then."

The tall man growled and stomped the earth near Ryuu's head before walking off in a huff.

The teen bowed at Renji's feet. "Thank you, Renji sama!" He let his forehead touch the ground.

"It was nothing Ryuu. Please get up. I've already told you there's no masters and servants here just men trying to survive." Renji said with a sweat drop.

The teen apologized and went back to the medic tent.

The medic was slowly righting himself. "Ah, Renji I have the ointment you requested." He walked across the tent to a chest and retrieved it.

The redhead looked at the small green bottle. "This is it?" He turned to the medic, "It doesn't seem like a lot of ointment..."

Hanataro smiled, "It's very potent. You only need to use a little." He gestured making a small circle with his fingers. "Kenny and I tested it ourselves so I know it works."

Renji smirked as the image of his new toy grasping his furs and moaning wantonly filled his mind. "I will take your word for it." He offered the teen some fish as payment and was off.

Ryuu and Hana looked at one another before they started fixing up the tent. Kenny would be home before they knew it.

Renji made his way across camp pausing when he saw his friend leading some prisoners into camp. He decided he'd take a faster route back to Leader's tent he would not want to miss this.

Ichigo continued to glare at his brother as the two were lead through the camp by the blue haired man.

Shiro was continuing to take stock of this settlement. It seemed there were at least thirty men here. That was far too many for him to kill by himself. Given Ichigo was an okay swordsman that still left them with about ten men neither could account for.

Grimmjow waved for Midori to stop and walked into a large set of tents near the back of the camp. When the tent flap opened the scent of sakura flowers drifted from it.

Ichigo stopped glaring and looks around that scent jarring a memory.

"Careful Byakuya you don't want to jostle the baby too much." Ichigo remembered feeling safe despite the shaky hands holding him to a small chest.

"Oh my, dear look Ichigo is smiling." Ichigo recognized his mother's voice but his eyes remained locked on a cool pair of grey orbs. The small smile and long black hair. The soothing scent of sakura filled the infant's senses ingraining this memory of their first meeting. She was the prettiest girl Ichigo had even laid eyes upon.

Ichigo shook his head as they were lead into the tent by Midori.

Once inside the tent Ichigo came face to face with those cool grey eyes again, and she was just as beautiful as he remembered. "Shiro, is it possible for the leader of the mountain bandits to be a woman?"

Shiro looked at Ichigo like he'd grown two heads. "Where?" he asked looking back at the leader of the bandits and his brother.

All around them the other bandits in the tents were doubled over with laughter, save a tall red head, a monstrously huge brunette, Grim and the individual whose sex appeared to be in question, that is.

#$#

ch. 3 end

TBC...