The Seduction

Ichigo laid back on the white sheets of the antique mahogany bed. He knew that he was supposed to be meeting up with Starrk soon, but hadn't been told when. Aizen was temporarily away on business. The bed seemed vast when he was occupying it alone. The night was cold so Ichigo had started a fire, and lit several of the candles that were placed around the room. Still, the large room let in a lot of cold from the wide windows that overlooked the garden. Ichigo wrapped a blanket around himself with a small shiver.

Rain began to hit the windows, rapping on the panes slowly at first and then increasing. Ichigo buried his cold feet under the covers as the rain became hail, hitting more forcefully. Lightning lit the room and Ichigo counted to himself. 1...2...and thunder rumbled lowly. The storm must be moving in quickly, Ichigo thought to himself. It'll probably be hard to sleep but I should at least try.

He got up to blow out the candles, his bare feet recoiling slightly at the cold polished wood floorboards. He jumped, hearing a noise, then laughed at himself. Wow, those branches hit the window hard, he thought, looking out over the storm, watching the wind whip through the short trees near the window, causing another branch to scrap across the glass. Ichigo turned away. Lightning stuck again and he froze. Was that...a shadow? He slowly turned. The large window was now open. The wind began to bang it open and closed. Ichigo approached it with caution. I guess the latch broke, he thought, although he couldn't shake the ominous feeling that seemed to be all around him now. That feeling was only amplified when he pulled the window closed and nothing was wrong with it. He frowned as he locked it closed again. A slight wind blew at his back and he whirled around...to an empty room.

Why am I so jumpy tonight? Ichigo wondered. I actually enjoy storms for the most part. Sure the room is colossal and it's the first time that I've been alone overnight in it but that shouldn't mean anything.

Ichigo gasped and put his back to the wall. That time something had definitely touched him lightly along the back of his neck. The room appeared to be empty. Ichigo forced himself to close his eyes. I need to use my other senses, he thought. I letting myself get to caught up in emotion and human perception. Haven't I been training to detect for weeks with Ulquiorra? Yes, there's definitely a...

He felt a gloved hand along his jaw and he opened his eyes, meeting murky brown ones.

"Starrk?" Ichigo asked.

Starrk's hand caressed Ichigo's jaw, pulling his face forward, his eyes intent. Starrk took a step backward, and Ichigo stepped with him, not knowing why he did so. They wound up in the center of the room, the storm outside was raging still but somehow Ichigo couldn't hear it anymore. His eyes hadn't left Starrk's since meeting them. He couldn't guess at the swirling emotions he saw there.

At some point Starrk had taken his gloves off because his bare hands were making there way along the column of Ichigo's neck. Ichigo opened his mouth as his breathing quickened. Although Starrk's hand were cold they set Ichigo's flesh on fire. Ichigo finally closed his eyes, getting away from Starrk gaze, his head reeling back. Starrk's lips were on his own in a chaste kiss.

"Ichigo," Starrk whispered into Ichigo's ear. He gently rubbed his fangs in the hollow behind Ichigo's earlobe. Ichigo felt strong hands on his shoulders, holding him still as Starrk traced down further along Ichigo's neck. "Ichigo, you belong to me," Starrk said quietly.

Ichigo shuddered. His legs were weak and his eyes unfocused. He felt as though he should push Starrk away but couldn't muster even the barest thoughts together, much less the muscle control. One of Starrk's hands was at the small of his back, the other at the back of his head, pulling at his hair and exposing Ichigo's neck even more.

Starrk bit him, his fangs sinking in slowly, drinking him in deeply. Ichigo squirmed slightly but he felt Starrk's calm and steady pressure at his head and back holding him still. He felt like he was being poured out, a hot faucet at his neck, with fire and lust battling in his body. He began to get dizzy, feeling the room begin to spin.

He woke up with a start, alone in his bed. He blinked several times, then placed a hand to his neck. Nothing was there. He jumped up and closed the banging window. The latch must have come loose, he thought to himself as he stared at into the garden. I think I must be getting sick, I feel a little weak. He poked the coals of the dying fire and went back to bed.

Starrk was outside of his quarters leaning against the wall, his eyes closed. It's so hard to control myself when I know he'd give in to it, he thought. But that's not the way I want it. I want him to give himself to me. Even as he struggled with himself Starrk smiled, imagining Ichigo, flushed with want, "Starrk, please..." Yes, I'd make him ask more than once. I'd make him spell it out for me. "Starrk, I need you." "What do you need, Ichigo?"

"It's been awhile," a voice behind Starrk said, breaking him out of his happy thoughts.

Starrk allowed his face to set before turning to face Aizen. "Aw well, you did say to teach him. Not that I think he'll be off seducing maidens and sucking blood from the village folk or anything," Starrk replied calmly.

"Hm, I thought I put Ulquiorra in charge of training him, but then again, Ulquiorra isn't good at...certain things, and I suppose Grimmjow's methods are too forward. Better to be a little old fashioned I suppose."

Starrk inclined his head in agreement.

"Besides, now I get a treat when I come home early," Aizen said with a small smile. "I'm sure all of your venom running through his veins will give me quite the happy homecoming."

Starrk tried to not freeze up, but he felt his smile falter. What was he supposed to say, "Oh yes, Aizen. I'm so glad I got him nice and horny for you"? "Nothing you couldn't have done yourself," he settled on.

"Well, thank you anyways," Aizen told him. "I think I do find it exciting to watch the poor naive kid be played with by someone else though. Perhaps I should recruit Gin for next time."

Starrk's plastered smile didn't fade, but the light in his eyes was becoming dangerous. His Ichigo wasn't a plaything to just be passed around, especially to someone who could be as manipulative as Gin. I won't allow it, he thought to himself.

Aizen smiled again. "I do believe you are becoming a little too attached to the boy. Be careful. I haven't actually decided if he'll be useful to me or yet. He may not be around...for long..." he said as he left. He was actually a little sad that his back was facing the wolf, because he would have liked to see the expression on his face.

After Starrk got into his quarters and relaxed a bit, Lilynette sprawled across his lap, he thought about the whole scene for awhile. I'm being played, he thought to himself. I allowed myself to show too much emotion. I'm too smart to fall into these types of traps when he is clearly baiting me. For him to even think about doing it this way means I've been too obvious in my affections. I'm going to have to convince Aizen that what I feel for Ichigo is something other than romantic. What about the beast master thing? If I can prove that Ichigo really is a master and tamer of beasts then my connection to him will make sense. I'll act as though I am completely loyal to Ichigo and enamored of him, but not in a romantic way. Aizen considers me an overgrown mutt anyways, I'll just act like it. I'll need to get involved with someone else too.

Starrk starting going over the list of possibilities in his mind. The person would have to be a male, since everyone knew that was his persuasion, but he didn't want to actually get anyone hurt or anything. He supposed Nnoitra was a cold hearted bastard that he couldn't hurt, but the idea of letting Nnoitra touch him gave him chills, and he absolutely knew Nnoitra would want lots of sex. Plus the bastard was kind of sadistic.

Despite what Aizen had thought, Starrk hadn't been impressed with his veiled allusion to Ichigo "leaving" (one way or another). He knew enough about the future to know that Ichigo was a big part of it. He also knew that Aizen had been bored lately, and a brand new vampire from no family but with remarkable powers would definitely be enough to get and keep his attention even if Ichigo's charms faded over time.

"What pretty hair you hair, Tesla," Starrk said, as he ran his fingers though it. He had been chatting up the vampire for about ten minutes in the hall. He was shocked to see Tesla recoil from him.

"Oh...s-sorry," Tesla laughed nervously, putting his hand to his neck.

Starrk frowned. It was exactly the reaction of a dog after being beaten. Although at least Tesla didn't bare his teeth at him. He wasn't the type though. He'd roll over and bare his belly instead. Starrk's eyes narrowed. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine! I'm just...er...sore...from sparring with Nnoitra."

Nnoitra, of course. Starrk had to wonder why he hadn't considered the idea before. "If he's hurting you..."

"No! No! We were just training!" Tesla said.

Well, mark Tesla off the list. I'm not going to break him any more than he's already broken, Starrk thought to himself. I don't suppose there's any way I could convince him to leave Nnoitra easily. Maybe he could get Tesla to volunteer for a long away mission, observing people in Europe or some place equally far away. Isn't "making" him convinced forcing him to do something though?

While he had been pondering, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, Tesla had wondered off. He probably assumes I went to sleep, Starrk thought. Ah well, maybe I should, nothing better to do until I find a new target.

"Can ya really sleep standing up?" a voice asked him.

Starrk took a quick look at the light outside before answering. Hm, I've been out for maybe an hour, he judged.

"Yes," Starrk answered simply.

"Amazing," Shiro told him. "And if I had tried to do somethin to ya while ya were sleeping?"

"Wouldn't happen," Starrk assured him.

"I'm awfully curious as to how ya got to be number one dog around here," Shiro said with an exaggerated smile, obviously enjoying his pun.

"Maybe I'll show you sometimes," Starrk said with a hint of threat in his voice.

"Mm, you're kind of turning me on," Shiro said with a lecherous grin.

Fantastic, Starrk groaned to himself. Wait, isn't this what I need though? But, I don't know him enough to play him very well. However, he's new, it would make sense if we started a new romance...possibly...assuming he's not joking. Starrk looked into Shiro's sparkling eyes. Hm, he's half joking, Starrk considered. Why not make a game out of it, then? All I need is for it to be distracting enough for Aizen.

"I'm actually the best at a lot of things," Starrk said with a smirk.

"Like what?" Shiro asked.

"I'm faster than you, stronger than you, can fight longer than you," Starrk replied.

Shiro's eyes became fiery. "I doubt that."

"My, you seem to be a little distracted, Shiro," Gin said.

Shiro tore his eyes off of Starrk for moment. How the hell had he beaten him? He hadn't been prepared was all, next time they spared for sure he'd beat the wolf's ass. Shiro gnawed at his lip.

"The options as I see them are; Kaien ran away, Kaien got caught and killed, and Kaien got caught and is being used," Shiro said. "It's kinda hard to tell so far. I mean, shapeshifters are notoriously hard to find if they don't wanna be found."

"Or he ran away and is helping them," Tosen suggested.

"Well, I'd like to think he didn't do that," Shiro said with a shrug.

"We could always bait them a little. They sure went after Ichigo fast enough last time he was in public," Gin mentioned.

"The boy is hardly capable of defending himself yet," Ulquiorra chimed in. "It's too dangerous to use him in any plan that puts him in danger."

"What do you think, Starrk? I know you're not just playing chess in your mind right now," Aizen said.

Of course he's asking me, it involves Ichigo. And of course it's a stupid idea that will most likely endanger Ichigo and possibly hurt him. I had a confusing dream last night. Ichigo, covered in blood. Was that because of this? And yet for some reason I sense that if Aizen truly separated Ichigo and I, it wouldn't just be bad for me, but for all of us. Starrk forced a yawn and then shrugged. "Sounds like a plan to me, assuming the pup is up for it," he looked over at Ichigo.

Ichigo wasn't quite sure how he liked being called pup. He had been a little miffed at Starrk since finding out that he hadn't imagined the whole "Starrk snuck into my room and bit me" thing but had quickly forgiven the man when he looked at him with those soulful eyes. Pup though, that was a little far. Or was it supposed to be endearing, to a wolf maybe? Regardless, he bristled at the idea of being too scared to go outside "to the real world" as if he hadn't lived in it his whole life.

"Of course I'll go. I'd like to send a message to my family and let them know I'm doing ok anyways," Ichigo said.

Aizen paused. "Shiro, why don't you do the planning. Is there anyone you need?"

"The wolf," Shiro said.

"Better say my name," Starrk came back with.

"Starrk," Shiro rectified with a wide smile.

As they left Starrk came behind Shiro. "You need me, huh?" he asked.

"Feh," Shiro said. "I'm just waiting to get you in another place where I can really show you whose better."

"Wanna make me beg?" Starrk said in a lower voice.

Shiro liked competition. Fighting was his life and conflict got him going, in all ways. Starrk had him pegged exactly and had been playing him all week. Right now Shiro wasn't sure which he wanted more, to see Starrk bloodied on the ground or naked in his quarters.

Yeah, I'll make him kneel in front of me one way or the other, Shiro thought.

"I certainly wouldn't have pegged them for anything...anything romantic at least," Gin said to Aizen, as Shiro and Starrk left hall.

"Hm," Aizen replied.

"At least Shiro's predatory senses are keeping Starrk on his toes. This whole week I've been dodging the both of them."

Aizen didn't like when things didn't go according to plan. He had never planned for Ichigo to actually go out and be put in danger. He was still far too fond of his pet; his blushes, his sounds, the taste of his blood. He sighed. Starrk had always been a keen tactician though. Or was he simply on to the next new toy, the similar look alike of Shiro. No matter what, Starrk wouldn't have been controlling Shiro's actions, and Shiro was obviously into the wolf.

At least Shiro had picked Starrk to go on the mission. Aside from himself he was the person be able to defend Ichigo.

"You don't actually have to do this," Aizen told Ichigo, who was still sitting at the table.

"Like I said, I want to call my sisters and say hi. I doubt anything will happen and people will be there anyways," Ichigo replied.

"Just as we expected. I can sense them in the town already," Renji said. "Isn't it going to seem odd to them that we find them so soon though? They're in a totally different part of the country."

"I didn't make the decision to use this information this way," his captain responded. "My guess is that this new vampire is highly wanted because of his connection to Aizen."

"But if we have Kaien, why pick up his next toy?" Renji wondered.

"There was something off in the reading that we got in our last experience with him. Captain Kurotsuchi seems to think that he is very special," Captain Kuchiki answered. He wondered absently if they had killed enough time to let the vampires get settled or if they should attack yet.

"I'm sorry I've been so busy," Ichigo said into his cell phone. "Yeah I know you have to get to soccer practice, I'll talk to you later, Karin." He could hear his other sister yell in the background. "And tell Yuzu good-bye too." He looked back at the two vampires in the shadows behind him. "Both of those warlock jerks are back. Are we hanging around or ditching them?"

Both Shiro and Starrk blinked in surprise. Shiro looked over at Starrk who shrugged. Neither had felt anything. Starrk made a quick decision.

"Yes sir, a man in an expensive business suit and a college age student with bright red hair and tattoos, just like you said," the shopkeeper said into the phone. "They came right after you left."

"Why thank you ma'am," Starrk said. "I must have just missed my friends. Thanks for the help."

"No, thank you," the woman said, her hand still fondling the cash she'd been given.

"They're moving fast," Renji cursed.

"Too late, they already know," Captain Kuchiki said.

"How? Do they suspect Kaien..."

"Quiet. Some things we don't talk about in public," his captain rebuked him.

Back in Las Noches Gin was also curious. "But if neither of you two felt anything, how did the kid sense them?"

Ichigo was chowing down on a large bowl of ramen. It's not like the food was bad in Las Noches, he just missed cheap street food sometimes. "Er?" He looked up when he noticed that several heads were turned to him waiting for his reply.

"The birds told me. I guess the stupid bastards were up hovering in the air for a bit before heading over or something," he said. He grabbed a particularly succulent piece of pork and ate it with relish.

"Well now, and here I didn't think birds could talk," Gin said.

"Starrk talks to Lilynette all the time," Ichigo replied.

"That's a little different," Starrk told him.

"Can ya make 'em do things?" Shiro asked.

Ichigo nodded. "Only as long as it's something that they can actually do though. I mean, I can't make a dog fly a plane or anything."

"And you really didn't think that was something interesting?" Gin sounded amused.

"Well, I don't know. Most of you have really cool powers. I didn't really think mine was much," Ichigo said. "Besides, I've only been getting good at it recently."

"I guess we need to feed you more often then," Aizen said.

"Wanna flip a coin?" Shiro asked Starrk.

"Why? You always lose against me anyways. You can feed him," Starrk insisted.

"Hell no! Fair's fair!" Shiro got a coin out.

"Did you really mean 'right now'?" Gin asked Aizen. Aizen shrugged.

"Damn it," Shiro said, losing the toss. "I don't wanna feed him."

"We still need to figure out how they found you so fast," Aizen said.

"That's his version of 'get the hell out' I think," Shiro said to Ichigo.

Shiro, Ichigo, and Starrk left Tosen, Gin and Aizen to their planning.

"Tell you what," Starrk said into Shiro's ear. "How about if I feed the kid now and you pay me back by letting me get a bite in later tonight."

Shiro smirked. "Aw, disappointed we didn't get to have any fun today?"

Starrk was actually very happy with the way things had turned out but he instead allowed a smile to creep across his face. "Aren't you?"

"See you tonight then," Shiro said, leaving.

"Wasn't he going to...?" Ichigo asked.

Like I'd let him touch you, Starrk thought. "No. You can have me," he offered, his eyes laughing at his wording. I mean it, Ichigo, he thought.

His meaning didn't fly past Ichigo, who blushed. "Well don't go too far, your boyfriend might get mad," Ichigo said.

Starrk sighed.

Ichigo bit him, and Starrk wished he had taken longer doing it, wanting to savor the moments their bodies were joined, even if it was just at the neck. Ichigo seemed a little put out though and left immediately afterward. Regardless, Ichigo's venom was rushing through Starrk's veins, turning him on painfully. He always does this to me, Starrk thought, but I keep doing it anyways. He turned to find his way to Grimmjow's room but realized that Grimmjow might be trying to repair things with Ulquiorra.

"Need anything?" Shiro said from around the corner, where he had been waiting.

"A little predatory, don't you think?"

"I am a predator," Shiro replied. "And I'll take that visit now rather than later."

"Lilynette? What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked the wandering wolf.

"Starrk said that he loves you," Lilynette told Ichigo, barking.

"What?"

"He doesn't want to get you in trouble with Aizen so he's trying to not act interested in you, but he just wanted you to know that he's still planning on winning you," the wolf said with a whine, nuzzling Ichigo's hand.

"Why this way?" Ichigo asked.

"Aizen's hypnosis. You never know where he is. Starrk suspects that Aizen was in the room with you when Starrk came last time. He doesn't want to make that mistake again. This way, no one can hear."

"You're really smart, even for a wolf," Ichigo told Lilynette.

"I'm not fully a wolf anyways," she said.

Ichigo wondered what she meant but she was already going down the hall.

Aizen was there? Ichigo blushed in embarrassment before starting to get angry. What, he was spying on me? His eyes narrowed.