Naturalist: Born To Be Mine
The mountains are more formidable than Ichigo first thought, his irritation growing to new heights as he can just imagine that godforsaken panther spirit laughing down at him with a smug grin. Oh, he wanted to ring his neck! The cub, Chess as Ichigo named him, tugs on his pant leg and runs off into the rock.
"Chess!" Ichigo calls. "Chess, get back here!"
With a sigh and a small smirk, he follows the bounding cub. There, hidden behind two overlaying rocks and a large tree, is a tunnel and Chess is waiting patiently for Ichigo to join him. With a hug and kiss and praise for his new companion, Chess leads Ichigo through the tunnel that cuts straight through the imposing mountain. He's surprised when the trip is over in no time, probably just a few hours, and he's stepping into a lush jungle ten times more beautiful than the outer one. His breath is stolen from him, his eyes huge and in complete awe, and Chess sits beside him in order to wait out his new mommy's shock.
"This place… it's so beautiful," Ichigo murmurs. "And… familiar. Why is it familiar to me? I wish I had gotten to read the last of that book, I'll bet it would've helped me out."
He starts forward carefully, confused as to which way the temple would lie and deciding to just walk straight. If its in the middle, walking a straight line should get him fairly close. Chess bounces beside him, leaping onto Ichigo's shoulders when he gets tired. The orangette knows this is the same jungle from his dreams, he knows it as well as he knows Grimmjow's human body, but he doesn't understand why he's been dreaming about it for the past months. The jungle seems to embrace him as he steps through it, the path lit by golden light from the sun above, and Chess mewls as he chases a butterfly the size of Ichigo's palm. A panther snarls at the cub, raising a paw to send it flying, but Ichigo is in between them with a growl of his own. The sound is so much like Grimmjow's, that the orangette is looking around for the blue haired man in surprise. The panther hurries off, Chess growling a pathetic little sound as though he were the one that scared it away.
"Whoa… that was weird," Ichigo murmurs. "Come on, Chess, let's get to that temple."
The jaguar shakes his head before bouncing after his mommy, nipping at Ichigo's pant leg in order to get him to play. Ichigo smiles down at the little thing, scolding it softly before Chess sighs and runs off after another large butterfly. Although he's bent on playing, Chess never strays too far from Ichigo. It's getting dark when the orangette finally has to stop, his legs sore and his whole being just too tired. He sets up camp and takes out some the of the dried fish to eat, handing a bit to Chess as well. As they sit there beneath the starlit sky, Ichigo's eyes on the dazzling array of tiny pinpricks, he once again wonders why this place seems so familiar.
"Chess, ever since I started having those dreams I've been… I don't know… lost, I guess," he sighs as the cub purrs against him. "I miss home, but I just can't leave this place to be destroyed! I don't care what Pantera says, I've got a chance to save this place for good! I'm not gonna let his pride ruin everything, there's more at stake here than just him… The selfish bastard."
Ichigo lays down, letting the jaguar snuggle up to his chest beneath his blanket, and slowly nods off. From the brush around them, steps a furious panther god. Ichigo had sworn he wasn't interested in coming here, had promised he'd leave as soon as he reached the mountains, but he lied. He's no better than the other humans so enthralled with destroying his home… his kingdom. He raises his heavy paw, long dagger-like claws unsheathed, and aims for a crushing blow to the orangette's head. If he wants to die in this place, so be it. It tears his heart apart to have to end this little inferno's life, but his kingdom comes before his own wants and needs. With only the smallest ounce of hesitance, he swings. Chess peeks out from the blanket, hissing in irritation that someone would dare to harm his mother, that being the only thing that has that killing blow veering away at the last minute. Pantera's eyes are wide in shock, Ichigo's still slumbering form raising a hand to stroke behind the jaguar's ears.
"It's okay, Chess," Ichigo murmurs. "No one's gonna hurt you, I'll keep you safe."
*Go away! * Chess hisses at Pantera. *I won't let you hurt mommy! *
*Stupid cub, that's not your mom, * Pantera growls back. *He's a human and he's gonna destroy everything here! He needs to go! *
*Mommy belongs here! Mommy said everything will be better once he reaches the temple! * Chess mewls. *Mommy will fix it! Mommy will make the humans go away for good! *
*Ichigo can't do anything but make things worse! He can't survive here, this isn't his world! *
*I will take care of mommy! * Chess hisses with a clawed paw batting toward the god. *Mommy doesn't need you, you only hurt mommy more! Just go away! *
Pantera watches the cub tremble in fear as he stands up to the powerful panther god, his eyes large and teary even as he sneaks his batting paw from beneath Ichigo's blanket. The panther shakes his head in disbelief, stood up to by a baby because of this annoyingly sexy human… how pathetic. He sighs, his body glowing a bright silver that has Ichigo burying his face in his pillow before morphing into his human form.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Grimmjow grumbles quietly. "All because of a stupid little runt cub! I'm so gonna regret this, I just know I am."
He packs away Ichigo's things, slinging the bag over his shoulder before lifting Ichigo, blanket and all, into his arms. The orangette mumbles his name in his sleep, cuddling closer to the muscled chest unconsciously as Chess clambers onto broad shoulders. The cub sits, looking as smug as Grimmjow every thought of being, and the teal haired panther god continues to gripe the whole way to his temple.
Ichigo is back in his dream, though it's the same as before. He knows he's there, but he's in someone else's body and watching their past unfold. He's kneeling in the grass with a hand-woven basket beside him, picking both flowers and herbs as he hums to himself. Over to the side, a small pack of jaguars lounge within the trees. He hears footsteps behind him, turning minutely to see a man with long brown hair slicked back and a curl hanging between his eyes. He gives off a charming personality and a kind smile, waving to Ichigo as he steps closer.
"Good afternoon, miss," he greets. "My name is Sosuke Aizen, and you are?"
"My name is Lyre," Ichigo answers in a melodic tone that resembles wind chimes. "I'm the caretaker of the temple here."
"Caretaker? You mean, you belong to the god you serve?" he wonders. "That's how it works here, correct? The caretakers and priestesses serve a single god and belong only to them?"
"Yes, sir. I belong to the panther god, Pantera."
"Hmm… Is there any other that belongs to him?"
"No, sir, he's a very picky god," Ichigo chuckles softly. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"… What type of herb is that?" Aizen wonders as he points to the basket.
Ichigo knows he shouldn't but the body he's in automatically turns to look at the indicated herb, a sharp pain exploding throughout his body as a sword is plunged through. Crimson is everywhere, staining the beautiful ivory robes he's wearing as his body hit's the ground.
"W-why?" he whimpers out.
"I owed Pantera at least that," Aizen smirks. "After all… he refused to help me get my love back. It's only fair I take his away as well. I'm sorry you had to get involved, you are truly very lovely."
He walks away, Ichigo trying to force himself to his feet and succeeding only in harming himself more. The jaguars are stirring, furious and vengeful, the pack splitting up immediately. Half of them go after the man that drew about their precious human's end, a few more running back toward the temple, and the rest lay around Ichigo to keep him warm until help comes. It takes no time at all, the infuriated snarl and mournful howl of Pantera echoing through the trees as his body careens through the brush. He's in his human form in a heartbeat, rushing to Ichigo's side with pained eyes full of loss.
"Lyre," he whispers. "Lyre, open your eyes."
"P-Pantera," Ichigo forces out between bloodstained lips. "I'm so s-sorry."
"No, it's not your fault," he says as he fights to hold back tears. "It's mine. I should've been here… I should've protected you."
"S-Silly god," the orangette smiles. "You c-can't protect me… all the time."
"Lyre… I can't fix this," the teal haired male cries. "It's too far… I can't…"
"It doesn't m-matter," Ichigo chuckles as his voice fades. "I'll c-come back… to you… I… l-love you, silly… p-panther…"
Ichigo is still there, still watching through dead eyes, and he knows by the look of absolute shock and pure mourning… that that was the first time Lyre had ever said those words. He hears an answering whisper from the panther god, though the body he's in is already gone. A flash of gold light behind them catches Ichigo's attention, an exotic and curvaceous woman with long purple hair and yellow eyes setting a hand on Pantera's shoulder.
"Yorouchi," he mutters. "I couldn't save her."
"No, but that's a mortal's life for you," she sighs sadly. "Don't worry, she'll be born again."
"… How long do I have to wait?"
"No one knows with these things, you just have to move on until it happens."
"I don't want to move on," he growls furiously.
"Ah, Grimmy," Yorouchi sighs as she kneels beside him. "You've always been my favorite creation, you know that, right?"
"… I guess," the other mutters halfheartedly.
"There isn't anything I can do right now, but… there's something I can do for the long run. If you swear to me you'll get over this horrible twist of fate and move on, I'll make you a promise that you'll never lose her again."
"… I promise," the panther god breathes out.
"Every god and goddess has one person born specifically for them," she answers. "You haven't had one yet, as I haven't chosen them. As your parental god, or the one that ushered you into this little world of ours as my underling, I have that right. You'll never lose her again, Grimmy, because when she's reborn it won't be in the world of humans… she'll be a goddess when she returns to you."
Ichigo can feel his heart breaking all over again at that, rage swelling in a tidal wave that threatens to destroy his whole being. Grimmjow is in love with someone that will come back as a goddess, that will never leave him and will never grow old. Ichigo would never be able to compare to that, as he's just a human and won't be able to give Grimmjow everything a goddess could. He wants to cry, wants to scream, but completely stills when he hears Grimmjow's next words.
"No," he states. "She was a human, she shouldn't have to be forced away from that. If she's to be reborn, I want her to be human… and I never want to see her again. It's my fault this happened to her, I knew she couldn't survive my world, but I pulled her into it anyway. I ignored my instincts to have what I wanted, it won't happen again."
"Grimmy, another will be born as your own," Yorouchi sighs. "You know they will, so why not make it one you've already fallen in love with?"
"I won't take anyone that can't survive in my world," he frowns. "In this life or the next, it'll never change… she'll never be able to survive here. I'd much rather have her live safe and happy away from me. And don't even think of choosing a mate for me in the future! I don't need help in that area!"
The woman laughs, loud and long. Ichigo can feel power behind that action alone, shocked at the cat-like woman's ability to control such strength. As he listens to that laughter, he slowly falls away from the body he's in and toward a pool that looks like that strange paw print of silver. When his body hit's the cold phosphorescent waters, he's bolting awake within a temple of ivory.
"What the fuck?" he murmurs. "Where the hell am I? Is this still my dream?"
Chess purrs beside him, so he knows it's not. The sun is up, shining into the temple and lighting up everything around him. It's so beautiful, so well kept and perfect… no different from the day it was erected. The statue in the middle of the large room he's in looks exactly like Grimmjow, but Ichigo knows it to be Pantera. He pulls out his camera and his painting supplies, setting them up before taking a few pictures of the statue. He'll photograph everything before painting a few things, leaving the moment he's finished. He doesn't want to take anything, break anything, or disturb the panther god anymore than he already has.
"Come on, Chess," he murmurs. "Let's hurry so we can leave, okay? This place wasn't meant for people like me."
"You can say that again," Grimmjow scoffs from one of the doorways. "What the fuck are you doing trespassing in my jungle?"
"Trust me, if I had found another way I never would've come back here," Ichigo snarls.
"I left you go because I trusted you wouldn't come back like all the others! You said you weren't interested in coming here, why did you lie to me!"
"I didn't lie to you!" the orangette yells right back. "I didn't want to come here! Did you really think I wanted to see you again after you hurt me? Did you seriously think I enjoyed knowing you lied to me and used my body that whole time I was here?"
"I didn't lie to you and I certainly didn't use you."
"Oh, so I was supposed to automatically know you happened to be the very panther spirit I had come to find," Ichigo scoffs bitterly. "And that your interest in me was pure lust. I mean, that's what I took it for in the beginning, but the longer you kept talking to me like that… well…"
"You are such a whiny little bitch, do you know that?" Grimmjow snaps. "So I didn't tell you I was a god, would you seriously have believed me? And I wasn't just fucking around with you, I really liked you. Why else did you think I'd bring you all the way to the mountains and make sure you got back in one piece? There were a hell of a lot of chance to let you bite the dust, you know! Even this time…"
"Wait… what?" Ichigo growls. "You were nowhere near me!"
"I own this place, dumb ass!" he scoffs. "That wild dog? I had the alligator take it out. The jaguars? I'm the one that told them not to harm you. Yeah, I was trying to get rid of you, but not like that! I didn't want to kill you, Ichi… I just wanted you to leave so I wouldn't have to."
"… You were going to," Ichigo accuses in a small voice. "You stupid piece of shit! I can't believe I ever liked you! Here I am risking my life to saver your fucking jungle and you repay me by trying to kill me? Was it in my sleep? Is that when you did it? What stopped you! Why did you bring me here!"
"… The cub likes you… calls you his 'mommy'," the panther god sighs in defeat. "He threatened me, told me you didn't need me and he could protect you… I've always been a sucker for cubs."
Needless to say, that doesn't serve to quell Ichigo's temper in the least. He screams out in frustration, throwing his camera at the teal haired man and stomping off with tears in his eyes. Sure, he didn't expect much of anything from Grimmjow once he found out he was Pantera… but is it too much to ask for the other to spare his life after fucking him so many times? Being his good little whore has to earn the orangette something, right?
Chess glares balefully up at the panther god, Grimmjow grumbling his irritation as he holds the camera he barely caught before it beamed him in the face. Ichigo has a much more violent temper than Lyre had, the two night and day really.
"I hope you're happy," he accuses the cub.
*I'm not the one who made mommy mad, * Chess scoffs in return. *That was all you. What kind of mate tries to kill their submissive? *
"Oh, shut up," Grimmjow growls. "Like you know anything anyway."
*I know that mommy just has to take pictures and paintings and then the humans will leave this place alone, * the cub smirks smugly.
"… What?"
*Mommy is friends with the man who owns the land now, * Chess states with a mewl. *They made an agreement. Mommy said so, mommy said that's all he has to do and the humans will go away. *
Grimmjow looks down guiltily, sighing in a mixture of frustration and regret before hurrying out of the temple. Ichigo is not there, the panthers sprawled out all over with confused looks on their faces.
"Where is he?"
All of them turn their heads simultaneously in the same direction, Grimmjow utter a quick 'thank you' as he passes them by. Chess bounds after him, stopping short when one of the female panthers pull him back. He knows what that means, though he doesn't like it… the grown-ups have to talk alone.
Grimmjow moves faster than any one human could dream of, taking fallen trees and large boulders in single leaps. Ichigo's scent is strong, but it's slowly getting tinted with blood and it's making the other panic as flashbacks of Lyre's demise fill his head. Finally, he catches a head of orange hair within a clearing and hurries over.
"Ichigo, are you okay?" he asks.
"Fine," he huffs. "Just… stay away from me."
"I can heal you."
"You're the one that hurt me!" the orangette snaps. "Go away!"
"You're bleeding, Ichigo, let me heal you before you get an infection."
With a huff, the other curses beneath his breath and lifts up his shirt to show Grimmjow the deep cut in his tan skin. He doesn't ask how it was gotten, as he catches blood dripping from a jagged edge of a boulder beside where the teen crouches. No doubt he ran blindly in his tearful rage, missing the jagged rock and running too close to it. He settles himself next to Ichigo and places a hand over the injury, warmth seeping into the other's body as the skin mends itself without a scar.
"Are you better now?"
"…"
"Don't give me the silent treatment, you know that's not gonna work… I can read minds, you know."
*Stupid fucker, * Ichigo thinks just to spite him.
"Okay, that wasn't nice," Grimmjow frowns. "Come on, Ichigo, I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too," Ichigo mutters bitterly. "I'm sorry I ever met you."
"I know you're just angry right now, you don't really mean that."
"Just like you didn't really mean to try and kill me!" the smaller male shouts. "Just like how you wouldn't have succeeded if it weren't for Chess!"
"I'm just trying to protect my jungle."
"What the hell am I gonna do to it, Grimmjow! I'm a naturalist! Nature is my life!"
"You're also human…"
"So were you once," Ichigo spits. "Would you have destroyed this place given the chance?"
Grimmjow looks to the ground, knowing Ichigo's right. It may have been another time back then, but a human was a human… and they rarely change. The other has grown quiet, garnering blue pools that take in the massive amount of sadness and fury and betrayal in amber eyes.
"I thought I loved you," Ichigo mutters. "I thought you loved me, too… but I'm no Lyre, am I?"
"W-what?"
"Just let me finish what I came to do… you'll never see me again, that I swear to you."
"… I do love you," Grimmjow sighs in relent. "I love you even more than I did her. You're so much more than what she was, I couldn't help but love you. I just… don't want you to get hurt like she did."
"Why, did you piss off someone else? I mean, besides me."
"You can't survive in my world, Ichigo…"
"That's because you don't want me to," Ichigo glares. "So let me save this place and get the hell out of your hair. If you weren't gonna keep me, the least you could've done was leave me alone."
Ichigo gets up and starts back toward the temple, Grimmjow at his heels with a hurt look on his face. He honestly hadn't even thought about 'after' when he first saw the orangette, all he could think of was how much he wanted to talk to him. Even if he never had the chance to touch him intimately, at least he could've heard that beautiful voice speak his name. Even with Lyre he didn't feel that, as he could've passed her up without a second thought before he looked at her. With Ichigo, he just had to hear that voice to know he had to have it around him every day. He hadn't even seen him before he craved his company, but after seeing him… that small flame turned into a wildfire.
"How are you gonna save this place when I've been trying for centuries and haven't succeeded completely?" he asks to get his mind off erotic thoughts of their past trysts.
"Byakuya Kuchiki bought all this land not long ago," Ichigo explains. "He dabbles in archeology and he's like a super billionaire, or something. When he heard about the legendary temple stuck smack dab in the middle of your jungle, he started trying to take down the jungle or at least make a path to get to it. You kept getting in his way, so his attempts started to get more drastic."
"And that has to do with you… how?"
"He's like a big brother to me, but he's always thought of me as his little sister… which means he's more apt to spoiling me than reprimanding me. I called him up and started sobbing about how they were trying to burn down such a beautiful place, how it inspired me more than anything and I needed it to be safe, and how pictures and paintings could tell archeologists just as much as them trampling all over and destroying everything," Ichigo remarks. "He told me that if I could reach the temple and take enough pictures and paint enough detailed paintings for him, then he would sell me the land and I would be the sole owner of this entire jungle. That means, only myself and anyone with my permission can enter."
"… You could've been killed if I weren't watching you."
"I don't care," Ichigo states. "My life is just one. Imagine how many would've died if I failed."
"I would've killed every human…"
"No, Grimmjow, not human," Ichigo murmurs as he lifts Chess into his arms. "Come on, Chess, let's get started… we have a lot to do yet."
Grimmjow watches in complete bafflement as they walk back into the temple, Chess sticking his tongue out at the muscular man for good measure. After a moment, a small affectionate smile touches the panther god's lips… Ichigo really is something else entirely. He sits and watches as Ichigo snaps picture after picture, suddenly very glad he didn't slam the camera on the ivory covered ground in his anger. It takes the rest of the day, but finally a weary Ichigo takes the last roll of film and puts the contraption away.
"Come on, Ichi… I'll make dinner," Grimmjow states as he leads Ichigo further into the temple.
"No, I don't need you taking care of me," the orangette mutters though it's through a yawn.
"And you're in the perfect shape to stop me," the panther god says sarcastically. "Now shut up and sit down, or you'll go to bed hungry."
As much as he wants to stand his ground, Ichigo is starving. He's already skipped lunch because he's was so angry with the teal haired god, so he relents… though he tells himself it's for Chess's sake. As they eat, Ichigo and Grimmjow at the table and Chess just beside Ichigo's chair, the orangette pointedly keeps his eyes turned away from the other. Grimmjow has never liked silence, especially when coming from one he views as a mate. There may have only been a handful, but the rules apply to all of them.
"Thank you, Ichigo," he says carefully. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you, I'm sorry I didn't trust you more, but I want to thank you for going up against my stubbornness to save my home."
"… I was just too stubborn to let you win," Ichigo grumbles. "That's one trait we have in common."
"I'm glad for it. I'm so sorry for trying to kill you, it was the last thing I wanted to do. It nearly crushed me to even think of having to do it, let alone actually going through with it," Grimmjow admits. "Afterward… I was planning on hibernating for… like… ever."
"Why?"
"This place would've reminded me too much of you and the guilt would've eventually killed me on the inside. It's better to just give up than walk around an empty shell."
"You're lucky I don't' have my camera, or I'd throw it at you again!" Ichigo snaps. "Just because you're forced to do something you don't want to doesn't mean you have the right to take the easy way out! I would've haunted your dreams until you woke up screaming if you did!"
Grimmjow laughs at that, the furious blush on Ichigo's face only growing in intensity at the sound. The whole conversation is just turning foolish and they both know that, but they're so comfortable with one another that they just can't seem to care. After dinner, Chess is told to stay with the panthers for the night by Grimmjow and the cub only does so because he knows his mommy likes this alpha. That doesn't mean he didn't give Grimmjow a hassle first, what kind of kid would he be if he didn't? Ichigo is invited into the teal haired man's room, accepting on the promise nothing will happen and he has the right to kick the god's ass if he tries anything. The room is beautiful, filled with overstuffed cushions and sheer draperies around the bed, hand-woven mats of vibrant colors and jewelry and gold and other expensive trinkets. It looks like the room of a pharaoh or some great king, but that's only fitting considering this is a room that belongs to a god.
"Here, you can wear this," Grimmjow offers. "The nights get fairly hot here, unlike in the meadow, so you'll want something to keep you cool."
"Thank you."
He shows Ichigo to a large five paneled changing screen with panthers painted on each panel, the orangette slipping into the thin silk robe he could swear came from Egypt. Afterward, he's led to the bed and lays down on what feels like a cloud. The sheet is silk and also rather thin, keeping them cool as the night grows humid, and it isn't long before Grimmjow's arm is draped over Ichigo's narrow waist. Surprisingly, this only helps the teen fall asleep much easier.
Grimmjow wakes in the morning alone, the orangette long since gone if the coolness from his side of the bed is anything to go by. With a yawn and a stretch, he gets up and heads into the main room of the temple where his subjects would come to pray to his statue. Ichigo is already there, carefully drawing paint across the canvas as his pink tongue peeks out in his concentration. Chess is lying at the base of his statue, staying very still as Ichigo paints his likeness.
"Good job, Chess," Ichigo grins. "You'll make this picture look even better!"
"You're at it early," Grimmjow remarks.
"Yeah well… I didn't want to bother you for too long."
"Ichi, come on, don't start this again," Grimmjow frowns. "I said I was sorry and I really do want you with me, but we both know that won't work. I won't leave the jungle, you can't survive in the jungle, and you'll miss your life outside here."
"It's not like I'd be trapped here, Grimm," the orangette huffs. "I can leave whenever I want, I know the way. I don't mind staying here with you, but there are things I have to do out there. I can always come back, can't I?"
"But I don't want you every now and then, I want you all the time!"
"Well I'm sorry, but sometimes you just have to compromise!" Ichigo shouts. "Is that so hard for a god to do? To admit that sometimes he just can't have everything?"
"… Yeah, actually… it's hell for us to admit."
"My god, you're impossible!"
Grimmjow chuckles at that, trying to suppress it and knowing he failed when he's met with Ichigo's scowl. He clears his throat and tries to bush it off, the orangette's grip on his paintbrush tightening in warning.
"Is something funny to you?" the vibrant haired teen hisses out.
"… You said 'my god'," he smirks. "In a temple… to a god that just so happens to like you."
The paintbrush is thrown without another thought, leaving a splatter of yellow on a tan face even though it's caught. It's a moment of stillness, and then Grimmjow carefully walks over to Ichigo… and leaps. Ichigo yelps, Chess rolling his eyes at their childishness before jumping down to play, and Grimmjow pins the orangette beneath him with his hand holding Ichigo's wrists above his head.
"Grimmjow! Damn it, let me go!"
"Awe, but you look so bland," he teases. "You need some color!"
"Don't you dare!"
With a laugh, he brings the brush down on Ichigo's cheek and starts to move it around. The teen beneath his tries to move away, furious that it's not working, and finally the teal haired male grins feral as he lets him go. Ichigo huffs and move over to a small pool that rings the entire room and has about five panther head fountains spitting water from the wall in evenly spaced integers. Looking into the water, he reads the words written in gold on his cheek and blushes. Grimmjow leans over his shoulder to look at their reflections together, picking out the 'I' a small heart and 'U' on the tan skin.
"Now you look very colorful," he chuckles.
"You're one to talk," Ichigo mumbles in embarrassment. "You're lucky I don't have Chess bite you."
"Not like he hasn't tried, the little monster."
"Hey, Grimm… I mean… Pantera? Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," he hums. "And don't call me that. If I wanted you to call me that I would've introduced myself as such."
"I keep having these dreams and in them… well… there's you and me and sometimes you're a panther. A couple times I was seeing the past and I was in a girl's body…"
"Oh, kinky."
"Shut up and listen!" he scowls. "There's always this really weird silver paw print…"
"What?" Grimmjow asks suddenly in shock.
"I saw when I was born, and there was a little silver paw print right here," Ichigo states as he points to them spot. "And it was there again when I was with you in one of my dreams. I fell into one when I was Lyre and I saw the day she died… there was a strange woman you called Yorouchi."
"She's the high goddess of felines," Grimmjow murmurs. "She's kind of like my mom, if you want to get technical. She's the one that turned me into a god when I died."
"What does that paw print mean? Was it something Lyre had?"
"No, she never even carried my mark," Grimmjow admits. "The paw print is a mark given to a feline god or goddess's mate, but they're all different colors. Yorouchi is the only one that can place them all, but only once for each… that's when she chooses the mate born for her 'children'."
Grimmjow doesn't say anything more for a very long time, though Ichigo waits patiently for his answer, his eyes staring within the waters that are shamed by their color. After a moment, he pulls away from Ichigo and moves to sit beside the pool with a faraway look to his eyes. Ichigo joins him after washing his face, wetting his shirt on the end to wipe off the god's face as well. It takes only a couple minutes, but soon Grimmjow is pulling Ichigo over to straddle his lap. The orangette doesn't fuss, but waits patiently as those hands carefully tilt his head to expose his slender neck. Fingertips gently slide along the skin there, a warm feeling tingling through the teen as Grimmjow watches the silvery paw print surface in the same manner as light off the inside of a seashell.
"Grimmjow, are you okay?" Ichigo asks softly.
"… You're so beautiful," he murmurs in a lost tone. "So much more so than she was."
"Okay, you're starting to worry me," the orangette scowls. "Did I ask something wrong?"
"No," he says. "The paw print means… You were born for me."