Okay, I have a couple things to say before I get started. First off, I'm sorry you all expected to see baby Ichi grow up with the tiger pack... I sort of skipped that part ^^; Secondly, I know I've been hating on Cirruci lately. I don't mean to, but I didn't think of someone else to hate on (Lolli or Menoly... and just now Luppi) until someone mentioned it. She's just the first person that pops into my head. Also, I'd like to remind everyone about the Black Out day. Today is June 22, which is also the same in GMT time! Tomorrow, don't get on FF for any reason whatsoever, whether reader or author! =) Thank you! =D
In answer to anonymous review titled 'Anonymous Sorry': I'm sorry you're not liking my fic "The Divine", you know who you are. I thank you for bringing to my attention my fondness for Ichigo as a 'female'. However, I'm going to have to point out that by now it should be rather obvious my fics have a large chance of turning into an mpreg. Usually upon request. I will, however, point out that it just happened and you really don't know how I'm going to spin it. That being said, I'd also like to state that I'm trying not to write mpreg as often. The two new fics I'm putting up will not have mpreg. Thank you for your review.
Okay, I feel better now. =) As I've stated before, I can't stand anonymous reviews when they semi-bash my writing. I'd much rather be able to answer them, not all of them are as bad as they think. I'm actually tempted to go through my fics and count how many are mpregs, just to make a point if only to myself. Anyway! Let's move on from that. =) As always, you get to pick from the stockpile that still stays strong at 10 chapters. Most are of Demon, but three are of "Hacking My Heart". No more "A Tiger's Stripes", sorry about that. Fortunately, I can tell you I'm on the last chapter of Demon... there are 22 in all =D
Ichi: I thought you said it was almost over on chapter 15. *skeptical look*
Vae: ... Well... I did... but... You see, it was sort of like... well I... IT WAS GRIMMJOW'S FAULT! T^T
Grimm: What the fuck! Don't blame me for your mistake, damn it!
Vae: But it was his fault! He just had to take his own sweet time finishing up that damn challenge! D= I didn't even get to go in depth when it came to everyone else's fight!
Shiro: Whoa! Now's a good time ta shut it! Ya don' wanna give too much away, now do ya?
Vae: ... Oops. *sheepish laugh* Sorry. On with the fic! =)
Chapter 2
Ichigo leaps between boulders on all fours, chasing his brother happily with an agility he gained from years of practice. He's nineteen summers old now, his body packed with lithe muscle from his constant activity. His skin is golden from being out in the sun all day, his amber eyes almost glowing as they've been trained to see in the dark, and his orange hair is slightly shaggy and cut unevenly thanks to his haircuts basically being Yorouchi using her claws to shorten it.
"Shiro, wait!" he calls.
"It's called chase fer a reason, Ichi, keep up!"
The white tiger, the only other cub within Ichigo's litter, is really the only tiger in Kisuke's pride that pays Ichigo any attention. Shiro is one of the most aggressive and dangerous tigers within the pride, especially since his own short coming of white fur threatens his survival, yet he's always held Ichigo's safety above his own. Shiro is one of the more alpha tigers, whereas Ichigo is more submissive and can be taken advantage of easily because he's so quick to trust. He lost count of the times Shiro stopped the other tiger cubs from running him ragged with requests for him to find stuff.
Shiro crosses the rapids before the waterfall with ease, turning to make sure Ichigo follows. The orangette jumps between boulders within the rapids, grinning widely as he reaches the middle of the river… and then he slips. The moisture upon the rocks has built up and his hands and feet don't have the rough pads that Shiro's does. He yelps as he slides into the waters, his brother growling as he skips the rocks to get ahead of his little brother. As Ichigo is carried past him, he grips the nape of Ichigo's neck roughly to yank him out of the waters.
"Ouch!" Ichigo whines.
"Stop whinin', I can' pull ya up witout hurtin' ya!" Shiro hisses around the mouthful of skin.
He pulls the younger male out of the rapids, breathing in exertion as he tries to make room on the boulder for him. Once they've caught their breath, Shiro decides it's best if they head to the den. He stays behind Ichigo, making certain he makes it back before following, and then they're heading home.
The den is placed in the thick of the jungle, just a chain of natural caves worn into a cliff side that brushes twelve feet high and twice as long. Yorouchi and Kisuke are lying in the sun there, content to laze within the warmth as their cubs play within their territory. When Ichigo's downtrodden form appears first, Yorouchi purrs and sits up to beckon her youngest to her. Ichigo sighs heavily and sits between her massive paws, groaning when she starts to bathe him.
"Momma, I don't want a bath," he whines. "I just had one."
"… Oh? And where was this?" she frowns.
"… I fell in the river," he sulks before adding quickly, "But Shiro saved me. He always takes really good care of me."
"That's my boy!" Kisuke grins toothily. "Come here you little devil, you look like you need a bath, too."
Shiro growls, but complies anyway. The two sit quietly until their parents are finished, and then they're let go. Ichigo stays with his mother, always hesitant to join the other tigers without her, and she allows him to curl up against her side.
"Momma, I don't like being different," he mutters. "Why is it so hard for me to keep up?"
"We've been through this, cub," she states. "You're a runt; they always have more trouble with things than the others because they're not as strong or fast. You've done very well so far, far better than any other runt we've had here. You should be proud… I know I am."
"I guess."
Kisuke lifts his head, glancing back into the foliage as more of their pride joins them. Shinji is at the head of the group, followed by his cub, Hiyori. She's small, but not a runt like Ichigo, and she loves to pick on the orange haired cub. Shiro is quick to trot out of the den and lie down beside his brother, never willing to leave the two alone after Ichigo was almost eaten by a pack of wolves during his fifth summer… Hiyori had goaded him into crossing the territory to investigate an abandoned settlement. He never reached the settlement.
"Ichigo," she grins wickedly.
"Don' even!" Shiro snarls as he bats his paw in warning. "Ya fuckin' bitch!"
She sidesteps the aggressive feline, hissing furiously as Shinji nudges her forward with his nose. Mashiro trots out after them, an older cub that was found abandoned by Lisa and Kensei a couple months before Shiro and Ichigo were born. They raised her as their own much like Yorouchi did Ichigo, though the later doesn't yet know he's adopted. Rose and Hachigen meander from the den, having stayed behind in favor of watching over their pride leader. Love is still out hunting for tonight's dinner, the other never liking company at times like these. Tomorrow morning, Shiro and Ichigo will have to hunt for breakfast. Yorouchi will head out earlier, however, as she never likes trusting Shiro to watch Ichigo when he's into the hunt. The last time she did, he left Ichigo behind and the orange haired male was chased by a family of hippos that happened to be taking care of a few newborns. He still has nightmares of that incident, so Yorouchi will be following undetected behind them.
"Kisuke, I found jaguar tracks in our territory," Rose comments. "Hachi and I tried to follow them to the intruder… but it must've been a mother and cub, because she covered her tracks much like Yorouchi did with the twins."
"I see. Did she cause any chaos?"
"No, but I believe she was hunting on our lands."
"We have plenty of prey here, we can spare a little for a hungry mother and cub."
The tiger bows his head, passing Kisuke by and heading into the den. Ichigo stay cuddled between Yorouchi and Shiro, wondering about the conversation. He snuggles in deeper between the two, his stomach growling in hunger. His mother turns her head in worry, reaching a large paw toward a bush and pulling a few ripe berries from it.
"Eat this until our meal comes," she states. "It will settle your stomach."
He nods and takes the offered berries, remembering that she would make sure he ate many things the rest of the pride didn't take too well. He doesn't know why, but he's not complaining. He's always got food when prey hibernates or begins to migrate, his mother making certain of that.
"Momma, what's a jaguar?" he wonders. "Have I seen one?"
"No, Ichigo, you haven't," she smiles fondly. "Jaguars are another type of cat like us, but they look different. They're golden with black spots and are slightly smaller than our males."
"Why don't we live with them?" he asks.
"They're not tigers, Ichigo, and they love to fight," she frowns. "I need you to promise me if you ever see another cat that you don't know from our pride… you'll run away and come straight here. Do you understand? This is very important; I don't want to lose you to them."
"I promise, momma."
She nods in satisfaction, sending Shiro a pointed look Ichigo misses. His golden eyes are sharp and ready to take down anything that may take his little brother away, no plans for mercy mingling with the plans for battle. Kisuke, however, has a perturbed expression on his feline features. Ichigo crawls from his mother's side to that of his father, purring happily as he curls up against his side and falls asleep.
Love arrives not long after, dragging a large carcass behind him and setting it before the others. After Ichigo started eating meat and he got terribly sick from the raw stuff, Yorouchi had visited the gorillas for advice. They told her to cook the meat and feed him more fruits and vegetables, showing her the ones safe for him to consume. She quickly tears some meat from the carcass, scraping her claws over a worn rock that causes sparks over a pile of twigs she keeps. The twigs catch flame, the fire dancing as she sets the meat in it. Once it's cooked well enough, Yorouchi wakes Shiro and Kisuke nudges Ichigo with his nose so the two can head for the carcass to eat. The cubs will eat first, Mashiro and Hiyori joining the twins and keeping clear of Ichigo after Shiro's furious snarl. Once they get their fill, the adults dig in and the cubs head inside to sleep. Ichigo stays near Shiro, the other cubs keeping clear of the volatile tiger and his vulnerable brother. He stays awake against the white tiger until the adults head in for the night, his parents lying down to keep their cubs safe. Yorouchi licks his cheek affectionately, purring loudly as they settle down to sleep. Once he's asleep, he dreams of jaguars and yearns to actually see them when he wakes.
There you have it! The winner for posting, chosen by KawaiiBerry-chan! I forgot to put that in the first note ^^; Now that I've told everyone, how are you liking Shiro as a white tiger? I just couldn't leave him out, he's so freaking cute! XD
Shiro: I'm a dangerous feline, not a fuckin' house cat! *shakes fists*
Vae: I'm sorry, I could've swore I heard something. Oh well ;p Must be my imagination.
Shiro: Dangerous feline! Dangerous feline! Don' degrade me like this! DX
Vae: *ignoring him* 'Til next time! XD