Countdown: 6
Yet another update for my readers! I'm glad you enjoyed the last one, thanks for the reviews =) I'm working on my outlines today! Yea! I'm actually getting something done! XD Go me! Just for your own knowledge, 'Asylum of the Damned' is now up to chapter 18 (almost 19) in the outline! As for 'The Chronicles of Talent: Book 2', that one is now on Chapter 38! It may seem unfair, but I started the later first ;p God I love having the house to myself! I actually have the ability to concentrate! =D
Shiro: Shockin'. I thought yer brain was unable ta do that period.
Vae: Shiro, the last time I punished you I turned you into a kitten! Do you want me to do something worse! DX
Shiro: I was cute an' cuddly an' shit, what's worse than that? D=
Vae: I have ideas, Shiro... I have many ideas. *disturbing chuckle*
Shiro: ... Yeah, those ideas don' seem so bad when I don' know 'em. *bland stare*
Vae: ... I like surprises better than just telling you.
Shiro: Wait... ya want me ta be bad so ya can punish me, don' ya? *gasp of disbelief*
Vae: *cheeky grin*
Chapter 9
Kisuke is just pacing the perimeter of the camp when Aizen finds him, the tiger nearly leaping out of his skin when the jaguar taps his shoulder. Kisuke keeps quiet, which is a feat in itself, and glowers at his companion for a moment. There's movement in the camp, the two felines ducking low and backing away for now. Kisuke paces around Aizen, the other sitting patiently as he follows the tiger with sharp brown eyes.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Kisuke snaps. "Now is not the best time to try and kill me!"
"I'm here to help you," Aizen hisses. "Grimmjow has become smitten with your cub… which, by the way, happens to be human just like mine. What happened to 'adopting outside the species is a pointless venture'? What happened to 'Aizen must be out of his damn mind, or desperate for a cub'. Or what about 'that little runt won't last three days here'…"
"Okay, okay, I get the point," the tiger growls. "It wasn't my choice to adopt him; Yorouchi did that on her own!"
"And yet you love him like he was your own."
"Of course I do! I taught him everything he knows!"
Aizen stares evenly at the tiger, his point made without Kisuke realizing it. The two sigh in defeat… they may be the pack leaders, but they'll always be victim to their mate's whims. The humans begin to move out toward them, the two crouching down and scooting further away. The men aren't wearing their armor now, but they still carry guns at the ready. It wouldn't due to get themselves shot, neither of their cubs are ready to take on the responsibilities they face daily.
"What is it?" a man calls.
"Nothing… just a false alarm," one weapon holder states. "This place gives me the creeps."
The felines crawl their way closer as the men return to camp, keeping out of sight and straining their ears to hear. There are a group of men sitting by the fire; a petite woman walks over with drinks in her hands. She lingers beside a lithe man with glasses, a scientist. They're soon joined by an older man that's likely his mentor. He has spikey black hair and stubble on his chin.
"What did you find?" he asks.
"Tigers were out mating, but two of our men never returned… we fear they were targets for the retreating felines."
"Did you find anything that might lead to my wife being here?"
"There were four settlements that we could find, two by the beach and two deeper in the jungle," the bespectacled man sighs. "All of which were abandoned for many years."
"We gathered old pictures from them," a muscular man with curly dark locks comments quietly.
Kisuke notes the pictures are of both settlements, one that had Aizen's cub and the other that had his. These men truly are looking for something, but neither feline can tell which cub they're after. Aizen grips Kisuke's tail with his teeth, tugging lightly to get his attention. They don't need to stay any longer; they need to get back to their cubs.
Ichigo is curled up with Grimmjow when the two return, purring happily as Shiro glowers at the jaguar cub. He doesn't like Ichigo lying with someone else; he's too used to having his twin glued to his hip. The minute Kisuke and Aizen saunter up, he takes the opportunity to pull Ichigo away from Grimmjow.
"Ichi, dad's back!"
Ichigo is on his feet and racing for Kisuke in a heartbeat, Grimmjow frowning sleepily at the loss of warmth. He glances over to see Ichigo prancing around Kisuke, and then curls back up to sleep. The tiger will likely return when his energy runs out.
"What did you find? Did you get hurt? Are they a threat? Who are they? How many are in their pack?"
"Ichigo, calm down," Kisuke chuckles. "You're just like your mother when you get started."
"All of the questions are viable," Byakuya purrs. "Please answer them."
"They are armed with guns, there are two in white coats, a woman is among them," Aizen states in a drawl. "They've been investigating the ruins of the small settlements from years past; they're looking for something… something we have."
The last part is said quietly, as Ichigo has left to wake Grimmjow and Shiro. With both possible targets out of the way, he deems it necessary to comment on the likelihood they're in trouble. The other tiger packs gasp, the mothers of said cubs immediately showing hostility. There is nowhere on this island they can hide, nowhere they can stash their cubs until the humans leave. It's time Grimmjow and Ichigo face the pasts that were hidden from them.
Ichigo pounces on Grimmjow, startling the other awake. Shiro hisses in surprise when his brother leaps from his first victim onto the slumbering tiger. Though he doesn't harm Ichigo, the orange head finds himself pinned beneath large paws. With a wide grin, Ichigo licks Shiro's nose. He rarely kisses his family members, as he never liked the hair that got in his mouth, but sometimes he makes exceptions for Shiro… the other hates when Ichigo licks his nose.
"Damn it, Ichi! Stop doin' that!"
"But it's funny when you look all disgusted and stuff."
Shiro bats Ichigo on the head, careful not to hit harder than a pat. When they were growing up, he came very close to injuring Ichigo many times. Yorouchi and Kisuke had to teach him how to hold back when playing with his twin, reminding him countless times that Ichigo is a runt and he can't play like the others. Ichigo, however, toughened up quickly and gave as good as he got. With Shiro's help, he could easily take down a gazelle… yet his heart is too soft to actually kill it.
"Dad's back!" Ichigo smiles. "He said the humans are a threat and there are many of them in their pack."
"What do they want?"
"I don't know, he didn't say. But both he and Aizen looked pissed."
Grimmjow frowns and moves away from the twins, heading straight for his parents. He can feel the tension surrounding his mother, the others of their clan inching away from her. Grimmjow's worry begins to build, his first thought being about Ichigo's safety. Aizen's brown gaze catches cyan just as Grimmjow gets near them.
"Dad, what's going on?" he asks. "Is Ichigo going to be okay?"
"Right now, we have reason to believe these humans are either after you… or him."
"… I'll kill them if they touch him!" Grimmjow snarls.
Pantera smacks Grimmjow upside the head, hissing at his outburst. He immediately regrets it. Going up against these humans is foolish and he knows that, he can't take them head on. Men like this are methodical and strategic, you have to kill them on a hunt or you won't stand a chance. Aizen is thinking the same thing, his and Kisuke's orbs already showing the beginnings of a plan coming together.
"Promise me you won't go near them," Pantera growls demandingly. "Promise me right now, Grimmjow! I won't lose my cub to a human's whim!"
"I promise, mom," he murmurs. "I won't go near them. I'll keep Ichigo here with me; we'll stay away from their camp and within range of the clans. I'll make certain of it."
"That isn't as easy as it sounds," Kisuke sighs. "Ichigo is a free spirit; he hates being told to stay put."
"I'll make sure he stays."
Grimmjow can tell he'll have difficulty with it, however he's also aware that between himself and Shiro… Ichigo will do as they say. Besides, the blue haired jaguar is positive he holds more sway with the attractive submissive. Just the way Ichigo curls up beside him is proof of that. The orange headed tiger may not be his species, but Grimmjow can tell if he's pressed to take a mate Ichigo would be his choice. He could be happy with that little tiger… he'll bring it up when all this chaos has ended.
Okay, just to humor me let's say the felines are capable of understanding human speech. I may mention it later, but right now let's just say it's possible. The quarrel is now over! Leave it to Kisuke and Aizen to have such a stupid argument. Then again... I can see Aizen getting that pissed because of an unintentional insult... and I can see Kisuke unknowingly insulting him. And of course their mates would pretty much rule the roost ;p Keep them in line, women! Lol! XD
Grimm: ... Why is Shiro sulking? *raises brow*
Ichi: I don't know, he's mumbling and I can't catch it all. He was saying something about Vae and punishment or something.
Grimm: He didn't do anything to get punished... did he?
Ichi: With Shiro, I never assume anything. I'm not with him 24/7 anymore, he can get in a lot of trouble within a few short minutes.
Grimm: You seem so sure he did something wrong.
Ichi: It's Shiro, nine times out of ten he did do something wrong. I never gamble on the one time he doesn't, that would be stupid.
Vae: He didn't do anything wrong... yet. ;p
Grimm: Then what's his problem?
Vae: He just found out I don't tell him the punishment so he won't think anything of getting into trouble. XD
Ichi: ... Evil. =(
Grimm: Fucking brilliant! XD