Countdown: 3
Great news everyone! Bleach Bait is now finished! And for those of you passed out from lack of oxygen (I told you not to hold your breath, didn't I) I am now working on Hunter! I just reread it yesterday to get a feel for where I left off. =D I know, so exciting ;p Anyway, Bleach Bait is just awaiting the end of Tiger to be posted! XD Don't be too harsh, okay? I know it won't be as good as my other ones ^^; I've also realized my Avatar kick may be more an obsession like my Bleach one ;p Not as bad though, Bleach kicks Avatar's ass in the obsession department. I found this out yesterday. I got a cute little bunny and the first name that popped into my head was... Pantera! Lmao! Then I was goign to call it Grimm (she's white with blue eyes), but I remembered what happened to my sweet little Maenad when I named her. Use extreme caution when naming a pet something from Greek Mythology! Anyway, Katara was my first Avatar choice... then possibly Suki... but I decided I liked Korra the most! XD I've yet to watch that one, I'm still on Book 3 of the Last Airbender.
Shiro: ... Ya didn' even consider my name? T^T
Ichi: Come on, Shiro, you were pissed when you got turned into a kitten. What makes you think you'd like being a bunny?
Vae: I'm pretty sure it's a girl anyway... I think. The pet shop didn't know either. ^^;
Grimm: Ah, hence Pantera being your first choice.
Vae: Exactly!
Ichi: ... So... Why name it Grimm?
Vae: I'm also a Grimm fan! You know, Grimm's fairytales? ;p They have a show called Grimm out! If I called Korra that, I'd be killing two birds with one stone!
Grimm: I'm no fluffy bunny, but if it makes you happy...
Vae: Awe, Grimm... You're my favorite suck-up! XD
Chapter 12
It's been three days and Grimmjow's patience has begun to fray. The humans have taken a high interest in Ichigo, one the jaguar could do without. He isn't alone, however, as Shiro isn't very happy about it either. The two have teamed up to keep the young tiger away from the humans watching him. Unfortunately, Ichigo is seriously hard to keep from doing what he wants. Right now, for example, Grimmjow is diverting the humans' attention… while Shiro lies on top of his little twin.
"Shiro! I'm not kidding; get your fat ass off me!" Ichigo cries out as he flails. "I can't breathe! You need to go on a fucking diet!"
"Oi! Don' go hurtin' my feelin's 'cause we don' want ya 'round them humans," the white tiger huffs. "'Sides, ya could do wit a little less meat on yer bones yerself."
"I'm not fat, you asshole!"
"See? It don' feel good does it?"
Ichigo growls at the other. He knows Shiro is just teasing him to piss him off, but it works so well. He didn't expect to be kept prisoner beneath his brother's weight, yet five feet from the humans he's tossed backward by Grimmjow… and sat on by Shiro. Ichigo wiggles a bit more, just so he can crane his neck and see what's going on. Grimmjow is pacing around the camp, growling when they come too close and staying just near enough they want to intermingle with him. Grimmjow moves closer to the woman, sniffing her lightly and sneezing at her scent of roses.
"Careful, Orihime, he's dangerous," Uryu comments warily. "He's not a submissive feline like the orange haired one, he's extremely territorial. He'll harm you if you move the wrong way."
"I'll be careful," she says with a smile. "Besides, he seems more volatile to you guys than to me."
Grimmjow frowns and moves closer, reaching out and licking her hand. The action has a snarl sounding from Ichigo, so the jaguar moves back. He can get away with being vicious to the men, but they won't like if Ichigo gets jealous enough to harm their woman. Once more their attention is turned to the tiger beneath Shiro, those amber eyes glowing with anger and jealousy as he stares at Orihime. Grimmjow purrs at the response, moving toward the twins to lay with his mate. Before he can get too close, however, he's stopped by Isshin. Isshin has been trying tirelessly for the past three days to teach Grimmjow and Ichigo how to speak, actually making progress. It helps that Grimmjow already knows how and Ichigo is a fast learner, though.
"Speak with me, please," Isshin comments. "Tell me… what do you call your leader?"
"Dad," Grimmjow states in a smooth baritone wrapped around a growl.
"What name were you given?"
Grimmjow rolls his eyes at the repeated question, the dark haired man having been asking at least five times for the last three days. He hasn't given him anything other than short answers that mean nothing. He calls the leader 'dad', he calls his mate 'mine'… stupid things that never give a straight answer. It infuriates the human to say the least. Ichigo is another story. He loves to chatter and would gladly answer every question given him if Grimmjow and Shiro didn't intervene.
"I want to play with the humans," Ichigo frowns. "Let me up!"
"Grimmjow?" Shiro questions.
"I'm here, let him up," the other sighs in relent. "Ichigo, don't get too close or you'll end up right back where you started."
The orange headed tiger grins happily when Shiro's weight is lifted, scratching at the ground before bolting for Grimmjow. He's learned that as long as he keeps Grimmjow between himself and the humans, it's easier to get closer to them. Ichigo does this, scooting them nearer a little at a time. Isshin takes advantage of this, crouching down to get to their level with a wide grin that reminds Grimmjow of Ichigo.
"Hello, boy," Isshin smiles. "Have you come to talk with me?"
"Yes. I like to talk with Isshin."
"The white tiger is very protective of you…"
"Shiro is my twin," Ichigo smiles proudly. "He loves me and takes care of me, because I am a runt and get hurt easily."
"Is that what you think? That's you're a runt tiger?" Uryu wonders in shock.
"I am… mommy said so."
Grimmjow doesn't like the direction this conversation is going, so he grips the nape of Ichigo's neck and squeezes carefully. Ichigo has learned this is his signal for 'enough'. Though he's confused as to why he's given this signal, Ichigo backs away from the humans and follows Grimmjow to the den. Before he leaves, however, he stops and looks back at the confused humans.
"My mate says I have to leave now," Ichigo explains. "He does not like you. He said you are dangerous and he does not want me around you. But I might talk to you later… if he lets me."
Before they can question him further, Grimmjow nudges Ichigo forward. The orange headed tiger runs and pounces on Shiro, the two rolling along the ground and Ichigo laughing in joy. Once they're back on their feet, Shiro chases Ichigo in a circle. Grimmjow watches for a moment, yet turns to the humans with a heated scowl.
"You leave my mate alone," he hisses. "Ichigo is mine, not yours. I don't know what you want with him, but I won't have you taking him from me!"
"… You can speak just fine," Uryu gasps in surprise.
"Unlike my mate, I know I'm adopted," Grimmjow growls. "Don't you ever unravel his world by telling him that! He'll be devastated and lost if you mention it. I'll fucking kill you if you hurt him like that!"
"He's my son," Isshin frowns. "I want to take him home with me."
"And what? Try to incorporate him into a world of humans, loud noises, and prejudice? Real smart idea," the jaguar scoffs. "He's safe here, he knows this place. He doesn't know you, he doesn't know the first thing about your world, and I won't let you ruin this life for him! He's not your son; he hasn't been since the day he was born. He belongs to the tigers, it's the only family he knows… it's the only one he'll ever know."
Isshin frowns as he stands up, affronted by Grimmjow's attitude and apparent secrecy. He knows he should be happy the smart feline raised male even allows him contact with his son, yet the dark haired scientist wants more. He's searched for his wife's body for so long, lamenting her death for nineteen years now, and to find out his son is still alive and well… It's just unbelievable! His child fought to survive from the day he was born and made it! Now he's facing a vicious man that tells him he won't allow Isshin to take his child home.
"He deserves to know what he is."
"He's a tiger," Grimmjow states firmly. "And I'm a jaguar. That's what we are, what we'll always be. Don't try and change that."
Grimmjow turns to leave after that, sending one last baleful glare over his shoulder. The jaguar doesn't like this whole set-up; it grinds on his nerves horribly. With a sigh, he searches out Ichigo, who's splashing in the river with Shiro. The blue haired male sits and watches his lover with a content sigh, his chest swelling with pride and love.
"Grimm! Grimm, come play with us!" Ichigo calls with a purr.
"Coming, baby," he answers.
Grimmjow joins the twins in the river, enjoying a little family time while the clans relax at the den. He knows their parents have been increasingly worried about the humans speaking to Ichigo and Grimmjow… more Ichigo's parents than his. Pantera told him earlier on where he came from, mainly because she wasn't certain Grimmjow would remember his human clan. Ichigo has no such memories, plucked from his deceased mother's arms only days after birth. The orange head's whole world is built around the fact he's a tiger… he wouldn't survive the blow the truth may take.
There we have it! One more chapter and only three to go! XD I'm happy to say I have someone looking over my book, so I'll be able to publish it soon... hopefully ;p I think I may work on my outlines today! I'm getting somewhere at least with them =) Hunter... That may take a while. I know where i want to end up, but the path to that point isn't exactly built with neon lights ^^; I'll get there eventually, I promise. Just be aware I may not post for a bit if this takes longer than Bleach Bait takes to get up completely.
Ichi: Don't worry, she'll figure it out. =)
Grimm: You're a bit happy at the moment... Why? *suspicious frown*
Ichi: I'm liking Bleach Bait! It just may be my favorite!
Shiro & Grimm: *jawdrop*
Ichi: What? I can like her fics, too. =(
Shiro: *hands on Grimm's shoulders* Grimm-kitty... I fear fer our sanity in this upcomin' fic. T^T
Grimm: For once, I in complete agreement with you. T^T