Countdown: 2
I've watched all of Avatar: The Last Airbender and finished Legend of Korra book 1. I have to say... Legend of Korra is a let down. I was very disappointed in it. Maybe it's because it was too modern and the characters weren't as good as the first ones, or it might be because I was so attached to the first characters it saddened me to know they all died. I did notice, however, that Zuko's grandson sounded exactly like him. Which was funny, because he looked like he should've had a deeper voice or something ;p Anyway! That's all beside the point. I might write a short cross-over, I'm not exactly positive... if I do, I'll have to work around the plot before Aang defeats the Fire Lord. I might start when they're at the Western Air Temple with Zuko or something.
Shiro: I like Azula... she's hot. Literally ;p
Ichi: I've noticed you two share similar personality traits. =(
Grimm: Look on the bright side, Kitten! If we do go there, perhaps Shiro will choose to stay! =D
Ichi: ... I'll pack my bags.
Chapter 13
Ichigo needs to hunt; he's going stir-crazy in the den with so many new faces. Grimmjow is with him and Shiro is trailing behind them, both ready to help Ichigo defuse a bit of tension… he's so dangerous when frustrated. Unfortunately, the humans are following to see how the two manage a hunt without the needed claws and fangs. The orange head is roaming the grasses, just leaping about to work off some irritation, and Grimmjow's eyes are pinned to his every movement.
"You're sure letting him hunt is gonna kill that stress?" he asks Shiro in worry.
"Oh yeah, he's a great hunter… long as he don' gotta kill it himself," the white tiger comments. "Ya can do it this time; I ain't in the mood ta wash blood outta my mouth. 'Sides, I'm one bath 'way from a hairball."
Grimmjow chuckles at Shiro's look of disgust, locating Ichigo once more as he crouches. The orange head's shoulders wiggle a bit, ready to pounce, so the other two felines duck down to join him. On the other side of the brush, a herd of gazelle graze. Amber eyes stare intently at a small male, not a baby and not quite as big as the others. In all actuality, Ichigo just needs to chase something. Since he needs to chase, Kisuke thought it best to send him out for lunch. Killing two birds with one stone, as he put it to the worried parents.
"Got yer target?" Shiro questions quietly.
"Yes."
"What ya waitin' fer? Tell us what ta do."
"Wait here," Ichigo mutters. "If I need help, you'll know. Right now… I just want to chase."
Shiro shrugs uncaringly, lying down to watch his twin, and Grimmjow stays crouched. He's not about to relax when Ichigo's running into the midst of a herd, especially when he knows they're likely to panic and injure him. Ichigo crouches a bit lower, bursting from the brush when his target migrates a few feet from him. The herd scatters, Ichigo ignoring all others as he chases down his target.
"Go, Ichi!" Shiro roars happily.
The gazelle he's chasing makes a sharp turn that would have any normal person taking a tumble, yet Ichigo slides only just as he changes direction. Panic has settled in most of the others, as they knows Ichigo well enough to know he chooses one target and stays with it… they keep their eyes peeled for Shiro, though. He doesn't care who he kills as long as he gets to kill someone. The victim stops abruptly, pulling its back feet in to kick Ichigo in the head. Grimmjow moves to help him, but Ichigo slides into a crouch that ducks the blow. His momentum carries him beneath the gazelle, stopping him in front of the creature. The gazelle rises on its back feet this time, crashing the front down on Ichigo. Ichigo rolls out of the way, satisfied with the chase and ready to take down his target. He circles around to the back, leaping onto the gazelle's back and digging his teeth into its neck as an anchor. His canines are sharper than usual, but not like Grimmjow's. He can't hit an artery and has trouble holding on. The best he can do is shift his weight enough to throw the gazelle off balance. Grimmjow runs forward to help out, seeing that Ichigo's about finished with his play… and is now just drawing it out so he doesn't have to end the creature he's caught. He pounces on the downed gazelle, ripping open their stomach with a hand of claws and digging his sharp canines viciously into their neck. It twitches and stills, warm blood trickling onto Ichigo as it gushes from the artery hit. Shiro is mainly there to drag the kill back, his excuse for keeping tabs on his brother.
"Good job, Ichi!" Shiro grins. "That was one a yer best hunts yet!"
"I still feel bad for killing it," Ichigo mumbles.
"You didn't, I did," Grimmjow comments easily. "And we have to eat, so I don't feel bad at all."
The orange head nods, always having to force himself to see reason on that. They do have to eat and if they didn't pick it off another animal would've. Shiro drags the kill back, glaring at the humans hatefully as he passes them. Ichigo and Grimmjow stop by a small pond to wash the blood off them, the humans waiting there for them. Isshin is staring openly at Grimmjow's mouth and hand; stunned he could do such damage and be so gentle with his mate.
"That was amazing," Uryu says to Chad. "Did you see how easily he killed that gazelle?"
"I'm surprised the other could chase it down," Chad offers.
"It's obvious the smaller one doesn't like killing," Orihime murmurs. "Maybe there's hope for him yet when we take him home with us."
Ichigo perks up at this, head tilting in question as he turns his attention to the humans. This is the first he's heard of their plans, though he doesn't understand them completely. He's not home at the moment; maybe they're just going to take him back to the den.
"Home?" he asks. "To momma? I know how to get home, it is over that way."
"No, feline," Isshin sighs. "We want you to visit our world… of humans."
"Why? This is my home, I belong with my mate."
"You're human, child," the scientist says abruptly and without heed to Grimmjow's growl. "You're not a jaguar, you're human!"
"I know I am not a jaguar," Ichigo laughs brightly. "I am a tiger! Grimmjow is a jaguar."
Before they can protest Ichigo's warped thinking, which is spot on in his opinion, Grimmjow leaps between them with an enraged snarl. Ichigo is innocent enough he's spared their lives… for now. Once the other figures out the extent of what the humans say, that might be another thing entirely. Grimmjow may just have to kill them in their sleep. He leads Ichigo away hurriedly, glowering over his shoulder and trying to figure out what he'll say to Ichigo's parents about this encounter.
Ichigo sits with Grimmjow as he eats dinner, his thoughts swarming around the conversation with the humans earlier. He does look like them, but they act so much different… and they talk funny. Grimmjow nudges him gently, trying to get him to eat the food in front of him. Ichigo's been distant and thoughtful today, one of which Grimmjow doesn't like in the least.
"Eat your dinner, love," Grimmjow murmurs against Ichigo's ear.
"I'm sorry," the tiger sighs. "I've just been… Grimmjow, are we human? Momma always said I was a runt; she wouldn't lie to me would she? If I'm human, she would've had to of known."
"Eat first, we'll talk later."
Ichigo pouts, yet goes back to his dinner. Grimmjow had told Kisuke and Yorouchi about the confrontation earlier; however they've yet to figure out how to handle the questions that would eventually come. Ichigo's always been extremely curious, after all. Now that he's begun to ask, the jaguar can do nothing but mentally beg the tigers to make a decision.
"Ichigo, your father and I want to speak with you," Yorouchi says softly.
"Thank god!" Grimmjow comments in relief. "He started asking me shit and I didn't know what to say!"
The questioning look they're given is almost heartbreaking, so innocent and trusting… just like the day Yorouchi carried him in to introduce him to Kisuke. The two decided that day that Ichigo would be a tiger, nothing more and nothing less. He's a part of their clan, he's their cub, and they never wanted him to feel any less of himself because he was adopted and human. They wanted Ichigo to be treated like the rest of the cubs.
"What's this about, momma?" he purrs.
"Baby, we haven't been completely honest with you," she sighs. "I never wanted you to judge yourself based on the truth, you will always be my little cub and you will always belong with our clan… but… you were born to a human woman who was brutally murdered the day I found you."
"… I am human," Ichigo frowns. "But… why didn't you tell me? What am I supposed to do now? Do I go with them like they want me to? I… I'm so confused."
"You are a tiger," Grimmjow frowns. "Just because you were born to a human doesn't mean anything! You were raised a tiger, they have been your family since the day the humans left you to die!"
Ichigo snuggles close to his mate, a storm growing in his amber pools. So much confusion and curiosity is boiling to a point that makes him feel as though he wants to explode. Shiro is just beside him, eyes sharp and angry even as he scoots closer to Ichigo. No matter what they're told, Ichigo will always be his little brother. He's been with Ichigo since they were born, he'll be damned if those humans tear apart their happy little world… which is most likely what they're going to do.
Drama! Whatever will they do now? You have two chapters to find out ;p Now for updates of another sort! I've yet to start finishing up 'Hunter', I've started the prologue of 'Asylum of the Damned' as well =) Unfortunately, Kisuke goes by the name 'Micheal Kalapos' in the beginning. I didn't mean to make it confusing, but that's how it happens in my book and I couldn't think of any other name for him. I hope you guys don't mind, I'll continue to write that Micheal is Kisuke in the author notes if you'd like =) On another note, I've discovered that my precious bunny, Korra, is a super ninja bunny! No matter how well we fix up her cage, she manages to slip out between the bars ^^; I love her so much ;p
Shiro: Rabbit stew! Rabbit Stew! XD
Vae: *evil glare complete with background lightening* Korra is my precious baby bunny! I will destroy you if you hurt her!
Shiro: ... I favor chicken anyway. T^T
Vae: That's what I thought.