hey guys! last chapter for this story! thanks so much for reading, reviewing and loving. Please check out my other works and the sequel to this Kitty-Bitch
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"It has come to my attention, that arrancars can feel."
A collective gasp was heard from the room as Mayuri swept in, his ornate robes dragging the ground and a scarily wide smile on his painted face. It was then Renji saw Wonderweiss standing beside him, actually standing. The last time he had seen the child like arrancar he had been too preoccupied with a dragonfly to notice much of anything, Aizen having taken most of his humanity from him in order to increase his power, but this was a different being. Wonderweiss stood as tall as he could being just over five feet, his once dull and stupid bright purple eyes danced with intelligence. His mask, a three pronged tiara sat atop a nest of freshly washed hair and if possible even his freckles looked serious. He was dressed in robes similar to that of division 12, and his eyes scanned the gathered group of captains and vice captains warily. Yes, Renji thought dubiously, this may work after all.
"Mayuri, please tell us what you have found" Yamamoto intoned, eager to get on with the proceedings as he was getting a slight headache from the buzzing in the room.
The painted scientist cleared his throat "as you all can see Wonderweiss has regained his humanity. I was able to restore what was lost by careful care of the patient and use of power limiting devices until he came to trust me." He paused briefly, cocking his head downward at the slighter man, and nodding. Wonderweiss smiled gently and continued where Mayuri had left off.
"Mayuri-sama told me about how I was before, but I have no recollection of it, I was trapped inside, clawing to get out. It is my belief the others are experiencing the same thing on a lesser scale" he paused thoughtfully, a slight frown on his face. "When I came here I wasn't dead, but was unconscious and in a coma. I heard Mayuri-sama's voice and he talked to me every day, told me how I was doing. In a sense he appealed to my human side, and encouraged its growth which is what ultimately became stronger. As I grew to trust the voice I heard and got accustomed to it I was able to wake knowing that I was safe. If the others are already awake then they are simply confused, as hollows and arrancars we were under a powerful spell and it can only be truly broken by finding our way back to who we once were. Yes we were killers before, but only when need be and for survival, not for destruction and war. I think" he looked at Mayuri shyly "that if I stay here and continue to work with the shinigami there is no reason I cannot eventually fully embrace my humanity again."
A roar came from the crowd, cries of outrage mingled with cries of support. Renji grinned; he understood what the man was saying. There was no need to fight anymore and Wonderweiss, by being here would be able to shed that part of himself that he didn't need and truly evolve; and if he could than surely the other ones who were more aware of themselves could. Could it be possible, that they had succeeded in what they were trying to accomplish?
"Enough!" The room silenced as the banging of the captain commander's cane shook the ground.
"In light of this I have decided a small team of shinigami will go to Las Noches to speak with the current king there Starrk Coyote. It is my belief he is a reasonable man, Renji you fought with him in the war what do you believe?"
Renji froze, he hadn't expected that. He blinked and then spoke "he did not desire to fight me, instead he fought only at my insistence." Well, it was true and was a start, his mind raced as he tried to think of more.
"It would seem from my encounter with him that he would be open to working with the shinigami as it may make his job as king easier and also strengthen both sides for a common goal. He is an intelligent man and does not do things unnecessarily. If we go to him and he accepts us we will mutually benefit. However, if we go and he refuses us I do not believe harm will come to us." He met Yamamoto's eyes, and if he wasn't mistaken thought the man was laughing at him.
"No harm Renji? You sound very sure, you must have gotten to know him quite well during your fight ne?" A grey eyebrow rose slowly, letting Renji know that his secret was known by one more person. Turning a shade of red to match his hair he nodded.
"Very well, I want the following shinigami to prepare, you will leave in a week's time." As the names were rattled off Renji was lost in thought, one week. He would have a lot to tell Starrk that night, and he knew the brunette would be in support of it as he had handed over Wonderweiss. Renji was glad in a way that the blonde arrancar and Mayuri were getting along and also that his humanity had been restored; after all Aizen took from him to finally have it back, well, he couldn't even imagine how he must feel.
He began to walk back to his quarters only to have an arm slung around his shoulders. He glanced up and saw the smiling face of Ichigo.
"I think we did it!" His friend chattered excitedly. "We will be going to Las Noches, and then maybe we can really have peace." A soft smile danced on his friends face as he looked into Renji's eyes. "You know" he said sheepishly "I really am happy for you."
Renji smiled "thanks Ichi. I can't wait to not have to hide, more importantly for you to finally finish your business with that kitty."
"I already kicked his ass once, I can do it again!" The orange headed teen said grinning.
Renji smiled slyly "that's not the ass kicking I meant." With a yelp he leapt back, barely dodging a blow from the teen, quickly flashstepping away they raced through Seireitei; a blur of red pursued by orange.
HOURS LATER
An exhausted Renji was curled up in the king of Las Noches arms contentedly, basking in the warmth of the other man when Starrk decided to abruptly ruin the moment and discuss politics. This was, of course, Renji's fault, for Starrk had been so overjoyed to hear of the news from earlier that day that he had immediately thrown his lover down and taken the flame haired shinigami in every way.
"Grimmjow won't stand for it you know, despite the fact the rest have agreed. He feels we should be left alone and vice versa."
Renji's brow furrowed "and what do you think?"
"I think" he said absentmindedly stroking the red mane "that working with the shinigami has certain….perks" he finished huskily, causing Renji to turn red and make a slight choking sound.
"How will we do this? I don't want everyone to know we've been a secret and I am sure you don't want the other espada to know. We will be in for it if everyone finds out we are lying." Starrk nodded sagely, he knew what his mate was saying was true. Their friends and allies would most certainly withdraw support of an arrancar/shinigami union if they knew the lies they had kept from them.
"Yes, we will keep it a secret, and at the same time it can finally be out in the open. Your friend Ichigo he desires Grimmjow does he not?"
Renji nodded "he says he doesn't but I've seen it, why?"
"Grimmjow, despite all he says seems to have a certain fondness for the boy. I am wondering if maybe getting Szayel to put Grimmjow out of commission until the boy gets there would be best, maybe to be able to start anew."
"If Grimmjow finds out he will kill you."
A small smile danced on Starrks face "he's welcome to try, but I assure you he would lose."
In the end the two lovers formulated a plan. Grimmjow would be knocked out shortly before the shinigami's arrived courtesy of one pink headed mad scientist; Szayel was to alter his memory so the last thing he remembered was Ichigo lowering him to the ground. This wasn't to be cruel but to erase the still festering feelings of resentment towards the young man. The shinigami and espada would pair off with Starrk having underlying control of Las Noches still. Starrk would allow Renji to put a power limiting device on him and the other espada would also wear them until they and their shinigami counterparts trusted each other enough to take them off. And so the deal was struck and the plans were laid. The shinigami's were to head to Las Noches, but as with the best laid plans….something can and will go wrong.
Sequel to this story: Kitty-Bitch. featuring read and review=)