Chapter 5
"What were you thinking, pretty boy?"
Ichigo sighed. Great, another one with attitude. As if Grimmjow wasn't enough.
When Randome came out of that forest, Ichigo thought nothing of her. Oh sure, from her appearance and behavior it was obvious that she's Shiro's "nee-chan". Ichigo really expected that she'll try protect Shiro against strangers. He didn't expect however, that "nee-chan" will prove to be Shinigami. Very talented, for that matter. And noisy, now that she was back to herself.
"Kurosaki, once this all ends, I'm gonna kick your ass!"
She was resembling Ichigo Hiyori. Unfortunately.
"Know your place. Stupid Shinigami, owns me a good fight, too." Grimmjow smirked putting his hands on his hips (which was better than putting them on Ichigo's hips, at least for Ichigo).
"No way! I'm gonna fight him first and you can have remainders."
"Say fucking again?" Grimmjow's eyes narrowed and around his hand red light of Cero has lightened.
"Isaidremainders!"
"What?" this time both Grimmjow and Ichigo blinked and asked simultaneously.
"Arrrgh!"
It wasn't this way before. When Randome attacked him back then, there was apathy visible in her eyes. Despite missing Zanpaktou, her skills were great, but she herself was confused, hesitant and sad. It was almost as if she was looking for death by Ichigo's hands.
Randome's apathy went away once she learned that while she and Ichigo were fighting, Shiro was kidnapped. The change in her attitude was volte"face and absolutely astonishing. Worry about Shiro has given her strenght back.
With Shiro missing, Ichigo, Grimmjow and Randome have decided to join forces. In breaks between chasing and yelling Randome explained that her apathy was result of betrayal and loss of her Zanpaktous that she suffered month ago, when she refused to help Yari Reikou in destroying seals guarding part of Seiken district.
"I was foolish to gave my loyalty to him.
Until now she was in hiding (because of Reikou and because of hate towards Shinigami that people in Seiken have shared), getting her strenght back with the help of one of inhabitants and Shiro, of course.
Apparently, Randome's took a shine to Ichigo more than it might have seemed. Information that he gave her (about Reikou beeing somewhere near and intending to open seals again, this time with the use of recognition squad) could be very reason of this.
Shiro's abduction (along with famines all over the world, bad weather and few others) Ichigo, Grimmjow and Randome together recognized as Reikou's doing. Deciding this, Randome declared that she might know where members of recognition squad (and hopefully Shiro) are keep in prison.
However, defence forces here were strong so Yoruichi's sudden arrival was helpful, to say at least.
"Ichigo, free the prisoners!"
Helping recognition squad to get free, Ichigo was hoping that Rukia'd be among them. However, luck wasn't on his side. Ichigo ordered recognition squad to head forward and looked around.
"Where is she?" he thought desperately.
Neither he, Grimmjow, Yoruichi or Randome knew that they're observed by enemy - Yari Reikou.
"So this is Byakuya Kuchiki's beloved?" Reikou's curiosity got the better of him, and because of it he's been noticed by Ichigo at last.
"I know you are there. Come out, now!"
Keeping his head, Reikou did as he was told, moving towards four warriors.
He was blond, skinny and surprisely young.
"Reikou!"
"Where's Shiro and Rukia?" Ichigo demanded immediately.
Reikou concentrated his attention on Randome first.
"So those are your new companions?" his voice was high and irritating. "I thought better of you... sister. You're nothing but disgrace to our clan."
"Sister? I thought you're Shiro's sister?" Ichigo asked Randome.
"I feel more kinship with Shiro than with him ever!" Randome tensed, sending a glare at Reikou. "You betrayed me and left for die, brother!" The word "brother" in her mouths sounded with unmistakeable contempt and hate.
Reikou snickered and his eyes shifted to Ichigo, who was looking at him with anger, getting ready to attack him. True, he was interesting boy, but Byakuya's attraction to him was something incomprehensible for Reikou.
"Where's Rukia and Shiro?" Ichigo repeated.
Reikou reached his hand to touch Ichigo in mock gesture of calming but Grimmjow grabbed his hand before he made a contact.
"You have too many hands? Ichigo is mine. Remember that, fucker." Grimmjow whispered deadly seriously.
Hideous crunch sounded and Reikou pulled back, nursing his broken hand. He smiled, despite that he was wheezing heavily.
"Well, then. I had other plans for you, but I guess you could be usufull this way too." he said. "If you want to ever see Rukia Kuchiki and Shiro Ko alive again, you'll do what I'll tell you. In Mayuri's laboratory is guarded certain object. I want to have it."
"We could always kill him." Grimmjow growled impatiently, turning to others. "Or make him to talk."
"If you kill me, Shiro and Rukia'll die, too. It's simple as that. I don't care about my life, anyway. Neither theirs."
"No way I'm giving up," Ichigo gritted his teeth. "Rukia and Shiro's life are in our hands."
"How can we be even sure that they're still alive?" Randome hissed at Reikou.
"I wouldn't lie to my own sister, would I?" Reikou smirked. Ichigo's hatred towards him has grew at this.
"Stupid jerk." he thought.
Yoruichi also glanced at Reikou.
"Answer me first, what is the reason behind all of your actions?"
"Reason? Revenge, of course. Revenge on Byakuya Kuchiki."
"You want to dirty him?" Ichigo frowned.
"I want to weaken him and then kill him... with a hammer."
"Ha.. hammer?"
"So he'd suffer humilitation even after his own death." Reikou smiled as if the idea was funny for him.
"What is hammer?" asked Grimmjow suddenly curious.
"You want your revenge to be done, and still you're saying that you're not caring about your life?" Yoruichi shook her head in disbelief.
"You want to try me? Everything is already set in motion."
Ichigo paused, then looked at his friends.
"Yoruichi?"
Cat-lady sighed.
"We don't have a choice."
"I'll stay here and keep an eye on everything." Randome decided.
"You sure?" Ichigo asked.
"Yeah. Good luck. I'll be waiting."
"We must think of some plan before we go there." Yoruichi looked at her two companions.
"Do we need one?" Grimmjow frowned, almost resentful.
"Yes. They won't simply give us the object."
"Fine. I'll cause a ruckus and attract their attention. It'll help you get to Mayuri's lab unseen." Ichigo decided with his usual self-confidence, grasping Zangetsu's hold.
Yoruichi nodded.
"Good. We meet here in 20 minutes."
"How about goodbye sex?" Grimmjow smirked at Ichigo.
"Man, you're stubborn." Ichigo sighed.
"Don't tell me you're not wondering what it would feel like to have me inside you." Grimmjow moved his face closer to Ichigo's.
"Nope. No, I can't say I am."
"Heh. Who's fucking stubborn now?" Grimmjow shifted. "Try not to get yourself killed."
"Same goes for you. See you in 20 minutes." Using his extraordinary speed Ichigo vanished before their eyes.
"There is only one ryoka but abated troops are no match against him."
"Ryoka?"
Byakuya lifted his head, hearing this news. Then he heard something else.
"KUROSAKI! You're dead!"
Ichigo actually laughed before deftly dodging, his coat dancing around him.
"That was close." thought Ichigo grinning. Hitsugaya's ice dragon missed him by a hair's breadth.
Pushing captains' berserker buttons maybe wasn't especially wise (more like insane) but damn.. it felt great!
"Move aside, shrimp! Ichigo's mine!" Zaraki Kenpachi yelled and attacked with his jagged Zanpaktou. Ichigo blocked the cut.
"It looks like you're having fun, King." Ichigo's Hollow also made his appearence known.
"Yeah. How about we spice party up?" Ichigo said and brought his Hollow mask on.
"Unauthorized? Who does he thinks he is?" Renji's face was almost as red as his hair.
Hisagi passed over his friend's complaining in silence. Everyone have knew that Yamamoto Genryuusai could be real pain in the ass sometimes.
Hisagi and Renji were walking down the Seireitei's street (with Renji making himself complete idiot) when suddenly shadow went past them. Wait, Renji has knew that shadow.
"Ichigo! What are ya doin', idiot?"
"Sorry! Don't have time!"
Renji looked after Ichigo's dissapearing silhouette. Moment later, he heard heavy footsteps from behind him. He turned around and ... barely managed to dodge collision with, apparently chasing after Ichigo, captain Kenpachi.
"What the...?" asked Renji, coughing because of dust, which was left by Kenpachi.
"Are you okay?" Hisagi joined Renji, concerned about his friend. Then, he also looked after his fellow Shinigami "What is all this about? Is Rangiku cooking again?"
Vein popped out on Renji's forehead.
"They just..."
Crowd of angry Shinigami with furious Hitsugaya leading the way, passed them, jogged Renji in process and somehow red-haired lieutenant ended face to face with smilling Unohana Retsu.
"Do you need help, Abarai-fukutaichou?"
Even long after whole incident Renji still couldn't explain why he jumped on Hisagi's hands just then.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
Oh, shit. Byakuya has found him.
"Stay where you are, Kurosaki." Byakuya ordered.
Ichigo sighed. As if he had some choice with Byakuya's released Zanpaktou blocking his way. Ichigo send a glare at Kuchiki, pulling off his Hollow mask.
"Look Byakuya, I don't have time for this. I have to deliver something to Yari Reikou if we ever want to see Rukia alive again."
Byakuya's grey eyes narrowed.
"What did he say to you?" he demanded.
"You've been right about suspecting him. He hates you, just doesn't want to tell why."
Byakuya was silent for a long moment. Rukia's life was in danger and Ichigo was trying to help her while he, Byakuya ... It made him think about that time when Ichigo came to Seireitei for the first time.
"And so the circle closed." Byakuya thought with bitterness.
Will he be able this time to change fate not only Rukia's but his own, too?
"He blames me for taking privileges... and the one person, that should, by his opinion, belong to him."
"Who?" Ichigo couldn't help but ask.
"Hisana." Byakuya said in low voice and looked away from Ichigo.
"He loved her?"
Byakuya nodded.
"That's why he wants to punish me... by hurting those I care about the most." Byakuya looked straight into Ichigo's eyes.
"You mean..."
"Do you enjoing pushing my control to its absolute limit, Ichigo Kurosaki?" Byakuya asked, suddenly angry "Don't expect me to say it aloud." he moved closer to Ichigo. Desire and something else, something intense, that Ichigo couldn't name, flashed in his eyes.
"Byakuya."
"From the day I saw you my life has turned into a disaster, but still I'm unable to free myself from you... I won't restrain myself anymore."
With this, Byakuya's warm lips closed on Ichigo's. Ichigo tensed for a moment, but then he gave in, responding to Byakuya's pleading and desperate kisses. He felt hands on his waist pulling him closer to Byakuya's strong body. He closed his eyes, when he felt tongue slipping past his lips.
"Byakuya has some unexpected skills." Ichigo thought with amusement.
At last Byakuya pulled back, leaving Ichigo breathless.
Ichigo gazed for a moment into Byakuya's unguarded eyes before putting his head on Kuchiki's shoulder, feeling suddenly tired by all that has happened but incredibly safe in Byakuya's embrace. It was so long since he felt that safe. Byakuya's long hair tickled him when the man moved his head to kiss Ichigo's brow gently.
"What's going to happen now?" Ichigo asked, content. Then he suddenly moved out of Byakuya's arms (much to Kuchiki's disappointment), feeling ashamed of his question. They needed to save Rukia and Shiro, it was obvious. And after that ... they will have to see what the future holds.
End of chapter 5
To lara5170: I hope this chapter did answer some of your questions. I know the story gets to be confusing, but try to be patient, ok? Everything will be gradually explained.
To Kittens-Are-Fluffy: Got you! :)
As usual, thank you for reviews! You're great!