Response to reviews!
WhiteW12-0: Well, you shall see! XD
Narlth: You'll have to wait and see~!
Wolfdragonful: Cry, please! It helps me come up with better stuff! XD
Devilsink: I know, you told me once! Aww c'mon, you flatter me WAY too much…
Rappelezfille: You know, it took me a minute to get what IC meant! XD I is so ditsy sometimes! And I will!
HannahGee13: He gives me the creeps too…XD
SakaSandora: I guess so, although him and Mayuri alternate rolls from time to time! XD Meatloaf is ok I guess…XD
miszXbrii: You're the 1st person to use 'oh my jellybeans' XD Yeah, need to try and lighten the mood some, neh?
Raicheru: Omfg, you're one of my fave authors! *glomps you* I'm glad you like it! XD
herRhi-chan: I know…but still! You're reading~ it! XD
Kobato00: Well, you'll have to find out, huh? ;)
Tiana Misoro: Yeah, so do I…wait, this is my fic! *smacks head*
Drmona lord: Wow, it did? O.o? That's rare for my fics!
Watermelondrea: Yes they are! XD
Strawberry-Ringo: C'mon, I ain't that heartless, I'll throw fluffyness every now and then.
OK, Raicheru pointed out something. If you were wondering, the reason I have this story from both Ichigo's and Shiro's POV is because I feel that it gives you an even better idea what's going on. They may be stuck together, but they still have their own feelings about what's going on. Also, it helps you understand some more of what they're going through! XD Well, here's Chapter 8! And guess what? I'm adding an OC! You'll like him, believe me…XD
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Chapter 8: A caretaker of sorts…
Unknown's POV
Present…
Everything was painful, even breathing. I'm surprised as hell that I managed to get away…but how could I face the two now? I mean, after what I did…how can I? They trusted me, and what did I do? Betrayed them, that's what. I didn't deserve to live at all, and by god, I was hoping that some random Soul Reaper killed me before I reached my destination. Sadly, I wasn't so lucky… there was the store. God, I'm so fucking dead…I told myself. I let out a wrenching cough that sent blood flying into my mouth and making my wounds ache. This is a very shitty situation I'm in, huh? I walked two whole steps before I felt something against my back.
"Arrancar, if you want to live, I suggest you leave right now…"the voice sounded cruel and harsh, causing me to flinch. He then seemed to notice my rather sad state and chuckled darkly. "Did a Soul Reaper already get to ya?" he asked tauntingly.
"Y-you wish…" I said, my voice hoarse and weak. I didn't even want to hide the fact I felt like shit. I did, both outside, and in. "M-my own superior d-did this t-to me…
"And why the hell did they do that? They need a punching bag?" he mocked.
"I- I helped prisoners escape…" He quickly lowered his weapon and stood in front of me. I could feel my legs shaking, I was about to collapse.
"What prisoners?" he demanded.
"I-Ichigo…and his-his hollow…" I said, a little startled by his shocked eyes. That's when I recognized him somewhat. "Hey… are you the Quincy?" I asked him. He just stared at me.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked me. I couldn't feel my legs anymore…but I managed to reply.
"M-my name's Dion Novia." I said before crumbling towards the ground. To my surprise, he caught me and lifted me back to my feet. "I..I was in charge of watching them and…t-taking care of the messes…"
"Shiro hasn't mentioned you at all." He told me. I was about to say something when another cough shook my body, causing more blood to come from my mouth and drip from my wounds. He gave me another quick glance over. "I'll have Orihime fix you up." He said. I glared at him weakly.
"It's…it's because of h-her that he was kidnapped, wasn't it?" I asked. He gave me a confused stare.
"Ichigo told her to run. He told us all that if Orihime was rescued, we should get the hell out." He told me. I hadn't heard that from them before. As we neared the shop, I could feel Shiro's familiar spirit energy and stopped.
"N-no…god, he's gonna hate me!" I shook my head. The Quincy stared at me. "Please…don't take me in there…He'll, god, he'll n-never forgive me…" I could feel my vision tipping as he caught me again.
"Relax! You've lost a ton of blood." He told me. I almost laughed at him, but I ended coughing instead.
"I-if you're concerned about m-me, a lowly Arrancar, th-then you should f-fear more for the two in th-th-the shop…" I whispered quietly. He just rolled his eyes and led me, unwillingly, into the shop.
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Normal POV
Uryu slowly led Dion into the shop. "Orihime! I need your assistance here!" he called. She ran from the room where Shiro and Ichigo were to see him holding the bloody and weak Arrancar.
"Ur-Uryu? Why is…?"
"Just help him. He said he knew Shiro while he was there." he explained quickly. "Besides, he's too weak to be a threat anyways." Orihime gave them both one nervous glance before nodding and running back to the back room to make a spot for him. Shiro, who had been sleeping, slowly woke up and instantly felt the familiar spiritual pressure of the Arrancar.
It's him…he thought, almost growling. He quickly got up and ran to where he felt him, but when he saw Orihime's shield and the smell of blood hinted in the room, he felt worry and fear shoot through him. Is he…? He quickly ran in and gasped. "Dion!"
"So, he wasn't lying and you do know him." Uryu commented. Shiro just stared at the Arrancar, who had passed out due to his injuries.
"Yeah…I knew him…even trusted him." He whispered quietly. He landed on his knees, not sure weather to feel bad for how badly he was hurt or pissed because of what he had done to him and Ichigo.
"When did you meet him, and why haven't you told us?" Orihime asked.
"I was going to…when I reached that point…" he whispered quietly. Both teens looked at him as he let in a long breath and released it slowly. "The day Dion first appeared…was right after I had been forced from Ichigo's soul…"
XxxxxX
14 days ago…
Grimmjow and Szayel walked towards the chamber where Aizen's throne was. "Now, please don't don anything embarrassing ok?" Szayel said, looking at Grimmjow.
"And you keep your fucking mouth shut. He's my prisoner, not yours." Grimmjow retorted. Szayel was about to argue when a cold, yet light voice sounded from behind him.
"My my, looks like something's troubling you two." They both turned around to see Gin walking up to them, his usual smile on his face. "Or are you to arguing over who gets to tell Lord Aizen what happened?" They said nothing, only stood there. "Well, you're going to tell me instead, seeing as Lord Aizen is busy at the moment."
"We succeeded in separating the boy and the hollow physically." Szayel explained. Grimmjow stood there, his hands in his pockets feeling ignored and pissed off. "However, they are both still connected mentally and emotionally. Sadly, we didn't figure anything else out." At his last words, he turned to stare at Grimmjow. "Perhaps that's because someone's methods of…interrogation are worthless and a waste of time." Grimmjow shot fro where he stood and lifted Szayel up by the collar of his shirt.
"Listen here, ya gay piece of shit!" he snapped angrily, glaring. "He's my prisoner! I'll do whatever the fuck I want, ya hear?" He felt a cold hand placed on his wrist and turned to look at Gin.
"Now now now, settle down, boys." He said calmly. "I understand completely." He put on a thoughtful look and leaned against the wall. "I have an idea. Grimmjow, are they back in their room?" he asked.
"Yes, both of them are back in their room." He said, his voice still seething with anger. "What for?"
"If force doesn't always work, then trust will." He said simply. Both Espada gave Gin a confused stare, and his smile widened. "Do we have an arrancar with some time on their hands?" he asked. Grimmjow thought for a moment before nodding.
"Yeah, I know of one. He works around the palace mostly. Number 24?" he asked. "Does he fit what you're looking for?" Gin nodded.
"Yes, he'll do nicely. Here's what we're going to do…"
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Ichigo's POV
I have no idea how long I've been sitting here, cradling Shiro. He's been curled up in my lap for a long time, mumbling something that I can't hear. His ears were still bleeding slightly from whatever hell he had gone through before, and he was still in shock, his eyes wide and distant, and trembling in my hands. I was beginning to wonder if there was any way to snap him out of it. "Please Shiro…you need to snap out of it…" I said for probably the thousandth time. But all I got was his murmuring.
"Stop…make it stop…" I felt horrible. How was I supposed to help this? That's when the door opened. I expected Grimmjow or Ulquiorra, or that Szayel freak, but instead, it was an Arrancar I hadn't seen before.
"H-hello there. You are Ichigo Kurosaki, I assume?" he said in a rather quiet voice.
"Y-yes, what do you want now?" I snapped. He flinched a little at my tone and walked in. He had short brown hair and dark green eyes. His mask was on his forehead, spreading in one direction like a wing and wrapping around his forehead. He was wearing an outfit similar to my bankai outfit, but no cape and it had short sleeves.
"My name is Dion Novia." He held his left hand up, showing me the back of it. A number 24 was tattooed on his hand. "The 24th Arrancar."
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Normal POV
Ichigo stared at Dion uncertainly. "Why are you in here?"
"I've been assigned to 'take care of you', as Master Grimmjow put it." He said. "Judging by the look of your friend there, I think he's still in shock." He said. Dion slowly walked towards the two and knelt down, snapping his fingers gently in front of Shiro's distant eyes.
"I've tried everything, but…" Ichigo just couldn't finish his sentence. He felt useless, and that was something he absolutely hated feeling.
"He may just need some rest is all. But his ears are worrying me here." he said, getting up and heading towards the small bathroom and running a washcloth under warm water. He brought it back and held it to one of Shiro's ears, cleaning away the dried blood.
"Why are you doing this?" Ichigo asked warily. "You're an Arrancar."
"I'm following my orders. However, just because I'm an Arrancar doesn't mean that I have to treat Soul Reapers like shit, does it?" he asked. Ichigo didn't look at him and just stared at the floor, gripping Shiro's hand tightly. After a few moments, Dion stood up and sighed. "That's really all I can do. I'm not allowed to much more than clean the room and check up on you two to make sure neither of you is trying to commit suicide and other stuff like that." He said.
"Look, thanks for helping-"
"Wait, I want to make one thing clear, ok? I don't want to know his name, get it?" Ichigo gave him a confused stare. "Lord Aizen is desperate to learn his name, and I want to help you both. So don't tell me, got it?"
"Why do you want to help us? For all I know, this is just another thing to get me to talk." He said. Dion shifted uncomfortably in his spot.
"You're right, you have no reason to trust me, however, I'm all you have right now. I hate it here as much as you do." He explained. "I'm an independent being here, for god's sakes!" Ichigo just stared at him. "Look, I know you don't trust me, but I promise you that I'm not here to hurt you, got it?" he said before closing the door.
XxxxxX
As he closed the door, Gin was waiting for him. "So? How'd it go?"
"The hollow's still in shock, but it'll recover quickly, it just needs rest is all." He reported. Gin nodded.
"And the boy?"
"He doesn't trust me, but that's to be expected." Dion said. Gin just nodded again.
"Very well, Novia. From now on, you're to watch them and gain their trust, understood?" Dion nodded.
"Yes Lord Ichimaru." He said. As Gin walked away, he just shivered. I don't want to do this…but what choice do I have? If I don't, I'm screwed…
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Chapter 8 end
Yeah, I know, not much of a chapter, but I wanted to put this OC in, so I gave him a little intro, eh? Well, tell me what ya think by reviewing! And yes, Dion is important later on, so he will not vanish easily! XD Well, see y'all later! Oh, Novia means 'bird' in Spanish. XD