Warnings: mentions of sex acts but otherwise normal for this story.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Bleach.
Sitting high atop the ice encrusted mountain a large blue white ice dragon watches the villagers leave yet another sacrifice. Sighing at the unnecessary action, he waits till they leave before gliding down to human below the sunlight bouncing off his light blue scales giving them an icy glow. He is surprised when he sees that it's not a female this time, but a young male whose bright orange hair shone against the bluish ice under him.
The dragon was intrigued.
This human was different that much he could tell the dragon could feel power radiated off the young man. Unlike the others who were presented before him who had acted like it was what they wanted had fear rolling off them that the dragon couldn't accept to be near them for long, but this male had acted definite before he was drugged that alone set his apart.
The Dragon was interested in the human and he can guess that his brother would be eventually.
Taking the human into his mouth being gentle as not to pierce him with its fangs the dragon takes off with a great whoosh of air sending snow flurries to the valley below. It flies to the very top of the mountain taking care not to jostle the human in his mouth. At the top was a large ice cave with a small hot springs that was kept warm by even smaller ghost lights. Small orbs that some long ago mage had created and left. While he never needed the use of the springs his little brother did being only half dragon to begin with and tended to get cold during some months.
Waiting for him in one of the larger cavern is another but smaller white dragon in human form whose big teal eyes currently looked very annoyed.
"Again Hyorinmaru?" the white dragon said with a non-impressed tone as the larger dragon walked into the cave. "when will those humans get it that this won't help them find our home."
"I doubt that this one had intended to become a sacrifice Toshiro," Hyorinmaru answered as soon as he laid the human down on a bed of furs. "He fought until they drugged him to the point of him being in a coma."
Toshiro amble over to the unconscious human, he takes a sniff before snorting then backing away.
"What they do dunk him in the stuff; it's amazing that he still breathing." He says as he changes back into his dragon form.
"Yes but he seems to be fighting it off." The teal dragon said deep in thought. "I figure that I have him stay here awhile before sending him on his way. or till he recovers."
"What!? You want to let this human stay here? What could you be thinking; he'll just tell those villagers were the entrance is then what, huh?"
"Toshiro," the teal dragon said with a warning edge to it. "it my decision."
"Fine," the smaller dragon grumble. "but don't think that I won't let him live if he proves to be our downfall."
Toshiro took his place next to the nest of furs with reluctant acceptance of the human who had some of his color returned. Hyorinmaru watched as his brother made a small plume of steam near the orangette and mentally smirk at his brother who can be a tsunder at times. The human sighed as the warm steam hit him before snuggling deeper into the furs.
"That's fine." The larger dragon said with a slight smirk. Ignoring the scowl, the smaller of the two sent him. "I am sure he can tell us his side of the story once he wakes up."
"Like I care just send him on his way when he is done." Toshiro said before falling asleep much to the humor of his older brother.
The larger dragon curled around both the nest and Toshiro creating a near impenetrable barrier from any who might find their way into their home. But the most they had to fear at these heights were other more aggressive drakes though none would dare come near a dragon's cave especially one as powerful as him. With a flick of his tail the ghost lights that were in the cavern slowly dim until the three occupants were enclosed in darkness.
oOooOooOooOo
Ichigo was somewhere between being warm and cold it was like his body couldn't decide what temperature it wanted to be. Add to that he was also feeling like he just recovered from the flu wasn't helping him. he was able to stay awake long enough to think about going back sleep until Zangetsu pushed an image to the forefront of his mind.
"Kaien!" he shouted jerking up only to get tangle up in the furs he found himself in. "What the hell."
He was in a bed of furs and he was alone. Still feeling the effects of the drug Ichigo tries to stand but his legs didn't want to support his weight. He collapsed back into the furs just missing an impact with the hard ice rock mix floor.
"Damn it what wrong with me," he felt worst then when he woke up. It was like something was zapping his energy.
He laid there breathing in and out several times before he felt that he could stand without falling. With wobbly steps Ichigo manage to make it to the entry way of the cave he was in. only to fine he was still in a cave.
"Great just freaking great," he mutters running his hand over his face.
Using the wall for support Ichigo tried to fine the exit that would lead him back to the village so he could help Kaien and get Zangetsu back. Right his zanpakuto could only help him so much since he stupidly dropped it back in the inn. he suddenly wishes that he trains to summon the blades over long distances more then he wouldn't be with at least one of them. Ichigo could just imagen that lecture he was sure to get once this was all over, again, both spirits had voiced their displeasure about the new limitation the last time Ichigo was separated from them. It was not a good time for the orangette.
'I can just feel the headache forming already,' Ichigo mentally grimaces.
So until he got back his zanpakuto he was on his own and he was in an unknown area with an unknown entity and he didn't know how far from that village he was. He was also starting to freeze.
Ichigo kept moving in the same direction he was heading. He soon had to stop when he became tired but knew better then to closed his eyes. the feeling of having been going through the flu was back and Ichigo felt his head. He was so hot that even he could tell that he had gotten sick. Letting his head fall back against the ice wall with a thunk Ichigo found himself in a very tight spot.
He was sick, far from those who could help him, and he still couldn't find the one who took him.
'shit.'
The cold wall wasn't doing him much good as Ichigo was losing his fight to stay awake. Just as he was about to slump sideways he felt himself being picked up. Through blurry eyes he could just make out two figures one being shorter than the other.
"See told you he hadn't gone far the stupid human," the smaller one said.
"Yes, you were right," the one holding him said sighing.
Ichigo felt a hand rubbing his head.
"Toshiro are humans always this hot?"
Ichigo heard a sigh before another hand joins the one on his head.
"From the look of him, no humans shouldn't be this hot. I guess he is sick or something." One said Ichigo was feeling so dizzy that he couldn't tell who was talking now.
"Then what do you do with sick humans? The ones before never got sick."
"How should I know, you're the one who wanted to keep him. Put him in the hot springs if you want I don't care."
Ichigo felt that whoever was carrying him was moving and the thought of getting overheated was something he wanted. He wanted sleep.
"Wouldn't that over heat him?"
"Here's an idea drop him back in a human village and let them deal with him."
"I don't think that he would survive the trip and I doubt that that village would take care of him."
Ichigo even in his state could feel the irritation roll off the smaller person. He couldn't take it anymore so he let them know what he wanted.
"sleep," he mutters. He mentally winches at the sound of his voice his throat felt awful.
"Well that takes care of that. Let him sleep then throw him in the springs then get rid of him Hyorinmaru, no good can come of dealing with humans."
Ichigo heard someone walk away before the feeling of something soft had him asleep again. He didn't see of feel the scales of the one taking care of him nor the coldness of the person. He did hear before losing consciousness someone talking to him.
"My little brother isn't too trusting but he isn't a bad being. I wish not to ask you of this human but I trust that you may help him when I can no longer be there." The voice said followed by a hand his hair. "Sleep human you are the first that I wish to talk too."
With that Ichigo was unconscious letting his body recover from this bout of sickness that he got. If he lived through this, he was never leaving Zangetsu again even if he had to strap the blades to his body like his use too.
When next he woke he felt a little bit better though his head still felt muzzy. Ichigo was shifting around when his arm bump into something. Forgetting that he wasn't in his normal bed Ichigo just figured that he hit one of the bed post, so when he turned onto his other side instead of his bedroom wall he was nose to nose with a small white hair kid.
"GAH!" he yelps jumping back and falling out of the fur bed and landing on the back of his head. "Ow."
"Be quiet human some of us are trying to sleep," the kid said looking annoyed at being woken up.
"What the hell; who are you brat?" Ichigo scowled pulling himself up into sitting position.
"I don't have to answer that you should just be glad that you slept here and didn't get dump back out in the snow." The kid said a bit tick at being called a brat.
"Wha…what; why you little," the orangette growled wanting to thrash the kid in front of him. but upon a closer look he recognized the kid and had to keep himself from blurting out the ice Captains name.
"Besides you belong to us now since those idiots down in the village gave you to us," the kid continued sitting back with his arms crossed.
Ichigo had to stop for a second as the words registered. When they did he was furious that he jumps to his feet and tower over the Toshiro look alike. he can see that both had the same mannerisms.
"one; I don't belong to anyone, two I agree those villagers are idiots, and three what makes you think that I'll be staying here anyway." Ichigo leaned down getting eye level. "Now why don't you run alone little kid."
" I am not a kid and you would do well to remember that human." The kid scowled back before smirking. "Since you can't seem to see that how insignificant you are how about I show you."
Before Ichigo could reply a blast of ice and snow threw him back. The cloud surrounded the kid before being blasted out and in the kid's place was a huge white dragon. Ichigo was stun but swallow his surprise before getting up and facing the dragon without any fear.
The dragon irritated that the orangette wasn't reacting like he had hope raised one of his talon feet and let it hover over the teen before running the tip of one talon down the orangette's chest. Then when he was sure that Ichigo was not as tense as before, Toshiro slammed his foot against Ichigo without crushing him. he had the teen pinned between him and the floor. The teen was still scowling and Toshiro was getting even more irritated he was thinking of applying more pressure but a deep voice boom stopping him.
"Toshiro!" his brother yelled. "I don't think this is what I meant when I ask you to watch after that human for me."
Ichigo could just see out of the corner of his eye catching a glimpse of a tall man with long teal hair a cross shape scar on his face wearing what look like to Ichigo a kimono with a long wrap that trailed behind him. What he tried to get a better look at was the guys hands and feet for instead of human looking they look like a smaller version of the one currently on top of him.
"I was teaching him manners," Toshiro said not bothering to look up.
"This human has a name and its Ichigo," the orangette said struggling to move only managing to free one arm. "and he needs to breath so get off me."
Toshiro rolled his eyes as he lifted his foot just enough that Ichigo could move but not escape.
"Hey let me out," the teen shouted. Struggling more but only managing to gain some light burses. "You stinking-
"Toshiro," Hyorinmaru warned.
"Fine," the white dragon huffed. He lifts his foot the rest of the way allowing Ichigo to move freely. "I'm going to go hunting talk to your new pet brother."
Before Ichigo could retort he is besieged with another gust of blinding snow and wind once he is able to see he sees that Toshiro is gone. A sigh has him turning back to the other person.
"I am sorry about him; he normally isn't that bad. I 'am Hyorinmaru the ice dragon that watches over this mountain," the teal hair man said. "Please follow me I'll answer what I can but first food and clothes." He stops by Ichigo peering down at the orangette in confusion. "You humans are strange beings for walking around with almost no clothes on. But earlier you were also very hot so maybe it's just you."
"Huh?" Ichigo asks before following the dragons gaze. "What the- where are my clothes?" he yelps trying to cover himself and failing. It hadn't occurred to him that he should have been freezing by now and yet he hadn't notice a thing since waking. Though that could be blamed on just recovering from a cold and finding out that you been given to dragons.
"We removed them," Hyorinmaru said as if it was something that simple. "They would have frozen to your skin once they dried. You soak them when your fever broke. Or at least that's what Toshiro said would happen."
"Can I please get somewhere warm," Ichigo asks. He was starting to turn an impressive shade of blue.
"there is a hot spring nearby, go there and after there should be some clothes for you then you should eat something. I highly doubt you had anything since two days ago." The dragon said as he started walking away.
Ichigo was going to protest and tell Hyorinmaru that he needed to get back to the village when his stomach argued the point. Sighing in defeat the orangette knew that he needed food and clothes or he really would end up dead this time.
"Fine, just—where is this springs." He finally says.
"This way hu-I mean Ichigo," the dragon smiles lightly not even waiting to see if the freezing teen is following.
The dragon knew he had made the right choice in bring the teen with him. looking into a person's soul was a talent of his and once he saw Ichigo's there was not doubt on trusting him with the things that he guards. He just hopes that his brother can forgive him later.
oOooOooOooOooOooOooOo
Kaien woke with a major headache the could rival any hangover he had ever had. His memory was a bit fuzzy but he knew that he didn't get drunk last night. Ichigo had been very adamant about him drinking while traveling and then when they first got here.
'uhg, note to self don't eat whatever I ate that's making me feel like shit,' he thought.
After a few minutes he realizes that he isn't in the room at the inn nor anywhere that he wants to be. The little room he is in was small dank cold and had bars. He also takes notice of the fact that his right arm and neck are chained however the length is long enough that Kaien didn't have to worry about choking.
"really," he chuckled darkly. "This is just great; mom is really going to chew me out once we get back."
Standing once he didn't have to worry about falling down and wasn't hamper by dizziness Kaien started to check all his pockets including the ones that were hidden. As expected almost all had been pick clean when they had thrown him in here. Luckily they had missed the one that had some lock picks sewn in it and Kaien was about to use them before he stops. Standing still he tilted his head trying to catch the sound that he had heard.
"Is that brat awake yet?"
"I haven't check sir."
"Then go see you fool! Make sure that he is still alive or he won't sell!"
The heavy foot stomps on the stairs give Kaien enough time to get back to the little uncomfortable cot even out his breath feign sleep. He relaxes his body as he hears the cell door squeal open and the guard standing over him.
"You still breathing ya little shit?"
Kaien stays still which annoys the guard. He later congratulates himself when the guard starts to use his sheath to poke him.
"Well his he still breathing?" an annoyed voice asks from outside the cell.
"He's breathing sir but he is not waking."
Shuffling feet get closer to Kaien's cot. judging by one of the voices the raven could place that one of the ones in his cell was the village Headman. He still feigns sleep as his chin is roughly grab.
"Yes he should sell nicely, maybe I should sell to a male brothel as payment for what his little brother's sword did to my son. Or better yet I hear that some of the Lords over the mountains are in need of some new blood for their sexual entertainment. I wonder how you do with being dominated by bulls."
Kaien suppress a shiver it was not unknown that certain circles in the East used their slaves to have intercourse with beast of burden. Those who were the worst off where tied to thick poles preventing escape. Kaien was glad that his father had dealt with the ones that were on this side but that didn't mean that those in the East didn't know what he looked like and would take great pleasure in their torture if he was recognized.
"That damn sword, no one can touch it without losing their arm." The Headman seethe. "I should make you pick up bastard maybe send you off with a few mementos of your time here." The man hisses in Kaien's ear.
He is roughly thrown back into his cot not making a sound from the hard impact.
"We should have waited before sacrificing that other brat but oh well, at least it will distract the dragons."
"You think that he survived?"
"Ha I highly doubt it. After all dragons are vicious beast there properly isn't even a stain from their devouring him." the Headman laughs as the cell door closes with a clang.
Kaien waited unlit the sounds of their feet fade before getting back up. He was pissed.
It was one thing to threaten him but add anyone he considered family then the one doing the threating would have wished that they were in another life once Kaien got done with them. A few soldiers from the Sereitiei could attest to that. Waiting to make sure that no one else would be visiting Kaien go to work on freeing himself. he would need to find a way to send word back to his soldiers near the bottom of the mountain and getting word to any nearby Espada that might be able to get to Ichigo.
Kaien knew that Ichigo hadn't been killed the orangette was too stubborn to let any dragons eat him plus Ice dragons in general weren't ravishing beast that kill anything that moves. Hopeful the teen was found by one that might think him to be a member of the royal family and might have taken him to safely or even back down the mountain in some village. It was a long shot but Kaien had to hope he didn't even want to think what would happen when his mother found out that this had happen.
Kaien snorted. People thought that him and his brother were frightening in battle but it was their mother who was the real terror. She may be a bit rusty and hasn't been on the front lines in years but she still could send her enemies running for cover.
A clatter of metal as the raven got the manacles on his arm off he started on his neck.
'just hang on Ichigo,' he thinks. 'don't you dare die and leave me here to face the family's wrath.'
Up in the ice cave a orangette shivers for an unknown reason.
'must have been my imagination," he mentally shakes as he descends into the warm water.
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Chapter end.
Thank you for reading.