A/N: OMG my allergies have been trying to kill me for two days now! Trying to type out a chapter, while having to stop every few sentences to blow my damn nose has been nothing short of a nightmare for me! And that doesn't even count the sneezing I've been doing. At least my son has gotten a kick out of mimicking me. Anyways, this chapter was a bit of a challenge for me, I hope it isn't too awkward. A huge thank you to those that have followed and favorited this story. It really means a lot. Anyways, on-wards! Enjoy!
Ichigo found herself standing in the middle of a dark room, one with no doors or windows. The only light coming from lantern on the wall giving off just enough light to fill the small room.
A mirror stood in the middle, much taller than the woman who stood before it. Ichigo found it odd that even though she stood directly in front of it, she wasn't greeted by her reflection. Instead she was met with a pitch black image.
Extending her hand out so that her finger tips brushed the smooth, cool glass. She looked at the mirror with confusion. The glass wasn't painted, nor was it concealed behind any fabric. Did she simply not exist?
A light pierced through the darkness growing as a door behind her opened, allowing white light to fall into the room. Turning around to face the door, she shocked when she was met with the same pitch black room. Turning back to the mirror, the door stood a few feet behind her, half way open.
Ichigo took notice of a flower that laid on the floor in her place. Bending down to get a closer look, she noticed the 5 large white petals taking the form of a star. Ichigo reached toward the mirror again, feeling the soft velvet petals of the flower.
Jerking her hand back suddenly she frowned as she noticed a cut on her finger. It was deep and started to weep, she tried to think of how she could have given herself such an injury by simply touching a flower. Looking back down at the floor, she noticed a few drops of blood had fallen on to the white petals.
Ichigo watched as the petals began to wilt but as the flower died, the drops of blood grew, forming a puddle that swallowed the flower. Blood began the race across the floor as the puddle became wider, and Ichigo looked on with horror as the blood began to spill out of the mirror on to the floor in front of her.
She became frozen, watching helplessly as the thick liquid rose to her ankles and quickly rose higher and higher. The door in the mirror began to close, the blood pool somehow pushing it closed. As the light was pushed out of the room, the blood moved quicker across the floors and up the walls.
With the door firmly shut in the mirror, Ichigo began to panic. Unable to move and the blood rising higher and higher up her body, she was forced to draw in the biggest breath she could before her head was submerged in the dense liquid.
Her chest burned with the need to breath, and her lungs screamed in protest as she continued to hold her breath.
It was an ironic way to die, drowning in something that was supposed to help keep you alive.
Opening her eyes, she noticed a small shadow making its way to her. In her heart she knew it was the flower from earlier, even though she couldn't see it clearly. She began to feel light headed, the need to breathe a screaming alarm in her head.
She saw black dancing on the edge of her vision, her arm stretched out, fingers just shy of brushing one of the petals. Before she could push herself farther to grasp it, her vision faded.
Ichigo startled awake, vaulting herself forward and allowing her arms to wrap around her legs as she drew them up to her middle. Pulling in deep breaths, she looked around, her mind conscious of the fact that she was once again back in her own room, in her own bed.
The cloak Shiro had given her sat on the foot of her bed, her chest was still bound tightly by the dressings and the same black pants sat loosely on her hips. The only difference was the white cami that covered her chest.
Tossing the covers to the side, she jumped out of bed and ran to the door yanking it open.
"Ichigo?" The call caused her to jolt to a stop, looking around for the one that had called her. Looking back she saw Lisa making her way toward the young girl, concern pulling at her features. "You shouldn't be out of bed, your injuries—"
"Lisa." Lisa stopped at the serious tone in her young mistress's voice. She noticed the flushed look on Ichigo's face, a thin layer of sweat making her bangs stick to her forehead and the slight tremble that shook the girls frame. Judging by the dark circles under her eyes she was sick, a fever obviously took hold of the girl's body and with the treatment she had gone through, it rose nothing short of concern in Lisa's mind.
"Where is Shiro?" The question was completely a surprise. The albino man has shown up with a sleeping Ichigo just two hours before, finally returning her home after she had been gone for five days. A long five days it had been for the entire estate. Ichigo's kidnapping had shaken the normal peaceful life they had managed to achieve here, the staff not knowing what happened to the young girl. When the Master had shown up not even an hour after she was taken, the staff knew something dangerous had taken place. For him to show up in such a furious state, they made sure to stay out of his way.
"The albino that brought you here is speaking with Master at the moment." Lisa watched as Ichigo's mind slowly processed the information, her eyes widening as she looked at her caretaker. "Master is here?" Sighing Lisa nodded. "He came straight here when he was informed that you and Shawlong failed to meet Master Ichimaru in time, and yes," Lisa smiled slightly at the young woman, "Shawlong is fine. He managed to walk away with just a broken arm."
Ichigo could only nod, grateful to hear that the man was okay. "You on the other hand need to return to bed. You are showing signs of a fever and while I'm sure the drug induced rests were necessary, the lack of proper nutrition because of them have not truly helped your body in healing." Sweeping her arm to the side, Lisa gestured for the young woman to return the way she came.
She frowned however when Ichigo shook her head. "No, Lisa, I need to see Shiro. Please take me." Before her caretaker to could speak against her Ichigo spoke in a low pleading voice. "Please Lisa, I want to see my brother."
That had caught the maid off guard, while she saw how careful the young man was with her charge, she hadn't been some keenly aware of their familiar bond. "Brother?" the question was whispered, shock and confusion filling that one simple word.
With a simple nod from the orangenette, Lisa began making her way down the very corridor Ichigo had been following only moments ago. Making their way toward the back of the estate, an area that Ichigo had never been to, knowing the area belonged to their Master. His own personal quarters tucked back and hidden.
After they had made their way down numerous corridors and climbed two more flights of stairs, they stood before a tall door. Looking back, Lisa noticed the apprehension that pulled at Ichigo's tired and drawn features. Both women holding their breath as Lisa pushed the tall, heavy door open.
Stepping into the room, Ichigo noticed it was a sitting room and that another door way stood on the opposite side. Making their way through, both began to hear voices becoming clearer as they came closer.
Large windows sat on the back wall, displaying the back of the property in all its pristine glory. Off to the left stood the room where the voices were coming from, Shiro's odd tenor recognizable to Ichigo immediately.
"You ass, I don't get to see my sister for six years, and when I finally do, you're going to sit there and bitch at me. No, fuck you Grim. She's the only family I have left and you had no right to keep her from me!"
Lisa held up a hand, stopping Ichigo from rushing into the room to comfort her pissed off brother. Making her way to the door way, Lisa raised a hand and knocked on the frame, alerting those inside to her presence.
Bowing and keeping her gaze lowered, what she was about to say would most likely cause trouble. "Forgive me Master, but Ichigo was insistent on seeing her brother, and from hearing what the young master had just said family should never be separated." Unable to hear what her Master may have said to Lisa, Ichigo was surprised and nervous when Lisa had motioned for her to enter the room.
Ichigo noticed Shiro sitting, leaning forward resting his elbows on his knees while he held a glass with amber colored liquor and ice. Smiling at his sister, he stood making his way over, setting the glass down so that he could take her face in his hands. "Ichigo, you okay? You don't look so well," he asked frowning at the dark circles under her eyes and the pale color her skin had seem to taken since he last saw her two hours ago.
"She's showing signs of a fever, but refused to return to bed." Frowning, Ichigo looked over at the woman whose head remained bowed. "Tattle tale," she muttered. Lisa seemed to have heard her, lifting her head slightly and giving Ichigo a slight smirk. If Lisa couldn't get Ichigo to listen to reason and rest, maybe her brother or their Master could. Chuckling, Shiro ran his hand through her hair, feeling the dampness at her roots. "You had a bad dream didn't you?"
Ichigo couldn't help the small blush darken her already flushed face, averting her gaze to the side. Leading Ichigo to a chair next to the one he had previously occupied himself, he motioned for her to sit while he grabbed a glass of water for the poor girl.
"Don't look so surprised, you always came running to me when you had a bad dream. Pissed dad off, I would be in the middle of calming you down and he would try and kick me in the head." Ichigo offered a small smile to her brother as she reached out for the glass.
It was when a deep velvet voice spoke up that Ichigo was reminded she and Shiro were not the only ones in the room. "You must not have been good at calming her down, because every time Isshin tried to kick your ass, she would start laughing." Looking over at the speaker, Ichigo felt herself freeze.
He sat behind a large desk, leaned back in chair. The first thing that caught her attention was his sky blue hair that seemed to be styled in a controlled chaotic way, a few long strands hanging in front of his eyes. His eyes reminded Ichigo of crystal clear ocean water, tropical and serene.
The man spoke, turning to Lisa as she waited by the door way, cutting off Shiro's rant against the man. "Lisa, I called for Dr. Granz to come by to look at Ichigo. Wait for him and bring his fairy ass here immediately, especially if she has developed a fever." Dismissed the maid made her way back into the main part of the estate leaving Ichigo with the two men.
Ichigo knew she was starring, and that it was rude, but finally see was able to be face to face with the man that had done so much for her over the past six years. "I know what you're thinking Ichi, no way in hell is it natural. Have to admit, he is pretty weird looking" Shiro said, crossing his hands behind his head as he leaned back farther in his chair watching his sister stare at the man that had years ago won her heart, not that she would remember.
While Shiro was sure no one was good enough for his little sister, he knew the laps in memory truly broke Grimmjow's heart. Ichigo watched as her Master turned his attention to her brother, watching as bright eyes turned stormy as he glared at the pale man.
"Right, I'm the unnatural looking one, you albino pain in the ass. My hair is natural and you know it."
Leaning forward, Shiro bared his teeth at the man, "At least I have an excuse for looking this way, you genetically modified asshole!"
Eyes wide and gaze bouncing from one man to the other, she couldn't help but feel that even though their harsh words toward each other, it was nostalgic. She merely chuckled, they argued like children would on the playground, each insult simply used to egg the other on.
Hearing her laugh, both men paused in their bickering to look her way. "Thank you," she said looking straight into the blue eyes of the man she owed so much too. "For everything you have done for both of us over the years. You provided so much for me and even the night our parents died you tried to help. We could never repay you."
With an irritated tsk, Shiro stood once again and made his way over to the wet bar, refilling his empty cup. Shaking her head slightly at her brother's antics, she returned her gaze to her Master, watching him stand and make his way in front of her. Hands in both pockets of his dark grey slacks, he smiled softly at the young woman.
"You never need to thank me Ichigo. I'm always happy to give you anything you want." Ichigo felt her face erupt in flame at the man's words.
"Oi, how come you never talk to me like that Grim?" Shiro asked while taking his seat once again, swirling his drink around in his cup. Irritation flashed across the man's face, rolling his eyes, he flipped the pale man off, and causing Shiro to choke back a laugh as he quickly had to swallow the large gulp of alcohol he had just taken.
"So, your name is Grim?" The subject of the elusive man's name had been burning a hole in her tongue since she had first noticed the handsome man. Smirking, the man picked up his own glass of alcohol. "Grimmjow, your idiot brother is just too lazy to use my whole name." Looking at her brother, she could only smile as he offered her a one shoulder shrug, just to reiterate Grimmjow's point.
A knock sounded at the door and when it opened Lisa stepped through followed by a man with shoulder length bubble gum pink hair and mustard colored eyes framed by a pair of white glasses.
"Ah, sexta it has been quite a while since I've been called out to your personal estate. To what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked using his middle and ring finger to push his frames higher on his nose.
Grimmjow made his way over to Ichigo, placing his hand on her uninjured shoulder. "Ichigo has sustained extensive injuries and is showing signs of a fever. I want you to look her over, she received medical attention a few days ago, but I want to be sure everything was handled properly."
Turning his attention to the young woman, he offered a small smile. "Hello Miss Ichigo, my name is Szayel," he said extending his slim hand out to the girl, gently grasping it when she returned the action. "Why don't you and I go into the bedroom, so that I may look you over, your maid is welcome to come if it would make you more comfortable." Nodding, she stood making her way out of the room with Lisa guiding her to her Master's bedroom.
Once Grimmjow heard the door to his bedroom snap shut, he jerked around to throw his empty glass against the wall that all three had left through. Shiro had told him about the whip marks and how he had come to find Ichigo, anger coming through the phone's speaker clearly. Grimmjow wouldn't comment on the fact that through the anger he could tell Shiro had been crying as well. To come upon such a scene of one human hurting another in that way was hard, it made it worse that it was Ichigo being harmed.
Shiro didn't even flinch when the glass smashed against the wall, simply staring at his own empty glass. "Ne, Grim? When do you think we'll finally stop failing her?" Shiro whispered as he moved the ice around his glass.
Chest heaving, he turned to look at the pale man. "Now, we start now. No more failing. One of us need to be with her at all times, no matter what." Sighing, Shiro stood. "I'll send a message to Kisuke and let him know Aizen's next move." Stopping short of the door, Shiro turned to smirk at Grimmjow. "Oh and don't even think of proposing again. Just because she said yes when she was four doesn't mean it still counts."
A shark like grin formed as Grimmjow turned to face the window. "You forget, your parents have us betrothed. But don't worry, you know ultimately Ichigo will have the right to decide." Nodding Shiro faced the door, "Yeah, but even though she can't remember you or any of that shit, you know she'll say with you. It's always been you." Taking his leave, Shiro pulled out his phone to contact his second in command.
Rubbing his hands down his face, Grimmjow took notice of just how tired he really was. "I really hope you're right Shiro."