The sun slowly rose over the horizon, shining softly on the brick townhouses. It was the start of a new day. Reverse London was waking up. Well, most of it anyway. One part of Reverse London, nestled deep within the walls of Wing Bind, a building was awake hours before the sun rose. They won't be sleeping anytime soon.
A woman marches through the halls of the building, resolute and unbothered. Her gloved hands clenched at her sides state otherwise. No one else is in the halls to interrupt her stalk towards the meeting chamber.
Shouts echo throughout the upper levels, though still muffled. The woman, dressed in a black suit and with asabre attached to her left hip, walks closer to the Crown Council. She doesn't bother stopping at the closed door to await entry, simply opening the door and marching in.
"—some kind of drill, I'm going to fucking murder that bastard!" A man shouts in his rage, furiously bouncing his leg.
Sullivan Squire, the Director of the Sabres, refrains from rolling her eyes at the other Director's usual hothead nature. "A drill doesn't call for Wizards and Witches of Level 13 or higher, Bruno."
Bruno Bangnyfe, Director of the Inks, growls with a ferocious glare pointed at the militant woman. He doesn't say anything more, but still grumbles under his breath. Sullivan sits in her chair, giving a nod to the remaining Directors in the room. Save for Saka, she was the only one left.
"What happened?" Sullivan asks, turning to look at man who called the meeting in the first place. Wolfgang Slashhaut, Director of the Gallows, leans forward with his entwined hands hiding his mouth. He stares ahead, grim and silent.
"Saka will tell us once they're here," Wolfgang states, making most of the Directors turn to stare at him weirdly. Saka has never been to a Crown Council since they were first promoted to Director of the Patchworks nearly a decade ago. Bruno growls again and bangs his fist on the table.
"Then we'll be here all damn day! That bastard Rynn would rather blow off their budget on God knows what than actually come to one of these meetings!"
"These meetings are full of red tape and formalities. I'd rather be doing actual work than simper to all of you assholes," A voice speaks up from the doorway. Saka saunters in with their fingers rapidly tapping away at the tablet in their hand.
Bruno looks like he sucked on a lemon as he glares ferociously at the usually AWOL Director. Saka doesn't glance up from their tablet once while walking towards their own chair. They sit in it, ignoring the cloud of dust that puffs up from the movement.
Their black hair, usually frazzled and falling out of its bun, barely even hung to the elastic band meant to keep their hair up. They weren't wearing their patched suit jacket and coffee stains littered the button-up blouse they wore underneath.
"Are you alright, Director Rynn?" Cquntnire Milieve, Director of the Sacreds, asks with a gentle smile plastered on her face.
Saka snorts loudly, still not even glancing up from the tablet they brought with them. "Alright? I haven't slept all night because of this alert and I still haven't figured it out! I'm doing bloody fantastic, Director Milieve."
"So, you have no idea why the alarm was activated? Just wonderful!" Bruno sneers, making Saka roll their eyes.
"I know why the alarm sounded, you idiot! I haven't figured out how it happened. It—well, it's not impossible, but it–it's weird," Saka states before they finally look up from their tablet. Their white eyes peered over their thick glasses before they push them up, tossing the tablet onto the circular table.
"Earlier this morning, we received readings of a power flare. It was at least an Awful Dragon, which sounded the alert for those who were Level 13 or higher," Saka starts, tapping at the tablet to pull up the screen into a holograph. "The thing I haven't figured out is why the power flare showed up in the Tokyo Prefecture of Japan."
"Japan? The East Branch kills their dragons," Sullivan states, making Tronbone Takkinen, Director of the Pipers, sigh softly in disappointment. Leading the division who cares and protects dragons usually requires a significantly soft heart for them. For better or for worse.
"Yes they do, but they don't let them escape long enough to have our radars pick up on the dragon's power. It disappeared shortly after it revealed itself, but I don't believe it was killed."
"You think it's a Märchen?" Bruno asks, a grin slowly growing on his face. Sullivan refrains from rolling her eyes. Always looking for glory, that one.
"I think it's a bloody clever dragon, that's what. And one we need more information on before we tread on the East Branch's jurisdiction," Saka says with a small glare pointed towards the Director of the Inks. They turn towards Wolfgang and their expression softens.
Wolfgang stays silent for a long moment before waving a hand towards the hologram. "Are you positive it is a Dark Dragon, Saka?"
"No. But, I would like to send a research team once I've confirmed an exact location." Saka runs a hand through their hair before leaning back. "Probably in a few months time if we can get permission from the East Branch. Me and a group of Patchworks, a few Pipers in case it's a Light Dragon, and a few Sabres and Inks for protection and possible retrieval if this is the work of a person."
Wolfgang hums with a nod, glancing towards Sullivan and Bruno. "You two, work with Saka to figure out the best people for this team. I will work on getting this expedition approved with Sir Yamamoto. Good work, Saka."
Saka's entire face turns bright red before they scoff loudly. They stand up, snatching their tablet back.
"Whatever. Now, no one talk to me for at least seven hours unless you bloody well need me. I'm getting some sleep," They sneer before turning on their heel to storm out of the Crown Council.
"Hey! We ain't done, you fucking bastard!" Bruno shouts, standing up from his chair, but Saka just flips him off. Bruno growls and takes a step forward, but Wolfgang stops him with a raise of his hand.
"Saka... I hope to see you for future meetings. Your work is paramount for the rest of the Top of Horns to function well," Wolfgang speaks quietly. Saka freezes at the door for a few moments before they simply shove open the door and storms out.
Takkinen chuckles quietly, brushing his white beard. "Wolfy boy, you certainly know how to pick the lively ones as your favorites."
Wolfgang glares at the older director, his mustache twitching. "I don't have favorites."
Cquntnire giggles quietly behind her hand and Sullivan's mouth twitches in a small smile. Everyone knows Saka Rynn is his ultimate favorite.
"They're easier to deal with than the rest of you, and Saka deals with their division's problems before bothering me," Wolfgang continues, making Bruno protest loudly.
"THEY CAUSE THE MOST PROBLEMS FOR US ALL!!"
Warm silence fills the air. It's almost stifling how warm it is, but Ichigo doesn't mind. Ichigo turns his face and presses it against a fluttering heartbeat.
There's a small huff before something warm presses against his head. Ichigo hums quietly, a guttural purr reverberating through his chest. The hand on his head gently runs through his rat's nest of hair.
Waking up to no nightmares is a wonderful feeling. Almost as wonderful as waking up to being almost suffocated with the amount of dragons who cuddle with him at any given night.
His back still aches from the attack last night, but Ichigo can tell the skin and the bones are all fully healed. It's just the nerves now.
Ichigo freezes and he opens his eyes. The attack last night. The Shinigami; the Hollows...
He lifts his head up and stares blearily at the person petting him. Messy black hair and ocean blue eyes.
"Morning..." Ichigo mumbles, blinking slowly.
Uryū huffs quietly, glaring at the orange-haired teenager. "Can you make the dragons leave? I can't sleep with this amount of heat."
Ichigo blinks again before turning his head. Cleopatra had her tail wrapped all the way around Ichigo's torso and her wings covered him and Uryū like a blanket. Hamlet was wrapped all the way around Uryū and Ophelia had tangled herself in-between both pairs of legs. Solinus was curled on top of Ichigo with his head resting on Uryū's stomach.
"When'd they...?" Ichigo slurs out, looking back at his brother. Uryū sighs with an eye roll, laying his head back against his pillow.
"The moment you stumbled your way into my room about 30 minutes ago," Uryū states, making Ichigo frown.
When did he come into Uryū's room? He remembered leaving Mom to her conversation and falling onto the futon set up for him. He fell right asleep... and then he remembers waking up feverish...
Ichigo hums quietly before he presses his head against Uryū's neck again. He purrs deeply and closes his eyes again.
"...think I 's cold... Sleepy..." He mumbles, breathing in Uryū's pulse.
The Quincy sighs heavily, accepting his fate as a pillow. "We've got school."
"Mom'll wake us..." The warmth and safety being with his brother and his dragons seeps into him. Ichigo's breathing evens out as his muscles relax.
Uryū stays silent, bringing his hand back to Ichigo's head. His heartbeat picks up again, making Ichigo grumble quietly.
"You were soaked in blood last night... but you weren't injured—in your spirit body..." Uryū whispers quietly. He doesn't want to break the comfortable atmosphere around them.
Ichigo opens his eyes and stares blankly at Uryū's throat. He watches his brother swallow before he closes his eyes again with a sigh.
"...I... I was..." Hungry. So hungry. Starving. More. More, more, more. So hungry—
Saliva fills his mouth before he swallows it back. Ichigo nuzzles further into Uryū's throat, sighing shakily.
"It was... s' good." Ichigo refrains from licking his lips when he recalls the taste of blood and reiryoku. "I've never... 'm full. I've never been full before."
Uryū tenses beneath the teenager, breathing in sharply. Ichigo purrs in response with his cheek nuzzling against Uryū's neck.
"Tensa 's okay with it..." He continues with a mumble. The purring pitches up in volume and Ichigo snuggles further against Uryū.
"Sleep now... 'm tired..."
Uryū stays tense for a long minute. Ichigo's eyebrows furrow and he whines quietly. The tension finally, slowly, eases and Uryū starts to pet his head again.
"Idiot. Is that why you had me leave?" Uryū murmurs with a small huff. "We all expected something like this. Why would I be upset about it?"
Ichigo whines again, embarrassed this time, making the dragons curl around them even more. A deep trill leaves Cleopatra before she squeezes her human's torso with enough strength to force the air out of his lungs.
"But, this better not become a habit. I will not be making you a new uniform every time you decide to eat. Yours is unsalvageable with the amount of blood soaked completely through it." Ichigo sighs softly with a smile and his chest rumbles with a loud purr.
"Honestly. Can you be any messier with your food? I thought you were bad when Mother cooks, but now—" Ichigo drifts back off to sleep with Uryū's ranting lulling him. The hand carding through his hair never stops.
Masaki stares down at the pancake batter. A frown mars her face as she taps her talons against the bowl.
"Can Ichigo still eat human food? Or should I go and... hunt a Hollow for him?" She mutters to herself, concerned and torn on what she should do.
This hasn't happened before. Based on Kisuke's research, anyways. With his other exiled... friends, none of them had shown signs of Hollow hunger after a century of their new... biology—is that the correct way to put it? Anyways—but none of them were born with this. Not like her son.
From the little Masaki managed to force out of Kisuke, it was an experiment, and subsequent betrayal, their enemy had done against them. It wasn't a natural thing they were born with. They were going crazy because of it before Kisuke managed to stabilize them completely.
That was something they expected to happen as Ichigo grew up. It was a surprise when his mind continued to stay intact. Especially because Hollows and Quincy do not mix. Especially with what kind of Hollow Ichigo was born with.
We will have to see. Your son will wake soon enough.
Masaki lifts the bowl and turns towards the hot pan on the stove. She pours it in to begin making pancakes.
"M-Masaki-san?" The auburn-haired woman blinks and turns around. A warm smile grows on her face when she sees Ururu, still in her pajamas, partially hiding behind the door frame.
"Ururu-chan, good morning. How are you feeling?" Masaki greets with a bright smile.
Ururu ducks most of her head behind the wall, her fingers nervously picking at the wood grain of the shoji door. "I... I usually... cook on Thursdays..."
"I know, and I'm sorry, Ururu-chan... but you can help me, if you'd like!" Masaki holds out her hand. "Do you want to finish the pancakes or start on the bacon?"
Ururu peeks her head out with sparkling purple eyes. Masaki giggles quietly as the young girl shyly walks forward and grabs her hand.
"...pancakes please... Masaki-san..."
The auburn-haired woman smiles brightly down at the shy girl. "I'll leave it in your hands then!"
The sky, the earth, the air, everything is covered in a blanket of white. Lit torches of pale fire sat beneath the weighted branches of frozen trees along a frozen river. A breeze gently danced with the frozen leaves of the trees, creating a whispering melody of the eternally frozen world.
Violet eyes, with frosted eyelashes, blink slowly before glancing down. Crimson blood fell in rivulets and splattered against the ice.
"From now on, you must never let your guard down, my Lady," A voice, gentle and deathly cold like the snow, speaks softly.
The white mist carefully splits and falls away, and a young woman steps out of the opening before it falls back into place. Pale silver hair fell in straight curtains over a white kimono and cold silver eyes pierced through Rukia in their anger and fear.
"Sode no Shirayuki..." Rukia breathes a sigh of relief, her breath becoming mist the moment it leaves her mouth.
"My Lady. You must not let your guard down. You must promise me you won't," Sode no Shirayuki speaks urgently. The blood falling from Rukia's injuries start to freeze on impact as the breeze becomes harsher.
"Why? What's wrong?" Rukia asks, concerned and confused. Did something happen that Rukia could not see? Were the Hollows more dangerous than she noticed?
"Promise me, my Lady. You must not let your guard down again! You must get stronger. My Lady... you must listen to me." The zanpakutō takes a step forward, grabbing Rukia's wrist with a tight and deathly cold grip. Frost crystals spread across her skin, sprouting out like flowers.
"Why? Sode no Shirayuki, what's going on?" Rukia asks again, frost crystals sprouting from her blue lips with each word.
Pale lips lean closer and press a gentle kiss to the young woman's temple, freezing the skin and making it crack. "Do not let your guard down, my Lady."
The frozen river shatters beneath Rukia's feet, and she falls.
Rukia bolts up, gasping for air. Her side screams in pain and all the air is forced out of her lungs. She curls over her stomach, pressing a hand to the tender wound on her side.
"Sode..." Her gasps shudder with every quick breath, teeth clenched hard to try and keep the whimpers at bay. Rukia opens her eyes and stares at the blanket covering her lap before slowly turning her head.
Sode no Shirayuki lay next to the futon she rested in, not having been there the night before. The white hilt glowed under the morning light. Rukia takes a deep breath and reaches out her hand pressed against her torso.
Her fingers brush across Sode no Shirayuki's scabbard, freezing to the touch. Rukia sighs softly and gently curls her fingers over thezanpakutō.
THUMP!
Rukia snaps her head up, her whole hand grabbing the sword. She stares at the shoji door, listening for anything outside the room. After a few moments, the sound of something swooshing and something dragging across the floor can be heard, muffled, from down a hallway.
"A tail? But, no footsteps... it's likely a Hollow... but where are Ukitake-taichō and Unohana-taichō?" Rukia bites back a hiss when she tries to move closer to her sword and pain lights up her entire torso. She forces herself to lean closer and slides her hand up from the scabbard to grab the hilt.
The sliding stops. Rukia looks over her shoulder, ready to unsheathe her zanpakutō at a moment's notice.
Silence permeates the air with Rukia holding her breath. Slowly, the shoji door is nudged open an inch.
Rukia tightens her grip as she watches the gap. A long minute passes before something white pokes through.
sniff. sniff.
Violet eyes blink as the white nose pushes into the room further, forcefully sliding open the door when a white head pops in.
Sapphire blue eyes with slitted silver pupils stare directly at the injured Shinigami. The white serpentine head slowly lifts up into the air, going back behind the shoji door.
WHOOSH! BANG!
Rukia jumps as the shoji door is slammed open by a large white wing. She blinks, wide-eyed, and stares at the large... serpent with wings??
The sapphire eyes stare down at her before the wings flap out. Its mouth opens a bit and a low trill comes out.
"...what the fuck...?" Rukia breathes out. What is that thing? It's definitely not a Hollow.
The... serpent with wings—a dragon, maybe? But, that's impossible—trills again and slithers forward, folding its wings. The sunlight filtered through the window hits the white body and the scales turn into the most beautifully shining gold.
Rukia tries to crawl away, only to choke on a gasp, grabbing her torso. She hisses quietly, mentally cursing the injury. It didn't hurt nearly as badly as last night, but that didn't mean it still didn't hurt like hell.
Something wraps around her legs and Rukia snaps her eyes open. She kicks back her legs and glances over her shoulder, only to freeze when she sees the... dragon suddenly right behind her with its tail wrapped around her legs.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Rukia asks, shocked and somewhat nervous, as the dragon slithers closer. "Hey! W-wait! What are you—"
Rukia squawks loudly when the dragon lays on top of her with a purr, putting nearly all of its weight on top of her. She gasps for air, clawing at the tatami mats in an attempt to get out from underneath the dragon.
A soft purr and a burning warmth surrounds her body. Eyelids flutter and only catch sight of pure white scales and soft white feathers before she slips back unconscious.
Rukia stops trying to crawl away and blinks. She looks over her shoulder again and stares into sapphire blue eyes, bright with happiness.
"W-why are you laying on top of me?" Rukia forces out, slightly out of breath from the lack of air.
The dragon tilts its head to lay it sideways on Rukia's back, seemingly confused by the question despite its continuous purring. It doesn't get off of Rukia.
Rukia sighs deeply—as much as she can—and goes limp against the ground. She loosens her grip on Sode no Shirayuki, brushing her fingers over the hilt instead.
With her injury, she can't escape this dragon's hold. Though... it seems friendly enough—it hasn't tried eating or brutally killing her after all. Looks like she's stuck until someone comes to check on her... if someone comes to check on her.
"I am never going on another mission into the living world if I can help it," Rukia mutters to herself. She doubts anything will top this shit show of a mission.
There's a deep whine and Rukia turns her head. The sapphire eyes become almost watery, exuding sadness and hurt.
"I don't—I don't even know who—or what—you are! Why are you—don't look at me with those eyes!" The Shinigami whips her head forward with pink ears. She is not going to be guilt tripped by a serpent with wings!
"How surprising." Rukia forces her body to turn despite the weight and the pain, unsheathing her zanpakutō and pointing it at the doorway.
The man with the bucket hat stood just before the doorway, his hands hidden inside his haori and a cane hanging by his side. Rukia narrows her eyes and tightens her grip on Sode no Shirayuki, despite her hand trembling from the amount of pain she was in.
"Ichigo-kun is going to be quite happy about this predicament. Cleopatra only allows two beings to touch her even when she initiates the touch. She must really like you, Kuchiki-san," The man states with an easygoing smile.
Rukia narrows her eyes. "You know my name?"
"Why yes. It wouldn't be polite for my guests not to tell me your name as you heal in my own home!"
Rukia stares at him, still suspicious. The man only chuckles with a shake of his head.
"My name is Urahara Kisuke, the humble shopkeeper for this humble shop of Shinigami goods," The man—Urahara—introduces himself while taking off his hat to give an exaggerated bow.
Rukia opens her mouth to speak, but the dragon suddenly lifts its head before placing it back onto her stomach. All the air is forced out of Rukia's mouth and she falls back from the sudden weight.
"G-ge' off!" Rukia forces out, placing her hands on the dragon's head. Cleopatra trills again, almost whining, squeezing Rukia's legs with its tail.
Rukia huffs and just lays there while Urahara chuckles again. "I'll go let Masaki-san know you're awake, so she can check your bandages. Unohana-taichō and Ukitake-taichō are currently talking with the Sōtaichō."
The young Shinigami blinks and lifts her head, but the shopkeeper is nowhere to be seen. So... quiet.
"Talking with the Sōtaichō...?" She murmurs, her eyebrows furrowing. "What happened?"
Why would they need to talk to Yamamoto-sōtaichō? What level were the Hollows? Is it even about her mission and the ambush? Or maybe...
Rukia sighs and closes her eyes, suddenly very tired. What mess has this mission put on her shoulders?
The soft light of morning shone gentle rays through sheer curtains. Soft screeches and trills are heard from outside, all dragons wide awake. Inside the house, there is no noise or shuffling.
It was peaceful. It shouldn't be.
Yuzu slowly sits up, rubbing one of her eyes. Her light blonde hair surrounds her head in a mess of frizzy curls.
Soft amber eyes glance over at the bed on the other side of the room. Karin slept curled up in a tight ball beneath her blankets. Yuzu narrows her eyes before turning to stare at the closed bedroom door.
It's too quiet. She doesn't even hear Mom cooking in the kitchen, which means she's out.
"What did Ichi-nī and Ryū-nī do now?" She mumbles. This peacefulness stinks with her brothers' shenanigans.
Yuzu scratches her head with a yawn before she shuffles over to the edge of her bed. She stands up and walks over to the window, quickly opening it.
"Emilia!" Yuzu calls out loudly.
The screeches and trills go silent. Yuzu waits for a moment before a loud crash emits from the barn. Emilia crawls out of one of the open windows and twists her neck to look over at the house.
Blood red eyes brighten at the sight of the eleven year old and a loud screech echoes across the backyard. Yuzu smiles softly and waves her hand, beckoning the dragon over.
Emilia twists again and races down the side of the barn before zipping across the yard. Yuzu leans back on her heels and glances over at her twin sister. She's still dead to the world.
There's a loud trill and Yuzu turns her head forward, blinking when blood red eyes are directly in front of her. She smiles softly and raises her arms, letting the 13-foot dragon wrap around her.
"Emilia, do you know what Ichi-nī and Ryū-nī did?" She asks as she scratches behind Emilia's wings. Emilia rumbles out a purr before placing her head on top of Yuzu's.
"Do you know why it's so quiet?" She asks the other question on her mind. It's never quiet, especially with Oyaji around.
Which means, Oyaji also did something. Likely the reason why Mom isn't home.
Emilia nods her head with a huff and slowly unwraps her body from Yuzu's. She stretches out and digs her talons into the window sill before twisting her head back.
Yuzu blinks before she frowns. It must be something really important... or catastrophic to have Emilia want her to follow her.
"Okay. Let me get dressed and leave a note for Karin-chan." The young girl turns and walks towards her closet.
Looks like she might have to clean up her brothers' mess, again. Hopefully, she won't be late for school, again.
Hey!!!!! I hope you all like the new chapter!! I have been so busy for the beginning of this year, both with medical shit and birthdays, including my own. By the way, I'm 22 now!! Woo!
I wanted to make this chapter longer, but then I realized I hadn't updated in almost five months, so I thought this was a good stopping place for you all. Give you all something to eat.
Anyways, I hope you all are enjoying the story so far! And hopefully the next chapter will be out sooner. Bye!
WhovianWhoudini