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The Real King	By : NovaAlexandria Category: Bleach > Yaoi - Male/Male > Grimmjow/Ichigo Views: 48388 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 13
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor make any profit from this small fict.

Chapter List
- 45
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- 47
Reinforcements

Ichigo had been right, Kisuke had opened a gate for them with all haste when he found out what had happened. Yourichi and Kisuke both assured them they would investigate the crime scenes to see what they could learn, to determine if there was any trace left behind from the culprits that could lead them to the ones responsible, be it Kurotsuchi or someone else. Honestly though, Ichigo couldn�t think of anyone else that would be interested in attacking the den and kidnapping their cubs and pack mate. But, he also hadn�t known Aizen had been watching him since birth either so there was a faint possibility there could be someone out there he didn�t know about.

There was one question that was bothering Ichigo though, why now? If it was Kurotsuchi, which he was pretty damn sure it was, he had known about them for five years now. Why would he move now? Surely he must know they would instantly suspect him. It seemed like a very foolish thing to do. It wasn�t like he was lacking information either. True to his word, Szayel had been making copies of his journals and sending them to Kisuke to pass on to Soul Society and they had been fairly open with Jushiro.

Ichigo hoped that the information would change Soul Societies policy on hunting and tracking the Arrancar. They were different, no longer just hollows. Thanks to Aizen they had part of a Shinigami soul now, and so far their offspring were even less hollow like in nature. That was one reason he had claimed and was rebuilding Las Noches. It was too early to expect his Arrancar pack mates to be accepted in Soul Society, nor did they desire to live amongst the Shinigami. The Living Realm was not for them either. Yes they had lived here for five years now, but they were essentially ghost, unable to interact with the others and confined to the den thanks to the dangers of having such high level reiatsu linger around mortals for too long.

The cubs would never be able to go to school here, to make human friends. They were simply not human and didn�t act human either. His schooling was done, he knew what he needed to care for any medical situation that may affect his cubs or pack, and Szayel would easily be able to make and maintain the equipment they would need. From what he understood from Kisuke�s reports, Szayel�s labs were still there and not all the equipment had been decimated or taken when Kurotsuchi had been forced to retreat.

Soon, Las Noches would be ready for his pack, to be a safe haven for those Arrancar that wanted a peaceful existence. He couldn�t help but to think about Nel and her brothers. They had never found them and he could only hope that she was still safe, running through the desert happily playing eternal tag like she had been doing since before he even knew what a hollow was.

His mind also went to the other couple who had been forced to mate under Kurostsuchi�s influence. Had that cub been born? Had they been able to feed it? The couple seemed to have the support of several others so at least the cub would have been well protected. Had any other Arrancar couples mated in the last five years? They had scattered to the winds shortly after he had freed them, although Yylfordt and Tesra had informed him that a few had been sniffing curiously around the edges of Las Noches in the last year.

�They are like lost children, their tyrannical father murdered and now they have no one to guild them,� Ichigo couldn�t help but to muse.

They were a new race with no one to guild them anymore, not that Ichigo regretted defeating Aizen, just that there was no one to help them understand the new onslaught of emotions that the Shinigami part of their soul returned to them. He recalled all too well how many of the Arrancar had looked at him after he had lead the rescue operation.

The gate closed behind them as they stepped out into Soul Society, breaking Ichigo out of his thoughts. Now that they were here he felt his rage fly forward, but he forced it under tight control. It was exceedingly hard to do because H�tsu was just as pissed as he was, frothing at the mouth about anyone daring to touch his daughter and pet, even though Ichigo had never let his hollow out to touch Szayel since the Alpha pair had taught H�tsu his place years ago.

�Where to first?� Grimmjow questioned coldly, his eyes scanning their surroundings like the dangerous predator he was.

Ichigo could tell that his mate�s body was strung just as tight as his was. Even though Grimmjow had his hands shoved in his pockets in an uncaring manner, Ichigo could see the strain on his arms indicating his hands were probably clenched so tight he was drawing blood from his palms thanks to his nails.

Ichigo�s first thought was to bust into the 12^th and start tearing shit up, but he quickly curbed that notion. Instead, he unconsciously sought out the familiar and comforting feeling of Rukia and Jushiro�s reiatsu. If it was any taichou that had truly taken to the cubs and would be just as infuriated at their cubnapping as he was, it would be Jushiro.

�This way,� Ichigo declared.

Both of them launched into their respective Shunpo/Sonido as they headed towards the 13^th Division. As much as Ichigo tried to contain his reiatsu, it flared out of control in his stress and they left a swath of moaning and unconscious Shinigami in their wake. Ichigo would have been surprised that they were not confronted by the other higher level Shinigami if he�d been thinking clearly. For some odd reason he had latched onto Jushiro�s reiatsu, as if believing that, somehow, Jushiro would be able to fix the problem.

Jushiro was obviously expecting them when they stormed into his office. He was sitting alone at his desk with what looked like freshly brewed coffee, something Ichigo knew Jushiro didn�t drink. He seemed concerned instead of serine, which was welcoming because Ichigo was so high strung that he would probably have lost it if a friend was totally calm over this, even though said friend would have no idea what was going on yet.

�Ichigo, Grimmjow, what is the matter?� Jushiro questioned calmly.

Ichigo forced himself to take several deep calming breaths and sit across from Jushiro. After a moment Grimmjow did the same, snatching up and draining a cup of coffee despite how hot it had to have been. Ichigo nudged the cup intended for him towards his mate. If coffee kept Grimmjow calm than he could have it all.

Ichigo answered Jushiro�s question as calmly as he could, but his voice still wavered in stress and his reiatsu was fluctuating wildly as he explained everything they knew. Grimmjow interjected a time or two, his voice low, growling and dangerous. Jushiro�s eyes widened in shock and a horrified expression crossed his features before he schooled them as the story went on. Ichigo knew, right than and there, that Jushiro definitely had no knowledge of any order that may have been given to take the cubs, and that he was just as worried as they were.

�Do you know who it was?� Jushiro asked.

�I can hazard a fucking guess,� Grimmjow snarled.

Ichigo rested his hand on Grimmjow�s arm in an effort to help his mate keep control. He could feel the muscles coiled so tightly it was a wonder Grimmjow hadn�t snapped yet.

�You think Kurotsuchi-taichou is behind this,� Jushiro guessed.

�Who else knows where the den is and has the motivation, and the means, to pull something like this off?� Ichigo pointed out. �And if it wasn�t him we are going to need all the help we can get to find them.�

�I see. Rukia,� Jushiro called.

Rukia walked into the room from where she had been waiting just outside the door. The look on her face was as upset as the one that was no doubt on their faces, indicatign she had heard the whole thing from the hallway where she had been waiting to be summoned. Ichigo had seen Rukia mad before, usually at something he or Renji had done, but this look... Ichigo would say Rukia looked damn near murderous and it honestly took him back a bit.

�Hai, Taichou?� she questioned, her voice betraying her anger.

�Can you escort our guest to a spare room while I head down to talk to Yama-ji about getting a meeting going. Anyone that could slip past Kisuke�s wards, four Arrancar guards and Kurosaki himself and manage to subdue an Arrancar and get out again without setting off an alarm is definitely worth investigating.

�Ichigo, Grimmjow, thank you for coming to me first and not just tearing things up in a murderous rage, despite the fact it�s entirely warranted and understandable. I promise we will get to the bottom of this and find your cubs and missing pack mate. I do not know that I could be as calm as you two are right now if someone had my mother and siblings.�

�Jushiro,� Ichigo called before the Shinigami could leave. �If it does turn out that Kurotsuchi is behind this, I am not only going to kill him, I am going to tear him into a thousand pieces, and what ever pieces I miss, Grimmjow will be sure to get,� he declared in a very cold voice.

�Better fucking believe it,� Grimmjow agreed in a snarl.

Jushiro just nodded his head and left.

�Ichigo�.� Rukia never finished her sentence, clearly unable to think of anything to say, and what was there to say. �Would you like more coffee while we wait to hear from Ukitake-taichou?� she questioned instead.

�Sure,� Ichigo answered for them.

Rukia led them to the cafeteria, which was currently full of 4^th division members seeing to the slew of unseated Shinigami who had been blind sided by Ichigo�s out of control, enraged reiatsu from his walk through the division. Apparently, it had been breakfast time and the room was almost a sea of black bodies.

�Oh, Kurosaki-san, are you all right?�

�Hanatoro,� Ichigo greeted the 4^th divisioner as warmly as he could. �I am alright. Sorry for the mess,� he apologized as he looked around the room.

�Oh, it�s okay,� Hanataro smiled sheepishly up at him. �I should, um, get back to work.�

�You do that. It�s good to see you again.�

�You too, Kurosaki-san.�

�Who�s the pipsqueak?� Grimmjow demanded in a grunt, returning to Ichigo�s side with a large mug of coffee cradled in his hands.

�Hanataro? He�s an old friend of mine. He helped us out a lot when I came to rescue Rukia from her execution. He may seem shyer than Yuzu, but he�s a good healer and he�s got some guts. How are you feeling?� Ichigo questioned concerned.

�Like I want to tear shit up in a way I haven�t wanted to before. I swear, if he hurts those cubs�.� the mug in Grimmjow�s hand shattered, spilling coffee all over his hand and some of his uniform.

Grimmjow didn�t seem to notice the shattered glass nor the hot coffee, neither of which could make it through his hierro anyhow.

�I know,� Ichigo agreed softly.

They definitely had the attention of almost everyone in the room. It wasn�t just because Ichigo was having a hard time keeping his massive pool of reiatsu under control either. This was the first time pretty much any of them had seen an Arrancar up close. In fact, he was pretty sure Rukia and Hanataro were the only ones here that had.

�C�mon you lazy louts, get up!� Rukia called out to her Division members. �You are making an embarrassment of yourselves!�

Those that had only been strongly winded suddenly forced themselves to snap to attention and started helping the members from the 4^th with those that were just starting to come too. Others were watching his mate with hands on the hilts of their blades.

�But those weapons away, it is rude to treat our guests in a such a manner.� Rukia snapped. �Do you honestly think Ukitake-taichou would let a threat into the Division?� she questioned coldly.

Hands may have left hilts, but they hovered close by and the looks of unease remained.

�Make yourselves useful. Spread out and search the compound for anyone who may have injured themselves when Ichigo�s reiatsu storm hit.�

�Hai, Kuchiki-fukutaichou!� several men saluted as they spread out.

Ichigo felt suddenly guilty. In his anger he had inadvertently hurt so many people that didn�t deserve it. Some could even be hurt pretty bad if they had fallen off a ladder or been carrying something heavy.

�Stop,� Rukia ordered him sternly.

�Huh?� he looked at her confused.

�You are beating yourself up over this, get over it!� she ordered sternly.

�But��

�No buts,� she growled. �They are Shinigami, if a little pissed of reiatsu knocks them down like that then they deserve the embarrassment,� she scoffed.

�She�s right. Weaklings,� Grimmjow snorted, his eyes sweeping the room of recovering Shinigami in disdain.

It was amazing how much faster they started working after that. Most of the Shinigami had been cleared out when Hanataro walked up to them. So far he had been the only on brave enough to approach them. Between Ichigo�s fluctuating enraged reiatsu and Grimmjow�s entire being, the others felt it was best to stay well clear of the clearly dangerous and currently volatile duo.

�We are pretty much done here, Rukia-san,� Hanataro announced. �Those that were hit the hardest have been ordered to take a bit of bed rest. They should be fine by this afternoon, if a little shaky,� he announced, smiling at them shyly.

�Thank you, Hanataro,� Rukia nodded at him.

�Ano�. may I ask what is going on?� he questioned hesitantly.

Rukia looked like she was about to answer, than thought better of it. �I am sure Unohana-taichou will fill you in later.�

�Oh, okay. It was good to see you again Ichigo.� Hanataro turned to him.

�Yeah, you too.�

With that, Hanataro scurried away, no doubt to head to the next scene or back to the 4^th. Rukia waited while they refilled their coffee, or in Grimmjow�s case, got a new mug, before leading them back to the main office and out of sight of the curious and hostile eyes of the rest of her division. They were almost done their coffee when a hell butterfly fluttered into the office and rested on Rukia�s finger.

�Ukitake-taichou just informed me that a meeting has been called. I am to escort you there,� Rukia informed them, the little black butterfly fluttering around her head.

Ichigo nodded his head and they followed Rukia through the streets as fast as she could go. They arrived outside the 1^st division quickly. The guards let them pass with only a startled glance at the Arrancar by his side.

The doors opened to admit them and Ichigo almost didn�t grab his furious mate in time as twenty five heads turned to face them. Rukia would have been the twenty sixth but she was behind them.

�Grimmjow,� Ichigo warned, even though his eyes glared sharply at Kurotsuchi as well.

�Kurosaki Ichigo,� Yamamoto greeted them. �Ukitake had informed us your den was attacked and two of your cubs are missing, as well as one of the Arrancar under your protection.�

�Yes,� Ichigo answered, managing to pull his gaze from a board looking Kurotsuchi, or at least, he had seemed bored, and annoyed, until Yamamoto�s announcement.

�We know you did it!� Grimmjow snarled and Ichigo had to tighten his grip.

�Hump, you should control your Beta, Ichigo,� Kurotsuchi snorted.

�Fucker,� Grimmjow snarled. �Where are they?!�

�Are you implying that I took your children?� Kurotsuchi asked incredulously.

�You have motive,� Ichigo pointed out, keeping a firm grip on Grimmjow�s arm, although that grip was pretty much the only thing keeping him in place as well.

�This can be cleared up quickly. Do you have an alibi, Kurotsuichi-taichou?� Unohana asked softly.

�Most of my division, including Shinji-taichou,� Kurotuschi answered with a dismissive sniff.

�Shinji?� Ichigo questioned.

�Yeah, we were working on a project most of the night,� Shinji answered with a shrug. �Hate to say it, but I was with him all night.�

Ichigo wanted to deny it, but he had no doubt that Shinji was telling the truth.

�Would you like the security tapes?� Kurotsuchi questioned innocently.

Ichigo knew, to the core of his soul, that something was wrong, but he couldn�t put his finger on it. He even demanded to see the tapes, and sure enough there was Kurotsuchi with Shinji all night long. There was no way that Kurotsuchi was directly involved and, as weak as Szayel may have been with the mating, there was no way an unseated officer could have subdued him before he could give off an alarm.

Unseated! He requested the tapes be re-ran, this time checking for Nemu�s presence. She had the strength to easily subdue Szayel and would have followed her father�s orders to the letter. That also turned into a bust. Nemu was with them the entire time as well. Ichigo felt like he hadn�t felt in ages; completely helpless. Someone had his cubs and the trail had run cold.

�Are you satisfied yet?� Kurotsuchi demanded annoyed.

�Yes,� Yamamoto announced firmly, the tone of his voice indicating he had no interest in hearing anymore accusations and that the matter was to be dropped.

�Honestly, accusing me of such a thing. How do you know your missing pack mate isn�t the one who took the cubs?� Kurotsuchi pointed out haughtily.

�Fucker!� Grimmjow snarled.

�If Szayel was responsibly, which I can assure he definitely isn�t, why would he have tunnelled his way out when he could have just walked out through the front doors?� Ichigo pointed out. �He could have taken all the cub during the middle of the day with no one the wiser and they would have followed him. I can assure you, leaving the pack would be the very last thing on Szayel�s mind right now, not in his condition anyway,� Ichigo assured them.

�Hmm? Condition?� Kurotsuchi questioned, suddenly very curious.

�That�s none of your fucking business,� Grimmjow snarled.

Ichigo was having a hard time restraining his mate, and being just as pissed himself wasn�t helping. Fortunately, Yamamoto spoke up before the conversation with the infuriating bastard could continue it�s fast roll down hill.

�I want all divisions to scour the city for any trace of Kurosaki�s cubs and the missing Arrancar. Soi Fon-taichou, you will lead the investigation. Something that can slip past such strong defences could be a threat to us as well.�

�What about Hueco Mundo?� Shunsui questioned. �You said that Szayel was something rare right? How rare and what is he worth to another hollow?�

Ichigo looked at Grimmjow since he was not sure on the answer himself.

�To the right hollow, basically anyone of breeding capability strong enough to subdue him, he�s worth a fucking lot. Natural Beta�s are very rare. Weakened right now with his pregnancy,�

Kurotsuchi perked up at that tidbit of info that Ichigo had deliberately been trying to keep from the scientist. The light of desire definitely was swelling in those creepy eyes now.

�even an Adjucus could subdue him. It would be a simple matter to just keep mating him after each cub is born to keep him weak enough to contain,� Grimmjow answered reluctantly, completely missing the sudden displeasure coming from Ichigo and the excitement from Kurotsuchi.

�Would such a hollow be interested in the cubs?� Unohana questioned concerned.

�To an Adjucus, not likely. Carrying for cubs not their own as they wander the dessert wouldn�t be worth it. An Arrancar or Vasto Lorde might conclude the cubs to be Szayel�s, since he was bedded down with them, and consider using them to keep him in line. They would be able to easily hold a secure den to hold them in.�

�But no hollows knew where the den was,� Ichigo pointed out.

�No place is ever completely secret Ichigo,� Unohana pointed out. �It could be possible that a hollow with stealth capabilities detected the den, or got close enough to pick up that �scent� you said Beta�s give off when pregnant.�

�It�s plausible,� Grimmjow admitted with a grunt, �but the scent of the bastards in the tunnel was not that of a hollow, but that of Shinigami, and the reiatsu was definitely Shinigami as well. No Arrancar or Vasto Lorde could mimic that,� Grimmjow growled.

�They don�t necessarily have to be Shinigami,� Shinji pointed out. �Take your friend Ishida for an example. He may be a Quincy, but his scent and reiatsu is still human. It would be foolish of us to believe that everyone with Reiatsu became a Shinigami. No doubt the Noble Houses have personal guards that could be confused with Shinigami.�

�Very true,� Shunsui agreed. �Several of my father�s guards would easily be mistaken for Shinigami to the wrong person. The information about you pack is rather well known. It would be foolish of us not to believe that reports have made it to the Noble Houses as well.�

The discussion continued for a little bit longer before Soi Fon took up the role of leading the investigation and assigned everyone their patrol routes. Just to cover the possibility that the assailants headed to Hueco Mundo instead of Soul Society, she assigned the 11^th Division the task of searching what they could of the desert. It was a task Kenpachi seemed pleased with, although Ichigo had a feeling it had less to do with looking for his cubs and more to do with the potential for battle.

She didn�t seem happy that Kisuke was doing the Living Realm investigation, but she let it slid when she heard Yoruichi was on top of it as well. Even after all these years she still had a bad case of hero worship.

�Ichigo, while we all know it would be best if you and Grimmjow stay out of our way and let us do our jobs, I also know that neither one of you will be able to sit still. I certainly know I would not be able to. Would you like to come with me and Shunsui while we investigate the Noble Houses?� Jushiro asked. �Your presence might unnerve any potential culprit enough to give something away.�

�Thanks Ukitake-san, we would appreciate that,� Ichigo answered.

Now that they were finally moving he felt some of that helpless, overwhelming pressure leave his shoulders. His gut was still twisted into knots and his muscles were still wrung tight, but at least some of the pressure was lifted now that they had an entire army out looking for his cubs.

�Shinji,� Ichigo caught up to the Vizard before they could disperse too much.

�Yo, what�s up Ichigo?� Shinji questioned.

�For sure, 100% sure, you were with Kurotsuchi all night. There wasn�t a time he could have slipped away?� Another thought suddenly occurred to him thanks to too many spy movies. �I mean, he could have rigged the cameras to make it look like he was there, but he couldn�t rig your eyes.�

Shinji sighed. �Sorry Ichigo, he was with me the entire time. Never left my side. Rather creepy actually.�

�And Nemu?�

�Also there and when he did send her to grab something she was only gone for 5 minutes at the most, not nearly enough time to get to the Living Realm and back, let alone kidnap your pack mate and cubs.�

�Alright,� Ichigo sighed, a crestfallen expression covering his features.

�Don�t worry, we�ll find them,� Shinji tried to assure him.

�Yeah, I know.� Ichigo rejoined his mate and they fell into step next to Shunsui and Jushiro.

�It was never brought up during the meeting, but is Cachorro and the other boys alright?� Shunsui questioned concerned as they walked down the streets towards the first Estate.

�Yes. The boys were stressed and upset over their missing siblings and pack mate, but physically they are safe.� Ichigo answered. �Dad has them now with the rest of the pack on high alert.�

�Ichigo, the kimono I gave Hijastro, is it with her?� Shunsui questioned.

Ichigo actually had to stop walking and think. Was it still in the room or had Hijastro worn it to bed?

�Why?� he questioned as he raked his brain for the answer.

�I have been living in it for a very long time and traces of my reiatsu would have been imprinted on it. It hasn�t been near long enough for those traces to have worn off yet. Jushiro is very in tuned to my reiatsu and if it is with her we might be able to trace it,� Shunsui answered.

�No. The cubs had a bath that night,� Grimmjow answered.

The brief spark of hope Ichigo had vanished quickly, and by the look that crossed Shunsui and Jushiro�s faces, they were equally heartbroken. The search was just beginning, and when Ichigo found out who had dared to harm his cubs, well, Grimmjow would be lucky to find a small piece to shred for himself. Unlike Rukia or Orihime, the cubs had no way to defend themselves. The perpetrators were going to wish they have never been born. All hell was going to be broken lose. He might even let H�tsu come forth for a while, after all Hijastro was technically his cub. He deserved the right to �speak� to the ones responsible for taking her. And if she was hurt�. well, Ichigo had occasionally wondered if he could ever return to the form he had used against Ulquiorra. Usually it was in fear of going back to it, but not this time.

�I will royally fuck them up king,� H�tsu growled dangerously in his mind.

For once, Ichigo was in complete agreement with his Hollow half.

I am such a troll� She�s level 35 come to think of it. Anyhow�..

Howdy all, I hope you are enjoying the Christmas Special as well and are having a good holiday season so far. If you haven�t read the first chapter of it yet, well, what the heck is wrong with you?

Next Chapter: we go to Szayel POV.
- 45
- 46
- 47
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The Real King