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Prize of Victory 2
By : NovaAlexandria
Category: Bleach > General
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Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor make a profit from this story
Chapter List
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A Long Trip North: Part 2

Renji had mixed feelings about this expedition. Those feelings, if he was to classify them, were �dread� and �relief.� He hated that the twins were out of his sight. However, the only real threat to the children was the one leading the war party. In fact, the only two entities stronger than Ukitake Jushiro, the twins� current babysitter, were Aizen and Coyote Starrk. Starrk and Lilinette were hardly a threat to the twins, from what he�d seen of Starrk�s behaviour over the years with Hana-chan, and even if the First had less than honourable intentions, they were part of the attack force too. Barragan�s wrinkled carcass was along for the ride as well, effectively leaving Jushiro as the most powerful being in the city.

Then again, Aizen had left Yammy Llargo behind, but the brute had never shown an interesting in screwing anything other than his former Taichou. He was far too lazy to worry about much else. What worried Renji was that Yammy, with his favourite toy gone, might get restless and go looking for some other means of amusement. The Tenth did have a free Claim spot after all.

For the umpteenth time since they�d left the Seireitei, Renji told himself to relax and that he was letting his overprotectiveness color his thinking. Yammy wouldn�t bother causing trouble when it came to the twins. The bastard was just too interested in Byakuya. He tried to keep his mind free of any images of the two together if he could help it, as he didn�t want to take the time to stop in his tracks and puke.

The flood of relief he�d felt when Aizen added Byakuya to the assault squad and told Yammy to cool his heels at the Kuchiki Estate surprised him. He didn�t want to feel any sort of gratitude towards Aizen, but this was one decision the tyrant had made with which Renji agreed. If anyone needed a break from his or her Master, it was the abused nobleman. Byakuya seemed relieved as well and Renji suspected that was due to more than an extended reprieve from Yammy�s attentions. From what he had learned over the last year, Byakuya had a soft spot for Ajuga. Renji could sympathize; he liked the girl as well and had been horrified when he found out the Swarm had taken her along with Orihime�s son. It might be a massive relief for the tormented man to finally be able to do something for someone he cared about without Yammy�s stinking breath on his shoulders or the idiot�s order preventing him from taking any action.

The farther northward they traveled, the less �dead� Byakuya�s eyes seemed and Abarai Renji was all for anything that would help mend whatever it was that Yammy had broken within him.

The trip was also worrisome in another respect. Getting Ajuga back, if she was still alive, was important. Of equal importance, in Renji�s book, was putting Karin�s plans into action. They�d lured Aizen out into the open, but the only people in on the plot with the attack force were Szayel and the current Third. He hadn�t had a chance to find out if Starrk and Lilinette were on board with the plan. Implementing it now would be out of the question, as circumstance had divided the conspirators. If they wiped out the Swarm�s base now, what would they use to try to get Aizen to leave the Seireitei in the future?

The attack force moved fast but only as fast as the slowest member of their team could move. That dubious title belonged to Tesra. Traveling in the cold air wasn�t particularly helpful either. While the Arrancar had strength on his side, speed wasn�t his strongest suit. Of course, the Espada that gasped and wheezed as he traveled at Renji�s side wasn�t doing so well either. It made Renji feel just a bit superior to know that he had far more endurance and speed than the pink-haired scientist that had originally beaten and enslaved him. If it hadn�t been for the technology Szayel had used against him during their initial duel, he and Ishida probably would have won, because Szayel certainly wouldn�t have won based on strength alone. They had overpowered Szayel and he�d only won because he�d deployed all of the tricks, potions, poisons and the twisted science the pink sneak had at his disposal. Renji included the plethora of edible assistants in that list of �things�. He supposed that out-manoeuvring an enemy would trump overpowering an enemy on any given day.

�Aren�t you always going on about �smarts over strength�, especially with Abisara?� he reminded himself.

Renji let out a sigh, the sound lost in the air rushing by them as they made their way north. Those events felt like they had taken place both yesterday and an eon ago. Time was an interesting concept. Sometimes years just seemed to flow by, while at other times they slowed to a crawl. The last fifteen years, the ones he could remember at any rate, had moved at a glacier�s pace. His time in the Rukongai had sped by in comparison, as his focus at that point had been enough food to fill his stomach and a safe place to sleep.

�We stop for two hours. Rest,� Aizen commanded from his place at the head of the column of warriors. The redhead could hear the sound of moving water in the distance and figured he�d better take advantage of the opportunity for replenishing what was in their canteens.

Letting out a deep breath, Renji turned his attention towards Nemu and Szayel. The first, unsurprisingly, was perfectly fine. Nemu never seemed to have a hair out of place, no matter what the situation. The second, on the other hand, was soaked in sweat and gasping for breath. It was only mid-afternoon and the day�s travel had winded him. Of course, Szayel wasn�t the only one looking a little ragged around the edges. Most of the assault force showed signs of wear with the exception of Aizen, Starrk, Nemu and Byakuya. Poor Tesra seemed about to fall over, while Nnoitra snorted in contempt at his fraccion. Aizen was not taking it easy on any of them and Renji supposed he should take advantage of the break while it lasted.

He let his bag fall from his shoulders and pulled out his canteen. Walking over to his �Master� and fellow �slave,� he held the container of water out to Szayel. Szayel took it without a word, taking short sips and pouring a little of it onto his hands so he could wash the sweat from his face. Aizen was not going to let them stop to forage for supplies, so what food they had on them or could grab on the move would have to suffice.

�Are you surviving?� Renji asked quietly, giving Szayel a critical once-over. He justified the action by telling himself that if anything happened to the Espada while they were out here in the wilderness, he would have one hell of a time explaining why he still had a Claim surrounding his person when his �Master� had bitten the dust.

�Just peachy,� Szayel snapped and scowled. �This is why I prefer my lab. Running like this� it�s disgusting!� One complaint followed another. �Sleeping in our sweat-soaked clothing�Ugh!� Szayel shivered, looking utterly miserable as he plucked at the front of his uniform. �Do you have any idea how hard it is to get the stench of dried sweat out of material? My hair is a catastrophe!� he whined, attempting to comb his fingers through his snarled pink locks without much success. The wind and sweat hadn�t been kind to it.

The redhead looked heavenward for a moment and then fished around in one of the pockets of his inner kosode.

�Here. Use one of these. It helps a little.�

Renji offered him one of the spare hair ties he kept with him, thanks to Vindula�s habit of losing hers during the course of a typical day. Blinking at it for a few moments, Szayel finally accepted the tie and pulled his shoulder length hair into a crude ponytail secured at the nape of his neck. Szayel didn�t thank him, but Renji hadn�t honestly expected any gratitude. He was content to have, if only temporarily, silenced Szayel�s complaints about his hair.

�If you weren�t such a little bitch, you�d be in better shape,� Nnoitra snorted, sauntering up to their little group. �You should count yourself lucky Aizen-Kami even lets you keep your rank, considering you are nothing more than a human bitch�s pet.�

�That �human bitch� kicked your ass pretty soundly, didn�t she Quinta?� Szayel retorted. �I was there when it happened, if memory serves.�

Now that sounded interesting, and as much as he wanted to hear more about it, Renji opted not to goad the Fifth Espada under the current circumstances. Nnoitra hardly seemed winded while both Renji and Szayel were sweating and breathing heavily. That told Renji that Nnoitra was in much better shape than the two of them and that any conflict right now wouldn�t end in their favour. While Nemu didn�t appear fatigued in the slightest, and while Renji knew she was much tougher than she appeared, this was not the time, or place, to pick a fight.

�I hear a river nearby, Szayel-sama. Should I refresh our supplies?� Nemu asked politely, the picture of demure obedience. She paid Nnoitra no heed, brushing his presence off as if he were a passing mosquito, annoying but of little consequence.

�I�ll do it,� Renji volunteered. �I could use a head dip anyway.�

�As could I,� Szayel agreed and turned to his mate. �Prepare a meal for our return and then get some rest.�

�Hai, Szayel-sama,� Nemu replied and bowed to him. Nnoitra, thoroughly ignored, gave up on bullying them and wandered off. Maybe, Renji thought, looks were deceiving and Nnoitra was feeling the brutal pace as much as the rest of them.

He fell in beside Szayel as they walked off towards the river. Judging by the way that a few of the others did as well, Nemu wasn�t the only one to have detected the water. He thought he caught a glimpse of Harribel and Toshiro through the trees, their canteens in hand and Toshiro�s arm around his Mistress�s waist. Yumichika was probably on his way to the river as well, since the former 5^th Seat�s disgruntled expression had mirrored Szayel�s after the first day of the journey. From what little he�d seen of Ggio, Barragan seemed intent on keeping his �pets� close by. He hadn�t had a chance to speak with either of them, though the misery on Ggio�s face spoke volumes. Regrettably, he could do little for either of them. Instead, he tried to focus on the things he could affect, namely the Espada walking next to him.

�How are you holding up?� Renji asked worriedly as the forest surrounded them.

�The Claim upon me keeps most of my power �in�, as it were, but it does trickle out on occasion. Regrettably, I will never be at the strength I was before Karin�s blasted brother tried to cave my head in, unless I can find a way to fix my mask,� Szayel answered. His frank tone surprised Renji.

The trip had served to show the other Espada just how weak Szayel had become since his run in with Ichigo. While most of the Espada travelling with them had little motivation to �take out the competition� by turning on Szayel, the same could not be said of the Numeros back in the city. Word of Szayel�s lack of strength could and would spread among the lower ranks. It was only a matter of time. Renji wasn�t particularly worried about Szayel, as long as remained hidden within the Science and Research Division. However, someone might get it through their thick skulls to assault Szayel via the twins. Having to worry about Aizen�s twisted interest in the scientist was bad enough but now Renji had to consider every Numeros a danger.

He had to stop himself there and forcibly refocus his thoughts. �One thing at a time,� he thought. �You can only deal with so much and getting Ajuga back comes first. The twins are in good hands, though Ukitake-Taichou has probably fed them too many sweets.�

It didn�t take them long to find the river, ice crusting its banks and any rock that stuck out of the water. Renji unlatched the fastener on the collapsible bucket he�d pulled from his pack, and made the slippery and dangerous trek to the water�s edge, cursing the entire way there and back. He swore he could feel the cold from the water travel from the sides of the bucket to the handle, freezing his fingers. Once refilled, the canteens became ice packs. He and Nemu would have to use Kido to warm them enough to melt the drinking water within them. With Renji�s luck and his lack of Kido talent, he�d probably blow up the container instead.

Obtaining wash water, conversely, was a much easier task.

He set the now-full bucket down and took a step back. With practiced ease, Szayel fired up a miniscule Cero that barely qualified as a burst of energy and used it to warm the water. Squatting down, they proceeded to wipe as much sweat and dirt from their upper bodies as they could and dry off before the warm water turned cold and chilled their bare skin.

As always, the sight of the scars that decorated Szayel�s body unnerved him to no end. It also reminded him of what he and his so-called �Master� were in the middle of plotting, if they could just get a few lucky breaks.

�You know, there was a time I would have cheered, learning of the shit Aizen does to you.�

Renji wasn�t entirely sure where that had come from and the Espada crouching on the other side of the bucket paused in his ablutions to give him a startled look from behind his cracked glasses. Resting his hands on his knees, the Shinigami frowned down into the water and reached for the towel.

�What changed your mind in the end?� Szayel asked.

�Vindula-chan,� he answered after a few minutes, and then added �and Abisara-kun. That and no one deserves the sick shit Aizen does. I saw a lot of unpleasant things growing up, and while I won�t ever admit what you did to me was right, at least you�re less of a dick on a daily basis than that freak Kurotsuchi. I think the Division�s staff likes you better too. You�re not dissecting any of them just because you can.�

�No, I find that if I leave them alone, the less competent ones tend to weed themselves out, one way or another. It�s less work for me if I let nature take its course.�

As he washed, the former Fukutaichou thought back to an incident last autumn involving the untimely demise of a particularly haughty, fresh-from-the-Academy recruit. Whatever he�d done had involved a compound that ate its way through three floors of the Division, taking out a storeroom, another laboratory and part of the staff break room. The casualties included the break room vending machine. If the dead Shinigami who perpetrated the experiment-gone-awry hadn�t died from exposure to the compound, the junk food addicted Science and Research Division staff would have killed him themselves.

Szayel paused and regarded Renji through his dripping pink bangs.

�You are a perpetual pain in my ass, an unthinking, mouthy git that reacts before he can see or understand the bigger picture. However, my children adore you, you�ve protected them admirably and for that, I am grateful. I also appreciate that you went to find Starrk and Karin-sama that night. I might still be in that pit if you hadn�t complained to the First.�

Lifting his head, Renji held out the towel he�d used to dry himself. Szayel eyed it, shivered and plucked it from his fingers. He proceeded to rub it vigorously over the vicious kanji. It would take more than a length of terrycloth to remove those, Renji thought to himself, but that didn�t stop Szayel from trying.

�I�m not looking forward to what I�m going to have to do to upon our return. I fear Aizen has chosen a punishment more severe than a simple flogging. Let�s pray that this mission is a success and that in his good mood, he forgets your outburst. The twins aren�t the only ones that need you whole and functioning in the near future.�

�Has that ever worked before?�

It hadn�t slipped his mind that when and if he returned to the Seireitei, he had a punishment waiting for him but other things had concerned him more. Szayel�s expression didn�t give him any confidence on that front.

�I wouldn�t count on it. I�ll try to let Karin-sama know, so she can try to head off any alterations that might make it harder for you to protect my children. Neither can we count on another intervention from the First on my pack�s behalf. Technically, I�m supposed to discipline you and I find I�ve little enthusiasm for doing so� not when we�re in agreement about the twins� welfare.�

Szayel�s voice dropped even lower in volume and he gave Renji a look laced with regret and reluctance.

�If it comes to it, your first action will be to flee the Seireitei with my children with the device. I...�

�That might blow the entire thing!� Renji countered in an angry whisper. �Whatever he does to me, the plan comes first� and what about you? What will happen when Aizen finds out you can�t �track� me with a Claim?�

�Idiot� I was the one who silenced Yammy�s pet, on the threat of having the Tenth throw a temper tantrum in my Division. Did it not cross that walnut-sized brain of yours that Aizen might have something similar in mind for you! Did it ever occur to you that there are other ways disciplining someone?�

That took Renji aback.

�What do you mean?� he pressed. Szayel�s answer was barely audible, a harsh whisper delivered in an exasperated manner as he gave his face a final rinse.

�Aizen might decide that my control over you is lacking and hand you over to someone like that dolt Yammy instead! I�m a �pet� now and would have no say over such a thing! I�ll not allow that! If I say so, you will take Abisara and Vindula and leave Soul Society. I�m sure that strumpet of yours will find you quickly enough. Karin, Grimmjow and I will think of an explanation for your defection. This,� and here Szayel-sama reached up and touched the crack in his glasses, �will serve as an excuse if we need a cover story. Even if I did hold your Claim, there would be little I could do to prevent you breaking free of it at this point.�

He could only stare at the Espada on the other side of the bucket at both the admission of weakness and the fact Szayel sounded so certain about such a move. It meant Szayel was entirely serious about getting his son and daughter to safety and sending their caregiver with them, even if they had to jump the gun a bit with regard to getting non-combatants out earlier than planned.

Renji let out a long breath, the white cloud streaming out into the icy air. As day turned into night, it was only going to get colder and he was glad that the three of them were sharing a tent during the few, longer periods of rest Aizen allowed them. The shared body heat ensured that no one froze to death in his or her sleep, and it silenced Szayel�s complaints after the first night. Reaching out he placed one hand on Szayel�s bare shoulder and shook it gently.

�You�re a narcissistic, fashion-obsessed braggart, but you�re much better than Nemu-chan�s creator, and you kept your word to me about burying Ishida Uryuu. You�re a decent father as well, for all your faults. It�s hard to hate someone who has to look at this,� and here Renji indicated the marks carved into Szayel�s skin, �every morning. Whatever you did back then, you�ve paid for it in full. We�ll figure this out when we get back.�

�Huh. You two have certainly matured.�

Both men jumped at the sly, masculine voice that abruptly joined their conversation. Renji was on his feet and had Zabimaru half-pulled from his sheath before his darting eyes focused on the black, innocent-looking house cat sitting calmly on a large boulder. Its yellow eyes regarded them with undisguised humour at having snuck up on them so easily and he saw its dark tail curl around its body.

�Yoruichi-san!� Renji exclaimed, while the Espada standing next to him gaped in open astonishment at the sight of a talking animal. He reached over to place a hand on Szayel�s wrist before the Hollow could fully pull his own Zanpakuto free. �What are you doing way out here?� he asked the cat, flabbergasted that she had taken such a risk. He knew she was sneaky, but pursuing Aizen�s attack force while having a price on her head was in a category of insanity all its own.

�Lower your voice, Abarai,� she hissed, her eyes narrowing. �I was going to ask you two the same thing. What has Aizen so worked up that he�s willing to leave the city and take his most powerful weapons with him? He hasn�t set foot outside of it since the War ended.�

Szayel and Renji looked at one another and then back down at Yoruichi.

�We found the Swarm�s base,� Renji told her. �Aizen plans to destroy it. We�re also going to rescue Ajuga. One of the Swarm�s Generals took her almost two weeks ago and we believe they�re holding her hostage somewhere within.�

�Ajuga? She�s Karin and Grimmjow�s daughter, right?�

The sardonic drawl in Yoruichi�s voice was instantly gone, replaced by worry. Renji thought he could detect a touch of outright fear as well.

�Yes,� Szayel said, finally letting go of Fornicaras. His stance relaxed, but his eyes kept wandering to spots up and down the river, mindful of the fact that anyone might walk in on their conversation. �We have been waiting to hear from you, or rather, we�ve been waiting for you to contact Karin-sama.�

Yoruichi�s furry ears swivelled towards Szayel as she gave the Arrancar her full attention. Renji hoped the Espada wouldn�t drag out the explanation. Thankfully, the scientist kept it simple.

�Karin-sama has a plan and an agreement with the Swarm, to try and take Aizen down. We just need to know if your group is on board and when, or if, you can assist.�

�She does?� Yoruichi sounded surprised. �What sort of plan are we talking about here?�

�The Swarm is aware of the Karin-sama and Ajuga�s lineage, and with Ajuga in their grasp we fear they might put the child on the Spirit King�s Throne. If they do that�� Szayel broke off and shivered. Yoruichi apparently understood the gravity of the situation, because she hissed and flattened her ears against her head, her tail moving back and forth in displeasure.

�I see. Yes, it�s of utmost importance you retrieve her. In fact, if I were you, it would be my top priority. This plan�?�

Szayel�s mouth thinned out. He reached up, adjusted his glasses and peered down at the Shinigami in cat�s clothing while tapping his lower lip with one finger.

��will require the assistance of those who remain free. Will you help us?�

�That depends on a lot of things. I�ll need to hear it before I can tell you whether I think it�s something we, or you, can pull off. I won�t waste time or my people�s lives on �wishful thinking.� You�re going to have to tell me everything.�

The answer didn�t exactly surprise Renji. His time at Urahara�s place had taught him that Yoruichi was someone who would give an unvarnished opinion on a subject or plan whether one asked for input or not. For his part, there were things he desperately wanted to ask her, but most of those pertained to Nel and were deeply personal. He was just tired enough to not want to have to put up with Szayel�s catty comments about his relationship with the former Third. Instead, he decided on a slightly safer subject.

�Hey, out of curiosity, does Ichigo know he�s an uncle?�

�No,� Yoruichi replied quickly and the cat yawned, her pink tongue rolling as her jaws stretched, revealing a set of sharp, white fangs. �If Ichigo knew, he�d probably do something very rash, destructive and mostly counter-productive to our cause. He would assume that Grimmjow had raped Karin, and continued to do so, even though Yuzu-chan has done her best to try to convince him that his sister�s relationship with the Espada is consensual. Keeping the secret has been difficult, especially with Hiyori�s loud mouth, but we have managed to keep him in the dark. It�s for the best, I�m afraid.�

In her current form, the noblewoman had no eyebrows, but Renji could imagine her frown as she asked her next question.

�Do you really believe the Swarm will try to place Ajuga on the Throne? Where, exactly, is Karin now?�

Yoruichi�s guttural, slightly menacing tone told Renji he�d better be fast with the answers.

�She went ahead with Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, Orihime, Diaemus and Hana,� he replied, before Szayel could open his mouth. �You do know that Diaemus is Orihime and Ulquiorra�s son right?�

�Yes, we know.� Yoruichi waved a paw at them. �And before you ask, no, Ichigo doesn�t know the boy exists either, for the same reasons we kept him ignorant of his niece. He was upset enough to find out the Fourth Espada had Claimed Orihime.�

�Were you aware that Tatsuki is pregnant?�

Renji added that and watched Yoruichi�s eyes get a fraction wider.

�That� I did not know. Oh dear, I see that there�s quite a lot we�ll be have to refrain from telling Ichigo. To answer your other, previous question, I had just arrived on this side of the Dangai when I saw the lot of you leave the city through the Northern Gate. I decided to follow, rather than ignore the opportunity. It is not as easy to sneak in and out of Soul Society as you might assume. I don�t waste what little time I can arrange here on trivial matters and I ran into trouble the last time I made the trip.�

The black cat hunkered down on the rock and Renji had the feeling Yoruichi was trying to digest the news about Tatsuki. �Who else is pregnant?� she asked hesitantly.

�Tatsuki Lindocruz� I guess she�s going by her mate�s name now� and Matsumoto Rangiku for sure. Tia Harribel, the Third Espada, is also pregnant��

��and a fascinating case study that is, I have to say!� Szayel added quickly, before Renji resumed speaking, casting an irritated look in the scientist�s direction.

�Look, there are a lot of women, both Shinigami and Arrancar, who are with child now. Szayel here could explain the reasons behind it better than I can. He�s also got the list of names memorized...�

�Your former 3^rd Seat, if I read her files correctly, is due within the month.�

Renji made a strangling noise in his throat and looked back at scientist, shocked at not only the blunt way Szayel had made the announcement, but also the way his words almost sounded like a challenge. The corners of Szayel�s mouth curled up for the first time since the trip north began. Renji wanted to smack him, but didn�t dare risk doing so out in the open.

�Dammit, Szayel!� he said between clenched teeth. The scientist flipped a lock of hair out of his eyes and waved a dismissive hand at him. Szayel chose to keep his eyes on Yoruichi, giving her a significant look.

�It�s true, Abarai. I�d give her two weeks, maybe two-and-a-half until she gives birth. Thankfully, she seems quite healthy now that she isn�t being starved.�

When the redhead looked back at Yoruichi, she�d bowed her head and her tail drooped. With her golden eyes squarely on the river, her posture seemed to be that of someone carrying a great deal of guilt. While her deep, gritty voice was steady when she spoke, pain and regret laced it as well.

�I see� so it�s too late. I knew the Second had Claimed her and Ayasegawa-san, but I�d hoped that I could find a way to get her out before anything like this happened. The Kyoraku Estate is large, but it�s too well guarded and his Resurrección is nothing to underestimate. He�s also too observant. We couldn�t take the chance that Barragan would be able to use his Claim to track her, and us down if we managed to get her to the Living World.�

Szayel�s smirk grew just a little wider as he walked towards the rock, hunkering down before the cat and going eye-to-eye with her.

�Then isn�t it fortunate that Barragan Louisenbairn never truly held her Claim in the first place? I believe that you�ll be quite interested to hear what I have to say regarding the woman in question. Consider this an advanced payment for your group�s help in bringing Aizen down. Are you interested now, Shihoin Yoruichi?�

Yoruichi, stunned by the revelation, positively glowered at Szayel for trying to force her hand. Her tail angrily moving back and forth, but when she didn�t up and disappear on them, Renji knew that Szayel had won some sort of �victory�.

�I want to know what sort of �arrangement� Karin made with the Swarm regarding Aizen. Then, you�ll tell me everything you can about my Bee, or I will personally sic Zaraki Kenpachi on you.�

The smirk on the scientist�s face tripled in size. Renji wondered if he�d be smiling quite so much if he understood the kind of mayhem the former Taichou was capable of inflicting.

�So good to have you on board, Madame. I look forward to working with you and yours.�

Renji fished around for the upper half of his uniform. He lacked Szayel�s Hierro and the cold was beginning to get to him. He tossed what little water remained in the bucket out and pushed against the latch on the side. The bottom folded upwards into a flat disc, perfect for storing in the pack he�d left back with Nemu.

�You certainly have a way of making your case with women,� Renji murmured and unconsciously rubbed the finally healed bite mark on his shoulder. If memory served, Harribel hadn�t seemed very pleased with Szayel on the day he�d recruited her either. He had a feeling she�d taken out a little frustration on his person, since biting Szayel had been out of the question.

The cat twitched her whiskers as she watched Szayel make a face at his wrinkled, stained uniform and pull it over his shoulders. If she thought anything of the scars that littered his chest and back, she kept it to herself.

�We need to get back to camp or we will be missed,� Szayel declared, and then asked Yoruichi, �How comfortable are you with sitting draped across Abarai�s shoulders? If he keeps the hood of his winter cloak up, no one should see you.�

Yoruichi didn�t appear to like the idea very much, but after a moment of thinking about it, the cat heaved a sigh and padded over to him.

�I could curl up in the hood,� she suggested, making the leap up to Renji�s shoulders and tunnelling beneath his long ponytail and curling up around his neck. The garment was so bulky that the oversized hood hid the extra mass her feline body added to his frame. He pulled the hood up and hoped that any observers would assume the extra volume was the result of him tucking his overabundant hair out of the way. He�d have to draw the tie around the hood a little tighter in order to keep it in place while they travelled, but at least she�d be able to breathe by poking her nose out beneath his ear for some fresh air.

�How�s it look?� he asked, worried that someone might suspect he had a hitchhiker aboard.

Szayel�s mouth thinned as he walked around his �pet�, trying to find any flaws in Renji�s appearance. Finally, he shrugged and hoisted his canteen and Nemu�s over one shoulder, as well as his cloak. Szayel handed Renji his frozen canteen and the towel, looking more nervous as the minutes ticked by.

�Fine. You look as if you�re freezing, just like the rest of us. Let�s return to camp. I hope your hearing is good, Yoruichi-san, because I dare not speak too loudly,� Szayel warned. �If the wrong ears were to catch wind of our mutiny, nothing will save our hides from Aizen�s wrath.�

�My hearing is impeccable,� she sniffed, her voice muffled beneath the cloak�s heavy fabric. Renji finally gave in and asked Yoruichi something under his breath.

�Before we get going, how is Nel-chan? Is she all right? I��

He was aware that he sounded needy and the rushed questions sounded like the frantic pleadings of some lovesick puppy, but this was the first chance he�d had to ask about his Mate�s welfare. For a few seconds, he heard nothing but the cat�s breathing in the confined space of the lined hood. The warm weight against his shoulders shifted and her tail flicked his ear. At the same time, he swore he felt four sets of claws sink into his uniform�s collar, pricking his skin as Yoruichi made sure she wasn�t going slide off him when he moved.

For some strange reason, he felt she�d done so deliberately.

Then from the depths of the hood, he heard her give a chuckle that seemed surprisingly short on humour, before she reassured him that, considering the tight quarters and harsh conditions the Escapees lived under, his mate was �doing just fine�. Szayel made a show of clearing his throat and they began the walk back to the main encampment, Szayel all but muttering the plan under his breath.

Renji hoped she was telling the truth. With any luck, Karin�s plan would work and he wouldn�t have to wait six excruciatingly long months to see her again. The prospect of spending more than a mere hour a year with her was more than enough incentive for Renji to want to bury Zabimaru in Aizen�s chest at the first opportunity. In his opinion, the opportunity couldn�t come soon enough.

Huge hugs to the very few that reviewed last Chapter.

Kain: the time flows differently between the Living Realm and Soul Society, perhaps it�s the same for the Spirit King�s Realm and Soul Society, so your Hyperbolic Time Chamber comparison might not be too far off, lol. It was nice to see Rukia step it up. Don�t want to say much more to give it away to those not caught up with the Manga.

Four Chapters until we see Ichigo, unless something happens to make me split a chapter up.

Next Chapter: We see how Ajuga is doing in the Swarms base.

This Weeks Question: If snow flakes fell in Flavours, what flavours would you want it to be? Could you imagine if they fell in flavours like Jelly Bellies? You just know there would be some nut ball out there that has to �Collect Them All� LOL.
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Prize of Victory 2	By : NovaAlexandria Category: Bleach > General Views: 56251 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor make a profit from this story

Prize of Victory 2