“Perhaps you should allow Yoruichi to pick up where you left off.”
I looked at him, perplexed but desperate for some kind of relief from my aching mind. “Are you sure, Kisuke? It was my responsibility.”
He shrugged nonchalantly, his shoulders finally drooping as he sighed. “I know you want to help him Mari, but after this last mishap I think it would be beneficial for both of you. You’re becoming more confused with his behavior by the day and he is growing all the more frustrated with your reactions to him. I think a little downtime couldn’t hurt.”
He was right, of course but that didn’t mean that I was overly happy about being replaced. But therein laid the problem, I didn’t know what I wanted or what I was feeling so I coincided. “Alright, if you think it’s for the best. Will you be telling him or shall I?”
He waved his fan in that ridiculous manner, the one that told me he was up to something. His grin was wide when he shooed me out the door. “Don’t you worry about a thing, Mari-chan, it’s all being handled.
.
.
.
The roar and rumblings that sounded from below later that evening told me that Kisuke handling things might not have been the best idea. Urahara had always had a way of irritating people and never took much to raise Grimmjow’s hackles.
I pointedly ignored him and his grumblings. This had gone on for weeks, his whining and bitching. I hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Grimmjow and it was beginning to not only ware on Jun’s nerves but mine as well. It was like the man was skillfully avoiding being seen during the times I was in the shop and it irked me to no end.
“Mistress,” Jun whined, nudging my thigh with his giant head, forcing me to acknowledge him. “This is foolish, just go see him. I want to see him.”
Growling in my annoyance, I jerked my leg away denying the sting in my heart that said I wanted to see him as well. “It can’t be helped, Kisuke said to stay away.”
‘That man is an idiot, why you listen to him and not your instincts I cannot fathom. I do know, however…” he paused with a growl. ‘That if you do not seek him out, and soon, I will bite you.”
“Oh really?” I drawled sarcastically, smirking down at his glowering face. “And what makes you think you can?”
His response was nothing more than a sulking growl. “Come on, lets go to the kitchen, I’ll sear some tuna for us.”
He perked up at the sound of food, tuna at that but it was only slightly and it pained me to see him this way. We had always been independent before, never needing the company of others for our own survival but things had changed here in the past months, things that I still couldn’t comprehend and was still unsure of.
~
Three more weeks and I had only seen the azure blue demon twice and it was only in passing. He didn’t even spare me a glance and I wondered briefly if he too had been warned by Urahara to stay away, or was he hurt when I turned him over to Yoruichi. She said his progress had been great and that he was picking up things quicker than she had expected. While that was nice to hear, I still missed him and wanted to see this progress for myself. The idea had been turned down flat.
I was sweaty, tired and in a foul mood. I had just spent the better part of my day with Shinji and Kensei at their underground training area, as I had been denied entrance to the one under Urahara’s. My guess was that Grimmjow was down there and so, of course, I was turned away.
Seeking out the Visoreds was perhaps not the smartest idea I had yet to come up with but it gave me exactly what I needed. An outlet for my anger and frustrations. I had known before I went what would be waiting for me, but I guess I had forgotten how strong they were.
Since the day Grimmjow stole my obi Yoruichi has taken over his history lessons and physical training. The reasons why were obvious; we never accomplished anything other than irritating each other and breaking something. Admittedly, in the beginning I was relieved to have my duties taken over, anything to get rid of that frustrating man but then something strange happened. I started to miss that aggravating smirk and his over inflated ego. I thought I was having a mental breakdown.
As time went on I saw less and less of Grimmjow as he was usually busy with Yoruichi and I… well I did everything and more to keep busy. Between attending that sham of a High School to keep tabs on Kurosaki and training well into the night with the Visoreds I barely had a moment of free time at home. But I had to do it, this excruciating schedule was the only way to tire me out enough to sleep at night.
Now beaten and bruised I trudged my way to the back stair, intent on showering and then dieing a peaceful death in my room. Kisuke however, seemed to have other ideas as he was blocking my path. “What do you want, Urahara? As you can see, I’m hardly in the mood for your foolishness.” “Ouch, Mari-chan,” he smiled bemusedly, his face never betraying his true emotions. “I was merely concerned.” He said calmly, looking pointedly at my legs.
Following his eyes, I winced at the large gapping gash on my inner right thigh. ’Damn, how’d I miss that.’
‘I believe you were trying to dodge that roughens wandering hands when Kensei landed that blow.’ Jun snarled, he truly did have a disliking for Shinji, he always had and funny enough was that I wasn’t even attracted to the skinny blonde.
Shrugging I replied, “It’s just a scratch, I’ll take care of it after my shower.”
I headed for the stairs again passing the amused looking idiot in a green and white bucket hat on the way. I didn’t snap at him like I wanted to, I was exhausted and was in no mood to enter into a battle of words. So I settled on leveling him with a glare. He just waved at me with that hideous fan as his smile widened. It was obvious that he was itching for a fight.
“Fuck off, Kisuke.” I mumbled out half-heartedly.
I didn’t bother to look at his reaction as I continued up the stairs. Like I said I was just too tired both mentally and physically to be goaded into another fight. Shinji hadn’t taken it easy on me today and I could practically hear the shower singing its sirens call.
Shaking his head he approached, the click-clacking of his wooden geta growing louder with ever step he took. “I don’t think you understand, I have to have that taken care of befo-”
‘He smells it, Mistress. You must-”
Jun’s voice was also drowned out by the snarling blue haired man that appeared, in what seemed out of thin air. Kisuke who was trying to easy slowly forward, as if shielding me from something was ripped away not a second later and his face was replaced by the one I had been longing to see for weeks. But there was something different about him and I realized with horror what it was. His eyes, no longer that breath stealing blue I had come to be so fond of, were replaced by a bright glowing red. It was a mark of his demon heritage and it also meant that his inner demon was pissed.
“Shit,” Kisuke murmured, rubbing head. “Tessai!”
Time seemed to slow to a crawl. The look in Grimm’s eyes as he snarled at the sound of Kisuke’s voice. His posture as he concealed me from Urahara’s sight and then the determination rolling off him as he picked me up and sped out the door.
~
Colors whirled around me as we passed this building and that, not stopping until we reached a wooded area on the outskirts of Karakura.
I tried to protest being carried like a child but the look on Grimmjow’s face halted my angry ranting. He looked so determined, like a man on a mission, only it was slightly more dangerous than that. He was running off pure instincts and I had no idea what that mean for me now that we had stopped. "Just be calm mistress, you'll be fine. He'd never hurt you.'
‘Thanks for the tip.’ I thought sarcastically.
He sat me gently onto a snow covered boulder saying nothing as he took deep pulls of the air surrounding him. I didn’t know if he was checking for possible threats or possible prey, either way I could only hope no unsuspecting humans would wander into these woods today for I feared it would be the last day they would ever see.
It didn’t take him long to find whatever it was he was searching for before he knelt before me, running a calloused hand to the leg of my jeans before he easily tore it open, splitting in to the crotch. I squealed. “What are you doing?”
He only looked at me curiously, like it was I that had lost my mind and not him before running his hand to the deep gash. A sound of the likes I had never in my wildest imagination sounded from the back of his throat, welling up emotions in me I previously thought impossible. A long kneeing whine.My mouth fell open as I stared at him. And I understood; His anger towards Kisuke, his strange actions… everything suddenly made sense. “You care for me.”
He still said nothing but it was all in his eyes. He was pissed and hurt and wanted to care for me. I nodded to him, agreeing to accept his help, though I was curious to how he planned to patch me up with no knowledge of kido and no supplies.
It happened so quickly my squeal died in my throat, replaced by a contented purr. I had been stupid to have forgotten that most demon carried healing enzymes in their saliva but even if I had remembered I still don’t think I would have been prepared when he buried his face between my thighs and began to heal the gash…
“Kami,” I cried as he too had begun to purr, the vibration trickling through my skin and scorching my insides. I almost felt horrible for mewling out like some wanton slut but I couldn’t help it. Just being in his presence was like being drunk on the finest honey wine and his menstruations the throbbing ache between my legs would not be sated.
Just as the last lick at my wound was administered, Grimmjow stiffened inhaling the air before that same horrible snarl ripped from his lips.
Still glazed from the lust and contentment I was feeling I could barely make out the two cloaked shapes that were standing just at the tree line. In the fog of my mind I didn’t realize until it was too late and Tessai held out his hand just as Grimmjow lunged.
“You’d better use a good one, he’s pissed.” Kisuke murmured, thinking it was too low for me to hear. Oh, but I heard it all right.
“Way of Binding, Bakudö 99; Kin!” Within second of the words falling from Tessai’s lips black straps of kido magic spun through the air headed straight for my demon. I growled out.
“NO!” But it was too late. He was already on the ground the wraps binding his movements as more incantations were whispered to keep him still.
The air was charged with demonic aura and I was surprised to see that it was only mine.
“Shit!” Kisuke yelled. “We gotta stop her before the Old Man catches wind of her spiritual pressure!”
Tessai only nodded and began to whisper to himself.
“Not this time!” I snarled, pushing my self forward in demon step that I hadn’t used since my time in the outer realm.
“Carriage of Thunder. Bridge of a spinning wheel. With light, divide this into six! Way of Binding, Bakudö 61; Rikujökörö!”
I felt every one of the Six Rod’s in the Prison of Light incantation and I knew I’d have many bruises tomorrow. I gasped loudly as they hit me in synchronicity and knocked me flat to the boulder behind me. Grimmjow was still struggling against his bonds and if I were a betting gal I’d say he was more pissed off now than he was before. But that was to be expected.
“Kisuke!” I snarled. “What the fuck is the meaning of this!”
Urahara came closer, ignoring the very serious growls of warning coming from both myself and my blue haired demon at my feet. “Now, now,” he tsk’d, “I couldn’t go and let the both of you eat me now, could I?”
“You had no right to engage in the first place!” I yelled. “Why the hell are you here, anyways?”
His happy smile only grew. “To check on you, of course. Why else would I be here?”
“You tell me, Kisuke. I was perfectly fine as you can see but I think you already knew that, so I want to know why you had to come here?” I taunted, struggling against the strong barrier that held me in place. It was stupid of me to do so, I knew that with Tessai’s abilities I wouldn’t be going anywhere until he said so.
The forest was darkening around us and I wondered if Urahara was waiting for the cover of night to transport us. “I’m sorry, Mari-chan, all will be revealed in due time.”
“Why you-”
“Tanma Otoshi,” Kisuke muttered just before everything went black.
~
Yoruichi gaped in shock as Tessai and Kisuke entered the shop, two unconscious demons under each of his bulking arms.
“What the hell happened?” She demanded, hands on either of her hips, a deep scowl set on her face.
Kisuke stopped dead, turning to face his angry lover with a mixture of awe and anger. “Can the explanations wait? I need you to change her so I can take a look at that cut before he wakes up.”
It didn’t take her long to wander up the stairs after a tired looking Urahara, though she thought he deserved it. Playing around with a mating bond was serious risk and she told him that when he first came up with the idea to separate them until each were ready.
“There is no such thing as ready, Kisuke. Take it from me, if you do this, you’re setting yourself up for a lot of pain.”
He hadn’t listened of course, and she wasn’t sure if this was just his way of protecting the girl he saw as family or if it was his curious nature that naturally wanted to dissect something he was so unfamiliar with. Either way, what had happened here today was just a delicately made bomb that finally exploded.
“Kisuke!” Yoruichi yelled, double checking twice to make sure her keen eyes were not failing her.
He entered with a lazy gate, no longer as cautious as he had just finished securing Grimmjow in the underground training area. “Yeah?”
His gray eyes narrowed, bending down to have a look himself. “I did and there was.”
“Well, it’s not there now but I wonder…” She trailed off, taking a demure whiff of the air. “Grimmjow.”
“Huh?” Kisuke asked, scratching at the back of his head.
“He healed her himself. Most demons of standing have healing properties in their saliva.” she said thoughtfully, covering the girls leg once more with the heavy comforter on her large futon. “Tessai.” She called softly, knowing he wouldn’t stray to far from Urahara right now.
“Lady Shihoin,” he nodded.
“Bring Grimmjow and unbind him.”
He blinked once then twice, then looked to his boss who looked just as dumfounded as he felt.
“What? Why would he do that?” Urahara finally spluttered out moving to block the doorway and trapping Tessai inside. Not that would stop him if he actually wanted to go.
Golden eyes rolled upwards as she sighed. “Look, if you leave him down there now, he’s going to hurt himself and possibly take this house down around us looking for her. It’s too late to keep them apart anymore. She reeks of him now… you have no choice.”
“And you actually think I’m going to leave him up here without supervision so he can kill us all in our sleep, you’ve gotta be kidding, right?”
The purple haired goddess of flash shook her head. “I’m one hundred percent serious in this, Kisuke.” She said, shooting him a look that booked no arguments. Then she smiled, lecherously as she sidled up next to her shaggy blonde lover. “Besides, I don’t think his first reaction will be to kill, if you catch my meaning.”
He looked blankly at her for a moment than to Tessai who cocked an eyebrow as if to say “Are you really that stupid?” “OHHH! Now I get it… but wait- she’s just a baby and that…mrphhh!”
“That’s better.” Yoruichi mumbled, placing her well remembered binding over his unsuspecting mouth as she drug him out of the room and down the hall. “And Tessai?” she called over her shoulder. “Make sure that he’s comfortable.”
He nodded, smiling inwardly at the sight of his friend being drug by the ear into his bedroom followed by shrieks and wails and laughter. “Such a strange house.” he muttered to himself. “Alright Mr. Jaegerjaquez, let’s hope you can behave.”
