Sorry this is so late. I feel like a horrible person T^T Anyway, here's the next chapter to Ages.

Chapter 18

Staring down a rabid lion about to tear you to shreds is a blessing compared to this. It's not the first time Grimmjow's gone up against Shiro's true form... it's just the first time he's done it while also trying to talk sense into him and keeping Ichigo's 'killer' from running off. Needless to say, he would've much rather this be similar to instances in the past. You know... where Shiro was trying to kill him. It would've been so much easier.

He's in a slightly animal form. Fur is all over his body, his legs that of a white panther and his ears long and feline. Claws tip his fingers, hands black from his cat form's coloring, and his hair is much longer. Personally, he hates this form. He'd much rather be one or the other, but he needs his hands to block Shiro's talons. His fangs cut into his bottom lip on accident, drawing a hiss from him.

"Damn it, Shiro, will you just fucking stop!" he roars out. "Ichigo's still alive, you dumbass! If you don't quit it, the Hunters won't come in here and it'll be too late to save him!"

"... Ichi... he's..."

"He's alive! Fucking listen to me!"

Slowly, the vampire born calms and takes deep breathes to still his temper. The place is burning, there's no stopping it. The fires created by Shiro's chaotic wings, those of a fallen angel, can't be extinguished. Aizen is cowering in a corner, trapped by the flames, and Ichigo is lying in a slowly growing pool of crimson. One of his hands twitches in his sleep, giving truth to Grimmjow's words. With the howling gone, the Hunters hesitantly peek in. They aren't sure it's safe... so Kisuke shoves Issin in first! When he deems Shiro calm, he's followed by the blonde strategist and Yorouchi.

"Ichigo?" Isshin asks almost hesitantly.

"He's over there," Grimmjow remarks. "He's still alive, but I don't know how bad his injury is. Aizen shot him."

With a nod, the dark haired man gets to work. The trio of ancient Hunters kneels by Ichigo, surveying the damage carefully. The bullet hit something vital... he won't make it much longer. Shiro and Grimmjow join them, hearts dropping at the resigned looks given to them by Ichigo's family. Isshin takes Shiro into his arms, just as he does each time their precious orange head passes on to his mother, and holds him tightly. Yorouchi pats Grimmjow on the back as Kisuke holds her, all of them doing their best to be there for Ichigo's last moments.

There's a flash of white light and Ichigo feels so much lighter than usual. He can feel something on his back, like an extension of himself, and clouds are all around him. A complete sense of peace overwhelms him. He can see golden gates, which open now, and a bright light within their midst. As he gets closer, his amber eyes take in a woman with long light orange locks and brown eyes. He vaguely remembers her smile.

"Mom?" he questions.

"Welcome home, honey," she grins.

"... Why?" he frowns. "Why would you do this to me?"

She's taken aback by that comment, staring at her little angel in surprise. So many times he's come to her to be raised again... each time he's greeted her with questions and confusion. This time, however, he's asked the one question he's never thought of. It hurts her on a level she's never felt before. As though she's the cause of all his suffering. He seems to understand her line of thought, immediately apologizing. She has to go to him, as he's not about to step past those gates... not this time.

"Honey, I know it's not fair..."

"How do you know that?" Ichigo frowns. "Have you been repeatedly born and killed? Have you had your life stolen from you just as you begin to make something of yourself? How can you possibly know how unfair this is? What did I ever do to be cursed like this?"

"... The world only needs a push from it's balance when things get very bad," she says. "You're not needed until that happens."

"And what about all the other good I could be doing down there? There are wars being fought between clans, there are starving and sick humans down there, Nightmares turned because of circumstance that would've chosen death had it been up to them! I'm a Hunter! I belong down there, helping people... protecting them from the evils of the world! Grimmjow said I come back here to serve Heaven... Don't you think that time would be better served saving mankind?"

Misaki watches him a long moment, wondering what happened to her precious baby. Once, long ago, Ichigo was so small and frail. He tried to hold the world on his shoulders, but invariably buckled beneath the weight. All he had eyes for was Shiro, how to make him happy and how to control his temper so he wouldn't hurt another. This child before her reminds her of Shiro. Perhaps her baby took a while longer to finally grow up.

This isn't her decision, though, this is God's decision. After all, it was He who created the two in the first place. It was He who created the curse between them. Misaki closes her eyes, searching for the presence of her Father, and Ichigo stands and waits. This might be a long and arduous battle, however he's ready for it. This curse may have started with Shiro's birth, but it'll damn well end with his death.

Shiro and Grimmjow sit together, the two still holding Ichigo's limp body. His heartbeat is so very weak, almost nonexistent, but they can't let him go. He's lain across their laps, his upper body held by Shiro and his hand gripped by the feline. Isshin and Kisuke are taking care of Aizen's coven, Yorouchi making certain the fires stay to that building alone. Though they don't want to give up on Ichigo, it's not like he won't be reborn in a few years anyway. Keeping busy will keep their minds off their loss. It's a coping mechanism they developed after the third death.

Ichigo's hand tightens on Grimmjow's, the feline gasping at the strength behind it. Both he and Shiro haven't shed their true forms yet, too caught up in Ichigo's bitter end to really think about it. He's careful not to cut the orange head with his claws as he shifts the other's hand. His lips twitch down in a frown, the cat elbowing Shiro before pointing. Finally, an amber eye peeks open and they feel Ichigo's heartbeat jump back to normal.

"Ichigo?" Shiro asks cautiously.

"Who the fuck else would I be," he replies grumpily. "The Easter Bunny? Help me up, I'm dizzy. What's with the heat? Did you guys blow something up! Tell me you didn't blow anything up, dad'll fucking kill me!"

"I love you, Ichi," the two comment in unison.

The orange head is confused as they pull him into a hug between them, overjoyed to have the little bitch back. Over by the house, still bright with Shiro's fires, Isshin notices Ichigo's awake and hollers over to the others. They rush to their side, kneeling down to add to the group hug. He complains, yet doesn't have the strength to beat them back yet.

"What happened, Ichigo?" Kisuke wonders. "We thought you were dead for sure."

"I talked to God," he shrugs. "I convinced him I could serve Heaven better down here than up there. Apparently, I never brought up that argument before. He said He'd give me a chance to prove I could do more good down here. I guess He appreciated the fact Shiro would just hibernate until he was needed next. Unfortunately, I had looked into his hibernation areas and acts around it... he puts off a chaotic aura for fifty miles in each direction of his sleeping quarters. There are unexplained deaths, vicious murders, rapes, assaults, and all other sorts of nonsense just from him sleeping around there. It's better if he's awake. Now that I'm 'grown up' as mom says, I can keep Shiro in line better. She helped me convince Him that my argument is sound."

"You saw your mother?" Isshin smiles softly.

"I did... she misses us all," Ichigo comments. "Even Shiro."

The other doesn't say anything, but he blushes and that's enough for Ichigo. The coven is getting rounded up, placed in police wagons to be taken to a Nightmare jail, and Ichigo recalls the evidence he managed to get a hold of. With an impish grin learned from Yorouchi, he pulls the flash drive out of his shoe and the recorder out of the inside pocket of his jacket. He hands them both to Isshin with a large smile.

"That's everything you need. Aizen won't be getting out of jail unless it's in a body bag," he assures. I figured you could use all the help you could get."

"That was dangerous and stupid," Isshin snaps. "But also so like Kisuke I want to throttle you both! Don't do it again!"

"... I can't promise that," Ichigo remarks truthfully.

The other growls in irritation, throwing his hands in the air. He'll never win against this boy. As Grimmjow and Shiro help the orange head to his feet, an itching at his shoulder blades stills him. It's warm there, like sunlight on his bare skin. Suddenly, he has that same feeling he had before, of that extension to himself. An appendage of pure white plumage curls around Grimmjow and himself. Ichigo has sprouted newly formed angel wings. Shiro chuckles to himself, lifting a hand and poking at something over Ichigo's head. It's supposed to be a halo, but it's more like light shining off the tips of his orange locks.

"Perfect," he grumbles. "What now?"

"Look on the bright side, Ichi," Grimmjow snickers. "At least that's not your true form... you could be a slim little vixen with pink wings and barely anything covering your curves! Mm...sexy angel..."

"How is that a bright side!" the other screams.

"I don' know... I can see where the silver linin' is," Shiro mumbles. "Along the edge a yer thong an' skanty bra!"

Ichigo hollers out, voicing his indignation as his mates laugh it up. They're so not getting any for a month or two! The duo help Ichigo get home, deciding on just getting the damn apartment and tolerating each other. This is for their mate, after all. Ichigo has finally learned that the main ingredient to any successful relationship... is a submissive that knows how to get their own way. He's excelling at this quickly this time around.

He grins widely when they walk into the apartment, thanking both his mates happily at this change in their attitude. Shiro would give Ichigo a thousand lovers if that would make him happy, especially since their curse is finally gone. He's tried so hard, searched for eons to break it... when all it took was a smart mouth from the normally dependent angel. If only he would've known that sooner. Grimmjow seemed to... he always did. He glad they're all together; this is the life meant for them.