CHAPTER 14: DISCOVERY

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach…

Onwards…

Have you got color in your cheeks?
Do you ever get that fear that you can't shift the type
That sticks around like summat in your teeth?
Are there some aces up your sleeve?
Have you no idea that you're in deep?
I've dreamt about you nearly every night this week
How many secrets can you keep?

-Arctic Monkeys

XOXOXO

Sage wiped his hands with an old white shirt, clearing them of the pungent pig's blood they'd spread around the perimeter of the building. Crush had grumbled about it the entire time, but even Berserk reminded him of their depressing lack of a choice in the matter. It wasn't as if they had any other solution to the predicament they'd suddenly found themselves in.

As they trooped back into the meeting room, Sage studied the vampire woman, who was lounging in a seat, feet kicked up on the table and hands shoved deeply into her jacket pockets. She had introduced herself as Soi Fon and claimed that she held a grudge against her superior, whoever that was. She hadn't exactly deigned to go into detail on the matter. Sage figured now was as good a time as any to get to the bottom of things.

"So," he started as everyone settled in the room. "Why are you helping us? Your kind tends to torture and destroy rather than aid and support. Excuse my curiosity, but I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering what your motive is."

Crush was standing against the wall, thick arms folded over his chest, bald head gleaming with sweat. "Yer damned right, Sage! Ain't no fuckin' way in hell some vamp bitch just up and decides to help out a group of humans fer no good reason!"

The general mood of the room seemed to agree with Crush's sentiments as each member stared at the vampire in their midst. Soi Fon, on the other hand, remained cool as the other side of a pillow. She smiled benevolently and glanced around the room, raising the tension and suspense until it was suffocating. Finally, Hawk cleared his throat. The normally polite, calm man pinned Soi Fon with a look that expressed exactly how impatient he was growing.

She slid her hands out of her pockets, set her feet on the floor and leaned forward over the table. "I mentioned I hold a grudge against my superior, but what I didn't mention is why."

"And who exactly this superior is," Sage added, voice stern and unmoving.

Soi Fon glanced at him with a gleam in her dark eyes that told Sage that even though she found him amusing, she was also impressed.

"I'm sure you've heard the name Yoruichi Shihouin, yes?"

Sage felt like ice had been dumped down his back as the name echoed ominously throughout the room. The rest of the members exchanged worried looks. Everyone knew who Elder Yoruichi was, and it wasn't because of her otherworldly beauty. She was one of the scariest vampires they had ever had the misfortune to run across. She was cruel, bloodthirsty, hot-tempered and cunning. She was an incredibly formidable foe, one who moved at the speed of lightning and struck with the impact of thunder. Sage shuddered in remembrance of the thirty members who had fallen to Elder Yoruichi's wrath in a matter of seconds.

"I know why us humans don't like her, but what's your grudge against her about?" Berserk asked, gruff voice dispelling the heavy silence.

Sage was grateful for his longtime friend and his forwardness because, at the moment, he was a little lost for words. His heart was pounding out of control as he thought about the Elder vampire who had caused so much destruction in such a short amount of time.

For the first time that evening since the vampire woman had infiltrated their gathering, her face showed emotion. She wore a frown so severe, it morphed her face into something almost nightmarish.

"She killed my love."

Looks were passed around the room once again, this time filled with shock and disbelief. Kitty interrupted the stunned quiet with a dark chuckle.

"What love? You expect us to believe that vampires are capable of loving anything or anyone other than themselves?" she chuckled darkly and shook her head. "Gimme a fuckin' break, wouldja?"

"Kitty, please," Sage said gently, finally finding his voice. He turned to Soi Fon in hopes of smoothing over any damage Kitty may have done with her careless statement. While he tended to inwardly agree with the blonde girl's thoughts, he didn't want to anger Soi Fon into silence…or worse…a murderous rage. "Who was your love? Another vampire? I thought vampires were expressly forbidden from harming one another, especially in a brood?"

Soi Fon turned a glittering glare away from Kitty, her gaze softening a fraction as they landed on Sage. "She wasn't a vampire. She was a human."

It was as if a gun had gone off in the room. Everyone went completely still, expressions of shock written on each face until Crush snorted.

"That's impossible. Vampires hate humans."

Soi Fon scoffed, dark eyes suddenly glistening as she turned away from the many stares, her thin arms going across her chest in a gesture of self-comfort. Her bottom lip trembled ever so slightly as she obviously tried to regain her lost composure.

"Think what you will," she said, voice breaking just a fraction before it was clear and firm again. "Tatsuki was perfect but very much a human, and I loved her with my whole heart. Elder Yoruichi killed her right in front of me as a form of punishment. You wanna know what the punishment was for?" The question was clearly rhetorical because she continued without hesitation, tears shining in her dark eyes and clinging to her lashes but refusing to fall. "Because I broke a simple fucking rule. I didn't report my whereabouts in a timely fashion, and for that, she had the love of my love killed before my very eyes. You ask why I hold a grudge? There's your answer, human."

Sage could do nothing but stare. He was totally blown away, not only by the passion, the anger, the utter hurt in Soi Fon's penetrating gaze, but at the news itself. A vampire? In love with a human? Was that even possible? If he were to believe Soi Fon's words, then yes, it seemed very possible. Real, even.

No one said a word for the longest time until Hawk began moving cautiously over to Soi Fon. The vampire woman still had her arms folded across her chest protectively, yet her eyes landed on Hawk and watched him like his namesake. Sage felt terror grip him from the inside out. What the hell was Hawk doing?

The red-haired man edged over to Soi Fon and started speaking slowly, carefully as he raised his hands in front of his chest to show he wasn't a threat.

"My mother used to tell me stories when I was a child of fantastical creatures, vampires included. It was all so romanticized and beautiful," he gave a breathy chuckle, russet eyes lowering to the floor for a brief moment in remembrance. When he glanced back into Soi Fon's wary glare, he continued. "I began dreaming of vampires and humans living together, being together, loving together. My mother had even encouraged it. I was such a fanciful child, but I held high hopes that not only could these creatures be real, but all of the events in the stories could actually come to pass. Silly, I know." He paused, face falling. "Especially once the vampires revealed themselves. I was no longer a starry-eyed child but even I couldn't ignore the bloodlust and cruelty of real vampires. They were nothing like the stories of my childhood."

Here, Hawk continued moving over to Soi Fon until he was a scant two feet away from her. She lowered her arms, her glare sharpening as if daring Hawk to move again. Sage wanted to warn his friend against everything that he seemed to be doing, but he couldn't find his voice. He was spellbound by the events unfolding before him.

"They're mean, cold, callous, brutal. I know and have seen all of that, and yet, I know that they are still beings capable of compassion, even love."

Kitty and Crush snorted loudly, but Hawk continued. Sage had to admit that even though he and the others were fighting against those tyrannical and evil vampires, he himself had seen with his own eyes a vampire who had shown unmeasured compassion and mercy.

"Kitty. Crush. We know this to be true," Hawk clipped, voice dripping with disappointed disdain.

The two in question quieted, heads lowering in guilt and shame. Everyone in the room remembered the incident. But now wasn't the time to discuss it. Sage turned his attention back to his red-haired friend who was once again on the move in Soi Fon's direction. He opened his arms, his mouth turned down at the corners with sadness.

"I'm so sorry you lost your love, Soi Fon," he stated.

Everyone watched with bated breath as Soi Fon glared at him. Her glare suddenly softened, and her face crumpled as she sniffed and flew into Hawk's arms. The sight was so alien, it had Sage floored. Open-mouthed, he studied the picture of Soi Fon shaking uncontrollably and sobbing as she clung to Hawk's shirt, her face buried in his chest. Hawk simply sighed, closed his eyes and hugged her close as if he'd known the entire time that all she needed was someone to understand.

And maybe it was?

It couldn't have been easy for her dealing with the death of her human lover amidst a group of beings who, at best, considered humans nothing but food. Who could she have vented to? Who would have supported and comforted her while she grieved?

No one.

Hawk was a fucking genius.

XOXOXO

Ichigo was in the middle of a rage so potent, he didn't think he'd seen its like since the start of this whole vampire mess. Gin, holy shit, the nerve of that guy. Ichigo wanted to twist his head clean from his shoulders, and the fact that it was impossible meant nothing to him. Nothing at all.

He was trailing behind his blue-haired warden, hands clenched into fists, nostrils flared and entire body flushed with heat. Most of it was from anger, but there was a tiny bit that stemmed from shame and embarrassment. Gin had done something so heinous, only to run and tell Grimmjow that the result of it was because of him? How fucking dare! He wanted to scream, he was so mad. And how did that godforsaken vampire know who Ichigo had been thinking about anyway? It wasn't like he'd called Grimmjow's name during the act or anything. Now, that would have been a total nightmare.

They ended up in front of the bedroom door a lot faster than Ichigo anticipated, and if he was honest, he was a tiny bit nervous now. The look on Grimmjow's face after Gin had dropped his little bomb had been way too unnerving. Ichigo didn't know what to make of it, and knowing how unpredictable and volatile Grimmjow could be, it set the orange-haired man on edge.

The door opened without Grimmjow touching it, and the vampire briskly stepped inside. The following silence was resounding. The unspoken demand hung heavily in the air, making Ichigo tremble with outrage. He was really sick and tired of being bossed around. Hell, he couldn't even jerk off in peace if he wanted to, which he didn't. Not with Grimmjow skulking around. It would be just his luck that the blue-haired vampire would find him and tease him mercilessly…or worse…decide to join the party. It was no secret that Grimmjow liked men at this point but Ichigo wasn't interested.

You filthy little liar. You're way interested.

Ichigo pulled up short in the doorway, heart thudding at the back of his tongue. What was he thinking? He was terrified of his own mind. Not only was he terrified of what his own thoughts were throwing at him, he was afraid to enter the bedroom he shared with Grimmjow. He wasn't ready to find out what the vampire had in store for him, whether it was more useless, childish pranks, or twisted mind games, Ichigo wanted no parts of any of it.

He whirled on his heel, knowing for sure that he was inviting disaster, and took off at a breakneck pace down the deserted hallway. He had no idea where he was headed, but he had to get away from Grimmjow before he realized what was going on. Ichigo skidded to a stop before another door, this one a little more familiar than the door to the roof. In fact, when he thought about it, he realized this door led to the lower levels of the mansion, namely the kitchen. He might be able to seek refuge with his hopefully newfound friend and cook, Toshiro. Not that he had that much hope. The chef had seemed mighty fond of Grimmjow, even if he did call him a brute.

Ichigo fumbled with the door handle before rushing into the damp stairwell. It still smelled like dust and clay and rain. He didn't take the time to assess his whereabouts; he just ran. He clambered down the stairs two and three at a time, too scared to look over his shoulder. He was more than aware that if Grimmjow wanted to catch him, wanted to find him, it would be child's play. He finally got to the bottom of the staircase, absently noting that it had taken a lot longer than the time he and Di Roy had gone to visit Toshiro.

And then Ichigo noticed something else.

The door he stood in front of as he panted and tried to catch his breath was not the same as the one he'd entered to get to the kitchen. This door was tall, dark, and ominous. It was a thick iron with raised bolts decorating the perimeter, and it was caked in filth as if it hadn't been opened in…years, probably. Ichigo huffed a little and sighed as he rubbed the back of his head. How had he missed the door to the kitchen? And since he had, where did that mean he'd ended up?

He started to turn back, when a loud roar echoed down the steps. "You fucking idiot! Running makes it worse!"

Ichigo's heart leapt into his mouth as he whirled back to the door and yanked on the steel handle. After a few desperate tries, it slowly groaned forward. Ichigo didn't even hesitate before he plowed inside and pulled the door closed with his entire body. As he stood with his back pressed to the cold metal, his eyes frantically searched for a way to bar entry. Finding nothing, he glanced over his shoulder, heart pounding when he thought he heard footsteps.

Fuck! Grimmjow was going to kill him for sure this time!

Suddenly, as if an angel itself had pointed it out, Ichigo noticed the door was equipped with a thick-looking metal slab that seemed to fit across it like an old-fashioned castle entrance. He hurriedly grabbed the edge and pulled with all of his might, terrified of what would happen if he didn't get this thing down before Grimmjow showed up. He was positive the only reason he had even made it as far as he had was because he had caught the cold vampire off guard. The element of surprise had been in his corner this time.

Almost reluctantly, the slab crashed into place, successfully blocking the way inside. Ichigo sighed and wiped a sudden onslaught of sweat from his brow. Before he could celebrate his harrowing escape, a thunderous boom shook the door and its entire frame. That happened a couple more times, each blow making Ichigo jump and cringe. Finally, he had time to study the slab. It had some weird-looking writing etched into it, definitely a different language. He ran his fingertips over the swirling grooves, squinting into the darkness to see more clearly. As he edged closer, another deafening boom rocked the door before silence fell. Ichigo paused, staring at the door, heart positively shuddering with fright while he waited for Grimmjow to try another way into the room.

"Human," the vampire's dark, deep voice called, deadly calm like the eye of a storm. "Open the door, and I'll consider not killing you."

Ichigo scoffed quietly. Even he knew that was bullshit, and he was aware that he could be terribly naïve about things at times. This was not one of those times. The malice was a living thing in Grimmjow's voice, and Ichigo couldn't even see him. There was no way in Hell he was opening this door.

Once it was clear that Ichigo had no intentions of opening the door like Grimmjow had "asked," the vampire banged against it again with much more ferocity. "Goddammit, you little shit, open this fucking door!"

Ichigo snorted, stuck out his tongue and held up both middle fingers at the door, relishing in the fact that Grimmjow couldn't reach him. It was the most liberating he'd felt since he'd discovered the way to the roof. Now all he had to do was figure out how he was going to get out of this room alive. Grimmjow had him well and truly cornered.

Speaking of the room, Ichigo slowly turned, curious of his surroundings. Where had he ended up? He took in the sight and had to breathe very deliberately. He was in what appeared to be a library, but…it screamed abandoned. The room was full of candles (how the fuck hadn't this entire mansion burned down by now?), flickering in ancient-looking holders lining the walls. There were rows and rows of shelves and books – so many, they seemed endless. The room was actually huge. It was even bigger than the ceremonial room where Ichigo had witnessed the Blood Bond, and that was saying something. It was also circular in shape. Straight ahead of him, there was a large, stained glass window that rose to the ceiling, and speaking of the ceiling…Ichigo gaped at what had to be a mural. There were hundreds of tiny images that linked together to form a single story, but what that story was eluded Ichigo. He couldn't understand the writing since it was so obviously a different language, and it made him wonder if it was the language the vampires had been chanting during the Blood Bond.

Ichigo took a few steps deeper into the room, still surveying the place. If it wasn't covered in dust, it would have been an incredibly impressive library. There was a deep blood-red and royal-blue rug in the middle of the floor that unlike everything else in the library had escaped the ravages of time. It was bright and vibrant and looked brand new. How could that be? As a matter of fact, who kept the candles burning?

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a shuffling from near the window alerted him that he was not alone. A tall figure dressed in a long, black, hooded cloak glided out of the shadows like a wraith, scaring the ever-loving shit out of Ichigo. Ichigo panicked, rooted to the spot, unable to move or take his eyes off the being floating towards him on soundless feet. The figure's hands were clasped in front of it, the fingers slender, bony and deathly pale. Ichigo could see the veins standing out against its knobby knuckles.

Why couldn't he just catch a break, huh? Why couldn't he have cooled his heels here in this magnificent library, and maybe read a book or two until Grimmjow forgot about him? Why did he have such rotten luck all the time?

The figure stopped a couple of feet away, Ichigo's heart line dancing on the back of his tongue by now. He was still unable to convince his frightened body to move, even though his mind was screaming every profanity in existence for him to do just that. He was able to see that the figure had long, pure-as-driven-snow-white hair…but…but…its eyes… Ichigo tucked his bottom lip between his teeth in an effort not to scream. The figure's eyes were covered with gauze bandages as if its head had been wrapped for an injury. Its lips were thin and bloodless, its nose streamline, its face as pale as its hands. Ichigo didn't know what he was supposed to make of this character, but whatever or whoever it was, it was giving him the fucking creeps. He had goosebumps standing all over his arms, so he rubbed them and held the limbs close to his body.

The figure smiled, yet it looked like a sneer. Ichigo swallowed forcefully, trying his hardest not to panic and run right into the hands of a royally ticked off Grimmjow, but fuck, it was bordering on impossible. The figure reached a reedy hand out to Ichigo, its smile widening as it spoke. Ichigo stared, fascinated as a voice as haunting as a violin emerged from the depths of the hood.

"It has been four hundred and fifty-three years since I last saw a human."

So…it was a vampire. Of course, it was.

"I am not a vampire, human boy," the figure continued as if it had read Ichigo's mind. "I am an Oracle."

"I knew that," Ichigo muttered, hating that he sounded so damned stupid. "H-How did you…?"

The Oracle chuckled, and it sounded like someone had just jumped in a pile of hay. "If you know what I am, you would know how I could hear you."

This was so unsettling. What exactly did he mean by "hear you?"

"With vampires, it is hard to hear, hard to read. But I am old, human boy. There is nothing I cannot hear, cannot see, even from the darkest, cloudiest mind and heart. You broadcast your thoughts and emotions like a declaration. It is far too simple a task to hear you," the Oracle ended with another soft, hay chuckle.

Ichigo wanted to be disturbed, wanted to be terrified out of his mind at the thought of a being essentially having the ability to read his mind, but after everything he had been through over the last few years, on top of temporarily being away from Grimmjow, he couldn't muster the energy. Instead, he cocked his head to the side and studied the figure. There were a few questions he had, and he wondered if the Oracle could help him.

"Ask me what you will, human boy."

Ichigo huffed. "My name is Ichigo. Stop calling me 'human boy.' It's annoying."

The Oracle smiled some more and gave a slow nod that looked more like a bow. "My apologies, young Ichigo. As I have said – it has been some time since my last interaction with a human."

Ichigo nodded, feeling a little better since the Oracle seemed to have manners. Unlike a certain blue-haired asshole.

The Oracle's lips twitched, but it only continued to smile.

"So…if you aren't a vampire, what are you?" Ichigo asked, truly curious.

"I am Fulhallah…an Ancient One. We have been on this plane for thousands of years, guiding humans and other creatures. However, in the last three hundred years, we have been banished to places like this that you see here. The vampire elders were…displeased…with our actions."

Ichigo frowned. "What actions?"

"…Long, long ago, young Ichigo, humans and vampires lived together in peaceful coexistence. I come from that time. I, along with three of my brethren, Shurhallah, Minhallah, and Zabhallah, were founts of information and direction for them. We showed them how to feed, how to temper upset, and how to thrive with one another rather than against one another. For hundreds of years, our techniques kept balance and order. That is until a rift arose among the two races that could not be repaired. A bloody betrayal sent the vampires into hiding while humans claimed dominance over the lands.

"It was terribly was tragic. My brethren and I did all that we could in efforts to bring about peace, but, unfortunately, once blood has been spilled, young Ichigo, pride is erected like a statue. Soon after, a feud between humans and vampires began. Wars have been fought and many lives have been lost."

The Oracle (there was no way Ichigo was pronouncing that strange name) finally paused, raising its head and hand towards the colorful ceiling. Ichigo followed his movements, and suddenly the images made a lot more sense, even without being able to understand the language written beneath it. The drawings depicted humans and vampires living together in peace, everything fine, and then, without warning, it wasn't. The images showed death, bloody battles, bodies strewn about in chaotic dances. It was horrifying.

Ichigo frowned. He hated vampires so much for what they had done to humans…but…there had been a time when they all had lived together with no turmoil. Just harmony.

"What was the bloody betrayal that caused the rift?"

The Oracle made a noise that sounded like a sigh, but Ichigo couldn't be sure. "The humans began governing themselves, appointing a king to rule over them. It was expressly against my brethren and I's advice, but they did not listen. Drunk with the idea of power, they formed a monarchy. It seemed to satisfy them for a while, so I and my brethren did not step in. I regret not taking action at the time.

"There was a group of humans who began spreading lies about the vampires in order to create the rift between them. Humans were envious of the powers of vampires, even though the vampires used them to assist humans. Power-mad and jealous…humans turned on vampires. However, even the incidents that sprang up due to the rumors were naught compared to the final act that led to the permanent rift. There was a group of vampire elders who wanted to reinstate the peace vampires and humans once enjoyed together. They were led by a woman called Imogen and a man called Samhiel. They were husband and wife and pureblooded vampires. They had a son, who would be considered vampire royalty if it weren't for the current Elders."

Ichigo sighed. It sounded like every fairy tale story that had ever gone wrong. Someone got greedy or power hungry, and it caused the downfall of everything. Except, this time, there didn't seem to be a hero in sight to come along and save everyone.

"This pair was said to be the most generous, kind, handsome, and wise among the vampires."

Ichigo nodded. "So, of course, they were probably killed. That's how these things always go."

"Correct, young Ichigo."

Ichigo quirked his lips and lifted his hand as if to say, "knew it."

The Oracle hesitated before speaking again. "I can show you, if you would like."

"You can really do that?"

The Oracle just grinned and held out a reedy hand again. This time Ichigo took it into his own, quelling the unease he felt at how cold the appendage was. Before he could even open his mouth, a strong sense of vertigo made him close his eyes and reach out to steady himself with his free hand.

Fuck! Don't throw up, don't throw up, don't throw up!

He heard that hay chuckle again, and all of a sudden, he was standing in yet another magnificent room, this one lacking dust and filled with the warmth of a blazing fireplace. While it crackled merrily off to the left, Ichigo realized he was standing in the room with a very beautiful couple. A tall woman with long, wavy hair the color of a spring sky and navy-blue eyes stood beside an even taller man with crimson red hair and…familiar…cornflower blue eyes. They were dressed like characters in a Shakespearean play, and they wore twin scowls as they glared at another man dressed like he was performance ready. This man, however, wasn't nearly as good-looking as the couple. He was flanked by two men, one on each side, who had to be guards. He wore a large, golden crown, encrusted with humongous jewels, and his shoulders were covered with a long, dark cape. He had a thick, blonde mustache, sprinkled with gray, the hair on his head a close match. He stood sneering at the couple, expression smug and condescending. It raised Ichigo's hackles, and he wasn't even involved.

Ichigo balled his hands into fists and frowned.

He glanced around for the Oracle and found it standing near the only door to the room. He went over to it, even as he listened to the conversation going on between the occupants of the room.

"What do you mean you have no tolerance for our existence?! We offer you peace between our races, yet you spit it back in our faces!"

"Calm yourself, Imogen," the red head ordered, voice stern. A brief pause reigned before he was again speaking. "Your Highness, we only wish to coexist with your kind. There are ways to let us feed from humans without causing their deaths. This is what-"

"And how shall I propose this to my people?" the blonde with the incredible mustache interrupted. "What then? Do I simply explain that they will be required to let another being bite them, and thus ingest their blood? Are you mad?"

"Surely we can come to an agreement," the red head said quietly.

"Be that as it may, Sir, I cannot allow this to come to light," the blonde who must have been the King went on.

"Then, what would you suggest?" the blue-haired woman, Imogen, snapped. "Are you telling us that our race is condemned to starvation because you're being too stubborn-"

"Imogen."

"No, Samhiel, this is madness! We'll all die if we leave it to this man!"

Ichigo was ready to argue along with the woman against that arrogant ass of a King, when the lone window in the room shattered inward. Ichigo flinched drastically and almost hit the floor before he remembered that this had already happened, and nothing could harm him. He straightened with a sideways glance at the Oracle and a blush erupting over his cheeks. The Oracle's head turned in his direction, a small smile creasing its thin lips before it turned back to the action occurring in the room. Ichigo followed suit, aghast when he realized the King had buried a sword in the red-haired man's stomach, instantly disabling him. The woman screamed but fared no better as one of the guards pierced her side with his own sword. Afterward, the couple was dragged out of the room, the King marching ahead of his guards, expression still smug.

Ichigo wanted to punch the jerk's teeth down his throat as he and the Oracle followed the procession out of the room. They were passing a wide, intricately carved staircase when a scuffle from above made Ichigo pause. He glanced back at the Oracle, but it didn't say anything. It just stood, waiting for Ichigo's next move, he supposed. Curiosity drove him up the stairs. He could more or less piece together what was about to happen to the gorgeous couple, and, to be quite honest, he didn't want to see it. It brought back desperate memories of the prison and its horrors.

He followed the sound he'd heard earlier, emerging at the top of the stairs, where another large window faced an impressive courtyard. What he found parked him at the top of the steps immediately. He didn't even realize he'd sat.

A small boy with bright blue hair and watery, tropical-blue eyes stared out of the window, both hands pressed to the glass as his bottom lip trembled and tears streaked his cheeks. "Mother. Father," he whispered.

Ichigo watched with building dismay as the boy started sobbing, only to suddenly be spirited away by a familiar brunet. The last thing Ichigo saw and heard of the boy were his tears and frantic screams for his dying parents. All too soon, Ichigo was back in the decrepit library of the vampire mansion, his heart still pounding and troubled by what he'd witnessed.

No wonder Grimmjow fucking hated humans.

Mmm…don't get your hopes up. My muse is such a fucking nomad.

Anyway.

Hi.

I missed you guys.

Talk to me.

Til next time.