The Crumbling World

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The Crumbling World: Chapter 3

“Well you might have to stay with us for a little while.” Kenpachi said without a hint of remorse, smirking at the potential ransom provider. Realization dawned in Ikkaku and Yumichika’s eyes as they caught on and sniggered.

“Yay!” Yachiru exclaimed happily.

“Oh hell no!” Fuck, to be saved from his kidnappers, only to be thrown into a group who also wanted to kidnap him. His life officially sucked.

Kenpachi smirked and stepped closer to the teen that was still holding Yachiru carefully. “You don’t have a choice.”

“The fuck I don’t!” He tried to pry Yachiru off of him so he could attempt an escape, but she wasn’t budging. In fact, she squealed and clung tighter, rubbing her head against his chest. Kenpachi strolled over to Ichigo’s discarded sword and tack, swinging it easily onto his shoulder.

“Come on kid.” Kenpachi said walking over and gripping Zangetsu’s halter (it was scary how tall Kenpachi was, even taller than Zangetsu) and easily held him down when he tried to rear. Yumichika put the saddle on Zan and tightened the girth so Ichigo. Ichigo eyed both of them warily, not wanting any harm to come to Zan if he fights back.

“Fine, but let me lead Zangetsu.” He finally said.

Ikkaku frowned and was about to protest but that large outlaw cut him off. “That’s fine.” He smirked. “It’s not like you can outrun me, even on the horse.” Ichigo scowled at his arrogance, but he had a feeling that it wasn’t unwarranted. Stupid bastards. The teen stalked over to Zangetsu and grabbed the reins from Kenpachi, realizing immediately the outlaw was almost two feet taller than him.

“Hm, I see you //are// male.” Kenpachi said with a smirk as he looked at Ichigo up close, eyes moving up and down his body. “You must take after your mother.”

Ichigo’s POV

“You must take after something under a rock.” I mutter back, sidestepping Zangetsu’s attempt to chew on my hair once again.

Amazingly enough, the outlaw named Kenpachi snickered. “You have some fight to you.” He eyed my body again and then grinned wickedly. “Are you any good in a fight?”

“Give me my sword and I’ll show you how good I am.”

This time Kenpachi threw back his head and outright laughed, his booming voice causing birds within the immediate vicinity to take flight.

“I have no doubt that you would.” The outlaw fingered the hilt of my blade and slid it into the holster attached to the saddle. “Maybe later. Right now we gotta leave before those idiots show up again.” He turned back to me with a wicked grin. “Give me your hands.”

“Why?” I asked, not wanting any part in what he was about to do.

His eyes narrowed dangerously and he grabbed a hold of my shirt, jerking me closer. “You are not in the position to ask questions.” He growled at me. I turned my head to the side and clenched my eyes shut, my hands trying to shove the large man off of me. “Do you understand?” I nod frantically as I feel his warm breath tickle my face before he finally releases me.

“You- you…barbarian!” I snap and glare at him.

“Hah! That I am.” The man said with a snort, his voice smug as he continues to stare down at me. “Now give me your hands.”

I hold them in front of me hesitantly and he pulls them to him, making me bite my lip as his rough fingers slide over my skin. I may not be a pansy noble, but I am still a //noble// and my hands are soft in contrast to his calloused ones. I flinch as he smirks at me, purposefully rubbing his coarse thumb over the back of my hand. I glare at him and try to yank my hands back, but he only holds tighter. Gripping my hands together in a bone-crushing hold, he loops a rope around my hands and ties them tightly together.

“How am I supposed to lead Zan if my hands are tied?” I ask as I twist my hands in an attempt to free them, but only succeed in rubbing them harshly against my sensitive skin.

“You’re going to be riding, not leading.” The dark haired man with the eye patch says. Ah, that might be my chance to escape. “Turn around.”

Again, I hesitate, not wanting to be in such a vulnerable position with these outlaws at my back. Kenpachi only snorts and makes a twirling gesture with his finger. I reluctantly turn around, instantly jerking away as I felt something covering my eyes. “What are you doing!?” I try to turn around but strong hands stop me, gripping my shoulders tightly. His hands are so large that his fingers rest below my collar bone while his thumbs brush against my throat.

“We couldn’t very well let you see where we are taking you.” This time I recognized that it was Ikkaku speaking, his voice low and drawling. “Unless you want to stay with us indefinitely.” I shivered at the last part and shook my head.

“Thought so.” I heard Kenpachi grunt. Then his hands settled around my waist and I was being lifted into the air.

“Put me down!” I screamed, struggling.

“Hold still, idiot.”

I stilled as I realized he was putting me onto Zangetsu. I couldn’t help but pout a little at my helplessness, slumping my shoulders forward and entwining my hands in Zan’s main as I sulked.

“You know when you make that expression you look even more like some blushing maiden.” Ikkaku drawled somewhere on my right.

“Fuck you!” I snarled.

“//That// wasn’t very lady-like.” Yumichika commented.

I responded with curses that would make a pirate blush.

“Ichi-Chan!” Something hit my stomach hard, making me gasp as the breath was knocked out of me. “You get to stay with us for awhile. Ichi-Chan!”

I didn’t dare correct her on the name. My body jolted slightly as Zangetsu started to move unexpectedly as one of the outlaws- I assumed Kenpachi- started to lead him. Yachiru squealed loudly in my ear and put her small arms around my neck. Automatically I put my arms up to loop behind her back, making sure she wouldn’t fall off.

“Where did we put the damn horses?” I heard Ikkaku curse and couldn’t help but smirk in response. Good, make them walk.

“You’re going the wrong way.” Yumichika sighed.

“There they are!”

Zangetsu huffed and pranced as he caught scent of the other horse. I could hear a soft nicker from nearby and frowned. Hopefully Zan wouldn’t create too much of a fuss, he didn’t like other horses any more than he liked people.

I growled slightly underneath my breath as I heard them moving around and talking, cursing my inability to see. Soon we were moving forward again and Yachiru shifted in my hold, murmuring something under her breath. I furrowed my eyebrows and was about to ask her what she said when I realized that the little girl fell asleep. I gave soft smile and lifted my bound hands up to pet her hair.

“You have sisters don’t you?” My head whipped to the right as I heard Yumichika’s softer tones.

“Um, yeah.” No harm in answering.

“I like her a lot more when she’s asleep.” Ikkaku said to my left.

Kenpachi grunted from up front where he was still leading Zangetsu.

“Is she yours?” I asked Kenpachi, only a small amount of hesitation in my voice at the thought of conversing with my captors.

“Huh? Nah, I found her.”

“You //found// her?” I asked, my eyebrows furrowing under the fabric over my eyes.

“Yeah, in the woods.” I really didn’t know what to make of that.

Before long we slowed down and I heard some voices talking. My heart leapt in my throat at the thought of civilization, but then sunk as I realized it was only the outlaws’ camp. What a cruddy day. I jumped a little when I was scooped out of the saddle again, Yachiru still clinging onto me tightly.

“You could have warned me.” I said grumpily, twisting my back a little to get the creaks out of it.

“I would think you have other things to complain about.” Kenpachi’s deep voice rumbled over me.

“Yeah, yeah.” I groused. “Can you take the blindfold off now?”

“Hmm…I don’t know.” Kenpachi let out a chuckle as Ichigo snarled. “Yeah, whatever.”

Rough hands yanked at some of my hair, making me wince, but it was worth it as the world around me became visible once again. I blinked as the light tickled my eyes, and then took note of my surroundings. It resembled a small village, not many people but all of them busy doing one thing or another. Yumichika and Ikkaku were being hailed by some strong looking men as they walked over. While most of the hut-like houses were on the ground, some were up in the trees with rope bridges going in between them.

Yachiru had barely even stirred in my arms before she was bouncing up and down on the ground, squealing about getting to play. I glanced over at Kenpachi who wasn’t even watching her; rather he was looking at me rather intently.

“What?” I asked hotly, then gritted my teeth as Zangetsu decided to nip the bare part of my arm for attention. “You stupid nag!” I yelled, glaring at the smug horse.

“I find it interesting that you would fight for your horse’s life and visa versa when you have such a…volatile relationship.” Kenpachi said with a grin that showed off his sharp teeth.

“Well //I// find it interesting that you have nothing better to do then kidnap people!” I snap back.

“Hah! It passes the time.”

Stupid, stupid bastard. “Can you please untie me now?”

“Huh? Sure.” He unsheathed his sword, making me eye it warily. The outlaw noticed and smirked in smug satisfaction. “I wouldn’t attack a bound lady such as yourself.”

I would have retorted, but I didn’t know if he would cut me free if I did so. Instead I held still as he gripped my forearm and cut the binds with one quick slice of his sword. I rubbed my wrists tenderly and yanked my arm out of his grip.

“Now what?”

“Now you stay here under constant watch until we hear back from your father about getting you back.”

“How will they know how to contact you?” I ask curiously, leading Zangetsu as we walked to the rickety stable area.

“We’re going to leave a note for them, of course.”

“Right, of course.” I mumbled to myself. I wonder if the corral will hold Zangetsu.

“You will be staying with me.” Kenpachi stated as he put my tack away and grabbed my sword. “You try anything, I will kill you.” The sharp gleam in his eyes had me convinced and I hurriedly nodded in understanding. “If everything goes well, you will be back with your mommy with no harm done. If everything doesn’t…” He raised my sword meaningfully and ran his thumb over the sharp edge. “Things happen. You understand?”

“Y-yeah.” I blush under his stare.

“Good. Also, try to stay away from the men other than Ikkaku and Yumichika; they’re a bit grabby with women.”

“I’m a man damn it!”

LINE

Oh gods, I can’t help but poke fun at Ichigo. So cute!

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