The Crumbling World

I put a picture up on my profile of Ichigo that I think really fits with my idea of him in my head of him. You should check it out.

The Crumbling World: Chapter 4

Gin Ichimaru slunk through the shadows of the trees. He had been deployed to assist Grimmjow kidnap the earl’s son, and they were so lucky he had. Right now the people in the castle had no idea what had happened to Ichigo, why he was missing. And Gin intended to keep it that way. He rested against a tree near the castle, waiting patiently for the messenger who was to deliver the ransom note.

Gin was awarded for his patience. There was a young boy fitting an arrow to his bow just outside the wood line, a piece of paper attached to it. Before he could release it, Gin was there, giving him a sharp tap to the back of the head. There was no use killing him. He crumpled the note and stuffed it in his pocket, lifting the boy over his shoulder with the intention of tossing him deep into the woods. By the time he wakes up and finds his way home, Ichigo would hopefully be in their grasp. If all goes well.

Ichigo’s POV

I spent most of my first day in the camp being tugged around by Yachiru. Who I found was not only cute, but also lived to make Ikkaku’s and Yumichika’s lives miserable. It was very useful to have her around. Everyone in the little camp/village knew to not let me escape, but they friendly. Some were a little //too// friendly, but Kenpachi thankfully was quick to dissuade them.

Kenpachi was something of a mystery. All of them men here clearly respected him, if not feared him. The fight earlier had suggested something of his power, but it was also obvious that he was barely even trying. This was a man not to be taken lightly. Yet he had shown me a small amount of kindness by first saving me from the bandits (only to turn around and kidnap him) and was also letting everyone know that I’m not to be harmed.

It was far too complicated. All I wanted to be was at home right now, maybe sparring with Renji or getting into trouble with Rukia. Instead he was in a camp of outlaws. I was jittery, on edge in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. I didn’t know how to deal with it. Although I had always thought I wasn’t spoiled, at least not as much as the other nobles, but now I was changing my entire opinion. These men were rough, hot tempered and loved to fight. There were at lease 2 fights going on at once all the time.

I was relieved when night fell, hoping to take the chance to escape when it got dark. Unfortunately, Kenpachi kept me close the entire night. It seemed to be a regular occurrence for them to drink and make fools of themselves. It was highly amusing to watch, but it didn’t seem to affect Kenpachi except to make him more relaxed. Right now Yachiru was curled up on Kenpachi’s lap and Yumichika was asleep on Ikkaku’s shoulder. I got the feeling that those two had something going on more than friendship and I thought it was kind of sweet.

After Kenpachi put Yachiru to bed, he tugged me along to where I assumed we would be sleeping. His hand gripping my arm as he pulled me to the outskirts of the village. The loud, boisterous singing in the camp dimmed as we walked further along the path. Apparently Kenpachi liked his privacy. Better for me, it would be easier to incapacitate him and sneak back into town that way.

The place he slept was just a hut with a latrine a little bit away from it. Inside the hut was a table, a chest for clothes and a bed. Singular. I eyed it and glanced to Kenpachi who was in the process and taking his shirt off. I couldn’t see much in the dark, with only a small candle lit for light, but I could make out his corded muscles and broad back. I blushed and turned away, fiddling with the bottom of my shirt as I shifted my weight from foot to foot.

He got into the bed- with creaks and protests groaning from it- and slumped back onto the pillow. “Get into bed.” He ordered gruffly, his voice slightly husky from drowsiness.

“Umm…” I shifted from foot to foot, glancing at the bed warily.

“Now.”

I sighed in defeat and lifted the blanket, placing myself on my side as far away from him as possible. I heard him shift and a pair of strong arms encircled my waist, tugging me against him.

“What are you doing!?” I yelled, shoving at his arms but unable to move him.

“I don’t want you sneaking away in the middle of the night.” He said, his breath tickling my ear as his head rested above mine. I was certain he could see my blush even in the dark; our bodies were pressed so close together I could feel every line of his muscles and even the hard shape of his hips.

I continued to struggle, trying to elbow him but it didn’t even affect him. “Unless you would rather I tied you down.” The threat was said lowly, and almost sensually. I gulped and shook my head frantically. He chuckled and shifted so we fit together in a more comfortable position. I squirmed slightly, trying to find a way where my body wasn’t lying awkwardly over his arm. He grunted and moved it up so it rested under my head, keeping his other arm firmly around my waist.

It was a rather…intimate position. Our bare skin touching, our bodies spooning. If I hadn’t been blushing before, I would be now. But it was also slightly comfortable. To be held by someone so much bigger than myself, I felt warm and sleepy. His soft snores blew lightly against my hair and his chest rumbled every time he breathed. It was rhythmic and soothing. Soon I found myself drifting to sleep, relaxing in his hold and chasing after my dreams.

Kurosaki Castle

Isshin was worried. And when Isshin got worried, children ran, men cried and Urahara sulked. At the moment he was bouncing on the balls of his feet, hysterically questioning everyone and everything (yes, everything) about his missing daughter- or, er, son. Normally the people in the castle would blow him off with no concern, but Masaki was there as well, biting her lower lip and twisting a piece of her dress between her fingers.

“IIICCHHIIIGOOOO!!!” Isshin was bawling on his knees now, “Where are you, my beautiful son!?!?!?” Urahara was beside him, patting him on the shoulder soothingly while Yuzu cuddled against her mother’s side with her thumb in her mouth and Karin stared at the wall stonily.

Renji was pacing, Rukia watching him sympathetically. His heavy boots thunking loudly on the wooden floor. “Fuck!” The red head screamed, kicking at a chair and sending it crashing into the wall. “Where are you, Ichigo!?”

Masaki glanced over at him with a calculating gleam. She walked over to him, her dress whispering behind her quietly. “Do you love my son, Abarai?” She was truly curious, he was a prestigious member of the guard, and was often seen trailing after her son.

He turned crimson and nodded. “I was…” He coughed, rubbing the back of his neck while he looked away. “I was going to ask for his hand in marriage.” (1) Renji’s entire face was beet red now and he shifted like a scolded school boy.

Masaki smiled at him softly and patted his arm gently. Isshin trailed over, sniffling loudly and rubbing his snotty nose on the sleeve of his shirt. “You want to marry my daughter?”

“Son, dear.” Masaki corrected gently.

“You want to marry my son?” Isshin asked with a wide grin, totally opposite his despondent demeanor moments before.

“Yes.” Renji was still blushing, but he spoke confidently and clearly.

“Very well!” Isshin cried happily, clinging to the small joy he could have at a time of anxiety. “You shall marry my daughter, Ichigo!”

“He’s your son, Isshin.” Masaki corrected, although she was also happy with the idea of her oldest child getting married, it tickled at the back of her mind about Ichigo’s reaction. Well, he would grow to love Renji, as Renji obviously did him.

LINE

1 Remember, this is in the olden days when arranged marriages happened all the time. It’s not so odd that Renji would ask Ichigo’s parents instead of him. Although some nobles may consider it “marrying beneath them,” Ichigo’s family has never been troubled by such rules in society.

And also, obviously same-sex marriages weren’t as acceptable back then, especially for the eldest and only son of a duke, but it’s for the story. 