Stained

Review Replies- Usmorgan: Argh, I dunno how you missed it... But I'm glad you found it!
MasterAkira: Haha, Ichigo is a little bitch, isn't he?
Lynzee: I hope I can make you like Shirosaki...
Kunitsu: Thanks!
Blasterblurby: I won't make you wait for long =D
kami_no_yami: I'm all about keeping the characters *in character*. While I like Ichigo as "uke" I prefer him to have his spit-fire personality. Others haven't drawn pics yet, but I have one I'm working on that I'll probably upload to deviantart when I get the chance. When I do, I'll leave a link.
ShadowofLight: Don't worry, the semes will grow up a little to snag Ichigo's worthy affections.
Skye: You have been added =) Please enjoy!
Orant Mihi: Thanks for all of the reviews! On this story and the others. =) hehe, the albino guy, Shirosaki, is Ichigo's inner hollow, I'm surprised that more people don't recognize him... Anyways, you're on the email notification list!

Many thanks to Warrior Nun who beta’d this for me =D

Stained: Chapter 4

Ichigo forced himself to get up and go to school the next day although he had no desire to face the strange students who had been forced into his life. He walked to school by himself despite the warnings given to him by Ryuu and the others and felt very vindicated when he arrived safe and sound. They were making a big deal out of nothing, it seemed.

He barely made it two steps up the school steps when he was tackled from behind. He grunted and staggered a few steps while attempting to dislodge the arms wrapped around him.

“Good morning, Ichigo!” Ryuu said cheerfully ad Ichigo sighed in exasperation.

“Morning.” He grunted and Ryuu let go of him.

“Don’t tell me that you walked here by yourself…” Ryuu said suspiciously but Ichigo shrugged it off like it was nothing.

“Fine, I won’t then.”

“Ya aren’t very smart, are ya berry-head?” Shirosaki said as he came up behind the two.

“Fuck off.” Ichigo muttered and continued on his way to the school entrance.

“I wasn’t joking when I said it was dangerous.” Ryuu commented but Ichigo didn’t reply.

“He can’t help it. Perfects and Imperfects are so conditioned to being arrogant he probably thinks nothing can hurt him.” Grimmjow joined them on the steps and gave Ichigo a smirk that made Ichigo scowl.

“I’m not arrogant.” He muttered.

“Right.” Grimmjow snorted and Ichigo ignored him.

The classes he had were different from his first day, and he only had two of them with Ryuu. The other two he had with both Grimmjow and Shirosaki, unfortunately. Shirosaki dragged Ichigo to the classroom forcefully. His hand grasping Ichigo’s forearm so tightly that Ichigo could feel his bones screaming in protest. He was certain that if Shirosaki pulled his hand away he would see bruises instantly form before healing themselves again.

The professor gave Shirosaki and Ichigo barely a passing glance as Shirosaki yanked the boy inside the classroom and forcefully shoved him in his seat.

“Oi!” Ichigo snapped and stood to yell at Shirosaki but paused when he realized there was a rather large presence behind him. He slowly turned his head and scowled as he realized that it was Kenpachi from before grinning down at him.

“Ichigo.” The man said roughly and his grin widened as Ichigo shivered and took a step back so he wasn’t craning his neck to look up at him.

“Kenpachi.”

An irritated look came over Shirosaki’s face at the familiar use of names, but he was cut off before he could say anything about it.

“No fighting in the classroom.” The teacher called out to them from the front of the room, but her bored tone made it clear she didn’t care much what happened outside of her classroom.

“Tch.” Shirosaki shoved Ichigo into his seat once more and stepped in front of the Imperfect who narrowed his eyes at Shirosaki. “What do ya want, Zaraki?”

“Nothing from you, unless you’re up for a fight.”

Grimmjow plopped in the seat next to Ichigo and leaned back to enjoy the scene that was taking place while other students filtered in the classroom. One guy narrowed his eye at Ichigo and stomped over, ignoring the tension between Kenpachi and Shirosaki.

“You’re in my seat.” The student snarled. Ichigo shrugged and ignored him, only causing the guy’s temper to rise. “Move.” Ichigo tensed at the sign of confrontation and cursed that the guy was standing on his blind side.

“Sit somewhere else douche bag.” Grimmjow said and shoved him with his leg. The student rounded on Grimmjow and glared.

Grimmjow smirked and slowly stood as he let some of his aura leak out and rise threateningly. The student faltered and then stomped away to sit in another seat. Ichigo rolled his eyes and ignored Grimmjow’s smug expression.

“You’re rather possessive of someone you don’t even pretend to like.” Kenpachi was now saying to Shirosaki and Ichigo raised an eyebrow, wondering what he had missed in the conversation.

“Don’t think I haven’t seen the way ya stare at his ass.” Shirosaki said gruffly. Both of their powers were leaking out unconsciously as their tempers rose. But before it could get worse, a ruler flew out of nowhere and his Shirosaki in the back of the head.

He turned and glared at the teacher who just gazed at him coolly. “I said no fighting in the classroom, Mr. Taikei.”

“Whatever, ya old whore.” Shirosaki muttered underneath his breath but took his seat behind Ichigo. Kenpachi also sat down a few seats back and Ichigo could feel his golden eyes burning into him.

Ichigo eyed the teacher who popped the bubblegum she was chewing and glanced at his schedule. Pre-Calculus- Professor Lisa Yadōmaru. He made a mental note to not pull anything in her class for fear of rulers. That was worse then the chalk that Professor Aizen had thrown, of course it’s not like it would do any damage to them anyways, but it looked like it hurt.

“Ya should stay away from Zaraki.” Shirosaki had leaned forward to mutter to him.

“It’s not like I would purposefully go near him.” Ichigo growled back and Shirosaki chuckled, making the hair rise on the back of his neck.

“Zaraki isn’t the type of guy to back down from a fight.”

“I don’t intend to fight him.” Ichigo said back, wanting the conversation to end so he could go back to ignoring all the apparent idiots around him.

“That’s not the kind of fight I’m talking about.”

Ichigo glanced at Kenpachi from the corner of his eye and saw that the man was staring at him without blinking. When he saw that Ichigo was looking at him he smirked, showing off his sharp, pointed teeth. Ichigo quickly turned his eyes back to the front.

The rest of the day wasn’t bad, per say. Shirosaki continued to drag Ichigo around, much to Grimmjow’s amusement. Ichigo couldn’t quite figure out why Shirosaki was being so forceful and insistent with him. He thought that it might be because Ryuu pressured him into watching Ichigo and Shirosaki was pissed because of it, but it continued even in classes where Ryuu was there.

At the end of the day Ichigo managed to slip away from Grimmjow and Shirosaki in the busy hallways and sighed with relief as he made his way home. He ignored the cold glares aimed at him and continued on his way, and it was his arrogance in thinking he could take care of himself that was his error.

As he crossed by an alleyway, his good eye flicked over as he caught movement. A group of young Nocuous was standing around in a circle, smoking and laughing loudly. A tall, gangly Nocuous with long, black hair noticed Ichigo and nudged his friends. Ichigo quickly looked away and began to walk a little faster. He frowned as he realized that the group had begun to follow him and quickened his pace.

“Hey, little imperfect.” Called out one of them in a mocking voice and another one made kissing noises.

Ichigo ignored them and that only seemed to make them laugh harder. Long fingers wrapped around Ichigo’s arm before he had a chance to dash away and he was forcefully turned around as the tall Nocuous he noticed before leered down at him.

“That Imperfect face of yours is a little too Perfect for our tastes.” He was forcefully shoved into an alley and he stumble before quickly gaining his baring again. His brown eyes narrowed as he saw the tall Nocuous concentrate his power into his hand and force it sharp like a blade.

“Cut him, Nnoitra, slice that pretty face up!” Another Nocuous jeered and Nnoitra laughed.

“Tch, go ahead and try asshole.” Ichigo said and allowed his power to flow through him. Nnoitra’s eyes widened for a second before they turned into slits and he glared at the impudent response.

“Yah Imperfects and Perfects think yah are so powerful.” He lunged forward and Ichigo ducked, bringing his fist up automatically. But this guy wasn’t like the Perfects he fought before. This Nocuous had street smarts and more experience in fighting.

Nnoitra grunted a little at the punch, but the past of his fist never faltered and Ichigo was forced to arch his back as the sharp aura skimmed him, cutting through his clothes and slicing his skin. He grabbed Nnoitra’s hand and braced the Nocuous’ upper arm with his other hand and bent Nnoitra’s elbow the opposite way with a crack.

Ichigo smirked when Nnoitra cursed and yanked his hand away. Already his cut was healing itself, but he was disappointed to see that Nnoitra had high healing ability as well. As soon as Nnoitra set the bone back in place, he bent his elbow a few times and flexed his fingers. His cronies dashed forward to attack Ichigo, but they weren’t as strong or as fast as Nnoitra and they were easily tossed against the walls where they crumpled into heaps.

Nnoitra could care less about the stupid grunts, but he despised the smug smile on the Imperfects face as he did it. He brought his fist bladed with power forward and Ichigo managed to just barely dodge quickly enough. Nnoitra wasn’t just using his hands though. As Ichigo twisted his body to escape the blow that grazed his cheek, Nnoitra turned his body and caught Ichigo in the back of the knee with his foot. Ichigo fell onto his back and Nnoitra pounced.

The orange haired Imperfect gasped underneath the Nocuous and his breath gurgled as long fingers closed around his throat. Nnoitra leaned down and licked the blood that lingered on Ichigo’s cheek and savored the taste before he grinned at Ichigo maliciously.

“The world would be better with one less Imperfect in it.” Nnoitra spat and Ichigo clawed at his hands. “Yah would have made a good whore if yah weren’t such a prissy bitch.” Nnoitra smirked and Ichigo began to see black dots behind his eye. His mind flew back to his mother, and how she died in an alleyway similar to the one he was currently lying in. Would he suffer the same fate that should have taken him long ago?

Suddenly the weight was off of him and Ichigo inhaled sweet air again. He coughed and rolled onto his side as he caught sight of what had caused his relief.

Stark Coyote had Nnoitra by the throat and was choking him with bored look on his face. His grey eyes flicked over to Ichigo and Ichigo swallowed harshly at the intense look in his eye. Ichigo slowly got to his feet and wavered slightly as the blood rushed to his head before righting himself.

Nnoitra’s feet stopped twitching and Stark tossed him to the side like a rag doll before turning his attention to Ichigo who was watching him warily. He massaged his throat and was happy to find that the pain was already disappearing.

“Er, thanks for helping.” Ichigo said a little uncertainly. Stark cocked his head to the side and looked Ichigo up and down before settling on his face once more.

“You may be smart, but you don’t have much common sense.”

“I have plenty of common sense!” Ichigo said in outrage but Stark only raised an eyebrow at the angry tone and took a step forward. Ichigo backed up hastily and Stark paused, his brow furrowing.

“Are you afraid of me?”

Ichigo snorted and crossed his arms over his chest, neither denying nor agreeing with his statement.

“Hm, that could become a problem.” Stark said and took another step forward until Ichigo’s back hit the brick wall.

“Wh-why would that be a problem?” Ichigo asked a little nervously and looked around for the best possible route to escape. The head of the alley was near and he was certain that he could make it…

He dashed forward with his superhuman speed and was on his way to freedom in a second when Stark appeared in front of him. Ichigo’s eyes widened and before he could stop himself, he crashed into Stark.

Instead of knocking the Nocuous over, Stark grabbed Ichigo’s waist in a tight grip. He held Ichigo to his body and maneuvered Ichigo so his back was against the brick wall again. Ichigo drew in a shaky breath as the hands lingered on his waist before sliding down to his hips. Stark bent down to whisper in his ear.

“Not all Nocuous are so bad you know.”

Ichigo gulped and then inhaled sharply as the mouth that was so close to his ear moved against his cheek. His heart thumped loudly in his chest and he jerked as something warm and wet moved over his cheek. It took him a second to realize that Stark was licking his scar. The slightly dead sensation in the tissue made it feel even stranger and it made his heart beat fast.

Ichigo struggled and shoved at Stark’s shoulders with his hands, but Stark was like solid steel. He tried to turn his head away but Stark grabbed his chin with his hand and forced his head back around before moving his lips downward to Ichigo’s lips.

He panicked. Ichigo didn’t use his power very often because it exhausted him easily, but he would take exhaustion to the strange feelings washing over him. Before Stark could kiss him, as his intentions seemed to lean toward, Ichigo reacted.

He lashed out at the Nocuous and Stark grunted in surprise as energy that was so white it made him see black, shoved him away. Ichigo took the moment of confusion to run for the alley’s entrance again with his remained strength. Stark let him go, staring after him with surprise and interest.

LINE

So how many of you thought that it was Kenpachi that was going to save Ichigo? =D How does everyone like how I’m developing their relationships? Ichigo isn’t going to fall in love with all of them all at once, so I am trying to keep it realistic.