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Death and the Strawberry
folder
Bleach › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
17
Views:
12,624
Reviews:
134
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Bleach › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
17
Views:
12,624
Reviews:
134
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own Bleach or make any money off of this story.
Chapter 5
A lot of readers have been asking about Ichigo’s mom, Masaki. She will show up occasionally, but she doesn’t have a large role in this story. Thank you for reading!
Review Replies-
Baroqueangel: Haha, I’m glad =) I too like ByaIchi, but there is something about StarkxIchigo that is really hot.
Nusku: Ah, yes I know. I could feel bad for Ichigo, but I like messing with him too much.
MasterAkira: Ichi does throw a cute temper tantrum, there will be more of course. \
Lynzee: I apologize for any mental scarring that may have occurred when imagining Yami in a tutu.
ShadowofLight: Stark is a lot like Shikamaru, who you should also worry about. It’s ALWAYS the quiet ones.
Satterb: Stark isn’t even phased by getting caught staring at Ichi’s ass =D What a perv :P
Yumi: It’s okay, I understand that you sometimes don’t have time to review every chapter, although I do love review =)
Kera-Izaki: I hope this update was soon enough!
Yakumo: Of course it’s not his zanpakuto…Poor Ichi…
Blue-eyed Fox: Heh, I think Stark puts in the most effort when protecting his uke Ichi from all the dangerous semes of the worlds.
Death and the Strawberry: Chapter 5
“Ichigo.”
“Hm?” Ichigo glanced over to Stark as they walked. So far they had searched the Menos Forest and investigated a few minor tribes of arrancar that had formed, which Aizen had no real use for. Nothing. They hadn’t seen or heard even a mention of the Vasto Lorde.
“Why do you still love your mother?”
Ichigo paused mid-step, glancing over at Stark suspiciously. “Why do you want to know that?”
“It is a good thing for a superior to know about his subordinates.”
“Superior, my ass.” Ichigo mumbled under his breath.
“I must admit, it is a very nice ass. I have yet to see any better, so I suppose you could call it ‘superior.’”
“Oh shut up.” The orange haired arrancar did not blush at that. “And that doesn’t really tell me why you want to know.”
“Let’s just say…curiosity.”
Ichigo shrugged. It’s not like he had anything better to do out here. “I dunno, I just do. I don’t really remember much about when I was alive, but I remember that she was always there. And that continued even after we died.”
“Hm.” Stark studied Ichigo for a moment, his relaxed brow and slight smile telling all. “You know other hollows consume their loved ones, not covet them.”
The fifteenth espada scowled, aiming a kick at the Primera, who dodged effortlessly. “Don’t say such things! I could never do that to my own mother.”
“Yes, and that is the strange thing. I wonder how you managed to hold onto such morals and ethics.”
“Hmph.” Ichigo turned away with a huff, speeding up his walk so he was a few strides ahead of Stark.
Stark took the opportunity to glance at his behind before politely moving his eyes away. “Don’t be like that.” He drawled and sonido-ed in front of Ichigo, making him halt in his tracks. “Let’s kiss and make up.” Ichigo glared and crossed his arms over his chest like a pouting teenager.
“Stop joking around, we have a mission to do.”
“Who said I was joking?” Stark started to move forward, his mouth slightly curved and his grey eyes narrowed, then stopped, cocking his head to the side.
“What makes you think I would do anything like that!?” Ichigo hissed, not noticing the change.
“Sh…” Stark clamped a hand over his Fraccion’s mouth and pinned his arms to his side while Ichigo struggled to get free. “Do you feel that?” Ichigo paused as well, finally relaxing enough to pay attention to his surroundings. In the back of his mind, there was a tickle, not like sensing reiatsu, but something else. He shivered in Stark’s arms, even though he didn’t feel cold, and unconsciously shifted closer. “Come out.” Stark commanded.
There was a high pitched whistling sound and the surrounding area seemed to blur for a moment before figures appeared. Ichigo blinked at the five hollows that surrounded them. They were human-like in size, much like most of the arrancar, but they also had a full mask that covered their entire head with identical horns jutting from each side and no zanpakuto. Their reiatsu pulsed and shifted around them unlike any Ichigo had ever seen. If it wasn’t for Stark holding him up, he would have certainly collapsed to his knees already.
“Ah, the Vasto Lorde, I take it?” Stark questioned, clearly not at all bothered by the enormous and strange reiatsu reverberating in the air.
“You have been looking for us.” One said. The words were spoken softly, but the affect was the same as that of a yell.
“Aizen-sama wishes you would join him in his quest to overthrow Soul Society.” Stark said imply in a tone of disinterest. From beneath the bone mask, the eyes studied the first espada, and then flicked to Ichigo, who tried not to look away.
“Such loyalty is not freely given.” Another said. “What would you give us in exchange?”
“Aizen-sama is very generous-”
“We want him.” The Vasto Lorde cut him off, pointing at Ichigo.
Ichigo gritted his teeth and glared at the hollow. “That is not an option.” Stark said with a growl and tightened his hold on his Fraccion.
“You will not give him to us freely?” The Vasto Lorde asked coldly, while the others hissed their agreement.
“I will not.”
“So be it.”
He attacked, moving so fast that Ichigo couldn’t even see him move. Stark moved just as fast though, even while Ichigo was still locked firmly underneath his arm. Ichigo flinched as Stark just barely managed to block an attack with one hand and wiggled. “Let go of me Stark, you’ll fight better without me to protect.”
“Shut up.” Stark muttered and they both skidded back a few feet at the Vasto Lorde’s next attack.
Ichigo decided to shut up. He wondered why the other Vasto Lorde weren’t attacking as well; they just stood there, staring. It gave Ichigo the heebie-jeebies. He was jerked out of his thoughts by a cero blasted directly at him, the power behind it the like of which he had never seen. Ichigo tried to move, but he just wasn’t quick enough. The purple light sped towards him and he flinched, turning his head away and waiting for the inevitable. When nothing came, he opened his eyes.
Right in front of him was Stark’s hand, gripping the purple energy and pushing against it with his own reiatsu. Purple and red clashed against each other and for a moment, the sound of the two opposing forces grinding against each other filled the air. Power swirled around the two reiatsu and then there was a loud crack as the energy exploded outward, causing an onslaught of wind so strong that it tugged violently at their clothes and threatened to rip them apart.
Ichigo flinched and turned his head so it was buried against Stark’s side. Shit, he was never going to live this down. Being fucking protected, of all things. Speaking of which, why the hell was he being protected? But that was a matter to think on at another time, when his life wasn’t at risk.
The dust and wind finally settled and Ichigo reluctantly peaked out from his enclosure. All the Vasto Lorde were now standing in front of them in a straight line, not moving or saying anything, just watching. Stark was holding Ichigo so tightly that he winced but didn’t move away.
“Impressive.” The one who spoke was the same one who had attacked. “You can tell Aizen that we will come to him on our own accord or not at all. If he sends out anyone else to search for us we will use them to gain strength.”
Ichigo shivered, he knew what that meant. Some of the other hollows had participated in it as well before they became arrancar in hopes that they would gain the level of Vasto Lorde. Cannibalism. Devouring other hollows in order to become stronger.
And just as soon as they had come, they were gone. Stark stared at the place they were just at for a moment, not loosening his hold on Ichigo. The orange haired arrancar squirmed to get free and finally Stark released him, however reluctantly.
They didn’t say anything for a moment as Ichigo straightened his clothes and Stark just watched passively. “Why did you protect me?” Ichigo asked finally, staring up at him.
“Why do you still love your mother?”
“Wha-what does that have to do with anything?”
Stark shrugged. He didn’t want to have to explain when he didn’t fully understand it himself. “C’mon. I’ll sonido us, it will go faster.”
“But the Vasto Lorde-”
“We didn’t want to waste any energy looking for them in case we fought. We fought and they are clearly not interested in aiding us, or they will come to us on their own time.”
Ichigo sighed and stepped forward, allowing Stark to slide an arm around his shoulder and sonido them back the castle. It still took a while, but not as long as it would have, if they had walked. Hopefully Aizen-sama wouldn’t be too upset.
LINE
I know that there is some speculation that the top four espada were originally Vasto Lorde, but we don’t know that for certain so for now I am using this.
Review Replies-
Baroqueangel: Haha, I’m glad =) I too like ByaIchi, but there is something about StarkxIchigo that is really hot.
Nusku: Ah, yes I know. I could feel bad for Ichigo, but I like messing with him too much.
MasterAkira: Ichi does throw a cute temper tantrum, there will be more of course. \
Lynzee: I apologize for any mental scarring that may have occurred when imagining Yami in a tutu.
ShadowofLight: Stark is a lot like Shikamaru, who you should also worry about. It’s ALWAYS the quiet ones.
Satterb: Stark isn’t even phased by getting caught staring at Ichi’s ass =D What a perv :P
Yumi: It’s okay, I understand that you sometimes don’t have time to review every chapter, although I do love review =)
Kera-Izaki: I hope this update was soon enough!
Yakumo: Of course it’s not his zanpakuto…Poor Ichi…
Blue-eyed Fox: Heh, I think Stark puts in the most effort when protecting his uke Ichi from all the dangerous semes of the worlds.
Death and the Strawberry: Chapter 5
“Ichigo.”
“Hm?” Ichigo glanced over to Stark as they walked. So far they had searched the Menos Forest and investigated a few minor tribes of arrancar that had formed, which Aizen had no real use for. Nothing. They hadn’t seen or heard even a mention of the Vasto Lorde.
“Why do you still love your mother?”
Ichigo paused mid-step, glancing over at Stark suspiciously. “Why do you want to know that?”
“It is a good thing for a superior to know about his subordinates.”
“Superior, my ass.” Ichigo mumbled under his breath.
“I must admit, it is a very nice ass. I have yet to see any better, so I suppose you could call it ‘superior.’”
“Oh shut up.” The orange haired arrancar did not blush at that. “And that doesn’t really tell me why you want to know.”
“Let’s just say…curiosity.”
Ichigo shrugged. It’s not like he had anything better to do out here. “I dunno, I just do. I don’t really remember much about when I was alive, but I remember that she was always there. And that continued even after we died.”
“Hm.” Stark studied Ichigo for a moment, his relaxed brow and slight smile telling all. “You know other hollows consume their loved ones, not covet them.”
The fifteenth espada scowled, aiming a kick at the Primera, who dodged effortlessly. “Don’t say such things! I could never do that to my own mother.”
“Yes, and that is the strange thing. I wonder how you managed to hold onto such morals and ethics.”
“Hmph.” Ichigo turned away with a huff, speeding up his walk so he was a few strides ahead of Stark.
Stark took the opportunity to glance at his behind before politely moving his eyes away. “Don’t be like that.” He drawled and sonido-ed in front of Ichigo, making him halt in his tracks. “Let’s kiss and make up.” Ichigo glared and crossed his arms over his chest like a pouting teenager.
“Stop joking around, we have a mission to do.”
“Who said I was joking?” Stark started to move forward, his mouth slightly curved and his grey eyes narrowed, then stopped, cocking his head to the side.
“What makes you think I would do anything like that!?” Ichigo hissed, not noticing the change.
“Sh…” Stark clamped a hand over his Fraccion’s mouth and pinned his arms to his side while Ichigo struggled to get free. “Do you feel that?” Ichigo paused as well, finally relaxing enough to pay attention to his surroundings. In the back of his mind, there was a tickle, not like sensing reiatsu, but something else. He shivered in Stark’s arms, even though he didn’t feel cold, and unconsciously shifted closer. “Come out.” Stark commanded.
There was a high pitched whistling sound and the surrounding area seemed to blur for a moment before figures appeared. Ichigo blinked at the five hollows that surrounded them. They were human-like in size, much like most of the arrancar, but they also had a full mask that covered their entire head with identical horns jutting from each side and no zanpakuto. Their reiatsu pulsed and shifted around them unlike any Ichigo had ever seen. If it wasn’t for Stark holding him up, he would have certainly collapsed to his knees already.
“Ah, the Vasto Lorde, I take it?” Stark questioned, clearly not at all bothered by the enormous and strange reiatsu reverberating in the air.
“You have been looking for us.” One said. The words were spoken softly, but the affect was the same as that of a yell.
“Aizen-sama wishes you would join him in his quest to overthrow Soul Society.” Stark said imply in a tone of disinterest. From beneath the bone mask, the eyes studied the first espada, and then flicked to Ichigo, who tried not to look away.
“Such loyalty is not freely given.” Another said. “What would you give us in exchange?”
“Aizen-sama is very generous-”
“We want him.” The Vasto Lorde cut him off, pointing at Ichigo.
Ichigo gritted his teeth and glared at the hollow. “That is not an option.” Stark said with a growl and tightened his hold on his Fraccion.
“You will not give him to us freely?” The Vasto Lorde asked coldly, while the others hissed their agreement.
“I will not.”
“So be it.”
He attacked, moving so fast that Ichigo couldn’t even see him move. Stark moved just as fast though, even while Ichigo was still locked firmly underneath his arm. Ichigo flinched as Stark just barely managed to block an attack with one hand and wiggled. “Let go of me Stark, you’ll fight better without me to protect.”
“Shut up.” Stark muttered and they both skidded back a few feet at the Vasto Lorde’s next attack.
Ichigo decided to shut up. He wondered why the other Vasto Lorde weren’t attacking as well; they just stood there, staring. It gave Ichigo the heebie-jeebies. He was jerked out of his thoughts by a cero blasted directly at him, the power behind it the like of which he had never seen. Ichigo tried to move, but he just wasn’t quick enough. The purple light sped towards him and he flinched, turning his head away and waiting for the inevitable. When nothing came, he opened his eyes.
Right in front of him was Stark’s hand, gripping the purple energy and pushing against it with his own reiatsu. Purple and red clashed against each other and for a moment, the sound of the two opposing forces grinding against each other filled the air. Power swirled around the two reiatsu and then there was a loud crack as the energy exploded outward, causing an onslaught of wind so strong that it tugged violently at their clothes and threatened to rip them apart.
Ichigo flinched and turned his head so it was buried against Stark’s side. Shit, he was never going to live this down. Being fucking protected, of all things. Speaking of which, why the hell was he being protected? But that was a matter to think on at another time, when his life wasn’t at risk.
The dust and wind finally settled and Ichigo reluctantly peaked out from his enclosure. All the Vasto Lorde were now standing in front of them in a straight line, not moving or saying anything, just watching. Stark was holding Ichigo so tightly that he winced but didn’t move away.
“Impressive.” The one who spoke was the same one who had attacked. “You can tell Aizen that we will come to him on our own accord or not at all. If he sends out anyone else to search for us we will use them to gain strength.”
Ichigo shivered, he knew what that meant. Some of the other hollows had participated in it as well before they became arrancar in hopes that they would gain the level of Vasto Lorde. Cannibalism. Devouring other hollows in order to become stronger.
And just as soon as they had come, they were gone. Stark stared at the place they were just at for a moment, not loosening his hold on Ichigo. The orange haired arrancar squirmed to get free and finally Stark released him, however reluctantly.
They didn’t say anything for a moment as Ichigo straightened his clothes and Stark just watched passively. “Why did you protect me?” Ichigo asked finally, staring up at him.
“Why do you still love your mother?”
“Wha-what does that have to do with anything?”
Stark shrugged. He didn’t want to have to explain when he didn’t fully understand it himself. “C’mon. I’ll sonido us, it will go faster.”
“But the Vasto Lorde-”
“We didn’t want to waste any energy looking for them in case we fought. We fought and they are clearly not interested in aiding us, or they will come to us on their own time.”
Ichigo sighed and stepped forward, allowing Stark to slide an arm around his shoulder and sonido them back the castle. It still took a while, but not as long as it would have, if they had walked. Hopefully Aizen-sama wouldn’t be too upset.
LINE
I know that there is some speculation that the top four espada were originally Vasto Lorde, but we don’t know that for certain so for now I am using this.