12Tesla made sure Nnoitra was asleep before taking the iPod from his pocket. He placed the headphones in his ears and pressed the play button. He really liked Heavy Metal. It was almost as if the music was relieving him of all the anger suppressed within him and smashing it into a thousand dust-like pieces. Tesla lay silently on his bed and listened intently to the smashing of drums and the loud saw of guitars that blasted through his head. He never wanted Nnoitra to find the iPod. It was a gift from his first real friend. After all, Nnoitra was very strict about who his servant talked to. Tesla gave a silent yawn. He was hungry – but he often felt that way. He contemplated creeping to the fridge and taking something very small.
"Nnoitra – Sama would kill me." He whispered to himself as he shook his head at the very thought of sneaking food. But wait. His master was fast asleep – his snores could be heard throughout the apartment. Tesla removed the iPod from his tired ears and placed the iPod under his pillow. Then, he walked towards the door as quickly and quietly as he could manage. The door gave a soft moan as he pulled it open to reveal the darkness of the apartment. The Arrancar tiptoed towards the fridge and opened it to find glorious amounts of food. After a moment's hesitation he allowed himself an evil smile as he picked up little bits of leftover food and ate them contentedly. He was so hungry and being in a gigai just made every feeling a hundred times worse. In Hueco Mundo you didn't have to eat – but the Arrancar liked to. Until they arrived in the human world Nnoitra had never allowed Tesla to enjoy the pleasures of food. Human food was so good. As he ate he didn't notice the tall, lanky man approaching him from behind. "Tesla." It hissed. "What are you doing?" Tesla froze and looked timidly into his master's angry, cold eye. He felt his master's foot slam into his gut, sending him flying backwards and into a counter.
"M-my deepest apologies, Nnoitra – Sama." Tesla coughed.
"Why the fuck were you eating MY food you dumb bastard?"
"I-I was hungry."
"I-I was hungry." Nnoitra mimicked in a high pitched voice. He glared at his servant. "Sick it up."
"What?"
"You shouldn't have eaten it so bring it back up." Nnoitra grabbed tufts of Tesla's hair as he dragged him towards the bathroom. Tesla cried out as he felt hair being ripped from his head. Nnoitra threw him into the little room and closed the door firmly.
"When I open the door you'd have better thrown up every last bit of the food you nicked." Nnoitra threatened from behind the closed door. Tesla felt defeated.
"Y-yes Nnoitra – Sama." Tesla put his finger down his throat and threw up into the newly cleaned toilet.
Half an hour later Tesla came out of the bathroom and gave a low, respectful bow to his master. Nnoitra snorted.
"As further punishment, I forbid you to eat for the next week."
"Thank you Nnoitra – Sama."
"Get back to your room, you scum." Tesla bowed before making his way back to his room. He fell onto his bed and slept through the night.
Tesla was pretty useless when it came to sports. No one wanted him on their team because no matter what he would always cower and give Nnoitra the ball, or let him get away. Most of the time they were on opposing teams which made it even more difficult. The other thing that annoyed the students was his sudden bursts of violence when he played sport. He would either push them out of the way so hard that they were knocked unconscious, or close to it, or he would throw the ball with such precision that the opponent was knocked over, leaving his team with space to play. Although this was useful for the team, it was highly irritating when half of the team was sent to see the nurse. Nnoitra was a lot easier to play sports with because no one wanted to go near him and so all would move out of his way due to fear of the massively tall and skinny man. He was always picked first on the teams. Ichigo and his friends often caught Nnoitra hitting his servant after P.E lessons and telling him what a disgrace he was and how pathetic he had become.
"Poor guy." Ichigo muttered.
"I never thought I would feel sympathy for the enemy." Ishida sighed as they listened to Nnoitra's abusive comments towards Tesla. Chad simply nodded in agreement. Nnoitra pushed his servant forwards to make him move. The group parted in sync as the two walked through them. The fraccion discreetly wiped a line of blood from his lip away as they made their way back to the classroom. Ichigo felt tempted to trip Nnoitra as he strode past. Instead he settled for a glare.
"What's up Kurosaki?" Ichigo didn't answer the lanky man.
Hunger has a disabling affect on people. Tesla felt sick he was so hungry. His head felt light and the world would spin every so often. His gloved hands shook violently. He was sitting in class, attempting to focus his attention on the board and the notes that the teacher was writing laboriously with a black marker pen. It had been at least a week since he had eaten last. He was losing track of time. Slowly, he felt his mind slip away and his head hit the table. Nnoitra frowned as he turned to look at his fraccion.
"Yo, Tesla." He whispered. Ichigo dared himself to take a look at the scene that was occurring behind him. His eyes drifted to the slumped body of Tesla on the desk. Ichigo could tell that he hadn't left his gigai and so turned his eyes to the Quincy a few seats in front. Ishida sensed Ichigo's stare and turned to face him. His mind was quick to take in details of the scene and without a word the two boys rose to their feet and helped the unconscious Arrancar up. They turned to the teacher.
"Miss, may we take him to the nurse?" They inquired.
"Oh, yes. Dear me, he doesn't look very well." The teacher stated concern in her gentle voice. Nnoitra went to stand up but was stopped by the teacher. "Two is enough Nnoitra." The Espada muttered something angrily under his breath as his fraccion left the room.
The nurse looked concerned as the three boys entered the room. "Oh my, what happened here?" She asked worriedly.
"He collapsed in class." Ichigo explained as they gently put Tesla onto one of the beds. As he did so Tesla woke up and looked around, confused by his surroundings. He sat up.
"Are you Okay?" Ishida asked. Tesla nodded, and then bowed his head.
"My deepest apologies."
"Why are you apologising?" Ichigo asked.
"For causing you trouble. After all, you had to drag me here." Tesla mumbled.
"It was nothing." The orange haired Shinigami said coolly. "Anyway, why did you pass out?" Ichigo questioned as Tesla's stomach gave an almighty and convenient roar. "Hungry?" Tesla looked nervous.
"N-no, I'm perfectly fine."
"Nurse, do you have any food?" Ishida asked politely.
"Of course. Why is that?" She asked sweetly.
"Tesla has been a victim of bullying and has been prevented from eating." Ishida explained. Tesla became tense.
"My, my. That's terrible. Dear, have you spoken to the teacher?" She asked as she searched through her drawer until she found a pack of chocolate biscuits. She handed one to Tesla who took it reluctantly. "Eat up dear." Tesla sighed. He had been totally defeated and there was no easy way out of the situation unless he at the biscuit. He was quick to eat it and then stood up. He thanked the nurse and left the room, his gloved hands trembled slightly.
"What's up?" Ishida asked as the two friends followed him down the corridor.
"Nnoitra - Sama is going to kill me. "
"How will he know?"
"Oh, he'll know." Tesla's voice became dark as they entered the classroom.
"Are you feeling better, Tesla?" The teacher asked.
"Yes thank you. I was just feeling a little bit unwell." The Arrancar said pleasantly as he sat down. Ichigo allowed himself to listen to the conversation.
"Chocolate biscuit." Nnoitra growled. "You ate when I told you not to."
"I'm very sorry. I was forced."
"Yeah, whatever. I'll punish you later."
"Yes, Nnoitra – Sama."
After class Tesla walked up behind Ichigo.
"We are enemies. I must remember that as well as you. Please do not treat me as an equal or as an ally. However," Tesla's voice became quieter, "thank you." Hurriedly, Tesla ran off and went to follow his master obediently. Ichigo smiled to himself as he caught up with Ishida. They exchanged glances and then Ichigo spoke.
"We are enemies aren't we? With the Espada I mean. However, does that really mean we can't show kindness to each other?" He asked the Quincy.
"I suppose it depends on your views in life and the way you think."
"What do you think Ishida?"
"I hate fighting. I hate war. Is there anything else to it?"
OOOOOOO, fight scene next chapter! A big one too!