Their blades clashed and a loud clanging pierced the air as did their heavy breathing.
The Substitute Shinigami glared into the eyes of the Sixth Espada. A breeze blew through their hair and coats before they leaped apart, keeping on their guard.
Again and again the metal of their swords clashed, sending dust and debris flying, until finally, Grimmjow brought up his hand to use his cero. Ichigo, foreseeing his intention, held up his hand to block, but just as he guarded himself, Grimmjow dropped his weapon and a red glow sparked in his hand. The world lit up red for the fraction of a second.
Ichigo opened his eyes and, as the dust parted, Grimmjow became visible. He laughed cruelly and with a wicked smile, he shouted, "Great! I've been waiting for this! The opportunity to crush you at full strength! You feel the same way, don't you Kurosaki Ichigo?"
The grit and soil settled and Ichigo, with a cold stare, replied, "I'm not fighting to crush you." An orange-haired girl appeared in his mind almost immediately and he had to push her face out of his thoughts to concentrate.
"Don't bullshit me!" Grimmjow responded, outraged. "Say it! Say you want to murder me for punching a hole in that friend of yours!"
A particularly recent memory surfaced in Ichigo's mind. Rukia's shocked face, smeared with blood… He gritted his teeth.
Grimmjow continued ruthlessly. "You want to tear me apart, don't you?" His face sobered as he recalled a memory as well. His hand stroked the scar that ran down his front absentmindedly and, without warning, he retrieved the sword he had discarded earlier and charged.
Ichigo's hand came up to defend automatically and the two slid backwards, they're feet dragging, causing the dust to swirl up around them again.
If only… if only they could realize how alike they were… If only the line between good and evil weren't so clear in their case. A natural friendship would have blossomed, but because of the two different worlds they lived in, they would never have the chance.