Prologue

A small girl walked alone through the halls of Las Noches. She wasn't really all that young…she was 14 years old. But even for a teenager, she was a stunning beauty. Her hair fluttered like butterfly wings around her face as she walked. It was still the same deep, rich auburn, a fiery red that was just below her shoulders, perfectly straight, with a little indent that neatly cupped her face. Her skin was a creamy white, the normal redhead pale that they'd reluctantly come to live with. Her eyes were still a dark, startling blue. Technically they were several different shades of blue mixed, but without looking up close they just appeared dark blue. They were bold and fiery, like her spirit, filled with confidence and daring. It was a shade of blue everyone wanted to have, that no one believed existed in the eye color. But she had it. Her face was still heart shaped with a tiny nose and rosy pink cheeks. Her eyebrows were a blonde/orange color, hard to see. They arched in a elegant way on her brow, giving her a very dignified look. The only thing that made her look any different than usual was that her full lips didn't have that hint of a smile in them. They were trembling.

The pretty young woman kept walking, a little on the small side, although with her personality, you'd never notice. Her hand folding over where her heart would be, and she narrowed her eyes with pain. She was leaving. And these goodbyes were tearing her apart.

While I'm here, I should go see Grimmjow-san. Thinking about her dearest Grimm-Grimm made her want to scream, but she didn't. Straightening up she walked towards Las Noches to see him. Her heart hammered in her chest, and her eyes were moist already. She thought her heart would explode from the pain.

And then she saw him. For a moment she couldn't bring herself to speak to him. Then she ran up to him and slammed him on the back with her hand, hard. She had to. It was their thing. "Hiya, Grimm-Grimm!" She said brightly. Tears clung to her eyelashes as she put on a happy act.

Grimmjow Jaggerjack turned to look at her, a disturbed look on his face that made her want to let out a bark of laughter. It was so…so him. Such a familiar expression on his face made her happy. His blue hair and blue eyes…Espada number 6. My Grimmjow. She stepped back with her arms clasped behind her back in a very feminine way and looked him over, thoughtful. She'd vowed that she would be there for him so he wouldn't have to be alone anymore. No matter what. Now she was leaving. Without telling him. Betrayal. The girl felt the traitorous tears leaking down her face. No. Grimmjow! NO!

He had become a better person. A softer, kinder person. He still loved fighting, of course. And leaning against that wall of his. Her fingers fluttered up to her face, and touched her lips. She pressed them there and cried quietly. Grimmjow.

Grimmjow looked at her. "Hey. No cryin'. Stop it. C'mon, yar are a good, brave girl. Stop blubberin'. Jeez, and at think you keep tryin' at protect me, when it shoul' be the othe' way around." He crossed his arms stubbornly, and she giggled slightly despite her tears. It was so him. Just like him. He'd be one of the people she'd miss the most. Wiping away her tears, she reached out and touched his cheek, tracing it down to his chin. She smiled at him gently.

"Hey, Grimm-Grimm. I think…well, I don't know how often I'll be seeing you now. So I…." She looked down, her sweet, innocent face crumpling under the pressure and she balled up her tiny hands with pain. It was like a hand squeezing her heart. This pain…how do I survive? "I came to see you. So…."

His blue eyes narrowed. He looked her over, her strange blue eyes, her long auburn hair that defined her so, the arch of her eyebrows, her creamy white skin, her pearly white teeth, her heart shaped face. Grimmjow had long ago decided that although she looked weak and frail, she was strong. Everyone knew it. Grimmjow looked over her fragile, delicate figure and suddenly knew he wouldn't see her ever again. Not in the way she was, anyways. Her lips trembled. Eyes filling with those shimmering tears again, she looked at the ground, then back up to Grimmjow. He wanted to remember her happy, not crying, not like this.

And then she threw herself at him, hugging him tightly around the middle.

Yes, a little 14 year old who was a little short for age, someone Grimmjow could easily crush like a bug, had hugged him. She'd done it only once before, when she'd been worried sick about him. He'd smiled and said he was ok. And then listened to her blubber and lecture him about running off when in pain. Now it was she. But he couldn't help her.

"You're one of my best friends. You might think you don't need friends, but everyone does, so there. I don't think that was a very good argument I just made but whatever." The tiny speck of a girl murmured into his chest. Then she looked up at him and smiled weakly. If I ever see this guy again I'm going to hug him.

Grimmjow didn't try to escape. She thought that he knew she needed this. He just patted her uncomfortably on the head and then put a hand under her chin and lifted it. Her pale face was warm and damp. But this was still the girl he knew and he couldn't stand to watch her cry.

"Hey…."

"Grimmjow. Grimm-Grimm. Goodb…goodbuh…mmmmph!" She let out a choked sob and shuddered violently. He was worried she'd fall over. Crumble entirely. Her resolve was shattering.

He put his lips by her ear. "You should go." Grimmjow muttered gruffly, feeling awkward. She laughed grimly, but nodded. "Yeah." With that she left.

For a few minutes, he just watched the beautiful young girl leave. Btu she didn't have her usual skip to her step. Or the cocky attitude. Or he sassy swing of her hips. Or the happy-go-lucky wave-without-looking-at-you thing she always did just to get on his nerves. None of it. Sure, her fire hair bounced as she walked, and she still looked amazing for such a little kid, but it wasn't exactly her. Grimmjow felt a pang of some unfamiliar emotion. He didn't want her to leave. And he knew that. Grimmjow Jaggerjack, murderer, fighter, alone - his only hope of being truly happy was walking out the door.

And she wasn't going to come back.

His resolve fell apart, it broke, and Grimmjow let out a roar and slammed his fist into the wall. The wall was smashed and pieces of debris littered the ground. But the girl kept walking, refusing to look back, so he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes that had already began to stream down her face.