"No," Grimmow growled. "This is something I need to do alone."

"I've seen how you look some nights and I'm still coming," Ichigo retorted. "I know you have to do this alone but I'm coming with you."

"You have a family, friends and you'd have wasted your university money for nothing!" Grimmjow countered.

"Yeah," Ichigo agreed, "but in your fourth year with me I could sense you were going to leave soon so I'm joining you in Hueco Mundo."

"You do know I eat hollows, right?" Grimmjow asked, trying to deter Ichigo from joining him even though he secretly wanted him to come. "A soul reaper cannot live off of hollow flesh."

"I'm a vizard," Ichigo corrected Grimmjow. "Half hollow and half soul reaper. My hollow told me I could eat off it but I don't have a desire to eat them like the lowly based ones like Gillian."

"Fine," Grimmjow hissed. "If you're so adamant you can join but you haul your own weight."

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Ichigo agreed with a smile.

Yuzu look near tears at the revelation of not seeing her brother for a long time but it was Karin who consoled her after Isshin had clung to Yuzu and cried as well. Ichigo would be back; it was like his visits when he had gone to soul society to save Rukia, or Hueco Mundo to save Orihime. Eventually Ichigo would return but this time they knew it would take longer. Ichigo would felt regretful but at the same time he knew he wasn't meant for the human world when so much in his late teens he had been in the other realms trying to save someone. Now that everyone was saved he had to live his own life and chose how he wanted to live it.

"When were you planning on leaving?" Ichigo asked Grimmjow.

"I was originally going to sneak out in the middle of the night," Grimmjow answered." However, now I decided it would be best to leave tomorrow afternoon or tomorrow evening at the latest."

Ichigo nodded his head, agreeing with the plan. In the end the two would be leaving for Hueco Mundo in the morning where Grimmjow would open a garganta for them so they could start their journey. Ichigo wasn't interested in eating hollows and he planned on taking some food from the Soul Society Rukia often left. It wouldn't do much but it would do for now. As a soul with powerful reitsu he had to eat more unlike the hollows but they ate more like gluttons in fear of regression. Grimmjow was an espada and didn't have to fear the regression since the hogyoku made it like he was frozen in time at his stage of evolution. He could grow stronger but never weak enough to regress unless his mask was cracked like Nel's but even then he would still be espada class but unable to use his powers.

There wasn't much for Ichigo to do as he packed for the trip. Most of the food was perishable which frustrated Ichigo. He couldn't pack heavy knowing that Hueco Mundo was filled with dangers of high class hollows and even the ancient ones. At the level the two were at both Grimmjow and Ichigo might be able to injure an ancient one enough to run away but Ichigo was unsure he would be able to with the injuries they might sustain.

"Eating souls isn't that bad," Grimmjow grunted out, reading Ichigo's thoughts.

Ichigo shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, but once I cracked a gillians mask of a freshly made hollow. They're still human underneath all that armor."

"They're corrupt souls, Ichigo," Grimmjow pointed out. "Every living being in Hueco Mundo knows it has the chance of being eaten by a stronger hollow. They know that risk and continue to set out and hunt for souls. Don't pity them and when we kill them don't play with them either-Actually, I'll kill them. That damn sword of yours just purifies souls."

"Yeah, and yours leaves destruction," Ichigo teased with a warm smile.

"Gets us food," Grimmjow answered before pulling the blanket over his body and over his shoulders.

"Night," Ichigo whispered.

"Night," Grimmjow muttered.

Ichigo knew that Grimmjow would get few too little sleep and sometimes it irked him to know the espada slept so little but he knew it was going to happen. Ichigo knew some of Grimmjow's past in Hueco Mundo and since it was a hollow eat hollow world he assumed that Grimmjow rarely slept in fear of being someone's next meal. It made sense and as Ichigo closed his eyes he knew it would be the last good sleep he got because after tomorrow they would have to worry about the predators that sought out power. Yoroichi was going to loan him the cloak he had used when he rescued Rukia so it made it easier for Ichigo to conceal his reitsu for Grimmjow in case they ran into ancient ones.

Ichigo began to lull himself to sleep as he imagined him and Grimmjow as they walked the plains of Hueco Mundo. Sand for miles and just the two of them as Zangetsu rested along Ichigo's back and Pantera resting on Grimmjow's hip as per usual. There was no wind nor was there any clouds just as Ichigo remembered the desolated land filled with blood and cannibalism. Though his reitsu searching wasn't the best Ichigo knew that Grimmjow would be there to warn them of enemies and it would be up to the both of them to take down the enemy. It was obvious that it would happen eventually and Ichigo wouldn't put it past the cruel lands to try and have their blood spilled within the first day there.

As if the fates were reading his thoughts, Ichigo saw a fox like hollow come by. It looked an adhujchas with the slim legs and the thick bone tail. Its nose was long and eyes black with silver swirling with malevolent intent as it circled around the two. Even though Ichigo knew he was dreaming it felt very real as the hollow prepared to attack. The creature was small but around the size of a full grown Husky. It looked like it held many years in its eyes and was not about to lose to a soul reaper and a more powerful hollow.

"Soul reapers and hollows?" the fox inquired. "Haven't seen that since that bastard Aizen was here. Come to start that shit all over again?"

Grimmjow scoffed. "Man, you hollows get stupider and stupider over the years."

"All you were was Aizen's bitch!" the fox hissed. "I'll kill you first."

Grimmjow began to laugh like he had when he had punched the shit out of Ichigo when they were once enemies. "I'll show you why the espada were feared so much."

That laughter sent chills down Ichigo's spine but they weren't of fear. No, they were of excitement as he saw Grimmjow engage in battle. He didn't fight but rather watched as the two danced around each other. Of course, Grimmjow was playing with the little creature who though he was stronger. It got a few good scratched in that caused Grimmjow to laugh but in the end he gave a good right hook causing the hollow to roll on the sands and tumble a few feet away. Just like the first time they battled, Grimmjow used a sonido and kicked the hollow in the side causing the creature to hit the sands harder with much more impact. The sound of a bone cracking alerted Ichigo that the creature could no longer use one of its legs giving Grimmjow the advantage.

The creature refused to give up and bared its fangs at Grimmjow. Grimmjow didn't seemed too concerned and Ichigo was too entranced to stop the battle. This was the first time Ichigo had seen Grimmjow fighting in a few years, always too busy studying for university to go out hollow hunting so Grimmjow took over most of Ichigo's substitute soul reaper duties.

The hollow got its strong jaws clasped on Grimmjow's arms but the swift charge of a bala caused the hollow to release its mouth to dart away from Grimmjow. Its tail got a chunk taken out but the fox was determined to defeat Grimmjow in order to reach the vasto lorde stage.

However, it was no match for Grimmjow as he used a quick sonido and stabbed it in the heart, sword sinking into the ground and piercing flesh enough to force the fox to stay where it laid. Grimmjow had warned Ichigo not to play with their food and with a simple snap of its neck the hollow was dead. Green blood flowed from the hollow and it confused Ichigo at first. Never before had Ichigo seen green blood from a hollow before. Grand fisher had red blood, so did the low class one and even the espada bled red blood. The menos didn't really bleed but the only time Ichigo really fought one was when it appeared in the world of the living when he was a fresh substitute soul reaper.

"Hollows around this stage have green blood," Grimmjow informed. "Fresh ones red and powerful ones too. In between stage gets green. Ate a few before that had green blood; nasty as shit depending on the animal class."

"Not all are animal class though," Ichigo countered. "Heard that the ninth espada was a glass tank, the segunda was what, death? And then there was that numero who took the form of a tree with his resureccion."

"Okay smart ass not all of us are animal class but most of them are," Grimmjow replied as he knelt down beside the hollow, blood coating his chest. "Hurry up and eat before someone else comes to take the kill."

Ichigo found his feet moving until he was kneeling beside Grimmjow and their kill. Surprisingly enough it wasn't as sickening as he thought it would be. However, when he turned his head he noticed how close he and Grimmjow were. If Ichigo moved his head slightly he could kiss Grimmjow if he wanted. Ichigo still harboured and attraction to Grimmjow even if it was an unrequited but to him it was okay in fear of being rejected by the older man. Grimmjow seemed to notice the same thing Ichigo did and just before their lips touched Ichigo was forced awake by the sound of his door being kicked open by what he assumed was his father.

Yet, Ichigo was once again proven wrong when he noticed Rukia, Renji, Orihime, Uryuu and Toshiro in his room. Though, the latter was on top of Toshiro but only because it seemed that Rangiku came bouncing in and knocked her captain down, forcing him to stumble onto the ex-espada of destruction. Grimmjow had been asleep at the time but with his body covered and someone on top of him he began to flail around in fear of being constricted. Ichigo was on his feet immediately and holding Grimmjow in a non-powerful grasp to prove to him that he wasn't with Mayuri.

The panic was evident in Grimmjow's eyes as he thought he was in the cold, dark cell by himself and chained naked in a corner. The quiet whimper went unheard by the other occupants in the room but Ichigo was close enough to hear the noise to know Grimmjow was afraid. Sure, he had Pantera but his sword wasn't always there to keep the nightmares away. Grimmjow knew the feel of Ichigo's hands enough to know that they were not Mayuri's and the simple touched in a soothing manner managed to calm down Grimmjow in under ten minutes.

"He's dead, you killed him," Ichigo whispered reassurance to Grimmjow and turned to glare at Rangiku.

"Oops," Rangiku giggled.

"What are you doing here?" Grimmjow managed to ask after he regained his composure.

"What's this about going to Hueco Mundo?" Rukia demanded.

Ichigo raised his eyebrow. "And how do you know that?"

"Soul pager has two way communication remember," Rukia pointed out.

Ichigo groaned in irritation. Thanks to Gunjo, Ichigo learned that his soul pager was more of a tracker to make sure that substitute soul reapers weren't planning a coup d'état. Honestly, Ichigo forgot about it all and now that he was reminded about it he felt like an idiot; his soul pager was always on his person. Now, his soul reaper friends were here to see why he was leaving. It made sense since Grimmjow was once their captive but now they had no claims over him as Ichigo was his caretaker now.

"You can't come!" Ichigo snapped defensively.

"I've had enough time spend in that baron waste land," Rangiku waved dismissively.

"You've never even gone there," Toshiro pointed out.

"Exactly!" Rangiku agreed. "Plus, it's so boring with no shopping malls."

"I don't see why you need to go there," Renji commented.

"I need to get back to my roots. Not that it's a soul reapers concern," Grimmjow admitted tiredly. "Why can't you guys just leave me the fuck alone after the two years you had me?"

"Because we love you Grimmjow-kun," Rangiku sang.

A tic formed in Grimmjow's forehead and Ichigo could only sigh as a battle would begin between the robust lieutenant and the ex-espada. If Ichigo didn't interfere soon Rangiku would only continue and begin with the sexual comments. In all honesty Rangiku out of control could be a pain in the ass to deal with.

"That's enough Mastumoto," Toshiro warned.

"Grimmjow's right though," Ichigo muttered. "I'm there to help him nothing else. I don't have much here and if I go to the Soul Society at least I'm loaded for the rest of my dead life."

"We can't even convince you to stay, can we Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime asked.

"Nope," Ichigo agreed with a smile. "You know me, once I make up my mind that's it."

"Then go," Ishida sighed. "Before the other captains arrive."

Grimmjow and Ichigo removed themselves from their human bodies to allow Grimmjow to open the garganta. Rukia was the one who handed Ichigo the cloak he was going to use in Hueco Mundo and he was thankful his friends were prepared. There was nothing he could do to repay them but he hoped that the soul reapers would leave Ichigo. After all, he was just a substitute soul reaper.

The two left but just before the garganta closed Ichigo turned to his friends. He wanted to tell them that he was grateful for their help. He knew Ishida, Orihime and Chad would be safe since they were human and soul reapers couldn't harm humans even though Ishida was a Quincy.

"Thanks," Ichigo told them, throwing his soul badge at them so that it was no longer in the garganta to be follow with.

Renji was the one to throw it back and the little wooden device flew down into the dark abyss only to forever be lost and untraceable.

"Smooth one, red," Grimmjow commented as he looked forward and began to lead the way.

There was a long distance for them to travel and Ichigo was prepared to meet the desolated lands that hollows roamed. He had his cloak wrapped around him, concealing his powers enough so that they wouldn't be detected once they entered Hueco Mundo. Grimmjow was used to killing his kind and Ichigo had done enough purifying that killing hollows didn't disturb him as much as it did in the beginning. He still wasn't the soldier Grimmjow said he was but Ichigo would make sacrifices that needed to be done to survive.

The two moved throughout Hueco Mundo once they arrived and the air was so much thicker than the world of the living that it surprised Ichigo; he hadn't gone to Hueco Mundo or the Soul Society in a long time. Now that he was back, Ichigo felt better than he had in years. Grimmjow didn't visit his homelands enough and with Ichigo's own inner hollow it made him feel like he belonged here. The power stirring with him became stronger like any hollow would coming back to the land they were created in. The first thing Ichigo knew was they had to find shelter. Las Noches wasn't the best place since Grimmjow had charged off ceros the last time they were there. It was no longer guarded by the large sand monster that Aizen has used so anyone could inhabit those pristine walls.

"We should find a cave of some sorts," Ichigo told Grimmjow.

"Smart choice, Ichigo," Grimmjow agreed. "Here I thought you'd want the luxury of a nice soft bed in Las Noches."

"Sand isn't that bad sleeping on," Ichigo commented. "Plus, I can't complain when I willingly chose to come with you."

Ichigo noticed Grimmjow smirked and he allowed the older man to lead the way. Caves were deeper in the Hueco Mundo but that was okay. The deeper inside Hueco Mundo the two were in there would be far more powerful hollows to be eaten. A soul reaper of captain's class and an espada would need at least adjuchas to sustain them for a while. They could eat three or four gillian but they were in the world of the living. They could eat menos grande but that was tedious to go in and out of the menos forest just to eat something so unsatisfying.

After maybe hours of walking the two found a cave and Ichigo was grateful but when Grimmjow drew Pantera out from his sheathe it had Ichigo tense. He couldn't smell hollows and he couldn't sense anything in the area but that didn't mean nothing was there. As Ichigo took in his surroundings he felt a sense of familiarity even though he hadn't been to this part before. Grimmjow skulked closer to the cave and just as they reached it a white hollow in the shape of a fox with silver eyes revealed itself; the same one from Ichigo's dreams.