3 years later.

As the years flew by so did the pressure from my father to marry Ulquiorra. Setting up lunch dates and such, trying to keep me too busy to see anyone he didn't want me to. As I sat across from the emotionless shizcoff, I was left to my thoughts. He wasn't much for conversation and when he did speak, his voice grated on my nerves and I wanted to punch him in the teeth. Normally I wasn't so quick to jump to violence but slowly everything over the last few years was building up.

All these stupid play dates with a man I could never love and who could never love me. He didn't understand the concept. He couldn't understand the concept. And because my father had been pushing so much, he and my mother had been fighting a lot. He would pull something stupid and then she would tell him to back off. It never helped, though.

"I'm so sorry to cut our lunch short but I'm not feeling well," I said standing up.

"Right, well maybe you should get some rest." He said in his annoying, stoic voice.

"I'll do that," I said making my way to the door.

As my hand started to push the door open, I was stopped as he said," And don't worry, Nikki, that's the story I'll tell Lord Aizen while you go see Grimmjow."

I smiled a bit to myself as I ran off leaving him behind. I pushed out my senses and felt around for Grimmjow's pressure. I found it just outside the walls of the palace and I took off, running that way. Once I was outside I stopped just 100 yards from where he was fighting a hollow. I watched as he toyed with it jumping around like a cat playing with its food. I smiled as he taunted it to attack.

It swung at him and he dodged it with ease, before taking a swing himself. It was a powerful kick to its torso. The sorry creature fell with one last dying cry. After I was sure it was dead, I ran over to Grimmjow throwing my arms around his neck and planting my lips against his in a chaste kiss. He lifted me off the ground spinning me around.

"So, you know I'm almost 18," I said grinning.

Two more months and we were free to get married.

"Is it safe?" He asked for the thousandth time.

"Of course," I said holding up the leather necklace with the cat and moon pendant.

"Good, then in two months I'll make you my wife." He said kissing my lips again.

I smiled into the kiss before I pushed him away gently. He leaned back giving me a toothy grin.

"Now, how are we going to pull that off?" I asked.

"Like I told you before, we'll run away. Just this once I'll be happy to run away." He said, tone softening.

"I'll make Gin marry us in the night, then we'll just leave," I said my well-rehearsed line.

The truth was we'd had this conversation several times. Each time with more promise of a happy life together. Despite what my father thought, I wouldn't be happy with anyone else. Especially Ulquiorra. He was too obedient and dull. I needed some sort of fire in my life. Someone who would keep me interested in living. I was like my dad in that way.

"Nikki, in all seriousness, how are you going to handle Aizen?" He asked.

"I just kind of planned on getting it done and then letting my mom deal with him. She knows how to get him to see things her way." I said shrugging.

"She hasn't changed his mind about me." He said lightly caressing my hip.

"You're right then let's really run away. The night I turn 18. Let's just go. We'll settle down somewhere in a small house. It'll be just the two of us." I said smiling.

"And how are we supposed to make a living there? No one can see us." He said.

"I'll have Gin work something out with Szayel," I explained.

"So you have all of your bases covered." He grinned.

I pulled him into a kiss. He pushed back some of my hair letting his hand rest on my face. As the kiss got deeper I pulled him down to the ground. He caught us both and settled between my legs. I tangled my fingers in his hair tugging lightly. We'd shared our first kiss the day before I turned 17 and since then, when we could, we'd sneak in kisses. Today, however, was not my day.

Grimmjow was yanked away from me and pulled up by my father. Never before had I seen him so angry. He drew back his fist, then he punched Grimmjow in the face. I heard a sick crack as his mask broke into tiny fragments, all falling from his face. Grimmjow pushed him away and I was impressed. With his short temper and love for a good brawl, it was a miracle that he didn't hit him back.

"Aizen! That was uncalled for." My mother said as she helped me up.

"I've told you before to stay away from her." My father ground out.

"That's not fair, I came to him, I kissed him first." I defended.

"Nikki, let me handle this." My mother told me.

"No, I don't want to hear it, Libra. You," He pointed at Grimmjow," go. I'll call you when I'm ready to deal with you."

Grimmjow left giving my mother an apologetic look.

"Nikki, what the hell were you doing? I've told you time and time again to stay away from him." My father continued. "He's too dangerous for you to be left alone with."

"No, he isn't. He's never hurt me. So tell me, 'Father', what's so wrong with him? You only dislike him because he won't kiss your ass like the rest of them. That's why I don't like Ulquiorra, I won't marry him. Aside from the fact that he and Tousen have been fucking for the last couple of years, he's your lapdog. Anything to please his lord." I said letting all of the bitterness slip into my voice.

"You're grounded." That's all he said.

"You can't ground me. And you can't keep me away from Grimmjow." I said storming off.

"Aizen! What the hell is your problem?" My mom snapped before I could make it fully inside.