***Please note I accidentally skipped some content so CHAPTER 4 has been replaced with what was miss, please go back and read it. SO SORRY!

"The zero espada?" Ichigo panted on the ground, recovering from the last blow and watching Yammy transform into his Resurrection. He had been big before, but now he was enormous. "I thought the espada were one to ten."

"Zero to nine." The toneless voice replied when all the muscle, skin, sinew and bone had stretched and grown to his true size.

"And you are the zero, the most powerful?" Ichigo stood up, rubbing a hand over his bruised chest. The fight was far from over, but he was feeling the pain of the blows he'd taken. Still, he had delivered worse to his enemy, hence the need for him to take on this more powerful form.

"Yes."

"Great." He could really use back up, he thought, but then his mind's eye rushed back over silver sands to one who would normally jump to his aid and all he could see was Renji being ripped to shreds. When the strike from Yammy came he had no chance of deflecting, he'd let himself be completely distracted.

Over the empty streets and through a building- he only came to a stop when his back hit the foundation floor of the school. It took him a long time to pick himself up, battered as he was, and face the monster's next attack.

"What do they mean by war potential?" He asked, landing a strike along one of Yammy's grossly fat arms. But he got no answer out of the giant. In fruststation, he lashed out again, got a leg this time. Blow for blow, the battle went back and forth. Ichigo was letting anger cloud him, but for the moment, his lack of mercy was a help. Yammy was still landing painful blows, but Ichigo's unrelenting attacks and his speed assisted by his mask helped him stay afloat, even tip the scales of this battle.

"I'm not going to let you take me." He shouted in anger, not that he expected any of this to penetrate Yammy's brainwashed state. "I won't let this be the end! Not for me, or my friends."

The arc of power that came off his blade, his Bankai, bit deep into the espada. He staggered, Ichigo built up another attack.

"I won't be stopped here! I'll find my town and everyone I care about!" His next attack sent Yammy back entirely. Ichigo heaved out, the air seeming thin after his efforts, but still he let another attack build.

"I will cut down these Vandenreich. I will cut down Aizen. I will stop anyone who gets in my way. "Tensa Zangetsu!"

But the blast meant to decide this battle split in the air, blue light striking the sky and sending his Bankai harmlessly off into space. For a moment, Ichigo thought the Vandenreich had arrived, but then he recognized the hollow qualities of his enemy. He had never faced this espada, but the ridge of bone enveloping one eye was clearly the remnants of his mask. Grey fur adorned his collar and the hem of his white coat, and at his side hung an antique style pistol. Ichigo noted all of that, however, after the man dropped his burden to the ground. Grimmjow was conscious, but his hand was closed tight over a bullet wound just under his collar. Ichigo could see a second line of blood coming from his hair line and suspected his captor had knocked him out before bringing him here. He just seemed to noticed Grimmjow was awake and looked down on him.

"Don't move or I'll shoot you again." He instructed the Sixth.

"Who are you?" Ichigo challenged.

"Coyote Starrk. The First Espada."

"You aren't brainwashed?"

"As good as kid, but I'm afraid I'll have to save the explanation." He had his reasons for wanting Grimmjow to understand his motivations, but he wasn't interested in taking the time to make Ichigo understand. He glanced back at Yammy, who was still breathing. "Yammy, give up your resurrection and save your strength."

The other must have heard because in a short swell of power he was back to his original form. He staggered to his feet, blood oozing out many wounds.

"You were sloppy."

Yammy didn't respond.

"I will take your opponent if you take mine. Don't let Grimmjow run away."

"Yes sir."

"Don't call me that." Starrk bit back. Ichigo might not know the whole story, but this espada was clearly against the brainwashing and possibly even against taking Grimmjow in.

"I don't know what your story is," Ichigo tried, "but the Vandenreich are a mutual enemy. Maybe we can help each other."

"Sorry kid. If things were a bit different then maybe, but I have to do this."

"And I have to stop you."

"That's unfortunate."

Starrk drew his weapon. Ichigo didn't know the man was not at his full strength. Even still, he felt a wash of power come from this enemy he hadn't felt even in Yammy. Whoever Cyote Starrk was, he would not be easily defeated.

Grimmjow watched the two collide, the force of their opposing powers created a massive wind that ripped over him and Yammy. He sat still, one knee up, his arm braced on it and his other hand tight over the throbbing wound. He glanced back at Yammy, bleeding profusely, but his heavy features concentrated on him and him alone. Escape wouldn't be easy.

Another blast from the sky drew his attention back to the battle. It was difficult to tell who would win this fight. It might not be power that determined the outcome. Battle prowess could not be discounted, and Starrk was one of the most perceptive warriors Grimmjow had ever met. Ichigo, however, though a good judge of character, didn't have experience enough to read the minute details of an enemy. Starrk would see his inexperience, his innocence and youth, and exploit that along with any other weaknesses before Ichigo could ever figure him out.

The crack of a gun shot was followed by the zing of metal on metal. The next succession of blasts also apparently met with Zangetsu. So the kid was holding his own, and Starrk was busy. It was time for him to make his move.

Grimmjow stood up and made to sodino. If Yammy hadn't been brainwashed, he probably could have gotten away. The oaf of an espada most likely would have been watching the battle as well. But as he was, he had been standing vigilant, holding up his orders to the letter, and with one swipe of his giant hand he floored Grimmjow.

The Sixth coughed out once he recovered from his face striking the earth so violently. The jolt of pain through his shoulder was no joy either. He was slow to pull himself off the ground but all progress stopped with a foot to his lower back. He was shoved down again, a second stamp made him cough as the wind rushed out of his lungs. He wheezed and stopped moving in hopes of stopping the attacks but the foot nudged him onto is back and he stared up at those vacant eyes.

"You will not run away."

Yammy reached for his zanpakuto. Grimmjow realized he was going for a more crippling wound and scrambled to get away.

"You will not run away." The giant repeated, grabbing hold of his ankle as he tried to roll away. Grimmjow couldn't dislodge and now Yammy had his leg and his sword ready to cut through it. He was definitely going to make sure he wouldn't be able to run away.

But before the sword could fall, a body hit the earth not from them, his weapon rolling free of his hand and little sign that he was still conscious.

"Yammy, what are you doing?" Starrk landed much more softly next to them, putting a hand against the zero espada's sword.

"You said to make sure he didn't run away."

"Not that way." Yammy dropped Grimmjow's leg, he sat back on the ground. Starrk turned to Grimmjow. "You should have listened to me." He pointed his gun at the Sixth. "I can't risk losing either of you." Grimmjow lurched as the next bullet tore a hole in his thigh. He was no longer looking at Starrk but putting a hand over the new wound. The other wasn't done though. A third went through the forearm of his good arm, a fourth through that shoulder.

The most that could come from him instead of a scream was a rasping hiss. There was no voice to utter the pain, to sound the rage of a brother's betrayal. He remained sitting upright, but his body was hunched forward, his shoulders drenched, arms limp, only his one raised knee kept him from tipping over completely. Stark watched his scarred mouth open wider to get more air into his lungs as rapid shallow breaths took over.

"You're in shock, Grimmjow. Don't move, don't do anything. I need you to stay alive, but I couldn't risk you escaping."

"Shit." Came the moan from the crumpled teen. Starrk left Grimmjow's side for Ichigo. The soul reaper tried to sit, but he stopped short when searing pain lanced from his ankle. The joint was torn open, at least three bullets had ripped through that intricate puzzle of bones, tendons and flesh. He saw his blade out of his reach, and then his enemy came before him. He had just seen what he'd done to Grimmjow, and now he braced himself for the same treatment.

"Gha!" he hollered when the first bullet lodged just under his hip. A strategic shot that would slow most of his body's movements. Ichigo, who's voice was as strong as ever, couldn't keep back the scream at feeling his bone split under the impact. His hip may not have broken, but even fractured it caused enormous pain.

The click of the hammer drawing back, brown eyes darkened in pain and rage. Starrk fired, but this bullet struck earth.

"Pretty good, kid." He turned and fired again, Ichigo, hollow mask adorning his face, barely managed to dodge this as well, especially as he only had one leg supporting him. He fell to hands and knees, but even as Stark shot again, he launched off the ground. This bullet may have grazed him, but it certainly had missed its mark.

Grimmjow managed to raise his head again. Most of him just felt cold now, he knew the way his head felt like it was lighter than air, and the speed with which he was taking in oxygen meant he was going to pass out soon. But somehow he could still track the battle. A shot glanced off Zangetsu when Ichigo made a grab for his fallen sword at the blade skid over dry dirt. There was another cry from the teen, Grimmjow thought he saw him grip his side.

The swell of spiritual pressure seemed to make the city wavere before him. His ears thrummed with his heartless beat, blood pumping in a last ditch effort to to keep him conscious. He found his focus fade from the battle as his head fell forward again. He stopped himself, however, from letting go completely when his eyes landed on Zangetsu. The katana wasn't far from him, he could reach it in two or three steps if he was standing, but he wasn't, and Yammy was still behind him. If he was going to do something, it had to be quick.

Darkened eyes watched the careful steps of the First espada, his swift feet touching the ground only lightly every time he pushed off for the next attack. His moves were rhythmic, steady, precise. Countless sparing matches and training sessions, had taught Grimmjow that timing well, that measured ease with which Starrk moved. He forgot Ichigo, he forgot Yammy at his back, and watched those feet, watched his dance over the battle field until he knew just where he would land.

A final shot went off.

Ichigo stood with the smoking gun poised before him. The trickle along his neck was far from fatal, but the misfire easily could have killed him. Now, though, it was over, just like that, and Starrk's shocked face stared back at him, the light and life in his eyes already fading. And from his chest, Zangetsu protruded, reaching out to his master, but held in the hands of the enemy.

It had happened so fast. Grimmjow had waited for the precise moment, the timing, the position perfect, and let a cero blast behind him. This both served to blind Yammy and propel him into his roll, head and should tucking and he somersaulted straight to his feet, Zangetsu in his stronger hand, and his momentum combining with the last strength of his muscles to drive the blade through Starrk's back.

Starrk gurgled, a film of blood formed between his lips before it was broken by a thick spurt of crimson. Grimmjow yanked Zangetsu back out and dropped the borrowed blade on the ground as his former comrade fell.

Ichigo just stood where he was, carefully regarding the pair. For a few seconds, Grimmjow stood above the other and watched him take his last strangled breaths, then his legs gave and he fell kneeling at his side.

"...Lilinette." Starrk gasped, a hand wrapping around Grimmjow's blood soaked arm. Grimmjow winced, but didn't pull away, neither was there a taunt or look of triumph in his eyes. Ichigo was actually surprised when he put his hand against Starrk's chest, a sign of fellowship, maybe understanding.

"...I guess I will be taking her with me...we'll be reunited, in the end."

Grimmjow nodded, his features still hard to read. Behind him Yammy approached, his zanpakuto raised and Ichigo stiffened, but Starrk raised his other hand.

"Yammy stop." He struggled.

"We must bring them back."

"I know, just come here."

Grimmjow felt his hand slip from him, back toward his fallen gun. A look passed between them, and Ichigo suddenly felt he was witness to a private moment, a dark choice. He saw the kindred understanding between the two espada, and felt the sudden weight in the air that came with that long look between them.

"We have a mission Starrk." Yammy repeated.

"I know. We've almost completed it, just help me up."

"Yes sir."

"Yammy..." Stark hissed out when the bigger espada hoisted him part way up and he took a firm grip around him with one hand. "I told you not to call me that."

The shot felt like it went through Ichigo himself. With merciful precision, the bullet broke through the soft skin beneath Yammy's jaw and straight through the bone between mouth and eyes. It broke into the soft tissue of his brain and all that was the zero espada was wiped away, just as it had been when the Vandenreich had brainwashed him.

"For what it's worth..." Starrk slumped back to the earth, his gaze unfocussed, and Ichigo never knew if his final words were for Yammy or Grimmjow, "I'm sorry."

The fight was over. The howl of a dry wind blowing between the buildings was a last mournful cry to accompany the dreadful scene. Grimmjow didn't move, sat between his two fallen, former allies, soon to be dead himself if he didn't get attention. He watched Starrk with hollow eyes.

"He saved you, in the end." Ichigo spoke finally, not really sure why he said it. It wasn't comfort, it wasn't confusion, he just said it.

"What are you going to do now?" Again, the most immediate answer was obvious, the espada was likely going to pass out, but the greater meaning was understood. Here they were, in an empty world, enemies. Blue eyes dragged themselves from the earth to regard Ichigo. For once that terrible anger didn't feel directed at him. It was the same anger Ichigo felt when he thought about Renji, when he pictured Orihime locked away somewhere, when he imagined telling Rukia that her brother and best friend were dead.

Then Grimmjow's eyes dropped back down to look at himself, and he held one arm against the other while bracing his leg and standing. His eyes cut back to Ichigo half lidded and his lips set firmly.

No words could ever say as loudly as that look that Grimmjow Jaggerjaques was out for blood.

"Good. Me too."

Grimmjow held his gaze for another second before he swayed. Ichigo slid Zangetsu into his sheath and limped forward, another chilling bolt of pain went through his hip and his shattered ankle was still useless, one leg taking all his weight, but he closed the gap and caught Grimmjow by the shoulders before he could topple.

"This time after I save you," Ichigo shifted his weight, preparing to flashstep, "please don't try to kill me."

Voila, another chapter. Lots of Ichigo and Grimmjow time next chapter!

Riza