Chapter 7: Deal with the Devil
She couldn't believe it. Just as she was about to find something out about Mikoto Grimmjow had to come walking down the hall, and towards them of all people. Before he got too close, she quickly slipped to the nearest corner to hide herself from his view. The last thing she wanted was to run into him right now.
She waited until his focus was completely on Mikoto and started slipping down the hallway as quickly as she could. She was sure the girl would be fine, after all she knew that he got bored with things that didn't do what he wanted, and there was no way Mikoto was going to react to him.
As soon as she was far enough away, she moved away from the wall and continued down the hall as if nothing had happened. Along the way she was sure she felt someone looking in her direction but ignored it. Even if he was looking at her she refused to turn around acknowledge that she'd noticed him.
Temara made it to her class and sat in her usual corner, sinking into obscurity. She began to get her books out as peopled trickled into the classroom. As she dug into her bag, she heard heavy footsteps approach her. She looked up, and then immediately paled. Grimmjow stood towering over her like a wolf who'd just come across a wounded animal.
"Yo," he said in greeting.
Her book almost slipped out of her hands and she caught it with fumbling fingers. This couldn't be happening. Why did he follow her? What interest could he possibly have in her. She was supposed to be unseen, invisible to all. But she surely wasn't now. Everyone who showed up to class early was staring at Grimmjow, and consequentially, at her.
She swallowed, trying to keep calm. "Can I help you?" she asked, trying to make her voice more than just a squeak.
His smirk grew as he caught the obvious fear in her voice and movements. "Yeah, you can," he answered easily as he reached down and threw her over his shoulder. "Let's go have a private conversation."
Despite her best efforts, Temara released a squeak of terror as she ended up on his shoulder. She would have pleaded for the others in the room to help her had she not known that they didn't know her and that her kidnapper was a very dangerous individual.
"P-put me down!" she exclaimed slamming a fist against his back and trying to kick out of his grip.
Grimmjow opted not to listen to her. Instead he headed over to the window and pulled it open. Temara had to suppress a scream, thinking he was going to toss her out of it. He didn't, but he did do something almost equal in terrifying experiences. He deftly leapt like a cat from the window sill onto a sturdy branch of the tree outside the window. Temara had the gut lurching feeling of momentary freefall followed by her gut impacting into his shoulder and she lost her wind.
"Still feel like struggling?" He laughed, holding her with one arm while maintaining his balance on the tree branch with the other.
She coughed from the sudden lack of air and he took that to mean yes. Once he was sure he had her secure on his shoulder and that she wasn't going to struggle any longer, he leapt from the tree to the ground and walked over to a remote corner of the school grounds. Here he unceremoniously dropped her to the ground where he loomed over her.
"Wh-what do you want?" she panted trying to get her breath back.
"First, what's your name?" he demanded firmly.
Temara didn't feel there was any reason for her to lie about her name considering there was no getting away from him until she did what he wanted. As long as she didn't reveal what she knew, she should be okay. "Temara," she answered nervously. "W-why do you want to know?"
"Easy," he answered pulling her to her feet and trapping her against the surrounding stone wall. "How much did you hear the other day between Nnoitra and me?"
Temara's gut churned in fear as her worst fears were suddenly confirmed. He had seen her outside that window, and somehow he remembered her, and somehow later recognized her. She swallowed down her fear, then repeated when it got stuck in her throat. "I don't know what you're talking about."
In response to this, his hand reached up and grabbed a fistful of her hair, pulling her head back. She gave a small shout of pain, stifled off when she bit down on her lip to muffle the noise.
"Sure you don't," he drawled.
"I swear," she gasped, her body trembling under his. "I didn't hear anything. You're confusing me for someone else."
He pulled some more, making her hiss with pain that was enough to bring tears to her eyes. "You're a shitty liar."
"I, I," she stuttered holding onto the hand that was gripping her hair. "I'm sorry. I had no idea. I swear I won't say anything to anyone else."
Grimmjow smirked and slowly let go of her hair. "No you won't," he said firmly. "But you'll have to give me something to keep from losing something important to you."
Temara breathed heavily as she ran a hand through her hair trying to keep herself under control. "I-I don't, have anything."
"Sure you don't," he murmured gripping her chin and directing her face toward his. "With the way no one seems to know you're even there I'll bet you know just about everyone in this school by now." Her eyes widened at this and he knew he hit the nail on the head. "Thought so. So you're going to give me all the information you've got on everyone...starting with the staff of this place."
"Wha…?" She couldn't believe what he was asking. Give up all of her information to a crazed Yakuza member? "I can't do that."
"Sure you can," Grimmjow said with a smirk. He released her chin, giving her the illusion of reprieve for about two seconds before moving his hand to grip around her throat. He pushed her further against the wall, enough to make her gasp and struggle to get a proper breath. "You'll do it, and without complaint. You'll give me all the info you got, and you won't give it to anyone else. If you even think of trying to run or hide from me…" He leaned in closer and could practically smell the terror wafting off of her shivering body. "…I'll hunt you down, I'll find you, and then I'll rape you."
She gasped for air as her hands gripped at his trying to get him to release her. After a few moments he relaxed his grip enough for her to answer. "O-okay! Okay, I'll do it," she exclaimed hoping he'd let her go.
"Good," he murmured letting go of her throat and watching her slump against the wall. "I want you to bring me all the staff information tomorrow. If I find out you're holding out on me with anything, I'll have to start dealing out some punishment."
She panted and nodded her head in understanding. She couldn't wrap her mind around how on earth she'd managed to get herself into this mess, but a part of her hoped against hope that someone...anyone would save her.
Suddenly Grimmjow's attention shifted and he moved his head to avoid a rock from hitting his skull. It rebounded off the school building wall with a loud cracking noise, indicating the force behind its projector.
"Hey, you bastard!"
Temara looked up to see someone coming towards them, though she didn't need to after hearing the shout. Her heart filled with both hope and dread as she saw Renji marching in their direction. His attention was on Grimmjow, and he looked none too happy.
Grimmjow surveyed him as though he were starring at an ant. "The hell do you want?"
"I want you to back away from her," he answered gesturing to who he was referring to with his hand. "It's obvious even from back here she doesn't want to be there."
Temara was shivering now...and for good reason. The look on Grimmjow's face looked murderous and considering what he did for a living she was sure it wasn't just for show. She was about to come forward and tell Renji that she was fine and that he should just forget about it when Yakuza man beat her to it.
"If you want to keep your hair attached to your head I suggest you beat it," he declared with his evil smirk in place.
"Not a chance," Renji declared popping his knuckles. "I'm not just gonna leave a girl alone when she's in trouble."
"Tch, you're pathetically weak," Grimmjow laughed. "I'm gonna enjoy tearing you apart over a girl you don't even know."
Renji was the first to strike, rushing forward with a keen swiftness. He was the athletic sort, that much Temara knew. He was on the basketball team and also in the kendo club, where he was second best only to Ikkaku Madarame. He was also a runaway, living on his own. He was a fighter, and yet he was so righteous. He was willing to fight another male over a girl whom, as Grimmjow stated, he didn't even know. He had probably just heard someone mention Grimmjow taking a female student against their will. That was enough for him to come to her aid.
Temara felt like crying, because that amazing kindness was going to get him hurt badly, and she didn't want that to happen.
The red head took a few swift punches, and Grimmjow dodged, easily matching him blow for blow. At one point, the blue haired teen threw a hard punch which Renji blocked with both arms. While deflected, it had momentarily knocked the red head off balance. Grimmjow saw this and was quick to take advantage, bringing his knee up and catching Renji square in the diaphragm.
He gasped for air at the blow and dropped to his knees coughing while the blue haired man did a little jig in place. He was enjoying it. Glaring at the seemingly triumphant Grimmjow, Renji slowly tried to push himself back up, but the blow was bad enough where he could hardly move. Temara watched him go down and a hand flew involuntarily up to her mouth in shock. She was sure the blue haired man could do a lot worse and she hoped that Renji got the hint he couldn't win and just left.
Grimmjow wasn't about to give him enough time to decide either way though as he stepped towards the downed redhead. Before he could so much as lay another hand on him though, Temara seemed to have found a small bit of courage and moved towards the two shouting at them to stop. Just as she reached them, Grimmjow shoved her full in the chest with enough force to lift her off the ground and smack into the wall where she slid to the ground.
"Hey, that's not cool man," Renji muttered forcing himself to his feet. "You never hit a woman."
Grimmjow turned back to him and grinned. "Glad to see you ain't done yet," he laughed. "It would have been boring if you'd just given up that easily." Then his fist shot out catching the redhead's jaw before grabbing him by the front of his uniform. "But, if you really want me to leave her alone, just tell me her fucking name."
Renji bared his teeth and gripped the wrist of the hand holding his t-shirt. "Like I would tell you," he growled, trying to twist Grimmjow's hand to release him
The blue haired male merely laughed. "As I thought… you probably don't even know. If that's the case…" Grimmjow leaned forward and head butted Renji before dropping him. "…then just get out of my face."
Temara closed her eyes in a wince but opened them back up almost immediately. "Renji, just leave!" she shouted.
For the first time in years, Renji looked at her. He was tired, in pain, but his eyes still carried determination. There wasn't any recognition, just a small smile, a silent assurance that he was going to help her.
Temara grit her teeth shutting her eyes in the hope of ending the scene before her. Why did boys have to be so stupid? He didn't even know her, he couldn't remember her...why did it matter to him what Grimmjow did to her? She was happy he was at last looking at her, but not at this cost.
Grimmjow moved forward to deal a final blow to the panting redhead, but before he could do anything more a large meaty fist came out of nowhere and coldclocked him in the jaw. He reeled for a moment but quickly got his bearings back and glared at the offending party. It was Sado, he was now standing in front of Renji his eyes flicking back and forth from the blue haired man to Temara sitting against the wall on the ground. She saw his fists clench at his side in anger.
"Leave now," he ordered Grimmjow in a threatening tone. He didn't want to fight as he promised Temara he wouldn't, but if his sister's attacker refused to leave he wouldn't hold back.
Grimmjow looked between the two males, one of which was steadily pulling himself back up off the ground, and laughed manically. "You think this makes any difference?" he asked, readying himself for another round. "I'll tear you BOTH apart!"
Temara was back up on her feet in panic. She couldn't get Sado involved. Couldn't bear to see him get hurt. Just as she was about to rush forward again, another voice made itself known.
"What the hell is going on over here?!"
They all looked to see the female PE teacher, Yoruichi Shihoin, striding up to the group, a stern glare in her cat-like eyes. "If I wasn't mistaken, the class bell rang quite some time ago." She stopped just two yards short of them and placed her hands on her hips. "If that's the case then why are you all here when you should be in class?"
No one answered at first and she took in the scene before her. Grimmjow was standing at one end with his fists raised ready to go for a few rounds, a panicked Temara was standing near the wall panting slightly, and a clearly injured Renji stood surprised next to a ticked off looking Sado. Just from that it was clear what had happened. Grimmjow had been messing with another poor girl and the two boys had gone to help her themselves instead of getting a teacher's help.
"Forget it, you three get to class," she ordered pointing at Grimmjow, Sado and Temara. "Abarai, go to the nurse and get those taken care of. Then get back to class. I don't want to see this again."
The two boys nodded at her and went to Temara's side who was still in shock. Grimmjow on the other hand just glared at Youruichi for a time. Eventually, he shrugged and headed off in the opposite direction as the others. It didn't matter to him if he was stopped, he'd already gotten what he wanted after all. He was going to make sure she never forgot their little agreement.
Even though the crisis had been averted, Temara wasn't at all comforted. She knew that a mere scolding by a teacher wasn't going to stop Grimmjow. One way or another, he would corner her again. She felt sick and shaky and nearly collapsed onto the ground. Thankfully, her brother was there to steady her. All it took was just a touch of his warm hand to stabilize her. She waited a few moments before gently brushing his hand off.
"I'm fine," she murmured. She reached up, touching the back of her head where it'd hit the wall. She flinched at the twinge it caused and as she pulled her hand away there was a small smear of blood on her fingers.
"Come on, you both need to go to the nurse," Sado declared to her and Renji.
Temara wasn't sure she really wanted to spend time around Renji after what happened, but she silently nodded and followed the pair. As they walked, Renji glanced over at her. "Hey, you okay? He didn't… do anything to you, did he?"
To give herself time to answer she ran a hand through the front of her hair, moving it momentarily out of her face. "Other than the shove you saw during the fight, no," she answered keeping her voice from wavering.
Sado frowned at this. He could tell that she was hiding something and knowing that she was keeping something from him was irritating.
"Well, I'm glad we were able to help make sure nothing else happened," Renji expressed keeping a hold of his injured gut. It was going to be difficult working with that injury. "By the way, your eyes are pretty amazing. Are you new or something? I'm pretty sure I would've noticed eyes like that."
Temara stiffened before letting her hair fall back into place. "Whatever…"
Renji was a little perplexed at getting blown off, but he figured she was still shaken up and just didn't feel like talking at the moment. When they got to the nurse's office, Temara went in first. Before following her in, Renji turned to Sado.
"So… IS she new?" he asked the other male.
Sado slowly shook his head. "No…" he looked as though he might say more, but then just turned and walked away. "Thanks for helping her."
Renji was surprised by this and was about to stop the larger man from leaving without some sort of explanation but thought better of it. He then went inside to see that she was already being attended to by the kind gentle nurse. When she'd finished cleaning the head wound, she went to collect some bandages leaving the pair alone.
"So, what's your name?" he asked casually moving to sit on the bed across from her.
"Doesn't matter," she muttered staring at the ground. This really wasn't the way she imagined him finally noticing her. She imagined something a lot less life threatening with a horse drawn carriage. Impossible she knew, but she still hoped for something better than this at least.
When Unohana came back she gingerly wrapped Temara's head before declaring herself finished. "The cut wasn't too deep, so you won't need stitches, and there was no cranial damage," she informed with a smile. "Just try not to 'fall' into anymore walls, alright, Miss Yasutora?"
Temara flushed profusely but nodded. "Can I go now?"
"Of course," she said handing the girl a slip of paper. "Here's a pass. Enjoy the rest of your day."
Renji watched her leave without giving him so much of a glance or goodbye. Yasutora… why did that sound so familiar?
Mikoto stood on the rooftop, pressed up against the fence that bordered the edges in order to keep students from falling off. Her fingers gripped between the fence links as she looked out over the school grounds. No sign of her… It was lunch time, and she'd been waiting for several minutes now for Temara to show so they could have their tutoring session. So far though, the wallflower girl was a no show.
Mikoto sighed, thinking about how Temara showed up to class late with a head bandage on. All she'd been able to do was alert a couple of her male classmates to what was going on. She hadn't been able to prevent her from getting hurt. She wondered if she might have been the cause of Temara's injury. It's because she'd let herself slip. Even if it was only for a moment, she'd shown emotion.
"This is a rare occurrence," a voice murmured from directly behind her. She hadn't even heard anyone enter the roof area. "What could possibly make you make such a face?"
"What face?" she asked casually. As soon as he spoke, her face went deadpan and any emotion on it had disappeared. At her question, he placed a hand on the fence in front of her and although he never touched her, she could feel him inches from her.
"You were looking worried about something," he told her with a small chuckle. "Is it anything I can help with?"
"I'm not worried," she insisted.
To prove as much, she allowed her fingers to slip out of the links they'd been curled around and slowly turned around to face him. He was quite close, almost as close as Nnoitra and Grimmjow had been when the two had cornered her. Yet with this man, she didn't feel cornered. His aura wasn't predatorial or threatening, rather it was playful and inquisitive.
"What are you doing up here, Ichimaru-sensei?" she asked mildly.
"When I have the time, I enjoy coming here for the view." He didn't move away as he spoke, but rather kept his hand rested against the chain link. Keeping her half trapped, giving her the option of escape.
Mikoto nodded in understanding. "It is nice…" she murmured, turning her head to gaze over the grounds once more.
"So why are you up here little Koto?" he asked curiously.
"I'm waiting for Temara-chan," she answered truthfully. "We're supposed to have our tutoring session today up here."
"I see," he murmured thoughtfully. "And where is little Mara?"
Mikoto paused as she continued to look out over the schoolyard. "She hasn't come yet," she murmured showing nothing.
"Hmm, you don't suppose it has anything to do with that accident she had earlier today right?" he asked seemingly innocently. "I heard from Unohana-san that she ran right into a wall. Surprising since she's usually so observant."
"Yeah… it might be that," she acknowledged with a nod. It was highly probable that after everything that happened that morning, she didn't want to have to deal with Mikoto on top of it all. "Maybe she just got tired of me." The tone wasn't self pitying, but matter of fact.
"Now whatever could you mean?" the silver haired teacher asked, his face taking on a look of confusion before smiling again. "I can't imagine how anyone could get tired of you."
"It's not that hard," she said, looking back at him. "You will too, eventually." That's how it always worked. Her teachers, her friends and acquaintances, her new family, they would all get sick of her sooner or later. And when that time came, she would be alone again.
"You don't say…" He leaned in closer to her, his eyes opening just a sliver. "And suppose I were to prove you wrong?"
Mikoto didn't say anything. She was too busy staring at his irises. It was very rare you saw eyes that were such an attractive shade of pale blue. And it was so rare she got to see them, it was sort of an odd treat.
"I'm not sure," she answered truthfully. "I don't think it's really possible though."
"Oh really, then why don't we just wait and see," Gin murmured before closing his eyes again. "Well, I have to return to my classroom now and prepare for our next lesson. It'll be fun so try not to be late now."
Mikoto nodded obligingly and he pulled away. He turned and left just as another person entered the rooftop area. Shuhei paused, curiously watching the English teacher walk by. When he disappeared into the building, the male teen approached Mikoto with a slightly concerned expression.
"Everything alright?" he asked.
Mikoto nodded, slipping on a smile. "Yes, Ichimaru-sensei was just enjoying the view with me." She cocked her head to the side a little. "Did you need something? I didn't think you usually came up here. You hate heights after all."
"That's… I got over that I long time ago," Shuhei stuttered, his cheeks tinting slightly pink. "Anyway… I know this is a strange request but, I was wondering if perhaps you might… like to come over to my place for a bit after school?"
"Your place?" This was rather unexpected, thought Mikoto.
"Yeah, I was wanting to show you something," he answered rubbing the back of his head. "So, how about it?"
"Um...sure," she replied with a smile. "I'll have to let Urahara-san know first though."
"Okay, so how about we meet out front when school lets out?" he asked as he began to relax and smiled.
"Sure, I'll see you then."
CM: Looks like things are looking up for Mikoto. Her English teacher is showing her that she matters and her old friend is trying to get closer to her. Maybe she isn't as unlikeable as she thought.
Shipponaut: Too bad Temara isn't having as much luck as Grimmjow is taking a very close interest in her. Can she manage to stay on his good side without giving him too much information or will her first year of High School turn into a living nightmare? Keep reading to find out.
