Grimmjow had wandered the halls for a while after the commotion inside the room had died down. There were guards here and there, he couldn't get into any the other rooms without Rangiku so he couldn't see what other prisoners were here but he could tell they were mostly arrancar. He found that odd, and it added to his curiosity of why Ichimaru had become less loyal, perhaps something had happened in Heuco Mundo to undermine Aizen's authority.

Eventually, Grimmjow found himself back outside Rangiku's door. He could still hear crying but it was not the boy this time. He raised his hand to knock but stopped himself. He didn't know why, but she'd kicked him out for a reason. He sat back down and at some point as he listened to her sobs, he drifted to sleep.

Grimmjow woke to a soft touch on his cheek. He was still propped up next to the door but when he opened his eyes he saw the watery eyes and sad smile of the beautiful healer.

"Rangiku."

She pulled back her hand and smiled sadly at him.

"Come inside." he didn't question or argue, he just followed her back into the room. The exam table was empty, he glanced around the room but did not see the boy.

"Where is he?"

"In our sleeping quarters." she nodded to the closed door to the small room where she and Toshiro went to sleep every night while Grimmjow slept on the couch in the exam room.

"Is he alright?"

She began to nod, but her lips trembled and new tears began to fall. Before he realized what he was doing, he had her in his arms, her head pressed against his chest and a hand stroking the back of her hair. She gave into the touch immediately, her hands wrapping into the fabric of his shirt as more sobs shook her.

"Rangiku, you know it wasn't me right?" he felt her head nod against him but no explanation of her behaviour before. He didn't pursue it. She was exhausted and eventually he lead her into her room. Before he left, he looked over the kid. He was unconscious, his wounds patched and healed to the best of Rangiku's abilities. But even in sleep his features were tensed in pain and turmoil. There was something wrong with him, something Rangiku did not want Grimmjow to know, that must be why she'd screamed at him to leave. But he too was tired, and there was nothing to be done about it. There were a lot more important secrets in Las Noches for him to uncover.

At least, that's what he thought.

"I can't let you go alone this time, Ichigo." Kisuke had sat and listened to Ichigo's argument while Orihime hoped the shop keeper would put an end too all this nonsense.

"So you agree?"

"I agree that it is even beyond my capabilities to open a Garganta this time. I don't know how Hitsugaya ever did it but he put me to shame. The last one through the original gate Kurotsuchi made was Captain Kuchki three years ago."

"Rukia said they called him the boy genius."

"Yes, and now they call him traitor, like me."

"Its not right. He was only doing what the rest of us want to, what Byakuya did."

"But he left when the Head Captain needed him to defend the Soul Society. He made his choice and if he ever comes back he'll have to live with that."

"Well I don't take orders from Soul Society, and I'm going back to Heuco Mundo."

"You will get them to open the gate, yes."

"And then I'm going through."

"No Ichigo, then I am going through."

"What?"

"You're human, you'll slow me down."

"But Kisuke–"

"Ichigo, this will be your last part to play in this battle, and you need to accept it. I had hoped you would move on when you started university."

"Well you were wrong. What will you do anyway?"

"More than you could ever do as a human. Besides, you know Aizen's only interested in your hollow. If he really did get his hands on you, you may never come back to Soul Reaper or human form. Would you really take that risk?"

He felt Orihime's gaze on him but did not return it.

"Then lets train again. Maybe there is a way to conquer it."

"We decided long ago it was too dangerous." Urarah said seriously.

"Then I take it back. I don't want you to go, you'll only be killed or captured."

"Thanks for your confidence."

"You know what I mean, the risk is too great." Ichigo sighed, but Urahara set his cup down with a motion that clearly said he'd already made up his mind.

"But you were right." He began, his eyes hidden in the shadow of his hat but locked on Ichigo, "Byakuya and Toshiro only did what the rest of us have wanted to do, and if Grimmjow really does hold the last of Aizen's power, then we'll all be captured or killed soon anyway. The only thing to do is try to make a preemptive strike. And since Soul Society won't, its up to me."

"Then let me go. I might be able to help." Orihime stood up, Ichigo just gaped at her.

"Orihime, no you can't!" he said jumping up next to her.

"If you were going to sacrifice yourself to go, then why can't I? Its not fair Ichigo. Let me take a risk for once. You know my powers have gotten stronger and like you said, how can we let Kisuke go alone?"

"No, Kisuke, she'll slow you down."

Urahrara looked at the girl. Her powers had indeed gotten drastically stronger. But he didn't know if he could cause that kind of pain to Ichigo.

"No, Orihime. I will need you to stay here, protect Ichigo, protect the children and the shop, please."

Her resolve had not failed her but she also saw that he had a point.

"Yes, I will."

Ichigo's shoulders sank in relief, but he was still not pleased with the plan.

"Alright, so how do we do this?"

Urahara let one of his old smiles cross his features. "Oh, it shouldn't be too hard."

"Lord Aizen."

"Yes, Ulquiorra."

"Are you still interested in Ichigo Kurosaki?"

"Why? Have you found him?"

"He was in the protection of the Soul Reaper Kisuke Urahara, but he seems to have returned to school."

"Alone?"

"No, Orihime Inoue is with him."

"Hmmm, how interesting."

"May I ask what is interesting?"

"It is clearly a trap, you must see that Ulquiorra."

"Yes, but I believe we could still take him, even if the Soul Repaer intervened."

"Perhaps, but as interesting as Ichigo Kuroaski's inner hollow is, the real prize is something that was stolen from me long ago."

"The woman."

"Yes. She has many talents I find useful and interesting, and she may be able to speed up the process in Grimmjow's transformation."

"I understand. While the boy and the Soul Reaper are distracted thinking we are after them, I will take the girl."

"Precisely. And maybe she could even fix my broken toy."

"The boy?"

"Yes, there is much I wanted to do to him before his mind broke. Perhaps I will get that chance again."

"I will acquire the girl, Lord Aizen."

"Thank you, Ulquiorra."

Ulquiorra was at the door first thing in the morning. It was time to spar. They went to the large training room, a place where Grimmjow had enjoyed many fights. He was shoved out of his gigai, and he felt the relieving sensation of his freed powers.

"You sure you want to do this?" he teased, facing all four of his remaining brethren. Even with his wounds, they would be hard put to beat him.

"Let's go." Harribel was the first to jump into the fight. Though her face was half hidden, Grimmjow could swear she was smiling behind that collar. I

t was a good fight, all of them joined in, Grimmjow's powers trumping their number, though they landed a fair few blows. But it was a chance to blow off steam that had been building, a chance to let himself think of nothing but survival rather than the layers of secrets that surrounded Las Noches.

He staggered from a particularly hard blow from Yammy but landed a stunning one on Ulquiorra as he fell back. He then winded Harribel with a swift kick to the abdomen and sent Aaroneiro flying with a cero. He made to strike back at Yammy when a fist clenched over his forearm and he was brought to a sudden halt.

"Ichimaru." he spat in frustration when he saw who had stopped him.

"Feeling some of that old blood lust are we?" He grinned and Grimmjow felt a pang as he realized how easily he'd given in to Aizen's wishes. Renewing his lust for violence was clearly the purpose of this exercise, after all.

"Damn you."

"Now now, no need to be rude. Time to get back in your gigai before you really hurt someone."

He let Grimmjow go but the sixth just stared at the human version of himself. He didn't want to go back, to have his powers trapped again, to be helpless.

"Do it, or I'll make you."

"Screw y–"

Ichimaru struck him at lightening speed, he fell on his back and was back in his gigai, gasping for breath a few seconds later. He leapt to his feet enraged but stopped himself when he saw the satisfied grin on Gin's face. He was losing his battle already, his old self slipping through.

"You'd better get going Ulquiorra. You have important business to attend to today." Gin said turning to the silent espada who just nodded and the four left. As soon as they were gone Ichimaru's smile faded. "Let's get you back."

He put a firm hand on Grimmjow's shoulder and guided him back to Rangiku's room. He was practically thrown inside, and Rangiku looked up with a shock. Ichimaru said nothing but walked right over to their sleeping quarters.

"Gin, what are you–"

But he had already thrown open the door and was inspecting Toshiro.

"Gin!"

The boy was half naked, mostly covered in bandages, and began to shiver when Ichimaru threw the sheets off of him. He roughly checked him over and then left the room just as Rangiku reached him.

"What is it?"

"Nothing." he said shortly to her. "Lord Aizen just wanted a report on his condition.

"Gin."

"What?"

"Why does he do it?" Her voice was heartbreakingly sad and Grimmjow watched in shock as even this man he'd hated so much reached out and gently wiped the tear that trailed down his captive-friend's face.

"Because he's evil."

His words shocked Grimmjow even more and he watched Rangiku sink into Gin's arms like she had in his the night before. But this time the sobs were brief and more contained, there was still some manner of reserve between the two and he withdrew after a few minutes.

"Lord Aizen will be visiting you shortly." He shot at Grimmjow and left. When the door closed, Rangiku turned back to Grimmjow who had sunk to the couch.

"Are you alright?" She asked, sitting beside him. He wanted to ask what the Hell just happened and what was going on between her and Ichimaru, but a cold feeling had just spread its way through his entire body.

"You'd better look after your captain." he said after a moment and she understood. Toshiro was indeed in pain, disturbed from his rest by Ichimaru and looking around in confusion. But Grimmjow didn't see that. All he saw was the exam table, and the door behind it, and all he could do was wait for it to open.

Aizen came quicky. Rangiku this time, had closed the door to her quarters to try to avoid moving her captain. Aizen of course knew she was there but seemed not to mind as long as she was not in the room with them. Grimmjow didn't move from the couch. Aizen slammed his soul out of his body and flung him onto the table, this time on his stomach. Both hands pressed firmly onto the number six and it began.

Somehow it was worse this time. Maybe because it was building on the effects of the last time, but he felt the darkness growing, spreading. Having so much of Aizen's dark influence poured inside him at once caused his body to react against it. His muscles strained against the force keeping him pinned to the table. His bone mask pressed into the cold steel surface as he used everything to try to buck him off, or roll away. But nothing brought escape, or relief, and soon he felt his body begin to shake, the hot tears to roll freely form his eyes.

He barely remembered Aizen rolling him onto his back, checking him over and then pushing him back into his gigai. Things were hazy until he saw her glowing face, and felt those soft hands wrap around his shoulders. He realized he was still crying when she pulled him close to her and the black fabric of her uniform became damp. Then he slipped into true darkness as it all became to much for his conscious mind to bear.