Toshiro had drifted to sleep sometime in his long meditation, attempting to locate Uryu or Ichigo. He woke slumped in a chair in Grimmjow's room to a violent cry. He turned back to see sheets flying off the bed and Grimmjow jumping to his feet.

"Hey, Grimmjow, calm down."

The king's eyes were wild, Toshiro hadn't witnessed the fight but it must have been furious for Grimmjow to have been so wounded. He hadn't witnessed the near madness he'd displayed in the fight, but feelings like that didn't just fade with unconsciousness. It took Grimmjow nearly a minute to come back to his senses. He was in the middle of the room, hand clenched over his heavily bandaged stomach and eyes ablaze.

"We're in Los Noches," he concluded finally, out of breath and he looked himself over. His clothes had been ripped up, he was in his boxer and bandages, a fresh espada uniform had been laid out for him on the corner of his bed but now it was in a pile on the floor. He stepped forward and picked up his pants.

"Grimmjow, you okay?"

Grimmjow shoved sore legs through pants and then tried to put his coat on but failed when he raised his arm and pain lanced through his side.

"Dammit."

"Grimmjow."

"WHAT?" he finally looked up at the boy and his features softened. "Sorry kid. I'm just still worked up, you know."

"Yeah, worse than I've seen in a long time."

"That friggin' kid." He spat. "I told him to run with the hogyoku but he didn't. Damn him. Now he's probably dead and Ichigo's probably taking that thing to Aizen. SHIT!"

"Grimmjow, you really need to calm down. They are still here, Ichigo was in bad shape, he may not have even made it."

Grimmjow eyed him. "Who are you anyway, huh? Are you Soul Society's little bitch now? I saw you out there, you almost killed him, not that I would have blamed you."

Toshiro's features tightened and Grimmjow could see at once he was still the boy he knew even if some of his memories had returned. He turned away from Grimmjow and stared out the window.

"You were the one who stopped me, remember? So what if I get my memories back? Would you really hate me for it?"

Grimmjow sighed and it seemed the last of his agitation faded. He dropped back onto the bed, sitting sorely.

"Toshiro, I didn't mean it."

"You did, you always mean what you say."

"Well, you always see through everything, so you tell me, would I hate you?"

Toshiro didn't answer. Grimmjow remembered those many long silent conversations he'd held with the boy, when he did all the talking and Toshiro could respond with just a look. He half smiled.

"You frustrated the hell out of me back then, but for some odd reason I decided I liked you. I guess no matter what memories you have, that won't change."

Toshiro turned back. "Then don't forget it." He sat next to the espada and looked at his side. "How is it?"

"You did a good job."

"Not as good as I would have liked. Seriously, how is it?"

"It's good enough for us to get going. We need to find them, now."

Grimmjow grit his teeth and forced his arms through his jacket. He stood.

"You need more time." Toshiro protested even though he too, was anxious to get searching.

"I need to find that hollow bastard before he disappears." Grimmjow pushed the window open and jumped onto the ledge. "You ready?"

"Of course."


"They're coming to us." Ichigo smiled and stopped. They had been moving at an easy pace, it seemed Ichigo still need some time to get his strength back. Uryu's hand was still pretty bad but the hollow meat had taken away the trembling in his limbs, even if it had been the worst thing he'd ever swallowed. It filled him with a sort of cold energy, a thrill of power that quickly spread through his limbs, giving him strength. Spiritually, however, it conflicted deeply with his Quincy powers and he felt strange. He moved silently behind Ichigo barely taking in his surroundings, until the other made this announcement.

"What?"

"Grimmjow and the brat. They are moving in this direction. Think they can take me down as a team, ha! Well, we'll let them spend all their energy finding us. Meanwhile, let's fuel up."

It had been about five hours since Ichigo killed the last Gillion. Many of his wounds had closed over bu some were still very tender. This would give him the boost he needed to finish healing and fight the pair.

"So what are you going to do, when they come? You said you need Grimmjow."

"Yes, I need his power to wield the hogyoku in order to free Aizen."

"But he will never help you."

"Well, Ichigo has tried to keep things from me, but I have learned he is very close to that Soul Reaper kid. He may even care what I do to you, but for now I need you."

"You're going to use Toshiro as a hostage?"

"Something like that." Ichigo's head shot to the side "Oh good, there's one."

Uryu felt the rumbled of the earth and then the massive form of a Gillion. Ichigo shot off. He stood uncertain of what to do. Grimmjow and Toshiro were headed this way. Ichigo would be distracted for a few minutes at least. Maybe he could meet up with the other two before his hollow friend came back. He at least had to try.

He heard the unearthly cry of off the Gillion, the earth exploded in a blast of cero near by and he used this to cover his escape. He ran past flying clumps of dirt into the thick of trees. He didn't know how to get out of here, he just had to hope the king and the boy would find him.


"They're down there, I know." Grimmjow said above a piece of dessert that looked like any other to anyone who was unfamiliar with what lay below.

"But I feel nothing."

"Spiritually, neither do I. But I know it in my gut, kid. Where else in this godforsaken place could he have gone to hide?"

"Alright then, do we have a plan?"

Grimmjow looked over at him and shrugged. "Not really. We just have to get that hogyoku from him and survive. We'll figure it out from there."

"Alright but you need to let me take the lead in fighting him this time. You're wounds have weakened you."

"You saying you're stronger than me?"

Toshiro couldn't help the small grin that touched his lips, "Well, I do remember winning quite a few of those sparring matches we used to have."

"Pft, whatever. You just be careful with him, kid. I had the hogyoku on my side when I fought him, you won't until we get it."

"I can't use it even if we get it back. When I found you in that cell and I saw it, it was like it remembered me, remembered what I did to it, and all I could feel was that pain, that all consuming power I thought would rip me apart at the centre of the cataclysm."

Grimmjow knew well. He had witnessed Toshiro's suffering over that memory on a number of occasions.

"Okay, then let me worry about getting it. Now then, you ready to go?"

"Yes."

"Alright, here goes." Grimmjow blasted a cero into the sand to clear at least a bit of a path to ease their descent into the underground forest.

They landed easily on the ground below, guard all ready up, not knowing where the enemy might be.

"He's got to be shielding their spiritual pressure." Toshiro concluded, still unable to sense anything.

"So he's hiding. Maybe he's still hurt?" Grimmjow tried not to sound too hopeful. His side throbbed and his knee was a bit shaky. Toshiro noted his condition, the sweat, his heavy breathing, but they really had no choice but to keep moving forward.

"Maybe. Grimmjow, should you maybe eat or something?"

"What?" he tried to ease his breathing but then he remembered who he was trying to fool. "I don't want to waste time."

"You passing out would waste more time. Go, I'll keep my open."

"Okay, fine." Grimmjow didn't need to feel out for very long to locate enough hollow energy to fuel him. He didn't blame the kid for not wanting to watch, to Soul Reapers, the act of consuming another soul was repulsive. He would make this quick and regroup, even though he knew the kid could hold his own, he didn't want to leave him alone for long.


Uryu came to a panting halt when he became aware of someone watching him. How had his spiritual senses not warned him before now? Seeing him hesitate, a figure jumped out. He was a hulking arrancar, somewhat humanoid but still very anamlistic looking. However it spoke behind its mask and a few other forms trickled out of the woods.

"Its not the white one." It said to the others, "this one is harmless."

"Harmless am I?" Uryu raised his hand and tried to activate his bow. But when he called on his Quincy powers he felt a sharp tug, almost on his heart and recoiled, his arm pulling back to his chest. "What's happening?" he whispered to himself.

"Like I said, harmless." The creature swung and Uryu flew back into a tree. His shoulder cracked against the wood sharply and he fell in a heap at the base. The best he could do was get himself sitting up as the gang moved in on him. He cradled his arm against him, he didn't think it was broken but it might be fractured, not to mention the wound that was already crippling his hand.

"I don't know what a creature like you is doing in this forest, but you look like you could make a tasty meal."

His foot raised to stomp down on the powerless Quincy, but it never fell. Uryu was suddenly in the shadow of the white being, his dark eyes narrowed in wicked smile as he threw down his opponent. The others tried to flee but he pulled out Zangetsu and began cutting them down mercilessly. "I need this one." He said, slicing through hollow flesh. When it was over, he crouched in front of Uryu, "Did you really think it would be that easy to get away? I could tie you up, I just thought you understood that there is no escaping me. Oh well, I forgive easy," he smiled and pulled a lump of flesh from his robes. "I brought back a treat."

"I don't need it."

"Yes you do, look at that arm. This will help." Just like before he forced Uryu to eat it. He forced more down his throat this time and though he was gagging, he felt his body absorb it almost at once. It was a terrible feeling even if he felt his arm strengthen again, even his palm hurt less. He fell back against the tree, waiting for the darkness to pass.

"That's why I can't use my Quincy powers." he groaned out, realizing. "Because these souls conflict with it."

"Well you have to be human in order to be a Quincy." Ichigo said calmly and Uryu's eyes flashed wide.

"What?"

"Well, you stopped being human the moment you ate that first piece of hollow meat. Humans have one soul. Now your body contains many, Gillion are full of them after all. Now, you're something different."

"You bastard."

"Hey, I made you better. You'll learn to like hollow meat, once you realize how strong you are with it."

"Why? Why would you do this to me?"

"Like I said, I need you to carry that for me, I need an ally."

"I am NOT your ally."

"As good as, let me demonstrate." he shut his eyes for a second and concentrated then he stood. "Stand up."

Uryu felt a strange tightening in his muscles and his legs seemed to take command of themselves. He rose, his whole body standing rigidly before Ichigo. The hollow being smiled and raised an arm, Uryu's body compelled him to mimic him.

"You can control me? How?"

"Forgotten power, the oldest of hollow magic. I fed you meat of the same beast I killed and consumed. Now those same souls are in you, fuelling your body. It's a bit tricky, but I can master them as long as they are in you."

He dropped his hold on Uryu and the teen staggered back.

"But I trust I don't need to do it all the time. You can walk by yourself right? And try not to wander off this time, I think it's time we let them find us."

He turned and began walking back the way Uryu had come. He felt deep dread course through his entire being but trudged obediently forward.


Hope you enjoyed, stay tuned for more action ahead!

Riza!