A/N: So, it's been a long time. I've kind of lost steam with this one, but I'm getting back into it. This one is a bit short, but the next will be longer. I wanted to get something started and posted. This chapter is for you 27kirune12, you helped me decide to just get on with it ;-)

Chapter Ten

The King sat on his throne of bones with bloody hands and bare chest, eyes narrowed and glowing, jaw clenched tight. His hair was now so dark a blue they had no choice but to call it black. The sky outside was like an abyss with one great glowing eye, reflecting Grimmjow. Four of his Espada knelt at his feet, heads bowed and shoulders hunched under an invisible weight. For the first time in their existence they were afraid. Grimmjow was wild, rough, bloodthirsty. They were used to that. He might kill Hollow out of hand, but he looked after them too, he even had a kennel of Adjuchas. Their King had even hunted for the Espada and fed them with Human souls.

The creature on the throne now would only kill those too weak to fend for themselves, no matter if they were loyal to him, no matter that it would leave him to walk the sands of Hueco Mundo alone. Things had been getting better, he'd almost been his old self again. Something had him had snapped or broken, he'd raped and beaten the orange haired boy he'd brought back with him. His second in command was glaringly absent. The walls of the palace shook as the sands of the first sandstorm they'd ever had slammed against it.

"Primera." Starrk raised his head but did not meet the gaze of his King. "Take the bitch and drop him at Reaper headquarters. If your commander resists, put her down."

Starrk stood immediately and left the throne room while shock flashed through the remaining Espada. Throwing away the boy was one thing, he was a Reaper and had tried to chain their King to him so he was of no consequence, that was Grimmjow's right, but orders to put down the one he'd claimed as blood? The one he'd made his heir?

They could all hear the resulting yelling and cursing of Starrk's orders. Nelliel was furious. Spiritual pressure was throat chokingly thick in the atmosphere. Nelliel was strong, but if Starrk wanted to let loose he'd crush her. Soon all that was left was the absence of Starrk and the sound of Nelliel's tears.

Isshin hung up the phone and growled to himself. Yamamoto wasn't his superior, but the old man still insisted on trying to give him orders. He in no way approved of Ichigo's actions. He should have handled it better, forbade Ichigo from joining the Reapers or better yet, left the red haired Reaper to die on his steps. It seemed like a harsh thought, but Isshin would do anything for his family and the Reapers weren't a part of that.

Regardless of his hatred, he still needed to discuss matters with the old man. The walk was a short one, his long and powerful legs eating up the distance effortlessly. He may have been in no recent battles, but he was still a warrior. The gray castle like building loomed before him, unsuccessful in intimidation. He entered like he lived there and headed straight for the old man's wing. A tremor shook the building, paintings fell and he heard a few things break. Isshin rode it like a wave, never losing balance. The steel doors he'd just walked through shuddered in their frame with the resounding boom of something banging against them.

Reapers came from everywhere, running for the doors with swords in their hands. Isshin got there first, swinging the doors open and fury cracked through his bones and rushed through his blood, burning his flesh. He only knew it was Ichigo because of his hair and even that was mostly covered with blood. Various cries went up around him at the sight of an Espada disappearing through a Gargantua. Isshin lifted his son from the ground, cuddling him close to his chest and pushing effortlessly through the gathered and nosy Reapers. He headed for the Yamamoto's wing once again with a grimace.

He wanted Grimmjow Jaegerjaques' head. And he would get it.

Grimmjow glared at his sister. Her face was wet with shed tears and she wouldn't meet his eyes. He didn't care whether or not if she looked at him, he just wanted her to answer him.

"You shouldn't have to take this long to give me your answer, Nelliel." He growled. "Will you fight with me or against me?!"

Nelliel stood in agitation and yelled in return, "Neither one, Grimmjow! What do you want me to say?"

Grimmjow rushed forward, grabbing Nelliel around her throat and forcing her eyes to meet his.

"Neither, is not an option." He hissed into her face. "You will fight with me or you will fight against me, Nelliel. Will you do battle with me?"

Nelliel glared, and the longer her silence lasted, the tighter he gripped the circumference of her throat. Her gray eyes dropped to the floor.

"I will fight with you, Grimmjow, if the only other choice is to give you my back. I don't agree with what you did and I may even hate you for it, but no Human is worth turning my back on my family."

Grimmjow nodded and let her go.

"Hate me if you like." He told her quietly. "But you will obey me."

Nelliel knelt at his feet and said nothing else.