Here we go again!! Sorry it took me a bit to update but this chapter is finally back toward the length I like. ^_^ I want to reiterate that this story is rated M, for language, lemons, drug references, etc. If you do not like that then don't read. If you don't care though, then please read and review, I will love you long time, hahaha. I believe the bubbly mood from me is because this chapter is just plain fun. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Also, big big thank yous to fuzzi for the comment and add: I believe I love you. 

I do not own bleach, nor any stores, brands, or types of food mentioned in this chapter.

Chapter 10

In the Real World

Grimmjow

I clutched to the frame of the white hummer as we went careening off a cliff toward the garganta. How the hell did they talk me into this bull shit?! No wonder human men hated shopping if it got them into positions like this. I looked at Mirella strapped in the back seat laughing her head off. Maybe it is worth it…

Yesterday was a very long day. When she finally woke up, Mirella looked stunned. Then she refocused and sat up, seeing me sitting in a chair next to the bed. As soon as she saw me, her eyes welled with tears as her face turned it a mask of heart breaking pain. She buried her face back in the pillows and began to sob. I tried putting my hand on her to comfort her, but she only seemed to sob harder as I tried to give comfort, albeit awkwardly. Fucking humans.

She finally got herself under control and sat up, her face puffy and eyes swollen. She looked at me and bit her lip as if fighting back more tears, quickly throwing her glance across the room. "Why won't you look at me, Mirella?" I asked her gently.

"I can't tell you," she said in a voice devoid of emotion. "It only makes it worse when you look at me like that." She added this after seeing the closest thing to concern I knew of plastered on my face."

"Do you read minds?" I asked, putting a smile in my voice.

"No. I just read expressions, I'm very good. That's how I knew your mind was in the gutter in the desert. You licked your lips a certain way."

I was encouraged by the longer answer from her, but the lack of emotion in her voice still worried me. "Would you rather me be an asshole then?" I asked trying to keep a playful banter going.

"No, then no one would be able to get near me. Then again, that might be better…." She let her voice fade off, the emptiness wanting words hopelessly. There were no words to fill the void that had obviously formed.

I took a deep breath and sat down at the foot of her bed she raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What? I'm tired."

She gave a small grin that disappeared quicker than it had turned up and stared at the white walls. "I'm probably going to die. I barely got a chance to live…"

Then I understood. After all, every Hollow is bitter about dying. That's why we are hollows, we can't let go of life. I placed my hand over hers, and she grabbed it as if I was the only anchor she could reach to keep her from falling. The tears began anew. I pulled her closer so that she could lean into my shoulder. I fought the heat in the pit of my stomach. She wrapped her arms around my waist and cried until I told her to get ready for Aizen's meeting.

She fixed her clothing, put some more of the white shit in her hair that made it curl, and even took a few bites of the now-cold lunch that I had brought for her.

During the meeting I believed that Aizen was going to shit himself. It was great. I felt bad for thinking it was so awesome considering it was the state she was in that made her so argumentative. I did have to step in when she began to get emotional again. Boy did I get some weird looks for that one.

After the meeting, she resumed crying and I resumed pillow duties. I managed to make her eat some dinner and change into her own pajamas, aka another t-shirt of mine, since she still hadn't gotten the new wardrobe after incinerating the last batch. "You owe me some t-shirts by now, ya know?"

She replied, still emotionless, "I'll get you some tomorrow. Aizen- sama can kiss my ass."

She lay down in bed and I settled next to her, petting her hair. She finally passed out with a wimper and I stayed next to her until I was sure she was asleep.

When she woke up I braced myself for the scream about her new clothes. When none came, I got worried. I looked around the door to see her standing in surprisingly modest human clothes and a gigai.

"What are you all dressed up for?" I teased.

I must have startled her because a ribbon of flame surrounded us but disappeared as soon as she saw it was me. "Sorry, you startled me," she said softly. "Today is shopping day! And these were left in my room for me. I was kinda weirded out when I saw the body though. I know its fake but it's still creepy."

I was glad that she was finally showing interest in what she was saying. The gigai covered up the torn look from the night before. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. I think this will be what I need, nothing like spending Aizen's money on stuff he hates!"

I laughed and was rewarded with a fairly full smile. I quickly changed, throwing on one of my now few t-shirts. We left the rooms and went to Aizen's throne room for him to open the garganta. My eyes bugged when I saw Halibel dressed to go with us.

"Do you have a problem Grimmjow?" Aizen asked, a sly smile playing on his lips.

I decided not to give him the satisfaction. "Not at all," I said cheerfully.

Mirella walked over to Halibel, ignoring Aizen and I. "Hello. I'm Mirella. I'm glad you're coming with us." She held out her hand for Halibel to shake it.

I nearly laughed out loud at the shocked expression on Halibel's face, so much easier to read than in her true form. She gingerly reached out and shook Mirella's hand, allowing herself a polite greeting in her gravelly voice.

Aizen turned quickly toward Mirella. Handing her a handbag he said there is a card in there with $250,000 on it and its PIN number, you should be able to get whatever you want. Grimmjow has been approved to open the garganta to bring you back. Halibel is there for extra protection. You all have cell phones as well in case you get separated. I have decided that it would be best if you went somewhere that you wouldn't be known. You will go to New York City."

"But my cat…" Mirella said weakly.

Aizen rolled his eyes. "I will send Ulquiorra to retrieve it from your old home. We cannot run the risk of people seeing you in your home town. Szayel can run a test where you came in and trace it backward so Ulquiorra will be in the right place."

"I understand. I need my cat. I'll get food and supplies today. Thank you, Aizen," she said meekly.

He gave a satisfied smile and let us through the garganta.

We appeared in the bustling city, and Mirella and Halibel wasted no time in finding the stores. I was pushed from one store to another loaded down with a few bags of clothes, but mostly decorations for rooms, paint, and anything else they could find. Mirella decided that she was tired of walking and got a taxi to the outskirts of town where she bought the aforementioned hummer, choosing white so that Aizen would bitch less.

We entered what Mirella called a couture thrift shop. I watched the girls get along famously as they giggled over the racks of clothes. I couldn't help but feel a bit of jealousy at not being her only friend but quickly got my mind back to work. All work, no play.

We had a wonderful lunch down town of something called Tandoori chicken and the girls headed back to the store. After combing a few more racks they decided it was time to shop for me. True to her word Mirella bought more t-shirts for me as well as whatever else she wanted to see me in. We went to a café for coffee before heading home. "Don't you think Aizen will be upset at you for buying stuff for us?" I teased her.

Same as before, Mirella callously said, "Aizen can go fuck a monkey, but I'll be happy to take his credit card any day."

Halibel nearly choked on her iced mocha-thing. Once, she got her breath back, she excused herself, giggling all the way to the bathroom.

"Thanks for putting up with me today, Grimmjow," she said with a small smile.

I felt myself feel warm at her thanks and hoped my gigai wasn't betraying me by blushing. Judging by her slowly deepening smile, it had. "It was nothing, just doing my job," I tried to say nonchalantly. I failed.

She had a hurt expression on her face and I quickly realized how I sounded. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out like that," I mumbled. When I got no response I looked at her. She was staring off in the distance the sad look back in her eyes. I cringed, knowing that I had put it there. I leaned over to her and put my hand on her shoulder. She looked at me and I looked straight in her stunning eyes. "Mirella, I am sorry. It may have been my job to come but I can't think of a better person to be here with. Honestly."

The smile returned, though slightly smaller than I had hoped. As she looked at me, gauging her response I decided to not wait on her. I wrapped her in a close hug that I was happy to feel her return. As I pulled away I gently ran my lips over hers, no heavier than a butterfly's wing. She gasped lightly and looked t me wide eyed.

I began to get nervous about how offended she may actually be until she reached out and grabbed my arm. She pulled me close and wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me again. I could feel her soft lips pressing against mine. I flicked my tongue against her lower lip and to my surprise she opened her mouth, granting me entry. I gently traced her lips with my tongue before gingerly pushing it into her mouth.

The taste of her way amazing. I nearly groaned as all my senses were flooded by the taste, smell, and feel of her. She pulled away far before I was ready to let her go, but I saw Halibel smirking next to us.

"Don't worry, I won't say a word. Not that Aizen would care, if it makes her happy," Halibel said. I noticed a trace of sadness in Halibel's impossible- to -read tone.

No way, please no Halibel. She's mine, you cannot like her like that! I screamed to myself. Outardlyy, I just said thank you.

Just then, Mirella jumped and said she'd be right back; I stood to follow her. "No, I don't think that's a good idea. It might freak him out."

"Him? Him who?" I asked harshly.

She just smiled sweetly and went to the ATM next to the café and pulled out a couple hundred dollars. She then crossed the street into a shop under mine and Halibel's watchful stare. She flirted with the guy at the counter for a minute, handing him a 50 dollar bill. He smiled, letting her into the back room, watching her ass the entire walk there. I began to feel uneasy hen she didn't come out immediately, but she came out of the back with a cough, a smile, and what looked a shopping bag for designer clothes.

I was completely puzzled by her actions until I caught a whiff of the normally Starrk-like smell. "I didn't think that you smoked." I told her.

"It's just occasional, I just stocked up since I didn't know how often I could come here," she said. I saw the quick flash of sadness in her eyes again and I knew the words she hadn't spoken, or how long I even have left.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and led her to her new hummer. We all piled in and drove out of the borders of the city. We began to drive around every deserted back road (after all, we didn't have to go any specific place; we could open a garganta anywhere.)

This was why Halibel had taken over driving and the girls were getting a kick out of launching the packed hummer into the garganta from off a cliff face over a quarry. Mirella held on to my shoulder as the scenery changed drastically. The hummer spun to a stop, tires squealing in the middle of Aizen's throne room.

Mirella rolled down the window, giggling at Aizen's shocked expression. "Thank you, Aizen!" she cooed while batting her eyelashes. She tossed him the credit card. "There should be al little bit left on it! Let's go, Hali!"

Halibel floored the pedal, letting out a cloud of smoke, and we went flying through the giant hallways of Las Noches toward our room.

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I hope everyone enjoyed the slight bit of juiciness, more will come. I apologize if any readers don't like the drug references, but I did rate it M for a reason, lol. Please R&R, I desperately need motivation and that is how I get it, people, so don't be shy!! I want to hear your voice!

~Echo