Here with Me

Silence

A soft awakening.

During her stay in Hueco Mundo, Kein found herself many times unconscious from the occasional brutality of her fights with Grimmjow, overuse of her powers, or the more commonly experienced overall exhaustion from both emotional turmoil and physical turmoil of bettering herself in every way imaginable. But of all the times she had ever reawakened from such unconsciousness in the same room under the same dim illumination from the moon outside the window, none of those occasions will ever match the essence of this one moment.

Like always, Kein became conscious once again. Her head as well as her body was dizzy and faint, like she had been out for days. Her eyes fully opened as she found herself starring at an ever familiar ceiling. First was sight and then came sensation as she realized most of her body was covered in bandages, her robes stripped from her except for underwear and a bra, only but the bed sheet covering over her chest as she found it difficult to move. Her body was still fresh with cuts and burns that covered her from head to toe, except oddly enough her face. Her face was untouched.

She gasped as memories of what previously happened suddenly flashed through her mind, all of which brought a pain to her heart, tears easily filling within her eyes as she laid in the bed frozen still, the memories continuing to play through her head until they stopped at the moment she hit the Menos Foregrounds. She remembered entering and setting foot within the darkness of those caverns, but the memories come to blur.

She couldn't remember.

She couldn't remember what had happened after she arrived.

And how…

…how did she end up back here?

Here of all places?

Here that she was forbidden to step foot on ever again.

And then a voice sounded from the darkness…"Kein"…catching her attention immediately. She knew this voice out of any other that brought a familiarity, but how could it be? This voice was the same one that banished her to leave and now it was speaking her name gently?

Sharply turning her gaze towards its sound, her doubts were wiped clean at the figure that sat on the couch on the other side of the room, the same figure that always cast its shadow on her, both in a protective manner and under a watchful eye. It was Grimmjow as it has always been and there he sat, silently upon the couch the same way he did when she first arrived and she had first slept upon his bed as he watched her every move. It was a strange nostalgic feeling as his gaze pierced into hers. Slowly she sat upright as she continued to stare at Grimmjow with a blank and almost curious expression. She wanted to speak, but no words exited her mouth, finding it ever difficult to believe the current situation. Speaking of which, what is the current situation? Why was she back here and what happened in the foregrounds that she could not remember?

"Of all the looks you could be giving me right now, you're giving me that same expression as before."

Tears filled in her eyes as her body stayed frozen still. She didn't want to say or do anything that would interrupt or possibly duplicate what forced her to be banished again…not again.

"You don't remember anything do you?"

Kein tried to think upon it, but nothing came to mind. It was like a black void was pitted between memories like a hole that needed to be filled, but she couldn't fill it, shaking her head lightly in reply to his answer.

"You transformed."

She gasped.

"During your so called rampage, you quickly drained your own energy, leaving you without any means to fight back. A group of Menos Grande came out you and fired Ceros simultaneously. That alone should have killed you right then and there, but it didn't. It woke something up, deep within your Hollow powers and awakened the same type of being that Ichigo became when fighting Ulquiorra, however you weren't as mindless as he was when in that form. You knew what you were doing, even if you weren't completely conscious of what was going on. Somewhere deep inside you had a resolve that drove you and you would not stop until your goal was met. I had no choice but to intercept or you would have destroyed Hueco Mundo or at least a good majority of it. I didn't have to do much of anything though. When you saw me, I guess it put you at a calm that allowed you to release the transformation. You fell unconscious and I brought you back here. You were bleeding all over not to mention burned in various areas."

Destroyed?

The word echoed in her head, but most of all the idea that she had finally reached a level that Ichigo had reached. Despite this monumental achievement however, it did not matter to her. She did not care. Nothing in the world of the living, Soul Society or Hueco Mundo could matter to her as much as this moment because now the situation had changed. Or did it? Did he bring her back because he changed his mind? Or did he simply bring her back to stop her from damaging his home?

"You're not…angry with me?"

Grimmjow flinched slightly. He just told her that she nearly could have destroyed Hueco Mundo under a new transformation and all she could worry about was him being angry with her?

…females…oi…

Standing to his feet with his hands in his pockets like they always were he approached the doorway as he stood within it and answered back, "What you did was stupid beyond belief, but no…I'm not…angry with you."

She watched his every move as she found his answering rather surprising not to mention the tone in his voice. It was relaxed, almost…peaceful. It was like as if nothing had happened.

"You're completely exhausted. Rest up for now."

And then he began to walk away, nearly angering Kein in an instant. That was it? All that training, all that time together only to end in a violent argument, nearly getting killed in the foregrounds and then to be brought back and told to rest up? That wasn't good enough. Something was missing here and she wasn't going to settle for resting up. No ache or throb could hold her back at this point as she forced herself out of bed, yelling from the room.

"Damn it where the HELL are you GOING?! First you banish me and then you bring me back here and tell me to just rest up? WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!"

Near desperate exhausted cries of tear filled anger echoed from the room as she nearly stumbled over on trying to get to her feet, but her body refused to cooperate as she fell to all fours with tears going down her face and dripping gently upon the floor, leaving behind blotted stains of inner hurt.

"You're not angry with me! So obviously something has changed! You didn't just bring me back here to heal so I wouldn't DESTROY YOUR HOME! There's more to it than that ISN'T THERE?! Damn it ANSWER ME! GRIMMJOW!"

What started as emotional tears began to fade into sobs as she managed to her feet again, struggling to the entrance of the room as it was only but a few feet away, however her equilibrium was off causing her a heavy dizziness like some horrible ear infection to throw off her balance. Her vision then tunneled as she was about to black out, but then she tumbled into something strong and warm. When the tunnel vision cleared she looked up to find herself being held up by Grimmjow's hands upon her arms, her hands upon his chest. The two gazed at each other for a moment before she spoke again, but in a much more quite tone, almost like a whisper, but filled with tears.

"There has to be more to it than that…so tell me! Tell me why!" Lowering her head as she grasped upon the front panels of his jacket. "Why did you bring me back?!"

Grimmjow simply sighed as he answered calmly, "You're so damn impatient you know that?"

A bit surprised by the tone of his voice she lifted her head again and looked up at him, panting lightly and still exhausted.

"I was going to wait until you healed before discussing anything further. It's a bit difficult to talk with someone who's emotionally wracked and slipping in and out of consciousness."

His answer was direct, but had a hint of sarcasm to it. Then without given warning, he picked her up in his arms, which took her by surprise as she clutched onto him, trembling and badly needing rest. Carrying her back over to the bed and gently laying her back down upon it, covering her body with the sheet. Having calmed down a bit, she went about wiping away her tears and rubbing the sleep from her eyes as Grimmjow merely sat next to her over the edge of the bed, leaning over so that his forearms rested upon his thighs. He stared solemnly at the other side of the room in silence showing no signs of irritation or frustration. When he felt she was ready to listen he finally spoke.

"When I first met what would become my Fraccion, they looked down upon me because of my drastically smaller size for an Adjuchas form. They thought they could easily devour me, but I quickly proved to them just how capable I was of ripping them to shreds. Recognizing my abilities, they asked me to be their leader, their king. I don't know if they did this because they truly wanted me to lead them to a better path, or because they simply did it out of instinctive fear, but during their journey with me, they wanted to quit. They wanted to just give up."

Listening to Grimmjow talk about his past in his usual deepened voice was soothing to Kein, almost like she was being told a bed time story, but a story that was of a king and his exploits. It was a story she swore she could listen to a thousand times over and never be sick of it. Most of all she recognized the hint of disgust in Grimmjow's voice when he spoke of his Fraccion giving up. He hated quitters because he himself was not a quitter. Not now, not ever.

"With you, it's different. You don't stay by my side for the same reasons they did. You acted on a completely different level of respect and attitude. When I first saw you up in the sky that day when the garganta opened, you didn't look at me like something that needed to be killed or set aside. You didn't look at me like I was some mindless Hollow that needed to be wiped out. You, a Shinigami looked at me with a curiosity that you badly wanted to explore and get to know, not something you wanted to immediately crush. Ever since that day, you continued to fight me like an equal, doing everything you could to prove that you looked at me as an opponent that will always push you on the edge no matter how much stronger we both become."

Looking over his shoulder, he gazed at her as they both caught each other's sight. She couldn't get over the calmness in his eyes. It was so peaceful that it put a calm within herself as he continued on, tossing his gaze back at the middle of the room.

"Most of all, you have proven to me you're not a quitter. There were plenty of moments where you could have easily quit, moments I thought for sure you would quit, but you simply kept going. You say you're going to do something and it happens, even if what you're doing is completely idiotic."

Kein sighed lightly as she tossed her gaze away. Having a chance to reflect back on everything that happened, she felt ashamed and almost embarrassed of what she did. She wasn't suicidal, but she merely reacted on impulse. She just couldn't imagine not being by Grimmjow's side and the thought of being cut off from him, even if he was alive, was just unbearable.

"I'll admit, I thought for sure you would go back to your friends only to have what you're truly worth tainted by their ignorance, that you would just throw away everything I've taught you, have pounded into you with sweat and blood. But you didn't. You would rather die than to forget everything you've gained here. You would rather die than to lose even more that you could uncover and make your rise to the top."

Kein closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a sigh through her nostrils in saddened disappointment. Out of everything that has ever been said, yelled, or shouted between them, did he still not understand her driving ambition above everything, the reason for everything she did? The one resolve that was behind all the others?

"That's not the only—"

"—I know it's not the only reason behind your decisions."

He looked back over his shoulder again as she too lifted up her head to meet his gaze. She had gotten through to him after all.

"But, it is these reasons I have let you stay here, not just for the thrill of battle and not just for the shedding of blood, but because you are like me. You see things the way I do and you understand the things I teach you. You don't fight against it or question it, you simply absorb it and make it your own."

Kein was speechless. She almost couldn't believe the words that were coming out of Grimmjow's mouth. It was like a dream she could feel and touch. She struggled to do so, but she managed to sit herself up in bed as Grimmjow gave her a little room, readjusting his position so that he was turned more towards her until they were gazing within each other's eyes, their souls almost locking in place.

"Do you really want to be by my side?"

The blueberry's eyes felt teary again as she answered a heartfelt, "Yes."

Grimmjow could almost feel the intensity in her answer, knowing that from here on out there would be no turning back. Whatever was to be decided was either now or never.

"If you're going to stay here…with me…then there are conditions you're going to follow or you can forget it."

"Just name them," she nearly pleaded, refusing to turn down any condition he was going to give her.

"The first one being; we're going to be doing exactly what we've been doing for the last few months as if nothing has changed."

"Of course. I wouldn't see it any other way."

"Good because from here on out its only going to become more difficult, but I'm sure you were already prepared for that. The second one being; you will not go back to Soul Society unless there is some strange circumstance that forces you to. I don't want those idiots given any reason to come here. It's not their home and I will not have it butchered like it was by Aizen."

At first she thought the condition a bit strange, but with his further explanation of it, it then made perfect sense. She was an exile anyway and the only real attachments she had to it was her Captain and a few friends. However, seeing what his first two conditions were, she could only imagine what the next one would be, and to be cut off from her friends in the living world would be an extremely difficult decision for her so she couldn't help but to immediately ask upon it.

"What about the living world?"

Sighing and exhaling through his nostrils as Grimmjow tossed his gaze away for a moment he answered, "It'll think about it. It's not like anything there is much of a threat not to mention I've been there before anyway."

Kein let out a sigh of relief, knowing that would not be completely cut off from Ichigo and the others, but especially Ichigo.

"Is there any other condition?"

Looking back at her, his expression was a bit more serious as it sent a small chill up her spine.

"There is. It's the last one, but also the most important. You're probably not gonna like it, but it's a deal breaker."

Kein almost blushed at his choice of words. A deal breaker? She was anxious more than ever to know what the final condition was as she listened with anticipation.

"You will seek after no one else."

Her heart nearly stopped. Such a simple phrase had so many meanings. Not only was she being allowed to love him, but the fact that he didn't want her seeking after someone else simply meant that he saw her truly as his own, that she was his prey and his prey alone. A condition such as this would normally push away others by a fear of being trapped, but for Kein it was the complete opposite. She didn't deny that she could have feelings for other men, as she has before, but nothing compared to the sheer amount of effort she had put into be accepted by Grimmjow.

Nothing could compare.

This was it. This is the road she would take gladly. He would be the hunter and she would be his prey. He would be the master and she the apprentice, both with the spirit of a warrior and both willing to do what it took to make it to the end.

For the first time Grimmjow was witness to a smile upon Kein's face, but this wasn't a smile of excitement for a battle to come or excitement of learning a new technique; no this was a genuine smile of pure peaceful joy that he could see and feel from her. He didn't think that she could so easily give into the conditions he gave, but she did and it surprised him. He had never dealt with someone that was willing to go all the way just for him, to be a witness not just to her rise to the top, but for someone to be a witness to his rise as well as a friend and as a companion.

With a heart that has finally mended over, Kein wrapped her arms around Grimmjow's neck, embracing him closely and warmly. She was so happy that she could not describe the feeling as tears of pain was now replaced with tears of joy. Even in this moment, after having spent so much time with her, it was still strange to feel these warm embraces, but he quickly put all doubts aside and didn't hesitate to embrace her back, gently of course since she was still heavily injured, but sincerely.

"Thank you…thank you for everything."

"I should be the one thanking you."

His response was unexpected as she slowly withdrew from the embrace, her hands gently placed upon his chest again as his hands lowered, the left resting upon his thigh, the right resting upon the bed. The moment was serene, only the sounds of their breathing could be heard.

"Kein…I…" he began, for the first time wanting to respond from an actual feeling in his chest, a feeling in his heart, but he wasn't yet ready. He wasn't quite sure, but Kein simply smiled as she looked down and gently took his left hand within her own, carefully flipping it so that it was palm side up. He didn't hesitate or push away as he allowed her to lift it and bring it to her face, its warmth cupping her cheek as she nuzzled into it, her skin smooth to the touch. This was so strange for Grimmjow, part of him still repelled, but not nearly as much as it used to be, the side of him that refused to accept. However, was it really so wrong or pointless to give into base desires? Was it any different than giving into base instincts?

"My king," she stated gently as her eyes met Grimmjow's gaze yet again, and then…he smiled ever so lightly, causing her to smile more brightly. The moment couldn't be any more perfect than it was now. Another tear exiting her eye as it brushed against the tip of Grimmjow's thumb that rested upon her cheekbone, but he simply flexed his thumb and wiped it away.

"Get some rest…as much as you need."

And then without another word he got up from the bed and left the room with silent footsteps.