Hidden Behind the Blue
Chapter Ten_ Facing the King

She sat on the roof and stared up at the stars for hours. Grimmjow's words kept replaying in her head. She cried all of it out so she wasn't about to tear up. She narrowed her eyes. She grabbed Rei Pantera, which rested at her side. Makota stood up.

She had watched Urahara do it thousands of times and now had she figured it out how to do it. Only now was she able to open a Garganta. She walked into it and let it close behind her.

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"Grimmjow-sama," Ulquiorra walked into the throne room.

"What is it," Grimmjow asked.

"We have an intruder," Ulquiorra replied. Grimmjow looked at him. "No one recognizes the Spiritual Pressure."

"Where did they break in?"

"The thirty-third gate, Grimmjow-sama," Ulquiorra answered.

"Send some Fraccions out there. Bring whoever it is to me, dead."

"Hai, Grimmjow-sama," Ulquiorra bowed and then left the room.

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The closer she got to Las Noches the more Fraccions would appear. She was killing them left and right. She was getting mad. At least twenty were coming at her. Makota raised her hand toward them and let it glow with translucent aquamarine light. She released her energy and all of them were burned to ash. She saw one more coming. She prepared to create a new cero but she stopped when she saw a small figure running to her.

"Makota-sama," The little figure cried out as it got closer. It now came into clear view.

"Nel," Makota was surprised. "What the hell are you doing out here?" Makota asked. The child tackled her to the ground. She hugged Makota tightly.

Makota stood up and hugged her with a smile, "Hey Nel. I missed you."

"Why did you come back?" Nel wondered. "Grimmjow-sama is gonna be furious." Nel shuddered at the thought.

"Don't be scared Nel," Makota sat Nel down on her feet. Makota headed to the castle with the child at her side. "I'm not afraid of him."

"Makota-sama, why does your Spiritual Pressure feel different," The child asked quietly. Nel gasped when she saw Grimmjow's Arrancar markings appear at Makota's eyes and her irises turned to a glowing aquamarine blue. Her canine teeth extended into fangs.

"I'm fuckin' pissed off." A low animalistic growl ripped from Makota's t throat. She pulled out Rei Pantera as more Fraccions came running towards them. She came at the Fraccions at top speed. Makota roared loudly like a panther.

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Grimmjow opened his eyes when he heard a familiar sound fill his ears from afar. Whoever it was they were getting closer and they were angry. He concentrated a little more on the energy and then his eyes widened, "It is the kid."

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She walked into the palace to see a familiar face. "What's up lanky?" She saw Tesla standing with his arms behind him before her.

"You do know that he'll kill you the moment you show your face in the throne room, right?" Tesla asked as Makota came up to him with Nel in her arms.

"No he won't," Makota shook her head. "Take Nel somewhere safe in case anything does happen," She hand the child to Tesla.

"Yes ma'am." Tesla nodded.

Makota ran down the hall to the throne room. She kicked the double doors open. "Knock, Knock," She walked in. She knew everyone was looking at her even though they were obscured by the darkness of the room. She smirked when a few Fraccions appeared in the air and were coming down at her.

Grimmjow's eye widened with everyone else's when every one of the Fraccions fell to the floor with their throats slit open and it looked as if Makota hadn't even moved. "I suggest that none of you mess with me right now," Makota warned them with a slight snarl.

She looked at Grimmjow, a little calmer now. "I want to talk to you," She said.

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They stood on the balcony that over looked Hueco Mundo. "Why did you come back?" Grimmjow asked her.

"Does it really matter?" Makota brushed her hair out of her eyes.

"I told you-"

"I know what you told me and I ignored you," Makota cut him off. Grimmjow scowled at her. Makota sighed, "I came back because you lied."

"What makes you think I lied?"

"The lie was in your voice but not in your eyes. Your eyes didn't back ya up. Neither did your actions towards me." Makota said. She looked away, "But you were right though, I am stupid and I am a half-breed."

"You're not stupid," Grimmjow told her.

Makota looked at him, "But I am a half-breed." Grimmjow just looked at her. "You're embarrassed of me, I get it. Not that I blame ya, what king wants a half Arrancar half human kid?"

"I'm not embarrassed of you, kid." Grimmjow said. He smirked, "You're not gonna cry are ya?"

"Huh?" Only then did Makota notice that her eyes were watering. "No," Makota looked away.

"Now you're the one who's lying."

Makota looked at him and her tears overflowed down her cheeks. She whimpered. She looked away again. Grimmjow grabbed her chin and made her look at him. Makota just looked at him. Hot tears ran down his fingers. Grimmjow wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. Makota immediately threw her arms around him, "Daddy…"

"Are you always this sensitive?"

"No," Makota answered.

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"Why would she go back?" Urahara fanned his face lightly, "It just doesn't make any sense."

"Yeah, you're right, it doesn't. How the hell was she able to open a Garganta?" Ichigo was sitting down with Orihime and Urahara.

"Should we go after her?" Orihime asked.

"No," Urahara shook his head. "She'll come back."

"I hope you're right."

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They walked through the hall back to the throne room. "What the hell was up with your Spiritual Pressure earlier?" Grimmjow asked.

"For some reason it changes slightly when I'm really pissed off."

"Why were ya so mad?"

"Well, one, I believed your lie and two, you kept sending Fraccions after me."

"Hmph," Was all Grimmjow said.

"Are you mad that I came back?" Makota asked as they entered the throne room.

"No," Grimmjow answered as he sat down on the marble throne. "I'm actually surprised that you came back," He looked at her. "…I'm sorry for what I said."

"I forgive you Daddy," Makota gave him a gentle smile. Makota was surprised that 'sorry' came out of his mouth, but she was glad to hear it.

"I need you to do something," Grimmjow said.

"What," Makota wondered.

"You need to take your place among the Espada," Grimmjow told her. Makota looked at him surprised. "You still have the number one on you. Without you the Espada is incomplete. You need to take your place as number one."

"…Yes sir," Makota bowed her head. "But you do know that they won't accept me."

"You're above them, they'll show you respect out of fear."

"I don't want them to accept me that way; I want to earn their approval. I want them to respect me because I earned their respect."

Grimmjow shook his head. "That's easier said than done, kid. Earning their approval will be harder than you think."

"I'll work for it regardless." Makota said. "I mean, I earned your approval, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember."

"Can I ask you something?" Makota wondered.

"What is it?" Grimmjow looked at her.

"Are you up for a rematch?" Makota smirked.

"Hell yeah," Grimmjow smirked, "But you'll just lose again."

Makota gave him a smirk, "We'll see about that."

To Be Continued…