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The next morning Grimmjow was pulled from his cell and led back to the big room where the captain watched him with hatred. Ichigo was there too, at the back of the room He looked worse. Grimmjow looked forward at the head captain. Yamamoto stood calling attention from the room, "Grimmjow Jeagerjaques...your form of Execution has been decided...by beheading"
Ichigo cringed, beheading that was a bit harsh. even for an Espada. He looked to see a reaction from Grimmjow. "It will be this evening as the sun sets. Do you have any final words to say? to apologize for your crimes"
Grimmjow kept his eyes focused on the old man, "One question yeah...What am I to you people"
"A MONSTER!" came the gathered shout and Ichigo swallowed looking at the floor, Grimmjow nodded slowly, "Figured...my last words to you would be...Go fuck yerselves Shinigami"
The sun was getting low and Grimmjow could see the sky beginning to get dark. He growled at the soul reapers leading him to his execution spot on top of the hill and watched them flinch, He grinned victoriously. They reached the top of the hill and he was led to a platform and his feet were chained down. Scanning the ground he saw Ichigo staring at him from the crowd. "We wait until the moon rises"
Grimmjow looked up, The moon? oh fuck the irony of this whole situation. He looked to the walls lining the Sereitei, turning back to face the crowd of Shinigami he lifted his head high, he'd die with his pride intact.
An explosion shook the Sereitei, the gate keeper grunted and rose to his feet standing before the gate. The gate shook again and he bellowed at the stones flew out. In an instant the alarm went off and the closest Shinigami drew their Zanpaku-to as the smoke cleared, A single figure in a large off white cloak stood in the entry way, hovering just above the ground. "It...It's a Ryoka! Warn the head Captain" one soul reaper shouted then screamed as something wrapped around his foot and he was tossed into the air like a rag doll. The remaining Shinigami tensed as the voice, rough like an inhuman growl and layered spoke. "Where is Grimmjow Jeagerjaques"
They looked at each other, "The Hollow who's about to be executed...what do you want with him!" The cloaked figured stepped forward, "Executed...tch...I dont like that answer" Black smoke curled out from under the cloak. "What are you" the speaker stopped as the black smoke took shape turning into a massive black hound towering over them, it's silver eyes narrowed and it threw back its head and howled. "A-Attack it!"
The hound snarled and raised an enormous paw. "Little scum reapers!"
Spiritual energy fluxed in the Sereitei just before a hell butterfly fluttered down in front of Yamamoto. "Head Captain! A Ryoka has entered the Sereitei...We believe it is a Hollow...but we cannot be sure it has gotten past all defenses!"
Yamamoto frowned, "How are you not sure it is not a Hollow...What does this Ryoka look like" He ordered. "It...It's in the air!" The soul Reapers looked to the space above the buildings below. A smokey black dog, leapt into the air. The Captains murmured and Ichigo's Eyes widened he looked to Grimmjow on the scaffold, he was smirking. Yamamoto saw this too He stepped forward, "Begin the Execution! this creature is here to free the Espada"
The large masked Shinigami pulled the guillotine sword out. Grimmjow grinned down at the Shinigami, "OI OLD MAN!" he shouted startling everyone. He grinned "Just so you know...I never killed the Human Bitch" The sword swung towards his neck and they stared.
The sword was stopped, a flip of fabric covered it. The cloaked figure stood between it and Grimmjow. The large black hound swirling from under the edge of the cloak. An opposite hand raised ticking back and forth with the no no symbol at the Shinigami. The Executioner growled ripping his sword back and raised it above his head. The hound snarled and swipped his paw out, slamming him into the ground the massive zanpaku-to clattering on the ground.
"RYOKA!" The figure turned to the old Captain, "State your business!"
The hound stepped forward and the Vice Captains jumped in front, the beast snarled and crouched curling around the figure and swallowed it up into it's smokey belly. " I have come to free the man with blue hair...Who you have charged with a crime he did not commit" Ichigo stared at the hound, the scent of Gardenias and Sakura flowers heavy in the air, his eyes widened. "We cannot release him he is a monster who did not abide by our rules and you have no proof he is to die!"
The hound narrowed its silver eyes, slowly it opened its jaws baring long silver teeth. The vice captains reacted. "HOWL ZABIMARU!" Renji's shikai released and the stretched blade swung out slicing into the hounds cheek. The beast howled reeling away from the Vice Captains as they surged forward, Ichigo blinked and turned. "WAIT Yamamoto! stop!"
"Proceed the Execution!" The shinigami rose lifting his blade up and raising it above Grimmjow's head. "Yamamoto!" Ichigo shouted as Rukia grabbed his robe "Ichigo what's gotten into you!"
"He has to stop the Execution, Grimmjow didnt kill her. DAMMIT RENJI QUIT HURTING HIM!" Rukia struggled to hold Ichigo down as the Hound roared and lashed out at the Shinigami. Grimmjow growled, "HEY OLD MAN! QUIT LETTING THEM HURT HER!" His voice was lost in the battle above as the blade swung down.
"NO!"
Blood sprayed into the air and the world seemed to be still. The Captains stared at the sight before them. Ichigo stood with his Zangetsu to the Executioners neck, The Black Hound stood hunched over Grimmjow the blade buried into it's shoulder. and a blood covered hand protruded from it holding the Zanpaku-to steady. The hound snarled. "You insolent Soul REAPERS!" Black shadows flared up, binding the ones around them and squeezing tight.
"I shall destroy the last of you! you impudent scum marks!" he roared taking the blade in his shoulder between his silver teeth and crushed it. The hand vanished and the Hound roared again, its deep sound laced with a female scream, the sound made the hill grow hound thrashed and jumped off the platform, Renji cut loose from the binds and swung his arm back, The hound snarled. "WAIT!" Ichigo and Grimmjow glanced at each other.
"Renji quit! If you keep hurting her itll only make things worse!" Ichigo shoved the Executioner back and jumped between his friend on the beast. "Her? Ichigo what are you saying!" Ichigo turned looking up at the Hound, "Please let her go, they need to see her to prove his innocence"
The smokey tail flipped, "I do not take begs from any in robes like yours boy"
"Then listen to me you dirty fucking mutt" The hound Turned snarling at Grimmjow. "Akumu..." it paused and sat lowering its head to look Grimmjow in the blue eyes. "You are the blue haired man..."
"Yeah...Let her out...They wont hurt her anymore" He stated glaring at the hound. Akumu flipped his ears down flat, "No...I will only release my beloved master...if you make me a promise Cat" he spat the last word out.
The Shinigami watched the debate in confusion and half ready to intervene but Ichigo still stood between them. "What kind of deal"
"Promise me on your Zanpaku-to, You will protect her, you will fight to keep her safe, you will care for her like she cares for you...because we too...are a monster promise me that blue haired Espada of the sixth level"
Grimmjow gave a low tch then lifted his head "I Promise" Akumu nodded bowing his head and slowly vanished in a wisp of Smoke the Shinigami were freed. Immediatly Swords were drawn, Ichigo stepped back as the cloaked figure appeared once more on the platform, Grimmjow blinked as his restraints broke off and his energy flooded back, the Shinigami froze. "This man Grimmjow Jeagerjaques...is not the Man who Killed me" The female voice shouted. A hand raised gripping the shroud and it ripped free of the figure, A Female a few inches shorted than Ichigo stood beside Grimmjow, She had black bangs and dark orange hair falling down her back, her uniform was that like theres and in her hand was a black sheathed Zanpaku-to with a pure silver pentegram gaurd. "I am proof that he is innocent!" She shouted.
"And any to attack him from this point further...may meet the jaws of my Hollow Hound Akumu, My Name is Tsukiko Kurosaki... and this Execution has been cancelled!"
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