What Ever It Is

Chapter 12

Orihime is getting better with her sword training and she and Grimmjow become closer as the days before his birthday run down. However, was it wise to be so candid with Ichimaru? Only time will tell.

Grimmjow slouched in his chair, trying to look at least marginally interested in what Aizen's other shinigami henchman was saying, but in truth Tousen bored him to tears! The man droned on and on in a quiet monotone that was really quite soporific. He stifled a yawn with difficulty. Halibel, sitting next to him, nudged him with her foot. "Pay attention cub!" she whispered. "Lord Aizen will be angry if you nod off!"

"Grimmjow nodded and sat up a little straighter, but answered back quietly, "I'm trying, but that guy is the walking cure for insomnia!"

"He does tend to go on, doesn't he? And his voice never changes pitch." Halibel agreed, "Still, I think he's about done."

"I hope so! I can't take much more!" the Sexta whispered. He could hear the humor in Halibel's tone. She was usually very reserved, but she seemed to genuinely like him and loosened up around him. To be fair, when in counsel Noitora usually managed to irritate them both to the point that silence was their only option, short of outright murder!

"I'll fill you in on the points I think you may have missed." the woman offered.

"Thanks, I'd appreciate that." he answered gratefully.

"Can't have all of Orihime's hard work being undone because you weren't paying attention." Halibel chuckled.

He didn't answer, but he shared a conspiritorial grin with the Third and tried to pay attention to the rest of the meeting. He wanted to get this over with and get back to Orihime. There hadn't been very much time for cuddling this morning. She'd had weapons lessons and he'd had this bloody meeting, which in his opinion had lasted far longer than it needed to. How many times did they need to go through this? Aizen and Tousen both, had already told them all about the other Captains and Lieutenants and their powers a dozen times! He could probably recite the squads, who captained them and their lieutenants, special attacks, duties ect ad nausem, in his sleep! Grimmjow watched Tousen pointing to boards and explaining yet again about the 13 Court Guards and their human allies. Tier was right, the guy did love the sound of his own voice! "Gods above and below! Can we get this over with already!" Grimmjow growled mentally, "Before I think I've gone to hell!" He was also a touch grumpy because he'd missed lunch and his stomach felt like it was trying to throttle his backbone! Finally Tousen concluded his lecture and Grimmjow breathed a silent sigh of relief. As he slid his chair back though, Aizen looked at him and said, "Grimmjow, could you please stay? I'd like you to get Ulquiorra up to speed on your joint charge. Should he have to take over for you at anytime in the future, I want him to understand her routine. She's been doing so well lately and I'd like to keep it that way."

Ulquiorra stood silently beside his chair, looking at Grimmjow. The 4th said, "I'm surprised that you succeeded where I failed Grimmjow. What did you do to get her to take her nutrients?"

"I made sure it was edible for starters." the Sexta growled, "And I got my fraccion to start making her meals or I took Orihime to the kitchen and let her make her own." Grimmjow frowned, his anger level rising as he remembered Orihime's treatment at Ulquiorra's hands. "In short, I treat her like an intelligent human being and I talk to her! I also found her something to keep her occupied when I can't be with her." He took a deep breath, getting a handle on his irritation and turned to look at Aizen, "No disrespect intended my lord, but I would prefer that Ulquiorra be taken off supervision duties. I think returning the woman to his custody would be a step backwards and undo all the progress I've made with her. If you need someone besides me, then ask either Dordoni or perhaps Halibel. They're both more than strong enough and she knows and likes them. In my opinion Ulquiorra is unsuited to this task."

"I agree Lord Aizen." Gin said, coming quietly into the room. "Grimmjow has worked wonders with the girl and Halibel has said she and her ladies would be more than happy to keep Orihime company when Grimmjow is occupied." He gave Grimmjow a sidelong glance and shrugged as if to say, "Well it's true isn't it?"

Grimmjow became aware that he was standing with his mouth open, not an expression suited to making him look intelligent and in control, but Ichimaru's unexpected support had him feeling like he'd been hit in the back of the head with a board! "I'll take your support snake, but just what are up to?" he wondered silently. Aloud, he said, "Thank you Captain. I appreciate your support." He gave the other man an I've-got-my-eye-on-you look though, making Ichimaru grin wider than ever.

"Well, in light of this, I suppose we'll just leave things as they are." Aizen said, leaning his chin on his hand and smiling benevolently, "Ulquiorra, return to your duties, you're relieved of duties concerning Miss Inoue for now. Grimmmjow, I'm pleased with the progress you've made, keep it up. You're dismissed." Once the two Espada had bowed and left the Throne Room he turned to Gin, "What was that all about? I thought we were going to throw Ulquiorra back into the mix and see what happens."

Gin chuckled and said, "That's still the plan, but not right now. If we do it too soon then the relationship might not develop as we want it to." He leaned against a column and continued, "I want it to be a deep emotional connection, otherwise Grimmjow might just decide to cut his losses and be done with her. It wouldn't be nearly as interesting or as much fun!"

"Well far be it from me to interrupt an experiment you find so fascinating!" Aizen chuckled indulgently. "Although, what you think we'll gain from this is beyond me."

"Gin laughed and answered, "Now Aizen-sama, that would be telling! Besides, I'm a sap for love stories! Didn't you know?"

"Love stories? I think you're just a voyeur that enjoys the free shows!" Aizen chided, laughing.

"Guilty!" Gin laughed, holding up his hand, "But it is rather cute to watch that little girl twist Grimmjow right around her little finger!"

Grimmjow hurried back to his suite, eager to get back to Orihime and hopefully, lunch! Ulquiorra came up behind him, "Grimmjow, I've heard that you've grown disturbingly close to the woman. Is that true?"

"What's it to you Cuatro?" Grimmjow frowned, "Just because you have icewater in your veins doesn't mean I do! Besides, she's my responsibility, not yours! All you could do was make her cry and let her get beaten up!" He stopped, turning to face the other Espada, "Just stay out of things that don't concern you Ulquiorra. Orihime is happy and adjusting to being here better than she ever did now that she's with me, so leave it alone and do whatever it is that you do."

"I do not know what you expect to come of this Grimmjow, but remember, this girl, however powerful, is still only a human. What will you and she do when the war is over and we have won? How will she feel when faced with the inevitable truth that you have killed her friends and destroyed her hometown? How will she feel then? How will you feel when the time comes to do these things? You are sworn to Lord Aizen. Will you refuse to follow orders to spare that girl's feelings?" Grimmjow opened his mouth, but Ulquiorra held up his hand, shaking his head, "Do not answer, simply think on it for now. You are strong and courageous and I would hate to see you fall, yet again when it could be prevented." The Cuatro turned without another word and left the Sexta in the hall alone. Grimmjow shoved his hands in his pockets and continued walking. If he hadn't known better, he would say that Ulquiorra sounded sincerely concerned for him! "Che' hell has probably frozen over, no it's in a fuckin Ice Age! Ulquiorra concerned for me? Na! Probably just indigestion!"

Orihime looked up as the door opened and revealed Grimmjow. "Finally!" she said, leaping up and throwing her arms around the big man. "I thought you were going to be at that meeting forever!"

"So did I Princess! So did I!" he agreed, returning her embrace. As it always did when he was with her, he felt his mood improve by the minute. "Alejandra, I don't suppose there's anything to eat is there? I'm starved!"

"I'll go make it right now Master Grimmjow. It will only take a second." the blond fraccion answered briskly. She handed her master a glass of cold sweet tea and hurried into the kitchen to prepare the same dish that she'd served Orihime and Ichimaru.

Grimmjow wandered over to the couch, Orihime still held securely in the crook of his arm, "So what did you do with the morning after practice?"

"Oh nothing much." she answered slyly, "I had lunch with Captain Ichimaru, that's all!"

"On purpose? Why would you put yourself through that?" he chuckled, hugging her closer. "What did he want?"

"I asked to see him. I wanted to ask him something." she said, continuing to grin up at him.

"What would you want to ask him about?" Grimmjow asked.

"I'm not telling you!" Orihime giggled, "It's a surprise."

" Ok, be mysterious!" he grinned tapping her nose lightly, "Speaking of surprises, Aizen wanted me to tell Ulquiorra about how you were doing and suggested that he might be back looking after you, but I told Aizen that I thought Ulquiorra was unsuited to the task and Ichimaru backed me up by agreeing with me!" Grimmjow shook his head, "Have to admit, that almost made me swallow my tongue! Aizen agreed to keep you with me though, especially after Ichimaru said he thought you were doing better under my care. Aizen said he was pleased with your progress and that I should keep doing what I'm doing."

Orihime breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to go back to having Ulquiorra take care of her! He was so unfeeling and cold, the exact opposite of Grimmjow. Grimmjow talked to her, ate with her and, now that they knew each other better, seemed to care how she felt. Alejandra and her father Master Dordoni seemed to feel that way too. She doubted Ulquiorra would allow her to continue training with the Privaron Espada, though he might still let Alejandra make her meals but, she just couldn't imagine what it would be like without Grimmjow beside her, especially at night! "I'm glad he's letting me stay with you." she said softly, hugging him around the waist and burying her face in his shoulder. "I don't think I could bear being without you."

Grimmjow sighed, he hadn't wanted to bring this up right now, but the conversation with Ulquiorra had him worried. "Orihime, I'm glad you want to be with me. I want you here too, but...you...you know this is a war, right? I'm going to have to fight, maybe even fight friends of yours. Maybe even kill some of them. How..." he looked down, but then forced himself to meet her eyes, "how will you feel then? About me...about us? I love you Princess. I never expected to love you. I thought...I mean I wanted you. Who wouldn't? I mean fuck! Look at you! I never even knew what love was, but I do know now and if this war forces me to fight people you care about, I know I might lose you and I'm not sure I can deal with that! I don't know what to do!" He ran a hand through his messy blue hair, looking so lost and of all things, vulnerable that Orihime's heart broke for him. She threw her arms around him again and just held him for a moment.

"I know that you're going to be fighting people that I care for. If Ichigo comes here, then I'll have to get him to understand that I don't want to be rescued, that I don't need to be rescued and you two don't need to fight! I know you hold a grudge against Ichigo for giving you that scar, but I don't want you two fighting! I could lose both of you!"

"I want to fight him and if he tries to take you away then I'll beat his ass from here to the Seireitei!" Grimmjow snarled, grabbing her and holding her to him. He tipped her face up to look her in the eyes, "But...and this is a big but, I won't fight the orange haired little fuck without letting you talk to him first. Fair enough?"

Orihime let out another relieved sigh and nodded, "Yes, that's fair. More than fair!" she reached up and kissed him, softly at first, then harder and deeper. "You're asking if I'll still love you if you if you have to fight people from the Seireitei, like Rukia and Rangiku and Rengi aren't you?" she asked, looking up into his clear, electric blue eyes. When he nodded grimly, she continued, "I know it will probably happen and I'll be sad, but you're the one I want to stay with! So yes, I'll still love you, but promise me something."

"If I can." he said still looking at her, not daring to believe that she could possibly mean what she was saying!

"That you won't be as reckless as you have been and that you'll be careful and come back to me?" she said, her voice soft with tears. They began to spill over and slide down her cheeks, "You don't have to fight for me and you don't have to win, just don't get hurt! Don't go where I can't follow! I couldn't bear it!"

"Oh Princess!" Grimmjow whispered, holding her close and burying his face in her soft auburn hair, overcome by emotions he couldn't even remember having before this girl. "I promise, I'll do everything I can to come back to you and I'll never leave you!" He held her like his own sould given back, because to him, that's exactly what she was!

Alejandra had been listening from the kitchen and she smiled to herself. They might stand upon the brink of war, but these two in her charge, all was right with their world and she prayed to anyone listening that they could stay that way.

Yeah, yeah I know you're all anxious for Grimmjow and Orihime to get it on finally and they will, eventually. Next time they'll face a birthday and a challenge. What you ask? Guess we'll see you in Chapter 13, right?