"How long are we supposed to let this go on for?"
Kokaku was back in the basement. It was four days since Grimmjow had lost consciousness, and Zizmu lay whimpering most the time.
She had the phone to her ear as she watched the pale man on the bed. His scar was healing at least, but he was still lost to them.
"This is very bad. I'm considering sending Ichigo for back up but I don't want to risk getting his sister involved. If Aizen gets out the whole Soul Society is in danger. We need to warn them."
"Like that's going to happen." The woman snorted but she knew in the depths of her heart the shopkeeper was right. If Grimmjow was not the King, she probably would have killed him already to prevent the risk– probably. She had grown rather fond of the gruff hybrid and his muscular body. He was a warrior, like minded, and he had rescued her friend. That, in fact, was why he suffered so now, and for that reason alone, she owed him enough to try to find a solution that didn't involve killing him.
"How is Zizimu?"
"Hard to tell. He's stopped talking and I can't tell if he's in pain or just depressed."
"Hmm. I'm starting to think I might need to take the risk and come over there myself."
"Well, you're always welcome–" There was a scream, a vice grip around her shoulder and she dropped the phone. Grimmjow's eyes locked on hers and Zizmu leapt up. He made a move but still could not rejoin his master.
"The Seireitei..." Grimmjow managed, he was obviously fighting for control of his body. His hand slipped from Kokaku and his eyes fell to Zizimu. "The kid, now!"
Zizimu clamped his jaws on Grimmjow's arm, there was a flash of white and they were gone.
Kokaku had stumbled back a few paces and when her vision cleared she picked up the phone.
"I don't think we need to warn the Soul Reapers after all."
Much to his shame, Grimmjow had broken down into a long bout of sobbing when the hours of torture ended. The room had shifted again and he was in a bed, his bed from so long ago, and Aizen had 'left' though he was sure he was still watching. He controlled this whole place inside of Grimmjow's body and that made him even more angry. Even though Aizen had lifted the pain his body still ached and trembled and he clutched his pillow like a life line.
He hated that his pillow was wet with his tears, he hated that his throat was hoarse from the screams and most of all he hated that he was cold because his torturer's arms were no longer around him in that paradoxical embrace.
Reading his thoughts, Aizen was there in an instant. Grimmjow cursed himself for playing into his game.
He remained facing the wall and curled the pillow into this chest trying to hide the tear stains even though the logical part of him knew he could hide nothing from Aizen here. He flinched as one cool hand traced down his back.
"It doesn't have to be like this. You know what you have to do."
Grimmjow said nothing, his body involuntarily shaking under Aizen's hand.
"And you know I can never do it." He said back with a little more strength in his voice than he expected.
"Of course you can, because, in the end, you have nothing. You don't belong anywhere, you're not an arrancar anymore. Do you even know what you are? You will give in because you want Zizimu back but that can't happen until you say yes. You'll give in, because you have nothing to hang onto. And when I'm done with you, you'll be so desperate–"
"Shut up!" Grimmjow spun on the bed and grabbed Aizen's robes. The other waited before striking him with the pain. "This is my body, all I have to do is kill you."
"You can't do that on your own. Maybe Yamamoto could, maybe. But you'd never give yourself over to them."
"That's where you're wrong."
"Am I?" Aizen calmly raised an eyebrow. "Tosrhiro won't be able to help you. Kurotsuchi will get his claws on you–"
"Doesn't matter. You just doomed yourself. You don't get it. I'll do anything to get her back, even if it means giving myself over to the Soul Reapers."
Something flicked through Aizen's eyes, he realized he'd made a mistake. The pain began but something was different. Grimmjow knew he just needed to get out long enough to get to the Seireitei. Whatever happened to him then didn't matter, as long as he got Aizen out he would eventually find Rin.
He screamed through the pain and rage, knocking Aizen flat. The pain was crippling but this was his only chance, he got in one solid blow and Aizen was momentarily stunned. The pain slipped away, it wouldn't last long, but he had to go now.
His eyes ripped open, everything was a blur, his words, the room, but Zizimu was there, understood what needed to be done and they were gone.
Renji, Ikaku and Yachiru sat eagerly anticipating the long expected fight between the Captains of the 10th and 11th divisions. They were among many others who stood at a safe distance, anticipation rising.
Rangiku stood alongside them too, but her arms were folded in concern. She had seen this coming a long time off but wasn't looking forward to it. Of course, she knew her captain could win, but probably not without sustaining injury.
The fight was not because the two captains had come to hate each other. They'd grated on each others nerves in the weeks they'd been assigned to work side by side, but ever since Toshiro got restless and offered to join in training Zaraki's men, the bigger captain had gotten more and more eager to fight his colleague one on one. That raw power was impressive and he wanted to take it on.
Rangiku had watched the blood lust rub off on her captain just the slightest bit over the past weeks. He was probably stir crazy after so much had happened to him and so many battles had been fought only for him to wind up doing hours of paper work each day. So finally, he had relented, and maybe with a little more enthusiasm than he let on, and accepted Zaraki's challenge. Now, every Soul Reaper that could was gathered to watch what would surely be the most epic battle they ever witnessed.
"Is it starting?" Rukia's voice reached her as she pushed her way to the front. Her voice had sounded a little too excited and she got a harsh look from Rangkiu so she moved down to Renji.
"Brother let you come?"
"Course he didn't. He thinks I'm training the squad but where do you think the whole squad is? This is the best training they can get anyway, to see two masters go head to head."
"Nice excuse."
"Shut up."
They silenced themselves as the fight began. It was nothing short of epic. Toshiro restrained his bankai, since Zarakai had none, and for a while satisfied himself with clashing his ghost blade against the nameless one. But Zaraki really wanted to go all out and he used his strength to force his smaller opponent to release his power after he received a long cut down one shoulder.
Zaraki laughed, fully enjoying the fight, even when his own shoulder erupted in blood. He threw off his eye patch and the ice wings shivered. Many of the nearby spectators fell from its force, Renji had to put an arm around Rukia. Then Zaraki got what he really wanted. Toshiro let go of his bankai and sword and merged with Hyorinmaru.
The silver glow increased his strength and speed and those who had never seen it before gasped in wonder. He blocked the blade with bare hands dodged faster than Zaraki could see. He got behind the giant, kicked the back of his knee and got a hand around his throat. Most thought it was over but Zaraki head butted him from behind, even in the dangerous position and it sent the small captain spinning back.
The jagged blade struck Hitsugaya's back, the edge deflected but the impact still very real and he grit his teeth as he rolled away from the second hit. His back ached so he moved back to blade from to avoid having to use his body as a weapon and a shield.
He leapt high, meaning to combine his flash step and the swing of his sword to force Kenpachi's own out of his hand but in mid air he felt that same sensation of power draining from him. His eyes widened, the ghost sword failed and he managed to squeeze out Kenpachi's name in time for the other to understand.
This is was the reason they'd been assigned to each other, he knew and instantly lowered his blade so he could catch the small captain.
As quickly as he had caught him he lowered him to the ground, waiting to see where the other would appear. There was a white light, the blue-haired man staggered forward next to his tiger and collapsed at Zaraki's feet. Toshiro was on his knees just behind him but it was not his help Grimmjow sought. He looked earnestly into the eyes of the giant who had his sword raised but was now confused by the pleading look and hesitated.
"Please...kill him..." The strangled words came out.
Zaraki bent down and grabbed Grimmjow's shoulders. "Kill who?"
"Ai–!" The word was lost in a scream of pain and he convulsed and went limp in Zaraki's grasp. Rangiku, Rukia and Renji had now reached Toshiro who was clinging to consciousness and Ikaku and Yarchiru were at their bewildered Captain's side.
Ikaku drew his sword and held it toward the unconscious man but the pink haired girl was more interested in the tiger. He recognized her from before and bowed his head to her. She pet his head and gasped his neck.
"Little one." He rumbled in her ear and she squeezed him tight to let him know she was listening. "My master is in grave danger but so are you and all of your companions. Aizen lives within my master, your commander must help."
His words faded to pain filled growls and she sat with him as he sank to the ground. By now the crowd had closed in and all eyes were on her.
"Yachiru." Toshiro breathed hard. "What did he say?"
"We need Gramps right now. Aizen is still alive."