Unwanted Soul
Chapter Twelve
The night was calm and Grimmjow was thankful that it wasn't snowing, or even as cold as it was yesterday. Although, a strange feeling surrounded him like it did each night on his way to his apartment. He felt as if the people passing by knew what he was and what he was trying to do. Ever since he started training, he had begun to see and sense the World of the Living differently
.
The streets were crowded with people getting off from work as they headed home. Even if they appeared to be normal humans, he was sure that there were a few that were not. Since it was just a feeling, Grimmjow tried to ignore it and continued walking. He was glad that he had asked old man Kushan for a few days off. He went straight to his apartment, not bothering to stop for something to eat. Grimmjow did not want to waste more time since Shuren decided to explain things tonight.
"Tonight, we will have a little chat. Since your insignificant questions won't let you concentrate properly,
I'll give you some answers."
He walked at a fast pace, trying to ignore the whispers that he had started hearing more clearly. However, it was impossible. Those whispers were about him. Grimmjow didn't understand, but he didn't really mind. If people were afraid of him, let them be. This was what he thought, but then the worried uneasily if there were humans that could know his true self. If they did would they accept him one day? He pushed those thoughts aside and concentrated on what he had to do now.
The only way to go upstairs to his apartment was to walk by the front of the store. Grimmjow put on the hoodie, shoved his hands into the pocket and he walked as fast as he could. As he passed the entrance, he glanced from the corner of his eye and saw Ichigo at the register attending a customer. Not looking where he was going, he unexpectedly bumped into a group of teenage girls.
A giggling sound made Ichigo curious. When he looked away from the register in the direction of the sound, he froze. Ichigo knew it was Grimmjow. For a split second, brown eyes met blue and their hearts forgot their settled rhythms. However, the source of the giggling sound made Ichigo turn away. Unanswered questions just kept piling up and the truth seemed so far away that Ichigo was at his limit. He knew that if he let this chance get away, things would keep happening. Too many days had gone by since the last time he spoke to Grimmjow and the nightmares began to appear, again.
Grimmjow was certain that Ichigo had seen him. As soon as he looked into those chocolate eyes, he wanted to ignore the humans in the store, grab the boy and take him to his bed. He craved the sensation of those sweet lips. Unfortunately for the ex-Espada, after a single taste he had become addicted.
Maybe he was addicted to the boy even before? It was something that he didn't realize, until now. Looking back, the first time he laid eyes on that young Shinigami his animal instincts had been awakened. Back in Hueco Mundo, when the Cuarta Espada Ulquiorra showed Aizen his report regarding Ichigo, Grimmjow's hunger increased. Also after their first fight, Grimmjow wanted more. It was not enough for him to win the first fight or even the chance to fight a second time, he just couldn't help himself from craving more, when it came to Ichigo.
The door closed behind him and a loud sigh followed. His body felt heavy and he needed a shower, but at that moment it was not a priority. As soon as Grimmjow got close to the bed, he let his body fall onto it. It wasn't as if he was tired, on the contrary, he had too much energy flowing in him. He constantly felt like he was on a sugar rush or a caffeine high. He knew it was due to the demon's powers inside him, scratching to get out. He rolled over, faced the ceiling and closed his eyes.
Once inside his mind, the darkness started to disappear and in front of him, the scene he had become accustomed to appeared. Grimmjow didn't realize that when he entered this world his body disappeared entirely from reality. The only exception to this was if his connection to the World of the Living was right next to him; his connection being no other than Ichigo.
Why is it that you insist on knowing? Is it not sufficient to be given powers beyond your understanding? You need to stop dwelling on the unnecessary things in your mind or you can't advance to the next level."
When the voice continued, a figure appeared in front of the ex-Espada.
"I think I deserve an explanation about a few things. First of all, if I'm going to become your fucking puppet, at least tell me the reason."
Shuren kept his back towards Grimmjow, but his head slowly turned to the side. The emerald eyes examined the dark energy around the blue haired creature behind him and smirked. Grimmjow was playing with the ring.
"For instance, you want to know about that ring."
"Yeah, but first, I want to know something that has been bothering me, ever since I last saw Kurosaki."
"You mean when you finally had sex with the boy?"
A growing sound made Shuren turn his face away to hide his laughter from Grimmjow.
"When I entered his mind there was a familiar feeling. It's hard to describe shit like that." Grimmjow exhale noisily but continued, "Like the same feeling I get when you're around. And something else, ever since I got this ring, there's been some fucked up dreams I'm having, that, I think, have to do with your past. Why?"
The smirk disappeared. His lips formed a thin line and Shuren kept quiet for a moment.
The scenery changed. They were no longer on the Hollow tree or surrounded by the white sand. They were now in the depths of Hell. The silence that Grimmjow enjoyed in his mind world was replaced by terrifying screams of agony from the Sinners. The demon noticed Grimmjow's muscles tense and those cerulean eyes began to dart wildly.
"Calm down, Grimmjow. I am not taking you back to Hell. I feel more comfortable explaining things to you here, than in your calm world."
He decided to trust on the demon's words, for now. They were standing on a high cliff that looked out over endless columns of red flames that adorned the rocky floors of Hell. Placing his hands inside the front pockets of his jeans, Grimmjow stepped closer to the edge and looked down.
"If you haven't already guessed, the ring is mine, it is a part of my soul and in it are most of my memories. You could say the ones that I don't want anyone else to know about. You are having visions of my past because you are wearing the ring. Not only will it allow you to see my past, but I can also see yours. However, most of the memories in your mind were erased the moment you entered Hell."
"Hah…that's bullshit. I remember everything."
"Let's test that theory, shall we? Take off the ring and try to remember what happened before you entered Hell."
"I would be happy to take your little test, but this thing won't budge from my finger."
"It will if I allow it."
Grimmjow accepted the challenge and took the ring off from his finger.
"Before I came to Hell, I was fighting Kurosaki, or better yet, kicking his ass."
The ex-Espada grinned at the recollection of that short memory and tried to continue.
"...and since I didn't want to end the fight like that-"
He got confused. His thoughts became jumbled.
"Then a- I was… dammit!"
He stopped, already pissed because he had lost the small challenge, Grimmjow put the ring back on his finger and tried again.
"No need for that, my blue boy. It doesn't work that way. You might have pieces of your past but that is all. Sometimes, a word might trigger a memory or a name. Even a place or an object but other than that, it would be like trying to solve a puzzle that was missing most of the pieces."
Shuren saw the confusion written all over Grimmjow's face and sighed.
"This is why I told you not to think about the past and focus on what we are trying to accomplish. The ring also shares a portion of my powers and that is why you feel as if something else is inside you. That is also the reason why you must learn how to control it. If you don't…"
Suddenly Shuren stopped, aggravated by the memory of what had happened to him; his inability to stay in control.
"What? Finish what you were saying. You want me to trust you, right?"
Grimmjow knew there was more to the story and wanted to know the end of it. He was curious to know if it was what he already suspected.