I do not own Bleach or any of its characters.
Beta: lilarin
Author's Notes: It has been a long time away from this story. Other projects and real life have taken up my time, but I recently found inspiration for a new chapter. It was after my husband's recent surgery, when he was just moved from recovery to his room, and was heavily medicated. What seems like a serious matter gave way to a funny idea. You see the drugs turned him into what I nicknamed affectionately as the "kissing bandit". And he was not just wanting kisses from me – he was getting them from anyone in the vicinity of his bed – male or female. It was funny to watch, but then he doesn't quite remember much of it. Still I found inspiration in the moment (as in many of the chapters of this story) and decided to write.
I am almost done with this story. My beta lilarin is once more visiting the states and I promised to give her some new chapters. She requested a slash, as well as a hurt/comfort, so the following two chapters are my take on her request. I hope to update and finish soon, but am vacationing so it may be delayed slightly.
Hope you enjoy the craziness and please drop a review!
Chapter Fourteen - You had better wipe that smile off your face before I do it for you.
"What I don't get," Grimmjow began, his voice low, "is why a blind guy would have such a huge garden. It's not like he can see it."
Orihime inhaled deeply. "But he can smell how beautiful it is."
"Yeah, I guess he'd be into crap like that," Grimmjow shuffled his feet along the path.
They had snuck into the well-guarded room a short while ago, but he wasn't fool enough to leave a trace after they had gone. Unconsciously he massaged his left arm. Tosen was a self-righteous bastard, and Grimmjow knew the Shinigami needed no incentive to inflict great bodily harm on his person. Even with Orihime's ability to reject an injury, he did not wish to be parted with any more limbs.
"I think it's wonderful," she twirled around with her eyes closed; a smiled gracing her lips. "Who would have thought there was a place so…alive…in the middle of Hueco Mundo?"
Grimmjow snorted, "It's a stupid waste of resources if you ask me."
She stopped twirling and opened her eyes to stare at him.
"Don't you get tired of all the sand?"
"No," he was quick to reply.
"The white walls then?" She questioned further.
He put his hands in his pockets, "Don't really give a shit about the décor. It's just gonna get covered in blood anyways."
She frowned, "Why do you have to do that?"
"Do what?"
"Make everything about fighting and dying."
"Because that's all there is in this place," he spoke louder. "Don't try to fool yourself. Everything in this place is dead – except you."
"And these plants," she lowered her gaze.
"Yeah, these stinking, stupid plants."
She looked back up and her eyes were blazing. "You know what? I am not going to let you ruin this place with your negative attitude."
She flitted past him and began to explore the room and all the different flora. Her easy dismissal of him left him feeling agitated. Realizing that she was not coming back for a while, he decided to explore on his own.
To Grimmjow all the plants looked the same. All shades of green, some with flowers, all annoying and smelly. Suddenly, standing in the midst of a patch of low-lying green leafy plants he smelled something that made him pause. It was intoxicating. The smell unlike anything he had experienced before, and he could not get enough. Bending down he inhaled deeply. Still that wasn't satisfying him. A sense of urgency took over. He needed more. The smell was not enough. Without thought to Tosen and the bastard's overprotective nature, he laid down in the midst of the greenery. Soon even that wouldn't suffice and he began to roll about.
His skin began to tingle as his senses sprang to life. A sense of vitality surged through his system and he felt like he would go insane if he didn't release this building energy within him. Jumping to his feet he searched for the girl. His eyes darted about until they finally landed on her small form. She stood absolutely still, staring into a small pond in the center of the garden.
Where the hell was all this water coming from, he wondered. The whole room was so out of place with the rest of Las Noches, but maybe stupid shit like this garden was all it took for Aizen to keep that loon Tosen from defecting. At the moment he really didn't care. All he wanted was to keep this euphoria alive. Silently he made his way over to where Orihime stood. Crouching down he hid beneath a giant fern and prepared his attack.
Ulquiorra had lost his two charges some time ago. He had left them to their own devices while he went to meet with Aizen. After all how much trouble could they really get into in such a short amount of time? Yet the meeting went longer than expected, and when he returned, they were gone.
It didn't take long for someone of his skill to be able to track them down. Grimmjow could mask his spiritual energy if he wanted to, but Orihime had no clue. Still, it was Grimmjow's erratic reiatsu that caught his attention, and to his growing horror, the trail led directly to Tosen's secret garden.
The Sixth could not be that foolish as to visit the one place forbidden to the arrancars in Las Noches. As much as Grimmjow hated Tosen, he still kept a respectful distance from the Shinigami. Self-preservation alone should have been enough to keep him from venturing further.
Yet as he came to the door he realized that the two children were indeed inside. Quietly he entered the massive room and searched for them. In the end they were quite easy to locate. Orihime's loud giggles could be heard from the center on the room, accompanied by what sounded like splashing water.
"Grimmjow please stop," she cried merrily.
As Ulquiorra approached he could see the boy had pushed the girl into the pond and was tickling her mercilessly. As much as she seemed to be enjoying it, Ulquiorra knew it was only a matter of time before the Sixth would step over the line and make the girl cry.
"Grimmjow!" his voice heavy with authority, "Get away from the girl."
The Sixth turned, hands dropping to his sides. His face sported a huge grin that created an odd sense of unease to form in Ulquiorra's stomach.
"Ulquiorra!" Grimmjow yelled with exaggerated exuberance, "Glad you could make it."
The boy leapt through the air, catching him by surprise. The force of impact caused Ulquiorra to stumble and fall onto his back. Grimmjow hastily crawled up his body and sat, straddling his hips. The huge grin grew even wider, and slightly creepier than before.
"Get off of me Grimmjow," he demanded.
"Get of me Grimmjow," the boy mimicked him.
"If Tosen finds you here he will kill you for sure," he ignored the boy's teasing.
"Fuck Tosen," Grimmjow laughed, and without warning leaned down to bury his face in the crook of Ulquiorra's neck. He inhaled deeply and sat up once more. His eyes now wild, "Damn, you smell fucking incredible. Do you always smell like this, because it is making me crazy?"
"Grimmjow, you are acting more asinine than usual," he reached up, took the boy's face between his hands, and searched his eyes. "What did you get into?"
"Get into?" Grimmjow licked his lips. His gaze was focused with great interest on Ulquiorra's face. "You know something, Ulquiorra? Your eyes are amazing. I never noticed it before because I was so intent on ripping your head off, but now that I'm this close to you, I have to admit they are the most interesting shade of green I have ever seen. What about you girl?"
Suddenly Orihime's face appeared in Ulquiorra's line of vision. She seemed to debate the matter internally before speaking, "Ooh, you're right Grimmy," she peered closer, "They're like a dark forest, or maybe jade," she tapped her fingers against her lips and squinted before exclaiming, "Nope, I'd actually say they are like two huge emeralds."
Grimmjow nodded, "And your pupils…holy shit, they're slit like a lizard's. Your resurrection form wouldn't be some type of snake would it?"
Orihime's face lit up as she called out excitedly, "Maybe he looks like a bearded lizard. Or better, a Fiji Banded Iguana – they're emerald colored, just like Ulquiorra's eyes…"
"My resurreccion is not any type of reptile," he stated indignantly.
"Then what is it," Grimmjow blurted. "You keep it all secret like it's some big deal."
"It is none of your business," he released the boy's head and tried to sit up.
Grimmjow was having none of that. The child squeezed his knees firmly against Ulquiorra's side, and refused to budge.
"You know, your lips are funky too," he leaned in closer. "Do you paint the top one black?"
Grimmjow's hand shot out and he began to trace Ulquiorra's upper lip.
Ulquiorra swatted his hand away, "Do not touch me," he warned.
"But it's so weird," Grimmjow continued. His smile became dopier, if that was even possible. Leaning closer, his face only inches away he said softly, "Come on Ulquiorra, how about a kiss?"
"I have had enough," he protested, but the boy pressed closer.
"Come on," he laughed, "Even a cold fish like you needs physical contact once in a while."
"You are obviously deluded, Grimmjow," he pushed his palms against the boy's shoulders.
Grimmjow sat back and smiled wider, his tiny rear digging against Ulquiorra's hips. "Damn, I just feel so fucking good!"
"Probably because you're sitting in catnip," Orihime spoke up.
"Catnip?" Ulquiorra finally pushed the Sixth off him and sat up as well.
"Yeah, it's an herb that makes cats go crazy," she became suddenly serious. "They can get real hyper or worse," her cheeks turned bright red, "They get all excited…you know…sexually…"
"I am not sexually excited," Grimmjow leapt up and turned on Orihime.
"You were going to kiss Ulquiorra," she smiled sweetly.
"So."
"So, I think you may be a little excited…just a bit…"
"Fuck off!" he yelled.
"If you feed him some," Orihime ignored the expletive and spoke directly to Ulquiorra, "He'll probably crash – maybe even pass out."
Ulquiorra reacted with lightening quick speed. Grabbing a handful of the catnip he shoved it into Grimmjow's mouth and clamped his hand tightly to prevent him from spitting it out. Grimmjow protested, gagging on the herb, but eventually swallowed. Satisfied, Ulquiorra removed his hand.
"You fucking prick!" Grimmjow screamed.
He tried to punch Ulquiorra, but his swing threw him off balance and he fell. Stumbling to his feet he tried again, his words slurring as he tried to curse more. Finally he slumped forward and fell into Ulquiorra's arms. Lifting the Sixth up and securing him on his back, Ulquiorra looked to Orihime, "We should leave before anyone finds out."
"Anyone finds out what?" Gin and Tosen stood in their way on the path. The silver-haired Shinigami smiled mischievously, "Did your wards get into trouble, Ulquiorra?"
"They wandered in here while I was meeting with Aizen-sama," he replied. Orihime now clung to his side, her hand fisted in his hakama.
"And it seems young Grimmjow has succumbed to the effects of Tosen's security system," Gin laughed softly.
"Security system?" Ulquiorra asked.
"The catnip," Tosen spoke up. "The Sixth has a habit of disregarding the rules, so I added extra precautions."
"I see," Ulquiorra replied.
"Justice comes in many forms," the blind Shinigami stated.
Whether he was serious or not, Ulquiorra did not want to linger and longer. Quietly he excused himself and left with both children in tow.