Sweat beaded along Grimmjow's forehead as he stood in the unforgiving sun that beat down on the barren plains. His eyes were screwed shut, his hand clasped the nameless blade but he was not looking for Zaraki. He knew where the man was, they would find him and the pink haired girl in a matter of hours, but he needed to search for Rin.

She's being hidden from us.

"What? By who?"

I think you know.

Grimmjow forced himself to suppress a smile. "You think Kokaku found her?"

While you were trapped inside our inner world she gathered what she needed from me. She probably had a trace going before Kurotsuchi and found her first.

"This is great."

Don't forget your promise, master. We must help the zampakuto first, then we can go to her. But you must cover all of our spiritual power or they will be able to follow you. It will be harder without your gigai.

"Yeah, yeah I got it. Let's get this over with." His eyes snapped open and he was suddenly facing the ring of soul reapers again.

"Anything?" Rangiku asked. He wasn't sure how long he'd been meditating.

"Yeah. I finally got them pinned down."

"Where?" It was Ikaku. Grimmjow hated soul reapers on principle, but if there was ever one he would respect, other than Unohana and the kid, it would be this warrior. They held to the same code, two true warriors, but not crazy like Zarakai. This man had awakened is sword, even his bankai.

"Close. Maybe three hours away. The girl has been hiding them."

"Why?" Toshiro asked, still coming to grips with the fact that the midget lieutenant possessed power greater than his own.

Grimmjow shrugged uncaring but Unohana piped up.

"She thinks she's protecting him. She may have great power but she does not understand what is happening. Zaraki raised her, and now she is doing what she thinks he wants."

"Hiding him?"

"Giving him privacy. When has he ever shown deep emotions in front of anyone other than her?"

"Hmm." Toshiro nodded, it made sense.

"Let's move." Byakuya said at last and the group vanished from sight.

It was a long three hours for Grimmjow who's leg pained him but who's brain was working overtime at calculating every plan of escape. He still hadn't decided on a definite one when they found the two.

Yachiru was hunched over a form on the ground. Kenpachi lay prone under a tree on the edge of a dead wood. Yachiru rose wearily, her face drawn in fatigue and serious like Toshiro had never seen. She scanned each of their faces and eventually her eyes alighted on Grimmjow and the blade in his hands. Instantly her perpetual smile returned.

"Oh kitty you brought it!" Before Grimmjow could react at the girl was hanging off his neck hugging him. He was utterly at a loss and Toshiro repressed a laugh. Unohana was already at Kenpachi's side, Renji helping her role him over.

"Hey kid, calm down." Grimmjow tried to dislodge the child but failed. Rangiku laughingly helped him. Her maternal nature kicked in and her laughter died once she had Yachiru in her arms. The girl squirmed and she set her down.

"Yachiru, what happened?" The girl stood between Grimmjow and Rangiku and her smile faded once more.

"I followed him all the way out here. He just kept going, he was really angry like I've never seen him."

"Did her hurt you?"

The small girl looked shocked.

"Of course not. Kenny always protects me, but now I get to protect him. He said he wanted to be alone, well, except for me of course, so I helped him hide his spiritual pressure but then he didn't wake up after we went to sleep, so I...I did what he wanted but I don't know how to help him. Except..." and her eyes landed on the sword again and rose hopefully to Grimmjow. He sighed.

"I know, I'll see what I can do." Rangiku managed to restrain the small lieutenant from jumping on the captive king once more and he approached the man's body.

"What do we do, Zizimu?"

Get the girl to lift her suppression of his powers. It has weakened his connection to his zampakuto and that is why he lost consciousness. When he wakes however, the connection will instantly be reestablished. It will be dangerous.

"What isn't these days." He turned to Unohana. "Get everyone to move back. There going to be an explosion of spiritual power." She nodded and relayed the instructions. The others didn't move far, but readied themselves. Toshiro instinctively moved himself in front of his lieutenant.

"Girl."

"My name is Yachiru."

"Yachiru." Grimmjow said and instantly felt her presence at his side. "You need to stop hiding his spirit now."

"Okay."

He had expected her to stop and concentrate and take some time, but the instant she said okay, the wave of pent up energy escaped followed by the storm of the connection being reestablished.

Everything happened very quickly. First Grimmjow felt himself stumble back from the wave, then a rogue fist caught him in the face before he saw it coming as the giant revived and finally the nameless blade he was still holding was ripped from his grasp and came sailing toward him again. He managed to dodge and manifest Zizimu in time to counter the next. Kenpachi was on his feet, his eyes glazed over, he didn't seem to even know where he was.

"Get back Yachiru."

"No."

"Rangiku!" He knew the woman would protect the child that Zizimu cared for. He couldn't help but crack a smile at the kid's audacity but he needed her clear so he could fight Zaraki without worry. He could hear Rangiku struggling with the brat behind him as he countered another blow. He was far more powerful than he had been in their battle a few days ago, Grimmjow did not understand and it seemed Zizimu didn't either. But this time, he wasn't alone. Ice curled around Kenpachi's feet and he stopped. Toshiro appeared at Grimmjow's side and a moment later pink blades filled the air and the giant disappeared from view behind a neon wall. Everyone took a deep breath.

"What is happening to him?" Ikaku demanded.

"I'm not sure. Zizimu expected a reaction but not quite like this. Its like he doesn't even know where he is and he's–"

"Acting on instinct." Byakuya finished solemnly.

"Now what?" Yumichika asked, his perfect hair askew from his captain's outburst of energy.

"I have to try to help him establish a stable connection. This should be fun." Grimmjow felt Zizimu sing in his hand and knew that a second wave of energy was about to hit. He only had time to step in front of the woman and the girl before the wave hit and this time it was much bigger. Deadly pink shards flew everywhere, slicing everyone multiple times, but this was nothing compared to the force of the energy itself. It hammered them all, sending everyone but the king, Rangiku and the most powerful soul reaper flying. Grimmjow landed in the dust and the women's feet. Rangiku had been shielded inadvertently by Yachiru due to their close proximity. And out of the dust loomed the enraged Kenpachi.

"Kenny no!" The girl screamed, rushing forward but the man swung down regardless.

Yachiru, heartbroken, made no move to save herself. Two blades stopped the nameless one. Raniku fell to her knees from the impact and Grimmjow knew if the soul reaper woman hadn't helped his bad leg would have given out right there. Beneath the crossed blades the pink haired girl stared up with teary eyes at her mentor. His face remained emotionless. Suddenly, Grimmjow understood.

"Who are you?" He said, still shaking as he continued to hold up the blade above the girl's head. Rangiku shot him a sideways glance but said nothing.

"I said who are you? What is your name, Zampakuto?" The vacant eyes shot toward him.

"Zampakuto...I have forgotten."

"You don't know your own name?"

"I have forgotten." It repeated through Zaraki's lips.

"Then give this body back to your master."

"I don't know my master."

"Kenpachi Zaraki is your master, now give him back his body." The other soul reapers still did not reappear. They had either been blown very far away or were unconscious.

"No." Suddenly they were fighting again, and the Zampakuto in Kenpachi's body was using flash step. The game had changed, like this, they stood little chance.

"Come on, you killed Aizen, this guy should be nothing."

Yes, master, we could kill him, but that's not what we're trying to do. That would be much easier.

Grimmjow growled in frustration and took another blow. Blood erupted on is shoulder and an instant later he was reeling from a punch. Rangiku countered a nearly invisible foe at the last second and even the child had raised her blade in self defence. She seemed to understand now that it was not Kenny who had attacked and was ready to fight this thing. Every time Grimmjow reached to touch Zaraki to establish some sort of connection he felt another wound.

"Dammit! Where the Hell is Toshiro?"