Chapter 24: Trial

A glare was focused on the espada that was kneeling on the ground with his head bowed. Madoka still wasn't pleased at the fact that Grimmjow had done what he did to Tora because of him gaining his title back. Narrowing her eyes, that urge to kill the sexta espada started to consume her again but the only thing – person – that stopped it was Tora who was standing beside her.

Tora's own gaze was held by the espada that was trying to get forgiveness by everyone. Every part of her ached from the abuse she had to go through. It wasn't like usually when he put her near death, instead he took something that meant a lot to people. At least that's what Madoka had told her between that time.

"Well do you have any words to share with us Grimmjow?" Aizen inquired with a tilt of his head as it rested on his fist. Seeing the espada look up, seeing the emotions swirling in the light blue eyes told him that his pawn was almost battling with himself.

"No Aizen-sama."

"Aizen-sama let me execute him!" Tôsen shouted as he took a step toward the arrancar.

"There won't be any need for that." Aizen chimed with fake amusement in his tone. His gaze trailed over to the arrancar woman that was standing beside Madoka. "Would you like to say anything Tora-chan?"

Her gaze flickered to somewhere else. It hurt to even think that she was being put on the spotlight because she was the victim of the situation that Grimmjow put her in. The brunette haired woman looked over at the man that helped her evolve and nodded.

"Take your time." Madoka reassured with her hand coming down on her subordinate's shoulders.

Her verde eyes fell on the sexta espada that was looking up at them. Blinking, the female arrancar wasn't sure why she felt like she deserved to be treated the way she did. Hopping down off the raised area, she landed on the balls of her feet. All the while she stood, Tora could feel her tormenter's gaze on her.

"Chibi."

"Shut your mouth Jaegerjaques!" Madoka yelled but was silenced further by Gin's hand. Glaring at the silver haired man that was closer to her, she huffed and looked back at the two arrancars that were closing in on each other. She prayed that nothing would happen.

"I hope you realize that you hurt me deeply Grimmjow." Tora started as her gaze turned back to Aizen and the others. Looking back at the man that harmed her, she forced a smile on her lips. "But you know as well as I do that I can't hate you for the rest of my life. Madoka-hime knows that extremely well. At times it seems like she knows me better then I do myself."

"What are you trying to get at?" Grimmjow whispered as he watched her walk around him. Something scared him especially the fact that she was forcing herself to smile even though it hurt to be near him.

"Aizen-sama, I don't want him executed. So you won't get what you want to do Tôsen-sama. The only thing I ask for is . . ." her voice trailed off, making her wonder if this was what she wanted. Closing her eyes and looking away, Tora tried to figure it out.

"Ask what Tora-chan?" Aizen inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"I ask that he goes free on one condition." The female arrancar stated and started to walk over to the espada that caused her pain. "If you want to call it a condition."

Madoka watched with her eyebrows pulling together. What was Tora talking about? Pulling Gin's hand away from her mouth, she stepped toward the ledge and looked down. Something told her that it wouldn't end well to her. "Tora-chan what are you talking about? You know you can tell me."

Tora smiled and stood beside Grimmjow's kneeling form. Looking up at the people that could kill her if they wanted, she looked down at the man that she was going to stand beside. "He can go free as long as I live with him. He claimed me as his so that means I belong with him. Right?"

"This isn't happening Tora! I refuse that!" Madoka screamed as she went to jump down but was pulled back by Gin. "I won't let that happen! You know I refuse that. He doesn't deserve you because of what he did."

Gin wasn't sure what to expect since Tora was originally an adjucha. Was it that desire to be with someone that was causing her to think like that? Shrugging, he continued to hold back a struggling Madoka who was screaming at the announcement.

"Aizen-sempai this can't happen. He'll kill her if you allow it." Madoka tried to get the man on her side. Looking back down at her subordinate who was losing the smile, she shook her head. "Tora-chan you know you're throwing your life away. I don't want that to happen. You mean a lot to me. You know that. Don't do this."

"Madoka-hime you never explained to me what having a lover is. In a way he made me his lover so I belong to him." Tora said as she watched Madoka continue to struggle against her lover's hold. It was for the best, she told herself. Sighing, the feline arrancar looked over at the man that helped her get to where she was now. "Aizen-sama you are the only one that can allow this."

He nodded and got up from where he sat. Looking down at the two arrancars that's looking at him, he smiled a little. "Okay. That is fair enough."

"Dammit! Tora-chan please think about this! He'll kill you if you're not careful enough." The snow white-haired woman argued as she continued to struggle to grab her friend and run for the hills. She wouldn't allow Tora to throw away her life because of something she didn't explain fully.

"Madoka-hime I will still be your subordinate and friend. You know that. I highly doubt he'll kill me because if he did that then he'll have to face you." Tora stated with a smile on her face again. Offering her hand to the espada that was kneeling, she didn't feel any of the pressure of him pulling on her hand to get up. Looking down, the verde eyed woman watched him get up by himself.

"Aizen-sempai." Madoka turned to the ex captain. "This can't be allowed."

"He won't kill her Madoka-chan. He might bruise her but he won't ever kill her. He won't realize how precious she is to him." Aizen clarified with a smile as he looked over at the two. "I'm trying to say is that he's in love with her but won't admit it."

Bowing quickly, Tora followed after Grimmjow who, for some reason, stayed silent the entire time. Closing the door behind her, she was pressed up against it. Looking into the light azure eyes that were hardening into orbs of anger, she gasped a little.

"What the hell is wrong with you Chibi? Do you realize what the hell you just did?" Grimmjow questioned with his eyes narrowing. That urge to tighten the hold on her throat wanted to consume his body but he didn't allow it. Even though Aizen thought he didn't hear what he said, he heard every word the ex captain had said. It made him feel weak that he actually fell for the smaller arrancar.

She nodded and grasped his hand that was encasing her throat. Lowering her gaze, Tora gasped for a breath.

Letting go, that need to apologize itching at him, Grimmjow shook his head. That meant he was going to be sharing his palace with her, along with his bed. Groaning at the thought, the sexta espada started to walk toward the door that led outside. "You really are fucked up."

"I don't think I did. I think I was acting on rational thinking. I know that you like me." Tora explained, watching the man freeze with his hand on the door.

Turning back to the brunette haired woman, he glared at her. "How would you know that I like you? Don't tell me that you were believing that by Madoka."

Shaking her head, Tora walked up to him and grasped his hand gently. Rubbing her thumb across the top of his hand, she smiled up at him. "I know it because of how you act. The way you acted after I said that while you were doing that to me told me. You were wanting forgiveness for the act, I could see it in your eyes even if you didn't want me to know. Am I right?"

"Damn you Chibi." Grimmjow hissed as he threw open the door and stepped outside.

"Admit it."

He tried to ignore her even if she was right beside him. Rolling his eyes, knowing that he'll be going insane during the time she was there, he was ready to sneak over to Starrk's palace so he could get away from the other feline arrancar.

"Come on admit it already Grimmie-kun." Tora continued to pester, even as they stepped into the building that was given to him. Closing the door behind her, she watched as the cat hollow walked up to Grimmjow and started to rub against his legs for some attention. "Admit it."

"Will you shut the fuck up?" Grimmjow shouted with his glaring eyes focused on the verde eyed woman. "Okay, you want to know. I do! I fucking love you! Happy now?"

"Extremely." Tora answered back with a smile as she walked over to the man and embraced him the best she could. Nuzzling into his chest, the female arrancar smiled a little more. "This is heaven to me."

He knew that heaven was out of reach for them. They were destined to go to hell for being this way. Closing his eyes, his own arms wrapped around the woman. Even if he didn't know how much time he had left, he was going to spend it with her.

"I love you Grimmie-kun."

"Hm." He answered back, knowing that those words were for weakness. Even if he was in his own building, it still felt like he shouldn't say those words yet.

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