Disclaimer: Kubo owns Bleach…and Ichigo…and Rukia… and Grimmjow…

A/N: Heya there! Missed me? Yeah, I miss myself too (my lucid self that is). So how's everything coming along? Yeah I know…so much to talk about but too little time… well firstly, I wanna thank those people who checked out my new fanfic! You know who you are and you're awesome! (I would have PMed you if you had accounts haha but never mind) Well, honestly…I won't focus on that story as much as I do here so no weekly updates for that one.

Secondly, guys…help me reach my 250 review count goal! That's my target (having goals are great actually)…I really would love you all more if you help me do that! (Thanks for those who reviewed for the last chapter by the way!). And welcome again for both old and new readers!

And lastly…Enjoy reading! Hahaha…Don't forget to review! :D

Chapter 26: Of Danger and a Hero 2

The all grinning Nozomi skidded beside me as we were making our way out of our classroom to go home. " Wow…everything's going well for you Rukia-chan!" She commented. " You met with your father. Then you already made up with Kurosaki-sama! Everything's going smoothly."

" Smoothly huh?" I muttered and sighed.

" Yup!" The unknowing her chimed. " We should celebrate! Oh…I happened to bump into Inoue-sempai earlier when you were talking with Kurosaki-sama. They were asking if we wanna join them for pizza! They said they'll be at the Pizza house we went during that festival." Nozomi's eyes were sparking. " I'm sure Kurosaki-sama would be delighted to have us there since you know…you two had made up already."

I don't think I'm prepared to see the two of them together.

But I didn't voice out that thought.

" Ano! Rukia-san! Nozomi-san!"

The calling of my name made the two of us both stop on our tracks and turn around to find our class president running after us. He's actually one of those people who we manage to get along with in the classroom. He's a very nice and gentle person with a friendly and submissive aura which is why he was elected as class president, the position nobody wanted. Even Dokugamine Riruka opted for a less stressing position as class representative since everyone knew how tiring being a class president was.

"Hanatarou-san?" Nozomi looked at him quizzically.

Yamada Hanatarou was trying to catch his breath when he finally caught up with us, the same half-drooping eyes and a naïve look etched on his face " Ano…Rukia-san." He was still panting. " You…you're the person on duty today." He informed then good-naturedly laughed. Then nervously, he added and staring fidgeting. " I-I'm r-really sorry…I was actually thinking of doing it myself since you and Nozomi-san seemed to have plans but then I remembered that I have to attend a meeting so…"

" Hanatarou-san…" My voice was flat and cold. He flinched and eyes me with surprise and worry. "…you didn't need to do that. It's my responsibility. Thank you for informing me anyway." The smile that then appeared on my face lifted his apprehension.

With relief, the class president smiled back and laughed as he scratched his head. " I see. Well, I'll be going now since I'm already late for the meeting. Have a nice day Rukia-san, Nozomi-san." With that, he bowed politely and took off.

" He's really weird." Nozomi chuckled on her own comment. " So, should we go back now? I'll help you so we could finish early then meet Kurosaki-sama and the rest."

" You should go ahead of me, Nozomi-chan." I told her languidly.

Cocking her head, her face contorted into puzzlement. " But we could fini—"

" I'll follow you right after I finish. I promise."

She frowned. " Rukia…" Her eyes conveyed the fleeting feeling that suddenly overcame her. Nozomi finally noticed.

" Please?"

" Okay." She said but didn't move. She was hesitating to leave me alone but when I turned her and give her a start by lightly pushing her back, she complied. " I—we'll be waiting for you. Kurosaki-sama and I will."

Perhaps, it was my face that made her hesitate like that. What kind of face am I making right now?

-000-

" I guess I'm done here." I told myself as I eyed the room with satisfaction. Everything was where it should be. Glancing at the clock, it read 3:30. " Maybe, I should head home now."

" I—we'll be waiting for you. Kurosaki-sama and I will."

Sighing, I told myself. " I should go there. She's waiting for me." I listlessly grabbed my bag which was on my desk and left the room. I walked along the hallway with heavy steps, almost just dragging myself to move.

" Yoh, Kuchiki."

I looked up and saw Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez up ahead near the front entrance of the building, leaning on the wall with hands shoved in his pockets.

Definitely, I was surprised to actually cross paths with him again. Somehow, the fear of him that was instilled in me before had been slowly decreasing. It was still there, the wariness and the instinctive self-defensiveness, but is dying down to a moderate level compared to the past that every time I saw him, it was alarming. Perhaps, that's the reason why I managed to daringly reply to him. " I'm not blocking your way. You're the one blocking my path."

This earned a smirk and a look of bemusement from him as he slowly advanced towards me with the same air of confidence and cockiness. " Aren't you becoming feisty now?"

On the other hand, I remained rooted on the ground, meeting his dangerous eyes without fear. " What do you want?"

He stopped walking and looked like he was musing about something. " I'm bored." Grimmjow told me flatly.

" I suggest you go play with your lackeys." Now that I mention it, Grimmjow seem to have been alone lately.

With disinterest in the subject, he simply stretched. " They're in the hospital." He informed indifferently. " Those weaklings. Easily incapacitated." He fleered. Then he stated. " I want to eat ramen."

" O…kay?"

What does that have to do with me?

My question was answered almost immediately when he grabbed my wrist without warning. " And you, woman, will accompany me." He demanded as he dragged me once again.

" W-wait…" I tried pulling my hand but he was ignoring me. " My friends are waiting for me! You can't just drag me around all you want!"

He stopped abruptly. Still holding my wrist, he turned back and told me intrepidly. " Watch me."

-000-

I studied the place. It was a humble shack located in a secluded area in Karakura, somewhere you will have difficulty finding if you're not familiar with the area to begin with. Despite the unconventional location, the place was actually half-full with costumers, salary-men and blue-collars alike. The building was dilapidating but it was clean and had that woodsy and homey smell. Several old calligraphy works decorated the walls and an old ceiling fan to entertain people who were bored to kingdom come and perhaps an effort cool the place. The staff was composed of only two people. First, the old man who seems to be the cook and the owner of the place. The other one was catchy though. A woman in her late thirties, she was beautiful…beautiful enough not to fit in such a modest picture. Somehow, she seemed to be familiar…like I've seen someone like her before.

Finally, she spotted us and came our way. We were seated in a far corner of the shack. " Hello." She greeted in a motherly way. Her voice was smooth like cream and pleasant in the ears. She focused on Grimmjow with a smile plastered on her face. " It's nice to see you again." Then she glanced at my direction before saying, " It's the first time you brought someone along, a beautiful girl for that matter." It was spoken teasingly, her eyes smiling as she said so. I was about to clarify her misunderstanding of the situation but was interrupted when she turned to look at me. " Welcome to Andou's Ramen House. I'm Yuri Misako."

Feeling obliged to answer her question, I immediately replied. " I'm Kuch—"

" I'll have the usual. She'll have the same as well and green tea." Grimmjow interrupted me in a pompous manner with a touch of coldness in his voice. I looked at him with surprise but his eyes were warning me not to say anything anymore.

I gaped at him. What's his problem now?! The gall of him to treat me like that when he's basically the one who dragged me here!

Yuri-san was equally surprised however acted casual about the whole high-hand handling he did and politely spoke. " I will get your orders then." Then she left.

" That was rude." I pointed out, looking at my companion across me who was slouching on his seat with hands crossed on his chest. He was another person who seemed not to fit in this kind of place. I was expecting him to think of such a place as trash but here we are actually waiting for our meal.

He grunted, rolling his eyes, then reasoned. " I'm here to eat. Not to watch you chit-chat with that person."

After a few minutes, our order came and we ate in silence. The food was delicious and satisfying actually much to my surprise. I would have enjoyed it dearly if not for my companion.

Having an actual conversation with Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez was one thing I never dreamed of and something that I've never seen happening. I averted my gaze and watched Yuri-san serve other costumers or clean the vacated places. " She's beautiful." I muttered to myself as I drank the tea.

" She's a worthless woman."

I snapped my head to my him. " What?! You don't have any right to say that to someone you barely know!" I defended, seething as I did so.

Grimmjow looked at me with narrowed eyes then growled. " What do you know about that piece of trash?!"

People were already looking at us. I stood up and glared at Grimmjow with asperity. That was unfair of him to attack someone who had been very nice to us. " THEN WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HER?!" It was so frustrating that I was clenching my hands so hard, my knuckles were almost white.

He stood up as well, forcefully slammed a large bill for the food on the table and dragged me out of the shack.

" Stop it! Let me go!" I struggled to free my hand from his hold which I was failing miserable. " Let go of me!"

The moment we were a good few meters away from the shack, he stopped and forcibly lets my hand free. " What is wrong with you woman?!" He roared angrily.

" You were accusing someone you don't know! She's innocent! You have no right to degrade her like that!" I shouted at him with equal fervor.

" THAT WOMAN IS THE ONE WHO ABANDONED HER SON AND HUSBAND FOR ANOTHER MAN WITHOUT AS MUCH AS A GOODBYE! NOW TELL ME IF I HAVE NO RIGHT TO CALL HER WORTHLESS?!" He glowered. His chest raising up and down in a labored manner.

I looked at him incredulously. " What?!"

" She was the woman who bore me into this world. That's all she did then left my bastard of a father to be a miserable imbecile!" He stated somehow calmly with that same coldness he had earlier.

Grimmjow didn't call Yuri-san his mother. He referred to her like she was simply a vessel. His face was stone hard but…

Now I see why Yuri-san seemed familiar. Grimmjow had inherited her eyes…even the sadness and yearning within them.

" Does she know?" I pried, not really expecting him to answer.

" No."

I gasped then thoughtlessly ran my mouth. " You should tell her! May be she will be happy when she see—"

" STOP MEDDLING WITH MY AFFAIRS, KUCHIKI!" He spatted with overwhelming anger making me step back, lose my balance and fall sitting on the ground.

He was heaving his breath while I remained seated on the ground, the two of us looking at each other. There was silence between us until the sound of shattering glass disrupted it, making me turn to a narrow alley. In there were men who were evil-looking, beating the crop out of a now bloody and half-dead young man. My breath was caught up as I watch the scene transverse with wide eyes. They were probably unaware of our presence.

" Tell us what we're asking for you punk!" One pulled the bloody man by the collar then slammed him again before planting a strong kick on the poor man's abdomen.

The victim winced in pain and groaned. " I…don't know what you're talking about. I don't know anything about that Hougyoku or whatever that thing is!" He coughed out blood.

I gasped.

Then my eyes caught a familiar bush of silver hair and pale skin, hands being placed on the shoulder of one punk who had a huge scar on his arm and whispered something in his ear.

" Ichimaru-sensei?" I spoke out aloud unconsciously, too overwhelmed to be thinking straight. It's not every day that you see someone who looks like your teacher with a group of punks beating an innocent guy to death.

They all looked up and saw me watching. Even the guy with silver hair did who looked slightly surprised but smiled at me nonetheless…that same creepy smile which brings a tingling sensation underneath my skin. I could never be mistaken! Then he patted the guy's shoulder before leaving as if nothing heinous was happening in front of him but not before placing a finger on his lips. That gesture was for me…he was asking me to be quiet.

" Shit! Someone saw us!" One man exclaimed as they left the almost half dead person on the ground. " Boss?" They all looked at the man that the silver-head was talking to earlier before he left. The said man, who they called boss, nodded as nudged his head at my direction. His face hardened. Then they slowly walked towards me. Their eyes grim…they intended to kill anyone who was in their way.

I gulped and was rooted on my spot.

" You're always getting us in trouble." Grimmjow spatted as he pulled me up to stand and shove me aside scathingly, placing himself between me and the dangerous-looking gang. I almost forgot that he was also there with me. " Stay there and call the police."

Hearing the word police, the goons increased their pace and charged angrily. " As if we'll let you get away with this alive, boy!"

I willed myself to focus at the task at hand. With shaking hands, I fished out my phone from my uniform's pocket. I immediately dialed the police and informed them of our situation. After doing so, I looked up to check if how Grimmjow was doing. It was almost nostalgic. Almost the same as to what happened that night. The advantage in number didn't let them overpower him.

Almost everyone was down except for the leader, the person whom Ichimaru-sensei was talking with. And he looked pretty much pissed off. " You're good pretty boy. You manage to take down my boys. I'll give you that." He stated with arrogance. " But you look like you're out of breath already." A mocking smirk then came across his lips.

It was only that time that I did notice Grimmjow's panting. He was tired and a little unsteady. Taking down eight goons wasn't an easy job after all. " Shut up pig-face!" His fighting spirit was still overwhelming though.

Offended by Grimmjow's comment, the leader explained himself. " I am rather considered a lady's man in downtown Tokyo. Girls fawn over me." My companion sniggered which caused a tick to appear on his opponent's head. " That's rude boy! You don't know who you're dealing with." It was a warning.

With much confidence, Grimmjow declared. " Show me." He prepared his best fighting stance, feet parted for support.

The leader pulled a foldable dagger from his pocket and waved it around with a maniacal smile. " Watch out little boy. I'll teach you a painful lesson then that chic over there will have some fun with me later."

The statement that pertained to me brought me shivers. I hugged myself as I step back further from that evil, evil man.

The two engaged in a brawl, with Grimmjow at a slight disadvantage. He evaded the dagger carefully while also trying to land a hit but his opponent proved to be a good fighter as well. Series of punches, kicks and attempts for stabbing happened, none wanting to loss. The gang leader attempted to land a thrust the dagger on Grimmjow's gut. The latter immediately went into a defensive mood anticipating the attack and preparing to disarm his opponent when the opportunity comes but the former halted midway. Then, with a swift sidestep, he went to my direction in hasty steps…dagger pointed at me.

Blood drained away from my face as I watched the goon cross the distance between us. I whimpered, stepping back until my back was already on the wall and closed my eyes as I waited for the contact of the knife on my chest happened.

A battle cry was heard and the impact I was anticipating never came. Instead, I opened my eyes to see Grimmjow's back. " That's not really nice of you ugly-face." My companion said through gritted teeth as his opponent backed away. He said as he once again went to attack all out.

The gang leader managed to hit his dagger on Grimmjow's arm when the former suddenly turned to attack me instead. The blue-head was fast enough to come in between us and stop the dagger from reaching me. Instead, it wounded his arm which he used to shield me. It was bleeding and somehow, he was having difficulty moving it in the rest of the duration of the fight. When an opportunity came, the man pinned Grimmjow on the ground and tried to stab him but the latter managed to stop his arm from doing so. However, that did not deter the gang leader to fight back as he tried to inch his weapon towards Grimmjow and wishfully slit his throat with it.

" Grimmjow!" I exclaimed his name while hyperventilating. My hands were trembling as I thought of a way to help him.

What do I do? What do I do? What do I—

The edge of the knife was already a few centimeters away from Grimmjow's throat.

" Say your prayers, boy!" The man told him in an almost near victory.

With all my might, I swung the steel pipe which I miraculously managed to find on the ground and hit him in the back of his head. I watch the dagger fall from his hand as he drifted away into unconsciousness, toppling over Grimmjow.

The adrenaline rush was now gone. I ended up letting go of the steel pipe and fall on the ground, chest going up and down with each labored breath.

Grimmjow hurled the man's body away from him then sat up and looked at me. " Whenever I'm with you, I always end up in a fight. This is the third time already."

I eyed his injury with worry, probably teary and was about to cry. " You're bleeding."

"Che. I'm not dying." He managed to retort as he raised that wounded arm. I watch it come near me and when I wasn't expecting it, he used it to flick my forehead. " See?"

" Ouch!" I scowled at him as I nursed my throbbing and red forehead.

Police sirens served like melody in my ears that moment.

Why do they always arrive when all the danger is gone?

-000-

God bless and have a nice day!