A/N: Gomen ne! Didn't mean to annoy you guys with the random Japanese inserts. I'm trying to learn the language so I've been doing this selfishly. If you'd like, join me in learning some of the basic phrases. =) (I just discovered that FF doesn't do superscript. =( Didn't want to break up the text with a bunch of numbers and symbols, so all the translations are listed in the order that they appear in the text at the very bottom of the chapter.)


"I don't need to be rescued by a girl!"

The blue-haired ex-espada crossed his arms and legs. Defiantly, he turned his head away from her and closed his eyes.

"Grimmjow-san!"

An hour had passed since she had first arrived at the Twelfth Division. Even though Nemu had given them the green light to get out of there, Grimmjow had refused to get up from his seat to leave with her. The Shinigami had simply shrugged, then walked away to continue on with her own affairs. When Orihime had tried to examine him for injuries, he had pushed her away, insisting that he was fine. She had not been anticipating such resistance from him; she hadn't expected him to thank her, but she genuinely thought that he would be happy to regain his freedom.

"I'm not rescuing you, really. I'm just taking you back to the Living World. Think of me... Like your parole officer." She was running out of ideas and becoming desperate.

He seemed to consider her last statement. Lifting one lid, he eyed her skeptically. How was this tiny little human supposed to keep him in check? He sniggered. He could take her life with the tip of his pinky.

"Look! You have to do as I say or I will push this button and they will take you away again." She thrust the small button in his face.

"Are you threatening me, Onna?" He narrowed his eyes at her and his features darkened.

Orihime gulped. The last thing that she wanted to do was to anger him. Obstinate Grimmjow was hard enough to deal with.

"No, I'm sorry," she said, her tone softening. "Onegai shimasu."

"What's it to you anyway?"

"... Grimmjow-san, did they tell you about your condition?" Her voice dropped to a whisper as she debated whether or not to broach the sensitive subject.

"Tch. What do they know?"

"A lot, actually. You're pretty much human now. Is this really where you want to spend the remainder of your days?" The submissive healer surprised even herself with her boldness.

Grimmjow responded with a low warning growl.

"Fine. You can stay here and get poked and prodded. I'm going home. Sayōnara!" She spun on her heel, prepared to leave him behind.

Jumping up, the newly transformed mortal grabbed Orihime by her wrist and yanked back roughly.

"I'm coming too," he muttered.

She didn't turn around so he couldn't see the large smile lighting up her face. She had no idea why she was so happy that she had convinced him to come with her. Now, he was going to be her responsibility. If it was this hard, just getting him to follow her home, how was she going to get him to comply with anything else? Shaking her head, she decided to take things one step at a time. It was more important to get back to the Living World before he changed his mind.


Rukia had insisted on escorting them back against Orihime's protests. Now, the three of them sat in an awkward triangle on her apartment floor. The lieutenant had engaged the former arrancar in a staring (or rather, glaring) match. Fidgeting uneasily, Orihime's eyes flitted from one to the other. The tension building in the small room was becoming rather unbearable for the peaceable healer.

"Ano... Is anyone hungry?" She forced a weak chuckle, but her question fell upon deaf ears.

"Rukia-san, don't you need to get back to the Thirteenth?"

"Soon," the vice-captain responded, not once lifting her gaze from her opponent.

Frowning, Orihime got up from her spot and decided to busy herself by making some lunch. As she prepared a sandwich, she wondered how in the world she was going to explain Grimmjow to Tatsuki. Furthermore, where would he stay? She glanced over to see that the two of them still hadn't moved. She noted that the cerulean-haired ex-espada looked exactly as he did since the last time that she had seen him. The thought occurred to her that he needed a change of clothes. Then, it dawned on her that he had nothing at all in this world, and he was now in her care. This man (?) who was ill tempered and an ex-terrorist, was now in her charge. What had she gotten herself into? Breathing heavily, she got a hold of herself and decided that she had her work cut out for her. Determined, she returned to the bullheaded pair.

"Rukia-san, thank you for bringing us back, but it's time for you to go now. I'll check in with you in a month's time." Her voice was firm.

"Inoue-"

"Daijōbu desu. I have this, remember?" She took the small button from her pocket to remind her friend that she could contact her should the need arise.

Rukia sighed, but relented. It wasn't as if she could stay forever after all. She got up reluctantly and gave Grimmjow a final glare before hugging her friend good-bye and disappearing through the balcony.

Once alone, Orihime looked at him timidly. She really hadn't thought this through. What comes first in teaching someone how to live like a "law-abiding citizen"?

"Ano, Grimmjow-san... There are a few things you can't do in the Living World..." She started hesitantly.

"I'll do as I like." As if to prove his point, he took the sandwich from her plate and took a huge bite out of it. Making a face, he dropped it back down. "What's in it?"

"Um... Just ham and tuna. Oh, and some red bean paste..."

Grimmjow's brow twitched as she continued to ramble off all the ingredients.

"I don't like it," he declared bluntly. "Make me something else."

"What do you want to eat?"

"I don't know. Not this."

Orihime sighed. After doing a quick inventory of her fridge and cupboards, she realized that a trip to the grocery store was long overdue.

"I need to pick up some things. We should probably stop by the department store too."


As they walked side by side, Orihime couldn't help but steal glances at her new ward. Judging by his slick cyan hair, he probably hadn't showered in a while. He was still wearing the same outfit that they had put together weeks ago. She wanted to ask him where he had been all this time, but feared that questions right now would only rile him. Indeed, the former hollow appeared to be rather testy. Orihime recalled that he had been in a similar foul mood when he had first approached her in her apartment when he had been badly wounded. Perhaps, a bath would do the trick. A furious blush swept across her face when she remembered Grimmjow's naked form.

When the two crossed the street to arrive at the local department store, a teenage boy riding his bike whistled at Orihime. The modest healer blushed a darker shade of crimson and crossed an arm over her chest. She really hated her figure sometimes; it drew a lot of unwanted attention, always at the wrong time. Without word, Grimmjow plucked the culprit clean off his bike and threw him to the ground. Wincing in pain, the teenager held up both hands to shield himself, and Orihime hurriedly stepped in between them. She put a shaky hand to Grimmjow's firm chest and tried her best to give him a stern look.

"Rule number one, no killing! In fact, no fighting!" She knitted her brows together and held her stance, even as Grimmjow glowered at her.

Leaving his bicycle behind, the poor adolescent scrambled away, crying as he ran for his dear life.

"I don't do rules." His voice was dangerously low and he was pushing down on her palm, getting closer to her face.

"Please, Grimmjow-san." Tears lined her round eyes. She had gone through so much trouble to bring him back. But, the arrangement wasn't going to work if he wasn't willing to work with her.

The taller male stepped back, scowling. He couldn't understand why the human woman was getting all emotional. That punk had disrespected him. He deserved a good beating. No one said he was going to kill him. Plus, he had disrespected her, too. Why wasn't she thanking him? Regardless, he didn't want to see those tears spill over. Nothing was less attractive than a crying girl.

"I wasn't going to kill him," he grumbled.

Relieved that he wasn't going to argue with her, she wiped the corners of her eyes and gave the ex-espada a big smile. Baby steps, she told herself.

"Domo arigatou gozaimasu." She gave him a polite bow.

The former Sexta frowned at the bowed body in front of him. No one ever bothered with formalities around him. He had had to fight for every ounce of respect he desired, and still, he had found it difficult to obtain it from his impudent peers. Of course, it had never occurred to him that people simply treated him in kind, but he wasn't one to be introspective about those things. He wouldn't go so far as to say that he was beginning to like the courteous healer, but he had to admit that she was at least tolerable company. He would humour her... For now.


1 Onegai shimasu = Please, when making a request

2 Sayōnara = Goodbye, with finality (as opposed to Jaa ne/Mata ne, See you)

3 Ano ~ Um, uh

4 Daijōbu desu = It's okay/I'm okay

5 Domo arigatou gozaimasu = Thank you very much (present tense)