A/N: Soooo my laptop crashed on me last week and I had a bunch of chapters already pre-written but they just needed to be looked over and submitted which I planned to do on breaks at my summer job. But of course when my laptop crashed that plan went out the door. So I was pretty much in a slump and about to cry my eyes out when I my friend reminded me I sent her a couple chapters in her email. Once again I was excited with this string of hope but then disappointed to find out I had only sent her two chapters. Which I guess was better than nothing but I wanted the other stuff I typed back. After I realized I would have to get a new laptop or get my old one fixed but there would be the possibility of the hard drive getting wiped out, I decided to take matters into my own hands and try to fix my laptop. Girl power ^_^. I found out what the problem was and after unscrewing the screen and seeing the magic of how a laptop looks on the inside nothing happened it was still dead :'-( Out of frustration I dropped it on my carpeted floor and heard the motors turning. Opening it I was highly excited to see it start up and have been working since. Who knew just by dropping it I could fix it lol…PS don't try this at home, it worked for mine but may harm your laptop, plus I just did it out of anger lol….anyhow I am back to write more chapters for you guys. I'm really thankful to all of you who have reviewed and left messages about the story. You're all the reason why I really wanted to get back into writing it. Well enough of my rambling unto the story.

Chapter Thirty-Four

~Flash Back~

Byakuya arranged for Renji to stay in the house and keep an eye on Hoshiko since he was able to connect with her. When Hoshiko calmed down he ordered for her to be cleaned, "While staying here you will look proper and act as such. Despite your beliefs you are a lady and while in my presence will be respected as one." As Renji was escorting Hoshiko to the baths, Byakuya ordered him to stay while she was bathed just in case she decided to hurt someone or herself. Renji wasn't happy about the idea, but did as he was told. When they reached the baths, Mitsu, a young servant, was awaiting and already had the bath running. She watched Hoshiko closely as she seemed hesitant; turning her attention to Renji she spoke,

"Fuku-Taichou, with all due respect, she is a young lady and it is not proper to be here while she is cleaned." Renji was uncomfortable because he had to follow orders but didn't want to be there while Hoshiko bathed. Thinking to dishonor his orders, he was about to leave the room when Hoshiko interrupted,

"Its fine, he has to follow his orders." Renji turned his back as Hoshiko started to undressed and the woman took away her clothes. Renji heard her enter the water and felt odd knowing she was naked behind him. While Hoshiko was being cleaned the woman gasped as she could see all her wounds and scars. Renji snapped his head back to see what was going on and he cringed as he saw the back of her. Scars and bruises covered most of her flesh; Mitsu had pulled Hoshiko's hair to the side,

"Dear Lord, this is….." she was lost for words as she saw the extensity of her wounds, "I will get some medical supplies and tend to the wounds that are fresh." Renji never took his eyes off of Hoshiko as Mitsu left the room. He felt his heart sinking,

"Don't look at me, please." Hoshiko wrapped her arms around her body to cover the rest of her wounds,

"This is why you didn't want to be examined," he commented as he slowly walked towards the tub

"Stop, I know their hideous." He heard her voice cracking, was she crying?

Kneeling down next to the tub, Renji pushed her hair from her face and made her look at him. Suddenly she started crying and Renji found himself reaching out to hold her; cradling her in his arms, she held onto him as her back rested against his now soaked uniform. "This is not your fault, Hoshiko…Sumimasen,…." Renji breathed as he could feel her struggling against him. She continued to softly sob in his arms as the water mixed with her tears. Renji held her tighter and pressed his cheek against hers. "Please forgive me, Hoshiko." Suddenly her shoulders dropped and she broke down in his arms. She needed to cry, she needed to let everything out. It was killing her inside; he was still killing her inside. Even after death Seichii was still able to hurt her.

"I don't know how….." she paused as he waited for her continue, "To live now."

"I'll help you…..I won't let anyone hurt you again. I promise you, Hoshiko." He stated

~Hueco Mundo~

Renji couldn't stop thinking about Hoshiko; after talking with the others memories of the past plagued his head. All the feelings he tried to keep buried resurfaced and were pulling at his composure. Here he was lost in Hueco Mundo and Hoshiko was in trouble, he knew he needed to find her and get her out of Aizen's hands. But they had been walking for who knows how long and all they found were open fields of sand. Sure it was better than mindlessly wondering around hallways, but it still didn't make them any closer to rescuing her or Orihime.

"It helps if you don't think about it…" snapping his head up he found Ichigo walking next to him

"What?" Renji asked

"I'm worried about them too, but focusing on getting to them is easier than thinking about what could be happening to them right now." Ichigo replied with a sigh

"Speak for yourself," Renji replied

"Trust me right now I would love nothing more than to have Orihime save and Hoshiko in my arms," Ichigo paused as he took notice of Renji's hand clinching at his last sentence, "Angrily wandering around hallways got us nowhere but in a desert. Now we're in the open and the only way to get to them is by being focused."

"You can keep telling yourself that." Renji replied turning away from him

"What do you mean by that?" Ichigo asked

"I can't relax knowing she's in the lion's den with nothing to protect her. I would think her boyfriend should be worried about another man having his sick way with her." Renji stated, Ichigo was about to respond when it hit him he realized why Renji was so frustrated. Why didn't he see it before, it was obvious.

"You're in love with her….." Ichigo stated just above a whisper

"What?" Renji said turning his head back to him

"You're in love with Hoshiko." Ichigo stated again as Renji widened his eyes at him, "I was so busy in my own thoughts that I didn't see it. I mean it's the way you look at her, the way you talk about her; even now you're worried about what Aizen's doing to her just like I am."

"She's my friend of course I love her." Renji defended

"I love Rukia and Orihime, but I'm "in" love with Hoshiko. They are different types of love Renji. You're in love with Hoshiko." Ichigo commented. The two stared at each other for a moment, more questions raced through Ichigo's head; he wondered if Hoshiko knew Renji was in love her? Did she feel the same way? Had there been something between them in the past?

"You don't have to worry; it doesn't matter if I'm "in" love with her. She's your girlfriend, end of story." Renji stated

"What do you mean by that?" Ichigo asked

"She loves you….just like she loved Bya…either way she isn't in love with me, but despite that I love her and I would give her anything she wanted," Renji paused, there was something that she wanted and he still couldn't give that to her that, "I made a promise to her that no one would hurt her again after what Seiichi did to her. I let one man slip through the cracks and break her heart. I will be damn if I let anyone else hurts her again, even if it's you."

"I would never hurt Hoshiko; she means too much to me. She made me fall head over heels for her. I won't give her up so easily, so frankly I'm not about to let any man take her from me, even if that man is you." Ichigo stated as the tension grew between the two of them.

"Enough!" Rukia said moving between the two of them, "Look!" Renji and Ichigo turned their attention to something running in the distance.

"What…is that?" Renji mumbled

Ichigo narrowed his eyes and saw what was running towards them, "It's a kid" He shunpoed away and made his way towards the child that was being chased by Hollows. Renji and the others quickly followed suit and rushed to save the child.

~Las Noches~

Grimmjow breathed heavily as Damita stood a few feet away from him. They had been training for a few hours and she was stronger and faster than he thought. He suspected the experiments had something to do with it. She slowly got used to her power which they now named negative cero. After examining it closer, the energy was similar to a cero blast but instead of charging it up she was releasing the energy freely and was able to hold it in her hands.

Even out of breath herself, she was relentless. It was like he was fighting Hoshiko again,

"Stop thinking about hitting me and do it." Damita stated preparing to charge at him

Grimmjow smirked, "A woman of action, I like that." Without warning he flashed in front of her and with a hard kick he sent her flying across the room. She groaned but picked herself up only to laugh. He looked at her oddly, "What?"

"Your hits are getting softer." She teased as he narrowed his eyes at her

"Why do you like to test me woman?" he groaned

"Because it's fun." Damita suddenly flashed at him and as he was about to hit her she moved to the back of him and elbowed him in the back of the head. He gritted his teeth as it actually hurt him.

"Bitch….." Grimmjow mumbled

"Say it to my face, pussycat." With a smile she watched as he clutched in his fists and attempted to control his temper. She was satisfied that she could mentally bother him; since his harsh words could hit like rocks it was nice to know he had a weakness, "Your arrogance has turned against you, Grimmjow."

"Don't let this training session turn against you. If I take it seriously you will be crying to Aizen." He warned

"I thought you said you would train with me for real?" she asked

"Like you would want that." Grimmjow commented

"You don't know what I want." Damita replied, Grimmjow couldn't help but let his mind wonder at all the things she could mean by that. Thoughts of Hoshiko with Ichigo rushed to his head, did the boy give her want she wanted? He remembered smelling her scent on him the last time they met. Without realizing it something in him cringed at the thought of Ichigo touching Hoshiko.

"Are you done day dreaming about milk?" Damita mused

"Shove it!" he snapped, preparing to attack her. With a growl he charged at her aiming a kick to her mid section. Damita put up her hands to block it but the impact sent her flying into a wall again. This time she took longer to get up, but when she did he saw her eyes grow dark.

"I see you're done with the four play." She smiled while adjusting her footing, but before she could attack he already was in front of her and grabbed her neck forcefully. She gasped as he tossed her to the other side of the room like a rag doll.

"That the best you got? Come on what was the sense of four play if you can't come through." Grimmjow smirked. And so another fight between the two began. This time it was more heated as Grimmjow took off the safety and decided to play a little rough. Despite being thrown against every wall and looking like a punching bag, Damita wasn't giving up. She held her own was giving him new scars to prove it. Grimmjow watched her closely trying to predict her next move. As he was doing so, he couldn't help but notice how wild she looked. Her hair was messy and her uniform had small tears around it. Something in him growled at the site. Her breathing was heavy and with each breath her chest expanded. Slowly thoughts of hurting her were replaced by thoughts of…

"You shouldn't lose focus on me." Damita breathed

I haven't, "Why? You really think you can beat me now? I haven't even broken a sweat yet." Grimmjow commented arrogantly

"You sure about that? You look kind of out of breath there. " she was trying to catch her own breath, Grimmjow was making her tired yet she would never tell him that. She had to make her next move a good one to bring him down. Adjusting her stance she faked him out with a move to the right but came at his left. Grimmjow was transfixed on the movement of her body, but he was aware of her attack. He flashed away and appeared behind her to place her in a chokehold. With a groan she tried to throw him over her shoulder; using what little energy she had left she elbowed him so he could loosen his grip and she could flip him over. Grimmjow grunted as his back hit the ground hard. Damita was about to kick him but he grabbed her ankle and dragged her down. She landed above his head. Air rushed passed her lips in a gasp, she ignored his sudden movement and was about to get up but he flashed and within a blink of an eye had her pinned to the ground again. Straddling her hips and he pinned both of her hands above her head. She kept trying to get her hands free but he held them tightly.

"I think you lose." Grimmjow said as she squirmed under his hold. Watching her made that odd feeling return to his stomach and made him feel weird about her. With a sigh he loosened his grip on her and expected her to want to quit for the day but he was rudely awaken when Damita broke out of his clutches and lifted her hand only to slap him hard against his face. Grimmjow growled as he held his cheek, Damita pushed him off of her and stood up. Only on her feet for a few moments, she sighed as he angrily kicked her feet out from underneath her. This time however Damita landed on in his lap, she glared at him as she tried to push herself off of him. But Grimmjow wrapped his arms around her waist and held her down to him. Realizing their current position, she began to sweat and her nerves suddenly flared,

"You're sweating already? I haven't even done anything to you yet," Grimmjow whispered, his warm breath tickled her ear. Damita's eyes widened at his words, was he flirting with me? She wondered. Grimmjow didn't know when the sudden need to keep her close to him took him over, but having her in his lap made him want to keep her there for some strange reason. He intended to end their practice session after she was pinned to the ground and he won, but when she slapped him it made him angry but also dangerously excited at the same time. Squirming uncomfortably, Damita pushed against him again but Grimmjow pulled her even closer so now she was completely on his lap. As she continued to squirm Grimmjow felt himself get more excited and grunted as he said, "Stop moving….." Suddenly she met his gaze and was caught in the intensity of his eyes. Her hand crept up to his face. Thinking she was going to strike him again he grabbed her wrist, she was surprised when he pulled her hand to his face and gently nuzzled the back of her hand against his mouth.

"What are you doing….." the words slipped passed her lips as she watched him intently. What are you doing to me is a better question, Grimmjow thought as he was losing control of his common sense. This was the woman that he hated; the same woman that just the thought of her made him cringe in disgust. But the sickening feeling he normally had in his stomach was turning to knots as her body pressed against his. Damita didn't know what was happening, looking into his teal eyes all she saw was want, want for her. Teasingly he ran his lips over her fingers; she felt a tingle go down her back as his tongue flicked her index finger. As he gazed up at her a strange twinge started to tug on her heart. What's wrong with me? I feel weird like this, she thought but her thoughts were interrupted when Grimmjow freed his other hand and grabbed the back of her neck so he could pull her face towards his. Their lips met in a heated kiss; Grimmjow's lips parted and pressed against hers as her own gave way for him. She groaned as his mouth consumed hers and he pushed his tongue out to rub against her lips. Just as she was opening to give him more access, she suddenly gasped when he pushed her off of him and stood up.

"What?" Damita asked confused by his actions, he ignored her and turned his head towards the doorway

"You two seem busy," she turned her head and found Gin walking up to them. She wondered what he saw but quickly ignored it and smiled up at him. Grimmjow narrowed his eyes at him, perfect timing asshole. He could still feel his body reacting to Damita; he wanted to hold her again.

"Is something wrong Gin-Sama?" Damita asked rising to her feet

"I've been looking for you Damita, Aizen-sama wants to speak with you," Gin paused, "But if you're busy."

"No! I'll go speak with him." She replied glancing at Grimmjow before leaving the room. Grimmjow never took his eyes off Gin as the silver haired fox seemed amused by the situation

"What the hell is your problem?" Grimmjow asked

"Nothing," Gin smiled, "But you do know that it isn't wise to play with toys that aren't yours."

"Why don't you take your place back under Aizen, or are you mad he wants a woman to play with instead." Grimmjow replied turning to leave the room. Just as he passed him, Gin shot his hand out and grabbed his arm.

"Just a fair warning, Aizen is very possessive and I would hate to have to clean up the mess he makes of you for messing with something that is his."

"Save that for Kurosaki, she's he's woman remember." Grimmjow said pushing his hand away and walking off angrily. Gin smiled, he had no intention of telling Aizen anything. He just wanted to see how things unfolded, after all everyone is mound to get caught with their hand on the cookie jar.