When the wall burst apart Grimmjow instinctively shielded Karin from the flying debris. The lightning safely struck some distance from where they were seated but when it ended they could see nothing beyond the cloud of seki seki powder that billowed toward them.

"Ichigo..."

"Shh." Grimmjow stood and pulled the girl to her feet next to him. She clung to his broken arm but he didn't even feel the pain anymore. They inched their way along the wall to where Grimmjow hoped the entrance had been created. There was much noise from the other room and the electric flashes of powers carried eerily though the cloud of dust. There was no way to tell where they were going and who they might run into if they ran through the opening. They had to wait for the right moment.

And then it came.

This time, the whole building shook. Karin's knees wavered and Grimmjow guessed it must be a captain, maybe even the head captain. It didn't take long to confirm his guess, the Head Captain's voice was booming orders and the heat of his flames could soon be felt. Going out there now, unprotected would be dangerous, but staying here was worse.

"Are you ready?" Karin nodded bravely and shifted her grip on his hand. "One, two, three!"

It was like running though a battle field. They could see little but explosions of heat kept detonating around them, people were screaming and the clash of swords was everywhere. Grimmjow didn't dare call out to Ichigo or Toshiro and risk giving away his position. No, the best plan was to get Karin out. In one of the blasts some of the dust cleared and Grimmjow caught sight of stairs, the way to safety.

"Just a little further." but even as he spoke the encouraging words to the girl he came to a sudden halt. Black eyes were directly before him, and all he could feel was cold, spreading from deep inside him. His arm went limp in Karin's hands and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't respond to her screams to run. Kono grinned and Grimmjow followed his gaze down to his abdomen where he saw the bone fingers deep in his gut. It was as if seeing the truth made the pain of the mortal wound a reality. Blood spurted into his throat and he coughed it out as he slid to the ground.

"Grimmjow!" Karin screamed next to him trying to take his weight as he went down.

"...just run." he wheezed.

Kono followed him down and then jerked his hand free of his body. "Oh my King, how the mighty have fallen, as they say. Would have been nice to have that power of yours, but this is just as satisfying."

Grimmjow couldn't manage a comeback. Karin remained loyally behind him, he could sense her fear but it was overwhelmed by her outrage. If Koorizimu had been able, he was sure Kono would have been disintegrated right there.

"You bastard!" She screamed in furry "He gave you a second chance! How can you–"

"Karin!" She stopped only at the weak voice of the man leaning against her. "Please, run."

Never in her life would she have complied, except that even weak, Koorizimu knew better, and she found herself listening to the desperate man below her. She backed up and after a slight bit more hesitation ran.

"Ichigo!" she screamed. She might be running, but only to find someone who could save the King.

"She won't survive. There's nine others just as powerful as me." Kono said, leaning in closer to Grimmjow. There was a flare of heat and they heard screams. Though blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth and his breaths came in shallow gasps, Grimmjow managed a smirk. The scent of burnt flesh hung in the air.

"Not anymore."

"Damn you." Kono picked him up only to hurl him against the back wall. More blood filled his throat and this time he didn't know if he'd ever find his breath again. He had minutes before death took him.

"How does it feel Grimmjow? To be practically human? How does it feel to be so weak?" Kono was not advancing. He raised a hand. A light was forming there, growing in intensity but not a normal cero, more powerful. Grimmjow's human body would never withstand it. This was it. "How does it feel..." Kono smiled, "to die?"

"You'll know, soon enough." Grimmjow spat back.

"Good bye, Grimmjow, my king." the power continued to build but Grimmjow didn't even know if he could hang on to consciousness for that long. But something inside him stirred, a recognition of a presence and suddenly he wasn't staring at Kono anymore, he saw the long flowing golden locks and determined gaze of the woman he loved.

"Rin..." the word was a mere whisper, barely audible. She looked down at him, her face serious, sad and he knew she remembered.

"Stay here." His heart lurched at the words– the same ones she'd spoken on the night of her death– and he tried to reach for her as she turned away but he hadn't the strength. He could not watch her die, not again, but he could do nothing to stop her either.

She was hardly visible now, the light of the cero so intense, but she calmly raised a hand before her.

"BANKAI!"

A long, slender katana formed in her palm, solid, beautiful. She wasted no time in plunging the point straight through the cracked cement floor. At the same moment, Kono released his attack. Red and yellow tendrils of energy reached out around an invisible barrier, never touching Rin, or Grimmjow. The blade continued to diffuse the blast and Rin turned slowly. Grimmjow's mind was slipping and in the moment he saw just as clearly the night Rin turned, having defended him, and spoke those heart breaking words just before she fell, I was almost fast enough.

But this time was entirely different. Before him stood a victorious woman, a woman who was not going to lose her life, or that of her lover. She was at his side instantly, her arms around him, stroking his cheek. Carefully, she leaned in and they shared their first kiss of this lifetime. She held him close and he felt the wound in his stomach stitching itself together, the broken bones of one arm mending and the overwhelming sensation of a missing limb returning. When Rin withdrew he pulled back only to see that it was all true, his hand was back, his wounds gone, and then he threw himself on her again.

"I love you."

"I know."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise." she pulled back but kept her hands secure around his neck. "I'm sorry it took me so long to remember."

"I doesn't matter." He tried to pull her close again but she held him back.

"We aren't done here." She stood and offered him her hand. Just like the day they decided to take on Hie, he took it, even though he had no need of the help. He felt a second rush of energy and they were surrounded by people. Immortals– ones who hadn't turned, as well as Kenpachi, Rangiku, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Renji, Yachiru and Rukia.

"Stand still Grimmjow." She grabbed his arm and he was shocked to see that the black band had returned with the limb.

Everyone around him reached out and touched it.

"It's too powerful." Grimmjow said as he realized what they were doing.

"No, Grimmjow. These are the people who know your heart best, who you have connected with across space, and who have come to know you and your soul. They know the path to Zizimu, and the king is waiting to get out. Trust us."

He nodded and she lay her hand on last. It took a moment and then he felt the swell of power, like pressure on a cork.

Master.

"Zizimu!" He roared the name and the path was forged. The black metal shattered and pure white light built around his body. He let it take over, forming the hybrid shield and, letting a broad smile spread across his face, leapt into the fight.

Kono had already stopped his attack and was now engaged with Byakuya, who, though bleeding heavily down one side, was holding his own so Grimmjow went for a pair attacking Ukitake instead. They had him cornered and when he got closer he could see the tall soul reaper was protecting a very weak Toshiro but now they were both vulnerable.

Ukitake could barely counter, he clutched his stomach and seemed to be coughing blood. But Grimmjow was at the height of his power and, coming up from behind, he clawed deep into the Immortals' backs with one sweep of his illuminated hands and they fell. Ukitake slid to the ground still coughing. Toshiro was barely conscious beside him. Grimmjow hesitated above them but Ukitke waved a hand.

"Go." he sputtered. Grimmjow nodded and turned back to the battle.

Renji, Rukia and Ichigo were taking on an immortal but seemed to be holding their own. He noticed too that Urahara was there but he had Karin, Orihime and two humans with him and Grimmjow understood he first had to get them to safety. Captain Kyoriku and Soifon had another that was pushing their limits while Kenpachi, Rangiku and Yachiru had an immortal between them, but there were three fighting the Head Captain on his own, and despite his strength, he couldn't do it himself.

"You could run, you know." The voice had appeared behind him before he'd sensed the spiritual pressure. He barely caught a glimpse of Byakuya's lifeless form before he felt the blow. He still had his shield but it knocked him forward several feet and he landed on his knees very close to the Head Captain. Yamamoto had several wounds and his flames had receded. Still, the fact that he had held his own against three immortals was still impressive.

Kono was behind him again and grabbed him around the back of his neck with his hollowed hand. Grimmjow could have shook him off but Kono's words stayed him.

"As I was saying, you could run. I won't chase you, not until I've killed the soul reapers anyway. This is your chance, to finally escape from them and I'm going to do all the dirty work for you. You should thank me, then when I take your powers, you will at least die free." he released Grimmjow and moved closer to the Head Captain who was close enough to hear every word. The others had stopped fighting him for the moment. Yamamoto eyed Grimmjow, his eyes unreadable, then he turned his attention to Kono who was speaking to him.

"I wish I could consume soul reaper powers, yours would certainly be a worthy addition, but now that Zizimu has been released I suppose his will have to do." Kono moved closer to the Head Captain but shot a glance over his shoulder.

"So Grimmjow, you gonna stick around and watch me kill this guy?"

Grimmjow was frozen. He hated Yamamoto for personal reasons, but he knew so many who would lay their lives down for him. As much as he disagreed with the old man, in the end, he did what he did to protect the entire Soul Society...and the world of the living.

The three other immortals suddenly lunged and attacked the commander simultaneously. Grimmjow saw in an instant their plan. Already the cero was burning bright in Kono's white fist. The other three had Yamamoto restrained and would prevent him from leaving until the very last second.

No, Grimmjow realized before Zizimu could explain: that was how this attack was different from a cero: Kono could select who it affected, and who it didn't. He could blast at all four, destroying Yamamoto leaving his allies untouched. It was flawless.

One Immortal managed to get their sword though Yamamoto's leg, he was losing strength quickly.

"Head Captain!" He heard Rangiku cry from somewhere else. This was it. He'd kick himself for doing it later but Grimmjow already knew what Rin would say. Without further hesitation he used sodino and appeared directly between Kono and the Head Captain.

"Now this was a choice I did not expect. You would die for him?"

"No, but I'd kill you for him." Grimmjow clamped his fist around Kono's bone hand. The energy began to build between their palms. The heat was reaching beyond his barrier but he could withstand it. He grinned wide.

"Why are you smiling? I'm about to relieve you of your right hand for a second time."

"Oh no. You forget Kono," and he leaned close to his enemy, "you are still an immortal, and I am still your king." He thrust his left hand onto Kono's chest and the shield dropped. He felt the damage to his right arm immediately but at the same time Zizimu forced his way into Kono's heart.

Grimmjow was surrounded by darkness and disembodied howls. Instantly he felt like he was back in the hollow pit, and when he considered it, he wasn't far off. Kono had made a hollow pit inside him by consuming so many hollows in order to gain power. But now Grimmjow would release them all from their eternal prison, and take control over Kono's powers. The cero had reached its peak, Zizimu roared and the lost souls stilled.

There.

Grimmjow felt the connection with Kono's powers. He had control. The king opened his eyes.

Grimmjow got one fleeting glimpse of Kono's eyes before he released the bone fist. Kono understood what Grimmjow had done to him but he could not stop the destructive force he had begun. The cero blasted past Grimmjow harmlessly but struck the immortals. Grimmjow calmly watched the man before him burst apart when his own attack rebounded on himself. Zizimu had succeeded in changing the intended target of the cero and even amplified it. All the hollowfied immortals were struck with the cero while everyone else stood unaffected by the blinding light. When it faded, not even their bodies remained, and the room was filled with hundreds of black butterflies– all the lost hollow souls who'd never been purified. Now, finally free, they floated on to their next destination.

"You preformed Konso, on all the hollows they consumed." Grimmjow turned to face the Head Captain who spoke behind him, his katana now a cane again. Grimmjow felt heavy and tired, and he knew he didn't want to run anymore. His head swam from blood loss from the seared flesh of his right arm and the massive expenditure of energy. Still, he turned around to face Yamamoto square on.

Yamamoto continued. "You succeeded in restoring some of the balance of this world, as all soul reapers aspire to do."

"I am not a soul reaper."

"Indeed you are not. But she is."

By now everyone who was still standing came closer. Rin stepped forward when Yamamoto indicated her.

"What's your point?" Grimmjow growled.

"Will you make her run away with you? Will you make her turn her back on all that she could achieve?"

"What do you want me to do? Be your prisoner for the next hundred years?"

"No."

Grimmjow was taken aback a little by the response.

"What?"

"You have proved many things to me today. First you are a hollow." Grimmjow swallowed but the Head Captain continued before he could react. "You have as deep a connection with them as you do the hybrids. But secondly, you are more like a soul reaper than you think. You saved my life even though you despise me."

"So what am I then?"

"A man." Rin answered firmly staring directly at the Head Captain. He paused for a long moment before nodding his consent.

"Yes. A man, but with great power."

"That you don't trust."

"No. But you have a responsibility to the hybrids and the hollows. They will be your people until it is time for you to rule the Zampakuto. So I have decided, it would be best for you to stay here and watch over you people. I believe you and I can coexist best in this way."

Grimmjow let go of Rin and charged up to the Head Captain. He was unsteady but anger was etched in his face which he shoved close to Yamamoto's.

"I told you once before, my fate is not up to you. I know what I have to do and I'll do it, but not because you decided it was okay."

"Ah, but a peaceful coexistence would make it easier for Rin should she chose to return to the fourth division."

"What?"

"Unless we have an agreement, I cannot let you pass into the Soul Society, or Rin to the world of the living to see you."

Grimmjow took a few steps back and looked at Rin. He caught the momentary glimmer of hope that shone in her eyes.

"Is that what you want?"

"I just found you, I won't leave you again."

"But if you could have it both ways, do you want to continue training with Unohana?"

Rin looked him steadily in the eyes, she would not lie. "Yes."

"Then it is decided." the Head Captain said.

"No. Not yet. As long as you have Rin close you have control over us both. I need to know you are sincere about this."

"You have my word."

"Not good enough." He stepped forward again and raised his hand to the Head Captain's chest.

Grimmjow finally understood what it meant to have mature powers. He knew he was powerful, that Zizimu had the potential to be the most powerful being in the universe, but standing in the blazing, swirling flames that were Yamaoto's soul Grimmjow could see the strength built up by centuries upon centuries of experience. It took everything he had not to let the power consume him, his whole being trembled and Zizimu beside him.

Then Yamamoto was before him.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

Grimmjow hadn't even been able to start searching out the Head Captain's feelings, he'd been so concentrated on surviving the sheer force of energy.

"Here." Yamamoto put a hand on his shoulder and the weight of power lifted, the flames dimmed. In the calm he could now feel what he wanted: honesty. The two men locked eyes.

"Satisfied?"

"Yes."

The Head Captain released him and he was thrust back into the living world. He felt himself falling but strong arms caught him.

"Risky move you made there." He blinked up at the face of Kenpachi Zaraki who lowered him into Rin's outstretched arms.

"I had to know." he gasped.

"And?" Rin asked gently.

Grimmjow just nodded. She smiled up at the Head Captain.

"Thank you, sir."

He nodded and she turned back to Grimmjow but he was already unconscious in her arms.