It was becoming a game, and she knew it. She knew it very well. Teruna, I mean. Not like, Akiho. Everyday, she'd pull me in there and try to force my will to break. Then she'd send me out to Grimmjow, and we'd beat eachother senseless until he passed out first, or I did, then the other followed suit. She expected our bloodying eachother up to wear me out so I couldn't fight, but it was actually something I looked forward to. Kept my reality in check. If I was bleeding, and could feel pain, then it was all good.

Anyway, Teruna knew it was a sort of game. I didn't have to try hard to defy her so she couldn't get what she wanted. She knew all I wanted was to go get my ass kicked by Grimmjow everyday, with Renji backing me up with tips mentally as we went. But the time for games, was nearing it's end. This I realized, when I didn't wake up strapped to a table one day. I woke up on the sand of the outside. I rubbed my eyes, then sat up.

"Did somebody forget to come collect us?" I pondered, glancing at Grimmjow some feet away, sleeping like a baby. I concluded yes, then realized I was healed.

"Or Teruna's changing tactics." I got up, then kicked Grimmjow in the back. He woke with a start and a snort, then rolled onto his back and looked at me.

"What?" he snapped.

"Change of plans. Teruna left us out here all night, so obviously she's making us fight in the mornings. Which means I'm not allowed passing out."

"So you'll fight harder?" he was giddy now, with the excitement of battle. I made a face.

"Your lust for battle disgusts me."

"Sorry babe. It's who I am." I pulled him to his feet, then dusted my hands off, and bent backward to avoid his blow. He disappeared, and I paused, listening for his landing. He landed just two feet to my right, and I spun to block his blow, then nailed him in the shoulder with my fist. He grunted, then swiped my feet out from under me. I rolled as he punched the ground and sent up a plume of sand into his face. I laughed, then jumped to my feet, and held my Zanpakuto under his throat as the sand settled. He glanced at me, then knocked the sword away, splitting open his hand and nailing me in the stomach with his fist. I doubled over, and stumbled backward, before I felt the blood well up into my mouth. I spit, but knew it was still coming. He smirked, then I smirked, and nailed him in the still broken nose. He yelped, and I spun a kick into his gut, then, as he fell back, stuck my sword through him. He coughed, then looked at me.

"And eye for an eye." then cold metal sliced through me, and I bit my tongue, then spit out the blood. The very same substance oozed from the wound in my stomach, and my vision wavered slightly.

"It would appear I'm lacking in blood." he laughed bitterly.

"You're not the only one." he pulled his out, then I pulled mine out, before my knees buckled under me and I came crashing down into him. His arms flew around me, surprised, holding me to him.

"Katsu?" the same word and tone, but different voice echoed in my head. Shutting my eyes tight, I braced my hands against Grimmjow's chest, and tried to push away.

"Holy shit your pale. No." he responded to my pushing, lifting me up off my foot and knee bridal style, then heading somewhere.

"Dude, just drop me."

"I think not."

"Since when do you care?"

"Since I like having someone who can fight me without dying."

"Go find my brother. You two are a match made in heaven." I muttered. He chuckled.

"I don't know him as well."

"Well you hardly knew me when we started." I muttered again. Cool air swept over me, and I wondered where the hell we were going.

"To find someone who'll heal you, before you die on me. I'd prefer not to have hell brought down over my head my Teruna or Abarai." I breathed out a single laugh, then winced.

"Holy Jesus ow."

"Grimmjow!" Teruna's velvety soft voice rolled down the hallway, and I cringed. Her footsteps clicked down the hall to us.

"Follow me."

"I need to-"

"I need her, and you're carrying her. Come." he started walking again, hands tight on my arm and leg.

"Oh chill. She won't kill me. She needs me." he didn't say anything. Some minutes later, he set me down on the familiar table, and I let her cuff my hands in. Then an idea popped into my head, but I kept my mouth shut as she locked in my ankles and took off my anklet.

"You can leave."

"I'm staying." Grimmjow growled.

"Someone's grown affectionate." she teased lightly, then laid a hand on my injury, and jabbed her finger in. And I screamed like I never have before.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"Getting her soft." she pulled her finger out, and I would've traded my soul to be able to curl up in a ball and just cry. Don't think like that. A voice warned in my head. I sniffled. I'm allowed to cry at least. I muttered mentally as the tears escaped against my will. Teruna gripped my arm tight, and I glared at her through narrowed eyes. She smirked as the visions floated past my eyes, and then she hit me hard on my stomach, and I screamed again as she hissed, "Die." and yet I still mustered the will to stop her again. Cursing quietly, she slapped me hard, then just left. Grimmjow unlocked my shackles and pulled me into him, murmuring quietly as he rocked me. And I let myself cry my heart out. All the tears I've wanted to shed, but hadn't, just poured out of me. And he just held on.

oOo

"No," the evenness of my voice was wearing away fast as Ichiro tested my patience.

"The only inkling of a feeling I've got for Grimmjow is respect and maybe, just maybe, he's almost a friend." I said.

"Aww, come on. You know it's fun to have a scandalous time." I shot him a look, and he fell silent.

"Yeah. I know what it's like to be scandalous. Remember? I used to cheat on boyfriends all the time, and after each affair, my heart nearly broke in half. I don't know what your definition of fun is, but that sure as hell isn't mine. And I'm not about to betray Renji." he sighed.

"You're no fun."

"I'm in the pissiest of pissy moods. Leave me alone."

"Then allow me to make it worse." Grimmjow slid out from behind a corner, and I turned a deep scarlet. He smirked.

"No, I didn't hear anything. Though with that scarlet face, I kind of wish I had." I punched him in the chest.

"Asshat!" he laughed, then gripped my wrist and twisted me into him, breath hot on my neck. I kicked him in the kiwis, eye twitching.

"I think today will be the day you pass out instead of me." I muttered, stalking off toward the out of doors. I sulked in the sunlight for a few minutes until he joined me. Walking up behind me, he wrapped his arms around me, and I elbowed him hard in the chest. He oofed and let go.

"How long do you think you can keep rejecting me?" he pondered. I laughed.

"Forever, kitty kat. Forever." I knew he was only joking, but I could still feel the serious undertone to it. He pulled me up from my sitting position, then lightly pressed his lips to mine. It was gentle, and reminded me all too much of Renji's kisses. I didn't even have time to pull away, before a sword slid straight through my back, and into his stomach. Chills ran down my arms, legs, and spine, then the sword was pulled back, and I stumbled, then started falling. Grimmjow caught my wrist, and yanked me back up into him.

"I'll deal with you later." Teruna hissed, then yanked me out of his grip, and flashed off, then skidded to a halt inside the usual room. On instinct, before she touched me again, I forced my sword to form, then hacked. Blood poured out of the gash on her throat, and after a surprised look, her eyes rolled backward, and she collapsed. I stared at her body on the floor, eyes wide, mouth slightly parted.

"I just killed my goddamn mother." after a few more seconds of shock, I slid to my feet, edged around the body, and tried the door, which was locked. There was no keyhole, I found after investigation. Then I looked around, and grabbed Teruna's sword. Sliding it under my anklet, I ripped hard outwards, and it split in half. Standing up again, I managed only three fists to the door to dent it, before the injury got the best of me, and I collapsed.

oOo

Pain rang out across my face, and my eyes flickered open, as I looked at Ichiro.

"Are you aware that you were bleeding heavily?"

"Yeah."

"And that your healed now?" I shrugged.

"Remember? I have mystical powers. I took the anklet off, my affliction may have healed me. Oh, Shougo needs to explain to me."

"Explain what?"

"You'll find out. Where's Grimmjow?"

"Healer."

"I need to check on him first." Ichiro pulled me to my feet, and I grabbed my glasses, and looked straight into the lenses.

"I don't know if you guys saw, or if this thing even works anymore, but Teruna's dead. Dad's dead. This is all going to go to hell soon. So, adios." I gave the glasses to Ichiro, then left for the Healer.

Slipping into the room, I found Grimmjow asleep, the Healer hovering nearby. I looked at him.

"Maybe you're what he needs..." the Healer muttered.

"Care to explain?"

"He's healed, but he won't fucking wake up. Like he's in a coma." I smirked, then walked over, and slapped him hard on the face. His eyes shot open, and he looked at me, putting a hand over the red mark.

"What was that for?!"

"You fucking kissed me! That was completely uncalled for!" the Healer left in a hurry, and I glared at Grimmjow.

"I think it was completely called for. I didn't think you'd be getting out of here, therefore, never seeing your precious Abarai again." I rolled my eyes.

"Teruna's dead, dumbass."

"How?" he sat up, rubbing where the injury had been.

"I sorta accidentally slit her throat. Don't." I cut him off before he started, "Don't even. Thinking about it makes me sick." I paused, trying to regather my bearings.

"You'll need to take control of these Hollow before they bear down on Karakura or something, because that's not good for your kind, nor mine." he smirked.

"Oh this operation isn't done. I'm not the only Espada alive. Most of us are alive." I gaped at him as he was off the table, then looped an arm around my waist, and kissed me again. I nailed him in the jaw with a fist, and he pulled away, laughing.

"That's why I love you." and then he was gone. I spat on the ground, then ran to the sink and half drowned myself with water and soap. After a few minutes, I heard the alarms go off, and pushed out into the hallway, looking around. Hollow were running around in a frenzy, and all of them ignored me, where as usual, a few or many would stop and stare, then continue on. I started to go against the flow, wanting to find the center of the compound. As I finally got out of the torrent, an arm gripped mine, and I looked into silver greyish eyes. The man had shoulder length, dark brown hair and a stubble on his chin. There was the bottom half of a jaw around his neck, what I resumed to be the remains of his Hollow mask.

"You're to come with me."

"I'm not going to be fucking babied!" I ripped out of his grip and formed my sword.

"Steal, Sourusutira." I spun the blade around my hand.

"You don't have an option. Shinigami are invading, and we can't have them taking you." I rolled my eyes.

"Stop talking, bastard." he froze mid word.

"Turn around. And bring Ichiro and Shougo, and Akiho to me." he disappeared, and was back seconds later with two fighting boys and an obedient girl.

"Let them go." he let go, and Ichiro just stared at my eyes.

"Your eyes are black."

"I think it comes from when I use this heavily." I replied nonchalantly, then looked back at Starrk.

"Who is running this joint now?"

"Grimmjow."

"Why?"

"Because he was the first." I rolled my eyes.

"Go back and tell him, that just because he can force a lot of people to do things, he can't do shit to me." Starrk was gone again, and I turned back to the group.

"The Shinigami are coming, that's why the place is empty. Everyone is going to protect the borders. We need to get out, and around, to the main forces."

"Shouldn't we stay here? We have to take them down."

"You forget that this was a solo mission for me. I can't do anything without orders. And, if we can successfully get out, we can get back in, with more people. Let's go." I shunpoed off to the backside of the main compound, then dashed out into the sand, and circled around. Yamajii intercepted my little party. He looked us all over.

"Dead brothers?"

"I don't know how." I waved a hand dismissively. As it turned out, they'd only brought Captains and Lieutenants, for which I was grateful. Any lesser, and people would be dying. He looked at me, then gave the instructions. I turned around.

"Ichiro, you're with me. Akiho and Shougo, stick with Yamajii." in response, Ichiro pulled Akiho up off her feet, and kissed her. I made a face.

"Bleh. I'll go find Kyoraku and Captain." I weaved my way through the crowd, locating Kyoraku first, then Captain. As they worked to the outside, I caught sight of Renji, then forced myself to focus, shoving back out.

"Alright. We're going back in the way we came. We're to be taking down as many of the Espada as we can. Grimmjow is mine." I flashed off, and they followed. Sliding to a halt inside, I locked eyes with some dude with a spoon thing around his head.

"Mine." Ichiro declared. The rest of us moved onward, and I lost first Kyoraku, then Captain. Then I found Grimmjow.

"Oh, coming back?"

"To kick your ass." I hissed.

"Steal, Sourusutira." the ring on my finger burned lightly, and I flashed behind him, pulling his sword straight out of it's sheath, then dashed away.

"That's playing dirty." he scowled.

"I don't play like a prissy little girl, and you know that. Grind, Pantera." after a flare of black Spiritual Pressure, it faded away, and he gaped at me.

"Bring it, dead man." I could feel the white bone stuff all around me, and the sword bits on my arms, the thing on my forehead.

"That's impossible."

"With me, there's no such word." And I flew at him, nailing him in the jaw. It audibly cracked under my fist, and he threw me off. I skidded back against the stone, smirking, then flew at him again.

"This is a cheap trick."

"I know. I'm just giving you a taste of your own medicine. I'll give it back in a minute." I spun in a circle and kicked his ribs. They cracked under my foot, and he gripped my ankle. I kicked out with the other one, nailing him in the chest. He stumbled back. And I settled back on the ground, then pulled the ring off. The resurrection faded, and I tossed the sword back to him, putting the ring back on. In response, he went into resurrection. I smirked.

"Bankai." I twirled the scythe in my hands, then let it go back to a sword, and flew at him, bracing against his arm. I spun, then kicked off, morphing the sword to a scythe and hacking at him. It went straight across his chest, splitting it straight open.

"That's so not fair."

"I'm borrowing the powers of Death. I think it's completely fair." the sound of bells rang nearby, and I grinned, then morphed it back, and shunpoed behind him. He blocked my blow, then grabbed my arm, and spun me around in a circle, throwing me into a wall. I flipped so my feet braced against the wall, then pushed off, flying at him. I pulled another flip, and my feet met his chest. I pushed off into another flip, and he flew backward, sliding. He flashed behind me, and I felt his sword part slice open my back. Spinning around, I nailed him in the throat with my fist, and he coughed up blood on me. I made a face.

"Ew." he gripped my arm hard, and I screeched as it splintered under his grip.

"And eye for an eye." I glanced at his nose.

"'An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.'" I muttered, "Ghandi, you were a smart, smart man." leaving my sword in my right hand, I babied my left arm, and hacked at him catching him in the shoulder. Blood flew, and he slashed at my forearm, slicing it open. I grit my teeth, then blocked his next hit, and parried with one of my own. Unexpectedly, it nailed him in the heart, and his knees buckled. I dematerialized my sword, and caught him, one armed, before he hit the ground. I stumbled with his weight, then lowered myself to the ground, and set his head in my lap.

"Sorry, man." I murmured, more to myself than him. He smirked, just like before, even though I could feel his life literally draining away.

"If I get reborn, I'll kick your ass when I find you again." I gave a weak laugh.

"We'll see about that." I responded, gripping his hand.

"And you better not come back some weak ass man, or I won't even attempt to fight you, you got it?" he jabbed me in the forehead, just before he faded away. I just stared at my blood stained pants and wondered why the hell I'd thought killing him should be my job. I got no sense of justice from that. In fact, I just killed my friend.

A hand landed on my shoulder, and I looked up at Kyoraku, then took his hand and pulled myself to my feet, still babying my left arm.