Hello everyone. ;) Sorry it took a bit for me to update. You see, I'm a dreamer…Like I have weird crazy ass dreams every night. (Hollow Ichigo-Ichigo ya know what I'm talkin about. XD ) And so I've been having dreams and they gave me plot ideas for other stories, so to get them out of my head I wrote them down so I could get in character for Longing. ^^ I will not let Longing suffer because of my sudden plot attack lol.
Before I forget, I forgot to leave a shout out to Carrotgirl5 and Raining sun for the lovely release ideas. ^^ so I am now. Thanks guys. You helped out a lot. :D oh and one more thing, since I can't message you back Neo Nova, thank you for the wonderful review. I would say more but this A/N is already very long. *Sighs* but your review was so kind and made me smile the rest of the night. So thank you. ^^
Anyways I'll shut the hell up so you can get to reading. Enjoy the next chapter of Longing! :D
Kari
It was becoming harder and harder to remain still. The longer I sat quietly beside him, exchanging niceties, the more I wanted to swan dive off the balcony. Although that was no longer an option, I mentally cursed myself for even thinking such a thought, but I couldn't help it. The man just made my skin crawl. The way he looked at me was a mix between amusement and desire. Why someone of his position would be lusting after someone like me, especially a pregnant someone, was beyond me. Maybe I was looking at it all wrong, but that's what it felt like.
I continued my fidgeting, as I stared at the ceiling. This was a waiting game. I had to play my part until I got a good chance to escape. We kept getting reports back from Tousen and his little assistant. It seemed that fights were breaking out all over. My brother was now in a battle with the seventh Espada while Rukia watched, trying to recover from her previous attack.
Bazah had been spotted but disappeared from the camera's view. The pink eyed woman was fighting with a red haired man I'd never heard of before. There was another man I hadn't met with him. It was hard to listen to the reports. I was scared of hearing Ichigo's name mentioned as a casualty. Tousen was now talking about Kuutso. It seemed that he had been attacked.
"Kuutso has been injured badly, Aizen-sama. But he says it was Grimmjow, not the Kurosaki boy that did it."
My heart fluttered. Grimmjow? He had kicked Kuutso's teeth in?
"Where is he now?" Aizen asked, his voice shaking slightly with what had to be anger, or at the very least, frustration.
"He is currently in the desert with Izuma-chan and Kurosaki Ichigo. Curtis is in pursuit now."
I was in shock. I had thought the bastard had gone after my boyfriend to kill him, not befriend him. What could he be possibly thinking, betraying Aizen? He grabbed Iz, he took her from Kuutso and when he got in the way he kicked his ass. "He's switched sides." I whispered, hiding my happiness behind a blank stare.
A strong spiritual pressure suddenly billowed in from outside. "It seems that a battle is about to unfold between Curtis, and Grimmjow. Should I intervene?" Tousen asked.
Aizen's mouth was a hard line, then after a moment he spoke. "I have no use for an Espada that has feelings."
I couldn't hide the horror on my face. I whipped my head, my mouth hanging open, to look at him. "You can't be serious Aizen-sama? Isn't he one of your strongest-"
He put up a hand to silence me. "He is no longer needed. He has chosen his alliances. He can die by them."
My eyes fell. At least I knew my sister was out of the palace and Ichigo was alive….for now. But was Grimmjow really going to fight Jonathan? I had remembered the look on their faces when they had the standoff in my room. They were after blood. If they fought. One of them would die. And I knew which one wore the 1 on his cheek.
"Aizen-sama! Aizen-sama!" A voice called urgently outside the room. I recognized that voice. Why did I recognize it?
The lord beckoned him in. "What is it Ekit?"
"It's Kuutso sir, he says he gave Kurosaki Ichigo the antidote." The Espada explained. "He'll be fully recovered soon."
"Then we'll just have to take out his comrades before he does." He yawned. "Then we'll dispose of him when he's to heart broken to retaliate."
I couldn't hold it in any longer. "No." My voice was barely above a whisper but it caught the attention of all those in the room. "No, I won't let you harm anyone else."
Aizen's smile returned with fervor. "I thought we had come to an understanding?"
I stood up quickly, eyes locking on him. "We had, but I cannot and will not allow anyone to die for me." A plan was forming in my head, one that came from a thought I had earlier. A way for everyone to get out of here. Even if that meant me staying. The pieces were falling into place and this was the only time it could work.
"Feeling the guilt are we?" He asked, his eyes lighting up.
I balled my fists. "I've spent my life with guilt in my heart. This is nothing new, Aizen-sama."
"Then why stand up now, when we all could get along?"
Voice shaking, I answered, "Because, I can't let you kill the father of my child. If you do…." I backed up, opening the balcony door.
"What are you doing Hikari-chan?" Ekit asked taking a step towards me.
I held my hand up to stop his advance. "No! Don't come any closer!" I screamed, moving to the railing. "I have come to new terms Aizen-sama. It is obvious to me that you still want me around. I could be just a pawn to you and that is fine. It makes little difference. The fact is, that you need me alive." I climbed up on the railing, and turned around to face him.
Aizen was now standing, a look of shock on his face. I guess he hadn't been prepared for this kind of retaliation. "What do you think you are doing? Come down from there at once!"
"I refuse to let you murder him. If you lay one finger on Ichigo I will jump. I swear to god!" I made a point by balancing on one foot. "If you continue with your plans and kill them, I will end it right here, right now."
"You wouldn't dare." He said simply. "You couldn't bring yourself to destroy your child."
My eyes fell. I had to play a part. The part of a crazy woman. "There would be no point of either of us living if he died trying to protect us. we would be nothing without him! I love him! He is all I have left! And if our deaths put an end to your tyranny then I would die happily knowing I thwarted you and your sick and twisted plans." I spat. It was a blatant lie. There was no way I would sacrifice my child and throw myself over the balcony; but he didn't know that.
"You're serious?"
I nodded. " Wouldn't it be lovely to watch as your prize possession got splattered all over your palace floor?"
Aizen scoffed and Ekit took a step forward. "Please calm down, Hikari-chan. Come back inside."
"Not until I have Aizen-sama's word." I replied, my voice as hard as my eyes.
"What would you have me do? There isn't a way to stop what has already begun." I could see the anger in his eyes and mentally chuckled. Oh yes. Two could play at this game.
I took a breath and let the hot wind blow around me before I narrowed my eyes and for the first time made a demand. "Then you'll just have to find a way." I replied. "Won't you…Aizen-sama?"
Elsewhere Inside Los Noches
Bazah had been watching the trio for some time now, tracking their every movement. His hand was ready to grab his bow, but he wouldn't use his release quite yet. It would ruin his mood. This was what he enjoyed the most, stalking his prey. They had yet to see him or feel his spiritual pressure, that wasn't by coincidence. He had masked his riatsu and made sure he didn't give himself away. It would be embarrassing if he were found out prematurely. They wouldn't spot him…until he wanted them to.
Orhime had remained quiet since they entered Los Noches. She was sticking close to Uryu and kept her eyes on the floor. She didn't want to come back to this place but she felt that she had to. Even though Kari had snatched Ichigo out from under her, she had found her own place, at Uyru's side. She had found her happiness, and that was thanks to Kari. And she would be damned if anything happened to her.
Chad wasn't much of a talker to begin with but now he was really silent. He kept watching for anything suspicious out of the corner of his eye. He walked a few strides behind Orhime to make sure if there was an attack he could put up a good defense until she got her shield up. He'd let Uryu take care of the front. He had expected there to be a conflict before now, but as they kept walking nothing happened. There was no sounds, no smells, and no spiritual pressure that he could tell of. That was a bad sign, it either meant that the Espada had been called elsewhere or that one was already there and they didn't know it. He had a bad feeling about this.
Uryu held his hand out, causing the group to stop. Orihime's hand went to her chest and she looked around, a worried expression on her face. Uryu had been paying close attention to the atmosphere and had noticed something awhile back. Although the air was thick with many sudden spikes of spiritual pressure, there was always a calm spot a few meters behind them. He had waited until he was certain before he took action. "Orhime, activate your shield and go ahead of us. Find a place to hide and don't move until one of us comes for you."
Her eyes misted over. "I..I want to stay with you."
He shook his head. "It's too dangerous."
"But even with your Quincy powers, you can still get hurt!" She insisted.
"Hime. Just do as I say. "He said sternly, then softly added, "Please, I'd rather you not get hurt."
She looked over to Chad, a pleading look in her eyes, but he just shrugged. "I agree with Uryu, Orihime. I would feel better if you were safe."
It was a useless battle and she knew it. She activated her shield and headed down the hall. Leaving a silent Chad and a concerned boyfriend behind her. If she were being honest, she wanted to stay with them because she didn't want to roam these halls by herself. She didn't want to remember that pang of loneliness and helplessness again. But she took a deep breath and ran forward. She decided she wasn't going to hide. She was going to keep going and find Kari. No matter what.
Uryu had been holding his breath until he saw her curvy frame disappear from his sight. He exhaled loudly and turned on his heals, staring straight at the calm spot. "I know you're there." He spoke calmly, his eyes hard and determined. If Chad was surprised he couldn't tell.
Bazah's eyebrow shot up. His prey had just gotten more interesting. He stepped out of the shadows of his hiding spot. "So, the hunter becomes the prey." He smiled. "I didn't give you enough credit."
Outside Los Noches
Grimmjow wasted no time. He jumped right into his release form. This wouldn't be like his fight with Kuutso. Unlike the scientist, Curtis had brute strength to back him up. Grimmjow would be the first to admit that he had wanted to kick Curtis's ass. The only thing was, he wasn't sure if he was strong enough to do that yet. But he had no choice, it had to be done.
"You'll regret this Grimmjow. "Curtis grinned.
"How so?" The other Espada asked.
"I'm going to cut you into so many pieces it would take a year to find them all."
Grimmjow scoffed, "Tch, yeah. I'll believe that when I see it."
"You won't be seeing anything soon." he replied and lunged at him, bringing his fist down. Grimmjow dodged the attack and a rock took the hit intended for him. It broke into three pieces on impact.
Damn. Grimmjow jumped back and made a quick analysis. It was true he had seen Curtis fight before, but he'd never fought him himself, or when he was this angry. He wanted to get his hands on the girl bad. Well that was something Grimmjow just couldn't allow.
Curtis stepped to the side, his hand bringing out his zanpakuto. "Consider yourself lucky Grimmjow. I find you a big enough pain in my ass to use my release."
"Yeah I'm a lucky mother fucker."
Curtis scowled. "You don't seem afraid. That will change soon enough." He held the kantana up near his face with his boned hand. "Break their bones, Kurashaa." Dust flew into the air and Grimmjow took a step back. Curtis's spiritual pressure was almost suffocating but he had suspected as much. Curtis laughed and stepped out of the cloud of dirt and dust. His appearance had changed like Grimmjow knew it would. The bone fragment on his hand had completely encased his arm and he was clothed in a metal substance. He took a step and raised Kurashaa, which had lengthened and as white as his bone fragment arm. His whole aura had changed as well. He had started out as a mocking bastard that hadn't been serious about the fight. Now he was ready. Ready to kill.
Grimmjow shivered. It was the first time he had even thought he was going to lose a fight. It was game time now. They were both serious. "Well then, come on. I aint gonna wait on ya all day." He taunted, ready to spring into action.
"You are that excited to die? I figured you to be the stubborn type. But then again, that was before you fell for my little Izuma-chan."
"Don't say her name!" Grimmjow growled, charging and clashing swords with the stronger Espada.
"Touchy aren't you? Then let me ask you. How does it feel to know you will die here and I will catch up with your little shinigami friend?" He laughed and their zanpakuto's met again, this time causing a loud crash.
"Fuck you!" Grimmjow let his anger get the better of him and he fought recklessly leaving his chest exposed for a brief second.
Curtis saw the opening and took the opportunity to punch Grimmjow in the chest. He landed on his back a hundred feet away. He had felt the bones break inside the thick white armor and knew Grimmjow was feeling it. "Heh, this was easier than I thought." he strode towards him. "I'm glad really. I am looking forward to taking back what's mine. I've waited a long time to get the girls back. And I won't be beaten by the likes of you!" He raised his foot to stomp the mans chest in.
Grimmjow rolled over in time and jumped up, bringing Pantera down onto the mans arm. "I'm not that easy to kill ya prick!"
He had expected to feel Pantera slice through muscle tissue. When it didn't he looked closely and saw that he had struck the mans bone fragment. shit. He retreated a few feet, his chest protesting. He could feel the broken ribs scrape against the inside of his flesh. No one had ever gotten through his armor. Curtis was strong. Much stronger than he had thought.
"No, I suppose not. Cockroaches are not easy to dispose of after all." He mused. "More fun for me. It will bring me great joy when I tell Izuma how I killed you. I can just see her face now." Another blow came from behind him but he blocked it easily. "It will probably crumple up like it did when I held her down. Fear is such a beautiful thing."
"Shut the fuck up!" Grimmjow was tired of hearing his mouth. He wanted to fight, not talk. He shindo'd in front of him and struck Curtis in the chest. Blood spurted out and the man stumbled back.
"You'll have to do better than that." He disappeared and reappeared behind him and struck Grimmjow again, this time in the back. He cried out and shindo'd a safe distance away. "Tell me Grimmjow. What was your favorite part? The feel or her soft skin under yours? Or maybe the way her lip quivered with each thrust?"
"Fuck. You."
The battle was on again and Grimmow growled. The sonic boom from his released snarl made Curtis fall back. "Come now Grimmjow. Aren't you at least a little bit interested in what my favorite part was?"
Grimmjow hissed. "If ya say one more word about her, I'm gonna rip your tongue out."
"That would be quite the sight."
Their battle raged on. Each of them going all out in attempt to gain the upper hand. Grimmjow's Pantera was wavering though. It couldn't take the constant beatings of Kurashaa. Curtis's release was powerful. It was a dominating power, much like that of an alpha lion. Grimmjow was no match from the beginning. But…he had already known that. He was buying time after all. He had wounded Curtis but not enough for him to be in any danger and it only slowed him down a little. Grimmjow however, had several broken bones, a severed vertebra and numerous gashes through his armored skin. What was more, was that he was becoming tired. That was something he hadn't experienced since fighting Kurosaki. He knew he had to keep going, and with every remark Curtis threw at him, it made him that much more determined to give Kurosaki and Iz the time they needed.
Curtis continued his assault on his enemy. "What's wrong? Done playing already?"
Grimmjow spat a wad of blood on the ground. "Tch, I aint even near my limit yet."
"Hmmm. It seems I've underestimated your love for my angel. It is love right? I'm not sure myself because I can't feel anything." His teeth gleamed as he smiled broadly.
"I wouldn't expect a fucker like ya to." he replied, blocking a blow to the head. "Know what love is."
"It's a shame really," He brought Karashaa down again. "That she won't get to hear you say that."
"I aint dead yet."
Another strike, this time drawing blood from Grimmjow's torso. "Yes, but give me a few more minutes and you will be. Then I will retrieve Izuma and you won't be able to interrupt us anymore. Once you're gone, Hikari and Izuma will be mine."
"Ya think that, but ya don't know Kurosaki like I do. I may be nothing right now, but him, he's one crazy bastard and he'll make sure to kill ya before ya lay a hand on his woman, or the kid."
"You think so?"
He smiled. "I know so."
Ichigo
I tried to wrap my head around what he had just said. He had clearly said to find my girlfriend and take care of my baby. But…I had to be hearing that wrong. I had to…yet…why the hell would Grimmjow say something like that? If what he was saying was true…then…Kari…was pregnant. I shook my head trying to think of something else as I carried Iz away from the approaching battle, but it was useless. That little piece of information had now settled in my mind and I couldn't get it out.
"Shit." I muttered. Had I really gotten her pregnant? If I had, then I should be kickin myself in the ass. She was still in that hell hole and now she had something else to deal with. If Grimmjow knew…then Aizen did too. How had they found out? I didn't even know and I'm sure she hadn't known. She would have told me. Wouldn't she?
She was poison'd remember. My hollowed offered. He had been silent throughout our little exchange, I had almost forgotten about him completely.
You're right. She was. That must be the reason why Grimmjow knew that freak had an antidote.
That's how they found out bout Kari's….He paused for a moment and slowly continued. Pregnancy. I could hear the shock in his voice.
Yeah, I'm shocked too.
What are ya gonna do king? Ya gotta get em outta there.
I know. I fuckin know.
Iz stirred in my arms and I glanced down. Her face was scrunched up as if she was angry. She probably was. By the show they put on back there, I'd say that she was in love with that damn Espada. How anyone could be in love with that jerk was beyond me.
A sudden spike in spiritual pressure rose up behind me. I paused momentarily, recognizing the release. It was Pantera. "So it's started huh?" I kept running, putting as many miles between us as I could. I needed to find a place to hide Iz and then find Kari. That's all I needed to think about right now. If I thought about that bastard risking his life for this kid, I might start double thinking my hate towards him.
Iz muttered something and then she bolted upright, hitting and cursing at me. It took most of my strength to pin her to me and keep running. I had known she'd be upset when she came too, but I wasn't expecting this uproar. I really didn't need this shit right now. Even though I knew that this would be hard. I hadn't seen any of this coming. Not me teaming up with Grimmjow, him protecting Iz, and defiantly not Kari being pregnant. What was that saying again? Expect the unexpected? Yeah. Well, I hadn't expected a damn thing.
Grimmjow
I didn't think fighting him would be this hard. Sure. him taunting the fuck outta me, helped at first. I always fought better when I was angry and wanted desperately enough to win. But he was different. I stood on two paws staring at him. I could feel every cut and every broken bone in my body but I never wavered. I couldn't afford to make that kind of mistake. I had to make this battle last. It's all I could do for the kid. If I could have, I woulda stayed with her. At least this way she didn't have to see me die.
Curtis stood a few feet in front of me. I could see the blood stained armor and smiled at the fact that I had wounded him. It wasn't fatal, but it was wound all the same. I would just have to hope that Kurosaki would heal up soon. I didn't know how much longer I could last. I took a step forward, Pantera vibrating in my hand. "What are ya waiting for?" I asked annoyed. It had been at least 30 seconds since his last attack.
"Nothing, I was just thinking. I thought this would have been more fun. I thought you would be more brash and throw some good come backs at me. That I expected out of you. But this baffles me."
"What are ya goin on about now?" This asshole never shut up. I swear he had done more talking than fighting.
"I see it in your eyes." He replied, still unmoving in his spot. "Up until now I thought you were fighting just to fight me. That you were "protecting" your little crush. But now I think I get it."
"Bout damn time." I muttered.
"You really are pathetic Grimmjow."
Huh? I was struck in the side of the head by that massive fist of his and I fell in a heap to the ground.
"You threw away everything for that human girl. You could have had your way with her and been done with it. But no, you had to go and get feelings. That was your first mistake." He was upon me in a split second, pinning me to the ground.
I had never felt the fear of dying before. I always went into battle thinking that if I died then it was no big deal. It meant my opponent was better than me and had deserved to win. I hadn't really given it much thought. But now, everything had changed and for the first time I was scared of being killed. Not because I feared death, I would embrace it. Iz's face flashed before my eyes. I realized death wasn't what I feared at all. I was scared of never seeing her face again. Of her living on without me. My chest ached but it was too late for those sentiments. They weren't mine to have to begin with. Those kind of feelings belonged to humans, and I would gladly give them back.
Another blow came, this time to my face and I felt my nose break with the impact. I would have felt it, if I wasn't so numb. The sudden pain in my chest hadn't gone away and I struggled to get him off of me. He was enjoying beating me to a pulp way to much. His Zanpakuto stabbed through my thigh. "Get the hell off!" I screamed.
I was met with laughter. "You've become so weak you're almost human. It makes me sick."
I felt my release draining and my armor disappeared along with my cat like ears and long hair. "You're face makes me sick." I hissed, taking a swing at him. It missed him completely and he laughed again. I had never felt so weak in my life. This guy was a monster. He wasn't exactly faster than me, but his strength took out my speed. I couldn't believe he had beaten me to this degree.
"It's like I'm fighting with a child. You've been amusing, to say the least my friend." I was lifted into the air. I had no fight left in me. I knew I had given him enough time to get the kid far enough away. Curtis's left hand held me up by my throat, but no hard enough to crush it. "It's time to end this game."
I grinned wildly despite my rising anxiety. "Mine may be finished, but yours won't be. I'll see you in hell mother fucker."
This enraged him and I watched as he lifted his blade and ran it through my chest. He dropped me and I hit the ground with a thud. "Do you always have to have the last word?" He asked, smiling and yanking the zanpakuto out of my heart.
"Yeah." I muttered as I lay there, clutching my chest. The coppery smell of blood hit my nose as it pooled around me. I could hardly breath and my heart was thumping erratically. Was this it? Was this what it felt like to die? To really die? I closed my eyes and tried not to think but the images of her kept flashing through my mind. The moments that in the final moments of my life i held dear.
~~~~~~~XXXXX~~~~~~~
The first time I saw her.
"I'm a spirit huh?" I asked, a grin spreading across my face. I had her pegged down as a quiet mousy type. I was wrong. She was a spit fire. This was fun.
"Aren't you?" she asked, her eyes watching my every movement.
"Take a long look sweetheart….do I look like a human spirit to you?"
Her eyes did a sweep across my body, ending on the massive Jawbone on the side of my face. "I guess not."
"That's cuz I aint a fucking spirit."
She narrowed her eyes, challenging me. "What the hell are you then?"
I sighed. "You'll just have to wait and see."
She folded her arms. "Is that supposed to scare me?"
I leaned up. "Are you scared?"
Her eyes flashed with anger. "No."
I laughed. "You will be."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Haven't you heard?" I said pushing myself off the ledge. "Everyone's afraid of the big bad wolf."
Instead of a frightened expression I was met with a smirk. "Well...guess I'm not everyone."
the first time I felt her defiance.
"Why are you here anyway? Are you stalking me?"
I swung my legs over the sill and sat down, my back against the frame. "What if I am?"
She swirled her chair around. "Then I would say you need to get a life."
The first time I wanted to help her.
"I lied." She said breaking me from my thoughts.
"Huh?"
"When I told you I wasn't scared. I lied….. I'm scared now."
I turned to look at her. "Listen…you don't have to worry about that ass hole trying to hurt you anymore. I'll deal with that scum bag."
"Why? Why are you helping me?"
I didn't know myself at the time.
"Don't get the wrong idea…I'm not helping ya. It's part of the job…besides I just don't agree with the whole kiddy rape thing. It really gets under my skin."
"I'm not-"
"A kid." I finished. "I know."
The first time she kissed me.
We were both still for a moment, our eyes locked and unmoving. But then she did something I wasn't expecting. She leaned up closer to me, the covers falling from her shoulders. I frowned but didn't back away from her. Looking at her now I couldn't believe how young she was. Her eyes were filled with a growing hunger…it was strange….like she was determined to do something…..and then I found her lips pressing against mine.
I was completely shocked. My eyes widened and then I blinked, my mind didn't know what to do, but my body was responding without its help. I was kissing her back. What the fuck am I doing? I thought as I pulled her closer to me, knowing full well that if I didn't stop I'd be just as pathetic as the other bastards. But the way she was looking at me made me not want to. I kissed her hard, not holding back.
I slid my hands under her shirt. Her skin felt hot and I remembered that she was sick. She wasn't in her right mind. She wouldn't really want this. I stopped. I pushed away from her, letting my desire smolder. "Kid…you don't know what you're doing."
"Yes I do." She insisted, her eyes were still full of a hunger I couldn't place.
"No," I said covering her up. "You don't. You have a fever. You aren't thinking straight…. You'll forget about this in the morning."
"I don't want to forget about it."
The first time I realized I wanted her.
he really coulda killed you, the bastard."
She sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Why would it even matter?"
"It'd fuck up Aizen's plans."
"Aizen's plans this…Aizen's plans that. That's all I fucking hear around this shit-for-a-palace!" she yelled. "What I'd REALLY like to know is what the fuck his plans are! What the fuck is he really up to? I mean no one around here seems to know so why the hell keep fucking around with me? I'm a nobody! I had nobody and I was nobody so why the fuck am I here!"
I chuckled. the look on her face was priceless. I kind of likes seeing her riled up. "I think ya need to calm the fuck down and stop using big people words."
If looks could kill I'd be dead. "Fuck. You."
"Ya'd like that wouldn't ya?"
Her mouth fell open. "Hell no!"
"Hmmmm. Guess you forgot after all."
The first time I tried to let her escape.
"Where are we going?" She asked as I lead her to the door.
"You're gonna get the fuck outta here before anything else happens."
Her eyes widened in shock. "Wh-What?"
I flung the door open and looked down the hall. I could feel the strong spiritual pressures of Aizen, Jonathan, and someone else. They were getting closer. fuck. "Ya gotta run kid. Ya gotta get out of here."
"But…I don't know how to get back."
"Just leave that to me." I said preparing to open the gargenta. I could still feel their reiatsu's coming closer. "Fuck they're coming." I muttered as the black portal opened. I shoved her towards it.
She turned around to look at me. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm gonna fight them." I replied quietly, turning around to stare down the hall.
I suddenly felt two hands grip my arm. "I can't let you do that."
I spun around and grabbed her shoulders. "The fuck is wrong with you? I'm giving ya the chance to run! Now take it!" I looked at the portal, which was fading quickly. "Go!"
She shook her head. "I won't leave unless you come with me."
What the hell is this kid thinking? Why would I go with her? "No. You have to do this by yourself. I'll hold them off so you have a chance."
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her eyes pleading.
"I don't know….maybe it's cuz I can't watch ya suffer anymore…."
The first and last time I had her.
You know something….I didn't forget."
Forget what? "Whatcha goin on about now?" I opened one eye and looked at her. She was leaning on the bedpost.
"you said I'd forget about kissing you….but I didn't. and I didn't forget that you stopped…again." she said taking a step.
Why the fuck do ya have to keep bringing that shit up? I'm trying to fuckin forget about it damn it. "I don't know what your talkin about."
She folded her arms and squinted her eyes. "Don't act like you don't remember. I know you do."
"Tch…if I didn't know any better I'd think you had a thing for me." In truth I had a thing for her.
Her face softened. "And what if I do?"
I laughed and sat up. "I'd say you are placing some crazy need for affection on me kid." she hated being called kid. That would shut her up.
In half a second she had closed the distance between us. "How many times do I have to tell ya I'm not a kid damn it!"
Maybe not. I grinned. "At least one more time." I silently dared her to do something.
Her eyes flashed. "I'm not a kid and I'll prove it."
I narrowed my eyes. "And how the fuck ya gonna do that?"
Before I knew what was happening her lips were on mine. My eyes widened in shock and My arms wrapped around her, my hands finding the zipper in the back of her dress and sliding it down to gain more access to her skin. All the while her tongue was flicking across my lips driving me mad. She ran her hands up my chest and pushed my jacket off of my shoulders. I let go of her long enough to slip it off and then ran my hands along her soft skin. Shit…
I stopped and pulled away from her. "What are ya doing?"
She just sat there all innocent looking and shrugged. "What's it look like I'm doing? I'm proving my point."
I moved her off of my lap and got up from the couch. "Don't give me that bullshit." I grumbled. I was trying to cool down. Trying but failing. I leaned an arm against the wall next to the door. "Don't try to tell me you're just trying to prove a fuckin point. I know that's not why your doing this. So out with it."
I turned to face her. She was already just inches from my chest. "It's just a matter of time." she said.
"Until what?"
"He comes for me…Curtis….he was interrupted this time…but next time….I know it's going to happen…I guess I just wanted something else to picture….I thought I wasn't going to have a choice…he was going to take this from me…but then…I thought maybe…I had a choice after all."
The first time I knew her feelings.
"Hey Grimmjow?"
"Yeah?"
Her voice was weak but I didn't miss her question. "Do I still smell like him?"
Does she have to keep breaking my non-existent heart every five seconds? Damn give a guy a fucking break! I made a point by taking a deep breath and smelling her hair. "Nope. You smell like that nasty ass lavender soap."
"Are you sure?" She must be really torn up about this. Just another reason I was going to kill that bastard!
"Yeah." I replied. "But if ya stay in my arms like this you'll end up smellin like me."
She looked up at me. "That's exactly what I want." she said planting a kiss on my neck.
My eyebrow raised. "Is it now?"
"Yeah. I just want to forget." she answered, her eyes closing and her body slumping slightly.
"You're to tired and beaten up for that right now kid."
"No I'm not." she said slowly. "Besides…if I fall asleep he'll be there in my dreams anyways…..I'd rather stay up…and…..be with….you…he'll just haunt me…in my nightmare…."
"Well if that happens you'll wake up and I'll be there to hold ya."
"But I don't…..want…that….to..." Her eyes fluttered and her head finally managed to rest all the way on my shoulder.
"It's ok Iz. I've got ya. You can sleep." I said, lifting her up In my arms. I carried her into her room and laid her gently down on her bed. I thought about finding her pajama's but then shook it off. She said she thought she smelled like him. Well when she woke up she'd smell like me and wouldn't have to worry about it. I climbed into her bed on the other side and pulled her up to me, resting her head on my chest. She stirred and wrapped her leg around mine and threw her arm over my stomach. I trailed my hands up and down her back and arms. I laid awake all night like that. Holding her, touching her, making sure I was there if she needed me. But not once did she wake up. She didn't even talk in her sleep like she normally did. The only thing that happened as I laid there with her was her soft, sleep
And the last time I would talk to her.
"I'm buying ya some more time. You're the only one with the capability to get Iz outta here." I took a breath and stared at him. "I never thought I'd fuckin be sayin this, especially to you, but please Kurosaki, promise me you'll keep her safe."
"I…don't…know…" He began but saw my pleading expression. "I've already made that promise. I'll get her home. Don't worry about it."
Iz's face lit up with realization and she balled her fist before striking me in the chest, right above my hollow hole. "BAKA! Baka! Baka! No you can't do this! You said you'd get me out of here! You said you'dprotect me. Not hand me off to him! I don't even know him! He may be my sister's boyfriend but I don't know him! Please don't do this Grimmjow!" tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "I know what this means…I'm not fuckin stupid! I know you don't understand anything about feelings…and that you probably can't have the same feelings towards me…but I love you! I lo-"
I put a hand over her mouth. "You talk to much."
She bit my hand. I pulled it away from her. "And you're a fuckin jerk." she spat, turning her back to me. I could tell by the look on Kurosaki's face that she was crying. "You promised…"
I grabbed her and pulled her to me. I could feel her hot tears against my chest. "Sorry kid. This is the only way I can protect you." I whispered and pressed a pressure point on her neck, causing her to fall unconscious. I caught her before she fell to the ground.
~~~~~~~xxxxx~~~~~~
All the moments i had taken for granted hit me in the face. But they brought me peace at the same time, knowing that the girl with the wide dark eyes, that saw through me, that changed me, would be safe. I took comfort in that.
"You keep holdin on huh? Is it because of your love for her? Rediculous. I'll put an end to your suffering traitor." He came over to me and I saw him rise his sword.
I snapped my eyes closed. I didn't want the last thing I saw to be that bastard. Iz's face popped up and I smiled sadly. "Sorry Iz." I whispered as he brought the blade down.
Izuma
My eyes fluttered open and I expected to see blue. But instead, a harsh orange found its way into my eyesight. My body protested as I sprung up alert and ready to fight. I had been fighting with Grimmjow a second ago, but now I was in the arms of another man and I didn't like what that meant.
"Put me down you asshole!" I shouted, finally realizing that it was Kurosaki that was carrying me across the desert. "I have to go back! I have to help him!" I hit him in the chest.
"Stop hitting me damn it! I'm not putting you down. I'm getting you out of here."
"But he needs me!" I cried. I didn't want to think about it but I knew….I knew that this was the end. He was no match for Curtis.
"He's a big boy, I think he can handle himself." he replied curtly.
"No, you don't understand. Curtis will Kill him!"
His eyes were hard but he didn't falter. "Where you listening to him back there? He knows he can't win. That's not why he's doing it."
"I know that! That's why I have to go back! He's doing this for me! I can't, I can't allow that to happen!" I panicked and tried to jump down but It was no use. I was glued in place by his strong arms. These arm, did they hold my sister this tightly? My sister…Grimmjow….it was too much. Everything was crashing down on me. Grimmjow was fighting and Kari was with Aizen. Could it even get any worse? Why even ask? I knew it could. And it was about to.
"You have to deal with it Iz. I'm getting you to safety. It's what your sister wants and it's what Grimmjow wants. You can't throw their feelings away so easily."
"No, I won't…I won't let him do this." I said, tears spilling down my cheeks.
"It's too late." He replied softly. "There's only one thing you can do now."
I looked up at him, my bangs flying wildly in my face. "What's that?"
"Hope, and pray that we all survive this." He whispered. I could tell that he wasn't just saying these words for my benefit. He was preaching to himself as well. I knew now that I wasn't the only one that was hurting. But I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Everything was just as black as it had been this morning, when I was alone and my sister was dying. I didn't see how we were going to escape. But Kurosaki's words burned in my chest. Hope and pray. That's all I could do. I hoped Grimmjow would kick Curtis's ass and I prayed I would be able to wrap my arms around him again. That was a nice thought. To love and be loved by the man forever. It was a fairy tale that I was fond of, but one that I had no luck in achieving. I was born in the year of the rat, and my luck was such.
"They've both released now." My new protector whispered, his grip on me tightening.
I almost asked what he was talking about, but then I felt the two presences colliding again and again in the distance. They were angry, strong, like a violent thunderstorm, capable of creating a tornado. The way they soared over the desert and right into my soul scared me. It was if I could feel the turbulence all the from here. Minutes must have passed and they were still going at it. It was almost suffocating. I clung onto to Kurosaki's robe as my heart beat loudly in my chest. Somehow I knew it was almost over. That this whole ordeal was about to come to a close, whether it was all of us getting out alive, or Aizen killing the ones helping Kari and I, and keeping us here. Either option was possible at this point. But my heart would not allow hope of the former to come to pass. If there was no hope, there was no disappointment. Even with Kurosaki's words of comfort. Hoping and praying weren't worth shit now.
It was a sad truth that I would just have to accept. One that I wasn't quite prepared for. And when the presence I had been comforted by for the last month disappeared from around me, I hadn't yet braced myself for the impact. Kurosaki stopped in his tracks, his head swiveling back to look across the sand. Of course we couldn't see anything but the urge to look was impossible to ignore. The presence I had taken for granted had slipped away in a mere second, and I could only mutter one word before the pain hit me full force. "Grimmjow."
*cries* what have I done! I've killed Grimmy! *cries some more and hides from fangirls* GOMEN! GOMEN! but all is not lost!
Also, I don't take suicide lightly. My uncle unfortuantly took his life Sept. 9 of this year. just so you know that I don't write that kind of thing for shits and giggles. It's a serious epidemic. But enough of the depressing things. So anyways I'm not sure how this chapter turned out. I may go back and change a few things, But I wanted to give you guys something before Thanksgiving since i took so freaking long to update. Anyways. How was it? Did i make Grimmjow to lovey dovey? If i did, I am sorry. That's one thing i thought about changing. BUT Idk. hopefully you still liked the chapter. I know i'm horrible. :( just help a sista out and leave a review? Even if it's to say you hate me. i'm prepared. ^^
Oh and for those of you that don't know. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was AWESOME! but that has nothing to do with the story. -_-'
