PRIDE ON ICE
"Grimmjow-sama!"
It couldn't be helped. The Espada took a confident step forward, "I've been cured of all the shit you put into me, Shinigami. Now I'm gonna show you what I've been dreaming of since you threw me into that pit."
"Interesting. Is that so?" Mayuri mused, "You think that because you've been freed of what was in you before that you can fight? You probably couldn't beat that child over there if your friend released her."
"Don't waste your breath. This'll be quick-"
"Sode no Shirayuki...Tsugi no Mae..." They heard Lucca chanting, and Grimmjow looked back to see her releasing the Shinigami's zanpakuto, piercing the ground with the tip of the blade. "...Hakuren!" She pointed the sword at Mayuri and released the powerful cascade of ice, encasing him in a wall of frozen water.
"What the hell, Lucca!?"
"I told you, Grimmjow-sama...there's no time for this! We have to go while we have the chance! Let's get into the Garganta and come back later!"
The Espada cast her off and marched forward towards the iceberg and glared into it. Just as he raised his hand, ready to start breaking it apart to get to his frozen prey, an alarm was sounded. He and Lucca looked around until they came down on Nemu, who had triggered that same alarm, having crawled to the nearby door and pulled a switch.
"The Garganta!" Lucca said again, heading towards it.
"Not yet, damnit. Come with me!" He barked, grabbing the possessed Shinigami's wrist and hauling ass for the hallway instead.
. . .
The morning sun was rising higher in the sky as Ichigo, his arm back in a sling again, was walking to school. As he approached the gated part of the long wall, he paused, looking up at the building and taking a deep breath.
It's been a week since the fight on the rooftop, and I haven't said a thing to anyone. Tatsuki and dad both brought up Rukia...
His thoughts returned to the last time he'd been too proud to speak. He sighed and entered the grounds, looking around for the group where they'd typically gather. Tatsuki caught sight of him first, as well as the fact that he was struggling to get closer, and she parted from the group to meet him half way.
"Ichigo..."
"I have to do this." He told her, "...Rukia would've made me apologize days ago. It's time I did."
She nodded and turned back towards the group, which had since turned its attention to their former good friend and his escort. Ulquiorra pulled the large eadphones off his head and stepped forward, putting himself between Ichigo and the others.
"I'm here to talk to Inoue." The orange-haired teen muttered.
"Oh?" Ulquiorra answered quietly, "What makes you think I'd let you?"
"It's not up to you." Ichigo told him, "You may be going out with her, but you're not in control of her. I don't have to ask your permission to say something."
"Words like that worked when Aizen was running things, but it doesn't work now. The last time you spoke to her, you caused her pain. It took her days to stop blaming herself. I may not control her, but I'm not going to just stand by and let you hurt her again."
"I don't plan to. Just let me say something."
"Kurosaki..." Orihime said, stepping out from behind the Espada, "...What is it?"
. . .
Not far away, SoiFon was watching the group closely. Just as Yamamoto had instructed her before, she was not wearing her Captain's haori. Instead, she wore the black uniform she donned when she was Yoruichi's bodyguard a century ago.
. . .
In Soul Society, Grimmjow and Lucca were rushing through the halls of the Research Institute. They didn't see anyone coming after them yet despite the alarm...at least, not until they burst their way outside. Grimmjow took point and stood in the center of a spotlight, which shone on him almost immediately after breaking down the doors. Lucca held back for a moment, still able to see Grimmjow but not so close that she would be seen by the Shinigami presenting themselves outside.
Out there along the high, thick walls surrounding the complex were dozens of the Onmitsukidou Elite Militia. Amongst them, in the center, was Omaeda, who pulled out a cellular phone and dialed a hotkeyed number.
"It's over, Espada." He said, sweating from nerves but trying to maintain himself, "Stand down, or your leader will be executed right alongside you."
"My leader?" Grimmjow repeated, "I don't have one. Who the Hell are you?"
. . .
"Well, the thing is..." Ichigo started, "Last week, when I started that whole thing on the roof...when I yelled at you... That...wasn't me. It wasn't right. I..."
. . .
SoiFon's attention was grabbed by the vibrations of her phone, and when she pulled it out to look at the screen, but she was more annoyed than anything. She put it back, thinking nothing of it.
. . .
"Damn that woman she never listens to me!" Omaeda grumbled, looking at his unanswered phone.
"Having trouble?" Grimmjow mused. He watched as another member of the Elite guard bounded along the wall and reported to the 2nd Squad's Lieutenant, and saw the blood leave the pudgy man's face.
"You're kidding!" Omaeda whimpered, "I'll have to text her instead. Everyone! Take that Espada down!"
Grimmjow smiled wickedly, "Not another step." He threw his hands out to the side and then brought them around in front of him in a wide arc, opening his palms outward, "Normally I don't mind if I start a fight with a handicap, but I think I'll make an exception this one time. Gonzui!"
The entire group of Onmituskidou agents paused as their reiatsu seemed to light on fire. They looked at their hands and one another in disbelief, and soon started dropping like flies. Their collective energies drained into the sky, and then went straight towards their originator. Like a wind-funnel, the reiatsu circled about until Grimmjow sucked the lot of it in. With most of the group already down, and the Arrancar breathing a bit easier now than before, Omaeda weakly lifted his head in disbelief.
"...This...this is impossible..." He muttered, looking at the replenished Espada, "How did you...? The entire group is...!?"
"Gonzui. Can only use it once in a while, so it's always best left for when surrounded by lots of guys you can't be arsed to beat one by one." Grimmjow snickered, "And now, I'm at full power...and I'm gonna kick all your asses for the shit this place has done to me!"
In fright, Omaeda hit 'send' on his message before completing it.
. . .
SoiFon grabbed the phone one more time in frustration, "What does that idiot want!? I'm not bringing him back a souvenir!"
Her eyes went wide.
[Catspada escaped. Kurotsuchi frozen solid. Catspada being helped by Ku-]
