TONIGHT WE DINE IN HELL [But first...]

Ichigo dipped forward in a bow, which caught the entire group off guard.

"...I'm sorry."

"Kurosaki..." Orihime muttered, "I..."

"And?" Ulquiorra said.

"And I won't do it again." Ichigo grumbled, standing upright again. "It was stupid and unnecessary. It wasn't your fault. It was mine entirely."

. . .

"Grimmjow-sama, we have to go! Everyone in the city probably saw that!" Lucca pleaded, still hiding behind the wall.

The Espada simply shrugged her off, feeling the raw power coursing through him again at long last, "It's not gonna be so easy all of a sudden, Lucca. Don't you get it? I feel better than I have in a long time. Every muscle in my body is twitching at the idea of getting to rip this place a new asshole. I'm not just gonna run off!"

"Well that's great then." Came a voice.

Grimmjow looked up, seeing several figures appearing along the top of the wall surrounding the complex.

Renji, Ikkaku, and Yumichika revealed themselves, and coming up behind them...?

Kenpachi Zaraki.

Grimmjow looked excited, "These guys look like they might put up a bit of a fight." He dug his claws into the ground, "Well...maybe a little bit! They're only Lieutenants at best."

"You're in for a little more than that, Arrancar." Ikkaku taunted, drawing his sword at the same time Renji and Yumichika did, "We've fought against Espada just like you, and all their little henchman. If anything, the ones who should be lamenting a quick fight will be us!"

"Don't make me laugh!" Grimmjow barked, "You ain't worth the trouble! But the guy behind you looks like he'll be better suited to fighting me!"

"GRIMMJOW-SAMA." Lucca was practically screaming between her teeth.

. . .

SoiFon was up in an instant. She called out to her subordinates over the same phone and then braced for her next move.

. . .

Surrounding the school, the Arrancar stationed to watch over Ulquiorra while he was in his Gigai were suddenly attacked. Nelliel, Furionn, Gaabriel...all engaged at the same time by SoiFon's agents. Overwhelmed and taken by surprise, it was easy work to remove the Arrancar from their posts and leave them helpless to fight back.

. . .

Notified that the guard was immobilized, SoiFon leapt from her place in the shadows and went straight for the group gathered in the school courtyard. Just as Ichigo had finished his apology...Ulquiorra was slammed to the ground.

"What the!?"

"Ulquiorra!"

"Stay back!" He barked, trying to push the Captain off of him. She had his arms twisted behind his back already and was strong enough to keep him there despite his resistance.

"Don't bother struggling." She told him, "In your Gigai, you're powerless."

"What's the meaning of this!?" Ishida yelled, stepping closer, only to be shot a 'stay back' stare by the woman. She caught sight of a particular little marble rolling out of Ulquiorra's coat pocket, and immediately crushed it underfoot. Several other members of the entourage started to arrive as they noticed the Espada was immobilized.

"Open the Senkaimon!" SoiFon ordered; they did as told.

"What are you doing!? Why are you taking him!?" Orihime demanded, "He helped fight Aizen! What do you want with him!?"

"You humans have no right to interfere with the business of Soul Society." SoiFon snapped, hoisting Ulquiorra up rather roughly and starting to back him into the gateway. "If any one of you tries to stop me, I'll kill him."

"ULQUIORRA!"

Ichigo grabbed the woman and held her back, though having no idea what was going on.

"What the Hell just happened?" He asked.

The Senkaimon closed.

. . .

Zaraki stepped forward, his sword over his right shoulder and Yachiru clinging to the left, "This one's got some spunk. You're on! But before all that...lemee ask ya this quick thing first."

Grimmjow blanched, "Don't waste my time with questions!"

"What rank were ya?" Kenpachi asked, "I ain't gonna waste my time if you're not even as strong as someone else I fought."

"I'm an Espada!" The Arrancar snapped, "I'll take you AND your goons out!"

"You sure about that?" Zaraki laughed, "C'mon, c'mon! Tell me what your rank was!"