Thank you for your patience as I was encouraged through some writing block. Stay Safe, stay home, read and enjoy. I am off on a spurt so maybe I can get back on getting stuff out every couple days. Thanks guys!

Chapter 24

"Grimmjow!" Hisagi called out as he entered the darkened weight room at the edge of the training arena. His eyes strained against the darkness that Grimmjow seemed to prefer but he was able to make out a soft cloud of smoke and the glowing tip of a cigarette at the far end of the room. "I thought you gave that shit up?"

"I did," came the grumbled reply of the Sexta espada. Glowing teal eyes flashed across at the captain from where he lay on his back across a weight bench. He took another long drag from the cigarette before exhaling to wreathe the room in another plume of smoke.

Hisagi crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow in the direction on the near ancient hollow that was acting like a petulant teenager. "At least don't smoke in the closed room please," he said with a practiced calm.

"Aye, Aye, Cap," Grimmjow drawled as he flicked the butt up in the air and vaporized it with a small cero before it could even arc back down. "You can go away now."

"Nope," Hisagi said simply, drawing an ire-filled glare from the despondent man, "We are both going. Its drawing day at the academy, so we have to go."

Groaning, Grimmjow rose to a sitting position and shrugged on the loose jacket he wore, rolling up the sleeves to just under his elbows. Not over his elbows. Not anymore. Hisagi had often wondered if Grimmjow's affinity for dark rooms was because no one could see his myriad of scars. Was it pride because his hierro had been marred or was it because of how it happened that he stayed covered?

"Why bother? You just get the crap ones anyways with your bleeding-heart bullshit," Grimmjow complained, pulling Hisagi from his wondering, "And why so early?"

"We have errands to run first and I need your eyes during it," Hisagi answered, rolling his eyes at Grimmjow's complaints.

"Ugh," Grimmjow groaned, flopping back on the bench.

He glared at Hisagi's answering chuckle as he approached him and held out his hand to lift Grimmjow back up. "Rise and shine, Jaegerjaques!" he laughed out, "It's a beautiful day… and I promise I will try to find you a few fighters."

"Why are you in such a good mood?" Grimmjow asked suspiciously.

Hisagi didn't answer except to stroll out into the sunshine, leaving the espada to catch up. Grimmjow didn't like it one bit.

.

Scratch that, Grimmjow fucking hated this day already. He had followed Hisagi to the front gate of the 9th division, just to be greeted with the same woman and her flowing blue hair that he had been avoiding like a plague. Even now he wanted to turn tail and run from her. She haunted his dreams and made his arms ache to hold her again. This was bullshit.

Grimmjow was torn between going into a blind rage and falling to his knees in pain as he saw where Hisagi's haori had gone to. Folded neatly on her lap, she held it to give to him. Clearly there had been some level of undress between them, and Grimmjow didn't care if it was only a fucking jacket. God dammit, why did her every decision seem to puncture his heart?

But then… shit… then she saw Hisagi and stood and let out that fucking sun beam of a smile at him as he approached. Grimmjow thought his heart was gone but he had been wrong. It bottomed out again. It fell further as she walked up and handed him the haori. Hisagi draped an arm easily over her shoulder and bent to tell her softly how nice she looked. Grimmjow gritted his teeth and used every ounce of willpower to keep from tearing off the captain's arm.

She did look beautiful, Grimmjow admitted internally. Her hair had been pin backed with small bunches of tiny silver combs, looking like small stars lost in a galaxy. A silver/blue kimono covered in dark purple flowers draped gently over her shoulders, the appeal of the cut not lost despite the high necked juban underneath it. The tight silver obi accentuated her small waist, showing how petite and delicate she was. Grimmjow's mind couldn't help but think of how perfect she had felt in his strong arms and the overwhelming desire to keep and protect her.

He wanted to look away from the sight that tore at him. He tried, but it was like watching a random act of destruction to him. You want to look away, you know you shouldn't watch this thing that will hurt you, but you have to. He had almost mustered the will to turn away when Mara looked back at him, seeing him come up from following Hisagi to the gate and she just had to fucking smile at him.

The smile was tentative, full of worry that he would tear off again as he had been all week. It hurt to know she didn't trust him to be there, especially when making her turn to him had been his goal. He knew he could have swept in anytime this past week and been her savior. He should have, he knew that. She was isolated, upset. The captain was distracted and worried. It would have been so damn easy to be what she needed and nailed in his importance but to look at her was to dream. To hope. To die inside all over again when she pulled away.

Mara just kept looking at him with her own bit of hope, though, and Grimmjow felt himself grinning back at her. It was just a nod of acknowledgement and a small barely-there grin, but it was enough for Mara's tentative smile to grow bold and bright and just for him. He was sunk again. This woman pulled every weakness in him to the surface when she wasn't even around. Her presence broke every wall that he locked his fear and anger and pain behind. He felt self-conscious of the scars in his mind and on his body with her perfection looking in even though he could practically taste how she could heal them. Her power was actually secondary to her simple existence. She didn't haunt his dreams; she was his damn dream.

.

Shopping, however, was not his dream. This was a fucking nightmare, and by the pained look on Hisagi's face it seemed they were in agreement. They were currently waiting at a café outside the fourth kimono shop in the best district of the Rukongai and Mara had barely bought anything, barely tried anything on.

She probably would have tried more on if she hadn't turned down assistance with dressing in the stores, but the woman apparently had a phobia of anyone seeing her in any state of undress. She also seemed to be wandering aimlessly as she trailed her fingers over the racks of lush fabrics. Hisagi had given her carte blanche to get whatever she needed. So far that was some high-collared shirts and real-world style socks.

Mara flopped down in the patio chair next to the two distinctly bored looking men, having finally gotten herself redressed from the last shop. She looked rather discouraged herself.

"It's okay, Koi. We can keep looking," Hisagi said reaching to cover her hand with her own, "Let's get some food for now. We have a couple more hours before we have to be at the academy."

Mara's face brightened at the mention of food. "Yes!" she exclaimed comically, a wide grin on her face, "I know I can at least decide on food better." She reached for a menu and began inspecting the offerings.

"You know, this man is taking you to the best damn shops in the afterlife, woman," Grimmjow said, his irritation not hidden in his tone, "What the hell are you looking for anyways?"

Hisagi shot him a glare but Mara didn't look up from her menu as she replied, "I'll know it when I see it." She turned to Hisagi with wide eyes, thoughts clearly centered on her stomach. "They have coffee here?!" she asked with wide eyed excitement.

"Yeah. Grimmjow wasn't lying, this is the best district. It is prime for shopping, eating, and even treats from the real world."

"God I've missed coffee!" Mara exclaimed, not noticing the penetrating stares the men were sending her way.

"You like it then?" Grimmjow asked, head cocked to the side in question.

"Oh yeah," Mara answered, still not looking up from the next part of the menu, "Favorite is a dark South American blend with 2 shots of espresso, a pump of caramel and vanilla with almond milk. Preferably over ice with a drizzle of caramel on top if it's warm like today. Doesn't help that these damn kimono's have like 7 layers even if they are beautiful."

Grimmjow and Hisagi looked at each other with wide eyes over Mara's bent head, before her head shot up.

"Holy balls! What the fuck did I just say?" She asked looking at the guys across the table with a look like a deer caught in the lights.

The guys couldn't help but crack up at the shocked expression on her face. Mara's continuing to stare at them in confusion only driving their laughter further.

"Cap! Cap!" Grimmjow gasped out, "What's my name?!"

"I don't know," Hisagi chuckled, "But here's your coffee!"

Both men dissolved into fits of laughter, doubled over the table as Mara stared at them. She tried to move her mouth to get onto them for their callous joke but god it really was a good one. Mara found herself laughing along with them until they were red in the face and panting. Looking around the table, Mara felt some of the burden on her shoulders ease. This. She needed this. Hisagi wiped a tear from his hard and tattooed face as he rose to go place an order for them. Grimmjow's aquamarine eyes danced and even the fanged bones on the side of his face brought her no terror with his smile tilting in happiness instead of malice. It wasn't a sight she expected with people she could never have pictured, but it felt right. At least more right than anything else had lately

Grimmjow's expression held a rare warmth as Mara looked over at him, meeting his smiling eyes with one of her own. Mara reached out her hand to cover his laying on the table near her. Grimmjow's expression immediately sobered and became questioning, but he didn't pull away. She didn't know that he couldn't if he had wanted to.

"I know I am testing your patience, Grimm," she said softly, "but for what it is worth, I am glad you came. I missed-"

Grimmjow covered her hand with his own. "Don't," he said softly in a tortured voice.

He could feel Mara's eyes boring into him but he couldn't look at her. He couldn't answer the question that he knew would be held in them. He hoped Mara's perception could be less keen if only for this moment. He didn't know that she was piecing together that he was why everyone had left them alone on this outing. No one wanted to be near a hollow, especially an espada, even if he was so old and powerful that feeding on other souls was a thing of the past. He didn't know that she was internally aligning their isolation with each other in her mind, trying to understand his reaction. He didn't know that she saw his quick glance toward Hisagi's back, confirming her suspicions of his reactions, even if she didn't fully understand the root. He didn't realize that he still hadn't let go of her hand.

"Okay," she acquiesced simply, schooling her contemplative expression and drawing his relieved eyes to hers, "I'll wait."

Grimmjow's brow furrowed at her addition to her saying. "There won't be a next time," he grumbled.

Mara raised an eyebrow and gave an enigmatic smile, sliding her hand out from between his own as Hisagi turned to bring food back to the table. She did want to ease Grimmjow's mind somehow, but if Hisagi was part of the problem then she would have to tread carefully. That man had been nothing but wonderful to her, she thought as she watched Hisagi approach. Maybe he could give her some insight on what to do.

She smiled as Hisagi delivered a small feast. "I didn't know exactly what you wanted, so I grabbed some of everything," he said sheepishly.

"Man after my own heart," Mara said, digging into some sushi while still sliding a bowl of ramen in place in front of her. She tucked into the food in front of her as the group eased back into a tenuous camaraderie.

"These obi's are for the birds," Mara said, rubbing her hand on her full stomach, "Do you guys not believe in clothes that stretch?"

Hisagi pointed his chopsticks at a store across the street with pristine soul reaper uniforms in the window before swiping the last of his rice form his bowl into his mouth.

Grimmjow followed the direction he pointed in. "Oh yeah," he said sleepily, "Stealth force."

"What? What is that?"

"It's an elite force for espionage and spy shit," Grimmjow said.

"And many wear tight, stretchy uniforms to more easily move and conceal themselves," Hisagi added.

Mara squinted and leaned forward, making out an advertising flyer that was attached to the door of the shop. She could see a woman pictured in an orange jacket, a black turtleneck and tight, stretchy black pants. Bingo!

In the blink of an eye, Mara had cleared the table and grabbed both men by their hands, dragging them across the street with surprising strength to the shop. She pointed at the flyer with determination. "Those are what I have been looking for!"

The men exchanged another look over her head and Hisagi shrugged. "Alright, then let's go shopping."

Thirty minutes later, both men's eyes widened as Mara appeared in the skintight pants, accompanied by the comfortable sandals sported by all shinigami. The store owner had begun tailoring as she shopped, shortening dressing robes into tops that tied around the waist, all to be layered over a variety of colored juban and high collared shirts. The outfit did literally nothing to hide her curves, only accentuating her form for their eyes. Her kimono had been carefully folded and left with the shopkeep to be delivered back to the barracks with the order.

"Now this feels right!" Mara exclaimed happily, skipping ahead of the men, both of whom had a hard time peeling their eyes from her ass as she bounced in front of them. Men on the street, and some women too, had all begun following her movement.

She has no fucking clue what effect she has, Grimmjow realized. He looked over to Hisagi to see his thoughts mirrored back on Hisagi's face. His eyes were caught somewhere between worshipful and wary as more people began to stop on the street to watch Mara as she passed.

"Time to go, Cap?" Grimmjow asked him lowly.

"Oh yeah," Hisagi answered forcefully, "Let's go."

While Hisagi flash stepped to Mara, calming her steps with a gentle grip on her elbow, Grimmjow sonido'd up behind them, turning to walk backwards and send a bright maniacal glare around the crowd. The ones who didn't get the hint began dispersing at his fanged grin as he focused on them individually.

"What's going on, Shuu?" Mara asked quietly, nervously.

"Nothing, Koibito," he replied. Grimmjow resisted turning his glare on the captain as his ears perked at the endearment. "You are just attracting a lot of attention and we don't want to risk you with the wrong kind of attention."

"Oh," she said softly, some of her good mood deflated, "I'm sorry."

"You didn't do anything wrong," Grimmjow said gruffly behind her, loathe to see her shining smile disappear.

"You are just more beautiful than you know," Hisagi added gently, "and your outfit does nothing to hide that fact."

"Oh," Mara said again, this time with a near giggle, heat rising to flush her cheeks.

"Before we jet, we prob ought to grab something for the academy," Grimmjow said to Hisagi, "You know how they are about tradition and decorum."

"Good idea," Hisagi agreed, pleased with Grimmjow's forethought for Mara's well-being, "You got her?"

"Tch, really?" Grimmjow said, scoffing as he stepped up next to Mara, laying a heavy hand gently on her shoulder. He resisted the urge to tangle his fingers in the hair that fell tickling over his hand. Was it his imagination or did he feel her tremble under his touch. Was that good or bad?

Hisagi rolled his eyes, but flash stepped away to the uniform shop to grab something to cover her.

"Now?" Mara asked without looking at Grimmjow but with a smile in her voice.

Grimmjow couldn't help but chuckle lowly at her tenacity, the deep rumbling in his chest sending unbidden tingles through her body from where his hand lay on her. "No, Yumekanau."

She cast a puzzled glance at him at the word. Dream… dream something…

All she got in reply was a roguish smile that didn't disguise the small ember of warmth in Grimmjow's eyes as he looked down at her, before looking back at the people on the street with a glare.

Hisagi reappeared in a moment, with a dark teal silk robe that she could tie loosely around her waist and would probably hit the floor with her diminutive figure. Mara smiled at him as he handed it to her to hold. "I love that color," she remarked to him as his hand on her arm replaced Grimmjow's.

"I noticed you were drawn to it in there," he replied, smiling down at her, "You ready to go fast?"

"Um… sure?" Mara said in a distinctly unsure voice.

"It'll be fine," Grimmjow drawled, coming up alongside the couple, "this is just the easiest way to travel." He flicked his eyes to Hisagi's. "Outside the gate so she can change?"

"Yup," he affirmed, scooping Mara up bridal style and making her yelp in surprise before laughing, her arms going around his neck automatically.

She leaned her head back backwards, looking at Grimmjow upside down. The comical sight erased some of the cloud in his eyes though his features remained stoic. "How fast?" she asked playfully.

Grimmjow chuckled and took off in a flash, disappearing from her sight.

She turned wide eyes to Hisagi as he disappeared and Hisagi's low laugh reverberated through her where he held her to his chest. "Hold on tight, Koi," He cautioned, a sexy purr in his words, "I'm even faster."

He took off, leaping to the nearest roof before blurring off. The world became a haze of blurred colors and whipping wind. She couldn't help the laughter bubbling inside her yet getting sucked out of her lungs into the rushing air. She could hear Grimmjow's cackling laugh in the distance. She looked up at Hisagi who was smiling down at her, cradling her close and relishing her excitement. He adjusted his grip on her, bringing her more vertical to press a quick kiss to her lips.

"I don't mind if we lose, you know," Mara said coyly, causing him to chuckle again.

"Then I would never hear the end of it from the king," he laughed, tightening his hold, "Here we go!"

Hisagi put on another burst of speed, drawing up to be side by side with Grimmjow. They gave each other competitive smiles and kept going for just a few more seconds before dropping into identical positions on the ground outside a large gate.

"Caught up to you even while carrying her," Hisagi declared as he rose, setting Mara to her feet, "Are you getting slower?"

"Tch! Really, Cap?" Grimmjow scoffed "That's like saying you were carrying a bag of apples and deserve a handicap. She's a feather."

"Still caught you," Hisagi stated firmly.

"Because I let you," Grimmjow said, loving the rising annoyance he could feel from the captain, "It would have been against decorum if the Combat Instructor arrived before the captain."

Hisagi rolled his eyes and turned as he saw Mara shaking out the long robe, trying to fit her own wide sleeve inside of it.

"Here," Hisagi said, lifting the robe to cover her from the street, "You have a shirt on under that one, just take off the over-shirt and put this on instead."

Mara looked suddenly very nervous, drawing concerned looks from the men. She shook her head and untied her over-shirt. She yanked it off, reveling the sleeveless shirt underneath. She raised her slim arms to slide through the sleeves of the teal robe as quickly as she could. She wasn't fast enough for the two men to not see the pale scars in punctures and slashes on the inside of her arms. There were dozens on the inside and they even got a glimpse of a few thin scars that ran from her shoulders to disappear under the back of her top. Grimmjow raised shocked eyes to Hisagi, only to see the same baffled look peering back at him. Was this from medical things like the pricks on her wrist? What exactly had she gone through in life.

Suddenly Grimmjow was unknowingly thinking what Hisagi had been earlier. Maybe it was better if she didn't remember her old life. The dark, hollow part of his mind berated him as he watched her tie up the robe, eyes downcast and flush. It shouldn't matter how she feels, it's about getting the power…. But the voice died as he saw her raise eyes filled with shame and self-loathing.

"Koi," Hisagi started to say, pity in his voice.

"Please, Shuu. Please don't," she said sadly, turning to walk toward the gate.

Hisagi, in a move so out of character Grimmjow had to blink to make sure it was real, Hisagi bounded in front of Mara, picking her up under his arm. He stepped back toward the espada and flipped the woman before setting her on her feet, somewhat unsteadily. He made sure she could stand before going back to stand next to Grimmjow, slinging an arm around the espada's shoulders and ignoring the disgruntled look levied his way.

"What the hell, Shuu?" Mara snapped, straightening her robe in preparation to stomp away.

"Why are you ashamed over scars?" Hisagi asked bluntly.

"Dude! What the fuck?" Grimmjow exclaimed, shocked that he was the one to lecture Hisagi about rudeness.

Mara's mouth fell open, but she looked closer to battling tears than screaming.

Hisagi pointed at Grimmjow's exposed chest, the old angry scar still very apparent and visible, and slowly Mara closed her mouth. He then pointed at the scars arcing down his own face, and Mara's face shifted to one of confused annoyance. "I dare say, Koi," Hisagi said with a smile, "that you wouldn't be able to roll with us if you didn't have scars."

Mara fought a smile at his antics, but still her arms stayed wrapped tight around her. Battle scars. The thought popped in her head without prompting, but for some reason it brought her comfort. She was battle scarred, like the strong men in front of her who did nothing to hide the evidence of their wounds. Slowly Mara allowed her smile to spread, "Okay, okay," she muttered, "Just don't expect me to go practically shirtless to show mine off like him." She raised a finger to point at Grimmjow.

To his credit, Grimmjow played along, displaying a ridiculously sexy pout as his flashed to hers with heat. Hisagi sagged against the espada with an exaggerated groan, before throwing her a lopsided smile and jogging toward the gate to get them to open it.

Grimmjow came up beside Mara as she bent to pick up her discarded shirt, folding it to fit in the pocket of the robe while they were in the academy. She froze as she felt Grimmjow's warm hand caress her side before settling on her lower back to guide her forward. "Scars or no," he bent forward to whisper softly against the shell of her ear, "You are still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, Yumekanau."

Mara's eyes went wide as Grimmjow pushed her forward ahead of him towards a broadly grinning Hisagi who waited for her at the gate.