(A/N) I love writing the play between Hisagi and Grimmjow in their scenes. There is something about them that I think plays so well off of each other and I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do. On the flip side, writing Renji and Byakuya is HARD. It is hard to strike the right tone between them without making Byakuya an asshole, but I tried to bring more of his perspective in with this. Let me know what you think.
Tune for Renji/Bya portion just to strike a mood is Until the Ribbon Breaks version of One Way or Another. Set the trap, guys and enjoy.
Chapter 28
Hisagi let out a soft sigh as he approached his squad quarters. He could feel some of the tension drop from his shoulders with each disgruntled Protection Force member he passed. Despite the withdrawal and the late afternoon sun bearing down, he was proud to see that his squad had not broken rank at all through the long morning.
Approaching the rows of soldiers, he gave them an approving nod, watching as their stances finally relaxed. "Dismissed," he announced to them quietly, "Thank you all, you have done well. You all have the afternoon off to resume normal duties tomorrow. I am proud of all of you."
With respectful bows, the troops began to disperse and Hisagi made his way into the building. After finally releasing the kido that had guarded the room, he entered it with quiet movements. He couldn't help the jolt to his heart at the view that awaited him.
Grimmjow sat at the head of the bed, back to the wall. His teal eyes locked on the captain as he came in. No doubt, Hisagi knew, that he had seen him approach. Grimmjow's hand rested protectively on Mara's shoulder as she was curled asleep in the nest of his legs. Hisagi said nothing about it however, surprising Grimmjow. He simply shrugged off the bloody Haori, happy to be free of its weight, before settling in the futon across the room.
"Rough day?" Grimmjow asked lowly in a voice dripping sarcasm.
"Long night," Hisagi threw back at him causing the espada's eyes to narrow slightly.
"So when do I get handed back to the monster?" Grimmjow asked, looking down at the sleeping woman in his lap. For once, his tumultuous feelings were plain on his face.
"You don't," Hisagi said, hiding the pity he felt for the tortured man. He knew Grimmjow didn't want it or need it. It was enough that he was letting him keep holding Mara so intimately.
Hisagi pulled a pair of chainless spirit-dampening cuffs from his pocket and tossed them at Grimmjow, who deftly swiped them out of the air with one hand. Grimmjow inspected them with a snort before looking back up to Hisagi with one brow raised.
"Wear them," Hisagi said tiredly, briefly thankful that Mara had fallen asleep on Grimmjow. It was keeping the espada oddly calm. "This was the agreement to put everyone's mind at ease," Hisagi said mockingly.
"Tch. Really?" Grimmjow scoffed, "If I let loose all my power, I would melt these things off. I'm above most of your precious captains."
"Exactly why I asked for this as the requested appeasement," Hisagi replied, cracking a grin that was mirrored back with sharp teeth, "That is exactly what I am expecting you to do if someone tries to go after her."
"Aye, aye, Cap'n," Grimmjow rumbled with a low chuckle as he snapped on the cuffs. "You sure you want to put me in the position of being her savior again?" Grimmjow asked, the levity dropping off his face.
"You'd have to beat me to it," Hisagi said with a challenge glinting in his gray eyes.
Grimmjow leaned his head back against the wall with a dramatic groan, "Why do you have to be the one motherfucker in this place that I actually don't want to rip apart with my bare hands?"
"At least not yet, right?" Hisagi added with a humorless chuckle.
Grimmjow rolled his eyes, even as his grip on Mara tightened imperceptibly.
Hisagi leaned forward in this seat, resting his elbows on his knees as he swept his large hands over his tired face. He planted his chin in his palm as he studied the man across from him. "So you do love her," he whispered, drawing the espada's fierce glare back to him. "I told her, but she didn't believe me."
"She'll get there," Grimmjow replied, levelling his gaze against Hisagi, "Koi no yokan, Cap."
"I know. I heard you guys over Senbonzakura," Hisagi admitted.
"Then why the fuck are you working so hard to keep me out here?" Grimmjow asked with a sneer.
"Mostly, because she would kill me if I didn't," Hisagi said fondly, "but also because I have security in that you aren't the only one she feels that way about."
"Yeah, doesn't hurt that you are already 'Otto', huh?"
Laughing softly, Hisagi shook his head self-depreciatingly. "No, it doesn't," he agreed, "but ultimately its her choice. I'll let her make it."
Grimmjow cast him an overwhelmingly doubtful look.
"Oh, don't mistake that for backing down, Jaegerjaques," Hisagi said deeply as he reclined his body against the back of the futon, stretching out his powerful arms across the back, "I'm planning on making that decision swing my way."
"Look at who's takin' on the king," Grimmjow purred disconcertingly.
"Meh, you'll lose her as soon as she sees another one of your conquests doing the walk of shame in the morning," Hisagi chuckled, "If she hasn't seen them already."
"In the past, Cap," Grimmjow said.
Hisagi snorted in doubt. Mara's heart may be big, but to get past Grimmjow's playboy antics? That was a tall order.
"So, what now?" Grimmjow asked him softly, absentmindedly stroking Mara's side to settle her as she had begun to stir.
"Well," Hisagi drew out in a groan, "now we just have to get her past the price this bit of freedom cost before we start in on each other. And it may just take both of us."
"What do you mean price?" Grimmjow said, an audible growl resonating through him and into the room. "I thought this was the price," he said, raising to shake his wrist, cuff catching the light.
"No, that was the result. The price for those cuffs being the extent of your punishment is that she submits to questioning."
If Grimmjow hadn't been trapped under the sleeping beauty, Hisagi knew that he would be at risk of dying right then. Teal eyes glowed with an otherworldly, sinister power and the cuffs began to glow brightly. "I will eat your goddamn intestines while you watch if-"
"Stop," he ordered Grimmjow calmly.
"Stop? Fucking stop!? Fuck you! What did you do?" Grimmjow practically roared.
"Look, I didn't do shit except exactly what she told me to," Hisagi said, hands up in submission, "and trust me, I would have told her no if it had meant 'questioning' like yours."
The glow faded from the cuffs to a dull thrum, but Grimmjow still looked like he wanted to rip the captain into bloody confetti. "I don't give a single flying fuck, Hisagi. It's still being turned over to those twisted sons of bitches to have answers wrangled out of her."
"Look," Hisagi said, leaning forward intensely again, "give credit where it is due. That girl may just be a fucking genius in how she read the situation. There's no turning her over or letting them take her, we take her there and take her home. One session of solitary questioning that she ends at any time. One person to ask the questions. If they touch her, it's an immediate death sentence. Not even a farce of a trial like they tried to give you."
Grimmjow eased slightly. It could be worse, he reasoned. "How in the hell did you get them to agree to all that as exchange for me? There's some in the circle that were probably frothing at the mouth to try to kill me," Grimmjow asked, wary curiosity taking the place of his anger, "That's very little to give in return for something so large."
"Apparently, the effectiveness of the bait you dangle depends on the fish you are aiming for," Hisagi said cryptically as he tried to work out how to deliver news that would most likely truly cause the volatile espada to really try to kill him.
Grimmjow examined Hisagi with narrowed eyes. What wasn't he telling him? "And which fish did we have to bait?" he asked, voice tense.
"The one that levied the charges against you," Hisagi replied evenly, "The one that she believed could give answers as well during this session."
"You're letting Kuchiki question her?" Grimmjow hissed angrily.
"No," Hisagi said, steeling himself for the coming explosion, "Abarai."
Hisagi expected the tirade. He expected to have to fight off the espada physically. Hisagi expected utter insanity. He did not expect Grimmjow to recoil in palpable fear. He didn't expect to see him wrap another protective arm around the woman in abject horror.
"What?" Grimmjow gasped out.
"She said to make sure that she was questioned by Abarai," Hisagi said confused, "It's not a bad idea entirely… he clearly knew her so she knew he was the best bet at having answers that she wants. She also had a memory that powered her shunpo to you and she said that she was sure he was in it; that they were friends. That means he wouldn't hurt her even if the rule wasn't in place… Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because apparently you are a goddamn, knuckle dragging, shit eating moron!" Grimmjow said.
"What?!" Hisagi hissed right back.
"How the fuck could you let her go to Abarai? Do you want us both to lose her?!" Grimmjow asked accusingly. At Hisagi's blank look, Grimmjow sighed and untangled Mara's left hand carefully from the blankets and laid her arm wrist up, exposing the small tattoo. "What do you see, dumbass?"
Obligingly, Hisagi rose from the bad and went to look at the small pattern. "One of her tattoos. What am I supposed to be seeing?" he sighed.
"Fuckin' hell," Grimmjow growled, "He's your best fucking friend and you can't recognize his goddamn tattoo pattern but I can?"
Narrowing his eyes, Hisagi finally placed the pattern, the linked swirls that still didn't touch in the connections. Mara had Renji's tattoo put on her body. They had time to get to know each other in the world of living. Renji knew that memory loss was common. He shoved her through a gate with an opening that he knew the outlet. Hisagi's mind raced as the pieces fell into place in his mind.
"Now you see, huh," Grimmjow scoffed as he began to see the same fear he held inside of him reflected in Hisagi's stormy eyes. "She didn't just know Abarai, she was Abarai's. His reaction to her yesterday only proved it."
"Does she know that?" Hisagi asked, sinking into the chair next to the bed while not releasing his hold on her hand. Shit shit shit shit.
"Fuck no!" Grimmjow asked, yet again looking at him as if he was an utter fool. "We just better hope that its his word against her blank mind and she doesn't get hit by more memories while she is with him."
Hisagi couldn't speak. He couldn't breathe. What had he just done?"
"There it is," Grimmjow said mirthlessly, "You love her too. And now you get it."
"What… what do we…" Hisagi stammered.
"We have to win her over now," Grimmjow said, tight lipped, "One of us, both of us... it just has to be enough that she will choose us over him if she remembers anything."
.
.
A knock on Renji's door stopped his pacing. He had been circling the room like a predatory tiger for the past hour as his mind had reeled through scenarios and ideas. He was going to see Mara. Just them. No Hisagi, no espada; just him and her. What could he get her to remember? Could he make her see? Should he make her see?
Renji threw open the door with a glare, looking down to see a small shinigami, kneeling at the opening.
"Lieutenant Abarai," the shinigami said with a nervous waver to their voice, "Cap- Captain Kuchiki has requested you in his office."
Renji snarled in response, only to see the rookie flinch at the sound. He had been a bit… harsh with the squad since he had been back, he supposed. Thinking of getting to see Mara again quickly replaced his sneer with a smile. Even Byakuya couldn't kill this mood. "Thanks, man," he said jovially, chuckling at the saucer-eyed look he got in return.
The rookie got up and shuffled away from the door quickly, a confused trepidation still slanting across his face, as Renji stepped out and headed to Byakuya. Renji only smirked more at the reactions of the shinigami in the halls as he sauntered up to Byakuya's door. Renji schooled his features before sliding the door open, however.
He didn't know what game Byakuya was playing but there had to be one. His captain had caved too easily today. He hadn't punished Renji for the run of insubordination that he had been on the past days. If anything, Byakuya was giving him a lot of leeway and there had to be a reason. He just didn't know it yet.
Entering the room silently, Renji stood, thick arms crossed across his broad chest where bandages still tightly bound his broken and cracked ribs. He watched as Byakuya scratched on the report sheets, unconcerned by his presence, but Renji wasn't fooled. He knew Byakuya was well aware that he was there.
"What do you want?" he asked roughly. While it would be an interesting experiment to see who broke first in acknowledging the other, he was impatient to get back to his own room and plans.
Byakuya slanted an annoyed look over at Renji, holding his impenetrable gaze in silence.
Renji fought the urge to roll his eyes. It would just give Byakuya another weapon in his war of class he had been raging on Renji for his entire life. "What do you want, Captain?" he restated through clenched teeth.
Byakuya turned back to scratching the paper, ignoring Renji. Oh for fucks sake… Renji groaned internally, careful not to betray his weakness of impatience lest Byakuya decide to exploit it further.
His thoughts, inevitably, drifted to his Ippin while he waited. His upcoming meeting with her would be what Byakuya wanted to address. The catch would probably come now. He had never known Byakuya to be pinned into a corner so easily. Hisagi's timing had been perfect; his development of just enough impatience to strike with a deal that was far too lax was artful. Renji realized that his plan had Mara painted all over it with a bit of a jolt. Hisagi hadn't seemed himself at all, he finally recognized, because he hadn't been. At first he had thought that Hisagi's demeanor only proved how the man had changed under the extended influence of the espada (that no one had bothered to mention to him, he mentally noted) but now he saw that Grimmjow was just the inspiration for a part that Hisagi had played perfectly.
It wasn't in Hisagi's nature to bend, even if justice was his goal. Hisagi was a person you could count on to make his stance readily apparent. His word was his bond and, Renji assumed, that hadn't changed since becoming a captain. He had refused an order from Genryusai himself! That wasn't Hisagi… it was Mara. How many days had he and Ippin spent talking about the politics of Seireitei? How many scenarios had they walked through that Mara had examined and figured out long before the powers that be actually done so at the time. She had killed Uryu at chess, had mastered Urahara at Go. Her explanation? "When you can't do anything but lay around, you have to learn to hone your mind. When no one will tell you the truth about yourself at your own bedside, you learn to read them and drag it out.'
She had dragged out of them the exact result that she had wanted without even being in the room. Grimmjow was free and only put in spirit cuffs. Fucking spirit cuffs. Renji had nearly gaped as that passed the vote of the captains. Grimmjow could break those anytime he wanted. That must be why Hisagi had been so agreeable to them.
But if Mara had been puppeteer to this flawless show that meant… Holy shit, that meant that she had wanted to meet him. Only him. Did she remember him? Did she remember THEM? No... if that was the case, she would have leapt to him with joy the way he had her. She wouldn't have gone through all that pretense. She would already be here. No, she didn't remember him but she must remember or feel something. Mara wouldn't make that the bargaining chip without a reason.
Mara must have had to be immovable on that point for Hisagi and her guard dog to allow it. Anyone could see just by glancing at how the men looked at her that they were utterly enamored by her. Renji wished he had only been so smart. How much more time could he have spent with the vivacious woman? Renji shook his head internally to clear that thought and the dark path it led down. The bright light, even in his clouded head, was that Mara wanted to meet him.
"Lieutenant Abarai," Byakuya's deep voice came from behind the desk, "We need to talk about the girl."
Renji's focus snapped back to the captain but he said nothing. Playing Byakuya's game back as he waited for the captain to continue beyond the obvious.
With a soft sigh, Byakuya rose from the desk, turning to face his prodigal son of a lieutenant. Renji had always been prone to being difficult. It was his drive and admiration that had kept him in line, but now? Now he was an entirely different beast. He had no doubt that he could still best Renji, even if it came to combat, but the man's spiritual pressure alone let him know that it would be a long and bloody battle for both of them. Renji's new mindset, however, told him any battle would be to the death.
So, Byakuya had debated while Renji was still contained to the infirmary on how to handle this hell hound that had dropped back in. Clearly what was best for Renji's obedience, and the end of Byakuya's constant tension headache, was getting him back the girl. Honestly, after watching his Lieutenant break over his sister for years, Byakuya almost wanted to help. He also wanted to strangle Hisagi for finding the chink in his armor and exploiting it that first day.
Now, however, he had to contend with the headache that would come from Hisagi and his pet. What may have been a lie at first had certainly grown. Of course, how that would turn out between Hisagi and the espada he treated as a lieutenant was none of his concern, but it make Renji's aspirations more difficult.
This was going to take tact, something that Renji's bull in a china shop approach often lacked. Byakuya resisted sniffing in disdain. Class. So many years later, it seemed that he was still the one tasked with teaching it. However, If Renji's fang had reached when he was fighting for Rukia, he had no doubt it would slash with a poison tip now.
On top of all of this was that Renji had spoken about nothing from before he came in the gate again. Byakuya could put together pieces better than most, but he had to have the damn pieces. Instead, he got his own mask thrown back in his face.
"Hisagi sent word that you will meet with the girl two days from now," Byakuya said blandly, "Apparently she is not in the best state of mind and he wants her to recover before going through more stress."
Not in the best state my ass, Renji thought drolly, this is another ploy for something. She played you like a goddam violin.
"Mm," Renji rumbled in ascent, "There have been many references to her mental state being… fragile."
The unasked question of why hung in the air between them. Seconds dragged to minutes as neither man offered anything, a true stand off as they each weighed the pro's and cons of revealing a card in their hands.
What the fuck am I doing? I just literally saw a page in her Cornering Byakuya 101 book today.
"I suppose it was her entry," Renji finally supplied, "You did say that she was incoherent. Of course, that's to be expected with the send-off she had."
Hook.
"Indeed," Byakuya said, eyes narrowing at Renji. He knew that Renji was dangling bait to make the flow of information a two-way street, the question was would Renji supply enough to make the play worth it. "I expect it must have been very traumatizing to have her screaming Bankai over and over again, unable to respond."
"Yes, I supposed that being konso'd and shoved through a senkaimon during a battle will do that," Renji said contemplatively, "She must have heard me call on it fighting Ulquiorra."
"That could explain her initial violent reaction to Grimmjow. She had grown silent and despondant until she saw him and began again," Byakuya remarked offhandedly, "That was when she latched onto Hisagi and managed to ask for help. Only he seemed to sooth her."
Renji's mind dropped the pieces he was being given into place. The lingering effects of the espada battle must have been why she had such a visceral reaction to seeing another one, but why Hisagi? He and Hisagi trained together for a year and were as different as night and day, but there were distinct similarities that Renji remembered people commenting on as they trained. Hisagi was slightly shorter and less bulky but both men were formidable in size. Both had tattoos on their faces. . They were often told that the look in their eyes is what really distinguished them. Dark, brooding, piercing. Internally Renji could see how he may seem familiar and safe by impression alone to someone with no clear memories.
Or maybe he was just the only one that didn't glare at her, he thought with annoyance at his present company.
"Without knowing what she remember's I'm supposing she could have latched onto whomever was in best proximity to block the hollow," Renji suggested, "I would assume if it was association of some kind, that she would have gravitated to Unohana just as much since Rukia was there when she went through as well."
"Unohana was not present at the time," Byakuya said slowly, "so we will never know for sure. I'm assuming Rukia was there because of Kurosaki."
Line, Renji thought with satisfaction. Even Byakuya couldn't hide that slight glint of curiosity.
"The fourth does often seem to run on their own schedules when it is least convenient," Renji said conspiratorially.
"Luckily," Byakuya continued, "She was covered in blood that wasn't hers…"
"Mine and Rukia's, I'm sure. But you know Inoue, Rukia was most likely healed faster than me," Renji said taking pity on Byakuya before continuing, "At least Mara was treated by the best. She seemed to be up and running very quickly since the betrothal was announced before I even left the infirmary."
"Unfortunately, you were still in Minazuki when it was agreed to. She was still under... treatment, as well," Byakuya admitted while watching his words carefully. There was no shame in his tone, but Renji could feel that Byakuya was holding back something. He would have to offer more to get more.
"Yeah, well, Ulquiorra was quite insistent with his mission even though it turned out that Kurosaki wasn't his prey after all. Any healer would have been hard pressed to give me a fast recovery."
Byakuya couldn't fight the minute widening of his eyes. What did Renji mean that the espada wasn't after Kurosaki? Surely he couldn't have been after the girl. Mara was barely a blip on the spiritual radar even with her random bouts of power that he still couldn't explain.
Renji didn't miss the flinch. Sinker.
"Either way, though, his quarry is safe. He withdrew from Karakura town. Kurosaki still has Rukia, plus the others, to protect him. Mara is here and being protected. Staunchly, I might add. Interesting how she agreed to this marriage so quickly."
Byakuya realized in that moment that he was now playing a game with a man who was no longer a novice. If he wanted more, he was going to have to give something big. Damn. "Their hands may have been a bit forced," he admitted, "It was a sure protection from the very questioning you have been granted."
"Funny, I thought that a ward could be granted that as well." Renji had a hard time keeping the sneer out of his voice. He had a feeling that he wasn't going to like where this was leading.
"It may have initially been a test by some of Hisagi's true feelings. Before you verified yourself that Hisagi doesn't lie," Byakuya said carefully.
Renji's muscles tensed as he fought for control. He was going to kill him. Fuck it. "By some" his ass. This bastard had not only given away his Ippin like some fucking object while she was still asleep, but he had actually goaded Hisagi into a goddam marriage. He was going to rip Byakuya limb from fucking limb.
"Of course," Byakuya said in an appeasing tone, "there is still no date set. Hisagi seems to be very sure of letting the girl choose her own future. She has agreed to the engagement but…"
"Mara," Renji corrected him bluntly. He was tired of the game.
Byakuya raised his eyebrows in question.
"Her name is Mara," Renji said threateningly, stepping forward to loom over Byakuya.
"Mara then," he conceded. Byakuya was not ready for their chess match to end, he had not learned nearly enough. "You do still have your meeting with her. It is not a social call but I have a feeling the… Mara would be grateful for insight on a past she doesn't remember."
Renji smiled a feral smile that made Byakuya wonder what he was holding back. It must be powerful. "Fair enough," Renji agreed, willing to cede one last thing if for no other reason than to send Byakuya's mind reeling, "After all, I have more than just her time as a Whole to reference. Why do you think Rukia sought us out?"
Byakuya's jaw dropped. Did he mean that-? What were they dealing with? When did this start? Byakuya's mind reeled with the possibilities but he knew he had played his last card as he watched Renji leave his office without a backwards glance.