(A/N) Thanks for your patience guys. I FINALLY got this chapter out. I needed some plot building and was having a hard time but I think I got it. Next chapters should flow much more smoothly as they are already outlined, just have to be fleshed out. Stay safe, stay home, and happy reading

Chapter 29

Mara woke up to a dark room surrounded in a heavy warmth. She didn't want to open her eyes as she noted that the birds hadn't even begun chirping yet, but it was her habit to rise early. She didn't know why, but supposed it must be a carryover for some reason from when she was alive. Quietly, Mara tensed and released her muscles before her eyes shot open. The warmth wasn't heavy, the arm across her was and if she wasn't mistaken, was that a leg tangled in hers?

Mara moved to sit up, trying to collect her tired mind to full consciousness, but her movements were stopped as the thick arm around her tightened. She was pulled back against a hard chest, head cushioned on a corded bicep, and was immediately calmed by a loud purring rumbling at her back. Grimmjow. She couldn't help but snuggle into the mesmerizing vibration but something tugged at her mind against the calming tone.

Morning. It was morning! Hisagi! She had slept the entire afternoon!?

Mara moved to untangle her legs, knowing that trying to loosen Grimmjow's grip would be fruitless, only to freeze as a large hand slowly worked its way up her thigh, keeping her in place.

"Nm-mm, too early," came a muffled groan from her chest.

Holy shit. Hisagi?

Mara ran her fingers gently over the heavy head that lay at her breasts. Her fingers grazed through the shaggy hair with relief that he had come back. She realized that while Grimmjow's leg was over her lower one, muscular thigh pressed intimately against her, her top leg was draped suggestively over Hisagi's hip. His hand squeezed her thigh before rubbing gently over the impression of his grip.

What the fuck happened here… but am I complaining? Mara could feel her cheeks heating at the thought. What the hell was going on in her head? This was… this was distinctly not okay. But she would be damned if she didn't have hell of heat flowing through her veins. It didn't help that with every little squirm she made as she tried to adjust to her position, she wound up rubbing some part of her against some part of these two beautiful men. This was fresh hell.

"Quit purring, Grimmjow," Hisagi groaned, "It's creepy."

"You're the creep," Grimmjow growled against Mara's neck, purring louder, "get out of my goddam bed."

Mara could feel her back arch into him at the sensation, unbidden and nearly wanton.

"My squad. My infirmary. My bed," Hisagi argued sleepily as his hand squeezed just under Mara's ass, pulling her hips more tightly to him while he snuggled his head more deeply into her chest. Mara's arms involuntarily held him closer, cradling his strong jaw as her breath hitched.

Hisagi's hand tightened its grip intimately as Grimmjows leg edged further up putting pressure on her and Mara seemed to snap back to reality.

"Nope!" She declared, trying to quell the lust running rampant in her veins, "Nope, nope, nope, nope nope nope." Mara worked to untangle herself from the maze of arms and legs. At her movements and protestations, both men shot to wakefulness and released their holds on her.

They looked on in bewilderment as Mara comically shimmied off the foot of the bed, almost falling over her own feet. They had to hold back grins as she patted herself down, inspecting her articles of clothing so thoroughly that she turned in a full circle. Throwing her hair back from her face, only it for it settle in a raucous mane despite her smoothing hand, she levelled a glare at the men.

"What- why- what on earth am I doing in bed with… what are you two-" Mara stammered over her words, getting flustered by the men's amused expressions.

"Well, good morning to you too, sleeping beauty." Grimmjow grinned as he sat up fully, leaning his back against the wall. Mara couldn't help but grin back as he referenced their first meeting.

Hisagi rolled his eyes but had the grace to look chagrined. Mara was more self-conscious than he had realized, even after her worries outside the academy had presumably been eased. "You were sleeping so soundly and we didn't want to move you…" he began.

"So I… you decided that both of you should just- wait…" Mara trailed off as her eyes flicked back and forth between the two men lounging across from her, "Both of you are here! It worked?"

Hisagi's pensive expression lightened as he smiled at the shell-shocked woman, "Yes, Koi. It worked."

"It worked! Ha!" Mara squeaked, doing a little dance of joy. Her eyes shot to Grimmjow and she gave him a shining smile. "You're free!"

"Mostly," Grimmjow said with a theatrical groan, lifting a wrist to show her the cuff.

Mara's face assumed a small frown, but Grimmjow gave her a reassuring smile.

"He can break them anytime," Hisagi stated for her understanding as he rose from the bed and stretched his tall body, "You said to get the least and I did."

Mara's face broke back into a relieved smile and she ran up, slinging a tight hug around Hisagi's lean waist. "You did amazing," she smiled up at Hisagi.

Dropping his arms back around her waist and returning the hug, Hisagi dropped a kiss on Mara's head. "This one was all you, Koi," he murmured sweetly in her ear, lifting her chin to face him.

"How DID you pull this off?" Grimmjow asked with suspicion, interrupting the couple. He slid up behind Mara and bent to rest his chin on her shoulder. His hands rested easily on her hips.

Hisagi watched Mara closely as she leaned into Grimmjow's touch before she seemed to go rigid. She shifted nervously between the two and Hisagi narrowed his eyes at the espada. To his relief, Grimmjow righted himself and released her as Hisagi did the same. Hisagi could see how skittish both of their attentions made her. She really did feel for both of them, didn't she? Or was it something else? Hisagi filed the information away for later.

Mara stepped away from them, running a nervous hand through her hair. "I just- um… I- Hisagi gave me the parts of the puzzle," Mara stammered, shaking her head to get clarity, "I just solved the puzzle."

Grimmjow watched her nervous jitters with a smile. Damn, she was responsive and so cute when she was worked up. She had seemed scared earlier, overwhelmed. He normally relished that flash of fear in someone's eyes; could dance a jig to the staccato beat of their racing heart… but not with Mara. Those moments she leaned into his touch… fucking priceless. Behind that body that he wanted to do downright sinful things to, however, was a mind that sparked his interest. For all her stuttering, Mara clearly won this round of the battle she was apparently beginning to wage on Seireitei.

Slowly, the soft dark voice in Grimmjow's mind rose up. He wasn't going to have to point her in any direction if she continued thinking that Soul Society was broken. Which it clearly fucking was. But her choice was now to fix it or destroy it. Hisagi or him. Talk about a monumental battle between them that even Grimmjow hadn't seen coming.

Of course, he hoped it was just between Hisagi and him. Fuck. Abarai was a loose end on this that he did not want up in this shit. Granted the lieutenant could give her some memories and unlock some of that fucking power, but at what cost? It didn't matter how strong of a temptation her power was, the idea of waking up every morning with those curves of hers pressed against him was even more so. This girl was a damn witch.

"He does bring up a good point," Hisagi said, yanking Grimmjow from his internal musings, "I gave you the very basics of the players that would be there, but you nailed it. Not just when to hit them, but the actual reactions by the people. Kyoraku was practically laying down, leaning on a column. Soi Fon was pissed as hell. Ikkaku was there and he sat and started cleaning his sword. That's word for word what you said would happen. It's uncanny."

"Really?" Grimmjow asked.

Mara shrugged as she twisted a strand of her hair. The birds had just begun to sing and she could feel familiarity in the early hour. That's what it was, she realized, that she was trying to put into words. "I don't know," she said softly, eyes still glued to the dark horizon, "but when you told me about the captains and lieutenants… it was familiar."

"How so?" Hisagi questioned, "Are… are you starting to remember?"

"No," she breathed, "More like you were reminding me of things I already knew but couldn't put my finger on. The memories hit like a freight train, so much so that it is like I'm no longer here. This is like having the word you want to say on the tip of your tongue but not knowing it until someone says it."

"So, when all I told you about Ikkaku was that he loved fighting…" Hisagi started.

"And you had met him briefly in line," Grimmjow added.

"… and that he was a powerful lieutenant, you made the leap to him sitting around how?" Hisagi finished asking.

"Huh. Well, obviously he likes to fight, but because he is in the 11th squad it is more prevalent. You told me about squad 11, Shuu, and how they value direct attacks so that meant his sword would be on or near him and that either sharpening it or cleaning it would be a sure habit. You said that he was a lieutenant, but I know from meeting him with Grimmjow that he is brand new. Since I told you to go in and drag this meeting out, his normal boredom at having to be cooped up would be even higher, so he would distract himself with something he likes- His sword," Mara explained, before continuing with a giggle, "Besides any guy who can freak out and get in a war with his own fake hair has got to have a short enough temper to sit down in a meeting no matter how formal."

Grimmjow cracked a wry smile, turning to Hisagi. "You never told me that he had a wig? Or that he got stuck in it! Do you know what good ammo that would be in our fights?!"

"I didn't tell her either," Hisagi said lowly, not moving his penetrating stare from Mara.

"I- I guess it's just something I know," Mara said quietly, eyes down cast.

Grimmjow stepped forward, shooting a quick look at Hisagi with his eyes narrowed in reproach, and gave Mara a warm hug. "It's all good, Yumekanau. You didn't do anything wrong, just weird that you know it."

"Yeah, sorry," Hisagi said running his hand through the back of his hair, before reaching out and pulling Mara from Grimmjow's arms to his own. "It's not a bad thing that you know that, but it makes me wonder about how. You had to have been told it; that event isn't common knowledge."

"You thinking she was being groomed, cap?" Grimmjow asked.

"Yeah, I think you're onto something," Hisagi muttered, holding Mara tighter to him. Now he was even more worried. She had been taught about this place and it's people and there was only one person who could have taught her that bit of information.

Abarai. He hadn't just planned to get her here. He had planned to find her and make sure she could navigate the waters until he could get to her. But was it really Abarai? Mara had to agree to learn all this stuff. Mara probably asked about all of it. Mara had to get the tattoo while she was still alive! This plan was so many steps in advance with layers of protection just like the plan she had just used to free Grimmjow…

"Or she wasn't," Hisagi sighed out, defeat in his voice.

Mara turned her astute gaze on the captain and he could feel himself fall further under it. Hisagi wasn't sure he could handle Grimmjow showing her affection, even though they had agreed to do nothing against each other right now for the sake of Mara's free will… and a united front against Abarai's influence, but he was doing it. He knew, though, that he couldn't stand against Mara herself. It went against everything he was, everything he was trying to accomplish! Could he really try to dissuade her from Abarai when she had clearly chosen him already?

Watching with a disconcerted look, Mara panned from one set of darkening eyes to the other. Proud shoulders slumped and joy left the faces of the two men. "Ok, I don't know what conclusion you guys seem to have come to, but I'm pretty sure I should get a say in it."

Neither man met her eyes.

"Really? I wake up wondering if a gang bang is coming on but now you won't look at me?" Mara asked sarcastically.

Grimmjow couldn't help but bark out a laugh, but the remark only earned a confused look from Hisagi.

"A what?" he asked, trepidation still in his tone.

"A ménage a trois…" hinted Grimmjow, but Hisagi's eyebrows simply raised higher. "Dude, for a guy who likes the kink you do, how does it take more than two hints to get to threesome. You know, where the dudes use the chick like fucking Chinese finger trap?" Grimmjow cracked a smile as he motioned his fingers like puzzle trap, squeaking lasciviously with the movement.

"Jaegerjaques!" Hisagi admonished but he couldn't fight his grin as he heard Mara's laughter dissolve into snorts.

"Okay guys, now that the mood has lightened," Mara continued, quelling her laughter to hiccups, "what was with the looks you were giving me?"

The men looked at each other before Hisagi finally spoke. "Koi, you have your meeting in 2 days with Abarai Renji."

"Yeah," she replied dryly, "that was the bargaining chip."

"But do you," Hisagi paused to take a deep breath and run his hand nervously through his hair again, "do you get any of those familiar feelings about him?"

"Is that why you two have been so… touchy feely this morning, regardless of each other?" she asked skeptically. "You think I wanted to talk to him because I have a crush on him or something?"

"Not exactly," Hisagi drew out, looking over his shoulder at Grimmjow for help.

"Fuck me" Grimmjow groaned quietly before looking at Mara. Grimmjow looked at Mara closely. He hated mincing words and pussy-footing around shit. It was so much easier to be direct. He gave a nod to himself as he decided she could take it… and in turn take him and his abruptness. "You knew Abarai and not just as a Whole. You knew him before you died. We know that you were able to see things and had a spiritual presence when you were alive," He bit out, ignoring Hisagi's meaningful stare, "We heard about a girl who could do that in the world of the living well before you got here but we never got any more notice than that."

"Okay," Mara said slowly, biting her lower lip as she processed the information, "Okay. So, he knew me before I died. I didn't think that could happen but that doesn't change my stance. I want the information he could give and this just means there's more of it."

Hisagi sighed deeply, sad look remaining unchanged. "Its not that you knew each other, it's the nature of that relationship and what went into planning you being here. What you planned for here."

"He's… we're… worried you were fucking him and want to continue doing so. You even made contingency plans. Abarai ain't a half wit but he couldn't have pulled off the trail of breadcrumbs that seem to have been left- including the one inked into your arm," Grimmjow explained callously.

Mara's eyebrows shot to her hairline. They thought what!? "Okay guys, I desperately need coffee and breakfast. And we will talk all of this out," Mara finally replied, opening the door to step into the hallway.

Neither man moved.

"Grimmjow, come with me right now and I'll let you touch my butt," Mara said with a smile as Grimmjow practically skipped through the door to stand behind her, hand on ass, to look expectantly at Hisagi.

"Otto," Mara crooned gently, drawing his stormy eyes to her own.

"Mara, I just don't…" Hisagi tried to piece together words in a strained voice.

"No. Stop. Sometimes fear gets in the way," Mara said firmly, "Shuuhei, regardless of what you think or worry, things have changed."

"How?"

The question was a raw whisper laced with need and pain and made Mara's heart clench at the sound. She could feel Grimmjow tense behind her and he slid his fingers gently against hers looking for acceptance into her grip. He wanted to know, too. She held two of his fingers in her small hand, gripping them tightly in reassurance.

"You. There is nothing I could have planned that could have prepared me for you." Mara held her other hand out to Hisagi, "Can we go eat and talk now? Please?"

Hisagi reached out and took her hand and Mara finally let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"Who are you?" she asked him as she pulled him to her and wrapped his arm over her shoulders.

"Otto," He answered, a small smile in his voice again.

"Damn straight."

.

.

Mara whistled low as she watched yet another opponent go flying back from Grimmjow in the practice arena below her. She had decided to come and watch his class, which was really starting to look more like a thorough beat-down than anything else. There were only 3 people standing from the initial 17 and sparring practice had only started minutes before. The feat was made even more impressive by the fact that he was using his bare hands to deflect real swords.

Mara had never gotten a chance to see the training grounds being used for their purpose before now but she figured it was something that she should learn. Something about the combat called to her. She had felt her muscles pull her toward the field when Grimmjow was running the troops through exercises. To be honest, she had mostly come for the view and to try to learn more about her espada as she processed the day and what she had learned, but she had begun to enjoy the activity.

"Enjoying the view?" Hisagi asked dryly as he came to sit next to her high in the stands.

"He is impressive," Mara said distractedly, watching as Grimmjow had moved to prying everyone in the class back up for round 2. "I think I would like to learn to do that."

"You want to learn to fight?" Hisagi asked with a raised eyebrow. The tiny woman was full of surprises. "They do teach combat at the academy you know."

Mara snorted in derision. "I will never go there."

Hisagi couldn't blame her, but her tone brooked no argument and made him worry about her future. Too soon she had been subjected to a cruel side of Soul Society. God help them if her power unlocked and she decided to turn against Soul Society. He found himself internally hoping- again- that she wouldn't regain her memories. She could wake up tomorrow chased after by every powerful entity within Seireitei (and without) trying to control her. She could wake up tomorrow and not care for him at all.

"And here I was thinking that you were watching to see if he would be good as a protector instead of me." Hisagi couldn't fight the bitter note in his voice at his thoughts and the words that were pulled unbidden from him.

Mara turned those shrewd eyes on him- reading him like a book, he was sure. "Can you beat him?" she asked lightly, an enigmatic smile.

Hisagi blinked slowly, watching as Grimmjow took out the whole class again. Nothing touched him. This class wasn't rookies either. Not his seated tier but not new. "I'm not in the habit of comparing my fighting. It shows disrespect for the blade that is being wielded," he said softly, moving to rise and leave Mara to her gawking.

A small hand rested on his leg and stopped his movement. "Humor me," Mara said in a soft order that made Hisagi look at her more closely.

Sighing, Hisagi leaned back and observed Grimmjow's sparring, sad excuse for an example as it was since his opponents didn't even make the espada break a sweat. This class was so below his level. "Hand to hand, yeah, I stand a chance."

"But not with your swords?"

"The swords aren't the problem," Hisagi grumbled, "Grimmjow is older and more powerful than most of the captains in Seireitei. No one is familiar with his Resurrection Form here, even Mayuri couldn't drag it from him, who knows what he could do."

"Hmm," Mara said contemplatively as she wound her fingers in Hisagi's.

Please, Koi, for the love of… are you really thinking that he could be better, be more….

Mara looked at his with something akin to sadness. "Your fear is making you weak, Otto."

Hisagi's eyes shot to the small woman, as they always did when she called him that. Was it really only two days ago that his heart had leapt with a joy he wasn't expecting when she acknowledged their relationship? When she had voluntarily labelled him husband? It rolled so easily from her tongue, even in admonishment, just now. He could feel the fear that drove him and dragged him down lessen it's hold when she called him that.

"How can I not fear where your attention will fall, Koi?" Hisagi asked, frustration seeping into voice like venom. It made her shoulders sag and her lips lose their curling smile. "He and I agreed to play nice while you decide. Let you choose. And I want you to be happy but I- I don't-"

"How many times have you saved his life?" Mara asked, cutting him off though her eyes never left the teal haired espada who was yelling like a drill instructor at the squad members.

"What?"

"I count three, that I know of," she replied cheekily, "Look at him. Powerful, deadly, brash… an intoxicating mix. But he didn't save himself, you did. Over and over again."

"Pretty sure the last one was you," Hisagi mumbled.

"Hush," Mara quipped back, turning again to focus those eyes on him. "My point is," she continued, sliding herself to lean against Hisagi. His arm wrapped around her instinctively. "that you worry how his power will draw me because you may just be too afraid to see your own. You already won, Shuu."

Hisagi looked at Mara again. Studied her. "I don't want to win because I'm powerful."

"No? Because you seem to think I will choose him because he knocked out a squad of people on a field," Mara stated dourly, giving him a pointed look. "Grimmjow couldn't answer this but maybe you can. Is he still a king if he's in chains?"

"He is if he has your heart," Hisagi replied without missing a beat, causing Mara to study him back just as closely.

I know I can grow to love him but an answer like that… Does he love me already? Really? Then how can he doubt me so thoroughly!

Instead of answering Mara stood and pulled Hisagi by his hand down the aisle and out of the arena. Hisagi followed dutifully, wondering what had come over her to be pulling him so hard and looking so determined. As soon as they reached the outer wall, Mara pushed him against it and starting pacing, nibbling her lower lip in thought. Hisagi waited patiently for her to explain what was clearly on her mind, trying not to get to distracted by her mouth as she worried her plump lips.

"What do I call you?"

Hisagi fought his eyeroll. "This again?"

"Yes, this again," she hissed angrily, "answer the goddam question."

"Otto," Hisagi recited, eyes wide at her ire.

Mara stopped pacing and turned to him. Was that tears in her eyes? "Do you know what I call him?" she asked plaintively.

Come to think of it, he didn't. Hisagi racked his brain but he didn't remember Mara calling Grimmjow anything special, except Kitty that one time and King like everyone else joking around. He braced himself for her answer as he shook his head no.

"Makenai Hito," she whispered. She looked up at Hisagi, not breaking his gaze. "He calls me a dream and I can't bear for him to go. I'm sorry but that's how it is right now. But you," she pushed his hard chest with two fingers, "YOU are Otto. It's already written in stone, Shuuhei. How many times am I going to have to remind you?"

Hisagi fought the need to wrap her in his arms and comfort her. He shook with the need to hold her as she edged on tears. "I don't want you to choose me because I'm an obligation," he said through gritted teeth. Internally he cursed himself. He should be happy. He was built in; she would be his. "I want you to fucking choose me because you want me, Koi!"

He didn't know how it happened. Hisagi would swear that all he did was blink and Mara appeared in his arms, jumping up to wrap her legs around his hips and planting her lips against his. Hisagi almost stumbled as he was swept away in the taste of her, the feel of her pressed so tightly up against him. Her fingers twined in his hair and she made sweet mewls and moans into his mouth as he explored her depths and traced her curves.

Drawing away for breath, she whispered in his ear, "I don't know when, or if, Grimmjow will be out of my system. Maybe it's because he saved me, maybe it's because memories are tied to him, or maybe it's because his darkness dances with my own demons… but rest assured, Otto, that all of me that I can give is yours."

Hisagi turned her swiftly, pressing her back to the outside wall and holding her hips in place with the pressure of his own. He could have broken at the wanton whimper that escaped Mara's mouth at the pressure. He grabbed both her wrists in one large hand and held them above her head, stretching her out so beautifully to his searching gaze. "I want all of you, dammit."

A slow, lust-filled smile spread across Mara's face. "So control is your kink huh? I was wondering after this morning."

Hisagi's stern expression didn't waver, but he brought his mouth so close that Mara could practically feel it on her own. He ran a feather light touch up her side, giving her goosebumps and making her breath hitch. The contrast between the light touch and his soft breath compared to his hard hold sent heat straight through her core. "I. Need. All of you."

"Then give me time, Otto," She whispered back, feeling his withdrawal from her more than seeing it. She pulled him close again with her legs and nuzzled against his face until he turned into her light kiss. "Make no mistake, Shuuhei, I already chose you in that field."

Mara's gasp made Hisagi swallow hard as hand came up to her neck. His long fingers held her still on the back or her neck as his thumb tilted her chin up to look at him. "Why?" he asked huskily, stormy eyes meeting hers and reflecting the need found there.

Licking trembling lips, Mara could feel herself melting under his intense gaze. She felt so small as he held her where he wanted. There was an odd comfort in surrendering to his touch even as it made her only want to hold him that much tighter. "You taste like the rain," she gasped out, "All I've wanted in these hard days is rain. I wanted to weep in it; I wanted to dance in it. I need you."

The damn inside Hisagi finally broke at her admission, crashing his mouth down on hers again. He could feel the heat emanating from her as he slid against her. She pulled against his hold on her wrists, only succeeding in rubbing her breasts against his chest, hardening the tips. Mara's breathy moan only made his blood flow hotter. Hisagi dragged his mouth from Mara's nipping his way down her neck and back up to her earlobe. Feeling her squirm against him was sweet torture and he knew he was going to have a raging case of blue balls… again.

They could hear voices approaching and Hisagi lowered Mara to the ground regretfully. "You know," he said, stepping back to take her hands in his as the students came spilling out of the entrance, "I came up here to talk to you about the Abarai situation. Do you have your battle plan yet?"

"The greatest victory is that which requires no battle," Mara said cryptically.

"How the fuck do you know Sun Tzu?" Grimmjow's voice rang out next to them. He walked up and swept Mara up bridal style, twirling her in a quick circle to make her laugh in surprise, before setting her down with a kiss on her head.

"How do YOU know Sun Tzu?" Hisagi retorted, just as surprised.

"What?" Grimmjow replied, nonplussed, "You don't know everything about me, Cap."

Hisagi rolled his eyes nonchalantly, but internally he couldn't help but cringe. That's what worries me.