~OoOoO~

The hour was late when I returned home. Dinner was left for me on the kitchen counter, wrapped and with a note from Kim to speak with her in the morning. Sighing for the news I would have to break to her and dreading everything that will come after, I ate the dinner she made and sat at the table for a while in silence. My body might have felt tired and a little rigid, but sleep was not coming for me any time soon.
Dishes clean and put away, I was just so antsy.
"Maybe I should go down to the dojo…" no harm sparring a bit down below since it's soundproof. I won't be disturbing Kim or Grimmjow at this time of night. Deciding on that and heading down, a figure in the shadows lurked around the corner and startled me. I went in for a punch before my hand was caught and Grimmjow came into light.

"Hey," Grimmjow's hand was large as he held my punch with a raised eyebrow, I quickly retracted and apologized.

"I'm sorry about that, I wasn't expecting someone to lurk in the dark. Why were you even doing that in the first place?" My heart pounding still, I could have hurt him if not for his reflex, which was superb, but punching a guest would be insulting in more ways than one.

"Heard some noises from the kitchen and saw you. Though you seem out of sorts coming in this late…" His arms crossed and looking at me, he seemed he had something on his mind. His brow was creased, and he was frowning. His entire demeanor was solemn and was making me feel a little awkward. Even after knowing him a near two weeks its still hard to gain any comfort between us and what he needs of us.

"You uh, you still figuring out how to get to Karakura Town?" I asked.

"…yeah…but the more I stay here the more confused I am of things. It would be so much easier if I could just open the damn gate from here. That or have them come here already and figure this shit out." He grumbled something ridiculous, but as I fidgeted to get to the dojo he turned back at me and cocked his eyebrow.
"Where you headin' this late at night? This ain't the way to your room."

"Oh," not expecting him to care really, I pointed to the staircase hidden around the corner and numbly spoke. "I was thinking on sparring for a bit against the wooden block to release some of this frustration I got. It, well, it helps ease the tension." Perhaps making it seem weird that a woman would spar to get rid of tension, much less just openly speak it, he seemed intrigued to the idea.

"You have a dojo here?" Openly interested, seems he was eager to have a look.

"Do you…do you want to take a look?"

"Yeah. I could use a place to release my own tension." He rolled his shoulders a bit and popped his neck. "I think a good sparring would be most helpful." A wry grin parted his lips and a wicked sheen rose in his blue eyes.
I felt something like an eagerness to fight swell up inside me but knew better than to automatically fight someone new. As advanced as I am in martial arts it would not be wise to just outright challenge him.
"Nice place…"
Complimenting the dojo as we walked in, he looked around the equipment and noticed the mirrors on one side of the place and none on the other, he said nothing as he grabbed the wooden sparring poles and started placing them in the ground where a clutch device held them in place.

"The wraps and chalk are just over here if you want to help yourself to them." He nodded and merely focused on the block before checking to see if it was in properly. "I'm guessing this isn't your first time in a dojo?"

"Buddies of mine have one…I go in and spar once in a while…" a forlorn look in his eyes told me there was more to it than that, but once I grabbed my wraps and went to the changing room to put on my uniform, I wondered if wearing the latex would be disruptive to him? It's normally just me and Kim down here so I never gave thought to the workout clothes.

"You can do whatever you want there, I'll be over here." Standing opposite of him and doing my stretches before getting into any of the equipment. I started with a few simple strokes to the wooden block. Imagining it as Kyoya and hitting him for all he's done. I increased my strikes to kicks as the imagery became more profound of his father and all that's happened that the block was spinning and being beaten pretty harshly. I kept this pace going until I heard Grimmjow whistle with interest?

"You got some moves. Wanna have at it with me?" Tempting me with his playful smile and raising a hand to come at him, I was still fired up from my practice and took on his offer.

"I'm warning you now, I'm good."

"We'll see about that." His fist up and rearing to have a go with me, I took my stance and was prepared to show off a bit.

"Alright then, but I'm not easy. I'm a black belt," feeling confident, he gave a soft chuckle to my words and came at me swiftly for a right hook. Managing to block his attack and go for a punch, his fist caught my hand and the way we moved without hesitation was thrilling!
Over and over again I wasn't able to land a hit and neither was he and the challenge was something I desperately needed. Since he wasn't holding back and neither was I, I think we were both into this like a real match. The sweat beading off our faces and both grinning like wild animals made it all the more alluring to the fight. Almost on par with Honey-senpai! This guy was a fighter and every strike I tried landing he would return it. Without delay and tearing off my karate rob and only in my latex gear, he took off his jacket and was ready for me.
"You're not bad Grimmjow."

"Not bad," his movement so quick I was thrown off-guard and face-to-face with him, he held my arms up over my head and loomed over me like some feral cat. "I'm impressed you could keep up with me."

Taking my mind a moment to register what he did, I caught myself grinning in excitement. "Me…keep up with you? Quite the opposite," getting myself out of the hold and turning the tables on him and pinning his leg, he never did stop smiling. "It is I who is impressed that you could keep up with me."

"Then," he turned the tables and had pinned me against the floor so quickly I barely managed to blink. "Keep at it and you might just win."

"We'll see who wins."
The match we had continued for who knows how much longer. I was having too much fun to notice the time. And even if I did look I don't think it would have mattered for I was thrilled having such a challenging opponent. Unlike Honey and Mori they would stop if they thought they were going to hurt me. Grimmjow hasn't even held back a punch or tackle as he pinned me either on the floor or wall. A challenge I haven't had in a long while. I knew at some point we would have to call it a draw, but I wasn't willing to give any satisfaction of him having the upper hand with me. If anything I wanted to win against him and make myself feel better I was not weak.