~OoOoO~

"Grimmjow, a word." Renji waited until the two human girls were out of earshot before speaking once more with him. "I'm rather confused on what's happening here right now, but my question lies with you. Where is your Hollow mask? Why can't I sense your reiatsu at all though I'm this close to you?"

"Like I said before, my powers and your soon just fade and no longer work. I haven't been able to open a garganta up since coming here and this town has no reishi to feed off from."

"But your form is that of a living human…" his concern valid, Grimmjow rubbed his naked chin and was just as confused as he was. "It's like you've turned mortal here Grimmjow…you even look more human than your guise back in the day."

"Yeah…and though I'm immortal with age and whatnot, my looks here are far younger than normal. I don't know what that gate was that swallowed me up, but it took my Espada self and just stripped me clean."

"Any other changes? Memories affected in any way?"

"As far as I know I'm still me. I don't feel all that different other than my appearance looking more human." He looked distant for a moment before speaking. "How's Hanako? IS she doin' alright?"

"…Hanako is worried about you every day you're not found. Though the threats we've received from Ulquiorra and Starrk are quiet off-putting, they have been taking good care of her."

"I see." A simple smile knowing his daughter was in good hands, he looked outside and stared at the sky for a moment. "Coming here has really got me thinkin…and I think having my mask stripped off me has also changed me."

"Can you go into further detail of that?"

"Don't know how to explain it to ya…but those two girls here really helped me out. I played the distant card first few days since my plan was to get back home immediately."

"What stopped you from doing that?"

"The one that started yelling at you." He mused.

"Kasumi, was it? I wasn't expecting such an outburst from her…she seems so mild mannered."

"She's tough, including Kim. And just so your aware do not enter that kitchen without permission from her." He warned.

"Why?"

"Kim's scary as shit…trust me." Not giving him further details to what had transpired between him and Kim, Renji agreed to not enter the kitchen. "There's also something crazy familiar with Kasumi as well. Her last name is Matsumoto like the red head back in Soul Society…I also saw a picture that looked like her but slightly different."

"A relative of Rangiku's?"

"Perhaps…quite distant considering she looks nothing like her except for the attitude and battle aptitude."

"She fights?" Not believing this as Grimmjow grinned to show him to the dojo, Renji was in awe of the expanse space of their home. "This is quite large for just those two…are any of her relatives living here as well?"

"…I asked about her parents," he seemed pained recalling it. "They died in a fire apparently. She runs her parents company though she's so young."

"That's quite impressive. Compared to Rangiku who slacks off on her work I can't imagine the two being related." Renji joked.

"Right?"
The two walked around the dojo for a bit fiddling with the equipment before Renji picked up the bokkun.

"Grimmjow, earlier you showed quite a bit of emotion towards Kasumi I never witnessed before. You've been away for a month… but it seems you've adapted to being human with them."

"Renji?" Seeing Renji swinging the bokkun but not understanding his words, he cautiously watched him.

"I'm sure if you asked I could just return alone…I could tell the scientists that they were wrong with their readings, I never found you."

"The hell you goin on about?"

"Grimmjow I saw it. Your looking at that Kasumi girl with great interest. If you want to live out like a human then—"

"Don't be daft! I have Hanako to think about and there's no way in hell I'm abandoning my daughter!"

"…are you capable of saying goodbye to them then? They've done you a great favor caring for you and seeing you get home on their own volition. And considering how comfortable you are even driving a car of theirs it seems you like being mortal."
Renji was right over a few matters that Grimmjow didn't want to admit. But as he said, Hanako was waiting for his return and worried. There was also the matter with his own personal feelings back home he'd have to face, but Renji's words cut him deep.

"You really know how to hit a guy when he's down, don't ya?" Leaving Renji alone in the dojo as he went up, Kim was pacing the dining hall without noticing him and he pressed against the wall to see what she was up to.

"So you have the outfit finished then? That's wonderful, I'm at home now if you can have it dropped off now." Speaking on the phone, she was rather pleased about something as she hung up and quietly cheered over it. "Now to convince him to wear it is the challenge…" she was in deep thought when I slipped a little and she heard me. "Grimmjow?"

"Uh, yeah," coming out of hiding as she looked at me, her ears were free and perked up all the way. "I have a huge favor to ask of you."

"…favor?" Unsure what to think of her favors, he stayed a few steps back just in case she launched at him. "Look I already agreed to the whole painting thing, which I'm still waiting when that is…but what do you want?"

"You saw what transpired with Kyoya. Kasumi needs to have an escort to the dance after the ceremony and she is not walking with any members of the host club."

"Are you?"

"Nope. If you agree you can escort us both so we don't have to deal with the awkwardness of not having an escort."

"…I can ask Renji if you just need something to walk with you. He's experienced enough to do this much." Her ears fell flat and she didn't respond to that notion. "He's a good guy once you get past his cocky attitude. Besides, consider this a bodyguard service."

"I don't have an outfit planned for anyone to be my personal escort."

"You don't have something in that giant ass closet of yours that could possibly match your style?" Egging her on as she perked back up with a small crook of a smile on her lips, she enjoyed the compliment of her skill.

"If you convince him then have him come up and I can put something together." Her attitude fitting for someone so focused on her work, he's been impressed with her since they've been acquainted. More so over the time he accidentally messed up the kitchen and she nearly killed him.

"I'll go talk to him then." Reluctant to head back down but already striking the iron when hot, he left Kim to her wiles and he to his.