The Black Phoenix
Chapter 11: Being abandoned & A love told
-Last Time-
"Welcome home child." She smiled before hugging him just as tightly as she had the others. "We can't leave Aizen alone Jii-chan." The effect of her uttered name made several of the lieutenants cry out."Why not! You are safe my granddaughter." They were over joyed to see her. "He's going to attack the spirit king...He wants to use me and the Hogyoku as the way to reforge the spirit key."
-Now-
Kage sighed as she got out of the bath and began to towel her self dry. The captains had moved her out of the room she had been in and into the second lieutenants room. She had requested a bath and a little privacy so she could be at peace, When she exited the bath Kage turned and picked up the jacket she'd been given. "Shiro...Coyote.."Noticing the bracelet she took it off and set it next to her bed. When she laid down and got comfortable she noticed that Shiro's warmth was missing. So she would up getting back up, and walking out to the balcony She would sigh and look up into the night sky trying to imagine when they were doing. "I hated being trapped there but I miss you two none the less." She pulled out her sketch book and began to finish the picture she had started with Shiro, her hand transferring the image to canvas as she had before. Tracing her lines and hardening others, she brought the portrait into this world. Not unlike giving birth or so she thought, as she finished the final strokes and decided to paint it that very night. She picked up her pallet,brushes and paints and began the dogging task of painting her masterpiece. When she had finished, she set it on a second easel to dry and turned once again to her canvas selection and chose a large one from the back. She left her pencils were they were and just started to paint, her hands skillfully transferring the image in her mind to the medium before her. When she set the brush and pallet down hours later, she gasped to see the massive image she had created. Its splendor was in the fact that she used both, the Hollows that had cared for her and all of her captains. She decided to go for a walk to make herself tired, as she slipped out the front door of the squad hall and began to walk. This was home she was safe again but she couldn't get the chill out of her bones from the ride here. Kage walked for hours her legs nearly collapsing when she finally stopped. "Where am I?"
She turned this way and that and found the white tower not that far from where she was. One of the guards spotted her as she sat down and started to cry, before she knew it someone was sitting beside her. "You should be resting, You've had a trying ordeal." Kage looked over to see Renji sitting beside her his crimson hair so like her own held in his usual up do. "Renji, What do I do now? I can't let my family go without me, I know Hueco Mundo's layout it was one my lessons."Renji's eyebrows rose slightly as she began to explain some of the training she had gone through until she swore him to secrecy. "I don't want this getting out until I can figure out what I want to do with myself. I feel tainted.."Renji snorted and looked at her. "You are far from tainted Kage, Momo is tainted. You are the purest person I know." She hugged him and together they started towards the 11th squad hall,She smiled at him when they arrived outside the gates. Kage turned towards Renji and hugged him, her face buried in his chest. "Thank you for the talk Renji it really helped." She smiled and replied. "Anytime, you need someone to talk to just find me." She nodded and left him there as she snuck back inside her hall, her bare feet making no sound as she walked the halls back to her room. "I feel better, Now I can miss them in peace. Shiro, Coyote I hope you stay out of the war." She striped down and got into bed, sleep finding her quickly. The next morning Kage awoke before dawn her crimson hair flowing behind her as she walked towards the bathing room clothing in hand. She tapped on the door before entering and set her stuff down on a shelf before locking the door behind her. She wanted no interruptions as she bathed, stripping she left her dirty clothes in a pile on the floor and entered the hot spring. As she soaked the hot water re-leaving her aches and pains Kage silently started to cry. "Shiro where are you I miss you." Said panther was currently scouting the very place she had been taken from and noticed that there was a woman there who seemed to know the place very well.
"I know you are here hollow leave now or be destroyed." Grimmjow snarled as he stepped into the light, startling Hisana slightly with his size. 'A hollow Panther?' She thought as she summoned her bow and pointed it at him. He walked the line, carefully watching her as he approached the tree and began to sniff it, catching a wave of Kage's scent from the scarf and tree it was tied to. Hisana watched the creature in slight awe as it prowled between her and the shrine but instead of walking near the shrine it began to sniff the tree. The ends of the silk scarf touched his nose as he nosed it around seemingly looking for something. Before she could say anything else the hollow vanished into the night, his gleaming armor reminded her of something she had seen in a vision.
-Flashback-
She was walking through a field of moon flowers when she heard singing, she followed the sound until she came across a forest of bone-colored trees. She continued to walk until she found a clearing, it was what was within it that made her both happy and remorseful. Her sister was sitting in a circle of wolf shaped energies singing, on her lap was the head of the panther and some guy she didn't know. The song was heart breaking, a cry from somewhere deep within her soul. She could see the blood spilled everywhere it covered everything, the only thing untouched by the blood was the white jacket her twin wore.'What is this am I seeing her future?' As she went to step into the clearing a noise stopped her, someone came through the brush and stepped into the clearing. It was the boy called Ichigo, but there was something off about him. His hair was white and his eyes carried a golden glow. The hole in his chest gave it away though, this was the Visard's dark-side approaching her sister. Before she could call out a warning something silenced her, and the song seemed to draw the hollow in until he knelt down and reached out for her. His clawed fingers touched her crimson hair and she looked at him, her silver-ringed emerald eyes reflecting off the tears that were streaming down her cheeks. He said nothing as he stroked her hair, he finally spoke sometime later his voice was deep but thoughtful. "You can still make their lives have meaning girl, Release the power dormant inside you and make your enemies rue the day they entered your life."Hisana watched as her sister gently set the heads on her lap on the ground and get to her feet. "I will never be weak again, They took my captains and my guardians away I will kill them. They will pay this I vow." She picked up a black bladed sword, and turned her eyes actually glowing. She raised the sword and screamed, a terrible sound that was inhumane in its range and haunting notes. She watched as a black light engulfed her sister and a terrible beast emerged from it, its glowing green eyes the only resemblance that it had once been her sister at all. The beast roared and looked at the hollow standing beside her and lowered one silver armored shoulder to him, as her tail curled above his head as if to give him a hand hold. He grabbed the coil of tail and swung onto the beasts back and gave a horrible laugh. "Today I will be King and you my dear will be my Queen. Come let us go. Our enemies await."
The beasts glowing eyes found hers for a moment before it turned and they were gone. She felt the atmosphere become tainted with the blood of man and hollow alike, as the dream crumbled she heard the distant cry of the animal before a terrible black light knocked her from the dream and into the waking world.
-End Flashback-
She remembered sitting up gasping for breath from the dream, it still made her shiver. She knew that they would be bringing her sister to the human world today, and she wondered how her sister would take to being left behind. She prepared the temple for the arrival of the soul reapers, she knew that Kage would be depressed once she learned that they planned to leave her here as they went to war. Meanwhile as her friends prepared for war Kage sat in her squad's garden and practiced the moves she had learned from Stark, her kata flowing as she refined the movements one step at a time. When she finished Kage noticed it was time for lunch, she went inside and headed for the dining hall where she heard voices raised in conversation. When she opened it the males turned to give her thumbs up and waives of greeting. "Looking good Kage-sama how was training?" She smiled before replying as she took her seat. "It was nice to train, my body needed it."Kenpatchi watched her with narrowed eyes, she was acting differently and she didn't even know of the captains choice yet. As she ate the man continued to watch her, when she looked him in the eye Kage knew something had been decided. "What is it Kenny-Chan?" He sighed and left the room, taking a seat on the sun bleached deck waiting. He knew she would follow him when she was done eating. Kage sat next to him a while later with a pair of cups in her hands, she handed him one and he took it gratefully. He took a sip of the fresh mint tea within and gave a soft sigh, he hated to be the barer of bad news for her and knew she would not like being left out of the battle. "They have made a choice concerning you and the up coming battle."Kage perked up and he sighed again. "We are going to take you to the human world, and you are to stay there until the battle is finished and a winner decided."
Kage dropped her cup in shock, the empty ceramic shattering as it hit the deck before her. "What? Why? What did I do wrong?"Kenpatchi sighed and scooped her into his lap before she could move. "We have decided this because no one wants to see you hurt, you mean a great deal to us and the head-captain wants to see you finish your training." She tried to speak but nothing would come out so she shut her mouth and curled up against him. "You did nothing wrong girl, we just want you to live your life out fully. Even if it costs us ours in return, I would rather have you safe." She started to silently cry as thoughts started racing through her mind. 'Why? Why? Why can't I fight. I wanted to be just like them, I trained hard and am still training hard. Is it not enough? I just want to fight at their sides, I love them! Can't they see that?'Kage felt a pinch at the back of her neck and drifted off into dream land her last garbled words loud and clear to Kenpatchi. "Don't leave me..." He stood and quickly had Yachiru pack her a ruck-sack of clothes and other things for the human world. As he approached the world gate he saw his fellow captains waiting, most of them had their lieutenants with them. The lieutenants were carrying an odd item or a small bag, one even carried a large piece of folded cloth. When he entered the circle he realized that the girl had made impressions on all those who stood before him. The captain-commander stood among them in that familiar black fleece robe his lieutenant carrying something also. "Have you decided where to take her?" He snorted slightly before replying. "The shrine where she was taken. Her sister is waiting for her there, as is the substitute's group. From there they will accompany us into battle leaving behind one of their own as well."The group all nodded and together they departed through the world gate, they mostly flash stepped or in Kenny's case just ran like hell. When they arrived they were met by several people standing in a semi-circle. Kenpatchi was the last through and the gate closed behind him. They noticed that Ichigo was holding one of his group members in his arms. "We are leaving Orihime here, I don't want them using her against us."
His voice was controlled and level, but they could tell he was upset. They all nodded as they were joined by Hisana, her gray-ringed brown eyes widened as she noticed her sister among them. "Will they be alright?" They all nodded and followed her into the inner temple complex. "You can leave them here it is warded with barriers and spells to protect them." The men placed the knocked out girls on the bed and left the room, saying silent good byes. Each member of the teams took a moment to say good bye or leave a present for the girls when they awoke. The last one to say good bye was Ichigo and he stopped over Orihime's bed and leaned down, he kissed for forehead gently as a single thought ran through his head. 'Stay safe Orihime, I want you to live.' his hollow though had a different thought on his mind. 'Sweet innocence I will return for you and your power...' And with those final thought he left the room and sealed the door. "Ok, I will do my best to keep them safe, if not is there anyway I can contact you?" Hisana asked as she walked them to the temple gates. Jushiro handed Hisana a compact mirror with a hard black case. "This mirror is connected to one I have in my possession it will allow us to communicate easily between worlds. If you run into any problems don't hesitate to contact me at once."She nodded as the Head captain opened the gate to Hueco Mundo, they all heard a scream of sorrow and rage come from the temple's inner sanctum. "Kage is awake..." Sajin mumbled as they turned to the gate the wail was followed by a blood curdling cry of a name. "ICHIGO..." The Visard tensed and shook his head before following the departing soul reapers. "Orihime."He sighed as he walked away, determined to see her safe and sound no matter what happened to him. They departed through the gate without looking behind them, as it closed Hisana sighed and turned back to see if she could calm the grief stricken women.
Hisana arrived outside the door and sat with her back against it, slowly checking the spiritual pressure around them. "They have gone, please stop crying." She said as she turned her head to the door and heard something hit it with great force. "How could you do this Hisana! Let me out I want to help our brother."Kage growled before Orihime spoke. "Please Hisana-chan we only want to see those we love survive this war." Hisana lowered her head slightly and looked at the sword and hair clips on the table in front of her. "I'm sorry but no I can't release you. They want you to stay safe. So I will abide with the last requests of noble men." Kage hit the door with all her might, her large frame shaking as she gathered her energy to hit it again. "Let me out or else..."She spoke her voice cold and distant, it was as if the air in the room dropped by a few degrees. "No Tsukakage I will not release you." Before anything else could be said a great spiritual pressure tripped her outer alarms. It was heading directly for the shrine at astounding speeds. "Damn, they might have found them. How?" She went outside and drew her bow facing the direction she felt her enemy coming from, and before her very eyes he appeared the man from her vision followed by several of the wolf-shaped energies. "What do you want here?" She yelled out as the man landed, one of the wolf creatures sniffing at the scarf tied to the tree. 'Oh shit I forgot about that.' He smiled at her before speaking, his voice smooth and cultured but cold none the less. " I am Stark. I am seeking someone. She means the world to me and my companions, so I am searching this world over for her."She knew he was a hollow and a powerful one at that, he was probably one of those arrancar that Ichigo warned her about. "This is sacred land I can not allow you to remain here."
She drew back her bow and felt his power increase to nearly astounding levels in a few moments. She could feel several of the barriers collapse from his power alone and wondered if they could feel him. He looked down at her raising his hand when something stopped him.
-in the room-
Kage snarled as she paced the room, her energy confined and seeming to fill the room. Until an enormous energy pressed down on them from the outside making it hard for Orihime to breath. Kage realized she could breath freely and got to her feet, she was wearing the bracelets and jacket she had gotten from the Visard's and Hueco Mundo along with a soul reaper uniform. Orihime got up after a few minutes and looked at Kage. "I felt this energy before in Los Noches. But I don't know who's it is. Do you?"Kage shook her head though the energy was familiar it was slightly off as-well. Kage realized that the barrier that surrounded the door had collapsed, when she touched the door and it slid open a crack she grinned evilly. "Come on Orihime we are outta here!" The lighter red-head followed her out of the door and stopped in-front of a table across the hall, upon it was her Zanpaktou and Hime's hair clips as well as a silver bracelet that caught Kage's eye. "Come on." She said as she finished strapping her Zanpaktou in place, Orihime placed her hair clips in and followed. She turned the corner to see someone she never thought she would see again. It was Coyote he was the source of the energy running rampant through the air. And he was pointing he finger down towards Hisana preparing to fire a Cero. "COYOTE!" He looked up and their eyes met. The Vasto Lorde's energy dropped to normal levels and Kage ran towards him, he opened his arms and the wolf-shaped creatures moved from her path. She threw herself into his arms and wrapped hers around his waist. "Coyote its really you!" He smiled and let his cheek rest on top of her crimson mane. "Yes it is I little fire-cracker." She smiled and cried silent tears into his robe, as Orihime stepped nearby and laid her hand on Stark's robe. "Its good to see you Stark, how have you been?" Coyote grinned, they were both here and safe.
No one but him knew of their location, and it made him smile he saw the other woman get up but never expected her to speak to his charge. "Kage what are you doing. He is a hollow!" Kage lifted her head the tears now dry as she focused. "I know who and what he is Hisana. I will go to war, not because my captains allow it but because it is what I feel is right. They will need me and my power if you want to come you are welcome to but I warn you if you interfere I will not hesitate to do what I need to." He wrapped his long arms around Kage and held her tightly to him as he breathed in her scent. "Why are you here I thought the Soul Reapers would have kept you with them?" She snorted and looked up at him again. "They left me here to keep me safe or so they said."He sighed his Zanpaktou had led him here. "We need to go I am not sure how many others have followed me here. I will take you to Hueco Mundo and we will figure out a battle plan." The third woman got up and followed them towards the black gate he created. "Now, we will see who will triumph Aizen." He mumbled, as they passed into the darkness. As they followed the spirit path Kage took his hand in hers, twining their fingers together. Coyote was shocked, she wanted to hold hands with him? He wondered what she was thinking about as they crossed over into Hueco Mundo. "We are near Los Noches, but fear not its empty now. They have all gone to the forest to meet the soul reapers."They traveled the desert in a straight line Kage not speaking but seeming to search for something in the endless white sand. When they crossed a massive mountain for sand they felt the ground shake beneath them. "The battle has started."Coyote said as they slowly made their way down the mountain and towards a cave in the distance. "We need to hurry!"
Kage finally spoke as they neared the cave, she let go of Coyote's hand and walked a ways from the small group. She placed her hands on the ground and heard with distant clarity the voices of the Zanpaktou, Before she could register it a new voice broke in to the conversation. 'I am coming dear one.' It was coming right at her from the south at high speeds. She only had the time to stand up before it bowled into her hard enough to knock her to the ground, its massive armored form hiding her from her allies. Hisana drew her bow and took aim, as Orihime grabbed her hair clips in preparation to attack or defend. Kage looked up into soulful teal eyes, they searched hers for something and she surprised the form by wrapping her arms around its neck and placing kisses all along the powerful jawline. Her white jacket was spread around her as she was pressed against the ground, the large beasts body pressed down on hers. As she stroked the triangular ears and the powerful neck and shoulders. "Your here! I missed you. I had hoped that you would be safe." She whispered for his ears alone as one of the large paws rested behind her head as she laid back allowing his sensitive nose to sniff her neck and face. "What is that?" Orihime gasped as she stood beside Coyote. "Its Grimmjow, She saved him from death and he became her protector just as I did." His voice was low but easily heard. Kage looked at the panther above her and ran her hands over his shoulders again while her mind caught up to what she had just heard. So, his real name was Grimmjow not Shiro.
That was Ok because he had taken really good care of her while she was here and her trust of him was unbreakable. "So your name is Grimmjow." she whispered and his eyes locked on hers. And she smiled at him. "IT fits you. Better then Shiro did." She surprised them all by placing a single kiss on his large feline nose before rubbing her face against his. Orihime remembered Grimmjow and what he had done. But looking at the way Kage reacted to him could he really be that bad? Grimmjow growled gently as she stroked his ears again, she really seemed to have missed his presence. "So, with Grimmjow here we can finally get moving." Kage said as the panther let her get back to her feet and she brushed the sand off her pants and took off her jacket before shaking it out and putting it back on. "Yes we can go it I was worried that if I got into a battle you would be left unprotected, with Grimmjow I know you will have another defender." She nodded and almost got two steps away before Grimmjow tugged on the jacket sleeve. "What?" He lowered his left shoulder and coiled his tail above her head. "You want me to ride?" He nodded and she grabbed his tail gently and with its help climbed into position. "Wow your strong. I'm pretty heavy." Grimmjow snorted flicking his ears back slightly, to him she was nothing more then a piece of straw. He walked near Orihime and made the same gesture to her. "He wants you to get on behind me Orihime, This way we can go much faster." Orihime got on after thanking the hollow for the ride and held tight to Kage's waist. "Wee" She yipped as the panther took off, Coyote grabbed the third woman and sped off after him. Hisana gasped as she was scooped up and carried, the hollow was incredibly fast as well as a smooth runner. He barely jarred her at all as he ran for the cave easily keeping pace with the panther. Hisana gasped as she caught sight of the wide smile her twin sported, she was completely relaxed with the two hollows. As they entered the cave and darted downwards deeper into the cave system the hollows eyes glowed slightly as they maneuvered around and over rocks and columns in their way. As they cleared the cave system Kage was bombarded by different voices of different Zanpaktou coming from several directions.
"We are in the eye of the battle, they are all around us." Orihime dismounted and stood between the hollows and her friends trying to figure out what way to go. "Kage?" The crimson haired woman looked at her. "Yes?" She took a deep breath before asking her question. "Can you locate Zangetsu and Ichigo?"Kage grinned before nodding and closing her eyes to concentrate. She reached out gently touching and testing, looking for the one Zanpaktou she had wanted to talk to but had never gotten the chance to. She found him far to the west of them, he was fighting but when she touched him she heard him reach out for her. 'I am Zangetsu who dares disturb my battle?' Kage smiled before pointing west. "That way I can keep in contact while we travel." Orihime got back on behind her and they started off. 'I dare bother you Zangetsu. I am called Tsukakage.' She felt the Zanpaktou recoil slightly, before she actually saw his spirit in her mind. 'I apologize Kage I have heard of you from Zabimaru and others. You can save Ichigo, he is losing this battle not because of strength but because of his heart. He must be able to kill or he will not survive. He is losing his resolve and I can not reach him anymore. Aizen's spell is to strong for me to get through anymore.' She growled and pressed her body closer to Grimmjow as he ran. "We need to hurry Ichigo is in trouble." Orihime gasped as Grimmjow and Coyote sped up. They stopped just before entering a clearing where Aizen and Ichigo stood, the brown haired man had drawn his Zanpaktou and Momo was standing beside him. Kage looked at her companions before sighing. "I need to go alone. He will only use his Zanpaktou against you guys. I am not sure if I can protect my self let alone you guys." "You can't go alone I won't allow it."Hisana spoke up as she was set down by Coyote. "If we attack in teams we have a shot at winning." Coyote and Grimmjow nodded and Orihime spoke up. "Plus you have the Hogyoku he wont attack you."Kage snarled thinking of the neck-less she had been saddled with.
"Orihime you attack with Coyote and Hisana, Grimmjow and I will help Ichigo." They all looked at her oddly. "Why are you taking Grimmjow?" Coyote asked. "I'll be coming in from behind Ichigo and I need speed and stealth, both of which he is capable of and they will need your sheer power to stand against Aizen. If I die in this take them far away and keep them safe until the others come for them please?" They all nodded and separated Grimmjow and Kage took off into the forest without a sound. As the remaining three attacked the departing pair, Stark going one on one with Aizen while the two girls attacked Momo. Kage and Grimmjow emerged from behind Ichigo and came up beside him, She got off Grimmjow and looked at Ichigo. She threw her body against his and wrapped her arms around his waist her power rising to aid the Zanpaktou. Suddenly she was pulled into his mind. -Ichigo's mind- Kage looked around to see a city on its side she realized she was standing on a window and giggled, this was cool. She heard battling above her so she started walking up when a dark cloak surrounded her, hiding her from the light. She turned to see a tall man with long black hair and a scruffy face, his flowing cloak seeming to have a life of its own. "Welcome Kage I am Zangetsu." She smiled and surprised the Zanpaktou spirit by hugging him. " Thank you for helping me and bringing me here to help Ichigo." He escorted her up the building and she saw what horrors that the illusion was causing. Ichigo was fighting himself and his energy seemed to be vanishing with each blow he landed. "Is he fighting himself or his soul?" Zangetsu smiled, she understood what she was seeing without being told her powers were growing. "His soul. He is tearing his own soul apart thinking its Aizen."Before he could fathom what she was doing she threw herself between them and was stabbed through with himself. "Ichigo..." She gasped, the pain making her vision swim. She didn't know pain was apart of the dream world too. "Kage...Why are you protecting Aizen?" She smiled at him. "Its not really Aizen but yourself. You are killing yourself, please stop. Listen to Zangetsu's cries he is trying to reach you."He pulled the sword out and she fell to the ground leaving him to see his inner hollow lying there bleeding with a small wound in his belly.
"She threw herself away to protect you? But why?" The hollow got to his feet not being able to answer, as the same questions were running through his head. "I would never let anyone I care for die."She mumbled as a puddle of blood was spreading beneath her. "Shit Zangetsu, what do I do?" The Zanpaktou came to his side and knelt between them. "She is dying, In here all wounds received are transferred to the outside world. When you removed me from her she began to bleed out. Only a healer can save her now."Ichigo picked Kage up and vanished from his inner world.
-Real Time-
Grimmjow watched with horrified eyes not a moment after Kage embraced the substitute he turned and ran her through with his sword. The stood like a loving couple for a moment or so more before the substitute stirred and looked at what he had done with horrified eyes. "Kage...I am so sorry..Please forgive me.."He stuttered as he caught her crumbling body and held her close. His tears dripping onto her cheeks, when her eyes opened slightly and she reached up to touch his face. "Don't worry Ichigo." Her eyes widened as she turned to head to see that Aizen had spotted them and was walking towards them. "Ichigo...Pull your sword out now..."She gasped turning to look him in the eye. "Please defend your self.."She keened as he set her down now noticing the panther that lay down to provide her a resting place within his body. She growled and placed her handing around the hilt of the weapon and jerked it loose, her body spasming as she pulled it free. "Take it Ichigo." He took the weapon numbly and was shocked when she kicked him in the shin. "Fight and win. Then I will allow you to treat me, just win." Ichigo left her there with the panther and walked towards Aizen not realizing how close Kage and Grimmjow were to the canyon's edge. "Grimmjow?" He laid his head on her lap and was surprised when she picked his head up and cuddled it to her chest. "Can I tell you something I have told no one else?" He nodded against her, as the scent of her blood flooded his nose. "I love you. No one has heard those words from me in nearly fifteen years since my grandfather died protecting me." This little human girl loved him, and she professed that love as she lay dying from a wound that a friend made. He growled and realized she was crying as she buried her head against him.
"I love you Grimmjow, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before." She whispered in his ear. It took another moment before he realized what she was doing, but before he could stop her she got to her feet and walked towards the battle field. Aizen and Ichigo were trading blows left and right, one getting hit then to other. But Aizen smirked and blasted Ichigo back towards the canyon, what he didn't see happening was that Kage stumbled into the attack path a moment after he released the attack. "My Hogyoku! My Maiden!" Ichigo saw her and only managed to grab her hand before the blast hit them both. Kage screamed, the bracelet that had been hiding her power disintegrated allowing her power to be felt all over the battle field. "KAGE"Several voices yelled at once, hollow and soul reaper alike they all met at the canyon as they watched in shock as the two fell into the darkness of the canyon below. "She died saving Ichigo..."Orihime gasped as tears started dripping down her face. The rage and grief fueled the soul reapers and they started the battle anew, Grimmjow just stood there in shock her voice replaying over and over in his head. 'She loved me and I wasn't strong enough to save her...I am not worth her love.'A single tear dripped down his cheek and muzzle to vanish into the abyss of the canyon.
Meanwhile at the bottom of the canyon, things were about to change.