Chapter 18 – Protecting What Matters Most and Wondering Why an Enemy Cries When They See Happiness Between Two People
Grimmjow's P.O.V:
I have no time to react as I'm grabbed by the back of the head and my face soon slammed down into the wooden floor of the Temple as Li-Li, Rye and Kieo scream in fright at it as she begins to cry loudly with tears running down her cheeks.
"Grijowwww!?"
I had lowered my guard, when I had taken them out to go to the Cherry Tree Gardens in the centre of the town and should have just stayed in the relative safety of Urahara-san's place then rememeber Yumi, grabbing hold of me as the children were cornered by Ulquiorra.
I weakly lift my head to look at them, trapped the far corner – her face tearful, while her hands shake, her brothers holding her close to them trying not show fear – and suddenly, placing both hands feel my Spiritual Pressure rising - so intense that everything begins to blur as I fling Yumi, off me then stand up as my energy curls and swirls around me.
I flash-step, faster than blink of an eye and grabbing hold of them head outside as they hold onto me, with their tiny hands into the clearing. I sense people appearing, looking up seeing that Kenpachi, Yumichika and Ikkaku have appeared then flash-step up to them.
I land on the as they jump onto their Father, hugging him as he smiles at them and holds them close to him then hear a noise, which makes me get in front of them. I form a large blue shield and the shot of energy explodes in front of it then push him out the way as a tail whips out with intention to kill, injure or hurt anyone of them.
It wraps around me and grabbing hold it, I look up at Ulquiorra – the moon behind him, making his grey eyes glint in the moonlight – then pull hard with the new strength, soon punching him in the face.
This sends him flying backwards, causing a shockwave to happen and flash-step up to him, bringing my leg down hard on his chest that sends him crashing to the ground. I head down and land, walk up to him as he clambers out the crater that had formed – his wings broken upon repair – then feel Yumi, grab hold of my arms.
I twist over his head and bring both feet down, slamming them down into his head, right into the stone cobbled ground. Ulquiorra, is panicking and he flash-steps hard as I follow him, soon rising into the air to kick him as he tries to flash-step away.
He lands in the front of the Temple steps, bleeding heavily and I land then go up to him, bringing up a clawed hand to strike him down, when suddenly a white hand grabs it.
"Grimmjow, control yourself. Calm the beast, now. Plans have been made for Ulquiorra." Shiro says, while I collapse against him, my energy sinking back to safe level and breathe heavily with now, laboured breathing.
I had managed to drain myself and he leads me away as Urahara-san with Tessai, with a look that makes me lower my head in shame that I had allowed myself to lose control to protect them as I look up at Kenpachi, with his children.
Li-Li, is having difficulty controlling herself and soon scrambles out of her arms then falls from up where Kenpachi was as I rush over, catching her. She giggles at me and hugs me with her little arms as I hold her, gently to me then notice out of the corner of my eye – a single tear run down Ulquiorra's cheek, which makes my heart skip a beat.
What did it mean?
Why had he done that?
Did he regret, ever trying to kill them?
Shiro's P.O.V:
After returning to Urahara-san's place, feeling like I was one drained of energy – not Grimmjow – and just want to go to sleep, head to my sleeping quarters then sliding the door open, can hear the shower is running.
I slide the door shut, behind me and heading to the bathroom, stand at the open doorway as Renji, behind the screen – which has steamed up – washes himself then stops as he senses that someone is watching him.
He comes out the shower, naked as the day he was born and holding the distinct baby bump, gently with his hand then go up to him. I smile softly at him, picking up a towel and go to dry him off, but he pushes my hand away then taking hold of me, soon strips me of my uniform.
He takes hold of my hand, pulling me to the shower and into it then closing the door, places himself up against me. He leans up to me, while I slide my hands down to hold his hips and look down at him then place my lips, against his.
Renji's P.O.V:
I feel my eyes flutter close, when Shiro kisses me and bringing my hands up place them, gently on his chest, while his hands stroke my hips, gently then he turns me around. He lets go of my lips, looking at me and soon rests his forehead against mine as I feel through the bond – happiness, joy and protection for me, along with our child – then he pulls away, still holding my hips.
"Are you okay?" He asks me, quietly and switching the shower off, pulls me out then takes the towel from where he had left it, to dry me off.
I stay still, while he turns me to wrap it around me and hugs me from behind. I turn my head to look at him and nuzzle my nose, gently against his then he kisses my cheek. This is what I needed to feel – love and happiness with someone, who wouldn't abandon me – and just allow myself to be held in his arms.
"I'm fine. Just glad that I have you here." I said, while turning around in his arms and looking at him, yawn suddenly, which makes him chuckle lightly then leads me out of the bathroom, over to the wardrobe closet.
He gets out a night kimono and sliding off the towel, he wraps it around me as I place my arms through the sleeves then suddenly feel the little one, choose to kick. I wince slightly, while he places a hand to my abdomen and keeps it there as he rubs the hand back and forth to calm our little one.
"I think the little one, agrees with you." He says, smiling at me and just holds me with his hand as the other rests on my abdomen, soothing the little one and me.
Grimmjow's P.O.V:
The shower water washes over me, while I stand there in the cubicle with my hands placed on the tiled wall and stare down at the floor with plug as the water from it, swirls around and around as it goes down the drain-hole.
I felt drained of energy, feeling also ashamed of myself that I had unleased my powers like that and nearly killed Ulquiorra. I been so angry inside that he caused Ichigo's children to cry and it had taken over.
Ulquiorra.
Even thinking about him, made me flash-back to the image of him, looking at me and Li-Li and the tear that run down his cheek. It was first time that he had ever showed emotion, because he was not known for showing it at all.
He had chosen to ignore them and yet, I had managed to break the cold exterior of his icy heart with just holding Li-Li in my arms.
Had he been looking at me or at her?
Seeing the way, I held her gently in my hands and smiled softly at her as she giggled after falling from where Kenpachi had been standing.
I close my eyes and standing up straight, tilt my head backwards to allow the water to wash over me then lower it, back down again. I just stand, water bouncing off me and running down my body in droplets then taking one of my hands from the wall, turn the shower head off.
Stepping out of the shower, I head over to the bathroom sink and look at myself with my blue hair plastered to my forehead then remember a time when I had been standing in the sleeping quarters in Heuco Mundo, looking down at myself after being changed by Aizen into Arrancar Form.
There had been a Hollow hole, near my abdomen and on my back the number six tattooed on it. I had been reckless and inexperienced, causing more fights then making allies to join his cause.
Looking at myself, now I sift hand through my hair and decide that need some time in the town for wee while.
Have look at the nightlife. But be cautious in case an attack happens like last time and head into the main sleeping area then over to the wardrobe which I open.
I pull out a simple white tank-top with faded letters on it and pick up some black jeans then see a jacket that will maybe draw attention. I knew that would have to be careful, of any Human, who would try to draw me into alleyway or one of the Nightclubs.