I do not own Bleach or any of the characters.

Outmatched

"You're my opponent then?"

"I am."

Grimmjow grinned widely, allowing Ichigo to grab Rukia and flee. Then, Grimmjow raised his hands and began to bounce like an overconfident boxer. Kurai watched his movements carefully."

"By all means, use that blade of yours," Grimmjow grinned.

"Pass," Kurai grinned raising his hands and taking a ready stance. "I'd rather be able to block both of your hands at once."

Grimmjow grinned and shot forward, a sonic boom sounding as dust flew up behind him. He threw a punch at Kurai and Kurai managed to lean out of the way then blocked Grimmjow's next punch, the impact fracturing the ground. Kurai jumped, driving his knee into Grimmjow's face and Grimmjow flew away from Kurai, bouncing and rolling along the ground for a bit before flipping to his feet and skidding to a stop.

"You're not bad," Grimmjow growled, not impressed. "But I'm holding back."

"I know," Kurai smirked. "Aside from releasing that sword of yours, you're still much faster and stronger than this. Honestly, I shouldn't be this fast or strong myself. Something about being around an Arrancar, particularly one as strong as you, sets my teeth on edge."

"So, you're him then," Grimmjow noted grinning. "I see. This is a pleasant surprise. I never would have guessed I would get to be the one to have the pleasure of killing you."

Kurai bowed slightly, impressed that someone as powerful as Grimmjow had hear of him.

"While I have no intention of dying, it's nice to know I'm unpopular enough to be recognized for my power," Kurai grinned. "Kurai Mori. Pleasure to meet you."

Grimmjow grinned then shot forward again, throwing a kick at Kurai. Kurai jumped, blocking it with a kick of his own before he threw one at the opposite side of Grimmjow's head. Grimmjow caught the kick and spun, hurling Kurai into the side of a building. Kurai pushed himself out, darting forward and throwing a punch at Grimmjow. Grimmjow caught it and smashed his knee into Kurai's stomach three times before jumping and smashing his elbow into his back. Kurai bounced of the ground once before Grimmjow kicked him, sending him flying. Just before Kurai reached a building, Grimmjow appeared behind him and dropped, kicking him straight into the air. Then, he appeared over Kurai. At the last second, Kurai spun, managing to slip past Grimmjow's punch then smashed both his feet into Grimmjow's back, blasting him into the ground. Grimmjow stood, cracking his neck and laughed.

"I haven't had this much fun in a while," Grimmjow laughed. "But that's enough of a warm up."

"Warm up?" Kurai gaped. "You're still holding back for that form?"

"Of course," Grimmjow scoffed. "Do you really think I'm so weak that you could hold your own against me?"

Kurai groaned but flew at Grimmjow. Just as he neared him, Grimmjow vanished, reappearing behind Kurai and grabbing him by the back of the head, spinning and smashing him into the ground. Grimmjow flew along the ground up the street, using Kurai's face to plow up the tar. Then, he spun, hurling Kurai into the side of a building. Kurai groaned and dropped to the ground. Then, he pulled his sword fro its sheath and sighed.

"Alright Grimmjow," Kurai sighed. "I challenge you to a sword fight."

Grimmjow laughed in amusement and drew his sword. Then, he appeared behind Kurai, already slashing. Kurai spun, blocking the blade, barely, then flew away from Grimmjow, courtesy of Grimmjow's fist. He spun to block Grimmjow's blade as the Arrancar appeared behind him but Grimmjow blurred around to the other side and slashed Kurai across the back. Kurai smashed into the street, bouncing along it for a dozen yards before crashing through the glass front of a store. The siren sounded instantly but Kurai ignored it. As he stood, a black diamond appeared on the left side of his chest, just below the collar bone, with seven empty stars lining the upper two sides.

"Gentei Kaijo?" Kurai breathed. "So we've resorted to that then huh? Fine. Activating Gentei Kaijo."

His Spiritual Pressure spiked from the restricted version that all Soul Reapers, except Ichigo, were forced to have in the Human World to full power, Spirit Energy flying off of him and forming a column reaching high into the sky as three more joined it.

"Gentei Kaijo?" Grimmjow growled before grinning. "Good. Maybe now you'll be a threat."

"Shall we try this again?" Kurai asked before shooting toward Grimmjow.

Grimmjow blocked Kurai's blade then threw a punch. Kurai twisted past it, slashing at Grimmjow as he passed but Grimmjow ducked under the blade. Kurai put Haruko away as he slid to a stop and held out his hand.

"Hado Sixty Three, Raikoho!" Kurai shouted firing the bolt of lightning from his palm.

Grimmjow slashed the bolt, sending it flying skyward. Then, he also put his sword away and Kurai smirked.

"Fun time," Kurai grinned. "If Kido doesn't work..."

He charged forward as Grimmjow did the same When they reached each other, they both threw a haymaker, catching the other's punch. Then, Grimmjow spun, releasing Kurai launching him into the side of a building. Before Kurai could react, Grimmjow's fist crashed into his abdomen. Grimmjow laughed once before Kurai's fist crashed into his jaw, sending him spinning away. Kurai followed, flipping and sending both feet at Grimmjow but Grimmjow blocked it with his feet, launching Kurai back into the ground, head first. Kurai stood, spinning and throwing a punch as Grimmjow threw a flying punch. Kurai's fist made it halfway before Grimmjow crashed into him, smashing him into the ground and forming a much larger crater than Kurai had on his landing. Grimmjow jumped off of Kurai and Kurai stood then sprinted forward, throwing a punch at Grimmjow. Just as it neared him, Grimmjow grinned and grabbed it, spinning and pulling Kurai with him before spinning the other way and smashing his elbow into Kurai. Kurai flew away from Grimmjow, blood flying from his mouth before he crashed into yet another building then exploded out the other side, a large portion of the building following and landing on top of him. Grimmjow landed on top of the rest of the building and grinned.

"Pathetic," Grimmjow sneered.

"Hado...Seventy Three...Soren Sokatsui!" Kurai shouted, the spell exploding up through the rubble and blasting Grimmjow, launching him skyward but doing little more than singeing his clothes and hair.

"Not bad," Grimmjow grinned. "Still alive, even after all that. Let's see how long you last."

Before he could attack, Ichigo's bankai whipped around at his throat. Grimmjow blocked it with the back of his hand then mule kicked Ichigo, launching him away.

"Your backup has arrived," Grimmjow sneered as Kurai flew up level with him and Ichigo did the same. Kurai drew his zanpakuto again and Grimmjow laughed, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Come on then," Grimmjow laughed.

Ichigo and Kurai both charged, moving to stab him while turning sideways to avoid each other's blade. Grimmjow spun, both his enemies passing around him. Then, he picked his feet up and kicked them straight away from him. Both crashed into a building then leapt off of it, cratering it further as they did. Ichigo arrived first, slashing at Grimmjow who caught his blade then spun, driving it, and Ichigo, at Kurai. Kurai flipped over Ichigo, slashing at Grimmjow but he caught Kurai's blade as well then slammed Kurai into Ichigo, blasting both into the ground. Kurai was up first, flying up at Grimmjow and slashing at him. Grimmjow spun moving out of the way then held his foot up, Ichigo's face colliding with it as his Bankai flew past.

Grimmjow spun and held his hand up, catching the Bankai then using his other hand to catch Kurai's sword as Kurai attacked, now wielding both blades. Grimmjow flipped over Kurai, hurling him into Ichigo, the two swords sparking as they slid out of Grimmjow's grip.

"Damn he's strong," Kurai growled handing the Bankai back to Ichigo. "How long can we hold out?"

"Not very," Ichigo stated, breathing heavily, as was Kurai. "We'll have to go at this with everything."

"Wait for an opening and use your signature ability," Kurai ordered.

He sprinted forward but no sooner had he gotten airborne, did Grimmjow smash him into the road, cratering it and landing with enough force to crack several of Kurai's vertebra. Then, he appeared in front of Ichigo, kicking him and sending him crashing along the ground and into a guard rail. Ichigo stood just as Grimmjow appeared in front of him, beginning to smash his fists into Ichigo's face in a blur, one after another, blood flying past him with every punch. Finally, he smashed him skyward and Ichigo flew upward in a , he was over Ichigo and kicked him, launching him back down into the street.

"Is that all there is to your Bankai?" Grimmjow scoffed. "And to the infamous Kurai? I gotta say you both turned out to be quite a disappointment. Your Bankai, and your Gentei Kaijo only give you average speed? Huh?"

He snorted then his eyes widened as the dust cleared.

"Getsuga...Tensho!" Ichigo shouted firing the blast at Grimmjow.

Kurai, who was lying beside Ichigo, watched as the blast hit, exploding into a massive black wave of energy for a moment before clearing.

"Damn what was that?" Grimmjow growled after it cleared. "Ulquiorra didn't mention that in his report about your attacks Soul Reaper. Not a word."

"So maybe I won't be disappointing after all, Arrancar," Ichigo growled.

Grimmjow leaned back and laughed, the mask piece beside his mouth spreading open as if to laugh as well.

"Guess I was wrong about you," Grimmjow growled. "It may turn out that you're worth killing after all.

Ichigo suddenly tensed as his Spiritual Pressure began to change and Kurai felt his body tense, unintentionally snapping his disconnected vertebrae back into place. Ichigo held a hand to his face, covering his left eye.

"Hey, Soul Reaper, how long are you gonna stand there?" Grimmjow asked then reached for his sword. "Fine then, it's my turn."

Just as he began to draw his sword, Kaname Tosen appeared behind him, making him freeze.

"Put your sword away Grimmjow," Tosen ordered.

"Tosen," Grimmjow muttered, doing as instructed.

"Tosen?" Ichigo breathed. "He's the captain that defected with Aizen."

"One of two," Kurai grunted, pushing himself up and pointing a finger up at Tosen. "Hado Four, Byakurai!"

The lightning bolt flew straight at Tosen but Tosen held his hand out and the bolt exploded harmlessly against his palm.

"You wanna explain to me why you're here?" Grimmjow growled.

"You ask why?" Tosen asked quietly. "You can't be serious. You chose to invade the World of the Living on your own. And you took five Arrancars without permission. Then you lost them in battle! You have disobeyed orders. You understand that much don't you? Lord Aizen is quite upset with you Grimmjow."

Tosen walked past Grimmjow and pointed, a black portal to Hueco Mundo opening at the end of his finger.

"Come, your punishment will be decided in Hueco Mundo," Tosen stated.

"Fine then, let's go," Grimmjow growled.

"Hey you, hold on!" Ichigo shouted. "Where the hell do you think you're going!?"

"Shut up Soul Reaper!" Grimmjow shouted turning to look back at him. "I'm going home. Back home to Hueco Mundo."

"What?" Ichigo seethed. "You come here and you attack us, and then you just leave? You've gotta be kidding me!"

"Count yourself lucky Ichigo," Kurai spoke up from the ground. "Grimmjow, get lost. Ichigo, if you provoke him into fighting he'll kill us both and then leave anyway. We're not strong enough. And you can't fight anymore with that Inner Hollow of yours taking over anyway."

Ichigo stared at him for a moment before sighing and nodding.

"Pray you never hear my name again," Grimmjow shouted down to them. "Grimmjow Jeagerjaques. The next time you hear my name you'll be a dead man. I promise."

Then, the portal closed and he was gone.

"Thank God," Kurai groaned. "Go tell Orihime I need help when she gets a minute."

Ichigo sighed then fell to his hands and knees. Just as he pushed himself up, Renji arrived.

"Where did the Arrancar go?" Renji asked. "Back to Hueco Mundo?"

"Yeah," Kurai spoke up while Ichigo stood in silence. "Hey, while you're here, can you get one of the syringes out of my robe? My back's broke and I can't move."

Renji walked over, and fished the metal case out of his robe then injected one of the two syringes into Kurai's neck. After a moment, Kurai sat up and took the box back.

"Thanks," Kurai smiled. "Ichigo, time to head back."

"Did you win?" Renji asked.

"We lost," Ichigo stated after a few seconds.

"Badly," Kurai added. "Even if we are alive. He let us live."

"I see," Renji nodded. "Come on. Orihime should be tending to the others. Maybe she can do something for that ugly face of yours Ichigo."

Ichigo didn't respond for a moment then turned and began walking toward the others. Kurai sighed and retrieved Haruko then put it in his sheath then used Flash Step to get to the others.

"How is she?" Kurai asked, seeing Orihime healing Rukia.

"She'll be okay," Orihime stated.

"Good," Kurai nodded. "Ichigo's taking our getting our asses kicked pretty hard. He needs her to cheer him up."

Orihime nodded as she finished, the barrier around Rukia fading and the two fairies flying back to her hair clips as Ichigo and Renji arrived. Rukia instantly threw her arms around Ichigo and he smiled hugging her back.

"I'm glad you're okay," Rukia muttered.

"I should be saying that to you," Ichigo smiled.

"I got taken to the medic by you," Rukia smiled. "I was never in danger. But you had to actually fight that bastard. Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine," Ichigo smiled. "But I have to go find someone to help me with my problem. As much as I hate to."

"It's for the best," Kurai stated. "If you can learn to use his power, you'll be more than twice as strong. I'll have to find a way to get stronger without. Probably Kisuke."

"If you could have your Shikai and Bankai back, you'd be more than strong enough," Rukia stated.

"I know," Kurai snorted. "You know, I just thought. Even if I can't reach Haruko, maybe her sister can."

"Worth a shot," Rukia shrugged. "But, tomorrow."

Kurai nodded and Orihime healed Ichigo then most went to wherever they were staying and Kurai followed Renji to Kisuke's.

"Kurai!" Kisuke greeted happily when they walked in to see Tessai healing the young girl-looking guardian of Kisuke's shop, Ururu. "Welcome back."

"Thank you," Kurai smiled. "I heard what happened Ururu. You okay?"

"I'll be okay," Ururu nodded.

"Good," Kurai smiled. "Kisuke, I need a place to stay for a few days."

"Sure," Kisuke nodded. "You can mooch."

"Not mooch," Kurai stated. "I just need a bed. The rest I can handle."

Kisuke shrugged and turned his attention back to Ururu.

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