When Ichigo stepped into the gate, he had his hands in his pockets. It was strange because that was what Ulquiorra was doing, too. Grimmjow and Nnoitra walked silently behind them, and Ichigo could feel Grimmjow's teal eyes boring into his back.

What was his damage? I mean, honestly, he'd always hated Ichigo, but now it was pointless to hate him. He was on thier freaking side, damn it.

When the gate opened in the living world, Ichigo suddenly remembered his troubles. His friends were here, and they were those new Shinigami that had just been sent to the real world. And Orihime and Sado and Ishida...he couldn't fight them. What the hell was he going to do? He wasn't even sure if they know he'd gone over to the dark side.

It wasn't like he'd stopped by the Urahara Shop, popped his head in and said, "Hey, Kisuke! Make sure you tell everyone I'm joining up with the Arrancars!"

That would just be stupid. And Kisuke would kick his ass.

Ichigo's head shop up when four distinct reiatsu's were suddenly in front of him.

Renji, Rukia, Yumichika and Ikkaku were there, glaring at him.

"Ichigo?" Rukia snapped. "What are you doing?"

"Well, hey Rukia, nice to see you again." Ichigo grimaced.

"She asked you a question, Ichigo!" Renji demanded.

"Silence yourself." It was Ulquiorra's cold voice this time. "It's useless. You should just surrender now."

"Yeah, save us the trouble of having to kick your asses." Nnoitra smiled his toothy smile.

Ichigo caught the tightening of Renji and Ikkaku's hands on thier Zanpaktou's.

"Guys, just don't do this." Ichigo tried to reason with them. "I don't want to have to fight you."

"So you've joined up with them?" Ikkaku demanded.

"How very unattractive." Yumichika sighed, checking his nails.

"It's complicated." Ichigo mumbled.

"Why, Ichigo?" Rukia demanded, tears in her eyes. "Why did you leave us?"

"Like I said, it's complicated." He repeated.

"Like hell it is!" Renji yelled. "Here I come!"

Ichigo drew Zangetsu quickly and met Zabimaru with ease.

"Renji, don't." He said. "I don't want to have to fight you."

"Too late." Renji growled. "You won't be so lucky this time!"

Renji struck again, but Ichigo didn't have to block it. Ulquiorra's cold arm was there, his skin exposed to the sharp blade of Zabimaru and made Ichigo gasp. He watched as Renji looked at him coldly.

"Trash." Ulquiorra muttered. "Don't touch him."

"Screw you!" Renji whirled around struck again, but each and everytime, Ulquiorra barely seemed to move, never drawing his sword.

"Renji stop!" Ichigo screamed.

"Bastard!" Renji struck again, but Ulquiorra was getting tired of his games.

He caught the blade in his hands and threw Renji back into a group of trees.

Finally Ichigo noticed where everyone was. Ikkaku was fighting Nnoitra, and losing. Yumichika was already down on the ground, unconcious. Rukia was up against Grimmjow, and also losing.

Damn it, what was the point of this?

Why the hell did Aizen send him down here? Sure, they were definatly going to win, but they weren't up against much. All they could gain from this is a single victory. A single useless victory.

He looked over at Ulquiorra, seeing the same thoughts rolling through the Espada's eyes as Ikkaku tried to snap his Hozukimaru through Nnoitra.

That, too, was useless.

Nnoitra disposed of him, slamming the broad side of his...whatever that thing was, on Ikkaku's shoulder and sending him barrelling down to the ground.

Rukia, also was defeated, as Grimmjow played around her, stealing her Zanpaktou, and finally kicked her in the torso and sent her flying towards the ground.

Ichigo winced. He swallowed hard. His protective side was starting to kick in, but he couldn't. He surpressed his reflexes and shoved his free hand in his pocket.

There was a blinding light. A sharp pain.

Ichigo opened his eyes to see Grimmjow smirking. Sode no Shirayuki was sticking out of his own stomach.

"Ichigo!" Ulquiorra cried.

The Quatra Espada pulled the sword out of his stomach quickly, and threw it to the ground where it tumbled inches away from the still unconcious Yumichika.

Ichigo collapsed against Ulquiorra's shoulder, his sword hand tight.

"Damn you, Grimmjow!" He yelled.

He shook Ulquiorra off and stood up straight. He was about to go after the stupid Arrancar, who was smiling like a fool. He was in his fighting stance with blood dripping out of his torso and a fearsome snarl escaping his lips.

And then he forgot it.

He sensed Renji's reiatsu, faint but there, awakening. And then he felt the Shinigami advancing. He was going fast. Faster than he usually did, almost Byakuya's speed. And straight for Ulquiora.

Ichigo didn't have time to cry out for the Espada to move. Ulquiorra showed no signs of moving, just stared at him blankly.

Ichigo went for it.

He flashstepped behind Ulquiorra a second before Zabimaru was about to peirce him. He felt the slick slide of the blade in his chest, a few ribs breaking. He knew a lung had been punctured and he couldn't breathe. But if he could, he would have sighed with relief. Ulquiorra was safe.

"Ichigo..." Renji looked at him with wide eyes.

Ichigo could only watch as Ulquiorra's hand flicked out and sent Renji flying back, his Zanpaktou with him. Ichigo fell into Ulquiorra again. He held onto the Espada's jacket, trying to stay airborne. If he lost control of the reiashi around him, he'd be joining his friends on the ground.

"Fool, what were you doing?" Ulquiorra demanded. "I'm not stupid! I had him!"

Ichigo chuckled, wincing at the pain. "Eh. Just makin' sure."

Ulquiorra shook his head. "We should get you back."

"Hey, I can still fight!" Ichigo argued, standing up straight. "I'm not stupid either."

Ichigo clenched his teeth and bit his tounge. He wanted to show them no sign of vulnerability that they could tear him up about later.

"We're going back." Ulquiorra said flatly, holding out his hand and the gate opening before thier eyes.

Ichigo grimaced. "You're not the boss of me. I've still got a kick Sixy's ass over there."

"Quite being over-sensitive, Soul Reaper." Ulquiorra said in the same cold tone as when he first spoke to him.

"I am not over-sensitive!" Ichigo argued.

Ulquiorra pointed into the gate and Ichigo glared at him before stepping into the black hole.

Nnoitra walked in next, and then Grimmjow.

Ulquiorra grabbed the Sexta Espada's shoulder roughly.

"I'll take care of you later." Ulquiorra sneered before walking through the gate before him.

"Ooo, so scared." Grimmjow said sarcastically before following him.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Interesting." Gin smirked from the control room.

"Very." Aizen tapped his chin with a smooth smile. "Grimmjow seems to have a little crush on Ulquiorra. Gin, I see a love triangle forming here."

"Oh, yeah." Gin nodded. "I see the soap-opera drama and everything."
"Soap-opera's are boring compared to an Espada/Shinigami love triangle." Aizen looked up at his long-time friend.

"Very true." Gin chuckled. "Very true."

"Gin, why don't you go welcome the love birds back." Aizen smirked. "And make sure Ichigo and Ulquiorra get some alone time. Chase Grimmjow off."

"Yes, Aizen-sama." Gin pretended to salute and then walked out the door.

Aizen but his chin in his hand, smiling at the screen in front of him. Ulquiorra's face was frozen in place, in that same sneer that he never showed, pointed towards Grimmjow.

It was as if Ulquiorra was making it so easy to get rid of Ichigo now.
Just a breath away...

Comments:

yet again, sorry it took so long! I was away for a while, but I am back now! And hope to try and update everyday! :) aishiteru!!!!!!!!!!