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WARNING MASSIVE SPOILERS

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The Tides Of war

They had crossed paths before, in Hueco Mundo and the real world. Today they had finally met in every reality. Grimmjow Jaggerjack the Sixto Arracar, stood in a self assuring pose, arms folded, his white open, jacket showing his lean but well toned chest. His green-grey hair matched his icy blue eyes, which was boring deeply into the Quincy before him. Only the hole through his stomach and the remains of his bony mask hinted at his Hollow heritage.

"Ishida Uryuu, the Grand Executioner."

Ishida glowered menacingly at Grimmjow. He gripped the familiar seven pointed bow, Ginrei Kojyaku (1) firmly, and aimed squarely at his opponent's chest. He broke the spirit particles free from the surrounding buildings, drawing them in like a magnet. Slowly he formed a shining plate over his shoulders and down one side of his newly formed Hakama. A wing of pure reiatsu formed over his right shoulder. It was a technique he finally mastered without the risk of losing his Quincy powers. Here in Soul Society it was even more powerful.

"Didn't know ya used armour," Grimmjow's grin had a touch of insanity to it.

"Ginsuzume O-yoroi. (2) It's made of condensed reiatsu - spirit particles. You won't strike me so easily again," although he spoke confidently, he knew the Arrancar was one he could not be relaxed with.

Their hatred filled the air as they both continued to increase their reiatsu. Grimmjow, from within himself and Ishida from his surroundings, extending the size of his wing. As the Arrancar took off drawing his sealed sword, Ishida flashed back, preferring to keep his distance. Grimmjow's Sonido , matched Ishida's Hirenkyaku step for step, slowly closing the gap between the two. Ishida let loose arrow after arrow but it seemed to do little more than bounce off Grimmjow's sword as he swatted them away like flies. .

A rapid firing rate is excellent against multiple hollows but for an enemy of this calibre, he needed firepower. Concentrating on increasing the amount of reiatsu in each arrow, Ishida cautiously chose his target. Leaping onto another rooftop, he took careful aim at where he guessed Grimmjow would land next. He was rewarded by the sound of explosion and cursing, and the sight of roof tiles erupting like fireworks. Now was his chance to act.

Grimmjow was gaining on him. He could feel the closeness of the kill. His victim's feeble attacks were easily deflected by his sword. Just as he was about to land on his next step, he watched in horror as a badly fired arrow fell short and exploded on the ground before him. He cursed as the roofing and dust temporarily blocked his vision. He had nearly a second to survey his surroundings, but his prey was nowhere to be seen. Its reiatsu however, had reappeared on the house below him. He leapt to avoid a vicious injury as a massive arrow launched itself through the roof and rocketed away into the sky. Blood trickled down his forehead. He blasted the building beneath with Bala,(3) flushing the game out to the open street. Grimmjow saw an opening. Using Sonido he stepped behind his foe as he swung his Zanpaktou.

Ishida scarcely had time to react, turning to meet his assailant's blade with the arm of his bow. He saw his opponent's open palm. Using his armoured shoulder, he braced himself for the oncoming impact.

"Bala!"

Pain shot through Ishida's arm as if they were plunged into molten lava. He didn't have the time to scream as the air was punched out his lungs when he hit a wall, and another and another. His armour across his shoulder and torso has almost disintegrated. He felt the warm trickle of his life fluids running down his face flooding his eye. His body was numb. His breathing was fast and shallow. He tasted ferrous bile in his throat. His vision was blurry but he could make out he was lying in the rubble. Several houses collapsed in front of him. He could feel his adversaries reiatsu getting closer and heard him wail out. "IS THAT ALL YA GOT QUINCY!"

Grimmjow chased after the disappearing body through the buildings. His body burned with a fever, enraptured by the thought of a near kill. He flashed through the last building to find his quarry, trying to limp away. In its desperation it threw a small, silver cylinder at him. As his Zanpaktou touched the object he heard one last word from the dying lips of his victim, "GRITZ" (4)

Ishida knew he was gambling with his life. Forced to use Ransotengai (5), he was draining away what little reiatsu he had left. Throwing his silver pipe at Grimmjow as he emerged from the rubble, he had to time his incantation perfectly. As he said his last words of the spell, a massive cross shaped envelope engulfed Grimmjow. As it began to tighten, a blast of reiatsu from his nemesis tore away the spell like a piece of paper. It was all the time Ishida needed to summon one last arrow. He watched in slow motion as Grimmjow jumped back and pivoted, the brunt of his arrow slamming into the Arrancars shoulder. He stared horrified as reiatsu focused at the fingertip pointing at him. He recognized the technique, Cero.

"Captain Hitsugaya, what brings you here?" Yoruichi asked, surprised by the young captain's private visit.

"Shihouin-san." Toshiro bowed politely.

"Please call me Yoruichi."

"Yoruichi-san." Toshiro eyes flitted about the guest hall at the guards.

Yoruichi noticed and dismissed them. What little she knew about the prodigy, she knew he was a serious person. "Now, we have some privacy. I take it this is not a social visit?"

"Yoruichi-san. I have come to ask, no, beg a favour of you."

"Beg?" she appraised him for a moment, intrigued. "This happens to be anything to do with Matsumoto?"

"Matsumoto was my Vice Captain. More than that she was a good officer and served Soul Society well for a long time." Toshiro said in a pained voice. "More than that, she was a friend," he almost whispered.

"I understand. What can I do for her?"

"I have spoken with Central 46 and Captain Yamamoto. They have given me permission, because of her long service to Soul Society and dedication during the war. They have given me permission to use a Spirit Guide." Toshiro held out a small necklace in his hand.

Yoruichi was astonished but did not show it. Central 46 permitting the use of a Soul Guide was unheard of. Until now just recently, it was illegal. It seems Soul Society itself was going through massive a restoration. Usually souls that died in Soul Society would disappear to Seireienkai, the Sea of Souls waiting till it was reborn to the human world. The process was random and similar in nature to the action of osmosis. No one knew who was reborn as whom, the only clue would be the gender. With the Spirit Guide, it was possible to directly place a soul into a human for rebirth. It was used in the past by rogue Shinigami, leading to legends of spirit births and childs from heaven in many cultures. Claims of favouritism led to it being outlawed, preventing Shinigami from knowing who their friends were being reincarnated as. Being given permission by Central 46 to use it was a first.

"You must have had a lot of help persuading the old men."

"I had the support of a lot of people. Captain Ukitake, Captain Unohana, Captain Abarai, Hinamori, Kira to name a few."

"You want me to find her a good family?"

Toshiro nodded. "They don't need to be special. I just want her to have a good life, loving parents and not have to suffer as she did here."

"I don't know if I have the time," Yoruichi answered sternly. "Seems like a war's about to happen."

Toshiro examined the hard countenance of the woman before him. He knew a trade when he saw one. "It is not only the real world that has made contact with new Espada level Arrancars. Soul Society has as well. From reports, they are not as mature as the ones created by Aizen but they are still a threat. You're aware that that level of Arrancar, rarely exists naturally. Their numbers should be tiny. This can only mean that someone is helping them."

"Another traitor?" Yoruichi asked.

"Maybe. Soul Society sent a small group into Hueco Mundo to investigate headed by Vice Captain Kurotsuchi Nemu. None have returned."

"How long?"

"It's been a month now."

Yoruichi reflected briefly on the information. She would have to discuss this with Urahara when she returned. Looking into the pleading eyes of the young captain, she finally took the necklace from him. "I'll see what I can do."

Toshiro thanked her. As he was about to leave a messenger arrived, kneeling before them. "Captain Hitsugaya. Yoruichi-san." The messenger announced eyeing Yoruichi nervously.

Toshiro followed his gaze, "It's fine. Report."

"Yes Captain. There's been confirmed reports of Hollows in the 1st District of West Rukongai and 4th District of East Rukongai. Forces have been dispatched."

"What's the damage so far?"

"Minimal. Evacuation of the areas has already started."

"Thank you," Toshiro replied as the messenger bowed and disappeared.

The two started running to the great wall, west gate. "Ishida and Orihime are there," Yoruichi stated, looking for a reaction from Toshiro. "You know… even in death we worry about her. That's one of the reasons why the Soul Guide was outlawed," she continued after seeing no reaction from the Captain. "What were the conditions of its use?"

Sadness pervaded Toshiro's azure eyes. "I'm never to have contact with her ever again."

They left the gate of Seireitei and started flashing towards the reported distrisct in silence. Neither of them had or wanted to say anything, lost in their own musings. They lurched back to reality when a familiar reiatsu almost made them retch. "Cero!"

Ishida leaned against the cold stone wall. He was replenishing his lost reiatsu from his wing. Grimmjow was still alive and hunting him. It was a miracle he had survived. Throwing himself to one side he had managed to flash away from the area as the neighbourhood transformed into wasteland under the heat of Cero. He did not escaped unscathed. Hobbling on his only remaining leg, he fought against his unconsciousness. He was losing blood rapidly.

Grimmjow cursed repeatedly. His prey had eluded him. Not only that, he was nursing a slight wound on his shoulder. He leapt from rubble to rubble searching for the target. He found it leaning against a wall for support, its leg raining blood where it had been severed. Grinning widely he lunged from behind, Zanpaktou raised.

Ishida knew Grimmjow was behind him. He only had enough reiatsu left for one meaningful shot. He waited and spun around at the last second. Catching the blade with his bow, and fired point blank. The shot took Grimmjow in the chest, hurling him away. But still the Arrancar had lived.

"Prick! I'll have yer fucking arm!" Grimmjow bellowed as he rushed forward, ignoring his own pain.

Ishida didn't have enough energy left to form another shot. It happened in a blink of an eye. His firing arm was airborne. His shoulder geysered blood. He collapsed, unable to sustain his Ransotengai. He coughed up scarlet phlegm. His opponent stood over him victorious, sword raised. Ishida waited for the final blow.

"Koyzetsu – Shun Shun Rikka" (6) a voice rang out.

Ishida recognised the woman standing before him. Her black latex like catsuit was painted on to her body with a red strip running down the centre. Two leaf like wings floated above her shoulder blade. Orihime came in time, her triangular shield preventing Grimmjow's death blow.

"Orihime…" Grimmjow whispered as he jumped back.

"Grimmjow…"

The two stood facing each other. For a moment a strange look washed over Grimmjow's insane visage. 'Was that pain… sorrow?' Ishida thought to himself.

Orihime's three, triangular shields slowly circled her. She stood in a fighter's stance. "Grimmjow, please, stop this," she almost sounded like she was pleading.

"Orihime. I…" For a moment he looked like he was about to say something else. Then his face went rigid. "I am an Arrancar. I will kill him."

"I will save him. Kill me if you want. I can't stop you," she turned around and called out. "Shunou, Ayame!"

A yellow nimbus surrounded Ishida as his bleeding stopped. Ishida's vision was almost black, but he could hear everything.

"Please Grimmjow, you don't have to do this," Orihime was almost whispering now.

Grimmjow watched her, undecided. His finger raised, ready to fire. But somehow he didn't. His anger surged once more. "I'll kill ya too if you don't step aside, bitch!"

"I know. You can. You have the power to do it. My shields can't stop you," Orihime quivered. "But I will save my friends. Even if it costs me my life. All of them."

Grimmjow couldn't understand why, but his anger abated. He continued staring at the girl. Her light brown hair dancing to the wind of her reiatsu pulse. "Orihime. You could leave this war. You could be safe. I could…"

"No," she said firmly. "I will save everyone I can. One day I hope to save everyone." A lone tear fell down her face, no one would see it, but Ishida felt it land on his cheek.

Grimmjow was about to move forward when the he felt the reiatsu of two captain class Shinigamis coming his way. "Shit!" He cursed as he took a final glance at Orihime and fled.

"Inoue-san!" Toshiro called out.

"Orihime!" Yoruichi scanned the horizon for the fleeing Arrancar.

She felt him and was about to pursue when Orihime said. "Yoruichi-san. Toshiro-kun. I need your help. I need his limbs and then we need to get him to the 4th Division hospital."

Yoruichi knew only one person was needed to help her. She didn't even need the limbs. Orihime didn't want them going after the Arrancar. There was something behind this, she knew. Whatever it is, she would find out as soon as she could.

"Who was it?"

"Grimmjow Jaggerjack."

End Chapter 10

(1) Ginrei Kojyaku – Looks like the Quincy star with two extra spikes on it forming the bow's top and bottom limb (Archery Jargon). This is Ishida's new bow after he regains his Quincy powers and it has a web ring near the circumference of the Quincy star shape and an inner ring around the grip and arrow rest, acting like a guard or hilt to his hands. Literally means – Lone Sparrow on a Silver Cliff.

(2) Ginsuzume O-yoroi – Literally means Silver Sparrow Armour. Now that he's completed the technique without risk I decided to name it. O-yoroi is full suit samurai armour.

(3) Bala – Hollow shot or Hollow bullet. 20 times quicker than Cero but not as powerful.

(4) Gritz – Full incantation is "A single rod strikes the five finger stone bed – Quintuple Restraining frames!" or "Zeller-Tricks-Fawn-Keats-Halt-Fuierto-Gritz" Creates a envelope around the target capturing and damaging them. Requires 1 silver pipe to cast.

(5) Ransotengai – A rare quincy technique encasing the user with spirit particles and controlling the body like a muppet. Allows the Quincy to fight to the death.

(6) Koyzetsu – Shun Shun Rikka – Reject – Shield of 6 dancing flowers. In this her powers are Shinigami now so I made her call it forth in Shinigami style unsealed via Zanpaktou. Hence I used the noun of reject. Her original incantation was Wotashi wa koyzetsuru – I reject thee. Instead I used the noun reject as the unseal and the name of her Zanpaktou Shun Shun Rikka was the original name of her powers. As a Zanpaktou the fairies don't physically manifest anymore so I incorporated them into her directly.

A/N: Again much kudos to my editor Shannon for fine tuning this difficult chapter. Sorry this one came later than usual people but we really wanted to get it perfect!