this is the first half of the ending, we're reaching the end!

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disclaimer: don't own BLEACH

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VII

Carefully Aizen brought the whip down, making sure that the same spot was hit at least three times before moving on to another unmarked part of the tan skin. It was only after the sixth lash that Grimmjow awoke with a hoarse yell.

Blearily, Grimmjow opened his eyes and was met with the sight of Aizen standing in front of him, a whip in hand. Surrounding him, the other Espadas only gazed on, their expression unreadable.

He winced again when the whip strike down. Blood flowed freely and it was only after a few more lashes did Grimmjow realised that he was utterly naked. Everything was gone. Everything. He raised his head. Pantera was in the hands of Ulquiorra. And...and his ring was with Nnoitora!

He pulled harshly against his restraints, only to feel the little reiatsu that he had raised drained out of his body.

"Don't worry, Grimmjow. We're not going to destroy that precious ring of yours," Aizen said as he brought the whip down again.

Grimmjow ground his teeth together to keep from crying out. Somehow, he knew what was going on. Aizen had mentioned something about Ichi's weakness before he had passed out. Contrary to popular belief, he wasn't all brawn only. He knew that he was going to be bait for Ichi and he hoped against hopes that Ichigo would not fall for it.

Ichigo.

Numbness spread from where the whips hit his body. Gradually his mind cleared and he was able to feel the cold metal of the chains cuffing him, holding him in place. Vaguely, he realised that Aizen was whipping in some strange manner, as though there was some pattern.

"You were one of my finer creation, did you know?" Aizen whispered softly but it carried well into the silent room, "It is really regrettable,"

Grimmjow clenched his jaw. He knew it was too good to be true when Aizen had raised no objections after finding out about his and Ichi's relationship. No wonder. He had already planned for this to happen.

All of a sudden, Aizen's action halted. He stepped forward and reached out a hand. Grimmjow flinched. Aizen only smiled and raised a finger to wipe off a trace of blood going down Grimmjow's bloodied body.

He licked it and Grimmjow recoiled a little. That was disgusting.

Reaching out with the same finger, Aizen took more of Grimmjow's blood. This round, his other arm rose and his sleeves fall back a little to reveal pale wrist. Not once breaking his gaze with Grimmjow, he drew careless designs using Grimmjow's blood.

Horrified, Grimmjow suddenly twisted his head to have a clearer view of the design Aizen had whipped into his body.

No.

"Don't be afraid. A good show would be put up for you soon,"

No. No. No. NO. NO!

"Enjoy it while it last," Aizen smiled that insufferable smile of his again.

NO! Ichigo!

Black lines suddenly appeared in mid-air, connecting the cuts on Grimmjow's body with the exact same design now printed onto Aizen's wrist. As Grimmjow watched in horror, the blood was slowly absorbed into Aizen's skin.

No, Ichigo, don't fall for it...

Grimmjow gasped as he felt pain tore into his body. Control slowly seeped out of his reach.

Please...

An uneasy feeling crept into Ichigo's mind. As he looked at the white landscape of Hueco Mundo, he couldn't help but wonder what Grimmjow was doing right now. From their previous venture, Ichigo knew all too well that Las Noches had already been informed of their arrival. No doubt they would have started on their sick preparations.

And he couldn't help but feel a little upset that Grimmjow was helping in the preparations. He had always imagined that Grimmjow would, at the very last minute, come over to their side and fight alongside with them. With no Grimmjow in sight, he knew all the while it was just his wishful thinking.

But Grimm last night...If he truly meant what he said last night, then...

"Oi Ichigo, you alright?" Renji asked, concerned over the troubled expression on the teen's face.

Startled, Ichigo waved Renji away as nonchalantly as he could managed, "Come on, let's not waste time,"

He pulled ahead of their pre-decided group. With a glance and a shrug, Renji and Rukia followed him. The large group of Shinigamis dispersed. Four main groups to attack all four side of the fortress that is Las Noches and further divided into smaller groups. The more powerful ones formed groups of threes while the weaker ones were in groups of tens.

With a blast from the kidou team assigned to them, a hole large enough for their team to pass through comfortably appeared. Seeing the dark passage appeared in front of them, Ichigo felt a sense of déjà vu, the memories of what happened the last time they had barged into Las Noches still fresh in his mind.

A nod and the four groups of three spilt up into their respective ways.

Knowing that the hallways of Las Noches would be manipulated, their group didn't bother stopping to choose which passage to enter. Their zanpakutou were drawn as they shunpo-ed down the hallway, finally reaching a dimly lit room. The three stopped and formed a simple triangular formation, awaiting their first opponent.

"Feh, you guys finally reached,"

Ichigo's heart thudded. He knew that voice. He turned his head towards where he heard the voice came from, straining against the darkness to see if it was who he thought it was. Candles flared and the brightness dazzled him momentarily.

"Grimmjow?" Ichigo's voice came out unsure.

Renji and Rukia shared a confused look. Ichigo's voice was lacking in its usual anger and hatred for the Sexta Espada.

"Yo, Ichi," Grimmjow casually made his way towards them.

Ichigo's hope raised a little. Could it be possible that Grimmjow somehow had came to help them?

The smirking face of Grimmjow was suddenly right in front of him. One hand had reached forward, gripping his face. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could vaguely hear some yelling that sounded a lot like his Hollow. Strange, there's just something out of place here.

With a tug, Ichigo was pulled forward and his lips met Grimmjow's. His guard slipped a little and it was all that was needed.

A loud clink of metal striking metal caused him to finally realised what had happened. In front of him, Zabimaru was unsheathed, blocking the motion of Pantera that was poised to make a fatal move.

He felt Grimmjow's mouth smirked into their kiss and with an angry shove, pushed Grimmjow far into the room.

"What the hell?" Ichigo tried to regain his bearings.

"Ichigo! Are you okay?" Rukia's concerned voice came from his right.

"Bastard!" Renji shifted his attention away from Ichigo and back onto Grimmjow, "What did you do that for?"

"Why did you push me away, Ichi?" Grimmjow grinned ferally, "Don't you like it? Enjoy it?"

Had it all been a lie? Ichigo asked himself, disbelievingly. There was no doubt in his mind that Grimmjow had tried to kill him just moments ago.

"'Course he didn't! You sick fuck!" Renji yelled at him angrily.

"Really? I'm hurt," Grimmjow faked a hurt look, "And speaking of fucking, I was pretty sure he loved it when we did fuck,"

"What?" Renji's and Rukia's shocked voice echoed in the room and they promptly turned towards Ichigo for confirmation.

Horrorstruck that Grimmjow had so casually just told his friends about their relationship, Ichigo could do nothing except avoiding his friends' accusing looks.

"Tell us it's not true, Ichigo," Rukia said pleadingly when she saw Ichigo's response to Grimmjow's statement.

Ichigo only clutched Zangetsu tighter and squeezed his eyes shut.

"Ichigo!" Renji's yell broke him out of his trance and he only opened his eyes just in time to avoid a Bala from Grimmjow.

Unable to avoid the impact fully, Ichigo crashed into the wall of the room they were in. That's not the Grimmjow I know already, he's...

Ichigo pulled up Zangetsu in time, just as Pantera appeared in front of him. There was a loud clank at the crash and Ichigo looked straight into Grimmjow's taunting face. The eyes he had come to love was staring straight at him.

Grimmjow...

"Getsuga Tenshou!"

Grimmjow flew off to a side and Ichigo took the chance, "Ban-Kai!"

"Finally, Ichi," Grimmjow grinned, "I was wondering when you'll get serious,"