Slowly, I got up from bed. Groaning, I headed off to the bathroom.
Turning on the shower, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My blue-green tattoos underneath my eyes stood out against my tan skin tone, bringing out my blue eyes. My light blue hair all messy from sleep, and my hollow mask.
Nothing looked different; I looked like the same old Grimmjow. I felt, very, very different.
This girl, Orihime, was doing something to me, making me feel like I have a heart.
I growled. I am an arrancar, I have no heart, the only things I feel are hate and lust.
I hurried up and got into the shower. Quickly washing my hair and body, I got back out, did my hair, and got dressed.
How long had I been asleep? A couple hours? It felt like it.
I guess it was about time to take Orihime her meal then. I remembered the little trip outside we had just after breakfast this morning, when she held my hand. I could still feel the warmth of it.
I clenched my hand in a fist and walked off to the kitchen. Once again, a servant was already waiting for me there, just putting the soup on the tray. I took a glance at the tea.
"Hey, you. Get a little bowl of sugar for the tea." Instantly he scurried off.
Leaning against the door frame, I waited.
"Hey, stop blocking the doorway Grimmjow, some people want breakfast too you know."
I looked over my shoulder to see Stark.
"Just barley getting up, huh?" No surprise. Stark took naps almost as much as me.
In response, he yawned, loudly.
The servant came back then and set the bowl on the tray, bowing to Stark. "See ya' later." And I left.
Walking down the halls, I wondered why I even bothered with the sugar. Just because Orihime mentioned it, doesn't mean I had to get it. I twirled my finger around a piece of string in my pocket as I walked.
Without even stopping, I opened the door to her room. She wasn't in there.
As I looked around lazily, I motioned for the servant to leave.
I walked to the bathroom and heard running water.
'Oh. She's taking a shower.'
Should I wait? Or should I just go?
I decided to wait and went to go flip the light switch back on. It always annoyed me that she never used the light. I sat down on the couch, draping my arms across the back. My mind started to wander while I waited.
I knew how the lights worked, they use the sprit particles in the air for power, but how does Aizen get water in Hueco Mundo? How does it run into the pipes?
I hadn't noticed that the water had stopped. There was a little shriek and I turned just in time to see Orihime's leg disappear back into the bathroom.
"Grimmjow! What are you doing in here?" I smiled slightly.
"Givin' you your food, what do you think?"
There was a short pause, where I had to hold in my laughter.
"Oh, umm… could you hand me my spare set of clothes? They should be on the chair."
Looking around, I spotted her clothes. I picked them up and walked to the bathroom door, which was opened a crack, letting steam out.
Orihime peeked out, her hand holding up a towel. As I handed her clothes to her, she muttered a quick "Thanks." And shut the door.
I smiled again, and not a bloodthirsty evil smile, a regular, laughing smile.
I went back and resumed my position on the couch. I tried not to think that Orihime actually had nice looking legs, from what I saw.
She came back out, her hair wet and dripping as she walked.
"Have a nice shower eh?"
She turned and looked at him. "Grimmjow, you shouldn't peek at people. It's rude."
This time, I did laugh. She looked startled for a second, but smiled.
"I wasn't peeking, I was just sitting here waiting for you to finish." I smiled, showing all my teeth.
She just flipped her hair, showering me in droplets.
I smiled and looked away, as she started to brush out her hair.
Flicking water drops off my face, I looked around the room.
I don't know how I felt at the moment. I felt, Happy? Was that the emotion I felt around her?
I think I smiled more in the last couple minutes than my whole life. (Good nature, happy smiles, not evil ones.)
Did… Did I love this woman? No, could I love this woman? Can people like me love, and be loved?
I looked back at her, to see her watching me.
"What?"
"Oh. Nothing Grimmjow. It's just…"
I raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Her eyes darted around the room. "Why do you stay and talk to me? Why don't you just leave me when you deliver food?"
I felt a stab in my chest. "Why? Do you want me to leave?" I started to stand when she spoke again.
"No! It's just that, um… What…What do you get out it? Talking to me?"
I scowled, "Nothing. I just like your voice, and I would think you need someone to trust in a world where you can trust no one."
I looked away, gazing out at the moon.
"Can I trust you?" She whispered softly.
Slowly, I shifted my eyes to look at hers. Could she? Would I ever betray her? Gazing into those pale blue eyes, I knew the answer.
"Yes, you can trust me."
Orihime smiled, a sad, smile, but at the same time, it was a happy one. She turned and gazed out at the moon.
We didn't say anything for a long time, there was nothing to say.
"Well, you better eat, before you go hungry." I don't know how long a human can wait between meals, but I didn't want to be sure.
She giggled and went to get her food when she gasped. "Oh, thank you Grimmjow! I was beginning to think you didn't have sugar here!"
I watched as she dumped practically the whole bowl in her tea. "Aren't you overdoing it, Orihime?"
She looked up, and smiled. "No. I used to have tea all the time at home! I always like exactly 15 cubes in my tea, one more and it would taste too sweet, one less and it would take not sweet enough!"
I watched as she took a big gulp of tea.
'How is she so skinny?' Mentally, I laughed at myself.
"Grimmjow?"
I was sucked back from my mental jibber jabber. "Yea?"
"Do arrancars eat?"
"Of course"
"Like, food? Like soup? Or egg rolls?" She held up her bowl.
"We can. We don't have too though."
"Oh… Grimmjow?"
"Look, you can just ask the question."
"…I'm a little confused. The first time I saw you, you weren't like you are now. You… You seemed like a…" She trailed off.
I knew the word she was thinking of. Monster.
"I'm not… I…" I was at a lost for words. "I'm not that person anymore, or, I don't think I am."
"Why?" She was looking at me, her hands resting around the bowl in her lap.
I growled a little, "I don't know! Something you did."
Orihime looked appalled. "Me?" she pointed to herself.
"Yes you. You did something to me." I scowled.
"No I didn't! I didn't do anything!" She tried to defend herself.
Taking a deep breath, I continued, "No… You're not getting it. I'm not accusing you of anything. You, you in person, changed me."
We just stared at each other for a very long time. When she simply said, "I haven't known you for more than a couple days though…"
"Two. I've known you for two days." I scowled at the wall. I can't believe I was having this conversation.
"Oh… Is that why you talk to me so much? Because I changed you?"
"Yea, that's why."
'I'm not in love. I can't love. Arrancars can't love, and we can't be loved.' I kept telling myself this, as I stood up and left the room.
I didn't know where to go, I didn't want to sleep, I didn't want to go anywhere, all I wanted to do is turn right back around and be with Orihime. I punched the wall in fury, causing a series of cracks to form and pieces of the wall came down in large chunks.
What was I doing? Spending so much thought and time on this girl? I growled again and stormed off down the halls.
"Well, well, well. What has got the Sexta Espada all worked up?"
I growled again. "Sazael, I'm not in a good mood, so fuck. Off. Now." I spit each word out as I turned to face the pink haired man.
Chuckling her raised his hands, "What? I'm just asking. Who could get you so worked up like this?" I hated that smile of his, so god damn much. "Anyways, Grimmjow, you're just the man I wanted to see. You are in charge of Orihime Inoue, am I right?"
I tensed up, looking at him suspiciously. "Yea, so what?"
"Nothing, it's just that, I've never seen a human so up close before. Do you mind if I do a couple, completely harmless tests on her?"
"Fuck. No."
He raised an eyebrow. "It will only be a couple littl-"
"I said no. End of story fuck face."
I stormed past him.
'Jeez, did everyone have a thing for her?! First Nnoitora now this prick? Did everyone have it out for my girl?!'
…Wait. My girl!?!?!? She was not my girl. I needed to punch another wall… or better yet, I need to go kill a couple hollows to get my anger out. Quickly, I sonidoed away, down the halls, out side, away from Hueco Mundo… I stopped and searched for a group of hollows near by… There! To the east.
Quickly heading to them, Orihime's face flitted threw my mind. I closed my eyes tightly, and shoved her away from my mind just as I reached the hollows. I started to make work of them, trying to enjoy myself, but just couldn't.
When they had all fallen, I tilted my head up and yelled wordlessly at the sky. Yelled all my fury out.
"What are you doing to me!?" I yelled, before falling to my knees. I kneeled there, panting, and trying to catch my breath.
I started searching for more hollows near by.
As I looked in the mirror, I saw I was a mess.
My hair was all messy and loose, my gel had come out. Wiping off the blood spatters on my face, I undressed, for my clothed where all bloody. Without bothering to fix my hair, I washed my face in warm water and got a clean pair of clothes.
I had been out there killing hollows for what seemed like forever. I know it was way past the time when I usually feed Orihime dinner. A servant would have brought it without me then. I walked to my bed, and flopped down heavily.
Rolling over onto my back, I stared at the ceiling.
Maybe I should request to switch the duty of taking care of Orihime to someone else?
No, that wouldn't work, then somebody else would have her.
I growled, and turned to my side, curling into my ball and closed my eyes. I lay there, silently, for who knows how long?
Finally, when it was apparent I wasn't going to sleep anytime soon, I sat up, and walked out of my room, without stopping to get my jacket.
Making quick time, I sonidoed to her room, any quietly went in. She was sleeping, on her couch. When I came in she turned, and muttered something. Shutting the door, I made my way across the room and sat down watching her sleep.
She looked so... peaceful. So… Stunning…
For awhile I tried to make out what she was mumbling, but it was all complete nonsense. "There's a bumble bee…" or "you have to boil it…" Eventually I gave up. Just sitting there, watching her made me feel a thousand times better.
I sighed, and scratched the side of my head; there seriously was something wrong with me.
"Uhh… Grimmjow…"
I froze. Did she just say my name? "Grimmjow… Don't… Leave…"
Yes! I was sure of it! I sat there, waiting to see if she would say it again. Her face looked totally relaxed. I couldn't help but smile slightly.
She was dreaming of me. She wanted me to stay.
A thousand thoughts flew through my head. Did she feel the same way I did? Was she as confused about all this as I was?
As I continued to look at her, I realized something. I loved this woman. Completely, and wholly, I loved her… I scowled at the thought.
Slowly, I opened my eyes. I was sleeping on the floor, right by my bed. I guess I passed out from exhaustion before I could get to the bed last night. I got a jacket, and with out bothering to put gel in my hair, left for the kitchen.
There was a tray of food for Orihime, as well as a bowl of sugar, but no servant. I glared around, looking for some one to take this food. When I couldn't spot anyone, I just took it myself.
Heading into Orihime's room, I found her once again, gazing out into the moon. Lazily, I flipped on the light.
"Really, now? Are you always in the dark?" She turned slowly, smiling.
"Grimmjow? Why can't I see the sun from here?"
"Because, the section the arrancars live in is outside the dome of that fake sun."
I push the cart inside and shut the door. "Eat."
Still smiling, she took the food and sat down. Around a mouthful of bread she asked, "Do you not like the sun Grimmjow?"
"No, not really. It's ok I guess." I went and sat down on the couch, taking my usual position, my arms draped across the back.
She dumped some sugar cubes into her tea and began to drink.
"Grimmjow, One day, you should bring some food so you can eat with me." Orihime smiled brightly.
"Sure…" I said and looked away. "So, what do you want to do today?"
"Oh… I'm not sure… What do you want to do Grimmjow?"
"Whatever."
We sat there in a silence for awhile while she finished up her food.
"I like your hair today. It looks nice all messy and not put up."
I had almost forgotten about that. I stroked a hand through my hair as she giggled.
"Do you like stories?"
I looked at her and smiled a smile that would send most people running. "No."
Setting down her empty bowl she came and sat next to me, curling into my side like a kitten. I was shocked by her bold actions, but still put my arm around her shoulder.
"Let me tell you a story Grimmjow. Okay… there was a princess, who was captured by the evil bunny lord. They locked her up far away, in a tower, so she wouldn't be any trouble…"
"Bunny lord?" I said, chuckling.
She frowned, "Yes, bunny lord." I laughed as she pouted.
"The bunny lord took the princess and used her power of light to fuel his empire, which had gone dark."
I chuckled again, and she looked up, "Grimmjowwwww. You can't laugh! I'm serious!"
I raised my hands in apology and motioned for her to continue. She just kept string at me.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just that you shouldn't scowl so much." Reaching up, she smoothed out the furrow between my eyebrows again, and craning her neck, she kissed my forehead.
As she backed away, I laid my hand gently on her cheek. She froze, looking into my eyes.
Bending slowly, to give her time to look away or say something, I kissed her, gently at first, then we started to move our lips with passion.
Her hand rested on my shoulder, and she squeezed it as she pulled away, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Grimmjow… I'm… I…" She trailed off.
I felt the familiar stabbing in my chest.
Looking away, I spoke, "Sorry. That was too much."
"I… I just don't know… T-this won't work." I heard the beginning of tears in her voice.
My heart skipped a beat, and I took her face in between my palms, crushing my lips against hers, then, suddenly, I got up and left the room.
'What a fool I am…'
I stood outside the door, hearing her soft sniffles, knowing she was crying. I sighed, and scowled as I walked away. I just messed everything up. Fuck, I was a dumb ass. I knew from the very first time she spoke his name, that she was in love with Kurosaki, and when things where finally going my way, I fucked it up.
Now she was as confused as I am, and suffering for it.
She was just taken away from her life, and I go and kiss the chick? Twice?! Shit…
I needed to give her time to think.
Leaning against a wall, I slowly slid to the floor.
I guess that settles it, I can not be loved. It's a shame I even can love, if my fixation with the woman can even be called love.
What should I do while I wait? I've been sleeping a lot more than usually lately, so I don't really want to sleep. I sighed. It's a good thing arrancars don't dream; sleep is my only escape from her.
Bored as hell, I started to think of people to go see. Nnoitora and Sazael where out of the question, I don't think I can handle any of them right now.
Stark is most likely sleeping. Halibel, well… she's a bitch. Yammy is too annoying, and Ulquiorra is a pussy.
Maybe I should go see what Sazael is doing, there's always something new he's working on that might capture my attention, or I could just smash a couple things to mess with him.
Making up my mind, I stood up slowly and headed off to the west, where Sazael's lab is located.
It took me only a short time till I got there, opening the door, and walking cockily in.
"What's up?" I said, pretending not to be interested in anything.
"Hello, Grimmjow-san. What are you doing here?" I scowled at him; he talked like he had a stick up his ass.
"Whatever I want."
"Make yourself at home… "
He waved me off and walked towards the back of the lab, shuffling with his papers in his hand.
He turned slightly, "Oh, Nice hair." then began walking away again.
I stared at him in disbelief. Sazael never, and I mean NEVER likes anyone in his lab. He has to follow you around and watches your every move. Now he was just, telling me to make myself at home?
He must have something very busy to be doing. (But apparently not to busy to say something about my messy bed head.) Intrigued, I followed him. He had set his files and various papers down on a desk, and was now leaning over a table. I watched him for a minute or so, before deciding he wasn't doing anything interesting and turned to leave.
That's when I saw her name.
On a paper sticking out of a file on his desk, was the name "Orihime Inoue."
Stealing a glance at him, I took the paper out and read.
"Orihime Inoue is healthy and I'm not seeing any type of rare human diseases in her blood or skin samples. She should be well fit and healthy enough to go forward with the change and procedures. After doing some tests on her, I have concluded that her power and hairpins are indeed, connected to her soul and no matter if the hairpins are destroyed, she will not lose her powers to reject. The change should not affect this or …"
Before I had a chance to continue, Sazael plucked the paper from my hands, and neatly slipped it into the file again.
I growled. You. Do. Not. Pluck. Things. From. Me. Ever.
"Grimmjow-san, I am very busy. Please leave."
I snarled, exposing my teeth. "That's Grimmjow-sama to you." And without another word, I punched him square in the jar with enough force, I heard something snap. I turned and stormed off.
'What the fuck was that all about!? When did he even do any tests on her?! What was this change he kept mentioning!?'
I growled and stomped down the halls, pushing aside anyone in my way. I should have stayed and took the paper, the only reason I didn't was because Orihime doesn't like violence. I screamed in fury and sent a servant running down the halls.
He was never going to touch her again, ever. Whatever tests he did, he won't be doing them anymore.
I was too angry to think, I was too angry to do anything. Well, anything that didn't involve violence, which I felt an insanely intent urge to go do. Growling again, I came to my room, and slammed the door shut as I walked in. Kicking a chair across the room, I make my way to the bed.
I was defiantly not in a sleepy mood, but I had nothing else to sit on, since I just kicked my only chair away. My feet dangling off the bed, I took in deep, calming breaths. They didn't help.
I punched my pillow, sending feathers and cloth flying around my face. As I sat and watched them float gracefully down to the bed, I was able to gather my thoughts.
So, I had made the woman I have feelings for, (For the first time in my life) be very confused about her feelings, toward me.
I have discovered some tests that Sazael has been doing behind my back, and I have to figure out what "The change" is.
Well fuck, I was screwed.
