Grimmjow trudged back to his old room, seething silently. He couldn't believe, after all he'd done, he was back in this place.

"Welcome back." A snide voice snickered.

Grimmjow's eyes flickered upward to meet the frenzied eye of Nnoitra. "What the fuck do you want, dipshit."

Nnoitra snorted, "What? That's how you greet an old friend?" his sneer widened, "Why the fuck didja come back?"

"I didn't, you ass." Grimmjow snapped, continuing his walk with Nnoitra.

"Yeah, I kinda figured." Nnoitra huffed, flexing his fingers absentmindedly like he wanted to wrap them around somebody's throat. "So howja get back?"

"Black mail."

"YOU!" Nnoitra jeered, his violet eye dancing in a crazed light, "What the hell!"

Grimmjow snarled a reply and hunched his shoulders, his irritation rolling off him in waves.

Nnoitra raised an eyebrow but didn't pry, "So, what. Your back for good?"

"Hell no." Grimmjow growled, "I'm getting outta here first chance I get."

"Good luck with that man." Nnoitra sighed, sneering at a lowly Arrancar, making him tremble, "I'm fucking amazed you made it out last time."

Grimmjow's hand twitched toward his scar, "Same here…"

Nnoitra sneered, "Well enough of this shit, I gotta go. See ya around."

Grimmjow grunted and walked into his room, slamming the door shut with an echoing bang. He trudged to his bed and face planted into the middle of the slightly musty smelling sheets, "I'm back."

Gin looked up as Aizen walked into the control room, "Aizen-chan!"

"Gin." Aizen acknowledged, running a lazy eye over the surveillance cameras, "Where were you last night?"

"Eh?" Gin suddenly became incredibly interested in the control panel, "Wattya mean?"

"You were not here." Aizen supplied calmly, walking to the back of his right hand man's chair, "Where were you?"

Gin turned around and smiled foxily, "Why Aizen-chan? Didja have other…ideas for me?"

"No." Aizen sniffed, looking peeved, "I was merely inquiring."

"I was at the lake." Gin said simply, "I was gettin' bored."

"Ah." Aizen replied, his attention wavering slightly, "Well fine." He left with his nose in the air and his bitch curl bouncing.

Gin waited until his footsteps died away before releasing a pent up gust of air, slouching into his chair, "Damn tha' was too close…"

Ichigo was shoved roughly into the human world by Ulquiorra, stumbling slightly as his feet hit the pavement. They were in the park; which was empty of both people and animals.

"You would do well to avoid us, trash." Ulquiorra drawled.

Ichigo straightened up, his eyes flashing murderously.

Ulquiorra continued, "If you displease us, or get in our way…well then our frustration will be vented on the 6th Espada. Understand?"

Ichigo blanched, "G-Grimmjow? But he's one of your men now!"

Ulquiorra gave the teen the look one would give to their shoe when they stepped in a pile of shit, "Your point?"

Ichigo swallowed thickly, his heart hammering, "Don't hurt him."

"Then don't let us see your face again." Ulquiorra summed up, whirling on his heel and marching back to Hueco Mundo in a flurry of coat tails and attitude.

Ichigo waited until the portal had closed before crumpling to his knees and releasing a strangled sob, "Grimm…." He hunched in a ball and tried to think, tried to plan, but all that came to his mind where those final touches…those final words…three words in particular. He gave up and let his mind take over, immersing himself in what Grimmjow had said to him, how he held him, what his lips felt like. Ichigo bit his bottom lip and trailed his tongue lightly over it, tasting the lingering flavor of his now enemy.

Enemy.

Ichigo frowned, his mind beginning to plot, "Enemy…" he whispered over and over, tasting the bitter word. He stood so suddenly that the blood rushed to his head, making him feel fuzzy and disoriented. He raced off down the street and barged into a small rather lonely looking shop, "URAHARA!"

"Eh!" a startled voice yelped, as a sandy haired man jumped and nearly spilled his tea, "Oh! Ichigo! Welcome—"

"No time!" Ichigo rushed, "I need a portal to the Soul Society! Quickly!"

Urahara had enough sense not to question the eccentric teen's demand, or try and calm the crazy light that shown in his eyes, "Very well."

(One death chase by the cleaners later…)

Ichigo hurriedly knocked on the Head Captain's meeting room.

"Enter."

Ichigo rushed inside, pausing only to kick the door closed, "I need help." He barely waited for the assembled Captain's to meet his eyes before he shot off in an explanation of what had happened, leaving out the personal bits. As he explained everyone's expression went from confused to grieved in a matter of minutes.

"Then he has succeeded." Yamamoto rumbled, sitting down heavily in his chair, "His army is at his fullest. Now—"

"Weren't you listening!" Ichigo cried desperately, "Grimmjow's in there and we need to get him out!"

A heavy silence descended upon the meeting, nobody would look the flustered teen in the eye. Finally, Byakuya steeped forward and addressed the ceiling, "Kurosaki, we cannot help your friend. It is the least of our troubles; we need to focus on the King Key."

"You would have never known about the Key unless Grimmjow hadn't told you!" Ichigo growled, "You owe him that much!"

Retsu looked at Ichigo sadly, "I'm sorry, but we cannot help him."

Ichigo bared his teeth in fury, "Fine! Until you help me than I won't assist you! I won't fight with you until Grimmjow is back where he belongs!"

"Don't be rash—" Yamamoto began, but was cut off when Ichigo stormed out of the room, slamming the giant oak doors behind him.

Ichigo raced out of the Soul Society and into the human world, blood pounding in his ears, "Those sons of bitches!" He snarled, balling his hands into fists.

A small snicker echoed throughout his mind, filled with sadistic amusement.

Ichigo froze, his eyebrows furrowing, "What the…?"

"Ah come on King." A snide voice chided, "Ya can't have forgotten me already."

Hichigo Shirosaki materialized in front of him, "Miss me?"

Ichigo staggered back a couple of feet, "YOU!"

"Yes me." Hichigo sniffed, looking bored, his golden eyes flashing in the sun.

"What are you doing here!" Ichigo growled.

Hichigo sneered, "Well in case ya haven't noticed, its pouring rain in yer inner world, King. And I hate rain." He grumbled. "So what the hell's wrong with ya?"

Ichigo was considering to tell him to get stuffed, but paused. This person, annoying and infuriating as he might be, was probably the only person he could tell. Ichigo sighed sadly and slumped to the ground, pulling his knees up to his chin, "It's a long story, Hichigo…"

The hollow raised an eyebrow but collapsed neatly to the ground, folding his legs under him, "Well why doncha' start from the beginning?"

Ichigo felt the smallest of smiles play around his mouth when he remembered waking up from his nightmare to concerned blue eyes, "Well, it began at night…"

(Later)

"…and so the Soul Society refused to help. Then you came. End of story." Ichigo finished, his chest aching like somebody had shot a gaping hole through him.

Hichigo frowned, chewing on the information, "So, in a nutshell, we just gotta rescue this guy? Grimmjow?"

"Well, yeah." Ichigo concluded, "Hang on, what's with the 'we'?"

Hichigo stood and brushed himself off, "Well dumb ass, I'm not gonna letcha' go and get yerself killed. So I'll help."

Ichigo glared, "Why? What's in it for you?"

"No rain." Hichigo said simply, "Now get off yer ass and let's go!"

Ichigo scrambled to his feet, mind whirling, "Ok, so we need Urahara to make us a portal—"

"Urahara?" Hichigo snorted, "No way. I'll do it. Much faster." He reached behind him and gripped his sword, pulling it out of its bindings he held it in front of him.

"You? How?" Ichigo stammered.

"I'm a hollow, remember King?" Hichigo snickered, "I'm rather certain I can find a hollow world." And with that he slashed the air, creating a black portal.

Ichigo felt an overwhelming emotion crash down on him, he spun around and hugged his hollow tightly, "Thank you so much."

Hichigo blinked looking startled before hugging him back briefly, "Ok ok, you're not gonna cry on me are ya?"

Ichigo chuckled softly and let go, grinning, "No, I'm not."

Hichigo snorted, "Good, now get yer ass in there and let's go!"

Ichigo eyed the darkness suspiciously but walked in without too much hesitation, followed by the only person who would help him.

Gin looked at the monitor, grinning as he saw two people, one with vibrant orange hair, walking towards Las Noches. "Company!" he thrilled.

Aizen looked up from his tea, smiling warmly, "You see, Grimmjow? He's coming anyway."

A ragged, torn, and bloody figure looked up from next to Aizen's swivel chair, his blue eyes distant and vapid.

Gin smiled sharply and poked the screen, enlarging a picture of a scowling Ichigo, "Recognize him?"

Blue eyes glanced at the picture from under matted blue-red hair. A little life sparked in them at the sight of flaming chocolate eyes.

Aizen watched quietly, his smile never leaving his face, "Ulquiorra, please escort Grimmjow to his room."

A white shadow flitted out from behind the chair and gripped Grimmjow's upper arm, making the Sexta wince as pain clawed its way through his body.

Ichigo raced ahead of his hollow and burst into the white light, hitting the marble floor at top speed and staggering to the right as Hichigo followed.

The hollow straightened himself up and sniffed distastefully, "It's too white."

Ichigo looked around and agreed. White marble sculpted itself into a fortress, the ceilings where higher than any sky scraper and the room was massive, making the pair feel small and isolated.

A small doorway was open at the far end of the room, and a person lounged cockily in the doorway, "Welcome to Las Noches." A slick voice purred.

Ichigo and Hichigo tensed as the stranger walked into sharper focus. He stopped about three yards away and observed them like a snake.

He had light pink hair and white bone glasses. His eyes shinned in a twisted, vile manner and his smile reminded Ichigo of a venous fly trap. "My name is Szayel Apollo Granz." He drawled, "And you better remember that."

Hichigo made a gagging motion behind Ichigo's back before straightening up and trying to keep a straight face.

Despite everything, it made Ichigo grin lightly, "Well, who are you?"

Szayel looked muffled, "I believe I just told you."

Hichigo rolled his eyes, "What rank, dumb shit?"

A small sneer played on his face, "Does it matter?"

"Yes." They both answered.

Szayel sniffed haughtily, "Well, I am Espada number eight. Happy?" He examined his fingernails.

Ichigo stepped closer, "Well you better move because we need to go in there."

"I think not." Szayel said, looking bored.

Hichigo edged away unnoticed as Ichigo glared, "Move."

"You didn't say please."

"Move now…please." Ichigo said, sarcasm oozing from the last word.

Szayel opened his mouth to retaliate when something cold and sharp pressed against the soft flesh of his neck, breaking the skin and sending a small trickle of blood running down his chest. "Hm?"

Hichigo grinned like a psycho, "Hey King, I'll meet up with ya."

Ichigo shook his head, "I don't want to get separated in here. Just kill him and lets go."

"H-hold on!" Szayel yelped, as the blade pressed against his throat, "We can make a deal!"

Hichigo was all for beheading the pink haired loon but Ichigo frowned at him, "What deal?"

"Information." Szayel breathed.

Ichigo walked closer, "I'm listening."

"First remove this cursed blade!"

"Ok." Hichigo said cheerfully, and reached around, taking the Espada's sword and tossing it behind him, "Now talk."

Szayel fumed silently until the sword persuaded him into vocalizing, "Grimmjow. I know where he is, and his condition."

Ichigo leaped forward, his hands seizing the front of the white robe, "TELL ME!"

Even Hichigo quailed slightly on the fury the Shinigami radiated.

"H-he's being held in his old room. In the Espada corridor, number six." Szayel stammered, looking slightly alarmed and haughty at the same time, "His condition is…well…not good."

Ichigo growled threateningly "How bad?"

Szayel glared, "Very bad, now please release your grip. You're wrinkling my clothes."

Ichigo snarled but let go, "Which way to the Espada corridor?"

Szayel brushed himself off as best he could with a sword at his throat, "Up the stairs, take a right, three hallways down, and then another left. There'll be numbers on the doors."

Ichigo raced up the stairs, not bothering to tell Hichigo what he should do with his captive.

"Now you'll have to let me go." Szayel sniffed.

Hichigo leaned close to him, smiling dangerously, he whispered in his ear, "I never promised."

Szayel reached for his sword only to find it not there, "You—!"

Hichigo let his blade slide through the soft flesh, spraying a fountain of sweet scarlet liquid into the air and ground.

Szayel choked, and the crumpled to the floor, look furious and slightly perplexed.

Hichigo slid his blade into its wrappings and followed his King up the stairs, not bothering to wipe the blood off his hands.