The moment many of you, if not all, have been waiting for (aside from when I make up for the prior angst). Grimm-kitty is about to take on Aizen for leadership of the Espada clan! YEAAAAAAA, GRIMM-KITTY! I think you can all tell who I'll favor in this one, no? =3

I'll also have to apologize, as I'm still trying to get back in the swing of things and my posting will be slower than usual. I'm also trying to get started on my book again, but I'll try to divide my time evenly between the two. That just means I won't get to post as often. That's okay, I've been spoiling you all with daily posts so far. You need to learn that you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Shiro: Wait... we can't?

Ichi: No, you can't.

Shiro: But... What are we supposed to do with it! D8

Vaerin and Ichi: ^^; It's just an expression.

Part 20- Grimmjow Rises

Grimmjow carefully maneuvers Ichigo from is arms to Goliath's, the large gargoyle wrapping his wings carefully around the smaller male to help provide a sense of comfort. With a small smile of thanks, Grimmjow turns to face Aizen. Demona's hand on his shoulder stops him, however, and he's gazing into her furious eyes.

"Do not lose to him," she hisses.

"I won't."

"Make us proud, Grimmjow," Angela grins. "I know Hudson would've loved to see this, so I'll have to tell him all the details!"

He nods, smiling a tad wider at the Manhattan clan before turning once more. Ichigo is safe with them, he has no doubt in his mind about that, and that's the only thing he would've worried about while fighting. Aizen is furious, though he catches the scent of fear from the other. Grimmjow was always the most promising hatchling converted, easily falling into the Espada abilities and overpowering the best to get his reputation.

"Make your mommy proud!" Nelliel cries out.

"Nell!" the teal haired male blushes brightly.

"Don't forget! The rules stand… except I'll most likely play favorites and blame Aizen for everything," the woman says off handedly.

Grimmjow rolls his eyes, waiting for everything to start with baited breath. Grimmjow has never been a patient person, Aizen knows that, but he's not stupid either. He's not going to make the first move, because that's what the other wants. Aizen lets his gargoyle features overtake him, wings stretching outward and claws flexing in threat… but the younger male just waits.

"I have to say, I'm not surprised it's come to this," the brunette chuckles. "After all… You were converted for the sole purpose of leading the Espada."

"Great, I hate fate," Grimmjow hisses.

"In fact, if it weren't for Yamamoto declaring the Espada unworthy of life, you would've been their leader the day I took you from Nelliel."

"Do you ever shut up? Or do you just like the sound of your own voice?"

"… So when were you planning on telling Ichigo what you know about his parents?"

Grimmjow's breath hitches and he catches Ichigo's questioning sound from Goliath's wings, his eyes sweeping that way briefly to see the other trying to peer out. It's at that moment that the brunette darts forward, sword ready to run the younger male through. He barely dodges it, twisting his form just in time to get away from injury. Aizen turns to face him, Grimmjow already fallen into a defensive position.

"You never really showed much knack for your ability, though," Aizen points out. "Never even took a gargoyle form."

"For your information, I have two," Grimmjow sneers. "And I don't use them, because the stronger my human form is, the stronger they'll be. That's a little lesson most of you missed."

"It doesn't matter. I will defeat you and with your defeat… Ichigo will be mine."

"Kick his ass, Grimm!" Ichigo shouts. "Don't let him talk about me like that! I'm not property, damn it!"

"Calm down, Kitten, he won't win."

"He better not! I'll hunt you down in the afterlife!"

A shiver passes through him at the thought of that vengeful form hunting him down, his mind already demanding he not let that happen. Aizen leaps once more, Grimmjow's tail appearing to slip around the hilt of the brunette's now sheathed sword and toss it aside.

"You…"

"Hey, I've learned to master every part of my forms," he grins feral. "It's not my fault you chose to ignore some."

Grimmjow dodges a punch for his jaw, catching Aizen in the gut before the jump back away from one another. Goliath is having difficulty keeping Ichigo from getting away, the orangette determined to see what's going on and fighting to slip between the larger male's wings. Finally, he parts them enough for Ichigo to watch and that settles him down. Aizen takes to the air, Grimmjow's form turning purely feline as he jumps toward a tree. His powerful legs kick off the tree, his claws aching to imbed themselves into the gargoyle he's heading straight for, and then they're slamming against each other. Grimmjow's fangs find purchase in Aizen's shoulder, his claws raking through the thin membrane of the brunette's wings, and they spin uncontrollably as they tumble to the ground. Grimmjow lands on his feet, but Aizen hit's the ground hard with a solid thump.

"You'll never defeat me, Aizen," Grimmjow snarls. "But I'm not gonna kill quickly. You threatened my mate, you destroyed our egg, and I'll see you burn for it… but only after I make you pay!"

He presses a large and heavy paw between the brunette's shoulder blades, his teeth gripping one wing before a quick jerk tears it clean off his back. The brunette howls in pain, Demona grinning like the demon she's named after, and the teal furred wildcat does the same too the other. His claws tear skin and flesh, digging bone deep as his jaws snap limbs with ease. Nelliel starts to look very disgusted, trying her best not to throw up from the sheer mutilation going on in front of her. Finally, she can't take it anymore.

"Grimmjow Jaegerjaques!" she snaps.

The feline looks up innocently, a piece of flesh hanging from his bloody maw. The sea green haired female gags, glaring heatedly at her cub.

"How many times to I have to tell you not to play with your victims!" she snaps. "I think he's suffered enough!"

"But…"

"Don't make me tell you again, young man!"

With a childish groan, the feline vanishes in a cloud of snow. Grimmjow, back to his human form, draws his sword with a petulant mumble. It's quieted immediately when Nell gives him a motherly scowl, the sword coming down on Aizen quickly to end him.

"Grimmjow!"

"Okay, okay!" he whines.

He cuts the brunette's head off, having purposefully missed any fatal wounds the first time. Aizen crumbles away, the Espada visibly relaxing with the absence of such a man. Nelliel, however, marches over to Grimmjow and grabs his ear. As the feisty female yanks her cub over by said ear and Grimmjow whines at the treatment, the Espada can't help but sweat drop.

"That's supposed ta be our leader?" Gin snorts in humor. "He can't even control his mom, what the hell can do with us?"

There, only one chapter left. How are you all holding up? You still liking it? I hope so, because I don't plan on changing it. ^^ Once more, I apologize for going back to my book. I've had writer's block for a few months now and I'm really eager to get on to the fourth book! Unfortunately, my mind is brimming with ideas for that one and it's full of cobwebs for the third ^^; Stupid brain, WORK WILL YOU! D=