AN: Slight language warning in this chapter, but of course, because Nnoitra's in it...Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 4 - Painful Reminders

Character Storyline: Ichigo Kurosaki (I-G)

Ugh...my head.

Ichigo sat up suddenly, coughing desperately to clear his lungs and throat before grasping his pounding head. Pain reverberated and burned in every tear left across his flesh. Every inch of his body ached, he'd been beaten and tossed around like a rag doll during the crash, every moment coming back to haunt him as he tightened his grasp, locking his fingers in his light orange hair that was still held down by some of the dense liquid.

"You feeling ok? Ya' took a few pretty nasty hits back there." The blue haired man turned to him as the pain finally began subsiding, only warning of the imminent revenge it would return with when the numbing sensation faded. Ichigo didn't respond, he was still unable to piece words together after what he'd just experienced, he thought he was going to die, that those moments were the end. "I'm ok." He finally replied in a rough, dry voice before coughing again, his ribs reminding him of the thrashing they'd received. Damn it...they're broken. He thought as he grimaced while grasping his side. Pain rippled through his senses making him bite his lip to suppress the cries threatening to escape.

"You sure don't look ok." Grimmjow replied bluntly while sorting through his pockets, his frustration evident on his face. Ichigo felt the chilling surroundings hit him, it had been snowing. The warmth near his left side drew his attention to a large well-built fire pit, he watched the flames flickering and dancing slowly, the distinct crackling sound hitting his ears as his eyes drifted up, watching the glowing embers pass into the cold embrace of the air before disappearing. His attention was drawn back at the sound of cursing, Grimmjow was sorting through some bags both were clearly soaked. Ichigo noticed them immediately, after all they did nearly crush him into the back of the helicopter. He must have dived into that freezing water to get them from the wreckage...and rescue me. He thought as his mind replayed the scene...that figure was him. "Thank you." He rasped dryly as he painfully pulled his knees in to his chest and turned towards the fire, his clothes were nearly dry already despite the cold temperature.

Grimmjow looked up towards him, pausing for a moment before smirking and returning to his search without a word. After a few moments of silently watching the bleak surroundings Ichigo's attention was quickly drawn back to the grumpy man, whose mood had improved upon finding what he was searching for. He watched as the blue-haired man dragged out a smaller bag filled with the rations they'd stored. He pulled out some cans and threw one to Ichigo which he clumsily caught. "Enjoy" The officer smirked "This is all you'll be gettin', I'd try to radio for help," He paused as he pulled up his radio gear dripping with water "If it weren't, ya know, useless." He said turning his back on the orange haired teen. Ichigo had only just realised how hungry he really was, sighing he clicked open the can and started eating.

Grimmjow pulled out a small tightly sealed box before he opened it carefully, retrieving a small object from within. He aimed it towards the sky with one hand lazily placed over his right ear before a bright orange-red flash viciously engulfed the camp, temporarily blinding them both. The small rocket cut easily through the pitch black sky, leaving a light glistening trail before another flash lit up the dull midnight blue and replaced it with a dim orange. A flare. Ichigo watched the display intently as the last flickers of the flare disappeared consumed once again by the dark sky.

"If they don't see that, then tomorrow we'll have'ta move out on foot." The officer grunted as he finished the sentence before mumbling something to himself and laying back, seemingly looking into the pitch black sky, not a single star to light it. "Well we should take tonight in shifts, I'll take the first one." He didn't even make a second of eye contact before he rolled over with his back to the teen.

Thoughts wouldn't leave his mind, his captain had taken him in and now...now he could be dead.

- 2 years ago-

"You horrible delinquent!"
"Thief!"
"Someone stop him, call the police!"

The calls echoed behind him as he fled from the scene, a sly grin plastered across his face as he sprinted through a back alleyway to their den. He was a stray. Nothing more, nothing less. He did what he needed to do, to survive, that's all he could do. Survive.

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, was the name he'd been blessed to gain from his days in the infamous gang, The Espada. It was a murderous band of thieves, violent and skilled ex criminals and just about any other scum that came in off of the streets with a mean attitude and a will to fight. Each was given a number that the rest of the gang deemed as their position upon joining and each member defended their position viciously, the better your number the more "perks" you got, and the more respect you gained- most of the time. There he'd found a home, not quite the best one but they supported him no less, he was granted the sixth position as recognition of his skill, he was the sexta espada.

"Hey Grimmjow, you comin'?!" A tall, thin man with dark hair and an ominous wide grin greeted him with his usual narrowed, cold eyes. "Where to?" He grunted in response, tilting his head back over the arm of the torn couch. "We're going to steal some more supplies, we're running low and business isn't doing well with that new captain around."

Business...Grimmjow had glazed over the fact that half of the group ran an illegal business, he wanted no part in it. No reason to dig an even deeper grave for yourself is there? He knew he was at a low point in life, but he dared not to dive lower and associate with that side of the gang. "New Captain?" He questioned as it clicked in his head, he hadn't heard of the Karakura town police getting a new captain. Nnoitra spat at the mere thought of him "Yeah that damn cocky bastard took out three of our members last week, Kenpachi Zaraki's his name." The vehement hatred flowed in his voice as he kicked a wall. "If I catch him, I'll show him what it means to cross the Espada!" He yelled before disappearing down the broken hall towards the rundown garage. "C'mon Grimmjow!" He called impatiently, followed by more crashes as he continued a path of destruction.

"Kenpachi...Zaraki?" The blue haired espada spoke the name under his breath, a curious flicker danced behind his eyes, something told him he was in for a fight.

Just who is he?

Grimmjow pulled himself off of the couch and hastily followed the path of broken walls and glass to catch up with Nnoitra. He drew closer to the dim light of the garage at the end of the hall before a pale hand grabbed him, his deep blue eyes lit up momentarily with shock before they faded to a narrowed glare as they met emerald-green. "Ulquiorra." His voice seethed as he hit the cuatro espada's hand away from his collar. "Do not go with him, Grimmjow." Ulquiorra warned, his dull expression unchanging much like his deadpan voice. "Why the hell not?!" The sexta espada hissed in reply.

"You won't come back if you encounter that man." His emerald eyes watched the blue haired man carefully as he conveyed no emotion in the grim warning.
"Who Zaraki? You think I'm afraid of some new big shot!? I'll show you, I'll beat that guy into the ground!"
"You are a fool to go, he killed our previous 6th espada and has imprisoned our 9th and 10th. You will not return if you leave, and if you do by chance escape him, you will not be welcomed back here, for that man will find you. I don't want him to destroy everything and everyone here in search of you, Grimmjow. We will not pay for your actions."

"Fine. But I'm still going, and stop trying to order me around like you're the boss. Since when do I take orders from you, Ulquiorra?" He growled as he drifted past the green-eyed espada, only receiving a cold gaze as he left. If that man is as dangerous as they say he is...then I better be prepared. He thought as he opened a cabinet in the garage, taking out a small handgun that glinted slightly in the sombre light. Tucking the weapon away he quickly ran to catch up with Nnoitra, who by now would be furious for having to wait so long. Ulquiorra stood in the doorway watching the blue haired man disappear around the corner before silently walking back up the hall. "They're doing something stupid again, huh?" questioned a low, drowsy voice from the couch.
"They always are." Ulquiorra replied in an iced tone as he stepped into the room.

"They're going to get us all killed or caught one day." A large older man growled from the kitchen as he took another sip of his coffee.
"Baraggan, you know we can't stop them. Idiots will always be idiots, it's just a shame we've got more than one now." Harribel replied while slumping in her chair. "It doesn't help that our 8th decided to disappear too, this place is falling apart."

"His disappearance is none of our concern, he left and that is his choice. Just as it is Grimmjow's and Nnoitra's choices to be so reckless. We must do what we can for ourselves and cut loose from these annoyances and setbacks." Ulquiorra sat down in the far chair facing Harribel, for once they were all agreeing on something.

"Finally." Nnoitra hissed as Grimmjow caught up before slowing into the same pace as the taller man. "There's the place." The quinto pointed out a loading dock to a shop as a few trucks rolled in to deliver some supplies. Grimmjow glanced over his shoulder, a wave of unease washing over him. "What? Don't back out on me now. Tsk, I don't need you anyway!" He growled before going straight for the bay, shouting and beginning to hold people at gun point. Chills barraged the blue-haired espada as he ran. "Why the hell did you rush in here?! I thought we weren't going to do this!" Grimmjow yelled over the security sirens that blazed throughout the building. "I'm calling that fucker out! No one messes with me or my gang!" The dark haired man yelled back, laughing as he shot one of the hostages, their limp body hitting the concrete with an unmistakable thud. "What the hell are you doing!?" Grimmjow panicked, attempting to quickly disarm the psychotic maniac. "I thought you said we weren't going to kill anyone, you bastard!"

Nnoitra swiftly recoiled with an elbow that connected with Grimmjow's ribs causing him to lose his grip on the weapon and stumble back, tripping on some of the boxes and painfully smashing the back of his head against the wall. He coughed and gripped his side in pain as flashing lights drew in from outside. The quinto burst into insane laughter, he was ready for what came next. "There he is." Nnoitra hissed as a tall muscular man stepped into the dark room, cold air picked up as the sun cast a menacing shadow of the dark figure. Grimmjow stayed silent, suffocating tension sparked like electricity in the air as the two men faced off before him. That's him...Kenpachi Zaraki. The blue-haired espada thought as he observed the figure, he heard the slight ringing of bells before he spotted them swaying in the ends of the man's dark, spiked hair. It was the last thing he saw before the dark waves of unconsciousness consumed him.

The sound of a gunshot rang throughout the docking area. Kenpachi fell to one knee with scarlet rapidly drenching his leg. "Ha! Not so tough now, are you? You bastard!" A sadistic grin drew across the quinto's face before he continued laughing as a sign of impending victory. "Is that all you've got, espada? You're a really bad shot." Kenpachi laughed while pulling himself back to his feet, blood now coating the left side of his leg. "What?! Are you mocking me?!" Nnoitra growled at the haunting figure across from him before shooting again. Kenpachi's body endured the impact as blood began soaking through his shirt. "Huh? Better shot this time." The officer watched his shirt slowly turn from white to red. "Now it's my turn." He finished as his eyes darkened before he charged at the tall, thin man making him flinch in shock. "What the fu-" Was all the quinto could manage before he was viciously slammed into the wall, the sheer collision forcing once settled dust to spread violently around the battlefield. Nnoitra coughed and glared at the man now grasping him by the throat and pinning him against the cold, cracked concrete wall.

"Tsk. You really think you've beaten me?" He rasped at the dark figure looming over him before lunging a hidden switch blade at the captain making him lose his grip on the espada to avoid it. Kenpachi tried to steady himself before the quinto rushed at him and threw an incredibly hard punch landing it right against the officer's face, sending him stumbling backwards. Nnoitra was just about to taunt the captain before a hand smashed into his face and drove him into the ground "Damn it..." The beaten man hissed through gritted teeth as blood trailed lines down his forehead before he began falling into unconsciousness.

Grimmjow's eyes cracked open briefly, his stormy blue eyes only met by those of dark black with bitter ferocity stirring in their depths, the sexta quickly caught focus of the sharp glint of a gun in the man's calloused hands. This is it huh? He thought briefly as he closed his eyes again, the stabbing pain rippled across his ribs, he could feel a warm liquid running slowly down his forehead. Daring to take a final look he squinted to focus again, the man's eyes had lost their hostility and now before him, a hand outreached. "Come on, we need to talk. You're being taken into custody for questioning."

-
His eyes were now glassy, the memory had faded and returned him to the present. "Ya know how to handle a weapon, kid?" Ichigo jumped at the sudden question, shaking him from nearly falling asleep. "Why the hell would I know that?" He snarled back while rubbing his eyes, he'd never want to hold a gun to someone, they were an essence of death. "I suppose I better teach ya then, because it's something you're going to need to know eventually, especially now." Grimmjow said bluntly while grasping the police emblem on his sleeve tightly.

Where are you...Zaraki?