Warning: Grimmjow's mouth. Not beta'ed.

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters. Do you know how depressing that is?

"U-ulquiorra…Cifer?"

The dark haired male turned cold, green calculating eyes towards the shocked shinigami. A single brow rose slightly before something clicked in the hollows mind. The feel of L's spiritual pressure was light on Ulquiorra's skin and made him feel slightly on edge, but in a good comforting sort of way. He didn't know how to exactly describe it but Ulquiorra recognized it simply as something nice.

"Lawliet L."

L blushed lightly at the male's voice and tone but did not make a move forward or back. Even if they knew each other, even if for a second Lawliet considered Ulquiorra as a friend, he was still a shinigami and Ulquiorra was still a hollow. They were natural enemies and no matter what history was behind them, if they were ordered to, they would kill one another. L didn't like this but he knew it was true.

"You've grown up not to be considered as trash. Good."

L frowned lightly as he suddenly noticed the hollow's different appearance. He did not look like a large humanized bat and his noticeable tail was nowhere in sight. He wore clothes and he shrunk in size. He was still taller then L but only by a few inches. And one thing that forced L to think the worse was Ulquiorra's mask. The mask didn't cover his face any longer but only rested like the half of a helmet on the left side of his head.

"You're an Arrancar."

Ulquiorra simply stared as he answered with no surprise in his voice as he contradicted L. "I am not lowly trash, so please refrain from saying so. I am an Espada."

It was worse then L thought, not only was he an Arrancar, but he was an Espada, Aizen's top ranking followers. "What number are you then, Cifer?"

"Cuatro Espada."

The two were silent as L went over the new information in his head. Would Ulquiorra attack him? Could he attack Ulquiorra? He should and he will. L barely knew Ulquiorra and they're only meeting was both their first and last since L went to Soul Society. Nothing tied them together. They only knew each other because L was a foolish curious soul.

"Then forgive me espada but I cannot let you live. My orders are to kill any followers of Aizen." As L said this out loud, somewhere in the pit of his stomach it turned, making him feel slightly sick. Something, he didn't know what, was telling him that this was wrong and he shouldn't bring out his sword. He didn't subconsciously fear for his life but he didn't exactly know what he was thinking.

"I would fight you if Aizen ordered me to."

L's eyes widened as he realized the hidden meaning under what Ulquiorra just said. "I lied. Yes were technically supposed to kill anyone following Aizen but that's not what I've been ordered to do out here."

L could have sworn he saw a flash in Ulquiorra's eyes but he couldn't be sure. He stood to far from him to see perfectly. "I would love to see your techniques but I'm a little behind. I should leave before anyone notices my long absence."

L wanted to know what he was doing but he knew what line to cross and what line he should make into a wall. In a way, L wished there were no lines at all but this was an Arrancar he was thinking about. He was an enemy, and also…someone important? L didn't know yet. He was very confused right now and not an inch of his mental knowledge was getting to the answer. He threw a small chocolate in his mouth to calm his suddenly rising nerves.

Something was coming. He didn't know exactly what but it was strong. Maybe not as strong as Ulquiorra, but it was recognizable. Almost like he should know it.

L focused his eyes on Ulquiorra to see him slightly nervous. The sudden change in emotion surprised L slightly but he guessed he shouldn't let it get to him, seeing as he didn't know the man enough, though he wanted to. Ulquiorra turned his heads over his shoulder for a few seconds before appearing in front of L and pushing him behind some high bushes.

In that moment, a tear could be heard and the sky was ripped open to reveal a very pissed off blue haired Arrancar that had a sharp tooth bone white jaw on the side of his face. His teal blue eyes glared hotly at Ulquiorra who was currently hiding L under his own spiritual pressure. He was to busy looking at Grimmjow to notice the way L was reacting to Ulquiorra's surprisingly warm spiritual energy.

L coughed at the strong feel of hollow power. So much of that power hurt. He held his own and the more force of the other was hurting him. Though Ulquiorra's was warm and comforting, it hurt. His own spiritual pressure wanted it more but his body was instantly rejecting it. He coughed more and blood fell on his pale hand.

The teal haired man heard the coughing and pushed Ulquiorra aside. Ulquiorra pulled his spiritual energy off instantly as he suddenly realized L's state. Ulquiorra could have sworn that he could handle his spiritual pressure. It felt as if L was pulling it towards him but L wasn't in a good state now. He couldn't move though. He shouldn't. L was supposed to be the enemy.

Once Ulquiorra's energy left him, his body relaxed dramatically. Suddenly, he was lifted off the ground from the back of his shirt and met face to face with a grinning Arrancar. "Well what do we have here? A soul reaper huh? You look like a fucking pussy! Hey Ulquiorra, what do you want to do with him?"

Both the teal haired and the dark haired male look towards Ulquiorra curiously. Though L's face was calm, inside he was scared shitless. Would Ulquiorra kill him? Could he kill the both of them? Did he want to?

Do not fear Lawlietz. This man is weakz. You can take him easilyz.

Aka, what if Ulquiorra fights as well?

I don't believe he willz. Look into his eyez.

That will not help me! I know I can and will have to fight this man but I…don't want to fight Ulquiorra.

Believe me L, he will not attackz. Try to get the male to fight only youz.

Alright…I believe you Aka. I will have to use my mask though, just in case.

Before Ulquiorra was put into the pressure of answering the man's question, L made a weak move to kick the male's stomach only to actually hit it. The man let go instantly and growled as L jumped back a little while bringing his sword out. "Do not worry Arrancar, I shall kill you quickly."

The man glared and growled, "What the fuck did you just say? I'm gonna kill you, you damn bitch!"

L frowned lightly, "Simply listening to you is lowering my IQ."

L placed the tip of his sword on his hand and easily pierced his skin. Blood drizzled slightly from the wound and onto the blade which instantly glowed red. "Bicker with the Goddess of War, Aka Jaegerjaquez!"

A snarling white jaguar mask covered L's face as L's sword grew longer and was no longer the plain grey silver, but a deep crimson red. Yellow eyes glared angrily at the wide eyed male.

"Did you just say…Aka Jaegerjaquez?" The man yelled.

L frowned lightly before nodding, bringing his blade up in front of him. "How the fuck is that possible! Aka Jaegerjaquez is my older brother!"

"What?" The usual calm monotone voice was replaced with a hollow like voice that sounded as if L had a sore throat.

"My name is Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez!" Grimmjow yelled, slamming a hand against his chest. "I'll kill the one who wields my brother's powers as his Zanpak-to!"

Aka, is this true?

Aka sighed lightly, Yes. Grimmjow is my foolish little brotherz. I never thought of telling you because I didn't think it was something you needed to knowz. Forgive mez.

It would have helped if you told me the moment I saw him but I forgive you for now. Right now we need to defeat him.

I give you permission to kill my brotherz.

L brought his blade above his head before suddenly disappearing and reappearing in front of Grimmjow. He brought the blade down and skimmed over Grimmjow's shoulder as he moved away from the blow quickly. Grimmjow growled and attacked with a cero which was easily swiped away with L's blade. Grimmjow attacked again, going for more swipes with his claw like hands then anything else.

The two went like that for a few more minutes before L finally got serious. With a quick move on his part, he had sliced off Grimmjow's left arm from the shoulder. Grimmjow screamed in pain before throwing a quick cero that grazed L's right arm. L growled lightly but brought his sword up to strike again only to be stopped by Ulquiorra.

L growled and made to cut Ulquiorra but he easily dodged and almost cut him with his own sword, making L jump back into the trees. Ulquiorra quickly followed after him, making sure Grimmjow was no where in sight or in ear shot. He turned towards L and raised his hand. "I wish not to hurt you but you must stop. Others are coming so we will leave now. Get that arm looked at."

As Ulquiorra turned to leave, L grabbed his arm and growled. "They are coming to fast. You'll have to hurt me."

"What?"

"By the time you get to Grimmjow, open a garganta, and get his bleeding ass into it, they'll come and I'll have to attack. If you attack me, they'll be forced to help me."

"I can not do that L-"

"Fine! I'll make you attack me!"

"You wont-" L quickly attacked the Espada with his blade but was easily dodged. Slightly irritated, Ulquiorra made to weakly attack at L's leg only to be blocked by his blade. Shouts can be heard from the distance but L was to focused on getting Ulquiorra to hurt him. "Please!"

Ulquiorra looked down at yellow pleading eyes behind the mask before catching the sight of an orange haired and red haired shinigami coming towards them. With a painful expression, Ulquiorra raised his sword high before bringing it down swiftly across L's left shoulder and down curved to the right of his stomach. Blood sprayed everywhere and onto Ulquiorra as L fell to the ground weightlessly.

L's mask fell off and rolled away from his bleeding body. He didn't expect Ulquiorra to cut him so hard but it was his fault. He heard his name being yelled out but he didn't, or couldn't register who it came from. He was spinning and his eyes were beginning to go foggy. He didn't see Ulquiorra leave, or Renji holding him close to his body. He felt warmth surround him but it wasn't a warmth he was comfortable with…he thinks.

L couldn't think anymore. His mind was foggy, he sight was gone, and all he could hear in the whisper of his name. Did it come from this Zanpak-to? The person holding him?...Or Ulquiorra?

L didn't know. How could he? He was slipping into unconciousness. The pain of his large wound was numb and his body was demanding sleep as well as his mind. The warmth wasn't that comfortable but it had to do. He needed it. He shut down everything and fell to the warmth of the darkness around him.

Renji yelled out a name Ichigo did not know. He yelled out "Ryuzaki" so many times Ichigo was beginning to get a head ache. He understood Renji's worry but sometimes enough was enough. Ichigo jumped into a clearing, followed by Renji to see Ulquiorra, the man who he saw early with Yammy, cutting down a black haired male. He watched as something white fell off the mans face and rolled into the bushes as the mans body fell to the ground.

"Ryuzaki!" Ulquiorra disappeared in an instant and Renji quickly went to the bleeding male, forgetting that the Espada was even there. Ichigo would have followed the Espada but he needed to help Renji stop the man from bleeding. As he did so, he noticed from the corner of his eyes that the white thing was a white mask. It looked as if it was a simply white mask in the form of a snarling jaguar but Ichigo knew differently. By the feel of the mask, Ichigo knew it was a hallows mask. He made his way to grab it but it disappeared suddenly and L's long blade grew shorter and the color drained instantly.

Ichigo helped Renji as he carried the unconscious weight in his arms towards the direction of Ichigo's house. Ichigo was still slightly confused on the mask but didn't comment on it to Renji. He was already worrying over someone he cared about deeply so Ichigo left it alone. He didn't want to make Renji worry even more, incase he didn't know his friend uses a hallow mask.

A/N: meh.