Chapter Ten - Thoughts of Broken Faces

"How much longer?" Renji whined as they all ran as fast as they could for the nearest gate. "Why can't we just get him back there to open one?"

"Because Aizen can intercept his gate, and we don't want that!" Rukia yelled back.

"No one asked you!" Renji said.

"Renji, when we get out of this, I am so going to kick your ass again." Ichigo growled at him.

"You can try." Renji said smartly.

"If you guys don't shut up!" Ikkaku screamed. "I swear, I will kick every single one of your asses! Starting with Mr. 6th Espada back there."

Grimmjow glared at him. "You think you can kick my ass?"

"I'm pretty sure of it." Ikkaku taunted.

Ichigo put an arm in front of Grimmjow before he could attack the 11th Squad's 3rd Seat.

"Calm it." He said.

Grimmjow turned his glaring gaze on Ichigo and tried to burn holes in his head.

"And get that look off your face." Ichigo rolled his eyes. "It's annoying."
Grimmjow grabbed Ichigo by the hair and jerked him back, laughing when he was laid out on the ground.

"Grimmjow!" He yelled before getting to his feet and running after the Arrancar.

Grimmjow was having fun evading Ichigo. It was like a childs game of tag, only with Sonido and Shunpo (which when you think about it, it the exact same thing...).

The whole group had stopped running for a moment to roll thier eyes at the two lovers.

"Ichigo, we don't have time for thi-" Rukia began to yell.

Suddenly, the sandy ground began to vibrate, making her pause. They all looked around in search for some meaning to this...

Ichigo's eyes went wide when he saw the Hollow's, running towards them like a stampede over the horizon.

"We have to go." Grimmjow mumbled.

He grabbed Ichigo by his wrist and threw him over his shoulder, Ichigo was just too paralzed to fight back.

"Come on!" Grimmjow yelled at the others who were just as intent on staring as Ichigo.

They began to run again, sprinting and occasionally using what flashsteps they could. Grimmjow's grip on Ichigo was tight, which was why he was confused when Ichigo flipped off of him and began running on his own.

He looked over at him, surprised.

Ichigo took his hand and picked up the pace.

Grimmjow only sighed.

They closed in on the steps, nearly jumping down them. Renji kicked the door closed, as if that was going to stop the on-coming Hollows, as he was through.

Now I won't be intercepted if I open it here... Grimmjow's mind worked on trying to open the gate.

Ichigo stood with his back to Grimmjow's wondering when those millions of Hollows were going to come bursting through that door or if they were going to make it in time.

Once Grimmjow had Garganta opened, everyone turned thier eyes to him.

"Hurry." He nodded towards the gate.

By the time Sado, Orihime, Ikkaku and Yumichika had made thier way through, the ground began to shake again.

Rukia looked terrified at the door as it burst open.

"Go!" Grimmjow commanded.

Nobody moved.

"Zangetsu!" Ichigo cried as Zangetsu formed in his hands.

He blocked an oncoming Menos with little trouble.

"Ichigo, you have to go!" Grimmjow demanded as they formed around them.

Rukia, Renji and Ishida began fighting with the Hollows around them as they tried to hold them back.

"I'm not leaving you, Grimmjow." Ichigo growled.

"You have to, dumbass!" Grimmjow kicked one of the Hollows in the face.

He was at too much of a close range to use his Cero on the oafs, and he knew Ichigo would kill him if he hurt his friends, who were very much in the way of that plan. All he had left was his Resurreccion, and he couldn't leave Ichigo with his back uncovered to fully release.

"I'm-not-going-anywhere!" Ichigo yelled.

Just then, a huge Menos Grande got one good hit in on Ichigo, sending him barrelling down to the ground and leaving a crater.

"Damn it!" Grimmjow took out the Menos before getting on his knees beside Ichigo. "You have to go. You're already wounded."

"No." Ichigo shook his head. "I won't."

Grimmjow growled. "If you don't Ichigo, I'll-"

"Will you follow me?" Ichigo demanded. "If I go through?"

"I..." Grimmjow gulped.

He knew good and well if he didn't hold off these Hollow's then no one will. He had to stay behind until the gate closed. Maybe then he could use his Gran Rey Cero and eliminate all of them. But he'd have to wait until the gate closed...

"I'll follow you." Grimmjow smiled weakly at Ichigo, knowing his words were a lie.

Ichigo frowned, but nodded. "Okay."

He grabbed the back of Grimmjow's head and pulled him down to his lips. He deepened the kiss as Grimmjow held on tight, not wanting to let go.

But Ichigo pulled back. "You can have the rest when you come back to me."

Grimmjow sighed.

The gate was already starting to close. He pulled Ichigo up to his feet.

"Go!" He pushed him towards it.

"Come on, guys!" Ichigo yelled to Rukia, Renji and Ishida.

They all turned and ran for it, entering the gate at just the right time. Ichigo turned back and smiled at Grimmjow before going through.

He ignored that the gate was closing, and tried to keep his hope in his heart.

Grimmjow turned to the Hollows that were roaring with some kind of victory. He brought his Zanpaktou to his hand, cutting it deep enough so the blood could pour.

He held his hand out, gathering his Cero in his hand, and then released it.

Comments:

Well...: Yeah, it's goin' a little over ten chapters. sorry!

Also...: This may be the last chapter I write today cause I'm going over to my friends at about two. So if this is, then I'm SORRY!!! but I might get one more in before I leave. XD