Eheheheh, I sure am spoiling you, ne? grins and shrugs But you guys are worth it since you send such nice comments! XD the last few cracked me up so in return, here's the next update!

CeriseGothicLime: Yes yes, i know...cliffhangers... smirks it's in my nature to torment my readers a little bit...

cheeky half-demon: Here's ur update!!

Chapter 22

Grimmjow's P.O.V

"What the-" he muttered as he looked at the bloodstained ground. He was standing in the last place he had felt Hara's reitsu and Tosen's. Where the hell are they? Grimmjow felt something was wrong, dreadfully wrong. The blood on the floor, he was certain it was Tosen's not Hara's, but he felt something bad had happened to her. He tried searching out her spiritual pressure again, but now found no trace. "Shit…" he muttered, looking around the room, "Where are you?"

Suddenly he heard a scream coming from down the hallway; it was far enough away that only he could hear it with his strong senses. The sound of it was unnerving, the sound of pain and betrayal, a sound that made his blood run cold. The scream was in the voice of a woman, and he both by sound and by instinct knew it to be…

"Hara!" he yelled, flying down the hallway towards the sound at a faster speed than earlier. Don't let me be late! he thought as he ran, Please…

Hara's P.O.V

"N-no…" muttered Hara in horror as she backed away into a wall, her tear filled eyes wide with shock. Aizen laughed softly from his throne, one hand on his forehead keeping his wavy hair back,

"A befitting punishment, is it not, Hara?" he smiled maliciously, "I suppose I should have shown you sooner, but sometimes…" his eyes glinted, "Things pay off if you wait." Aizen sat upright, enjoying her horror, "Now, Kero, do as you deem necessary to keep Miss Ayumi from attacking a fellow officer…"

Kero stepped forwards, his eyes cold and obedient,

"Yes, Aizen-sama." He muttered, drawing his zanpakuto.

Hara lay against the wall, unable to move or even speak as she stared at the newly born arrancar. Her thoughts racing, there's no way… she thought, no way…

Grimmjow's P.O.V

He stopped outside the door panting, his hand clenched around the hilt of his zanpakuto. He could sense Hara inside the room, with Aizen and someone whose reitsu he didn't recognize. This is it, he thought, this is the moment that changes everything… Grimmjow knew that if he barged in, he would have to protect Hara, and that it meant challenging and betraying Aizen, though I was never with him from the start, the bastard, and that in other words, this was the big moment.

Grimmjow took a deep breath and kicked the door, hard. The whole thing blasted inward from the force, the door landing at the bottom of the pedestal where Aizen sat on his throne.

"Grimmjow, what is the meaning of this?" asked Aizen, watching with a slight ounce of anger. Grimmjow ignored him and searched the room, his eyes falling on Hara who was lying against the wall covered in blood and a few cuts and bruises. Standing over her was a strange arrancar which he had never seen before, its sword drawn.

"You bastard!" cried Grimmjow as he came at it, his fist raised to strike. The arrancar spun around, blocking his fist and sending him flying back against the far wall. Grimmjow hit it and slid to the floor, blood coming from his mouth,

"Grimmjow, I recommend you stop, otherwise I will have to deal with you myself," said Aizen. Grimmjow flipped him off as he wiped the blood away, his eyes fuming. The new arrancar stood there watching him, a bemused grin on his face. Hara stared on from the background, pale and seeming to shiver.

Grimmjow got to his feet,

"Teme, what did you do Hara?!" he snarled, "You'll pay!" Grimmjow drew his sword and slid his hand down the blade, "Grind, Pantera!" An explosion followed, covering Grimmjow in a cloud of smoke.

"Grimmjow?" muttered Hara as she stared at the person emerging from the smoke. It was Grimmjow, though his appearance had been altered. The hollow mask jaw bone was gone from his cheek, and instead he wore a circlet like piece on his forehead. His hair had grown longer and fuller and his body was encased in skintight armor. He also now had cat like legs and a tail that swished back and forth.

"Grr…" he began, his now very sharp teeth bared, "GRRREEEOOOOWWW!" The sound of his roar echoed through the room, followed by him seeming to disappear only to reappear beside the arrancar and send him flying at Aizen's feet. He then turned to Hara, bending down so as to be closer to her face, "Hara…" he whispered, "Get up, I'm here to save you."



Hara stared up at him listlessly, her eyes still in shock. Grimmjow touched her cheek, "Come on, snap out of it!" Behind, the arrancar had gotten to his feet, putting his sword out and walking towards them. Grimmjow scooped Hara into his arms, turning around to face Aizen and the arrancar, his jaw set. Hara clung tight to him, her eyes on the arrancar. Her expression was that of pure pain and sorrow. "What is it?" he whispered into her ear, "Why are you looking at him like that?"

Hara's eyes filled with tears, the tears spilling down over her cheeks and onto her clothing.

"Zuro…" she whispered as her voice broke, "It's Zuro…my brother…"

blocks zanpakuto and kunai knives with Kurosasori (my own zanpakuto) Gomen-ne! Yes, a cliffhanger again... ;; as i said above it's partly my nature to torment readers, and also ;; a bit of procrastination...

stay tuned for the next chap!