A/N: I got sidetracked by plot bunnies although I should have known better than to pay them any attention when I barely have the time to finish each chapter of this story. Anyway, it's 3 A.M. now, because I'll have to spend the next four weeks trying to finish the assignments that I haven't started (=_=)". Let me know if you find any mistakes (because let's face it, even when I upload in a person hour, there are still tons of mistakes.) Before I get further away from the topic, thank you for sticking with this story until now. I hope the chapter is to your satisfaction.

X

Ulquiorra didn't have to pay much attention to Grimmjow to know that the man let out a heavy sigh the moment they both reached to the white gate of Las Noches. After all, the bluehead didn't bother to hide it, and Ulquiorra had sort of expected Grimmjow to do so after everything that happened in the last seven days of their mission.

Ulquiorra believed it began when he first noticed that Grimmjow had been acting strange – though saying that he was acting strange might not be the most suitable word, since Ulquiorra always found Grimmjow's way of doing things rather unusual, so it might be better to say that he was acting stranger than usual. In any case, the Sexta Espada had been acting unlike himself, and if Ulquiorra had to say when it started, he would have to say it was after they spent the first week together in the desert.

Surely enough, Ulquiorra had voiced his concern then, and Grimmjow explained his strange behaviors as sexual frustration, which brought a new topic to their conversation and somehow led to them having sex. However, instead of returning to his normal self like he should have after his desire had been met, Grimmjow had acted even stranger than before.

The Sexta Espada would sometimes stare off into space with a troubled look on his face, and should Ulquiorra ever question him about it, he would say it was nothing even though it was obviously something. Moreover, Grimmjow would not come to sleep in the tent until after he was sure that Ulquiorra had fallen asleep, and then he would leave before Ulquiorra woke up. During the time when they walked through the desert, Grimmjow would quicken his pace as if he could not wait to get back to Las Noches, and he would not speak a word to Ulquiorra unless he was spoken to first.

In other word, it was as if Grimmjow avoided having any interaction with him.

If Ulquiorra had to describe the atmosphere between them, he would have to say that the tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife. If he had thought it was already unbearable to stay close to Grimmjow back in the time when they still detested one another, the situation they had been in that last week of the mission was even worse than that time; and Ulquiorra couldn't understand how they managed to spiral down that path when everything seemed fine just before.

At first, he decided to wait for Grimmjow to come around on his own, but after four days of awkward silence, the Cuarta Espada decided that waiting would not get him anywhere, since they would be back to Las Noches before he could get to the bottom of it, and he was certain that Grimmjow would use that chance to avoid him completely. Thus, Ulquiorra decided to use the moment that Grimmjow least expected to throw his question at him, and that moment was after they had spent three hours walking in a complete silence.

'Alright, Grimmjow, what did I do?'

'I don't know what the hell you're talking about,' Grimmjow replied, not even bothering to look back at Ulquiorra who was still walking a few steps behind him.

Ulquiorra sighed.

'You know exactly what I'm talking about,' he accused. 'You've been avoiding me lately, and I wish to know why.'

'I've still no idea what the hell you're getting at, Ulquiorra,' Grimmjow insisted. 'I'm still here, talking to you, ain't I?'

Ulquiorra couldn't say that Grimmjow was wrong, but he could tell that Grimmjow had planned it deliberately so that Ulquiorra couldn't say that he was giving him a silent treatment.

'Yes, but I have a feeling that if you could choose, you wouldn't talk to me at all.'

'You "have a feeling"?' Grimmjow asked with a dry chuckle. 'Now, that's new.'

Although Ulquiorra could tell that Grimmjow was trying to get on his nerve so that he would drop the subject, he still couldn't help feeling a little agitated.

'Don't change the subject.'

'Is there any subject to change?' the Sexta Espada asked. 'Now, look, I said it was nothing, so it's nothing. End of the story.'

'There must be something or otherwise you wouldn't act this way,' Ulquiorra returned, not giving in.

'I told you it's nothing,' Grimmjow insisted, 'so just leave it alone already.'

'Then why are you still not looking at me?' Ulquiorra countered.

Not having any good comeback to that, Grimmjow halted on his spot and sighed.

Believing that he had finally had Grimmjow cornered, Ulquiorra remarked, 'You know you can tell me anything, Grimmjow. We are friends after all.'

However, it seemed his tactics had gained him the exact opposite result to the one he was hoping to get, for the Sexta Espada's postured suddenly became stiff at his word.

Clenching his fists, Grimmjow finally stated in a low tone, 'At this rate, Ulquiorra, I don't think I can continue being your friend.'

Ulquiorra's green eyes were widened. Although their experimental friendship should have ended much earlier, for they had both agreed that there was no point in continuing it after Ulquiorra had learned all he needed to learn about friendship; Ulquiorra was convinced that they both had some kind of mutual understanding or wordless agreement that it would continue on despite that fact. Therefore, hearing Grimmjow say that he could no longer be his friend came as a complete surprise to him, and it made him feel tight around his chest.

Ulquiorra couldn't really tell what that feeling was, but he was certain that he did not enjoy it.

'Why?'

'Why?' Grimmjow repeated the question. His voice sounded almost bitter. 'You wouldn't get it even if I explained to you.'

'Try me.'

The Sexta Espada sighed. He took a moment to think of the way to best explain why he felt that he could no longer be Ulquiorra's friend.

'Say, Ulquiorra,' Grimmjow began, still not turning around to look at the other man, 'if I told you I was still sexually frustrated and asked you to help me relief that frustration again, what would be your reply?'

Ulquiorra blinked. He couldn't quite get how they managed to get back to that subject again.

'Are you?'

Ulquiorra could see that Grimmjow clenched his fists again. 'That's not the point here! Now just answer my goddamn question.'

The Cuarta Espada furrowed his brows before he responded in the way that made the most sense to him, 'I would agree to help.'

'Why?'

'Why? Because we are friends, why else?'

His answer made Grimmjow ran his hand through his silky blue hair in a manner that Ulquiorra could only describe as frustration.

'What's wrong with my answer?'

'Nothing,' Grimmjow replied. 'It's perfectly right, considering how you view this matter. It's just that I don't wanna do this kind of thing with a friend.'

Ulquiorra furrowed his brows once again. 'If that were the case, then why would you ask me?'

'Because I wanna do it with you?'

'Now you're not making any sense, Grimmjow,' Ulquiorra stated, truly confused. 'You said you didn't want to do it with a friend, but then you said you wanted to do it with me. Isn't that self-contradicting?'

Grimmjow didn't reply to it right away. Instead, he drew a sharp breath, then released it.

'That's why I said you wouldn't get it,' Grimmjow said, shaking his head. 'And until you finally get that, just let me be.'

With that, Grimmjow continued on his way without bothering to see if Ulquiorra would follow. His action undoubtedly added more strain to their already shaky friendship. And since the Cuarta Espada didn't have any clue as to what Grimmjow was trying to get at, and he couldn't expect the man to shed more light on the subject, all he could do was to give Grimmjow the space he requested for the rest of their mission.

As a result, the last three days of their mission had strained them both mentally that they could not be more relieved to finally arrive to Las Noches where they would no longer have to be alone by themselves.

Ichimaru couldn't get any perkier even if he tried. After having spent the most part of his previous week mentally cursing Aizen for suddenly canceling the live broadcast of his favorite reality show due to its indecent content, his spirit had finally been lifted, since that day was the day that Grimmjow and Ulquiorra were scheduled to be back to Las Noches. Now he could just peep whenever he felt like. To hell with Aizen and his censorship.

Because an energetic Ichimaru Gin was never a good news to any Las Noches residents, everyone hurried out of the Shinigami's way without even thinking of asking Gin why he was happy, or why he was holding a bottle of apple-flavored lube, wrapped elegantly with blue ribbons, as he headed to the front gate of the palace and stood there.

Ichimaru's plan was to be the first to greet the lovey-dovey couple with a warm welcome gift, and tease them a little bit (or perhaps a lot, depending on what kind of reaction he received.) He put on the biggest smile he could muster as he heard the door open, but he was almost surprised to the point that he would have to open his eyes when Grimmjow stormed past him before he could even open his mouth to say anything.

"Oi, wait, Grimmjow!" Ichimaru shouted as he quickly followed Grimmjow. "I still haven't stated my welcome words."

"Fuck off," was Grimmjow's swift reply.

Ichimaru flinched for a moment; however, he would not stop until he did what he came to do, so he ran in front of Grimmjow and then he all but shoved the bottle of lube that he had been holding into Grimmjow's hand. "At least take my gift first."

Gin had expected that Grimmjow would at least show some funny reactions; however, much to his surprised, Grimmjow accepted it without so much as looking at what it was while he uttered, "Are you done? If so, get the fuck outta my way," and then left before Gin could respond.

Ichimaru could only scratch his head and pout as he watched the blue-haired Espada leave.

"Aww... he didn't even look at it, much less thank me. How rude!"

It was after he complained to himself that Gin realized he had yet to see Ulquiorra, so he turned around, and surely enough the Cuarta Espada had entered the palace.

"Ah, Ulquiorra!"

"Ichimaru-sama," Ulquiorra greeted the Shinigami with a bow.

"What's with him?" Gin asked motioning his head to the direction Grimmjow had gone to earlier.

"If you were talking about Grimmjow, then I wouldn't know either," Ulquiorra replied in all honesty. "He refused to tell me anything."

Gin's everlasting smiling face twisted into an expression of a surprise.

"Eh? But the last time I checked, you two were really 'friendly'." And of course, the last time Gin checked didn't mean before the two Espadas left Las Noches like Ulquiorra understood. "Don't tell me there're already troubles in paradise. And here I was expecting something lovey-dovey. What a let down!"

"I'm afraid I have no idea what you are talking about," Ulquiorra stated. "Now if you would excuse me, Ichimaru-sama. I believe Aizen-sama is expecting a report."

With that, Ulquiorra gave his superior another bow before he continued on his way.

Gin watched after the Espada in bewilderment. That was certainly not an expected turn of events. Scratching the back of his head once again, the Shinigami pouted.

"Wah, this isn't fun at all. At this rate I'm never gonna figure out who's the top."

Aizen was sitting on his throne, waiting for Grimmjow and Ulquiorra to enter the room. To be completely honest, he did not care much about their report, as he had watched the Espadas for the most part of their mission, so he already knew almost everything that happened until he had to stop watching lest he caught them in their intimate moments. After all, he considered himself to be akin to God, and while God kept an eye on his creations, God was definitely not a voyeur.

What he cared about, however, was how much their relationship had developed from the last time he saw it and how he could use it for his personal entertainment.

The fact that only Tōsen appeared by his side at the throne told Aizen that Gin was most likely at the gate, and knowing the Shinigami, Gin was probably having the most fun of his life teasing the poor Espadas, and kept them from coming to the throne room with their report. Therefore, he didn't expect that Grimmjow would enter the throne room for as soon as he did.

"Welcome back, Grimmjow," Aizen greeted, hiding his surprise well. "Why is Ulquiorra not together with you?"

Aizen could see a small wince from Grimmjow when he asked about Ulquiorra, and that made him raise his hand from the arm of the throne to touch his chin. That was certainly not an expression he expected to see, but that made it all the more interesting.

"He'll probably be here soon," Grimmjow replied, not really answering the question. "Should I start with my report first?"

"No, we should wait for your partner to arrive before we do," Aizen replied. "After all, this is also his mission."

Aizen's brown eyes shone with amusement as he saw Grimmjow's expression shift. The Sexta Espada never showed that he minded before if Aizen showed favoritism toward Ulquiorra; however, it seemed to be different that time. Could it be because Grimmjow was a possessive type? But if that was the case, why would he allow Ulquiorra to be out of his sight even for a second?

Aizen let his imagination ran wild. Many things didn't add up at that moment, and it was quite interesting to try to put all the puzzles into places. However, the ruler of Las Noches didn't have enough time to come up with many theories when his stoic Espada finally arrived, using Sonído.

"My apology for being late," was the first thing Ulquiorra said after he bowed down to his bosses.

"There is no need to apologize, Ulquiorra. After all, it must be Gin's fault for holding you back," the brown-haired Shinigami replied with a sickeningly sweet tone, while keeping one eye on Grimmjow to gauge the man's reaction. "Welcome back, by the way."

"Thank you, Aizen-sama."

The two things that Aizen detected from Grimmjow were that the blue-haired Espada didn't look at Ulquiorra once since the man arrived, and that he appeared to be quite unhappy with the respectful tone Ulquiorra used to speak to Aizen.

"Now that Ulquiorra is here, let us hear your report, Grimmjow."

Not needing to be told twice, Grimmjow began briefing everything about the mission. Most of the report didn't even entered Aizen's ears, as the lord of Las Noches was too busy studying all expressions from his precious Espadas in order to find some clues as to what might have happened while he had not been watching because he didn't think the tension that he felt was a part of their act to cover up the fact that they had become lovers.

Caught in his own reverie, Aizen almost missed the fact that Grimmjow had already finished his report. Since he didn't listen to it at all, Aizen didn't have any comment to it, so he turned to Ulquiorra and simply asked, "Is there anything you wish to add, Ulquiorra?"

"No, Aizen-sama."

"Then that will be all," Aizen stated. "The two of you have done a great job. On the day after tomorrow, I will Arrancarize the Hollows that you two have chosen and sent here. Now you two must have been exhausted from your journey, so you are free to go to your rooms and take some rest."

"If you say so, then I'll excuse myself now," Grimmjow stated immediately after Aizen finished his sentence, and then he was off right in the second Aizen nodded his permission.

Aizen detected a strange expression from Ulquiorra when the man followed his partner with his eyes.

"In this case, I shall take my leave as well," Ulquiorra remarked.

"Go ahead, Ulquiorra," Aizen stated. "Oh, and by the way, now that you're back, I'll put Inoue Orihime back in your charge, so will you let her know that a new sketchbook she requested for will not be here until next week?"

"Certainly, Aizen-sama."

With that, Ulquiorra bowed at Aizen and Tōsen once again before he turned around and headed out of the room.

Once he was certain that the two Espadas were no longer within a hearing range, Aizen rubbed his chin.

"Well, that was certainly not a kind of development I expected to see," Aizen noted. "A lovers' spat, perhaps?"

It looked like he had missed out on a lot of drama after he decided to give them some private time in the desert, and Tōsen seemed to agree, for the blind Shinigami responded with;

"This is exactly why I said that you should not allow it to continue, Aizen-sama."

Inoue was folding origami when the door of her room was opened unannounced, so she quickly turned to the door in surprised. Ever since Harribel and her Fraccións took over Ulquiorra's charge in taking care of her, those Arrancar ladies would always knock before they entered the room. And just as she suspected, her original warden was the one who entered the room, looking as emotionless as ever.

"Ulquiorra-san!" Inoue greeted with a broad smile. "It's good to see you again! How was your mission?"

"It was successful," Ulquiorra replied, "which means we will have more Hollows to strengthen our army."

"Oh..." was the only response Orihime could give. She couldn't exactly say congratulations Ulquiorra for a job well done because good news for Aizen's army also meant bad news for her friends in the living world and Soul Society. "Anyway...how are things going between you and Grimmjow-san?"

Inoue couldn't help noticing that once she mentioned Grimmjow, Ulquiorra's expressionless face had shifted, albeit very slightly, and his green eyes seemed to show some agitation.

"It seems to me that we have taken one step forward and then two steps backward," Ulquiorra replied truthfully without revealing any unnecessary details.

"Eh? What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means one day we got along just fine and then the next he said he could not continue to be my friend."

"What!" The human exclaimed with a mixture of surprise and concern. "Why?"

"I wish I knew."

"And how do you plan to make up with Grimmjow-san?"

To that question, Ulquiorra gave Inoue a blank look. It seemed to her as if he had no idea what she was babbling on about at all.

"You do intend to make up with him, right?"

Once again, Ulquiorra looked at Inoue as if she had just spoken nonsense.

"Why should I bother? If he is no longer interested in being my friend, it is his right," Ulquiorra said flatly. "Besides, I have already learned all that I need to learn about friendship anyway."

The woman's face fell. "Surely, you didn't mean that."

"And why would I not mean it?"

"Because friendship isn't a bond that can be easily broken, that's why!" It was rare for Inoue to speak up; however, she believed it was important that she did, even if it meant angering Ulquiorra and putting her neck on the line. "If you can stop being friends just because of one petty fight, then you've learned nothing about friendship at all, Ulquiorra-san!"

Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think it was petty?"

"It doesn't matter if a fight is big or small, really," Inoue quickly corrected herself once she realized her folly. "The point is friends do fight from time to time, but in the end they'll realize their mistakes and try to make up with one another. They don't just walk away whenever things don't work out."

"Is that so?"

"Of course!" Inoue insisted. "Now I don't know what you did to make Grimmjow-san say that he didn't want to be your friend anymore, but whatever it is, just go and apologize to him so you can make up already."

"I doubt it would be that simple."

"It is that simple," Orihime said firmly, "that is, if you really want to make up with him."

Orihime almost smiled when Ulquiorra took a moment to consider her words.

"It is not that I do not want to make up with him," Ulquiorra admitted.

"Then what's the problem?"

"The problem is he keeps avoiding me."

The room filled with silence for a long moment as they both were reflecting on the situation. Inoue looked around her room as if doing so would help her get an idea to help Ulquiorra and Grimmjow make up, even though she still didn't have any idea why the Espadas fought or what the fight was all about.

"Ah, well, if he doesn't want to see you, then all you need to do is trying to give him a piece of your mind without facing him."

"How?"

To that question, Inoue smiled.

"Just like how your friendship with him got started – by writing him a card," she suggested. "I'll even help you with that if you want."

Ulquiorra narrowed his eyes as he considered the idea.

"A card, huh?" he nodded. "I suppose that's better than nothing."

"Alright! Then let's get started. I'll help you," Inoue suggested. It seemed she was in a very high spirit that she ran behind Ulquiorra and pushed the Espada towards her table, intending to push him into the chair so that he would start writing immediately. However, it seemed Ulquiorra was much stronger than he looked, as Inoue couldn't move him even though she had used all of the strength she possessed in both of her hands.

"What are you doing, woman?" Ulquiorra asked, glaring Orihime down over his shoulder.

Realizing that she had crossed her boundary, Inoue stepped back and put on a sheepish look when explained herself meekly, "Er...I'm just gonna lend you my writing table? I mean, the quicker you make up, the better, right?"

"Even if that is true, that doesn't mean that I need your help," said Ulquiorra.

"Oh...right...you probably want to spend time to think of your own words to write to him. Silly me," Inoue said, not at all offended. "In this case, you should go back to your room and think of what you want to say to him, Ulquiorra-san."

Inoue tried to push Ulquiorra again; however, that time, the destination changed from her writing table to the door.

Once again, Ulquiorra glared at Inoue. "Don't touch me."

"Ah, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" the girl said before she let go and took a few steps away from her warden and bowed at him for several times to show her apology.

The Espada, however, didn't seem to mind much about the human's action as he headed for the door. However, he stopped before he crossed the threshold.

"By the way, I should let you know that you are back in my charge again from now on, and that Aizen-sama said to tell you that a new sketchpad you had requested would not arrive until next week."

And with that, Ulquiorra left the room and closed the door behind without waiting to hear what Inoue might have to say in reply.

Once Ulquiorra had left, Inoue went back to her table, wondering to herself, "Ulquiorra-san didn't refuse my help because I spelled his name wrong the last time, did he?"

In another wing of Las Noches, Grimmjow lay listlessly in his bed. He had been in that position since he got back into his private chamber, and he still didn't feel like moving even though he had stayed there for a couple of hours. Although he was exhausted from the long journey and he hadn't slept much in the past week, he still found himself staring at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep.

When he thought about it more carefully, he didn't know why he allowed what happened between him and Ulquiorra to bother him so much that he had snapped at the guy. It was true that his pride was a little hurt when he found out that Ulquiorra wasn't as sexually interested in him as he was in Ulquiorra, but it wasn't as if Ulquiorra was the first person to be uninterested. There were still so many other fishes in the sea, so there was no point for Grimmjow to have been frustrated, much less to say something that began to sound more and more like a corny love confession to him. That kind of game was not new to him, and he had had more one-night stands than he could remember. It had never been awkward between him and any of his flings afterward, so why was it different with Ulquiorra?

Was it because Ulquiorra was a friend? That couldn't be the case. After all, he never had let something like that stop him before. Grimmjow was a type to get whatever he wanted whenever he wanted without any care for the possible consequences of his actions, so granted that he wanted to and the person was willing, he had no qualm of sleeping with a friend. And from where they stood, if he had ever requested it, Ulquiorra would be more than likely to oblige, so it would be that easy to satisfy his lust for the man. So why did he bother to hold back?

Then it clicked to Grimmjow. It was because to get Ulquiorra into his bed with that method would not be any different from using trickery, and while Grimmjow had no qualm of using force to get what he wanted, trickery was not his style.

Just like when he wanted to win a battle fair and square, he wanted a lover to come to him on their own accord, not because of some false impressions.

In a way, he regretted having touched Ulquiorra when the man still had misconceptions about friendship and sex, and perhaps it was that little guilt that made him still had some kind of lingering feeling towards Ulquiorra and wanting to do it when the man finally understood the real meaning of their action. Perhaps it was also why he was angry - at himself for taking the advantage of the situation, and at Ulquiorra for being so innocent that he would be fooled by such a simple thing.

Grimmjow sighed as he found himself in a new dilemma. Keeping Ulquiorra from the truth would definitely eat him up from the inside. In fact, it already did, since he was lying there pondering his action. However, telling the truth might probably get him killed or at least critically injured by Ulquiorra.

"Shit! This is really screwed up!"

But either he chose the long, agonizing death or a swift one, he believed he owed Ulquiorra an apology. Not for the sex, because Grimmjow couldn't fully say that he wouldn't have done it again if he had another chance, but for taking his anger out on Ulquiorra when he should be angry at himself most. Although considering the way Ulquiorra had always ignored him and called him trash in the past, that might be good payback, but that was beside the point.

The point was he had to apologize unless he wanted things to revert to where they were before.

With that thought, Grimmjow sprang up. Since he wouldn't be able to get any sleep unless he got that load off his mind, he might as well just go out and find Ulquiorra then. It wasn't until he got off his bed that Grimmjow realized he was holding a certain bottle in his hand, so he finally took the first look at it, and he quickly threw it into the wall once he realized what it was.

"That fucking bastard!" Grimmjow grumbled. "I'm gonna kill him the next time I saw his stupid face."

Feeling slightly better, the Sexta Espada headed to the door so that he could go out to find Ulquiorra and apologize before he lost the will to do so.

Pulling his door open, Grimmjow widened his eyes in surprise once he saw a certain black-haired, green-eyed Espada bending in front of him as if to put something down.

"Ulquiorra?" Grimmjow blinked. To be completely honest, after everything that he had said and done, he didn't expect that Ulquiorra would be anywhere near his room. "What are you–"

Ulquiorra seemed even more surprised by the encounter than Grimmjow, but he reacted quickly and stood up straight.

"Here. Read it whenever you have the time, " Ulquiorra said, putting a thin envelope in Grimmjow's hand. "I won't disturb you any longer, so later, Grimmjow."

With that said, Ulquiorra spun around, and he would have left right away had Grimmjow not been quick enough to catch him by the elbow.

"Wait, Ulquiorra," Grimmjow pleaded. "Don't leave yet."

End of Chapter X