18
In Preparation
…
Grimmjow prowled the streets of Karakura. It was his self-appointed job to gather intel on what was going on. So far, all he'd learned was that the white-haired mini-captain had left to go scout the other Arrancar out. They would have to start switching locations on a regular basis now. A game of cat and mouse. Grimmjow felt his lips pulls downward in a small scowl. By nature, he was a cat. A cat should never become a mouse under any circumstances.
He was going to make sure all of Soul Society became nothing but mice. Big mice, maybe, but still only mice.
The thought brought about the subconscious rubbing of his left arm. Even in this gigai, it was like he could feel the bone claws. Scratches from his fingernails lingered on the surface, plainly visible because of the short sleeves of his white T-shirt. He stuck his hands in his pockets to restrain himself from repeating that action. He didn't want to be viewed as some depressed guy who felt the need to harm himself. In the back of his mind, he recognized this as the way Ulquiorra would always walk. At one time, he may have found this realization a hilarious daydream, something he could tease the green-eyed man about relentlessly until a finger was pointed at Grimmjow's face, a cero forming at the tip. That would have been just fine back then because Grimmjow would have been looking for the fight in the first place.
His thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of reiatsu. Low level. Non-threatening. However, he pulled his hat down further over his face and hair as he continued to walk. Recognition was not preferred.
"Hey, you're that guy," a female voice commented. "The one from Urahara's shop."
In a second, Grimmjow had already assessed the situation. There was no one within viewing distance and an alleyway stood to his right. It took a single swift movement to swing her into it and bring his hand over her throat. It was only once she was secure did he look at his prisoner. Small, spiky black hair, gym bag lying at her feet.
Speaking of which, one of those feet made a move to kick him. He caught it with his free hand. She tried to punch him. He blocked it.
"Let me go!" she shouted.
"I'm sorry, I can't do that after having been recognized," he announced. He was beginning to remember her. A plan took shape in his head. "You're close to Orihime Inoue."
"So, what's it to you? And why aren't you supposed to be recognized?"
His eyes widened a fraction. She didn't know he was one of the runaways? Then she must have been one of the less informed ones. He hoped that didn't make her less important to those Shinigami, though. He'd need her to be his pawn.
"Listen," he ordered. "Today, when you go running back to your little Shinigami friends, tell them to back off the Arrancar hunt. If they don't, we will be bringing a fight with us."
"Arrancar hunt?"
She really wasn't informed in all of this. Grimmjow held back a sigh. "Just do it."
"I don't understand why you don't just threaten me not to talk or kidnap me like you did Orihime," Tatsuki pointed out. "Unless you need me to deliver the message as some plan of yours."
"You're giving me ideas," Grimmjow said. "I could kidnap you if that's what you wanted. I could also kill you. However, I don't need that blood on my hands. We're not trying to anger the Soul Society."
"You just want to be left alone?" Tatsuki asked. His grip on her throat had loosened and she'd stopped struggling. Something about his icy blue eyes caught her attention.
"We came here asking for assistance and offering the same in turn. They pointed their swords in our faces." His voice had become completely monotone again. "Retaliation is our only choice."
He's sad, Tatsuki realized. That's what she saw in his eyes. Loss and longing. "You want to be human, don't you?"
His grip tightened again. "What about me makes you think I want to be a pathetic human?"
She couldn't answer due to the restriction on her throat. It was hard enough to choke in air.
He let her go. "Give the Shinigami the message."
"And if I don't?"
"Then the battle will come in due time and I can't guarantee how many of your friends will survive."
…
Karin's eyes shot open into the darkness, her heart and lungs working overtime. A nightmare.
"Karin?" Ichigo whispered. He stood in her doorway. "What's going on? I felt your reiatsu spike."
"Just a nightmare," she muttered. "Sorry if I woke you up."
"Nah, I was just going to bed, actually," Ichigo said.
"Is Toshiro back yet?"
The orange-haired teen's classic scowl appeared. "No. None of us have any clue where he's gone. I was out looking a little while ago, but no luck. Matsumoto can't even feel his reiatsu. I wouldn't worry about it, though. He's probably sleeping on a roof by now."
"Mm," Karin said.
"Was that what your nightmare was about?"
"Of course not!" she denied. "Why would I be worried about that brat?"
"Keep your voice down," Ichigo warned. "You'll wake up Yuzu. Why don't you come out into the hall?"
"I should really just go back to bed," she retorted, but she was getting up even as she said it.
"Didn't I tell you at the beginning of all this," Ichigo said, "that you'd have to be patient with Toshiro for a while?"
"I know," she grumbled.
"So what was your nightmare about?"
Karin crossed her arms and stared at the floor. She rocked back and forth on her feet. "Nothing."
"Okay, you don't have to tell me," Ichigo sighed. "I'm only trying to help."
Karin frowned. "When's this going to be over?"
"I don't know," Ichigo answered.
"I don't think it ever will be," she mumbled. "First this and soon they'll be forcing us into Soul Society. What about Dad and Yuzu? All my friends?"
"We'll get through this somehow," Ichigo responded. "I promise."
There was a knock on the door.
"Those reiatsu feel familiar," Karin said. "I think one of them is Toshiro."
The two stumbled down the stairs and to the door. Ichigo flung it open.
"Found him."
Matsumoto's smile was motherly. She held the small captain in her arms.
"Um, hi, Ichigo," Orihime greeted nervously from behind the taller woman.
Ichigo motioned them in. "Rangiku, Orihime. Hi. How did you…?"
"Kido," Matsumoto answered. "He's going to be really mad at me when he wakes up."
"Since Rangiku's been staying with me, I helped her look," Orihime informed.
That's when Matsumoto finally noticed the room's other occupant. "Karin," she said. "How nice to see you again. I only wish it were under better circumstances."
"Ah," Karin agreed.
Matsumoto dropped the boy on the couch. She placed a hand on his forehead. No fever. "Why does he keep doing this to himself?"
"Can you blame him?" Ichigo asked. "His older brother just died and he thinks he did it. Soul Society isn't giving him enough time to recuperate. On the overlook the other day, I think it all started to get to him. He just…snapped."
"They won't let him go back to Soul Society until he purifies the rest of the Arrancar, either."
There was another loud bang on the door, this one more desperate.
"Ichigo!" Tatsuki called from the other side. "I know you're awake. I can feel your reiatsu."
Ichigo rushed over. "Tatsuki, what is it?"
She was panting. "I came here…as soon as I could get free. We've got trouble."
"There are bruises on your neck," Ichigo noticed in shock.
She nodded. "Some big guy with blue hair and eyes came up to me. He was one of the ones from Urahara's shop. He said to tell the Shinigami to back off the Arrancar hunt or else they'll start another war. He said…that they asked for assistance and the Shinigami pointed swords in their faces. Ichigo, what the h— is going on?"
"This is bad," the orange-haired male cursed.
Two pairs of footsteps ran to the top of the stairs. The group looked up to find Yuzu and Rukia.
"Ichigo?" Yuzu mumbled. "What…?"
As if the situation couldn't get any worse, Toshiro picked that moment to wake up.
"Uh-oh, that was supposed to knock him out for longer," Matsumoto mumbled.
The white-haired captain's brain only took a second to recall everything. This was shown by the rage on his face. "Matsumoto!"
Ichigo felt sweat beginning to form on his brow. "Yuzu," he said, "I need you to go back to your room."
The light-haired girl disappeared without protest. Rukia ran the rest of the way down the stairs, coming to stop beside the suddenly pale Matsumoto.
"Captain," the lieutenant greeted nervously. "Um, good morning?"
He was literally shaking with anger now. "Why?"
"Well, you see…" she muttered, playing with the ends of her scarf.
"Give her a break," Ichigo cut in. "She was just worried. All of us were."
"Matsumoto, did you stop to think that the phone call I just finished might have been important?" Toshiro snapped.
"But you would have run away again if I didn't act immediately," she said.
"No, I wouldn't have," he responded. "I was on my way back to deliver the important news."
"Did they find Ulquiorra?" Orihime piped up. She immediately regretted it when the icy glare was sent her way.
"No, they did not," the captain answered. "What they did do was decide that due to recent events, they want the relocation to be at midnight."
…
Thanks to: Kitsura E., windlily,-SoManyUpsAndDowns-, and fan girl 666.
Note: I just posted two more companion pieces to this in addition to First Strike. They are titled Enclosed and Rain, Rain, Here to Stay.
Writing companion pieces helps me sort out my brain.