Naturalist: Fruition of Plans
Ichigo has nothing to say to that, can't even register it in his baffled mind. How can anyone be born for someone else? It's just inconceivable… and yet a part of him knows it to be true. Grimmjow seems just as upset about all this as he does, the teal haired male glowering heatedly at an image on the base of his statue. The orangette scoots over to look at it, catching the mocking grin of the playful cat goddess named Yorouchi.
"I'm so sorry, Ichi," Grimmjow whispers. "I told her not to."
"I know… I heard," Ichigo replies. "I was reliving it, remember? Well… I was watching it through Lyre. I didn't know you were such a creampuff back then."
"Hey! I was not!"
"Yes you were," the smaller male laughs. "You were such a pushover, the only way I recognized you was by your teal hair!"
"…"
"What's wrong?" Ichigo asks curiously. "Aren't you gonna make fun of my hair, too?"
"… No. I love your hair," Grimmjow murmurs.
"Okay, now you're really starting to worry me."
"… Lyre… she had strawberry blonde hair," he sighs. "It was very uncommon back then in this area, so it was held as one of the most beautiful sights to see. Unique was always sought after then."
Ichigo is silent for a long while, wanting to ask and knowing he shouldn't meddle in something that doesn't concern him. After a moment, he steels his resolve and curls up against the other's powerful side. Grimmjow looks up and takes in curious amber eyes, his own softening just the slightest.
"Is my hair what attracted you to me?" Ichigo wonders as the words rush out jumbled.
"Of course not… your voice was," Grimmjow smirks. "I heard you before I saw you. Your voice was beautiful, something I could listen to all day for the rest of my life… I'd never heard anything like it. I approached you, because I wanted to talk to you. That was the reason I intruded upon you that day, not because I wanted to fuck you… That was just a bonus."
"Gee, thanks," Ichigo scoffs.
"Besides, your hair is nothing like hers. Lyre had all one tone, even in the sunlight. Yours… well… you have so many shades of the sunset in your hair when the light hits it," Grimmjow sighs as he runs his fingers through the orange locks. "It's just… so beautiful words can't even describe it. Just like you."
"Am I anything like her?" Ichigo wonders with a bright blush.
"A bit. You were both kind, easy to make blush, artistic… though her talent was in weaving," he muses. "You're about as slender as she was, but she was just a tad shorter… around 5' 3"."
"You remember a lot about her, don't you?"
"I thought I loved her more than I could love anyone," the teal haired god murmurs.
"Thought? What happened?"
"… I met you."
The orangette is surprised by the answer, but says no more. He can only imagine the strange pull he's been feeling from Grimmjow's aura was because of that stupid mark, though he can't feel it here. It's almost like… it's been turned off, or like it's not as strong within this temple. Grimmjow gets up after making certain Ichigo won't fall over from his obliviousness, heading back into his room in thought. Ichigo, on the other hand, picks up his discarded brush and turns back to his painting. Chess scampers after Grimmjow, letting out a loud mewl so Ichigo will know where he is. He has things to discuss with his mommy's mate.
"What do you want, pipsqueak?" Grimmjow sighs tiredly.
*Mommy is painting, * Chess replies. *I need to speak with you. Why does mommy seem upset? *
The panther god flops down on his bed, sprawling out as he thinks of an answer. He can't exactly tell it like it is to an impressionable young jaguar cub, if the current mother panther heard the cub speak half the things Grimmjow does she'd kill him!
"Ichigo and I just learned that Yorouchi placed my mark on him when he was born," Grimmjow mutters almost bitterly. "He was born for me and me alone, he'll find no happiness with any other."
*But mommy loves you, why is that a problem? *
"He either stays here and gives up his life outside the jungle, or he goes back and gives up everything here," the panther god tries to explain. "I'd prefer he choose the second one, he can't survive here."
*Why can't he have both? *
"Sometimes there is no compromise."
*… You're just saying that cause you don't want mommy staying, * Chess accuses in a sad tone. *You're selfish! *
"Hey, now! I'm thinking about what's best for him!"
*If you were, you would think about what he wants, too! *
"For crying out loud, what do you want from me!"
Now he's propped up on one arm, glaring down at the insistent little cub. He's never met such an infuriating little fur ball before, he just won't let up. He's beginning to think Yorouchi created this one specifically to make his life hell, just to keep him on his toes… that damn woman! And the worst part is, he can't find it in him to hate her for it.
*I want you to make mommy happy again, I like his smile! * Chess growls with a petulant bat to the air. *You made it go away, so you need to bring it back! *
"I'm not the one that forced that mark on him, that was Yorouchi!"
*Then talk to her, but make mommy happy again! *
"Yeah, yeah… you little runt."
Chess nods stiffly, turning with his small tail in the air. Grimmjow scoffs as he lays back down, smirking at the arrogance Ichigo's little cub throws off. If he didn't know any better, with that cub's arrogance and kind intentions toward Ichigo, he could almost swear it was conceived between the two of them… what a scary thought. With a huff, he wonders if he actually should call on Yorouchi. A scream of shock from Ichigo has him stumbling out of bed and onto the floor, his body moving fast as it tears through the hall to get to the smaller male. When he reaches him, he stops short. Laying across the pedestal his statue sits on, sprawled on her side and completely naked as she poses for the painting teasingly, is Yorouchi.
"Fucking hell!" Ichigo screams.
His back is pressed flat against the wall furthest from Yorouchi, a hand over his heart and his amber orbs huge. He's sitting smack in the middle of the fountain, Chess watching between the two like they're both crazy… they probably are.
"Yorouchi," he sighs. "Mind telling me why you're scaring the shit out of him?"
"Because it's fun!" she grins.
With a snap of her fingers, she's dressed in long silk robes. Grimmjow sighs and walks over to Ichigo, pulling him to his feet and keeping between the frightened teen and the mischievous goddess. She's sitting up now, still on the pedestal, and grinning over at the orange haired teen widely.
"You grew up nicely," she comments. "I knew I'd made the right choice."
"You promised you wouldn't do this!" Grimmjow snaps. "You promised you wouldn't place my mark like that!"
"I did no such thing," the exotic woman huffs. "I said I wouldn't do it immediately. I gave you over a thousand years to move on, but you oh so grandly failed."
"I had lovers."
"Grimmy, my dear sweet precious little boy," she sighs with a shake of her head. "Lovers are nothing compared to a love. Are you getting that? This boy is made for you, every little personality quirk and every curve of his body is shaped to your liking. He's made to be your opposite and complete you."
"You didn't," Grimmjow whispers as his heart clenches. "You didn't, please tell me you didn't."
"Didn't what?" Ichigo wonders.
"I didn't use Lyre's soul," Yorouchi sighs. "Her soul was damaged beyond rebirth… so I took the heart of it and built a new soul. He was once Lyre, but now he's someone new."
"… I was girl!" Ichigo shrieks. "No, no way!"
"You have Lyre's heart, Ichigo," Yorouchi grins. "You're just as kind as she. But I knew that wouldn't be enough to keep you safe in the wild, so… I built you up all over again! I placed an animal's spirit within your own, so you'd be attracted to the wild and it would be easier to survive there. You are specially made to stay by Grimmjow's side… forever."
"… I'm gonna throw up."
Ichigo hurries out side, Chess on his heels with a glare directed at the other two. Grimmjow glares at his 'mother', furious she'd do such a thing. He didn't want Lyre to be reborn as his… but if what she says is true, then Lyre will never exist again. With a damaged soul, she never would've been reborn unless Yorouchi did this.
"I know you're upset and I know this is a lot for a human like Ichigo to understand," she purrs soothingly. "But this is for the best. Too long have you sealed yourself and your home off from humans, too long has Ichigo waited to find the one he was meant for. You two need to come to an understanding."
"I don't want him here."
"He may have Lyre's heart, Grimmy… but he is not Lyre," Yorouchi sighs. "He is better, stronger, faster, and has a much keener sense of danger. He loves you with all he is and all he ever will be. Don't be afraid of losing him, I promised you before that you never would."
"Wait… does that mean…"
He stops, his eyes landing on empty space. Yorouchi, as she's so prone to do, has vanished leaving questions within his mind. Chess scampers back in, beckoning with his head for the teal haired god to follow. Ichigo is kneeling on the ground outside, heaving his breakfast into the brush as the panthers attempt to console him. Grimmjow kneels beside him, rubbing his back and whispering soothing words.
"I can't do this," Ichigo mumbles. "I… This is too much."
"This is something we need to talk about, Ichigo," Grimmjow replies hesitantly. "When someone is marked by Yorouchi at birth… things… happen to change them. A lot of your personality, abilities, and even some of your dreams could explain more about what's going on. We need to go through all this."
"I… I have to finish painting," Ichigo says, though his tone is distressed. "I have to finish, or… I just can't talk now."
*Mommy needs a time out, * Chess mutters. *He's going crazy. *
"Shut up, runt," Grimmjow hisses. "He's just upset, that's all."
*And who's fault is that? * the little jaguar scoffs. *Don't take your anger out on me just because you can't make your mate happy. *
"You little..!"
"… Are you arguing with a baby jaguar?" Ichigo asks completely dumbfounded. "Have you gone mental?"
"Of course not! I'm a panther god, I can talk to them," Grimmjow bristles. "Not that I'd like to be able to understand your evil little runt. Stupid little ball of fur has it out for me."
Ichigo stands and walks into the temple to finish his paintings, leaving Grimmjow to glower at the cub that grins smugly back at him. After the interruption, Ichigo throws himself into his artwork to get rid of his frustrations. It's always been a means to relax for him, though this time it's not working as well. He's just learned he's been born for one purpose and one purpose only… pretty much what he did the entire time he was with Grimmjow the first time he came. He was wondering why it felt so right when he barely knew the guy. Add on that Grimmjow won't leave this place and the fact he doesn't want Ichigo to stay, and he's got himself one of the most complicated problems of his life. He wouldn't mind staying with Grimmjow, but… it's a little much to ask him to give up everything! He gladly would, if it weren't for the fact Grimmjow is giving up nothing in return… the selfish bastard.
"Ichigo, that's the last painting," Grimmjow comments. "You haven't eaten all day and it's getting dark, you need to stop for the day."
"I'm almost done… just a couple more," he murmurs as though in a trance.
"No. This is the last one for tonight, the light won't last through one more."
He knows the older male is right, the light probably won't last through a quarter of the next painting, but he doesn't want Grimmjow to think he can boss him around. He hesitates, his brows scrunched in a scowl, but Chess batting his leg has him relenting. A few more strokes and his current painting is done, the orangette picking things up beneath Grimmjow's watchful eye before joining the other for dinner.
"I don't like you bossing me around," Ichigo mutters.
"What?"
They're halfway through dinner, the meal quiet until Ichigo's utterance. Amber eyes flicker upward before dropping back to his food, his fork playing with the meal left on his plate before he speaks up again. Grimmjow's question was curious and not bitter at all, he was probably lost in his own thoughts when Ichigo spoke and missed what he said.
"I said… I don't like when you boss me around."
"If I hadn't, you would've missed dinner as well," Grimmjow points out. "And you would've damaged your eyes trying to paint in the moonlight."
"… Still… you could've asked instead of demanding."
"Come on, Ichi, don't pout," the taller sighs. "I hate it when you pout, it makes me feel guilty even though I know I have nothing to feel guilty about."
"…"
"Let's talk about what happened, okay? I know you don't want to, but… we really need to."
"… I dreamed I was Lyre… because I was remembering my past life, right?" Ichigo sighs in relent. "That's why I kept seeing through her eyes, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Her heart was showing you parts of her past where she felt strongest," Grimmjow explains.
"Why did Yorouchi have to make my soul with her heart?"
"She knew that was my favorite part of Lyre," Grimmjow mutters. "After I got to know her, I realized that was the best part of her. Her beauty would fade, her personality was growing more secluded as she pushed herself away from humans, and her talent for weaving was getting lost as her hands started shaking from some illness that wasn't yet named… but her heart was always the same."
"I have her heart," Ichigo mutters. "But what's this stuff about an animal in me?"
"… I didn't know about that until that night you blacked out during sex."
Ichigo stares at him, trying to remember what had happened and coming up blank. He does remember waking completely sore with a head that felt full of cotton, his lover sitting and watching him warily… but that's about it.
"Okay, so what happened?"
"In this place, you're slowly losing your human side within your animal side," he explains carefully. "I mean, it's not bad, but… it's really Yorouchi's fault. At times, she'll push a veil over your mind that will suppress your human side and strengthen your animal side. During those times, you'll act on baser needs and instincts… such a breeding. The night you blacked out, she had done so and you went completely feral with the need to breed."
"So that's why you were so wary."
"Yeah. Your eyes turned gold and you were much more aggressive than usual, not that I'm complaining or anything. That was some great sex," he offers with a smirk. "I'm just saying… I prefer to be the Alpha male. Laying down just isn't my style."
Ichigo rolls his eyes at the comment, but gives a small smirk to show his humor. To think, he has an animal sleeping inside him… has always had it there… and he never knew. He wonders briefly what type of animal it is, if it's as beautiful as the animal Grimmjow is. With a sigh, he finishes his meal and looks back at his… mate's… contemplative features.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" he asks.
"The way Yorouchi talked to me," he sighs. "It makes me think there's more than what she's telling me… like… No, never mind. That's not possible."
"That pull thing hasn't happened to me this time around," Ichigo says wistfully. "Do you think she gave up on it?"
"Yeah right," Grimmjow snorts derisively. "Yorouchi isn't the type to give up on anything she wants. If she wants me to be with you, she'll keep at it until we both give in to the fact it's either be together or be tormented by a goddess for the rest of forever."
"… Wonderful."
"Come on, let's go to bed."
As Ichigo walks from behind the changing curtain in that silk robe, Grimmjow is already crawling into bed in nothing but navy silk sleeping pants. Heat prickles up the orangette's spine, his body halting immediately as the pull slams against him hard.
"G-Grimmjow," he stammers so quietly it's almost lost. "I… I think I feel… that pull."
Grimmjow looks up at the oh so quiet whisper, cyan eyes growing large as he catches amber eyes lighting up gold. It's not just the color this time, not like it was the last times, but it's an all out supernatural glow that Grimmjow's own eyes take on. He curses quietly to himself, mentally praying for Yorouchi to release the smaller male from her hold. If he has sex with Ichigo this time, he'll no doubt lose himself… and Ichigo will be forever changed because of it.
"I want you," Ichigo says huskily.
"And I want you… but not now."
With a feral growl, Ichigo leaps. At the same moment, Grimmjow's searching hand locates Ichigo's back and yanks out one of his belts. He dodges the orangette, who slams into his bed, and pins him immediately by sitting on his back. Ichigo growls and snarls, but eventually Grimmjow manages to secure his wrists to the headboard tightly. In the morning, Ichigo will probably have lost feeling in his hands, but he'll thank Grimmjow after everything is explained.
"Let me go!" Ichigo howls. "I want you to fuck me! Grimmjow!"
"Absolutely not," the teal haired male frowns. "We are going to sleep, so be quiet and close your eyes."
"I want you!" the orangette screams almost desperately. "Please! Please take me!"
"… I'm sorry, Ichi, but you'll thank me tomorrow."
The smaller male breaks down and sobs into his pillow, his dominant rubbing small circles on his back to soothe him until he falls asleep from exhaustion. Grimmjow checks the bindings, laying back and falling into a light and guarded doze… just in case Yorouchi comes to untie his uke.
"I never knew you were the type to indulge in kinks."
The familiar voice has a smirk tugging at Grimmjow's lips. It's early in the morning, the sun just hitting the horizon, and Yorouchi has stopped by to see how everything is going. Grimmjow opens his eyes to see her standing at the foot of his bed, a bit miffed her plan didn't work out. If only her little cub didn't know her so well!
"I never knew you the type to watch… pervert," he answers.
"Why'd you stop him? That's the second time you've stopped him!"
"I don't want that for him! Especially when he's not aware of what's going on," he argues. "Ichigo is a wonderful person and he'd make a great mate… but he's human. This is wrong."
"He was born for you, Grimmy," Yorouchi sighs. "This is his destiny. He was meant to be with you forever, this will make that bond forever. Don't you understand? I'm trying to make you happy here."
"I do understand that, and I'm grateful for that… but will he be? Will he understand all this? What happens when he wakes up in the morning and finds himself in a new body, or when he realizes he can never go home again? What happens then?"
"There is no rule that says he can never go home," she scolds. "Don't you be filling his head with lies just because you don't want him staying with you."
"We both know I won't let him leave. I won't leave this place and if he does he'll be where I can't protect him, so he stays."
"You need to get out more anyway," she bristles. "The only excuse you had to stay in these trees was the fact the humans were trying to get through them, but that's about to end. You'll have no excuse to stay all the time. Ichigo was born to take that excuse away, to draw you out of this beautiful shell you've trapped yourself in. This forest is poison to you, Grimmjow. It may be your kingdom, but you're losing your human side… a side I fought to preserve when I brought you back."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh yes you do! You spend 90% of your day as a panther, Grimmjow," she hisses. "You lounge around with the animals more than you do humans anymore. From the moment you met Ichigo, that's the longest you've ever stayed human in years! And then, to top it all off, you let your animal side almost kill him! You never would've done that before, not even if he were an enemy."
Grimmjow looks over at the orangette, the tan boy sleeping on his stomach with his hands above his head thanks to the bonds, and smiles softly when he murmurs into his pillow. He could never imagine trying to hurt such a creature, let alone kill it… but that's exactly what he almost did. Chess was the only thing that stopped him, which only proves Yorouchi right… his animal side is taking over. He heaves a great sigh, glancing at the purple haired goddess.
"Okay, maybe you're right," he grumbles. "But that still doesn't solve anything. When Ichigo wakes up, I'm going to tell him what's been going on and what you're trying to do. He'll choose where we go from there."
"Don't lie to him in order to get the result you want," she warns. "Or I'll talk to him myself."
He shivers at the underlying threat, but nods in agreement… not that she needs his agreement, she'll do it anyway. She gives her own curt nod, vanishing in a veil of starlight and leaving her cub to watch his mate. Well… his future mate, they haven't accepted it yet. Ichigo grumbles as the light shines in to wake him, yawning and trying to move before finding he can't. It takes him a couple experimental tugs and a few moments to absorb everything, but soon he's sending a flat look Grimmjow's way.
"And… why am I tied to the bed?" he wonders.
"Okay, I know this looks really bad, but I can explain," the teal haired god starts with. "You see, Yorouchi used that pull on you last night. You were further gone than before, so I didn't want to sleep with you like that. I tied you to the bedpost after you literally attempted to jump me, and then let you cry yourself to sleep. I'm really sorry, but… there's another reason she's been doing that."
He straddles Ichigo's backside, leaning over the other as he undoes the belt holding him. Once the orangette's wrists are loose, Grimmjow moves off him and Ichigo sits up to rub feeling back into his hands. At the sharp look from amber eyes, the larger male immediately knows to continue with his explanation.
"Well, you see… Everyone born for a god or goddess has a purpose," Grimmjow says nervously. "Your's was to save my home and… other stuff I don't want to get into. If I were to take you when you're like that, you would've been changed for good… no going back. You wouldn't be human anymore, you'd be like me."
"A god? Or, like… a demi-god?"
"Kind of the first one, I suppose. But you wouldn't have had all the seriously awesome, limitless powers that I do… well… maybe a few, but you wouldn't be able to twist landscapes an stuff, nothing that awesome."
"And that's a bad thing?"
"You could be transformed into an animal if you're not strong enough to handle the change," Grimmjow sighs. "Whatever happens will be permanent, so… if you turn into a panther, you'd still be mine, but you wouldn't have any supernatural abilities… and you'd never be remotely human again."
Ichigo is quiet, staring in shock at Grimmjow before smirking. Obviously, he thinks Grimmjow is messing with him. The teal haired male tries to hold back the frustrated growl he's feeling build in his chest, narrowing his cyan orbs in warning.
"But you took me like that before," he points out.
"I pulled out before I came," the larger male sighs. "If I would've do so inside you, the change would've taken place. Thankfully, I still had my head on my shoulders or this discussion wouldn't be needed."
"You could've done in again like that."
"No, I couldn't have. Ichigo I haven't touched you since that night in my tree house," Grimmjow remarks. "If I would've taken you last night, I wouldn't have stopped."
Once more the orangette can't find anything to say, watching the deadly serious expression on his future mate's features. What can he say to that? It's either live without Grimmjow, risk becoming an animal, or never have sex again… none of which are very appealing to the vibrant haired teen. Finally, he manages to say something to the waiting Grimmjow.
"I want to be with you," he murmurs with tears in his amber orbs. "But why am I the one that has to give up everything?"
"Ichigo…"
"I have to f-finish my p-paintings," the teen forces out as he gets up.
Chess sees Ichigo first, grinning toothily before bouncing over to his mommy, but stops upon seeing the tears in his eyes. He immediately glowers at Grimmjow, who's following behind the orangette at a slow pace. Grimmjow glares back, warning the cub against starting something right now. Chess, instead, follows Ichigo over to where he's set up the last two easels he'll be using. After these two final paintings dry, Ichigo can make his way back home and notify Byakuya of the completion of his end of their deal. That, however, brings about the question 'what next'. it's obvious to the orangette that Grimmjow told him all that in hopes he'll stay away, however he now knows he'll never be happy with anyone else. He could try, just like he's been trying before coming here, yet he'll end up comparing them all to the god he's come to love… and really now, who could seriously hold a candle to Grimmjow?
"What should I do, Chess?" he wonders. "If I stay and let them change me, I could lose everything in my life outside here… not to mention, I'll be considered dead and all this land will be sold to someone else. This whole nightmare will just start up all over again and I'll be smack dab in the middle as an observer. But if I leave… I can't leave. I'll just end up coming right back, I know I will. Leaving the first time took everything I had, but that time I knew I could just come back and see him again. He'll avoid me like the plague if I choose to leave him, just so we wouldn't be tempted by each other."
"Grimmjow is a good guy like that," Yorouchi purrs from behind him.
Ichigo yelps, almost leaving a splotch of color all over his canvas if it weren't for Yorouchi's power blocking it. The orangette whirls around with wide eyes to see the exotic goddess of dark skin and golden eyes, her grin so much like Grimmjow's he can see where one could believe she was his mother.
"Careful," she teases. "Don't want to ruin such a beautiful painting."
"Um… thank you."
"Did Grimmjow tell you the risk?"
"Yes."
"Did he tell you anything else?"
"… No. Not really."
"I didn't think he would. Honestly, that boy. He doesn't want you to stay almost as much as he never wants to let you go, he always has to complicate things so much," she huffs with a roll of her eyes. "You are a very beautiful submissive, Ichigo, even more so than I had hoped. Grimmjow thinks the change will have a negative effect on you, but it won't. You have a tiny bit of my blood in you, just like when I used a small drop to turn Grimmjow into what he is now. I made you with the utmost care, taking in consideration everything that could possibly go wrong… save Grimmy's attitude and stubbornness, of course."
"Of course," Ichigo snorts.
"Grimmjow tells you that you'll have to give up everything to be with him, but that's only because he won't want to let you go where he can't watch you. After all, that's how Lyre died," she states. "The truth is, you can do whatever you feel like doing. You can live here or among humans, split your time between two worlds or stay in one, and even decide whether or not you want to take a break from my precious overbearing cub or torment him everyday. The choices are yours and no one else's. Grimmy wants to be able to choose for you, thinks that keeping you away from him is the best choice for you both… but we know the truth, don't we?"
"… I can't live without him," Ichigo sighs a bit downtrodden.
"That's right. Once one marked at birth meets the one they were born for, life seems far too grim and pointless without them. You will go into a deep depression without Grimmjow, one that will lead you close to death before you're forced to take yourself back to him. Had he never went to you that day within this jungle, it never would've started to take effect. But the mark called to him, just as it called you in your dreams."
"What?"
"Your soul knew where it belonged, Ichigo," she smiles. "That's why you started dreaming about this place and the spirit panther, that's why the legend fascinated you so… Fate was working to bring you here to be with the one you were meant for."
"… I hate fate," Ichigo grumbles petulantly.
"Everyone does, but it doesn't change it. Now… what are you going to do?"
Ichigo looks at the woman a moment, seriously thinking about everything that's been said. He loves Grimmjow, loves him so much it hurts to think of a life he's not in… but the man is difficult! He knows you're supposed to take the good with the bad when it comes to relationships, yet you can always get out of those relationships if things get to be too much. With the panther god, Ichigo would be stuck with him for the rest of eternity! Eternity is a seriously long time! Not to mention, he'll have to watch as his friends and family grow old and die while he's trapped in a single age to stand beside a god that can do nothing to help stop their ends. Ichigo breaths in deeply, the nervousness and fear and confusion he's feeling showing all too well in his eyes.
"You still have time, Ichigo," Yorouchi provides. "You have all the time in the world. As long as you're near Grimmjow, you won't feel the effects of depression. And if you tell Grimmjow you'll be back, he has no choice but to wait for you… he'll always be waiting for you, even if he doesn't want to. He knows you're out there now, he knows you belong to him."
"I… I need to think about it," he murmurs. "This is a big choice to make."
She nods in understanding, patting the teen on the head as her body disappears. Grimmjow arrives just in time to see her go, a frown marring his handsome features at Ichigo contemplative look.