Disclaimer: Do not own! All characters and whatnot belong to Tite Kubo!
Today had seemed like a normal day.
Well, to Szayel anyway.
It was way too normal for all of the stress filled days they have had. It was like disrupting a cycle- you disrupt the recurring process and then it screws up everything.
That's how today was.
"What's for supper, Isshin?" Grimmjow called from upstairs. Isshin chuckled.
"Well, shrimp tempura* and some onigiri*. Why, you already hungry?"
Grimmjow clapped his hands as he got to the bottom of the stairs. "Of course, when aren't I?"
Isshin nodded. "That's right, how could I forget?"
Szayel grimaced at their friendly conversation. Too normal, I say. Something's bound to happen.
And that's when something did happen. Grimmjow grunted, holding his stomach. He looked around with a befuddled look on his face. He groaned, and then he had collapsed.
Szayel watched the whole thing. He shook his head and ran beside the pained Grimmjow. Isshin heard the sound of a thump and ran out from the kitchen, his forehead creased with worry lines.
Szayel checked Grimmjow's pulse, and sighed with relief. He tried to keep his composure as he picked the huge man up with ease and carried him upstairs, kicking the bedroom door open when he arrived. Ichigo looked over with a questioning look on his face, and sighed. "What happened?"
Szayel placed Grimmjow on his bed and heaved a heavy sigh, "He just passed out."
Ichigo bookmarked his book and walked over to the bed. "Look," Ichigo pointed at Grimmjow's stomach. It looked like the infant was moving rapidly. "Try touching it. Maybe you'll get a vision like last time?"
Szayel shrugged and placed his hand on the womb. His mind went blank, and then he sees the child again. They were in the look-alike Hueco Mundo place. The child giggled and muttered, "They're almost here, papa."
Szayel furrowed his brows. "Do you know who are all on their way?"
The child frowned, and it looked up, only to see my disappointed face. It sniffled and said with a shaky voice, "You're mad at me now, aren't you..?"
Szayel shook his head and embraced the depressed child. "No, no..Papa's not mad at you."
The child sniffed again and looked at Szayel in the eyes. "Though, I do have a feeling it's Ulquiorra."
Szayel froze. It felt like he stopped breathing. "Ulquiorra, you say?"
The child nodded gravely. "You're in danger, papa. Make sure mama is safe, okay?"
Szayel nodded.
"See you again, papa."
And the child faded away.
Szayel glared at Ichigo. "It says that Ulquiorra could be on his way. Possibly tonight. We have to get Grimmjow somewhere safe and you need to get help."
Ichigo nodded and he turned into his Shinigami form. "Right, let's get going."
Szayel nodded and picked up the unconscious Grimmjow. "Where are we going?"
"To the Soul Society, where else? They have plenty of Soul Reapers there that are plenty strong. And it's the only place I can think of that you can actually have protection."
"But what if they mistake us?" Szayel asked once Grimmjow was on his back. Ichigo shook his head.
"I'll make sure they won't," Ichigo smiled. "Now let's hurry. Who knows when Ulquiorra could show up?"
And they headed off to the Soul Society.
"Oi, Ichigo!" A familiar voice called. Ichigo and Szayel turned around.
Of course, it was Renji. He gave a confused look at Ichigo, and then glared at the Arrancars. "What are they doin' here..?" Renji whispered in Ichigo's ear.
Ichigo shook his head. "They won't cause no harm," Ichigo frowned. "It's a long story. But they aren't on Aizen's side anymore so it's all fine." He paused. "We think Ulquiorra is after them, so we came here for help."
Renji raised an eyebrow. "Really?" He waved his hand towards him. "Come with me, I'll ask Byakuya-taicho for help. He might not like the idea of helping used-to-be enemies, but it's the best we can do for now."
Ichigo and the others followed Renji to Byakuya's office.
"Byakuya-taicho?" Renji called.
"Come in," A voice so dull and emotionless called from within. Renji walked in and motioned for the others to come in. Byakuya furrowed his brows at the sight. "They shouldn't be here."
Renji nervously chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Ehh, they're on the good side now. It's a long story, but they need our help."
"We think Ulquiorra, the Cuatro Espada, is on his way to the World of the Living to bring Grimmjow and Szayel back." Ichigo furrowed his brows. "At least, we're not for sure. Szayel had a vision, anyway."
Byakuya sighed and stared at Grimmjow, who hung at the side of Szayel.
"Go ahead and put him in my headquarters. It's in that room, over there." He pointed to a room in the back of his office. Szayel entered the room and sat laid Grimmjow down on the bed carefully and covered him up. Szayel walked back out and received a watchful glare from Byakuya.
"What in the world happened to him?" He asked.
Szayel frowned. "Eh, Aizen wanted to use him in an experiment. He wanted to see if a male womb can hold an infant, and if it seemed like it could, they would increase the Arrancar population.
"There was a sedative I created that was injected into his bloodstream, and it spread to his womb, thus taking the form of an infant. So, I guess in blunt terms, you could say he's pregnant."
Byakuya shook his head. "Damn that Aizen."
Renji shook his head. "What the hell was he thinking?"
"Well, the Arrancar population was decreasing, so he had to increase it." Szayel shrugged. "Why he chose men, I will never know."
"You do have women Arrancar, right?" Byakuya frowned.
"Well, we do..but Aizen-"
Byakuya held his hand up. "Don't tell me. I'm afraid to find out what his intentions are." He paused. "Do you have a clue when Ulquiorra will be here?"
"Soon, that's all we know." Ichigo replied. "At least, that's what the child said in Szayel's visions."
"Vision?" Renji asked.
"Yes.." Szayel slowly nodded. "I noticed that whenever the infant moves rapidly in Grimmjow's womb, it wishes to speak with me. It looks like it could be a toddler, and it also looks like Grimmjow and I. Within the two visions I had, it had warned me that someone was coming for us, and that we were in grave danger. I believe it was trying to warn us that Ulquiorra was coming here, to take us both back."
Byakuya and Renji furrowed their brows. "But how?" Renji asked.
"That's what we want to know," Ichigo commented.
Byakuya piped up. "Well, perhaps the fact that because you and Grimmjow are strong beings, it could have better skills than you both combined. This could be that he can sense great reiatsu from afar than you both combined ever could."
Renji nodded. "It would make sense. But that also means it would be stronger than both of you combined. The power would be overwhelming."
"Well, I guess we'll-"
Byakuya was cut off by a strangled scream. Everyone barged into Byakuya's headquarters, only to see Grimmjow writhing in pain. The bump on his stomach was showing an imprinted face, its hand sticking out. It constantly kept opening and closing its hand, trying to grab something but only grabbing Grimmjow's skin. Szayel shook his head and grabbed the hand, his mind showing an image of the sobbing child.
"Papa!" It exclaimed and ran to hug Szayel.
Szayel nodded and embraced it back, patting the back of its back. "It's nice to see you again, but why so soon?"
The child sniffled. "Are you sure that the Soul Society will drive the bad man away?"
Szayel furrowed his brows. "Of course. The Soul Society is made up of a strong group of people. With all of their strength combined, it should be large enough to beat Ulquiorra." Szayel ruffled the child's hair. "I promise you."
The child giggled. "Great!" But then his face grew grave. "Though, I think he's here. He knows where you are. Papa, don't let him hurt you and mama, okay?"
Szayel nodded and smiled. "Of course. I'll take good care of mama, all right? I'll promise that as well."
The chid giggled again. "I love you, papa. I love mama too."
Szayel giggled. "I love you too. And I'm sure that mama loves you too."
The child faded away with a smile on its face.
Szayel jumped and glared at the group. "He's here. The child said so. Can you get other people to help?"
Byakuya nodded. "I'm sure I can."
And with that, he ran off to look for help.
Everyone stood in silence.
Ichigo broke the silence. "Make sure you take good care of him. He's vulnerable to anything in a state like that."
Szayel nodded and sat down next to Grimmjow, taking a handkerchief and wiping the sweat off of his forehead. Grimmjow flinched, and then settled again. He opened his eyes and furrowed his brows. "What do you think you're doing?"
Szayel shook his head. "You're covered in sweat. It's gross."
Grimmjow snorted and looked away. Renji coughed.
"I think we should get you both to a durable building." He warned, frowning.
Ichigo smirked. "How about the place Rukia was kept?"
Renji nodded. "Seems reasonable. Szayel, bring Grimmjow and follow us, but stay behind us." He paused.
"Who knows if he could pop out at any moment?"
Author's Note: Chapter 6~
I want to comment that Tempura is a type of meal that is usually eaten in Japan, but they have boxes of Tempura that you can make here in America. What it is, really, a batter that you mix up, and then dip whatever you want in it. That can be shrimp, chicken, usually just some kind of meat.
Also, onigiri is the Japanese term for 'rice ball'. What you do to make it is just make some rice, and then you scoop some of that rice into a rice bowl, get your hands wet and just put a little bit of salt on your hands, and then use your hands to mold a ball out of the rice. Once your are done, you heat up some pieces of nori, or seaweed, over a flame to make it crisp. Once you have done that, you just cover it over the rice. You can add something in the rice ball if you like, but a common filling is a plum (I think) of some sort. I had one with salmon in it, and dear God it was the best onigiri I've ever had. When I was younger, my Japanese grandma would make them all the time as a snack. ;A;
However, I just wanted to note that so that way if there are people who have no clue what Tempura and onigiri are, they now know! As always, please review and let me know what you think. Thank you!