Chapter 20: Cloud Nine
Sitting up in the bed that once was covered in her own blood, Tora's gaze drifted to the chair again. She almost expected to see the espada sitting there, watching her for anything. Knowing that he was concerned made a smile stretch her lips, but it almost seemed like a dream. Normally Grimmjow didn't care if she was near death but this time he was. It was like in the desert again.
"Why Grimmie-kun?" She questioned to herself as the arrancar got out of bed and waited for anything. Closing her eyes, remembering the way it felt. The way it felt like they were supposed to be together, especially with the way she kissed him. Even if she didn't get any response from the sexta espada, it didn't bother her.
Strolling out of the room, Tora's gaze stayed on her feet. That feeling of his lips lingering on hers made her stop and lean against a wall. She almost wanted it to happen again. Grimmjow wouldn't want that to happen though. He wasn't the type that would like her for whom she was.
"Ohhh Tora-chan!" Madoka chimed as she skidded to a stop and grabbed a hold of her friend. Seeing the distant look in the verde eyes, the shinigami waved her hand in front of her friend's face. "Hueco Mundo to Tora-chan."
"Huh?" Tora asked as her gaze didn't focus on anything until she noticed that Madoka was standing next to her. Nodding her head to her master, the female arrancar blinked. "What do you want Madoka-hime?"
"Spar if that's okay. I don't want to get rusty when it comes to Aizen-sempai's plans." Madoka explained with a small smile. Grabbing a hold of her friend's arm, she tugged her toward a door that led outside into the desert. Her gaze wandered to make sure that they were the only one out there and found no one else's spirit energy there. Nodding, the ex shinigami continued out into the sunlight.
"Out here?" Tora inquired as she noticed the part of the building she broke into when Grimmjow was tossing her around. The thought of it made her ache in the back. Looking back at her friend and master, the female arrancar continued to follow the snow white-haired woman that was taking her out.
"How's everything with Grimmjow?" Madoka questioned finally after seeing a hollow lizard scurry away. Glancing back at her brunette haired friend that still looked worn out from the beating she received, she sighed.
"Fine, I guess." Tora answered and looked at the lizard that was avoiding them. Sighing herself, her gaze trailed up to the sky that was clear like every other day. Her gaze fell onto her friend again and forced a smile on her lips.
"What happened after he carried you to your room?" Madoka pried with a smile as she stopped her stride and turned on her heel to face her arrancar friend. Grabbing a hold of the woman's shoulders, she shook them a little. "Tell me please."
"He-he looked after me. That's all." Tora stated as her head bowed so her master couldn't see the blush that was consuming her face. Hollows and their evolutions weren't supposed to have hearts. They lost that when they were consumed or turned when they died. Tora knew that but why was she feeling like she had one?
"I think there's something more with the way you're acting. I won't tell anyone. Tell me please." Madoka bugged with her trying to look at her arrancar friend's face. Seeing the tint that it took, she smiled a little more. Gripping the hands that were hanging by the woman's sides, she forced her to look. "Love is something precious. I thought I told you that. Cherish it Tora-chan."
Tora nodded slowly and sat down in the sand. Her gaze was onto the lizard that was watching them for anything that might send it fleeing. Rolling her green eyes at the creature, the woman looked up at her master and the person that helped her get into this form. "You promise right?"
"Yep!"
Tora continued to look at the woman that was standing in the sunlight. Smiling a little, she wasn't sure how to say it. It was personal so it also meant that there was a part of her that was being told also. "You've told me to tell him my feelings."
"How did you do it?" The female shinigami questioned, clearly interrupting the arrancar and zipped her lips shut.
"I kissed him. At least that's what you call it when you press your lips to someone else's." Tora said a bit puzzled as her hand played with some of her skirt that hung off her knees. Looking down at the ivory fabric and back at the woman that was standing, she blinked. Seeing the smile that was on the shinigami's face scared her. "Um Madoka-hime?"
"That's so great!" the sapphire eyed woman squealed and tackled her friend. Hugging her, she continued to squeal. "Then you wouldn't believe me when I say something like Gin and I are one."
An eyebrow rose from the arrancar. What was she talking about, Tora thought as she pushed her friend off. Sitting up, the woman looked over at the ex soul reaper and back at the sand. "As in that lover status people abuse at times?"
"Yeah but we won't abuse it. I know we won't. I'm glad he allowed me to come here because if he didn't then I would be stuck with a pouting Kira and possibly being questioned." Madoka complained as she laid back into the sand. "Also, I wouldn't have met you if I didn't show up."
"Then Grimmjow and I wouldn't be."
The white-haired shinigami nodded and looked over at her friend. "Being in love's nice and all. I'm scared for you however."
"Why?" Tora inquired as she eyed up her master. Whatever was going through that mind scared her. Sighing, she flopped down beside her friend and looked at the sky, feeling that hollow's gaze on her.
"Jaegerjaques is a sadist, while you my friend isn't a masochist. I'm scared for you. If that happens, I'm really afraid for you." The snow white-haired woman stated. That feeling of her friend getting seriously harmed by the man she had feelings for made her stomach roll.
"He is one. I'll agree with you on that but what if he's gentle? You may never know until you actually . . ." Tora trailed off, lost of words and afraid of what words she can use.
"You may never know until you actually bed with him." Madoka finished for her arrancar friend. Looking out of the corner of her eye, seeing the tint of blush return, she smiled. "It's nothing to be ashamed of Tora-chan. It's a beautiful thing, it's just his nature that scares me."
"I know." Tora agreed silently. "Aren't we supposed to be sparing?"
"Forget about it. I'm in a lazy mood to do anything but lay here next to my little arrancar friend."
"I know I'm little in height wise but you don't have to rub it in. I get picked on by Harribel-sama's subordinates for it. I just forget which one it is since she has three. It might be Apacci or Mila Rose. Hell I'm not sure which one it is. Some of them don't have room to talk." Tora griped as she thought about it.
"Don't worry. There were some that were shorter then you at the Soul Society. There was Hinamori-fukutaicho from Aizen's old squad. She was short, then there was Hitsugaya-taicho. He looked like he could still be diapers at times." Madoka chuckled at the thought. "To be frank, I miss my old home because of the fun that was going on but this seemed more important. I rather be with Ichimaru-taicho – when I still referred to him as that – and his beliefs."
"Sounds like you were smitten by him the entire time you were there." Tora stated under her breath and avoided a slap that was meant for her stomach. Laughing, she got up and stuck her tongue out at the woman that's her friend. "At least you're honest."
"Yeah whatever." Madoka finished and charged at her friend. "Now I'm in the mood to spar."
Decided to leave it off there since I was wanting to read more bleach manga that I borrowed from the library. Along with Blue Exorcist, Haruhi Suzumiya, and Ouran High School Host Club. Please review.