Chapter 8:

It was dark when Grimmjow entered and what little light shone from the open door disappeared instantly as it shut behind him. Filters of moonlight were shining in the darkness like silver threads but they didn't little to nothing to help with Grimmjow's vision. Taking a few steps forward the sound echoed loudly indicating one thing to him, the room was large and empty.

Starting across the room the sound echoed back louder and Grimmjow could swear it was distorted slightly, but what could cause that? Suddenly he walked into something solid, coming to an abrupt holt. Cursing as he stumbled back Grimmjow rubbed his nose and cautiously held out a hand, lying it flat against the cool surface. It was smooth so it wasn't a wall. Tapping it made a dull echo that sounded vaguely familiar but he couldn't quite place it.

Then he heart it. It was faint, almost unrecognisable but it was definitely there, something was moving in front of him. Behind the blockade something or someone was moving around, Grimmjow could hear the faint shifting sounds. Then a low groan, it was human.

"Ichigo?" Grimmjow asked, pressing both hands against the smooth surface. "Ichigo is that you?"

Suddenly there was a blinding light and Grimmjow flinched, shielding his face as his eyes adjusted. Someone had turned the lights on, was he being watched? Then he realised what was blocking his path, it was glass. The glass wall spanned the entire length of the room and from what he could see, there was no door, no way to get through unless he smashed it.

Movement caught his attention and then Grimmjow saw it was Ichigo who was making the noises. "Ichigo!" Banging both hands against the glass it didn't even shudder but the dull thud got the orange head's attention and he looked up, eyes widening when he saw Grimmjow. He was tied to a chair in the centre of the small area he was enclosed in, both hands and legs chained to the metal structure and there was no way Ichigo could escape on his own. More than that however, Ichigo's mouth had been gagged, the teen couldn't speak to him. "Hold on, I'm going to get you out of there."

Ichigo nodded and started looking around, his eyes landed on something behind Grimmjow and he started nodding his head at it. Frowning, Grimmjow turned around to see a small circular table behind him. How he hadn't walked into it before he didn't know but as he approached the table, Grimmjow knew nothing good would come of it.

Sure enough the only thing on the table was a small syringe filled with a green liquid. Grimmjow had just reached out a hand to touch it when a voice rang through the room, making both himself and Ichigo jump.

"I wouldn't touch that. At least, not yet anyway."

Pulling away Grimmjow looked for the source of the voice, his eyes landing on a speaker set in the upper corner of the room. Next to it he could make out the blinking red light of a camera, the same as the ones used in the hospital.

"What is it?" Grimmjow asked loudly, sure that he could be heard and sure enough he got a reply.

"You'll know in due course. But first, let's explain the rules."

The lights in Grimmjow's side of the room suddenly went out, only one remained hanging above the table illuminating the string lying on top of it. Ichigo however still had his lights on and his confined space shone brightly now.

"One, you have only two choices there is no other option. Two, if you break the rules you both die. Three, you have five minutes to decide before the choice is made for you so use the time wisely. Your time starts now."

There was a loud rushing noise and looking around for the source, Grimmjow didn't have to look far as water started flooding into Ichigo's area. There was nowhere for it to go so the room was going to fill up. Already he could see the floor was covered and the level would rise quickly, the water being pumped in at such a high force was going to drown Ichigo if he didn't do something.

"So what's the game? If there's rules then there's a game right?" He asked, looking around for something, anything that could shatter the glass but the room was empty expect for the table and syringe.

"The game is simple, one of you must die. The choice is yours Mr Jaeggerjaques. Either Ichigo will drown or you will die to save him, the syringe you see is filled with poison, it will kill you within minutes. Save his life by taking your own or watch him die, the choice is yours."

In the silence that followed the voice Grimmjow could hear a faint ringing in his ears. Was this what everything had been leading up to, what Mr Heart had wanted from the beginning? He had never wanted to harm Ichigo, he had been the target from the beginning they knew that, but this was why? So he could kill him and make Grimmjow do it himself?

For a fleeting second Grimmjow thought he wouldn't give the psycho what he wanted but immediately the though vanished. He couldn't let Ichigo die, not like this, not if he could save him. Even if it meant he himself had to die to save the teen.

The water had risen to halfway up ichigo's legs as Grimmjow processed what he'd been told and now he was struggling violently to get free. There was no point though, he would never break out of those chains. Grimmjow glanced at the table, it was his only chance. Grabbing the table around the edges he managed to lift it and carried it over the the glass. With all his strength Grimmjow threw the table at the glass and nothing happened, the table bounced off the glass as if it were nothing.

Pressing his hands against it again he cursed, resting his forehead against the cool surface. Of course it wouldn't be that simple, the glass was reinforced, probably bulletproof but he didn't have a gun to test this theory. Ichigo made a strangled noise snapping Grimmjow back to reality and he saw with a jolt the water had risen past his knees now and soon, Ichigo would be submerged if he didn't act fast.

Turning around it was only then Grimmjow realised the syringe had fallen to the ground and with a curse dropped to his knees to find it. It took too long to find and by the time his fingers closed over it in the dark the water was halfway up ichigo's chest. Pressing his hands to the glass again Grimmjow looked at Ichigo who was shaking his head violently.

"I've got to do it, I've got to save you. You understand right?" More shaking and Ichigo was still trying to escape, Grimmjow could see the blood around his wrists. "Stop Ichigo you'll be free in a minute." He sighed, closing his hand around the syringe tightly. "Live your life Ichigo, do that for me ok? Live it to the fullest you can, promise me that." After a long pause where the water rose ever higher Ichigo nodded and Grimmjow could see the tears falling down the teen's cheeks. "I love you."

And then he injected the poison into his arm.

At first he didn't feel anything, he stood staring at the empty syringe in his hand and felt the panic rise in him. Was it a trick? One last trick before he really killed Ichigo? Then he felt the numbness, the syringe slipping through his fingers because he couldn't keep a hold of it. It clattered to the floor and as the sound echoed loudly there was an even louder beeping noise. With relief Grimmjow saw the water was being drained away and as the last of it disappeared the glass slid down and he fell t his knees, the numbness now spreading so he couldn't stand.

Ichigo was moving again and with a lot of effort Grimmjow lifted his head to see the chains around the orange head were undone and he was untangling himself, pulling off the gag and running towards him. Ichigo made it just in time to catch Grimmjow as he collapsed completely and pulled the top half of his body into his lap.

"Stupid! Stupid thing to do!" He was saying, tears still falling down his cheeks but Grimmjow didn't regret it. Ichigo was safe, that's all that mattered. "Hold on ok, we'll get you to a doctor and everything will be fine. Just hold on a bit longer for me."

Grimmjow managed a laugh. "Sorry Ichigo, I won't be making that promise, I can't keep it."

"Shut up and save our strength." He whispered back a heartbreakingly sad smile crossing his lips. Grimmjow could only hope Ichigo never wore such an expression again. "I love you too by the way." Grimmjow couldn't find his voice, he couldn't speak anymore but there was one last thing he wanted, he wanted to kiss Ichigo one last time. He must have gotten this across to the orange head because he had started leaning down, their lips almost meeting when a door opening jerked Ichigo away.

"You did it." Grimmjow couldn't turn his head, but the voice was familiar. It was the same on as before, the one with the surgeon but it was more than that. It was someone he knew but his brain couldn't put the two together.

"You!" Ichigo asked in surprise, his grip tightening around Grimmjow and his expression a mix of shock and fear. "B-but you're a Detective aren't you? You work with Grimmjow!"

Then he understood who it was. It hadn't been a hallucination, he had seen Ulquiorra at the hospital. He wasn't 'out of the country' as Nnoitra believed. The sudden wave of rage he felt was enough to get one word out. "Bastard!"

Ulquiorra came into view and he looked down at Grimmjow with his stoic expression. "Yes, it was me. I'm surprised you didn't figure it out sooner, but you were close, too close and that called for drastic action. I should be thanking you really, after all, you finished it."

"Finished what?" Ichigo asked for which Grimmjow was glad since he doubted he could speak again.

"Everything." Ulquiorra lifted his had suddenly and the light glinted of the gun in his hand. Seeing the expression on both their faces, the man's lips uplifted slightly into a cold smile. "This isn't for you no need to worry. I suppose I should explain everything shouldn't I?"

Grimmjow's grip on reality was fading, he couldn't see Ulquiorra anymore. Ichigo's hands gripping his were the only thing keeping him grounded, keeping him awake. But he could still hear, and he heard everything Ulquiorra said.

"Love." He said in a disgusted tone. "This notion people cling to, this invisible force that gives people hope and strength. It is nothing but a fantasy. I have seen what love can do. It can tear apart a person's world, their life. It can kill and it can destroy. Why would anyone want that? And yet, it's the one thing everyone wants is it not? But that was the point in Mr Heart, what he stood for. Love didn't exist. How could any of those people truly have loved their partners when they couldn't, didn't save them? Do you know how many people have made it this far before? Two. And neither of them could do what Grimmjow did." Ulquiorra crouched down next to them and Grimmjow felt Ichigo stiffen. "None of them could persevere, face their fears and pain to save someone they supposed loved. None of them sacrificed themselves the way you did Grimmjow. I applaud you for that."

"So you did this to what? To prove love exists?" Ichigo asked, his voice raising. "Well are you happy now?! Has Grimmjow proven anything to you?!"

"He did." Ulquiorra replied quietly, his eyes never leaving Grimmjow's. "He proved that even though I never managed to understand this concept of love, I at least got to witness it at its deepest level. Thank you."

Before Ichigo could say or do anything else Ulquiorra had lifted the gun and with one loud, echoing bang, killed himself.

"T-this is insane!" Ichigo choked, shaking his head.

Looking down at Grimmjow he could see the orange head had blood splattered across the side of his face from the proximity he had to Ulquiorra and the sight made his heart clench. Ichigo should never had to have gone through this. Why did he? For love as Ulquiorra had put it. Ichigo was right, it was insane, Ulquiorra was insane. How hadn't they noticed before?

There was nothing left now, Ichigo was safe. Mr Heart was dead, no-one was going to hurt him anymore. Grimmjow had fulfilled his promise, he had kept Ichigo alive, he had saved him. And despite what it had cost himself, it was worth it.

Ichigo's head lifted suddenly, his expression brightening. "Grimmjow! There's sirens! Everything's going to be ok, just hold on they're coming!"

But Grimmjow couldn't hold on. He couldn't feel anything anymore, not the numbness, not the cold or even Ichigo holding him. In fact, he couldn't hear Ichigo either, he could see the teen's lips moving but there wasn't any sound. He smiled. Death wasn't so bad when the last thing he saw was Ichigo. As his eyes closed, he never heard Ichigo shouting his name, shaking him and begging him to stay awake.

Everything just faded away.