When Grimmjow ordered them to run, they did. Including Ichigo. She tensed her jaw; with each step she wanted to scream, she could feel it with every step she took. Eventually her knee collapsed no longer able to hold her weight, Ichigo just let herself fall in the mud. Pulling her arms under her body, Ichigo pushed herself up like she had done so many times before. She only managed two steps before she was in the mud again. Loud squelches told her that the general was standing a few steps away, watching as she failed to make it to her feet.

"Get up Kurosaki," he shouted, "or are ya too fucking weak to stand?" Groaned she got up again, scowl on her face. She was never going to be weak again. Unfortunately her body didn't agree with her, Ichigo wavered falling in the mud before she even managed a step. Growing impatient Grimmjow grabbed her by the shirt, shoving her forward thinking it would help. Ichigo managed to stagger to the halfway point. Thunder sounded over head, lighting illuminating the course for just a second. Grimmjow marched over to the man he thought was nothing more than a sad little boy wearing daddy's shoes. Chad blocked his path, grabbing him by the shoulders to stop him.

"Move it soldier!" He barked, the giant shook his head but let his hands drop from his shoulders.

"No sir, I mean you no disrespect but Kurosaki-San was inj-" Ichigo grabbed his shirt pulling herself up, and cutting him off. Growling she dragged him away from Grimmjow, pushing him once he was facing the course.

"'M fucking fantastic," she hissed. Standing up straight she glared at Grimmjow, a sudden determination to prove him worn coursing through her. Grimmjow saw something in his hard amber eyes, it wasn't he had seen in Kurosaki before. Determination. And pain. He had to look away.

"Get to it then maggot," he shouted, marching off the course to watch him finish.

"Yeah," he grunted, jaw tensed.

Grimmjow knew something was wrong with Kurosaki the moment he arrives with the rest of the men. He seemed hesitant and his cocky attitude was missing, no sarcastic remarks to anything anyone said. He would have sent the man to the infirmary but he wanted to do the course so there was nothing he could do till Kurosaki gave up.

"Everyone is to line up once they finish. No one is to leave until every last man finishes this course" he yelled, trying to be heard over the thunder. Most of the men groaned, the rain coming down in sheets so thick you couldn't see past the end of your nose. Grimmjow watched in silence, eyes fixed on Shiro as he slowly moved through the course. He could see it was killing him. When he reached the rope climb he faltered, almost tripping before Shiro fainted face first in the mud. Grimmjow sighed and moved to pick him up, throwing his mud covered body over his shoulder. The man weighed almost nothing.

"Cifer with me, the rest of ya hit the showers and get yer asses back to the mess hall for coffee," he shouted, the men smiling at the chance to get out of the pouring rain.

"Explain," Grimmjow ordered turning to face the stoic man.

"That was an incident with Kurosaki and Ichimaru-San. Kurosaki insulted him and he retaliated with violence, I have no idea of the words passed between them," he reported, saluting Grimmjow before he too left. He glanced at the man over his shoulder before sighing and making his way to the nurses office. It was days like these that made him wish he was still on the battle field, where nothing surprised him any more.