"GRIMMJOW!", Ichigo screamed as he came down with a slash from Zangetsu. Grimmjow, not even moving, lifted his left arm and caught his blade.

"Stupid shinigami, you think you can even scratch me in that form?", emphasizing his point Grimmjow pulled Ichigo close and grabbed his hair.

Ichigo was trying to pry Grimmjow's grip on his hair, and he didn't see the first hit. Or the second. By the third Ichigo was sure his skull was cracked.

Grimmjow, still holding Ichigo, cocked his arm back and threw him at the nearest boulder. The boulder shattered.

Ichigo, coughing blood, stood up. He brought his Zanpakutō to the front of him, "Ban Kai!", no matter how strong he may be there is no way he can keep up with me!

"What are you looking at?", Grimmjow asked from behind Ichigo.

"imp-", Ichigo didn't get to finish. Grimmjow had drawn his blade slicing at Ichigo in an upward manner. Ichigo could barely get Zangetsu in front of his to evade.

'Whistle' "damn Ichigo, you got weak!", Grimmjow said as he watched Ichigo crash into the ground.

'Damn how is he still so much stronger than me? Ichigo thought. Guess I have no choice. Ichigo grabbed the air on the left side of his face, and pulled down. He formed his hollow mask.

"About damn time!", Grimmjow exclaimed with a large smile, "now I can go all out!", his smile got bigger as he watched Ichigo's eyes get wide.

"Grind, PANTERA", Grimmjow dragged his hand along his blade.

Ichigo's eyes got even wider as he took in Grimmjow's new form.

Grimmjow now looked like a giant cat. The most dominating feature was the long blades on his forearms.

Grimmjow pointed at Ichigo showing his entire palm, "Grand. Ray. CERO!"

The cero that came at Ichigo was huge. Ichigo brought down Zangetsu yelling, "Getsuga Tenshō!"

As their attacks collided, the impact produced sent both Ichigo and Grimmjow flying in the opposite directions of each other.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Not too far away someone watching the battle, with his almost always present smile, got an idea. 'With this I can get that bastard to piss off.' His smile got larger 'Grimmjow you dumbass, you just gave me the perfect opportunity. Hmm I guess you aren't completely useless.' With that thought in his head he jumped down from his vantage point and made it, her, his first priority. His smile got even larger.

\/\/\/\/\/\/

Orihime looked in the direction that was pulsating with Ichigo's spirit pressure, desperately wanting to go to him. She was so focused on Ichigo's fight she hadn't heard her always dead-faced warden walk in.

"Woman," Ulquiorra said, "I've brought you your food." He turned to walk away when Orihime said something that annoyed him to no end.

"My friends are here. And they will save me."

Ulquiorra sighed, "Ridiculous, you surely felt as two of the three reiatsu fall considerably."

She turned to him, "they will come", she said with extreme determination.

Ulquiorra shook his head, "you believe they will come for you because of your so called heart. Tell me if I brought you the hearts from their chests would you finally get rid of this notion of heart?"

A loud sound filled the room. Ulquiorra took a step back, she had slapped him. He turned to her with slightly wide eyes and said, "You are the only person to ever slap me."

"You sound surprised. With your attitude I'm surprised someone hasn't done so already." Orihime said turning away from him waiting for punishment. However when she turned to see what was taking so long all she saw was her room. He was gone.

Ulquiorra walked down the hall with an uncharacteristic rush. 'I will kill her friends. I will crush her heart' Ulquiorra was so focused on the two battling spiritual pressures that he didn't notice the person standing in a branching hallway. Still smiling.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Deep down in the basement of Las Noches a medical arrancar came across the body of a horribly wounded arrancar.

"Hmm is she still alive"

A cough was his only reply.

"I guess that's a yes"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Hello my little Hime-sama", said an ominous voice.

Orihime felt her heart drop. She knew that voice. It belonged to the only arrancar, only espada, that truly struck fear in her. She turned slowly to find Nnoitra leaning against her now repaired doors. She could feel her heart skip a beat when he stood straight, licked his upper lip and started walking to her.

"Why so terrified?", Nnoitra asked grin getting so big it looked like his face was separated by his teeth.

Nnoitra cupped her chin and whispered into her ear, "This will not be over quickly. You will not enjoy this. I'm not Ulquiorra."

Nnoitra covered her mouth to stop the scream.