Seven Reasons We're Together

Part 5: Patience

Disclaimer: Tite Kubo is the author of Bleach.

One way or another, Grimmjow and Halibel found themselves stuck in the world of the living after the Garganta system mysteriously malfunctioned, so they basically have to make do until a week passes and the rift to Hueco Mundo can be restored. But then again, a whole week here could give the two Espadas enough time to spend with each other... exactly seven days.

Day: Thursday

"We can't go until this afternoon? Are you for real?" Grimmjow was quite agitated as he sat up straight in the armchair in the living room of his and Halibel's rented house.

Halibel only shook her head, turning back to face him from the doorway to the front hall. Sunlight streamed through the front door's windows into the hall. "Ichigo can't just spar with you whenever you want, Grimmjow," she reminded him gently, waving a finger. "He's out right now, I already called his household for you, remember?"

"Oh yeah, because I'm too lazy to touch that 'phone' thing humans use..." Grimmjow grinned, putting his feet on the table.

"In short, you can't just go running off to do what you like. We have to be more civil here," Halibel told Grimmjow, walking over to him and taking his hand in hers to calm him down as he started to look upset. "We have plenty of other things to do today. You'll get a chance to stretch your legs."

"Uh-huh?" Grimmjow asked with raised eyebrows, and ten minutes later he found himself in the park of Karakura town, a place of nature and relaxation. Birds chirped their songs in the trees the inhabitants of the town milled about, enjoying the calm summer day. Everyone except one blue-haired Arrancar.

"Here? This is... this is..." Grimmjow sputtered as he walked by Halibel's side down the path, gesturing and clawing in the air with his hands. Halibel only smiled and held a giggle behind her hand at her companion's behavior. Grimmjow bugged his eyes out, baring his teeth. "This is... boring! Raaaagh! I said it out loud!"

"Calm down, Grimmjow! Something's eating you today," Halibel comforted him, wrapping her arms around him as they meandered along. She rested her head on his shoulder, looking up at him. "What is it?"

Grimmjow thought about it, scratching his head and looking up in wonder. "I think... I wanna fight? That being in Hueco Mundo is way more fun? You and I both can show up those wandering Adjuchas any day. Like a tag team..."

Halibel grinned and shook her head, letting him go. "Not a tag team," she said, finding a row of bright blue and green flowers by the path, kneeling by them "Look at these! They're beautiful. Do you know what they are?"

"Um, flowers?"

"Grimmjow!"

The Sexta Espada fidgeted in place. "But I don't know what they are!" he cried. "Hey, I never even saw real plant life in Hueco Mundo. Have you?"

"None," Halibel answered frankly. "It's something that made me sad! Our home never had any real beauty, just the endless white dunes and crystal trees."

And lots of game, too, Grimmjow added with a grin, but he saw what Halibel was getting at, and as he watched her admire the blue and green flowers, he felt himself calm down, appreciating her soothing and familiar presence. Then, he immediately got the old itch back.

"Hey, Hallie. I'm gonna... ah, explore the park for a while, okay?" he said, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder.

"Certainly! I love the outdoors," Halibel agreed, standing up and joining him, wrapping her arm around his, expecting him to take lead.

But I wanted to run around like a wild – Grimmjow thought before he relented. Heck with it, I'm being selfish! Hallie's my dear friend. Let me see, explore the park... explore the park... hey, does that tree have apples on it? Ripe ones?

"An apple tree! A wonderful symbol of life, in my opinion," Halibel glowed, approaching the massive tree with its thousands of plump red fruit. "A single being bearing a thousand small children, all preparing to start a life of their own. Don't you think so too?"

Grimmjow stared up at the apple fruits, wondering how many he could chop down with a single blade stroke before he shook his head, seeing how happy Halibel looked. She enjoyed the quieter, simpler things in life while a raging bloodbath was his idea of a day well spent. He had to find middle ground...

Thunk!

Grimmjow whipped his head to the side to see that archer boy, Uryu, taking aim and shoot down another apple with his bow and arrow, the fruit falling to the grass.

"Hey! Practicing your archery, huh?" Grimmjow asked Uryu excitedly, hurrying over to him.

Uryu lowered his bow. "Why, yes," he said, pushing up his glasses. "I'm 40 for 40 so far! My aim is as impeccably sharp as ever. Observe."

Grimmjow and Halibel watched as Uryu drew back another arrow, taking aim for another apple. Getting a sudden bright idea, Grimmjow pushed Uryu as he was about to fire, throwing the Quincy's aim way off; the arrow arced through empty air and fizzled into the ground.

"You! That was going to be a perfect shot!" Uryu raged, rounding on Grimmjow. With a wide grin, Grimmjow danced back and forth in place. "Whatcha gonna go, huh? Huh? Gonna shoot me, archer boy?" he taunted.

Uryu ground his teeth. "Just hold still so I can put one through you!" he shouted, drawing his bow back. His first arrow as dodged, then he drew back a second round: the 1,200 arrows at once! Way too much to dodge!

"Nooooo! Hallie, save me!" Grimmjow yelped like a kitten, tearing across the park as the angry Uryu chased him, firing the 1,200 arrows every which way and blasting the place apart. Halibel stood in place, staring as he friend ran around like a fool. Grimmjow... please.

"If only I had my powers! If only!" Grimmjow added to himself, splashing through the creek and getting his jeans soaked. This slowed down Uryu, who stumbled to take aim again and gave Grimmjow the chance to hide behind a tree.

"I'll forgive you if you just say sorry!" Uryu called after him, though still irked. "This is a park, after all."

Grimmjow poked out from behind the tree. "Fine, sorry, buddy," he said with a grin. "I just itched for a good fight."

Then, Halibel was right there, dragging Grimmjow away by the ear.

"Try to contain yourself, okay?" Halibel hissed at him, incensed.

"Yes, Halibel," Grimmjow said meekly. He accompanied her with his best behavior, finding himself to relax in her presence again, apologizing to her over and over.

"It's okay, Grimmie," Halibel said gently, shaking his shoulder playfully. "I promise you can spar Ichigo Kurosaki when he's back home, okay? I thought we'd have a little bonding time right now."

Grimmjow grinned and nodded. "Yeah."

That didn't last long, because five minutes later Ichigo and Rukia were passing by, waving hello.

"Oh, it's you, Grimmjow," Ichigo noticed the Arrancar warily. "Hi, Halibel!"

"Nice to see you two here as well," Halibel said brightly in return.

"Yeah, Rukia insisted that we stop by here before going back to my house," Ichigo explained. "I don't blame her. We've been running up and down Karakura town forever tryin' to get stuff done for Mr. Hat and Clogs. We don't even work for him and he cracks the whip on us anyway! He's got Jinta to help..."

"Raaaaah! We do battle now!" Grimmjow yowled in joy, pouncing after the deputy Soul Reaper with his fingers like claws. "Defend yourself!"

"Wha –? Hey! Give me a break!" Ichigo protested in irritation before Grimmjow pounced on him, and they vanished in a flurry of fists and kicks.

"Ichigo!" Rukia warned her friend, but he wouldn't listen. "Grimmjow!" Halibel snapped, but it was no good. Rukia exited her body to encase the warriors in ice with her Shikai but was too slow, as they both got up and began chasing each other around the park, all scratched up. "Get back here, Ichigo! We're not done yet!" Grimmjow howled, giving chase.

"You're crazy, man!" Ichigo called over his shoulder, scrambling up a tree. Halibel and Rukia watched from nearby as Grimmjow clamored up the tree after him, and then Ichigo jumped back down. Grimmjow chased him, but not before he upset a beehive there, stirring up thousands of the insects.

"Now you've done it, you big jerk!" Ichigo shouted as he swatted away the swarming bees, desperate to escape them and his Arrancar pursuer. The problem was, Grimmjow too was in trouble with the bees, having aroused their wrath by bumping into their hive. He gave up chasing Ichigo and fled the enraged insects instead, running in circles like Ichigo was.

"1,200 arrows!" Uryu shouted, and every bee was struck down, leaving both Ichigo and Grimmjow free. They collapsed, weakened from hundreds of bee stings that resulted in itchy red bumps on their skin.

"Grimmjow!" Halibel cried, supporting her weakened friend, kneeling on the grass to support his limp body as he stared blankly.

He blinked. "Hi, Halibel," he said weakly, turning to look at her. "I've really upset the beehive today, huh?"

Halibel closed her eyes, then bonked Grimmjow unconscious for the bad pun and dragged him out of the park, wishing Uryu, Ichigo, and Rukia all the best as she went.

*o*o*o*o*

"Grimmjow, how could you be so careless? Starting fights and getting stung by bees!" Halibel admonished her friend later that evening, as he lay on the bed shirtless and she applied ice packs to the stings and cream to reduce the swelling. She shook her head.

Grimmjow felt diminished, covering his face with his hands. "Arrrrrrrgh. Look at me. I feel like a total idiot," he groaned, then winced from aggravating the bee stings.

"Well, you did get impatient and worked up..." Halibel suggested, applying ice to more stings. The analog clock of the room ticked on the wall as sunset light shone through the curtains of the window.

"Forget it. I'm staying here until the Gargantas open again," Grimmjow mumbled. "I've cause you enough trouble."

"Don't say that," Halibel said quietly into his ear. "It's okay. We'll find something fun to do tomorrow, okay? Just don't upset any bees."

Grimmjow's eyes widened. "R...really? But I can't even control myself!"

"That'll take time to deal wit. It's just your nature," Halibel reasoned with him. "It'll take patience."

"As long as I don't ruin your day plans anymore," Grimmjow grinned. "I'm sorry, Hallie. I'll do better from now on. I promise." He reached out a hand and clasped hers to show his sincerity, wordlessly asking her to come closer.

"I know you'll do better," Hallie smiled, leaning closer and running her other hand down Grimmjow's shoulder; he enjoyed the soft, cool touch of her hand. "I'll always be there for you!"

"So, that makes five," Grimmjow noted.

"The reasons?" Halibel asked.

Grimmjow nodded, suddenly finding the bed to feel much softer and comforting. Not as comforting as seeing Halibel's smile, though. "The fifth reason we're together, Halibel: we have patience for each other. You give me a second chance, and I'm grateful for that, I really am. And I'll work on being... well, civil when it counts. For your sake."

Halibel smiled and kissed his cheek. "I have all the patience in the world for that."