Ichigo really woke up the next day.

Grimmjow was carrying in a load of laundry when the redhead woke up with a start and looked around, dazed and confused. That was normal, but then his eyes suddenly sharpened and he gave the arrancar a scowl that was both irritating and familiar.

"Grimmjow!" He tried to pull himself up and Grimmjow swore, dropping the laundry basket and quickly setting both his palms against Kurosaki's chest.

"Don't move you moron. Ulquiorra damn near killed you." He told the shinigami and the scowl weakened as something Grimmjow could almost call fear entered his eyes. Not fear for himself, though. That wasn't Kurosaki's style.

"Where's Orihime? Where's Nel?" He demanded and Grimmjow paused. He honestly had no idea where Nel had gotten to. Ulquiorra hadn't brought her in with Ichigo.

"I have no idea about Nel. Maybe Ulquiorra took her along… the bat took the woman to the Living World to help out Aizen." He told the shinigami, who bit his lip. "Whatever's going on there must be over by now, one way or the other." He wasn't sure why it was taking them so long to get back. If his side had won someone ought to be coming by to pick him up. And if his side lost, someone should be coming by to pick Kurosaki up. Either way, they should have seen someone by now. "I don't know what's taking them so fucking long to check up on us." Maybe they'd just been forgotten in the thrill of victory.

"…Can I get up now? I need to go to the bathroom." He said and Grimmjow shrugged, pulling his hands away. "How… have you been looking after me?" Ichigo asked in confusion, looking down at the bandages layered across his chest. Grimmjow nodded.

"You saved me from that jackoff Nnoitra. I owe you one." He said gruffly before gripping Kurosaki's arm as the teen tried to stand up. "Lean on me."

"I don't need help to go pee!" He protested and Grimmjow rolled his eyes. The shinigami could barely stand, although he was a lot better than he'd been right at the start. Then, Grimmjow had pretty much carried him.

"Yes you do. You're a fucking mess. And it's been two days, Kurosaki. I've seen you naked every damn day." He said and suddenly wondered. Would that hollow betray his little secret? Grimacing, he put the thought out of mind. He couldn't stop the thing from babbling if it decided to. Kurosaki was looking at him with a horrified expression. "What? You think I should've let you wet the bed instead? I sleep on that thing."

"You… I… just shut up." Grimmjow was pleased to see that the shinigami was blushing. What would he do if he knew about the blow job? Maybe he'd tell the teen himself someday just to watch him die of an aneurysm. He helped Kurosaki to the bathroom but the shinigami insisted on going on by himself, closing the door behind him. Grimmjow frowned as he heard the water running. Was he taking a bath? It was probably a good idea but he did have those bandages and about a million cuts and bruises. Shrugging to himself Grimmjow settled onto the bed and picked up his book. If Kurosaki didn't want his help, his pain was his problem.

There was silence for a good half hour, but then there was a muffled yelp and a thump. Frowning, Grimmjow set aside his book and went to check. Opening the door showed him a completely naked and trembling Kurosaki on his hands and knees.

"Nice view." He murmured, looking at a really fine back, tight ass and well-muscled arms. Arms that were just barely holding his weight at the moment. Kurosaki looked up with a scowl.

"Get the hell out – argh!" He gasped as Grimmjow knelt beside him and grabbed an arm, putting it over his shoulder. He scowled as he saw the red bleeding through some of the bandages.

"Did you get the memo that you almost died, soul reaper? I have a bit of healing power but it's not much, so stop fucking around." He snapped as he helped the idiot stand. "Come on, you're going back to bed and we're getting those bandages off. I want to see what you've fucked up now." Although he did smell much better than he had before the bath. Arrancar didn't really need to bathe but humans and shinigami could get pretty damn smelly.

Kurosaki clearly had issues with being nude around his worst enemy but Grimmjow just ignored it, getting him to the bed and under the covers. He'd replaced the ones he'd torn up and gotten some real medical supplies from the stores. The numero's had all run off – a reasonable reaction to the way he and Kurosaki had been laying waste to the place – so he had to do everything himself.

"Here, let's see what you've reopened." He muttered as he began peeling away the bloody bandages. To his disgust, it was the large cut on his chest. Kurosaki looked down and paled slightly as he saw the hideous mark there. "Hold still." He told the soul reaper before licking the wound again. Ichigo yelped and began to struggle before suddenly pausing.

"That feels… strange. What are you doing to me?" He asked and Grimmjow looked up, grimacing at the taste of blood in his mouth. He really did despise it.

"I'm healing you, dumbass. My saliva has healing properties." He said shortly then grinned. "And now you know why I never bit you." Biting someone in combat was sort of counterproductive for him. Kurosaki looked a little revolted but calmed down, letting him continue his self-appointed task. When the bleeding had finally stopped he pulled out a fresh roll of gauze. "Let's get this on you." It took a few minutes, especially since Kurosaki insisted on keeping the blanket over his crotch. Grimmjow didn't comment, remembering the way it had looked upright and twitching. That memory sent a bit of heat to his cheeks and he finished the bandaging quickly before pulling away. "Now go to sleep. I'm not up to making a garganta yet." He'd been draining his own power to heal Kurosaki, which had retarded his recovery.

"You'd do that for me?" Kurosaki asked, distracted from the thought of sharing a bed with him. Grimmjow shrugged.

"Not for you. I want to know what the fuck is going on and where everyone is. If they somehow managed to annihilate each other… that would be sort of awesome actually." Grimmjow said with a grin. It wasn't like he cared about most of the Espada. Kurosaki gave him a disgusted look before pulling the blanket over himself. Grimmjow sat back down beside him, reaching for his book again. But the soul reaper kept shifting uncomfortably. "What's the problem?"

"…I'm hungry." Came the answer and Grimmjow frowned. He'd been getting the shinigami to eat, but only once a day. Surely they didn't eat more than that? But maybe he needed more to recover from his wounds.

"Okay. Stay put and I'll get you something." There was plenty of food in the stores, refrigerated and frozen. Their shinigami masters had to eat and they liked variety in their diet. Grimmjow left to go make him an omelet. That was all he really knew how to make, so it was what the shinigami had been eating for the past two days. Amusingly, he'd kept mentioning how good 'Orihime's' cooking was tasting. Grimmjow wondered if he'd feel the same way now that he was awake.

When he got back he discovered his timing sucked balls. There were three people in his room now and he nearly dropped his tray as green eyes flicked over him.

"Ulquiorra!" Grimmjow couldn't help but be slightly relieved to see him. And the woman was with him, busy healing up Kurosaki's injuries. "About time. What happened? Who won?" He honestly wasn't sure what answer he was hoping for. Sure, Aizen was his side. But if the bastard died he would finally be free to return to his life in the sands of Hueco Mundo. Being caged had never suited him at all.

"Aizen-kami has ascended to his throne in the Spiritual plane." Ulquiorra said and Grimmjow didn't miss the horror on Kurosaki's face. Or the way tears were running down the woman's face even as she healed him. Why were they… oh, right. That meant Karakura town was gone. "All the remaining Espada are called to a meeting."

"Remaining? Who's dead? Tell me Nnoitra is dead." He demanded, putting Kurosaki out of mind. Even if he'd been inclined to comfort the bitch he wouldn't know how to do it. That was not his style.

"He is. Aizen has resurrected most of the fallen Espada, but because of his attack on you Nnoitra will not be returning to us." Ulquiorra said and Grimmjow blinked in surprise. He owed Aizen one for that. "Aaroniero has also not been returned, for falling to a woman who did not even possess a bankai."

"Won't miss him." Grimmjow grunted. That left two open spots in the Espada. Maybe Aizen would make new arrancar to fill them or maybe he would just promote some of the privaron Espada. There would definitely be a rank shuffle and the thought made him grin. He'd be the fifth Espada soon.

"Indeed. Come, we do not want to keep Aizen-kami waiting." With that Ulquiorra shattered Orihime's healing shield and grasped Ichigo's collar, lifting the soul reaper. Kurosaki scowled, giving Ulquiorra his best defiant look. "He will want this thing as well." He said emotionlessly and Grimmjow frowned. What would Aizen want Kurosaki for? Well, he'd probably be finding out soon. Then Ulquiorra tossed the shinigami towards him. Grimmjow had to react fast to catch him, staggering under the weight. "Bring him. I will bring the woman." Then Ulquiorra grasped Orihime and sonido'd out. Grimmjow scowled after him.

"Oh yeah, heal his injuries but nevermind mine…" He grumbled before looking at Kurosaki. He was almost completely healed and he still had his sword. If he wanted to make a break for it Grimmjow was going to have trouble putting him down. "You coming?" He wasn't going to carry the bitch, not now. Kurosaki hesitated before scowling.

"I don't have much choice, do I?" He asked and there was a bitter note in his voice that Grimmjow had never heard before. He gave the soul reaper a curious look and saw that the look in his eyes was just as bitter as his voice. "Everyone I know is dead."

"…" Grimmjow honestly had no idea what to say. If everyone he knew died, he might mourn Halibel for a few minutes. Then he'd be savoring his newfound freedom as he returned to the sands of Hueco Mundo. "You want sympathy from me, shinigami? You've come to the wrong store to buy that shit. Come on, Aizen-kami is waiting." He said roughly and Ichigo's expression turned from pain to anger. That was good, anger he could deal with.

They went to the meeting room in silence. Everyone else had already taken their places, Orihime standing behind Ulquiorra's chair. Grimmjow could practically feel Ichigo bristling with rage at the man at the head of the table.

"Aizen – mph!" Grimmjow slapped a hand over Kurosaki's mouth. The soul reaper grabbed his wrist and tried to drag it away, but he wasn't allowing it. He still owed the brat something for saving him from Nnoitra. Saving the shinigami from his own temper could be the second half of his payment.

"Aizen-kami. Do we need to have him here? I think he's a little upset." Grimmjow said which made a chuckle around the table. Aizen actually smiled and the Espada could tell he was in a very good mood. Well, why wouldn't he be? He'd just become divine.

"One moment." Aizen lifted his hands and there was a surprised sound from Kurosaki. Grimmjow glanced over to see he was wearing… no, a metal collar had been fused to his neck. "Take him back to your quarters, Grimmjow. We will wait for you to return." Aizen picked up his teacup, savoring the brew as Grimmjow nodded and grabbed the soul reaper, dragging him out of the room.

"What the fuck? Grimmjow, you asshole!" Kurosaki snarled at him as soon as his hand was removed, not to his surprise. He'd been silenced like that once or twice by various Espada and his reaction had always been pretty similar.

"You were about to get yourself fucked over, Kurosaki. Aizen doesn't take back talk." He warned. Ichigo just gave him a furious look. "Go back to my room and eat your food. I'll be back for you later." He didn't know what that collar was, but he had a feeling Ichigo would obey his commands.

"…Fine." The soul reaper spat after a tense moment and shunpo'd away. Grimmjow relaxed slightly before returning to the meeting room.

The meeting started with a bunch of reports from the Espada. They'd been heavily involved in taking control and putting down riots in Soul Society. From the sounds of it, a lot of shinigami had died. But with their command structure already torn to pieces and the Soutaichou dead, Soul Society really hadn't stood a chance. Most of the Divisions were still largely intact, though. Aizen still needed the shinigami to take care of the balance of souls. The arrancar just couldn't do it, without the proper zanpakuto to send the spirits on.

At Aizen's request Halibel gave them all a full list of the surviving taichou and fukutaichou. Grimmjow wondered why any of them cared. He didn't even know most of them, except the midget, Rukia. And it wasn't like he gave a crap if she was alive or dead.

"Now, my Espada, I have a new task for you." Aizen said and Grimmjow didn't like his smile one bit. Something was up. "I have decided that I do not want my arrancar to come to an end. I could continue to locate powerful adjuchas and break their masks, but my duties as the Soul King will keep me in the spiritual realm most of the time." He sounded slightly regretful and Grimmjow wondered what the spiritual plane was like. He doubted he would ever get to see it. "Instead, I would prefer my arrancar to breed naturally." There was a stunned silence and Grimmjow saw Ulquiorra actually blink in surprise. "And I would like to see the results of breedings between shinigami and arrancar. Szayel has determined that it is feasible."

"We're getting put to stud?" Grimmjow asked then sniggered. He didn't have much to worry about. He knew for a fact that he was infertile. Aizen just gave him a benevolent smile.

"If you want to see it that way." He said politely and then conversation broke out. All of the arrancar were interested, even lazy Starrk. To Grimmjow's amusement, no one was really opposed to the command. But then, hollows fucked like there was no tomorrow, which often there wasn't. And at higher levels of evolution they always desired cubs. It was part of why female hollows had such a rough time. He did notice that Halibel was completely silent. She'd always preferred the company of other females – everyone knew her fraccion were also her lovers – so that was hardly a surprise.

"I want the woman." Ulquiorra said and Grimmjow decided to mess with him.

"They're all going to be women, Quatro. Which one in particular are you looking at?" He said with a grin and Ulquiorra shot him a mildly disgusted look.

"Orihime Inoue." He spelled out with exquisite politeness. Aizen nodded.

"As you wish." He replied. The other Espada mostly had partners assigned to them, since they didn't know any of them. Barragan did ask to have the most boyish looking one and Aizen assigned him someone named Soi Fon. Grimmjow felt bad for her. Everyone knew Barragan was an ass man although he'd have to amend his tastes if he wanted to get any cubs out of it. Then Aizen got to the trickiest of the Espada. "Halibel. I know this is distasteful for you, so in light of your special sacrifice I will return your fraccion to you." Her eyes went very wide at that and she stared at Aizen for a moment. But then she looked down at the table in front of her.

"Aizen-kami, I want nothing more than to obey your instructions. However, I have a… disability that may prevent it." She said and Grimmjow was puzzled. A disability? "When I first became vasto lorde I was unlucky and attracted the attention of another vasto lorde. He captured and attempted to rape me." She stated flatly and Grimmjow winced. That was fairly typical although it really was bad luck that she'd run into another, higher vasto lorde. "That was how I discovered I have… shark teeth in my vagina." She said and there was a mass recoiling from the men around her. Even Aizen leaned back. "I don't know if they only react to painful intrusions. They might but… experimenting…" She shrugged helplessly and Aizen nodded.

"I see." He said gravely before considering the problem for a moment. "Szayel, please investigate this with Halibel. I will resurrect your fraccion regardless of the outcome."

"Thank you Aizen-kami." Halibel said gratefully and Grimmjow rubbed an eyebrow. Aizen really was in a good mood today. Then his lord and master looked at him.

"Now, Grimmjow." Aizen's voice was a gentle caress and Grimmjow stiffened as the other Espada watched curiously. "This may be even more difficult for you than Halibel. But as the only other Espada capable of bearing children, there is a duty before you."

"…" Grimmjow felt a moment of complete horror as Aizen revealed his secret before the collective Espada. They were all staring, even Halibel. "Shut the hell up Aizen!" He snarled, even though he knew he was just begging for a punishment. "I'm infertile anyway!" Szayel nodded, seconding that. But Aizen just laughed.

"I am kami, Grimmjow. I will fix that." He waved a hand and Grimmjow grunted as he felt something touch him. It was a power so far above his own that he couldn't even perceive it properly but he could feel the effects. Something inside him changed and Grimmjow blinked as a feeling of… rightness went through him. Aizen had just fixed something that was broken and his body registered approval of the change. That wasn't enough to calm him, though.

"No. No no no." Grimmjow glanced around the room, considering making a break for the door. Panic was starting to set in. When the other Espada knew what he was… oh this was bad. "I'm not doing this. This is not happening." He was too busy looking around to see Aizen frown.

"Grimmjow, calm down." Aizen's voice wasn't just soothing, it was a command backed up by power. Grimmjow attempted to resist but it was as futile as a child fighting an elephant. His breathing evened out as the panic and anger slipped away.

"Aizen? How can he have children? I really want to know so I can go back to my nap." Starrk said before yawning. Aizen smiled in amusement.

"Szayel, please give the other Espada the details." He requested and everyone looked towards the scientist. Grimmjow just put his elbows on the table and rested his face in his hands. Kami might have calmed him but this was still mortifying. Szayel adjusted his glasses before speaking.

"Grimmjow appears to be male but is actually a pseudo-hermaphrodite…" Grimmjow tuned him out as he surreptitiously checked the other's reactions. Most of the Espada seemed to be fascinated and a touch disgusted. Barragan was hard to read, which wasn't reassuring and Yammy was giving him a grin. That was even less reassuring.

"What am I gonna do if I actually get pregnant?" Grimmjow growled when Szayel was finished. "I'll be helpless! I'm an Espada, I can't afford that shit." Anyone could challenge them at any time. That was the downside to holding power. And if he became pregnant his power would be gone for at least three months before he gave birth. He would still have some hierro but it would be tissue thin compared to his usual power. "I don't even have a fraccion!" Halibel would at least have her girls to watch her back. And the Tres Bestias were fearsome with Ayon to work with.

"That is why I am giving you Kurosaki Ichigo." Aizen said and Grimmjow blinked. Giving to him? "That collar he now wears is keyed to you, Grimmjow. He will obey any command you give, and if you call him with your power he will have no choice but to answer." Grimmjow frowned, not sure how he felt about that. He was going to be in charge of Kurosaki? It sounded sort of fun but the attitude could get old fast. "In addition, I am assigning you Kuchiki Byakuya. You will be living at his manor and supervising the Kuchiki clan."

"Supervising?" Grimmjow hoped he'd heard wrong but Aizen nodded. "What does that involve? Intimidating them and shit?" He hoped so. He could do that. But Aizen smiled and shook his head.

"No. I'm not particularly worried about the Kuchiki clan, Grimmjow. Just keep an eye on them. If you want to go above and beyond, you could check over their accounts and lore keeping." He said and the thought made Grimmjow want to cringe. He could barely read, and he only knew that much from Tosen pounding it into him. How the hell was he supposed to keep track of lore keepers? He wasn't even sure what that meant! "Kuchiki-taichou defeated Yammy, so he will be more than capable of defending you." Grimmjow glanced at the stupid bastard and saw he was scowling. That was good, anyway. "Is that acceptable?"

"Not like I have much choice." He said gracelessly, trying to think of some way out of it. But he couldn't think of a thing.

It seemed he was going to be an honorary member of the Kuchiki clan starting tomorrow.