"Oi…Oi!" Ichigo whispered harshly and threw a pillow at Grimmjow's face.

Grimmjow jerked awake. First he was confused, then angry. "What the hell was that for," he growled, and clenched the soft projectile ready to kill Ichigo with it in any way possible.

"You snore too loud. Shut the hell up," Ichigo growled back.

"Perhaps I wouldn't have to snore so loud if you didn't shout things in your sleep," Grimmjow argued.

"Just because my dad made up some lame excuse so you could stay here, doesn't mean it gives you the right to be annoying. You're a 'guest' so be considerate like one."

The door to Ichigo's closet slid open. "Will both of you shut up? Don't you have a test tomorrow?" Rukia said sharply from the darkness. Even though they couldn't see her clearly, they could feel her eyes glaring.

"Why are you here anyway? If you can't sleep…go somewhere else," Grimmjow yawned and returned to his sleeping bag.

"Tch…Unlike some people, I'm not freeloading off another's kindness. I have special privileges to be here," Rukia humped.

Ichigo choked. "What? Not freeloading? What special privileges? You always invite yourself in here and then ignore me whenever I tell you to leave."

"Goodnight Ichigo," Rukia shut the door, clearly ignoring him.

It had been over a month since Grimmjow entered Karakura High. Unbeknownst to him, the cameras were still rolling. Yankee to Yankee, as the show was called, had become a huge overnight success. Reality TV wasn't a new thing in the human world, but it was just beginning to pick up in Soul Society. Already, several producers wanted to buy rights to the SWA's brain child. Others were making their own attempts. But Yankee to Yankee was the only one with a Substitute Shinigami and a former Espada sharing a small room at a parent's house. The invisible cameras caught every aspect of their lives. If either Ichigo or Grimmjow found out…Kisuke didn't want to think of the damages it'd cause…both to his shop and his own person.

"Pen's down. Send your tests up front."

"Shit…" Grimmjow muttered under his breath. He still hadn't made it to the last page.

"I said pens down Grinchow-san," Misato crossed her arms. She was not a teacher to be trifled with.

Grimmjow had been able to enter the school under the unwanted alias of Jacques Grinchow, Ichigo's estranged second cousin. According to his file, he is the son of a wealthy Frenchman who's entire family died in a yachting accident. The great shock it caused him explains his lack of any French, at least that was how Kisuke (pretending to be another estranged uncle) explained it. Either way, it was enough to make Grimmjow sick, but he was amazed at how quickly humans will agree to do something if you give them enough money. Including, overlooking their new student's poor grades and thirst for violence.

He had spent much of his time daydreaming how to escape, both High School, this gigai Kisuke trapped him in, and the threat of being turned over to Soul Society as an experiment…he had forgot about the test completely.

Grumbling, he turned the test up. The student in front of him looked reluctant to take it. As if by doing so, he'd be turning a contract for his soul over to the devil. The Blue Devil…that's what the other toughs around the school nicknamed him. At first, they called him Rich Boy, but after a few "talks" fist to face, they found that new nickname to be less painful to utter through their broken teeth.

The fights had put him in detention every day of the week. A guidance counselor had been suggested, but the man suddenly took extended leave. Was it Kisuke's doing? Or did the man not wish to psychoanalyze a guy that wouldn't hesitate to put his knee into a teacher's nose?

Lunch break began. Good. He could finally get away from these losers. Besides, some jerk from another school got word of Karakura's new yankee and wanted to fight him. Grimmjow would have refused, but the man made an unforgiveable challenge.

"So what if I can't beat Ichigo. I'll take you down and be second best," he said.

Just thinking about it got his blood boiling. He stood in an ally behind the school and checked his watch. He'd be late for class if this guy took any longer.

Finally, he heard footsteps. "Good. Thought you'd chicken out. I was going to take my time, but you're late so now I gotta speed things up."

"Well Jack-san," Tatsuki appeared around the corner. Her arms were crossed. "If you spent half the time focusing on your studies that you do fighting, you'd finish your tests on time."

"Screw that. It's not like I need to know this crap. Now outta the way woman. I'm waiting on someone's ass to kick."

"You mean this guy?" Tatsuki dragged a guy out from behind. He had several bruises and his face was swollen to barely recognizable.

"I don't like people from different schools snooping around here," she commented and dropped the guy back to the ground.

"That was my prey woman! Mind your own damn business for once," he clenched his fists and glared.

"Whoops…Well I guess you'll have to fight me to make up for that," Tatsuki got in a fighting stance. She was not about to back down. This guy was another suspicious character. Whatever history he had with Ichigo didn't matter. People like him neede to be taught a lesson. Besides, Tatsuki still hadn't forgiven him for threatening Orihime a few weeks ago.

"I'll make you apologize for your sins," she said through grit teeth.

"Oh? The woman wants to fight? I don't go easy on women, just to let you know."

Tatsuki smirked nastily, "Neither do I."

On the rooftop where Ichigo usually enjoyed his lunch in the company of friends, he happened to look down when Tatsuki confronted Grimmjow.

Shit…this isn't good.

Tatsuki could hold her own in any fight against a human, but Grimmjow was on a whole different level. Even in that body, Ichigo thought he was too dangerous an opponent. Tatsuki fought by rules and regulations. That ex-Espada was still an arrancar. He wouldn't hesitate to kill, let alone hit below the belt.

"Excuse me," he said hastily and hurried down to intervene.

"Come on woman. Let's see you make the first move if you're not scared," Grimmjow taunted.

Tatsuki didn't let it disturb her. But he was leaving so many openings. It was a lure, of course, but if she didn't move he might try to wait her out. She was the class president. She couldn't be late. Perhaps he planned to exploit that.

"Thinking too much? Fine, I'll go," Grimmjow moved in fast. Excruciatingly slow for him, but far above average speed for a human. His fist went straight for her stomach. Tatsuki back flipped out of the way, narrowly avoiding the strike.

She didn't end her move there. Trying to catch him off balance, she maintained a crouched position and swooped her leg under his feet. Grimmjow jumped, avoiding the low kick with ease, and added one of his own spinning kicks in the mix before Tatsuki could recover.

Tatsuki couldn't dodge in time. She brought her arms in front of her face and blocked the kick. She had planned to grapple the leg and take him down, but the speed and force sent her sprawling backwards.

"Had enough already?" Grimmjow taunted once more. He hadn't broken a sweat.

"Tch. I'm just getting warmed up you punk," she spat back.

Wasting no time, Tatsuki attacked with a volley of punches. Grimmjow blocked them all with a combination of hands and arms.

That's it keep him on the defensive. Make his mind lose focus on your legs. Wait for the opening…Wait for it…There!

Tatsuki led Grimmjow's blocks to open his solar plexus. I'll end this in one kick.

She brought her knee up inside his defenses planting a solid blow in the soft defenseless tissue.

Grimmjow gasped quick and grabbed at his stomach. Before he could catch his breath, Tatsuki went for another kick to his mid-section. Still doubled over, he grappled her foot with his free hand and looked up with a maddening grin.

"That was harder than I expected. Guess this damn body still needs more conditioning," he said.

What? He's saying he let me hit him?

"Bullshit," Tatsuki spun to break free of the hold and kick him with her other leg.

Grimmjow crouched low and dodged.

"If you're going to land so many high kicks in a short skirt, have the courtesy to not where panties. It'll at least give me some entertainment," he said in a bored tone.

Tatsuki turned bright red. This fight had gone from a matter of principle to one of personal grudges.

I'll kill him, she decided as she boiled with hot rage. Pigs like him deserve to die!

"One question," Grimmjow said. He was quickly losing interest in fighting her if this was the best she could do. "What do you have against me?"

Tatsuki glared. "It's because you're a delinquent. You need to learn your place and stop disrupting the peace in this school. That, and the fact that I don't trust you. First you're a gangster, now you're Ichigo's cousin from France? I'm not buying it. I don't care who you really are, but if you're going to cause trouble for Ichigo, I'm not going to allow it."

Grimmjow sneered. "Oh I see. So you still have some fighting spirit then? You really think you can stop me? You're the one that needs to learn your place."

"Enough," Ichigo appeared behind Grimmjow. "If you're aching for a fight again, I'll be your opponent. But not here and now."

Grimmjow glanced over his shoulder at Ichigo. They had several bouts already, each one interrupted as soon as Grimmjow felt he had a handle on the gigai. "Fine. This time, no interruptions. I'll kill anyone who tries, got it?"

The bell rang before Ichigo could reply. Tatsuki, who hadn't dropped her offensive stance, relaxed and picked up her bag. She pushed past Grimmjow and tapped Ichigo on his shoulder with her palm. "I hope you know what you're doing," she muttered.

Long after school let out, Grimmjow sat in the park waiting. The sun had fallen just beyond the horizon and the last patrons had dashed home to warm homes and hot dinners. Grimmjow realized he hadn't eaten since breakfast. He had yet to get use to the body's need for food three times a day. The hot dog vendor had just left as well. Not like Grimmjow had money on him, but he could have threatened some food out of the hunched over old man.

Ichigo arrived carrying a bag. "You're too troublesome you know that," he said nonchalantly setting the bag on the bench next to his opponent. He reached in and pulled out two rolled sandwiches.

"Thanks to you, I had to miss Yuzu's special stew night. She's gonna be pissed in the morning," he said as he tossed a sandwich to Grimmjow and bit into his own ruefully.

Grimmjow looked at the food with suspicion. "What the hell are you doing?"

Ichigo sat on the bench. "What? I'm eating. You probably haven't eaten since breakfast. I'm not going to fight you while you're starving. That way, when I beat you, you can't give some lame excuse about being too hungry."

"Tch," Grimmjow snatched up the sandwich and devoured it. "Don't expect a thank you," he said with a mouthful of bread.

Ichigo replied likewise, "I wouldn't expect anything like manners from someone like you."

"Finished?"

"Yeah."

Before Ichigo could toss the wrapper back in the bag, Grimmjow swung at him. His knuckle grazed Ichigo's cheek as the orange-haired boy narrowly dodged. It left a small cut.

Hmph…He's gotten faster, Ichigo thought as he wiped the blood away. No…he's testing my own speed right now.

Grimmjow wasted no time. He closed in on Ichigo, keeping his opponent on the defensive and pushing him back.

His punches and kicks are more powerful too…

"What's wrong Ichigo? You haven't lost your nerve, have you?" Grimmjow said through grit teeth.

Only the lamps in the park lit up their arena. A cool white glow landed over Ichigo's face illuminating that infuriating expression; the eyes that said with unwavering confidence, "I can defeat him."

Ichigo didn't respond. He knew his silence would only provoke Grimmjow.

Here it comes.

Grimmjow went for a false opening. Ichigo grabbed him by the wrist and tossed him. It wasn't enough to keep the ex-Espada off balance. Grimmjow recovered with a flip, his shoes slid back across the damp grass.

Ichigo could feel his opponent's fury. He could almost see Grimmjow's murderous aura. Wait…no…he was seeing something. Reiatsu. It was beginning to leak through the gigai.

Damn, if he breaks free it will alert all kinds of hollow and shinigami. Not to mention park damages. I'll have to end this quick.

Ichigo switched to the offensive, but Grimmjow was not going to stay on the defensive. They exchanged blow for blow. Ichigo could feel Grimmjow's Hollow power rising just beneath that false body. So focused on his opponent, he probably didn't realize that he was breaking it.

Sigh…Here I thought he'd last a little longer. My my, guess I have no choice, Urahara thought to himself. Perched on a street lamp a little ways off, he observed the two fighting. It was a good fight, but he couldn't let Grimmjow break free of that gigai. Otherwise all bets were off.

Kisuke raised a jade carved whistle to his lips and blew a silent note. Only low level Hollow could hear the frequency. Like dogs, they'd flock to the smell of those two's spirit energy. If he gave them something else to focus on, Grimmjow would at least calm down. Then, Kisuke would have to patch that gigai before the leaks got worse.

Sorry Grimmjow. You were almost free.

Ichigo sensed something coming. His spirit phone began to beep shortly after. Losing his focus on Grimmjow, he received a solid punch in the face.

"Ow. Wait. Hang on. Something's not right," Ichigo said rubbing his bruised jaw. It was swelling fast.

"No distractions. Remember what I said," Grimmjow pressed his attack.

"Dammit Grimmjow. Listen to me," Ichigo switched to defense and dodging. "There's Hollow coming can't you sense them? Your leaking reiatsu must have alerted them."

"So what? I'll kill them and you." He wasn't paying attention.

"Put two and two together idiot. You want every Shinigami in the district on your most-wanted ass?" Ichigo explained blocking a kick to the gut. The power behind the attack felt like it had shattered his arm.

Shit…Ichigo winced in pain.

Grimmjow froze. He hadn't thought of that. "Damn it," he stopped and looked around. Yeah, he could feel them. Twenty small fry. But when that many were coming, they'd attract one or two bigger Hollow…and where there were bigger Hollow, there was always a shinigami behind them. He couldn't take them all on in this body.

"Ten for me, ten for you," Ichigo said.

"Not if I take fifteen first," Grimmjow retorted.

"Fine. Whoever kills more Hollow won the fight."

Ichigo grabbed his badge from his bag.

"What the hell? That's not fair!" Grimmjow argued.

Ichigo made a face. "I'm a Shinigami. What's not fair about me killing Hollows in this form? If you got a problem with it, beat me."

"I kicked your ass before, I'll do it again," Grimmjow said. He took out the first Hollow that appeared. Why are the weakest always the first to show?

The others came, surrounding the two men. No choice. They had to fight back to back in this opening or they'd be overpowered.

The fight took about ten minutes with only the Hollows suffering heavy damage. In his current form, Ichigo wasn't phased by the fight, but Grimmjow was breathing heavily. "Hah, that's eleven for me," Grimmjow said.

"Who are you kidding? You only had nine," Ichigo argued.

"I must have punched you pretty hard in the head Ichigo. You forgot how to count," Grimmjow wiped the blood from his hands onto his pants. It wasn't his.

In fact, in the heat of battle, they had both lost count. Two hollow had escaped, only to be dealt with a short distance away by Kisuke.

The green-robed vagrant stood under the street light clapping. "Not bad boys. Not bad."

Fast than Grimmjow could follow, Kisuke was in front of him. He ran his fist deep into Grimmjow's stomach. The arrancar coughed and dropped to his knees unconscious.

"Urahara-san? W-what are you doing?" Ichigo stammered in surprise. He felt no pity for Grimmjow receiving that surprise attack.

"Don't mind me Kurosaki-kun. We're just going to a commercial break," Kisuke smiled cryptically has he hoisted Grimmjow onto his shoulders and carried him back for repair.