Chapter 7: Ghosts of the Espada

"Grimmjow!" Ichigo said surprised.

Grimmjow slumped forward panting heavily as his resurreccion form dissipated and he returned to his normal self. He stood up straight and said "this isn't over yet Kurosaki.."

Helunged with all his might to attack Ichigo, but Ichigo caught his sword and said to him, "let it go Grimmjow."

Grimmjow's eyes widened as he continued, "ill fight you when ever you want, but let it go Grimmjow."

Grimmjow snarled, "let it go, NEVER!"

Out of no where, a large black blade came from the side and struck Grimmjow in the neck incapacitating him. Grimmjow could only look on through his half closed eyes as Ichigo and Nnortia began to fight. Then he closed his eyes and fell unconscious.

Hours after the battle, Grimmjow finally came around, shaking his head clearing up some cobwebs that he still had from being unconscious.

He got up from the ground, his body completely sore from the titanic fight he waged with Ichigo, He scanned the surroundings, and took a step forward, but pain gripped him from moving any further,

Grimmjow winced as he put his right hand on his wound, and carried his zanpankuto in his left hand, "This is… what defeat feels like." Grimmjow said in pain.

He began to walk away from where he laid unconscious scanning the surroundings as he went along, gripping the wound on his neck, and loosely carrying his sword, " This is all a lie." Grimmjow said, "it has to be, I must be dreaming, there was no way this happened."

Grimmjow marched on through the white, lifeless sands of Hueco Mundo, now miles away from Las Noches, he passed hollow caves, watched as they all ran in fear of Grimmjow. He snickered a little as he continued on through towards the menos forest.

As Grimmjow solemnly entered the forest searching for anyone that could tend his wounds, the pain went away, but the mental scars of his loss remained and tortured his insides. He still marched on and into the forest he went.

The deeper he went the more he heard the shrill screams and howls of low class hollows. He continued deeper, and watched as Hollows killed each other, and devouring their remains. Grimmjow sneered in disgust, "tch malevolent beasts."

He heard a voice, "Don't think so lowly of them Grimmjow, we were once like them, mindless monsters hell bent to feed our desire to kill and devour."

Grimmjow stopped and looked around until he looked in front of him and saw a cloud of ash form into a person right before his eyes, when the person fully became an entity, Grimmjow's eyes widened, "Ulquiorra Cipher!"

Ulquiorra sighed, "not entirely Grimmjow, im nothing more than a memory now, a ghost of my being."

Grimmjow snickered, "so then, that means you died in battle."

Ulquiorra nodded, "Yes, but before I did, I gained something once lost to me, a piece of knowledge that drove our very will. I learned what a "Heart" truly was. Through the human girl, I regained the heart I lost, but now I'm no more, heed this Grimmjow, do not dwell on your defeat, if you do, you will never achieve what we Espada sought out for so long. You are the last Espada, carry that on your shoulder where ever you go."

The Spirit of Ulquiorra dissipated into black ash and was whisked away and Grimmjow simply blinked. Grimmjow finally snapped back into reality and looked around as hundreds of hollows surrounded him.

Hell bent on trying to consume him in his weakened state, he watched as they drew closer, hollows upon hollows. Grimmjow slowly raised his zanpankuto, "You all want a piece of me, come and get it, ill fight you all to the death!"

The hollows charged at Grimmjow, standing his ground so calmly, He swung his sword once and took out 3 hollows in one swipe, he turned around with a wicked grin on his face as he plunged his sword into another hollow, each one screeching as they dissipated into nothing. "Is this all you weaklings got, I'm battered and beaten and you cant even touch me." Grimmjow roared.

Soon after large Menos grandes appeared and charged Grimmjow, he tried with all his might and slew five of them, but they were coming more rapidly, and overwhelmed him.

Grimmjow panted from fatigue and waited for the enevitable, three Menos charged their cero's and fired at Grimmjow, Grimmjow was completely blind sighted and took the blasts head on and was thrown into one of the twisted black trees, when he hit the tree, he coughed up a large amount of blood and sunk down knowing this was the end.

It was then a bright white flash of light came, the menos shrieked in Pain as they all dissipated in to black ash from the light, Grimmjow held his arm infront of his eyes to protecting his eyes from the intense light.

Before long the light disappeared and Grimmjow looked around in confusion.

An old woman stood before him, "oh my, what do we have here, you're a brave fellow for challenging the hordes of hollows and menos. But even arrancar have their limits, and you charged in barely holding on to your strength." The old woman said.

Grimmjow looked down and sneered, "tch, what ever."

The Old woman smiled, "Come now lets get you fixed up shall we?"

Grimmjow slowly got up and followed the old woman back to her carved out home in the side of the cliffs edging the forest. Inside was a cluster of oddities. Grimmjow sat down on the table while the old lady came back with rags. Grimmjow stared at her and said, "you, you're a witch doctor, ive heard rumors of witch doctors,"

The old lady smiled and replied "oh? Im surprised you ever heard of us to begin with, now take off your coat so I can apply these bandages."

Grimmjow removed his blood stained jacket and the old witch doctor began to apply bandages on his wounds when she noticed the number 6 tattoo on his lower back. She became heavy in thought and then asked, "my child, what is your name by chance."

Grimmjow retorted, "why does it matter to you?"

"oh come now is that any way to treat one who saved your life." The witch doctor replied.

Grimmjow sighed and said, "my name is Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez."

The old lady thought, I knew it! And proceeded to say, "well my name is Olivia."

Grimmjow sat and waited for her to finish up, when she did she turned and walked to a locked box on a table. "you know, an arrancar's hunger for more power can never be filled we are forever destined to feed that desire."

Grimmjow cocked an eyebrow at the witch doctor. "What are you rambling about?"

The witch doctor opened the box and turned around and faced Grimmjow, "I have a deal for you, what if I could end your desire for more power, end your suffering and grant you the ultimate power."

Grimmjow became interested, "go on."

The witch doctor pulled out two gauntlets and slipped them on, "with these I can tap your dormant power and you can exact your revenge on that human."

Grimmjows eyes glowed, she isn't joking, he thought. Grimmjow nodded and she slipped the gauntlets on and moved behind him, "this will feel a little weird."

She plunged both gauntlets into his body, Grimmjow arched his back in pain, what the fuck is she doing!

She dug deeper into his body and turned her palms outward, with all her strength she spread her arms apart, seemingly ripping Grimmjow in half, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Grimmjow screamed in pain, his eyes fully open it was the most intense pain he has ever felt.

The witch doctor spread her arms fully apart, a intense glow radiated from Grimmjow as his body looked as if it was being split in half, and it was exactly that and thus, Separated Grimmjow into two entities both lying unconscious on the floor.

One was garbed in a black jacket, and black pants his zanpankuto strapped at his side, his face was missing the Jaw bone that adorned his right cheek, and the hollow hole in his stomach was non existent, the other, was garbed in white clothing with the jaw bone on both sides of his face, darker skin, and the hole now more prominent in his upper chest.

The witch doctor said, "There, it has been done."

Suddenly a black reiatsu enveloped the witch doctor as she began to change shape, into a younger, taller woman with a hollow like mask adorning half of her face.

She laughed manically, "he has been successfully split into two different entities, one containing his hollow powers, the other is his shinigami side but it will retain his conscious, the other body is just a shell, sorry ol Grimm, but if my master wants a prominent return, we need a fitting body that contains incredible power."

She picked up Grimmjow's unconscious new form and opened a garganta.

She smirked at his unconscious body. "lets put you where you now belong, in the Soul society."

The Arrancar woman stepped into the garganta with the shinigami half of Grimmjow,

The other side of the Garganta opened up in the east rukon district of the soul society. In a dark back alley, the woman flicked her ling black hair back, and dropped the unconscious Grimmjow in the alley. She grinned evily, "Now id imagine the captains have picked up on the trace of the garganta, sooner or later the shinigami will arrive to investigate. Good luck Grimm, I hope you survive atleast three of them."

She opened up another garganta and stepped into it, Grimmjow stirred in his state, showing signs of coming too. An hour later a young boy found him in the alley and called for help.

Grimmjow stirred painfully, and opened his eyes slightly, seeing an older man and a young boy standing over him. Grimmjow winced and shut his eyes again, then burst them open and blinked.

"huh, who are you?" Grimmjow asked.

"ahhh, papa, hes awake!" the young boy said.

A younger looking man turned around and looked at Grimmjow, trying to get up, "hey come now, your wounded, don't try to force yourself." The man said.

Grimmjow sat up and noticed his now black attire. "Huh that's weird, what did you all do with my other clothes?"

The boy replied, "we found you wearing this, tell me something, are you really a soul reaper, Oh that would be so cool!"

Grimmjow cocked an eyebrow, "Me a soul reaper, that's a laugh, cant you see the jawbone on my-"

Grimmjow touched the right side of his face where the jawbone once was, and found it to not exist anymore, his eyes widened,

" Come now Toro, were not sure if he is a soul reaper or not, ive never seen one dressed like him before." The man said, the young boy named Toro rushed to his dad's side, "awww cmon papa, look at him, the black clothes, the sword, hes gotta be a soul reaper, I know it!"

Grimmjow was in a state of confusion as he felt the side of his face, he then got up out of the bed and rushed to a mirror and looked at himself, "the hollow remnants, the hole, they are… gone. But how, is that kid right ive been reduced to just a soul reaper, bull what am I saying that's not possible."

Grimmjow turned around and heard the mans voice speaking to someone, " I'm sorry I have no clue on what you are talking about."

He heard another voice say, "we were ordered by the 13 court guard squads to come search for an intruder in the East Rukon District, sir, if you will allow us may we search your house hold, it will take no longer than a couple minutes."

The man sighed, "Fine go ahead."

The two soul reapers searched the house for the intruder, Grimmjow sat in the back room thinking, they must be looking for me, well if they think ill go quietly then they don't know who they are messing with.

The taller soul reaper walked into the back room and found Grimmjow sitting on the bed, he asked, "Who are you? You dress like a soul reaper, yet I have never seen you before,"

Grimmjow stood up, "well now who said anything about me being a Shinigami now."

The soul reaper stood, "You! You must be the intruder."

The others in the front of the house heard banging noises as they turned around to see the tall Soul reaper thrown completely out of the house, Grimmjow following suit behind him, he yelled, "That's what you get for touching me dumb ass!"

Three more soul reapers arrived to see one soul reaper lying face first in the ground, slowly getting up, the other has his sword drawn, and noticed Grimmjow standing at the top of the stairs. The smaller, tougher looking soul reaper, yelled at Grimmjow, "you must be the intruder, and for your actions your going to come with us to the Sereitei, even if its in pieces."

Grimmjow laughed manically, "you really think Im gonna go with you, you obviously don't know who I am, allow me to introduce myself,"

Grimmjow raised his hand and pointed his index and middle fingers at the other soul reapers and said, " I am Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, the 6th espada!"

Grimmjow tried to charge a Cero and fire it at his opponents, but nothing happened, he looked in shock, what the hell, I cant use a Cero anymore, whats going on here!

"So, Grimm what ever your name is, are you going to leave with us quietly or are you going to make it hard on yourself." The small soul reaper said.

Grimmjow thought to himself my hollow powers are gone, damn, what that kid said earlier, is that true. Grimmjow drew his Zanpankuto, Pantera, and pointed it at the soul reaper who challenged him. "Well what do you think!" Grimmjow stated.

The two lunged at each other, and their swords clashed with a thunderous tang.

One other soul reaper charged from the rear and Grimmjow attempted to dodge, but the sword put a small cut into Grimmjow's right shoulder, Grimmjow became aggravated knowing he wasn't quick enough on that one, he ripped the sleeve off of his right arm and continued to fight.

He swung furiously at his opponents, who could barely manage against Grimmjow. The sound of their swords clashing rang through out the street. One soul reaper tried to catch him from behind but Grimmjow turned around and threw an elbow in his face knocking him flat out cold whilst blocking another Shinigami's attacks with Pantera.

He drew back and swung his sword at another soul reaper, who tried to block his attack but Grimmjow's attack broke his Zanpankuto in half, as Grimmjow proceeded to throw a knee into his gut and dropping him with an elbow to the back of the head.

Grimmjow turned and faced his remaining opponents, who were stunned by what has occurred, Grimmjow was outnumbered, but he dropped them like flies, one charged and he blocked the soul reapers swing and punched him in the face, the other Charged at him, and Grimmjow counter charged and clashed blades with him, they stared each other down until.

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" a female voice said.

Both of them looked at the source of the voice, a shorter woman with dark hair, with two long braids, wearing a white coat and black robes.

The soul reaper ceased fighting and bowed, "oh Captain Soi Fon, we were taking this intruder in."

" Well, I'm here to order you to cease and desist, leave this to me, he's far more dangerous than you think. Get back to your squad soul reaper, NOW!" Soi Fon ordered.

The soul reaper panicked and said, "Yes captain, right away."

Grimmjow watched the soul reaper run away, Soi Fon approached Grimmjow and said, "You should be lucky I got here, even if you defeated those underlings, that would give more reason to send the lieutenants and captains."

Grimmjow looked at the short female captain and said, "So you are that captain Soi Fon I hear so much about."

Soi Fon looked at him, "and you're the Espada I heard much about from the substitute soul reaper Ichigo Kurosaki. Grimmjow wasn't it?"

"So you know who I am and I know who you are. What do you want from me, captain?" Grimmjow asked.

Soi Fon turned around, and said, "I need you to come with me, lady Yoruichi requests to see you in person, in the real world."

Grimmjow cocked an eyebrow, "and if I refuse?"

Soi Fon turned and faced Grimmjow. "If you refuse I will kill you on the spot. And don't try that tough guy act with me, your spiritual pressure is greatly weak, even a Lieutenant can defeat you."

Grimmjow scowled at Soi Fon. Bitch if I had my full powers I would make you eat those words. "Fine ill go with you."

Soi Fon and Grimmjow left for the real world through the gates and arrived in the basement of Urahara's shop. As they went up into the shop, Grimmjow saw a violet haired woman and a blonde man wearing a strange had sitting and sipping tea, Yoruichi and Kisuke Urahara. Yoruichi looked up, "ah Soi Fon you are back."

Urahara looked at Grimmjow, "and you brought the ex Espada with you, good thank you," He stated.

Soi Fon bowed to them and left to go back to Soul society, Urahara looked at Grimmjow and said, "well now, looks like the reports were true after all, an Espada reduced to a Soul reaper, how shocking must that be to yourself."

Grimmjow scowled, "what do you want from me,"

Urahara removed his hat and stood up, "I have a good deal for you Espada, I need you to watch over someone for me."

Grimmjow laughed, "HAH! That's a laugh, cant you get a soul reaper to do that."

Yoruichi sighed, "we could but every soul reaper is under orders from soul society, besides we need someone out side the box, someone who has faced our threat before."

Grimmjow cocked an eyebrow as Urahara explained, "we believe that the woman you encountered in Hueco Mundo was a Fraccion of a deceased arrancar, named Nightmare."

Grimmjow's eyes widended as he said, "Nightmare, you mean Nightmare Von Ollivante?"

Both Urahara and Yoruichi nodded, Urahara continued. "we believe she is involved in a plot to resurrect Nightmare. I heard rumors that said you were the one who killed him, but in order for her plan to succeed, she needs a certain girl with healing powers, I think you know who I mean."

Grimmjow thought back and images of thwe girl flashed in his head, "the girl who is always with Kurosaki."

"Bingo! I need you to keep an eye on her to make sure nothing happens to her, or her Hair pins." Urahara added.

Grimmjow snickered, "Whats in it for me?"

Yoruichi looked at Urahara, "We will keep you out of the eyes of the Soul society, plus I will train you to become a stronger Shinigami, your power has greatly weakened, and in order for that power to come back, there only one solution for you." Urahara said.

Grimmjow became even more interested. "what way is there?"

Yoruichi stood up and smirked, "you are going to achieve…. Bankai."