Okay people we're nearly done! Thank be to God, I want to finish this fiction...XD I'd say there's about 4 more chapters left. YAY!

Well anyway, I hope you like the new chapter and please review! ENJOY! X)

11

The chair rattled and made a resonating sound as it hit the hard floor. The occupant of the seat turned away from the watching group of eyes and made to leave. His expression was impassive but inside he was aching to move faster.

'Where are you going Grimmjow?' Tosen's monotonous voice cut the silence and halted the Arrancar's movements. He didn't answer for a second, well aware that Tosen would take it as an insult to his persona. The memory of losing his arm was still fresh in Grimmjow's mind. So was his hatred for the ex-captain.

'I'm gonna kill 'em. They're vermin. The sooner they're exterminated the better.'

'Lord Aizen hasn't given you your orders yet. Sit down'

Grimmjow's anger flared. If there was one thing he hated, it was being told what to do. It was in his nature to be independent, wild, destructive. Lord Aizen was an exception, simply because he offered the Arrancars the chance to be free. The Arrancars didn't follow their Lord simply out of fear. They respected him. They respected his leadership and his aspirations. Compared to him Tosen was nothing. A nothing who dared give Grimmjow orders.

'I'm going to kill them for Lord Aizen.' He started moving off again only to be stopped for a second time.

'Grimmjow.' Aizen's voice was soft like satin but the Arrancar wasn't fooled. He knew, first hand, how quickly that delicacy could turn to sadism. He had to be careful or he might end up paying another steep price, more than an arm even. He also had to hide his true intentions from the all-knowing Lord.

'… Yes?'

'Your enthusiasm is appreciated. But I haven't finished talking yet. Please sit down.' His voice sounded just as soft but the iron edge was unmistakable. Grimmjow hesitated, his eyes plastered on Aizen's back. It was in his nature to be defiant even if he knew he would suffer for it.

'What's that?' Slowly Aizen turned his head and fixed Grimmjow with his almost golden eyes. 'I didn't hear you Grimmjow Jeagerjaques.' Any pretend warmth was lost from the silky voice.

A powerful Reiatsu crashed over Grimmjow like a furious, stormy wave. He felt like Aizen had physically moved and punched him with the strength of a Colossus, knocking all his breath out of his lungs and sending searing pain through his frame. His legs became weak and they crumbled under his weight. Grimmjow fell to his knees, sweat cascading down his body and mouth gasping desperately for the necessary oxygen.

Only when he was desperately suppressing a tremble did the chocking Reiatsu cease. 'Good. Now we understand each other.' Aizen rose from his seat, not sparing a second glance towards the defeated Arrancar, and faced his Espada. All of whom were giving him their full attention, none wishing to follow Grimmjow's example.

'Now then. As you can see, three enemies have arrived. I wouldn't underestimate them, but there's no need for excessive alarm either. I want all of you to return to your palaces and go about your business as usual. Don't be overconfident and don't be reckless. Just wait for the enemy. And don't be afraid. No matter what happens, as long as you're with me no one can defeat you.'

The end of his speech was the silent order of dismissal. The scraping of chairs against floor and footsteps filled the enormous meeting room as the Espada all left. Grimmjow, after having regained his strength, followed suit and brought up the rare of the exiting group.

'Grimmjow. Can you wait a moment?' The question was a mere formality. Grimmjow knew he had no choice.

This time he didn't hesitate to follow the order. He waited, his mind wondering to the possible things Aizen would want, until the heavy doors closed between himself and his freedom. He imagined the Shinigami was still displeased with his insubordination and wanted to punish him further. Despite himself, Grimmjow felt a slight prickly sensation of fear.

'Gin, Tosen, please excuse us.'

The two nodded, one smiling like the sly fox he was, one collected and stony as was his character, and left following the hollows before them. Grimmjow felt even more anxious when he found himself alone with his sadistic Lord. He didn't dare move a step until told to do so.

'No need to be afraid. I simply wish to have a word with you. Please sit down.' Grimmjow involuntarily swallowed a knot in his throat at Aizen's request. It couldn't be coincidence he used the exact same words previously disobeyed by Grimmjow. The brunette's easy, yet threatening smile confirmed it.

Grimmjow did as he was told, trying as hard as he could to ignore the part of him that wanted to answer back with some snappy remark. Once he was seated Aizen gave him a beaming smile. One that an unknowing person would consider gentle, not realizing the poisonous snake behind the parted lips.

'I understand you have a special interest towards one of the intruders. Is this true?' Grimmjow pursed his lips, unsure of what to say. If Aizen understood how badly he wanted to go to Ichigo, he might kill the human just to assert his superiority. That was the sort of selfish creature Aizen really was. And he couldn't deny Aizen's question either since his knowledge was absolute.

'Yes. I want to kill the human kid myself.'

'Ichigo Kurosaki?'

'Yes.'

Aizen brought his hands together almost in a praying manner while fixing his deep eyes on Grimmjow. He seemed to ponder something of great importance and, with a sickening feeling, Grimmjow suspected what it was.

'You are not to go near him. I'm worried about your safety Grimmjow. You seem to….lose yourself when around this particular human.'

'I'm fine….Lord Aizen. I can kill him!' His worst fear turned to reality. Aizen found a new weakness he could exploit and play with like a child with a new toy.

'Like you did the previous two times? Tell me Grimmjow, what stopped you from killing the boy in the alley?'

The Arrancar's senses went on full alert. Aizen didn't have to specify which alley. It was obvious from his leering grin and his twinkling eyes that he knew everything. Grimmjow was at a loss of words.

'For this reason I don't want you going after this problem human. I'll send Ulquiorra to deal with him. Understood?' His smile didn't waver for a second. At the mention of the Quarto Grimmjow's hopes were dashed. If Ulquiorra got to Ichigo first it was Game Over. The human was not nearly strong enough to defeat him.

'But-'

'Understood?'

There was no change in the tone of Aizen's voice but Grimmjow felt the pressing Reiatsu hanging over his head again. He broke out in cold sweat and felt like he was being torn apart. Aizen didn't like being disobeyed and twice in the same day was something he was sure to pay for.

'Yes…Lord….Aizen….' The words were pushed through clenched teeth with difficulty. The pressure dissipated and Grimmjow's ragged breath was the only sound heard.

'Good. Dismissed.'

Game Over.

'I honestly don't understand why you're doing this Ichigo. Is that girl THAT important to you or are you just looking for creative ways to get yourself killed?' Hollow Ichigo's taunting voice filled his king's head. Even through his words Ichigo could picture the wide grin.

'Yeah she is! Do you need something or are you just here to annoy me?'

'How mean. I thought we were friends.' A chuckle followed the sarcastic comment. 'What I need Ichigo, is for you to understand what you're getting yourself into. You will die.'

'No I won't.' The boy ground his teeth and pointedly denied to entertain the hollow's morbid sense of humour.

'True, you could escape by pure luck, if you manage to avoid all the Espada.'

'…' He knew there was no point in arguing with Hollow Ichigo since it would only spur him to further undermine his confidence.

'Silent treatment? That's fine with me, but at least listen to what I have to say. If you die I have to suffer, so you can at least trust that I'm warning you for good reason. Keep away from Grimmjow.'

'Grimmjow?' Ichigo was surprised at the firmness of the warning. When Hollow Ichigo said the Arrancar's name it was almost a hiss, full of loathing.

'Keep away from all Espada but him especially. He's going to come after you because he considers you his prey. If it comes to a confrontation, you have to kill him! Or he will keep coming back again and again until you're dead. Trust me on that.'

Ichigo was in a mental dilemma. What his Hollow said made perfect sense and he knew that he had to fight the Espada, but he couldn't bring himself to wish for Grimmjow's death. He still couldn't see the Arrancar as a complete enemy. If anything he seemed more like the Gotei 13 Captains when he went to save Rukia. They all wanted to kill him because they were ordered to and now they were some of his best friends.

He understood fully that Grimmjow was a hollow and his nature was not something easily changed but if faced with the option to end his life Ichigo knew he would fail. For some inexplicable reason he felt attracted to the Arrancar. He had a vague idea of what those feelings were but he considered himself crazy because there was no way he could have a relationship with the man who wanted his head on a silver platter.

'You can't be serious! You must kill him Ichigo! You must be merciless because he won't show you any mercy! If you think like this you'll only end up suffering!'

'I can't. I won't kill him.' His voice was unwavering. His mind was made up.

'Fine! But don't come crying to me when you're dying because I won't help you!' Hollow Ichigo's snarl drifted away as his presence sank back into the depth of Ichigo's spirit world. His parting words were unsettling to say the least. Ichigo hoped it was only a ruse.

Ichigo barely held on to his consciousness. He knew that if he slipped into the welcoming darkness and accepted the embracing sleep, he would never wake up again. His entire body was numb and he was grateful for that. At least he didn't have to feel every aching muscle and bleeding cut. Blood oozed from his mortal injury and collected in a red pool around his sternum.

'Looks like I overestimated you. You're not as strong as I thought. This is the end for you.' The dripping sound of his blood from Ulquiorra's fingertips and the Arrancar's voice drifted to his ears. He managed to make sense of the words but he was finding it a heavy strain on his fading senses.

'Leave this world immediately if you can still move. If you stay, stay there and die. Your quest ends here Soul Reaper.'

The voice drifted away and Ichigo felt like he was falling. He felt the last shards of his remaining strength crumble around him. In his last second he understood two certain things.

He failed and he was dying.

Thank you for the read! Hope you liked and please review! XD

I'll update as soon as I can!