Chapter 2:

"Yo. Strawberry-head. Thought you would ditch this party" Renji greeted Ichigo lazily.

"Not when she is here."

Renji laughed. "You overprotected bastard. Your princess sure has been enjoying herself even if you're not here."

Princess, that's what the Shinigami called Orihime. Ichigo ignored Renji's words, busy searching for Orihime, finally on the far end of the couch, he saw her. Orihime was chatting with Rukia, turning around to grab her drink, and their eyes met. Before Ichigo could wave to her, she smiled, stood up and waved enthusiastically to him.

Ichigo heard Renji letting out loud chuckles behind him.

"Your princess never seems to lose her enthusiasm." He said, putting his hand on Ichigo's shoulder. "Wanna go grab some drinks ey?"

Ichigo nodded and followed behind Renji. He saw some unfamiliar faces when he made his way through people. There were spiteful glances and sneers given, this remind him that the Arrnacars are also here. A party was held and they were thrown with the enemy, on the other hand, two of their directors made an announcement that a collaboration will be done in the winter, given a theme called the winter war.

"Just look at them! Those cocky bastards." Renji said, looking at the group sitting on the other end of the room. "I could never understand Capitain Yamamoto."

"The old man must have been out of his mind." Ichigo simply replied.

"Rivalry cannot be fun, it will never be and never will."

"Unless with a badass introduction."

"Those badass introduction always gets us in trouble."

"We never gets in trouble, but we find ourselves in troubles."

"What the hell are you up to this time?" Renji curiously asked.

A larger white-eye patch with one dark eye, saw the Carrot Top and Tattoos, both bursted into laughter and caught attention of everyone around them. He snorted as he remembered them. Those two morons. Nnorita turned away in disgust, looking to the group sitting at the opposite side table from them. He saw the dark skinned giant being quiet as usual. A petite girl with violet eyes and black short hair sat next to Glasses with raven-coloured hair. Chad, Rukia and Ishida. He has seen them, but never spoken a word with them. Then his glances stopped on a particular girl with long, waist length burnt orange hair. Nnorita swiftly elbowed the guy next to him and pointed his finger in one direction.

Grimmjow followed Nnorita's guide and saw Orihime was listening at something her four-eyed friend said, the name whom he cannot remember. However how she slapped playfully on the arm of the four-eyed and bursted into laughter made him deepen his frown. Even though it looked, or it was a friendly gesture. Grimmjow felt his stomach twist at her 'friendliness' with other men. He saw her turning around and finally noticed him. His crystal blues met her stormy grey for a minute. And Orihime immediately lowered her head down, breaking the eye contact refusing to look back. Her reaction made Grimmjow much more frustrated.

"Looks like the princess isn't feeling well. Maybe she needs some help."

"Mind your own business. Nnorita." Grimmjow warned.

Nnorita raised his eyebrows, surprised to his reaction. What the hell is wrong with Grimmjow? Its not like I'm hitting up his chick or anything.

"And what if I insist on helping her. I'm sure my intention will be known as a friendly gesture to our rivals."

"She doesn't need your care." Grimmjow said, stood up and preparing to leave.

"Oh c'mon. We are just trying to be nice to her, not harassing her."

Grimmjow narrowed his eyes and finally spoke. "She's mine."

Orihime was surprised to see Grimmjow. She could somehow still sense him looking at her direction, that guy just wouldn't stop the stare. Orihime sighed. If stares could kill someone she would be dead for now. Why is he giving her weird looks. That nagging feeling of being watch has only gotten worse and made her nervous. Her breathe became uneven and her heart raced. This wasn't good at all. I am not going to let him frighten me. Orihime quickly excused herself and left her friends. Its definitely going to be a long restless night for her. She needed some fresh air to calm her nerve down and divert her attention away, especially, being surrounded by that much Arrancars. What was worse having Grimmjow around proved harder than she thought.

She walked in silence in the long dimmed lighted hallway and a familiar voice from hell called her.

"Where are you going, woman?"

Orihime tensed slightly. She didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"I was going out for some fresh air, but never mind about that now."

"Well, why don't we go outside together?" He inched closer and slammed his hand on the wall making her jump in surprise. "What do say, woman?"

Orihime swallowed nervously, wondering how far he would go. "I don't think thats a good idea, Grimmjow."

"Oh really?" Grimmjow leaned forward, ignoring stares around him.

"You know what would happen if my friends found out about this." She drew back to the wall.

"And who's going to stop me?" Grimmjow moved closer to her again, this time grabbing her hands and putting it above her head.

"Grimmjow!" Orihime struggled from his grip.

She surely did not deserve to be treated like this, not even single bit of it.

"Shut up! You're coming with me girl, Kurosaki ain't here to save you."

"Let me go. I'm not coming with you!"

"Don't you worry. This is not going to take long." Grimmjow grabbed her by the wrist and forced her to follow him.

Yamamoto sat in his office reviewing the profiles of his current models under the agency. A number of familiar names and faces came across. He sighed. The photo shoot was announced to be held during winter-time and with a concept called the winter war. Four more months left. This year has been the most or by far the most tensed situation between the Shinigami and the Arrancars he has ever came across.

So many things have changed in the past years. The fact Aizen has betrayed his trust was the start of this rivalry among them. He was one his best models in Soul Society. But now, not only did Aizen turned his back against Yamamoto, he also declared this so called winter war. A challenge to end this rivalry by emerging both modeling agencies into one. Yamamoto knew something like this would have happened one day because Aizen has always wanted Soul Society.

Then Yamamoto heard the door open and saw Aizen coming in.

"Long time no see, Command Captain. How have you been?" Aizen asked looking at Yamamoto.

"So you've finally decided to take down Soul Society."

"No. Its an opportunity to show Soul Society what we are capable of."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, as long as your boys don't waste their time on street fights and picking on troubles." Aizen pointed out.

"I expect you and your boys to play it fair."

Aizen narrowed his eyes slightly. Guys in both groups were all well trained in Kendo, constantly picking up a fight and competed each other off stage. What was worse, they often got hurt.

"I admit there is plenty of ways to polish their skills." Aizen chuckled, turning his back and prepared to leave, but Yamamoto suddenly interrupted him.

"I have decided to hand in Soul Society to Urahara."

Aizen stopped before leaving the room and simply responsed. "I see."

"Grimmjow, stop!" Orihime begged. "Where are we going!"

Silence.

"Let go of me, Grimmjow!" Orihime tried to pulled her hand from his grip.

He continued ignoring her complains.

"I said let go!"

His grip was too strong, she couldn't shake it off. Orihime watched his back hopelessly. Where are you taking me to?

Orihime was dragged all the way by Grimmjow. They've left the party. It was cold and dark outside. His behavior startled her leaving the air heavy and anxiety.

"This gotta do it." Grimmjow finally released her.

"Whats your problem, seriously!"

"We need to talk."

Orihime blinked. Grimmjow wants to talk to her. All he wanted was a talk... ?

She tried to read his face for any clues, but it remained perfectly unpredictable

"Don't you dare to play those dirty moves with that four-eyed."

"Dirty moves?" Orihime repeated unsurely. "What are you talking about?"

"Is that how you hook up with guys?"

"I'm not that kind of woman you're thinking!" Orihime protested. "And Uryu-kun is my friend."

Grimmjow took a step forward, forcefully raised her chin up something that she absolutely did not anticipate.

"Listen to me very careful, woman." Grimmjow warned in a dangerous tone. "You can talk to him, but you keep a distance from him. Don't you touch him, or even let him touch you."

Orihime remained motionless, holding her breathe.

"If I see that four eyed touch you next time. I'll beat the hell out of him. Do you understand?"

"Why are you doing this?" She asked in a shaky voice.

"You should know who you belong to."

"Stop it... please."

"Stop what?" Grimmjow inched himself closer and closing the gap between them.

"Why are you doing this to me and to my friends?"

"It doesn't matter as long as you obey my words."

"This just makes you sounded like a jealous boyfriend."

Grimmjow narrowed his eyes but did not say anything.

Her words continued to rang in his head. This just makes you sounded like a jealous boyfriend? Jealous boyfriend? Don't be ridiculous he was never the type of jealous type. Heck, he wasn't even a romantic type. Since he met Inoue Orihime, his desire has became a constant roller coaster of ups and downs. At first it was okay. Shinigami was his rivals, so it was only the desire to strike the hell out of them and taste victory. He never had time for romance, he never even thought about it. And yet, after he saw the spark in her eyes, and the curve of her lips into a cute little smile to Ishida, he lost it. What the hell was her problem? No. What the hell was his problem? Why was he so mad when he saw how differently she has treated him with her friends.

Orihime drew a shaky sigh.

"I know you're better than this, Grimmjow."

"Nonsense. You don't even know me, woman."

"I may not know you as well as others, but the past encounters I had with you. I know you're actually a kind person inside your heart."

"Kind person? Don't give me those bullshits." Grimmjow grew serious." I don't care if you're a woman, Shinigami or even a Arrancar. I'll crush anybody who looks down on me."

He saw her eyes widen. There was a flicker of quietness. She looked at him for a moment before speaking again.

"If thats the case then you should've crushed me long time ago." Orihime smiled faintly. "You've allowed me to help you when you hated people to pity you. You've save me when you could just ignored me."

He didn't answer. Her words both surprised and provoked him.

"You just don't know how to express your feelings in words."

He looked back at her, not knowing what to say.

She took a step closer, touching him on the cheek "So thats why its okay."

Without thinking, he brought his hands around her, and pulled her into a hug. "Even if this is okay?"

Grimmjow felt his whole body stiffen as soon as she touched him, immediately losing his usual calm and laid back. It wasn't about the fact that how his skin burned, or that his heart raced, or that he was hard. It was about what he wanted to do with this woman. He wanted nothing more but to be the one making her laugh, seeing her smiles, and having her attention only. He did not even give her a chance, allowing his own feeling flow through and taking control over him. Grimmjw cursed at his inability to reject her. One moment ago he was mad as hell, one moment after, he found peace. Screw it. The fact he was her supposed enemy, or what her friend thought of and even without Aizen's demand.

He began trailing light kisses, along her forehead, her cheek, her neck. What exactly is he craving from this woman? Why is she making him feeling so many things? Grimmjow never had these kinds of thoughts about anyone, even the Arrancar that he could freely have in Hueco Mundo. Maybe this was nothing more but sexual attraction that went wrong. From the corner of his eye he snuck Orihime a glance. What have you done to me? Woman...

"Grimm-"

"Are you afraid of me?" He whispered.

She wanted to say something but stopped. The intensity in his gaze sent her a shiver down her spine but she couldn't look away. There was something strange in the way he said it. It sounded like Grimmjow wanted to her to acknowledge him until she stop pretending that he did not exist.

"No. I am not scared."

"You should be."

"There is no difference between us, except our model agency-"

"No." His cut her off. "You're a woman and I'm a man."

Impulsively, Grimmjow reached out and grabbed her head forward. Their faces were only inched away as she looked into the blue abyss. She wasn't sure whether it was anger or disbelief. Despite wanting her to know something was, somehow his action confused her even more. Grimmjow was always a mystery, a mystery with impulsive attitude, yet none of it made sense to her.

She saw how he leaned down, closing their distance and his lips were just so close to hers. And when she fixed her eyes with those pool of blue, made her shiver with anticipation wanting to reach out for more. Yet, before he could cover his mouth of hers. His face suddenly grew serious.

"Leave."

"Grimmjo..."

"I said leave, woman." He said, taking his eyes away from hers.

Orihime was a bit bummed by his rudeness and immediately noticed something was wrong.

She followed his gaze and saw Ulquiorra heading his way at the far end.

Then, Grimmjow turned to face her.

"This is not the place for you." He spoke quickly. "Now, leave."

She nodded and was about to leave, but he caught her elbow and added. "The next time we see each others, we're rivals. Keep that in your mind."

Grimmjow watched Ulquiorra with both hands in his pocket and the customary look appearing in the dim lighting. Grimmjow didn't like this. He quietly observed the boy standing in front of him. He was smaller than him, but the air of deadly callous and agrounce was overwhelming. He continued to watch his move, his step and his reaction in highly alert. Ulquiorra didn't just order him around, but was more powerful as if more level headed than him when it comes to fighting. And that pissed Grimmjow off to no end.

"Well. Look who is here? Isn't this Aizen's pet." Grimmjow sneered.

"We're leaving. Aizen-sama is waiting for us." Ulquiorra answered calmly.

"What's in the hurry anyways? I'm sure Aizen wouldn't mind if I was late."

"Wasting time on harassing the girl certainly wasn't part of the plan."

"Oh yeah? Who's going to stop me? As far as I'm concerned, she is under my care."

"You still don't get it, do you? Your mission was to get close with Inoue Orihime. It was unnecessary to draw too much unwanted attention."

"So what?" Grimmjow grumbled. "As long as I got this shit done. Nothing matters."

"We do not accept any failure." Ulquiorra looked straight at Grimmjow. "Are you starting to develop some sort to attachment to that woman?"

"Don't be ridiculous." He snapped and walked away .

Grimmjow fought the impulsive to shove Ulquiorra against the wall and rammed his fist at him. For the longest time he tried to convince himself that this was nothing more but his own interest that somehow went wrong. Love was an unnecessary affection that Grimmjow never gave much thought. He wasn't a gentleman and he wasn't kind. If he met someone else, maybe this heavy sensation at the pit of his stomach would go away. And here it was. The feeling was strange, exciting and a little frightening. There was no words to express, no descriptions to define and no explanation to detail. Everything was a giant mess of passion, concern and desire to be with that person.

Damn it. Grimmjow gave himself a mental smack. Everything made sense to him now. The anger, frustration and insecure he had was because he had fallen absolutely and completely in love. Right now, he knew what he wanted, he wanted her, all of her and would never settle for less,never looking back, without holding back and regretting nothing. Despite everything that he did to her or that he told her, she never flinched, not a bit. That's when he felt his sense fading away, eyes roaming wherever she is, yet it made everything clear. He was under her spell. Grimmjow cursed her for having so much power over him.

I can't fucking believe this. Woman...