Chapter 2

It had been hours. Long, anxiety filled hours since Ichigo had been the first to go before Central 46. The guards had come for him the moment the sun had crested the morning horizon, rousting them all from their sleep to take Ichigo away to the Central 46 chamber with his hands bound in front of him.

The investigation had officially begun.

The sun had already laid its morning trail across the sky, passing their small window to hang just overhead. They didn't need to be outside to know that it was a hot muggy day, as the air was still soaked from the previous day's rain and it was making the cell unbelievably hot.

They all sat with distance between each other, as it was simply too hot to be anywhere near one another and more than a few were fanning themselves with whatever could produce a breeze. The guards whom seemed to be on their side were diligent in providing cool water to drink, and they were grateful, but with their skin clammed from sweat and the air uncomfortably hot to breathe, all they wanted was to swim in the very water they drank.

"It's so hot in here." Orihime said softly, fanning herself and resting her head back against the warm wall.

Byakuya nodded, his head too, leaning against the wall with his hair damp from sweat, "The Squad 1 barracks are higher than all the others, putting the detention wing right in the path of most of the day's sun. It has been rightfully nicknamed the 'Sweatbox.'" He said, taking a sip of water that was quickly warming from the heat.

"We need cool air before we get heat exhaustion." Uryū said, blowing out the hot air that scorched his lungs with every breath.

"I agree." Byakuya said with a heavy sigh, lolling his head forward to rub the back of his sweaty neck.

"Think the guards can bring us something to help cool off?" Nyruki asked, drying her forehead on the hem of her Shihakushō to prevent a bead of sweat from dropping into her eye.

"Perhaps. I'll see if something can be done." Byakuya said as he started the process of standing.

With the sheer heat, the simple task of getting to his feet was a chore. His skin felt like it was shrinking tight over his bones and his fingers felt puffy and swollen, making his hands tight and creaky to move. His clothes clung to his skin from the sweat and it made him feel disgusting as each step caused more of the cloth to stick to his body on his way to the bars.
However, as soon as he reached them, the two guards came around the corner, leading Ichigo with his hands bound in front of him. They carried a Styrofoam cooler that had been modified with two pipes coming out of either end and a small fan that had been covered with a collar attached to a hose. The sight caused Byakuya's brows to furrow at the strange items.

"Brought a present." Ichigo grinned smugly as he waited for the guard with the fan to unlock and open the cell.

"What is it, Ichigo Kurosaki?" Byakuya asked as the guards and Ichigo entered the cell.

"You'll see." Ichigo smirked.

The guard with the cooler set it down before removing Ichigo's bonds while the other set the fan on the floor and plugged it into an outlet outside their cell.

"Uryū Ishida? Come with us, please." Said the taller guard as he stepped out of the cell.

Uryū softly sighed as he rose to his feet and adjusted his collar. The shorter of the two guards bound his hands in front of him and he followed him out, where the taller guard closed and relocked the cell door before both escorted Uryū down the hall and out of sight.

With his hands free, Ichigo knelt down and popped open the two pipes on either end of the cooler before he attached the free end of the hose on the fan to the back end and switched it on, all with a knowing smirk across his face.

What came out was a blissful blow of ice cold air that made everyone, including Byakuya, groan with relief as they crowded around the splay of cold air. The air was especially shocking to their sweat slicked skin, but neither cared as it was heaven simply to have cold air to battle against the heat.

"What the fuck is this thing, Ich? I like it... Like a lot." Grimmjow all but purred as he sat with his back facing the exit pipe.

"It's a swamp cooler." Ichigo smiled as he plopped down to enjoy the cold air with the group.

"Where did you learn about this?" Nyruki asked as she looked up at the ceiling so the air could flutter around her neck.

"Dad. He builds 'em all the time. Otherwise, we'd have to hang out in the clinic side of the house during the hot summer." Ichigo said, planting his hands on his thighs as he sat cross-legged.

"Perhaps your father, indeed, has a brain." Byakuya said, hanging his head as the air rustled his hair.

Ichigo smirked, "Yeah... Sometimes he uses it too."

"And it would appear you do as well." Byakuya said.

"Oi! Blow off!" Ichigo snapped while the group laughed at the unexpected jab.

"So what happened in there, Ich? You were gone for hours." Grimmjow asked quietly.

"Grimmjow-" Byakuya protested, but Ichigo answered anyways.

"They asked me everything from how I met up with Byakuya to what Overlorde was like. They've got the mask we brought back so it's safe for now." Ichigo said lowly to keep his voice from carrying.

"Ichigo Kurosaki, silence yourself before we're caught. If we're separated because of you than I really will feed you to my koi." Byakuya hissed.

"Oh, stop it, Byakuya. I'm not telling you guys what all I said, just what to expect. Our versions of events will still be ours." Ichigo said plainly.

Byakuya's throat lowly rumbled with irritation at the boy as he glared out of the corner of his eye, but that very same irritation soon vanished due to the blissfully cold air blowing from the swamp cooler. It had worked well in cooling them off, so much so that he felt like leaning a shoulder against Nyruki's that earned him a small smile.

"I'll be happy when this is over." She said quietly as she fiddled with her hair to put it up in a messy bun to get it off her neck.

"It will be soon. Then we can focus once more on the upcoming battle." Byakuya said, returning the soft smile.

"Battle? What battle?" Ichigo asked, arcing an orange brow.

"The battle to determine Nyruki's place in the Gotei 13." Byakuya said simply.

"Who's it between? You and her?" Grimmjow asked.

"Between her and all the Gotei captains." Byakuya said.

Everyone's eyes widened.

"Seriously? She has to go up against all of you?" Ichigo gaped.

Nyruki nodded, "Yes. I essentially have to lose in order to stay." She said, rolling out her neck.

"Is that by order of this Central 46?" Neliel asked, beginning to massage Grimmjow's shoulders and back.

"Yeah. It's pretty much up to Cap... Byakuya whether I stay, or not, because he's the only one who's managed to break free of my Zanpakutō." Nyruki said, softly biting her bottom lip.

"I remember Pretty Boy mentionin' that you enthrall... Why didn't you use it against Overlorde before we got there?" Grommjow asked as he dropped his head to his chest while Neliel worked.

Nyruki shook her head, "He took my Zanpakutō away after you all fled. I couldn't get to it without risking him killing me." She said, glancing over to Byakuya.

"Then why not crush him with your spiritual pressure?" Ichigo asked.

"Can't crush what's resistant. Overlorde's spiritual pressure was just as high as mine so all it did was... yeah." Nyruki said, rubbing the back of her neck as she looked away from the others.

"That must be why you resonated with Byakuya. To get us to come back and rescue you." Ichigo said, brushing some of his orange hair out of his eyes.

"Not really. I already knew you were coming for me. I forced the resonation to tell him how to get back in without being spotted by Overlorde's familiars." Nyruki said.

Grimmjow scoffed, "Yeah... His army of loyal Shinigami familiars."

"Not all of them were Shinigami. Just the ones whom willingly turned over their Zanpakutōs." Nyruki said.

"We saw them. He kept his armory as if it were a trophy room." Byakuya said quietly.

"Yeah... They were trophies as far as he was concerned. It proved his power over most people." Nyruki softly sighed.

"I'm still curious why he would keep so many Shinigami around though. Wasn't he worried that one of 'em might turn on him?" Ichigo asked, leaning back on his hands.

"That was one reason for having them surrender their Zanpakutōs. The other one was because they were his go-to people that he would send to the outlaying villages to convince the leaders to turn their villages over to him. It kept Overlorde's presence a secret from anyone who could possibly sense him." Nyruki explained.

"Part of his survival instinct. Keep out of the limelight, keep off the suspicion." Grimmjow said as he softly winced from Neliel's work to his stiff back.

"Then why risk sneaking into the Seireitei? Any number of souls could have sensed him from all across the city." Byakuya said with a mild furrowing in his brow.

"Overlorde lived for over 2,000 years. The amount of control he had over his spiritual pressure was enough to shield himself for a short time. That's when he snuck in." Nyruki said, looking down at her fidgeting hands in her lap.

"He told you all this?" Chad asked.

"Yeah, he did... If at all to make me angrier." She said.

She could feel her cheeks getting hot at the admission, despite the cool air blowing across her skin. That tell tale pang of the desire to hide started to spark itself in the pit of her stomach, but when Byakuya gently grasped her hand with a reassuring squeeze, that very pang disappeared. With that pang, that unmistakable pang of survival that she had allowed to rule her life for so long, gone, she felt like she could finally face what was coming.

Renji wanted to strip naked and lay down in an ice box, never to come out. He was so hot from the muggy heat of the day that he had even dismissed the squad early so they could focus on staying cool, rather than risk dropping like flies during training. Everywhere he looked, the wavy bands of heat fluttered up from the mirages of puddles on the ground, only adding to the heat already coming down from above. It was so hot and humid, that despite having bathed several hours ago, his torrent of red hair was still not dry.

Having given up on doing anything productive, he sat in the Squad 6 office, in his Captain's chair, with his bare feet up on the desk. His arms had flopped to the sides and his head hung back, allowing those heavy and still damp locks of crimson to hang towards the floor. He absolutely did not want any of his limbs touching each other because they would stick from the sheer amount of sweating.

A sudden knock however, forced him to get up, grimacing from the gross feeling of his sweat slicked limbs clinging to his clothes that he had untucked long ago and let hang open, if at all to vent some of the heat.

"Please be made of ice... or snow... or ice cream. Please be something cold." Renji mumbled to himself as he opened the door.

On the other side, there was no ice, or snow, or ice cream, but a petite little woman wearing a pastel yellow sundress with sunglasses on and enjoying a rather delicious looking popsicle.

"Is it too much to ask that you freeze me in a block of ice?" Renji grumbled as he left the door open and went back to lounging in the chair.

"If I did it for you, I'd have to do it for everybody else." Rukia said as she flipped up her sunglasses onto the top of her head.

"Good. Get Captain Hitsugaya in on it too. Freeze the whole damn place." Renji let his top fall off and hit the floor, not at all giving a damn. It was too hot to give a damn.

"Renji-" She sang, "I did, however, bring a popsicle if you're interested."

Before Rukia could even finish bringing it out from behind her back, Renji had snatched it from her hand and ripped it open to stick it into his mouth. The instant rush of cold was a massive relief to inside his body, leaving him with having to figure out to cool off outside his body.

"I'll take that as a yes." Rukia snickered as she hopped up to sit on the desk with her legs crossed.

"You go shee da Ca-tain?" Renji asked through the cherry flavored popsicle, not even bothering to lift his head from the chair back.

Rukia nodded, "I did yesterday evening. I brought him a note from Captain Ukitake." She said as she bit off a small portion of her popsicle.

That made Renji take the popsicle out of his mouth and sit up, "Why'd he have you do it?"

"Not like you could have. You're under orders not to make contact. Plus, the Captain wanted to use our shorthand." Rukia said with an innocent shrug.

"Wha?" He licked the popsicle before it dripped on his hand, "Our shorthand? How does Captain Ukitake know about that?" He stuffed the popsicle back into his mouth and laid back once more.

"I told him... after he wanted me to take the note to Nii-Sama." She grinned.

"You told him after the fact? Smooth, Rukia. Real smooth." Renji rolled his eyes and returned to his popsicle.

"Eh... I try," She bit her popsicle, "I translated it into shorthand before giving it to Nii-Sama."

"This is my surprised face." Renji glared at her with a deadpanned expression.

"Well, it was better Nii-Sama knew about our shorthand than trying to hide it. Plus, he figured it out on his own from those notes we used to pass to each other." Rukia said.

Renji's work on the popsicle stopped as he stared at her, and a red drop let go from the bottom corner to land on his chest.

"What a snoopy little bastard." Renji deadpanned.

"Yeah, but you can't blame him." Rukia said as she finished off her popsicle.

Renji scoffed, "Yes I can." He bit down on his icy treat.

"Renji-" Rukia sighed.

"Oh, don't Renji me, Rukia. He's always been that overprotective brother type." Renji said as he cleaned off the drip from his chest with his top he picked up off the floor.

"And you're the overprotective best friend type, so hush. It's something you two have in common." Rukia mumbled, crossing her arms as she chewed on the stick.

Renji's brows furrowed, "Oi! Why do you have to go and do a thing like that-"

Renji was immediately cut off when a chunk of his popsicle fell off and landed on his chest. The instant spark of freezing cold felt like heaven against the heat, and he, for a moment, contemplated leaving it there to melt. However, not wanting to get sticky, he plucked it up and popped the offending chunk into his mouth.

"You look like you got stabbed." Rukia chuckled with her hands cupped over her mouth at the dark red splat on Renji's skin.

"I ain't even mad." Renji grinned with a crooked smile.

Rukia slipped off the desk and scooped up his discarded top, "It's a thousand degrees and you're still wearing black." She said, offering it to him.

Renji took his top and cleaned off the red liquid, "I don't know... Just doesn't seem fair to go out and cool off when the Captain and everybody are locked up in the Sweatbox."

"I'd offer to go see them, but you're pretty much grounded." Rukia said as she crossed her arms.

"Yeah I know. Why don't you bring them some popsicles too? I bet they'd appreciate that." Renji said, finally finishing his popsicle and sticking the stick in his mouth.

"What do I look like? The messenger?" Rukia huffed.

Renji shrugged, "Hey, YRTOWTYBTOSH."

Rukia glared, "YBK... IOLDSHWNTGSSC." She smirked.

"Yeah, yeah... I know. It makes sense. How long ago did you teach him?" He asked as he overhand tossed his top over the desk in the direction of the couch.

"Not long after I moved into the manor. He found the note you passed to me after you passed your Kidō retake test." Rukia said, returning to sitting on the desk.

"Let me guess... He was worried I was up to no good." Renji rolled his eyes.

Rukia nodded, "Yeah, so I taught him our shorthand and it settled him a bit. The last thing you needed was for a clan head to be gunning for you." She said as she poked her flipflop clad toe into his side.

Renji flinched, "Still though... Our shorthand is ours, something that no one else has. Not even all the kids we lived with knew our shorthand." His arms flopped back down to his sides over the armrests.

"I know, Renji, but I was just trying to protect you. If it makes you feel better, Captain Ukitake can't read it. Nii-Sama is the only other one who knows." Rukia said with a softness in her eyes that told the redhead she was being sincere.

"It kinda does, but I still reserve the right to glare at you. I will warn you though, if Captain is caught with those notes and they're all coded like that, Central 46 is gonna get antsy." Renji said as he ran a hand back through his damp hair, grimacing at the heavy and hot feel.

"I don't think there'll be anymore notes. By the sounds of things, well, what you've told me anyways, you've done all you can." Rukia said, gripping the edge of the desk.

Renji nodded as he tied his hair up to keep the weight off his neck, "Yeah. I've had my fair share of politics for awhile. As soon as Ichigo is out of there, I'm challenging him to a fight to clear the palate."

"What do you think will happen with Neliel and Grimmjow? I'm getting the sense that things are... complicated." Rukia asked.

"Incredibly complicated." Renji scoffed.

"Come on, Renji. What's the story? I promise I won't say anything." Rukia said, being on the verge of pleading.

"No... I've told you this." Renji frowned.

"But it's not like they're still missing. They're back now. Maybe there's something in there we can use to help Neliel and Grimmjow." Rukia said, crossing her arms lightly.

Renji's brows furrowed, "Rukia, I said no... Wait, why are you worried about Neliel and Grimmjow?"

"Neliel helped in Hueco Mundo, and Grimmjow, well... If Nii-Sama was willing to protect him, there's gotta be an explanation for it." Rukia said simply.

"That goes without saying." Renji said.

"Just listen for a minute... If Nii-Sama was willing to set aside what Grimmjow's done in the past, then who do you think helped convince him of that?" Rukia asked.

Renji shrugged, "Probably Ichigo."

"Exactly... Which means Ichigo either beat some sense into him, or he used words." Rukia said, tapping her chin.

"Ichigo? Use words?" Renji popped an eyebrow.

Rukia snickered, "I know, I know."

"Honestly, Rukia, I don't think Ichigo beat him up to get him to agree to Grimmjow going with. I think he actually convinced the Captain by talking to him since Chad, Uryū and Orihime were with them too. It means they were all ok with Grimmjow being there." Renji said, scratching the side of his neck.

"Hmm... What could Ichigo have possibly said that convinced my brother to go along with a former enemy joining their group?" Rukia mused to herself, but loud enough for Renji to hear.

"Whatever it is, it's something good." Renji said with a scoff.

Rukia's brows furrowed, "Good... Something good... Something... Not evil." She mumbled.

"Not evil?... Atonement." Renji exhaled.

"Yeah... Something Grimmjow's done that's proven his Espada days are behind him." Rukia said.

"Hey... I think you're onto something, Rukia. What if Grimmjow's done, or is doing, something that sits well with the Captain?" Renji asked, sitting up.

"Something Ichigo and the others approve of." Rukia added.

"Yeah... But what?" Renji asked as he stood from the chair.

Rukia simply shook her head as she thought, tapping her chin and staring out the window. There had to be something, had to be some sort of trailhead that would lead them down the right path to discovery. The hard part, was finding that trailhead, and finding the correct one.

"I think I have an idea on where to start." Rukia said after a few moments.

"You do? Where?" Renji asked as he peeled a strand of hair from his neck

"Hollow activity for Karakura town. That Afro Shinigami assigned there has been complaining more than usual that Ichigo's been keeping it so clear of Hollows." Rukia said as she slipped off the desk and headed for the couch where his top had landed.

"How do you know that?" Renji asked.

Rukia picked up Renji's discarded top, "Nii-Sama wanted me to look into getting him reassigned after all the captains woke up from their coma. When I was looking into it, I saw that Ichigo's been collecting some of the higher priced bounties." She handed him his top.

"Wha? What the hell does he need the bounties for-"

"That's it!" They both yelped and ran out of the office.

The swamp cooler had been refilled twice since Ichigo had returned and set it up. The thick sucking heat was so strong, that the ice was melting a bit more quickly than those inside the cell would have liked, but with the guards continuing to keep a close eye on them, it meant the cooler was kept full and they had plenty of water to drink.

Several hours had passed since Uryū had been escorted to Central 46, and with the sun beginning its last assault before retiring for the evening, now on the backside of the Squad 1 'Sweatbox', it meant that the cell had cooled to a tolerable degree.

With the others finally able to relax now that the heat had been tamed, Byakuya and Nyruki sat on their bedrolls beneath the small, useless window. The aid of the swamp cooler allowed for Byakuya to be willing to allow Nyruki's head to rest against his shoulder as she examined his hand, turning it over and over and following each line in his palm. She watched the movement of his tendons and trailed her fingertips along the long, but light scar that sliced through his pale flesh on the underside of his arm. It was barely visible, but clear to her golden eyes that he had taken a rather nasty wound some time ago.

"See something intriguing?" He asked lowly as he watched her study his hand.

"Just baffled by how such elegant hands can so easily kill." Nyruki said as she trailed her fingertips over the light scar.

"Yours are just as capable. There was no hesitation when you inflicted the final blow against Overlorde." Byakuya said in a low voice.

"I was angry. I felt... violated, used, taken advantage of. I wanted him dead." Nyruki said as her eyes flicked up to look into his for a moment before looking back down to his hand.

"Now he is. Do you feel like you have finally closed that chapter of your life?" Byakuya asked as he curled his hand around hers.

Nyruki briefly smiled, "I feel like I'm on the last page." She looked up at him.

"Good." He returned her small smile.

The sudden sound of approaching feet separated the pair and drove all to rise to their feet. It had been awhile since the two guards had refilled their swamp cooler, so all had silently wished for it to be them. They weren't far off the mark as those very guards walked into their view with a pale of new ice, closely followed by Uryū, whose hands were still bound.

However, the exhaustion in Uryū's eyes was enough to cause concern as the taller guard unlocked the cell. His hair, normally kept in order, was limp and dreaded from dried sweat, hanging around his face like he had just gotten out of the shower. His clothes hung on him like he had forcibly been redressed and not at all kept in the prideful way he usually kept himself. His shoulders were slumped and he barely registered the shorter guard whom removed his bonds and gently lead him inside the cell, keeping a firm hand on his arm out of the worry that if he let go, the boy would collapse.

"Ishida? What happened?" Ichigo asked with a strong crinkle in his brow.

The moment the shorter guard let go of Uryū, his legs were done, dropping him to the floor at their feet where Orihime and Chad immediately went to his aid. He was panting like he had just finished running and his eyes were hazy, unable to focus on his surroundings. His pale skin was even more so, having taken on a greenish hue from the lack of blood to his face and a cold sweat had developed along his brow line in a thick sheet.

"What happened?" Byakuya demanded as he set his fierce gaze onto the taller guard whom almost look frightened to have fallen under the intense stare.

The taller guard looked around for a moment to make sure they were alone, staying quiet until the shorter guard stepped out of the cell.

"Central 46 has enlisted the help of Captain Kurotsuchi. He used a memory scanning machine he developed while you were missing, Captain Kuchiki." The taller guard whispered.

Byakuya's jaw clenched, "When did this occur and why didn't they use it with Ichigo Kurosaki?" He asked in a harsh whisper to keep his voice from carrying.

"They wanted to hear what he had to say first because of his past work with us, then use the machine against the next ones to corroborate the stories. They've issued a release order for Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado and Neliel Tu Oderschwank." The taller guard said.

"W-What? But Uryū needs help. He's really weak." Orihime said as she accepted a piece of ice from Chad and ran it over Uryū's soaked forehead.

"Central 46 decided this?" Byakuya asked.

The taller guard nodded, "Yes, Captain. They've deemed those three not involved, so they're releasing them under the condition that they not leave the Seireitei."

"I'm not leaving. Uryū needs help." Orihime said as she trailed the ice behind his neck to cool its nape.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Inoue, but you and the others have to leave. You cannot stay here." The taller guard said with sincere apologies in his dark blue eyes.

Nyruki knelt down next to Orihime and took the chunk of ice from her to continue using it to cool Uryū off.

"I'll take care of him, Orihime." Nyruki said quietly as she brushed Uryū's bangs out of his face and held his head up off the floor.

Orihime nodded, but sighed, "Alright." She said quietly as she rose to her feet.

Chad and Neliel both rose to their feet and filed out of the cell before the shorter guard closed and locked the door, trapping the remaining five inside.

"Come with me and we'll get you your hairpins, Ms. Inoue." The taller guard said as he took a step down the hall, only to stop when Byakuya spoke.

"What else can you tell us?" Byakuya asked, clasping his hands behind his back.

The taller guard sighed as he glanced at his partner, whom nodded once.

"Not much, but I can tell you this, Captain... Central 46 is not pleased with the other Arrancar due to his past history. Despite his involvement with the current situation, Central 46 is considering a death sentence for his history with Aizen."

Grimmjow's eyes shot wide, "What? I thought those assholes were willin' to hear us out!"

Byakuya shot Grimmjow a glare back over his shoulder, "Quiet! Do not draw attention!" He hissed lowly before looking back to the guards, "Bring me Rukia Kuchiki."

"Yes, Captain. We'll do what we can." The taller guard whispered before leaving, taking Orihime, Chad and Neliel with them.

With the guards and their companions gone, Byakuya turned back into the cell and knelt down next to Uryū, whom was lightly shaking as if he were cold. Ichigo had taken the pale of fresh ice and was putting it into their swamp cooler, handing Nyruki a fresh piece to help cool Uryū's forehead that she immediately ran over his forehead and down his neck.

"Uryū... What happened? Can you speak?" Byakuya asked, accepting the boy's pillow from Grimmjow and slipping it under his head.

Uryū gulped, "T-They're going t-to probe all of u-us." He said through his panting breath, unable to focus in on any of them.

"Ssh... Lay still. Just rest." Nyruki said, taking a cup of water from Ichigo.

Uryū simply nodded.

Between Ichigo and Grimmjow, Uryū's weight was easily handled as the pair carried him to his bedroll. They laid him down before Nyruki removed his cape and unzipped his coat to allow the ice more space to cool. It seemed to be working as his breathing slowed and his eyes closed, sinking back against his bedroll to get some much needed rest.

"This is problem, Pretty Boy. This is a big fuckin' problem." Grimmjow growled as he vigorously rubbed his hair with a few quick passes.

"You would be correct." Byakuya said, crossing his arms.

"I thought you said they were willin' to listen! That doesn't sound like they're willin' to listen at all!" Grimmjow hissed angrily.

"If they probed Ishida, then why are they even considering execution? He's been with us the entire time since Grimmjow and Nel showed up." Ichigo said.

"Because of his past history with Aizen. He was an enemy not long ago and with only our word to go on, they're weary without physical proof." Byakuya said lowly.

"Then get fuckin' proof, Pretty Boy! I ain't dyin' here by a bunch of politician Shinigami." Grimmjow sneered.

"That is why I summoned Rukia. She's a Kuchiki and can access sensitive information without me present. She'll work on the outside while we're detained." Byakuya said.

"You better hope this works, Pretty Boy. You gave me your word." Grimmjow scowled.

"And I intend to keep it. I'm asking you to trust me." Byakuya said, looking back over his shoulder at the blue haired Arrancar.

Grimmjow pursed his lips together and crossed his arms, "That's askin' a lot."

"Then trust me, Grimmjow. If Byakuya says he'll come through, than he'll come through." Ichigo said.

Grimmjow scoffed, "You people," He raked a hand down his face, "Fine, I'll trust you, but if I get offed because of this, Imma be pissed."

"And rightfully so. The only death to become of this will be Overlorde's, and only Overlorde's."