How has it already been over a year since the last update? Good news is the next chapter is actually mostly done, I held off on releasing this one to make sure it wouldn't need adjusting for continuity of the next.
Chapter 25: Watching Eyes
Grimmjow woke up slowly. He stretched his sore arms a little and blindly searched for the body that should be against him, patting the space. When it registered to him that it was empty he sat up quickly and looked around. Yukiko was sitting, watching him. He sighed and wiped his face, "What are you doing?"
She didn't answer, just looked at him with a sad expression over a slightly red and sweaty complexion.
He reached out and snapped in her face. "You there?"
Yukiko grabbed his arm and softly ran her fingers across his forearm. Then her hands traveled to his face and ghosted over his left eye and touching his ear. Right. During the fight with Starrk his face got fucked up, though he didn't think she saw his arm getting blown off. "You saw that I was fine last night."
Still no response.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her into his lap. She complied and practically melted against him. He leaned back and she collapsed down with him. Grimmjow rested a hand on the center of her back and rubbed with a thumb; her breathing was short and choppy. Her clothes felt dirty and stiff under his hand and her hair was a whirlwind of knotted curls. "We both need a shower."
Yukiko responded by starting to stroke his cheek in a similar way. It was a gentle, soothing sensation that might send him back to sleep if this continued long enough. He nudged her with his chin. "Hey. Let's get in the shower."
Finally, she nodded in agreeance. Keeping his hand on her back to hold her against him, he pushed them up and lifted her off the floor as he stood. She was completely boneless and if he wasn't holding her up under her butt too, she would have slipped out of his grasp. It occurred to him that there was a reason they had never squeezed into the shower together without him being a cat. "Alright, you gotta start using your own legs now," he told her and started lowering her. After giving her a second to steady herself he released her and she stood properly.
"We're not both fitting. You shower first, since you look like shit." He was filthy too but at least he didn't look shell shocked. She held his shirt tightly, not letting him walk away. "Were you hoping to get naked with me?" he jokingly asked.
Her head snapped up and she looked at him with something he always made a monumental effort to never see. Fear.
She immediately looked forward and he could see her breathing pick up. "Hey!"
The woman ignored him and started lifting his shirt. He grabbed both her wrists and wrenched her hands up and away. "What the fuck are you doing?!"
She was shaking and panting now, still looking forward. It was clear she wasn't seeing him at all. What the fuck is he supposed to do? He definitely wasn't going to have sex with her while she was more twisted in her fear than he's ever seen. Leaving was the safe option but leaving her was potentially going to fuck her up more than letting her continue.
"Yuki look at me." This worked last night, maybe it would work now.
She wasn't hearing him. Maybe he can wait this out.
When she stopped looking directly at his abdomen she started glancing at his hands on her. He pulled her back into a hug, that way she can't try to undress him and it was, hopefully, less threatening. He also started rubbing her back again. It took a minute, but seemed to be working. Her arms tentatively wrapped his back and her breathing was slowing down but still short.
"We good?" he asked. She nodded against him and pulled away, continuing to nod sadly. It reminded him of the previous night, right before she started punching herself.
"Yuki!" he yelled to focus her attention.
Her eyes snapped to his. Good.
"What the hell is going on?"
She grabbed his shirt again, this time in big fist-fulls, more security seeking. She didn't try to strip him at least. She said something, impossible to read. The knit in her brow and the pull of her mouth gave every indication that she was begging, near sobbing.
He grabbed her face to make sure she was looking at him and focused on him, not her own mind. "Whatever you're thinking, I'm not letting you go. I'd rather kill you and eat your soul to keep forever than let someone take you away." Even to him, saying the words aloud sounded alarming.
Luckily she didn't seem to think so. Yukiko exhaled and her face slowly relaxed into a calm smile. She grabbed his hands and kissed his palm. The woman released him and backed up before turning and seemed like she was going to take a shower. He went out into the main room and opened the curtains, getting assaulted by the sunlight. He sat groaning while his eyes adjusted and used the time to reach out and examined his surroundings with Presquia. There was a small energy not far outside. It was the same as the one that tried to take Yukiko last night. Grimmjow tensed all at once and rocked forward, ready to launch himself through the window; gigai and treaty be damned.
Then the shower turned on and he recoiled at the thought of Yukiko exiting the shower and being alone. Or worse, unprotected with someone else in the apartment because he's chasing one of those paper birds. He reclosed the curtains and dug the badge out of his discarded clothes, holding it from its chain while he sat against the hall door. Waiting.
The anticipation of energy potentially approaching closer stretched the minutes into hours, but he remained in place all the same. The more power he gained the more he sought head on battles, but the base ambush predator instincts that he started with didn't leave. With the right incentive, he could hold a position for as long as he needed. Only when the bath door opened did Grimmjow finally break focus on the window. Yukiko's hair had been tamed and she came out clean and draped in a towel. Her knees and shins were scuffed up, spots that once bled obvious. Left cheek was an ugly black and purple that reached up and threatened with how close it was to a black eye. Her right had a scrape, puckered and red from being scrubbed, surrounded by a smaller bruise. Where her face wasn't discolored to a dark shade it was a bit flushed and she looked like she was still taking short breaths.
Grimmjow got up and stood close enough that it might have been threatening. He grabbed her towel and opened it looking at her naked torso. The side of her chest was blooming red and purple, wrapping from her back to under her boob and down to the bottom of her ribcage. He pressed his hand across the bruise and didn't feel anything moving or crunching, just her flinch and tense, then turned her completely and pressed an ear to her back. He couldn't hear a difference in her lungs, so at least it wasn't punctured. Her ribs might have small fractures though; it would explain why she wasn't breathing normally. Broken ribs hurt like a bitch since you can't not breath.
"I'll shower and we'll go get you fixed. Again," he told her.
She nodded.
"And don't open the curtains. Whoever got you last night is close. You know what? Stay away from the window completely! Get dressed and sit at the table!"
Yukiko glanced nervously at the window while she approached her dresser. Grimmjow took the Shinigami badge with him into the bathroom and left the door open. He didn't waste anytime on enjoying the hot water over his aching body. Wash off the dirt from the gigai. Release himself from it, rip off the clothes, and scrub off the blood, dirt and grime from his true form.
He dried off only a bit before putting his dirty clothes back on and returning to his naked false body and exited to the main room for human clothes. It was after Grimmjow got pants on that a knock came at the door. He felt the world fall away and his entire existence was focused on the door and Yukiko clutching his arm from behind him. The locked doorknob rattled. "Yukiko-sama? Are you in there?" a female voice called.
Against all reason, his human rushed the door and unlocked it before Grimmjow could rip her back into the security of his reach. A tall, willowy woman with black hair slammed the door open and immediately threw something at Grimmjow. He dodged it, smelling the burning crackle of energy in the projectiles as he did, and used the badge again to drop the gigai. Before either could make another move though Yukiko returned to stand between them, hands up towards both of them.
The woman dropped her stance, lowering what looked like paper tags with a look of disgust. "Oh? This is Grimmjow then?"
The Arrancar stayed tense though he could only think of one human who would know of him without meeting. "Let me guess, Nui?"
Yukiko nodded, assumedly to both of them, but slid down the wall in pain.
"What happened to her?!" the woman questioned angrily while she knelt and tentatively examined Yukiko's face.
Grimmjow returned to his gigai again and groaned internally at a headache forming from the repeated in and out. "My guess is a broken rib or two. Whoever did it is still eyeing the apartment."
"Him?!" She looked outraged then stood. "I'll clear away the shikigami, take her to a doctor."
"What? This guy a repeat offender with her or something?"
"They all were," she asserted sternly. "Except for him. He's her brother."
*Shit…*
Yukiko grabbed Nui's wrist and glared at the woman. Nui knelt back down and looked concerned. "I'm sorry. Was I not supposed to say that?"
The younger woman spoke with focus, making sure her words were understood. {"Why are you here?"}
"The destruction in front of your workplace has been all over the news. The story being some kind of crazy person setting fireworks in the sewers. The Shinigami's memory manipulator always was set to ridiculous replacement memories."
"So that's what it was. They were drawing you out," Grimmjow concluded.
Nui looked over to him, her face unwavering. "I considered that and took necessary precautions."
"The 'precaution' you should have taken was to not come," he argued.
"We can discuss this later. For now, Yukiko-sama needs treatment," she declared and stood; this time not waiting for any feedback and exited the apartment.
Grimmjow grumbled in annoyance, "Fucking bitch barging in and giving orders." His head snapped to his human but was still frowning. "You ready?" he asked Yukiko.
She nodded and crawled to the entrance to put her shoes on; Grimmjow sat beside her and did the same. The sound of her breathing echoed in his ears. She was in pain but up and sort of about. Before she could stand, he got in front of her and pulled her on his back. He could see from the faint shadow cast by light coming through the curtain that she was tilting her head and craning to look at him. "I'm not waiting for you to give up five minutes into the walk."
Before leaving their room Grimmjow listened for steps out in the hall and scouted with Presquia. The only notable energy he could detect within two blocks was Nui standing outside the building. Satisfied that they would be able to walk at least a little without getting attacked, he left the apartment. Nui awaited them at the sidewalk but Grimmjow walked past her without saying anything, not that it stopped her from speaking. "Do you even know where a doctor is?"
"Yeah so don't bother me."
The woman easily kept stride with her long legs. "Yukiko-sama, how do you tolerate such an abrasive man?"
Grimmjow had no idea how she responded, but he did feel her rest her head lean into his neck. He leaned his head into hers a bit on reflex, indulging every point of contact that he gets like the addict he is.
"Have you been able to keep away from the Shinigami?"
"We were doing fine until last night," Grimmjow grumbled.
"If I'm not bothering you, do not bother me," Nui shot back and Grimmjow couldn't help but smile a bit. He could see how Yukiko grew a spine despite her childhood.
"Too bad, this is important. I haven't had a chance to talk to Yuki yet about it but the Soul Society knows a bit about her now. After the shit last night the head Captain came with a few others to find out what happened and decide what to do." He turned a bit to indicate he was talking to his human. "How much of last night do you remember after we got back to Urahara's?"
She lifted her hand with a pinched gesture, indicating only a little.
"We told them about the Ametsuchi and that old god. They don't know everything though. Harribel explained it as you stole the reincarnated soul and then sent it away. The Soul Society are going lay off on the Arrancar a bit and look into their own records about the whole thing."
"They shouldn't have to. There were generations of Ametsuchi heads maintaining contact with them. Even after they organized into the Gotei. I'd be cautious of their intentions. The Captain Commander has been active since near the beginning of Shinigami existence."
"Nah. It's a new guy. The old bag of bones died a year ago."
"Really? I wonder if the Ametsuchi are aware?"
"Does it matter?"
"It might be why they are being so openly active. If current Soul Society leadership is unaware of who they are and what they can do they will be more cautious and lenient than they should. Supposedly, the old fire god of a Shinigami threatened to burn the entire clan out of existence if they overstepped again. The clan elders feared him so much that even when I was being trained he is spoken of as the ever looming threat trapping us in our place."
"What, the Shinigami always have a thing about killing everyone that ain't them?"
"The Ametsuchi attempted to take over the Soul Society, claiming that they are the only ones truly fit to carry out Divine Chouko's will."
"And what? Hueco Mundo was a dry run?" Grimmjow asked, thinking about the ruins.
"Close. A base from which to launch attacks from since they knew counter attacks would be directed towards the World of the Living. Supposedly it worked for a stretch of time too."
"The hell? Where the Quinces learning from you guys? Humans need to fuckin leave Hueco Mundo alone."
"They aren't that far from us you know."
"Yeah, I got the history lesson!"
"Not a very complete one. The Quinces had arrived to Japan and joined the Ametsuchi in their efforts. Their combat abilities were stronger though and they ended up being the primary force on the human side; only to disappear when they lost. I guess the Soul Society thought the Ametsuchi were enough of a nonthreat by comparison we were let off with a warning."
Yukiko lifted a hand off his shoulder and waved Nui away to show her displeasure either at the topic or her lesson's completeness being insulted.
Grimmjow sighed, "You want to give someone a lecture, give it to the Shinigami. Or better yet, my buddy in Las Noches, he's got a thing for history for some reason."
Yukiko did a hand gesture in front of Grimmjow's face. It looked a little weird but he was pretty sure she was signing 'cat' to him. "Yeah, Riverra. I gave him your book by the way. Just took out the personal stuff."
At that moment Grimmjow and Nui both stopped in their tracks, aware of another signal from the boy, Mashiro; he was sending another shikigami. Nui looked around at the empty street and walkway then pulled a paper doll out of her purse. She poured Reiatsu into it until it glowed and flew out of her hand in the form of a dog creature. It half ran, half flew directly at the approaching energy. "It will deal with any birds Mashiro sends our way," Nui informed. "Yukiko-sama?"
Grimmjow looked back and saw her looking up at the sky. He looked closer with all his senses. There was no sign of anything there, or splitting of the air from an opening. So what was she looking at? The grip on his shoulder tightened and she leaned back into him. The Arrancar started moving again. "We're almost there."
It was another block, this time of silence, until they arrived to the Kurosaki clinic. Yukiko reached out and pressed the buzzer at the entrance. There was a slight buzz and the door unlocked. "Hello. Welcome to the Kurosaki Clinic. Is this an emer- Oh! You're Ichi-nii's friend! What happened?" One of the sisters came out and greeted them; he remembered her being here last time they came.
"I'm not his friend," Grimmjow growled as he put Yukiko down on her own feet. "That said, where's he? I need his girlfriend for something."
"He's upstairs but Orihime isn't here."
"Go get him then!"
Nui stepped around him as he spoke. "Hello. My cousin here got hurt last night in the accident. Do you think the doctor can take a look at her?"
The young Kurosaki looked confused about what to do. After a moment she compromised. "Sure, I'll go let my dad know then call for Ichi-nii."
When she was gone Grimmjow sighed. "Orihime has healing powers, meaning a doctor is pointless."
"Except Yukiko-sama was supposed to be at the sight of a major accident last night and if she disappears from it and reappears completely unharmed it will raise unwanted questions. I'd rather she be healed but she needs to maintain the act of a normal human if she is going to insist on living like one."
"She has a point," the father Kurosaki said as he entered the room. "And the next time you growl at my precious daughter I'll drop kick you out the door!"
"Are you the only doctor here?" Nui interjected.
"Of course, this is my clinic after all. Why?"
"I-" whatever the woman was going to say was abruptly interrupted by Yukiko putting a hand over her mouth.
"Ametsuchi-san, why don't you come on back. Your entourage can join if they want."
She followed after him and Grimmjow kept stride but when they were in the exam room he gave them some space trusting the other man to do his job. Nui on the other hand hovered over like an umbrella. "I haven't the chance to examine her myself, but Grimmjow said she had broken ribs."
Yukiko was frowning in annoyance and pushed the overbearing woman away by the face, then pointed to the wall where Grimmjow stood. Nui glared at the human man like she wanted to murder him. "I'll be watching for any funny business," she spoke low and threateningly.
"Great…" father Kurosaki said in a drawn out tone. "Unfortunately I can't diagnose a broken bone. The best I can do is examine you and then refer you to the hospital for proper x-rays and treatment."
"You did her last injury," Grimmjow said pointedly, thinking about her wrist injury.
"That was a sprain and was still confirmed at a separate hospital," the doctor explained as he turned Yukiko's face slightly and lifted her hair, getting a clearer view of the bruises. "You guys are going to have to get creative with the explanation for the injuries though. Anyone with eyes can tell there were made by a person."
There was a knock on the door. "It's me, can I come in?"
Before answering, the man looked at his patient. She nodded yes. "Yeah, sure!"
Ichigo joined the room and immediately frowned at Grimmjow. "I get that you worry about Ametsuchi but don't go ordering around my sister." Then he glanced past the Arrancar at the new woman. "Who's this?"
Nui nodded slightly. "I am Ametsuchi Nui. Yukiko's cousin."
"I thought you were her babysitter," Grimmjow grumbled and was immediately jabbed in the stomach.
He grabbed her collar and already had a fist pulled back when Ichigo hooked his elbow. "Don't go hitting people in a clinic! Both of you! You want to start a fight go outside first!"
The Arrancar growled a noise just to get the energy out and stomped to collect his human. "Just write the fucking letter so we can leave!"
"Let me finish my exam first!"
Yukiko said something with a frown but then looked past the two men towards Nui, who's eyes were turned to the wall but she was clearly searching past it. "I need to step away for a moment. Grimmjow, don't leave her."
Yukiko grabbed Grimmjow's arm and pulled his attention. {"Don't let her go alone."}
"No shit," he responded. "Hey Kurosaki; that shit last night was to draw that woman here. Keep an eye on her so she doesn't get grabbed."
"Seriously?! Fine but I want a full explanation later."
"We can never get peace, can we?" the doctor complained as he put on a stethoscope. He held up the round end and spoke to Yukiko. "I need to hold this under your shirt to get a clear listen."
She nodded and he reached it under her clothes against her back, instructed her to breath a few times, moved to hear the other lung and repeat. Just as Grimmjow said, her lungs sounded normal. He continued the exam, talking through what he was doing and getting her agreement first every step, all the while Yukiko kept her eyes fixed on Grimmjow. He was certain she was using him to gauge how calm she should be so he kept himself stoic, even dragging a chair over to sit just to show how not concerned she should be. When her shirt was lifted to examine her ribs and abdomen her eyes looked down to Kurosaki. "Yuki, where are you looking?" he instantly called her attention back. She did bring her gaze to him but he could see her eyes dart back as she fought her need to focus on the person touching her.
"Yeah, you're probably right about the ribs," he agreed after the exam. "Let me give you something for the pain to hold you over until the hospital can get a full treatment plan for you."
He gave her a shot of something and moved to his table to start writing the letter on a computer. Within minutes Yukiko's breathing calmed down and she waved Grimmjow over so she could lean against him, looking more relaxed than she had the entire day. Nui returned with Kurosaki in his Shinigami form. The woman walked straight to Yukiko, cradling her face. "What did you give her?" she asked the doctor.
"A low dose of fentanyl. Just enough to take the edge off. I had to give her something that'll wear off somewhat fast so it won't interfere with what the hospital will want to do. It'll probably make her nauseous though so don't be surprised if she doesn't want to eat later." The doctor handed Nui a print of the letter. "This should do it."
The woman bowed politely now. "Thank you, Dr. Kurosaki."
Grimmjow nodded to the man as he pulled Yukiko up on his back and walked out. Ichigo exited shortly after them, back in his human form, "I'm going to go see Urahara. You three should go as well when you're done at the hospital."
"I don't want to see that bastard again for a while," Grimmjow grumbled.
"Who is Urahara?"
"A suspicious asshole," the Arrancar answered immediately.
"I mean yeah," Kurosaki agreed readily. "But he's a former Shinigami captain and he's keeping the Gotei up to date with what's happening here."
"I see. However I don't see how getting Shinigami more involved will improve anything. If I am indeed the current target of the Ametsuchi it is irrelevant. I don't have what they want and even if I were to die it would not further their goals beyond petty revenge for assisting Yukiko-sama's escape."
"Don't you care if you get hurt or die?"
"Of course I do, but I have greater priorities," she answered plainly while looking over to the woman on Grimmjow's back.
"Even if you don't want to seek protection you should come. Urahara will probably have somethings to ask about. Grimmjow can show you how to get there," Kurosaki encouraged. "See you later," he added as he took a different turn and separated from them.
He could only enjoy a few minutes of quiet before the woman spoke again. "I do not trust the Shinigami. Above all they worry about themselves and keeping their system working as they want. Just because the Ametsuchi clan is not good doesn't mean the Gotei is by default."
"You realize you're talking to a Hollow right? Thanks to the bullshit last night the Shinigami head Captain came and floated the idea of invading Hueco Mundo to kill off all the Arrancar. If I had it my way I'd keep Yuki in Hueco Mundo where I can hide her away from everyone else." At his comment a hand found its way up to his head, gently but clumsily rubbing. Apparently Yukiko was awake.
"Maybe hiding out in Hueco Mundo wouldn't be a bad idea, so long as there are intelligent and reliable Hollows that will ensure we not be eaten." That probably wouldn't be that difficult to pull off in all reality. Harribel would likely request Nui be brought in to see how much more information they can get on the Ametsuchi's plans. Nui would likely know more too.
"Yukiko-sama, what's wrong?" she suddenly asked.
Yukiko was looking up at the sky again but he couldn't see enough of her face to know if she was even talking. She did lift a wobbly hand and pointed to the spot she was looking at. After a moment her hand dropped and she leaned back against him. "Do you know what that's about?" Grimmjow asked.
"No…"
After that the human finally maintained continued silence, giving Grimmjow the freedom to not interact with someone he doesn't care about. At the hospital Nui handled talking to the receptionist while Grimmjow dumped Yukiko into a cushioned chair then sat next to the half asleep woman. His limbs released a lot more tension than he expected when he was off his feet and he couldn't help slouching to recline back and soak in the feeling of relaxing with a sigh. The other woman returned to them with a form on a clipboard. She filled it out and he became curious about what she put down for the cause of visit. "Assaulted by unknown person at workplace last night." Also on the form she wrote a special request for female staff only. As overbearing as she's proven to be, Nui was clearly focused on Yukiko's comfort. It made Grimmjow feel like he should be a bit more patient with her.
"Yukiko-sama?" Nui called her attention. The sleepy woman looked up. "They will need your ID. Do you have it?"
She shook her head no and signed, "*Work.*"
"Regrettably, I never learned sign language."
"She said it's at work," Grimmjow snapped and immediately reminded himself that he just decided to not be so rude. "She probably didn't stop to get her shit before getting snatched up," he forced his tone into something less harsh though there were still some head turns at his rough language.
"I see. I'll make sure to explain the situation. They'll certainly understand." Nui returned the form to the desk and stood a little longer to speak. When she sat down she didn't say anything else.
The entire visit was pretty straight forward. The waiting was irritating but once they were called out the process was fairly fast. His human officially had three ribs with 'incomplete fractures' and was prescribed a small collection of medications for pain management with the instructions to remain comfortable, no exercise or strenuous activity and take a leave from work for the next month. All of which could have been avoided if they just had Orihime heal her. Maybe he could get her to do it anyways once the store sees proof that she was injured after the battle with Starrk. Take the vacation but spend it healthy. Physically at least.
At Nui's insistence they went to the demolished store. It was taped off with a notice of indefinite closure. The group ducked under the police line and Yukiko pointed them towards the staff room where the lockers were. Her locker was open, so she or someone, did look through there at some point. "Hey," he called her while jostling her a bit. "You missing anything?"
His human looked through the items. He couldn't see her response but Nui could. "She said no. I'll carry it all then."
Grimmjow heard something from out in the store. He put Yukiko down. "Wait here," he told them and stalked silently to the door. There was no sign of a notable Reiatsu. The footsteps were just outside the door, sounding like someone dragging feet thinking it was quieter.
"Aaahhh!" there was yell as a man swung a broom at Grimmjow. He just caught it and wretched it out of the attacker's grip and threw it across the room.
"Oh, it's just you," the man cried in relief. That's a weird reaction to Grimmjow. Was he losing his touch?
"And you are?" Nui questioned harshly while Yukiko half-waved at the newcomer.
"I'm the manager here. I was just taking stock of the merchandise we can store and what needs to be tossed. Ametsuchi-san, I was worried about you. You were missing when the emergency responders arrived. You look horrible."
"You don't say…" Grimmjow commented flatly.
"If you're the manager that's perfect. I was unclear how we were going to notify you but Yukiko was assaulted by someone during all the chaos. The hospital instructed her to remain on work leave for four weeks," Nui steered the conversation off hard to explain topics.
"To be frank everyone is temporary out of a job. I spent the morning notifying the employees that they should look for new work. Of course I can make arrangements with corporate to get Ametsuchi paid leave for the designated time if she can send the doctor's letter."
"We have it here," she attempted to hand the file they left the hospital with over.
The manager declined with a handwave. "Just email a copy to the store in the next few days. The address is online."
Grimmjow returned to his human and closed her now empty locker.
"Of course," the woman responded evenly.
Grimmjow reached to pull Yukiko on his back again and she limply allowed him to handle her. This entire outing she's been compliant and quiet. A far cry from her explosive emotions when they woke up.
They returned to the apartment and he could see the summoned dog creature perch itself on the roof of the building. It was effectively keeping the brother's crows away, judging by the lack of them. At the door Nui tried to bring the energy up. "It's gotten pretty late in the day. Why don't I cook an early dinner?"
Grimmjow put Yukiko down and she walked over to the futon and laid down on her uninjured side, facing away from them. Nui looked worried and it made Grimmjow feel like he should be. She walked across the small room and pulled the blanket over Yukiko and rubbed her arm tenderly. The Arrancar grabbed some sleeping clothes and changed in the bathroom, it was clear they would not be leaving again that day. When he came out the guest was heating up a kettle, and rummaging through the pantries. "Do you two have any tea?"
"Last cabinet," he answered and sat at the table facing the wall so he could look at either woman in the room. It sounded like Yukiko was already asleep but she was so low energy that it was hard to determine without going to her. He didn't want to bother her now though.
"How was she this morning?" Nui asked, taking a picture of the doctor form and fiddling with her phone.
"Freaked out. Acting like she thought I was going to attack her."
"We can't allow her to be alone."
"Wasn't planning on it," Grimmjow responded as the kettle started steaming and was removed.
"No. We need to keep her safe both from the Ametsuchi and herself," she said quietly as she poured two cups of tea. She put them down at the table and sat across from the man. "Yukiko-sama… She was drowning in despair at the compound but kept the emotions at bay. When we escaped and she was able to breath it was like all the pent up feelings overwhelmed her at once. She felt too much all at once until she couldn't feel any one thing. Then she just wanted it all to go away." Nui's gaze looked far away and Grimmjow had a sense of where this was going.
"Any method in particular she goes for?" he asked.
The woman took a deep breath but raised her face to look at him. "Heights. Specifically tall buildings."
He looked at his human, laying unmoving other than her breathing. There was a shuffling from Nui and he looked back to her. The woman rounded the table and bowed down low, hands forward and face into the floor. "I know you are a Hollow and you have no reason to take the request of a human but please; keep Yukiko-sama safe."
Grimmjow looked on, dumbstruck. It took a moment but eventually he found his voice. "Get up. I'm keeping Yuki safe because I want her around."
Nui raised her head and after a moment smiled lightly. "I see."
There was a flair of Reiatsu outside that drew both of their attentions. "Someone destroyed my shikigami."
Grimmjow exited his gigai and Nui fished a string of beads and another paper doll out from her bag. It took a moment but Grimmjow was able to recognize the energy as Urahara and Yoruichi. "What the fuck do they want?" he questioned aloud while pushing Nui's readied hand down. He stepped over the still sleeping Yukiko and opened the curtains and window to the two Shinigami standing outside the building in the air for some reason despite the apartment being on the ground floor. "Go away!" he shouted at them.
Urahara leaned forward with his usual gross smirk. "We heard there was a new visitor and wanted to meet her."
Nui shoved herself out the window next to the Arrancar. "And why did you destroyed my guard dog?"
"Oh, that was yours? We assumed it was an enemy," he responded playfully.
"Definitely a suspicious asshole," the woman stated bluntly.
"What?" he asked while Yoruichi snickered beside him.
"I want nothing from you or the Soul Society; please leave us."
"Aw please don't be like that. I'm sure there are a few things we can learn from each other."
"I doubt that," she responded as she walked away from the window and motioned for Grimmjow to move as well. He saw what was in her hand so he did. She formed another dog creature and sent it through the window at the Shinigami. The pair parted and let the creature run through the air before it circled back and returned to the roof. Grimmjow closed the window back up and saw that Yukiko was dragging herself up into a sitting position.
Mashiro, Nui and now Urahara. There was too much commotion and Grimmjow was sick of it. He squatted in front of his groggy human. "Wake up and pack some shit, we're leaving."
Her expression didn't change but she did lay back down.
"NO!" he yelled and pulled up and to her feet causing her to wince in pain. He instantly released and stepped away. "Pack your shit."
Nui immediately held onto Yukiko by her shoulders protectively. "And where are we going?"
"Las Noches. Harribel already said she considers Yuki one of us, you'll get to be a tag along," he answered as he dug Yukiko's bag out from under some art supplies, causing a mess. At that she did obediently pack, pulling various clothes out of her dresser and dropping them into the bag. Grimmjow tossed some of his own in too. He knows they won't be able to stay in Hueco Mundo for a prolonged period but they'll see how it goes.
"I am all for getting out of here but I do need to return to where I'm currently living in five days at the latest. A stipulation of my precautions," Nui informed him.
"I'll dump you back here in an hour if you aren't careful," he threatened.
His human was decisively out of it. She stopped packing and looked at him as if she was ready but lacked any of her drawing books or paints. What if she has a vision in the next few days? Las Noches is short on all things leisure. He shoved one of her sketch books into the stuffed bag along with her pencil box.
Grimmjow picked up his gigai as well, not trusting that Urahara wouldn't take it as hostage for his cooperation and opened a Garganta. Nui carried the travel bag as well as her own and the Arrancar took Yukiko's hand so she won't get separated in the in between. It was the right move. While they walked she was constantly veering so he looked back at her and saw that she was staring at something in the darkness. Grimmjow tried to locate what she was looking at but couldn't pinpoint it even though he could definitely feel eyes watching them.
On the other end of the corridor was his room in the palace. Stark, white and black and bare; nothing but minimal blue furniture and empty walls.
"Cleaner than I expected," Nui commented.
"I only ever slept here; but it's still my space and there's only a few Hollow that will come." He looked at Yukiko when he spoke, curious at what she'd think of the room. She briefly glanced around but then sat on the bed and started gingerly rubbing at her side. Grimmjow must have been rougher than he thought pulling her around. He wanted to apologize but Nui being there made saying such words feel awkward. He dumped the gigai in the empty closet and went to sit with her on the bed but the other woman was already there. He nearly snarled at her for taking his human but contained it to a glare that went ignored.
His attempt to intimidate the other woman into moving was interrupted by a knock on the door. Nui shifted into a more protective position in front of Yukiko, who seemed strangely detached from what was happening around her. Grimmjow shoved the worry away and focused on not succumbing to his impulse to run every sentient thing in the palace away from his unwell human. He opened the door to Riverra. "What?" This time the snarl did escape.
"Hello, I'm doing well, thank you for asking," he said playfully.
"Why the hell wouldn't you be?"
"No reason. Just polite to ask such things. For instance, you seem particularly on edge." He leaned to look behind Grimmjow as he spoke. "And you brought company. Is something wrong?"
When Grimmjow didn't answer the other man hummed and looked at the women again. "Are you starting a harem? Can I join?"
Despite himself Grimmjow released a snort of amusement and motioned for him to go to the couch. Away from Yukiko but not standing in the hall since he doesn't know who else has settled in his section since the huge migration of Hollows. "I don't think that would qualify as a harem anymore."
"Oh no, no, you misunderstand. I'd be one of them," he joked as he settled on the cushion and gave the women a friendly wave, earning a reflexive smile from Nui.
"There's too much commotion at Karakura so I decided to wait it out here for a bit. You've seen Yuki, the other one is her old babysitter."
Riverra lost some of the easy energy from his face. "I see. While I'm sorry it's under these circumstances I'm pleased to make your acquaintances ladies. I am Riverra Alamanach. And do not worry, I am a friend. That said," he leaned back and looked straight at Grimmjow "It's rather bold of you to bring humans to Hueco Mundo."
"Harribel wants me to trust her with Yuki's safety, fine. Now she's got to prove it." He looked back to Yukiko and Nui. Nui seemed a bit less tense but Yukiko continued to look distant. "Where's the kid?" Grimmjow instantly asked.
"Playing with Bawabawa last I saw."
"Go get him."
"You don't want me to inform Harribel-sama what you're up to?"
"She'll find out quick enough, Nelliel is going to be beating down my door any minute anyways and Harribel has her pretty whipped."
Riverra chuckled, "Only every other day. Otherwise Nel is the one doing the whipping."
*She did like to be on top,* Grimmjow silently reminded himself. "If you pass her, tell her not to break my door this time."
"Sure thing," he responded as he left the room.
"He was surprisingly friendly," Nui said though she was looking at Yukiko, probably trying to coax at response from her. She did look up and nod.
"Yeah, he's a terrible Hollow," Grimmjow grumbled at the kind nature of the other man. "Same with the kid. Nelliel thinks it's something to do with them being natural Arrancar instead of forcibly evolved."
"Who is Nelliel?"
"The Hollow King's… second in command? We don't really have a structured society. It's just the King and everyone else." The woman in question was fast approaching the room. "Give it a minute, you'll meet her yourself." Before that he needed to deal with something. He went to the bed and crouched down to see his human's downturned face. "What's going on with you?"
She looked at him so she definitely knows he's talking to her but turned her head a bit more away.
"Leave her alone!" Nui demanded.
Grimmjow ignored her and grabbed Yukiko's chin with a finger, careful of how much force he's using, and turned her face back to him. "I can't do anything if you don't tell me what's going on."
She started to say something, not that it was clear, but was interrupted by Nui pulling her away and glaring at Grimmjow, foolishly thinking she was a threat to the man. She spoke in a deep tone meant to be menacing, "I said, leave her alone."
He was far from an expert on emotions but if there was one thing he learned it was that if you don't let the emotions out they feel worse. "Why? So she can keep feeling like shit?"
At that Yukiko shook her head. {"I don't feel bad."}
"You sure about that?" he questioned.
Her eyelids fluttered as if she was stuck between blinking and not while her eyes darted and breathing picked up for a few seconds before it all stopped. She shut down whatever was trying to force itself out. {"I'm fine."}
Nui looked horrified, confirming to Grimmjow that she was probably further fine than she has been since they met.
Before he could push for her to admit what was going through her head Nelliel had arrived and was banging on his door. Against his own expectations a feral growl rumbled through his body when he stood and turned away from Yukiko.
When he opened the door Grimmjow yanked the woman into the room by the arm and tried to close it but Achiim darted in as well. The boy saw the women on the bed and squealed in excitement. "Yuki-san you're here!" His legs were tensed up, looking like he was going to tackle into her so Grimmjow lifted him by the collar.
"Chill out! She's hurt so be careful!" he snapped.
Achiim jumped startled and nodded quickly before being released and he ran to her at a more acceptable pace, chattering about how happy he is that she's visiting, how awful she looks and more that Grimmjow couldn't be bothered to follow.
"I'm keeping them here for now," Grimmjow informed Nelliel.
"I'll let Harribel-sama know. Just so you know though, we've placed a few new Hollow in your wing. We were going to have you formally introduced to them as their direct commander next time you came in."
That was a surprise. Between their personal opinion of him and the fact that he was basically living full time in the World of the Living, Grimmjow was sure they were never going to leave Arrancar under his command. "What's the catch?"
"They are generally self-sufficient and probably don't need command."
"That's a benefit not a catch."
"Also, Harribel-sama is thoroughly impressed with Achiim's growth and is threatening to put you in charge of training weaker Hollows. The only thing stopping her is that you are never here."
"Fat fucking chance."
"That's what I thought," she said as she looked over to the guests. She stepped around him and approached the others. "Hello, I'm Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck."
The other woman looked uncertain but Yukiko nudged her, showing more life than she had been. "Ametsuchi Nui."
"Were you the one who helped Yuki-san leave her old life?"
"What did I say about calling her Yuki?" Grimmjow complained.
"Achiim did," she argued.
"Are we not allowed to called you Yuki?" the child asked.
She smiled and patted him on the head in response, causing Nelliel to look back at Grimmjow with a smug smirk. "Looks like she's fine with it."
Nui laughed a bit but did answer the original question. "Yes, I am."
"If I may ask, where is…"
"Hidden," the human answered swiftly.
Nelliel nodded. "I understand."
The door opened without a knock and Grimmjow shifted his hand into claws while another rumble rolled through his body and moved to attack the intruder. "Just me!" Riverra hurriedly said with his hands up.
Grimmjow exhaled and released the shift. "Don't do that."
Riverra apologized while Nelliel grabbed Grimmjow's face and turned it to look at her. "Have you been doing that a lot?"
"You've seen me use that technique."
"Not the claws, the growling," she expanded while lifting his face up as if to look at his neck.
"Let me go," he warned while charging up a Bala in his hand.
She did so he killed the energy. Nelliel looked back to the women. "Would you two be comfortable staying here with Achiim and Riverra while I take Grimmjow?"
"Fuck no. Why the hell would I leave them alone here?" he protested before they could.
"We need to talk," she answered dryly.
Riverra put an arm around Grimmjow's shoulder. "Don't worry, we will keep your cute human safe."
"Yeah!" Achiim agreed from Yukiko's side.
Nui didn't answer until the other human responded with a nod. "If you think they can be trusted I suppose. But if there is trouble I will destroy anything that attacks us in any way," she asserted.
"See, you have nothing to be wary about," Riverra said as he patted Grimmjow's head. Despite his first impulse being to punch the other man in the face, he stood staring, certain that the tiger Arrancar was trying to annoy him into leaving. Why? What did Riverra want to do once he was gone?
The smile turned nervous. "That's a look you give your enemies."
Everything in Grimmjow was screaming to guard his human, to not leave her with anyone else. Only trust himself to care about her. He looked at her and was holding Achiim's hand but let go and signed to him. "*Go. Hurry back.*"
Everyone looked at her confused but Grimmjow was the only one who needed to understand. He pulled Riverra's arm off him and walked to the door. "Let's go Nelliel."
She made a confused noise but left with him. "What do you want?" he asked as they walked down the hall.
"Have you been shifting anything other than your hands to your Resurreccion form?"
"No. Why?"
"You were growling. Actually growling like an animal; you've never done that. Plus, last night the Reiatsu you released at the meeting was completely feral instead of the aggressive anger that it usually feels like. Are you okay?"
"I'm-" She cut him off before he could say he's fine.
"Do you feel different from normal?"
That one he had to think about. "It might be Yuki's influence," he admitted.
"I'd think she made a good focal point and stabilize your emotions. When you aren't having a fight that is."
"Not like that. It's one of her powers; she amplifies a person's Reiatsu. One of the hold overs from Chouko."
"Chouko? That's the god's name?"
"That's what Nui called her."
Nelliel suddenly stopped. "If she amplifies Reiatsu then-"
"You aren't using her," he stopped her abruptly. "I kept her to myself so no one would hoard her for her abilities."
"By hoarding her yourself?" she accused.
Grimmjow felt like he should be angry but somehow he wasn't. It was like he moved past anger and just felt something else? Disappointment? Apathy? Did apathy feel like anything if it was feeling nothing? That was what was going on with Yukiko right now, wasn't it?
He turned to be face to face with Nelliel, his self-proclaimed friend. "She temporarily amplifies Reiatsu through sex. It's why she was used as a slave by her clan. So, do you really want to use her?"
She was successfully stunned into silence.
"Give it a week or so. If it's her influence on me I will go back to normal. If not you and Harribel can speculate all you want. I know she's hoping I can be a guinea pig for a new evolution."
Nelliel continued to remain quiet so he turned and continued walking, assuming they were going to meet Harribel at a meeting room or throne room. Footsteps followed behind him and once they were completely out of Grimmjow's hall they used Sonido to cross the huge expanse of building that was Las Noches. In the first stroke of luck of the day, the Hollow King was crossing the common hall rather than being all the way on the other end of the palace. "Nelliel, Grimmjow, I was just coming to find you. I was worried something was happening considering the delay."
"I'm sorry Harribel-sama, we needed to discuss something," Nelliel quickly apologized but lacked her usual assurance in her words. That was about all Grimmjow really heard too. He tried to keep his ears perked for anything alarming but frankly he was downright fatigued. Maybe it was the constant talking to people he didn't care about or walking around to go places he would rather not go, but he felt like he just finished several rounds with Kurosaki. And lost them all.
"Grimmjow?" Harribel's voice faintly floated into this mind and he focused on her. The way the two women were looking at him made him think that wasn't the first time they had said his name.
"I'm sorry you came all the way over here. Why don't you return to your room and rest? Do you need anything for Nui or Yukiko?"
"They'll need food and water eventually."
"Maybe Sung-sung can heal Yukiko-san? She's fairly battered looking." Nelliel suggested.
"I will bring it up tomorrow. Please rest for tonight." Despite answering the other woman's question the King was clearly speaking to Grimmjow.
"Can she even heal?" he questioned though his voice lacked its usual edge.
"Yes. She's been practicing faithfully for a long time now."
"Fine."
"We will leave you alone for a bit. If you want privacy with Yukiko you release a pulse of Reiatsu and one of us will come to stay with Nui," Nelliel offered.
"We'll see," he responded doubtful, though it was more a matter of if it would be worth the effort.
His return trip was uneventful, he caught the sound of strangers in the common hall but his was empty other then the sounds coming from his room. Riverra was listening attentively to Nui describe the Ametsuchi battle tactics that involved Hueco Mundo while Achiim was making patterns with a loop of his silk webbing for Yukiko. His human was looking a little glazed over, like the excitement of Achiim's entrance wore off and she was left struggling to stay awake.
"Oh? Grimmjow-san! Welcome back!" the child excitedly greeted.
"Yeah. I need you guys to leave," he said abruptly.
Achiim released a noise of disappointment but Riverra cut him off before he could get any words out. "No problem. I'm sure Yukiko would appreciate the chance to sleep. Don't you think Achiim?"
The boy looked at his playmate and frown. "You're tired? I'm sorry. We'll play later, right?"
The woman nodded and patted his head before he hopped off the bed. Riverra also got off the couch. "Nui-san, if you'd like I can take you to the ruins from your story before you leave."
"Perhaps, if there's time."
The two Hollows left and Grimmjow was alone in the room with the two humans. He mostly ignored one and went straight to his and just looked at her without saying anything. He wanted to hold her close and pretend they were alone in the world, like he could in their apartment. She just looked at him, expressionless.
He sat and was overwhelmed with the desire to pass out. "I'm going to sleep," he told them. He then looked at Nui. "If you need anything you can ask either of those two. Or Nelliel if you see her. I'm sleeping here and so is Yuki."
The woman stood and turned off the lights. "I'll take the couch."
Unsurprisingly, Yukiko offered no resistance to being dragged down into their usual sleeping arrangement. She wasn't moving, probably asleep within minutes and despite his fatigue, he was too stressed to sleep. Instead he watched her breath while rubbing circles on her shoulder to soothe himself, attempting to dampen his burnt out nerves into something viable.
It must have worked because he was jolted awake by what felt like an assault from Reiatsu. His eyes snapped open and above his bed he saw yellow eyes in pools of green that they looked like they were glowing against white skin with black marks that looked like ink spilling down his face beneath shaggy black hair. The intruder was looking at him from the jaws of a small Garganta. Grimmjow swung a fist and launched a Cero into the opening. The creature vanished from view and the opening closed after swallowing the blast.
Fully awake now Grimmjow's eyes darted around. Yukiko clutched to him tightly before he even saw her and Nui was scrambling for one of the weapons in her bag. He could feel the stress returning already and he exhaled an exhausted breath, "Just fucking leave us alone…"