So this was written unusually fast. I was really excited to continue the story and kind of ignored school to do it. To make it even crazier, this is with 1.5k words cut out since I felt that whole conversation didn't fit the chapter flow. I'm really going to slow down now so I don't fail out.
Also I feel like it's worth mentioning, I didn't even know the Arrancar group were involved in the CFYOW light novel and actually had a treaty until like 2 weeks ago when I was touching up the last chapter. I already included the existance of one because it made sense that it would exist. Guess I was right, so good for me. I've still not read it, just know what I could learn through the wiki and youtube videos reviewing it. I try and be a stickler for canon material but in this case please ignore the inconsistencies between that book and this story. If you are now questioning why I brought back dead people then... It's because I'm a little stupid and felt Starrk's death was ambiguous, and I think Ulquiorra will be good for the story progression when he shows up.
Also, also. My adorable spooder child continues to be adorable
Chapter 24: Negotiating Fate
Grimmjow sat at Urahara's tea table, alone on his side across from the Captain Commander of the Soul Society. Nelliel returned to Hueco Mundo to get Harribel. The secretary Lieutenant stared at the Arrancar, tense like she expected him to suddenly turn feral and lunge across the table. Grimmjow jerked forward a little and just as expected the woman flinched into a stance, ready to cast a spell. He didn't laugh, but did shoot her a wide grin.
"Nanao-chan, why don't you go ahead and get some tea for everyone?" the one-eyed Shinigami drawled out, leaning back to look up at her.
His smile faded when he was alone with Kyoraku, his entertainment now gone. He closed his eyes and listened to the voices throughout the building, looking specifically for Orihime's voice; hoping she'd say something that could update him on Yukiko's progress. Instead all he heard was the Lieutenant talking to Tessai about making tea and snacks for her Captain. Urahara and Yoruichi were talking but they were too hushed and too far for him to actually listen in. He felt his nostril twitch into a flare in irritation and leg bounce.
"Calm down; we'll get started when everyone is here," Kyoraku said, sounding like he was reassuring a child.
Grimmjow just growled and turned his face away, annoyed. Not only were the two Arrancar women expected, but so was a couple of Captains for some reason. This was messy and instead of tracking down the humans responsible he's supposed to sit here and play politics while Kurosaki and Sado searched. The only good thing about this situation was that there was no way anyone could get to his human for the time being; so for the moment that wasn't an immediate concern.
He could feel Nelliel, Harribel and oddly enough Riverra arrive in Karakura. "What the fuck are they thinking?" Grimmjow questioned to himself. Bringing reinforcement to a meeting was something he would do sure; but the females were usually more inclined to try and be as nonthreatening as possible when it comes to the Shinigami.
The man across from the table tilted his head up slightly. "Who's that I wonder?"
The Arrancar group arrived at the shop just in time for the Shinigami Captains to enter the city as well. Harribel and Nelliel entered the room while Riverra stopped and stood at the door, seeming to act as a guard. "I see you brought a new face," Kyoraku said.
Harribel sat with the full control and confidence that she liked to project when she knew someone was looking. "This is Riverra Alamanach. Considering the tense situation and your intension to bring in additional Shinigami I felt it prudent to also bring an additional hand."
"Who said things were tense?"
"Do not take us for fools," Nelliel asserted.
The Shinigami sighed but the weak smile belayed the fact that his relaxed demeanor was a farce. The other Shinigami finally arrived. Grimmjow didn't recognize either of them but could sense the slight twinge in the woman that signaled her to be a Visored. "These are the recently appointed Captains of the 7th and 8th divisions. Iba Tetsuaemon," he said indicating a tall, broad man with sunglasses for some reason, "and Yadomaru Lisa," he indicated to the scantly dressed Visored. While it was nothing compared to literal underwear some of the Arrancar walked around in, they didn't have a standardized uniform. That a Captain was allowed to change it so much rendered having one pointless in Grimmjow's opinion.
"Yes, I remember you," Harribel said while looking at the female Captain.
"What an odd turn of events to be in conversations with you Arrancar," Lisa responded as she sat.
The Lieutenant, Nanao, returned along with Tessai with tea and a large bowl of buns of some type. Nanao was looking at Riverra suspiciously despite the man's easy smile. "Apologies for the wait, Tessai-san insisted on snacks as well."
"Oh, good call," Kyoraku applauded.
"Since the whole circus is here can we get this shit over with this century?" Grimmjow demanded.
"Agreed. Lieutenant Ise, I think it best that you step out with Tessai-san. There's no need for anyone here to feel ganged up on," Tetsuaemon said.
Judging by the knee-jerk glare she gave the man, there was definitely a history of animosity there.
"Nanao-chan, it's okay. Please mind the door with Alamanach."
At the instruction of her Captain she took a breath and left the room, closing the door behind Tessai as he made his exit as well.
There was a moment of silence, both sides apparently waiting for the other to speak. Grimmjow had nothing to say so he just eyed the three Shinigami in front of him. He suspected Harribel and Nelliel were doing much of the same. Kyoraku was the one to break the silence as he hummed and reached for a bun, though he just held it in his hand without looking at all like he was going to actually take a bite. "It appears there have been some developments in Hueco Mundo since clearing out the Quincies. Including the resurrection of Coyote Starrk. A rather interesting happenstance. Wouldn't you agree?"
"It was quite surprising to learn that he was alive, yes," Harribel answered, sounding every bit the diplomate she desperately needed to be at the moment.
"Out of curiosity, when exactly did you learn of his survival?" he spoke in a low tone.
"Yesterday; when his partner Lilynette Gingerbuck arrived to Las Noches requesting help."
"Oh? From what I've heard, you have been searching for them for quite some time," Kyoraku let his hand fall at the wrist, looking like he might outright drop the bun.
"There were rumors of suspected sightings but after you so thoroughly defeated him, we couldn't be certain if they were true."
"Not that thoroughly apparently."
"Get to your point, Commander Kyoraku," Harribel pushed.
"There have been three major incidents in Karakura in the past 5 months. A hoard of Gillian and former Espada running rampant. The reason you were left to your business was in order to maintain peace and control of Hueco Mundo. There however appears to be an opposite result happening. As it is, you are making a good case for us to finish wiping the remnants of Aizen's army out; not leave them to their own devices."
"Fuck you! Both of those were caused by humans invading US!" Grimmjow bristled at the words and leaned forward in a more ready posture. "You want to kill us, give it your best shot Kyoraku!"
Immediately a foot was on his ankle and a heel slammed into his head. "Hush!" Nelliel demanded.
"Is this your idea of diplomacy?" the sunglasses Shinigami spat out while his Reiatsu ramped up.
"You tell us. You're the ones entertaining genocide," Harribel firmly held her ground of not physically reacting to the hostilities.
"No. We are 'entertaining' performing our proper duties as Shinigami and destroying Hollows," the female Shinigami spoke.
"Rather hypocritical of you," Nelliel apparently couldn't hold that one back. The words worked though, as the woman now looked just as ready to fight as Grimmjow.
"Enough!" Kyoraku demanded from both sides.
Grimmjow elbowed up at Nelliel just enough to bump her off and they both returned to sitting, still as tense as a drum.
"If Quincies' have been invading Hueco Mundo again then why are they using it as a roundabout way to attack the World of the Living and why use Hollows? And even if it is the case, then that doesn't excuse the first incident."
"'Cause it ain't Quincies," Grimmjow spat at the same time as Harribel asked, "What is this first incident you are referring to?"
The two lacky Captain looked at Grimmjow in shock while the Commander kept his focus on Harribel then shifted his gaze to the male. "I'm referring to Grimmjow killing a human."
Shimata. They seriously wanted to use the fact that he killed Shimata against the whole of the Arrancars? Just the thought of the human filled Grimmjow with cold, murderous rage all over again. "He deserved what he got."
"You get to decide that? You expect to be treated as more than a Hollow but just as any monster you kill upon first instinct," Tetsuaemon said.
There was a snarl building in his chest, demanding to get out, but Grimmjow held it in for no other reason than out of spite for how primal these Shinigami think he is.
"Since that incident Grimmjow has complied with reporting to Urahara and wearing a gigai whenever he was here," Nelliel argued.
"Something that Urahara came up with to band-aid the situation, not something that we decided," Kyoraku explained. "To be frank; the fact that an Arrancar is spending any substantial amount of time here is a matter of concern."
"I ca-" Grimmjow's argument was cut off by Harribel's hand in front of his face.
"In the past four months of Grimmjow coming to the World of the Living there has not been a single issue."
"Hollow's do not belong here," Lisa said.
"But you do?" Nelliel pushed back. "It's perfectly appropriate for former Shinigami Captains; one having created a Hogyoku and another Soul Society Nobility, to live here unimpeded but one Arrancar who is just living a peaceful life is grounds for us to be wiped out."
It wasn't often that Grimmjow appreciated Nelliel but this was one of those times. Though that word did stick to his brain like a grass spur. Peaceful, is that what Grimmjow's been doing? Living peacefully? Quiet, sure; but something about the word peaceful made it feel different and somehow more correct.
"How about we circle back to matter of the human's death and discuss your claims of being invaded," Kyoraku pivoted away from the obvious double standard with a wave of the intact bun. "Why is this the first we are hearing of these humans?"
"I assume it is because you have not had to deal directly with them," Harribel offered.
"You could have communicated with us on the matter to prevent it from getting out of hand."
"We don't work for you," Grimmjow growled out.
"When we made our treaty Commander Kyoraku, did you think you were creating a new Division to your Gotei? We do not take orders from, nor do we report to you."
"Not at all," he answered lifting his arms in a shrug, still holding that damn bun. "But you also seem unclear on your position. I am leveraging my authority as the military commander in order to excuse your continued operation as a formal body. I too answer to a higher authority and if they realized we made a treaty I could be replaced and the Gotei would invade Las Noches a second time and razed it to the ground."
"How benevolent of you," Nelliel ground out. "Why risk so much just for us?"
"Because, Central 46 still sees interacting with you as a military matter which gives me full authority over it, to an extent anyways. I hoped to use that and, if we can play nicely and keep peace long enough, allow you to establish some sort of Hueco Mundo-wide control. It would make for a more compelling argument that allowing Hollows to have an organized government is better for everyone when they finally realize that this is a diplomacy issue now."
"As we are now that is impossible."
"Hence, keeping peace."
Harribel seemed lost on how to respond. Truth be told they were probably lucky that Shimata's death didn't trigger all out war. They had Urahara to thank for that, apparently. "Do whatever we want as long as it plays into what you want huh?" Grimmjow grumbled and it took him a second to feel a sense of familiarity with that type of control.
"You're just like Aizen," he said with a cold tone and glare.
The words seemed to startle everyone in the room and drive Harribel to be firmer in her posture and focus now. "I am the King of Hueco Mundo and king's don't bow to another nation's soldier. You want us to share our information about these humans than we expect respect in kind. I also take umbrage with your apparent belief that we be restricted to Hueco Mundo. Our world is a desert. We must come here to obtain the same amenities that you readily have in the Seireitei."
"Such as?"
"Clothing, furniture, food, aide materials, entertainment. Everything we have was brought into Hueco Mundo by Aizen or occasionally blown in when a lesser Hollow opens a Garganta in the desert."
"You want free access to the World of the Living to alleviate boredom?" Tetsuaemon questioned in an accusatory tone.
"We share a similar hope; for Hollows to become more human. That is the purpose of our evolution, to rise above mindless violence and simple survival. But we can not be expected to act in civilized manners if we are denied the ability to lead civilized lives."
"Which brings us back to the matter of the killed human," Kyoraku said as he gently squished the still uneaten bun between his fingers. "Well Grimmjow, you said he deserved it. So what transgression did a simple human with no spiritual capabilities perform against you to be rewarded with death of not just his body, but his soul?"
"He attacked my human and had her sent away," he answered shortly.
"Your human? Are you taking pets?" Lisa had quite the mocking tone.
"Captain Yadomaru, I requested your presence so you can offer your intelligence on this discussion, not your wit," Kyoraku openly reprimanded her; probably hoping to get some good will back in the discussion.
She lowered her head slightly, "My apologies. But you must admit the questionable nature of a Hollow's intensions with associating with a human."
"I'll associate with whoever I fucking want!"
"I am curious about her admittedly. Starrk's intentions, or rather his human controller's intentions, were specifically to kidnap her, correct? How does she work into all of this?" The dead-eyed look in the Shinigami raised Grimmjow's stress and excitement levels exponentially. For all the lazy demeanor he held, it was obvious that Kyoraku was a deadly threat to any of the Arrancar if he wanted to be; how Grimmjow wished they would drop the pretense of being civilized and decide by strength.
"Before we exchange any information we must come to an agreement on the terms of our treaty," Harribel deflected.
"No," he responded simply.
"What?" Nelliel angrily questioned.
"We have dealt with Hollows for a millennia and are fully capable of continuing to do so if needed. You can not survive without the treaty. You are also the ones who transgressed against our fragile peace, withheld vital information that cost of the safety of living humans, and failed to secure one of the most powerful Arrancars in existence. You want a new peace agreement? You will earn it with useful information."
Grimmjow slammed a clawed hand down on the table, breaking it and sending all of the unsipped tea and uneaten buns to the floor. "We are not your subjects to serve or die!"
This time rather than try and reel back Grimmjow, Nelliel glared and he could hear a Cero forming and fading in her throat. The Shinigami Captains had their hands on their swords ready to be drawn in kind. All four of them releasing pressure. Only Harribel and Kyoraku remained still.
"We cannot be certain of anything at the moment as Starrk and Yukiko both have not been available to ask, as I understand it," the Hollow King pointedly said.
"Surely you can venture a guess," Kyoraku offered.
"Do you want a guess or do you want answers? I suggest we break to see if they are awake for us to question before making any decisions."
"Very well. You can question Starrk and we will speak to the human woman."
Before Grimmjow could launch himself at the Shinigami both Harribel and Nelliel grabbed an arm. His Reiatsu was roaring out of him with a more savage energy than ever, overtaking everything in the room, and whatever face he was making was effective enough bring fear to the adjacent Captains' faces. "Go near her and I'll rip your throat out. Hueco Mundo be damned."
"Both Starrk and Yukiko are our contacts. You want to leverage your superior forces, very well. But we keep the information until an agreement is made," Harribel proclaimed.
"Alright. We will wait here than," Kyoraku sighed out as he finally took a bite out of the bun.
Nelliel stood with a tug to Grimmjow's arm and left the room. Grimmjow walked out after her and noticed that the Lieutenant was sitting on the floor looking like she collapsed and shaken. Riverra was holding his head like he had a migraine too. "That got intense for a talk," he said weakly.
That was a bit strange. Riverra wasn't a weakling, they've fought and he was pretty close to his equal. Wasn't he?
The four Arrancar went to another room in the shop where Yukiko and the other three were resting. Achiim was completely unmoved but looked more like he was sleeping than actually in pain. Starrk was sitting up with Lilynette still asleep but cradled in his lap. Grimmjow understood that their relationship was fundamentally different but the clear need for the reassurance of contact reminded him of Yukiko and how tightly she clung to him when he would leave her alone for a day or so. The last futon was empty.
"Where's Yukiko?" he immediately asked, getting all eyes on him.
"She was here?" Starrk asked.
"Yes, she was asleep here, getting looked after for her injuries," Nelliel answered.
"It was just us when I woke up."
Grimmjow felt his stomach plummet. "Orihime!" he called, demanding the person left in charge of her.
He could hear the padding of her feet running his direction before the door slammed open. "What's wrong?" she asked in full panic.
"Yukiko's missing," Nelliel answered as Grimmjow marched forward.
"You were looking after her! Where is she?"
Nelliel and Harribel were both trying to tell him to calm down but all he cared about was Orihime's response. While the woman looked worried she wasn't as terrified as she really should be considering he was ready to murder her. She probably believed he was one of her friends too.
"She was fully healed so I went to get some tea and food to get some energy back myself."
"Is there a problem?" Kyoraku was standing in the doorway while the other Shinigami were approaching down the hall.
"You…" Starrk said from behind Grimmjow but he didn't care.
"No one would have been able to break in. I erected a barrier after everyone arrived," Tessai said, approaching from the same direction Orihime did.
"Grimmjow go ahead and look for her. I will stay here and speak with Starrk," Harribel instructed.
"Perhaps it's best if we go too. Considering there is still an enemy who can control Hollows around," the Captain Commander offered.
"It's best if you shov-" Grimmjow snapped but was interrupted.
"We accept the help," Nelliel forced her words over his.
"No I don't!" the male Arrancar argued.
"Do you want to stand here or do you want to find her?" she shot back.
"I can find her just fine without you!" he shouted and left out the conspicuously open window. Once outside the barrier he felt around with Presquia and quickly found her in the direction away from town somehow surrounded by a single Reiatsu signature. He shot out after her, fully aware of the one-eyed Shinigami following behind.
()
The world felt dizzy and detached. Her body was exhausted but briming with energy for some reason. Yukiko pried open her eyes and stared up at a wooden ceiling. She blinked and when her eyes opened again there was lattices across her vision. She closed her eyes and tried to will away the sight, unsure of which was the actual ceiling.
There was the sound of breathing. She looked over and saw the back of a man that she didn't recognize.
Her entire body felt like it was wired and ready to explode in terror. She pushed herself up slightly and found that she wasn't wearing her work uniform, instead she was changed into a solid grey kimono. All ability to think left her and she was overwhelmed with a single instinct. Escape.
As quietly as she could, to not wake the unknown man, she slipped out of the blanket over her, crept across the room and opened a window. The sound of the sliding panel stirred the man and before he could awaken she threw herself out of it, uncaring if she was on a ground floor or fourth floor. Luckily the answer was ground and she landed uninjured.
The grey wall facing her across the short garden area had openings like alleyways at the corner and she used Shunpo to cross the open space of the snow covered ground and disappeared between the concrete, passing through a barrier that must be to keep people out since it didn't resist her exit. At the other end of the passage was an unfamiliar street and she felt incredibly exposed. Her wide eyes darted around, her vision seeming to bounce between faded and focused while her heart hammered in her ears at a deafening volume. Her eyes settled on a tree line and she used Shunpo again repeatedly to disappear into the foliage, away from the exposed spaces between the buildings.
Yukiko didn't know where she was going nor did she care. She just knew she needed to get away from her captors and refused to slow her legs until she was so out of breath that her sight was blotching and she stumbled into a tree. Once she was forced to stop her legs felt like jelly and she leaned into the tree, unable to stand steady.
She forced out a few breaths and looked in front of her, noticing that the burns from the sigils were completely gone. It was night despite having used so much Reiatsu that she should have been out cold for the next day. It left her wondering exactly how much time had passed. For all she knew it could have been weeks. She wouldn't put it past Rin to use some technique or drug to keep her asleep while the men got their fill.
The thought triggered her entire body to clench and before she could stop herself, she vomited all over the snow and roots at her feet. There was a crack of a stick behind her. She looked back and saw nothing but her fear wouldn't allow for thoughts of it just being an animal and she darted off with Shunpo again before she could find out. The woman darted out and around trees, trying her best to put space between herself and whoever might be following her. It was less than a minute before her body gave out and she fell, rolling to a painful stop against another tree.
It was difficult but she did her best to push herself up off the ground. Her arm fatigued and she hit the snow again. Yukiko wanted nothing more than to just give up. She had already exhausted her energy and she very sharply wished she started working out with Grimmjow sooner.
{"Grimmjow…"} she whispered his name to herself and it gave her some strength. What would he say if he saw her giving up already?
{"Fight to prove you're alive right?"} she reminded herself of his words and used them to convince herself to get up. She dragged herself to a stand with the tree and waited to catch her breath.
She opened herself up to the Reiatsu around her, searching around for her Arrancar, hoping he was coming for her. She couldn't find him. She did notice several points of subtle energy moving around nearby. Her escape must have been noticed. She waited a second to take a deep breath and ran off again. Her breathing wasn't as loud in her ears and she tried to listen for any more cracking sticks, though the only steps she noticed was her own.
The energy sources were encircling her but she didn't see anyone so she tried to collect more Rieatsu into her feet and Shunpo to escape. Just as she was ready a large black bird flew in front of her face, wings spread threateningly and screeched; she jumped back in a panic, her Shunpo causing her to over step and harshly throw herself into a tree.
Yukiko whimpered silently against the wood and when she recovered she looked up to find numerous sets of eyes in the trees, surrounding her. They were all Shikigami carrying the same energy as the one that was instructing the Arrancar Starrk.
{"Starrk?"} she remembered the possessed Hollow and a realization overcame her. That's who was in the room she woke up in. Possessed Hollows didn't sleep; she wasn't in danger there. Fuck, Grimmjow was probably in that building had she calmed herself enough to look instead of running before rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She passed through a barrier when she escaped; it must be preventing her from feeling Grimmjow now.
She had to make her way back from where she came. But where was that? She darted around blindly to get there. The reality was, she didn't have any say in where she went. The birds started swooping and chasing her, always moving fast enough to keep her from getting away but slow enough to not overtake her. They were pushing her somewhere specific but she couldn't find an opening to get out.
Finally, the birds started to spread out as a person came into view. She stopped running and the Shikigami all perched up into the branches. Yukiko looked at the man dressed in monk robs with a staff behind his back and rosary around his forearm; she breathed heavy in exhaustion and fear. He walked closer and she saw that he was actually a teenager with familiar almond shaped eyes. "Hello sister," he greeted pleasantly.
Yukiko exhaled in a mixture of joy and heartbreak. What had their mother other done to her kind brother?
Mashiro walked forward, arms open. "I'm so happy to see you. We've been worried that something terrible happened to you," he finished speaking as he wrapped her in a hug.
The confusing swirl of terror and relief left her paralyzed in his hold.
He pulled away and held her firmly by the shoulders. "Let's go home."
At last she was able to form a response; she shook her head no.
He released her shoulder and grabbed hold of her wrist. "Don't be ridiculous. We need you back home."
She shook her head again and pulled back against his grip though was unable to get away.
"Sister, what is wrong with you? You need to return home."
Yukiko fought harder to get away. "Come on! We are leaving now!" his voice was raising as he pulled harder.
She dug her nails in his hand to try and pry his fingers off and was immediately slapped across the face and to the ground. She turned back to look up at her brother. "You are coming home whether you want to or not! We all have our duties and you must return to yours," he ranted, throwing his arms around, looking almost unhinged. When he stopped yelling he looked surprised to see Yukiko on the ground. His frown deeped and eyes softened. He spoke in a gentler, sad voice. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. Please, it's time to leave." He reached out, expecting her to taking his hand but she backed up.
Grimmjow's Reiatsu appeared, seemingly out of nowhere and was rushing to her location. Mashiro noticed it too reached for her, ignoring her attempts to get away. Once her arm was again secure in his grip he turned to the Shikigami and several other men appeared. "Kill them!"
The birds grew in size, becoming something monstrous, and they all flew away with the men vanishing into the darkness of the woods. Mashiro's harsh glare softened again and he pulled Yukiko back into a hug, pushing her head into his shoulder. "Please… Ever since you were taken Mother has been heartbroken. She needs you home, or else she will never be happy again."
Yukiko grappled against his arms and tried to push away from him. "Sister, stop!" he begged. She didn't. Her brother's demeanor swung back to angry, his tone lost all softness and was sharp. "Yukiko stop struggling! You are coming back home!"
She continued to fight against him and eventually pushed him off enough to turn and run. Mashiro tackled her down, slamming her face into the snow covered ground, like a thin pillow on concrete. "Stop fighting me!"
"Well that's no way to treat a lady," a new voice said. Mashiro lifted some of the pressure off her head and she was able to turn and look, seeing a man with a flowery pink kimono draped on his shoulders. "I'll be taking her now, if you don't mind."
"Stay out of this Shinigami. This is a family matter," Mashiro said, trying to sound intimidating
"Well it looks to me that she doesn't want to go," he pointed out.
"That's not for you or her to decide," Mashiro said while building his Reiatsu. "Geki!"
()
Kyoraku left Lisa and Tetsuaemon behind at the shop and followed Grimmjow out, despite the Arrancar's adamant refusal of help. The three Hollows were doing a very poor job of hiding the fact that there was something about the human that they didn't want him to know. He agreed to let them talk to her alone but that was before she apparently chose to escape them. He allowed Grimmjow to run in front and just as he expected they came face to face with some defense. Eight bird monsters and three humans.
"Out of the way!" Grimmjow roared and ripped through one of the birds, causing it to fade away.
"Grimmjow, if I were you I wouldn't kill any humans. We are still undecided on the treaty," Kyoraku warned as he took the opening and slipped past the wall.
"Get back here you bastard! Don't you fucking touch her!" he screamed out.
The Shinigami ignored the raving and continued forward, slicing a bird that circled around to try and stop him. It took barely a minute from there for him to reach the woman and to his surprise she wasn't being whisked away so much as kidnapped. A teenager was screaming at her and throwing her into the ground. He alerted the humans of his arrival by expressing his dislike for what he was witnessing. The boy tried to act threatening; it was almost cute but mostly sad that a child thought he could intimidate him. Out of natural curiosity, when the boy built up his Rieatsu he waited to see what would happen.
He pulled the staff out from his sash and drove it into the ground. "Geki!"
It was a shock that the human cast a Bakudo spell, and with no incantation. There was a flare of Reiatsu from several points around him before his movements were completely frozen.
"Stay out of our way," the human commanded and yanked the woman back to her feet. She stumbled but was continued to be dragged along, painfully obviously against her will.
"I'm curious. How is it we've not noticed your activities when you are this sloppy in your operations? Destroying an entire city block in the process of a failed kidnapping? Very amateur," Kyoraku taunted.
The boy took the bait and stopped in his tracks, getting a smug smile. "Who said that was the plan? The Hollow did exactly what we wanted."
"Cause destruction and catch the Soul Society's attention?"
"What? You think you are the center of existence? You coming and keeping the Hollows busy is just a bonus. Leave us to our work and we won't destroy you."
During his schpeel, Yukiko slipped out of his hold and made it about a step before her ribs were punched forward into the snow covered ground. The teenager froze, looking shocked for some reason.
"I already told you. That's no way to treat a lady," Kyoraku spoke calmly despite releasing a large pulse of his own Reiatsu. When he did, five spots on the surrounding trees burn away. His movement was released so he stepped forward.
The boy instantly looked around with wide eyes. It seemed that there was no back up plan for if whoever that trap was used on could break out. "Bakudo #1: Sai."
The human was instantly overtaken by the spell, his arms forced back into a restrained position. "Release me now!"
"No. You will take you time out and answer me this; how can you use Kido?"
The teenager smirked but continued to struggle. "What? You thought only Shinigami were able to use Spiritual Arts? Don't underestimate the Ametsuchi clan!"
"Ametsuchi?"
The human released his own Reiatsu and as his arms became free he whipped his string of beads, now covered and connected by energy. Kyoraku back stepped. The Ametsuchi continued forward on his assault, alternating between lashing at him with the beads and trying to hit him with the staff. The Shinigami let him attack as much as he wanted, just stepping around them. He stepped out around the human, who whipped the beads exceptionally fast with a turn, gouging the ground and damaging the tree close enough to the woman that she was hit with debris. "Oh… That's actually kind of dangerous, don't you think?"
Before the boy could cause anymore destruction Kyoraku got behind him and gave a flick to his back. The human was sent forward with more force than intended. It had been a long time since he had fought something so fragile. "Sorry, that was a little hard."
The Ametsuchi groaned as he lifted himself up off the ground. "I'm not done!" he shouted and threw the loose beads up. "Arashi!" he commanded and the scattered beads shot at Kyoraku like bullets.
The Shinigami used Shunpo and took hold of the human's hand. "Yes; you are," he said coldly.
A loud screech and impression of Reiatsu were the only warnings that Kyoraku had before a giant owl ripped the boy out of his hand. It curved towards the woman too but he blocked it from its target so the bird ascended above the trees and made its retreat. At this moment it probably would have been better to not have left Grimmjow behind as now he was stuck between deciding to capture it or remaining to guard Yukiko.
If the woman is kept safe, more attempts will be made. Better to just stay. "Well that was eventful," he said, trying to alleviate the tension before even looking to the woman. When he did, she was looking at him with the same terrified expression that she was her kidnapper. "Hey, little miss, it's okay! I'm here to help you," he spoke in his best, friendliest tone.
He squatted down with a smile. "I won't hurt you, I promise," he reassured as he reached his hand out.
The gesture backfired and the moment he stretched it out she scrambled backwards, looking like she was screaming but never voiced a noise.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." He pulled back and lifted his hands. "It's okay. Come, we will go back to the shop where everyone is waiting," he said as he gestured back the way he came with one hand and tried to usher her with the other.
She rose to her feet but pressed herself back into the tree behind her, never taking her horrified gaze off the man.
"'Don't you fucking touch her.' Was that a threat or advice?" Kyoraku wondered. If that was the case, how was he supposed to proceed? If he grabs her it would only take a minute to return them to the shop but in her state that was probably the worst possible thing he could do. He settled to trying to verbally coax her to follow, dropping his friendly voice and instead shifted to a more comforting one. "You must be cold, right? And you're injured too. Don't you want to go get warm and cleaned up?"
She didn't seem to even hear his words. "I won't hurt you," he tried again.
In a stroke of bad luck, or perhaps good luck he's not sure yet, Grimmjow finally arrived. The Arrancar landed and rather than start hurling insults, the Hollow quietly glanced around and looked directly at the human. Her eyes still never left Kyoraku.
"Yuki," Grimmjow said impressively calm for him. The woman's eyes darted to him but immediately returned to the Shinigami. Her whole body locked in fear and desperate to not look away from what he assumed she thought was a threat.
"Yuki," Grimmjow said a bit more firmly. "Don't look at him, look at me." Impressively, she did as he instructed. Her expression of terror held, her eyes darted a bit as if scanning the Arrancar, still not showing any signs of processing what she saw. Grimmjow exhaled, sounding deliberately calming and in direct response Yukiko blinked and her expression shifted as her tension melted and she sprinted into the man and clung to him, trembling and jolting in what looked like sobs but sounded like silence. Grimmjow wrapped his arms around her too, resting a hand on her head protectively.
Understanding came over Kyoraku, "Okay… Definitely not a pet." The sight was startling to say the least. He could kind of believe the thought of an Arrancar like Nelliel having a sense of care for humans, considering her attachment to Ichigo and his friends. Grimmjow on the other hand always struck him as a Hollow down to the bone.
Grimmjow lifted her and she never detached from his collar. "Hey Kyoraku, we're leaving."
"Did you kill those humans earlier?"
"Of course not. They ran off so I came here," he grumbled.
"Alright then."
They traveled at a slower pace back to Urahara's shop than they did leaving, this time Kyoraku in front. The former Kido Corp Commander was waiting for them outside and opened the barrier up for them to enter. Tetsuaemon and Lisa were in the outer room with the door open to keep an eye out. "The others?" Kyoraku asked.
"Urahara showed them to an underground room for privacy. The new guy is guarding the only entrance," Lisa grumbled. She was probably hoping to find some way of eavesdropping in on the Arrancars' discussion, rendering their benefit of information moot.
When Kyoraku entered the room looked back at Grimmjow, who sat at the entrance with Yukiko securely in his lap, not coming in. Now facing Grimmjow's back he thought maybe he could get a look at the woman's expression but her face was completely buried between knotted hair and his jacket. Her knuckles were white from how tightly she was gripping him. He decided to leave them to their privacy and motioned for the Captains to follow him back to the room that they were using as a meeting room. On the way Harribel was exiting what must have been the basement room. "Finished questioning Coyote Starrk already?"
"Yes. Yukiko has been retrieved I take it?"
"Grimmjow collected her."
The woman seemed to sigh and relax. "Good. I was worried the humans might have actually captured her."
"She must be important," Kyoraku probed. "For her to be so sought after by both Hollows and humans. It really makes me jealous, especially since as a Human she should be under our jurisdiction. Unless you are interested in joining our effort in purifying other Hollows?"
"I'm not going to just surrender information for your benefit," she asserted.
"Of course," he acquiesced and continued on.
"However…" she started and he paused, nodding for the others to go without him. "It is only fair that this be clear. My interest in Yukiko's safety is not for her benefit. As far as I'm concerned this isn't about her; this is about Grimmjow. He is evolving in a new way and it could be a sign of what we are truly capable of becoming. If he needs that human to do it, then I will use all of Las Noches if necessary to ensure she remains at his side."
"You'd risk everything for one Hollow?"
"I'd sacrifice everything for one of us to become something more than a Hollow."
More than a Hollow… The Hollow evolution was as much about filling their hole as it was about becoming stronger. And Harribel thinks that Grimmjow might have wandered onto the road to a new evolution? Was that a good or bad thing?
He actually reached his destination this time and closed the door behind himself. The Shinigami sat in the now otherwise empty room as the smashed table had been cleaned up impressively fast while he was gone; probably by either Tessai or Nanao.
"Did you learn anything Commander?" Tetsuaemon asked.
"Yes. The humans are part of some group called the Ametsuchi clan, they can use Kido to some extant and Starrk's purpose was never to actually capture the woman. Apparently it was just to cause destruction for some reason.
"Commander? Are you truly entertaining reforging a treaty with the Arrancar? If so, I must express my distaste for such an act. As you stated, we are perfectly capable of continuing with destroying Hollows as we have been for thousands of years. If we start trusting them, they will turn on us," Tetsuaemon insisted.
Kyoraku leaned so far back he ended up laying on the floor. Honestly, when he started the meeting he was ready to completely cut off diplomatic ties and possibly kill Harribel outright if the meeting went bad enough. Now though? It was unclear. It was hard to continue regarding the Arrancar as just strong and intelligent Hollows when he's faced with the very human desires and behaviors that they're displaying. Harribel was correct that without access to the World of the Living they were being prevented from maintaining a higher standard of living; something that directly conflicts with the goal of using her rule over Hueco Mundo as a means of curtailing Hollow activity. Not to mention Grimmjow being in some form of relationship with a human.
"Tetsuaemon-san, as the Captain of the 7th Division you handle relations between the Seireitei and Rukongai so tell me; if we were in talks with a group of citizens of one of the districts what would you do?"
The man hummed in thought. "It is difficult to say. We would never allow them to become autonomous if they were close to the Seireitei as that would put possible insurgence too close and I feel that concern should be expressed here. The Arrancar are possibly capable of entering the Soul Society even at the gates. If I read the reports correctly, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez and Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck managed to open a Garganta directly at the Soul King's Palace with assistance. As such I would forego any appearance of equals and ensure that they understand that their continued existence is an act of generosity. If not remove the possible threat immediately."
The complete disregard of the civilians of the Rukongai as people was a reminder to circle back on that matter. He needed to push the Gotei 13 to be more attentive of all the people of the Soul Society, not just the privileged citizens of the Seireitei and closest districts. Captain Zaraki was a perfect showcase of that some strong individuals were out there and possibly fostering a hatred towards Shinigami. Had that man's drive for bigger, harder fights not been first priority at all times he might have ended up a major threat.
"Lisa-chan? What do you think?"
"I have no love for Hollows," she said without hesitation, only to deflate slightly. "However, I don't think it would be fair to forget that they collaborated in the battle against the Quincies."
Kyoraku sighed heavily, "Why did this have to be so complicated?"
()
Grimmjow took as much time to sit in the relative quiet as he could. He even tried to be fair and not listen in on the Shinigamis' discussion. He had more important things to worry about at the moment, and he didn't need to eavesdrop to know that they were looking for an excuse to just kill them.
Yukiko's breathing had finally evened out and she wasn't close to ripping his jacket in half anymore. It wasn't clear where Orihime was but he suspected that the woman wasn't going to have the energy to heal Yukiko again tonight anyways. More pressing than the scraps and bruises was that his human started shivering. She was probably freezing after running, and from the looks of it rolling, in the snow in only a single-layered kimono. Harribel was waiting for them inside.
He heard her comment to Kyoraku but was going to ignore it. He wasn't a fan of being regarded as a guinea pig but was admittedly curious about the possibility of evolving into something brand new, and it wasn't the first time the idea was brought up. Nelliel had noted changes in him that were outside the norm for a long time. "We will speak downstairs. I don't want any listeners," the woman instructed.
He followed her to a hatch currently guarded by Riverra which dropped a ladder into an impossibly large space filled with sunlight. It looked like Riverra wanted to say something but stopped himself. "What?" Grimmjow questioned.
His shoulders dropped a little and he had a half smile. "I'm a bit jealous. I'd love to hear all this interesting information. Especially since you still owe me a turn with a book."
"Then come."
"We need Riverra to guard the door. The female Shinigami already tried to listen in on us once," Harribel explained.
Grimmjow growled a bit at that. Leave it to the Shitty-gamis to have no sense of honor. Now he wished he made an effort to listen to them, not tune them out.
The ladder was out of the question so he just jumped down, forming a Reiatsu platform halfway down and then jumping the rest of the way. At the bottom the rest of the Arrancar were waiting. Achiim and Lilynette were both awake now. The boy sprinted up to Grimmjow. "Is she okay?!"
"Obviously not!"
"Grimmjow, don't make me punch you while you are holding your girlfriend," Nelliel threatened.
"What? Obviously she's not fine, otherwise she'd be using her own damn legs!"
Achiim was shaking, eyes big and watering; he was actually about to cry. The glare from the two women was the most threatening thing he felt that whole day.
"I told you from the beginning you were never going to be able to handle Starrk! All I needed you to do was signal us and slow him down! You did your job so what are you upset about?! Everything else that happened had nothing to do with you!"
The shaking stopped but the face was still there. Luckily Yukiko finally released him enough to look back. She completely let him go so he put her down to stand, watching closely in case she couldn't. The woman half-walked, half-stumbled to the kid and hugged him tightly. He reciprocated with a speed that Grimmjow would have shot him with a Cero for if it wasn't overtly obvious that this was, strangely, what Yukiko wanted at the moment.
"Grimmjow," Harribel called his attention. "You need to explain everything you know about the humans. Who they are, what they want, why they are going through Hueco Mundo. All of it."
He sat on a nearby rock. "Fine. I'll tell you what to tell them."
"All of it," the Hollow King insist again. "I have been patient in your secretive behavior and looked the other way in your activities but no more. I need all the information and then I will decide what it shared with the Shinigami."
"The more you know-"
"What? The more likely I will be to toss your human to the enemy? Have I not proven my intentions?!" Harribel shockingly raised her voice. "Allow me to put it in simple terms that even you can process. As far as I'm concerned Ametsuchi Yukiko is a member of your Fraccion. I will look out for her interest just as I would Mila Rose, or Lilynette or Pesche, or Achiim."
Grimmjow was stunned, unsure what to say. He watched Harribel for a sign that she was going to take back her words, or make them conditional. She didn't. Seemingly, she meant it when she said she would do whatever was necessary to keep them together. Then he looked down to Yukiko who was looking back at him. It was slight but she nodded. He released something between a growl and a sigh. "Shit… Fine. I don't know the history that well. Yukiko started to tell me but I didn't care so I just focused on the parts immediately relevant to what I wanted to know."
"How impressively useless of you," Nelliel mocked.
"What I can tell you," he yelled back, "is that the Ametsuchi are older than the Shinigami and Soul Society and Hollows."
"Is that even possible?" Starrk questioned, showing an amazing amount of interest for him.
"It's barely, but yeah," he answered while Yukiko nodded in agreement. "According to them anyways since they are the ones who taught all this shit to Yuki. They claim to have been worshippers to a butterfly god that guided the souls of the dead to be born again or to Hell. Shit happened that I skipped in Yuki's book and this god fucked up so bad she turned her husband into the first Hollow, who's Reiatsu is able to Hollowfy anything and has some kind of affect on other Hollows. Supposedly he doesn't want to hurt anyone so he went somewhere completely removed from everything after other Hollows started settling in. Though apparently he's been rearing his old-ass head lately. To counter the Hollows the god turned their son into the first Shinigami and they made the Soul Society, and I think Hueco Mundo too. All the work the god had to do to fix everything she messed up killed her but since gods suck at dying her soul just hops from human body to human body within the Ametsuchi since they had already received some of her power."
"If that is true though, that mean's the Ametsuchi are followers of the mother of the Soul King," Harribel noted.
"I take it Yukiko is the current holder of this god," Nelliel guessed.
Grimmjow looked down at the human, she released Achiim and shuffled back to him and leaned against his leg. She looked so fucking exhausted and beat up. Maybe that's why she was pretending more or less like she didn't know they were talking about her.
"Sort of. She was but when she left them she pulled out as much of the god's power as she could since that's all her family wanted."
"Does that mean the power is something physical?"
It was slow but Yukiko nodded against his leg.
"She left it with the woman who helped her escape," Grimmjow elaborated. "Since they did leave her alone for so long Yuki made a dumbass decision to try and settle into living a normal life."
"Do you know what their goal is?" Harribel asked.
"No."
"Does she?"
"They didn't exactly keep her clued in on the plans," he growled.
"Don't they need her for them?" Lilynette scoffed.
"Maybe I missed those meetings, but I don't remember Aizen updating us on his intensions to kill us when he was done. Why tell your tools your plans?"
"That thinking lines up. When I was under that kid's control they just gave me instructions, no reasons for it."
"Yeah, kidnap Yuki. We noticed," Grimmjow grumbled.
"No actually. They mostly wanted me to cause as much destruction as possible without killing her. I doubt they intended me to survive. The only instructions regarding her I was given were to not kill her and keep her out of the way."
"Why?" Achiim asked.
Starrk shrugged.
"Any thoughts Yukiko?" Nelliel called out.
The human didn't react; she looked completely checked out. Grimmjow tilted her head up to check her eyes. She reacted, meaning she wasn't having a vision. The woman was just nodding off, unable to fend off the Reiatsu drainage anymore. Before he could even repeat Nel's question she started fading again.
Grimmjow sighed and moved off the rock to sit on the ground with her. Immediately she fell over into his lap, asleep.
"Aw. You're so cute,~" Nelliel cooed.
"I'm ripping that fucking armband off you," Grimmjow threatened.
"Yukiko still retains her premonition power despite trying to remove it. Are there any others?" Harribel steered back the focus before they got too derailed.
"The only other thing is that she knows when someone opens a gate out of the World of the Living. She had other abilities that she might be able to use if she was able to build up enough Reiatsu. Breaking her soul makes it impossible for her to retain basically any. It's why she passed out after barely doing anything."
"Do you know anything else about the Ametsuchi?"
"There are some ruins with their symbol in Hueco Mundo but even Yuki doesn't know much about that and the current leader is her mom."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Is that really all you know about them?"
"Like I said, I don't care about their history," he was getting annoyed now.
"How certain are you that Yukiko didn't know what they wanted?"
"I believe her," he growled.
"Then why did she leave?"
"Not relevant," he grounded out now; doing his best to control his urge to rip out his 'King's' throat.
"We agreed that I'd be the one to decide what is important, not you." Harribel was pressing the issue with all the authority she could muster; not that it meant anything to Grimmjow.
He opened his mouth to lay into her with the unrestricted reality of what his human's life was; but a distressed whimper from Achiim stopped him. He hated kids, they were weak and needed looking after. That didn't mean he didn't know what lines you don't cross in front of kids. Violence was one thing; they were Hollows evolved through cannibalism. But he didn't want to be the one that introduces the boy to concepts like daily rape. He paused long enough to come up with answer that would go over the child's understanding. "She was the equivalent of being one of Szayelaporro's pets."
"What the fuck?!" Lilynette shouted in shock.
"What does that even mean?" Achiim asked, utterly confused.
"It means-" Lilynette started to talk but Starrk quickly covered her mouth and dragged her into a tight hold.
"No!" all the adults simultaneously yelled.
"If you really want to know, ask again in 500 years," Nelliel said.
"Make it 600," Harribel amended.
"Come on! I'm part of this too!"
"Perhaps, but as Grimmjow correctly stated, it isn't relevant. Is there anything else that you've not told us?"
While he was thinking the hatch in the ceiling opened and Riverra stuck his head through, looking at them upside down. "Guys, these Shinigami are getting restless. You almost done?"
"Oh yeah. Haven't actually seen him but Ulquiorra is alive somehow."
At this point Nelliel looked tired. "How, the fuck, do you forget that?!"
"Excuse me for being a bit preoccupied preparing for Starrk showing up!"
"Don't blame me," he said despite Grimmjow still yelling.
"Besides, I don't know anything else and the details are all you bitches care about! The woman's visions aren't exactly coming with a full itinerary!"
"Where did you even learn that word? Also, stop yelling dumbass, you'll wake up your girlfriend."
"How stupid do you think I am? And she's in this Reiatsu-drained coma. I can throw this bitch and she won't even notice."
"Guys?" Riverra called, after it became clear they weren't moving.
"Thank you Riverra, we are coming now," Harribel answered and started ushering the bickering Arrancar.
"I'm telling her you said that," Nelliel tried to threaten.
"Go for it! I say worse to her face!" He didn't stop responding despite picking Yukiko up and going along with the group exit.
"Why are you such a bastard?"
"Why are you so fucking nosy?"
"If you children continue fighting I'm sending you both to Las Noches!" Harribel exclaimed.
They stopped talking but continued glaring, daring one another to break and speak again.
"Nice job," Starrk complimented.
"Thank you. I'm becoming practiced."
Harribel led them back to the designated meeting room. The captains were waiting along with Nanao and Urahara. Grimmjow eyed the man suspiciously.
"Oh don't worry, I was just here keeping them company. Also you are banished to the corner of the room Grimmjow," he cheerily informed them.
"What?! Why?"
"Because if you break anymore things in my shop Tessai is going to ban you."
Grimmjow grumbled but if he thought about it, he did break the table, and that cup earlier; and if they were considering far enough back he completely destroyed a few walls.
Tetsuaemon spoke up, attempting to drive the control of the meeting before it even started. "As with before, only the three captains and three Arrancar leaders."
"We'll take her," Achiim offered.
Grimmjow considered all the available Arrancar, the kid, Riverra, Starrk and Lilynette. He handed her over to Riverra, heavily relying on her exhaustion to keep her asleep, and pointed to the kid. "You're in charge of her."
He got the same excited look on his face as when Grimmjow picked him up to have him guard Yukiko. "Yes, sir!"
He grabbed Riverra's shirt hem and started pulling at the larger man. "Let's go build her a cozy nest!"
"I'm coming," he laughed out. "Do you mind playing guard in my place Starrk?"
"I'd rather join you guys," he answered tiredly.
"You all may go. I believe we can trust things to stay peaceful this time," Harribel dismissed them.
Kyoraku smiled, aware that they already lost control of the flow. "Nanao-chan, why don't you join them. You could keep Orihime-chan company too."
She frowned and looked annoyed. "I'd rather not shirk my responsibilities sir."
"Are all Shinigami so boring and stuck up?" Riverra teased.
The woman was shocked by the sudden insult. "What? How dare you! I'm doing my job."
Riverra chuckled, showing his good humor. She followed them out, apparently successfully shamed into taking the suggested break.
"Now then, let's see if we can conclude this night."
"Yes," Harribel responded when she sat. "Before I give you anything, I want to discuss the terms of the treaty."
"That's fair I guess. You had a good point about not being restricted to Hueco Mundo, so if we agree to a new treaty then I agree to allowing unrestricted access to Karakura Town for the Arrancar under your command. In return, your Hollows may not harm anyone and will be expected to assist with killing the non-Arrancar ones."
"That is agreeable. So long as we make exceptions for the humans invading us, that is."
"To be decided on them after discussing your information about them. I also request you give us some time to arrange a check point before giving all your Arrancar the go ahead. We don't want to have to question if we need to send a Shinigami here to assist Ichigo with an invasion. As capable as he is, he isn't technically a member of the Gotei and I would like to not exclusively rely on him to guard Karakura."
"Probably a good idea. He needs to leave town for school and will not be available the way he used to be," Nelliel pointed out.
"Where the hell did you hear that?" Grimmjow asked.
"I actually ask my friends what is happening in their lives."
"Moving on," Harribel cut them off before a back and forth could start. "If we set up a check point then I would insist on having an Arrancar posted there and that Shinigami check in with us as well."
"Should that be the case I think it would only be appropriate for us to make some arrangement to ensure that my Shinigami and your Arrancar will be of equal ability."
"That would be good but we would need to find a way to do so."
"We can have communication equipment taken to Las Noches and ensure that we are able to get into contact when needed. While on that subject I would insist that moving forward we be informed of disturbances in Hueco Mundo that directly involve the World of the Living or, obviously the Soul Society."
"So long as this information goes both ways. Any delivery will be overseen by myself or an appointed representative."
"I wouldn't expect anything else. Otherwise, the terms of our original treaty will remain. You do not enter the Soul Society uninvited and we do not enter Hueco Mundo. Should one side request assistance the other must sincerely consider it, though is not obligated to follow through."
Grimmjow desperately wished he could join the group not trapped in this terrible meeting. All this pretense was just dressing up the bait for their compliance. "That's all nice but let's not pretend like you are going to agree to this. It's nothing more than incentive to give you information that has nothing to do with you."
"When we made the first treaty, you were the one who required I prove my intentions. Now it's your turn," Kyoraku pointed out, making Grimmjow's frown twitch and growl at the wall.
"The human's who have been causing this trouble are from an ancient group called the Ametsuchi. They claim to have origins as worshippers to the mother of the Soul King."
The proclamation stunned all three Shinigami into the first emotion they've shown the whole meeting.
"Their history claims that this woman was a god charged with sorting soul before the time of Shinigami and that as her worshippers they received power from her. It is also their belief that it was this god's doing that created Hollows and the Shinigami in response. After doing so her body died and her soul remained with her followers. As for Ametsuchi Yukiko, is the daughter to their leader but defected years ago, taking with her what they believe to be the reincarnated soul of this god. Yukiko is not currently in possession of it, as she sent it away with someone she trusted. Whether or not the Ametsuchi clan's goal is truly to reclaim Yukiko or this soul is unclear. Starrk believes they didn't intend for him to capture her as the commands given to him were centered around causing as much destruction as possible. He is unaware of the reason for this and due to Yukiko's fragile condition, she was unable to remain conscious long enough to discuss their possible intentions on this matter. According to prior conversations she has had with Grimmjow, she is unclear on their reason for involving Hollows in their activities. There is some form of history of the Ametsuchi invading Hueco Mundo. Ruins with what we now know to be their symbol can be found scattered in the deserts."
It was impressive how Harribel both edited the information, but didn't say a single lie. The Shinigami were all quiet, not looking at the Hollows or each other. "If there is a history connected to the Soul King then I can try and confirm it."
"Another thing, though unrelated. We believe Ulquiorra Cifer, the Cuatro Espada, to be alive somewhere. Similar to the case with Starrk, we don't have confirmation though. By all accounts he died but I suspect his possible return might have something to do with the being known as the Hollow God. The presence of which has been felt twice within a couple of days despite not making himself known since at least before Baraggan Louisenbairn."
That was something Grimmjow himself hadn't considered. This old ass Hollow was supposed to have some kind of special influence on other Hollows; so maybe he could do something to recreate one that died. "I should clue Harribel in more often," Grimmjow admitted to himself.
Kyoraku smiled and he actually looked grateful. "Thank you for the warning. We will keep an eye out for him and notify you of any possible sightings."
"I take it that means we've come to amicable terms?"
"Yes. I would like to accept the proposed treaty."
"And the matter of how we deal with the attacking Ametsuchi?"
"If they are in Hueco Mundo I'll leave it up to you. In the World of the Living I request that an attempt to capture be prioritized, for now at least."
That was disagreeable to Grimmjow but he already knew that was the best they'd get for now. But, who's to know any better if he took them into Hueco Mundo after finding them and handeling the humans his way?
"Then we have reached our new agreement. When your preparations for the communication contact are ready, notify Grimmjow," he glared at her for volunteering him, "as he will be here regardless."
Kyoraku laughed. "I suspect he will. Personally I would like to place Ametsuchi Yukiko under our protection but I've seen enough to know that it would not go well."
"I'd kill you if she doesn't," Grimmjow promised.
"Well, that would be one way for me to go down in history for the shortest term as Captain Commander."
"You are only the second one and Commander Yamamoto held the position since the creation of the Gotei. Even if you die of old age you'd still go down in history for the shortest term as Captain Commander," Lisa pointed out in an even-toned manner.
"Alright, alright. Let's get out of here before you injure me too badly," Kyoraku joked as he stood and stretched.
The three Shinigami exited first, since they were closer to the door, and the Arrancar followed suite. Nelliel and Harribel both breathed out a sigh of relief as discreetly as they could. He wasn't going to broadcast it but Grimmjow was relieved to. Had he actually fucked everything up for everyone, he was never going to forget it. Life was boring, but it was admittedly easier during peace. As much as he missed the constant rush of battle, the ability to just lay in bed with Yukiko and trust that nothing would attack him in his sleep was a special kind of feeling that he didn't want to lose.
All the visitors were congregated in the living room. Kurosaki was there collecting Orihime, who was leaning heavily on him, too tired to bother standing on her own. Riverra was talking to the Lieutenant, telling her about the ruins he used to live in before moving to Las Noches. Starrk was watching Lilynette as she told Achiim about the Espada days while he sat next to Yukiko, holding her hand. His human was bundled up in a very comfortable looking pile of pillows and blankets; probably the 'nest' that Achiim declared he was going to build. Tessai watched the group silently, with a sheet covered human-shaped lump next to him. Urahara and Yoruichi were noticeably absent.
"Everything is settled!" Kyoraku said excitedly. "Time to go home. We have new work to do Nanao-chan."
The woman sighed with a frown. "By which I assume you mean I have new work to do,"
"Aw, don't be like that!~" the grown man cooed, sounding creepy.
Grimmjow approached the two humans.
"Sorry Grimmjow. I don't have enough energy to heal Yukiko-san again tonight," Orihime apologized immediately.
"It's fine. She can handle scraps and bruises," he brushed her worry off to address Kurosaki. "Nelliel said you're leaving! What the hell is that about?"
The boy looked surprised that he was bringing it up then smiled a bit in that way Grimmjow hated. The one that said he understood intentions that weren't there. "Yeah, I'm leaving for college in a couple of weeks. It's close enough that I'll be home pretty often. Couple of times a month, hopefully, to visit everyone. Orihime and Chad aren't going anywhere and obviously my dad and sisters are staying."
Grimmjow gave him a grin. "Well I'll have to give you a parting gift!"
"Sure. It'll probably be best to give it in Hueco Mundo though. I don't think even Urahara's weird training grounds can handle a gift from you."
"Look forward to it," Grimmjow said excited.
"Grimmjow," Nelliel called. "We are leaving."
"Yeah alright."
Harribel opened a Garganta and the two women stepped through followed by Starrk and Lilynette. Achiim dutifully waited until Grimmjow was with Yukiko before letting her go and hopping through the gate. Grimmjow grabbed Riverra's shirt collar before he could follow. "Come with me for a bit."
The man looked confused then faced the corridor. "Achiim, tell the ladies that I'll be there soon."
The kid nodded and ran off into the darkness.
Grimmjow pulled the sheet off the thing and just as he expected, it was his gigai. "Just so you know, at the bosses request I placed a badge similar to Ichigo's on your gigai. He felt if the treaty was agreed on there would be no more need for you to come here," Tessai informed him.
That was surprisingly nice. "What the catch?"
"Please stop breaking things in our shop," he said pointedly, earning a laugh out of Riverra.
"Hopefully I never have to set foot in here again."
He grabbed the body and held it like a ragdoll out to Riverra. "Hold this."
The man did, looking at it confused. "Should I be worried that it appears dead?"
"No. It's supposed to be like that," he answered as he dug Yukiko out of her pile of comfort and true to form, she didn't react.
"Should I be worried she appears dead?" This time there was humor in the question.
Grimmjow had a slight huff of a laugh. "Probably, but nothing to do about it." He put her on his back and nodded to Riverra. "Come on." He handled the gigai nicer than Grimmjow would have; pulling it on his shoulder rather than just carrying it like a bag.
Grimmjow led him back across Karakura. The whole block that the grocery store sat at was destroyed and emergency responders were there, lights flashing brightly, clearing the debris. They continued on, reaching the apartment. No one was going to be awake so he didn't bother putting on the gigai before entering the building, then to their room. He unlocked it with the hidden key, unwilling to dig the key out of the ragdoll body's pocket. The room was untouched. Good.
"Come on in," he told Riverra.
The guest peeked around the tiny room but did as instructed while Grimmjow pulled out the futon and put Yukiko down there. Hands now freed, he grabbed the gigai off Riverra's shoulder and absorbed into it. He kicked off his shoes then walked over to the bookshelf.
"Am I sleeping over or something?"
"You said you wanted that stupid book didn't you?"
"Oh. Yes, very much!"
"Still don't get why," he grumbled as he checked the sketchbook in his hand to confirm it was the one he was looking for.
"You really don't find the idea of Hollows having some kind of history beyond that old skeleton interesting?"
"It's just stories. Not like we know what's true," he responded only partially paying attention, mostly focused on the pages he was flipping through. When he found the one he was looking for he ripped it out. Then the next four after that.
"I'm pretty sure those are supposed to stay in the book."
"These aren't any of your business," he said, shoving them beneath the sketchbook stack.
"Here. All yours." He passed the rest of the book to Riverra.
The man opened it up and flipped through a few pages. "It's all pictures."
"Yeah. Yuki made it and she couldn't be bothered to write, even though it would have been faster. There should be some names listed in a couple of places," he grumbled.
"It's impressive. I'll return it when I'm done."
"Keep it. Show it to the others if you want; Nelliel got kind of pissy that I didn't care enough about the ancient history to pay attention to it."
"A shame but I will happily accept. Thank you, friend."
Grimmjow paused at the title but otherwise didn't react. "No problem. Now get out."
"Perhaps when we aren't in a disaster situation I can meet Yukiko properly?"
An actually good idea. If Yukiko was able to become comfortable with Riverra then it would be someone he could trust with her that wasn't a literal child or Nelliel. "Sure. Harribel and the Shinigami were able to agree on Arrancar having free access here soon without having to deal with any bullshit for it."
"That's great news!"
"Yeah. Now get out," he insisted more harshly this time. It was a long night and Grimmjow wanted to be done.
"Yes, yes," Riverra consented and opened a Garganta of his own. "See you around Grimmjow."
Once alone he exhaled heavily, allowing the full weight of the exhaustion take over. He peeled off his clothes and into his usual joggers for sleep. A shower can wait. Yukiko was already dirtying up the futon anyways, not that she had a say in it.
Mindful of the fact that the Ametsuchi were still somewhere around, he checked that the window and door were both locked and the curtain closed. Then double-checked that the bathroom was free of creepers hiding to ambush them; not like it would be the first time.
The apartment was blissfully quiet and secure. He allowed himself to shove into the futon and held Yukiko tightly. She was laying with her bruised cheek up and a spot of dried blood that seeped through her skin, glaring at him. He licked off the fleck and pulled her tighter into his hold. He almost lost her. She was safe and then she was just gone. He needed to stay closer; not let her out of sight until they are certain her family are gone.
He leaned on her, nearly smothering her as he covered her entirely. Maybe if she felt secure enough the flighty human would never wander off again. "You're not leaving me. Ever."