A low groan escaped the woman's lips as Grimmjow pulled her closer to his naked body, savoring the way it felt to be next to her. If anyone had told the Espada he was only hours away from meeting his mate when he'd left Hueco Mundo, he wouldn't have believed them; but it seemed like that was exactly what Karina Reiko was to him. It had been hours since he'd taken her, he'd even managed to fall asleep next to her; something Grimmjow had never cared for, sleeping next to someone left you open for a surprise attack-So why does this feel so fucking good?

Karina let out a wince as Grimmjow shifted her on the bed, his blue eyes seeking out the wounds on her upper arm. He'd gotten so sidetracked by her body that he'd almost forgotten she had been injured in the first place. Bending his head down low, Grimmjow began to clean her, slowly lapping at the jagged wounds with his tongue. The sweet taste of the woman's flesh mixed with her own blood spread across his taste buds; only intoxicating him further. He'd never known the presence of a woman could fill him with such deep seated need.

"What are you doing?" Karina whispered to him.

Grimmjow pulled back long enough to answer her.

"Cleaning out your wounds." Grimmjow growled before leaning back down for another taste of her.

Karina blinked her eyes against the offending light seeping through the curtains in her bedroom. Her mind felt a bit foggy, as if she'd been drinking the night before; but she knew it wasn't the case. As Karina closed her eyes against the light, flashes of what had taken place assaulted her. The memory of the pleasure Grimmjow had given her only hours before making her body shiver against him.

"You cold?" Grimmjow asked, his brow furrowing as he lifted his head to look at her.

Karina slipped her eyes open, meeting his gaze as she shook her head.

"Those sting quite a bit, I'm not sure you licking them is going to help..." Karina stated; feeling the need to put a bit of distance between her and the intense male that was sharing her bed-what the hell have I done? I've gone to bed with a complete stranger!

Grimmjow scowled down at her as she managed to push her body up into a sitting position, taking the sheet that was covering them with her. As she looked around the room; seeing their clothes scattered across the floor only made Karina's stomach clench nervously.

"What's the deal? Why are you acting like this?" Grimmjow demanded roughly.

Karina turned her head, her deep brown eyes filled with what looked like regret making Grimmjow's hackles rise-You gotta be fucking kidding me! She regrets being with me!?

"I got you off didn't I, what's the problem?" Grimmjow blurted.

Karina's eyes widened, her lips parting as she stared back at him-was he really serious? Does he really not understand why I would feel like this? Karina allowed her eyes to close once more, shaking her head, she slid across the sheets to the end of the bed; needing to have a few minutes to herself; now that passion wasn't clouding her judgement.

"Hey! I asked you a question..." Grimmjow snarled, reaching his right arm out with cat like reflexes, grabbing her around the waist.

Grimmjow heard Karina's gasp, feeling her body go rigid as he pulled her against him. The heat from his hard body seeping into her-why does it feel so good when he touches me!?

"P-please, just give me a few minutes to myself..." Karina whispered.

"Not until you answer me, what's with the hot and cold? I thought we were on the same page here." Grimmjow countered.

"I-I've never done this sort of thing before...sleeping with a man I know nothing about..." Karina admitted.

"Tch, so what, you think it makes me think less of you or somethin'? I got news for you; I could care less what you've done, or haven't done. You'll only be fucking me from now on anyway." Grimmjow countered.

Karina felt a lump form in her throat, realizing that Grimmjow really was the farthest thing form a human male. Any human man would console her in this moment, reassure her; yet, Grimmjow was acting as if he were an animal, taking what he wanted and then laying claim once he realized how much he'd enjoyed having her-I'm sure that's really all he'll ever want from me.

" My arm is really stinging, I need to get these washed out properly." Karina repeated; swallowing against the lump of emotion that had formed against her will.

"Whatever..." Grimmjow sighed, knowing well enough that the woman really just wanted to get away from him.

Grimmjow lowered his arm from around her, allowing her to walk forward towards her bathroom, all the while fighting his instincts; inside they screamed at him to follow, to help her take care of her wounds, to provide for her, to keep pleasuring her; nothing had ever been clearer to Grimmjow than this-Karina Reiko was...His.

Karina let out a shaky breath, leaning her body back against the closed bathroom door; she'd almost given in again! Almost leaned into Grimmjow's heat and turned her head to him in pure invitation. The thought of kissing him once more almost desperate.

"It's like I lose all common sense the minute he gets too close to me!" Karina whispered to her reflection in the large mirror across the room.

Pushing her shaking body forward, Karina grasped the edge of the counter with her hands, leaning forward in order to get a better look at herself. Her hair was tousled and a complete mess, her eyes looked sleep swollen, yet rested. In fact, she had gotten some of the best sleep ever laying in Grimmjow's arms. Karina sighed heavily as she turned to inspect the deep gashes on her upper bicep. She hadn't been lying about them stinging, but it seemed like Grimmjow's earlier attempts to clean her...with his tongue no less had managed to reduce the swelling a bit.

"Not human at all..." Karina breathed as she shook her head.

"Oh, my god!" Karina gasped, leaning her body against the sink as she pulled her hair from her shoulder for a closer inspection of the side of her neck. She had caught a glimpse of what looked like a bruise.

Karina's mouth fell ajar as she skimmed her fingers across the sensitive skin, her fingertips brushing across the indents left behind by Grimmjow's teeth. It was more than just a simple bruise, it was his mark. Karina felt her body tremble against her will; the memory of how it had felt to be bitten by him mid-orgasm. Everything they had done with one another; the intensity of their sex; Karina wouldn't dare allow herself to call what they had done making love. It had been pure unbridled lust, a claiming unlike any she had ever felt that had left her feeling bewildered.

"Why do I feel as if you've just claimed me?"

Karina felt the beating of her heart increase as the last words she spoke to him resurfaced in her memory, her chest began to heave while she stared at her reflection; feeling as if something deeper had just been brought to the surface.

" Cause I just did..."

Karina felt as if he were standing right behind her, his admission to claiming her, to wanting to keep her still so fresh in her mind, the evidence of his claim stamped on the side of her neck. Karina allowed the sheet that was covering her to fall to the tile floor. As she stepped back to look, her breath caught in her chest. Her whole body looked different to her, her breasts were still swollen, her nipples hardening into tight buds before her eyes simply by remembering. Karina dropped her hand to her hips, the slight outline of Grimmjow's fingers could be seen where he'd left even more evidence of his intense bed-play. Karina pressed her fingers against her skin, expecting to feel the deep ache that would normally accompany a bruise, but felt nothing.

"That's quite strange...none of these hurt...the only thing that hurts is my arm..." Karina whispered to her reflection.

Deciding not to overthink the meaning, Karina turned from the mirror, doing her best to ignore the changes in her body-It was simply because he's different from any other man I've been with...nothing more...

Grimmjow growled against the bathroom door, lifting his shaking hands to the wood. He could scent her...his woman's body was preparing for him all over again and it was driving him insane with the need to kick the door in and take her-Did she even realize what kind of pull she had on him? The 6th Espada wanted nobody! Nothing could ever make his blood boil to this extent-what the fuck is it about her, anyway!?

Grimmjow pushed his body from the door as he heard the shower being turned on, the spray of the water hitting against an empty stall. When the sound changed Grimmjow groaned out loud at the mere thought of Karina standing under the spray of the water. Licking his lips like a feral beast, while imagining he was licking the drops of water from her aroused flesh.

"Fuck!" Grimmjow grated, turning his body from the door and stomping over to his clothes that lay on the floor.

Grimmjow dressed quickly, overwhelmed by the need to put some distance between them. Maybe if he left her alone for a while, the savage need she brought out in him would ease a little. Grimmjow felt out of control; and for a being like him, that was unacceptable! A mere human woman shouldn't have this kind of power over me!

Grimmjow turned his intense gaze to the door as he sat down on the edge of her bed. His brow furrowing as the scent of the woman's shampoo filled the room around him, taking over all of his senses; He didn't need to think about how the woman smelled, he knew her scent would haunt him for the rest of his days.

Grimmjow glared at the door before bending down and retrieving his boots from the floor. He shoved them on, not even bothering to tie the laces before he stood up again, searching the room for his jacket-If the woman wanted to play games with him after what happened between them, he wasn't about to hang around like a lost puppy. Karina Reiko would never see the day when Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez would pine for her; a King never grovels.

Rin Tsubokura's brow lifted as his dark gaze narrowed at his computer screen. Lifting his small hands to the controls in front of him, Rin leaned in closer to look at his monitor.

"Well this is strange..." Rin spoke aloud, lifting his head up from his personal cubical and up to the larger screen that housed all activity within the soul society. Scanning the list of names of dispatched officers Rin shook his head; something wasn't adding up!

" Nobody has been stationed to this part of the human world..." Rin spoke again, his slim shoulders slumping a little.

"What seems to be the problem?" Hiyosu asked as he walked passed Rin's personal station.

Rin turned his head, meeting the other squad 12 member's gaze.

"This part of the human world; section 66. It's showing signs of high spiritual pressure. When I look at the recorded data of the area, I'm getting readings of levels high enough to belong to an Espada." Rin explained.

" An Espada? I doubt that..." Hiyosu countered with a shrug before walking away as if he couldn't be bothered.

Rin shook his head; his gaze moving back to the computer in front of him; he wasn't making it up! If Hiyosu didn't want to bother helping him investigate, then Rin would just go to someone who would always hear him out no matter what.

"I'll be back..." Rin called out to Hiyosu as he stood from his seat and turned to leave the main lab.

Rin reached his left hand down to the inner pocket of his Shihakusho, pulling a piece of hard candy and fiddling with the wrapper; it had been a while since the soul society had any kind of abnormal activity. Nothing since the outbreak of the virus had been contained. Rin popped the hardened sphere of sugar into his mouth, hoping that his addiction might make him feel a bit more at ease about the situation-was there a mission taking place that he wasn't aware of?

Rin made his way down the narrow hallway that opened up into his captain's personal lab space. There, he found his Lieutenant sitting comfortably at his desk, seeming to be typing up a report. Next to Akon was another cubical where a recent addition to squad 12 sat. Rin paused, feeling a sudden rush of hesitation-what if this is nothing more than a fluke? Should I really bother her with this?

As Rin contemplated his options, a pair of striking green eyes lifted from the computer station he stood in front of, the woman's smile was warm as she leaned back in her chair, giving Rin her undivided attention.

"Is there something you need, Rin?" Ayumi Kurotsuchi asked.

"I-I think I may have stumbled upon something that you and the Captain should be aware of..." Rin stated.

"Oh? And what would that be, exactly?"

Rin felt his body jar at the sound of his captain's voice filling the room-If I'm not right about this, I might just get into trouble for wasting their time...

"It's okay, Rin. Why don't you show me what you've found..." Ayumi insisted as she stood from her chair; being the 3rd seat of squad 12 and the wife of Mayuri Kurotsuchi gave Ayumi a bit of authority in her own right.

"I take it you wish to handle this situation?" Mayuri asked, his lips lifting into an amused smirk.

Ayumi cast a look over her shoulder at her husband, a soft smile spreading across her lips as she went to follow Rin into the main lab.

"I'll be sure to let you know if I require your assistance..." Ayumi countered.

"Very well..." Mayuri smiled.

Karina let out a sigh of what felt like a mix of disappointment and relief. Standing there in the middle of her bedroom with a towel securely wrapped around her, dripping water all over the hardwood. It looked as if Grimmjow had decided to leave her flat. Not sure what to think; Karina made her way over to her nightstand, lifting her glasses from the top and putting them on. As her vision cleared, she read the clock, realizing she only had about an hour to get across town for her exam!

"Shit! I can't be late today!" Karina blurted as she dropped the towel from her body and ran to her dresser, pulling the first pair of panties she could find and shoving her legs into them, trying her best not to trip herself in the process.

If she were late again her professor may not let her take part in the final exam coming up! Karina fought the nerves in her stomach as she clipped her bra in place behind her back, pulling the straps over her shoulders, she winced against the pain of her wound. Realizing she would have to do her best to cover them, Karina made her way to her closet, grabbing a black long sleeved t-shirt from the hanger.

Karina hesitated, remembering it wasn't just her arm she would need to hide from other humans...His mark...Grimmjow's Bite! Karina dropped the black t-shirt, not having enough time to hang it back up, she grabbed a dark blue turtleneck from the back of her closet. The weather had been shit lately with all the rain...it wouldn't look odd for her to wear something meant for the winter.

Karina pulled the turtleneck over her head, pushing her arms through as she pulled a pair of black pants from their hanger. Her shirt still resting on the tops of her breasts, Karina stepped into the pants, pulling them over her thick hips and buttoning them. Letting out a gasp of exasperation, Karina rushed back to her dresser, grabbing a pair of socks before sitting on the side of her bed and shoving her feet into them before securing her boots. Taking another look at the clock, Karina felt her anxiety increase, she still had to catch the damn bus! It would take her at least a half hour to make it to the university.

"I can manage! I'll just have to run the minute the bus lets me off!" Karina encouraged as she pushed her body from her bed. Reaching down she grabbed the jeans she had been wearing the previous day and snatched her billfold, slipping it behind her and shoving it into her back pocket before hurrying out into her living room. Karina paused, cursing under her breath as she tried to remember what she'd done with her keys!

She tapped her booted foot against the hardwood as she looked around, trying to remember something, anything form the night before that didn't have to do with sex. As her gaze locked on the love seat across the room she remembered she had been sitting at it. Karina sprinted across the room, grabbing the keys from the side table as well as her phone; not even bothering to turn out the light on the lamp.

Just as Karina made it to the front door, she saw the doorknob twisting as if someone were about to come inside. Karina hesitated when the front door pulled open, her breath catching in her chest as she met Grimmjow's intense glare.

"Where you runnin' off to?" Grimmjow asked; his gaze narrowing as if it had been an accusation instead of a question.

" I can't talk right now! I have to make it to the end of town in less than an hour! I have class!" Karina blurted, surprising Grimmjow when she shoved her small body passed him.

"Class?" He repeated; confusion filling him-was she some kind of student or something?

"Yes! I'm an English Major, and if I'm late all of my hard work will be for nothing!" Karina yelled back at him as she balanced her body by holding onto the handrail, her breasts bouncing as she took the stairs way too fast for comfort.

Grimmjow followed; his brow rising as he tried to make sense of whatever it was she was trying to tell him-What the fuck is an English Major?

Karina stopped abruptly, making Grimmjow run smack into her.

"What the hell!?" Grimmjow growled; not able to keep himself from grabbing a hold of her hips.

"Y-you can get me there in time! W-would you be willing to help me by using your super human speed thing?" Karina asked.

"My what?" Grimmjow retorted, giving the back of the woman's head a look of contempt-super human speed thing? Come on!

" Tch, now that you need something from me, you're gonna be sweet about it?" Grimmjow countered.

Karina exhaled a slow breath, bracing herself before she turned in his arms, allowing her gaze to meet his. Grimmjow glared down at her, not about to give an inch unless the woman promised he could get something back in return.

"What do I get out of this?" Grimmjow countered arrogantly.

Karina rolled her eyes at him, figuring she should have expected as much, it seemed all this male was interested in was how fast he could talk himself into her pants...

"Forget it." Karina retorted, her brow furrowing as she turned away from him and took off in a sprint that was pretty quick for a human woman.

The bus stop wasn't too far from her apartment complex, that was the only lucky break Karina was going to get; she wasn't about to trade sexual favors with Grimmjow just to make him act decently towards her. Grimmjow let out a sound behind her, something mixed between a growl and a sigh before she felt his hand grasp her around her uninjured arm.

Karina gasped as she felt her body being tossed up in the air as if her weight was nothing to him, reminding her all to well that the creature she'd had such intense sex with was not human. Karina squeezed her eyes shut as she felt Grimmjow's body merge with hers, falling across his upper back just right. Grimmjow reached his hands behind her, grasping the outer part of her thighs as she locked her arms around his neck.

" It's called Sonído, by the way..." Grimmjow growled at her; hating the fact the woman had managed to get under his skin enough to make him feel sorry for her.

"Whatever it is; I would appreciate you using it!" Karina whispered against his ear.

Grimmjow grunted; feeling the woman's hot breath against the back of his neck, her breasts pressed against his shoulder blades-she shouldn't fit me like this...this shit shouldn't feel this good!

"Well? You gonna tell me where I'm going or not?" Grimmjow demanded.

Karina half-laughed, relief filling her, with him willing to help her, her future had a fighting chance, all the work, all the hours put into getting her PHD wouldn't have been wasted!

"The university isn't far from the pub I was at last night. Just a block or two up the street." Karina replied; already tightening her hold on him before his body surged forward.

Karina heard what sounded like a chuckle coming from his chest as her hair blew back from the momentum of his speed; deep down, Karina had a feeling Grimmjow was trying to show off for her a little bit.

Dusk had just settled across the small charming English town as the sound of invisible doors slid open, a gap within the dimensions appearing while three figures dressed in black emerged from the Senkaimon.

"Keep your eyes peeled, I'm not sure what we're going to walk into..." came the order from a petite blonde, with chocolate brown eyes.

"Yes, Ma'am!" Two male officers clad in black body suites replied in unison, each of them taking their place, flanking the woman's sides.

"I'll do my best to give you warnings. For now, we need to follow the spiritual pressure. Come on, it's this way, towards the university." Amaya Aizen ordered; keeping her mind clear of the chaos that came with entering into a world with so many scattered thoughts-it was time for Amaya to prove herself worthy of her position within the Gotei 13; one reason why she had volunteered to search the human world for any signs of a disturbance.

"Please, be careful, Ma'am. I'd hate to have to answer to your husband if something goes wrong..." The man to her left practically begged.

Amaya smiled, not having to hear the man speak his inner worry; it came without question. Something Amaya had gotten used to in her short years of living within the soul society; but what her men didn't realize was that she didn't need to hide behind the shield of her husband's past. No, Amaya Aizen was a force to be reckoned with all on her own.

Grimmjow leaned against the brick building of the university, waiting for Karina to come back out. It had been about four hours since she's hopped down his back and sprinted inside, yelling at him to wait for her, and here he was. Grimmjow kicked his booted foot against the step, his mind racing with so many questions. Something about Karina was calling out to him on a base level, but, the real question still lingered-How can she see me? What's different about her?

Grimmjow let out a sigh, lifting his hand to the back of his neck, his overgrown hair tickling against the back of his palm as he thought about it-could she have some kind of power hidden inside her? It seemed like a lot of human's were changing after the war with the Quincy...

Grimmjow's attention shifted as the large double doors above the stairs opened, a crowd of people spilling out, letting Grimmjow know the afternoon classes had just been let out. Grimmjow scanned the crowd, looking for Karina's purple hair. Liking the fact she had something different about her that could help him spot her among so many people. As each human passed by him without as much of a glance in his direction he felt the hair on the back on his neck rise.

Jerking his head in the opposite direction, Grimmjow let out a harsh curse.

"Fuck! This is the last thing I needed..."

Grimmjow pushed his body from the wall, slipping his way passed the other students, thankful he was invisible to everyone he passed-I've gotta get her out of here! As Grimmjow pushed his way through a small group of women, he spotted purple in his peripheral vision. There she is! Grimmjow paused; his hackles rising as he spotted Karina talking to someone...another male!

"What the fuck!?" Grimmjow spat, increasing his stride to get to her faster just as Karina turned her gaze to him.

"I..I should get going...I'll see you later!" Karina blurted, cutting off the male she was speaking to mid-sentence.

"Uh, Okay then. I'll see you around." He answered.

Grimmjow lifted his gaze to the male, his upper lip lifting into a feral sneer, his instincts screaming at him-Kill! Protect! Claim!

Karina turned abruptly, her breaths quickening as she hurried her way over to Grimmjow before he lost all of his senses and hurt her classmate. Grimmjow paused in the middle of the hallway, his accusing gaze locking onto her. Karina didn't have to ask to understand what his eyes were accusing her of-Surely he can understand that I have friends who are men?

Karina didn't pause, not wanting anyone to see her having a conversation with air; that was the last thing she needed. To have her classmates thinking she had gone completely mental. Grimmjow snatched her upper arm, pulling her right in front of him, making it look as if she'd lost her balance mid-walk.

"They can't see you, Grimmjow! All you are doing is making me look like a fool around my classmates!" Karina grated as she shoved her body forward.

Grimmjow growled down at her as he allowed her body forward, keeping his grip on her upper arm as they walked towards the exit doors. Karina felt her body flush with agitation as they managed to make it out of the building without Grimmjow giving into his jealous rage-honestly, what is there to get so worked up about?

"Who was he!?" Grimmjow demanded as soon as they made it far enough down the street.

Karina let out a sigh; not liking the fact she had to defend her friendship. Grimmjow barely even knew anything about her!

"He's my classmate, and a friend. Well, at least he was, not sure he'll even speak to me again with how rude you forced me to be!" Karina countered.

Grimmjow stopped walking, squeezing the top of Karina's bicep with his fingers harder making her turn to face him.

"Will you stop it!? I don't know if you've noticed, but I am human! I don't need you manhandling me, you've given me enough bruises as it is!" Karina yelled, not even caring if anyone saw her arguing with nothing.

Grimmjow clenched his jaw as he squeezed his eyes shut; his nostrils flaring in his attempt to reel in his anger. Just seeing her next to another male had sent his instincts soaring, the need to have her to himself overwhelming him all over again. Somehow, he managed to release his grip on her; hurting Karina was the last thing he wanted to do and for the life of him; he didn't have a fucking clue why.

"You can't do this to me! I can't have you following me around trying to hurt people I care about. Th-thank you for saving me last night, honestly, I'm very grateful, but, I-I think this should end..." Karina blurted as she averted her eyes; not wanting Grimmjow to see the pain it caused her to say the words-I really have gone mental! I've already gone and got attached to him after one night!

"Tch, you want it to end, huh? Then why can't you look at me? I think you want me just as much as I want you; and that scares the shit out of you..." Grimmjow countered.

Karina turned her body away from him, giving him her back as his words hit the nail on the head-I do want him, that's why it should end! I'm a human, he's an Espada...what kind of relationship could ever work out with those factors already against us?

"Karina..." Grimmjow breathed behind her, wrapping his strong arms around her waist, pulling her body back against his heat.

"P-please, don't, Grimmjow! I-I can't control myself when you get this close to me!" Karina admitted; squeezing her eyes shut against the wave of pleasure that assaulted her.

Grimmjow chuckled from the center of his chest; realizing Karina really did want him back. Karina let out a groan as she felt Grimmjow lean his head between her neck and shoulder, using his teeth he pulled the side of her turtleneck down before flicking his tongue against his mark; no doubt the bruise she had just complained about him giving her.

"I'm not strong enough to walk away from you, woman, and it pisses me off!" Grimmjow growled into her ear.

"I gotta say, this isn't what I was expecting to find!"

Grimmjow jerked his head to the right as the voice of a female caught his attention-I've heard that voice before! Fuck! I let my jealously get in the way of what really mattered!

"G-Grimmjow...Who are they?" Karina breathed as her stomach filled with knots, her brown eyes widening at the sight of three people dressed in all black, each of them carrying a sword at their hip.

"Soul Reapers..." Grimmjow sneered.

"What exactly is going on here? Is she human or an arrancar, Espada!?" Amaya demanded; her gaze scanning the woman intently, searching for any indicators.

Amaya turned her head, glaring at Grimmjow as the woman...or she should say; Karina's inner thoughts became her own. Twenty-four years old, college student, and definitely a human!

" We both know I don't have to answer that question." Grimmjow countered, releasing his grip on Karina, forcing the woman to step behind his body in order to shield her-Did they really have to send this bitch!?

"In that case, she needs to come with us!" Amaya stated, already knowing the reaction she would hear from the prick in front of her.

"Not a chance! You think I'm just gonna hand her over to you assholes? I know what you want her for..." Grimmjow spat.

"Then you know we don't intend to harm her." Amaya retorted.

"I'm not letting you take her from me!" Grimmjow challenged, taking a step forward.

Amaya tilted her head slightly to the left, a sign her men understood very well. Grimmjow let out a snarl as the two member's of the punishment force braced themselves in order to flash step. Grimmjow knew his Sonído would be more effective, but Amaya Aizen was a wild card.

Grimmjow twisted his body sideways, managing to knock the first Ninja off his footing back into a nearby tree, the other faking him out just as he was about to make contact; appearing right behind Karina.

"Grimmjow!" Karina called out to him, her hands flying up to cover her mouth as the blonde woman kicked her leg out with amazing speed, bringing Grimmjow to his knees in front of her, the glint of solid steel catching Karina's eye as the woman pressed her sword against Grimmjow's throat, yanking his head backward by his hair.

"My men are very well trained, they will not think twice to sacrifice their own well-being in order to achieve their goal. You on the other hand already knew you would fail against me; I commend you for trying..." Amaya stated.

"You little bitch! Don't you dare take her from me!" Grimmjow threatened.

"Or what? I can read your every move, Grimmjow, you already know that..." Amaya countered.

"P-please! Stop! Don't hurt him!" Karina begged.

Amaya lifted her brown gaze, her lips parting as she took in the inner thoughts of the human who stood before her-Damn, I guess this is a little more complicated than I thought...

"Let me take her to Hueco Mundo. We'll leave the human world; that's what this is about isn't it?" Grimmjow spat.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't do that..." Amaya answered, pulling her blade from the Espada's neck and flash stepping in front of him at high speed, faster than Grimmjow had been expecting.

In one swift motion, Amaya raised her right leg, planting the heel of her food directly into Grimmjow's face, the loud pop of bone breaking told Amaya she had hit her target, succeeding in breaking the Espada's nose. As Grimmjow's body flew backward, the only thing that crossed his mind was how weak he looked in that moment to his mate-I'll kill you for this, Amaya Aizen!

"Let's go!" Amaya commanded.

"No! No! Please! Grimmjow!" Karina yelled out to him as a pair of arms wrapped around her midsection, lifting her straight from the ground.

Karina kicked out with her legs, flailing her arms, trying desperately to break the man's hold on her but stopped as Amaya appeared in front of her once more, her face stoic and heartless as a threat so vile escaped the woman's lips.

"I was kind enough to leave him alive, don't make me regret that decision, Karina."

Karina felt her body go limp, all of the fight within her deflating from her body while the woman stared at her with such intense eyes; while her features didn't show an ounce of mercy, Karina thought she might have been able to see sympathy shining back from deep within right before Amaya turned away from her. Karina couldn't hold back the lump that formed in her throat, the tears that fell from her cheeks while the stranger who held her tightly in his grasp carted her away from Grimmjow.

"Where are you taking me?" Karina asked between her sobs, needing to know what had just happened.

"You are a human with high levels of spiritual pressure, Karina Reiko. You are being taken to the soul society for observation until further notice." Amaya stated, not even bothering to look back at her.

Karina sucked in a deep breath as she squeezed her eyes shut; not even trusting herself to ask anymore of her questions out loud-what is the soul society? Why would I need to be observed? Why did you have to hurt him!

"Karina!"

"Hurry up! He's gaining on us! Open the gate!" Amaya ordered, knowing very well that the kick she had delivered to the Espada's face wasn't nearly enough to keep him out for long. Karina struggled against the man who still held her in his arms, not even thinking about the earlier threat, she screamed.

"Grimmjow!"

Amaya turned on her heel, lifting her hand, she snatched Karina by the chin so abruptly it made Karina bite her own tongue. Karina moaned out loud form the sudden pain.

"Do you even know what your calling for? He's an Espada! They feed off of human's like us!" Amaya grated.

Karina's eyes widened, a soft whimper escaping from the back of her throat-Did she just say Grimmjow feeds off of humans? Wait...did she just count herself as being human!?

"Fucking Soul Reaper, get your hands off of her!" Grimmjow snarled as he pushed his body faster than he ever had, managing to reach out and grab Karina by her upper arm.

Karina let out a deep cry. Grimmjow knew he had a hold of her injured arm; but in that moment he couldn't afford to let go. If they took her from him, they might not ever give her back! Karina continued to cry out as she felt her body being pulled from both directions, the soul reaper who held her using flash step, while Grimmjow used his Sonído, playing the most painful game of tug-a-war she had ever been put in the middle of.

Grimmjow gritted his teeth as Amaya Aizen flash stepped to his right side, kicking him in the rib cage with all the strength the little bitch could muster, but still, Grimmjow held on-Protect! Mine!

"Karina!" Grimmjow growled her name, meeting her gaze as Amaya Aizen did the unthinkable...

Grimmjow's jaw clenched, his grip loosened as his body stilled, as if in slow motion, Karina watched the blood spurt from his chest and in that moment, Karina had never hated anyone as much as she hated Amaya Aizen.

"Grimmjow! No! Grimmjow!" Karina screamed as she fought to get to him; she didn't care what anyone said to her, Grimmjow had saved her life and for that, Karina's trust in him would never waver!

"Grimmjow!" Karina sobbed as all the light around her was snuffed out, the last thing she saw was the body of her lover laying face down in the grass as the doors to the Senkaimon slammed closed; sealing her fate.