Since his skirmish with Ichigo, Grimmjow had been given a bit more free rain over where he was allowed to go in Soul Society. He wasn't permitted to go to the Rukongai districts, however he was allowed to use the training facilities, mess hall and shinigami bar. He had given them all that he knew regarding Aizen, the Hogyoku and their plans but part of him still feels empty. He is a king, why should he be confined to such pointless rules and regulations? He's not a soldier, he's a hunter, a warrior for his own gain. Part of him thinks that he shouldnt have agreed to him coming along with this mess, it would've saved him the mind numbing boredom. Every soul reaper below lieutenant level was trash, barely even able to stand near him due to his reiatsu, much less put up a fight. The ones who are actually worth his time are all so busy, he couldn't even find the chance to challenge Ichigo to another fight. However, the only person he won't challenge to a fight ever again is Kenpachi. He almost died during that, only being spared by Ichigo himself who took over the battle. Luckily enough, his room (He'd been moved from the holding cell to an actual semi-decent and private quarters.) has a fridge and television and the sake is good. Though, today has been different, the lieutenant of the sixth division appeared at the door of his quarters and didn't leave when he was told to "Fuck off." from Grimmjow himself.
"Oi, Grimmjow, this is important." Renji shouts, causing the panther espada to scoff to himself before pausing the novella and rolling out of his cot. The espada stretches slightly, like his former cat self, then opens the sliding door to his room.
"What do you want, Pineapple?" Grimmjow growls through his teeth. "Unless you wanna fight, get lost."
"Oh there's gonna be fighting involved but this has to be said privately. Can I come in?" The Espada's interest is piqued when he hears the red headed man say this.
"Might as well, you're the only person to have knocked all fucking week." The lieutenant slips off his shoes as he enters Grimmjow's quarters. The room is rather sparse, with just a kotatsu, cot, television, fridge and cactus being present in the room. The floor is covered in empty sake bottles and stray food remains. "Say shit about my dump and I'll gut you."
"Relax, I came to see if you want to go on a mission. We're invading Hueco Mundo tonight. I'm sure you're aware why Ichigo is more moody than usual." Renji says as he sits at a spare spot on the floor in front of the table. From his uniform he produces a bottle of plum wine.
"I thought I told you goons that I ain't helping you all against Aizen." Grimmjow snarls.
"I'm aware, but Aizen won't be in Hueco Mundo. The moment we set foot there he's going to invade the world of the living. We're going to rescue Rukia."
"What makes you think he won't bring her with him?" Grimmjow asks, and this question has crossed both his and Ichigo's mind during the planning of the rescue mission.
"We don't, but what we do know is that Rukia will try to escape the moment she senses us in Hueco Mundo. We know that Aizen is bating Ichigo to go to Hueco Mundo, so when he senses him, he'll move his forces to the living world."
"So why do you need me?" Grimmjow asks.
"Because you know the place and none of us do. Once Aizen is dead, there's going to be a power vacuum there you are going to want to take advantage of." Grimmjow arches an eyebrow slightly at the prospect.
"A king needs a kingdom." Grimmjow grins. "Alright. I'm in. When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow. Ichigo is still training with the quincy as well as the head captain. Figured I'd ask if you want to train him too with the hollow side of his abilities." Renji responds.
"If he can out drink me, then yes I'll train him." Grimmjow responds. "Since you came all the way here with the boose might as well stay for a cup. Besides, I'm gonna need to be filled in on this Rukia chick."
"Alright, got any clean cups?" Renji asks, looking about the mess in the room.
In Hueco Mundo.
The other half of the primera espada Starrk, Lillynette Gingerbuck skates across the frozen floor of the long hallway leading up to Rukia's quarters at the end of the hall. Over the past two days since Aizen had finished turning her into an arrancar, the entirety of Las Noches has been frozen solid. For some, the cold was enjoyable, almost fun even for some of the lesser Arrancar and Fracciones. Though aside from Starrk and Barragan, the cold is unbearable. Even Gin and Tousen had to bundle up in thick winter coats to keep themselves warm. Normally the temperature was an easy thing to get around since any of the arrancar had more than enough spiritual pressure to insulate themselves from the cold. However, the frigid temperatures created by Rukia's transformation don't adhere to normal Newtonian physics nor physical temperature. The cold she is creating is freezing the spiritual pressure itself, the temperature itself several dozen degrees below freezing for the physical atmosphere in Las Noches but everything made of reiatsu, even the reiatsu in the air has frozen solid. The layer of reiatsu infused ice is several inches thick across every surface in Las Noches. Aizen had to allocate some of his focus to ensuring his army wouldn't freeze solid.
Though, being told to guard Rukia has allowed Starrk to converse with her, even if he hasn't gotten a response yet. Nevertheless, his life here has almost become pleasant in Hueco Mundo. He repeats the same process each day he's been stationed at her guard, bringing her breakfast, lunch and dinner, standing aside the door, talking to her about what it's like as a hollow and why he created Lillynette from himself. Today, he's bringing a tray with a T-bone steak, some steamed broccoli and some mashed potatoes under a cloche with some tea to her room. "Greetings, Kurosaki Rukia. I have brought your dinner." Starrk says his typical greeting, however this time the door to Rukia's room opens slowly. The frost covering everything had long since extinguished the lamp that lights her room.
"You can come in, Starrk." Rukia says softly, the lesser espada pushes the half frozen door open feeling a bit of resistance as he does so. "I've heard what you've been talking about these past few days."
"That was the intention." Starrk responds, as Lillynette pokes her head around his side to gaze at the cero espada. "I'm the only espada that actually likes the cold. Even Barragan is now complaining about how stuffy it's making the place. Here's your food." He says, placing the tray on the frozen bedside table.
"Is Lilynette your daughter or fraccione?" Rukia asks, seeing the young blonde girl partially hidden behind Starrk.
"I guess you could say she's my daughter, you ever heard of someone being so lonely they manifest a companion?" Starrk asks. "It's lonely at the top, my strength has made everything fear me. I joined Aizen's army for a chance at comradery but even now he orders me to be alone again."
"Aizen is only full of empty promises, he spent over a hundred years weaving a web of lies. He tried to kill the person closest to him, turned against soul society to try to install himself as the new soul king. He doesn't care about anyone, we're just pawns and pieces on his chessboard. He took everything from me, my life, my soul… now I can't even go home to soul society since I became this… this monster."
"All this has shown me is that I don't have a place in Lord Aizen's army. You've shown me more hospitality in the one-sided conversations over the past days than I've ever had in this army." Starrk responds, Lillynette finally gaining the courage to sit beside Rukia on the frozen bed.
"I was supposed to get married when this is all over, take a break from my daily life as a soul reaper for a time… maybe start a family with Ichigo someday… but that future is gone now. I'm an arrancar, a hollow. I'll be exercised. Just like what happened with Kaien." Rukia curls up on the corner of the bed, holding her knees to her chest.
"Do we tell her?" The voice of Lillynette echoes through Starrk's head.
"It wouldn't help her." Starrk answers. "Aizen had instructed us to trust no one, not even him. Soul reaper, I have a question for you."
"W-what?" Rukia asks, her voice shaky from crying.
"If we were to betray Aizen, join you or help you escape. Would we have a place among soul society?" The question gains both Lilynette's attention and Rukia's own.
"I don't know. I honestly think they're more likely to just kill me for being an espada now then to allow me to return home… but if you betray Aizen during his invasion and I kill him then maybe they'll allow us and any who survive the war to either return to Hueco Mundo or go home to soul society." Rukia surmises. "Almost half of the captains are now vizards, soul reapers with hollow powers, they might be lenient on having arrancar join the gotei 13."
"Then what do we do?" Lillynette asks.
"Aizen wants Ichigo to come here, I don't know what he'll do when that happens but when Ichigo arrives I'm going to escape. Do you know where my swords are?" Rukia asks.
"Lord Aizen has them in his quarters. He also told us that the espada lower than 3 will stay here in Hueco Mundo to fight Kurosaki Ichigo when he invades. Stalling time for his invasion of the human world. Tier Halibel, Barragan and I along with our fracciones are the main force going to invade the human world. He plans to leave you here to demoralize Kurosaki Ichigo." Rukia once again goes silent at this statement. "I know now that my allegiance to lord Aizen is misplaced. I will let you know when he arrives, and the one you should not let him face alone. The fourth espada, Ulquiorra Cifer. Aizen has paid special attention to him, so when Kurosaki arrives, get out of here quickly."
"Why are you telling me this? This is the first time we've ever talked."
"Aizen left me to solitude time and time again after he promised me that I would never again be alone. Lillynette and I are the same being, so even when we're together… I'm still alone." Starrk says. "I don't want to be a part of this war, all I want is to not be alone anymore. Clearly this isn't the side that will give me what I want and you have shown me that. Whether you know it or not. Come Lillynette, I want to take a nap." Starrk says as he starts to make his way out of the room.
"You have Lillynette." Rukia says, causing the eyepatch wearing man to stop in his tracks. "You created her because you were lonely, you never needed to join Aizen." Starrk chuckles to himself hearing her say this, so obvious it stared him in the face.
"Guess you're right, I'll be back in a few hours with dinner. I look forwards to our next conversation." Starrk responds as he walks away from his post.
"I sensed he was telling the truth." The fused voice of her zanpakuto spirits echoes through her mind as the door to the room closes behind the primera espada. "Do you believe what he said?"
"I think he was, but we still need to figure out how to get out of here. The room is made from Sekiseki rock, so I can't dematerialize my swords from here." Rukia says through her thoughts.
"Maybe not yours, but you are linked to Ichigo's being. Your souls are now one in the same, Zangetsu might be willing to assist you with getting back to Ichigo." Her swords respond. "A king cannot deny his queen, especially in her time of need."
"When Ichigo arrives, we'll make our move, but we need to train… Empiratriz."