Chapter 22: Pools of Wrath

In a room bathed by the rays of the morning sun, Grimmjow waded into a pool of scented water that's ben sprinkled with fragrant yellow flowers. He threw his blood soaked haori to one of the eyeless attendants standing by on the side, eager to be rid of the offending piece of clothing and be washed clean. Water is scarce in Hueco Mundo, so to Grimmjow, wading in this luxurious pool is akin to bathing in liquid sapphire and gold flakes.

He shivered as the water splashes up to his waist, enjoying the contrast between the warm morning sun and the cold bath. When the surface of the water became still, Grimmjow dove deep and surfaced with a messy crown of petals on his head, water rolling down his muscled body like glittering diamonds. The scent of gore and death still clung to his skin, but the perfumed water seemed to soften it's rusty edge. He slid his hand down to his groin to rubbed off the remnants of semen and sex that clung onto his skin, evidence of his sleepless night with his highness.

"May I join you?" A childish voice called out from the entrance of the chamber. Grimmjow couldn't be bothered to answer. He just waved apathetically and sinks deeper into the water.

The King smiled, infinitely amused by Grimmjow's reaction. He slowly approach the bathing poo stepping out of his gold silk robe as he stalked his prey with baited breath. Naked and showered by the sun's rays, the King pad out his soles with reiatsu and walked on the water like he would walk on any solid surface.

His gentle stride scattered the flower petals into Grimmjow's lap. "You remind me of a cat I used to own." He smiled, slowly easing himself down into the water and onto Grimmjow's lap. "A strange little feline, that one. Always wanted to take baths with me."

Grimmjow hummed in response, clearly not interested by the King's little anecdote.

"I used to have many pets." He continued. "I asked for them since I'm always cooped up in this palace of mine. The animals never really last long, but the Shinigami fared better with my games, so I began asking for them instead." He grinned, pointing to the mutilated attendants that milled around the room. Grimmjow stayed silent, gauging whether the boy to determine his seriousness.

"Huh. You have horrible taste." Grimmjow said with a deadpan expression on his face. He leaned back to hook his hand over the edge of the shallow pool, leaning his head out to stretch his aching neck. "So is that what you're doing now? Domesticating me so I can be your new pet? Then what? You'll gouge my eyes out and make me work as your eunuch?" He muttered lazily, tracing circles on the surface of the water as he beckoned sleep to find him.

The boy laughed. What an amusing creature. "So fearless." He murmured, kissing Grimmjow's lips. "I can move the entire Gotei 13 to my will, but you… I can't even make you pay attention to my words." He gushed, rubbing himself up to Grimmjow in excitement. "Hey… pay attention to me." The boy whined, licking Grimmjow's hollow mask.

The arrancar snapped his eyes open. "What." He spat out, annoyed that this boy is interrupting his peaceful morning soak. The King's blue eyes lit up with excitement, thrilled by Grimmjow's gruff response. This Hollow is everything he ever wanted in a companion. A strong, aggressive man who cannot be affected by his will.

"Nothing." He chuckled and gave Grimmjow a gentle kiss, reaching below the water to rub the hollow's massive member, hoping that the gesture is enough to appease his moodiness. "I haven't had anyone interesting to talk to in years. "Talk to me. Tell me something about your home." He moaned, leaning forward for another kiss.

Grimmjow grabbed a handful of his golden hair and jerked his head back, his eyes more irritated than amused. "Looks like you're more interested in my cock than my stories." He muttered, watching the boy's hand clench around his thick cock. The king let out a staggered breath, aware just how easy it is for Grimmjow to snap his head back.

The hollow turned his head and watch the boy's skin flush pink and his cock harden. "Please." The King whispered, moving his hip ever so slightly for a hint of friction of his hard member.

"I see." Grimmjow said, rising up and throwing the boy onto the edge of the pool, roughly grabbing his hips and positioning his cock on the boy's asshole. "If I fuck you, would you shut your mouth and let me be?"

The King pulled away, shocked at the impudence that this lowly hollow is showing him. But for some reason, he found his gaze softening and lowered his head. "Gently…" The boy moaned. "I'm still sore from last night."

Ignoring his pathetic plea, Grimmjow pushed himself into the blindingly tight flesh, groaning as heat seemed to devour his cock. "No." He growled, savoring the warm gush of blood lubricating his entry. Ah yes, the boy is starting to smell delicious again.

The king cried out and tried to scramble away, but Grimmjow's bruising grip kept him in his place. The hints of pleasure pressed against his prostate is but a mere whisper from the pounding pain that he's in. 'Yes.. hurt me… make me forget.' He endured thrusts after thrust until his punishment became pleasure, and his despair turned into peace.

What perfect irony. He started the Gotei 13 so he can exterminate hollows because he feared their unpredictable nature. 'It's necessary, a mind that cannot be controlled is a mind ripe for revolution.' He used to say, justifying his tyranny with the burden of Kingship placed upon him. Now here he is, completely enraptured by one of the most dangerous hollows he ever met, the very thing that used to fear him made this unpredictable demon all the more alluring.

The king twisted up to the side and held onto Grimmjow's shoulder. "Be mine." He whispered desperately, looking back, his eyes searching for a kiss. Grimmjow pushed his head down and ignored him, using his shoulder as leverage to aid his relentless pounding. "Please!" He yelped, shuddering as Grimmjow fucked another orgasm out of him.

The espada ceased his relentless pounding and flipped the boy over. He looked utterly wrecked; eyes half open, face stained with tears, snot, and saliva, body shivering at the slightest touch. This time, Grimmjow entered him gently, enjoying how the boy opened up and took him to root of his manhood. The king's body twitched at the invasion, but the rest of him was too drained to react to Grimmjow.

"I'm no pet." The hollow whispered, licking the boy's jaw with a certain kind of gentleness. "… but I'll keep you company. As equals."

The king muttered something incoherently, but his mind is too muddled in pleasure to express the happiness that he felt. Grimmjow hushed his desperate attempts and cradled him in his strong arms. "I know." He murmured against the boy's lips and began to worship his body in the gentlest way he know how.

The King wept, because for the first time in centuries someone finally gave him what he deserved.

Ichigo's daily routines in Los Noches almost felt normal now. In this moonlit land, he's not governed by clocks and alarms, but by the calls of his comrades who's all eager to spend time with him. After all, what else is there to pass the time here other than the company of comrades and the challenges from his rivals?

This perfect idyllic monotony used to be enough for him. There were even days where the thoughts of his family and Sereitei didn't enter his mind. Hueco mundo and it's colorful inhabitant was his blissful doze of lithium.

However, ever since that fateful night, Ichigo couldn't stop thinking about Grimmjow.

He knows that it's useless to fret. Grimmjow is strong enough to handle whatever comes up in his mission, and Aizen is intent on keeping a tight lid on it's details. It would be silly to keep worrying about something he had no control over.

So he tried to forget in the best way he knows how, by losing himself in a haze of fighting and fucking. They governed his day, the struggle for dominance and being dominated by strong men. He always enjoyed them, but they barely took his mind off of Grimmjow.

"There's nothing to be worried about." Aizen had reassured him time and time again. He would always pull out that glass ball of his and explained the clever mechanics to Ichigo slowly.

The boy understand that Aizen does this to give him a peace of mind, but before long, his words began to sound oh so condescending.

One day where he's been especially restless, Ichigo lashed out to Aizen, calling him out for keeping him in the blind.

"I thought we were partners. What value can I offer you if you don't share any of your plans with me?"

Aizen didn't react at first, his face a picture of perfect stillness as Ichigo ranted about how unfair he was being. When Ichigo showed no sign of stopping, the man then threw the small ball away, then held Ichigo in his arms, trying his best to give some comfort to the boy. It wasn't long until his hand goes wandering under Ichigo's hakama.

In any other situation Ichigo would've melted into his arms and apologized for his behavior, but today he felt rather rebellious. There's this gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach that bubbles and turns every time he think about Grimmjow. The last time he ignored his guts, his family got hurt. Ichigo just couldn't understand why Aizen would rather silence him with sex rather than answer him head on.

"…I guess I'm just one of your solders huh?" Ichigo had said sharply as he pushed away Aizen's advances harshly. The Shinigami looked confused. He reach out to touch Ichigo's hand and held him gently.

"Poor boy." Aizen sighed. He almost sounded hurt. "You are my soldier, don't you remember?"

Images of Aizen looking down at him after defeating him flashed through Ichigo's head. How terrible it was then, to be put down and stripped to his core, to offer his life up just so Orihime could live. He shouldn't have been swept up with his emotions like this. He was, and is still is, a mere property of Aizen Sousuke.

"Thank fucking god I never felt anything for you." Ichigo muttered quietly.

Aizen held his breath for a second, as if he's containing all of his rage in that one breath. Then after a sigh, he looked up to Ichigo and gave him a small smile. "If only you know just how much you mean to me." He said with rather sadly, surprising Ichigo as a glimmer of emotion slip past his impenetrable façade.

Ichigo couldn't say anything back at him. He just ran out. He was frustrated. He knew that Aizen isn't out to do him harm, but the way he omits and sugarcoats everything makes Ichigo feel small. Is he a pawn, or is he really important? How was he supposed to distinguish sincerity and manipulation when Aizen wouldn't help him understand? It's like the man wanted to be the villain, to be that figure that loves and deceive him at the same time.

Aizen is too much of a contradiction for him to understand, and Ichigo does not fare well with subtle machinations and shadowy plots.

'This is why you don't sleep with the enemy.' He could almost hear the hollow inside of him snicker. Or was it Zangetsu? He couldn't tell the difference anymore. Even his inner world is turning into something unrecognizable.

So that is why Ichigo ran out of Aizen's palace in search of solitude. It's no easy task to do, especially with three lovers and a barrack of arrancars all vying for his attention. Eventually, he managed to slip by the guards and into the never-ending landscape of Las Noches.

Ichigo wandered around the sand dunes for a while; going from one chasm to another to watch the pit of Menos that Tousen brings him to. In that bowl of despair, each figure of menos fought and ate each other for power. The sight of them tearing into each other may look gruesome to others, but to Ichigo, they looked beautiful. In a pit of despair and death, the dirtiest and weakest beings struggled hard for survival. Those lowly hollows have no purpose, and yet they strive so hard to exist.

'Have I lost that drive? What is the point of my existence anyway? Am I not the same as them?' Ichigo asked himself in disgust.

He used to have a purpose, to go to school and battle hollows, to be a good son and a guardian to his city. Though he didn't enjoy it at first, Ichigo protected his town as best as he can. He often failed and put his friends in danger, but despite all of that, he was happy. Now, he's a disowned wanderer, a ronin with a sword, unable to commit, unable to struggle like his destiny called him to do.

He envied those menos. They exist so passionately even without a clear purpose or goal. He hope that one day he could be content in his own monotone existence, for now that he's given his life to Aizen, he is neither welcomed in Karakura or Soul Society.

He could remember moments of passion. When the coup came, Ichigo found a new cause to protect, an enemy to cut down, a direction to unleash the destructive tendencies that boils impatiently inside his body. It felt good, euphoric even, to fight for something again. He still shivers in pleasure when he remembers just how great it felt to separate Barragan's head form his body.

Now, all he ever does is slash his sword at Nnoitra and bring comfort to other warriors. He missed that rush of danger that only a real battle can provide.

It disgusted him. The fact that he needed conflict to feel fulfilled made him very disappointed in himself. He thought he was a man of peace, someone who only raises his sword to protect other from injustice. He never commits violence just for the sake of violence itself, and he definitely doesn't enjoy it.

'Except now you do.' The voice inside of him said again, playing the memory of the countless battles he had with other Arrancars.

That will have to change.

Ichigo stood naked in front of the hot spring that Starrk showed him, hoping to find a small brook or stream to aid him in his meditation. He found that the circular rock sculpture in the middle of the pool allowed a steady trickle of water to drop onto the steaming pool.

"That will do." Ichigo smirked, happy that his journey for self-restraint and pacifism is off to a good start.

He sat himself down on the base of the effigy, positioning his head so the steady trickle falls steadily on top of his head.

'I want peace.' Ichigo chanted inward. 'I want happiness. I want stability. I want to be able to smile without unsheathing my sword ever again.'

He meditated on those words over and over again, using the constant pressure of the water stream to focus his mind. Ichigo hoped if he repeated them enough times he would be able to let go of his need for violence. He would rather die before he sees himself derail into a sadistic psycho like Nnoitra.

Alas, the more he repeated those words, the more futile it all seemed. The beasts inside him growled and rumbled, all whining for the sight of blood, for a fight good enough to push Ichigo to his fullest potential.

Just as he was going to be swallowed up by those thoughts of violence, a gentle stir in the water broke Ichigo's concentration.

In front of him was Starrk. He was sitting by the edge of the pool, drawing cricles on the water and watching him with his sleepy bedroom eyes.

'How long has he been sitting there…?' Ichigo wondered, mildly disturbed at the thought of being watched as he does his mantras.

"Ah, did I do something to distract you?" The arrancar frowned, sliding into the water and wading close to him. "I'm sorry. You looked like you were concentrating really hard. It was cute." Starrk smiled, reaching out to tuck his wet hair behind his ear.

Ichigo wanted to lash out at Starrk for intruding on his privacy, but he couldn't muster any anger to do so. He leaned into the touch, relishing in the presence of another person. He's afraid that if he's left to his own thoughts, the beasts inside of him will swallow him up whole.

Starrk obliged and reached out with his other hand to bring Ichigo closer. Ever since he gave a part of himself to heal Ichigo, the primera espada has been very in tuned with Ichigo's emotional state. In every one of their interactions, Starrk has always aim to put the boy at ease. He's one of the few decent ones, that Starrk. It made Ichigo felt unworthy.

"Its fine." Ichigo sighed, leaning away from his touch. "I just wanted to be alone, that's all." He swam to the edge and reach out for his clothes. "How did you find me anyways? I thought I made sure I wasn't followed for miles."

"Well you have a part of me in you..." Starrk came up behind him and enclosed him in another embrace. "But even if I could always feel you… I can't stand not being able to touch you." He whispered, kissing the shell of Ichigo's ear with gentle pecks.

"Huh… I know I should be happy, but knowing that someone can monitor my every move is kinda…" he trailed off, eyes lost between the haze of steam rising from the pool. Starrk leaned down, trying to catch his eyes.

"Sorry." Ichigo muttered, shaking his head. "I don't feel like myself these days. I know you wouldn't spy on me for Aizen."

Starrk noticed Harry's reluctance when he spoke Aizen's name. "Did something happen?" Ichigo couldn't help but notice the little hopeful pause in the man's tone.

"More like what didn't happen." He scoffed, leaning on the warm stones to let his body dry. Starrk swam closer and lay his chin on thighs. He looked like a dog begging for a treat. It wasn't before long before Ichigo relented his answer.

"I asked him about Grimmjow and Aizen is just being difficult. I had this bad feeling in my gut that something isn't right, and when I offer my help, Aizen just told me to stay put. Like I'm some kind of helpless prisoner here!"

Hearing Grimmjow's name sparked a little fuse of jealousy deep inside his heart. Only Ichigo can rile him up like this. Calmly, he buried that dangerous emotion deep inside and adopted a cold façade.

"Did he take your sword again?" Starrk asked Ichigo, his usually happy tone suddenly turning very somber.

"What? No, Zangetsu is here." Ichigo patted the broadsword.

"Good. Then go help Grimmjow then." Stark jumped out of the water and wore his jacket. His dripping body seemed to only weigh down the sensible uniform. He noticed Ichigo giving him a strange look. "What? You wanted a solution, no?"

"Yes, but you're telling me to leave like it's so easy to do. What if I couldn't get back here? Where would I go? I have no Idea where Grimmjow is, I basically betrayed all of Soul Society, and my family is now living with a version of me who existed out of Spirit candy! So 'going' to help Grimmjow requires a more solid base that just butting my heads in those two realm!"

"And why not? Stark clicked his tongue, considering Ichigo's bothersome dilemma with an air of carelessness. "If coming back is the problem then I'll open a garganta for you. As for Grimmjow's location… nobody but Aizen probably knows about it. But if you want to give up and play prisoner again, I won't tell. You just need to own up to it and stop acting like you're being held here against your will."

Ichigo gritted his teeth, not used with Starrk's cold and apathetic tone. The espada is right though. All these excuses that he made up for himself are his real captor, not Aizen. Ever since he got Zangetsu back, Ichigo has been his own man. He is only as trapped as he wanted to be.

"Fine. I'm going." Ichigo nodded in determination, pulling his clothes off a nearby bush.

While he was tying up his Hakama, he felt a shy little tug on the fabric.

"Don't go." Stark said, his eyes full of emotion this time. "I wasn't trying to encourage you to leave." He said in a low whine.

"I know. Whenever you get jealous you get cold like that." Ichigo laugh. He brushed away Stark's prying finger and began a series of intricate knots to secure his Hakama.

Stark, frowned. He's happy that they're close enough to recognize each other's idiosyncrasies like this, but he's also irritated that Ichigo could see through him that easily.

"Ichigo…" he called out again. "If you leave Hueco Mundo then I can't follow you…"

"Oh?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "I'm fine on my own." boy grinned, enjoying his little payback more than he should.

As silly as Starrk's little temper tanrum is, his harsh words held a sliver of truth to them. He is one of the most powerful beings in this realm. If he really wants to, he could take on Aizen. He only stayed obedient because of his honor code dictates him to.

Aizen should've respected him. He should've treated him as an equal and shared his plans with Ichigo, because to Ichigo, He would break any boundary to make sure his friends are safe.

A/N: Silly Aizen, always putting your ego over yourself lol