Author's Note: Hope everyone's staying safe and healthy with all this craziness going on. Hopefully it all passes soon… Until then enjoy this chapter! There will be some Ichigo and Grimmjow interacting but you'll also be hearing Grimmjow's side of things.

Lies Open Prison Doors

Chapter 15: Are You a Bad Guy?

Unbetad

Ginjou cursed his own high tolerance as his tongue stretched towards the sparse traces of whiskey dripping from the open flask. He drank every last drop like it was water after traversing an entire desert.

Ginjou ignored the condescending snort to his right as he tucked the silver flask back inside his chest pocket. He just drank a whole fucking bottle and only had a slight buzz to show for it. After drinking for so many years, he almost had to imbibe throughout the day to stave off withdrawals. Whiskey was like medication for him and he desperately needed his refill.

Oh, and it was only 1:34 in the afternoon.

"Haven't changed much, have ya?"

Ginjou grudgingly turned his head towards the right, eyes snapping first to the small puddle forming along the tiles and then to shiny, wet, combat boots. His gaze traveled upwards with a contemplative hum while inspecting the sopping wet guard uniform. Ginjou stared up at the taller male with a raised brow before replying, "Could say the same to you, big fella… but then that'd be a lie, wouldn't it?"

Zaraki lifted a brow of his own and crossed both arms, letting the towel he'd been drying himself with fall across his shoulders.

"You don't seem as bloodthirsty as I remember… then again, you weren't a father at the time… I gotta say—I was actually SHOCKED when I heard the 'Kenpachi's had a kid together." Ginjou stifled a laugh when Zaraki glanced around the hall to make sure they were truly alone before turning back to glare at him. Without breaking eye contact, Ginjou pressed on, "You guys didn't even gimme a chance to congratulate ya before you up and disappeared on me. I mean, really—what is it about babies that turn y'all into these timid little dogs..? Oh c'mon, don't glare at me like that. Be honest—when's the last time you actually killed someone?"

That question seemed to put a wrench in Zaraki's anger and he immediately recoiled with a defensive sneer.

"That's none of your business."

"See?" Ginjou exclaimed, as if Zaraki had just confessed to being a member of some recovery group called 'Killers Anonymous'. "Reaper hasn't reaped anyone either—not since he found Neliel."

Unsure of how to respond to that new bit of information, Zaraki decided to ask a question of his own, "Speakin' of him—Didn'tchya say you'd help explain why the hell I got dragged into this whole mess?" He jutted his thumb towards the entrance of the restroom where Ichigo and Grimmjow were still holed up.

"Oh yeah…" Ginjou hummed with a smirk that Zaraki had no idea how to interpret. "Thing is.. I kinda showed up late to the party as well. Grimmjow had already raped Bazz-B by the time I got there."

"Yeahhh.. I noticed Bazz-B was… uhm.. bleeding..." Zaraki nodded uncomfortably while shifting to lean against the wall, arms still crossed over his chest, "But Blue wouldn't do that without good reason. He knows Yhwach will have his skin once word gets out—Him and whoever helped'm out. And there's nothin' I can do 'cept stand back and hope Ichigo doesn't get caught in the crossfire. I have a feelin' he's gonna get 'imself involved either way though..."

An amused snort, "If it's to help anyone he's grown even the slightest attachment to—" Ginjou cut himself off with an irritated groan that morphed into a reluctant chuckle, "Ya know... For a legendary assassin, Ichigo has the most obnoxiously big heart, doesn't he?"

The very corner of Zaraki's lips lifted into the beginnings of a fond smirk, but he instantly snuffed the emotion out. He needed to stay calm and FOCUSED, especially around this man.

Ginjou's smirk fell and he let his gaze drop towards his own thick, black boots, "From what I gathered, Grimmjow did that because Bazz-B refused to call his own sister—who was out FILMING Inoue and Nel at the park. Grimmjow said Bazz-B threatened to hurt or kill one of 'em if Ichigo didn't…" He trailed off while circling one hand in the air. There was no need to be specific when Bazz-B's intentions were so obvious, "And that jackass even had the video playing live on his TV!" Ginjou paused to reach for his flask but then remembered it was already empty. With a sigh, he continued, "And if that wasn't enough, they already set a precaution, saying; if Bazz-B's sister didn't hear from him within a certain amount of time, then she could kill Nel. I suppose Grimmjow did what he thought was helpful at the time, or maybe he just panicked when he refused to call her off…" He paused to look back up towards Zaraki's purposefully blank face, "Then Nnoitra recognized your daughter on the screen… Which is crazy, isn't it? By some unimaginable twist of fate—or some scary amount of luck, YOUR daughter happens to be at the park with Unohana at the same time this is all happening." Ginjou paused for a moment to really emphasize how improbable everything was. As if the universe and planets themselves would align just for Ichigo's sake. He was an enigma in many ways, but when it came to luck, that kid could scrape by any situation with all of his limbs intact. "But anyway… Grimmjow sent someone to go find you, andddd that's when I came in. I gave Hana a call, in your stead, and asked if she could help."

Zaraki's eye narrowed.

"By 'help' you mean...?"

"Yup," Ginjou shrugged one shoulder, "Before you bite my head off, you should know that I barely pushed her to do it—I'm honestly surprised she didn't put up more of a fight…" He choked on an unexpected laugh, "Yes! Even SHE will do just about anything for Ichigo… I'm glad I'm not the only suicidal one when it comes to that brat."

"Soooo…" Zaraki fought back a long sigh as he reached up to scrub a hand across his entire face; He felt so exhausted all of a sudden, "Let me get this straight. You asked Unohana—my ex-wife," Zaraki emphasized with a tired growl, "To kill Bazz-B's sister, who are both relations of mine, by the way, because Bambietta was gonna kill lil' Nel if Ichigo didn't fuck Bazz-B?"

"Essentially… yes."

Curiosity got the best of Zaraki and he asked, "What did she say when you asked for her help..?"

Ginjou blinked in surprise when Zaraki's growl softened ever so slightly while referring to Unohana. It made him wonder why they even got divorced in the first place, but then he shrugged it off. It wasn't his place to ask.

"Hmmm, well, she did hang up on me at first.. and then she called me a 'rat'." Ginjou scratched at his chin with a shrug, unaffected by Unohana's hostility, but he noticed how Zaraki's shark-like grin came back to life. Just as the captain was about to interrogate further, shouting erupted from the showers.

"Hey! Heyeyey! Don't you fucking leave me like this! YO! I'm not jokin'! ICHIGO!"

Said orangette came storming out of the restroom with a towel wrapped tight around his waist. His steps were steady and he seemed much more sober than when they last saw him. Zaraki struggled to remain calm when he recalled the way Ichigo's body felt in his lap. The taste of his lips… The feel of his hands…

"YOU FUCK! I'll kill you!"

Grimmjow's ferocious snarl snapped Zaraki from his steamy thoughts. He gave his head a good shake to clear it and straightened to greet the approaching male, "What's that about?" He turned his chin towards the showers.

Ichigo simply shrugged in answer before turning his gaze to the only other person in the hall. He faced Ginjou with a small smirk and said, "I'm surprised you two haven't killed each other yet..."

"Waaaait, wait, wait…" Zaraki held up a hand and then turned it to pinch the bridge of his nose in irritation, "You knew this fucker was here and didn't gimme a heads up?"

Ichigo resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Didn't feel it was important," When Zaraki opened his mouth to argue, Ichigo added, "He's actually the one that forged my signature and got me sent here instead of Karakura in the first place, so I'm pretty pissed off at him too." Zaraki turned to stare at the wildcard of a man with his eye narrowed suspiciously, but Ginjou just grinned up at him. Knowing a fight would inevitably break out, Ichigo changed the subject, "Grimmjow told me what happened after I blacked out—Can I see one of your phones? I know it's against the rules but I want to call Inoue and make sure they're okay…"

Zaraki reached to dig out his phone, but Ginjou was faster. He had the device in Ichigo's waiting palm instantly. Ichigo shook his head at the pleased look that crossed Ginjou's face when Zaraki huffed at him, but then he shifted his focus to dialing Inoue's number.

Ichigo's throat tightened with a nervous gulp as he placed the phone to his ear. He saw Ginjou's reassuring smile and quickly turned to face the wall because he wanted some sense of privacy, even if the others could still see him. He just needed to know if Inoue and Nel were safe.

If anything happened to them...

Ringgg. Ringgg. Ringgg.

Ichigo's grip on the phone tightened with each empty ring as anxiety swelled in his chest.

Inoue and Nel better be okay.

Ringgg.

If she doesn't pick up, he will kill every single motherfucker in this whole goddamned prison—starting with Bazz-B.

Ringgg.

Pick up, Inoue.

Ichigo clenched his eyes shut and held his breath as he waited.

Ringgg.

Pick up pick up pick up pickup pickuppickuppick—

Click

"Hello…?"

Ichigo nearly choked on a relieved sob when he heard her voice.

"Thank god…" He sagged, facefirst, against the wall with a small, satisfied smile.

"Ichi…go…? Is that you?"

He was silent.

Chestnut eyes stared down at the floor and he dug his forehead into the wall as he debated whether or not he should answer. The prerecording that was supposed to play when receiving a call from an inmate was obviously missing, but did she notice…? And even if she did, it's not like Inoue would tell anyone about it, right?

He should hang up…

But—

"ITSUGO?! Isth that Itsugo!? I wanna talk! Mommy, lemme talk to Itsugo!"

Ichigo felt a sting behind his eyelids from what could only be the beginning of relieved tears, but he blinked them away. Hearing her small voice shouting for him made his heart swell, as if it had been running on empty.

"Put Nel on the phone…" Ichigo winced when he realized how serious he sounded and quickly added, "Please, Inoue."

To her credit, Inoue didn't comment on Ichigo's odd behavior nor the suddenness of the call. There was only rustling and then soft mumbling on the other line before Nel's loud, lispy voice pierced the receiver, "ITSUGO!"

Ichigo quickly blinked away the last stubborn tear and gathered himself back to his full height. He readjusted the towel around his waist for good measure; It didn't matter that she was miles away and nowhere within eyesight, just talking to his little girl made him feel... vulnerable.

"Hi, baby girl."

"YAYYY! Nel's happy!"

Ichigo couldn't stop the smile even if he wanted to. She sounded so genuinely excited. Ginjou and Zaraki couldn't see his happy expression but they could hear it in his voice as he said, "I'm glad Nel is happy! You being a good girl for Mommy?"

"Hehe! Yeaahhhhhh. We went to the playground! And I got to sthee my friend Yasthiru! We played tag and she helped me build a biiiiig sthand casthle! But now we're goin' home… 'Nd I don't WANNA go home.."

"Well, did you have fun at least? Anything happen that you should tell me about? You know you can tell me anything..." Ichigo's smile fell little by little when she went quiet. That girl could babble nonsense for hours—He has actually watched Nel TALK herself to sleep—so if she was at a loss for words, then that meant something important was on her mind; Something she couldn't wrap her little head around. "Whatsamatter?" Ichigo asked, trying to keep his voice light and cheery.

"Itsugo… are you a bad guy..?"

Ichigo's heart squeezed painfully inside his ribcage and he suddenly felt nauseous.

How the fuck was he supposed to respond to that?

"Who told you that…?"

Irritated that she didn't get an answer to her own question, Nel made a small huffing sound, but she responded to him regardless, "Uroo said you were a bad guy and tha'sth why you can't be my daddy anymore."

The phone creaked in Ichigo's tightening grasp as rage burst through him.

"Uroo? You mean Uryuu?" He managed to keep the growl out of his voice, for her sake.

"Yeah. Mommy's new fwiend with glasses. He's got a shiny car, and a biiiigggg house, and he's got a giant pool, and he's real nice, andddd—oh, and he makes pwetty dresses."

Dresses..? Ichigo's scowl took over when he recalled the gorgeous silver dress Inoue wore when visiting him… She wouldn't do something like that though… would she?

But the more he thought about it, the more he concluded that it was one of Uryuu's dresses.

But why?!

Didn't she see how inappropriate that was?

His anger towards Inoue piled up with each negative thought, but he brushed it aside. Despite everything, he still loved her and he was happy to know she wasn't hurt. In the end, Inoue was still taking care of Neliel and raising her while Ichigo was off strangling the ghosts of his past.

Ichigo was willing to forgive a lot of things—but to let some guy tell HIS daughter that he couldn't be her dad?

What the ever-loving-FUCK?

Who did he think he was?

Ichigo was fucking finished with the whole goddamn Ishida familyline at this point*.

"Well Uryuu is wrong, babygirl. Don't you dare listen to him." Ichigo was stern, but not harsh. He didn't want to upset her, though he had to make it clear how serious he was, "Neliel. Listen to me. No matter what happens—No matter how far away I am, or how long I'm gone—I will always be your dad. You got that?"

"Okay…" Nel happily agreed but she still sounded unsure. "So.. you're NOT a bad guy?"

Both anger and annoyance reared their ugly heads but then seeped from Ichigo's body in one long sigh. A chuckle managed to escape as he realized the ridiculousness of this conversation.

"Do YOU think I'm a bad guy?" Another small, hysterical chuckle tittered across his teeth.

This was crazy… Because he really IS a stereotypical 'bad guy'.

He's a convict!

A thief!

A liar!

For fuck's sake—He's KILLED people!

A lot of people...

Despite all of that, Nel's response was immediate and soaked with confidence—like when she learned two plus two equaled four, "No! I told Uroo dat there's NO WAY Itsugo's a bad guy!"

"Well there's your answer then."

"Heheh. I knew it!"

"Good. Now pass the phone to Mommy, I'd like to have a word with her."

"Okeedokee! Love youuuuu!"

"Love you too, baby girl." Ichigo's smile fell away once more as she passed the phone.

"Is everything alright?" Inoue didn't give him a chance to speak first, and Ichigo couldn't blame her for being anxious. He did sound kind of panicked when he first called, but after speaking with Nel he felt much better.

"Yeah… yeah. Everything's okay." Ichigo confirmed and he could almost see her sag in relief. "Didn't mean to worry you. Something just… came up… and…" Ichigo really wasn't sure how to explain the situation without giving away too much. He might just end up worrying her more if he tried. "Listen, I don't—"

"I'm sorry, Ichigo." Inoue interrupted, "But I have to let you go. We just got home and I need to get Nel down for her nap…"

No. There's no way he's letting her hang up yet.

"Did you know he was saying stuff like that to her?" Ichigo waited to see if Inoue would answer, but she went silent. He couldn't tell if she was thinking about her answer or maybe pretending to have already hung up, but he could still hear Nel laughing and babbling in the background. "Inoue, he told her I couldn't be her dad… And I want to know if you knew about it."

"I… I-I really have to go, Ichigo."

"Okay…?" Ichigo reluctantly agreed and there was a short pause on the other line. She was giving him a chance to say one last thing and, for some reason, Ichigo felt like it should be something meaningful, but all he could think about was Uryuu and what that bastard was telling his little girl. "Fine, but I really want to talk about this... alright?"

"O-okay…" Inoue whispered nervously into the receiver, which seemed a little strange. Ichigo wanted to ask about it but he didn't have time before Inoue said a quick, "Goodbye, Ichigo." And then hung up.

Ichigo pulled the phone away and stared at the device as if the words 'call ended' had all the answers to his cluster-fuck-of-a-life.

Well, at least they were alive.

Tragedy averted.

Ichigo slowly straightened off the wall to turn around and toss the phone back to its owner. Ginjou caught it with ease and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Guessin' everything's alright?" Zaraki wondered gruffly.

"Yeahhh…" Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck and slowly tilted to face the man, who was grinning so hard that each of his sharp teeth were in full view. He looked just like a shark, especially while dripping with water; His features were all pointy and dangerous and hungry… and Ichigo really couldn't stop the small excited shiver even if he wanted to. "What?" He snapped with a little more venom than he intended.

Zaraki didn't seem bothered by his tone. In fact, his grin stretched a bit wider and he answered with a chuckle, "Your 'daddy' side is fuckin' adorable. I like it~"

Ichigo fought off an incoming blush and quickly reversed his emotions from embarrassed to insulted. Reaper wasn't supposed to be 'adorable', dammit!

ZzzZztt… Krrrsshhh… SSHHHHtch

All eyes turned to Zaraki's radio as it crackled to life. An electronic squeak pierced the air and then grew to an unbearable, high-pitched squeal.

ssSCREeeeeEEEEE!

Zaraki winced away from the sound and quickly ripped the device from his shoulder. He shook the water off, but it continued to screech in protest.

"Fuckin' hell.." Zaraki growled as he turned it off and then snapped it back in place. He turned to Ginjou, who didn't move or even flinch when his own radio was snatched away. Zaraki turned the knob located up top until it was tuned to his personal channel then held it up with a frustrated sigh.

"Whoever that was just now, I didn't catch whatchya said. Repeat." He released the button, allowing whoever was contacting him to speak.

Beeep.

'Captain? Can you hear me?' Ikkaku's familiar voice came through.

"Yes. What is it?"

'Just did my rounds and there's no sign of Blue. I tried askin' around but his fuckband are pretty tight-lipped all of a sudden. No one's seen him OR carrot-top since lunch. ' Ikkaku reported and Ichigo let a knowing smirk crawl along his lips; There he goes again, trying to go above and beyond for his 'captain'. 'Not sure where Blue went off to, but you think Hotshot still has your lil' buddy?'

Zaraki rolled his eye at that last part and reached up to reply, but his hand froze midway when he noticed the curious look plastered across Ichigo's emotionally weak face.

That was something about Reaper he never understood… Zaraki has punched and kicked his way through life for so long that it was second nature for him to gauge people's strengths and weaknesses, but he never usually paid attention to their emotions. It was unnecessary and distracting, especially in life or death situations. With Ichigo though, it was hard NOT to notice the guy who fought with so much passion. Damn kid may as well carry around a bright neon sign that spelled out every little emotion he was feeling. It helped strengthen him in fights, sure, but Zaraki always assumed it would be his downfall.

"What's that look for?"

Ichigo's curious expression twisted with another grin, "Does he know?" He pointed to the radio to show he was referring to Ikkaku.

The corners of Zaraki's lips dropped into a mean frown and he huffed through his nose. The question was vague yet obviously about one thing: Kenpachi.

"'Course not. Why?"

"I was just wondering if his eagerness to 'please you' was out of FEAR orrr… uh, ya know…" Ichigo shrugged a shoulder while Zaraki stared at him like he'd just announced they were all giraffes.

"No, I don't know. Please elaborate, 'lil' buddy'." Zaraki growled, daring the other man to put those crazy thoughts into actual words.

Ichigo waved a hand and turned his back. "Eh, never mind. I'll let you figure that out on your own." Then he started walking back towards the showers.

"Ey! Where you runnin' off to?"

"I need to let Grimmjow loose..." Without looking back, Ichigo playfully swung a small set of keys around his right pointer finger as he returned from whence he came.

Zaraki's hand instantly patted his belt, where his handcuffs should be. A short moment passed while he pieced together the fact that Ichigo must've taken them earlier when he was… distracted… and now Grimmjow was cuffed somewhere inside.

And that's why he was shouting.

The mental images following that line of thought forced Zaraki's face to get a little warm. He wasn't blushing though.

Blp.

'Uhhh… Captain? You there?'

Ikkaku's voice snapped him back to reality, and he instantly reached up to click the responder.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm in C Wing. Those two knuckleheads are here with me, so don't worry 'bout it…" He was about to let go but added as an afterthought, "Ey. Grab one of the nurses from medic and escort'm ta Bazz-B's cell. He ain't gonna like it, but he needs a 'special' check-up."

'Uh… okay. No prob.' Ikkaku sounded surprised at first but then there was a chuckle. 'Hah. Hotshot finally got what was comin' to him, huh? That's awesome—can't fuckin' wait to see how this blows up. Warden's gonna be pissed, man.'

"Yeah, yeah. Was there anythin' else you needed, or you just gonna use up my channel for gossip?" Zaraki growled irritably. He was too tired for this shit and wasn't exactly in the best mood after being blue-balled by an overprotective ex-sergeant with both a superiority complex and an apparent death-wish.

'No, sir! Sorry, sir!'

Zaraki liked how Ikkaku actually did what he was told. Unlike a certain spitfire that does whatever the hell he wants… Zaraki didn't realize a tiny smile had snuck its way onto his face until he heard Ginjou scoff. His one eye swiveled back towards the man for a good long glare, but didn't have the energy to keep it up.

'Oh wait, Captain. There IS one more thing.'

Zaraki held back another sigh.

"What is it?"

'The reason I went lookin' for Blue—he's got a visitor.'

Kenpachi's thumb hovered over the reply button for a moment as that information sunk in. Grimmjow hasn't had a visitor in… well… ever.

"Who is it?" He asked, pure curiosity controlling his voice.

'Dunno… But they look identical. My guess is they're related, 'cept this guy is a lot less... blue. Only saw him for a split second before Sousuke started showing him around—didn't know that pompous asshole gave tours...'

Zaraki took a moment to search his memories for any hint of information he had on the Jeagerjaques family, but nothing came to mind. Then he heard a whispered, "Shit…" tumble from Ginjou's frowning lips, halting every train of thought that Zaraki had.

"You know somethin', don'tchya?" The question was more of an observation mixed with a command to 'keep talking'.

Ginjou rubbed the back of his neck with a nervous shrug but managed to open his mouth and say, "I was hoping his brother wouldn't show up again so soon. Now things are gonna get complicated..."

…

..

…

Before Ichigo turned the last corner to enter the showers he paused when he heard… nothing. The hiss of water from the same shower that Zaraki held him beneath should still be running, since Grimmjow—the only person inside, was handcuffed.

Well… was handcuffed.

As Ichigo walked further inside, he realized his mistake: He underestimated Grimmjow.

The clever man must've learned a trick or two while here in prison. Ichigo was actually impressed, but he should've known better. Grimmjow wouldn't just stand around and jerk-off like the rest of these knuckleheads... Ichigo's mind wandered for a moment, reminiscing the golden age of Sergeant Grimmjow Jeagerjaques… Ichigo could still picture him in his freshly pressed uniform, Medal of Honor dangling from his chest, just below the colorful array of hard-earned badges. Would he still be back with his squad, shouting orders and chasing new recruits if they had never met..?

Of course he would.

Ichigo was slowly drowning beneath guilt-ridden memories, making it harder and harder to breath… but his focus was inevitably brought back to the stark naked man standing in the middle of the washroom, dripping wet from a recent shower.

He must have taken the first chance he got to rinse Bazz-B's blood off his dick.

Grimmjow had his back towards Ichigo and the orangette's first reaction was to glance down at the well toned backside presented to him. The small spark of arousal that came to life instantly died when he came across discolored splotches. The prison suit did an excellent job hiding them, but now the bruises were clear as day. There was a particularly nasty one along his ribs. It was already turning dark purple.

Ichigo forced himself to look away, brows scrunched and lips pursed. Grimmjow was too busy toweling off his hair to catch the pitiful look, but once he was finished, he turned to find he wasn't alone. With a sharp click of his tongue, he let the towel drop from his head to drape across his shoulders.

Ichigo always loved the way his hair looked after a shower; slicked back with a few stubborn strands trying desperately to stay in its usual chaotic wave. Ichigo felt like fidgeting when both his libido and guilty conscience fought for dominance.

It didn't help that Grimmjow's expression was carefully tailored into an unimpressed snarl—the same one that made Ichigo feel uncharacteristically insignificant. Almost like he was unworthy to be in the man's presence. Ichigo dropped his head down when that aqua gaze scorched his face. His focus zeroed in on the man's feet as they approached, gaze snapping to them like a magnet.

Ichigo clenched his eyes shut and braced himself when Grimmjow got within striking distance; He wasn't sure what to expect but he knew he deserved a punch, or maybe even a kick, or an uppercut, or… or something, but all Grimmjow did was bump his shoulder as he passed.

That's it?

No.

That can't be it.

He reached out to grab an elbow, but Grimmjow must've been expecting him to try something because his hand was instantly smacked away. Grimmjow whirled around, shoulders raised like the hackles of a pissed off tiger.

Ichigo lifted both hands innocently, "Just… hold on. Wait a second, okay? I want to—"

"Trying to talk your way outta this one too, huh!?" Grimmjow barked, bright eyes glowing with unrelenting rage. "I'm done havin' your back when you won't do the fuckin' same. If you EVER leave me like that again—I'll—YOU—you're gonna see a whole 'nother side to me, and it ain't FUCKIN' PRETTY," He was seething so hard that it was difficult to form coherent sentences, but Ichigo almost sighed in relief.

He didn't fuck up THAT bad if Grimmjow was actually giving him another chance. Of course, now he'll have to walk on eggshells around him, and yet... Ichigo had a feeling that Grimmjow was more hurt than he was angry.

'There's no fuckin' way I'm lettin' you run from me again.'

Those whispered words from earlier sent another excited shiver down Ichigo's spine but, at the same time, filled him with dread.

Seeing Ichigo walk away probably hurt Grimmjow more than he realized... and this guy won't accept any form of apology. Especially not now. He could still feel those long fingers locked around his throat for even trying to apologize during lunch.

So Ichigo took a different approach: Slowly, chestnut eyes sank to the floor, averting his gaze while trying to make himself seem smaller. He said in a quiet whisper, "I get it… but, for what it's worth," He paused to lick his lips nervously when an embarrassed flush crept up his neck, "You have my complete trust now, and thank you.. for…" There was a whole list of things he could thank him for, "Well, for everything." His jumpy gaze flickered to every painful mark that littered Grimmjow's body. Ichigo felt responsible for each of them. The warm flush that crept its way up his neck finally found his cheeks and burned the tips of his ears. "You've done nothing but help me, even after I've caused you so much pain… And I'm not just talking about that White fight or the Quincy..."

Shoulders relaxed, little by little, and Grimmjow retracted his metaphorical claws. He grew exceedingly flustered from Ichigo's gaze as it inspected every inch of him.

The bandages were off and Grimmjow won't get fresh ones until his check-up later tonight. So Ichigo could now see the full extent of the damage.

But… amazingly, it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. Stitches kept the skin along his torso stapled together and went all the way from his right hip to the opposite shoulder. They looked itchy and ready to come out. The skin between sliced flesh was already fused together with scar tissue. Both scars looked rough and had dark purplish-red hue, but there was no sign of infection or irritation.

In the end, It could've been a lot worse...

"This ain't nothin'..." Grimmjow brushed it off with a snort then shrugged the towel from his shoulders. He wrapped it around his waist with a cringe when Ichigo fucking smiled at him.

"Well… Still… Thanks. And I promise I won't leave you behind like that again."

Grimmjow was forced to turn and look in a completely different direction from Ichigo's beaming smile so he could focus on his own composure.

Damn him for being so fucking pretty.

And fuck him for being so damn forgivable.

"Quit bein' a gushy fag." Grimmjow growled. He walked over to the shelf stocked with folded prison uniforms and chucked one at Ichigo, silently demanding that they get dressed already. The orangette did so without complaint, smile staying intact until a random, nagging ache surged up his chest. He hesitantly put one foot inside the new jumpsuit and stopped when that uneasy feeling got worse: It felt like he was forgetting something, and it took him a lot longer than he would've liked to finally remember.

Shit…

"What's the hold up?" Grimmjow must've seen the conflicting emotions on Ichigo's face when he looked up to find the other still wasn't dressed.

"Uh…" Ichigo blew off his sudden anxiety with a shrug, "I…" He couldn't bring himself to explain that Bazz-B probably had all the important stuff that was left in his old prison suit: The fake card-key, the flash-drive, his mother's engagement ring, Yumichikka's temporary hair dye, along with that one reporter's business card. He would need to get the first item back before he could ever confront Sousuke, and there was no way Ichigo would allow his mother's ring to stay in Bazz-B's greedy hands. He knew that going anywhere near the manipulative bastard after what just happened was risky, but… Ichigo also didn't want to drag Grimmjow along—not after seeing the damage he caused (intentionally or not). "Eh. It's nothing. Don't worry 'bout it," Ichigo pulled on the clean, white T-shirt before zipping his suit halfway up. He wrapped the empty sleeves around his waist to keep everything from falling like he'd seen most of the other inmates do.

"Fuck you." The words were punctuated by long 'ziiiiiipppp' as Grimmjow fully closed his own prison suit.

Ichigo's eyes snapped up to watch Grimmjow dig a hand through his wet hair in frustration. Orange brows scrunched and he tilted his head in confusion, but that just seemed to piss Grimmjow off more.

"You JUST said that I had 'your complete trust' and now yer goin' right back ta lyin' ta me?!"

See? Eggshells…

"It's not about TRUST!" Ichigo snapped back. Without thinking, he took a long step forward to be right in Grimmjow's personal space. One blue brow rose and the larger male cautiously leaned back when a hand reached for him, but every tense muscle relaxed when gentle fingers traced the long, diagonal path of the scar beneath his shirt. "If you want the truth—then fine. Truth is, I've changed. I'm not that same bloodthirsty killer you first met… I don't wanna kill anymore, but, if something ever happened to you..." Ichigo trailed off as he watched Grimmjow's face, where a war between anger, frustration, and embarrassment waged noticeably. "It ain't gonna be fuckin' pretty." He adopted most of the same verbiage that Grimmjow used earlier.

They stayed like that for a long minute. Just staring at each other—unsure of what to say next. The moment vanished when blue eyes snapped up to peer past Ichigo's shoulder. The orangette turned to see Zaraki's head poking through the entrance.

"Ey, if you two are done bein' a pair a' blushing schoolgirls, then move it. I ain't got all fucking day."

Ichigo's scowl returned with force as he spun to face the giant. "Fine. Here—take your shit and go knock some heads in or something," He huffed while tossing the handcuffs back, along with its keys. "But you're right, I've wasted enough time with this fiasco." Ichigo hardened his stance and moved to storm back into the hallway, but Zaraki stopped him with one hand up while the other was busy reconnecting the cuffs to his belt.

"Not so fast, Buttercup. I'm takin' you to the medic," Before Ichigo could protest, Zaraki continued, "I wanna make sure that whatever the hell it was that made ya go all loopy in there is outta your system."

Ichigo turned to Grimmjow with an expression that screamed 'is this guy fucking serious!?', and silently asked for some backup, but the bluenette crossed his arms.

"Actually, I agree with 'im. You should go get checked 'fore ya wind up caught in another… situation. I seem to recall last time you were doped up ya let WHITE fuck ya—so your judgement is obviously fucked right now."

Really?

Fucking traitor.

"Wait, he did what?" Zaraki piped in—apparently not even Ikkaku filled him in on Ichigo's 'auction experience', and his query went ignored.

"Just 'cause you and I used to sneak around n' fuck—years ago—doesn't mean you can boss me around like a jealous housewife, SARGE." Ichigo snarled, hoping to put a dent in Grimmjow's ego, but the only reaction he got was a tight frown. Ichigo raised his arms and shouted at the ceiling, "I'm FINE!" then he whirled on Zaraki and glowered until the man took a step back. "I appreciate the concern, but I don't remember asking for help. I had everything under control—" His expression hardened when he heard multiple scoffs, "I will get through this day, one way or another... I WILL help Zangetsu get out of that fucked up place," Ichigo's head whipped to the side so he could glare at Grimmjow over his shoulder before leaning sideways to lock eyes with Ginjou, who was posted across the hall, "I WILL kill Grand Fisher," Zaraki shrunk when Ichigo's wrath turned on him once more, "And then I'm getting the FUCK outta this godforsaken place!" A soft grunt puffed from Zaraki's chest when he was shoved aside in one swift motion, feet struggling to keep himself upright like the roots of a dying tree.

Ichigo was so flustered he didn't even spare Ginjou a passing glance as he stormed around them. He headed straight for the entrance to B Wing and shoved both doors open.

But then he stopped.

Brown eyes slowly made their way back around, feet planted on the tiles while his head and body twisted so he could reconnect his gaze with Grimmjow. A meaningful, yet silent look passed between them. Ichigo made it clear he wasn't leaving Grimmjow behind. He waited for the stubborn asshole to understand before turning back around to complete his escape.

Grimmjow instantly moved to follow, wanting more than anything to accept the hidden invitation, but then a large hand dropped onto his uninjured shoulder. He tried to shrug it off, but fingers latched down, ultimately stopping him in his tracks. He could tell from the size that it was Zaraki's so Grimmjow didn't bother looking away from Ichigo's retreating form.

The captain didn't speak until the doors finally slammed shut, "Did I just hear him say he was gonna kill Grand Fisher..?"

"He never told you?" Grimmjow asked in wonder and he barely managed to tear his gaze away to inspect the giant man critically. He could've sworn that Ichigo and the Captain were... close—judging from the way Ichigo clung to him earlier, but now Grimmjow was left to wonder...

"He told you?" Their attention drifted to Ginjou and Grimmjow's upper lip rose in distaste when he found himself on the receiving end of the same critical look he'd just given Zaraki.

"What? Surprised?" Grimmjow sneered, arms crossed defensively. He didn't have to prove himself to these assholes. In a way, he felt honored to know that Ichigo didn't share details like that lightly, but then who was this asshole to know more than him? A small spark of jealousy crackled to life in Grimmjow's gut but he wouldn't let it show.

"Tch," Ginjou pushed off the wall with a click of his tongue, "His trust in you never ceases to blow my fucking mind. At first, I couldn't understand why it took him SO long to get that information from Pantera, come to find out he was off playing lover-boy with you." He pointed an accusing finger at furrowed blue brows only to have it smacked away, "Not only that! He even told you his real name! After I specifically ordered him not to leave any witnesses—and yet here you are." Onyx eyes rolled when Grimmjow puffed out his chest. The man was practically glowing with pride. Wanting to pop that bloated arrogance, Ginjou added, "You think you're special n'all, but if he really cared about you then why did he leave you behind? Huh?" The victorious grin nearly broke his face in half when Grimmjow's expression darkened, and then he bravely continued, "Did you know he retired? He quit looking for Grand Fisher so he could settle down with Inoue, a beautiful woman—SO, essentially, what you and your brother went through because of him was for nothing. And that's exactly what you are to him: A sorry sack of nothing that was just left behind."

Zaraki leaned back and silently observed the sudden staredown. As much as he wanted to step in and ask what the fuck Grand Fisher had to do with any of this, he decided the information wasn't worth getting between these two alpha males. Not that he couldn't handle them, he was just too tired to really give a shit.

Ginjou was trying his damndest to be intimidating but Grimmjow was immune, which earned him some respect points from Zaraki.

"'Nothing', huh? Yeah, 'cuz that was a whole lotta nothin' we were doin' a minute ago." Grimmjow's infuriating smirk made a comeback as he nodded towards the restroom. Normally, Ginjou's spiteful bait would've worked and Grimmjow would be livid about his feelings towards Ichigo, but after seeing the way he unraveled in his arms… No one could convince him it meant 'nothing'. So fuck Ginjou for even trying to put that in his head.

"That shit doesn't count. He was drugged." Such a weak argument coming from a DRUNK.

"Ya know what…" Grimmjow shrugged his shoulders high and left them there for a short minute as he tilted his head, sharp fangs glistening between a vindictive smile, "I bet I understand him better than you ever could. And the fact that he trusts me more than you really pisses ya off, don't it?" He challenged.

Ginjou grumbled to himself then proceeded to walk away, allowing Grimmjow to feel like he 'won'. Before disappearing around the corner, a quick, "Good luck with your visitor!" was shouted over his shoulder and then he was gone.

"Visitor?" Grimmjow echoed curiously, then realization tore a reluctant groan from his throat. "Fuuuuck."

"Yeah... C'mon." Zaraki motioned for the other to follow. Grimmjow refused to budge.

"But…" Blue eyes flickered back to the last place he saw Ichigo. "I know that dumbass thinks he has everythin' figured out… but I should really keep an eye on him."

Zaraki's first instinct was to defend his old comrade and say the man was more than capable of handling himself, but after this past week… He wasn't so sure anymore. "You're not the only one watchin' his back. He'll be alright. But are you sayin' ya don't wanna go to visitation?"

Grimmjow's lip rose in distaste. He stuffed both hands in his pockets and swung damp bangs away from his face.

"If it's who I think it is, then FUCK no. That bastard had YEARS to visit me, and now all a' sudden he shows up? I never told him Ichigo's identity, but I know that dumbass got his fuckin' face leaked on youtube.. It can't be a coincidence, and m'not in the mood for Pantera's fuckin' games."

"Your brother?"

Grimmjow's shoulders sagged and his gaze fell to the floor with a huff.

"How'd you know..?"

"Ginjou said somethin' 'bout you havin' a brother named Pantera after he heard the guy looks just like you. How he knows your brother—I got no fuckin' idea, but I ain't surprised. Ginjou knows too much for his own damn good."

"What the hell? I just met this asshole today—who the fuck is he anyway?"

Zaraki suppressed a sigh and gestured once again for Grimmjow to follow. This time the bluenette moved willingly; if it meant learning more about the mystery guard that seemed to have strong ties to Ichigo, then he'd play along.

The captain kept a cool face and spoke low so he wouldn't be overheard as they exited C Wing, "Since Ichigo seems to trust ya so much, I guess it won't hurt… Ginjou is the leader of Xcution, and he's the one who took Reaper under his wing—trained and taught him pretty much everythin' he knows."

"Huh…" Grimmjow let the new information roll around his head. That had been his original guess, but it felt strange to have it confirmed. Xcution was infamous and known worldwide, but all of it was mostly rumor. There wasn't much information about them that was credible or even substantial. Only a rare few names like 'Reaper', 'Kenpachi', 'Bookend', and 'Bount' were ever whispered in public. Grimmjow knew this because he did his own research after…

Well… After Ichigo left him behind.

He didn't let it show before, but Ginjou's words had stung, like the fucker somehow discovered that old, rusty, metaphorical knife still stuck in his back and started yanking on it. Back then, he really did feel like 'nothing'.

Blue eyes grew dull and distant as he thought back to that day in the desert...

It took 18 hours for that stupid paralysis drug to wear off. Dehydrated, weak, and mentally torn, Grimmjow remembers walking his battered and broken motorcycle all the way back to base. Pantera was still in surgery by the time he got there. Once he finally woke up they fought, of course.. but how long could you really argue with a man who couldn't even stand on his own two feet anymore? He didn't question Pantera about Grand Fisher, but he should have. It might have given him a better chance to find Ichigo—but that would mean admitting he spoke to the man just before he escaped. Grimmjow wanted to avoid revealing the fact that he got ditched, and, more than that, he didn't want to break Ichigo's trust.

Grimmjow tried to return to a normal life—the way it used to be before he ever met 'Tensa Reitsu'.

But it wasn't the same…

Grimmjow stayed at that damn base for another 6 months before he finally snapped. He needed to find Ichigo—or die trying. So he left. Deserted his whole squad, his brother, his friends… his country, all because he couldn't handle the heartwrenching ache that Ichigo left behind.

Some would call it romantic while Pantera would shoot those people without hesitation. The very last time they ever spoke to each other, it was over the phone. He called Grimmjow 'a blind moron' right before the cops busted through hotel door.

Motherfucking traitor.

When he first deserted, Grimmjow's next step was to find out as much as he could about the Kurosaki family. Finding them had been easy. They owned a small family clinic in Karakura which was run by Dr. Isshin Kurosaki, the father, and there to help him were two young girls, Ichigo's sisters if he had to guess. Grimmjow never introduced himself and he was careful to keep his distance**. He wasn't sure how much they knew about Ichigo and what he did in the shadows, so it was best to steer clear of them. He waited a long time to see if Ichigo would ever show up, but Grimmjow wasn't exactly a patient man… He assumed Ichigo must be off doing god-knows-what as 'Reaper'. Grimmjow's next goal was to dig up any information he could find on Xcution.

He never found much…

But now he had access to Kenpachi, a fucking legend. Not that he really needed the information anymore, thanks to Ichigo's dumb-ass gettin' caught, but Grimmjow's unsated curiosity was practically jumping for joy.

"What was it like?" Grimmjow asked, and when Zaraki raised a brow in question, he realized the guy had no idea what his train of thought was just now. "Bein' at Xcution—I mean."

Zaraki shrugged a shoulder and waved his hand like it wasn't anything special.

"Honestly, I don't know much about how things're run inside. Ginjou always hand delivered dossiers for the targets s'well as our payments. He didn't trust communicating electronically. Said it was like askin' to get caught. Him and his partner were the only ones ever in contact with clients so we didn't have to reveal ourselves."

"Partner?" Grimmjow echoed, zeroing in on that little bit of information.

"Tsukishima—or you'd know'm better as Bookend."

"Huh… Yeah I've heard that name before. Legend has it he'll make his victims disappear—not just die, but their names would be wiped from history. Like they were never even born."

"Sounds 'bout right… That skinny prick has access to all sortsa weird government shit. Call me old-school, but I think a good neck-snappin', some gasoline, and a match works just fine."

"Ya said the jobs were delivered, but didn't you guys have a 'base of operation' or somethin'?"

"Naw. It was all pretty discreet. If Ginjou does have a base then I don't know nothin' 'bout it."

"Then how'd you meet Ichigo?"

Zaraki slowed to a stop and waited for Grimmjow to look up before saying, "Nosy lil' punk, ain'tchya?"

Grimmjow made a defensive noise that was a cross between a snort and a scoff and he took a long step backwards, but Zaraki pulled him close with a laugh. Grimmjow's upper lip rose when a heavy, and still damp, arm landed across his shoulders. The captain was careful not to hurt him though. The large man was still laughing as he walked forward, this time with Grimmjow tucked under his wing. They passed a few guards and then a group of inmates, making Blue feel self conscious, but Zaraki distracted him by picking up the conversation.

"There was a client 'bout 9 years ago offering a fuckin' rediculous amount o' money for the head of some Yakuza general. Normally, I only work with Unohana, who was my wife at the time, but…"

Grimmjow looked up to see the deep frown on Zaraki's face before it got buried beneath a simple smirk.

"But for that assignment, Ginjou insisted I take the new guy, Reaper. I thought it was cuz he happened to be fluent in Japanese—and pretty much every other asian language you could think of. For a while I thought I was gonna have to be his bodyguard r' somethin', but, by god, the kid could fuckin' fight!" Zaraki took a quick second to see Grimmjow's blooming grin. It was small but still visible. "Actually, he ended up savin' MY life on that mission. Almost lost my other eye to that asshole with the machete—hehe." Zaraki chuckled at the memory but then forced them both to come to a stop. A metal detector was blocking their way to the large, solo visiting room. Quietly, so the nearby guard couldn't hear, Zaraki continued, "Anyway.. We went on a few other missions together, but never really got ta know each other, ya know…? He never mentioned his family or anything from his old life—but he did talk 'bout you." Zaraki had to suppress a chuckle when blue eyes went wide and then blinked up at him. The man looked completely stunned as he stood frozen beneath the other's arm. "Between you n' me—If I had known Unohana was gonna leave like she did, then I woulda chased after him too." He gave Grimmjow a friendly pat on the back after he finally removed his arm, to show that he respected and understood the man's pain. "Now… you gonna go see your brother, or you wanna go back to your cell?"

Shaking off his initial surprise, Grimmjow's lips tightened to a thin line and he turned to glare at the door. It was the only thing standing between him and his older brother. He hasn't seen or heard from the guy in 5 long years.

Zaraki quietly stood by and watched Grimmjow's inner turmoil as it bubbled to the surface. Anger slowly morphed into frustration which eventually surrendered to curiosity mixed with frustration. He grudgingly pushed his way towards the metal detector, forcing the solo guard on duty, Maki, to jump into action. He did his job of inspecting the inmate and patting him down—just because the captain was right there watching. Grimmjow turned to give Zaraki a short nod which was reciprocated before the man left to find himself a fresh, dry, uniform.

Once Zaraki was out of sight, Maki noticeably sagged in relief. Grimmjow frowned but decided not to comment. Instead, he went straight towards the entrance and opened it. Thankfully, Maki didn't follow, he only shut and locked the door behind him.

The first thing he noticed was Pantera's outfit: Grey undershirt, black button-down silk shirt that was left open, and when Grimmjow leaned sideways to look beneath the table he saw dark blue jeans and boot clad feet. He'd gotten so used to seeing this man in a uniform, it was almost awkward to see him dressed casually. Everything else about him was the same: Silver hair streaked with white and slicked back away from his handsome face. Eyes, blue as his own, stared back at him beneath dark blue, almost black, brows.

Grimmjow tore his gaze away only long enough to glance down at the lone manilla envelope laying ominously on the table. He looked back up skeptically.

After a solid minute of them just staring Pantera spoke first, "You look like shit."

Grimmjow ignored the insult and stepped forward just far enough to grab his chair, not feeling at all obligated to properly greet the man. He knew exactly how to get under his brother's skin and watched with glee when dark eyebrows furrowed. "Whaddya want? And what the fuck is that?" He demanded while tilting his head towards the lone folder. It was placed right in the middle of the table, within arms reach, as if it was mocking him.

"I'm here for a few reasons, some of which have nothing to do with you, but before we get into all of that…" Pantera's fingers walked across the table as he spoke, slowly leading towards the object in question, and, with a quick flick of his wrist, sent it sliding across the table. "This is for you."

Grimmjow caught it and immediately bent the little metal pin, releasing its flap. He reached in and pulled out a small stack of papers. Thankfully, the first page was all he needed to see.

Executive Grant of Clemency

A Full and Unconditional Pardon

by the

President of the United States

HO-LY SHIT...

This is an actual, honest to god, Presidential fucking Pardon!

He and his boys joked about getting one of these because it was such an impossible wish! A myth! Something that was made up and passed around to give these caged men some weak semblance of hope… It was a joke. Stuff like this didn't happen!

Be it known, that this day, I, the president, pursuant to my powers under

Article II, Section 2, Clause I, of the constitution, have granted unto

Grimmjow Jeagerjaques

a full and unconditional pardon.

No fucking way…

This wasn't just some 'get out of jail free' card, it was a ticket to start over. His title and military honors would be reinstated. He could return to a normal life.

Grimmjow grazed his thumb over the embossed seal tucked in the corner to confirm that it was, indeed, a genuine document. He let the papers fall, one sheet at a time, in absolute shock. All he could do was sit and stare down with unblinking eyes as he tried to convince himself this whole goddamn day wasn't just some weird dream.

"I knew that would put you in a better mood. Ready to chat now?"

Pantera's voice snapped Grimmjow out of his stupor. He glanced up, crossed his arms, and slowly leaned back, looking rather defensive. His initial surprise melted away then hardened into suspicion.

"What's the catch? How the fuck did you even manage to get this!?" He slapped a hand over the documents for emphasis but then quickly retreated, as if touching the thing would make it suddenly disappear.

"No catch. I notified the warden, Mr. Ishida, a minute ago. You're a free man, Grimmjow."

"..." Light blue brows furrowed into a tight knot of disbelief. "Why..?"

Pantera took his time reaching across the table to gather the papers and place them back, neatly, inside its envelope then asked his own question, "You don't remember seeing me while you were getting stitched up, do you?" He gestured towards the deeper wound at Grimmjow's shoulder. That's where the doctors focused most of their attention, restitching muscles and severed veins while trying to keep him alive. Zangetsu really dug in that blade with no remorse… "I'm not surprised, you were heavily medicated by the time I got there. Plus, you lost a lot of blood—good thing we're the same type."

"Woah! What? You gave me blood?" Well… that's a strange thought.

"So you could live, yes. And as soon as I left, I started working on getting you this—" He tapped his finger over the documents. "You have no idea how many Generals and government officials I had to call to get it.."

While the younger was busy recollecting his memories of that painful day, Pantera shrugged and sat back against his chair and wiggled a bit to make himself comfy. That's when Grimmjow realized something else wasn't quite right...

"Where's your wheelchair?"

Pantera's lips spread into a wide grin and he looked almost triumphant as he slowly stood to his full height. Grimmjow remained seated as he stared up into eyes that reflected his own. It's been a long time since he saw Pantera on his own two feet. It was… a miracle?

"But how?" Grimmjow instantly demanded. He could clearly recall a team of experts hovering over Pantera's body and saying stuff like 'He'll never walk again', 'It's irreparable', or 'There's nothing we can do.'

So how in the hell...

"I have Dr. Aizen to thank." He said casually while lowering himself back in the chair.

"Sousuke Aizen..?"

"How many 'Aizen's could you possibly know?"

Grimmjow couldn't say he was shocked. They've both known Sousuke a long time now—Back when the man still worked as a Cytologist for the military.

Grimmjow and Pantera both signed up for service the same day—same hour really, but Pantera was the first to get promoted. That was normal, the oldest usually precedes the youngest in most family dynamics, but that never stopped Grimmjow from trying… However, because Pantera got promoted first, he got to learn that the higher you go the more people you're 'allowed' to know.

Grimmjow met Sousuke through Pantera.

More than likely, it's the only reason he hasn't been dragged, feet-first, through Dr. Aizen's psychotic experiments. He knew all too well that Pantera could just nod his head once and Grimmjow would be sitting right alongside Zangetsu—who was probably jammed full of needles at this very moment.

Grimmjow pinched the bridge of his nose and tried his best to piece everything together.

"You let 'im stick you with one of his drugs—didn't you?" He growled. "You're lucky ya've already got white hair…"

"Not really. Souske perfected the serum before injecting me. There are no more side effects."

"He… completed it?"

"Not entirely. He says it's not finished, but he worked out all the kinks. You should be thanking him too."

"Huh..?" Grimmjow lowered the hand digging into his temple to glare across the table. "Thank Sousuke? For what?"

He'd been so careful to avoid taking anything from that maniac. He didn't want to be another one of his guinea-pigs. So, unless the clever bastard put something weird in the cafeteria food (which Grimmjow would not put it past him), then he was clean, dammit!

He didn't owe Sousuke a damn thing!

"You'd still be laid up in that hospital bed, unable to use your arm if it wasn't for us."

"Waaaaait, wait, wait, wait… 'Us'?" Grimmjow raised both hands and then pushed back against the chair with a forceful stretch, making it scratch loudly against the gritty concrete floor. "When exactly did ya take that serum?"

"'Bout a month ago. It only took a few days for my muscles to regenerate enough to walk. Now I can do everything I could before—and maybe even more."

"So… the blood you 'gave' me… it had that stuff mixed inside… Didn't it?!" Grimmjow's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. No direct answer followed, but the sly little smirk that crossed Pantera's lips was all he needed. "You fucking poisoned me."

The smirk fell with an exaggerated huff. Pantera's upper lip rose in distaste as he spoke, "What a cynical way to put it…"

"And.. so.. what? I'm just supposed ta accept that you showed up after years of complete fuckin' silence to save my ass? A-positive blood-types aren't that rare! Even with only one arm left—I'd have been FINE without you." Grimmjow snarled and let his face tilt towards the table. "I wanna know why you're REALLY here..."

Pantera didn't make a single fucking noise. He just stared at Grimmjow until the younger was brave enough to look him in the eye. The blistering emotions that charged that icy gaze made Grimmjow want to lean away, but he refused to be intimidated. His upper lip rose in a snarl and fingers twitched impatiently, like he was ready to lash out at any second.

When it was clear that Pantera wouldn't open his mouth any time soon, he pressed with a different question instead.

"Why are you making me leave?"

That seemed to get Pantera started. He shifted in his seat and let out a small sigh before shrugging his shoulders. He looked uncomfortable now, though Grimmjow couldn't understand why.

"Making you leave..? Why don't you WANT to be free?" Pantera was trying to reverse everything back on Grimmjow. "That orange haired monster really got to you, didn't he?"

'Here we go…' Grimmjow couldn't hold back the giant eye roll even if he wanted to.

"I don't know how, but he managed to turn you against me! After everything I've done for you, BROTHER… Now the mere thought of me helping you makes your face twist into that ugly glare. What did I do to deserve such scorn?"

"Quit tryin' to turn this around! Ya might be out of that damn wheelchair but you've gotten real fuckin' comfy in the 'victim' role, haven't ya?!"

"I AM a victim! He tortured me—Remember?"

"Oh boo-fucking-hoo!"

Pantera's careful control slipped as he slammed both hands on the table. Before he could growl out a single curse, the door's lock clicked open and in came the blonde-haired guard, Jugram—otherwise known as Warden's 'bitch' to the residents of Hueco Mundo.

"I'm here to escort you to your cell so you can gather your things. Then you must leave the premises." He explained to both simmering males. His sharp gaze landed completely on Grimmjow as he said, "Congratulations on your early release, Sergeant Jaegerjaques."

The hatred he saw in those eyes reminded him of Yhwach, who probably heard what happened to Bazz-B by now. If anything, Grimmjow was dodging a bullet, but he knew better.

This was far from over.

…

..

TBC

..

…

Short chapter, I knowww. Sorry.

But I didn't want to hover over this part anymore. More sexy time in the next chapter! Promise!

I hope you enjoyed seeing Grimmjow's side at least. I had fun writing his perspective.

I guess you could say Pantera is an OC but I tried to make him similar to Grimmjow, yet different. Lol

Don't get more wrong, I lovelovelove feedback and reviews, but they aren't necessary. I enjoy writing these whenever I can. I only hope this brings as much joy to some of you as it does for me.

*- You might wanna hold off on that, Ichigo. Just wait until you find out more about your mother -maniacal laughter-

**- Yes Grimmjow, that's called stalking...