Sorry this chapter's up a bit later than planned - heh, I uh got distracted by some new books I bought... Anyways - Enjoy~

Disclaimer: Nope, still not owning. But I have been promised an Ukitake plushie by a friend~

Jyuushiro's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, flicking his hand towards the blades sharp edge, "Byakurai." Lightning danced on his hand before shooting off the elder's outstretched index finger, the combined strength easily severing the sealed blade.

Toshiro stared. Hyorinmaru had been broken. Sealed of not - a level four kido just didn't do that! "H-how?" Was all the boy managed to say as he fell onto his bottom, still staring at Ukitake with a mixture of shock and horror.

"I'm stronger than I appear, and your heart is not truly in your blade." Ukitake lectured, continuing to frown down at the ice-user, "If you don't fight with the intention to kill you won't be able to defeat anyone. You were taught that at the academy." The last sentence was practically growled at him.

This seemed to wake Toshiro up as the boy shunpo-ed away, silently releasing his blade, his reiatsu reconnecting the broken blade seamlessly. Fire danced in his eyes as he glared at the once kind man. "What the hell has that arrancar done to you? Where is the real Jyuushiro Ukitake!"

The other sighed, shunpo-ing onto the top bar of the rusted swingset. "He has done nothing. You wronged him, therefore I fought for my justice. As I did with Rukia Kuchiki."

"This isn't like you though, damnit you were a kind person!" Hitsugaya roared swinging Hyorinmaru, shooting an ice dragon toward the other male, who dodged by shunpo-ing behind Toshiro, thumbs in his jean pockets as they stood back to back.

"You're being blind." Ukitake looked back at Toshiro over his shoulder, "I chose to be that nice, it's not my true nature. I am - apparently - a very self-centered bastard, who doesn't care for anyone's life but his own." He said quoting Kohaku's opinion of him. He didn't believe that opinion but it fit his current act, inwardly, he detested himself for hurting 'Shiro-chan', but he didn't have much of a choice, he had to cut all bonds with the Soul Society.

"You're making no sense! First you say that Espada rescue was the same as Rukia Kuchiki's and now you're saying you didn't do it for kindness?" Toshiro whirled around, only to find he'd pressed himself onto a letter opener? "Eh?" It radiated a quiet reiatsu, "Y-you're hiding your zanpakuto in a letter opener?"

"Do shut up before you talk me into giving you an early grave. It's easier to carry than a full sized sword and doesn't attract unwanted attention, as for your 'Espada rescue' statement, it wasn't rescue. Grimmjow is useful as was Rukia. Grimmjow provides me the free movement I require, Rukia allowed me to find out more about Ichigo, the Hogyoku and Aizen." Ukitake smirked in the same cruel way Aizenhad upon leaving for Hueco Mundo. "Just like I used Shunsui and other captains as connections in Soul Society, I know every nook and cranny in there as well as the weaknesses of just about everyone." These were half-truths he had to admit, he did use people, and did know a hell of a lot more than he really should about people, but they weren't just puppets to him, he respected them as people. Though Toshiro couldn't know this.

The younger jumped back. "Fine then! As a captain of the Gotei thirteen, I'll kill you in order to stop whatever you're planning! Bankai!" The air took on a sudden chill as Toshiro's reiatsu grew, though the energy surge was short-lived, for Jyuushiro had returned his sword to it's katana form, swinging it across the younger's chest in a diagonal slash.

As blood pooled around the boy, his consciousness fadingthe last thing he heard was Ukitakes words, "... Weaknesses; his hot-headedness, compassion for his cause and subordinates. Main flaw; the time required to produce and use his bankai." The words sounded hollow and heartless, though Toshiro was unable to catch the tear that had fallen from Jyuushiro's eye.

Grimmjow stared wordlessly from his place hidden in the trees. He had heard everything Toshiro and Jyuushiro had exchanged, and wasn't sure if he should be scared by what he saw, or pissed that the old man had been lying to him.

Predictably, anger won. "YOU LYING ASSHOLE!" The feral Espada yelled as his fist collided with Ukitake's cheek, only half-noticing the area around them was the upper level of their hiding place.

Ukitake stepped off Grimmjow's fist, stumbling and landing on his bottom with a dull thud. "Grimmjow, I ca-"

"EXPLAIN? YOU FUCKING BETTER!" Grimmjow cut of the other's soft words. "You lied to me." The Espada growled, his eyes wide with anger, face set in a snarl.

"No Grimmjow. I didn't, I've been more truthful with you than the man I call my best friend." Jyuushiro mumbled, all traces of the man he was when speaking to Toshiro gone.

"Oh really? What about you using everyone for your own gain - about me being a friggin' scapegoat that lets you go wherever if you look pathetic enough?" He had started off sarcastic, though the sentence ended almost screeched out.

"Grimm... you have to understand..." Ukitake had his eyes locked on the floor between his feet, hair shieldinghis eyes from view. "I was lying. About you. Not to you. You're don't need to be alive for me to continue. I chose to save you because I believe slaughtering innocents is wrong. I said those thing to Toshiro so Soul Society wouldn't think I had any sentimental attachments to use against me."

"You make it sound like you intend to fight them." Grimmjow sighed, running the other man's words through his head. Ukitake's voice had quivered slightly, though Grimmjow had no clue if that was fake or not.

"I may have to. Though Aizen is - and always has been - my main goal."

"Why?" Grimmjow knelt down, reaching out and tilting Ukitake's head until his face was visible.

"Master decreed it." Ukitake's eyes widened as Grimmjow raised an eyebrow, "Shit!"

"Huh? 'Master'? Since when have you had a 'Master'?" Grimmjow said, wondering if Ukitake had forgotten his meds or something.

Jyuushiro closed his eyes and sighed. He wasn't going to prove he was a liar to Grimmjow, "Master is..." He began with difficulty as he searched for the words. "He's someone I've served most of my life... My family is contracted to him. But, well no one's supposed to know otherwise it's dangerous." Ukitake had opened his eyes and looked at Grimmjow throughout his vague explaination, "I'm sorry I can't say more. But I can't break contract terms - and I'm already pushing it."

Grimmjow thought for a moment, Ukitake's last response was more of an automatic reply. Almost like he hadn't even registered who was asking the question. However, the one just now was reluctant, clearly an attempt at fixing a mistake. But, could it have been all an act? 'Aw fuck it! I can't be assed over-thinking all this!'

"How long you and your family been serving this guy then?" Seemed safe. And it wouldn't confuse Grimmjow - the answer was only gonna be a number after all.

"I don't know altogether now long, but my contract is set for 3000 years. I'm only a year and a half away from completion." Ukitake said with a small smile, though he was still sat on the floor, staring up at Grimmjow, whose face was only a foot or so away.

"Wow. You really are an old geezer." Grimmjow teased, his anger at the old man pushed to the back of his mind - Ukitake was being genuine enough - for now anyway.

"Shut up - you're not that young either." Ukitake mumbled. He had guessed at Grimmjow being at least a millenia old.

"I'm not even 1350 yet. Compared to you I'm still a child." Grimmjow added emphasis to the 'you' by softly poking Ukitake's nose, smirking like the cheshire cat as he did so.

Ukitake smirked and rolled his eyes, "Careful, else I'll have to spank you - Grimm-chan~" He snickered as the arrancar flushed a gentle pink.

Gears began turning in Grimmjow's head - how to get the old fruitcake back? Then it came to him, as he put his hand in Ukitake's hair, "At least I don't look like a girl~"

It was Ukitake's turn to blush now, more from Grimmjow's actions than his actual words. "I like my hair long." He pouted softly, looking at the split ends and sighing, "Though it does need a trim..." Ukitake blinked as Grimmjow went to sit behind him for a moment, pulling his hair into what Ukitake was sure felt like a pony tail. And a high one at that. "Grimmjow?" He asked confused.

Grimmjow nodded to himself, before dropping the others hair and standing. "Grimmjow!" Ukitake asked, begining to get worried as said teal-haired man was ignoring him as he dug through the wardrobe, coming back with a length of green fabric and sitting behind the other once more.

Before Ukitake could try again Grimmjow cut him off, "Just sit still and don't talk for a bit alright? You can bitch at me when I'm done." Ukitake frowned - why the man cursed so much he would never understand - but stayed still none the less.

After a few moments of only hearing what could only be a blade against his hair, Grimmjow stopped, then began brushing the white strands with his fingers, which Ukitake had to admit felt rather nice. He could feel his hair being tied up now, in the same high pony he felt before.

Seemingly satified, Grimmjow stopped admiring his handy-work. He had cut most of the split ends out and taken some of the weight and length off too, tying it all in a pony just above Ukitake's ears, the end of which was mid shoulder-blade.

"I'm not even going to ask how you learned that." The shinigami said, feeling the hair behind him. It was a good job - but no way was anyone outside the room allowed to know that. Forcing away all traces of embarrassment - including the light blush on his cheeks - Ukitake turned around and pecked Grimmjow lightly on the lips. "Thank you Grimmjow!" Ukitake said smiling, the smile growing as Grimmjow's eye's widened and went bright red.

"The hell'd you that for! That's not a thank you!" Grimmjow yelled, completely flustered by Ukitake's actions.

"I'll take it back if you don't want it." Ukitake said, swiftly turning away and heading towards the door that lead downstairs, his voice much calmer than his eratic heartbeat, crimson cheeks and that little voice of reason in his head screaming at him about how stupid that was.

"...You... You read too much Romeo and Juliet." Grimmjow pouted, his back to the older man.

"Just hope our story doesn't end the same way, Grimmjow." Ukitake mumbled, leaving to splash his face with cold water.

Uh... Yeah... not a clue what I was doing there... anyway, I hoped you liked it.