The Panther Strikes Back

Karakura Town is covered by a steady amount of rain. Today is not a good or fun day for the young Kuroi Hono. Even though he has just defeated the Hollow that killed his aunt, she is still dead. His mother is still dead. He now stands over his mother's gravestone.

"Hey, mom. I'm back once again. I know that we already talked earlier today, but a lot of stuff changed in the last few hours. Ichigo fought the Grand Fisher. That Grand Fisher Hollow is so important because it killed Masaki. I know that you guys were close, so you're probably happy that it's finally dead. Even though you and Masaki will never meet again, I know that you can rest better knowing that she has been avenged. See you later, mom," said Kuroi.

Kuroi turns around and stares at a tree behind him.

"Come on out, dad. I know you're there," said Kuroi.

Aoi walks away from the tree and walks over to his son.

"I heard you talking to her and I didn't want to interrupt. That's why I was hiding behind that tree," said Aoi.

"I don't need to know that stuff. Why are you here?" said Kuroi.

"It's the anniversary of my wife's death. It would be disrespectful for me not to show up," said Aoi.

"She was killed by a bright blue light. I told you minutes after she died, but you just said I was making up stuff to feel better. You know what killed mom, but you refuse to tell me. What secrets are you hiding?" said Kuroi.

"I'm not hiding any secrets. You probably just saw some lightning outside," said Aoi.

"I know what lighting looks like. That's not what killed her. Stop lying to me. I'm your only son goddammit," said Kuroi.

"She died of cancer. It doesn't matter how much willpower she had, she couldn't beat it. There was no Hollow or bright light. She just died and you have to get over it," said Aoi.

"Get over it? She was my mother. I can never get over it," said Kuroi.

"She died of natural causes. That's all I know," said Aoi.

"I know that you're lying to me, but you still dare to lie to me. You're a terrible father," said Kuroi.

"You're just going through a phase. Let's just go home and have some tea. You'll feel better," said Aoi.

"No. I'll just walk home," said Kuroi.

"But, you'll get soaked and cold," said Aoi.

Kuroi places his hood on his head and starts to walk away.

"At least the rain will never lie to me," said Kuroi.

Back in the present day, Kuroi's lifeless eyes start to blink. He grunts as he feels his body start to move again. He looks up and sees Nelliel and Orihime looking at him.

"Orihime. Nel," said Kuroi.

"Kuroi," said Orihime.

"Kuroi!" exclaimed Nelliel happily.

Before they can finish talking, they all hear a loud footstep. The three friends turn and look at Grimmjow standing in the newly created entrance.

"Shut the hell up you two. Hurry up and fix him," said Kuroi.

"Grimmjow, why are you helping me? I thought you worked for Aizen," said Kuroi.

"I'm not doing this because I want to be friends with you or anything. I want to fight you at full power," said Grimmjow.

"So that's the reason you're making me fix him. You're just doing this to settle a rivalry. I didn't agree to this," said Orihime.

"Just shut up and fix him! You should be glad that I'm even allowing you to heal your friend! Just do it before Ulquiorra-," said Grimmjow.

"Before Ulquiorra what?" interrupted Ulquiorra.

Grimmjow quickly turns around and sees Ulquiorra standing behind him.

"Speak of the devil," said Grimmjow.

"Why are you healing an enemy I defeated?" asked Ulquiorra.

"Because I can," said Grimmjow.

"I don't care about you fighting that soul reaper. Lord Aizen has ordered me to watch over Orihime, so hand her over," said Ulquiorra.

"Eat a dick," said Grimmjow.

"What did you just say?" asked Ulquiorra.

"You've got a lot to say today, don't you, Ulquiorra!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

Grimmjow tries to grab Ulquiorra, but Ulquiorra just grabs his hand.

"I know that you're scared to fight me. I can see it in your eyes," said Grimmjow.

"I'm not scared of you, Grimmjow. You're not top dog around here," said Ulquiorra.

"I'll show you who's the top dog," said Grimmjow.

"Let's not fight here. There's a child, an injured man, and the person who I'm supposed to protect. They will just get hurt," said Ulquiorra.

"I don't care!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

Grimmjow launches a cero at point-blank range. Ulquiorra smacks Grimmjow's hand away to divert the cero. Ulquiorra then jumps over Grimmjow and tries to hit him with a cero, but Grimmjow grabs his hand. A small cube appears in Grimmjow's hand and encompasses the fourth Espada, sending him somewhere else.

"What was that?" asked Orihime.

"Caja Negacion. It was created so Aizen could punish his subordinates. If used on an average Arrancar, it should be permanent, but it was never supposed to be used on an Espada. He will only be stuck in there for a few hours at most, so that should be enough time. Hurry up and heal him," said Grimmjow.

"No," said Orihime.

Grimmjow hears her response and quickly grabs her by her neck.

"I wasn't giving you a choice in the matter! Heal him!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

Before Grimmjow and continue to choke the girl, Kuroi grabs Grimmjow's arm. He then punches him in the face.

"Get your slimy hands off her, you bastard," said Kuroi.

"You still pack a punch even if you're injured. That's surprising," said Grimmjow.

"Orihime, please heal me. Scratch that. Just sit back and watch me destroy him," said Kuroi.

"It's dumb to try to fight me when you're injured," said Grimmjow.

"I'm not fighting injured because I want to fight you. I'm fighting injured because that's the only chance that you have at beating me," said Kuroi.

"Oh really? Then, let's have our fight to the death on equal grounds!" said Grimmjow.

"Not here. Let's go somewhere where there are no spectators," said Kuroi.

Grimmjow and Kuroi rocket away from the pillar. Once they get to an open space, Kuroi calls out his Bankai and clashes with the Sexta Espada. Grimmjow tries to hit Kuroi with a cero, but Kuroi blocks the cero with a Jigoku Piasa. The Jigoku Piasa diverts the cero and it flies through the pillar behind them. Grimmjow starts to excitedly laugh.

"I've been waiting for a thrill like this! I've been waiting to destroy you!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

"That's impossible. I obliterated you the last time we fought and I was weaker last time. Now, I'm stronger and I will just destroy you again," said Kuroi.

"So, you want to kill me, huh! Just do it then!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

"I don't want to kill you. I just don't want you to continue to bother me," said Kuroi.

"Stop it with that weak crap! I stabbed your friend! I choked your girl! I beat you and your friend's asses! You wanted to finish me off a couple days ago! What has changed!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

"I just don't like to kill people if I don't have to," said Kuroi.

"You humiliated me! You cut off my other arm, gave me these scars, and left me as a burning piece of flesh! I'll kill you! I'll rip out your throat and force you to understand why I'm top dog!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

"You're insane," said Kuroi.

"I'm not crazy. I just want to destroy you!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

Grimmjow flies up and lands on the pillar behind them. He proceeds to jump off the pillar and rocket towards Kuroi. Kuroi reacts fast enough and clashes with the Sexta Espada. The clash causes Kuroi to move back fast.

"Why did you come here to Hueco Mundo?" asked Grimmjow.

"I came here to save Orihime," said Kuroi.

"Then why didn't you grab that girl once you saw her? You didn't come here to save her. You came here to fight," said Grimmjow.

"The only reason that I'm fighting you is that you touched Orihime. Even if I grabbed Orihime and tried to run, you would just grab me and force me to fight you. We were destined to fight," said Kuroi.

"You are correct! You are a soul reaper and I am a Hollow! Hollows and soul reapers have been fighting each other for centuries! That should be a good enough reason to fight!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

Grimmjow launches another cero at Kuroi. The soul reaper can block the cero with his blade, but he flies back. Grimmjow appears behind him and tries to slash him, but Kuroi can block him at the last second. Grimmjow quickly kicks him in the face and he flies into a pillar.

"I can tell that you don't want to fight me, so I guess that I'll have to force you to," said Grimmjow.

Grimmjow flies up and sticks out his hand. A cero starts to charge in his outstretched hand, but it's not a regular one.

"What are you doing?" asked Kuroi.

"This is not a regular cero. It's the strongest one that Aizen only allows the Espada to use. It's called a Gran Rey Cero, " said Grimmjow.

"Orihime and Nel are there! You can't do this!" exclaimed Kuroi.

"I want to fight you, but you don't want to fight me, so I'm just giving you a little push," said Grimmjow.

"Stop!" exclaimed Kuroi.

Grimmjow doesn't care and releases the Gran Rey Cero. Kuroi quickly puts on his Hollow mask and rockets towards the cero and tanks it. Grimmjow smirks when he senses Kuroi's spiritual pressure.

"Now, that's the guy I want to see," said Grimmjow.

Kuroi doesn't respond and looks back at Nelliel and Orihime. Orihime is visibly scared of Kuroi.

"Did I scare you? I'm sorry. Let me just take this off," said Kuroi.

Kuroi moves his mask to the top of his head.

"You don't have to worry, Orihime. I'll destroy this guy and then we can all go home. There's no need to be scared," said Kuroi.

"Stop talking!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

"Shut up! I'll deal with you when I'm ready!" exclaimed Kuroi.

"Maybe this can convince you!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

Grimmjow swipes his Zanpakuto.

"Grind, Pantera!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

"He has a Zanpakuto? Orihime, from here on out, keep Santen Kesshun up at all times. This may get a little bloody," said Kuroi.

Grimmjow's spiritual pressure explodes and blows the sand away from him. As the sand stops flowing through the air, Grimmjow has become something that looks like a hybrid between a panther and a human. Grimmjow proceeds to roar and releases sonic pressure.

"What has he become?" thought Kuroi.

Before Kuroi can ask any questions, Grimmjow darts towards him and punches Kuroi through a pillar. Grimmjow then appears under Kuroi and punches him in the back. This surprise punch forces Kuroi to fly up through the pillar. Grimmjow then appears above Kuroi and kicks him, causing him to fly through the pillar.

"This isn't your full power. Is something holding you back?" said Grimmjow.

Kuroi responds by speed-blitzing Grimmjow and appearing behind him. He places his hand on Grimmjow's back.

"What are you doing?" asked Grimmjow.

"Are you losing your memory, old man? If you are, let me take you down memory lane," said Kuroi.

Kuroi launches a point-blank cero at Grimmjow. Instead of obliterating the Espada, the cero forces Grimmjow to fly through the pillar.

"You used my tactics against me! You want to kill me!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

"You can keep telling yourself that, but I won't," said Kuroi.

"We'll see!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

Grimmjow rockets towards Kuroi and tries to slash him with his sharp claws, but Kuroi easily dodges the swipes. Grimmjow tries to kick Kuroi, but Kuroi dodges the kick and kicks Grimmjow in the head. Grimmjow positions his elbow and shoots scale-like objects at Kuroi. Kuroi easily dodges the attack, but the objects rocket towards Orihime and Nel. Kuroi rockets towards the two girls and easily tanks the attack. He looks at Orihime who is still a little scared.

"I'll be done with him in a few minutes. Just keep on protecting Nel," said Kuroi.

Orihime just nods and Kuroi rockets towards Grimmjow.

"I can just feel that you want this battle to be over, don't you?" said Grimmjow.

"This battle will be over in seconds. I have been holding back ever since you entered your panther state. To be honest, I've been holding back the entire time," said Kuroi.

"Why is that! Do you think that I'm too weak to be a worthy opponent! Ever since I started to exist, I've hated anyone or anything that believes that I'm inferior to them! I'm number one! I'm the top dog! I'll kill you for thinking that I'm fodder!" exclaimed Grimmjow.

"Thanks for giving me time to charge my final attack. It won't kill you, but you'll be on death's door. See you later, Grimmjow," said Kuroi.

Grimmjow looks behind him and sees Kuroi hovering behind him with a Jigoku Piasa charged in his Zanpakuto and a cero charging in his hand. Before he can try to dodge, Kuroi brings down his blade and releases the cero. The combined attack destroys Grimmjow. The unconscious body of the Sexta Espada falls to the ground face-first. Kuroi slowly flies towards Orihime and Nelliel. He takes off his Hollow mask and it disintegrates into the air.

"Are you guys hurt?" asked Kuroi.

"Nope," said Orihime.

"That's good," said Kuroi.

Before the two friends can continue to stare at each other, Nelliel dives head-first into Kuroi's stomach.

"Uboha!" exclaimed Kuroi.

"Kuroi!" exclaimed Nelliel.

"What was that for? You'll die if you fall," said Kuroi.

"Nel's so happy that you didn't die," said Nelliel.

Kuroi places his hand on Nelliel's mask.

"You didn't have to worry. I wouldn't die to a bum like him," said Kuroi.

Kuroi picks up Nelliel and lands on the pillar. He then throws Orihime over his shoulder.

"Wait, Kuroi. What are you doing?" said Orihime.

"Carrying you. It would be faster to carry you than look for stairs. Is there something wrong?" said Kuroi.

"I'm heavy," said Orihime.

"Don't worry about it. You're not as heavy as I thought," said Kuroi.

Nelliel hears this and slams her right fist on Kuroi's dragon balls.

"What the hell was that for!" exclaimed Kuroi.

"You can't talk to ladies that way! There's a special way to talk to ladies y'know! Even if they's heavy you's s'posed to tell them they's not!" exclaimed Nelliel.

"Look. I'm sorry. There's no need for violence though," said Kuroi.

"Where do we go?" asked Orihime.

"We just have to find the others then leave," said Kuroi.

"You ain't going nowhere!" exclaimed the Espada.