Confronting Feelings II

The house was clean, the dishes were done, the family was fed, her brothers were busy saving the world – again – and her father was outside doing something. And she was under house arrest. Was it any wonder that Kurosaki Yuzu was bored?

Yuzu sighed. She knew that they meant well – she and her sister didn't have the power to protect themselves from Hell, so her family had to keep them together under constant guard. She knew that, and she knew that there was nothing she could do about it. But it still felt… stifling. The knowledge that Hell threatened the whole world drained the joy out of relaxing and watching television, or working on one of her spare time projects. But she still went and did them, because they were the only things she could do, and just sitting and worrying would drive her insane.

There was something going on with Karin, though. She'd been rather distracted for the last couple of days. Yuzu had thought at first that it was just her way of dealing with the Hell situation, since Yuzu had been – She shivered, and decided to rephrase the thought. – Since they had been kidnapped, and Karin had gotten out first. Yeah, that sounded better.

But there was more, Yuzu could tell. Her young face twisted into something resembling mingled frustration and exasperation. She and Karin were twins, had known each other all their lives. Even after their mother died, even after their personalities went in two different directions in order to cope with the pain of loss, they could still read each other with hardly any effort. Karin was struggling with something, and hiding it. And every now and then, Yuzu could swear that Karin's eyes had turned a milky white, only to blink and they were normal as if they'd never changed.

Oh, how Yuzu wished she could be like her sister and just flat-out demand to know what was going on. Karin was so in control, so cool like that. But Yuzu couldn't do that – she knew that pushing her would only drive her away. Karin would tell her when she was ready. But that didn't stop her curiosity from growing.

Seeing her sister watching her again, Karin repressed the urge to sigh. Yuzu knew something was up, she could see it in her eyes, even without activating her power. And her power seemed to have a mind of its own – ever since that first activation, anytime Karin was even curious about someone's thoughts and feelings, her power would just flare up. She had to fight harder and harder to turn it off now.

Karin felt like she had been tossed into a maelstrom. How on earth was she supposed to control this power, when it seemed to respond to her emotions? Was this what Ichigo felt, when he was trying to control his reiryoku? If this was standard, then the idea that her father – her extremely emotional, over-the-top father – was a Shinigami with enough control over his power to cast barriers over their home just boggled the mind.

Karin winced. Just the incredulity and the quiet desire to know how they managed had stirred her reiryoku, and she could feel trickles of it moving towards her eyes, ready to tell her anything she wanted to know if she only laid eyes on the subjects of her thoughts. She fought it down, but she knew that at some point she'd be caught. And she didn't want to be caught when she couldn't control her own power. That was just embarrassing!

She really envied Yuzu sometimes – she was so calm, so accepting, so at peace with the world. She'd have no problems controlling this power, Karin was sure. And even if she did, she wouldn't have trouble confessing her difficulties. Karin bit her lip, mentally debating whether to confide in her sister for the umpteenth time that morning. And once again, she decided against it. She knew it was her pride getting in the way, but… Karin had spent years trying to become someone who didn't need to ask for help, someone who could take care of herself…

Karin closed her eyes for a moment. In the end, she had wanted to be like her brother. Ichigo, who took no crap from anyone, who accepted every challenge issued and nearly always came out on top. He didn't like telling people about his childhood, because for Ichigo, all that was there was pain and guilt. And people respected that! Even the gangs stopped bringing up their mother's death after Ichigo demonstrated he could and would put them in a hospital if they ever tried to use her against him. People looked at Ichigo, and saw an intelligent, diligent student who had loyal, steadfast friends. Sure, the orange hair put people off at first, but Ichigo just didn't seem to care.

And in private… in private, Ichigo almost never looked down to her. And while he nearly always scowled, she could the affection in his eyes. How many times had they shared a commiserating look at their father's antics? How many times had Ichigo let Karin see that tiny, real smile when they were doing something together?

Was it any wonder that Karin had looked up to her big brother? Ichigo was everything Karin had ever wanted to be. And how many times had she seen him grit his teeth and try to refuse treatment after stumbling home injured from a fight? How many times had she and Yuzu listened in on the males of the house talking, only to hear Ichigo reject their father's quiet offers to do something about the gangs that constantly targeted Ichigo?

Karin had equated pride with strength for so long, it was hard to let go. Again, she considered asking for help… No. This was her power. She would control it. Then, and only then, would she reveal her ability to her family.

Just outside, Isshin wiped his forehead with the sleeve of his shihakushō. Between he and the two Kasumiōji retainers, the Kurosaki household was possibly the most protected residence in Japan… barring, perhaps, Urahara's shop. But then, Isshin thought in tired amusement, that's just not fair to compare, since they have two Kidō masters and a genius inventor.

Kenryū glanced at Enryū for a moment, then gave a tired sigh. "I think that's the best we can do," he muttered, looking up to the former taicho for confirmation.

Isshin nodded. "Yeah, I think so. You want to go get your princess? It'll be easier to guard everyone if they're together."

Without a word, Enryū nodded and jogged back to the house where Rurichiyo was waiting.

"Doesn't say much, does he?" Isshin observed conversationally. "Is he mute?"

"No," Kenryū denied. "He has his reasons for his silence, but he can speak if needed. Let me just say, Kurosaki-sama, that I appreciate your family's aid and understanding in these times. It hasn't been easy."

"I imagine not." Isshin eyed Kenryū appraisingly for a few moments. "Relax, I'm not going to make you fight the Togabito solo. You and Enryū are support and retreat specialists, right?"

Kenryū made an odd sort of twitch, a simultaneous relaxing and tensing. "Yes, Kurosaki-sama. How did you know?"

"You're the personal guards of a noble family's heir," Isshin explained easily, leaning against the wall of his house. "It's standard procedure. If they've gotten through everyone else, then the only thing to do is to retreat and regroup."

At that, Kenryū breathed a sigh of relief. "Hai. I admit, Enryū and I would not be of much help in a direct fight against the Togabito. Enryū and I have primarily defensive Zanpakutō."

"That's fine," Isshin assured him. "While I'm sure you could hold your own if the need arose, I would want you to be ready to carry my daughters to safety instead."

"Of course."

"I would ask, though, that we work in pairs," Isshin went on. "You two have support skills which will keep us from exhausting ourselves against the Togabito, or from making fatal mistakes." Seeing Kenryū's apprehensive look, Isshin shook his head. "Either you or Enryū would be here at all times to look after your princess and my daughters, and the heavy fighting would always be either me or Kon."

Kenryū looked somewhat conflicted, but slowly nodded after several seconds. "Only in a support role, mind you," he qualified. "Our first duty is to Rurichiyo-sama."

"Of course," Isshin agreed easily. "Just as mine is my family. But that doesn't mean we can't work together to protect them both. My strength will act as your shield, and your support will keep me from falling. We're counting on each other, and together we will succeed."

At that, Kenryū nodded again, more strongly. It was then that Enryū emerged from the house, quickly ushering a small figure in a pink kimono and a hat that completely covered her face. Isshin opened the door, and as soon as the princess was inside, the three men followed her in.

"Karin! Yuzu!" Isshin called. "We have guests!"

The two girls hurried to the room and froze when they saw the girl standing there. "Allow me to introduce Kasumiōji Rurichiyo-sama," Kenryū told them. "Rurichiyo-sama, this is Kurosaki Karin and Kurosaki Yuzu, the sisters of Kurosaki Ichigo-sama and daughters of Kurosaki Isshin-sama, who was gracious enough to lend his aid in our time of need."

"We are most thankful for your assistance, Kurosaki-san," the girl spoke clearly, almost imperially, before bowing lightly to the sisters. "And it is a pleasure to meet the family of the famous Kurosaki Ichigo."

Yuzu and Karin glanced at each other, mirrored looks of utter confusion on their faces. Ichi-nii is famous?

After a few moments, Yuzu got over her surprise and bowed back to the girl. "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Rurichiyo…-sama?" She ended it as a slight questioning lilt, unsure of what suffix to use. She glanced at Rurichiyo's friends, and the one with hair gave a slight nod of approval.

Karin quickly repeated her twin's words, though she looked like she was preoccupied with something else.

"Girls, Rurichiyo will be staying with us for a while," Isshin explained. "I'll let Kon know when he wakes up. Why don't you show her around the house?"

A dimension away, Isshin's son was fighting for his life. Zen'i had once again called on Asahi no Kagami, but this time the ghosts that appeared were somewhat translucent. Ichigo wasn't sure, but he thought that might be because he'd already dispelled them once before. But Zen'i had somehow become faster, stronger, so Ichigo had already unleashed Bankai and was dual wielding Tensa Zangetsu.

That didn't stop the ghosts from giving voice to other disturbing feelings, though. "We're never going to live in peace," an illusion of Ichigo himself muttered resentfully. "When and if we beat Hell, we're going to be even stronger than we were before they fucking kidnapped Mom."

"Already have a plan for that," Ichigo grunted back just before blocking an absurdly fast strike from Zen'i. As expected, the illusion vanished as soon as Ichigo acknowledged it.

"How long do you think you have before I turn on you too?" the cheerful voice of Urahara Kisuke commented, even as Ichigo launched a silent Getsuga to shove Zen'i back.

"Hadō 4: Byakurai!" Ichigo chanted, but Zen'i had flickered away before the Kidō could hit him, once more vanishing into the crowd of illusions. Ichigo grit his teeth – this was a highly annoying strategy, and damn but it was effective. "Hat 'n' Clogs…"

"I mean, it's fairly obvious, right? I'm the one who gave your father his gigai, and I had no trouble at all hiding my Hōgyoku within Rukia's soul and trying to force her to become human. So I've got no problems sacrificing people's powers when I've got the bigger picture in mind. And let's face it, Ichigo-kun, your powers pretty much started this conflict. So, how long do you think you have before I swap out your human body for a gigai that will keep you trapped in it?"

Ichigo scowled, but kept his focus on trying to locate Zen'i.

"Ichigo, we've been rogues for over a century," a version of Yoruichi stood next to Urahara, trying to demand his attention. "But Soul Society knows where we are now. You do realize that something's gotta give, especially if you keep attracting trouble."

"Not my fault," Ichigo said lowly.

"Doesn't matter if it's your fault or not, kiddo," Yoruichi told him bluntly. "Face it, everyone knows that at some point you're going to go back to Soul Society and demand justice against those idiot nobles, and odds are spark off a civil war."

"No one would blame you for it, of course," Urahara continued where his friend left off. "But you know perfectly well that life isn't fair. If you're the catalyst, then the fastest and easiest way to prevent civil war would be to keep you unable to start it."

Ichigo scowled. Damn it all if he wasn't right. "Yamamoto wouldn't hesitate for even a second, would he?"

"Not even that long," Urahara agreed. "And for the sake of peace, most of the other taicho would go along with it. Of course, I'd fight on your behalf… and maybe manage to preserve your life, but your powers would definitely be sealed. Possibly your memories too. And there's no way I would let someone else do something to you, so I would have to be the one to betray you."

It was so fast, Ichigo almost didn't catch it in time. He Shunpo-ed away right as Zen'i slashed with a Getsuga-enhanced Zangetsu right where he'd been standing a moment before. Then he blinked and shook his head. What was he doing? These were illusions. But… weren't they supposed to be preying on his fears and self-doubts?

"Oi! Zen'i! What's going on with these illusions!" Ichigo yelled.

"You figure it out," Zen'i answered as he flickered in front of Ichigo, forcing him into a deadlock, each of Ichigo's Tensa Zangetsu struggling to overcome Zen'i's two Zanpakutō.

"I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun," a tearful Inoue murmured. "I know you have every right to hate them, the Shinigami who kidnapped your mother and sent her to Hell. But this… this is too much, Kurosaki-kun! You set Hell on everyone! Even if it means you hating me forever, I have to keep you from doing anything like that again. So… when this is all over… I'm going to use my Sōten Kisshun to remove your powers. I'm sorry, Kurosaki-kun…!"

"I don't get it…!" Ichigo grunted as he shunted enough power down his arms to set his blades alight with Getsuga Tenshō, slowly but surely overwhelming his Togabito aspect. "Why are the illusions of people I trust betraying me…!" And then the answer struck him like a thunderbolt. "Wait…! You're able to focus Asahi no Kagami on different emotions?"

Zen'i laughed as he deflected the blades to the side and tried to stab Ichigo in the side, only for the Vizard to leap back and watch him carefully. "Got it in one! This is one of the expanded abilities of Asahi no Kagami. While her default emotion is guilt, all I have to do is specify the emotion to focus on, and your own mind comes up with the scenarios. Kinda scary how possible they are, isn't it?"

Very, Ichigo admitted to himself. He could easily see Urahara sealing away his powers as a compromise instead of letting him die. And no matter how much Inoue didn't want to do it, Ichigo knew that she would take away his powers if she truly felt it was the right thing to do. But he wouldn't have it any other way. Sure, he'd resent losing his powers, but he'd understand. They had to do what they felt was right, just as he did.

But as soon as he had thought those things, all the illusory people vanished. Ichigo blinked. "Did you just banish the illusions?"

"Nope. You did," Zen'i told him casually. "By recognizing the concept Asahi no Kagami was focusing on, and acknowledging your feelings. Asahi no Kagami's release command isn't just for shits and giggles, Ichigo. She's meant to reveal the truth. Once you've recognized it, then she has no power over you. Now let's see how well you fare against this emotion!"

All at once, Ichigo was once more surrounded by ghosts.

"What is the nature of power?" an image of Byakuya asked coldly. "What is the nature of weakness? Who are you, you who were once weak and became strong? How did it come to be that you are different from all others? Why are you worthier of training, of the power you've been granted?"

Ichigo swallowed. He had given voice to a question that had quietly plagued him for quite some time, more often since Aizen's death. Aizen had chosen him because of the circumstances of his birth. Yet… surely there had been others in the past. Surely Isshin was not the only Shinigami to fall in love with a human. Surely he was not the only human-Shinigami hybrid to have ever been born. And even if he had been, did that truly make him that different from other spiritually aware humans?

Not that Ichigo knew of, not before Urahara had restored his Shinigami powers. Which meant there had to be something more. But Ichigo didn't know, and he wasn't sure he wanted to know. He was already so different from everyone else. What more could there be?

"Why did I train you?" Urahara's voice asked pointedly, using one hand to readjust his hat so only one eye was visible. "Why did I help you regain your Shinigami powers? In the time I took to train you, I could have rescued Rukia-chan, taken out the Hōgyoku, and relocated to anywhere else in the world. What made you so noteworthy that I took you on as a student?"

Yet another question that bothered Ichigo occasionally. Why had Urahara trained him to rescue Rukia, instead of going to Soul Society himself? He and Yoruichi were so powerful, and former assassins. If anyone could have snuck into Soul Society and quickly and quietly retrieved the noble girl, it would have been them. So why? Why had Urahara taken an interest in Ichigo? Why had he pushed Ichigo to Shikai, to Bankai?

It would be simple to think that it had been an extra layer of insurance against Aizen, Urahara's true enemy. A combatant who had never seen Aizen's Shikai, with the potential to reach taicho class and beyond… had Ichigo merely had the right potential, and Urahara had taken advantage of him? Or had Urahara already had a personal interest in Ichigo? The shopkeeper and Isshin had a history, Ichigo knew. How far did that go? Was that the reason for Urahara training him, helping him?

"He's got a point," an illusion of Yoruichi agreed. "I mean, come on. What were you thinking when you decided to save Rukia? Yes, she saved your family, so honor demanded you save her. But what would have happened if we had succeeded the way we originally planned? If Aizen hadn't been a dick, if Aizen hadn't been behind Rukia's execution, then what would have happened when we saved her?"

Ichigo swallowed. If he was honest with himself, he'd been an idiot who had no idea what he was getting into. Seriously, did he expect to save Rukia from Soul Society and not expect them to pursue them? If Aizen hadn't been an issue, then Soul Society would have hunted him – and by extension, Urahara – down. Blanching, Ichigo realized that his father and sisters might have become targets as well. Wow, he'd been stupid. His sense of honor wasn't worth their lives. Would it have turned out alright? He'd never know, but Ichigo was very glad that it hadn't come to that.

And then a mirror image stepped out of the crowd. Ichigo looked at his own reflection, who looked just as uncertain as he felt. "Am I nothing but a weapon? Was I born only to fight?"

Ichigo swallowed. Those private feelings, those thoughts he'd tried so hard to keep from acknowledging… he had no answer for them. He wanted to say that he was more than a weapon, but what was there to prove it? If he was born for more than war, then what purpose did he have?

Ichigo froze, that strange sensation coming over him once again, stronger than before, this time forming a sentence that seemed to echo within his very soul. "My life's purpose has been to protect," he whispered. And then, without warning, the sensation faded, leaving the feeling that Ichigo knew what came next but he couldn't… quite… grasp it!

Ichigo wanted to scream in frustration, but this was hardly the time or place for it, and so he grit his teeth and forced himself to focus on the fight. Yet his mirror image spoke once more, utterly destroying any chance of focusing. "Can I really even be considered human anymore? Will I ever be able to live a human life?"

Ichigo winced. He could hardly think of living without his powers anymore. He couldn't imagine living without being able to sense and handle any spiritual disturbances where he lived. He'd once told Hitsugaya that he had a human life to live… but that was when there was still a chance. Now, Ichigo knew that Soul Society would never leave him alone. Neither would Hueco Mundo. Could Ichigo settle down in the living world and lead a human life? The answer to that had never been more unclear.

Yet Ichigo knew one thing. "My humanity compels me," he breathed. It didn't matter if he was as human as he once was or not. It didn't matter if he could live as a human or not. He'd started human, and he'd retained his humanity. Whatever he did, it would be guided by who he was at heart.

"Having trouble, Ichigo?" Zen'i taunted, his voice not giving any indication of where he actually was. Even if it did, Ichigo had no idea if this was the real Zen'i, or merely an illusion. He had to dispel them, but how could he do that if he had no answer for them?

Ichigo blinked. Wait, Zen'i gave me the answer to that. I have to recognize the concept and acknowledge my feelings. He opened his mouth to answer, but was startled when he felt cold steel stab through his middle.

"You took too long," the Togabito criticized, sounding rather disappointed. "I told you, don't get distracted."

"Yeah… you're right. I was distracted." Ichigo admitted, his Adjuchas mask beginning to form across his face. "But you've seem to have forgotten… it takes more than a sword through my gut to finish me off!"

With that, Ichigo swung with both Tensa Zangetsu, forcing Zen'i to yank Asahi no Kagami out and retreat or else risk being sliced in three. A surge of Hollow reiatsu, and Ichigo's wound healed in moments. Zen'i sighed and shook his head. "Using Cazador, then? I suppose I should do the same." And with a ripping motion, the Gillian mask materialized over Zen'i's face. "Hurry up, Ichigo," the Togabito taunted as he vanished once more into the crowd of illusions. "I'm charging a Cero, and I'll start targeting the Vizard unless you can stop me!"

"Damn it!" Ichigo cursed, extending his senses to find Zen'i, but failing miserably. With the ghosts keeping him from seeing him normally, Ichigo could either search aimlessly and hope to stumble across the bastard, or focus on breaking the hold Asahi no Kagami had on him. Think, Ichigo, think! Byakuya asking what makes me so special, Urahara asking why he trained me, Yoruichi questioning my intelligence, and me questioning my humanity. What do they have in common? What emotions did they evoke?

Well, the last question was easy enough. A deep sense of unease, of doubt. They forced him to face the questions about how his own… Wait. Could that be it? Was it really that simple? "I acknowledge that I don't have the answers to any of those questions," Ichigo stated calmly even as he began charging a Cero at the tip of the white Tensa Zangetsu. "The concept you're using, Asahi no Kagami, is self-worth."

And just like that, the ghosts vanished. Ichigo raised the white Tensa Zangetsu at Zen'i, who stared right back at him with a matching Cero at the tip of Zangetsu. "CERO!" they cried out in unison

The beams fought for supremacy for a few moments, before both exploded. But neither Ichigo nor Zen'i were watching them – instead, they were deadlocked, their blades pressing against their opponents', with apparently equal strength between them.

"So, you figured it out. Good. Asahi tells me that that particular concept is one favored by Hell."

Ichigo's eyes narrowed. That explained why Zen'i had used it – just more preparation for the final fight. "You'll forgive me if I kill you quickly."

"You can try. We're not over yet, not even close." A Getsuga flowed down Zen'i's Zangetsu, and Ichigo skid back several feet before shunting it upwards. "Asahi no Kagami can project up to four concepts before it needs time to recharge. Now, what concept to use now…?"

Ichigo repressed the urge to groan. "So I just have to kill you before you can send another wave of freaking illusions at me. Fine. Getsuga Tenshō!"

The Getsuga flew at insane speeds at Zen'i, who seemed surprised enough to stand still. But when the black crescent hit him… it vanished.

"What?" Ichigo gaped. "What just happened?"

Zen'i tapped the armor that Hell had given him. "It's not that I was too shocked to move. It's that I didn't need to. This armor was formed from Hell's power, and given to me to counter your power."

"How?"

"Heh. It's stupid to tell your opponent how your moves work, Ichigo. Figure it out yourself."

Behind the mask, Ichigo narrowed his eyes and flickered into Shunpo. Zen'i wordlessly did the same, and they met in the middle, blades clashing, each struggling to gain the upper hand.

Meanwhile, Grimmjow and Ulquiorra were fighting hand-to-hand in their unreleased forms, seemingly on equal ground. "You have grown stronger," Ulquiorra acknowledged as he tilted his head away from a blindingly fast jab. "Is this Hell's doing?"

"Part him, part me," Grimmjow admitted, jumping back to avoid a strike that could have opened a new Hollow hole in his chest. "It doesn't matter, though! As long as I have the strength to win!"

"Foolish." As the former Sexta Espada launched a kick, Ulquiorra grabbed his opponent's leg and threw him at high speed into a sand dune. "Once more, you are a mere marionette, a puppet in Hell's hands, a card in his deck. You are being used."

Grimmjow emerged from the dune, his expression outraged, as he charged a Cero at the tips of his fingers, chains dangling from his wrists. "I am no one's puppet!" And with that, he released the blue Cero.

Ulquiorra Sonido-ed out of the way just in time. "You are a puppet," he repeated. "You have bought this power with your freedom, Grimmjow. I can hear the chains that bind you to Hell. You have even less chance of betraying your new master than you had your old one. You are now nothing more than a panther on a leash."

Grimmjow scowled angrily. "You always were too perceptive. But I will succeed in betraying Hell. With this power, I will eat you, then Kurosaki Ichigo. With that power, I'll be able to escape Hell and rule Hueco Mundo."

"Hmph. Then it falls to me to send you back to your master." Ulquiorra drew his sword. "Bind, Murciélago."

The blue-haired Arrancar grinned. "I'm glad you're taking this seriously. It would be a shame for our final fight to be boring! Grind, Pantera!"

A moment later, Ulquiorra took to the air, using his bat-like wings to hover a distance away from his opponent as he generated a green javelin in his hands. Immediately, he hurled it at Grimmjow, who was dashing across the desert sand at high speed. Grimmjow dodged easily, maintaining his course towards Ulquiorra, but he found it harder to get away when a Cero Oscuras screamed towards him.

Grimmjow leapt above the Cero, but was blindsided by the lance that Ulquiorra had hidden behind the Cero, which sent the jaguar tumbling. Growling, Grimmjow landed on all fours and roared loudly at Ulquiorra, sending shockwaves at his enemy.

Taken by surprise, Ulquiorra stumbled in midair. He recovered an instant later, but in that instant Grimmjow had Sonido-ed right in front of him, his left claw already moving to take a chunk out of him. Ulquiorra leaned back and deflected Grimmjow's strike with his right arm, which was immediately severed from just below his elbow.

Ulquiorra Sonido-ed a fair distance away, his eyes calculating. He had not expected Grimmjow's strength and speed to have improved that much from Hell's empowerment. Before, his Hierro would have easily prevented any significant damage from the former Sexta Espada. For him to cut through now… "I see…" he murmured.

"Ha!" Grimmjow crowed. "You can't even keep up!"

"You are, once again, incorrect, Grimmjow," Ulquiorra denied. "I merely underestimated you. It will not happen again." With a little focus, his arm regenerated, and he flexed it experimentally before flaring his power intensely, blanketing himself with green and black reiatsu. "Resurrección: Segunda Etapa."

Grimmjow stared disbelievingly at Ulquiorra's new form. "What the flying fuck?" he demanded, fear creeping into his voice. "You have TWO Resurrección forms? Did you go easy on Kurosaki or something?"

"No. He merely showed me more power than he did you," Ulquiorra replied calmly. "This is my form of true despair, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez." His eyes looked carelessly upon Grimmjow. "It seems you cannot completely reject the despair my reiatsu presses upon you. Can you even fight like this?"

Grimmjow felt his anger rising as he felt the sting of being judged and found wanting. He shoved away any sense of fear. What had he to lose? If he died, then he would simply resurrect in Hell. "More than that," he growled. "I can win."

"Then don't let your guard down for even a second, Grimmjow."

Fuck! Grimmjow reflexively Sonido-ed away, narrowly avoiding Ulquiorra's bat-like claws, and then again when his opponent began to chase him. He's fast! I gotta slow him down! With some focus, Grimmjow called on the Chains of Hell.

The chains at Grimmjow's wrists lashed out, and the Arrancar was gratified to see Ulquiorra leap back to avoid the chains. Thinking quickly, he made a small cut in his hand and began to charge a Cero, which quickly became a Gran Rey Cero as the blood mixed. Grimmjow needed some serious firepower to take down someone with two Resurrección forms. Although I never doubted Ulquiorra's power, he privately admitted.

Continuing to chase Ulquiorra with his chains, Grimmjow took careful aim and fired, the gigantic beam obscuring his vision of his opponent for a few seconds. Then the Gran Rey Cero faded, and Grimmjow frowned. Ulquiorra shouldn't have completely disintegrated in that shot…

Grimmjow's head fell to the ground, and behind him, Ulquiorra silently dispelled the lance he'd used to do it. "You were too arrogant," he criticized the corpse, unsure if Grimmjow could hear him. "Speed and regeneration are my specialties, but I do not lack the power to pierce your Hierro. You lost the minute you decided to stand still."

With that, a small portal appeared under Grimmjow, taking his body and soul back to Hell. As soon as the portal closed, Ulquiorra turned his eyes towards the remaining fights. Returning to his pre-Resurrección state, he Sonido-ed to a good vantage point and watched. There could be something tactically useful for his king later, so he needed to observe carefully.