Title: Storm Front - Part V
Author: aviss
Pairing: Grimmjow/Ichigo
Rating: PG-13 this part
Genre: Action, Adventure
Warning: Violence
Disclaimer: Bleach and its characters belong to Kubo Tite, as everyone already knows.
Summary: While investigating the disappearance of a group of shinigami Ichigo discovers not everything they told him about the end of the war is true.
Word Count: ~2.300


Prologue - A Storm is Brewing
Part I - The Calm Before the Storm
Part II - Storm Clouds
Part III - Thunderstom
Part IV - The Eye of the Storm


Part V - Weathering the Storm


You lost, King. Now it's my turn.

Ichigo stares at the white image of himself and sighs annoyed. He's in his inner world, which means he now has to fight this fucking nuisance, again, while in the outside the hollow wreaks havoc.

He knows what that means for Kurotsuchi's life expectations, and he's not sorry the bastard is about to be torn limb from limb by the monster he sought to control. He also knows what that means for Renji's and Grimmjow's survival chances though, and he'd rather not have their blood on his hands before the day is out.

He must hurry.

"I'm still conscious, I'm still alive," Ichigo says, getting ready for the fight. "I won't let you win."

We'll see, King. We'll see.

…

The monster's movements are too fast for Grimmjow to follow, especially since he can't move on his own. One instant it's there, staring at Kurotsuchi from behind his mask, and the next he's on the other side of the training grounds attacking relentlessly while Kurotsuchi dodges and retreats.

It's a magnificent sight to behold, even with the threat of imminent death hanging on his head. Grimmjow knew about the monster for the stilted conversations he heard between Kurosaki's friends back in Hueco Mundo, before the end of the War and the beginning of his nightmare. He has wanted to see him fight since then.

And now he is getting his wish granted; he's watching the hollow, his movement fast and precise, graceful and slick as only a mindless animal can be. He's fucking beautiful: all that power, all that insanity. Grimmjow longs for it to be focused on him.

But not right now.

In his current condition it would mean certain death for Grimmjow, and though he's not overly worried at the prospect of his own demise at the hands of this beautiful beast, it would prevent him form fighting Kurosaki, in either of his forms, ever again.

He can't allow that.

It doesn’t take long for Kurotsuchi to realize he's fighting a lost battle unless he really tries to kill his enemy, much as the fucker talked about needing this specimen alive; Grimmjow notices the moment that realization hits him, his body tensing mid dodge and even his mask managing to convey his scowl.

He feels an insane urge to grin; whatever happens, Kurotsuchi will not win.

The hollow attacks barehanded, though his sword is not far from him, chasing his target on instinct and trying to rip him apart like the mindless being he is at the time. He's not talking, not paying attention to anything but his foe, neglecting defence for relentless attacks. Kurotsuchi has also stopped talking, all his attention focused in survival.

Grimmjow tries to move again, using all his willpower to break the control placed on him by the reiatsu seal now Kurotsuchi's attention is diverted. He can see, out of the corner of his eye, the other shinigami's eyes following the fight and the focused look on them, and he knows the shinigami is also attempting to break free.

He still can't move, but his attempts seem to have caught Kurotsuchi's attention and he feels his body jumping into the fight again, attacking the hollow's unprotected back.

Coward, Grimmjow seethes inwardly, his hand going to his sword and unsheathing it, seeing the spray of red blood as the swing connects with the hollow's back.

It howls, turning to face Grimmjow in a move so fast he can't see it, pain exploding in his chest where the hollow's claws rip his body, skin and muscle tearing, blood dripping on to the parched sand below.

Fuck!

He sees the Shinigami stepping into the place Grimmjow was occupying a second before, his sword also in his hand and attacking the hollow while Kurotsuchi retreats to a distant corner of the training area.

So the fucking bastard wants to use them again.

They attack together, swords glinting in the sun as they cut and block those dangerous claws. Kurotsuchi doesn’t seem to be overly concerned with their defence, allowing them to take damage as he sees fit, but he at least tries to parry the hits. He probably wants his puppets to last as long as possible.

The hollow is strong, too strong for both of them to fight under these conditions. Grimmjow is not sure they would have a better chance if they were fighting on their own, but being moved as chess pieces trying to inflict damage on a being which can fucking heal itself immediately is the worst possible way.

He shots a cero, seeing the hollow's hand lift to block it barehanded and a ball of energy gathering between the points of his horns. Grimmjow cringes inwardly, if he's hit with that, and he has no doubt he will, there is no way he survives. The Shinigami next to him seems to know that fact as well, if the horror in his eyes is any indication.

He watches, fascinated, as a cero to rival his own Gran Rey Cero forms, ready to blast him into nothingness. He doesn’t have time to feel sorry for himself, at least he got to see and fight Kurosaki one last time, and this time his stupid conscience won't interfere with the end of the fight.

It's not the best way to go, but it beats being controlled and imprisoned.

He'd smile if he could move.

The monster howls again, turning sharply and rushing in the opposite direction, the blast aimed now at Kurotsuchi. He wasn't expecting it, unable to completely dodge it while the hollow calls his sword to his hand. Grimmjow can't see in the middle of the white blast, the hollow disappearing inside the cloud formed by the destruction, but he can tell the moment Kurotsuchi dies.

There is an instant of pain, sharp and cleansing on the back of his neck, and then blessed freedom and movement return to Grimmjow. Control, he's finally in control of his own body.

Grimmjow opens his mouth and screams in triumph, throwing his head back, the sound echoing in the entire training grounds.

…

The relief of being free to move is short lived.

They're still in deep shit, Kurotsuchi's careless use of them has left Grimmjow and the shinigami severely wounded, and with a big problem in their hands.

"Can you move, Shinigami?" Grimmjow asks shortly, his eyes fixed on the dust cloud already setting. He can see a shape standing there, not moving or doing anything, just standing.

He should be grateful the hollow had enough intelligence in him to recognize his enemy, but he's not counting on their luck to hold much longer. He knows what Kurosaki did to his friend last time he lost it like this.

"I think so," the shinigami says, his voice strained. Grimmjow turns to look at him and asses his condition. The shinigami is bleeding profusely from a deep gash under his collarbone, and one of his legs is drenched as well. He's standing, but he probably doesn’t have much energy to fight, nor a lot of freedom of movement if the way he favours his uninjured side is any indication.

Grimmjow is in a slightly better shape, his chest is torn and bleeding as well, and his left arm feels broken from when he was slammed against a rock before, but it's not enough to stop him fighting.

The dust clears completely and they see the hollow, standing with its back to them and staring at a shivering and whimpering bundle on the ground. It's not difficult to recognize Nell, the tiny arrancar Kurosaki carried around in Hueco Mundo. She seems to be unharmed, though terrified out of whatever wits she has.

"We need to stop him," Grimmjow says, his eyes never leaving the scene, wondering if the hollow is so far gone it will attack Nell.

"Yeah, I know," the shinigami agrees, gathering his reiatsu. Grimmjow realizes the guy is about to go Bankai, and considers if he should release his sword as well. His released form gives him speed and strength, though it doesn’t increase his range and he's not too sanguine about getting too close to the hollow. "We need to cut one of the horns," the shinigami informs him, "for what Ishida told me is what Ulquiorra did to break the mask."

Grimmjow nods, "You or me, Shinigami?" he asks, eyeing intently the still unmoving hollow.

"It's Renji," he says, shooting him a look, "not Shinigami."

Grimmjow rolls his eyes. He doesn't give a fuck. "Whatever, Renji. You or me?"

"You," Renji grits through clenched teeth, and then he releases the reiatsu. "Bankai!" Grimmjow sees how his sword transforms into a weird, huge bone serpent. "I'll handle long range--"

He doesn't finish whatever he's going to say, Grimmjow grabbing him and jumping aside just in time to evade one of those monstrous ceros. The Bankai release must have triggered the attack, Grimmjow realizes. "Pay attention, Shinigami," he snaps once they are as far away from the hollow as they can get. He releases his sword immediately, moving quickly the instant he sees the hollow approaching them.

Renji has taken position behind the hollow, unfurling his sword and wrapping it around it; the movement is futile, Grimmjow knows the hollow will be free in less than two seconds, but it might give him the time to get close enough for what he needs.

It doesn't. The moment Grimmjow steps up to him, the hollow turns and growls, the disjointed pieces of Renji's sword falling around him. He doesn’t have the time to dodge the hit, only to try to block it with his hardened arms but the pain when they collide is excruciating. He's sure both of them are broken now, his attacks rendered useless.

"Fuck!" Grimmjow swears falling to the ground.

The hollow is almost on top of him, his black sword an omen of death in the too bright enclosure. Grimmjow leaps to his feet as the sword descends on him, taking a glancing blow to his side but avoiding being skewered just by sheer dumb luck.

"That's not going to work," Renji says appearing at his side. His limping has gotten worse and Grimmjow can see he's reaching his limit. He won't be able to hold his Bankai for long.

"No shit!" Grimmjow says scathingly. He hates that he's been forced to fight the hollow with such poor odds, especially because he is sure there won't be a second chance for him to do it. "Again!" he urges the shinigami. He knows it's not going to work but that doesn't mean he's not going to try.

Renji nods grimly, jumping aside and forcing his sword to reform, using it as a huge whip to force the hollow to move. Grimmjow takes his chance to move as well, gritting his teeth against the pain in his arms while he prepares for his strongest technique. He approaches the hollow from the back, releasing the Desgarron as he jumps, aiming for the hollow's head.

He can see the bolts of light approaching the hollow, fast and precise, and has moment to hope it might actually work before they dissolve, breaking in a million tiny pieces of useless energy.

"Grimmjow!" he hears the shinigami shouting, but he can't move, he can't do anything but stare at the arm protruding from his belly, his breath gurgling in his throat.

"Shit," he rasps, his knees buckling, his remaining strength leaving him. "Shit."

This close he can see how truly inhuman the hollow's eyes are, he can also see how a tiny spark of energy grows to become a cero. The hollow's head turn and Grimmjow opens his mouth, each breath agonizing.

"Watch out Shinigami!" But he can see Renji is not going to be able to move on time, not with his Bankai crumbling around him.

He thinks he sees something glinting in the sky, like tiny crystals falling, and he closes his eyes slowly.

This is it, they are done for.

…

Tired already, King?

Ichigo pants, staring at his distorted reflection grinning predatorily at him, his blue tongue coming out to lick his lips in a disturbingly sensual gesture. Ichigo shudders. This is the longest he's had to fight the deranged hollow, and even though he's not losing, he's not winning either.

He's just wasting time he doesn’t have.

With a growl he lunges at the hollow, who dodges him laughing, not attacking him when his haste leaves him wide open.

Why such a hurry, King? The hollow taunts him, blocking his attacks, the smirk never leaving his face. He's playing with Ichigo, that much is clear, though he can't, for the life of him, imagine why.

"Fucker," Ichigo mumbles, only he would have a personal demon as annoying as this one inside of him. "Why are you not fighting seriously?" Ichigo shouts, his patience at its limit. "Are you afraid of losing?"

I've already won, King, he says mockingly, bowing slightly never breaking eye contact with Ichigo.

The hollow laughs and Ichigo's blood freezes in his veins, realizing again what an utter moron he really is, falling for everyone's traps.

"No," he denies, though he can see it might well be possible. Grimmjow and Renji didn't have a chance against his hollow unless they broke Kurotsuchi's control first, and this fucker has kept him busy enough time for it to be too late.

Yes, you've already killed everyone you wanted to protect, the hollow says, smug satisfaction oozing of every word. There's no point returning there, is there Ichigo?

…

Part VI - Shoring up the Debris