Destructions Malice.

The Espada was hardly breathing, his eyes were dilated and all he could see were shadows above him. He was numb, at least he didn’t have the inconvenience of pain to deal with as well. He groaned lowly and squinted at one of the figures now hovering over him, blood loss had gotten the better of his senses at this point though…and he saw very little as he gazed at each figure. The shadows were growing as he faded into unconsciousness, his eyes moved to two approaching figures and struggled to focus on them. His last sight was that of a woman…she was smiling, Grimmjow smirked…Destruction’s death…and a farewell smile.

“I would like to dissect him.” Commented Kurotsuchi, “Maybe I could find a weakness in the Espada to exploit later.”

No one responded, each of the captains seemed taken by surprise at this. They each knew that it was this very Espada that had attacked and taken the Kuchiki girl and the human…and now he had brought them back?

“Let him wither.” Spoke Byakuya, the distain in his eyes expected, and understood.

“My tests will not be as effective on a dead Espada…I wonder if they go straight into the circle upon dying?” Kurotsuchi commented again, “No no no, we must not risk the subject…” he continued, “We should preserve him for now, execute him when I am finished.”

There was a silence between the captains as each thought of what to do with the situation. Yamamoto gazed back at Kurosaki and the human, the boy continued checking her over as if between Unohana’s abilities coupled with the girls hadn’t completely restored her.

“Shall I heal him?” asked Unohana respectfully as she joined the crowd.

The Espada groaned slightly as if responding to her offer. The captains gaze turned to him, each locked eyes with him in turn as he slowly looked around.

“Blood loss will likely take him before long…” Unohana pointed out.

Yamamoto had noticed that wounds once gushing blood were no longer producing much more then small trickles. It seemed it would be in their interests to take him alive, although…it could be a deception carefully planned by Aizen.

“It seems that he rebelled…” Toshiro added as he joined the group having just arrived.

Yamamoto couldn’t argue with that logic. It would have been illogical if he had only taken the Kuchiki girl as he had personal stake in her. But he had brought saved the human as well…which was a direct act of defiance toward Aizen.

Matsumoto joined the group after checking with Orihime and Ichigo, only to find those intense blues gazing at her. She wasn’t exactly sure why she smiled at the Espada, he was after all her enemy. She watched as the man finally passed out from his wounds, before returning her gaze to those around her.

“Captain Unohana, heal him. The Espada will be put under your supervision until he recovers. Captain Kurotsuchi we require a way to restrain his reiatsu. Captain Hitsugaya, once recovered he will be placed under your supervision.”

Yamamoto turned and took several steps toward the doorway to Soul Society.

“The moment he is able he is to be questioned about Aizen and his plans.” With that he took his leave.

Three weeks past in Soul Society before Grimmjow awoke, his wounds healed. Another three passed before he was physically able to move, and he spent two under the watchful eye of the tenth division.

“You must answer quickly and without any smart remarks Espada.”

The boy was hard to take seriously, all Grimmjow could think about was how a punk kid like him became a captain. Even now when his power was completely sealed and his hands bound…he was pretty sure he could take the kid.

“Espada!”

The shout caught his attention, “what?! I heard you runt.”

The boys blade was at his throat rather quickly after that remark, of course the only reaction he got from Grimmjow was that ever present grin and a short chuckle.

“Captain…he has to be questioned before his punishment is decided.” Said a woman’s voice from behind them.

Both the Arrancar and Shinigami turned to see Matsumoto, who was crossing her arms in annoyance.

“Ever since he was handed over to us the two of you do nothing but bicker, and we all know nothing will ever come of it. You will not attack him captain, because you are not permitted to…”

That of course had Grimmjow laughing happily, he had been using this knowledge since he awoke in Soul Society to the dismay of the Shinigami around him.

“And you Grimmjow, will do nothing…because you can’t” She said giving him a firm push forward to continue their trip to the captains meeting chambers.

Grimmjow quieted of course after she said that, mostly because it was true. He had also come to like Matsumoto in his few weeks with them. She was drop dead gorgeous of course, but she spoke to him like a friend…even drank with him. In fact she had drunk him under the table several times. The first time he conceded to her in a drinking game she had slapped him on the back in victory, being that his power was sealed she nearly sent him through the wall…he still had the bruises left over.

Arriving at the central chamber Matsumoto took her leave, she was of course not permitted to this hearing.

“Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, Espada number 6.” Echoed the old mans voice as he stepped in and took his place before the 10 remaining captains.

He pulled on his Kosode’s neckline, he never was one for upper body clothing…felt like he was slowly being choked to death. He looked around the room memorizing the face of each of the men and women who were there.

“You are charged with attacking a Shinigami, kidnapping, rape, and attempted murder of a human.”

Grimmjow said nothing, instead he lazily scratched the back of one ear and let out a long yawn. The old man suddenly let his reiatsu flow freely, and Grimmjow was pushed onto his hands and knees. He was more powerful then he looked…good to know.

“I will not have sass from you Espada, you would do well to be serious…your life or your death hangs in the balance.”

He took control again allowing the Arrancar to his feet once again.

“You came to the human world twice, each time you engaged in battle with Ichigo Kurosaki?”

“Yes” he answered coldly.

“The first time you came you raped Rukia Kuchiki?”

“Yes”

“And then you took her to Hueco Mundo?”

Grimmjow nodded, annoyance already set in. He hated being asked things they obviously knew already.

“You continued to abuse her while there?”

“I only took her against her will that night.” He responded quickly, his hand moving in a ‘lets go’ motion.

“You brutally tortured Inoue Orihime, a human did you not?” he continued after a brief silence, he seemed to be examining the Arrancar searching for a sign of truth or lie.

“No, Aizen did that…I have no stomach for that shit.” He replied, his tone obviously angry at such an accusation. “The women did nothing outside of her own will until that point, and I took her from that.”

Yamamoto raised an eyebrow to that statement, a brief exchange of words moved across the other captains…non of which Grimmjow could hear.

“Rukia Kuchiki claims you asked her to call for aid, is this true?” questioned the old man after the exchange ended.

“Yea…”

“Why?” continued the old man.

“Who the fuck else was supposed to come? I wasn’t going to die for nothing…and you…Shinigami…were my only option.” His tone was now full blown angry.

After spending the next two minutes staring at the old bastard in silence he was ushered outside so they could debate. Matsumoto was waiting just outside, a bottle of sake in one hand glasses in the other.

“Want a drink Grimmjow?” she asked shaking the bottle in her hand like it were a squeak toy and he was her house cat.

“I never thought I would be glad to see a Shinigami more, pour me one.” He said with a thin grin, he couldn’t help it…the whole thing was hilarious.

The two stood in relative silence as they drank, only interacting when Grimmjow’s glass emptied. After about five minutes Matsumoto stretched accidentally nudging her glass with her chest, causing it to spill.

“Damn it, these things are such a hassle.” She said picking her glass up, “and the back pain, oy.” She said casually as she filled her glass again.

“I could hold em for you if you want?” Grimmjow offered with a playful grin.

There was a short silence between them and then she was upon the Arrancar. She had him pinned roughly to the ground quickly and was tugging at one cheek firmly while roughly dragging her knuckles across his head.

“You would like that wouldn’t you, you dirty asshole.” She pulled his cheek harder, “I bet you couldn’t even lift em with that restrictor around your neck!”

“Matsumoto!” came an angry voice suddenly from the doorway behind them.

The two froze and gazed over at the door two find a fuming Toshiro glaring at them, were they not slightly drunk they would have noticed how much cooler it felt at that moment.

“Go back to the division headquarters!” he shouted at his vice-captain, both her and the Arrancar stifled a laugh…it was rather comical seeing him so angry, he did look like a kid after all. “And you! Back inside!”

Both obeyed…although Grimmjow was obviously enjoying himself, and almost tried to ruffle the kids hair. The only thing that kept him from doing it was the idea that they had condemned him to death, maybe the kid would kill him on the spot…and he couldn’t let a kid be the one to do him in.

“Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, we have found you guilty of all but attempted murder of a human. Rukia Kuchiki’s questioning coincided with this part, therefore you are acquitted.”

Grimmjow frowned, how annoying, after all this they would just execute him anyway.

“Her statement also aligned with your claim that you only took advantage of her one time. We also have agreed that due to your nature and Aizens part in your creation, that your actions toward Ichigo Kurosaki were expected.”

Grimmjow noted one of the Captains facial expression at the mentioning of Rukia, although it was only slight…it was definitely anger.

“You will explain all of Aizens plans, or as much as you know. You will outline the remaining Espada’s power and abilities, and describe the layout of Las Noches to the best of your abilities.”

Grimmjow nodded, having already known they would ask at least that of him.

“If your information is deemed insufficient, you will be executed for your crimes.”

Grimmjow raised an eyebrow, not quite taken by surprise.

“If it we deem it useful in the coming battle you will instead serve ten years imprisonment, with no hope of parole. Your reiatsu is to be sealed indefinitely, after said imprisonment you will be restricted to Seireitei for no less then one hundred years before any further action is taken toward you.”

“whatever…” was the extent of his answer toward the old man.

He guessed it could be worse…although one-hundred and ten years was a long time without any fun.

The following day he was brought in to divulge what information he had. They spent three days going over what he knew, even he was surprised about how much he had absorbed. Aizens plans were more or less a mystery to him of course, he did know it involved hundreds of thousands of souls though. That seemed to be enough for them, and he followed up with describing as much of Las Noches as possible…which came to be quite a lot.

When it was finally said in done he had spent almost an entire week in that dark room of Kurotsuchi’s. It would have likely taken less then five if he hadn’t been dragged out of there so many times for trying to kill the captain, all he ever spoke of between questioning was experimenting on the Espada. Of course…without his strength fueling his hits he could hardly make the freak budge.

He of course was spared execution and sent off to a cell to rot for ten years. Ten years would be a lifetime for the man, he had known little of confinement in his time…especially in such small quarters. The worst part was knowing he would have to sit the battle out…god he wanted to see Aizen burn, among others.

By the end of his first weak there Matsumoto had started visiting at dusk each day, claiming he was the only one who would drink with her. He assumed that was a lie…who the fuck wouldn’t drink with her. But guessed that maybe between the kid she called captain, and the other Shinigami he was the only one who could keep up for any length of time.

Grimmjow spent most of his time in one of three positions when she visited, each depending on their conversation. On the days the spent in relative silence he lounged on his cot, when they spoke he lazily hung his arms through the bars of his cell. The third position only began once the Shinigami began mobilizing for war, during those conversations he paced across his cell…the similarity to watching a panther stalk the edges of its prison at a zoo was uncanny.

It had been two months since he was imprisoned, and the Shinigami were at full alert. Many of the captains and vice captains had been sent off on various missions, Toshiro (as he had come accustomed to calling him…at least on Matsumoto’s visits) as well as Matsumoto had been sent off the day before. He was pacing across the edge of his cell, and he wasn’t quite sure why.

A week passed, then another, and another. It had been nearly two months since he had any word or visitors outside of the Shinigami that delivered his food each day. He was already going stir crazy, his mind constantly on that woman. The options for what had or was happening were limited, obviously they hadn’t lost if the battle had happened. So it had not yet happened, she had been injured and was recovering…or she had been killed.

The last option was not something that he liked to think about, whether he liked it or not…she was the only thing he had going for him these days. Days continued to fade into night, the black of night was illuminated by daybreak, and so on and so forth. Each day felt like an eternity. He exercised in between meals, and napped when he got bored…none really kept his mind off of what was happening outside of his cramped little world.

By his count it was five days short of three months when the door leading to his cell opened between meals, signaling it was a unofficial visit. At first look it seemed a phantom had opened the door…it seemed however that he simply needed to drop his gaze some.

“Toshiro…?” he was obviously confused by his coming.

“It’s Captain…Hitsugaya, to you Grimmjow.” Said the boy eye twitching angrily.

Even when his presence seemed ominous Grimmjow couldn’t help but crack a smile, even though he was a kid…Grimmjow respected the runt.

“Matsumoto asked me to come…”

Grimmjow kicked that monkey right off his back, screaming Fuck you! As it spun into the distance of his imagination.

“She is recovering at the moment…and will resume her…visits when she is able.” He said not bothering to come any further into the hall then he had to. “The battle is done with…”

That was pretty much the extent of their conversation, but it had all the answers he needed for the time being. He would get all the answers he wanted from Matsumoto, when she was done being a lazy ass anyway.

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So I had a chapter all written and ready to go. It was very very dark comparably, and would have had Grimmjow in a much more precarious position then he is now. But as fate would have it a friend of mine sent me a picture of Grimmjow holding Matsumoto, and the ideas started flying. I found that between them they were near complete opposites…which made the relationship even more intriguing. I am extremely happy with this chapter and what it has started…although, now that it has happened I’m not sure where I’m going to take the story! So the chapters may be a bit slower coming!

Hope you enjoyed it!