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tampered2006-12-31 06:27 pm
fishcake-dreams.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2006-12-31 06:27 pm
Log; Complete
When; December 29th [backdated]
Rating; PGish
Characters; Isane {![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fishcake_dreams} & Grimmjow {6thsword}
Summary; Isane goes to follow up healing her patient when he reopens his wounds getting angry.
Log;
Isane paced her apartment a good twenty times before she gathered her medical bag and left, heading towards the Arrancar. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Those words followed each quick shyunpo footstep, and the woman still didn't know what she was doing. Healing an Arrancar, oh, but Yamamoto-taichou would have her head if he knew! But, oh, Momo was so... sad... when Isane had mentioned that she shouldn't have healed Grimmjow before. But she knew just as well herself that she wouldn’t have been able to live with herself if she'd left him burned and bleeding. She was a healer, and it was what she did. Plus... she wanted words with him. So it was with trepidation, determination, and a touch of fear that she finally alighted before the door, clearing her throat nervously before raising her hand to knock.
Grimmjow sat on the edge of the bed, a hand to the gashes on his shoulder. It had been stupid, throwing a fit, but logic crumbled in the face of homicidal rage. He didn't know if it was a good idea to call for the medic now, but he sure as hell wasn't going to "die" in this miserable City.
He felt Isane's reiatsu even before she reached the door, so before he heard a knock he hollered, "It's open," and turned back to his wounds.
She paused, looking back the way she came. The vice could feel his reiatsu, and it was very strong. But... the looks Momo had been making earlier did it. Gulping, Isane opened the door, stepping in and closing it behind her. Her bag was slung across her back, and she stood by the door, watching the man. She was looking at his wounds more than him though. He'd pulled the sutures out of those gashes, thankfully he couldn't really do more than irritate the wire burns, and the other smaller scratches were fine. Isane was more worried about the shoulder and the back, though she couldn't see those wounds from here.
"... Looks like someone was a little upset." The woman finally said.
"Fucking understatement," the arrancar muttered in reply, turning his gaze to the shinigami. He hated relying on them for anything, but unfortunately, none of the healers back in Hueco Mundo where there. He'd have to make do.
"What are you waiting for? Do your thing already."
"..." Isane's brow furrowed a bit. Awfully pushy for the one being in need of help. But she acquiesced with a sigh, approaching the Arrancar slowly and pulling her bag off her back. Plopping it down on the bed beside him, bottles and jars and needles and threads inside jangling, Isane drew Itegumo's sheath from her waistband and laid it beside the bag.
"Need to see your back, first. And I'll need to take those old bandages off, too."
Turning so his back was to her, Grimmjow promptly tore the bandages off. He didn't care to carefully unroll them. If they were getting in the way, they would be removed in pieces. He let those drop to the floor in a fresh puddle of his blood.
"You sure this ain't going against your duty? Patching up an arrancar?" He didn't ask because he wanted an answer. He didn't care for one.
Isane opened her mouth to protest, but shut it, busying herself with sitting behind the Arrancar on the bed, folding her long legs beneath her to get comfortable. This would take a while. Itegumo now lay across her lap, almost a soothing presence to combat the Arrancar, who unnerved her greatly.
"... I came because you're now my patient, whether I like it or not." She began to answer. Isane had never been one to realize a question that didn't need an answer. Her skilled fingers, now gloved, gently pushed against the edges of the claw marks on his back, wincing at the sight of infected puss. She took out several small sponges and wet them in a liquid before beginning to clean the infection from the wound, not bothering to war him about the sting as she would most people she treated.
"And because Momo would be upset with me if I didn't."
Grimmjow rolled his eyes when she answered. "Whatever."
The disinfectant did sting, but he didn't show any indication that it affected him. Instead, he sat obediently, irked at the foreign discomfort of her fingers -- gloved, even -- against his back.
"Momo would be upset?" Now that was surprising. He glanced back at Isane from over his shoulder, then returned his gaze to the wall in front of him. The tone of his next words were quiet, even troubled. "She really is worried."
Meeting his gaze, Isane was struck dumb for a moment. She... hadn't expected to see anything like that within those eyes. Shaking her head, she put her mind back to the task, finishing cleaning the wounds and disposing of the dirtied sponges in a small bag. Next she drew out several ointments, coating the tips of the gloved fingers and now trying to be careful all of a sudden, trying not to touch nerves as she inserted the salve directly into claw gouges.
"... She was upset when I said this morning that I probably shouldn't have healed you." Itegumo was whispering soothingly in her mind, soft murmurs of comfort that put her a little more at ease.
"And... of course she is. She always worries. Momo always wants... to protect everyone. To make everyone happy."
"...That fool." To make everyone happy? There was no such thing. Not in a million years would there be a time when everyone was happy, no matter how hard someone tried. And what kind of shinigami would be upset if her healer left their great enemy to die? No one in their right mind, that's what.
Grimmjow wiped a line of blood from his nose. "She's such an idiot. She drives me crazy."
"... Well, it is only fair you concede to driving her crazy, too." Isane muttered, smoothing out the salve over the wounds before tapping him on the uninjured shoulder to try and get him to turn to face her, she needed to do the shoulder now.
"... She's really confused, you know. And... I think she knows it's foolish. She knows it will never happen, but Momo... she tries really hard." Having to walk by the vice captain's room in the 4th division every day had almost driven Isane herself insane, always slowing her step and looking in, hoping to hear the monitors beep or see the figure move. But... not for so long...
He knew. Of course he drove Hinamori crazy, and that's why he'd wanted Tayuya and everyone else to leave her alone. Wasn't he allowed to protect her, even if it was only in that sense? It wasn't much, but it was something.
The Espada turned to let Isane tend his shoulder, this time focusing his gaze to her working hands. "I know that," he replied. "But she should be more careful. Shit like that will get her killed if she's not keeping an eye out for herself."
Why was he saying these things, again? And to another shinigami, no less.
“Momo cares more… I think, about others.” Isane was frowning in concentration, cleaning the infection from the shoulder wounds again, using the salve to sooth and disinfect. Reaching for the bandages she looped several lengths loosely around her arm, beginning by lightly taping one end down on the Arrancar’s arm and beginning to wrap.
“She’s the most selfless person I know.” She smiled a little at memories. “And she says that making other people happy is what makes her happy.” It seemed a little silly, naïve, but… it was Momo. Isane had known her ever since the girl had made vice, and she was… well, Isane considered her almost like a little sister to watch.
Making other people happy...?
Grimmjow's face contorted into one of frustration at those words, and he jerked his gaze to the floor. She'd be happy as long as other people were happy? "Bullshit," he snarled. "She can't make everyone happy. She'll try her damnest but there's no way that's possible, because even if she makes you and me and -- and every other fucking bastard out there happy, somewhere along those lines something will happen that will utterly depress her."
Of course. That's what was happening now, wasn't it? She was sacrificing her happiness for reality, for her friends, for... him. The world be damned if he couldn't get what he wanted, but somewhere along those lines... But no. Even if he wanted to try, he couldn't possibly bring her happiness. He wasn't created to be that way.
“You…” Isane mumbled, fingers fidgeting nervously as she tied off the shoulder bandage, shifting around to begin looping bandages across the Arrancar’s middle, having to lean very closely and make herself feel very uncomfortable. She could usually remain calm around men during her job, but this was… a very scary man.
“Want to make her happy?” She finally finished, biting her bottom lip a little in trepidation that she even come to that conclusion.
He turned his scowl upon the medic. Perhaps he was being a little too open about his feelings for Hinamori. For a moment he considered snapping at her and denying the want.
"I can't," he finally answered. "It's not in my nature." And this was true. But love wasn't in his nature either, or affection, and yet he felt it very readily towards one certain shinigami. So why not the desire to make someone happy? He'd told Nemu in her affection survey that arrancar understood desire, though it differed depending on who you asked. His desires -- power, freedom, and entertainment -- could they include anything beyond selfishness?
Isane had winced in preparation for the Arrancar’s anger. Itegumo had started to tense, she could feel it, but the healer blinked several times in the silence following the Arrancar’s final statement.
“Um…” She regained her thoughts and continued looping the bandages around the Arrancar’s middle, though she almost jumped when her fingers brushes the hole in his stomach. … She’d forgotten about that. “… That… ah, people can change.” Isane finally said, having come up with a great example, she thought. “Like, see, Nemu?” She tightened the bandages; they now hid the hole in Grimmjow’s stomach. “Kurotsuchi-taichou built her to follow orders, and that’s all she did. And she hardly ever, well, never showed any emotions at all. But ever since she came here she’s learning. So… maybe it’s just that you have to learn.” The vice knew she’d look back on this and wonder what in the world she’d been thinking, but the words just seemed to spill out.
He didn't want to change. He liked how he was because it was fun; he enjoyed fighting and killing and making people angry. He didn't like how the events had changed, how he had been unwittingly sucked into this strange world that changed his opinions and gave him a reason to emote. But he couldn't deny the strong desire to spend time with Hinamori, to watch over and protect her.
The arrancar forced the next words out of his mouth. He was sure he was going to regret them later. "What does it take to make someone love you?"
Isane dropped the bandages. Muttering a quick apology she gathered them back up, tightening the roll quickly to make up for the slack before she took her work up again, now blushing profusely. This had… become quite awkward.
“Ah- Well…” She stumbled for something, anything, to say. She had a feeling that this was very important she get this right. “It differs with every person, but… um, let’s use an example.” The tall woman knew she was treading on some very dangerous ground here, but continued. “Like, um, let’s say if someone wanted Momo to love them.” Isane cleared her throat nervously. “I think… Momo is very kind, so they couldn’t be very mean to her. And they’d have to be able to protect her, because… like you said, she could get hurt trying to make everyone happy. And… I think Momo would like little gestures, you know?” She was trying not to let her nervousness show as she finished off the bandaging, rubbing her hands together before laying her palms flat on the Arrancar’s back, reiatsu beginning to gather. “Like… uh, little things. A flower, maybe, or a little gift when she’s not expecting it.” His words from earlier conversations were nagging her, but… he seemed sincere. A scary as that was. “But… in the end, I think Momo gets to make the call. And… if uh, someone, wanted her to love them and didn’t know how, maybe they should ask her themselves.”
Grimmjow listened silently, measuring everything she suggested against his capacity to perform such actions. And he remained silent even as she secured the bandage, even as her reiatsu collected under her palms.
He wasn't mean to Hinamori anymore. In fact, he recently took it upon himself to snap at the certain people who taunted her. And he knew the fifth's vice-captain was certainly capable of protecting herself, despite the enormous loss against Aizen just weeks before. The Espada hadn't lifted a finger to stop his creator, but what could he do when loyalty was involved? As for the little things... Flowers? He wasn't that kind of person. But he didn't dismiss the idea as readily as the others.
"I guess I will ask her," he finally said, keeping his eyes focused on the floor.
Isane was quiet for a moment, reiatsu pouting in soft, soothing, waves, encouraging the wounds to heal, to accept the treatment, to recover. She hadn’t done much reiatsu healing on the claw wounds earlier, concerned more with the burns that had enveloped his left side. But… there. She was done. Folding her hands in her lap, Isane fidgeted, trying to find her voice.
“You… you really love her?” She finally asked, voice soft. It was easier, at least, that he wasn’t facing her, that she didn’t have to see his face, see the bone mask on his jaw, see the hole in his stomach.
Did he? Even after he and Ulquiorra and Aizen had vehemently claimed that arrancar could feel no love? Even after Hinamori had continuously denied him an answer and sent him into a mix of anger and detachment?
He thought back on what he'd told Nemu when she'd asked what love was. He'd said it was when a person wants to protect someone important because he's afraid that person will disappear. He feared Hinamori's death by Aizen's hands, Tayuya had showed him that.
"...Yeah." There was no other explanation.
Isane smiled softly, looking down at her lap, fingers running down Itegumo’s hilt in a comforting manner. He… she didn’t quite know what to think. She… she wanted Momo to be happy. She wanted the Arrancar to be telling the truth, because if he was lying… but she didn’t think he was. The vice captain never claimed to be excellent at reading people, but… she felt like he was being truthful. And that both made her nervous and put her to ease. She didn’t really know what to say, busying herself suddenly with scooting off the bed and packing her bag up.
“You two might want to stop lying about that emotion thing, then.” Isane finally said, smiling a little still, a small attempt at gentle humor.
He glared at her then, suddenly remembering who he was talking to. "We'll do what we want," he said, though his tone was not as angry as he intended. "If Ulquiorra wants to lie, he'll lie. And don't forget, shinigami," he added, "that Aizen doesn't expect this shit from us."
But who was he kidding? He didn't exactly have the best record of obedience to the ex-captain. His stubbornness dissipating quickly, the arrancar turned his glare to the wall. "Thanks, by the way."
Surprisingly, Isane did not jump or start at the sudden change, as she was prone to do. She merely smiled, a soft, almost reassuring gesture.
“Maybe… stop lying to certain people?” She shrugged, standing to her full height and slinging the bag over her shoulder once more, patting Itegumo’s hilt in force of habit and checking she had everything. She decided not to make the comment concerning Aizen’s… own emotional issues with people, deciding that wouldn’t help here at all.
“You’re welcome.” Isane secured the bag’s straps, making sure it wouldn’t jostle as she walked home. “And maybe…” She decided not to ask, cutting herself off with another shrug. Grimmjow hardly looked the… type. Yes, that was it.
Her smile unnerved him. Was he losing his edge? He was supposed to be frightening, after all. But then, he couldn't blame her, after spilling what was on his mind, who else would take his anger seriously?
Taking note of her suggestion, he lowered himself onto the bed, ready for a nap and fully expecting her to leave since she had packed. But her abrupt "maybe" caught his attention. Looking up at her, he asked, "Maybe what?"
“Um…” Isane had hoped he wouldn’t purse that, she shouldn’t have even mentioned it. He’d laugh. Or get angry. With a small sigh, she also realized it would make her look very… untrustworthy, if she lied about what she was going to say.
“I was thinking… since you’re… better at it, maybe you could talk to… Ulquiorra?” her voice had regained the timidity it had possessed before, but she couldn’t help the thought. Nemu was worrying her too, almost as much as Momo was.
He stared at her for a long moment, very tempted to laugh. Him? Talk to Ulquiorra? That was about the last thing he would possibly --
Images of that terrible curse day flickered in his mind, ones of him, Ulquiorra, and Nell seated in Xanadu and discussing the most mundane topics with relative civility. So it was possible. The only question was, would Ulquiorra agree to talking about it?
Turning so his back was to Isane, Grimmjow muttered, "I'll see what I can do," and hoped she'd leave him be.
“Thank you.” Isane couldn’t really hope for more. She was grateful, she was. While she knew Momo knew about emotions, knew about love, Nemu did not, and she worried for the other woman. Especially because… well… Ulquiorra had stabbed her, and while she suspected this Arrancar may have hit Momo before, she wasn’t sure. Well… she’d done her job, and learned… quite a few things.
“If… you ever need healing again…” She paused, halfway out the door, turning back to dip into a bow. “… you can ask for me.” And with that she closed the door behind her.
Rating; PGish
Characters; Isane {
fishcake_dreams} & Grimmjow {6thsword}Summary; Isane goes to follow up healing her patient when he reopens his wounds getting angry.
Log;
Isane paced her apartment a good twenty times before she gathered her medical bag and left, heading towards the Arrancar. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Those words followed each quick shyunpo footstep, and the woman still didn't know what she was doing. Healing an Arrancar, oh, but Yamamoto-taichou would have her head if he knew! But, oh, Momo was so... sad... when Isane had mentioned that she shouldn't have healed Grimmjow before. But she knew just as well herself that she wouldn’t have been able to live with herself if she'd left him burned and bleeding. She was a healer, and it was what she did. Plus... she wanted words with him. So it was with trepidation, determination, and a touch of fear that she finally alighted before the door, clearing her throat nervously before raising her hand to knock.
Grimmjow sat on the edge of the bed, a hand to the gashes on his shoulder. It had been stupid, throwing a fit, but logic crumbled in the face of homicidal rage. He didn't know if it was a good idea to call for the medic now, but he sure as hell wasn't going to "die" in this miserable City.
He felt Isane's reiatsu even before she reached the door, so before he heard a knock he hollered, "It's open," and turned back to his wounds.
She paused, looking back the way she came. The vice could feel his reiatsu, and it was very strong. But... the looks Momo had been making earlier did it. Gulping, Isane opened the door, stepping in and closing it behind her. Her bag was slung across her back, and she stood by the door, watching the man. She was looking at his wounds more than him though. He'd pulled the sutures out of those gashes, thankfully he couldn't really do more than irritate the wire burns, and the other smaller scratches were fine. Isane was more worried about the shoulder and the back, though she couldn't see those wounds from here.
"... Looks like someone was a little upset." The woman finally said.
"Fucking understatement," the arrancar muttered in reply, turning his gaze to the shinigami. He hated relying on them for anything, but unfortunately, none of the healers back in Hueco Mundo where there. He'd have to make do.
"What are you waiting for? Do your thing already."
"..." Isane's brow furrowed a bit. Awfully pushy for the one being in need of help. But she acquiesced with a sigh, approaching the Arrancar slowly and pulling her bag off her back. Plopping it down on the bed beside him, bottles and jars and needles and threads inside jangling, Isane drew Itegumo's sheath from her waistband and laid it beside the bag.
"Need to see your back, first. And I'll need to take those old bandages off, too."
Turning so his back was to her, Grimmjow promptly tore the bandages off. He didn't care to carefully unroll them. If they were getting in the way, they would be removed in pieces. He let those drop to the floor in a fresh puddle of his blood.
"You sure this ain't going against your duty? Patching up an arrancar?" He didn't ask because he wanted an answer. He didn't care for one.
Isane opened her mouth to protest, but shut it, busying herself with sitting behind the Arrancar on the bed, folding her long legs beneath her to get comfortable. This would take a while. Itegumo now lay across her lap, almost a soothing presence to combat the Arrancar, who unnerved her greatly.
"... I came because you're now my patient, whether I like it or not." She began to answer. Isane had never been one to realize a question that didn't need an answer. Her skilled fingers, now gloved, gently pushed against the edges of the claw marks on his back, wincing at the sight of infected puss. She took out several small sponges and wet them in a liquid before beginning to clean the infection from the wound, not bothering to war him about the sting as she would most people she treated.
"And because Momo would be upset with me if I didn't."
Grimmjow rolled his eyes when she answered. "Whatever."
The disinfectant did sting, but he didn't show any indication that it affected him. Instead, he sat obediently, irked at the foreign discomfort of her fingers -- gloved, even -- against his back.
"Momo would be upset?" Now that was surprising. He glanced back at Isane from over his shoulder, then returned his gaze to the wall in front of him. The tone of his next words were quiet, even troubled. "She really is worried."
Meeting his gaze, Isane was struck dumb for a moment. She... hadn't expected to see anything like that within those eyes. Shaking her head, she put her mind back to the task, finishing cleaning the wounds and disposing of the dirtied sponges in a small bag. Next she drew out several ointments, coating the tips of the gloved fingers and now trying to be careful all of a sudden, trying not to touch nerves as she inserted the salve directly into claw gouges.
"... She was upset when I said this morning that I probably shouldn't have healed you." Itegumo was whispering soothingly in her mind, soft murmurs of comfort that put her a little more at ease.
"And... of course she is. She always worries. Momo always wants... to protect everyone. To make everyone happy."
"...That fool." To make everyone happy? There was no such thing. Not in a million years would there be a time when everyone was happy, no matter how hard someone tried. And what kind of shinigami would be upset if her healer left their great enemy to die? No one in their right mind, that's what.
Grimmjow wiped a line of blood from his nose. "She's such an idiot. She drives me crazy."
"... Well, it is only fair you concede to driving her crazy, too." Isane muttered, smoothing out the salve over the wounds before tapping him on the uninjured shoulder to try and get him to turn to face her, she needed to do the shoulder now.
"... She's really confused, you know. And... I think she knows it's foolish. She knows it will never happen, but Momo... she tries really hard." Having to walk by the vice captain's room in the 4th division every day had almost driven Isane herself insane, always slowing her step and looking in, hoping to hear the monitors beep or see the figure move. But... not for so long...
He knew. Of course he drove Hinamori crazy, and that's why he'd wanted Tayuya and everyone else to leave her alone. Wasn't he allowed to protect her, even if it was only in that sense? It wasn't much, but it was something.
The Espada turned to let Isane tend his shoulder, this time focusing his gaze to her working hands. "I know that," he replied. "But she should be more careful. Shit like that will get her killed if she's not keeping an eye out for herself."
Why was he saying these things, again? And to another shinigami, no less.
“Momo cares more… I think, about others.” Isane was frowning in concentration, cleaning the infection from the shoulder wounds again, using the salve to sooth and disinfect. Reaching for the bandages she looped several lengths loosely around her arm, beginning by lightly taping one end down on the Arrancar’s arm and beginning to wrap.
“She’s the most selfless person I know.” She smiled a little at memories. “And she says that making other people happy is what makes her happy.” It seemed a little silly, naïve, but… it was Momo. Isane had known her ever since the girl had made vice, and she was… well, Isane considered her almost like a little sister to watch.
Making other people happy...?
Grimmjow's face contorted into one of frustration at those words, and he jerked his gaze to the floor. She'd be happy as long as other people were happy? "Bullshit," he snarled. "She can't make everyone happy. She'll try her damnest but there's no way that's possible, because even if she makes you and me and -- and every other fucking bastard out there happy, somewhere along those lines something will happen that will utterly depress her."
Of course. That's what was happening now, wasn't it? She was sacrificing her happiness for reality, for her friends, for... him. The world be damned if he couldn't get what he wanted, but somewhere along those lines... But no. Even if he wanted to try, he couldn't possibly bring her happiness. He wasn't created to be that way.
“You…” Isane mumbled, fingers fidgeting nervously as she tied off the shoulder bandage, shifting around to begin looping bandages across the Arrancar’s middle, having to lean very closely and make herself feel very uncomfortable. She could usually remain calm around men during her job, but this was… a very scary man.
“Want to make her happy?” She finally finished, biting her bottom lip a little in trepidation that she even come to that conclusion.
He turned his scowl upon the medic. Perhaps he was being a little too open about his feelings for Hinamori. For a moment he considered snapping at her and denying the want.
"I can't," he finally answered. "It's not in my nature." And this was true. But love wasn't in his nature either, or affection, and yet he felt it very readily towards one certain shinigami. So why not the desire to make someone happy? He'd told Nemu in her affection survey that arrancar understood desire, though it differed depending on who you asked. His desires -- power, freedom, and entertainment -- could they include anything beyond selfishness?
Isane had winced in preparation for the Arrancar’s anger. Itegumo had started to tense, she could feel it, but the healer blinked several times in the silence following the Arrancar’s final statement.
“Um…” She regained her thoughts and continued looping the bandages around the Arrancar’s middle, though she almost jumped when her fingers brushes the hole in his stomach. … She’d forgotten about that. “… That… ah, people can change.” Isane finally said, having come up with a great example, she thought. “Like, see, Nemu?” She tightened the bandages; they now hid the hole in Grimmjow’s stomach. “Kurotsuchi-taichou built her to follow orders, and that’s all she did. And she hardly ever, well, never showed any emotions at all. But ever since she came here she’s learning. So… maybe it’s just that you have to learn.” The vice knew she’d look back on this and wonder what in the world she’d been thinking, but the words just seemed to spill out.
He didn't want to change. He liked how he was because it was fun; he enjoyed fighting and killing and making people angry. He didn't like how the events had changed, how he had been unwittingly sucked into this strange world that changed his opinions and gave him a reason to emote. But he couldn't deny the strong desire to spend time with Hinamori, to watch over and protect her.
The arrancar forced the next words out of his mouth. He was sure he was going to regret them later. "What does it take to make someone love you?"
Isane dropped the bandages. Muttering a quick apology she gathered them back up, tightening the roll quickly to make up for the slack before she took her work up again, now blushing profusely. This had… become quite awkward.
“Ah- Well…” She stumbled for something, anything, to say. She had a feeling that this was very important she get this right. “It differs with every person, but… um, let’s use an example.” The tall woman knew she was treading on some very dangerous ground here, but continued. “Like, um, let’s say if someone wanted Momo to love them.” Isane cleared her throat nervously. “I think… Momo is very kind, so they couldn’t be very mean to her. And they’d have to be able to protect her, because… like you said, she could get hurt trying to make everyone happy. And… I think Momo would like little gestures, you know?” She was trying not to let her nervousness show as she finished off the bandaging, rubbing her hands together before laying her palms flat on the Arrancar’s back, reiatsu beginning to gather. “Like… uh, little things. A flower, maybe, or a little gift when she’s not expecting it.” His words from earlier conversations were nagging her, but… he seemed sincere. A scary as that was. “But… in the end, I think Momo gets to make the call. And… if uh, someone, wanted her to love them and didn’t know how, maybe they should ask her themselves.”
Grimmjow listened silently, measuring everything she suggested against his capacity to perform such actions. And he remained silent even as she secured the bandage, even as her reiatsu collected under her palms.
He wasn't mean to Hinamori anymore. In fact, he recently took it upon himself to snap at the certain people who taunted her. And he knew the fifth's vice-captain was certainly capable of protecting herself, despite the enormous loss against Aizen just weeks before. The Espada hadn't lifted a finger to stop his creator, but what could he do when loyalty was involved? As for the little things... Flowers? He wasn't that kind of person. But he didn't dismiss the idea as readily as the others.
"I guess I will ask her," he finally said, keeping his eyes focused on the floor.
Isane was quiet for a moment, reiatsu pouting in soft, soothing, waves, encouraging the wounds to heal, to accept the treatment, to recover. She hadn’t done much reiatsu healing on the claw wounds earlier, concerned more with the burns that had enveloped his left side. But… there. She was done. Folding her hands in her lap, Isane fidgeted, trying to find her voice.
“You… you really love her?” She finally asked, voice soft. It was easier, at least, that he wasn’t facing her, that she didn’t have to see his face, see the bone mask on his jaw, see the hole in his stomach.
Did he? Even after he and Ulquiorra and Aizen had vehemently claimed that arrancar could feel no love? Even after Hinamori had continuously denied him an answer and sent him into a mix of anger and detachment?
He thought back on what he'd told Nemu when she'd asked what love was. He'd said it was when a person wants to protect someone important because he's afraid that person will disappear. He feared Hinamori's death by Aizen's hands, Tayuya had showed him that.
"...Yeah." There was no other explanation.
Isane smiled softly, looking down at her lap, fingers running down Itegumo’s hilt in a comforting manner. He… she didn’t quite know what to think. She… she wanted Momo to be happy. She wanted the Arrancar to be telling the truth, because if he was lying… but she didn’t think he was. The vice captain never claimed to be excellent at reading people, but… she felt like he was being truthful. And that both made her nervous and put her to ease. She didn’t really know what to say, busying herself suddenly with scooting off the bed and packing her bag up.
“You two might want to stop lying about that emotion thing, then.” Isane finally said, smiling a little still, a small attempt at gentle humor.
He glared at her then, suddenly remembering who he was talking to. "We'll do what we want," he said, though his tone was not as angry as he intended. "If Ulquiorra wants to lie, he'll lie. And don't forget, shinigami," he added, "that Aizen doesn't expect this shit from us."
But who was he kidding? He didn't exactly have the best record of obedience to the ex-captain. His stubbornness dissipating quickly, the arrancar turned his glare to the wall. "Thanks, by the way."
Surprisingly, Isane did not jump or start at the sudden change, as she was prone to do. She merely smiled, a soft, almost reassuring gesture.
“Maybe… stop lying to certain people?” She shrugged, standing to her full height and slinging the bag over her shoulder once more, patting Itegumo’s hilt in force of habit and checking she had everything. She decided not to make the comment concerning Aizen’s… own emotional issues with people, deciding that wouldn’t help here at all.
“You’re welcome.” Isane secured the bag’s straps, making sure it wouldn’t jostle as she walked home. “And maybe…” She decided not to ask, cutting herself off with another shrug. Grimmjow hardly looked the… type. Yes, that was it.
Her smile unnerved him. Was he losing his edge? He was supposed to be frightening, after all. But then, he couldn't blame her, after spilling what was on his mind, who else would take his anger seriously?
Taking note of her suggestion, he lowered himself onto the bed, ready for a nap and fully expecting her to leave since she had packed. But her abrupt "maybe" caught his attention. Looking up at her, he asked, "Maybe what?"
“Um…” Isane had hoped he wouldn’t purse that, she shouldn’t have even mentioned it. He’d laugh. Or get angry. With a small sigh, she also realized it would make her look very… untrustworthy, if she lied about what she was going to say.
“I was thinking… since you’re… better at it, maybe you could talk to… Ulquiorra?” her voice had regained the timidity it had possessed before, but she couldn’t help the thought. Nemu was worrying her too, almost as much as Momo was.
He stared at her for a long moment, very tempted to laugh. Him? Talk to Ulquiorra? That was about the last thing he would possibly --
Images of that terrible curse day flickered in his mind, ones of him, Ulquiorra, and Nell seated in Xanadu and discussing the most mundane topics with relative civility. So it was possible. The only question was, would Ulquiorra agree to talking about it?
Turning so his back was to Isane, Grimmjow muttered, "I'll see what I can do," and hoped she'd leave him be.
“Thank you.” Isane couldn’t really hope for more. She was grateful, she was. While she knew Momo knew about emotions, knew about love, Nemu did not, and she worried for the other woman. Especially because… well… Ulquiorra had stabbed her, and while she suspected this Arrancar may have hit Momo before, she wasn’t sure. Well… she’d done her job, and learned… quite a few things.
“If… you ever need healing again…” She paused, halfway out the door, turning back to dip into a bow. “… you can ask for me.” And with that she closed the door behind her.