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Kazui senses the air-splitting static of a garganta from his room upstairs. He ducks fast away from his window and doesn't look. By the time the garganta has spat out its passenger and flickered shut, Kazui is already tip-toeing down the hall. Quiet as a cat, walking like a Shihōin on the balls of his feet, crouched down even though it makes him wobble a little. His balance will get better, but silence is imperative. Nobody hears a thing. He's a ninja. He's an assassin in the night. He's nothing but a shadow in fuzzy blue socks and a lime green hoodie. Mission stealth: engage.
He's learned a lot in recognizing reiatsu signatures, but he'd know who this was anyways. The energy goes from outside to inside real fast, like a little zip of lightning, and Kazui steps big and wide over the spot in the floor that creaks. He has to brace himself on the wall to keep his balance, but then he's clear of the hallway and can start easing down the stairs.
One step at a time, with his body angled sideways so he can come down light and gentle. Gravity always wants to make him louder but his socks are making up for it, cushy little clouds beneath his feet. He'll have to remember that for next time — or just never take them off.
Nah. Mom will get him more if he asks.
Hey, he thinks, that's not such a bad idea. Just in time for Christmas. Moms love that stuff, right? Like: Here you are, baby, just what you needed! Socks! Don't you like them?
And then he'll say yes and I love them and thank you and actually mean it, and Mom will squish his face and he will endure it as recompense for having super-sneaky ultra-quiet ulterior motives.
The next step down has line of sight to the living room, and he stops just above it. He squats, hangs his weight off the railing like Mom's always telling him not to do, and bends down until he can peek with just his eyes. Right on time.
"Oi!"
Dad coming from the kitchen with Grimmjow tagging after him. Kazui jerks out of sight until he's sure they've passed, holds his breath. Ducks back down to see the back of Grimmjow's head. Perfect.
"What's the deal?" Grimmjow is saying, "Plenty of light left to burn. Let's go."
"Our last fight was Wednesday."
"So?"
"So it's Saturday."
A long, pointed silence. Kazui can feel the judgment from here.
"So it's my weekend and there is nothing I want more than to take a nap on this couch. I'm an old man, Grimmjow." He's not even 40.
"The fuck you are, Kurosaki."
If Dad knew Kazui was in the room, he'd tell Grimmjow to watch his mouth. He collapses back onto the couch instead. All Kazui can see are his feet over the armrest. Grimmjow leans over the back of the couch with his arms braced wide, talking down to where Dad's head must be. It's a little weird. But it means his shoulders are blocking his periphery and his back is open and unguarded, sword hanging from his belt like it's got its own mystical glow about it — the challenge and the reward all in one.
And all Kazui's gotta do is get his hand on it.
"I'm older than you ever got to be," Dad replies, "Show some respect, punk."
"Earn it. You owe me."
"I do not! I'm up one: you owe me."
Down the rest of the stairs, now. Both feet on the floor and creeping, absolutely soundless. Breathing very slowly and carefully through his mouth. He won't make it if he holds it. It's all over if he gasps.
"Since when?"
"Since last week when I bailed you out with Yoruichi."
"Sure. And then she got ahold of me anyways, dipshit, thanks a million."
"Then, I don't know, geez. Since I talked 'Hime out of feeding you like a stray animal. She was gonna try and sit you down for dinner again."
"At the table?"
"At the table."
"Is that how she feeds strays?"
"Just the real tall ones."
Even Kazui knows that Mom's gonna get what she wants eventually. He's never seen anybody wear Grimmjow down the way Mom wears him down. She's terrifying. It's awesome. He chomps down on his lip to keep from laughing about it. It's not easy.
But he's not far, now.
Stay low, bent at the knees and waist, hands searching forward. Delicate and sure like a mountain goat. Walking dangerously, right on the edge, but he's so close. Don't trip on the rug. Two steps away, then only one. Reaching out! Reaching up! Stretching the length of his arm towards Pantera's blue-wrapped hilt. He's so close! He can already feel the cheer building in his chest. All the gloating he's about to do, he can taste it. He can do this! He's ready!
He just has to reach... a little... bit... farther–
A very large hand connected to a very long arm comes down on his head. Kazui freezes with his fingers barely an inch from their prize. Looks up at Grimmjow staring right back down at him.
"Better luck next time."
"No, come on!" Kazui groans, slumping in defeat.
He hears Dad laugh and sit up. "Sorry, buddy. I did what I could."
"You knew, too?!"
"Yeah," and he smiles like he does when he thinks Kazui's not gonna like what he says next, "For a while, actually."
He's right. Kazui doesn't like that at all. He thought he had a chance, this time! He groans again, loud like a kid, and smacks at Grimmjow's hand until it goes away. He wants to be mad about it, a little bit, but he can't hold onto it for longer than it takes to remember what they were talking about. He brightens up fast, makes his eyes really big and turns them on Dad. Doesn't have to say a thing.
Out of the corner of his eye he thinks he sees Grimmjow turn, too.
Dad glances between both of them and makes a face like he's thinking. "I guess I could sic you on each other."
"Like you could sic me on anything," Grimmjow replies, which is typical but very promising.
Kazui jumps on it: "No property damage, no kidō, no ceros!"
"And?"
"No realm-travel."
"And?"
"Umm." Think fast. "Be home for dinner?"
Dad smiles at him again, reaches over the back of the couch and ruffles his hair. "Sure. Just don't tell your mom, okay? She thinks it's too cold to go out."
"Okay!" Kazui agrees. She'll find out anyways, but he's not going to say that.
He bursts into his Shinigami form in an instant. Next to him, Grimmjow cracks his neck.
Dad drops back down onto the couch and waves them away, just his hand flopping there. "No blood unless it's Grimmjow's."
"Okay!"
"And go to Urahara's!"
"Okay!!"
Out the front door, fast, before Dad can think of anything else. Kazui turns long enough to see if Grimmjow's following, even though he knows he is.
"You're it!" he calls. Grimmjow's psycho-grin slices across his face and then Kazui is gone.
He doesn't go to Urahara's.
He flash-steps in the opposite direction, off where the city's bloomed and grown a little higher. It's sunny and clear and he can see where he's headed. Glimmers of steel and glass with thin, wispy clouds above. His first shunpo takes him far — farther every time. He lands with his foot on thin air above a streetlamp and pushes off of it with a whoosh.
It's cold but it's not that cold, not in his spirit form. The air catches at his sleeves and his hair, chilly on his face. It'll make his teeth hurt if he doesn't stop smiling so big. Below is a smudge of grey street and brown slush from the tiny bit of snow that came down last night. Colorful blurs of people in puffy coats and cars. He's so fast he can't tell much of it apart.
Another leap and he hears it: the boom-crackle of Grimmjow's sonído, leaping right after him. He won't hear it again. Kazui can't believe Grimmjow let him get as far as he did. Mostly. Maybe he wants more of a challenge? Or he thinks Kazui needs the head start? Or maybe he's just gearing up for a bigger gloat, like the jerk he is.
Actually, Kazui can totally believe it.
But he's not going to make it easy on him! He's only getting faster and faster. Yoruichi says it's the strongest thing about him. Hyori, too. He'll be keeping pace with her soon. He doesn't know if he'll ever be able to match Yoruichi, but he's not sure anyone can. Dad can't. Grimmjow... can't. Probably.
Step, pivot, burst between the rise of two buildings. Step, pivot again, zipping like a lightning-bug. Twists and turns to try and shake him. He can see his reflection racing him in the windows to his left. Step, climb up the air a little bit higher.
Silence. He casts his senses backwards but can't feel anything. Grimmjow's energy has always felt like the moment right after a lightning flash, a really big one that lights everything up in burning white. The kind that makes you look up and count — one, two, three, four, KABOOM, and then all the dishes in the kitchen rattle and you know how far away the storm is. But there's none of it, now, not even the most distant splash of light.
Did he lose him? Kazui turns above a wider road that cuts through the shopping district and follows it, gaining speed. Maybe he did. He had enough distance — there's no way Grimmjow saw him take all those turns.
He searches behind him again. Still nothing. Huh. Maybe he–
Right, look right! Sky blue and white and black like a comet. Kazui shrieks and skids sideways, but Grimmjow's got his hand out, thwacks him on the back of the head as he blows by.
"Ow!" Kazui shouts, and Grimmjow barks a laugh at him and kicks into another sonído. Kazui flies after him, wind in his face and laughing back, even though his head really does hurt a little.
Grimmjow blasts down the street. It's hardly fair. Kazui will never catch him on a straightaway, but then he sees Grimmjow's hands come out of his pockets and he sharpens himself, gets ready to dive or drift or whatever else.
Good thing, too, because Grimmjow veers down the next alleyway at the very last second. It happens so fast that Kazui barely catches it. Grimmjow's just there and then he's gone, and Kazui gets his feet up and launches off the air in front of him, throwing himself sideways down the alley. It's so narrow he almost crashes into a wall, loses ground trying to steady himself, but he can still see Grimmjow ahead of him.
Kazui follows every sonído with his own shunpo. He's pretty proud of that. He used to need two or three or four, but he can match Grimmjow's stride now. He's not getting any closer, but he will someday. The day he snags the back of that jacket is the day he wins , and maybe the day he earns his spar against Pantera, too. Lofty goals, but Kazui's a climber.
Kazui chases until he starts to feel the burn in his lungs, dry winter air making his throat feel sore and raw like it does when he's sick. Grimmjow takes one of his dime-turns again and sonídos free of the taller buildings, clear over the river, past a baseball diamond and a little kid's playground, abandoned in the cold.
Kazui doesn't recognize the high school until they're coming right up on it. Grimmjow skims over the flat, beige roof of it as the only spot of color, slowing down. He steps down on the far edge and Kazui's ready for another sonído, but Grimmjow hits the brakes instead. He stops, turns, and then launches straight back at Kazui in an arc over the top of his head.
Kazui tries to stop but his momentum tosses him forward and he stumbles. His feet hit solid roof and he trips, and then the rest of him hits the roof, too, knees first with a shout of surprise. He skids and rolls, skipping like a stone. When he finally comes to a stop, he flops over onto his back and groans. Stays there, panting for air.
He sees Grimmjow's boots touch down out of the corner of his eye. His stupid heels that should clack but don't. And then there's his crazy hair and face and all the rest of him, leaned over with his hands in his pockets, peering down. He looks like he should be perched in some kind of dramatically bent tree.
Kazui flaps his hands up at him and wheezes: "You're not even tired!"
Grimmjow blinks at him, unimpressed.
"You could at least pretend," Kazui says. He's glad Grimmjow doesn't though. It would be too much like lying. As it is, Grimmjow only snorts and folds down to sit next to him, and Kazui imitates a puddle and tries to catch his breath.
Ugh. He hates sweating when it's cold. It's like when he has to run track in the fall and ends up feeling all clammy and gross. At least his spirit form isn't warm enough to start steaming. He still thinks it's weird that his breath fogs but Grimmjow's doesn't. Nel's doesn't either, though. Must be an Arrancar thing.
The pain in his chest eases and he gets his elbows under him to sit up. He's not in any rush about it, but when he bends his leg he realizes his knee hurts. There's a hole scuffed into his hakama. He loops his fingers into it and tries to see, but it's too dark so he yanks his whole pant leg up instead. His knee is skinned raw and weeping red.
Kazui whips his head around to Grimmjow, wide-eyed. "Dad said no blood!"
Grimmjow drops his chin into his hand, elbow on his knee. "Yeah?" His eyes roll. "Don't pin that shit on me, you did it to yourself."
"Only because you turned on me like a maniac! You're gonna get us in trouble!"
"Only if you tell. Just spit on it or something."
"And then what? Rub some dirt in it?"
"Sure. Rub some dirt in it."
"No! That wouldn't even do anything."
"So, what, you want me to bleed back at you?"
Kazui opens his mouth and then closes it. He squints at Grimmjow suspiciously. "Would you?"
A long pause and a blink, and then: "No."
"Uuuuugh." Kazui throws his pant leg back over his stinging knee and kicks his feet out in front of him. He leans back on his hands. "How do you do that, anyways?"
"Do what?"
"I thought I threw you off. You weren't behind me anymore."
"Yeah. Lost sight of you."
"But you knew where I was."
"Mm."
"With pesquisa?"
"Nah. Too fast for that."
Kazui grins all the way to his ears. "Really?"
"Don't make me take it back, brat."
"Fine, okay! Just tell me. I don't wanna guess."
Silence again. Kazui is used to it. Talking to Grimmjow isn't like talking to anyone else. He raises his eyebrows and stares him down and waits.
Eventually, Grimmjow wrinkles his nose and sniffs. Hard, like a dog. It takes a moment for Kazui to get it, and then his smile drops right off.
"Are you serious?" he asks.
One very, very flat blink.
"You're serious?!" Kazui lifts his arm and tries to smell whatever Grimmjow's smelling. Oh no. Oh god. He drops his arm. Can all Arrancar smell him? All Hollows? Can everyone smell him? Does he stink? He looks back at Grimmjow's squinty laughing eyes and asks with urgency: "Is it bad?"
"No, shit, calm down."
"Well what do I smell like, then?"
Grimmjow just unfolds and tips backwards, sprawls out on the concrete with his hand behind his head.
"Come on!" Kazui kicks at him and he doesn't even move, the jerk. "Do I smell like Dad?"
"No," Grimmjow replies, eyes closed, "More like the princess."
"Oh," Kazui says. He wasn't expecting that. It makes him smile again. He's already so much like his dad. He knows he is, and everyone says so, and it's fine, it's good, but. Everyone says so. A lot. Kind of all the time, actually.
Almost everyone.
And he wants to be like Mom, too. He thinks it'd be a really good thing, to be just like his mom.
The cold isn't cold at all, now, but only because he's feeling all fizzy and warm inside. He beams and Grimmjow pretends to ignore him, far from oblivious but acting like it, like cats do. He doesn't know how to talk about that feeling so he talks about other stuff instead. School. His teachers and classmates and all the human stuff that Grimmjow doesn't get. His training with Yoruichi and Dad. How weird Ichika is. He mentions Hyori just to watch the maskless side of Grimmjow's face twist into a scowl. Kazui laughs at him for it and it only makes him scowl harder.
"She's a bitch," Grimmjow growls.
"She's not that bad," Kazui says. He stretches his arms above his head and watches the sky start to turn purple. "And you shouldn't call girls that."
"Why?"
"It's rude and demeaning."
"Big word."
"I know lots of big words. It's just mean, anyways."
"Whatever." The kind of pause that usually means trouble. "Kurosaki's a bitch, too."
Kazui laughs before he can help it. "You know that doesn't work on me anymore, right?"
"Shit. It doesn't?"
"No! You don't even mean it. Stop trying to kill the mood."
"There's no mood."
"There's definitely a mood."
Grimmjow sighs. "Fine."
Kazui climbs to his feet. His knee hurts in a stiff kind of way, like one big scab. It'll suck to heal on its own. Maybe he can play it off as something that happened at school and get Mom to heal it for him. Hmm.
He hops up and down to get his blood moving again.
"Hey," he says, and Grimmjow slits an eye open and tenses all over. Kazui can see it. "Home before dinner, let’s go! Race you back!"
And he's gone before Grimmjow can twitch.