Disclaimer: WE DO NOT OWN BLEACH! We wish we did...there would be lots of lemons if we did...but alas, we do not!

WARNING: DARK themes, language, abuse, future YAOI, future RAPE, future GORE. Just...be warned. If you are uncomfortable with any of these themes, please turn back. We have very contaminated minds...we wouldn't want to rub off on those who remain innocent. =D

Chapter One

Loud, obnoxious laughter carried itself across the bar, filling the man's ears and amplifying his already foul mood. Glancing up, he glared at the source of his annoyance. A group of rambunctious new-comers had just entered through the bar door, drawing everyone's attention to their annoying behavior. By the looks of them, they had already had their fair share of liquor.

The party consisted of three men and one clingy woman. Three out of four appeared to be drunk off their asses and were starting to cause a headache for the teal-haired man at the bar stool.

A blonde-haired man, whose hair was parted in such a way that it covered his left eye, was whining about how his life was so unfair. The man was practically spewing off his whole life's failed relationships with women at a hundred miles a minute.

To the right of the whiney drunk was a man with spiky black hair. Residing on his right cheek were three scars running down his face; on the other cheek was a rather compromising tattoo of a 69. Currently, he was trying to pick a fight with anything close enough to scream at; namely everyone in the bar.

Leading the small group was a pair that appeared to be a couple. A rather busty, loud woman, probably in her early twenties, was clinging possessively to the odd one of the group-an orange-haired, lean boy who didn't quite look old enough to be in that particular bar in the first place.

Still sitting on his bar stool, Grimmjow Jeagerjaques continued to study the strange enigma. Not that he was odd by any normal standards, just strange when in the company of the other three. While they were loud and foolish, he appeared quiet and sullen, somewhat withdrawn.

Grimmjow furrowed his brow at the strange match-up, wondering why someone who seemed so sensible would hang with a bunch of idiots. He seemed like the more serious type, one who didn't like to go out and party with the rest of them. So why was he allowing himself to be dragged around town with these drunken buffoons?

Grimmjow watched the strange boy as he took a seat in one of the chairs that was more out of the way, followed closely by the clingy woman, all the while sipping at his third drink of the night. As he observed them, the woman made herself comfortable on what, Grimmjow could only assume, was the lap of her boyfriend or lover.

Grimmjow smirked at the sight when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. The man with the tattoo was currently making his way over to the teal haired man.

"Hey you lecherous perv!" He said, his voice laced with anger and disgust. "What do you think you're doin', checkin' out Ichigo's woman?" His speech was slurred drunkenly and his eyes didn't seem to want to focus clearly. "Sure, she's abnormally large," he continued to the jeers and chuckles of the other bar residents, "but that doesn't give you the right to ogle her!"

Said woman's head snapped around to the two men, her mouth slightly agape. "Did you just call me fat, Shuhei?" she gasped indignantly. Standing and releasing 'Ichigo' from her hold, the sensual woman strode pointedly over to her companion and positioned herself between Grimmjow and Shuhei in order to stand face-to-face with him. She unknowingly gave the man a vantage point to view what was scantly hidden beneath her mini skirt; a view that Grimmjow shamelessly admired.

"No! I just-!" Shuhei sputtered pathetically. Grimmjow smirked. The bold, arrogant man who'd been so quick to fight less than a minute ago was now brought down in an instant. And by a woman, no less!

In the midst of the shouting match before him, as the woman continued to berate the cowering man, Grimmjow saw the true object of his interest stand up from the chair he had previously taken and make his way towards the small group.

When Ichigo arrived, he said in a bored, monotone drawl, "I'm sorry that my friends are being so obnoxious. I'll get them out of everyone's way and take them home immediately." At the last part, he sent a glare worthy of a yakuza towards the members of his party. Catching the look of animosity, the two shut up instantly and settled down. Shuhei backed off and the woman returned her possessive hold on the orange-haired kid.

Grimmjow raised his eyebrows in response, wondering where the kid had picked up such a fierce expression. Nonetheless, he was amused at how submissive the others were when this seemingly meek boy decided to take charge.

Making a swift decision, Grimmjow replied, "Well, while you're at it, you should buy me another drink."

The room, previously filled with the low hum of quiet conversation and the occasional bout of raucous laughter, suddenly became eerily quiet and still. It was odd for a known yakuza to "request" a drink from anyone.

Seemingly unaware of the tension in the room, or perhaps unfazed by it, Ichigo stared emotionlessly back at Grimmjow, who had the opportunity to peer into the hard brown eyes of the other. What he saw there he couldn't quite place, but the emotion seemed to invade his entire being, engulfing the boy. "Whatever," he replied after a long pause.

Grimmjow's smirk grew into a grin. "But I don't want to drink it alone," he countered. "When you're done taking care of your...friends...I expect you to run your ass back here and keep me company. That should be punishment enough for a lady's man like you, don't you think?"

The younger adopted a look of puzzlement and confusion, one that didn't quite reach the depths of his eyes. "...Punishment?"

Grimmjow's amusement at the situation continued to grow. "Of course," he stated as he leaned back on his barstool. The shifted weight caused the wooden object to groan in protest. "You, the sober one, allowed your friends to come into my peaceful sanctuary and cause a commotion."

Ichigo visibly hesitated at this explanation, knowing full well that it was all bullshit. Never one to shy away from a challenge, though, he couldn't allow himself to back down. "Fine," he replied shortly. "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki."

"Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, Espada in the Arrancar gang. Pleasure meeting you...Ichi."

Ichigo nodded shortly, a scowl placed on his face. When he turned quickly on his heel, giving a sharp, hasty command to his friends and walking swiftly out the door, Grimmjow grinned. The boy obviously didn't like his new nickname.

So, it has taken us three months, but we finally got our asses back in gear with this story. Of course...we had to re-do the chapter, make some tweaks, but it's better that way! We promise! =3

We wrote a manuscript for the story (took us 5 1/2 hours in a two-day time period) and we now know exactly what we're doing, instead of just winging it. Hopefully, this will make things go a LOT faster! So be happy! Throw a party and invite us! That's the important part. Oh, and reviewing. That's nice, too.

All for shits and giggles,

~Rider~&~FMB~