Disclsimer: I, of course, in no way own Bleach—Kubo Sensei does. I only want to put forward the hidden chemistry between these two.
Grimmjow: So what exactly are you planning ,you human?
Author: I don't feel obligated to tell you that.
Ichigo: Seriously, what are you planning?
Author: Oh Ichi, don't worry. You'll be okay.
Ichigo: Ok? Okay? Why? What are you gonna do?
Author: You'll see~
"Kurosaki Ichigo."
"What?" Ichigo could tell that voice from anywhere. He heard it a hundred times, and yet never got tired. He was-
"Grimmjow."
"I see you remember my name, Ichigo. I'm flattered," The teal haired Espada gave his signature toothy grin, his zanpakuto strayed over his shoulder.
"I don't wanna fight you anymore, Grimmjow. Go back." Ichigo sighed. He had had enough. The fight against Ginjo was enough to tire him out and it was only because of a project that he has to submit he agreed on going to school. Never would he have thought to meet an Espada, especially the sixth one all over again.
"Who said I'm here to fight you? I need answers." He growled.
"Answers? What answe—" Before he could complete he was being dragged by a rather impatient Espada, much to his confusion. He felt sorry for the people who saw him and for scaring them away. Seriously, to the outside world, he looked like a lunatic with no one but wind dragging him behind. He could just kick the Arrancar's ass.
Grimmjow slammed him against a wall and literally caged him between his arms. Ichigo noticed they were in an empty alley, and found it weird that Grimmjow would bring him there.
"So tell me, Ichigo." Grimmjow's voice went down a few notches and he inched closer to the substitute shinigami. "Why?"
"Why what?" Ichigo snapped back, trying to get free from his hold. But somehow, much to Ichigo' s surprise, Grimmjow was stronger. And moreover, he couldn't do anything against an Espada when he's in the human form.
"C'mon Ichigo, ye know what!" Grimmjow almost yelled at him. "Why did you save me when it was clear that you defeated me? Why Ichigo? Why did you not let Nnoitora kill me? Why did you almost gpt killed yourself just because you were saving me? Why did you stop him when you could've run away? Why did you not let me die? Why why why?"
Ichigo could see the expression of disturbance marred all over his face, desperate to know the answers. He felt kind of sorry for him. He didn't know how long Grimmjow kept those questions to himself. But he didn't have an answer to those questions. So he told the only answer possible.
"Because...because no one deserves to die and be killed while they're helpless. Nnoitora was attacking you when you were helpless and that's something I can't ignore." Ichigo muttered, remembering how the Fifth Espada raised his deadly zanpakuto to deliver the final blow that would've ended Grimmjow. He vividly remembered the trickle of fear down his spine, and his heart stop at that moment. But Grimmjow didn't have to know that.
There was a moment of silence, and Grimmjow seemed to think about something. Then his facial expressions hardened, his eyes flaring up all of a sudden.
"So you were pitying me all this time, huh?" A hard punch landed just beside Ichigo's left ear, nearly missing it. "You know, Kurosaki, if there's one thing I hate more than you, it's pity. And see, I was pitied by none other than you." Grimmjow slashed, his voice too loud for Ichigo's liking.
"But—" Ichigo tried to justify, to make the teal haired Arrancar know that he totally misunderstood his words that he saved him because he hates to see his friends get hurt.
"Keep your bullshit of an explanation to yourself, Kurosaki. I'm outta here." Grimmjow said, and with a last glance towards Ichigo he swifted away at the black garganta that was slowly tearing through the sky.
Ichigo slid down the brick wall. His eyes were fixated on the closing garganta, catching a glimpse of those blue eyes, staring intently at him.
Ichigo was grateful when he opened the door of his house. At least he won't have to bear with his dad and his sisters for a week. Yes, he loved them to death but he was not quite ready to answer their twenty questions about why he was late.
He made his way upstairs to his room, and closed the door behind him. Then with a sigh, he plopped down on his bed, clutching his pillow. He needed to sort out the weird things he was feeling but he didn't know how to. He tried to find the possible explanation for Grimmjow's sudden arrival to Karakura town but only came with nothingness.
A few droplets of tears escaped his eyes, making blotches on the white pillow. He was confused, hurt, and God knew what else. The feeling of knowing there was something between them yet not knowing what it was, forced out a sob from him. It was frustrating.
"Pathetic. And you call yourself strong?" A familiar voice jarred him out of his trance and he turned towards his window.
"Rukia!"
"The one and only. Now, why are are you alone and doing nothing but crying like a pathetic idiot?" Ichigo flinched at her choice of words and covered his eyes. Tears were flowing out and no matter how much he tried, he couldn't stop them.
"If you don't tell me I wouldn't know. And that leaves out the question of helping. What happened Ichigo?" Her voice softened and Ichigo felt her small hands placed over his larger ones pulling them away from his eyes.
"Grimmjow..." He whispered, not quite looking at her.
"Yes, what did he do, Ichigo?" Rukia asked patiently, rubbing circles over his hands to calm the crying boy.
"I don't know. I don't know, Rukia! He comes to see me all out of the blue and then leaves me without an explanation! I don't get him! I don't know why I saved him! I don't—" Ichigo was feeling a plethora of emotions and he was rambling them all out. He didn't know why he was telling them to Rukia but he knew she was only one who would listen.
"Shh." She whispered and much to his surprise, pulled him into a warm hug. "Don't cry, Ichigo. It'll be okay."
Ichigo hugged her back and cried on her shoulders, clutching onto her hakama. It was times like these, Ichigo felt that Rukia was truly older than her despite her height. She filled up the place of his elder sister he never had.
"Tell me, Ichigo." Rukia said after a while, pulling away.
"You saved me, because I am your friend. You saved Orihime because she is your friend. You save your family because they're your closet ones. And you save your friends and innocent people because you care for them, because you're a good person. Then why, did you save Grimmjow Jagerjaques? He's not your friend, neither your family. On the contrary, he's your enemy. Where does your responsibility of saving him comes from?" Rukia said, looking serious.
Ichigo's eyes widened at her questions. She was right. Way too right. Ichigo knew the sheer truth lying beneath those questions. The truth that he kept on pushing in the back of his head giving a weak excuse of 'saving a man who's helpless.'
"I..." He was at a loss of words.
"Do you see now, Ichigo? I'm not the one to make you understand the depth of your feelings, that's something you have to figure out yourself, Ichigo." Rukia smiled, and after a long time, Ichigo felt someone understood him.
"Thanks, Rukia." Ichigo wiped away his drying tears and grinned foolishly. "You said some wise words."
Ichigo failed to dodge the punch which landed on his face with her yelling, "Shut up idiot! You put yourself in love situations like this, cry like a baby and then I have to butt in with my philosophical talk to get some sense to you! I swear-"
"FINE I GET IT YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUNCH ME SILLY GIRL—"
"I JUST HELPED YOU AND THAT'S YOUR GRATITUDE? YOU DIPSHIT I WILL KILL YOU—"
"OH YEAH? TRY THEN—"
"WOULD YOU GUYS SHUT UP?!"
"NO!" They said in unison and snapped towards the window.
"Renji! What are you doing here?" Ichigo gave a surprised look at the red head, sitting on his windowsill.
"The same reason Rukia is here, but I guess she sorted it out." Renji said giving him a grin. "So how ya doing Ichi?"
"Oh, I didn't mention, did I?" Rukia chuckled at Ichigo's confusion. "We sensed a high spiritual pressure from Karakura town so we were assigned to check the matter and give back the reports to the head captain. Because you know the war is over and all but the reisteasu was much similar to that of an Arrancar and that's why, head captain wanted to verify. I guess it's okay now."
"Oh I see. So you're going back?" Ichigo asked.
"As of now, yes." Rukia said.
"Well then, see ya later, Ichigo!" Renji yelled and jumped from his window. Rukia turned back, and gave the brown eyed boy a smile which he only returned.
"Sort it out, okay? And I'll tell Urahara to open a garganta for you. Sort it out with him. Remember, I'm always here for you, k?" With that Rukia too disappeared from his sight.
"Thanks." Ichigo whispered, looking at the empty sky in front of him.
"So back here again, eh Ichigo?" Urahara grinned, almost making Ichigo question his incredible power. But he knew better.
"Yeah, I guess." He scratched his neck sheepishly.
"So all I have to do is open a garganta? Am I right?"
"So Rukia told you." He said. "Wait. How much did she tell you?"
"Why Ichigo? Just so you know, I'll do anything for love," Urahara giggled. Ichigo couldn't believe Keisuke Urahara just giggled.
"So you know. But it's not love." Ichigo rolled his eyes, his heart skipping a beat at the word contradicting his words.
"Sure sure. Now go, it's open." Urahara pointed his stick towards the black hole.
"Thanks, Urahara. I'll be off now."
Ichigo stepped on the white, sandy plains of Hueco Mundo looking around. He felt his hollow rejuvenate at the air of Hueco Mundo.
"So you're finally here, King," The hollow inside him cackled.
"Shut up."
Ichigo started walking looking hither and thither for the sight of anyone but nope, nothing, nada. It was only him, the white sand underneath his feet and the black sky with a huge moon.
Suddenly, someone from behind forced him down on the ground, before he could defend himself. But the laugh, made a sigh of relief pass through him.
"Anyone could've killed you, you know," Grimmjow muttered.
"You're not anyone." Ichigo countered
"Yeah sure. Now what are you doing here Kurosaki? I don't wanna see ya." He grumbled turning away from him and Ichigo almost laughed at his childish behaviour.
"I know. But just like I said, you're not just anyone." Ichigo said.
"What do you mean?" The former sexta Espada looked curious now.
"I know why I saved you."
Before he could continue, Grimmjow gave a growl of annoyance. "I know Kurosaki. Because you pity me. How many times do you have to brag it? And you came all the ducking way to Hueco Mundo to tell me this? You're so fucking annoying, Kurosaki. Just go back." Grimmjow chided, turning away again, but this time Ichigo clamped his fingers around his hakama pulling him back.
"No you shit. Let me finish and then open your mouth. You wanted to know why I saved you? Well that's because I care for you. And you're like my-"
"Friend? Family? That a half assed answer, Kurosaki. I don't need your feelings of friend or family." Grimmjow emphasised each word to make them clear, but he failed to comprehend Ichigo's words.
"WOULD YOU SHUT UP?" Ichigo whipped out. "I'm trying to say that I saved you because I care for you and-"
"AND I'M SAYING THAT I DON'T NEED IT NOW GO THE FUCK BACK."
"EVEN WHEN I LIKE YOU?"
"YOU—" Grimmjow was going to say something back in return, a snarky comment maybe. But then, he let Ichigo's words sink in, silencing him.
"Exactly. You got nothing to say, right? That's what I expected. That's why I refrained from telling you the truth. Because I knew, if I tell you that I like you, you wouldn never reciprocate my feelings and worse, you wouldn't come to fight me anymore. That's why. You get it now, Grimmjow?" Ichigo confesses, breathing deeply. He saw Grimmjow lift his hands and closed his eyes for a hard punch or something. He probably deserved it.
But he never expected the Arrancar to press his rough lips you against his.
His brain shut down for the thirty seconds-which felt like eternity to Ichigo. Grimmjow just pressed his lips over his and he became limp, letting the Espada kiss him.
"So you get it, Ichi?" Grimmjow muttered after pulling back and a cheeky smile smearing over his face.
"I...You..." Ichigo stuttered, not knowing how to respond.
"Now don't go back on your words. You told me you like me, I'm not letting you go back on your words." Grimmjow charges, seeing him dumbfounded.
"I didn't think you'd kiss me...why though?" Ichigo asked, obliviously.
"Are you an idiot? That's of course because I like you too." Grimmjow laughed.
Ichigo choked on his own spit and ended up coughing furiously. Grimmjow only bore a smug look as he no so gently patted him on his back.
"You what?"
"So you can like me, but I can't? That's conceited Ichi," Grimmjow commanded, enjoying the blown look on his face.
"No, but I never thought-"
"That I'd like ya too? Surprise, Ichi. I like an asshole of a shinigami like you." The Arrancar tutted, clicking his tongue.
"Hey what's that supposed to-"
He was again silenced by a chaste kiss from Grimmjow. The Espada found it quite an appealing way to ahut him up.
"Shut up, and follow me."
And the next moment, he was dragging a stunned Ichigo towards his private quarters.
Ichigo: What just happened?
Author: lmao more will happen in the future
Grimmjow: I kinda like you now
Author: You should
Ichigo: What is this conspiracy I don't know of?
Author and Grimmjow: Let's pray for you butt, shall we?
Ichigo: WHAT
Author: Byee~~
Oh and part II will take time ;-;
