Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Pairing: GrimmxIchi

Ties to Bonds

Friday night had Ichigo Kurosaki lying patiently in his bed. Earlier that week, he had promised to throw a movie party at his house since his sisters, Yuzu and Karin, would be spending the weekend at their friend Ururu's place. His father, Ishiin, would be out of town until Tuesday on a meet and greet with some old clients of his. Ichigo had been to school the entire week and had come home like normal, but the news of new transfer students had him a little anxious. They were transferring from the school across town from their own. Apparently, their school was being closed down due to failing conditions to meet standard criteria for modern teaching. The school was most often referred to as "Hueco Mundo High" through rumor, though Ichigo had never been there himself. Inoue had visited, but didn't give a response about it when asked. After hearing about the new students, he decided that the old students would party the night away with movies in his room, video games in the living room, and pool/hot tub fun out back. He had invited over his friends who he had known for quite some time. Chad, the biggest and quietest of the group, had received his invitation earlier in the week. He promised to bring a Mexican dish he had seen prepared on t.v. last week. Ichigo did enjoy Mexican food, as well as the company of the overgrown, muscle-bound teddy bear. Ishida, the stubborn genius, had promised that he would bring a new video game prototype he and his father had designed in their spare time, along with his XBOX 360 and numerous games and controllers. Inoue, the busty and lovely, yet slightly ditzy red-head, promised she'd bring new dishes she had concocted, and everyone was invited to try them. Ichigo always had a soft spot for Inoue, and it always seemed like she had serious feelings for him. He knew, however, that he couldn't be with her for certain reasons. Renji, the fiery knucklehead, was invited as well. He and Ichigo were friends through Rukia, and also through their commonalities. Rukia, Ichigo's demanding and stubborn, yet loyal friend had been the first to know about the party. It was more her idea to throw one, but her older brother Byakuya would never allow a high-school party to be thrown at their mansion. When Ichigo got wind of the idea, he volunteered to throw it since he would have the house to himself for the weekend. His guests were invited to stay over if necessary.

After hearing a knock at his front door, Ichigo sped downstairs. Reaching the front door, he grabbed the knob and turned it to reveal none other than Inoue holding a large pink pot with multiple smaller pots stacked on top of it.

"Hi Kurosaki-kun!" she exclaimed.

"H-hi Inoue. Do you need a hand?"

"If you wouldn't mind… These are kinda heavy though."

"Then I can't let you stand there holding them. Here, let me take them to the table—OOH!"

Almost dropping the larger pot after claiming it from Inoue's grasp, Ichigo trotted over to the kitchen and placed it on the table.

"Kurosaki-kun, did you clean up for the party?" Inoue inquired. She noticed the place was spotless.

"No. Yuzu cleaned before she left."

"Oh. That makes sense. Well then, let's get busy setting up!"

While preparing her dish to its final stages, Inoue suddenly became ecstatic about something.

"Kurosaki-kun!"

"Huh?"

"Have you heard any news about the new transfer students?"

"Um, all I know is there are supposed to be quite a few of them…I think…"

"Oh…"

"Hey, Inoue."

"Yes?"

"Did you invite anyone else? I was hoping word would spread to most of the class…"

"I sure did. I told Tatsuki, Chizuru, and Michiru. I think Chad invited Keigo and Mizuiro. And I think Renji invited Rangiku, Toshiro, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Shuhei, Momo, and Kira."

"Wow. That's a lot of people. Well, the more the merrier."

"Mmhmm!"

*Knock knock*

"I'm comimg!" Ichigo shouted as he walked to the door.

Once it was opened, he was faced with Chad and Ishida. Chad was holding a large paper bag in his left hand while Ishida's hands were full. He was holding a bag with controllers in one hand, games in the other, and a book-bag containing the console.

"How rude Kurosaki! We didn't come here for you to stare at us. Are you going to let us in?"

"Would you just—fine. Come on in. Inoue's in the kitchen."

"Ishida-kun! Chad! Hi!"

"Good evening Inoue-san."

"Hi Inoue"

"Hope you guys are ready to party! I'm almost done with my dishes!"

"…"

"…"

"Gah. Oh Inoue."

Walking over to the television, Ishida began unloading his baggage onto the floor.

"Kurosaki. Are you sure you want this here on the floor. It's sort of in the way."

"Put it beside the t.v. then."

A little while later, more of the party guests had arrived. Rukia was seated on the couch flipping through the channels aimlessly. Beside her sat Kira, Shuhei, and Momo, reading a few game manuals. In the kitchen, Inoue noticed Chad's dish and began making excited remarks.

"More food! Yes! I'm going to stuff myself until I can't breathe! Hahaha!"

Glancing over to the kitchen and then looking at Inoue closely, Renji couldn't help but nudge Ichigo and laugh.

"Guess we know where all that food she eats goes. Her tits are practically planets on her body hahaha!"

"Oh shut up Renji." Ichigo said, noting that Renji may have had a point.

"LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!" Rangiku yelled as she opened the door.

"Loud-ass" Ikkaku muttered as he and Yumichika began walking ahead of her.

"AHEM! Ladies first!" she exclaimed as she brushed by them hurriedly.

"Sorry, I didn't see a lady near the door." Ikkaku mumbled.

"Ahahahaha!" Yumichika bellowed behind him.

"What was that? I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you clearly!"

"Uh—Nothing. Nothing"

"That's what I thought! Grow a pair! Hmph!" Rangiku spoke as she hurried in Inoue's direction.

"We'll see how she gets home tonight."

"You're all fools." Toshiro said as he walked in and took a seat beside Rukia.

"Oh Orihime! Your food looks wonderful!"

"Really! Thank you Rangiku! I worked really hard last night to prepare it just right!"

By the time six o'clock had arrived, so had the remaining party guests. Michiru, Tatsuki, and Rangiku had filled the hot tub. Rangiku convinced Inoue to join with instigations from Chizuru. Keigo, Mizuiro, Chad, Ishida, Ichigo, Ikkaku, Renji, and Rukia were huddled around as Renji destroyed Chad and Ichigo's Halo characters while fending Keigo off. Ishida was convinced that none of them were any real competition and remained seated on the couch. Upstairs, Toshiro, Kira, Shuhei, Momo, and Yumichika were stationed in Ichigo's room watching the movie Zombieland.

The night had gone by smoothly, without any fights or even arguments between Rangiku and Ikkaku. However, A few party guests had decided to call it a night and, after thanking Ichigo and saying their goodbyes, went home.

"Time for some fun." Rangiku stated as she held a plastic bottle in her hand.

"Oh no! No no no! This isn't turning into some sex party Rangiku." Ichigo stated as he walked over to her and crossed his arms.

"What! It's just 7 Minutes in Heaven. If you wanted a kiddy party, then maybe you should have specified that we'd be playing Tag instead."

"What have I done?" Ichigo thought.

"Okay! Who's playing!"

"Me!" Renji shouted across the room.

"I wouldn't mind." Yumichika stated.

"Count me in!" Ikkaku said as he walked over to the now forming circle.

"I guess I will." Rukia said as she stood.

"…" Chad headed over as well.

"What about you Orihime? Won't you join us?" Rangiku asked.

"M-me! Uh. Okay sure."

"Alright! Let's get started!" Rangiku said as she forced Ichigo to take part.

"Here are the rules!" Rangiku exclaimed as she stood. "One: Gender cards don't count. You've gotta take 7 Minutes in Heaven with whoever the bottle lands on. Two: You HAVE to make out. No exceptions! Three: No complaints. If you complain, I will make you pay personally. And four: It has to be 7 minutes. Otherwise, you get locked in together even longer. That's about it. Got it!"

After mumbles and a series of okays, Rangiku clapped her hands happily and sat down.

"Let's hope I get a looker!" she stated as she spun the bottle.

As it stopped, Rangiku inwardly pouted.

"Ha! Wanna make out with me Rangiku?" Ikkaku said as he led her to the closet.

"Me and my big mouth!" Rangiku face-palmed as she stepped into the closet all but too femininely.

"Serves her right." Yumichika said as he looked over to Renji. He hoped he would get seven minutes with that red-headed Adonis.

"Seven minutes are up!" she exclaimed as she swung the door open hurriedly.

"Rangiku, your face is so flustered." Yumichika noted as he saw her take her seat and adjust her hair.

"Put a sock in it! Or rather a—OOH! You grate on my nerves!" she retorted.

"Ichigo, it's your turn." Rukia said.

"Right…" he said as he spun the bottle.

Everyone became quite ecstatic as the bottle landed on Renji.

"What! No way!" Renji said as he looked away.

"AHEM!" Rangiku cleared her throat violently as she looked at him.

"U—I…Fine. Let's get this over with." He stated dejectedly.

After the door was closed and locked, Ichigo spoke.

"Renji, we can lie if you want. Nobody will ever know." He stated simply.

"Oh. Rangiku will know. Trust me. Just-"

Ichigo silenced his lips with his own. There was just enough room for him to position himself onto Renji's larger form as he became more heated. Renji decided if he was going to do this, he was going to do it right. He stuck his tongue out awkwardly as he silently asked Ichigo for entrance. Willingly, Ichigo opened his mouth and allowed Renji to explore his mouth to his heart's desire. In that moment, he couldn't help but remember all of his inner desires for Renji. He always liked Renji. But somewhere deep inside his heart, Ichigo knew he was not meant to be with him. It was mainly because Renji was straight, and had a thing for Rukia. However, Ichigo had been attracted to the man since their first fight at school. An attraction that he had grown miserable from had come back tenfold to smack him in the face in this intimate moment in the closet with Renji. Ichigo would have to thank Rangiku later.

*Knock knock*

"Hey! Your seven minutes are up!" Rangiku yelled from the other side of the door.

"…"

"Renji. I-"

"Hurry Up! Others are playing too! If you want a make-out session, you should go up to your room!"

"Shut your trap Rangiku!" Renji said as he detached himself from Ichigo and opened the door.

"Took you long enough!" She said as she looked from Renji standing in front of her, to Ichigo blushing madly on the floor.

"Woo! Gay pride!" Ikkaku joked as he saw Ichigo's face.

"Just shut up." Ichigo stated simply.

Everyone had known about Ichigo's preferences. He had come clean to his closest friends earlier in the year, and had a particularly awkward conversation with Inoue about it. After she found out, she said she accepted him no matter what. He knew she would always have feelings for him though. He just couldn't lead her on, it was wrong. Ichigo loved Inoue too much to give her false hopes like that.

"Take your seat!" Rangiku said to them as she handed Yumichika the bottle.

"I hope you get a girl!" She whispered as she giggled, knowingly, at his angered and nervous expression.

"This is gonna be a long night." Ichigo thought as he looked around his house.

Renji sat in the hot tub as he looked up at the moon. He and Ichigo had kissed. It was nothing to him, but he was sure it meant a lot to Ichigo.

"Things are gonna be awkward…"

"Hey."

Renji whipped his head around to see Rukia.

"H-hey Rukia. Did you come to join me?"

"Yeah. I want to talk to you."

Rukia unwrapped her towel revealing her two-piece swim suit. As she stepped into the bubbling water, she noticed Renji watching her closely.

"I'm not Ichigo. You can't have me." She giggled.

"That's not even funny!" he retorted.

"I know. But still, don't let a kissing game come between-"

"Haha! "Come between." Sorry. You were saying?"

"Grow up Renji. As I was saying, don't let that silly kissing game make things awkward between you two. You've been friends since the tenth grade, and you know he's never been all over you before."

"Yeah…I guess. It was just a game."

"Besides, at least you didn't have to make out with Yumichika." She laughed as she sunk under the heated water.

"That would've been disgusting." He admitted.

"Good night." Ichigo said as the last of his party guests left. Inoue was given a ride by Byakuya and Rukia since it was close to midnight. Ichigo was surprised. Nobody was staying over, but somehow, he was relieved too. He wasn't in the mood for overnight house guests. Besides, he still had to do some homework so he could enjoy his weekend.

"Guess I'd better shower." He said as he headed upstairs.

Entering the bathroom, Ichigo flipped the light switch and headed over to the shower. Turning on the water and making sure it was at a comfortable temperature, he removed his clothes and stepped in. Washing away all the stresses of his week was more than welcome to him right now. He had failed a test, lost his wallet, and still needed to turn in a load of make-up work from the two weeks he took off last month. This was a miniature paradise. He couldn't think of anything he needed more than this shower.

Stepping out from under the water, and into a cloud of steam, he dried himself. Laughing as he remembered that Family Guy cut scene where Stewie walked in on Meg in her unusual process of drying off, ended by throwing her towel on his head. Laughing, Ichigo finished by drying his hair. Man, that show was too funny for its own good.

Walking into his room, Ichigo noticed that his phone had vibrated to the edge of his bed. Picking it up, he flipped through all the messages about how awesome his party was, until he reached the final message. It was from Renji.

"Hey Ichigo. I just wanna let u know that I ain't mad at you for the kiss thing. Hope were still cool :P"

Ichigo snickered as he sent the cheesiest reply in the world.

"Like the other side of the pillow"

Sitting down at his desk, he opened his Trigonometry textbook, and began reading.