Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
The sun shone brightly from a clear blue sky as a pair of men walked calmly from the parking lot, their hands linked between them. The shorter of the two looked up at his companion and smiled softly before inching closer and resting his head on the taller male's shoulder, squeezing his hand slightly.
The two continued to walk, ignoring the looks of disdain they got. They were used to it by now seeing as they dealt with it for nearly two years. They just kept walking, making their way to a private little meadow they tended to go to when they just wanted to be alone outside.
After a few moments, they walked through the tree line that hid their meadow from view before they arrived in the large beautiful meadow. Wild flowers filled the meadow with color as trees lined the whole field. The shorter of the two males smiled at his blue haired companion before dropping his hand and moving over to the center of the meadow, seating himself on the ground and looking skyward. Even without looking, he knew the taller male had made his way over to his blind side and sat down as well, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
"Hey, Ichi. Can I ask you somethin?" The taller of the two asked, not looking at the smaller male.
"Sure, Grimm. You can ask me anything." The smaller replied, looking to his companion and leaning on him. He blinked though, when the taller pulled away and moved to kneel before him, taking one the smaller's hands in both of his. A light blush colored his cheeks as he watched the male.
"Ichi, we have been together for how long now?"
"N-nearly two years...G-Grimm...what're ya doing?"
"I wanted to wait until we reached that mark, but I couldn't wait any longer." The taller of the two said as he moved one hand to reach in his pocket, "Ichi, I love you more then life itself and ever since I laid my eyes on you that day at the hospital, I could never get you out of my mind. I never want to experience another time like that month that you weren't there. I want to be by your side as long as I am living and breathing. You are the first and only person to ever make me feel this way and I do not want to loose this feeling." After saying all of this, the man took a deep breath and pulled a silver band that was inlaid with a blue gem and an orange gem, "Kurosaki Ichigo. Will you marry me?"
The smaller male, Ichigo, stared wide eyed at the man kneeling before him before lowering his eyes to the ring held in that large, surprisingly gentle hand, "G-Grimm...?" He murmured softly, looking back at the man before him, surprised to actually see fear in those endless blue eyes. He blinked his own eyes to erase the tears from them before nodding his head, "Y-yes, Grimm...YES!" He cried throwing his arms around the bigger man's neck and sloppily kissing him, not that either of them cared about the sloppiness at the moment, they were both to beyond happy to mind.
After a few moments Grimmjow pulled back from the kiss and lifted Ichigo's hand, slipping the ring over his finger before kissing the flesh of his fiancee's finger, "I love ya, Ichigo." He murmured, nuzzling his cheek against the smaller's hand, "For now and forever. I will always be by yer side."
Ichigo sniffled happily and moved closer to his new fiancee, kissing him gently once again, "I love you too, Grimmjow." He murmured in response, happier now then he had ever been.
After the proposal, the two just sat there for a while, Ichigo curled against Grimmjow while the bigger man's hand rubbed circles over his back. Both of them had their eyes turned skyward as they relaxed, smiles stretching over both their faces. But, of course, their piece was ruined by the sound of ringing coming from Grimmjow's pocket.
They both whined a little, though Grimmjow would later deny he ever whined, and the older of the two pulled his phone from his pocket, flipping it open and putting it to his ear while Ichigo traced invisible shapes over his torso, "'Lo?" He grumbled into the phone, a frown marring his features as he listened to the one on the other end, "I'm on vacation Ulqui-" He started before being cut off by the other person. He was silent for a little before he heaved a sigh and scrubbed his hand over his face, "Fine, fine...I'll be there. I just gotta get Berry home." He grumbled, not even saying goodbye before snapping the phone shut and disconnecting the call.
Ichigo glanced up at him curiously, blinking a little as he tilted his head, "What's up, Grimm?" He asked softly.
"Ulquiorra has another assignment for me..." Grimmjow groaned as he nudged the smaller male to get him off his lap so they could stand, dusting off his backside once he was on his feet then holding a hand out to Ichigo as well.
"But you're on vacation." Ichigo whined, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet as well.
"I know, but I'm the only one who can manage an assignment like this. I dunno all the details but Ulquiorra said he'd get those to me when I get to the station."
Ichigo sighed and fiddled with his new ring before nodding, "Alright. Well...if your gunna be home for dinner, gimmie a call and I'll make something special." He said, flashing a small smile to hide his unease.
The bigger of the two wrapped an arm around Ichigo and pressed a quick kiss to his sunset locks, "Don't worry, Kitten, I'll give ya a call." He said before steering the smaller male back towards where they had parked, "If not, why don't you call up your friends and have a nice night with them, alright?"
Ichigo nodded mutely as he leaned on his fiancee and nuzzled his shoulder.
"Alright Grimm...I'll call em up...yeah...I'll see you...be careful, ok? I love you..." Ichigo murmured into his phone, smiling softly at the murmured response of love. He knew how shy his fiancee was about speaking his love when anyone else could hear, it just made him love the man even more.
He sighed softly as he hung up his phone and looked at it before dialing a number he knew by heart, lifting the phone back to his ear and waiting for the answer. He was nervous about this assignment that Grimmjow was being sent on because the older man had told him nothing about it, just that he wouldn't be at home to much over the next month. He loved Grimmjow more then anything and he was always scared when the man had to go on these extended assignments. Grimmjow knew this and always made sure that Ichigo wouldn't be alone because he knew that after what had happened before they got together, the younger man hated being alone for any extended periods of time.
When Ichigo heard his best friend's voice answer the phone breathlessly, he smirked a bit, pushing any negative thoughts away to make way for the teasing the older red-head was about to get, "Hey Ren. What were iyou/i doing that made you so ibreathless/i?" He asked, voice dripping with mockery and revenge for the last time the man had called when Ichigo was, as the orangette believed at the time, getting his very soul dominated by a certain blue haired lieutenant.
"Shut up, Strawberry. Rukia had me chasing the freakin twins to tire em out." Renji huffed in response and Ichigo could just imagine the tattooed red-head slumping on the couch, his chest heaving and sweat running down his forehead and neck. Ok, so Ichigo had a bit of a crush on his friend before Grimmjow came into the picture.
Ichigo snickered a bit and leaned back on his own couch, absentmindedly petting Zangetsu who took up a seat on his lap, "Hey...you think Rukia and the girls would wanna come over here for the night? Or do I gotta call Shinji?"
"Hmmm? Grimmjow got a long assignment again?" Came Renji's staticy response.
"Yeah.." Ichigo sighed a bit, frowning slightly, "I just...if not it's-" He started but Renji cut him off.
"Lemme talk to Rukia. I'm sure she won't mind. The girls love playing with Zangetsu and the cats."
"Thanks Ren." Ichigo murmured with a small smile as he listened to Renji talking to Rukia, his wife of two years.
"Ichigo? Rukia said she doesn't mind." Renji said into the phone after a few moments and Ichigo could hear the smile in his voice, forcing a smile onto his own face.
"Alright, Ren, I'll get somethin started for dinner then. See ya in a few, yeah?"
"Yeah yeah...man...Grimmjow's habits are rubbing off on you, Ichi. I never heard you end a sentence with 'yeah' before." Renji snickered before disconnecting the call.
Ichigo blinked and stared at his phone in slight surprise. Was the older man really changing his habits? The orangette shrugged after a few moments of contemplation and levered himself off the couch to go make dinner.
It didn't take long for Renji, Rukia, and their twin girls to arrive at Ichigo's home, the girls instantly scrambling to find Ichigo's pets while Rukia trailed off to follow them and Renji went into the kitchen to chat with his long time friend.
"So...any idea wh-dude...is that?" Renji started before catching sight of the ring on Ichigo's hand.
A light pink flush colored Ichigo's cheeks and the bridge of his nose as he lifted his hand to look at the ring, "He asked just before his boss called him..." He murmured. He was aware that he sounded and looked like a swooning girl, but he didn't care. The love of his life proposed to him!
"Wow...Ichi...that's a...surprise." Renji murmured, shaking his head a bit before leaning on the counter and grinning, "You know...Ruki's gunna wanna through you a-"
"Don't say it...don't you fucking dare say it Renji..."
"Bridal shower~" Renji teased before darting out of Ichigo's reach when the shorter male kicked at him.
"RUKIA! I'M GOING TO KILL YOUR HUSBAND!" Ichigo bellowed before diving at Renji who darted away only to have to start running since Ichigo was after him with murderous intent.
When Ichigo finally got his hands on the red-head, he pinned him to the kitchen floor and started to strangle him, his face beat red with rage while the taller male's face was red with laughter. This was the scene that Rukia walked into, holding her daughter's hands. She raised a brow and shook her head.
"Mommy...why is Uncle Ichi killing Daddy?" The girl on her right asked as she watched the two men.
"Because daddy and uncle Ichi are idiots." Rukia answered simply as the two men glanced at the three females.
Ichigo blinked a little and let go of Renji's neck as the girl who hadn't spoken launched herself at him and hugged him tightly around the neck.
"Hi uncle Ichi! Don't kill daddy, ok?" The girl squealed.
Both of the girls were identical in looks. They both had fair skin like their mother, red hair that was considerably darker then Renji's, and wine colored eyes. Their personalities were anything but identical though. While one, the one that was still by Rukia's side, was quiet and reserved, the other, who tackled Ichigo, was as loud and boisterous as her father.
Renji looked at Ichigo and watched as his daughter strangled him, after a few moments though, he tugged her away, "No killing uncle Ichi now, Aya." He scolded, though his heart obviously wasn't in it.
Ichigo shook his head and looked to the other girl, smiling a little, "Hey Gem. Gunna come say hi?" He asked her, holding his arms out. He was rewarded with a small, rare smile from the girl before she went over and gave him a hug before backing up.
"When will dinner be done, Uncle?" She asked softly, forever surprising Ichigo with how quickly she picked things up. Only a little over two years old and already having the intelligence of at least a five year old.
"It'll be about five more minutes." He told her as he got off the floor and dusted his pants off, though blinked when Rukia snatched his hand, her wide violet eyes zeroed in on the ring adorning his finger.
"He asked you." She asked, turning her eyes up to stare at him.
He nodded sheepishly and grinned a little, "Yeah...just this afternoon." He muttered, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand.
"Oh my god! Ichigo!" Rukia squealed happily before tugging the orangette into a back breaking hug.
"Ack! Rukia...leggo!" He yelped, trying to get her to loosen her grip, gasping and rubbing his back when she finally let go, "I don't want a big party or anything, ok? Seriously Rukia...I just...if anything, just a little something to tell everyone." He said calmly.
She frowned a little but nodded, knowing how he was with big things like that, "Alright Ichigo. Nothing big." She assured him with a smile before he turned to finish dinner up.
After dinner was finished, the small group was sitting around the living room, Rukia having demanded details about the proposal and Ichigo, begrudgingly, giving them. He told them about everything, up to the call from Grimmjow's boss.
"Wow, Ichi...I never believed you'd finally find someone like this." Rukia breathed as she examined the ring on Ichigo's finger, the orangette refusing to take it off.
"I know...I'm happy though...happier then I've ever been. I mean...after what he did when he...found me. The way he reacted to...ihim/i...something just...I knew he'd be able to do what no one else had been able to do since that time...and that's give me a sense of...safety." Ichigo murmured, a small smile on his face as he leaned back in his seat.
"Urg...Ichigo...dude...your turnin into a girl." Renji groaned, though it was followed by a yelp when a TV remote hit him in the head.
"Shut up Renji and go put the girls to bed." Rukia demanded, her tone and eyes leaving no room for argument.
Renji scowled but picked up the sleeping girls and carried them to one of the spare rooms the house had while Rukia turned back to Ichigo and started to talk more about how things were going.
That night, when Ichigo made his way to bed, he sighed softly to himself as he stared at the big bed that he had gotten when he and Grimmjow began to get serious. He stared down at the pillow the bluenette always used and chewed on his lower lip slightly. This wasn't the first time he had slept in this bed alone, but each time he did, his thoughts were plagued by nightmares from that horrid month he had spent in the clutches of his ex. Another sigh heaved from his chest and he reached up to run his fingers through his shoulder length hair. Maybe this night would be better. Maybe he would be able to sleep through the night without disturbing his friends. Maybe...
A/N: And here it is. Sequel to The Panther's Berry. I'm not sure where this one is going to go but I do know that in the beginning, GrimmIchiness will be sparse. I'll try and get more in later on but I wanna try and make it as realistic as possible and not even in the most perfect relationships are the two spending each moment together. Oh well...we'll see where it goes, neh?