It was a couple days before the tournament against Kindo High and continuing from there. The coach, however, decided to take a small break from practice and dragged the whole team to the stage in the old gym. Where plays and basketball games had gone on about and important things that not many cared for. "Ugh, the hell we here for..." a player groaned, leaning on his friend and whining some more. "This's so fuckin' gay..." another injected before they all piled in to sit down and the pudgy coach stood before them with a beaming smile. "Today, we are here to watch the play and get your fighting spirits pumping for the game tomorrow and for the tournament. So, please, keep your traps shut..." his look growing dark and cold, "...and no talking during this, understand?" "Y-yes sir!" they all chorused in fear before seeing the look vanish from the man's face. A certain team member however was leaning back in his seat, bright orange strands held captive in his hat, which he removed and they fluffed out. Brown hues were on the stage then scowled as he crossed his arms. "Hey, hey, Ichigo..." Keigo murmured, leaning over. "...think this'll be worse than the last one?" Tisking the lightly tanned teen looked away. "Not like I care, I just wanna go outside and play some ball."
"Oi Grimmjow, hurry up! We've got a full house!" Grimmjow sighed, pulling himself up from the chair placed in front of the mirror. His eyes still glued to his face's reflection. Dark blue hair fell into his eyes, shrugging as he looked down at himself. He laughed, realizing that West Side Story would make many people in the audiance shout gay. The director wanted it to be more modern, deciding that he was to wear a wonderfully dark sky blue bandanna around his head along with some ragged clothing. Throughout the show, he would be chaning into suits and such, but the gang feel was supposed to be his main. He'd even die in had the most important role in the entire thing, playing opposite of some girl from the local highschool. It's not like it mattered. Boy, girl, whoever was the opposite role didn't change a thing. He was known as the blue emotion, very controlling of his feelings and able to easily react with anything that they gave him. Hell, he even improvised constantly. Most of the people he was in plays with were amatures. "I'm coming..." He said, tearing his eyes away from himself and walking out the door.
"Dammit, I'm bored..." Ichigo muttered, leaning back in his seat while others remained quiet, fearing the coach might accidentally toss something at them. "...'ey, let's get something to eat after practice. First one to get three outs treats." Keigo glanced over with a pout then nodded before they knocked fists together then returned their attention to the stage. "I heard this one's supposed to be a little interesting." the brunt offered out. "Really? I'm tempted to walk out right now." the orange head sighed, spreading his legs and slouching.
The lights dimmed and the actors came on stage, Grimmjow played his part magnificantly. Looking out into the audiance when he found himself faultering. Even then, he found himself using it to his advantage. Bright orange strands caught his eye, making him instantly interested. That had never happened before, being distracted by a man, in the least. Maria, known as Rangiku by the people in the school, came out. Grimmjow took her hand, singing with her on stage, still transfixed by that boy in the baseball uniform. She was oddly not as bad as she was practicing. Usually she was overdramatic.
Brown spheres flickered as he saw blue hair but continued to scowl until he began to notice something. The lead actor was...staring at him. Gritting his teeth the orange head looked away and used his hat to cover his eyes. Putting it on again and pulling the flap over them. "Ichigo...something wrong?" Frowning he kicked Keigo and growled in a low tone, "The lead's staring at me, what do you think?" "I'm sure he's looking at someone else..." "Maybe..." Ichigo grumbled, "but it feels like it's me. And I don't like it."
He finally pulled his eyes away, mentally shaking himself to pay attention. If asked why he was staring at the other, it's easy to throw the concern away by using an age old lesson. "Keep your eyes on one person." Grimmjow smiled as Rangiku spoke. "There's a place for us~" They sang together, Grimmjow, forcing himself to watch Rangiku, even less interested in her breasts than the men in the audience. The first act was almost done, now that the climax had arisin, it was time to leave the rest in suspense.
Closing his eyes Ichigo moved his head to drop it and let out soft breaths while slowly falling asleep. "Ichi-" "Wake me when it's over, idiot." he snorted, before relaxing again while his perverted friend looked at the girl singing. Well...mostly looking at her bouncing breasts. Paradise, as he calls them. Everyone was silent yet actually smiled a bit seeing as it wasn't really a sissy play
Before anyone knew it, the play was over and Grimmjow was stripping in a seperate changing room. He was sweating like crazy, the light bulbs were insane with heat. "I'm glad that's over, it was our last show for the rest of the month," He said, looking over at Rangiku who was wiping away the tears from her face. "I always get so emotional when you die." Grimmjow shrugged. "It really brought the play to life, you almost made everyone else burst into tears." She stood and shrugged, deciding that it was too difficult to change out of it and instead left to go meet the people who wished to tell her they loved the play. He followed soon after, scanning the audience, subconsciously, for the orange haired boy.
Keigo poked Ichigo once it was over and the orange head excused himself to the bathroom, though he really just went outside to get a glove and a ball to practice with. The number fifteen on his uniform's back and tossed the ball against the wall, watching it bounce back and catching it. The team inside though clapped and was smiling with vigor while the coach sniffled and wiped away a tear. "This play always gets to me," he sobbed. "I just hope Ichigo doesn't get into trouble..." the brunt mumbled before calling out a 'BRAVO!'.
Grimmjow ignored the people, pushing through them and walking out the door. He was observant, able to tell that the boy had already ditched the rest of the people in the building. The kid sitting next to him was looking at the door. "Why... do I care?" He stopped himself, shaking his head and returning to the large group. It was only a second before he was clapped on the back. The truth was... he couldn't give a crap about anything they said. Just some small time hicks that wouldn't see it for what it was. He frowned as Rangiku grabbed him arm and smiled at the others, as if they were actually dating or something.
Grumbling about how time was wasted Ichigo tossed the baseball roughly at the wall and caught it before it just hit his face, and with his bare hand. "Stupid coach...stupid play...stupid...everything..." he growled and looked down on the ball with furrowed brows. The team clapped and soon the coach lead them out and onto the field, Keigo managing to get there first and grabbed onto Ichigo's arm and began spouting out random nonsense and more about how Rangiku was so beautiful and how her breasts made him want to jack-off. That, in return, earned him a punch in the face and soon practice had begun. A relaxed look actually managed to get onto Ichigo's face though as he and Keigo tossed the ball back and forth, reinforcing their catching skills.
He sighed, watching as all the people finally filed out of the room and left Grimmjow to rest against the wall as everyone else walked back in to take off the make up and clothes they had before. Instead, Grimmjow just slid down the wall and closed his eyes. Bright orange colors filled his mind's eye. Immediately, he opened his eyes, staring off at the opposite wall. That boy. Whoever he was, was now plaguing his mind, but why? "Dammit, better get home before Pantera starts scratching up the entire house." Grimmjow pulled himself up and walked into the back, quickly removing his clothing and all the make-up they put on him. His outfit consisted of just a white shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans. He made his hair stand up, keeping the bandanna on and walking out.
Setting the ball into his palm where the glove rested, Ichigo gnawed on his inner cheek then gave it to Keigo. "I'm gonna swing this time." he sighed, watching at the brunette raised a brow while he lifted a bat. "You sure?" Keigo called, before seeing that evil glare sent his way and swallowed before tossing it towards the orange head after he twisted his hat around so the flap was in the back. A loud crack was heard and the ball soared into the sky and over the fence. Soon after, a few seconds later, a car alarm went off and a terrified look was on his friend's face. "Dude! You just broke a window!" "So?" the Kurosaki complied, cocking his head and raising the bat to rest the thick end on his shoulder. "What if it hit a popular kid's window?" "I'll just kick their ass." Shrugging the spiky haired teen bounced the bat against his shoulder. "At least that got rid of my frustration..." "...Ichigo...I'm praying you did NOT hit a popular kid's car window..."
Grimmjow almost jumped, hearing the sound of shattering glass and the alarm of a car almost suddenly. He sighed, it was his car, wasn't it. When he parked, he had thought it was a bad idea to park near a baseball field, even if there were high walls and gates to try and prevent it. His pace quickened, but not that he was too worried. Hands shoved deep in his pockets, Grimmjow made his way to his rustic truck. It was a nice truck, large bed, wonderful seats. "Oi, you two, come 'ere," Grimmjow said, only glancing at his broken window before standing at the edge of the gate. That boy, Grimmjow thought. He was the boy that was sitting in the audience, next to the one that couldn't stop staring at Rangiku. It would be easy to find out that orange haired kid's name, forcing him to pay for the damage seemed simple enough, but he'd much rather have something better. "What the hell am I thinking?" Grimmjow said to himself, rubbing his forehead and then sighing deeply.
"Oh fuck..." Ichigo grumbled once he saw who's car he actually hit when they went to go find the ball and muttered about how much he hated his life while Keigo's face went white as a sheet. Crossing his arms Ichigo scowled and glared at the bluenette. "The fuck you want? Give us the ball, I don't have time to chat with the tournament coming up, y'know." The brunette placed on hand on Ichigo's shoulder and shook him lightly. "Don't piss him off, he's popular you idiot...he could send like almost the whole school after us." "What do I care?" Ichigo snorted, looking over at his friend.
His eyebrows fell into a scowl as he too folded his arms before him. "Got quite a mouth on ya, don't ya?" Grimmjow said through the fence before shaking his head and turning to go back to the car. The ball had caused a big mess inside, but he found it easy to locate the ball. "It's funny how you seem to be the one angry when I'M the one with a broken windshield." He didn't look at the boy as he walked around the edge and soon opened the small door that led him onto the dirt field. "I'll give you this on a few conditions," Grimmjow said, throwing the ball into the air and catching it with the same hand.
Seeing - no, feeling the tense aura around the two Keigo quickly excused himself and ran off while Ichigo's eyes followed the other with a fierce glare. "Tch, if I wanted to break YOUR windshield I would've done it with the bat." he tisked, drumming his fingers on his arm. Though as the other entered the field Ichigo felt as if his sacred place had been defiled by this taller male and grit his teeth as the other mentioned that there were conditions to getting the ball back. "You fucking fucker..." he spat.
"I don't see why you're making this difficult, I think that they're pretty reasonable," Grimmjow contemplated, his eyes following that of the brunette, now pelting across the field to get out of there. "First, I just want you to pay to have it fixed, which, leads to my next. I want your name and number." Those were hardly it, but he was willing to finish it there, handing the foul mouthed boy the ball and then going about his way. However... he wanted to get to know him, understand why he seemed so angry when he was clearly at fault.
"I doubt it..." he mumbled while his shoulders raised in a defensive manner. Hearing the conditions had Ichigo's eye twitch. "One: I'll pay for the repairs, two..." He swiped the ball away and snarled. "You can go fuck yourself, I don't have time for that shit." Slipping the ball into his pocket the orange head gave Grimmjow the finger then turned and walked off while the coach was calling out, "Everyone fall in!"
Grimmjow chuckled, watching him run off. This boy had a... air about him. Whatever the case was, he was attractive and had somehow caught his eye. He sighed, shaking his head as he watched many of the boys coming together to meet with the coach. "Might as well wait for him to be done, Pantera can wait a little longer," Grimmjow said, walking back out to pull himself up on the hood of his car. "Let's see if this kid has a talent."
"All righty, boys, let's practice batting. Hit it as far as fifty yards then you can go home." Everyone looked at one another and then over at the plate where they heard a 'thunk, thunk.' Seeing the orange head standing there and readjusting his hat while twisting his wrists. "I'll go first, coach." Nodding the coach got to the pitcher's plate and wound his arm before tossing the ball. Ichigo's pupils flickered as they zeroed in on the ball and it seemed like it was slowing down. Licking his upper lip he then swung the bat with intensity and sent the ball, once again over the fence and it flew past Grimmjow's face by a mere centimeter. "Th-that's very good...K-Kurosaki...you can g-go home now." Nodding he handed the bat to the frightened student next to him and then went into the locker room to grab his stuff then headed out and headed home on foot.
"Whoa, either that kid's doing this on purpose or his swing just seems to hate me," Grimmjow said, rubbing his almost singed cheek and sighed. "What has this kid so pissed?" He watched as the other members stared, in shock, at the orange haired baseball player. "Kurosaki..." Grimmjow said, laughing silently, standing up and walking over to the locker room and waited for the boy to come out. "Hey, you're planning on just leaving?" He asked, gripping the Kurosaki's shoulder and pulling him back, facing him completely. "How did ya think you were going to get the money to me? Mind telling me why you're so pissed?" Grimmjow murmured, looking at him with his nose point downward. "I'm just some stranger whose car window is smashed, but I'm told I'ma good listener."
Feeling the hand on his shoulder and being turned to face the other Ichigo scowled and dusted off his hands. "...come by tomorrow then, dipshit." He then placed a hand against Grimmjow's chest and, as gently as possible, pushed him away and began to walk again. "Oh..." He paused then glanced over his shoulder. "...I hope you learned your lesson now about parking near the field." A sadistic smile was on his face, lifted a hand and gave a mock wave before looking forth and stepping off, readjusting his hat once again. "And it's 'cause I hate popular people."
Grimmjow allowed himself to be pushed back, cocking his head curiously as the Kurosaki walked away, seeming smug. "Popular..." He repeated to himself, watching the other's back curiously. "Why the hell would he think I'm popular?" A chuckle arose, slowly becoming louder and louder as he started to shake his head before turning around and walking back to his car, taking what he needed from it and then locking the door, as if that would change anything. He began to walk home, feeling his chest rumble somewhat as he couldn't stop himself from laughing. It wasn't because he was called popular. No... it was because he just couldn't stop about Ichigo and his bright orange hair.
Rummaging through his bag the orange head sighed and leaned against his locker with furrowed brows. Grumbling and growling about how much he hated his job, his classes, how the day before went and how he had to pay that guy back, and finally...how his locker wouldn't open. Scowling more he kicked it with vigor. "I'll be late to the baseball meeting because of you, you stupid piece of shit!"
"Hm?" Grimmjow murmured to himself, walking into the locker room because he heard loud noises. It seemed that this kid was still angry from yesterday. He shook his head walking in and proping himself up behind him, eyes tracing over the boy's features. "What's your name?" Grimmjow asked, breaking his secret entrance into the room to ask such a simple question that there was high doubt he'd get the answer to it.
Chocolate hues widened and the orange head turned at the voice. Biting his lower lip and gnawing on it from embarrassment he dug into his bag and shoved the money for the windshield repair into the bluenette's hands. "Won't need to tell you now." he replied before stepping around and hurrying off to the meet with furrowed brows. Why's he so...persistent about knowing my name anyway? he thought as he turned a corner in the school, heading toward the field.
Grimmjow didn't bother to even count it, just placing it in his pocket and following the Kurosaki boy right out of the locker room. "Why're you always so angry? It can't be just because I'm 'popular'," He pressed, catching up with him and gripping Ichigo's arm with a tight hand, but not enough to cause him any pain. "And you'll realize it's not so easy to get away from me," Grimmjow added, eyes set, brows furrowed. He got his money, but it was never about the money, never about the repair.
Hearing Grimmjow speak again, having caught up had Ichigo lift his left hand to rub his face then dropped it. "Would you just back off?" he shouted, eyes widening once his arm was grabbed and tried wretching his arm from the other's hold but growled once he couldn't. "Why can't you take a hint and fuck off?" The spiky haired student glared at him before reeling a fist back and slamming it into the bluenette's face, finally getting his arm free and growling. "I don't have time for this!" With that he hurried off in the direction he was previously heading.
He let out a growl of his own, finding himself on the ground nursing a throbing cheek. His light blue hues just watched him walk away, the sound of Ichigo's voice filling his mind. "Why can't you take a hint and fuck off?" Why couldn't he? Why did he want to come back day after day and hound this random orange haired boy? How is it that even now, his hand rubbing against his cheek, that he still wanted to pursue him. No, he wasn't gay, but this boy had a power over him, whether or not he wanted him. "I'm not backing down, kid!" He shouted after him, pulling himself up and dusting off his pants before taking a place in the stands.
Finally reaching his destination the orange haired teen panted and looked up as the coach glanced over the team with a serious gaze. "We will be playing a practice game today, people." "Wha-" Ichigo started but stopped and brushed his bangs out of his face. "We're playing against Kento High. Look alive, soldiers! Now get geared up and play ball!" Everyone nodded sharply then darted off to grab their hats and pulled on their cleats. "'ey, Ichigo...you don't look so hot." Keigo mentioned, placing his forehead against the other's own, which in return sent him flying out onto the field by the orange haired Kurosaki's punch. Finally all were suited up and stepped out and Ichigo took hold of the bat with a deep inhale and slow exhale. "First up to bat is Kurosaki from Karakura High!" came from the speaker and said student went to the batter's box, tightening his hold on his bat, which was colored black with red flames on it. "Let's play ball!" Just then the ball was thrown and what had happened yesterday happened once again, eyes zoning in and swung with great intensity that it made the hit a home run. The baseball whizzing past over the crowd's head while Ichigo started to dart across the diamond and touching the bases for only a mere second before rushing to another. Skidding to a stop at the home plate the orange head used the back of his hand to wipe his face and smirked at the pitcher who now looked completely shocked and terrified.
Grimmjow felt himself pull forward in his seat, staring at the boy. The word Kurosaki rang through his ears once more and he couldn't help but stare unblinkingly as Ichigo's bat cracked against the ball and sent it flying. It was better than last nights, when Ichigo had almost sent another ball into Grimmjow's car. He felt himself sigh and shook his head. No, not again. There was a story behind his gaze, not just on Ichigo, but for the whole game. Almost immediately he felt an ache in his shoulder, quickly moving to his arm and then finally his hand. It was almost like a need or a want of such intesity had taken over him. He wanted to have the bat in his hands, staring at the pitcher with a smirk of knowing before doing what Ichigo did. Grimmjow sighed once more, sitting back and looking up at the sky, his long thin fingers running through his blue hair. "I shouldn't be here..." He said quietly to himself, shaking his head. "I can't get into this again." Maybe that was why he couldn't stop staring at the boy. He was wearing that baseball uniform, his hat pulled over his forehead, that scowl... Memories of better days only came from him, and Grimmjow couldn't help but want to be around him. Even if he didn't know the orange haired Kurosaki, even if he received a punch to the face. Like it even mattered, but one couldn't say that he was just obsessed with the idea of baseball, or else he'd be staring at the team, at the ball, at the bat. He stood, blinking finally as he watched the Kurosaki trot back into the gully, wishing he knew his name.
"That's the spirit, Kurosaki!" the coach called out clapping while the orange head set the bat down and rubbed his shoulder with slit eyes. "...hmm, Kurosaki what's wrong?" Blinking he glanced up and laughed while offering a reassuring look. "I'm fine coach, just...I think I should stretch my arm out for a while." he replied before the orange head began to do so while Keigo was called up and soon it was fourteen to six. "Just one more and we win, boys!" Ichigo chuckled and then went to go bat. Though when he went to swing the catcher behind him swiftly shoved him and brown hues widened. Crashing to the ground and then turning to look at the other. "Fucker! You pushed me!" "No I didn't!" After a few more tossed insults a brawl then came, then before Ichigo could even see it, the catcher grabbed his bat and swung it at him, eyes widening. "Oh shi-" The contact hit his side and the umpire blew his whistle pulling the catcher away while parents in the stands rushed to stop the fight as well.
His eyes widened, watching as Ichigo was shoved to the ground, most likely because the other team was known for its tricks. Grimmjow started to climb down the stands, knowing the outcome wouldn't be pretty, espeically from what he'd seen of the Kurosaki. He'd reached the fence just in time to see the bat grabbed and swung round to hit the boy on the side. Anger over took him. The boy was next to nothing to him, either emotionally nor physically, but that was out of line. "Foul!" He heard shouted by many of the parents, though the opposing team's parents all sat silently on the bench. Grimmjow reached Ichigo first, even before the coach or the team mates made it there. "Does it hurt anywhere?" He asked, whispering into Ichigo's ear as he pushed the catcher away. "Back off asshole, everyone knows that you're a cheater. Get the hell outta here." His scowl scared the other away, before he returned to Ichigo. "Where's it hurt?" Grimmjow asked, skipping the 'Are you okay?' shit. His long fingers found the area and sighed. "Damn."
Having placed a hand over his rib the spiky haired student blinked and glanced over his shoulder. "W-what the hell?" he stammered. "Kurosaki!" "Oh my God, Ichigo!" "We're gonna beat their asses now!" "I'm sick of this cheating shit!" the team shouted and brawled against the opposing team while Ichigo lightly pushed himself away from Grimmjow and coughed lightly. "...'m fine." he got out before bending down to pick up his bat and then pointed it at the coach of the opposing team. "You're not worthy of the title 'coach' you sonuvafuckin'bitch." Picking up the ball that had rolled over he tossed it up and swung the bat, the ball actually hitting the elder man square in the jaw. Panting then he lowered his bat and began the trudge back to the locker room.
Grimmjow was surprised as Ichigo found the strength to pick up the bat and ball. He sighed, waiting a moment to look around at the chaos before following Ichigo into the locker room, reaching it about the same time. It was hard to say something, as all of the Kurosaki's team mates were showing their anger by taking it out of the players. "I've taken a bat to the side, you're not fine," He stated, going to Ichigo's side, whether or not he liked it and picking his up fireman style, easily walking over to the bench and lying Ichigo on it. He sat down next to Ichigo's head, not looking at him in the slightest. The boy already seemed to hate him, despise him. "Feel like talking now?" Grimmjow asked, running his fingers through his hair once more, tapping his toe quietly.
"If I can swing this fucking bat I'm fi- aah!" A gasp came once he was picked up and the student struggled with protests then finally just laid there and glaring up at the roof of the resting area for the players. "...why do you bother talking to me anyway? It's starting to get annoying, y'know. I already paid for the friggin' repairs to your car..." Lifting his hands he covered his face and bit his lower lip. "...I was...I actually got so much better at batting I could join the tournament..." His fingers curled into fists. "And that fucker had...he just had to ruin it! All that hard work! Staying up until one in the fucking morning, batting and batting until my arms got sore!" Biting his lower lip harshly the spiky haired teen held in the sound that wanted to come out. "...I thought burying myself within baseball would make me feel so much better..."
He smiled, shaking his head. "I can't even explain why I do... I just want to." Grimmjow looked up at the cieling as well, listening to the boy speaking what Grimmjow had thought back when he was a kid. he was voicing his pains and no one could've understood more than he. "Yeah... you think that something's in your grasp, that you'd do anything, even spending night after night working to improve your game and finding out that something just has to go wrong," He chuckled to himself, running his hand through his hair. "Damn, the way you held that bat..." A laugh, filled with nostalga and self pity filled him. His eyes blinked, shaking his head and looking away to avoid any eye contact with him. "Don't worry though, you'll get a pretty bad bruse, but it's not going to stop you from playing forever. Just because you can't play a game or two doesn't mean you're not allowed to play in the rest of the series.
Lowering his hands he glanced up and blinked once Grimmjow mentioned how he held his bat and raised a brow. "...whaddya mean? It's how I always hold my bat." He then pushed himself to sit up and glanced over at Grimmjow. "Yeah, yeah...I just had a little breakdown okay? But what about you?" He then motioned his hand, twirling it. "Why do you do plays?
"Why do I do plays..." Grimmjow repeated, resting a hand on his head as he thought it over. "Let's just say that it was the final option for me..." He glanced over and saw that Ichigo was watching him, and he chuckled. "It wasn't an insult, I hold my bat like that too... or at least used to." A moment later, he was standing looking at Ichigo with a smile plain on his features. "You really know how to swing it, ya know? I haven't seen hits like that in ages."
"Wait a second here!" Ichigo spoke, eyes wide before blushing as the other said it was fine how he held his bat and how he swung it. "Um...a-anyway..." He lifted a hand and rubbed his neck though he still covered the bruised site. "...you played baseball before, haven't you?
He nodded, "Yeah... once. It was a long time ago." Grimmjow smirked at him, folding his arms in front of him. "My father put me in it. Wanted me to be the best damn baseball player that the world ever knew, but he didn't count on me to care so much, and in the end, it wasn't about him." Grimmjow sighed, looking away.
Brown hues averted and rubbed the back of his neck. "You're more popular doing the plays though." he sighed and kicked at the ground. "The girls in my class talk about you a lot...so...yeah, you're popular." Ichigo then gnawed on his lower lip before pushing to stand and stepped away. "I gotta get going though. Get this checked and whatnot." Waving slightly he turned and walked off after picking up his bat and resting it on his shoulder.
Grimmjow blinked, "They do?" He was usually in his own world most of the time. Not caring about how the girls whispered about him behind his back or how the boys all wished they looked like him. In fact, he rarely talked to anyone unless they were telling him where they wanted him on stage, even the actors were being talked to, he was talking at them. "Wait, kid!" Grimmjow called, running once more and stopping next to him. "What's your name?" He asked.
Sighing heavily once the other once again brought up asking for his name the orange head glanced over a raised a brow. "Can you just stop asking for it? Get used to me not telling you." He then shrugged. "I'm mostly known as Kurosaki around here. That's all." Looking back ahead he shook his head and then began his trek home. "'sides, the game's over and I'm not needed for the home run."
"Alright, alright. I'll find out someday," Grimmjow said with a smirk, patting him on the back, being careful so as not to hurt him and then walking to his car, deciding that since he was already out, he might as well take it in to get the window replaced. He'd find him in the school, hunt him down if he had to. Kurosaki... he had to know his first name, it was important for him. Why... that escaped him, but he'd learn it.
A few hours later Ichigo had been sent out to get some milk and whatever he wanted afterwards. His wound wasn't too serious, just had him wince every now and again. Pushing open the door to the convinence store he was greeted by the clerk, whom he nodded to, then went to the back and glanced around on his way there. Noticing some Snickers and Reeses Pieces. Maybe he'd get one of those on his way out.
"Oi, Kurosaki," Grimmjow called, smirking at the coincidence they were faced with. He had a couple cans of cat food in his hands already, finding himself low on food for his cat Pantera. That cat had scratched him all over his arm, practically angry that Grimmjow hadn't fed him yet. "How's that injury of yours? I'm guessing it's good enough that your parents can send you to the store, eh?" His hand gripped Ichigo's shoulder in a friendly sort of way.
Chocolate spheres widened and veered over his shoulder before letting out an exasperated exhale. "Why do I always run into you? Is my luck that bad...?" Shaking his head the orange head raised a brow as his eyes zeroed in on the claw marks before responding, "Yeah...I'm fine. Just won't be able to bat like I used to for a while..." The touch to his shoulder though had his eyes narrow and pulled back. "My mom's dead, thanks for reminding me that I need to get home." he muttered, after pushing the hand off gently and pointed to the cat food. "That's one feisty cat, don't leave it waiting too long." Stepping around Grimmjow he headed into the candy isle.
Grimmjow rolled his eyes, "I'm not THAT bad, am I?" He wondered, running a hand through his hair uncomfortably. Ichigo was acting even worse than he had been before, which was pretty bad. A smile appeared as he heard that Ichigo's batting wouldn't be hindered too much, after all, he had said that when they had gone into the locker room. However, just as he was sure that they were calming down enough to be on terms, at least, the Kurosaki throws up something to make Grimmjow feel bad all over again. "My bad, I just figured... nevermind." He sighed, following the other's gaze onto his arm. "Yeah... I guess you're right."
Rubbing his forehead Ichigo sighed and looked back up to Grimmjow with a raised brow. "Yeah, you're pretty bad." he scowled, tightening his hold on the milk though his tone was holding a slight joking tint. He then glanced to the side and bit his lower lip. "That's why I took up baseball and focused on it and my studies." Releasing his lip he hurried to grab a Snickers and started walking home once the things were paid for and gnawed on his lower lip with a saddened look in his eyes as he held the bag close to his chest once he exited the store.
It was hard to notice the joking tint, but with the way Ichigo had been acting, it was something he could spot right off. Ichigo was good at keeping Grimmjow's attitude on the run, giving him a moment to smile only to steal it away just as quick. "I'm sorry..." He said, walking to the front and paying for his as well and then faultering. Ichigo's expression was worriesome, that and Grimmjow felt that he might've left him on a sour note. "Wait!" Grimmjow called, racing after him and walking at his side. "I'm... I'm really sorry about bringing it up. Just because I don't feel anything about mine, doesn't mean I should think so little of your loss."
Blinking as he heard the bluenette's voice again the orange head felt a small mirth of a tear slip and quickly wiped his face with a nervous laugh. "I...idiot. I don't want pity..." he replied before lowering his hand and looking over. "'sides, you should enjoy them for as long as you can, they could disappear forever the day after." Returning his hand to the bag chocolate spheres looked down on the ground and watched as his Nikes came in then out of view.
"Look, it's not pity. I wouldn't sink so low as to something so low," Grimmjow said, frowning. "Besides, I haven't had my parents for a long time now. Too late for that kind of advise." He watched him, expression completely serious. His light blue hues turned from him and up at the sky, sighing to himself quietly. "I've been living by myself for at least sixteen years, not like I'm a stranger to that." Grimmjow tried to smile, but found it difficult with Ichigo feeling so down.
"What?" got past his lips before he could stop it and Ichigo turned his head to stare at the other. "A-are you serious? But you said..." He paused and bit his lower lip. "Thanks fer making me feel like a dick, Jagerjaques..." he sighed, slumping his shoulders. "I...I'm sorry..."
Grimmjow rose an eyebrow and chuckled. "Why do you feel like a dick? It has been a while, I've learned to cope," He smiled. "Besides, I've gone through that... phase of loading yourself with work and anything to keep your mind off it. I do know that when I was going through it, I would've done anything for someone to understand, not say 'I understand', but truely understand." He looked back at him and continued walking, bag twisted around his wrist.
Blushing lightly Ichigo kept looking away. "Just 'cause." Reaching a hand up he ran fingers through his hair and listened as their shoes' soles slapped the concrete and took in some air before looking back over at Grimmjow. "...how the hell're you supporting yourself anyway? You don't look like one of those teens who'd sell their body -" His eyes widened and stepped away hastily. "-you aren't, are you?"
A loud laugh filled the air as Grimmjow stopped and doubled over in pure joy. "Oh, God, please. I've been doing odd jobs for years, though, I've never been fired. Always quit because there are always better jobs," Grimmjow said, looking thoughtful. "Though, if I did..." He looked at Ichigo with a joking grin, "I'd have many satisfied customers." Again, he laughed at the very notion that he might've done something like that.
He actually let out a breath of relief once Grimmjow said he wouldn't do that and began to move back where he was then paused. "...fuck you." he snarled and looked away, staying right where he'd moved and crossing his arms. "I always work at my house, in the clinic. How do you think this," He reached a hand down and lifted his shirt to show the bruise, "was analyzed?" Lowering the shirt he winced as the fabric rubbed over the area.
He too stopped, turning around to face Ichigo with a smirk on his features. "I've never had much need for hospitals. Every doctor that I meet finds the information I have to offer inadequite. Though, it's good that you can do something to help out your family." Grimmjow chuckled, but stopped to eye the bruise that Ichigo was showing to him. Almost curious, he moved forward and looked it over, taking in the abs that his eye caught, but made sure that Ichigo couldn't see.
"Che..." Ichigo then sighed and shrugged. "All I do is sew people back up. Blood doesn't bother me for some reason." After a moment he then let go of the shirt and it fell to where it had originally been. "Better that then having nightmares about it and puking your guts out afterword."
"That's probably true," Grimmjow said, rubbing the back of his neck as he realized that he'd just been staring at another man's abs. It wasn't in surprise, but in interest, as if he were looking for more reasons to like the boy. "You're a strong kid, ya know that, Kurosaki? What's that all about, eh?"
Looking up at the sky the orange haired baseball player let out a soft breath and tightened his hold on the bag. "What about you?" he asked, glancing over with an actual interested look. "Eh...I guess I just got sick of crying and...walking over by where she died every day..." Ichigo then loosened his hold and nearly dropped the bag before catching it. "...it all seems like a bad dream."
Grimmjow smirked, shrugging his shoulders and closing the distance between them. "I guess I just kinda figured that life goes on. Yeah, I can sit around and wish for them to be back, but I'll tell you one thing, no matter what your mother's like, yours is better than mine," He said, tilting his head when Ichigo mentioned his mother. "I don't even remember where mine were killed, some kinda gang the police said."
Letting out a breath Ichigo swallowed and looked down before kicking at the ground and sighing. "You shouldn't say stuff like that about your mom...sure there are times when they're annoying but still." He then finally took and hand off the bag and smacked Grimmjow's arm. "Well...you'd be a perfect model fer someone who would have just lost one of they're parents. But..." He brought his hand back then. "...it's so sad." The teen's expression changed to one of concern and his eyes were on the bluenette, halfway shut as if trying to figure out just how the other could stay sane.
He blinked, deciding on the spot not to mention the beatings and the bad memories that haunted his childhood. Ichigo didn't need to feel more pity toward Grimmjow. However, that look the orange haired Kurosaki had was almost adorable, Grimmjow felt the urge to grab his hand and hold it tight, but fought it. "Well, it always is to an outsider. If you'd been in my life, I'm sure you'd have understood, ya know?" Another sigh and he brought back a smile. "You still have a father and I'm guessing you have siblings since you mentioned more family earlier. Just take care of what ya got."
Rubbing the back of his neck Ichigo shook his head, "I doubt I could have even then." he admitted before biting his lower lip and shrugging. "My dad's an idiot. He has the weirdest way of showing parental love and yeah...I have two sisters." He then lowered his hand and the orange haired Kurosaki looked over at the other with furrowed brows. "I won't let anything happen to them. Ever."
"Good, it's that kind of resolution that helped me move past... but mine is more selfish than yours," Grimmjow sighed, reaching out a hand and placing it on Ichigo's shoulder giving him a soft squeeze before looking off in the direction of his house. "My cat's going crazy, no doubt. Nice talkin' with ya, but I gotta run home, and yer family is waitin' fer ya." He turned around and blinked for a moment. "I..." Grimmjow caught himself, shaking his head. "Nevermind, see ya Kurosaki."
Chocolate spheres flickered a bit from shock as his shoulder was touched and looked over at the hand before blinking as Grimmjow spoke again. "Oh...r-right." Ichigo got out before glancing up to see the other begin to walk away before pausing and a confused look came over his face before lifting his hand and waving. "Uh...yeah, see ya." Turning his back to the other he them headed off to his house and looked back into the bag, seeing the Snickers and sighed. For once he didn't feel like eating it.
He yawned wide, not lifting a hand to hide it. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, Grimmjow's back straight and looking up at the cieling uninterestedly. The teacher was almost finished, along with the class. Known as the deliquent, Grimmjow took the title all too happily. His clothes were that of a punks, usually wearing a bandanna, but didn't wear it that day since he could barely think about anything with his dreams haunted, or rather blessed, by a tall orange haired figure. It was almost time for his next class, yet another teacher controlling a few hours of his life. A bell rang, signalling for Grimmjow to stand up, slinging a breifcase like bag over his shoulder with one hand. "Finally, I'm tired of listening to him speak."
Sighing heavily Ichigo pushed himself out of the seat he was currently in and moved to head to his English class. Biting his lower lip the spiky haired teen raised a hand and rubbed his eye. Over night he questioned what Grimmjow would have said before he stopped, grumbling he stepped into his class and looked up with a sigh once he sat down in the back near the window.
"Where're you headed next, Grimmjow?" A student asked. "Eh, just my English class, the woman's goin' to talk my ear off with her complaints, I'm tellin' ya." They both laughed, Grimmjow's more hollow as he walked into the room and the other student walked past. As to avoid annoyance during the class, he took a seat in the back closest to the door for easy access. As if he'd want to be in the class longer than he had to.
Brown orbs widened once he saw Grimmjow and turned his gaze immediately to out the window as he bit his lower lip. Yesterday was no where near close to his finest moments but he'd come to deal with it. Just then, with only a minute to spare the rest of the class entered and attendance was being called. "Kurosaki?" "...here," he sighed, eyes still out the window. "Jagerjaques?"
Kurosaki. Grimmjow looked up, surprised. Kurosaki? In this room? It has to be a dream, yeah. "Here..." He replied, recomposing himself and resting his face on a fist and glancing around the room, not looking completely over to the window. He'd taken on his bored expression, watching as the teacher continued to call out names. Why was this kid's name such a mystery? It was him, that adorable boy with a terrible past.
Running his fingers through his tousled strands Ichigo laid his chin on his desk and sighed while crossing his arms and hiding the lower half of his face. "All right, students, you're going to be in groups of two or three." the teacher announced and clapped her hands. "Now, hop to it!" Just then Ichigo pushed away from his desk like everyone else and went to go hide within the crowd of students even though it was near impossible with his hair being the vibrant shade it was.
"And here I thought I'd be able to snoze..." Grimmjow said, looking out the class window with tired eyes before following suit with the other students and pulling back from his desk. He stood straight, resting his hands in his pockets. His eyes panned around the room, not looking forward to being in a group with some annoying guy or girl. Wait, what was that? Grimmjow blinked, clearing his eyes. "Was that... really Kurosaki?" He asked himself, walking forward. "Grimmjow! You team up with Kurosaki, the kid with the orange hair.
Hearing that he had to team up with someone and hearing them mention his orange hair Ichigo slapped his hands over his face and leaned his back against Mizuru's while looking back out the window. "I hate that woman, I hate that woman, I hate that woman..." he muttered and hung his head before finally lifting it with a sigh.
He looked around, somewhat franticly until he finally let his eyes rest on Ichigo's slumped figure. Grimmjow wasn't surprised that he'd never noticed him before, in fact, he wondered when the last time he was in school. "I didn't expect to see you in here, 'Kurosaki'," His eyebrow rose as he walked up to him and wondered what he was doing.
"Oh yeah..." he sighed and looked at the bluenette with furrowed brows as his hands were at his sides. "...you weren't very observant until now, notice that?" Lifting his left hand then he rubbed his temple and then looked over and out the window again. "...I'd much rather be playing a game than this." Shrugging he then glanced back at Grimmjow.
"I wasn't in here too often either, did ya know that I was in here then?" Grimmjow sat on the desk and moved his hands from his pockets and to support him on the desk. He too followed Ichigo's gaze out of the window and down to the baseball field which was teasing them in view. "Dunno, I gave it up, so it might just not bother me as much. How's the injury?"
"'course I knew you were in here, she calls out everyone's name..." Rolling his eyes Ichigo then moved to sit down and rubbed his eyes. "...you never told me why you quit, y'know." He then placed a hand over the bruised site and shrugged. "Doesn't hurt as much as it did before."
Grimmjow smirked, shaking his head. "How about I tell you why I quit if you tell me your first name?" He offered, sure that it wouldn't force him to tell him, but he guessed that it'd be nice to have a secret of his own. "That's good, I'd suggest that I take a look at it, but you work at a hospital, don't you?"
A slight pout formed on his face and Ichigo bit his lower lip before mumbling, "Ichigo..." in the lowest tone he could manage and then kept his hand on his side. "Eh...doesn't mean I'm an expert at this shit."
"Ichigo?" He repeated, slowly finding a grin to spread across his expression. His mind instantly made the connection with strawberries, but it was best not to anger him further. "I like it, it suits you, I think." Grimmjow stood and walked over to him rasing an eyebrow. "Do you mind if I check it out then?"
Raising he head and noticing how the other got closer his left hand lifted and pointed at Grimmjow's face. "Now you owe me an explanation." he growled, features clearly determined to get the answer. "And no, it's against the rules to strip."
"Ah, but you held out your name from me for so long, wouldn't you like to guess why I quit? Maybe I'm a superhero that doesn't have time for such things," Grimmjow said, lifting his hands up with a funny expression before putting them back at his side. "Strip as in all your clothes, I just want you to take off your shirt." And more if we get to it, he thought.
Ichigo looked down and shook his head before glancing to the side. "...if I had to guess you got injured by a bat...a really bad wound..." He then took his hand off his side and crossed his arms as the teacher handed out the paper for what they were doing for the day.
He blinked, looking away for a moment. "Yeah... you hit the mark pretty close. The guy that hit me with it did it a couple times, at least enough to injure my arm. By the time I healed up, there was no point in playing anymore, that and I ached when I touched a bat..." Grimmjow sighed, taking the paper and looking at it carelessly. "Why do we have to do this?"
Closing his eyes Ichigo took the paper and set it down before lowering his head slightly. "...so that's why you seemed so angry when I got hit." he snorted before letting go of the paper and his lips parted slightly to breathe in and out. "And we have to do it 'cause we gotta, end of story."
"Mmm," Grimmjow said, not completely denying it, but not telling him he was right. It was a combination of sorts. Ichigo had such an interest for him, that orange hair, his attitude, perhaps it was something more. "Damn, well, what do we have to do then?" He asked, eyes scanning over the paper without much care toward it.
"We gotta ask each other questions." he replied before moving to get a pencil and pushed the top to get some lead out. "Well...actually, you gotta answer and I write it down on mine." He then growled at a certain question. "Put neither for number six. I don't need a boyfriend or a girlfriend..."
Grimmjow rolled his eyes, "What? Too busy for an attractive girl or a guy who'll treat you right?" He said, sounding a little sarcastic. "These look more like a dating servey than a school project," Grimmjow said, frowning just the same at an oddly phrased sentence. Though, when he heard Ichigo say he had no need for someone, Grimmjow felt a pit in his stomach.
Ichigo glared at Grimmjow and wagged his pencil in the other's direction. "Don't you get it? You put your all into the relationship then shit hits the fan. I don't like it, so I don't bother with it."
"And what about those people that actually care about a relationship?" Grimmjow asked, resting his elbow on his knee and looked at him curiously. "Not all people are bad, you know. I'm guessing you've been hurt before then?"
Biting his lower lip the spiky haired student averted his eyes and scowled. "The people I've met take advantage of my kindness so I got so fucking sick of it. A whore from my old school went out with me then cheated on me...and I wished her fucking ass dead and guess what? She died. Inoue died." Sick, cruel, laughter passed his lips then in a hushed tone and he slammed his hand onto his desk. "I gave her all she wanted, except sex. All of what I could after my mother's death and the bitch did that to me. So no, I don't care if you say people aren't that bad!" Slamming his open palm onto the table he pushed the chair away and walked out of the room while rubbing his face with a snarl.
"Whoa... touchy subject," Grimmjow mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck embarrassingly as Ichigo walked from the room. All the students stared at Grimmjow, but that wasn't what bothered him. It wasn't just a touchy subject. Ichigo was hurting inside, still was. "Oi, Ichigo! Wait!" He soon followed, running after him and looking from side to side, seeing Ichigo turn the corner before running that way himself. "Ichigo! Come on, wait up for me," He said, grabbing his arm tight to get his attention and turned him around, pushing him against the wall, eyes looking deep into the dark angry brown orbs. "I know that your last girlfriend was a bitch, and I'm sorry about that. Still..." Grimmjow held his hands against the wall, intertwining his fingers in between Ichigo's. "I like you, Ichigo." He kissed him, lightly, not hard, not rough, but a soft gentle kiss, before pulling away, letting go of his hand and sighing, turning away from him and going back to the class. Ichigo didn't like him from the start, he might as well take what he could if Ichigo was going to hate him anyway.
"Leave me alone!" Ichigo hissed once he was called after again before his eyes widened once his arm was grabbed and he was pushed against the wall. "W-what're you doing?" His chocolate spheres turned to the side to see how the other male was holding his hand and blinked in a confused way before looking back up once he heard Grimmjow say he liked him. "Wha-" was all he got out before their lips connected and blinked, eyes wide before letting out a soft gasp once the other teen pulled away and the spiky haired student's face was flushed a deep crimson. "Uh..." Even though he wasn't cornered anymore and knew that Grimmjow was walking away Ichigo slammed his eyes shut. "G-Gr-Grimmjow, wait!"
Grimmjow stopped, looking to the side when his name was called, sure that Ichigo'd come round to punch him in the face or something for kissing him. His body turned as he glanced up at Ichigo's face. He was almost just as surprised as Ichigo was, after all, he wasn't gay, though he just admitted feelings toward the Kurosaki baseball player and also given him a kiss. What could Ichigo be thinking? No doubt, his dislike for Grimmjow had grown even more since no matter what Grimmjow tried to do, Ichigo always seemed to become very angry. Perhaps not at Grimmjow, but mad, nonetheless. "Yea, Ichigo?" Grimmjow asked, offering a sad expression and slumped shoulders instead of just turning back around and walking into the classroom.
Almost moving to hurry over the spiky haired male bit his lower lip and shoved his hands into his pockets while glancing away with a small blush. "I-I'm sorry I hit you the day before and..." The color on his features darkened. "I'm s-sorry I was an asshole at the convenience store...a-and...I'm...uh..." His face was almost the color of a ripe strawberry at this time and kept avoiding looking at the other. "...I'm sorry I keep taking my problems out on you...s-seeing as, y'know, you have more problems than me..." At this point he was digging the scruff of his heel into the linoleum.
He blinked, surprised at the reaction he was recieving. Grimmjow's expression changed into a soft smile as he turned around completely to face Ichigo and rose his hand to cup Ichigo's chin. His fingers pulled Ichigo's face up to meet his own before he cocked his head to the side somewhat. "I'll listen to all your problems and do anything that you ask..." He said, leaning in and landing another kiss on his lips. A little deeper now that he was more relaxed and sure that he wouldn't recieve a hit to the face. Pulling away slightly, Grimmjow grinned. "There's no harm done, besides, it seems like you need more help than I do."
A confused look passed Ichigo's features and blushed violently as he saw the other male's lips nearing his own. Chocolate hues fell shut and let out a soft breath once Grimmjow pulled away and let his eyes open again. "...yeah, sure. Make me feel like a bitchy girl, thanks." he teased, lifting a hand and playfully punching the bluenette's shoulder.
Grimmjow rose his head and smirked, shrugging a little as if to say "You said it, not me", but gave off a sarcastic aura so as not to insult Ichigo. "I'd just as rather not go back into the classroom, so, since we've already left... how about we just go down to that field and you can play some ball?" He reached out and took Ichigo's hand, holding it up to see how their skin contrasted one another.
Looking down at the hand holding his own Ichigo bit his lower lip then shrugged. "Not like I give a shit what the teacher thinks." He then motioned towards the field. "Wanna help me practice? I need to get my swing back up to speed." He then lifted his other hand and rubbed his neck. "A-and...how about I...walk you home when school ends?"
"I'd like that," Grimmjow said, walking forward, kissing his cheek and then continuing past. His fingers didn't budge from Ichigo's, bringing Ichigo with him down the hall and down some stairs. It was like a fleeting memory had entered him, recalling the days when he would rush down to the baseball field with almost as much gusto as Ichigo had. "I think I have a decent pitch, not as great as my swing was though..."
The eye to the cheek Grimmjow kissed closed and he blushed again before following Grimmjow and looking over at the bluenette. "C'mon, the injury couldn't have effected it that much...did it?" he asked, cocking his head as he turned it to look at Grimmjow's face. "I mean...yeah...it does effect it but...was it that bad?" A concerned look then crossed his features.
He didn't look back at him and was silent for a moment as they continued to walk down the long hall just to reach the sporting part of the school. "It probably wouldn't 've if I'd gone to the hospital. I figured out how to take decent care of myself and supposed that I'd be paying a bunch for the hospital to do something I could do myself. Found out I had a couple cracked ribs." He mentioned as an after thought, glancing back behind him. "I was taking care of myself by then and my job didn't pay me that much."
Ichigo frowned as he heard this and looked down on the ground before biting his lower lip. "You could've come to my family's clinic. We actually have it to help people, not to get money..." Staying silent for a moment he then tightened his hold on Grimmjow's hand. "A-anyway...you're doing well right now, right?"
Grimmjow didn't reply as he opened the door for Ichigo and then they both walked out onto the field where he promptly yawned and stretched. "That school's always so stuffy, ya know, I wonder if they make school unbearable on purpose. Torture the kids and all that." Still holding onto Ichigo's hand, he walked out to the fence and looked in, then glancing up.
"Grimmjow..." he ground out, lightly tugging on the other's hand. "They do it on purpose, yet..." Thinking he took his hand away from the bluenette's and began to crawl over the fence and hopped over once he reached the top. "It's the first time I've seen this place without my team on it." His eyes gazed over the field and smiled softly.
Chuckling to himself, Grimmjow too followed, climbing up to the top. His eyes glazed over as he too thought being there alone with Ichigo would be rather odd, but pleasant all the same. Jumping down quickly, he walked out to the mound and kicked it with his foot, testing the feel of it before eying the sidelines, where there were a couple of balls not put away.
Moving over to the batter's box Ichigo tapped his foot against it and cracked his knuckles. "Ready to play catch?" he called, pulling a ball up from the ground with a smug smirk as he twisted it in his hand. "I'm sure you can do this at least, right?"
"I guess that we'll see, won't we?" Grimmjow called, smirking as he watched Ichigo move his wrist move, wondering if he should feel afraid, but pushed that emotion from his mind. "Give me the best you've got, Ichigo, I'll take whatever you can give."
Snickering he slid a foot back and wound back with his tongue poking out the side of his mouth, eyes on Grimmjow. The chocolate spheres intense before tossing the ball with all the strength he had. "We'll see about that." he smirked.
Caught. Grimmjow frowned as he felt the ball Ichigo pelted against his hand. Sure, he felt a sting but it hadn't hurt nearly as bad as he thought it would've. Maybe he was already back into the game, his brain mentally switching pain off. "Good throw, looks like you kinda flinched before you threw it, that your injury?"
Biting his lower lip once he saw the ball get caught Ichigo bit he lower lip and swallowed thickly. "Uh..." The bright haired male then looked away. "I didn't flinch." A hand subconsciously went to cover the area with a worried look. "Y-you must be seeing things."
Grimmjow frowned shaking his head before walking across the mound and over to Ichigo quickly grabbing his shirt and lifting it up without much thought. He'd asked inside and Ichigo hadn't said no, just said he couldn't strip in school. "Is that bruise bigger?" He asked, not touching it but staring at it.
Eyes widened once his shirt was lifted and Ichigo gasped as the other looked. It'd gotten a little darker in color and bit his lower lip. "P-put it down, Grimmjow!" he stuttered. He then tried to push the fabric back down with a flushed face.
"You're so stubborn," Grimmjow said, lightly pushing Ichigo against the fence and looking into his eyes, not doing much of anything other than that. They were out of sight from any of the classroom windows, but Grimmjow only watched him. "Are you worried about it affecting you like mine did me?"
A surprised sound passed his lips once he was pushed against the fence and bit his lower lip with a worried look. "W-wh-what're you talking about? I'm not worried..." he stammered, placing a hand against the fence and the other hand holding onto the brim of the shirt to keep it down.
His eyes slowly slid down to rest on where he knew the mark to be, even if the shirt was in the way. "You're a bad lier..." Grimmjow moved in once more and kissed his neck this time, lightly, comfortingly. "What can I do to make you feel better? To make this pain go away?" He knew what he needed to say, what he wished someone would've said to him.
His lightly tanned face was flushed and looked down on the ground with a shudder and closed his eyes tightly. "I-I'm fine, stop worrying..." Ichigo then grabbed onto the fence and held onto it tightly. "I-I..." A violent color of red then colored his face.
"You... what?" Grimmjow asked, ignoring his previous sentence and focusing on the one that mattered. He wanted to voice aloud what he was thinking, but everything that came to mind sounded either cheesy or perverted. "Shall I kiss it better?" or "Can I take your mind off it?"
"I...I'm fine, really..." Biting his lower lip the orange head shivered lightly and kept his eyes to the side then. "This's nothing, really." His fingers against his shirt curled and held onto it.
Long pale fingers moved from Ichigo's side and wrapped around Ichigo's, massaging them lovingly as he stared back at Ichigo's blushing features. "If you're not going to tell me, you leave me to guess," Grimmjow murmured, kissing at his neck a little more harshly.
"Stop..." Closing his eyes and brows furrowing he then placed his hands against Grimmjow's chest and began to push the other away. "Stop it! Don't!" Turning his head away the spiky haired student bit his tongue lightly.
Grimmjow pulled back when Ichigo asked him too and wasn't sadded, but wished that he could convince Ichigo that he was there to help, that anything on his mind could be on Grimmjow's as well. "Fine..." He sighed, not moving back, since he enjoyed the closeness.
Opening his eyes slightly Ichigo bit his lower lip and kept his gaze on the fence with his hand shaking slightly. "...sorry...it's just...I can't say." His hand finally loosened it's hold on the iron and pulled it away to cover his face.
"Can't say?" Grimmjow asked, reaching up and pulling Ichigo's hands from his face. "Well, whatever you do... don't hide your face from me. You're too cute to have to hide something like that," He kissed his lips once more and started to walk, pulling Ichigo along. "Take your time if you need to say it..."
As his hands were pulled from his face Ichigo blinked and looked up at Grimmjow with a confused expression before sighing and kissing back slightly. "I don't even know what I want to say." he admitted.
Grimmjow took him into the stands, sitting down and then patting the place next to him, signalling for Ichigo to sit down with him as well. "It's alright, nevermind then, but... if something's ever bothering you, you let me know. No questions asked, I'll listen to you."
Watching as the other sat down Ichigo bit his lower lip and sat down beside him as indicated. Placing his hands on his knees he brought his feet up and placed them on the seat. "Same goes for you then, y'know." he laughed.
He laughed in return and laid back tired-like. "I doubt I'll have much to say since lately all I've had problems with are my phyco cat," Grimmjow replied, closing his eyes and letting the sun's rays hit him softly. "What about you?"
"'psycho cat?'" he asked, looking over at Grimmjow with a cocked brow then tilted his head slowly. "Nothing with me, really..." Raising a hand he ran his fingers through his hair.
He rose his arm up and pulled the sleeve down to his elbow. "See, she was scratching me all night since I didn't get her food in time. Frickin' cat," Grimmjow laughed, replacing the sleeve before looking back at Ichigo. "Really? Nothing about your family or school?"
Chocolate hues widened once he saw the damage to Grimmjow's arm and bit his lower lip. "Guess she was mad when I took up your time by accident, huh?" He rubbed his arm and looked down on his shoes. "Not really...there's nothing interesting at all."
"Eh, she's just psycho. It wouldn't have mattered, the fact that I had to leave in the first place just made her more angry," Grimmjow sighed. "I doubt that. You're more interesting than you let on." His hands slid up and they rest behind his head, allowing him to smile somewhat.
"If I were her I'd just be happy enough with you just taking me in and taking care of me." the orange haired Kurosaki chuckled then glanced over at the bluenette before shaking his head. "I like to keep a low profile."
Grimmjow blushed a dark red at Ichigo's words, but grinned as he said so. "Well, maybe some day I will be. If you ever need somewhere to go, just come to my house," He said, avoiding the other's gaze. "I used to, but then I stopped caring about what other's thought of me."
"'maybe.'" he repeated then leaned back a bit and offered the other a soft smile. "I kinda figured as much, seeing as you took up acting though many think it's pussy work." He then clapped a bit. "I...it was actually pretty good, though I was never one to watch plays."
He chuckled, shaking his head softly. "Yeah, funnily enough I was still asked to join a gang a couple days ago. I guess they don't think I'm such a pussy either," Grimmjow smiled at him in return. "The next one is going to be good, if you wanna come and see it. It might give you something to do than being in your house."
"Hey," he started as the student glanced over to the side and at the fence. "You like acting, don't you?" Ichigo smiled shyly at Grimmjow before pursing his lips and looking back down on his shoes again. "So...um...what that one about?"
"It's fun in its own way. I guess you could just say that it's different than baseball, though I do enjoy being on stage. When I do monolouges or just talk by myself, I find some kinda solice in it. Until the other characters come on, but that's another story," Grimmjow laughed, watching his reactions. "It's about this girl who has a beautiful voice, and two men want her. I personally hate the pretty boy, hense why I'm Eric. Anyway, they both go for her affections, Eric uses tricks and such to make her love him, because it's all he's ever known."
Ichigo looked to the side and furrowed his brows in thought before sighing softly. "So...am I one of those other characters that just came onto the stage?" he questioned, lowering his feet to the ground and placed his hands at his sides. "'cause you sure as hell looked right at home on the mound." Coughing into a fist Ichigo then bit his lower lip and laughed softly. "But you're still a girl's wet dream, Jagerjaques."
Grimmjow shook his head with a low chuckle. "The reason that I like you so much is because I usually just ignore everyone, but for some reason, I want you to be the main character opposite me. I'd never play baseball for anyone except you and there's just no point unless it's with you, ya know?" Ichigo's last comment had him bursting out laughing. "As if I want some dumb broad dreaming about me like that. Only you, Ichigo," He teased.
Reaching a hand up he tugged lightly on his bright bangs and then stared at the hand for a moment before speaking. "...if it's about my hair, it's natural. Not like those people who make their hair carrot-piss color after bleaching it and all that." Letting go of his hair he stammered once he listened to what else the bluenette had to say and his face went a ripe red. "D-don't say that, you idiot!"
He quickly rolled over, finding himself on top of Ichigo, looking into his eyes. "Oddly enough, it's got nothing to do with that fantastic hair color." Grimmjow bent down and kissed at his neck lightly, hands taking a moment to intertwine with Ichigo's. "It's your eyes... that one moment when you glanced up at the stage... I saw it. Not to mention that you look really cute in a baseball outfit," He added, kissing his lips. "Why not say that? I want you to dream of me and only me."
His chocolate hues widened slightly and blinked once he noticed the other atop him and bit his lower lip once the other said it wasn't about his hair. "My eyes?" he asked, cocking his head due to confusion and to move his head away from the other's lips. "S-shut up, I'm not cute..." The bluenette's lips against his own had Ichigo's eyes widen before slowly sliding shut and shivering slightly. "I-it's embarrassing..." he stuttered and curled his fingers into light fists
"Don't worry about that, it'll just be our little secret, you don't talk to any people other than those on your team right? And we both know I'm rather anti-social. Besides, you do look absolutely adorable when you wear it, last time you wore it I almost couldn't keep my hands off you," Grimmjow said, kissing his lips once more with a wide cat-like grin plain on his features. He felt Ichigo's fingers pull from his to make fists and took that chance to run his palm along the orange haired boy's ears.
Ichigo swallowed and bit his lower lip harshly before shuddering. "I...don't really talk to people unless they're my friends." he mumbled and then let out a soft protest once he was kissed again. "Mmmph..." His head jerked back slightly once his ears were touched and closed his eyes tightly with a shudder.
Almost like a kitten cuddling next to its master, Grimmjow moved lower and pressed his own ear against Ichigo's heart, purring quietly. His arms wrapped around Ichigo's torso, fingers clasped together behind him. "Well, see? It just means that there won't be any problems. We can always spend time together at school or at my apartment... doesn't matter just as long as we're together."
"Grimmjow..." he started then gnawed on his lower lip and raised a hand to rub the back of his neck, eyes closed and sighing. "D...don't you think it'd be weird if...someone like me, who hates popular people, suddenly became friends with said person? Especially when my friends know that I don't like those kinds of people." He then ruffled up his hair and sighed. "...but I know you said you don't give a rat's ass but still...why come after me?"
"Why not?" Was his reply, cheek rubbing against the other's chest. "I told you, I'm not popular, never have and never will be." Grimmjow said, eyes shut tight as he listened to the steady heartbeat of the other. "Look, you shouldn't have to keep questioning my reason for liking you. Just accept that I do, I know that must be hard for you." Still, the steady beating kept his attention, and he noticed that whenever Ichigo spoke, he could hear the vibrations before the words were said.
Sighing Ichigo shrugged and blushed violently as he looked away before rubbing his neck. "Well...if your name keeps passing chicks' lips you gotta be popular." He turned his head to the side then looked up at the sky. "...I just...don't want another...'incident' to happen."
His eyes opened a little, shaking his head, more like rubbing against Ichigo's chest once more. "I promise that if you trust me or at least start to, I won't let you down," Grimmjow said, blue eyes looking at the fabric of Ichigo's shirt. "And I shouldn't be made something simply because a bunch of chicks believe that I am. I'm not some popular bloke, I'm just a retired baseball player and an actor."
Moving to lean on his elbows Ichigo furrowed his brows. "D-don't you get it? If...if any of those girls sees you and me l-like this I'll be the one getting beat up or killed." he stammered, trying to explain his reasoning before shivering at the thought of being attacked by rabid Grimmjow fangirls. "N...not like I don't like you i-it's just...um..."
"If anyone dares to touch you, they'd face me and I swear that won't be a pretty sight," Grimmjow said, looking up into his face with his bright light blue eyes staring into Ichigo's face. "So you do like me!" He said, lifting himself up and placing his hands on either side of Ichigo's upper body. "Well, that's good enough for me. You're mine and no one will harm you, not while I'm around."
Eyes widened as Grimmjow explained what would happen if anyone touched him then shook his head violently. "You idiot...if you do that around everyone I'll be too embarrassed to show my face!" he stuttered before biting his lower lip. "Of course I like you idiot..." Tisking he averted his eyes and sighed. "Quoting the Sweeny Tod movie, how cute." Ichigo poked Grimmjow's nose in a teasing manner.
He shrugged. "So, what? You'd rather be beaten up than embarrassed? Come on!" Grimmjow smirked, taking in account how silly Ichigo's words were. His fingers rose to carress Ichigo's face, leaning in to kiss him once more. "Yeah, it's a quote, but I wouldn't mind singing it for you. It expresses my feelings better than I could in mere words, ya know." He chuckled, glad that they were getting along and that Ichigo wasn't still angry like before.
A pout soon graced Ichigo's features as he glared at Grimmjow weakly. "I can kick ass too. I know you saw me bat that ball right into that fucker's face." He then smiled and kissed Grimmjow's cheek. "'Hold my hands across your face, because I think our time has come.'" His hand then went up to cup Grimmjow's face and kissed him softly.
They kissed for a while, Grimmjow's arms pulling Ichigo's body closer to his own. The kiss became more involved, more loving. There was no peck on the cheek or just a small pressing of their lips, no. It was a real kiss, on that Grimmjow was glad he had with Ichigo. Even now, their lives would never be the same, since they felt the same, wanted the same thing, and needed each other. "Love ya, Ichigo," he whispered into the kiss.
Moving his arms he wrapped them around Grimmjow's neck and buried his fingers into the blue tresses. Letting his eyes slide shut and let himself be pulled against the other male. "L-love you too, Grimmjow."