Entanglement:

- Ichigo had a relatively boring, normal life as a low-key model with his best friend Nelliel. They lived next to each other and went to work before returning home, occasionally going out. For Ichigo, life couldn't get any more routine. That was, until a man with blue hair moved into a flat a few doors down. Now Ichigo finds his routine life thrown into chaos and has to question himself as their lives become more entangled and the man's past life comes back to haunt them. Is he willing to risk everything for Grimmjow and their relationship?

Disclaimer: I do not own any right to Bleach or any of the characters in the story.

Warnings: Yaoi (boyxboy), swearing, OOCness

Chapter 1:

Ichigo opened his eyes and looked around the room blearily, sitting up to rub his head as he heard someone banging on his door. "One second!" With a sigh, he got up and pulled a top on over his boxers and stumbled to the door to yank it open. "Yeah?"

The green haired woman grinned and invited herself in. "You're just getting up?"

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "I would still be asleep if you weren't banging on the door Nel."

Nelliel Tu Odelschwank was his best friend, they had known each other since kindergarten and immediately became friends. Even now, they worked together and lived next door. She grinned and moved to the kitchen, presumably to make coffee. "You want a drink?"

"Yeah, you know what to make." Ichigo yawned and scratched his head again, rolling his shoulders. "What time do we have to be in?"

"About... Twelve. It's ten now so we got two hours." They both worked for a small modelling agency in town, and were well known for their... unique appearances.

"Good. I'm gunna take a shower."

"Hurry up before the coffee goes cold. You want me to make some breakfast?"

"Sure, gives you an excuse to raid my fridge."

She turned to look at him. "You know me so well."

"Yeah, for eighteen years Nel, you haven't changed a bit."

Nel stuck her tongue out childishly and returned to rummaging in the fridge. "I could say the same about you."

Ichigo just shrugged and headed back into his room, stripping of his clothes and throwing them on the floor as he entered the bathroom for a shower. Nel hummed to herself as she made breakfast, leaving a plate on the side for Ichigo when he was done and sat down to eat her own. Ichigo walked back in several minutes later, clad in only a towel as he grabbed his plate and sat down with a groan.

Nel raised her eyebrow at his attire. "Are you planning to get changed?"

Ichigo grinned around his mouthful of food. "Don't pretend you don't like looking."

She rolled her eyes. "I admit, you've got a good body, but I know your personality, which kind of ruins the effect."

"That's not very nice. Saying I've got a bad personality?"

"No. I'm saying you're too strong willed and stubborn for my taste. Besides, you're gay so that rules you off my list anyway."

Ichigo frowned. "Who says I'm gay?"

She snorted. "Please, it's so obvious. You never look at women and I've seen your gaze lingering on a good looking guy far too many times."

Ichigo just grinned again and shrugged. "Yeah, ok I'm gay, sue me."

"Finally, I thought you were one of those 'in the closet' guys."

"Nope, I've known a while. I just didn't feel the need to shout it from the rooftops." He finished his food, downed his coffee and stood up. "I'm going to get changed."

"Finally."

"Yeah, yeah. We'll head out afterwards ok?"

"Glad to see your brain still functions properly."

Ichigo just smiled and shook his head, returning to his bedroom to change before moving back to the kitchen to clean up. Nel watched with a small frown and he sighed after a few minutes. "What Nel?"

"Oh nothing, just trying to figure out what your type is."

"My type?" Ichigo dried his hands and lent against the counter. "I dunno what my type is, never really had one."

Nel grinned slyly. "If I had to guess, your ideal guy would be a dominant, rude, obviously handsome, stubborn guy with a lot of attitude."

Ichigo nodded in agreement before scowling. "Dominant?"

She snorted. "Please, you're so obviously a submissive, you practically scream it."

"No I don't!"

"Oh yeah? You ever thought of being top... or bottom?" Ichigo blushed and looked away with a mutter. "See, submissive. Don't beat yourself up about it, you just like someone taking control."

"Shut up Nel."

"So have you had sex with a guy?"

Ichigo's eyes widened and he blushed. "Maybe."

She squealed and grabbed his arm. "Who? Who?"

"No-one particular, just a few experimental nights."

Nel frowned disapprovingly. "Ichigo, your first time shouldn't have been a one night stand."

"Jeeze Nel, you're not my mother. Besides, I've had sex with women before."

"Yeah I know, but your first time with a guy should've been with someone you love."

"Yeah right. Where in this place am I gunna fall in love? We've lived here for four years, if there was someone I had an interest in, I would've made a move by now."

"Ok. But I'm gunna find your guy Ichigo, I promise."

Ichigo rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Whatever. C'mon, let's got to work already."

He grabbed his keys, phone and wallet before ushering Nel outside and locking his apartment door. Nel quickly ran into her apartment to grab her things and they headed outside. Ichigo glanced at the moving van in confusion before turning to Nel.

"Someone move out?"

She just shook her head. "You're so unobservant Ichigo. Remember the old woman that lived a few doors down?"

"The one with the son who was always on drugs?"

"Yeah."

"Why'd she move out?"

"To go live with her son, sort him out."

"Yeah, like that's going to happen. It's actually a good thing you're the apartment complex's gossip girl, keeps me up to date."

"I don't gossip! I'm just observant and know a few things!"

"Whatever. You know who's moving in?" Ichigo jerked his head at the van.

"No." She shook her head and glanced over at it. "Whenever people visited, they didn't seem very impressed."

"Well they aren't the best apartments in the world, but they serve their purpose." Ichigo sighed and shook his head. "We're going to be late, let's go."

They walked off, not noticing the blue haired man walk outside to unlock the van and start unloading the contents. They arrived at their work with ten minutes to spare and nodded at the receptionist before entering the elevator.

Ichigo closed his eyes and lent against the wall. "What's happening today?"

"Yoruichi wants to talk to us."

He groaned and banged his head. "Great, we've probably got a shit-load more work to do now."

"Probably." Nel shrugged and grinned. "But what can you do? More money for us."

"Yeah I suppose." As the door opened, he pushed away from the wall and followed Nel to their agent's office.

"Hey Ichigo!"

He stopped and rolled his eyes, turning to look at the red headed man as he ran over. "What Renji?"

"Man where've you been? We haven't gone out in ages!"

Ichigo caught Nel's eye and shook his head. "I've been busy."

"That's it! We're going to go out for a drink tonight."

"No."

"Nel? You wanna come along? Rukia's gunna come."

She smiled and nodded. "Sure, why not."

"Great, meet you guys later downstairs after Yoruichi's done with you! I gotta go, Rukia's waiting." He turned and left with a wave of his hand.

Nel grinned as the started walking. "So Renji's a nice guy."

"Not happening Nel, he's an idiot."

"Aww c'mon, he likes you."

"No he doesn't, besides, he doesn't exactly fit the description of my 'type' does he?"

"I suppose not... but I'm not giving up!"

Ichigo just sighed and shook his head at her persistant behaviour before opening the door to Yoruichi's office, letting her in first. The purple haired woman turned to look at them with her golden eyes, a cat like smile appearing when she saw who entered her office. "You've finally arrived I see?"

Nel rushed forward to hug her. "Hello Yoruichi! We've missed you!"

Yoruichi blinked and gave Ichigo an inquisitive look, to which he just shrugged. "You've been gone a long time."

She just smiled mysteriously. "You know how Kisuke is, always planning holidays and trips without consulting me."

"How you two are still married is a mystery."

"You gotta give a little when you fall in love Ichigo, as I'm sure you'll one day find out."

"Right."

Nel pulled away to grin up at her, stepping out of their hug. "What did you want?"

"I have a few jobs lined up for you."

"Great, what are they?"

"One's today, down at the new shop opening in town. They wanted to models to promote them, one male and one female. Naturally I thought of you two."

"You're the best Yoruichi!" Nel hugged her again before giggling and grabbing Ichigo's hand. "Let's go Ichigo! We don't want to be late."

He looked back at Yoruichi who threw him a folder containing the details and she winked as he was dragged from the office. "Have fun."

Ichigo rolled his eyes and pried his arm free of Nel's grasp to look inside the folder. "Looks simple enough, all we gotta do is pose with a banner outside their shop."

"Great, nothing to difficult then." Nel sighed and lent against the elevator wall. "I wonder how long Yoruichi will be around this time?"

"Who knows? Could be days, or weeks, you never know with Urahara."

"I hope I can be as lucky as Yoruichi and find someone like that."

"I'm sure you will Nel, whoever ends up with you is a lucky guy."

"Yeah but he's gotta impress you first, that's gunna take something."

"I aint letting any random guy be with you. He could break your heart."

Nel rolled her eyes and linked their arms as they left the building. "You're so sweet Ichigo."

"Yeah, yeah. We walking down or getting a cab?"

"Let's walk, its a nice day." She swept out her arm and Ichigo looked up at the blue skies with a small smile.

"Yeah." They headed to the shop with their given directions, finding the place surrounded by camera crews. "That's a lot of press for a simple shop opening."

Nel grabbed the folder and read through it, her grey eyes widening with excitement. "Do you know who owns this place Ichigo?!"

"Who?"

"Coyote Starrk! The owner of Starrk Enterprises, the most successful business enterprise in Japan!" She sighed dreamily and clutched the folder to her chest. "He's so handsome, I wonder if we'll meet him."

Ichigo snorted at her starstruck gaze and looked around, making a path through the camera crews and approached a man stood outside the shop. "Excuse me?"

The man with shoulder length brown, wavy hair turned to look at him, the Nel, before grinning. "Are you the two models Yoruichi sent?"

Nel nodded eagerly and moved forward to shake his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Starrk." She said breathlessly, shaking his hand vigorously.

He chuckled and eventually got his hand back to shake Ichigo's. "Just call me Starrk, I don't like the formality, we're all equals here."

"Starrk." Ichigo inclined his head. "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki and this is Nelliel Tu Odelschwank."

His eyebrow rose in curiosity. "There both exotic names."

"It helps in our business, and we're both from japanese families."

"Ah I see." He turned around and indicated for them both to join him around the table. "I'm sure you're all ready aware of what I need you to do?"

"Hold up the banner in front of the shop and smile?"

He nodded. "Yes, simple."

"Great, what do you want us to wear?"

He waved vaguely at them both. "I want you to look natural, so these clothes are good. You just need a little bit of makeup and we'll be ready to go."

Ichigo rolled his eyes at the mention of makeup, he preferred to go without, but somehow he always found he needed some, if only a little bit. He sighed and they followed Starrk. Glancing at Nel, he raised his eyebrows suggestively and she giggled, shaking her head.

An hour later, they stood holding the banner proclaiming, 'Espada Enterprises' in front of the new store. Ichigo trained his face into the smile he knew would make most women's knees shake and looked ahead at the camera's, sighing in relief when Starrk came over to relieve them.

Ichigo smiled as he removed the makeup, glad he didn't have to wear it anymore as the stuff made his face itch slightly. He turned when Starrk tapped him on the shoulder. "Thank you for this opportunity."

Starrk shook his head. "No, thank you. You've made the launch a success."

"All we did was hold a banner."

"Yes but you livened up the shoot." Starrk sighed. "I want to ask you something."

"About?"

"Nelliel."

Ichigo frowned and folded his arms, raising an eyebrow sceptically. "What about her?"

"Are you two together?"

Ichigo snorted. "No, we're best friends, it's not like that between us and it never will be."

"So you won't mind if I ask her out?"

Ichigo studied Starrk for a moment before sighing and shaking his head. "I don't see why not. You're a good guy and Nel thinks you're amazing."

"Good."

"Just know if you hurt her, you'll have to deal with me."

"Understood." He grinned and shook Ichigo's hand again. "Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah. Tell Nel I said I'll see her later."

Ichigo waved his hand and left the set, walking down the street with a sigh. Guess you found your guy Nel, now I just have to find mine.