I couldn't believe how well someone of the songs I found fit this story. Frankly, I'm amazed. This first one is Must Have Done Something Right by Relient K. Inspiration for this story came from that one, and then My Girl's Ex-Boyfriend by Relient K developed it. There are more songs used. I'll them put in order at the bottom. I suggest you listen to them.
IchiGrimm
…
"Can I open my eyes now?" the orange-haired teen grumbled, blindly following the albino, a tanned hand grasped by a pale one. The ivory-skinned boy chuckled, his gold-on-black eyes flashing happily.
"Jus' a little father, Ichi," Shirosaki promised, gently pushing the berry into a chair and covering Ichigo's eyes as he tried to open them. He laughed quietly again. "Impatient. One more second. I'll tell you when."
The strawberry huffed, crossing him arms and slouching back, feeling very foolish with his eyes closed. The silver-haired teen grinned, taking a moment to enjoy his boyfriend's cuteness. Of course, Ichigo would be upset if he said that aloud, but it was true. The berry was adorable when he pouted.
Shiro shook himself, concentrating on the task at hand. He slid across a long bench, his slim fingers hovering over the piano keys. As he struck up the first few chords, Ichigo's eyelids snapped open, despite not being given the okay. The pale teen smiled at him, and then the godliest sound on the face of the Earth came from his mouth.
He began to sing.
We should get jerseys, 'cause we make a good team.
But yours would look better than mine, 'cause you're out of my league.
And I know that it's so cliché
To tell you that everyday
I spend with you is a new best day of my life.
The strawberry watched in wonder, listen to the object of his affection sing. He vaguely recognized the song as Must Have Done Something Right by Relient K. The orange-haired teen felt his breath whoosh away when Shiro glanced up at him, a gorgeous smirk gracing his face. This is what the albino meant when he said he had a special anniversary present? Ichigo just sat in amazement, awestruck by his boyfriend's smooth, clear voice and the pure truth ringing out in every word he sang. As the last strains of the chorus faded and the piano fell silent, Shirosaki looked up at the berry again. Uncertainty flickered behind his inverted eyes as he spoke.
"Did you like it?" he asked cautious, eyed Ichigo's hanging jaw and wide eyes. The albino watched the orange head get up as if in a trace, their gazes locked. The strawberry came up behind Shiro, wrapping his arms around the slim figure and resting his head on his lover's shoulder.
"That was," Ichigo whispered, his warm breath brushing the silver-haired teen's ear, making him shiver. "The corniest, cheesiest, most beautiful present I've ever gotten. You're amazing, Shiro."
The pale boy let out a breath, a small smile curling his mouth when he felt orange locks tickle his cheeks as the berry buried his face in a marble-white neck. His brought a hand up to those bright tresses, running them through his fingers.
"You really liked it?" Shirosaki murmured, massaging Ichigo's scalp.
The orange head hummed in content against the ivory skin. "Absolutely. You know I love you, right?" His voice was flooded with raw emotion, and he placed a chaste kiss on the corner of the albino's lips.
Shiro couldn't help the smile that shone from his face. "I know. I love you too, Ichi."
…
Lies.
All of that, all that shit had been lies. Shiro had been lying to him the entire fucking time. He never loved Ichigo. The berry doubted he ever even had any real feelings for him. Fucking bastard just left him. Their entire relationship had been a LIE. What hurt the most was the false sincerity that always seemed to be projected from the albino's every word. It had been that very day, the day of their first anniversary that the pale teen had just packed up and left him. Without a note, without a trace. He'd tried calling and texting, but the only the response he ever got was a stoic, cryptic, "It's better this way."
Ichigo had refused to go into depression. Depression was for insecure, lonely people. He might have been somewhat solitary, but not insecure. Instead, he channeled his mixed-up, confused emotions as anger, which in turn was let out with various martial arts. Every punch and kick radiated the rage he felt towards the albino, the fury at his own weakness for believing the ruse, his resentment towards the goddamned lingering hope that Shiro would magically reappear and make everything alright.
The fighting never seemed to be enough, though. While it did help him calm and stay semi-sane, he couldn't express the other feelings, the sadness, the hurt, the pain. So he sang. Whenever he was alone and felt the emotions were going to overwhelm, he sang his heart out. Occasionally he would perform at bars or small clubs, if the money was needed. The berry was often approached by producers looking for the new big pop star. They were astonished by the authentic emotion in his voice. Every single one was turned down.
Obviously, his close friends had noticed the subtle changes that appeared after the incident. Ichigo became reserved and introvert – even more so than before. His eye didn't shine chestnut brown anymore. The light was gone from those chocolate orbs. They became muddy, empty depths that made you wonder what was at the bottom. He tried to avoid becoming close to anyone, fearing it would turn out the same as before. He drifted away from his friends and family, becoming distant and generally immersing himself in schoolwork and his part-time job at a mechanic's garage. The berry was always scowling, always unhappy.
It was one night at one of the local bars that Ichigo was sure his detached, carefully constructed world was going to crash down around him.
…
The quiet chatting and the dim lights of the bar gave an almost serene feeling to the place. It wasn't loud or raucous like most other taverns. The men here had been coming here for years. The bartender knew each and every name, and their preferences in alcohol. The interior was styled humbly, deep browns and reds decorating the walls in forms of paintings or curtains. Hushed blues music played from speakers hidden around the room, adding to the tranquil aura. The soft saxophone and whispered conversations paused when the host, a rather laid-back man with long wavy brown hair stepped up onto the small stage.
"Hey, gentlemen. How's it going tonight?" the man asked in a normal voice, having no need for a microphone. The crowd rumbled an indefinite answer; it could have been translated either way.
The man onstage chuckled quietly, his long pink kimono swishing as he paced to the opposite side of the smooth, wooden platform. "Very enthusiastic, I see. Well, I'll save you the chatter. We've got a short performance tonight. And he's from right here, our little town of Karakura. Come on out, Ichigo."
An orange-haired head popped out from a door next to the stage, a guitar case in hand. He took the steps slowly, finding no need to rush. The host pulled out a tall stool and placed it in the middle of the stage. As they passed each other, a few words were exchanged.
"Good luck, Ichi-kun."
"Thanks, Shunsui," the berry murmured, setting down his guitar case and resting a hand on the microphone that had been relocated to the stage. He looked out on the men assembled. They returned his gaze, waiting expectantly.
"Evening, guys," Ichigo said into the mic, raising a hand in salute. "I'm Kurosaki Ichigo. I'm gonna be doing a couple short songs. This first one's a modern American one called 'Grenade'."
There was the sound of shuffling, and a few seconds later, the orange-haired teen reappeared on the stool, a battered-look acoustic guitar resting on his lap. He strummed a few chords before picking at the strings, creating a heart-breaking melody.
"Easy come, easy go,
That's just how you live.
Oh, take take take it all,
But you never give".
The bar fell completely silent as the berry's anguished voice dominated the room with hushed tones.
"Gave you all I had,
And you tossed in the trash,
You tossed it in the trash, you did.
To give me all your love is all I ever ask,
'Cause what you don't understand,
Is I'd catch a grenade for you!"
The teen's desolation spread throughout the room, affecting every man present. Each felt as if he could understand exactly what the strawberry was feeling. As the last notes of the song fell away, the bar remained silent. Ichigo raised his bowed head, a small, sad smile on his lips. Quiet applause pattered around the men. The orange head leaned into the mic again.
"Thank you," he said in a low voice. "This next one is American as well. It's called 'Sober'."
"I don't wanna be the boy who laughs the loudest.
Or the boy who never wants to be alone.
I don't wanna be that call at four o'clock in the morning.
'Cause I'm the only one you know in world that won't be home."
The guitar hummed along with the berry's voice, almost as if it had a voice of its own. It sang, muted and sad, with solemn reverberations. The audience was once again captured by the raw emotion that spilled out with every syllable.
"I don't wanna be the boy that has to feel the silence.
The quiet scares me 'cause it screams the truth.
Please don't we that we had that conversation.
When I won't remember, save your breath, 'cause what's the use?
The teen's eyelids slid shut of their own accord, his fingers needing nothing but muscle memory to continue. He imagined another presence with him, the presence of his ex-boyfriend. They could sing the song together, two voices in bittersweet harmony. Ichigo couldn't help but feel every song that fell from his lips was dedicated to Shiro. But he couldn't help himself. He kept singing.
"Ah, a-ah, the night is calling.
And it whispers to me softly,
'Come and play'."
Ah, a-ah, I am falling.
And if I let myself go I'm the only one to blame!
For the second time that night, the music faded, taking with it the breath of everyone present. Ichigo set down the used guitar, standing, and taking a small bow. "Thank you for listening to me tonight."
The orange-haired teen packed up his instrument, disappearing back through the side door, but not before catching the applause that followed him.
…
Several hours later, the strawberry could be found sitting at the counter of the very same bar, nursing the same beer he ordered some time ago. The tavern was nearly empty, Ichigo noticed, throwing his eyes around the dimly-lit room. A flash of color caught his gaze. Something bright blue seemed to glow from the other side of the building. It took a couple seconds for the orange head to realize it was hair. Someone over there had electric blue hair. As the berry watched the hair, the head it belonged to turned, seeming to sense eyes on it. Deep, cyan eyes caught chocolate ones, locking their gazes. A shiver passed down the orange-haired boy's spine, though he couldn't understand why.
"Oi, berry, you gonna sit there all night?"
A gruff voice broke his reverie. The bartender, a muscled, rather intimidating man with an eye patch glared at Ichigo with his good eye, rubbing a dirtied cloth along the inside of a glass.
"Ya gonna drink that beer an' leave or not?" the man muttered, speaking more to himself than the teen.
"I, um…" the strawberry started, slightly taken aback by his blunt comment.
A smooth baritone interrupted the conversation, coming from Ichigo's left. "Hey, cut him some slack, yeah? The kid's lookin' pretty down."
Chestnut eyes widened as they swiveled to catch blue hair and an aqua gaze. The bluenet grinned, holding out a large hand. "Name's Grimmjow. Nice ta meet ya."
