I'm glad you all liked the prologue, so here's chapter 1 =D I hope you enjoy this one just as much! I'm not gonna write much up here because I took my meds about an hour ago and I'm exhausted... so yeah. You guys are so lucky I love you enough to update even when sick ;p Enjoy!
... You better enjoy *angry face* I'm updating when I could be sleeping!
Chapter 1
The weary orangette is walking home alone after leaving the club, the sun long ago having set and the moon taking its place in the midnight position. It's not a full moon, just a sliver of a piece, and the light coming down isn't bright enough to show Ichigo much. Nights like these have him on edge, the alleys probably home to many demons lurking within their depths. He draws his coat closer to his body, his breath hanging on the air in a condensed cloud of white. It's so still and silent, he can practically hear the eerie music leading to a murder and his heart hammers harder as his feet pick up the pace. A trash can is knocked over and he jumps in surprise, moving backward into the street just as a car's horn blares in warning. He doesn't have much time to regret things, doesn't get to see his life flash before his eyes, but the only thing to pass through his head is 'fuck, I should've walked home with Shiro'. Time seems to slow down, Ichigo's body relaxing against the inevitable and his eyes closing in wait… he can't get away from this accident. Suddenly, he's jerked to the side quickly and hits the cement as the horn blares past along with the car. Eyes of amber wide with a fear just a touch from deadly, Ichigo gets to his feet quickly and searches for the one that saved him… but no one is there. He stands completely alone in a street covered with the veil of night, the only sounds filling the silence being his erratic heartbeat and his heavy breathing tinted with terror. He takes a calming breath, pulling his coat closer once more and hurrying off to his apartment. Within the depths of darkness that would've been considered an alleyway during the day, cyan orbs glow eerily as they follow the other. Grimmjow had a delicious romp with a strawberry blonde named Matsumoto just after his meal, but this little orangette is a far better prospect. With a calming tune hummed softly for only his ears, Grimmjow exits the alley to follow the other's progress down the street.
Ichigo arrives at his flat, just down the street from his aunt and uncle's place, at around midnight. He loves staying out late, is considered more of a night owl, but it's always nice to get back into his own safe haven. He's never let anyone know where he lives, never brought anyone to his home, so he's positive he'll never have to worry about intruders of the supernatural kind… well… not unless it's by coincidence. He sighs as he kicks off his shoes and checks to make sure his front door is locked, moving back into the house to wash the smell of smoke and alcohol off his body with a hot shower. The spray of the water hits the tub in a soothing rhythm, the heat and steam surrounding Ichigo as he lets all this tension join the liquid on its trek down the drain. With a hum of satisfaction, he stretches and reaches for the shampoo. He rinses the lather from his hair, the suds making lazy trialing down his hard body of lithe muscle, and then turns off the water. After drying off, he slips on a pair of boxers and a white tee shirt on his way to the large glass doors in his room. They swing open soundlessly, the orangette walking out on the small balcony to lean on the rail and look up at the stars. The pin pricks of light within the vast darkness shine brighter tonight, the moon just a sliver awaiting its disappearance, and the nineteen year old just soaks in the calmness of night. From the street below, hidden by the shadows lurking all throughout the town, Grimmjow watches the orangette with predatory intensity, grinning to himself as the thoughtful features of feminine grace turn heavenward. He's never seen such a beautiful human, never before laid eyes upon any creature that pulled him so indefinitely before, and he's not about to let another touch his newly claimed territory. It isn't until the youth turns back into his room and locks the doors that Grimmjow's excitement peeks. He waits with baited breath as the lights go out, stretching his senses to listen to the orangette's breathing calm until there's no doubt he's in a deep sleep. Before he knows what's going on, Grimmjow's spirit has left his body and he's moving toward the double doors of Ichigo's room as his body automatically heads home. He passes through, walking over to the bed and sucking in an unneeded breath. His cyan pools devour the sight before him, Ichigo stretched out upon his bed in an unshakable slumber. The orangette rolls onto his back, his face turning toward Grimmjow as what little moonlight that owns the night shines upon it. The sight is ethereal, tugging at the incubus's heart like nothing before has. His hand reaches out and strokes Ichigo's soft cheek, the other humming in his sleep. Unbidden, his hands tug down the blanket covering the smaller male. Grimmjow's eyes are intense as they capture this moment, one hand drawing up the white tee before setting itself flat against the washboard abs. He checks the other quickly, relieved that the orangette shows no signs of waking, and gently strokes down the abdomen and toward the waistband of Ichigo's boxers. Grimmjow licks his lips, his desire rising as he debates how much he can get away with before the gorgeous teen wakes. He notes that Ichigo is beginning to sweat and cringe in his sleep, grinning widely at the prospect of a nightmare. Nightmares can hold so many sins with such a variety of flavors; it's difficult for him to pass up a little extra feeding. Thankfully, since he's already fed he won't end up killing this beauty. He gives a predatory smile that would turn a demon's blood to ice, his essence slowly drawn into Ichigo's dreams in thin strands of color that eventually disappear along with him.
Ichigo is in a panic, he's having that nightmare again. The first time he had it he thought it was just from watching that damn creepy movie, the second time was blamed on a scary book he read before sleeping, but after the third he knew this wasn't normal. This nightmare is something that manifested itself from the lessons on incubi and succubae Yorouchi taught him, stemming from his mistrust and anxiousness around these demons that should've been his family. He's heard of the things they do to humans they want to keep, locking them away in cold dark rooms, chaining them to the floor or a bed or even the walls, and molesting them frequently every day. He can honestly say the nightmares are extremely exaggerated and the lessons were most likely lies fabricated by Yorouchi to fuck with his head, but they were damn effective. He's in a hallway, trying his best to sneak out of this godforsaken place. His footfalls echo eerily within the hall that seems too long and dark, his breathing seeming so loud he has to cover his mouth and nose to keep from getting caught, and his heartbeat is a thumping that deafens him as it tries to escape his chest. His stomach is in knots as he tiptoes down the hall, so badly twisted he wants to throw up. A door behind him opens and he panics, recognizing the shadow as that of an incubus pursuer that's been begging his father and uncle to give Ichigo to him. The orangette breaks into a run, trying his best to get away from the man and finding the hall isn't moving around him. The floor drops from beneath him with a loud crack, shattering like a dropped glass as he screams within his downward spiral. Before he lands within the torture chamber his mind always provides, he's nestled within strong arms he's never felt before and lifted against a chiseled chest.
"… Huh?" Ichigo mutters in question.
The orangette turns to face the most ethereal sight he's ever beheld in his nineteen years of walking the supernatural plain, his amber eyes wide as they lock onto cyan with no ability to move away. Grimmjow, on the other hand, is finding himself in the same position he was in earlier. The minute he saw the younger male he couldn't take his eyes off him, yet he couldn't find anything to say to him either. There aren't words to describe how badly he wants this human, how different Ichigo makes him feel, or even what he's feeling at this very moment… it's so much more than lust. Without thinking, he leans forward and captures the orangette's lips roughly. Ichigo is surprised, yet opens his mouth invitingly anyway. He knows somewhere in the back of his mind that this is a dream, so it's okay to indulge if an angel decides to show up and rescue him. He's laid back on a soft mattress, the larger man gliding over his body and sending shivers of want through him. The kiss is almost feral, teeth nipped and biting as hands press Ichigo down. He moans when Grimmjow moves to his throat, sucking and nibbling in a manner that has the other trembling. Grimmjow has never been more driven to take anyone in his life, his fingers looping beneath the boxers Ichigo's wearing before ripping them off his long slender legs. He's just about to slam into the willing body beneath him when thunder rumbles around them and lightening splits through the room, sending thin webs of electricity skittering about and sending a dull glow throughout the area. Blood is everywhere, streaking down the wall, lying in puddles on the floor, dripping steadily from the ceiling… it's a regular haunted house. Lingering within the air are the tastes of multiple sins, Grimmjow breathing them in as Ichigo lies beneath him dazed and completely disoriented. He can taste the sharp bitterness of envy, the delicious sweetness of lust, the tartness of greed, a subtle bland flavor of sloth, the spicy hint of pride, an almost woody flavor that belongs to gluttony, and the ever loved mixture of sweet and spicy that can only be wrath.
*Fuck, this one's nightmares are teaming with sin, * he purrs inwardly. *I could get spoiled off him. *
Ichigo whimpers under him, eyes staring up at the dripping crimson along the ceiling. Grimmjow knows he'll be waking soon, drawing in just enough of that addictive taste to hold him over for a couple days. This one is going to be his, no matter what he has to do in order to get him, and he'll be seeing the petite orangette again very soon. He pulls the other up for one last steamy kiss before vanishing, his spirit just making it out of the room before Ichigo wakes with a scream. No matter how sexy that angel was, that environment will always draw fear before lust in Ichigo's mind. He knows that blood, he's aware of exactly what it signifies… it's his mother's blood. It's the blood of all those humans slaughtered in the same mass murder his mother was killed in. He'll never forget all the feelings he felt racing around that room, he'll never shake off the different tastes that laid upon his tongue as he stood in that room waiting for his mother to get done… before he saw them all slaughtered. That room of torment was built within him mind specifically for the task of reminding him what he couldn't prevent. Just as he does every night he has this nightmare, Ichigo curls up and shudders in attempt to hold back the tears he's along since cried away. Grimmjow watches him from outside the double doors; careful to keep away from any area Ichigo could happen to see him in. He knows humans can't see his kind, but he's always very careful about that… you never know when you'll run into one with the ability to see ghosts. He waits until he's positive the other has fallen back to sleep, and then he leaves. It's getting close to sunrise and he needs rest if he's to deal with the next day.
Ichigo looks horrible in the morning, grumbling irately when Shinji bangs on his door excitably to wake him. The orangette throws the door open, kicks Shinji back into the hall, and slams it shut to go back to bed. The blonde Ichigo unfortunately calls his best friend doesn't take the hint, swinging the door open with a whine and walking in anyway. He's cradling his gut, right where Ichigo's foot landed, and sends his younger friend pout complete with huge watery puppy eyes.
"What was that for?" he asks. "You told me to wake you around ten, remember?"
"Ten was too early," Ichigo grumbles.
"Come on, Ichigo," Shinji practically begs. "You wanted to try out for that job, right?"
"… What job?"
The other is curious now, a horrible personality trait he swears Shiro infected him with, and Shinji knows he can say anything and string Ichigo along until the very last minute. That huge devilish grin tells the orangette just that, amber orbs glaring balefully at the one he's beginning to think he should reevaluate as his best friend.
"I told you about it last night," he offers up. "You said you wanted to try for it! I was so excited you would do something like this with me! You're a true friend, Ichi-berry! Sticking with your friend through thick and thin, I love you man!"
"Oh please, don't start bawling on me again. It's too early for that shit," Ichigo huffs.
"So… are you ready?"
"… Shin… I'm still in my boxers."
"What's your point? I'm sure the world knows what boxers look like, people pass them every day in the store," the blonde waves off.
"… Why do I call you my best friend?" Ichigo sighs dramatically.
"Because I'm awesome!" Shinji replies with that wide grin.
Ichigo rolls his eyes and heads into his room, the taller male bounding after him. He sometimes wonders why his best friend happens to be so flamboyant and excitable, the complete opposite of himself… and then he remembers his father. That man's presence in his eight young years of life was the worst thing to possibly scar him… except his Aunt Yorouchi, he could've done without her incessant need to scare the shit out of him and make him blush to the point he passes out. Shinji stops in front of a brightly colored bar, Ichigo's jaw dropping and his eyes growing large as his face lights up.
"Shinji, I swear to god if you're not joking I'll fucking kill you!" he snarls.
"I'm not joking! I wanted to dance here and you said it was a horrible idea because it wasn't safe, so I suggested you get a job at the bar since you're so good at mixing drinks for your aunt… and you agreed. So there."
At that point, the blonde sticks his tongue out childishly at Ichigo and the other rolls his eyes. He doesn't like being out at night in this particular neighborhood, as he knows a few aggressive incubi and succubae that hang about… but he heard a new incubus in town has claimed this area as his territory from Shiro. According to his fun-loving and extremely violent twin, who simply couldn't keep the bloodlust from his voice upon informing him, this incubus is likely strong enough to be an ancient. There won't be any escape for the orangette should they choose to take him, so it's best to steer clear of this area. Unfortunately, Shinji is human and Ichigo doesn't have it in him to leave the blonde alone in this place. He doesn't have many human friends as close to him as Shinji, so he'll suck it up and get a job to watch over his asshole best friend.
"Fine, let's get this over with," he grumbles.
"Yea! I win!"
"A thousand bars and clubs in my family's district and you have to pick one in the dark district," Ichigo growls as they walk in.
"This happens to be the most popular one in the entire city! I'm not doing this all for fun, I like money, you know."
"Whatever."
The club is seedy and dark, the only source of light being the strobe lights that center on the stage at the back. There are two bars, one on each side, and the stage has a small bridge that allows the dancers to walk out into the crowd without mingling. Ichigo can smell the stale sex, alcohol, and smoke that cling to the air for dear life. Shinji looks over at him curiously just in time to see the green tint to his skin.
"… Is that from the lights, or are you feeling ill?" he wonders.
"Both most likely," Ichigo mumbles. "Where's this guy we're supposed to be talking to?"
"I don't know," Shinji shrugs. "Maybe he's late."
"What!"
"He's new in town, dipshit."
"This place has been up for at least six months!"
Shinji looks at him like he's stupid; the obvious hint in his features setting the other on edge, and Ichigo grinds his teeth in hopes of holding back the urge to punch him. Finally, Shinji takes a seat at one of the tables and props his head up with a fist, motioning for Ichigo to take the other seat and waiting until he does.
"He's owned it since it went up," he explains. "He has a few so he's a millionaire or something, doesn't like the press and stays out of the media as much as possible… I think he's shy, isn't that cute? Anyway, once this place got in trouble for that death in the club? Well, he decided to take care of things himself, I guess. He moved here a couple weeks ago and is weeding out the vines in his garden and searching for some flowers."
"… You're such a fruit," Ichigo snorts in humor.
"This coming from you? What does your name mean again?"
"Shut up! You know it doesn't mean that!"
"It does, but that's not the meaning your parents had in mind," the blonde chuckles as he sticks out his tongue again. "I, on the other hand, shall call you berry-head for the rest of eternity… even after we're nothing but dream bubbles upon the wind, my little bubble will follow yours around repeating the nickname with the knowledge yours can't do anything about it."
"I'm so lucky you're my best friend," Ichigo sighs miserably.
"I know!"
The front door slams shut and a dark figure approaches the two, Ichigo stiffening at the feeling of static weakly tracing his skin and raising the hair on the back of his neck… that the trace of demon power. He's about to grab Shinji and run, but the sight of the overly tired and slightly irritable male calms him. He doesn't take the time to notice anything but his state and the gasp from his best friend, too relieve to know this is just a human victim of last night's feeding frenzy. Afterward he takes in the man… and his heart stops.
Grimmjow had the worst night of his life after leaving his angel, his power was on the fritz and he kept falling into the psyche realm where his kind resides when not on the human plain. Thankfully his club managed to take his mind off it when they told him of the interviews, so imagine his surprise when he walks in and his little angel is sitting there waiting for him… Now things were starting to get interesting!
I know, I know... It's not very creepy T^T I'm trying, but I guess it'll take some time. Besides, who said it had to be that way all the time? I'll update as soon as possible, but no promises. It will be updated... but only when I get around to it ;p
