Chapter 2:

When Ichigo got up in the morning, he rolled over to look out the window at the clear blue sky and snorted before burying his head in his pillow with a groan. After ten minutes of debating, he sat up slowly and winced, rubbing his side and stood up slowly.

Opening his cupboard, Ichigo paused and looked in the mirror, the pale skinned, tousled haired and wide eyed reflection staring back. He tore his gaze away to look at his clothes, grabbing a random shirt before closing the cupboard to find some trousers to pull on.

When he felt another throb in his side and sighed heavily, rubbing the spot before glancing at his desk to grab his medication. Going downstairs, he went into the kitchen, smiling at Yuzu when she saw him and grabbed a glass to down a pill with it.

"Morning Yuzu, everything ok?"

"Of course. How are you?" She looked at his hand and Ichigo looked down at it too, noting he was holding his medication and sighed, setting it on the table.

"I'm fine. Just don't think about it yeah."

She eyed the bottle for a moment before smiling. "Of course Ichi-nii. I made breakfast, are you having some before leaving?"

Looking at her hopeful eyes, he sighed and nodded in defeat. "Sure, I'll be back down in a minute." Kissing her head, he went back upstairs to grab his bag, slipping the medication into the side, just in case he needed it before going back down, dumping it next to the front door. "What's for breakfast then?"

"Toast and porridge, is that ok?"

"Prefect, thank you." He took a bowl from her a grinned, sitting down to eat it quickly, he didn't want to be late for school. When he spooned the last of it into his mouth, he grabbed a piece of toast and grinned at Yuzu. "Thanks, see you tonight."

"Bye, have a good day at school!"

Ichigo paused when he grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder before turning around to see his mum watching him. "Hey mum, what's up?"

"Are you sure you want to go to school?"

"Of course." He smiled reassuringly before kissing her cheek and opening the front door. "What would be the point in sitting around all day?"

She watched him go worriedly before sighing and shaking her head. "Look after yourself Ichigo."

...

Finishing the toast, Ichigo brushed the crumbs from his hands, jumping when someone grabbed him from behind. "Ichigoo!" Instead of responding, he bent over and spat out half his mouthful to glare at his attacker.

"What the hell Keigo? I could've choked then you idiot!"

He grinned back, unfazed by Ichigo's murderous look. "Should've eaten at home then."

Ichigo groaned and straightened up, glancing around with a frown. "Where's Mizuiro?"

Keigo looked behind them and frowned in confusion. "I don't know, he was here a moment ago. Maybe he's lost?"

"No, I'm here." Keigo jumped and spun around to see Mizuiro stood smiling innocently next to Ichigo who was looking at him surprise. "What? I didn't want to get in the way, just because I'm quiet doesn't mean I'm here."

"Fair enough." Ichigo shrugged and slung his bag over his shoulder, continuing to school with the two in tow. "What did I miss yesterday?"

"Not much, Keigo tried it on with Rukia again."

He gave Mizuiro an indignant look as Ichigo snorted. "Damn, shame I missed that. What she do?"

"Kneed him in the chin and left him drooling in the corridor."

Keigo sighed and slung an arm around both of them, a goofy grin adorning his face. "She touched me..."

"Jeeze you don't stand a chance. Rukia's way out of your league."

He shrugged, letting go of them both to fall in step beside Ichigo, giving him a sly glance. "What about Grimmjow? Think he's in your league?"

Ichigo jerked in surprise and looked at him suspiciously. "How the hell would I know? I've never thought about something like that. What makes you think I have?"

Mizuiro and Keigo shared a glance before he rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say Ichigo."

Ichigo scowled, choosing not to reply as they continued walking, debating whether or not his crush on Grimmjow was really that obvious. It must have been, since Keigo had noticed. He mentally shook his head, berating himself for making it so obvious, the possibility of Grimmjow noticing almost scaring him enough not to go into school.

He paused outside the gates and sighed heavily before striding inside. Keigo giving Mizuiro a confused look at the odd behaviour and he shrugged back, no more informed than him about it. Following after him, they went into the classroom and Ichigo sat down, ducking when Renji threw a pen at him.

He picked up the pen, throwing it back and Renji grinned, mouthing 'what's up?' to him. Ichigo shook his head as the teacher walking in, mouthing 'later' before the class started.

...

When the lunch bell finally rang, Ichigo had barely left the classroom before Renji assaulted him, jumping onto his back with a yell, almost strangling him as he juggled his bag and the extra weight making up Renji.

"C'mon Ichigo, talk to me!"

"Get off and I will!"

Ichigo sighed in relief when he got off and glared at him. "Are you trying to kill me? First Keigo and now you? Is there some sort of plot I'm not aware of?"

Renji shrugged before grinned. "Dunno, but you've got a death wish."

"Tell me about it."

He muttered the words, Renji noting the way his shoulders slumped slightly and nudged them playfully. "So how'd it go yesterday? Doc gave you the all clear right?"

Renji, along with Rukia, were the only two who knew about his possible cancer scare. Ichigo hadn't intended on telling them, or anyone for the matter. But they found one of his letters in his room once so he had to explain, making them swear not to tell anyone.

He sighed and shook his head before starting to walk down the corridor, heading outside to meet up with the rest of their group. "Test came back positive Ren. Doc gave me a few months, half a year at best."

When Renji didn't respond, he stopped and turned to see he was looking at him in shock before he laughed nervously, shaking his head. "You're joking right?"

"No."

"C'mon Ichigo, don't mess around with me here. You can't die."

"Why not?" Ichigo sighed heavily and shrugged. "Look, I can't do anything about it so please, don't tell anyone. I want to enjoy my last few months and having everyone watching my every move with worried remarks isn't what I want."

Renji observed him for a few moments before grinning and punching his arm. "Yeah, I won't tell no-one. You still gunna be around for our trip in the summer?"

"You bet I am."

"Good. Aint gunna be much fun without you there strawberry." He ducked as Ichigo threw a punch at him and grinned, sticking his tongue out childishly. "See you outside!" He called, running off. Ichigo sighed and shook his head before slowly following, a small smile tugging at his lips.

At least Renji took it well, as well as he could I suppose. Now there's only Rukia left to tell. I don't want anyone else to know, not yet anyway.

Too lost in his own thoughts, Ichigo didn't notice he was heading straight for a group of students until he crashed into one and fell on his butt. A blush creeped up onto his cheeks as a few girls started giggling and he scowled, attempting to push himself up. He stopped when he felt a twinge in his side and collapsed again, staring at the floor in annoyance, wishing they would go away and leave him alone.

"Shit, sorry my bad. You ok?"

Ichigo's head snapped up at the sound of that rough voice, his eyes widening in surprise when he saw it was Grimmjow, currently crouched next to him and holding out a hand.

"Hey, you ok?"

"I-" Ichigo paused and sighed deeply before nodding. "I'm fine, just give me a minute."

Grimmjow frowned, but grabbed his arm anyway. "Come on, I aint leaving you to sit on the floor all day." He hauled Ichigo to his feet, grinning when the man tugged his arm free and glanced at him shyly.

"Thanks."

"No problem. See you around Ichigo."

Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise as Grimmjow left, hearing him chuckle lightly and the group of girls followed after him, their fluttering sighs the only thing left behind, making Ichigo scowl again. Rubbing his arm where Grimmjow had grasped it, he could still feel the slight burn of warmth he left and sighed, shaking his head.

"Keigo was right, I'm so fucking obvious." He glanced down the corridor where Grimmjow had disappeared, a frown marring his face. "He knows my name?"

Ichigo tried to think of a time he'd ever spoken to Grimmjow or even been in the same class as him, but couldn't. How could he know his name if they'd never spoke before their just so recent introduction? Remembering the last point on his list, Ichigo snorted and turned his back on the corridor, walking outside to join his friends.

...

Finally, when they day was over and done, Ichigo sighed in relief and piled everything into his bag to sort out later, rolling his eyes when Renji pulled him into a head lock.

"You coming out with us or what?"

Punching him in the stomach to successfully break free, he slung the bag over his shoulder and shrugged. "Sure, why not. Where we heading?"

"Out to gym track for a bit. Girls got cheerleading practice don't they."

Ichigo sighed and shook his head at Renji's lecherous grin. "Dude, just ask Rukia out already. Before Keigo makes his move."

Renji snorted, leading the way out of the classroom. "Please, Keigo makes his 'move' at least three times a week. I got no competition from him."

"Then why not ask her out?"

"Why don't you ask Grimmjow out?"

"Fair point. Let's not go any further."

"Sounds good."

They dropped the subject, heading outside to make camp next to the running track where the girls were practising. Further over, much to Ichigo's satisfaction the track running team were also practising, including their star runner, one Grimmjow Jaeggerjaques.

He glanced up when someone sat down next to them and smiled. "Hey Tatsuki."

"Hey." She glanced at Renji before jerking her head at the cheerleaders. "Watching them again huh?"

"You know what he's like. Where's Orihime?"

"Gone home, said something about making food." Tatsuki shuddered at the thought. "God knows how that girl survives."

"I'm with you on that." He watched as Rukia strided over to the group of cheerleaders, shouting some sort of instruction at them and snorted. "Rukia's got them trained well hasn't she."

"Yeah." Renji tore his gaze away to grin at them. "She's strong willed, exactly my type."

Tatsuki rolled her eyes. "Ask her out idiot, stop being such a pansy."

"Yeah Renji, get a move on."

"I wasn't just talking to him you know."

Ichigo started slightly before looking at her suspiciously. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She shrugged and stood up. "You know what it means. See you guys tomorrow, I'm gunna make sure Orihime doesn't poison herself." She left with a wave of her hand, leaving Renji to watch Rukia intently as Ichigo's gaze slowly returned to the runners.

He watched as Grimmjow bent down to stretch, sighing in his head before shaking himself mentally. One day Ichigo, you will ask him, but not today. His eyes widened in surprise when Grimmjow lifted his head and their eyes met, a smirk forming on his face. Ichigo felt his cheeks heat up and quickly ducked his head, cursing himself for staring.

"You ok?"

"Yeah."

Ichigo smiled at Renji, casting a glance at the runners again and sighed in relief to see Grimmjow's attention had been diverted. Unfortunately for him, that diversion came in the form of the head cheerleader, Sarah. His eyes narrowed in annoyance when she laughed at something he said and touched his arm. Ichigo felt a pang in his chest at the gesture, knowing he could never do that so casually, never be like that with Grimmjow.

Ichigo sighed and rested his head on his knees, closing his eyes briefly. C'mon Ichigo just go do it, might as well get it out of the way. Hell, even if he ridicules you, it'll only be a few months.

"Ichigo?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't look now but your favourite persons coming this way."

Ichigo's head snapped up and his eyes widened in surprise to see what Renji was saying was indeed, true. Grimmjow was making his way over to them. Ichigo cursed himself mentally and stood up, casting a glance at Renji.

"I'll be right back."

"What you gunna do?"

"Something incredibly stupid."

"Gunna ask him out?"

"Yeah."

"Good luck."

"Thanks." Ichigo smiled briefly before walking over to Grimmjow, meeting him a good distance away from Renji so they wouldn't be overheard. "I need to ask you something."

"Ask away."

Ichigo opened his mouth to ask him, but choked on the words and paused, turning away to shake himself. "Whatever it is, can you hurry up? I'm supposed to be training."

He turned to frown at Grimmjow. "Then why did you even come over here in the first place?"

The man smirked. "C'mon, do you really think I haven't noticed you watching me the past few months. I'm not stupid. Whatever you need to say, go ahead and say it already. I'm all ears."

"Well, ok..." Ichigo paused, trying to assemble his thoughts again. Sighing deeply, he closed his eyes briefly before opening them again to look Grimmjow in the eyes. "Want to go out with me?"

Grimmjow smiled and Ichigo felt his knees go weak at seeing that smile up close for the first time. "In what context?"

"You know..." Ichigo waved his hand, feeling his cheeks warm up as his nerves started building again. "As in a date..."

He contemplated it for several agonising minutes before grinning. "Sure, how 'bout I pick you up tonight? Eight sound good?"

Ichigo looked at him astonished, he never thought Grimmjow would say yes and wasn't prepared for this situation. "Uh, sure."

"Great, see you then."

Ichigo watched as he turned to go back to practice before slowly returning to Renji, sitting down next to him with an unreadable expression. "He said no didn't he?" Renji asked, sighed heavily and shaking his head. "Damn Ichigo, I'm sorry."

"No, he said yes."

He looked at Ichigo in surprise before grinning and nudging his shoulder. "Well congrats, finally. How long have you been waiting to ask him? Gotta be over a year now, should've just done it from the beginning. That way you would've had more time." He stopped abruptly, looking at Ichigo worriedly.

Ichigo sighed and looked down. "Yeah, I guess we only have a few months at best." Shaking his head, he rolled his eyes at Renji. "Way to leave it to the last minute huh?"

"Yeah." Renji laughed and relaxed when Ichigo didn't bite his head off at the comment, returning to watching Rukia. "Think I should go for it?"

"Might as well. You never know."

"Yeah..." He stared off for a moment before standing up suddenly. "Well, wish me luck. I'm off to my doom."

"Good luck."

Ichigo shook his head, watching as Renji walked down to Rukia whilst the cheerleaders took a break. He looked back at Grimmjow and smiled to himself, feeling his heart beat that little bit faster. If he'd known Grimmjow would say yes, he would've asked a long time ago. But, in the end, at least he got some time with the man, even if it was only to be a few months. That was better than nothing in Ichigo's opinion.