Disclaimer: I do NOT own bleach. All rights go to Tite Kubo-sama, I only mess around with his characters.

"Normal Speech"

'Thoughts'

Flashback

WARNINGS:

Yaoi, Boy-and-Boy pairing as in GrimmIchi, and yes, it's in that order so if you don't like uke!Ichi, then too bad. There is hurt/comfort with an equally passionate romance beneath - I hope. And most important of all, this is all AU, so as long as you do not find this disturbing, I hope you enjoy this story that just so happened to contain one of my favorite bleach pairings. Rated M just in case 'cause I'll most likely put in lemon!

#2#

"Hey, Kisuke, is Ichi gonna be here soon or are we still gonna have to wait for him?"

The one being spoken to shrugged, not really looking like he cared whether the orange head came anytime soon or not, even if mere minutes ago he was trying to convey over the phone how important it was for Ichigo to get back as soon as possible.

"Who knows, Shinji? What I do know, however, is that Ichigo will arrive as fast as possible… he's Ichigo after all."

The other blonde stood quietly next to the door frame, lacking his usual wide grin and now sporting an obvious frown that just showed how much he was considering Kisuke's words even if he himself knew exactly what the hat wearing man was talking about. He sighed, glancing back to look at the older man, who happened to be sprawled all over the couch as if everything was just fine and that it was completely normal for the orange head to be out in the streets alone in the first place.

"How did he sound like on the phone?"

"You mean before or after Hiyori started yelling at him?"

"Over all... You know what I mean, anyway!"

The silence following Shinji's outburst was near deafening, but also ensured that the manipulative bastard that was Kisuke was actually thinking. He was analyzing and maybe even over-thinking, which, on Shinji's book, was never something good.

"He actually sounded fine… surprisingly fine…"

The other stood stunned after hearing those words leave Kisuke's lips. He almost wanted to do a double take just to make sure Kisuke wasn't screwing with him, only to stop when he noticed the solemn expression on the man.

"You mean… he didn't… you know, sound… distressed, cold or indifferent like he usually does?"

"No… nothing of it just plain… Ichigo-ness."

"You have got to be kidding me… and here I was, worrying over the kid, thinking that he would be going berserk over the news we received last night."

Kisuke only made a small sound of recognition as he straightened himself to a better sitting position, his bucket hat doing very little to hide the turmoil of emotions that flickered across steel gray eyes. He gazed over to the open window as if he fully expected someone to just jump inside, but soon turned around to look back at his longtime friend.

"We all were… I would have thought that news on Aizen and his family would've brought forth something way worse than just storming out the room and locking himself in his room like he did yesterday."

The standing blonde just sighed, clearly thinking the same thing as he pushed himself off the door and strode into the room to stand right beside the couch. He looked toward the window that Kisuke had previously been gazing at, and then spoke up.

"It's been twelve years, huh?"

"Yeah… it has…"'

#2#

The screech of rubber tires resounded through the storm that was going down in full force, the shock of thunder doing very little to stop the car door from being flung open. A pair of boot-clad feet began running after a silent yet nimble figure that was scurrying away in the dark night as if his life depended on it.

The person that had hurriedly stepped out of the car was quickly followed by another two. They took off after the hooded one –the fugitive- that looked like he would collapse any second now. The three that had previously been very comfortable in the confinements of their car were now soaking wet. They'd caught up to the slightly limping figure, the first of the three grabbing rather harshly onto a shoulder and regretting it a second later when a slow yet still powerful kick was aimed his way.

"Woah, easy now, we're not going to hurt you kid."

"BULLSHIT! You people have been stalking me since this morning! How can you just come up and say you won't hurt me when I'm already like this?"

The words made the trio cringe, conforming their suspicions of how late they were. The boy was undoubtedly injured.

"Ichigo we're speaking the truth, we're not with those guys we-"

"Oh, yeah, and how the hell will you prove that, huh? You can't, and that's all there is to it! I'm not letting you take me away; the others couldn't, so what makes you think you'll succeed? Bitch!"

The one who'd previously been speaking almost automatically growled, completely forgetting that they were supposed to save the kid instead of hurting him even more than he already was.

"What did you call me, brat?"

"You heard me!"

"That's enough, Yoruichi. We really haven't done much to gain Kurosaki-san's trust anyway."

The third person, who'd been completely silent so far, spoke up at last. He looked up to gaze into Ichigo's troubled, yet fierce chocolate-colored eyes, his gray ones piercing into the orange head's very soul. He could only hope that the sincerity of his next few words would be delivered to the panting teen.

"Listen carefully, Kurosaki-san. We are NOT your enemies. The ones that have been chasing you before are completely different from us. WE are THEIR enemies, so in a way you and I are on the same side. We are also Isshin-san's friends, so that makes us all the more trustworthy. Please just listen to what I'm about to say and do not forget my previous words. Those people that have been chasing you have also gone after your father and the twins. Although you did not escape unscathed, you're the only one they failed to capture so far. That is why you must come with us - so that we can at least try and figure something out, and so that those around you will be in less danger than they would be in if you were to stick around."

The teen found himself blocking out the words that came after the news of his family's abduction. He couldn't hear much else; he only saw the strange man's lips moving, implying that he was still speaking. No clear words graced Ichigo's ears, however, as he glanced from the woman he identified as Yoruichi, to the first man that had touched his shoulder, and then back to the shabby-looking blonde. It was damn confusing and the undeniable pain in his abdomen was doing nothing to help his situation.

The only reason he was able to snap out of his stupor was because the first of the three had placed his hand once more on his shoulder, this time gently. He even managed to look as if they had all the time in the world to be patient with the orange head, even if they knew they didn't. The other party would come after Ichigo sooner or later, and they needed to get off the streets. NOW.

"Ichigo, I need you to breathe here. You're not trying to win a hold-your-breath contest or something, so just concentrate on my voice and do as I say. Breathe, steady, inhale, exhale - that's all I'm asking right now. C'mon it's not hard - inhale, exhale."

Ichigo looked curiously at the blonde - this one looking a lot less suspicious than the other. He noticed the brown eyes that were much like his own, but holding a tinge of worry and anxiousness in their depths. As he stared into those eyes, he tried to concentrate on their owner's words. But shouldn't breathing pretty much be reflex, not something to think about? The more he focused on the blonde's pleas, however, he noticed that he really had stopped breathing. He was provoked to do something that he should have known to do from birth, something that would undoubtedly endanger his life if he ever stopped doing. He had to stay calm, regain his bearings, concentrate - more for his family's sake than his own.

His family was targeted, captured. Whoever these maniacs were, they weren't only after him.

"I have to save them."

The words were barely above a whisper, but were heard plenty well against the deafening sound of piddle-paddling rain and booming thunder that had ceased to a quiet, rhythmic pace.

"Look, kid. You can't do anything right now. Not you, not me, not anybody. If you really want to be of aid to anyone, then come with us and make all this easier. Your dad specifically told us to watch over you and the girls if something were to ever happen to him. Seeing as we only got word of what was happening an hour ago and we were only able to find you, then that means it's our job to protect you. At least, for now. So come on, Ichigo, just… come with Kisuke, Yoruichi and me and everything will be alright…"

Ichigo grimly nodded, barely noticing that he was being ushered into the van the three were previously riding in and most certainly not noticing the pressure applied to his abdomen the moment he had been laid on the back seat. He was hardly staying conscious to tell the truth, so he couldn't even hear the frantic calls that were being thrown back and forth by people he didn't even know - people that, mere minutes ago, he would have never listened to, but right now he was so damn frickin' tired he couldn't seem to care. And apparently, his body was wholeheartedly agreeing as well because the moment he lost consciousness completely was the moment the three, previously known as strangers, realized that Ichigo had lost way too much blood - too much to have even been standing, and certainly too much to have been running around on the streets just a few minutes ago.

He most certainly had pushed himself to his very limits… more so with a sword stab as deep as that one. A stab that had barely missed his vital organs. He probably shouldn't even be alive.

#2#

"You think he'll want to go rushing into Aizen's hide-out?"

Kisuke sighed, oblivious to the fact that a certain someone was standing just outside of the window. He shifted to get a better look at the silent clock, pendulum practically screaming that their topic of conversation would arrive any second now. He had to speak quickly and tersely if he wanted to deliver his thoughts to Shinji in time.

"I'd like to think he won't… at least not anymore. He really has changed from that frightened boy we found in the rain, huh, Shinji?"

"Yeah, he has… He's practically surpassed every one of us by now, and that in a way scares me. I mean, he has your manipulation skills: telling the truth, but at the same time, lying to your face - abilities he learned and seems to have mastered even better than you have. He has Yoruichi's stealth and acting abilities, too. It's sometimes scary how real he makes his façade look. And then he has my weary personality - always on edge, doubled with his talent for fighting and learning everything we've taught him from swords to guns… He's one hell of a foe, isn't he? Wouldn't want to get on his bad side."

The geta-wearing man gave out a low chuckle, fully knowing where the other was going and wholeheartedly agreeing. He should know it; after all, he had been the orange head's first teacher and after his lessons, Ichigo had already been a force to be reckoned with. Then lock up a certain purple-haired goddess with the prodigy boy in the cellar for a month… Let's just say that the resulting product unsettled everyone. It had made Yoruichi proud though. She would never let them live down the way they reacted when the berry used his acting skills to pull a prank on them. It had been - plainly putting it - hilarious, and she'd used it as blackmail material all the time back then.

"Oh, I know what you mean. We all do. Ichigo really has changed, and I doubt he'll just storm into Aizen's fortress now."

"You better goddamn believe I won't. At least not yet."

The two blonde men's eyes widened in surprise when a familiar voice interrupted their quiet conversation and not being able to believe they hadn't noticed the orange head's presence. He was even better than Yoruichi now that was for sure.

"H-hey, Ichigo, how ya doin'?"

The orange-haired man stopped for a moment and put on a rather thoughtful expression, a long tanned finger reaching up to twirl his hair. Ichigo stared up at the ceiling, looking positively innocent as he stood reclined by the window frame. He even managed to appear as if he was completely unaware of the shock he'd given the other two.

"Hm… well, I was perfectly fine until a certain midget assistant yelled at me over the phone, and I had to rush over here after our perverted boss gave a little explanation... but overall, I guess you could say I'm quite ecstatic to be here on such short notice."

Ichigo put on his warmest smile - a smile that held an unnerving intent to kill, undoubtedly directed toward both of them. It made Shinji wonder exactly what he had done to deserve this sort of treatment when it had actually been Kisuke's fault... but he supposed he did have a small part in all this.

'Yeah… the pictures.'

"Well, Ichi, I know you would just love to redo the take, so why don't you just run along and get ready? Lisa is already waiting for you in your dressing room to doll you up so that you'll look similar to how you did in the previous ones, and… maybe it would be better if I just shut up."

"Yeah, I think you should, Shin."

The shorter blonde - Shinji - cringed, not at all enjoying the pet name Ichigo sometimes used on him whenever he was just plain pissed, or wanted to make Shinji feel as uncomfortable as possible. Shinji could pretty much make out that today, it was a little bit of both. It was even worse when Ichigo decided to use that sweet voice of his to seem all the more innocent - as if the bastard didn't intend to make any of his words sound offending.

"Now, now. No need to fight over something like this, ne, Ichigo?"

"You're as much to blame as he is, Geta-bōshi. Shinji lost the files, but you didn't do your job as bossand made sure everything was alright."

The two stiffened at the harsh words - words that had been said in such a different tone than what it had been before that one would think the previously cheery man and the one before them were two different people. But they knew - oh, they knew pretty well which of the two was the phony, and which of them was the real one.

"You know it's not my job to take shots; that's Love's job, not mine. I'm an actor. The reason I covered for him was because he had a mission - nothing else. You can't go on blaming me 'cause it wasn't supposed to be my responsibility in the first place. And besides, what's got your panties in a twist today? It's not like you to be mad over such things, Ichigo."

The orange head glared at the other with the same scowl before a sigh escaped pale lips. His expression changed to that of extreme weariness and grief, yet did not fail to hint an apology of some sort.

"Yeah, sorry about that. It's just… I met my high school friends on the street, and well… you guys kinda interrupted."

"Oh…"

Realization dawned on the two. They knew full well how much Ichigo cared for his friends and how much he had missed them, even if he had willingly gone with them to Spain to follow the crazy man known as Aizen Sosuke. The boy still looked pained whenever he was reminded of his life before the whole family-kidnapping thing happened, so something like this was bound to give him even more to think about.

"I'm going to get ready… Sorry again for yelling; it wasn't your fault. The shot's lost anyway, even if it was caused by carelessness."

"S'okay, kid. Now go to your room; don't want Lisa to start pulling a fit because you're taking too damn long. God knows how much she hates it when you take so much time to get to her."

Ichigo nodded, barely sparing the two a glance as he strode out the door, countless thoughts running rampant in his head. He thought back to his friends and the yells of shock he had heard from far away that distinctively came from his friends and their company. No doubt they had opened up the envelope and had found out what was inside.

Would they come? Would they listen to him before saturating him with questions? And would the sexy-ass blunet come?

'Wait, what…?'

The orange head stopped, trying to process his thoughts and make sense of them all.

Did he just say - think - that the blunet was sexy? And he was anticipating his presence?

Surely not. Why would he? It wasn't like he was interested in the man; he was just hot… and irresistible… and cocky… and blunt… tall, muscled, handsome, even beautiful, polite, but lacking the ability to correctly express his manners, an amazing smile that brought chills down his spine, and… he was still thinking of the man.

"Ah, shit…"

Ichigo lost no more time trying and push the thought aside… at least until tomorrow when he would be able to see everyone again - and hopefully, the blunet as well. He continued walking down the halls to his private dressing room, a.k.a. his own room. He turned the knob gently to reveal the brunette that had been awaiting his arrival for quite some time now.

So instead of thinking about the new blue-haired man he'd met, he decided to concentrate on the day's shot. He needed to get into character.

He needed to be Mugetsu.

#2#

"Okay, let's get this straight one last time."

"Renji."

"We have six fuckin' tickets for this super famous artist, Shiba Mugetsu."

"Renji."

"And Ichigo just so happened to be the one to just give them out as if they were mere scraps of normal paper."

"Renji."

"And now we each have a ticket to this crazy-ass concert, which - may I add - had completely sold out the moment they were released."

"Renji!"

"And the most shocking part is that we also have backstage passes, and Ichigo said he worked there, so-"

"RENJI! LISTEN TO ME WHEN I'M CALLING YOU!"

The redhead jumped in place, taken aback by his girlfriend's outburst and not really understanding what the problem was. His explanation had been pretty clear so far, so what was there to get mad at?

"What?"

"This is the sixth time you've explained the story, and you're the only one that still hasn't caught up with the situation!"

Realization dawned on the redhead as he glanced around at the rest of his friends, each one immersed in his or her own dazed state, no doubt recounting the circumstances on their own as well.

"Okay… I think I get it now… but why would Ichigo have six tickets for tomorrow's concert?"

"Well, Abarai-san, that's what we're trying to find out."

The redhead turned to Uryuu, giving him the nastiest glare he could muster. Uryuu, on the other hand, paid no mind to Renji, instead searching for something on his phone.

"Well, I don't see you coming up with any ideas. You aren't even helping!"

"We shouldn't fight over something like this. We should just ask Kurosaki-kun tomorrow, ne, Nel-chan?"

Said person turned to look at the bubbly girl, wholeheartedly agreeing as she nodded. After all, what was the rush?

"Orihime's right. We'll just ask Ichigo tomorrow."

"Oi, Nel, when did you get all buddy-buddy with the guy?"

"What's wrong with that, Grimmy? It's not like he was bothered by it."

They all turned to look at a scowling Grimmjow, each secretly amused by the man's behavior. There was no doubt about what their friend wanted from their orange-headed subject of conversation

"Anyway, I am helping out here, so I recommend you stay quiet while I keep on searching, Abarai-san."

This seemed to gain everyone's attention, all turning to look at the concentrated man before his eyebrows shot all the way up to his hairline. This sparked a curiosity in each one of them, and Rukia missed not a single beat before asking about what he'd just read.

"What did you find, Uryuu?"

Said man was quiet for a moment, his lips pressed into a line, turning the phone around so that everyone was able to see the screen. Grimmjow, being the closest one to the raven, read it out loud for those that could not see as well from their own locations.

"Shiba Ichigo: successful songwriter for famous artist Shiba Mugetsu, also known as his fraternal twin and only sibling. His songs have captivated millions of fans with both gentle and rougher melodies. Each and every one of his songs are sung by his brother, and it is said that he never composes for anyone else. He is openly criticized for refusing to appear in public and instead opting to stay within the shadow of his elder-brother-by-mere-seconds, Mugetsu. Said star always defends him by saying that from the two, Ichigo has always been the one with a poorer health, thus it didn't come as a surprise when he told him he didn't want to come out. Thanks to his illness, he was practically raised inside their room, after all. There is only a single shot of the two siblings together - back when Shiba Ichigo was in good health. The photo was taken by paparazzi and earned a great sum of money because of it; however, Ichigo has not been seen since then. The image has brought many things to light, as Ichigo's appearance is finally seen. The two brothers really are complete copies of each other - with the exception of Ichigo's most likely dyed orange hair…"

…

"Is this for real?"

Everyone turned to look at Uryuu when Renji shattered the silence, almost as if they expected an explanation of some sort from the raven. They were dealing with some big news here, and they wanted to make sure they weren't just hearing things.

"Yes, it is. The image is below; just scroll down a little and you'll see."

Grimmjow did as he was told, his eyes widening when they settled on the near identical figures standing side-by-side in the photo. He instantly recognized the orange haired man; the guy was pretty hard to miss after all.

"Wow… no wonder Ichigo was wearing a hood. He's frickin famous!"

"Renji, shut up."

"But Rukes, he-"

The redhead abruptly shut up, however, when he saw the raven head's violet eyes - eyes that conveyed much confliction that also delivered a silent plea, just asking for some quiet. This was one piece of news they had certainly not been expecting, and none of them knew exactly how to react to it.

To be continued…

Chapter two is up and we finally have a better view of the whol situation. Hope you guys enjoyed it and thank you for all the kind reviews, favorites and follows.

Also a special thanks to my beta reader –again- because he puts up with my crap and doesn't complain. THANK YOU!

And remember, updates or on Tuesdays every two weeks so await eagerly please!

Preview:

"Hey, everything will be alright you hear? I'll be here for you if you need it and I know that all of us will just… remember to be careful about what you say Ichi. We don't want problems and we most certainly don't want to involve any civilian."