Hey! I don't usually put notes at the beginning of a chapter, but I have to this time, since I want you guys to know that a portion of this was written by my friend kurokun. She's awesome, and so helpful, and you should totally read her fic False Awakening if you haven't because it's amazing. Okay, that's all. Here's chapter two ^_^

Chapter Two: You're everything that I see. . .

By: Drake

Grimmjow hummed the tune of the song he'd performed earlier that night as he wiped down a table. He couldn't believe how well his first night performing had went; he'd gotten to play and he'd met a gorgeous man with whom he planned to have a date by the end of the week. Things were looking up for the struggling musician.

He didn't really have some kind of harrowing sob story, but his life hadn't been a walk in the park either. His parents were both neuroscientists and of course had expected him to follow in their footsteps. The older Grimmjow had gotten though, the more he realized that all he wanted to do was sing. When he told his parents about his decision to audition for Juilliard, they were extremely disappointed, his mother more so than his father. He still remembered the day he told them. It was the day after graduation. He'd already been accepted and had his audition date.

"Are you excited to be going to Stanford, Grimmjow?" his mother, Juliana, asked from the front seat of his father's Range Rover. Grimmjow rolled his eyes and turned to look out of the window, propping his head on his fist.

"I'd be excited if I was going there," he responded, coldly.

"What are you talking about, son?" his father asked, looking at him in the rear view mirror. Grimmjow sat up then, taking a deep breath before he spoke.

"I'm not going to Stanford. I'm going to Juilliard. I've already been accepted. My audition is in two weeks." The only sound in the vehicle was the soft voices of the speakers on NPR as Grimmjow waited with bated breath for one of his parents to respond to what he'd just said.

"And when were you planning on telling us?" his mother asked, her tone filled with distaste.

"Just did," Grimmjow replied, nonchalantly, returning to his previous position.

"Don't speak to your mother that way, Grimmjow."

"Practice what you preach, Father."

"Alright, that's enough of the attitude, Grimmjow. You've been acting like a certified brat for the past three months and I've had enough to be quite frank. We are paying for your education, and we will not waste our money on something as fruitless as music." Grimmjow glared fiercely at his mother, not at all approving of her harsh and condescending tone.

"You've never even heard me sing," he grumbled.

"Nor do I want to. It's a waste of time and intelligence. You are graduating in the top fifth percentile of your class, Grimmjow. Think of what you could be doing to change the world."

"What if I want to change the world through music?" He saw his mother's vibrant blue eyes that matched his own roll upwards.

"I can't deal with this, Malcolm. Please handle your son." Grimmjow frowned at his mother's dismissing statement. He looked up at the rearview mirror, catching his father's dark brown eyes with his own. He was hoping against hope that his dad would have his back.

"Son, you know we only want what's best for you. If you want to go to this music school, you can." Juliana gasped and Grimmjow pumped his fist in the air, grinning from ear-to-ear. "However -" Malcolm interrupted his son's celebrating, giving him a stern look from the front. "we are not going to pay for you to go."

Grimmjow's smile disappeared immediately. His father had to know how expensive the school was. There was no way he could afford to go without his parents' help. He wouldn't give up though. This is what he wanted for himself, and he'd achieve his goals, with or without his family.

"Could you hurry it up, Casanova? Some of us want to go home tonight," Riruka called from across the dining area. Grimmjow smiled as he finished wiping the table and picked up some teacups from another.

"What's up with you, sweetheart? It's like you live to antagonize me."

"Contrary to your beliefs, sweetheart," Riruka chided as she swept the floor quickly. "the world does not revolve around you. This is the way I am."

"Well, maybe consider working on that? It's really not cute," he replied in a sing-song voice.

"You know what's not cute? You."

"Ha! You thought! I'm fine as hell," Grimmjow responded, laughing as Riruka rolled her eyes.

"That's not even what I meant, you narcissistic asshole. I meant the way you were blatantly flirting with Mr. Kurosaki. Do you know who he is?" Grimmjow put a finger against his chin, feigning deep thought.

"Soon to be my man?" Riruka groaned loudly as Grimmjow started cackling again. He really could not get enough of poking fun at her. Her reactions were way too priceless.

"You know what, I was going to try to help you, but I can see right now that the kind of help you need, I cannot provide." She turned to leave for the back, but Grimmjow stopped her.

"Okay, serious time. What's so bad about him? Is he like some kind of gangster or mob boss? Because he told me he was a divorce attorney."

"No it's not that. It's. . .well. . ."

"Spit it out, bro, I'm dying here!" Grimmjow exclaimed. He wasn't the most patient of men.

"He's dating someone! They've been together for two years, and are strongly considering marriage."

Grimmjow took a step back from the girl before him, frowning in disbelief.

"How do you know that?" he asked. Riruka frowned back at him, crossing her arms over her chest.

"How do you think?" Grimmjow looked at her skeptically, and she sighed, continuing to sweep the floor. "You think you're the first person in here to approach him? I mean have you seen him? Did you look at him with those pretty eyes of yours? He's glorious."

That was true. Grimmjow sighed as he finished wiping his last table. He was so stupid. How could he think that someone like that would just be available? Or that they'd want to be with his young, stupid ass anyway.

Even still, he couldn't get the older man out of his head. That smile, that laugh, that voice, those eyes. God damn those eyes. The man was absolutely perfect. Grimmjow couldn't just let that go. He decided he'd wait for Ichigo to call him, and explain himself. If he didn't then he'd just ask him the next time the other male came to the shop. Either way, he'd find out what the real deal was.

Ichigo sighed as he walked through the entrance of his two-story brick home. He could feel the tension in the room as he crossed through the foyer and into the living room where his boyfriend of two years sat on the sofa. He gave the man a tight smile before he set his briefcase down on one of the armchairs.

"Hey, you. I'm sorry about earlier," he apologized sincerely, taking the spot next to the other on the couch.

"We'll be on the waiting list for two months to go to that restaurant, Ichigo," Shuuhei grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm sorry Shuu," Ichigo sighed as he dropped his bag in the spacious foyer and loosened his tie. "I just have a lot going on at the firm."

"Right, a lot going on," his partner mumbled despondently. Ichigo frowned and came around to the sofa and sat next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. But instead of turning into the touch, Shuuhei stood and walked to the kitchen bar, fiddling with his phone on its surface. "I guess since you have a lot going on I should probably get out of your way."

"Please don't be like that," Ichigo said in response, flopping back into the cushions.

"Don't be like what?" Shuuhei asked with a sarcastic laugh. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You do know," he responded crossly, irritation seeping into his tone. These petty arguments had been happening more and more often, Shuuhei acting distant and pouting like a child while Ichigo tried to diffuse the situation through his own exhaustion. Ichigo stood and removed his tie, then started unbuttoning his dress shirt with another sigh, walking towards the bedroom.

"And now you're just going to walk away. How typical," Ichigo heard from behind him. He turned quickly and strode back over, patience wearing thin.

"You know I really don't need this," he spat out sharply. "I work ten hour days or more trying to provide for us, dealing with people's fucked up lives while trying to make sense of their misery and I don't need to come home and have to deal with misery of my own. Is that too much to ask?"

Shuuhei was silent for a few moments, jaw set hard, before he looked up at Ichigo and gave him a smug, dismissive smile.

"You mean you flirt and play nice with your clients for a living to get what you want? Because that's all I see."

Ichigo was surprised at the sting of the words, mouth dropping open slightly as he perceived them. He pretended that he was trying to subdue his anger, but more than anything he was just postponing the hurt. He turned quickly on his heel and strode into the bedroom, changing into a pair of slim jeans and pulling on a sweatshirt before packing a few personal items into an overnight bag. He ignored the man next to him as he bumbled out weak apologies before finally walking back through the entryway and out to the street.

And of course, it was raining now. It was almost too dramatically perfect. Ichigo pulled up his hood and walked down the street, thankful that his turbulent home was at least close to downtown. As he prowled the streets around him, water seeping into his clothing, and looked around seeking refuge only to find a myriad of trendy clubs with loud, thumping music.

Not very conducive to going over case materials.

Finally tired of getting drenched he ducked into a late night coffee shop, dim lighting not exactly good for reading, but it would be enough. He shook out his hair as he stepped inside, brushing off any excess droplets he could before walking to a table and pulling out a chair. But before he could sit, he heard a sinful and rather familiar voice call to him innocently from behind.

"Ichigo?"

Blue.

"You? What are you doing here?" the oranget asked, sitting down at an available table. He slipped his hood off and shook his head to rid himself of some of the water droplets as Grimmjow sat down in front of him, giving him a worried look.

"I'm picking up a friend. His job isn't nearly as fun as mine," the blue-haired male responded, smiling genuinely. Ichigo admired his handsome, young face before he flagged down a waitress and ordered a black coffee.

"Oh. What time does your friend get off?" he asked, getting out a few case files and fishing his reading glasses out of his bag, situating them onto his nose. He didn't need them desperately, but with the lighting, he figured they'd help. He was looking over his recently acquired abomination of a case when he realized that Grimmjow had yet to answer his question. He looked up from his work to see the gorgeous man staring at him intently. The two met eyes and Grimmjow's head tilted to the side, lips parting slightly as he watched him. His lips were fuller than Ichigo had thought. After his head cleared from the haze of blue in his vision, a perfectly manicured orange brow arched up curiously. "Uh. . .you okay?" The younger male shook his head rapidly, and then nodded.

"I'm fine, sorry. What was your question again?" Ichigo chuckled and returned his attention back to the file, repeating his question for the flustered male before him. "Oh he doesn't get off for another hour or so, but I didn't see the point in going home when I could just hang out here. The bear claws here are killer. Don't tell Mr. Sosuke I said that though." The older male laughed as Grimmjow looked around anxiously as if Sosuke had the place bugged and would come for him at any moment. He fixed his oceanic gaze back on Ichigo. "So I told you what I'm doing here. What're you doing out so late?"

Ichigo sighed, rubbing his temple. He was wondering if it was worth it to mention Shuuhei to the younger male now. Honestly, he hadn't been happy with the raven-haired male for quite some time, the petty fights wearing his patience thin and making him question the relationship more than not. He just hadn't gotten around to breaking up with him.

"I got into an argument with my. . ."

"Your boyfriend?" Ichigo's eyes widened as he looked at the blue-haired man in front of him. How did he know that? Grimmjow gave him a sad smile, before looking away, staring across the café at nothing in particular. "That's a shame," he mumbled almost to himself, "you'd think he'd be working harder to keep you." Ichigo found himself fighting a blush as the younger's intense stare from before returned. Ichigo met his eyes, peering into the lidded blue depths as they swirled with something unrecognizable. He could be wrong, but they almost looked longing. Averting his own eyes the orange-haired male cleared his throat before fixing his glasses and shifting in his seat, trying to avoid being consumed.

"Well, um. . .it takes two to tango, you know?" he said, finally. "Can't be in a relationship by yourself, and I've been kind of distant as of late. He has a right to be upset with me."

Saying it out loud made Ichigo realize what he'd been missing. He'd been a real jerk, and he needed to apologize. He knew he wasn't perfect; when things started going downhill, he chose to remove himself emotionally instead of doing the responsible thing and ending the relationship. Whether or not he and Shuu would work things out was debatable, but he still needed to show that he was at least willing to try.

"I guess you're right. I'm sorry," Grimmjow said, running a hand through his messy sky blue locks. Ichigo raised a brow, taking off his glasses.

"What for?"

"It's a difficult situation to be in, and I'm sure I didn't make it any easier by kissing you. I don't want you to think bad of me."

Ichigo smiled, and reached across the table, covering Grimmjow's hand with his own. "Don't worry. There's no way you could've known, and it'd take a lot more than that to make me dislike you."

The smile that illuminated Grimmjow's face nearly stopped Ichigo's poor heart. It was a different smile than his cocky one he displayed when he'd performed earlier that day, and it was far from the sad smile he'd given Ichigo when he'd brought up the elder's boyfriend. He was. . .beautiful when he smiled like that. Ichigo blushed again slightly, deciding that he liked this smile the best.

"Hey," Grimmjow said, pulling him from his trance, "would you mind listening to something I'm planning for my next performance?" Ichigo nodded instantly, feeling his chest tighten a bit as he thought of Grimmjow's ethereal voice. He bit his lip when the younger smiled that smile again before he reached into his messenger bag, pulling out an iPad and messing with it a bit, until the sounds of a piano started to come from the speaker. Ichigo took a sip of his coffee as the blue haired male started to sing,

"I've got my eyes on you. You're everything that I see; I want your hot love and emotion, endlessly. I can't get over you; you've left your mark on me; I want your hot love and emotion, endlessly. . ."

Ichigo found himself smiling as the other male's voice wrapped effortlessly around the notes of the song he recognized instantly. Grimmjow looked up from his makeshift keyboard to meet Ichigo's gaze. The corners of his mouth turned up in a grin as he looked back, unable to hide his awe. His voice was a smooth tenor that stroked the chords and resonated in Ichigo's chest, causing his heart to stutter.

"'Cause you're a good girl and you know it; you act so different around me. 'Cause you're a good girl and you know it. I know exactly who you could be. So just hold on, we're going home. . ."

Ichigo noticed that the few patrons who'd been in the shop with them had turned to watch Grimmjow sing, and they all seemed just as enchanted as the orange haired male was himself. Grimmjow didn't seem to notice though. He was focused solely on Ichigo; his oceanic eyes became even more vast when he sang. It was like watching the tide rise at dusk, creating a dark and bottomless sea of feeling instead of water. They glimmered slightly as he looked Ichigo up and down, the elder noticing his eyes linger on his throat as he released a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"You're the girl, you're the one; gave you every. . .thing I love. I think there's something. . . baby. . .I think there's something. . .baby. . ."

Ichigo felt himself blushing again, embarrassed by the singer's intense stare. When Grimmjow finished singing, the other customers and some of the employees joined Ichigo in giving him a round of applause. The blue haired male seemed surprised before he bowed his head slightly, looking away from Ichigo for only a moment to accept the praise. The oranget packed up his things, deciding to chance going home and trying to make amends with his boyfriend. He needed to talk to Shuu immediately, or. . .he didn't know what would happen if he didn't, but he was sure it'd be a mess. He was standing to leave when Grimmjow gripped his wrist and stopped him. He caught that intense blue gaze yet again, noticing that same look of longing, which he definitely recognized as such that time.

"Why are you jetting? Was it that shitty?" he asked. Ichigo shook his head, smiling slightly as the pink crept onto his cheeks again.

"Quite the opposite, actually," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was. . .umm, you should definitely sing it next time." Grimmjow gave him one of his new favorite smiles.

"Will you be there to see me do it?"

"Probably not. I don't get to go as often as I'd like to. As a matter of fact, today was the first time I've gone in a while." Ichigo watched as the singer visibly deflated. Those beautiful blue depths grew shallow as he looked away from Ichigo. Grimmjow's body also stiffened, and Ichigo felt. . .guilty. Not thinking about his action, Ichigo reached over, laying a hand on Grimmjow's chest. "Hey, I've got your number. How's about I call you when I'm going to come?" Grimmjow turned back to him, staring at him passively for a moment. Ichigo found him impossible to read, and was shocked when he felt the warmth of Grimmjow's large hand over his own. The oranget blushed again, resisting the urge to draw his hand away as if it'd been burnt; just that simple contact was enough to have his sweat glands working overtime and his mind wandering into places it had no business being in.

"Or," the younger male said with a quiet purposeful tone, "you could just call to, you know. . .talk?" Ichigo chuckled, nervously, managing to pull his hand free as he pulled his bag strap across his shoulder.

"I. . .suppose I could. I'll see you around, Grimmjow." He turned to leave, barely hearing Grimmjow whisper,

"Promise?" The innocence and hope he heard in the blue-haired singer's smooth voice, made him stop dead in his tracks. He glanced over his shoulder, smiling gently.

"Promise."

Thanks for reading! You're all rad ^_^

Until next time,

Patd06