Disclaimer: I do not own bleach.. but I wish I do

Chapter 2:

"Now give me a beat
Dance sweat move your body
Jump around start to party
Enjoy yourself you are not a stereotype
Express yourself then you will feel alright
All night cause it's party time"

Keep on Dancing DJ Bobo

Ichigo kicked out at the door, flinched at the pain but lashed out again, this time with his fist instead of his foot. That stupid coach knew nothing about talent. Sighing he picked up his bag from the floor just as Shinji bounded out of the studio with a huge smile on his face.

"You're looking at the male lead," he shouted twirling gracefully over to Ichigo making sure to stay on his toes. He smiled weakly. He was proud of the blond of course. They had been best friends since the first day of college, when he had met the male stretched out on the dance studio floor doing a full split.

"I saw your name Shinji. I'm aware." Ichigo pushed the door opened and stepped out into the moist summer air. He inhaled deeply and didn't look back. He was certain Shinji would follow him. He had lost the key to the dorm and therefore needed the blond to even have access to the building.

"Slow down Ichigo. Gosh, what's got your leotard in a bunch," Shinji asked falling into step beside the brooding male.

"Nothing, just slightly pissed," he grumbled running a hand through his shockingly bright orange hair.

"Is this because of what Yumi-sensei said? Ugh, don't let him get to you. He loves to mess with people's brains; it's his way of unlocking your full potential." Shinji flipped his blond hair back from his face and gave him the biggest smile he could muster. "Let's go to a bar. Pick up some guys ne?"

"I'm tired Shin." Ichigo faked a yawn. He would never let his friend know that the real reason he was upset was not because of what the stern feminine sensei had said but the posting that had landed Shinji the lead road instead of himself.

"Don't be a sourpuss. Come celebrate with me. Tomorrow is going to be hell for everyone. Might as well make today the best day of our lives before the hardcore training begins, and trust me it will be hardcore. I've been through more than my fair share of recitals with Byakuya as a director and trust me if your legs don't burn by the end of rehearsal, you're sure to be there until they do."

Ichigo had heard talk of Byakuya. The director had been portrayed as a cold perfectionist who would rarely utter less than a couple words to any freshman. It was remarkable he had even been cast in the recital despite his lesser role. Byakuya never picked anyone without talent.

"I've heard," Ichigo said waiting for Shinji to open the door. He really needed to get a new key made. They walked into the two bedroom apartment dorm that the college provided for them. It was cozy with a walk-in closet, private bathrooms, patio, kitchen, and living room. When Ichigo had first moved in it had taken him some time to get used to the American living. It had differed far from his traditional Japanese home but he'd warmed up to it pretty quickly.

Shinji had done everything he could to make Ichigo feel at home. He had invited the foreigner to bars and had introduced him to friends and made him feel as comfortable as possible in his new environment.

Ichigo would probably never admit it to the blond's face, but without his guidance and friendship he probably would have packed up and flown back home before the end of the month.

"Come on Ichi, just come with me. When's the last time you got laid?" Shinji tossed the oversized white shirt he danced in on the bed and walked to his bathroom leaving a trail of clothes behind him.

"That's my business," Ichigo snapped at the open bathroom door, not daring to go in. He had seen Shinji naked before, it was just the sheer awkwardness of it that made him uncomfortable. Nudity never seemed to bother the smaller male much. Ichigo had seen him cooking breakfast in all his birthday suited glory singing a random tune acting as if nothing was wrong with the picture.

"I'm guessing a long time." Shinji smirked and stuck his head out of the door long enough to taunt him before closing the door. The sound of the shower running followed shortly after and Ichigo sighed and followed his example. He did need a bath. People might not believe it but dancing was hard work, especially ballet. It was all about balance, flexibility, strength, and control. He was pretty sure ballerinas worked just as hard as any major sport athlete if not more. Football players had it easy in his mind. Running, catching footballs, and blocking tackles. They had probably never had to stand on their tiptoes for hours praying they didn't get off balance and end up breaking their toes, ankles, or sometimes even a leg.

They had probably never had to hold a position for so long that when they were able to move it hurt worse than standing still, or had the bleeding that resulted from shoes that had not been broken in yet, or ever had to balance on one leg while skillfully maneuvering their body in a full circle without their foot ever leaving the ground.

Ichigo pushed the thoughts from his head and let the warm spray of water take his mind away from the stress he had been under for the last couple of months. It was hard enough that he was basically lying to his father about his major. The doctor was probably somewhere in Karakura town bragging of his son's acceptance into medical school, not knowing that it wasn't true. Instead his only son was in an art college majoring in dance and struggling to get noticed by the New York City ballet company, or really he would settle for just about any company noticing him right about now. The water had started to become cold and Ichigo knew it was time to get out.

Wrapping a towel around his waist he walked back into his room to find that Shinji had laid out his clothes on the bed for him. A plain black t-shirt and skinny jeans with plain black chucks. Ichigo had no doubt that his friend's outfit would consist of something brightly outrageous that screamed Gay.

It was no secret that Shinji was homosexual. The way he carried himself, the way he dressed, and the extra switch he put into his step whenever someone he deemed "attractive" was nearby made it more than obvious.

Ichigo on the other hand was thoroughly confused about his own sexual orientation. He had been with girls and he had been with guys. He just hadn't found anyone he really liked from either side. Shinji had once told him that bisexuals were greedy and shouldn't even exist. Ichigo had argued that technically gays were more selfish since there is absolutely no chance of them adding to the population count.

"How do I look." Shinji opened the door with no warning stepping in and confirming Ichigo's earlier suspicions. The blond was wearing a bright yellow vest over a pink v-neck topped off with yellow skinny jeans and matching shoes.

"Bright."

###

"This isn't fucking fair. Fuck yer couch!" Grimmjow yelled at the bouncer as he dragged him and a shitfaced Nnoi out of the strip club. Grimm cast the taller man an evil glare. The dumbass had thought it would be funny to get drunk and see how many one dollar bills he could shove in strippers mouth. Apparently not enough to not get him and Grimm kicked out.

"The bitch spat it out. Thought strippers liked to swallow." Nnoi threw back his head and laughed. Grimm scowled not finding humor in the joke.

"What the fuck are we supposed to do now!" he shouted, pushing the other man away as he attempted to lean on him.

"I don't fuckin care. There's plenty more strip clubs in this city. Let's hit up a bar or something. I'm not drunk enuf yet," Nnoi said pushing Gimm to catch his balance and walk with long limbs in the direction of the bar he thought he had seen on their way to the strip club.

"Yer an idiot. I don't see why I fucking put up with yer ass," Grimm said moving to take the lead. It was still early, only barely hitting midnight. The streets were slowly getting packed and the crowd was making Grimm slightly irritated, which combined with the liquor that was currently working its way through his system spelled disaster for anyone who got in his path.

"Told yer I saw one!" Nnoi pointed at the flashing sign. Grimm raised an eyebrow. It was a club, not a bar, and the line seemed shorter than some others he had seen. A sign on the street indicated that it was free to enter, a plus since he didn't feel like spending money on anything else stupid.

"Conundrum," he said, the word feeling good on his tounge. He smirked and headed towards the line leaving Nnoitora to follow behind him. The wait wasn't even long, before he knew it he had flashed his ID and made his way into the tightly packed club. Dry ice created fog that crept around the dancers' feet. Black painted walls reflected the strobe lights' intensity, giving the club an almost sinister look.

"I'm goin' to get a drink," Nnoi said as he moved into the crowd and shoved his towards the bar on the other side. Grimm shook his head slightly. That dumbass was going to be hell to get home after he had his drinks.

Grimmjow had never been the responsible one, always quick to rush into a fight, get drunk etc, but with Nnoitora around it was best for him to be at least somewhat aware of what was going on before another incident occurred. He shuddered at the memory he had purposely pushed to the back of his mind and had under lock and key.

"Hey, wanna dance," a girl with dark brown hair and large green doe eyes said pressing her body against his. She couldn't have been over the age 16 but the makeup she had applied had made her look far older. She smelled like liquor and not girly pussy liquor, but the kind that would have a grown man under a table. Her pupils were dilated dangerously and barely visible in her eyes. It was clear she was more than drunk.

"I'll pass sweetheart," Grimm said. The thought of even touching the girl disgusted him.

"Your loss babe." She said tossed her mane of hair over her shoulder and moved on into the crowd. Grimm almost felt sorry for the girl. Someone would take her up on her offer and then they would probably do god knows what to the child and leave her somewhere to be found. He had seen it plenty of times, but then again he really didn't care.

Grimm made his way to the bar and grabbed a shot before Nnoi's fingers could wrap around it and downed it.

"Bitch." Nnoi muttered as he ordered another one. Grimm smiled and let his eyes wander over the crowd. Bodies were so closely pressed together it was nearly impossible to figure out where one person ended and the next began, his eyes finally settled on a blonde whose outfit was so ridiculously bright he should have been strung from the ceiling and used as decoration.

"Hey, look at that guy," Grimm said nudging Nnoi. The other man murmured something incoherent but didn't bother to turn around.

"Thats yer last one, just so ya know." Grimm rolled his eyes as he watched Nnoi attempt to stand. He steadied himself slightly before sitting down.

"Yeah, yeah. Blah blah blah. Thats what yer sound like a fuckin naggin pussy."

"Well this nagging pussy is the only way you got to get home tonight," Grimm countered.

"Blah blah blah," Nnoi said as he made a face and moved his hands to mock him.

"Lucky yer drunk. Ya stupid fucker," Grimm said, the blonde that he had seen earlier was gone and that was probably the only entertainment he'd had the whole night. "Let's go."

Nnoitora didn't bother to argue, just sagged slightly on Grimm while they made their way out the door. There was a large group in the square. They had formed a circle and Grimm could have sworn he had seen a flash of blonde in the crowd.

"What's happening over there?" Grimm asked.

"Apparently some dude challenged Zangestu to a street battle." Even Grimmjow knew that name. It was big especially in the dance scene. No one wanted to battle him. He was somewhat of a bigshot.

"Nnoi, I've got to see this so get yer ass off of me," Grimm said pushing him off of him. Nnoi caught his balance and glared at him, but Grimm was already halfway through the crowd. The blonde stood behind a boy with striking orange hair. The sight of him made Grimmjow do a double-take. He didn't know what it was, maybe it was the man's dance style that pulled him in. He wasn't street dancing, b-boying, or even crumping. He was doing ballet.

His movements were sharp, precise, and controlled. Grimm couldn't take his eyes off of him. The boys hair looked like flames in the night as he moved and Grimmjow didn't want to admit it but he was hung on his every move. He had to have him, and just like that the dude had stopped and the crowd was cheering. Smirking the guy turned just as the blonde jumped on his back shouting something that Grimm couldn't hear over the crowd.

It was clear that Zangetsu had lost but the older man didn't seem phased at all. He was actually smiling. It was rare for competitors to smile at each other, but there was just something about the kid that Grimm couldn't deny was enchanting.

The blonde jumped down from the boy's back and they started to make their way through the crows towards him. Chocolate brown eyes met his own cyan ones and only one thought flickered in his mind... 'Mine.'

###

Ichigo had no idea how he had even been suckered into the battle. All he knew was after he had left the club he had been pushed into a circle of people and an older man with black wavy hair and sunglasses blocking his eyes stood opposite him. Apparently, Ichigo in a drunken stupor had insulted the man and a public dance battle between the two had been the result. Even with the liquor settling a haze over him Ichigo could see that the man was good.

Hip hop dancing was his forte but Evolution of dance was a class he was taking and he recognized the form of dance the man did. Isolations mostly, appearing almost robotic. One part of his body moving separately from the other.

Then it was his turn. Ichigo had turned to Shinji but all the blonde did was usher him forward and before he knew it all of his anger from the day flowed into his feet and then it was over. The crowd was roaring and Shinji had jumped on his back and was screaming his name. The older man, Zangetsu, smiled and nodded his head.

Ichigo shrugged not really knowing what it meant but smirked back and let Shinji lead him away. His head was spinning and he felt like he'd throw up any minute. All he could think about was his bed back at the house. Ichigo brought his head up and his eyes locked with someone's in the crowd. The blue was so clear he felt like he'd just drowned and there was no way out from it. Like he was falling, but there was no round to be seen.

"Ichigo. Come on, early morning." Shinji wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him away from the stranger, but those blue eyes stayed with him. Even as he felt Shinji drop him on the bed when they had finally reached the dorms, even when he had closed his eyes and let sleep over take him..

A/N: Thanks to everyone that reviewed.. Sorry it took so long to put this chapter out. I'll try to update frequently or else my beta will eat me :(

She's quite scary lol

Anyway.. I'm finally through with the little intro whatevers.. so I can dive right into the action.. Right in the middle of the ocean.. right in the middle of the war.. MWWWAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Sorry got a little carried away but yeah thanks everyone for reading.. even if you just read and didn't review. It's still appreciated. I'm doing a lot of research on dancing. I dance kinda in the comforts of my own home but I want the ballet moves and everything to be correct as possible. It's actually kind of fun. I've learned a lot from the little I've read and watched on youtube.

Well anyway this A/N is long enough so thanks again and be on the look out for my new story that's coming out soon where Grimmkitty is a Vet and Ichiberry is an assassin ... :D

-Inferia Masters..

Beta Note- I'm not that scary! -sulks in corner- Ah, since this nutcase didn't say it REVIEW. Reviews are nice. ~ Nanashi XIII (btw ya should go check my fics out)