And now we've come to chapter three. 83 SO MANY REVIEWS ;O I was shooting for like 8 reviews, ended up with 19? HOLY SPOTTLESS COW! Made my day and definitely solidified this stories place in the ranks of other stories. –scuffs foot against ground- Glad to know that you guys feel so strongly for my works. To be honest, I don't feel like I'm all that good at it, which probably is true.
Call it my writing low self esteem. But the reviews helped with bolstering my RESOLVE! SOME ONE OBVIOUSLY LIKES MY WORK RIGHT? 8D
Also, I decided to move on from the… uh 'stuff' that happened. It's not right to let it drag me down and I know I shouldn't let my being down tarnish the memories. So I have decided to live on in happiness without regret of what happened.
DISCLAIMOR! Why would anyone even think I owned Bleach?
WARNINGS! Language, violence, sadism, a sexual situation ('bout time right? Lol just kidding though once again not much worth mentioning)
.:.~O3O~.:.
Chapter 3- It's Just Business
"HUUURAAAAHH-urg…" Renji stretched his arms high above his head as he yawned very loudly and then smacked his lips. His corpse of a friend Ichigo glared at him with lifelessly tired eyes; black like bruising surrounding the bottoms.
"God yer disgusting…" Ichigo muttered quietly, fighting back a yawn. Fricken Renji and his contagious yawning.
Boy. What a NIGHT did he have. Jesus! After the encounter with Grimmjow Jeagerjaques and the sports car from hell, hoo boy! He was too pumped to sleep. He paced around his apartment smiling to himself and laughing, dancing around throwing punches at invisible enemies. He felt like the king of the world.
Funny how not even three hours later he felt like he had been trampled by a raging stampede. Urg… Was it even possible to be this tired? Snails could've been passing him by a mile an hour, leaving him to eat their microscopic, slimy dust. Ichigo rubbed at his skull. Shit, he was so tired he had a headache and was all stressed out from the tension in his muscles. God damn, how was he supposed to do heavy labor all day today and THEN go to the grocery store and work, lugging MORE heavy shit around, stacking it on too high shelves?
ROAR! That's what he felt like doing, roaring his outrage! Like the cave troll he felt like at the moment, he wanted to shake his shovel like a club, beat his chest, and climb inside a cave and sleep for an eternity or two; and if he had to kill a few people a who got in the way… well he might be willing to do just that if it meant some lovely, beautiful, glorious shut eye.
And if these stupid buffoons he worked with thought he had a short temper before, oooo they were in for the surprise of their LIVES.
Ichigo's nostrils flared as he tried to drown out Renji's pointless yapping and tried to pick up a huge rock in the way. Why couldn't he ever find peace and quiet? Somewhere where he could just sit back and enjoy the silence. Now that sounded amazing.
"LOOK OUT BELOW, YA PANSIES!"
Ichigo looked up in time to watch Renji yelp and dive out of the way of airborne feet crashing into where he was just standing. He quickly rolled over onto his back, fingers grasping desperately at the ground as he gulped in desperate puffs of air, dragging himself away from the maniac. The man who just landed turned abruptly and pointed an accusing finger at Renji, glaring.
"DON'T BE SUCH A PUSSY! FACE ME YOU COWARD," the man all but roared at Renji.
"N-no thanks, you psychopath! Only an idiot would stay here and risk gettin' his balls chomped off by you, Chrome Dome!" Renji scurried and stumbled away, a trail of dust billowing out behind him as he kicked the gravel up.
The aforementioned man stood up, the sun gleaming off of his head. "AYE! SAY THAT TO MY FACE YOU DICKLESS BABOON!"
Ichigo watched with silent irritation. Slowly, with a tired grunt, he got back to shoveling the excess gravel out of the hole.
"Hey there Ikkaku," he said without much emotion, too tired and irritated to try for anything the least bit civil. The bald man turned and looked at a worn out Ichigo.
"Damn, I was gonna challenge you ta another duel but you look like shit." Ikkaku's eyebrow twitched and he grit his teeth. Ichigo turned his head away as he waited for the impending explosion. "WHAT THE HELL! WHY IS IT ALL MY RIVALS SUCK ASS! I bet you did this on purpose, coming here, looking like shit so you wouldn't have to face me. Well ya know what, I'm on to you."
Ikkaku pointed two of his fingers at his eyes then pointed at Ichigo with them, a deadly glint in each eye. "Get better soon so I can kick yer ass. Ya know I ain't gonna stop 'til I do! Next time, I won't let chya git away with lookin' shitty. YER ASS IS MINE KUROSAKI!"
Ikkaku clenched his fingers and made a fist, showing it to Ichigo smirking like the maniac he was. It hadn't even been two seconds before Ikkaku fell to the side with a loud thud, a huge hand now in his place.
"A love confession? How sweet… and inappropriate. This is work! And what are you maggots supposed to be doing, hmm?" The big hulking beast that was speaking had its monstrous limbs resting on its hips and glaring down at the two of them. Ichigo gulped. Gah fuck… Today just wasn't his day. Maybe if he ran fast enough, he could escape the two crazies. He had the misfortune of glancing up and seeing the beast of a man staring at him with wide eyes and the psychotic grin on his face.
Ichigo gulped again. "H-heeey, Kenpachi. Ho-howzit goin'..?" Ichigo could feel his lips twitching as he forced himself to smile nervously. This man was as crazy as they came. Ichigo could feel his blood turn blue and rush to his feet as the monster bent down to stare into his eyes.
"I asked you a question, maggot."
Ikkaku abruptly stood up, "We're supposed to be working, sir!" Kenpachi's eyes slithered to look at him and stood up abruptly, scowling.
"Then get to work, dammit! That shit ain't gonna shovel itself," he all but roared like the beast he was. He watched with sick satisfaction as the two weasels got back to shoveling with new vigor (though both had different reasons). Throwing his head back he laughed loudly and walked away.
Ichigo grumbled the whole time. If that jerk wasn't so freaking obsessed with pawning his ass, he might've just blown him off. But that giant was one persistent, scary fucker. He'd rather deal with an aching back and stiff muscles than a huge gorilla ripping him to shreds. Uh, no thanks.
He glanced over at Ikkaku, watching him shovel like he just struck gold. He shook his head.
"How can you stand working for that man?" Ichigo started shoveling again, pushing through the soreness in his muscles. Ikkaku glanced up.
"As much as I admire the man, I made a promise to myself. I promised that I would stay under him until I knew I could beat him. My pride only allowed failure once, and even then it was at his insistence that I kept trying; to not give up. So I guess ya could say he's my role model and my greatest rival." Ikkaku shrugged, shoveling dirt as he spoke. He glanced up to stare at the man who gave him a new reason to live.
"So, why did you guys fight again?" Ichigo felt nosy but he couldn't help it, he was curious. Ikkaku sighed and looked at him.
"Years ago, I lived in the ghetto. And when I say ghetto, I mean even the gangsters were jumpy. My gang told me that I had to replenish their stash of drugs… so I went to a random house and broke in during the night. Easy as pie. Or at least, that's what I thought at the time. It was an elderly woman's house. I stole what money I could find and took off, hoping to go buy that shit." Ikkaku stopped shoveling, wiping at his brow, and shook his head in shame.
"I found a dealer and, well, we started doin' business. When outta nowhere, that man came walking by. He stopped and looked at us and said, 'hey! What the hell ya punks doin'?' Well, the dealer took off like the coward he was and left me to face the boogeyman." He paused and wiped at his nose, panting as sweat dripped down off his face. Ichigo leaned against his shovel, engrossed with the tale. Ikkaku looked at him again, slightly motioning with his hands.
"I pointed at him and said, 'you just cost me my deal, prepare to fight!' He just stared at me and then threw his head back laughing like he always does. He said, 'alright, punk. Let's get this over with.' So we did. I, being the cocky bastard I was, flew in fists ablazin', thinkin' I'd kick his ass, only to find myself sittin' on my ass with a bloody nose. That just made me more determined to win, ya know? I started swinging again, and he just kept taking the hits as if I was merely pattin' dust off his shoulder, smirking the whole goddamn time. Like what the fuck? It made me so angry to the point that I screamed and jumped head first." Ikkaku sighed and looked up at the sky.
"Of course… being the hell of a fighter he is, he clocked me upside the head so hard, I flew backwards and couldn't move. I just laid there, humiliated, defeated. As he walked up to me, I couldn't look him in the face, I was so ashamed. I turned my face away and whispered, 'you have… defeated me. My life… is forfeit. Do with me what you will…' He just stood there for the longest time, staring down at me. Finally he spoke, 'you fight with honor. But you are too hot headed, stupid even, ya punk. You've given up too quickly. If ya ever want to beat me, then get up off yer ass and do something about it. Quit being such a dumbass and improve yerself. Or are you incapable of even that?'"
Ikkaku stared off into the distance, eyes not truly seeing anything. "He walked away and I just laid there, panting, thinking about what he said. He was right. If I ever wanted to get somewhere I was gonna have ta improve. So I quit the gang, which consisted of me having to wipe the floor with their asses, and began working towards an honest career. Took me forever, but finally, one day I saw him. I saw him at a construction zone on the opposite side of town, watching the diggers shovel out dirt. I felt my determination return and I walked up to him smirking, calling him out. He turned and looked at me, face impassive as he finally said, 'took you damn long enough.'" Ikkaku shook his head again looking at Ichigo. "And I've been here since."
Ichigo shook his head in wonder. Wow… what an inspirational story, if a bit frightening and unorthodox but inspiring none the less. Ichigo stopped and tilted his head in thought.
"Why did you tell me all that? I was just curious as to why you made the promise to yourself. No need to get so fine with the details."
Ikkaku snorted and looked up at Ichigo with serious eyes, no joking in their depths. "Why should I hide my past? Why should I hide what I want?"
Ichigo hummed in thought and then looked off into the distance. "Well, if that's yer whole reason to live, what are ya gonna do when ya beat 'im?"
Ikkaku got back to shoveling then, Ichigo noticed and started shoveling again too. "I'm gonna be content to know that the score is at least equal and I will no longer be the lesser man. Finally be able to tell him that I kicked his ass."
Ichigo turned and watched Kenpachi in the background, barking orders at a poor man who managed to knock the steel pipes down from the metal rafters. He wondered what it would be like to have someone change your life so much. Shaking his head, he set back to work, blessing the peaceful silence (meaning that no one is talking).
"…. Soooo, why are you here Kurosaki?" Ikkaku asked, looking at him expectantly.
Ichigo threw his head back as he snorted. "Hmm, nice try but no thanks. I'm not the sharin' type."
Ikkaku's eyebrow twitched and he glared at Ichigo, grinding his teeth. "What the…. WHAT THE FUCK! I TELL YOU ALL THAT AND YER NOT EVEN GONNA TELL ME WHY YER HERE?"
Ichigo just smirked as he watched the ground, still digging. "Nope. And I never said I would."
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Renji watched Byakuya as he ran a hand threw his hair, pulling the long black strands out of his face. Tch, what a waste. Why couldn't Byakuya be a girl? Hell, he'd tap that shit right then and there in the mud. He tensed up when he noticed that the gorgeous man was staring back at him. Feeling his face turn hot, Renji averted his eyes. Ah shit, that wasn't good. He glanced up to see that Byakuya was gone and nowhere in sight.
Renji sighed loudly as relief flooded his system only to have his breath catch in his throat as his head collided with the table he was sitting at. He threw his head back, grasping at his forehead, howling in pain. He heard snickering in the background from other coworkers.
"That's for running away earlier," the menacing voice said right in his ear. D'oh perfect! It was Chrome Dome!
"What the hell you want, Spic 'n Span? Can't ya see I'm on my lunch break?" Renji said between groans of pain, rubbing at his red forehead. Ikkaku bristled.
"Well, EZ Squeeze, I was hoping you could tell me somethin'."
Renji glared at Ikkaku who glared right back. Renji relented first, sighing as he picked at his squashed sandwich. "What do ya want ta know?"
Ikkaku smirked, "I wanna know 'bout Orangey Porangey. You've known him the longest. Why the hell's he workin' here? And god forbid he get a decent night's sleep. That man always looks like the cat coughed him up."
Renji frowned and narrowed his eyes. Sniffing indignantly, he stuck his nose in the air, closing his eyes. "I don't think it's my place to tell you."
Ikkaku stiffened up. "Don't make me beat it out of you." To emphasize his point, he lifted his fist, the knuckles white. Renji held up his hands, trying to placate the loose cannon facing right at him.
"Okay okay, Jesus. Yer more pushy than Rukia, dammit!" Ikkaku pulled his fist closer and Renji held his hands higher. "Okay OKAY! I get it! Enough with the fist, Spartacus! I'll tell ya! Sheesh!"
Ikkaku pulled away and Renji tugged on the hem of his shirt, un-bunching his collar. He glared at the infernal bald man beside him and sighed, lowering his head in defeat. He leaned towards Ikkaku.
"Alright, so it's like this. When Ichigo was a little kid, and I'm talkin' like can't even speak correctly young, his mother died. Car accident, hit a pole in the rain while driving herself and Ichigo home. Killed her instantly. But Ichigo… Ichigo was in the back seat, he survived with minimal injuries.
"Things were never quite the same since then. His father tried to pull the load of both parental jobs for all three of his kids. The girls, at the time too young to really understand, clung to daddy like a lifeline. And Ichigo? …. Well Ichigo stopped smiling. He took his mother's death the worst. I grew up with him and to see such a change in my closest friend… Well, god… It was like he had died. He was just a shell of what he used to be.
"Time passed and eventually he started opening up to people again. I introduced him to Rukia and a whole rag tag of odd balls. At first, he seemed annoyed but as the time went on, he grew to care for them too.
"It was so hard. So hard to get him to talk to people again. All that work came crashing down into flames the night of the accident. Ichigo's dad had offered to take them all out to eat to celebrate the opening of their new clinic. Ichigo chose not to go, saying he had a big test the next day and he needed to study or he'd bomb that fucker to pieces."
Ikkaku stared at Renji who stopped short and scratched the back of his head. "But, obviously he didn't use those words, I mean c'mon? 'Bomb that fucker to pieces?' Who the hell talks like that?" Renji looked away rambling, scratching the back of his head, choking on his words, embarrassed.
"Just shut up and git goin' with the story!" Ikkaku snapped at the imbecile next to him. Renji glared and plowed right back into it.
"Well anyway, so of course his dad agreed and Ichigo stayed home. While they were out, Ichigo got a phone call. It was really late by then and he picked up the phone. It was the police. They told him that there's been an accident. A thief in a getaway car plowed right into their dad's vehicle and it t-boned into another car. They told him that no one survived. Devastated, Ichigo ran out of the house and towards the collision. He called me and I came running.
"Ah god… When I saw him there… Oh Jesus, Ikkaku, I thought I was gonna cry. He had that same lifeless look in his eyes again. The same look he had when his mother died; the look that said he'd wished he'd died with them."
Renji rubbed a hand down his face, shaking away the pain that tore at his heart. "I uh-ahem- I took him to my house and got him to tell me what happened. He spent the night and we both stayed home from school. We got a bunch of calls that day from our friends, wanting to know if everything was okay and that they had heard on the news.
"… Ichigo just shoved them away, shutting down and closing up like he did when he was younger. Except this time… This time was worse. The debt collectors told him that, since he was the only relative alive, he'd have to pay off the debts of his family's funerals and bills from the loans taken out for the clinic. Ichigo dropped out of school and began working. I don't know where all he works, since he stopped talking to everyone, myself included for the most part, but I do know that he has more than one job and that he's wearing himself down and he's doin' it fast.."
Renji flicked his sandwich off the table, no longer hungry. Ikkaku stared off into space. "How long ago did that happen?"
Renji blinked and stared at the table where his sandwich once was. "…. He was 16 years old."
Ikkaku shook his head slowly. "Damn… I think I have a new found respect for the kid. Not only can he fight, but he's gone through and persevered through some tough shit."
Renji smiled sadly. "That's one thing about Ichigo. He's a strong one all right. Doesn't let that stuff keep him from pushing forward; maybe he pushes people away; maybe he likes being alone; maybe he doesn't want them to feel bad or bother them with his troubles, I couldn't tell ya. But no matter what the reason really is, he never gives up. I envy him for it and I can honestly say that he has inspired me to never give up on the things I want."
Ikkaku looked away from Renji, rubbing his chin in thought and frowning. "Hmm… But yer still a coward."
Renji scowled and threw his apple at the bastard of a bald man.
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Here he was again, in butt fucking nowhere, with the hole digging, structure building, dirty slaves. Grimmjow growled as he watched the construction men scurry about, trying to get their job done.
"Weak. Weak disgusting creatures. Tch, pathetic. Not even worth my time."
He looked away as a breeze blew through his hair, billowing his suit jacket out a bit. He glared down at them all, down at the little ants that they were. It would be so easy to just crush them with his foot, grind their bones into the very concrete they were pouring. His frown deepened. But they weren't even worth his notice; not worth the effort.
He began pacing impatiently, eyes darting around to look randomly at the site around him. Damn it, he couldn't concentrate! His mind kept wandering back to his beautiful baby back in the car shop, getting fixed. Oh if he found that little bastard who fucked up his car, he was going to snap the little twerp's neck.
7,000. $7,000 worth in damages. Want to know the kick in the pants? Most that money went towards repainting the damn car. So much money gone. That punk would be paying it back through the nose too. Grimmjow huffed and pulled out a cigarette, ready to suck down the tar and other poisons when he stopped and felt his heart begin to race.
There, in the background, he saw bright fucking orange hair. He felt his lips twitching into a smirk and his blood burned through his veins. His fingers were twitching and itching to wrap around that pretty little neck. As the all powerful adrenaline rush took over him, he stomped his way down the hill and towards the soon to be dead punk.
People parted out of his way like he was Moses and they were the Red Sea. He couldn't have cared less. The only thing on his mind was dead set in front of him. The workers around whispered to each other, nervous and worried. A man working besides the red head stopped shoveling and glanced up. Grimmjow watched in satisfaction as the color drained from his face. He quickly tapped the red head on the shoulder and took off running.
Ichigo, confused, glanced up and looked around. He felt his eyes bug out of his head when he saw Grimmjow staring at him, smirking like he knew something Ichigo didn't and it was the funniest goddamn thing on the whole planet.
His scowl twisted deeper. Ichigo opened his mouth to speak his mind but was cut short when a fist collided with it, choking back all words. Ichigo flew backwards, back thudding painfully on the ground, and knocking the air from his lungs. Gasping for air, he slowly sat up, rubbing at his bleeding lips.
He saw Grimmjow standing there, blood dripping from his split knuckles. His smirk was dangerous as he rushed forwards and kicked Ichigo in the ribs, causing him to cry out in pain and roll. When Ichigo stopped, he coughed and curled up in himself, trying to protect his chest.
He heard feet quickly approaching and next thing he knew, he was being lifted off the ground by his shirt. He stared straight on into the eyes of a wild man cut loose; the manic gleam in them terrifying.
"Ya think yer so much better than everyone else, yeah? You think you can fuck with me and get away with it." Grimmjow cackled as he threw Ichigo across the expanse of concrete, Ichigo skidding to a halt at the edge.
His coworkers were just standing there, scared shitless and watching in morbid fascination as he began to spit blood.
Ichigo climbed onto all fours, but before he could completely rectify himself, a foot came whizzing up and kicked him in the gut, raising him up off the ground with it. Blood dribbled down his chin. The foot retreated and he collapsed to the ground wheezing and gagging.
Grimmjow cackled more. "Where's yer tough guy act now, huh? Still see me as lower than shit? C'mon! Show me! Show me how much of a pussy I am! Show me how much lower I am than shit!"
Grimmjow was circling around Ichigo slowly, laughing. God he loved this! It'd been a long time since he got to beat the ever living shit out of someone. He was only too lucky that it was this bastard.
Ichigo turned and glared up at him. He stopped circling like a vulture and the smirk fell off his face.
"There you go again, givin' me that face like I'm lower than you; like you can beat me without a problem; like I'm the one who should be on the ground rolling around in the muck." Grimmjow felt his ire rise. The little punk was looking down on him. Him! He was ripping this kid a new asshole and he was still looking down on him.
Ichigo coughed, the world spinning around him. "Is this-is this what you do for satisfaction? Beat up the little guy? That's why I hate people like you. You always take out your-your problems on people smaller than-than you…" Ichigo stumbled up to standing, a condescending glare sent in Grimmjow's direction.
Grimmjow growled and pushed forward, grabbing onto Ichigo's shirt, smirking though that smirk was anything but funny; it promised unimaginable pain.
"You've got quite the mouth, don'tcha?" Grimmjow looked Ichigo's form up and down, licking his lips. "Got me so mad that I'm turned on."
Ichigo's eyes widened as he felt one of Grimmjow's hands grope over his crotch, feeling the fingers rubbing teasingly at it. Ichigo swore and swung a fist at the bastard's face only to have him catch it and squeeze really hard. He cried out in pain as he could hear his fingers begin to crack (crack, not break).
"Heh, maybe I should punish you a different way than killin' ya." Grimmjow leaned forward pressing their bodies close together, breathing down Ichigo's neck. He could feel the bulge in Grimmjow's pants pressing against his leg. "Yeah, it'd be more satisfying to watch you writhe in pain underneath me then break under my fist. Plus, I'd get something out of it."
The people surrounding gasped in horror as Grimmjow lifted Ichigo up higher off the ground, chuckling quietly. Ichigo's vision was swimming and the colors seemed to fade in and out of his vision.
Was this it then? Was he to be beaten into submission and then raped? Was he to become just another toy to be thrown away and stomped on? Could he live with himself if he survived? Ichigo stopped and swallowed thickly through the blood running down his throat. What would dad think? Yuzu and Karin? Mom?
Ichigo's eyes widened and he felt the overpowering need to get free take him. Oh hell no! He would not go down without a fight! The darkness at the corners of his eyes began to swim further into his vision.
NO! He had to keep fighting! As the desperation inside of him grew, so did his temper. All the rage and frustration built up from the past couple years pummeled his weary mind. He felt the anger rise inside of him to new heights.
He could feel something in his mind pull tight, so tight that it hurt, and then felt it give way and snap.
Ichigo stopped struggling, his head lowering towards the ground. Grimmjow stopped chuckling. His smirk fell off his face as he glanced down at the man he was holding in the air by the collar of his shirt. Abruptly, Ichigo's hands wrapped around Grimmjow's wrist tightly and began wringing it, the fingers twitching. Grimmjow grimaced and watched in fearsome awe.
A psychotic smirk quickly split Ichigo's lips and a crazy giggle soon followed.
.:.~End of Chapter 3~.:.
DUN DUN DUUUUH!
Sorry that this chapter had so much Ikkaku in it. –cough- if you can't tell, he's one of my favorite characters in Bleach. And, he also is one of the characters in this story that becomes more important later on like Renji and eventually Shinji and perhaps one or two more people (shhhhhh).
So yes there was a lot of talking in this chapter but I tried to make it up with the fight scene at the end. :D Did I do a good job? It was loosely (VERY loosely, more like part of the conversation during the fight was loosely based off encounters in the anime XD lol) based off of encounters in the anime :D Anyone notice that? Lol. How many of you liked that little cliffhanger? Can anybody even guess what's going to happen next? T_T Oh god, I don't know! I don't know! I'm scared! It's pretty freakin' obvious what's coming up! ( 8D Do expect the tables to turn. ^o~
EZ Squeeze is a reference to the EZ Squeeze brand of ketchup. Ikkaku was making fun of the color of Renji's hair. Orangey Porangey, for those who don't know is a rhyme. Orangey Porangey puddin' pie, kissed the girls and made them cry, etc etc. Obviously a stab at Ichigo's hair color as well.
Well anyway, here's chapter 3 and chapter 4 should be up within two weeks as well. Don't worry, this story won't stay like this forever. 8D if you can't tell, Grimmjow IS attracted to Ichigo, just not conventionally so. He likes the fighting spirit in him and lusts after him when he's so pissed off he can't see straight XD lol. After all the saying does go that there's a fine line between love and hate.
'TIL NEXT TIME! LOVE YA GUYS!
~8DRainbowManVan8D