Chapter 3:

Ichigo looked up from the couch as someone knocked on the door. "Who is it?"

"Nel! Open up!"

He grinned and opened the door. "So how was your date?"

She smiled softly and sighed. "Perfect."

Ichigo opened the door wider and she came in and they both sat down. "What did you do?"

"We went to dinner at the posh restaurant in town, you know the really expensive one?" Ichigo nodded in agreement and she continued. "We talked all night it was amazing, we just... clicked." Ichigo rolled his eyes as she continued, nodding his head occasionally when she paused. "Are you even listening?"

"Yeah."

Nel grinned at his dazed look. "So I heard that Grimmjow is the person who moved in a few doors down."

Ichigo jerked out of his daze and looked at her. "Yeah I know, he told me last night." He blushed at her inquisitive look. "Stop it! I bumped into him again after I came to see you about your date."

"Uh-huh?" Nel stood up with a grin, mischief in her eyes.

Ichigo sighed wearily. "Don't..."

Before he could grab her, Nel ran from the apartment and down the hallway. "You gotta catch me if you want me to stop!"

Ichigo groaned and chased after her, managing to pin her to the wall. "Nel c'mon don't do it."

"Why not? You wanna see him again don't you?"

"That's not the point!" Ichigo grinned and started tickling her sides, making her squeal and try to push him away.

"S-stop it!"

"Only when you promise not to try anything."

"Ichigo!"

He laughed as she squealed again, neither of them noticing the apartment door next to them open. "You promise?"

"Ok, ok! I promise!" Nel gasped as he stepped back and slapped his shoulder. "You're mean."

"You asked for it."

Nel's eyes widened in surprise as she looked behind him before a sly smile slid onto her face. "Hey Grimmjow."

Ichigo jumped and whirled around to find the blue haired man watching them with an amused look. "I should've known it was you two making all that noise."

She giggled as Ichigo's face went red. "Yeah you know how it is."

"Right." He shook his head and looked down at Ichigo. "You ok?"

He smiled nervously and backed away slightly from their close proximity. "Yeah of course, never better."

Grimmjow just frowned slightly before turning back to Nel. "I'll leave you to it then."

"Grimmjow..."

Ichigo turned to glare at Nel at her playful tone. "Yeah?"

"You wanna come out with us for a drink one night?"

Because Ichigo had his back to him, Grimmjow didn't see the look of outrage on his face as he shook his head. "No thanks, I don't wanna be a third wheel."

Ichigo turned to look at him. "We're not-"

Grimmjow held up his hand. "I don't need to know, see you around." With that, he turned and went back into his apartment, leaving Ichigo to stare open mouthed at the door.

He growled and turned back to Nel, folding his arms. "Fine, we don't need him anyway."

"Ichigo?"

The man ignored her as he stalked down the hallway, his words just caught. "Stupid, blue haired jerk..." Nel sighed and shook her head, following after the irritated man, casting a glance back at the now shut door.

...

...

...

*2 Weeks Later*

Ichigo sighed irritable when Nel squealed, dragging him into another shop. "Nel we've been shopping all day! Can we please go home now?"

She turned to look at him with a frown, her hands on her hips. "What's wrong with you today? You're being unusually grouchy."

"Nothing."

Nel cocked her head to the side and grinned. "You're still upset about the whole Grimmjow thing aren't you?"

"Pfft, as if."

She grinned and dragged him away from the shop, her curiosity overtaking the need for shopping. "C'mon Ichigo, I know you. What did he do?"

"Nothing." Nel raised an eyebrow and he shrugged. "Really, he hasn't done anything."

"So what's the problem?"

Ichigo sighed and shook his head. "I don't think he has any interest in me. I mean, we haven't talked in two weeks. He would've made a move by now or shown some interest right?"

"Maybe he's just shy?"

Ichigo snorted at the suggestion. "Does Grimmjow look like the shy type? He just doesn't have an interest in me, big deal."

"You don't really believe that do you?"

"Yup. So how's things with Starrk?"

Ichigo was grateful she noted the change in conversation and went along with it to start gushing about how serious things between the two were getting. Nel talked the whole journey back to their apartments, barely taking breaks to breathe. She paused as they reached the elevator and smiled softly.

"I think he's the one you know."

"That's nice." Nel rolled her eyes at Ichigo, who had obviously zoned out ages ago. She lent forward with a grin and blew in his ear, making him jump and glare at her, whilst covering his assaulted ear. "What are you doing?!"

"You weren't listening. Did you even hear what I said?"

"...Maybe."

"So what was it?"

The elevator stopped at their floor and they got out as Ichigo shrugged. "Ok you got me, I have no idea."

Nel snorted. "No surprises then."

"Hey I try to keep up, but you were going on about Starrk and getting all mushy, it's a wonder I payed attention for at least half an hour."

She huffed and leant against the wall as Ichigo unlocked his door. "Just you wait, when you finally get out there and find a boyfriend, then you'll know how I feel."

"Yeah, yeah." Ichigo waved his hand dismissively at the comment and opened the door. "I'll find someone when I want to, I'm not bothered at the minute."

"When was the last time you had sex?"

Ichigo sighed and rubbed his head. "I dunno. A couple of months?" Nel raised her eyebrow as she walked around him and he groaned. "Ok maybe more than a few."

"Wow Ichigo, I didn't know you could go that long."

"Shut up! I'm not a sex maniac you know!"

Nel giggled and sat down, crossing her legs up on the sofa. "If you got a boyfriend you could have sex again." She sang the words and Ichigo felt his eye twitch.

"I'm not getting a boyfriend just to have sex Nel."

"That's not what I'm saying." She grinned and hummed innocently as Ichigo sat down next to her.

"What?"

"Betcha Grimmjow's good in bed."

Ichigo's face went red and he started slightly. "Maybe he is, how would we know?"

"C'mon don't deny it, you've thought about it haven't you?"

"If I have it isn't any of your business."

Nel squealed and clapped her hands together, bouncing like a child. "You've got it bad Ichigo!"

"Shut up!" She giggled and almost fell off the sofa when someone knocked at the door. Ichigo stood up and pointed at her menacingly. "Stay there and be quiet."

"Awww..."

"Nel..." She sighed and nodded, sitting back down with a pout as Ichigo opened the door. She cocked her head to the side when Ichigo's body went rigid, smirking when she realised who could have such an effect on him. Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise when he opened the door. "Hi Grimmjow..."

The blue haired man smirked and nodded his head. "Ichigo."

He felt his cheeks warm slightly but ignored it, leaning against the door frame casually as he pulled the door almost closed so Nel couldn't hear them. "What did you want?"

"What's the deal between you and Nel?"

Ichigo stared dumbfounded at the other, a small frown marring his features. "I don't understand what you mean."

Grimmjow rolled his eyes and lent forward slightly, initiating a reaction from Ichigo to blush harder. "Are you dating?"

"No, how many times do I have to tell you that?"

"So you intend to?"

"Definitely not." Ichigo shook his head, wondering what the hell the man wanted and what was the point in the strange questions. "Nel's not my type."

"You got a girlfriend?"

"No, again not my type." Ichigo stepped forward, ignoring Grimmjow's raised eyebrow at his answer and folded his arms. "What's with the strange questions?"

"So do you have a boyfriend?"

Grimmjow smirked again when Ichigo's mouth opened and closed a few times before he cleared his throat. "Not that it's any of your business, but no, I don't."

"Got your eye on anyone?"

Ichigo's blush heightened as his thoughts unintentionally strayed to the man in front of him. "I might. Now it's your turn to answer my question."

"Which is?"

"What's with the sudden interest? We haven't talked in two weeks and you suddenly decide to knock on my door and ask me all sorts of questions. Most of which pertains to my romantic status. Why?"

"That's two questions."

Ichigo's eyes narrowed in annoyance. "I'm not playing games Grimmjow. Tell me what you want or I'm going to slam the door in your face."

He raised his hands in defeat. "Ok. You really wanna know what I want?"

"Yes."

"A date."

Ichigo frowned in confusion. "A what?"

He rolled his eyes, his smirk returning. "A date, you know one of those things people go on when there's a mutual attraction."

Ichigo snorted. "I know what a date is idiot."

"You going to go on one with me then?"

His arms slid from where they were crossed to his side and Ichigo stared at the other dumbfounded. "Me and you?"

"That's what I'm saying."

"Why now? Why wait two weeks?"

Grimmjow shrugged and ran his hand through his tousled hair. "Dunno, you and Nel seemed pretty close and I didn't want to get in the way of that."

"I told you-"

"I know, you weren't together. Doesn't mean that you might've wanted to be. Besides, if you say no I'd take that really bad."

"Why?"

He lent forward again and placed his hands on the wall, just above Ichigo's head so their faces were inches apart. "Because you're the sexiest person I've ever met, and I've never wanted someone more than I want you."

"You make it sound like you're only interested in my body."

"Trust me when I say, it isn't just you're body. If I wanted a pretty face, I'd go out and get one."

"And that's supposed to convince me how?" Ichigo sighed and folded his arms again.

"What I mean is I want to be able to have a conversation which isn't mind-numbingly boring when I'm on a date. I don't think for a second you're boring and everything you've said so far has got my interest."

"I've barely said anything."

"Which is why a date would be the perfect way to find out more."

Ichigo shook his head and looked away, chewing his lip in thought before smiling. "Tell you what, ask me again in a week and I'll have an answer."

"A week?"

"Yup, think you can wait that long?"

"For you? Definitely."

Ichigo's blush returned and he stepped back out of their close proximity, smile still intact. "See you in a week then." Grimmjow just tilted his head in acknowledgement before turning around and leaving as Ichigo closed the door. He sighed and lent against the door, his smile still tugging at his lips.

"So what happened?"

Ichigo jumped at Nel's voice, suddenly remembering she was there and turned to look at the smirking woman watching him over the sofa back. "He asked me out."

"What did you say?"

"I said come back in a week and I'll have an answer."

She frowned and turned around with a sigh. "I thought you liked him."

Ichigo grinned and moved to sit next to her. "I do, but he took his sweet time asking me so now he can wait."

"You're going to say yes right?"

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Of course, do you think I'm an idiot? Who would give up this kind of opportunity?"

Nel grinned and sat up straighter. "Finally, I thought he would never ask."

"You knew he wanted to?"

She snorted and waved her hand. "Of course, it was so obvious."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"Think about it, he always looks at you whenever we're near him, no matter what he's doing. That alone shows he has an interest. And that doesn't include the smirk he'd always wear when he saw you."

"I never saw that."

"That's because you're a guy, and we women are more attentive to these things." Nel slapped his arm playfully as he frowned. "Don't worry about it, he's shown an interest in you now you should be happy!"

"Yeah, yeah."

"I can't believe you're making him wait a week."

"Well if he really wants to date me, he will wait that long to prove it."

Nel rolled her eyes and stood up to stretch. "You love your games don't you?"

"I don't play games!"

"Whatever, see you tomorrow."

Ichigo frowned and glanced at his watch. "Where are you going?"

"I have a date with Starrk." Nel opened the door and turned to look at him with a wink. "See you tomorrow."

"Urgh Nel, I didn't need to know thanks." She just laughed and left, leaving Ichigo to groan and attempt to think about anything other than what she'd implied.