Are you all ready for chapter 3? Who knew I'd be making a THIRD chapter despite the fact I promised myself I'd only make one? Do you guys see the love I feel for you here? XD
*ahem* this was inspired by Durarara episode 12.5 because I just love unexpected stories like these! :D ENJOYYY :D :D :D
Shogun Plaza, Karakura Town, Japan; 5:00 pm
'The auction is in the Pearl Ballroom. Here are your ID cards. Thank you and have a nice day!' the receptionist with a glasses and a nametag reading 'Nanao Ise' said brightly to a couple. As they walked away, her cheery face transformed into a scowling one.
'I'm not getting paid enough for this,' she muttered moodily. Suddenly, a group of noisy teens barged into the lounge looking haggard and out of breath. They spotted the front desk and charged forward.
'Quick! Where's the auction being held?' an orange-headed teen demanded.
'Uh…um…' Nanao stammered in shock.
'ANSWER ME! IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH HERE!'
'Pearl Ballroom! That way!' she finally answered hastily and quickly pointed in that direction. The group nodded in thanks and rushed off.
'Ichigo, I swear the things you get us into!' a spectacled boy shouted at the orange head.
'Hey! This wasn't my fault! Blame it on Renji!' Ichigo yelled.
'Heyyy! If you hadn't lost Grimmjow none of this would be happening!' the boy with red pineapple-shaped hair retorted.
'What do you mean I lost him! You're the one who let him get kidnapped in the first place, you ass!'
As soon as they left the counter, in skidded a cluster of men in dark formal suits. The only reason they looked out of place was because they were all dripping wet.
'Quick!' one of them snapped at Nanao. 'Did you see a group of teen come by?'
She nodded and, without answering, pointed out the direction. Scowling angrily, the team marched off while dripping all the way. She stared after them in shock. What the hell had just happened?
Koshi and Zubi Junction, Karakura Town, Japan; 4:00 pm
'What do you mean you lost him?' Ichigo shrieked at Renji. Renji scowled at him.
'Hey, don't yell at me! I've been through hell in the last couple of hours and I deserve some sympathy!' Renji yelled angrily and jabbed a finger at himself. 'I'm really sensitive right now!'
True enough Renji was covered from head to foot in scratches, bruises and some pretty nasty cuts. Plus his hair was damn messy like he'd been in a fight. Ichigo's face softened. He grabbed Orihime's stuffed lion and then whacked Renji over the head with it.
'WHAT THE HELL!' Renji screeched in bewilderment.
'At least I didn't use my fists, jackass!' Ichigo snapped. Then he groaned. 'Grimmjow could be anywhere now!'
'ABARAI RENJI!' Rukia shrieked angrily and boxed the poor redhead roughly on the head, causing him to make contact with the pavement. 'This is for ignoring me, you thick-skulled nincompoop!'
'What is this? Make Renji's Life Miserable Day?' Renji groaned as he rubbed his sore head.
That's when a group of formal suited men in dark sunglasses rounded the corner. One of them pointed at the gang.
'There they are! Get them!' he shouted and the group charged forward.
'Oh shit, I thought we lost them!' Rukia groaned as the gang scrambled away.
'What the hell is going on?' Renji asked in shock as he followed the gang.
'Long story,' Uryu grunted as they steered onto another block.
'A group of guys who look like hit men are chasing you and you expect me to just accept that?' Renji yelled angrily. He turned on Ichigo as he ran up to him.
'Just how the hell did you lose Grimmjow again?' he demanded.
Karakura Mall, Karakura Town, Japan; 2:45 pm
'I wonder what's taking Ichigo,' Orihime wondered aloud as the gang waited patiently outside the town's largest mall.
'He's probably on his way right now,' Toshiro stated matter-of-factly.
'Well he better hurry!' Rangiku complained. 'I saw a really cute top yesterday and I want to get it before anyone else does!'
'Ugh! That bastard!' Rukia cursed as she angrily pressed buttons on her flip flap cellphone.
'Well, that's a bit extreme, Rukia!' Rangiku huffed.
'Huh? No, no, not Ichigo! I meant Renji! That jackass promised he'd be here on time and he's not even picking up his phone! Can you believe that!'
'Oh, yes, I forgot! You guys are going out now, aren't you?' Orihime queried and smiled. Rangiku giggled.
'Looks like it'll be the shortest relationship he's ever had if he keeps this up!' Rangiku smirked.
'Hey! Ichigo's here!' Uryu pointed out. Orihime waved enthusiastically.
'He's brought Grimmjow as well!' she beamed and then frowned. 'Something's wrong.'
Sure enough, as the duo came closer the gang noticed the scowls both of them were wearing. Even Grimmjow's ears were twitching in annoyance and his tail was flickering angrily.
'Uh, did something happen between you two?' Rangiku questioned with a raised eyebrow. Ichigo glared at her.
'Oh, I'm fine but I don't think Mr. Blue Ears here thinks he's good enough for us!' he jeered and nudged his head angrily at Grimmjow who simply turned his nose up and slinked past Ichigo like he wasn't even there.
'Come on, you guys, whatever it is settle it so we can all enjoy ourselves for this afternoon,' Toshiro exclaimed with a roll of his eyes.
'I will if he will!' Ichigo snapped and crossed his arms like a grumpy child.
'Nya!' Grimmjow tittered and slinked about Orihime's legs pompously. Orihime rubbed his head and gave Ichigo a questioning look.
'Toshiro is right, Ichigo,' she agreed. 'It's not good to fight with your friends!'
'Ha! Tell him that! He's already treating me like his servant!' Ichigo said haughtily and sent a death glare in Grimmjow's direction.
Grimmjow rolled his eyes at him and strode proudly up to Ichigo who was bending down to continue giving the neko a heated stare. Then, after what seemed like they had been staring for hours, Grimmjow licked Ichigo's nose. The orange-head froze.
'THAT'S IT!' Ichigo screeched and jumped the neko who yelped in surprise. The rest of the gang scattered in disbelief.
'Oh my God, knock it off, you two! Uryu snapped and strode forward to break up the fight.
'This is ridiculous, really!' Toshiro exclaimed and also rushed to the pair now currently rolling about on the pavement.
'Why did I have to leave my camera at home today?' Rangiku wailed.
'Umm, you can always use your camera phone?' Orihime suggested. Rangiku suddenly rummaged through her bag to pull out her fancy cellphone and began aiming it excitedly at the fighting duo.
'This is so going up on Youtube!' she said excitedly. (Doesn't everything? XD)
'You so deserve this, you furball!' Ichigo snapped as the two suddenly smacked into a tall man in a formal black suit.
The man stumbled forward and dropped his case which he had been carrying with care. As soon as the case made contact with the floor it cracked open and out clattered the most gorgeous necklace heavily encrusted in the most exquisite gems. All the girls's mouths fell open. Even Rukia's whose attention had finally been diverted from her phone.
'Wow,' Rangiku breathed lowering her phone. 'That's beautiful.'
'Hey! Get off me, Grimmjow!' Ichigo yelled and pushed the neko away to help the man he had knocked over. 'Hey, I'm sorry about that and-wow! That is one expensive necklace!'
'Ugh! I knew we shouldn't have given the case to you! You can be so clumsy!' another man, dressed similar to the man Ichigo helped up, exclaimed in irritated tone. 'What'll the boss say if you ruin it?'
'Hey! It's not my fault! This mangy kid knocked me over!' the first guy snapped and fixed his lopsided glasses. Ichigo bristled. Mangy kid?
'Hey, hey! Tell your stupid pet to get away from that!' the second man said angrily as Grimmjow sniffed curiously at the necklace. Ichigo felt his anger flare again. Okay, he was allowed to get mad and call Grimmjow names but that didn't mean some random rude guy had the right to do that!
'Hey! My pet ain't stupid!' Ichigo snapped and turned to Grimmjow with a commanding tone. 'Grimmjow, get away from that!'
Anger flashed in Grimmjow's eyes. Instead of listening to Ichigo, he grabbed the necklace in his mouth and ran for it! Everyone gaped in disbelief as the blue-eared neko leapt around the corner and disappeared. Rangiku was, surprisingly, the first to recover.
'Uh, what just happened?' she asked, stupefied.
'I think Grimmjow just stole that necklace,' Rukia answered in a shocked tone. The first man recovered next.
'Now look what you're mangy pet just did!' he snapped angrily at Ichigo. 'If we don't bring that necklace to our yakuza boss he's going to skin us alive!'
Ichigo paled. Yakuza boss?
'Hey! We heard you yelling! What happened?' a similarly dressed man asked as he and a group of formally dressed men jogged into the scene. The first man pointed accusingly at the gang.
'Thanks to these bozos we lost Niakawa's necklace!' he said sharply. The others gasped and then glared at the gang. Ichigo gulped. This was not good.
'So what should we do?' someone asked.
'Let's take 'em back to the boss and he can decide what to do with them!' someone else answered.
'Yeah!'
'That's right!'
'It's their fault!'
'Put the blame on them!'
'Why should we get punished?'
'Yeah!'
'Hey, Ichigo, I think it's a good idea to make a run for it,' Uryu hissed in Ichigo's ear. Ichigo nodded stiffly.
'And…RUNNNN!' he yelled at the gang and they rushed past the confused gang to around the corner.
'We can't keep running you know!' Rukia pointed out.
'I suggest we find Grimmjow and give them back their damned necklace!' Toshiro huffed as they continued to barrel down the pavement.
'But he could be anywhere!' Ichigo remarked and ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
'Don't worry! Karakura isn't that big! I'm sure someone we know will find him eventually!' Toshiro replied.
Zaraki Dealers Store, Karakura Town, Japan; 3:15 pm
'And stay out!' Kenpachi yelled as he threw Renji out of his store. 'Lousy, good for nothing, whiny teenager…'
'Ouch!' Renji yelped as he landed on his ass, hard. He turned around to glare at Kenpachi. 'Oh yeah? Well, you just lost out on a valuable customer so you know what? You're the one who lost here, buddy!'
'I trust two year olds with my stuff more than I trust you!' Kenpachi shouted back and slammed the door shut.
Renji swore under his breath and stuck his middle finger at the door. Then he groaned and covered his face with his hand.
Here he was, planning on getting Rukia a nice ring for their one month anniversary, which was tomorrow, and he just got kicked out a jewelry store for breaking one of the pieces when the owner Kenpachi had clearly told him not to touch it! Either he was an arrogant prick or he just hadn't heard Kenpachi.
Well, he wasn't going to admit to being an arrogant prick so he settled on not having heard Kenpachi warn him.
He huffed angrily and moodily turned away from the store as he stuffed his hands in his jean pockets. Guess he'll have to try his luck elsewhere…
As he looked up, the last thing he saw was a flash of blue and something very furry clouding his vision as he made contact with the pavement again.
'Mother-!' he groaned and pushed himself into a sitting position. That's when he noticed he couldn't because of something very heavy currently sprawled on top of him. That's when he noticed the pointed blue ears poking out of a forest of blue locks. His eyes widened.
'Grimmjow?' he uttered incredulously. The neko groaned as he came to so and when he saw Renji, it quickly hopped off.
'What the hell are you doing here?' Renji asked in confusion and scratched his head. It was pretty confusing considering Grimmjow never strayed far from Ichigo. Could it be that Ichigo had lost him?
'Damn, that guy can be really irresponsible at times,' he grumbled and pulled out his cellphone to wince. Rukia had called him at least six times and he had neglected to answer at all times. He was so in for a beating when they met…
'Ichigo! Hi, I was just-why are you breathing so hard?' Renji began, perplexed. The guy sounded like he was running a marathon!
'Huh? What? I'm running that's why!' Ichigo huffed. 'What is it, Renji? Spit it out! I'm kinda busy!'
'Huh? Oh! Yeah! Well, I bumped into Grimmjow just now and-!'
'You found him?'
'Uh, yeah. Well, he kinda found me 'cause he knocked me over and-!'
'Where are you?'
'Outside Zaraki Dealers.'
'Stay there! Don't move! We're on our way!' Pause. 'Oh, and Rukia said she's going to kick your ass when she sees you!'
Renji winced again. Yeah, he knew that was going to happen. He clicked the phone shut and pocketed it.
'Well, looks like you're stuck with me for the time being, little guy,' Renji remarked. Grimmjow just cocked his head to one side. 'So, why'd you run away from Ichigo? Or did the guy leave you somewhere?'
At the mention of Ichigo's name, the neko's eyes narrowed and he turned his head away in a huff. Renji raised an eyebrow. Well, that was strange! Since when had the neko such an aversion to his beloved master?
As Renji opened his mouth to ask this question, he froze when he finally noticed what was hanging out of the neko's mouth. His jaw dropped. That had to the most heavy piece of jewelry he had ever seen.
'Holy shit,' he breathed and bent down to finger the necklace. Grimmjow flinched and tried to move away but Renji grabbed his shirt to prevent him from moving. 'That's got to the craziest expensive necklace I've ever seen! Is it Ichigo's?'
Grimmjow eyed him suspiciously. But he shook his head to indicate that his master didn't. This just made Renji grin widely. Well, if it wasn't Ichigo's then who was to say he couldn't take it for himself. After all once Rukia saw this necklace she'd forget all about hurting him.
'Lemme see that,' he coaxed Grimmjow and pulled the necklace gently out of his mouth. Grimmjow let him. Not like the necklace really was his.
'Shit there's gotta be like a million gems on this thing!' Renji whistled as he stood up and raised it towards the sun where it gleamed magnificently. 'Wonder what it'll look like around Rukia's neck?'
He looked around, trying to find a way to tell whether the necklace would even look good if someone wore it. He suddenly looked down at Grimmjow who was sitting on his haunches and grooming his hair. His eyes lighted.
'Yo, Grimmjow, c'mere,' he drawled and bent down once again to place the necklace around Grimmjow's neck. The neko jumped at the sudden movement and tried to pull away again. After all, the only person he allowed to be this close to him was Ichigo.
'Don't worry!' I just wanna see how it'll look!' Renji said soothingly and once he clasped the necklace in place, stood up to look in satisfaction at the piece now resting around the neko's neck. Grimmjow glanced down at it curiously and pawed it playfully. It was really, really shiny.
'Hey, hey, hey, don't scratch it!' Renji protested and swatted Grimmjow's hand away. Annoyed, grimmjow swatted back, drawing out his claws to scratch the back of Renji's hand.
The redhead yelped and glared at the neko as he cradled his injured hand.
'Fine! If you don't like it, I'll just take it off!' Renji snapped and swiped forward, wrapping one hand around Grimmjow's neck while using the other to grab the neko's midnight blue flannel shirt to pull him closer.
This sudden action caused Grimmjow's threat senses to tingle wildly. In his mind, it looked like Renji was trying to hurt him.
His eyes narrowed. Now that just wouldn't do.
'Nya!' he snarled and raised both hands, claws unsheathed, in warning in Renji's face.
The redhead gulped. Oh shit, this wasn't good.
'Easy, Grimmjow,' he stammered and released the neko's shirt. 'I just want the necklace and then I'll-YIKES!'
Grimmjow had hissed and lunged forward, trying to rip his face off!
Renji fell backwards and Grimmjow, seizing the opening, leapt over the redhead to scamper away. Renji watched in bewilder as the neko ran away. With the necklace still securely around his neck! He blinked stupidly before he realized what had just happened.
'Hey! Come back here!' he yelled angrily and scrambled forward after the neko around the corner. 'I need that necklace! Otherwise I'm dead meat, you freaking cat!'
Zaraki Dealers Store, Karakura Town, Japan; 3:30 pm
'Where the fuck is Renji?' Ichigo shouted furiously as everyone leaned on something to catch their breath.
'That idiot!' Rukia seethed just as equally. 'He's avoiding me! That good for nothing son of a bitch is avoiding me! Fuck this! I'm not just kicking his ass! I'm barbequing it!'
'Calm down, Rukia,' Orihime soothed. 'I bet there's a logical explanation to why he's acting like this!'
'That's bullshit!' Rangiku snorted. 'Men are all the same! They act all high and mighty about stuff but the minute they do something that makes you mad at them, they hide like you're the a freaking Shinigami out to steal their soul!'
'If you lovely ladies are done gossiping,' Uryu said sarcastically and jerked a thumb behind him. 'We've still got a group of angry mobsters chasing us!'
'Quick! Into the store!' Toshiro ordered and everyone hurried into the little store. He glanced out the tinted glass door from the side while everyone wandered deep into the building. He breathed in relief. 'Good, they passed this.'
'Ohhh!' Rangiku squealed as she ogled some jewelry in their glass cases. 'What I would give to own that!'
'That would be nice,' Rukia admitted as she glanced at it and sighed. 'I just wish Renji had enough sense to get me something like this! Knowing him, he'd probably get me a macaroni necklace or something!'
'Have some more faith in the guy, Rukia,' Orihime stated and placed a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. 'He can be pretty sensitive when he wants to!'
'Hey! What're you teens doing in here?' Kenpachi demanded as he came bustling out from the back of the store. He glared at them. 'I don't like your sort! Just threw one out 'cause he broke my best set!'
'Sorry, sir, we were just looking,' Toshiro hastily explained. Kenpachi snorted.
'Either buy something or get out,' he said stubbornly. Ichigo glared at him now. And he thought Renji was a pain.
'Fine,' he grumbled and glanced into an aisle. Apparently the store sold little stuffed animals as part of some gift basket deal too. His eyes landed on a stuffed lion and he picked it up to toss it to Orihime before glaring at Kenpachi. 'Happy now?'
'Oh shit!' Uryu cursed and rushed to the gang from the door. 'They're coming back! We need to get out! NOW!'
As soon as those words left his mouth, the yakuza gang suddenly stumbled in. Yakuza Guy #1 spotted them and pointed.
'Get them!' he ordered and they all moved forward as a group menacingly.
'Get out!' Toshiro shouted to the gang and they all split, moving into different aisles. The yakuza mob looked around in confusion. Who should they follow?
'Split up!' Yakuza Guy #2 commanded and the group obeyed.
'Oi! This isn't Pacman, you jackasses!' Kenpachi shouted angrily and waved his arms about. 'Get outta my shop or you're gonna pay for anything you break!'
'This way!' Ichigo yelled as he grabbed Orihime's hand, who had followed him into an aisle, and they reached the front of the store to burst out of the front of the door.
'What about the others!' Orihime said anxiously and glanced behind her at the store.
'They'll get out!' Ichigo gasped, trying to catch his breath. 'We'll meet them around the corner! For now, we need to get the hell-!'
Suddenly, Grimmjow sprinted past them. Ichigo blinked in surprise before he regained his senses.
'Grimmjow!' he shouted both in shock and joy. Finally, he'd found him! They could settle this matter once and for all!
Grimmjow froze and twirled around, one hand raised in front like a paw. Even one ear was bent in perplexity when Ichigo had called to him.
'Come here, Grimmjow! C'mon! That's good boy! You gotta listen to me!' Ichigo coaxed.
At those words, Grimmjow's ears perked up and his tail bristled. He hissed at Ichigo and swiped a claw angrily in his direction. Ichigo's eyes widened and then narrowed.
'You better come back here right now or I'm gonna-!' he snapped.
'Oi!' came a voice behind Ichigo, cutting him off. Both Ichigo and Orihime turned around and saw a disheveled and pooped out Renji.
'Get back here with my necklace!' Renji huffed and sprinted at the neko. Grimmjow's eyes widened and he took off again with Renji following close behind. Ichigo and Orihime stared, stunned.
'Alright! We got out and-was that Renji?' Rukia shrieked as she burst out of the ship with Uryu, Toshiro and Rangiku. Without even waiting for the others, she took off in that direction.
'Rukia! Wait up!' Uryu shouted and ran after her. Toshiro sighed and ran off after him.
'You guys better move it! Kenpachi managed to grab one of them and is threatening to knock his teeth out if he doesn't pay for damaged property! If he sees you all outside he'll make you pay too!' Toshiro called out behind him before he disappeared around the corner.
They didn't need to be told twice. Orihime, Ichigo and Rangiku were off.
'I can't believe we're chasing and being chased around Karakura!' Uryu huffed angrily as they crossed a street. He glared at Ichigo. 'This is all your fault, Kurosaki!'
'Hey, don't pin this on me, four eyes!' Ichigo snapped. 'It was Grimmjow who started it!'
'And pray explain why your pet is responsible for all this!' Toshiro asked icily.
Kurosaki household, Karakura Town, Japan; 2:30 pm
'Are you fucking serious?' Ichigo yelled angrily and glared down at Grimmjow. Grimmjow simply glared back and turned his head away from the bowl of milk currently sitting in front of him. Ichigo pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
'I bought you a new brand of milk because this one has more nutrients, you egotistical cat!' Ichigo snapped impatiently. He threw his hands up in the air. 'But you aren't going to drink it, are you?'
'Nya!' Grimmjow answered stubbornly and crossed his arms as he sat firmly on the floor. Ichigo groaned again and glanced at the watch.
'I don't have time for this! I gotta meet my friends in a bit so you better drink up! And you gotta listen to me because I'm your master, Grimmjow, and I know what's best!' Ichigo ordered and pointed at the dish of milk. 'So drink up!'
'Nya!'
'You are such an arrogant pet! I don't even know why I do things like this for you!'
'Ichigooo!'
'Don't 'Ichigooo' me! I'm sick of your attitude! If you don't shape up I'm gonna put you in the adoption agency! How do you like that?'
Grimmjow hissed and turned his back on Ichigo now. This did nothing to improve Ichigo's temper.
'Fine! Be like that!' he shouted at the neko as he grabbed his wallet. 'I'm outta here! So if you're coming or not I don't really care! From here on, I ain't talking to you!'
'Nya!'
Koshi and Zubi Junction, Karakura Town, Japan; 3:55 pm
'That's why we're being hunted like common thieves?' Uryu said furiously as they skidded to halt at the junction to figure out which way Renji and Grimmjow had disappeared to. 'Because you two had an argument over milk?'
'Hey! I said this was Grimmjow's fault!' Ichigo pointed out. 'If he hadn't been so finicky we wouldn't be in this mess right now!'
'No,' Toshiro said coldly and jabbed a finger in Ichigo's chest. 'If you had just been reasonable and stuck to the original brand of milk instead of getting all authoritarian on Grimmjow we wouldn't be in this mess!'
'I was not being authoritarian!' Ichigo protested, his voice getting all high-pitched.
'Ummm, I have to agree with Toshiro, Ichigo,' Orihime said meekly. 'If you'd been nicer to Grimmjow he wouldn't have run away from you!'
'Chee, thanks!' Ichigo glared at her.
'Hey! Don't get mad at her, Ichigo! It's not her fault!' Rangiku interjected and she wagged a finger at him.
'Stay out of this, Rangiku!'
'Make me!'
'There he is!' Rukia shouted and pointed to a figure with red hair limping around the corner towards them. She frowned. 'Why the hell is he limping?'
Zubi Street Crossing, Karakura Town, Japan; 3:45 pm
'I got you now!' Renji said triumphantly as he cornered Grimmjow between a line of cars zooming across the street and a dead end.
Renji quickly leaped forward, smirking in victory. That was when the traffic light blinked red, causing the stream of cars to stop flowing. Taking the opportunity, Grimmjow leapt onto the hood of the limo that had parked nearby, causing the redhead to smack face first into the car's door.
As he slid groaning to the street, the black chauffeur stepped out to glance emotionlessly at Renji.
'What was that, Tosen? We're going to be late for the auction if we stall like this,' said a smooth talking brown-haired man as he rolled down the window from his door. He glanced at Renji with a bored expression. 'It's just a bum, Tosen. Let's be on our way.'
That's when he noticed the neko perched on his hood. He raised an eyebrow.
'Well, isn't that peculiar,' he said softly and crooked his finger at Grimmjow. 'Come here, little kitten.'
Grimmjow bristled in suspicion. There was something off about this man…
When he wouldn't move, the man sighed and nodded at Tosen, who suddenly rounded on Grimmjow. He grabbed the neko by the scruff of his neck and dragged him to his boss's window. Grimmjow yelped and struggled to escape but to no avail. The low-lidded man grabbed Grimmjow's face and turned him on all sides as if inspecting an object up for possession. He smirked when he noticed the necklace.
'Not only is the wearer exquisite but so are his assets,' he drawled. 'I'm sure he will earn quite a sum at the auction. And if not, well, it's a gain for me either way. I've been looking for a new pet to play with.'
Grimmjow shivered at the implications and doubled his attempts to escape. He mewled helplessly. This was not how he had planned this would end up! He wanted Ichigo! He really wished he hadn't run away from him!
'Ughhhh, wait,' Renji groaned as he lifted himself up but grasping the open window of the man's car. 'That…unhh…cat belongs to my…ugh…friend…'
'Oh really?' the man inquired and raised an eyebrow again. 'Well, until your friend comes to claim up, I believe it's finders keepers, losers weepers. Till then, good day. Please proceed to the Shogun Plaza, Tosen.'
'Yes, Aizen-san,' Tosen answered and bowed as he dropped Grimmjow into the front seat. He proceeded to get in himself when Renji grabbed the back of his suit.
'You ain't…' he said groggily. 'Getting…unh…away…that…easily…'
Aizen sighed and gave Tosen a curt nod. Tosen turned around, cracking his knuckles.
Karakura Park, Karakura Town, Japan; 4:23 pm
'Are you fucking serious?' Ichigo yelled angrily at the gang now skidded into the town park. The yakuza mob was still hot on their tail. 'That stuck-up jackass is going to sell Grimmjow! I thought you couldn't do that!'
'This is the Aizen Sousuke you're talking about, Ichigo!' Toshiro exclaimed as they sprinted past joggers in the track. 'That guy can do anything he wants and nobody dares stop him!'
'We'll see about that!' Ichigo said heatedly.
'Yeah, yeah, when it's time to get heroic we'll call ya!' Renji snapped and glanced over his shoulder. 'We need to get rid of these guys fast otherwise we're sheesh kebabs!'
'Should we split up again?' Rangiku suggested.
'Nope! They could catch us if we do!' Uryu countered.
'Damn it, you guys, that isn't helping!' Ichigo shouted as they all filed quickly over a bridge to the other side. It was one of those small bridges that arched over a small stream in a park with no railings but a simply one made of polished wooden planks.
Suddenly, Orihime turned around and stopped in the middle of the bridge. Ichigo realized she wasn't amongst them and skidded to a halt. He gazed in astonishment at her.
'Orihime, what're you doing?' he uttered incredulously. The rest of the gang stopped a way off and stared back. The mob was getting closer and had started to cross the bridge but Orihime looked at them with a determined look.
'STOP!' she shouted and raised a palm to indicate for them to halt. The action took everyone by surprise including the yakuza.
The first guy stopped in shock but he didn't realize he had started a chain reaction. One by one each member bumped into him, tipping each off balance to wobble dangerously on the rather thin bridge meant to hold only one person at a time.
As soon as the yakuza member bumped into the now piling people on the bridge, the balance broke and all of them toppled into the river. Without waiting, Orihime quickly spun around towards Ichigo, grabbing his hand to drag him away.
'Run!' she ordered as the two reached the gang with her dragging a still stunned Ichigo. He finally overcame his shock and followed her without her leading him. The rest of the gang followed.
'Orihime, that was brilliant!' Uryu breathed in admiration.
'Well, I had to do something!' Orihime said cheerily as the gang exited the park from the other end. They ran a good few blocks and turns before they were sure they had lost the mob.
'Now that we've lost them, we need to find Shogun Plaza!' Ichigo stated in determination and curled his hands into fists. He couldn't lose Grimmjow! Not like this! 'Does anyone know where it is?'
Everyone looked about uncomfortably. His eyes widened.
'No, say this isn't so,' he whispered. He threw his hands in the air when no one answered him. 'I can't believe this! This is it! I've finally lost him! He's actually gone this time!'
'Ichigo…' Orihime said in a hushed tone. 'Don't say that!'
'Stop it, Orihime!' Ichigo said and held up a hand to stop her from continuing. 'I don't need pity. I…I know this is my fault and I'm going to bear it! I lost Grimmjow and no one is to blame but me!'
'Hey, check that out,' Rangiku whispered and nudged Orihime. The auburn-headed girl looked left and her jaw dropped. She quickly glanced excitedly at Ichigo and opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off.
'I should've known this day would come,' he said miserably. 'I knew I couldn't keep Grimmjow forever. I just didn't know it would come this soon.'
'Ichigo,' Uryu said exasperatedly. He pointed left. 'Look!'
'I don't want to, Uryu! Can't you tell!' Ichigo said dramatically. 'I'm torn! I don't want to see that it's my fault because I know it is! You don't have to rub it in!'
'He's not rubbing it in, Ichigo!' Renji tried to explain. 'Seriosuly, look to your-!'
'My conscience? Well, it's telling to accept this fate because I deserve it!' Ichigo said in angst. Rukia smacked her forehead. This was getting nowhere.
She stomped over and forcefully turned Ichigo's head left.
There was a tall, pristine grey building with the elaborate sign stating Shogun Plaza.
'Oh,' Ichigo said stupidly. 'Well…umm…'
'Shall we?' Rukia said sarcastically. Nodding in embarrassment, the gang quickly made their way across the street to the giant plaza.
'Hope we're not too late,' Rangiku muttered in worry. Everyone nodded.
'The boss is gonna be so pissed,' whined a voice from their right. They all froze and craned their necks in that direction. There, sopping wet, trudged up the yakuza mob looking down in the dumps.
'Shut up! If we don't mention it at all maybe he'll forget about asking us!' Yakuza Guy #1 snapped and raised his eyes to look ahead. He froze. Everyone else noticed their leader had stopped and looked ahead too to see Ichigo and company. They froze too.
Nobody moved.
'Ichigo?' Rukia muttered desperately. Ichigo swallowed bitterly.
'Yeah, yeah,' he sighed. He took a deep breath. 'RUNNN!'
Shogun Plaza, Karakura Town, Japan; 5:15 pm
'Shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIIIT!' Ichigo cursed as the gang screeched into a hall before scrambling down it, eyes scanning each door and label frantically. 'We're not going to make it!'
'Shut up! We're going to find him!' Uryu shouted as he pushed past a surprised guest.
'Wow! That's really touching, Uryu! I didn't know you cared-!'
'I don't! Your whining is just unbelievably annoying and the only way it'll stop is if you believe in finding your damn pet!'
'Hey! Grimmjow is more than a pet! He's my friend and-!'
'Yeah, yeah, I know, I know! Companion, brother, lover, fuck buddy, the whole incest thing now can we please concentrate on finding the ballroom!'
'Fuck buddy? What the fucking hell, Uryu-!'
'There! Come on through here!'
As the gang burst through the doors, they froze. They were surrounded by a bunch of posh rich aristocrats in expensive suits who were giving them angry and haughty looks for interrupting their bidding.
Ichigo cleared his throat nervously.
'Ummm,' he squeaked. 'We…ah…I'm looking for an Aizen…Sousuke?'
Silence.
'That would be me,' rang a clear and authoritative voice and out of the sea of condescending stares rose a man with slicked back brown hair and a demure smile. Almost instantly, Ichigo felt a chill up his spine. This man was freaky. Like get into your mind freaky.
'I believe you have something that belongs to our friend,' Uryu announced and stepped forward. Of course, Uryu was used to people like these so he knew how to talk like them. Aizen eyes Uryu and then Ichigo. Then he noticed Renji and smiled.
'Ah, so you're the bum who wished to claim that exquisite feline earlier,' he said coolly. He then eyes Ichigo who tried not to shrink away from that stare. 'And this must be your friend.'
Ichigo gulped. This man really had a way of making someone feel meek.
'Well, I'm sorry but I can't give him to you,' Aizen sighed and shrugged his shoulders. 'He's already up for auction and unless you buy him, I don't think I can give him back in any other way. I'm sorry.'
Though he didn't sound sorry at all. Ichigo felt like giving up. He'd been on a wild goose chase since morning and right when he thought it was finally over it just got more difficult. And this time, he really didn't think he could do anything to change it.
'Please, sir,' Orihime pleaded and stepped forward too. 'The cat belongs to our friend and is very dear to him. You…you can't take away something precious away from someone. It's just…it's just mean.'
Aizen quirked an eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders. Ichigo felt his shoulders shake with anger. This was guy was seriously pissing him off.
'Sorry, nothing I can do,' he repeated and snapped his fingers while smirking. 'Bring in Item #6.'
All the color drained from Ichigo's face as two men brought a shaking Grimmjow forward. There was that necklace around his neck along with a black collar and leash which the man with green eyes and emo make-up was holding onto to keep the neko in place.
'Grimmjow!' he shouted out. The neko's ears perked up and it saw Ichigo.
'Ichigo!' he shouted in joy and tried to leap forward but the emo guy yanked the collar to hold the neko in place. He wasn't going anywhere until someone bid and won him over. Ichigo felt his heart sink.
'We'll start the bidding at 100,000 yen!' the auctioneer with pink hair shouted gleefully. 'Do I hear a 15,000? Step right up, gentlemen, and win this delicious toy and its accessory!'
'200,000!' Aizen drawled and his eyes slid in Ichigo's direction. Ichigo felt like punching him. God, he couldn't believe the audacity of this slimeball!
'200,000! Does anyone care to double that? 400,000? Anyone? Anyone?'
'450,000!' Uryu suddenly shouted and raised his hand. Ichigo stared incredulously at him.
'Uryu…' he murmured.
'Hey, you depressed is going to ruin my mood and I don't think I want that,' Uryu snapped and stared head on at Aizen. 'And besides…my family is rivals with the Sousukes. Seeing him win is like a kick to my ego.'
Ichigo rolled his eyes. Trust Uryu to turn his unselfish act to a selfish one. But he wasn't complaining.
'450,000! Okay, let's raise the stakes here! How about 1 million! Does anyone care to top that?'
'2 million!' Aizen called out loudly. The auctioneer pointed his gavel at Aizen.
'I see we have a daredevil here!' he shouted excitedly. 'Anyone want to top that? Going once! Going twice!'
'3 million!' Uryu drawled. Aizen's eyes flashed angrily at him. Uryu smirked back.
'4 million!' Aizen retorted testily.
'6 million!'
'Fuck! I didn't know Uryu was that rich!' Renji hissed. Ichigo nodded amazement. This was incredible. Uryu really did care!
'10 million!' Aizen was now standing and glaring challengingly at Uryu. Uryu glared back and opened his mouth to speak.
'20 million!' Toshiro drawled as he raised his hand. He gave both astounded men a haughty glance before looking at their shocked friends faces. 'What? Just because I don't wear expensive clothes and act like a prick doesn't mean I'm not well-off!'
'More like you swim in cash every morning,' Rangiku muttered. Ichigo couldn't take this anymore.
'Grimmjow, look, I'm sorry!' Ichigo cried out. The neko, whose ears had been dropping low the entire time, suddenly glanced curiously in his master's direction, it's ears cocked in one direction now. 'I'm sorry I was being so forceful and I didn't mean it! You know I have your best interests at heart and I wouldn't do anything to harm you! I promise, if you come back I'll be a better master! No! I'll be a better friend! Because you're not my property! You're someone very special to me and I would do anything to make you happy!'
'Awwwwww,' the crowd of posh people uttered unanimously.
'How touching,' Aizen sneered and crossed his arms. 'But, see, we're still in the middle of bidding and-!'
'-Going thrice! Sold to the white-haired kid at the back!' the auctioneer shouted as he banged his gavel. Aizen's eyes widened as he rounded on the man. The pink-haired man shrugged his shoulders. 'Hey, you all were still under bidding rules when the orange-headed was talking! So in all technicality this item is sold! Next it a lovely piece of artwork by-!'
'Ichigo!' Grimmjow cried happily as the neko bounded off the stage towards his master. Ichigo and Grimmjow tumbled to the ground in joy and Grimmjow licked Ichigo's nose but this time, he didn't care. He had Grimmjow back.
'There they are!' shouted a voice from behind the gang. It was the yakuza mob.
Oh shit.
'When I get my hands on you I'll,' Yakuza Guy #1 growled and froze when he saw Aizen. He paled. Along with the rest of the gang. 'B-B-Boss! Hi! What's up? Long time no…see?'
Aizen raised an eyebrow at them.
'I am guessing that you lost my item?' he said dryly.
'Told you he'd ask,' one guy whispered to their leader. The guy stomped on his subordinate's foot.
'Well…you see, boss…we didn't lose it…see…' he stammered to explain when Ichigo walked past him with Grimmjow trailing behind.
Ichig walked up to Aizen and looked him right in the eye. Then, he bent down to remove the necklace around Grimmjow's neck to hand it to Aizen.
'I believe this is yours,' he said coolly and thrust the necklace at the cold man. Aizen glanced at the necklace and sighed.
'You're friends bought it fairly with the feline,' Aizen remarked and forced a smile. 'After all, I was planning on auctioning it today which has been fulfilled I suppose.'
'So we can keep it?' Renji said suddenly. Aizen nodded. He cackled evilly and rubbed his hands together.
'Remind me again why I decided to date you,' Rukia groaned and wrinkled her nose at him.
'Keep an eye on your pet, boy,' Aizen said as Ichigo turned his back on the man. 'You never know when someone might try to take him from you.'
'If I get that feeling, I'll be sure to look out for you,' Ichigo shot. Then he rubbed Grimmjow's head affectionately. 'And besides, I don't think I'll be letting him out of my sight ever again.'
Grimmjow mewled contentedly.
'Glad that's over!' Rangiku exclaimed in satisfaction. 'Now let's go back to the mall and finish what we never started!'
Everyone groaned. They were all too tired to shop after this little adventure.
'We're heading home!' Ichigo stated and smiled at Grimmjow. 'You can have your milk when we get back! And I'll make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich too!'
Grimmjow yelped in satisfaction and purred as he rubbed his body against Ichigo's legs, making the girls giggle and Ichigo blush madly.
'So, Ichigo, what did you mean by 'your milk'?' Rangiku uttered and waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
'Bye, Rangiku!'
'Oh, and Ichigo?'
'Yeah, Uryu?'
'Next time, when Grimmjow wants to drink his milk, let him drink his milk.'
'Yeah, yeah! I got it!'
'Or you can just let him drink your milk, Ichigo!'
'BYE, RANGIKU!'
Lol, I was running out of a good way to end this…
And I think I just wrote a script for a short film approximately 30 mins long or something…
Anyways, please review, hope you enjoyed, yada yada yada my arm hurts so I'll end this now.
BYE! ^_^