Pale Blossom

Chapter Four

Rukongai Microbrewery and Pub

Ichigo's first impression of the pub was that there was no way in the world it could possibly be owned by the same individual who opened the coffeehouse next door. The coffeehouse was warm, almost homely even. This place was alive. That was the only way that he could explain it as he was led into the open warehouse. A low, steady thrumming music played, not like office music, but not loud and bothersome either. This place was open where the other was divided up. The bar took up perhaps three quarters of the building, so it was much wider, but just as deep. Again, the right side of the building featured a stage, though this one was obviously a bandstand complete with all the trappings for the band set to go up at ten tonight. Along the front of the stand, there were bright neon green, blue and pink lights. It wasn't obnoxious, just a little bit of color. Around the bandstand was a wide dance floor. The bandstand and dance floor took up about the same space that the entire coffeehouse took up. At the very back of the right hand section, he saw the sign for the restrooms, but instead of two, there were three signs, labeled Men's, Women's, and Unisex.

The center section was filled up with a few tables and chairs and two long c-shaped booths that curved around large tables that sat in the middle. Each side could fit about six people, it looked, and one on the end in the c where it went around. There were some other pub style tables toward the back, and he could see some traditional booths along the back wall. The tabletops seemed to have some sort of interior neon green glow, as though they were glass with lights under them. He glanced to the left hand section and saw that the bar was made of the same material.

The brewery part of the place and the bar took up the far left section. The bar ran along the left wall where there were stocked tons of different things on mirrored wall behind it. He could see the knobs for the craft beers and the various other things they kept on hand. The baseboards and footboards all had a streak of pink neon that lit up. Ichigo realized that it served two purposes, if the main lights were down, it would be easy to mark where to go. The floors were a nice, glossy black color, and the walls were also black with accents of neon colors in splash work. The place was brightly lit at the moment, large low hanging track lighting lining the ceiling. He gaped a bit because again, the place was amazing.

"Pretty cool, eh?" Renji said, dropping an arm around him again.

"I…wow," Ichigo said with a shake of his head. "This really is amazing."

Ichigo glanced over to see Grimmjow talking to Byakuya at the bar and once again, Ichigo felt his attention drawn to the blue haired man. He'd never felt so incredibly inclined to stare at someone before. He blinked. Shit, was he gay after all? He shifted under Renji's heavy arm. "So what goes on in here anyway?"

"Well, tonight Hyōrinmaru is playing. Their lead singer is Toshiro Hitsugaya, this short little shit with a hella temper. His guitar player is a big time player himself, Shuuhei Hisagi. Their base is…" he was interrupted by a loud smacking sound and he yelped.

"Fuck, 'Kuya!" he said, turning around and rubbing his ass. "If you want attention, you don't gotta smack me so damn hard."

"Come on, brat," Byakuya said, grabbing Renji by the shirt and pulling him away. "You've been flirting too much for my liking."

Ichigo's eyes went wide but Renji turned around and winked at him with a huge grin as he let the other man lead him toward the bathrooms. Nel came up and snorted. "Don't make a mess this time, dammit, Shinji was bitching for a week the last time you went at it in the fucking bathroom!" she yelled.

Ichigo looked at her, confused. "Oh, them? Don't worry, sweetheart, Renny and 'Kuya have an…interesting relationship. Renny pisses him off on purpose, and then when 'Kuya gets mad enough, he comes and drags him off to some corner to fuck him senseless. That's why Renny's been hanging on you tonight, he knows 'Kuya is jealous as fuck and it is a one way ticket to get him hot and bothered."

"That's…interesting. Byakuya seems kind of emotionless…" he said softly.

Nel grinned. "That's until you get him worked up. That's why Renny does it. He's happiest when 'Kuya leaves him walking funny for a week," she said with a smirk. "Of course, with those two, it is most every week…" she said, glancing back where Grimmjow was sitting at the bar talking to the bartender, a tall man with black hair cropped at his jawline and feathered barrettes pinning it out of his dark violent colored eyes. He was wearing what looked to be the uniform, a black T-shirt with Rukongai written in neon green across the back and the emblem on the front pocket. He was leaning over and Grimmjow was obviously flirting with him, and shamelessly.

Nel shook her head and took Ichigo over to the bar. "Yumi, this is Ichigo," she said with a smile.

The man smiled and put a hand out which Ichigo shook gently and glanced over the features. "Hey," Ichigo said.

"Goodness, gracious, Nel, what a pretty little one," he said, leaning over on his elbows and grinning at Ichigo. "Where did you find this lovely morsel?"

Ichigo blushed again. "Oh, he's going to be working over at Dangai and here off and on. Shinji's trying to get him to stay upstairs, but he's a bit reluctant."

Yumi grinned. "Sugar I would definitely let you share my bed up there," he said, with a gentle wink.

Ichigo swallowed dryly. The attention was a bit overwhelming. "You…you stay here?" he finally stammered.

Yumi nodded. "I came here a little over three months ago when my parent's kicked me out for being an abomination to nature," he said with a grin.

Grimmjow snorted. "If you're an abomination, I think I'll stay away from nature," he said with a wink at Yumi. Yumi stood up and slapped him with a bar towel.

"You devil, you know I'm quite taken," he said with a smirk. "And Ikkaku should be by after he gets off tonight at three. He's patrol over in downtown."

"You know, it is dangerous to sleep with a cop," Grimmjow smirked at him and sipped a mug of beer as a green haired girl sat it down.

"Yumi, quit flirting with the customers, Ikkaku's gonna spank you…again," she said and skipped away.

Yumi rolled his eyes. "I've got to get ready for tonight when the band gets here. Let Mashiro know if you need something," he said and headed through a door Ichigo hadn't noticed behind the bar.

"Store room," Nel said with a smile.

Ichigo nodded as the green haired Mashiro came back and sat down a glass of soda for him. "Thanks," he said shyly, trying very hard not to make eye contact with her. Mashiro tipped her head to the side and glanced at Nel. Nel nodded to her and she headed back behind the bar again.

"Shuuhei is the head bartender, but he's also in the band, so he's off tonight from over here," Nel said with a smile and sat down beside Grimmjow.

Ichigo got up on the barstool on the other side of her and watched as the place started to fill up around them. He wasn't used to so many people let alone the noise, but he was determined to enjoy himself. It wasn't something he'd ever done before, and he was going to make the most of it. Then, he heard his name, of all things. He blinked and turned around and found himself facing someone he definitely didn't expect to see.

"Ichigo, I thought that was you," the tall, dark skinned man said. Nel turned and looked to see who it was.

"Sado, you know Ichigo?" she asked, frowning a bit.

"Um, yeah, uh…" Ichigo swallowed. "Chad and I went to school together, same class, and…and…we were friends and then…well…the…you know…it just…and…" Ichigo swallowed. How was he going to explain the situation.

Nel put a hand on his back. "Ichigo, you were friends before you were with her?"

Ichigo nodded and saw Chad's brow furrow a bit. Ichigo remembered that Chad played the bass guitar, but he didn't realize that he would be here of all places. "Yeah…yeah…" Ichigo stammered, looking down.

"Sado, come by after your set, we'll talk," she said to the tall young man. She of course knew Sado went to school with Ichigo, she'd spoken to him back when she'd gone to the school, though Ichigo had never known. Now and then, since he started playing with the band, he would ask her if she knew about what had happened to Ichigo.

Ichigo turned and chugged his soda in one drink and fiddled with his hands. Nel put her arm around him. "Sweetie, are you okay?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I just…I didn't expect to know anyone here…"

"Don't be so worried. I doubt that horrible girl will be here," she said. "Didn't you say she did drugs?"

Ichigo nodded. "Yeah, when she parties, she does drugs."

"Then she won't be here, no one is allowed to have drugs in here, and there is no dealing here, no matter how hard the folks from Las Noches try to weasel their way in here with their wares," she said with a smile and tight squeeze of his shoulders.

"Las Noches?" Ichigo asked, seeing his soda was immediately refilled.

"Yeah, run by this man named Aizen, makes and sells designer drugs, along with the more traditional sort, of course. He tries to weasel his folks into every bar, club, or hangout in the area. Shinji's fought long and hard to make sure he doesn't get someone in here. Las Noches is a strip club about a fifteen minute drive from where we are now, in a really seedy part of town. They're all snakes, there," she said, sipping her beer as she spoke.

Ichigo looked up as a girl with black hair pulled up in a pair of long pigtails came up behind Nel and grinned at him. She put a finger to her lips and then put her hands over Nel's eyes. Nel smirked.

"Well, I wonder who that could be?" she said, spinning around on the stool and grabbing the dark haired girl and kissing her on the lips and siting back. "Loly, love, this is my new friend, Ichigo," she said, gesturing at him.

Loly smiled and reached out to take his hand but flinched away from her. Nel put a hand on Loly's arm and pushed it down with a slight shake of her head. "Ichigo, this is my girlfriend, Loly. She's one of the cocktail waitresses here. She used to stay here, but now she's got her own apartment, right babe?" Nel said, holding her hands and smiling at her. Ichigo could see she was wearing one of the pub t-shirts and a short, black skirt.

"Yeah," she said, glancing back at Ichigo and to Nel. Nel smiled, hoping to convey that she'd explain later. Loly nodded. "Well, I should get to work," she said, leaning over and kissing Nel's cheek before she headed to the back.

Nel smiled as she left then glanced at Ichigo who was staring at his soda glass again with a morose look on his face. "Itsygo, what is it?" she asked.

"Just…I can't even touch another girl without thinking about her, you know," he said. "I just…I don't even want to be near another girl at all. I mean, I know they're not like her, that they won't…lash out. But still," he said, rubbing his thumb along the rim of the glass as condensation collected on it.

Nel sighed. "Don't worry so much," she said as there was a loud drum smack. "Oh, they're starting up," she said as a solid drum beat began, followed by the sound of keyboard, guitars, and a few minutes later, the singer started in on a rock song. "The singer, the white haired one, that's Toshiro. Shuuhei, the second singer and one of our bartenders is the one next to him with lead guitar, and of course your friend Sado is the bassist. Then, the big breasted woman on keyboard, that's Rangiku Matsumoto, and the little guy on drums, is Hana Yamada. He's a nurse at the hospital during the day and plays drums here on the weekend nights."

Ichigo looked about. "Have Renji and Byakuya come back?" he asked.

Nel smirked. "Oh, they made it out of the bathroom, they're in one of the back booths having a post fucking make out session."

Ichigo blushed at her brashness but then he felt someone tap his shoulder. He looked up to see Grimmjow standing beside him. "Told you you'd have to dance," he said gruffly and Ichigo's eyes widened a bit.

Nel smiled and shoved him off the stool. "Go, have fun," she said as Grimmjow grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the dance floor. There weren't a lot of people on it at the moment, but there were a few. He pulled Ichigo into his arms and across the floor as the song shifted into a slower paced song. Ichigo felt like his face was on fire.

"What are you so embarrassed about?" Grimmjow said as they moved together.

Ichigo swallowed. "I…well I've never been dancing, for one," he said, quietly as Grimmjow pulled him in a little closer. Ichigo started as his stomach pressed into Grimmjow.

"Oh, for one?" Grimmjow said, the song shifting to an even slower ballad style.

Ichigo swallowed hard. "Um, yeah, and never danced with a guy," he said, again, glancing away from him into the crowd. He was trying to look anywhere but his face.

There were several different couples of all sorts on the floor, and they weren't the only male couple dancing. Suddenly Ichigo found himself pulled even closer as Grimmjow's hand settled low on his hip. His heart was beating harder than he thought possible.

"You don't seem to dislike it," Grimmjow said, leaning over and putting his mouth close to Ichigo's ear.

"No," Ichigo squeaked then immediately felt bad because that was definitely not the sort of sound he meant to make.

He felt Grimmjow's breath hot on his neck and his head was buzzing. He wasn't sure if it was the effects of the concussion or the slow dance, or just being held like this, but he was feeling unlike he'd ever felt before. He swallowed dryly when Grimmjow leaned closer to his ear to speak again over the loud music. "Yeah, I think you like this, don't you?" he said.

The only sound Ichigo managed was a strange combination of a whimper and a sigh and it made Grimmjow snicker in his ear, sending more blood rushing to places he didn't really want it right that moment. Of course, mostly to his face, though he was definitely feeling something in the pit of his stomach that he had never felt before. It was like butterflies had started fluttering inside his belly, and he couldn't explain it. He wondered if it was just the concussion, but no, he didn't think so. Something was very different as his feet moved with Grimmjow's across the floor and he felt his strong, thick body moving against him. The world had disappeared to be honest, and he wouldn't have noticed if the building had fallen into flames. Only the two of them existed, and Ichigo wasn't exactly sure what that meant.

"You're so fucking adorable I can hardly stand to keep my lips off you," Grimmjow breathed into his ear. Ichigo whimpered again, his breath steadily growing more rapid. He looked up into Grimmjow's wide cerulean eyes and he was sure that the world had crashed around him. He nodded to him slowly, and Grimmjow smiled a slow, soft smile and placed a chaste, delicate kiss on Ichigo's lips.

Ichigo's world was set on fire. He'd kissed Tatsuki so many times, and it never felt like that. It was always cold, and wet, and messy, and like sex, it was what was expected. This, though, set off every nerve ending in his body at once and he blinked owlishly at him for a minute and didn't say anything. Grimmjow leaned down again and this time Ichigo let his mouth open. Grimmjow wasn't one to pass on opportunity, of course, and he pulled Ichigo's body tighter to him and slid his tongue into his open mouth quickly, touching Ichigo's tongue gently, testing, and when he felt Ichigo's jaw relax, he deepened the kiss, letting his tongue slowly explore his partner's mouth slowly, languidly. The music ended about the time they needed breath and they broke apart.

They'd been on the far edge, past the side of the bandstand, when Grimmjow started trying to coax a kiss or two out of the cute orangette. Both headed back to the bar, sure that they hadn't been noticed too much by anyone. People were always moving off to the side to make out now and then. They, however, had been noticed by people that would have been better off not noticing them.

"Did you fucking see that?" the tall, lanky man with the bandana said to the green eyed man sitting beside him at the farthest table from the bar.

"Look's like Aizen's fucktoy has a faggot for a boyfriend," the green eyed Ulquiorra said, sipping his beer.

Nnoitra giggled as he sipped his drink. "Oh, man, this is fucking golden. Supposed to keep an eye on the lil' prick, and find him almost fuckin' making out with a dude on the dance floor. Oh, fuck me sideways, this is going to be bad, isn't it?" he said, shaking his head.

Loly came by and put down two more. "Anything else, guys?" she asked, smiling.

"Unless you wanna come take a sit on my lap and give my cock a rockin'," Nnoitra said with a lecherous grin at her.

Loly rolled her eyes. "Sorry, darling, my girlfriend wouldn't approve," she said, picking up the empty glasses and putting them on her tray.

"Ah, she can come play too," Nnoitra said with a grin. "Ulqui here ain't had his dick wet in a while," he said, elbowing the short, pale man who looked rather uninterested.

Loly shook her head. "I'm afraid you'll need to look here. Girlfriend and I are strictly into pussies, darling," she said, turning and leaving.

"Fuck, man, hot piece of ass like that deserves a good dicking, man," he muttered, sipping his beer.

Ulquiorra, though, was watching their quarry at the bar, who was drinking a soda and talking to the green haired chick on one side of him, and the blue haired bastard he was throat examining on the floor on the other. "I think we should focus on what we're here for. He told us to tale him and make sure he didn't get killed by the horny slut before he got back from his trip. And if she finds out he's here, she's gonna be pissed."

Nnoitra sighed. "Yeah, whatever. My first day off, I'm buying five whores and staying in bed all day fucking, got it?"

"I'm sure you would love to do just that," Ulquiorra said, sipping his beer and watching quietly.

A few feet away, another table had a person that had recognized Ichigo. Chizuru took out her phone and texted Tatsuki excitedly.

Tats, girl, you didn't tell me you and Ichi split – Chi

Chizuru had actually gone to school with both of them. Arisawa Tatsuki was a girl who had always gotten what she wanted, and Chizuru had been along for the ride, so to speak. She'd always thought Tatsuki seemed more than a little aggressive, which had caused issues when they met since Chizuru was a lesbian and initially thought Tatsuki was too. Then, when she started seeing Ichigo, she wondered about their relationship because she always complained about him. Lately, though, they hadn't been seeing each other as often, mostly because Tatsuki seemed to be high half the time.

Why the fuck would you say that? Came the reply.

Chizuru snapped a picture of Ichigo just as the blue haired man beside him leaned over to talk in his ear. He was quite obviously blushing at whatever was being said to him in the picture. Chizuru sent it. Not a half a moment later a new text came in.

Who the fuck is that and where the fuck are you?

Chill out, Tats, at the Rukongai, that pub I hang out with my girls, one of the more lezzy friendly places around, and I have no idea who the dude is, never seen him here – Chi

Chizuru wondered what she was so angry about. So Ichigo had gone out without her, did that mean he was cheating? She shook her head. Ichigo wouldn't cheat, but she also knew Tatsuki was rather abrasive all the time, and lately had gotten worse. Maybe he was exploring other options? She'd always wondered about him. She knew beyond a doubt he didn't fit the role he was trying to play with Tatsuki. Now, watching him as the blue haired man flirted with him, she knew for sure. She'd never seen an expression like that on his face when he and Tatsuki sat together. What she saw now was genuine. She bit her lip and glanced at her phone, wishing now she hadn't said anything. She put the phone away when there was no answer after fifteen minutes. Maybe telling her was the best, though, because if they were still together, it obviously wasn't good. Maybe she'd break up with him over it and Ichigo could go be with someone he really cared about.

At the bar, Ichigo was having a very hard time not blushing every time Grimmjow leaned over to speak to him. He wanted to kiss him again. At the moment, he wanted to have Grimmjow take him to the bathroom like Renji and Byakuya had. Even the thought made him blush a bit. That was so unlike him, he thought, but he wanted whatever Renji had with Byakuya. He wanted to be happy, so much he just wanted to be happy.

Nel put a hand on his arm. "Doing okay?"

Ichigo nodded and turned around to see Renji had come up behind him. "Hey, come on, you owe me a dance," Renji said with a smirk and pulled him out onto the floor. Grimmjow looked a little annoyed as he left, but Nel moved over to sit beside him.

Renji spun him out and grinned. "So you and Grimmy danced."

Ichigo swallowed and nodded. "Yeah," he said.

"Wanna go use the bathroom?" Renji said with a smirk and Ichigo blushed bright red. "You do! I thought you weren't gay, huh?"

Ichigo looked away, thoroughly embarrassed. "I don't know what I am, okay?" he said softly.

"It's okay, you know," Renji said as they danced. It was quite obvious Renji wasn't interested in him like Grimmjow was. The dance was fun, but it wasn't the same. "I know what it's like, the first time you realize that you want to be the one slammed up against the wall."

Ichigo swallowed and looked over Renji's shoulder. "Hey, don't be embarrassed," Renji said, smirking. "I was a real lady's man, you know. Actually, funny story, that's how I met 'Kuya. He caught me fucking his sister in their bathroom."

Ichigo looked at him with wide eyes. "What?"

Renji snickered. "Oh yes, he was livid! Grabbed me by the hair and drug me out into the living room. Rukia came running out, managed to grab a robe, I was butt naked. She screamed at him, I stood there scared stiff because he was so pissed. Rukia gets mad, takes off in her car and leaves me there with him. He throws me down and starts giving me what for and I realize he's fucking hot. The madder he gets the more I'm getting hard. He stops suddenly when he realizes I'm trying very hard to hide a fuckin' massive boner. He grabs my hands and stares at me, and I'm like, ah fuck, now what's he going to think…"

The song changed to a slower one and Renji slowed their pace but smiled at him. "That's when he grabbed me by the arm and stared at me for a long time. Next thing I know, he's got both hands in my fucking hair with his tongue down my throat and fifteen minutes later I'm being fucked into the goddamn wall of his bedroom like a two bit slut, and I fucking wanted to do it again. And we did. A few more times. Funny shit when Rukia came home the next morning and opened the door to find me sprawled in his bed with her brother wrapped around me. I don't think I've ever heard the words that came out of her mouth come out of a woman's mouth before. Something about her not expecting her brother to steal her boyfriend, and how he was allowed to have sex in the house but she wasn't…" Renji laughed. "We're friends now, but boy was she hot for a while over that. I guess after you pass five years with a partner, it isn't just a friendly fuck."

"Five years?" Ichigo said, looking at him. "You've been together five years?"

Renji nodded. "Sure have," he said as the song ended and he led him back to the bar.

"Grimmy, baby, here you go. Sweet stuff, but if I dance with him anymore, I don't think my ass can take a whole lot more of 'Kuya's jealously," Renji said, waving as he headed to sit down beside his dark haired lover. As soon as he sat down, Byakuya reached out and grabbed him by the hair and pulled him into a possessive kiss.

Ichigo shook his head as he sat down. Grimmjow smiled at him. "Are you having fun?" he asked.

Ichigo nodded. "Yeah, yeah I am…"

He had no idea how long it would last, this freedom and he didn't care right now. It was like nothing he'd ever felt. He felt wanted. He felt like these people wanted him for who he was, not what he could do or who he was or any other reason. He smiled at Grimmjow as he passed him a plate of nachos that he'd ordered to share with him. Ichigo took one, and for the first time in a very long while, he was really happy.