Author's Note: Yo peoplez, Ima back! You thought I forgot about you, ne? :)) Well, this chappie was actually done a few days ago but I only got to uplaod it now since I've been on vacation for the last three days. Beach! :D I probably won't be updating right after this 'cause I still need to recharge my imagination with a bunch of fanfictions. ^^ But don't worry, I still update occasionally.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
For the next two days, Grimmjow's been making a short trip past the building just to see Ichigo while the latter would also occasionally look around the streets below for a mop of blue hair. And Nel's also noticed this change in her father, as well as the new emotions setting itself within his eyes, hope.
Ichigo's daughter has been waiting for her father to tell her about why he acted that way, but he just brushed it aside like nothing happened leaving Nel in the dark, until the next day...
"Nel.", Ichigo called out to her as he put down the phone, ending his conversation with the person on the other line.
"Yes?", she said as she emerged from her room.
"Renji, Rukia, Karin and goat face will be over tomorrow and they want to meet Ulquiorra.", Ichigo chuckled as Nel groaned at the thought of her boyfriend meeting her overly energetic grandfather.
"Does grandpa really have to come?", she asked while running a head over her face.
"Sadly, yes. Now go call your boyfriend and tell him.", her dad said while making a 'shoo' motion with his hand.
Nel then quietly retreated to her bedroom, leaving her father to finish his lecture in peace. She then jumped onto her bed, pulled out her cellphone and speed dialed the pale teen.
"Yes?", answered Ulquiorra casually as he already knew who it was.
"Ulqui, my other relatives are coming over tomorrow and they... kinda want to meet you.", Nel said while wondering if it was to early in their relationship to be doing this.
As if sensing her uncertainty, Ulquiorra answered with a chuckle, "Sure, I'll be there after lunch at around 1."
"Thanks.", Nel said while blushing.
"I'll be honored to meet your family.", Nel knew that Ulquiorra would regret ever saying that once he met her grandpa.
Ulquiorra stood in front of the door wipping his sweaty hands on his pants. He wore a black dress shirt, which clashed with his white skin, white pants and a pair of black dress shoes that completed his look that was a little on the formal side but was also casual in a way. Believe it or not, the great Ulquiorra Schiffer, aka the most emo guy in his school, was actually nervous. He really liked Nel and he really wanted her family to like him. To him, Kurosaki-san's accepting him was just out of pure luck, but te rest of the family would be harder.
Strengthening his confidence, he knocked on the door three times and waited for someone to open it. Once he saw his girlfriend, his anxiety almost completely disappread.
Nel gave him a nervous smile and asked before letting him in, "Are you ready?"
Fearing that Nel might be implying that her other family members weren't going to like him, he replied with a crocked grin, "What's the worst that could happen?"
Apparently, Ulquiorra spoke to soon, because the very second after he said that line, a being called Isshin Kurosaki flung itself at him screaming, "SO THIS IS MY BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTER'S BOYFRIEND!"
Out of pure instinct, the frightened teen stepped to the side, allowing the man to crash to the door that suprisingly didn't break under the impact.
Afraid that the old, but energetic, man hurt himself, Ulquiorra approached him, only to see the man stand up with a triumphant grin on his face, "I'M SO GLAD NEL FOUND SOMEONE WHO COULD DOGDGE MY LOVING HUG OF DOOM!"
Nel, along with the other occupants in the room, just shook their heads at the old man's usual antics and Ichigo said, "Stop scaring the poor kid, goat face, and get back to your seat!"
Isshin childishly cried crocodile tears while returning to his chair and mumbled things about his only son hating him.
The green haired girl put a comforting hand on Ulquiorra's shoulder to put him out of his shock and whispered in his ear, "Sorry about that. Don't worry about grandpa, he's always acting like that, but he's acutally a responsible adult when he needs to be."
He just nodded as a reponse and let himself be lead to a small beige sofa where he sat beside Nel.
Introductions went surprisingly well, with her boyfriend getting used to everyone and her auntie, Karin, warming up to him already, Nel knew that her family liked Ulquiorra and vise-versa. When Ichigo went to the kitchen to prepare some snacks, Nel thought that if Ichigo didn't want to talk about Grimmjow with her, she might as well ask her other relatives.
While nervously figeting with her skirt, Nel started, catching the occupants' attention, "Umm.. everyone... do you know of a man named Grimmjow?"
The mention of that name made Renji, Rukia and Karin stiff, and even the hyper-active Isshin remained still.
"Why do you ask, Nel-chan?", Rukia asked with a small smile, thought it could be clearly seen through her eyes that they held sadness in their purple depths.
"Well...", Nel stopped but continued after seeing their expectant stares, "one night, a group of guys attacked me, but then I was saved by this guy with blue hair and eyes named Grimmjow."
That statement caused all their eyes to widen either from shock or concern.
Then she continued, "He then escorted me home and stayed, telling me that one of his old friends of his used to live here. Then when I told dad of this, he acted strange and he hasn't spoken to me about it since."
After she finished telling them, an awkward silence filled the air, making Nel feel uncomfortable. So, Ulquiorra placed an arm around her helping the girl calm down a bit. But before any of them could utter a word, Ichigo came in holding a tray full of drinks, sandwiches and cookies.
He raised a sleander orange brow at the silence and lack of excitement in the room. When a few seconds passed, Renji and Isshin started to restle making everyone laugh at their stupidity, easing the tension in the room. Rukia and Karin then sent a look to the two lovers which meant, 'We'll explain everything later on, but for now just act normally, for Ichigo.'
The rest of the afternoon went normally, filled with laughs, courtesy of Isshin and Renji, snacks, courtesy of Nel and Ichigo, and loads of punches, courtesy of Ichigo, Karin and Rukia who mutteres 'idiots' while physically abusing the old man and pineaple while Ulquiorra and Nel just watched in amusement. Time went by this way until Ichigo rose from his wrestling match with Renji and left, saying that he had to take the 6 o'clock shift in the hospital for a fellow doctor who was out of town.
Once they heard the soft clicking of the door, indicating that Ichigo has officially left the apartment, the awkward silence fell on them once again, this time, so thick that you could slice it with a knife.
Renji, who was starting to sweat from the tension, broke the silence by fake-coughing and said, "I'm guessing you want answers."
Nel, though she really wanted the answers to fill the empty spaces in her brain, knew how reluctant her family was and instead said, "No, I mean I really want to know, but if you guys don't fell comfortable telling me, it's fine."
Ulquiorra sent a shocked look to Nel, he didn't know she could be this mature. One of the things that made him fall in love with the girl in the first place was that she was full of surprises, one minute she's sad and one second later, it's like the word depressed doesn't exist in her vocabulary.
Back to the situation at hand, Karin ,who has grown into a fine young lady, just shook her head, her eyes unreadable for her ebony bangs covered them, "No. I think it's about time you shoudl know."
Isshin just stared at his daughter and nodded. Nel and Ulquiorra just sent questioning looks to each other.
Rukia took a big puff of air in her lungs, and released it together with the words, "You know the truth about your birth, right?"
The green haired beauty just slowly nodded, not liking where this was going.
"Well, simply put, he's your other dad, your father's ex boyfriend.", Isshin explained, straight to the point.
Nel's and Ulquiorra's eyes widened to such a point where they looked like they were saucers. Things remained like this until the teenage girl went full blast into tears and her boyfriend immediately put his arm around her, while whispering soothing words in her ears. The others could do nothing but look away in sadness. Now that she knew the truth, what else could they do?
When she heard that Grimmjow was her dad, all the fellings of sadness that she buried deep inside her heart resurfaced. Regret, sadness, despair, guilt, and hate of herself filled her heart. When she first learned about her true past, she blamed herself for making her dad lose his true love, but Ichigo told her that it wasn't her fault and that was enough to make her feel better. But now, she felt even worse knowing that her dad's ex was kind, strong, and not to mention handsome.
After she stopped crying, she apologized to everyone and was forgiven quickly. They chatted for a few minutes longer until Renji, Rukia, Karin and Isshin had to go. Nel and Ulquiorra then went to her room and cuddle until Nel fell asleep.
Ichigo entered his suprisingly empty and dark apartment, looks like the others left early. He then put his lab coat on his chair and made his way to Nel's room.
He took a small peek inside and was surprised to see Nel and her boyfriend curled up together on the sheets with only the sounds of their soft snores and the slow rising and falling of their chests being the only movement and sound in the room. Ichigo slowly made his way out, but before he could close the door, he heard some shuffling noises on the bed and saw himself staring at Ulquiorra's piercing green eyes with his warm chocolate ones.
The young teen sent a glance at the sleeping Nel and looked back to him which meant, 'Is it fine if I slept beside her?'
While the strawberry just gave him a nod and silently went out of the room with a small smile.
He then headed towards the balcony and looked at the clear night sky together with the moon and stars. He then remembered that Grimmjow and his first date was set under this very same star filled night sky. He tried to remove the thoughts of the blue haired man by giving a small shake to his head, but his efforts ended up fruitless. He then lowered his head down with a sigh and gasped once he saw the said blue haired man himself grinning at him. Well, speak of the devil and he shall come.
While Ichigo just stood there gaping like a fish at him, Grimmjow's grin turned into a true geniune smile and he sent a small wave to him. Realizing that he was acting stupid, Ichigo quickly returned the wave and gave him a small crocked smile of his own, which Grimmjow laughed at.
The taller man then mouthed, 'See you, strawberry.'
And Ichigo glared at him for that. Grimmjow just lauged at the berry, red with anger (just right for picking, he added in his head) and went on his way back home.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed it. I know it's kinda short, but I'm facing a long stage of writer's block. R&R