Author Notes: Hi minna! Yeah, I updated this first since this fic got more reviews than Teal and Orange and even if I wanted to update both fics, my time doesn't allow me to do that. Well, this is chapter six and this is dedicated to all people who gave their reviews and encouraged me to continue. Thank you very much and I hope this chapter will not disappoint you though I'm not sure if I wrote it right. Waahhh, gomen ne! but please, do tell me what you think just don't flame me or if ever you have any rude comments about it, I would have to ask you to please keep them for yourself. Anyway, enough with the blabbering and read on~!
Beta Reader: Yoshimara (slavetosuicide) - Thanks and I'm happy for you, dear~!^^
Beta'ed Version Posted on: September 09, 2009; 02:06 AM
Thank You Corner: Carabel / Crescent Luna Moon / vudupins / Mizuki Assassi of the Mist / BonneNuit / Black Storm Van Pendragon / FlyinGShadow1314 / yuki-chan55 / vanity-issues / Flamez-is-Renji-Gilrl666 / CrazyDudette / ThierryMyst / shillana / xXShui-HimeXx / Cappington / Nosferatu523 / mietharules / uchihababe-chan / TealEyedBeing / Nairija / HikaIta / Beautiful Feather / crave-the-rave / MuffinzRBeast24 / MultiDragon / ZabimaruxZangetsu / Sorry for the anon / evanescenceangel18
Warnings: This fic contains yaoi/malexmale relationships, foul language and possible OOCness so don't complain about the characters being OOC because you've been warned.
Disclaimer: Hindi akin ang Bleach. (I don't own Bleach.)
SIX: A Losing Battle
They all decided to go to a nearby snack bar and sat at a table near the window. They all ordered burgers and fries, only that Matsumoto had to order a milkshake. She said it was her favorite and couldn't go over a day without drinking one. Ichigo thought maybe it was her secret into having a very ample bosom and he wouldn't be surprised if milk would actually squirt from those gigantic globes of flesh.
While waiting for their meal, Matsumoto started making shitty conversation.
"So, Ichigo-chan, I was really surprised to know that you and Grimmy-chan are brothers!"
Grimmjow smirked as he placed an arm around his so-called girlfriend while Ichigo flinched, feeling more awkward as the conversation finally begun. He hoped he would survive this… but he should! He really should because his dignity was on the line.
Attack.
If Ichigo wanted to win this stupid game he should attack and show Grimmjow that he would not back down that easily. He tried to place a smirk on his face, looked confident and also placed an arm around Inoue. The orange-haired girl looked a little surprised at first but later on smiled at him and acted naturally as if they were really lovers.
"I thought Grimmjow already told you. You are his girlfriend after all." He replied with a meaningful glance at the German.
Matsumoto let out an infectious laugh. "Well, we don't really talk much about our family, though I had heard some news that he has a stepbrother, I just didn't expect that it's Inoue's boyfriend!"
"Well, I didn't even know that he has a girlfriend. But you are aware of his growing fan club, right?"
"Eh, Grimmjow-kun has a fan club? T-that's amazing!" Inoue blurted, her face plainly reflecting what she just said.
"But too bad for those girls 'coz I already have the hottest guy at school!" Matsumoto answered proudly.
Ichigo fought the urge to growl in annoyance and kept his face smiling instead, while Grimmjow suddenly let out a playful smirk.
"So, Inoue, I'm glad to finally meet you." The German said as he looked at Inoue.
"Ah, yeah!" Inoue chuckled. "I'm glad to finally meet you too! I heard a lot of things about you, except for the fan club. You're lucky to have Grimmjow-kun, Rangiku-san!"
Grimmjow raised an eyebrow in interest. "Oh, really?" He asked then looked maniacally at Ichigo, who slightly stiffened at the can of worms his fake girlfriend just opened. "What did my stepbrother tell you about me?"
Inoue chuckled uneasily then looked up at the ceiling, thinking.
Ichigo slapped himself mentally, inwardly cursing the girl beside him.
Why did she say that when the only things she knew about Grimmjow was his nationality and his barbaric attitude?
"I told her you're from Germany and you're…" He interjected and stammered when he forced the words he must say out of his mouth. "…you're… you are… k-kind."
"Yeah, yeah! He told me that Grimmjow-kun!" Inoue added cheerfully, albeit unconvincingly.
Grimmjow secretly rejoiced. It was so obvious that the two were pretending.
Oh, Ichigo. You are so gonna lose in this little game of yours.
"Ah, it seems that you two are close! That's pretty amazing! It's rare to have a close relationship with someone who's not really related to you, but you had to accept as your brother or sister!" Matsumoto commented.
Ichigo almost puked in disgust.
"Well, let's just say I'm lucky that Ichi here is such a nice person to accept me as part of his family!" Grimmjow said cheerfully, his blue eyes raking teasingly at the orange-haired boy.
"Oh, anyway, when did you two started dating, Rangiku-san?" Ichigo asked to change the topic and also, to commence his attack.
He had to make sure if Rangiku Matsumoto was really Grimmjow's girlfriend.
Matsumoto was about to answer when Grimmjow suddenly pulled the woman closer to him and pecked her cheek, all the while looking evilly at his stepbrother. "Just three days ago, on my first day at school. With a beauty like her hanging around at the campus it was impossible for me, or to any other man to not notice her."
Brown eyes momentarily widened in shock at the scene and Ichigo felt something painfully stabbed at his chest. He probably knew what it was but he dismissed it and instead held Inoue's shoulder tightly. "Is that so?" He tried uttering then forced another fake smile on his face. "I and Inoue just started dating yesterday." He lied but regretted it when he realized that he should've made the time they supposedly started dating longer.
It was now Matsumoto's turn to look amazed. "Eh, really? Oh, you're a fast one, neh, Ichigo-chan?"
Grimmjow silently smirked. That was just another proof of his stepbrother's lies. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he gently placed his hand on his girlfriend's face and forced her to look at him.
It's time to make things more interesting.
"Am I not fast enough for you, huh?" He whispered seductively before closing in the distance between them and kissed Matsumoto, who was slightly surprised at first, but later on gave in and kissed back.
Inoue and Ichigo stared at them, dumbfounded, it's not like they haven't seen people kissed before. It's just that, they didn't expect the other couple to be so bold.
Especially Ichigo…
Seeing those lips touched another person… it was disturbing him, making him… angry.
On impulse, his foot suddenly moved up and kicked Grimmjow under the table.
Fuck, I didn't just do that.
Grimmjow quickly pulled away from his so-called girlfriend and looked wonderingly at him. He too, blinked and wondered as to why he did that and quickly looked away when he failed to grasp the answer. While Matsumoto blinked at Grimmjow, wondering why her boyfriend stopped and Inoue just watched silently, a faint blush was now visible on her cheeks.
"Is something wrong, Grimmjow?" Matsumoto asked.
The German fixed his eyes on the girl beside him again and grinned. "No, nothing." He replied and just leaned in to kiss her again.
Inoue just gasped in surprise again, shocked and amazed and probably envious while Ichigo… let's just say that Ichigo was in a state wherein different emotions were swirling inside his head, threatening him to lose his grip, but mostly, what he felt was… jealousy.
Is it jealousy? These painful feelings of seeing his stepbrother do that to other people, and this horrible thought of knocking the living day lights out of Rangiku-san?
He slowly took a deep breath as he watched, willing himself to look away and calm down, but he just couldn't.
Stop, you bastard!
…
…
…
Stop kissing her!
Stop that, Grimmjow!
"K-Kurosaki-kun." Inoue suddenly uttered, waking him out of his stupor. It was only then that he realized that he was already gripping her shoulder tightly and was probably hurting her.
He immediately let go of her, that was what he thought he did, but instead he just suddenly saw those large gray eyes widened in shock and a pair of soft lips touched his own.
He was… he was… kissing Inoue?
What the fuck?
His fake girlfriend immediately wrapped her amrs around his shoulder and respond.
Fuck! He was kissing a girl… for the first time…
He was kissing a girl!
A girl and he didn't feel all that good.
He didn't know what he was dong anymore, his mind was screaming for him to stop but his heart and mind wouldn't. He was probably blinded with hate and anger that he did this ridiculous thing but he couldn't do anything. His free hand suddenly snaked around Inoue's slim waist, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss. She was so close, he could already feel his breast against his chest that disgusted him but couldn't do anything about it since his body seemed to now have a mind of its own.
Then suddenly, he felt something that made him stop, pull away and look at the man across him.
Grimmjow was shocked and pissed as hell when he saw Ichigo suddenly kissing his so-called girlfriend. He didn't expect his stepbrother to do that especially that he knew Inoue wasn't really his girlfriend. So with only one thought in mind, he kicked Ichigo under the table and glared at him.
Auburn met cyan into a heated gaze as they stared at each other.
At the back of Ichigo's mind, he could not believe that Grimmjow actually did something to stop him from kissing Inoue and was now scowling at him as if he was jealous or anything. Wait, what? Jealous?
Grimmjow Jeagerjaques?
His bastard of a stepbrother?
Jealous?
He looked intently at those blue orbs gleaming with dark intent and confirmed it.
Grimmjow was jealous and he must use that to his advantage.
An evil laugh resonated inside his head as he thought of an evil plan that would finally let him win this stupid game!
On the other hand, Grimmjow was jealous. Well, not really, but he definitely did not like the fact that Ichigo kissed a girl and he seemed to like it a lot. If there was anyone, anyone who should made him enjoy the art of kissing it would be him because he got his stepbrother's first kiss and Ichigo was his!
A sly smile crossed Ichigo's features as he looked at Grimmjow then at Matsumoto who was obviously wondering what was wrong with her boyfriend. On the other hand, Inoue's face was as red as a tomato and was breathing heavily from that long and sloppy kiss. Ichigo wasn't sure if it was her first kiss, but he didn't care. He didn't feel anything when he kissed him but the sight of his foreign stepbrother, putting on a grim expression on his face was enough for him to endure the kiss. "Well, since you guys were being bold, we thought why not us as well." He said amusingly.
Inoue let out a nervous chuckle and leaned close to Ichigo. "You should've told me you would do that, Kurosaki-kun." She whispered.
Ichigo just laced their hands together and softly squeezed her hand in apology. "Sorry, Inoue. I think I got carried away because of them."
Matsumoto chuckled. "Ah, sorry about that Ichigo-chan, but at least I finally know you're a good kisser!" She said flirtatiously.
The three of them all laughed except for Grimmjow who was still pissed and was torn between dragging Ichigo out of there and staying to prove to him that he was not affected by that at all. His unmistakable reaction was a proof of his loss but he still had a chance to get back at his stepbrother. He slowly took a deep breath and grinned. "I guess I have to give you the props for that, Ichi." He commented coolly.
Ichigo eyed the German mockingly. "I guess I have too, Grimmjow." He shot back.
After that, the waitress suddenly arrived with their food and they started eating. Since Ichigo was feeling confident, he didn't waste any second to make another attack. He immediately took a piece of French fry and brought it near Inoue's lips, gently feeding it to her.
Grimmjow silently cursed at the sight and immediately took a fry as well, popped half of it inside his mouth and brought his face towards Matsumoto. Getting what Grimmjow wanted to do, Matsumoto smiled and eagerly popped the other half in her mouth, kissing the teal-haired man in the process.
Ichigo almost slapped his hand on the table but decided to keep his cool and kissed Inoue on her forehead, creating a very sweet and fluffy scene in front of the couple in front of him.
Take that, Grimmjow!
The German felt his anger intensify but refused to surrender to it. He kept his anger at bay, took another fry inside his mouth and fed it to his so-called girlfriend's lips only this time, he kissed her longer and deeper and he didn't miss the flash of jealousy cross Ichigo's face as he watched them.
Ha! Eat your fucking heart out, Ichigo.
Refusing to be defeated, Ichigo wrapped his arms around Inoue and hugged her tight. He felt the woman stiffened a bit but stayed quiet. He brought his lips near her ear and whispered. "Sorry, about this Inoue."
The girl hugged him back and rubbed her cheek in his chest. If other people would see them, they would definitely think that they were being too lovey-dovey with each other and that they were real lovers. "It's okay, Kurosaki-kun. I just hope I'm doing a great job acting as your girlfriend."
"Don't worry about it; you're doing more than good." He replied and buried his face on her hair. Her hair was soft and it smelled nice.
If it was another man holding her right now, he would definitely think that he was the luckiest man in the world, but for him, he felt nothing. If there was anything that he was feeling right now, it would be hate, anguish and jealousy. He was blinded. Blinded by these emotions that he didn't want to feel in the first place, but feeling it because there was a certain emotion in his heart that he could only feel whenever Grimmjow was around.
He slowly averted his gaze on the couple across the table and was surprised to see that they were not intent on eating their food anymore but at making out inside this frigging restaurant.
Again, he felt a stab in his chest that made him hug Inoue tighter. He thought he was already winning this stupid game, he, himself had initiated but in the end… in the end… he was…
Why?
Why was he feeling this way?
Is it because… Is it because he was really in—
Grimmjow suddenly pulled away from a panting Matsumoto. The woman's face was flushed and her full lips, swollen and abused by that mouth that stole his first kiss.
This was unfair, really unfair.
The fucking bastard seemed to enjoy kissing that bitch while he… he didn't, not even one bit.
This was unfair!
"What do you say we get out of here, hm?" Grimmjow asked seductively.
Matusmoto grinned flirtatiously. "Ooohhh, I'd love that but…" She suddenly looked hesitant and turned to Ichigo and Inoue, who was still locked in an embrace but seemed unoccupied by it. "…what about them?" she asked.
Grimmjow turned to look arrogantly at his stepbrother "I'm sure Ichigo will understand." He said.
Ichigo released Inoue and tried to calm the raging frustration and anger inside him. Instead, he plastered another fake smile on his lips and acted as if everything was okay and he was unaffected. "Of course." He replied.
Matsumoto's eyes twinkled in happiness. "Really? I mean, we were the one who invited you so—"
"Don't worry about it, Rangiku-san! It's really, really okay." Inoue assured her with a wide smile.
Grimmjow suddenly grabbed Matsumoto on the wrist and yanked her up her chair, casting a triumphant gaze at Ichigo before he turned to leave. "Thanks and see you at home, Ichi." He said.
"See you around you two and make sure you have fun! Call me, okay Inoue!" Matsumoto cheerfully said as the German dragged her across the room and out of the snack bar.
Ichigo and Inoue both looked at the other couple and chose to stay quiet until they completely vanished from the room. Ichigo heaved a long sigh and dropped his head on the table. Inoue looked worriedly at the boy. "K-Kurosaki-kun, are you okay?" She asked.
He forced himself to lift his head up to look at her. "Yeah, I'm okay." He replied with a sad and exhausted smile. He then fixed his eyes on the food in front of him and pushed the plate in front of Inoue. "Let's finish these, Inoue."
The orange-head girl just nodded then quietly took a piece of fry and ate.
Both of them ate in silence. Ichigo was too busy mulling about what just happened while Inoue was too afraid to say something.
She didn't knew Ichigo that well after all, so she didn't know what to say.
When their food was done, Ichigo leaned back in his seat and stared blankly at the ceiling.
I wonder… what are they doing right now?
Did they...
Did he really do it… with her?
Why am I worrying about that in the first place? Is it really because…
He heaved a long sigh once again and closed his eyes.
No, that was impossible.
He was not gay and he didn't like Grimmjow. All he felt for that bastard was fucking hate and irritation! That was all!
But… why?
Why did he also feel jealous when he kissed Matsumoto?
Why?
"Kurosaki-kun…" Inoue called out, cutting his line of thoughts.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.
She nervously looked away and chewed on her bottom lip, looking as if she wanted to say something but didn't know how to say it.
"I think…" She started then looked straightly at him. "…you are really in love with Grimmjow-kun."
He suddenly straightened and looked at her with wide auburn eyes. "What?" He asked stupidly.
"I think the way you're acting towards Grimmjow-kun is a sign that you are in love with him and couldn't accept it." She answered, her face looked a little scared, maybe because of the scowl now occupying his face, but her voice sounded honest.
"I… I…"
Was that true?
Was he really in love with Grimmjow… and was mad at him because he couldn't accept it?
Was that what he really felt?
He shook his head in denial and looked confusingly at Inoue. "No, please don't say nonsense things like that, Inoue. There's no fucking way that I'm gay and I am in love with that asshole."
After his date with his supposed girlfriend, Ichigo went straight home and ate dinner with his family. Grimmjow still wasn't home when they ate so he got questioned by his father and he answered him truthfully.
He said Grimmjow was out on a date with his hot girlfriend.
Isshin howled like a goddamn buffoon upon the knowledge that his stepson already had a girlfriend when he had only been staying in Japan for one week. Karin just muttered something like cool then shrugged and ate quietly, while Yuzu chirped about how she wished they would meet Grimmjow's girlfriend one of these days.
Ichigo just stayed quiet and quickly finished his food. He couldn't stand the fuss his family was doing at the table. After that, he immediately went in his room and busied himself with some homework that needed to be done.
It took him an hour and a half to finish it, pushing disturbing thoughts of Grimmjow kissing and doing naughty things with Matsumoto off of his mind as he solved those Math problems and answered those essay questions. He leaned back on his chair with a heavy sigh and scowled on the ceiling.
Where the fuck was that bastard?
Was he really having sex with that stupid Rangiku?
And why the fuck am I fucking bothered?
With an irritated growl he placed his pen and notebook inside his bag and got ready for bed. He went to the bathroom, washed his face, brushed his teeth and changed into his pajamas. He went back in his room and was surprised to see Grimmjow sitting on his bed, his handsome face looked relaxed and he had his usual shit-eating grin that he despised. He instantly glared at the German and approached his bed. "Get the fuck off of my bed, bastard."
Grimmjow just raised his eyebrow and smiled at him. "Looks like you're ready to go to sleep. Don't you wanna find out what I and Rangiku did?" He teased.
"Do I look like I want to find out?" The orange-head retorted. "I don't wanna hear any of it, if there's anything I want right now, it's for you to shut the fuck up, get off of my bed and let me get some fucking sleep." He stood up in front of Grimmjow with his arms folded over his chest, death glaring at the foreigner warning him to do what he just said.
"Eh, you're no fun. I'm sure you'll like what I'll tell you. It might help you with your girlfriend, you know." Grimmjow taunted.
There was a brief flash of panic on the Japanese teen's face but he immediately recovered and got back into scowling. "I assure you, I don't need any help with that. Now fuck off! I want to sleep!"
"Sure, I'll let you do that after you listen to me."
"I told you I don't want to fucking listen!" Ichigo shouted angrily, his patience slowly crumbling as the teal-haired teen continued to tease him.
"You see Ichigo, it was my first time to be with a Japanese woman and I'm telling you, German girls have nothing against Rangiku. She's just so hot and she had this hot body that…" Grimmjow started saying, ignoring Ichigo's protest.
The orange-head covered his ears and started yelling. "I don't want to hear it! Shut the fuck up, Grimmjow!" Still, the German ignored him and continued. In the next minutes, he was forced to hear how his stepbrother made Matsumoto wild with his hands and lips and how many... how many times… fuck, he didn't even want to say, nor even think of it. All he felt was hatred and continuous stabbing pain in his chest as he listened to those horrifying words spilling out of Grimmjow's mouth.
"Stop it!"
It's painful.
"Shut the fuck up!"
It hurts!
"I said, stop it! I don't wanna listen!"
I can't…
"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!"
I can't take it anymore.
"Stop hurting me, Grimmjow!" He screamed as loud as he could as he closed his eyes shut but it was too late, tears were already trickling down his cheeks, showing his frustration, his anger and his pain.
He couldn't take it. No, he couldn't! This torture, this pain was just too painful to bear!
Grimmjow instantly stopped when he saw tears fall from Ichigo's eyes.
What the—he's crying?
He looked at the orange-head with shock as the other man opened his eyes and looked at him with scorn and pain. He didn't expect that he would actually…
"Stop! Stop hurting me!" Ichigo cried again, his heart heavy with emotions and his eyes filled with tears that he didn't even want to spill.
Why the fuck was he crying?
Why the fuck was he showing this weak expression in front of this bastard?
"You… you… just went here and changed everything! You wanna know why I hate you?" He finally exploded. "It's because, I fucking hate you! I hate your guts, your eyes, your face, your fucking smile, your unspeakable attitude! I hate everything about you because ever since you came, everything in my life changed! You changed my family! My friends! My school! Everything! You stole my first kiss on the first day, got every one's attention on the second day and claimed that I'm fucking attracted to you on the third day and shit like that! Well, fuck that Grimmjow! Fuck that! Because it's all true! I hate you because it's all true! I can't accept the fact that I'm attracted to you ever since I first laid eyes on you! I can't accept the fact that I still feel something for you even though you're making my life a living hell! I can't accept the fact that you have a girlfriend and you just fucked her and most of all, I can't accept the fact that I am fucking in love with a fucking bastard like you! I hate you! I hate you because you made me fall in love with you even though I'm not gay and you're a jerk!" After that, he then gasped, took a step back and gazed at Grimmjow with a horrified expression.
He just didn't say those things!
Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit!
It was because he was blinded with so much anger that he wasn't able to stop himself from blurting what he had been keeping inside his chest.
He tried to search Grimmjow's face for any reaction and clearly, the man was shocked from his sudden confession.
What the fuck am I going to do?
"I… I'm sorry… I didn't… Just forget about those things I said… it was…" He stuttered as he shook his head in regret.
He felt his cheeks flare up and tears still trickling down his face. It was the most embarrassing moment of his life and he would not stay there for one more second. He quickly turned away and ran towards the door, wanting to get away and disappear forever but—
A hand suddenly grabbed his arm, effectively stopping him from his flee. Then, that hand yanked him back and forced him to turn around and meet Grimmjow's face. Those blue eyes gazed intensely at him that made him shiver and catch his breath. But even before he could rush some air into his constricting lungs, a pair of soft lips was already against his, kissing him violently yet longingly.
Grimmjow…
Grimmjow was kissing him and he felt it was all he needed to take away those ugly feelings dwelling inside his chest.
Author Notes: -hides under the table- Yeah, major suckage. I know.Y-Y Please feel free to leave reviews or comments but if you didn't like it, you don't need to do anything, just ignore the crappiness of this chapter. Yeah, so… I'll say good bye now and yeah, thanks for readin! –takes out a paper bag and placed it over her head-
Next Chapter (If there will be?): The after math of ichigo's sudden confession.