A/N-thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story. I'm glad that so many of you like it.
After visiting the counselor, who insisted that one of Grimmjow's brothers accompany them as well (for additional safety), Chad, Grimmjow, Starrk, and Ichigo were walking into the Urahara Shoten.
"Why are we at a candy store?" Grimmjow asked.
"Urahara-san has a dojo in the basement. He is Ichigo's kyoukan. He's been training him since he was 9, when Ichigo could no longer attend the regular dojo," said Chad.
Ichigo growled low in his chest as Chad pushed him toward the hatch in the floor of the back room. "Ichigo don't struggle, I'll carry you if I have to."
"You are gonna have to explain a few things to me, I want to know why we suddenly left school, the counselor wants a extra chaperone for safety, the crazy shop owner has a secret dojo, Ichigo has yellow eyes, and everyone seems to be terrified to be around him. Except you, Chad, why is that? Why am I fighting Ichigo? "Grimmjow demanded.
"You're fighting me because you don't look as weak most people, but if you're too afraid of getting your ass handed to you, I'll see if Starrk wants to play." Ichigo sneered earning a shocked look from the blue haired man.
"Watch it kid, I don't like being insulted. You don't know anything about me, so you need to watch your mouth. Let's do this, he's pissing me off."
They climbed down the later and entered the dojo, Grimmjow glanced around and had to admit he was impressed, the room was huge! It was painted to look like they were in a desert landscape under a clear blue sky.
"Ok, listen up you two, clean fighting, no weapons, and it ends when one of you goes down. Any objections?" said Chad.
"Nope."
"Let's do it."
Chad and Starrk took position on the far side of the room, settling down to watch.
Ichigo gave Grimmjow an evil smile and launched at him, Grimmjow quickly countered the blow. The two men circled each other for a moment before meeting in the center of the floor again. Their movements were fast, almost a blur to the two men watching. The raw strength exhibited by the combatants was astounding.
"Your friend is strong," stated Starrk.
"Yes he is, there are not many who can go head to head with him. He has a lot of practice; people like to pick fights with him because of his hair color."
"Why does he not attend the regular dojo any longer? You said that Urahara has been training him since he can no longer attend it. Is there a reason?"
"Yes, you're looking at it. He really only fights when forced to, but when his temper gets the better of him, he can be dangerous. His control slips and he cannot hold himself back. This time is not that bad, he still has partial control over himself. That is all I can tell you, the story is Ichigo's to tell."
"I respect that, so how about you tell me more about yourself. You are not Japanese are you? My guess would be central American, maybe Mexico?"
"Yes, I and Mexican and Okinowan. I have lived both places. How about you? How did you end up with your family?"
"I was orphaned when I was little, me and my sister. Sosuke and Gin adopted us four years ago. Lilynette is studying abroad this year; she will be home this summer. They found us on the street, we had been kicked out of the foster home we were in after I beat the bastard of a faster father into a coma for trying to molest several of the young girls, my sister was one of them. They didn't press charges because they were afraid of his secret getting out but they threw up out on the street. We survived alright for a few months, then one day I was fighting off some thugs that were trying to take Lilynette into an alley and Sosuke saw us. He stepped in to help us and offered us a place to stay. A few weeks later he come home and handed me the adoption papers and told us that we were now a part of his and Gin's family, we never had to worry again. Shortly after I began to train with them and took up Mix Martial Arts, all of us kids have. We have several older siblings as well, they no longer live with us but they still come around a lot. So now you know my story, I want to know something about you."
"What would that be?"
"You are very hard to read, are you straight?"
"No."
"Are you seeing anyone?"
"No."
"Would you like to be?"
"Hmmm, it depends."
"On what?"
"Are you offering?"
"Yes."
"Can you deal with a slightly obsessed, stalkerish ex?"
"HUH? You have a stalker ex-boyfriend?"
"Yes, he graduated last year and I broke it off because he became too possessive. He tried to fight Ichigo one day when I was sparring with him. It was one of those times that Ichigo lost complete control. Nova thought Ichigo was trying to get in my pants. He's a little on the crazy side, obsessively jealous. He makes an appearance every few days and follows me around threatening anyone who gets close to me. Except Ichigo, he put him in the hospital the last time. He's has a healthy fear of Ichigo now."
"I'm still offering. I can deal with a crazy ex; can you deal with a crazy sister? Lilynette is not a sweet little girl, she's mean and violent. Pretty much the opposite of me."
"I can deal with that. So, if this ends anytime soon, would you like to come over for dinner? We can get to know each other some more."
"Sounds good to me. This looks like it could last a while though, I think I'm gonna take a nap if that's ok with you."
"That's fine; I'll keep an eye on these two." Starrk nodded his head and laid down with his head on Chad's lap, much to Chad's surprise. After a moment Chad smiled and settled back against the wall running his fingers through Starrk's soft wavy hair, smiling to himself.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Three hours later Chad stood up and walked into the middle of the fight. Neither of the participants noticed him at first, Starrk sat looking at him a confused and concerned look on his face. Was this man crazy? If he got hit by those two he'd get hurt. Starrk began to rise to go and assist his new boyfriend with whatever he was trying to do when Chad suddenly dropped to his knees, his arms shooting out to either side of him, and caught both men in the stomach. The force of the blow pushed both men back several feet. Chad stood up and looked both men over, " This fight is over, you are both bloody and broken. Your moves have become too slow and weak to let this continue. Ichigo, take Grimmjow to the springs, I'll bring you both towels and a change of clothes." With that he turned and walked toward the ladder leading to the shop." Starrk, keep them from starting up again, I'll be right back."
"Damn, he's right. That hit shouldn't have fazed me," Ichigo grumbled," come on blueberry, the springs are over here. I don't know what Kisuke puts in them but you heel a lot faster after you soak in them."
"Blueberry? What the hell Strawberry? First your short friend calls me a blue kitty and now you call me blueberry! My name is Grimmjow, use it."
"Then stop calling me berry."
They continued to bicker as they undressed and climbed into the hot spring. Both men were sneaking appreciative glances at each other. Ichigo fought the urge to drool, Grimmjow was gorgeous with his clothes on, he downright mesmerizing with his clothes off. His body looked as though it had been carved out granite, all hard planes and harsh angles. "Wow, he is a physical god." Thought Ichigo to himself.
Meanwhile Grimmjow was admiring Ichigo's lithe body, he was build smaller and slightly softer than himself. "I wonder what it would feel like to run my hands over that body of his?" Their mutual thoughts were interrupted by Chad and Starrk's arrival.
"Here you go, we need to get ready to head out Ichigo, Urahara just called, we need to meet him at Shinji's. He said it's important and that we're not meeting here today for reasons he'll explain later." Chad said quietly.
"That's ok you two, Aizen-san called as well. We need to get home, they said that they need to talk with us. Oh and Nel, Harribel, and Szayel will be there as well," said Starrk," I guess our dinner will have to be put on hold, huh?"
"It would appear so, if you get done early call me. Maybe we can still get together later if it's not too late."
"I'll call you anyway, even if it's just to talk."
Ichigo and Grimmjow watched the two men making plans as they walked away, turning to each other they laughed.
"Looks like my brothers and your friends are a good match, so far Nnoi and Shinji and Chad and Starrk. I wonder if there are any others we haven't heard about yet?"
"Yeah, Rukia said something about Uryuu and Ulquiorra making plans to get together over the weekend."
"Really? Wow even the emo found someone. Hmm, " Grimmjow mused, he looked up at Ichigo and decided to ask the questions that had been plaguing him most of the day. "So you wanna tell me what happened back on the roof?"
Ichigo took a deep breath and sighed, he knew he was gonna ask eventually. He deserved an answer but how much to tell was another story.