AN: Totally thank chibi-tea-chan for this update. If it werent for their review and encouragement, this probably would be up a lot later. So things get interesting at the end of this chapter and they heat up next chapter. You all finally get some GrimmIchi type action.

But I recommend chibi-tea-chan's story Wrath, it really is amazing.

Please review for the chapter. They really do keep me writing. And enjoy the chapter!

~May

Chapter 7-

Stairs: A flight of steps leading from one storey or level to another, especially indoors.

Ichigo grabbed his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed Tessai's number that the butler had given his before leaving to do whatever it was butlers did when they weren't needed. The ring-back tone didn't even have time to start up before Tessai answered with his usual voice.

"Are you ready to leave, Strawberry-sama?" Tessai's calm and professional voice sounded through the device, though Ichigo could swear there was amusement in his voice. Ichigo growled when Grimmjow started to laugh, seems like he was able to hear the man also; the orangette will have to make note of that bionic hearing.

"Yeah we're done. Can you come get us?" Ichigo spoke, pushing his temper aside. He didn't really mind, actually it was nice to know a not mentally deranged person wasn't so afraid of him. Though if Tessai was friends with Kisuke and Kitty there was most likely not something all the way with the guy.

"Understood. I will be there shortly." Tessai told him.

Ichigo muttered a quick 'thanks' before closing the phone and putting it back into his jeans pocket. Ichigo could say that Grimmjow had been really smart, not only did Grimmjow know the perfect way and time to sneak out of Las Noches, but he had also suggested that they both change into different clothing before leaving the base. That way, they wouldn't stick out like sore thumbs, but they stuck out anyways. Really, how can a guy with baby blue hair and another with flaming orange hair not stick out?

Grimmjow was sitting on the couch with Yuzu sitting in his lap and Karin sitting next to him. They looked so comfortable together, like a real family would. Yuzu and Karin were making jokes, and occasionally getting a laugh out of the newest family member. Ichigo was sure the bluenette was feeling like the world was just rebuilt around him, because Grimmjow had just been accepted into the best family in all of Japan: The Kurosaki family.

Ichigo glanced at the digital clock on the kitchen counter; 11:17 A.M. He groaned loudly and sat down on the unoccupied side of the couch next to Grimmjow. It was getting closer and closer to noon, and the two assassins really should be getting back to Las Noches before they got into some serious trouble, even if they were having such a good time with their family now. Tessai would be getting to the house soon, and then Ichigo would have to say goodbye, not knowing if he would ever see them again. It was a horrible feeling, and Ichigo's dad seemed to notice the distress on his son's features. The old man walked over to his son, and sat next to him.

"What's wrong, my son?"

"We're leaving in a few minutes..." Ichigo announced, and all of the other people in the room looked at him like he was crazy, including Grimmjow even though he just heard Ichigo talking with Tessai- he figured he had another half hour at least. He really didn't want to leave now, he was having fun with people who immediately took him into their family, he was enjoying the warmth he was receiving from them, but there was no avoiding it. Aizen would probably kill- metaphorically he hoped- them when they returned anyways, so they better go ahead and get it over with.

"What the fuck? I don't want to have to listen to that prick." Grimmjow snarled angrily. It was obvious in his voice that Grimmjow didn't want to leave, not now and not ever. Isshin glared at his new son with intense eyes, and the other man didn't quite understand why he was being glared at just yet.

"No cursing in this household young man." When their father said that Ichigo couldn't help but grin. His dad was so crazy sometimes.

"Why do we have to leave now?" Grimmjow tried again, venturing away from the 'illegal' curse words. Ichigo could only turn his head away, and look out the nearby window. Grimmjow seemed to get the idea, and also started to quiet down. There was no avoiding it. At that moment, Tessai pulled up to the drive way and Ichigo's cell phone rang quietly in his pocket.

"Time to go." Ichigo announced, attracting the sad eyes of everyone in the room. Grimmjow hesitantly stood, pulling his pants up, which slipped a bit to show the band of his boxers, and patting Yuzu gently on the head while ruffling up Karin's hair. It was nerve wracking to watch his family wave to him calling out 'see ya later', but Ichigo figured see ya later was a lot better than say goodbye. Goodbye was just so...permanent.

The brittle leaves crunched loudly as Ichigo walked through the empty woods, a complaining Grimmjow only a few feet behind him. Tessai had dropped the two assassins off a few yards away from the Las Noches entrance. The air was chilly to the bone, though no snow fell today, and summer felt like a far off memory of comforting breezes and warming sun rays. Time seemed to be passing by way too quickly for Ichigo's liking.

Their footfalls ceased as the two teens came face to face with the undercover tree. Grimmjow looked around one last time to make sure no one was spying, and when they both saw that the woods were empty, Ichigo knocked on the tree and waited for it to open. This was it, the time he had been trying to avoid thinking about all morning. Ichigo could tell Grimmjow was panicking-maybe that wasn't the right word, anxious?- just as much as he was, even though one couldn't really tell he was.

What would happen to them, now that they had broken Aizen's most sacred rule? Ichigo shrugged, he most certainly wasn't afraid of the other, he just didn't want what he was building here, with all these people, to be torn away from him. Would Aizen finally get fed up with Ichigo's actions and kick him out? Would Urahara get kicked out for helping the two assassins?

"Hey..." Ichigo called out a bit hesitantly. Grimmjow just nodded in reply, acknowledging that the other spoke.

"I'm a little worried." Ichigo admitted as his head fell, and his eyes locked on the forest ground. He felt bad now that all of this was over with, but he didn't regret going out to see his family. Grimmjow unexpectedly laid his hand softly on the orangette's shoulder in a comforting manor. Ichigo was almost too shocked at the gentle action to move, with Grimmjow's warm hand heating up his own freezing skin. It was the first time Grimmjow touched him in such a gentle and almost intimate manner and Ichigo couldn't really describe the feeling that settled into his heart. The touch sent small shudders up Ichigo's spine, and his now warm shoulder tingled happily.

Right at that moment, Grimmjow felt the strong need to jump the berry in some way, shape, or form, but the portal to Las Noches opened and it stopped him from doing anything. Though Grimmjow hated to admit it, he was a bit apprehensive against angering Aizen, though it never stopped him from trying; this was just the first time he has done so, so boldly. The man was a force to be reckoned with and he raised Grimmjow his whole life, he hated the way his cold brown eyes stared at Grimmjow with such disappointment and the most, superiority. That is why he hated the man so much and just wanted to stay out of sight the most, though he always contradicted himself by wanting to be the center of attention and the cause of most trouble in Las Noches. Grimmjow could never win against himself or anything else.

"Here we go." Ichigo muttered while he let himself slip in front of the other assassin's body so that he could descend the staircase first. Grimmjow stepped in just as the doors were beginning to close, and secure themselves inside tightly.

"Are you excited about tomorrow?" The blue-haired man asked in a hushed whisper, his voice almost to the point where it couldn't be heard as he tried to redirect their attention away from their impending punishment.

"Stupid ass, I always am." Ichigo rudely replied. The orangette shook his head a the utterly stupid question. Just thinking about being on a job and getting to go on a hunt had his blood pumping excitedly in his veins. Grimmjow didn't take well to the rude answer, seeing as he was just trying to be kind and start conversation. Usually it wouldn't bother him, but his stress levels are high at the moment.

And just like that the neutral air between them became tense.

"Don't act like a dick." Grimmjow hated it when people acted like that, when they spoke to him like that. As though they were better, in a condescending voice, in a superior attitude, no one was any better than him damn it.

Turning around quickly, Ichigo lightly flicked Grimmjow's forehead which caused the other man to growl threateningly.

"I ain't a dick, bastard." Grimmjow stopped when Ichigo said this, reached down, and flicked Ichigo's cute little nose, which only caused the berry to flinch and cover the small 'ouchie' with his hand.

"I'm not a bastard, you damn pain in the ass." Ichigo moved to flick some part of Grimmjow's body, but was intercepted by a large hand that caught him. Grimmjow pushed Ichigo's lithe body against the dimly lit stairwell wall, loving the feeling of have the young man submissive under his own touch. Grimmjow always was into bondage, after all.

Ichigo held his breath as he felt Grimmjow push him against the wall. He had a vivid sense of deja vu and recalled how he felt when he was pinned against the wall, just like this in the confined space of a closet with this very man. Ichigo had to concentrate to keep his breathing even and not to let his body overheat with the arousal that was starting to creep up through his body.

Ichigo attempted to break free from Grimmjow's hold, but right now he just wasn't strong enough. An assassin couldn't depend on brute strength, they instead relied on the technique of stealth, plus his wavering resolve and split focus did not help. Ichigo's body was pressed tightly between Grimmjow's sculpted chest and the wall, but a smirk still crossed his face as an idea came into his mind.

"I'm not a 'damn pain in the ass', Grimmjow." In that moment Ichigo moved his legs to hook around the back of Grimmjow's knee and pushed at the man's shoulders at the perfect angle. The bluenette groaned in pain when his ass came in contact with the ground involuntarily, his body rolling down a few steps before he stopped himself.

"That is!" Ichigo finished as he laughed at the other teen's expense.

"You little bitch, that hurt!"

"It was supposed to hurt." Ichigo crouched down in front of Grimmjow, who was now sitting horizontally on one of the steps with his back pressed up against the stone wall. Grimmjow blushed when he noticed the position they were in, Grimmjow sitting with Ichigo only an inch or two away from fully straddling him as he crouched over Grimmjow's body. Ichigo's lean legs were balancing his body so that he could hover over Grimmjow's lap and inspect his wounds. Grimmjow gulped hard, and let his eyes roam over Ichigo's smaller body.

"Berry..." Grimmjow warned the younger teen as Ichigo lifted Grimmjow's chin with his forefinger, and inspected the small scraps now littering his face. There were more injuries than Ichigo thought there would have been, adorning Grimmjow's attractive face, and it kind of upset him. He looked over the smooth skin and a frown made it's way onto the orangette's face as he saw the injuries. He had to strangle the urge to close the small distance between them and kiss those scrapes.

The stairwell was silent for a moment as the two assassins let their eyes connect, Ichigo's brilliant amber eyes searching, and Grimmjow's unique cyan eyes still wide with surprise. Grimmjow took in the look that was in Ichigo's eyes and he couldn't quite say what it was, or how he felt about what he saw. It was a look that he never saw directed at him until this morning at his new families house. It was affection, Grimmjow realized with sudden clarity.

The lump in Grimmjow's throat finally decided to go down, but it was rather difficult since his throat was still so dry.

"This is kinda awkward." Ichigo stated as he felt a slight heat rushing to his face. Grimmjow's inquisitive eyes were just staring at him as though he was the most precious thing on the planet and it embarrassed Ichigo slightly.

Grimmjow laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I wasn't really expecting this to happen. Not that I mind you being on top of me or anything, Berry." Grimmjow decided to tease the other a bit, seeing the bit of coloring moving across Ichigo's cheeks.

Ichigo laughed and sat back all the way so that his butt was pressed into Grimmjow's lap, and consequently rubbed at some private bits causing the older assassin to blush deeply and let his mouth fall open. On some level Ichigo knew what he was doing and he did it on purpose to fluster the other, and possibly relive some tension he was feeling lately. On the other hand he was going to play innocent and cause Grimmjow some serious problems.

"W-why the hell are ya sittin' on me?" Grimmjow growled, trying to cover up the fact that he was loving every minute of this. He shifted his body underneath Ichigo and immediately stopped as he felt himself get more aroused by the pressure on his more sensitive half. Ichigo had to put every ounce of his training to use at the moment as he felt the other move, he stifled the moan that wanted to escape and even ground himself further onto Grimmjow, while making it seem as though he were getting comfortable and being rebellious, all while keeping his innocently curious face on.

Ichigo blinked and cocked his head to the side to show that other man that he was confused.

"Am I not allowed to sit on you?" he asked cutely. He made a point to pout, an expression he only ever used on Kitty, and leaned in closer to the bluenette, loving every second of playing with the other. It wasn't often that this playful and mischievous side of Ichigo emerged, but lately it was rearing it's head more, the longer he hung around Grimmjow.

"I'd rather you not." Grimmjow muttered the answer, trying to move the other forcibly off him, but Ichigo made sure that if the other tried to move him, they would both tumble farther down the stairs.

"Why?"

"'Cause I said so!" Grimmjow called out in frustration. He didn't want the other to feel his growing erection, he just wanted Ichigo to move so he could calm himself, was that too much to ask?

"But..."

Grimmjow's anger was now brimming at a dangerous level, and if he didn't calm down soon, he would most certainly do something he would regret. Grimmjow's eye twitched in annoyance.

"Stop asking so many damn questions."

Grimmjow turned his head away, and chose to stare at the other steps below them. Ichigo smiled as he noticed the light dusting of a blush on the other man's cheeks.

"Hey Grimm..." The bluenette's mind almost turned to mush as he heard his sweet nickname spill from the Berry's lips.

"Yah?" Grimmjow's expression didn't waver as he moved so he could face Ichigo once again. He closed his eyes briefly to try and calm himself while he talked to Ichigo who was gazing at him with a suspicion glint in his eyes.

All of this was just too weird, it was almost like Ichigo had this all planned out. The younger teen started to pout cutely, sticking his bottom lip out and widening his amber eyes.

"Don't look at me like that." Grimmjow said, paling a bit because he knew this look would be his downfall. With just a bat of his eyes and this cute little pout Ichigo could get the bluenette to do whatever the other wanted.

Still the pout continued.

"Ichigo, stop!" Grimmjow's heart was racing, he could practically feel his blood pumping furiously though his veins.

"Ichigo! You're being too adorable...this is going to end badly if you don't stop right now." Grimmjow gasped at he watched a wicked smirk cross Ichigo's face. Oh shit, what did he just do? That was so stupid; he had just admitted to thinking Ichigo was adorable, now he was completely and utterly screwed. He had to fix this, and fast.

"U-Uhm...Ichi-"

"You think I'm adorable?" Ichigo asked. The grin that was on his face, one of triumph, he got the confession he needed.

Grimmjow sputtered. Everything could have been all good and dandy if he had just kept his big mouth shut, damn it! Now whatever friendship the two assassins had, was over. Crashed, burned, and now tumbling down a cliff into a fuckin' deep ass lake. Grimmjow was disappointing in himself.

Ichigo leaned forward, and put his lips next to the older man's ear causing Grimmjow's face to flare up with a blush once again.

"You know, I don't think you're adorable Grimmjow. I think you're fucking sexy as hell." The orange-headed teen whispered as huskily and sexily as he could. Grimmjow shivered from his toes all the way up to the tip of his head, and almost released a pent up groan. Almost. This definitely wasn't what he was expecting.

"Shit."