Chapter 7

Author's note: Sorry I didn't update yesterday, did some late christmas shopping. I won't be able to post for three days after this since I'll be on vaca from everything, but I'll make it up to you guys when I get back. I'll probably try to post two chapter's today. Probably.

Ichigo woke up to the smell of bacon. He rolled over, his nose twitching as he his stomach growled. He could hear the sizzling as it cooked, opening his eyes when sleep seemed far away. He saw that he was in a room he didn't recognize for a second, blinking his eyes in confusion. He sat up, looking around. He saw his bags, remembering after just staring for a while at the clock that he could barely read with his blurry vision. He relaxed, shivering when the blanket fell off his chest and the cold air hit his bare skin.

He thought that maybe Grimmjow must have had another butler or a maid, because he knew that man could not cook to save his life. There was no evidence that he used the stove or the oven, and Ichigo found a stash of different fast food bags in the garbage. He doubted he even had enough time to cook. Byakuya's company specialized in the collection of artifacts and owned thirty major museums placed all over the world, and since they they merged companies, Ichigo was sure he did the same thing. Probably got the results to if the artifacts were real or not. Ichigo honestly didn't care.

He took in a deep breath, the smell like heaven to his nose. Whoever it was that was cooking, their food smelled delicious. He got out of bed, taking a quick shower, a tad glad his hair was shorter because he didn't have to pay much attention to it. He combed it out, putting on a uniform he had hanged in the closet before going to bed. He thought about putting on his shoes but had to clean them. He also saw he had to do the laundry, leaving his room to ask Grimmjow if he had any dirty clothes.

He walked into the kitchen, stopping in his tracks. Blue hair stuck out like a sore thumb, a white cloth thrown over a clothed broad shoulder. Ichigo couldn't believe it.

When did Grimmjow learn to cook?

The brute turned, looking to him with a raised eyebrow. He tilted his head towards the table, getting two plates down from a cabinet. Ichigo didn't want to sit down since it was his job to make the food in the house, but he didn't want to go against his silent order either. He decided to speak up about it though after taking his seat.

"Excuse me Grimmjow, but that is my job," Ichigo pointed out rather bluntly, Grimmjow nodding, flipping the bacon. Ichigo looked to the counter next to the stove. A plate full of steaming poached eggs and spam sat there, another plate having six pieces of toast and bacon on it. Ichigo was too amazed that words seemed hard to make, looking back to Grimmjow, needing an explanation. Grimmjow seemed to notice this.

"I wake up at four every morning." Ichigo looked to the clock on the oven, the time reading nine o'clock. He couldn't believe he slept in this long, rubbing his eyes as he tried to wake up from this dream. Only it wasn't a dream, it was reality.

"I noticed for the past few days you haven't been sleeping so when you slept in I decided not to bother you." He took the bacon out of the skillet, putting it on the plate. Ichigo nearly licked his lips but controlled himself, his tail swishing back and forth in happiness. He hoped Grimmjow wouldn't see it.

"I have today off, so I thought I might as well move my weight around here," Grimmjow told him as he brought the plates over, placing them in the middle of the table. He got two other plates and forks, Ichigo taking his with a nod.

"Forgive me sir, I did not know this would happen," Ichigo apologized, Grimmjow sitting down with a sigh. Ichigo felt like he had failed at his job, never once having failed to wake up when he was supposed to. He thought of all the things he still had to do, freaking out a little.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

Grimmjow waved it off though, forking some eggs and spam onto his plate before grabbing a piece of toast. Ichigo wasn't sure if he should try it or not, scared that it might be poisoned or something. Grimmjow was eating it though and he wasn't dead yet. Ichigo picked up a piece of bacon, taking a bite. He nearly drooled, sitting back in surprise.

It wasn't too hard or undercooked but crispy, the piece so good he thought he should thank Grimmjow. That thought made him sick though and he chased it away. He had still molested him on multiple occasions, broke his phone, and his presence alone was disgusting. Ichigo nodded to himself, sitting back up and eating the rest of the bacon because it was too good to put down. He still didn't like him, didn't matter if he could cook or not.

"This is good," Ichigo told him stoically, keeping his expression blank. Grimmjow looked to him, Ichigo forking some eggs and spam onto his plate. He ate some spam, nearly groaning in pure bliss. He didn't though, just closed his eyes as he savored it. Grimmjow smirked, knowing he had did good. He guessed the cooking classes his father forced him to go to when he was younger paid off.

"I got paid yesterday. An unexpected bonus for going to America on such short notice."

Ichigo looked up to Grimmjow when he said that, Grimmjow putting a piece of spam into his mouth. He cut an egg in half, the yolk pouring out. Grimmjow looked to him, Ichigo feeling a small glimmer of something. He didn't dare call it hope, reminding himself he could not leave. Staying here was his punishment, cleaning disgusting bathrooms, dealing with an annoying brute and his possible sexual advances were all part of his punishment. He felt restless suddenly, looking away.

"And?" He asked softly, Grimmjow picking up the egg and putting it into his mouth. He sighed, sitting back.

"I'll pay you at the end of the month and you can leave like you planned." Ichigo looked to him sharply, Grimmjow putting down his fork. His eyes were lidded, Ichigo's narrowing in disbelief.

He would let him go?

"I will not make it an obligation that you stay, if you want to quit, you can quit." That feeling came back, Ichigo almost telling him how bad he had wanted to quit. He wanted to call Orihime and tell her that he was coming over at the end of the month, that what he said was all a lie. He could leave and no one was going to stop him.

Besides himself.

Ichigo sighed, remembering why he hadn't left already. He slept with his best friends husband. He did and she knew the entire time, made her suffer every single day. Made her force a smile, call him a friend when in truth he was nothing but a monster. This was his punishment, and even though his heart yearned to leave, he knew he had to stay.

"Mr. Jeagerjaques-"

"Grimmjow." Ichigo sighed, nodding once before meeting his eyes. He didn't have to stay here. He could leave. Grimmjow was allowing him to leave. He was no longer property in his eyes. Ichigo wanted to leave, so badly.

But, the words Rukia spoke echoed in his mind.

"What would you say if I told you we couldn't be friends anymore?"

He understood now, and this was his punishment.

"Grimmjow, I wish to stay and continue being your butler." Grimmjow raised an eyebrow, Ichigo sitting up straight and putting down his fork. He stood up, Grimmjow watching him in surprise when he bowed. Ichigo took in a deep breath.

"Grimmjow, may I please stay and continue my duties as your butler?" Grimmjow pursed his lips. He had not been expecting that. He already knew his answer though.

"You may Ichigo." Ichigo straightened up, Grimmjow taking out his wallet. Ichigo was confused, Grimmjow extending his hand with money in it.

"Here is 400,000 yen. This is not your payment, but may be used for whatever you see fit." Ichigo almost said no, this one thing going against everything. This wasn't supposed to happen, Ichigo slowly reaching his hand out. He expected Grimmjow to snatch it back and pull him into his lap and molest him, but he didn't do that. Ichigo grabbed the money, slowly taking it. Grimmjow lowered his hand, putting his wallet back into his pocket. Ichigo was so confused.

Did he only ever molest him because Rukia asked him to do it to get back at him? Was this the real Grimmjow?

"Continue eating, there must be a lot of things you must need to do today," Grimmjow told him, Ichigo nodding slowly.

This couldn't possibly be how he really was, could it? Ichigo chased the thought away, reminding himself that this was a punishment. Grimmjow was still that man he met in the beginning, he was just probably happy to have a day off. This couldn't possibly be the same guy. He would return to his usual way, Ichigo just knew it.

:::+:::

Ichigo huffed as he threw the garbage bag into the garbage can. He wiped his hands on his pants, closing the top. He had cleaned up the house completely, every room dusted, swept, and vacumed. He found a vacuum in the laundry room, glad for that. Grimmjow helped every now and then when he couldn't lift or reach something, surprising Ichigo every time. He kept reminding himself though that he had molested him. He was the man that tried to make him his pet, broke his phone, and molested repeatedly. He was still that man and he knew it.

He walked back into the house, loving the carpet that looked brand new after he worked a good hour on it to remove any stains. He was proud of himself, going upstairs and deciding to unpack the rest of his things. His phone rang once he closed the door to his room, sighing as he took it from his pocket and answered it.

"Hello?" He answered, going over to his bags. He put his phone on speaker, putting it on his bed. He regretted it when he heard a scream of utter happiness.

"Ichigo-chan!" Ichigo shook his head as a smile wormed its way onto his face, Yachiru's voice a warm welcome to his silent day.

"Hi, Yachiru," he replied, Yachiru complaining about giving the phone to Kenpachi when he heard him ask for it. He waited a second, Yachiru asking why she couldn't talk to him since she was the one who answered the phone. Ichigo thought it was kind of cute, the little girl a ball of energy that made him think of his sister's.
That reminded him, he had to call them today…

"Hell Ichigo," Kenpachi's deep voice greeted, Ichigo's smile becoming a smirk.

"Hey Kenpachi, ready to spar?" Ichigo asked, Kenpachi chuckling. Ichigo thought for a second he had pissed him off since it sounded like a growl, but relaxed when he heard the mirth in his voice when he spoke.

"Yes actually. But not today. I was thinking tomorrow, can you do that day?" Kenpachi asked, Ichigo pursing his lips. He stood from his kneeled position near his bag, having took out some clothes and placed them on the floor.

"I'll have to ask Grimmjow for a day off. Wait a second." Ichigo picked up his phone, taking it off speaker as he headed downstairs. He found Grimmjow in the kitchen, a sandwich in his hand as he scrolled down on something on his laptop. Ichigo almost reminded him that it was his job to cook for him but didn't.

"Grimmjow sir, Kenpachi just called me and asked if I can spar with him tomorrow. I know this is short notice, but may I have tomorrow off?' Grimmjow had closed his laptop once he started talking, giving him all of his attention. Ichigo was surprised once again since he never did that. He nodded, Ichigo once again surprised.

"You can have tomorrow off. I have to go to a museum downtown and won't need your services then." Ichigo wanted to cheer but didn't, bowing and thanking him. He went back to his room, putting his phone to his ear.

"He said yes," he told Kenpachi who chuckled.

"I heard, I hope you have a good sword cause I would hate if you had to buy another one." Ichigo grinned, clearing his throat.

"I hope you bring a cane because I plan on breaking both of your legs." Kenpachi outright laughed at that, giving him the directions to the dojo he wanted to go to.

"Come around three in the afternoon, I have no work tomorrow but Yachiru has school. I'll meet you there after I pick her up." Ichigo nodded, verbally replying after realizing he couldn't see him.

"Yes sir, see you then." Kenpachi hung up, Ichigo wanting to do a small dance. He didn't though, but his tail could not be as easily restrained.

Kenpachi was a good distraction from his punishment.