Izuru goes over the pieces of paper, mouthing the words and scrunching up his eyebrows as he read. Once he's done, he shuffles them together and hands them back to Toshiro.

'Well? What do you think?' Toshiro asks. Izuru shakes his head.

'I don't recognize the handwriting,' he says gently. 'But it's definitely someone who has strong feelings for you. You can sense it in the poems and their meanings.'

'That's not all. Here's the latest one.' He hands Izuru another scrap of paper.

Do you see me?

Do you see me at all?

I stand next to you,

But you turn the other way.

I stand behind you,

But you leave without a say.

I stand in front of you,

But you look right through me.

Far, far away…

Do you see me?

I don't think so…

Prove me wrong.

I beg of you.

Because I see you,

And it hurts.

Izuru sighs, folds up the paper and hands it back.

'Well, that just proves it. Someone is in love with you.'

Toshiro rolls his eyes. Izuru gives an exasperated sigh.

'Toshiro, are you really that dense!' he cries out and grabs one of the scraps of paper from Toshiro. He points to a line. 'This whole poem about eating the forbidden fruit! It's like this person is trying to say that they want to be with you but something is stopping them from confessing. Like it's a sin.'

'Thank you, Mr. Sentimental. Well, why can't they tell me?' Toshiro presses.

'I don't know,' Izuru says, biting his lower lip. 'Scared? Shy?'

'It's not that hard to approach me and tell the truth!' Toshiro says angrily and stuffs the poems into a folder. Izuru stares at him.

'In case no one has told you this before, Toshiro,' he starts. 'You've got a pretty short temper and that scares people.'

'It didn't scare you from being my friend,' Toshiro points out.

'Yea, well, you did. In the beginning,' Izuru admits. 'But then I got to know you as a person when you helped me settle into Karakura Junior School. People need to warm up to you before they make up their mind about what kinda guy you are. Your secret admirer has probably liked you from afar and just doesn't have the guts to admit it yet. Give them time. They'll come around.'

Toshiro sighs and knows that Izuru is right. He's hard to get along with because of his icy attitude and hot temper. He's erratic and only his friends knew him well enough to appreciate him. He's usually nice to newbies. He kinda feels sorry for them because they are all alone in a strange place. He knows what it's like to be singled out and to have no one. After all, he's been an orphan for so long he's forgotten what it's like to have parents.

'Hey, Toshiro, I know this is out of the blue,' Izuru says suddenly, interrupting his thoughts. 'But you got a clue on who it can be? Like, even a small hint?'

Toshiro delves back into his thoughts.

'Well,' he says carefully. 'This is kinda embarrassing but I get a feeling it's not a girl.' He blushes slightly. 'I mean, you can say the best candidate for poetry skills is a girl but the style is too sloppy. Girls don't have messy handwriting. It's definitely a guy.'

'So you got a guy lover on your back,' Izuru grins and wacks his bag into Toshiro. 'Well, that narrows it down.'

He looks to his left and Ichigo is leaning against a wall, surrounded by a gaggle of girls and a few guys from his gang. He looks in their direction and upon seeing Toshiro; he smiles slightly and raises his hand in a small wave. Toshiro raises his hand to wave but on second thought, he lowers it and hurries away. Izuru catches up to him.

'Rukia has been babbling that she saw you two together yesterday at the Food Festival,' Izuru exclaims. 'Did something happen?'

'We didn't kiss,' Toshiro snaps. Izuru looks at him in surprise. Toshiro sighs.

'Sorry,' he apologizes. 'I'm kinda in a mess right now. The poems, the assignment, extra classes with Gin (his heart skips a beat) and now Ichigo. And, then there's tomorrow…'

'Oh.' Izuru ponders over something for a minute. 'Want me and Hinamori to come over tomorrow?'

'Nah, it's alright. I'll just do my usual routine. Attend half of school and then go home to mourn with my grandma. Or I might just skip school altogether. Don't worry about me, Izuru. I'll be fine. I'm used to celebrating my parent's death anniversary by myself.'

They walk in silence and slip out the school entrance doors. It's near noon now and school is out.

'Got any extra classes today?' Izuru asks, breaking the silence.

'Nope,' he says, trying not to sound too disappointment. 'I'm heading to Grimmjow's for our project. I think we're finally going to wrap it up.'

'How's it going with the bonehead?'

'He's…not as big as a pain as I thought he was. He's actually a pretty decent guy.'

'You make it sound like you're checking him out.' Izuru ducks as Toshiro launches his bag at his face.

'Now don't you go and say he's the one sending me poems, Izuru!'

'Now why would I do that when you got the prince hankering after you?' Izuru teases and receives a glare from Toshiro. 'Stop being so uptight, Toshiro. You need to loosen up once in a while.'


'Jeez, Toshiro, stop being so uptight. You need to loosen up once in a while!' Grimmjow exclaims as he re-enters his room with two cans of beer. Toshiro glowers at him as he leans back in Grimmjow's swivel chair.

'Shut up. I already got that from someone today and don't need to you to remind me,' he growls and buries his face in a book. 'And I don't drink beer.'

Grimmjow pulls Toshiro's book out of his hand and scans the page he was reading. Making a face, he drops the book on his bed and tosses the can to Toshiro, who catches it.

'You know whoever told you you're uptight has a reason for saying it,' Grimmjow utters as he takes a gulp of his drink. Toshiro places his can on the floor and crosses his arms.

'That person knows me,' he says sullenly. 'You, on the other hand, take pleasure in bullying me. Now who should I listen to?'

'It's not like we're strangers to each other now,' Grimmjow states as he crosses the room and settles on his bed. 'Or have you forgotten the purpose of this project other than looking up facts on blood which, by the way, is gross.'

'You'd rather we do it on reproduction?' Toshiro says mockingly.

'We could do it on sex and you chose the human transport system? You're sadder than I thought, pipsqueak!'

Grimmjow grabs the can that comes sailing towards him. Grinning at Toshiro, he opens it and takes a few sips. More for him. This is the best day of his life! He's chilling in his house, drinking two cans of beer and best of all, Toshiro is over and he has him all to himself. No Prince Ichigo here to ruin his moment with Toshiro. He'll show him who Toshiro is really into.

'So, pip-I mean, Toshiro,' he says casually. 'Seeing anyone lately?'

Toshiro has repossessed his book and is pouring over it again.

'Not that I'm aware of,' Toshiro says sarcastically. He then realizes what Grimmjow has just asked him. 'Why do you ask?'

'What? Can't a guy ask a guy whether he's going out?'

'Not unless he wants to know something of interest to him.'

'Shit!' Grimmjow thinks but tries to remain calm. He doesn't want Toshiro to find so soon that he's been crushing on him! He doesn't want to scare the little guy away before he can make a move.

'Sure, I'm so interested in your personal life, Toshiro,' Grimmjow says and rolls his eyes.

'You called me Toshiro.'

'Would you get off my back now? What are you? The FBI?' Grimmjow snarls and sits him in his bed to glare at Toshiro who is just looking at him calmly. Upon his reaction, Toshiro smiles and returns to his book.

'Well, at least I know you're still Grimmjow,' he says casually. Fuming, Grimmjow lies back in his bed. Toshiro may be the love of his life but he sure as hell could be a major piss-off at times. Maybe that's why he's so attracted to him.

'You seeing someone, Grimmjow?' Toshiro asks. Caught off guard, Grimmjow glances quickly at Toshiro, who's still leafing through the book.

'What's it to you?' Grimmjow asks, his eyes narrowing. Toshiro puts his book down.

'Well, if you can ask me I don't see why I can't ask you,' he says, a slow smile spreading across his face. Grimmjow still eyes him suspiciously. What is he playing at?

'I'm single and proud of it,' he says hotly, flushing slightly. He's just glad Toshiro can't see his scarlet face.

'But do you like anybody in particular?' Silence. 'So who is it?'

'Hey! Just 'cuz I don't answer doesn't mean there is someone!'

'Well, I don't see what else it can mean!'

'I don't wanna talk about it, Toshiro…'

'Is it Harribel?'

'Toshiro…'

'Please don't tell me it's Rukia. She's a pain in the ass.'

'I mean it, Toshiro…'

'Wait, wait. Is it Soifon? I mean, she is your kind of girl; hot-headed, tough…'

'You're really pushing it now…'

'Wait. She's taken. Well, what about-!'

'SHUT THE FUCK UP GOD DAMN IT!'

Grimmjow is now standing up, his hands balled into fists at his sides and his face red with rage.

'Shut the fuck up,' he repeats through gritted teeth. 'Nobody died and made you cupid so stop acting like you are! I don't like anyone, I never will and I don't need you of all people telling me who to like! I can decide that for myself so fucking BACK OFF!'

Toshiro is frozen for a second. Once Grimmjow is done, he springs to his feet, grabs his books and approaches Grimmjow.

SMACK!

Grimmjow looks at the feisty little guy in horror, his cheek stinging. Did he just punch him? Toshiro gives him a furious glare.

'I'm not trying to be a pest, Grimmjow,' he snaps. 'I'm trying to be a friend, which you seem to lack the ability to be. But just like the first time we met, you're still a jackass and that will never change. You know what? I'll finish our assignment myself. Take all the credit if you want. I just don't want to see your face ever again.'

With that, he stomps away from him and bangs the door as he leaves. Once realization sinks in of what just happened, Grimmjow groans and topples onto his bed. He pounds his pillow in frustration and lets out an animal cry. He just blew his chances with Toshiro. So much for the best day of his life…