Warning: Shonen-ai. Yaoi. Swearing. GrimmIchi. Suggestions of Orihime/Rangiku, Yoruichi/Soi Fon, and Tatsuki/Chizuru. Other couples shall be established later.

Disclaimer: In my dreams.

Summary: Grimmjow is new and Ichigo started late. What will occur between these two oddballs? Why, love, of course!

I am incredibly sorry for such a late chapter! I know I said that this was on Hiatus, but I got my computer back!! Yay! Other couples and more mentions of Gotei captains shall come up soon! Thank you for not hating me, and enjoy!


"Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime squeaked.

"Yea?" he said. Ichigo scratched the back of his head, looking around at all his friends. Most were gaping (though not looking all that surprised); Renji looked downright pissed, Uryuu and Rangiku just looked smug, Keigo was pointing, Mizuiro was texting, and Rukia looked…saddened. Ichigo was almost relieved at his friends. So far so good…

Everyone gaped. They had just found their good friend almost having sex with another guy, and all he could say was yea?! What the fuck! Not even the fact that it was a guy; only the fact that he didn't tell anybody! I mean, what's that shit!?

"What the hell Ichigo!?" several of his friends shouted in unison. He wobbled a bit, shocked at their (Renji's) volume, but regained his composure. He sat up, and placed his palms, fingers in, on his thighs. Shit. Well, might as well get this over with. "What's everyone over here for?"

By this time Renji was red in the face and shaking with anger. The group turned Renji around. Mizuiro followed him, keeping him calm. They ushered Orihime forward, and she kneeled beside him.

"K-Kurosaki-kun, w-we just want to know," She glanced over to where Renji had disappeared. "…h-how come Kurosaki-kun didn't tell us he is with Grimmjow-kun?" she said, gesturing at Grimmjow. She really did sound sincere, and maybe a little hurt by her forced ignorance. Well, they were going to tell her anyway…

"Because I didn't want anybody to know?" he shifted his eyes away. It was hard to explain, and he couldn't find any words. He just didn't want to tell anybody. It was like when you wake up in the morning and don't want to take a shower, but you know you stink. You know you have to, but you can't say why you don't want to. It was the only thing that he could compare it too, as odd as it sounded. She looked at him with questioning eyes, and he proceeded to elaborate his shower simile. Needless to say, Orihime picked up on his logic immediately. After all, she had confided in him that she had felt the same way when she started seeing Rangiku-san.

"I mean, even if you guys are all cool with shit like this, it's still hard to say it out loud. You get it, right?" Ichigo mumbled. He was rambling nervously, something he has never ever done before. But, then again, he has also never ever been in this situation before. She nodded. "D-does Kurosaki-kun think he is up to talking to Tatsuki-chan and Rukia-san and Keigo-kun and everyone else?"

Before Ichigo could answer, however, Renji blustered around the corner, back into view.

"Ichigo! What the fu-!"

"Renji!" Rukia interjected. "Shut up! Ichigo was about to explain!" Renji crossed his arms, looking thoroughly pissed, and glared down at Ichigo. "Well?" He said testily. Ichigo set his jaw, struggling not to yell, and said, "I love him." in a rush. Renji's eyes widened. He inhaled calmingly and his lids drifted shut slowly. He let his breath out silently through a small gap between his lips and his shoulders relaxed slightly. Rukia smiled, Tatsuki put her arm around Chizuru, Orihime laid her head on Matsumoto's shoulder, the side of Toshiro's mouth lifted, and Uryuu crossed his arms, looking down to hide his shy grin. Good. That was very good. Considering he was very nervous. He took a deep breath, not sure where to go now, but feeling a bit more confidant. He looked at them all, standing up, and he realized that the proper way to do this was to face them all. Grimmjow was important to him. They needed to get that he was serious about this. He stood, pulling Grimmjow with him, who had been silent so far. Everyone was quiet, then Orihime squeaked, "Oh! You guys don't know Grimmjow-kun! Everyone, this is Grimmjow-kun! Grimmjow-kun, this is Rangiku-san, Rukia-chan, Ishida-kun and Hitsugaya-kun, Chad, Tatsuki-chan and Chizuru-chan, Mizuiro-kun, Abari-kun, and Keigo-kun!" She pointed to them all in turn. Matsumoto waved enthusiastically.

Grimmjow raised his hand in a lazy wave and said, "hey." Ichigo glanced at him from the corner, silently asking him to be nice. He obliged by doing something very surprising. He looked at them all and smirked a bit, saying, "Berry didn't tell me you guys were all so quiet." Eyes previously awkwardly wandering snapped to him, and their owners grinned, relieved as the tension began to drain away, even a little.

Renji still looked jaded.

Ichigo felt guilty. He didn't like not telling his friends, but, he just wasn't ready. But, how could he make Renji see that it wasn't a personal vendetta. He trusted Renji with his life. He just didn't trust himself about his feelings. It had all happened so fast. They had met, what, a month and a half ago? He was still unsure of his feelings; reluctant to call this love, he had avoided telling his friends. Well, Keigo ruined all that and now the damage was done. He had said it out loud, to all his friends, when he had barely said it to Grimmjow himself.

Little conversations had sprouted among his friends, a good sign that they weren't too mad at him for sneaking around them all this time. He caught Uryuu's and tilted his head in Toshiro's direction. Ishida blushed and scowled at him, turning back to his conversation with Orihime, sneaking a few looks at the little genius out of the corners of his own eyes. Ichigo grinned, and Matsumoto made her way over to them. She grandly declared herself to be Matsumoto Rangiku, girlfriend of Inoue Orihime and good buddy to Ichigo. Grimmjow smirked and introduced himself and Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, Ichigo's boyfriend and a good screw to boot.

Rangiku laughed. She eyed Grimmjow up and down appraisingly. He had seen that look before; Grimmjow had called it "eye-molesting." She turned to Ichigo, giving him a big, toothy smile before punching him on the shoulder. "Nice one, Ichigo!" she declared loudly. Ichigo shook his head at her grandeur, taking the statement in silent approval. Orihime came wandering to her side. A look in Uryuu's direction revealed that he was currently occupying himself with having a debate with Toshiro. Ichigo grinned. When the blue-haired bastard was going to just go for it, no one knew. But they all hoped it would be soon. All the tip-toeing was getting annoying.

But, even so, he wouldn't push them. Heaven knows that Toshiro would probably kill him. Ichigo looked around for Renji, spotting the red-head sitting alone. He left Grimmjow's side and made his way over. He stopped a few feet from Renji, hands in his pockets. Renji didn't look up. Ichigo stepped forward and said, "Renji." Renji still didn't look up. Ichigo kept talking.

"Even if you don't talk, it won't matter. It'll make it easier. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry, man. I didn't tell anybody. It wasn't just you. Absolutely no one knew. And I wanted to tell you guys. I hated NOT telling you guys. I just wasn't READY to say anything yet. I needed some time to figure it out." Ichigo stopped. Renji still didn't look up. Ichigo turned to walk away.

"Is it real?" Renji asked quietly. Ichigo was silent for a moment before saying, "Yea, Renji, I think it is." Renji nodded minutely. "Thanks for listening, Renji," Ichigo said before turning and walking back to Grimmjow, who was cornered by Orihime, being told how delicious her new yam-and-olive cookies are. Matsumoto was standing way out of the way or her girlfriend's flailing arms. Ichigo stopped beside her. They stood quietly for a moment, letting the spectacle unfold before them.

"I'm happy for you, Ichigo," Matsumoto said, her eyes staring ahead. Ichigo's eyes drifted to the sky.

"Thanks, Rangiku."