Crash Course
Ch 9
Happy Easter everyone!
Woo yeah this semester is alllmost done! Gawd soon to be a SENIOR in college... Feeling old now lol! Anyways, thanks a ton for the AMAZING reviews. These people are freaking AWESOME: LazyTurtle, Mistress Penelopye, DEMONIC BLACKMAGIC, .cake, ichibanseiken, gillness82, Totoromo, Tsukasa..rule, Nosferatu523, DaftNub, Mesutora, S., Vardlynn, AvariceOfTheTulips, FME, XdesertXRoseX, forevereden, xDaRkxRaINx, .Yumi, Regulus00, tyl ashke, Angelchan2012, Gypsygrrl, Black Storm Van Pendragon, Lioange, JC Noir, dudeyaoi, AsheiNaramiko, faithNfantasy, shadowX101, vanity-issues, FrozenSunLight, Multidragon, HaruHaruGD, PaintedinAllColors, Stargazer, Olinek and UnforgivingDarkness.
Author replies to those without accounts:
FME: Wait wait wait! Come back don't die just yet! Lol Thanks a bunch for the review!
xDaRkxRaINx: -smirks- Gotta have some crazies in a fic right? LOL. Glad to hear that you like Rukia and the Twins! :) Thanks a bunch for reviewing.
JC Noir: Thank. You. So. Much! -chuckles- Glad that you're enjoying this ;) And oh yeah there will be "certain" scenes in this fic. It's gotta live up to its M rating! Thanks for your review!
PaintedinAllColors: ;) I can't reveal to you what all is going to be important in this fic just yet. You'll have to read and find out ;) Thanks a bunch for the review! You rock!
Stargazer: Thanks! Glad you're enjoying this :) Thanks for reviewing!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Seriously, I really don't... so don't sue me because I can't give you anything... The amazing Tite Kubo does. But I don't recommend suing him either. Lol
Content/ Chapter warning: Your usual banter between Grimm and Ichi with a little more... romance bridging from last chapter ;) Filled with a lot more drama- not a ton of action, sorry. But I think there's something at the end a lot of you were waiting for -grins-
Rolling over onto his back, Ichigo shivered in his sleep at the chilly draft coming from his right. Brown eyes opening slowly, adjusting to the stream of sunlight penetrating the room, Ichigo realized that he was the only one in the bed.
Only one in the bed because Grimmjow was not there.
…
"Holy..." Ichigo brought his hand to his lips, finger tips ghosting over them in remembrance of last night. The night that he and Grimmjow had... "It was real."
Ichigo then ran his right hand over the spot where Grimmjow had been sleeping besides him. It had lost all its warmth, signaling to Ichigo that the blue haired homeowner had gotten up a while ago. Turning his head back to stare at the ceiling, Ichigo replayed everything in his head.
They had come back from the race, chatted for a while then Grimmjow kissed him. Kissed him! "Was definitely not expecting that." But was Ichigo complaining? Hell no he wasn't. That little crush he had developed on the older man had manifested itself into something a little more than your petty school yard crush. Last night just hardened Ichigo's feelings towards the other.
He was in such a giddy mood after they had affirmed their 'more than friends' relationship. That was until he found Grimmjow sitting against the far side of the bedroom next to the cool wall by the windows. He was terribly shocked at how quickly his excitement over their new development completely shifted to one of worry.
He'd never seen Grimmjow that exposed before.
To Ichigo, Grimmjow was a steel wall. Seeing him succumb to a simple little headache like that... It just made him seem all too human. By no means was Ichigo implying that Grimmjow was weak and he'd be kicked in the ass for ever telling that to Grimmjow even if it were in a joking way.
Ichigo's eyebrows knit together, remembering Grimmjow's pained grimace that he tried valiantly to hide in the shadows. Ichigo saw it though. How could he not?
For the past week, Grimmjow had been receiving more than your average stress related headache. But did the stubborn ass ever speak to anyone about it? Ask for a day off or something? Hell no, Grimmjow trucked right through it and bickered with Ichigo all the more. That's what had tipped Ichigo off.
Grimmjow was agitated with the smallest things and those miniscule button presses sent the blue haired CEO off on a ranting rampage. Ichigo had confronted Grimmjow once about it and the man clammed up. Completely. Like a fucking bank vault buried under the ocean!
It was strange in a way that Ichigo suddenly felt the urge to help Grimmjow and figure out what the hell was up with him. "Pft. How ironic."
Before it was Grimmjow who was helping Ichigo and yearning to figure out just who the hell he had let into his home– into his life.
And to think now they were together. They were together right? Last night wasn't just some fluke was it?
A tendril of worry wrapped itself around Ichigo's heart, squeezing it in a terribly unpleasant way. Crap, he needed to find Grimmjow now and figure out what the hell is going to be going on between the two!
Flinging the covers off on him, Ichigo swung his night pants covered legs over the side of the bed and gave a quick stretch. Brown eyes gave another look over at the room and Ichigo's lips morphed into a satisfied smile. He really had slept in Grimmjow's room last night. With him too!
Smacking himself out of his childish stupor, Ichigo got out of bed and headed off to find the other man.
"If I were a blue haired stubborn cat who didn't like many people where would I go...?" Bare feet padded down the hallway towards the stairs. He walked down and headed right for the study.
Expecting to se the familiar splash of color sitting within a drab assortment of business décor, Ichigo walked into the room talking. "Hey Grimmjow wh- you're not even here..."
Scratching his head, Ichigo's nose scrunched up. "Damn, and here I thought this would be the first place."
Turning around, the orange haired street racer headed towards the garage. Pulling open the door, Ichigo stuck his head into the dimly lit area and called out. "Grimmjow?"
After hearing his voice ricochet of the walls and back to him without Grimmjow's familiar baritone he shut the door and crossed his arms over his chest. "Note to self. Never play hide-and-seek with Grimmjow."
Ichigo then headed straight towards the kitchen, hoping to find the man sitting at the table reading or eating or some other Grimmjow-esque thing the man did in the mornings. Not seeing the man there either, Ichigo let out an aggravated sigh. "Aagh! What the hell!"
Whipping open the refrigerator door, Ichigo grabbed an individual bottle of orange juice and twisted off the lid with more ferocity than need be. The sweet and tangy flavor danced over his waking taste buds, igniting them in a pleasant way.
Thinking to himself as to where Grimmjow was, Ichigo made the executive decision to now check the whole damn house. As he walked off towards the small home gym, Ichigo felt a childlike curiosity overcome him- he'd never really 'looked' around the house he now stayed at.
Ichigo was a snoopy little thing now.
Another good ten minutes passed by and Ichigo was now letting his tongue roll out a colorful array of words. Grimmjow seemingly disappeared off the face of the fucking planet!
Stopping at the top of the stairs after his search of the upper floor, hands gripping the railing, Ichigo strained to hear any sort of noise coming from the lower sections of the house. Anything at all in case he somehow missed something.
"Good morning young man."
Ichigo jumped a good foot into the air, feeling his skin yearn to detach from his body. "Oh god!" Thank goodness he already had his hand on the railing for if he didn't, a tumble down the stairs did not look like fun at all. Heart beating erratically, the street racer turned around to see the old butler standing a few feet behind him. How the fuck did that man manage to evade all of Ichigo's searches? Hell! When did the guy even get there?
"H-Hey." He squeaked out.
Pulling off his glasses, the old man wiped the lenses with a small cloth. "Are you by any chance looking for the young master?"
All Ichigo could do was nod, not trusting his voice one-hundred percent just yet. Damn this guy was either really, really freaky in an old... person sort of way or the guy was a damn ninja in his younger years. He was never seen until you needed him but he always seemed to be there. Tanaka was a walking conundrum.
Bending down to pick up the small bucket filled with dusting and cleaning supplies, the older man gave an elderly smile, wrinkles forming around the edges of his lips and crinkling around his eyes. "Have you tried outside on the back porch?"
The porch... "No..." Ichigo groaned and rubbed his face. "No I didn't."
Uncovering his face, Ichigo looked ahead to see the other end of the hallway- Tanaka was already heading down the stairs, nearing the bottom. As the old man turned around, Ichigo blinked. "The guy is definitely a ninja."
Well, at least now he knew where Grimmjow was! Heading to the back door and pulling open the sliding glass, Ichigo stepped out onto te stoney grey porch. A cold wind tore across the landscape, causing Ichigo to shudder. "You just had to come out here didn't you? I knew you had a chilly personality but I wasn't expecting you to actually thrive in your element."
"Enjoy your little bout around the house this morning?" Ichigo began walking towards the other man who stood against a large white pillar, gaze overlooking the lightly frosted grass.
Ichigo bristled. "You knew."
"It's hard not to hear you muttering to yourself as you walk about in circles." Grimmjow turned around to face Ichigo. "I was wondering when you'd decide to look outside."
As Ichigo neared, he was debating with himself what to do: should he kiss Grimmjow? Hug him? Just stand there? "Shut up."
Looking upwards into gem-like shining blue eyes Ichigo gave a quick little grin. "So."
Blue eyebrows knitted together. "So...?"
"What... you know... you and me..." Great Ichigo, real smooth! Ichigo shook himself mentally. Way to sound like a complete idiot!
"What about it?"
Brown eyes enlarged. "W-What about it?" Ichigo sputtered before slapping his hand on his forehead. "Are you really going to make me do this?" He murmured.
A small tug at the corner of Grimmjow's lips was all Ichigo received as a response. The asshole. Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "Last night wasn't just some spur of the moment thing was it? Y'know when you and I kissed after everyone left? And then when I-" Ichigo's cheeks reddened some. "Slept with you in your bed?"
Ichigo felt like his heart was going to pop out of his chest and smack itself against Grimmjow's back jacket covered one. Goddamn this man and is-
Ichigo's mental slander was halted when Grimmjow leaned down and delivered a quick kiss to the shorter man's lips. "Morning to you to you delinquent."
Brown eyes blinked obnoxiously fast. "So...?"
Grimmjow rolled his eyes and shoved Ichigo's face away. "You're an idiot."
"Mph!" Ichigo fumbled backwards a bit with the playful shove. "Hey!"
Already walking back towards the sliding door, Grimmjow called out to Ichigo. "Get your ass in gear and get inside. The hell you doing standing out there like a lawn ornament?"
"Like a-? You calling me some decorative shrubbery?" Ichigo hurried over towards the door. "You're the one who was standing outside like some frigid ice king. Not my fault-"
"I thought it suited you." Grimmjow stated simply, causing Ichigo's rant to halt.
Closing the sliding glass door behind him and locking it Ichigo's head quirked to the side some. "What?"
"You are named after a plant... Strawberry." Ichigo's mouth opened to deliver a snarky reply but Grimmjow reached up and closed it before planting yet another kiss onto Ichigo's lips. "You have to learn to keep your mouth closed Ichigo."
The short man gave a saucy smirk. "Or what?"
A fine blue eyebrow arched. "Or else you'll end up in more trouble than you already are."
xxxxxxx
It was later in the afternoon, Ichigo was sitting in the living room while Grimmjow plugged away on his computer in the office, when the younger man called out to the elder. "Hey Grimmjow?"
"What?" Came the quick reply.
"I have a question."
From his place in his office, Grimmjow's blue eyes rolled. "Obviously."
Grimmjow waited for Ichigo to continue and when he was only met with silence, he gave a quick growl and spoke louder. "What Ichigo?"
"I can't figure this thing out." Grimmjow turned around in is swivel chair to face Ichigo who stood in the doorway, holding out the card he received from the first round. "I don't get it."
Grimmjow nodded towards a vacant seat in front of his desk and the orange haired racer took it, handing him the rectangular white and black patterned card with the number 6 plastered on the front. Turning it around his his hands and examining it, Grimmjow's eyes narrowed. "I have no idea what this could be either Ichigo."
Ichigo huffed, falling back into his chair. "Dammit..."
"Is this what you've been working on for the past two hours?" Grimmjow inquired.
"Yeah, so? You've been holed up in here working on... work. Don't you ever let it go? Like ever?"
Grimmjow sighed and rubbed at his right temple. "No Ichigo. It comes with being the CEO of a multi billion dollar company. I cannot afford to just-"
"But you did last night."
Grimmjow growled a little. "That was one time."
"And I thank you for coming out to support my ass."
"Ichigo..." The elder man spoke warningly.
Ichigo decided not to abide by the warning tone. "Speaking of last night Grimm-"
"Ichigo-"
"-your headaches have been increasing lately..."
"Ichigo I- wait, what?" That had caught Grimmjow on surprise. He was expecting Ichigo to make some off hand remark about his terrible working habits– well, his more OCD like working habits which were bad for his body but good for the company– but instead the young man flipped it around.
Leaning onto the desk, perching his head on an open palm, Ichigo repeated the statement in the form of a question. "Your headaches Grimm, they've been increasing why?"
Grimmjow looked like he was getting ready to clam up again but Ichigo would have none of it. His stubborn nature clashed equally with Grimmjow's own. "Grimmjow, are you OK? And don't even try telling me some of that bullshit that you are indeed OK."
"Then why the hell are you asking if you know the answer?"
Ichigo's eyes narrowed. "Grimm, don't start manipulating my words."
The elder man turned his back to Ichigo.
"Grimmjow!"
"I'm not talking about this Ichigo."
Ichigo stood, placing both hands on the clean desk. "And why the hell not? You pried your way into know pretty much everything about my life so why can't I just inquire about yours?"
"Mine is not up for discussion."
Leaning over the desk, Ichigo continued. "You can't expect someone to open up to you and you not open up yourself Grimmjow. What are you hiding from?"
Turning back around Grimmjow delivered a seething glare. "I'm not hiding from shit. And who the hell are you to tell me what to do?"
Ichigo recoiled some before steeling himself again. "Well according to what happened last night I'd think we were beyond the whole acquaintance-friend thing."
That had Grimmjow's pooling storm dye down some. He seemed to be waiting for Ichigo to say something.
Brown eyes softening, Ichigo made his way around the desk to stand before the seated man. "Grimmjow, I know we've been legit together for only like half a night but we've been... y'know, living together for practically a month. I've had to do some major piecing together of your character– which is a pain in the ass by the way– so I think I'd be a hell of a lot easier on the both of us to just be upfront with everything from this point on. If we want to make this thing work between the two of us."
"This 'thing'?"
"Our goddamn relationship Grimm! I want it to work out!" Ichigo shouted, becoming fed up with all the bouncing around Grimmjow was doing. It surprised him actually. In the beginning it was he who flounced around the truth, hoping that the other would just let it drop. Now it was he who was forcing Grimmjow to reveal himself.
And holy fuck was the guy a concrete encasing or what?
Panting after his long outburst, Ichigo ran both hands through his hair, further ruffling the already messy orange locks. Shit he completely lost it! He had just erupted on Grimmjow like that! "Grimm I-"
"When I was younger, as stupid as this will sound, I fell out of a tree in the back yard. My father found me a little while later after I failed to show up for lunch and immediately took me to the hospital. From that six foot tumble I somehow managed to crack a portion of my spine. Easily fixed through surgery– got some metal put in– but the lasting after effects caused by the ruptured neural lines that lead to my brain were headaches and migraines." He touched the side of his head. "I've lived with this practically my whole life and learned later on that by strengthening my back muscles the less of a strain is put directly on the spinal column itself. I still get headaches however. It... gets bad but I manage."
Grimmjow's cool blue gaze met Ichigo's. The younger man's lips moved but words wouldn't form on his tongue. What was he supposed to say to that? He finally found words. "You were hiding the fact that you fell from a tree? As a kid Grimm?"
The older man frowned. "Yes." Ichigo suddenly smiled, unnerving Grimmjow. "What?"
"You... You're just so normal that I find it kinda amusing and... comforting." Ichigo continued smiling, soon leaning down and capturing Grimmjow's lips with his own. What Grimmjow had just revealed to him was something that the obviously proud man found to be a weakness of his: the knowledge that he could be brought down by something so simple... But what truly amazed Ichigo was that Grimmjow learned to deal with the pain and work around it. Finding a way to soothe the constant ache. Amazing. "You're something else Grimm."
"Tch. It's not that great."
Ichigo pulled back, righting himself in a proper standing position again. "I think it is. See? We just had our first heart to heart!"
"What heart to heart? I don't recall-"
"It's totally fine to be a little sappy here and there Grimm! Doesn't make you any less manly." Ichigo snickered as he rounded the corer of the desk.
"You little shit, you're the one who started all this! Don't you dare point that- hey! I'm not done talking!" Grimmjow snarled as he watched Ichigo saunter out of the room.
"So this is what it feels like to be you."
"Why you-"
"I kinda," Ichigo turned around and delivered a blinding, haughty grin. "Like it."
Grimmjow gnashed his teeth together. That mangy stupid... A white glint caught his attention. Picking up the card, Grimmjow smirked. Ichigo would be having to come back in to pick the thing up once he realized that it wasn't in his possession anymore.
Three... Two...
"Hey... Grimm?" Ichigo's head popped into the doorway. "Uhm..."
Deciding to taunt the younger, Grimmjow held up the valued card. "Looking for this?"
xxxxxxx
Later that night as they lay in bed, Grimmjow's arm wrapped around Ichigo's midsection, the elder man could not seem to fall asleep as quickly as the other had. Instead, he lay awake, blue eyes staring at the tuft of orange hair now covering the once loosely used pillow.
Somehow Ichigo had worked his way into Grimmjow's life and he honestly didn't have anything to really complain about. It shocked him as to how much he himself seemed to have changed– seemed to have grown.
However with the changes came more challenges and consequences. Grimmjow was fully aware that the more he ran around with Ichigo and the more he himself delved into Ichigo's way of life that something was going to happen. But as long as he was alive and kicking he'd be dammed if he'd left something just easily walk all over them.
They were... together now. Together as in a couple. A pair.
That idea still had a weird feeling for Grimmjow who had spent a majority of his life alone and with a select few who shared his bed every so often when a need arised.
Ichigo was different.
Different from anyone Grimmjow had ever come in counter with.
The younger man was brash, overly optimistic and overly stubborn– much like Grimmjow himself. Their banter to and fro seemed to come and go on a regular basis. It was natural for the two to argue back and forth. It seemed to just come with their nature.
Ichigo's feisty character was actually a turn on. The young street racer was certainly no pushover.
Their attraction, Grimmjow guessed, really began on that night that he had allowed for Ichigo to stay in his home while his personal doctor cared for him.
Grimmjow felt the whips of sleep finally begin to pull him down.
Having someone that cared for you, worried about you... It felt... kinda-
Ichigo shivered in his sleep which caused Grimmjow to subconsciously tighten his hold around the other.
-nice.
xxxxxxx
Sitting in the car on their way to work early Monday morning, Ichigo couldn't help but feel rather anxious. He hadn't told Grimmjow that he brought the card with him today. For all the blue haired CEO knew, the card was still sitting on the coffee table in the living room.
He mustn't let Grimmjow get wind of his plan t-
"What has you all fidgety?"
Fuck! "Nothing just the usual."
Pulling into his permanent parking spot, Grimmjow turned off the engine and exited the car. "The usual? You're usually nervous coming to work?"
"No just that... You and I are now together and wouldn't people feel-"
Blue eyes hardened. "Don't worry about what they think or say."
Ichigo's mouth dropped open. "What? Weren't you the one like thirty days ago telling me to 'blend in and act normal' because I'm now part of your world?"
Grimmjow already started his way towards the elevator. "Things have changed."
"I'll say."
As they made their way from the parking garage to the inner portion of the building and up to Grimmjow's office level, Ichigo passed by the secretary who once again delivered her daily sneer.
Ichigo glared right back.
Entering CEO Jagerjaques office, Grimmjow seemed to have picked up on his two workers' little rivalry. "Why do you insist on bugging my secretary?"
"What? She's the one who started it!"
Sitting down in his chair and pulling open his laptop, Grimmjow gave Ichigo a look. "Back in grade school are we?"
"Tch. Shut up Grimm..."
A few minutes later after Grimmjow had printed out a few papers and sent Ichigo to Shuuhei's office to deliver them, the younger man found this to be the perfect opportunity. Entering Shuuhei's office, the first thing Ichigo did was hand the man the card.
"Look at this."
The dark haired man took the card and examined it. "It's a card."
"Yes yes and it's got black and white markings! I need to know what it has to do with the games Shu!" Ichigo hissed, knowing that he didn't have too much time to just sit and discuss everything with the underground trader.
"I can't do this here Ichigo. You know th-"
Brown eyes begged. "Please Shuuhei."
"Why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret this?" Pantera's Vice President shook his head. "I'll scan it and send the image over to Renji. Give me two hours."
"You're the best." Turing and exiting the room, Ichigo headed back to complete more of his tasks assigned by Grimmjow. As time wore on, Ichigo tried valiantly to hide his anxiety.
Grimmjow however grew more and more agitated with the younger man's jumpy behavior. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Just shut up and sit down! Stop pacing you're driving me insane!"
"Sorry, sorry." Ichigo found his chair and sat just as he was told. Pulling open a binder, the younger business man begun filing the papers Grimmjow had asked him to do about ten minutes ago. Trying to hide something from Grimmjow was starting to prove to be more challenging that he had ever expected.
Then again, he wasn't doing a bang up job at hiding in the first place today.
Grimmjow's phone buzzed and the CEO hit the intercom. "What is it Hisagi?"
"Sir, Incom has just sent over their collaboration project report for you to sign-"
"Yes, yes I'm sending Ichigo." Grimmjow motioned towards the door and Ichigo was not a moment too late to get going.
Hurrying down the hallway and pushing into Shuuhei's office, Ichigo practically ran to the man's desk. "Well?"
xxxxxxx
Grimmjow halted in his typing.
Wait... he didn't have any project with Incom... That was all last month.
Pushing himself up from his desk, Grimmjow curiously made his way to his Vice President's office. What the hell was going on? Did he miss something?
Pushing open the door, Grimmjow's blue eyes widened.
Ichigo was pointing at something on Hisagi's computer screen, muttering about some kind of pattern in the form of a - "Ichigo."
Both men visibly jumped. Hisagi more so than Ichigo. The dark haired business man's obsidian eyes widened at the glowering look Grimmjow was now sending him. "G-Grimmjow."
"Hisagi... what are you doing?" Said man was about to answer but Grimmjow held up his hand. "Wait, I should direct this to you, Ichigo."
Slowly turning around, Ichigo gulped. Holy... FUCK... he was so dead. So. Fucking. Dead! "H-ey Grimm..."
The company's owner simmered. If he were a pot, the man would be boiling over. Shutting the door behind him and locking it, Grimmjow made his way towards the two seated men who had their eyes wide, mouths hanging open in shock. He towered over them in all his menacing glory. "What are you two doing?"
Neither answered. Neither had expected for Grimmjow to come in and bust them!
Seeing that he wasn't getting an answer, the blue haired CEO turned the computer screen around and came face to face with some kind of map or something on the screen. He instantly knew what it was resembling: the card from the first round of the Grand Five.
But why they hell did Hisagi have this?
"I better get some good tender lovin' care after this one." A noise emitted from the speakers as the upper body of another person materialized in the upper right corner of the computer screen. "Hey babe I hope that his is what you were looking for. I analyzed the card and- oh fuck... you're not Shuuhei..."
Grimmjow was not a stupid man. He was very good at piecing things together but this! This was something else entirely! What he had managed to piece together was something he had not dreamed of. EVER.
Grimmjow saw red.
"ICHIGOOO!"
TBC
So... Ichigo is kinda fucked now huh? LOL
Thanks a bunch for reading! Hope you enjoyed this chapter ~_^
Please drop a review! As an author, that's all I can ask for :)
~ChaosGarden
