Back at it again with another chapter guys! This was a really fun one to write but I will warn you this chapter is sort of an emotional roller coaster and there will be some fluff! Also, if you are unfamiliar with the song Ichigo will be singing, I highly recommend you go listen to it the second he announces what it is! That'll be all, enjoy~


Chapter 9: Acceptance

"Hey! Ichigo, are you listening to me?!"

The truth is he wasn't. Over the chaos in the Las Noches Academy courtyard and his friends all frantically trying to snap him out of his trance, he simply couldn't focus enough to listen. The student body was clearly outraged, as being selected for the first Freshman Friday performance was considered an honor that Ichigo had not earned in the slightest. He hardly ever opened his mouth in his vocals class and the only people in the school who could vouch for his singing voice were Grimmjow and his brother. However, T, who's real name Ichigo now knew was Tensa, and Shiro had definitely earned their vote. Neither were shy about sharing their talent and the redhead knew first hand that they were the best in their class at what they did. That being said, it was clear that the only reason Aizen put them on stage was to save face because really, Ichigo would be the one under the microscope.

"Hey!" Blinking, Ichigo lifted wide eyes to icy blue and noticed fleetingly that his brother and T were standing on either side of him, their friends surrounding them like concerned parents. "Look, I need you to focus. I know you weren't prepared for this and I know you're freaking the fuck out right now but you need to get your shit together because the three of you go on in seven minutes!" When the boy only stared like a frightened child, Grimmjow diverted his attention and continued. "Tensa and Shiro, don't think that just because Ichigo's gonna be front and center that means you can slack off. Each one of you are gonna be judged just as harshly and if one of you fucks up, the whole thing falls apart. So don't fuck up, got it?" At the stiff nods he received, he turned back to Ichigo and snapped his fingers when he noticed the faraway look in those amber eyes. "Focus, Berry Boy. What're you gonna be singing?"

"W-What?"

"What song, Ichigo?" Grimmjow repeated at length. "They don't know what to play if you don't know what you're singing!"

"I-I don't know!"

"Think, dammit, we don't have time!"

"I don't fucking know, Grimm! I'm not ready for this!"

Taking a firm grasp on the redhead's arms, Grimmjow stepped a bit closer. "Yes. You. Are." When his roommate shook his head adamantly, insisting of the opposite, the bluenette growled in frustration. "C'mere," he ordered, leading Ichigo to a small set of steps leading onto the stage and gently forcing him to have a seat. He knew he'd get nowhere with all of Ichigo's friends watching and so he found the most secluded spot he could in hopes that having less eyes on him would relax the redhead a bit. Hiking up his slacks, the bluenette crouched down and placed his elbows on his knees as he knitted his fingers together, a much softer look in his eye than he'd ever allow with anyone other than Ichigo. "Did you ever sing to your mother when you were little?" Taken aback by the question, Ichigo nodded warily, unsure of where the conversation was headed. "Were you ever afraid to sing to her?"

"Never."

"Because she made you feel safe, right?" When the redhead nodded in response, Grimmjow captured the boy's quivering hands in his and leaned a bit closer, ignoring the insane blush on his roommate's cheeks. "Do I make you feel safe, Ichigo?"

Despite his obviously flushed state, the younger male did not hesitate to answer. "Of course."

"Then the second you walk out on that stage, there is nobody out here but you and me, got it?"

Suddenly Ichigo remembered his first day in Beginner's Dance, when Grimmjow had said nearly those exact words and that same feeling he'd gotten of being able to conquer anything was coming back to him. "I understand," he said softly, unable to help his deepening blush.

"Good," the bluenette said with a smirk. "I know it sucks ass and my dad is a douche for doing this, but you're gonna tear this shit up, Berry Boy. Your friends are all gonna be out there cheering you guys on and I'll be right in front in case ya need this pretty face for encouragement."

"Shut the fuck up, Grimmjow," Ichigo laughed.

"Who, me? Never," the man shot back teasingly, pleased he'd been able to pull a smile from Ichigo. "So lemme ask again, what song are you singing?"

Biting his lip pensively for a moment, Ichigo gently slipped one hand from Grimmjow's and cupped it around his mouth as he leaned forward to whisper in the man's ear, pulling back and smiling bashfully at the wide smirk on the bluenette's face.

"Excellent choice," he said proudly as he pulled a walkie from his back pocket, lifting it to his lips and squeezing Ichigo's hand a bit before he even realized he was still holding it. "I need musicians on sax, violin, drums, the works. Let's make it happen people!" Finally rising to his feet, he paused when he felt a tug on his slacks and glanced down at a worried looking Ichigo.

"What about the cameras?"

Expression softening a bit, Grimmjow replied, "The show will only air locally. I've got you covered, Ichi, don't worry."

Nodding, Ichigo also rose to his feet and took a deep breath. "Thank you, Grimm."

Smirking, Grimmjow cupped the back of Ichigo's neck and touched their foreheads together, much like a coach would a player. "You got this shit," he assured, giving the redhead's shoulder a light squeeze before finally stepping away to make the final arrangements.

Brown eyes followed after the man as Ichigo subconsciously brushed his fingertips along the side of his neck. The man's touch was simple and brief, but somehow it felt intimate. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking, but something about the way Grimmjow touched him was just different. He wasn't even quite sure if it had anything to do with the man's actions or simply the way Ichigo reacted to them. It just didn't feel the same when Shinji or Renji touched him as when Grimmjow did. But what did that mean? Before he could ponder it too deeply, he felt a gentle hand on his forearm and turned to find a nervous looking Shinji followed by the rest of his friends.

"You good, Ichi?"

"As good as I'm gonna get, I suppose."

"Well actually," Yumichika cut in, pushing past Ikkaku and Shuuhei as he rummaged through what he called his "man purse", "I beg to differ." Ichigo knew there was no arguing when the slim male suddenly produced a comb from his bag and began fiddling with his hair. "We can't have you running out on stage looking like you've just rolled out of bed. That would certainly not be beautiful."

"We definitely can't have that," Renji snickered.

"Where are Shiro and T?" Ichigo asked when he noticed the two were missing from the group.

"They went to set up their instruments," Ikkaku answered. "Ya sure you're up for this, Ginger?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"No," Yumichika said simply. "Ichigo, you wouldn't mind a bit of makeup would you?"

"What?! No!"

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not a girl!"

"Well, neither am I, so I suppose it's a good thing makeup is one size fits all," Yumichika said with an upturned brow, daring Ichigo to argue.

The redhead silenced at that and bit the inside of his cheek, finally relenting with a sigh. "Fine. Do whatever you want."

Smiling from ear to ear, Yumichika hastily fished through his bag and extracted a few of his favorite products. "Don't worry, you won't even be able to tell there's anything on your face."

"You better be right," Ichigo grumbled.

The next few minutes seemed to fly by and before they knew it, Nel was racing over to usher Ichigo to the stage. Yumichika made quick work of his final touches before shooing the redhead off, he and all his friends wishing him luck.

"Wow, Yumi really worked his magic, didn't he?" Nel cooed with a pinch to Ichigo's cheek. "You look great, Ichigo. You ready?"

"Not really."

"Awesome. Get out there and kick ass, you guys!" Nel cheered as they approached Shiro and Tensa who were awaiting the redhead's arrival. The three of them were guided none too gently onto the stage and made their way towards the center, where Aizen waited patiently at the mic.

"Congratulations, you three," the head director greeted, albeit condescendingly. "I hope you are all feeling as excited as I am."

"Yeah, sure," Shiro murmured with a roll of his lightining yellow eyes.

"And what will you be performing for us today?"

Ichigo paused when Aizen held the mic just inches from his lips, glancing between him and the audience nervously. "Feeling Good by Michael Bublé."

"Interesting," the head director drawled with a borderline sadistic grin on his face. "Well good luck to you. The stage is yours whenever you're ready."

With that, Aizen exited the stage and left the three teens eyeing each other nervously. Shiro placed a hand on Tensa and Ichigo's shoulders reassuringly, nodding his head and signaling the two to take their positions. Tensa swallowed thickly as he made his way to the stark white piano on the right side of the stage, briefly glancing over his shoulder to find Ichigo approaching the mic stand and his albino twin taking up a guitar.

No matter how this turns out, it certainly will be a performance to remember, he thought fleetingly.

Ichigo held the microphone in a white knuckled grip as he glanced over the hundreds of students in the school courtyard, all eyeing him with equal looks of disdain. His heart was suddenly drumming in his chest and he found his breath coming in short, erratic puffs and all that confidence that Grimmjow pounded into his brain had vanished. He spotted cameras littered throughout the school grounds, all pointed at him and that's when his mind went into overdrive, causing him to freeze like a deer in headlights.

Shit, he mentally cursed.

Grimmjow and Nel stood not more than ten feet from the front of the stage, both going wide eyed when they realized what was happening. "Dammit, he's gonna choke!" Nel cursed.

"Oh no the fuck he's not," Grimmjow shot back as he cupped his hands around his mouth. "You can do it, Ichigo!" he shouted.

The redhead jumped at the sudden sound of his roommates voice and spotted that familiar head of blue hair quickly, unable to help the tiny grin tugging at his lips. Before he knew it there were more voices erupting from the crowd that he quickly recognized as his friends and his smile slowly grew wider.

"Yeah, you got this, Ichi!" he heard Shinji scream.

"Fuck it up, Ginger!" came the voice of Ikkaku.

"You better sing that shit!" Renji chimed in, boisterous as ever.

At this point, Ichigo was smiling from ear to ear and shook his head to himself, locking eyes with Grimmjow and sending a look that clearly offered his thanks to the man.

Nobody but you and me.

Taking a deep breath, he let his eyes fall closed just long enough to miss all the shocked looks being sent his way seconds after he opened his mouth.

"Birds flying high, you know how I feel

Sun in the sky, you know how I feel

Breeze drifting on by, you know how I feel

It's a new dawn

It's a new day

It's a new life

For me

And I'm feeling...good"

At the first instrumental break, Ichigo couldn't help but grin stupidly at the proud gleam in Grimmjow's eyes or the cheers of approval beginning to fill the air. He was finally getting the chance to prove himself and that's exactly what he planned to do. Bobbing his head to the music, Ichigo snatched the microphone from its stand and began pacing across the stage as if he owned it. Because in that moment, the look in Grimmjow's eyes alone made him feel like he did.

"Dragonfly out in the sun

You know what I mean, don't you know

Butterflies all having fun, you know what I mean

Sleep in peace when day is done, that's what I mean

And this old world is a new world

And a bold world

For me

For me!"

Ichigo didn't know whether to laugh or cry at that point. As terrified and anxious as he was, he'd never felt more empowered. He suddenly understood the look Grimmjow would get every time he danced, that feeling of being able to express one's passion fearlessly. He couldn't say he was totally without fear at that moment, but if anything, he felt like he could conquer it.

"Stars when you shine, you know how I feel

Scent of the pine, you know how I feel

Oh freedom is mine!

And I know how I feel

It's a new dawn

It's a new day

It's a new life"

Drawing back to the center of the stage, Ichigo's focus was solely on Grimmjow as he ran a hand through his hair seductively and smirked, his confidence now through the roof.

"It's a new dawn

It's a new day

It's a new life"

Big finish, Ichigo.

"It's a new dawn!

It's a new day!

It's a new life!

Its a new life for me!

And I'm feeling...good"

Before he'd even completed the last note, the cheers filling the air were nearly deafening and Grimmjow couldn't help the swell of pride in his chest. That was the voice that had captured his very soul that fateful day in Karakura. That was the talent no one believed the boy possessed, despite the director's son vouching for him. That was his Ichigo up there. The bluenette cheered, hollered, and screamed as if he were at a football game, Nel following suit, and Ichigo stared right back at him with flushed cheeks and that bashful grin that Grimmjow never got tired of.

Tensa and Shiro both approached at Ichigo's side when Aizen returned to the stage, clapping his hands together with a grin on his face although the three were unable to tell if the man was genuine or not. "I must say," the director began once he approached the mic, "I think I speak for everyone when I say that was certainly not what we were expecting." The freshmen only chuckled a bit when several sounds of agreement rang out from the student body. "I have to admit I am quite impressed with all of you. So let's give it up one more time for Tensa Zangetsu, Shiro Kurosaki, and Ichigo Kurosaki!"

Said students bowed as the crowd cheered in one final uproar and Ichigo was practically bolting off the stage the second he could. That performance probably fell under his top five most terrifying moments of his life and he was just relieved it was over and done with. He was quickly followed off stage by Tensa and Shiro, where their friends awaited them with matching grins on their faces.

Shinji practically launched himself at the three, squealing like a child in a candy store as he gathered them in a tight embrace. "You guys were amazing! I knew you could do it!"

"I was pleasantly surprised," Yumichika admitted.

"Me too," Ikkaku added. "Frankly, Ichigo, I wasn't sure ya had the pipes."

"I knew all along," Renji countered, patting a hand on the redhead's shoulder. "I never doubted you."

"Bullshit!" Shuuhei cackled. "I know we've all wondered a few times if the ginger has what it takes. But hey! Now we know!"

The group all laughed in unison and Ichigo turned when he felt a small tug on his sleeve, completely caught off guard when he was yanked down and abruptly smothered by Nel's bosom. "Itsygoooo!" she cried as she squeezed him with all her might. "I knew it, I knew it! I knew you were as wonderful as Grimm said you are!"

"Nel, you're crushing me," Ichigo wheezed, gasping a bit when the green haired girl finally released him with an apologetic look on her face. "I appreciate it, though," he added quickly, unable to stand her notorious pout. "Actually, I appreciate all of you," he continued, facing the entire group. "I probably would've lost it up there without your support."

"Aww, don't tell me you're getting sentimental," a familiar voice teased at Ichigo's back, making the redhead smile from ear as he turned to face the bluenette.

"That was for you too, asshole," he teased right back as the man clapped a large hand over his shoulder. "So how'd I do?"

Grimmjow chuckled a bit, the sound deep and downright sexy to Ichigo's ears as he nervously awaited the answer. He'd never admit it, but out of everyone in the group, Grimmjow's opinion mattered most to him as it would be the most objective and unbiased. The bluenette leaned in close, his cologne assaulting Ichigo's nostrils like a pleasant forest breeze, and spoke lowly so that only the redhead could hear him. "You were perfect, Ichi."

It simply wasn't fair that the man could make such a nice compliment sound so sensual. Ichigo suddenly had the strangest feeling pooling in his gut, not quite like butterflies but equally as pleasant, if not more.

Before he could respond, however, Nel abruptly cried, "Group hug!" before crushing the two men together. She discretely made eye contact with Shinji and winked, nodding her head towards the stunned roommates.

Shinji apparently got the message and began shoving the group together despite half hearted protests, effectively trapping Grimmjow and Ichigo in the center. Ichigo had raised his hands instinctively only for his palms to wind up pressed against Grimmjow's pectorals, their bodies flush together and Ichigo went beet red almost instantly.

Kami, kill me now!

Ichigo absolutely refused to make eye contact, focusing intently on a single button of Grimmjow's dress shirt until he felt the man's chest shaking under his palms and he glanced up to find the man barely supressing a laugh. "What's so funny?!" the teen sputtered.

Grimmjow looked damn near ready to piss himself but tried his best to keep a straight face as he informed Ichigo of the recurring thought running through his mind. "I think if you were to turn any more red, your face might explode," he stated simply, finally barking out a laugh when the smaller male nearly choked on his own saliva. "Come on, Ichi, aren't you feeling the love?" he teased.

"Oh, I'm feeling something."

"Hold on, is that makeup on your face?"

Flush deepening if it were possible, Ichigo sputtered. "No it certainly is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Okay guys!" Shinji interrupted with a laugh as the group finally dispersed.

"We should all celebrate!" Nel suddenly beamed.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Yumichika replied. "I'm sure we all remember what happened last time you invited us out."

"No, not like that!" the busty girl argued. "We should have a party at Grimmjow's place!"

"Um, Nel, I think you severely overestimate the size of our dorm room," Ichigo commented teasingly.

"You didn't tell them?" she asked suddenly, sending a pointed look to Grimmjow. "My brother has a penthouse off Broadway."

"What?!" the group blanched in unison as the bluenette rolled his eyes.

"It ain't mine, it's my father's."

"He bought it for you, Grimm. It's in your name."

"We both know that penthouse was a hush gift, Neliel, I don't want anything to do with it," Grimmjow growled.

"Hold the fuck up," Ikkaku interrupted, holding his hands up in confusion. "You're telling me you own a penthouse and you're living in a dorm room?"

"Like I said-"

"Now, now, fellas," Shinji cut in, always the peacemaker, "there's no need for an argument. If Grimmjow says he don't want nothin' to do with the place then that's that."

Grimmjow was pleasantly surprised when the flamboyant teen came to his defense and he nodded his appreciation. "Thanks, Blondie."

"Any time, McDreamy."

Ichigo simply watched the ordeal with a shake of his head before he felt a small nudge on his elbow and gazed down at a mischievous looking Tensa, nodding his head in Grimmjow's direction as if signaling something. Ichigo only lifted a brow in response and Tensa mimicked the action, nodding towards Grimmjow once more. A lightbulb suddenly lit over Ichigo's head and he nodded, showing he understood the message before taking a step towards Grimmjow with an innocent look on his face.

"I actually think it would be a good idea."

All eyes shot to Ichigo then and his roommate arched a slim blue brow warily. "Really?"

"Well, yeah," Ichigo began shyly, playing with a lock of hair at the nape of his neck. "This whole thing was sort of a huge deal to me and, I dunno, I think it would nice to celebrate."

Several sets of brows shot towards the sky and Shuuhei leaned towards Renji, hand slightly covering his mouth as he whispered, "Oh, he is good."

Grimmjow stared intensely at Ichigo's form for several seconds before sighing in defeat and tossing his hands in the air in a "fuck it" sort of fashion. "Party at my place then."

"Yay! I'd love to stay and chat but I have a party to plan~" Nel cheered in a sing song voice. "Thanks, Grimm!" she added with a peck to her brother's cheek before quickly scurrying off.

"God, she'll probably invite half the campus," Grimmjow grumbled to himself before catching Renji eyeballing him and pointing his finger. "Look, Abarai," he began harshly, "I'll invite you into my house just for tonight, but after that we go back to being sworn enemies, got it?"

"Che, fine by me, Jeagerjaques," Renji spat.

The rest of the group just rolled their eyes, completely used to their rivalry at this point. They slowly dispersed to enjoy the last couple hours of the school festival while Shiro looked around expectantly for a few seconds, spotting silver out of the corner of his eye and sighing in relief when he noticed Gin approaching.

"I hope ya didn' think I'd leave without congratulatin' ya," the lanky man teased with a ruffle of the albino's hair. "Ya did great up there, Snowflake. Totally exceeded ma expectations."

"Uh, thanks," Shiro replied, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "Look, uh, I know we got interrupted earlier, but basically I jus' wanna..." The albino sighed, shaking his head to focus his jumbled thoughts. "I wan' this, Gin. I wanna give it a shot. I jus'...dunno where ta start. As much as I'd like ta think I'm alrigh', tha' bastard Nnoitra really screwed with ma head, ya know?" Gin nodded, his usual grin absent from his lips and his icy blue eyes watching Shiro intensely. "I know ya said ya...love me," the smaller male mumbled, "an' I... I feel the same." Gin's brows shot to his hairline at that, his eyes widening drastically. "I jus' ain't ready fer all tha' yet. So c'n we jus', ya know, take it slow?"

Barely able to compose himself, Gin huffed a sigh of relief and nodded once again, his signature grin returning. "Sure thing, Snowflake. Why don' we start by hangin' out t'night? Whatever ya wanna do."

Shiro took only a moment to contemplate before he smirked and nodded his head. "Would ya be interested in goin' ta a party?"


Grimmjow fought the urge to rub his temples as he pushed through the throng of college students filling his penthouse apartment. He was pretty sure half of them weren't even students from Las Noches and briefly wondered what the hell Nel did to push the invitation past their own student body. Despite the enormous size of the place, house music still filled the air like a thick smoke and he could feel the bass vibrating in his chest. For a moment he simply couldn't fathom what the hell had possessed him to go through with the idea, but then he remembered that sweet and innocent look on Ichigo's face when he'd asked Grimmjow to do this for him, practically batting his lashes all the while.

Damn him and his adorable facial expressions.

As he pushed past the bar between his kitchen and living room, (and yes, he had a bar) he paused, looking around as if he was a guest rather than the owner of the place. He hadn't set foot in the apartment since his father had bought it and it was like he was seeing it for the first time all over again. The living room contained an obscenely expensive creme colored couch set, a large antique looking coffee table with gold embellishment, and between the oak hardwood floor and furniture was an enormous faux fur rug. The kitchen was decorated with marble countertops, stark white cabinets, steel kitchen appliances, and a marble island table currently surrounded by drunken fools. There was also a theater room, guest bathroom, and a large patio one could clearly see through the full wall of floor to ceiling windows, as well as the full sized pool, jacuzzi, and fancy outdoor furniture. On the second floor (where no one was aloud at the moment) were two large master bedrooms and a recording studio Grimmjow's father had custom built for him, and as his sky blue eyes trailed up the glass railing of the staircase, he caught sight of an unfamiliar but rather impressive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling that Aizen must've had installed recently.

Not bad, old man, Grimmjow thought to himself.

Even though the bluenette was impressed with his father's work, the whole place screamed money so loudly that he felt like an arrogant prick just standing in it. Perhaps he would have felt differently about it if not for the fact that his father only bought the place to get him to keep quiet about certain matters he'd rather not get into.

"Grimmjow!"

Seeming to snap out of his trance, Grimmjow looked around for several seconds when he heard his sister's voice screaming over the music, nodding his head in greeting when he spotted her. "What's up?" he shouted back.

"Isn't this amazing?! People are gonna talk about this party for weeks!"

"Yeah, that's great, Nel," Grimmjow dismissed, continuing on his way.

"Hold on a minute!" the green haired girl exclaimed as she grabbed him by the shoulder. "What's your deal? You should be having fun! Loosen up!"

"I don't know these people, Neliel," Grimmjow replied slowly, deliberately. "The only reason I agreed to this is because Ichigo wanted it."

Nel arched a brow at that before a devious grin slowly began to pull at her lips. "Oooohhhh, so that's what this is about," she cooed.

"Don't start, brat," her brother shot back with a roll of his eyes as he began to take his leave.

"I know what really has you so riled up!" Nel sang as she scurried after the bluenette. "You've been denying all this time that Ichigo might have feelings for you, but you can't do that after today, can you?"

Grimmjow halted in his tracks, sending his sister a suspicious look over his shoulder. "What are you talking about?"

"You might be able to deny a vibe or a feeling in your gut but you can't deny the way he looked at you today." Grimmjow remained silent as Nel advanced. "And I've sure as hell seen the way you look at him. I know you're worried about ruining your friendship but you have to say something, Grimm." The bluenette wasn't having it and immediately shook his head, moving to walk away until he was forcefully stopped by Nel. "Hear me out! You'll never know for sure if you don't step up and say something!"

Grimmjow roughly snatched Nel by the arm and proceeded to drag her into the guest bathroom, slamming the door behind them. "You obviously don't get it, do you?" he spat.

"What do you mean? I'm just trying to help!"

"Well, STOP TRYING, Neliel!" the burly man roared. "You know what, I admit it! I do have feelings for Ichigo and I do want to be with him, God I want that so badly but I can't because circumstances have changed!"

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

"THE FUCKING HOGYOKU! We thought that it had become dormant! We thought that I would stop getting stronger and for a split second I thought that I'd have a chance to be normal and I could be with Ichigo and now look what's happening! I crushed a car, Nel! We've always known that I was much stronger and much faster than the average person, but that?! That was some Captain America, born-out-of-a-test-tube type shit!" Grimmjow fisted his hands in his hair and growled in frustration as he began pacing the large bathroom. "I can feel myself getting stronger by the minute and I can't stop it, Nel!" When he noticed tears welling in his sister's eyes, he stopped, sighing heavily and cupping her face in his hands. "You're right," he began softly. "I did see the way he looked at me today, and I got to thinking how great we'd be together. You wanna know what I thought next? How badly I could hurt him if I ever lost control. I know you just want me to be happy, Neliel, but you have to stop. If I pursue Ichigo, I could hurt him or worse, don't you get that?"

Nel shook her head vehemently and remained steadfast despite the tears beginning to fall from her lashes. "You would never hurt him, Grimm," she argued.

"But I could without even trying and you know it."

More tears clouded large hazel eyes and Nel shook her head even harder. "You can learn to control it. You can train like you did before."

Grimmjow shook his head in return, a sad smile forming on his lips. "I'm not sure that'll be enough."

Nel turned away from her brother and began wiping at her cheeks, sniffling a bit. "So that's it? You're just gonna give up? You see him every day, Grimm, you can't keep pretending there's nothing between you two!"

"Then I'll have to distance myself."

"That won't work and you know it. Ichigo is stubborn and if he notices you acting strange he won't stop until he figures out why."

"Then I'll tell him the truth."

"The truth?! Grimm, if you tell him about the Hogyoku then you'll have to tell him about the Espada too. Do I even need to explain why that's a terrible idea?"

"I can figure something out!" Grimmjow snapped defensively.

"Well, it better be damn good because I promise you, the last thing you want is for him to find out what you did!" Blue eyes snapped open wide then, equally blue brows knitting together tightly. "Ichigo adores you, Grimm, I truly believe that. But I also believe that 'the truth' is something he might not be able to handle. So tread carefully."

And with that, Nel promptly exited the bathroom and left Grimmjow staring at his reflection in the mirror with a lost expression. He stared for what felt like ages and wondered if he saw the same man Ichigo did, wondered if he saw the darkness, the anger, the frustration, the blood. If it came down to it, would Ichigo feel the same if he saw the man Grimmjow did? Would he be able to accept even the darkest parts of him? Could he handle knowing about Grimmjow's past if he decided to share it? The more questions he came up with, the more unsettled he felt. Grimmjow huffed a deep breath and turned on the faucet, splashing water onto his face and gripping the edge of the porcelain countertop. He wasn't sure how long he stood there just thinking, contemplating, trying to decide what the best plan of action would be only to come up empty. He had no idea what he should do. Should he just keep his feelings locked away and hope he'll be satisfied remaining friends with Ichigo? Should he be selfish and confess? Or should he simply let the redhead go?

The second that thought crossed his mind he felt a pang in his chest and a feeling which could only be described as dread settled in his gut. It wasn't until that moment he realized just how big a part Ichigo had taken in his life, so much so that he couldn't imagine himself without the boy by his side. It had only been six weeks since the day they'd officially met, but every day since then they'd seen each other, spent time together, laughed together. Despite late nights studying, early morning practices, and a full day of classes in between on both their parts, they'd always found time for the other. Even when Ichigo had his nose buried in a text book, he would always set it aside the moment Grimmjow returned to the dorms and ask how his day went. When Grimmjow was immersed in his sheet music, he'd stop to listen to Ichigo vent about the drama between his brother and Fox Face. Ichigo was the first bit of normal Grimmjow had ever had in his life and he found himself selfishly refusing to let that go.

I'll just have to be careful, he reasoned. I'll keep him at a distance and I'll be careful.

When he heard the countertop begin to creak under his palms, he froze and stared down at his hands, drawing them nearer to his face. Flexing his fingers a bit, crystalline eyes flashed back to their reflection and Grimmjow reached out slowly, pressing the pad of his index finger against the glass. Swallowing, he gradually added more pressure until suddenly tiny cracks webbed out from his finger and he snatched his hand back as if he'd been burned. The cracks were minuscule, hardly visible, but they were enough to have Grimmjow second guessing everything.

What if careful isn't good enough?

A loud banging at the bathroom door snapped the bluenette out of his thoughts and he promptly stalked over to the entrance, snatching the handle roughly. "What?" he barked at the drunken girl standing at the threshold.

"I gotta pee," the girl whined.

Grimmjow simply rolled his eyes and pushed past her with a grumbled, "Have at it. I need a drink."

Meanwhile, Ichigo and his friends took up the crisp living room couches, all laughing and drinking without a care in the world. The redhead sat between Shiro and Tensa on one couch, Renji, Ikkaku, and Shuuhei on another, and finally Shinji, Yumichika, and Gin on the last.

"And ya know th' best par'?" Ikkaku shouted drunkenly over the music. "After he wen' through all that effort an' made a complete ass o' 'imself, Shuuhei still didn' get th' bitch's number!"

The group barked out a laugh and Shuuhei raised his red solo cup with a goofy grin on his face. "Hey, I didn' get her number but her frien' was still down to fuck," he exclaimed.

"My, what a gentleman," Yumichika said sarcastically.

"Don't act like you don't fool around too, Yumi," Shinji giggled at his side.

"No one's denying that," the diva shot back with a wink. "But enough with the boy talk, let's get down to the juicy stuff."

"You and yer gossip, Yumichika," Shiro cackled as he sipped at a bottle of beer.

"Oh come on, who doesn't love a bit of gossip?"

"Those of us that don't like getting sucked into drama," Tensa chimed in. He hardly knew the group, but he got comfortable quickly and the others acted as if he'd always been there.

"I agree," Ichigo added, his eyes half lidded and a bottle of Smirnoff in hand. "Probably best not to get involved," he drawled.

"Even if the gossip is on your lover boy?" Yumichika cooed with an uplifted brow.

"Ah, hell," Gin mumbled as he took a large swig of his Coors Light, noting that the rest of the group began to lean forward in their seats.

"Uh oh, what's the tea, hunny?" Shinji asked.

"Grab some gloves to hold your mugs because this tea is hot," Yumichika practically sang with a flip of his violet bob. "Rumor has it that Grimmjow shacked up with some chick at Hueco Mundo last weekend. Now she's running around telling people they're an item."

"Che, no way," Renji scoffed. "The bastard may be a dog but he's a loyal one. He wouldn't start screwing around with some random chick when he's got his eye on someone."

Before Ichigo could ask what the copper eyed male meant, Yumichika shot back, "Unless she wasn't 'some random chick.' I heard it was his ex, Loly."

"No fuckin' way," Shinji drawled with a roll of his eyes.

"I'm wit' Blondie," Ikkaku added. "'Sides, she c'n hardly be considered 'is ex. They jus' fucked 'round a few times las' year."

"Well, I think the rumor is true," Yumi argued with a deadpan expression.

"I don'," Shuuhei mumbled with another swig of his drink.

"It's true," Ichigo found himself blurting, eyes downcast as the rest of the group turned to face him. "The part about them sleeping together, not dating." It seemed alcohol really loosened his tongue.

"Ichigo!" Shinji nearly wined. "If you knew, why didn't you tell me?!"

"Didn't wanna talk about it," the redhead replied.

Tensa watched Ichigo carefully from his spot beside him and although he'd only known the teen for a short while, he'd learned how to read him. The redhead would not admit it out loud but he was hurt that this man, Grimmjow, had gotten into bed with another. Based on the boy's present discomfort and the way he'd described the feeling of love just the previous day, he was willing to bet the scandalous senior was the one Ichigo pined for. "Perhaps this isn't the best topic of discussion," the shaggy haired boy intervened, noting the grateful look Ichigo sent his way.

"On the contrary, I think this needs to be discussed," Yumichika pushed. "I may be a little drunk but I think I speak for all of us when I say it's no secret how Ichigo feels for 'The King of Las Noches.'"

"Yumi," Renji growled in a clear warning.

"I'm not saying this to be a bitch, I'm saying this because I care about Ichigo!" he shot back. The diva then turned his attention to said teen, his expression unreadable. "He is not a good guy, Ichigo. He's a man whore with no self control and he doesn't give a damn who he hurts as long as he gets what he wants! You need to get over him!"

"Someone take his fuckin' drink, please," Gin sighed as he scrubbed a hand over his face.

"I'm not that drunk!" Yumi suddenly shouted, now furious. "Ichigo, you're an idiot if you think he's any good for you!"

"Woah!"

"Hey!"

"Not cool, Yumi!"

Ikkaku, Shuuhei, and Renji all began shouting in unison and as the group began engaging in heated arguments, Ichigo kept his eyes trained on the carpet between his feet until the sounds surrounding him became a dull murmur. He'd learned long ago to drown out things he didn't want to hear but he couldn't help what his brain had already processed. Perhaps there was a reason his friends were so adamant in their views towards Grimmjow, but he just didn't see what they did. He may look at the man through rose colored goggles, but he was no fool. His highly developed instincts would allow him to spot a man with ill intentions from a mile away, but that simply wasn't Grimmjow.

"Guys!"

Ichigo snapped out of his trance at the sudden outburst and lifted his head to find that the group had finally silenced, all watching Tensa with wide eyes. The shaggy haired boy hardly spoke, but when he did, he made sure he was heard.

"Why is this even a discussion?! Regardless of Yumi's or Renji's or anyone's feelings towards Grimmjow, it's ultimately Ichigo's choice what or who he wants to pursue!"

Chocolate brown eyes met Tensa's profile with an appreciative gleam in them and Ichigo smiled to himself just a bit. He felt a weight begin to lift off of his shoulders when the rest of the group appeared to digress, only to have that weight drop with ten times the force when his twin suddenly spoke up.

"Actually, I agree wit' Yumichika."

"Shiro!" Shinji snapped angrily.

"Thank you!" Yumichika shouted exasperatedly at the same time.

Ichigo's amber eyes darted over his brother's face for several seconds, his confusion and hurt obvious although the albino refused to make eye contact. Ichigo opened and closed his mouth many times in failed attempts to respond, but the shock he felt was too overwhelming for any words to leave his lips. It was the first time Shiro had been blatantly unsupportive of his twin and the redhead couldn't help but feel almost betrayed. Of all times, right when he needed his brother's reassurance and support the most, was the one time the albino wouldn't give it. "Why?" he heard himself whisper. He could clearly see Shiro react to the pain etched in his voice, but the albino stubbornly crossed his arms over his chest and looked Ichigo straight in the eye as he spoke.

"I don' like the son of a bitch an' I don' wan' ya anywhere near 'im."

Several surprised looks were now trained on Shiro, however Shinji damn near had steam blowing out of his ears. "How can you fucking say that?!" he bellowed. "That man has saved your brother's life twice!"

"Which is the only reason I ain't kickin' 'is ass right now! He ain't right and ya know it!"

"What I know is that you're just being paranoid! What I know is that he makes my best friend happy and that's what matters to me! Why doesn't it matter to you?!"

"How dare you?!" Shiro roared, completely dropping his usual slang and shooting from his spot beside Ichigo. "You are not his brother, Shinji, I am. That means I know what's best for him and that bastard isn't it!"

"What's you're issue wit' 'im anyway?" Shuuhei slurred, struggling to keep up with the conversation.

"Sounds personal," Renji mumbled, sipping on his drink. But that's none of my business.

Shinji stood then, hands balled at his sides and his lips set in a thin line. "Ya wanna know what I think, Shiro?" the blonde began, a clear challenge in his voice that had the rest of the group looking horrified at what was to come. "I think you're so damn possessive of your brother that you ain't willing to share him with anyone else!"

The albino looked taken aback by this, his lightening yellow eyes bulging before he seemed to shake himself and harden his expression into a scowl. "Ya know exactly why I don' like 'im, Shinji, don' pretend ya fergot!"

It was then that Ichigo finally found his voice and he glanced between his twin and best friend with confusion in his eyes. "Is there something you two aren't telling me?"

The two teens acted as if they didn't hear the question, never breaking eye contact and the only indication that Ichigo's voice was registered was the heated look in Shinji's eyes daring Shiro to answer. In response, the albino's jaw tightened visibly as he knew he couldn't respond, otherwise he would sound paranoid. His reasoning behind his feelings toward Grimmjow were nothing more than a theory at the moment, he had no tangible proof other than what was easily passed as an "adrenaline rush." Knowing he couldn't voice his thoughts, he decided to settle for a warning, finally turning hard eyes on his twin.

"All I'm gonna say is he ain't who he say he is, Ichi. And fallin' fer 'im ain't gonna do nothin' but bite ya in the ass." With that, the snowy haired twin stormed off towards the penthouse entrance, pushing past groups of drunken students roughly.

Ichigo watched after him with a blank expression before glancing over at his fox faced companion. "Gin."

"I know, I know," the lanky man sighed as he set his drink on the antique coffee table and stood. "I'll make sure he gets back ta the dorms safe 'n sound."

Ichigo only nodded in response before the man took his leave, the rest of the group looking between each other with guilt ridden expressions on their faces. Shinji finally sat back down, noticeably further away from Yumichika then he was before, and crossed his arms over his chest agitatedly. It was eerily silent for several moments, save for the sounds of the party around them, and it was the diva of the group who cleared his throat first, mentally preparing himself to speak.

"I'm sorry, Ichigo," he began softly. "I really didn't mean to start a fight." When the redhead kept his eyes trained on the coffee table and remained silent, Yumichika tried once more for his attention. "Ichi-"

He abruptly snapped his jaw shut when Ichigo raised a hand to silence him, strangely calm despite the heated altercation. He slowly rose to his full height, completely aware of the slightly fearful looks being sent his way and suddenly feeling a bit more sober than he was before. "I'm sure you all have your reasons for your opinions towards Grimmjow," he began before pointing a finger at Yumichika. "Although I'm pretty sure you just believe every rumor you hear. And you two," he pointed to Shuuhei and Ikkaku, "are just following Renji's lead. Quite frankly, senpai, I don't know what your issue is with him." Ichigo tossed his hands in the air and shook his head then. "Regardless of your reasons, I'm only going to say this once, so hear me when I say it." He paused, glaring daggers at each of the four men and wagging his finger accusingly. "Until you actually get to know him, don't you dare say shit to me about the kind of man that he is." With that he turned his back and headed straight for the bar. He was definitely going to need a few more drinks before the night was over.

He didn't even want to try sorting through all the emotions running through him as he pushed through the crowd of sweaty bodies. His mind was in overdrive and it was just too much to try and process all at once. Who did Grimmjow apparently have his eye on? Why would Loly tell people that she and Grimmjow were an item? What was so serious that even Shiro wouldn't support his relationship with the man? And what did the albino mean when he said Grimmjow was not who he said he was?

Taking the first empty seat he spotted at the bar, he waved at the bartender Nel had hired for the night and sighed agitatedly. "Can I get a shot of tequila please? Or ten?" When he heard a deep chuckle to his left in response, he turned to find just the man who'd been plaguing his thoughts.

Speak of the devil.

"People pissin' you off too?" Grimmjow asked, amusement clearly evident in his tone.

"You have no idea," Ichigo scoffed as he was handed his first shot, downing it with a grimace. "People are assholes."

"And pushy."

"And nosey."

"And should stay the hell out of my business."

"Thank you!"

The two simultaneously threw back another shot, this time audibly growling at the taste. "This is some strong shit," Grimmjow concluded as he slammed his glass against the bar top.

"Yup, I'm definitely getting my buzz back."

"That's the goal, isn't it?" the bluenette replied with a laugh.

After a few moments of comfortable silence, Ichigo began twirling his empty glass in his hands and shook his head a bit. "I'm sorry I talked you into this, Grimm. Tensa made me do it. Him and his mischievous nonverbal messages."

"Tensa, huh? Damn, that's so weird isn't it?"

"Ugh, I know! I've been trying to ignore it but it's such a strange coincidence. It's not like Tensa is a common name either."

"You're right but maybe that's all it is, Ichi. Just a bazar coincidence."

"I guess. It's just..." Ichigo paused for a moment, waving his hand in the air as he searched for his words. "He's my friend, ya know? I don't want to think of my dead brother every time I talk to him."

Grimmjow placed a comforting hand on his shoulder then, giving it a light squeeze. "I'm sure you'll figure something out."

A small smile tugged at Ichigo's lips and he nodded in response. "Thanks, Grimm."

The bluenette gave his own handsome smile in return, although something about it appeared forced to Ichigo. Narrowed amber eyes darted over Grimmjow's God like features for any sign that he was right and the way the man shifted uncomfortably under his gaze confirmed his suspicions. "Whatever's on your mind, spit it out," the redhead snapped, though without much heat. It was obvious he was concerned and only addressed the issue in such a manner to get his roommate to talk.

Knowing there was no use denying there was a problem, as Ichigo would see right through him, Grimmjow sighed in defeat. "I'm just...worried about a friend," he responded lamely, suddenly very fascinated with the empty glass in his hands.

"Okay," Ichigo said at length, his eyes narrowing further. He knew it was a load of crap but decided to play along anyway. "And what's wrong with your friend?"

"Um...there's uh..." Grimmjow felt his brow twitch and nearly kicked himself for how horrifically lame he sounded. "There's this puppy he's been wanting to adopt."

Really, Grimmjow? A puppy? That's the best you got?

The bluenette nearly slapped his hand against his forehead and tried his best to ignore Ichigo's upturned brow.

"Well, what's the problem?" the smaller male asked warily.

"It's just that, uh, he sees this puppy all the time- at the shelter I mean- and they've been getting really close, ya know?"

Kill yourself, Grimmjow, you're a fucking idiot.

"He really likes this puppy and he's pretty sure the puppy likes him too, he's just not sure if he should adopt."

Seriously, what am I even saying?

"Why wouldn't he adopt?" Ichigo asked innocently, appearing genuinely concerned for this "friend" of Grimmjow's.

Bless his adorable little heart.

"Well, he sometimes doesn't know his own strength. I think he's afraid that if he adopts, he might hurt the puppy."

"Hmm," Ichigo hummed thoughtfully, looking pensive. "What do his other friends say about it?"

"His sister is constantly pushing for him to adopt," Grimmjow admitted with a roll of his eyes, "but his friends don't really know how badly he wants the puppy."

Ichigo nodded a few times and drummed his fingers against the bar top, seeming to come to a decision. "I don't think he should adopt."

Cyan eyes went slightly wide then, analyzing Ichigo as he casually sipped at his new drink. "But...why not?" he asked, trying his damnedest not to sound disappointed.

"He shouldn't take the puppy home until he trusts himself not to hurt it," the redhead answered simply.

Grimmjow cocked his head to the side and nodded as if he'd learned something new. "That actually makes perfect sense," he murmured.

"Just keep in mind that if he leaves the puppy in the shelter for too long, someone else might adopt it," Ichigo warned. "And your friend will never know what can happen until he tries." When the redhead finished, he turned to find crystalline eyes paralyzing him with a look that pierced his very soul and had his heart racing in seconds. The man's expression was unreadable, but something in his eyes told Ichigo that he'd come to an important decision, that a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart, and the warm smile beginning to pull at those perfect lips made the redhead release a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Thank you, Ichigo. I'll be sure to tell him that," Grimmjow grinned.

Fruitlessly fighting the insane blush on his cheeks, Ichigo nodded nervously. "S-Sure thing," he stuttered.

"Well, since your words of wisdom practically solved my problems, it's only fair I try to help with yours, right?"

"Actually, I think I might've solved at least part of my own problem," the redhead began, "but I don't think there's much either of us can do about the rest."

Grimmjow hummed in response but decided not to argue. "Ya know I'm here if you wanna talk about it. And I'll do whatever I can to help."

"Yeah, I know," Ichigo replied softly, smiling to himself all the while. "But for now," he continued as he waved over the bartender once again, "you can help by drinking with me."

"No arguments here," the bluenette said mostly to himself as the bartender asked what they'd be drinking.

"I think I'll try a... Bloody Mary?"

Grimmjow had to bite back a laugh at the questioning look Ichigo sent his way, instead nodding to affirm that despite the redheads adorable lack of knowledge pertaining to alcohol, he'd gotten it right. "And I'll have a Bourbon," he added, clearing his throat when a chuckle nearly slipped past his lips.

Throughout the night the two continued to drink and laugh, talking about nothing and everything all at the same time. The surrounding noise seemed to fade and it seemed they'd both forgotten anyone else was around as they chatted. The party continued into the wee hours of the morning and as the clock ticked by, Grimmjow and Ichigo found themselves leaning heavily against each other for support in their drunken states. Gradually, the house was filled by fewer and fewer people as they began filing out individually and in groups, until all who were left were Nel and a few other college students who were passed out drunk throughout the house. Ichigo wasn't sure when his friends had left, but he was grateful that the inevitability awkward reunion would be set aside for another day.

"Rise n' shine, buddy!" Grimmjow barked as he lightly kicked a male lying on the bathroom floor. "Ya don't have to go home but ya sure as shit can't stay here." The guy only groaned in response as the bluenette moved to check the other areas on the first floor, kicking out a few others who were lounging in the living room and on the patio.

"Hey, Grimm!" Nel slurred as she pushed past a couple who were making their way out. "Did ya know we're trending 'n Twitter? Hashtag Party at Grimmjow's 2015!"

"Yeah, that's great, Nel," Grimmjow replied as he waved off the last few people, shutting his front door behind them. "Fuck, I'm gonna have to call a maid in the morning," he grumbled as he scanned over his penthouse, grimacing a bit at all the empty solo cups, trash, and lord knows what else. "Yo, Ichigo!" he called, unsure where the redhead had run off to. "Come on, we gotta go back to the dorms!"

"I don' wanna!" came a slurred, petulant response from upstairs.

When the hell did he get up there?

"Don't make me drag your ass down here!" Grimmjow warned, albeit teasingly.

"You'll have to find me first~," was the sing song reply that had Grimmjow's brow twitching.

He glanced over to find Nel with a lecherous grin plastered on her face as she casually sauntered past him and up the stairs. "Ya better find 'im before he does somethin' naughty," she teased at length, heading straight for the guest room and shutting the door behind her.

I am too drunk for this, the bluenette thought to himself as he scrubbed a large hand over his face, dragging his feet up the stairs.

The moment he set foot into the main bedroom, his highly trained senses allowed him to know immediately that Ichigo was there. Peering through the darkness, he knew the kid had to have been hiding and fought the smirk tugging at his lips as he decided to play along. "Damn, where the hell is he?" he mumbled, biting back a laugh when he heard a tiny snicker come from the sliding door closet. "I swear I heard his voice from in here," he purposefully mused aloud, pacing the room until his back was to the closet. "Helloooo." The second he felt the redhead sneaking up behind his back, he whirled on his heel and dove, snatching Ichigo by the waist and tossing him over his broad shoulder effortlessly. "Gotcha, ya brat!"

Ichigo barked out a laugh as he dangled over Grimmjow's back, but before the man could even take two steps towards the door, Ichigo swung his body and hooked his legs around Grimmjow's neck, twisting and using their momentum to throw the bluenette to the ground. As gently as possible of course. It was all in good fun as the redhead poised himself over Grimmjow's stunned form and stuck out his tongue, bolting into the bathroom and giggling the whole while. Grimmjow was still lying on his back in a complete daze, glancing between where he was just standing and the bathroom door several times before finally scoffing and shaking his head in amusement.

Never have I been so turned on by someone who could throw me to the ground like a rag doll.

He groaned when he heard the shower start, slowly picking himself up off the crisp tan carpet and trudging his way over to his dresser. He knew Ichigo was probably too drunk to realize that he had no clothes to change into, therefore the duty fell on him to gather a pair of drawstring basketball shorts and the smallest t-shirt he could find. He didn't bother knocking on the bathroom door and cracked it open to reach through and set the clothes on the counter, but as he stepped back to take his leave, he couldn't help the quick glance at the mirror that had him freezing in his tracks. Grimmjow had forgotten that the shower doors were glass and that Ichigo's naked body would be in plain view, but that wasn't what caught his attention. It was the scars. Ichigo had his hands pressed against the shower wall and hung his head under the water, large droplets cascading down his lithe, muscular back. From this angle all Grimmjow could see was his back, as the steam fogging the glass left everything below the waist to the imagination, but the sight was enough to create an uncomfortable knot in his stomach the longer he stared. Many of the scars were just thin, dark lines that were hardly noticeable. Some where obviously deeper wounds with raised, leathery skin. But all were clearly evidence of being attacked from behind. Grimmjow briefly wondered how the teen was able to trust anyone with wounds like that, how he wasn't constantly looking over his shoulder the way the bluenette would have. A feeling he wasn't sure how to describe blossomed in his chest, however, when he realized that despite whatever dark past Ichigo had, he'd allowed Grimmjow to step into some of the deepest, most intimate parts of himself.

He probably trusts me more than any of his other friends at Las Noches, the bluenette thought, and here I am keeping secrets from him.

With a heavy sigh, he clicked the door shut as quietly as he could and changed into whatever lounge wear he could find before dropping face down onto his king sized bed. If he had to guess he'd say it was about 3:30 in the morning and he was exhausted. He pulled the comforter over his body and buried his face into the soft, feather pillow under his head, feeling sleep pulling at him immediately. He'd just begun to doze off when he heard the bathroom door creak open followed by footsteps padding across the room, stopping at the side of the bed. Cyan eyes blinked open tiredly to find Ichigo waiting at the side of the bed patiently with a shy look on his face.

Shit, Grimmjow mentally cursed. He'd forgotten that Nel had taken up the guest room.

Without really thinking in his half asleep and still slightly drunk state, Grimmjow tossed back the covers and patted the sheets beside him, surprised when Ichigo didn't hesitate to climb into the bed. Somehow the redhead looked much smaller in the other man's clothes, almost child like as he pulled a pillow to his chest, just the way Grimmjow knew he liked to sleep. The two watched each other for a long moment before Ichigo suddenly blurted something that had apparently been plaguing his mind.

"Yer dad's an ass fer puttin' us on that stage," he slurred.

Grimmjow barked out a laugh and turned on his side to face his roommate, nodding his agreement. "You're preachin' to the choir, Ichi."

"Everyone knew me n' Shiro were never nominated," the redhead nearly whined. "So not cool."

"I know, I know," Grimmjow agreed, trying his best to comfort his very, very drunk friend.

"But ya know what?" the redhead added, his eyes half lidded. "I wish m' mom could've seen it." Grimmjow furrowed his brow then, knowing that Ichigo never really liked talking about his mother but remained silent. "She was always tryin' to get me out o' m' shell, ya know?" Only then did Ichigo avert his eyes and begin to curl in on himself, remaining silent for several moments before murmuring quietly, "She would've been so happy..."

Grimmjow reached out a large hand and laid it gently against Ichigo's arm, his voice softening as he spoke. "I'm sure she would've been just as proud of you as I am."

Ichigo gave him a sad smile then. "I think she would've liked you."

Grimmjow gave a small grin of his own. "Oh yeah?"

Ichigo's smile grew wider and he nodded his head, even as his eyes started to water. "Definitely. I jus' wish the two of you could've met." When fat tears began falling from his lashes and he heard himself sniffle, he quickly raised a hand to wipe his eyes and shook his head. "Shit, I'm sorry."

When a sudden warmth wrapped around his wrist and pulled his hand from his face, his blurry vision quickly focused on deep, crystal blue eyes which seemed to glow in the darkness as they stared back at him. That same warmth on his wrist moved to cup his cheek and he couldn't help it when his eyes fluttered shut at the comforting feeling. It wasn't until Grimmjow's deep, sensual baritone cut through the silence that Ichigo's gold flecked eyes opened once again.

"Don't you ever apologize for opening up to me."

The simple statement was nothing short of a command and yet it was filled with so much underlying emotion that Ichigo felt as if his heart would beat right out of his chest. The way Grimmjow caressed his cheek and wiped away his tears as if it were the most natural thing to do, the fire in those gorgeous blue eyes that burned with greater intensity every time he laid eyes on Ichigo, it was overwhelming in the best way. It was in that moment that Ichigo realized just how hard he was falling for this stupid, wonderful, cocky, breathtakingly beautiful man that lay before him. The realization was absolutely terrifying, and yet the pull Ichigo felt towards Grimmjow was so strong that he found himself moving across the bed without even thinking. Perhaps later he'd blame it on the alcohol, but before he knew it he had buried his face in the man's broad chest and threw an arm around his waist, inhaling the bluenette's scent as if it were a fine cologne.

Grimmjow completely froze and held his breath as if the tiniest movement might cause some sort of natural disaster. Dozens of times he'd pictured this exact moment, lying in bed wrapped up in each other's arms (admittedly naked more often than not), but he'd never expected it to actually happen. Sure he'd hoped, but now that it was actually happening, his body was present and it seemed his consciousness had taken a vacation. His arms hovered over Ichigo's body as if he were afraid to complete the action, and he was sure that if his brain didn't kick start again soon, the redhead would sense his hesitation and the moment would be lost. It was a tough situation, but before he could go too crazy over it, the tiny devil and angel on his shoulders took over.

Come on, Grimmjow, grow some fuckin' balls! It ain't like ya never done this before!

Actually, you haven't, Grimmjow. Stop now before you hurt him.

Ya really gonna listen to this prick? Screw his opinion!

You know I'm right, Grimmjow.

Fuck that. The kid is obviously in need so ya can't just turn your back on him!

Ichigo is drunk, he doesn't know what he's doing.

Drunk feelings are honest feelings! Now stop fuckin' around and be a man!

Finally releasing the breath he'd been holding, Grimmjow wrapped his arms around Ichigo's lithe body as tightly as he dared, burying his nose in those fiery orange locks. There were no words to describe the peace he felt in that moment. All of his hesitation, his worries, his fears, had suddenly vanished and were replaced by a strange calm. He almost couldn't believe that not a second ago, his mind had been in complete turmoil and now, there was nothing but bliss. A moment later he felt Ichigo tighten his grip, holding him as if he were a lifeline before whispering something in Japanese that Grimmjow couldn't understand.

"Daisuki desu."

Even though the bluenette had no clue what the phrase meant, the way Ichigo had said it felt intimate and he knew that whatever it was, was not to be taken lightly. He smirked to himself and made a mental note to speak with Nel about that training she'd mentioned earlier. Although he was terrified beyond words and fearful that he'd hurt Ichigo if he ever lost control, he knew that this moment, this feeling, this chance at normalcy was not something he was willing to give up easily.


Whoop there it is folks. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it and as always, please review and let me know what you think!

Daisuki desu= I really like you, Note: it is NOT a confession of love like "aishiteru yo" would be, but its close!

Until next time~