Part X: Nowhere I Could Go

"There was nowhere I could go that wouldn't be you."
― Jeffrey Eugenides, Middlesex

…

"What are you so giddy about?"

Ichigo smiled to himself, his chin resting in his hands. He shook his head in dismissal before pushing off his chest and stomach and sitting down on his bottom, his legs folded beneath him. "It's nothing, Master."

Ichigo inhaled the sweet scent deeply. There was something comforting about it and no matter the length of time, he would never forget that scent. The sweet, honey-filled air could even overpower the strong odor of the meal in front of him. "Ah. I see."

Ichigo thought his Master would be angry with him, but Ulquiorra only seemed amused. Ichigo chided himself for getting so excited. What reason did he have to act such a way? He was nearly bouncing in anticipation.

"Ichigo Kurosaki!" Ichigo slowly turned to look at the blue haired shifter. He nodded in greeting and returned his attention to the meal in front of him. "What? Aren't you surprised? What sort of greeting is that?"

"Hello, Grimmjow," Ichigo added for good measure, doing his best not to smile like an idiot. "I could smell you miles away. I'm not surprised…"

"Well, damn," Grimmjow pouted, dropping from a low branch. "And here I thought I was being sneaky."

"It's been a while." Ichigo murmured around a mouthful of food.

"Yeah, it has. I suppose it's been around…" Grimmjow trailed off thoughtfully.

"Three years and four months, but who's counting?" Ichigo replied, his brown eyes narrowing at Grimmjow. "I'm not." He gestured to the game in front of him. "Hungry?"

"Famished." Grimmjow accepted, sitting down on the ground beside Ichigo. He grabbed a leg, ripping the tendons and sinew from the bone. "Has it really been that long? Crazy…"

"So, I'm not complaining, exactly, but what brings you here?" Ichigo questioned, removing another strip of meat from the fire.

"Huh? Well, nothing really. I got bored." Grimmjow replied.

Ichigo's face twitched and even he wasn't sure if it was him or the Master. "Bored, huh?"

"Ah, don't take it that way," Grimmjow insisted, wiping the blood that dripped down his chin. "I was just wondering how you were doing."

"I'm still here." Ichigo muttered.

Grimmjow nodded knowingly, "The first hundred years that's all you can be."

"Oh good," Ichigo groaned. "Only around 95 years to go."

"It's been a while since I saw you," Grimmjow mused, watching Ichigo intently. "You seem different."

"How so?" Ichigo asked.

Grimmjow shrugged, "Would I be in trouble if I said you don't look as funny-looking?"

"Yes." Ichigo growled.

Grimmjow smirked handsomely, "Then I didn't say it."

"I'm not sure that's how that works." Ichigo sighed.

"But really, you look… bigger…" Grimmjow realized, studying Ichigo with interest. "And you lost your baby fat."

"Yeah, well, it's been three years… People change." Ichigo reasoned.

Grimmjow shook his head, his brows furrowed, "Yeah, but shifters don't change. Not like that. Not so fast."

Ichigo forced a tight smile, "I guess you're just lucky then. You won't have to look at my weird face much longer."

Grimmjow laughed, tossing the cleaned bone aside, "Don't be sour."

"I'm not." Ichigo huffed.

"Yeah you are." Grimmjow teased, poking his finger into Ichigo's side. "You're not still mad at me, are ya?"

"Well, I wasn't mad until you called me weird-looking. That definitely added a new layer to our friendship…" Ichigo said.

"I didn't call ya weird-looking. I said you weren't so funny-looking. That's two totally different things…" Grimmjow reasoned.

"Very different." Ichigo murmured, his brown eyes wide.

Grimmjow smiled guiltily, "My bad."

"So, beyond being 'bored', what're you doing here?" Ichigo asked, sitting back and rubbing his full, content belly.

"I ran into a Master a year ago," Grimmjow explained. "He was a real cool guy. I think you'd like him."

"I doubt that." Ichigo scoffed.

Grimmjow only smiled. He leaned forward and gently brushed his thumb across Ichigo's face, "You had an eyelash."

"Oh, thanks." Ichigo muttered nervously.

"Anyway, he really was an interesting guy. I thought he was going to kill me, especially when he found out who my Master was, but he ended up being…" Grimmjow stopped talking abruptly. "I see you still have your little problem…"

Ichigo lifted his hand to his face, his fingertips pressing to his eyelid. "Yeah."

Grimmjow made a face, "That's unfortunate."

Ichigo wanted to hit Grimmjow with a clever retort, but he had nothing. So he simply sighed, throwing his hands up in the air in gesture, "Equal to or worse than my face?"

Grimmjow laughed; a hearty, throw-your-head-back-and-laugh laugh. He shook his head, and pulled his bottom lip between his sharp teeth, "Your face isn't unfortunate…" his blue eyes sparked. "At least not anymore."

"I'm eternally grateful to you, Grimmjow," Ichigo began. "But I'm not the kinda guy that likes to be teased."

Grimmjow nodded, his jaw twisted to the side in amusement, "Yeah, sure. I got ya. Sorry. Sorry."

"You were saying something about another Master," Ichigo reminded him.

"Ah, yeah, well," Grimmjow shrugged. "I'll tell you when we don't have an audience."

"That makes it more interesting."

"So nosey." Grimmjow clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"He's like that." Ichigo murmured, standing up.

"Where're you going?" Grimmjow asked, following Ichigo's movements with his eyes.

"I'm gonna take a piss. That okay?" Ichigo asked, rocking back and forth on his feet.

Grimmjow nodded, "Yeah. Sure. Fine with me. Go ahead."

"Thank you, my liege…" Ichigo teased, bowing at the waist before disappearing into the brush.

"What're you hiding for?" Grimmjow called out. "It's not like we have different parts or somethin'."

"That's weird for many reasons, Grimmjow." Ichigo replied, his voice farther away.

"Hey, Ichi," Grimmjow continued, leaning back on his hands. "Where you headed next?"

"No idea." Ichigo called back. "Just walking around at this point."

Grimmjow nodded knowingly, scratching his exposed lower belly, "You'll be doing that until you die, I'm afraid…"

"Any more good news?" Ichigo asked, emerging from the brush.

Grimmjow grinned, "I'm bored as hell, so you'll have company for a while." Ichigo groaned into his hand. "Awww, don't complain. I'm a blessing…"

"Well, to be honest, I wouldn't mind having someone to talk to," Ichigo reasoned. "Even if it is you."

"Nice." Grimmjow scoffed.

"I didn't hurt your little feelings, did I?" Ichigo taunted back, his tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek.

"Nope. Don't have any."

Ichigo smiled, "Good."

"You're feisty." Grimmjow realized. "I like it."

"It's been a while." Ichigo replied with a shrug. "I'm different."

"Yeah, but," Grimmjow couldn't shake the nagging feeling in his mind. "That's not typical shifter behavior. I mean…" Grimmjow shrugged. "Fuck it. Never mind."

"Come on," Ichigo commanded. "If you're walking with me, we're leaving now."

Grimmjow groaned, "Already?" Ichigo only smiled. "Alright. Fine. I'm coming."

….

"Gross." Grimmjow snarled. "You're so poor it hurts me."

Ichigo made a face, "You're the one who wanted to come along."

"Yeah, but I had no idea you were living like this…" Grimmjow replied. "It's deplorable."

"Well, sor-ry, but my Master doesn't give me handouts." Ichigo retorted.

"Aizen would never live like this." Grimmjow revealed. "I honestly don't think he's ever sat on the ground in his life… This would never work…"

"He has, but that's adorable that you think so."

"You're always welcome to stop following me." Ichigo breathed out.

Grimmjow shrugged, "Yeah. I know. I do what I want."

"You're the one complaining…" Ichigo pointed out in frustration.

Grimmjow smirked, "Yeah? So what?"

Ichigo groaned loudly, "For fuck's sake."

"You know you love me." Grimmjow drawled, dipping down in front of Ichigo as they walked.

"I don't know that." Ichigo spat, rolling his eyes.

"Well, I was only joking, but you've gone and made it awkward…" Grimmjow accused.

"Sure. I'm the one who made it awkward." Ichigo grumbled.

"Why? Do you think it was your Master?" Grimmjow asked, feigning concern. "Is he to blame?"

"That's enough from you." Ichigo decided.

"Oh, man," Grimmjow chuckled. "We've just got back together and you're already fed up? You'd better toughen up, leather skin."

"And what does that mean?" Ichigo demanded.

"It's an old phrase…" Grimmjow explained before breaking into another grin. "I guess it's really old now, huh?"

"How old are you anyway?" Ichigo asked.

Grimmjow's face twitched, "A little over 2 thousand years old."

"But that's what you said last time." Ichigo pointed out. "What, don't you keep track?"

"What's the point in that?" Grimmjow breathed. "Haven't we already had this conversation?"

"Have we?"

"Yeah." Grimmjow barked. "And it was just as boring the first time. What's'it matter?"

"I guess it doesn't." Ichigo reasoned with a shrug. "I was just trying to figure out what was wrong with you."

"Ain't nothin' wrong with me." Grimmjow replied, puffing his chest out proudly.

"Did your mother tell you that?" Ichigo teased.

"No." Grimmjow said flatly. "Who even knows who that bitch was… I never knew her."

"Oh, I'm sorry…" Ichigo muttered guiltily.

"Nothin' for you to be sorry for," Grimmjow said. "It all happened before your great-great-grandaddy's great-great grandfather was born."

"What happened?" Ichigo asked curiously. "You said, 'it all happened.'"

"My life." Grimmjow muttered.

"And where'd you come from?" Ichigo pressed.

Grimmjow clicked his tongue and wagged his finger, "Nuh uh uh. We don't play that game."

"It's not a game. I'm just asking some questions." Ichigo protested.

"I don't share private information, Kurosaki," Grimmjow drawled.

Ichigo sighed, shaking his head, "Okay, but if we don't talk about something this is going to be one hell of a long walk…"

"Well, first things first," Grimmjow announced. "We're hitting up the next town. Your clothes are filthy rags. You need new ones. Your bag is covered in who the fuck knows what. You need a new one. You're too thin. Your rations are unappealing at best, and revolting in honesty. You need more."

"I don't have any money." Ichigo growled. "My Master doesn't find it necessary."

"I've got money." Grimmjow said over Ichigo.

"Oh, I couldn't accept such a generous gift…" Ichigo drawled sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"I insist." Grimmjow replied.

"It might be nice to eat some fruit." Ichigo considered, getting a little excited at the prospect.

"I'll buy you some fruit." Grimmjow agreed. "Cause I'm just such a nice guy."

Ichigo pursed his lips together before responding, "If you get me some grapes, I'll call you whatever you want…"

…..

"Yes, I need a room for me and my wife…" Grimmjow's voice carried all the way across the road to where Ichigo stood.

Ichigo turned and glared, his finger slicing through the air threateningly. The man looked toward him, nearly catching the rude gesture. He nodded slowly and they began to haggle over a price. Ichigo learned quickly that Grimmjow never paid full price for anything, ever.

"Alright. I got us a small room for a week." Grimmjow explained as he approached. "That'll give us time to get you a new set of clothes."

"I hate you."

"Aww, that hurts my heart, Ichigo." Grimmjow mocked, slapping his hand over his chest.

"Then stop calling me your wife." Ichigo snapped. "I swear it, I'll kill you…"

"Don't I know it… You're kinda mean, Ichi…" Grimmjow mumbled. "Listen, it's cheaper if I say you're my wife. Plus, two men traveling together is suspicious. Men are much more dangerous than a family…"

Ichigo could almost see Grimmjow's point, so he shook his head, "Whatever."

"Just because I can live through everything doesn't mean I want to." Grimmjow added. "I'd rather not get chopped up and tortured."

"Have you considered that lying would only seem worse?" Ichigo questioned.

"Yeah, trust me, no one knows I'm lying…" Grimmjow explained. "You're young. You've got long eyelashes and a pretty face. And in those Macedonian clothes, you show just enough to look good but not enough to spoil the surprise… If ya know what I'm saying…"

Ichigo made a face, "I'm wearing boy's clothes."

"In Macedonia, sure." Grimmjow agreed. "But when most people here just walk around naked, you look really feminine in that."

Ichigo bit back his reply; he realized he was being childish at this point. He nodded, folding his arms over his chest. Grimmjow noticed how the young shifter's body had changed over the last three years. He was thicker in the middle, thinner in the face, and his arms were chiseled attractively.

"Come on," Grimmjow instructed, looking away quickly. "Let's get you measured."

By nightfall a different sort of vendor was in the streets. A woman grabbed hold of Grimmjow crudely and she leaned in closely, offering her services. Grimmjow's hand peeled the woman's off and he flung her away, his mouth twitching in irritation. "We'd better return to our room," Grimmjow breathed out.

"I've never seen anyone get propositioned as much as you do." Ichigo mused, following behind Grimmjow through the crowded street.

"Look at me." Grimmjow breathed out. "I'd fuck me."

"Such modesty."

"In another thousand years or so, when you grow up a bit more, they'll be all over you too." Grimmjow assured Ichigo with a wink.

"No thanks." Ichigo muttered. "I'm good."

"They have to make a living like everyone else." Grimmjow said suddenly. "I mean, I don't have to pay for it, but I certainly ain't against it from time to time." Grimmjow smirked. "Besides, it's cheaper than keeping a wife."

Ichigo frowned, his brows knitting together in distaste, "You're unbelievable."

Grimmjow grinned wider, "I know. Ain't I?"

"It's not cute." Ichigo groaned.

"Sure it is." Grimmjow argued playfully, his shoulder nudging against Ichigo's.

"I don't know how anyone deals with you." Ichigo shook his head in bewilderment.

"They don't have to." Grimmjow shrugged. "At least not for very long."

…..

Ichigo blinked awake. It took him a moment for the sleep to wash away from his eyes. As soon as the room came into focus, he realized that there was another person inside. He laid on the bare ground, making out the shapes of two people in the darkness.

The air was thick. He could nearly taste the sweat and salt in the room. He blinked sleepily. And then he comprehended what he was seeing at last. He groaned in disgust and rolled over, pulling his shirt above his head. There was a soft murmur and a moan and the sound of two bodies meeting each other.

It felt like an eternity later that the door opened and the other person slinked away. Grimmjow splashed himself with water from a clay vase, rubbing his skin hurriedly. He patted himself dry, his palms slapping against his exposed flesh. "You awake over there?"

"Nope." Ichigo muttered.

"Good." Grimmjow breathed out, pulling his pants on.

"You should do that sort of thing somewhere else…" Ichigo suggested, rolling over and staring up at the ceiling.

"I thought you were asleep…" Grimmjow grunted, running his hands through his hair.

"I was." Ichigo replied. "And then your gross, heavy breathing woke me up."

"Gross…" Grimmjow repeated the word, offended.

"Then do it somewhere else then." Ichigo insisted.

"Where? A back alley?" Grimmjow reasoned. "I mean, I don't mind, but it's kinda… uh…"

"Gross?" Ichigo suggested.

Grimmjow made a face, "Is that the only word you know?"

"No." Ichigo said, sticking his tongue out and rolling his eyes.

"Fornicating in an alley is how you get robbed and left for dead." Grimmjow pointed out. "And as a general rule of thumb, the person you're fucking doesn't get back up after they die."

"I never expected you to be so safety conscious." Ichigo murmured, using his arm as a pillow.

Grimmjow shrugged, "It is fucking exhausting to die all the time."

"I know that already." Ichigo agreed.

Grimmjow shook his head, "No. You may think you know, but you've no fucking idea…"

"I don't?" Ichigo arched a brow skeptically.

"Imagine dying of starvation and thirst every four days for a century. Imagine being stabbed a thousand times. Or set on fire. Or drowned. Or any of the hundreds of ways I've died." Grimmjow barked. "Five years, a hundred deaths, that's fucking nothing."

"I'm too tired to argue." Ichigo mumbled, closing his eyes and snuggling into his arm. "Don't be mad at me."

"I'm… I'm not mad…" Grimmjow groaned, feeling a bit embarrassed by his outburst. "Go back to sleep then."

"I am."

Grimmjow made a face, "Good."

"Shhhhh…."

Grimmjow's face twitched, screwing up in anger, "You little shit!"

Ichigo smiled, his eyes blinking open, "Just go to bed."

"I will when I feel like it!" Grimmjow snapped.

"Goodnight." Ichigo said simply.

Grimmjow bristled, his arms folding over his chest. He hesitated for a moment before spitting out, "Goodnight."

…..

"I like it here." Ichigo decided, swimming slowly from one of the pond to the other.

Grimmjow stripped naked, tossing his clothes carelessly to the ground. He nodded, stretching his arms over his head. "It's nice."

"You ever think of settling down someplace?" Ichigo asked, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his wet skin.

Grimmjow laughed bitterly, "Damn. You know, that'd be great. But it's not like that for our kind."

"Even when you're out of your contract?" Ichigo asked, treading water.

"No matter when or where." Grimmjow said simply, lying down on his stomach to sun. His skin was already the color of golden wheat, something that Ichigo found quite becoming. "There's something about the curse." Grimmjow dropped his head between his hands. "It brings out the worst of people. And eventually even the best places and the best people become like Hell."

"That's why the Council lives away from all that." Grimmjow pointed out. "Because humans and shifters don't mix."

"They always seem to like you." Ichigo mentioned.

Grimmjow nodded. "Yeah. That's true. For a while."

"And then they just go crazy or something?" Ichigo wondered.

"Yeah. Pretty much." Grimmjow agreed. "It's like we bring out the worst in them. If that makes sense?"

"It does."

"And humans are not very nice creatures." Grimmjow murmured. "Especially when they're scared."

"What's the point in living so long?" Ichigo asked.

The question hit Grimmjow harder than he expected. "Beyond being incubators for our Masters?" Grimmjow frowned, his features etched deeply with emotion, "I guess there isn't one."