A/N Hello again! Alright, so here is my master plan... I hope to start getting at least 2 chapters out a week. I'll right at least a thousand words a day so every three days a new chapter. Sound good? No promises, but hopefully it works out.
Disclaimer: I'm getting REALLY tired of doing this. I don't own Bleach, Kubo Tite does. *Sigh*
To SexyBleachGuys : Aww, I'm sorry D: I hope you get better soon! I'm really glad you reviewed even though you weren't feeling good! I feel so loved :D I always look forward to your reviews! They make me so happy!
To TinkanaiT32: You. Just. Made. My. Day. I'm so happy! And I'm very glad I have your seal of approval ;) And is it bad that I'm actually considering that underwear scene? Nah... It would probably be hilarious...
To SoulReaper1975: Lawl... Sorry bout that xD I was listening to that song while writing and I imagined Ichi's dad dancing to it... The rest was history.
Sorry if I didn't point ya out ): I'll probably be doing this more often, so I'll try to shout out next time! *cough If I remember and am not too lazy cough*
Alright, think that's about it :) Read on...
Ichigo's POV
Ichigo's House
That would be just my luck. Stepping out for just a few minutes and then I come home to find my goat face father being an idiot! No surprise there, really. It was just fucking infuriating! I heard first impressions last a lifetime, but I hope that didn't apply to this situation. If it did, well, my father was screwed. After my dad finally gave up, yelling something about me "Finally being able to carry on the family's name," or some shit like that I sighed and looked up. The first thing I noticed was Grimmjow and I almost shuddered in fear. He was staring at me like he wanted to eat me or something. What the hell is that about? No, never mind. It's probably better if I don't know anyways. Then there was Shiro. He was staring at his food like he was evaluating whether it was a good thing or bad thing. Right as he seemed to make his mind up he shook his head and the expression returned full forth. Alright, so first impressions are important. Grimmjow seems to have caught some slight insanity from my dad and Shiro now looks like he's about to run out the front door screaming for dear life. Well that's just fucking perfect. And we're supposed to write a song in this condition? I then noticed that the other two idiots weren't here yet. I sighed. There goes my good grade. This couldn't get any worse. It just couldn't... right?
'Yo! Ichi! Your two favorite friends have arrived!" I saw Renji the same time he stopped talking. Alright, it could get a whole hell of a lot worse.
Renji was dressed like... a hippie! He was wearing a tie-die shirt with a giant rainbow peace sign in the middle. Sometimes I wondered where the hell he shopped to get these weird ass shirts. He wore red skinny jeans that only made his red hair stand out even more. His hair looked like it was on fire because of his red skinny jeans. His hair was not in it's usual spiked ponytail, but looked like he had straightened it and then put it into his normal ponytail. And the idiot wonders why I don't like to go out in public with him when he dresses like that. It's just not fucking normal! Then I saw Shinji.
I don't ever remember making plans to go to an opera! He was wearing a black button up shirt that was clearly dry-cleaned and black dress pants that looked like they had just recently been pressed. He wore a tie, as usual, that was black and silver. His silver belt gleamed like it had just been polished and after it glinted in the sun I went blind for a few seconds. I could also tell that he had took more time on doing his hair since it looked like it was... shining? Oh, my God. I'm surrounded by outcasts and two now insane celebrities. Maybe I should just transfer high schools... No, I had tried that once and it hadn't worked. Then an image popped into my mind and I couldn't help but start laughing slightly, but the longer I imagined it I couldn't stop and before long I was on the floor, holding my stomach and trying to breath through my fits of laughter. I had just pictured how people had been staring at those two idiots when they were walking through town to get here.
By this time everyone in the house were looking at me like I had lost my mind. It was just too funny, though! After a few minutes I managed to stop laughing and I got up from my spot on the floor. I gave one more loud laugh and went to sit down at the dinner table to eat dinner. The sooner we finished eating, the sooner we could finish the chorus for the song, and the sooner everyone would be out of here.
Taking the seat between Shiro and Grimmjow, who had just recently sat down on the end seat. I looked around to see where everyone was. I glanced over to see Renji taking a seat next to Grimmjow and across from me. He gave me a kick under the table and I could tell that he knew what I was laughing about. I just smiled apologetically and shrugged. He would forgive me, if he hadn't already.
Next to Shiro, Shinji was currently pulling up a chair and giving me a funny look and I could tell he was asking me "What the hell were you laughing about?" I just shook my head before I could bust out laughing again and just looked back at him telling him with my eyes that "I'll tell you later." He smiled and looked past me and his face filled with confusion. After a few seconds it turned to disbelief, then amusement, then finally settled into a look of pure horror. I gave him a questioning glance and he just shook his head and mouthed out "It's nothing. Don't worry about it." Alright then... Whatever.
I looked over to where Shinji was looking and saw Grimmjow giving me THAT look again. I couldn't suppress the shutter that racked my frame this time. I was starting to get seriously worried over here... I turned the other way so that I didn't have to look at him and his grin that consumed his face at the moment. But when I met Shiro's gaze I decided it better to just look down at the table. What the hell? Why was he staring at me like I was in some kind of unimaginable danger? The last time I checked, nobody had found out my identity, so I'm sure it can't be that bad. If it was about my dad and his frequent attacks then that was pointless. He had done that for as long as I can remember and I knew he wouldn't stop anytime soon, either. So why did that look have my stomach churning and a gut feeling to go run up the stairs three at a time and lock myself in my room until everyone was gone?
Normal POV
Grimmjow was enjoying himself immensely. When the berry had looked at him and seen what was, no doubt, a feral and hungry expression Ichigo had shuddered in fear. At that moment, Grimmjow realized this hunt would be a good one. Maybe, just maybe, one of the best. He could see the fire and stubbornness that consumed the orangette's eyes. The blunette knew that this would be a challenging game and that one wrong move would ruin everything, which made it all that much more fun and exciting. He would have to be light on his toes, quick with his decisions, and stealthy with his advances. Oh, fun! Grimmjow couldn't wait to start. He was nearly pouncing from his seat in his eagerness.
At that moment Shiro had finally decided. He knew why he felt like this. Ichigo had grown on him faster then anyone had ever before him. Shiro already perceived Ichigo as one of his good friends and he didn't want anything bad to happen to him. That was the reason why whenever Grimmjow looked at him with that predatory glint in his eyes he wanted to take Ichigo and run far, far away from the blunette. He just wanted to protect the boy, nothing else. That was it.
Then Ichigo had turned and looked Shiro right in the eyes and Shiro's heart clenched at the fear that was obvious in those eyes. Oh God, those eyes... Shiro knew that Ichigo was in trouble, but he couldn't think of one way to help the poor boy. Grimmjow was part of the group and there wasn't anything he could do about it, even if he did want Grimmjow gone. Yet, Shiro wouldn't believe that. There had to be something he could do! There had to be something! Anything!
Shinji's POV
No. Nonononono! It wasn't possible! Everyone knew that Grimmjow was gay, but everyone also knew that Ichigo was 100% straight! I had the best gaydar around the whole school and I had never been wrong in my entire life and that wasn't about to change anytime soon, I was sure of it. I quickly realized that I needed to calm down. Taking deep breaths, I thought about what I knew right now. At the moment, I was absolutely positive of two things. One being that Grimmjow was now stalking my poor, hot, no doubt clueless best friend and that said best friend would have no clue whatsoever on what to do, which meant that I would need to help him. It was at that moment that I understood what I had to do. I would just have to protect him like he had protected me so many times before, be it physically or emotionally. Now all I had to do was actually make sure he understood the danger he was in and that he had an ally in me and, I was sure, his other friends that knew his deepest secret. We wouldn't let that asshole have his way with our Ichi, that was for sure. I grinned. Oh, yes. I would LOVE to see that bastard try something with Rukia, Renji, or me around. I smothered to urge to dare him to. He was in our group after all.
Ichigo's POV
To say that I was nervous and scared was an understatement. For one, Grimmjow was looking at me like I was a piece of meat to a starving man, which was really fucking creepy. Second, Shiro looked like he was about to start hyperventilating from out of absolutely fucking nowhere. Shinji was staring at Grimmjow like he wanted to pounce on him across the table and rip out his jugular in the most violent way possible. What? Shinji was really fucking easy to read! I saw that my dad was eating in the living room on the couch, probably pouting that the table was full. Yuzu had sat down next to Renji and Karin had taken the other end seat across from Grimmjow. I noticed, with curiosity, that Karin was giving a death glare to Grimmjow and Yuzu was giving a very worried look at Shiro across from her. Well. Guess that the blunette was less welcome than my pale carbon copy.
Everyone finished eating dinner fairly quickly and I suddenly was very nervous to have everyone in my small room. Only God knows what the hell could happen. I sighed, there was no way to avoid the unavoidable. We had to get the song's chorus done and that certainly would not happen if we stayed down here with my crazy ass dad.
Standing up I spoke. "Alright, now that everyone is done, I guess we'll all go up to my room. Follow me. Thanks for dinner, Yuzu," everyone was standing up now and I patted her brown hair as I passed her.
"ICHIGO, MY SON! Would you like your father's assistance?" My dad practically screamed in my ear when I passed the couch and I groaned.
"No, goat face, I do not want your fucking help," I continued to walk toward the stairs and up them, ignoring my dad's crying to my mom's poster on the wall.
I heard footsteps following me and I was positive everyone was following me like I told them to. Good. I hate repeating myself. Opening the door, I strolled in and made my way over to the desk where I kept my pencils and paper. Grabbing a pencil, some lined paper, and something to write on I sat cross-legged on my bed. Shinji came and sat on the other half of the bed, much to Renji's annoyance, I'm sure, who quickly claimed the chair from my desk. Shiro and Grimmjow took spots on the floor, leaning back against the wall.
"So," Renji started, "disappear. Any ideas?" I looked up at the wall across from me and thought about what we could write about, but nothing came to me.
That was when I heard my dad still crying to my mom's poster and it hit me. Something that I could relate with. That was what I found always made my songs better, if I could relate and feel the song.
"How about when someone disappears?" Everyone turned to look at me, snapping out of there own train of thoughts. "Like, someone close to you disappears. And for a reason," I placed my finger on my chin, deep in thought, and it hit me again. "The reason could be because of something your hiding, a deep secret."
I looked around to see Shinji and Renji smiling, so I took it that they liked the idea. Grimmjow and Shiro looked like they were in shock. Figures. They don't know that I'm Tensa, so, of course, they don't know that I come up with a majority of my own songs as him. By the time this project was done, I was sure that they would have probably pieced the pieces together. Shit. This was going to be really fucking difficult the longer we take on this project.
Grimmjow was the first to break out of his stupor. He grinned mischievously and at that moment I knew he liked the idea. I'm sure that he would get his two cents worth in before the song was over. I sighed. I knew that what he added into the song was going to be very recognizable from the song. Shiro recovered soon after and smiled. So, it was a go. Now just to get through the lyrics.
"So... We could start out with..." I started rambling ideas and scribbling on the paper in my lap.
Two hours later and we were finally done with the chorus and most of the tune, so now was just the rest of the lyrics and perfecting it. Also, the hardest part, figuring out who would be doing what and getting it to all fit together and sound finished and not sounding like crap. I was positive that Grimmjow and Shiro would be singing, I would let them argue who would sing what. I had no intention whatsoever to get involved in that bloodbath. That meant that Renji would more than likely be playing the drums, Shinji the bass, and I would be playing the guitar. I groaned internally. Not many people knew that I could play the guitar and I preferred it that way. I didn't need, or want, people coming and drawing attention to me.
"ICHIGO!"
My head snapped up when I heard someone yell my name. I saw Renji smiling and Shinji roll his eyes with his hands on his hips.
"Welcome back, Ichi. Since you missed the whole conversation we just held I'll fill you in. That is, after we go get some snacks and drinks from downstairs. We're all starving again," I felt my stomach growl a little like it was trying to prove him right.
"I'll stay up here with 'im. I'm not that hungry," Grimmjow said and shrugged.
"Alright, whatever. C'mon, let's go get some food," Renji shouted enthusiastically and darted out my bedroom door.
"I swear, I call the rest of that cake!" Shinji was hot on his trail.
I heard a sigh and looked over to see Shiro stand up and stretch, muscles making a popping noise. "Guess I'll go wit' em," Shiro followed after them, pausing only to look over his shoulder at Grimmjow and Ichigo one last time before disappearing around the corner, his footsteps fading in a matter of seconds.
Grimmjow's POV
FINALLY! It took forever for the berry's friends and that albino bastard to leave and give Ichi and me some privacy. I had to suppress grinning like a cat that ate the cream when I saw the orangette fiddling with the edge of the now worn paper. Now, just how would I make my move. In the middle of my plotting I heard the bed groan and squeak from a shifting of weight and I looked up to see Ichigo standing up from the bed.
"Um... Maybe I'll go help them down there and make sure my dad doesn't try anything stupid," he started to make his way towards the door and I stood up.
Apparently he didn't see me moving right behind him. As he went to open the door I slammed it closed again, placing my hand on the door next to his hair, towering behind him.
"G-Grimmjow? What are you doing?" Ichigo turned around and nearly jumped a foot in the air when he saw me so close.
"Nothin'," I practically purred. "I just think it's a bit rude to leave a guest all alone," I bent down towards his ear, breath fanning over it as I spoke, and I felt him shiver. Hmm, curious... Deciding to run with it, I continued. "Maybe ya should stay up here and we can spend some quality time together," I bit the outer shell of his ear and he shivered again.
I was really starting to doubt that this kid was straight with all these reactions. Just as I was about to test it and possibly prove that he was lying, he started squirming beneath me. Hmm, maybe he was straight. Still too early to tell, though. He tried to escape and get past the side that my arm wasn't blocking him in with, but I quickly slammed my other hand against the door, effectively cutting off all of his escape routes.
"Aww, Ichi, ya really dislike me tha' much?" I leaned in closer and I could tell that the doorknob must be digging into his back by now by how far back he was.
"G-Grimmjow. You really need t-to move," I could tell he was trying to sound tough, but the effect was ruined by his stuttering. How cute and stubborn.
"What if I don't want to, hmm?" I leaned in even closer, our lips practically touching since he couldn't back away any further.
"S-stop," he put his hands on my chest and pushed, surprising me by actually forcing me back a little. Seems he was stronger than he looked.
"Ichigo," I said in a lifeless tone and stopped moving, looking down and hiding my expression, hoping that he would get worried.
I could hear the ticking of the clock somewhere behind us and for the first time I could remember, I was afraid that my plan wouldn't work and he would just walk away and leave.
"Grimmjow, what's wrong?" I couldn't help but smile at my victory. "Did something happen?"
I looked up to see him looking at me, his brown eyes displaying concern for my well being. Before he could stop me, I grabbed his chin and leaned down, pressing my lips to his. It wasn't half a second later that he started pushing against me again, but I was prepared this time and just pushed back, not moving either of us an inch. Right when I was about to deepen the kiss, I saw stars and an unbelievable pain blossomed in my prized possessions. I groaned in pain and sank to the floor, trying to fight off the unyielding burning.
After forcing myself to ignore the unpleasant feeling, I growled and stood up making my way back over to the berry whose smirk dropped and was replaced by fear. I could work with fear and I started stalking towards him from where I had rolled to and stood up from, but somewhere in between his fear was forgotten in return for... anger? Ah, crap. This is not fucking good.
"What the hell you asshole? !Who the fuck do you think you are? !What the fuck do you think your doing? !" He was steaming by this point and I unconsciously backed up a few steps. He looked pissed to high heaven and I wasn't getting anywhere near those legs. Just from one kick, I could tell that those legs were lethal.
"Woah! Calm down there, Strawberry," his face flushed and I could see the fire in his eyes blaze twice as bright.
"What. The. Fuck. Did. You. Just. Call. Me?" he pronounced every syllable clearly and precisely, not missing a beat.
Smirking I repeated myself, eager for the challenge. "Strawberry," I regretted it right after I had said it when he clearly became angrier.
"Leave," I stared at him like he had lost his mind. No way in hell was I leaving after that kiss! Right as I was about to say it, he interrupted me again. "NOW!" Ichigo wasn't asking. He had snarled the word with enough venom to kill a snake and I was quickly running out the door. Though, mind you, I wasn't leaving until everyone else left, too.
I decided that I wanted to say goodbye to the orangette before I left, but I knew he needed time to cool down. I remembered that the bathroom was downstairs, so I limped down the stairs, making my way towards it. I heard a door being slammed behind me. Yup, Ichigo was livid.
Shiro's POV
I knew something was going to happen. I fucking knew it! Right when I was about to excuse myself from the two bickering idiots, I heard yelling and a door slamming upstairs. The two friends were still in a heated argument and didn't appear to have heard it, so I tip-toed away. I saw blue hair disappear into what I believe was the restroom and I was right at the foot of the stairs. I sprinted up, taking two at a time and quickly found myself in front of Ichigo's room. I raised my hand to knock when I heard crying coming from inside.
I don't think twice. Running purely on instinct, I force the door open, nearly ripping it off it's hinges. I scan the room and find a ball with sunset orange hair in the corner of the room on the bed. I make my way over, not bothering to shut the door behind me, and sit next to him. The orangette seems to only notice someone else is in the room with him when he feels the bed dip next to him. I'm hurt and, oddly, furious when he whimpers and curls in on himself even more, his knuckles turning white from gripping his knees too hard.
"Go a-way. I don't want t-o talk to anyon-e," Ichigo managed to whisper in between his sobs and hiccups.
I didn't understand any of the emotions I felt coursing through me or why they were present. Worry and concern turned my blood to ice, rage and violence turned my blood to liquid fire coursing through me, all at once. I wanted to find who did this and tear them apart, limb from limb, and I was positive that bastard Grimmjow was the reason behind Ichigo's meltdown. I wanted to destroy him. I NEEDED to destroy him, but for some reason the only think I could do at that moment in time was pull the orangette into the safety of my arms.
Right as I gave in, and did pull him to me, I felt him tense up and I knew he would start fighting back in a moment if I didn't do something to stop him. I started rubbing up and down his back.
"Shh, Ichi, shh. Ya don't need ta' cry. I'm here. I won't do anything. Shh, shh. Just calm down. Shh," I mumbled softly and I felt him relax and start to take deep breaths, calming himself down from his emotional high.
Within minutes he was one step away from being out like a light, exhausted from too much in such a short time. I let him lay down and moved off the bed, turning to walk away and leave, but I felt something grab my wrist. I followed the arm up and saw Ichigo looking at me under hooded eyes.
"Shiro, will you stay till I fall asleep?" He yawned loudly after managing to force the words out.
Smiling, I responded. "Sure, just fall asleep. I'll stay until ya do," he smiled and closed his eyes, falling asleep in seconds.
What neither of us saw was the head of sky blue watching us the whole time, not hearing a word, just observing...
Grimmjow's POV
What the fuck? !Who the hell does that albino bastard think he is, destroying everything I just worked for? ! Now Ichigo thinks I'M the bad guy here. Fuck! And why does MY berry let Shiro hold him when he won't let me? !I stormed down the stairs, pissed way the fuck off. I completely ignore the two glances my direction and march out the front door. I furiously stab the unlock button and throw myself into the driver's seat, slamming the door.
Fine, if this is how it's going to be, then so be it. It wouldn't make any difference at all to me. I WILL get that berry and I WILL make him mine, no white ass fucker is going to get in my way, no way in hell! If it's a challenge he wants, then it's a challenge that I'll GLADLY accept with arms wide open. Oh, yes. Let the games begin.
Shiro's POV
As I gingerly opened the door to my car and sat down I barely noticed the door shutting and the almost inaudible click when the door closed. I was too fucking confused! What the hell was that? !By the time I realized and finally really understood what had happened, I was already shutting the door to Ichigo's room, the orangette fast asleep inside! Why the tell did I do all that shit? !
I finally realized that I couldn't lie to myself any longer, not after that. I wanted Ichigo to feel safe around me. I wanted him to relax when he was around me and feel comfortable, not afraid and nervous. Alright, I'll admit it. Maybe I like the boy a LITTLE bit more than just a friend. Maybe just a BIT more. That's it. It stops there. I can't develop any deeper feelings for him! I won't allow myself.
A/N Well... this is one freaking LONG chapter. My longest by far, 5,136 words! Woohoo! Anyways, tomorrow I'll start writing another chapter and hope to get it out! Updates should be must more consistent since school and stuff is quieting down since one test is over. Don't know when next state tests are, but updates will be few a dozen then, sadly. I want to apologize for this VERY late update. I'm sorry D: Hope you enjoyed the chapter though! And I feel so stupid... I finally changed my e-mail to my current one and now I can see when people review and comment. I was like... O.O So THAT'S how you know! Dur. Anyways... Review for me please! The more reviews I have the faster I feel I need to get the next chapter out!