"So…what's with the cat?" Fuji asked, a girl on each arm already. Both were little, cute petite girls. Grimmjow snorted, his own arm candy an older, shapely woman only a few inches shorter than him.

"Don't worry about it," he said, taking a drag from his cigarette. "Just some stray following me around."

Ichigo glared, and Grimmjow grinned.

"… you ain't… going crazy, right?" Fuji asked. Grimmjow looked at him.

"What, I'm not already there?" he asked. Fuji roared with laughter, as well as most of his followers.

"I 'spose ya got a point there," the big man said, grinning as he headed into a nearby club. He had several on his circuit; this one was one of the tamer ones.

"Starting off slow tonight?" Grimmjow asked.

"Is slow such a bad thing?" the woman on his arm asked, tracing a finger down his chest. Grimmjow snorted.

"Depends on if it's worth it," he replied, smirking. From behind them, Ichigo rolled his eyes. Avoiding the bouncer, the tabby threaded through the throngs of people, following Grimmjow's group.

"Man, ever since your ads got popular, we can get in anywhere," Fuji said. Then he reached over to punch Grimmjow on the shoulder. "Guess chopping off all that ridiculous hair was a blessing in disguise!"

"My hair was ridiculous?" the former Espada asked as they sat down. One of the guys called for drinks, and Fuji grinned.

"Guess you have a point there…" he said. "But I'm surprised; you weren't kidding when you said it's naturally blue."

"Why would I lie about something dumb like that…?" he asked, grinning as the drinks arrived. He cast a quick glance around, spying Ichigo under the table. Ok, so the kid was alright.

"Worried about your stray?" Fuji asked. Grimmjow snorted, snaking an arm around his date's waist.

"Why would I be worried about some scrawny cat when I've got company like this?" he asked, grabbing a drink as he did. Fuji grinned, holding up his glass in a toast.

"To hot bitches and awesome fights!" he said, his followers cheering in response. Grimmjow grinned, taking a drink. He was actually glad for that curse right about now; it meant he could live a life like this, and it was his kind of life.

As the night wore on, Fuji got drunk as usual. Grimmjow more than matched him, but he managed to say something to piss off his date. It got him a slap, but another girl soon took her place. They travelled to a few different bars as they got kicked out of the ones before, and it took several hours before Grimmjow realized he'd lost track of his tagalong. Leaving behind another girl, he started looking around.

"Hey, you guys seen a stray cat?" he asked some of Fuji's gang. The guys snorted.

"Yeah, that little orange thing? Some of the guys thought it would be funny to get it drunk," one of them said, pointing to a corner. Ichigo was there, wobbling and glaring around blearily. Grimmjow sighed, looking at his watch.

"… dammit," he said under his breath. He pushed past the guys, picking up the protesting tabby by the scruff and heading outside. "Hey, Fuji, I'm done for the night!"

"Huh…? Uh, yeah, see ya later!" the big man replied, preoccupied with his date. Grimmjow rolled his eyes, continuing out. He went around the back, into a deserted alleyway. Just as he'd thought, it was only a matter of minutes after he set Ichigo down that the teen changed back into a human. Ichigo stumbled, catching himself on the wall.

"Sum… grea friens ya got there…" he muttered, speech slurred. It was obviously an effort, and Grimmjow groaned, slapping a hand over his eyes. He couldn't just send the kid home like this…! With a sighed, he took a step forward.

"Hey, ya got your cell on you?" he asked. Ichigo tried to glare at him, but his eyes were unfocused.

"Of cour... course I do -hic-…" he said, fumbling at the pocket of his jeans. Grimmjow sighed, taking another step forward and retrieving it for the drunken teen. "H-hey!"

"Shut up, you're drunk," Grimmjow said, taking out the phone. He flicked through the contacts, finding Issin's number under 'Goat-face'. Thinking a moment, the Arrancar sent the man a text saying something had come up and Ichigo was staying with a friend tonight. Then, looking at the barely conscious teen, he sighed and tucked the phone his own pocket. Carefully, he wrapped and arm around the teen's waist.

"Wha're ya-hic- doin'?" Ichigo asked, struggling weakly. Grimmjow rolled his eyes, pulling the teen's arm over his shoulders.

"Lean on me," he said. "You're too drunk to walk straight."

"You 'ad… mor'n -hic-.." Ichigo started, but as he took a few steps forward, he finally succumbed and lost consciousness. As his body turned into a dead weight, Grimmjow growled in frustration. Thinking a few minutes, he finally sighed. He took out his phone, and texted Fuji. The big came out after a few minutes.

"Huh? Where'd the kid come from?" he asked, scratching his head. Grimmjow sighed.

"Don't worry about it, just help me out here," he snapped. Fuji snorted, walking over and helping move Ichigo onto Grimmjow back.

"Hey, you're in a bad mood," Fuji said. "That's weird, were you in a bad mood before?"

"Blame the kid," Grimmjow said. "Thanks, you can go back to your date now."

"Sure you don't need more help…?"

"Absolutely, now fuck off."

"Touchy…" Fuji said, but returned to the club anyways. Grimmjow continued down the street, cursing under his breath as he headed back to his apartment. He told off the people that jeered at him, until word spread that the infamous Devil Cat was in a bad mood and they started avoiding him instead. When he was almost home, the Arrancar's phone went off. Swearing violently, he leaned forward so that the obliviously slumbering teen didn't slip off as he pulled it out and answered.

"Who the fuck is it and what do you want?"

"Is that how you always answer the phone?"

Grimmjow paused. He vaguely recognized the voice, but couldn't place it.

"… who is this?"

"Kurosaki Isshin."

"… how the fuck did you get this number?"

"Urahara."

Grimmjow swore. Of course that guy knew his number. He didn't know how he knew, but it still wasn't surprising.

"So what do you want?" Grimmjow asked, awkwardly walking up the fire escape. He never used any other entrance.

"Need a hand?" Kay, out smoking again, called from above. Grimmjow glared up at him, not bothering to respond.

"Were you the one who sent the text from Ichigo's phone? Rukia said he was watching you tonight."

"…what makes you think it was me?" he asked, still struggling.

"Elevator would be easier, you know," Kay said, surprising Grimmjow by pulling Ichigo off his back. Grimmjow flipped him off. The German merely rolled his eyes.

"Well, if it were Ichigo, he wouldn't have said anything," Isshin said. "And if it were one of his friends, they would have given their name."

Grimmjow swore again, opening his window and climbing inside before turning back to take Ichigo from Kay. He nodded to the German as the man lithely swung back up to his own floor. Laying the teen out on his futon, he gave him a quick look over before shutting the window.

"Fine, so it was me. What about it?" he asked, going into the main apartment.

"What happened?" Isshin asked. Grimmjow sighed, heading into the bathroom and then the medicine cabinet.

"Well, he tagged along while me'n a friend went to some bars and clubs, so some of the guys thought it would be funny to get him drunk. You know, drunk animals and shit," he said, taking out the asprin and shutting the cabinet again. He headed to the kitchenette next, grabbing a glass and filling it with water.

"Drunk? You know, if you'd called, I would have come and get him…"

"Che, it's fine," Grimmjow said, heading back to his room. He set the water and asprin next to the wall near the futon.

"Should I really be trusting you…?"

"Why not? I'm a respectable member of society now, after all," Grimmjow said, walking out again. He knocked on one of the doors, to be met with a glaring chick barely higher than his waist. He mouthed paper, pantomiming writing. The chick rolled her eyes, then held up a finger.

"Right, because all respectable members of society go out clubbing," Isshin said. Grimmjow could hear him rolling his eyes.

"Whatever. You haven't seen me in the news, have you?" Grimmjow said, nodding to the chick as she handed him a few sheets of loose leaf paper and a pen. Heading back to his room, he didn't notice her staring after him with an arched brow.

"Well, I guess I can give you the benefit of the doubt. But if I find out something's happened to him-"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Grimmjow said, hanging up as he walked back into his room. Pocketing his phone, he used the wall to scrawl a quick note.

"What with the kid?"

Grimmjow set the note by the water and asprin, then walked to the door, where the chick stood with crossed arms.

"None of your business," he said, shutting the door in her face.

With a sigh he sat down, letting the change rippled through him. With a growl, he stalked over to curl up by the items he'd left. He cast a glance at teen, who was still dead asleep, then sighed and went to sleep himself.

When Ichigo woke up, it was to a pounding head and light in his eyes. He groaned, forcing himself to sit up. He looked groggily around the room, squinting at the light. Finally, his eyes settled on the tortoiseshell sleeping nearby. Half crawling over, he noticed the water and asprin. He took two as he read the note.

Hey, prissy paws, nice job getting stupid drunk. Had to carry you all the way here myself, you know? This is my apartment, by the way, so you better be grateful. You can leave by the fire escape, but if you really have to, going through the apartment's fine too, I guess. You might run into my roommates, though, so just use the fire escape. Seriously.

Ichigo jumped at a knock on the door. When it repeated, he cautiously got up and answered. He blinked at the diminutive girl in front of him.

"Hey, how old are you, kid?" she asked. She looked about twelve. He blinked some more.

"We didn't do anything," he said.

"Oh really?" the chick said, crossing her arms. Ichigo glared.

"Yeah, really," he said. "Besides, who would want to do anything with a guy like that?"

"… well said," the chick said, turning. "Want breakfast?"

"Uh… I…"

"Nevermind, just come eat some, middle schooler," she said. Ichigo glared, trailing behind her.

"I'm in high school, you know," he said. "Besides, you're the one that looks like a middle schooler."

"I'm a college student!" the chick said, rounding on him. "Mutou Kumiko, and don't forget it!"

"What the hell, Kumiko? It's too early to be so loud…" Fuji said, stumbling into the common area.

"If weren't such a lush it wouldn't matter!" the chick replied, turning to the kitchenette. There was a table set for three, and she and Fuji took two of the seats. "Besides, it's already ten!"

"Too early…" Fuji said, digging in. After a few moments, the big man noticed Ichigo. "Oh, hey! You're the kid from last night!"

"Uh… yeah, I guess," Ichigo said, sitting at the third spot awkwardly. Kumiko snorted.

"Well, even though that guy never comes up until after dark, I figured you might be hungry," she said. "So dig in already."

"Sure… thanks," Ichigo said, trying some of the food. He blinked in surprise. It was really good.

"… didn't know Grimm was into guys…" Fuji said, chewing thoughtfully. Ichigo chocked.

"He says they didn't do anything," Kumiko said while he recovered.

"Really? Grimm carried him piggyback and everything; never seen him being so nice to someone," Fuji said. Ichigo glared, hating the way his face heated up.

"We didn't do anything," he said through clenched teeth. Kumiko smirked.

"Isn't that a bit defensive, middle schooler?"

"I already told you I'm in high school," Ichigo said, rising. "Thanks for the food; I'm leaving."

"Hey, you really okay on your own, kid?" Fuji asked, standing up.

"I'm fine, thanks," Ichigo said, heading out. Fuji and Kumiko shared a look.

"Well, maybe, but since you and Grimm seem to be friends," Fuji said, throwing an arm over Ichigo's shoulders. "I can at least make sure you get to the residential district alright, right?"

"… fine," Ichigo said, brushing the big man off. As they made it through the building and onto the street, Fuji kept giving him odd glances. "We really didn't do anything."

"Then how'd you guys meet?" Fuji asked.

"How does that guy meet anyone?" Ichigo replied. Fuji laughed.

"What, are you saying you two fought?"

"Yeah, exactly."

"… you're kidding. A scrawny thing like you?" Fuji asked, laughing.

"I'm stronger than I look," Ichigo replied flatly.

"Whatever you say, kid…" Fuji said. Ichigo sighed, rolling his eyes. It wasn't the first time he'd been underestimated, and frankly, he didn't care.

"Kurosaki!"

Fuji and Ichigo stopped, and the teen looked over as some punks walked up.

"What're you doing on my territory, punk?" some stupid looking guy demanded. Ichigo looked at him a few moments.

"… do I know you?" he asked. The group got angry then.

"I'll make you pay for not remembering my face after you beat me up, punk!" the ringleader said, throwing a punch. Fuji blinked in surprise as Ichigo's punch sent the guy flying across the pavement.

"Must not have been a very good fight, then," Ichigo said, turning and walking off. Fuji looked at the punks that rushed to their ringleader's side, then started laughing as he caught up with Ichigo.

"Wow, guess you are stronger than you look," he said. Ichigo shrugged. Then he flinched in surprise as Fuji swung an arm over his shoulders again, holding out a hand to shake.

"I'm Fuji, by the way," he said. Ichigo gave him a questioning look, then sighed through his nose and smiled.

"Ichigo," the teen said, shaking.

"And, if you ever need help finding Grimm, feel free to contact me!" Fuji said. Ichigo snorted.

"Why would I want to?" he asked, slipping out again. Fuji laughed.

"You never know," he said, turning. "Grimm sure seems to like you, though!"

"Yeah, right," Ichigo said, waving as the big man parted ways. Turning ahead, he collected his bearings to head in the direction of home. After a couple of minutes, he stopped. Then, scratching the back of his head and sighing, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick message.

Thanks.

He stopped a moment, then smirked, adding more.

Thanks, Grimmkitty.

Then, pocketing his phone, he started whistling on his way back.

In Heuco Mundo, a certain silver haired Arrancar chick pouted as she looked into a ball of light in her hands. She sighed dramatically.

"This is taking too loooong!" she said, flopping backwards. Then she sat up again, smiling. "Guess I'll just have to spice things up a bit, then…"

"You aren't getting my help," another Arrancar, this one male and hidden in shadows, said. The chick smiled.

"Sure I am, if you want me to grant your wish," she said. The other Arrancar sighed.

"Very well," he said. "What do you want me to do?"

"Well, you see…"