Another chapter for you guys. I've decided to upload two chapters this time around because I'm in a pretty happy mood; I just finished watching Rock Musical Bleach Live Bankai Show 002. Made me smile...

I wonder if you all will be surprised by the two new members of the 'Ichigang'? Either way, I hope you all enjoy it.

Lastly, thank you for the reviews; I enjoy reading them every time a new one pops up in my inbox.

On with the chapter!

Recap:

'So much for a heroic death,' he thought sarcastically. 'At least I know where I'm going…'

And then everything stopped completely as a hand grabbed onto his wrist and yanked him forward. Just like that, time resumed its normal speed and Ichigo silently berated himself for his foolishness and selfish thoughts. Tracing the hand on his wrist back to its owner, he fully intended to thank the stranger but stopped when he saw just who was holding onto his hand.

"I-It's you!"

"You piece of shit. Are you trying to get yourself killed," the man snarled in annoyance as he tossed the Shinigami towards the end of the crosswalk.

"Shut the fuck up you asshole. I didn't need your help," Ichigo growled. "What the hell are you doing here anyway? Did Urahara let you out to play for once?"

"Ha! The nutty professor? He knocked himself out with that weak sake of his," the other male barked in laughter. "Besides, I needed some fresh air; Ulquiorra and that damn red haired kid were annoying the fuck out of me."

Ichigo rolled his eyes, already accustomed to the taller male's constant bitching about his house mates.

"Cut the crap Grimmjow, what are you doing out here? If other Shinigami catch a whiff of you, you'll be about as crappy looking as the day we found you two."

The Gods always managed to find a way to bring the oddest people out of the wood works and into his life. Again. About five months after the war ended, Urahara recruited the Ichigang, Toshiro, Matsumoto, and Renji to retrieve two physical anomalies that were originating in Hueco Mundo.

After some reluctance, the small eight man group departed for the hollow's domain and were subsequently slapped silly at the sight of a living, breathing Grimmjow carrying a half-materialized Ulquiorra on his back. Furthermore, if it weren't for Orihime's angry cries, Ichigo, Rukia, and the other Shinigami would have attacked the two weary Espadas. Making all of them promise to 'play nice' and 'get along', Inoue made quick work of the teal haired man's major scars and open wounds with her Shun Shun Rika. Within ten minutes, his body was as seamless as the day they met. Not waiting to be thanked, she moved over to her former prison guard and with a tearful smile and readied herself for a long healing session.

While the two strange friends talked to each other in low voices, Grimmjow and the others watched on in awkward silence. At some point Ichigo got impatient and asked how it was the two of them were still alive. Initially, the former Numero Seis Espada was dead set against talking to the idiotic strawberry but a stern look from Orihime and her patient forced his hand.

Apparently, after Ichigo had left with Unohana, Grimmjow arrived to the base of the tower all bloody and cross eyed with fatigue. But before he could pass out, he felt a strong presence approach him and brush itself against his reiatsu. Out of sheer curiosity, he reached out with a sand covered hand and was shocked to feel something beneath his fingers. After getting a good grip on the object, he yanked it out from some sort of invisible rip in the dimension.

He went on to describe how the Numero Quatro Espada's hand, arm, head, and chest began to materialize out of thin air. Eventually half of his other arm and the rest of his torso regenerated themselves but the 'miracle' stopped there. Grimmjow was more than happy to leave the bastard where he found him but something in his head told him otherwise. So after some inner fights and vulgar grumbling, he wrapped the unconscious Espada in what was left of his jacket and went in search of food and shelter.

Once Orihime had finished her treatment, the Ichigang informed the two Espadas that they were sent by Kisuke to bring them back to his shop for further investigation. Although they received the news rather well, the odd pair went off by themselves to discuss it. When they finally returned they put forth only two requests: They were not to be carted off to Soul Society and they wanted gigais.

Within an hour, the retrieval squad plus two returned to the shop's 'basement'. The former soldiers' requests were met with ease and soon they were outfitted with their own gigais, customized to suppress their spiritual pressure to human levels to keep their presence hidden, much like Rukia's. It took hours of persuading (or fighting and yelling) to convince the other Shinigami to allow the two refugees to be left in Urahara and Yoruichi's care, but in the end the strict bunch gave in (namely Hitsugaya, Rukia, and Renji).

In exchange for keeping their secret, the two of them were asked to seal their swords inside special containment units and could only use them for supervised sparring sessions along with random house checks conducted by Captain Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Matsumoto. They were also expected to wear a tracking bracelet that also acted as distress beacon if they ran into trouble. As for boarding compensation, they would help the blonde shop owner in testing out his latest inventions, take care of the storefront, and complete household chores. At Ulquiorra's quiet request, the two were enrolled at Kurosaki's high school, much to Ichigo's and Grimmjow's chagrin.

And that's how they lived for the past four years, yet another two members of the, already discombobulating, Urahara Shoten family.

"Apparently the man upstairs wanted me to save your sorry ass," the teal haired man snapped. "Just what the hell were you thinking anyway?"

"Sure. Whatever. See you later, asshole."

Ichigo pushed past the taller male, keen on getting back to his warm apartment. He wasn't really surprised to see Grimmjow follow him but being smashed into a nearby brick wall was new. The people around them whispered and edged away from the rough looking pair, wary of the killer intent emanating from them.

"Look, you scrawny ass bitch, if you're gonna go and get yourself killed, you might as well do it with a sword in your hand and a blade sticking out of your chest," Grimmjow half shouted, half growled.

"Piss off you damn panther! I don't need you telling me what I already know," Kurosaki yelled, clawing at the other's arm. "Just get the hell offa' me!"

Light blue eyes narrowed dangerously. Snorting loudly, the cat-eyed man released the upset Shinigami with a knowing grin.

"This is about that jail bait boyfriend of yours, isn't it?"

"Fuck off."

"Bitch."

"Jerk."

The two started walking down the sidewalk together exchanging 'friendly' shoulder punches and quicker insults. In their wake was a crowd of slack jawed civilians unsure of what they just witnessed.

"Is Ulquiorra over that cold of his," Ichigo asked when they reached another four way intersection. "Last time I saw him he was paler than his normal skin color."

"Yeah, but now he's griping about how 'overbearing' I am, or some shit," Jaegerjaquez scoffed. "Honestly, aren't we supposed to take care of each other? I don't even know why I'm with the freak."

Kurosaki rolled his eyes as he switched songs on his music player.

"Grimm, even Urahara said you were smothering the guy with your bedside manners. You were acting like he contracted an incurable disease or something," he muttered humorously. "I swear it was downright, sickeningly sweet the way you took care of him."

A barely visible blush spread across the other male's cheeks at the comment.

"Yeah, yeah, shut the hell up, all right? And I didn't forget about earlier, either," the teal haired man mumbled. "I haven't seen the kid 'round here the past couple of months. What'd you do? Repel him with that ugly face of yours?"

"Even if I wanted to talk about it, what makes you think I would confide in you," he asked as he checked both sides of the street for oncoming traffic before crossing.

"Because I'm a caring soul who wants to spread love, joy, and kittens to whole damn world," Grimm replied sarcastically.

"You're breaking my heart, you really are."

The snow began falling down in copious amounts as the pair continued their trek to the college student's apartment. They had just entered a more comfortable silence when Jaegerjaquez punched the substitute in the shoulder to grab his attention.

"You really are an immature prick, you know that," the Shinigami grumbled, smacking the other upside the head.

"Just because we tried to kill each other in the past," he spoke in a gruff voice, ignoring the jibe and the whack to his skull, "doesn't mean we can't be kinda friendly now."

"…Yeah I know," Kurosaki replied quietly.

An unsaid understanding was exchanged as they walked. A grudging friendship had been formed long ago despite their differences.

"When are you gonna answer my question?"

"I don't want to talk about it, Grimmjow. Just leave it alone."

"Don't give me that crap, Kurosaki," he barked, grabbing Ichigo by his jacket. "I'll 'leave it alone' when you tell me what happened."

"It doesn't concern you, so stop acting like you care about what's going on between me and Toshiro!"

"Maybe I would if you would quit going around in circles," the taller man shot back. "Seriously, what happened between you and that icicle? One minute I walk in on you two being lovey-dovey on the kitchen counter and the next both of you have fallen off the face of the earth."

"Why do you care anyway," Kurosaki asked angrily, frustrated with the man and trying to pull his jacket out of the other's grip. "The two of you barely talked to each other when you were in the same room. What does it matter if we haven't been up and around?"

By now they were outside the lobby of Ichigo's apartment complex. His breath was coming out in fast puffs while Grimmjow was fixing him with a pity-filled glare. Icy blue clashed with heated brown for a few seconds until the taller of the two broke away to look out at the passing cars.

"Because believe it or not, he's Ulquiorra's friend and he's concerned," Grimm admitted quietly.

"What…?"

"The two of them got to talking a month before you started dating and they hit it off. Kid always stops by the shop to talk with him when he comes to the human world and before he heads back," he paused before he spoke again. "Four months ago he didn't come by when he left and he hasn't been back since."

"But-"

Out of nowhere, the violent man punched Ichigo square in the jaw, a deadly glint in his blue eyes.

"I may not have deep conversations with the kid, but Ulquiorra has a soft spot for him. Plus, he enjoys the intellectual conversation, or some shit like that," he mentioned with a rough smile. "Your other friends have been to the shop, too, complaining about how bitchy you've been acting."

Kurosaki stared at his friend in disbelief and barely concealed anger.

"You two had better fix whatever bad blood you got between you because it sure ain't helping the rest of us."

And with that, Grimmjow flicked his hand to wave goodbye before Ichigo could say anything or take a swing at him. Within a matter of seconds, the teal haired Espada was mixed in with the crowd. Kurosaki watched him go, shaking his head at this newfound information as he wiped the blood from his mouth. Staring up into the sky once more, a downhearted aura came over him. Memories of their conversations flashed through his mind, but not once did his estranged boyfriend ever mention anything personal or ask anything that went beyond pleasant conversation or simple curiosity.

"I guess I don't have the privilege to ask you those types of things anymore...Do I, Toshiro?"

Sneak Peek for the next chapter:

"I don't know about 'comedic genius,'" he commented lightly. "But it's better than being called a 'hot-headed pain in the ass.'"

"I thought of it as being a term of endearment."