Part 10

Everyone can only stare in complete shock, the twins shouting and yelling and carrying on as though they live off aggression between each other. It took Ichigo half a heartbeat to shake his stupor, throwing a punch his older twin was obviously waiting for. Grimmjow is sorely tempted to throw the other out, yet refrains from it… it's not like he's not used to such roughhousing and rambunctious behavior. After all, he grew up with Nell.

"Get out!" Ichigo snaps. "Get out right now!"

"But I was worried about ya, baby bro," Shiro pouts. "Can't I come see my little twin at work? Don't ya have a uniform… Can I see it?"

"No!" Ichigo yells with a crimson blush. "You most certainly can not see my uniform! Now leave!"

"Awe, that blush means it's skimpy," Shiro grins insanely. "Booty shorts, or a fuckin' short skirt? Are there frills? He doesn' try an fuck ya, does he? I won' be havin' that, Ichi. If he ain't a gentleman, I'm gonna beat the shit outta him."

"Oh my god, you're more embarrassing than our parents!" Ichigo cries out while pulling at his orange locks.

"… I try," the more pale copy says happily. "Ya gonna introduce me ta yer friends?"

"No, I'm gonna kick you out! How'd you even find me?"

"Apparently, everyone knows where ta find 'the Sexta's new bitch'," he scoffs humorlessly. "I gotta admit, for a bit I was scared ya got yerself inta a shady business. I mean, I'm all fer a good whore… but the minute I hear that's what yer doin', ya better pray ya can run faster than me. There's no reason ya should be a personal slut fer some lowlife gangster, yer better than that. I mean… need I remind ya what happened last time ya did that?"

"… No," Ichigo mutters while looking away. "You don't have to remind me."

"How is ol' Trae? Haven't seen him since I put him in the hospital a couple years ago. I do hope he didn't take it too personal."

Ichigo gives up, throwing his hands in the air in surrender as he marches off to his room and slams the door shut. Grimmjow growls as Shiro makes himself at home, shutting the door and taking a perch on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. Pantera, sensing his anger, sleeks around the corner and out of the kitchen. She's growling, the hair on the back of her neck raised and she warns the other with a hiss… Shiro is on top of the breakfast bar in no time.

"Fuckin' hell!" he shouts. "Who the fuck keeps a panther as a pet!"

"It's Ichigo's," Grimmjow mutters. "I bought her for him… to keep him safe while I'm gone."

"Are you fuckin' crazy! That bloodthirsty piece of 'search and destroy' can tear him apart without a thought!"

'I resent that remark, cub!' Pantera hisses.

"It fuckin' talks!"

"Yes, my invention is working quite well," Szayel pipes in happily. "Such a good girl, proving my genius right one more time."

"Why the fuck would ya make it talk!"

"It helps Ichigo out," Grimmjow shrugs. "It isn't easy for him to guess what a panther is thinking."

"No fucking joke!" Shiro snarls. "That's cause he's too nice ta think it's just sizin' him up fer dinner!"

'I dislike this loudmouthed mammal, my alpha,' Pantera growls lowly. 'Please allow me to render his spine from his back.'

"Nah, he's Ichi's problem," Grimmjow waves off uncaringly. "Let him deal with his own pests."

Shiro notes that the others are sparing the teal haired male a strange glance, figuring that Grimmjow doesn't talk this way about Ichigo often… if ever. Frowning deeply, his golden eyes sharpen as he watches the scene unfold. Nelliel is the first to speak up, Shiro a forgotten wisp of a memory now that Grimmjow has caught their interest with his uncharacteristic attitude.

"Is something wrong, Grimmy?" she wonders. "I mean, you're usually so attentive to Ichigo… Well… more so than with anyone else."

"It's nothing," he snaps. "Just drop it."

"Oh, now we have to know," Nnoitra grins maddeningly. "Oi! Gin, hold him down and I'll start tickling!"

"That is juvenile," Ulquiorra mutters.

"I agree," Szayel smirks arrogantly. "We could just use the truth serum I keep in my bag, it'll knock him out and have him spilling everything from the past three days!"

'Are you jealous of that other alpha?' Pantera wonders as she licks her paw. 'You shouldn't be. He's not my cub's type.'

"Not now, Pantera!"

She huffs, yet says no more. They know she's upset by the way she lays her ears back, though only Szayel isn't surprised she doesn't snap back. He knew all along she would take to Grimmjow grandly, as his personality has always been far too domineering for his own good. Shiro slowly slides down to the stool he vacated upon seeing the panther, riveted to the conversation.

"I can't believe my baby brother is jealous!" Nell squeals. "Oh my god, this is like… a monumental moment! It means you're finally growing up!"

"It's okay, Nell," Hallibel murmurs as she holds her. "No need to cry."

"I'm just… so… happy!" she sobs. "My little Grimmy, all grown up! It feels like just yesterday I was changing his diaper."

"No way is he jealous!" Nnoitra scoffs. "Grimm's got nothing to be jealous about, men and women would kill to be fucked by him!"

"Not Ichi," Gin smiles widely and knowingly as he sits beside Shiro. "Right, Kaishi? Little Ichi's a keeper, not a toy."

"I'd hate like hell ta see ya try an use him fer a toy now-a-days," Shiro snorts. "Last guy that even mentioned it was given a nice weekend in critical care."

"Feisty, eh?" the silver haired male chuckles as he leans closer. "What about you? Ya feisty, too?"

"Hmm," Shiro almost purrs as his manic grins stretches along his lips. "Honey, I'm ta die fer."

"Whoa! Gin, don't even think it!" Grimmjow snaps. "That's Ichi's older brother, he'd be pissed to high heaven if you fuck around with him!"

"Ah, but he ain't my problem," the other snickers. "You have ta deal wit his little hissy fits and ya handle him just fine. Besides, it's Kaishi's choice ta fuck around or not, right, Kai?"

"Yer absolutely right," Shiro smiles wickedly. "And who might ya be?"

"Gin Ichimaru," the fox-like male answers. "And yer my new interest."

'Oh brother,' Pantera sighs as she rolls her icy eyes. 'If an alpha came up to me and acted like that, I'd tear his fur out in a cat fight before leaving him to bleed to death.'

"You're such a beautiful feline, you know that?" Grimmjow grins.

'Yes! Szayel tells me all the time!'

"Is anyone the least bit interested in whom Grimmjow is jealous of?" Szayel wonders curiously as he tries to bring the conversation around once more. "I, for one, would love to know."

"… I saw Ichigo talking very familiarly with a Visored," he sighs in defeat.

"Which one!" Stark asks from the arm chair.

Stark is just coming into the conversation, having just woken when Pantera scared Shiro. He's more of an analytic person, his eyes sharp and knowing as he stares down those around him. He doesn't make them uncomfortable, yet he can read them like a book in only a few seconds. He was Aizen's sniper, a one-shot killer with wavy brown locks that hang to his shoulders and a tall lithe frame. When he visits Grimmjow, he's content to sleep out the visit on the couch or armchair… he only comes when Hallibel and Nelliel both catch him in a unified puppy pout. Since Lilinette chose to stay the week with a friend, he had no distraction from keeping the sinister duo away.

"I saw him with Kensei."

"Ouch," Nnoitra mutters. "That one's fucking hot, no wonder your jealous."

"Kensei?" Shiro wonders. "My tattoo artist? He told me Ichi was here, but… he's a Visored? Damn… ya think ya know a person."

"How well does he know you and Ichi?" Hallibel frowns.

"Well… I've known him for quite a few years now," Shiro pretends to muse. "Went ta the same school an shit. Never would've pegged him fer a gangster, though. I just thought he was really inta his work."

"And Ichigo? How well does he knows him?" Stark asks a bit more interested.

"Oh, he asks Ichi out all the time," Shiro waves off. "They actually did date 'bout three weeks after Trae and Ichi split… Ichi felt bad about not bein' able ta sleep wit him, so he broke it off. Always thought he would've went back when he started loosenin' up, though. He really likes Kensei."

'Liar,' Pantera snarls from her spot on the floor. 'I saw my cub's eyes when he spoke to that alpha… he looked about as interested as an antelope is in a lion's mouth.'

"What do ya know, anyway? Yer jus' a stupid animal!"

Pantera lifts her head indignantly, wrapping her tail around the leg of Shiro's stool and yanking it from beneath him. The more pale copy of Ichigo yelps as he falls over… face first into Gin's lap. The silver haired male's blue eyes open wider than any of his companions have ever seen at the unexpected surprise, his breath hitching as a blushing Shiro quickly moves away only to slip and hit his head on the breakfast bar.

"What the fuck is going on out here?" Ichigo shouts. "If you piss ants broke anything, I'm so not cleaning it! Nnoitra, did you spill shit on the carpet again?"

"Nope! It's not me… this time," the lanky man grins.

"Ichi, yer fuckin' pet is being…"

'I am not a pet,' the panther growls. 'Ichi is my cub, I protect and raise him as our alpha asks. That doesn't make me a lowly pet! Next time you insult me, I shan't be merciful with you!'

"Don't mind him, Pantera, he's stupid," Ichigo waves off. "Grimm, what do you want for dinner? Is everyone staying?"

"Fuck no! get the hell out, people," the teal haired male hisses. "Ichi's gonna make dinner."

"Why can't we stay?" Nelliel snaps with her hands on her hips.

"Cause, he's making dinner for me, not you!"

Shiro is about to snap back at the other, yet a slim hand on his shoulder stops him. Gin is smiling widely, none of his teeth showing and his eyes tightly closed like a fox. He's actually very comfortable around this man, though they've been enemies for a very long time… not that Gin knows that. Shiro's gone through enemy territory thousands of times as 'Kaishi', none the wiser to his and Ichi's little game and sadistic nature at times. Normally, to cure their boredom, Shiro will pester Ichigo to do something less than nice… and Ichigo will manipulate someone around him to do something less than smart. Shiro gets a fucking hoot out of it, yet Ichigo's resistance to his pestering has grown to the point it's a rare occasion the orangette do something so mean solely for his twin's enjoyment. He has absolutely no worries Gin won't realize who he is, not with their track record.

"Come on, gorgeous," Gin states. "Let's go out for dinner. Ya can stay at my place… Grimmy won' let ya stay here."

"Like hell! I haven' been with my baby brother in weeks, I ain't stayin' anywhere unless it's wit him!"

"Out!" Grimmjow growls. "I don't run a fucking hotel!"

'Oh, let him stay,' Pantera purrs as she stalks over to rub her head against Grimmjow's leg. 'I can always use a new chew toy.'

Shiro is behind Gin in seconds, glaring furiously at the white panther. Grimmjow's sadistic grin only proves to tell him that the teal haired male would love nothing more, yet the paler copy of Ichigo is just counting down to the turn of events.

"Well… I guess I'll be staying with Gin then," he sighs dramatically. *Three… Two… One… *

"NO!" Ichigo shouts.

It takes the blink of and eye and Ichigo is diving over to glomp his twin, the two of them falling to the floor with the force of it. Arms and legs wrap around Shiro's body, Ichigo's face buried in his chest as orange locks tickle the other's nose. Shiro grins happily, the more than obvious feeling of his twin's absence immediately disappearing… god he really needs to start keeping his baby twin on a leash, he can't handle these damn withdrawals!

"I thought ya were mad at me," he states smugly.

"Shut up!" Ichigo snaps. "I'll let Pantera smack you if you don't stop teasing me!"

'Please do,' the panther nods eagerly. 'Perhaps I'll knock some manners into him.'

"I hate yer cat, Ichi," Shiro growls.

"I love Pantera, she's awesome," Ichigo huffs. "Besides, it was really nice of Grimmjow to get her. I feel really safe with her around."

"Oh, yeah… I can totally see how'd a person in their right mind could feel safe round a 500 pound carnivore…"

'Excuse me!' Pantera gasps affronted.'500 pounds! Why you little…'

"That's nonsense, darling, you look positively beautiful," Szayel waves off. "He's just jealous Ichigo prefers your protection to his."

'… He'd better watch his insolent mouth,' she snarls as she curls up at Szayel's feet near the couch. 'I have to qualms with making my cub angry by destroying his twin… Ichigo will forgive me eventually.'

"Grimmjow, can Kaishi stay? Please?" Ichigo asks with wide puppy eyes.

Grimmjow's cyan pools widen just a bit at the look, his mouth opening and closing as he searches for a rebuttal and sputters out incomplete words. Finally, once Ichigo starts with a quivering lip, Grimmjow throws his hands in the air defeated.

"Whatever," he growls. "But he can only sleep here, I'm not paying for him to eat my fucking food! If he doesn't work, he doesn't stay through the day!"

"That's fine," Ichigo agrees readily. "Just sleeping… Come on Kaishi, you can…"

"Only sleeping!" Grimmjow snaps. "It's dinner time, I'm starving, and he has a date. Leave!"

"… Real charmer ya work fer, Ichi."

"He could've kicked you out on your stupid ass," Ichigo points out huffily.

"Hmm… a bit snappish, huh? You like..?"

He sucks in a sharp breath when his question is cut off with a punch to his jaw, Ichigo's furious amber orbs drilling holes into his own golden. Everyone is shocked, as Ichigo has been rather passive aggressive since Grimmjow found him roaming the dark streets. They certainly didn't expect their little berry to attack his twin, either. Nnoitra grins sadistically, waiting for the fight to break out, but Grimmjow is tense… waiting to step in and keep Ichigo from getting hurt further.

"… Ya hurt yer arm, Ichi?" Shiro wonders. "Yer left hook is normally a tad harder and just a hint faster."

"It was an accident," he mutters. "Grimmjow took care of it."

"Did he really."

He sends a cold glare toward the other, immediately noting how tense he is as he relaxes significantly. He knows Grimmjow, he's fought him on numerous occasions… he's not stupid enough to think himself better of the other. In all truth, he's fucking scared of the wildcat. He uses that description, as Grimmjow's fighting style is so akin to a panther or jaguar on a hunt… fast, merciless, clean, and soundless. One of the reasons he was Aizen's executioner… he's more animal than man.

"Let's go, Kaishi," Gin smiles. "How bout Chinese fer dinner?"

"Sounds fuckin' awesome. See ya after dinner, Ichi!"

"Later, Shi!" Ichigo waves from his seat on the floor.

Grimmjow turns away from Ichigo when he stands, finding himself even more jealous than when he started out. Ichigo was friendly with Kensei, but his eyes light up with his twin. As stupid as it sounds, and it sounds seriously stupid to the teal haired gangster, he wants that for himself. He doesn't care if Ichigo smiles at everyone, doesn't care if he talks to everyone… he wants those eyes to light up like that when Ichigo sees him instead of turn so dull and withdrawn.

'My cub likes you,' Pantera offers quietly. 'You would make a wonderful alpha for him. He just needs time to come around.'

"… Thanks," he mutters. "But he's interested in someone else."

'Not that I've seen.'

"No offense, Pantera, but he's human… they don't think exactly like panthers," Grimmjow smirks minutely. "They always have to complicate things."

'Don't worry, I'll work on him.'

He pats her head, turning his gaze on to the orangette shuffling around the kitchen. Ever since Ichigo's accident in the kitchen, Grimmjow won't set foot in the same room with the other… especially if there are things he could harm himself on. He felt so bad he almost puked the other day, the guilt laying heavily within him still at the mere thought. He flops on the couch, Pantera curling up beside him and making it a rather tight fit, and watches the movie that was playing though no one paid it any mind. He's almost asleep when Ichigo shakes his shoulder, sending him a foot in the air in his surprise.

"Dinner's done," he says cautiously. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's fine," he murmurs. "I was almost asleep. Come on, Pantera, let's eat."

"… Are you angry with me?" Ichigo asks as they sit at the table.

Grimmjow looks up curiously, wondering where Ichigo got the idea, but shakes his head in the negative. He's not angry with Ichigo, he's fucking jealous of all those other people that get the orangette's attention.

"Then why are you giving me the silent treatment?"

"I'm not," the other sighs. "I just don't have anything to say."

"Haven't you ever thought about asking me if I want to talk about anything?"

"… On occasion."

"I can't believe you! Don't you care about anyone but yourself?"

"… Yeah, I did… It's not working out well," he mutters bitterly.

"Maybe you should take her out to a nice place," Ichigo smiles. "Girls like that kind of stuff, they're all 'hopeless romantic' and… stuff."

"It's not a girl," Grimmjow sighs as he pokes at his food. "He's more like… you. What would you like?"

"Um… I don't know," Ichigo shrugs. "No one ever really took me out… well… Kensei did, but I didn't really get into that shit. He tried though, I have to give him that."

"Never mind," the taller growls quietly. "I'll just… figure it out myself."

"… It's the thought that counts, Grimmjow," Ichigo says warily. "If they can't understand that, then they're just greedy and you don't need that. You need someone who will love you for you!"

"And you? Does Kensei love you like that?"

"I don't know. I think he's in love with this girl I see him with all the time," Ichigo muses. "But she's completely oblivious and he gets really frustrated about it."

"… I know his pain," Grimmjow mutters under his breath.

"Now eat your food, I didn't make all this to have leftovers!"

"Pantera will eat the leftovers," he snorts in humor.

Dinner is silent after that, Pantera watching the tension grow between the two in worry. Her cub deserves the best and Grimmjow is the best alpha in her opinion, yet Ichigo is fighting it every step of the way. After dinner, Ichigo is the first in the shower and Grimmjow is so tempted to sneak in and play with him. The memory of Ichigo's story, however, stills him and has him waiting like a statue in the living room. He doesn't like when Ichigo is afraid of him, it only makes the smaller hurt himself far worse than he ever could. Though he prided himself on scaring the shit out of his other lovers… Ichigo is different and he really wants to make things work with the other. His cell phone rings and he picks it up, sighing heavily as he greets the other person with silence.

"Oi! Grimm-kitty, is it okay ta bring Kaishi back now? I mean, I don' mind keeping' him, but I'm afraid I'll fuck him before he's ready," Gin says lightly.

"… Fine."

"Come on, Kaishi, I'm takin' ya back ta…"

The other is cut off when Grimmjow unceremoniously hangs up, his face lacking expression and his brow twitching at the announcement on the Espadas' nickname for him. No doubt that prick will announce it to everyone he meets, just to piss Grimmjow off.

"Grimm? I forgot my clothes, can you get them for me?" Ichigo calls.

"Hang on, I'm coming," he replies before glancing at Pantera. "I don't suppose I could get you to go do it."

'Do I look like a trained mongrel?' she sniffs.

"Didn't think so."

With that, he gets up and heads to Ichigo's room. He knows the other is very particular about cleanliness, especially with how spotless the orangette can manage to get his apartment, so he knows Ichigo's clothes will be folded neatly in a small pile on his bed. They're there and he quickly grabs them before moving onward to the bathroom, knocking on the door for Ichigo to open it.

"Thanks," he smiles in relief as he reaches out.

Grimmjow pulls them away, a playful grin on his lips. The orangette scowls, reaching out further to close the little distance Grimmjow made… only for the larger male to pull them away a bit more.

"Damn it, Grimm!" Ichigo growls. "Give me my fucking clothes!"

"Come and get them," he snickers.

"You fucking pervert! I'm not walking out so you can eye-rape me!"

"Why not?"

"I can't believe you!" the smaller male snaps. "Just give me my clothes!"

"Mm… I think I'd rather you come get them," the other grins feral.

"Pantera! Help me!"

'I don't see why you're having problems with this, cub,' the panther sighs from her seat at the entrance to the living room. 'He's your alpha, you shouldn't have problems with showing your body to him. How are you supposed to reproduce if…'

"Damn it! Why do I even bother asking you anything!"

'Obviously, I need to teach you to be more secure in your own fur,' she huffs. 'So much to teach you, so little time. We shall start tomorrow on attracting an alpha mate…'

"Great idea, Pantera!" Grimmjow grins as he forces back the laughter.

While the other is preoccupied, Ichigo attempts a grab and run for his clothes. Unfortunately, Grimmjow is far more in tune with his surroundings than the other thought. Two steps and Ichigo's bare form is wrapped in Grimmjow's thick arms.

"Caught you," he chuckles.

"Grimmjow, let go!" Ichigo screams as a blush flares on his face.

"Why? It's not like I haven't seen it all before," he snorts. "It just looks all that much better with water dripping down tan skin… Hmm…"

"What the fuck!" Ichigo screeches.

Grimmjow warm tongue travels the expanse of the orangette's slender neck, licking up the stray beads of water. The orangette tenses, though not because of fear this time, and fights back a moan as a tingling sensation shoots along his spine. The larger male covers his back, holding him far more gently than Trae ever thought of as he nuzzles the smaller male's soaked orange locks.

"You smell so good," Grimmjow purrs.

"I should," the teen murmurs. "I just showered."

"You should sleep with me tonight… like last time," the teal haired man ventures cautiously. "I won't mess with you."

"I would like…"

A knock at the door startles Ichigo, his blush growing brighter as he slips from a disappointed gangster's arms. He rushes to his room, unconsciously attempting to hide his nakedness with the clothes he stole from Grimmjow, and slams his door shut. Ichigo is ready for bed in record time, leaving Grimmjow to deal with his guest. Gin is pressing an eager Shiro to the wall beside Grimmjow's door, the paler copy grabbing Gin's ass as he attempts to dominate the other.

"Wow… I really needed to see this," Grimmjow states flatly.

"Mm… Sorry," Gin chuckles. "I told ya I'd end up fuckin' him."

"Where's Ichi?" Shiro asks breathlessly.

"In his room, getting ready for bed," the taller states.

"See ya tomorrow, Gin," Shiro grins widely as he locks them in another kiss.

Their tongues slip into each other's mouths, Shiro replacing his hands on Gin's ass roughly as the silver haired male's knee makes itself at home between Shiro's legs. They both moan and Grimmjow automatically slams the door shut, leaving them to stumble and fall to the floor with a yelp.

"Who's there?" Ichigo asks.

"Two horny dogs," Grimmjow shrugs off. "Don't open the door unless you want to see them rutting."

'Disgusting canine vermin,' Pantera hisses disgruntled.

"Is Kaishi here?" Ichigo wonders. "What the hell's he doing rutting with Gin!"

"Don't ask me, they were pretty… Where the hell are you going?"

Ichigo yanks the front door open, seeing Shiro and Gin fighting for the top position. Shiro wins momentarily. He's rewarded with Ichigo's fist slamming against his head, the smaller dragging his promiscuous copy into his room. Grimmjow shuts the door in Gin's face, brushes his teeth after a rather long shower, and strolls to bed with Pantera. He pauses outside his bedroom door, sparing a curious glance inside his 'maid's' room. Ichigo is wrapped up in his twin's arms like they're long lost lovers… and Grimmjow's heart sinks a little bit more as the jealousy grows rampant.