'Happiness is understanding that friendship is more precious than mere things, more precious than getting your own way, more precious than being in situations where true principles are not at stake.'- J. Donald Walters
"I don't wanna fucking be here. Everyone else can damn leave, just drive me home Gin."
"I cant, mom and dad would be so sad if you left while they were out getting stuff for the New Years party tonight. Besides, my car is acting up a bit." Grimmjow let out a growl as he stalked up to Gin. He'd heard that the party that Nnoitra was throwing at his dads garage was going to be an amazing one that he wasn't about to miss, even if he had to call up Ichigo and ask the other to come and get him he would go see that party.
"Just fucking drive me back you little shit."
"Oh, look who's calling who a little shit Grimmy. Last I checked I was still taller then you, and I'm sure I'm bigger." Gin's smirk made Grimmjow growl again, his muscles bunching for another fight that'd probably send him through more glass- the coffee table in the living room maybe.
"Just get me the fuck out of here before mom and dad get back Gin. I'll get you anything you want." He hated bribing his brother, it always meant lots of trouble for him and even being grossed out in some cases.
"No, why not call up the Berry? It's not like you haven't stopped talking about him since he left. The two of you were very convincing for mom and dad by the way, they didn't even suspect a thing, and practically screwing each other when mom walked in- that was genius." Gin's eyes opened slightly to show the ice blue iris's and almost cat-like pupils. "How long 'ave ya liked 'im?"
"Fuck off Gin, I'll get someone else to come and get me if you wont get me out of this shit hole." Grimmjow pushed his brother away and pulled his phone out.
"It's a pity. If the two of ya hadn't romped I'm sure he'd still be here with yer car."
"What are you-"
"Please, the two of you were moanin' like a couple of virgins. I'm surprised you didn't wake the whole fucking house. That and I watched Berry skirt across the hall into the bathroom with his boner before the shower started up at four." Gin's smiled turned dark and Grimmjow couldn't hold back anymore. With a quick flick so his phone was on the armchair Grimmjow stalked over to his brother and gave the white haired business man a punch to the gut.
Gin retaliated by punching Grimmjow's ribs, pushing the other back into the wall. "Are you really going down this road again Grimmy? Remember what happened last time?"
"Then shut the fuck up and go screw one of the guests or something! Isn't that all your good at?!" Grimmjow delivered another punch to Gin's ribs, punching faster and harder then he would ever think of in a fight with Ichigo. He wanted to kill, to obliterate the existence of his brother, all the taunting and fights they'd gotten into over the years. Grimmjow felt like it was all leading up to this one fight where he still managed to have the upper hand. Gin stopped bothering to fight back after a few minutes, his arms protecting the vital points as Grimmjow slowed down before he was just straddling his older brother, his fists clenched on the ground either side of Gin's head.
"Why do I have to be like this?! What the fuck happened!?"
"What are ya talkin' bout Grimm?" Gin's smile had vanished and he opened his eyes wider to look at his brother who looked like he was about to break down into tears. "Am I missing something?"
"No, I am. What the fuck happened to me on that stupid family vacation when I was ten?" Gin cursed underneath Grimmjow, he'd been wondering if it was amnesia when he didn't try and kill their father the second he could. "Get me out of here Gin, I-I cant be here when he gets back."
"How long's it been since you remembered?"
"Couple months now, before I moved into my new place." Fire was still in Grimmjow's eyes despite his pleading to be driven out of the vicinity, all he wanted was to get out of the stifling and crippling house.
"How the hell haven't you murdered him in his fucking sleep yet."
"Trust me I want to, do I ever fucking want to. But I'm about ready to snap." Gin nod his head, he didn't agree with what their father did, but he'd rather have his brother out of jail and his father alive then have their already screwed up family more so.
Grimmjow had indeed gone through a pane of glass that summer, Gin had been the cause of it too because of a fight. But it took much longer then a single hour to get Grimmjow to the hospital and the cut had originally been much smaller then the disgusting scar it had turned into.
Mayuri had tried to 'fix' it, he was no doctor though, he was a bio-chemical scientist. And Kim, well she was a biologist, she'd spent her life trying to find out how much pain people could take before that person would start to shut down. He had laid a cut and bleeding Grimmjow out on the kitchen table of their summer cottage and had grabbed up a needle and thread. He had tried to stitch Grimmjow together several times, each time just ripping and tearing the skin more and more until the wound took up most of his torso. Nemu had been right beside her father with their mother, Nemu handing Mayuri what he asked of her and Kim trying to ask a crying and screaming Grimmjow questions.
Gin had only been able to watch with a worried expression as their father tied Grimmjow down to stop him from thrashing, insisting that it was his movement that kept the skin tearing and now his horrible job of trying to stitch up the wound so tightly just breathing ripped the skin again. If he could re-live that night he wouldn't have gotten into the fight with Grimmjow at all, it had been about who was going to have to share the room with Nemu that night. It was something so stupid that Gin would have gladly offered up to share the room if he'd known his parents were going to choose that night to become psychotic, if he could go back in time and do one thing over he would just offer to sleep in the room with Nemu for the entire vacation.
Gin opened up his car and Grimmjow wasted no time in throwing his bag into the back seat and sitting himself down in the passengers seat, not taking the wheel only because he knew Gin would flip shit if anyone drove his car.
When the drivers door opened and the silver haired magazine writer slipped into the seat Grimmjow pulled out his phone and stuffed his headphones into his ears, getting ready to blast songs before the headphones were tugged out of his ears as Gin started driving off the property. "Just use the speakers, if yer not gonna talk to me while I drive I wanna listen too."
"Whatever." Grimmjow plugged his phone into the dock and hit the play button, bobbing his head as the music started seeping through the car's speakers before quickly escalating to a loud drumming and screech of Apocalyptica and their violins.
"So, any plans for tonight, or are you just gonna hang with Berry?"
"There's a party, I'm planning on getting shit-faced and probably sleeping with someone." Grimmjow just shrugged his shoulders, bopping his head as he text Starrk to let him know that he would be there.
"You gonna pop the Berry's cherry?"
"Fuck no, I'm not touching him. I'll probably hook up with Szayle or Luppi if I don't find someone better while I'm there."
"And why not? He had a nice looking ass."
"Don't you call yourself straight? If I don't wanna fuck Ichigo then I don't gotta fuck him, got it?" Grimmjow turned his head out the window again with a scowl on his face as he tried not to think of all the things he would do to Ichigo if they ever did sleep together.
Gin couldn't hold in his smile, he definitely noticed the fact that Grimmjow called Ichigo by his name and not 'Berry' or 'Orangey'. He could tell that his little brother truly cared about the carrot top, he just didn't know why the two weren't already together if it was so obvious on both sides.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Toshiro had kept his word and said nothing to anyone else about what Ichigo had told him, he'd been a little more attentive to make sure Ichigo spend time with he and their friends though. Boxing day the group went to the mall to laugh at the people fighting and arguing then had gone to see a movie late at night before they all crashed at Renji's place.
Ichigo and his friends were all walking around downtown on the thirty-first, trying to figure out the next thing to do when they bumped into Starrk, Harribel, Nnoitra, Ulquiorra and a few others with many bags in each of their hands.
"Hey, you guys finally kill a few people or what?" Renji's joke was hardly viable because they were normal shopping bags, but the group just let it pass as Starrk looked down at Ichigo before addressing the group.
"No, we're having a party tonight to bring in the new year. You guys should come." Starrk looked the group over before shrugging and moving to walk around them "Praying Mantis Auto repair's the place. Tell people if you want."
"Alright, thanks Starrk." The brunette just nod his head as the two groups finished passing each other.
Ichigo and his friends started walking again, a new idea in his head; bridge diving. "Hey guys, who wants to jump off the bridge? Great way to clean off for the start of the new year."
"I'm so fucking down for that!" Renji pumped his fist into the air and hopped forwards, egging some of the other guys into agreeing with the same coy smirk Ichigo was giving.
"I don't know, isn't it a little cold?"
"Nah, it'll be like the polar bear swim. We'll have warm cars and blankets waiting on the bank for us and everything Orihime." Ichigo knew that if she said no Uryuu would say no, and then everyone would start declining until it was just Ichigo and Renji.
"Common Ru, what do ya say?" Renji gave Rukia a smile that Rukia knew promised something good if she went along with it, so she nodded her head with a sigh and joined the two others.
"I'm in." Chad walked forwards and turned around, looking back at Uryuu, Orihime, Toshiro, Tatsuki, Keigo and a few others.
"Count me in!"
"Me too!"
"I'd like to give it a try!"
"Fine, I guess that means I'm coming too."
"Why not? Sounds like fun."
"This isn't going to go too well… I'm in."
Ichigo nod his head as all his friends agreed to go with him. "Alright everyone! We'll meet at the bridge in two hours, that gives us all plenty of time to get spare clothes and those of you who have cars to get them." Everyone nod their heads and they all vanished to get prepared for the jump.
Ichigo walked back to he and Grimmjow's apartment with ease, his feet moving lightly knowing that he wouldn't have to face Grimmjow until at least the next day at some point. He had a plan for how he'd act when Grimmjow did come back; he'd be cool and detached from his roommate, doing only what was necessary for their relationship to be strictly platonic. His hands were just set in his pockets, his fingers running over his phone. Every day he had hoped that he might get some kind of apology text from Grimmjow, but nothing came, dashing his hopes and crushing them to bits.
Getting up to the apartment took longer then he remembered it, the elevator seemed to move slowly as he listened to his music. He wished so badly for a text from Grimmjow, saying that they'd both just over reacted. But Grimmjow wasn't that kind of person and Ichigo wasn't going to have another shot to his pride. Ichigo knew that Grimmjow knew of his feelings, and he'd decided to treat Ichigo like shit because he didn't share the feelings.
As soon as Ichigo opened up the door he let out a sigh and moved to get his sports bag to stuff some extra clothes into. He made sure to grab his towel from the bathroom, making sure it was the distinctly red towel with his tired eyes. He was half hoping this polar bear swim would clear his head for the coming day. 'I need to clear my head out before Grimmjow comes back, otherwise I'm going to loose it and it wont be pretty.'
Ichigo looked to his bed, seeing his violin case propped up in the corner. 'Maybe a bit of playing will clear my head? I could play The Name of Life, that one always relaxes me a bit.' pulling his hoodie off so the hood wouldn't be in his way Ichigo opened the case and did a quick tune by ear before poising the violin on his shoulder.
As the song came to a close Ichigo let out a sigh and fell back onto his bed, his violin on his chest so he didn't crush it. He took deep calming breaths, wondering if he should tell his friends before the party. He knew that as soon as he told Toshiro that his life had gotten extremely easier, but he also knew that his other friends would freak out much more then the flip out Toshiro had done in the apartment; mainly in Grimmjows room as Ichigo muttered about his roommate killing him if he noticed.
As his phone vibrate in his back pocket Ichigo fiddled with his back pocket to read the text; 'Ichigo I'm coming over.' it was from Toshiro. That was another thing; Toshiro had made it his duty to come over at least twice a week. Ichigo didn't mind the company but he knew that Toshiro was doing it to snoop as well.
Toshiro gave no warning as he walked into the apartment, passing by Ichigo's room on his way to the living room and stopping when he saw the orange haired teen at least ten minutes after his text. "You know when Grimm gets back you cant do that, right?"
"Why the fuck not? Does the Blueberry have a problem with it?"
"I think he might. His friends don't just barge inside so I don't think my friends should, it's a courtesy thing I guess." Ichigo shrugged as he sat himself up, setting his violin back into the case.
"Well if he tells me to stop I will."
"I've been thinking about telling the others. I'm not going to tell them everything of course, just about me living here with Grimm and-"
"Stop that." Toshiro looked down at Ichigo with a scowl as he crossed his arms over his chest, going through the few books Ichigo had gathered as Christmas present from his friends.
"Stop what?"
"Calling him that? What happened to Jaegerjaquez?" Ichigo shrugged his shoulders and stood up, leaving Toshiro in his room to get a drink before they left. "I don't like it Ichigo. You said you'd treat him normally again."
"I don't know what's normal anymore Tosh, I cant just stop feeling, I'm not a robot." Ichigo grabbed out two glasses and poured some coke into each, handing the second glass over to Toshiro and downing his glass in a few seconds, letting out a burp as Toshiro drank. "Excuse me." His scowl was back in place and Toshiro just let out a sigh.
"I know someone who's interested at you and he's going to be at the party, if you're into other guys or not…" Toshiro trailed off, no longer knowing if Ichigo was bi or just liked Grimmjow.
"Yeah, guys are generally hot. I don't know Tosh, how is another guy going to make this easier? And what about you and Ulquiorra, have you given that anymore thought yet?" Toshiro shook his head, a light blush dusting his cheeks as he took another sip of his pop. "Thought not, and here you are pushing a guy at me."
"Ichigo, I don't know if I'm gay or not. Besides, wouldn't that piss you off just a little bit? I was dating your sister after all." Ichigo shrugged, to be honest he didn't really care; Karin had always been a tomboy, into sports and generally acted like 'one of the guys' on most days. Of course she dressed up for her and Toshiro's dates, would maybe show a bit of cleavage, but nothing that was over the top and girly.
"You could just like soccer built ravens." Ichigo shrugged, knowing that would strike a slight cord with the snowy haired teen.
"Well sorry for having a type! At least I'm not all over the board. What kind of types do you have Ichigo? Short and weak ravens, tall blue haired assholes, large breasted strawberry blonde-"
"Hey, you said you'd never talk about Orihime. I decided that it'd be best for her to move on and I was right, she's doing great with Uryuu and I don't like her anymore. It was just a phase like Rukia, probably like Grimmjow too." A new blush had risen to Ichigo's face as he set his glass in the sink to wash the next day when he woke up from the hangover he was planning on getting.
"Fine, I guess that was a low blow. But do it for me; just talk to the guy alright? I'll introduce you and get a common interest and everything if you want before leaving. Deal?"
"If you talk with Ulquiorra for at least half an hour." Ichigo knew that the white haired teen and raven could keep up a conversation for at least fifteen minutes before Toshiro would back out in fear of flirting, he wanted to see the two have a nice friendly conversation without Toshiro backing out though.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Ichigo this was your fucking idea so you better fucking jump first." Ichigo looked down, the bridge was a good eight feet above the water, but the water was at least twenty five feet down.
"I'm going, I'm going. Fuck Renji, take a pill." Ichigo swung one of his legs over the railing and pulled himself using one of the support beams so he was standing on the foot thick railing so the walking traffic didn't fall into the water. "Wish me luck." He knew he didn't need it, that there was nothing that was going to go wrong because all his friends were good swimmers if by any freak chance he did something wrong and lost consciousness.
He pushed off the railing and reached up to plug his nose, his eyes scanning the banks of the lavvy seeing the exact spot where his mother had died right in front of him. The cold water rushing up his body in a paralyzing grip gave him only a millisecond to take in air and shut his eyes before he was under water completely. His arms and legs spread out so he didn't go as far down as he would have, making him hover in the freezing blackness for a moment.
The water was much colder then he thought it would be, its freezing tingle making him feel like movement was impossible as he started to kick his feet a bit and work his way to the surface too slowly. His arms started to protest and as he got to that stupid foot gap between him and the surface Ichigo for a split second had that crushing feeling like he wasn't going to make it; he should have taken a bigger breath sooner, he should have spread out sooner. His lungs were burning as he broke surface and expelled the stale air from his lungs and took in the crisp fresh air.
"Oi Ichi! Give us all a fucking scare much! How's the water?" Ichigo looked up, his body freezing as he kicked in the water.
"It's like swimming in ice! Spread out soon and you should be fine- and take a deep fucking breath!" Renji nod his head, moving back from the ledge so he could run and jump over the railing the way he always jumped the first time.
Ichigo stayed in the water, knowing that if something went wrong he'd be the first one to dive down in search of his red haired friend; probably freezing his eyeballs in the process.
As soon as Renji popped up and screamed his distaste for the water Ichigo let out a sigh of relief, ready to get out of the water so Renji could spot for the next person before seeing the red head visibly shaking.
"Guys don't fucking do it! You'll freeze your damn asses off! Ichi, your fucking insane!" Renji made to swim to the edge of the river with Ichigo, shivering as the rest of their friends backed down from the edge.
"It's not that bad Renji, I want to take another jump at least."
"Then go right the fuck ahead. I'm only jumping in after you if you're dead." Ichigo shrugged as he moved up onto the bridge with the rest of their friends, Renji was wrapped in a blanket thanks to Rukia before the raven slipped under the blanket with a yelp as Renji pulled her. "So fucking warm."
"Renji, you feel like ice!"
"It's the point of a polar bear swim guys. Anyhow, I'm going to take one more then I think I'll be good. Anyone with me?"
"I'm in!" Tatsuki walked forwards and pulled her hoodie off, balancing up on the ledge like Ichigo had. "Are you gonna jump with me, or after?"
"I'll jump with." Ichigo was shivering as he got back up on the ledge, one arm reaching around Tatsuki and the other grabbing her hand so they wouldn't fall onto each other before they hit the water.
"You t-two are f-f-f-fuck-king insa-sane!" Renji was being lead back to his car by Rukia while Ichigo just shrugged, still shivering.
"I'll be fine as soon as I'm back in the water. Ready?" Tatsuki nod her head and Ichigo smirked, waiting a second to see if she was going to start counting. "If you don't back out before I get to three, you're coming in with me. One, two, three!" Both teens pushed off the bridge and hurtled into the water.
Ichigo took a deep breath, wrapping himself around Tatsuki as she curled into his chest, taking a deep breath of his own. 'Shit, she was gonna bail.' the second he hit the water he spread himself out, barring the full force of stopping both their bodies from sinking too deep. He could fee Tatsuki scrambling to get to the surface and Ichigo almost let out a grunt as she kicked him in the gut, pushing herself up and he further down.
'Shit, I wasn't supposed to go further. I don't have enough air for this.' Ichigo moved his body, trying to find the direction of the surface in accordance to the direction he was falling. As he moved his arms in long, quick movements to get there faster without taking up too much energy Ichigo worked his way to the surface, trying as best he could to keep calm as he felt the burning sensation creep into his lungs.
'Am I supposed to be feeling so light headed? Fuck, I don't want to die here. I don't want to die in the water here! I don't want to fucking die period!' Pushing just slightly harder Ichigo was relieved as his hands broke surface, followed by his head after another second.
He took in a huge gasp of air, shaking his head as he tried to determined all the screaming that was going on around him. Two arms flew around his neck and Ichigo was scared for a second that he'd go under again. "Ichigo! I'm so sorry, are you alright? I didn't mean it, I swear I didn't mean it!"
Ichigo registered that it was a hug from Tatsuki and gave a light smile as he hugged her back, reaching his hand up to clear the water from his eyes so he could open them. "It-it's fine. I counted too fast."
"I th-thought I'd be f-f-fine, but my f-foot slipped on the j-jump, I thought something was g-g-g-going to go wrong. I'm sorry I l-l-landed on you, it probably knocked the air r-r-right out of y-y-y-you."
"L-lets get you o-out of the w-water, y-yeah?" Ichigo grabbed her hand and started pulling her towards the bank where all their friends were waiting for them, blankets in hand and running cars only ten feet passed the last drops of water on the bank.
"I told you yer fucking insane! I almost had to jump in there to get you, didn't I Ichi?" Renji wrapped the blanket around Ichigo who quickly gave it to Tatsuki, giving her three blankets before taking one.
"You stupid dumb…" Toshiro gave a heavy sigh as he opened Ichigo's arms and stepped into the circle before forcing the arms shut around him again. "you fucking owe me for this Kurosaki. Your getting me wet and your cold as Alaska." Ichigo put his nose into Toshiro's neck, trying not to react as the smaller jumped in front of him before he sat down in one of the warm cars. "Fucking hell, watch it!"
"S-s-sorry. I-I-I guess it-it w-was a l-l-litt-ttle co-cold." Ichigo wished more then ever that he had a significant other at that moment, someone who wouldn't mind him putting his hands under their shirt to warm the digits.
"Fuck, I think it's the second jump that did you in." Ichigo looked over as the drivers door was opened and Chad sat down.
"We're going back to my place. Buckle up."
"It's too tight a fit with both of us, I think we're-"
"Buckle." Ichigo let out a sigh and opened up the blanket for a minute to stretch the belt over he and Toshiro before wrapping around the snow haired teen again.
It didn't take more then ten minutes to get back to Chad's apartment, the single room and living room being more spacious then Grimmjow's two bedroom and living area for the single fact that Chad's living room took up the amount of space Ichigo's room probably took up. "Sit." Chad motioned to the couch across from the 36" TV, knowing that their other friends would get there within a few moments and that getting coffee for all three of his bridge jumping friends would be the right thing to do; coffee for all eventually.
"Th-thanks Ch-Ch-Chad." Ichigo sat down on the couch, pulling Toshiro with him and digging his nose back into Toshiro's neck as he dipped his fingers under the smaller teens shirt.
"Fucking Kurosaki! You're so damn lucky that I value your friendship or else you would be so dead."
"I l-love you t-too T-Tosh." 'I would say that I regret it, but that feeling… it was a nice feeling in the end. Some part of me enjoyed that hopeless- no, no Ichigo. You're not suicidal, there is no part of you that wants to die. It wouldn't solve anything to make your friends grieve anymore.' Shaking his head and burrowing his nose further into Toshiro's neck Ichigo decided once and for all that he would tell his friends, there was only fifteen days left until his birthday and he was already thinking about looking for his own apartment since he'd made his money cushion to fall back on if he didn't get that raise.
"You think they're all gonna hate me Tosh?" He knew that the smaller would know what he was talking about, they had discussed it on so many occasions that Toshiro was practically immune to the question; always answering with the same thing.
"If you want them to yell at you and badger you about it, some wont believe you. I'm sure Rukia and Orihime will be the first to believe you, then Renji will clue in and Uryuu will just be stunned I'm sure before acting like he knew all along. Chad will get mad but say nothing, but the feeling- if anything like my reaction -will be betrayal." Toshiro tried to see Ichigo's face but he'd kept his face hidden in the others neck, warming up his cheekbones.
"I'm not going to then, if I play it right no one will ever have to-"
"We're here! How are you doing Ichigo? You're still in your wet clothes? Go change you stupid idiot!" Renji lifted Ichigo by reaching into the blanket and grabbing Ichigo's soaked shit, pulling him up and dropping Toshiro unceremoniously on the floor. "You've probably cause Toshiro to get a cold you idiot!" Renji pushed the bag of Ichigo's clothes at the teen and towards Chad's room.
'No! Toshiro was so warm! Fuck, I wish Grimm was- no! Don't even go there Ichi.' Ichigo used his freezing fingers to pull his shirt over his head and peel his bottoms off, letting out a curse as he saw the lack of boxers in his bag. "Godammit Ichigo," He reached for his jeans instead, deciding he'll deal with going commando on top of already having frozen himself blue.
Once Ichigo was out of the room Tatsuki went in to change, then Renji and finally the damp Toshiro, having acted as Ichigo's heat source until he'd been able to change and get some coffee into him.
The group had decided to head to the party at ten, after a bunch of laughing and coffee at Chad's house, a half dozen pizzas provided by all their pockets and a good two movies. Ichigo head over with Chad, Toshiro, Tatsuki, and Keigo while everyone else either took Renji's or Uryuu's car.
Ten o'clock was a pretty good time to arrive, the party looked to be in full swing; multicolored lights were coming out of the many windows and the three large bay doors were open to reveal three levels of partying teens. Nothing inside the building resembled that of a mechanics shop, all the heavy equipment had been sent off for servicing and the floors had been power washed clean. The only thing that even suggested that the building was a mechanics shop were the still oil covered working areas on the top two floors where the mechanics would take smaller parts from the engines to fix or clean, but even those had been cleaned to the best of the hosts ability.
Ichigo tossed his jacket into the back seat of Chad's car, knowing that he wouldn't need it to walk back to the apartment he shared with Grimmjow. Walking inside he stuffed his hands into his pockets and strolled inside, losing his friends as they fanned out to do their own thing. Ichigo's main goal was to get a beer and get as drunk as he could that night, he didn't want to think about Grimmjow, he didn't want to worry about anything as he grabbed up one of the cold beers out of one of five coolers all stuffed with ice and beer.
"Hey Ichigo! Nice to see ya!" Ichigo turned around and looked over at Nniotra as he twisted the cap off his beer and took a swig.
"Hey, how's it going?!" Ichigo moved closer to the other so he wouldn't have to yell so loudly over the pounding music.
"Fucking fantastic!" Ichigo nod his head a few times as he leaned up against the bench Nnoitra was sitting on while scoping out the first floor for a dance partner. "Where the hell have you been? The fun started at eight!"
"Didn't want to be early! Besides, bridge jumping in this weather is not a good thing!" Nnoitra started laughing his ass off, patting Ichigo's shoulder.
"You fucking idiot! The only reason this place is barable is 'cause everyone's dancing!" Ichigo nod his head, laughing weakly as Nnoitra hopped off the bench and blended into the crowd to the best of a seven foot tall person's ability. Ichigo looked around the first floor, catching a few glimpses of his friends but seeing no one he would be interested in dancing with.
"Hey Ichigo, come with me." Toshiro grabbed Ichigo's hand out of nowhere an hour and a half into the party, after Ichigo had left and come back to play his violin, and started pulling him towards the spiral staircase headed up to the other two floors. "You said you'd meet him if I talked to Ulquiorra."
"Yeah, and where's the bat-boy?" Ichigo could see the blush on Toshiro's face and knew it wasn't because of the alcohol, Ichigo's face however was already starting to dust pink thanks to his three beers; much more then he usually drank.
"He's waiting to talk to me on the second floor. Hisagi's on the third waiting for me to introduce you to him though." Ichigo let out a sigh, he'd really been thinking that this 'Hisagi' person was fake.
"But Tosh, I'm too-"
"Don't give me that, you never get drunk Ichigo." There was no weaseling out of it. Ichigo let out a sigh, resigned to the fact he was going to meet this person.
AN: I know this chapter is a bit of a bore, and it's getting more angst-ridden then I originally wanted, but it'll get better soon! I hope you enjoyed and the next chapter should be out really soon! Until then, Bye!