Epilogue: New Colors

Red! Red and black was all he could think about, all he could see. Crimson hair, flowing as soft tendrils fell around broad shoulders. He could still sense how it felt to weave his hands through rubescent locks, its sweet smell of cinnamon and raspberries enveloping and arousing him into a state of divine bliss as he only fingered the soft tresses, the redhead sprawled beneath him.

When he wasn't reminiscing about the softness of his hair or the sweat smell of raspberries and cinnamon, he'd be reminded of those eyes. Those darkened orbs haunted him every night since he returned home. He would sometimes wake in the middle of the night in tears, and wouldn't go back to sleep until he cried his lullaby.

Red and black was all he could think about, all he could see; his red hair and the darkness in his eyes that tore a new hole in his soul, but now it felt more like a distant memory as each day passed.

It had been four weeks since he returned from Soul Society, and four weeks since he left Renji on that rooftop, and four weeks since Renji promised him that he would find another to be happy with. It pained him that he had to give up on him, but he convinced himself that it was for the best.

He wondered constantly about him, and since Rukia hadn't come to visit, then he was completely in the dark about everything. He hadn't caught word from anyone about those twins from when he first arrived in the Soul Society, but he guess they would handle it. He had pretty much resumed his old routine: live life normally until he was needed.

But now he lay in his bed, in his single bedroom flat abode, staring idly up at the ceiling, his hands behind his head and his body stretched out comfortably with his legs crossed. He still had his clothes on from his college classes from earlier that afternoon, but he was too tired to take them off. He was thankful that Kon didn't let him fall too far behind in his schoolwork and he did behave himself for once, despite the many girls that glared at him on occasions, but could easily ignore them.

As the moonlight brought a dim lighting into his room, he let his mind race. It became a habit after everything he had encountered with Renji, and everything he was forced to understand. It was a good way to develop mental space and to get rid of all the unnecessary things that bugged him. Like his dad's psychotic phone calls. He could feel his eye twitch at the thought.

Damn phone, He growled to himself. I should rip it out the wall. But he decided not to since he would have to pay for it. He was only renting, he had to remind himself when his dad called.

He sighed.

He wanted to know what was happening, how Renji was doing, how Rukia was doing and if they stopped those two Komaru kids yet, but no one was bringing any information back to him. He hadn't even felt any spiritual pressures in the area since he came back home; from Hollows or Shinigamis

He was hoping someone would stop by to tell him something, anything! But then a sudden pressure struck him, aggressively forcing him to sink into his mattress, his eyes widening from the tenacity and abruptness of the impact.

"What the hell is this?" He gasped, but then it suddenly vanished, and left omitting a few controlled pants. He jumped up from his bed and moved over towards his window before pulling it up and poking his head out, looking left, and then right. No one, or anything was around, and he could feel the power of that reiatsu dimming as it seemed to get further and further away.

He gnashed his teeth. That reiatsu felt familiar, but he couldn't place it. Damnit! I can't concentrate on anything with my spiritual powers fading like this. He thought to himself. But that reiatsu didn't feel like a shinigami.

He was trying to reason with himself. I can't let…whatever this is, get away, but I probably shouldn't get involved with it in my current condition. Whatever the hell that thing was, it was powerful…But…damnit, when the hell did I start acting like this. Of course I can't just let it run wild out there. And I'm sure Uryuu caught on to whatever this is, so he should be there in no time.

He moved over to his dresser and pulled out the mod soul gumball and swallowed it. His soul separating from his body, and he looked down at Kon who was sitting on the floor in his body, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

"What's the deal, Ichigo?" He asked, looking up at the oranget in his shinigami attire. "Why are you up so late?"

"I felt a familiar spiritual pressure. I'm going to go see what it is." Kon's eyes, which were tacked with sleep a moment ago, widened, and he scrambled to his feet.

"Do you think that's a good idea in your condition? You know what; scratch that…It's not a good idea in your condition." Ichigo just moved to the window. "Hey! Don't Ichigo! What if it's somebody who'll want to fight you?"

"Don't worry. Uryuu and the others should have felt it too. I'm sure they're on their way there by now."

"Yeah, but—Ichigo!" He shouted as he watched the Substitute Shinigami disappear out the window. Kon sighed. "I swear…why do I even bother?"

X:~/~:X

Ichigo skipped from building to building. His sensory skills weren't the best by a long shot, especially with his powers diminishing every five minutes, but he couldn't mistake where he felt this reiatsu coming from.

Who the hell is this? His eyes widened. It couldn't be her. He decided to pick up his pace. Minutes later, he found himself in exactly the place he never wanted to be. He jumped down from the last building and onto the lumps of sand.

He didn't want to be here. It could've been anywhere but here. Anywhere but where his mother died. He clenched his teeth and closed his eyes to try and bury the memory.

"I finally found you, Kurosaki Ichigo." Ichigo froze, his eyes snapping open, and widening. That voice…Ichigo thought. Ichigo took a step back as the figure sauntered from behind the shadows that the buildings casted over the sandy shore.

"…You," Ichigo whispered breathless as he noted the other's nefarious grin.

"I've been looking all over for you, Shinigami."

Ichigo took another step back, the figure revealing himself completely under the moonlight, Ichigo's eyes widening further. "…Grimmjow…" he shuddered as the name passed his lips.

So this is the epilogue. Yes it contains Grimmy. Hehe! But there is a reason for that, and plus I wanted to write a story about my two favorite bleach pairs (IchiRen and IchiGrimm). So the sequel will have Grimmjow in it and Renji, but Grimmjow will be more present. Actually, a lot more present than Renji, although Renji will still be in it. And no, they won't be fighting over Ichigo's love and affection, haha! That's just too cliche` for me. :)

But the sequel shall be coming to you all soon, or rather, as soon as I finish writing it. ^_^ But I hope you liked the IchiRen portion of the story, and then next will be the IchiGrimm portion. Yay! :D

But until next time…Ciao for now lovelies'! ;)