I'm back, just in time to release a chapter for the festive holidays. Sorry I hadn't updated sooner! Forgive me! But please enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 14: The Confusing Kiss

The school corridor was quiet, save for the few students milling around waiting impatiently for friends so they could enjoy lunch together. Tsukiko swept past them all, absorbed in her own little world, her lunchbox held in front of her skirt. It had been a few weeks since meeting the mysterious Hiro but that all seemed just like it happened yesterday.

'Time is going by so quickly.' She thought to herself. Time seemed to just fly away in a blink of an eye but she had been too engrossed in her activities to even take much notice.

From the moment the sun shyly peeked itself up from above the horizon in the morning, to the moment it was replaced with the cold, dark night, she was always doing something. Waking up at sun rise to perform the traditional prayer to the gods with her mother and to do meditation before school. Schoolwork was always quite a struggle. Not one of the most academic student in the class since school was always quite challenging for her but she always did her very best to make sure her work was as good as anybody else's. Break-times she just about manages to speak with her friends but it's not really long enough. Straight after school, prepare the house for when her mother gets back home. It wasn't really necessary but she liked to do it. Do her homework with a side order of tasty snacks, then straight out again for band practise, which lasted till late. Evening time when she arrives home to eat her dinner, before praying again and going straight to bed. This was how she spent her days now. Some people (Renji mostly) thought it was ridiculous to be crushing in so many activities into one day and concerned about the consequences it might have on her health but she merely shrugged it off and said she could cope, but lately even she was starting to doubt her capabilities…

"Tsukiko!" A voice calling her from down the school corridor. She snapped her head round and gave a small smile as she saw Ichigo jogging towards her. She was so busy thinking that she almost didn't hear his call. Slowing down to join her pace, the pair slowly paced down the corridor, heading towards their usual eating spot on top of the roof.

"Hey you alright? It's been a while since we properly spoke since ya been so busy." Ichigo said, slightly sad.

"Yes, I know. I am very sorry about that Ichigo."

"No need to apologize." He waved her apology off before a brief awkward silence ensured.

"So how's the practice for the big performance going?"

"Oh it's not that big a performance, just playing at a party. Oh that's right, before I forget, you are all invited." She stopped to open up her bag.

"What? We're invited to some strangers party?"

"He's a friend of a friend. Apparently he insisted on you all coming. The more people the better." Ichigo got handed a fancy invitation card. Skimming over the details, he placed it in his back pocket.

"Not one for parties but if it means seeing you play, I'll come and so will the rest of them."

"Ahhh, thank you very much." she smiled shyly at him.

Loud girlish giggling was heard at the end of the corridor, alerting the pair of the all too familiar sight of the loud collection of 'The Grimmjow Fanclub' and said person right amongst it as usual, lapping up the attention.

"Doesn't he ever stop." Sighed Ichigo, shaking his head in disapproval. Tsukiko just merely ignored what was going on. She was used to it now but things had stepped up recently. Grimmjow was not content with just speaking with them, on many an occasion he was seen with his arms draped over a couple of girls, flirting outrageously or with them latched onto his arm for dear life, gazing up at him in awe like he was a god, whilst he just smirked arrogantly back at them. That was another reason why she should slow down. She had barely got to see him properly. Anytime they did manage to spend a few minutes, all he wanted to do was just rip her clothes off and make hot furious love to her and she was just not ready for that sort of contact, not yet anyway. She always conveniently had to go somewhere or do something to avoid it from happening and it always ended up with him in a foul mood. Maybe this was his way to make up for her missing affection, by immersing himself with girls who were ready to devote themselves to him or… just to be spiteful.

"He wouldn't do that."

"He wouldn't do what?" Ichigo looked at her, eyebrows set in a confused frown.

"Oh…huh? N-Nothing, just thinking out loud. Listen, I better be going now."

"Wait! Tsukiko-" But she had ran off. Ichigo rubbed the back of his head and sighed.

"Oh! Grimmjow-sama!" Ichigo's eyes diverted back to the group of giggling girls and they soon popped out of his head upon seeing Grimmjow's hand rubbing slyly over the girl's behind. Tsukiko wouldn't say anything if she was there but Ichigo was sure as hell going to do something about that. He won't let his friend be made a fool of like that. He angrily strode over, pushed surprised looking fan girls out the way and grabbed Grimmjow by his shirt collar, pulling him through the throng of girls and to one side for a 'quiet chat'.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Ichigo berated an nonplussed Grimmjow whose arms were folded in irritation at being rudely torn away from his legion of followers.

"I could ask you the same question."

"Isn't having a girlfriend good enough for you? Ya gotta be surrounded by airheads to boast ya ego?"

"So? What's it got to do with you?"

"It's got everything to do with me when ya making a fool of Tsukiko!" Ichigo's hands balled up into tight fists of frustration.

"If she had a problem with it she would have said something."

"She's not that type of person to go over and have a go at you like that, so I'm doing it for her!"

"Well isn't that considerate of you! How do you know how she feels. You're not the one who can read her thoughts, I can!"

"And considering you know what each other's thinking, you really are oblivious to what she's feeling."

"Bullshit! And I don't need the likes of you lecturing me on my relationship. There's nothing wrong with it!"

"Whatever. But let me warn you. Even Tsukiko can only take so much crap. Sure she's turning a blind eye now but if you keep going on like this, someone better will come along and she might not be able to resist. Just keep that in mind, Grimmjow." And with those final words, Ichigo walked away. Those words struck Grimmjow hard.

'She wouldn't do that. She loves me.' But that sounded doubtful in his mind. They hardly spend anytime together and it bugged him. All the time he sees Ulquiorra being all lovey dovey with Orihime every single day to the point of nausea but Ulquiorra was getting some love either way and he wasn't. Even when he and Tsukiko spent what little time they had together, she was always busy doing something, either her homework or going to stupid band practice with her stupid band. He can forget even getting intimate with her because she made up excuses and always flinched whenever he touched her. Maybe Ichigo was right. Maybe someone else had come along. Someone else had came along.

Hiro.

This all started after she met that bastard and he knew what he was up to. He had seen him hanging around wherever she was. She never noticed but he definitely did.

'He ain't gonna get her.' He resolved to himself.

"Grimmjow-sama, are you alright?" His thoughts were interrupted by a shrill voice. Looking down, he saw a member of his fan club looking at him with starry eyes.

"Yeah, just fine." He said before walking past her, leaving her and the rest of the group looking after him in confusion.

Music travelled into her ears, toes twitching in time to the heavy drum beat as she lay on her bed, reading one of her many books, earphones plugged right into her ears. Peace and quiet. That's all she needed after such a hard day at school. She occasionally looked over at the clock to see time quickly passing by every minute. The only few moments she had to really just slow down and relax just a little, doing what she loved to do best but there was still something creeping to the front of her mind, disturbing her peaceful mindset and it wasn't someone she should be thinking about.

Hiro.

Ever since that day, ever since his stunning chocolate brown pools for eyes gazed warmly at her, she had not been able to get him clear out of her thoughts. It was bugging her real bad since the only person she should be thinking about was Grimmjow.

'I am with Grimmjow and yet I think of Hiro… Am I really that bad a person?' The book was closed shut forcefully and lay on the pillow as she got up to sit on the edge of her bed, head bowed low. Her white bangs drifting over her knees, making invisible patterns over her black trousers.

'Why am I thinking like this?'

'Thinking like what?' Her intrusion of her thoughts scared her half to death, making her fall forward on her face. Her MP3 player lay forlorn next to her with the lead of the earphones wrapped over it like a skinny scarf.

"Heh, did I scare ya? Ya really need to brush up on ya senses." The familiar voice teased from above her.

"My senses are just fine. Just surprised me when you intruded in my thoughts."

"Your thoughts, my thoughts, it's all the same to me." He grinned, walking over to her.

"Grimmy, what are-" Tsukiko twisted herself over onto her back before Grimmjow landed quite forcefully on her waist, knocking some air out of her. He smirked broadly at her like a hyena before his leaned over her. His hands slid up arms up near her head and held them in place. Her nose tickled as his cerulean bangs wafted over it and his blue eyes twinkled with such mischief and playfulness.

"Time to have a bit of fun at last. Pineapple's gone chasing hollows so he won't be back for a long while." She frowned at just what he was insinuating.

"I don't have time-"

"You never have any fucking time!" He banged his fist hard onto floor in a sudden frustration, making her jump in surprise.

"Grimmjow…" He suddenly gave her a serious look.

"Ya not going anywhere tonight. Ya staying here with me and we're gonna do what I planned for us to do for weeks." Brushing away the loose strands of hair from her face before delving down, lavishing her cheek with quick, light kisses.

"I-I can't…I have to go…"

But the breathtaking gasp that escaped her lips when he moved to her neck only made him more determined to carry on.

"Doesn't sound like ya want to go anywhere right now." He smirked at her.

"Please, Grimmjow…" Wrists struggled under his vice like grip as she bucked underneath him, trying to throw him off.

"Mmmm, struggle some more. Makes it more interesting." His hand slid slowly underneath her jumper, caressing her smooth stomach. Tsukiko flinched at the sensitive touch.

"Please…stop it…"

His hand slowly slid up further.

"Stop it…"

Further it went, drifting over her bra. Alarm bells were ringing loud in her head.

"Grimmjow, stop it!" A swift push on his chest with her foot and it was all over. Her heart was beating a mile a minute. Neither of them exchanged a word, not a single word as they both just sat on the floor. She was so afraid to look at him or say anything, knowing that her rejection had dented and angered him.

"I-I-I'm sorry-"

"Go." He said coldly, his head tilted down to look at the floor.

"What?"

"Go! Go see ya fucking friends!! Obvious that they're more important than I am!" Is that what he thought? Well she was certainly giving that impression.

"They're not. OK, I will stay."

"Are ya deaf?! I said GO!" He roared at her. Her mouth just hung open in shock at the harshness of his words. Sighing, she slowly scrambled off the floor, adjusting her clothes, before collecting her violin case sitting by her wardrobe and left the room.

She slowly walked through the bustling night crowd of people, a carrier bag of sweets and other goodies in it, swinging by her side, her violin case swinging on her other side. Trying to get on Grimmjow's good side with such sentiments. Band practise was, as usual, lively and fun and the buzz of the upcoming party in two weeks time was very exciting and nerve racking but she couldn't concentrate properly. What Grimmjow had said to her hours earlier was still bothering her. Was she really putting it all before him? Did she really give him that impression? If she did, it wasn't intentional. Going back to a semblance of a normal life was going to be hard to do, but now Grimmjow was added to the mix, disrupting it more than she had anticipated. Trying to do her daily routine whilst also trying to find time to spend with him was proving to be very difficult and now he was annoyed and frustrated.

'No, I just need to give it time. Just…give it some time.' Her carrier bag dropped to the floor as she absent-mindedly collided into someone.

"Oh, sorry." She muttered, still in a daze as she bent down and started collecting the various food items and putting them back in the bag.

"It's alright."

A hand lay on top of hers and gently squeezed it. Her eyes made their way up the person and settled on those familiar brown eyes.

"Hiro? W-What are you doing here?" Mildly surprised to see him as she quickly slipped her hand out of his grip. Her heart was racing inside her chest, threatening to leap out at any moment.

'This is the last thing I wanted.'

"Just came back from my friend's apartment. What are you doing out so late?" He said, helping her up off the ground.

"Meeting some friends."

"You know, it is not safe for a beautiful girl like you to be out so late by herself." His eyes sparkling at her as she couldn't help but give a slight gape at him before composing herself once more.

"Ermmm, yes, well, I better be-" Before she could make her quick escape, his hand latched onto her elbow and pulled her close to him, closer than she would have liked. The faint scent of aftershave wafted up her nose and registered in her brain for future reference.

"As I said, it's not safe for you to be out so late. Let me walk you home." his voice was low and calm but it was more like a order than a polite request.

"Oh, well, that's-" Her protests fell on deaf ears as he led her by the elbow down the pavement, through the hustle and bustle of the crowds. She just allowed herself to be gently pulled along, her mouth ajar in surprise but all through her mind the same thoughts were repeating over and over again.

'This is bad. This is bad.'

'This is really bad.' she thought to herself as the pair walked down the lone path of the park. Streetlights dotted on both sides, lighting up their way. This was definitely not the way to her house but then again, he didn't know where she lived…did he? After a while she finally plucked up the courage to speak to him.

"Ermm, Hiro?"

"Yes?" He said, his eyes looking straight ahead of him.

"This is not the way to my house. I think it would be best for me to turn back now."

"Hmmm I guess I should state my real intentions." He sighed.

"W-What do you mean, real intentions?" Fear trickled down every string of nerves in her body.

"I just wanted to talk to you, just the two of us, alone. Get to know you." He quickly turned his head and flashed her a toothy smile.

"B-But why?"

"I dunno, you're just really interesting. There's something about you that I can't quite put my finger on but there is something really intriguing about you."

How she was violently blushing right then. The things he was saying were so embarrassing.

"A-Ahhh…ok." she managed to splutter out.

"So what's your family like?"

"Family? It's just me and my mother."

"No brothers or sisters?" She shook her head.

"What about your dad?"

"He's dead."

"Oh…I'm sorry. That was silly of me."

"No, no, it's alright. How about you then?"

"Me, my mom, dad, my younger brother and sister and my older brother."

"Wow, that seems nice to have a big family."

"Yeah, it's alright I suppose." They turned a corner and headed what seemed to be deeper into the park.

"So how old are you?"

"15." He gasped a little.

"Hmmm, high school student. Man must be tough."

"Yes I suppose it is." She paused. How old was this guy because it sounded like he was not at school.

"How old are you?"

"20"

'20?!' She thought in surprise but then she glanced up at him out the corner of her eye and saw that indeed, he did look like a man of his twenties.

"You play the violin?" He pointed to her violin case, bashing against her knees.

"Y-Yes, I'm not that good though."

"I'm sure you are. If you play as beautifully as you look then I'm sure your great at it." He ended that sentence with a flash of sparkling white teeth. Tsukiko felt her face heat up and quickly looked out on the path in front of her.

'Why does he say all those things for? It is so embarrassing.'

"Do you like sweet things?" He suddenly changed the subject

"Huh?" She said in confusion, not prepared for such a question.

"Because you had a load of sweets in your bag."

"Yes, but they're not for me, they're for my-my boyfriend."

"The guy with the blue hair, who looked ready to kill me that time at the snow-dome."

"Ermmm, yes, that's him." He noticed a tinge of sadness in her voice and decided to press on the matter.

"Doesn't sound like your happy about that?"

"What? I am happy, it's just…just that we're going through a difficult time at the moment and these are peace offerings." She rustled the bag of sweets.

"I guess all couples go through difficult times in a relationship, but I can't understand why with you. You seem like a really lovely girl and beautiful to boot. He's really lucky to have you because any guy would be desperate to find a girl like you." Now she was really blushing. Doesn't he ever stop with the compliments?

"If I ever found a girl like you, I would treat her like the princess that she deserved to be, give her anything she desired, and most of all, love her with all my heart." She stopped in her tracks, purple eyes wide in surprise at what he was saying. Hiro noticed that she had stopped and saw the look spread across her face.

"That was if I found a girl like you though." He reassured her. She looked a little sceptical and proceeded to walk, keeping a little distance between them, thinking about what he had just said.

'Did he really say that?' she glanced over at him.

'Hiro…what are your intentions?'

The familiar row of houses and the flash expensive car of the snobby neighbours across the road from her house were at last in her sights. So many times when they came across a neighbourhood had she wanted to just say that they were there and he would leave and she would make her way to her real house. She really didn't want him knowing where she lived but that was just stupid. He wasn't stalking her, she just happened to coincidently see him every single day. They stopped outside the gate to her house, an silence which felt like an eternity, lingered in the air.

"Well, this is me now. Thank you for walking me home."

"The pleasure is all mine. I hope we can do this again sometime."

"Errr, yes, I suppose." She said nervously, her violin case tapping against the side of her leg.

"Well, goodnight." He grabbed hold of her free hand and to her embarrassment and horror, brought it to his lips and he gently kissed the back of her hand.

"Goodnight… Tsukiko-chan." It all happened so slowly, like time had stood still. The words dripped out of his mouth like sweet honey and those eyes of his sparkled right into hers. No matter how hard she tried to tear her gaze away, she couldn't do it, she couldn't do it. It was so hypnotic. She felt her hand slip out of his and drop limply to her side, their eyes not leaving on another.

"Tsukiko-chan?" She didn't notice his hand rise up to her face, only did she feel the warmness of his hand brush slightly against her cheek did she regain her senses and her movement.

"Bye." She flung open the door and quickly ran into her house, closing the door behind her, preventing herself from seeing that face anymore. She leaned back against the door, breathing heavily, so confused at what happened. For that moment, she was lost in his eyes, not aware of her surroundings at all, in her own world. Just the two of them. It was all so wrong to be feeling like that.

"Tsukiko? Are you alright?" She snapped out of her thoughts and looked up to see her mother looking at her, magazine in her hand, in concern.

"Oh yes, yes I am fine."

"Ok, dinner's on the kitchen table."

"Alright, I'll just go and sort my things out." She swept past Miho and rushed upstairs to her room, desperately needing to collect her thoughts and her composure but as soon as she opened her door, she was met by a sight she didn't want to be met with.

"G-Grimmy? You're still here?" She closed the door behind her and put her case by her wardrobe. Her body shivered unconsciously, feeling the cold reiatsu that was threading out of him, knowing that his mood was more than just his normal anger. He just stood in the middle of her room, not uttering a word.

"Have you had any food?"

He still didn't answer, just flexing his fingers out.

"I bought you some sweets on my way back. Your favourite ones are in there too." She cautiously went around him and placed them on her bed, before opening up her drawers.

"Is there something wrong?"

She suddenly found herself pushed up against the wall, an iron grip on her wrist, pinned against the wall, whilst her chin was being firmly held between his large fingers. Those words just made him snap and she knew now that he wasn't just in his loud angry self like he was earlier but progressed onto the more dangerous cold, silent anger, the violent anger which she feared so much.

"Did ya have fun with ya friends?" His icy glare piercing her shaking purple eyes.

"Y-Yes. What is-"

"Did you even go to see ya friends or was all that some rouse to throw me off the scent?!" His grip on her wrist tightened slightly. She looked at him in confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't lie to me! You reek of that Hiro bastard! And I saw you both! Very cosy from where I was standing."

He saw them!

But why was she getting worried about that? He just walked her home, that was all. But the expression on her face betrayed her thoughts. Her eyes diverted away in embarrassment and shame.

"Heh so it's true."

"No, it is not like that. He just walked me home."

"If he only walked you home, why did he kiss ya hand and why do ya look so fucking flushed then?!" She let out a small gasp. Her face was indeed flushed looking. This is what she was afraid of. It was innocent. OK maybe the kiss on the hand was too far but it wasn't as if he kissed her on the lips.

"It is not like that-" She protested but was cut off when he pulled her face forward, pressing his lips hard against hers. Her body shook with fear, not excitement since the kiss was not his usual playful fieriness but matching his cold anger. His tongue roughly slid around her mouth and teeth clashed together painfully and the grip on her wrist was unbearable. She just wanted him to stop, to stop being this way as she struggled underneath him.

To her relief, he pulled away but gave her a hard glare.

"Don't forget who you belong to, woman." He released her wrist and strode over to the window, getting ready to leave.

"Gr-"

"And don't even consider leaving me for someone else… 'cause you'll live to regret it." He flung open the window and jump out. Her eyes were wide in shock, looking at the open window where he jumped out of a moment again. Those words shot straight through her like a cold sharp ice shard. She knew exactly what he meant by that. He didn't have to say the exact words to know what he was saying. 'Leave me and you're dead.' That's what it meant. It was a twisted sort of love. Loving someone so much, that they couldn't have them then no one else can. She knew that he wouldn't hesitate to harm her if he snapped. And that scared her to death. She slid down the wall, holding her head in her hands in despair, wondering how she was going to sort out this mess and now most of all, wondering how the two of them were going to sort out their problem.

Not the best chapter I've written, I apologize. Hmmmm, let me tell you peeps. For all those that hate Hiro, believe me you'll be seeing a lot more of him in the next chapters.

Next Chapter: Hiro seems bent on having Tsukiko for himself and starts to play dirty in order to do it, Grimmjow confides in Ulquiorra (shock horror) and the stress seems to be getting to Tsukiko.

Merry Christmas everyone!! And a Happy New Year!! Next chapter in the New Year!!