GREETINGS again, my friends.

This time I won't apologize for being slow on the updates - there is no excuse, except from the usual: I'm lazy and my muse isn't following procedure.

However, I think I've gotten some of the spirit back, thanks to a certain someone who surprised me with a "fanart" of Grimmjow/Keigo - thank you, Pri-TheBishounenPuppeteer ^^

Admittedly, I have a lot of reviewers to thank. I think I may need to work on a "thank-you" column soon. Though I want everyone to know that I value all of you ecually much.

I have written a short update just to let you all know I'm still around. I apologize for grammatical errors and such (like always) and I hope that this short chapter will keep you interested to keep reading. I am working on the next update as we speak, but I can't make any promises on when it will be finished (everytime I promise something, it goes down the drain anyway). So enjoy the reading!

Chapter 14.

GRIMMJOW P.O.V.

Leaning against the wall outside his bathroom, listening to the water spraying on a naked body, cleaning perfect skin and placing a new scent on the person inside, it took all of Grimmjow's will-power to not run inside and join his friend. He couldn't act on impulse, he had to step carefully unless he wanted to scare the boy away forever. But lord knows he was suffering. His own feelings had surprised him, and up until last night he had not wanted to entertain the thoughts he had of the younger male; he was certain that Keigo would escape from his grasp if he made a move too fast, and just looking at the brunette made him question if there ever would come a good enough time to make an advance. But that's part of what Grimmjow likes about Keigo - the naivety, the innocence, and the blushes could drive him mad. After this morning, Grimmjow also realized that he couldn't bare to lose him; he was so scared when he thought Keigo would reject him even before he made a move - and the sight of Keigo suffocating was... well, terrifying. What had caused such a reaction? Either way, Grimmjow realized he would have to play a completely different role if he wanted to get closer to Keigo - he would have to learn how to fish, coz if he couldn't get Keigo to bite then it wouldn't happen at all. For now, Grimmjow would use his charm to make Keigo interested, to give him the courage to act on impulse instead of hiding behind his fears. And if Keigo didn't take the bite, then it wasn't meant to be. Playing with his own feelings isn't something Grimmjow would normally do - when he wanted something, he'd take it; and when he got tired of it, he'd dump it. But this time was different. He couldn't do that to Keigo. For now, he would have to settle with friendship and entertain his dirty thoughts in his dreams.

When the water was shut off, Grimmjow hurried into his kitchen so to not be found dreaming outside the door - that would've no doubt scared Keigo. And after that it only took a few minutes before Keigo joined him by the table, all dressed in borrowed clothes and his still partially wet hair leaving wet stains on the t-shirt. At least Grimmjow could gloat in the fact that Keigo was wearing his clothes and carrying his scent - he absolutely loved how his clothes were too big for the younger male, and Grimmjow'sscent mixed perfectly with Keigo's own personal scent. He wanted to tell Keigo all of this, too, but he didn't think that 'you smell great, and you look absolutely adorable in my clothes'would make a good morning-conversation. They ate quickly and mostly in silence, then Grimmjow took a quick shower aswell, getting dressed in casual clothes and found a belt for Keigo to keep the borrowed jeans from slipping down his hips. Ah, but what a marvelous sight that would've been... and if Szayel was close by when it happened, Grimmjow could've gotten a poster of Keigo with his trousers down, coz no one is faster with the camera than the younger Granz-brother.

"Ready to go?" Grimmjow asked, making sure his cats had food and water before picking up his keys, glancing at the high-scholar leaning against his kitchen-counter.

"As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose." Yes, Keigo is still unsure of this whole arrangement, certain that he must be the worst and ugliest model there has ever been throughout the world history. But at least Szayel seems pleased, and that was the only thing that mattered. It's not like Keigo wanted a career as a model - he'd die of embarrassment!

"Then lets go!"

Making Szayel and Yumichikawait was not on their list of top priorities, for they would have hell to pay of those two perfectionists weren't pleased. That's why Grimmjow drove a tiny bit too fast, and Keigo'shand hurt badly from grasping the side-handle all the way to the studio. But the main thing was that they made it in one piece, and the pinkette and purplette weren't kept waiting for too long. Instead, the two males met Grimmjow and Keigo with creepy smiles and friendly comments, which was possibly even worse than if they'd been giving them a hard time for being five minutes late.

"Good morning," Szayel greeted. "We've got your clothes here, and Yumi is ready to put your face on, Kei-kun. Let's hurry this up, shall we?"

'At least', Keigo thought, 'I won't be forced into wearing a dress or something.' But you could never be too sure with those two...

::::

Keigo was mighty impressed by Grimmjow's self-made make-up (or whatever you call it) - it made him look like a completely different person; smoother skin (which made him look younger), more distinguished eye-markings (are those things tattoos?) and a jawbone was really the finishing touch - he looked perfect, and dangerous. Yes, Keigo was very impressed. He even felt a little jealous that Grimmjow was the perfect model, always knew what he was supposed to do, and did most things without complaints - Keigo wished he was more like his blue-haired friend.

After three hours in the studio with both Szayel and Yumichika fussing over them, it was time for a short break before going outside for the final shootings. It was obvious that the photographer and the stylist was pleased with their work so far (judging by their smiles, giggles and chuckles) but their behaviour was freaking Keigoout. The two kept looking at him as if they knew something he didn't, and it was vey unpleasant to be stared at like that. He wanted to ask Grimmjow about it, but the blunette seemed oblivious to it; or perhaps he was simply ignoring their behaviour. Come to think of it, Grimmjow was acting a bit weird aswell, what with ignoring Szayel and Yumi's obvious stares, andnot even asking why Keigo looked so bothered.

Dread washed over Kego as he connected the weird realizations - something terrible was definitely about to happen, and most likely it had something to do with this shooting.

'Oh my god, what if they really are going to put me in a dress!'

:::

With dread pitted in his stomach, Keigo accepted his fate and let Szayel and Yumi dress him. He kept his eyes shut tightly to avoid dying before it's too late to run out - he's fairly sure Grimmjow stands ready in the doorway to catch him if he tries, and this time he just mightbite his ear like he had threatened earlier. In fact, Keigo was so into chanting inside his head that he didn't feel the hands on him, fixing his clothes like professionals; he even shut off all the giggles and chuckles, which could only be a good thing not to hear. It wasn't until a low whistle caught his ears that he dared to open his eyes. Grimmjow was standing a few feet in front of him, eyeing him with wide cat-like eyes, all back in his human form yet dressed stylishly. The look he was giving Keigo made the brunette blush, and then there was this strange flashing light and both Keigo and Grimmjow grunted in surprise.

"Got'cha!" Szayel triumphed, grinning satisfactory with the camera held high in the air. "I could not pretend that I did not see that."

"Saw what?" Keigo barely whispered, startled and frozen on the spot.

"Shut up, pinky!" Grimmjow growled, glancing over at Keigo to make sure he was still alive.

"But I thought-"

"I said, shut up!"

"Fine!" Although, the smile did not leave Szayel's face, because he was certain he knew something the others refused to admit. "Shall we just get on with the shooting, then?" He left the room to pack the things he needed for this shooting, leaving the two models alone in the dressing-room.

Keigo was still in shock, wondering why he was so much closer to getting a heart-attack ever since he started hanging out with these guys. He was always so responsive to every little comment, probably misinterpreting them most of the times, and feeling guilty for coming to the wrong conclusion over and over. And also feeling shamefully mean for thinking they would put a dress on him - they weren't that mean, and Szayel would not waste away his opportunity to get this job (showing up with pictures of a transsexual would probably not benefit him all that much). So for doubting Szayel's professionalism (and Yumi's) Keigo felt extremely bad. They had given him clothes that were very nice, actually - though, it's easy to impress Keigo with clothes, because his sense of fashion is non-existent. But from what he could see in the mirror, he had been transformed into a fashionable, almost sexy-looking, young male. How was that even possible? He then remembered the look Grimmjow had given him, and the blush reappeared with a vengeance - could it be possible that his friend too had found his... kinda sexy? No way!

Glancing to where the blunette was standing, Keigo realized that Grimmjow looked like a shunned puppy - his head bent low and lips practically pouting, and with his side turned towards Keigo. Though, Keigo caught one blue eye still glancing at him, inspecting him from toe to top - and when that blue eye finally met his own eyes, Keigo's heart was performing a drum-solo in his chest. At first, Grimmjow seemed surprised to have been caught looking, but he steadied himself and cleared his throat.

"Uhm... It looks... good on you." Looking away, Grimmjow straightened himself up and hoped for the awkward silence to end.

"Eh..." Keigo couldn't help but feel relieved, but he didn't know why nor what he was relieved for. "T-Thanks."

"Yeah, well I ain't sure I wanna be on a photo with ya," Grimmjow continued, getting back into his usual calm and cool attitude. "You're gonna make me look pathetic."

"Are you kidding me?" Keigo shouted in disbelief, staring at Grimmjow as if he had gone insane. "You're sexier than any guy I've ever seen! I bet 80% of the male population of the world would be jealous of you! You can't even suggest that-" Keigo silenced himself by putting his hands over his mouth. Had he just said all of that out loud?

Meanwhile, Grimmjow was having a minor heart-attack. Never, not even in his wildest imaginations, had he ever pictured Keigo straight out claiming that he finds Grimmjow sexy. But he just had. and no matter how happy it made him feel to hear it, it was so much of a shock that he didn't know how to handle it.

"Uhm, I mean... Shit, I just... Eh, you know, I..." Stuttering like a fool, Keigo prayed that he hadn't said anything that would ruin what they had. Though, it would be his normal luck; ruining the only friendship he's had in the last couple of years, that would simply be the dot that makes the 'i'. He was trying to apologize for his choice of wording, but the blunette broke into a wide grin, effectively shutting down Keigo's brain for a few moments.

"So you find me sexy, ey." The easiest way to get out of this situation without making it uncomfortable was to joke and make the joke as honest as possible. Since Grimmjow finds himself sexy too, that shouldn't be so hard to do. "I didn't know you have such a good taste." He winked playfully at the brunette.

"S-shut up!" The smile tugging at Keigo's lips was evident, though he tried hard not to show it. However, he was eternally grateful for Grimmjow's easy-go attitude - it sure made it a lot easier to move on from such an embarrassing statement.

A/N:

Thank you for reading - Please Review.

Both positive and negative comments are welcome - pointing out my errors can only make me better.

Namantos