Because I don't know you yet,
And you're more than upset,
About how the whole thing came through,
So as you light your cigarette,
I'll chance a little sweat,
And go to the TOMFOOLERY,
Asking if the jackass has a clue.
She stood by the door, that same look on her face as always, yet inside, she felt awful. She held a contemplative look, with scowled lips and furrowed brows, yet inside; she just wanted to go.
He lay in bed, reading, that same look on his face as always, and inside, he felt the same feeling that his face showed. He held a blank look, with uncaring eyes and grim lips, and somewhere inside, he didn't really wanted her to go just yet.
Rukia's fist was poised at the door, clenched and balled, waiting to be thumped against the wooden door.
Should she tell him?
Should she help him?
Should she even go to him?
But more importantly, did he want to?
All these thoughts were in her mind, and she figured that he was the type that really didn't want to talk about it. At least, not now, not right now where they barely knew each other, and that they really didn't know what to say once she comes a' knocking at his door.
Should she apologize?
Should she just talk?
Should she give him a teasing smirk, say to stop being moody and pretend that nothing ever happened?
More importantly, though, did he want to listen? Did he want her to say those or just go and fuck off?
Ichigo's head turned away from the book in his hands for a slight second, and glanced at the shadow that was dancing numbly at his door.
Rukia's fist was poised to knock; she held a grim look and her fist slowly came back to her side, unmoving now. She backed away from the door, and then fled down the stairs.
He knew she was there, but what's more, he knew by the thumping sound that was going farther and farther now, that she wasn't there anymore.
He turned back to his book and flipped a page silently, uncaring and a little glad, as he should've been.
But she promised.
XxXxXxX
25 minutes ago
XxXxXxX
Lunch passed by, tense and slow, but it passed. And all they've been doing up until now, were playing board games.
"Are you going now, Rukia-chan?" Yuzu asked her.
Rukia was startled at the sudden question, since everybody was quiet at the start of the game. She picked up her piece and moved it 5 times, as the dice instructed, and stopped just beside the jail spot. "Uhmm," Rukia looked up at the clock. "It's about 3:03, and I think I have to go to someplace."
"You think?" Karin asked, turning away from the TV and to the violet-eyed girl.
"Yes, well, I'm not quite certain if that person will allow me inside his house, but- yeah. I need to ask another occupant there something personal-err, important."
"Oh. Okay," Yuzu smiled. "So I guess we should clean up now?"
"I guess so," Rukia started slowly. "I'm sorry you guys for going so suddenly, the next time I come here-" she hesitated at her words and the little girls in front of her gave her puzzled looks. "We'll do something fun." She decided, thinking that those words were safe.
Karin raised a brow at her, suddenly. "Should we tell Ichi-nii that you're going?"
Rukia tensed. "I'll… tell him myself."
XxXxXxX
Present
XxXxXxX
A loud step suddenly comes thumping down the stairs, and Karin and Yuzu pause to see Rukia walking down the last step of the staircase.
The violet-eyed girl smiles sheepishly as she reaches the floor. "I guess I'm going now,"
Yuzu nods, but then pauses. "So, are you coming back next weekend?"
"I'm not sure, but," Rukia stops at her sentence. "-but… I want to help."
Yuzu smiled at her. "I'm sure you will, Rukia-chan."
"Did you tell Ichi-nii?" Karin asks her again. "Coz I didn't hear any door opening."
"Err," Rukia looked at the door through the corner of her eyes. "He's busy."
"Do you want us to tell him? He'll be worried, you know." Yuzu says.
Rukia gulped down the thing called dread and looked at the girls. She swallows. "If he asks,"
"Okay then." Yuzu nods again.
"Well, um, bye." the girl said awkwardly, opening the closet door to fetch out her coat. As she made her way towards the door, Yuzu slowly got up and opened the door for her, the dirty-blonde-haired girl's smile suddenly turning a little sad.
"Oh, Yuzu, don't worry," Rukia's eyes softened. These girls were so sweet, screw Ichigo for being such a terrible brother. But then again… she sighed inwardly, cutting of her thoughts and giving Yuzu a small smile. "When I come back… we'll… we'll play house."
"No, that's not it," the younger girl says as she shakes her head. "But, um, hey Rukia-chan, you don't have to worry about us, just take care of yourself," she informs her, trying to be cheerful. "You're the first person to ever try anything and actually make it- and I guess what I'm trying to say is that we appreciate you two pretending for us." She was smiling now.
"Wha-" Rukia begins to ask, a puzzled look on her face before her words dropped. She stops dead at her sentence, the little girl's words dawning on her. "W-wait!" her eyes widened for a split second before she briskly turns around in her heel, to the door, just to see Karin waving.
"Later, Rukia-chan,"
Then the door softly thumps close.
Rukia's eyes were still wide as she inhaled and exhaled rather fiercely. The look on her face was a mix of distress and idiocy.
They knew?
XxXxXxX
The two words haunted her as she dragged her feet out of their gate and unto the sidewalk.
Well, it wouldn't be much of a surprise since they lived together and Ichigo wasn't really the most outgoing person on Earth. He seemed more like a couch slob rather than the type who happily went outside his house to play soccer.
It was a little sad, though. That they knew that he smoked, and he was so hell-bent on keeping it all bottled up from them. So much that he decided to just ignore her prying about his past.
The Kurosaki family. You'd think, by the way they were so nonchalant and seemed to forget about yesterday's troubles, that they were so laid-back. But that was just because they were so good at hiding their emotions and keeping it restrained, all tucked away in the back of their minds as they tried to forget about it.
And right now,
"You're the first person to ever try anything and actually make it- and I guess what I'm trying to say is that we appreciate you two pretending for us."
It made her guilty, that she wasn't doing anything now. That she didn't talk to Ichigo. But it wasn't her fault. Actually, yes it was. But she couldn't just go in there and talk to him, say it wasn't his fault and say that everything was going to be alright. Because it won't be. She couldn't just burst out into his life and pretend that they were childhood friends. Because they weren't.
Things like these, it needed time. And guidance.
Lots of it.
XxXxXxX
Steam scattered out of the shower, fogging the mirrors and damping the counters. It felt refreshing, not too cold or hot, just right. It cut down the cold air that was supposed to meet him, as his feet stepped out of the shower and into the open, only a bath towel draped low across his waist.
He walked across the hallway and into his room, opening the door and grabbing the random clothes that were thrown at his bed. He pulled the pants up, pushed the shirt down and adjusted its position on his chest.
He grabbed a towel and rubbed it against his hair, walked down the stairs, and opened the door leisurely.
"What?" Ulquiorra Schiffer spoke; his eyes still closed whilst he dried his hair, as though they needn't be open for something as trivial as greeting company.
Rukia looked at him; her fist poised to knock on the door again when he opened it, and instead collided against the boy's stomach with a soft 'thump'. "Oh, you showered." She said awkwardly, observing his slackened hair and drawing back her poised fist.
Green eyes opened. "Yes." he answered curtly and to-the-point.
"I didn't know you'd be the one opening the door." Rukia began, giving him an uneasy look.
"Neither did I," His gaze seemed to shift inside the house, to where several strings of curses and 'fucks' could be heard.
"You're awfully quiet, aren't you?" she raised a brow.
His attention drifted back to her, and he simply stared, as if saying 'What's your point?'
"Where's Nel?" Rukia finally asked, sighing and giving up on making small talk. It was just impossible.
"Somewhere." He muttered back, not really caring.
Her brows furrowed at him a bit. "Are you going to let me in? I need to talk to Nel."
"It depends. What is your business here?"
She scowled at his response, and then just elbowed his stomach softly, pushing him to the side and invited herself in.
Ulquiorra stared at her back quietly and proceeded on sitting himself on the couch that was settled at the middle of the room. The 'family' agreed on putting it there, rather than some of the member's suggestions of interior decoration. Probably because the main provider of the household was too lazy to walk all the way to the 'family' room, and they intended to argue about the pettiest of things.
Meanwhile, Grimmjow growled lowly, crouching as he continued to peek and scour from underneath the sofa. His eyes peered at the dusty regions and he stuck his hand inside, growling lower when he couldn't feel a cool, rectangular shape.
"Dammit, where the fuck did that puss leave the remote?!"
"Did you check underneath the sofa pillows," Ulquiorra's voice suddenly intruded, and the azure-eyed boy could only snarl at him.
"Yes, I have checked underneath the goddamn sofa pillows." Grimmjow answered through gritted teeth, annoyed at his cousin's being-helpfulness. Of all the days to pick, why on HIS Saturday and why when they were together? It was unbearable whenever the green-eyed rock ordered him around at the excuse of 'trying to help'. "And it's not fucking there," he added, matter-of-factly.
"His room," the green-eyed boy suggested again, his tone of voice coming out as a statement instead of a question. He didn't need question marks; it wasn't really how the boy did things. The only reason he decided to help his so-called 'family member' was because the television set was the only thing that provided sensible entertainment around here. And it'd be god-forsakenly, Lord help us- aggravating, to see the blue-haired maniac cursing around the house for how many times now, whining and groaning about a lost remote.
"Did you check his room," he said again.
"Hell no," Grimmjow frowned, standing up and dusting his fingers on his cargos. "Why the hell should I go into his room? Who the fuck wants to go inside that fruit-loop's room anyway?"
"Then I suggest you stop being so squeamish about things, and continue on."
"Suggest this," Grimmjow growled, and gave his cousin the middle finger.
Ulquiorra scoffed, crossing his arms. "Simpleton. You ought to have more diverse comebacks than that."
As the two continued to argue, quite calmly if she were asked for her opinion, Rukia took a look around, observing the two cousins' home. It was… normal, so to say. The furniture matched like a disfigured rainbow, and there were paintings nailed to most of the wall. The plants weren't really considered as ordinary, but everything was normal and average, and most importantly, NOT a circus tent.
She turned on her heels, looking back at the bickering relatives. "Doesn't the TV have buttons on it?"
The two stopped momentarily, and Grimmjow looked up at her, blinking. "Kuchiki. How the hell did you get in here?"
"I materialized," Rukia replied sarcastically.
"Well, fuck. That's a real possibility, you know, since your so fucking short and all." A grin was starting to split into Grimmjow's face. Rukia rolled her eyes.
"Yes, by all means, insult the short people."
The grin broke and Grimmjow scoffed. "Well now that you're admitting it and shit, it ain't no fun anymore." He muttered, going about the room and turning things upside-down, literally, to search for the lost remote. "So, what're you doin' here?"
"I wanted to talk to Nel." Rukia said, and narrowed her eyes when Grimmjow stopped, and gave her a look as if she were demented.
"Kuchiki, Veggie-head doesn't live here." He stated slowly, making sure that the small girl got the point.
"I am aware of that," Rukia resisted the urge to slap her forehead. "But I thought that maybe she was visiting you guys."
"Visiting? Why the hell would she visit if we see each other every fucking day in school?"
"What?" she gave Grimmjow a sudden confused look, her eyebrows knitting a little. "But- but-"
The blue-haired boy gave her the same 'you-stupid-or-sumthing?' look once more. "But- but- what? What the hell is your problem?"
An angry sigh was let loose by Rukia as she dismissed Grimmjow's rude and mocking, though somehow sincere (doubt that. A lot.) question. "Nevermind," she scowled, her glare drifting a little at Ulquiorra who simply stared back.
You do not scare me the slightest, girl.
Was what seemed to radiate from his startling green eyes. She sighed again, not really expecting the pokerfaced-rock to apologize, because that would be the same equivalent as Ichigo smiling and Grimmjow crying.
"Where's the lady's room?" Rukia opted, massaging her temples.
Grimmjow tripped on the rug at the sudden question. "What?"
"Where. Is. The. Lady's. Room." She glared at them, emphasizing each word.
"The what?"
"The restroom, Grimmjow, the restroom." Ulquiorra translated for him, resisting the urge to throw a vacant magazine up at his cousin. Were they really related? Seriously? Are you kidding him?
"I know, dammit," Grimmjow growled. "I was just startled at her fucking question." He made a face, pointing at the door to their left with his chin. "S'right there."
"Thanks," Rukia murmured, walking to the room and closing the door before a scream erupted at her throat.
The two heads snapped up.
"What's it now?" Grimmjow growled, making irritated noises about people interrupting his supposed Saturday. Seriously, why the fuck now? Why not yesterday, when he was up and snarling? A sudden thought crossed his mind and he paused. "Holy shit, is Nnoitra in there?!" he turned to the door, a shocked look on his face.
For the umpteenth time since they knew each other, Ulquiorra sighed, annoyed by the azure-eyed boy's random outbursts. He stood up on his feet and approached the bathroom door, choosing to end this nonsense. His hands twisted the doorknob open, and his eyes fell to Rukia, giving the impression that he was glaring at her for all things bad and filthy.
"What is it, gir-" his eyes trailed off, courtesy of the remote sitting at the edge of the toilet. He looked at Rukia again, who merely looked back at him with shaken eyes.
SPLOOSH!
The girl stayed silent and Ulquiorra said nothing.
Yes, yes, of course- just what the household needed, a crap-ridden remote control. By the way, who the hell would do that? Seriously? Who in the freaking world, was that nauseating? Then again, it's the freaking world we're talking about, so of course there's a lot of trash. Trash-people. Garbage. Shit.
Lord give me strength.
Not that he really believed; it was just an expression.
A second later, Grimmjow appeared, standing tall beside them with a disgusted look on his face.
"Did you pee on it?"
Dear God.
"No, I did not pee on it!!" Rukia snapped from her shaken look and growled angrily, resisting the urge to slap the boy across his head. She was a guest, after all.
Grimmjow paused, his face contorting. "Well, there ain't no way in hell I'm getting that." he muttered, walking away to the kitchen to get the broom and replace the T.P'd remote control.
Ulquiorra grunted, turning around and leaving the bathroom, hands in his pockets. Rukia paused, hesitating to walk away.
"Should… should I flush it?"
"No." the green-eyed boy said directly, reaching the couch and sitting on it as if this kind-of-stuff happened everyday. His hand fingered a magazine as an afterthought to distract himself.
"O…kay." Rukia murmured, taking one last look at the sickening view before she sat herself near the far end side of the sofa.
Grimmjow came back, a frown on his face as he sat down on the couch's arm-rest. "This better be fucking long enough," he growled lowly, proceeding to poke the dull end of the broom against the 'on' button.
The TV blinked open, a picture appeared, and moans sounded at the speakers.
Grimmjow dropped the broom and Ulquiorra kept his gaze at the magazine, his pale ears twitching at the sound. Rukia gaped, amethyst eyes wide.
"Fuck."
Which was exactly what was happening at the screen.
Because this-kind-of-stuff almost happened everyday, and they were pretty much used to it. And a dog was also used to not crapping everywhere and women were also used to not shutting the fuck up and this 'family' was always doing things like this. Yeah, right.
Grimmjow shoved Rukia aside and the girl yelped with a small "Aah!" his hand quickly patted the carpet, searching for the broom and instantly pushed a button to a different channel.
"Smooth." Ulquiorra muttered. Grimmjow growled.
"Shut up. Like you helped with your goddamn angsting."
"… is it over?" Rukia's voice was resounded quietly, her hands covering her even larger violet eyes.
"Yeah," Grimmjow answered, rubbing the back of his neck, unknowing of what else to say. "Fucking Nnoitra."
"Umh, okay…" the girl removed her hands from her eyes, slightly glancing at each boy to check up on their facial expressions. Sickened and indifferent. She cleared her throat, gaining their attention. "Err, soo…"
"So shouldn't you be leaving?" Grimmjow turned back towards the TV. "Veggie-head's not here, in case you didn't get that the first time."
Rukia scowled as she crossed her arms, her uneasy mood changing drastically. "You don't want me here?"
"No, not really." Ulquiorra answered, still keeping his gaze directed at the magazine. Worse Crimes Throughout Karakura: 12th, Bank robbery at downtown Rukongai Street, two guards killed, about a shitload of victims. Hm.
She sniffed, then scoffed. "Well, fine," she stood up, a defiant look on her face before she quickly sat right back down, the bold guise turning into a guilty one as a reminder ran through her head.
"That fucktard Nnoitra won't pop out at the door when you leave, so don't worry 'bout it." Grimmjow said, as if that was really considered as comforting to her.
Rukia's face scrunched. "That's not it."
"Then what?" the azure-eyed boy's attention flickered to her for a moment, before returning blankly to the screen.
"Err…" She looked sideways.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Spit it out, your whinin's fucking blockin'-out the sound."
"It's Ichigo," she admitted finally, scowling at Grimmjow's back, defeated. "I didn't really come out here to see Nel, if I did, I wouldn't have come here to your T.P'd remote controls and porn channels." She looked at the two. "No offense though."
"Oh my fuckin'-" Grimmjow groaned at her. "Not this shit again."
"What?" Rukia raised a brow. Did they know that she was going to say this at the very start?
"I missed CSI."
She growled and slapped the azure-eyed boy's shoulder, who in return shoved her once more.
"You don't slap me." He snarled, sloping off the couch's arm-rest and beside her.
"Apparently," Rukia scoffed, rolling her eyes. "But I'm being serious here."
"About what?" he turned to her once again.
Rukia sighed tiredly. "Grimmjow."
"You don't fucking say?" Grimmjow grinned dryly. "What's wrong with Strawberry this time?"
She hesitated, looking at him with startled eyes. "I didn't do anything!" guilt clenched her heart and that was exactly it. She didn't do anything.
"I didn't say you did!" Grimmjow growled at her. "Jeez." That really helped, Grimmjow. Not.
Rukia huffed, sighing and rubbing the sweat off her forehead. "No, it's nothing." She said. "But you're his friend-"
"Friend? Ichigo?" Grimmjow looked at her disbelievingly, cutting her off. "When the fuck was I labeled his friend?" Grimmjow frowned. Oh, so now him and Carrot-top were friends? Well, obviously nobody in his shoes- screw that, socks, would be happy with the fuckin' acknowledgment. Who'd be sissy enough to be 'friends' with anybody? Friends were for girls. In the man world- well, in his man world, there was only 'hanging out with other people' and 'knowing other people'. How the hell did he become friends with the orange-juice anyway?
"At the rooftop- that one time, you know…" she said frustratingly, trying to recall back the memory of when they first met.
"The rooftop-" he suddenly scowled at her. "Just coz you fucking said it doesn't mean it's true," he scoffed. "And what the hell have I done that said that we were friends in the first place?"
Rukia glared at him. "You know- that one time."
"Yes, oh my God that-one-time!" He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm and a mocking look of surprise adorning his face. "We had SO much fun, didn't we? OhmyGod I cannot believe I forgot about that-one-time! Little fuckers!!"
"I get it," she gritted her teeth in annoyance. Ulquiorra snorted.
Well, that version of Grimmjow was unsurprisingly disturbing.
"But you're his friend… sort of."
Grimmjow laughed at this. "Fuck yeah, 'sort of'." He grinned bitterly, because there was nothing to grin happily about when you're Saturday was interrupted by a lost remote, the porn channel, and some girl in your school trying to convince you that you were somebody else's friend when you really weren't- or didn't want to be a 'friend' for that matter.
"Acquaintance?" Rukia raised a brow to him, a tinge of hope hidden in her voice.
"You wish." Grimmjow grunted back.
"Buddy?"
"No."
"Pal?"
"No."
"Companion?"
"Shut up."
"You're at least companions. You're in the same class, for Pete's sake."
"I said shut up."
"Associates?"
Grimmjow abruptly turned to her, snarling at the girl with feral blue eyes. "I'm gonna be his friend if you can prove three little shitty facts about it. Now shut the fuck up-" He gave a low growl. "Because your voice is blocking out the sound."
Rukia stared back, a retort ready to be thrown out of her mouth when it suddenly died at her throat, a little intimidated by his gaze. The little gaze that almost said 'I'm gonna kill you if you don't shut your mouth at the next 5 seconds' and the little gaze that reminded her that they weren't just some guys she could always fool around with.
Grimmjow grunted. "Fuck, now I missed it." He seethed at the screen. Oh hell yeah, life couldn't get any more tedious than this. He turned to Rukia, who gave him a startled stare. "You're quiet now, aren't you?"
The girl snapped back from reality at his accusing look, wiping off the nervous sweat that dripped small down her forehead. She gave the azure-eyed-boy a glare. "Shut up, I was thinking."
"What the hell is there to think about? The world isn't flat, gravity's here, and the fuckin' sun is actually a star. Thereyougo." He said back.
"Not that," she scowled, leaving out the word 'idiot' purposely. "I was thinking about the, quote "I'm gonna be his friend if you can prove three little shitty facts about it." Unquote."
Grimmjow's face bent. And Ulquiorra made a little noise, covering possible amusement.
"Yeah, soo…" Rukia began, a wicked smile twitching at her lips. "First fact: …" she paused, staring upwards to recall her memory. "Uhm, there was the one time where you shook hands."
Grimmjow snarled at her. "You forced us."
"So? It still counts. And there was that one time where you joined in with him in football."
"What?!" He snarled at the girl again. "It's fucking football, who the hell refuses to play the sport? Plus you threw your ass over there, y'know. And that freakin' tall guy."
She scowled. "Fine, it doesn't count. But there was the time when you helped him beat those seniors."
"Free bashing. Again, who the hell refuses those?" he replied with an obvious look.
"Tch," Rukia frowned. "The time where you two ditched first period together." She reminded him.
Grimmjow paused, his mouth opening to come up with a retort but died in the spotlight. He growled angrily, crossing his arms together. "Fuck. Doesn't matter, anyway. Still one more left."
The girl resisted the smirk crawling out of her lips, as right on cue, her brain rapidly regained pointless of memories stuck beside her mind. Screw spinach and elephants, arrogance was on a roll. "And that one time where you held him back."
"When the hell did I 'hold him back'?!" A sudden outraged look formed over Grimmjow's face as he stared at her disbelievingly.
"Don't deny it, Grimmy, you remember the time when you first met Renji?" she said.
"Who?" Grimmjow narrowed his eyes.
Rukia scowled. "The red-haired guy."
"Baboon-boy?" his brow arched a little.
"Um. Yes." Rukia dismissed the nickname, and the girl couldn't help but smirk now. "But nevertheless, let's see…" She paused, counting her thin fingers and looking thoughtful. "That's one- oh, two. No, three."
His mouth opened, then Grimmjow's face contorted into a twisted look. "You are gonna die today, Kuchiki!!" He shouted, jumping up to wring the girl's neck ruthlessly. Fuck her; he didn't want to help comfort that Fruitcup!! What was that punk, a freaking baby!? No way in hell was he gonna stoop that low, and this girl thought that she could just come up here and… and bet with him then fuckin' win!? Hell no!
Rukia's eyes widened and she scowled, slapping Grimmjow's hands deliberately. "It's your fault for making that statement!"
"Fuck the statement, I'm gonna kill you!" He growled, but stopped dead when the knob to the front door twisted open.
Holy shit.
OhmyGod, please don't be her.
No, not HER.
Her.
Halibel.
That scary bitch.
A slam was heard but the front door didn't open, instead, the back door did. Grimmjow flinched, then growled as the intruder stepped inside in just a matter of seconds. Speedy bastard.
"Oh, there's an outsider here." A voice drawled from the kitchen. Rukia stared up, her eyes meeting the back of a black-haired man. "And it's a girl," the man added from behind, tone a little amused.
Rukia blinked. How did he…? "Um, hello."
The man turned, and greeted her with a sluggish wave.
Grimmjow snorted, slapping Rukia's shoulder as 'revenge' before directing his attention to the dark-haired man. "If you're just gonna come and fucking waltz in here, you gotta say something first. What the hell is "Oh, there's an outsider here"?! I'll tell you what it is, it is freakin' creepy, man."
He shrugged in return, not really caring. "Okay."
"Yeah. Coz... coz, y'know, that is pretty freaky." Grimmjow trailed off. "So you gotta stop."
"Fine." He replied.
"Am I making myself clear?" Grimmjow said again, trying to sound threatening. Though that was kinda hard when the person you were talking to was kinda like- whatever, dude.
"Crystal." The man answered back slowly.
"Okay, then." The azure-eyed boy huffed, nodding his head in awkward approval.
The man nodded back gradually, and all was quiet until a small girl came trailing behind the door, muttering something about a "lazy asshole," before shoving a black binder to the man's chest.
"Stop forgetting the freaking binder!! It's important, y'know!!" she shouted at him angrily.
The man frowned. "I was going to go back and get it."
"Yeah, right." The little girl scoffed. "It was right beside that damned painting you got!! You didn't even know it was there!!"
"Whatever." The man replied casually. "Aren't you supposed to go home right now?"
"Go home!?" The brat exploded in metaphorical terms, not literally… "Your life depends- shit; MY LIFE depends on tha-"
The doorknob twisted fully and the front door opened, revealing another strange… stranger and cutting the little girl off
Rukia blinked and a dark-skinned woman with blonde hair came stepping inside the living room. The little girl stopped, gazing at the female with wide eyes before scowling eventually.
"Halibel." The man greeted with a blank look.
Grimmjow straightened up at the name, looking sullen as he kind of slanted down the sofa and crawled out of the room. He stood back up as soon as he hit a different colored rug, and walked the hell out of sight. Rukia's eyes followed him before he disappeared, staring wide-eyed.
No, don't leave me here!! Grimmjow, you bastard! –sniff- Ichigo, look what you made me do… assholes.
"He forgot the binder," The little girl said suddenly, ratting out the man with an accusing point of her index finger.
The woman shook her head. "Lilinette, you've said enough," Her gaze changed to the man. "And Stark, Aizen-sama is very strict about that, take heed that it may not happen again."
"Whatever." The man called Stark dismissed it with a wave, and sat himself leisurely between Ulquiorra and Rukia.
Halibel sighed inaudibly, walking across the room to the kitchen.
Rukia didn't really know what to say in this situation. She stared at the green-eyed rock through the corner of her eyes, who looked like the magazine he was reading was more important than her anxiety.
Well, this was more than awkward…
And like it couldn't get any worse, the front door swung open once again and in came a pink-haired individual with white glasses.
"Great news," he… she? He, Rukia confirmed, announced all of a sudden with a small smirk.
The occupants didn't bother to acknowledge the poor fellow, so it seems. But the poor fellow looked like he couldn't care less, and continued on as if he were talking to himself.
"They thought that they could hide the wire in a dead body, huh?" he shook his head and pushed his glasses up, the smirk growing a little as he prided himself on his work. His tone of voice sounded like he really wanted to pat himself on the back. "Such a shame. I though that the police would offer more challenge."
Another person came in, bumping into the latter pink individual.
"Quit talkin' bullshit," he… she… he… she? She, no, he- err, she! Yes, she. No, he. He. Yes. He said, snarling a little, though his teeth showed as though he was grinning. What was up with that? What was up with this whole 'family'? "Yer the one who went into the morgue and handled the small stuff, meanwhile I had to decapitate the friggin' guards so yer ass could come and go without getting whooped."
"You mustn't talk that way, Nnoitra." The pink-haired man said. "We shared our work equally."
"Yeah, yeah." He scoffed. "Say whatever you want, but I-"
"Hey, hey," Stark cut them off, looking forever nonchalant though a little bit irritated. "We have a guest. Shut up."
The pink-haired man looked around, eyeing the living room with observant eyes. "I don't see any- oh." He looked at Rukia, who bit her tongue. Something told her that this wasn't the time to say hello.
"Yeah, 'oh'. How the hell couldn't you see her?" The man called Nnoitra snorted. "So much for bein' a smartass."
"I couldn't see her because the sofa was hiding her small stature." He paused. "She's so short."
"Excuses, excuses." Nnoitra grinned, his tongue sticking out. "Ya sure you're supposed to be our-"
The pink-haired man scoffed, cutting off Nnoitra. "You didn't even realize she was there, hypocrite."
"Speak for yerself, I knew before Stark pointed her out and I don't pretty much care if I say anythin'."
"Well," the pink-haired man paused, a smile forming on his lips. Rukia blinked slowly, panic rising in her chest at the pause. Well what? Should she be glad that he was smiling? "I could always make her forget."
What!?
"NO. No, definitely no." Stark repeated firmly, pointing at the pink-haired man several times as though it was the same equivalent of stabbing him. "We will not make people forget their memories because you messed up your ass. No."
Rukia cringed, didn't they realize that she was sitting right there? They talked like they didn't give a fuck over people, like mention something about a person committing suicide and jumping over a bridge, and they'd say: "No, he should've shot himself or something, coz you can still survive if you jump off a bridge."
"Why not?" the pink-haired man mock-frowned.
"Aizen-sama did not order us to do so," Halibel spoke up from the kitchen.
"Yeah, and fact number one: You'd be scaring the shit out of her, and two: it's too messy. Honestly, how do you people go about everyday?"
"We're not lazy asses like you, Stark." Nnoitra pointed out with a slight grin. "And she already heard everything, so we might as well just do the damned thing."
No. Let's go with 'Stark', let's not be messy please, people. Rukia gulped, swallowing dread and opening up her mouth. It was either flee or be 'memory-wiped' and she did not want to be 'memory-wiped'.
"Is it this late?" Rukia said, her face letting out a forced but somewhat believable smile, and her eyes scanned the room airily, looking for a clock. "I-I should really be going now…" her voice hitched and kind of evaporated when all the faces turned to her.
"It's just 5 in the afternoon," The pink-haired man said to her. "No need to rush, it's not like we're going to kill you, am I right?" he smiled gently, though that could just be her brain playing tricks on her.
"Um, err." Rukia couldn't really say anything to that other than staying silent or screaming for help.
"Oh, yeah, helpful much?" Stark grunted at the glasses-wearing-individual, he motioned for Rukia to sit back down. "Relax, girl."
"Yes, the process will just take a quick second." The pink-haired man said again, still smiling.
"Be quiet Szayel." Halibel says.
Nnoitra suddenly sits at the arm-rest situated at Rukia's right, grinning and showing his teeth at her. The girl looked startled, edging closer to her left until she bumped unto Stark who said to "Stop playing around, Nnoitra"
Oh shit, she was trapped. Stuck. Trapped. Shit.
"Here Szayel," the long-haired man with his tongue sticking out says with a grin. "I'll hold her and-"
Rukia's violet eyes widened for a split second as she stammered out an excuse. "A… I- uh," Smooth, Rukia. The girl stands up with a strained expression, about to just Screw All Of This and run for the door until a boy with blue-hair suddenly pops up and blocks
the entryway.
Rukia gasped, about to have a teenage-heart attack.
"I'm fuckin' hungry." The blue-haired boy announces, and flinches a little at the sight of Halibel gazing up at him.
Rukia stared up at him, all wide-eyed and sweaty before snapping out of her horror-filled-vision. Oh good, it was just Grimmjow. The bastard's here. Thanks for ditching me, bastard. The girl grumbled in her mind, calming down a little now that she at least knew somebody. Ulquiorra was an exception, nobody got to know that green-eyed rock. You just see him.
Szayel smiled. "Good job, Grimmjow."
The azure-eyed lad looked at him like he was crazy and Stark yawned.
"Yep, I'm hungry too. Chinese or Italian, everybody?" The dark-haired man stood up, grumbling. "Like I give a damn, Italian it is."
"Fuck. Italian food… isn't that like, Olive Garden?" Grimmjow asked, though nobody answered him. His gaze fell to Rukia, raising a brow and giving her a 'what the hell happened to you?' look.
The girl was wide-eyed and panicky, almost breaking out into hyperventilation in a very graceful way, if that was possible. It was a miracle that a sane girl like her even made it like, 3 feet away from the door before the insane 'family' ganged up and… she didn't know, eat her, probably. She wasn't Italian, but then again, she wasn't sure.
I'm all right Grimmjow, thank you for ditching me. I'm very, seriously, fine.
"You gonna just stay there or sumthing?" he muttered to her.
"Are you going to do it?" she asked back, suddenly.
"Do what?"
"You know," Rukia gave him a leveled look, something that was miraculous to do after just being harassed by a bunch of weirdoes.
Grimmjow stared at her, wondering what the hell did 'you know' meant, then growled. "Yeah, yeah," he waved, walking after the girl "Just lemme eat first."
XxXxXxX
Extra
XxXxXxX
Rukia paused, chewing her food slowly. This was like the mother of all bad ideas, sitting here and having dinner with these weirdoes.
It was like they were keeping here her until they decided what to do with her, i.e.: kill her or let her join the pack, because, you know, she… overheard things. And Rukia wondered that if she'd promised not to tell anyone about it and even swear on her own grave that she wouldn't tell, would that make all these better and make her go? Or what if she mentioned it when she wasn't supposed to mention it, and it'd get worse? Then surely, they'll cut the freaky act and go cold-killer mode.
Or was this how they really are?
God forbid that. She suddenly felt sorry for their co-workers.
Rukia chewed and chewed, then swallowed silently, not opening her mouth and not saying anything.
Should she?
For a really crazy 'family', they were awfully silent on the table.
"Um, pass the risotto please," the girl says before she can bite her tongue.
Holy shit! No, stomach, what've you done!?
Before the girl could silently panic, the risotto was passed unto her. Rukia took some hesitantly.
Poisoned?
…
She placed it back on her side and took a small bite.
Nah, this was takeout.
"Pass the juice." Somebody says.
Rukia chews and chews, too caught up in her own thoughts.
"Pass the freakin' juice now." There was a thump noise as somebody banged on the table.
The dinner table clanks as forks hit against plates.
"Bastards."
Holy crap, I am so sorry for not updating in a long time. But then, yeah, writer's block and a lot of things happened… yeah.
Ulquiorra is so freakin' hard to write about. People expect him to be silent all the time, but in the manga, he makes a speech about how he can't feel emotions. I mean, what the hell? That is completely unnecessary, and yet- yeah. Anyways, everybody still loves him –happy face-
The rest of the Espada gang, I'm sorry if I'm not writing them properly? It's really hard because well, they barely said anything in the manga and I'm not really sure how to bring them out. The one that should cause you some -twitch-this-is-crap- are Stark and Halibel, I think.
So… well, yeah.
Hopefully, you'll know the last person in the extra. xDD I mean, how can you not? Well maybe you just don't, so yeah, whatever.
Anyways, I'm sorry this is like, too long. And somebody suggested that if Ulquiorra and Grimmjow were cousins and stuff, will the whole Espada gang come along?
And I was like, "Hell yeah!"
So thank you, if you're reading this! I don't know who you are and I've actually tried looking, but alas, it gives me a headache. But thanks a lot. Seriously.
Well, Gin and Aizen are- HAH! I almost fell for it. xDD I'm not gonna tell you C:
Looks like Grimmjow's kinda scared of Halibel!! Nah. Not really. You wish. xDD Grimmy's not scared, it's just like the type of relationship between a really kick-ass mother and her kid. Yeah. Well, no, Halibel's not really a 'mom' she's just the mother-figure in the 'family'. Note the air-quotes, since they're not really related. Well, Grimmjow and Ulquiorra are related in THIS story, not really in the Bleach storyline, but yeah. They're all there in one big house because they have to be. No, seriously, they have to. It's part of the story later on. So yeah, it's best to not figure out the 'family' until further on.
But this is the deal:
Halibel and Stark are like the main provider. They're not couples, mind you. Just the main providers.
Szayel and Nnoitra (for some reason I pronounce Nnoitra as Noitora) are roomates.
Grimm and Ulquiorra are cousins.
That is the people in the household, and the grown-ups are all related because they have the same job and they're on the same team. Get it? Like, they have to be there. However, Grimm and Ulquiorra are there because of later plans when they grow up. In the story, I'm not actually gonna write about it- unless you want to, though. Yeah, this is pretty long.
The whole family thing, btw, is based on rank. I'm not really sure whose top Dog, but I think you get the picture. xDD Well, I hope it is the right picture.
I'd be really angry if Grimmjow dies in Bleach. Does he? Coz I'd flip out man, y'know, freakin' flip out…
So review and alert please!! I hope some stuff in here makes you laugh.