'Is there a rarer being, Is there a fairer sphere; Where the strong are not unseeing, And the harvests are not sere; Where, ere the seasons dwindle; They yield their due return; Where the lamps of knowledge kindle; While the flames of youth still burn.'- Edmund Clarence Stedman
Ichigo let out a heavy sigh, setting down the last of Grimmjow's boxes on the teens bedroom floor, looking around for the bed but finding nothing. "Hey Grimm! Where's your bed?"
"Why, want me to pound ya into it?" Ichigo looked over at the door where Grimmjow was standing, his arms crossed over his chest and Nnoitra snickering in the living room of the new apartment.
"Maybe one day, but I mostly just want to sit and relax. Don't forget, I've got to do this all again tomorrow Grimm."
"And I told you that you didn't have to come." Ichigo just shrugged, deciding to lean against the wall as he used his shirt to get some air on his face, giving up and just pulling the damn thing off. "Well, maybe you did." Ichigo opened one of his eyes to see Grimmjow's eyes, practically smoldering as Ichigo set his shirt over one of the boxes.
"Yeah well, I'm just a nice boyfriend I guess." Ichigo gave Grimmjow a smirk and unhitched himself from the wall, standing in front of his blue haired boyfriend. "And all I require as payment is a kiss, fair enough deal."
"Fucking hell Berry, do you have any idea what you're saying, or has the heat gone to your head?"
"I have a rough idea of what I'm saying," Ichigo reached up on his tiptoes and pressed a kiss to the others lips, "and you never did answer me about the bed." Grimmjow's smile started eating his face again.
"Getting a new one, the old one got too lumpy for my liking." Grimmjow grabbed the back of Ichigo's head and pulled his lips back for another kiss, this one lingering much longer.
"Grimmjow, I'm leaving. I've got a date with Harribel." Starrk poked his head into the room, his bored expression never really leaving his face as he informed his friend and turned to leave again. "Don't forget all the shit you've still got to do today."
"Whatever Coyote." Grimmjow pulled his lips away from Ichigo's, restraining himself from trailing kisses down the others jaw, neck and chest. "Fuck, I have to go to the furniture store. I'll drive you back to Snowlfakes I guess."
"How are you planning on getting the mattress up here and set up Grimm?"
"Nnoi and Yam are still here. They'll do it."
"Or I can lie around on your couch and wait for you to come back and help out. It's not like I have a bed-time."
"School tomorrow Berry, and I don't think Snowflake will be too happy about you staying the night. Pretty sure he'll damn near try and kill me." Ichigo just shrugged his shoulders then walked around Grimmjow.
"Fine, I'll see you tomorrow then. I'll bring you over to my place on Wednesday. Bye Yammy, Bye Nnoitra."
"Later Berry."
"Kurosaki." Ichigo gave the two friends left a two finger salute before heading out of Grimmjow's apartment, his violin on his shoulder and his skateboard under his arm.
As Ichigo rolled down the sidewalk on his skateboard, weaving in and out of the suit wearing business men as they rushed to get home he pulled out his phone and took a deep breath. His eyes traveled down to his phones screen before he opened up his voice mail and lifted the phone back to his ear.
"Hello Mr. Kurosaki, this is Mrs. Yori, I'm calling you about the audition you have with the Disney harmonic orchestra here in Japan. Your audition date has been moved up to February fourteenth at three o'clock sharp. You will be expected to be there for two and you must have two audition pieces, one of your own composition and the other of a Disney composition with the same arrangement. Please call us back to let us know if you can still make the date or if you're going to cancel. Have a nice day."
'I can't believe I got that call yesterday. Fucking idiots have to call on a stupid Saturday. Now I have to get to Disney headquarters Tokyo on valentines day, that's just not going to work Ichigo. You should just go in the day before, maybe two- fuck no, there's no money for a hotel room. And I can't ask Yuroichi for help again, the only reason she took me to the last one was because I was a guest and being invited in and they paid for everything but meals. Disney wont do that for you. Dammit! I need to learn a Disney song! Fucking shit now I need to choose.' Ichigo let out a sigh and stopped for a red light, bopping his head up and down to his iPod music. 'I wonder if Grimmjow is going to understand.'
'DEBBIE JUST HIT THE WALL! SHE NEVER HAD IT ALL! ONE WORKOUT A DAY! HUSBANDS A C.P.A.! HER DREAMS WENT OUT THE DOOR! WHEN SHE TURNED TWENTY-FOUR! ONLY LOVED JUST ONE MAN! WHAT HAPPENED TO HER PLAN? SHE WAS GONNA BE AN ACTRESS, SHE WAS GONNA BE A STAR! SHE WAS GONNA SHAKE HER ASS, ON THE HOOD OF WHITE SNAKES CAR! HER YELLOW SUV IS NOW THE ENEMY-' Ichigo cut off 1985 by Bowling for Soup by raising his phone to his ear, smirking as Rukia just started talking.
"Ichigo, you so need to come over right now. Byakuya just got back and there's stuff here that you have to see now. The person who dropped it off, she says it's all yours or something. Where are you? I'll come pick you up."
"Rukia, what are you talking about? Are you alright?"
"Ichigo get your ass over here and quick, you understand me?"
"Fine Rukia, I'll be there in… fifteen minutes." He heard Rukia growl in annoyance but he just couldn't get there much quicker. All he could do was change his destination and sigh; what was a five minute trip turned into a fifteen minute trip if the lights were on his side.
Ichigo let out a deep sigh as he got to Rukia's house, a scowl marring his face as he saw a large flatbed truck with something large covered on the back. He glared at the truck as he made his way to the front door, tossing his skateboard onto the pristine lawn so he wouldn't have to bring it inside the stiff doctors house.
He only had to knock twice before the door was ripped open and Ichigo was sucked inside. He was pulled down the familiar hallways, feeling like his head was spinning until Rukia pushed him down into the couch in the sitting room and she promptly sat down beside him.
"Rukia, what the bloody hell is going… on." Ichigo stopped himself as he looked across from himself. The woman looked like she was paler than paper, her skin ashen and the look on her face filled of shame.
Ichigo knew exactly who it was, he didn't know the woman's name, but he knew who she was. His jaw instantly tightened and he moved to stand, he didn't want to face her again, not after all the shit that had happened. Ichigo moved himself, getting ready to stand up before the woman stood first.
"Please, Mr. Kurosaki. P-please don't leave. I know you must not want to see me, I'm sure that this is hard to you- but please just imagine how hard this is for me."
"What's hard for you? You got to see him again, you got to hold him and you got to hear his last words, to tell him you loved him. And because of him I didn't get that!" Ichigo stood up, his yell pushing the woman back down. "What more do you want to do to me? What more could you possibly do to wreck my life? I'm finally getting back on my feet, I'm finally being able to move on and you just think you can show up." Ichigo knew tears were spilling from his eyes, his body almost shaking.
"Well you still had your mom to look after you. I don't have another hus-"
"My mother died when I was eight! The only thing I got out of that death were her last words! Now what do you want with me?!" Ichigo didn't bother cleaning the tears from his eyes, he didn't need some woman telling him that he still had a mother when he didn't. He didn't need to see her face again and remember all that pain he'd felt right when his family had died.
"I-I didn't- I'm sorry. I'm just screwing up all over aren't I?" Ichigo remained silent, not allowing the snide comment he had to slip out. "I came here, Mr. Kurosaki to try and atone for what my husband did. I know I cannot give you back your family, no matter how much I wish I could. I talked to child services about your financial situation back in September and they told me that you were living with a family, they directed me recently to an apartment building that you must have moved out of. Another teenager walking out of the building with a box directed me here.
"You can sell it to pay for school if you wish, or you could drive it if you drive. I've had it detailed and a fresh coat of paint has been applied. But I want to give you a car that's been in my family since my parents bought it." Ichigo's scowl came back and he tilted his head up.
"What?"
"I have more then enough money from my husbands life insurance policy and I got it fixed up to give to you to help you with school." Ichigo didn't know what was going on, he had no idea why the woman married to the man would be giving him a car. "I'm not leaving until you accept my gift Mr. Kurosaki. The car's value is worth more then enough to get you through at least a couple years of school if you sell it, or you could drive it to work or from home to school."
"Why?"
"My husband, he was in the wrong. He ran a red light because he was careless, and he took away so much that might have helped you. I've also got some applications to scholarships that might help you with school. Also, I am willing to help you in any-"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Pardon?"
"Why are you doing this now? It's been almost a year since the accident. Why are you choosing now to do all this?" Ichigo looked up, his scowl gone and just a mixture of emotions on his face.
"One of the last things my husband asked of me, was to make sure that I don't let you go without an education if you want one."
"So you think giving me a car, a death trap that my family died in it's like, to me to appease your dead husband?"
"Ichigo." Byakuya spoke up from the corner of the room for the first time, his tone warning.
"I'm sorry, that was over the line of me. I just don't understand."
"You don't have to. I've given the legal documents and application papers to Mr. Kuchiki, all you have to do is sign them and of course fill out the applications. I wish you the best of luck Mr. Kurosaki, and thank you for accepting that this is something I need to do."
The woman stood to leave, her hands clasped in front of her as she gave a slight nod. "I play the violin." The woman stopped and looked at Ichigo, a raised eyebrow. "I try and play every night from ten thirty-nine to eleven, but recently I've been missing days, or starting a minute late. It's what I've done to keep them a part of me, so I understand that it's something you have to do for closure. Th-thank you Mrs. Jaclyn." Ichigo stood up and extend his hand to the woman, his pride refusing him to allow a hug but his pride also saying he had to acknowledge what she'd done for him.
"Your welcome Mr. Kurosaki, thank you for accepting this." Ichigo nod his head, holding back the furious tears that wanted to spill from his eyes. He watched as she got up and left, her figure disappearing through the front door with the click that could just be heard from the sitting room.
"Ichigo, are you-"
"I'm fine. I'm just… I don't know what to do." Ichigo lowered himself back onto the couch and took a deep breath, looking down at the stack of papers on the coffee table, his head in his hands. "Byakuya? Do you have any ideas?"
"It's her way of saying she's sorry. You might as well take it, use it to get to school and your auditions." Byakuya sat down across from Ichigo, as composed as ever while the teens mind was running a hundred miles a minute with thoughts. Rukia sat herself down too and looked between the two, she didn't know what she could do for her friend or what her brother was thinking about.
"Ichigo, would you like me to get you a drink?" Ichigo shook his head and looked again at the papers, a shiver running all over his body as he thought about just reaching forwards and signing those papers.
"I understand that you can't afford the insurance, Ichigo. If you'd like I'll cover the insurance for you for the first year."
"Byakuya, I honestly can't accept that. Besides, I doubt I'd drive it the only reason I need to use a car is for getting to auditions on time."
"Then I'll have the car under my name until such time that you can acquire it, and you will use it whenever you have an audition you need to get to. Deal?" Ichigo looked up at Byakuya, the others deep blue eyes steadily staring at Ichigo, knowing that the teen was going to accept the offer.
"Byakuya, what did I ever do to make you like me so much?"
"You broke up with my sister. And I know you're meant for great things, so I will invest in you for the rest of your life if I must." Byakuya reached forwards and grabbed the car papers, both Ichigo and Rukia watched as he pulled out his own pen and lowered it to sign his name. "You may use the car as you see fit and park it wherever you'd like. I'll take care of the insurance and extra gas money if need be."
"It should be fine Byakuya, thanks." Byakuya nod his head and set the papers back down. "I guess I'll have to put that into the glove compartment." Byakuya nod his head and Ichigo let out a bit of a sigh, reaching forwards to grab the applications. "I sometimes wonder how my life is going to turn out if these scholarships don't pan out."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Ichigo, they bumped up your date?! That's brilliant!"
"No it's not Yuroichi! I have to learn a Disney song by the fourteenth! That's suicide to pick anything with real difficulty by that date!" Ichigo was just about ripping his hair out as he walked around in a circle in the music room, "That's not even the beginning of it! I don't have any Disney songs on sheet music, I'm going to take at least a day of hard working to listen to the damn song a million times as I write it down."
"You need to calm down a bit Ichigo. What's your favorite Disney song?"
"I have too many."
"Alright, movie then." Ichigo thought about it for a moment, having decided to walk back and forth from wall to wall with his violin bow in his hand.
"Aladdin."
"Okay, what's your favorite part of which movie?"
"The first I guess, where Aladdin is stealing the bread and all the royal guards are chasing him. So, One Jump Ahead?" Yuroichi shrugged her shoulders.
"Why not? It's a technical piece if you transcribe it right I can look it over for you once your done and make slight changes if you think it needs it." Ichigo stopped at the board, his bow pointed up at the top of the board with Grimmjow's name written.
"What's his name doing in here?"
"He came in and sat in on one of my classes this morning. I'm sure he was skipping History or something, but he seemed to have an appreciation." Ichigo's nervousness washed away and he couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh.
"Huh, I'm going to head to the caf. for the rest of lunch. I'll see you." Ichigo replaced his bow in his case and left the room with the strap over his shoulder, making his way to find Grimmjow and tell him of his poor news, hoping the other would just talk for a few minutes and calm him down.
It was loud, plain and simple. His group of friends were sitting at the table right beside Grimmjow's and it was his only saving grace, Toshiro's relationship with Ulquiorra must be getting serious. Ichigo sat himself down beside Grimmjow, facing the isle so he didn't have to worry about wiggling into the annoying bench seats.
"Hey Berry." Grimmjow leaned over, cupping Ichigo's cheek and pressing a firm kiss to the others lips. "Where were ya?"
"With Yuroichi, she helped me out with a bit of a problem I've had for the last couple days."
"What's up?" Grimmjow turned slightly so he was facing Ichigo at less of an angle, the orange haired teen turning fully sideways. "Something I can help with?" Grimmjow would have slapped himself, before he'd met the Berry he would have just ignored him. He was turning into such a caring dumbass.
"Can we talk about it today after school? It's really loud in here." Grimmjow nod his head, perfectly fine with talking to the other for the few minutes they had before they had to get going to their place of work.
"Yeah, why not?" Ichigo gave another smile and leaned forwards, pressing his lips more firmly to Grimmjows then before. Ichigo reached forwards slightly and grabbed the blue haired teens shirt, dragging him an inch or two closer until the other flinched back an inch with a wince and hiss.
"Shit, I'm sorry. Was it your chest? Fuck, I forgot all about it. Sorry." Grimmjow just rolled his eyes a bit, choosing to ignore Ichigo's apologies. "Dammit, why do I always wreck things?"
"Everyone wrecks shit Ichi. Why would you be any different?" Ichigo let out a sigh and leaned on the table, pooling his arm and resting his head. "You okay? Need me to take you home?"
"That might be smart, I should probably get a small nap before work tonight." Ichigo closed his eyes, smiling to himself as he felt the long fingers start moving through his hair, massaging circles into the side of his head. 'Uh, lets see. I still have that paper due, and now I need to transcribe this song. But I'm working until nine tonight and the grocery store fired me, stupid shelf junkies, but I got that job at the pet store in the back working with the animals. It'll probably take me three days to transcribe the song, I'll give myself four just incase. Then I've got another fifteen or so days to learn and perfect it, five days off to give my brain a rest from the violin, and the last two days of hard practicing while I'm in Tokyo. Oh god, I hope this works.'
"Berry… Berry… Ichi… Ichigo." Grimmjow gave up trying to catch Ichigo's attention that way so he just leaned over and attached his lips to the others neck swirling his tongue and giving the skin light nips before Ichigo pushed him away biting his own lip.
"Grimm, what do you want?"
"Want me to drive you home? You're not looking well." Ichigo nod his head, his face flaring pink as he thought of Grimmjow being so worried about him. "Alright, grab your shit from your locker and meet me at my car." Grimmjow stood up and head for his car, not really worrying about walking Ichigo out to his car.
"Hey Ichi, you alright?"
"Uh yeah, just too much on my mind I guess. I've been thinking about a lot for a few days."
"What's up?"
"I have two auditions on the fourteenth of February. One is for the Phil Harmonic orchestra and the other is for the Disney orchestra. Both auditions are in Tokyo, the Disney audition is at three but I have to be there for two, and the Phil harmonic orchestra is for six and I have to be there for five. I don't know if I can make it between the two fast enough. On top of that, I've mentioned nothing about it to Grimm yet." Ichigo let out a sigh before pushing himself up, rubbing the back of his neck. "I've just got a bit to sort out is all. It's a Thursday so I'll probably just miss the week and spend it in Tokyo. Yeah, I'll talk to you guys later."
"Alright Ichigo, call me up if you need to talk." Ichigo nod his head at Renji, knowing that the other would give good advice on what to do.
He walked out of the school building and down to Grimmjow's car, slipping into the passengers seat and sat back with a groan of pain. The orange haired teen was just so stressed that he felt like his muscles were going to snap like a violin string that had been pulled too tight. "You sure you're alright Berry?"
"I'm fine, there's just something we've got to talk about."
"Don't tell me our relationship's run it's course, I haven't gotten any ass yet." Ichigo looked over with a scowl, more pissed then ever that Grimmjow would choose that moment to be an asshole.
"This isn't some kind of fucking game Grimmjow. I honestly don't know what the fuck I'm going to do about the future. I have two auditions on Valentines day and they're both in Tokyo, I don't know how I'm going to get to both and which to go to if I can't make it to both. On top of that I don't even know what you were thinking for Valentines. I don't know what you're planning and it's driving me fucking insane because I just have no fucking idea." Ichigo let out a sigh and sunk into his seat, hiding his face in his hands as Grimmjow pulled the car into a parking lot and stopped it.
"Alright Berry, tell me what's going on a little slower, yeah?" Grimmjow turned towards Ichigo slightly, his eyes roving over the almost trembling form of the Berry.
"My whole future could be riding on these scholarships, it could be the death of me if I miss one of these. Either the Phil Harmonic or Disney could give me job opportunities on top of scholarships, and a scholarship from them would be a million times better then anything else, I'd have to refuse one if I won them both." Ichigo curled one of his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around the knee. "I just don't know what to do about it anymore because on top of the one audition I knew I had, I wanted to do something with you for valentines."
"Is that what this is all about? Wanting to do something with me?"
"Uh, yes? It's part of it." Grimmjow couldn't hold the scoff in, leaning over and pressing a kiss to the top of Ichigo's head since he couldn't get a kiss anywhere else. "What's so funny?"
"You fucking worry too much. I'll just come with you to the auditions. I could use a break from school and I'm sure you'll need a ride to the auditions if you're going to make it to both." Grimmjow leaned back into his own seat and turned the car back on, his smirk still in place as he pulled out of the parking lot again. "Just tell me where you live now Berry."
"You know the new apartment building uptown, the ones named Sanctuary?" Grimmjow nod his head and Ichigo nod in return. "There."
"What? How in the world did you get an apartment there?"
"The single room apartments aren't as expensive as all the other apartments, they don't actually say how expensive their single room suits are because they want students to use them and cant really turn away single grown people if they come looking. It's a pretty nice place, you can come in and check it out if you want, Lunch isn't over for another half hour."
"I'd love to, but it'll probably take me that long to drive back to the school with traffic and everything right now. I'll take a reign check for tomorrow though."
"Alright, movie at my place after school?" Grimmjow nod his head and started bopping his head with the radio.
As they pulled into the parking lot Grimmjow couldn't help the whistle that passed his lips, his eyes widening slightly as he slowed down, his eyes following the royal navy Fifty-five Mustang. "Holly- this really is a place for those kinds of people."
"Heh, funny story Grimm. That's uh, mine." Grimmjow's foot slammed onto the break and he turned his head to Ichigo, possibly getting whiplash in the process.
"What?"
"It was a gift as compensation for what happened last year. The woman was rather insistent about me taking it. I've had it for maybe three days now. Haven't driven it at all yet, Rukia drove it here for me." Ichigo ran his hand through his hair as Grimmjow pulled into the spot beside his. "I'm going to sell it if I need the money for school."
Grimmjow made a pained face, unsure if he'd cry or not if Ichigo were to sell that car without even driving it. "Ichi, you cant sell a car like that without doing anything with it first. I can think of a few things off the top of my head it needs." Grimmjow climbed out of his car and walked around to Ichigo's, his hands caressing the polished paint, glad that he just got out of the school and not out of work.
"And what would those be?"
"Fucking car sex for sure. You actually driving the damn thing anywhere. Showing all the fucking pricks at school up with it's glorious beauty. Don't forget driving through Tokyo to get to your auditions."
"Grimmjow, I'm not going to have sex with you in a bed right now. What makes you think I'm going to let you screw me in a car that belonged to the woman who's husband killed my family?"
"Wait a minute, we've established I'm screwing you? Cool, I knew it'd end that way but-"
"Grimmjow! Can your mind actually stay on task for more then ten seconds?"
"Probably not."
"I'm surprised you don't walk around with your fucking boner directing you everywhere." Grimmjow just shrugged as he leaned against the front fender, his arms crossed over his chest and overall looking very appealing to Ichigo.
"I made it through that birthday shower of your's, didn't I? Worst half hour of thoughts I've ever had to put myself through in my life." Grimmjow reached forward and grabbed Ichigo's elbow, pulling the other towards him but stopping him before Ichigo collide with his chest. "I could always get it up if-"
"If you even finish that sentence I might kill you." Grimmjow just scoffed and pressed a kiss to Ichigo's lips.
"Sure thing Berry. I've got to go, there's a big test in Math and I've got to get an A on it." Ichigo nod his head and moved away from Grimmjow, letting the other get back into his own car. "Call me later tonight if you want to talk. I'm going to be doing a bit of scholarship stuff, but it'll be a nice break from paper to talk for a bit." Ichigo nod his head again and waved Grimmjow off.
AN: Alright, sorry for the long delay of updating, I've hit a bit of a snag with writers block and volunteering for my school at the moment. Just a warning for the next chapter; there is smut.
As well as a video you must find on Youtube, here are the directions for that!
1: go to you tube homepage
2: type 'Pirates of the Caribbean Love theme'
3: click on the 13 minute option and listen to the song while reading the next chapter.
4: Imagine Ichigo playing that looking all sexy on a stage.
I hope you've all liked this chapter and I hope to see you again! Bye bye!