Chapter 25: Preparations
"Ichigo!"
At the sound of his name, Ichigo lifted his head blearily from the table. "Yeah?" He mumbled, squinting at the person walking towards him.
"What are you doing here?"
"Yo Inoue, Ichigo's still half-awake so you aint gunna get any decent response from him."
"Shut up."
"See." Grimmjow stood up with a sigh. "See you in a bit Ichi."
"Where you going?"
"Shower."
"'Kay."
"Wanna join me?"
Ichigo snorted and returned to his cereal as Grimmjow smirked and walked off. It wasn't his fault he was tired, honestly, it was Grimmjow's. Something clicked in his mind and he sat up straighter. "Orihime?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you here?"
"I asked you that first!"
Ichigo's face heated up and he looked away. "I stayed the night with Grimmjow."
"Oh."
She looked away quickly as Ichigo shifted uncomfortably, he knew she still had a thing for him and this situation was just making it even worse. "So you gunna answer my question?"
"Oh yeah! Ulquiorra invited me round."
Ichigo's spoon dropped in his bowl as he stared at her shocked. "He what?"
"Well you said to say hi to him so I did and we started talking. He's actually quite a nice guy! Did you know that he..."
Ichigo stopped listening as soon as the word 'nice' left her mouth. Nice?! Who in their right mind would describe Ulquiorra as nice!
"... he doesn't say a lot of nice things about Grimmjow though..."
"What does he say?"
Orihime blushed. "Promise you won't tell anyone?"
"Promise."
She giggled and sat down. "He says Grimmjow's not very sociable as his brain didn't develop that far and all he's capable of is animalistic tendencies..." She tapped her chin in thought. "... like a monkey!"
"Grimmjow isn't like a monkey!" Ichigo hissed indignantly. "If anything Ulquiorra's not capable of any emotion! He's like a damn robot!"
"That's because he doesn't like you either."
"What I ever do to him?!"
"Well... apparently you're either really tough or an idiot to put up with Grimmjow. Ulquiorra thinks it's the second reason, and he has no idea how you can still walk after all your 'alone time' with him." At the sight of Ichigo's face she hurried on. "But I think it's the first reason!"
"I'm gunna beat the shit out of that prat!" Ichigo stood up fuming. Why the hell would he say that to Orihime! That bastard's gunna pay! Reaching the door he yanked it open and Starrk walked in.
"Thanks Ichigo."
"Starrk."
He yawned before looking at the orange head. "Bad morning?"
"Ulquiorra."
"Yes?" Ichigo whirled around and scowled at the man stood next to Orihime. "Did you want me?"
"You! What the hell have you been saying about me and Grimmjow?!"
"Just the truth."
Starrk pulled Ichigo back as he went to pounce on the expressionless man. "Lilynette!"
"Yes?" The girl bounced into the room smiling.
"Go get Grimmjow would ya? Ichigo needs someone to calm him down."
"I calm down once I've punched that bastard!" Ichigo growled.
Ulquiorra sighed. "Maybe I was wrong."
He stopped struggling. "What?"
"Maybe you and Grimmjow are suited for each other."
"... Huh?"
"I mean, you're both neanderthals really."
"Oh that's it! You're gunna regret that!" Ichigo yelled, breaking free of Starrk, only to be caught around the waist. "Lemme go!"
"C'mon Ichi, if anyone's gunna beat him up, it's gunna be me."
"Grimm!"
"Let's go."
"Hey! Put me down! Grimmjow!"
The others watched as Grimmjow dragged the yelling teen out of the room. "See, neanderthals."
Orihime looked up and frowned. "That's not very nice Ulquiorra."
"...sorry."
Starrk raised an eyebrow at his apology. That's a first, never seen him apologise for anything.
Orihime smiled again and jumped up. "Ok! Let's go!" She grabbed his arm and dragged Ulquiorra from the room. Starrk swore he saw a small smile on the man's lips as they left.
"What the hell is going on?"
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"Grimm!"
"What?"
"Why'd you drag me off?!"
"You're really sexy when you get mad."
"...What?!"
"I said you're really sexy when you're mad."
"Baka!" Ichigo hissed, shoving at Grimmjow's chest, barely moving him an inch.
"You know that's only turning me on more."
He groaned and pressed his head into the older teens shoulder. "I hate him."
"Why?"
"Because I do."
"Sure you're not jealous?"
Ichigo snorted and looked up frowning. "About what?"
"Him and Inoue."
"No!"
"Sure? It's cool if you are."
"Grimm I'm not jealous. I only think of her as a friend, besides if she can do something about Ulquiorra than I'll happily bless them." Ichigo sighed and pulled Grimmjow's head down. "The only person I want is you."
"Good, because I don't intend to share."
"Mmmm." He lent forward and kissed Grimmjow.
"Well, well... What have we got here?"
Grimmjow pulled away and scowled. "Fuck of Nnoitra, can't you see we're busy?"
"Yes, that's why I interrupted. It looked like you were eating the poor kids face off." He answered innocently.
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Shut up Nnoi, go bug Nel or something."
"Can do strawberry." With a wave of his hand he walked of and Grimmjow turned to him frowning.
"What?"
"Nnoi? Since when are you two on such friendly terms?"
Ichigo shrugged. "He's ok really, a bit volatile but I like him."
"Volatile?"
"Yeah, violent, unpredictable, all that kinda stuff. It all describes Nnoitra."
Grimmjow smirked and placed a finger under Ichigo's chin to lift his head up. "Glad someone likes him."
"Shut up Grimm."
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...
Gin hummed to himself as he put the food in the oven, cooking always helps him relax. Sighing he closed the oven door and sat down.
"Gin?" A hesitant voice called and he looked up.
"Hey Ichigo what's up?"
The orange head smiled before walking in the room and taking a seat next to him. "Can I ask a favour of you?"
"Depends on the favour."
"Well... me and Grimmjow were talking last night..."
"You two actually talk?" He chuckled as Ichigo's face turned bright red, the kid really was fun to embarrass. "Anyway, please continue."
"Right. We were wondering if we could, you know, sit down with Aizen sometime and try to sort this out with him."
Gin raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You really wanna try that?"
"Yeah. I was hoping you could be there too, to help us."
"Of course I would. But you gotta get him here first."
Ichigo shifted in his seat. "That's why I'm asking a favour."
"Which is?"
"A dinner party essentially."
"Really?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I want to sort this out and make Aizen see I'm not using Grimmjow and have no intentions of leaving him."
Gin sighed. "I'm gunna regret this but fine... let's give it a shot."
"Really?"
"Yeah why not."
"Thanks Gin!" Ichigo smiled brightly before leaving.
"What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?"
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"Grimmjow!"
He looked up from pinning Nnoitra down and smirked. "Hey Ichigo!"
Nnoitra, seeing an opening, kicked Grimmjow in the stomach, sending him backwards. "C'mon, that all you got now?"
"That was dirty."
He snorted. "Please. It aint my fault you lose any sense of caution when the strawberry makes an appearance."
"Shut up."
"Do you two ever stop fighting?"
The brothers looked up at the frowning orange head with hands on his hips and Nnoitra sniggered. "Looks like you're developing into the perfect little housewife."
Ichigo growled and kicked him in the chest. "What was that?"
"Nothin'."
"That's what I thought. Housewife my ass, I aint no girl."
"Awww you'd make a good wife Ichi."
Ichigo frowned and Grimmjow. "Do you want me to kick you too?"
"You can try."
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Idiot." He sighed before kicked out half-heartedly.
Grimmjow smirked and caught his foot, dragging him closer. "That was pathetic."
"I wasn't trying."
"Right."
"If you two are gunna start making out at least let me leave the room before I throw up."
"Shut up! We're not gunna make out!" Ichigo yelled, blushing violently and pulling away, much to Grimmjow's amusement.
"That's no fun Ichi."
"Not you too!"
Nnoitra stood up and grinned. "I think he's losing interest Grimmjow."
He sighed dejectedly. "Oh no. How will I go on?"
Ichigo growled and moved away from the laughing brothers. "You two are so annoying together!"
"Here that Grimm? You're being classed as 'annoying' now."
"How cruel! I think he broke my heart."
Ichigo made a frustrated noise. "That's it! We aren't having sex tonight Grimmjow you can count on that!"
Grimmjow straightened up as soon as the words left his mouth. "Aww c'mon Ichi, you know we were joking."
"Fuck you, I meant what I said."
Ichigo growled before walking off. "Don't be like that Ichigo!"
"Oops." Nnoitra offered.
"Whatever. See you later Nnoi, I should go calm him down and find out what he wanted."
"Pussy."
"What?"
"He knows your weakness."
"Which is?"
"Sex."
"Shut up." Grimmjow rolled his eyes before following the retreating orange head. "Ichigo wait up!
Nnoitra watched them go with a smirk. "You're whipped Grimmjow!" He yelled, smirking when he got a finger from the blue haired man in response.
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"C'mon Ichigo don't ignore me."
Ichigo frowned and turned around. "Are you done teasing me?"
"Yes." Grimmjow smiled and pulled Ichigo against his body. "Sorry."
"Idiot."
"You love me really."
Ichigo sighed and leaned against him. "I talked to Gin."
"What he say?"
"That he'd help us with Aizen."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Seems he wants to solve this as much as we do."
"Mmm."
Ichigo pulled back so he could look up. "Do you think it'll work?"
"Don't know, even if it doesn't, Aizen isn't coming between us."
"Good."
Grimmjow leant down and kissed Ichigo softly. "I love you."
Ichigo smiled. "I love you too."
"Are we really not having sex tonight?"
Ichigo pulled away and chuckled. "Way to ruin the moment."
"Well?"
He grinned and looked up suggestively. "You gotta find a way to make it up to me. Then maybe, I'll consider it."
"You're such a tease."
"You love it."
"Can't deny that." Grimmjow murmured closing the distance between them and kissing the orange head again, only pulling away when he needed air. "C'mon let's go find Gin and sort this out."
"Sure thing."
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"That was fun Ulquiorra!"
"It was."
Orihime turned around and giggled. "We should go out again!" She clapped her hands together. "Have a picnic at the park."
"If that's what you want."
"Can we invite Ichigo and Grimmjow? You three need to get along better."
"I sincerely doubt that will happen."
"Please? At least try."
He sighed in defeat as Orihime's eyes widened with innocence and glee. "I suppose..."
"Yay! Thanks Ulquiorra, you're the best!" She giggled and hugged him quickly. "I have to go now but call me ok?"
"Sure." He murmured, his cheeks slightly flushed.
"Bye!"
"Bye." Ulquiorra sighed and watched with a soft smile as Orihime walked down the street before turning and waving as she turned the corner.
"So you finally worked up the nerve 'eh?"
He turned with his face set in its normal, expressionless features to the smirking Grimmjow. "What do you want?"
"Nothing much. Just want you to say thanks to Ichigo."
"And why would I do that."
Grimmjow's smirk widened as he lent forward. "Because he's the one who suggested to Inoue to come say hi to ya."
"Why would he do that?"
The blue haired man shrugged. "Dunno. 'Cuz he knew you liked her and she liked him. Guess he figured if she liked you, not him everything would work out."
"Fine. Where is he."
"Gone home."
Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow. "Yet you're here."
Grimmjow snorted. "Jeeze, we don't need to be around each other 24/7. We'd only end up annoying each other. Besides I'll see him tomorrow."
"Orihime wants us all to go on a picnic."
"What? You two, me an' Ichi?"
"Yes."
"Sounds like fun."
"You really want to do that?"
"Why not? It'd be interesting." Grimmjow pushed away from the wall. "Tell me when and I'll talk Ichigo into it." He said, walking off.
"Well this should be interesting..."