A/N: grrrrrr... such sadness... writing sucks sometimes. I'm just glad I have your guys's thoughts to look forward to at the end of this piece. And on that note, I'd like to take a moment and thank you all so much for making writing and finishing my first GrimmIchi so memorable! *hugs all of you without it being creepy at all* heh. Also, if you guys want an epilogue, lemme know, and I'll do my best! I really hope you enjoy. Whew, two posts in one day, I'm exhausted, hope there aren't errors.

- Chapter Twenty-Four -

Ichigo sat on the edge of the plush king-sized bed, rubbing a hand over spiky orange locks, reading, and Grimmjow stood just a few feet away, the tall blue-haired man unmoving, arms crossed. The hotel room was silent but for a ticking clock somewhere.

Ichigo,

So I got this writing assignment for my specials class. I'm supposed to write down something I can't say out loud because I'm too chicken shit or some BS like that. I was going to write it to my mom but that was depressing as fuck so here it is. Not that you'll ever read this.

There were ink dots littering the next few lines instead of words, some of which had pierced the paper where it looked like Grimmjow had tapped it over and over. Then Ichigo saw it; three words scrawled angrily.

I love you.

Copper eyes widened, Ichigo feeling like the wind had been knocked out of him, disbelief buzzing in his thoughts as he continued on more quickly.

There. I said it. Fuck I'm so fucking in love with you it's embarrassing. I know it's pathetic and you got a new girlfriend and shit, but I can't help it. When I fuck other guys you're the only thing I can think about which is probably really sick or something. I hate seeing you with Dokugamine and it drives me crazy when you do stuff with her instead of me now. And I don't mean to fuck. I mean anything even stupid ass shit like watching tv or holding hands or just fucking around playing in that huge creepy dollhouse Yuzu has. I know you probably don't feel the same way but that's OK. You're my best friend Ich. You're the most important person in my life, I don't know what I'd do without you. I just want you to be happy. And I know you'd be happier without me. Shit. I was wrong, this is depressing as fuck too. I hate this fucking assignment. I'm done.

Grimmjow Fucking Jaegerjaquez

Ichigo stared down at the paper, unblinking, the words starting to blur together, and his hands began to shake. "What the fuck," he mumbled under his breath and rubbed at his face with the back of his hand, ignoring it when it came back wet. Eleventh grade. He sniffed hard, his expression slowly hardening. Grimmjow had written this in eleventh grade, when Ichigo had probably been sitting directly beside him in science class, Mr. Kurotsuchi giving some disturbing dissection demonstration for the millionth time. Grimmjow'd been in love with him back in high school, when he used to come over every day, sleep in his bed on a regular basis, almost always ending up hugging him halfway through the night... and while Ichigo had dated girl after girl, all in a fruitless effort to find someone he could like half as much as his best friend, who he'd assumed was emotionally off limits. "Shit."

"Okay, Ich?"

Ichigo laughed, the sound breathy and unhappy, and he shook his head as he tried to wrap his mind around the completely unexpected information that really shouldn't have been.

He growled in frustration and clenched his burning eyes shut, struggling. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and his chest started to shake again. "What the fuck, Grimm?" he said more loudly, sounding a little desperate even to his own ears. He looked up finally, meeting the bluest eyes he'd ever encountered, and he felt like someone had ripped his heart out and punted it 100 yards. He stood up distractedly. "Why the hell would you ever think I'd be happier without you?" he asked, pained. "You know, I think I fell in love with you after like the second time we kissed?"

"I don't know, I'm sorr–" Ichigo had grabbed Grimmjow's face and was suddenly kissing him, aggressively. Grimmjow responded immediately, leaning down so he could reach him better and pulling him close, careful not to brush his new tattoo in the process.

"Don't apologize," Ichigo said between heated kisses, "I'm sorry. I should've known, I was a fucking idiot."

Grimmjow grunted when teeth nipped sharply at his lower lip, and then he was pushing Ichigo onto the bed, following along with him as he dropped onto his back. He bumped the side of his nose against his friend's gently as he leaned over him, straddling him on his knees, cobalt eyes hooded. "I love you... so much, Ich," he murmured roughly against the corner of his mouth, "you don't know how much I've missed you."

Ichigo nodded jerkily, his heart pounding, as strong hands skated down his sides, leaving trails of heat in their wake. He wrapped his legs around his best friend's waist, and pulled him down further, needing him closer. "I love you too, Grimm," he husked, "I don't wanna be without you again, I want to work things out."

Grimmjow stopped, his thumbs hooked inside Ichigo's boxers on either side, getting ready to pull them off. "You do?" he asked, pausing to search Ichigo's expression for any signs of uncertainty. "You wanna be with me?"

Ichigo nodded tightly, breathing in as he did. "Yeah, more than anything."

Grimmjow felt the air in his lungs begin to heat up, expanding, and he let out a huge huff, his lips curling up. "Yeah?"

Ichigo nodded back, and a laugh escaped him. "Yeah. You really want to stay married?"

Grimmjow found himself grinning, gleaming white teeth on full display. "Probably should, getting divorced would be a shitty way to start things over, don't you think?"

Ichigo started laughing, his low voice relaxed and happy. "Yeah, you've got a point."

Upturned lips attacked his, and he started laughing again, not able to stop, hands firmly cupping his face, and he couldn't remember the last time he was so happy. "This is crazy—oh fuck, my dad—he's gonna be so pissed when I tell him I got married without him there."

Grimmjow stopped kissing him to grimace. "Shit. You're right. Maybe we should hold off telling him and just have a fake second wedding."

Ichigo closed his eyes, grinning like a fool, when lips met his again softly, and then they began to pepper his chin and nose and cheeks with affection, waiting for his response. His chest filled with warmth, and he let out a happy breath. "Yeah. We'll figure something out."

- THE END -

Please leave final thoughts, it means the world to me! Thank you guys, and let me know if you want an epilogue! Also, I'm gonna start a new GrimmIchi at some point, please follow me if you're interested!