Crap, now I hafta wait next year for True Blood, just when stuff was getting exciting! Here are the cliffhangers: Bill and Eric killed that PR vampire (I've never known her name though I've watched most of the 4 seasons), Jason got a surprise visit from the Fellowship of the Sun preacher who somehow became a vampire, Arlene was haunted by her dead ex-boyfriend about her new husband Terry's secretive past, Sam got confronted by a black wolf-like beast, Alcide found out that his parking stucture was destroyed by some vampires but was confused when he found silver chains (and I knew who it is too!), Debbie attempted to kill Sookie but shot at Tara and in turn Sookie shot and killed Debbie! Wahh! Now I don't know if Tara's dead or not but she better not die . . . .! Best season ever!

Game Over by Boogermeister

Chapter 25- Shit Going Into Other Shit

"So it's next Friday, huh?" Grimmjow sighed deeply, leaning over the short wall of Ichigo's cubicle. "Well, damn, and it's right by my birthday too. I might get too stressed out from the meeting to get drunk as hell . . . ."

"Don't worry . . . . I did say that I'm getting my project done this week," muttered Ichigo. "All's that left is the epic final battle and of course the title. In fact, I think I'm gonna go through a list of epic battles that ever happened the game so I won't subconsciously ripping one off."

"That's what YouTube is for, rookie," he smirked. Ichigo just glanced down and smiled as well, he actually couldn't wait to show his game to their boss. It seemed comical to imagine the way it would happen; his imagination warped into crayon sketches of him and Grimmjow showing his project to the narcoleptic boss, who would sleepily praise him. Then the project would finally be made into a game, which will become totally successful. And his mother would be so proud of him, and his co-workers will praise him as well with confetti being tossed in the air.

"Why're you grinning like that? You look so goofy," smirked Grimmjow.

"Huh? I do . . . ." Ichigo frowned in surprised as he looked up.

"What're you thinking about that'll make you smile like that?" he joked.

"Tch, nothing . . . ." he scoffed lightly, and the lead designer laughed a little. "Don't we got work to do, Grimmjow? Quit bothering me already."

"Aww, can't handle a little teasing, rookie?" he chuckled but finally left him alone to go into his office. Ichigo frowned but his mind went back to the happy scenario of getting his game made. Sighing, he clicked onto the website to look up what he needed to see before going home to finish up. He saw the epic battle of the famous Final Fantasy VII first, seeing that Sephiroth had morphed into some angelic yet demonic being as Cloud and his friends were fighting him.

He then clicked onto a few other videos; Kratos defeating Ares in God of War, then Zeus in another installment, then the seemingly controversial Dante's Inferno with the main character defeating Lucifer. He blinked at that one but shrugged it off, maybe next time his character will fight a demonic being in Hell . . . . .

"Huh . . . ." Ichigo blinked at his thought. Now that he had thought about it, he had major amounts of ideas that was dismissed when he was making the game. If he could go over them, then he and Grimmjow could consider some to start the next installment. That is, if Starrk like the first one. But he would, thought Ichigo. Nel liked the sound of his project, anyway, so he would have to as well.

As he typed up another game title, he stiffened slightly when he felt a presence nearby and looked up. It was Renji, a couple of feet away from his cubicle, and he appeared very uneasy when they caught eyes before glancing away. He frowned in slight confusion, usually the red-head would playfully mess with and talk about one day being his 'step-daddy' once he marries his mother. Now, he looked at him as if he smelled like cat poop.

"Uh, what's up, Renji?" Ichigo spoke.

"Um, yeah, hey there," muttered Renji, glancing away again when they made brief eye contact.

"What's wrong? Did the 'Rape Ninja' touched you the wrong way or something?" he joked lightly, but Renji just shrugged as he nervously clenched his hands together.

"Well . . . . there's something I wanna ask you, Ichigo, if it's not too much trouble," he muttered. Ichigo blinked in confusion, why was he acting like this?

"Okay . . . . shoot."

"Um . . . . you think . . . . that being different from other guys here is bad?" he asked rhetorically.

"Being different . . . .?" frowned Ichigo. "Everybody's different, Renji, I'm not getting what you're saying."

"I mean . . . . um, like socially different," he tried to explain. "Let's say that you're the biggest geek in the entire school and not everybody likes you. But one of the guys, the coolest jock on campus, decided to be friends with you. And neither of you can't tell it to anyone. Are you that different?" Ichigo just scrunched his eyebrows in total puzzlement. He was getting at what Renji was saying but how does that got to do with him?

"I'm pretty sure that whatever you'r trying to say to me, Renji, it shouldn't be that big of a deal," he frowned.

"Okay . . . . but what if it is, and some of the guys might have a problem with it?" Renji questioned.

"A problem with what?" Renji frowned nervously at him before sighing.

"You know what, never mind," he sighed. "You're a good guy, Ichigo, and that's all I can say . . . ."

"Huh . . . .?" frowned Ichigo when the red-head walked away, blinking a few times before shaking his head. What was all that about?

(Pwnage)

Ichigo lazily sketched out a scene where Illedeum had Cael by the throat and threatened to blast him away with energy emanating from his leathery wings. Reclining on his bed, he paused his shading technique when he thought about that bizarre conversation with Renji yesterday. He really didn't get it, he was called a geek yet was friends with a popular jock but neither of them could openly admit it to their peers. He didn't mention it to Grimmjow afterwards, assuming that it was nothing to be concerned about.

He noted the next scene of the final battle when his cell phone rang and he took it out of his pocket. "Hello . . . .?" he answered.

"Ichigo, hey . . . ." muttered Grimmjow. "What's going on?"

"Nothing much, just finishing up the final battle," he smiled lightly. "Then I'll create either the epilogue or a cliffhanger after that. Trying to see which sounds more bad-ass."

"Why not a little bit of both?" he suggested, and Ichigo's smile widened at that.

"That could work, that way the players will want more when I create the sequel," he replied.

"A sequel? Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Grimmjow chuckled. "Seriously though, if we get a green light on your game, then that would be possible. And that would be a good thing too, since we've been making one-shot titles anyway."

"I hope so, Grimmjow," smiled Ichigo. "And thanks . . . . you know, for my project and everything."

"I know . . . . talk to you later, Ichigo," he sighed.

"Later." Ichigo hung up his phone and a gleeful tingle resonated thoughout his body. Turning to a fresh page, he began sketching out the battle sequence. Halfway through, he paused to realize that Shinji hadn't called since his birthday this past weekend. He thought for sure that he would, considering that the morning after a big event he would often cry and whine about some jerk-off being a jerk-off.

Setting his sketchbook down on his lap, he dialed his friend's phone number. He would usually be annoyed by his calls, but was a bit concerned for the moment as he waited for the other line to answer. ". . . . Hello," sighed Shinji, and Ichigo blinked at his unusually bored tone. The blonde would usually be happy-go-lucky when answering the phone.

"Shinji, what's up, you're all right?" he frowned.

"Hmm . . . . of course I'm all right, Ichi," answered Shinji. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I assumed you'd be on my ass the morning after my birthday, but I didn't hear much from you these past couple of days," muttered Ichigo.

"Oh, is that it?"

"Yeah . . . . are you feeling down or something?" he frowned. "You can tell me, dude."

"Wish I could say the same with ya . . . ." Shinji sighed.

"Huh?"

"Never mind, Ichi, I'm just feeling under the weather, that's all," he sighed. "You should go and do your little game project . . . . I'll talk to ya later."

"Okay, later . . . ." frowned Ichigo before hanging up. This week was becoming strange, first Renji was sprouting nonsense to him and now Shinji was acting like a total stranger. Picking up his sketchbook, he kept thinking about what was going on. Maybe he should talk to Grimmjow about it tomorrow.

(Pwnage)

Grimmjow blinked in slight confusion when Renji hurried past him down the hallway without much of a glance at him. It was peculiar, especially since the red-head would usually try to kick him in the nuts in his form of greeting. As a matter of fact, he had been acting odd since Monday, which he didn't notice it at first but it was getting more and more obvious. He thought what could he have done that made Renji avoiding him.

Was he caught doing something embarrassing the other day, like looking at those ridiculous kitty videos on the computer? No, he would have been laughed at rather than the opposite. Then what could it be? As he reached the sixth floor, the work environment was subdued due to not much work as he made his way through the cubicles. "Uh, Grimmjow . . . .?" Ichigo called out and Grimmjow paused by his desk.

"What's up, rookie?" he nodded.

"Um, you noticed how strange Renji's been acting lately . . . .?" he frowned, and Grimmjow blinked. So he noticed that also. "You got any idea why he seems a bit off these past few days, Grimmjow?"

"Hmm, don't got a clue," he shrugged. "Just thought he was acting dumb as usual, but I don't get why."

"That's the thing . . . . I asked the other guys but they said he was in his usual self, goofing around as usual," muttered Ichigo. Grimmjow frowned at that, that didn't make any sense. "Want me to talk about it later . . . .?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah, we'll talk about it . . . ." he nodded before going to his office.

Later . . . .

". . . . And that's what he said to me, Grimmjow," sighed Ichigo, taking a spoonful of caramel-flavored sundae into his mouth as they walked out of the fast food restaurant. "He said that I'm the nerd who's friends with a popular jock but they can't let the rest of the school know. It didn't make any sense to me . . . . does it have to do with me or something?"

"Very strange indeed . . . ." frowned Grimmjow. "I guess it has to do with you . . . . but I don't get why he's advoiding me as well. Maybe he's referring to me as the jock, since we've been talking to each other as friends. Just my assumption, but he could be a bit jealous about us since we've known each other for over four months while I know him for some years."

"I suppose so . . . ." he shrugged.

"Hey, gimme that little packet of peanuts," he requested and Ichigo gave it to him with an annoyed frown. "What? I'm still hungry after eating that burger," he smirked as he opened the packet and poured the entire content into his mouth.

"Wow, can't believe I'm making out with you with that mouth," frowned Ichigo at the sight of the older man munching audibly as they made their way back to work.

"Oh, you love it," Grimmjow smirked before swallowing when they went inside. As they walked up to the elevators, one already opened to reveal Renji stepping out. He froze when he saw the two confused designers and an embarrassed blush crept across his face just before he dashed past them. "Hey, Renji . . . .! What's up with you?" called out Grimmjow.

"Nothing's wrong . . . .!" Renji quickly replied but he was already out the door. Grimmjow blinked before turning to Ichigo, who was just as confused.

"You're right, I think he knows something about us . . . ." he frowned. "But I don't think . . . ."

". . . . What, Grimmjow?" muttered Ichigo, when they stepped into the elevator. The older man's face appeared serious as he pressed the button for six, and he gulped at the sight of it. He hoped that it wasn't what he was thinking. "You don't think that . . . .?"

"That Renji might know about our relationship," he stated seriously. "I could tell by his reaction just a minute ago. It all makes sense now . . . ." Ichigo frowned in deep concern, how could that be? Sure, he was at first apprehensive about being found out but he pushed that aside considering the odds of being seen in the city. But then how one of the co-workers discovered their affair? "You said you ask the other guys, right? You ask Shuuhei, too?"

"Uh, no, I didn't get a chance to," frowned Ichigo. "Why?"

"He and Renji are best of friends; if one knows, then the other gotta know as well," he muttered, as the doors opened to their floor. "As a matter of fact, we could talk to him now."

"What? But-"

"Don't worry, Shuuhei's more reasonable than Renji in most cases," he sighed, deciding to press a button for another floor. "Let's just hope that he's reasonable for our sake . . . ."

(Pwnage)

It wasn't that hard to find the audio artist hiding out in the testing room, though he was only there to doze off with his music on full blast on his headphones. Grimmjow and Ichigo found him in the dimmed room before the blunet stepped forward. "You sure you wanna do this, Grimmjow?" frowned Ichigo.

"Nobody'll come around here anyway . . . ." he nodded. "We got total privacy right now."

"Fine, if you say so . . . ." sighed Ichigo. Grimmjow sighed as well before walking up to Shuuhei slouched in the chair, he sat in a chair next to him and patted him on the knee.

"Shuu, gotta talk to you about something . . . ." he said, patting him again. Shhuhei wiggled from the touch before blinking his tired eyes open, only to stiffen slightly when he realized who it was. "Take off your headphones, so we can talk . . . ." he gestured.

". . . . Fine," he sighed, taking off his headphones. "What's there to talk about?"

"How about why Renji acting strange around me and Ichigo over there?" he questioned straightfowardly, pointing to Ichigo nearby. The black-haired man frowned in surprise but suspected that as he relaxed soon after. "You can tell me . . . . what is there you suspected of us, dude?"

". . . . Last Friday, Renji was going through random videos on the internet when he clicked on one," he began. "At first I wasn't paying attention of what he was doing, until he pointed out what he saw. It was a bit blurry and dark in the video . . . . but we saw it. It kinda like you guys, your hair colors were easy to point out . . . . At first, we were confused why you guys were in a rave. But . . . . Renji soon pointed out that the rave was mostly full of gay guys, so . . . ."

"Shit . . . ." exhaled Grimmjow, shaking his head. But Ichigo was practically mortified and shocked by the story. He knew what rave he was talking about, but that was a few months ago. "Shit, shit, shit . . . ." Grimmjow sighed deeply, his stressed out expression was more than enough. ". . . . Guess you know now."

"So it's true . . . .?" aske Shuuhei. "Because I don't have a problem with you guys being . . . . whatever, you know. But I never expected a guy like you being as one, Grimmjow."

"I'm not exactly gay, I'm bisexual," he nodded.

"Okay, but . . . . so now what? We pretend that you guys are not dating outside of work?" he questioned. It wasn't a cruel question, but that was true as Ichigo's frown deepened. A couple of guys knew of him now . . . . but what would happen when someone else at work finds out? Some might not like it to have a co-worker who was homosexual around them, even though he doesn't look like one.

"Well, I'm not sure about that," frowned Grimmjow as he pondered over it. "Renji's a loud mouth, so there's a chance that he might slip up, even if it's accidental. Honestly, only Nel and Chad knew about us before you two, so there wasn't a problem then."

"Your cousin and Chad already knew?" gasped Shuuhei. "Why Chad?"

"He knew of my sexuality since middle school," muttered Ichigo.

"Geez . . . . so what can you do about it now, Grimmjow," he frowned. "I could keep it a secret, but if Renji slips up . . . ."

"We might get fired," Grimmjow concluded. "Not for our sexualities, but because that we're dating and it might affect our work. That would seem understanding, but nothing happened so far since we did okay and the game came out great."

". . . . But what'll happen when the next game comes around, Grimmjow?" frowned Ichigo, catching his attention. "The only reason that the last game was great because we were dating just when it was in its final stages. The next time, we might get too stressed out and our shit will get blown up in our faces."

"It's gonna be okay, Ichigo," sighed Grimmjow. "Come next week, we'll try to get you-know-what on the table for the meeting. You cool with that?"

". . . . I don't really know," he frowned sadly, and Grimmjow frowned at that.

"What do you mean, Ichigo?" he said as he stood up.

"What're you guys talking about? asked Shuuhei.

"I'm not sure if I can do that . . . ." frowned Ichigo. "Even if everbody's okay with us dating, I don't think they would like it if I show off what I've been working on for two years. They'd think that I'm doing it because I'm with someone like you."

"So now what? You're gonna give up if a couple of people know what we are and dating as a couple?" questioned Grimmjow in disbelief. "Kid, it won't be favoritism that the game will get made. It's because you have good creativity and ideas. If we weren't dating, it'd still be the same. So why do you have cold feet about it?"

"Because I don't want . . . . I don't want everybody to know that some 'fag' made a video game," he admitted sadly. "I want it to be made . . . . but no kid wouldn't want to play a game that a gay man created, either their parents won't allow it or the older consumers might be wary of it. It's not that I'm ashamed of my sexuality, but you gotta understand that there are times that I wanna keep it secret. But right now, I'm not sure if I want my project to be made because of this now."

"Ichigo, you can't be serious," frowned the older man. "After everything you've done for it-"

"I know, but . . . . how can I do it when they don't see me as a guy who created some amazing game but that gay guy who tried too hard to make it?" he pointed out. Grimmjow frowned, that much was true but he doesn't want Ichigo to give up just like that.

"So now what . . . .?"

". . . . Maybe I should, I dunno, quit if nobody wants someone like me around," he shrugged in defeat.

"The fuck? You can't be serious, Ichigo . . . .!" he exclaimed in surprise. "You can't just quit because of this!"

"Then what else should I do about it, Grimmjow?" he questioned exasperately. "Either I quit or get fired because I'm with you! What other option is there besides those . . . .?"

". . . . Break up with me, then," came out of the blunet's mouth before he could even stop it. Both he and Ichigo went wide-eyed in surprise at his statement before the younger man frowned in disbelief.

". . . . What?" he frowned. "We should break up . . . . just for me?" Grimmjow's eyebrows tensed as well as his frown before glancing down, shaking his head a little. "Why, Grimmjow? You want me to break up with you so I can have a chance with my project . . . .?"

". . . . Seems like it, Ichigo," he sighed as he glanced at him.

". . . . Fine then," he muttered before he turned to leave, trying not to let his emotions get the best of him as he walked hurriedly through the hallway. But the warm tears stung in his eyes anyway, he couldn't go back to work as he instead rushed downstairs for outside.

"Shit, man, sorry to hear that . . . ." sighed Shuuhei as he patted Grimmjow on the back. "But you think that it's for the best?"

"Fuck, I don't even know anymore . . . ." huffed Grimmjow. "I don't even want this to happen . . . ."

(Pwnage)

Ichigo just laid on his stomach on the messy bed, staring with unblinked eyes at the window being splattered by light rain. He couldn't go to work today, not after that depressing break-up with Grimmjow. He knew that neither of them had wanted it, but it was for the best for the sake of his job as well as his chance for getting his project being made into a game. Since yesterday, he had been brooding over the unwanted decision and locked himself in his apartment.

So far, he had gotten a few messages from Grimmjow, telling him how sorry he was for doing it and wanted to talk to him. But he couldn't do it, he couldn't act as if everything was all right. He turned his head and glanced at the scattered papers on the small table. Even drawing couldn't bring him out of his funk.

Slowly, he sat up and glanced back at the window. Since yesterday he realized that Grimmjow had been going through the break-up again . . . . it was with Ulquiorra the first time now it was with him. He wondered how the blunet can go back to work after an event like that. He blinked out of surprise when his phone suddenly rang and he picked it up, he recognized the number belonging to Shinji before answering. ". . . . Yeah?" he sighed.

"I'm outside yer place, yer stupid bell's not workin' again," replied Shinji.

"All right, I'm be there in a second." Hanging up the phone, he got off the bed and slipped on his flip-flops before finally leaving the apartment. Within a minute, he reached for the front door and opened it, his usually grinning friend was sporting a light frown as he stepped in. "Haven't seen you for a while," he greeted.

"Been busy and stuff," he shrugged as they went upstairs and into the studio apartment. "How's it goin . . . .? Ya seem gloomy, is it because of the weather?" he asked.

"No . . . ." frowned Ichigo, plopping onto his bed. Shinji glanced at him then at his sketches on the tables, frowning in concern.

"Then what is it, Ichi?"

". . . . I broke up with my boyfriend, Shinji," he muttered. "We both didn't want to do it, but he said that it was for the best . . . . since people at my work might get suspicious of my sexuality."

"Ah, I get it . . . ." he sighed, pulling up a chair to sit in front of him. "So now what, yer hidin' in yer house after all that bullshit? Is that it?"

"Well, it's not every day that you get a break-up, Shinji," he sighed deeply as he scratched at a his bare shoulder. "It wasn't like I wouldn't want it to happen, you know . . . ."

"Yeah, I get it . . . ." nodded Shinji, glancing over at the sketches and sighed deeply. "So . . . . why did ya and Grimmjow break up other than being found out?"

"Huh, wh-what . . . .?" Ichigo was totally taken aback and stared at his friend with widened eyes. "Wha- I dunno know what you're talking about, Shinji-"

"Oh, can it, Ichigo," he frowned, and Ichigo blinked in surprise. The only time Shinji would say his full name was when he was truly serious. And that was very rarely. "Ichi . . . . I may act like an idiot but I'm not a fool," he sighed, with a light grin. "I knew since that one day I saw him, and I saw how googly-eyed ya were fer him. And all those retarded lies ya told me when ya really goin' on dates with that hottie, gosh!"

". . . . You knew since then, Shinji?" he questioned. "Damn, I don't know what to say to that."

"How about that time when ya called that 'boyfriend' for a double-date, Ichi?" he grinned.

"Oh, right . . . . that was my friend Chad covering for me," he admitted. "He actually works in the same company as me. I'm surprised that he went for it, for my sake."

"Great . . . . but Ichi, why did ya hafta lie to me about yer thing with Grimmjow?" he asked serious, though he was grinning a little when he moved to sit next to him.

"I dunno," he sighed. "I guess . . . . I don't want you blabbering about my relationship all around town. And trust me, you do got a really big mouth."

"That's true . . . .!" he giggled lightly. "But I wouldn't do that to ya, Ichi. If it was that serious, then I wouldn't have said anything about it. Ya didn't have to make out with him when ya thought I was gone among the crowd on one birthday night."

"You saw that?"

"Hell, yeah," he laughed before his lips twitched into a sombering frown. "So now ya two aren't together anymore . . . .?"

"Yep . . . . a couple of guys found out about us yesterday," he nodded. "They said that they don't care about that, but we got worried if anyone else finds out and that might cause a rift not only for our relationship but our jobs as well. That's why we broke up, Shinji. Grimmjow suggested it so I can have a chance of getting my dream game being made, without anybody knowing my preference."

"Oh, Ichi . . . ." Shinji sighed, pulling him into a light hug. "Ya have a great guy, sacrificing himself fer ya. It's like a fantasy story right out of the books, y'know?"

"Yeah, I did have a great guy," he sighed. "But what can I do about it? I have to go to work, and my desk's right next to his office. I'm not sure if I can do it . . . ."

"Idiot . . . . ya got a game to make, and ya can't give up on that," smiled Shinji. "Maybe after ya got it made, ya two can get back together."

"Easier than it sounds, it takes two or three years to make a title," sighed Ichigo. "Besides, he has to work with not one but two exes now."

"Ah, talk about drama."

"I know . . . . but I dunno if I could do it tomorrow," he frowned. "Maybe I can talk to him tomorrow, Shinji, and I'll wait and see."

"Tch, fine ya do it yer way, Ichi," he sighed. "I would've try to get one last fuck with him if I was ya."

"You're sick sometimes," scoffed Ichigo.

"Yet yer friends with me."

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Aww, I made it sad! No, no, I promise to get it funny again the next chapter!

Read and Review.

I'll update ASAP!