Um, my sense of time in stories is often my weakest link but I'm sure that by now this one's in the third or last week of June! Geez, I suck!
Speaking of sense of time, I know that it's been over a month since I last updated and I had good reasons. My old laptop finally crapped itself out and I had to scrap up my money little by little to finally buy a new one. And also, I've been working on a new story but it'll take some time when I get used to using my new toy!
Red Light Escape by Boogermiester
Chapter 28- Baring Fangs
"Is this really necessary, Nel? I'm not much of a manicure type of girl," muttered Ichigo, as her boyfriend's cousin filed and shaped her fingernails. As before, Ichigo stayed in the penthouse due to the media hype of her lawsuit against Aizen over paternity. She didn't want to be bothered by the news reporters outside, so Nel opted to fancy her up as the new week had started. As if she had a choice, now that the media would be on her and might scrutinize on her appearance. "I don't really think that the public would care that I have messed up nails, though," she sighed, shifting her posture on the large bed as she recrossed her legs.
"Trust me, the media had once made a fuss about me with lipstick stained on my teeth," shrugged Nel, deftly blowing off the residue before reaching for the bottle of pearlescent nail polish. "Ichigo, you gotta understand. The public will have their eye on you once you get into court. I mean, you are an ex-stripper and you'll gonna be dressed in an extra conservative manner for this week's court."
"Tch, I was only a stripper for several months, it wasn't like I'm been doing it forever," huffed Ichigo.
"Still, the stigma's strong on you," she said. "We don't know if everyone would care what you have to say because of it. But you do know the center of all this, right?"
". . . . Right," she nodded. She knew that the media will zone in on Tensa because of her lawsuit, because the paternity involved her son. So far, from what she had heard from the news earlier, people were now hypothesizing the possibility of her ex-lover's appearance similar to the toddler. But like Nel said, her accusation might be ridiculed because of her unwanted occupation. It wasn't like she wanted to strip in the first place but who could readily believe her?
"Are you nervous about the coming day?" asked Nel, she went to her other hand after finishing the first.
"Of course," sighed Ichigo. "But . . . . I know that I shouldn't worry."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because . . . . Grimmjow said that my family's coming by," she replied quietly. Nel glanced at her but smiled a little, and Ichigo smiled back. "But not today, though. He'll send him here on the day of the court. They'd be here to support me."
"You must be extremely happy," commented the other woman.
"Very," she smiled.
"Mama . . . .!" Tensa waddled into the bedroom, his hands pushing and rolling the soccer ball across the floor. "Geh-Geh, wheh . . . .?" he mumbled when he glanced up at his mother on the bed, wondering why her fingernails were getting painted.
"Grimmjow's busy in his office, Tensa," smiled Ichigo. "Sorry, but he can't be disturbed right now."
"Uhn . . . ." he pouted lightly. The toddler was bored and wanted to play, but all the adult were busy doing their own things. "Mama, Mama," he whined impatiently as he reached up but the frame of the mattress was too high.
"Hmm, Nel, do you mind?" she sighed.
"Sure," she nodded as she put away the nail polish and reached down to pick up the fussy toddler. "Hey there, Tensa. You feeling bored today?" she smiled at him.
"Uhmm . . . ." he whined softly.
". . . . Not sure if I can take him there," Ichigo muttered, her fingers curled up on her lap as she waited for the polish to dry. "The last time Sousuke saw him was when he was barely a day old. I doubt that he would even acknowledge him if he sees him."
"Don't worry about it, Ichigo," said Nel. "Even if he doesn't, you shouldn't think about it. All it matters that you do what you have to do to win against Aizen." Ichigo just nodded, just as Grimmjow stepped in and she looked up.
"Trying to 'girl' her up, Nel?" he smirked lightly.
"Well, someone has to," Nel shrugged. "We all know that she can't go outside because of those reporters outside. Anyway . . . . what're you been doing in your office? You were quiet for nearly the past hour and a half, Grimmjow."
"Right, I've been talking to my lawyer, my associates, and of course, Starrk," he replied, sitting in the chair nearby.
"Starrk?" questioned Ichigo in surprise.
"Yeah . . . . should in case that he has to be called in as a witness because of the tape," he nodded.
"So, what does Barragan have to say about your helping Ichigo with the lawsuit, Grimmjow?" his cousin asked. At that, Grimmjow rolled his eyes with a deep huff.
"All I heard from him was, 'you keep getting into trouble because of that dancing girl so I won't bail you out if it gets worse', and then some other bullshit after that," he grumbled. "I told him that I don't care what's gonna happen but I won't back down from Aizen. And then . . . . he said my father would be disappointed in me for this turn of event but I didn't really listen to the rest of his lecture since I hung up on him."
". . . . That's cruel of him to say that," frowned Ichigo. "Who does he think he is, anyway?"
"My father's partner, who happens to be the vice-president of my company," he said, and Ichigo blnked at that. "It's not like I have a choice to be stuck with him, since he's more experienced with the company than I was. But I don't care anymore, anyway." Ichigo gazed at him and frowned slightly before looking down at her nearly dried nails.
". . . . I honestly can't believe that you're doing this all for me, Grimmjow," she muttered softly, catching the two cousins' attentions.
". . . . Me neither, Ichigo," sighed Grimmjow, getting up to walk up to the bed. "But it's the right thing to do, and I won't change it for the fact that I love you enough to do it." He sat next to her and slumped an arm over her shoulders. The young mother looked up at him and nodded slightly, her throat once again restricted to mutter the common three words. "You haven't read the newspaper this morning, have you?" he asked.
"No, not really," she replied.
"Well, do you want to?"
"Um, I'm not really sure," she honestly answered. "It still feels uncertain of how the public will see me this time . . . . maybe now they'd see me as some gold-digger or something."
"Well . . . . a few voiced their opinions about that but they won't know the whole truth until the coming week," he sighed. "For now, your lawyer will school you about the situation in court and-" Grimmjow was cut off when the office phone rang from the distance. "Shit, I'll be right back," he muttered as he got off the bed and strolled out of the bedroom for his office. It was possible that Barragan would try to negotiate over his involvement with Ichigo, but it might be his own lawyer calling back as he answered. "Yeah . . . .?"
". . . . Such a conniving move you've played here, Jeagerjaques," said Aizen, and Grimmjow immediately narrowed his eyes in contempt as he silently closed his door.
"A bit risky for you to call me, Aizen, considering that your ass is on the tabloid this time," he muttered lowly. "Why are you calling me for, to drop the lawsuits?"
"Could you?"
"You must be on your fucking mind if you think I would do such a thing," he scoffed. "You were the one who started the fire, threatening to reveal my relationship with Ichigo to the world. I just thought that it was only fair that I would scorch your cowardly ass for making her miserable."
"Tch, so you prefer to play hardball . . . .?" Aizen questioned, clearly annoyed that the other man was stubborn. "I'm warning you, if you go along with this . . . . I will cause more than misery on both of you." Grimmjow let out a soft yet low chuckle in disbelief at his remark, before his expression twisted back into a frown.
"Sounds like a terrible threat," he said bitingly. "But I wouldn't have to go along if only you admitted to the fact that Tensa's your son. Is it really that difficult to submit to a paternity test, Aizen, or you're just simply a sniveling old coward who doesn't have the balls to admit his faults?"
"Watch it, Jaegerjaques . . . ." he gritted angrily.
"No, you watch it," he warned boldly. "You might as well, anyway, considering that I have an inside source about your other mistresses." He heard a sharp inhale of surprise on the other line and mentally smirked in delight.
". . . . You're lying, I know you are-"
"Oh, I certainly am not, Aizen," said Grimmjow. "And I know for a fact that Tensa is the only living child linked to you, as well. Nice to know that the man like you hated children so much that you've killed off the other two of yours. Not even your newpapers can cover your ass once that source is leaked out. We can play dirty this Wednesday, and we'll see which side the public will be on."
". . . . You're a very malicious son of a bitch, Jaegerjaques," huffed Aizen and Grimmjow laughed a little.
"I can when needed to be," he sneered. "Right now, I'm doing what's right for Ichigo. I care about her and I want to protect her. I don't give a shit about you, Aizen. Because after this, I'm taking back my company's shares and possibly more. Bye." He promptly hanged up on him, and left the office. He had yet to tell Ichigo about the information about Aizen's other secrets. That he had other mistresses, and coerced them into having abortion when he found out about the pregnancies.
He had told Ulquiorra about it the morning after the conversation with Gin, but his lawyer said that information was too vague for now but they might consider that as a form of evidence should in case the court drag on. He stepped into the room and saw that Nel was showing the newest outfit for Ichigo. The young mother frowned a little at the sight of dark slate skirtsuit but didn't have much to say about it, she was told to dress in a conservative manner anyway.
"Come on, it's not like it's terrible," Nel pouted at her reaction. "Besides, it's a very excellent brand-name, therefore it's expensive."
"Geez, now I gotta have to wear it since you brought it," she frowned but the other woman smiled.
"Yeah, it's not that bad," commented Grimmjow with a small smirk. "It'll make you look like a businesswoman, Ichigo."
"If you says so, Grimmjow . . . ." she sighed. Grimmjow's lips tugged into a light frown and sighed, walking around the bed to reach for his car keys on the night stand. "Hm? Grimmjow, you're going somewhere?" asked Ichigo.
". . . . Yeah . . . . There's something I gotta do, you could say that it's sort of an unfinished business," he replied quietly. He kissed her on the forehead then her lips before smiling a little. "Don't worry, I'll be right back . . . ."
"Geh-Geh . . . ." mumbled Tensa, reaching out to be picked up. Grimmjow glanced at him and smiled as he took him into his arms.
"You don't mind if I take him with me, Ichigo?" he asked.
"Sure, Mr. Tsukishima's coming here to help me, anyway," smiled Ichigo. "Take care, Grimmjow . . . ."
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His left hand trembled as he attempted to fix his tie, only to have Nel moving in to do it for him. "Tch, I could do it by myself," Grimmjow scoffed, but wasn't annoyed by her helpful actions. For a little over the past year, he had been on physical therapy since his near-fatal car crash. Soon after his coma, he immediately opted for a surgery to wire back most of his nerves in his left arm that was nearly ripped off from his body. Since then, he had been working to get himself back to normal or at least what is close to normal to him.
". . . . Are you afraid, Grimmjow?" his cousin asked softly.
"Afraid of what?"
"Quit acting so brave, you know what I mean . . . ." she muttered, gazing at his cyan eyes in concern. "I know that it's your right but, do you really need to become the president so early?" Grimmjow just blinked but frowned sadly, his hand shakily reaching up to feel at the perfectly knotted tie.
"That's what the will says, Nel," he muttered. "It's my family's company, I can't let it slip from my fingers by those greedy bastards. Especially that Aizen . . . . owning part of the shares."
"I understand . . . . Uncle wanted you to take over, but I wish it wouldn't have to be soon," she nodded.
"I know . . . ." Grimmjow stepped aside to stare at himself on the life-sized mirror, dressed in the usual neutral-colored suits with the dark navy tie standing out. At the age of 21, he looked older with the suit on. People his age were supposed to look cool and edgy with the latest fashion, how ironic that he was taking over a magazine company that talks about fashion. ". . . . I kinda look like Dad, huh?" he muttered.
"Yeah, but you're you, Grimmjow," she nodded. "We both know that they're happy for you from Heaven, after all . . . ."
"True . . . ." His cousin smiled sadly and grasped at his hand, and he glanced at her with the smallest smile he could muster since his accident. "It won't be long until you come and work with me, Nel . . . . I want you to be nearby. You're the only family I got, anyway."
"Don't worry, I will be by your side no matter what . . . ."
It had been years but Grimmjow knew where exactly the tombstones were. It wasn't hard to find it anyway, with the life-sized stone statue of a kneeling angle above them on top of a low grassy hill. Tensa was dozing in one arm and two large bouquets of flowers were nestled in another, he carefully knelt down in front of tombstones and his eyes stared at the carved names with supressed grief.
Isabelle Tu Jaegerjaques
Born September 3, 19XX
Died November 17, 19XX
"Beloved Wife and Mother."
He swallowed a dry lump in his throat before glancing over to another tombstone.
Friedrich Godric Jaegerjaques
Born March 12, 19XX
Died June 24, 20XX
"Devout Husband and Father."
It was his father's idea for both of them to be buried side by side, so Grimmjow didn't need to look far as he stared for a long while. ". . . . Sorry for not visiting for so long," he muttered softly. "One of the excuses was that I was away for a few years for the sake of the company. Think you'd be proud of me for that, Dad . . . . but the other excuses were pointles, because I was afraid. Afraid that I might be consumed with grief at the fact that you guys are really gone." Leaning forward, he slowly placed the bouquet against each of the tomb.
"I really am sorry . . . . I was a young kid and I was scared to be alone," he muttered. "I didn't want to be here to be reminded that you two were gone. But . . . . guess I should explain to you why I'm holding this kid. Sorry, but you guys aren't grandparents," he added with a brief chuckle. "I . . . . fell in love with this girl, named Ichigo. And this kid here's her son, Tensa. She is a great woman and a very wonderful mother, just like you, Mom . . . . But it's just that some people are against my relationship with because she was once working as, well, a stripper.
"But she's a really nice person, if you can get over her aggressive personality first. If . . . . if you were alive, you would've met her and you could've seen that she's perfect for me. And that I am doing everything for her right now . . . . because her son's father's is happened to be one of your colleagues, Dad. You remember Sousuke Aizen . . . . but he's not the same person as you had known him before. Now, he's very cruel to both her and her son and because of that I'm helping her to bring justice and solace that she truly needed.
"You got to understand . . . . I love Ichigo so much, as much as you love Mom," he sighed sadly. "I want to be with her, and want to protect her from harm. I know that I'm asking too much right now but . . . . can you at least give me a sign that she's the one for me? I've been trying to find love with other girls but I couldn't feel anything for them, and Ichigo's the only one that I have something for. Please, what do you guys think . . . .?"
He knew that he wouldn't expect an answer out in the serenely quiet graveyard, but it didn't mean that he wouldn't hope for one as he simply waited for anything. A minute went by until he blinked in surprise when a white butterfly fluttered by his head. It flapped around until he noticed another one nearby, and Grimmjow watched the butterflies hovering around the tombstones. ". . . ." he inhaled softly in surprise but relief, as the insects landed onto the lap of the kneeling angel. ". . . . Thanks a lot, guys," he smiled as he stood up, cradling the sleeping toddler. "I promise you, I'll come back to talk to you again . . . ."
He turned to leave, smiling to himself that warm tears were suddenly prickling in his eyes. The last time he had cried was during the funeral of his father and then nothing else since. He didn't even cry when he nearly died himself. But it actually felt good to cry, after finally getting it off his chest.
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Cameras flashed like crazy from the sideline, the moment Ichigo stepped out of the back seat of the hired car. Under the advice of her lawyer, who followed after her out of the car, she completely ignored the shouting noises of the reporters nearby. Even though it was broad daytime, the flashes of camera nearly blinded her. But she supposed that was to be expected since she was wearing the suit Nel had brought her. Tsukishima hooked his arm around hers and led her for the opened doors guarded by extra security.
"Is it overwhelming for you, Miss Kurosaki?" he muttered with a soft smile, despite of the demanding shouts from the reporters.
"Overwhelming sounds like a understatement," she frowned as they brisked inside. The loud noises outside seemed to die down almost immediately as she looked around in the spacious biege and tan corridors. ". . . . Grimmjow should be here, right?"
"He'll join us in a little while," he replied. "But right now . . . . we should meet up with the rest of your family, I suppose." Ichigo shivered in surprise then smiled a little and her appointed lawyer led her to the right directions. Her footsteps of her shoes clanked when they walked up to the second floor, before the young mother blinked at the distant sight before her.
Without thinking and despite wearing heels, she jogged ahead until she felt her body collided with a warm tight hug. "Dad . . . ." she gasped, trying not to tear up or else she would mess up what little make-up she had on. "You came . . . .!"
"Of course I came, Ichigo," Isshin smiled, kissing on her forehead. "Everyone's here to support you, after all." Ichigo nodded and glanced up to see her little sisters, but blinked in surprise when she noticed two more people.
"Ah . . . . Kisuke, and . . . . Miss Retsu?" she questioned quietly, only for her eyes to widen. She had completely forgotten that she had never told her about her former job, but the woman simply smiled as she stepped forward.
"Hello, Ichigo, it's been a while," she greeted, patting on her shoulder.
"Miss Retsu, I can explain-"
"No need, Ichigo, your family had already explained to me earlier after Mr. Jaegerjaques called me," she nodded. "I know that you were ashamed of telling me about your job, but I wouldn't be disappointed about it. Since you were only doing it for Tensa, after all."
"Right, sorry for not telling you sooner," smiled Ichigo.
"Ichigo! My, you've grown so much . . . .!" Kisuke cheerfully greeted her with a hug, and she hugged back. "You've turned into a fine young adult, Ichigo. I hadn't seen you for so long."
"Me either with you," she said, noticing his straw-colored hair bare for the first time. "Oh, where's Tensa? Grimmjow had him last . . . ."
"Yeah, Grimmjow was going back and forth about having him around during court," nodded Yuzu.
". . . . Maybe he should have him around so that bastard could admit his guilt," Karin said haughtily, catching the oldest sister's attention. Her expression had drastically changed from being guilty to feeling anger over the situations. After a moment of introduction of her lawyer, Tsukishima calmly advised the family not to react irrationally on Aizen's defense. It would do more harm than good on Ichigo's case, he explained. All they needed to do was to stay calm and support her.
". . . . Sorry about being late, Ichigo," Grimmjow muttered when he finally came by, and Ichigo looked up at him. He was always dressed in a business suit so she wasn't really surprised. But she was impressed that her son, who was content with his pacifier, had on a little suit of his own minus a tie.
"It's all right, Grimmjow. You decided to have Tensa around?" she asked.
"Might as well, my cousin brought this monkey suit for him," he joked lightly. "You ready for it, girl?" he asked her, this time in a serious tone. Ichigo stared at him before putting up a determined smile.
"Yeah, I really am ready."
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Day in and day out, Ichigo seemed to be living through a sad yet slow blur, only to snap back into reality whenever her son whimpered or cooed and realized that he was in her arms. Her mind seemed to muddle between being happy and being depressed, as she lazily fixed the diaper on the 4-month-old on her bed during the early evening.
She stared at his bright eyes and smiled a little, as Tensa drooled and gurgled. He reached up with his tiny fists and she responded by grasping them and felt the firm grip around her slender finger. "You're getting stronger by the day, Tensa . . . ." she laughed softly. At that, Tensa gurgled happily and his chubby legs kicked around.
"You want me to read to you, baby?" she murmured, carefully picking him up into her arms. Autumn was coming early as a draft seeped in from the slightly opened window next to her bed. She moved forward to close it but something caught her eyes and she looked down. And she froze in surprise and shock at what she saw, but then frowned in sadness and anger.
Why was she around here, when they hadn't spoken or even seen each other for over a year now? Tatsuki . . . . she stared up at the window Ichigo was behind with a regrettable look on her face and just stood there. Ichigo stared back and her eyes stung with warm tears, before frowning. Her ex-friend chose to turn her back when she needed her the most, and acted as if they were strangers.
"Tch . . . ." she scoffed under her breath and closed the window, but the other woman was still out there. She stared back for a while before pulling the curtains shut. She doesn't care about her, she doesn't care about those who shunned her away.
Tensa whined and wiggled in her arms. Ichigo noticed that and cradled him close to her chest as she got up to reach for a book on her desk.
The feeling of depression was hovering over her, despite that she was trying to keep it in for now.
". . . . . Miss Kurosaki?" Ichigo blinked out of her thoughts before looking up, her bored eyes gazed out to the half-crowded courtroom from the stand. Many of them were her family, while some were Starrk and a couple of her friends from the strip club, sitting right behind plantiff table where Grimmjow and his lawyer as well as Tsukishima were situated.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see the man who came back after so long only to ruin her life. Aizen didn't even acknowledge her or her son when he and his wife came in earlier, he only stared ahead once court had started. Even now, he was glancing away now that Ichigo was on stand as the older man's lawyer- who happened to be blind and named Tousen, Grimmjow mentioned beforehand- began questioning her.
"Yes?" she muttered softly, shivering from the coldness due to air conditioning.
"Would you care to tell me . . . . when exactly you met Mr. Sousuke Aizen?" he inquired as he paced slowly around with his walking cane.
". . . . Around the last few months of my senior year in high school," she answered.
"How old were you then?" Ichigo pursed her lips at that, but remembered that she was told that she was going to be asked remedial questions.
"17 years old," she said stiffly.
"I see . . . ." muttered Tousen. The soft taps of his cane echoed within the room as he paced more. "Did you know who Sousuke Aizen is prior to the alledged affair, Miss Kurosaki?"
"No, I've never heard of him when I first met him."
"Even though he owns and controls many newspapers in the city as well as your hometown?"
"I'm more of a English literature type of person," answered Ichigo. "Sorry, but I have never, ever heard of Sousuke Aizen before meeting him. It was only after few dates that he mentioned it then."
"So, is that the reason why you accused him of fathering your child? Because you knew of his wealth and influence?" questioned Tousen. Though he was talking in a quiet tone, the way he said it was very straight to point. Ichigo frowned but inhaled after catching eyes with Grimmjow.
"I've never asked for his money during our relationship," she said. "He was the one who keeps footing the bill. But I didn't act ungrateful about it unlike he was with me."
"And what do you mean by that? Does it have to with your relationship becoming more . . . . sexual along the way?" At that, Ichigo's manicured nails scraped audibly against the wooden railings that the lawyer paused to 'glance' at her with his closed eyes. "Tell me, when did your relationship with him become into that state?"
Ichigo took a brief glance over at her family and frowned. ". . . . About a week after my 18th birthday." Over at the plantiff's table, Grimmjow heard a sharp inhale from Isshin and he clenched his jaw at the answer as well. He wondered how long Aizen had waited to consumate with her but remained quiet as the man's lawyer continued to question her.
"Miss Kurosaki, do you love Sousuke Aizen?" asked Tousen.
"I used to love him . . . ."
"And the reason why you don't now?"
". . . . He demanded me for an abortion, when I told him I was pregnant," she replied quietly. "I could never stay with a person who would ask such a selfish thing. Besides . . . . he said that I was a fool to fall for him, anyway."
"And since then, have you ever tried to contact him after that time?" he mentioned.
"Several times," said Ichigo.
"Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but are you truly certain that Sousuke Aizen is the father of your child?"
"He was the only man I've been with prior to my pregnancy," she quickly said.
"So the pregnancy was . . . . was it planned or not-"
"It wasn't planned at all, but I chose to keep my child anyway," she frowned.
"And you chose to keep said child just to gain financial security from Sousuke Aizen?"
"No, I only wanted him to act like a father to my child," she replied.
"Well, I find that quite hard to believe such a thing, especially with your former occupation," Tousen debated. Again, the young woman's nails scratched at the railing.
"Objection," Tsukishima calmly called out.
"Overrule," stated the judge.
"No need, I rest my case . . . ." nodded Tousen, walking back to the defendent's table.
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"Have I done it right . . . .?" Ichigo frowned during recess, sighing when Grimmjow draped his arm around her as they sat on the bench outside the courtroom. Her boyfriend answered her with a consoling kiss on the cheek.
"It was all right . . . ."
"I wished that stupid guy didn't try to antogonize me about my situation," she grumbled.
"It was expected, Miss Kurosaki, but we will deflect against his words with the truth," nodded Tsukishima, who was standing nearby.
"Yeah, it's not like Aizen can sit on his high horse for long," Grimmjow assured Ichigo, who nodded.
". . . . You think that I can be believed, Grimmjow?" she asked.
"Of course," he frowned. "Quit being so pessimistic, Ichigo. You just gotta keep your cool, all right?"
"I know . . . ."
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Ichigo's lawyer had his turn to repeal his words, after Aizen's lawyer seemingly berated her for the reason why she became pregnant in the first place. His words were more carefully thought out when he asked about the events after Aizen left her. "Tell me, Miss Kurosaki . . . . you were devastated when Sousuke Aizen left the relationship the moment you revealed the you were pregnant with his child, correct?" he asked.
"Yes, I was," she nodded.
"What was it like afterwards from the pregnancy up to birth of your son and so on?"
". . . . It was like I was on punishment for my mistakes," she muttered quietly. "I knew I was in the wrong for being with a man like him, but it doesn't mean that I was irresponsible enough to unable to care for my child."
"That's true, you care for him with the help of your family, right?"
"Yes but . . . . I kept feeling that I was being a burden to them because of my mistakes, that I didn't want to keep depending on them any longer."
"Right," nodded her lawyer. "You mentioned it before . . . . that you were so ashamed of your situation that you even hid away in your room for weeks at a time. Until . . . . you finally decided that you needed to leave town, correct?"
"Yes . . . ." muttered Ichigo.
"All right, then after you left Karakura Town for the Seireitei . . . ."
"I went to a shelter, where I stayed there for several months," she answered, out of the corner of her eye she noticed Aizen smirked slightly in disbelief.
"What happened then?" asked Tsukishima. "You were in contact with your family since moving there still?"
"Sometimes but I often couldn't because I was ashamed of myself. It was my fault that they missed out the most important parts of my son's life . . . . but it was also Sousuke's fault that he caused the rift between me and my family because he didn't want to take responsibility for his actions."
"Of course, Miss Kurosaki, since it takes two to make a child. Speaking of which . . . . Your son, does he know of his father?"
"No, the last time Sousuke had seen him was when my child just a day old," answered Ichigo. "He didn't want to see the child, let alone acknowledge his existence."
"Have you ever mention about him to your son?"
"No . . . . Why should he know about a man who doesn't want him?"
"I see . . . ." he nodded. "It's easy to understand your frustration, Miss Kurosaki, so I hope that we can do everything we can to help you." Ichigo just nodded just as she heard a soft derisive snort from Aizen. It does take every single ounce of her body not to jump over there to knock him out.
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Taking the back exit, Ichigo bid good night to her family. It turned out, with Grimmjow's expense, that they would stay in the city for a while. She waved when the car took them away, before being pulled into a light hug. "Tomorrow's gonna be more difficult, you know that?" muttered Grimmjow, pecking her on the forehead.
"Yeah," nodded Ichigo. "How long do you think this will last, Grimmjow?"
"Don't know but hopefully not too long," he scoffed softly before looking around. It was near dusk, by now many news reporters had already went away with a few straying around by the front entrance. "Ichigo . . . ."
"Yeah?" she muttered when she looked up to him, her son dozing lightly in her arms.
"Well . . . ." he sighed before putting up a small smirk. "All this court shit is making me hungry. You think we can risk showing our face to go to some restaurant?"
"I don't mind, as long as it's discreet," she smiled lightly.
"All right . . . ." Nobody noticed them taking a back street out to the main streets, bustling with passerbys minding their own business as they walked around. "It won't be long until they'll talk about us on the evening news," mentioned Grimmjow. "And I bet the newspapers will try to favor to Aizen because it's their boss and everything-"
"Grimmjow?" muttered Ichigo, and the man looked at her and she stared back with a tired gaze. "Please, I don't wanna think much about it until tomorrow, okay? It was already hard enough as it was today . . . ."
"Oh, okay," he nodded. "Sorry about that."
"It's all right," she sighed before blinking. Only to blink again when something caught her eyes from a short distance. She stared for a second or two before suddenly halting her steps, and Grimmjow noticed it when he stopped as well.
"What? Is something wrong, Ichigo?" he frowned a little.
". . . . I think something is wrong, Grimmjow," she replied in slight surprise. Grimmjow frowned before following her gaze to see a young woman with jagged black hair just settling between her shoulders. She was dressed casual, almost like Ichigo would look like, with a denim jacket on. She appeared just as surprised yet somewhat guilty when she looked at Ichigo, whose face etched into a frown. Grimmjow was confused, does Ichigo know this woman? Unless . . . . He immediately got it now as he frowned and stared back and forth between the two.
". . . . Ichigo-"
"No, don't," frowned Ichigo, just as the other woman spoke. ". . . . Why're you here for? I hadn't seen you since our friendship ended almost three years ago. So why now?"
". . . . Because I recently heard about you, on the news-"
"That's nice, me being in a scandal was the only for you to contact me," she scoffed softly. "No calls, not even a mail from you after I left Karakura Town. I just assumed that you were glad not to be my friend anymore."
"It's not true, Ichigo . . . .!" she said, taking a step forward but froze when Grimmjow stepped in between with a scornful glare on her.
"What are you here for, exactly?" he questioned lowly. "Besides hurting and blaming Ichigo for something she couldn't control?"
"I-"
"Grimmjow, I can handle this," Ichigo muttered quietly, and the man simply scoffed in reply. She stared at her so-called friend and frowned bitterly. She didn't get why she was here, and why she appeared so guilty either for herself or for what happened to her.
"Tell me . . . . is there anything you want to say to me . . . . Tatsuki?"
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Tiring. I'm gonna work on my new story for a while now. Ja ne...
Read and review.
I'll update ASAP!
