Complimentary Silver Lining


A bit of understanding blossoms between previously estranged, hot-tempered mother and son.

And on a vacation, a tiny meeting of fate occurs. Though, it's not so tiny that it should go unnoted. It may have even set forth a new, unseen path to the long conflict of lovers and friends.


As she gazed down at her son, who was currently relaxing on the beach, Vivienne smiled as warmly as the sun's bright glow.

Sitting up on the balcony and enjoying a watermelon daiquiri, she realized this was exactly the kind of escape Grimmjow needed. Whatever was going on back in Karakura town, they could deal with when they returned.

Yes, they.

After actually talking with Grimmjow on the long plane ride and seeing that he could use his mother's love in his life, she decided that perhaps she could afford to spend at least eight to ten months out of they year in one homey place.

Flashback

"Grimmy, don't be so mad with me… You have to understand my reasons for leaving all those years ago. It was a long time in the running…" Vivienne said to her son, who was seated next to her in the first-class section of the airplane.

Grimmjow offered no response to her. He simply continued to play an addictive game on his cell phone that Kurosaki had bought for him a few weeks back.

"I love you so much dear… You and Neliel mean a lot to me."

Having finally grown tired of the incessant nagging that had carried on since he had woken up in the hospital, Grimmjow turned to Vivienne, "Why do you keep talking? I'm fine with a vacation at your… or dad's or wherever you get your money's… expense, but I never said I'd have anything to do with you. Leave me the hell alone."

Vivienne started laughing obnoxiously, making Grimmjow's blue eyes grow alarmimgly wide. He knew exactly what was coming-

*WHAM*

The fist that smashed against the top of his head caused him to drop his phone, and he gritted his teeth in agony from the pain.

"JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TALKING TO, MISTER!? DID YOU FORGET I WAS THE PARENT WITH THE ANGER PROBLEM THAT EVEN THERAPY COULDN'T FIX!? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU GOT THAT FROM?!" the woman yelled wrathfully.

"Excuse me! Is everything okay over there?" a flight attendant asked.

"We're fine!" Vivienne responded with an embarrassed blush.

"Shit…" Grimmjow groaned while holding his head. Kurosaki hadn't ever hit him that hard before…

He leaned forward, picked his phone up off the floor, and then turned his attention to the clouds passing outside.

"Oh, Grimmy! I'm sorry! But you know you shouldn't talk to the woman who gave birth to you like that!"

"Just leave me alone… I've been that way for most of my life anyway…"

Vivienne smiled, "Alone…? You know… That's the last thing you are, dear. You had quite a few visitors while you were in the hospital…"

"…"

"There was Neliel, your father, a handsome guy named Stark, your old friend Yylfordt, that quiet one called Ulquiorra, and a pretty redheaded girl with large boobies who gave me some very tasty pasteries…" she said. She thought putting emphasis on Inoue's breasts would get Grimmjow to at least look at her.

Seeing that none of those people earned a response from her son, the woman sighed, "Well, there was one more person… He was really sweet for someone who looked so menacing and uninviting… He had very orange hair… I don't think he ever told me his name, but that boy whose father owned the hospital said his name was… Kurosaki…? I think…"

Grimmjow quickly looked at the woman from the corner of his eyes.

"I knew that'd get your attention!"

"Kurosaki visited me…?"

"Mhm. Too bad you missed him. He seemed very worried about you."

"What did he say?"

"He said I should come back to Karakura because you needed me."

Grimmjow rolled his eyes. That was irrelevant to him. If Kurosaki hadn't said that he still loved him or something along those lines… Well… maybe he didn't necessarily need to say it. His coming showed that he still cared deeply. And when they were in that cave in Daisetsuzan, he had kissed him, even if it was just on the cheek. In fact, they had been really close for most of the time they'd been broken up for…

"Grimmjow, do you want me to come back to Karakura town? Would that make you happy?"

"I don't care… I've gotten along fine without you all these years, so it really doesn't matter to me."

"… I'm sorry for that… I truly am… I never imagined what would've happened if I'd just left you in Julian's care. But you… Grimmy, you were supposed to be what saved our relationship. I got pregnant and I thought he'd put the family first… When you were born and grew up a bit, it became obvious that wasn't going to happen. So I had to go. But you were always on my mind. I just… couldn't take you with me. You have to understand that children need a steady place to grow. I couldn't live with myself if I'd deprived you of being able to make friends, and have a familiar place to call home."

"Is that your excuse? Is that supposed to make up for your abandoning me?"

"It's all I can do now. I know it's not ever going to be enough, simply apologizing, but it wasn't because I didn't love you. Julian is the reason I left. I was selfish, I know. I left you all alone, even if my intentions were good. And for that, I am sorry, dear. I'm so sorry. But I'm trying to make up for all of that now that we're both older and more mature. Before you're swallowed up by the messes you're involved in back in Karakura, I want to try and help you."

"…"

"All I ever wanted was the best for you, and for me. My leaving may have trapped you with Julian, but… But think of all that's happened since I left and now. Was it all really that bad?"

Grimmjow clenched his fists, "Yeah, I got stalked by a lunatic who wanted me to be his boyfriend, got hooked on drugs, started drinking early, started working for a man who thought he was a god, got into fights like crazy, got shot saving a ditzy broad, nearly killed a guy for him kissing Kurosaki, was put in jail for that, got crowded by a bunch of weak bastards who didn't have a brain amongst themselves, and was nearly killed in a car accident-which cost me my fucking car that I've been working on for over two years! I've been through more than you've ever had nightmares about in that crystal castle of yours."

"Oh Grimmy… That all sounds really terrible… And Julian probably didn't help you with any of that… But… But surely there was something amidst all that which wasn't all bad. Because I believe that even in the hardest of times, there's always a silver lining. In the darkest depths of space, there are stars you know. There must have been something that made you… happy... Something that pushed you to face each day with hope for the next."

Grimmjow turned and looked back out the window.

A silver lining…

Kurosaki… he was undoubtedly his silver lining.

He was the thing that had kept him stable. He was the person who always believed in him. The person who had made life much more bearable, much more interesting, more livable.

With all that he'd done for him, how could he not be like the sun in his galaxy?

For everything they'd been through, and all the love they showed each other… That was the reason he was so intent in getting Kurosaki back. He'd been living life without him these past few months, and they'd been much less interesting. No sex, no arguments, no closeness with another human being. Intimacy was something he never expected to want, having usually distanced himself from people for most of his early life, but now he realized that it was something he wanted and needed. He couldn't do without Kurosaki, his family, his annoying friends, and he certainly couldn't do without the love he showed him.

"Grimmy? Are you okay?"

"Huh- What?! What is it?"

"I know you had a silver lining, dear. Let's hear it."

"It's… none of your business…"

"Oh I knew it! There is something that makes you happy!" she said.

The reason she was so happy that he was happy was because it meant that her son hadn't been simply suffering all these years. There was something that kept him going. She only hoped it was a positive thing, and not something like drugs.

"Calm your face… you're going to draw attention to us…" Grimmjow said with a blush.

"Grimmy, do you want me to come back?"

"… Do whatever you want to do, mom… Like I said, it doesn't matter to me."

Vivienne sighed. It was just her luck to get a son who was just as high strung and hot-headed as she was. It was probably payback for the way she'd treated Julian when they were teenagers.

"I was pretty mean to him… But only because I didn't want him to know I liked him at that time…!" she thought.

If he had found out that she liked him, she was sure he would have tried to convert her to that cult-like church he attended back then… or something along those lines… Nobody really wants that.

Though, he seemed so different to her after all this time… Maybe it wasn't too late for the Julian of today. Maybe he could change…

If she wasn't able to do it back then, and maybe not even now…

The woman turned to her son and smiled. "Maybe he can." She thought wholeheartedly.

After seeing him for the first time in years in Grimmjow's hospital room, she had noticed that Julian was much less... Well, he was just different somehow. He actually seemed genuinely worried about Grimmjow, and he hadn't brought up religion once, even though it was an acceptable time to do so considering their son's condition.

Neliel nearly joined with him at the waist probably had something to do with his seemingly less extreme personality.

"Children can sometimes have more influence than adults can…" she thought happily. "I… I guess it is about time for me to own up to my actions and return to Karakura. Even if Grimmy acts like he doesn't care, I know he does…"

For the first time in a very long time, Vivienne felt like she was actually a mother. Though even with her newfound attitude, she hadn't even realized how accurate her statement about children was.

End Flashback


As he sat, completely relaxed, in the beach chair and bathed his skin in the golden sunlight, Grimmjow watched the other beachgoers frolicking about. Children were building sand castles and burying each other, women were putting on sunscreen, men checked out the women while they put on sunscreen, and surfers were out riding the huge waves.

Man. He was so bored.

Unfortunately, he'd left his phone up in the hotel room, which was up on the forty-third floor. He had considered calling Kurosaki, but he realized that his mother was right. Every issue in Karakura town had to be left in Karakura town right now. Kurosaki was one of the problems he was currently dealing with, so calling him would defeat the purpose of this vacation.

His unwillingness to get back together stung something fierce. But this problem would be solved for sure at a later time. In his mind, them getting back together was inevitable. He figured he just had to time it right.

From his booksack that was lying in the sand beside him, he pulled out a book that had been left to him while he was asleep in his hospital room. Left to him by Kurosaki, his mother had said.

She seemed even more supportive of his relationship than Neliel… Well, maybe not Neliel. But she did come off as overly encouraging, which was surprising... How had a free spirit like her and a buttoned down kinda guy like his father ever get together in the first place?

"Whatever…" he commented.

The book he was holding was an anthology of Shakespeare's works. That wasn't very surprising considering this guy was Kurosaki's favorite poet… "Or playwright… or whatever the hell this guy was when he was alive…" the bluenette thought.

When he opened to the first page, a note slipped out. Upon opening it, this is what it said to him:

I hope this will help you expand your mind a little. Entrance exams are approaching fast.

On another note, know that there are worse tragedies in the world than breakups.

It never hurts to read, you know. It could help you more than you think.

Oh, and enjoy your vacation!

PS, your mother has a very unexpected personality… but she seems nice so don't be mean to her!

Grimmjow didn't know how to feel about this note. What was Kurosaki really trying to say with it? He had a habit of hiding things in broad daylight because he thought he was smarter than him.

When he looked up from the book, he noticed a man was watching him.

He was a definitely strange man.

On the beach all alone in a white t-shirt and black boardshorts was this slender, raven-haired guy who was just watching him… It was a little unnerving. Well, a lot actually.

To make matters worse, the guy got up and actually started walking towards him.

"Shit…" Grimmjow cursed under his breath.

"Hello." The man said after he reached him.

"Whatever you're selling, I don't want any."

"Heheh, that's some way to talk to someone you don't even know."

"Which is why I'm wondering why you're standing in front of me… Who the hell are you?"

"Me? Well, I'm no one important. Just a saved soul…"

Grimmjow rolled his blue eyes, "You're one of those people... Look, I don't believe in God, or religion. It only makes people rely on someone other than themselves to solve their problems."

The man stared at the relaxed bluenette curiously, and then he chuckled.

"Oh my… I see you have me confused… I suppose my choice of words wasn't the best."

Showing little interest in this slender man with the scar above his left eye, Grimmjow turned his attention back to his book.

"Oh, are you a reader? That's quite rare these days. Color me impressed."

"What do you want from me, guy?"

"I'm simply making some observations. I have a special assignment and you just so happen to fit into it well."

A blue eyebrow rose, "What…?"

"The assignment is merely a study of you and other beachgoers." the man said, before gazing up to the woman on the balcony on the forty-third floor, "So, where did you get an anthology of Shakespeare?"

"My… my ex got it for me."

"Oh, how interesting. I wonder what that means coming from an ex… For Shakespeare shares many ideas, both blissful and dismal in his works." The man said, before taking a seat in the sand next to Grimmjow, "Do you love this ex?"

"Is that any of your business? What if I asked you something personal?"

"Go ahead. It's only fair since I asked you something personal... even though you did not answer…"

"Do you love someone? Are you capable of loving someone, considering that you look like an elitist who hides away from society."

The man was surprised at the other's words. He turned and stared out at the seemingly endless ocean before responding, "Actually, I do love someone… I met this man when I was twelve years old. He took me in from my life on the run from foster homes and showed me what it meant to have someone actually care about you. I was only a child, but I was mature for my age. And because of my maturity, I fell in love with him… despite the fact that he was twenty-four years old... He saved me, how could I not love him? I had a home, a vast library with many intellectual writers at my disposal, and I even met some interesting people thanks to his growing business. His bartender was one of them. I've been doing this man's bidding for over a decade now, and have met many more people than I would have been capable of meeting on my own. I'm ever so thankful for his coming into my life."

Grimmjow stared at this guy for a moment. The fact that a child could be in love with an adult had sparked his curiousity. He wanted to know how deep this love was. "So, if this guy asked you to take someone out, would you do it?"

"Take someone out? As in dining with them?"

"No, no. I mean putting them in the ground, making them sleep forever, turning them into food for worms, call their number, makin' 'em croak."

"Your words are strange…"

"You're smart. Ever heard of a euphemism?"

"I have. What inappropriate thing might you be trying to hint at?"

Grimmjow facepalmed, "I mean would you ever kill someone for the guy!"

A few people looked in their direction, and Grimmjow realized he must have seemed very crazy right now. He looked at the man expectantly, "Would you?"

"Without hesitation. But he has not given me such an order. I am doing something for him now, though."

"And what is that?"

"Observing the people in this country. A few in particular."

"How creepy."

"It's not. There is an obstacle he needs me to monitor. That's all."

Surprisingly enough, Grimmjow was much more interested in learning about this strange man than he realized, "Have you told him how you feel about him?" he asked.

"No. I have not. He's currently invested his time in someone else. I've met this person once before, and he seems like a decent person… I suppose. A young man with orange hair, strangely enough."

"Orange hair?"

"It's strange, right?"

"Oh… well, I was just thinking it was a coincidence because my ex has orange hair." Grimmjow grinned while thinking of Ichigo's strawberry-scented hair.

The two of them truly stood out when they were together. Glasses face… Ishida was it… had once pointed out that orange and blue were complimentary colors.

But their relationship went much deeper than just appearances. When he thought about it, their personalities were complimentary too. He was aggressive and hot-tempered while Kurosaki was more reserved and level-headed. He rarely gave two shits about anything, but Kurosaki was emotional and sympathetic to those around him. He was brawny and often used his strength to solve his problems, yet Kurosaki seemed to use his intellect more than his physical strength. The list could go on and on if he let it.

"We really are a good pair… A powerhouse when we're together…" he thought with a grin.

After seeing Grimmjow's grin, the stranger got curious, "Do you want to be with this person? And if so, have you told them?"

"… I have… but I don't think he feels the same as I do anymore."

The raven-haired man sighed. With both hands, he picked up some sand and let it slip through his slender fingers. Just like the grains disappearing from his grasp, he thought life was too short. Too short to live with regrets for sure. Someday, he would be able to tell the man he loved how he felt. But that day may not come anytime soon… After all, he was so interested in the orange-haired boy. As long as he was happy with the kid, then that was all that mattered to him.

But for a moment, he allowed himself the pleasure of thinking that perhaps his savior that he cherished so dearly would and could return his powerful feelings.

"Thank you for chatting with me, young man. It was very… enlightening… I'm glad I had the chance to actually talk to you."

"What…? Actually talk to me? What does that mean?"

The man got up, "You've inspired me to take a chance. I bid you farewell, sir. Hopefully things go well for you and the person who gave you that book."

Grimmjow watched as the guy dusted himself off and departed.

As he walked away, the man smiled, "I'd never be able to kill that man or his mother now… Thank goodness Ginjo hasn't given me that order. I guess things must be going well for him on his vacation." He thought.

As confused as ever, Grimmjow looked back down to his book. The note that had been inside it now sat on his lap.

"Kurosaki… One more time… I'll give you the time you need, and then I'll ask you one more time… I won't take no for an answer when I do." He smiled, "You're my complimentary silver lining, after all."