DISCLAIMER: All rights of original Bleach characters/story go to Tite Kubo (we love you!). ….
…..….~o0o0o0o0o0o0o~….
When Ichigo got out into the hallway, Saya wasn't standing far off.
Her back was partially to him and she was mindlessly fidgeting with her nails, spaced out in thought.
"Something wrong?" Ichigo intruded and she broke out of her reflection.
"No," she looked over him slowly.
Even that simple glance revved Ichigo's engine. He was gonna have to get used to talking to Saya normally, now that he knew he could actually kiss her if he felt like it.
We.
Freaking.
Made Out.
Ichigo still couldn't believe it. And knowing there was a more than likely possibility he would get to do that with Saya again…
This is freaking awesome, he could not believe it.
"Just to be clear…" Saya's forehead creased. "…You, uh, know I have a kid right?"
"Yeah," Ichigo blinked at her quizzically.
"And you're okay with that?" her demeanor shifted into an insecure hesitancy.
Ichigo's brow furrowed. "Huh?"
"Because she's Grimmjow's baby and I already know you have issues—"
"Hey," Ichigo strode towards her. "Can we not talk about him right now? I was having a good day," he said with a light smirk.
Thankfully, that triggered Saya to smile back. "I know," she looked down. "I am too. But I just want to make sure—"
"—Saya—" Ichigo rolled his eyes.
"—Because I really want this to work! I want you to know what you're getting yourself into!" she gazed at him in urgency. "I am a single mother—"
"—I know—"
"—With a stupid jealous jackass of an ex-husband—"
"—SAYA!" Ichigo widened his eyes and grabbed her hands, finally getting her to hush. "I know all that! And none of that stuff makes me like you any more or any less than I already do. Got that?" he gazed at her seriously and she stared back at him with her bright blue-green eyes. "I don't judge Nel because she's Grimmjow's kid. I don't like it, but I don't hold it against either of you…That'd be idiotic."
"…Thanks," she gave him a doey-eyed smile. Then a sneakier, warning-like smile spread her lips. "You're not even a little worried about my over-protective, far beyond help, psychotic Uncle Kenny?" Saya tiled her head with the question.
"Ah…" Ichigo's mind went heavy with dread. That Kenpachi freaked the crap out of him. "…That might be something to work around."
"Ok," Saya smirked warily at him. "As long as I know that you know what you're in for." She ran her thumb along the top of Ichigo's hand as he held hers. "And," Saya stopped on a more serious note. "Nel always comes first."
"That's fine," Ichigo nodded with a caring smile. "Since we're talking family members, I should warn you," Ichigo grinned at her crookedly. "My Dad's an absolute dumbass."
"Isshin's a sweetie," Saya gave Ichigo an appalling smile. "How dare you be ashamed of your father! He's one of a kind!"
Ichigo shook his head. "I'm beyond ashamed."
She laughed at him, smiling to the side.
"So uh…" Ichigo shifted his stance. "Do you wanna?..um..c-could we—dammit—I want to take you on a date!" Ichigo finally blurted his intentions.
Saya smiled at him and Ichigo felt like the stars had just shone.
"When would you want to go?" Her smiled faded, her expression engulfed by thoughts. "We're pretty swamped with practicing for the concert. You think we have time?" she asked, not wanting to jeopardize their rehearsing schedule.
"We'll make time," Ichigo answered unquestionably. "Let's go tomorrow."
Saya's expression melted into a sappy, smiley pucker. oUo
Ichigo blanked at her switch in mood and bashfully turned his head away. "What?" he called stubbornly, trying not to get pulled in to her mushy spectacle.
"You can be real sweet sometimes, Ichigo," Saya poked him tenderly in his stomach.
"The hell you mean, sweet? And stop that!" Ichigo brushed her nudging hand away, turning red. "I'm not the Pillsbury Doughboy you know!"
"Heeeh heeeee!" Saya poked him again with her other hand, imitating the squeaky voice of the pastry company mascot.
"Dammit, cut it out!" He grabbed her other hand, scowling with embarrassment. He still had his image to uphold for crying out loud! She knew that!
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry," she smiled at him, ceasing her teasing. "I'm just not used to a guy going out of his way to spend time with me…It's nice," her eyes slid down to Ichigo's lips, then back to his eyes.
Hell yes.
Ichigo's body buzzed in stimulation.
You want some more?
He wanted more. He'd wasted plenty of time that could have been spent kissing Saya in high school, and he was eager to make up for it.
"The way you sang back there was pretty inspiring, Ichigo," Saya's fingernails played up his arm, sending sharp tingling chills through his limbs.
"You liked that then, did you?" Ichigo swallowed thickly.
"…I might've liked it too much…" Saya glanced up at him through dark lashes.
Shit, he didn't know if he could stand it much longer. She didn't even need to touch him and she could overload his system, blowing out every logical fuse in his brain till his senses were dumbed with just the thought of her.
When she spoke so forward to him—to HIM—Ichigo could barely contain his attraction.
All that came out of Ichigo's mouth was, "..yer the girl.."
"Hn?" Saya tilted her head with a misunderstood blink.
"You uh—didn't you say you'd owe me a..kiss if I sang?" Ichigo covered himself with a lame excuse for a relaxed voice.
"I didn't say that," Saya grinned at him. "But I will oblige…" she leaned up towards him and before Ichigo could close his eyes, he saw hers pop open.
She had frozen.
Like a statue in shock.
"Saya?" Ichigo blinked at her. He wasn't sure if she was looking at him, or something else. Finally her face changed, contorting into a gigantic suppression of a smile, her cheeks bulging as she tried to hold back an uncontainable giggle.
"What's wrong with you?" Ichigo squinted at her.
"Did you say something to Rukia or Renji?" she managed to ask in a hushed snicker of a voice.
"Uh…no," Ichigo tilted his head. "Rukia might've figured it out but…Why?"
Saya let out half a snort and pointed behind him. "Because I think they're on to us."
Ichigo frowned in confusion and followed the direction of her gesture.
What he saw when he turned around disturbed him beyond anything, ANYTHING Keigo had ever done to embarrass him….
"Get it, get it, get it!"
Renji was chanting like an over-stimulated moron.
The tattoo-face stood half way crouched over; pelvic thrusting while Rukia was behind him, bringing up his caboose and feverishly pretending to swat each side of Renji's butt. The blue-haired woman reveled with an evilly impish smirk on her face as she galloped behind her man. Renji pumped his arms vigorously as his hips bucked.
"Get it, get it, get it, Son! Get it, get it, get it, On!"
"AAAAHAHAHAHAHA!" Saya cracked up at their lewd impression while Ichigo went full-blown scarlet.
"WHAT THE # &% GUYS?!" Ichigo roared in livid horror. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?"
"Oh I'm sorry, Ichigo. Is this making you uncomfortable?" Rukia did not cease her spanking of Renji, nor the knowing, witchy smile on her petite face. "You'd better get more familiar with these activities now that you're dating a gir-urrl!"
Renji only wiggled his eyebrows as he turned around and he and Rukia both started enthusiastically pumping at each other with their nether regions.
"GET OUTTA MY HOUSE!" Ichigo ripped off his shoe and whipped it at them. "I DIDN'T EVEN SAY YOU GUYS COULD COME OVER! GEEEEHT OOUT!" He chucked another shoe at their heads, his cheeks a ruddy pink.
"Alright! Jesus Ichigo!" Renji barked, fleeing with Rukia back into the garage. "We were just trying to sprinkle a little kink into the atmosphere!"
"Congratulations you two!" Rukia waved a handkerchief at them in an overly heckling and feminine display before the door slammed shut and they height-challenged couple vanished into the garage.
"HahahOH MY GAD!" Saya was practically in tears. "I never thought I'd see Rukia do something like that! Their faces were priceless!—So into it! ahHAHAHAHAHH!" she had to cover her face with her hands.
Ichigo stood, twitching. "It's not funny. They were making fun of us."
"IT WAS HILARIOUS!" Saya squealed. "I should've taken a video and sent it to Byakuya!"
"See, that would be funny," Ichigo thought it over in his head. Renji would never see the light of day after Byakuya laid eyes on that action…then he'd probably force Rukia to become a nun.
"Ohhh Wow! Okay, I have to go," Saya turned to start down the hall, her face still shining with giggles.
"What do you mean, go?" Ichigo blinked at her.
"Oh," Saya's breaths gradually calmed down. "Well I kinda need to talk to Nel," she looked at him pleasantly. "Explain things..you know. And I'll need to find someone to watch her..if we're gonna go out tomorrow…"
"Ah yeah, right," Ichigo broke into a smile and rubbed the back of his neck. "You could always have Yuzu or Karin watch her."
"I don't want to keep asking them. They have a life too. I was thinking I'd ask Yumichika…I need to call him anyway."
"Yumichika?" Ichigo grimaced at the memory of that snooty guy. "Why him?"
"Because…he's good to ask advice for what to wear…" Saya glossed over her explanation, her cheeks dusting pink.
"Just wear whatever you have," Ichigo awkwardly shifted his feet. "It's not that big a deal to me…"
"I don't really own any dressy clothes, Ichigo," Saya divulged.
"What about the dress Yuzu made for you?"
Saya blinked. "I don't want to wear a dress."
"I thought you liked that dress? You said so to Yuzu," Ichigo countered.
"I think it's pretty," Saya admitted. "But that doesn't mean I want to wear it all the time!"
"Just wear it! It looks good on you!" Ichigo shouted, going red in the face at his *coughcough* subtle complement.
"Uhg—but…" Saya looked at Ichigo in the eyes, her face heating up too. "Only if I get to pick what you wear!"
"Fine," Ichigo shrugged. "You're not gonna find anything fancy in my closest."
"Rukia told me about your Power Ranger outfits."
V~V**
Ichigo twitched. Damn that bunny-loving WITCH!
"You can wear one of those," Saya crossed her arms with a smirk.
"What!? NO! That's embarrassing! And those are collectors' items!" Ichigo attested.
"I'd wear one," Saya shrugged lightly.
"Like your butt could fit into one…" Ichigo muttered under his breath.
Saya gaped at him in amused offense.
"You have something against my butt, Ichigo?" she flared her nostrils, cocking an eyebrow with attitude.
FUCK NO!
Ichigo immediately mourned his stupidity. He'd have taken back his thoughtless remark in exchange for anything in that moment, even a knee to the crotch.
"N-no, I just meant—"
"That's it," Saya gave him a talk-to-duh-hand pose. "Your booty access has been revoked."
O/O
Ichigo blushed. "I..I have booty access?"
It felt like such a dirty word…he liked it.
"Did. You DID have booty access," Saya stood assertively with her arms crossed, her head turned away from him. "Booty access is a privilege Ichigo. A privilege I'm afraid you don't deserve."
WHAT? V/V THE HELL YOU MEAN I DON'T DESERVE IT?! I'VE BEEN SINGLE MY ENTIRE FREAKING LIFE! I NEED THAT BOOTY.
Ichigo inhaled and exhaled through his nose, trying to loosen his itching fists.
"How do I...can I have it back?" he tried to keep his voice as even as possible. He was both embarrassed for asking, and vexed by her implemented boundaries.
"Maybe," Saya still wasn't looking at him, but her voice was engaging. "You could start by saying please…and then wear a Power Rangers outfit!" she spun on him and pointed with glee.
"I'm not wearing one in public! I'll look like a freak!"
"Awwh but you are a freak, Ichigo," Saya suddenly patted his cheek. "And I still like you. It'll be fun! Hehehehehehhe."
Ichigo twitched again. If Saya hadn't just said she liked him, Ichigo might've shoved her. Or spanked her one.
"No."
"Fine," Saya pouted at her wits end. "Where are we going anyway?"
"Oh, I don't know," Ichigo blinked. "The movies?"
"It's supposed to be nice out tomorrow," Saya remembered the weather forecast. "We should do something outside, before it gets too cold..it is almost October."
"Like a picnic or something?" Ichigo asked.
"Hmm," Saya liked that idea. "Yes. And then go-cart racing."
Ichigo snorted a laugh. "Do they even have those around here?"
"There's a track I used to go to with Ikkaku and Yumichika all the time," Saya nodded.
"Alright," Ichigo smiled, then his eyebrows slanted. "So it's a lunch date then?"
"Yeah I guess," Saya raised her shoulders.
Ichigo had his eyes on the ground, then they flickered up at her beneath his scowling eyebrows. "Dinner too."
Saya felt her heart smolder, but her brain nudged her back to her senses. That would be a long time for someone to watch Nel without me.
"I..I'll have to see how long Yumichika can watch Nel for," she answered with a slightly dry mouth.
"Fine," Ichigo nodded, seeming a little more positive.
Saya smiled at him. Her heart felt like a sponge that had just been dunked into a bucket of liquid snuggles and she was soaking in every drop of it. It was like she had just gotten a level-up. She felt so happy and special it was like her heart was beating at OVER 9000!?
She realized she was still staring.
"Okay," she spun around before she lost her focus again. She needed to get Nel.
Nel.
Oh dear…this was gonna be a tricky one. Saya wasn't going to lie to her and say 'Me and Ichigo are gonna go for a jog tomorrow.' Number one, Saya never jogged. Number two: Nel would want to come—which would be fine—but that wasn't the point!
"Nel?" Saya called as she went down the hallway, Ichigo not far behind.
In response, Saya heard a loud BURRRp.
"S'CUSE NEL!"
Saya laughed when she came into the living room. Nel was sitting on the couch with Karin, they were both racing each other in Mario Kart on the Nintendo 64. On the short table in front of them were some snacks and a two-liter Hawaiian Punch—which no doubt was the source of Nel's fizzy tummy.
*BURRp*
"S'CUSE NEL MORE!" the chubby little girl said from under her beanie hat and continued trying to work the controller.
Not exactly proper etiquette, but close enough.
"You're excused, Nel," Saya sat on the arm of the sofa and patted her baby's back.
"Thank yahz!" Nel said with a wag of her tongue as she concentrated.
"When you guys finish this race, we're gonna go."
"SHHH! SHHH MAMA! Nel has tah win!" Nel focused on the screen. Her Toad player was in last place.
"Ichigo," Karin easily steered her Yoshi player down the virtual track, she was in first. "You want to play once they leave?"
"Sure," Ichigo shrugged, going into the kitchen to fix himself something to drink.
Saya followed him into the kitchen. "Are you any good at racing?"
"Better than you," Ichigo bet, smirking.
"Hn," Saya scoffed lightly. "We'll see about that tomorrow, won't we?" she whispered behind Ichigo as he poured some hot water from the kettle and Saya swore she saw his back ripple.
Ssexy back ;D
"Hey, Saya?" Ichigo turned around to face her. She took a step back so she wouldn't be quite so close. "Can I tell Karin?"
"Yeah," Saya blinked. "I don't care who you tell..."
"Cool." Ichigo took a drink from his tea. "Hey Karin," he called once he had set his glass down. "I'm going out on a date tomorrow."
"Big whoop," Karin remarked without taking her eyes away from the TV. "Your crush is old news Ichigo. It's about time you asked her out."
"Wwa-aht?" Ichigo stammered in offense, almost knocking over his tea. "It's not a crush—because she likes me too!" Ichigo twitched with agitation at his sister's unappreciation. Wasn't anyone gonna be happy for him without making some sort of joke out of him? AND SINCE WHEN DID KARIN KNOW HE LIKED SAYA!?
"Waaht?" Nel's voice hissed like an oncoming storm. She peered over the top of the couch to glare. "ITSYGO'S GOT A CRUSH?! ITSYGO'S GOT A DATE WIFF ANUDDER GURL?! NOOO!"
The toddler angrily threw her remote smack on to the couch, making it bounce and fly off to the ground. She jumped off the back edge of the sofa and landed like a four-legged spider, then she scurried into the kitchen, straight to Ichigo, and kicked him hard in the shin.
"OW!" Ichigo hopped from the attack, clinging to the counter so he wouldn't fall over.
"Nel?" Saya blinked at her daughter in shock. "What's the ma—"
"You! STOOPID STOOPID ITSYGO!" Nel continued her tantrum, kicking Ichigo every chance she got. "YOU BIG! FAT! STOOPID HEAD!" Ichigo was actually a little amazed at how she kept getting him in the exact same place. She was gonna leave a dent in his leg.
"Nel! Stop that," Saya swept her little girl up into her arms but Nel continued to fight, tears now streaming down her face as she screamed.
"YOU'S SUPPOS'TAH BE FER NEL'S MAMA!" the toothy girl cried. "YOU TRICK'dED NEL, ITSYGO! NEL THOUGHT YOU WAS A GOOD ONE-UHH-UHNNN!" Nel collapsed her face into her Mother's chest and sobbed.
"What in the world…?" Saya held Nel comfortingly, glancing to Ichigo with a bewildered expression.
"HE RUINED IT! ALL NEL'S PLANS, MAMA! ITSYGO RUINED ALL NEL'S WORK'dED FOR!"
"What?" Ichigo frowned with a stunned gape at the little girls words.
"ITSYGO'S GOT ANUDDER GIRL ALREADY! WHEN NEL TRIED! NEL TRIED TAH GET'IM FER YOU MAMA! CUZ NEL KNOS YOU'S WUD BE GOOD WIFF ITSYGOOO!" she steamed with fresh hot tears down her pudgy cheeks.
"Munchkin," Saya brushed Nel's bangs out of her sticky face, almost laughing at how strange and sweet the little girl was reacting. "Listen to me Nellie-Bellie, Ichigo isn't dating another girl—"
"YER A FATTY, ITSYGO!" Nel practically shot out of her Mother's hold, she yelled with such power. "NO GURL IS GONNA LIKE YOU NEVER! YER FAT AND UGLY LIKE A SMELLY OLD LUNCHLADY!"
"NELLIEL!" Saya gaped at her child, trying not to snort with laughter. "I'm going on the date with Ichigo, not someone else!"
Nel stared at Ichigo with a terribly unsure, wide-eyed expression, like something very slow was traveling through her brain.
"You picked Mama?" Nel blinked at him.
"Yeah!" Ichigo clarified with a snappy answer, rubbing his sore leg; half irritated but still stunned over Nel's outburst.
Nel's mouth surged open with a smile so large, Ichigo didn't even know how it fit on her face.
"YAAAAAAAYY!" Nel charged out of Saya's arms, yanking her Mother's hand with her and then latched on to Ichigo's pant leg. "ITSYGO! ITSYGO!" Nel chanted with her tiny fists wadded into Ichigo's jeans, and she jumped up and down between them. "ITSYGO AND MAA-MAAAH!" she sang out loud.
Saya was at a loss for words, but she just laughed, beaming at them with a smile brighter than Ichigo had ever seen grace her face.
"Yeah..thanks, Nel," Ichigo gave her a light pat on the head. He was still a little confused as to what the hell had just happened. But it was nice having someone actually express how happy he was on the inside. If Ichigo weren't a full-grown man with a reputation to maintain, he'd be singing off rooftops too, for damn sure.
"You's not an old lunchlady, Itsygo! Nel was jus sayin tah make you feel ugly! YOU'S THE BESTEST!" Nel only hugged Ichigo's leg.
"Right..thanks for the apology," Ichigo flashed Saya an amused grin.
"Well this isn't what I expected," Saya put her hands on her hips and surveyed them both with a smile. "I thought it would take you a little time to get used to, Nel."
"Nope! Nel's been waitin!" she continued to squeeze Ichigo's leg. Apparently she wasn't letting go.
"But…" Saya's smile tweaked with a bit of seriousness. "What about your Dad?"
"Daduh's been bein a poopy! And Nel kin have two Dadah's if Nel wants!" Nel gave a rather brat-like pout at her Mother.
Saya shut her eyes, trying not to crack a grin. She shook her head.
"Honey, that's not exactly how it works—"
"Saya," Ichigo shrugged at her with a beaten expression, "Just let it go." He wasn't going to waste brain cells trying to figure out Nel's twisted train of thought, and he didn't think Saya needed to either.
"Gross," Karin mumbled from the couch, then turned up the volume on a TV show she was now watching.
"YAAY!" Nel cried with delight again. "En'now Nel will have a Daduh dat does anything Nel wants when she bites's his leg AND a Daduh dat does anything Nel says when she brings out dah sizzers!"
Saya squinted at her daughter. She was a little unsure which one meant Ichigo and which one meant Grimmjow, considering Ichigo had freaked out about a month ago when Nel had clipped some of his hair off.
She glanced at Ichigo, and he didn't make eye contact. He just looked down at the floor as if it had suddenly become interesting…
"Well I'm glad you approve, munchkin," Saya stepped closer and Nel instantly ran to her Mother's arms, letting her tiny form be enveloped in a Mama bear hug.
"Nel's glad Itsygo picked you, Mama," Nel whispered, making Saya smile at her dear little one.
"Me too," Saya petted her turquoise curls and Nel gave her a snuggly Eskimo kiss.
Ichigo smile softly at them. Sometimes it brought out a splinter of envy when saw the Mother and child like that. But really he was happy Nel and Saya had a bond the way they did.
"Let's get Bawa Bawa so we can go home ok? I need to call Yumichika."
"Okay!" Nel showed her sharp teeth in a proud, squinty smile and she scurried out of the room.
"Is it really that important to talk to that guy?" Ichigo's brow furrowed.
"I've been meaning to call him anyway," Saya said a she gathered up the bag of the rest of Nel's toys. "And he's helpful in these situations."
"Wasn't he the one who wanted you to date Grimmjow?" Ichigo thought he remembered correctly.
"You can't hold him responsible for that," Saya looked up at him for a second before heading towards the hall for her shoes.
Ichigo scowled after her.
"Why are you so bothered by it?" Saya asked as she reached the front door.
"I'm not…" Ichigo shrugged awkwardly. It made him sort of nervous to think that purple-haired gossip queen was going to be talking to Saya about him behind his back…he didn't know what the hell that guy might say, good or bad. "I just don't see why it's so necessary you consult with him or whatever."
"He was the one who made me wear that swim suit to the water park."
Ichigo's ears perked, remembering the racy bikini.
"I wouldn't have dressed to swim otherwise," Saya got down to put on her shoes. "But if you don't want him helping me decide what to wear for you tomorrow then that's fine. I'll dress myself, and you can be sure the outfit will include a turtleneck and highwaters."
Ichigo grimaced. Even he knew that was a bad combination.
"I guess I'll call him then," she smirked and laced up her converse sneakers.
"Whatever," Ichigo scratched the back of his neck with a crooked smile.
"Nel! Come get your shoesies on!" Saya hollered, brushing her hair behind her shoulder as she stood.
"KAY MAMA! NEL'S GOOD TAH GO!" Nel waddled forth with Bawa Bawa in her arms.
"Alrighty, let's get you all set," Saya put Nel's tiny shoes on her feet, then picked her up, slinging the backpack of toys over her shoulder. "Say bye."
"BYE BYE ITSYGO!" Nel waved in overjoy.
"Bye Nel," Ichigo smiled.
"See you tomorrow," Saya leaned towards him and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.
o/O Ichigo's mind blanked. She...She can't do that in front of Nel!
"Oooooooo," Nel's lips curled down into a giggly 'O' and she wiggled in her Mother's arms at the affection.
Saya only smirked and carried Nel out the door, shutting it before Ichigo could even get his mouth to work.
He let out a ginormous sigh and slumped against the wall.
It was only noon.
And today had already been freaking awesome.
They had made plans… Saya had actually agreed to do something romantic with him tomorrow. The concept was still so foreign.
He couldn't believe it.
He felt so good with just one date on the horizon; he couldn't imagine the serenity a real long-term relationship with Saya could bring him.
He hadn't realized it.
He'd been stuck in the distance for so long—Saya always out of his reach, Saya always passing him by—he didn't realize how much she filled him up just to have her stand with him.
Just to let him know she knew he was there.
And now that he knew she felt the same way—that acknowledgement alone made Ichigo swell with warming completion. Something deep in his core feeling like it had been poured full of sunlight.
When she touched him…that felt more like moonlight. His chest would brim with it, like silver rays or wings sweeping over him, rings of white light washing over from her point of contact; a rippling effect that enchanted his mind, body and soul.
He had to keep her now.
Ichigo had lost a lot of things in his life—too many, he sometimes thought.
But he would not lose her.
His past failures and shortcomings be damned, he would fight to hold on to this one.
Oh crap...
Ichigo realized he needed something to wear for tomorrow.
"Shit shit shit," he muttered in conquest. He wasn't used to picking out his clothes with the intention of looking good for a girl.
The only other time that issue had ever come up—on his date with Orihime Inoue—Ichigo had just worn what Rukia told him to wear.
"Rukia!" Ichigo strode to the garage to ask for advice.
...
….~o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o~…..
...
"Blast it, Saya! WHAT IS IT?! I've told you to always text me unless it's a code red emergency!"
Yumichika's voice was like snake venom, boiling over with impatience. He must've been in a designers meeting when Saya had kept trying to call.
"That's the funny thing, see…" Saya cleared her throat. "This is a code red emergency."
*Dead Silence*
"Yumi?" Saya called through the receiver.
"…Saya, if this is some sort of prank, I am going to strangle you."
"It's not, I swear," Saya shook her head in panic at Yumichika's danger-level tone.
"Oh my god…"
"W-what?" Saya cringed in suspense.
"IT'S THE GINGER BOY ISN'T IT!? I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I so called that—"
"What?" Saya squinted. "How would you have known Ichigo was gonna ask me out?"
A poised scoff was heard through the phone line connection.
"Honey…Please."
Yumichika wasted no time making Saya explain the situation and demanded, before Saya could even ask, that he fly over from Tokyo ASAP so he could personally draw up a look for Saya that would "make that Ginger pant."
Saya was a little fearful of what that meant.
...
….~o0o0o0o0o0o~…
...
NEXT DAY:
Ichigo bounded up the terrace stairs that lead to Saya's apartment. It was almost noon, and he had a bento box tucked under his arm for the picnic they were gonna go on. He'd asked Yuzu to pack a certain food for him.
Ichigo stopped one flight below and broke into a dignified pace, to catch his breath.
"You got this," he muttered with an airy huff.
He didn't know why he was so damn nervous. He'd been hanging out with Saya almost everyday since they'd practiced for the Karakura Festival, he didn't even need to worry about a first kiss—so why the hell was he so flippin nervous?!
He stopped in front of their door and wiped his upper lip incase he was sweating. Before he could even knock, the door flew open.
That guy Yumichika was standing at the door, hands on his hips. He didn't say anything, just gave Ichigo a cold, slow once over, before raising an eyebrow.
Ichigo had dressed in a red sort of biker-style bomber jacket, with a white collared shirt. Then a belt and some casual jeans and shoes. They were going go-cart racing so Ichigo didn't think it made sense to wear anything real nice.
"No skin? How appropriate," Yumichika said in an under enthused tone and reached out at Ichigo's chest, making the orange-haired vocalist flinch at the unwanted touch.
The purple-haired man sent a fiery glare at him, so Ichigo held still as Yumichika unbuttoned two of the buttons on Ichigo's white shirt, exposing the black undershirt tank he had on beneath.
"I suppose it works," the shiny-haired man turned back into the apartment, disappearing without inviting Ichigo in.
Why the hell does Saya hang around you again? V_V
"Itsygo."
"Huh?" Ichigo looked down, failing to notice Nel had been standing at the door too. "Oh—hey Nel…uh, is your Mom ready?"
"Nel's Mama likes you, Itsygo," the little girl said with her arms crossed and a distrustful squint on her face.
"Uh..yeah?" Ichigo blinked in confusion.
"If yer gonna kiss her, you kiss Mama good!" Nel pointed at him with even narrower slits for eyes.
Ichigo squinted back at the little girl. Since when are kids supposed to talk about that kind of stuff?
"Okay..?" Ichigo replied for…whatever reason.
"Good!" Nel's serious face faded into a happier one. "N'don't let her know she's a crazy lady, cuz she always gets mad when Dadah calls her a crazy lady."
"I won't," Ichigo nodded with a strange expression.
"Good, Itsygo! Nel knos you'll do good!" Nel hugged his leg again.
"Right, thanks for the tip, Nel," Ichigo smiled at her and patted her head. He did feel a little it more relaxed now.
"…because if you let her eat that before she's had something with actual nutrients, it will go straight to her head!"
Ichigo straightened at the sound of Saya's voice.
"And then she won't eat anything and she'll be running on sugar all day," Saya was telling Yumichika. "So no Kool-Aid without eating first, and here's the key to the safe with her Oreos in it—she can't have them until an hour after she eats her vegetables and you have to watch her close because she'll try puking them up."
"I know how to take care of Nelliel, Saya," Yumichika crossed his toned arms. "It's not as difficult as you're making it out to be."
"Yumi, you've never watched her by yourself," Saya finally came into view, ready with a large picnic basket. When Ichigo had called her last night, she had said she wanted to take care of most of the food. "And Nel's gotten a lot smarter since the last time you visited, haven't you?" Saya addressed her daughter.
"TOO smart!" Nel nodded.
"See," Saya looked back at Yumichika. "So keep both eyes on her."
"I'll keep her out of trouble," Yumichika promised with a swish of his silky hair.
"Thank you," the mother smiled gratefully at her foster brother. Finally her eyes fell on Ichigo and he sucked in his gut, making sure he was standing up nice and tall.
She had on red converse sneakers instead of her black ones; washed out, light blue jeans; a black belt; and a seafoam green halter-top that crisscrossed over her chest, leaving a diamond-shaped opening that showcased the rolling curve of her bust, dressing up her shoulders and connecting somewhere at the back of her neck. Her dark hair was down as usual, but she must've put on some sort of cherry colored lipstick that popped against the pastel color of her shirt and drew Ichigo's eyes straight to her mouth.
"Sorry," Saya flashed him a lopsided smile and slung her purse over her shoulder. "It just kinda freaks me out when someone new watches her…bad experiences…" she laughed nervously.
"No, it's fine," Ichigo's blood was pounding in his ears and he tried to keep himself from fidgeting or staring too much.
"You've told me all of her tricks, Saya. Now off with you," Yumichika shoed her.
"Alright. You be good, munchkin," Saya squatted down and gave Nel a hug and kiss. "Yumichika can call me anytime if you need something. I love you," she gave her child another big kiss on top of her head.
"Love yah, Mama!" Nel waved. "By Itsygo! You be good too!"
"See you, Nel," Ichigo nodded as Saya joined him outside the door.
"I'll see you soon!" Saya waved good-bye.
"Not too soon, I hope," Yumichika sent the couple a smirk. "Keep her as late as you want," he said to Ichigo with a devious wink.
Ichigo's cheeks flushed with heat at the notion.
"OOkay we're going now," Saya pulled the door shut in her foster brother's face. "Nosy baka," Saya mumbled irritably to herself, and Ichigo grinned.
"Is he always like that?"
"Pretty much," Saya sighed. "He's one of those people who says things he knows he shouldn't…he's kind of a bitch like that, but you gotta love him," she shrugged with a bright smile.
They walked to a nearby park that was on the way to the go-cart track and set up their lunch.
"I told you that you didn't need to bring anything," Saya said after they had finished laying out the blanket she had brought and started unloading the food. "Seriously, this picnic basket can hold gallons, I love it! I was so happy when I found it at Good Will."
"I know, but I wanted to bring something myself," Ichigo let his crooked grin break free.
Saya narrowed her eyes and sat on the blanket with her knees tucked off to the side.
"What's that for?" she asked with moderate suspicion.
"What?" Ichigo laughed and stretched out is legs, sitting adjacent to her with the food in between.
"You have some kind of joke planned. Your smile is way too obvious, Strawberry," she jeered and grabbed one of the bottles of water she had packed.
"Funny you should use that word," Ichigo grinned even wider at the perfect timing of his nickname. He opened the bento box he had brought, revealing a serving of strawberries.
Saya's eyes widened, her eyelashes spanning and her mouth busting up into a stubborn smirk. "You would," she half glared, half smiled at him. "Reeeal smooth, Ichigo. Real smooth." She shook her head, rolling her eyes and taking a drink of her water.
"Want one?" Ichigo took a bite of the red fruit.
HOLY HONEYDUKES YES! I WANT ONE! Saya's inner fangirl squealed.
"I knew—I knew I should've packed some cupcakes!" she pounded her fist in defeat. That would even the score with this underhanded Strawberry.
"Why didn't you?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow smugly at her.
"BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT'D BE WEIRD!"
"I wouldn't have cared, I don't know why your getting so worked up in the first place," he lied with a bold-faced grin. Just fess up and admit it, you want some Strawberry, don't you?
"I hate you," Saya looked away, shaking her head with a screwed up smile.
"Yeah?"
"You suck," Saya eyed him with a lie on her lips.
"You're just mad I thought of something you didn't."
"And you are taking advantage of my perfectly normal appetite for fruit!" She shoved him in the shoulder.
Ichigo laughed at her. "If you're gonna get all snappy, I'm not gonna let you have any," he said with a light threat and took another chomp of the fruit.
Saya raised an eyebrow at him.
Then she raised a fist to her mouth and coughed obnoxiously, "*ahem*BOOTYacess*cough*" she casually looked around like nothing had happened.
Ichigo's face sagged in displeasure. He mulishly pushed the bowl of strawberries her way and she smiled at him.
"Hehehehhe," she smirked and bit into one between her fingers, chewing victoriously at him. "One thing you should know about being my boyfriend, Ichigo—I always win."
He scowled at her. "Fine, but I'm gonna make you pay for that later."
"I doubt it," she whispered at him before eating another strawberry. "These are good though," she commented, and tossed some of her hair out of her way as she dug into the rest of the food she had brought. It took a moment for Ichigo to swallow what he was chewing when he glimpsed her bare shoulder blade.
"Hey," Saya grinned at him and scooted closer. "So we talk about music all the time, but I realized—I don't know any of your guilty pleasure songs. And I feel like I deserve to know something embarrassing about you," she said with a light jest. "So tell me one."
"A guilty pleasure song?" Ichigo frowned. He didn't even know what that meant.
"You know, what's a song you have in your iTunes library that you love and don't want anyone to know about?" Saya waited excitedly for an answer, her hair sweeping out from behind her back as she swayed in front of him.
"I don't know…I'd have to think about it…" Ichigo's face set with a concentrated scowl. "What would qualify as one?" He didn't think he had any songs he was embarrassed about listening to.
"Well I know you like 'Take On Me.' That counts," Saya said. "It's still popular, but is that a song you'd want everyone to know about you listening to?"
"Hmm." Ichigo probably would be embarrassed telling someone he liked that song. "You have any?"
"Oh heck, yeah," Saya nodded. "Probably too many…" Instead of trying to remember one, Saya straight up pulled her iPod out of her purse and started scrollin on it. "Oh noooo-oh-oh!" she squeezed her eyes shut and laughed. "Ah crap this is a bad one…don't judge me to harsh…" she bit her lip awkwardly before suddenly breaking into song.
"And I don't want the wor-orld to see me!" Saya exaggerated her voice as she sang with over the top dramatization. "Cuz I don't think that they'd understand! When everything's made to be broken!—"
"Ahh God," Ichigo turned his head and shut his eyes in revulsion.
"I just want you tah know who I amm!—Hahahaaah!" Saya covered her face laughing.
(A/N: "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls, XDDD.)
"Are you serious? That song is so corny," Ichigo half smirked at her.
"I am well aware!" she nodded. "But that's the point. Songs like that, that are totally totally terrible or cheesy. You have to tell me one now. I put myself out there Ichigo, it's only fair!"
"I can't think of any," Ichigo scratched his head.
"Do you have your iPod?"
Ichigo reluctantly answered. "Yeah…"
"Then check it," she beckoned him.
"Here," Ichigo pulled the device from his jacket. "You do it, I don't think I have any songs like that."
"Everyone has songs like that, Ichigo," Saya said in certainty.
"Okay," Ichigo shrugged, doubting she would find any.
"Bonnie Tyler, Ichigo?" Saya smirked at him after scrolling for only a second.
O_O…Crap.
He had forgotten about that one.
"That's not mine…Yuzu likes that song," Ichigo immediately felt self-conscious.
"Ichigo, it's okay," she patted him on the shoulder as if he were dealing with some sort of disease. "I have it too."
"You do?" Ichigo smiled.
"Well yeah, who isn't 'Holding Out For A Hero'?" she said seriously and continued searching his library. "Aww, you have "Jessie's Girl'? OH MY GAWD! HHHHAHAHAAHAHH!" she broke into a cackle, pounding her leg with laughter. "You have 'I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight'?"
Now Ichigo felt like his privacy was being violated. What he listened to while he folded his laundry was nobodies business but his.
"Alright that's enough," he tried snatching it back, but Saya scrunched her shoulder and hid his iPod between her hands.
"You are so hung up on the 80's! How come you never said?" she teased him merrily.
"Dammit! Give it back!"
"I like the 80's too, Ichi! It's nothing to be ashamed of!"
Ichigo scowled, turning brighter red as she grinned at him, enjoying his embarrassment.
"Fine," Ichigo grabbed Saya's iPod instead of his own. "Go ahead and keep looking, I'm sure I'll find something worse on yours."
"I don't know, Ichigo, 'Hungry Eyes' is gonna be pretty tough to beat," she raised a knowing eyebrow. "Now I've got you in my sights," she wiggled her eyebrows at him.
He couldn't help but grin and look away. He knew that song was cheesy, but knowing Saya liked it and hearing her voice sing it to him made him solidify keeping it on the playlist Ichigo used for his workouts.
"I see you have that song too," Ichigo smarted back. "It's right here," he pointed at her screen.
"Yes but that's because I have the entire Dirty Dancing soundtrack. I didn't single out 'Hungry Eyes' in particular like you did," she shot back at him with a mocking flutter of her eyelashes. "Must be your all time favorite huh?"
"Cher, Saya?" Ichigo looked at her and she stiffened. "You have Cher?"
"Can we move on please?" she replied without making eye contact.
"No, I want to hear you sing it," Ichigo snickered at his victory. "Go on, Do you believe..?"
"In life after love!? YES! But I have a more important question for you, Ichigo," she glanced at his iPod in her hand for a second to double check something. "'What IS Love?'" she retorted with the song title.
"Hey!"
"No! Stop!" She pointed at him. "Baby..don't hurt me.. Don't hurt me! No more," she slowed the lyrics with deliberate seriousness.
"I only have that song because of Night At the Roxburry."
"Then what about 'Number One' hmm, Ichigo?" Saya smirked in delightful mockery. "Do you feel like Number One? Shining bright for everyone? Are you living out your fantasy?"
"Shut up!" Ichigo blushed red with a smile at her rephrasing of the lyrics. "The fact that you know all the words makes you just as guilty!"
"No…I don't think it does," she shook her head righteously.
"Alright then how about this," Ichigo adjusted to sitting up on his knees. "'Say My Name, Say My Name'?" he annunciated and held the iPod to her face as she tried to pretend she didn't hear him.
"Hey, would you look at this!" Saya pointed to Ichigo's iPod. "The Power Rangers theme song!"
"YOU HAVE TWO ENTIRE PLAYLISTS DEDICATED TO THE LORD OF THE RINGS!"
"AND I have one that my iPod doesn't have room for," Saya openly admitted. "But at least I don't have 'Mmm Bop!' And 'Roxanne' the Moulin Rouge version? My my, Ichigo, you're so sensitive deep down—"
"—'Fergilicious'..FERGIE-LICIOUS SAYA?"
"Okay, you win," Saya threw him his iPod back and waved for him to return hers as well.
"No, I wanna see what other guilty pleasures you've got hidden on here," Ichigo continue scrolling. He was interested now. "I'm starting to run into a ton of K-Pop."
"I SAID YOU WIN! THIS IS A RARE OCCASION, ICHIGO! SO GIVE IT!" she leaned over him and swiped at the object of her humiliation, but Ichigo was too fast and held his arm out and away from her.
"What's the magic word?" Ichigo smirked charmingly.
"NOW!" she aimed to seize it again, but Ichigo put his hand on her stomach to keep her back and she went pink at his touch. "Ichigo Kurosaki!" she lunged over him brazenly, almost causing Ichigo to topple backwards, but he grabbed her side for support.
For an instant, his face was right at Saya's neck.
Ahhhh fuckin crap, Ichigo thought in yearning at the closeness of her skin.
"Haha! Got it!" Saya leaned with a final plunge and stole her iPod out of his hand, but her knee slid—she braced her hand forward onto Ichigo's chest, but her balance didn't hold and she clipped her chin on the top of Ichigo's head.
"Ow."
She slipped, her hand racking all the way down until finally she caught herself by grasping Ichigo's thigh.
Saya removed her hand immediately.
"M-my bad," Saya sat back and grimaced, holding her jaw. "Shoot…I bit my tongue."
Ichigo cursed under his breath as he rubbed his orange-haired noggin. "Say please next time, and I'll just give it to you," he grumbled in a rather hot-tempered tone.
"Sorry," Saya apologized without looking at him.
"It's fine, it's just…" Ichigo's mouth dried when Saya looked at him with that guilty blushing face. "Fuck, Cupcake—watch your hands next time?"
Saya's eyes widened at the restraining look on his face. "I-I didn't mean-"
"I know," Ichigo leaned forward, sliding one arm around Saya's waist to pull her towards him."But I you owe me something after doing a little thing like that," he kissed her, longingly, with as much tenderness as his ready body would allow.
Saya seemed a little startled at first, but she relaxed, moving her lips with his. It was a slow kiss, savoring themselves against each other until they peeled apart.
"Huu-ungry Eiieyes," Saya sang goofily in an airy, swooning voice as soon as she had taken a breath. The she changed her tone to a stronger, boyish tone for the next line, "One look at you and I can't disguise! I've got! Huu-ungry Eiieyes…" she fanned herself and fluttered her eyelashes again. Ichigo scoffed at her and sat back on the blanket.
"Stop makin fun of me," he drolled with a smirk. The heat from their moment of intimacy still fresh on his face.
"How dare you," Saya glared with fake hurt. "I wasn't making fun of you, I was serenading! If I wanted to make fun of you I'd be singing Mmm Bop! Bop Doop Bop!—"
(A/N: "MmmBop" by Hanson. Seriously, this song haunts my childhood…I hate it.)
"Stop singing or I'll put a lid on yah," Ichigo tried projecting his voice over her obnoxious singing.
"—Mmm bop! ZEEBEE-DAP-DOOBY BOP!"
…..~o0o0o0o0o0o0o~…..
They were at the go-cart track.
They had paid for tickets for a few rounds and were heading over to pick which racers they would drive.
"Number 11," Saya spied the cart she wanted.
"You don't want to drive in one of the couples carts?" Ichigo asked.
Saya stopped and looked at him. "..But I want to race you," she blinked softly, being honest but clearly hoping she wouldn't hurt his feelings somehow.
"Fine," he rubbed the back of his head bashfully, letting loose a smile. "But don't blame me when you lose."
"You want me to find you a Number One go-cart, Ichigo?" she said as she got into her car, flashing him a teasing glow of a smile.
"You'd better watch it with all the song title references," Ichigo didn't care which car he got. He sat down in the one next to Saya, Number 15. "Unless of course you wanna Say My Name Say My Name? That I could listen to."
Saya's eyebrows rose at the daring look on his face.
"Did you really just say that to moi?" she blinked slowly in disbelief.
"…Uh…"
Ichigo stared at her for a second. Maybe he was getting a little ahead of himself. Maybe his brain wasn't getting enough oxygen?
Maybe you should take a bite outta that Cupcake already?
Okay.
He needed to calm the hell down.
"Y-yeah I did.." his gaze faltered in shame. TOTAL. FUCKING. IDIOT! She's gonna think you're a freaking perv!
"Oooo," she whistled at him and his bashful brown eyes snapped up at her. "Go Go Power Ranger," Saya smiled darkly at him, her teeth just barely touching her bottom lip before she took a hair-tie off of her wrist and started combing her hair back into a high ponytail. Then she focused on buckling herself in.
Ichigo faced forward in his car, tightening his eyes shut and inhaling steadily.
It was a damn good thing he was about to do something that had everything to do with a need for speed. Because fuck, he wanted to go fast.
"It's Morphin Time," he growled lowly to himself.
"Oh look, Ichigo," Saya pointed ahead of them. "There really is a Number One…but it's taken."
Ichigo glanced to where Saya pointed and indeed saw a Number One go-cart. A small blonde-haired girl with pigtails was sitting in it, already had her engine started.
"LET'S MOVE IT, DUMBASS!" the girl shouted at another blonde-haired person who was in the Number Five cart in front of her.
"They haven't given us the green yet, Hiyori," the blonde mop-cut person sighed without turning around to look at his companion.
"EVERYONE READY?" one of the workers running the track called to them through a megaphone as he sat under the ticket booth with his feet propped up. "STEADY?! GO!"
"For Narnia and FOR ASLAN!" Saya cried as she hit the gas. Both she and Ichigo were about sixth in the starting lineup of all the drivers. Her wheels spun as the accelerator kicked in and she jerked her steering to the right to weave around the slower people in front of her.
*FffrrrrrroooOOMMMMMM!*
She snuck past the beginners who were taking the gas easy and floored around them, easily catching up to the second line of drivers.
That was when Ichigo remembered Saya had road rage issues.
She's gonna freaking run me off the road if I'm not careful.
But Ichigo didn't intent to let that knowledge stop him from overtaking her. He had the pedal to the floor and he was snaking past the other drivers who were just now starting to speed up.
*nNNEEEEEERRRRRRRRWM!*
Ichigo's bangs started breezing against his forehead as his engine zoomed into high gear. He was closing in on her as they went under a bridge, the racetrack started to curve and Ichigo had to keep a tight grip on the steering wheel.
Damn these things go pretty fast for being so tiny, Ichigo thought impressively at his go-cart. They sound like shit though haha!
Saya's hair was whipping in the wind as she sped forward, she shot Ichigo a quick glance. "That Number One and Five are speed demons!" she yelled. "I can't even see them anymore!"
"They're not the ones you should be worried about!" Ichigo hollered back at her over the roaring engines.
"Really?! Seems like they're the only decent competition here, Strawberry!"
Ichigo saw Saya shift her legs and flex as she pushed down harder on the gas before they hit the bridge, so Ichigo did the same—which was a good call, because the wooden beams of the bridge seemed to steal some traction from his wheels.
He was gaining on her, and finally he broke past her lead. "SHHA!" he howled and pushed his cart for more power.
"Ichigo! Watch the curve ahead!"
"What?!" Ichigo couldn't hear her because two more cars were approaching fast, the sounds of their engines were deafening in addition to—
*SCRAPE!*
"YOU'RE GONNA EAT MY DUST DUMBASS! I'M GONNA BURN UP THIS ROAD TILL THERE'S NOTHIN BUT MY TIRE TRACKS AND YOUR WRECKED JUNKER OF A GO-CART SMOKING IN THE WIND!"
*CHINK!*
"YAAH YAAH! YOU SAID THAT THE LAST LAP AND LOOK WHO ENDED UP $20 SHORT! NOT ME!"
The two people coming up behind them were practically ramming into each other.
Are they crazy going that fast? That curve up there is super sharp! Saya thought as the bickering drivers shot past her, towards Ichigo.
"HEY DUMBASS! HOW ABOUT A GAME OF CHICKEN?!"
"HIYORI! YOU'VE ALREADY DESTROYED THREE CARTS TODAY!"
"CHICKEN!"
"HIYORI—"
*SCRATCH!*
"HEY WATCH IT LADY!"
"SHEEET!"
*CRASH!*
*SCREEEEEECH!*
*BOOM!*
Saya braked hard, skidding her go-cart to a stop a few feet in front of the wreck she had avoided.
"Ichigo!" she shouted and unbuckled as fast as she could, dashing towards the three-cart pile up behind her.
The pigtailed driver had crashed into Ichigo, sending them both swerving off the road and smashing into the safety zone barrels of water. The man with the straightly cut blonde hair had tried to get around them, but just ended ramming into the back of the two go-carts as they spun out of control.
"Son-of-a-bitch," Ichigo was rubbing the back of his neck.
"Ichigo, are you alright!?" Saya rushed over, her heart beating like an aching cymbal.
"Yeah, just ..freaking whiplash," the ginger grimaced over his sore neck. The go-carts were dented and bent out of shape a little, but no one seemed to be mortally hurt.
"Nice driving, DUMBASS!" the pigtailed girl glared at Ichigo with a forceful roar.
"HIM!?" Saya shot back in outrage. "YOU'RE THE ONE WHO RAN HIM OFF THE ROAD! IF YOU AND YOUR FRIEND HADN'T BEEN SPEEDING LIKE MANIACS ON THAT CURVE YOU WOULDN'T HAVE WIPED OUT! YOU COULD'VE MANGLE EACH OTHER!"
"NOBODY WAS ASKING YOU, LOUD MOUTH—"
"HEY!" Ichigo stood up. "HOW ABOUT YOU APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR LITTLE HELL ON WHEELS STUNT AND STOP ACTING LIKE A BRAT?"
"Did you just call me a BRAT?" the skinny freckle-faced girl stood up as well, only barely standing as tall as Ichigo's chest, knuckling her fists and cracking them.
"Hiyori," a smooth lazy voice cut in. "Really, could you stop being a brat for a few minutes?"
Saya looked at the man who had spoken and her eyes widened with recognition. Blonde, straight cut hair; and those unforgettable teeth. Shinji Hirako…Which means this blonde girl is…Hiyori..Right. Hiyori Sarugaki. Ah crap this is not a good first impression.
"What did you just say to me, bucktooth!?" the girl snapped on her friend. "HUH?!"
"How about you SHUT UP!?" Ichigo rounded on the little firecracker. "YOU AND YOUR PAL HERE CAN GO MURDER EACH OTHER ON YOUR OWN TIME—"
"Ichigo! Hahaha!" Saya smiled lightly and grabbed his arm tight. "No need to be so harsh. It was an accident after all!"
"What?" Ichigo squinted at her. "No it wasn't. You saw it!"
"I did, hmm," Saya chimed, pulling Ichigo towards her. "And I think this was all a big misunderstanding. Right Ichigo?" she flashed a warning at him through her teeth.
Ichigo stared at her in confusion. Why the hell was she blinking all forcefully at him?
"Excuse me, Miss?" the blonde-haired clown tilted his head at Saya. "Have we met somewhere before?"
Ichigo's eyes narrowed. Must be some idiot who saw the Urahara Hour.
"Yeah, we have," Saya surprised Ichigo by answering. "At the MTV Music Awards."
"That's right," the toothy man slowly looked her over. "I offered you a drink and your husband at the time tried to 'knock my teeth out', was it?"
"Yeah," Saya nodded awkwardly.
"But you stopped him. I don't think I ever thanked you for that, Miss Kurashina," the blonde's moppy hair drooped as he bowed and took Saya's hand to kiss it.
"You want to explain what the hell is going on?" Ichigo butted in rudely, giving the clown-faced guy a hard scowl.
"Ichigo, this is Shinji Hirako," Saya introduced and gave him a hinting stare. "The founder and CEO of Visard Studios."
Visard Studios? Something in Ichigo's mind clicked.
Oh.
OH…
…
…~o0o0o0o0o0o~…
*Buzz Buzz*
"Aghh," Grimmjow dragged his hand out of the mess of blankets he was tangled in and searched groggily for his cellphone.
"The fuck's this?" he answered hoarsely, licking the taste of hard liquor up from his mouth.
"Forgive me if I've disturbed you, Sir," the voice of Shawlong greeted him. "I believe you gave orders to keep you informed on the former Mrs... Sir, we have some new…developments."
"Send them to me," Grimmjow sat up, giving one of his most trusted crewmembers a curt order and hung up.
"Mmnh..Grimm Daddy?"
"Get back, bitch," Grimmjow jerked away from one of the three women in his bed and stood up as he waited for a photo from Shawlong to upload onto his phone.
Grimmjow blinked.
He fucking tore the shit out of his eyes, and blinked them again.
Saya.
Saya and Ichigo Kurosaki.
On a fucking blanket.
In public.
Grimmjow scrolled to the next picture.
And where the hell is baby girl while this—
He froze.
He stared at them and he felt like he had just swallowed a ton of bricks.
He stared at them and his nerves fired like a fucking avalanche building up momentum, ready to fucking crush into everything in its path.
His mind was infesting with rage of the purest primal instincts.
With his thoughts now sharper than a sober fucking sociopath, he looked at the date and time on the photo.
Today.
An hour and 38 minutes ago.
If he got the jet ready now, he could be there in two more.
Grimmjow marched to the bathroom and twisted the shower faucet on.
He thinks he's pretty hot shit, don't he? Thinks he can just put his hands all over my wife? And that fucking bitch…
Grimmjow had to bite his knuckle till it spilled red to keep in his ire—but his other hand pounded into the tiled wall as the hot water cascaded down his tremoring body.
No.
He wouldn't let himself think it.
He wouldn't let himself think that it were possible there was someone else out there for her. Saya was meant for Grimmjow. And only for Grimmjow.
He was so fucking pissed. Fucking infuriated.
It stung.
Like his guts had been warped into a strangled anarchy of his own insides, lashing himself up and leaving him bleeding from within. His shoulders shook. His lungs felt like they were caving, his airways trembled and his throat thickened.
She had found someone else.
Grimmjow clenched his eyes shut and screamed like a fucking bitch till they burst clear, finally letting him breathe. He struck his fist into the fractured tile wall of the shower again.
How the fuck could she?
"She thinks it's fuckin over huh? Well it ain't fuckin over! Not by a long shot," Grimmjow gritted teeth with wild fortitude. "I'll make her see…" his striking blue eyes narrowed darkly on his goal.
He was gonna remind her why she was his goddamn mate.
He was gonna fucking tear Karakura apart till that bitch knew Grimmjow was her only fucking man.
He'd drag her by the hair if that's what it took to bring that woman back on his side.
…...…
…..To Be Continued…..
I feel like this chap was kind of silly, but i was rushing cuz I hadn't posted in a while. Ichigo seems out of character to me...Anyway, next chpt could get a bit kinkier…with some crap including a Smurf and a Strawberry, thoughts? MUWAHAHAHAHAHA! Let me know if this chap was too long or cheesy. THANK YOU FOR READING!
Next Chapter: Hungry Eyes