/* Hey all! So I've decided to attempt to write some short fillers for the time in between Sands of Vengeance and the new story I'm working on. Not really sure if I can call them one shots as they are heavily tied to the fics already written. That said, you may be lost if you are diving into these without first reading The Futile Repent and Sands of Vengeance. Also, I want to note that up until now I've tried to stay as close to the cannon as possible, but here I start to derail that train so if you hate changes to the original cannon, you may hate this. These are rated M to be safe as there is strong language, some violence, and fluff. Not sure if I will be going full lemon yet with any of these, but if I do I will have a warning prior. Thank you to all who follow my writing and take the time to read and/or review. I greatly appreciate it. And as always, thanks for reading and hope you enjoy. */

A Gift -

"So you think something is up?" The annoying red head asked way too loudly.

"The fuck is that supposed to mean?" The grumbling blue-haired beast snapped.

"Well, I'm just saying, we're here sitting in some obscured seating watching your girlfriend have lunch with some guy. Nothing weird about that." He replied while nonchalantly leaning back in his chair, pressing his palms to the back of his head.

"You offered lunch, asshole."

"True, but you picked the place."

"This ain't about her or her friends."

"Uh huh." He smirked in his typical infuriating fashion when he felt he was right.

"Listen, Kurosaki, if you don't want to lose your damn head-"

"Grimmjow… You gotta trust her, man. If you smother her, you're going to lose her." Ichigo said as he slumped forward in his seat, his face growing sympathetic.

"This was a mistake." Grimmjow growled as he pushed himself to a stand.

"Wait, she's going to see you." Ichigo grabbed his arm and tugged him down just as Haruka lifted her gaze. She was glancing around briefly after laughing at whatever the man across from her had just said. When her eyes finally settled on her companion again, he spoke. "I think it would be a good idea for us to go, but only if you really want to."

Grimmjow twisted his head briefly, his eyes set on the woman that had very well consumed him. "Yea. Let's go."

Ichigo nodded once before getting to a stand, leading the way discreetly.

"So what's up? Why are you so obsessed with this guy, Koji?" He asked once they were far enough away.

"Don't worry about it." He spat, obviously annoyed.

"You know it's good for her to have friends, right? Just like you should probably find other people to hang out with too." Ichigo suggested.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"I'm just saying. Every time she talks about you, she defends you no matter how much of an idiot you're being. She cares a lot about you. So why are you so worried?" He continued to prod.

Grimmjow whipped himself around, grabbing Ichigo by the collar of his shirt. "It ain't your business, Kurosaki, so fucking can it."

Ichigo lifted his hands defensively. "I'm just saying. You don't seem to have a problem with me hanging out with her so what's with this guy?"

"You're a damn goody-two-shoe. That and you don't have the balls to move on what is mine."

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "I got a better idea on how we can spend our time."

"I ain't spending any more time with you."

"Come on, Grimmjow."

Despite his hesitations, Grimmjow relented and followed Ichigo. "Where the fuck are we going?" he groveled.

"To get your girlfriend a gift."

"What?"

"Come on, there's got to be something she'd like. Get her a gift, make yourself a bit more likeable." He chuckled.

"Fuck you."

The first store they meandered into was filled with glass cases lining the walls. Within the cases were endless decorative metallics. "What the hell is all this?" Grimmjow asked, annoyed.

"Jewelry. Girls love jewelry." Ichigo rationalized.

"I ain't ever seen her wear anything like this." Grimmjow mused, his confusion growing. There were a variety of different items, everything from long chains to decorative small rings. His eyes caught on the rings with large glimmering gems. "What about something like that?"

"No, no, no." Ichigo immediately intervened as he saw the rings Grimmjow was looking at. "No, those are for… special circumstances."

"Like what?" His brow furrowed.

"Like human traditions." Ichigo mentioned and Grimmjow's nose immediately wrinkled in disgust.

"Human traditions…"

"Let's find something else." Ichigo intervened before leaving the store, the grumpy Arrancar close behind.

It took hours of searching before Grimmjow had finally agreed on something. He purchased the item and then travelled back to the apartment to wait for his Shinigami. He found it hard to focus on anything other than the gift he had set on the counter casually.

When he finally heard the keys rattle at the door, a real sense of apprehension had fallen over him.

"Grimmjow, I'm home!" She announced as she always did as she slid her shoes off and let her keys clang in the bowl by the door.

"Kitten." He purred as she came into sight. Her lips pulled up into a warm smile upon seeing him, moving up to press her lips against his.

"Did you have a good day?" She asked as she moved into the kitchen, ready to prepare dinner.

"Yea. You?" He asked as he sat at the counter, watching each muscle move, studying each curve.

"Yea. I had lunch with Koji today." She said with ease.

Grimmjow's eyes lifted to meet her gaze. She was waiting to see how he'd respond. Ever since she had told him, he was skeptical. But when he saw how it affected her, he knew something was off. And they couldn't just ignore it. "And did you find anything out?"

She shook her head. "No, nothing. I mean, his personality seems to fit Kenji, but he seems as human as could be."

"Maybe it's just a coincidence, Kitten." He suggested.

"Maybe…" She responded, her voice doubtful.

"Hey, I- uh- I got ya something." He remarked uncaring. She turned, looking at him curiously and shocked.

"You… got me something?"

"Yea, what? Is it so hard to believe?" He grumbled as he slid the box across the counter and towards her.

She picked up the small box, feeling its weight in her palms. Then, slowly, she lifted the lid and pulled a medium sized glass candle from the box. "It's a candle?" Her brow scrunched slightly in confusion.

"Yea well-" Grimmjow began almost nervously. He was cut off as she lifted the candle to her nose and sniffed its scent.

"It smells like the forest." She smiled as she placed the candle on the counter and dug around for a lighter. "Like our first walk in the woods together." She remarked thoughtfully.

Grimmjow settled, his nervousness leaving him. "Yea. I thought so too."

Her smile widened at his response as she lit the wick of the forest green candle. "Thank you, Grimmjow. This means a lot."

He nodded once before snorting to himself indignantly.

"What?" Haruka questioned.

"Nothing. It's just Kurosaki said it was a stupid idea." Grimmjow replied.

Haruka's brow lifted. "You were with Ichigo?"

Grimmjow's eyes widened. Shit! How could he be so careless? "Yea well I saw him at Clogs' place and we decided to hang out." Even he cringed as he heard the words leave his mouth.

"You decided to hang out?" Haruka asked incredulously. "You were following me, weren't you?"

"What, no! Why the fuck would I waste my time doing that?" He attempted, but she wasn't buying it.

"You're a terrible liar." Her arms crossed and smile deteriorated.

"Kitten, it wasn't what you're thinking…"

"If you have a problem with me hanging out with Koji then you should discuss it with me, not follow me around like some private investigator." She scolded.

"I don't have a problem with it." He returned, his temper flaring.

"So is that why you got me the gift? To make you feel less guilty about stalking me?" She continued.

His brow twitched. Sometimes she never knew when to just stop. "I have a right to know where my mate is going." He growled.

"Or you could just trust your mate instead of following me around like some cheating whore."

"Damnit, Haruka!" He roared. "You're mine and it'll be over my dead body before that piece of shit takes you from me."

She frowned. "First of all, he's not a piece of shit. You don't even know him so I'd appreciate it if you didn't judge him from you creepy stalker corner. Second, do you really think that I would sacrifice what we have? Do you really think I'd give all that up? I'm finally, finally, happy with how things are in my life. Why would I give that up?"

"You would for Kenji." He muttered. And there it was. His ultimate insecurity.

"No, I wouldn't." She soothed. His eyes lifted, looking almost shocked as he caught her determined gaze. "Even if that was Kenji, I wouldn't leave you. The Kenji I knew is dead. He will always be dead. Nothing is ever going to bring him back. And that's how it should be."

Grimmjow averted his gaze, annoyed at himself for being so insecure. But really, it shouldn't surprise him. It was on a daily basis he fantasized about ripping the heads off of any male that came within inches of her. Why should this Koji be any different in his eyes?

Haruka moved around the counter to stand in front of him. "Why do you pursue him?" He asked outright.

"You know why." She responded while wrapping her arms around his neck, her hands sliding into his hair to massage his scalp and drag a soft purr from him.

"You really think someone fucked with his soul?" He asked, skeptical as always.

"I don't know for sure, but something definitely isn't right with this whole situation. And I want to get to the bottom of it." She returned as she brushed a soft kiss to his forehead.

"Just don't do anything stupid without me."

"I wouldn't dream of it."