Hello everyone. I hope you enjoyed these first two premiere chapters. I'm glad with every view and follower I get. Thank you for reading this fic and don't be shy. PM and review if you feel so incline. As I write, I am starting to see who is easier to write and who is more challenging. Good practice though. This chapter has a lot of action in it.
There was something bothering Grimmjow about the night of Chad's fight. He had a good time with Ichigo's friends and Nel, but he couldn't shake the two times that day when Ichigo seemed to notice something going on that Grimmjow couldn't pick up. He was a smart man, and he didn't have the best childhood. So he thought he'd be able to tell if there was some sort of danger nearby. But maybe there were some things even he couldn't pick up on.
Grimmjow took a punch to the face and cussed under his breath.
"You're distracted." Shawlong said a bit shocked. Grimmjow rarely took serious hits during practice and honestly should have avoided that. The fact that he got hit confirmed what Shawlong said.
Grimmjow groaned and rubbed his face. "Fuck, it's nothing." He looked at Ichigo who was consumed by his phone as usually. Grimmjow turned his back. "I'll be back. Give me five." He then walked away without giving a chance for Shawlong to argue.
He walked over to the bench a few feet away from the bodyguard and took a chug of water.
Ichigo looked up. "Oh are you done already?" For some reason, Grimmjow shot slight daggers from his eyes. Shit, what did I do? Ichigo thought.
Grimmjow stretched his arms and neck. "No just needed a break."
"That's rare." Ichigo mumbled.
"Well I'm only fucking human, Berry!" Grimmjow yelled back.
Ichigo stared at him for second before standing up and grumbling. "I'll be back." And with that, Ichigo left the fighter and walked out the gym.
Grimmjow rubbed his cheeked and starred at the door. He didn't really care, but he wondered if he upset the other. Ichigo didn't look upset though maybe a bit annoyed. That didn't sit well with Grimmjow. He wasn't going to have a complete personality change for Ichigo, but he…guessed he could be a bit nicer especially since they're relationship now had fewer arguments in a given day.
"Grimmjow let's go!"
But now it was time to work. One week. That's how much time he had left until his fight.
Ichigo found him binge-watching more fighting videos in the living rooms. It was another late night, and Ichigo was craving a bowl of cereal as usual. He glanced at the couch and saw Grimmjow zoned at the tv in a tank top and flannel pajama pants. Ichigo thought about leaving him alone. It looked like he was having a bad attitude day, but Ichigo was suspecting it was something else. Grimmjow got a bit anxious for a fight when one was approaching.
Does he know about the-, no. He shouldn't. The younger man went into the kitchen fixed himself his food and then sat down on the couch.
Grimmjow glanced at the bowl offered to him before mumbling and taking it. He took in a spoonful. "You know," he chewed a bit, "I rather prefer that food ya sister made. That's real food." He ate another bite. "What would she say if she knew you ate this crap late at night?"
Ichigo chuckled and shrugged. "You buy it."
"You eat it. I only had it when you came because Nel liked it." Grimmjow explained.
Ichigo stretched and continued eating. "Have you given her the tickets for Saturday?"
"Shit of course. If I didn't, she'd never stop calling." Grimmjow muttered.
The two continued to eat in silence while the videos played quietly in the backgrounds. Ichigo chugged his milk and tapped the bowl on the palm of his hand. "Are you nervous about your fight?"
Grimmjow cussed. "Don't tell me you're getting soft on me, Kurosaki."
Ichigo laughed. "Hey, I'm asking you. You've been pissy and moody, so."
Grimmjow continued to eat. "Fuck you."
Ichigo laughed. "You'd like that wouldn't you." He chuckled and recalled Grimmjow's own words.
Grimmjow looked surprised then glared at the wall. "Nothing's wrong right?"
Ichigo opened then closed his mouth. "Nothing that you need to be worried about of course."
Grimmjow didn't want to argue. If he was seriously in danger, he knew Ichigo and especially Aizen would let him know. In a senseless way, Grimmjow was one of Aizen's moneymakers. Ichigo was Grimmjow's…something. He'll go with that.
Ichigo didn't like the silence that was between them. "Look, you said it yourself. You're a professional fighter with winning record. You can take care of yourself." Ichigo shrugged. "I'm just a bodyguard."
Grimmjow grinned a bit. "Whatever. I still want that fight, ya know."
Ichigo stood up and took their bowls. "We'll fight before your title fight, but you have to win all the one's you have coming up—starting Saturday."
"Aizen?"
Ichigo smiled. "I'll worry about that."
Grimmjow couldn't stop the grin that was on his face. "Fine, it's a deal."
Ichigo smiled. "Good, now fix your attitude. I'm tired of you moping all over the house."
"Tch, it's my house."
"I'm staying here too. Now, go to sleep. You need to rest and win this fight."
Nel clung to Ichigo's arm as the man lazily looked at his phone while surrounded in an arena of screaming fans who were hyped from a night full of fights. The small fries had even put on a good show, so the main event of Grimmjow Jaggerjaquez versus Dordoni Alessandro del Socaccio was already so hyped that there was barely anything heard besides the loud cheering and music that played as the fighters were introduced.
Ichigo glanced up at the fighters that faced each other in the octagon.
Grimmjow's shirt was nowhere to be found and he stood in bright blue shorts that had green strips on the side. From Ichigo's angle, he could see the man's gothic '6' tattoo peaking slightly to the front. Ichigo took in a deep breath to control his breathing. Somehow, he rarely saw that tattoo the man had, and there was something about it that immediately made the man blush.
Ichigo shifted to side as Nel let go roughly and cheered loudly. He had no idea why the woman was able to be right by him in the front row, but apparently, she and Aizen went back like Grimmjow. Ichigo shook his head mentally. There were many surprises with that woman.
He looked around and ignored the start of the round. Ichigo knew the arena had great security, and that every non-fighting related personnel had to go through metal detectors. But Ichigo was still nervous at times. There were so many people, so God forbid if someone tried to do something stupid. Ichigo would have a mass of people to go through in order to get to Grimmjow and make sure they get out of whatever shitty situation occurred.
Ichigo tried to relax and went back to his phone. From the corner of his eye, he could see Nel mimicking punches and ducks that seemed to align with her cheers and mostly positive sounds.
The man did, however, look up after he heard the unmistakable sound of flesh hitting a hard surface which cosigned with a shocked concerned gasp from Nelliel.
Grimmjow had stumbled a few steps back after getting kicked in the face. Ichigo cussed under his breath. He had heard Shawlong tell the fighter to avoid getting kicked if he could. It is a risky move when fighting since one could easily lose their balance, but this was Dordoni's specialty.
Grimmjow barely dodged the second kick. His lips were bleeding, and Ichigo could see some small bruises starting form. Dordoni wasn't looking that well either, but fights could change with only a few moments.
It took a lot of Ichigo's strength to stand still. It was strange, but he always felt weird seeing the man he was supposed to protect get hurt. It triggered all of his security instincts, yet he could do nothing about it. This was the one scenario that alarmed him greatly, but he had to stand still.
Ichigo and Nel watched attentively as Grimmjow caught the man's leg and was able to tackle him on the floor. Grimmjow got on top and secured his legs on both sides. He wouldn't let the man move much and started laying on punch after punch. Ichigo wanted to be relieved, but then the sound of the bell rung. The round was over before Grimmjow was able to get things to look in his favor.
Ichigo watched as Shawlong whispered some pointers in his ear while Grimmjow had water squirted in his mouth. While some gauze was used to clean up his mouth, Ichigo suddenly made eye contact with the fighter.
He didn't want to look concerned or worried. He knew Grimmjow hated anything remotely near pity, and the man didn't need a reminder of his error. Grimmjow could feel the results in the throbbing veins in his head.
So Ichigo tried hard to keep his normal scowl to stay on his face. He gave the other man a slight shake of the head to remind Grimmjow of their little bet they had.
Somehow Grimmjow seemed to pick up on this and grinned widely at the other. Ichigo was a bit surprised by that and distracted himself by pointing at Grimmjow, so Nel could know the man was watching. Nel cheered and waved as Grimmjow stood up and went back for the start of the next round.
The two men faced each other.
"That's a pretty cocky look you have on. Maybe I messed with your head." Dordoni chuckled with a grin of his own.
Grimmjow only laughed. "I got some motivation. Now, I'm ready to kick your ass."
Dordoni shook his head as the referee signaled for them to get ready. "Feel sorry for whatever unlucky lady has to see you lose tonight."
Grimmjow didn't reply, and the round started.
Ichigo secretly hated when Grimmjow's fights got intense like this. Quick, flawless victories were easier to watch. Plus, the longer the fighter was in the octagon meant the more he would probably get hurt. Ichigo put his hands in his pockets and leaned back slightly as all his attention was on the fight.
Both men were breathing heavily. Grimmjow was planning his hits and got a few to land. However, Ichigo couldn't tell who would win this fight. It was the last round, and Grimmjow had made some good moves. The thing with most fights that didn't end in KO's meant that one couldn't be too sure if the victory was secure until it was announced. Ichigo knew Grimmjow wasn't so cocky that he would celebrate too early. They had seen enough fight fail videos where a fighter had celebrating too early just to learn they were in fact the loser.
Ichigo could tell Grimmjow was getting tired. That head injury from early was something that would cause most people to go down quickly. It was a shock that the two men were now in the last round.
Ichigo heard Nel gasp among the chaos and focused in just in time to see Grimmjow catch the other's leg and tackle him on the ground. Like a panther, Grimmjow managed to top the man and wrap his legs in a headlock. Grimmjow's body immediately tensed, and he held on despite the inconsistent kicks he felt on his back.
The man's eyes were intense as he watched his opponent fight for his win, but he was losing air. Soon, his eyes were dimming, and the ref came to call Grimmjow off. The fight was over.
Ichigo let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding. He smiled a bit as Nel threw herself in a quick hug before cheering loudly which blended in with the rest of the noise in the arena.
The fighters returned to their corners and were quickly cleaned up. They then walked to the center of the mat along with their trainers and crew.
"In tonight's battle of Grimmjow Jaggerjaquez versus Dordoni Alessandro del Socaccio, the men fought in all rounds of competition. After a unanimous decision following a submission, the judges find the winner of this match to be…" the announcer gave a dramatic pause, "The panther—Grimmjow Jaggerjaquez!"
Almost immediately, Grimmjow had that larger than life grin on his face. He shook hands with his opponent.
"Good to know there are promising kids here." Dordoni whispered in his ear before walking off.
Grimmjow stood for a moment while he and his crew cheered and photos were taken. Ichigo made his move along with Nelliel and met the fighter on the way to the locker room.
Grimmjow shot his grin at Ichigo. Gosh, winning is so bad for his ego, Ichigo thought. The fighter winked. "Made ya worry, Strawberry?"
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Keep going so you can get cleaned up. You look like crap."
Definitely more action in this chapter, and I hope you enjoyed it. I wanted to incorporate some more of Ichigo's feelings and of course Grimmjow's world of fighting.
Let me know what you think in a review; I would appreciate it.
Thanks for reading.
