Chapter XIV: I Need to Go
Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, Ichigo left the classroom he'd been in for the past hour and a half with a sigh of relief. School was finally over for the day, and it also helped his mood that there were only two days left and he'd be out for summer break. He stopped by his locker to put away his unnecessary items, and was just about to get his phone out to call Szayel when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around, smiling down at Rukia and Orihime.
"Hey guys, what's up?" he asked as he started to head for the exit. The girls split to opposite sides of him and walked with him.
"Oh nothing. We just heard from Renji that you're gonna be a mommy," Rukia said in a sing-song voice. Ichigo rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, Ichigo, how exciting! But what about the woman? Is she nice? Is she pretty? Do you like her?" Orihime rambled off questions back-to-back and Ichigo frowned in consideration.
"She's about as nice as a wet cat. And she's absolutely gorgeous. You know what they say about beauty only reaching the epidermis though," he said as he texted Szayel. "As far as my like or dislike of her, I can't really say. I haven't had an actual conversation with her so I'm not able to form an unbiased opinion one way or the other."
"So you're really okay with Grimmjow having a baby with someone else?" Rukia asked and Ichigo shrugged.
"It's not like Grimmjow and I even knew each other when the baby was conceived. And she signed over her rights so what she says or does is completely irrelevant after she has the baby."
"What if it's not his?" Orihime asked, softly. Ichigo hadn't even thought of that possibility. But now that it'd been brought to his attention, he found it rather silly. If it wasn't Grimmjow's baby, then why would Tier do all the bullshit she'd done? It wouldn't've affected Grimmjow at all if she aborted another man's baby, and she wouldn't have kept it and bothered with all the things that went with signing over her rights. The whole notion just seemed daft to him.
"That'd be a little stupid, but I'm sure Grimm will have a paternity test done just as a precaution."
Soon they'd reached the exit and Ichigo was about to head towards his ride, when Rukia piped up for one more question.
"Hey, what are you doing for your birthday this year? We know you hate parties, but if you just want us to come over, I can buy you a cake or something and -"
"No, it's cool," Ichigo interrupted. He remembered what Grimmjow had said to him the other night, and he felt himself blush. "I think Grimmjow is planning something." Orihime clapped her hands together at the sight of Ichigo's blush.
"Ooh you guys are totally gonna do it! Just like in the chapter I read last night, I was so excited when they finally -" Rukia slapped her hand across Orihime's mouth and smiled kindly at her other friend who looked like he was about to implode.
"Alright, but we'll still come over and have cake and play video games with you. That cool?" she asked, and Ichigo nodded.
"Sure. I'll see you two tomorrow," he replied before he left to find the Navigator. He was surprised - but not extremely so - when he saw yet another different vehicle, this time a navy blue BMW 5 Series Sedan. He opened the back passenger door and slid inside. "Hey, Szayel. What happened to the Navigator?"
"Mr. Jaegerjaquez is having it serviced. I would've preferred using the Phantom, but he wasn't having it," the pink-haired male responded with a chuckle as he pulled away from the curb.
"Alright. Where am I going today?"
"I was instructed to take you to the penthouse today." Ichigo nodded and settled in for the short ride.
Once he arrived at the penthouse, he quickly walked inside taking the familiar route to the apartment with ease. He rang the doorbell and waited patiently. He smiled fondly at Grimmjow when the older man opened the door. Grimmjow however looked rather vexed.
"What's wrong, Grimm?" Ichigo asked, after he'd walked inside. Grimmjow sighed and sat down on the couch. Ichigo looked around the living room, noticing all the boxes and various other items. "What's all this? Don't tell me you've got another house?"
Grimmjow just shook his head and gestured for Ichigo to join him on the couch. Ichigo complied and was surprised when Grimmjow wrapped one of his arms around him and pulled him close.
"I think I fucked up," the older male said, quietly before he let Ichigo go. Ichigo raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" he asked, and Grimmjow shook his head once more. "C'mon, tell me."
"Grimmjow, could you come here please?" A familiar accented voice rang out and Ichigo immediately scowled.
"What the hell is she doing here, Grimm?" he hissed and Grimmjow sighed.
"Gimme a sec and I'll explain, alright?" Ichigo's scowl deepened and Grimmjow let out another sigh as he left the room.
Pissed would not have been an accurate enough description of how Ichigo felt right then. He tried not to act out too much - he wasn't a freaking girl or anything - but Tier's presence infuriated him beyond words. Wasn't it enough that they'd have to put up with her stank attitude for the next five months? Did she really have to show up this often too?
Grimmjow came back then, looking even more annoyed than before. Ichigo crossed his arms over his chest trying his hardest to be mature.
"Well?" he asked, when the older man stayed silent for longer than his liking given the circumstances.
"She signed the papers," Grimmjow responded, and Ichigo let himself relax slightly.
"Well that's great, but it doesn't answer my question," he said. Grimmjow shifted nervously on the couch.
"She had a couple of conditions." Ichigo raised an eyebrow and waited for the blue haired man to continue. "She's going to be staying here for the rest of her pregnancy."
Ichigo's eyes widened, and he shifted away from Grimmjow on the couch. Was he serious?
"Are you kidding me, Grimm? Are you fucking kidding me?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. Grimmjow was surprised to hear the teen speak in such a malicious tone.
"I'm sorry, but what do you want me to do? Leave her to fend for herself while she's carrying my baby? How is that fair?" Grimmjow asked, trying to keep his voice down.
"How is it fair that she left you and threatened to kill your baby?!" Ichigo retorted, standing from the couch to pace.
"Look, Ichigo, it isn't that big a deal, alright? She's staying here, not at my estate where I'll spend most of my time. I'll hire a midwife to look after her."
Ichigo continued to frown as he sat back down next to Grimmjow. The older male bumped his shoulder against the oranget's.
"Don't tell me you're jealous?" he asked with a sly smirk. Ichigo rolled his eyes.
"What reason would I have to be jealous? This is about principle. You can't just pretend like she isn't a total bitch to you all the time, and I'm not gonna. . ." Ichigo's rant was cut short by Grimmjow's lips against his. He relaxed into the kiss as Grimmjow slowly threaded his fingers into the younger male's soft hair. Ichigo's eyes slid closed as he brought his hand up to caress the older's face. Grimmjow pulled away and smiled down at Ichigo, who still finished his sentence despite his dazed state, ". . .let you." The blue haired male chuckled before he kissed Ichigo's forehead.
"Don't worry about it, Ichi. I'm not a damsel in distress. I can take care of myself, alright?"
Ichigo allowed himself to pout in a very manly fashion, but nodded nonetheless. Grimmjow smiled gently before he brought their lips together again. The sound of someone clearing their throat caused them to separate, and Grimmjow's blue eyes widened as he took in the stoic look on Tier's face.
Ichigo felt his blood roaring in his ears as she watched them silently. He couldn't tell what she was thinking from her expression. He knew the day would come when he and Grimmjow would have to reveal the true nature of their relationship, but he hadn't wanted it to be right then, and he definitely hadn't wanted it to be to Tier. He bit his lip as he averted his gaze, swearing inwardly.
"Just a babysitter, huh?" Tier said, nonchalantly. Grimmjow frowned.
"As if what I do is any of your business," he growled, and Ichigo felt his skin crawl; Tier had turned her icy gaze on him.
"How old are you, boy?" she asked. Ichigo frowned as well.
"Twenty-two," he answered easily. She glared at him, and he raised an eyebrow as if daring her to challenge his response. She turned back to Grimmjow.
"Do you think I am an idiot?"
"Only on Wednesdays." Ichigo held back a laugh. Tier rolled her eyes.
"Of course you can't be serious about anything. And you -" She faced Ichigo once more, pointing her finger at him. "tell me how old you really are." Ichigo glanced at Grimmjow before he sighed.
"I'm seventeen."
Tier's eyes widened, the first sign of anything other than stoicism that Ichigo had seen on her face. She sat down in the armchair across from them.
"You cannot be serious. He is a child, Grimmjow," she said, and Ichigo visibly bristled.
"He may be younger than me, but he's far from a child, and he's monumentally more mature than you," Grimmjow stated, defiantly. Tier crossed her arms.
"Do you understand what could happen to your reputation if this got out?" she asked, choosing to ignore Grimmjow's statement. The CEO frowned and glanced at Ichigo, who looked rather worried.
"I do, but I don't give a damn."
Ichigo could feel his heart flutter at the sense of finality in Grimmjow's voice. It made him more than happy that Grimmjow was willing potentially give up his life to be with him. He felt himself smile before he heard Tier scoff.
"You're always so reckless. I don't know why I even bother with you; it's like talking to a child," she said, standing from the couch. Grimmjow stood too, a semi-pleading look in his eyes as he stared down at her.
"I know you aren't very fond of me right now, but it'd be great if you kept this between us, alright?" he said. Tier rolled her eyes before wrestling her arm from his grip.
"What do I have to gain from telling anyone anything about you? You aren't that important."
Ichigo made a stank face at her retreating back, but chose to keep his comments to himself. He turned to Grimmjow who'd sat back down on the couch with his fingers steepled in front of his face that was crinkled with pensiveness. Ichigo reached out towards him, but just as his hand neared the head of soft blue hair, his phone rang cutting into the silence sharply. He looked at the screen, a mixture of confusion and alarm crossing his features. It was his neighbor, an elderly woman named Miss Isabelle. She watched the house when he and his father were away, and she only called if there was a real emergency. He quickly swiped his phone's screen and put it to his ear.
"Miss Isabelle, what's wrong?" he asked frantically.
"Darling, y'all's house is on fire!"
"Did you call the police?!" he yelled as he grabbed his hoodie and dashed for the front door. Grimmjow stared after him, obviously worried.
"Yes, yes of course! The fire truck just got here; I believe one of your little sisters is still inside!"
Ichigo choked on a breath. Karin was at soccer practice, but Yuzu...
"I'm on my way now!"
He threw the door open, sprinting out into the hallway. Grimmjow followed, grabbing his arm.
"Ichigo, what's wrong?" The orange haired teen panted, frantically trying to free himself from the older man's grasp.
"My - my house. . .I have to go!"
"Ichi, tell me what's going on and I can help you!"
"My house is on fire and my little sister is there!" The words rushed out of Ichigo's mouth, but he still didn't really want to believe them. Grimmjow's eyes widened before he ran back into his apartment. He came back seconds later with his keys, and he grabbed Ichigo's hand.
"C'mon, I'm taking you."
"But what about -"
Grimmjow tsked and pulled Ichigo forward. They took the elevator down to the parking garage and got inside Grimmjow's Phantom; Ichigo's door wasn't even shut before Grimmjow hit the accelerator and sped out of the exit.
Ichigo watched with shocked eyes as Grimmjow concentrated on maneuvering through the sea of traffic. He didn't think he'd get this kind of reaction out of the other man, but he was definitely glad he did. His thoughts slid to Yuzu and he shifted anxiously in his seat. He closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath, only one thought filling his mind to the brim.
I'm on my way, Yuzu. Please be okay.
I sincerely apologize for this extremely late update...I honestly don't think it's any good either, but I hope you guys found it entertaining...thanks so much for reading:)
Until next time,
Patd06
