Kim
Weeks after the Ball

Today was a glorious day! My art supplies are out, canvas blank, inspiration before me to paint a masterpiece was at my fingertips! I've been waiting for this day to come and finally I had it…and better yet, I have TWO models to make my artwork soar!

"Is she alright?" Renji asked.
Grimmjow didn't seem bothered by the reaction, but he shrugged and leaned into the chair leisurely.
"Seriously man, you cool with this?"

"What, it's part of the agreement I had with them to stay here. Bound to happen to you too…"

"I never agreed to this!"

"So what," he yawed. "This is easy payment, just flex those muscles and let the girl paint ya."

"You're being—"

"Alright," stopping them, they faced me and I had my brushes in hand and at the ready. "Grimmjow I want you to stay in that very chair and get comfortable. Renji, you will stand next to him holding this katana over your shoulder with this jacket draped across your shoulders."

"What kind of painting are you doing?" He asked.

"Feudal era, and you two fit the imagery just right for my painting. Now strike a pose and hold it." Fixating the coat over him and making sure the props were just right, I fixated Grimmjow just ever so slightly and draped the samurai general coat over his shoulders as well and had him hold a reed in his mouth. Making sure all was perfect and the backdrop dark enough for shadows, I skipped over to my large canvas and began.
Starting out with easy sketches, every quick angle and rounded areas marked, shaded areas with smudges of my thumb and deep lines for features that will be painted over and heightened. Every second counted in the daylight and how the light reflected off them. That, and their patience. A brush in my mouth for quick access as I dipped the first small brush in paint and smoothed out over the canvas I felt enthralled by this.

Never a small feat when painting and having live subjects, once I had the basic backdrop and colors in I allowed them to move for a while and continue painting my masterpiece. I guess it was an hour or so, can't tell since I was so focused.

"That's it," Grimmjow yawned while he stretched. Hearing his back pop from sitting so long made my ears twitch.

"Yup, I got exactly what I needed and the rest is all the final touches." Continuing to add color after color and making sure nothing was out of place, one of them was behind me watching me work and I heard a soft whistle escape his lips.

"That's impressive work," hearing it from Renji and smiling to the compliment, Grimmjow left the area knowing his role was over with and returned to the house. "You know, back home the captain would love to have his portrait done. Sometimes he would even take the brush himself and paint his trees…but this is mighty impressive."

"Thanks," feeling proud and getting this urge out of my system now, I looked at him from the side and saw him still wearing the uniform. "You can take that off you know…"

"Oh," not realizing he still had it on and removing it, he seemed rather flustered. "Guess it's the uniform part of it that makes it familiar."

"You wear this normally?"

"Well not exactly," trying to think of how to explain himself, he shrugged. "It's not too different but in a way it is. A soul reaper has clothes made from reishi, so really it varies on the person."

"….ok then," dismissing the strange talk and continuing my work, it was fun painting something again without stressing over school and finals. A luxury that will become normal from here on out. That and Mrs. Hitachiin's orders that would come in for all the designs and fashion shows we'll be holding.
"If you don't mind me asking, is anyone waiting for you back home? Other than what you've told me of the scientist guy and a captain. I'm talking about an actual someone waiting for you to return."

"Well, I have my unit waiting for me…my captain is probably wondering where I've been, possibly a lot of paperwork left for me to do in my absence. This was supposed to be a quick mission." he answered so easily, but there was a slight sadness in the way he spoke and how he stared at my painting. I wasn't sure how to interpret it, but as I continued I felt just a little more relaxed with him being around and didn't realize how much time had passed and the sun had gone down quite a lot.

"I need to get dinner going!" Startling Renji and gathering everything up with his help, we returned inside and I found Kasumi in the kitchen already making dinner. "I'm sorry, I got so wrapped up—"

"Oh, Kim, hope you don't mind but I already made us dinner." She had sauce on her face and her hair was a mess for some odd reason, but she did indeed have dinner made and was trying to hold off a laugh. I stared at her for a moment and looked further into the kitchen and found Grimmjow entirely covered in sauce among other products.

"Do I want to know?"

"…" they both looked at each other and laughed. Apparently something happened that caused a food war that ultimately had Kasumi win.

"Alright, but you two have to make this kitchen spotless! I am not cleaning any of this up." Standing my ground and seeing Kasumi approve of my demands, we all gathered into the dining hall and ate lasagna—Kasumi's specialty—and conversed about the trip we would be taking soon.
Karakura town seemed like an interesting place as far as I know, and from what both Renji and Grimmjow speak of it, more than most people could handle. And now that everything has been sorted at Kausmi's company and getting Honey and Mori in on the same action, leaving them in charge of things while we're away will put everything at ease. It was no easy feat after what Mr. Ootori did and the ball. We were quite delayed on this trip because of it.

Once everything was gone and the night late, we headed off our separate ways and I returned to my room and placed my painting on the wall so I could admire it.
"It looks great…so much more than I thought it would. To think this piece would finally put my restless mind at ease." Leaning in bed and rummaging through my sketchbook, the several sketches I've done during this time really made me question what was wrong with me. Drawing people I've never seen before, seeing things that really can't be explained, I've come to realize that maybe something was going to happen and I'm sensing it. Not worrying about it though and giving my mind a rest, I turned the light off and slept like a log.

Kasumi

"You gonna spar for a while before sleeping," Grimmjow leaned against the wall with arms crossed and an eager look to his face. Not knowing how to react or speak with him right now after our little food fight in the kitchen, I faced my room and contemplated the means of getting my revenge against him for earlier.

"One condition," facing him, he was waiting for the terms. "If I beat you at your best you owe me one favor."

"Favor?" Not sure what to think looking at his expression, perplexed more likely, he scrunched his nose and didn't say anything about it yet.

"One favor that I can claim before we part ways when your back home." He gave a wry look at first before succumbing and nodding as his answer.

"Then if I win I get something out of it," approaching with feral ambition and cornering me against the wall I suddenly forgot how to breathe. "That sound fair," his entire stature overwhelming me for a moment, I stood my ground and found myself coming back and agreed to the terms. "Alright then, lets head down." Hands in his pocket as he led the way, the corner of my eye catching Renji yawning before entering his room, I was ready to get this match started and face Grimmjow with all that I got.

"I never asked, but where did you learn to fight?"

"…Hueco Mundo…" he paused, saying nothing more and it threw me for a loop.

"What's that? A place from Karakura Town?"

"You could say that," not wanting to speak of it, I could tell, we were in the dojo and changing into our gear when I faced the mirror to get myself revved up for the fight. "You ready," he called out from across the room.

"Yeah," gloves on and my feet wrapped, this was going to take all I had in me to get him pinned to the ground. I've seen him fight against Renji, I know what he's really capable of. He's been holding back against me and I won't stand for it!
We stared at one another for what seemed like hours, contemplating who will jump into it first. My breath steady and eyes focused, he too was standing at the ready just waiting for a move to be made. I took the first step and went for his knee when he spun to the left and tried catching my collar. Dodging his grapple and spinning on my hands to make another attempt at a low kick he leapt back with great precision and was hopping on his feet.

"Getting faster," he smirked.
Getting back up and right back into it with a right hook and a left punch, he easily caught my left hand and shoved me back while taking my front collar and attempting another grapple. Taking hold of his hips with my legs and using my bodyweight to throw him off-balance, we both rolled on the mat and back onto our feet breathing heavily.
"Clever," wiping his brow before vanishing, he was behind me faster than I could think and took me from behind. "Now then," leaning in as he held my arms behind me and had my legs pinned, his lips close to my ear. "do you give up?"

"N…NO," forcing my aching muscles to lift his body and turn over to get him off, I managed to get on top him and pin both his arms above his head. "Do you give up?"

"Heh," a devilish smile as he peered up at me, I held firm so he couldn't move his hands and I was sitting on his stomach. This was probably the most awkward position I could have ever fallen into, but I wanted to win and this was one way I could do it.
"Bet you don't know this move," he propped his legs and raised his abdomen to make me lose balance and fall onto him, all the while making me lose my grip and his arms wrap around me firmly. "Gotcha."

"Tha—that was dirty!" Trying to wriggle free, he laughed at my attempt and only had me manage to move upward to see him face to face.

"I don't play fair," he leaned in and nipped my ear!

"WHA—" shocked and feeling my entire face and neck burn, he flipped us around where I was pinned on the floor and him looming above me. "This is not fair!"

"I've never been one to play fair."
All the alarms were shooting off in my head and I submitted my defeat hurriedly. He laughed at my expression and cowardice, but I was seriously going to be in danger if this kept up!
"I'll let you know what my favor is when I think of it…" leaving me on the floor with a smile on his devilish face, his hands back in his pocket, he bid me a good night and was gone just like that.

I faced the mirror and saw how completely disheveled I had become. Face was bright red all the way down to my chest and I couldn't even control my racing heart. Splashing ice water did nothing either. I was so embarrassed and thrown off to his antics I didn't know how to react, but I knew exactly what this was no matter how dense I am towards the feeling.
I'm falling hard for him…a fierce and bold feeling unlike the one I had with Kyoya. This was on another terrain I knew nothing of and how to play the game to. Grimmjow has beast-like tendencies and maybe more of a wildness I feel more drawn to. He challenges me like no other and then respects me. That's something I found I rather liked. But I wasn't expecting this feeling to ever come in a matter of a couple months!
"Oh my god…what am I doing…" I stayed in the dojo probably the entire night thinking about everything and not once did I go upstairs to my room.