Author's note: Got really sick so this is late!
Week 14
Grimmjow is outwardly confident but inwardly anxious. It's been almost eight weeks since appearing in front of his orange obsession and that obsession still hasn't actually seen him in solid form yet. But today, that's all going to change and he cannot wait to see the look on that guy's face.
Grimmjow couldn't believe the depths The Berry's depression had been in. And no matter what he did, he couldn't get one iota of reaction out of the kid, and he tried it all. First, it was little invasions of space by standing too close, creating taps and jostles to The Berry's body. Then, it turned into games like, "Oops! I didn't know you were behind me!" and "Sorry, did my leg get in your way?" but nothing physical he did got a rise out of the orangette. Then he tried the third party verbal assault tactic, but no one was willing to play along and there really wasn't any use if Kurosaki couldn't hear him first hand, but at least the nerdy jerk kept him entertained.
Then, Grimmjow started noticing all the extra attention being paid to The Berry and for some reason he did not like it one bit. Stupid fuckin' people zoning in on the teen in the middle of crowds and lookin' at him up and down, practically molesting him with their eyes. Dicks! Randoms asking him questions in stores about products when there were people who actually worked at the stores right the fuck next to him. He's so oblivious, that ginger. Nope, Grimmjow wasn't havin' that. The third time it happened in about as many days, Grimmjow marched right up to the smaller male and forced his body between him and the lecher. It's like Kurosaki had blinders on to people's intensions 24/7 and it's even worse that he's constantly off his guard. Even when his friends directly speak to him, there's always a 'pardon me' and they have to repeat the question. He's always preoccupied with whatever's going on in his head rather than the people around him. Kurosaki was never like that before, he was always taking in everything around him and assessing at the same time.
That's until his behavior got him in big trouble. Kurosaki was so trapped in his inner daydreams he stepped right out in the middle of traffic. Grimmjow grabbed him by his collar and yanked him back out of the way of the oncoming cars. That stupid kid got him so angry he shook him with rage. What the fuck, was he trying to kill himself? That's when The Berry uncharacteristically screamed at the top of his lungs the stupidest thing he's ever heard. Shit, he wished he could have just slapped him to knock some sense into him, though, he was glad the orangette was actually acknowledging his presence.
Kurosaki raced across the street and into an alley. Grimmjow rolled his eyes and sonidoed directly behind the ginger as he started his berating. When he noticed they weren't alone, he quickly made to shut the angry kid up. That's when it happened: The Look. Kurosaki realized what was happening in front of him and his eyes took on a gleam he hadn't seen since his first altercation with the orange haired warrior. At first his instincts told him to not let the smaller male go and lead him out of harms way, but this look was so intriguing, so perfectly stilling, he couldn't do anything else but grant the orange head's request to let him go.
After Ichigo raised the assailant's awareness and the girl got away, Grimmjow thought that was the end of it, but of course the kid didn't know when to stop. He tried to lead him away, but the cocky teen lifted a hand at his attempt to draw him back. Grimmjow thought, what the hell, if the situation got too dicey, he was there to intervene and make sure the young male didn't get more injured than he would allow.
To Grimmjow's wonderment, The Berry did more than just hold his own. He totally dominated the aggressor. He saw a complete transformation of the orangette's attitude before him. At first he was hesitant but quick to dodge the attacker's thrusts. Then in the young man's eyes, it seemed a light went ablaze. For the first time in what seemed ages, Kurosaki shined with a brightness to rival all fires. That turned the young man's lips into the most delicious, confident smirk he had ever seen. In that moment, Grimmjow knew that the fiery warrior found the thing he'd been missing and in that moment, Grimmjow found that it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his entire existence.
The assailant also noticed Kurosaki's change in demeanor. It infuriated him. There was a moment Grimmjow actually felt afraid for Kurosaki as the man lunged with all his power behind his dagger. In a surreal moment of human strength and agility, it was over and the man was on the ground and disarmed.
Grimmjow realized it wasn't the actual level of power he was so attracted to, it was the aura exuded from this person. It was worthy of rivaling any being, living or not. It was a force transcending the highest kings in heaven or hell and Grimmjow wanted to possess that person. He wanted to embrace rather than destroy him.
The prone man swore and stirred. In a blink, Grimmjow knocked the criminal out and had The Berry in his arms, determined to show the orange haired warrior he understood what had been missing was found.
The ex-Espada opened his Berry's newly determined brown and gold eyes, he pointed to his comprehending mind, he caressed his confident full pink lips, he set his warm hand over an uplifted beating heart and he grasped his fiery warrior's excited member. He knew the orangette was just as hard as he was over his display of prowess. However, he didn't know touching the smaller male in that way was going to stir up a lust deeply imbedded in his own subconscious.
No one had ever moved him the way the Tricky Berry had. Not in his entire life, in any of his sentient hollow forms, had he ever crossed an entity that made him feel more than the need to destroy. All Grimmjow had ever been interested in was becoming stronger. Since his adjuchas form, the only others he chose to surround himself with was his Fracción. That was because Shawlong was such a convincing arbitrator. They were loyal and a means to an end and if any tried to rise against or gain more power, they would have been quickly disposed of.
He was well on his way to becoming a Vasto Lorde when Aizen showed up with his sickly sweet words of domination. It was odd that it only took a demonstration of the Shinigami's power to convince him to follow the megalomaniac's plans. Grimmjow never had desire to explore any other side of himself since Aizen made him an Espada. He only picked fights or followed orders, or defied them, but that was in his nature.
Now that the conflict with the Shinigami was over, all he could think about was Kurosaki. He wanted to be n-
"...Grimmjow-san? Hellooooo in there." Urahara waves his hand in front of Grimmjow's face, jolting him from his thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"I've been trying to get your attention for minutes. What are you thinking about? Are you ready? School gets out in 15."
"My God, it's contagious." Grimmjow shakes his head and wonders if his new body is faulty. That was some lapse in attention. He'd be dead in Hueco Mundo by now, eaten by some huge mindless Menos, "I'm leaving now." He gets up from the low tea table and ventures outside.
"You look striking, my young ward. Don't forget to wear your protection. We don't want to take any risk of damaging your body."
"Yep, I got it. Shit, I can't wait ta see how this goes over. I'm positive it'll be priceless," he said with a little waggle of his eyebrows.
He dons his gear, turns over his ride, and accelerates out onto the streets of Karakura. It's about a ten-minute trek to the front of the High School. He pulls up in front of the gates, looking around to see if he missed the bell. No one else is there but a man sitting on the buss top bench across the street with black puffy jacket and red baseball cap, the brim pulled down over his eyes and locks of shaggy brown hair peaking out. The man looks like he was watching the gates but he leans over to light a cigarette when he sees Grimmjow notice him.
It doesn't take more than a couple minutes for the last bell to ring and the students to start making their way out. Grimmjow gets off the bike and stands in the middle of the gates. At first there were stares as students passed by, then a slight murmur, followed by full out pointing and groups gathering here and there in the courtyard. Grimmjow is scans the area and watches for his target to come through the large glass double doors.
The unmistakable flash of a bright sunset mane invades his vision. He's talking to The Big Guy on his left. The Girly is on his right followed by The Nerdy Jerk behind and to the right of the orangette. He sees The Ginger notice the groups as he passes them. He sees the orangette hear the whispers of "who's that?", "that guy is huge!", "wow, how cool.", "I wonder who he's waiting for?", and he sees The Berry track the pointing with curious amber orbs. When he sees what the fuss is, he stops dead in his tracks in the middle of the yard.
Grimmjow watches as Kurosaki's eyes rake up the solid form slowly. He sees his black boots first, then hard muscular legs clad in dark jeans reinforced at the knees. Then a tight black and blue leather jacket over broad shoulders and leather gloved hands. Finally, his eyes sway up to the matte black full-face helmet with the smoky black visor. It hides all traces of Grimmjow's eyes pinned to the orangette's face.
Grimmjow lets the anticipation go on long enough. His hands reach up slowly and methodically to unclasp the head covering and lifts it, exposing his sinfully handsome, chiseled, symmetrical human jaw, straight nose, piercing blue eyes, and chaotic blue locks. He hears the crowd gasp and girls squee. There's wonder if he's a new student, or a model, or someone famous, but the only reaction he's concerned with at the moment is of his orange haired warrior.
Wow. He got a fiery blush and fierce scowl from the younger man. The combination is forever engrained into the former Espada's memory.
The blue haired man puts on his most feral grin at the sight of the orangette's clear lack of words and from his sinfully luscious lips his response pours.
"Hey ya, Tricky Berry."
Kurosaki's eyes are the size of saucers at the greeting and the crowd is in wonderment on who exactly this 'Tricky Berry' is. His friends step forward and The Berry is still planted to the spot. After some prodding, the young man comes forward and niceties are spoken all around to the bluenette and vice versa.
"Long time no see… Hey… are ya gonna say hi, Berry, or am I gonna do all the talkin'? I don't really mind. I gotta great voice and love to hear myself talk."
"Dick!"
"That's great, too, thanks for askin'" he mutters for the orangette, "I gotta hand it to Urahara, he sure knows how to recreate with precise accuracy. I woulda been disappointed with anything less than original perfection."
"Your lack of your humility and tact is astounding. Too bad that had to be precisely recreated. I was rather enjoying our lack of communication."
"Aw, don't be that way, Berry ya shouldn't say things ya really don't mean. People could get their feelings hurt and then where would we be?"
"Well, on that note. See you later all. Goin' home, bye."
Grimmjow side steps to block the orangette's path, "Why do ya think I came all the way out here, Tricky Berry? I wanna give ya a ride home."
Kurosaki leans around the larger man and glares at a blue and black custom painted Hayabusa. It's sleek and beautiful and Grimmjow is clearly proud about it.
"I thought you came here to humiliate me in front of all my peers. I'm not getting on that death trap with you. You've only been here for, like, a minute! You have no idea how to drive! And where did you get it anyway, did you steal it? Please tell me you haven't committed crimes already."
"Oh yes I do know how to drive!" Grimmjow scoffs, "I've!" he whisper-shouts so the crowds don't hear, "I've had my gigai for two weeks now. Got my driver's license and everything. So whaddaya say? …On second thought, it doesn't matter what ya say, here, put this on. Let's go. See you all later." Grimmjow shoves an Arai helmet with an orange and blue design at The Berry's stomach, forcing him to take it.
"Two weeks?" The Berry is flabbergasted. "And the rest of you knew about this?"
"Bye Kurosaki-kun! Maybe I'll see you later at Urahara's," The Girly remarks as she smiles and waves goodbye over her shoulder.
Kurosaki looks the other way, "He's been getting used to it," remarks The Big Guy in his deep matter of fact voice. "Adios all." He departs in the other direction.
"I have no idea what that crazy Shinigami sees in you that gets him to indulge in you like some deranged Daddy Warbucks figure," The Nerdy Jerk tisks as he heads home.
"I have no idea who that is, but thanks? It's probably my good looks and charming personality!" Grimmjow hollers after the raven.
"Ok, Tricky Berry. It's time to go."
"Oi! Stop calling me that! And I'm not riding on the back of that with you! You're nuts, ya know! You just show up here and expect me to do whatever you say? 'Hey Ichigo, let me kick your ass.' 'Hey Ichigo, let me infiltrate your circle of friends.' 'Hey Ichigo, let me pull you in any direction I desire.' 'Hey Ichigo-'"
"You want me to call you Ichigo?"
"Wh-what? I didn't, I- I-"
"Hey Ichigo, let me give you a ride home."
That smooth statement gets Grimmjow a deep long stare, followed by a hard swallow, and a harsh, "Fine."
Ichigo gets a wide, perfect-toothed grin in return. Grimmjow mounts the bike and dons his helmet. The orangette puts on his helmet and places his foot on the peg folded out for him and swings his other leg over to sit behind the blue haired man. The bluenette turns and checks to make sure Ichigo's helmet is secure. The bluenette gets his hands slapped away after a long moment of mock adjusting.
Grimmjow lifts the visor to his helmet and rakes his piercing cyan gaze over the delicious orangette, "Hang on tight, Ichigo. We're gonna take the scenic route."
"My house is ten minutes away walking! Scenic route my ass, you're kidnapping me! Take me home before I put my foot-"
Grimmjow has his visor down and is off before the ginger finishes his threat. He accelerates at a high rate, making Ichigo lean forward and hold the man's new gigai at his waist. His touch secretly sends radiating heat through the bluenette's new body more intensely than he's ever felt in his Arrancar form.
Grimmjow takes the younger man on a small trip around the outskirts of his neighborhood before reaching his home about twenty minutes later. He pulls up to the home and clinic slowly, subconsciously prolonging the ride. When he comes to a complete stop, he notices the hands on his waist don't retract immediately. Instead of a quick removal, the hands slightly squeeze then glide back. The tips of strong, thin fingers linger before leaving his tight leather coat.
Grimmjow smiles as brightly as the devil himself as he pulls of his helmet, "If ya liked that, imagine how it must feel on the highway. I could take you on a longer trip when you're free next."
The orangette cocks his head to the side for a pause and removes his helmet, flashing a most skeptical look, "Uh, sure. That would be... nice. Well, thank you... for the ride."
He hands over the helmet and turns to walk up to his house. Then he hesitates. He turns back to the bluenette still watching him, "Would you like to come in for a little while?"
Wow. Grimmjow just got invited into the inner sanctum. He can't believe his ears. He feels like this is all so sudden. It must be some sort of trick. He's gonna get to the door just to have it slammed in his face with a maniacal cackle coming from the other side. That most likely will happen, but he's willing to chance it.
Grimmjow doesn't say a word. He puts down the helmets atop the motorcycle seats and follows after the ginger. He gets to the door. Ichigo twists the knob, entering the premises. Grimmjow stops at the threshold and closes his eyes expecting the door to be slammed, and when it's not, he opens one eye and glances around.
"What the hell are you doing?" mumbles an unamused Ichigo.
"Ha! I thought it was a trick, yaaaaa Tricky Berry! Ya know-"
Ichigo starts closing the door on Grimmjow's advancing feet and pushes against the door a few times, "Hey, hey, hey! Don't scuff the boots, or the body for that matter, they're new!" He chuckles in his deep, fluid voice. Oh, how he likes to rile up this one.
The Berry lets go and Grimmjow quickly steps around the door and closes it. He turns around and gets a face full of piercing brown eyes and twitching whiskers.
"What is all this ruckus today, My Boy?"
"Hey Pops. I invited Grimmjow in today, it's okay now, right?"
"Hmm, I suppose. You're not going to cause trouble in my humble abode now are you, young man? Because if you do, I have severe ways of punishing delinquents who don't follow the rules."
With that warning, Grimmjow feels a heavy aura coming down upon him. Ichigo's father must have released his reiatsu upon him and for the moment the bluenette regrets his choice of suppressing his own power. Ichigo looks away and up to the ceiling, whistling a nonchalant tune as Grimmjow gets intimidated.
"Thanks for the help, I-chi-go," Grimmjow admonishes, "hear ya loud 'n' clear, Pops. No funny business." Grimmjow states with a mocking bow.
"Ok, Pops. He's had enough... for now. Don't go far, though."
"I have some paperwork to finish before dinner. I'll be in the office. Remember, I don't need to see you to know what you're doing."
"Creepy, Pops. Let me hang up your jacket, Grimmjow." Ichigo holds out his hand to take Grimmjow's jacket as the Pushy Pops strolls away.
Grimmjow hands it over, the Tricky Berry flusters and quickly looks away. Grimmjow looks down at his tight teal blue v-neck wondering what's got the other so overheated.
"Is there something wrong with what I'm wearing?"
"Your shirt…matches your eyes. You kept the markings, why?"
"Huh, didn't feel like me without them. 'Could have changed my hair color too, but humans dye their hair all sorts of shades, so I figured why change what works, right?"
"Uh, yeah. I guess so. What's with the bracelets? I would never have pegged you for a jewelry wearer."
Grimmjow looks down at his now exposed wrists, "All these questions, Ber- I mean, Ichigo. And I haven't even sat down yet," the bluenette snickers.
Ichigo shakes a bit and storms up the stairs to the left. Grimmjow chuckles again before following. He gets lead into the orangette's bedroom. He knows this because he's spied on The Berry numerous times just outside his second story window. Technically he wasn't in the house.
He looks around slowly, inspecting closely what he's only seen from afar. He sees a desk with books; and a pin board filled with mementos and pictures; a closet half way opened with a weird, terrible crayon drawing of a bear and a bunny taped to the wall; and a small bed draped with a purple-blue bedspread crisscrossed in white. Grimmjow strolls over to the bed and sits down at the far end, bouncing a bit to check the springs.
"Hmm, a little noisy, but firm. Now, where were we? Ah, yes, the bracelets."
He holds out his arms at length to the smaller male so he can inspect closer. Ichigo strides forward, openly miffed Grimmjow's sitting on his bed, and inspects the two solid pieces of metal. They are both perfectly oval. One is silver and one is onyx and about as thick as a heavy chain link. They have no visible clasp or gap for taking them off, nor would it seem that they would be able to slip off, as they are too small to fit around Grimmjow's massive paws.
"Urahara said since the composition of my reiatsu is a bit different from a Shinigami's and human's, in order ta keep my reiatsu at an actual normal human's level and keep myself in the Gigai I have ta wear these. He said it was like human organ donation or somethin'. If I don't keep these bracelets on and if I leave my Gigai, I won't ever be able ta get back in and he won't be able to make me a new one, because my reiatsu will compensate and reject it. It's like when someone rejects an organ that's not compatible."
"Wow. So you're like a real human now?"
"Well, no. Guess I'll never actually become a real human, but I'm like one, I guess? Everything's fully functional. Which reminds me, where's your bathroom."
"Ugh, I'm glad you waited a bit before gracing me with your presence. I hope Urahara taught you proper hygiene, ours is right across the hall."
"That's not what I meant by that, I said it reminded me," Grimmjow laughs out loud as he gets up to traverse the room.
"You are so fucking gross, do you know that? And you'd better not talk shit like that in my house with my sisters present or I'll put my foot so far up your ass you'll be choking on my laces."
"Nah ah. Exit only. Let's not kid ourselves about who the dominant one is in this relationship."
"Relationship? Relationship! I'll give you-" Ichigo picks up a book from his desk and hurls it at Grimmjow's head, but the door closes before it reaches him. Grimmjow holds his stomach as he laughs hysterically. He just cannot get over how riled up The Berry can get, it's almost as fun as fighting him. Almost. As he contemplates his next move he reaches for the door directly across the hall, but the knob turns and the door opens to a petite, raven-haired girl who looks up at him with wide eyes. She kicks Grimmjow in the shin and bolts out of the room as he falls over to grab his throbbing leg.
"Mutherfaaaaaa! Ichigo! You forgot to tell your sisters I was here! Is this really what being human is gonna entail? Getting a beat down by a fuckin' twelve year old?"
Ichigo opens the door and smothers his laugh with his hand. "Hey! Fuck you! Don't laugh!"
"Hahaha, I'm sorry Grimm-, hahahahaha! My sister has quite a powerful kick; she plays soccer and has a pretty high reiatsu as well, way more than ours now. Suck it up, it probably wasn't that bad."
"Yeah, but that little firecracker caught me off guard. That's it. I'm never letting my guard down again. Lesson learned."
"Sure. I'll go check on Karin and Yuzu and meet you down in the living room."
After business and a bit of snooping, smelling shampoo and looking in the closet, the bluenette heads down the stairs. He hears a bit of commotion before he reaches the bottom and pauses to hear.
"Yeah but, Ichi-nii, are you sure this guy is really going to follow the rules and not try to kill you? You said he was an evolved hollow. All the hollow experience I've had so far is that they're hell bent on ending my life. I can't believe you of all people trust this guy? He kidnapped your friend and tried to destroy Karakura!"
"I know Karin, but he was being controlled by someone. He's had plenty of opportunity to kill me in these past weeks he's been here. I... don't know... why I trust him, but I do. Please just... try and act civil towards him."
"Okay we understand nii-chan," Yuzu says as she places her hand on Karin's arm, "we'll welcome your friend."
Karin, huffs and folds her arms over her chest and looks away, "Fine, but if he puts one hair out of place I'm gonna kick his ass from here to kingdom come and you won't be able to stop me."
"Ha ha, I can see ya take after yer brother, Firecracker. Got off on the wrong foot, the name's Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, nice ta meet ya."
The two girls look at each other as the blue haired ex-Espada makes his way from the bottom of the stairs to stand beside Ichigo. "I can understand yer feelings entirely. Hey, I don't understand it all myself. This is all new ta me."
"Whatever. I'm Karin. This is Yuzu. Let's eat." Karin walks away to the kitchen pushing her sister forward.
"Are you staying for dinner Grimmjow-san? You're welcome to, I made plenty," Yuzu says over her shoulder as she's being pushed.
"No, Yuzu! I don't wanna-" Karin sternly starts to state.
"Not today, but thanks for the invite. Baby steps," Grimmjow calls after the receding girls.
"Sorry 'bout that, Grimmjow. Karin is very protective of her twin. Are you sure you won't stay?"
"Nah. Got some stuff to discuss with Urahara. Are you going to stop by after dinner? You haven't been back for weeks since the last time. I thought you wanted to train for the big day?"
"Yeah, I've been getting up early to run and I'm sparing with Tatsuki after school. She was busy and I wasn't supposed to meet up today. You're lucky I came out and saw your flashy debut."
"Yeah, I guess I am, huh, that look on your face was priceless. Glad I got to see it."
Grimmjow gets another little blush from his Tricky Berry before he heads to the closet to get his things.
"Thanks for letting me in, Ichigo."
"Yeah, uh, no problem, I guess. Take care."
Grimmjow flashes a bright smile before turning to walk out the door. It's a few moments till he hears the door click shut behind him. He situates his gear and mounts the bike to leave. He spots a man with a cap pulled over his eyes across the street leaning against the building smoking a cigarette, rolling it between his two fingers. He sees Grimmjow notice him and nonchalantly stomps it out and rounds the corner to leave. When Grimmjow passes the corner on his bike, the man is strolling up the walkway to the house there. Not thinking another thought about the man, Grimmjow heads back to his new home in hopes of getting some advice in dealing with skittish teenage twin sisters.
After he sees the blue haired man on the bike speeding down the street a ways, the man with the cap turns around and starts walking down the street in the opposite direction to his black Mazda RX-7. He gets in and pulls off the non-prescription wire frames and grey driving cap he was disguised in and throws them in the back seat over a black puffy coat.
He mused. How easy it was to track down the kid by his school uniform. He smiles to himself proudly. He knew scoping out that fuckin' brat would pay off. And sure enough, he thinks he's devised a plan to knock the ginger punk down off his pedestal. A little more reconnaissance and he should be able to get all the information he needs.
Patience is his forte. That's how he's never been caught up till now. Thank fuck his rich-ass lawyer daddy got him out of jail on a technicality of poor police due diligence. They never wrote down in witness reports how exactly he sustained his injuries, which left the door wide open for accusations of brutality on the department. The district attorney dismissed the case for fear that it would cost more money to loose a police brutality case than trying him on the assault charge. Good ole Dad. Soon, he would start his reign of terror on that fucking redheaded brat and his vengeance will be complete.
