A.N: K, so I updated quickly again. Blegh, I'm so exhausted... Couldn't sleep last night... But anyways! Thank you to the so very wonderful reviewers, who get to pick a candy out of the cyber basket! ((Holds out basket with tons of candy)) LOL, candy from a stranger, anyone? XD So thank you tooooo... drum roll please...
ladyaffirmed, GrimmjowIchigoforever, Matie, Yoshitaka, TealEyedBeing, Randomidiot15, xXKimochiWatariXx, Panther X, Kitsune's Dark Shadow, Dark Green Poop, masterofmercury, ThierryMyst, and DixieDiamond.
Couldn't have done it without ya guys! :D And, again, if I missed someone, pleasetell me.
Disclaimer: Own nada, except a bit of the randomness that we call plot within my fanfic.
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The alternate Ichigo followed Grimmjow down many white halls. Said espada had to keep yanking his hand from the shinigami's, who seemed to unconsciously try and hold hands with him.
Stopping before a pair of doors, slightly larger than all the others, Grimmjow turned to the red head. "Right. Now leave me alone." Ichigo gripped the sixth's arm before he could leave. "What if it really is Aizen, though? How am I supposed to face him alone? After what he's done to me?"
What the hell's Aizen done to make him so scared? Grimmjow, the cat that he was, decided he wanted to find out what would happen next. Even if Aizen punished him for bringing an enemy straight to him. One of those weird things Gin said came to him. Curiosity killed the cat. Then again, he'd also heard a second part to it... But satisfaction brought it back.
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Ichigo wondered if the showers in Las Noches could really fit more than one person. Grimmjow had just shewed Ulquiorra away with some threat, sounding quite possessive while he did so. It took only seconds for Ichigo to learn that, yes, the stalls could fit two people. Snugly, that is.
Grimmjow's expression was both sly and smug. "Need help undressing, Ichi?"
"I've got it," Ichigo replied, flushing furiously as he grabbed the bottom of his shirt. Soaked, his clothes were practically a second skin, and in the cramped space, removing clothes was a bit of a challenge.
The espada put his hands besides Ichigo's on the shirt. "Lemme do it."
Ichigo gulped, raising his hands to assist. He shivered when surprisingly warm hands brushed up his body as they removed his shirt. And now that he looked at Grimmjow, having been too embarrassed to before, he wished he had continued to keep his gaze away.
The sixths clothes were equally stuck to his skin. His half jacket barely covered anything, the glistening water dripping down his chistled chest nearly giving Ichigo a nose bleed. Usually done up blue hair was stuck to the arrancar's forehead, hanging over heated blue eyes. Ichigo found himself unable to look away.
His view was blocked for a moment as his shirt was pulled over his head. It was impossible for him to keep his eyes from going back to Grimmjow's sexy, wet, glistening form. Hands found their way to the other man's chest, as he slipped the half jacket off hard shoulders. His breath caught in his throat at the full picture of the muscled man before him, as he found himself unable to keep from touching.
Grimmjow leaned forward, pushing Ichigo into the wall. Ichigo gasped as those smooth, warm lips pressed against his, pressing back desperately. Nails dug into Grimmjow's shoulders as he snaked his tongue into Ichigo's mouth, the taste of the strawberry strangely different but nonetheless delicious. He lowered his mouth to the shinigami's chin, then neck, sucking on the tender flesh. Ichigo threw his head back, stars flashing across his vision as it hit the shower wall.
Ichigo moaned as those skillful lips ran down his chest, taking their time, as sharp nips pierced flesh, a talented tongue easing away any trace of pain.
It was when Grimmjow reached Ichigo's boxers- when had his pants come off?- that the red head realized what was happening. He fought his hormones, barely, as he managed to pull Grimmjow back up to his lips, meeting in a needy kiss. They reluctantly pulled back, gasping in breaths of the thick, moist shower air.
Ichigo forced a smile, as he managed to catch his breath. "Uh... so where's the shampoo?"
"I suppose you need help with washing your hair, too?"
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Alternate Ichigo took the few necessary steps to enter the throne room. He turned to Grimmjow, eyes wide and horrified. "It is Aizen!"
"No duh," said Grimmjow. "What the hell'd he do to you?"
Ichigo wasn't listening. "He's in charge of Las Noches? Am I in a nightmare?"
"You're just crazy."
Still Ichigo ignored the arrancar, insanely talking to himself. "It can't be real. Just a dream, just a dream..." He focused his attention back on Grimmjow. "Pinch me."
Grimmjow didn't see a reason to turn down the request. It sounded enjoyable, for him at the very least. So he pinched the shinigami.
Ichigo flinched. "I'm not dreaming?" Before he could continue to ramble, the voice he had learned to fear spoke.
"Kurosaki Ichigo. You're here for Inoue, are you not?"
"I'm not," Ichigo confirmed. "I'm here to be with Grimmjow. What are you doing here?" He seemed oblivious to the confused looks shot at him.
"I'm here because I created Las Noches," Aizen said slowly, as if speaking to a three-year-old. "Grimmjow, care to explain what he means about being here to be with you?"
Said espada found his face heating up, and unfairly so, as he remembered how Ichigo kept trying to attack him... "You'd have to ask him."
Ichigo glared at Grimmjow. "I see. Aizen takes over Las Noches, so you dennounce our love."
Is he trying to get Aizen to kill me? I hope stupid Aizen realizes how insane Kurosaki sounds. To Aizen, Grimmjow said, "I ain't gotta clue 'bout what he's saying."
Ichigo's feelings of betrayal were overpowering his fear of Aizen. He turned to the head of las Noches. "If you're truly in charge here, then you'd know what number I am."
Aizen raised a brow, getting to his feet. "They number shinigami?"
"Espada," Ichigo clarified, pulling up his right sleeve to reveal the curvy nine.
It was strange, but Ichimaru seemed to appear out of no where. Grimmjow figured he had been hiding in the shadows, a common occurrence. He also figured the man was going to say another one of his weird things.
"Let me get this straight." His smile was as creepy as usual. "Grimmjow is number 6, Ichigo is number 9, and Ichigo also claims they have a relationship together?"
Grimmjow had no clue what the man was getting at, but Ichigo was blushing furiously. "That's just coincidence!" shouted the red head, flinching back in surprise at the realization that Aizen was now before him. He inched closer to Grimmjow. "Get away from me."
"I never did anything to you, shinigami," said Aizen. "Aside from steal away Orihime and plan for Rukia's execution."
"You've done much worse!" Ichigo turned pleading eyes to Grimmjow. "You know, right?"
"That you're crazy? Yeah, I'm well aware."
Ichigo took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment, before turning back to Aizen. Fear could still be seen in his eyes. "I refuse to work under you."
Aizen stared at him for a moment. "Why would you ever work for me in the first place?"
Ichigo huffed, gripping Grimmjow's hand. The unexpecting espada found the grip too tight to be removed.
The leader of Las Noches hid a smirk as an idea came to mind. It would be the perfect punishment for all the times Grimmjow had disobeyed him, and it would keep Ichigo from ruining his plans.
"Grimmjow, I have a new mission for you."
Said espada knew he wasn't going to like this.
"Go to the human realm with Ichigo, go to school with him, just blend in. Get Ichigo's family to agree to letting you stay with them."
"You want me to stay with this guy? He keeps trying to molest me!"
"Grimmjow." Aizen's voice was firm, strict, and absolute. "You will do as I say."
The sixth crossed his arms but didn't respond. He knew when he was beat.
"You will keep an eye on his friends with him."
"If I go to earth, they'll drag me off to soul society." Ichigo said this matter-of-factly, raising a brow. "You expect me to fall for this death trap?"
"You're confused, Kurosaki. Trust me when I say you'll be fine. Grimmjow, on the other hand, needs to keep his temper in check and be careful."
Great, thought Ichigo. I have no choice but to hope I can trust a guy who's done horrid things to me. Still, he knew it to be his only option. Even Aizen was more trustworthy than Rukia. Well, unless Aizen wanted to talk to him alone.
At least I'll have Grimmjow.
Grimmjow, on the other hand, was thinking, I should've just killed him when I had the chance.
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It had taken a while, but Ichigo and Grimmjow had finally gotten out of the shower and dressed. Grimmjow seemed to be under the impression that Ichigo couldn't do anything himself and had taken the chance to dress the shinigami.
As they made their way to the dungeons, where Aizen was supposedly kept, Ichigo wondered what he would find. This time when Grimmjow reached for his hand, Ichigo allowed it. Just to blend in, he told himself. Still, he couldn't stop remembering how the sixth had looked, chest glistening, water running down smooth skin. He bit his lip, willing the images away. Damn that man. Why's he gotta go and be so damn alluring?
His thoughts were cut off as they stopped before a door, as plain as the rest. When Ichigo opened it, he was greeted with an ocean of black, unable to make a single judgement on the room. He stepped in, willing himself not to jump at the sound of the door slamming shut. He let Grimmjow lead him, eyes slowly adjusting.
Musky and damp air stuck to his skin, sweat forming on his brow at the mixture of humidity and heat. The pathway was narrow, a wall on one side and barred cells on the other. They were notably empty.
After walking for what seemed to be days, Grimmjow finally stopped. Ichigo was forced to follow suit as his hand wouldn't move any further. He turned to the espada guestioningly.
"You sure you wanna go through with this?" Grimmjow was able to make out Ichigo's nod with his feline eyes. "K, but tell me when you've had enough and I'll getcha outta here."
A few more feet in silence, and everything got slowly brighter. Grimmjow stopped him once more. Despite the brighter area they were in, everything was more of a shadow. That's why Ichigo nearly jumped out of his skin when something slammed into the bars, a hand reaching out towards him. He was loathe to admit it, but he had backed into Grimmjow for some form of support.
A crazed voice echoed throughout the halls, the starter of the echo right in front of him. "Been a while, hasn't it, Ichigo? Why don't you come in here?" Something kept Ichigo from moving, as he found himself immobile. Strange, creepy pictures flashed before his eyes, as he got his answer on why he should fear the man. "You raped me!" The shouted words rang in his ears as they bounced off the walls, leaving a brief silence behind.
Aizen's toothy smirk was plainly visible within the shadows, light shining off spookily white teeth. "And worse. Did you forget, Ichi-kun?"
The nickname sent shivers down his spine, bringing forth memories that didn't belong to him. Horrible memories that he was glad to not have experienced. He took a deep breath. He could do this. He didn't really know this man.
"You said you wanted to speak with me." Aizen's grin widened, brown eyes sadistic. "Yes. I'm your real father." Ichigo found this so incredulous, his fear nearly melted away. "I know you're not, jack ass. What did you want to tell me?"
A disgruntled sigh was heard, the man's eyes losing the insane edge. His manic grin fell into a simple frown. "I wanted to see how you're doing. Apologize, I guess."
"Well you're doing a horrible job of it."
"Seeing you again had made me forget my intent. I was taken aback by how well you've healed. Physically and mentally." Ichigo didn't know quite how to reply, finding it unnecessary when Aizen continued. "I apologize. But only because Urahara said he'd free me if I did."
"That's impossible," Grimmjow argued, speaking to Aizen for the first time. "He wouldn't allow you to go out there and traumatize more passerbys."
"You misunderstand. He's letting me stay in las Noches, freely."
"Grimmjow." Ichigo may not truly know Aizen, but the mere thought made him feel sick. "Get me out of here."
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A.N: Tell me if I need to up the rating, cuz I don't want this to get deleted... And feel free to criticise my work so I can do better! Please Review! Oh, and if you don't get the 6 and 9 joke that Gin made, then... consider yourself one of the few lucky ones out there XD
Explanation: Our!Ichigo knows a bit of AU!Ichigo's memories because they're connected, and it was such a tragic event that even he could remember it.