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Normal

II

Urahara hummed brightly as he bustled around his shop. Jinta and Ururu were watching their favourite show and Tessai was supervising, aka stopping Jinta from bullying Ururu. Yoruichi was with him in the underground practice room, fixing some of the damaged landscape.

A thread of reiatsu made its way to him and he stopped his humming suddenly. Yoruichi looked up at the disappearance of the nuisance.

A frown marred Urahara's face, which was more serious than usual.

"Kisuke? What's wrong?"

"Did you feel that?"

Yoruichi's eyebrow rose, "Feel what?"

Urahara worked hard to stop the surprise from showing on his face. Yoruichi didn't feel the strong reiatsu that suddenly appeared. It seemed the person wanted to see him. Alone.

Feinting cheerfulness, he waved Yoruichi's dubious looks away and found an excuse to get away.

Once out of the shop, he headed towards the woods, wondering what an Arrancar want with him.

"Yo, you're here," Grimmjow smirked.

"And you are?" Urahara said, calm and collected.

But his grip on Benihime had tightened. The Arrancar's reiatsu was stronger now that Urahara was nearer to him. Whoever this Arrancar was, he couldn't be just any Numero. Definitely Espada.

With a greater discomfort, he realised that this reiatsu was the very same one that he had been feeling for the past few months, on and off.

"Grimmjow JeagerJaques, Sexta Espada,"

Sexta…

"And I'm sure you know who I am," Urahara allowed his normal cheerfulness to seep through for a short while before saying sharply, "So let's cut the crap. What do you want?"

"A gigai,"

What?

"Not just any. A gigai which have no characteristics of my Arrancar features, which I'm sure you know what that is. And make my reiatsu seemed like a normal human being,"

"My my, that's such a difficult request," Urahara said rather playfully, though his expression betrayed him.

"So it's not impossible then,"

"And why would I make a gigai for you? Even though I'm no longer with Soul Society, neither am I with Aizen,"

"I know, you're just a merchant. And just for your information, this has nothing to do with Aizen,"

Nothing to do with Aizen? "Exactly, I'm a merchant. But I do have my morals. Even if you can pay, I would not agree,"

"Morals? You?" Grimmjow laughed shortly, "Not from what I've heard," He smirked, "Remember Kuchiki Rukia?"

Urahara paled slightly but he recovered quickly, "It's not as if you are that chummy a friend with her, considering what you did to her at your first meeting,"

"You're right, I'm not. No need to get all defensive. I hate her anyway," Grimmjow paused for a while, "And no, I can't pay,"

"So what makes you think I would even make you a gigai? Free of charge?"

"I don't know. You tell me," Grimmjow smirked all-knowingly, "Well, I'll be expecting it in a week, morning though. That should be more than enough time for you, isn't that right? See you then," He stepped through the Garganta that opened.

A week passed and Grimmjow was feeling restless, as though he was suffering from withdrawal of not having sex with his Berry-chan for so long. It was late morning when he stepped out of the portal into the woods and as expected, Urahara was already there waiting for him.

"So you really did make the gigai," Grimmjow said to announce his arrival.

"I want to see the reason behind your request,"

"See? That means you won't be questioning me?" Grimmjow paused before smirking, "Good. Though I wouldn't know if you really will be able to 'see' it," He picked up the gigai that was already decked out in normal clothing and entered it.

"I didn't get the measurement wrong, did I?"

"No no, its fine," Grimmjow's face scrunched up in dissatisfaction as he mumbled loud enough for both of them to hear, "I feel weak, like those pathetic humans,"

Urahara laughed a little, somewhat derisively, "What did you expect? Anyway, here's some cash for you since I don't think you want such a specific gigai on a whim," He held out his hand.

"Aren't you being too kind?" Grimmjow took the money anyway - he needed it.

"If it could answer my question of why you have been appearing Karakura so often, then no, I'm not too kind. It's just a form of equivalent trade, don't you agree,"

"Cheh," Grimmjow growled, "I'll be going then. And if you're going to stalk me, don't ruin my plans," He turned around and left Urahara behind.

Ichigo twirled the pen in his hand, attempting to concentrate on the calculus in front of him. But he couldn't concentrate. His mind kept drifting off towards a certain teal-haired bastard.

He was slightly worried. It had been more than a week since Grimm's last visit. And considering that Grimm always made a point to come at least once every three days, this was fairly unusual. Did something bad happen to him?

Or had Grimmjow tire of me? Ichigo bit his lips nervously.

He sighed and glanced at the clock. One thirty-two. He had been sitting at his desk daydreaming about the Espada for over forty minutes now. At this rate, that would be what he'll do for the rest of the afternoon. Damn, even when the bastard wasn't here, he could still disturb Ichigo from doing what he was supposed to do.

The doorbell rang downstairs and Ichigo idly wondered who it was. His friends wouldn't visit him on a Saturday since all of them have their own activities. Rukia was out with Renji, Rangiku and Toushiro. And Yuzu's and Karin's friends wouldn't come over as well since they would usually meet at the nearby park. It couldn't be a patient since the clinic had a private door to itself. Maybe a promoter?

Ichigo let his head fall to the desk lightly, making a soft bang resound in the room. He was really resorting to thinking about random things in order not to dwell on Grimmjow. Or his homework for that matter.

There was a knock on his door, "Ichi-nii?" Yuzu's voice said.

"Hmmm?"

"There's someone here looking for you. He says he's a friend of yours from school. Something about knowing you'll forget about your…date and that he's here to pick you up…," She said somewhat embarrassedly, "Er, you might want to hurry. Karin-chan is glaring at him,"

Friend from school? Strange, I don't have anyone else from school that would come over…unless it's that Hirako Shinji. Ichigo rolled his eyes. The more he thought about it, the higher the possibility of it really being Shinji seemed to increase.

He answered as he closed his book, "Alright, I'll coming,"

Well, at least he had a distraction now. Though he wasn't really in the mood to face Shinji. Sigh.

He slowly rose from his chair. Making his way down the stairs, he saw Karin glaring at a point towards the door. Seemed as if Karin hadn't even wanted to invite their visitor in. Ichigo chuckled a little. He followed Karin's glare and almost tripped over the last two steps when he finally saw who it was. Someone that he never expected to appear in his house, entering through the front door in broad daylight when his family was in.

"Yo," The voice that he had been dreaming about all week long said in its normal bastardly way.

"…Grimm?"

Ichigo couldn't believe his eyes. What the hell was he doing here! Was he mad! Out of his mind! And where the hell was his Hollow mask!

"Ichi-nii," Karin addressed him and Ichigo had to forcefully tear his gaze away from Grimmjow, "Is he really from your school?"

Apparently the delinquent look of Grimmjow did not make a good first impression on Karin.

"Of course," Grimmjow replied for him, "I'm in the next class. Come on Ichi, are you ready to leave yet?" He said rather impatiently.

Ichigo almost wanted to retort right back. He didn't even know they were going to go out, how was he supposed to be ready! That bastard!

But no, that would raise suspicion with Karin who was already looking disbelievingly at him.

"Er, would you like to join us for dinner later?"

Thank you, Yuzu! Ichigo mentally thanked his other sister for breaking Karin's attention from him. A moment later, Yuzu's statement caught up with his brain. You invited him for WHAT! Ichigo had to forcibly stop his eyes from widening and mouth from gaping.

"Yuzu! Are you crazy? How could you invite a stranger over for dinner!"

"But he's Ichi-nii's friend, so he's not exactly a stranger…"

Karin looked like she wanted to bash her head against the wall.

Grimmjow walked up to Ichigo and slung his hand around Ichigo's shoulder in an act that looked to others like what close friends would do. Karin glared daggers at that. Ichigo idly wondered who had become the older and more protective sibling.

"We'll be going then," Grimmjow half-dragged Ichigo towards the door.

There was a moment of silence before Ichigo realised something, "Damn it, you bastard. I'm not changed yet,"

Grimmjow smirked, "Language, Ichi. Your sisters are still at the young and impressionable stage, aren't they?"

Ichigo had the grace to blush a little at his slip-up.

"Besides, you look fine. Let's just go and stop wasting more time,"

Ichigo cursed violently under his breath as Grimmjow ignored his need to change and pulled him out of the door.