Ahhh… I decided to give Grimmy a break from his stress, so this is mostly, almost all the way a crack chapter, but it does have serious moments! Be warned, Grimmy is very OOC for most parts.
Enjoy!
"Now let me see… Lovely! "
I scowled at the sparkling silver bracelet around my wrist.
"Now, Grimmjow-san, this lets you be seen by regular humans, and creates an illusion hiding your mask and hole." The odd shopkeeper said. "It also masks you spiritual pressure. The only thing different is that now other weapons, not just a zanpaktou can pierce your skin , but your hierro is still hard, so I don't think you have to worry about that. "
I scowled as it caught the light and sent a faint rainbow pattern across the wall.
"Does it have to be so gay?" I asked.
I glanced at him, waving a fan while looking aghast.
"Oh, I guess everything with you is gay." The red head named Renji chuckled in the corner. Other than the name's I already knew, he's the only one I've bothered to learn.
"Wow, Grimmjow, you have a belly button!" I scowled, but couldn't help peeking down at my new stomach.
"Orihime, does it fit? I had to make arrangements to this gigai to make it arrancar compatible. It's not too tight is it?"
Making a show of bending her elbows, Orihime smiled. "Nope. Perfect. I feel like my old self." She looked liked her old self.
"Eh, I refuse to wear one of those. They are uncomfortable." I grunted. "That's why I choose the gay bracelet."
Someone snorted as the usual group strolled in. "It feels fine to me." Orihime smiled.
The geek wasn't here, but other than him I spotted everyone else. I noticed the Rukia girl wouldn't come close to me, and always seemed to glare when our eyes met.
Ah well, I did try to kill her twice.
My inspection of the room was interrupted as a pale hand touched my cheek.
"Wow, it feels like regular skin, you still have your tattoos though." Orihime's hand went to hover just above my stomach. "May I?"
I rolled my eyes. "Why not, you've already touched me."
I saw Ichigo shake his head next to me. Poking my skin and belly button Orihime observed quietly. Even Ichigo and Sado peered to take a look.
"Huh, how did you do that Urahara?" Ichigo asked.
He didn't have time to answer, because I involuntarily laughed out loud and jumped away from Orihime's hand.
For a moment no one said anything, and then they all smiled.
Orihime's eyes sparkled. "I didn't know you where ticklish."
"Nether did I…" I grumbled, rubbing my stomach.
"It seems we don't know a lot about you, Grimmjow." I saw Kurosaki's spark of interest in his eyes.
I glanced at him, my hand still rubbing my stomach. "Huh?"
It was like he was mad that he was so interested, but asked anyway. "All the other arrancar's had a name they called for there release…." He trailed off.
"Pantera. I resemble a panther." I smiled. "I always loved panthers, they had it all. They are strong, they kill, they are sleek and powerful. Just like me."
"Oh…" He looked away and glowered. Orihime deiced to ruin my little moment of "I'm so powerful".
"You're a kitty! Wow! No wonder you sleep all curled in a ball!"
The smile left my face as if she hit me, just as Kurosaki spread one across his face.
Shopkeeper interrupted us then. "You all must get the seriousness of this, Grimmjow and Orihime must be kept a secret. The soul society already knows Orihime is back, and ordered Rukia and Renji to stay down here and guard her. Oh, by the way, you're both in big trouble." I could hear them sigh. "The gigai altered her arrancar reiatsu, she appears nothing more than human to the soul reapers and they won't know it's a gigai."
He turned his head toward me, everyone else did the same.
"They have files on Grimmjow, since he's been here a couple times before."
"I like to entertain."
I smiled real big and they glared.
"OW! Shit! This bracelet shocked me damnit!"
"Quiet, I'm talking." I glared at the man behind the fan.
"Stay low profile, but don't hide. Try to blend in instead."
"Hey! The clasp disappeared! It won't even break. What kinda metal is this!?"
The shopkeeper waved me off and said, "So, who wants tea?"
Everyone walked down the hall as I chewed on the thing.
"Just chill out, it's kinda pretty on you anyway." Renji said.
I snapped my teeth at him like a dog while he laughed. I noticed Orihime bouncing ahead of me and slowly followed everyone up the hall, still chewing my metal annoyance.
Clustered around a small round table, they sat and poured tea while I leaned in the doorway.
'Fuck. It won't come off… what if I use wire cutters? Hmmm…'
"Grimmjow? Grimmjow? Grimmjow!" I looked around. Everyone was staring at me.
"Oh. I wasn'fnf fistenfng." I said the bracelet in my mouth.
Silence.
Orihime started to giggle, Renji started to laugh right out loud, Ichigo glared while Urahara shook his head. Rukia covered her mouth and disguised a soft laugh and a cough.
"Stop chewing on that already!" Renji laughed.
'Phoo' "What?" I growled.
"As long as no other soul reapers are in town or nearby, you are free to go wherever you like. But Ichigo here wants to keep an eye on you during the day, and night." Smiling mischievously, the shop keeper, (man, I'm so bad with names… Orihime said it before…) whipped out his fan.
"So, what the fuck does 'keep an eye' on me mean?"
"Grimmjow-san will have to sleep over at night and attend Mr. Kurosaki's high school."
I swear he was laughing behind that fan.
"FUCK NO! I don't even LOOK like a teenager!"
"It's not like I'm enjoying the idea any less!" Kurosaki yelled.
"It's easy to blend in at his school." Rukia glared when my eyes touched her.
"Yeah, for you! You're a little girl; I'm a big blue guy!"
Rukia threw a spoon at me, which I caught, as she yelled. "I am not little!"
"Don't over exaggerate. Look at Chad; he's just as buff and tall as you." Ichigo spoke calmly.
"Mmm." Said man murmured.
"You're not blue, it's just you're hair, and I'm sure we can buy some make up for your tattoos!" My neck turned slowly till I saw her, crammed between Renji and… Chad. She smiled and I couldn't help it as the corners of my mouth twitched up in a smile.
"I am not wearing make up."
Shrugging, she stood. "Okay… You don't have to; you'll just look sorta… punk. Are you going to wear Kurosaki-kun's clothes?"
"No!"
"What?"
She looked between us while Chad spoke. "You can't walk around in your arrancar clothes Grimmjow, and you need a school uniform."
"I don't care; I'm not wearing his clothes. Besides, I'm taller and more buff than him anyway. I would rip them."
"He's not wearing my clothes." Ichigo glared, but otherwise ignored my comment.
We glared at each other silently, when Urahara, (HELL YEAH! I remembered his name) broke in.
"Rennnnnji?"
Since I was still looking up at Orihime I saw him shift his weight next to her.
"Take Grimmjow-san shopping. He can walk around if he zips his jacket and takes back alleys till you get clothes."
"Why me?!"
"You did offer."
What? B-but… no I didn't!" He shot a quick glance at me, waved his hands franticly. "No way!"
Urahara fixed him with a glare. "You're staying in my house."
"B-but…" he sighed, frustrated. "Fine!"
Man, I was like a cold, no one wanted me.
Standing, Renji walked past sulking. I stared after his back and wondering if I should follow.
"Get some pretty clothes Grimmjow!" Gritting my teeth, I threw the spoon Rukia threw at me; still clutched in my hand, over my shoulder.
The "eh?" 'Thunk!' "OW!" said I got my mark; Ichigo's face.
I got outside and looked around, blinking.
No red pineapple. I turned to the sound of light footsteps. Renji walked tying a white length of cloth around his forehead. He was in front.
"Let's go Kitty." My body froze for a second, then, without thinking I kicked him square in the face. Renji tripped back into the shop as he cried out.
"What was that for!?" I stifled the urge to kill him. Literally. Rukia and Kurosaki popped there heads around a corner.
"I'm surprised you didn't break, but I guess pineapples are strong."
"Pineapple!?" We fumed in each other's faces, or, actually, he fumed in mine. I was smiling, enjoying myself.
Hearing whispering, a small clatter and then light footsteps, I ignored him and looked over Renji's shoulder.
"Hey, I've decided to come with you!" Orihime smiled pleasantly, and squeezed herself between me and Renji. I smiled.
"Great… Pineapple over here is being annoying and won't shut up. At least with you here I'll have someone sensible to talk too."
Draping my arm around her shoulder affectionately, I kissed her head. Orihime smiled and twisted her hand with mine. It isn't my style… but she seems to like it, so I'll allow it.
A movement caught my eye, and glancing over I saw Kurosaki, Rukia and Sado staring like we where some animals at the zoo. I realized I was smiling, not the usual sneer, I was actually smiling…
I glared at them over her shoulder. "Come on, let's go."
"Yeah, let's hurry; kitty here needs a nap…" Renji muttered. Looking at him calmly, I smiled lazily.
"I'm a panther."
"You actually look kinda cool Grimmjow." Renji said as he lounged in the corner of the department store.
I raised an eyebrow, looking in the full length mirror. I wore black faded jeans that where baggy, but tight enough so I didn't have to wear a belt. I had one anyway, a plain black thing with a silver buckle. My midnight blue shirt hugged my stomach and arms, getting slightly looser at the waist. I liked it because it showed how buff I was, which meant people would know not to fuck with me.
Renji had been insisting all day I buy a small flat chain for my pants, so I finally did, a silver thing that hung just below my pockets.
Orihime also insists I get something colorful, blech. Simple, aggressive, and not … what did Renji call it… emo. (Whatever that means.)
For a Shinigami, Renji isn't all that bad, I guess. He's not a pussy, can take a punch (or a kick) and knows how to handle himself.
"Let's go now, I'm done shopping." I said as I slipped on some black converse. I had only a couple bags, all basically the same stuff; ether all white or all black and blue. These colors I liked that most. I had a school uniform already, so I was fine.
"Yeah, you look great!" Orihime blushed and looked at her lap. I laughed.
"You wanna make it look better?" I grabbed two bags of the three I had, and left, one hand in my pocket. Renji pointed out earlier I walked with my hands in my pockets; I guess it was a habit.
"I'm not carrying anything else. I got enough crap."
"Get a piercing."
I stopped walking and smiled. "I'm listening…"
"Just on the lip or something. It'll look good." My smile got wider, more menacing.
"Where would we get this done?"
Renji opened his mouth to answer when Orihime spoke. "Are you sure? Doesn't that hurt?"
I laughed, "No, nothing here could hurt me, I'm Grimmjow Jeagerjaques. " I smiled and winked.
"So you wanna get it?" It took me all of a second to finally make the final decision.
"Fine, but I swear if you try to talk me into eyeliner or something stupid like chokers and shit, I'll kill you." He shrugged one shoulder, "I personally, don't like that style ether."
Orihime grabbed the other bag and Renji started walking out the door and down the street.
"Ya know, you're not all that bad once you get to know you, and your calm." I growled and jerked a thumb at Orihime.
"Be glad for her then, if she didn't mellow me out I would have killed you by now."
Renji twitched his eyebrow but ignored that. "My point is you're a cool guy."
"Told you!" Orihime practically jumped with delight.
"Great… I'm a cuddly friend machine."
"There. Let's go inside." Various pictures littered the glass in front of the store, but it looked well kept and professional.
A bell rang as we walked inside. It looked normal, the walls where a nice grey color, and posters of tattoos you could get littered the wall along with band posters and a couple tee shirts for sale.
"Hello, may I help you?" A slightly dark skinned woman with a lip piercing and purple streaks in her black hair spoke behind a glass counter. She looked normal, normal black jeans and crisp dark purple shirt.
"Yeah, you do piercings here right?" Renji spoke up.
Her hand tapped the glass counter. "You just have to pick one hot stuff."
Grunting I walked forward. "Just a plain silver ring, nothing gay." I pointed to one, and her hand reached in.
"Really? That's boring."
"Shut up." I had a feeling Renji was enjoying playing dress up with me.
Looking around, Orihime was studying tattoos on the wall.
"Anything else?" The girl spoke, and I shook my head, not looking at her. "Let's do it then."
Walking over to the side, the girl swept aside a pale green sheet to reveal a small room. Motioning to a table, she got out the needed materials from a counter. While I lay down, I talked. "Just to the side. Kinda like yours. On the right. " My mask was on the left, when the illusion was gone, it would cover up a little of my lips on the left. (And I'm still a master at making out, oh yeah!) I think I would still wear the piercing even after that.
She smiled and nodded. She started to rub the spot with alcohol, instructing me to keep my mouth shut. I saw Renji wink over her shoulder.
"Hey, I've always wanted to do this. Mind if I give it a shot?" She looked back at him.
"What? I'm not allowed to do that. I could get fired."
"Oh, come on, just guide my hands." Renji took her hands in his. She blushed.
"Well... uh… If your friend doesn't mind…"
I was about to yell that he couldn't when I realized what Renji was doing. I didn't have a gigai. My hierro was still too strong. No matter how hard she pushed, she wouldn't pierce my skin. Him, being a Shinigami, would be able too. (If he used enough force.)
"I don't mind. Let him take a swing at it." I growled.
"Uhh... sure…" Renji walked over and picked up the needle. "How do I do this?" He asked her sweetly, flirting in case she changed her mind.
Her hands went over his. With a small marker, she wrote an 'x' on my skin, just below the lip. "Enter right there. Don't push too hard, make it in one swift push, but don't get the gum or teeth. Sir?" She addressed me. "Take a deep breath, and now let it out…"
Renji thrust that needle threw my lip with a loud grunt.
"Crap! What the hell?!"
"Not that hard!" The girl yelled.
"Oh, sorry." Renji was laughing.
"Are you okay Grimmjow?" Orihime slid around the sheet and smiled at the scene.
"Sir, I'm so sorry! I didn't know he would do that!" She glared for a moment at Renji, and looked back at me. "As a sorry, you can have a free back up piercing, just... uh… please don't tell my boss!"
Renji slid off the needle, and she quickly wiped the blood and inserted the ring.
"Whatever. I don't need another one. I won't tell your fucking boss. It's his fault." Despite myself, I started laughing with Renji.
After explaining how to clip it so I doesn't fall, she apologized again.
"Yeah, I've had worse, trust me. Pineapple, pay her." I left the small room and found Orihime studying a t-shirt with a calculating expression.
Without looking she spoke, "Does it hurt?"
"Na, what's this?"
"I don't know. I think that's a dragon, with its tail around… something… but the back round makes it hard to see. It might be a-" I wound my hand around her waist and brought our chests together.
"Grimmjow!" I smiled and brushed my lips against hers, sucking on the bottom one before kissing her. Molding her lips to mine, she wrapped her hands around my shoulders.
"Ahem, are we interrupting?" Orihime practically flew away from me when the store girl spoke. I frowned from being interrupted.
"No, uh... well…" Orihime stammered and blushed before holding her face in her hands. I laughed and turned. Renji was watching, and eyebrow raised, and the girl was looking as if she wanted to kick us out. "Naw, we where just finishing, let's go Renji." I nodded and waved two fingers at the girl.
As we stepped outside Renji spoke. "I didn't know your skin was that hard, I thought the needle was going to break." He chuckled. In response, I punched him.
"That looks stupid Grimmjow." Kurosaki spoke as he opened the door to his house.
"I like it, so fuck off. Renji and Hime didn't mind." Him and Rukia stared at me in the doorway in shock. "What? I don't look half as bad as you."
"Did you just say 'Hime'?" Rukia said. I froze.
"Huh… I just said that didn't I…? I meant to say Orihime…" Trying not to make a big deal out of it, I scratched my neck and looked at the stairs. "Where do I sleep?" I walked past them and looked around.
He instantly changed to regular Kurosaki. "Rukia is currently living with my sisters; you can sleep on the floor in my room."
I looked at him pointedly. "The floor?" He crossed his arms.
"You're not sharing my bed." I snorted, walking up the stairs without him. "If I ever turned gay, I think I could do better."
I heard them follow me as I surveyed the doors in the hall upstairs. "So which is yours?"
He walked over and opened a door just as a little girl with short black hair walked out of the one next to it.
"Hey, who's this guy?" She surveyed me and cocked her head. No one said anything for a second, and she looked at her brother. He didn't look at her. She shook her head and sighed. "One of your friends then? Keep him away from Yuzu."
Walking right past me, she went down the stairs. Ichigo watched her go.
"Well... It's late. We have school tomorrow, I'm going to bed." Rukia stretched and walked toward the open door.
"Bye short stuff." I laughed as her hand twitched and she fisted it.
Just as I turned into Ichigo's room, something soft and fluffily smacked me in the side of the head.
"Don't talk to nee-san like that! She's a goddess!" I looked down at a like stuffed atrocity pointing on the floor. "How dare you just walk in here an-" I stepped on it with out caring, shoving my heel in its face. "Shut up, you're annoying."
"That's just Kon, throw him to the side. I'm tired." I kicked the little thing to the side and he flew into the wall as Ichigo got a blanket and pillow from a closet.
I took only the blanket, but he threw the pillow lazily at me, which made me snarl.
Turning out the lights, he just lay on his bed, looking out the window. Lay down on the wooden floor and pushed the pillow aside. I lay on my side, facing away from him and curled into a ball under the sheets that covers everything below the waist. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.
"Goodnight… Grimmjow." I looked over my shoulder; he was still staring out the window. Grunting, I closed my eyes again.
"Hey, fat ass. Wake up." I grunted and clawed the ground.
"Grimmjow, I'm not your babysitter, get up."
Lazily, still half asleep I grunted something about not being fat. I yawned and opened my eyes. Sometime during the night, I lifted the covers up to cover everything but my eyes. Kurosaki was buttoning up his shirt.
I growled. "Wwwwhat?!"
"Get. Up. We have school. You're going too. Rukia used her memory chikan and you're enrolled. I'm not leaving you alone today to kill someone or harass people. Get up."
Kicking aside the sheet, I stood lazily. "Whatever, Ima use your shower." I walked out rubbing my eyes as he mumbled something stupid.
I opened a pantry, and what I'm guessing his dad's room before finding the bathroom.
I tried to hurry, although I wasn't sure why. Washing my hair and body, I noticed that his soap smelled like strawberries. I couldn't help laughing.
Drying, I wrapped the towel around my waist, peeking out into the hallway. No one. Good. Stepping his Ichigo's room, I pawed through the bags I got yesterday.
I got something Orihime called "boxers" socks, and my uniform.
Going back to the bathroom, I shut the door and got dressed. I didn't look younger. I still looked about 19 or 20. I only tucked my shirt in halfway.
Grunting, I pulled on my shoe and popped back my piercing I took off last night.
"Hey, whatdya' know? Hair gel." I spoke aloud as I grabbed the stuff from the counter.
"I was planning to just leave my hair messy, but I don't mind using his." I said to myself as I fixed my hair up.
When I was happy with it, I started walking down the stairs. Just as my foot hit the bottom step, his annoying voice rang out.
"Hurry up!" He probably didn't know I was right outside the door now, so I heard him mutter. "Slow bastard…"
I stood there for a moment, listening.
"Ichigo, I didn't know you had a friend over!" I girl's voice yelled. I'm guessing he has another sister.
"Don't bother setting a plate Yuzu, I don't think he eats."
"What? He doesn't eat?" She sounded appalled. "That's not healthy! You should have dad check him out!"
"No, I mean he's probably not hungry." Ichigo sounded bored.
"Yeah, I saw him yesterday. Just don't go near him Yuzu." I recognized it as his little sister.
"Why?" The other girl said.
There was a long silence. I decided to grace them with my presence.
"Hey, let's go shit head." I said, eying the black haired sister. She glared.
Kurosaki grabbed some toast and walked out the door. We didn't say anything and the awkward silence grew.
"Hey, what's up with that little chit with the black hair? Your sister?" His eyes narrowed as he turned his head.
"Stay away from her."
"I'm just asking fuck face! Does she know I'm an arrancar?" I glared.
"No…" He looked off into the sky. I was genially surprised when he continued. "Before I left to Hueco Mundo… she told me… that she knew I was a soul reaper. I haven't talked to her about it since. I think she thinks you're one… I know she knows Rukia is."
Ichigo was silent for along moment, before his eyes widened and he glanced over to me.
"If you so much as hurt her, I'll-"
"Aw, shut it. I wasn't planning to. Orihime doesn't like that kinda stuff." I growled. "But I fucking wouldn't mind kicking your ass again."
Shaking his head, Ichigo looked away. "I refuse to believe she loves you."
"I can't believe it ether." I said, and slowed my pace so I wouldn't have to walk next to him anymore. "But for some odd, stupid reason… she does…"
Nether of us spoke for the rest of the walk.
*~*~*~*
I stood watching them pass below me, sitting on the roofs. I was aware when she came up, in cat form.
"Why do you allow him to be here, Urahara? You must know what he's really like." Yourichi said.
I shook my head. "I know." We watched as they walked on. "I know what he is, and how he is." They disappeared around a corner. "But I truly believe he loves her, and would do anything for her. I didn't think it was possible. I can sense a difference in his reiatsu, from the last time I felt it. Orihime did indeed change him…"
"And Aizen changed her." Yourichi finished for me. "Are you sure she's stable? Her sprit pressure didn't feel entirely normal, like a regular arrancar."
I shook my head. "That's one thing I don't know much about. The only one here with that knowledge is Grimmjow."
"Then all we can do is wait, for now." Yourichi said solemnly.
"Yes. We can only wait…"
I hope you loved that crack filling chapter. Towards the end it got more serious. ^^
Please leave a review and/or comments, tips, tell me if you liked it, what could be better, anything at all!
:) Thanks!
