Chapter.4
The next time that Ichigo catches a glimpse of Grimmjow is about four days later, as he returned from the supermarket. It feels like déjà vu as he remembers the first night of Halloween months ago when he had been dull over his first heartbreak and Grimmjow saw his crying face with six packs in his hands.
In a word, Grimmjow looked like a walking corpse. If his mind wasn't so ruffled, he would have laughed at this thought because Grimmjow looked more like a zombie rather than a vampire.
He had never seen the cheer looking like it had been slapped out of Grimmjow's face, and he could feel his own spirit get crushed.
After he reaches home, he leans against the door and he slides down to the floor, holding his knees to his chest. The nagging thought of 'I miss him' looping in his mind.
But then, a week passes and Ichigo, despite himself, observes that he hadn't heard a sound from his neighbour. Just to check, he goes down and asks the maintenance man, with whom Ichigo sometimes chatted with while checking through his mail if he had seen Grimmjow step out anytime during the week.
''No. I haven't seen him exit the building during this week. Why? Is everything okay?''
''Yup, I think so. He's working on a work project I believe.'' He lies with a tight smile and heads to his flat.
Okay, besides behaving mildly suspicious, Ichigo also took on stalker-ish actions now and pressed a glass cup to the wall which he knew connects directly to Grimmjow's bedroom.
Nope, not a sound.
Then finally, when he could not swallow his food from worry, he braves and calls Grimmjow on his phone.
It takes five rings before it gets picked up and Ichigo's heart pounds heavily in his rib cage.
''Grimmjow.''
''Hey.'' Weak. Grimmjow's voice sounded so very weak.
''Grimm…How are you doing?''
''Fine…Hungry, but I'm fine for the most part.''
''Can I…Can I help? I want to help you.''
A lifeless chuckle later, ''Just listening to your voice and knowing that you care is enough.''
''But Grimmjow I-''
''You can't help me otherwise, Ichigo. I won't let you. You don't know how many people I've killed.''
Ichigo inhales deeply and clutches the phone hard in his hand, ''I trust you, Grimmjow.''
There's silence over the line, so Ichigo continues, ''You are dying, I saw you in the hallway days ago. Take my help, take my hand, please let me help you.''
''Ichigo-''
''I like you.'' He confesses, breath bated.
It's after a few seconds which feel like eternity that Grimmjow replies, ''Me too.''
''Then-''
''Which is exactly why I can't let you near me.'' And the call gets cut from Grimmjow's side before he even gets a chance to reply.
Ichigo gets desperate one night when he's awoken from light slumber at half crossed midnight by the harsh sounds of wood and glass breaking from next door. It quietens down after a few minutes but Ichigo cannot find his lost peace of mind and tumbles over to Grimmjow's front door and knocks on the door.
''Grimm….Grimmjow, please open the door.''
''Why are you here?'' He hears a muffled voice from the other side and he leans his forehead against the cold door, breath coming in short bursts due to anxiousness, ''Please open the door, Grimmjow, let me help you, please, please.'' He pleads, banging his fist against the door frame.
This time the voice sounds much nearer, as if he was standing right behind the door but it sounded so weak, ''Ichigo, don't do this….I can't, I won't hurt you.''
''I know you won't! That is exactly what I'm saying! Why won't you listen to me when I say that I trust you? I can't watch you die, Grimmjow!''
Ichigo doesn't even realize that there are tears dropping from his eyes and down his cheeks, he sniffles, ''Unless you let me in, I won't move from here. Let me help you.''
Finally, finally after what felt like hours but are really only a few minutes, the lock clicks open but the door doesn't. And when it does, as if Grimmjow was hesitating upon whether to let him in or not, he opens it only till an arm or leg could fit in, ''Give me your arm,'' Grimmjow says and Ichigo, although confused, extends his arm into the small crevice between the door and it's frame.
It's so dark and all Ichigo's eyes fall on are dull blue eyes catching the hallway's light in the black. Ichigo flinches when ice-cold fingers wrap around his forearm, ''I don't want to hurt you, so you have to stay behind the door. Is that okay?''
Ichigo nods, understanding washing over him.
Grimmjow's voice is completely strained and he chokes on his last word when he asks a, ''Are you sure about this?''
Ichigo doesn't know where his bravery comes from but he's glad for it when he nods, ''Yes.''
Then all at once, he feels two sharp points dig into his forearm and the pain travels through his arm to his head and stays there like tension, unmoving. It takes two seconds before Ichigo tumbles down on his knees, Grimmjow coming down with him, fangs still under his skin.
Tears threaten to fall but Ichigo holds them down like the whimpers sitting at the tip of his tongue and takes it like a man. His fingers curl on the carpet of the hallway and he bows his head. Little by little, he feels the fingers holding his forearm warm up and his heart beats even faster when Grimmjow sighs softly against his skin, as if the world has been removed from his shoulders.
The pain turns into something numb and Ichigo starts getting drowsy. Finally he voices this out, telling Grimmjow that he felt sleepy and Grimmjow immediately retreats from his arm as if stung.
Ichigo's eyes are drooping and he falls to the carpet just as Grimmjow pushes open the door completely. Ichigo smiles sleepily because the blue has returned to Grimmjow's eyes and his skin looked warm and was glowing again. His fangs weren't there and his own blood looked as if flowers had bloomed on the taller man's lips and he looked oh so beautiful.
He feels his body levitate and belatedly realizes that Grimmjow was carrying him in his arms.
''You look so pretty,'' He tells Grimmjow when he gets laid on a bed, the back of his fingers carefully caressing the soft skin of Grimmjow's cheek and feels delighted beyond belief when the taller leans into his touch.
Grimmjow catches his fingers in his and kisses his forearm tenderly, where Ichigo thinks he saw a bite mark, ''Thank you.''
As consciousness fades, all which Ichigo's mind was stuck on was ocean blue and crimson red and how he could finally catch some rest.
A/N. Btw, guys thanks so much for leaving reviews! I'm so grateful you don't even know! I'll reply to them ASAP okay?
