Hey folks, don't think this story is showing up properly on the site. Wondering if anyone reading is doing it from just browsing or whether you've got me on alert (blush).
Doesn't matter I suppose, as long as peeps are enjoying it i'll keep posting.
phoe
xxxx
Chapter 4
Ichigo quietly finished his meal, not clearing his plate as there was a lot but he could definitely say he'd enjoyed it. He wiped his face with his paper napkin before folding it and sliding it under the rim of his plate. Nnoitra watched him, snorting at the display of manners but not saying anything. The three men didn't really know what to say. Except to ask about the elephant in the room, none of them had plucked up the courage to ask for a reason for this man's solitude, especially since it was as long as he could remember.
"So, why were you at my window anyway? I've never seen anyone there before." Ichigo had wanted to know for a while and really wanted to break the silence.
"Just a bit of free running really. We were due to meet Kiorra in the park but were running a bit late so took a shortcut over the buildings rather than round them."
"What's free running?" Ichigo turned his body to face Grimmjow, blushing a bit when one of Grimmjow's large hands rested on his knee.
"You know, parkour. Actually no you don't know do you? It's a thing where people throw themselves around a built up area, doing stunts and gymnastics and stuff. We're just amateurs really. Some of the guys drop distances that would make you puke."
"And that's fun?" Ichigo's eyes bugged out a bit at the idea of throwing himself off buildings for fun.
Grimmjow grinned before turning to his friends, Nnoitra laughing at Ichigo's expense. "It's like talking to a child isn't it?" Nnoitra spoke over Ichigo, treating him like a child as well.
Ulquiorra shook his head at the tall man at his side. "You mean you can't quite understand his perspective. Though it must be nice not to be the most naïve in the group for once."
Ichigo's face was bright again, dropped low and looking at his knees. Grimmjow squeezed the one his hand was on, drawing Ichigo's gaze. Grimmjow's lazy smile made Ichigo's breath catch for a moment, reason unknown to the confused boy and he felt his face reciprocate automatically. "I think it's cute actually, sorry if that insults you. It's nice to chat to someone not jaded and sullen. How did the grass feel?"
Ichigo's eyebrows leapt up, his eyes wide as he remembered the cool strands between his fingers. "Like holding water between my fingers. Cool and fresh. And it smells like it looks: green."
"Anything else you want to feel?" Grimmjow didn't intend the innuendo and was surprised when Ichigo's face didn't redden like it had so much previously.
"Sand, I was never allowed a sand box as a child. And I want to climb a tree, just to try it."
Grimmjow dropped his head against the booth's back at the innocent requests, feeling charmed by the other's enthusiasm. "I'll take you to build sand castles on the beach if you want."
Ichigo's eyes looked glassy, the emotion in him becoming too much.
"Shit, he's gonna cry just from that. Ow, fucker." Nnoitra scowled at Ulquiorra before rubbing at his shin.
"Why would you do that for me? You don't know me and I'm just some stranger." Ichigo leaned forward, his hand itching to touch the other but he held it back. He'd already had more physical contact in one evening than he'd had in years.
"I like you, I thought you were hot in your gym; gorgeous on the grass listening to us and I have never wanted to protect someone as much as I have with you, the stranger I've just met." Grimmjow reached out his other hand and stroked Ichigo's cheek. "Plus if you go back into your cage I can't date you."
Ichigo frowned and pulled up sharply, shocked by the other's admission. "But I'm a man."
Grimmjow raised an eyebrow before glancing over at his friends. Nnoitra looked as confused as him but Ulquiorra seemed to understand.
"Ichigo, you do know that it's not just a man and a woman that can be together? Two men, two women, more than that if that's their preference. It's alright."
Ichigo's frown didn't leave him and he looked at Grimmjow again, wondering if the fluttering and goose bumps came from attraction, the thing he'd been taught happened between a man and a woman only. "But, how can there be children?"
Nnoitra couldn't hold it in any more, laughing coarsely and loudly. "There can't but not for want of trying. This guy is great; we need to keep him around."
Ichigo turned to Grimmjow again, looking at his face in detail, the high cheekbones and pure blue eyes bringing out that flutter in his chest again. He felt it in his stomach as well and he lifted a hand to rest it on Grimmjow's one on his knee. He gently stroked the pale skin, running his fingers in the valleys made by the tendons from the fingers. Grimmjow turned his hand over, Ichigo now running his fingers over Grimmjow's palm and between the long digits. When they were interlaced with Ichigo's Grimmjow closed his fist, holding Ichigo's hand gently. He pulled it towards him and placed a gentle kiss on the back of Ichigo's hand. "Like that?" Ichigo could only nod, not able to use his voice for a moment.
"Then you like cock pretty boy."
"Cock?"
That drew laughter from even Ulquiorra. "Erm, it's a coarse word for a penis Ichigo."
Ichigo's head tilted a bit, his eyes subconsciously flicking to Grimmjow's crotch. "What's that got to do with anything?"
"Well when he tries to stick it in you I'm sure you're figure it out."
Grimmjow's hands snapped to Ichigo's ears before Nnoitra could finish, a deep scowl aimed at his friend. "The kid doesn't even know the word cock; I doubt very much he's heard of anal before. Just leave it." Grimmjow half whispered as he spoke, Ichigo's head pressed against his chest a bit.
"So what musical instruments do you play Ichigo?" Ulquiorra was always a good one for changing the subject.
iiiiiii
Ichigo was surprised when the three men pulled wallets out and produced paper money to pay for their food. Grimmjow hadn't mentioned him paying his way but Nnoitra had muttered something about paying for 'Grimmjow's bitch' which led to another question from Ichigo that Grimmjow wouldn't let Nnoitra answer.
The men walked comfortably in the night, Ichigo holding Grimmjow's hand again a little self-consciously.
"You never did say what drew you out. Couldn't have been Grimm's baby blues."
Ichigo looked up at the dark sky, inhaling the air before answering. "I asked my father if I could go see the burning sky but he said no, said it was too dangerous. Then I asked my friend if we could watch it from the roof but I really wanted to see it, not just the glow in the dark."
"The burning sky?" Grimmjow looked down and met Ichigo's eyes, giving him a crooked grin when he'd finished talking.
"Yeah, tomorrow night? Fifteenth of July? There are massive fires in the park every year and I've always wanted to see them."
"You mean the Shiba fires? I used to go when I was a kid with my parents and my mum always got upset." Grimmjow loosened their fingers and wrapped his arm around Ichigo's shoulders, holding him closer.
"Why would she get upset? Are they scary?"
"No, they're lit to remember a lost baby and his mother. Shiba incorporated is a massive business and when its co-president was pregnant everybody knew about it and was waiting. It was the closest thing to a royal birth we'd ever get. It helped that I was only a baby at the time so my mum sympathised with the mother to be. She was in an accident that claimed the life of the baby as well I think, can't really remember the details. Anyway the President of the company has the fires lit every year to remember his lost family; I guess my mum just got emotional at the thought of the lost child and mother."
"That's awful." Ichigo regretted ever asking to go and see such a sorrowful occasion. It must have shown on his face as well.
"Hey, it's gorgeous and we have to go."
"It's my birthday tomorrow." Ichigo only mentioned it on the side, he'd never had a big deal made for his birthday anyway and had assumed it to be just another day. His companions stopped dead, Ichigo looking up at Grimmjow in surprise.
"It's your eighteenth birthday tomorrow?" Grimmjow enunciated each word clearly as if he couldn't believe them.
"Yes, I was supposed to go to the roof with my friend Shinji to watch the fires. I hope he isn't too upset with me if I'm not there."
"And your father? When you don't come home? I'm just wondering if there will be police out looking for you tonight."
"I'll not be missed until eleven tomorrow morning. My trainer is the first person I see in the morning."
"Your dad doesn't live with you?" Kiorra asked that question, surprise in his voice as well.
"No, I've always lived alone, since I could be left alone anyway."
"Which was?" Ulquiorra's question was said with gravity but Ichigo didn't seem to notice.
"Ten. I used to have a morning tutor who'd make me breakfast so there was someone there in the morning and my afternoon tutor stayed to make me dinner. After I was big enough to make my own I've only had a morning trainer and an afternoon tutor."
"And you're alone the rest of the time?"
Ichigo just nodded, looking round the bright lights of the area they'd walked into. It was a more lively part of the city, some night life around with tables outside bars and people walking in pairs and groups like theirs. The noise surprised Ichigo, having only experienced it from twelve stories up where it was very quiet.
"We need to do something tomorrow then." Grimmjow held him a little closer, leaning a cheek onto Ichigo's orange spikes for a second before relaxing again.
"Eh, rein it in a bit though Grimm. We're not made of money." Nnoitra could see his friend had fallen head over heels for the strange guy but Nnoitra wasn't paying for him.
"If I could get in touch with my friend Shinji he'd give me some money."
"Stupid question but do you have his number?" Grimmjow knew it was unlikely but he only knew of one Shinji in the city, and he wasn't exactly on chatty terms with the socialite.
"No, his name is Shinji Hirako. He's always come to me on arrangement in person."
Grimmjow grimaced at the name, the wealthy icon a large part of the city's celebrity core. He was a notorious flirt and had a poor reputation that was never mentioned due to his father's position. He was also known for flashing the cash so Ichigo was probably telling the truth. His place was also not a secret so Grimmjow could get there, if he had to. "And you trust this guy? Or will he just have me arrested and call your dad?"
"No, Shinji's my best friend. He's quite protective of me but that's only because we've known each other forever."
"Right then, we can go and see him if you think he'll talk to you and help you out. You need some money to get you sorted. It's a good thing you're birthday is tomorrow, your dad can't take you back if you don't want to go and you're an adult."
Grimmjow handed his guitar over to Nnoitra to take back to the flat he shared with the other saying he'd be back later on. He also asked him to check on their flat mate Starrk, the new name drawing a question from Ichigo.
"The four of us all share the flat, we have our own rooms though and I'm the one with the attached shower room so we're sorted. I hope you'll be comfortable there."
"Where will I sleep?" Ichigo raised his hand to stroke Grimmjow's on his shoulder, loosely lacing their fingers again.
"Well there is a couch in the living room. Or you can sleep next to me?" Grimmjow had to take a breath at the shy smile and nod Ichigo sent his way.
Shinji lived on Park Way, a street off the park the two had met in so the walk wasn't ridiculous but they enjoyed the quiet time together, their bodies pressing against each other more with every step. As they turned onto the right street Grimmjow stopped for a moment, drawing Ichigo in front of him and Grimmjow stroking the soft hair at the back of his head.
"I've wanted to do this for hours." Grimmjow's other hand raised Ichigo's chin a bit before he tilted his own head and pressed slightly open lips against Ichigo's. Ichigo instantly inhaled, a small whimper getting released as he grabbed handfuls of Grimmjow's t-shirt. The kiss stayed simple for a second, just the firm press of warm lips but Grimmjow moved slightly, deepening the kiss and moving his jaw. Ichigo kept up the best he could and Grimmjow swallowed his gentle cries at the new feelings. When Grimmjow's tongue softly ran over Ichigo's lips Ichigo hesitantly met it with his, rubbing the rough sides together. Grimmjow let out a groan at the first proper taste of the other and wrapped his arms around Ichigo properly, pulling their fronts into alignment better, Ichigo bending back at the waist a bit.
Ichigo had to break away when his chest felt like it was going to burst; gasping for breath when their lips parted and his wide eyes searched Grimmjow's for an answer to the millions of question in his mind.
"Well my dear that blew my mind so I don't know how you're coping." Grimmjow's voice showed he was also a bit breathless. Ichigo just nodded a bit fast, lifting a hand to touch his own lips. "Can I ask if that was you're first kiss?" Ichigo nodded again. "Baby if you liked that I can definitely show you more."
Ichigo was tucked back against Grimmjow's side, still speechless as they walked among the grand town houses. The ground there was immaculate, none of the strange greyish white patches where people had spat chewing gum and nice delicate trees planted in the slabs evenly along the street. Grimmjow glanced at the plates on the doors, stopping at the one with the correct surname and pulling Ichigo up the eight steps to the door. There was a metal staircase leaving the pavement to spiral down a storey and led to the servant's quarters. Servants were a thing of the past but the exteriors of the old buildings hadn't changed. Grimmjow rang the doorbell and disengaged from Ichigo, giving his hand a squeeze before dropping it as well.
An older man in a suit opened the door, asking if he could help them.
"Hi, eh this is Ichigo Kurosaki and I'm Grimmjow. He's good friends with Shinji and was hoping to see him?" Grimmjow wasn't exactly used to talking to a butler, if that's who the man was.
They were invited into the house, asked to wait in the hall while 'Master Hirako' was summoned. Shinji appeared a moment later with panic on his face, a golf club in one hand as he flew down the stair case dressed simply in a white shirt and pale trousers. He reached out a hand and grabbed Ichigo's wrist, pulling him away from Grimmjow and behind himself, the golf club extended towards Grimmjow threateningly, but shaking.
"Get out, leave him alone. I'll use it I swear. One scream and the police will be called." Shinji held the club with both hands but was still unable to hold it still. Grimmjow put both hands up and tried to calm the other with a gesture but it just made Shinji swing the club a bit.
"Shinji, it's alright. He's my friend." Ichigo put a hand on Shinji's shoulder, drawing the blond's attention straight away: Ichigo had never initiated contact before.
"What the hell are you doing outside? Shit!" Shinji had turned towards Ichigo before realising who he was talking to and covering his mouth in case of spreading germs. "Are you alright? Do you feel feverish? Shit does your head hurt? Do you need to lie down? Should I call an ambulance? Is that blood?" Shinji's voice increased in panic as he spoke the club no longer getting pointed at Grimmjow as Shinji backed from his friend.
"I'm fine, it's fine. Calm down please?" Ichigo reached out a hand for the club, not taking his eyes off Shinji's as he relieved him of his weapon.
"But, you're outside; you can't be outside, you'll die." Shinji was tearing up and shaking as the adrenaline left his body. He'd panicked as soon as he'd heard Ichigo was at his door with an unknown male and had rushed to his best friend's defence. He had plenty of 'normal' friends but none he could be himself around, none that didn't judge him for every little thing.
Grimmjow's eyebrows leapt to his hair line and he was instantly worried for Ichigo. Clearly this friend knew something he didn't. "What? Die?" When he spoke he drew Shinji's attention which made the blond scowl his way and straighten himself out a bit more.
"Yes dipshit, die. Ichigo isn't allowed outside for his health, you could even kill him with whatever germs you're carrying."
Grimmjow felt his shoulders push back instinctively at the insinuation that he was dirty. He turned to Ichigo to get some sense out of him. "Ichigo?"
"Can we sit and talk about this?"
Shinji pulled them into a luxurious sitting room, modern furniture among antiques and paintings lining the walls. It was what would have been called a drawing room a hundred years ago. Grimmjow sat next to Ichigo, Shinji opposite them on a different sofa with his hands pulling at each other. Both looked to Ichigo to explain what was going on.
"First of all I'm not going to die from being outside. That was what my father made up as a reason for me not leaving." Shinji instantly frowned at getting lied to. "It was the simplest explanation when you were ten Shin so don't worry about it, I wanted to tell you but my father wouldn't let me."
"So why are you out? And who the fuck is the blue haired ape at your side?"
Ichigo was a bit surprised at the language his friend was using, curse words not part of his vocabulary and he didn't know the definition of them. "This is Grimmjow; he was on my outside stairs and released the bottom set, letting me out. I wanted to go and see the fires, you know that."
"Alright, I see the motive, and the how. You've still not answered why he's here."
Ichigo flushed, glancing over at Grimmjow for a second before dropping his face again.
"Ah, I see. Can I admit to being a bit disappointed? I'd always hoped you'd turn to me if you realised you were gay." Shinji rolled his eyes at Ichigo's head tilt. He was used to them when he used something he shouldn't but at least he could explain that time. "Attracted to men."
"Gay?"
"Gay, me too. When you weren't enamoured with dear Orihime's attributes I guessed you might be batting for the other team, which means gay by the way."
Ichigo just nodded, following along. He wasn't stupid and he learned quickly so the new information didn't overwhelm him.
"How are you coping with the big wild world?"
Ichigo shrugged, rubbing at his abdomen a bit, the ache from his attack still there. "Some of it is amazing, I can't believe it. The smells, the grass and all the people!"
"Wait till it rains, you're going to go nuts." Shinji gave him a wide smile when Ichigo's eyes lit up. "And I take it from the blood on your temple it's not all been sunshine and rainbows?"
Grimmjow answered for him. "Ichigo ran into some trouble at the park. Me and my friends stepped in to deal with it."
"Ah, so you're a white knight. I am starting to understand. And boy are you a lucky boy Ichigo. So why are you here? Looking for somewhere to hide out because you know your dad will probably check here first."
"No, I was hoping you'd help me out a bit. I've not got anything and Grimmjow's already had to buy me some food."
"Money? You came to me for money? Oh honey you know you don't have to ask. What about clothes? Do you have anything other than your YSL?"
Grimmjow's eyes bugged out when he realised Shinji was referring to the suit Ichigo was wearing. He didn't want to know how much it had cost. He knew the hand bags were two month's wages from Starrk's high maintenance girlfriend. Ichigo shook his head which made Shinji's eyes roll.
"I don't know if my stuff will fit your legs but it'll be better than anything King Kong can loan you. You can pick up trousers that fit you better in a bit. Can I ask, are you going back?"
Ichigo hesitated; his instinctive reaction was to say yes. He'd intended to return for his trainer then to leave whenever he wanted to but that option was only valid if he returned the next day and was unmissed. It also meant he would have to miss the fires but Grimmjow could come to him in the evenings and he could meet up with him all he wanted. "I don't know. I know I'll have to decide quickly but I don't know if I belong out here."
"Will you be happy there now that you've been out? I know you know as much as a five year old does when it comes to actually living but you'll catch up. Hell go and buy a phone tomorrow and you'll be sorted by Monday. I'll be there for you whatever you decide and if you choose to stay out I'll forget this visit if I'm asked, I never saw you."
"Thank you Shinji."
The two younger men left Grimmjow for a moment to raid Shinji's wardrobe to get Ichigo some things to wear as well as some necessary supplies. Shinji was only away for fifteen minutes before he came back downstairs, sitting opposite Grimmjow again. "He's getting changed. I've given him some essentials but you'll have to make sure he knows what he's doing. Do you realise what you're doing? Taking responsibility for him won't be easy." Shinji pulled a wad of notes out of his back pocket. Grimmjow's eyes were wide when he reached out to take it. "If I thought I could trust him with it I'd not be handing it to you. He's never paid for anything in his life, doesn't know the value of money really. He always had everything bought for him so you need to take care of this. If I find out you've ditched him and kept the money I'll have my father lock you away until you're grey."
"Believe me or not I would never do that. If I didn't feel like I did I'd still try to help him out. My friends offered as well, to help him start over and get a real life."
"So you weren't just sitting close on the sofa? You do know he's never even been kissed before?"
Grimmjow's feral grin made Shinji roll his eyes. "Not anymore."
"Fine, whatever. But seriously I don't think he even knows about hetero sex. He mentioned something about not wanting to be married and did definitely say he thought man and wife had separate bedrooms. Do not hurt him."
"Oh I promise I don't intend to hurt him. I intend to show him everything. Already promised him a trip to the beach."
"It won't all be fun exciting new experiences; it'll be battling with his programed responses and stupid actions. He won't be afraid of things the way he should be and he won't be able to take responsibility for anything for ages. It's a commitment you know? I can take it from you. He's eighteen tomorrow and my father should support me in keeping him away from his dad. Honestly I've never liked the man, gives me the creeps."
"Yeah, I wonder why the hell he kept Ichigo the way he did. Do you think he ever did anything to him?"
Shinji didn't get a chance to answer before Ichigo came down the stairs, Grimmjow's eyes going wide at the transformation. The skinny grey jeans clung to his long legs making him seem taller. A loose white t-shirt covered his top half and a black hoodie was over it, a black and white scarf round his neck. "I tried to dress him so he'd fit in with you and your friends but he just looks like he's in someone else's clothes."
"He looks amazing."
Shinji gave Grimmjow a sideways glance, realising his feelings were deeper than any of them had thought. Ichigo had a black duffle bag on his shoulder and he clung to the strap as the other two men stared at him. "Put the hood up to cover your hair. I promise there is no one else in the city with hair like it. Dead giveaway." Shinji pulled it up, the large hood shadowing Ichigo's face a bit, framing his delicate features. His weren't as sharp and protruding as Grimmjow's but his eyes were larger and stood out from the rest. "I gave Grimmjow my pocket money so he can take care of you but come back if you need more. You can stay if you want though."
Ichigo looked up at Grimmjow, the man at his side. Grimmjow didn't say anything, wanting Ichigo to choose for himself. Ichigo looked back at Shinji before shaking his head. "No, I'll be fine. And thank you Shinji."
"I'll be out at the fires tomorrow night, look out for me if you want. And my card is in with the money Grimmjow so if you need to get in touch with me then please do."
Ichigo looked at his only friend, giving him a soft smile before he left with Grimmjow, the bag on his shoulder not heavy but he'd never walked with a bag before and he didn't like the way it bumped his legs. Grimmjow reached out and pulled it from him, slinging it on his own shoulder and behind his back. He walked easily enough with is so Ichigo didn't argue, taking his other hand comfortably and walking side by side. "Ready to go back to mine?" Grimmjow glanced down at him, a light look in his eyes and a half smile on his face. Ichigo nodded and leaned his cheek against Grimmjow's shoulder. He was tired from his adventures from the day and couldn't wait to be tucked at the other's side in bed. He didn't quite realise the other activities they could get up to side by side in bed.
Yup, it'll be happening next chapter. Just saying... Oh and daft wee notes give me inspirations... just in case you wanted more. xxx
