*winces* I shoulda updated a while ago! Gomen-nasai! I got distracted with three animes, Yu Yu Hakusho and Rurouni Kenshin (I never saw them before, so I thought I should watch some classics) and also one hard to find one called The Twelve Kingdoms, (which i am unable to finish!!! TT___TT i can't find more eps) Also, with hallows eve and my birthday days away, it's hard to remember to update v.v so gomen.
Anyway, thank you to Grinja for replying. ^^ it's nice to know there are ppl out there who are nice enough to review *hint hint*
XD and of course thanks to cheeky half-demon; you always review after every chap. ^^ And yeah, they should. Hime-chan seems to be good for everyone...maybe not her cooking in some cases eheheh, but otherwise yeah.
Oh for those who haven't had it...Red bean paste is delicious!!! I don't know about what Orihime uses it on, but in hedgehog buns and sesame balls they are soooo yummy!!!! ^////^
Okay, on with the fic!
***Chapter 32
"Grimmjow…" called Hara, "Wake up~!"
"Ungh?" he grumbled, opening an eye. Hara smiled,
"Breakfast!"
"Do you like it?" asked Orihime, her eyes on Grimmjow. He raised an eyebrow,
"What is it?"
"It's French toast with red bean paste!" said Hara as she munched hers down excitedly. Grimmjow sighed; I should quit asking what these things are… it'll only make it harder to swallow…
He quickly began to eat, and found it wasn't too bad, like most everything else.
On his fourth bite, the door slammed open and Matsumoto threw herself at Hara, causing Grimmjow to jump in alarm and choke on his food.
"GAH!" cried Hara underneath Matsumoto, "What are you doing?!"
"Oh Hara-san!" cried Matsumoto, "Why didn't you tell us yesterday was your birthday?!"
Grimmjow who had just freed himself from choking and had moved to drink some water began choking again, water spraying the two women. Orihime was out of the way, watching. She looked as if she wanted to do something but couldn't.
Matsumoto shrieked and pulled off of Hara, shaking the water off her arms. Hara turned and hit Grimmjow's back to help, before shaking the water off her body.
"To answer your question," she replied, "I actually forgot."
"How *cough* the hell *cough* did you forget your own goddamned birthday?!" growled Grimmjow, still trying to clear his lungs.
"It's not like it's that important!" she replied, "I mean really-"
"Not important!?" cried Matsumoto, "Your birthday isn't important?!" Hara shrugged, and Matsumoto suddenly grinned and went over to Orihime. They began to whisper to each other, a devious grin on Matsumoto's face and a happy one on Orihime's.
Grimmjow and Hara exchanged glances, before Hara stood up, "How did you find out, Rangiku?" she asked in a calm voice that hinted at anger.
Matsumoto grinned, "I overheard Ikki and Yumichika talking about it… why?"
Hara cracked her knuckles, "I'm going to go visit them…" Grimmjow laughed,
"This sounds like fun," Hara grinned at him and went to the door.
Turning back to stare at Matsumoto with a threatening glance she said, "Don't you dare make a party..."
Matsumoto frowned, "You're no fun Ha-chan!" she called as she and Grimmjow left.
"That means your plans won't work, right Rangiku-san?" asked Orihime.
Matsumoto turned to her with a grin, "No, it means it's on! Her saying no meant yes!"
***
"So you don't like parties?" asked Grimmjow as he walked beside her, hands in the pockets of his brand new jeans.
Hara shook her head, "Not really, but I especially don't like it if Matsumoto is the main conspirator … She makes things too wild and then ends up drunk and passed out."
Grimmjow laughed, "And that doesn't sound fun?"
Hara shrugged, "Not always, because most of the others are passed out as well… I'm the only one who can't seem to get drunk enough to join them."
Grimmjow chuckled as he slid his hand around her waist and pulled her to him with a huge grin, "Well…Can I give the birthday girl a present?"
"Present?" asked Hara as she turned around, "What present-"
He suddenly crashed his lips against hers, crushing her against him as they stood beneath the awning of a shop. Hara let her fingers run through his sky blue hair, and he did the same, before wrapping his arms around her.
"Happy birthday," he whispered in her ear as he pulled away.
She grinned at him, before turning and running down the road, "Catch me if you can!" she yelled, before disappearing around a corner.
Grimmjow stared after her, before taking off at a fast run.
Hara skidded across the cement, dodging a mail box and turning to see Grimmjow only feet behind her, a maniacal grin on his face. His fingers reached out and almost caught her arm, but she leapt back with a laugh so he only brushed against her skin.
"You know you can't catch me," she teased, "I'm faster than you!"
He raised an eyebrow, "Care to test that?" He moved faster, this time his fingers nearly grabbing hold.
Hara pivoted left, and flew down the street, "Sure do!" she yelled, almost using shunpo.
Grimmjow streaked towards her, and she rocketed away, "Hara wait!" he yelled suddenly, "Stop-!" But it was too late.
CRASH!
She landed on her rear after colliding with something that was both hard and soft at the same time.
"Tch. How nostalgic. Still not looking where you run?"
Hara looked up, "Renji?!"
He grinned, "You haven't changed a bit." He put out his hand and pulled her to her feet, looking as friendly as always, as if earlier had never happened.
Hara stared at him, feeling tense and alarmed. Grimmjow was by her side a second later, glaring at Renji, "Yo," said Renji, his famous cocky grin spreading across his face.
Grimmjow just glared at him, feeling protective of Hara. Renji smirked, "So what're you two doing out here?"
"I'm going to go murder Ikkaku and possibly Yumichika," replied Hara deviously, "They told Rangiku about yesterday…"
Renji began to laugh, "Nice, they're going to get it this time… Mind if I watch?"
Hara shook her head, "Go ahead." Renji grinned and put a hand on her shoulder; Grimmjow moved forwards slightly as if he was going to hit him, and Renji stared at him, his expression surprised and slightly angry, "Oi, it's not like I'm going to attack her," he said, "I just wanted to say happy birthday." He turned to Hara, "So, happy birthday!" She smiled, though she was feeling even more uneasy, because she felt that if there wasn't another course of action, Grimmjow and Renji would begin to fight.
"Thanks," she said, "Well, let's go kill Ikkaku and Michika then, ne?" Both men nodded, "Last one there has to clean up afterwards!"
The three of them shot off in a blur, Hara in the lead. Renji and Grimmjow were neck to neck, similar grins on their faces.
I can't let that teme win! Thought Grimmjow, I'll show him! He sped up, passing Hara.
If I win, I'll show Hara that I'm better than some arrancar! Thought Renji, I'll show that blue haired teme who is better! Renji sped up too, passing Hara as well.
What are they doing?! Thought Hara as she watched them speed by, I didn't say they had to run themselves to death… They were already at the corner of the block while she was in the center, men…
Hara gave herself an extra burst of speed as they reached the Urahara Shouten; she zoomed past them before skidding to a rough stop, her shoes screeching in protest. She glanced back and saw a red blur and blue blur flying towards her, not stopping.
"Guys-!" she began, but they were going too fast to stop on a dime.
CRASH!
Hara flew backwards as Grimmjow and Renji collided with her, her arms flailing. Both men looked up as she fell in slow motion, her eyes wide.
"Hara-!" the both yelled, trying to run and catch her.
SMACK! The two crashed into each other and fell to the ground in a growling, cussing heap.
"Got ya!" said a voice as Hara landed in someone's arms. She looked up to see Ichigo, staring down at her a slight grin on his face.
"Ah!" said Hara surprised, "Strawberry!"
He scowled at her nickname, but before he could open his mouth, "Hey bastard, get your hands off of her!" yelled Renji and Grimmjow in unison. Their eyes went wide and they turned to glare at each other, but Hara pulled herself out of Ichigo's arms,
"Don't let them fight!" she furiously whispered before moving towards them. Ichigo grinned and followed, chuckling at the two snarling men.
"Oi, what's with all the noise?!" yelled a voice, as the front door was thrown open. Everyone turned to see Ikkaku in his pajamas with an annoyed expression and his zanpakuto in hand. "Can't a guy get some-" Hara roared and threw herself at him, knocking him backwards into the room and onto the floor, where she glowered down at him.
"YOU JERK!" she snarled, "YOU TOLD MATSUMOTO ABOUT MY BIRTHDAY!"
"I didn't mean to!" he managed to cry, "She overheard me and Yumichika talking, sorry!"
Hara sat on his chest, "You shouldn't have been talking about it anyway." She sniffed, "So what if it was my birthday-"
"Happy birthday, Ha-chan!" exclaimed a voice who wrapped her in a hug.
"Eeeep!" she replied as she was lifted off of Ikkaku who quickly moved away. "Michika, let go!"
"Nope!" he laughed, "I get to hug the birthday girl!" Hara stared at Grimmjow with an expression that said 'save me!', but all he did was grin at her.
"Birthday?" asked an unfamiliar voice, "Is someone having a birthday? I just love parties!" Hara looked around the room for the source of the voice, as did Grimmjow.
She didn't see anyone; "Who said that?" she asked,
"I did of course!" replied the voice, "Over here!" Hara followed the voice and her jaw dropped; a pink rabbit plush purse was staring up at her, its ears crossed over its chest like arms and a smile on its face.
"A t-talking…plushie?!" she stammered. Grimmjow was staring at it as well, but didn't speak.
"We're not plushies!" claimed another voice, this time female. Hara turned to see a yellow bird in a blue hoodie walk out of a different room, "We're mod souls!"
"And what the hell is that?" growled Grimmjow.
"Modified souls that helped us with sensing bounts… They are artificially created souls in other words," said Urahara as he walked into the room. Grimmjow just frowned as he stared at the stuffed animals, while Hara stared at them with wonder.
"My name is Kurodo," said the rabbit purse, "Nice to meet you!" Hara smiled and picked him up, much to everyone's surprise,
"So…cute…!" she exclaimed hugging him to her chest. Everyone's eyes went wide, Kurodo's especially, before he laughed. Hara let go and turned bright red as she saw everyone in the room staring at her, "S-sorry… I just can't resist plushies…"
"It's quite alright!" replied Kurodo as he stood on the table. "Anyway," he pointed to the bird, "This is Lirin," The bird, Lirin glowered at him,
"I can introduce myself!" she snapped, and then hmphed, crossing her arms and looking away.
"Where's Nova-san?" asked Ichigo,
"Here," replied a male voice as a red light flashed and he appeared out of a portal like thing. Hara stared down at the turtle plush with a red bowtie and white shirt. He blinked and stared up at her; she twitched slightly, must…fight…the…
"Kawaii!" she exclaimed making everyone jump. Nova was scooped up into her arms before he turned as red as Renji's hair and pulled himself into his shell. Hara almost dropped him, "Huh? W-what happened?" she set him on the table, "Did I do something…wrong?"
Everyone but Hara began laughing loudly, "He's shy, that's all," laughed Kurodo.
Hara smiled with embarrassment and backed away towards Grimmjow where she sat down.
"So do you have any plans to celebrate your birthday?" asked Yumichika. Hara shook her head,
"No…" her expression became suspicious, "Why?"
Yumichika shrugged innocently, "Well, let's go somewhere and celebrate or something! It would be beautiful!"
"Like where?" she asked with a raised eyebrow,
"Anywhere you want; it is for your birthday after all!"
"How about an arcade?" suggested Jinta who had suddenly appeared,
"We're not kids like you, kid," said Renji. "We could go somewhere much cooler like-"
"Hold it!" exclaimed Hara, "An arcade sounds fun!"