Cross My Heart
Ch 3
Not Stalking
The weekend passed by in a blur and Monday came around quickly.
"Good morning Ichigo."
Said person stiffened as his uncle's voice called out to him
"Morning."
His uncle Aizen sat at the kitchen table reading the newspaper but it felt as if though the cold brown eyes were burning into the orange head's back.
"Would you like some breakfast Ichi-nii?"
"No thanks Yuzu." Ichigo replied with a smile as he fixed Shiro's shirt.
As time was approaching for them to leave for school, Ichigo swallowed hard and said, "Uncle Aizen, I have to stay after school this whole week so we won't be home till later in the afternoon."
Ichigo motioned for his siblings to go wait at the door as he felt his uncle stand up and place his dishes in the sink.
"Who's going to pick up your brother and sisters?"
"Karin has soccer practice and Yuzu said she would go with her except Tuesdays when she has sewing class. A friend of mine said he would pick up Shiro from daycare and take him to the park. I'll be finished in time to pick them up and bring them home. They said they were okay with it and it really wouldn't make much of a difference actually. I just wouldn't be bringing Yuzu and Shiro home immediately."
"Hmmm." Aizen stared at his nephew. "What time would you be back?"
"By five."
"Is Yuzu going to have enough time to cook dinner."
"I...think so."
"Yuzu, Karin, Shiro, please come in here."
The children stepped into the kitchen with their backpacks already on their backs.
"Are you three really okay with adjusting to your brother's schedule?"
"Yes." was the unison reply.
"Very well." Cold brown eyes turned back to Ichigo. "What exactly will you be doing after school?"
"Practicing for the talent show."
Aizen smirked. "You will be singing I presume?"
"Yes."
"Good. You have a wonderful voice. Though I would prefer the whole world wouldn't hear it. So this will be the first and last time, you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Have a good day at school."
As soon as Ichigo closed the front door and was outside, he let out a sigh of relief. He smiled down at the worried faces of his siblings.
"Come on or we'll be late for school."
Three faces smiled back as they headed down the street.
It was already after school and it was safe to say nothing dramatic happened. It was still awkward with Ichigo and Grimmjow but that would all be fixed on Friday, hopefully.
"I managed to get Urahara sensei to let us use the gym first to practice."
Ichigo stared at the brown haired senior in wonder.
"I explained the situation and he practically threw the keys at me in excitement."
"He likes getting involved in students lives." Ulquiorra explained.
"Oh."
The equipment was set up and Ichigo was handed a mic.
Stark sat behind a set of drums while Toshiro and Ulquiorra each held a guitar.
"Are you sure this is the song you wanna sing Ichigo?" Ulquiorra asked.
"Yeah. Why? Is it a bad choice?" the freshman asked nervously.
An almost unnoticeable smirk ghosted itself across the jade green eyed teen's lips.
"No. It's perfect."
Ulquiorra turned to look at Rukia who was working the lights and sound and gave her the signal to start.
The stage light's came on and the student's began playing the music. Ichigo let out a deep breath as he listned for his part to start and opened his mouth and began.
It was Thursday afternoon already and practice had just finished. The group was putting the equipment away when the gym doors flew open and a light blue haired teen stomped in.
"What the hell is the meaning of this?" Grimmjow held a flyer and a ticket in his hands, courtesy of Ulquiorra. "Ichigo get your butt down here."
Ichigo's wide eyes narrowed. "What do you want Grimmjow?"
The teal eyes man jumped up onto the stage when he saw the orange haired boy wasn't going to move anytime soon, and stood before Ichigo. "Why the hell are you going to sing at the show? I thought you didn't want people to hear you. You wouldn't even let Rukia and Renji hear ya, only Shiro, your sisters, and me."
Ichigo watched the jealousy dance in those teal eyes and a glimmer of hope made its way into the freshman's heart. The senior didn't even notice his slip up.
"Well I decided since people like to hear me sing I might as well enter the show."
Grimmjow smirked as Ichigo replied nervously.
"They black mailed you didn't they?"
"The hell they did! I just have something to say and maybe it'll be heard."
The senior stared at the freshman's thoughtful face. It looked like as if though the boy's mind was somewhere else and Grimmjow had to force himself from grabbing the boy and ravishing his mouth. Suddenly a scowl was on Ichigo's face.
"Besides, why should you care? You said so yourself that you don't want anything to do with me so why do you care about what I do?"
Grimmjow was shocked by the shorter man's words.
"I never-"
"You should come by the show tomorrow and maybe you'll catch my message. I gotta go pick up my siblings. See ya Grimm." Ichigo didn't notice his own slip up as he jumped off the stage and rushed out the door.
The blue haired teen was left standing in shock. The equipment had been put away some time ago and only Grimmjow and Ulquiorra were left.
"You should really come to the show tomorrow Grimmjow. Trust me, it'll be worth it."
The teal eyed senior didn't know how much time passed when he finally left the gym. All he had going through his mind was that Ichigo had called him Grimm.
"Ichi-nii!" a blur of white ran into the orange haired boy's open arms.
"Hey Shiro. Did you have a good day?" Ichigo asked as he lifted his brother up into his arms and said goodbye to the lady in charge of the daycare. He walked outside to where Yuzu and Karin where waiting.
"It was kinda boring cuz all I could think about is tomorrow." the little boy answered and blew kisses to his sisters making Ichigo smirk, Karin roll her eyes and Yuzu giggle.
"Did you get the tickets Ichi-nii?" the brunette girl asked
"Yeah. I'll be practicing tomorrow so is it alright if Renji picks you three up and just brings you over to the school?"
"Sure."
"Ok."
"Yeah!"
Ichigo smiled.
'Shit! Shit! Shit! I'm gonna be late." Ichigo thought as he ran down the streets. He had just left Yuzu and Karin at school and dropped off Shiro at daycare and only had ten minutes left to get his ass to class. He made a quick choice and took a shortcut through the alleys. Bad decision.
Before he reached the end of one of the alleys, a man blocked the exit. Ichigo stood still and turned around to go back the way he came when three guys blocked that exit as well.
"Look at what we have here gentlemen. A pretty little thing has graced out presence."
Ichigo looked towards the side of one of the buildings where a door was covered in shadows. The one who had just spoken stepped out.
"Hey boss, isn't this kid Grimmjow's bitch?"
Honey brown eyes widened.
"Yeah. You're right."
Ichigo backed up against a wall and cursed as the five men surrounded him.
"Then he's the one we should thank for us losing one of our best fighters."
Ichigo's eyes narrowed. "You assholes were using a high school student to do your dirty work. He didn't need to be getting involved with pieces of shit like you."
The teen ducked as a fist came flying towards his face and kicked his leg out, sending one of the men to the ground. In a crouching position Ichigo observed his opponents. Three of the two weren't men at all. Just kids. One was probably even younger than him while the other two were either his age or a few years older.
A leg swept over orange hair as the teen ducked lower and sprang up to land a fist to one's face and an elbow to another's stomach.
A rough hand grabbed Ichigo's wrist and in turn the orange haired boy kneed the man in the crotch. Three were down on the ground and one was getting back up off the floor, recovering from his first fall.
Ichigo didn't have time to dodge the blow to his back that came quickly and suddenly. He found himself on the ground face first before a hand grabbed a fistful of orange hair and yanked the teen's head back roughly.
Ichigo was thrown on his back and his head hit the concrete roughly. Big hands grabbed the teen's slender neck and pulled at the orange hair. A knee pressed into Ichigo's ribs sharply and another pressed between his legs.
All Ichigo could feel though was the pressure cutting off his air supply. He clawed at the hand that crushed his throat.
"If you hadn't said those unnecessary insults, we would have just used you as our fuck toy and had or way with you. You would have lived, but that mouth of yours has signed your death."
Ichigo's eyes blurred and his attempts to remove the hand slowed. Just when he was sure the last thing he was going to see was the man's cruel smile a blue blur smashed itself into the man's side, knocking him off the teen.
The orange haired boy gasped as he let the precious air back into his lungs. A pair of hands helped him sit up and as the blurriness disappeared from his vision he couldn't believe who he saw crouching besides him.
"You alright Ichi?"
All Ichigo could do was nod as he stared at Grimmjow's worried, angry face. The blue haired senior stood when he received a nod. Towering over six feet and a super pissed look on his face. Grimmjow made the five thugs cower with his presence.
"How stupid could you guys be? Attacking someone who is clearly very close to me." Grimmjow took a step forward and the others a step back. "If his blood was spilt then I would make sure your deaths were very painful." A cruel smirk appeared on his face. " And there wouldn't be any evidence left at the scene. You get the picture?"
With as much dignity they had left, the boss of the gang motioned his men to leave and as they headed out the alley, Grimmjow called out.
"And I didn't leave the gang because of him." The blue haired teen turned his back to the others. "I got tired of the bullshit so leave Ichigo alone."
With that warning they were gone and the senior found himself kneeling in front of the injured teen. Grimmjow lifted Ichigo's face to get a better look at the bruised neck. The outline of a hand stood out against the peachy skin.
"That's gonna bruise."
Ichigo was silent as Grimmjow gave him a look over.
"Did I really not have any influence in your decision to leave the gang?" the freshman asked quietly. His throat stung.
"No." Grimmjow answered as he helped Ichigo to his feet. The answer hurt the orange haired boy a bit. "You were the whole reason I left."
The walk to school was quiet and awkward. Ichigo was still surprised by the senior's final answer and Grimmjow was having a guilt trip in his mind.
The senior felt it was his fault Ichigo got hurt. Since the separation the blue haired teen hadn't walked the orange haired boy of his siblings to school. He had even gotten that side car to connect to his bike to ride the kids in there and Ichigo in his lap for those days when they were running late. And those things were not cool.
Since the separation though, Grimmjow had been secretly following the freshman to and from school, making sure he and his siblings arrived safely. Just because they weren't together at the moment didn't mean he wasn't worried or cared about the other.
"What were you thinking heading down some god forsaken alley? If I hadn't decided to walk to school today you would have been dead." Grimmow scolded the younger boy as they neared the school.
"I was running late." mumbled Ichigo. "And I can't afford a detention today. Besides, what were you doing around that area? Not that I'm complaining or anything since your stalking saved me from my death."
The blue haired teen scowled as it came back to him that if he had just picked up Ichigo and his siblings then this all could have been avoided.
"Well once they know that you nearly got mugged they wouldn't dare give you detention. I'll make sure of it. And I felt like taking a stroll before school, I wasn't stalking you, you crazy berry. Now come on." Grimmjow grabbed the freshman's arm and dragged him to the office. Ichigo meanwhile was smiling inwardly. Another spark of hope flashed within him.
"What the hell happened Ichigo?" was the main question thrown at the boy during first period.
"I got jumped." was the simple reply.
His friends fussed over him as they took a good look at the bandages that covered the bruised neck. Even his uniform was in a bit of a distressed state.
"Ichigo, you can't perform like this!" Rukia exclaimed. "Have you heard your voice?"
The bright haired freshman rolled his eyes.
"I'll be fine, just stop making me talk and I'll be able to perform later." Ichigo coughed after replying with a rough, scratchy voice.
"Here." Renji handed Ichigi a small bag as he took a seat. "Ulquiorra gave me these when I passed by his class. Says to take them and drink plenty of water. He'll check how you're doing during lunch."
Ichigo took the bag, nodded and read the label. 'Soothing Drops'. They looked like cough drops. He popped two into his mouth and sucked.
"I heard from Grimmjow what happened."
"Figures." Ichigo's voice was still a bit raspy.
"Well at least I hear your voice is sounding a bit better."
"How the hell did you get a hot towel for my throat?" Inside the men's bathroom, Ichigo sat on a sink with a warm towel around his neck.
"The gym's locker room, water, and the cafeteria's microwave."
The orange haired freshman snorted.
"Good resources."
"A few more hours and it'll be time. You think you'll be okay?"
"Well with a great doctor like you I'll be ready."
"Cocky little brat."
"That sounded like something Grimm would say."
Ulquiorra removed the now cool towel and rewrapped the bandages around the freshman's neck.
"Well I am his friend. You would think he would rub off on me."
Nana: Typed this chapter up during my first week of college =D
Only reason I've been able to pull it off is because half of my books for my classes haven't come in so i can't do my homework, so to busy myself I decided to type.
Though this is going to become a drag with all the essays I already have assigned D:
Grimmjow: Sucks for you.
Ichigo: You unsupportive bastard.
Peace&Love
{Nana}