Author's note: This is kind of unedited (Flyingshadow tweaked it a bit XD) so if there are any mistakes then I apologize. Thank you for reading and reviewing as always. Sex shall be in the next chapter and Racey approves of it so it should be okay. X)

This chapter is dedicated to Racey. Thanks for keeping me company Little one *ruffles hair*. XD

Paint You In Blue: Jealousy breeds idiocy

Where was Ichigo, damnit? The strawberry should be here by now! Grimmjow gritted his teeth, hating the worry that began to seep in. Usually it only took the redhead an hour or so do the shopping. He glared at the clock on the wall; he was taking already 15 minutes longer than usual! That wasn't normal!

Anxiety bubbled and frothed in his belly, was Ichigo okay? Maybe he was hurt? Had there been an accident maybe? Nah… Ichigo wasn't that stupid, he knew how to look both ways when crossing the road. Grimmjow flopped onto the floor and tried to relax but soon sat up again restlessly. Maybe he had gotten jumped on the way home? Grimmjow couldn't even remember the number of times they had gotten into fights as students. The brawling was fun he had to admit but his heart always skipped a beat when Ichigo took a hit that could've been fatal.

He smiled, at one point the two of them had come to school constantly covered in wounds. The school had misunderstood the situation and thought that child abuse was happening at home. Their parents had called and made to attend a meeting. His parents left the school in fits of laughter. Isshin however... After claiming what he had for his son was 'rough love' and that it was fine to beat the boy around a little to train him, Isshin had been taken away from school in handcuffs and a full blown investigation occurred.

They were dropped pretty quickly though. The Kurosaki children had explained to the authorities that Isshin was not abusive at all, he was just an idiot.

Grimmjow glanced at the clock again, 5 minutes had past. He raked his fingers through his hair and let out a frustrated sigh. When did he become like this? Depending on the redhead to the point where he was sick with worry when Ichigo wasn't near him? It was sad to realize how far he had fallen and how much his childhood friend had him wrapped around his fingers.

Fuck this shit! He didn't care if he sounded like a lovesick woman! Grimmjow walked to the door fully intending to go look for the redhead that had his heart. Just as his hand was about to wrench the door open, the door bell rang.

"Grimm," called out Ichigo, "Can you open the door? I have my hands full."

He wrenched the door open, "What took you so long?" he snapped.

Ichigo shuffled past the bigger man and dropped the bags onto the floor. He shook his hand to get the blood back in, the bags had cut into his hand and stopped blood flow. "Sorry," he said, "Kinda got distracted a bit."

"With what?" asked the blunet.

Ichigo chuckled nervously. "Yeah… about that…" he turned around and within one of his hands was…

"What the fuck is that?" he pointed at that thing in the redhead's hand.

"It's a kitten, you dick." The redhead held the kitten close and it nuzzled his chin. "Yeah… meet your new roommate."

Grimmjow glared venomously at the puffball of white fur. "Are you fucking with me?" he asked.

"Nope."

"I ain't keeping it. No way."

"Eh? But I named it and everything… you wouldn't make me throw it away would you?" Ichigo looked at him. His eyes were solemn and Grimmjow felt his heartstrings pull. He was badly whipped, there was no way out.

"…Fine! But it's your responsibility and shit. I'm not going anywhere near it." He glared at the vile cat and the thing stared back at him.

"Thanks," said Ichigo gratefully, "Its name is Pantera by the way; it means 'panther king'."

"Tch." Grimmjow continued to glare at the kitten "I don't give a damn."

Ichigo glanced at the blunet, he didn't think that Grimmjow would take it that badly. Inwardly he grinned, maybe he was feeling territorial? Putting two male cats together was sometimes a bad idea, but he was hoping that Grimmjow would be the bigger male and let it go. Maybe he would even warm up to Pantera, but at the moment that didn't seem likely.

"Grimm, can you put the food away for me? I can't do it at the moment." Ichigo headed to the kitchen with the kitten in his hand. "Come on Pantera, I guess you could use some tuna, or maybe milk?"

Grimmjow stood there in disbelief; he had just gotten ditched over a cat! Gah! He violently put the groceries away swearing the whole way through. Motherfucking cat!

Ichigo muffled his laughter as he heard the blunet swear vibrantly. He petted the kitten as he watched it eat from a small dish. "Slow down lil' guy, food wont be a problem anymore," he smiled fondly.

"I'm painting!" called out Grimmjow angrily, and the door to the studio slammed shut.

Ichigo laughed.

Grimmjow mixed the paints together and added a touch of linseed oil to smoothen the color. Mixing paints and making colors had always calmed him down somehow. But the fact that Ichigo had come home safe and sound had calmed him down shitloads already. It was that fucking cat that annoyed him!

What the hell was Ichigo thinking of when he decided to bring that furball home? Grimmjow began to absentmindedly paint at the blank canvas in front of him.

He didn't really blame the redhead; it was another thing he loved about Ichigo. That bleeding heart that wanted to help and protect all that was in his power. It was admirable of him but still! Pets shit everywhere! And the smell, and the mess! The rattling of paint brushes moving caught his attention.

Ah! That little prick! The kitten had snuck into his studio and was now making a mess on the floor. It had tipped over a bottle of blue paint and now tiny paw prints were being scattered everywhere.

"You're such a troublemaker," he snarled as he picked the thing up by the scruff of the neck. It looked at him with unblinking eyes, paws now a deep sea blue that matched its eyes.

Ha… it wasn't that bad he guessed… it's not as if Ichigo had taken in a whole litter. Or a dog, he hated dogs... he had no idea why though.

The kitten, Pantera, let out a tiny mew and it almost looked as if it were smiling. Cautiously Grimmjow set it on his lap (his jeans were already dirty so who gave a crap?), and to his surprise Pantera let out a tiny sigh, curled up into a ball and began to snooze.

Okay then… getting a pet cat wasn't that bad, and making Ichigo happy was worth the suffering that the feline resting on him was about to bring into the near future. Surrendering with a sigh, he continued to paint.

Ichigo had just finished his homework and the stew was almost half way done when a loud yowl followed by a string of swearing came from the studio.

"What happened?" asked Ichigo as he opened the door to the studio, and buckled over in laughter at the sight he saw.

Grimmjow had fallen off his stool and onto his ass. Paint was all over the floor particularly the color blue. Pantera was on the blunet's bare stomach and red welts could be seen on Grimmjow's abs and torso as well as a rather bad one on his cheek.

"It tricked me! The little devil played innocent to gain my trust and when my guard was down, it attacked me!" He accused, glowering at the kitten that was now running to Ichigo. Pft, coward.

"Yeah, like Pantera would do something like that." Ichigo scoffed as he scooped the creature into his arms.

Pantera grinned at him mockingly and began to purr as it nuzzled Ichigo's chin and neck, as if he was saying: 'Ha ha! Look at what I can do but you can't."

Grimmjow reframed from snarling back at the little bitch. Tch, getting jealous over a cat. That was pathetic even to him. "Ichigo… you brought back the devil incarnate, you idiot."

"Yeah, yeah whatever," Ichigo rolled his eyes, "Go take a shower, you can clean this up later and food's almost done," he said before closing the door.

"Little… fucker, how dare he…deceptive…" Grimmjow muttered and cursed as he pulled himself up. He let out a relieved puff of air. Thank fuck the canvas was facing away from the door today. Ichigo would shit kittens if he saw what he had painted. He stared at the painting he had just finished.

It was a portrait of the said redhead. It began from his bare shoulders and upwards. Nothing but soft blues and teal colors were used and the expression on Ichigo's face was that of a gentle smile. Like the one he had given Grimmjow awhile back after that storm. It had haunted his mind since. If that expression was given to those he was thankful for... what would his expression be like for the one he loved? What would it be like when he had sex?

He touched a dry part of the painting softly. This painting was one of his more... tamer ones. Sometimes while lost in thought he would paint and before he had realized it he had painted a very dirty picture. Usually he didn't draw porn and naked people but Ichigo was always the fucking exception. He had painted the red head naked, semi-naked, half naked, elusively naked, elusively clothed. He had painted Ichigo in every possible way. Ichigo brought out the best in him. No matter how rushed or long it took as long as he painted the strawberry, it would turn out as a masterpiece.

Too bad he couldn't sell it. Well... he could but over his dead body. He refused to let anyone see Ichigo in such a way let alone own a painting of it. This was another painting that was going to be kept hidden away in his closet, which by the way was beginning to run out of space as it was already, crammed to the brim with prior Ichigo-themed paintings. Damn if he kept this up he would end up painting nothing but the redhead and then he would be shit broke because he couldn't sell anything.

Ah well, he had a lot in his savings account, and if worst comes to worst, he could always mooch off Ichigo. The slimmer man was going to become a doctor so money wasn't going to be a problem in the future.

Grimmjow winced a bit when his hand touched at a scratch (for a tiny cat that thing could do a lot of damage). Gah, he better go shower before Ichigo came back.

Grimmjow came out the shower about half an hour later (the paint stains took ages to scrub off...), wearing nothing but jeans with the first button unclasped and a towel around his neck. "What's for dinner?" he asked.

"Stew," said Ichigo as he shuffled around the drawers looking for something. He didn't turn around to face Grimmjow like he usually did.

Don't dismiss me. Grimmjow's eyes narrowed as he noticed the redhead was wearing something different from before. His normal tight jeans and shirt was gone. Now he wore skinny jeans that hugged his ass to perfection. A white long sleeved shirt was on top and left unbuttoned revealing a black tank top that clung to every contour of his bodice. Sliver chains were attached to his belt.

"Where are you going?" asked the blunet.

Without even glancing at him, Ichigo pulled a small box out from one of the cupboards, "Out with Renji and Rukia n' stuff."

Look at me damnit. "Where?"

"To Hueco Mundo, but I think we're going to go eat first."

"Ha… and you were going to tell me when?" Why was he feeling so irritated?

Ichigo walked to the hallway and began putting his shoes on, "Now?"

Grimmjow growled, the animalistic noise making Pantera stiffen and run for cover. "What the fuck?"

Ichigo looked up from what he was doing. "I don't see what the problem is, and I'm just going to hang out with my friends. It's not like I'm going to take drugs and break into people's houses."

"That's not the point!" his hands clenched and he gritted his teeth.

"Then what is?" shot back the redhead, his expression fuming with fury now.

"I don't know!"

Ichigo scowled. "Is it because I didn't invite you? Last time we went out together with Renji and the others you said you had the worse time of your life and that I shouldn't ever drag you along again."

"Like I would give a fuck about that."

Ichigo stood up and glared at the blunet. "What the hell is it then?"

"You're meant to be spending today with me!" he yelled back not caring about how childish he sounded.

"I spend more time with you then I do with my family, you asswipe. If I want to go out with my friends then I can without having to get permission from you. What is wrong with you? You've never overacted so badly before!" he snapped.

"You're mine!" he bellowed, in his sea of anger rationality began to drown. It was true, why was he overreacting so badly?

"Screw you! I'm not your kept woman. If I want to leave I can and you have no say in the ma-"

Ichigo's eyes widened like saucers, Grimmjow had slammed him against the wall of the hallway and was currently kissing him. He yelped in shock which gave the blunet an opening to slide his tongue in. The slick and moist appendage skillfully lapped at every surface in his mouth. The sensation of it had his toes curling and he gripped blue hair so as not to lose himself. His eyes were shut tight.

Grimmjow took advantage of Ichigo's state of shock delved his tongue into the strawberry's mouth. He groaned at the sweet taste, Ichigo tasted godly. He coaxed the redhead's tongue into play and for a while they entwined within each other. Tiny moans were muffled by his kissing. A hand gripped onto orange hair, the other trailed lower and crept under the black tank top. He groaned as his hand came in contact with smooth taut skin and he went higher, looking for something more sensitive. Fingers found the small nipple and he tweaked it between his thumb and index finger. Suddenly he felt as flash of pain as his tongue was bitten. "Ghrr!"

Don't fall for him again. When sly fingers played with his nipple his eyes snapped open and the enrapturing spell was broken. He bit down on the tongue that was ravishing, pleased with Grimmjow's yelp of pain he pushed the blunet back.

Grimmjow fell straight onto his ass but in this context it wasn't funny.

Ichigo wiped the saliva and blood that ran down his lips with the back of his hand. His eyes for the first time that Grimmjow had ever seen them were cold and blazing like dry ice. "Fuck you Grimm! If you wanted to get laid so badly find a whore! I can't believe that you would actually do something like that, and to think that I once had a c-" he froze. Just now realizing the words that were about to come out of his mouth. That I once had a crush on you.

Grimmjow stared at Ichigo who, for a moment had something like… fear flash through his eyes? But they were flooded out by anger and the redhead gave him one last glare before heading for the door.

The violent sound of a door slamming shut and the empty feeling that followed had his belly lurching. What had he done?

Pulling himself off the floor he made his way to the kitchen. He sat on the dining table but made no move to eat the food that was in front of him. He rested his head in his arms, why had he done that? He should've swallowed his anger and just stayed silent. It wasn't as if Ichigo was leaving him forever, but after what he just did he wouldn't be surprised if the redhead never came back. All these years of friendship wasted because he was an idiotic jackass. He should've done what he had always done, silently loving Ichigo while keeping his bloody mouth shut and his dick in his pants. He banged his head against the table a couple of times before something caught the corner of his eyes.

Grimmjow walked over to the kitchen counter where Ichigo had been rummaging around looking for something before. There, in plain sight on the countertop; was a small paper box filled with band-aids. Grimmjow held the box in one hand and the other touched his cheek where Pantera had scratched him before.

He crushed the box in his hands and threw across the room. He then rammed his fist into the wall with a strangled roar. He had fucked up.

Ichigo walked down the stairs of the building, too impatient to wait for the lift. Why had Grimmjow kissed him like that? The blunet had ever shown any interest before, so why the hell would he now? Ichigo glared at the floor. Maybe the bastard was just horny, most likely he was just being possessive of his childhood friend. Whatever the reason, the kiss that was the result of it had his mind racing and his heart confused. How could he face Grimmjow now?

Ichigo took the phone out of his pocket and dialed Renji's number.

It rang once. Twice. "Yo! Sup?" said the cheery man on the other line.

"Hey Renji? Change of plans man, I'll meet you at your place. I'm on my way now."

"Ah. Sure… is everything okay?" asked the pineapple with concern. Strangely despite appearing like an idiot most of the time, Renji was very intuitive when it came to the well being of his friends.

His heart warmed a little at Renji's concern. "Yeah I'm fine. Grimmjow's just being a dick."

Renji snorted on the other line, "He's always being a dick. Wanna talk 'bout it?"

"We'll talk about it when I meet you, yeah?"

"Sure, see ya soon Ichi-berry." And he hung up before Ichigo could yell at him for the name calling.

"So he kissed you?" asked Renji as he and Ichigo sat at the bar of Hueco Mundo.

It was a contradiction to what normal clubs were like. Instead of the usual black walls and flashing lights the walls here were stark white. Black flashes of light shot in random directions on the dance floor where a mass of people were dancing with abandon. On the second level was a quieter seating place for those who wanted to talk rather than dance. There were also couples here; whispering gentle words to each other as they sipped… hot tea? On the bar being served by a sleepy man by the name of Stark sat Renji and Ichigo.

"Yeah, he kissed me. What do I do?" asked Ichigo, sounding really lost.

"Didn't you use to have a crush on him? That's a good thing if he kissed you, ain't it?"

Ichigo scoffed. "Use to' being the key phrase, not anymore."

Reniji scratched his head in a confused manner. For once he had his hair down so he didn't look as fruity. "How come you don't anymore?"

"Because, there was no hope for me, he spent most of his time with big breasted women or feminine men. I'm his friend, nothing more." He turned to the bartender who looked like he was about to fall onto the floor and sleep. "Um... Stark? Can I have a rum and coke?"

The brunette yawned. "Sure… just... in a bit." It was about 5 more minutes till a drink appeared in front of him.

"Thanks," said Ichigo as he took a sip, enjoying the burning sensation that ran down his throat. He turned back to his friend. "No point wallowing for something I cant have, being his friend was good enough."

"Obviously he sees you more than a friend if he's going to kiss you," grumbled Renji, taking a gulp of his beer.

"I think he was just horny." Ichigo took another sip. "By the way, who else is coming?"

Renji grinned. "Shuuhei and Ikkaku."

Ichigo almost spat out his drink, he looked at his friend wearily. "I'm not going to come out of this sober, am I?"

Shuuhei and Ikkaku were Renji's friends, and the only thing they did when they were together was drink. Shuuhei couldn't take his alcohol for shit but he drowned it down like chocolate milk. Ikkaku on the other hand could drink, but one couldn't tell he was drunk until he dropped dead and didn't wake up until next day. Renji... Renji wasn't as bad as the other two, he just got a lot more rowdy, and then he got all quiet and mopey and then... and then he got horny…

Ichigo hoped that Renji wouldn't get to that point tonight.

"When will they arrive?" he asked.

"Soon," said the tattooed man gruffly through his beer.

"Ah... What happened to Rukia and Orihime? Aren't they coming?"

"What? Dude!" Renji slapped Ichigo's back nearly making the redhead drop his drink. "It's a guy's night out!"

"Wish you told me that sooner," he muttered.

"If I told ya then you wouldn't have gone, would you?"

Ichigo glared at Renji. "Of course not, because it always ends up with me making sure Shuuhei and Ikkaku are still alive, and that you aren't going to rape someone."

Renji sneered. "That's because you always remain sober."

"That's not a bad thing; you guys are alive because of it."

"You are going to get wasted with us today!" he declared Renji.

He rolled his eyes. "I've never have before, so why would I start now?"

The tattooed pointed an accusing finger at him. "How else are you meant you forget about the kiss? I ain't having you all mopey and shit while we're having fun. That's just depressing, man."

For the first time in his life, he actually considered getting pissed drunk. He had never gotten drunk before, not because he was scared, but because he simply saw nothing good from it. Who would want to drink 'til they were unconscious and vulnerable? He hated being vulnerable, but tonight seemed like a good exception. "...Fine! But you're buying."

Renji grinned. "Are you kidding? Seeing you drunk for the first time? Dude, of course I'd pay to see that." He turned to the bartender, "Stark, give me some beers and keep them coming," he turned around just in time to see Shuuhei and Ikkaku heading towards them. "Hey guys!" he waved at the newcomers frantically. "Guess who decided to get drunk?"

Ichigo felt his tummy flop; ha...this was beginning to sound like a really bad idea…