Pandemonium
Ch 2 A Second
A huge thanks goes out to the wonderful people who left reviews: AvariceOfTheTulips, BleachFan101, Sever My Sweet Tooth,MuffinzRBeast24, BonneNuit, and xDaRkxRaINx. You guys are my delicious chocolate truffles! And a great many thanks for those who faved, followed, alerted and whatever else was there :) You guys rock!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Seriously, I really don't... so don't sue me because I can't give you anything... The amazing Tite Kubo does. But I don't recommend suing him either. lol
Author Replies for those without accounts:
BleachFan101: Thank you so much for the kind words! Yes you should get an account so that you'd be quickly notified when any of the fics your watching are updated ;)
xDaRkxRaINx: Wow, I'm blown away by the compliment. Thank you so much! I'm really happy that you enjoyed it so.
Chapter outline/warnings: Bickering Generals and angry soldiers. Chapter is mainly focusing on Grimmjow, but a delicious surprise later on will hopefully wet your taste buds. If not make you laugh at least.
As soon as the transmission ended, the communications officer manning the radio shouted over to her commander. "Grimmjow! Sir! We have lost contact with Alpha team."
Booted feet clomped across the tiled flooring within the abandoned building towards the communications officer. Hunching his back and squinting his eyes to focus on the small computer screen, Grimmjow's frown deepened into a snarl. "Status, Rukia."
Nodding, Rukia's fingers danced over the keyboard, hastily transferring data files from numerous strategically placed cameras surrounding their location. Sub–screens began polluting the compact computer screen. "Areas B-2 and B-3 are receiving movement from outside our border. Alpha team is nearly surrounded by enemy forces. They're progressing from Sector D–5, seemingly from the Wastelands dead zone region." She started, dark eyes widening, when Grimmjow slammed his fist against her table.
"They fucking knew we had no way of sensing their movement from there! Fucking Aizen and his goddamn spies. Why isn't command sending us anything? What's the use in collecting enemy data if they use it intelligently? I hate this messed up shit." Blue eyes ablaze with furry sent a wave of silence throughout the rest of his command. "The fuck are you all still standing around for? We need to get our asses out there and rescue our team!"
The Wastelands dead zone was literally just that. A dead zone: nothing could be detected within the three mile radius labeled as the dead zone. Prior to this, it seemed that Aizen hadn't realized that Karakura forces couldn't monitor that area with technology. It was one of the things that only a select group of people were privy to knowing. Grimmjow being one of them since it was his team that discovered the dead lands in the first place. He had pushed for command to send more troops into the surrounding area so that their borders were effectively protected. But no, of course no one would listen to someone out in the front lines. Sending out more troops would mean sending out more money.
Government was the most corrupted alliance out there yet they were the ones who called all the shots.
It was the main reason why Alpha and Bravo were stationed out near the line of no return. They were the eyes and ears for the Karakura army's first line of defense against whatever that was coming in from the dead zone onto home turf.
Now Aizen had figured out their weakness and was exploiting it in order to gain precious ground.
However, Aizen was also taking a huge risk in sending out his own forces through the dead zone. There was no way his communications officers would be able to contact any of the advancing forces through the sand sea rolling before them in a mirage-like tidal wave.
This skirmish was pitted against two teams of fighters who were using basic instincts to guide them to victory. Everything was back to basics.
A call from another one of his troops made the blue haired squadron commander. "Grimmjow, radio signal has been lost from team Bravo!"
"What?" Grimmjow roared. "How the fuck did that happen private?"
"I'm radioing Central Command Sir. We need backup and we need it now!" The same private who informed Grimmjow of the advancing forces began frantically calling to main headquarters.
Grabbing his rifle, Grimmjow clicked off the safety. "Rukia what was the last transmission from Alpha?"
Hardened, glaring eyes scanned the computer screen before swiveling towards their commander. "'Report: disturbance in the distance. Requesting-' then their line went dead. Sensors from cameras F, G and H detected and EM burst from both Alpha and Bravo's positions." A bead of sweat trickled down from her temple and disappeared into her sand colored camouflaged uniform. They'd been stationed out in the boondocks for the past five days.
Stuck out in the unforgiving Wastelands because a damn suit had a big mouth and even bigger friends. Grimmjow spat at the ground and squinted off into the distance where shots could be heard over the beating heat. Reinforcements need to arrive ASAP. They had no idea just how many enemy forces were advancing in on their location since communications were blocked off.
As if to spite Grimmjow further, the sun danced through the one cloud that provided an ounce of shade and completely blanketed the earth in its dazzling inferno. Three of his experienced team bounded off through the town, using what little shade as cover for their positions.
A quick burst of gunfire to the left.
They took out whoever was bold enough to abandon their enemy line, trying to be the first one to reach Karakura forces and take out their command for their beloved Lord Aizen. Staring over Rukia's shoulder as his trusted communications officer continued sending frequencies to his team out in the Wastelands, Grimmjow felt tension knot its way through his back once more.
The Wastelands were labeled as such due to the barren landscape, blistering heat and unyielding sun. A town– Rugonkai– was once the entity that brought and maintained life out in the desert like area. Now, after Aizen literally had his forces blast their way through the sleeping town, it was called the Wastelands. It was the first incident, on a list of many, that sparked the war.
Shaking his head, allowing droplets of sweat to glide down the back of his neck into his uniform, Grimmjow growled when Rukia gave a frustrated cry. "I can't fucking get through! Nothing is working!"
Seemed like his own tension was filling the room and those within it. Tempers were rising along with great agitation. Five individuals out of a team of thirty were left manning their temporary base, awaiting for the damn backup. And of course, they knew that when headquarters said 'reinforcements will arrive shortly' it really meant 'whenever we fucking feel like saving your asses, we'll do it.' Grimmjow had to come up with some way to keep his team alive long enough to withstand this assault until more Karakura troops arrived.
"Rukia send ou-" Before he could finish, the girl cried out "Sir someone is heading our way!" She pushed over towards her stationed rifle, using it's scope to see who it was that was making their way towards base. "It's Light Sir!"
Heart pounding fervently within his chest, Grimmjow felt the small trickle of hope bloom within him. Hope was a fickle thing and life was a cruel bitch. When another one of his troops shouted "Sniper on the rooftop!" Grimmjow's heart plummeted to the bottoms of his feet.
He could hear Rukia cursing, flicking the safety off of her rifle, the other soldier lining up to fire at the sniper, Grimmjow himself dashing towards the gaping entrance where the lone soldier was most likely heading. Light was one of the fresh recruits that had been thrust into his team after the young man passed his training.
The boy lived up to his name; he was too good to be the one wielding and instrument of death. Having talked to the newbie on a few occasions, Grimmjow knew the boy was in the wrong place and urged him to resign.
Grimmjow himself despised weakness and he found this strapping youth to be just that. Not weak in body, but weak in mind. There was no way this bright eyed boy could pull the trigger and end a life. All he saw now, in the face of the deserted town, racing towards him with all his might, was a young boy wanting to live. To see the next sunrise. To feel the arms of the girl he had promised to marry around his neck, embracing him with love.
"Get the fuck down!" Grimmjow hollered.
They all moved a little too late.
One second too late.
One shot rang out, then another.
The first connected with its target just as the second did.
One body fell to the ground as the other plummeted towards the earth from its perch on the rooftop.
Grimmjow's legs moved of their own accord, rushing towards his fallen soldier. Bullets whizzed past him, zipping by his ear, another landing, embedding itself within his right arm, but he wouldn't stop. Rukia's angered shout, the gunfire blasting away in the distance... all was white noise.
Grimmjow snapped out of his momentary funk, grasping the bleeding body and carrying his soldier back towards cover. Light lay gasping in pain within his arms, still bleeding heavily from the bullet wound. It seemed to have entered through his back and out his chest– now they had to worry about two holes bleeding profusely. "Fuck, fuck fuck!"
Two more soldiers under Grimmjow's command helped cover their commander, accurately taking down enemies that were advancing on their position. "Shinji, where the fuck are our reinforcements?"
"Rukia said that they were coming soon!" The man to Grimmjow's right yelled as he took aim at a target, fired, and killed off another one of Aizen's troops.
Tearing open the boy's jacket, calling over their field medic assigned to their squadron, Grimmjow could only wait and see if Light would survive this or not. "How's he looking Hanataro?"
Deft fingers danced across red drenched skin, brushing away torn cloth and cleaning the precise wound. "At this rate, he will die unless we get him hooked onto a blood transfusion. Probability of survival now is only around forty percent." The young medic cringed and gritted his teeth when a spurt of blood shot across his cheek. "Make that thirty. We need to slow his blood flow or else he'll bleed out!"
Grimmjow kicked a random object, sending it flying through the room and crashing against the far off wall. His temper was getting the better of him and it was something all knew to steer clear of once he tipped over the edge. Yet it was no wonder why Grimmjow's anger had spiked to such high levels.
"C-commander..." Light's ragged breath caught Grimmjow's attention and the man was on his knees next to the young man's face. "They're... moving from the... east..."
"Hanataro, make sure he does not die. Understood?"
"Yes Sir."
Looking into hazy green eyes, Grimmjow gave a curt not and clap on Light's shoulder. "You did good kid."
The man's team was scattered, communications cut off, reinforcements 'probably' coming, and the damn politicians were still sitting idly in their safe houses drinking fucking coffee! Grimmjow needed to devise a way to ensure his scattered men would be able to re-group with him before they were each picked off.
"Rukia!"
The black haired woman took another shot before turning her fierce gaze towards her commander. "Sir?"
"You're in charge of our temporary headquarters. Make sure no one gets past that store and onto our grounds. Shinji, you're taking up a sniper position on the upper story. Help Rukia keep this place armored down." Checking his magazine before snapping it back into his trusted gun, Grimmjow motioned towards the other two soldiers awaiting their commands. "One of you take the West side and the other South. Do whatever to ensure the protection of this base till reinforcements arrive and I get back with the others!"
A chorus of 'Yes Sir's was heard.
Grimmjow grabbed four grenades, slipped them onto slots on his vest, before taking off to gather his squadron. Adrenaline and blood, mixing together in a glorious tidal wave made Grimmjow grin. As much as this completely and utterly fucking sucked, the thrill off everything just sent him over the edge. Bolting from the street into an abandoned house, the blue haired commander shot a clueless enemy at point blank range, earning himself a disgusting explosion of red across the front of his uniform.
Aizen picked the wrong day to test Grimmjow's patience and skill.
Whipping around a street corner towards Bravo's location, Grimmjow found himself in luck when his team appeared huddled within the parallel building. "Aster!" He called out towards the Bravo team leader.
Said male shook his head and made a hand motion towards the rooftop. Grimmjow frowned, knowing exactly what he was implying. There were two snipers either on the rooftop or in one of the rooms above him. Bravo was pinned down, hiding like dogs, because they couldn't get a clear shot or risk sending any men to take care of the matter.
Again, luck seemed to be generous. Those stationed above him seemed to be so focused on the Karakura team seeking cover within the store building that they completely left their backs wide open. Grimmjow silently made his way up the stairs. Muffled voices were heard from the first room overlooking the street corner his team was on.
Two... no three. There were three people within the room.
Taking a breath, Grimmjow pushed into the room and annihilated those men within a matter of seconds, sending a shower of blood across barren walls. Hopefully if there were any more on the rooftop, they wouldn't come charging downst-
"Don't you guys ever fucking give up?"
And here lady luck decided to change sides.
This was one of the things Grimmjow hated about war. No matter how well they planned, everything went to shits as soon as you stepped onto the battlefield and it was literally you versus them. You had your orders but when it came down to you versus them, it was an embedded gene programed into every living cell that no one could resist: survival.
Gauging his likelihood of dropping a full story and being fine versus taking on about another wave of Mundo forces, Grimmjow sneered and hastily planned his escape.
Kicking over a shelf near the doorway to prolong his escape, Grimmjow ran to the balcony and gripped the edge. Pulling himself onto the top– a very risky move if there were more shooters on the rooftops– he waited for the room door to be blasted in before chucking two grenades into the room. There was the audible shout of 'grenade!' before he dropped himself. Fingers releasing the wooden board, Grimmjow felt the heat of the fiery blast graze his tips before feeling the shocking ground impact.
Everything seemed to pass by in a blur after. Aster and the rest of Bravo moved from their position, strategically heading towards Alpha, following Grimmjow's lead. Alpha had moved as well, pulling back towards the center of the city, allowing for an easier route out.
Two soldiers had been shot. One KIA and the other critically wounded. They pushed through the center of the deserted town, avoiding the east side, hastily making their way back towards the temporary command center. Leading his weary troops towards the familiar white building, a scream over head sent another flare of adrenaline through his system. Backup had finally arrived and it looked like an airstrike was called.
Roars of heavy artillery sounded across the deserted town. A line of Humvees poured through the streets where the safe spot was. The batch of fresh troops quickly set off to make a perimeter or whatever else they were ordered to do.
A General, by the markings on his uniform, exited the first Humvee. "Sorry we couldn't get here sooner Commander Jeagerjaques."
Face covered in grime and soot, the blue haired warrior didn't even bother acknowledging the General. 'Sorry' didn't cut it. It was a petty excuse and merely angered Grimmjow further. 'Sorry' wouldn't bring back one of his team. 'Sorry' wouldn't relieve the rest of their pain. 'Sorry' doesn't end a war.
"Your disobedience is insufferable."
That was the last straw. Grimmjow turned and delivered a swift punch to the man's jaw, sending the haughty General staggering. "Fuck you. You don't know shit about out here because all you do is sit there and kiss ass!"
"I could have you court marshaled for this Lieutenant General!"
"Pardon me General Valez, but antagonizing a victim of a brutal assault falls directly under code A437–C." Of course she was stretching the rule somewhat, but Rukia's scathing voice silenced the bickering men. Valez was one of the Generals who had agreed with the decision to send Grimmjow and his team out to the Wastelands. Everyone knew that these two were both short fused men. Put them in the same room, cause them to disagree with one another, and you'd have your own mini-war right in front of you.
The soldiers surrounding the small rivalry didn't know what to do until Hanataro pushed his way through the blockade of men. "What the hell are you guys doing? We need to get the critically wounded back to the medical center immediately!"
"You can't order me Medical Officer Yamada." Valez sneered.
The smaller boy bristled. "My duty Sir is to save the lives of the people striving to protect and uphold the Karakura Nation. Their lives are in my hands until we bring them back to Commanding Medical Officer Uhohana. So pardon my order Sir."
Turning on his heel at the shocked look on the man's face, Hanataro proceeded to order the other medical staff to get the wounded into the Humvees and head back to base.
Another jagged ride from hell back to the main Karakura division stronghold had Grimmjow cursing at everything that moved. Each bump sent pain up and down his right arm. He had forgotten about the bullet wound due to the adrenaline coursing through his system until Rukia pointed it out with a look of annoyance.
This was a divorce between pain and senses Grimmjow wanted to keep forever, but now that the adrenaline had worn off, pain was rekindling itself with his brain.
General Valez, the asshole that he was, actually had the decency to apologize to Grimmjow prior to the evacuation of his team. The man had apologized for speaking out of line and Grimmjow had actually been civil back. The world was coming to an end. "Fucking changing leaves."
Shinji frowned at his commander's random statement. "What?"
"Nothing." Grimmjow closed his eyes, trying to allow for some reprieve. He pondered on the wellbeing of Light, the other soldier and mourned the loss of yet another strong recruit. What was their family going to do when they received the notice? Did he have someone who loved him back home? A single thought squeezed its way through the vortex of thoughts mingling in the center of his mind: would he– Grimmjow– ever find someone to love with his life as messed up as this? "Fuck that."
The blonde sitting next to him narrowed his eyes, putting a little distance between them. "Sir, yer talkin' to yerself... Kinda gettin' creepy."
xxxxxxx
Ichigo fell to the ground, panting heavily. For the past two hours, that bastard Kenpachi had the recruits running through a maze of courses. In teams of two, each would start off down a steep slope, jumping across the positioned boulders in the muddy water to make it to the other side. If one fell in, they both had to start over.
Maybe it was a good thing Ichigo was paired up with Renji. The guy seemed to be able to balance fairly well– albeit he was a bit slow.
After the sloping 'hill of disgust' as Renji called it after they fell in once, they had to climb up a ninety degree wall with no rope. This took both boys by complete surprise. As they ran up to the wooden barricade, both stopped and stared at the nine foot mass. "How the fuck do we get up that?"
Shaking his head, Ichigo was at a loss. He thought about just running around the wall but then a voice shouting down from above had both red and orange haired youths look up. "Come on, you can do it!" Sung the voice of none other than Lieutenant Yumichika, another one of the recruiting officers signed up to helping the newbies.
Just that morning, Lieutenant Ikkaku and Yumichika had been squabbling back and forth, causing the bald male to poke fun at the "pompous peacock." Seeing Yumichika perched up on the pinnacle of the wall made Ichigo snicker silently. The guy really did exude the confidence of a peacock. But at least, this peacock was one of the nicer ones ordering around the fresh batch of recruits.
Ichigo shouted up, "How the hell do we get up?"
The black haired man grinned down. "Ever heard of teamwork?"
"Teamwork?" Both Renji and Ichigo said in unison, causing the perched man to laugh out loud.
"Teamwork is such a beautiful thing. It is when two or more individuals work together to accomplish a set task, a goal. Such a glorious collaboration is something we build on!"
Renji turned to his friend and said lowly so that the still talking Yumichika couldn't hear. "How the hell did this guy get in?"
Shrugging Ichigo glared at the menacing wall before attempting to run up it which ended in complete failure and utter mortification. Renji bursted out laughing when Ichigo literally fell on his ass. Renji faired no better when he tried, earning a bark of laughter from both the peacock and strawberry.
Frustrated, Ichigo glared up at the solid wall. Think, think, think! "Renji, get on my shoulders."
This statement obviously caught the tattooed male by complete surprise. Eyes widening comically, Renji's mouth opened and closed like a fish before he sputtered out,"W-what?"
Smiling now at the ingeniousness of his plan, Ichigo crouched down. "Get on my shoulders. I'll act as a lift for you."
Narrowing his eyes, Renji's posture took on a more defensive stance. "I really don't feel like being dropped like a sack of potatoes so I propose this: I boost you up since you're lighter than me."
"Whatever works. I just want to get over this already."
Nodding, Renji crouched down and Ichigo clambered onto the red heads broader shoulders. When Renji stood up, the two man totem pole swayed back and forth until they literally had to run into the wooden wall to stop themselves from tumbling over. The comical sight that it was, Yumichika couldn't help but let out another string of laughter.
Grunting as Ichigo stood atop his shoulders, Renji gritted his teeth at the discomfort. "This is the only time I let you stand on me."
"Oh stop complaining you baby." Ichigo gripped the top bar and pulled himself up and over. "Woo! I did it!"
"Yeah that's great and all for you but I'm still stuck down here!" Walking back a bit in order to give himself a good running start, Renji waited for Ichigo to position himself atop the wall before racing towards it. Propelling himself up the ninety degree angle, Renji reached for Ichigo's stretched out hand and grabbed it.
As Renji was finally pulled up and the two straddled the wooden bar, both recruits gave each other a high five. "Yes!"
"Well, that was most certainly the most amusement I've had in a long time!" Yumichika snickered at the two frowning recruits. "I've never seen such devotion to get over this wall. This was the first time I think anyone has done what you two did."
"The hell you mean by that?" Renji frowned.
"I'm surprised you two didn't see the ladders on either side." Pointing downwards, the Lieutenant grinned at twin aghast facial expressions.
"How the fuck did we miss that Ichi?"
"You only concentrated on what was in front of you, dumb ones."
Craning his head around, Ichigo glared at the pompous Lieutenant. "You were the one who told us to use teamwork!"
"Astute observation Kurosaki, but I never said when. Now hurry up and get down from here. I have another pair of idiots meandering my way."
Without another word, both Ichigo and Renji dropped down to the ground and headed off towards the next test.
The two hours passed by–somehow– with Ichigo's feet still intact. Never before had he been pushed so hard to do anything. Such strenuous labor in one day made he legs constantly waver and feet throb with each step.
When the day was over, all new recruits thought themselves to be in the clear; ready to head off to food, shower and sleep. Kenpachi seemed to have it in for them. Another hour of night training occurred right after a ten minute break where they were allowed to guzzled down a mouthful of water.
Body shaking, heart beating harder than it ever had before, Ichigo pushed forwards with Renji panting by his side as the two ran a head of the group. Shoulder to shoulder, they continued onwards to reach their first day goal of running three miles.
Making it to the cafeteria, too hungry and tired to strike up a conversation, the fresh batch of new soldiers literally ate just to refuel their tired bodies.
"Think we pushed them too hard Sir?"
"The harder we push, the better the results. Weed out the weak." Shaking his head, General Kenpachi raked his gaze over the silent crew, landing on a bright orange and red headed duo. "Those two, Yumichika told me about them."
Ikkaku snorted. "Yeah, the tag team totem."
"Interesting. I look forwards to hand–to–hand combat training with them." The General grinned. "It will be most interesting to see how they measure up."
Just then, Yumichika came up behind the two. "Lieutenant General Grimmjow and his team are back. They were finally evacuated from the Wastelands by General Valez."
"Oh really? And how is that loud mouthed brat doing? Still disobedient as usual even after an ass kicking?" Kenpachi chuckled lowly. Grimmjow and he, with two similar personalities– both loud mouthed, brash and self-confident– were the odd adversaries. Both enjoying pushing the others' buttons a little too much for the safety liking of the rest in the room.
The more emotionally in tune out of the trio, Yumichika shook his head and frowned, tipping his head down. "One KIA and two more critically wounded. Both are being seen by CMO Unohana."
It wasn't in his nature to feel sadness or remorse, but when one of their own was lost, Kenpachi allowed himself to personally grieve. "Where are they now?"
"Medical. Grimmjow is being debriefed by Brigadier General Urahara." Turning his gaze towards the black landscape outside their safe grounds, the Lieutenant sighed. "Aizen is pushing harder than he was before. Something's captured his attention and he wants it– whatever it is."
Grunting, Kenpachi pushed himself off the wall he was leaning on and headed off towards the medical building. "The only thing for sure in life is death and taxes."
"So cliché." Ikkaku jibbed.
After finishing off their meal, Renji and Ichigo, both drowsy and weary, made their way back to the barracks. Their official first day on military ground was terribly rough and they each had the bruises to show.
"First thing I'm doin' is takin' a damn shower." Tired, Renji's street accent pushed through. "Then, I'm gonna go t'bed n'sleep. Not even the damn peacock can wake me up."
Opening the door and stepping through the threshold, Ichigo merely nodded in agreement. Unsurprisingly, as soon as the two landed on their beds, each claiming to take a quick rest before going to shower, their bodies took over and plunged them both into a dreamless sleep.
xxxxxxx
"General Valez arrived and then sent us back. He and his troops took over our perimeter and command center."
Blond head nodding, Brigadier General Urahara sighed. "I really am sorry to have to ask you all these questions Grimmjow, but you know the drill."
Rolling exhausted blue eyes, all the Lieutenant General did was nod in affirmation. His mind couldn't keep up with anything anymore. He was physically and mentally drained.
The rest of his team was over in the mess hall, stuffing their faces with nourishment and refilling their drying veins with much needed water. Stationed out in the Wastelands was like an almost death punishment. Nature was a cruel beast.
"Private Yusei will be sent back home in the coming week. His family will be notified and funeral held. I will send you more details later– if you wish to attend that is."
"Don't be fucking stupid," Grimmjow hissed.
Smiling sadly, Urahara nodded and said no more. Of course Grimmjow would attend. It was idiotic of him to think otherwise. The look on his subordinates face spoke volumes of his semi-controlled anger. There was not a doubt in Urahara's mind as to what was causing Grimmjow's distress. "You need to stop pinning the blame of every occurrence and tragedy on the government and her politicians Luitenant General."
"If they didn't send us out there then-"
"Then someone else would be going." Brigadier General Urahara was one of the most laid-back people running this army. When he raised his voice, all needed to listen to his words. "I know you Grimmjow– you and certain individuals don't see eye to eye and therefore it causes internal problems. We do not need that."
"You blaming me for all this?"
Sighing in agitation, the blond rubbed at his temples. "Grimmjow, that is completely out of line and uncalled for. Our duty as soldiers is to act as the hand that drives the nation towards prosperity. We are the ones who protect her from all harm and uphold her laws with an iron fist. Government and the politicians that thrive on public debate and discussion play a role that we cannot see because we do not thrive in their world. Just as they do not thrive in ours. Balance is needed between the two. They listen to us, and we to them."
Grimmjow bit his inner lip, inwardly acknowledging his General's words. They were all spoken with truth. He'd been so frustrated and angry before that he failed to see what was going on behind the scenes, behind an area in which he had no expertise in. Urahara's talk made the blue haired Luitenant General's temper fade some. Or maybe it was his sheer exhaustion that kept him from fighting back like he usually would? A few moments of silence stretched through the room.
Pushing back in his chair, Urahara smirked and inquired, "So, how bad was the heat out there Grimmjow?"
He needed to lighten up the somber mood somehow; and what better way than to rile the other?
Snarling at the jab, it took all of his reserved strength to hold his tongue. This only made the blond General's grin widen all the more at the obvious frustration he was causing the younger man. "I told you that you needed to invest in one of these." On cue, he whipped out a white paper fan and waved it in front of Grimmjow's face, causing stray blue hairs to move in the breeze.
Left eye twitching, the blue haired commander snapped, grabbing the menacing paper fan out of the General's grip and snapped it into two.
Urahara tsk'd and pulled out another. "Always carry a backup."
Crossing his arms and quite literally pouting, Grimmjow ground out, "You are so goddamn infuriating sometimes!"
After successfully pulling Grimmjow's attention away from the somber talk earlier, the blond Brigadier General yawned and stretched. Seeing the dark bags hanging underneath the Lieutenant General's once bright blue eyes, Urahara motioned towards the door. "It's nearing midnight Grimmjow. You've been debriefed so now it is time for you to shower and find a good rest."
"And where exactly do I find a fucking shower at this time of night?" Grimmjow stood, almost towering over the blond General before him.
Thumping the fan against his chin, the older man pondered on that question. "Barracks C is the closest to this building. You can use the shower there and take up one of the vacant lieutenant bedrooms. I think Lieutenant Ikkaku is on duty tonight so you should see him."
Nodding, Grimmjow turned and headed out. Before shutting the door behind him, he looked over his shoulder. "Brigadier General Urahara."
Said male tilted his head to the side. "Yes?"
"You're an asshole Sir." The door slammed shut behind him.
"Ahhh such disrespect. Doesn't anyone around here have any respect for their elders anymore?" He smirked at the closed door. "You're welcome Grimmjow."
xxxxxxx
For some god forsaken reason, Ichigo had woken up merely three hours after his body thrust him into a forced slumber. Now he was wide awake and couldn't seem to fall back to sleep. Glancing over at the wall clock, the red digits read 11:55pm.
Sighing in frustration, Ichigo pulled himself out of bed, grabbed his towel, and headed over towards the wash racks. Renji's snoring above him hadn't helped any in his fruitless attempts to go back to bed.
Cringing at the bright light that shone deep into his retinas at the flip of a switch Ichigo lazily made his way towards the inner stalls. Throwing his towel over a side, Ichigo pulled off his dark green t-shirt, grimacing at the still sticky quality it had. Dropping his pants and boxers, Ichigo turned on the shower, shivering as the cool spray cleansed his body before the warm gush followed, making the aching muscles relax.
He had always wondered how it was possible for a horse to fall asleep standing up, and now, he himself seemed to be doing just that. The silence of the washroom, the feeling of warm water caressing his body, just made him feel completely at ease.
Opening his eyes, Ichigo thought of his sisters back home. How were they doing? Did they miss him? Ichigo chided himself for thinking such a thought. Of course they did.
Mind wandering down a darker path now, Ichigo relived the time when his parents' deaths rattled their strong family. That one phone call sent Ichigo's world crashing down around him. The first thing he did was buy a one way ticket from Seireitei to Karakura. All his professors, all his friends, and his advisor received an e-mail explaining the situation and that he was not going to be returning for a very long time– if ever.
He'd be lying to himself if he said that he didn't miss spending countless hours holed up in the library, reading three chapters a night from four different texts. It was something he actually enjoyed doing because he knew that with his degree, he'd be helping others live.
Families... he missed his. Would he ever have his own someday? "Highly unlikely now."
He had wanted to find a guy with a great smile, charming attitude, and cheerful personality, marry him, and then–hopefully– start up a family of their own. That all went out the window as soon as he signed up with the military.
Well... at least he met a nice friend. Renji seemed to be all of the above but there was no way in fucking hell Ichigo would come out to him here. He barely knew the guy! "Fuck I hate emotions." Renji really was a great individual. The guy could be agitating as hell sometimes but so far, for the two days Ichigo knew they guy, he seemed to be alright. Besides, Ichigo really wasn't interested in him that way.
That's it, he was just lonely. Simple as that. Ichigo Kurosaki, fresh age of twenty, college drop-out and army guy, was pitifully lonely and was practically eyeing up all those he thought were humanely good. All he wanted was a good guy as a lover and a happy life. Was that so much to ask for?
Letting out another frustrated grunt, Ichigo mentally beat himself up over thinking too much yet again. He had a weird habit of thinking too much whilst showering. Squirting out a handful of soap from the dispenser, Ichigo scrubbed himself down before allowing the suds to be washed away down the drain. Washing his hair followed.
After deeming himself clean enough, Ichigo turned off the nozzle and dried himself off. Then froze. "Shit."
He had forgotten to bring with him his sleeping shirt and shorts.
"Great. Well, at least no one will be up." Quickly wrapping his towel around his waist, Ichigo was about to open the door when said door was flung open with such force that it knocked him back. Stepping on his towel, trying not to fall over and crack his head open on the white tiled flooring, Ichigo felt the cotton drop from around his waist, letting the onlooker rake blue eyes over his entire body.
Both Ichigo and the man standing in front of him simply stared at one another for the longest, most awkward moment, in the history of mankind.
TBC
Thank you so much for reading!
Please please please leave a review. It let's me know if you're enjoying it or what you're overall feeling of it is (if I'm doing a good job or not really, LOL). Reviews are great! As a humble author, that's all I ask for :) And I'll give you a chocolate strawberry!
~ChaosGarden