Love is in the air! Yes, now I'm gonna update all my stories; I'm sorry I took so long! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, added to their favourites, and read my work! Have fun with the new chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, Tite Kubo does.
"What? This can't be." Ichigo read every single word of the letter one more time. He put his hand over his mouth and still couldn't believe it. He put the letter back into the envelope and stood still. He didn't know how to react. Should he laugh or cry? Or maybe both at the same time?
Then he heard steps coming from upstairs. "ICHIGO! My beloved son, you're back home!" Isshin screamed, running towards his son and preparing to kick him. "Spinning tornado of fate!" he cried, and as the attack said, he spun with an incredible speed and laughed like crazy. Without looking up to his father, Ichigo easily dodged the attack. Isshin crashed into a wall and quickly recovered afterwards. He went over to his son, grabbed the letter and fanned it in front of Ichigo's face.
"Tell me, Ichigo, what did the letter say? Is it good or bad news?" he asked. Ichigo, whose expression still didn't change, looked up to his father and slowly opened his mouth to say something, as his phone started ringing. By the way, he still had the ringtone his father chose for him. He got the phone out of the bag and pressed the green button, and the first thing he heard was a certain voice which sounded very angry.
"ICHIGO, what the fuck, you left me all alone with this fucking brat, she's driving me up the wall, come back right now and pick her up, you're the one who found her, so you have to fucking take care of this street rat!" Grimmjow complained loudly, not giving a fuck about Ichigo's eardrums. Ichigo could hear Nel's voice in the background; she was begging the teal-haired man to give her the phone so that she could talk with her Itsugo about very important things.
Ichigo gave a meek smile. "How often do you use the word 'fuck' in a day? Calm down, Grimmjow, sorry about everything. I'll just come over and pick her up. Bye," he said calmly. He hung up and sighed. Then he looked at his father. "Dad, I have to back to Grimmjow's place, I forgot something," he told him. With that he swung his bag over his shoulder and left the house. A very confused Isshin gaped at the door. Was that his son? Who or what was he, and what did he do to the real Ichigo Kurosaki? "He didn't even mention the Kurosaki Love-Making CD…" he thought with a pout on his face. Then he looked at the letter in his hands. Normally it would be rude to look at someone else's post, but this piece of paper completely changed Ichigo's behaviour. So it had to be important. Isshin got out the letter and read it. His eyes widened and a giant smile spread across his face as he arrived at the end. He let out a sigh of happiness and fell to the floor. Some minutes later his daughters found him unconscious, with tears on his cheeks and a proud smile.
Grimmjow's reaction to Ichigo's strange behaviour on the phone wasn't different. Normally the boy would have yelled at him for screaming into the speaker and making his ears bleed, and he would have forced him to take care of the little brat (since he had to go back to the zoo and clean all the mess up from the Big Zoo Day). Yet he responded in a calm way, and obeyed immediately. Did something happen? Or was his strawberry simply worn out and tired from their last fuck session? The teal-haired man shook his head and gazed at the little girl jumping around on his bed. He couldn't imagine himself raising a kid. It would be difficult and stressful. Somehow Ichigo had his way with kids, and Grimmjow smiled at the picture of his lover taking care of Nel. He had to admit, it looked cute.
"Oi, Blue, why are you smiling like that?" Nel suddenly asked. "It looks stupid, you know." Grimmjow went over to his bed, grabbed a little pillow, and lightly threw it into her face. "At least it looks better than yours, I have all my teeth," he countered with a smirk, showing her his shiny teeth. The green-haired girl glared at him. She really hated that man. How could Ichigo be a good friend of his? He was rude, mean and outspoken. She grabbed the small pillow and hugged it tightly. She tried to glare as evil as possible. Maybe Blue would get scared after a moment and leave her alone. Then she asked him a question that was quite unexpected.
"Why did you hurt Itsugo last night?" she asked. Grimmjow stared at her. What the hell did she mean? "I didn't hurt him, moron," he mumbled. Nel threw the pillow at the man's chest and started screaming: "But Itsugo was screaming and started crying under you! I saw it! And it was really loud! Nel woke up and wanted to do something, but she was too scared of you!" Grimmjow's mind went blank. If he had little Grimmjows working in his brain (like in all those cartoons), they would all let their pens and papers fall down and stop working. Then one would hit the emergency switch and all the others would run around in panic.
The teal-haired man didn't know how to answer. If that brat would have been a little older, he would have told her the truth (fuck the fact that she would know they were gay), but this was another situation. This girl wasn't even ten years old, you can't say: "Well, we fucked all night long!" Grimmjow really didn't know how to explain things to kids. Now Nel was thinking that he hurt Ichigo and made him cry. He wondered why the perverted girl didn't think they had sex, but he didn't care afterwards. The most important thing in the moment was: Lie to her. But what should he say? The little Grimmjows in his head quickly looked for excuses in the 'Best Lies and Excuses drawer' and sorted out the best ones.
As he finally picked a good, authentic excuse, he took a seat beside Nel on the bed and looked at her with an earnest smile, resting his hands on his knees. "Listen kid, you know, we men always need some exercise to stay fit, right?" he said, showing her his biceps. Nel's glare still was evil, but she slowly nodded her head. "Ichigo was a little out of form, and he didn't have time to work out because of the Big Zoo Day, so I helped him a little…" he continued. "…under the blankets." Nel blinked at the teal-haired man. Did she believe that stupid story? "But Blue, you weren't under the blankets, and actually you're the one who moved more," she quietly said. "And why was Itsugo crying? Was the exercise too difficult for him?" she then asked.
Grimmjow started sweating. Her questions became even more precise, but he had to continue lying. "I needed some exercise too," he answered. "And Ichigo's muscles started hurting, that's why he cried, maybe it was a little too difficult for him." Grimmjow thought that the question-answer game was over, since she already asked all possible questions, but he thought wrong. "What's the name of the exercise?" she asked him with big, curious eyes. Why did children always have to ask all these stupid, unnecessary questions? "Well…it's called…," Grimmjow started, thinking of a name. "…Inferior…Abdominal…Buttocks and Shaft Muscle Exercise," he told her. "Yeah, that's it." The teal-haired man was proud of his newly invented name, it sounded so intelligent.
Nel started giggling. "What?" Grimmjow mumbled, frowning at her. "I already thought you two were having sex, but men can't have sex, and Itsugo isn't a girl," she said, making Grimmjow look confused. "Are you sure you're nine years old, kiddo?" he asked her. The green-haired girl opened her mouth to answer, but a doorbell interrupted her. "It's Itsugo!" she screamed happily, jumping off the bed and rushing out of the room. Grimmjow let out a sigh of relief and stood up. "Of course men can have sex, brat," he whispered, exiting his bedroom to welcome his beloved berry.
"ITSUGO!" Nel screamed, trying to open up the door, but her height hindered her to do so, so Grimmjow lifted her up so that she could open it. Nel slightly blushed. Did he turn friendly after their conversation? Did she turn him into a good person? First she thought he would kick her away from the door, but instead he helped her. Then the door opened and Ichigo came in with a smile. Before he could say something, Grimmjow stretched out his arms (he was still holding the little green-haired girl) and said: "Take the annoying brat back. Right now." Nel's smile turned into a pout. Maybe he didn't change.
Ichigo gave his lover his typical frown. "Fine, I'll take her back, don't have to be so mean to her," he answered, taking Nel. The girl hugged him and was happy to smell that wonderful scent once again. Itsugo seemed to be the same as always: he was kind and warm, and he still carried his somehow cute frown. Yet there was something that bothered the little girl. She just couldn't figure out what it was. She looked up to her dearly beloved and innocently asked: "Is Itsugo gonna give me away now?"
Grimmjow smirked. Finally the girl could give them some peace: she would go back to her crazy friends and never come back again. But Ichigo's answer shocked him and made his hopes fade away. "Of course not," he said with a warm smile. "Nel, I think it would be better if you stay here for a while." Nel's eyes widened. "I don't think that your friends have a good influence on you, and you know, a girl at your age should have some education, right, Grimm?" he asked, glancing at his lover. Grimmjow just raised an eyebrow. "What are you trying to say, Ichigo?" The orange-haired boy turned his attention back to Nel. "So I thougt that we could look for a proper family for you! How do you find that?"
Nel blinked into chocolate eyes. "A proper family?" Ichigo nodded. "Yes, someone who takes care of you, brings you to school, looks after you when you're sick, plays with you, something like that!" The little girl smiled. "So Itsugo is my family?" Ichigo blushed a little (he thought the answer was very cute) and answered: "Well, yeah, I'm like a big brother for you, right? So you could say we're like a little family." He knew how to talk with little girls, he had to younger sisters! Nel pouted. "But I want to marry Itsugo when Nel gets bigger! So you have to be like my husband," she said. Ichigo patted her head and smiled. "Well, we'll talk about that in some years, okay?" he told her, and in response Nel cuddled her head into his chest.
"Oh! I forgot something!" Nel suddenly said. Grimmjow let out a long sigh. "What did you forget, brat?" The little girl ignored the teal-haired man and said: "I have to look for Bawa Bawa!" The two men looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Bawa Bawa?" Ichigo repeated. "Who's that?" Grimmjow went to his kitchen to get himself a drink. That girl really was annoying. He was sure that this Bawa Bawa was another freak friend of hers. "He's my dog!" she answered with a bright smile. Ichigo put her down on the floor. "And where do you think is he?" he asked her. "I'm sure he's still in his box beside the bakery, normally he always returns to that place," she told Ichigo.
As Grimmjow came back from the kitchen with a beer can, Ichigo gave him a strange smile. The teal-haired man knew that smile. He was up to something. "What do you want, Ichi?" he asked the boy. The strange smile turned into a sexy, bleary look. "Grimmjow, could you please do me a favour?" Ichigo asked his boyfriend, passing his hand through his hair. Without hesitating Grimmjow nodded his head. He knew that look too: it meant he would get a heavenly award after completing the task. And who would say no to a sexy strawberry boy? "Well, you know that I have to go work soon, and Nel wants to look for her dog, so maybe you could go with her?" he asked, patting the girl's head.
Grimmjow's smile was immediately erased from his face. So that's what Ichigo wanted; he wanted his hot lover to do the dirty work. Well, cleaning up the zoo wasn't that nice either, but the boy knew that the chemistry between him and Nel didn't work. 'Like water and oil,' he thought. Yet he would get a nice price for his doing. 'I just have to look for her dog, then she'll have someone to play, and I have Ichigo for myself, not a big deal,' he then told himself. To Ichigo's surprise, the taller man picked up Nel and carried her, just like a cool dad. "We'll find Bawa Bawa, you go to work, and I'll pick you up afterwards, okay, Ichi?" Grimmjow said, with a victorious smile.
Suddenly Nel asked: "Itsugo, do you feel fitter after your Inferior Abdominal Buttocks and Shaft Muscle Exercise?" Ichigo, who had no idea what she was talking about, frowned and alternately looked at the two standing in front of him. Nel waited for an answer, tugging at Ichigo's shirt, and Grimmjow started sweating. He quickly formed a little circle with his thumb and index finger, and then he slid his other index finger in and out of that circle. At first the orange-haired boy didn't get the signal, but shortly after his eyes widened and a look of horror appeared on his face. "You mean the…exercise yesterday evening with Grimmjow?" he asked the little girl. "Yup!" Nel answered, nodding her head. "Can Nel help you the next time with your exercise?" The two men faked a laugh at the same time. "For now only I can help Ichigo, got that?" Grimmjow answered. "Now let's look for that cur," he added.
--
Ichigo left the apartment to head to Karakura Zoo, and once again Grimmjow was alone with Nel. The teal-haired man changed his clothes and was ready to look for Bawa Bawa and finish the stupid task. Nel insisted on taking a shower (Grimmjow thought it was a wonder that she was so hygienic), so he had time to zap through the television before leaving. In fact he didn't really mind the television, but he thought about Ichigo. He wondered what was wrong with him. He sounded weird on the phone, and as the boy was there a while ago, he acted quite normally, but the teal-haired man still had this little feeling that Ichigo wanted to tell him something important. This bothered him. He didn't like secrets between him and his strawberry. They normally told each other everything, even if it was the most stupid, or embarrassing thing. Grimmjow turned off the television. Maybe he was just imagining something; maybe Ichigo was simply tired from all the work and sex afterwards.
Nel came out of the bathroom with Ichigo's towel (Ichigo had one in his lover's apartment) around her neck, and her hair was a wet mess. She grinned at the teal-haired man and inhaled the orange towel. "Itsugo smells so good," she said, blushing and turning in circles. Grimmjow raised an eyebrow. How did she know that it was Ichigo's towel? He asked her that, and she told him that she already memorized his smell the day she met him. The teal-haired man chuckled. If she knew that he was actually Ichi's lover, she would be so mad, but he kept that secret for him. He ordered the girl to get the hairdryer from the bathroom: he didn't like running around with girls looking like they just ran through a storm.
A few minutes later they finally came out of the apartment, and after walking a little, Grimmjow ended up carrying Nel on his shoulders. She held on tightly to the blue hair, and pulled even harder when she spotted something interesting. First they stopped by a flower shop, and Nel wanted to buy her companion a Scarlet Pimpernel, because she thought it looked like him. Grimmjow, who wasn't very amused by this, teased her by saying that a pest plant fitted to her.
The teasing went on until they arrived to the bakery Nel was talking about. It was very small, but looked very inviting, and the smell of fresh bread floated in to the air. The moment they wanted to go into the alley beside the bakery, two familiar faces came out from the little shop. A bald man, dressed in a white muscle shirt and blue jeans, and a very feminine guy with longer black hair, wearing a blue polo shirt and tight jeans, noticed the teal-haired man.
"Oi, Grimmjow, what's up?" the bald guy, known as Ikkaku, called. "Are you babysitting or something?" Yumichika, the feminine one, approached and smiled at the little girl sitting on the bigger man's shoulders. "You are one beautiful angel, you know that, sweetie?" he told Nel, who giggled at the compliment. "Are you a boy or a girl?" she bluntly asked, still smiling (she didn't want to be mean, she just really didn't know). Grimmjow and Ikkaku held back their laughter, it was just too funny how frank kids were. Yumichika swiftly pushed his hair back with his hand and his smile became even sweeter than before, and a blush was added to his cheeks. "I'm a boy, but with the beauty of a girl," he answered. Nel nodded her head and said: "You really are beautiful." Yumichika couldn't take it anymore and hugged the little angel.
"So, anyway, who is this girl?" Ikkaku said, coming back to the main subject. Grimmjow pointed at her and said: "She's Ichigo's little protégé, and since he has work to do at the zoo, I'm taking care of her now." Nel pulled his hair and pointed at the alley. "Oh, and we have to find her dog, it's in this alley," he added with a little growl. "Oh, our little angel has a doggy?" Yumichika asked. "Then let's go get it!" Without waiting for the others, he entered the dark alley. The three others followed, and Nel's cheers already echoed. She called for her dog, and soon barking could be heard. Grimmjow let the little girl down, and she continued calling. Suddenly a long, fat dog appeared from under a box, and tried to run fast with its tiny, fat legs. Nel hugged it and was so happy to see him safe and sound that she cried.
The three men standing behind her were shocked by the dog's appearance. "That's the fattest, ugliest dachshund I've ever seen," Grimmjow stated. Ikkaku nodded in agreement, and Yumichika held his hand over his mouth. "What is that ugly creature? You can't call that a sausage dog," he said. "I think I'm gonna puke." Ikkaku sighed. "Come one, don't exaggerate, it's not that ugly that you have to…," he answered, but to his surprise the answer he heard was gagging. "Oh God, he really is puking," Grimmjow said, a sweat-drop appearing on his forehead. "I'll take him home," Ikkaku said, going over to his sick friend. Grimmjow glanced at Nel and her dog, who were playing. He sighed and looked at his watch. It still was quite early. What was he going to do with the brat and her ugly dog?
--
Meanwhile Ichigo was cleaning up the North part of the zoo. He put down his bad and the stick to collect the garbage and contemplated his work, while wiping away the sweat on his forehead. Before he started cleaning, the whole floor was covered with candy wrappers, popcorn boxes, tissues, burst balloons, and other trash. Now everything was gone. The orange-haired boy decided to take a break. Suddenly a familiar voice called his name. "Hey Ichigo!" Said boy turned around and spotted Rukia. "What are you doing here, you're not responsible for cleaning up," Ichigo asked her. "I didn't have anything to do today, so I volunteered," she answered. "Renji is here too!" The two chatted a little and decided to take a seat in the cool penguin department.
Inside they drank iced tea and talked about the Big Zoo Day. Ichigo told Rukia about how he found Nel and about Grimmjow taking care of her and looking for her dog. All this made the little woman laugh, she couldn't imagine the teal-haired man babysitting. Then silence kicked in, and Rukia saw a worried look on her friend's face. While talking to Ichigo, she felt that something was bothering him. It was time to be the big sister again. "Ichigo, if there's anything you want to talk about, then go ahead, I'll listen," she told him with a trustworthy smile. Ichigo looked at her then sighed. How did she know he was troubled?
"I got this letter today in the morning," he started. "And it really shocked me." Rukia nodded at every sentence he said. "What did it say?" she asked. "Some months ago my dad and I talked about what I'm going to study after finishing school, and I decided to study medicine near Karakura. So I sent my application to the best medicine university in town," he continued. "And did you get accepted?" the woman curiously asked. "You know, if you want to study medicine you have to pass this really hard test in the beginning of July, and I had the feeling that I totally messed it up. But actually…I almost got full marks for the test," he answered. Rukia looked at her friend with wide eyes. "Ichigo, that's amazing, congratulations," she said, still stunned. "But that's really good! So why are you so worried?" she then asked.
He let out a long, sad sigh. "Of course I got accepted, but since I'm one of the best, they offered me to study abroad, where I could have more chances as a doctor," he answered. "At first I was really happy, I mean, that's really the chance of my life, but then I felt sad, thinking about leaving everything in Karakura behind." Rukia put her hand on Ichigo's and smiled her sisterly smile. "What are you talking about? Other medicine students would give up everything to study abroad! And you're not leaving everything behind, you're still going to stay in contact with everyone," she said, trying to cheer him up.
"So, where did they offer you the place anyway?" she then asked. "I can choose between Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Apparently they have some of the best medicine universities," Ichigo answered. He thought about how far away those European countries were from Japan, and sighed. "And the reason I'm worried is…," he then said. "…how to tell Grimmjow about all of this." Rukia stared at her friend with wide eyes. "You didn't tell him?" Ichigo's eyes trailed off to the penguins and he wished he could be as carefree as them.
--
A very exhausted Grimmjow plopped down on a bench in the park. He wondered how kindergarten teachers could stand a bunch of kids when one child was already a big pain in the neck. Nel and Bawa Bawa were playing with a small branch on the grass. Other children and parents felt disturbed by the weird dog, but the green-haired girl didn't care what people said about Bawa Bawa, he was her best friend. She told him about Ichigo, about how she met him and fell in love with him, and she even told him about what she played with Grimmjow, and the exercise he did with her dearly beloved at night. The teal-haired man listened to the whole conversation and chuckled. 'Was I also that stupid when I was smaller?' he asked himself. He thought for a while and his eyes widened. In fact, he was. The neighbour's cat often came over to him and since little Grimm didn't have anyone one to talk to, the cat always listened to his stories.
Suddenly a stick thrown at his head woke him up from his thoughts. He rubbed the spot where he got hit and noticed it was full of saliva from that stupid dog. Bawa Bawa ran towards Grimmjow and looked up at him. The teal-haired man noticed that the dog was cross-eyed and chuckled. "You ugly sausage," he whispered, taking the stick and pretending to throw it. Of course Bawa Bawa thought it really was thrown and looked for it. Nel came running to the bench and patted her pet. "Hey brat, we're going to pick up Ichigo," Grimmjow said.
They arrived at the zoo and waited in front of the entrance. It seemed that the zoo was empty. Then Renji and Byakuya came out. The long-haired man locked the gates and Renji talked to him, sounding very excited. "Are you sure you can afford that hotel, it seems to be really expensive, we don't have to go, it's just…," the red-head stuttered, and then he spotted the teal-haired man. "Oi Grimmjow, what are you doing here? We're closing now," he asked. Grimmjow raised an eyebrow. "Did you see Ichigo?" Byakuya and Renji looked at each other. "He already left an hour ago, he said something about helping his family," Renji answered.
The two of them left and Renji's talk about the hotel went on. Grimmjow glared at the zoo and growled. Didn't he tell Ichigo that he would pick him up? It wasn't like Ichigo to just leave without saying anything. He got out his phone from his pocket and noticed that he got a message. How come he didn't hear it? It was from Ichigo, and it said: "Hi Grimm, I have to go home earlier, have to help out my dad! I'll see you tomorrow, love, Ichigo." Grimmjow sighed and massaged his temples. What the hell was wrong with his strawberry? Didn't he promise him to have a hot night with him? "Nel," he coldly said. The little girl and Bawa Bawa looked up at the tall man. "We're going to visit Ichigo now."
--
Ichigo, who was on his way to the host club, felt guilty. First he asks Grimmjow to do him a favour, and then he just runs off to his crazy job and leaves his lover behind without giving him any reward. He was sure that Grimmjow was mad because, first of all, he was all alone with Nel, and our orange-head knew that they couldn't stand each other. And second, they wouldn't spend the night together once again. Ichigo cursed at himself and clenched his fists while walking in a faster pace. He was such a stupid boyfriend. Shouldn't there be trust? Ichigo had so many secrets the kept from Grimmjow. Shouldn't he have been the first person to know about the letter from the medicine university?
He shook off his thoughts as he arrived at the host club. As usual Yammy stood on front of the entrance. The giant spotted the orange-haired boy and made a little nod. He opened the big white doors to let him in. Ichigo nodded back and quickly went in. He marched through the white corridors of Las Noches with a determinate expression. He just wanted to get it over with his second job as a host, get the money and spend more time with Grimmjow. He still had to endure some nights, then he would be free, he wouldn't have to see all these freaks anymore. He smiled to himself as he finally sighted the door to the meeting room.
He opened the door, and the first people he saw were Szayel, who was filing his nails with a professional pink nail file, a humming and drawing Luppi, and Stark, who was sleeping with his head resting on the table. The pink-haired man looked up and smiled at the arrival. "Ichigo, my dear, I am so glad to see you! We all missed you, right guys?" Szayel said, looking at his colleagues. Luppi completely ignored the question and continued his portrait (of himself, that was, by the way, very good), and Stark kept snoring. Ichigo frowned at the three of them and sighed. He had to stay calm, he still had to work a couple of nights, then he would never see them again in his entire life.
A door suddenly opened and the fox-eyed man appeared. A voice came from the inside, and Ichigo exactly knew who it was, it was kind of distinctive: "Ducklings two, six, eight and zero, you can enter." Luppi threw his pencil at the sleeping man, who woke up with a yawn, and the four men made their way to Aizen's office. Ichigo quickly turned to Stark pulled at his shirt. "Why the hell do we have numbers now, what am I?" he asked, very irritated. Stark tiredly explained that their boss was a weirdo and that he was number zero.
Gin closed the door and held himself in the background, still carrying the same sly smile. Aizen was seated in his turning chair, holding a white rose in his hand. "Good evening, ducklings," he greeted. "I'm glad you all came on time, I have your appointments right here." He flipped his finger, and Tousen, the photographer with the sunglasses, came out of nowhere (Ichigo was startled by this, he noticed that that guy was very sneaky) and carried a silver plate with four envelopes on it, with numbers on top. Szayel grabbed number eight, Stark lazily took number two A/N: I know we don't know Stark's number yet, so let's say his number two for now, okay?, Luppi accepted his envelope, and Ichigo hesitantly took the number zero one.
Tousen quickly retreated and Aizen waved at his hosts. "And now, my ducklings," he said. "Give your best, you are dismissed." The hosts left the office with their envelopes. They all fixed their outfits in front of a giant mirror hanging in the meeting room (except for Stark, he didn't really give a damn), practiced some smiles and sexy expressions (once again except for Stark), and left the host club without saying goodbye. Stark was the only one who ruffled the orange hair before heading out with a long yawn.
Ichigo looked into the mirror and sighed. He hoped that the date would be over soon, he really missed Grimmjow.
Yay, it's fini! I really could have updated this one a lot faster, but I had a really important golf tournament this week, so I'm a little late, sorry guys. I hoped you liked this chapter (even if there wasn't any smut !!), I'll try to update my other stories as fast as possible! Thank you for reading and please review (they make me really happy)!