Ichigo sat under a tree at school, letting the warm sun penetrate his skin as he bobbed his head along with the music. He had been attempting to read about how the body's white-blood cells attacked viruses, but he was way too distracted. Instead of paying attention to his book his mind kept running back to a hard-bodied, blue-haired man. It had been a week since Ichigo ran into Grimmjow, and hadn't seen him since. No one spoke of the other male, and Ichigo was starting to believe that maybe he hadn't seen the other male's return; that everything that had been a dream. Of course, that was far from reality. Ichigo was minding his own business, sitting under the tree when he saw his best friend running towards him looking frantic.

"HE'S BACK!" Ichigo looked up at the blonde who was standing in front of him, his hands on his knees as he panted from exertion.

"Who's back?" Ichigo's heart tightened, sure of what name was about to fall out of his friend's mouth.

"Grimmjow!" The blonde plopped down in front of Ichigo his body going into story mode. "Oh my God, I was walking to class, and I saw the hottest piece of ass I've seen at this school. I was so excited. So my eyes were scanning his body, and damn I could see his package sportin' through his pa-"

"SHIN!" Ichigo really didn't want to hear about the man's package. "Is there a point to this story?"

"Geeze, Ichi, what crawled in yer ass and died?" Shinji didn't wait for the other to finish. "Like I was saying, I was practically drooling over the guy and that's when I decided to look at his face and see if he had more to offer than just his body. AND THEN BAM! All I see is a head of blue hair, and you know, it's not like just anybody has blue hair. And I knew it was him! Did you know he was back! God, you need to see him Ichi, he's just as beautiful as he was when he left. If anything, where ever he went just made him hotter."

Ichigo let his best friend ramble about old memories about Grimmjow, which only made Ichigo even more confused. He had done everything in his power when he was younger to forget whatever feelings he had for the other. When his crush slash enemy suddenly moved away, Ichigo didn't know how to feel. Should he be relieved, since he would no longer face daily torments? Should he be sad, because now he'd never know if Grimmjow liked him back? That in itself was extremely unlikely since he punched me after I kissed him. In the end, Ichigo tried to push back the feelings that he held for the other male. After Grimmjow had left, Ichigo initially found it difficult to like another guy. He'd always end up comparing them to what he had remembered of Grimmjow. Thus, he tried dating girls, but that didn't work out too well when he realized that his attractions to females no longer existed. Ichigo was left with only being able to wallow in his feelings towards Grimmjow, something he'd rather he didn't do.

It took a few years, but Ichigo was able to move on from the blue-haired devil. When you're a hormonal teenage, it's easy to get caught up in other people. Ichigo was fifteen when he met Renji, his best friend and on-and-off boyfriend for the past four years. Ichigo and Renji met when the latter had transferred to Karakura high in the middle of sophomore year. Ichigo had been presented with the job of showing the other around school. Ichigo complained and scowled the whole time he showed Renji around the campus, which Renji retaliated with a slew of vulgarity and a gruff attitude that gave Ichigo a reminiscent feeling of another boy he once liked. The two ended up getting into a fight by the end of the tour, one that neither boy could really remember what they were fighting about. By the end of the scuffle, Renji had his lips placed firmly against Ichigo's, and Ichigo had felt himself kissing back. The two were currently on again.

"Ichi!" Ichigo was pulled out of his thoughts by a pair of fingers snapping in front of his face. "Ya, like, totally spaced out on me. You okay?"

"Ye-yeah, I'm fine." Ichigo shook his head slightly, trying once again to rid his thoughts of the blue-haired devil.

"Ya, sure?" Shinji cocked his head to the side, eyeing Ichigo's expression. "Trouble with big red?"

A scowl made its way to Ichigo's face. "No, we are not having trouble."

Shinji threw his hands up in defense. "Hey, I'm just trying to help." He put his hand on Ichigo's shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. "If somethin's wrong, you know you ca-"

"Yeah, yeah, I can turn to you. How many times have we had this conversation?" Before Shinji could answer, he was cut off by the sound of Ichigo's phone ringing. Ichigo answered without looking at the i.d. "Hello?"

"Ichi-nii!" Ichigo's younger sister let out a sigh of relief. "Ichi-nii, I need your help!"

Ichigo stood up at the sound of his sister's frantic voice. "Yuzu, what's wrong?"

"I have no time to explain, I need you here now!"

"Where are you?" Yuzu rattled off an address that Ichigo knew was near by. He didn't have any classes left for the day, so he made his way over quickly. "I'll see you later Shinji, Yuzu needs my help."

He didn't wait for a reply again before he ran off. When Ichigo got to the address, he noticed that he was at an apartment building. He took the stairs to the floor that Yuzu indicated and planted a hard knock when he finally sought out the room number. It didn't take long before the door flew open, revealing a frantic but okay Yuzu. She smiled at the sight of her brother and let out a sigh of relief.

"Ichi-nii, you came!"

"Of course I came!" Ichigo stepped into the apartment, scowling and ready to pounce as if something was going to attack the two. When the apartment was deemed safe, Ichigo turned to his younger sister. "What was the big problem?"

"I need you to finish babysitting for me."

He looked down at her incredulously. "What!"

"There's this giant sale at the local supermarket. I've been waiting for it for months and it starts in half an hour, but the guy I'm babysitting for won't be here for another two hours. Please, Ichi-nii, can't you stay in my place?" Yuzu pouted and widened her brown eyes, a move she learned to utilize when she was ten.

Ichigo sighed. "Why didn't you call Karin?"

"Karin wouldn't answer her phone. And even if I did call her, she wouldn't come." Yuzu widened her eyes even more. "Ichi-nii, you're the only one I can count on."

Ichigio inwardly cursed his inability to deny his youngest sibling. "Fine."

Yuzu threw her arms around her brother's torso. "Ichi-nii, you're the best. I just put her down for her nap. If she wakes up, just play with her and distract her. There's some crackers in the cupboard, and I made cookies for her, which are on the counter. Her brother should be home by 6." Before Ichigo was even able to process his sister's words, she was halfway out the door. "Bye Ichi-nii, I'll see you at home!"

Ichigo watched the door shut, leaving him alone in a stranger's house, with a little kid sleeping in the next room. He sighed and rubbed his face with both of his hands. This was not what he was expecting when his sister told him she had an emergency. Regardless, he was stuck helping his sister. He took the opportunity to look around the home for the first time. Despite living in the more luxurious part of the city, the apartment was pretty barren. The kitchen looked fully stock with stainless steel appliances. The living room had a white leather couch and love seat pushed together so that they formed an L. Mounted on the wall was a plasma TV, surrounded by speakers. From what Ichigo could see, the home owner had a sweet collection of game consoles, as well as an impressive collection of DVDs.

Unaware of what to do while the kid slept, Ichigo opted to do his homework. He turned the TV onto a random music channel, lowering the volume so he wouldn't disturb the kid. Ichigo wasn't aware of how fast time was passing, to engross in the work in front of him. He didn't hear the rustling of blankets next door. He didn't hear the sound of a door opening, or even the pattering of feet. The only thing that registered in his mind was the sound of a gasp emitting from the hallway. Ichigo's head snapped up, and he heard himself gasp as well. Before he could speak, the small child beat him to it.

"ITSUYGO!" The green-haired child ran towards him with all her might, jumping a little so that she was straddling his waist, her small hands planted firmly on his shoulders. "Itsuygo, whut arr ya doin' here?"

"N-n-nel?" Ichigo looked at the small girl, feeling like a wall of bricks smashed into his body.

"What the hell are ya doin' to my sister?"

Ichigo jumped slightly as his head snapped towards the sound of the other male who just entered the room. "Gr-gri-grimmjow?" Ichigo felt his head spinning, this is all too much.

"Tch." Grimmjow threw his school bag on the floor, walking towards the pair. "What the hell are ya doin' in my house, berry?"

Ichigo looked around the apartment, and then back to the man. His apartment? He looked down at the small girl who was still straddling his lap. She was drooling slightly as she smiled up at him. His eyes flashed back towards Grimmjow, who was still staring at him, waiting for an answer. Ichigo felt extremely overwhelmed, unable to find answers even though he was fully aware of the simplicity of the situation. After a few tries, Ichigo was able to find words.

"My, my, my sister was babysitting Nel." Ichigo was able to find confidence in his voice. He was no longer the scared little kid who was terrified and in love with the man across the room. No, he was much stronger than before. He stood up, holding Nel in his arms with her resting on one of his hips. "She had to go somewhere before you came home so she called me." He winced slightly when Nel tugged playfully, but hard, on his orange strands. He turned to her with a playful scowl. "Hey now, don't go doing that."

Grimmjow watched in subtle amazement at the guy across the room. He, himself, had noticed the changes that had occurred in Ichigo in the past nine years. He watched as he naturally acted with Nel, probably from his fifteen years experience of being an older brother. Nel fit comfortably in his arms, laughing as he bounced her slightly.

Grimmjow's eyes raked over Ichigo's broad shoulders. He could tell that the man was fit, but was still lithe underneath his clothing. The height change was rather obvious and inevitable, but he was still smaller than Grimmjow. The biggest change that Grimmjow had noticed about Ichigo was what seemed to be an ever present scowl. He remember whenever he saw Ichigo when they were younger he'd be smiling or at least looked content. Grimmjow couldn't help but feel curious to what had changed in the young man.

"Grimmjow?" Grimmjow snapped out of his analysis of the male, only to find the very person looking at him intently, with a questioning scowl.

"What?" Grimmjow practically growled the question, unaware of the reason for his hostility.

"Nothin'." Grimmjow watched as Ichigo put Nel on the floor, despite her protest. "I have to go now." Ichigo threw his books into his bags rather forcefully, his scowl deepening with every toss. He stood up and looked at the five year old who barely came to his knee. He smiled softly, an expression that caught Grimmjow's interest. Ichigo's hand ruffled her short hair. "Bye, kid."

Nel watched as he walked towards the door. Grimmjow watched as her face screwed up and her drool became more apparent. Oh no, he thought inwardly. Suddenly, Nel let out a loud wail, causing Ichigo to jump and turn around. His eyes instantly locked with Nel's pooled eye, watching as fat tears rolled down her cheeks. His eyes flew wide in panic, unsure of what to do, or even the reason why she was crying. Suddenly, Nel ran towards him, tripping over the large green t-shirt she was wearing in the process. When her body hit the floor, she cried harder. Ichigo ran towards the small girl in panic.

"Nel? Nel?" He lifted her up from under her armpits so that she was standing again. "Are you okay?" He gave her the once over, looking for any apparent cuts. Luckily, he found none, but that didn't stop Nel's crying.

"Itsyugo, you can-ca-can't le-e-ave." She was sniffling, trying to stop the fat tears that continued to roll down her cheeks.

Ichigo's eyes widened at the statement. He only met the kid once and she was already attached? He watched her as tears continued to silently fall down her face. Ichigo's body tensed with the five year threw her arms around Ichigo's neck. Ichigo's scowl replaced his shocked expression when he felt his shirt dampen with what Ichigo could only assume was tears and drool. He had completely forgotten about the other presence in the room, until he heard the sound of a throat clearing. He scowled and looked up at the brother of the small person who was currently clinging to his neck like a life support.

"Nel, let him go. Doesn't wanna stay and we don't want him here." Grimmjow walked towards Nel and Ichigo when they both threw him a look. Grimmjow saw Nel's arms tighten around his neck. "Nel." He was growling now, much like how he did in the supermarket when Ichigo first saw him. "Let go of him, right now."

"NO!" Ichigo's eyes widened in shock at the sound of her loud defiant voice.

"Neliel." His face was stern. "Let. Go. Of. Him."

"NO! Itsyugo needsta sthay!" Ichigo was practically suffocating from her grip.

"Nel." Ichigo reached up to unwrap her arms from his neck. "I can't stay. I have to go home." His voice was soft as he looked her in the eye. He had learned from Yuzu and Karin that it doesn't help when you yell.

He watched as her eyes welled up again. "Itsyugo…" Tears began to fall down her cheeks. Ichigo was amazed at how many tears she held.

Ichigo let out a sigh. "Fine," Grimmjow's eyes widened, "I'll stay."

Nel's eyes instantly dried as a large grin broke out on her face. "ITSYUGO!" Damn, she was manipulative.

"No." The two looked up at Grimmjow again, who had his arms crossed over his chest. If looks could kill, Nel and Ichigo would have died. "He's not staying. Nel, you let him go right now."

"Onii-chan, let Itsyugo sthay." She moved away from Ichigo to march over to her brother. Ichigo watched in amazement as she threw a well placed punch into the other's knee cap. Ichigo heard the man hiss in pain as the anger on his face became more apparent.

"Damn it, Nel." He reached for the little girl, but she was quicker, running fast to hid behind Ichigo. Grimmjow lunged towards the girl, only to be stopped by a pair of strong hands pushing him back. "Damn it, move out of the way bastard."

Ichigo growled, "You do not hit a kid, asshole."

Grimmjow stood straight, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath through his nostrils. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to control the anger that was bubbling within him. "I wasn't going to hit her."

"Look," Ichigo frowned at the other man, trying to remember why he had ever liked the man in the first place. "She's not going to let me go, so why don't we just compromise."

"Compromise?" Grimmjow was seething at the thought. He had no idea why, but whenever Ichigo was around, his anger was always on the brink of snapping.

Ichigo sighed. "I'll stay until she falls asleep, the minute she does, I'll leave."

"What's in for me?" Grimmjow couldn't find any benefit for him.

"You don't have a kid screaming at you for the rest of the day."

Grimmjow didn't answer. He simply grunted before stalking off to the kitchen, ignoring the two in the living room. It didn't take long for sleepiness to overcome the small girl. It only took a three hours of constant childish games such as tag around the house-which Grimmjow instantly frowned upon, saying that the two would destroy his living room-, coloring, and eating for Nel to be drained of what seemed like constant energy. Ichigo let out a sigh of relief when he noticed Nel's eyes began to droop while she was lying on her stomach on the floor coloring a picture of a donkey. He continued from his spot as he watched the little girl slowly fall asleep. He put his crayon down and pried the brown crayon from her hand. He easily lifted her and looked at Grimmjow.

"Where's her room?" He whispered, causing something in Grimmjow to twitch.

Grimmjow let out a sigh and stood up. He was feeling a lot calmer now that Nel wasn't yelling, but he was still on edge, knowing that Ichigo was in the room. "I'll take her."

Ichigo subconsciously tightened his grip on the girl. "Are you sure?"

Grimmjow growled. "She's my sister, okay, berry."

Ichigo felt a little dumbstruck. "Yeah, you're right."

As soon as he passed the small bundle in his arms to the blue-haired male, Ichigo suddenly felt out of place. He watched as Grimmjow walked away, and into a room down the hall. He watched the gentle manner that Grimmjow secretly possessed as he walked away with his sister in his arms, making sure that he didn't wake her. Ichigo felt something reawaken inside him. He felt slightly awkward, standing in the living room alone. He didn't know what he was waiting for. Nothing. Grimmjow isn't going to fall in love with you Ichigo. You have Renji. Get the hell out of his house. Ichigo didn't say anything, opting to listen to his inner voice, as he quickly picked up his book and bag and bolted out of the house as quietly as he could.

When Grimmjow he was confused to find it empty. He stood in the quiet of his living room, something tugging at his insides. The past few hours where Ichigo was playing with Nel brought liveliness to the house that was usually absent. Something about the other person had brought something to the house that was missing. Grimmjow didn't dwell on the thought though. He had to sleep; he didn't know the next time Nel would wake up and demand something from him. He knew he should get into whatever sleep he could get.

Meanwhile, Ichigo walked home, his heart torn in emotions. When Grimmjow moved away, he made a promise to himself that if he ever saw the bastard again, he'd treat him like every other person on the street. He wouldn't find himself thinking of the man. He wouldn't find himself wanting to be in his presence, even if Grimmjow tried to push him away. He wouldn't pine after the man who broke his heart rather abruptly. And yet, ever since the convenience store, and after today, Ichigo found himself going back on his word. The question that were bothering him before were becoming presented again, trying to break past the barrier he created within himself. Whatever Grimmjow went through, the reason he moved away, it's none of my business. Ichigo really tried to convince himself, but he knew it was all a lie. If anything, seeing the man again, spending the afternoon in his apartment unexpectedly, only made Ichigo's feelings come back at full force.

"I am totally fucked." Ichigo whispered out loud as he continued his walk home.

Howdy Readers!
Hoped you enjoyed the second chapter of this story!

I know, I know, pretty slow for now. Still trying to get an idea of how I want the characters to react to one another and the feelings that are there for them.
Plus, there still needs to be a further introduction of other characters :)
Anyways, I hope you guys continue reading!
Bye for now! :D

OH AND THANKS FOR 123LOOKATME FOR POINTING OUT: I forgot to mention that I changed Nel's age to five instead of six. I felt like six was too old for to act how I imagine her to be. So yeah. Anyways, bye for now!