Chapter Seven

Ichigo plopped on the couch next to Karin and sighed. After all that had happened to him that week, being at home with his sisters was a bit surreal. Karin glanced at him once and turned back to the TV, her favorite wresting program was on but she was still barely paying attention to it. One more glance at her brother and she startled them both by speaking.

"So what's her name?"

Ichigo frowned and looked down at her. "What?"

Karin pointed at his neck and repeated herself. "What's her name? And why did you let her try to bite your neck off?"

Ichigo's hand slapped over what he thought was a well covered hickey and he blushed, stammering out a lame, "uh" in response to her curiosity.

"Who taught you to cover up things like that. You did a horrible job. I can totally see it and it's kinda dark in here."

"Shut up." He muttered darkly and kept his hand in place.

"So you have a girlfriend now?"

"Not exactly." He mumbled and hoped that she would drop the subject.

Of course she didn't. "Oh, I see. Sex friends." Karin said with a sage nod of her head.

"What the hell, Karin! You can't say stuff like that."

"Why not? It's true isn't it? If she's not your girlfriend but you let her do that to you, what else could it be?"

"You can't say… se-eh… you can't say that!"

Karin rolled her eyes and turned towards her brother. "Ichi-nii, I'm fourteen years old now. I know about things. What's the big deal, anyway. You're an adult, adults do that sort of thing, don't they?

Flustered Ichigo shook his head and gawked at his little sister. When in the world had she learned things like that?! Karin gave him a crooked smile and cocked her head to the side.

"At least learn how to cover it up better. What did you use?"

He never in a million years thought he would be sitting in the living room with one of his sisters talking about cover up, hickeys, or sex friends, but true to his little strange world there he was. Upon looking at the small bottle of expensive make up Karin sighed.

"I can't picture you buying something like this, Ichi-nii."

"I didn't." He grumbled, still a bit surprised that Grimmjow had thought of him enough to go out of his way for it and wondering when he had even left the house to get it.

"Yuzu has something that will work loads better and it's way cheaper. Hang on I'll get it."

Karin jumped off the couch and ran up the stairs without waiting for Ichigo to respond. With a deep sigh he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He was still so tired from this last week that all he wanted to do was curl up and sleep for an equal amount of time. Instead Karin jumped over the back of the couch and tossed a small tube in his lap that looked too much like a lipstick container. He looked down at it and frowned. Now his sister was trying to encourage him to wear make up? Had the world gone fucked?

"First off, look at the job you did." She held up a small mirror for him after turning on some more lights. When he finally looked he realized she was right, it was still very noticeable. "Like I said, you suck at this Ichi-nii."

"Yeah, well guys aren't exactly supposed to be good a putting on makeup, ya know."

Five minutes and one newly cleaned neck later Karin sat forward to get a better look at the wound. Ichigo tried to bat her away, but she placed one hand on his shoulder and the other on his face, ignoring his feeble attempts to get away.

"Whoa, this chick has a huge mouth! Was she really trying to eat you?"

"Shut up." He grumbled and managed to pushed her off him.

She grabbed the tube of cover up and what he found out later was a make up sponge and set to work covering the hickey. In no time she sat back and smiled, pleased with her work, and held up the little mirror once more. Ichigo was surprised to see that it was almost completely gone. He could still see a faint bit of the bruising but that may have been because he knew where it was.

"Thanks." He sighed.

They returned to a comfortable silence, watching the television, neither one of them feeling any more need to speak. He briefly wondered if that make up stick could cover the bruise on his belly so he could get back to work Monday when the club opened back up but soon found his head lolling, sleep overtaking him in the comforting surroundings. He woke sometime later to Karin poking him in the head and complaining that he was snoring. He sat up and groggily rubbed his eyes.

"'Not snoring."

"You were too. I'm surprised Yuzu didn't wake up."

Grumbling Ichigo looked at the clock and ordered Karin to make dinner. She laughed at him and shook her head, pointing at the pile of money on the table and asked him what he wanted to order. Shrugging he made his way up the stairs, calling over his shoulder that she could get whatever she wanted, he was going to check on Yuzu. She was still sleeping so he tucked her in further, kissed her forehead and shut the door. At least she seemed to be sleeping soundly.

He spent the rest of the evening watching TV with Karin, periodically checking on Yuzu. After Karin headed to bed he pulled out his books and tried to sit down for a bit of studying. He had been neglecting that aspect of his life as well all week and that just wouldn't do. Pre med students didn't get the luxury of slacking off, though he did it more often than most. Mostly because of his job, and more recently with Yuzu's illness and the sudden appearance of a certain blue haired older man. With a sigh he opened the closest book to him and took out his notebook. It was going to be a long night.

Sometime in the middle of the night Ichigo had managed to fall asleep face first in his book. He was gently shaken awake and looked up into the tired, yet concerned eyes of Yuzu. She smiled at him as he stretched and looked over at the clock.

"What are you doing awake?" He asked with a yawn, guiding her to sit down on the couch.

"I wanted to see onii-chan." With a huge smile on her face she hugged him as hard as she could, which wasn't that hard given her lack of strength.

Ichigo smiled and hugged her back. "How are you feeling?"

"Sleepy. And a little hungry." She pulled away and made a face. "Karin didn't cook again did she?"

Ichigo chuckled and shook his head. "No, we ordered out. Want me to make you a plate?"

Yuzu nodded, though with a frown, her normal overly motherly drive stifled a bit since she had gotten sick and realized that she wasn't able to take care of everyone like she had in the past. It wasn't that she didn't like the help, she just preferred things done a certain way and it bothered her to have others go out of their way to help her. Once he had reheated a plate of food they sat on the couch while she ate, Ichigo watching her closely.

"How is school, onii-chan?"

"Good. I think mid terms are coming up soon though. I'm a bit nervous about that."

"Onii-chan will do great. I know it."

"Yeah. Thanks, Yuzu."

When she was finished she rubbed her forehead and complained of a headache. Ichigo grabbed her pills and handed her a glass of water before carrying her back up the stairs so she could brush her teeth and get back in bed. Yuzu may be sick, but she never wavered on her rules of hygiene.

"I love you, onii-chan."

"Love you too, Yuzu. Oyasuminasai."

Sunday afternoon, after a nice weekend with just the girls, Yuzu even feeling well enough to join them for a short walk when the sun came out Saturday, Ichigo kissed his sisters goodbye and told them to be good until dad showed up. He had forgotten to bring his laundry along with him and had to get it done as soon as possible. If he remembered correctly he was down to his last clean pair of clothes and he was currently wearing them. He was glad he didn't own many clothes, being able to get everything done in about an hour was highly appealing since he was hoping to get a bit more studying in before school the next day. After he had finished up at the Laundromat and gotten home, he tossed his bag of clean, yet folded, clothes in the corner of his living room and sat down, intent on cracking open at least one of his books. Before he even reached for his book bag his cell phone rang, an unrecognizable number showing up. Worried that it might be Grimmjow calling him already he took a deep breath and answered with a tentative, "Hello?"

"Is this Ichigo?" A brisk and slightly irritated voice asked.

"Yeah, who's this?"

"This is Yumi, from Wank. Look, I don't usually do things like this, but your friend, Shinji, is trying to drink himself to death. It's quite ugly."

"What the hell do you mean, he's trying to drink himself to death? What's going on?" Ichigo raised his voice, standing to pace the room.

"What I mean is that he's been drunk since yesterday and quite frankly I don't have the time to baby sit him. I do have life you know. I missed a very important appointment with my manicurist today to check on him. I don't appreciate that."

"Yeah, yeah. Fine. Where is he?"

"He's at his apartment. Disgustingly tiny." Yumi muttered under his breath.

"Whatever. Just stay with him till I get there, okay?"

Not waiting for an answer, Ichigo grabbed his wallet and jacket before heading out once again. Luckily Shinji didn't live too far from him and the weather wasn't too bad, a slight mist in the air instead of the pouring rain it had been an hour before. He barely raised his hand to knock on the door when it was yanked open.

"Thank god. He's our problem now." Yumi said, brushing past him and trotting down the stairs without another word.

Ichigo shook his head and stepped inside his friend's apartment.

"Shinji?"

When he heard a giggle from the couch he peaked over it to see Shinji shirtless with an unrecognizable bottle in his hand. Shinji peeked up at him and smiled.

"Hey, it's you!"

"Yeah, it's me. What the hell are you doing?"

Struggling to sit up Shinji almost fell off the couch. "Ya… ya know I hate to drink alone." Patting the couch clumsily he held the bottle out to Ichigo.

Ichigo took it from him and went straight to the sink. "H-hey! I bought that at the store. Y-you can't jus' p-pour it out."

"Baka. I'm doing this for your own good. How much have you drank?"

Shinji shrugged and tried to stand, failing miserably and falling back to the couch. With a frown he tried once again, Ichigo reaching out to grab him as he started to fall forward this time. Unfortunately his footing was off and the both of them fell, Shinji landing on top of Ichigo with a grunt and a giggle.

"Whoops. Yer not soft at all."

"Shut up and get off me, baka."

Shinji giggled again and wrapped his arms around Ichigo's neck. "Not soft, but comfy."

With a sigh Ichigo tried once again to push Shinji away, surprised at how strong he was when he was drunk. When that didn't work he tried a different tactic.

"So what's wrong?"

"Oh, Ichi. I had a bad day!" Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Just hold me a bit."

"No, you need to sober up. You know you can't hold your sake."

"I know."

Shinji's voice had changed, turning quiet and sorrowful. He pulled back a bit and looked down at Ichigo with a frown. Without thinking, as he was pretty much beyond that at the moment, he leaned forward and placed his lips on Ichigo's. Ichigo's body went still and his eyes went wide, but before he could do anything, like push Shinji away, Shinji pulled back again with his eyes closed.

"Gonna puke."

"Not on me asshole!"

He barely managed to get him to the sink before Shinji was emptying his stomach forcefully. Grimacing at the sound of retching Ichigo held back Shinji's hair until he was finished. Still a little steamed about the kiss and then abrupt puking, he pulled Shinji behind him by the hair in to the bathroom, tossing him into the small shower and turning on the spray; full blast and ice cold.

"Ah, shit! That's fuckin' cold!"

"I know, baka. Deal with it and sober up. I'll go make some ramen."

Shinji groaned and slid down the shower wall. "I hate you." He mumbled as Ichigo left the room.

Taking a moment to rinse out the sink he filled a pot of water and set it on the hot plate to boil. What the hell was he doing, kissing me like that? Crazy drunk bastard. When he got back to the bathroom Shinji looked up at him, his eyes half open and his knees drawn up to his chest.

"Feel better?"

"No. My head's gonna fall off, but what do you care?"

"Quit being melodramatic." He muttered as he shut off the water and helped him dry off and change into something more comfortable.

By the time they were finished the water was boiling and ready for the packaged ramen noodles. Ichigo ordered Shinji to sit while he prepared a bowl for him and sat by him until he was finished eating. Once every bit was gone he leaned his head on Ichigo's shoulder and closed his eyes, asleep almost instantly.

Ichigo shook his head and grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch, covering his friend before turning on the heater and stretching out the futon, figuring he might as well get some sleep while he could.

Shinji woke a few hours later and noticed that it was getting dark. Then he moved and realized that he had the worst hang over he had had since he and Ichigo had "celebrated" their graduation from high school. Groaning and grabbing his head he was surprised when a cold glass of water was shoved in front of his face. He looked up to see a disheveled Ichigo standing over him and he tried to remember when he had gotten there.

"You look like shit." Ichigo stated plainly before flopping back down on the futon on the floor.

"I feel like it." Shinji mumbled as he sipped his water.

"So are you going to tell me what the hell that was all about or not?"

Shinji grabbed his head and closed his eyes. "I choose not." Yeah, like he was going to tell Ichigo that the reason he had been drinking was the fact that he couldn't get the images of him kissing and sucking off, let alone how his imagination had gone into overdrive thinking what had led up to the hickey, another man out of his head.

Ichigo frowned and stood up, raising his voice as he spoke just to get to Shinji. "I come over here and blow off studying to find you drunk off yer ass, you kiss me, throw up and then pass out. Yeah, not letting that one go."

Shinji stared up at him wide eyed. "I kissed ya."

"And then threw up. Nice compliment by the way."

"Whoa, whoa, wait. I kissed ya?!"

"Shouldn't I be the one freaking out about that?"

Shinji groaned and leaned back against the couch. Great, not only had their first kiss been a one sided drunk one, but he had ruined it by puking. Just great.

"So you're going to tell me what the fuck is going on or…." At that moment Ichigo's cell phone rang and he rolled his eyes. Now what?

"Yeah." He answered in an irritated tone.

"That's how you greet me after not hearing from me for two days?" A slightly a mused deep voice retorted.

Ichigo took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look, I really don't have time for any of this shit. Do whatever you want to me later. I'm going home and going to sleep. All of you can fuck off!"

Not waiting for a response he flipped the phone closed and grabbed his jacket, heading for the door. Shinji, who had no doubt who had been on the other end of the line, finally got the nerve up to say something.

"I saw ya, Ichigo!!"

Ichigo stopped in his tracks, looking over his shoulder with narrowed eyes.

"What are you talking about? Saw me doing what?"

Shinji stood and made his way unsteadily over to where he was standing, poking a finger in the middle of Ichigo's chest twice before he could get the words out.

"I saw ya in the alley suckin' off that guy. He… Jesus Ichi, wha the fuck'er ya doin'?" His voice caught in his throat and he pulled his arm back. "Takin' money fer somethin' like that…."

Ichigo was speechless. Shinji had seen him? No. There was no way Shinji had seen him. No way. He shook his head in denial but kept his mouth shut, backing up and hitting the door. What could he say? "That wasn't me, you're seeing things."? Shinji was so upset he was shaking and Ichigo wanted badly to make him feel better but he didn't know how. He didn't know how to fix this or even where to start. He suddenly pictured himself not being the only sick person in that house that day.

"I…." He started, unable to finish.

"When?" Shinji looked up at him, his honey colored eyes boring into his. "When did this start?"

"Day before you showed me the thongs your mom made." He mumbled, his head lowered in shame. Why was he even answering him?!

"And that guy is the one who fucked ya up?" When Ichigo nodded Shinji shook his head and sank to the couch. "Why?" He whispered.

Feeling even more ashamed of the answer to this question his voice was even quieter than Shinji's. "He's taking care of Yuzu's medical bills."

Shinji shook his head and lowered it into his hands. This was so seriously messed up, so much so that the only thing he could do at that moment was laugh. At the first bubbling giggle Ichigo looked up with a frown.

"This isn't funny. Are you still drunk?" He said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Yer right, it's not." Shinji said, wiping a tears from his eyes and standing. "It's not one bit fuckin' funny."

Without warning his fist shot out and clipped Ichigo in the chin. His head shot back and hit the door and he fell with a thud, blinking stupidly up at his friend.

"Ya fuckin' idiot!" Shinji roared and jumped on top of him, bringing his fist back for another blow. "How? How did ya ever think this was a good fuckin' idea?"

Ichigo put his hands up to defend himself and managed to fend off several more blows.

"Did ya even think what she would think about this?"

"No I didn't. I had to make a decision on the spot. Quit fuckin' hitting me!"

"If ya needed the money that bad ya should have told me!"

"And what?! You can't afford it any more that I can!" Ichigo screamed back.

He managed to grab Shinji's hands and pinned them to the ground, forcing Shinji to fall on his chest. They were both panting with exertion. Shinji sighed and lowered his head to Ichigo's shoulder, his hangover pounding in his ears.

"I don't understand this, Ichi. Yer not even gay."

"That doesn't really have anything to do with this, and I don't really understand it myself but… I don't know. The prospect of getting everything paid for…." He loosened his grip on Shinji's hands. "Anyway, I can't stop now. He's fuckin'... If I back out…."

He couldn't flat out say one way or another but he was sure that Grimmjow was Yakuza. What other type of man would threaten to sink someone to the bottom of Tokyo bay with such an authoritative voice?

Shinji pulled back. "He threatened ya?"

"Well yeah." He looked up into Shinji's eyes. "You really think I would have put up with him… ya know, forcing me. And then… in the alley…." He sighed. "I'm stuck."

"Ya sound so… okay with this."

Ichigo took a deep breath and pushed Shinji off him so he could sit up.

"It's not a matter of being okay with it or not. Forgive me, but for once I'm taking an easy out. It isn't about me, it's about Yuzu and getting her that surgery." He stopped and sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Besides…." he stopped suddenly, his eyes going wide when he realized what had been about to come out of his mouth.

"Besides?" Shinji prompted.

"Nothing. I'm fuckin' tired. Look, Shin, don't worry about it. I know you're going to anyway, but please don't. I'll be fine, I swear." He covered quickly.

"Baka. Ya know I ain't gonna let this drop." Shinji muttered under his breath as Ichigo stood.

"I know. I'm gonna go home now and nurse another bruise, this time courtesy of you. You gonna promise me you won't drink any more?"

Shinji huffed and crossed his arms. "Ya gonna promise me…."

"Shin!"

Shinji rolled his eyes. "Fine."

With a sigh Ichigo reached for the door knob. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah whatever." The now surly blond replied.

As soon as the door was shut he lowered his head to his knees and allowed himself to wallow in self pity. Ichigo hadn't made him feel one bit better.

His jaw hurt, his head hurt, his heart hurt. What else could go wrong that day. As he approached his apartment and saw the shiny black BMW sitting outside he rolled his eyes. Oh , right. That. He stomped up the stairs and found his door, unsurprisingly, unlocked. Grimmjow was leaning against the wall nearest the kitchen with a scowl on his face. Before he could say anything Ichigo spoke first.

"Don't start with me. I've had a bad fuckin' day, I feel like shit, my face hurts, my head hurts, and now my best friend knows about what's going on between us. If you're gonna kill me for mouthing off, do it quickly because I really just wanna crawl in a hole and die anyway."

Not waiting for the now wide eyed Grimmjow to speak he headed for his room and threw himself on his bed. Sure, he had been pissed that the kid had spoken to him like that, surprised and pissed, but hearing that defeatist tone coming from the lively youth made him frown. He followed him down the short hall and stood in the doorway with his arms crossed.

"Get up." He commanded, only slightly expecting the youth to listen.

"I don't wanna." Ichigo's voice was muffled by his pillow.

Rolling his eyes, Grimmjow leaned over the side of the bed and grabbed the back of the orange head, pulling enough to get him to roll over and sit up. Ichigo glared up at him, his jaw now swelling as well as bruising from where Shinji had punched him. Grimmjow frowned at it and almost reached out his hand before curling his fingers into a tight fist. No one damaged what was his. He placed his hand in the middle of Ichigo's chest and pushed him roughly down to the bed, descending upon his mouth to engage him in a rough kiss.

Ichigo pulled away and glared up at him. "What the hell?"

"Shut up, we both know I have no issues with forcing you. Enjoy it." Grimmjow said in a gravely voice, returning to that sweet mouth beneath him.

Ichigo put up a half hearted struggle before his hand reached behind Grimmjow and fisted in his hair. Fine, if that's how it was going to be he was going to take all his frustration out right here and now. Hooking his leg behind Grimmjow's, he flipped their positions and tore off his coat, tossing it aside before quickly divesting himself of his shirt. Grimmjow smirked up at him as Ichigo's fingers made quick work of the buttons on his dress shirt, pulling it off him and throwing it in the ever growing pile on the floor. He leaned forward and bit Grimmjow's shoulder, trailing his tongue over his collar bone and down his chest to his nipple. Capturing one between his teeth he rolled it harshly a few times before biting hard and flicking it with his tongue. Grimmjow bit his lip and let his eyes roll closed as that hot tongue trailed a slick trail to the other nipple, giving it the same harsh treatment.

Fevered hands suddenly on the belt of his slacks, pulling it from the loops and discarding it with a flick of his wrist. Not one to be outdone Grimmjow worked on the button fly of Ichigo's jeans, exposing the tight black boxers beneath. Sitting back on his heels, Ichigo kicked out of his pants, Grimmjow following suit with his own before their tongues were dueling once again in a fierce battle. Ichigo's hands once again fisted in Grimmjow's hair and he crawled unto his lap and pressed their needy erections together.

"Eager are we?" Grimmjow chuckled when he came up for a breath.

"Shut up." Ichigo breathed as he reached for Grimmjow's cock over his boxers.

He hadn't felt this angry, this frustrated in a long time and he was bound and determined to get it all out in anyway he could. If that meant a hard fuck with the very cause of at least half of his frustrations then so be it. Reaching for the bottle of lube he had neglected to put away the last time he had been with Grimmjow in this room he yanked off his last bit of clothing and poured a generous amount on his hand, reaching behind him and slipping one of his own fingers inside himself, his back arching slightly and his eyes rolling half closed. Grimmjow watched entranced as Ichigo prepared himself, not able to do anything other than stare at the erotic sight before him. If he hadn't already been hard he would have been after seeing that face, that arched back and that hand stretching that hot tight hole.

"Fuck." He whispered, running his hand over Ichigo's chest and toying with his nipples.

Ichigo bit his lip and whimpered, removing his hand and reaching for Grimmjow's last bit of clothing, tearing the fabric as he yanked them off. Grimmjow grinned and leaned back, biting his own lip as Ichigo crawled on top of him and straddling his hips, grinding his slicked up ass against his throbbing cock. Ichigo was panting but not about to stop, lifting his hips and reaching beneath him to grip Grimmjow's member and place it at his entrance. With one deep breath he dropped his hips, taking him all the way in with one swift motion.

"Fuck!"

"Shit!"

They cried out at the same moment, Ichigo barely giving himself enough time to adjust before he rose and dropped once more; again, and again. Grimmjow grabbed his hips to steady his motion, surprised that he hadn't cum already. The sounds of pleasure and slight frustration coming from the man above him had him groaning and reaching up, pulling that sweet mouth back down to his and tangle their tongue; to taste his desire. Wanting more friction, more control, Grimmjow flipped them back over, pinning Ichigo to the bed and grabbing his legs, spreading them and placing them over his shoulders so that he could delve deeper in the tight cavity. Ichigo cried out and fisted his hands in the bed sheet, tilting his hips to meet each thrust. With an animalistic groan Ichigo came, his orgasm milking a sympathetic reaction from Grimmjow who immediately collapsed on top of him, his hips still moving in a languid parody of what they had been doing before. Bringing his hands up to cup Ichigo's face he kissed him sweetly and burring his face in his neck, tried to catch his breath.

"Feel better?" He asked.

Ichigo nodded, still panting too hard to form words. His arms wrapped around the body above him and hugged him tight before they slackened their grip. Grimmjow realized with a smirk that the kid had passed out on him yet again. Doing something for the first time in as long as he could remember he rolled over and pulled Ichigo close, letting his own mind drift off into sleep.

A/N Ahhh!!! Shinji what are you doing?! *Slaps Shinji's hands* Bad Shin-chan! That's Grimmkitty's Berry-tan! No. *Sigh* boys…. Okay, I know I promised to reveal what Ichi was going to do for Grimkitty to make up for missing two nights a week with him, but I got carried away with this chapter.... Hopefully that last scene makes up for that. It sure as hell made me smile :D Thoughts?? ZOMG!! Nine reviews away from 100!!! Thank you all so much! *cries from joy*