Chapter Sixteen

Grimmjow woke before his alarm went off when a pair of sharp claws dug into his bare backside. He grunted and grit his teeth, burying his head in the pillow and waiting for the tiny pinpricks of pain to go away. They didn't and instead began to knead the rounded flesh.

"Ow, shit. Stop that, it hurts." Grimmjow growled sitting up enough to look over his shoulder at Leiko seemingly quite pleased with himself and what he was doing.

"'So loud?" Ichigo mumbled, still half asleep and flat on his back.

"Leiko is shredding my ass, baka."

"Good." Ichigo tried to roll over and his whole body stiffened in pain before he gave up. Everything hurt but it was particularly painful in one spot. Damn Grimmjow.

Grimmjow chuckled and pulled the kitten off him, plopping him on the bed between Ichigo and him. Leiko purred and began to bat at Grimmjow's fingers playfully, snagging the sheet on his sharp claws as he did so. Ichigo's eyes popped open when something occurred to him.

"'The hell did he get in here?" He asked, trying to sit up and barely managing to get his elbows beneath him.

Grimmjow tossed a glance at the door. "Door's open."

"What?!" Sure enough the door to the bedroom stood wide open and Ichigo made a loud choking sound in the back of his throat.

"Now who's being loud." Grimmjow grinned.

"We… all that… naked… fuck… the door… open?!"

Grimmjow sat up and dropped Leiko on the floor. "How the hell did you ever get in to university when you can barely speak properly?" At Ichigo's intense glare he laughed again. "So we fucked with the door open. So what?"

Ichigo turned bright red and pulled the sheet over his face, groaning at the injustice of it all. Grimmjow let a grin slide across his face and leaned over to kiss Ichigo, pulling the sheet as he did so. He jerked away, wincing at the pain the motion caused and intensified his glare.

"Don't touch me. I think you've done enough."

Grimmjow grabbed his chin and finished the motion in a sweet pressing of lips before standing and walking naked to the bathroom. Ichigo closed his eyes and waited for the sound of the shower to start so it could lull him back to sleep, it was barely six o'clock and he really needed the sleep. He was surprised when Grimmjow cleared his throat and sat on the bed beside him.

"Take these and go back to sleep."

He thrust a closed fist and a glass of water at Ichigo but rolled his eyes when Ichigo struggled to sit up. He set down the glass and helped Ichigo up, keeping one arm around his waist to hold him. Ichigo accepted the pain medication and the water gratefully, drinking the entire cup. Grimmjow smiled and leaned forward to lick a stray drop that had slid down Ichigo's chin.

"That should make you feel better. I have to go to work. Sleep as long as you need to and eat something before you leave. I'll see ya tonight." Grimmjow said quietly, kissing Ichigo sweetly one more time before standing.

"Whatever." Ichigo blushed and laid back down. The softer side of Grimmjow gave him weird feelings in his chest and stomach that he didn't care to explore.

Ichigo closed his eyes and finally heard the sound of the shower running. He sighed and tried to make himself more comfortable before drifting off as the medication overtook his system.

Ichigo woke with a start, sitting up in bed without realizing that his action would result in the wave of pain that hit him. He grit his teeth and dropped his head, sucking in a deep breath before looking at the clock on the bedside table to see what time it was. Just after noon. Good a time as any to get out of bed he supposed. Swinging his legs over the side he pushed off the mattress and walked to the bathroom, his back stiff and cramping, his steps slow. He really hoped that would go away before he had to dance that night or he was going to be in trouble. After a long hot shower that did wonders for his pain he dressed in some comfortable clothes and filled a back pack with things he would need. Grimmjow may not have remembered his promise to go with Shinji after work that night to his mother's house but he did and he wanted to be prepared.

Thinking of Shinji he frowned as he rode the elevator down to the lobby. Shinji seemed to be a bit more upset about the whole situation than he needed to be and it was starting to get to Ichigo. Of course he thought he was being completely ridiculous about it all but it still bothered him to see his best friend so upset. Shinji was practically a brother to him. A thought struck him suddenly and he smiled as he exited the building into the gloomy, wet day. Pulling his hood over his head and adjusting his bag, he set off to the nearest shopping center. He knew exactly how to cheer Shinji up; at least a little.

A young woman came tearing out of the office, slamming the door shut behind her as the sound of something heavy crashed into the hard surface of the wood. With a sigh she patted her hair back in place and returned to her desk.

"Bad mood again?" A tall thin man lounging in one of the waiting chairs grinned at her and she blushed, nodding her head.

"Perhaps you should come back at another time, Mr. Jiruga." She told him as she took her seat. "Mr. Jaegerjaques…." She stopped abruptly when the man began to laugh and jumped out of the chair, heading straight for the door.

"I ain't got the fuckin' time to wait around for Mr. Jaegerjaques to get in a good mood."

Without waiting for a reply he opened the door and entered the office. Grimmjow looked up and frowned at him before pulling out a cigarette and tossing the rest of the pack in his direction.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I think ya scared the bitch out front." Nnoitra said with a laugh.

Grimmjow threw him a look of impatience. "I have work to do."

"Tch, if ya don't like workin' this way why'd ya stop bein' a thug?"

Grimmjow put the cigarette between his teeth and turned to the window, not bothering to answer the question and instead asking one of his own.

"Well?" He asked as he propped open his window and lit up.

"Well what? I just fuckin' started like an hour ago. What the fuck do ya expect?"

"Progress." Grimmjow snapped.

"Aw, what's 'a matter? Didn't get enough fruit this mornin'?"

"Fuck you. What are you doing here?"

Nnoitra sat in the chair in front of his desk and propped his feet up as he drew on the cigarette in his hand and tucked the rest of the pack in his pocket.

"Need some paper to get around."

"You came here for money?" Grimmjow growled.

"Lips move quicker if ya flash some yen around." Nnoitra stated with a raised eyebrow. He would know, he had been doing this for the majority of his life and Grimmjow knew that well.

Grimmjow reached into the inside pocket of his suit and pulled out his wallet, tossing a stack of money on the desk and sending a cocked eyebrow to Nnoitra.

"That enough for today?"

Nnoitra grinned and snatched the money off the desk. "Fer taday, sure."

Standing, he shoved the notes in his back pocket and walked to the door. He stopped before opening it and leaned back, flashing a large grin over his shoulder.

"I think the bitch outside might be scared of ya."

"So?"

Nnoitra laughed. "Next time make sure you hit her. She prob'ly deserves it."

With that he was gone and Grimmjow was frowning after him. He had never cared much for women, seeing them mainly as weak individuals who happened to help propagate the world, but at times his old friend's repugnance toward the entire sex was a bit extreme; even given his past experiences with them. With a sigh Grimmjow reached for the file on his desk and resisted the urge to toss it in the shredder. Paperwork. How he loathed paperwork.

Shinji's mother was in her front yard bent over and elbow deep in a bag of mulch, her house plants outside and in various forms of disarray. Ichigo shook his head and opened the gate. She looked up at him and smiled, mentally taking in and storing the fact that he was limping a bit but his customary scowl had lessened since she had last gotten a good look at him.

"Konichiwa, Ichi-chan."

"Hey."

"Shin-chan is in his old room."

"Arigato."

As he turned to walk away Shinji's mother called out to him. "Everything okay, Ichi-chan?"

Ichigo frowned at her before nodding. "Yeah. Everything is fine."

She smiled at his answer as watched him walk into the house. She knew everything couldn't possibly be fine, but for now he did look a bit happier and that's what mattered most to her. Turning back to her mulch pile she began to hum her favorite song.

Inside the house and down the hall Ichigo opened the door to the room Shinji had lived in as a child and peaked inside, seeing Shinji spread eagle on his twin sized bed, one leg hanging half off and the blanket barely covering him. Ichigo flipped on the light and jumped on the bed, jostling Shinji to wakefulness.

"The hell?" He muttered as he blinked at the light and the fuzzy orange head in front of him.

Ichigo pulled a small bag out of his pocket and tossed it into Shinji's lap. By the time he had gotten to the shop he was looking for he had lost a bit of the confidence in his gift idea that he had had earlier that day. After seeing the wide selection before him it plummeted. He had never been good at getting gifts anyway so what the hell had he been thinking. And that's when he saw it, sparkling and winking at him from it's small plastic packaging. He chuckled to himself and ripped it off the display. It was perfect.

Shinji yawned and reached for the bag, ripping the paper open and pulling out what was inside. At first he wasn't sure what it was; a small ball dangling from a string? What the hell? Then as his eyesight focused he realized what he was looking at. A disco ball cell phone strap. After a few more blinks of his eyes he threw his head back and laughed before hugging Ichigo around the middle as tight as he could.

"I love it. Why'd ya get this for me?"

Ichigo smiled. "I dunno." He felt stupid and happy but he wasn't sure how to tell him why he had gotten it. "I saw it and it screamed Shinji." He said with a roll of his eyes, knowing that line would make his friend even happier.

"Maa, ya sound like me!" Shinji giggled. "Oh, Ichi I love it. Thanks." Shinji reached for his cell phone and went about attaching it as Ichigo lay back on the bed, tired again after spending the last few hours shopping and walking around.

Ichigo closed his eyes and threw one arm over his face, feeling the bed shaking and bouncing as Shinji made his happiness known with a wiggling sort of dance Ichigo was glad he wasn't witnessing. It was such a ridiculously stupid dance but it always brought a smile on his face that Shinji was ever ready to tease him about.

"Oi, Ichigo. We're going out this weekend even if I have ta kill that blue haired asshole."

"I know, I'm sorry about last weekend. I didn't know that was gonna happen."

With a sigh Shinji looked down at his friend and flipped around, plopping down on the bed beside him.

"I'm thinking about suggesting couples stripping night at Wank."

Ichigo raised his arm and peaked at Shinji. "What?"

"Ya know, two of us on stage at the same time doin' like a themed dance routine."

"That's stupid."

Shinji slapped his arm. "No it's not." When Ichigo snorted he rolled his eyes. "Picture this, one guy is already out on stage, tied up to the pole and blindfolded, fully clothed and the other guy comes out with a pair of scissors."

Ichigo dropped his arm again and sat up, scowling down at Shinji. "Who would do that?"

Shinji sat up as well. "I dunno. Maybe we could put our names in a hat and pick our partners that way. But Ichigo, do you realize how much business that could bring us?"

"Damn it."

Shinji let a large smile overtake his features. "Ya like it." He said in a sing song voice and Ichigo groaned. It was a good idea and Z was sure to go with it like he did all of Shinji's idea's.

"Ah shit, what if I get Hanataro?" Shinji giggled. "What if he wears a freakin' dress?!"

Shinji laughed and clapped Ichigo on the shoulder. "Maybe he'll be the first one to Queen ya up a bit."

He didn't give the comment enough time to sink into Ichigo's head before he was up and running. When it dawned on Ichigo what he meant he jumped up and yelled after him.

"Oh there is no way! No way in hell I will wear a dress Shinji!"

"Okaachan has one that would look sooo cute on you." Ichigo heard Shinji call from somewhere in the house.

"Shin-chan, put some pants on dear." Shinji's mother called from the kitchen. She didn't need to see her son to know he was running around in his underwear.

"Yes, okaachan."

After they ate a small meal, Shinji's mother insisting her boys eat something, Ichigo excused himself and went outside. He pulled out his phone and dialed a rarely used number, taking a deep breath before putting it to his ear. He wasn't looking forward to this conversation.

"Hey Strawberry." Grimmjow's voice came crisp and clear through the earpiece.

"Hey." Ichigo bit his lip before diving right in. "So, I wanted to remind you that I'm gonna be hanging out with Shinji after work…."

"No."

"You can't tell me no. I can't spend every night with you."

"Yes you can. It's pretty simple, Strawberry. I pay you for yer time."

"Oh, God, not that again. Fine, stop paying me then I can do whatever the hell I want."

"Don't get fuckin' lippy with me." Grimmjow growled. "I thought we made it pretty clear this morning that you belong to me."

Ichigo sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Look, I'm hanging out with my friend tonight. I didn't call for permission. I just called to remind you that that's what I'm doing."

Ichigo hung up quickly and sighed, leaning against the side of the house and letting his head fall back against the wood. That could have been worse he supposed, though he knew that the next time he saw Grimmjow he was going to pay for it. He sighed again and slipped his phone in his pocket. The fucked up part was that a small part of him felt bad about it, but he wasn't even sure why. It wasn't like Grimmjow was his boyfriend or anything. As the word passed through his mind he groaned out loud.

"Ah, fuck."

Shinji pressed his ear as close to the sliding door that led to the backyard so that he could hear as much of Ichigo's conversation as he could. He almost screamed when his mother spoke.

"Shin-chan! Ya don't listen to private conversations. Ya know better."

Shinji pouted and walked sullenly away from the door. "Yes, okaachan."

"Yer not listening to me." Shinji pouted as he plopped in the chair next to Ichigo's backstage later that night. "What the hell are ya thinking' 'bout?"

"Nothing." Ichigo frowned. Of course that was a blatant lie and Shinji knew it.

Ever since his conversation with Grimmjow earlier he had been distracted. He knew that he was right about what he said, Grimmjow wasn't his keeper, he used that term now because just the idea of 'boyfriend' had his skin going cold and his heartbeat racing, after all. He sighed and looked at himself in the mirror.

"I thought I told ya to smile." Z grumbled as he walked passed the two.

Shinji ignored him and leaned forward closer to Ichigo. "Is it that guy? Did he say somethin' to ya?"

"No, Shinji. Drop it okay? I'm just a bit tired."

Shinji frowned, clearly not pleased with that answer. "Yer still comin' over tonight, right?"

"Yes! Shit."

"Goldie, yer on."

Shinji stood and spared Ichigo one last look. "Go get some fresh air before ya go out again tonight."

Nnoitra sat up straight in his seat when the announcer called out "Solid Gold" and Grimmjow, even in his horrible mood, couldn't help but crack half a smile. If it wasn't one thing it was another for that day and he was glad that it was almost over. It had started out relatively good, waking up the way he had hadn't been all that pleasant but seeing Ichigo next to him had made it a little better. However the moment he walked into work he had a pile of paperwork on his desk, idiot employees to fire and a long line of bigger idiots to interview. On top of that he hadn't been able to eat all day, the one beer he had while waiting to see Ichigo had already gone to his head. Nnoitra had found a whopping nothing out but had managed to spend all the money he had given him and then his little phone call with Ichigo earlier had been a perfect end to a bad day. He wasn't sure if he wanted to kill just the people who had pissed him off that day, or everyone so that he never had to deal with irritating things again.

He was about to order another drink when he caught a glimpse of Ichigo heading out the back door to the alley. It took less than a second to decide on following him and he was out the door before it shut behind Ichigo. Ichigo turned around and had barely enough time to register who was in front of him when he was pushed up against the wall and an eager pair of lips when upon him. It didn't even cross his mind to resist, one of his hands snaking up to twine in the hair at the nape of Grimmjow's neck and the other curling his fingers in the belt loops at the back of his black jeans. It was Grimmjow who pulled away first, his need for air overwhelming his need to taste Ichigo.

"What's got into you?" Ichigo asked, his head feeling slightly dizzy.

"Shut up." Grimmjow growled low and nuzzled Ichigo's neck and reaching behind him to grab his ass. "Are you wearing a thong?" He asked, making Ichigo blush and nod.

Grimmjow grinned as his fingers squeezed.

"I- I'm still not coming back with you tonight."

"Didn't I say shut up?" Grimmjow raked his bottom teeth up the side of Ichigo's neck and licked his earlobe. "I'll be picking you up on my lunch break tomorrow and I don't wanna hear any shit from you. Got it."

Ichigo smirked. "Yeah."

"And you'll have to make it up to me." He breathed into Ichigo's ear, making him shiver.

Ichigo bit his lip and looked up into Grimmjow's eyes. "I can start right now."

"Oh, fuck yeah." Grimmjow grinned. It didn't matter where or why this side of Ichigo had surfaced right then. What mattered was finding a secluded place to fool around.

"Is there a place inside?"

Ichigo shook his head. "Nah, Z doesn't like the guys doing that sort of thing in the club."

Grimmjow nodded and looked both ways down the alley, seeing the large dumpster they had hid behind the first time they had been in the alley together. Pulling Ichigo along behind him he made his way over to it. Ichigo wasted no time in dropping to his knees and pulling an already fully erect Grimmjow from his pants. Grimmjow threaded his fingers in the soft orange hair and bit his lip as Ichigo swallowed him whole and worked his tongue along the underside of his cock.

"Yes." He groaned and let his eyes fall closed.

Ichigo hummed in response, his throat vibrating around the stiff member in his mouth and making Grimmjow curse. Too soon Grimmjow came and Ichigo swallowed as he stood and smiled. Grimmjow gave him a heavy lidded grin before he flipped their positions and reached for the button of Ichigo's pants.

"Wait." Ichigo breathed, trying to stop Grimmjow's hands in vain.

"Fuck that." Grimmjow grinned as he pushed aside the black thong and freed Ichigo, dropping down on his knees.

"Oh shit!" Ichigo moaned as Grimmjow licked the head and took it into his mouth.

Ichigo screwed his eyes closed and let his head fall back against the brick wall of the building behind him. Grimmjow would have grinned at the reaction he received if he hadn't been so busy, sucking Ichigo deep and bobbing his head so that he pulled nearly all the way back before descending again to the hilt. Both Ichigo's hands gripped his shirt around his shoulders as he moved and in no time he lost himself, a low whining grunt muffled by his bit bottom lip the only indication he was cumming. Grimmjow stood and kissed Ichigo, his cum coated tongue sliding easily inside his mouth. Ichigo sucked on it eagerly and pulled his body close. They were both startled when someone cleared their throat.

"You're up in five, Ichigo." Yumi said with a half smirk and a cocked eyebrow before turning around and walking back inside.

Ichigo covered his eyes with one hand and groaned as Grimmjow chuckled.

"Don't worry 'bout it, Ichigo. He probably won't tell everyone."

"Are you kidding me? That fucking gossip whore will…." He groaned again and took a deep breath. "I can't go back in there."

"You gotta. I wanna see you shake that ass of yers before I go home alone."

Ichigo chuckled and sighed, surprised that he wasn't as freaked out about being caught by Yumi as he thought he should have been. Grimmjow pulled him close and kissed him once more, his tongue engaging Ichigo's without thought. It wasn't long before they were interrupted again.

"Yo, Ichigo. Wrap it up. One minute." Yumi said as he leaned out the door, the half smirk still plastered on his face.

Ichigo pushed Grimmjow away and made sure his zipper was done before he ran inside. Grimmjow licked his lips as he watched him go, his mood greatly improved. Ichigo grabbed his mask and started to put it on when Shinji asked him what had taken him so long. Ichigo blushed and he covered half his face with his mask, not bothering to answer the question. He took a deep breath and placed a hand on the curtain as the announcer called his name. With a sigh he licked his lips and walked out on stage to the blinding lights and the screaming cat calls from the regulars that came to the club. His eyes went immediately to Grimmjow sitting next to Nnoitra at the bar and he grinned as the music started, his own mood much better than moments ago.

Meanwhile Yumi was happily spreading the news backstage that Ichigo was just in the back alley getting serviced by a sexy blue haired man. Ichigo had no idea what he would be walking in to when his set was over.

A/N I thought I would have this out sooner but apparently not. Gomenasai *bows deeply* What a surprising lack of smut this chapter, ne? Hopefully it was still good enough for you to still love me ;p I posted some semi important info on my profile page if yer interested. What didja think?

~Penny