Chapter Twenty Five

When Nnoitra pulled up to Shinji's apartment a half an hour later he shut off the engine and turned his wide grin to the younger man.

"Hey, let me crash on yer couch tanight."

"No way! I already bought ya that damn burger, now go away." Shinji retorted and reached for the door handle.

Nnoitra grabbed his hand and leaned over him, Shinji leaning back in turn and bumping into the door.

"I save yer stupid ass, drive ya to the hospital, and then run my fuckin' ass all over town lookin' for the bitch for ya and Grimm and this is the thanks I get?" He said, grin still firmly in place.

"First off ya didn't save me, Grimmjow did. Second off, ya gave me a ride to the hospital along with everyone else. Thirdly ya did that fer Grimmjow. And I bought ya a damn hamburger for the ride."

"I don't know where the key is for the stupid hotel so I ain't got nowhere ta stay. Just let me crash here."

Shinji glared at him a moment longer before rolling his eyes and sighing. "Fine." He hoped he wouldn't regret this later.

Nnoitra grinned in triumph and followed Shinji up the stairs, eager to take a piss and pass out for good. Once inside it wasn't hard to tell where everything was, the apartment being as small as it was, and Nnoitra set right off to the bathroom. Shinji rolled his eyes once more and pulled out his futon, laying it on the floor and grabbing his only pillow, clutching it to his chest protectively. There was no way he was giving that up. Ichigo might get mad at him, but Nnoitra was going to have to use his if he wanted one. When he was finished he came out of the bathroom and stretched once again, his body bending back so far Shinji was surprised he didn't hear any cracks.

"Fuck yer bathroom is small as hell. I'm gettin' fuckin' spoiled stayin' with Grimm."

"Whatever. Shut up and sleep." Shinji muttered and watched Nnoitra slink lazily over the back of the couch, one long leg flopped over the back as a crooked arm bent over his eyes.

With a deep sigh he began to snore softly and Shinji gave him an incredulous look. Oh you have got to be kidding me. He's asleep that fast? Shinji thought to himself and leaned forward to check for sure. All of the sudden a thin arm shot out, long fingers curling around the back of Shinji's head and pulling him even closer. Shinji squeaked out his surprise before a thin pair of lips closed over his and sucked gently. Too shocked to push him away, Shinji's body froze and his mouth fell open, giving Nnoitra the perfect opportunity to slip his long tongue inside. Shinji felt as if his entire mouth were being sampled and his body leaned into the kiss before he realized what he was doing. He threw his hands out in front of him and scrambled backward, his eyes wide and fixed on that damned grin that had returned.

"Why'd ya stop, Blondie?"

"Oh fuck you! Don't ya dare touch me again!"

Nnoitra laughed and started to sit up when Shinji's pillow knocked him back to the couch. He laughed again and grabbed the pillow, shifting it under his head and closing his eyes once again.

"Damn it." Shinji muttered, now wary of approaching to retrieve his pillow.

With a loud sigh he gave up and grabbed Ichigo's pillow, curling into a ball in the middle of his futon and trying to forget what had happened. He licked his lips unconsciously and frowned. He tasted like hamburger.

Ichigo was just coming back to the room after grabbing something to eat from the cafeteria when Grimmjow woke up. He smiled at him, liking the fact that some of his color had returned, and sat in the chair by the bed. Grimmjow seemed surprised to see him but quickly recovered, grinning that grin that Ichigo loved and clearing his throat.

"So it wasn't a dream." He mumbled.

Ichigo smiled and shook his head. "How are you feeling today?"

Grimmjow snorted. "Like I got stabbed." He grit his teeth as he tried to shift his position. "Twice."

Ichigo sighed, not really finding the humor in that comment and shifted his own weight uncomfortably.

"So you can start moving all yer stuff back today." Grimmjow said in a conversational tone.

Ichigo shook his head. "I can't do that."

Grimmjow frowned. "Why not? You said you weren't leavin'."

"I'm not going back to the way things were. I… you can't… I don't…."

"Just spit it out." Grimmjow growled.

Ichigo took a deep breath and let it out in a puff of air before blurting it out. "I don't want to get paid for anything any more. Ever. If I come back it's… it'll be because… you want me there. And not just for sex." He added the last part under his breath but Grimmjow still heard it. He sighed sarcastically and ran a hand through his thick hair.

"I don't see the issue here."

Ichigo's head shot up and his mouth fell open. "But…."

"Are you fuckin' complainin'?" Grimmjow asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"So, we'd… I'd be…?"

"My lover I guess." Grimmjow said, looking away from Ichigo for the first time, and frowning at the floor.

Ichigo burst out laughing and slapped a hand to his forehead. "Oh my God. Are you blushing? You are aren't you?!"

"I am not ya little shit." Grimmjow bit out. There was no reason for him to blush at the thought of Ichigo being his lover.

Ichigo was too distracted by Grimmjow's not blushing to feel the embarrassment of the thought of being his lover. He just couldn't believe after everything that had happened, after all that had been said and done that it would be that that made the man react that way. It was just too good.

"Never mind I change my mind." Grimmjow grumbled and Ichigo stood, wiping a tear from his eye as he approached the bed.

He leaned down and captured Grimmjow's lips, pressing a light kiss to them with all the confidence in the world. "Lover huh?"

"Well boyfriend sounds stupid."

Ichigo blushed and looked away as Grimmjow tried and failed to hide his second one. Damn it, this was getting ridiculous.

"But we'd be… a couple, right?" Ichigo whispered.

Grimmjow sighed and reached up, pulling Ichigo's face closer and nipping his lips lightly. "Couple?" He kissed him again and snorted out a laugh. He couldn't remember a time when that term could have ever been applied to a relationship he had had. "Yeah. I guess that's how it would be."

They continued to kiss, teeth and tongues teasing through silly grins on their faces. Ichigo was happy, so very happy to be back with Grimmjow and Grimmjow himself couldn't believe how good it felt to be with Ichigo once more. The last two weeks had been hell on him without Ichigo around, he had made such a permanent impression on his life. Without either of them noticing two figures stepped inside the room and glared at them, both crossing their arms over their chest but angry for far different reasons.

"Get a fuckin' room." Nnoitra sneered at the happy couple.

Ichigo pulled back and blushed, looking away from everyone in favor of staring at the floor. Grimmjow grinned.

"I got a room, get the fuck out."

Nnoitra rolled his eyes and shouldered Shinji into the room. "Blondie insisted we rush down here to drop yer bitch some clothes off."

"Don't call me that."

"Don't call him that!"

Both Shinji and Ichigo spoke at once and Grimmjow's smile grew. "'We', huh?"

Nnoitra grinned and Shinji rolled his eyes at the surprised look on Ichigo's face. He was pissed off at having to still be in the same room as the tall, pushy man beside him and he wasn't willing to answer any questions at the moment. Not after what had happened that morning.

Shinji had been in the bathroom brushing his teeth when Nnoitra had come up behind him, pinning him to the sink and leaning forward to whisper in his ear, "Ya snore really loud."

Shinji had nearly choked on his toothbrush and spun around as best he could to retort angrily.

"I do not!" He exclaimed, spitting a bit of toothpaste on Nnoitra's cheek.

"Tch, do to. And ya mumbled crazy shit too." Nnoitra wiped at his cheek. "'The fuck is Yumi and what exactly shouldn't they put where?"

Shinji blushed four shades of red and spun back around to finish brushing, doing his best to ignore the man still pressed too closely behind him. Nnoitra laughed and leaned down once again, grabbing roughly at the top of Shinji's ear with his teeth and tugging hard. Shinji gasped and immediately started coughing as a bit of toothpaste suds flew down his throat and he spun around once more. Nnoitra was laughing so hard he hadn't realized that Shinji was done coughing until the younger man spoke.

"I told ya not ta touch me ever again."

Nnoitra smirked. "No way. It's too fun."

He leaned forward again, this time his fingers curled around the edge of the sink for purchase. Shinji's eyes narrowed dangerously and just before Nnoitra's lips touched his own his knee flew up into the other man's groin. He had to aim a little higher than he normally did but the effect was the same. Nnoitra groaned and fell backwards, grabbing himself and sliding to the floor.

"Fuck."

Shinji had turned around and spit out the rest of his toothpaste, rinsing and leaving the tiny room with the tall, thin man groaning on the floor. At the door he threw a haughty look over his shoulder and said, "And yer a bad kisser."

After that Ichigo had called and requested clean clothes and there they were, standing in Grimmjow's hospital room in awkward silence. Ichigo cleared his throat and walked to Shinji, retrieving the bag with a small thank you before ducking out of the room to change.

"Yo, give me the fuckin' key to the hotel." Nnoitra said to Grimmjow, stepping away from Shinji as he did so.

"Just go back to the condo. I'll have Shawlong pick up our stuff from the hotel and take it back in a bit."

"I thought ya didn't want ta stay there anymore?" Nnoitra asked, plopping in the chair Ichigo had scooted closer to the bed and propping his feet up.

"Changed my mind since the Strawberry is coming back."

Shinji's mouth dropped open. "What?"

Grimmjow grinned and would have put both hands behind his head in a relaxed pose if he could have.

"That's right. Strawberry and I worked it all out just now. He's coming back to me." Oh he was enjoying this, the hurt, panicked look on Shinji's face was so sweet.

"But he said…."

"I told ya. Ya lost, Blondie." Nnoitra chimed in with a yawn.

Shinji pointed his finger at him. "No one asked you!"

"Geez, what's all the yelling about?" Ichigo asked as he walked back into the room.

Shinji turned to him and frowned. "Are ya really movin' back in with him, Ichi?"

"Oh, he told you." Ichigo said, a light flush adorning his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"After everything that happened afterwards, yer just gonna go back?"

"Shin…."

"It's his choice, Blondie."

"Don't ya dare talk to me about choices. The whole reason this whole mess started was because ya took away Ichigo's choices and forced him to do something that was completely out of character for him. Ya didn't know him before then so ya wouldn't see the difference."

"Shinji…." Ichigo tried again.

"Yer just fuckin' jealous." Grimmjow muttered, already bored with the conversation.

"Ya didn't see him after ya broke it off. Ya didn't see the look on his face. The hurt, the fear, the fuckin' tears! I did. I was there for him when ya were off playin' yakuza bad guy and not even thinkin' about what ya did to him."

Grimmjow glared and tensed. "He left me."

"I know that! But it was yer fault he left and I was there to help him pick up the pieces. Where the fuck were you?"

"Shinji stop it." Ichigo pleaded quietly.

"Ichi, it's one thing ta start sleepin' with him again, it's another thing entirely ta move back in with him. He's a fuckin' dictator that tries ta run yer life. Next thing ya know you'll be his little house wife because he won't even let ya leave to finish school."

"Shinji, you're being ridiculous. Look, everyone has had a rough couple of days and I think that we should just take it easy. Go home and get some more rest."

"I'd have gotten plenty of rest if that fucktard wouldn't 'a pushed his way inta my apartment last night." Shinji was whining now, clearly the last few days were catching up to him like Ichigo had said and it was all crashing down on him now.

"Ya said I could sleep on yer couch." Nnoitra replied indignantly.

"I didn't say ya could kiss me!"

The room was silent as four pairs of eyes, sans Nnoitra's covered one, went wide. Shinji could feel his face heating and Nnoitra was too shocked he had said anything to even grin. Ichigo was slowly shaking his head, his eyes glued on Shinji's face and Grimmjow was looking between Nnoitra and Shinji. And then he snickered. At first he tried to hold back for fear of the pain laughter would surely cause him, but eventually the situation won out and he was in tears, both from the pain and the laughter.

"Oh God. It hurts. It's so funny though."

"Grimmjow stop laughing you're going to fuck yourself all up?" Ichigo said, running over to him and trying to make him lie back flat again.

"Can't. Too funny." He continued to laugh through gritted teeth as his eyes closed and his body tensed.

Shinji narrowed his eyes and turned around. "I hate all of ya."

"Shinji, wait. Grimmjow stop laughing, it's not that funny."

Grimmjow snorted but tried his best to stop. Nnoitra stood up and walked after Shinji, managing to catch him right outside the door.

"Ya liked it and ya know it." He grinned, having composed his earlier shock.

"All I remember was the taste of hamburger." Shinji retorted and folded his arms defensively.

"Tch." He sneered and grabbed Shinji, pulling him into another kiss.

Shinji gasped, nearly the same mistake he had made the time before but this time when the tongue intruded upon his mouth he bit down, the shocking coppery taste of blood filling his senses. Nnoitra pulled away.

"Ow. Tha' fuckin' hur'."

"Then this is really gonna fuckin' hurt." Shinji replied, pulling back a fist and planting it in the middle of Nnoitra's face.

"OW!"

He fell backwards and landed on his ass with a thud, blood now pouring from both his nose and his mouth. Shinji huffed and spun on his heal, leaving the hospital and all the irritating men behind.

After things calmed down and a nurse had confirmed that Nnoitra's nose was not in fact broken and that his tongue was indeed still intact, Grimmjow ordered him to go back to the condo. A few hours and a room change later, Ichigo was leaning over the bed fluffing Grimmjow's pillow when something brushed up against his crotch. He tried to pull back but one of Grimmjow's fingers dipped into the waistband of his jeans and held him in place. Ichigo looked down at him and shook his head silently. Grimmjow ignored him and stroked the back of his fingers over the noticeable yet flaccid bulge in the front of Ichigo's pants.

"What are you doing?" Ichigo whispered.

"Touchin' ya." Grimmjow grinned as he palmed the quickly hardening package.

Ichigo hissed out a breath and tried again to back up. "N-not here."

Grimmjow growled and hooked his finger back in the waistband, pulling Ichigo closer to him.

"Ya sayin' ya don't like it?" Grimmjow asked with a grin.

"I'm not saying that at all. But you're going to have to wait a bit for this kind of…."

"Someone threw a bitch fit and took off two weeks ago so forgive me if I seem a bit over eager now that they're back." He replied sarcastically.

Ichigo rolled his eyes and pulled Grimmjow's hand away, placing it on the bed and leaning down. "We can do that kind of thing when they let you out of here." He brushed his lips over Grimmjow's lightly and let his tongue flick teasingly over the bottom one. "I promise."

When he pulled back he was grinning and if anything it made Grimmjow want him even more. When Ichigo got like this, bossy and sexually assertive, it made him hard and tingly. He loved it.

"Then what the hell're we gonna do about that?" Grimmjow nodded his head to his lap and the tented blankets there.

Unfortunately Ichigo's assertiveness usually didn't last very long and under the circumstances the young man blushed and looked immediately to the door to see if anyone was looking. Of course they were alone, the nurse having already done her rounds to gather vitals from Grimmjow. He had been taken off the monitors seeing as how well he was doing and all that was left was the single IV line in his right arm.

"Ya just gonna leave me hangin'?" Grimmjow grinned.

"What do you want me to do? We're at the hospital."

Grimmjow's eye sparkled. "Lock the door and suck it."

Ichigo swallowed and wished that look coupled with that comment hadn't gone straight down to his cock. With a shaky sigh Ichigo walked to the door and slowly closed it, smiling tightly to a passing nurse, and locking it with a click that sounded louder to him than it actually was. He stood with his back to the door staring at Grimmjow before biting his lip and approaching. He wanted this so bad but he was so scared they were going to get caught and he really wished the idea hadn't excited him so much. With a deep breath, he crawled up on the bed and pulled away the sheet from Grimmjow's lap, settling himself between his legs. He licked his lips at the sight and found his mouth watering at the idea of tasting him again. With another deep but shaky breath he closed his eyes and descended, his tongue reaching out and making contact before his lips did. Grimmjow groaned and tried not to buck his hips, knowing that if he hurt himself while they were doing this Ichigo would stop immediately. Ichigo moaned around him and swallowed as he lowered himself, the familiar taste filling and nearly overwhelming his senses. A man's cock should never taste so good, Ichigo thought to himself fleetingly.

"Ah, shit. T-take care of yerself too." Grimmjow breathed and Ichigo quickly obeyed, unzipping his own pants and pulling himself free.

Grimmjow's fingers pushed through Ichigo's hair, smoothing and musing it as his head bobbed up and down in his lap. Grimmjow's cock pulsed and Ichigo took him in as far as he would go, swallowing around him and milking the orgasm that came from the action. Ichigo cupped a hand over his own member and caught most of his own seed as it spilled from him when Grimmjow's orgasm triggered his own. Panting, he pulled back and licked his lips, letting Grimmjow watch him swallow his cum.

"God yer so fuckin hot when you do things like that." Grimmjow breathed.

Ichigo bit his lip and leaned over Grimmjow, their tongues sliding over one another's in a slow but deep kiss. He slid off the bed and rearranged Grimmjow's blanket, retreating to the small in room bathroom to wash his hands, all the while his heart fluttering in his chest. Grimmjow licked his lips and closed his eyes. It may not have been quite perfect, but things were starting to get a little brighter.

Ichigo left a short time after that, he needed to stop by Shinji's and get ready for work that night. Grimmjow had tried to talk him into staying and when denied he tried using threats. Knowing there was really nothing he could do, Ichigo kissed him and promised to be back as soon as he was finished. Grimmjow grumbled as Ichigo left the room and Ichigo smiled. He was starting to like it when Grimmjow was incapacitated like that.

Once he reached Shinji's apartment he found the blonde still in quite a bad mood. He was in the kitchen banging pots and pans around when Ichigo walked in and didn't bother to stop. Ichigo rolled his eyes and walked up behind him, yanking the pan out of Shinji's hand and setting it on the counter.

"Shinji…."

"Did I break it?" Shinji asked heatedly and Ichigo stared before shaking his head. "That sucks." He leaned against the counter.

"What are you mad about?" Ichigo asked cautiously. He had been expecting Shinji to start in on his relationship with Grimmjow but apparently he had been obsessing over the fight with Nnoitra.

"Everything! God, why does my life suck so much ass." He wailed, throwing his hands in the air before covering his face with them.

"You're being a drama queen." Ichigo smirked.

"Don't start with me, Ichi."

They were silent for a moment before Ichigo tossed an arm around his shoulders and gave him an awkward hug. "Look I'm not really sure what to say about all this, but…."

"Ya love him, I get it. But Ichi…."

"Yeah, I do." Ichigo smiled, surprised at how good it felt to tell someone even if it wasn't the person he needed to tell it to.

"But are ya sure about goin' back ta him? Ta live?"

"It isn't going to be like last time. We're…," He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He couldn't look anyone in the face when he said the next part. It was too embarrassing. "We're… a couple. I'm not getting paid to sleep with him anymore." His voice was quiet and his face was burning but a part of him was still relieved to say it out loud.

Shinji sighed. "Fine." He wrapped his arms around his waist and hugged Ichigo back. "But ya can't let him keep us apart. That's just not cool."

Ichigo laughed and pulled away. "Well duh. You're my best friend and he's just gonna have to deal with that."

Ichigo wandered away to gather his things for work and Shinji smiled. It was good to see Ichigo so happy, even if he didn't like the reason. Maybe he did need more rest, he thought suddenly. He was starting to sound like a moody teenage girl with his rollercoaster emotions.

"Ya comin' back here after work tanight?" Shinji asked as he reached for his futon.

"Nah, I thought I'd go back to the hospital and sneak into Grimmjow's room."

Shinji smirked. "Alright then. I'm gonna go back ta sleep. I'll see ya tamorrow."

"Yeah. 'Night Shin." Ichigo called out from the bathroom as he brushed his teeth.

Shinji grabbed his pillow and blanket and snuggled into bed, burying his face in the pillow and taking a deep breath. It smelled different but his mind was already starting to drift off. He kind of liked the new smell anyway. With one more deep sigh, Shinji drifted off, the new scent on his pillow circling around him and relaxing his entire body. As Ichigo was stepping out the door he looked over at his sleeping friend and was happy to see the smile on his face. He shut the door quietly behind him and silently wished Shinji a good night's sleep.

A/N SURPRISE!! HAPPY MERRY EARLY CHRISTMAS, lol. I really wasn't expecting on getting anything else out thise week, but as always happens when I try to take a break, I end up writing ^^; Anywho, sorry if I didn't reply to anyone's review for the last chapter FF was being stupid *again* and I wasn't getting alerted in my email that anyone had even reviewed. hopefully it doesn't do the same thing to me with this chapter as well. Anywho, yay Shinji/Nnoitra time *lmao* And Grimmkitty and Berry-tan have "talked" a bit about their relationship. It makes me smile. :D Hope you all enjoyed this, it had me giggling most of the time while writing it.

~Penny