Chapter Thirty Five

Shinji flexed his arm out in front of him and grinned at the doctor. Finally, that stupid cast was gone and he could go back to work. He had practically forced his mother to take him a day early to get it off. One day really wasn't going to make that much of a difference. He turned his smile to his mother who in turn grinned at him. To celebrate his mother had offered to get him a present. Something he had been dying to get but hadn't been able to since he moved out of her house two years ago. Thanking the doctor, Shinji gave his arm a thorough scrubbing and left the hospital with a bounce in his step and his arm curled around his mother's.

"Where to first, Shin-chan?" She asked, adjusting her sun hat on her head.

"Piercing, piercing!" Shinji chanted gleefully and grinned at him mother's laughter.

"Alright, Shin-chan."

They parked in a underground parking unit and took the train that got them closest to Nicho and Shinji's favorite piercer. Granted he only had one piercing so far, but the man had done a wonderful job on his tongue. Shinji's mother perused the line of tattoo art as Shinji discussed with the man what he wanted before he ushered both of them into a room in the back. Shinji unbuttoned his shirt, leaving it open as he sat on the padded chair and waited for the man to get everything ready.

"Nervous?" The man asked.

"Are ya kiddin' me? I've been waitin' so long fer this."

The man chuckled and grabbed a special pen, making even marks on each side of Shinji's nipples where the piercing would go before instructing him to lay back. Shinji closed his eyes when a cool clamp was set about his nipple, slightly embarrassed by the fact that it turned him on even with his mother watching. A quick pinch and a slight tug as the surgical steel was put into place and it was over. Shinji looked down and grinned when he saw the bar through his right nipple.

"Great. Now the next one." The man said as he clamped Shinji's left nipple and repeated the process.

In no time it was over and Shinji was buttoning his shirt back over his now sore and highly sensitive nipples. He received the small bag of cleansers and instructions on caring for them and left the shop with a smile. Today was just getting better and better.

"Ya never told me how it went." His mother said later as they walked into a second hand shop.

"How what went?" Shinji asked as he began to flip through a rack of shirts.

"With tha gangster."

Shinji rolled his eyes and switched to German. "Yer awful nosy 'bout that."

She rolled her eyes right back but giggled just the same. "So ya did it then?"

"Yeah." Shinji replied, blushing a little at the memory and looking away. It wasn't often he felt reluctant to tell his mother anything so of course she was intrigued.

"Oh? Well? Was I right?"

Shinji shook his head. "Not even close. Let's just say once wasn't nearly enough."

"Oh my!" She giggled at the implication and turned to sift through a different rack. Still speaking German she cocked an eyebrow. "But ya enjoyed it so what's the problem, Shin-chan?"

"I…!" He stopped, the words dying on his tongue before they had a chance to fall. He knew denying it to his mother would get him nowhere, she could see right through anything he said, so he didn't bother trying. "Yes. But that's not the point, okaachan! Anyway, it's not gonna happen again so it doesn't matter."

"Oh, baby what happened?" Instantly alert to her son's drop in mood, she turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I dunno really. I mean, he came in the house and started kissin' on me and I was tellin' him no like I always do and then all the sudden I was up against the wall with his hand around my throat." She sucked in a breath and covered her mouth, her eyes flicking to his uncovered neck. "It didn't bruise 'er anythin' but it kinda scared me." He admitted, and only because only his mother could understand him at that point.

"So ya not gonna see him anymore?" She asked as she pulled a pair of pants off the rack to look at them better.

Shinji sighed. "I don't think so, okaachan. 'Sides, it's not like I really wanted it in the first place."

"Liar." She muttered with a smile and placed the pants back. "Ya need ta get over Ichi-chan. He's not that to ya and ya know it. He's like yer brother, Shin-chan."

"Tch. Doesn't matter anyway. He's in love with that blue haired freak and I'm left with a psychopath who thinks he can do whatever the hell he wants." He sighed. "When's it gonna be my turn, okaachan? Why can't I meet a good guy and fall in love and be happy?"

As they stepped out of the store she put her arm around her son's waist and hugged him. "You'll find 'im Shin-chan."

"Yeah but when?" Shinji whined.

"You'll know when ya do." She chuckled and reached up to smooth a stray hair of his.

Shinji rolled his eyes and shifted his shirt over his chest. It was warm out and he was starting to sweat making his new additions uncomfortable.

"Let's go get food before ya take me ta get Ichi." He suggested. Ichigo and he had taken the night off from work so that Shinji could hang out with him and help him study. He was nervous about it because he was finally going to be seeing where Ichigo was living.

"Sure thing Shin-chan." His mother grinned and together they went in search of food.

Ichigo stretched his arms above his head and leaned back in the chair he was sitting in. One more class for the day and he was already dog tired. Grimmjow had mentioned that they would be having a bit of company later that night and he was a little nervous about it. Sure, he had already met one of Grimmjow's friends, Nnoitra, but he didn't know anything about any of his other friends really. To make himself a little more relaxed about the situation he invited Shinji over before hand. They had some things to go over about the club as well as working on Ichigo's new routine. Of course he was going to try and get some studying in and during that time he was going to collect on his debt for a back rub. He really needed it.

In the middle of his stretch someone poked him in the belly and he grunted, folding himself forward and wrapping his arms around his middle. When he heard a feminine giggle he looked up into the blue eyes of Shinji's mother.

"Gotcha!" She said as she slid into the seat next to his.

"Hey." He smiled, nodding to Shinji who took the seat across from him. "You guys are early. And you got your cast off."

Shinji grinned and waved his unbound arm around to show it off.

"We got done quick and then ran outta things ta do." The blonde woman replied with a smile.

A young man walked by and she slapped Shinji's shoulder and nodded towards him as he passed. "Schau dir mal dem seine Haare an Shin-chan!"

Shinji looked over at the man, taking in his long black hair pulled back in a ponytail but he eyes wandered lower and he smirked. "Scheiße, sieh dir seinen Arsch an."

The two blondes giggled and Ichigo shook his head. He hated it when they did things like that, talking in another language when they knew he couldn't understand it. Luckily he understood a few choice words and "Arsch" was one of them. The rest he could pretty well guess.

"Stop checking out people's asses at my school." He muttered half heartedly.

Shinji's mother giggled and kissed his cheek. "We could go somewhere else and do it."

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"Shin-chan, how ya gettin' home?"

Shinji shrugged. "Don't worry. I'll figure it out."

"Okay, well Ichi-chan, I have an appointment to get to so I'll leave this here." She said, cocking her head towards Shinji. Shinji smiled and shook his head. "Love ya Ichi-chan."

"Yeah, love you too, okaachan."

As soon as the woman was gone from sight Shinji shuddered. "Oh God. Creepy random thought."

Ichigo frowned. Did he really want to know? "What?" He asked cautiously.

"You and okaachan."

"Shinji that's just wrong!"

"I know!"

The both of them stared at the table a moment before bursting out in laughter.

"I gotta get to class." Ichigo said, shaking his head.

"See ya!"

Being slightly anal retentive about cleaning, Shinji wandered to the bathroom and used the cleansers on his nipple rings, wasting some time playing with his hair in the mirror and fixing his clothing so that it was just so. By the time he was finished he had only fifteen minutes to kill so he wandered to Ichigo's class as slowly as he possibly could, waiting outside leaned up against the wall for the door to finally open. When it did and Ichigo walked out they hurried off to the car waiting for him.

Shinji wasn't sure what to expect as they drove through town and Ichigo chatted on about things that had happened at school that day. He was nervous, far more so than he thought he would be, to see Grimmjow's home. Ichigo's home. When they pulled up in front of the large building his eyes nearly bugged out of his head. This is where he lived now? It was a fucking condo! Rich people lived there. Rich people with fancy clothes and shiny cars and more money than God.

"Shinji!"

Shinji's head whipped around when Ichigo said his name and he smiled. "Holy fuck, Ichi."

Ichigo chuckled and shook his head. "Tell me about it. I still feel weird walking in here by myself."

"Shit, we're dirty little street rats compared to the brass who lives here."

They stepped in the elevator and rode it up to the floor Ichigo and Grimmjow lived on, Shinji playing with the buttons and making their trip a bit longer than it needed to be. He liked to push things. If he had been impressed with the building itself it was nothing compared to the inside of the home. He whistled as Ichigo let him in and they toed off their shoes.

"If I didn't know he was gay I would'a guessed it by how this place is decorated." He muttered to himself and then squealed when Kimi came trotting up to him. "Oh my God! Ya didn't tell me ya had kittens."

"I did too. Remember when Karin and I had to stay here and I told you about that box of kittens?"

Shinji wasn't listening anymore. He was content cuddling with the tiny black kitten who was purring loudly in his grasp. Ichigo shook his head and walked to the couch, making himself comfortable with a sigh. Let Shinji play with the cat a bit, he thought to himself as he shut his eyes.

"Ichi, if yer so tired, why'd ya invite me over?" Shinji asked as he plopped down on the couch beside him with the still purring kitten.

"Because. I wanted you to come over and hang out." He grinned then and opened his eyes. "And I'm getting that backrub today."

Shinji smiled. "Fine." He replied with an exaggerated sigh. "Get on the floor, baka."

Ichigo moved to the floor eagerly and Shinji sat behind him on the couch, Ichigo between his legs. The minute Shinji's practiced thumbs dug into the thick hard knots he groaned. He needed this more than he had thought.

"Look, I don't really care about that shit, but this can't keep going on like this. If he finds out, and he probably already knows, I'm fuckin' dead. And I really don't feel like dyin' fer someone else's mistake."

Grimmjow leaned over his desk and pointed at the computer screen. Figures weren't adding up. Large amounts of money were missing from several accounts and all of it had been happening slowly for quite some time.

"What exactly do you want me to do when I find out what's going on?" Glasses flashed and fingers typed at hyper speed.

"Fix it. Find the money and put it back where it belongs and tell me the fucker's name so I can fuckin' kill 'im."

"You're always so violent, Grimm."

"More fun that way. Can you do it?" He asked.

A very undignified snort was heard as the chair behind the desk turned around and gold eyes looked up at him. "Don't insult me, Grimmjow. Of course I can."

Grimmjow smiled. "Thanks, Szayel. I owe you one."

Szayel stood and smiled up at the taller man. "Of course you do. Now let's go meet that toy of yours."

Grimmjow rolled his eyes and grabbed his coat. "He's not a toy, baka."

"Oh, so you actually like this one?"

"Duh. He wouldn't be living with me if I didn't."

They left the office, locking the door behind them, and made their way out of the building to Szayel's car. Grimmjow had sent Shawlong out on errands that morning and his own personal car was currently in the shop getting a thorough cleaning and a new paint job, so they had ridden together. Szayel was good at a lot of things, but computers where second nature to him. Even his father had made use of his skills when he was younger for his own business.

On their way back to the condo Szayel asked as many questions as his mind could think up regarding Ichigo. Grimmjow refused to answer most of them, coming back at Szayel with a surly, "Ask 'im yerself!"

"Grimm, we've know each other a long time now and I don't think I have ever seen you like this before."

"Like what?"

They were pulling into the underground parking garage and Szayel's Aston Martin V8 Vantage slipped into Grimmjow's spot with ease.

"You're all gaga over this boy. I can see it in your eyes."

"Then why do you keep calling him my toy then."

Szayel chortled. "Because I like that look in your eyes when I do."

Grimmjow frowned as they got on the elevator. "What look?"

"Gaga." Szayel said simply and they rode the rest of the way up in silence.

He was just about to open the door when he heard laughter on the other side and he stopped and frowned. Szayel raised his eyebrows and leaned closer to listen.

"Ya look like an idiot."

"Yeah but if I'm doing this on stage when I'm taking my clothes off it'll look hot."

"No it won't."

Grimmjow groaned and reached for the knob. It figured Ichigo would have brought Shinji over that night. When he opened the door he couldn't help but smile when Ichigo turned and looked up at him, a large grin on his face.

"Hey." He said, pushing himself off the floor only to cross his arms and shift uncomfortably.

Shinji sighed and stood up as well, nodding to Grimmjow with a tight smile. Grimmjow nodded back but returned his attention to Ichigo almost immediately. Ichigo was blushing and biting his lip. No one had even noticed Szayel yet. They seemed to move at the same time, half reluctant, half eager, until Grimmjow reached out, pulled Ichigo close by the hip and kissed his lips tenderly. Ichigo sighed and closed his eyes, pretending that no one else was in the room for a moment and kissed back. It was an innocent kiss, lips closed and tongues in mouths, but it still left the both of them breathless. Grimmjow pulled away and whispered something in Ichigo's ear that had him turning bright red before laughing and pulling away. Shinji had his arms crossed and was looking adamantly away from the couple. He really did not want to see that.

When someone cleared their throat all three men turned to the door to see Szayel grinning widely.

"Well hello, Ichigo. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Ichigo's eyes widened when they landed on the slight pink haired man standing by the door and Grimmjow cleared his throat.

"Oh yeah. Uh, Ichigo… you, this is an old friend of mine. Szayel Aporro Granz."

"You say that as if you forgot I was standing there." He said as he stepped forward and stretched out his hand. "Forgive me. I've been out of the country for so long now I've grown accustom to greeting in the Western fashion."

Ichigo shook Szayel's thin hand and watched a gold pair of eyes quickly rake over his body. He almost shivered at the cold feeling it stirred inside him. Szayel turned to Shinji and smiled.

"I don't believe your name is you.".

"Shinji Hirako."

Szayel shook his hand and continued to smile. "A pleasure, Shinji." His voice dropped a few octaves when Shinji's name rolled off his tongue.

Shinji smirked at the handsome man who was obviously flirting with him. "Yeah. Pleasure."

Ichigo wasn't sure how long they had been talking but he had had about enough of that pink haired asshole. They were at the kitchen table, Szayel sitting on the opposite side from him with Grimmjow, having a fairly normal conversation but those slim fingers kept resting on Grimmjow's arm. Gold eyes kept smiling up at him with a fondness Ichigo didn't like and other than Grimmjow shrugging off the hand, he ignored it all. It was infuriating! He wanted to reach over the table and snap his arm in two and scream at him, "He's mine!" It startled him. Not so much that he was angry, he was angry often enough to be quite familiar with the emotion, but that he was filled with jealous rage. They were too familiar with each other, to comfortable with each other and it made his mind swim with implications. Had he always been like this? He wondered. Having never really been in a relationship before he didn't have much to reference it with.

Szayel laughed and leaned forward, his hand once again on Grimmjow's arm. Snap it! Break it! Smash his fucking face in! The darker part of him screamed and he cleared his throat and excused himself from the table. He wandered to the bathroom and splashed his face with cold water.

"Get a fuckin' grip, Ichigo." He whispered to himself.

This was ridiculous. There was no reason for him to be reacting this way and he knew it. Neither of them were doing anything wrong. Perhaps this was how they had always been together. They had practically grown up together after all. With a deep sigh he dried his face and returned to the kitchen.

"Yo, Ichigo. I think I'm gonna take off before it gets too late. Besides, weatherman said it was gonna rain tonight and I really don't wanna be soaked by the time I get home." Shinji said, standing and pushing his chair in.

"Oh, yeah. I guess it is kinda late." Ichigo conceded. I was almost nine in the evening.

"You're walking? How dreadful! Would you like a ride to your house?"

"Oh, I don't really…."

"It would be no trouble at all, really."

"Do it." Grimmjow said, rising from the table. "Besides, It's late so…."

Szayel laughed. "In other words, get the fuck out, right?"

Grimmjow grinned. "Yeah."

Ichigo and Grimmjow walked Szayel and Shinji to the door and as they slipped their shoes on Grimmjow snaked his arm around Ichigo's waist and kissed the side of his neck. Ichigo predictably blushed just as the other two turned to look at them.

"Well, it was great meeting you Ichigo. I hope that we can be friends as well." Szayel said, shaking Ichigo's hand once again.

"Uh, yeah." Not fuckin' likely.

"See ya at work tomorrow Ichi!" Shinji waved, ignoring Grimmjow completely.

With the door shut, finally, Grimmjow pulled Ichigo closer and kissed him. Not lightly as he had when they had first seen each other that evening, but deep and fierce, his tongue invading with the intent to conquer.

"I thought they'd never fuckin' leave." He whispered against Ichigo's lips.

Ichigo grinned as he slung his arms around Grimmjow's hips. "Yeah."

"Let's go get naked."

Ichigo laughed and buried his face in Grimmjow's neck. "Pervert."

"Well we can't fuck with our clothes on." He stopped and pulled back to look down at Ichigo with a wide grin. "At least not two nights in a row."

Ichigo licked his lips. All he wanted right then and there was a nice angry, hard fuck to get all that stupid jealousy out of his system. With a smirk he pulled his shirt over his head and took a few steps backwards.

"What are you waiting for? Take your clothes off." He taunted, continuing his retreating steps.

Grimmjow barked out a laugh and lunged for Ichigo, barley missing him as Ichigo dodged and ran for the bathroom.

"Little shit." He said, glad that Ichigo was facing the other way so he couldn't see the slight grimace on his face from the pain in his side. It had been bugging him off and on all day.

By the time he got to the bedroom Ichigo was standing naked in the bathroom doorway.

"Took you long enough, old man."

Grimmjow glared in mock anger. "Yer gonna pay fer that, little boy."

Ichigo smirked and bit his lip. "Promise?"

Grimmjow's cock twitched in his pants and a low growl could be heard from deep in his chest.

"Yer fuckin' dirty sometimes, ya know that?" He advanced, backing Ichigo against the door frame. He licked his lips as he looked down into those perfect brown eyes. "I love it when you get like this."

"So do something about it."

Dipping his head, Grimmjow sank his teeth into Ichigo's shoulder, pressing him back into the hard wooden frame.

"Fuck the shower. Let's go to bed."

Ichigo giggled and gripped Grimmjow's hips. "Fine by me."

They made it to the bed in record time, tumbling roughly to it as Ichigo ripped Grimmjow's clothes from him in his need to touch him.

"Fuck me. Please." He demanded once Grimmjow was completely undressed.

Grimmjow cupped his face and brought him close for a brief kiss. "How can I deny you when you ask like that?"

Ichigo didn't waste any time, rolling over on his stomach and sticking his ass up in the air. Grimmjow groaned and grabbed the lube, readying his fingers.

"No! Just put it in me." Ichigo commanded.

Grimmjow groaned again and slathered his cock, pressing it against the tight hole and pushing himself slowly in. Ichigo grit his teeth against the stretching pain and growled.

"I said fuck me." He ground out before sitting back and impaling himself.

It was fierce and hard, the bed protesting loudly, the headboard threatening to bang holes in the wall behind the bed and they came in domino, Grimmjow going first when Ichigo screamed out his name. Sated, they fell to the bed, Grimmjow slipping out of him and rolling to his side, pulling him close and kissing him all over his face. Ichigo barely had the strength to smile at that before he passed out, Grimmjow not far behind with a grin on his face.

When Shinji saw Szayel's car he was almost afraid to get in it. Not a lot of people owned those kinds of vehicles and he knew that they cost quite a lot even without know much about cars in general. Szayel opened the door for him, closing it once Shinji had settled and he almost giggled. It was like he was a girl on a date, he thought fleetingly. On their way to his apartment he was almost ashamed of where they would be going. He had never been around people like Grimmjow and Szayel. People who had money and lived in fancy houses and ate fancy foods and drove fancy cars. He felt out of place. Young and stupid. When they pulled up to his complex he was blushing.

"So this is it?" Szayel asked, no trace of mockery in his voice.

"Uh, yeah. Thanks fer the ride." Shinji said, hoping to get out of there as quickly as possible.

Szayel placed a hand on his arm and looked up at him. "Aren't you going to invite me up for tea?"

Those large golden eyes bored into his and he felt parts of himself melt while others went cold. He gulped and took a deep breath. There was nothing to be nervous about. It was just another guy. Another, extremely attractive guy who actually wanted him to take him inside his home. Shinji licked his lips and smiled.

"Sure. Come on up."

A/N I am SOOO sorry it took so long to get this out! I hit another bout of writersblock, but I think I'm better now. *sigh* Okay, translation time! Schau di mal dem seine Haare an Shin-chan means "Look at the hair on that one, Shin-chan." and Scheiße, sieh dir seinen Arsch an! means "Shit, look at his ass!" Hehe. Thank you to werwolfsbrouat from y!gallery for the translations! So what didjya think :D Hope you enjoyed it and sorry (not really ;p) about the cliffhanger :D

~Penny