Chapter 12:

Six months since their deal Ichigo could firmly say he was enjoying ever moment of his time with Grimmjow. Well, except the few times they were almost caught, those weren't fun. Ichigo distinctly remembered the time his father came home early one day and almost caught Grimmjow in his room, the man had to hide in his cupboard for hours before it was safe for him to leave. Isshin had chosen that day to have 'the talk' with Ichigo which was at least three years too late, not that Ichigo was going to admit this so he sat listening, painfully aware of Grimmjow and almost cried in relief when his father left.

Ichigo had noticed however in the past month or so that Grimmjow was dealing with a lot of pressure from work. He gathered from what little the man told him it was to do with Karakura's residential serial killer who had recently resurfaced, Mr Heart. There had been a string of murders linked to him recently and Ichigo could tell, Grimmjow was having to deal with the fallout from this.

"Will I see you tonight?" Ichigo asked as Grimmjow passed by him. He was still in bed but his partner or whatever they were to each other (Ichigo hadn't figured out the right term yet) was already getting ready for work.

Grimmjow paused as he shrugged on a shirt. "I don't know, depends if I can get off early."

"You mean, if any more bodies turn up?" Ichigo replied and he stood up. Grabbing Grimmjow shirt he pulled it tighter and began to do the buttons up. "I'm sure you'll catch him soon." Ichigo wasn't just saying it to comfort Grimmjow, he really meant it. If anyone was going to catch this killer, then it would be Grimmjow.

"What I don't understand is why he came back." Ichigo held out a tie that in his opinion went really well with Grimmjow's eyes and the man took it. "I mean, he was gone for five years and we though it was over. Why start again?"

"When you catch him, ask him. Besides, what makes you think it's a guy?" As far as Ichigo knew there was no evidence as to this expect for the name Mr Heart not Mrs.

Grimmjow shrugged before grabbing his jacket. "Some of the tapes we found have recording with a male voice. Obviously it's distorted-"

"Oh obviously." Ichigo couldn't help but smile. Grimmjow spoke as if he was out of one of these crime shows on TV sometimes.

He just rolled his eyes at Ichigo before leaning down to kiss him quickly. "I'll try to get out early but no promises." He just nodded, grabbing Grimmjow's ties to pull him down into a firm kiss. "What was that for?"

Ichigo shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "Nothing, just I love you."

Grimmjow just nodded, giving him a tight smile. "Yeah, me too. See you later." He left quickly after that and Ichigo sighed as he heard the door close.

He was yet to say the words back. Of course, Ichigo remembered him saying it that first night when they agreed to get together but since then, nothing. Ichigo would never admit it out loud but it hurt when he said I love you and Grimmjow didn't return in. Of course Grimmjow would never know this, he didn't want to guilt trip the man into saying it so he kept quiet.

Shaking himself Ichigo got ready for his own day. In the end he had managed to get into University for the current semester but he had to work hard to get up to speed. It was only because the University board knew his father and that Ichigo had good recommendations from school that he was allowed in. He hadn't been thankful of Grimmjow's intervention before but know Ichigo knew without a clean record, he would never have made it to University and he would always be in his debt for that.

So he behaved like a model student, always on time and never out of line, got top grades and work was always completed to a high standard and on time. Today was no different as Ichigo arrived on time for his classes and sat quietly, concentrating hard. He had a lot to catch up on so he couldn't afford to miss anything. His father was putting his reputation on the line to for this so Ichigo was determined to see it through.

Ichigo was the first to return to Grimmjow's flat, not that he was surprised because he knew the man was very busy at the moment. With this thought in mind he began rummaging through the cupboards, pulling things out to make something to eat. If it were himself Ichigo knew what he'd want after a long day was some hot food, so that was exactly what he was going to do for Grimmjow.

He was almost finished when the man came into the flat. "Shouldn't you be studying or something?"

Shrugging in reply he turned to smile at Grimmjow briefly before returning to the food to make sure it didn't burn. "My grades are fine stop worrying so much. There's no exams for at least four months." Once he was sure the food wouldn't burn Ichigo left the stove and approached Grimmjow. Wrapping an arm around behind him Ichigo grabbed the back of his jacket and pulled him closer. "Besides, I figured you'd want something to eat when you got back. I was going to plate it up ready for you but since you're here you can eat now."

"Making me dinner now?" Grimmjow asked in surprise and then he lent down to kiss him gently. Ichigo's eyes shut at the gesture and he felt himself smiling, Grimmjow was definitely a good kisser. "What did you tell your father?"

Ichigo rolled his eyes and pulled back, a good kisser but not very tactful. Talking of his father was definitely a mood killer. "That I'm staying late at a friends and would be back later." He shrugged nonchalantly. "If I end up staying the night I'll tell dad I fell asleep on his sofa."

"You're too devious for your own good."

"Arrest me then." Ichigo teased.

"I've done that far too many times now." He laughed, kissing Grimmjow again before reluctantly letting go to set up their dinner. "Besides, I can think of a better use for handcuffs on you." Ichigo shivered at the thought and he bit his lip suddenly as a few scenarios ran through his mind.

"Really?" He finally asked, setting a plate in front of Grimmjow who had now sat down and then took the seat opposite him. "Care to try it out?"

Grimmjow choked on his food and Ichigo couldn't help but laugh again. Obviously he hadn't expected him to entertain the idea. "You'd let me?"

"As long as you don't leave marks. I doubt I'd be able to bluff my way out of that one. Dad'll think I'm sleeping with Renji." A mental image of Renji and the handcuffs made Ichigo shiver and not in a good way as it had done with Grimmjow. "And that is a terrifying thought."

"Well aren't you lucky you're sleeping with me."

Ichigo privately agreed but he didn't tell the man this because it would just sound corny. "I'm not just sleeping with you. I love you, that's why I'm here."

And there it was again, Grimmjow's expression closed down and he shook his head. Instead of answering he just ate some more. "It's good." He finally said and Ichigo's heart sank. Although it was nice to hear his cooking was edible, that wasn't what he was looking for in reply.

They ate in silence after that but Ichigo had lost his appetite rather suddenly. Once Grimmjow had all but eaten the last bite Ichigo took the plate away and threw both into the sink with more force than necessary, wincing at the crashing sound.

"Hey." Grimmjow said softly but Ichigo ignored him in favour of scrubbing the plates vigorously to try and attempt to hide how much it hurt to be ignored. "Ichigo?" He asked louder and then Ichigo felt a hand on his shoulder but shrugged it off. Maybe it was petty of him to ignore Grimmjow but he was still feeling stung. "Alright fine, be that way."

"If you don't love me, you could just say." Ichigo said before he could stop himself and he heard a sigh in response. Hands stilling in the sink Ichigo quickly rubbed his face against his shoulder because he could feel tears falling down his cheeks. "Don't pity me and string this along if you don't feel the same way." It hurt to think Grimmjow was doing this out of pity, but maybe that was why he'd never returned his love.

"I do feel the same way." Ichigo could only snort in reply because he sure didn't feel like that was the case. "Look I know I haven't said it back but I do you know." He only shrugged in reply this time as the anger started fading away. "Come on." Ichigo finally turned to look at Grimmjow and the man sighed again, reaching out to brush the tears from his face. "I'm just… not ready to say that yet. Ok?"

"Ok." Ichigo relented, giving Grimmjow a small but playful shove. "Now leave me to clean up would ya?"

"Alright." Grimmjow grabbed his chin and then kissed him before smiling, their noses brushing together for only an instant and then he'd pulled back. "I'm going to have a shower… I'll leave the door unlocked."

"I'll keep that in mind."

He waited until Grimmjow had disappeared into the bedroom before returning to the sink. Maybe he was being unfair to ask Grimmjow to say it. After all, the man was risking his job, his reputation to be with Ichigo so what did it matter if he couldn't say a few words? Ichigo felt petty for behaving like that towards him and decided to make it up to Grimmjow. The man had left the bathroom door unlocked after all, it was an invitation Ichigo was ready to accept.

So he quickly finished the dishes and left them on the side to dry before joining Grimmjow. He made sure to be extra attentive to the man's every need because he truly felt bad about his behaviour from earlier. But Grimmjow didn't complain to which Ichigo was glad, he'll even he felt the sex that night was better than normal and it couldn't just be down to his own ministrations.

Afterwards as he was on the verge of sleep Ichigo felt Grimmjow shift behind him then the warm pressure of lips against his neck. A small laugh left his own lips and he pressed back against the older man. "I'm trying to sleep."

"Sorry, I just wanted to tell you something."

"Mmm, what's that?"

Ichigo felt Grimmjow's lips curve upwards against his neck, he was smiling but Ichigo didn't understand why. What was so funny? He sat up suddenly and Ichigo opened his eyes, tilting his head so their eyes met. "I love you."

Sitting up quickly, he looked at Grimmjow in surprise. What had changed his mind? "You mean that?"

"Of course." Those simple words, that's all Ichigo needed to hear and any doubt of Grimmjow's love for him himself into the older man's arms they fell back on the bed. "Ok ok, careful before you break my bed."

"Sorry." Sitting up again Ichigo smiled before kissing him."I love you too." And then he laughed. "God it actually feels good to say that." This must be what love really feels like.

"Hey um, there's something else."

"What?" Ichigo frowned, what else could Grimmjow possibly have to say? Was he only telling him he loved him before breaking some bad news to him?

Grimmjow sighed, confirming his suspicions that the news wasn't good. His hands ran down's Ichigo's sides to come to a rest at his hips. "We need to tell tour family, specifically Isshin." Ichigo balked at the idea, his father was not going to take it well. Then Grimmjow smiled. "Com on, I'm sure we'll be able to talk him around."

"And your job?" Ichigo didn't want Grimmjow to lose his job, especially not because of him. He would never forgive himself it that happened because he knew how much Grimmjow loved his job.

"Well they need all hands on deck at the moment with this bastard roaming free in the city. I doubt I'm in any danger of losing my job." Ichigo sighed at the relief of this knowledge. "We'll meet tomorrow and talk it through properly ok?"

Nodding after a moment Ichigo let out a breath and smiled nervously at the thought of what Isshin would think. "You might want to bring backup, I don't think dad will take it well."

"Let's deal with that tomorrow ok. For now get some sleep, I'm sure tomorrows going to be a long day." Grimmjow suddenly looked exhausted. "Very long."

"Better than finding dead bodies and hunting murdering psychopaths right?"

"Right." Grimmjow agreed before shaking himself and smiling at Ichigo. "You better let me sleep."

"No promises. Maybe I'll want more than a goodbye kiss in the morning." Ichigo kissed him Quickly but pulled back almost immediately, laughing when Grimmjow huffed. "Tomorrow." He whispered in a promise before leaning over him to turn the light off.