Sooo the Soul King is a little Aizen monster form looking... but that's okay...maybe he had a beautiful wife and family...if he had one at all. Really, I'm thinking why would the king of all souls be so frightening and not jolly and happy.. Kubo is a strange fellow I suppose.

Anyway, the latest developments (latest chapter) have been really interesting. Especially Kirinji.. so entertaining. Go read them if you have not already.

And read this as well!

Inextinguishable Blaze

Monday around four thirty.

Ikumi Unagiya was not one to take a person's shit. When it came to the boy she had hired, Ichigo Kurosaki, she for some reason put up with a lot more from him.

He was late more than he should have been, he missed a day or two here and there. But he seemed to have his reasons…sometimes.

She walked over to the front desk where he was now seated.

"Any calls since earlier?" she asked.

"You mean the one where the old woman had me climb up onto her roof to get a cat? Or the one where I had to crawl around in that man's floorboards to get a toothbrush?"

"Are you being snarky with me?" she asked.

"Of course not."

"You know what, why don't you go on home and take tomorrow off. I'll be too busy with Kaoru to run things here. I think you could use an authorized vacation."

"But if I do that I'll have most of my whole work week off… I can't work Wednesday or Thursday because of the camping trip."

"Oh, that's right… Hm, well, if you can handle things on your own that'd be great. I know you want to save up your money so I guess I'll give you the keys."

"Okay. I'll lock the door and leave them on the counter when I leave."

"Well, I'm closing early today so you'd probably better get going."

"Gotcha." Ichigo smiled and stood from his stool.

With one last glance back at Ikumi, he left the building and headed home.

Karin and Yuzu stood in the doorway to Ichigo's room. When he had arrived home, he said he was going out tonight. Upon hearing that, they couldn't help their curiosity about where he was heading.

They watched him as he decided what he would wear to wherever it was he was going. The two had asked him when he first started going through his closet but he told them he wasn't going anywhere special.

"Are you two still watching me?" he asked.

"We're trying to figure out where you're going." Karin said.

"I told you two it's nothing special."

Ichigo wasn't trying to be insensitive on the matter. That was the last thing he really wanted to do. He was simply going to see a movie with a friend. That friend just so happened to be Grimmjow. It wasn't a date or anything so he treated it as though it was 'nothing special'.

Saying that allowed him to stay dejected from the fact that he did actually want to be going out on a date with the man. But as long as he was to be engaged to Ginjo, there was no way he could allow for that kind of thinking.

"Then why do you have some of your nicest outfits on the bed?" Karin asked.

"Oh! Are you going to help Grimmjow study? Or are you two going on a date?" Yuzu asked with a smile.

"No..."

The two girls were acting as though everything was normal. He had forgotten that Yuzu, Karin, his father, and no one else he could think of knew that he and Grimmjow were broken up. They didn't even seem to suspect something was amiss when he stopped coming over on the weekends.

Then again, he was out of the house for some of those days with the others so maybe his family just assumed he was with him.

Regardless, he was doing a good job at keeping the mess with Grimmjow and Ginjo a secret. So he thought.

Karin walked into the room and picked up one of the shirts from the bed, "I like this one."

"Let me help too!" Yuzu chirped.

"You guys-"

"Put that one back in the closet, Yuzu! It's too preppy." Karin insisted.

"Right! I'll get that white sweater and his coat!"

"What about this scarf?"

"Get that too! It's cold outside!"

Ichigo gave up. One thing he'd always know about Yuzu and Karin was they were insistent on being involved in his life…which wasn't a bad thing when he considered it. But some privacy from time to time would have been nice.

Neliel bounced excitedly through the hallway of the Jaegerjaques mansion until she reached Grimmjow's door.

She noticed that it was partly open. That usually meant he was getting ready to go somewhere.

"He just got home from work like ten minutes ago… I wonder where he's going this late…"

When she heard the sound of a belt being put on, she couldn't help but peek in.

Grimmjow was dressed to kill. He was wearing a collared navy blue shirt that was buttoned up to his chest. With a pair of dark blue jeans that seemed like skinnies and a pair of gray boots to finish the ensemble. For the weather, he picked up a black coat with studs around the pockets and fur on the hood and bottom hem.

The last thing she noticed was the accessories he was wearing: a ring on his right hand and a skull necklace hanging appropriately around his neck.

"Is that…a hint of blue eyeliner?" she asked.

When the man grabbed his wallet and keys, she scurried to the kitchen and dug around in the refrigerator as though she was about to make something to eat.

"Hey, Neliel," Grimmjow began as he walked through the house to the garage.

"What is it?"

"I know it'll be hard for you to do this, but don't follow me."

"I'm appalled! As if I'D follow YOU!" the girl retorted before sticking out her tongue.

"Whatever. I'm out. Don't wait up either." the bluenette said as he opened the back door.

"Have fun on your date."

When Grimmjow quickly turned and looked at her her, she swiftly stuck her head back down and continued rumbling through the fridge.

But she did hope he would have fun, wherever he was going.

From the busy sidewalks and crowds of downtown Karakura, Ichigo emerged and arrived at the theater he and Grimmjow had decided to go to.

Dressed in a white flannel shirt, a thick gray cardigan, and a French gray colored scarf, he felt a little overdressed. But it was Karin and Yuzu's doing so he didn't have any control over the matter. The only thing he did choose was the necklace with a fifteen on the face of the small pendant that dangled from it.

As he made his way over to one of the theater benches, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. The reason behind that anxiety was simple. He felt like he was going on a date with Grimmjow. And although they had established this was simply an activity between friends, he couldn't help the lingering thoughts of romanticism.

This man was someone who he had loved, cherished, laughed with, fought with, introduced to his family and friends, and most importantly, survived a hellish experience with.

They had been naked together, made passionate love together, slept together, and so many other precious things that they both enjoyed doing.

How could Ginjo expect him to just up and forget someone like that? He knew nothing of what happened between them, no matter what his sources told him. The only way he could know anything about them was if he had lie dormant inside one of them. Otherwise, he had no business interfering and saying what happiness was for him.

Ginjo was like an anchor. One that was heavy on what had been between him and Grimmjow, pulling them into a dark abyss.

Grimmjow was also like an anchor. One that was heavy on his heart because of letting him down, but he was also keeping him grounded in this world. He was truthfully keeping him from drifting into sadness and complete boredom with his spontaneity.

How could he go on with two anchors like this? One of them had to be relinquished to the ocean below. Luckily for Grimmjow, the boy had no intention of hanging on to Ginjo.

"I'll hold out until I find an answer for you, Grimm… Until I can break this promise without dishonoring my mom that is…" he spoke, watching as his breath was exposed in the colder atmosphere.

What would she think if she were alive now? What would she do about this situation? How would she react to him being with men in the first place?

So many questions raced through his mind when he thought of his loving mother. Honestly, he wished she was here now. Then he wouldn't be going through any of this.

"Kurosaki!" Grimmjow called.

Ichigo turned and saw the man getting out of his car. The man of his dreams that is.

"Hey, Grimm." He smiled, hiding his earlier mental turmoil.

"Why didn't you call me? I could've picked you up!"

"No, it's fine. I enjoyed the walk. It gave me time to think about some things…"

"Well let's get out of this fucking weather. I hate the cold."

The orange haired boy smiled and followed the man, "Did you pick a movie?"

"I thought we'd do that together."

The shorter male stopped dead in his tracks. Was this…the same person he had known all this time?

"Are you…are you really Grimmjow Jaegerjaques?"

"Huh? What a stupid question…"

"Oh, I see. You're just trying to convince me that you've changed… Very crafty…"

"Kurosaki, what the hell are you on?"

"…Sorry… It's just…weird that you want to make a decision together."

"Well, we're not 'together' anymore. I only have so much control over you now, baka. I admit I don't like this…being nice crap…but I have to be this way to keep you around."

The best description for the feeling in Ichigo's stomach was probably a hurricane or a tornado or some kind of twister filled to the brim with butterflies. This wasn't the same delinquent he had met last year. This was a man…delinquent more or less still there.

When Grimmjow flashed a grin in his direction, Ichigo subtly turned away to hide the intense glow of his cheeks.

He was now completely warmed up now thanks to the blue haired musclehead despite the decreasing temperature the night had taken.

"Got diarrhea, Kurosaki? I did at work today…It was so annoying… I figure it must've been the lunch."

And just like that, the butterflies were swept away. That was for the best right now anyway. No way could he stand to be in this theater with Grimmjow for two hours with feelings of that kind.

"I'm fine. And don't tell me stuff like that…It's repulsive."

"If not you then who?"

"Shut up…"

"I'm teasing you, don't be so serious."

"Oh…"

"But I did have diarrhea today."

Ichigo turned and quickly walked ahead of the man to the counter.

"Oh, come on, Kurosaki!"

The person inside the ticket booth looked up from his cell phone, "Which movie?"

Grimmjow caught up to the boy and grinned, "What movie do you want to see?"

"I thought we were doing this together."

"We are. Pick one and I'll tell you if it's okay."

"Some teamwork…"

The man in the booth raised an eyebrow as the two debated on which movie to see. "Are-are you two on a date…?" he asked.

"It's not a date!" both answered quickly.

Grimmjow eyed all the movies and debated with Ichigo which one they'd see.

"Let's see the comedy."

"Fine." Ichigo said, ready to just see a movie.

"That'll be sixteen dollars and fifty cents."

Ichigo slapped Grimmjow's hand when he pulled money from his wallet to give to the guy.

"I got this."

"Che, take it then."

The ticket seller blinked a few times. It was really hard to see these two as dating the way they argued. But he had noticed them when they first came in. The way they acted then would make anyone believe they were together.

"E-enjoy the movie." He said hesitantly as they left.

Upon discovering a near empty theater for the movie they had picked, Grimmjow childishly ran through the seat aisles as Ichigo climbed to the top row.

He took off his sweater and as he glanced down at the man, wondering what made him so strange. Sometimes he was as serious as a heart attack, the next he was vulgar, other times he was bent on working out, and then he was immature.

One thing was for sure though, he would always be unique in that way. Which is why Ichigo was so interested in him. He needed this release of adult behavior. He needed Grimmjow's friendship if nothing more.

He began laughing hysterically when the man tripped over one of his feet and fell onto one of the seats.

"It's not fucking funny!"

When he saw Grimmjow holding his face, he got much more serious.

"Are you okay?" he asked through stifled laughter.

"No, I broke my fucking face!"

"Sir, there are children in this theater!" a woman in one of the lower rows angrily spoke.

"Can it-"

"We're sorry! Let's go into the hallway for a minute, Grimm." Ichigo said after walking down to him. When he got the taller man into the better lit area, he placed his hand gently on his chin. "Do you want to go? If you're really hurt we can-"

"It's my lip, I think I busted it."

"Really? Let me see."

Ichigo got closer to Grimmjow's lips and pulled the lower one down. He didn't really see anything wrong with it so he tried the upper one. Again, nothing wrong with it.

"You sure you didn't just hurt your pride? I don't see anything wrong with your lips."

Grimmjow pulled away, "I'm okay now…Let's get back to into the theater…"

"But…ugh, fine."

"Could've made a move…but I don't wanna ruin the night." The bluenette thought regrettably.

The woman down in front flipped the birdie at Grimmjow when he walked back in. He stood and stared at her for a moment in shock and disbelief and then nearly ran over to her to show her what real pain was, but Ichigo held him back.

"Don't get us kicked out of here!"

"You got lucky tonight, crone! You got lucky!"

"Go fall down a well, brat!"

"Your kids are ugly anyway!" he retorted as Ichigo dragged him back to their original spot on the top row of seats.

"Grimmjow, are you sure this was a good idea?"

"Yes, that old heifer just got a little under my skin is all."

The orange haired boy chuckled at that, "Well, forget her. The movie is starting." He smiled.

And so it did. Grimmjow's attention was immediately drawn into it.

But Ichigo was too focused on him to know what was going on. His arm right next to his own on the armrest. His laugh obnoxious and echoing through the room.

The undying urge to hold the man's larger hand kept tugging at his thoughts, but he couldn't. That wasn't what this was.

When their arms touched though, Grimmjow nearly fought him for rights to the armrest. It was childish, but fun. That's what it was.

After spending so much time apart, Ichigo realized that they were still able to have fun together, even during a foolish spat. He inevitably gave up and withdrew his arm, wanting to just be able to lean over on the other's powerful shoulder, but he knew he'd best not.

After winning the armrest for himself, Grimmjow turned and caught the boy looking a few times. He brushed it off as discontent about his laughter though. Kurosaki must've thought he was too immature to date again. But a challenge was a challenge. He certainly wasn't giving up anytime soon.

Once the movie was over, the two left the theater, neither really wanting to call it a night.

"What do you want to do now?" Ichigo asked.

"I wanna eat something." The bluenette responded, watching the breath escape from his mouth right in front of him.

"Well, you tell me what's open at eleven o'clock at night and we'll go."

Smelling another challenge, Grimmjow brought his hand up to his chin in thought. It took some time, but he wasn't giving up on the chance to make the night memorable. Then he had the perfect idea. Kurosaki wouldn't see this coming because the memory of that day had probably vanished by now.

"I know where to go."

"Why do I not like that look in your eyes…?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Can I take this off now?" Ichigo asked.

He was completely clueless because Grimmjow had blindfolded him by tossing his coat over his face once they had gotten into the car.

"Just keep the coat over your head. And don't peek!"

"Are you trying to smother me?"

"I could've easily done that by now, Kurosaki. Calm down."

Ichigo sighed. His stomach was now letting it be known how in need of sustenance it was. He realized now that he should have eaten something before he left out for this movie trip. His excitement, however, had gotten the better of him. Can you blame him?

He sat in silence, wondering what Grimmjow had up his sleeve for the entirety of the car ride, which was quite long for someone who had nothing to look at but the inside of a coat.

Once the car came to a stop and the engine was shut off, he turned in the direction he knew the other was in, "Can I take this coat off now?" he asked.

Grimmjow reached over and pulled the coat off the boy's head.

The first thing Ichigo saw was Grimmjow's smirking face, and then he turned and noticed where they had traveled to.

"Is this…?"

"Yup. It's the sub shop we went to a while ago before I first left for Tokyo."

"Why come all the way out here?"

"I thought it'd be cool to visit again."

"Really now? You sure you're not just trying to mess with Senna? Because she's off right now so she's not even here."

"Shut up and let's go in..." Honestly, he wasn't always trying to pester that girl.

Without retaliation, Ichigo unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the car. Grimmjow walked over to him and guided him into the shop with his arm wrapped around him to protect him from the cold and angry winds.

"Thanks…" the shorter boy said once they had gotten inside.

An older woman behind the cash register noticed the way they came into the restaurant and smiled.

When they walked up to the counter, she asked them what they'd be ordering tonight.

Grimmjow told Ichigo that he'd place the orders since he knew him so well, so Ichigo decided he would go take a seat.

On his way to the tables, he stopped when a picture on the bulletin board caught his eye. He walked up to it and paused.

It was the picture of him and Grimmjow that that girl had taken here on their last day of summer before it was time for them to part ways. He smiled at both of their clueless expressions and turned to the man at the counter.

Although he was just getting a glimpse of the back of Grimmjow's head, he couldn't help but blush.

"That clever grease monkey… I wonder if he did this on purpose…"

Ichigo pulled out his phone and opened his camera application. After snapping a picture of the picture, he put his phone back to sleep and put it away. No need to lead Grimmjow on by letting him see something like that.

Once that was done, the orange haired boy took a seat by a window with the blinds open so a clear view of the moonlit ocean could be seen.

This was far too romantic. It made him wonder if Grimmjow had planned all of this out or if it was just the universe at work.

Either way, this had turned out to be a pretty lovely evening.

"Hey, they were out of Coke so I got you a Dr. Pepper instead." Grimmjow smirked when he took a seat with the food.

"Ugh, you know I don't drink that stuff…"

"I'm kidding. Sheesh, lighten up!"

He handed Ichigo his drink and meal and then started eating his own.

Ichigo opened his sandwich and noticed it was the same one he got every single time he came to this restaurant: a foot long, Italian Herbs and Cheese breaded, chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mayonnaise, and a pinch of salt to finish it off.

He honestly didn't know how to react. Grimmjow had paid that much attention to him? They didn't even eat subs together that often. It could do nothing other than make him realize how much Grimmjow truly cared about him.

As he gazed inconspicuously at the man across the table from him, it seemed like he wasn't even paying him any attention. He was also enjoying the view from the furled up blinds.

"Grimmjow."

"Huh?" said man asked with a mouthful of Meatball Marinara.

"You…you still have feelings for me, right?"

"Duh, baka. How could I just suddenly stop caring about you just because you broke up with me?"

"I…don't know… I'm sorry for asking that…"

"Are you enjoying your meal?"

"Oh, yeah! It's my favorite sandwich…the same one I always order gives that away, huh?"

"Glad I could please you tonight."

"Uh, we should probably go soon… I have homework I need to take care of…"

"Right. Same here."

The two finished their meal almost completely in silence. Ichigo effectively addressed the elephant in the room and thus, created some unwelcome tension.

Honestly, he didn't know why he asked that question. It kind of just came out on its own.

"Way to make it awkward…" he thought, trying to avoid Grimmjow's gaze when it landed on him.

When Grimmjow's car came to a halt in front of the Kurosaki clinic, he turned to Ichigo.

"I had a pretty decent time with you tonight. We should do something like this together more often."

"Yeah…" the orange haired boy sighed.

Although his house was right there, he couldn't help but want to stay with Grimmjow for the night. Unfortunately, things weren't the way they used to be between them anymore. Nothing good would come of him going to Grimmjow's house or letting him stay the night over.

"Kurosaki, just like I said in the restaurant, I don't think it's possible to lose feelings for someone you loved completely overnight or over a few months. I know you still love me, and I'm gonna get you back no matter what."

"…"

"I still care about you."

"Shut up, Grimmjow…" With a painful feeling in the gut of his stomach and an emotional tinge at his own heart, Ichigo got out of the car and hurried to his front door.

Grimmjow rolled down the passenger window and called out to him, "Good night, Kurosaki."

Without turning around, Ichigo opened the door and slipped inside the dark house. The tears that slid down his face surprised him. Was he really that torn up about all of this?

He leaned heavily against the front door and slid slowly to the floor. Grimmjow didn't deserve to be treated like this.

"Fucking Ginjo…!" he exclaimed in a lowered voice.

He knew going out tonight was a bad idea.