Of Smiles and Happiness
Tuesday morning.
With the sun shining brightly and the temperature a tolerable one, Ichigo sat on the pavement just in front of his mother's grave in the cemetery.
He'd been there for at least two hours, just talking to her. Telling her about all that's been going on in his life.
Bringing his hands together, he sighed regretfully. "I'm… I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise to you… And what's worse, I made you and Grimmjow suffer…" he said.
For a moment, he sat in silence. But he needed to tell her. Taking a deep breath, he looked back up at her tombstone. "I hope you can forgive me for choosing Grimmjow, even though I made that vow to Ginjo on your name. Grimmjow means everything to me. I can't imagine what my life would be like without him… And what's more, I can renew my promise to you because he makes me so happy."
Ichigo looked up to the white, puffy clouds above. Then he noticed the sun's position just behind them in the center of the sky. It was already noon.
"Have I been here that long?" he asked quietly, expecting no one's answer.
Getting up and dusting himself off, he smiled down when he saw Grimmjow coming to the entrance of the cemetery at the bottom of the large mound the place was founded on.
"I have to go now, Mom. Thanks for everything you've done for me, and I hope you'll understand why I've made the decision I have." The boy said, and then headed down the path that would lead him to Grimmjow.
When Ichigo reached the foot of the stairs, Grimmjow smirked and stuck his hands into his pockets. "You weren't in school today." He said.
"I see you were." The orange-head said, noting the man was wearing his uniform shirt unbuttoned towards the top with no undershirt on underneath it. That's the way he was wearing it when they'd first met, he recalled.
Just as he got up to Grimmjow, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds and its warm light found its way to him and the man in front of him. A gust of wind came from behind him and caused him to fall forward onto Grimmjow.
Thinking fast, Grimmjow dropped his booksack and caught Ichigo, staring down at him with an amused look. "Just as clumsy as ever, aren't you?" he asked.
"Shut up! You felt that wind! I wasn't being clumsy at all!" the boy retorted.
"Heh, whatever. Maybe it's because you're so light, then." Grimmjow teased.
"Just shut up…" After seeing the other's booksack on the ground, Ichigo looked at him disapprovingly. "Don't forget your booksack again, baka." He said.
"One time I do that." Grimmjow said, then bent over and picked up his bag. "One time and you're never going to let it go."
"No, because you should be more careful with your things." Ichigo said. Putting the matter aside, he stood up off of the man and smiled warmly at him. "How did you know I'd be here?"
"Because I know you so well."
"… Really-"
"Your dad told me you were coming here." Grimmjow said, and then exited the cemetery.
"You… went to the clinic?" Ichigo asked curiously as he walked beside the taller man.
"How else would I have seen your old man, Kurosaki?"
"Don't try to make me seem like an idiot or something! You could've run into him on your way into town."
"You wanna get lunch with me before I go to work?"
"Sure. I think Ikumi is giving me the day off, so I can focus on other things." The boy responded.
"Let's go then."
Tuesday evening.
Sitting alone on the balcony at his house, Grimmjow held a cold, half full beer in his hands.
He'd gotten off of work a bit early today, so he figured what better thing to do than think?
"Kurosaki…"
The name had been echoing through his mind most of the evening through. He wondered what the boy was doing at the very moment.
The glass pane door slid open, causing him to turn and look over his shoulder. He was surprised to see his father coming out with a glass of beer in his hand.
When they made eye contact and the other still came and sat at the table, he was a little surprised.
"You can see me sitting out here, right?" he asked.
"I'm not a fool, Grimmjow. Stop treating me like I hate the thought of being in the same room as you. You are my son, after all." Julian said, and then lifted and drank from his glass.
"…"
"I've been talking with Nel… and your mother."
"Great." Grimmjow said, rolling his eyes.
"They both told me some very interesting things. And I figured it was about time I talked to you about them. Well… one in particular seems the most important."
"Look, I know you hate me. I know you hate what I do. And I know you want me to move out as soon as possible. If this is another lecture or-"
"Stop talking and listen. You get that habit from your mother, I swear…" Julian sighed when his son turned and stared off at the sunset. "The Kurosaki boy." He began. It earned him the cerulean blue eyes that were just as bright and prominent as Vivienne's. "I know… over the years I've given you a tough time. For someone who is as faithful as I am, the things you've done havebeen despicable at best…"
"I knew this was another lecture…"
"However, even I can see how much you and that boy care about each other."
Grimmjow's eyes went wide and his mouth was slightly agape.
Julian cleared his throat before he continued. "I may not understand it, and honestly I don't really want to… But as your father, I want nothing for you but happiness. It is my duty as your parent to see you content in this world we live in. I just so happen to notice how much you smile when he's around… even though you think I didn't know when he's here… you sometimes even laugh with him. That rough exterior is something you got from me and me alone, so I know how much it takes for someone to be able to get through it."
"Dad…"
"I'm sorry for looking down on you the way I have all these years. For so long, I was disappointed that you weren't what I wanted you to be. But after a serious talk with your mother… who was unnecessarily forceful with her opinion… I realized that nobody will be the way I want them to be. I can't control anyone but myself. And so, I won't stand in your way, and I'll work to see your preferences as less abhorrent."
"…" Looking down at the label on the beer bottle in front of him, Grimmjow didn't know how to respond. This was so… unexpected. So many things in his life were... turning around. Luckily it seemed it was for the best that he and Kurosaki were still broken up. Because soon, it seemed only fitting that that turned around as well.
"Do you love him?"
Grimmjow glanced up and looked his father in the eyes. "Of course I do." He answered.
"That's all I needed to know."
"You're really okay with all of this?"
"Well, I'm not throwing you a parade, or encouraging this kind of behavior, but I will be happy that you're happy. Live your life as free as you want, I've never been able to stop you from doing that before. And if you really love him like you claim to, then do everything you can to keep him."
"… Right."
"That being said… take care of the leech that's been keeping you two apart. You're a Jaegerjaques. We face our problems head on and get what we want in the end, no matter what."
"Heh, like you do with Mom?"
"… It's different with women, obviously. Sometimes, well most of the time, you need to just let them have their way… they're just going to take it, anyway."
At that, both he and Grimmjow started laughing.
"I guess I don't have that problem, considering Kurosaki is definitely a man."
"Hmm. Sounds like you've got it much easier than I did. Tell me something… are you… *ahem*"
"What?" Grimmjow asked.
"Are you… uh… well, I'm not entirely sure how to ask this without sounding lewd… but… you know…"
"Spit it out, old man."
"Well… as a Jaegerjaques, you'd certainly best be the dominant one in the relationship."
With a faint blush on his cheeks, Grimmjow nodded. "Yeah… I'm the one doing the-"
"I don't need the details, Grimmjow."
"Sorry…"
"So. Moving on to other matters, I thought it over and decided I'll help you get a new car. You put down any amount you want, and I'll match it."
"R-REALLY?!"
"Absolutely. I can't have my son, my only son, walking around Karakura like he doesn't have a cent to his name. It's bad for both our reputations. I'm also going to help you pay for your tuition."
"T-tuition…? I'm not going to college…"
"With scores like yours, you'd better go to college. Congratulations by the way. I think I'm the only one who hasn't told you that yet."
"I… I-"
"You know, I talked to your boss and he said he had something very good waiting for you after your first two years of proper schooling."
"Is that so?"
"Well, he wanted to give it to you once you earned more experience at the warehouse, but I asked if he would wait for you to at least get some proper schooling and he said that would be fine."
"So basically… I have to go to college."
"That's right. I wonder what he has in store for you…"
"A raise would be very appreciated."
"What do you need a raise for? Aren't you earning about seventeen dollars an hour?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I don't want more money. Besides, I only make about fifty hours every two weeks because of school."
"You are greedy. It pains me how similar to your mother you are."
"She and I are day and night, nothing alike at all." Grimmjow said, trying to force himself to believe that.
Julian smiled. Vivienne was right. Talking to Grimmjow had definitely helped him open up. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been able to hold a conversation with his son, let alone smile in his company.
The thing he was truly grateful for was just how bright the days in Grimmjow's future seemed. Even if he wasn't doing what he wanted him to, if his son was forging his own path in life, that's something to be even more proud of.
"There they are!"
Both he and Grimmjow turned when the door opened and Vivienne and Nel came out onto the balcony.
"Well well well! Never thought I'd see the day when you two shared beers and conversed. What is this world coming to?" Vivienne teased as she walked up behind Julian.
"We were discussing things."
"Things? Why not fill me in?" Vivienne insisted, sitting down in the chair next to the man.
"I'd rather not."
"Out with it, Julian."
"'Like day and night' and 'nothing alike', huh? You two are practically twins…" Julian mumbled to himself.
"What was that? Speak up. That's always been a bad habit of yours when it comes to talking to me." Vivienne said reminiscently.
Nel took a seat beside Grimmjow and smiled. For once, things were becoming normal around the mansion. Vivienne was frequently visiting and spending the night, their father was now on friendlier terms with Grimmjow, and even Ichigo was around more than he'd been in the past few months.
Looking at Grimmjow, she smiled. It was nice to see him content and laughing again. "You've had to suffer for way too long." She thought.
The bluenette noticed the girl smiling at him and raised an eyebrow. "The hell are you looking at?" he asked while his parents joked about something from times of old.
"Oh nothing. I'm just not used to seeing you smile. You should do it more often." Nel responded, bringing her knees up to her chest in the chair she was seated in.
"… Whatever…"
"Are you and Ichigo official again?"
"… That's-"
"None of my business?"
"Don't interrupt me! … Kurosaki said he had something to take care of before we can be together again. I don't know what it is, but I have something to take care of, too."
"What's that?" Nel asked curiously.
"That's none of your business."
Across town.
After reaching XCUTION Industries, Ichigo looked over to the parking lot. He could see that Ginjo was still here, along with a few other employees.
That was fine with him. None of them would probably get in his way, considering how often Ginjo sent them away to have their private talks.
"Well… this one's going to put an end to this nonsense once and for all." He said, walking in through the glass double doors.
Riruka, sitting on one of the couches in the central lobby, saw Ichigo enter and smiled.
She got up and walked over to him as he made his way to Jackie's desk with her hands nervously behind her back. "Good evening, Ichi-"
"I have something important to do, Riruka." Ichigo interrupted. "I don't have time to argue today."
Jackie looked up from her computer screen. "Can you hold for just one moment?" she asked the person on the phone. "What do you need, Ichigo?"
"I need a private audience with Ginjo. Is he in his office?"
Riruka looked down and sighed. Of course. He'd never come to XCUTION just to visit or talk to her. It was always about Ginjo…
"Ginjo is definitely in his office. He just got back from a meeting with a third-party developer, so I doubt he's busy. You should be able to get that private audience with him." Jackie said.
"Thank you." Ichigo responded.
Without wasting any time, he walked over to the elevator and pressed the button that would send him up. Looking over his shoulder as he waited for it to come down, he noticed how depressed Riruka was and realized he had been unnecessarily cold to her. None of this was her fault. In fact, she'd tried being friendly with him several times only to be ignored for Ginjo.
"Riruka." He called.
Said girl looked up in his direction. "Huh?" she asked.
"We should hang out sometime. I think you'd fit in with our group nicely." Ichigo said, and smiled warmly at her.
With a blush, Riruka averted her eyes. "Hmph! As if!"
"Come visit the clinic sometime, okay?"
When the elevator dinged and the doors opened, Ichigo stepped inside and pressed the button to the fourth floor, where the executive office was located.
A serious expression found its way to his face as the elevator doors closed and he started traveling up. "I don't want anymore regrets. I don't want to break anymore promises. I can't continue lying to and hurting the people I love the most. And Ginjo… you're…"
The elevator stopped with a ding. Once the doors opened, Ichigo stepped out of it and started walking down the hall.
Through the large windows, he could see the sun setting off in the west. And with a smile, he knew he was ready to face Ginjo.