Hello all! So here's a new chapter. It's kind of short, but it's just another transition chapter. Next chapter will be the normal length. There is also another music selection. It doesn't really symbolize much. I just like it and it fits the beginning of the chapter.
Chapter 13
[Passage - Ludovico Einaudi]
The sounds of the piano resonated out into the large and quiet auditorium. This was Grimmjow's second piano solo of the night and he was feeling refreshed. Playing day after day really wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. It relaxed him in a way that only playing the piano would. His limber fingers glided over the ebony and ivory keys as he listened to the music he was playing. He always enjoyed the way the grand piano sounded. It was a strong instrument and it produced such a beautiful melody. He hoped one day he would be able to afford one, just so it could sit in his living room and be played by him daily.
It had been a little over two months since he had been in San Francisco, but life was moving smoothly. He was getting settled into his new surroundings and America was almost as great is Japan. Of course America didn't have Ichigo and that was a major downfall, but he hoped in the future all that could change. He hoped he would be able to have Ichigo by his side throughout this journey, but he knew he would have to take things one step at a time. Everything wasn't as easy as it seemed. He knew Ichigo had his own life back home and with the handicap of not being able to see, Ichigo would struggle in a new place. But he hoped that one day it would happen.
He was glad that Ichigo was doing okay, though. He had worried about being away from the man, but it seemed that Ichigo was doing fine on his own. He had become more independent and Grimmjow was happy about that. He enjoyed hearing Ichigo talk about all the new things he had done, and the things that he used to do before he had lost his eyesight.
Grimmjow looked down at his hands, realizing that he had closed his eyes while he was playing. It had been a habit he was trying to break, knowing that Byakuya didn't want him slipping up on the songs throughout the symphony concert. He was so used to playing that way and it made him a lot less nervous than having his eyes wide open and gazing at the sheet music.
The song finally came to an end and the audience stood and clapped, giving Grimmjow and the rest of the orchestra their praise. Grimmjow sighed, standing and bowing before he made his way off of the stage, the other musicians doing the same. He had to get himself ready for the next part of the show.
Grimmjow mingled with a few people at a small get together that usually happened at the end of the week's concert. The blunet wasn't the friendly type, but he dealt with it, knowing that he should be social with these people. It was actually kind of nice sometimes, especially when people asked him about Japan or about his musical history. He wasn't really modest, knowing that he was very confident when it came to music.
He was surprised to see a few famous composers and musicians at the party, but Hana had said that quite a few musicians lived in San Francisco. He enjoyed talking to them, wanting to know about other countries like France and Germany. Though he was a half-blood, being Japanese and German, he didn't know much about his German side. His father wasn't around to give him that knowledge and he had never gone to look for any.
He sipped his champagne, standing at a window and looking out. He could see the city lights stretch on for miles. He enjoyed this, but he missed Ichigo. He couldn't wait until his vacation came. He would have one month. One month to spend with Ichigo and do whatever he pleased. He wanted to take the boy somewhere, anywhere, but he refused to be alone when that time came.
"Good evening," a thick accented womanly voice spoke. Grimmjow blinked and looked over his shoulder. He noticed a tall woman in a long, but revealing white dress. Her skin was brown and she had long blonde hair. He gazed into green eyes and wondered what a beautiful woman was doing there…alone. He turned his full attention towards her and nodded.
"Good evening." She smiled and sipped at her champagne.
"You were wonderful tonight. I've never heard such a young and handsome man play the piano so well." Grimmjow wanted to smirk, realizing that he was being hit on. It wasn't a rare thing. Ever since he had gotten acquainted to America, women seemed to flock to him wherever he went. He couldn't go shopping without females asking him out or wondering about his status. He knew he could just say he was gay, but he enjoyed keeping that to himself. Hana was really the only one that knew that he pitched for the same team. Besides he didn't want to shatter the women's dreams of a hunk like him being straight, so he just kept his preference to himself, just saying that he was already taken.
He chuckled and sipped at his own champagne. "Thanks. I've never seen such a beautiful woman as yourself all alone. No one to accompany you tonight?" Grimmjow had been practicing his ass off when it came to English. He was probably doing double the work to be able to sound as American as possible. It had been hard and of course he was still learning, but he was making great progress and it paid off. He was glad that there were a few musicians that spoke Japanese though. It sometimes gave him a break from speaking English and he knew he could never forget his native tongue.
"Sadly no, but that can change." Green eyes gazed him with want and desire and if Grimmjow was that kind of man he would jump at that invitation. Fortunately for him, he wasn't and he already had someone.
He sighed and gulped down the rest of his drink. "I apologize, but I am not the one for that task." He nodded towards her and slowly walked away. He frowned to himself, setting the champagne glass down on the table. He wondered how Ichigo was holding up.
Ichigo chuckle as he sat down on the large sheet. He ran his hand across the soft pleats of grass and enjoyed the sunshine. He was so glad that spring was almost over and summer was coming. He always enjoyed when it was sunny and hot. Even if he was sweating like a pig, he could care less. Summer had always been the greatest time of the year, even before his parents had died. He smiled and looked down. It was getting close to that moment and he wondered if he would be able to see them this year. The last time he had went to their grave was a little before his accident.
He wanted to tell them about everything that had been happening to him. About the accident, about his struggle with the way his life was now and about Grimmjow. He wanted the blunet to meet his parents and to let them know that he was no longer lonely. Though he missed them so, he had found someone to slowly feel the void in him. There would still be a small part missing where his parents would forever be, but he was getting better. Life was starting to get back to how it used to be. He was enjoying life as he should and he wasn't letting his blindness keep him away from that.
"Kurosaki." Ichigo looked up at the sound of the deep monotone voice. He listened to Ulquiorra's shuffled footsteps against the grass before he felt movement on the blanket.
"Good afternoon, Ulquiorra." The dark haired man sat across from the orange haired one and the enjoyed the silence before Ichigo wondered why his name had been called by the man.
"How are you doing, Kurosaki?" That was a weird question and Ichigo found himself making a noise of confusion. "I mean, with Grimmjow and everything. He's been away for quite some time."
"…Oh, I'm doing fine, I guess. He's having such a good time in America, so I can't really feel upset about him being away. ...I miss him, but that's normal." Ichigo listened to Ulquiorra hum in understanding before he heard Orihime's voice in the distance. "And what about you? How are you and Inoue doing? You guys spend a lot of time together."
There was silence and Ichigo wondered if Ulquiorra had heard him "…She is an interesting woman. I enjoy spending time with her." Ichigo smiled at the vague answer. Ulquiorra always seemed like a closed off person, never saying more than he needed to. Ichigo didn't mind, but it was hard having conversations with such a quiet man. He was glad Inoue had found someone like Ulquiorra to take care of her, though. He seemed like a stable person who would match the bubbly orange haired woman. Ichigo hadn't seen her that happy in a while and he hoped she would continue to stay that way. He sighed and enjoyed the sounds around him before he spoke.
"You're a good person for her. She seems very happy, so I hope you will continue doing whatever it is that you are doing." He listened to Ulquiorra, but the man didn't respond. He really wasn't asking for a response, he just felt he let the dark haired man know how he felt. He was glad that they were having a good relationship. He had worried about her finding the happiness that she deserved. Inoue was someone who he just didn't want to see sad or lonely. He had felt that way before and knew how hard it was. He had felt bad that he couldn't love her like she wanted him to, but now that she had Ulquiorra, he wouldn't have to worry any longer.
The rest of the day went on without a hitch and Ichigo enjoyed spending time with his sisters. They had been staying in the house way too much, so it was nice to be out in the hot sun. He wished he could play with them like he used to, but sadly his inability made it hard to do so. He listened to them, Karin's loud voice as she shouted rules and regulations like some referee. He listened to Yuzu whine about already knowing how to play and her scolding Karin. He could hear Rukia and Renji arguing about how to drink from a juice box and Orihime talk about her three-bean casserole made with oranges fish and sour cream.
He sighed and rose from the blanket, his walking stick in hand. He unfolded it and lowered it to the soft ground. He started walking, listening as the familiar voices started to become quieter and until he could hear nothing but birds chirping and the warm breeze flowing next to his ear. His stick hit something hard and he realized that he must be on the park path. He strolled for a bit, thinking of how it would be when Grimmjow came back home. There was so much he wanted to do, so much he wanted to share with Grimmjow, but he knew the moment he felt the blunet near, he would lock him away, only to smother him with love.
Every time he thought about Grimmjow being away, he just wanted him to hurry and come back. This was how their relationship was going to be like in the future now that Grimmjow was living in America. Ichigo would only be able to spend time with him every three months. It made his heartache, wanting nothing more than to spend every waking and sleeping moment next to Grimmjow when he came home. It would be his only time and he hoped Grimmjow didn't mind that. He hoped the blunet didn't get tired of him before he could have his fill of the deep sultry voice, the smooth large hands, the soft thin lips and the strong body.
Ichigo blushed at where his thoughts were going. It had been almost three months since he and Grimmjow had been intimate for the first time and he could feel himself yearning to have him again. It had felt extraordinary, the feeling of Grimmjow inside him, the feeling of the man's hands touching him and the lips and tongue roaming his body. To be that close, connected with Grimmjow on a higher level made him feel alive and cherished in a way he could have never imagined. He had always thought sex was about the immense pleasure or even about power, but it was that and so much more.
He had felt like his body would burn up with unimaginable bliss, that he could see the brightest light in the world. He had felt so much power inside him, as if he could move mountains. There had been the feeling that he could understand what Grimmjow was thinking even if he couldn't look into his eyes. He had felt it with every touch, with every breath. It was something that he wanted to experience time and time again.
It was more than having sex or making love, he felt like he was sharing his deepest parts with the blue haired man and that made him feel like they had a connection somehow. It was hard to explain, but he just felt as if Grimmjow and he shared a lot of things that didn't even need to be said.
He chuckled. Maybe he had been spending too much time with Orihime and her monologues about what she wants her love life to be like.
"Big brother! …Ichigo!" The oranget stopped when he heard Yuzu's voice from behind him. He turned around and he felt her come up to him and wrap her arms around his waist. "Ichigo! We were looking for you. You've been gone for a while."
"Sorry, Yuzu, just wanted some time to think."
"Were you thinking about big brother Grimmjow?" Ichigo chuckled at the fact that Yuzu had started to consider Grimmjow part of their family.
"Yeah…I was."
"I miss him too," she said as they started walking back towards the picnic area, hand in hand. "I can't wait until he gets back home. I learned this new recipe that I want to teach him!"
Ichigo smiled as he looked up into the sky. "I can't wait either, Yuzu."
Luppi sat on the bench, pretending to read the newspaper that was in his hands. Loly sighed as she texted on her cell phone. "This is boring," she mumbled. "They aren't even doing anything."
"I know that!" Luppi hissed, peeking above the newspaper. "You are supposed to be telling me how to get rid of him!"
"Tch, he's blind. It shouldn't be that hard. …And why do you care anyway? You haven't seen Grimmjow in months. What makes you think you will see him now?"
Luppi sighed and lowered the newpaper. "Sometimes I wonder about you, Loly. You are denser than a brick." The woman glared at him, her pink eyes blazing with detest. "If something happens to Grimmjow's "precious" friend-"
"Boyfriend," Loly slipped in, making Luppi glare at her.
"Boyfriend…then he will come to his aid and that's when I strike and get my Grimm Kitty back."
"…But won't he get mad if he found out you were the one that hurt the boy?"
Luppi just snorted, waving his hand about before stopping and gazing down at his nails. "Details, details. He'll be so upset that he will need someone to comfort him. Which will be me!" The petite man dropped his hand and sighed. "So…you have to give me some ideas gruesome enough to injure…maybe kill him."
Loly frowned, setting her cell phone down. "I don't know about this. I don't want to be blamed for killing someone."
"You won't be blamed. You are just helping me with ideas, besides no one will know it was me anyway. I'll make sure of that."
Loly gazed at Ichigo and all his friends. The boy didn't need to be in the middle of all of this, but she didn't want to hurt her best friend's feelings. She wished Luppi would just get over Grimmjow. She glanced over to see the petite man gazing her way. She did quite enjoy torturing people though. She smiled before talking to Luppi about ways to morbidly injure someone. As long as she wasn't blamed, she figured it would be okay.
...GAH! Three months down! Grimmjow's on his way back, loves. I know you all can't wait. Fufufufu. I want to thank everyone who has been reading and reviewing this story every step of the way. Thanks to the people who love this story enough to favorite it and/or alert it. All of you guys are so awesome. Please review and see you next chapter. :)
