Lies Open Prison Doors

by GrimmIchiForeva

Ichigo Kurosaki tries to settle down and live a normal life. But when cops come knocking on his door, his past finally catches up to him. It doesn't seem like the end of the world at first: Just serve the 8 months in Karakura and get out, but then he winds up in a Max Prison called Hueco Mundo instead where he runs into his crazy ex. Warnings and Pairings inside. Yaoi

19. Chapter 18: Secret for a Secret

AUTHOR NOTE: Happy GrimmIchi day! Sweet lord—these chapters just keep getting longer. I'm so sorry. Please, take your time and just enjoy the ride!

Unbeta'd

---

BzztBzzt… BzztBzzt…

Ichigo glanced down at his cellphone as it vibrated with life, clattering loudly against the bar's smooth, black-dyed wood. Instead of grabbing it, he picked at the coaster beneath his drink, purposefully ignoring those two letters flashing across his screen.

'GK'

Ginjou Kugo.

He really shouldn't be ignoring him…

BzztBzzt…

But he already knew what the man was going to say—what he'd ORDER him to do.

Ichigo waited for the call to die off before returning his attention to the short glass of Whisky placed before him. The drink was patiently waiting for him to give in—soak in its numbing embrace, like Ginjou himself often does. And that's precisely why he hesitated. He didn't WANT to end up like that asshole… However, that 'asshole' also happens to be one of the most powerful men Ichigo's ever met: Physically, mentally, even politically. Ginjou was untouchable.

BzztBzzt…

And here he was, in some rundown bar, in the middle of nowhere, on an active (overdue) mission, ignoring the man's call.

The entire bar was dull and a few old bulbs flickered in the corners. The lights had a soft, orange-yellow glow, and the smell of oak and leather was like a permanent stain in the air. Nothing about the bar itself was of much interest. The people inside, however; Most of the men sported bright-white vests or jackets with some elaborate logo on the back: A demonic looking skull with horns.

A common trait among all of them was their pale skin, thin frames, and fully shaven heads.

Ichigo could make an educated guess that the long line of motorcycles parked outside belonged to them. They looked like a bunch of skeletons walking around.

BzztBzzt…

He glanced in both directions, taking in each end of the bar and seeing several of those particular men shooting glares at him—another reason to just pick up the damn phone.

Smirking to himself, Ichigo leaned back and lifted his drink. He tilted it back, letting $30 worth of this dump's 'finest' pour straight down his throat. It burned and Ichigo had to grit his teeth through the sting. He wasn't an expert like Ginjou. Not yet anyway. But that might change after this mission.

BzztBz—Click—

"What!?" Ichigo snapped, finally answering.

"... Well?"

Ichigo released a harsh breath but said nothing.

"You've been there for months! Questions are starting to pop up—Yukio says your background was flagged and reported. They're gonna sniff you out." Ginjou warned heavily then finished with, "You HAVE to leave. Now."

Ichigo waved to the bartender then gestured to his empty glass before lifting two fingers. The bartender was a tall, well-muscled man with tan skin and dark, luxurious hair styled to look like he had two bull-like horns up top. The most prominent thing about him, though, was the full van-dyke style beard and mustache. He noticed Ichigo's gesture and nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"Yeah, I know. A commissions officer stopped by today—wanted to correct a few 'discrepancies' in my file."

"See? You're out of time…"

"I know," Ichigo's voice came out a low growl then a sigh escaped, "I know…" He nodded his thanks to the bartender after two short glasses, filled to the brim with liquor, dropped down in front of him. He tossed back the next one as Ginjou started up again.

"What the hell is taking you so long anyway? Are you trying to Sweet talk it out of him?"

Index finger tapped against the rim of his next glass, chest buzzing like it was full of wasps. He was able to contain the emotions on his face, but his mind was a mess of reluctance, guilt, anger, and everything in between. He didn't want to think of WHY—forgetting was the whole fucking reason he found himself in this place.

Sneaking out of the barracks had been easy—he's snuck out enough times to have a damn near flawless routine by now. Just wait for the lights to go out, bribe the security guard, erase a couple security camera files (Which was simple enough with Tsukishima's new gadget that Ichigo 'borrowed'), then hotwire one of the armored vehicles—just because he COULD. He could've taken one of the more inconspicuous cars, but no.

For Ichigo, the bigger the better.*

Regardless of the transportation, a good joyride always helped calm his nerves. The freedom of the road, combined with fresh air, had a way of settling him. There was something undeniably soothing about the desert nights here. Crisp and dry, but with enough chill to shock your system awake—it was exhilarating.

He got about 45 miles down the road before spotting this little gem. It was hard to ignore the bright neon signs and single street light illuminating the parking lot. Thinking a drink might quiet his mind, he pulled over.

"I'm almost finished. He was stubborn, but I've got a date with Pantera tomorrow. I'll get the information from him, then I'll leave. I just need one more day." Ichigo winced at how pathetic he sounded, voice raw with emotion.

"Wait, wait , wait… You're going on a DATE?! My god—you ARE trying to talk it out!" Ginjou groaned in dismay and sounded like he was scolding a younger sibling, "Ichigo… I warned you not to get attached…"

Ichigo ruffled his shorter, army-cut hair with an agitated grunt, eyes squeezing shut.

"M'not.. ATTACHED. It's just.. If he's cooperative then there shouldn't be any need for violence… Right?"

"Ugh… You're such a soft-hearted pain in my ass, yanno that?"

"Tch. Pretty sure you're the one who taught me not to take 'unnecessary risks'."

"Asking him where Grand Fisher is and then leaving him alive IS THE RISK—why are you hesitating? What's so damn special 'bout Pantera?" There was stern disappointment in Ginjou's voice, to which Ichigo rolled his eyes—since his fickle mentor wasn't around to witness it. Hissing in frustration, Ichigo tossed back his third shot.

The whiskey was pretty strong. He could already feel the tips of his fingers tingling. Then a humming warmth spread throughout his torso, from sternum to hip, and it felt pretty good.

"Hey... Can I ask ya something?"

"Uh... Yeah?"

"What does family mean to you?"

A snide scoff crackled through the phone. Ginjou sounded like he was already done with this conversation, "Family…? Pffhh.. Family is just an obligation ya can't escape."

"That's it..? An 'obligation'?" Ichigo was almost offended at that, but then he heard the familiar sound of Ginjou twisting open his flask. Not bothering to hide the amusement in his own voice, Ichigo said, "You were put in time-out one too many times as a kid, weren't you? What'd you do? Steal one too many times from daddy's liquor cabinet?" Says the man dumping down whisky like the answers to all his problems were spelled out in the bottom of each glass.

"Ha. Ha. Laugh it up, Orange. 'Least I don't reflect high-beams everywhere I go!"

"Make all the hair jokes you want—At least I don't treat my family like a BURDEN."

Ginjou huffed, "I didn't say that—don't put words in my mouth. I said 'obligation'. Because you don't get to choose when, where, or how you're born… and yet things that happened in your family's past—before you even existed, haunt you at every step."

Ichigo attempted to decipher those generically cryptic words, only to wind up with a headache instead of answers.

"What the hell're you talking about?"

"Forget it." Ginjou lamented with a sigh, "Can't expect a punk who doesn't even know his own damn family to understand."

"Don't know my family? What the fuck? If you're talking about that one time with Kukaku—how the hell was I supposed to know? It's not like she sat me down during one of our family get-togethers to tell me her secret occupation. No 'By the way, I purchase heads for a living' bedtime stories!"

"I said forget it."

Ichigo wasn't finished though, "So if you found out I killed your brother, would you feel OBLIGATED to avenge him? Or would you just shrug it off?"

"Oh. Heh—well, Tsuki can handle himself... But, to answer your question: Yes. I would 'avenge' him."

Ichigo's forehead met the bar with a solid CLUNK!, empty glasses clinking together from the tremor. A long, broken sigh eased out of his lungs.

"...That's what I thought..."

Ginjou was silent for a while, until it finally clicked, then mocking laughter (complete with obnoxiously loud intakes of breath) crackled through the speakers. Ichigo noticed a few more heads turn to glare at him, but he ignored them.

"PFAHAHA! For crying out loud! That's what this is about? Pantera's BROTHER!? Why do you gotta go through a moral dilemma every fucking mission?"

"This isn't about my 'morals'..." Ichigo grumbled, free hand scrubbing his face in frustration. Then the liquid courage he drank kicked in at once; words that were supposed to go through the proper channels of his brain slipped heedlessly, "I really like him..."

Ginjou made a sound of absolute disgust.

"Uh-huh. Right. Tell me again how you're not 'attached'. Hm?" Ginjou didn't wait for a reply, he was right back on Ichigo's case like an overbearing father, "You better not bring him back with you. I forbid it! Wait! Does he…" He paused just to groan in frustration, "Shit. Does he know your name…?" Ichigo stayed silent, which was answer enough by itself, "I swear to Christ almighty! You're gonna be the death of me. Of US! The last generation of Xcution ends with you—I hope you're happy, asshole."

"You're making a lot of assumptions..." Ichigo grumbled, wanting Ginjou to think he jumped to conclusions, but his mentor knew better.

"I'm going to make this very clear, Ichigo… I don't give a FUCK how much you like this guy—if he knows your name and you attack his brother... He'll try to get back at you—Hell, he could even go after your own sisters! So NOW, thanks to your fat fuckin' mouth, you gotta kill BOTH of 'em. Do you understand me?" There was an audible BANG in the background, like Ginjou slammed his fist for emphasis, "You can't leave loose ends ."

Ichigo's groan turned into a snarl then ended with a scoff, "I'll contact ya tomorrow… Send me the pick-up coordinates so I know which direction to go." He didn't give Ginjou a chance to respond. He hung up then turned the device off completely, because he knew Ginjou would just keep calling until he got a straight answer. Instead of putting it back on the bartop, Ichigo stuffed the device in his back pocket.

"Another round?"

Ichigo looked up to find the bartender leaning against the counter, busily drying a clean glass with a hand towel. Ichigo nodded his acceptance and the new drinks were poured and ready with an impressive flurry of movement. The man even twirled the Whisky bottle in his palm and caught it at the right angle so it would pour into the glass. Not a single drop spilt.

"Don't think I've seen you here before." He commented as Ichigo reached for his next shot. It went down smoother this time, like his throat was building up a callous for the harsh taste.

"Just passin' through…" Ichigo replied, his speech beginning to slur.

"Good."

A single orange brow rose in question.

"Yeah? Not welcome, am I?" His gaze swerved around the bartender to eye the scary bald men still glaring in his direction.

"Only fair to warn you. It wasn't always like this… But… Ya know how it is—The things you do to make ends meet." The man shrugged and gave a long, suffering sigh. A hand flew up to press against his forehead as well; so damn dramatic. Ichigo resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "They at least have the decency to clean up their own mess."

"Oh yeah?" Ichigo asked, feigning interest, and the guy ate it up.

"Yeah. They tend to make things real bloody . I've tried convincing them to switch their color to red, instead of white, so they don't have to keep ordering new jackets!" He guffawed like that was hilarious to him and Ichigo cracked a short laugh as well, surprising the older male—he thought the morbid warning might scare off this obviously lost little orangette.

"Blood's a real bitch to get out–ain't it? Oh but, just so you know, If you wanna hide the blood then black is the way to go. Red would just get darker." Ichigo let loose a wicked smirk when the bartender eyed him curiously, mustache sagging with an intrigued frown.

"What's your name, kid?"

Ichigo lifted the next glass to his lips as he answered, "Tensa." Then he dumped it down before he could regret it.

"Mine is Dondori." His introduction went mostly unheard as Ichigo slammed down his empty glass with a rough 'Ahhh!'. Auburn eyes looked up and Dondori found himself nervously looking away from the fierce stare.

"Got anything stronger, Dory?" Ichigo said with a teasing, and rather contagious, grin.

"You've had enough…"

Ichigo flinched, instantly recognizing that deep, husky voice. Dread welled in his stomach, churning the alcohol inside until it made him feel nauseous.

In all honesty, he shouldn't be surprised; This wasn't the first time Grimmjow followed him off base to drag him back.

Ichigo remained facing the bar, intentionally not greeting the man who appeared out of nowhere. Instead, he nodded at Dondori, "One more round… and get him a shot of Tequila." He directed a thumb at the new arrival.

The bartender paused to give Grimmjow a strict once over before doing as bidded.

Ichigo went back to picking at the thin cardboard coaster under his previous drink, to distract himself.

Grimmjow kicked one of the empty stools a bit closer and took a seat. He was close enough that Ichigo caught a whiff of the sharp, minty spice that belonged solely to him. The scent washed over Ichigo and, as if Pavlov's bell got rung, his mouth started to water.

What kept Ichigo tense was the fact Grimmjow was uncharacteristically quiet. The last two times Grimmjow tracked him down like this, he came in making a big scene, eager for a confrontation that Ichigo gladly provided—The rest of the night nothing but a blur of excitement and fun.

Ichigo peered at Grimmjow's attire, interested in the casual 'civilian' clothing he wore today. It was always nice seeing him out of his military gear—those tan-camo pants and white tank top got boring after a while. Heavy black boots and metal dogtags were the only familiar sight amid the ensemble. This leather jacket, black shirt, and slim jean look fit Grimmjow better than he could've imagined.

His gaze traveled up to inspect light-blue hair. It was more wind-blown than usual, so Ichigo knew there must be a Zero MMX Bike parked out front.

The drinks arrived, securing their attention. Ichigo waited for Grimmjow to reach for his own before even attempting his next one. He sloshed it down and almost burped it back up—only to wind up choking on the bubble that formed.

And Grimmjow thought this would be the perfect time to ask, "Why are you avoiding me?"

Ichigo thumped a fist against his chest, hacking until he could breathe properly. Then he turned to scowl at the man, but Grimmjow wasn't even looking in his direction. He was staring at his drink with a deep frown—that's right, SULKING.

For such a tough-guy, Grimmjow was blessed with a sensitive soul. And Ichigo was surprised by it every single time. He did a good job hiding it from the public, that's for damn sure, but Ichigo loved this hidden side—like stumbling across a precious, priceless treasure, he wanted to cherish it.

"Is it 'cause Pantera asked you out?" Grimmjow pressed when Ichigo stayed silent.

Ichigo glared down at the bartop; angry because telling the truth would just make the guy more upset, and he was so tired of lying all the damn time.

Maybe it's for the best.

He should break everything off right now—get it over with. Rip the fucking bandaid off.

But all he said was, "You heard 'bout that..?"

"Yup." Grimmjow's lips popped with the simple word and then he tossed back his shot. There was no hiss or wince, Grimmjow gulped it down like a refreshing glass of water. "Pantera told me about it himself. He said…" Grimmjow let out a humorless chuckle while slamming his empty glass down, "No, he ordered me to stay away from you. I guess you're 'off-limits' now."

Ichigo blinked at that and then started laughing, which only seemed to piss the other man off.

"Ya think that's funny?"

"Well… yeah ." Ichigo's loud merriment simmered to soft wheezing that had Grimmjow shooting daggers. Ichigo waved to Dondori, who was at the other end of the long, rectangular-looped bar, refilling drinks and chatting with some of the bikers, "More Tequila o'er 'ere!" A short nod from the bearded man then Ichigo turned, and, for the first real time that day, locked eyes with Grimmjow. "Yes. I'm avoiding you because of my plans tomorrow.. with Pantera… And I came here to FORGET about that. So do me a favor n' drop the drama for tonight. M'kay?" That was about all Grimmjow would get as far as details went.

"You…" He glowered; cobalt eyes narrowing, frown deepening, and eyebrows pinching into tight grooves. "I wanna know—"

"Too bad." Ichigo grinned when the already pissed off expression darkened, not appreciating the interruption at all.

"But he—"

"Doesn't matter. I don't care what Pantera says—but you on the other hand… You'll take orders like a good dog, won't you?" Ichigo smacked Grimmjow's bicep with the back of his hand. "Always gotta be so RIGID." He went to smack him again, but Grimmjow caught his wrist, using enough pressure to show he didn't find any of this funny. He roughly chucked Ichigo's hand away as the bartender approached.

Their little argument (if you could really call it that) was put on hold to watch Dondori work.

"Leave the bottle." Ichigo ordered and Grimmjow nearly sighed in frustration. The bartender shrugged and went about his business, leaving the bottle as requested.

Grimmjow reached out to finger the cool glass. His touch was tentative—not surprising after the last time they got drunk (Let's just say the squad got an actual day off from Grimmjow's insane morning workout. Though they were forced to make up for it with a late-night obstacle-course run).

"I don't think I've ever seen you disobey him. You're an obedient lil' brother, ain'tcha?" Ichigo sipped his drink, savoring the taste this time around. He was nearing his tolerance level anyway. "Do you listen to him because he's family? Or 'cause you don't wanna get on his bad side?" Ichigo hid a smirk behind his drink when he heard an irritated huff. He watched from the corner of his eye as the tequila bottle lifted towards snarling lips.

Using his teeth, Grimmjow pulled out the cork with one quick jerk of his head. The shot glass went ignored, choosing instead to chug an even bigger gulp straight out of the bottle.

"I ain't scared of him if that's what you're implyin'!" He snarled, bottle slamming back down.

Ichigo didn't flinch away from the loud slam or the scathing glare sent his way. In fact, he leaned in with a smirk—one that sent a shiver down Grimmjow's spine. Ichigo was rather tipsy by this point and craving action. He wanted to keep winding this capricious man up until he inevitably snapped.

"From what I heard, you SHOULD be scared. They say Pantera is a real monster in a fight…" Blue eyes narrowed challengingly but Ichigo sideswiped him with one last comment, "So I could only imagine what he's like in bed."

Grimmjow hissed and, in lieu of words, grabbed a fistful of orange hair. Nails scraped across his scalp and powerful digits slipped right through silky strands. He pulled Ichigo closer to growl in his face, "Fine. I might not be able to stop you from pursuing him, but he will only disappoint someone as insatiable as YOU." Ichigo's skin vibrated like a plucked violin string, almost like the entire organ wanted to crawl off his skeleton—towards that sinfully deep voice. Grimmjow had a knack for using his voice like a weapon, because he knew how much it affected Ichigo. "Pantera might be the only family I've got left… but he doesn't control me. I'll touch you any damn time I want—I'll even fuck ya right in front of him if that's what it takes. You think I'm just gonna roll over and do what he says!?"

Ichigo's throat bobbed with an excited gulp, but he reluctantly pried Grimmjow's fingers away. Getting an erection right now would only make things harder.

He was starting to regret working Grimmjow up, so he tried to flip the conversation, "Oh, ya know, by the way, I had a chat with those vets at base today, and they mentioned something interesting about you." He made sure to keep his face blank while Grimmjow retreated.

"The fuck did they say?"

"Well… Let's see.. Barragan said ever since ya returned from tour you've been hiding here—Holed up in Pantera's barracks. I'd call it cowardice, except cowards don't come back with a 'Medal of Honor'**. They never explained HOW ya got the medal—said I should ask you about it myself…" Ichigo turned to face Grimmjow, eyes locking with intense energy, but his expression was blank. "Not gonna share any details? Not even a short synopsis?"

"You keep your lil' secrets, and I'll keep mine," Was all he said, but it sounded like he'd be willing to say more if Ichigo offered information first.

"Ya won't tell me about your big heroic story, but you'll sit here and demand answers from me .." Ichigo griped and paused to snort in exasperation, "Everyone speaks so highly of you—praises you even! But all I've ever seen ya do is fuck, fight, and train the new recruits. In that exact order—one by one. Rinse and repeat..." The muscles in Grimmjow's cheeks clenched over and over again, nervous tic working on overdrive. "They say ya never leave the base—at least they've never SEEN you leave. I only know different 'cause this is the third time you've followed me out. I'd be willing to bet if I hadn't come along you never would have left—"

"Don't listen to those old bastards—especially Barragan. I make trips into Las Noches all the time. How else ya think the squad gets all that contraband?" Ichigo chuckled at that, recalling all the porn magazines and beer he's seen floating around base. "I follow you out then come back with ya because it gives you an alibi, dumbass." Grimmjow's face twisted in thought and he jutted the neck of his bottle at Ichigo. "Which reminds me.. Another officer came asking 'bout you, and I'm outta excuses… I can't protect ya from the law if they keep digging."

"I didn't ask for your help. You don't have to make excuses for me." Ichigo grumbled, but a small dash of red worked its way onto his cheeks.

Grimmjow has been covering for him?

Huh.. That was oddly comforting—which made the deep, soul-crushing guilt festering in his heart worse .

"Yeah, yeah.. you didn't ask for my help. But that's a lot of prison time if ya get caught. How the hell am I supposed to fuck ya up if you're behind bars?"

Ichigo hummed and took another mouth-searing sip of his Whisky. Then he sent a playful wink, "I think that's called 'conjugal visitation'," He thoroughly enjoyed the way Grimmjow threw his head back with a loud cackle, "And that's IF they catch me—I'm quite slippery." Grimmjow's laugh deepened with honest mirth, and maybe it was just the liquor talking, but Ichigo could listen to that sound all day.

"Yeah, slippery… Like a fox," Blue eyes glanced up pointedly at Ichigo's bright orange hair and it took the tipsy male a second to put that one together. Grimmjow continued speaking while Ichigo struggled to think of a comeback, "But you're easy as fuck to find. Coulda found ya blindfolded n' tied to a chair."

Ichigo snorted at the exaggeration, "Mm. That's not 'finding', that's 'baiting'—but fuck yeah. YOU, tied to a chair, and blindfolded?" He made a pleased sound in the back of his throat and bit his bottom lip as he imagined such a scenario. "Wouldn't turn that down for anything."

Grimmjow's amusement died when a thought occurred to him and he didn't bother suppressing it, "You'd turn it down for Pantera apparently…" His voice was a quiet grumble, but Ichigo heard every word.

And what a damn killjoy.

Ichigo spun around in his seat to lean against the bartop. Then he pointed at the back corner of the bar. "That looks like fun."

Grimmjow turned to see what he was talking about, only to scoff; Hanging against an empty, hole-infested wall was a dart board.

"Darts..? Really?"

"'Fraid you'll lose?" Ichigo wiggled an eyebrow teasingly and elbowed him again. Grimmjow couldn't hold in the small, amused huff.

"Sure you're not too drunk?" A blue brow rose and Ichigo was so fucking glad to see the smirk back on his handsome face. "Can't have you blaming the alcohol when ya lose."

Ichigo hopped to his feet and bounced from foot to foot eagerly. "Hey, Dory! Keep the tab open—this loser is about to buy me another round."

"Hah!" Grimmjow spun off the stool smoothly and followed behind, hand still locked around his tequila.

They had to work their way around some tables and scattered chairs, avoiding the bikers huddled together, chatting in low whispers. Ichigo felt gazes follow them all the way to the empty lane strictly used for dart throwing. Grimmjow paused and patiently waited for Ichigo to gather what little darts he could find. He only managed to scrounge up 3, each with different colored flights, but they would have to do. Ichigo sauntered his way back to Grimmjow, grinning like a drunken idiot.

"Wanna go first?"

Ichigo offered up the metal darts and Grimmjow took them. He tucked two against his palm and rested the third along his fingertips. He inspected them critically and tried to get a feel for the weight. As he did that, he spoke, "How about we make this more interesting?"

"Oh?" Ichigo hummed, expressing his interest as he stepped aside to give Grimmjow a clear view of the board. "Whacha got in mind?"

The first dart soared high in the air, arching gracefully, then landed with a solid 'Thunk!' smack dab in the middle.

"If I win… I want ya to cancel that date."

"What..?" Ichigo's grin faded and the scowl was back. "Mannn. I told you to DROP the drama. I have to—I mean… I can't …"

Grimmjow narrowed his eyes, irises glowing with anger, but he kept his voice calm, "Then postpone it. He can take ya out next week."

Ichigo shook his head, though his scowl softened.

"Why? That won't solve anything. My time here is running out—you even said so yourself." Ichigo admitted while reaching up to rub his temple, where another headache was forming. "What's one more week gonna accomplish?"

'Thunk!'

Ichigo glanced at the dart board to see the second one embedded in the bullseye, right alongside the first.

Another perfect throw.

"A lot can happen in a week…"

"Yeah, a lot, like getting caught for example."

"Mhm. Sure. Or maybe I'll convince ya to stay—There's gotta be a way to bypass your file, even if it's illegally." Grimmjow shrugged, then he spun the last dart around his middle finger. He took a deep breath before continuing, "OR… maybe you'll disappear for good. Go somewhere I can't follow."

"Hmph.." Ichigo snatched away the tequila bottle. His tastebuds felt delayed, like his tongue was stuffed full of cotton; all fuzzy and sensitive, but once the silver liquid hit the back of his throat a shiver wracked his body. The bottle was passed back with a long groan of disgust. "Ugh. How can you drink that?"

Grimmjow took a deep swig to show Ichigo how a real man handles a real drink. He even gave a satisfied 'ah!' after popping his lips from the lid.

"Show off…" Ichigo grumbled but then he waved his hands in the air with a shrug, "Alright. Fine! If you win then I'll push back my rendezvous with Pantera. Happy?" Grimmjow nodded once in acceptance but now he was having trouble looking Ichigo in the eye. His jealousy was palpable and it made Ichigo want to laugh, though he curbed that instinct. Laughing now would just get him punched in the face. "But if I win…" Ichigo reached over and boldly slid a hand up Grimmjow's front, right between the jacket's open zipper. The tight muscles twitched and clenched excitedly under his touch. Once he reached the dogtogs, he wound the chain around his hand to yank him closer. He had to tighten his hold and tug a little more forcefully when the taller male tried to lean away. Ichigo didn't stop until he could whisper in his ear, "I wanna fuck you."

Grimmjow relaxed, no longer trying to escape, and his shoulders shook with a chuckle. "We fuck all the time —how is that a reward for you?" The question came out automatically, but when Ichigo continued to pull him closer, it finally dawned on him.

"No, Grimmjow," Ichigo pressed his lips against the man's cheek, just to feel the muscles there twitch nervously, "I want to FUCK you." To drive the point home, Ichigo snuck his other hand around and grabbed that supremely toned ass. He squeezed the cheek hard, using his whole hand to fondle it. His fingers weren't given a single inch—like holding onto the side of a mountain, solid and dense. He only got to enjoy the feeling for a second before his hand was snatched away by its wrist.

Grimmjow hauled the limb to eye-level so he could glare at it directly.

They've broached this subject once before, but the end result to that discussion had been Ichigo bent over the nearest surface and fucked mercilessly. Not that he really minded. He wasn't finicky about positions, but if Ichigo ever wanted to try that with Grimmjow, NOW would be the time to do it; Before he has to kill him.

Grimmjow lifted his other arm, the one still holding his drink, to shove Ichigo out of his personal space. When they parted, the last echoes of shock and embarrassment evaporated from his face; Replaced with bitter annoyance. Frowning lips lifted into a one-sided sneer and blue bangs swayed as he shook his head. Ichigo's hand fell, already feeling the sting of disappointment, but then—

"Fine… If that's what you want…" Such a positive answer didn't match the sheer reluctance displayed on Grimmjow's face. While Ichigo was processing those words, another 'Thunk!' caught his attention. He turned to see the third, and final, dart stuck beside the others.

Three bullseyes.

Ichigo expected nothing less from a sharpshooter like Grimmjow Jeagerjaques.

This might take a few rounds.

Grimmjow leaned sideways to peek at Ichigo's expression, soaking in the proud smirk he found. It wasn't clear when exactly he started going out of his way to earn this dumbass's approval.. But now… any time he got this kind of reaction out of Ichigo his insides twisted into complicated knots.

Shrugging away the feeling, Grimmjow walked forward to retrieve all three darts; While he did that, Ichigo turned to inspect their surroundings.

The whole bar was alive with movement.

Sharp eyes surveyed the area quickly, realizing that everyone was leaving. Ichigo watched them all shuffle by, some obviously more drunk than others. They paid their tabs, gathered up their stuff, and then they were all out the door. It was a little odd how everyone got up to leave at once—but he didn't know too many motorcycle gangs, so his suspicions felt more like paranoia.

"You're up."

Ichigo looked down to see the darts being offered to him. With a shrug, he grabbed them and took his spot, right where Grimmjow had been before. Instead of arching gracefully, Ichigo's dart was like a missile, it flew at the bullseye in a straight line and stuck fast.

The second one was just as perfect—a little too perfect. It knocked away the first dart before falling to the floor itself.

"That still counts." Ichigo demanded, face set in a firm pout that made Grimmjow chuckle.

"Ya don't have to throw 'em so damn hard…" His smirk stretched wide while Ichigo waved a hand dismissively at him. The orangette took his stance, readying to throw the last one, but froze up. A shiver crawled across every inch of his skin when Grimmjow suddenly pushed up behind him. Heated words brushed the nape of his neck, "You must wanna fuck me pretty bad, huh?" Grimmjow used the opportunity to nibble at the skin under his lips—couldn't help himself. Any chance to taste the orangette was his to take full advantage of.

Ichigo peeked over his shoulder, giving Grimmjow a close-up view of chocolate eyes as they swirled into auburn flecked with amber and gold, hooded and smoldering with desire.

Both men snapped out of their lust-driven haze when loud noises erupted from outside; motorcycle engines revving, hoots and hollers, loud laughing—but those were all expected. What they DIDN'T expect was the crunching of metal and breaking of glass.

"Sonsabitches..." Grimmjow hissed, already making his way to one of the booths. He stretched across to look through the window for a better view, peering at the patch of dirt these assholes called a 'parking lot'. While he took his time inspecting the scene, Ichigo strolled back towards the bar. Dondori was busy cleaning and putting things away. Ichigo reached into his front pocket and the man's eyes jumped to the movement, acting a bit tense. He relaxed only once he saw the green color of money in Ichigo's hand. A thick roll of it—a lot more than what he owed for the drinks.

Dondori eyed the money eagerly, but suspiciously, and Ichigo's silky smirk wasn't reassuring in the least.

"Thanks for the drinks, Dory. This's for the 'mess' you'll be cleaning up in a second."

And, right on cue, Grimmjow's voice shouted from the direction of the entrance, "Get the fuck outta my way!" followed closely by the sound of glass shattering into a million pieces.

They turned to see one of the bouncers laid flat on the ground, outside the bar. The other bouncer tried to get in Grimmjow's way, despite what just happened to his partner. He needed to learn the hard way that stopping Grimmjow was about as possible as going head to head with a wild animal. The larger male tried to shove him back only to choke on his own adam's apple when it got punched. A firm kick to the ankles made him crumple to his knees.

Grimmjow stared him down with a grimace, like this whole struggle hadn't even been worth the effort. Then his boot lifted off the ground for a ferocious kick.

Ichigo gave an impressed whistle as the stunned bouncer went flying through the only door left standing, breaking it as well.

Dondori waited for Ichigo to walk away before collecting the thick roll of money left behind. He unraveled it, just to make sure it was no trick; he plucked one of the many $100 bills and held it to the light, confirming that it was indeed REAL. And wow—He could buy a whole new bar with this much. Well, maybe not BUY it, but he could certainly change locations. Dondori looked up to watch the man who called himself 'Tensa' walk away, expression settling on shocked awe.

Who the fuck was this guy?**

Grimmjow marched outside, stomping carelessly over both fallen bodies, and Ichigo was hot on his heels, eager and excited for some more action.

The armored vehicle was swarming with people. Most of the men on the ground were the same ones glaring at them before. Each one carried metal bats in hand, swinging at every inch of the vehicle. No matter how hard they swung, they only managed to leave small dents, but damage nonetheless. The back windows were smashed in and the front windshield looked ready to join them. Bulletproof glass was tough to get through, especially with blunt weapons, but if persistent enough…

Ichigo's glare shifted to the two women jumping up and down on the hood, seesawing the entire rig. For such petite women, they were putting those front suspensions to work; Ichigo could hear the squeaking all the way from here. One woman had long, dark hair pulled into high pigtails, and the other sported short blonde hair, gelled and styled like a chaotic mane. They were both laughing and holding each other by their forearms, to keep from falling. Each jump was in perfect sync, for maximum height and destruction.

CRKrunch!

There goes the hood.

CrkTSHH!

And there goes the driver's side window.

"Yeah! Bust it up! WOO!" A third woman shouted. She had pigtails as well, but these were much curlier and light-purple in color. Her hair wasn't the ONLY thing purple—tear-shaped tattoos on each cheek and lips painted that same bright color. This purple lady was standing on the car's roof, manning the disarmed turret mounted there. Of course ammo wasn't loaded in the thing—or anywhere near it, but that didn't stop the woman from having fun. She swung the giant gun on its axis while peering through the sight, coming to a stop on the two colorfully-headed males below. "Well, well, well~! Pretty boys done suckin' eachother off already?" Her lips stretched into a wide smirk and the turret's barrel dropped once she finally stepped aside.

Now that the attention was on them, all partying ceased. The two hood-hopping women remained in their spot, but settled down to sit side by side, large grins plastered across their petite faces.

"They ARE rather pretty, aren't they?" The darker one cooed, rose-pink eyes sweeping both men appreciatively before pinning solely on Grimmjow. "Especially you, big guy~" The confidence in her leering gaze shriveled as deep blue eyes appraised her slowly. Then Grimmjow turned his nose up, upper lip lifting as if her appearance alone revolted him.

"Uck! Hmph!" She scoffed, offended, then crossed both arms while turning away. The blonde next to her chuckled, amused by her reaction, but still wrapped a comforting arm around her.

"Who's in charge of you motherfuckers?" Grimmjow snapped, addressing the long line of men closing in. He received no answer at first. They moved until they had both Ichigo and Grimmjow completely surrounded, creating a tight circle to ensure there was no escape.

Warmth at his back made Grimmjow quickly glanced over his shoulder, but he relaxed at the sight of bright orange hair. Knowing Ichigo had his back without hesitation—or needing any prompting—sent a surge of confidence and strength through Grimmjow. Those feelings mixed with the adrenaline already pumping through his veins, resulting in an extremely volatile combination.

Then one of the bikers stepped forward. He wasn't quite as tall, about 3 inches shorter than Ichigo, but he was just as pale and bald as the others. He had a full, thick, white jacket and a large helmet tucked against his side. Similar to their logo, this helmet had long horns sprouting from each side, like a full grown bull.

"My name is Rudbornn Chelute. And we are the Exequias." He introduced himself and his gang. "And you two," He motioned towards the dogtags hanging from Grimmjow's neck, "Must be a couple o' grunts from that army base down the road. Don't see too many of ya outside those walls… So opportunities like this don't come lightly." He dipped his head and pointed behind them.

Ichigo and Grimmjow turned around to see men carrying/dragging Grimmjow's motorcycle around the corner, making slow progress with the heavy load. Grimmjow was not at all happy to see a bunch of strangers handling his baby like that. As much as he wanted to put his fist through their chests, he didn't attack. He stood there and watched them place his precious bike next to their leader. Rudbornn reached out and traced a finger over the sleek handlebars in an almost loving fashion.

"This is quite beautiful… I assume it's yours." His eyes flicked up to Grimmjow, whose only response was a scowl. "Tell you what, give up the keys and I'll let you cock-smokers leave here alive."

A loud laugh caught them by surprise and their attention switched to the orange haired male slapping his knee in exaggerated humor.

"Aw man…" Ichigo ended with a sigh then stood to his full height, wiping an amused tear from the corner of his eye, "You guys have no clue who you're fuckin' with…" Ichigo announced and Grimmjow's smirk returned, "How about this—Come and TAKE the keys. See what happens…" Auburn eyes flashed threateningly, challenge set forth, both of them ready to wage war.

"If we have to come over there, then it won't be pretty… You'll be shown no mercy." Rudbornn explained simply.

"Don't threaten us with a good time." Grimmjow shot right back, his ego returning with a vengeance.

"Suit yourself…" Rudbornn shrugged then swung the horned helmet onto his head. The bulky size evened out his lack of height, and certainly made him look intimidating—especially under the pale light of the moon. It had Ichigo missing his Reaper mask, face feeling empty and exposed without it.

Rudbornn snapped his fingers and then took a step back, letting his men take charge, a variety of different weapons clasped firmly in their hands: Metal bats, heavy chains, a few pipes and things that could be bought at any hardware store—none of it too threatening really.

Ichigo and Grimmjow both wore matching grins—ones that craved blood.

"Uhm… Ruddy.. S-sir…" The blonde woman said, her voice trembling slightly, and Rudbornn turned at the sound.

"What is it, Menoly?" His voice was muffled by the helmet.

"I think we should leave…" She took a step back as she spoke, eyes flicking between two devilish grins. "We don't need another bike. And we already beat up his car… Let's get outta here."

"Don't be such a wimp!" Her friend with the pigtails teased, rosey-pink eyes narrowing with sadistic glee. "Let's watch."

And what a sight to behold.

The first attacks came with the ringing swing of a chain at Ichigo's ankles and a bat aimed for Grimmjow's kneecaps. Ichigo hopped over the strike while Grimmjow shifted to the side. He waited for the bat to swing by, hitting nothing but air, then lunged. A flurry of punches to the face and his attacker was out for the count, while the other was sent flying backwards, courtesy of Ichigo's roundhouse kick. They were down and out of the fight, but that didn't discourage the others. More and more of the bikers rushed forward, one after another. Maybe they thought attacking at once might overwhelm the two monstrous men, but they overestimated their own strength.

Ichigo and Grimmjow, back to back, fighting against impossible odds, was truly breathtaking.

"Duck." Ichigo warned when he heard another chain swinging nearby—aiming for their heads this time. Grimmjow didn't hesitate to duck, squatting down and glancing up to watch the heavy links wheeled over his head. He reached out before it disappeared, fingers locking around the chains. The owner refused to let go and Grimmjow felt a rush of excitement. He definitely had the weight advantage in this new game of tug-o-war; The man on the other end of the chain squeaked fearfully as he was dragged forward, even with his heels dug in and body leaned backwards. One of his buddies jumped forward to help while others attempted to discourage Grimmjow, but Ichigo didn't let them get anywhere near him.

Once close enough, Grimmjow released one hand from the chain to grab the biker, who was damn near pissing himself. Grimmjow wrapped the chain around his neck, strangling the man with his own weapon.

BANG!

All fighting came to an abrupt halt at the sound and they—at least the ones still conscious—turned to see Rudbornn with a gun in the air. The dust from all the fighting took a moment to settle. Rudbornn let out a long sigh once he saw more than half of his men scattered across the ground.

"B-boss!" The one still getting choked by Grimmjow managed to gasp, face turning blue.

"Drop him." Rudbornn demanded, gun now aimed for Grimmjow's chest. The blue-haired monster took his time contemplating the order and the man in his hold was barely conscious by the time he let the chain drop. His buddy who tried helping before tentatively dragged him away.

"Shoot'm! Teach 'em a lesson!" The others started growling and cursing, weapons pointed at the two.

"That sounds a lot like loser talk! Fuckin' cowards!" Grimmjow shot back and Ichigo chuckled.

BANG!

This time the bullet passed closeby, cracking loudly just above their heads.

Another warning shot; Possibly the last one, judging from the way the barrel bounced between them, ready to fire again.

"Now then…" Rudbornn said when nobody moved. "Cirucci."

The purple lady jolted upright and her eyes flicked towards her leader.

"Yyyeah?"

Rudbornn turned his head just enough to find her then gestured for her to come closer.

"Be a dear and grab his keys for me…"

Cirucci's eyes widened and a nervous sweat slid down the side of her face, but she didn't refuse. She was no coward. Her high-heels clicked with each cautious step and Rudbornn followed close behind her, gun still up and aimed at Grimmjow. He stopped a few paces away, close enough to have a clear shot, but not within striking distance.

Grimmjow clenched his fists and his lips pulled into an angry sneer when Cirucci's shaking hands reached for him. He lifted his arm like he was about to smack her away.

"Ah, ah! Don't you move…" Rudbornn warned, though Grimmjow's defiant glare didn't drop until the gun shifted to Ichigo.

"Tch…" Grimmjow gritted his teeth and locked eyes with the orangette, who didn't seem at all scared or worried about the threat. Ichigo's firm confidence and fearless gaze helped immensely; Grimmjow found himself chuckling, even as timid hands patted his pockets, searching for his keys. "Hey," He called in a soft whisper that only Cirucci or Ichigo could possibly hear, but he certainly wasn't talking to the pathetic woman. Ichigo nodded to show he was listening and Grimmjow asked, "Think you can still drive that thing?"

Cirucci's face scrunched at the question and she looked up to find Ichigo staring at the large armored vehicle.

"Yeah. Why?" Ichigo whispered back.

"Peel outta here soon as ya get the chance, and don't wait for me." Grimmjow explained quickly as he smacked Cirucci's hands away.

While Ichigo was trying to process that new order, Grimmjow lifted both of hands into the air: A clear sign of surrender.

"Alright, fine. Here ya go." Grimmjow lowered one hand to dig inside his own jacket, reaching for the hidden pocket tucked around his left shoulder. Cirucci took the chance to step away, but Rudbornn's gun was still pointed straight at Ichigo's chest.

"Give 'em here." The horned leader lifted his free hand in a clear command to toss it over.

There was a strange moment when time slowed to a crawl, Ichigo's senses prickling awake. He heard a sharp 'ZING', clear as day, and his expression twisted in confused recognition: He's heard the sound before, but he was confused because there's no way Grimmjow would be crazy enough to—

A familiar object was tossed through the air and Rudbornn caught it purely by reflex. He looked down, expecting to see a set of keys, only to find a grenade instead.

With a rush of fear and panic, Rudbornn instinctively, and carelessly, tossed it away.

"Go!" Grimmjow snapped and shoved Ichigo towards the car while everyone else's attention locked on the small, round, and deadly explosive soaring through the air.

"Grenade! Get down!" One of the bikers shouted.

Ichigo took this chance to escape and only saw Grimmjow bolt away. Some of the bikers froze, paralyzed by fear, while others dove for cover. Rudbornn, once the shock wore off, jumped away and rolled backwards to gain more distance. He kept rolling until he was face down, as low as he could go, and hid behind his large helmet.

Ichigo ignored the broken glass covering the driver-seat as he settled inside. He slammed the door shut with one hand while twisting the ignition wires with the other.

KrkBOOM!

Ichigo reversed onto the road as the grenade detonated, and, once the ringing in his ears subsided, he heard screaming. He glanced out the side—It was just a brief look, but he spotted that blonde woman, Menoly, hovering over her friend's motionless body.

"Loly!? Are you okay? Oh god! LOLY!"

Loly's face was covered in blood, most of it spilling from her left eye where a sharp piece of shrapnel got lodged. Others were also injured from the blast, but only Loly was unable to climb back to her feet.

When it came to blood and death, Ichigo was numb to it, after so many years as Reaper... but this was different. This haphazard ploy to get away wasn't Ichigo's style .

Grimmjow was more like a beast off its leash—Although, when everything is said and done, this was Ichigo's fault. He's the one who came here looking for trouble.

And he fucking got it.

Ichigo slammed his foot on the gas, tires squealing in protest but then the vehicle jerked into motion.

"They're getting away! Get the fuck up after 'em!" Rudbornn shot to his feet, dragging his men upright as he stalked towards his own motorcycle; a Harley-davidson with customized handlebars that looked like twisting horns.

This guy really liked the whole skull n' bones theme.

"C'mon!" He barked at Cirucci, who was inspecting Loly with a worried frown. The unconscious woman was still alive and breathing—but she was losing a lot of blood.

Cirucci placed a firm hand on Menoly's shoulder, "Get something to staunch the bleeding then take her to the hospital. Can you do that by yourself?" The blonde's face was a mess of tears and snot, but she nodded in understanding. As much as Cirucci wanted to wait and make sure, she heard Rudbornn's motor roaring to life. She quickly ran to Rudbornn's side, not bothering to grab her helmet. She managed to get on the back before she was left behind.

Twelve different motorcycles rode off after the car, leaving behind a huge cloud of dust and dirt.

Menoly whimpered quietly to herself as she gathered her best friend into her arms.

"I gotchu… Don't worry. I gotchu." She said softly, repeating those same words over and over. She knew Loly couldn't hear her, the comfort was more for herself. Menoly stood then looped her arms under Loly's, beneath her pits, then lifted her head from the ground. She carefully started dragging her towards one of the few bikes left behind. Menoly's was the flashy one highlighted in gold and silver. She almost dropped her injured friend—nearly jumped right out of her own skin, when heavy steps came up behind her.

"Hey, you. Woman."

Menoly couldn't remember the last time she was so terrified; her body shook like a rattle and sweat poured down her flesh. She carefully put her friend back on the ground before turning to face the blue-haired monster. She tried to put up a brave front—feet shoulder length apart, fists clenched, and chin raised to meet those sharp, cobalt eyes. She wanted to protect Loly, but she could tell by the man's unforgiving smirk that she had no chance. This large tower of muscle that radiated violence could shred right through her if he so desired, and that thought alone made her knees knock together.

"If only they had listened to ya…" Grimmjow said, making Menoly blink in surprise and confusion. Then she remembered trying to warn Rudbornn—told him they should just leave. Then Loly called her a 'Wimp'... "For your lil' friend." She looked down to find a travel-sized first-aid kit and her legs stopped shaking. "Closest hospital is 60 miles north in Seireitei… So ya better get movin'."

There really wasn't much inside the kit; just cotton pads, gauze, alcohol wipes, aspirin, and some band-aids… but it was better than nothing. She stared at the item for a few stunned seconds. When she looked back up, Grimmjow was already halfway across the lot. He paused to scoop up one of the fallen bats on the ground—its original owner still nearby, but they wouldn't be using it any time soon. Grimmjow gave it a few test swings before resting it across his shoulders. He then climbed onto his own bike; the very one they had been trying to steal.

"Y-you're insane !" She screamed even as she bent down to tend Loly's wound. "Who t-the fuck keeps grenades!? I hope you blow yourself up one day!"

The electric motorcycle barely made a sound as it started up.

"No one's guaranteed tomorrow, sweetheart. Be glad you're still alive—next time ya might not be so lucky!" Grimmjow called back and released the brake to speed forward.

A long, wild laugh was the last thing Menoly heard before he vanished, swallowed up by the trail of dust.

–

–

Ichigo got about 10 miles down the road before they caught up to him. The deafening roar of their engines grew louder the closer they got. Between that and the 70mph winds rushing through his broken windshield, Ichigo could barely hear himself think.

His gaze bounced to each mirror, gauging where the enemy might strike first. Instead of driving on the right side of the road, he kept to the left—This way, if they wanted to get to him , they would have to go off-roading—which wasn't fun on a bike.

Ichigo watched two of the bikers ride up next to him, close enough that they could peer inside the backseat window. They had partners riding bitch and it looked like they were both readying themselves to jump on. He shook his head at that. All he had to do was wait for their attempt, the drivers put slightly off balance from the inertia, then veered towards them. They all smacked into the side with a squealing ' CRUNCH ', bikes shoved aside by the much bigger vehicle. They rolled and crashed into one more bike that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Their pained screams faded quickly into the distance.

"Surround him!" Rudbornn roared over all the noise. "But not too close!"

Ichigo cursed under his breath. Sure, he had the size and weight advantage, but these bikes were much faster—and there were too many. He tried to keep them from advancing, turning and swerving in the way, but zigzagging like that slowed him down too. He could only shield half of the road, the other half open and free for them to sneak around.

Fuck.

He couldn't shake them.

' KkRrACK! TSH! '

Two bats, one on each side, smashed through his headlights. It took a few swings for them to break both bulbs and then Ichigo was driving blind; The road lit only by the bikes, and that's when he finally noticed the color. Purple.

They were using purple-hued bulbs? Really ?

Ichigo couldn't help himself. He laughed. Hard . Despite the danger he was in, Ichigo found such an insignificantly strange detail hilarious.

The 'Exequias', huh? What a funny bunch. They certainly took their 'branding' very seriously—such dedication. It was almost admirable.

Ichigo was still laughing, and he knew he must look absolutely unhinged to the people riding alongside him.

' WHACK! ' A metal pipe smacked into the car's hood. A pointless attack, but it got Ichigo's attention. Rudbornn used the chance to swerve in close, and, with his own weapon, broke the driver-side mirror, knocking it off in a single swing. He slowed down and managed to slip behind before Ichigo ran him over.

The others noticed this and started implementing this new tactic; A smack against his door and another slam on the hood was hard to ignore, then his right mirror was gone.

Ichigo was still able to prevent any attempts to board by aggressively swerving every now and then, but these assholes were getting bold.

Two of them accelerated until they led the way. One had a large storage compartment bolted into the side of his bike. The man leaned back to dig inside it, all while driving one-handed. Then he pulled out something long, thin, and shiny.

Ichigo's eyes widened as one end got tossed to the second biker, caught and held by both ends. It looked like a long metal chain, but welded across the length were spikes the size of his fingers.

Instead of slamming on the brakes in a panic, Ichigo spun the wheel to skid sideways just as the chain dropped. Tires skirted across the dirt and swept the chain away, though one spike managed to catch his back wheel. The tire flattened with a dull 'Pop' and the chain whipped around—catching a biker by surprise. It wrapped around his waist and jerked him right out of his seat. He was drug behind on the road, his pained shouts following until he finally untangled himself from the spikes.

Ichigo turned one of the knobs on the dashboard to switch from 4-wheel drive to front-wheel; This way he could steer properly even with the flat wheel slowing him down.

These guys were persistent, he'd give 'em that. And they were getting more aggressive, attacking and hitting his car from every angle, but how much damage could they possibly do to an armored vehicle?

' CLunkK!' That came from behind. Ichigo glanced in his last remaining mirror to check the back, but he didn't see anything unusual. ' CReaK '. He turned to look over his shoulder, to get a better look, but still nothing.

Just another distraction.

Ichigo turned back around and saw Rudbornn riding directly in front of him. The surprising part was that the guy was facing him.

He was driving BACKWARDS.

This was definitely a first for Ichigo—He didn't even know that was possible .

While he was reeling with shock, Rudbornn reached into his jacket to pull out the same gun from before. Then he fired his third shot.

' BANG! '

Ichigo barely dodged by ducking his head and turning the wheel simultaneously, skirting halfway off the road.

Fuck! That was too close!

Once he was back on the pavement he took a quick look in his rearview mirror to see where the other bikers went. He tilted his head in confusion when he counted only five purple lights behind him. There should be seven of them left—not including Rudbornn.

Oop! There goes another one.

Snuffed out like a candle in the dark.

Rudbornn must have noticed this as well, because he swiftly turned back around; lifting his legs and spinning with practiced ease. He had to swap the gun to his left hand in order to use the bike's acceleration on the right. He glided sideways then slowed, allowing Ichigo to pass .

But he was too late—the last purple light fell to darkness. He was close enough now to hear the crunch of metal and squeal of tires. The only light left was his own and the moonlight. Rudbornn slowed down more and twisted to inspect the road behind him, and that's when he saw the reflective flash of metal. There was no headlight to reveal what exactly it was, but judging from the silhouette's size, it must be another bike.

One of the Exequias?

No…

There was no clear roar of a motorcycle's engine. Whoever was gaining on him, it wasn't one of his own. He guessed who it must be before the man even made it to his side, blue hair flattened by the wind and electric-blue eyes flashing dangerously.

Grimmjow's teeth shined with an excited smirk, eyes wide and wild, then he lifted the bat high—preparing to strike.

Rudbornn scoffed and raised his gun without hesitation.

Ichigo blinked and eased off the gas when he heard another ' BANG ', but it sounded distant—further away. Behind him. He checked the mirror once more, but saw nothing.

No purple lights.

No bikes.

Just the black, empty road.

He glanced around, just to make sure, and nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Rudbornn staring at him from the passenger's window.

Ichigo glanced at the road, to make sure he was driving straight, then took another look. Just as he thought about jerking the wheel to run over the gang leader, a hand came up to lift his helmet. Instead of Rudbornn's shaved head and beady eyes, ice-blue hair and cobalt eyes were revealed.

Grimmjow looked entirely too pleased with himself, and that's when Ichigo realized this had been Grimmjow's plan all along; Use him as a diversion as he snuck up behind; take them out one by one.

Grimmjow laughed at the look of absolute surprise on Ichigo's face. He tossed the helmet inside the car with that smug grin still on his face. Ichigo caught Grimmjow's new 'trophy' and a fond smirk nudged past his scowl.

The blue-haired warrior let out a victorious howl as he popped his front wheel up into a wheelie. Cackling like a madman, he sped up and tauntingly swerved in Ichigo's path, weaving side to side playfully.

Grimmjow looked like he was having the time of his fucking life, and Ichigo didn't want to spoil whatever rush he was experiencing. Eventually the excitement lulled and he dropped back down onto two wheels. He slowed enough to cruise alongside Ichigo. They stayed like that for a long minute, until they spotted a rocky outcrop a mile off the road.

"There!" Grimmjow pointed with the bat still in his possession and Ichigo nodded to show he understood. Grimmjow flicked on his headlights and led the way while Ichigo, and his busted up vehicle, followed. He barely managed to squeeze the hunk of metal between cacti patches and boulders. Then they finally came to a stop, out of sight from the road.

Ichigo opened his door and climbed out, careful of the broken glass still under him. He heard the metal bat clatter to the ground and then he was swept off his feet, eager body colliding into his own. He was pinned hard enough to make the entire car sway from the impact.

"Gri—" Interrupted by greedy lips consuming his own. Then a tongue slipped between and Ichigo immediately gave in, opening his mouth with a satisfied moan.

Fighting, action, chasing, and explosions—just ONE of those things was enough to get Grimmjow worked up, but combine them together?! The perfect aphrodisiac for him. Ichigo could already feel a rock-hard cock grinding against him. Grimmjow was so fucking turned on—He refused to even detach their lips to take off Ichigo's shirt, choosing instead to rip it down the middle. Ichigo snarled and bit the man's bottom lip in retaliation.

It was impossible to stay mad with rough hands roaming up and down his body; digging, clawing, and pulling him closer. Grimmjow was feeling him up and kissing him with such desperation that it took his breath away.

"HIYAAAH!" The sudden battle-cry shocked them both into stillness, wide-eyes shot up to see a glint of metal as something sharp, and deadly, swung at their heads. Ichigo's instincts kicked in first and he shoved Grimmjow out of the way. The sharp end was almost right between his eyes. He could see the moon reflected on either side of the knife. Then, faster than he ever thought he could move, his hand came up and smacked the wrist controlling the weapon, diverting its direction. Metal scraped against the armored shell, causing small sparks of light and an ear-splitting scream.

One of the bikers must have succeeded in jumping on without him noticing. And they waited for the perfect moment to strike. Before the attacker could recover and try again, Ichigo reached up, grabbed the arm and jerked down, pulling whoever it was off the car.

"Ooph!" The attacker flipped and landed on their back with a huff. Ichigo ripped the knife out of the person's grip before dropping the limb, frowning when wide purple eyes blinked up at him. Then purple-stained lips curled into a sheepish grin. "H-hey there."

Cirucci sat up slowly, tucking both legs underneath herself while fixing her short skirt.

"Guess you aint as pathetic as I thought." Grimmjow growled and grabbed the woman by one of her pigtails. A mortified shriek filled the air as she was hauled painfully to her feet.

"Let me go!" She lashed out and clawed at Grimmjow's hand until she was released, almost stumbling in her haste to escape. She gulped and took a few cautious steps back when Grimmjow bent down to retrieve the blood-stained bat.

It spun through the air with a ringing 'WOOSH!', Grimmjow having flung it straight at Cirucci's face. The woman ducked so fast that her knees smacked the ground, ankles bending awkwardly in those high-heels. The terrified squealing didn't stop until she heard the bat disappear in a bramble bush.

Ichigo sighed as Grimmjow snatched the long hunting knife from his hand—the same weapon Cirucci nearly skewered their skulls with. Grimmjow took a long step towards her, brandishing the weapon threateningly.

"W-wait… Hold on. Let's talk about this." She stuttered while slowly rising to her full height.

"After that lil' ambush I ain't got nothin' to say to you. I'm gonna cut your fuckin' throat." Grimmjow snarled and, without further warning, lunged at the terrified woman. He almost had his fingers around her throat when something slammed into his side, knocking him off balance. He snarled and twisted to stay on his feet, then he whirled around to face Ichigo. "The fuck was that for!?" A fiery-red glare was his only answer. His attention snapped back to Cirucci when she started backing away. He gave another valiant effort to rush her, but this time Ichigo wrapped him up in both arms, back to chest, holding him back.

"Get the fuck outta here!" Ichigo called out. Even though Cirruci almost killed them—was centimeters away from driving that knife through his forehead, Ichigo couldn't watch another unarmed woman die in front of him.

Cirucci didn't stay to ask why the strange orangette saved her. She turned tail and ran, taking her one and only chance to keep breathing. She knows the blue-haired one won't hesitate to keep his promise—and she much preferred her head attached to her body.

Grimmjow growled and grabbed Ichigo's forearms, which were locked around his middle, and lurched forward, throwing the lighter male over his shoulder and to the ground. They grappled and scuffled—Grimmjow tossing aside the knife to better hold Ichigo against the dirt, ripping what was left of the other's shirt in the process.

"You stupid fucking—" Grimmjow's insults were cut short when Ichigo heaved upward then spun them around, rolling across the ground until their positions flipped. Sweat from the struggle coated Ichigo's back, making it harder to hold onto him. Grimmjow bared his fangs in a snarl as a forearm pressed against his throat, pinning him in place. Ichigo leaned his head away to avoid the fists aimed for his temple, dodging the headshots but unable to do anything about the punches to his ribs.

They eventually wore themselves out and Ichigo collapsed onto his back, right next to Grimmjow, both of them panting harshly.

"Fucking… DUMBASS… Why'd you stop me?" Grimmjow spat once he caught his breath. Even though they were finished tussling, the anger was already embedded in his voice. He was pissed. "What if she goes to the cops?"

"She's not gonna talk to the cops…" Ichigo scoffed with more certainty than he really felt, "Even if she DID, she doesn't even know our names…"

"All she has to say is 'blue and orange-haired men' then 'army base'... and any local pig will put two n' two together."

"Well that's an easy fix—we can dye our hair. I think blonde would look sexy on you." Ichigo smirked and his eyelids drooped as he inspected Grimmjow's face, obviously picturing him with light-blonde locks. Grimmjow quickly looked away, hiding the traitorous blush heating his cheeks. "And besides," Ichigo continued, "If she talks to the cops, it would put her whole gang under scrutiny."

Grimmjow sighed, exasperated. "You're so full of shit! I wanna know why you REALLY stopped me…"

Ichigo sucked a quick, frustrated breath through his teeth then flopped onto his back.

"She… I mean—Urgh… She couldn't hurt us—You KNOW that! When she missed that first strike, she LOST. She wasn't a threat anymore… Just some scared woman without a weapon…" He fumbled with the explanation while suppressing invasive memories; the ones of his mother trying to protect him, with nothing to protect herself… Completely defenseless.. Bleeding… So much blood…

"Just 'cuz she's female, doesn't mean she ain't a threat." Grimmjow grumbled back, but he didn't feel like arguing about it anymore. "What's done is done…" He sighed, body sagging. The adrenaline was wearing off. His limbs felt heavy, like they were made of lead, though a numbing calmness enveloped the rest of his body.

Grimmjow stared up at the sky, which always looked spectacular around here. With no city-lights for miles, the night above them looked so VAST—Millions upon millions of stars shining down and making their petty problems seem so insignificant.

Then his view was obscured by hooded chocolate eyes and a small smile.

Without thought or hesitation, Grimmjow lifted his head. His blood warmed as their lips collided, reawakening the lust still smoldering like dying embers. It didn't take long for the passion to build back to a steady fire. Teeth nipped and teased while hands tugged at his jacket.

"Car. Trunk. Go…" Grimmjow was only granted enough time to relay single words between the ferocious biting and kissing. Hips ground down into Grimmjow's, tearing an excited groan from him. "Fuck. NOW …"

"'Kay." Ichigo answered but he gave Grimmjow a quick parting gift; He ducked down and clamped his teeth into the other's throat until he heard him hiss in pain. He retreated quickly, chuckling at the sharp 'SNAP!' of teeth below his chin—Grimmjow trying to return the favor to his own throat.

Ichigo jumped to his feet and walked around back, moving slowly as he paused to inspect all the noticeable dents and scratches, but it was all cosmetic damage. Except maybe the tire… Which meant the axel probably needed to be checked… Shrugging, Ichigo unlatched the trunk's door, letting gravity drop it down to lay flat. He frowned at all the glass scattered inside and bent down to retrieve a strip of cloth that was once his shirt. He used it to brush away as much as he could, then climbed halfway inside to reach for a tarp; folded neatly next to the other random supplies tucked under the seats. He shook out the plastic and settled it across the floor.

Grimmjow came up behind Ichigo as he worked, then impatiently shoved him the rest of the way in. Ichigo flipped around, smirking in amusement as the trunk's door pulled shut.

Light poured in from the sunroof, but it was still fairly dark. Not that they needed any light. They didn't need to see In order to taste and feel their hands caressing and pulling the other closer. Grimmjow hissed when teeth latched to him (Again!), his left nipple being the main target this time—bitten right through his shirt.

He wrenched Ichigo off of his chest by bright-orange locks then lifted to growl in his face, "The fuck is your deal today?"

Ichigo didn't answer. Instead, he slid both hands under Grimmjow's shirt, feeling up those scrumptious muscles hidden beneath. The shirt lifted as he moved, revealing the impressive body that never failed to make Ichigo's mouth water. He quickly scooched down, needing to bend his legs and twist a bit to fit in the small space. Grimmjow popped onto his elbows to watch as Ichigo laved his tongue across his entire torso, pausing to suck and dig his teeth into pectoral muscles with every pass. Ichigo even took a quick second to place a kiss on the metal dogtags, because—for some inexplicable reason—that tiny act of respect always made Grimmjow melt.

"Goddamn—you're driving me fucking crazy…" Grimmjow's voice was raspy but raw enough to make Ichigo tremble with desire. The hand still latched to his hair tugged some more, tearing a pleased whine from Ichigo. Then Grimmjow's other hand shifted to unbuckle his jeans. Ichigo helped by grasping belt loops on either side and jerking down. The jeans were tight enough to drag off his briefs as well—not that they would've stayed on much longer anyway.

Ichigo made a sound in the back of his throat that was both excited and satisfied when Grimmjow's erection sprung forth. He rolled the clothing down until it caught around Grimmjow's knees before returning his full attention to the hot, throbbing cock waiting for him. It was so stiff that the head flushed dark red. Ichigo felt the hand in his hair push down, but he was already moving, eyes glued to the prize below.

"Hah… Yeah.." Grimmjow's breath hitched as soft lips brushed the tip. Then there was a cheeky tongue digging into his slit, writhing and swirling until he finally hissed. "Fuckin' tease—just suck it already." Ichigo's laugh sent toe-curling vibrations down the length of his cock before it got swallowed up. He groaned in satisfaction. "Fuuuck…" Ichigo eagerly bobbed his head, nearly face-fucking himself on the thick appendage. Grimmjow's fingers tightened in his hair and a long moan rumbled deep in his chest.

Ichigo kept moving up and down until he was suddenly stopped from coming back up. He choked, throat convulsing and tongue twitching, but kept himself calm.

While Grimmjow was enjoying himself, rolling his hips up to really dig his cock against the back of his throat, Ichigo shifted to the side. Grimmjow noticed the movement and raised a brow, but he kept Ichigo's head locked down, even though he could hear him struggling to breathe through his nose. He jumped and tensed when Ichigo looped an arm under both of his knees then pushed forward, curling Grimmjow until only his head and shoulders were touching the floor, lower half lifted into the air, bottom-up.

Jeans still caught around his knees, Grimmjow wasn't able to kick his way out, so he released Ichigo's head to fight off the arm currently folding him in half.

Ichigo shifted one more time and used his forearms to keep Grimmjow's thighs pinned against his own stomach. He then nudged them apart, just enough to reach between and pull the other's stiff cock up and through. Every muscle in Grimmjow's legs and core strained as he fought the uncomfortable, and rather embarrassing, position: His entire package and lower half completely exposed.

Ichigo could feel how tense Grimmjow was, so he ducked back down to suck, lick, and mouth the erection before it could lose interest. He felt it twitch in response, the long vein pulsing under his tongue. He contorted his legs a little more as he shifted lower to suck the balls, alternating from one to the other with equal attention. He heard Grimmjow moan in response and felt him squirm, but he kept a firm hold of the man, preparing to keep him pinned down with what he had planned next.

Blue eyes narrowed in suspicion when curious fingers dug against his ass cheek, pressing and prodding, getting closer and closer. A warning growl vibrated the entire car as those digits settled against his entrance. Ichigo tried to pacify the irritated male by deep throating him in one swift motion, but the plan was exposed now. Grimmjow knew what he was up to.

"Whadaya think you're doin'?" He hissed and Ichigo, not wanting to drag this out, dropped his full weight down, straining and stretching Grimmjow's body to its limits. Then he moved Grimmjow's legs aside to lock eyes with the fuming male.

"Say you don't want me... and I'll stop." Ichigo said with a challenging frown.

"Tch." Grimmjow's expression twisted with mixed feelings as Ichigo grabbed both wrists and slammed them above his head. Then, rolling Grimmjow's lower half with just his hips, Ichigo slid his dick between those tight cheeks, passing over his entrance. "D-damn you..." Grimmjow scowled, but his expression wilted under the other's calmly affectionate gaze. He sighed in defeat. "Most stubborn bastard I've ever met… Take your clothes off."

Ichigo nodded with an unbelievably infectious grin.

Grimmjow sighed in slight relief once he was freed. He crawled out from under, kicking away his jeans, shoes, and socks while he was at it. Ichigo unbuttoned his own pants and got the zipper down before he became, once again, utterly distracted by the gorgeous body in front of him. Grimmjow saw this and stretched teasingly, easing the kinks out of his legs, where the muscles twitched and spasmed. Ichigo was too busy ogling his bottom half to notice the jacket being removed, but then the shirt was gone. Ichigo's gaze instinctively followed the newly revealed skin.

"Thought I told you to take these off."

Ichigo's breath hitched when Grimmjow's foot pressed settled against his erection, using enough pressure to be mean—but not cruel. With a smirk, Grimmjow leaned back, cool and casual, looking like a beautifully carved piece of art—a greek statue worthy of worship.

Ichigo winced but moaned when Grimmjow dug his heel down against his nuts, blushing because the pain made his dick actually jump in delight.

"You bring any lube…?" He asked, smacking the foot away to finish undressing.

"'Course." Grimmjow shrugged and reached for his jacket. He patted around multiple spots until he found the correct lump and fished it out. Ichigo gave the jacket a nervous once over as he tossed it aside, quietly wondering what else might be hiding inside. Then he was snatched up and rolled onto his back, pinned by a heavier body above him. Ichigo frowned but, before he could open his mouth to complain, he felt knees squeezing his ribcage. He looked down to find Grimmjow seated across his waist. A needy, impatient whine slipped from Ichigo while his hips started thrusting of their own accord. Grimmjow laughed, "You're like an eager puppy. Calm down."

Smirking, Ichigo slid his hands up smooth thighs, fingers trembling with pent up energy, "Can't. You look so good…"

"Tch…" Grimmjow rolled his eyes then leaned away to focus instead on the lube still in his possession. "Shut the fuck up, man…"

Ichigo only smiled, relaxing back to enjoy the show—even though his fingers weren't quite as patient, kneading and massaging the skin under his grasp. Grimmjow didn't seem to mind, but he wasn't looking Ichigo in the eye anymore. He tilted his head up to stare through the sunroof, concentrating on something else entirely as he worked himself open with three lubed fingers.

Ichigo could feel how tense Grimmjow was—he was even going limp, erection slowly waning.

Well, that won't do.

Ichigo stroked and caressed the length back into hardness then sat up, very slowly, to press his mouth to Grimmjow's throat, avoiding the bitemark he left earlier. He petted and teased and kissed the man until they were both driven insane. Ichigo's patience was hanging on by a thread.

He kept his mouth against the other's skin as he spoke, "Grimm… I can't take it anymore. I feel like I'm losing my fuckin' mind…" He pleaded desperately and Grimmjow chuckled.

"Fine. I'm ready. Just… Gonna warn you now: You tear anything, I WILL kill you." He said it with all the seriousness he could muster, but Ichigo either didn't hear him or wasn't worried about it, because Grimmjow was immediately pushed onto his back. His initial reaction to a cock pressing against his hole was a rough growl—fists clenching and fangs bared. However, looking up to find Ichigo—one of the only men in existence he'd even CONSIDER doing this with… It calmed him down. The warmth and affection in those chocolate eyes acted like powerful magnets, pulling all the fear and anxiety from him. Even the deeply repressed emotions he kept buried in his bones lifted away.

How the fuck does he do that…?

Grimmjow didn't get a chance to contemplate that answer, not with Ichigo's dick splitting him open at the moment.

"Relax…" Ichigo whispered encouragingly as he rolled his hips, and Grimmjow reluctantly obeyed. He hissed as it eased deeper inside, then it was thrusting and grinding.

It was hard for Ichigo to tell when exactly he found Grimmjow's prostate—because the man was trying so hard to suppress his own reactions; He wasn't giving Ichigo much to work with. The only vocal indicator was the small hitch in his breathing, so Ichigo had to keep his focus on every subtle change in his expression; Eyebrows pinched slightly, thin lips parted only a sliver, and cobalt eyes darkened to deep sapphire.

A wave of gratification crashed into Ichigo as normally razor-sharp eyes, always alert and hungry for combat, grew unfocused, hazing over, going sightless before disappearing behind drooping lids.

Judging from that reaction alone, Ichigo must be doing something right. Just to be sure, he took special care to remain in his current position, striving to give Grimmjow as much pleasure as he could. He kept his touches light and gentle, so as not to jar the man out of whatever calming trance had taken hold of him. Ichigo peppered soft, open-mouthed kisses against every inch of skin in reach; sucking and licking Grimmjow's entire throat, feeling that strong pulse beat beneath his tongue.

After a few minutes of Grimmjow staying placid under his ministrations, Ichigo boldly slid one hand up to play with a nipple, circling the areola gently with his thumb. Grimmjow's spine bowed ever so slightly and his head tilted back, baring his throat. Such a simple reaction, but Ichigo felt incredibly honored to witness it. His hips never stopped or fumbled in rhythm, keeping every motion strong and smooth, even when powerful muscles tightened around him.

"Ahhh… Fuck ." Never before has he heard Grimmjow's voice like this; Still deep and growly, but with a breathy and shaky quality. It was exactly what Ichigo wanted to hear.

With a quick shift, his hands landed on either side of Grimmjow's hips. He pushed himself up to get a better view of the man below, and the sight had his entire core throbbing with satisfaction. Grimmjow in the throes of real, pure pleasure was the sexiest fucking thing he's ever seen. And, just when he thought he couldn't get any more turned on, Grimmjow cried out in that same breathless voice, "Ichigo!"

Ichigo's body slowed into stillness, shock and awe grabbing hold of him. Although unable to move, a low moan punched from his lungs as he came, catching Grimmjow and even himself by surprise.

"Ha-aah…" He shuddered and whined through his orgasm, forehead landing on the other's collarbone. "Damn.. it..."

"Did you just cum… inside?" Grimmjow questioned harshly. He quickly propped himself up on his elbows, making Ichigo sit back on his heels while still comfortably seated inside the other's tight heat.

"Y-yeah, but—Just give me one sec and I'll be good to keep—"

"Fuck that." Grimmjow captured Ichigo's throat in one hand and sat up before shifting away, detaching their lower halves. Ichigo's cock slipped out, shining with a generous amount of semen. They were still connected by a single string, stretching until it snapped apart. Grimmjow eyed the other's weeping cock critically, amazed that it hadn't gone soft yet—Ichigo was already up and ready for more. Grimmjow didn't realize he was staring until it got noticed—cock twitching excitedly from the rapt attention.

Ichigo reached up to grab the hand locked around his throat, but it was there to stay. It held him in place while hand #2 reached down to stroke his wet cock, dragging out a guttural moan. Grimmjow used long, forceful strokes, pumping all the cum out until his fingers were slathered in it. Ichigo jumped in surprise when three of those cum-soaked fingers worked their way inside him, but he took it with quiet dignity; allowed Grimmjow to do whatever the hell he wanted, because that image of him arching his back and sighing in bliss—it had his insides churning with an overwhelming amount of arousal.

He'd do anything to see it again.

As far as Grimmjow was concerned, Ichigo was (both literally and figuratively) wrapped around his finger.

Ginjou's mocking laughter echoed from the dark corners of Ichigo's mind, making it impossible for him to really appreciate these fleeting feelings.

"Nngh.. Grimm… Wait a second.." Ichigo tried to pull away, shuffling his lower half back a few inches before he was reeled in closer by his neck.

Grimmjow felt the nervous gulp under his fingertips as he continually jabbed Ichigo's prostate with the other hand.

Ichigo, wanting to regain some sort of control over the situation, reached down to aim his cock back at Grimmjow's own entrance. As soon as his tip touched the pliant rim he was shoved away. Grimmjow physically spun him around then wrestled him to his knees, pinning him with a firm grip at the nape of his neck. Then there was the familiar feeling of Grimmjow's thick cock shoving its way inside.

"F-fuck! Grimmm…"

Said man wasted no time easing in, he knew Ichigo could handle the rough treatment. As soon as he was fully seated, he started at a fast pace.

Besides, this was supposed to be punishment —so, with that in mind, Grimmjow's thrusts took a ruthless turn. He shifted his hold to Ichigo's shoulders, both of his arms locked in straight lines. He used the full weight of his upper body while his lower half got to work.

"Fucking… Holy Fuuuuck," The trapped male protested after a long minute of just constant fucking, "I'm sorry, alright!? I didn't mean to cum so soon! A-and you come inside me every time—why wouldn't I cum in—" When Ichigo tried to push up off the floor he was instantly grabbed by his elbows. Grimmjow yanked them back and leaned away until Ichigo's nose hovered above the floor, arms used like reins to keep him suspended. Grimmjow pulled back as he thrusted forward, forcing the orangette further down his cock. "Gri—mnngh—jow!" Ichigo kept trying between desperate moans, "You just…. You looked… so fucking sexy . I couldn't help it. So perfect." He admitted freely and was surprised when the rhythm broke. It was just a quick stutter, but it was noticeable. Ichigo ignored the building pressure in his middle to continue, "I can't unsee it. So handsome—No—Fuck—so fucking gorgeous ." Hips stuttered again and Ichigo couldn't help but wonder…

It took a little effort, but he managed to look over his shoulder and caught the rare sight of Grimmjow blushing, cheeks stained a brilliant red. Some of the color had to be from exertion, but Ichigo knew there must be more to it than that.

Was it possible that the great Sergeant Jeagerjaques had a praise kink?

It seemed odd for someone with an already bloated ego—Grimmjow must praise himself at least ten times a day. He also gets plenty of recognition and compliments from everyone else—including Pantera.

So… maybe… Was it because the compliments came from Ichigo ? That would need some experimenting to figure out.

"I swear, Grimmjow, that's the first time I've ever cum just from seeing—"

"Shut up…" The command was a low growl but it only encouraged Ichigo.

"M'not joking. That was the sexiest—" He gasped when Grimmjow fell forward, shoving him flat against the floor. A hand latched to his hair, pressing down and smearing his face across the tarp.

"I said… Shut UP…" Grimmjow snarled before sinking his canines into sunkissed skin. But Ichigo wasn't one to be intimidated; even with a hard cock pounding his asshole and teeth in his throat—ready to tear him apart from the inside out, so he wasn't surprised when Ichigo STILL opened his damn mouth.

"Never gonna forget it. Use it EVERY time I jack-off now. C-can still hear that noise ya made too—AH! Hah…" Ichigo's ranting broke off into pleased groans when Grimmjow picked up the pace again, successfully shutting him THE FUCK UP. Ichigo struggled against the overwhelming pleasure, panting from the effort, but steel-like muscles kept him caged down. Grimmjow refused to let up on him and Ichigo wasn't sure if he was being fucked out of anger, frustration, or embarrassment. "Stop! Please! I wanna keep fucking you…" He was teetering towards another orgasm, possibly his last one—at least for a few minutes. And then that would be it. No second chances. "Please… If you keep going, I'm gonna… Ahn… Ngh.. "

Grimmjow's teeth withdrew from his throat so he could hiss in his ear, "No. You ruined your chance… Ain't doin' that shit again."

Ichigo's brows furrowed at that; Something about the seriousness in his tone made him put real effort into his struggles. Grimmjow strained to keep the other under control, but the orangette wasn't playing around anymore. They wrestled and squirmed across the whole trunk, Ichigo pushing and trying to twist away while Grimmjow slammed him up and down, struggling to keep his grip. Sparks of pleasure distracted Ichigo only for a moment as he squirmed, dick rubbing and pressing every sensitive spot, but he didn't give up. Grimmjow grunted as Ichigo bucked up and threw them sideways. He pulled away, blushing at the lewd 'squelch' as it slipped out. Ichigo flipped over to look Grimmjow in the eye—both of them breathless from the struggle.

"The fuck's… your problem?!" Ichigo snarled between pants. "Can't take… a compliment?"

"Fuck… you…" Grimmjow spat back and threw a punch for good measure, but Ichigo caught it reflexively. He held onto the tightly wound fist as it tried to retreat, receiving a frustrated hiss, but then all fight left Grimmjow at once. All the angry energy that's been building up evaporated in an instant. Grimmjow turned to lay on his back, gaze drifting up towards the sunroof to focus on the starry sky. "I just… I didn't even wanna do it in the first place…" He finally confessed, making Ichigo jolt in surprise.

"Then why'd you agree? If you didn't want to—I wouldn't have… Mann… Shit…" Ichigo dropped Grimmjow's fist to pinch the bridge of his own nose.

Blue eyes squeezed shut, then Grimmjow scrubbed at his face in frustration, "I agreed because..." He let loose a laugh that was void of any real amusement, sounding dull and broken, "I wanted to give you somethin' Pantera never would… He equates bottoming to 'weakness'... And I guess that shit rubbed off on me too."

Ichigo's gaze softened considerably at that, but it was obvious Grimmjow was only telling half truths.

"Grimmjow… Look at me," Ichigo said when Grimmjow remained quiet. He shifted closer then propped his head up on one elbow to hover his face over the other's. He got no response and Ichigo eventually pried the man's hands away from his face. Ichigo flinched at the barren expression revealed. Grimmjow looked so… disconnected? Like his mind was gone—far away, reliving memories that were probably best forgotten. "Hey.. Hey! I said look at me ," Ichigo urged more forcefully, fascinated when Grimmjow actually listened to him; dim irises, blank and unseeing, flooded with life. He waited until he was sure Grimmjow was back before teasing him, "Where'd ya go, soldier..?"

Ichigo didn't get an answer, but he relented. He knew what Grimmjow wanted…

A secret for a secret…

If Ichigo really wanted to know, then he had to take the first step.

"So…. Uh… When I was a kid, I was terrified of the dark…" He admitted and the amused snort he got was anticipated.

"No shit—Everyone's scared a' the dark when they're little... That ain't a secret." Grimmjow grunted, brows furrowing in disappointment.

"Yeah, well, does 'everyone' keep a batman flashlight under their pillow?" This only got him a scoff, so he kept going. "I also had these glow-in-the-dark pajamas," It was quiet for three whole seconds before Grimmjow actually laughed, putting Ichigo's heart at ease. "You're picturing it in your head, aren't you?" He accused playfully.

"Heh. Yeah. I'm imagining itty-bitty-Ichi with fluffy orange hair and—hold up. Were they footie PJs? You know—onesies with the buttflaps in the back?"

A loud barking cackle exploded from Ichigo, catching them both off guard, but he answered anyway, "No. No. No. Don't be ridiculous…"

Their laughter died off gradually and, as the silence settled, Ichigo reached out to lightly caress Grmmjow's face. Amazingly, it was allowed. Blue eyes even closed when fingers swept the stray bangs from his forehead. A hot breath ghosted over his lips, making them part in welcome. The kiss was sweet—a lot slower than their usual make-outs (where they act like cannibals trying to eat the other's face off).

This gentler approach was actually nice… Grimmjow graciously let Ichigo lead the kiss, just so he could fully enjoy the moment.

But good things never last.

"You know…" Ichigo whispered after they parted to catch their breath, his smile curving into something more mischievous, "I think you're so cute when you're jealous."

Blue eyes narrowed.

Cute…?

Cute !?

Apparently that was the worst possible thing to say, because Grimmjow's mood did an instant 180—going from sweet contentment to seething rage. He reared his head back then shot it forward, headbutting Ichigo with the thickest part of his skull—right above the hairline.

Ichigo's cranium rattled hard enough to make him curl and cry out in pain. Grimmjow sat up and started shoving on articles of clothing. He kicked the trunk door open, allowing the night air to rush inside, cooling his skin—but not his temper.

Nobody calls him 'cute'. NOBODY. Not even Ichigo!

With that irking thought in mind, Grimmjow reached into his jacket.

Ichigo was too busy shaking off the vicious headbutt to pay Grimmjow's retreat any attention. His forehead felt like it had a crack in it, so he gently prodded the spot, just to be sure. While he was distracted, he never heard the tiny 'Zing' of a metal pin being pulled—only saw Grimmjow hop out.

A long sigh broke loose as he watched the man walk away, leather jacket slung casually over his shoulder and boots smacking the earth hard enough to kick up dust. The jerk looked good even while storming away.

Ichigo considered leaving him be, because why MAKE Grimmjow stay?

But then a few quick flashbacks of his time here—the things they've done these last few months… Ichigo couldn't remember ever having so much FUN. All thanks to this man, someone that was certifiably out of his fucking mind.

Chuckling to himself, Ichigo made his decision.

"Wait! Grimmjow—Hold on!" He only bothered to scoop up his pants before rolling out of the car. He had to run to catch up, bare feet scraping the sand, but he didn't let that slow him down. "Come back!"

As soon as he caught up a loud explosion detonated behind them.

BOOM!

Ichigo spun around with wide eyes while Grimmjow looked over his shoulder with a smirk.

Another explosion, though bigger this time, blew the car upward. Like a destructive domino effect, flames from the first reached the gas tank, causing one more loud blast. All four tires lifted off the ground then landed with a screech of protesting metal. One of the tires popped from the extreme heat as well as the rough landing, flattening it with a burst of air.

They stood there for a bit, watching hot flames consume the ruined vehicle, burning away everything flammable. The thinner bits of metal melted into unrecognizable blobs, and Rudbornn's helmet was never seen again. Everything smoldered and burned until nothing but a blackened husk remained.

It only took a quick second for Ichigo to conclude that if he had NOT chased after Grimmjow, he would be dead right now, but he took time mulling over that revelation.

Was it some sort of TEST?

Was this his way of—

No… Grimmjow doesn't 'test' people like this.

By the time Ichigo turned back around, Grimmjow was yards away.

"Do you just carry around a buncha grenades everywhere ya go?!" Ichigo called out the question, voice traveling unhindered across the flat desert air. Grimmjow's only answer was an over-the-shoulder middle finger; Jerkanese for 'yes'. Ichigo cupped both hands around his mouth to make the next question louder, "Was it because I called you CUTE?!"

The middle finger lifted higher in the air and shook around to express his unbridled frustration at the word. Ichigo couldn't stop laughing. The sound grew in volume until he was bent over and holding his sides through the madness.

It was a long walk back to base without any sort of ride, and Ichigo's feet took quite the beating, but he never complained. On the contrary—he was grinning to himself when the large, familiar walls of their Base appeared in the distance.

Ichigo remembers watching the sun climb over the horizon, bright colors flooding the stunning landscape; Rich hues of bright orange, yellow, and peach.

Members of the squad were already awake and starting their day by the time they got back. Somehow, between Ichigo and Grimmjow's knowledge of the building, they managed to avoid being spotted. Before parting ways, Grimmjow surprised Ichigo by grabbing the back of his neck and pulling him into a kiss. It was unsatisfying—short-lived, lips barely touching, and Ichigo unconsciously followed when he pulled away.

Grimmjow reached up to brush his thumb across Ichigo's cheek then gave the soft skin a quick pinch. That earned him an irritated scowl which only amused him. Leaning in, he said in a low rumble, "Thank you…"

"For what?" Ichigo asked, clearly confused.

Instead of answering, Grimmjow pressed their foreheads together, eyes locked so that Ichigo could see the raw emotions there. Feelings that needed no labels or announcements—the purity of it had Ichigo falling down an endless pit, stomach lurching into his chest and heart thudding frantically.

Later that day Ichigo gave Ginjou a call, as promised, and his mentor wasn't too pleased to learn he'd be staying another month .

---

"Come on, make room!" Renji shoved aside a few random inmates crowding the yard's entrance. Apparently half of the entire prison had the same bright idea to watch Grimmjow leave from the yard. They were all loud and excited, chatting back and forth, attempting to talk over each other. There were guards filtering into the yard as well—to oversee the giant crowd; Make sure they didn't get too riled up.

"Like you guys've never seen anyone leave 'fore!" Shuuhei lashed out, his voice rising above the hum of conversation. "Get the hell outta the way! Let King through!" He helped Renji push some more bodies out of the way, allowing Ichigo through.

Hearing that 'King' was there, most of the inmates parted and shuffled aside. The orangette glanced around and was surprised to find both Shinigami and Vasto Lordes present. They were separated in two distinct groups, his path parting them straight down the middle.

To his right he recognized Nnoitra, Ulquiorra, Yammy, and, surprisingly, Luppi. As usual, the little guy was glaring at him, though the gaze lacked any serious heat—probably worn out after his 'punishing'. He had a red spot on his cheek that looked painful, but if he had any other injuries, they weren't visible.

To his left he spotted Shunsui, Shinji, and Yumichika. The three inmates immediately closed in and followed behind him, eager smirks plastered on their faces. This sort of thing must be entertaining to them—like a new episode of their favorite drama.

Ichigo continued looking around as he moved, taking in all the other familiar faces. He paused when he found Zaraki hovering just outside the yard's entrance. He was observing the commotion with a bored frown, clad in a new, dry uniform, though his hair still looked damp—reminding Ichigo of their time in the shower. He quickly shook away those thoughts—much easier now that he was sexually satisfied. Not only that, but his bottled up rage finally went flat. Besides the need to know what was going on with Grimmjow, Ichigo felt rather calm.

Shinji had been right when he said sex is, 'one of the best ways to release that pent up aggression.'

He'll never verbally admit it—that's about as likely as him writing a 'thank you' letter to Kensei's monster dong.

But, dammit, Shinji was right.

Ichigo's head whipped around when someone came up behind him, but he kept moving forward. DiRoy finished squeezing his way through the Vasto Lordes to walk alongside him, looking up with a wide grin. He nodded in greeting, which Ichigo reciprocated.

"Hey. So. Grimmjow got to the cell after ya left. He kept tryin' to stay longer, to talk to ya, but the guards…" DiRoy kept his voice quiet so that even the Shinigami walking in their shadows had trouble hearing.

"Yeah. I saw..." Ichigo let out a small sigh.

"Everyone's shocked—He's never said anythin' 'bout leavin'... It's weird. You know what's going on?" DiRoy asked and that same question was being passed around the entire yard.

"No idea…" Ichigo shrugged and came to a stop right at the fenceline. He peered past the multiple layers of chain-link to stare at Hueco Mundo's entrance.

Still nothing.

So he waited.

…

What was taking so long?

Ichigo found himself actually fidgeting—on the verge of pacing.

"He come out yet? What'd I miss?" Kensei's voice came from behind and Ichigo tried not to draw attention to himself as his face burned bright. He felt unreasonably nervous around the bigger male—ass still stinging from their activities only 10 minutes ago.

"Not yet. Ya haven't missed anything." Shuuhei answered and stepped aside to give Kensei some room, not that he needed to—Ken was tall enough to see over their heads.

"Still runnin' him through processing, huh?" He hummed while crossing both arms.

"Wonder if they're giving him a hard time." Shunsui butted in with a thoughtful look on his face.

"What..?" Ichigo spoke aloud, though he didn't put too much effort into paying attention.

"Well, if the guards wanted a free shot at Grimmjow, now would be the time to do it. He DID just attack the Warden's son… Sooo… " Shunsui explained and watched Ichigo's shoulders rise, muscles winding into a tight knot between his shoulderblades.

"Oh yeah, by the way, Boss," DiRoy tugged at Ichigo's sleeve. Chocolate eyes softened but didn't stray from the large doors, though he grunted to show he was listening. "Figure I should letcha know—Yylfordt is keeping an eye on Keigo for ya. And Shawlong promised to watch Bazz-B. We'll keep ya updated on 'em."

"Uh.. Okay? Why though? M'not your damn 'Boss'." Ichigo grumbled and DiRoy shrugged his shoulders.

"Eh, old habits…"

"It's fine. Just…" Ichigo paused and scratched his head, because it occurred to him that having eyes on Bazz-B might not be such a bad idea. "Keigo should be alright, but if anything happens to him, or if Bazz-B tries anything stupid, you can tell me. I just don't want 'reports' throughout the day though."

DiRoy beamed at him and nodded, seemingly excited to be given an 'order'.

"I gotchu!" He gave a small salute but then lowered his voice, "But hey—we seriously don't mind helpin' out. If ya need anything, for real, just ask."

"Uhm.. Actually. Would you mind keeping an eye on Kokuto as well? I've got a bad feeling about him…" Ichigo was already doing what he promised he wouldn't do (Ordering his new pets around), but if DiRoy was offering the service, it'd be stupid not to use it. Ichigo should be scraping together every advantage he could find.

"Way ahead a'ya—I followed him here. He's 'bout four rows back." DiRoy tilted his head subtly in the direction. Ichigo peeked away long enough to see he was right; Kokuto's tall frame stood out, especially with his weird headwrap and bright hair. "That guy gives me the heebie-jeebies." DiRoy shuddered to exaggerate his unease.

Ichigo's head jerked in alarm when the others surrounding them started turning to face a different direction, whispers intensifying. Curious, Ichigo followed their line of sight, his face pinched in confusion. There was a light in the distance making its way down the long, dusty road leading straight inside Hueco Mundo's parking lot. Ichigo skirted the fence to get a better look.

It must be Grimmjow's ride, since there were no buses or taxis nearby, and no way he'd be forced to walk through the barren wasteland surrounding this place. Nothing but dirt and patches of grass for miles in every direction.

The vehicle was traveling at normal speed, no rush. It wasn't until it turned and parked along the outer fencing, as close as permitted, that they realized it was a limousine. Pearl-white in color and sporting black-tinted windows.

Fancy..

Ichigo's focus was drawn back to the Prison's entrance as both doors slammed open. He pushed Renji out of his way to get a better look, much to the redhead's displeasure.

"Fuckin' hell. Just say somethin' 'stead of shovin'.. Sheesh" Renji grumbled, but Ichigo paid him no mind as he watched Grimmjow exit. The man looked a little ruffled and his hair was sticking out in weird spots, but he seemed otherwise unharmed—not counting the bruises from his earlier 'Uprising' in C-Wing.

Ichigo took a quick second to appreciate Grimmjow's casual shirt, white jacket (Open-zipper and sleeves rolled up to the elbows), black slacks, white belt, and dark leather shoes. Each article fit perfectly and was just formal enough to make eyes linger in all the right places.

The wolf whistles started up, followed closely by teasing voices.

"Lookin' good, free man!"

"Eyyy! Blue, whatchu doin'!?"

"Where the hell ya goin'!?"

"Blue! How'd you do it!?"

Ichigo pressed towards the right, staying in front so he could squeeze and claw his way along the chainlink. He stopped once he reached Grimmjow then started hopping sideways to keep up with his stomping pace. Blue eyes glanced in Ichigo's direction before avoiding him all together.

"C'mon! Talk to us, man!"

"Yeah! Spill it! What's going on?!"

"Grimmjow! Hey! Wait!" Ichigo's voice was nearly drowned out by all the other inmates, "Grimmjow!"

He knew he said it loud enough—knew that Grimmjow could hear him, but he wasn't stopping.

But why ?

All because he fucked Kensei? Really?

Ichigo didn't need Grimmjow's damn permission to fuck ANYONE. They were never exclusive in the first place!

Ichigo took a deep breath then, as clearly as he could without screaming, said, "I still think you're cute when you're jealous."

Grimmjow came to an abrupt halt.

His fists clenched, but he didn't turn.

'Keep looking ahead. Don't look at him.' Thought Grimmjow to himself, 'Don't talk to him. Don't fucking bite the hook, ya dumb fuck…'

How was it possible for Ichigo to have such power over him?

Being called 'cute' by anyone else would never make him freeze up like this—but here he was, fighting off a damned blush—something that the inmates (the Vasto Lordes in particular) took a lot of interest in.

Not that Grimmjow gave a flying fuck what they thought of him.

Except Ichigo…

Ichigo was always the exception.

Grimmjow was undeniably attached—in an emotionally-draining sort of way. 'Draining' because, deep, deep down, he knew Ichigo would never truly understand the lengths he'd go to for him. The things he would do—there was no limit.

Grimmjow rubbed at his face and groaned at the sky. He should just leave, and not look back. Start the fuck over! Why not? The exit was RIGHT THERE; one last guard waiting at the end of the tunnel of chain-link. Beyond that was a bright, clear, open skyline.

Freedom!

All voices stilled into silence when Grimmjow finally turned around, "You better have a good fucking reason for being in that cell…" Cold eyes locked on Ichigo, and the orangette gulped. He almost preferred a pissed-off Grimmjow to this broken/mopey one who sounded like he was one tease away from ending it all.

"Well…" Ichigo scratched his cheek to help hide the blush as it appeared, but, even with the distance, Grimmjow saw it. Sharp eyes glanced past Ichigo to see the long, satisfied smirks on Kensei and Renji's faces. At least Shuuhei knew better—the only one out of the whole group able to keep a straight fucking face. "It was just—"

"Shuddup!" Grimmjow snapped angrily, hand sweeping the air, "Fuck it! I don't wanna hear it!" His feet moved to continue stomping away, but Ichigo's reply made him trip over his own feet.

"I did it for YOU, ya jackass!"

Grimmjow spun around and grabbed the fence with both hands. He shook it roughly, rattling the links together.

"BULLSHIT! Ya did it 'cuz you're a selfish prick! One guy ain't enough for you, huh!? Gotta get dick from the whole goddamn prison!"

"What're you talking about?! You know damn well I don't—"

"Oh no? Callin' me a liar?!" Grimmjow was unraveling, his voice rising with the hysteria. "Alright! Let's see—I'm gonna point to someone, then you're gonna tell me whether ya touched 'em—or LET THEM touch you. Ready?!" Grimmjow didn't care that he was being petty or irrational, and he didn't give Ichigo time to defend himself. He pointed a finger through the chainlink. It was impossible to tell who he was aiming at until the name was hissed, "Renji."

Ichigo refused to say anything—not like he needed to, his red face was a dead giveaway.

Grimmjow's lips twisted into a sneer of disgust.

"The hell is that look for!? You wanna go ya cotton-candy headed motherfucker!?" Renji spat and chest-bumped the fence with both arms stretched out in an invitation to 'Go'.

"Stupid..." Shuuhei grumbled under his breath while Shinji and Kensei laughed openly.

Grimmjow ignored the enraged redhead to shift his finger. He growled out the next name, "Yumichika." Said pretty male flinched and his amused smile dropped.

Ichigo's face got a little more red, from embarrassment, yes, but also from anger; Why did Grimmjow feel the need to rub salt in the wound?

"This is unnecessary—"

"Kensei." Grimmjow didn't even bother pointing anymore. Ichigo's face was the reddest he's ever seen it, and that infuriated him. "Shuuhei. Bazzard! WHITE! When's it gonna be enough?!"

Ichigo couldn't help but notice how Zaraki's name was left out, and appreciated that—no need to put a spotlight on the Captain when all he did was try to help.

Before he could come up with a clever comeback Luppi shoved forward. Though small in stature, the little guy had a strong set of lungs on him, "Is it true you got Pardoned!?"

The new topic had everyone whispering curiously to each other, but they kept their voices low to hear Grimmjow's reply. Cobalt eyes stayed pinned to Ichigo as he answered, "Yes."

"Are you serious!?" Nnoitra roared in outrage. "HOW!?"

"Pardoned? As in a 'Presidential Pardon'?" Shuuhei demanded, incredulity coating his words. "There's no fuckin' way!"

"Y'all sure it's a Presidential Pardon?" Yammy asked, doubtful.

"How else ya think he got out early? It certainly wasn't good behavior." Kensei scoffed, not the least bit intimidated by Grimmjow's glare.

"But why now ?" Shinji wondered aloud.

Grimmjow didn't bother answering any of their questions. He didn't owe these assholes anything—least of all 'answers'.

"Ya think it's all connected? But there's no way Sousuke has enough influence to get his hands on a Pardon…" Was Shunsui's rebuttal, but Shinji shrugged.

"Pretty odd coincidence, don'tchya think?"

Grimmjow continued to ignore them. There was only one person he wanted to hear from—the only one not saying anything .

"I swear I had no idea. If I knew—I woulda told ya..." Grimmjow admitted, and that finally got a reaction from Ichigo.

The orangette rubbed at his nape with a self-conscious shrug then spoke, "Where…" He sighed and laughed quietly as apprehension gnawed on his insides, "I mean… What are you gonna do now ?" He figured he shouldn't ask where Grimmjow was going (too many ears listening), and besides, he didn't deserve to know. He had no say in where the newly freed man should, could, or would go. Not like he'd ask him to stay either—that would be ridiculous.

The timing just SUCKED.

Ichigo could finally place his full and complete trust in Grimmjow, but now he's gone!

Poof!

Ichigo felt more alone now than he did when he first got here.

"I…" Grimmjow shrugs, head and eyes dropping. Before he could say much else, the prison's main entrance opened, hinges squealing to life.

Two men, both vastly different in size and looks, marched outside. Recognition slammed into Ichigo like a bowling ball to the stomach. His entire body stiffened, muscles bunching and fists tightening with dread.

Grant Phishman, AKA Grand Fisher, and at his side was Dr. Sousuke Aizen.

But…

Grant…

He…

In normal clothes? No cuffs? No chains?

H-he was leaving ?

But how?

HOW WAS THIS POSSIBLE?!

Seeing the prison counselor escorting a prisoner out of the building didn't seem too out of the ordinary, but when it came to Sousuke, Ichigo always felt like the man was up to something. And seeing him walking alongside Grant only inflated that suspicion.

Grimmjow's attention meandered back to witness Ichigo's reaction; a complicated mix of shock, worry, and sheer malice—most of which was aimed at Grand Fisher. He wasn't the only one surprised to see the giant man walking out of Hueco Mundo's front doors.

"Woah, wait! You got pardoned too, Boss?!" Nnoitra gaped at his leader in disbelief. Grant didn't answer until he and Sousuke were both beside Grimmjow.

"You betcha, Twiggy! I'm a free man." He said loud enough for the entire yard to hear, and it was accompanied by a large, victorious grin.

"The fuck…" Nnoitra grumbled, jealousy clear in his voice, "So what the hell're WE supposed to do now? Who's gonna lead us with BOTH a' ya gone?"

Grant hummed as he stuffed both giant hands in his pockets. "You know what..? I never really gave it much thought.." His voice dripped with indifference, enough to prove just how little he cared for the Vasto Lordes—if he ever cared at all. "You guys can work that shit out amongst yourselves." He shrugged with a booming laugh, and then his beady eyes squinted in Ichigo's direction. His smirk only stretched wider when he saw the scary glare aimed at him. "Unlesssss… Hey, Reaper—you wanna lead these ingrates? Teach 'em a thing'r two.." Ichigo's immediate response was a low growl, so Grant pressed further, "No? I thought maybe ya had a soft spot for'm, since ya got back the Gym n'all."

All heads snapped to Ichigo, but the angry spitfire barely noticed. He was too busy trying his damndest to burn holes in Grand Fisher's skull. The only thought in his head was a constant loop of him stabbing the other's meaty throat. Over and over and over again…

Which can't be healthy.

"He did what..?" Nnoitra finally demanded, head tilting so he could stare down at an orange head with his one good eye. Ulquiorra peered around Nnoitra's tall frame to also stare at Ichigo, green eyes curious.

"Wait, wait, wait… You did it for THEM?" Kensei demanded, sounding absolutely baffled. He crowded Ichigo by just leaning over his shoulder, far enough to lock eyes with him. "You promised a 'Favor, Fight, Fuck' for those pieces o' shit?!" He jutted a finger at Nnoitra, one of said 'pieces of shit', and Twiggy didn't seem all too pleased with the insult.

Ulquiorra put a stop to the inevitable fight by placing a hand against Nnoitra's chest, about as high up as he could reach, and tilted his head towards Captain Zaraki's hulking form. The giant man was leaning against the now closed doors of the yard, keeping any more riff-raff from entering, golden eye watching them tirelessly.

"He's not worth it." Ulquiorra said and eyed Kensei with a bored frown that had the man bristling with fury.

"Fuck you, freak."

"Trash." Was all Ulquiorra said in return, emerald eyes dull and indifferent, like Kensei wasn't even worth a proper reaction.

Nnoitra, agreeing with Ulquiorra—but still wanting to express his hatred, growled at the silver haired fighter and lifted a fist, promising pain in the near future. Kensei smirked and lifted his own fists as if to say, 'Bring it!'

Ichigo's brow twitched in annoyance. Why did they have to argue over the top of him? He felt stuck in the middle of the conflict, and though he loathed to use his 'authority', the temptation to tell them to shut the fuck up was hard to ignore.

"ICHIGO!" Grimmjow roared, snapping the men out of their testosterone fueled hate-glare. Everyone, except the person whose name was called, looked at Grimmjow. Ichigo refused to meet those crystal-blue eyes. "You agreed to a Triple F! ?" Still there was no response from the orangette. Grimmjow smacked his palms against the fence, "You've gotta be fuckin' kidding me! It's a joke… right?" He tried not to wince at the desperation in his own voice. "Shit… fuck… SHIT! That's why you..." The realization was dawning, but Ichigo took no joy from it this time. It was nice to know that Grimmjow finally understood though.

"See?" Grand Fisher said, reestablishing command over the conversation, "The Shinigami don't ask for 'Triple F's often—and only a handful of men ever agree to it. Such devotion should be rewarded! Don'tchya guys think?" He looked to the Vasto Lordes for some sort of agreement, but Ichigo spoke first.

"I didn't do it for them—and I especially didn't do it for YOU. The only thing I would ever do for you is make sure ya die screaming…" His voice was callous and cold. A thick, murderous aura rolled off him in large waves. Unfortunately, the chainlink fence—combined with the distance between them, made his threat less intimidating. The inmates closest, however, leaned cautiously away, like some deeply rooted animal-instinct was telling them to run away—as if Reaper might suddenly release all that pent up aggression on whoever was closest.

Grand Fisher shook his head in disappointment. He reached up with one hand to run his fingers through the thick, matted mane atop his scalp.

"And here I thought we'd finally have a proper conversation—like adults. But nah… you're still cryin' over your dead mommy. Poor lil' baby boy~" He cooed tauntingly, relishing the assassin's seething anger; akin to the sick satisfaction of watching a full-grown lion dig at tempered glass, trying desperately to eat you, but never quite able to figure out how.

Ichigo snarled and slammed both fists against the fence while everyone, except for Grimmjow and Sousuke, blinked in surprise.

Grand Fisher killed Reaper's mother?

Well now… That explained Ichigo's unrestrained bloodlust.

"You'll die slowly for what you did to her…" He promised in a strong voice, like he's never been more sure of anything else in his entire life.

"C'mon, man..." Grant groaned, a bored shrug rolling across his shoulders, "What happened that night wasn't personal—a'ight? It was strictly BUSINESS.. You, of all people, should understand that. I mean, do ya have any room to judge me?" He smirked in victory when Ichigo grimaced. "What was it people used to say 'round here..? 'A head with a price, be prepared for Reaper's slice' . So—be honest, how many people have YOU killed? And how many of 'em had families of their own?"

Ichigo's voice was fierce and unyielding as he replied, "I've killed plenty of men, sure, but I never put the 'price' on their heads—if I didn't kill them then some other assassin would have!" He allowed that rational argument to sink in before pointing a finger accusingly, "One BIG difference between you and me—ya won't find any women or children on my hit-list..."

"No women? I'd almost call that sexist—" Grant shot back with a loud laugh then he added, "But who the hell said I kill children..? I'd never."

"Nah, you just drug 'em up and take advantage of 'em—sick fuck." Surprisingly, it was Yammy who spoke up, and the disdain was loud and clear. Ichigo's stern expression softened into a simple smirk when Grant's jaw clenched. The large man glanced at Sousuke then pointed his bulky chin in the direction of the parking lot.

"Don't touch me," Grimmjow snapped as the counselor placed a firm arm around his shoulder to guide him towards the exit. He wanted to stay and finish hashing shit out with Ichigo, but he was unable to sidestep the insistent hold. Grimmjow eventually turned to walk properly, but he locked eyes with Ichigo one last time before he did. They shared the same meaningful look—the one that said they weren't leaving the other behind.

Ichigo subtly nodded in understanding, but then something Grant said finally sank in. He heard what was said, but it didn't register until now.

"You…" He gripped the fence tightly and pressed forward until his nose brushed cold metal. "You said it was 'business'... You were," His voice shook with dark emotions, " hired …?" The grin on Grant's face was answer enough, so Ichigo didn't bother waiting for a reply, "Who!? Who paid you?! Why would they want her dead!?" He demanded, yanking at the fence to emphasize his ire and desperation.

But… again … his threats were deemed insignificant: He was in no position to be making demands while stuck inside prison walls.

Grant scuffed his heel for a moment and looked up at the overcast sky as if he was actually thinking it over. And perhaps he was, but he didn't need to think very long. When he looked back at Ichigo, the persistent male was still clinging to the fence. He looked like he wanted to climb over and punch a hole right through his chest. Grant let out one last sigh then straightened to his full height. Any humor that had soaked into his features throughout the entire exchange evaporated. He was ready to finally take this seriously.

"Reaper… I need ya to bottle up those emotions for a minute: Think logically… Because I'm only gonna give ya ONE chance to accept this offer—"

"Fuck your offers! If ya don't tell me who hired you then I'll torture the information out." Ichigo hissed, unable to suppress all the dark thoughts leaking through. He was consumed with so much hatred that nothing else seemed to matter at the moment. "Tell me who!"

Grant calmly waited out the outburst, allowing Ichigo to vent. He held his silence until the man's angry snarl faded away, "Like I was sayin'… You will get this one and ONLY chance to consider my offer…" When Ichigo didn't start huffing and puffing again, Grant continued, "Join us—Lead the Vasto Lordes and become partners with me—and, yeah, I know we don't have the prettiest history, but that can be overlooked." Surely he was saying this as a joke—a way to get one last laugh in before he disappeared for good, "Do this, and I will tell ya EVERYTHING. If that ain't enough—I'll also provide money and power beyond your wildest dreams." He watched Ichigo's face twist with disgust and tried one last time to convince him, "I promise ya, boy—refuse this and you WILL regret it for the rest a' your life."

"I would rather die than help you with anything ..." Ichigo's voice was low but the message was loud and clear in his shadowed gaze.

"Shame…" Grant shook his head slowly then turned away from the fenceline to face the parking lot. Sousuke stopped steering Grimmjow and both men were standing side by side, next to a pearl-white limousine.

Ichigo eyed the clean, sparkling Limo with disdain. It looked expensive and new— very new, like straight out of the factory 'new'. Though he'd expect nothing less from a man who boldly offered 'money and power beyond your wildest dreams'... The disgust he felt came from knowing this evil deviant got to live in such luxury .

Dr. Aizen must have been waiting for a signal from Grant, because as soon as the man's hand came up, he reached for the door closest to him.

Just as Ichigo went to scoff, the harsh breath stuck halfway up his throat. He almost completely forgot how to breathe when a tiny figure jumped out of the vehicle.

"N-Nel!?" Was the only word he could choke out, voice gritty. Each new breath hurt—like the once breathable air suddenly turned to razor blades, scraping his throat bloody. Nelliel couldn't hear him but she must've seen his bright orange hair because she was already running in his direction.

"Ichigo!" She shouted, the usual lisp missing but her voice was loud enough to blanket the entire yard. "Ichigooo!" He could tell she was holding back tears from the strain in that one word. The sound made his chest constrict with guilt.

Once she was close enough, Grant knelt down and scooped her up with one giant hand. She squealed in protest and nearly lost her hold on BawaBawa, but she instinctively curled into a tight ball. A whimper bubbled past her lips, kicking Ichigo's paternal instinct into overdrive. His grip on the fence returned with force. He looked up while bending both knees, ready to jump up and climb the fence, barbed wire and prison guards be damned!

Ulquiorra and Shinji both reacted simultaneously, four hands shot out and were barely able to catch the insane male before he lunged upward. They struggled and had to use their combined weight to hold Ichigo in place.

"Calm yourself..." Ulquiorra commanded in a stern tone, but the desperate orangette's mind was clouded with too much worry.

"Put her down! Don't you touch her!" Ichigo shouted, pitch rising in desperation as he watched Grant nestle the little girl deeper into his embrace.

"Are you tryin' to get yourself killed?" Shinji's voice was low, so it wouldn't find its way to Nel, but could still be heard over the frantic thudding of Ichigo's heart. Strong fingers dug at his collar and shook him. "You really want your lil' girl to see you get sniped through the heart?!"

That finally made him pause. Ichigo panted heavily through his nose as he forced himself to look down. On his sternum lay two bright red dots. They wavered slightly, but remained on target until he finally stepped away from the chainlink. Ichigo forced himself to take deep, calming breaths before shrugging Shinji and Ulquiorra away. He tilted his head towards the guard tower. Only the silhouettes of both snipers were visible but he sent them a scathing glower nonetheless. It went ignored and Ichigo quickly returned his attention to Nelliel.

"Shit.." He hissed and went for the fence once more—one last attempt—but this time it was Zaraki who stopped him with a solid arm thrown around his shoulders. The captain had pushed his way through the crowd to hover behind Ichigo after his first attempt to climb the fence. He didn't want the orangette getting himself killed, because he couldn't tell the guards in the tower not to do their jobs.

Nelliel was too frightened to say anything. She clung to BawaBawa as she stared at Ichigo, eyes stretched wide and shining with unshed tears.

Fuck! He had no choice…

"Okay!" Ichigo snapped and threw off Zaraki's heavy arm. "Okay…" he repeated in defeat. "I'll lead them! I'll join you—I'll do whatever you want! Just let her go."

The dark, sinister chuckle that crept into Ichigo's ears made shivers trail down his entire back.

"Ahh… It's too late, boy ." The word came out mocking while a vindictive smirk nearly split Grant's face in half. "I warned you… I told ya you'd regret that answer.. But you're just too damn emotional." He reached up to pet Nelliel with one hand, his palm nearly engulfing her entire head. He carded his fingers through her soft, teal locks gently, but Nel received no comfort from it. She remained stiff as a board. "Don't worry though… I'd never harm my own daught–,"

"Like HELL she's yours." Ichigo spat back—before little Nelliel could really comprehend what they were saying.

"Now, now… You don't want to confuse the poor girl." Grant said, voice coated with fake concern as he lifted a hand to hide her face, as if to protect her from his 'lies'. He then adjusted the girl so he could look her in the eye. "Ya know, you have the same hair as your mother." Nelliel's face squished in confusion, because she's never known anyone to have hair like hers. As much as she wanted clarification, she was too scared to speak. Grant chuckled, thoroughly enjoying the array of emotions contorting her childish face. "There'll be time to explain everythin' later… but, for now, we gotta go. Say buh-bye to the Orange-Man!" He spoke loud and clear as he spun her around. He then lifted her up so she had a clear view of Ichigo. He even had the fucking nerve to grab her arm—the one not holding BawaBawa in a chokehold—and forced her to wave. "This is the last time you're gonna see him, so say bye,"

Nelliel's legs curled close to her body and quiet tears began to leak from her eyes.

While most of the attention was locked on them and their drama-fest, Sousuke took his time walking around the back of the limo. He quietly popped the trunk and retrieved two large duffle bags, slinging one of them over his shoulder while lugging the other in the opposite hand. Only Grimmjow and a few of the inmates impartial to Ichigo actually saw Sousuke walk by with the suspiciously heavy bags. Then he was gone, back inside Hueco Mundo.

"Ichigo!" A small hiccup made Nel pause but then she continued in a strong voice, "I wanna go home! P-please! I'm sorry! Take me home.. I'm so sorry…" She didn't know what she was apologizing for, but the plea in her voice made Ichigo's limbs turn to jell. He had to grab the nearest arm to keep from buckling—all of these dreadful emotions landing like weights across his back.

All he could do was stand there and watch .

He watched Grand Fisher take his daughter.

He watched Grimmjow disappear inside the limo.

Then he watched them drive away.

"Fuck..." Renji whispered in awe. He looked down to see Ichigo still latched to his arm, but didn't complain. The expression on Ichigo's face made it impossible to be mad at him; looking like his whole world just shattered in front of his eyes.

"This's messed up..." Zaraki murmured as he watched Ichigo fall into despair.

"Hey… It'll be okay. Ya heard him—he ain't gonna hurt her…" Shinji tried to reason, voice soft and empathetic, but Ichigo wasn't listening. He was in a state of shock. Sighing, Shinji tried a different approach.

'SMACK!'

Ichigo's cheek reddened and stung from the slap, but the defeated look in his eyes remained.

"Alright, tha's it… Herd him inside. Get him to the Gym…" He motioned towards Zaraki and the others still hovering nearby to do as he instructed.

"Why the Gym?" The captain wondered aloud, but he was already steering their emotionally cracked orangette towards the entrance.

"I might know how to snap him out of it, but we'll need plenty of space." Shinji explained while taking the lead. When he saw Zaraki's golden eye narrow with suspicion, Shinji explained, "He's got A LOT of pent-up hate he needs to sort through. So I'm gonna help him 'sort'." He glanced back to catch the short flash of bloodlust in Ichigo's gaze before it was smothered by guilt. "And 'sides—Ichigo owes me a fight."

…

..

.

TBC

.

..

…

---

* - This was honestly not meant to be a dick joke—I wanted the car to be compared to his big-ass Zanpakuto. But that wasn't obvious, so here's a footnote! lolol

** - I love having Ichigo leave an impression on pretty much anyone he meets

*** - Don't know if you guys remember the Medal of Honor that Ichigo mentioned in Chapter 16 ('bout halfway in), but I wanted to reiterate that even the little things that are briefly mentioned in previous chapters can be important later. But I will totally set reminders like this! So don't feel pressured or stressed about finding them. I like to think of those clues like a fun scavenger hunt. In other words—enjoy the ride!

---

I know you must've noticed this, but I stuffed as much GrimmIchi as I possibly could in this Chapter (That flashback honestly got outta hand. It's pretty much a short story by itself… but I couldn't stop myself.)

BECAUSE—SLIGHT SPOILER: Ichigo's not gonna see Grimmjow for a few chapters. They will meet again, of course. But now that this chap is done we'll be sprinting towards Zangetsu.

But anyway, I'm just here to have fun.
You guys are awesome. 'til next time!