Ichigo scowled at the blue haired man sitting across the table from him. Did that idiot really expect him to believe that shit? Not only was he stupid, the man was just plain crazy, and Ichigo was more fearful than before for Nami. Science experiments, genetic mutations, military secret weapon…staring into his cup of black coffee he wished he had agreed to meet at a bar instead of an all-night diner. He could use something a whole lot stronger than coffee. A shot or ten of something with a high percentage of alcohol would be nice.
"You don't believe me, do you?" the blunette asked as if he did not already know.
"No. I don't. I think you're insane. I wish you would leave Nami alone. She doesn't need someone like you," he growled in response.
"She needs someone like you," Grimmjow stated rather than asked, taking the orange haired man by surprise. He raised his blue eyes to meet the brown ones that were wide and round with astonishment rather than narrowed in anger. "I'm not as stupid as you think."
"You really do love her don't you?" he inquired, turning the cup in his hands nervously. That was not the kind of comeback he had expected. He had not anticipated any of this. He had been awaiting an argument, a threat to leave Nami alone, a fist fight; anything except to have her virtually handed over to him to be her guardian.
"Why do you think I'm doing what's best for her and worst for me? Do you really think I want to give you full access to her knowing how you feel? I've seen you kiss her and hold her. I've seen how you look at her. Who gives away…" Grimmjow allowed his words to trail off, swallowing hard to fight back the emotion. He could not believe he was doing this. He had finally found someone who loves him, who accepted him before he could even accept himself yet he was turning her over to another man for safekeeping. "Who gives away the woman he loves?"
"A man who loves her in return and only wants what is best for her," Ichigo answered, honestly feeling terrible for the man. He doubted he would do the same if the tables were turned. He was sure he would selfishly hang on to her no matter what the risk, but he would protect her. "You think these scientists would really kill her?"
"I do. She knows too much by working there already. And when they find out she has been harboring me for the last several months…they would definitely kill her," he replied bluntly.
"What do you want me to do?"
~...~
"Why are you doing this?" Nami asked as she watched Grimmjow pack her suitcase. Occasionally she would glance apprehensively in Ichigo's direction as he stood in the doorway of her bedroom watching without saying a word. She was confused and tired since they had awakened her in the wee hours of the morning. Neither one of them would explain exactly what was going on.
"You're going to live with Ichigo for a while. Don't go to work. You're in danger there," Grimmjow told her, pulling her drawer full of intimate apparel out of her dresser and dumping the whole thing in her suitcase.
Nami was aware of the fact that she was in danger at work but she had no choice except to keep going. She had to work and make money. There were bills to pay and food to buy and…
"I'll take care of you. Don't worry. These people want to kill you, Nami," Ichigo said, moving toward her.
Nami shivered upon hearing the word kill. She knew that as well and to hear the words out loud made it more real and more frightening. She did not struggle against her friend when he pulled her into his arms right in front of Grimmjow who did not seem to notice as he opened a second suitcase and began filling it.
"Don't I have a say in this matter?" she inquired indignantly.
"NO!" both men answered in unison quite loudly.
"Go with Ichigo and stay put. Don't go out of the house if you can help it. I don't want them to find you," Grimmjow said, stopping momentarily to look at them.
Nami could see the pain on his face as he observed her being held in the arms of another man. She did not want to do this. She did not want to leave him, and she did not want to be left alone with Ichigo. Heartbreak and temptation were a bad mixture. Her mind struggled to figure out which situation posed more peril for her: going to work or being alone with her overtly sexy friend.
"How am I supposed to hide in the same city as them?" she asked, hoping that would make him give up this silly idea of sending her to be with Ichigo.
"I've done it for over a year now," Grimmjow rejoined, going to her closet to begin retrieving clothes. "They're scientists. They're very intelligent but good old fashioned common sense is not their strong point."
Nami actually wanted to laugh at his astute observance about Urahara and Kurotsuchi. She had worked for them long enough to know his statement was very true. She broke free of Ichigo's tight embrace and went to Grimmjow. Grabbing him around the waist, she pressed her body to his while laying her head against his chest.
"What are you going to do?" she questioned, holding him tightly.
"It's best you don't know. If I do it right, you won't have a job to go back to anyway," he explained cryptically. If he divulged any details, she would be viewed as an accessory, and he wanted her left out this part of the ordeal.
"What?" she inquired, staring up at his face. Her eyes met his blue ones which were set hard with determination but did not give any indication of what he was planning.
"You have to trust me. You already have with so much and it's unfair to ask any more of you but I have to. Just let me go and trust me," he begged her, taking her arms from around his body. His eyes moved to Ichigo who came to her and took her by the hand to lead her from the room.
Grimmjow followed with the suitcases pausing to grab her jacket from the hook by the door. He was glad she had worn a pair of her pajamas that covers her up rather than the flimsy, barely there ones he was accustomed to seeing her in. After putting her suitcases in the backseat of the other man's car, he prepared himself to tell her good-bye. Reminding himself it was only for a short time, he wrapped her jacket around her shoulders before pulling her into his firm embrace.
"I love you, Nami," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "I will return to you. I just have to take care of this so we will both be safe."
"I love you too," she sobbed, allowing the tears to flow freely down her face. She was angry, frightened, and generally upset as a myriad of emotions surged through her. "I don't want to leave you."
"I know. But you have to. I want you safe," he whispered, tipping her chin up with his finger. He pressed his lips to her giving her a kiss to remember him by.
Nami held onto him as her head spun and she felt dizzy from the intense emotions relayed by that kiss. She was comforted by the fact it did not feel like a good-bye. It was simply his way of telling her until we meet again. He had kissed her like this before, but at the time she had not understood what it meant. Now she knew.
"Go, Nami. Wait for me," Grimmjow said, kissing the tip of her nose.
"I will," she promised, pulling the jacket tighter around her as she trembled helplessly.
"I'll take care of her," Ichigo assured the other man when he received a piteous expression. He had been wondering for the hundredth time why he agreed to do this until he received that look of sad desperation. His love for Nami was greater than his dislike and jealousy for that man.
Nami was sitting in the car sobbing softly, staring out of the window at Grimmjow. She hung her head as they pulled away because she was unable to bear looking at him any longer. Her heart hurt and she rubbed her chest as if that would stem the flow of emotions flowing from her broken heart.
Grimmjow watched the car disappear down the street, lingering long after he saw the tail lights disappear. Pressing his lips together and pushing aside his emotions, he began to think. It was time to plan and execute that plan. He had to ensure the future and freedom that he and Nami would never have as long as those mad scientists of the Frankenstein sort were alive.
~...~
Ichigo led Nami to his bedroom so he could put her to bed. He was worried because she was shaking so profoundly. He feared she had gone into a mild state of shock due to the overwhelming situation. Pressing his hand against her clammy forehead, he tucked the covers around her to warm her up.
"Nami, please calm down," he begged her as tears soundlessly streamed down her cheeks. He leaned forward to kiss one of her cheeks that were wet with tears and she remained unresponsive. With a noisy sigh, he stood up from the bed. When her hand reached out to grasp his, he immediately stopped to look at her. He looked at her pitiful, bloodshot eyes that were still leaking tears and sat back down.
"Don't leave me," she entreated him, her voice hoarse with emotion. She pushed the covers down to her waist before sitting up to enclose his neck with her arms.
"Nami, we shouldn't be this close," he murmured, wanting to kiss her when she pressed her lips against his neck while pulling him close to her. If he kissed her, they would both come undone. The scent of vanilla and lavender filled his nostrils while he carefully peeled her arms from around his neck before they proceeded to do something he really wanted to do but she would inevitably regret. Pushing her back down onto the pillow, he repositioned the covers over her making sure to encapsulate her in the sheets and blankets with her arms down by her sides. "You should get some sleep."
"How can I?" she asked like a petulant child. She struggled to free her arms from where he had imprisoned them and lay them on top of the covers. "Why are you doing this? Why are you helping me when it hurts you so much?"
"It's the kind of sacrifice any idiot makes when he loves someone," he answered frankly, rubbing his thumb across her cheek to remove the remnants of her tears. "Even if she doesn't love him the same way."
"Ichigo," Nami sighed, lowering her eyes from his. The words stung a bit and she doubted it was intentional but it still hurt her. She did not understand why she did not fall in love with him. What was not to like about him? He was thoughtful, caring, and funny not to mention handsome and very alluring. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" he inquired, edging closer to her. He dared to kiss her on the forehead which turned out to be a mistake because her sudden intake of breath aroused him. Dumbass, he cursed himself silently. When things subsided a bit and he could walk again, he would have to move away from her.
"Will you stay with me until I'm asleep? I will feel safer with you watching over me," she said, lying down and making herself comfortable on the bed.
"Sure. Of course I'll stay," Ichigo assured her. Yep, dammit, he wouldn't be going anywhere for a while since something decided to pop up at an inopportune time.
Nami settled into a fetal position finally, almost hugging her knees to her chest. She felt a gentle hand on her back stroking her to soothe her. The weariness set in first before the drowsiness overtook her. She was too sleepy to protest when she felt his body slide beneath the covers to curl around hers. She assumed he must think she was asleep when he kissed her cheek and held her securely in his arms.
"Everything will be all right, Nami," he whispered in her ear. "I'll always be here for you."
Upon hearing that, she sighed contentedly and fell asleep in his arms.