A/N: I'm back! So sorry for the wait, I became a little depressed with the giant tangent my once simple and cutesy story had taken and took a lonnnng time weighing the pros and cons of deleting a couple chapters and reworking the story. Buuuut I scrapped that idea because of YOU lovely readers! I have too many story followers who seem to enjoy my ideas, so I better not go back and change it now, hmm? Right decision? I think so! Anywho! Here's a small taste to get you back into my plot ^.^ I work again tomorrow but I shall strive to update the second half of this 'not-quite-date' - it's outlined, just needs to be slept on to fine-tune it.

Ta-daaa~

Chapter 9 – Finally! A Break!

Ichigo slumped forward on his table, arms stretched out in front of him, as he watched Grimmjow bustle about the little café. Renji had just left, but not before having a small tantrum about what happened with Starrk.

Ichigo grinned, he knew his friend wouldn't understand right away – he was all about the sex after all. It had taken a while for him to convince Renji that turning down a perfectly handsome, no-strings-attached offer was exactly the right thing to do. Ichigo had explained that Starrk was all about his daughter, so between work and her there would be no time for anything more than sex. Sure they could meet up here or there during lunch or after she went to bed but Ichigo wanted a relationship. Someone to spend time with and learn to eventually love.

And Starrk wasn't that person.

Once Renji understood he had demanded a list of qualities Ichigo was looking for and left to find someone new for him. Of course he didn't leave before pointing at him dramatically and announcing to the world that Ichigo had never specifically told him he wanted a love relationship, not just to get laid, and would be spending a little more time on setting up the next date. The other regulars had laughed at Renji's loud accusation which of course caused the accused to turn as red as a tomato.

As Renji had stepped out of the café, Grimmjow had entered. Both recognized the other and gave awkward greetings before parting ways, Renji making wild gestures at Ichigo behind Grimmjow's back.

And now we come back to Ichigo draped over his table, wondering if he should leave too while watching Grimmjow work. He debated the pros and cons.

Pro – he gets to see the man.

Con – he has to see the man.

Ichigo frowned, 'I can't decide if it's a good thing or bad thing to see him... I guess it's bittersweet?'

He heard a chair scrape and sat up, nearly jumping out of his skin as the man he was just thinking about sat down next to him. Grimmjow had brought two cups and offered one to Ichigo, who took it with an eyebrow raised.

Grimmjow shrugged, "What's up with you?"

"Nothing much, was studying… but then I got stuck and Ren came around to chat before heading to his girlfriend's house."

Yep, Renji had finally asked Rukia out. It'd taken literal years of mooning over her before he was able to summon the courage. Ichigo got the excited call almost as soon as she'd said yes – er - more like bonked him on the head demanding why he took so long.

Ichigo didn't realize he was smiling until Grimmjow said, "That's great and all, but I meant what's up in here," he tapped Ichigo's forehead, "You've been zoned out for about an hour now, going back and forth between smiling and frowning. What's eating you?"

Ichigo balked, he couldn't exactly tell Grimmjow what was wrong… well, not all of it. 'I guess I can tell him about Starrk, since he's already heard about the rest of my dates.' "Well, I had a date…" he began.

Grimmjow just started laughing, cutting off anything more Ichigo planned to say, "Isn't that supposed to be a happy occasion?" He paused, frowned, "Actually… I think I know where you're coming from…"

Ichigo tilted his head, "Oh?" He queried.

Grimmjow ran a hand through his hair and groaned, "Yeah, Tier and I… well… she begged me for a second chance… And stupid me just couldn't turn away her big puppy-dog eyes – I've – ugh I've never been able to." He mumbled the last part more to himself.

When he noticed that he had Ichigo's full attention he continued, albeit sheepishly, "We had lunch and then hung out at the park for a bit, it was nice."

Ichigo nodded, the scene replaying in his mind while his brain tried to hold back his heart's hopeful bouncing.

"Anyway, we had fun. I mean… I had a really good time with her – we get along so well, ya know?" he drifted off, contemplative and unwittingly leaving Ichigo on the edge of his seat.

"But?" he prodded casually, trying really hard to act nonchalant.

"Well… when it comes to friendly stuff we are the best of friends. She's funny, she understands me - we share a lot of interests, but… well when it comes to romantic stuff… I don't know… it doesn't feel right. Not anymore anyway," he looked up.

The tiny blush that formed on Grimmjow's cheeks was the sweetest thing Ichigo had ever seen, and, in his opinion, it contrasted rather beautifully with his bright blue eyes. He cringed, ''Blue' is such a dull word now that I've met this man…'

"How do you mean?" Ichigo persisted, pushing his errant thoughts aside.

"Well, you and your friend – Renji was it? – you guys are close but you don't want to touch him do you?" He paused, looking a little doubtful.

Ichigo shook his head in rejection, then thought about it some more and shook his head even harder, 'Touch Renji? Ugh, no… just… no.' He shook his head even harder.

Grimmjow laughed at the repeated grimaces and gestured towards Ichigo, "Ya see? It's weird. Well that's how I feel about Tier. She's a great person that I don't want to hurt, but at the same time, I don't want to fuck." He paused, "I just wish she could understand it."

Ichigo nodded sympathetically while on the inside he was positively beaming, Grimmjow was just enjoying himself at the park? He wasn't interested in Tier like she was in him? 'I misunderstood when I saw them! What a relief!'

"So why don't you like her like that anymore?" Ichigo pressed, really hoping he wasn't pushing his luck. "If you don't mind my asking."

Grimmjow shrugged rather non-committedly and gave some weird mumbled grunt in response, totally confusing Ichigo in the process. 'Um, what am I supposed to do with that? Like… what the hell?'

Fortunately/unfortunately the door bells chimed and Grimmjow all but leapt out of his seat, throwing a "Be right back!" over his shoulder with a ridiculous amount of enthusiasm and causing even more question marks to float around in Ichigo's mind.

'What a strange guy…' He sipped his coffee and waited patiently for the barista's return, thinking about all the studying he should probably doing.

He had one last exam to write and it happened to fall on the same day as Renji's. Ichigo's was a couple hours ahead of his friend's but they were happy enough to be able to share their end-of-term-partying on the same night. 'It'll be a nice change from last year, where I had to write when Renji had already been drunk for two full days - what an idiot! Just 'cause I wasn't there to smack some sense into him he goes and loses half his brain to alcohol... tsk.' Ichigo shook his head and smirked, 'Still, the exam is on Friday - better sit him down for some studying soon...Eh, I'm sure a little break today won't hurt us - '

"Back!"

Ichigo jolted back to reality hard, "G-gah!"

Grimmjow snickered as he seated himself, prior nervousness completely erased. "Scare ya, Princess?"

"Hardly, Asswipe." Ichigo scowled at Grimmjow's raised palms of surrender, "What's gotten into you anyway? Why so hyper all of a sudden?"

Grimmjow let out a laugh that, in Ichigo's opinion, was much too short, "Well about that… I've been feeling… different lately and while I was making that chick her coffee," he gestured with a thumb over his shoulder, "I figured, 'Eh, I gotta tell somebody. Might as well be you! At least I know you won't make fun of me…'" He grumbled the end.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow, "Whatever it is, if you believe it then forget what other people think." He leaned forward, "Honestly, once you stop worrying about everyone else's opinions then things get way easier. Your decisions are based on what make you happy and for some reason people respect you more too."

Grimmjow smirked, "Well thanks for the pep-talk there Coach, but I usually live my life by my own way… no problems there!" He chuckled, "But," he sobered quickly, "just this once – between you and me - I feel a little … mmm what's the word? … Apprehensive." He rested his cheek on his fist and watched Ichigo with a neutral expression, completely unaware of how easily he struck poses that models would be envious of.

Ichigo raised a hand in mock-oath, "I'm not one to judge, you can tell me if you want."

Grimmjow smiled sweetly, head still held up by his fist and uttered simply, "I think I'm gay."