Chapter 24: Spandex Grandpa.

"You heard." Shinji told Shiro as they sat in the kitchen, in the middle of the night.

Ulquiorra and Grimmjow had left as soon as the talk they had with Shinji was over. He told them to because he was sure the other two probably wouldn't come back out.

Shiro and Ichigo had quickly finished with Shinji's stuff, Ichigo being exceptionally tired and considering it was well past one am when they were done he had gone straight to bed.

Shinji and Shiro then proceeded to the kitchen, both with cups of coffee in hand, Shiro having a lit cigarette in the other.

"Yeah. I did. Why didn't you tell me?" Shiro asked calmly as he took a drag. He'd been smoking a lot more since he had moved to the town. He had no idea if that as a bad thing or not.

Shinji snorted out a humorless laugh before taking a sip f his hot cup of coffee. "What would that have done?" Shinji told him with that sad smile n his face that was breaking Shiro little by little.

"I would've known. I would've...I don't know." Shiro sighed finally. He didn't even notice his cigarette had burned out.

"Exactly." Shinji mumbled, his smile fallen as he stared into the remnants of the dark liquid.

They stayed like that for about ten to fifteen minutes, Shinji sitting on the kitchen stool, cooling mug of coffee in both hands and Shiro leaning against the island empty mug and burnt out cigarette handing from his slightly chapped lips. Both with things on their minds.

"He's in love with you y'know?" Shinji broke the silence.

Shiro gave him a sideway glance before turning back to the spot on the wall he had been staring at in his trance like state.

"Who?" Shiro asked before removing the burnt out bud, tossing it into the bin on the other side of the kitchen, then lighting anther one. His nerves were going haywire.

"Don't play stupid. The doll like beauty with emerald eyes. You were always a sucker for green eyes." Shinji joked bitterly, like the words left a disgusting taste on his tongue.

Shiro paused for a moment, slender fingers holding unto the cigarette up against his lips, then he took in a drag and breathed it out slowly. "I know he does."

Shinji seemed surprised at that. Shiro's a keen observer, not much could miss his eyes but even Shinji couldn't get an actual read on the blank Ulquiorra. The only reason he could tell Ulquiorra was in love with Shiro was because he had seen the way Ulquiorra touched Shiro in that tender way lovers do before he was noticed. If he hadn't witnessed that he would've thought that Ulquiorra was just having some kind of fun with Shiro.

"How? The guy has some kind of wall around him." Shinji asked genuinely curious.

Shiro snorted, like he couldn't understand how Shinji couldn't see it.

"Ulquiorra is a closed off man. More closed off than anyone I've ever met and I know Byakuya Kuchiki. He looks at people like they're beneath him or like they're zoo animals. He doesn't even understand emotions. He shows respect yeah but never does he show anything else. Next thing everyone knows is he's going on dates with me, getting jealous and blushing like a virgin. Anyone with common sense could tell he's in love with me." Shiro told Shinji with a small smile on his face.

Shinji looked at the beautiful man thinking he shouldn't be surprised. Shiro noticed everything. Well as much as he could when Ichigo wasn't on his mind.

"I know that I told him you love him but now I'm not really sure. Do you love him Shiro? Or can you see yourself falling in love with him?" Shinji asked because he didn't like that feeling. That feeling of the man you loved never loving you back and from what Shiro had told him about this Ulquiorra guy, the raven might not get over it for this, this relationship was probably the first experience of love he's ever had. Shiro's one of the few most amazing guys on the planet but nobody deserved that pain.

Shiro ran a hand through his long white hair, cigarette in between his lips, as he sighed out. "I...I don't know to be honest with you."

Shinji huffed at the cliché response. "It's either you know or you don't Shiro."

Shiro laughed at Shinji's bratty behavior, missing it for a while there. "I've never felt the way I do with Ulquiorra Shinji. It's...so different." Shiro sighed as he looked up at the ceiling, trying to understand what his own words meant but something in him just didn't care.

Shinji's chest hurt. He had a guess to what that meant but he kept his mouth shut and let the albino continue.

"It's like some kind of adrenaline rush when he simply gives me his attention. When he smiles that small smile and tries to hide it I just can't help but think he's too adorable for words. Okay yeah the way he treats women annoys the hell out of me. What kind of male doesn't know that women are special beings and should be treated as such? Then there's the cute way his entire body lights up when he eats sweets. I can barely contain the urge to scream Kawaii. He's also really smart. Like damn does he have an encyclopedia in his head or something? I...guess I might be a tad obsessed with the guy." Shiro finally admitted with a sheepish laugh.

Shinji smiled and it was genuine too. Shiro looked so happy. He just didn't have it in him to be sad about it. "You're in love Yūrei. I can tell. You're eyes practically glowed as you went on and on about the guy." Shinji said with a small laugh, using his nickname for the albino which meant ghost, when Shiro looked at him in surprise.

"I'm in love. Huh. Who would've guessed?" Shiro sighed out, finishing his other cigarette and tossing it into the bin.

Shinji smiled at him. "I'm happy for you." He was telling the truth, despite the pain the entire situation was causing him, he was happy for them.

Shiro's expression fell when he saw the hurt in Shinji's eyes.

He pulled his best friend off his seat and wrapped his longer arms around him, keeping him close. Shinji hugged him back, just as tight if not tighter, his smaller hands fisting the back of Shiro's night T-shirt.

"I'm sorry for hurting you." Shiro whispered softly into Shinji's blonde hair. He always liked Shinji's hair, the color and feel of it always made him feel warm.

Shinji shook his head which was in Shiro's warm chest. Shiro could feel the tears soak his shit and he desperately wished he could take his pain away. He even wandered why he didn't just fall in love with Shinji.

Then Ulquiorra came to mind and he cursed himself for thinking that. Shinji was right, he was in love with the stoic raven.

"Don't apologize for something that's not your fault dipshit. I'll get over it, so don't feel bad because of me. I'll hit you if you do." Shinji threatened him, his voice sounding almost choked up but the threat ringing truth.

Shiro chuckled. Shinji would be fine. He's always fine.

"I do love you Shinji." Shiro whispered, not knowing his words hurt Shinji even more.

"Yeah...I know." Shinji whispered.

They were silent again. Holding unto each other until Shinji fell asleep and Shiro carried him to bed.

Shiro laid in his bed, looking up at the ceiling with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I'm sorry Shinji. I really am."

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" Everyone stopped what they were doing at the loud yell of Shiro Kurosaki who had just entered through the elevator. Some tried stifling their laughs at the way their superior looked while most barked out laughing.

Shiro's suit was in complete and utter shreds. It looked like a pack of wild animals got to him. It was especially funny because his hair was like a huge forest.

"Those fangirls really got to you didn't they? Yikes, fix your hair at least." that would be Kukaku, the female engineer with the prosthesis and the ferocity of a bear, who was the ne to laugh at Shiro the loudest.

"Those were not girls I swear! One of them actually roared! ROARED!" Shiro truly looked traumatized and some people felt bad for the guy. The younger guys though thought it was unfair, they were straight so why didn't girls fight for them?

"Quiet down will ya! That's what happens when you become a celebrity overnight so suck it up." The violent woman ordered as she hit him with the prosthesis making Shiro whimper like a puppy.

Shiro grumbled past the amused woman, taking off the last shreds of the top of his suit on the way, not caring about the hearts he stopped at the full display of his torso.

What the fuck was up with those girls?! They came at me like animals! Why were there so many cameras and reporters at the front of the building too? Was it because of the interview? I soo don't need this. The celebrity life is not for me.

He had left his house, Shinji saying he had actual business in Karakura had left earlier than him, and was bringing Ulquiorra some home made cinnamon rolls. He was happy, a bit worried about his best friend but happy all the same. Next thing he knows, as soon as he steps out of his car, he hears a female scream 'There he is!' and BOOM! He's ambushed by some random women confessing their undying love for him.

He entered his office, slammed the door harshly and then punched his wall with a lot of force. His fists went clean through but for some reason he just couldn't care. He ran his hands furiously through his hair, smoothing out the longs strands and feeling slightly when they fell down, looking the way they always did instead of the nest the females made it. He put his hand on top of his scalp, remembering the way some girls pulled his hair harshly.

It's not like he was pissed, it was more adrenaline than anything. It was like a wild animal being attacked by a bunch of other wild animals and he got away before letting off some steam. Shiro was on edge and he needed to...fight. He hadn't had a good fight in a while, plus he remembered Ichigo's fight from the other day. The images set his blood pumping, then images of him and Ichigo fighting all kinds of thugs back in Tokyo kept flashing back.

The thrill of it all. The pain, the fear of losing and the rush of winning. Damn it was bringing out the bloodthirsty part of Shiro that had been planted into both Kurosaki brothers that bloody night.

As he changed into his spare jumpsuit, he had a bag of clothes under his desk ever since that surprise storm, his hands were shaking badly.

"Shit." He spat to himself as he watched his arm practically vibrate with the need to do something as exerting as fighting. C'mon Kami, help a guy out for once! He was panicking because when he got like that he ended up acting like a jungle cat on edge. He would've ended up in a fight with someone eventually and that's way too bad for morale.

He quickly opened his desk drawers for his stash of cigarette packs. He brought one pack out as well as one of his lighters. He quickly lit one and placed it in between his lips, taking a huge drag from it to try and calm his nerves.

That pack being his third that day. Ulquiorra would be pissed and his baby brother would be disappointed.

"You're smoking in the office Shiro." The sound of Ulquiorra's unexpected voice didn't startle Shiro like it did for other people. He had gotten used to it.

His shaking hands started calming down as he took in another drag and blew out. "Sorry. Sorry. Was jumped by all those people outside. Got agitated." Shiro explained brokenly as he placed his free hand on his head, feeling a headache coming up.

Ulquiorra quietly shut the door as he looked at his colleagues slash...lover in worry though it wasn't obvious. "It slipped my mind to inform you about that. That would be my fault." That was Ulquiorra speak for 'I'm very sorry! Please forgive me!'

Shiro chuckled. "It's cool. This just hasn't been my day." Shiro sighed out as he placed the cigarette in between his lips and leaving it there. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

Ulquiorra did not ask because he noticed that Shiro wouldn't tell him. For a man that looked so open, he had more secrets than Ulquiorra thought possible. There were a lot of mysteries surrounding Kurosaki Shiro and Kurosaki Ichigo.

"Hmm. I will have to speak to you after work, considering we are at a place of work, personal matters would be discussed after. I am here to inform you that you are to accompany me to a meeting with a partner."Ulquiorra informed him making Shiro chuckle.

"As cold and serious as ever Ulquiorra." Shiro said as he got closer to his lover with a smirk on his face. The cigarette and long hair making him look oddly like some bad boy, the jumpsuit adding to the look.

Ulquiorra bristled at the words, Shiro noticed it as well. It wouldn't be the first time someone had called him that but hearing it from Shiro, someone he treated so differently from everyone else, made Ulquiorra want to leave the company of the albino because yeah, it hurt.

Then Shiro placed one of his palms on Ulquiorra's right cheek, his slender fingers with their rough pads tracing his face from his cheekbone to Ulquiorra's lower and black lip. Shiro smiled when he heard and felt the hitch in the raven's breath.

"Just one of the many things about you I adore." Shiro told him honestly, his thumb still on Ulquiorra's lips. The tension from before had gone and at that moment all Shiro wanted to do was press Ulquiorra against his door and kiss the living daylights out of him, at least until air was needed. His removed the dying cigarette, obviously not lit properly, and tossed it into the bin beside the door, just in case the urge took over him. His eyes then focused on Ulquiorra's addictive lips, his eyes showing how ravenously hungry he was for Ulquiorra.

Ulquiorra gulped quietly at the starving look in Shiro's eyes making Shiro look up from the raven's lips to connect his passionate gaze with Ulquiorra's emerald eyes that would ususally not give out much but Shiro saw something there before it flashed away almost as soon as he saw it. It was so wanton that Shiro wanted to groan.

"We're at work Shiro." Ulquiorra's eyes widened a fraction, surprised at how breathless he sounded then again who could blame him?

"I really don't care Ulqui." Shiro told him with a shrug, his hand that was on Ulquiorra's face slowly moved to the back of Ulquiorra's neck and lightly caressed his earlobe. Without his consent, Ulquiorra's eyes closed and he leaned into the touch, his body relaxing from some tension Shiro had noticed immediately the raven had exposed himself.

"You were worried about the Shinji thing." Shiro stated, not bothering to beat around the bush but get straight to the point.

Ulquiorra stiffened again at the mention of the blonde's name. He was silent and that was answer enough for Shiro.

After Ulquiorra left the night before, his mind was on whether Shiro and Shinji would fall into temptation and go at it in Shiro's sheets. It was a thought and image that had kept him up all night. Shinji's words of his feelings for Shiro still being in his love interest repeating over and over again in his mind. Ulquiorra was scared, he remembered having the same fear when he was younger, six to be exact. He had been abandoned by someone he trusted before, he knew that if Shiro did the same he'd not recover. Ever.

Shiro pulled Ulquiorra close and placed a soft kiss on the raven's soft lips. "I'd never do that to my precious Ulqui. You're important Ulquiorra. So very important to me and I'd never hurt you on purpose." Shiro assured him.

"You've known him longer. He knows things about you I don't. You both have more history. You care about him immensely. You're best friends. I'm someone you barely know and I barely know you and-"

"And yet you're the one I see myself with in ten years." Shiro interrupted him shocking the hell out of Ulquiorra. The man that was well known for being dispassionate looked up at Shiro with his eyes the widest Shiro had ever seen them. They looked more expressive than ever in Shiro's opinion.

They were apparently wide in disbelief.

"I mean it Ulqui. You'd have to be the one to say it and I'm gone. Don't be jealous of my history with Shinji because that's the past and I'm a man of now. You're my now." Shiro promised him with probably the cheesiest thing he had ever said.

He just hoped it was original otherwise he'd feel even cornier.

"...That was rather sickly-sweet. Even by my standards." Ulquiorra couldn't help himself and he gave the faintest of smiles when Shiro groaned loudly.

"Would it kill you to not ruin a moment? I was on a roll!" Shiro whined but stopped when Ulquiorra placed a shy kiss on his nose. He couldn't help but chuckle because the guy had to go on his tip toes. Made Shiro wonder if he's still growing but that'd be weird...and slightly terrifying.

"Thank you Shiro." Ulquiorra thanked him, the small smile still present and it made Shiro giggle like a school girl. It was a happy sound that made Ulquiorra have that urge to laugh that he wasn't accustomed to.

"I should be thanking you. I was getting a little depressed before you came in." Shiro admitted though secretly hating mentioning that moment of weakness.

Ulquiorra questioned him with his eyes,making Shiro press a soft kiss to the shorter man's head. "I'll tell you after the meeting that I probably made you late for." Shiro promised him. He...was nervous to tell him. He didn't want to be seen differently.

"I'm their boss' relative. They can wait." Ulquiorra responded making Shiro laugh.

"Man I love you."

Silence.

They both blinked at each other.

Shiro seemed to hear bombs exploding from somewhere. He hoped he would soon see his grandfather in a spandex because that's what usually happened in some of his nightmares because it just had to be a nightmare. He didn't just, in the most unromantic place he could think off, blurt out that he lo-

"You...love me?"

C'mon, get in here Spandex Grandpa. I. Beg. You!

BOOM! That update just exploded in your faces!

What you think with that surprise huh? LOVE IT?! Like it?! Maybe? nothing?

Please review what you think. I live for them.

Exams end next week Friday. Then One More Week. Then Summer! Then 6th year. Then more exams. Then college. Is it bad that I want to cry at the amount of stress I'm having and going to have?!

Oh and I wanted to thank everyone that's been with me through out this story. It actually kinda boosted my confidence a little. Never thought anyone would like this so much and over ten thousand people have read it! Over a hundred reviews! Most posistive too! I'm unbelievably happy right now!

Again tell me what you think about the update!

Ciao from,

Grimmjowislife.

P.S: The whole spandex grandpa thing is a horrible experience that my siblings and I wish we could forget. All that wrinkly skin. The guy is over 80!