Chapter 28: He's Okay.

It had been a month since Ichigo had been in a comatose state and Grimmjow hadn't gone in to see him once.

No one could really blame him. Every time he even got close to the door he would seize up and start shaking. Then he wouldn't be able to breathe, those being the beginnings of his panic attacks. Everyone would tell him that he didn't have to keep going but Grimmjow wouldn't listen. Every day, after school, he would sit just at the entrance of the hallway where Ichigo's room was, do his homework and go home when they made him. He never went willingly and he only went to school because he knew Ichigo would've been pissed at him if he wakes up and finds out that Grimmjow had missed school to worry about his ass.

Ulquiorra had pulled some strings and had Ichigo moved to a private room to give him as much comfort as possible. The raven had also told the press about the accident so that Shiro and Grimmjow didn't have to deal with it, Ichigo's accident had been international. The orange head had received so many get well soon gifts from all over the world. To Grimmjow they were hollow because they didn't even know Ichigo, all they knew was that he was Shiro's brother and was dating the Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. He wanted to throw them away but it wasn't his call, for all he knew Ichigo would've appreciated them, him being the kind of guy.

The doctors tell them that his injuries are healing fine and even better than they expected but they were worried that Ichigo would have to be the one to pull himself out of his coma and so far he had only responded slightly to Shiro's voice. Shiro had a feeling that Ichigo might come out more if both he and Grimmjow were there but the panic attacks prevented him from proving the hypothesis. Ichigo had even made noises when he heard Grimmjow's voice from the hallway.

They were scared. All scared that Ichigo would never open those beautiful amber eyes. Scared they wouldn't taste his delicious cooking or hear his laugh. Kami the teenagers had grown ten years with the hours they spent in the hospital, the adults twenty, Grimmjow thirty and Shiro fifty.

"...-uez-san! Jaegerjaquez-san! Are you paying attention?!" Grimmjow slowly looked away from the window to the teacher looking at him with anger. New guy. Old, around his sixties, but good teacher so far. He apparently had an unlucky day.

"Jaegerjaquez-san. I understand that your friend-"

"Boyfriend." Grimmjow corrected automatically before turning back to face the window and look at the sky. Ichigo had the weirdest fascination with comparing his hair eyes with the sky and his hair with cotton candy. He remembered a time when Ichigo compared his hair color to a flower. What was it called? Hydrangea. That was it. He remembered Ichigo saying it had many meanings but for them it meant [Developing a deeper understanding between two people]. The memory brought a small but sad smile to Grimmjow's face.

The teacher looked at Grimmjow with both disgust and anger. Okay, not so good teacher.

"I will not be the one to judge you for your disgusting habits but I must insist that you focus during my class."

"Disgusting?" Grimmjow had been slightly happy, even for just a passing moment, he had been happy. Then some homophobic asshole decides that his relationship with his Berry's nothing more but a disgusting habit? Fuck no.

"Well, when one comes down to it yes, it is disgusting. If it weren't the-":

The teacher didn't finish because Grimmjow had grabbed his head and slammed it hard on the table. The guy fell on the floor like noodles, not dead but unconscious.

Renji, Nnoitra and Shuuhei turned to give each other looks then turned back to Grimmjow.

It wasn't obvious but their leader was falling apart.

"((Unbelievable! Grimmjow! My own fucking son! How could you just knock a teacher out in the middle of class?!))" Chlodwig yelled at his son in German as they drove to the Karakura Hospital in his Sedan.

"((He's lucky I didn't bash his head open!))" Grimmjow yelled back in German before jumping out of the car before it had stopped and ran up the stairs of the Karakura Hospital without looking back, his father catching up to him.

Chlodwig had gotten back from a huge meeting in the main branch back in Germany the other night, expecting to see his two boys ignoring each other oh so predictably, only to hear from the maids that neither of them had practically stepped foot into their house for the past month. Next thing he knows, he gets a phone call that Grimmjow had knocked out a teacher, then his son's demanding him to take him to the hospital.

Grimmjow ignored his father walking beside him but was suddenly stopped by Shiro running at him and picking him up in a bone crushing hug.

"Grimmjow! You wouldn't believe it!" He looked behind Shiro's neck to see Shinji towards them with Ulquiorra at his side looking as happy as he was willing to show, the blonde man was crying but a wide smile was on his face.

Grimmjow couldn't believe it. It was another one of those dreams that had him crying all night into Ichigo's pillow. Those dreams that involved Ichigo waking up and he'd be telling Grimmjow how much he loved him. Those dreams were worse than the nightmares he had that Ichigo wouldn't ever wake up because he would wake up from his sleep to an empty bed and a world where the possibility of his nightmares coming true hung over his head. Those dreams were torture because they felt like a false hope and he was thinking that maybe he was having one of those dreams again because if there's a God he doesn't give Grimmjow miracles. He was too fucked up for them so no their happy faces weren't real because he couldn't be.

He's not.

"He's awake Grimm. Our little Ichigo's awake." Shiro promised Grimmjow as he put the younger man down and faced him with a watery smile on his face. They had been there for each other as much as they could, both of them being the most affected by Ichigo's situation. Shiro let Grimmjow stay in Ichigo's room through it out and he'd be there with Ulquiorra to hold Grimmjow when he woke up from his dreams in tears. Shiro had seen the boy break day by day and he knew Grimmjow was more than attached to Ichigo. It was like Ichigo was his light and every time Shiro was with Ichigo he'd beg like his life depended on it for him to open his eyes, if not for his brother then for the person that would be utterly destroyed if he didn't. Shiro knew himself that if he lost Ichigo he would never, ever be the same but at least he had Ulquiorra. Grimmjow had his friends and Ulquiorra but something told Shiro that would never be enough.

Grimmjow hadn't noticed he was crying, all he could do was look at Shiro with wide eyes full of so many emotions moving too quickly for even Grimmjow to understand.

"H-He's awake?...Really?" Grimmjow sounded so small. Chlodwig had heard of his son having a friend in an accident, that being the main reason he came back so quickly to check on his boy, but he had no idea how close he was to the friend. Seeing his son look like a child going through some kind of loss made Chlodwig want to hold unto his boy and protect him from the pain.

"The doctors haven't let us in to see him in yet because they are going through some tests and they said he isn't allowed to speak because of his punctured lung not being fully healed but we would be let in soon enough...stop crying baby brother." Ulquiorra explained then proceeded to take Shiro's place and hug Grimmjow. The blue headed teenager hugged the shorter man like he needed something to keep him standing. "I-I'm not...not crying." Grimmjow whispered brokenly. His eyes were still wide with shock and it was like he couldn't grasp the fact that his Berry was okay. Chlodwig's eyes widened. Emotionless Ulquiorra, who thought that all humans were trash and beneath him, had called Grimmjow, the trashiest of them all, his little brother and...hugged him.

What had I missed?

"Kurosaki party?' They all turned to see Ryuuken in his doctor's robe and a cigarette between his lips though unlit.

"Can we?" Shinji practically begged.

"You can go in. I'll tell your friends to go in when they come to just go up. He shouldn't talk for a while. At least not much. He didn't want to have an oxygen mask to help him, stubborn kid but his breathing would be ragged. He would have to stay here for at least two more weeks, for us to be sure his lungs are fully healed. His bones would need at least three more weeks but his arm had fully healed." Ryuuken informed them before walking past them to wherever.

"Grimmjow. Go on." Ulquiorra instructed, gently pushing him and Shiro towards the path that would lead to Ichigo's room. Both of them practically ran with Shinji behind them still looking more than a little relieved.

Ulquiorra brought out his phone to inform Grimmjow and Ichigo's friends about the young man's status as well as his workers and the Starrks who had been coming from time to time to look at the young man they had come to know through Shiro. As well as the people the brothers had known in Tokyo that had come to see him.

"Hello uncle." Ulquiorra greeted the man staring at him as he texted away. He started heading in the direction his group had gone to, his adopted father walking beside him.

"What happened Ulquiorra?" Chlodwig asked, his tone full of steel and malice but it wasn't towards the overly pale man. It was directed at whoever had made his already scarred boy look so terrified.

"Someone very dear to all of us got involved with a serious car accident. Do not worry, the driver would never be able to work in any institution but a soup kitchen for the rest of her life. After she has served her ten years in prison." Ulquiorra informed his father that he had ruined a human's life forever like it was as simple as flushing a dead goldfish.

Chlodwig rose one eyebrow in question, ignoring the looks he and his boy were receiving from the people that knew who they were. It was something they were used to. "You went easy." Chlodwig said.

"((Nnoitra, not being one to care about hitting a woman, had cornered the woman and nearly killed the woman. He was smart enough to hide his face and keep his prints from being found. I think that what I had done for her seemed fair. The woman had felt little to no remorse for what she did, her apology was lucky the kid wasn't dead. Nnoitra did a good job.))" Ulquiorra spoke in the dead language of 'Coptic' which he had learned out of curiosity as a teen.

"I always liked that boy. Now can you tell me what happened to both you and Grimmjow?" Ulquiorra paused at that question. He looked at his uncle with that same blank expression but Chlodwig was still able to pinpoint the changes in the boy. Ulquiorra never cared, not even about Hal, when another person was in pain. It was like he couldn't form empathy. He was a perfect doll that did his job and showed none any amount of emotion and did everything to perfection. Chlodwig couldn't see that same Ulquiorra, like that old Ulquiorra had vanished, died or he never really existed. In front of him stood Ulquiorra, in a messy dress shirt, sleeves rolled up and dark circles under his eyes. He was still hidden from the world and was still cool and aloof with that blank stare but he cared. About Grimmjow, Shiro, that Ichigo boy, even that blonde. The Ulquiorra in front of him was different, he was...alive.

"Excuse me?" He asked his uncle in confusion.

"You both. You've changed." Chlodwig stated, finding it even more interesting when Ulquiorra's lips seemed to be twitching like he wanted to smile.

The pale man started walking away but he still answered the man's question.

"We fell in love. Apparently it changes people. Who knew?"

They couldn't move.

Grimmjow and Shiro stood in front of Ichigo's room door, both too excited and scared to just go in.

"Go in." Shinji's calm voice made them finally move and look at him with similar vulnerable looks. It made Shinji laugh slightly at how similar they were when one got down to it.

"Wha-What if we go in a-and he's slipped back? Shinji a month! A month that I haven't heard my baby brother's voice. Hell even the cats keep whining at our door as if it would bring him back! Shinji if...if I open that door and his eyes aren't open I might-" Shinji's panic attack was cut by two familiar arms hugging him from behind. He took a deep breath and leaned into the warmth that had been keeping him sane for the whole month.

"He's fine. I promised you both that he would be fine" Ulquiorra told them, removing an arm from Shiro's waist to hold Grimmjow's hand tightly. He looked at Shinji, his words meant for him as well because he hadn't missed the way the blonde's hands shaking. Shinji gave him a grateful look, his smile falling slightly because Shiro's words had gotten to him.

"Yeah. And you're always right." Grimmjow mumbled with a tired smile that felt as painful as it looked. Ulquiorra gave his little brother slash cousin a hint of a smile. Chlodwig had left knowing that none of them would be home after informing Ulquiorra of Grimmjow's detention for hitting a teacher.

"Yes. I'll open it." Ulquiorra said moving to stand at the side so that Shiro and Grimmjow are the first family Ichigo saw.

He opened the door and there he was.

Ichigo laid there on the hospital bed. One leg in a brace and some healing scratches visible, the right side of his head had a shaven portion where there was a scar that would forever be there but they weren't looking at any of that.

They were looking at those blinking eyes that were facing the window to his left. They were still looking at those eyes when the owner turned to look at them. The eyes widened before they softened and shined with a warmth that they were scared they's never see again.

He smiled at them.

Grimmjow was the first to break. "I-Ichigo...Kami Ichigo!' He exclaimed before dashing towards the bed, kneeling beside the bed and gently hugging him from around his torso, head on Ichigo's belly as he sobbed his heart out.

Ichigo just smiled down at his blue headed love, wrapping him with his hand. He looked up to see his brother standing there crying silently. He stretched out his free hand as an invitation for his only living relative and Shiro broke as well.

A choked sob escaped his lips as he followed Grimmjow's expression, going for Ichigo's free side.

Ichigo held the two sobbing men a smile on his face and tears falling down his own eyes because the two people he loved above all sounded like they were in so much pain.

"I-Ichigo...Ichigo. B-Berry." Grimmjow chanted through his heart breaking sobs. He could feel his ribs and heart hurt but he couldn't stop crying. Crying a month of loneliness worth. Shiro couldn't even speak, his sobs being too loud and if he spoke none would understand his words. All he could do was cry with Grimmjow as Ichigo held them, anchoring both of them and letting them know he wasn't going anywhere.

Ichigo looked up at the entrance door to see a bunch of people watching them. Some nurses and patients watching with tears in their eyes as well as his family and friends. Shuuhei was crying against Renji's chest, Nnoitra was slumped against the doorpost in overwhelming relief, Ikakku was holding a crying Yumichika as he tried holding back his own, Ulquiorra looked back at him with a smile of his own as small as it was and Shinji had a hand over his lips as he too cried silently though he kept chanting 'Thank Kami.' over and over again. Granny Hitsugaya was there with her grandson Toshiro who was trying to hold his small tears because he's a strong man and also some co-workers from the construction site. There was Momo crying hysterically, Hal, Coyote Starrk, Orihime, Tatsuki, Bazz, Lilynette, Hanatoro and the rest of his music club.

He felt so loved. He hadn't expected that. So many people...so many happy faces. All this...for me?

He pressed a small kiss to Shiro's head, feeling his brother calming down with loud hiccups.

He looked back down at Grimmjow who finally looked up at him, his bright blue eyes made even brighter with his crying. He looked so vulnerable yet Ichigo couldn't get over how beautiful his partner was.

He knew he wasn't supposed to speak but...

"I'm...okay..." Ichigo croaked out.

The sound of his voice made Grimmjow whimper like a scared child. He knelt up straight, raising shaky hands and held Ichigo's face.

"Y-You're okay." Grimmjow whispered with a watery smile.

Ichigo's smile widened, his own tears stopped and pressed a kiss on Grimmjow's head.

Grimmjow went back to hugging Ichigo's belly but with a happy smile on his handsome face. He turned to see Shiro smiling at him and he smiled back.

He's okay. He's okay.

Yo!

So here's your update!

Sorry it took me so long. I'm actually stuck in the hospital because of migraines that have been with me for three months now. I only got a laptop from the person on the bed beside mine. She says hi!

We just watched Naruto the Last movie and we're currently in tears. Too...much...feels!

Sasuke is love and Naruto is life while Hinata is everything amazing.

Please review and tell me what you think.

Ciao from,

Grimmjowislife.

P.S: Been thinking about writing a SasuNaru. Any ideas?