Chapter 35: Fate's A Bitch.
"Christmas shopping?" Ichigo and Shiro nearly laughed when they heard Grimmjow and Ulquiorra say those two words like it physically made them ill. Not like they could blame the duo. Shopping in December usually ends up being a drag because of the vast amount of people around.
"Yep! Ichigo and I need to buy a bunch of gifts this year. We haven't celebrated Christmas with this many people in a while and I'm so excited it's killing me! I'M GETTING FIRED UP!" Grimmjow and Ulquiorra took two steps back when they saw Shiro's aura which was bursting up with flames. So intense.
"Calm down Shiro-nii-san. I'm excited too but you don't see me screaming like a maniac." Ichigo chastised his older brother as he put on his red jacket and Grimmjow's scarf from the other day.
It's been a day since Ichigo had been freed from the white building of pain and suffering as well as it's King and Devil, Ishida Ryuuken, a.k.a the hospital and it's Director. The others had gone home because they're families were getting worried, considering neither of them had the foresight to tell their parents they wouldn't be coming home that night and Shinji had to run to work for some 'fashion emergency', so it was just Grimmjow, Ulquiorra and the Kurosaki brothers left.
Grimmjow had been on edge most of the night, staring at Ichigo's bedroom door, silently waiting for his mother to barge in with her leather belt to punish him. He only slept off because Ichigo had knocked him out with a punch to his head because the orange head was annoyed with his whining. A tired Ichigo is a dangerous Ichigo, and Grimmjow had to wonder if he was in an abusive relationship because every time he did something to annoy Ichigo he'd get way more bruises than he thought was funny.
"And you do not want us to escort you?" Ulquiorra asked slowly as he helped the practically vibrating Shiro into his dark green jacket and gloves as well as tying up his soft and beautiful hair in a neat and high ponytail, the albino too excited to do so himself.
"We're sorry it's just that...We haven't exactly been spending a lot of time together and I miss my aniki, as lame as that sounds." Ichigo informed them with a shy smile and blush on his cheeks as he scratched his chin nervously.
So...cute! The three other men in the room thought so at the same time. Even Ulquiorra unconsciously thought of hugging the teenager.
"Awww!~ I love my otouto soo much!~" Shiro nearly screeched as he wrapped his arms around Ichigo's shoulders and rubbed their cheeks together, both of them laughing and not a single person could blame Grimmjow and Ulquiorra for smiling themselves, though not as wide because they really would like their boyfriend's company.
Grimmjow was still shaken about his mother and he was sure he would be for a while and Ichigo helped take some of that fear and uneasiness away with his smiles and caring nature.
Ulquiorra wanted Shiro around...because his talk with Cassandra the other day had been emotionally and physically draining. He had called to make some sort of deal so that she could leave Grimmjow and the Kurosakis alone, mentioning how Grimmjow could request from his father to pay her a particular sum of money every month to pay for Neliel's expenses until she can get back on her feet, though it would only last until Nel was sixteen because even Ulquiorra knew about Chlodwig's hatred for the green haired girl and wouldn't wait until she was an adult even for Grimmjow's sake. The witch decided to play hardball because Ichigo had 'insulted' her and when Ulquiorra had mentioned that in the kind of situation she was in, the debt and money needed to keep her luxurious lifestyle, she couldn't search for a better option, she had mentioned Ulquiorra's Achilles heel. His parents, and that was when he had cut the call, but the damage was done. She had talked about memories he would've loved to have remained hidden and they all just kept flashing in his mind over and over again. He needed Shiro, even at that moment his hands were shaking behind him, but his lover looked so happy that he didn't have the courage to be selfish at that moment.
"Well we better get going. It's already past noon so there's bound to be a lot of people there already. Don't you worry Ulqui! I'm gonna get you the best Christmas present ever! It's gonna like blow your fucking mind-"Shiro stopped his tirade when he noticed the slight quiver on Ulquiorra's elbow. The other tried to pull his arm even further behind his back when he saw how Shiro's eyes had zeroed in on it. Damn. He saw. Eyes of a hawk.
Shiro frowned, not sure what was going on, he looked back up into Ulquiorra's emerald green eyes and looked for anything that could give away what was making his love shake and try to hide it from him. He saw mostly nothing then he sensed the other's...restlessness? Unease?
"C'mon Shiro-nii! We still need to get a tree and everything!" Ichigo called to Shiro as he left the living the room, headed for the front door, with Grimmjow behind him.
"...You should go. Have fun with your brother Shiro." Ulquiorra said calmly, already knowing that Shiro knew something was up but decided to still pretend that the albino had no clue.
Shiro scowled and Ulquiorra was missing that passionate, enthusiastic and intense smile from before.
"Are you sure?" Shiro asked, he sounded and looked conflicted. On one hand he had his brother whom was in a car accident and he hadn't spent a lot of time with in months, the car crash giving Shiro a wake up call that his brother could be lost to him at any moment, making him want to be around Ichigo always. Even though that's impractical; then on the other hand, there was his troubled lover who was visibly shaking and was obviously uneasy and nervous about something. Wha...How can anyone choose between that? Maybe they should come with them.
"Don't start thinking unnecessary thoughts Shiro-chan. Go have fun with your brother. I'm sure I can survive without your company for an hour or two." Ulquiorra chided him after giving him a soft, still hard though, bonk on his head.
"Ow! Sorry for worrying! And quit it with the chan!" Shiro yelled, looking vaguely embarrassed and it made Ulquiorra smile. He leaned up on his toes and planted a quick kiss on Shiro's lips before stepping back and pushing him out towards the front door.
"You have to get me the best Christmas present ever remember?" Ulquiorra reminded him as they got to Ichigo and Grimmjow who were outside the open door.
"-all me if you need me here ya got that? Don't give me that macho shit and just do it. I'll be here in a flash before you know it." They heard Ichigo order Grimmjow as he violently poked the other's exposed chest.
"Would you stop doing that?! Your nails are sharper than a man's should be!" Grimmjow yelled after swatting Ichigo's hand away and examining the red spot on the middle of his pecs.
"Seriously though. You guys call us if you need us here. You're...both very important to us." Shiro informed the both of them with a smile as he stood beside his grinning brother.
Grimmjow mumbled a 'whatever' as he looked at his naked feet instead of his boyfriend, while Ulquiorra smiled at his.
"We'll be fine. Stop acting like we're mentally disturbed children." Ulquiorra said with a roll of his eyes.
"Right. Sorry. I guess we can't help but worry." Shiro apologized with a shy smile almost the exact replica of Ichigo's. Ulquiorra placed another quick kiss on Shiro's lips and smiled a little wider when the other kissed back. The raven went back into the house, feeling cold even in Shiro's large hoodie, and Shiro headed for the car...skipping. Ulquiorra decided that he wasn't going to be so clingy and needy, never really liking that role on himself or anyone else. Since Shiro wasn't around, he would spend his free day working on the Christmas Gala that his Department was in charge off that year. His form of relaxation, after Shiro of course, would forever be work.
"Don't destroy the house shit-for-brains." Ichigo ordered Grimmjow and the taller boy had to laugh if only a little because only his boyfriend could say that and still sound loving.
"Don't get hit by any cars dumbass." Ichigo obviously didn't like that one and it made Grimmjow snicker when he looked up and saw his boyfriend's left eyebrow twitch like mad.
"I'm an asshole. We already know this." Grimmjow informed him with an easy shrug. He joked about the accident like he didn't still have nightmares about the thing because that was how Grimmjow coped. He was waiting for it to actually work for once in his life.
"Ain't that the truth..." Ichigo said with a sigh and folded his arms but didn't turn around and enter the car that was waiting for him.
"What?" Grimmjow asked, looking confused with a raised eyebrow.
"You better fucking call me if you're having any attacks at all. I'm serious Grimmjow...I need to know not just because of you but because of me too." Ichigo ordered with a fierce glare that nearly made Grimmjow go into fight mode. He would be there for those he loved even if it killed him, no repetitions of the past, he's strong enough now.
"What are you talking about? I won't have any panic attacks okay? I was shaken up before but I'm no weakling." Grimmjow growled, annoyed with himself for ruining Ichigo's impression of him. How could someone like Ichigo stay in a relationship with such a fucking wuss?
"Don't give me that bullshit you fucker. I have panic attacks when I so much as hear a bang on a table so I know what I'm talking about...Just...just call me okay?" Grimmjow blinked, both out of surprise and the sudden impact of guilt that came with the memory of the whole gun-rabbit thing.
"I'll call you." Grimmjow promised the other, smiling when Ichigo smiled with relief. "Thank you. Have fun with Ulquiorra-san." Ichigo said with a small chuckle as before he planted a kiss on Grimmjow's right cheek and headed for the car as well.
Grimmjow stared at the car until he couldn't see it anymore, leaning against the doorpost with his arms folded and not even a little bit cold, not caring that there were some fangirls taking pictures of his shirtless and contemplative form. He bit his bottom lip, hoping that Ichigo came back quickly.
He scoffed at himself, a self-depreciating smile on his face.
Since when was I the clingy one in a relationship?
"These trees are all so perfect! I can't decide on which one to choose from!~" Ichigo laughed at his brother's excited antics, touching each and everything he was allowed to get his hands on.
"Ichigo!~ SQUIRRELS IN SANTA SUITS! GAHHH!~' Shiro placed a hand to his chest to look like he was shot. "Calm down Shiro-nii-san before they kick us out." Ichigo scolded but was still laughing as he watched his brother hug a stuffed squirrel.
"But Ichiiiii!~ Look at the little guy! Tell me he doesn't just make you feel like the happiest kid in the world!~" Shiro gushed as he pressed the squirrel to Ichigo's cheek then pulled his adorably laughing little brother into a one armed hug, both of them grinning and laughing like they always did around each other.
"So should we get him too then?" Ichigo asked with an amused chuckle as his brother nodded frantically. Taking a look at them, one would have to wonder who as the older one.
"Let's order the tree instead Shiro-nii. Knowing you, you'd buy a tree too big for our house and we won't be able to get it on the car." Ichigo said as he pushed the cart away from the row of trees. Shiro quickly got ahead of his brother so that he could jump in the cart and be pushed around like a noble in a chariot.
"Full speed ahead! Mush and whatever!" Shiro exclaimed after adjusting everything so that he didn't break all the decorations they had picked out and pointed forward like hew as charging to battle. Ichigo rolled his eyes as he headed for the section that had Christmas lights and ornaments.
"You're such a child." Ichigo grumbled as he pushed his brother around, not noticing the stares and whispers targeted towards them. Shiro noticed but ignored them and tried to keep his younger brother from noticing because knowing Ichigo he would get irritated after a few minutes of trying to ignore it and punch someone in the face. He brother wasn't as enthusiastic as he was and Shiro would admit Ichigo could be even more mature than he was but when his temper's involved all bets are off and Shiro can't do a damn thing until he has cooled off.
"Hey...what do you think Grimmjow would want for Christmas?" Ichigo suddenly asked him, making Shiro tilt his head back to get a good look at his younger brother who was biting his lower lip in thought.
"...A collar and a leash." Shiro said with a serious expression and a nod of finality but laughed loudly when Ichigo lightly smacked his head.
"I thought you two were getting along now." Ichigo said with a raised eyebrow out of confusion, the confusion growing when Shiro genuinely scowled, even looking irritated.
"I actually am okay with the guy. He's like me in many ways but...honestly how can I be fully comfortable with some brute taking my baby brother from me?" Shiro hadn't wanted to voice that out any time soon, or ever, but Ichigo's relationship with Grimmjow was serious, anyone could tell. It was a forever serious and it still worried Shiro. Ichigo's his precious and lovable baby brother that he had protected with his very hands for most of their lives. How could he trust anyone else with his most precious brother? With the only reason he had lived for so long?
Ichigo frowned, understanding fully what Shiro was saying. He hid it well but he had felt the same way at first about he and Ulquiorra's relationship. It was...strange and mostly made both of them want to close off everything else. Through out their lives there was always a distance between them and the rest of the world, it was how they had always been to avoid trouble and they had only had each other because it had been enough.
When had it stopped being enough? When did they actually start wanting more?
Shiro then remembered Ulquiorra's lit up expression when he had tried cotton candy for the first time, just as Ichigo remembered how Grimmjow would purr every time Ichigo played with his hair and they realized there wasn't really much they could've done to prevent the change.
"...You must understand I will never leave my aniki okay? You and me till the end. Everyone else might leave but we have each other. I'm still the little brother that loves you more than life itself." Ichigo reassured Shiro by before placing a soft kiss on top of Shiro's head, not missing the small smile that graced his brother's features.
"I know! It's just nice to hear it once in a while! My otouto is so cold sometimes.~" Shiro said with a cheeky grin which brought a small laugh out of Ichigo.
Everything would be fine. They'll be fine.
"Now a gift for Grimmjow...What exactly does he like?' Shiro asked, going back to his brother's former question as they stopped to inspect what kind of lights they wanted. Shiro simply picked the ones that played annoying Christmas carols none stop. He planned on driving Shinji insane.
"Fighting." Ichigo answered automatically as he grabbed the quiet but brightly colored lights, buying it to replace the musical ones his brother picked so as to avoid Shinji breaking someone's neck.
"...You're dating a brute." Shiro evaluated with a click of his tongue.
Ichigo laughed. "He also likes food, mostly foreign food though. He basically likes trying out new types of food. He plays the guitar but he said he hasn't played it in forever. He tries to pretend that cats aren't his weakness. He likes warm things too. Anything warm he can get his hands on. He's also a game nerd but would fight me if I ever said that out loud. He also likes lemon soda more than any other drink and he likes shirts with funny prints on them. It's cute when he secretly laughs when he see some of those. He's a total weirdo that likes putting mayonnaise in his rice. Gross and the amount he puts cannot be healthy...Basically he likes food, fighting and weirdly funny things." Ichigo went on and on about the things he noticed Grimmjow liked with a lovestruck smile on his face as they moved on, not noticing how Shiro was staring at him with a small smile on his face.
"You really are in love aren't you my little Ichi?" Shiro asked softly as they stopped in the ugly Christmas sweaters aisle. Ichigo blushed brightly but still kept up his boyish smile.
"I'm not the only one here nii-san." Ichigo told him as he got out of the cart. It wouldn't be Christmas without the ugliest sweaters they could find, like their mother always said.
"Ain't that the truth. Honestly speaking the first time I met Ulqui I hated the guy on the spot. Cold, cruel and with no concern about the other human beings around him. It's...strange how I was able to easily look past that though." Shiro said with a nostalgic smile as he inspected a bright red and white jumper with several reindeer heads all over it. Has it really been only a few months? It feels like years.
"You've always had that skill. Seeing what everyone else is trying to hide so desperately. When we were younger I used to think it was your eyes that gave you some kind of special all knowing power." Ichigo teased making Shiro laugh. "I remember that. You'd run to mum and ask her why you didn't have eyes like aniki. I felt so loved and revered!~" Shiro gushed making Ichigo roll his eyes but smiled even wider. He always felt lucky and blessed to have a brother like Shiro, someone that loved him so much unconditionally.
"Hey. Should we get sweaters for them? We're obviously getting Shinji one otherwise he'd twist our heads upside down but what do you think? Would Grimmjow and Ulquiorra want in on our holiday tradition?" Ichigo asked as he inspected probably the ugliest neon green sweater he had ever laid his eyes on. Like what the fuck and who came up with these things?
"DEFINITELY!~" Shiro yelled bringing on a lot more attention to the brothers."Oh my precious Ulqui-bat would look so angelic in an oversize Christmas jumper with nothing under it and all hot and bothered from too much eggnog and-" His perverted train of thought was interrupted by Ichigo placing a love pat to the top of his head.
"Stop being such a pervert!" Ichigo yelled with fire in his amber eyes as Shiro winced after poking the steaming bump on his head. "I was kidding...maybe...probably not but we should get them one. Oh and about Grimmjow's present, just get whatever feels right. If I tell you then it wouldn't really be that personal. I'm getting him a teddy bear. And he better fucking like it." Shiro informed Ichigo before moving around the aisle like a hyperactive bunny on crack.
Ichigo chuckled as he shook his head. His brother would never change and thank Kami for that.
He put two jumpers in the cart and followed Shiro around while he said small greetings to the girls that passed by and recognized him as the one dating their superstar, Grimmjow.
Something personal huh? Buying gifts for someone's so hard.
Grimmjow and Ulquiorra paused all their movements when they heard the doorbell.
"Back already? They haven't even been gone for a full hour yet." Grimmjow said with a yawn as he snuggled into his cousin's lap.
Ulquiorra hummed with agreement, remembering when the Kurosakis had informed them they would be back around three in the afternoon. It was merely eleven in the morning, them having left around ten so it couldn't be them. Grimmjow's rowdy friends were spending the day with their own families, Chlodwig was in Russia and Hal as well as everyone else Ulquiorra knew, including Shinji, was at work so he dubbed it as some kids trying to prank them and went back to using Grimmjow as his table as he looked over some documents that needed signing.
The doorbell rang again and was followed up by an insistent knocking. "You want me to scare them off?" Grimmjow asked, sounding sleepy. Ulquiorra sighed, annoyed beyond all belief because he was almost done and would've been able to rest just like Grimmjow had been doing on his lap.
"No. I will. You must be exhausted." Grimmjow blinked, still not used to having his brother care so much about his well being. "Besides. I want to meet our guest and teach them about having the courtesy to call first before visiting." Grimmjow sweatdropped. Of course. Ulquiorra just wants to kick the ass of the person that disturbed him.
His eyes widened though out of surprise when Ulquiorra gently lifted his head, got up and gently placed it on the couch, even ruffled his hair before heading for the front door. It was strange for the both of them, Ulquiorra having done the actions without much thought, but they had both liked the feeling, the feeling of closeness, that closeness being what kept both of them sane without their boyfriends around to help comfort them.
They hadn't even really spoken to each other since both Kurosakis had left, neither used to even talking more than necessary. Grimmjow had silently made them breakfast, terrified of trying Ulquiorra's cooking ever again, they had stayed in the living room together and Ulquiorra had let Grimmjow use his lap as a pillow while the other used his back as a table. Nothing really needed to be said between the two.
Grimmjow smiled, happy with the way things had changed so much in his life...though he could've done without that car accident. His smile dropped and he sighed, another trauma to add to the list.
"...What exactly are you doing here?" Ulquiorra inquired from the person standing in front of him on the Kurosakis' porch with a pleasant smile on her face.
"I came to speak with my son. Honestly Ulquiorra you're supposed to be some genius aren't you? Now please step aside." She asked sweetly but there was an underlying threat in the way she spoke.
"I do not live here so therefore I have no right to let you in. Please leave before I call the authorities." Ulquiorra said calmly, irking the fuming woman in front of him. Her poker face was a disgrace.
"Oh really? What if I inform those authorities that you're harboring my son and won't let me see him?" She countered and thought she had won until Ulquiorra sighed, the action making it look like he felt sorry for her.
"That would've worked if Grimmjow wasn't eighteen and therefore a legal adult that can live without his parents as well as me being his adoptive brother and not the woman that had been divorced from his father many years ago and let's not forget that uncle had informed the police department to not take any of your words seriously and they should think of any calls from your phone as a joke." She was surprised obviously, she had no idea that any of them would've been prepared for anything she could think off.
"You must understand that you are the person in this charade of a fight who is weaker. Stop disturbing Grimmjow. If you had taken my offer yesterday you would've been able to live your life for a few more years. Now I am done bargaining or even dealing with trash like you. You have been a thorn in everyone's side for years. Your simple existence means nothing in a larger scale of things and I pray everyday that some vehicle would trample you over and finally free us from your disgusting stench. Leave before I get violent. I am at my wits end with you woman." He hit her with everything he's got, cool and calm and his blank expression never changing but the hate in his eyes could make any creature quiver in fear for it was the most potent kind of hate that any would have ever seen.
Cassandra gulped, feeling like she really must flee because she knew Jaegerjaquez men, they would destroy anyone that crossed them. Man, woman or child, it means nothing, they're nothing but trash that must be disposed off and even though she found Chlodwig intense, she knew Ulquiorra was the one everyone should be weary off the most because he did not only have strength, he had an intellect to rival even Japan's top scientists. He was cruel, relentless and to many, the Devil incarnate with no weakness.
Then it hit her. Maybe he didn't have a weakness at some point but he had at that moment. Two in fact.
"Always so cold. The one thing you had in common with your father." She grinned when Ulquiorra visibly flinched. Got him.
"Where is he by the way? Has he been released from prison yet?" Ulquiorra took a deep breath and let it out, trying to calm himself to the best of his ability.
"Oh yes. I remember. He's in there for life. Considering what he had done to his wife. His wife that had kept the biggest secret from him for so many years." Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Ulquiorra just wanted her to stop it. He was too immersed with his flashing memories to even think about slamming the door on her face and ending their pointless conversation.
"You know? The fact that you're not really his son? Finding that out really brought a laugh out of me because how could the fool not see it? You had absolutely no resemblance to him whatsoever and neither of your parents had black hair or green eyes. Pathetic." She was enjoying the look in the raven's eyes, loving the way he was unconsciously moving back, oh how she felt so great when she saw that beautiful pain show through the once untouchable, superior being. What a rush.
"Oh and let's not forget that love of yours. Shiro was it?" Ulquiorra came back at the sound of his lover's name, looking up at the woman with wider eyes than usual. What does she know about Shiro?
"That man's what most would call an angelic beauty. From his hair to his glowing white skin to his charming smile. That doesn't really change the fact that he's a freak. A freak that has a very interesting history. Parents murdered, and then no one hears about him or his brother for years? How incompetent the police can be. Then there's the whole yakuza bit. I'm sure the press and authorities would like to hear that one. I can just picture that orange headed retard in cuffs being dragged into a police car screaming for mercy an-" She stopped when she suddenly felt fingers around her throat. She wasn't paying attention and had no idea when Grimmjow had joined them. The other was looking at her with so much murderous intent it was more suffocating than the fingers squeezing her throat.
"Cassandra. What do you think you are?" Her eyes turned to the left to see Ulquiorra, now back to his calm and poised self. Hearing someone threaten his love lit some kind of fire in him, screw his parents, Shiro in trouble is way more important.
"Grimmjow let her go. People are watching." Ulquiorra ordered when he saw someone bringing out a phone to probably call the police. Grimmjow did as he was told, dropping the woman on her ass, feeling some kind of sick satisfaction when he saw her gasping for air. He had no idea what had come over him. He had gone to check on Ulquiorra because he was taking too long and cowered in a corner when he had seen his mother. She was grinning and he could hear her words from when she had started talking about Shiro, his feet moved without his knowledge and he felt pure rage when she had called the albino a freak and the rage increased with every word that came out of her filthy, disease ridden mouth and he pretty much snapped when she threatened to send both the Kurosakis to jail. He had never laid a hand on his mother, not having a real reason to and he was too scared to go against her but fuck was he tired of it. So very tired. He could make a bet that once she left he would run into the bathroom and cry over the time when his mother had choked him till he was unconscious when he was four years old and blamed it on bullies but at that moment he was filled with enough rage to finally, finally, beat the living shit out of the witch.
"You haven't answered my question. What exactly do you think you are? Do you think you're a woman with power? Someone that can actually lay down some kind of threat? Most of society has even forgotten who you are, the remainder being a select few who watch your soap operas in Spain at four am in the morning. Not a single reporter would take your words for facts, or even say anything for fear of losing their jobs to the power of this family which you are no longer a part of. You are a washed up actress, with more debt than you can handle and children that you do not deserve. So answer me this because I just can't wrap my head around it, what do you think you are?" Ulquiorra asked again, feeling more confident with Grimmjow around. If his cousin could actually step up to his mum, even for a little while, then he can ignore his past involving his parents. if only for a while.
"Y...you...Gr...Grimmjow...How...How dare you hurt your mother?!" She growled, after getting her voice back. Grimmjow flinched and his fists were shaking but his glare never wavered. His rage kept increasing as images of his mother sending Ichigo to jail kept flashing in his head, he kept them going with other images of his mother doing the things she had done to him to his Berry and he was seconds away from killing her there and then.
"I suggest you leave. He looks ready to explode." Ulquiorra advised, nearly smiling even because he figured out that his cousin's rage was what was driving him. The blue headed moron always had the scariest temper, it sometimes looked like he lost his mind.
She stood up and shakily headed for a silver, sleek car that Ulquiorra was sure if she sold she could've at least paid off some of her debt, but she still turned around to say something.
Ulquiorra glared when he saw that smile of hers. It was the same one she had on her face when he had caught her trying to pierce Grimmjow's skin with the broken shard of a vase the younger boy had accidentally crashed into. If Ulquiorra wasn't there, he was sure that his cousin wouldn't have a left hand anymore.
"Remember Grimmjow, mummy loves her little princess." She said and left, the damage done.
The rage in Grimmjow visibly vanished and was replaced with a look Ulquiorra was used to. That same expression of total fear whenever Grimmjow had heard his mother say those words because to Grimmjow it was what she said before he received one of her punishments, one of those cruel acts of psychotic rage that Grimmjow had to endure for most of his childhood. Grimmjow's eyes widened, his breathing quickened and he couldn't stop wheezing.
Ulquiorra closed his eyes as his cousin ran into the house, probably headed for either a bathroom or Ichigo's room to cry and cry that his mother should leave him alone and that he doesn't want her to say that when he knew it was a lie. Ulquiorra watched the car as it drove away, not missing the way the woman was laughing maniacally in the car.
Once he was sure it was gone, Ulquiorra entered the house, closed the door, locked it and looked for his brave but scarred cousin.
He knocked on Ichigo's door first, and wasn't surprised when he opened it and it was empty. Even as a child, Grimmjow's place of escape was a bathroom because it seemed to be the only place back in their mansion that had locks.
So he entered the younger Kurosaki's room, and knocked on Ichigo's bathroom's door and was greeted with a sniffle. He tried to open it but wasn't surprised that it was locked. Ulquiorra sighed, used to the routine because he was the one that usually comforted Grimmjow whenever something like this had happened.
He leaned his back against his side of the door and slid down to the floor, one led propped up as he rested his head against the wooden door with his eyes closed, on the other side Grimmjow was also on the floor but with his face hidden in his legs as he tried to stop crying. The images and memories had stopped overflowing in his kind but he still couldn't stop crying. Damn that woman. Damn her to darkest pits of hell.
"You finally stood up to her." He let out a shaky laugh at the slightly muffled sound of his cousin's voice. "Yeah...Then started crying like a weak woman. I'm so pathetic." Grimmjow sighed as he raised his head and rubbed the remnants of tears from his eyes.
"Hmm. If something like that made you pathetic then I am no different." Grimmjow snorted at his cousins words, not believing them for a second.
"Don't give me that. Everyone is afraid to even so much as bump into you. Hell even the Italian mafia sends you fruit baskets. You're literally the strongest guy I know and I wish I could even have half of that strength. Dammit! What the fuck is wrong with me?!" Grimmjow yelled out of frustration because he was still crying.
"...I am not as strong as you think Grimmjow. I had even let Cassandra get the best of me twice. If you hadn't been there at the right moment I might've lost my cool. I, as much as I despise to admit it, am simply another human. I have weaknesses and I'm not all powerful." Grimmjow sniffled, as he stared at his naked feet. He knew that but he couldn't ever forget his older cousin, his older brother, that would stand in front of Grimmjow and actually threaten his mother to leave him alone. He just looked so powerful at those moments and he even listened to Grimmjow when he begged the other not to tell anyone about what his mother did to him. Ulquiorra just seemed so...unreachable, above everyone else to the child Grimmjow was.
"I do not know or understand how to comfort people Grimmjow and I'm sure neither do you. All I can do is sit here with you for as long as you need. Would that be enough?" Grimmjow smiled. It was probably all the events that had happened and the emotions swirling all around him but he couldn't keep himself from saying it.
"I love ya. You know that?" Ulquiorra's eyes widened, because he had only heard Shiro say those words to him. No family member had ever said that. Not Chlodwig. Not his 'father'. Not even his mother. Knowing none could see him and not sure if he could've kept it in even if there were people present, a tear escaped his right eye and he smiled, full and bright.
"And I you...otouto." Grimmjow's grin widened and he believed those words he knew he wouldn't have ever heard if neither of them had met the Kurosakis. Those brothers having taught them how to actually feel again, after so long of shutting down their emotions to avoid those pain filled memories that had etched themselves to their souls. Ulquiorra remembered the first time he had met Shiro, how he had thought of the man as handsome yet brash and rude yet bright and so full of life, fully expecting Shiro to dislike someone like him that was his exact opposite, and he was grateful that for once in his life he was wrong. Grimmjow remembered the first time he had seen Ichigo and couldn't help but laugh to himslef. The orange headed teenager didn't take his bullshit, was harsh and downright terrifying when pissed off. They were so similar, one would think they would've repelled and yet that wasn't the case. If anything, Grimmjow wanted to be around Ichigo all the damn time.
Maybe fate wasn't a cold-hearted bitch after all, maybe she actually knew what the fuck she's doing.
"I wonder if Ichigo-kun would be angry that you had let the cats into his room. Ichi-cat is taking a dump in the corner." Ulquiorra's words made Grimmjow pale. He could imagine the beating he would receive and knew he might die.
Fate's a bitch. Grimmjow could practically hear her laughter as he scurried out of the bathroom screaming for a shit packer.
Yo! Been gone for a while and would be gone for longer maybe. Depending on if I can finish the next chapter before the end of August because that's when school, starts and I would be busy.
Question: Who else here in unsatisfied with how Bleach ended? Is it just me? WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO GRIMMJOW AND URAHARA?!
I am so pissed I'm surprised I finished this without throwing my laptop away. SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS! As far as I'm concerned, Bleach ended when Ichigo defeated Aizen.
Anyways, please review and tell me what you think. It's past five am here and I haven't slept so excuse the probable massive amounts of typos. I am too tired to care about editing atm.
Love to Grimmjow people.
Again, Reviews are appreciated and they make my day.
Ciao from,
Grimmjowislife.