It has been a while since Grimmjow walked around in the brightness of day. Well, from what he can remember from his human days, at least. He is grateful for the sun, the sound of birds, and the occasional air conditioning hums. This is relaxing.
It has been rather stuffy in that one-bedroom apartment of Hiromi's. Although, he is thankful for her providing him lodging while he is still recovering. His arm is out of the sling now but is still heavily bandaged. He can feel his ribs regaining strength since he's no longer wincing whenever he coughs from the medicine Hiromi keeps giving him. He's grown quite used to the taste, but the after-taste always lingered on his tongue. Hiromi had given him a small dose before they left the apartment to pay a visit to her old friend, Kisuke Urahara.
He watched her as she walked several feet ahead of him, trying to read her expression once she turned her gaze to the side. She had been quiet the whole time as they walked the streets, which was now starting to unnerve him for some reason. He has grown tired of the silence between them that he spoke out.
"Hey, girly, how much longer do we have until we find him? We've been walking for what seems like hours now."
Grimmjow saw her pause in her step, then stood still. She didn't respond; she just looked over her shoulder at him, well, at the empty street behind him.
"Hey! Did you not hear me? How much freaking longer do we have?"
Again, Hiromi kept quiet as she stared at the street, then turned her gaze to the sidewalk on the other side of the road. What is she looking for anyway?
"Uh, hello, earth to Hiromi. Are you even listening to me?"
"Look, I'm trying to keep communications at a minimum right now. I am out in the open, you know. Anyone besides my friend who sees me speaking to no one will think I'm crazy." Hiromi replied in a low tone.
"You're already crazy, Romi. How is speaking out loud any different?"
"For one," Hiromi paused when she noticed a young man run across the road to his parked car. He drove within seconds of entering the vehicle, and that's when she continued.
"Speaking out loud is more so expressing your thoughts openly; rather someone is there or not. Now, if you are carrying on a conversation when no one is present, it labels anyone unstable and a threat to their well-being. We don't have very far to go now. It's just around this corner."
"Good, because I'm tired of walking. My feet are killing me. Do you think this Urahara guy would help me if you hadn't known him?"
"Considering you thought of it first, what do you think would happen if you went to this Ichigo person for help?"
Grimmjow thought about it for a moment. He played the what-if scenario in his head and concluded that Ichigo would fight him instead of helping him. Grimmjow would be even more injured or possibly dead. So, it's a good thing Hiromi knows Urahara. She would be able to persuade him for assistance than the hot-headed dandelion idiot.
"I'd be shit out of luck."
Hiromi hums in response.
"It's a good thing I know Kisuke. He might be able to help you if I ask him. Kisuke is generally a nice guy, kind of an oddball, but he always means well." Hiromi replied as she turned a corner.
"Ha! An oddball, huh? What does he do that you would consider him an oddball?"
"He's quirky, is all. You'll understand what I mean pretty soon, actually."
"Oh really now. I can't wait to see this." Grimmjow enthusiastically grins as he puts a little bounce in his step.
"I have to wonder what you are expecting out of this, Grim. From the sound of it that you are a little excited about meeting Kisuke."
"Excited? Ha! Ain't that an understatement. Other than you and wolf boy, I haven't got to see anybody else beyond your ugly beige walls. I could use a fresh face, girly."
Hiromi makes an odd face that he doesn't catch. She erases it quickly and flashes him a warm smile.
"Aw, have you grown tired of me already?" She replied, then disappeared behind a wooden fence.
"Kind of hard not to be tired of you, Rom." He muttered, sincerity laced in his voice.
He eyed the corner absentmindedly as he recalled the first day he woke up in her bed. Grimmjow was genuinely confused about his surroundings that if he had the chance once he got his bearings, he would have left. However, the amount of pain he was in at that point rendered him immobile. He would have never met Hiromi if it hadn't been for that.
Ever since then, he never grew tired of her. It was from the way Hiromi looked at him. She never showed pity towards him, which he knew he didn't need, especially in his current predicament. No, Hiromi displayed something else. She showed kindness towards him, even respected him. Hiromi has a warmth that he is not used to, a life force that draws you in automatically like a magnet. He doesn't remember anyone showing him the kind of respect she gave him before, not even his fracción.
Yet, there is something about her that seems so… imperfect. It was from the smallest of actions that Grimmjow would typically brush off without a care. Hiromi flinching from his touch earlier and trembling definitely caught his attention, which, in turn, made him realize something had happened to the kind woman. Grimmjow doesn't like the thought of her getting hurt for some reason. If anything were to happen to her while he was here in the living world, Grimmjow would undoubtedly kill someone.
"Hey, look, it's Hiromi," a voice erupted in his eardrums.
Grimmjow blinked back to reality and was about to turn the corner when he heard the voice. He stayed behind the wooden fence to listen in on the conversation she was carrying on with a couple of kids.
~ooo~
When Hiromi turned the corner of the wall she had almost long forgotten, a pair of kids she hadn't seen for a while greeted her with enthusiasm. They acknowledged her presence quickly and then beamed happily at her.
"Hey, look, it's Hiromi!" A boy with red hair beamed as he waved.
"Oh, Miss Watanabe, it's so good to see you." A young girl replied as she stopped her chore of sweeping the deck.
"Oh, um hi, Ururu, Jinta. Do you live here?" Hiromi uttered as she approached the two.
"Work and live here for a long time now. So, uh, how have you been, Hiromi? You know, since, you know." The boy, Jinta, questioned with concern.
Hiromi's features darkened, gulping heavily gulp then shook her head to rid herself of negative thoughts. "But I've been doing alright mostly. I've been out of work for a couple of weeks helping a friend get back on his feet."
"Oh, that's why we haven't seen you around lately. How is your friend holding up, then?"
"He's getting better, but still has a long way to go to fully recover."
"Yikes, sorry to hear that. If you don't mind me asking, what happened to him?"
A group of people attacked him.
"Seriously, that bad? Did you not call the cops or take him to the hospital?"
"I would have, but he was so freaking stubborn, like a child refusing medicine, that he didn't want to go to the hospital or get the police involved."
Hiromi inwardly smirked when she heard Grimmjow lightly mutter under his breath, 'Am not.
"Ha, your friend is a baby! I'm sorry to hear about your boyfriend, though. I hope everything is okay for him." Jinta was about to say more when he saw her blush brightly.
"Thank you, and I hope so, too. It's been rather difficult for me for the last few years." Hiromi explained quickly.
"Woah, that long. Yikes. So, what brings you way out here?"
"Oh, I thought someone still lived here. But I guess I was wrong since I hadn't seen him in five years. It looks like I would have to check the directory." Hiromi sags defeatedly with a huff.
"Well, maybe we can help you find them for you. That way, we can catch up more. We need to ask Mr. Urahara if he's okay with it."
"I can go ask him, Jinta." Ururu chimed happily, then started towards the shop, only to halt once Hiromi called out to her.
"Hold on, are you talking about Kisuke Urahara?"
Both Jinta and Ururu stared, perplexed.
"Um, yeah. Do you know him?" Jinta inquired.
"He's the person I'm looking for. Is he your father? Uncle, maybe?"
Jinta stared before he busted up laughing. "That lazy ass, my father? Yeah, right! He's not even my uncle! We're just his associates, well, friends."
"Jinta, language." Ururu pressed gently.
"Is Kisuke here?" Hiromi questions, hopeful.
"Yes, he's here, Miss Watanabe. I'll go fetch him for you." Ururu replied, then started for the shop.
"Ururu, wait."
The little girl stops to look over her tiny shoulder at Hiromi, curious about stalling her advancement.
"Tell him he has a visitor. I don't want him to," Hiromi pauses.
Ururu got the hint and darted inside the shop to locate her employer.
"Huh, you haven't seen him for that long, and suddenly you're looking for him. What's going on, Hiromi? Is everything alright?"
"I appreciate your concern, Jinta, but I much rather speak with him on the matter in private."
"You seriously can't tell us what's going on? Is it that bad?" Jinta pressed.
Before Hiromi could speak up, Grimmjow made his presence, probably at the right time. He came around the corner of the fence and glared daggers at Jinta for pressuring her into answering a question he didn't need to know.
"Look, runt, it is private for a reason."
Once he came around the corner and glared at Jinta, the boy stared at Grimmjow for a moment before a metaphorical lightbulb clicked in his brain.
"And just what the hell are you doing here?" He snarled.
Grimmjow said nothing, just stared in confusion.
Am I supposed to know this kid?
"Um, am I missing something here, Grim?" Hiromi whispered as she leaned towards Grimmjow, slightly brushing her shoulder against his.
"I haven't the slightest idea what this kid is talking about, Rom. Hell, I don't even know who this little runt is."
"Who are you calling a runt? Ichigo should have beaten the crap out of you when you and your lackeys invaded here not too long ago!" Jinta yelled, readying himself for an attack.
Jinta's yelling made Hiromi even more confused yet anxious. She glanced at Grimmjow before turning her gaze over to Jinta. She gives the boy a piercing glare that would have made both males cower in fear, but they were both too preoccupied with one another that they didn't even notice.
"Oh yeah, I remember now. Where is the walking dandelion, Ichigo? I have a score to settle with that idiot."
Jinta didn't bother replying. He snatched his large kanabo and charged at Grimmjow with a fierce battle cry.
Grimmjow was slightly surprised by Jinta's brash action, even a little amused, but he remained relatively calm as the boy ran at him. He's not exactly sure what kind of punch the kid had and wanted to keep her out of the way. He sighed heavily in exasperation before gently nudging Hiromi over to the side.
When he saw the large weapon coming at him, Grimmjow first thought he would be able to stop the thing easily, but he miscalculated the velocity. Jinta's kanabo was so close to cracking down on his skull before he finally decided to jump out of the way, shoving Hiromi in the process. The massive weapon struck the ground where Grimmjow once stood, who at one point scuttled further away like a crab to put distance between him and the large club.
Grimmjow sat on the dirty ground wide-eyed from narrowly escaping Jinta's brazen attack. He quickly glanced over at Hiromi, who made a startled scream when the kanabo crashed down. He sees her trembling with her arms still shielding herself once the cloud of dust cleared and debris feet away from where she stood.
"Hey! What the bloody hell is the matter with you, you little runt?" Grimmjow harshly yells as he starts to stand from his spot.
"You is what's the matter! You shouldn't be here!" Jinta yelled as he charged after Grimmjow again.
Grimmjow again had to jump sideways to avoid the massive club but kept an eye out for Hiromi. He didn't want her in Jinta's destructive path. At the same time, Grimmjow had to think back to when he might have met this kid. It must have been when he and his fracción invaded the human world a while ago. Maybe the kid recognized him and quickly went on the defensive to protect himself and the others.
Grimmjow can understand that. He was a bit aggressive when he first showed up here and nearly killed that one shinigami chick that freaking froze Di Roy to death. Maybe he should take a blunder for being a complete psychopath. Well, perhaps not.
Grimmjow narrowly dodges Jinta's attack, unknowingly skidding to a stop a foot away from Hiromi, who finally recovered from her startle.
Grimmjow huffs loudly as he watches Jinta's moves, now trying to figure out how he could stop the little runt from wearing him out. Maybe he should stop going on the offense and actually fight the kid. Although, he has to consider how Hiromi would feel if he outright attacked the kid and wounded him severely. Wait, why does he have to think about her feelings, anyway? What the hell did this girl do to him that he would consider other people's feelings? He shouldn't feel anything, right?
Well, he does. He wasn't paying attention to his surroundings as Jinta approached him again, but Hiromi suddenly stood in front of him. He could hear her trying to get Jinta to stop, but he was already in mid-attack and was about to pulverize her along with him. He picked up her startled gasp escaping her lips and could tell that shock froze Hiromi in place. Without hesitating, Grimmjow grabbed Hiromi from behind at the waist and launched himself sideways out of Jinta's path.
He must have lost his footing when he thrust himself and Hiromi to the side because he found himself on the ground with her underneath. He could feel her gripping his jacket as if it were a lifeline, but how could she be holding onto him when he grabbed her from behind? Oh wait, he remembers now. When he caught Hiromi, she must have swiveled in her spot to look over at him, which she didn't get a chance to do.
Grimmjow felt Hiromi shift from underneath his weight, apparently trying to get out from under him. When he didn't feel her palms shove him away or make an effort to create a sound, Grimmjow looked down at her to assess Hiromi for injuries. He shouldn't have done that, though. Once he glanced at her, she locked her eyes on his, blushing furiously.
He didn't realize this at first, but when Grimmjow finally registered why, a flush of heat graced his cheeks and nose. He was over her in a rather provocative position that if anyone saw them like this, they would definitely get the wrong impression. On top of that, Hiromi seemed a little warm for comfort, and he felt a heat coil within his abdomen.
"Um, Grim, can you, like maybe, I don't know, get off me, please?" Hiromi's voice is small that it trembles.
Grimmjow swiftly obliged. He left the warmth of her body to retract himself and sit awkwardly on the ground with his blush deepening.
What the crap did I do that for? Damn, she smells good, Grimmjow grumbles to himself.
~ooo~
Jinta stood frozen in his spot with his weapon still in hand, which remained on the ground. He has this grave expression on his face and is in absolute horror at what just happened. He was so careless in how he swung his kanabo around that he forgot Hiromi was behind Grimmjow until the very last minute. Jinta couldn't stop the attack, and if it weren't for Grimmjow, Hiromi would have been severely hurt. Just that thought made him snap out of his trance, then turn toward Hiromi and Grimmjow. He caught the tail end of Hiromi and Grimmjow's moment but decided not to say anything.
"I'm so, so, so sorry, Hiromi! Please tell me you're not hurt! I didn't mean it! Please forgive me." Jinta groveled as he started balling with guilt overwhelming him.
He's oblivious that Hiromi and Grimmjow are awkwardly avoiding eye contact, even when Grimmjow helps Hiromi stand to her feet.
Grimmjow looked Hiromi over to ensure she wasn't hurt, then turned his attention to the hysterical Jinta. He eyed the kid distastefully before barking at him.
"Just what the bloody hell is wrong with you, you idiot? You could have gotten her killed!" He snarled.
The waterworks quickly ceased before Jinta barked back. "I realize that! If you hadn't shown your fugly face, it would not have happened, frostbite!"
"How in the fucking hell is this my fault, huh? I did absolutely nothing to warrant you to attack me, Coppertop."
"Bulls_" Jinta was cut off when a fist landed on the top of his skull, instantly crumbling to his knees in pain.
"OW! What the f_" he was cut off once again when he realized who had punched him.
Tessai. He towered over Jinta with a scowl, his piercing gaze shielded by his dark shades.
"Watch your mouth, young man." His deep voice boomed, which caused both Jinta and Grimmjow to flinch.
"It was so nice and quiet, so peaceful that I dozed off until little Ururu had to wake me because of some visitor. Can someone tell me what is going on out here?" A laid-back voice asked as they approached.
Hiromi turned her gaze away from the angry males over to the person who had arrived. Relief washed over her features as she saw the person she was looking for, the man that approached was Kisuke Urahara. He wore the same green and white hat she remembered him wearing the first time they met, which hid his rather beautiful steel gray eyes. He looked bored as he glanced from Tessai to Jinta, then over to Grimmjow. She could see that a scowl formed on his lips upon seeing her companion, then he looked over in her direction.
The scowl vanished and gaped with jaw slacked some. Hiromi could tell he was looking her over before a jovial grin surfaced. Despite the shadows, there was a glimmer in his eyes when he realized that a grown-up Hiromi stood among the raging males.
"Hiromi, is that you?"
"Hi Kisuke, yes, it's me. Sorry_" Hiromi couldn't finish her sentence when Kisuke came bounding up and wrapped his arms around her arms and chest. He hugged her tightly, lifting Hiromi off her feet and crying joyfully.
"My little Romi Rom, I've missed you so!" Kisuke balled as he hugged her closer to the point of suffocating her.
She audibly groans, frowning as a light blush creeps along her cheeks.
"Kisuke." Hiromi gently urged while lightly attempting to wiggle out of his tight hold.
Grimmjow watched the two embrace with wide eyes, baffled at the scene in front of him. Hiromi looks just like the oddball! She has the same ash blonde colored hair, almost the same skin tone of peaches and cream, and not quite the same in height. Yet they have the same laid-back personality, except one is goofier while the other is more poised.
"Um, are those two related or something?" Grimmjow questioned.
"I was thinking the same thing. Those two look like freaking twins." Jinta voiced as he stared as well.
"They could pass off as siblings since they look similar, but they're unrelated. Kisuke practically raised the girl since she was four when her parents died in a car accident eighteen years ago." Tessai butted as he watched his friend smother Hiromi with happy tears.
Grimmjow glances over his shoulder at the tall, dark man with curiosity swarming in his eyes, yet intrigued that the guy would know anything about her.
"She hasn't mentioned much about her past with me. Can you enlighten me here a little?"
"I was around then to help little Hiromi cope with the loss of her parents. Although I think she was glad they were gone. They never really paid much attention to her and were afraid of her that she could see spirits. Kisuke there became her mentor, a father figure she never really had. I, on the other hand, became her tutor. She is brilliant, that Hiromi. Always knows when to follow her instincts and can be quite feral if provoked or angered. Oh boy, she made me, yes me, cringe."
Grimmjow eyed the man with a quirked brow, then gazed over to Hiromi, trying to push Kisuke off her with a struggle. "Yeah, I can see that. She actually made me cringe once."
"I met Hiromi in passing about a year ago, and she never told me anything. So, don't feel too bad that your girlfriend hasn't told you anything." Jinta added as he continued to eye the identical pair start fighting.
"What the? Girlfriend? She's not my girlfriend! Where did you get that idea anyway, shrimp?" Grimmjow hollered, blushing like a tomato.
Jinta grins mischievously.
"What? You thought I wasn't watching you two? I may have been in a daze, but I saw how you hovered over Hiromi a few minutes ago. Plus, it's obvious she's going to great lengths to ensure you're in top health since she left her job at the diner to take care of you. Why she would is beyond me."
Grimmjow wanted to retort, but no words could formulate.
She left her job to take care of me? Why would she do that?
"Alright, get off." Hiromi's voice sounded then there was a puff of air coming from Kisuke, disturbing Grimmjow's thoughts.
Kisuke doubled over slightly from a punch to the gut but remained to have a grin plastered on his handsome face, yet tears still streamed down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry, darling, I just haven't seen you in four years. I didn't know what happened to you, Romi. You just disappeared on me."
"More like five years, and you vanished on me. I waited a fucking week for you to come back here, but you never did. Just where in the hell did you go?"
Kisuke goes silent. He stared at her, noticing the anger and disappointment in Hiromi's gaze. She may appear happy to see him after so long, but Hiromi resents the fact that he wasn't here for whatever reason.
"Um, can you help me out here, maybe? What are you talking about?"
Her brows knitted close, and her nose wrinkled. "Seriously? Did the school not tell you anything? Or were you not here either to hear the news?"
"What news is that? You're losing me here, Romi."
Hiromi started to say something but stopped when she remembered that Grimmjow was present, along with Jinta and Tessai. She sighs heavily to compose herself before backpedaling to the more urgent matter. Telling him what happened five years before can wait.
"As much I would like to speak of what had happened, it needs to wait. I have a more urgent matter I need to discuss with you in private."
Kisuke acknowledged her differently now than a moment ago. His demeanor became rigid, almost intimidating, that Jinta cowered slightly by Grimmjow's side.
"After five years apart, you come looking for me when you need help? Why is that?"
"Does it have something to do with your missing boyfriend, Hiromi? Or is it the creep?" Jinta suddenly butted.
Jinta quickly hid behind Grimmjow when Hiromi snapped a vicious glare at him. Even Grimmjow flinched from the icy gaze that lingered on the boy.
Um, just what the hell is going on here? And did he say boyfriend? Who's the creep? What the fuck kind of past is she keeping from me?
"It has nothing to do with him," she enunciated.
No one noticed it except for Grimmjow when she spoke with spitting venom at the mention of this 'creep,' Hiromi's voice trembled. Whoever this person is, she may become angered at mentioning him, but terror sparks within her being.
Who are you afraid of, Hiromi? Whoever it is, I won't let them lay a hand on you. No one touches you. That's my promise to you, girly.
He watched her crumble slightly from how he stared at her, but she quickly recomposed herself.
Alright, girly, what the fucking hell are you keeping from me?
"I know how it seems that I would come searching for you when I'm in a dire situation. Although, it is not just me that needs your help, Kisuke."
Hiromi turned her determined gaze on him. "We need your help."
Updated 09/10/2022 with dialogue fixes, scene fixes, and additional content