Pairing: GrimmjowxIchigo

Summary: A rather bored reluctant Prince Ichigo couldn't wait to get his High school life over and done with. But when love comes knocking in the form of a teal-haired outsider, will he be as reluctant to let it in? Not what you think. GrimmIchi, slight IchiHime.

Warnings: AU (Alternate Universe), Yaoi, slight IchiHime, (I swear it's only temporary! D=)

Catch up! To stop the gang wars that was running their country into the ground, the Kurosaki family stood up and took charge. Generations later the current Prince, Ichigo, is just taking his first steps to ruling the country. With the help of his best friend Shadow Prince Shiro and PA Uryuu, Ichigo is learning to take control of the gangs, as their boss.

Everything is going well until a certain Lord enters. Grimmjow royally confuses the Prince about what is more important; his duty or his happiness?

Reluctance

Chapter XIV

"There are far more important things to be dealing with right now than defending your, let's say boy toy, from an equally idiotic Shadow Prince."

"Like what? What could possibly be more import– "

"The organisation of the country's first charity event of the season, several meetings with gang leaders, your viewing of the grounds – which you have already put off for weeks – the organisation of the Battle Royale, as hideous an event though it is, is still very important to the running of this establishment which will fall on your head if it is not done to perfection.

"Among other things, you have to have your official outing with Miss Inoue. As she is your Chosen Princess, it is to expected of you to escort her to the Charity Ball.' After a short pause he sighed when he saw Ichigo's downfall expression. 'And for Heaven's sake do not look at me like that. Whatever it is you have going with Lord Jaegerjaques has to be set aside. Shirosaki did not wish me to tell you this, but I'm going to anyway.

"Enjoy it while you can, Ichigo. It can never come to the public's attention though. It cannot and will not happen. Is that understood?"

He didn't receive an answer, not that he was expecting one. Sometimes, although he refused to show it, he hated having to be the 'bad guy', stopping Ichigo from living the life he wants to because it would ultimately ruin him. Even if he wasn't as close to Ichigo as Shirosaki was, that didn't mean he knew just how happy Lord Jaegerjaques was making the Prince.

"I'll leave you to your thoughts for a while. You have a meeting at four sharp and we must not be late." He opened the large door slowly and paused before saying with utmost heart and feeling, "I'm really sorry, Ichigo. I really, truly am."

There hadn't been an announcement on the news that Grimmjow had been killed, so that was a good sign. Uryuu was sick of Ichigo asking about the Lord's whereabouts, so that source of information was cut off. The teachers had said that he was attending all his classes. So that just left Ichigo with one question.

Why the hell was Grimmjow ignoring him?

It must have been something that Shiro said to him, assuming that Shiro even went to the Lord in the first place. He wanted to ask Shiro desperately, but he was also either MIA or scowling in a way that promised death to the next person who spoke with him.

So that left Ichigo to go about his duties as instructed by Uryuu, and actually even enjoying it. He was finding his roles to be all consuming to the point that he couldn't think about anything else. He especially couldn't wait for the Battle Royale. Although a little put out that he couldn't fight himself and embarrassed that the idea was something akin to suitors battling for the right to stand by his side, he could tell that the event was going to be a good one.

When it came time to do his official rounds of the palace, he shocked even Uryuu when he invited Orihime as his escort. Dutifully accompanied by Tatsuki, of course. He found that they had a lot in common and could talk about a variety of subjects.

They were currently making it into the auditorium, with Ichigo pausing to look upon the fountain again. He turned to Orihime with a genuine smile.

"It was here where I first saw you Orihime."

She looked at him with a surprised expression. "But I've only ever been here once, Ichigo-sama. On the first day of school."

"You were walking round the fountain with a white camellia and I just knew." He held out his hand to her. It was a Saturday so there were a fair few students in the courtyard. Orihime looked to Tatsuki, who just gestured her to go on with a smile. Blushing, Orihime placed her hand in Ichigo's and let him lead her to the fountain, not noticing the way the other students were watching them.

Stopping by the fountain, her twirled her around and brought her closer, gesturing to a group of musicians to start playing something.

"Ichigo-sama –"

"What? I can't dance with the most beautiful girl in the middle of the courtyard?"

"No that wasn't what I was going to say at all, Ichigo-sama!" She rushed out in a panic, "I wanted to thank you. For everything."

"Well that's alright then."

Steadily, other couples in the courtyard began to join them in dancing around the fountain. Uryuu was left on the side lines with a look crossed between aggravation and worry. He had spent most of his life around Ichigo and he still couldn't work out whether Ichigo was genuinely happy or was just trying to work so hard to get along with Miss Inoue because it was what he should be doing. He silently wished for Shirosaki to let him in on what was going on in the Prince's head. He had questioned Shiro about what had happened between him and Grimmjow but hadn't received a sufficient answer as of yet.

Shirosaki was less annoying as of late and far more proficient in his role as Shadow Prince. Sorting out little rifts without even alerting Ichigo to their existence, leaving Uryuu to do that instead of him. Ichigo was always confused, but quickly changed the subject to one of the thing he had to organise as of late. Uryuu didn't know whether to be worried or overjoyed that both Princes were taking their jobs so seriously. He had decided to let it pan out for a while, until their actions started to become self-destructive.

As news spread of the impromptu dance in the main courtyard, more and more of the students started to arrive with dance partners. Some students of the culinary arts began to arrive with food and beverages, more musicians joined in with the original set. Technicians started setting up lights and speakers.

Teachers began approaching Uryuu with questions he had to improvise answers for, as no one dared approach Prince Ichigo when he was with his Chosen Princess. Some of the female students asked if Prince Ichigo would be dancing with anyone else, whom Uryuu could only say that it was up to the Prince and for them to wait patiently, offering his arm in the meantime. He was glad that he had an excuse to get closer to Ichigo to find out what the hell the Prince was thinking. It took a few songs, but it he was soon dancing right next to the Prince.

"Any reason why you decided to make a dance in the courtyard, Kurosaki?"

Ichigo smiled at him and shouted back, "Because it's fun!"

Uryuu rolled his eyes before saying, "As the auditorium was the last place on the tour I'll let this one go, Kurosaki." Speaking to Orihime, "May I cut in here?"

Ichigo nodded and let her go with a raised brow, to which Uryuu answered, "There is a long line of females waiting to dance with you, and it would be rude not to indulge them, Kurosaki."

Sure enough, as soon as Ichigo turned around there was a group of female students looking at him wide expectant eyes.

"Ladies …"

Off in a more shadowed are of the courtyard, Grimmjow couldn't keep his eyes off of Ichigo.

Regardless of what Shirosaki had said, he just couldn't help it.

Relaxing in the less formal sitting room with one of his core texts for his management class, Grimmjow was half focusing on whatever he was reading. Still amazed that the future Lady Jaegerjaques had turned out to be none other than Prince Kurosaki and even more so that the Prince had fallen into his arms so easily.

Heir be damned, he wanted Ichigo. And that was that.

"WHERE THE FUCKING HELL ARE YOU JAEGERJAQUES! YOU AND ME HAVE SOME BUSINESS!"

A trembling butler showed in and announced the arrival of Shadow Prince Shirosaki, running in terror as soon as Grimmjow dismissed him. Grimmjow removed his reading glasses and gestured for Shiro to take a seat. Unsurprised when the Shadow Prince picked up and threw the innocent chair across the room.

"I guess not."

"Who the fuck do you think you are molesting Ichi like that!"

Now Grimmjow was surprised, he set the text aside and sat up in his seat. He had done no such thing to Ichigo. Could it be … that Ichigo thought he had gone too far and had been too afraid to tell him?

"I told you Jaegerjaques! I told you that he ain't like us! He's innocent and too trusting for his own good! And you go and take advantage of him!"

"I would never –"

"Shut up! I ain't done yet! Where are they Jaegerjaques? You carry them around like a trophy, like the sick pervert you are?"

"What are you -?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about! Just cause he ain't a girl doesn't mean it ain't still a crime fucker!"

He must mean …

"Oi, he gave those to me. He never even wore them."

"That is not the point! Argh!" Grimmjow watched as Shiro proceeded to destroy the room around him. Turning away the various guards and servants that came to see what the ruckus was about.

Suddenly Shiro was in his face holding him up by the front of his jacket. "You listen and you listen good Jaegerjaques. Did you ever think about how difficult you're making this for Ichigo? He's in a world where he has to get married to a woman and have a kid. His whole life depends upon that happening. Now how do you think Ichigo's going to cope between choosing between his duty and you, huh?"

"Well, I don't –"

"Exactly! You don't know Ichigo like I do! This will tear him apart! So take my advice and stay away. I hate seeing Ichigo unhappy and will do anything to make sure he ain't ever again. Ichigo is the kind of person who will put everything before himself. Even if it means he is miserable."

Shiro dropped his grip on Grimmjow's jacket and stepped back with a conflicted frown on his face.

"Look, if in the very unlikely event that Ichigo does decide to put himself first and choose you, I have to know that you're willing to take all the shit that comes with it. Don't contact him, don't make a move on him, wait for him to come to you. If you do anything before he is ready I will kill you."

Grimmjow nodded in understanding, rising from his seat to see Shiro out. The pale man had given him a lot to think about.

So he was, watching the Prince dance with girl after girl with a smile on his face. Grimmjow was never one to listen to advice when it came to things that he wanted, but something told him that it would be foolish to approach Ichigo as he was.

"Oi, Grimm!"

The lanky bastard Nnoitra made his way over from stuffing his face at the buffet. Grimmjow had recently beaten Zommari for the Sixth Position in the Espada and Nnoitra was his next target to move up in the ranks. The lanky bastard was a lot stronger than he looked though.

"You entering the Battle Royale?"

"The what?"

Nnoitra frequently forgot that he had only just joined the High school as a second year and no knowledge of the customs of the country.

"The Battle Royale, man! Where all the gangs fight in a winner takes all match. You even get to kick the crap out of your own team if you want. I'm gonna take Ulquiorra down this year if it kills me!"

This piqued Grimmjow's interest. "So what's the prize?"

"Well there's two. To become to the Autumn Dorm Head and to become the Royal Guard."

"Che, what's so great about that?"

Nnoitra gave him a 'What the fuck?' look.

"It opens door in the future." Ulquiorra said from Grimmjow's other side. "Also, the higher your position in the School hierarchy, the closer you get to the Prince."

"And?"

"Urgh, trash. It is essential for one of us to get the Royal Guard position. Spending that much time with the Prince means we get an advantage over the other gangs."

"How much time are we talking about?" Grimmjow's interest was skyrocketing. He knew that Shiro had warned him off, but if he won the Battle Royale he would be unable to protest against Grimmjow being around the Prince.

"All day, every day. The Royal Guard is Prince Ichigo's personal body guard as the Shadow Prince cannot be around him all the time. Never leaving his side."

"There's even a room in the Royal Dorm for the winner as well. None of us have ever seen it though, Shiro wouldn't let us in there."

The gears were turning in Grimmjow's head at full speed. All day every day! With another look at Ichigo who was taking a break and talking to his prissy PA, his frown turned into a feral grin. "Sorry, fuckers. But the only person gonna get that job is me!"

Back from the dead! Trust Grimmjow not to listen to anyone when it comes to Ichigo ...

FlamingOrangeRose -x