"Of lives so changed"

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Summary: Ichigo makes a rash decision which leads to the unfortunate situation of him being stuck with Grimmjow. Learning someone to be human is tougher than it seems, especially when that someone is supposed to be your enemy.
Post-war. Friendship fanfiction.

Hello, all. This is the first time I'm writing Ichigo and Grimmjow, and the first time I'm making an attempt at First Person POV. No beta. Feel free to be critical in reviews. Is this worthy enough to be continued?
Feedback is highly appreciated!

I am Kurosaki Ichigo. On first glance one would say I look like a regular student.

I have to admit, I haven't been very into school lately for various reasons. And even if I tried, I feel different. Like I don't fit in anymore. Most of my peers are worried about their scores, about not being allowed to go out, about getting a driver's license; stuff like that.
Me? I mainly worry about the sake of the world, in this life and the next, about my friends surviving fights in the afterlife, about maniacs who invade my hometown; stuff like that.

But. Finally. The War is over.

And honestly, during all that time – fighting, killing, healing, fighting again and so on – I haven't felt this nervous for as long as I remember.

That's right. I'm so nervous I think I might keel over any second.

At this moment, I am on my way to Urahara Shoten, where I will be meeting my nemesis.

That's right. Grimmjow Jaegerjaques. Sexta Espada, blue haired menace, minion of Aizen, spawned into the universe for one sole purpose: to kill me.
The reason for my visit? Urahara needed to discuss some things concerning where he should live. That's the part that unnerves me the most.

Again, I am asking myself how I have ended up in this most unfortunate situation.

It was Nel's fault, really, because she had pulled my sleeve and she had pointed towards him with pity. Although, that's what I keep telling myself. I try to leave out the part where I, of all people, decided he didn't deserve to be left in Hueco Mundo to die in the desert.

I'm not very well informed on what happened to Grimmjow ever since he was given to Urahara. But I do know that with the War over and Aizen dead, Ukitake-soutaichou didn't see the need to have him executed. Instead, he is to remain in the human world, without Pantera and his immense power. Urahara made him a gigai. I wonder what it looks like.

I guess I'm about to find out, since I'm almost there.

Perhaps I left out the most important part. Besides having Grimmjow exiled, Ukitake also decided that I am the one to keep this situation under control. Me. Ichigo. One who is not pleased with this settlement. One who regrets his earlier decisions. Ugh.

"Ichigo."

Urahara greets me. Despite the fan he's weaving in front of his face, I can see the sneaky bastard smiling at me. Or, he is secretly laughing his ass off because I have put myself in quite the situation again; or, perhaps he did lose some tension since the War's over. Soul Society had offered the Vizard a place to stay again, in gratitude of their help. Although he declined instantly, I can imagine he's happy with the way things turned out in the end.

"Urahara-san. Renji. It's nice to see you again."

Great, Renji's here. On any other occasion, I would've been delighted to see him, but I've got this hunch he's just here to witness one of the most awkward moments of my life. I can imagine how I would feel if I were him, he still hasn't forgotten about what Grimmjow did to Rukia. Neither have I. But it was me eventually who got Grimmjow to survive. I hope Renji doesn't think I'm a total dick.

"Follow me, Ichigo."

I walk behind Urahara and Renji, and I feel like someone who's being lead into a creepy dungeon, where bad things will happen. I sigh.

Urahara opens the door, and I catch a glimpse of blue hair.

There he is.

I think I've stopped breathing for a moment.

Grimmjow Jaegerjaques.

I instantly want to wipe that shitty smile off his face. He's leaning against the wall, like he owns the damn place, smirking like an idiot, mocking me. Good start, I can feel it.

"Kurosaki," he growls, friendlier than I would've expected. Perhaps he is grateful for living after all.

"Grimmjow," I growl back, unfriendlier than I had intended.

His gigai is... so human. He looks the same as his Espada self except for the jaw and the clothes. He's wearing jeans and a black hoodie. It looks weird on him.

He's been at Urahara's for quite some time, now that I think of it. I wonder if the old man calls him 'freeloader-san' as well. I can't imagine Grimmjow doing anything contributing to the welfare of the Shoten.

I swear this is one of the weirdest moments of my life. I admit, I can be slightly socially retarded from time to time, especially with girls, but normally I manage to say something at least. Now, I'm totally lost for words. I feel that I'm staring at him.

"Cat got your tongue?" Grimmjow says. Typical.

I glare at him, fighting to keep all cat related retorts I can think of inside.

"Ichigo," Urahara intervenes, "I have made a special kind of gigai for your Espada friend here."

More glares are exchanged. What friend? All this guy ever did is trying to kill me. Damnit! I curse myself for letting him live.

The tension is high.

"The gigai constantly drains his power to an acceptable level. For now, he doesn't experience any discomforts. But of course, would the need arise, I can always change the level if Ukitake-soutaichou agrees."

I nod. No way in hell he'll have the level changed. God no.

I notice that Renji hasn't said anything, while he's usually the first to comment on something. Instead, he's eyeballing Grimmjow very carefully. Maybe Urahara had him come over to keep the Arrancar quiet.

"Urahara-san..." I finally manage, "Can we talk somewhere in private?"

This is just too awkward. We're talking about him as if he's not in the room. Well, he might as well not be there then.

Renji reads my thoughts, I think, and he gives Grimmjow a firm nod. They leave to another room, more than enough space between them. Not without a hiss from Grimmjow though, who is obviously not pleased with me and Urahara discussing something that involves him.

"Urahara-san, you need my help in finding a place for him to stay?"

The old bastard just smiles at me. "I was hoping the Arrancar could stay with you, Ichigo-kun."

There it is. I knew it.

I knew it.

"What?" That's all I manage to speak. I don't know what to feel. I don't know what to think.

"Well, with Isshin being in Soul Society most of the time and otherwise busy in the clinic, I figured you'd have a free spot at your place."

"What? My dad... He didn't move to Soul Society. What do you expect me to do? Tell him his bedroom will be occupied by a freaking Espada?"

"The Shoten is not a good place for him, Ichigo. And technically, he's not an Espada anymore."

I glare. "You just called him Arrancar."

Urahara shrugs and opens his fan again. I want to pull it from his hands and stomp it on the ground.

"What's in a name, Ichigo-kun?" he smiles. "Anyway, the Shoten is not a good place for him. I don't have the time to teach him how to behave in the human world, so he can't get out, he gets bored, he gets frustrated. I get frustrated. It would be beneficial to all of us if he would stay with you, really."

"But-" I try, only to be cut off by Urahara again.

"Besides, you already know each other. And I'm sure you have space, Ichigo-kun. Loads of Shinigami used to stay at your place. Rukia lived there for a while, right?"

I can't believe he's comparing Grimmjow to Rukia.

"And," he quickly says, before I can speak, "It is your duty to keep him under control. Ukitake-soutaichou gave you responsibility for that. I think it would be easier for you if he were somewhere close, so you can keep an eye on him."

I sigh. I don't know what to say. Urahara can always convince me.

He's always so damn right about things.

This isn't about something personal between me and Grimmjow. This is about my duty as a Shinigami. About a decision I made, and which Soul Society holds me responsible for.

"He cannot get out of his gigai, Ichigo. If things would get out of hand, you can handle him easily. And besides, if he would form any threat to Soul Society, he will be executed. He knows that."

I so don't like what I'm about to say.

"Alright..." I nearly whisper. Urahara smiles widely. "But if I can't handle it anymore, promise me that you'll take him in again, even if it's just for an hour so I can cool off. I mean, do you even know this guy? He's... difficult."

Urahara slaps me on the back. "You'll do fine, Ichigo! I'll inform Isshin." he exclaims. "Renji!"

A few seconds later Renji and Grimmjow are in the room again. I see the Arrancar looking at me.

"You're going with Ichigo, Grimmjow-san," Urahara says.

The look on his face is priceless.