A/N: Hey everybody! I'm back and with a new Grimm/Ichi fanfic! I can not get enough of these two, they're so hot together. I actually finished this in September, but wanted to get a little ahead before I started posting. I can't believe how long it takes me to finish a chapter. I hope you all enjoy chapter one of Love&Loss!

Disclaimer: I do not, and never will, own Bleach. The characters belong to Tite Kubo, the wonderful artist who created them and made them so frickin' hot we just had to put them together in erotic/humorous/fluffy situations. If I did own Bleach, Grimmjow would be showing up a lot more and forcing Ichigo out of the closet and claiming his berry.

Chapter One: (November)

When Grimmjow was ten, his mom moved them to a new country away from his dad and the home he grew up in. his mom got a steady job that supported them just fine and they lived in a decent place. He had just begun to make friends when, for no reason at all, she packed them up and they left again. Grimmjow celebrated his eleventh birthday in an airport with his mother dozing on and off beside him.

So they settled again, but this time he didn't even bother making an acquaintance. Sure enough they moved almost a dozen more times before he turned seventeen.

His senior year they moved one more time, the last time, according to his mother. In reply to that, Grimmjow had only scoffed; he'd believe it when he saw it thank you very fucking much.

-Grimmjow-

The roar of the airplane overhead vibrated through everyone's bones as it took off over their heads. Most new flyers shook it off and some gained a few new fears. Others, though, the one's that had done it before, ignored it.

Grimmjow Jaegerjaques did just that as he carried his mother's luggage to the taxi waiting patiently for him in front of the airport entrance. His mother was already in the backseat making a call to god-only-knew-who(and, maybe, also the cabbie); he put the purple bags next to his own black one's and settled in the back of the cab just when the snap of an ended call echoed in his ears.

Nina smiled at her son, a big fake one, that Grimmjow knew she had perfected years ago, and reached out to squeeze his shoulder. "You're going to love it here hun. I know I will." One last squeeze and her hand returned to her side.

He didn't' look at her as they were driven to their new 'home'. Houses blurred by without really being seen, nice suburban houses that eventually turned into housed attached together with no drive ways.

Finally they stopped in front of a small two story with the house number 105. The cabbie stayed in the cab and drove off as soon as the trunk was shut and his money in hand.

Grimmjow jumped up the two steps to the door, the screen was broken and a few cracks adorned the glass. The purple luggage was left in the living room and Grimmjow went out again to retrieve his own.

It was a nice day out, with only a few clouds spotted here and there. Cars drove by, trucks, cans, jeeps. It looked like a nice place, too bad they wouldn't be around long enough to enjoy it.

His mother was "oohing" and "ahhing" over the new shit they'd gotten with the house.

Grimmjow headed upstairs; it was a small hallway, about 8 to 10 feet; there were three bedrooms and a bathroom on the top floor. He took the one across from the stairs, where he currently stood.

It was small, almost claustrophobic considering his big size; he could probably move down to the basement if he wanted, he supposed. But it's not like they were staying here, so what the heck.

Small, claustrophobic room it was.

His bags thumped on the floor; there was a twin bed in the corner, right under the window. He flopped down on it; his feet dangled off the end.

Fuck.

There was a knock and Grimmjow gave his mother a blank stare as she cautiously entered the room. The woman smiled that smile that was practiced so well and asked, "How do you like the new house?"

"It's small." He said reluctantly, he didn't want to talk, he wanted to sleep. Nervousness entered her eyes, "Well, I've decided you can start school when the second semester comes around. Starting now would be too hard. I know it be for me."

Grimmjow didn't bother looking at her anymore, his eyes were closed, "I'm not you."

Nina nodded and put something that looked like the paper on addresser by the small closet, "Well, just eh same love."

She left.

Grimmjow kept his eyes shut and let the noise from under him lull him under. His mom always unpacked right away.

No idea why she did it, Grimmjow knew they would be gone again soon enough.

Pretty soon he was asleep; oblivious to everything that went on around him.

-Grimmjow-

Traffic was an unnecessary evil upon the earth; all it did was make your going a whole lot slower than it ought to be. People crossed the street to his right, but that's not where Grimmjow wanted to go. According to the ad in his hand the garage was right across on the next block.

The paper his mother had left him with had been the classified's, with one job circled.

Assistant Mechanic.

The sun shone down valiantly, fighting the chill that was in the air. The jacket he wore helped combat it too, of course, but the bright sun was much appreciated. It wasn't a busy city by any means; nothing like New York that was for sure. The light gave them the 'O.K.' to go and Grimmjow eagerly went.

He wasn't going to take the job at first, but then he remembered he needed money for college tuition. He had taken the paper and left after his nap, but now the traffic was giving him second thoughts. Probably should've taken a look at the time to avoid rush hour. Then again, he hadn't exactly been thinking straight.

The garage was at the end of the block, with a sign proclaiming it to be Coyote's Shop. When Grimmjow finally reached it the familiar scents and sounds washed over him; comforting him, like his mother never could. The smell of oil was hard to miss, with the garage door half open. The building wasn't huge, but it wasn't small either.

Grimmjow rapped his fist hard on the garage door a couple times and let himself in. Kesha's "We R Who We R" blasted through speakers he couldn't see. The inside of the shop in a pretty good sense of disarray; tools were on racks everywhere and the only light was from a few light bulbs shining down from the ceiling because of the dirty windows. Three vehicles crowded the small shop, leaving barely two feet of walking space in between each one. An office off to his right was surrounded by the type of windows that were made so others couldn't see through them properly. He had always hated those, though he could vaguely make out a blurred body at a desk.

There was a hunched figure working on a car furthest from him, a blue Honda. Long black hair held back in a low ponytail fell down the figure's back. Even hunched over, the person was very obviously tall and maybe anorexic. The teenager walked to the office door and knocked, "Hey, I'm here about the job." He opened the door and walked in.

Nobody answered.

There was someone in the office, but they weren't working like Grimmjow first thought. A man with shaggy brown hair was asleep on a desk littered with papers.

His eye twitched, why the hell was that man asleep on the desk? He needed to be interviewed to get this job and this guy was snoozing happily away. Grimmjow was just about to yell for the lazy ass the wake up, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

He turned and stared up.

"I wouldn't do that Blue." The tall man warned, "Starrk needs his afternoon nap." He gestured for Grimmjow to follow him.

With one last look to the dozing brunette he shut the door and headed to a few lounge chairs where the black haired giant sat.

Grimmjow remained standing.

"Sit Blue, it won't hurt ya to relax for your up and coming interview with the boss." The unknown man implored.

'Blue's' eyes twitched again; why did it seem like he was being mocked?

Grimmjow took the seat across from the man and took an offered beer as well. It was free booze, there was no way in hell he was turning that down.

When it was open and the liquid sliding down his throat, the man spoke again, "Name's Nnoitra Jiruga, I work here. If ya hadn't already guessed that." He hold out his hand, Grimmjow shook it. "Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, just moved here. Hoping to become an employee."

Nnoitra nodded and looked the bluenette over, "How long ya been into cars Blue?" The tall man smirked when 'Blue' glared at him. That nickname had better not become a habit.

"Yeah," the teen answered, "Took a course one summer and learnt the basics; rest is pretty much self-taught."

Grimmjow took another swig of his beer; Nnoitra was pretty cool, he could see himself being friends with this seven foot something giant.

Too bad he didn't plan on staying and making any. The nickname was a deal breaker anyway, it never would've worked out between them.

"The boss is pretty lazy; he'll probably hire ya on the spot. You're the first to answer the ad." He took a gulp oh his drink, "We put it in yesterday."

Grimmjow nodded, it all sounded very good, but there was one very important question to be answered; how was the pay?

Nnoitra looked behind him and smirked, "Good luck Blue."

Grimmjow turned and saw the boss stretching in the office or what he could see of him through the stupid windows. He got up and nodded to the giant, "Thanks for the beer man."

"Anytime Blue."

Really hated that nickname.

An hour later Grimmjow had a nine to five job during weekdays and a few hours on the weekend. At least something was going right.

The next two hours were spent exploring his new temporary residence for the time being. It wasn't a hard city to navigate. The streets weren't crowded with a thousand people at each corner and bursting with so many voices you couldn't hear yourself think. It was busy, but, again, not New York busy. He had lunch at a Pizza Hut and proceeded to people watch.

This seemed like the kind of place his mom would get bored of in 4 months, tops. She'd get a good job, make new friends that would adore her and snag a pore sap who would fall head over heels in love with her. Of course this would all be irrelevant and she would still get bored and pack them up again to go god-probably-didn't-know-where.

Grimmjow finished his (unhealthy and highly non-recommended) lunch and threw the box and pizza crusts away. Exiting the small fast-food joint he J-walked across the road to the other street; it was easy with rush hour over and everything.

He wondered which school his mom had signed him up for. Definitely a public school, he knew that for sure; maybe somewhere close to their temporary residence.

Contemplating all this and completely absorbed with his own thoughts, that was when he walked into-and fell over- someone.

He grunted in surprise and attempted to disentangle himself but that's what the other person had decided to do too.

A chin was hit, an eye poked, cried of pain rang out. Then hands grabbed him. "Get off of him you klutz!"

Grimmjow pushed the hands away, holding back a growl. He was not a klutz.

He got a good look at the guy he had run not a minute ago. The guys friend was helping him up, "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" She kept asking that over and over again. The kid's orange hair, was what Grimmjow noticed first. Orange, spiky, bright ass hair. Who the hell dyed their hair orange? Was he deranged? Stupid, Grimmjow suddenly decided, he had to be stupid.

"…stupid."

Two pairs of eyes shot to him, one pair of brown eyes stood out as they glared fiercely at him.

"What did you just say?" The one he had walked into asked.

Grimmjow cocked an eyebrow, oops, last thing he needed was to get into trouble with some wannabe gangster that was… what? Five inched shorter than him?

But now that he was already involved…

"I said, what kind of stupid kid dyes his hair orange?" he smirked.

Fire blazed in the guy's eyes then; now the kid was angry.

"My hair isn't dyed you smurf-wannabe." The guy snarled.

Smurf-wannabe?

Grimmjow scowled and got right into the kids personal space, "Say that again," he growled threateningly. Yeah, he knew he was picking a fight, but he was cranky and had just moved. It was a tradition to get into a fight on the first day.

People were watching them now. Staring, almost humming with anticipation with what was to happen next. Obviously, they weren't going to stop a fight.

Just a little more incentive and fists would be flying. One, more, push. At the moment he opened his mouth to give it, the black headed tomboy interrupted.

She put a hand on the orangette's shoulder, "Come on, let's go. Don't waste your time with this guy Ich. He's not worth it."

What? Grimmjow watched in astonishment as they both walked way. No. No, no, no, no, no, no. He needed his fight.

The teen reached out to grab the kid and punch him into a fight, but something else caught his eye. In the alley, there were two thugs who had a girl cornered.

Grimmjow forgot about the orange-headed teen and pushed his way past the people that had gathered.

These guys will do, he thought and threw the first punch.

-Love&Loss-

"I love you."

Are the dreaded three words that echo through Ichigo Kurosaki's head after hearing one of his oldest friend's confess her long-time crush to him.

When Orihime had asked him to walk her home because she had something to talk to him bout, he did not expect this. Anything other than this; even a small confession of a crush she may have developed for him, but definitely not a proclamation of love.

That wasn't even on the list.

There wasn't even a list!

Why wasn't there a list?!

He needed a list!

Instead of allowing the panic that so obviously wanted to come out and exploded all over the room and on the nervous looking girl; who was looking anywhere but him and twiddling her thumbs. A blush had permanently taken residence on her face.

Ichigo coughed to clear his throat—which was trying to close up and give him death-by-suffocation as a present—and opened his mouth to reply.

Unfortunately (blessedly!) he was interrupted by a knocking on the door. Orihime jumped at the sudden noise and gave him an apologetic look before going to answer it.

Ichigo sagged in relief as soon as she turned her back and tried to calm his racing heart and get rid of the deer-caught-in-the-headlights look he was sure he was sporting. He tried to think fast while the girl was gone; how the hell was he supposed to respond to this? Nobody had ever confessed their love for him before.

Should he play dead?

Yeah, sure Ichigo that would definitely solve everything, he told himself. It sounded like a really good plan though, considering it was his only plan.

He could run. Tatsuki would kill him though. He could go to Yemen!

Wow, Ichigo thought, that's a really dumb idea.

The Bermuda Triangle!

Or you could just tell her how you don't reciprocate her feelings and make a clean break of it, Common Sense said.

Ichigo squashed it and locked it in his own Pandora's Box. Double locked it.

Soon Orihime was coming back, with Tatsuki, Ichigo noticed and he was feeling a bout of thankfulness that was threatening to turn him into Keigo. He refused to acknowledge the fear that accompanied that thought.

Tatsuki nodded at him, "Hey Ichigo, what you doing here?"

Before he could answer, not that he had anything to respond with, Orihime quickly interrupted, "I invited him over to try a new dish of mine I just came up with!" She was waving her arms wildly as she said it, "Yeah that's it! I'm going to go and make the dish right now!"

She rushed off and Tatsuki was left with a reply of "What?" on the tip of her tongue.

Ichigo leaned forward and put his head in his hands. What the hell was he going to do? What to do, what to do, what to do… he repeated to himself, until someone tapped his elbow. Startled, the distressed boy looked up at one of his oldest friend, "What's wrong with Hime?" she asked quietly.

Tatsuki was a black-belt and Karate champion who was extremely overprotective of Orihime. The two girls went way back; they had history.

Ichigo could take her on, he knew that, but there was one small problem. He had never fought a Tatsuki in protect-her-hime mode.

She's going to kill me, he thought in horror, she's going to break my bones and rip of my- Ichigo stopped himself, pale. He literally felt the blood drain his face.

"Ichigo are you okay?" Tatsuki asked and reached for the panicking teenager. He flinched away so violently he fell off the couch. The flower-printed couch Orihime's step-mom had bought.

Then he was rushing out of the living room and past Orihime to the front door. "Sorry Orihime, but I just remembered I have to help the old man with his store!"

Five seconds he was gone and jogging to his uncle's book store.

-Ichigo-

Zangetsu Kurosaki ran one of the largest independently run bookstores in the country. For as long as Ichigo could remember this bookstore has always been here. Which was probably why he had worked here every summer since he was fourteen. It was a refuge, the hangout his friends all went to. It was a hideout for when one of you friends confessed their undying love for you.

Ichigo stacked manga methodically, he had on an employee jacket he'd grabbed in the break room; there were always extra's. The new Blue Exorcist was in; he'd have to put a few aside for Renji and himself. The stacking was a slow process, with rearranging and a reading of a new chapter after every book that was put away. Trying to forget the inevitable of turning Orihime down. The orangette had turned girls down before and a few boys, but he never had to turn down a friend before. Renji didn't count; they had been curious and they both knew their friendship could survive it. Plus they had been younger and infinitely less experienced. Now they knew better.

Speaking of Renji, he was coming towards him at that moment with a bag of Doritos. Break time. Quickly he stacked the last three volumes and made for the break room; which, luckily enough, was right beside the manga section.

As soon as they were behind the closed door Renji gave the bag of chips, a soda and a kiss on the forehead. "So what's the problem? Asteroid hit the Dog House?" The Dog House was this fort they'd made back in fifth grade in the park and still a regular hang-out for them.

Ichigo shook his head and didn't look at him, but kept his head down. "Orihime…mhm," the rest was mumbled. Renji stared at his friend curiously, "Orihime… what?" Ichigo looked up though his bangs to stare at his friend. Renji was a 6'2'' teenage boy with fire engine red hair that he kept back in a spiky pony-tail. It made him look like a pineapple. Today he wore a hoodie and some ripped jeans. His bandanna matched his attire and held back loose hairs that were too short to be part of his hairstyle. They had been best friends forever it seemed.

They told each other everything.

With that in mind Ichigo straightened, looked the taller teen in the eye and just spit it out, "Orihime confessed her love to me and I have no idea how to turn her down."

Renji stopped chewing the handful of chips he'd stuffed in his mouth and just about dropped his coke. "Orihime had what now?" His expression seemed to say. The red head looked for any sign that his best friend was joking, but found none. "No kiddin'," he managed to mumble through the junk food.

Ichigo scowled and took his bag of chips from him, "Swallow Einstein," he ordered and Renji did.

And almost choked.

Renji knocked his chest and coughed violently; Ichigo swore and got behind him, then proceeded to save his idiot friends life.

Much later, when Renji was breathing normally and not in danger of dying (again), they both walked out the front doors of Getsuga Tensho and to the red heads truck. It was decided more than chips were needed for this discussion.

As they made their way to the nearest fast food joint Renji stole glances at his passenger, trying to figure something out. "So, how did it happen?"

Ichigo sighed and rested his head against the glass, it took him a while to answer, "Unexpectedly." That explanation would do for now, but not for long. After he got some grease, some sugar and a beer or two in him, he'd tell it; right now, it was too much.

So they got their bad-for-you food and large fuzzy soda's to wash it all down. Then drove to the apartment building Renji lived in with is parents. More often than not Ichigo was staying over there, sleeping on the couch. It was like a cycle, one year Renji would stay over constantly at Ichigo's and then the next year, Ichigo would practically live at Renji's. They even had a key to each other's houses.

The apartment was small, with two bedrooms and a living room only big enough for maybe six people.

The drapes were drawn so the whole of the apartment was only lit by a lamp by the couch, a.k.a Ichigo's bed. They loaded plastic plates with food and settled in with their drinks to discuss the 'incident' as Ichigo was now thinking of it. An incident Ichigo never wanted to go through again.

Renji's parents were both working late that day and wouldn't be bothering them.

After devouring half his plate, he finally felt ready to talk. "Okay," Renji stopped eating and gave the orangette his full attention, "It started off like this…" and Ichigo explained everything. From how she asked him to walk her home to when Tatsuki came and he ran off like a rabbit from a fox.

Renji nodded along through the whole thing, waiting patiently for him to finish. When he did, Renji could really only say one thing, "I can hardly believe she had the guts to do that." There was an enthusiastic nod in agreement and Ichigo quickly replied, "I know, when she invited me, I expected she was going to tell me she was moving or some such thing like that. Not… confess!"

Renji waited for his friend's mild panic attack to fade away before he attempted to comfort him, "It's not that bad…" Ichigo glared at him, "Okay, it's that bad."

It wasn't the end of the world or anything—even though it may have seemed like it—but to the orangette it was pretty damn bad. He had no frickin' idea how to handle this, with the added pressure of Tatsuki, there was really no safe way to handle this.

"You gotta admit Ichigo," Renji continued, "You could've handled the situation better."

"I am very aware of that Pineapple."

Patience left his best friend's eyes for a second and soon was replaced with tolerance. The man could handle anything Ichigo threw at him, but that nickname just rubbed him the wrong way. Renji had a problem being referred to as an edible thing. Then again so did Ichigo.

"But I guess you couldn't help it Strawberry."

…

"I mean you're just that stupid."

Let it be known that Renji Abarai led a full and happy life. He made friends, got (decently) good grades and loved fully and died quite tragically.

In the end all Ichigo could really do was be honest with Orihime. So, when he was walking home, with a bruise or two (or more), he got out his phone and sent the girl a message. It would be best to tell her as soon as possible, before she could get her hopes up too high and start assuming things.

Hopefully though, but he time all of it was over, they could still remain friends.

Ichigo stopped; all he had to do was wait for a reply. He looked up at the sky, scowling and sighed tiredly.

Sometimes, life really sucked.

-Love&Loss-

The bruises weren't that bad and there was barely any swelling thanks to the ice pack he had put to his when he had returned home. The bruise wasn't that big, it just formed a half crescent around his eye and was tender to the touch. It was pretty much the only casualty he'd suffered from his little tussle in the alley.

Gingerly, Grimmjow poked at it, a light ache was payment for his curiosity and he flinched a slightly. It would be gone soon enough. Hopefully Nina wouldn't comment on it, ask how he got it and stuff like that.

Sighing annoyingly, he quickly shut off the light and was in his room a second later. Work started in an hour, which was enough time to eat breakfast and the walk there. If he rushed.

Grimmjow jerked a black sweater on and quickly looked outside; there was hardly any snow, the sweater would do. That is until he bought a new winter coat, the other one was missing. Lost sometime during one of their moves. Patting his pockets to make sure the money was there for his lunch, he tried to remember if there was anything else he was forgetting. When the bluenette was reassured of that nothing was missing and everything was accounted for, he headed downstairs. Nina didn't look up when he passed by, but just continued to read the paper while clicking her nails against the table beside her coffee cup.

Very annoying sound.

"Where you going hun?" she asked absentmindedly.

Grimmjow only spared Nina a glance and muttered, "Work," before he grabbed an apple and rushed out. There was no point in dawdling.

The morning was cool and fairly quiet and the sun shone from behind a fluffy grey cloud that spoke of future rain. There was a woman out on her stops across the street enjoying a mug of coffee and a paperback.

He grimaced and started his journey to Coyote's; he wasn't much for reading. Just not his thing and never would be.

Soon the apple was gone it seemed sooner still that the shop came into view. Really, getting lost in thought was dangerous. Didn't help that the teen could never remember what he had been contemplating.

What he'd been expecting when he got there was two men hard at work on cars and possible barked orders to start laboring, but what he found instead was a co-worker sitting on the concrete, playing with a DS.

There was string, then an annoyed growl, a curse and then some repositioning of some long legs. Nnoitra didn't acknowledge him at all, too wrapped in his game to pay any attention to anyone.

Grimmjow glared , then abruptly nudged the giant's foot, "Hey!"

The man just grunted a quick, "What?" and continued playing what sounded an awful like Mario Kart.

"Where's the boss?"

"In his shop, sleeping."

He quirked an eyebrow, "Then why aren't ya knocking?"

"Bad consequences." Nnoitra patted the side-walk, "Relax Blue, just enjoy the mornin'." So far, the day had only gone a little bit as planned.

After a minute Grimmjow thought, to hell with it, and plopped down to wait for his new boss to wake up.

Time to settle into his new life.

Oh my god, there was chapter one. I have been trying to get time to write this fic for almost two years and I can't believe it's finally becoming a reality. Anyway, I hoped you all liked it and if you did or even if you didn't and just have a few tidbits of CC, write your thoughts into the pretty white box down below and make my day! I would appreciate it very much, because let's face it, reviews are a story's lifeblood.

Expect next update to be in December(don't worry, it will be in December, I already got it written and everything. It's even on my calendar).

Yours truly,

~Klaanvdia