A/N: Oh My God! HI! It's been so long, how have you been? How are you? Really, you've done that much? Lol, hi guys, so here I am, finally I know right? I can not believe I let it be thing long since I've updated, especially since I've already had this written. No excuse guys really I am so sorry. I was doing so well with updating this when I wanted too. I know I could've updated this any month, but I just gave all my FF stories thought this month and I thought it would be really cool if I updated as a Christmas present for all of you :) So without further ado, here is part 2 of chapter three. Hope you enjoy it :)

Disclaimer - Check out chapter one

Chapter Three: (March)

Grimmjow was out the door as soon as the bell began to ring. He rushed past all the students, mind intent on one thing. After that whole encounter with that Asakura girl Grimmjow had decided something. He was going to trust Ichigo. Not all at once, but h was going to treat this friendship like it was going to last. It was time to take chances.

Step one; incite Ichigo to his current house.

Ichigo was by his locker, patiently waiting for him. He did everything quickly, throwing the books he needed into his bag and practically slamming the locker door shut. Ichigo fell into step beside him easily and Grimmjow noted absently that their legs moved in sync with no effort on either party's part (it was kind of creepy to tell the truth). The sound of the emptying school died out as the cold air hit Grimmjow's face and he breathed in the outdoors.

If there was ever a time to ask anything it would be now.

Just when they hit the sidewalk Grimmjow reached out and pulled Ichigo over to the side, away from the stampede of piranhas—students! "Grimm?" Ichigo looked at him, confused. Grimmjow rubbed the back of his head, opened his mouth to ask and shut it. Okay, this was harder than he thought it would be. His face began to feel hot and he knew he was blushing. Come on, just ask him you wimp, he thought.

A few seconds to gather his courage and finally he looked up, straight at Ichigo and asked, "Do you wanna come over and hang out at my house after work?"

Ichigo was silent, the orangette stood there, just blinking at him. Grimmjow waited, but no answer came. He scowled, "Well, do you?" he demanded.

Unexpectedly, Ichigo's face broke out in a smile that made Grimmjow catch his breath, "Yes." Ichigo said eagerly.

The blush that had started to recede came back full force and to try and hide that it was there, Grimmjow cleared his throat unnecessarily and nodded.

"Good."

"Good." Ichigo parroted.

Grimmjow's mouth twitched, he was so not amused. Really. He turned, heading to work, feeling lighter than he had earlier that day. Ichigo followed behind, both unconsciously falling into step with one another.

-Grimmjow-

"So he just flew through the door?" Grimmjow said skeptically, "That doesn't sound possible."

Ichigo snorted, "Doesn't matter if it's possible or not. My dad did it and was in a cast for months because of it. Karin couldn't stop laughing."

"I think I would like your sister."

Ichigo chuckled, "I think she would like you."

"That's some crazy-ass family you have."

"I've learned to live with it."

Grimmjow smiled a little.

Talking with Ichigo, Grimmjow found, was getting easier by the minute. It was amazing how at ease he became in the others presence. Almost like they'd known each other far longer than a few weeks.

"What's Nnoitra doing?"

Grimmjow looked up ahead to see their tall coworker locking the regular and garage door. That was weird.

"Nnoitra!" Ichigo called out.

The tall man turned to them and gave them a small wave, "Yo."

"What's going on?" Grimmjow asked.

"Closing up early." Nnoitra told them, obviously already bored with the conversation.

"I know that," he growled, "but why?"

Nnoitra shrugged.

"Boss didn't give a reason."

All three stood staring at each other, two confused. Then Nnoitra broke the triangle and patted Grimmjow's shoulder, "See you later Blue." He nodded at Ichigo and was off.

This was really weird. The bluenette looked at the shop doors; he hadn't been working here as long as Nnoitra and definitely didn't know the boss as good, but even he knew this was abnormal.

Ichigo cleared his throat, "So I guess we're going to your house." He said it hesitantly and Grimmjow had no idea why.

"Yeah." He finally managed and began to lead the way to his house.

The walk there seemed to take forever, and as a result each step Grimmjow took seemed to require more effort than the last. Nervousness began to eat at him. There was no reason for him to act like this, but suddenly doubts began to cloud his mind. Ichigo's house was huge and all their stuff was fancy and shiny and new. It was way cleaner than his and Nina's place would ever be. Compared side by side, Grimmjow lived in a junk heap. He wasn't supposed to care about this stuff. He's hardly paid any attention to the house. He hadn't even been inside yet, so why was he assuming they had all new stuff and a clean tidy home?

Because I noticed the neighborhood.

Ichigo would've hit him if he knew what was circulating through Grimmjow's head right then.

That brought a smile to his face.

Hopefully Ichigo would do that.

Finally, after an eon and an eternity, during which Grimmjow had stayed religiously silent, they arrived.

All of his attention was on the orangette. He took notice of how Ichigo looked at everything and walked and how he reacted to every stimuli, of how nicely his clothes looked on him and how bright and pretty his eyes were and—What the hell?!

They arrived at his house.

Grimmjow refused to look at Ichigo anymore, it wouldn't do him any good to see the look on the others face. No good at all. He held the door long enough for Ichigo to grab hold and prevent it from slamming into his own face.

"Thanks." Ichigo said softly.

Grimmjow grunted and stole a quick look. Ichigo was looking around curiously, the set of knickknacks on a small table right by the door instantly caught his attention. They were really just pieces of junk, but they were the only things in the whole house that he felt remotely attached to. Other than Nina, they were the only constant. Nina would add a new one to the collection every time they moved.

Grimmjow coughed, "Want a drink?"

Ichigo jumped and snatched his hand back from where it was nearing the little toys.

He nodded quickly, "Sure." He kept nodding, "Yeah, I'd love a drink."

Grimmjow smirked and walked into the small kitchen that could fit three people, but in the process make those three very acquainted with each other in ways they had never been before.

"Okay."

Suddenly, just like that, Grimmjow was in the time-warp again. The one that made time slow down, so a minute became an hour and a second a year (he knew it didn't make sense, but that's how the time warp worked). Nervous energy beat at him, making his hands clammy and his heart beat just a tad faster.

Oh, Come on Jeagerjaques! Grow a pair. It's not like the boy over there is the freaking queen of England.

Shut up.

You're being an idiot and you know it.

Grimmjow did not reply. Talking to the voices inside your head only encouraged them. He heard that somewhere, then again he also heard somewhere that if you had voices inside your head you were insane and should be committed to a mental institution.

He walked back with two glasses of water to find Ichigo sitting at the kitchen table. He sat across him and slid the water across the table to the other.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Grimmjow was finding that too much of their friendship so far was filled with awkward silences. His brain was working overtime, trying to come up with something to say that would have them comfortable with each other.

Then Ichigo pulled out his books and began to set up a work station. The bluenette gave him a weird look, he'd forgotten that Ichigo had brought his stuff with him.

"What?" he asked irritably. "I have homework." He said defensively.

"Right, right."

He let a second pass then got up to get his own books and get started on his own, much neglected school work. Seriously, Grimmjow thought as he settled in at the table and got started on Biology, hanging out with this guy is gonna get me good grades.

Not that that was a particular bad thing.

Grimmjow smiled some after he caught a glimpse of how comfortable and at home Ichigo seemed to be. What the heck had I been worried about? It's going to be fine.

Sometime later the phone rang, if he had been here alone Grimmjow would have ignored it and continued whatever he'd been doing, but, this time Ichigo was here. So, quickly writing down his sentence, he got up and answered the annoying machine.

Before he could get a word out Nina's voice came over from the other end, "Hey hon." Her voice wasn't very clear with all the static.

Where was she?

"Hey." He mumbled and looked quickly at his guest. Ichigo was still working.

"I'm going to be late, so you're going to have to make yourself dinner, okay?"

HE wasn't very surprised, but the pang of disappointment did indeed baffle him.

"Yeah, okay."

Nina sighed heavily on the other end, the static made his ears hurt, but he refused to move it, lest Ichigo think something was wrong.

"Okay hon, see you later tonight."

Grimmjow nodded the slightest bit, then remembered Nina couldn't see him, "See you later."

"Bye hon."

The click of the phone being hung up and the dial tone had Grimmjow standing there for a moment before he hung up himself. He ignored the small well of disappointment in his chest and got back to his homework.

"Who was that?"

Grimmjow looked up at Ichigo, "Just my mom."

Ichigo nodded, "Okay."

They worked together in compatible silence that had Grimmjow smiling.

-Love&Loss-

Ichigo was, to put in the simplest words, happy (or word). He was more happy than he could ever remember being in a long time, or wanted to remember. Stealing a discreet glance at his friend (he loved that word!), a secret smile graved his lips. Grimmjow had invited him into his home and he couldn't believe the little bubble of happiness that was still swimming around in his chest. Beside that happiness though was a small, barely noticeable, batch of greed. Ichigo wanted to know more about this blue haired teen, he wanted to know everything. He wanted meet Grimmjow's mother and learn about his family. Even thing's like what his favorite color was on the list.

There was this hole in his heart that someone used to occupy and it was slowly being filled by the teen beside him.

His phone ringing was a surprise, and then he remembered that he hadn't told his old man where he was going to be.

Shit.

"Be right back." He said and wondered toward the living room. He flipped his phone open and answered without looking at the screen.

"Hello."

"Ichigo."

He stopped, that wasn't his old man's voice, it was someone else's, someone he didn't want to talk to.

"Stop calling me." He snarled.

"Ichigo, you need to talk to me."

"No, I don't," he didn't, "Stop calling me Renji, good-bye."

"Ichi wait."

He was supposed to move the phone away from his ear and press the 'end call' button, but it wasn't working out that way. Instead the cell was still by his ear and his hand had a death grip on it was he was biting his lip so hard it was going to bleed soon.

"Ichi."

It took everything he had not to answer the desperate lea. The taste of blood came to his tongue and, slowly, he began to remove his teeth from his skin.

His voice was full of vulnerability when he finally answered a few minutes later, "What?"

Renji's sigh was very clear through the phone, "Ichi, you gotta speak to me."

"I am speaking to you." He said softly.

"No," there was amusement in the red heads voice, "You're pouting."

This time he didn't answer, for some reason, suddenly afraid. Renji knew him better than he knew himself.

"Ichi I miss you."

Anger flooded into him. Renji missed him?

"You're the one who left." His voice was strong this time, powered by his anger.

"It was for the best!" Renji said desperately, quickly.

"You could be Hitler reincarnated, spouting off that crap."

"Ichi!"

"What Renji?!" he demanded, "What is there you could possible say to me!" His voice was rising but he didn't care one bit.

"Just forgive me."

Was he kidding?

"No!"

"Why not?!" Now Renji sounded angry.

"Because I don't want you back!"

All his anger suddenly left him, as the truth of his words hit home. Holy crap, he thought. He didn't. Ichigo didn't want Renji Abarai back in his life. The other end of the line was silent, but soon Renji's trembling voice said to him, "You don't mean that."

"Actually, "Ichigo clenched his fist, surprisingly numb, "I think I do Ren."

"Ichi…"

"You left Renji, I didn't do anything."

"You're acting like some spoiled brat!" There were tears in his words.

Ichigo didn't say anything for a few seconds, not knowing what to say or how to say it, except the truth, spoken plain and simple.

"You left me."

Renji made a sound like a wounded animal, "Ichi please."

Ichigo closed his eyes, suddenly very tired, "Don't call me anymore Reni." He spoke calmly, his voice even, giving nothing away.

"Ichi no-"

"Bye."

And he hung up.

Ichigo had heard of fights that broke up lifelong friendships and how those broken friendships never repaired themselves, even with the salve of time. He just never thought it would happen to him.

Wasn't it supposed to hurt more? Wasn't there supposed to be this pain in his chest, trying to suffocate him? He felt nothing.

Ichigo breathed deeply before turning to head back into the kitchen. He opened his eyes and jumped back a bit in surprise. Grimmjow was right here, staring at him so intently Ichigo was surprised he hadn't felt the other staring at him this whole time.

Grimmjow licked his lips nervously and looked away, "You know.." he trailed off. He scratched his neck and mumbled the last two words of his sentence, "I'm here."

Ichigo blinked, trying to comprehend the words, and when they did, his mouth flapped open and closed like a fish, unsure of how he was to reply to that.

Then Grimmjow scowled and they were in familiar territory again.

Ichigo smiled, "Yeah, I know Grimm."

He did. Ichigo had lost Renji, but he gained Grimmjow.

The bluenette coughed uncomfortably, "Good, let's work." He led the way back to the kitchen, his shoulder somewhat hunched. Ichigo followed behind closely, still smiling. Yeah, life was good. Hopefully it could only get better.

-Ichigo-

Their homework was finished in no time and Ichigo soon found himself packing to head home. Grimmjow leaned against the wall, watching him. After they had gotten back to their books, everything had been fine. Grimmjow never mentioned the call and Ichigo was grateful for that. So, because the mood had been so companionable and he was unguarded, Ichigo was more than taken by surprise when Grimmjow spoke up.

"What's wrong with you?"

Ichigo turned around, hand frozen on the screen door and looked at the bluenette, completely baffled.

"Sorry?"

What did Grimmjow mean by that? It was the oddest question Ichigo had ever been asked under such circumstances.

Grimmjow was glaring at the wall his shoulder was leaning against, "You're acting weird."

Ichigo nodded, "I am?"

The bluenette pushed himself off the wall and stalked over to him. When he reached him over the short distance, Grimmjow looked right at him, "Yes. Ever since we agreed to be friends, you've been…" he struggled to explain it.

Ichigo's eyes narrowed and he scowled, "Been what Grimmjow?" he prompted.

Grimmjow pointed right at his face, "There it is." He said fiercely.

Ichigo glared at the offending appendage before turning it on Grimmjow himself, "There what is?"

He had been in such a good mood, now Grimmjow was just plain annoying him.

Why was he being such a dick?

"Ichigo."

"What?" he was already paying attention.

Grimmjow growled, "No, I mean, there's the old Ichigo."

What?

Ichigo stared at him in disbelief. That made absolutely no fucking sense, "You're making no sense." He said aloud.

Now Grimmjow looked disappointed, "You're not scowling anymore."

"I'm not?" So what if he wasn't? Why did that matter?

"No!" he said fiercely, "Where is the fire I first saw when we fought? It's not there anymore! Hasn't been since we became friends."

"Fought?"

"Yes!"

He must've heard wrong, "You liked it when we fought?" he had to clarify this.

Grimmjow threw his hands up and walked down the hall, clearly exasperated. Ichigo thought he was finished and that he was supposed to leave, but then Grimmjow turned back.

"I liked it when you were yourself." He said.

His voice was calmer now, more controlled, but all you had to do was look into his eyes to see what he really felt.

"I haven't been acting like myself?"

"No."

Ichigo stared at Grimmjow, not sure what to say. Weird situation Grimmjow had backed him into.

"Grimm…"

The bluenette looked away, then back at him.

"You're being stupid."

Grimmjow's head snapped up from where it had been lowering and suddenly he was angry again. Ichigo could see it in his eyes, he could see it clear as day. It had no effect on him though, by this time he was used to the flash that ignited his eyes and the way his face twisted.

"What!"

"You're stupid." Ichigo reappeared, carefully enunciating, "You're an idiot and I can't believe you!" Ichigo pushed Grimmjow's chest, "You're being such an ungrateful bastard!"

Grimmjow tensed, "What the hell am I being ungrateful about?!"

"I'm like this for you!"

"What?"

Ichigo began to pace, irritation taking over him, "I'm like this," He gestured wildly with his hands, "all calm, because I want to be friends with you!"

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!"

Ichigo stopped pacing and whipped around to glare at Grimmjow. Stupid? He thought, fine, if it's so stupid I'll just go. He reached out and shoved the bluenette away, "Fine!" He stomped to the door, yanking it open and grabbing his stuff.

"Where the hell are you going?!" Grimmjow yelled after him.

"Home!"

Ichigo cut across the grass and didn't look back as he practically power walked down the sidewalk.

"Fine!"

The walk home went by quickly, Ichigo's thought too over-run with anger and annoyance to remember the walk back. When he barged his way into his house, the questions from his dad and sisters went unanswered. Ichigo flung himself onto his bed and threw his bag across the room.

What a way to end a day.

-Love&Loss-

He was having a nightmare.

Grimmjow always knew when he was in the dream world; of course, he couldn't tell you how he knew, but he did. They say if you're aware that you're dreaming you can control it. It was a rumor. Grimmjow would not control his dreams. What happened instead was that his dreams would pull him along whatever path it had carved out for him that night.

The dream he had tonight was a regular one, it happened every time before they moved. In the dream Nina was holding his hand tightly, almost breaking his five year old bones. They were running down a dirt road, getting farther and farther away from a figure in the distance. One who was waving and yelling something to them but he could never tell what it was. The dream just went on like that, for minutes at a time and every so often they'd pass a house. Each one looking just a bit more familiar, until they got to their current one. At this point in the dream, Nina would turn and lead them to an unknown destination, but this time it didn't work out that way.

This time, when they came up to the house, Nina didn't pull him in a new direction, instead, she pushed him forward, toward the house and let go of his hand. When Grimmjow turned around, Nina wasn't there and when he looked around for her, she was walking away.

He wanted to follow her and he turned, trying to yell out for her, but his voice was lost.

It ended.

When Grimmjow would wake up that morning, he wouldn't remember a thing.

He never did.

-Grimmjow-

He woke up in a bad mood and lying half off his mattress and with his aching from smashing into the small table by his bed. His head hurt too.

"Fuck."

Today was going to be a crappy day.

Grimmjow got ready fast, in a hurry for no particular reason than that he felt like it. Fifteen minutes later he was brushed, washed and clothed. And hungry.

He was very hungry this morning, more than usual, in fact. Last night he hasn't eaten at all, he hadn't been hungry. His appetite had disappeared just as he'd ordered pizza. Now it was in the fridge, cold and wasting away.

Grimmjow hated cold pizza. It tasted just wrong.

Downstairs, the smell of coffee wafted through the house, enticing him to stay and enjoy a cup. The temptation was great, and he was about to give in, but then changed his mind as soon as he saw Nina. She would ask him what he did yesterday and somehow know that something had gone wrong. Don't ask how, he didn't even know. Nina just always knew when something was troubling him.

Seriously, it was freaky.

Grimmjow grabbed his apple and an extra banana and turned to bolt, but then he caught sight of what Nina was wearing.

She was in her bathrobe and slippers.

Nina looked up from the paper, cup half way to her mouth and caught him staring.

"Everything okay hon?"

Grimmjow looked her over again, "Um, yeah."

"You sure?" She was looking worried now, Nina put her down her cup, it was a purple one with black X's around the rim, "You don't look well."

Grimmjow shrugged, "I'm fine. Don't worry about it."

He bolted.

That could not bode well.

Grimmjow finished his breakfast in record time and practically raced to school. It's not like he was going to be late, but he needed to look something up in the library before classes began.

Waiting for Ichigo didn't even cross his mind. Ichigo wasn't on his mind at all. All his brain was focused on was his school work.

Who gave a damn about Ichigo Kurosaki.

-Grimmjow-

The morning passed quickly, all three classes seeming to blur in together and the teacher's speech making no sense. Grimmjow didn't even try to make sense of their blabber, instead opting to doodle away in his book.

He never tried to find Ichigo and Ichigo never tried to find him. The orangette's books were mysteriously missing from his locker.

By the time lunch rolled around Grimmjow was starving and his stomached was loudly demanding food. So, as soon as the lunch bell rang he was out of his seat and making his way to the cafeteria as fast as he could. After he got his food, Grimmjow sat at an empty table instead of heading outside. He didn't spot Ichigo in the lunch line or in the hallways.

It's not as if he cared, of course.

When he looked up from his lunch, he caught that Arisawa girl's eyes. She was glaring at him with barely controlled anger. Every now and then the one's sitting with her would look his way too.

He paid her no more attention.

The rest of the day passed in the blur that the morning had passed and every minute that went by, Grimmjow dreaded. He would have to see Ichigo then, there was no way to avoid it.

Maybe he could skip work. Grimmjow quickly discarded that idea. He needed money.

He scowled, why was he trying to run? He'd done nothing wrong. Ichigo had been the stupid one yesterday. He'd just ignore him and refuse to talk to him until he apologized.

You're acting like a five year old.

Shut up!

The bell rang and the students of his high school rushed to their lockers.

Grimmjow let the flow of the students lead him to his locker. He was in no hurry. For all he knew Starrk had Nnoitra close early again.

He slammed the locker door, twisted the dial on the lock then turned to go. He stopped and stared down at Arisawa. She stared at him hard, as if trying to read his mind. The students were clearing the halls around them, the slamming of the lockers and the echo of all their footsteps wrapping around them.

"We need to talk."

Grimmjow raised an eyebrow and stared down at her skeptically, "Do we?" he stopped forward and Arisawa was forced to step back.

She breathed deeply, "Yes, we do."

"About what?"

Arisawa looked around quickly. The hallways were empty, except for them; which was more than freaky. Being in the halls when school was over, it wasn't how the universe worked. She nodded, satisfied, "Ichigo."

Grimmjow snorted, that was it?

"We have talked Arisawa."

She glared at him, Grimmjow stared right back, feeling bored with this whole situation.

The two stood facing off against each other. One trying to will the other to break and the other waiting for it all to be over. Arisawa finally caved after minutes of staring at the tall boy. She looked away and tried her best to explain, "He doesn't know what he's doing, something's wrong with him. As soon as he's some back to his sense he's going to dump you and come back to us." Tatsuki shrugged, "It might as well be now."

The words made his blood run cold. Fear gripped his heart in a vice-like grip. Words half thought out froze on their way out and he found himself unable to move. It took every ounce of will power he had in him to push it all away.

Grimmjow forced out a laugh and shook his head, closing his eyes to hide the emotion surely showing there. He forced his voice to remain calm, "You just up and decided that huh?"

Arisawa just huffed and shook her head like he was some misbehaving child and she his teacher.

"What makes you think you can make a decision like this for him?"

He was angry. Grimmjow was angry at this girl who thought she knew Ichigo—his friend Ichigo—enough that she thought she had a right to control him. She was a bitch and Grimmjow was very glad Ichigo had come to him. He was very glad that Ichigo chose to be friends with him and left them. If she was like this, how would the other ex-friends be?

Did he though? Did he still have Ichigo?

"I told you, he doesn't know what he's doing."

Grimmjow looked away in disbelief; that was the stupidest thing he'd ever heard. Ichigo thought for himself, nobody did it for him.

"Maybe it's best if you stay away from him."

Arisawa's eyes widened to impossible size, "Who the hell are you to-"

"I'm his friend." He said it firmly and with such force she faltered in her reply.

"We're his friends!"

"Are you?"

She began to look uncertain.

"Bye Arisawa."

Grimmjow pushed her out of his way and headed out. He had work.

-Grimmjow-

He never went to work and he didn't stop thinking about what he said. Ichigo was his fiend. He knew that for certain. This was his first friend in how long and he couldn't through away all they could be, because of one fight. He wouldn't.

So he headed home to drop off his stuff and then planned on immediately heading to Ichigo's house to swallow his pride and apologize.

But all of this fell away as soon as he walked into the house.

Nina was packing.

Grimmjow didn't move. He couldn't.

He looked at the few boxes in the kitchen and then his gaze found where Nina was, packing the few things she wanted to keep in a medium sized box. She should've used a small box, Nina never kept much. Five months they'd been here, yet somehow she'd managed to collect a whole bunch of junk. Not for the first time Grimmjow wondered how she got the money. The figurines that he'd shoed to Ichigo yesterday were around Nina, standing at attention in a half circle. She wrapped them each in tissue paper, then wrapped two together in more tissue paper. She was on number three before he finally found his voice.

"What are you doing?" He'd wanted to yell it, but the words came out quietly and slowly.

Nina looked up at him, hands holding a figurine of an angel lovingly. It was the one she'd gotten when he was ten and had to get on a plane at 2 am to go to their new place. She smiled, like she wasn't currently shredding her son's heart with a dull edged knife.

"Oh, hon, you're home. Good."

She pushed herself up and wiped imaginary dust from her hands. When she hugged him, he didn't hug back.

"What's going on?" he asked again. Why wasn't she answering his question?

Nina let him go and looked around—she still had that infuriating smile—and shrugged. Without a care she sat back down and began packing again. "I'm packing my boy."

Grimmjow wanted to strangle her. The violent thought surprised him so much he backed away. Never, no matter what Nina did or how badly she unintentionally annoyed him, had he ever wanted to hurt her. He pushed it to the back of his mind and looked pointedly at a box full of kitchen supplies. The cups Ichigo and he had used yesterday were sticking out. At least, he thought they were the ones. More than likely he was just being oversentimental.

Which was stupid.

"Why?" he asked, pulling free from his thoughts. Nina stopped packing, she stroked the trinket in her hand, "It's time we moved on." She said simply

Why is she looking at me? I want her to at least look at me while she tears my new world apart.

"Moved on?" There was a mocking note in the words, but Nina didn't notice them or just chose to ignore them, because she answered like it was a normal question.

"We've lived here long enough. I'm thinking somewhere up north next. It'll be cold, but think of the adventure."

The adventure? Was she fucking serious?!

"I'm in my senior year." It was amazing how calm he was sounding. He was still somewhat in shock.

Nina waved her hand dismissively as she packed newspaper tightly in the bottom of the box. "Oh, you can transfer."

"I don't want to." He whispered, still staring at Nina like a wounded animal.

"Say again hon?" she started to place the wrapped figurines in the nest of newspapers.

"I don't…" he began to say, but quickly lost the nerve. How was he supposed to say this?

"I left some boxes in your room. So if you could just go up and start packing-"

"No!" Oh, that's how.

Nina looked up, shocked. Grimmjow stared right back, his face a mirror image of hers.

"Excuse me?" She said softly, looking like he'd just slapped her. It tugged at his heart to see her like that.

He already started though, so it's not like he could take any of it back; he didn't want to. "I don't want to move." He breathed deeply, "I want to stay here."

All the color drained from her face and Nina was left looking like some ghost. She tried to form words, her mouth kept opening and closing. Grimmjow looked away, the ache building. He had to hold his ground on this. It was his last year of high school, he had to stay.

"Hon."

Grimmjow showed pure stubbornness.

"You can't." she said weakly.

He glared at her, his anger beginning to come up. "Yes I can." Grimmjow gestured to the boxes, "You can go, but I'm staying."

Nina smiled gently, "Not here. What are going to do about the bills? Even if you could pay them, the landlord's already has gotten new tenants."

"Then I'll stay with Ichigo." He had no idea where the idea came from, but it came. Grimmjow didn't even know if Ichigo would take him, but it was looking like the only option so far.

Nina squinted and tilted her head just a bit, "Who?"

"My friend."

"Oh," She closed her eyes and slowly shook her head, "No, hon, you can't. Don't be a burden like that."

Grimmjow's mouth fell open; he stared at Nina disbelievingly, "What?"

Nina got up from the floor to approach Grimmjow a second time. She lifted her hand and gently held his face. "You two hardly know each other. Sweetie you'd just be a burden to him."

Grimmjow shook her hand away and stopped back. He felt the numbness coming back, pushing his growing anger down.

"Go pack." She said and turned away to tape the box shut.

Grimmjow followed her order, he climbed the stairs to his bedroom as if he weren't in control of his body.

There weren't boxes in his room as Nina had said, there was a box.

He stood there, still numb, trying to figure out when the universe decided it fucking hated him.

Oh, stop being such a drama queen.

Grimmjow hit his forehead, he really was going insane.

No, you're not. We've already had this discussion. I'm you.

He heard nothing, there was no voice. He was still his slightly sane self.

…

Grimmjow sighed. Now what the hell was he supposed to do? He could pack. He had to pack. He didn't want to pack.

I don't want to pack.

You could leave.

Grimmjow's eyes widened.

We've talked about this already! You're eighteen! Your mom can't tell ya what to do anymore! If ya want to be friends with Ichigo, be friends with Ichigo! If you want to stay, stay!

He was beginning to get a headache.

Just because you guys had a fight it doesn't mean you two are mortal enemies, or immortal for that matter, friends are supposed to forgive each other.

They were. Friends were supposed to forgive each other, of that Grimmjow was sure.

So leave.

Grimmjow gulped, closed his eyes tightly and clenched his fists.

Why was it so hard?

Just Leave!

And just like that Grimmjow was packing. He snatched his duffel from the closet and ignored his suitcases. Some clothes were thrown in and then this small laptop along with its charger Grimmjow went to the bathroom and grabbed what was his. There wasn't that much, all that was left was his school work and that was already in his bag by the door. Grimmjow grabbed his bag and clomped down the stairs and went right for the door. He only stopped long enough to snatch his school bag, then he was off.

"Grimmjow where are you going?!"

He didn't stop, he didn't feel anything when he recognized the slight panic in her voice. The numb feeling was still surrounding him.

"Grimmjow!"

He didn't even slow down.

-Grimmjow-

There was an alley right across from Ichigo's house. It was one of those fancy ones with no garbage cans in or any litter for that matter and had a brick walkway. Major suburbia. A bush was right against a fence, it was big enough to hide a grown man if he squatted. So that's where Grimmjow was.

When he'd gotten here, no one had been home so, of course, he had paced, then the doubts had come. What if Ichigo was too mad to take him in? What if he did take Grimmjow in, but his parents didn't? What if he ate all their bread and they put the police on him? Because honestly, he was hungry. Then he'd gone into the alley and not soon after a car had pulled up and the whole Kurosaki clan had come out. The dad looked crazy in his opinion and the two girls were complete opposites. The black haired one reminded him of Ichigo, before they became friends. She had the same scowl and everything. Ichigo himself looked moody. He yelled at his dad to stop being such an idiot and kept his shoulders hunched. Grimmjow didn't walk over there though and he didn't call out as they walked in. He also didn't go and ring the doorbell when they all went inside. Doubts had him on all dies, not allowing any form of escape. Hours passed and night came. He was just about to head back to the house to start packing, he was about to give up, when it began to rain.

Grimmjow let out an inhuman sound and glared up at the clouds.

Bugger.

The rain was coming down hard and in no time at all, he was soaked through. His clothes clung to him as a soggy mess. Pretty soon he was shivering and there were goose bumps all over his skin. Grimmjow liked the rain, but he usually preferred to be inside while it was happening.

He stared across the street. The lights shone like a beacon calling him home.

Oh, suck it up, he told himself.

Gathering his courage, Grimmjow grabbed his bags and raced to the other side of the street. He knocked loudly on the door.

It seemed like forever until someone finally opened the door.

Ichigo stood in front of him.

The orangette's eyes widened a fraction, "Grimmjow?"

The shivering ten nodded in greeting; he looked the entryway up and down, "Can I come in?"

Ichigo nodded fiercely and pulled the other in himself.

"What are you doing, you idiot!?" Ichigo practically yelled.

Grimmjow shook himself, trying in vain to be rid of the water that stuck to him. He looked around, they were in the kitchen. "Nice place." He said, in way of an answer. It was too. The floors were clean and there were no dirty dished in the sink. Returning his gaze to look at each other, one completely confused and a little pleased, the other fearing that he was about to be kicked out.

Then Ichigo shook his head and the scowl disappeared, "Take your damn coat off."

Actually, it was a sweater, but Grimmjow did not correct him.

Grimmjow peeled the slopping mess off himself and put it in Ichigo's waiting arms.

Grimmjow slowly took off his shoes, watching the other carefully as he put Grimmjow's wet sweater in a laundry basket.

"Thought we weren't talking."

Ichigo snorted.

"Shut up Grimmjow."

"Where is everybody?"

"Dad's finishing up some work, my sisters are upstairs studying."

Grimmjow refrained from asking where Ichigo's mother was, but the curiosity was there. Then he saw a picture of a beautiful woman on the wall and the candle on a table under it and thought, oh.

The sound of footsteps came close to them, "Ichi-nii, who's here?" The blonde girl came into view; when she saw Grimmjow, there was surprise, but then a warm smile showed itself.

"My friend Yuzu."

She smiled wider and held out her hand, "Hi nice to meet you."

Grimmjow didn't shake it, just hunched his shoulders, "Hi."

An awkward silence followed, in which time Yuzu's smile faded slightly and she withdrew her hand.

Ichigo coughed, "Come on." He gestured to where the stairs were. "Night Yuzu."

"Night Ichi-nii."

Grimmjow followed him, barely looking around, but taking a second look at the portrait on the wall. He followed Ichigo up the two flights of stairs and to a small closet where the orangette began to root through. He came up with a towel, which he threw at Grimmjow.

"Go shower."

Nothing sounded better right then. Ichigo pointed to the room and he went right in.

Grimmjow showered quickly, the hot water felt good and almost put him to sleep. When he finished he put on clean clothes from his bag.

Ichigo hadn't asked any questions. He hadn't kicked Grimmjow out or slammed the door in his face. Instead he'd taken Grimmjow in.

So, this is what it's like to have a real friend.

Grimmjow had to admit, he kind of liked it.

He exited the bathroom and looked around, there was one open doorway. Grimmjow headed there. Ichigo was sitting at his desk, drumming a pencil on a notebook. As soon as he noticed the bluenette he gestured to his bed, "Sit."

He felt like he was twelve and just been caught with a hand in the cookie jar. Nevertheless, he obeyed and took a seat at the edge of the bed.

Ichigo took a moment and then asked the question, Grimmjow knew was coming, "What happened?"

Grimmjow shrugged, "Had a fight with Nina."

Ichigo didn't know that that was his mom's name and he also had no idea that was the only thing Grimmjow ever remembered calling her.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Grimmjow only hesitated a second before asking the only question that mattered, "Can I stay here?"

"Of course."

Grimmjow's eyes widened and he stared at Ichigo suspiciously.

The orangette shrugged and raised an eyebrow, "We're friends. Why would I say no?" He looked at Grimmjow like the boy was stupid.

"No idea." Grimmjow whispered, still unwilling to believe it could be this easy. They'd been fighting, Ichigo should be glaring death at him or something.

Ichigo looked at him, "Will you tell me the whole story tomorrow?"

Grimmjow gulped. Would he? Looking into his… friends face, he could do nothing but nod.

"Whatever ya want."

It was the truth too.

"I want to sleep."

Grimmjow burst out laughing and nodded in agreement. Ichigo smiled at him, quite happy with himself.

There was a futon set up on the floor, Grimmjow settled himself into it while Ichigo reclaimed his bed.

The light was shut and Grimmjow couldn't help, but think how safe he felt.

This was good.

-Love&Loss-

Ichigo couldn't sleep.

All he could do was stare at his ceiling and think of nothing and everything. Was that a bug? Grimmjow was here. The rain was really loud tonight. Grimmjow was still his friend. School again tomorrow. Grimmjow was here. These new sheets were kind of itchy.

Grimmjow. Homework.

Grimmjow.

Grimmjow.

Grimmjow.

Who the hell was Nina?!

When Grimmjow had said her name Ichigo had stamped down the jealous that had tried to surface. Grimmjow had never mentioned any Nina before. Grimmjow hardly mentioned anything.

Grimmjow was here.

"Grimmjow?" It was just to see if the man was still awake.

The bluenette grunted from the floor.

"Tell me something about yourself."

He snorted, "Seriously Ichigo?"

"Seriously Grimmjow."

Ichigo's guest hummed sleepily, "The smell of blueberries make me sick."

Ichigo snorted, that was weird.

"Blueberries have a smell?"

"To me they do." Now Ichigo's blue haired friend sounded alert.

"Oh."

Now what would he do? Grimmjow answered for him.

"Your turn."

Ichigo smiled a little. He thought about it, "I'm bad with faces."

"Bad with faces?"

"I can't remember a face clearly or somebody for that matter, unless I see them regularly."

Girmmjow grunted, "Liar."

He scowled, "Am not."

"You recognized me."

Ichog's eyes widened. He had hadn't he?

"You were a fluke."

"A fluke? You hurt my feelings pumpkin."

Ichigo lurched up and looked down at the floor so he could glare at him. Not that it did any good, the bastard had his eyes shut.

"Shut up Smurf."

Grimmjow smiled widely. Ichigo could just make it out in the darkness. Heat began to creep its way up his neck.

Was he blushing?

Quicky, Ichigo lay back down. Why the hell was he blushing?

There was no reason to blush.

Was there?

"Your turn." Ichigo whispered.

The answer took so long to come, he thought Grimmjow had fallen asleep.

"I hate The Simpsons."

"I don't like oranges."

"I never had training wheels."

"You never had training wheels?"

"Nah, didn't need them."

"Weird."

"You're one to talk."

Ichigo smiled.

"Cockroaches freak me out."

"I hate cats."

They continued on like that for a while. Each learning stuff about the other neither would've guess by themselves. Ichigo stared at his ceiling, all the while smiling.

This friendship could definitely work.

-Ichigo-

Grimmjow was asleep. Ichigo let him continue to rest. Ichigo was watching him. His hand dangled off the bed and he lay on his stomach, uncomfortable, but unwilling to look away.

"Grimm."

The bluenette remained asleep, unmoving, not even bothered by Ichigo's low voice.

Ichigo blushed, "I think…" he trailed off.

Grimmjow's hair fell in front of his eyes as he shifted a little in his sleep.

"I think I may like you more than a friend."

Grimmjow remained asleep.

Ichigo rolled over and went to sleep.

Hope you all enjoyed it! It was a joy to write honestly. I apologize for any grammatical errors you may have found while reading this, grammar is not my forte, nor is double checking my writing to get rid of said grammar errors. If you liked reading this leave a review telling what you liked, even what you didn't like about it, or if you're confused about anything, review and I will clarify as best I am able. OH! and also feel free to tell me about your guy's holiday, what your favorite part was, favorite present, I would love to hear about it :) Merry Christmas guys and Happy New Year!

Truly Yours,

~Klaanvdia