Exposed!

Exposed

Chapter XV

-

-

-

The very next day after Ichigo had woken up after his confinement in Las Noches, he and his friends had gone back to school, explaining that they had all caught food poisoning from something they had eaten. Now, a few months later they were back to the usual grind, attending class, taking notes, fighting the random Hollow that popped up every so often. It would have been life as usual if they weren’t using their weekends to train in Soul Society for the upcoming battle against Aizen. Every single weekend since Ichigo had healed, he, Inoue, Ishida, Chad, Grimmjow, Rukia, Renji (who had decided to stay in the material world as a transfer student), and even Yoruichi went through the gate to Seireitei and had been training with various unseated Shinigami, vice-captains, and even captains.

Just as Urahara predicted, things would be coming to an end in a few days’ time. Yamamoto had held a conference for all those involved in the war and had explained that they were to prepare for departure within the week. They had further sorted out who would be staying to protect Soul Society and the material world, and who would be doing the actual attacking. Ichigo had naturally volunteered himself to go to Hueco Mundo and much to the protesting of his friends, told Yamamoto that it would perhaps be best if Inoue and Chad and maybe even Ishida would stay behind for protection. The sou-taichou had agreed to this and the matter was settled.

Inoue, Chad and Ishida had been allowed to stay up until the 6th night, the night before the rest departed for the attack, in order to say goodbye to their friends; but now it was nearing midnight and their friends stood gathered around the gate, saying their last goodbyes as the three humans were shooed out of Soul Society.

Inoue smiled and hugged Ichigo (who ignored Grimmjow’s possessive growl), telling him to be careful before turning and leaving. Urahara had made an amazing invention in the last few months; they were like walkie-talkies, only they worked through dimensions. Inoue, Ishida and Chad would be able to keep in touch with Ichigo and company throughout their journey and would be able to inform Tatsuki, Mizuiro and Keigo about the goings-on in Hueco Mundo. That way everyone was happy and reinforcements could be called in almost instantly if needed.

‘That and Urahara was just curious, the bastard,’ Ichigo had thought, an orange eyebrow twitching violently at the thought of the freaky blonde.

The carrot-top sighed as he watched his friends walk through the gate, jumping as he felt a heavy hand fall on his shoulder. He didn’t need to look behind him to know that it was Grimmjow. The orange-haired teen leaned back into the warm chest, reveling in the feeling of Grimmjow’s warm arms wrapping around him. He didn’t care that he was showing a moment of weakness; he had already admitted the ‘l’ word out loud so he was pretty sure he couldn’t do anything more to damage his tough-guy image. To his surprise he felt Grimmjow’s chin come to rest on the top of his head and heard the man sigh. Ichigo fought the urge to turn in his arms and just hold him.

‘Fuck, I’m going soft,’ Ichigo thought in irritation, unable to bring himself to be fully angry while he was still warm in his lover’s arms.

“Ichi,” Grimmjow whispered and Ichigo shuddered as he felt the soft breath ruffle his hair, bringing him out of his reverie. “Don’t do anything stupid tomorrow, retard.”

Ichigo did turn in Grimmjow’s embrace then, tucking his head underneath the taller man’s chin and wrapping his arms low around Grimmjow’s hips. He felt a chuckle rumble though the Espada’s chest and blushed slightly, looking down. “Grimm… Stay with me tonight?” Grimmjow raised an eyebrow and smirked and Ichigo flushed in annoyance.

“No sex, Grimm. Please?”

Grimmjow stared into Ichigo’s molten brown eyes a moment before nodding. He felt his lover relax against his chest and a strange feeling welled up inside him. Grimmjow was about to push it down, like he usually did, but thought better of it. He knew he was being sappy, which was so not in his nature, but this could be the last time he had the opportunity to be with Ichigo; after what had happened to Ichigo a few months ago, he wasn’t ready to take any chances. Grimmjow had been there himself when he had been retained by Aizen after the latter had found out about him fucking around with a Shinigami, so he knew what Ichigo had been through.

“Listen Ichi… I know how you feel about me,” Grimmjow muttered, his arms tightening around the teenager, refusing to look at him. “I… If you ever mention this to anyone, I will kill you, fucker. I feel the same way about you.” Grimmjow felt him sigh against his chest and smirked.

“Grimm, whatever happens tomorrow…”

“I know, Ichi, you don’t have to embarrass yourself,” Grimmjow said with a teasing smirk. Ichigo blushed harder and smacked him in the side of the head.

“Bastard.”

The two stood there for a few minutes more just looking at the sky before deciding to head in to Ichigo’s room. Grimmjow smiled as Ichigo peeled off his gi and hakama; he looked absolutely beautiful standing naked in the moonlight. Grimmjow followed suit after a few moments of just appreciating and they lay down together on the cot. Their legs tangled together, Ichigo’s back against Grimmjow’s chest as Grimmjow’s hands settled low on Ichigo’s hips, drawing slow circles to lull the boy off to sleep.

-

-+-

-

The next morning Ichigo woke up with the sun, feeling warm and happy. He slowly and lazily came to awareness, enjoying the feeling of Grimmjow’s hand resting on his lower abdomen and the feel of his body behind him, the tangle of their legs, the breath on the back of his neck. For a moment he thought that he wouldn’t mind waking up like this every morning, but that didn’t last long; he remembered what today was and sighed, rolling over in Grimmjow’s arms to wake up his lover. Ichigo thought about smacking the idiot awake, as usual, but decided to wake him up using a different method.

The teen cupped Grimmjow’s cheek, the side without the mask, and kissed him sweetly on the lips, his other hand resting lightly on the man’s bare chest. His lips moved from Grimmjow’s to flit over his strong jaw and down his neck to suck lightly on his pulse. Blue eyes slide lazily open and he tilted his neck to give Ichigo better access, humming in approval. Ichigo pulled back to look the other man in the eyes, smiling lazily.

“Good morning, Grimm,” Ichigo muttered warmly, sending shivers down Grimmjow’s spine. The orange-haired boy yawned and stretched much to the amusement of the man below him.

“Rise and shine, retard,” Grimmjow replied with a slight affectionate twinge. “We’ve got enough time to get some breakfast before we have to show up at the gate.”

Ichigo frowned and looked away. “I’m not hungry, Grimm.”

Grimmjow stared at him for a moment, trying to unlock the puzzle that was the Substitute’s mind before realizing the problem; Ichigo was nervous, or maybe even scared. He supposed he couldn’t really blame the kid after what had happened to him last time, though he’d just call Ichigo a pussy if the subject ever came up.

Ichigo had been defeated, and Grimmjow thanked his lucky stars that something worse hadn’t happened to him. Aizen had the tendency to smash his victim’s morale completely, and Ichigo had come back just as determined and stubborn as before; he’d been worried that Ichigo had been raped or something.

“C’mon dipshit, gotta get up,” Ichigo said, trying to change the subject as he got off the cot to put on his clothing. He felt Grimmjow’s eyes on his ass as he bent over to put on his hakama. “Stop being such a fuckin’ pervert!”

Grimmjow just laughed at Ichigo’s choice of words and got dressed himself. He was excited at the prospect of a good fight and he couldn’t wait to get revenge on Ulquiorra. The shithead beat him up, stabbed him all to hell, and left him to die. He didn’t even bother to finish him off! Growling to himself, Grimmjow turned to see Ichigo stretching.

“Let’s go.” Ichigo said, eyes burning, lips pulled up into a smirk. Grimmjow’s blue eyes glittered and they left together toward the gate. Grimmjow glanced down at the shorter man and hooked an arm around his shoulder as they walked.

-

-+-

-

Rukia smiled as she watched the two men approach, Grimmjow’s arm around Ichigo’s shoulders. She poked Renji in the side and he looked up, grinning. “Oi, strawberry! It’s about damn time!”

Ichigo frowned at him and punched him in the shoulder. “Shut up, pineapple.”

“Ichigo, are you sure-?” Rukia began, but was cut off by Grimmjow’s snort.

“Of course he is. Who do you think you’re fuckin’ talkin’ to, midget?”

Rukia opened her mouth to retort but the comment died on her tongue as Yamamoto sou-taichou approached, followed by the Hueco Mundo party: the captain and vice-captain of squads 10 and 11, along with Yumichika and Ikkaku, as well as Rukia and Renji. Byakuya and Ukitake as well as a few of their underlings were already stationed in the material world and the rest were to remain in Soul Society for protection.

“It’s time to go, everyone. The ones who are to protect the material world are already in place and those who aren’t going to Hueco Mundo will stay back to protect Soul Society. If anyone is to become injured, send them back as soon as you are able and Unohana-taichou and her squad will take care of them. If there aren’t any questions, then good luck.” Everyone nodded and with one last look at Soul Society and all their friends they were leaving behind, they dove through the gate.

-

-+-

-

In Hueco Mundo, in a white-walled chamber in Las Noches, Aizen and 9 Espada were sitting around a long, rectangular table, watching the Shinigami via an invention of Szayel’s that was kind of like a flat-screen plasma TV.

Aizen smiled down at his followers; they looked like they were itching for a good battle, to spill blood and gore. He couldn’t blame them since he had purposely deprived them of fighting of any kind for the last three weeks to increase their bloodlust. As he watched them lick their teeth and their hands stray toward their zanpakutos, he knew that it had worked. His Espada were excited; his Espada were ready. He would make sure that they would come out victorious and if they didn’t… Well, he had no use for incompetent idiots who couldn’t complete a simple task.

-

-+-

-

Tatsuki sighed in annoyance. She, Mizuiro and Keigo were holed up with Inoue in the Urahara Shoten while everyone else was out patrolling Karakura with nothing to do but wait. The time was going by so slowly and she really had no idea how Inoue was able to handle it so calmly. She was about to go take a bath (to pass the time) when the radio-type-thing that Urahara had invented began to crackle and Rukia’s voice floated into her ears.

“We arrived in Hueco Mundo a few hours ago and will be at Las Noches soon enough. I just want you to know before I continue that Urahara assured us that this mode of communication is completely safe, so you can say whatever you want on here. That said, we can inform you a little on what our plans are. Ichigo, Hitsugaya-taichou and I are planning on going after the Hogyouku while the rest try to keep Aizen and his followers busy. Yamamoto sou-taichou was sure that some Espada would be headed your way, so please inform Urahara and Yoruichi once you get the chance. There should be enough help without having to call on Ishida and Chad. That’s the plan, anyway… You know how little things actually work out the way they’re planned,” Rukia said, a smile in her voice. “Also, this is a two-way communicator, however once the battle with Aizen has begun we will be leaving it on so you won’t be able to communicate back with us during that time.”

“Okay, Kuchiki!” Inoue said lightly. “Tatsuki, Keigo and Mizuiro are here too, they wanted to know what’s going on.”

“Yes, that’s fine. I think Ichigo’s worried about them getting tangled up in this mess again, so don’t let anything happen to them,” Rukia replied in all seriousness. In the background Inoue could hear the orange-haired teen bickering with someone she assumed was Grimmjow and she giggled.

“Is that Kurosaki-kun and Grimmjow-san?”

“…Yes. Well, I’m sorry to cut this conversation short, but Hitsugaya-taichou and Matsumoto fuku-taichou have cleared the area, so we should move on. Try not to contact us unless absolutely necessary,” Rukia said and a click flicked on the other end of the radio, signaling the end of the conversation.

The four friends looked at each other, suddenly glad for the radio that Urahara had provided.

“We might as well settle in for a long wait,” Mizuiro said fake cheerfully. “Anyone bring popcorn?”


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-

-

-