Hands of Fate

Title: Hands of Fate - Turning Point
Author: Shadow Arashi
Fandom: Bleach
Pairing: Ichigo x Grimmjow
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 5201
Summary: A chance meeting turns the life of an Espada and a shinigami upside down. Kurosaki will stop at nothing to get what he wants, but will his prey give in?
Warnings: AU, shinigami!Grimmjow and arrancar!Ichigo. Dub-con in the beginning, smut, angst, breaking of a character and stockholm syndrome. Grimmjow may seem a bit OOC but I tried to explain why to the best of my abilities in the fic.
Disclaimer: Bleach and all its characters belong to Tite Kubo, this fic is written for entertainment only and I don’t make any profit of it.

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The first real change in their relationship took place because of the bathroom.

To his defense he hadn't planned that particular event, although it probably was that same lack of premeditation which had affected the shinigami so strongly back then.

Ichigo had just came back from a rather messy mission and had been desperate for a good soak, blissfully unaware that Grimmjow had disobeyed him again. The shinigami had secretly sneaked into his bath to clean up, the still rebellious man unsatisfied with the very restricted access he had been granted to the cleaning facilities.

Maybe if Grimmjow hadn't been so quick to break every rules and every orders given to him, things would have taken a lot longer to change between them. But as it was, Ichigo stumbled in at the exact same moment Grimmjow choose to get out of the water, and was thus blessed with the breathtaking sight of a wet, naked shinigami.

He was left to stare, mouth hanging open, as Grimmjow's cheeks actually colored slightly and the man turned away briskly. The shinigami quickly covered himself with a scowl, hiding his embarrassment and the luscious body the Sexta had only ever seen in such a state of undress once before. Ichigo couldn't tear his eyes away. He unthinkingly took a step forward, mesmerized.

It was a mistake.

Grimmjow's eyes grew wide in panic, a look of pure fear crossing his features and washing away his previous anger before he bolted for the door. The distraught blue haired man tried to get as much distance between himself and the arrancar, only to loose his balance as he slipped on the wet floor.

Later Ichigo would be unable to remember exactly how they got tangled that way, but one moment he was reaching out for the teal haired figure and the next they were sprawled onto the cold ground, Ichigo lying on top of his captive.

Grimmjow froze beneath his weight, staring at him with shock, tightly reigned in fear and - hidden deep within those wounded blue gems - anticipation. Ichigo wouldn't have noticed it if he hadn't been looking for it. But notice it he did, just like he noticed the way the slender body shivered under him as Grimmjow visibly struggle with the urge to push him away, his eyes widening even more when the blue haired man realized his long legs were spread out on either side of Ichigo's hips due to the earlier fall. Whether he wanted it or not, the shinigami was as affected as he was, regardless of what he had to him. Or maybe there was something else?

They gazed at each others in silence, their lips barely an inch away from each others as Ichigo mulled over that thought. They were both acutely conscious that there was nothing but a thin towel between them, nothing to stop the Sexta from taking his captive right here and now.

But Ichigo didn't, though the temptation to just rip the flimsy white material away and claim what was his was nearly overwhelming.

Instead he took a deep breath, only allowing himself a brief caress of his fingertips on the tanned skin before he helped the shinigami back onto his feet. He then quickly pulled away and exited the room, leaving Grimmjow alone to gap at his back.

When he saw the shinigami the following day Grimmjow ignored him as usual, but from the corner of his eyes the Sexta saw he was behaving more receptively, eyes darting toward him every once in a while.

For the first time in weeks Ichigo cracked a smile.

------

Grimmjow had realized early that he was getting way too comfortable as a prisoner, more especially when Ichigo took him to the throne room one day and he didn't even bat an eyelash at being in a room full of arrancars.

Slowly but surely, he was falling.

Ikaku would have probably kicked his ass and ranted about stockholm syndrome if he had been here.

There was something to be said about the relationship between a captor and his captive though. Grimmjow was aware, on a certain level, that his new found complaisance (because he sure as hell hadn't bow down easily) had most likely everything to do with trying to stay alive and trying to stay out of the Sexta's way rather than betraying his kins, but that didn't make it any easier to deny or ignore.

At first Grimmjow thought he had it all figured out. He had taken a perverse delight in pissing off the arrancar whenever he could in the beginning and he had greatly enjoyed pressing all his buttons. At least until Ichigo totally shattered his world and left him to pick up the pieces.

He had never expected the arrancar to have that kind of interest in him. He had never expected to be so violently ravaged either. He hadn't been prepared- had never been prepared for such a scenario, mentally or physically. That wasn't the kind of stuff they learn in the academy. But no matter how much he hated it, he couldn't deny that the ordeal had left scars behind that would never go away completely.

That night Grimmjow had been harshly reminded that he was truly and utterly helpless, alone in enemy territory with no hope of ever getting out on his own. He may have been playing the tough guy, provoking Ichigo as if he had nothing to fear, but what small amount of control he had had over the situation until then had been flat out ripped away from him that night, torn to shreds and threw at his feet when the Sexta had forced himself on him.

Coming to term with that reality, with the fact that he was a victim, had been one of the most painful experience of his life. And he had hated every moments of it. He had hated how insecure he had been right afterward, hated how he would randomly remember the pain and cower from the Espada instead of attacking him head on. But he could have somehow got himself together if only Ichigo hadn't done a 180 on him and shown kindness.

He could have dealt with everything else, dealt with the pain and the insults. Everything except for that gentleness.

It started with small things, so small in fact that he didn't notice what was going on until it was too late and he had grown too comfortable for comfort with his new life. Before he knew it he was looking to Ichigo for all his needs, falling into the easy pattern the arrancar had created for him by taking over all duties related to his well-being.

The Sexta kept the others Espada away from him, was here to heal his wounds when he did something stupid like insulting Nnoitra, brought him his food and watched over his sleep.

His captor had suddenly became his one and only mean of safety and protection.

Grimmjow wished it wasn't so, but his memories didn't lie.

------

What are right and wrong worth when there are no more differences between enemy and protector?

------

"Are you going to eat?" Ichigo demanded, his voice surprisingly calm.

Grimmjow looked down at the steaming plate of warm food before him, and turned his head away.

He heard the Sexta sigh next to him but choose to ignore it for the moment. Cold fingers suddenly grasped his chin and tilted his head up. Grimmjow opened his mouth, already pulling away, when the reply that was on the tip of his tongue died as his heart failed to skip a beat as it usually did.

The shinigami blinked, and looked at the arrancar.

Grimmjow's heart still refused to clench in fear of the orange haired hollow, the presence more soothing than frightening, and the shinigami distantly noticed that he didn't quite mind the other's touch anymore.

When Ichigo pushed the plate toward him again he complied with the unspoken order.

Somehow he couldn't find it in himself to be angry like he used to be.

Grimmjow knew he should be more concerned about it than he was. He really should. But the thought was quickly forgotten when Ichigo smiled at him and pushed the strawberry cake he had made himself for dessert toward him.

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When feelings and morals are twisted beyond recognition?

------

Electric blue eyes cracked open, immediately bright and alert.

Sharp instincts that hadn't been dulled in spite of his captivity kicked in and it only took him a few seconds to understand what was wrong. Grimmjow didn't make a sound, now all too aware of the steel like arm wrapped around his waist.

"Go back to sleep." A sleepy voice mumbled against his neck.

The hard body pressed against him tightened his hold and Grimmjow draw in a sharp breath. Warm puffs of air tickled his neck, the sensation soft and surprisingly pleasant.

Ichigo let out a groan and snuggled deeper against him, his legs intertwining mechanically with Grimmjow's. The blue haired shinigami bit his lips as his heart rate spiked, relaxing slightly when nothing more followed. He stared into the darkness, feeling the arrancar's chest raising and falling against his back as he considered his situation.

It was only when he woke up the next morning, Ichigo's unconscious form still pinning him down gently to the mattress, that he realized he had actually relaxed enough to let the Espada close to him.

Willingly.

But by then Ichigo was waking up, peeling himself off his back and whining at being awaken so early in the morning, and Grimmjow forgot all his previous thoughts in the light of such a cute and unexpected display.

------

When prey and predator are bound so tightly together one can't live without the other?

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"What are you doing Ulquiorra?"

Grimmjow flattened himself against the wall, wide eyes glued to the two Espada glaring daggers at each others.

Or rather Ichigo was glaring while Ulquiorra's expression remained unchanged, but the tension in the air and his raising reiatsu told another story.

"You should teach your pet to be more well-behaved, Sexta." The pale Espada said, though not making a move to back away from the shinigami "You left your trash in front of the meeting room unattended."

Ichigo bristled. For an instant Grimmjow thought the orange haired hollow was going to attack his superior, when the Espada's reiatsu abruptly stopped growing.

"He's no concern of yours. It's my responsibility to take care of him so now back off."

The Sexta's voice was shockingly calm but the warning behind his words was clear as day.

/He is mine. Touch him again and I'll make it that you die a slow, painful death./

Ulquiorra tilted his head to the side, before he finally stepped away from Grimmjow who was still pressed against the wall.

"Make sure you watch him properly in the future."

The Cuatro threw them a last glance and walked away. Ichigo was by Grimmjow's side in a flash, grasping the shinigami's hands in his own.

"What did he do to you?" He nearly growled

"Nothing. I'm fine." He replied, surprisingly subdued.

Ichigo seemed unconvinced and checked him for injuries, his dark brown eyes swirling with something brand new that the shinigami couldn't point out. Suddenly, and maybe for the first time, Grimmjow caught a glimpse of how far they had both fallen.

"Why are you doing this?"

Ichigo pulled away with a smile, one hand lingering on his hips and causing him to shiver imperceptibly.

"Because you're mine."

And suddenly, he understood.

------

That's when you reach the point of no return.

------

They say that understanding something is to allow oneself to be changed by that something.

Understanding someone is to connect with that person, thus to give them the power to influence you and make you see things their way.

Grimmjow only wished he had been warned about that before he crossed the line. All of Ichigo's previous actions, from his first show of ownership when he put his mark on him to his latest violent demonstration of conquest, had fell into place the moment he realized he understood the other man.

He understood that he was the spoil of war of the Sexta, but now he was also glaringly aware that somewhere along the way Ichigo had became fond of him well enough to protect him. He also understood now that by forcing himself upon him (understanding had robbed him of the ability to even call it rape anymore), the Sexta had been acting the only way he knew how to show his feelings, rather than trying to break him through violation.

It was crazy and insane and it made his head hurt but the damage was done.

Ichigo had slipped through the cracks in his defense and Grimmjow knew it was too late to go back and pretend the connection hadn't been formed and wasn't there, like a parasite in the back of his mind.

Grimmjow only wished he had been warned about that before he crossed the line, because now he knew he would never be the same again.

------

Ichigo wiped his hands on the back of his pants and sheathed his zanpakuto. Shielding his eyes from the light of Hueco Mundo's artificial sun, the Sexta threw his prey over his shoulder and started the journey back to Las Noches.

The mission was a pretty simple one, just exterminating of a few hollows and bringing back the strongest one he could find. In two days he would be back, which was good as he didn't like being away from his shinigami for too long.

At first the Sexta hadn't been looking forward to his mission. However, Ichigo wasn't blind enough by his obsession that he couldn't see that Grimmjow needed time to sort out the mess that was his head. He decided to put this time to good use instead, and had finally figured out his next move concerning Grimmjow by the time he reached the towers of Las Noches.

Ichigo went straight to the throne room where he dropped the product of his hunt, leaving Ulquiorra to deal with the mess, before quickly making his way to his quarters.

The high ranking arrancar was greeted by the lovely sight of his shinigami curled up in his bed, buried under at least three blankets to fight the cold of Hueco Mundo.

Ichigo smiled, feeling all his tension and frustration of the last few days melt away.

Making quick work of his clothes the Sexta undressed, leaving his zanpakuto onto its stand, before joining Grimmjow under the covers.

------

The first thing he noticed upon waking up was the weight of another body on top of him.

Having gone through this before Grimmjow's breath only came to a brief stop, his eyes cracking open a tiny bit. A pale arm was holding onto his waist lightly, indicating that Ichigo had slipped into his bed once again while he was sleeping.

It brought back rather unpleasant memories and he fought against his natural instinct to tense, his confused mind still torn between previous abuse and his current treatment at the hand of the Espada. He wiggled a bit, hoping to obtain a bit of breathing room, and froze when he felt the Sexta's morning erection against his rear.

The wave of panic he had been expected didn't swallow him however and Grimmjow's mind came to a blank. He shivered, lying motionless onto the bed. Part of him wanting nothing more than to flee while his body seemed to melt and grow warm at the contact. Ichigo suddenly shifted behind him and he gasped as the other's hips ground against him, seemingly unaware of his action.

"Grimmjow?" Ichigo mumbled into the skin of his neck.

The shinigami shivered anew at the contact and turned his head away.

"Let me go."

A growl answered him and his heart dropped.

"I refuse." The arrancar said as he rolled on top of him, more awake and rocking his hips once again against him but deliberately this time.

Ichigo pushed one knee between his legs and Grimmjow's mind finally flee into full panic mode.

"Stop!"

A stifling reiatsu flared suddenly to wrap around him as he began to struggle, forcing him down onto the bed and keeping him still.

"This has been going on long enough Grimmjow. It's time I show you who you belong to."

Grimmjow would have snarl and howl, had he not been twisted by months of captivity in the hand of this arrancar. But now all he could do was gasp for breath and shake with something close to terror as the dark reiatsu pressing down on him caused his vision to blur. When his eyesight cleared at last it was to see Ichigo tying the last string of several pieces of ropes around his wrists, achieving to securely bond him to the bedpost.

Ichigo then grabbed the slender hips and flipped Grimmjow onto his back so he could see his face, his dark golden eyes starring into wounded blue. The sight only enraged Ichigo even more. He wanted those eyes to look at him in need and want, not fear.

With a low hiss, the Sexta bend his head and violently smashed their lips together. Grimmjow froze for a second, before his wrists instinctively strained uselessly against his bonds. Ichigo forced his tongue inside the sweet mouth, moaning in delight when the shinigami gasped for breath, giving him more room to plunder every corner of his prey.

When he finally pulled away Grimmjow was heaving and shaking lightly. But he needed more.

Slowly, Ichigo ran his hands down the exquisite body, exploring his captive like he had wanted to for so long. Like he should have done the first time. Forcing himself to stay calm, Ichigo stayed true to the plan he had formed and began exploring. His fingers teased the pink nipples, pulling a startled groan out of the shinigami, while his mouth sucked and bit at the slender neck.

Grimmjow shook beneath his touch, alternating between trying to pull away and a petrified sort of compliance and Ichigo knew his lovely shinigami would be his tonight.

He tested that belief by trailing a hand lower down, caressing the member it found nestled in a soft patch of blue curls. The shinigami let out a moan at the touch, a sweet sound that had the arrancar's erection twitch in answer. Grimmjow's own sex reacted to the touch, hardening in Ichigo's hand under his ministration, before he closed his mouth abruptly with a snap, looking absolutely horrified.

"Don't fight it," Ichigo whispered, before tightening his hand around Grimmjow's length into a fist "just give in and I'll show you true pleasure."

"No no no-"

Ichigo cut him off as he pressed their lips together again, determined to win.

He let go of the now erect member to spread Grimmjow's shaking thighs until he was laid out beneath him, his knees parted wide to accommodate the arrancar. The shinigami was shaking harder with every touches as Ichigo slowly stroke the soft skin of his inner thighs, his hands crawling up until he reached the tight little hole hidden there. His cold fingers teased the sensitive opening, forcing their way inside with surprising gentleness.

"Stop-" Grimmjow started, eyes wide with fear from their past encounter before he had to bit his lips to stop a moan from slipping out. He never should have let his guard down!

But this gentleness... it was a lot more disturbing to the shinigami than the violence of their first joining, that much Ichigo could tell easily. And much more effective, just as he had expected. The blue haired man was responding beautifully to his touch, eyes closed tightly in denial and his body tense as he tossed his head back against the pillow.

Ichigo would have none of that. Spreading his fingers apart lightly he pressed them deeper inside and at an angle, loosening the tight passage even more, and struck a spot that had Grimmjow bucking involuntarily into the touch. The blue haired man gasped, his hips arching above the bed as Ichigo worked his panting body.

The arrancar stared avidly, a sense of elation taking over him as he realized that he was getting closer to his goal, closer to breaking through Grimmjow's final barrier. The shinigami was becoming slowly but surely more pliant under his touch. But it wasn't enough yet.

"Just say it…swear yourself to me… surrender and pledge your allegiance to me and Aizen-sama and it will all be over." He growled, his voice husky with his own tenuous control over his emotion.


Grimmjow shivered, almost as if he had been physically hit. Ichigo watched, taking in every detail of the exhausted body, bound and spread submissively on the bed beneath him. But his gaze was especially fixed on those electric blue eyes, those eyes which still had the strength to glare at him.

"I will not swear myself to you!" The shinigami panted and gave another another rather weak struggle, but his flushed cheeks betrayed the effect the arrancar had on him and he couldn't hold the other's gaze for long "I never pledged to anyone, not even my captain-" Grimmjow's mouth snapped shut, aware that he had just revealed a bit too much, and Ichigo couldn't help but smile brightly.

"Then it will be an honor to take your surrender for myself." He said, a promise to the man who was soon to be his, and removed his fingers from that tight heat.

Grabbing the shinigami's thighs with both hands he positioned himself carefully, wanting to savor the moment he had been dreaming of since their first joining together, and gently pulled Grimmjow down onto his erection.

Grimmjow tossed his head back, a cry ripping from his throat.

Ichigo stilled immediately, watching anxiously his captive's face for any sign of pain. Grimmjow was trembling beneath him but the man had stopped struggling, his eyes tightly closed once again and a strange expression that the Sexta had never seen before twisting his features. Ichigo freed one hand to caress a sweaty cheek, and watched, fascinated, as blue eyes burning with fire cracked open to stare at him. His breath caught, shinigami and arrancar gazing silently at each others.

There was still resistance in those sky like eyes, a refusal to submit that Ichigo was determined to break. For there was also a fire burning in those eyes now, and he knew it was only a matter of time before the passion he had awaken inside the shinigami took over completely. He would penetrate the man's defense as he did his body and tear him down from the inside out and make him give up.

Pushing forward he watched his length slip deeper inside that heavenly body, disappearing into the satiny wetness smoothly. Ichigo took a minute to enjoy the pure bliss of being inside his Grimmjow and rolled his hips, pulling back slightly before sheathing himself back to the base inside the tight entrance. He aimed his next thrust at a different angle, searching for that earlier spot that he knew would make the shinigami beg.

His thrusts slowly increased in speed and strength as he lavished the prone body with soft kisses. He worshiped and caressed the soft tanned skin of his stomach, his legs, his throat, everywhere he could touch. He was taking the time to discover his captive, following his instincts as he marked the man with his teeth and his nails, drawing blood when they trailed down Grimmjow's chest.

But his mate was unresponsive, his eyes dazed and lightly clouded. The scenario was frighteningly familiar and Ichigo let out a growl of desperation, clutching his prize to him, and stabbed deeper into the warm embrace of the shinigami's body.

"Damnit Grimmjow!" He yelled, taking Grimmjow's face in both hands "I can- I can make things perfect for you if only-" He panted, words failing him as his frustration grew. "Can't you see it?! That you are meant to be with me?! Nobody else will ever give you what I can."

The prone body jolted beneath him. The clenching muscles, which had been working to keep him out of his rightful possession until now, suddenly tightened around him before they gave way in a melting motion. He was sucked in even deeper and finally touched that spot deep inside. Grimmjow's blue eyes opened wide and he knew he had him.

Ichigo let out a near animalistic sound, vocalizing his pleasure as he saw the steel like denial and the last of his resistance slowly fading, saw the heat and need filling the sharp blue eyes. He was almost there.

Picking up more speed, he pulled the blue haired man into a harsh kiss, wrapping his fingers around the straining length caught between their sweaty bodies. Grimmjow bit his lips to stop a loud moan from escaping him, back arching as he steadily grew more wild as the arrancar pounded into him relentlessly.

Grimmjow twisted and pulled at his wrist as he writhed in ecstasy, and one rope finally snapped from the strain. It went unnoticed by both men but one newly freed hand flew to grab onto Ichigo's shoulder, startling the arrancar. It just settled there though, as if unable to decide whether to pull him close or push him away. Ichigo couldn't help but smile.

"You are mine, see? Your body knows it and soon your soul will know it too." he breathed into the hot skin of his captive's neck, nipping hard enough to draw even more blood and licking the red trails like fine wine. "I will never let you go Grimmjow. Never. But I swear I'll make you my mate, not my slave, if only you give in to me."

He felt Grimmjow tense against him with a gasp, his hand tightening its grip on his shoulder. He lavished the tanned skin with kisses, before he looked at his chosen mate and made his decision.

The Sexta carefully untied the shinigami completely, watching with rapt attention as Grimmjow's dazed and ecstasy filled expression turned into a shocked one. He linked their fingers together when the last piece of string was undone, silently offering the most precious thing a hollow like him could give. He held Grimmjow close as he panted into his ears, waiting and hoping, before the most wonderful thing happened.

The shinigami made a soft noise and relaxed fully in his embrace at last, his body accepting his victor and at the next thrust Ichigo sunk deep into willing flesh. Grimmjow's thighs parted for him as the blue haired man wrapped his legs around his waist, burying his head in his neck with a weak, needy sound.

"Fuck... Ichi-!"

It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He loved it and he knew then that he would never relinquish it for the world. Ichigo never thought victory could taste so good, and he clung the shivering body tightly to him as he lost all restrains and slammed into the shinigami over and over, the cries and moans of his mate bounding him as securely as any kido spell.

"Aaahh- nnnh..."

Grimmjow made a strangled noise, the sound of someone who has given in, and threw his head back.

"Dee- deeper!"

How could he say no to such a plea?

Ichigo pressed his lips to Grimmjow's in a desperate kiss and dragged him onto his lap, changing their position. He kept thrusting up into that delicious body, pulling more of those wonderful noises with the new angle of penetration as Grimmjow panted and moved with him, meeting his thrusts as he took some measure of control over their joining, hips working furiously as their pace became hurry and frantic.

It was all he had ever dreamed of and more.

"Mine!" He snarled possessively, and finally he could say it and know it was true.

Grimmjow moaned loudly, eyes glazed and bright. He whispered a quiet 'yes!' into the skin of his neck and the beast inside him roared in triumph.

Ichigo bared his teeth and bit onto the tense neck of his mate, piercing the skin. Grimmjow gasped but didn't pull back. He pressed deeper into the bite instead with a sound of pure bliss, thighs parting a little wider and Ichigo knew he had well and truly won.

The straining muscles around his length suddenly tightened, pulling a groan out of him as they kept him locked inside the burning body. Grimmjow bucked wildly against him, slamming himself down hard onto his erection. His legs clamped down around his waist as he moaned, before he finally collapsed against Ichigo's chest, shivering and shaking and utterly beautiful in his abandon as he find his release.

Grimmjow panted and clung to him, until those wide blue eyes, dazed and glazed over, looked up at him with warm and need. It was all Ichigo needed to topple over the edge. He howled his victory to the world as his hands clutched onto those slender hips, keeping Grimmjow firmly in place as he thrust one last time and finally came deep inside the tight passage, completing the last part of his claiming over the blue haired man as he filled him to the brim.

Desperate hands grabbed at various body parts as Grimmjow fell back onto the bed limply under Ichigo, the Sexta too tired to support their weight anymore. Shinigami and arrancar stayed tangled together in a sweaty heap, their heavy breathing the only sound filling the room.

Ichigo gave a little purr like growl after a few minutes of silence and licked the blood from his earlier bite, making sure no drop was staining the lightly tanned skin of his mate. Grimmjow stayed still and relaxed in his embrace, even tilting his head to the side for easier access. Ichigo's heart soared.

With a content sound he gently pulled out of Grimmjow, feeling his spend sex twitch when he saw his essence trail down the long legs still splayed on each side of his waist. The sight was enough to make him want to ravish him all over again.

Grimmjow seemed to feel his trouble as he groaned softly when their body separated. The shinigami wore an surprisingly open expression, his flushed face calm and relaxed when he looked up at him, blue eyes still half closed and dark with lust.

Slowly, he opened his arms to Ichigo.

The Sexta's heart skipped a beat to lodge itself his throat.

Tentatively, almost not quite believing, he sank into the offered embrace, feeling Grimmjow's heartbeat when their chests pressed together. A pair of warm arms closed around his shoulders and Ichigo blinked back burning eyes, the full implication of the other man's silent surrender hitting him like a cero to the brain.

Ichigo pressed their lips together in a feverish kiss and proceed to worship the offering that Grimmjow was willingly giving him all over again.

There was nothing keeping them away from each others now.

-----

A/N: FINALLY. I'm so sorry this took forever to post, but I have a very good excuse. I moved from France to England for my internship, which will last 6 months, and I had to settle there, find a place to live, and proofread this chapter AGAIN since I lost the first version during the move. So I'm tired, I'm cranky, I'm feeling slightly homesick being in another country BUT I upload a new chapter again. I hope I'm forgiven for the delay. As last time, I apologize if you think the timeline of this chapter is confusing. Only the epilogue left to go.