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Underneath It All	By : Raceysama Category: Bleach > Yaoi - Male/Male > Grimmjow/Ichigo Views: 4160 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, any of the songs mentioned are not my own, nor do I make any profit from these works......

Chapter List
- 22
- 23
- 24
CHAPTER 23: BEST SERVED COLD
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach...
Onwards...
XOXOXOXO
Karakura Town
April 2009
Tatsuki glanced down at her Kermit the Frog wristwatch and blew out a breath.
Time to get this show on the road.
She was dressed comfortably in a pair of black, Addidas sweats, the three, white stripes down each leg marking the name brand. A matching, hooded sweatshirt and black, track sneakers completed the dark outfit. All in all, Tatsuki appeared ready for the gym or a sports event, which was perfect.
She didn't need attention to be drawn to her this evening.
Grimmjow's silver-haired friend had mysteriously acquired her cell phone number and after explaining his motives, had recruited her "services". She chuckled at the memory.
XOXOXOXO
Karakura Town
April 2009
A Few Hours Ago
Tatsuki jumped as her cell phone vibrated urgently from her jacket pocket. She scowled and hurried from the hospital waiting room, irritatedly snatching the ringing device from its confines. She stepped through the exit and lifted the phone to her ear, wondering just who the hell was calling her at a time like this. She had been waiting for her turn to visit with Ichigo, who had just awakened from a four month coma and she didn't appreciate the interruption in the least.
"Yo!" she snapped.
There was a brief pause before a light tenor traveled over the line, "This Arisawa Tatsuki?"
"Who the hell wants to know?" Her eyes were wide, glancing around warily as if expecting the caller to be watching her from close by.
"Ara! No need ta be so defensive," the voice crooned soothingly, "Ya don' know me, but I need yer help dispensin' some...er...justice, if ya will. It involves a friend a'mine and that orange-haired friend a'yers."
Tatsuki's eyes widened. Ichigo? "What're ya talkin' about?" she questioned tentatively.
"Well, jus' so happens that we, meanin' me an' mah partner, know who tried ta kill the little strawberry. Now, hones'ly, this wouldna been nunna mah bis'ness, but Grimm's a good friend a'mine and I hate seein' 'im look so down, ya know?"
Tatsuki nodded soberly. She understood completely, considering she hated seeing Ichigo in a coma. One thing baffled her though, "What's that gotta do with me? Sounds like you've got everything under control already."
"Mah, ya see, that's where we come ta a bump in the road. Turns out, there's a female pullin' the strings and as much as I don' give a shit 'bout hurtin' a chick, my partner doesn' really approve, ya know? Kinda old-fashioned that way."
Tatsuki giggled excitedly. Just when she was feeling disappointment at not being able to join in the festivities with the mysterious caller, he went and gave her a reprieve, "Awesome. Who's the chick and what do I gotta do?" she asked anxiously.
The voice chuckled softly, an unmistakably evil undertone carrying over the line, "I like that kinda attitude. Lemme see here...ya think ya can help me make 'er disappear? I mean, I'll unnerstan' if ya don' wanna go that far, but-"
"Gimme the info and I'll do it. No one fucks with Ichigo while I'm around," Tatsuki stated bluntly.
There was a brief pause and Tatsuki thought the man had hung up, until, "Ok, I'll call ya back inna bit and we c'n meet up somewhere ta discuss the details."
"Fine. Hey, what's your name?" She'd just realized that she'd accepted a task from someone that she didn't even know. Hell, she didn't even know how the man had acquired her number. This could very well be a trap.
"Ichimaru Gin."
Those two words expelled any doubt or disbelief in her mind. She'd heard of Ichimaru Gin before and he was no one to get on the wrong side of. Years back, he'd been a genius martial artist, but had quit the world of competition when he'd witnessed his lover's death in a fierce show of brutality. Tatsuki remembered the smaller man's name being Hitsugaya Toshiro. He'd been just as good as Gin and his opponent had been unable to defeat him for the fifth year in a row. His opponent, in a fit of jealous rage, had resorted to an illegal hold, slamming Hitsugaya to the mat, where the white-haired man had landed on his neck, consequently breaking it.
Tatsuki had only heard about the stories, the event having been the topic of every newspaper and newscasting for days. Hitsugaya's opponent had mysteriously been found floating face-down in the Tokyo River, only days before he was set to go on trial for what he'd done to said white-haired martial artist.
No one knew the culprit's identity, but many rumors were tossed around about a silver-haired man having been the last person to be seen with the deceased. Somehow, the rumors were stifled and the story was buried.
A few more years down the line and Ichimaru Gin's name was notorious as a deadly hitman and filled even the toughest thugs with fear. The last Tatsuki had heard, Gin had supposedly retired, but she supposed he was resurfacing to do one last job for a friend. She also wondered how the hell the silver-haired man had managed to keep his friends in the dark about his old profession.
Either way, it was really none of her business.
"O-ok, then," she stuttered, suddenly very aware that she would be meeting with an extremely dangerous person soon.
Instead of fear, she felt unbridled excitement coursing through her sleek frame. Everything about what she planned to do was wrong, but, as she'd told Gin, no one messed with Ichigo while she was around. She considered the orange-haired male her brother and for someone to have even dared to try to kill him, only meant they had no real desire to live.
Tatsuki disconnected the call and headed back inside the hospital to see Ichigo.
XxxxxxxxX
"Mah, yer not what I expected at all," Gin commented as Tatsuki slowly approached him.
He was leaning against a burgundy, 2009 Mercedes-Benz E Class, lazily twirling the vehicle's keys around a slim finger. Tatsuki inwardly squeaked at the man's intimidating aura. The mile-wide, toothless grin accompanied with the slanted, closed eyes sent shivers rocketing down her spine and settling in her gut.
"Well, what WERE you expecting?" she inquired, forcing down her rising discomfort.
Gin's grin widened as he stood up straight and took a step forward. Tatsuki knew the movement wasn't meant to be threatening, but damned if it didn't make her take a step backwards. "Uwahh, Tatsuki-san, I ain't gonna hurtcha."
"Sorry," she mumbled, completely ashamed of herself. She had agreed to meet the man and now she was behaving like a field mouse facing an owl.
"Ya sure ya can handle-" Gin started, quirking an elegant, silver brow.
Tatsuki cut across him almost immediately, "Yeah. You can't blame me for being wary of you, though. I'm more than aware of your reputation."
Again, the grin widened even further, this time the corners damn near reaching his earlobes, "Ara! So troublesome..." he paused, cocking his head to the side, "I'm retired."
"You're just makin' an exception in this case, huh?"
"'Zaaaaactly," he crooned. "So! Tatsuki-san, le's get ta bis'ness, ne?"
Tatsuki nodded and moved forward, deeper into a situation she had never imagined herself being involved with.
XOXOXOXO
Karakura Town
April 2009
So, here she was, having been "briefed" about the woman who'd had Ichigo shot. Everytime she thought about the chick, her ire rose to astonishing levels. She couldn't believe it was the blonde that Grimmjow used to date and that Ichigo had told her about. She remembered hearing about the woman's antics and sneering, asking the orange head to let her have a little talk with her.
Tatsuki grinned maliciously.
Talk indeed.
Gin had informed her of the woman's whereabouts and planned activities for the evening. How he knew such things was beyond her, which, truthfully, only added to the slim, silver-haired man's frightening mysteriousness.
The woman's name was Tia Halibel, but she preferred to be called Halibel. She was the filthy rich heiress to her father's company, King Incorporated. It was a men's fragrance powerhouse, but seemed to be branching out towards other venues, such as footwear and clothing. There were rumors that the owner and Halibel's father, Barragan Luisenbarn, had dealings with the yakuza, but again, those were only rumors.
Gin had supplied Tatsuki with the means to dispense their own brand of justice against the blonde and she was rather excited. Halibel was known for having trysts with the wrong kind of people, Grimmjow having been the only light in her dark world, but she'd ruined that relationship by being distant and then leaving without saying a word.
Once she'd realized her mistake, she'd tried to regain the blue-haired man's attention, but by then, she was too late and in her jealousy, she'd made some pretty dumb mistakes.
It turned out that Grimmjow was the only one of his friends' circle that was oblivious of Gin's former profession and it seemed that the tall, silver being wanted to keep it that way. Tatsuki had been told that Nnoitra, their really tall friend that wore a bandana over his left eye, had called Gin and his partner/lover Szayel to ask for a favor. That favor had been the disposal of the man that had done the actual shooting of Ichigo. For some strange reason, the man had walked up to Grimmjow and confessed what he'd done.
Tatsuki shook her head. The guy had to be either crazy or just plain stupid to do something like that. Either way, she was pretty sure the man wouldn't survive the night since Gin had him on his radar.
Back to Halibel, though...
The blonde made the mistake of pissing off the wrong people and Tatsuki was there to make sure she paid for it. Dearly. Gin had given her the necessary information and she was looking forward to pulling the stunt off.
Tatsuki left the shadows of the opposite side of the fairly quiet street and crossed to the other side. She pulled up the hood to her sweatshirt and trotted towards the underground parking garage of the classy motel Halibel was said to be. Tatsuki's sneakers hit the pavement with a barely audible "slap" as she made her way to the black, BMW parked in the corner of the darkened garage.
Halibel's scheduled driver stood near the trunk of the vehicle, arms folded across her chest and eyes hidden behind a pair of black shades. The chick had blue-black hair cut in a bob that reached her chin and she wore a navy-blue pants suit. Tatsuki patted her hoodie pocket, satisfied that the tool she intended to use was right where it needed to be as she edged around the car towards the woman.
Tatsuki crept forward, slipping her hands into her pocket and wrapping her hand firmly around the handle of the stun gun Gin had given her. She didn't want to waste energy on someone other than the blonde she was after, so the weapon would come in handy.
The dark-haired female never even heard or saw Tatsuki coming and crumpled to the ground, convulsing slightly when the stun gun was pressed to the pulse point of her neck. Tatsuki grabbed the woman's ankles and dragged her out of sight behind a white, industrial van, making sure there was no evidence of the encounter left behind. Once that was done, she went through the woman's pockets and retrieved the car keys, slipping them into her hoodie pocket as she stepped from behind the van.
So far, so good.
According to Gin, Halibel usually had the front desk summon her driver when she was ready to leave, so now, all Tatsuki had to do was wait.
XOXOXOXO
Karakura Town
April 2009
Shirosaki grinned, his normally bright, white teeth now covered in a crimson film. This was sure to be the best night of his life.
He spit to the side, ridding his mouth of the excess blood flowing from a cut on the inside of his cheek as he stared at his silver-haired captor in sheer disbelief. Shiro was having a hard time wrapping his mind around what he'd heard the man say.
"Ya wanna say that again?" he asked.
There was a cut above his right eyebrow causing blood to trickle slowly down the side of his face, but he didn't let that shift his gaze. The man named Gin, grinned cheerfully and took a step closer.
"I saaaid, since yer basically a mercenary, I'm gonna need yer services and in return, I won' kill yer worthless ass."
Shiro glanced at the tall, pink-haired man standing behind Gin and noticed his blank expression. He wouldn't be getting any confirmation from him. His gaze swung back to Gin and he allowed himself to relax just a bit, "Whatta I gotta do?" he inquired hesitantly.
"Well, I figured since yer willin' ta do pretty much anythin' for some money, ya wouldn' mind doin' this little thing for me for your life," Gin answered with an amused smirk. Shiro frowned, but remained silent. "Yer gonna take care a'that bad, yellow-haired bitch that's been causin' so much trouble for a friend a'mine. Now, ya do that an' ya got yerself a 'get outta jail free' card, ne?"
"Wait a minute!" Shiro blurted, unable to contain his glee. "Yer tellin' me that if I off Halibel, yer gonna lemme go?"
Gin's smirk widened, "Uh-huh, s'what I'm sayin'."
"Fuckin' hell, man, ya jus' made my dick hard," Shiro cackled.
"Disgusting," the pink-haired man muttered, while Gin chuckled.
"Ya know, the way I see it, ya jus' had a bad case a'the wrong job at the wrong time. I know how that is, so I'm givin' ya a chance ta redeem yerself. Hopefully, next time ya might do a little research before ya dive right in," Gin stated.
Shiro let his laughter die down as he nodded. If by chance, Gin was actually telling the truth about allowing him to keep his life after all was said and done, he would definitely inquire more about any future jobs, just to cover his ass and make sure a situation such as this didn't reoccur.
His serious countenance didn't last very long once his thoughts returned to the job Gin wanted him to do. Fuck, he would kill that blonde bitch even if Gin still planned to kill him afterwards. She didn't even deserve to live a pig's existence.
Suddenly, Shiro noticed Gin moving towards him, but instead of attacking, the silver-haired man released him from the chair. "Szay, ya think ya c'n fix 'im up before we take off?" Gin asked, glancing back at the pink-haired man.
"I suppose."
Shiro smirked and slowly rotated his neck and shoulders. He'd gotten his ass kicked way too many times for his taste in the past few months and the beatings were starting to take a toll on his weary body. However, he didn't give a shit, since it eventually led to tonight and his chance to get rid of that bitch. He rubbed his hands together joyfully and tossed a look in Gin's direction.
"So, when do we get this thing started?" he inquired, almost anxiously.
Gin grinned and tucked away the nine millimeter he'd held in his hand, "Soon as Szayel here takes a look at ya, we'll be goin'."
"Sweet."
XOXOXOXO
Karakura Town
April 2009
Tatsuki slipped on the pair of shades she'd swiped from Halibel's driver and jumped into the dark vehicle. The front desk was alerting her that the blonde was ready to depart and needed her transportation.
Grinning fiendishly, Tatsuki eased out of the parking garage, gliding to a smooth stop in front of the hotel's entrance. She stepped from the car, rounding the back of it to open the door for the taller woman striding confidently towards her. Before arriving, she'd engaged the child safety locks on both back seat doors, ensuring no escape for Halibel if she did happen to realize that she wasn't her normal driver.
The blonde breezed past her and into the back of the car without a word or even a sideways glance. Tatsuki chuckled, shaking her head as she slammed the door shut and hurried back to the driver's seat. She peeled away from the curb with a loud squeal of burning rubber and booked it to the destination Gin had told her to meet him.
Tatsuki glanced into the rearview mirror and eyed the taller blonde seated in the back. She was wearing a tight, long-sleeved white shirt with a low-scooped neck, displaying an overabundance of cleavage that had the potential to smother three men at once, tight, black skinny jeans and six-inch, peep-toe, ankle boots. Her bright blonde hair was styled in a short, spiky up-do and her smoke-colored makeup made her clear, green eyes stand out significantly.
In short, the bitch was hot.
Luckily, Tatsuki wasn't swayed by her good looks.
Halibel glanced at the rearview mirror and frowned slightly, "Apache, why are you driving so fast? And where the hell are we going? I don't have to make any stops," she groused in a throaty, feminine rumble.
Tatsuki kept silent, but continued to glance at the woman in the back, hoping she wouldn't try anything before she reached their destination. Gin had told her to stun the woman once she had her in the car, but Tatsuki wanted Halibel awake and aware of everything. She also wanted a chance to kick the chick's ass once they made their arrival.
"Apache, what's wrong with you?" Halibel snapped impatiently, those jade green eyes flashing brightly.
"Apache had an emergency, so I'm her replacement. Name's Mashiba," Tatsuki lied, thanking her lucky stars that they were approaching the meeting spot.
She glanced at the rearview again and was met with a narrow-eyed glare, "Mashiba? That name doesn't sound familiar at all. Wh-"
Before Halibel could finish her statement, the car hadn't even fully rolled to a stop, when the back door was yanked open. Tatsuki's eyes widened as she threw the vehicle into park and hopped out. A white-haired man with strange eyes and a lot of bandages on his face as if he'd just been in a fight, had the blonde woman by the throat, her feet thrashing and meeting nothing but air. Her fingers scrabbled for purchase, digging into the hand grasping her neck as she gasped for air.
What the fuck? Who the hell was that guy?
As Tatsuki stared at the man strangling Halibel with his bare hand, she absently noted their location. They appeared to be at an abandoned dock near the river on the outskirts of Karakura. There was no one around to hear any excessive noise and Tatsuki suddenly realized that Halibel was soon to meet a grisly fate.
"Looky, looky, didn' think ya'd see this mug again, didja?" the albino crooned, wearing an expert sneer on his pale lips.
Halibel sputtered, saliva sliding from the corner of her mouth and her hands still weakly trying to pry the man's hand from her throat.
"What was that, sweety? Don' think I heard ya," he continued, his voice a silvery tenor.
Speaking of silvery, it was at that moment that Tatsuki noticed Gin and a pink-haired man standing off to the side, also watching the interesting spectacle. Gin was nonchalantly chewing on a short, red stirring straw, his hands shoved deep into his jeans pockets. The pink-haired man stood with his hands behind his back, his black trench coat fluttering in the spring breeze.
Both men looked frighteningly formidable.
A loud thud and groan brought her attention back to the albino, who had just allowed Halibel to hit the ground in a crumpled, undignified heap. She was coughing uncontrollably, those green orbs watering and glittering with hatred.
"Fucking Shirosaki!" she croaked, clutching her abused throat that was already sporting a big, red hand print.
"Mhmm, yeah, all that. Yer in fer a loooong night, Hal," the man exclaimed, an evil gleam in his strange eyes.
Tatsuki almost shrieked like a banshee when her right elbow was gently gripped. Whipping her head around, she came face to face with the silver-haired Gin. He was smiling cordially, his slanted eyes appearing closed and the straw he was chewing hanging loosely from the corner of his mouth.
"Mah, this is where we part ways, Tatsuki-san. I'm grateful for yer help, but ya don' need to be involved in the rest a'this, ya know?" he spoke quietly, yet sternly.
She nodded, not needing to be told twice. One last glance at the bandaged albino, only confirmed that notion. Gin led her over to the pink-haired man and nodded, "Ya know where ta take 'er, ne, Szayel?"
Szayel gave him a withering glare before rolling honey-colored eyes behind silver, rectangular-framed glasses, making Gin chuckle, "I'm not an idiot, Gin. You just make sure that fool over there doesn't get you killed while I'm gone," Szayel snapped.
Then, Gin blew Tatsuki's mind and did something she would have considered completely out of character for the tall, silver-haired man. He gripped Szayel by the back of his long, slender neck and pulled him into a searing kiss that made her blush and avert her eyes. Soft kissing sounds were heard before there was finally a silence and Tatsuki felt it safe to look again.
Szayel's face was as pink as his hair, even though he wore a dark scowl and Gin was smirking saucily, fingering a tendril of that pink hair, "I'll be aight. Ya trus' me, dontcha?"
Szayel nodded shortly and gave Gin a quick peck before turning away, Tatsuki in tow, "You know that already," the pink-haired man threw over a slim shoulder.
Tatsuki heard Gin's quiet chuckle before she was led away from the dock, where Halibel's scream was the last thing she heard.
XOXOXOXO
Karakura General Hospital
June 2009
"C'mon, Ichi, ya almost got it," Grimmjow's deep voice encouraged.
Ichigo wanted to punch him in his fucking face.
This therapy shit was for the birds! It had taken him a whole month just to be able to speak without stuttering and now he was "relearning" how to walk. He felt like an infant, frustrated, confused and helpless. He was frustrated because he was having such a hard time getting his legs to listen to his brain, he was confused because he was fighting to do something that was once second-nature to him and he felt helpless because there was nothing he could do except take things slowly.
His therapist, a kind, brown-haired and brown-eyed older man that insisted Ichigo call him Sosuke, rather than Aizen, his surname, was patient almost to a fault, but had had to explain to him one day that this would take time. He wouldn't be able to just jump right back into walking and it pissed him off.
Grimmjow was being so supportive and helpful, but the entire ordeal was stressful and depressing. He had to get around using a fucking wheelchair and even then, his arms would get so tired from pushing the wheels, he would have to ask whoever was there for assistance.
Most times, that person was his boyfriend.
They were currently holed up in the PT (physical therapy) room, Ichigo supporting himself on a long, wooden rail that was mounted on the wall. He was sweating like it was going out of style and breathing harder than a woman in labor.
And he'd only taken two steps.
Grimmjow stood off to the side, verbally encouraging him, while Sosuke was anchored right next to him, supporting the elbow of the arm not holding onto the rail. He didn't want to do this anymore. His legs ached and burned and all he wanted to do was say "fuck it" and go back to his room, but he knew Sosuke and Grimmjow wouldn't allow him to do so.
"I can't do it!" he snapped through clenched teeth.
Sosuke tried to nudge him forward, but Ichigo was hell-bent on not moving. "Ichigo-san, that's not true. You just need to keep trying," the older man gently persuaded.
Ichigo lifted his left foot and hissed loudly at the pain shooting through his entire leg, tears prickling behind his eyes in frustration. How long was it going to take for him to be able to walk again? How long until he could leave this kami-forsaken hospital?
He wanted to go home to his own apartment, wanted to get on with his fucking life! This situation was making him miserable, not to mention, all of his friends were treating him like some accident-prone child. He loved them to death, but he was sick of it. He just wanted his old life back.
When everything was normal.
He slowly tried to lift his left foot again, this time a tear managing to make it down his face, "I. Can't. Fuckin'. Do. It," he growled angrily.
Sosuke sighed, no doubt ready to give Ichigo the lecture of a lifetime, but before the older man could speak, Grimmjow cut in, his electric blue eyes nearly glowing in their intensity, "Can I...just...have a moment with 'im?" he asked.
Sosuke nodded and headed for the door, his black, windbreaker pants swishing noisily, "Sure. I'm going to get something to drink."
Ichigo kept his eyes rooted to the blue mats placed on the floor underneath his feet for his benefit. He could feel his boyfriend's eyes on him and winced at the discomfort that gaze caused him.
"Ichi, I ain't gonna baby or spoil ya. I ain't even gonna bullshit ya and tell ya what I think ya wanna hear. I'm gonna be real here. Stop fuckin' doubtin' yourself, then stop fuckin' wallowin' in self-pity! Babe, you can do this, ya just need to get that can't word outta your head. Now," Grimmjow edged to the other end of the rail and faced Ichigo, "Walk to me."
Ichigo stared at his boyfriend in disbelief. Was he serious? Didn't Grimmjow see that he was trying? He wasn't "wallowing in self-pity", he was just...he was just...
Fuck.
He WAS throwing his own personal pity party.
"Walk to me, Ichi," Grimmjow repeated and Ichigo lifted his gaze to lock with shimmering, ocean-blue.
He would do it, even if it fucking killed him.
Ichigo grasped at the railing and beating the throbbing pain in his leg into submission, he slowly edged forward, left foot first, followed shortly thereafter by his right. The step with his right foot caused him to stumble and his vision to blur. Just as he swayed on his feet, a secure hold anchored him and his boyfriend's soothing baritone caressed his ear, "S'ok, Ichi, I got ya. Take it slow."
Ichigo bit down so hard, his jaw locked painfully, while his breath shuddered through his clenched and bared teeth. The pain was close to unbearable, but he refused to NOT see this through. His vision darkened and for a moment, he'd thought he'd passed out. Turned out, he had collapsed into Grimmjow's arms after walking the entire length of the railing.
"Ya did it, Ichi. Ya did it," his boyfriend stated happily. "C'mon, let's get ya some rest now. I'll tell Sosuke we're goin' back to your room."
Grimmjow helped Ichigo into his wheelchair before he left the PT room in search of the brown-haired therapist. Ichigo tossed his head against the back of the chair and blew out a deep, soul-cleansing breath. He was more than satisfied with his results and he owed it all to his blue-haired lover. He smiled to himself as he folded his hands in his lap.
Things were certainly looking up for him, now.
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Underneath It All