I AM SOOO SORRY! D;

Bad News: So due to recent events, I've lost my muse for this story- The Songbird's Lullaby...yeah. It's kind of personal to how I lost it, and honestly, it's also rather embarrassing. Anyways, onto more important matters, because I lost my muse, I fear that I won't be able to continue on with this story for quite a while. Meaning that I'll have to put this story- The Songbird's Lullaby- on a semi-temporary hiatus/ semi-discontinuation. I really don't know when I might be able to start with this story again, but I promise that I'll try my best to try and at least finish it somehow.

Good News: So now that the bad news is done, out with the good news. To replace the story that I have put on hiatus, I'm going to start with one of the stories that I have been thinking of for quite a long time. The story was inspired by dystopian novels such as Maze Runner and The Hunger Games trilogy. Yes, the story consists of a dystopian society, a totalitarian leader, and of course, a game of survival of the fittest. The plot of the story has already been thoroughly thought out and I've already started with the first chapter. Although, I have yet to find a fitting title for it, and so far all I've got is "Dystopian Anarchy"

Let me know if you got any good ideas for a title :3

The Songbird's Lullaby 3

Author's Notes: * Uncomprehendable nonsense* It's like 1:14 a.m right now =A= So tired.

Bluejay- Grimmjow

Mockingbird- Ichigo

Chapter II. Sing A Sweet Song. Pure& True

“Who are you to judge the life I live?
I know I'm not perfect
-and I don't live to be-
but before you start pointing fingers...
make sure you hands are clean!”

-Bob Marley

(Bluejay's bird eye view)

Will that red-headed son of a bitch ever shut his trap? Grimmjow silently sneered as he brought the lip of his small cup to his mouth.

After sipping down three small cups of sake, he was nowhere near to being drunk. Obviously. It was one of the strong variety, but it still did nothing what so ever to numb his mind. If anything, it was sharpening it into this razor-sharp, lethal knife. Grimmjow made sure not to drink too much though and carefully drink down his alcohol with care. After all, he was still on the job as a bodyguard for his boss. So far, he's been accommodating to this yakuza life-style pretty well, and getting booze on his first day was a plus. He paid no mind to anyone's conversation. He didn't give a fuck about what they were talking about, and if they were talking about or to him, he still wouldn't give any. He just concentrated on his drink and small set of food.

But there was one thing that was troubling him, other than his annoying co-workers. His boss', Ichigo's, eyes. It made him extremely uneasy, there was hardly ever a moment where Grimmjow didn't feel those swirling set of toffee eyes piercing through his very presence. Now, Grimmjow didn't mind Ichigo much, considering the young man was sexy a fuck. And even though he had caught the younger's...sexual play earlier, that hadn't change Grimmjow's thought of the former male. Actually, it might have even heightened his interest in the man. It's a damn shame that he himself is impotent though. The thing's I could do to that ass though...

Grimmjow grimaced at that thought. There was no hope in thinking like that. It was impossible to hope for such a thing. He was impotent. That's final. There was no sexual drive, no offsetting heat, not even a spark. He only felt that Ichigo was stunning, interesting and even his own definition of sexy. The best he could do is only appreciate the orange-headed male's utmost beauty. That's it. Even if the bastard kept staring him like he was trying to solve the worlds most complex puzzle. Grimmjow masked his annoyance and continued to cautiously drink his sake, all the while ignoring everyone around him as he locked his sapphire eyes on an empty space of the room. But just as he did so, it seemed as if the intensity of Ichigo's gaze had double in magnitudes.

For fuck's sake, what? Grimmjow thought as he snapped his head up and fastened his eyes on the source of his irritation.

He caught the orange-head's minute surprise of his sudden eye contact. Upon meeting Ichigo's eyes, he narrowed his own as if he were attempting to look into Ichigo's soul. And maybe he could, not his soul literally, but just his mind, to see what the hell his boss was thinking to stare at him so disturbingly. Apparently, Ichigo's poker face is not all that flawless, because Grimmjow could see right through the latter as if he were a crystal-clear glass figurine. As Grimmjow stared into Ichigo's endless pools of various brown hues, he caught onto a flash of weariness and what appeared to be despair. A scowl settled into the already taut features of Grimmjow's glorious face. Ichigo's eyes widened to a small degree, but that moment of surprise passed quickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed and shattered their moment as Ichigo torn his eyes away to meet the eyes of his acquaintance (or whatever the hell he may be).

Grimmjow sucked at his teeth and looked away in turn. He gave up on his alcohol. That had spoiled his mood, and he was no longer interested in his food and drinks, but now he was curious to why had Ichigo shown such an expression. It was brief, but it was still there, and it bothered Grimmjow. Had the guy threaten him? Did he say something? Will someone bare arms soon? There was a sudden clattering of tableware and the subordinates paused abruptly from their vulgar conversations. Grimmjow swung his head around again to see the source of the ruckus that came from Ichigo's direction. What he hadn't expect was to see Ichigo collapsed on his back, his cheeks bright pink, and soft murmurings drifting from his lips. Grimmjow scrambled onto his feet and scurried to Ichigo's aid.

“Ahh, not again.” A raspy, worn out voice groaned out. Tensa. “Sorry, Ichigo had his poker face on, so I couldn't gauge out how drunk he was.”

Grimmjow said nothing. Instead, he wrapped the unconscious man's lithe arm around his own shoulder and half carried him up while still bracing Ichigo's limp form on his own sturdy one. The man, also his co-worker who called himself Shuhei Hisagi, with the almost hilarious tattoos that sketched '69' had recommend that they should leave since their boss has now fainted from too much alcohol consumption. Grimmjow couldn't agree more. The sooner they leave, the sooner he gets home and sleep this day off. Hisagi and Renji began to leave first, leaving Grimmjow behind to carry Ichigo off. Grimmjow sighed and shifted Ichigo a bit to move him onto his back. While this, he caught Ichigo's face, and he couldn't help but admire the serene expression that the orange-head other wore. It wasn't strained and forced upon like that poker face he always wore nor was it annoying like that scowl he would have on other than his poker face. This was actually real. Well, not like his scowling wasn't real, but Ichigo had seemed so natural right now.

“Stop that.” Tensa grumbled as he lit another cigarette after extinguishing his previous one.

“What did I do?” Grimmjow barely manage to keep himself from growling that question out.

“Right now you were thinking how much of beauty Ichigo-kun is.” Tensa said. “Isn't that right, Grimmjow-kun?”

Grimmjow bristled at Tensa's use of honorifics. He wasn't so much use to it. But he still didn't bother to deny Tensa's conclusion.

“Like I said, stop it. Having an infatuation with that youngster will get you no where. I should know.” This tempted Grimmjow to laugh, but he couldn't mock him since Tensa was a boss of higher ranks. Don't want my fingers to go missing. “Ichigo isn't a picture perfect material for love. Actually, I don't think he has any aspects that show that love is capable for him. The kid's been through so much, that he doesn't even know what love is, he never even got the chance to learn. And to fill in that gap where love was suppose to be, he filled it in with lust and sex.”

Tensa gave him space in the conversation to say something, but Grimmjow didn't bother. He just stood there, Ichigo hung sloppily over his shoulders in an attempted piggy-back manner, silent. He had nothing to say, but he was still open to hear more.

“Do you think your attraction towards him is enough?” Tensa asks. “Just give up now. You can't fix him.”

“I don't plan on doing so.” Grimmjow finally voiced out. “I don't know him enough to try and change him. Neither do I know much about him to know if he wants to change. Sure, I think he's fine, but that doesn't mean shit. He's my boss, not some unrequited love.”

Tensa chuckled. “That'll change with Ichigo.”

Grimmjow didn't reply. Fuck it. The old bastard doesn’t know jack shit. Grimmjow was impotent. How many times should it be repeated? Nothing could change that. He was rendered useless to the bullshit Tensa called love. And as if Ichigo could be satisfied with someone who couldn't get a hard-on.

“Why are you still here?” Hisagi grumbled as he made his way back to them.

“Sorry, I held him back here a bit so I could talk to him a little.” Tensa gave Hisagi a weary smile.

“Oh, okay.” Hisagi shrugged and turned to Grimmjow. “You're riding with me since we're dropping the boss off back at his place, considering you don't know the address to his apartment.”

“Whatever.” Grimmjow grunted.

Tensa guffawed.

(Ten minutes later...)

“Seems like you and Old-Man Zangetsu got along pretty fast.” Hisagi hummed. “What were you guys talking about back there?”

“Nothing you should concern yourself about.” Grimmjow grunted.

“Oh come on!” Hisagi began to complain. “Don't act like that! Get that stick outta your ass and tell me. Is it about Ichigo-sama?” Grimmjow said nothing. “It is, isn't it?”

“If you keep talking, Imma shove a stick up your ass.” Grimmjow warned coldly.

Hisagi sucked his teeth. “Fuck, I still wonder why Ichigo-sama bothered to accept you.” Hisagi grumbled, thinking wrong that Grimmjow didn't hear him.

But Grimmjow paid no mind. What he questioned was not much a threat to him. It just annoyed him when people complain too much about silly things. The car finally came to a halt. Grimmjow looked out the window, wide-eyed and jaw falling to the floor as he gawked at the towering skyscraper of pristine glass and glossy larvikite stone. Hisagi slid a card through a card swipe and the golden gates before them lifted to allow entry. The whole time Grimmjow could do nothing but gape at the breathtaking scenery. Shit. How much did they pay Ichigo?

Hisagi chuckled at Grimmjow's expression. “Amazing right? One would wonder how many sugar daddies the boss has chasing after him.”

Grimmjow scoffed. Hisagi stopped the car in front of the entrance for the building. As Grimmjow stepped out the car to drag Ichigo out with him, staffs in fancy outfits asked him if he needed help, but Grimmjow ignores them and lifts Ichigo onto his back. Hisagi gave the information for where Ichigo's apartment room was located and left right after. Grimmjow shifts Ichigo over his back, wincing when Ichigo gave a particularly audible moan. Don't tell me he's hard. Just as he had thought that, he felt a nudge of something hard poke the base of his spine, and he could guess that it would be Ichigo's erection. Fuck my life. He gave a heavy sigh and began to make his way to the unconscious man's apartment.

(Mockingbird's bird eye view)

Everything felt hot and tight. Ichigo could barely manage panting while his breath hitched randomly as he saw nothing but pitch black darkness. In the midst of all this, he felt something holding him down, something cold and petrous. He writhed in the vice cold grasp, confusion settling him in some kind of state of panic.

“Why don't you cry for me, little birdie.” An ominous voice coiled around Ichigo's mind.

Ichigo shuddered at the phrase. Inside and out, he was burning, the excruciating pain searing through him. The heat enveloped him even more, consuming everything as the constriction upon his body tightened. He couldn't breathe anymore. Was he even breathing? A scream churned in his stomach as it never reached his dry, open mouth. Ichigo could only silently scream as he blindly flailed in the hold of his unknown offender.

“Have you lost your voice my dear?” The voice was filled with mirth and sent dreadful tremors down Ichigo's spine. “Or is my lovely little pet too scared to even utter a single beautiful note?”

The icy grasp slither upwards, curling around Ichigo's fragile neck. His eyes began to rolled as the blood to his brain was halted. Ichigo's mind reeled. He couldn't focus on anything. Not on the constricting grip of his neck. Not the blood pounding in his ears. Not even the instinctual need to breath. There was nothing left to focus on anymore.

Humming. Ichigo could hear it, someone humming far off in the distance. Even though it was a pretty simple form of music, it was beautiful. So mesmerizing. Ichigo found himself freed someone how, that cold grasp gone and the intense heat dying down to a pleasant warmth. The source of that warmth seemed to focus on his front, and he wondered.

A hug perhaps? The volume of the humming increased and Ichigo's eyes snapped open. Was he dreaming earlier? Must have.

His vision was briefly blurred, and squinted at the bright and sudden lights. Where the fuck am I now? Ichigo began to moan and shift, discovering that he was wrong about the hug. To be more specific, he was hugging someone's back. Although, he was not sure who and why. But who ever might the person be, he smelled absolutely delicious. Ichigo strained his neck around and focused his eyes a bit to see his carrier only to find his face stifled in a nest of soft, robin egg blue hair. Grimmjow? He also discovered that it was him who was doing the humming.

Ichigo felt something flutter in his chest as he tightened his hold around Grimmjow's thick neck. He snuggled his face further into the locks of beautiful blue, inhaling Grimmjow's delectable scent like he was a drug.

“Your awake?” Ichigo mentally shudder at Grimmjow's rumbling voice. He wondered if would ever get used to hearing that harmonious voice.

Ichigo made a noise of an affirmative. “You smell awesome.” And then he kisses the exposed part of Grimmjow's nape where his hair didn't hide.

Grimmjow grunted and continued with his humming. He didn't mind. He really like Grimmjow's humming. It was almost like a lullaby. But Ichigo could still sense Grimmjow's increasing discomfit and he would admit Grimmjow was rather good at trying to conceal it. Ichigo pushed his luck and licked the spot that he had earlier kissed. This, Grimmjow didn't accept.

“Stop that.” Grimmjow warned.

“You smell really good though.” Ichigo sighed.

“I'm not some fucking snack! 'Kay?” Grimmjow snapped, his shoulders growing tense.

“Fine.” Ichigo pouted.

Ichigo tried behaving and stayed quite until Grimmjow could find the elevator. Unfortunately for him, Ichigo was too drunk to even remember where it was located, and Grimmjow was too stubborn and full of pride to bother asking one of the staffs. It also seemed that the staff were scared to ask the blue-haired man if he were in need of assistance. Ichigo couldn't really blame them though, Grimmjow can be a bit overwhelming in many ways. Ways that somehow turned Ichigo on.

Speaking of arousal. Ichigo groaned as he attempt to avoid grinding his dick into Grimmjow's back. But as he shifted around to do this, he failed at each attempt, his hard-on growing more and more painful at every brush he made. Fuck damnit.

“I'll fuckin' drop you if you keep doing that shit.” Grimmjow warned.

Ichigo, being his drunk self, thought he was talking about his previous actions of smelling and licking his neck. “I'm not licking you though.” Ichigo slurred.

“I'm talking about you humping your dick against my back.” Grimmjow snarled.

Ichigo blushed. “S-Sorry. I was trying to make it less noticeable and just-”

Grimmjow interrupted him with a harsh grunt and Ichigo decided to leave his explanation short. “We're here.” He says. “Where's your keys?”

“Pants pocket.” Ichigo fumbles around and managed to fish out his keys through the drunken mess in his head.

Grimmjow opens his door with ease, entered, and closed the door behind them. “Where should I drop you?”

“Bed.” With a weak arm, he pointed at where he hoped would be his room.

“The kitchen?”

Ichigo shook his head and palmed his forehead. “Ugh, just follow the trail of clothes.”

He was glad when Grimmjow didn't question the trail of clothes that lead to his room. He really didn't feel like explaining, and he wasn't in the right state of mind to be doing so. Upon entering the bedroom, Grimmjow gently lays Ichigo on the bed and he contemplates if Grimmjow was being nice because of his attitude previously. The blue-haired man even took the trouble to help Ichigo shed his blazer and take the dress shoes off.

“You alright now?” Grimmjow asks.

“Still a bit drunk off my ass.” Ichigo set his wrist over his heated forehead.

Grimmjow chuckled, which was probably the only time he had ever heard the man express some sense of humor. After setting Ichigo's shoes aside, he stood up and yawned rather loudly. Ichigo watched him yawn, smiling at how much Grimmjow resembled a feline at that moment.

“Well, see ya.” Grimmjow gives him a gesture of a good-bye and turned to leave.

Ichigo found himself not wanting Grimmjow to leave so soon, for reasons he himself does not know. Probably because the other was just so entertaining to have around. Or maybe it's because there's an air about him where it's so lax, that he doesn't have to worry so much. But all he knows for sure is that he doesn't want his bodyguard to leave him just yet. Before Grimmjow could walk any farther, he threw his arm forward and captured Grimmjow's hand with his own. Ichigo falters, surprised that he caught his hand instead what he was expecting to be the others wrist.

Ichigo swallowed. “Stay for a bit.” He struggled out. “Please.”

“Why?” Grimmjow appeared to be skeptical of Ichigo's request instead of annoyed.

“Just keep me company is all I'm asking for.” There's still a look of skepticism in those cyan blue orbs. “Just until I fall asleep. Then you can leave.”

Grimmjow stares at Ichigo for a while, his eyes drilling into his unfocused toffee hued ones as the bodyguard studies his boss. Grimmjow nods and Ichigo strained to keep himself from smiling in victory as his stomach does multiple back-flips. Ichigo scoots over to leave room for Grimmjow on his queen size bed, and he was a bit surprised when the man only sat down on the edge. Ichigo shrugged and placed his head on the taller man's lap and was pleased when Grimmjow allowed this without any signs of disapproval.

Grimmjow was avoiding eye contact as he gaze off the view that the bedroom patio offered, giving Ichigo the chance to look over Grimmjow's face again. Ichigo gazes at Grimmjow's handsome features, taking in the defined jaw-lines, sharp nose, and full lips. Ichigo licked his own, lust fueling him and making him feel bold.

“How long were you in prison for?” Ichigo asked.

“Six years.” Grimmjow answered rather gruffly.

“What was it like?”

“If you got in there, you'd come out dead.”

“You mean during sexual intercourse? I haven't done that yet.” Ichigo joked, but Grimmjow didn't think of it as very amusing. Ichigo clicked his tongue. “Where'd that humor of yours disappear off to?”

Grimmjow spared Ichigo a flash of his azure eyes, the glow from the city light outside reflecting off them and giving his irises a enchanting glow. Ichigo kept himself from squirming and could feel his erection nagging for his attention as it grew unbearable yet again. He saw Grimmjow notice his own discomfort and wished that he didn't witness his short moment of weakness. But that didn't stop Ichigo from pressing on with his questions.

“What did you go in prison for?”

Ichigo noticed that this question had seemed to trigger something in Grimmjow somehow for he felt the man tense up. Ichigo watched as Grimmjow visibly lock his jaw and ruffle his blue hair.

“I beat some dude up.” But that's not all. Ichigo could sense that Grimmjow was hiding more info from him.

“There's more to that story, huh?” Ichigo pushed.

“No.” Grimmjow lied.

“Come on, what are you hiding?” And it seemed that last question had been the straw that broke the camel's back.

“Why are you asking me so much damn questions? How about you?” Grimmjow snarled as he glared Ichigo down on his lap. “Why do you like fucking so much? Do you just throw yourself at anyone?”

Ichigo is startled by the sudden rush of questions from Grimmjow and his burst of anger. While Ichigo's heart is thumping at full throttle, Grimmjow's gnawing at the inside of his cheek, obviously regretting that he snapped at the young orange-headed man. Before the bigger male could summon an apology, Ichigo had open his mouth with an explanation on its way.

“Honestly, I don't know why I like it so much.” Ichigo started a bit shyly. “But I would say that it started when I was in high school, junior year. My homeroom teacher raped me multiple times.” Ichigo kept his eyes steady on Grimmjow who had torn his eyes from Ichigo and returned it to the view of the city lights. Ichigo continued anyways. “He raped me, toyed, humiliated, and degraded me. Took the chance of having a normal life away from me. He raped me so many times to the point...” He couldn't say it. He was never able to, not to anyone. So he skipped that part of the story, hoping that Grimmjow had gotten the point and wouldn't make Ichigo say it personally. “After my graduation, he went further. He paid a group to gang-rape me.”

“Stop talking now.” Grimmjow was growling, every one of his muscles tensed and tight.

“It gets better though, honestly.”

“How could that had gotten better?” Grimmjow snapped venomously.

“If it makes you feel any better, they didn't gang-rape me.” Ichigo saw Grimmjow relax a bit and he guess that he could continue with his story. “Before they could, Tensa Zangetsu saved me.”

“That old douche from before?”

Ichigo laughed. “Yeah, him.”

“I see...” Grimmjow laid his back onto the bed, relaxing from my story.

“And just to let you know, I don't literally throw myself at anyone.”

Grimmjow snorted. “You're telling that to the man who you gave a blow-job on his first day as your bodyguard.”

“What are you trying to imply?” Ichigo pouted.

Grimmjow peered at Ichigo who's head was still resting on his lap. “I'm implying that you're trying to convince the wrong person after what you've done.”

Ichigo sighed. “Bet you think I'm a whore now, huh?”

“What does it matter what I think?” Grimmjow huffed. “And besides that, what's normal anyways?”

Was he paying attention to everything I said? Ichigo thought as he remembered what he said about never being able to have a normal life.

“Average.” Ichigo answered. He didn't want to answer Grimmjow's first question.

“Exactly.” Grimmjow pointed out. “Would you want to be average?”

“Well, I wouldn't want to be inferior either.” Ichigo replied. Did he forget what Ichigo had told him?

“If you think that what had happen to you makes you inferior, you're wrong.”

“Yeah, you're right. It's what it made me that makes me inferior. I'm a fucking masochistic slut now. Got something to demonize that?”

Grimmjow shrugged, as if this little argument didn't phase him one bit, which was least expected when the bastard was a bit ill-tempered. Fuck, this guy's bipolar or something?

“I don't know you long enough to start bad mouthing you and shit.”

Ichigo moved off of Grimmjow's lap and shifted around so that he was laying next to the other on his belly with his elbows to support him. As Ichigo stared at the bluenette, Grimmjow was staring at the ceiling, trying to avoid getting irritated by Ichigo's bad habit of staring at him.

“What do you think of me Grimmjow?” Ichigo tilted his head.

“You're my boss.”

Ichigo's eyebrow twitched. This guy... “That's not what I meant.” said Ichigo. “What's your opinion on me after hearing what I told you?”

After hearing this, Grimmjow turned his head around, locking eye contact with Ichigo. Ichigo held his breath as if he were preparing himself for impact, and Grimmjow chuckled. With that, Ichigo scowled and let the breathe that he held out.

“Didn't change.” Grimmjow said, keeping his eyes on Ichigo's. “Still my boss.”

“You're the strangest guy I have ever met in my entire life.”

“Yeah yeah.” Grimmjow rolled his eyes, breaking away from the contact. “About earlier...Sorry about that.”

“About what?” Ichigo bristled in anticipation of what Grimmjow would say.

“About what I asked you. About snapping at you.”

Ichigo was relieved when Grimmjow didn't say specifically. He was feeling embarrassed enough already. “If you're worried that your actions will affect your paycheck, it won't.”

Grimmjow didn't replied. This left Ichigo wondering if what he said was true. He rejected the idea of feeling disappointed or hurt, the thought itself was absurd. For a long time, Grimmjow said nothing, and in turn, Ichigo stayed silent as well. Why the fuck did it get so awkward? Ichigo started to gaze at Grimmjow again, this time he felt rather shy about looking at him, and saw that Grimmjow was staring at the ceiling again, a hum low but audible in his throat. He remembered how amazing Grimmjow was at humming earlier, and wondered if the larger man could sing as well.

“Grimmjow.” Ichigo called, only receiving a grunt of recognition from him. “Can you sing?”

Grimmjow appears to give this some thought before giving his answer. “Yeah.”

“Can you sing for me then?”

“Why?”

“Ugh, just sing for me damn it. Why do you always have to be so damn defensive for everything?” Ichigo scowls.

“Well damn, don't get all prissy with me then. Fuck.” Grimmjow grumbles.

“Just sing.” And Grimmjow obliged.

After clearing his throat, lyrics began to drift from those tempting lips of his. Ichigo slowly shut his eyes and sighed softly as he focused only the velvety baritone voice that Grimmjow sung in. After the second line of the lyrics, Ichigo noticed it was not a song native to Japan, an international one in fact originating from Jamaica, widely known as the song sung by world famous, Bob Marley & The Wailers. Three Little Birds. Ichigo awed. He opened his eyes again and gazed at the singing man, amazed at how that skilled tongue handled the foreign language so effortlessly. The longer Ichigo watched and listen to Grimmjow, the stronger the fluttering from within him escalated. Ichigo was deeply bewitched by Grimmjow's voice, it's been so long since he heard someone sing like he did. He found it funny though, hilarious, that he would feel this way towards someone's singing. Utterly humorous.

Before long, Grimmjow was finishing up on the last verse, “Singin'; Don't worry about a thing, oh no! 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!”

Ichigo started giggling. “You didn't have to sing the back up singer's parts.”

Grimmjow scoffed. “Song wouldn't be the same without them.”

But Ichigo still continued giggling, his fit of laughter never ceasing until he almost rolled off the bed. Grimmjow scowled at Ichigo's tear-streaked face as the younger still continued to giggle.

“What's so damn funny?”

“You're not as good as I thought.” Ichigo lied.

Grimmjow snorted. “You loved my singing. Bet you'd like an encore too.”

Ichigo was taken aback by Grimmjow's show of arrogance, also by the fact that he liked it on Grimmjow. It fitted him, as well as many of the other things that strangely suited the bodyguard. No surprise there.

“Hey, you're English was really good.” Ichigo comments, hoping to distract Grimmjow from submerging himself in his sea of egoism any longer. “Did you study in America or something?”

“Britain.” Grimmjow answers. “I lived there during my childhood, although, I used to move around a lot because my mother was a foreign language teacher. She taught me English, Spanish, and a bit of German too. But she mainly focused on teaching me Japanese. I would guess it's because I was born in Japan.”

“Ohhh, so you're not all a foreigner neh?” Ichigo chimes.

“Yeah...” Grimmjow trails off and looks as if he's starting to think deeply about something.

Ichigo yawned. Even though he felt a bit more sober after having to talk to Grimmjow for quite awhile, his mind was still buzzing with alcohol streaming through his systems. Ichigo rolled around and settled his head back on Grimmjow's lap.

“Grimmjow, sing to me again. This time, until I fall asleep.”

Grimmjow barked out a loud, audacious roar of laughter which almost knocked Ichigo's drowsiness out his head. Almost.

“I knew you wanted an encore!”

Ichigo was too tired to counter back. Grimmjow didn't wait for his reply anyways and started to sing straight away. Ichigo closed his eyes once more and allowed the mellifluous voice enfold his mind and drift him off into a state of peaceful unconsciousness.

A strange bastard Grimmjow was indeed.

Stuff for you guys:

1.There will be smut in the next chapter.

2.I'm sorry if some of you hate Aizen/Ichi ;A;

Review please! :3

The Songbird's Lullaby 2

Author's Notes: I have nothing to say so far o.O Well...Enjoy~!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not bleach. Not its characters. Nothing of Yoneda Kou's nor Tite Kubo's work. NOTHING! (So much sadness.)

Chapter II. High Flying

“I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things”

Antoine de Saint- Exupery

-

Besides the attempt of embarrassing or offending Ichigo, Shinji had done Ichigo good by hiring Grimmjow. He only met the man four hours ago, and still, he was enjoying his presence. It may be curiosity or lust that has Ichigo keeping the guy as his bodyguard-to which he still believes that he has no need for- but Ichigo plans on keeping him for a while. He found him entertaining, even when Grimmjow did nothing that others would find amusing. His comebacks, that feisty attitude, and those scalding eyes that made Ichigo squirm when the heat of those eyes intensified. Ichigo licked his lips. The only downside was that the latter was impotent, which was pointless when he was a walking sex god and Ichigo was a round the clock horny masochist. The only thing Ichigo could probably use him for is eye candy and that's it. And Ichigo doesn't want Grimmjow as 'just an eye candy'. He wants him as someone to fuck him good.

It's a shame. Ichigo sighed as he stared at the back of Grimmjow's head. He looked like someone who would be able to fuck me open.

“Yo.” Grimmjow called back at the orange-head. He's glance back at Ichigo and he's obviously caustic about something. “Your staring is bothering me.”

Ichigo smiled. “You don't like my staring?”

“You've been doing so for the whole 20 minutes of the ride.” Grimmjow clicks his tongue.

“Sorry.” Ichigo chuckled. “I still can't get over what had happened.”

“It's not that big of a deal.” Grimmjow grumbled.

Ichigo arched a brow, wondering if this often happens to Grimmjow, but he shrugs the idea off.

“By the way.” Ichigo hums. “Don't tell Shinji that I blowed you.”

“Got it.” Grimmjow nodded simply.

You better. Don't want another ridiculous nickname circling around out there. Just then his cell phone rung. He checked the caller ID and growled. Damn it.

“I'm not in a good mood Old-Man.” Ichigo snapped as he answered the phone.

There's a click of a tongue over the line before an aging voice replied to him. “That's no way to speak to your superiors, Ichigo-kun.”

“Fine. What do you want, Zangetsu?”

Zangetsu gives a dejected sigh before talking again. “I'll just have to accept that then.” And he continues. “Lets go drinking.”

“No.” Ichigo rejects.

“Why not?” Zangetsu huffs angrily.

“Because unlike you, I'm busy. And I'm just coming back to the workplace from a 20 minute drive after finishing some errands.” Ichigo explained and noted that Grimmjow was already finding a parking space.

“What kind?” Zangetsu asked.

Ichigo was unsure to why he was asking this question, but he answers anyway. “Just the usual. Someone was way past the due date of their loans, so we roughened him up a bit. Had to show the newbie how to not kill him in the process too. He seems a bit impatient and very straightforward.”

“Ah, a newbie. I heard about him.”

Ichigo exited the car and furrowed his eyebrows at what he said. “How so?”

“From your subordinates.” Damn it, Renji. His fines are piling up.

“And how did you get them to tell you? You have no way of contacting them.”

As Grimmjow opened the building's front door, Zangetsu gave a sinister but almost comical chuckle, making Ichigo scowl in annoyance. “Oh Ichigo-kun. How could you be so narrow-minded?”

Zangetsu's voice clearer and louder now. Ichigo immediately hung up the phone and glared in the direction of the raspy, aged laughter.

“Damn it Old-Man.” Ichigo snarled at the man who was lounging at the front desk.

Zangetsu sighs raggedly and ruffled his shaggy, shoulder-length black hair. “You must work on greeting your superiors Ichigo, it'll become a bad habit if you continue.”

“What are you doing here, Zangetsu? I'm busy today and I have better things to do than take up on your drinking offer.” Ichigo's scowl deepened.

“I just want to have a drink.” He says. “Look, drinks will be on me and you can get all the liquor you want.”

“Deal.” Ichigo agreed, already heading towards the exit.

“Say,” Zangetsu drawls “where's that bodyguard of yours?”

“That's me.” Grimmjow grunts.

“Eh?” Zangetsu looks at Grimmjow with more of disappointment than skepticism. “Him?”

“Yeah.” Ichigo confirms.

“Fire him.” Zangetsu ordered.

Ichigo furrowed his brows and looked back at Zangetsu as he exited the building. “Now why the hell should I do that?” I hate being ordered around.

“He's your type, right? And the only reason why you're keeping him as your bodyguard is because you think he's 'handy' to keep around, right?” Zangetsu visibly bristled. “This sure as hell won't end right. Fire him.” He began shooing Grimmjow nonchalantly.

Grimmjow ignored him and turned his head away to grumble some words that are most likely offensive if Zangetsu had heard him. Ichigo smiled at Grimmjow, who missed Ichigo's expression but Zangetsu caught, earning him an eye roll from the elder. He could already see that this was going to be a long night, one that even some good sake can't shorten.

Ichigo gazed at Grimmjow as he sat at a different table with the other subordinates like Renji and Hisagi. His mind was already buzzed from the second bottle of sake, and Ichigo had switched to beer after finishing his last cup. Ichigo's subordinates were chatting with Zangetsu's, but he noticed that Grimmjow rarely ever said anything, and when he did, it was a cheeky and rude reply. Ichigo giggled, partially from the liquor. As he stared at Grimmjow, who was eating and sipping on his small cup of sake, he ignored Zangetsu's complaints about his obvious 'affections' for Grimmjow and how he shouldn't down so much alcohol so soon. Ichigo paid no mind to Zangetsu's warnings since he could hold his liquor quiet well.

“How's Gramps?” Ichigo asked to get him off of his case.

“Doing well so far.” He answers as he inhales and exhales the smoke of his cigarette. “ I mean, that's what he's telling us.”

“Still as ill as the rumors say?” Ichigo asked.

Zangetsu nods. “Things are becoming chaotic because of this though. Yamamoto-sama's sickness is causing an uproar of rumors, betrayals, schemes, and fear among us.”

Ichigo rolled his eyes. “For fuck's sake, it's just pneumonia.”

“Yeah, but at his age, things like pneumonia kill, Ichigo-kun.”

“Pfft,” Ichigo laughs at Zangetsu “as if that ever stopped Gramps?”

He remembered when Yamamoto caught the severe case of winter influenza. Everyone among the Soul Society branch of the yakuza went ballistic even though he recovered vitally after two weeks.

“Yes, but even if Yamamoto-sama survives his illness again, that doesn't stop the current issue that we'll be facing soon. Remember last time?”

“Yeah, turf wars everywhere.” But Ichigo shrugged. Such trivial things never mattered to Ichigo because he was never affected since no one was after his rank, but the boss's. “ Everything went good for me.”

“That's because I was there to protect.” Oh gawd, I know where this is going. “Be mine again.”

“No.” Ichigo puts out the second Zangetsu finished saying his request. “Why the hell do you have to ask like that Old-Man? You have any idea how stupid you sound? How ridiculously you put out the request?”

Zangetsu gives him a bitter look. “I see no problem.”

Ichigo snorts and sarcasticly says, “We're lovers.” He quoted, adding a gesture of quotation marks. “Back then, you said that to protect me from the other members. It was a bit okay considering one, we were never actually lovers, and two, you were in your late thirties and didn't look like a well-dress bum. Now, this is just beyond disturbing.”

“I'm not so old.” Zangetsu fend for himself.

“You're like 45 now, Old-Man.” Ichigo sneers. “I refuse to be labeled 'the lover of Old-Man Zangetsu-sama' and be thought of as a lecherous gold-digger again.” Even though it was possible that others were still thinking that with his current 'relationship' with Aizen. If he could call it somewhat one.

Zangetsu's pale blue eyes hardened. “Ichigo.” He starts.

Noting the lack of honorifics, he knew that Ichigo went too far and has said too much. Ichigo groans and palms his face a bit clumsily.

“I apologize, Zangetsu...sama.” He felt weird adding the honorific to Zangetsu's name. “I'm just mad about a new nickname that I've discovered today.”

Zangetsu relaxed. “Nickname?”

“The sperm dump of the yakuza bosses.” Ichigo then chugs his third bottle of beer.

There's a stretched pause before someone speaks again. “Shall I kill this man?” Zangetsu offers. “Or woman?”

Ichigo grunts and shakes his head. “No, I already handled it.”

“Do you think that if I hadn't taken you under my wing like that, these rumors wouldn't exist today?” Zangetsu asked as he extinguish his cigarette.

Ichigo shrugged. “I don't know. But I do appreciate for what you've done for me. If you hadn't, I probably would've been gang raped to death.”

“So you'll think about my offer?”

Ichigo sighed. “Sorry, it's still a no.”

“If you follow me though, I'll take care of everything. Your business, your workers, even that bodyguard...even if I don't approve of him.”

Ichigo respected Tensa Zangetsu greatly. Many times, the man had saved and protected him. But he couldn't even get himself to take Zangetsu's offer. Ichigo looked back at the table where the subordinates sat and found his own eyes captured by Grimmjow's smoldering sapphire ones. Ichigo swallowed and hesitantly looked away. Ichigo started to wonder what would it be like if he did left his money managing 'business' to follow Zangetsu again. He'd have to leave all this. All that he had and what he had worked for. Surely, Zangetsu would make drastic changes even with Ichigo's refusals. Even though Zangetsu helped him to gain his rank and position, it was hard to think if he could start over again. He also didn't want to loose his independence.

“Sorry Old-Man.” As he took another chug of his drink, the world took an peculiar spin, the words slurring from his mouth in an odd manner. “No is a no-no.” He giggled, and his body wavered slightly before collapsing.

Review! Please! Por favor! S'il vous plaît!Tanpri! Uhh...that's all the languages I know... (ΘεΘ;)