GrimmUlqui: Bunny

Okay, Grimmjow was going to admit it. He felt bad. Even though he did not by any means push the teen down the stairs, he was partly responsible for it. Not that he would ever let him know. Grimmjow did, after all, lean in much too close, totally invading the teen's personal space, causing the younger to take a few steps back and fall down. So now, his neighbour, Ulquiorra Cifer, was at home with a broken ankle, unable to do anything, but stay at home and rest.

After that incident, Grimmjow had taken it upon himself to visit Ulquiorra every day to take care of him even though the teen insisted that he was fine and that he could take care of himself. Fine his ass. The little shit lived alone. How the fuck was he supposed to take care of himself if even walking hurt? Idiot. So every day after work, Grimmjow would come by Ulquiorra's house to make sure that the teen ate well and such. Sometimes, Grimmjow would buy some food for Ulquiorra to eat. This has been going on for two weeks already that it has become a daily routine for Grimmjow. His visits were so often that eventually, even Ulquiorra who was a rather private and quiet person, began to look forward to his visits.

And if Grimmjow was honest with himself, and he would not because it made him feel like a wuss if he did, he was beginning to enjoy the time that he spent with Ulquiorra. So he thought, since he was partially the reason for Ulquiorra's condition, why not do something nice for him? Get him a gift as an apology, perhaps?

His face burning at the thought, Grimmjow rang the bell on the table impatiently. He was in a store selling stuffed toys right now, and damn it, why wasn't there anyone here at the counter? Or an even better question would be, why the heck was he in a store selling stuffed toys? It was so fucking embarrassing. Just being in here made him feel like his manhood was being taken away. And the curious stares that he received from the people in the store did not help matters either.

Grimmjow was about to ring the bell for a second time when a petite, young woman hurried out of the storeroom and took her place behind the counter. She flashed him an apologetic smile.

"Sorry for the wait. I was taking care of some things at the back," she explained, her cheeks flushed. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, there is, uhh..." Grimmjow peered at the nametag stuck to her shirt.

"Miss Kuchiki," the woman supplied.

"Right. Kuchiki," Grimmjow said absentmindedly. He looked around the shop. Cute plushies of a variety of colours were arranged neatly on the shelves. "Do you, uhh..." Damn it. Grimmjow closed his eyes. For the first time, he felt tongue tied. Shit. Oh, well. Here goes nothing. "Have anything that would make a good present?"

"Ahh. Looking for a present for a girl?"

Girl? Grimmjow wanted to bark out in laughter, but stopped.

Well, with that slender frame, raven hair that was slightly on the longish side, a doll-like face and large emerald eyes, sure, Ulquiorra could pass off as a girl.

Grimmjow coughed. "I guess you can say that."

Miss Kuchiki smiled, the smile instantly reaching her eyes. "I have just the thing!" she exclaimed happily. And she went to one of the shelves, took a white stuffed animal and held it in front of Grimmjow, her face flushed in excitement and her eyes twinkling. "This is perfect. All girls love this!" she gushed.

Grimmjow took the stuffed toy from her and held it gingerly. He knitted his eyebrows in confusion, not entirely convinced. "Really?"

"Yes!"

And that was how Grimmjow found himself on Ulquiorra's doorstep forty five minutes later with the stuffed toy in a gift wrapped box. What could he say? The girl was so enthusiastic and sure that Ulquiorra would love the gift that he gave in and bought the damned thing. And now he was beginning to regret his decision. It was childish and too feminine a gift for Ulquiorra. The teen might even scoff at it. Grimmjow kicked at his feet nervously. He had just rung the doorbell and was now waiting for Ulquiorra to open the door. Grimmjow was almost tempted to throw the gift into the bushes when Ulquiorra suddenly opened the door, making him jump.

Damn it!

"Mr. Jaegerjaquez...?" Ulquiorra said curiously. "Are you alright?"

Tch. Grimmjow glared at him. "I thought I told you to stop calling me that?"

"But it's your name, and..."

Grimmjow groaned inwardly. "It makes me feel freaking old, cut it out." Looking at Ulquiorra, Grimmjow felt like cursing. He knew that Ulquiorra was already in college and hence, was old enough, but why did Ulquiorra have to look so young? It made him feel like a paedophile.

"Mr. Jaegerja-"

A glare. Ulquiorra, taking the hint, shut up.

Thank you, Ulquiorra. If Grimmjow did not feel like a paedophile before, he definitely did now.

"Uhh..." Ulquiorra really did not know what to say. Mr. Jaegerjaquez really was acting quite strangely, even for him. Maybe it was because he had called him "Mr. Jaegerjaquez" instead of "Grimmjow" like he always requested Ulquiorra to do, but Ulquiorra, being the well brought up teen he was, continued to address him as such. And now he refused to look at Ulquiorra in the eye, choosing to look down at the ground instead. "Ahh... Mist... Uhh."

Sweatdrop.

Then, Ulquiorra noticed the box that Grimmjow was trying to conceal behind his back. "What is that?" he asked curiously.

Grimmjow's eyes snapped open. "Eh?" He looked at the gift in his hands. "Oh. This is supposed to be for you," he mumbled, face growing red.

"For me?" Ulquiorra repeated, getting even more curious as he was handed the box. He looked up at the older man. "Why?"

"Tch. I didn't get it for you. I only got it cos you always look so mopey and it's annoying." A blank stare from emerald eyes. "Stop looking at me already and open the damned thing." Grimmjow could practically feel the heat rise up to his face.

Thinking that it was best not to refuse Grimmjow, Ulquiorra slowly unwrapped the box.

When Ulquiorra lifted up the lid and pulled out the gift, Grimmjow felt like taking back his words. He felt like the biggest idiot in the world. What was he thinking? This was stupid. He should not have given Ulquiorra that gift. What was he thinking when he got Ulquiorra that-

"You got me a rabbit." Confusion crossed Ulquiorra's face.

If possible, the blush on Grimmjow's face intensified.

"It's not just a rabbit!" Grimmjow said heatedly. "It's Chappi!"

"..."

Ulquiorra stared at the white stuffed toy, hands holding onto both of its soft, cotton hands. It really was cute and well-made. It must have cost Grimmjow quite a bit to buy this for him, whatever the reason for it might be. It was an unexpected gift, and he did not know what to say.

Embarrassed, Grimmjow made to grab for the Chappi toy. "Look, if you don't like it, I'll take it back and-"

"No, no," Ulquiorra said, holding the toy out of Grimmjow's reach. He looked at the toy once more, and then at Grimmjow. "I like it."

"Eh? Really?"

"Yes," Ulquiorra said slowly. He smiled, then. "Thank you, Grimmjow."

Grimmjow was stunned. A pleasant blush crossed his face. That was the first time Ulquiorra called him by his name. He liked it. And Ulquiorra liked the gift. On top of that, Ulquiorra was smiling such a sweet smile. A smile that was just for him. Grimmjow really could not ask for more. He felt like he was floating on cloud nine. Coming back to his senses, Grimmjow scowled and looked away, though the pleasant blush was still apparent on his cheeks. "Tch, don't get used to it. It's just this once."

"Of course." Ulquiorra smiled once more. He stood to the side, and gestured at Grimmjow to come in. "Come on in."

As Grimmjow shuffled past him, cheeks burning, Ulquiorra looked at the strong, lean build, the blue hair and the sapphire eyes, as though noticing Grimmjow for the first time. He squeezed the Chappi toy softly, an unexplainable feeling of happiness bubbling within him. Stuffed toys were not really a favourite of his, and he never owned one before, but for some reason, he did not mind this one at all. Grimmjow, Ulquiorra decided, really was an interesting individual.


-THE END-