Epilogue

Opening the door, Akito made the motion to step out of the expensive black sports car.

"Driving me was totally unnecessary." He said, grateful but none the less confused.

A very unmanly yelp left his mouth as he was snatched back into the vehicle by the back of his collar. Burning blue eyes scorched the apathy from his voice, replacing it with faux panic.

"I'mjustkiddingthanksforthelift." He rambled.

Grinning, the blue haired jokester laughed, ruffling the boy's black hair which had been cut considerably shorter.

"Don't go rumbling. I want you in perfect shape when I pick you up."

Akito wasn't sure if he should be threatened or scared. He had no idea what terrible plans Grimmjow had planned for his poor human body. 'There's no way he's gonna make me spar today. Right?'

"Okay, not that I was planning to.." he trailed off.

Once again, he yelped as he was shoved out of the car. Him and a few other students watched or more accurately listened as the car loudly sped away. Catching a few of their looks, he laughed nervously.

Pulling into the automatically opening garage, Grimmjow swiped through a few texts he had received on his latest model phone.

Babe [8:34]

I got Akito's gift 🥰

"Oh god."

Stepping out of the butterfly door, he quickly entered his spacious mansion. His designer shoes clacked on the well polished floors before looking around to see his significant other crouched over a box on the fluffy carpet. Walking over, he bent over, hands on his knees.

"So, the runt's in there, huh?"

Nodding, Himari slowly took off the lid of the box, revealing the sleeping-

"Puppy!?" he shouted, anger dripping from his tone.

Himari quickly told him to shush which did nothing to abate his feelings of betrayal.

"I thought he wanted a cat! Why a puppy!?"

Closing the box again, she looked up at the over reacting man she called a husband.

"He prefers dogs. He said cats are too solitary and violent."

"And what's wrong with that?" He retorted, obviously taking it personally.

Solitary and violent were literally the perfect descriptors for his entire life up until two years ago. The fact Akito thought that didn't constitute a great pet upset him immensely. Giggling, she held up her hand which he took, helping her stand up. Moving around came at a greater cost of energy for her since entering her sixth month of pregnancy. Right now, their main focus was on their eldest child.

"You said he could have a pet for his birthday." She reminded, poking a finger gently against his chest.

"Yeah, but I didn't know he wanted a fucking slobbering beast." He grumbled, snaking his arms around her waist.

Leaning up, she placed a chaste kiss against his lips before pulling away.

"Did you get the cake?"

"Ah, shit, yeah, it's in the trunk."

As he turned to make his way back to the garage, the sound of little feet padding against the floor caught his attention.

"Papa!" Yui shouted, running into his leg and hugging it.

Grinning down at her, he rubbed her cheek affectionately.

"What's going on, cub. Wait, why aren't you at school? Why isn't she at school? He asked his wife who moved behind the kitchen island.

"Oh, I said she could stay home for her brother's birthday." She answered with a smile.

Whole heartedly agreeing with that notion, he nodded his head. If it was up to him, he'd pull her out of that God forsaken place and teach her the way of the fist but he could never convince her mother to let him. Prying her off his leg, he retrieved the boxed cake and set it on the surface. Just then, a notification prompted him to check his phone again.

"Ah, fu- I forgot had a fffrickin' conference today." He seethed, being careful not to swear in front of Yui. She knew far too many expletives for a 5-year-old.

Kissing his wife goodbye, he quickly made his way to the blasted pre fight press conference.

Being a pro MMA fighter certainly had its ups and downs. The main one being that he could beat the shit out of pompous assholes and get paid for it; something that made him have a whole new respect for humans. When Himari told him about the world of mixed martial arts, he assumed she was joking. Getting paid to beat people up? His absolute dream! Of course, he also appreciated how it allowed him to provide for his new and growing family. For once, he had a purpose in life that felt fulfilling. Right now, he had to put a soon to be ex-champion in their place.

_._._._

The car was flying down the road. Speed limits be damned. Akito would be out in ten minutes and he already promised that he was going to pick him up. Normally, being tardy meant nothing to the former ex-espada  but he felt like he owed it to the boy to at least be punctual on the day centred around him. He had briskly shut down any requests for him to stay longer at the conference, having to remind the negative IQ reporters that he had "more important shit to attend to." After being subjected to the demons that were the paparazzi, he made it his mission to keep his family out of the spotlight at all times. He had kept them so well hidden, many speculated he just made them up as an excuse to get out of events.

Rolling up to his school, he revved his engine when he saw the boy walking down the steps.

"Come on, birthday boy!" he shouted, honking the horn a bunch, attracting the attention of everyone around.

Covering his eyes, Akito quickly ducked into the car.

"Please stop." He mumbled, face red.

Grimmjow slowed the car to a cruise as they left the street his school was on. Glancing to the left, he noticed the boy playing with his hands a bit. Spotting a splotch of red dusting his knuckles, he sneered and slammed on the breaks. Aki lurched forward, the seat belt preventing him from smacking the wind shield.

"I thought I said no rumbling!"

"I had to!"

"What do you mean you had to!?"

Akito motioned with his hands as he told the events that happened.

"He said the guy who picks me up looks like a freaky weirdo."

"So? You didn't have to fight him over it. Do I look like a freaky weirdo to you?"

"Yeah, so I took it personally."

He screamed and clawed at the door handle as Grimmjow started taking off his seatbelt.

Holding out his hands in front of him, Aki made sure he didn't bump into anything as Grimmjow covered his eyes in a very unnecessary way.

"Okay, one more step."

Lifting his foot, Akito stepped up what he assumed was the last stair up from the garage only to trip over another one. He yelled at the ex-espada  who cackled maniacally.

"My lesson about trusting no one clearly fell on deaf ears."

"I wish I was deaf so I didn't have to listen to you."

He received a jab in the back for that one. His lack of sight was finally ended as he stepped into the living room.

"Happy birthday!" his mother and Yui cheered, big smiles on their elated faces.

Holding out the cake with two candles making "18" on it, Himari told him to make a wish. Thinking for a moment, he blew it out which was immediately followed by Grimmjow slinging an arm around his shoulder and ruffling his hair.

"Who's ready to part-ay!"

And so, they did.  Although it was just him and his odd family, Akito couldn't have been happier. He almost cried upon receiving his husky puppy whom he speedily named Moon.

Leaning on the glass railing of the balcony, Akito cooled down from all the fun and tiring activities. The night air was fresh and relaxing, the stars lighting up his already bright disposition. Another set of arms came to rest on the railing beside him.

"I can't believe it's been 2 years. I feel like it was just yesterday you were breaking into my room to sleep under my bed." He joked.

He only barely flinched when Grimmjow jabbed him in the arm for making him sound like a stray animal. They shared a comfortable silence, simply enjoying the cosy atmosphere.

"You know, I thought I'd die in battle, fighting for the guy who enslaved me and a bunch of other arrancars."

Looking over, he saw a mildly perturbed expression on the man's face. His hands gripped the railing only to then relax as he smiled.

"Funny how things go different than how you predicted." He snickered, sharp canines on show.

Something stung within Akito, causing him to rub his throat to ease the slight pain away. Instead, he felt a lump form and his eyes begin to water. Grimmjow immediately noticed and became alert, overcome with a protective urge. Noticing his concern, Akito dismissed it with a wave as he wiped his eyes.

"Sorry, sorry. I- I don't really know why I'm crying. I'm not upset or anything."

He had cried in front of Grimmjow before over the course of their strange friendship. But none of those moments were as profound as this one. He had gotten a lot of things he wanted today,

but now, he realised he finally had the thing he had always wanted.

"Thanks. Dad."

Feeling his own body gear up to turn on the water works, Grimmjow fought the urge and simply grinned. Pulling the young boy in, he ruffled his hair again.

End.