Chapter Text
The hearth starts to sputter behind Ichigo, spurting up in gouts of red and blue flame.
The fire spills out of the hearth in a cascade, crawling across the floor without catching it ablaze, and drags its way up Ichigo's ankles, his knees. It clings to him like a second skin as it enshrouds him from the feet up and sinks into his skin as a bright golden light. Two long horns grow out from his forehead, curving up and back, jet black and wickedly sharp. The fire over his shoulders settles down into a scarlet cape over a formal scarlet-and-jet kimono.
Ichigo bends down, reaches into Grimmjow, and pulls.
The thrice-damned curse comes out in one wet chunk, sizzling in his grip and flailing. He chucks it behind him disinterestedly, and the fire flares out to snatch it out of the air and devour it.
On one knee, Ichigo bends and drags two long-nailed fingers down the gash in Grimmjow's torso. It seals under his fingers in golden light that fades to scar tissue pink.
His hand finds Grimmjow's cheek and caresses it gently. Blue eyes framed with delicate blond eyelashes flutter open weakly.
"Ichigo?"
"Grimm."
Ichigo leans forward and presses a scalding kiss to Grimmjow's forehead. Veins of gold spread outward through his body from the spot, plumping up the flesh around them. In moments, the skeletal creaky form recedes and Grimmjow returns to his normal toned, muscular form.
Grimmjow sits up with a gasp, narrowly missing Ichigo's horns. He drags his hands all over his body in disbelief, feeling his biceps and his stomach and the scar bisecting his frame.
He looks up into Ichigo's shining golden eyes in pure disbelief.
"Kurosaki Ichigo, what the fuck."
Ichigo chuckles and pulls him into an embrace.
"I think it's time you got that explanation I promised you."
Grimmjow pulls him close enough he can hear his muscles creak.
"You're goddamned right. But first," he pulls back and makes a disgruntled face, "do you think I could get a meal that isn't a goddamned muffin?"
Ichigo laughs.