Renji didn't really know what the hell he was doing, walking out of a brothel with a half-naked boy, for gods sakes, his brother positively beaming with pride like Renji had just decided to bed a millionaire instead of a prostitute. Their car was brought around (they'd taken Grimmjow's SUV, a bright blue Ford Escape). He kept glancing back at the orangette, glanced around often, his hands stuffed in the shallow pockets of the red shorts he'd been given. He opened the door and indicated that he get in after he didn't move for a moment. Finally, he crawled into the car and sat there. Renji frowned and reached over, buckling the seat belt. He ignored the pointed flinch as he reached across his body.
"You still don't trust me?" Renji asked, standing back up, finding those burning brown eyes focused on him.
Ichigo ignored him, simply turned away. Grimmjow dropped a hand onto his shoulder and gave him a supportive smile that seemed to indicate it was okay. Renji nodded, shutting the door. He climbed in the front seat as Grimmjow got into the driver's side and they headed off to their shared apartment. Apartment.
"Grimm, where's he gonna sleep? We've only got two bedrooms," Renji said, frowning.
Grimmjow, shrugged, turning down the next street. "Ya weren't worried about that a couple hours ago, Ren. Right now we gotta get him some clothes ta wear. Unless yer wanting him to take all yers? I think he may be a bit thin, though."
Renji sighed and nodded as they pulled into a very familiar shop. Their friends Yumichika and Ikkaku owned it, and they would certainly offer the discretion outwardly that Renji wanted. However, he found himself groaning out load looking at the incredibly brightly colored shop.
"Man, I'm never gonna hear the end of this from Yumi…" he muttered, opening the door for Ichigo, who sat there, pointedly glowering, arms crossed.
Renji was about to say something when his brother leaned over him. "Look, ya want some clothes or not? I mean, ya can go naked if you really want…"
With that, Ichigo's glower rose to a new level and he unbuckled his seatbelt and followed them out of the car into the shop. Luckily, it was still early, but the odd group caught the attention of several passerbys, especially the scantily clad orangette. Renji groaned inwardly, catching the lecherous glare of a couple of businessmen that passed by. He had to get this kid in some clothes.
The shop bell rang pleasantly and they heard the sing song voice come from the back. "Coming!"
Then Yumi stood there, his hair pulled back in a tail, the feathers that adorned his face as always obvious in the morning lights. He wore a traditional black and gold kimono, laying off his slim shoulders, and pinned at his chest.
"What do we have here!" he announced and swept up to Ichigo. Ichigo stepped back. "What a positively beautiful creature, you've found Ren-ren!"
He circled Ichigo like some sort of predator and then he reached out and grabbed his hand, thumbing the cuff on his wrist. "A whore, Renji? Really? How'd you afford such a lovely?"
Ichigo snatched his arm back with a growl, setting Yumi back a step. The behavior was completely unheard of in this line of work, and in all the years Yumi had held this shop, he had never had one of these paid workers act like that. He frowned and turned to Renji.
"Don't call him that, Yumi, please. It's a long story, and I promise I'll tell you later, but right now he needs some decent clothes to wear. And no, none of the stuff you usually sell the…the…those like him, okay?" Renji said, a deep sigh of exasperation slipping from his lips.
Yumi sat back, looking thoughtful. It wasn't like dress up wasn't fun, but the delicious creature before him didn't seem to like the idea. He nodded and went and grabbed a tape measure and came back, noting the way he backed away when he approached.
"Sweetheart, I can't get you clothes without knowin' your size, and I don't think there's one on that stuff you're wearing," Yumi said, ignoring the glare he got.
He set about measuring him, and then stopped as he saw the deep bruising rising from with waist of his shorts. Yumi swallowed. He knew those bruises well. It wasn't that long ago he'd born them himself, before Ikkaku had saved him and bought his contract out. He would never be so thankful to the man.
"Did you buy his contract out?" Yumi asked, continuing despite the rage in his chest.
Renji sighed again. "I wish it were that simple, Yumi. Ikkaku don't know how easy he had it. Your contract was what, fifty?"
Yumi nodded, noting the stare he was now getting from the man he was measuring. He noted the measurements on his palm with a black marker, like always.
"His is two fifty," Renji sighed, rubbing his tattooed head.
Yumi stopped and stared at the boy. "Two fifty? Who the hell makes that kind of contract? How many years?"
Grimmjow snorted. "Ten."
Yumi blinked. That was unheard of in this world. The shorter the contracts, usually the lower the price, unless it was a specific case. If the contract was wanted to last a short amount of time, the price would be extremely high, to get the desired effect. That effect, of course, was the fight and spirit which came with a newly unbroken initiate in the life. Those high dollar contracts were generally less than a year, and never bought out. But to have such an extremely long contract (most were between 6 months and 2 years), and a high price… Yumi had been there for a year before Ikkaku had paid off his contract, by that time nearly half served so it hadn't been that bad. He had never heard of a contract lasting more than 3 years, though. Never. Except for…oh no…
He scurried back to the back and grabbed a few shirts, pants, underwear and a pair of sneakers and took them out. He bagged them all and shoved the bag into Renji's surprised arms. Yumi had a look of absolute terror on his face, though, and Renji wasn't sure what was going on, as he found all three of them shoved out of the small, garishly decorated shop. Renji turned to see the sign flip to closed and the lights blink out.
"What the hell…" he muttered. He didn't even take money for the clothes.
Grimmjow shook his head and motioned that they should get going because they were starting to attract attention. Renji, wondering about his friend, had missed the catcalls behind him at Ichigo's expense. He ushered him into the car and they sped off to the safety of their apartment. Of course, he had to get through the lobby first.
The building was massive, fifty floors of nothing but apartments from studios to sprawling five and six bedrooms at the top floors. Ichigo gawked as they got out of the car. It wasn't like he'd never seen the buildings in the distance. He always longed to get close enough to these massive sky scrapers to touch them, to feel them.
"Hey, you okay?" he heard the blue haired one say softly, breaking him from his reverie.
He nodded and allowed himself to be led out of the above ground parking lot into the massive double doors at the front of the place. Again, he was surprised. They were glass, completely glass, but edged in deep mahogany wood to make up their frame. The silver and gold screws and plates glinted in the early afternoon sun, and Ichigo was reminded of his home for a while. Silver and gold, glinting in the sun.
"Oof!" he exclaimed as he was nearly knocked over by someone. He stumbled to the side and found himself caught by a set of arms. He moved to get out of them but was held firmly.
"What have we 'ere?" a voice practically purred into his ear.
"What the fuck, man?" he heard Grimmjow's voice say close by, yanking him by the hand roughly out of the grasp of whoever was holding him.
Now he was held in the crook of the blue haired man's arm and he was wide eyed. What just happened, exactly? He was usually better at reacting to someone than that, instead he let this guy grab him so easily.
Grimmjow wasn't really paying attention as Renji led the orange haired kid into the doors. He looked dumbstruck, honestly, and Grimmjow couldn't help but snicker to himself about it. He was about to say something to Renji when the kid stumbled and before he could react, Nnoi had grabbed him and was holding the wide eyed kid against him. He wasn't sure if the orangette was scared or just surprised, but he grabbed him away from his friend just the same.
Nnoitra frowned at him in return, running a hand over the wide eyepatch he wore over his missing eye. "Grim, baby, ya didn't tell me you guys could afford a personal whore…when can I play with 'im, he's cute!"
Renji had turned around, having been at the desk, explaining that Ichigo would be staying for the three months of his contract, perhaps longer, to the doe eyed receptionist. He was already annoyed, getting too many questions about who Ichigo was, who Ichigo serviced, etc. He saw enough to see Grimmjow pull Ichigo away from their friend Nnoitra, so he headed over. This was going bad. First the receptionist, now Nnoi?
"Nnoi, not now," Grimmjow muttered as Renji came over, a scowl lining those brows. "Ren ain't in tha mood fer yer shit."
The exceedingly tall, dark haired man frowned and looked up at his red headed pal stalking over to him. If looks could kill, Nnoitra would have been dead.
"Ren, I was telling Grim I didn't know you two could afford a personal whore, especially not one that looks like this cutie!" he said, with a wide grin.
Grimmjow groaned, feeling the kid stiffen against him. This might get ugly, and he was right. Before he could react, Renji had Nnoitra on the ground, laying into him. "Fuck!" he muttered, letting the orangette go and grabbing his brother off what was perhaps their oldest friend. As he tangled with his brother to keep him from killing Nnoi, he didn't notice that Nnoi's boyfriend, Shinji, had grabbed Ichigo and pulled him into his lap where he sat watching from one of the couches.
"Aren't you just adorable?" The thin blond said, his eyes roving over the orange haired boy in his lap. "I'd never pegged Ren or Grimm for fans of little boy whores like you...who is your master out of them, eh? I'm dying to know…"
Ichigo was beside himself. On the one hand, he wanted to rip this guy's head off, but on the other he knew he couldn't. He was out in the real world now, not in the brothel. On the way here, Grimmjow had explained at length the consequences of him flying off the handle at someone while he wore the collar. He really had no rights, not until that stupid contract was bought out or over with.
"P-please let me up," he said tightly, his whole body stiff.
The blond leaned forward and sniffed into his neck, sending a shiver down his body. "Nah, I like ya. Maybe Ren and Grim can let you come play with me and Nnoi for a little while."
The arms around his waist and legs tightened and he felt the man's arousal against his backside and he started to try to get up again, only to be rewarded with a painful tug on the collar. It sent a shock through his whole system and reminded him why he had to wear the stupid thing. And this guy seemed to know about it enough to activate it.
"Tsk, tsk," he said. "Don't be a bad boy yet…I'll take you home and thoroughly punish you."
"Shinji!" came a rough voice from above him. "What the hell are you doing, let him up!" Grimmjow demanded.
Ichigo looked up with wide eyes. Renji was fuming beside him, and Nnoitra was grinning. Shinji knew who came out on top in that one. But only because Grimmjow intervened, and both Nnoi and Shinji knew it.
"Fuckin' let him up, Shinji, I'm not in the fuckin' mood," Renji glowered at him.
Shinji grinned, impossibly wide. "Look, I saw yer tussle with mah man there. And unless you want me and Nnoi to go to my pop and tell 'im that I've been writing off yer rent for the last six months, yer gonna behave."
The comment was like a fist to the gut to Renji. He hadn't seen that coming, and all the fire in his eyes died. Shinji's dad was loaded, richest man in all of Karakura. He owned several apartment buildings, including this one called Las Noches. Renji and Grimm had moved in before they'd known Shinji, but soon after when Grimmjow's job fell through, they found themselves behind, hopelessly behind. Nnoitra had been dating Shinji, and introduced them. They hit it off and Shinji agreed to quietly write off their rent until they got on their feet. That had been six months ago. If it came to light now, both Renji and Grimmjow would be in a lot of trouble.
Ichigo was frozen, knowing that this was all going to fall apart quickly. Suddenly he was shoved to the floor, landing with a thump. Renji helped him up, eyeing Shinji.
"You bring yer lil' whore up to our place later, and if he's a good boy, we'll forget this. And I won't explain to my pop that my friends that I've been helping bought a high dollar whore when they can't pay rent," he said grabbing Nnoitra by the hand and walking away from them.
The elevator took forever, and Ichigo could feel the discomfort roiling off of the two taller men. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he had a feeling that he was going to visit those two later on, and he felt his gut clench. He knew it was too good to be true. He knew that Renji and Grimmjow had been too good to be true.
They entered the small but nice apartment. Renji immediately flopped on the couch and stared at the ceiling while Grimmjow went to the kitchen, putting grabbing a beer from the fridge. He sat down beside his brother and handed it to him.
"Fuck!" Renji exclaimed. "Of all the people to run into! Fuckin' Nnoi! I hate that they've got us by the balls."
Grimmjow sighed, nodding, deciding to go get himself a beer. He glanced up to Ichigo who stood by the door still, arms crossed over his chest and staring at the floor. He felt bad, he really did. His first night of relative freedom, and it looked like he'd spend it doing the exact thing he was trying to get away from.
"We got no choice," Grimmjow said softly. "I'll make some lunch, you set him up in yer room, I guess. You got the bigger room."
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Ichigo changed into a plain black t-shirt and jeans, and was amazed how good it felt to be fully clothed again despite the foreign feeling of the stiff denim. Renji had a small dresser that he didn't use, and he put all of Ichigo's things into it and then asked if Ichigo would want to sleep in the bed or on the floor. Ichigo shrugged.
"I can't say it matters. Doesn't change my position at all. Fuck me here or there, I'm still the whore," he said scowling at no one in particular.
Ichigo certainly didn't expect to be slapped across the face. He looked up, hand going to his stinging cheek at the red haired man before him. His eyes were livid.
"I didn't bring you out of that place for that reason," he said with a tight jaw.
Ichigo's eyes softened a bit. "Well, seems your friends don't realize that."
Renji sighed and backed off, rubbing his forehead. "I can't get you out of this tonight, I'm sorry. We'll lose our home, we'll be thrown in jail, and who knows what will happen to you. They're not bad guys, and I can say they'll treat you better than what you're used to."
Renji walked out and Ichigo sat down on the bed, feeling a bit sorry for being so harsh with him. He was doing all he could to help him, Ichigo knew that. But until the collar was gone, things like this couldn't be controlled. There was nothing anyone could do about it.
A couple hours later, Renji stood fuming in the elevator with Ichigo and Grimmjow at his side. Grimmjow had come along to make sure Renji did as he was supposed to, and didn't get them in any more trouble. The doors opened with that soft "ting" and they exited the directly into the huge penthouse apartment. Shinji was lying across a large sofa languidly and Nnoi was in the enormous kitchen.
Nnoi smiled as they entered, noting the nervous orangette. "Now, now, let's do this all legal, where's your paperwork?"
Shinji grinned from his position, not moving, watching as Renji pulled out a thick envelope and handed it to Nnoitra. Nnoi opened it and looked over the paperwork.
"Fuck, man, what'd you do to let them give you a full three months?" he said staring at his friends.
Shinji popped up and ran over to look at the paper. "Three months? On a whore with a 250k buy out price? Why the fuck ain't yer dumb asses paying rent?"
Grimmjow sighed. "Renji's paying with his tattoo services for the whole whorehouse."
Shinji grinned. "So it is you, Renji. Never pegged you for a gay boy, thought you liked yer pussy better?"
"It doesn't fuckin' matter, sign the one night usage page, and make sure you bring him back without any fuckin' damage, or I'll rip yer lungs out through yer nose," Renji said, that dangerous gleam to his eye.
Nnoi and Shinji glanced at each other, and then at the orange haired kid and grinned. "Okay, okay, here," he said, scribbling the time and date and the return agreement on the bottom of the provided page. The paperwork included five such pages, each allowing for Ichigo to go with someone else for anywhere for a night up to a week, provided that no money was exchanged for the services rendered.
Shinji sauntered up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder and fixing him with a lusty stare. "Um, sweetie, you aren't gonna wanna leave when we're done."
Ichigo looked up with a panicked glare at the closing elevator doors, his heart hammering in his chest. In the time he'd done this, he had never been scared, but looking at these two, knowing that the collar would keep him from hurting them, he was actually scared.