Thanks again for a wonderful response, things are going to be hotting up from here, and it shouldn't be too much longer before there is finally some Byakuya/Ichigo action! So please just sit tight for a little longer and watch the awkward love unfold!

Minor Warning: Mentions/insinuation of Grimmjow/Ichigo in this chapter (nothing explicitly written just suggestions)

Ah yes, before I let you go, Grimmjow is appearing in this chapter, and it won't be how you expect! But never fear, everything shall be explained in the coming chapters!

Enjoy :)

Chapter Four:

Ichigo couldn't remember the last time he had gone six weeks without sex, it was most likely before he had joined Shino anyway, and yet here he was, despite the psychological pain it was causing him, he was six and a half weeks into not having had sex with anyone.

He had been avoiding Aizen since he had woken up in bed with him with so very little recollection as to how he had gotten there, and he had been avoiding Kuchiki since their conversation in the bathhouse.

He was walking a treacherous line between feeling remotely proud that he had accomplished such a feat, and feeling mental agony at not having been touched for so long. In fact, it was only now that he could see just how much his need for physical pleasure had taken over his life. He could feel when he had sex, to some extent at least, but without it he was empty... He was 'hollow'... And it was driving him mad.

He also realised during his six week stint of celibacy, that he had become quite addicted to the pleasures of the flesh. His stamina in bed had been almost unmatchable, his lust for it was constant and his thoughts manipulated by the need.

He needed help. Or he needed to get laid so he could stop thinking so much. But he was avoiding Aizen. For reasons he didn't fully understand himself, that night had scared him, it had triggered genuine fear in his heart and he had no desire to feel that particular emotion that strongly again. But, while avoiding Aizen... He had no other sexual partner he could go to.

While it was not a relationship, as a rule, as Aizen's rule, he wasn't allowed to indulge with anyone else unless it was to get information or if it was a direct order from Aizen himself.

Which, currently, left Ichigo a little stuck. He was loyal. He never went against Aizen's rules... But he was also suffering. Chronically.

What to do... What should he do? He couldn't continue as he was, it would begin to affect his work. But what would Aizen do if he found out?

A thought occurred to him as he laid back in the bath. There was one friend he could turn to... A rather attractive and feral friend. And feral was just what he needed.

He finished his bath at top speed, pulling the plug before he started drying himself off hastily. Ichigo, in haste, cut his cheek while shaving and swore repeated as he was forced to stick a blob of tissue over the scarlet glob threatening to roll down his face.

He yanked on his clothes and grabbed his Zanpakto before he dashed from his room without even locking it as he leapt into a flash-step and headed for Division Three. He would have to avoid Gin, although he had a sneaky suspicion that the fox would take pity on him in his condition and keep his presence to himself regardless.

He reached the Division and vaulted the locked gates, evading the guards as he crept through the shadows and kept his reiatsu low. He breathed a sigh of relief as he came to a stop outside of the sixth seats room and knocked on the door. He had to restrain himself from hopping from one foot to another as he waited for someone to answer.

He winced as the door swung open and he was momentarily blinded by the light from inside, "Yo, Kurosaki, to what do I owe this humble visit?"

"Don't speak so loud. I don't wanna get caught here." He hissed.

"Aww, you ashamed to be seen with me?"

"Grimmjow..." he growled and gave the blue haired man a look to kill.

"Alright, alright, come in. Keep your hair on." He sighed.

Ichigo let out a breath of relief and scuttled passed him into the room, glancing around at the slightly plain interior. He sighed and sat down on the bed, watching as his friend shut the door and moved to stand a short distance away.

"So, what do you want?" Grimmjow asked curiously as he crossed his arms.

"Well..." he paused and looked him over, "Putting it plainly... Do you remember when we were in the Academy? You were two years ahead of me."

"Course I remember. Don't tell me you came here to reminisce about the old days..." he frowned.

Ichigo chuckled and stood, walking towards him slowly, "Not exactly. Do you remember what an angry young man you were back then? So frustrated in every way..." he murmured as he ran his fingers along the collar of the other's kosode, "And... Do you remember how I used to let you take your frustrations out on me... In the bedroom?"

Grimmjow cleared his throat, "Course I remember... What's your point Kuro-" he was cut off by a demanded kiss from Ichigo, and he finally got the idea.

Tangling his arms around the orange haired male, Grimmjow lifted him off the floor and threw him down on the bed and climbed over him in an instant.

It was surprising. The damage one even could cause. The scar it could leave behind. The overwhelming harm it could do to the soul.

Byakuya didn't like the feeling of pity that had welled in his chest as he looked through the records in the Library. Since his conversation with Ichigo, he had been searching for the reason that the young man had become so emotionless. It was clear that Ichigo's mind had shut the memory of the event which had caused it and at the same time had made him devoid of emotions, because emotions were dangerous. If he remembered the emotion he might remember the event. And it was clear his soul couldn't cope with it. Not without help.

He had every confidence that Kurosaki Ichigo was actually a good man, but Aizen was manipulating him and taking advantage of his damaged mind and soul. Tainting someone who was good with all the toxicity the brunet was drowning in.

His pride would not allow him to succeed in spoiling Ichigo; he would intervene and save the young man. And he now knew how to do so. The Library was a colossal mound of information, it naturally made sense that the even precluding Ichigo's shut down would have been recorded. And he had been correct. In his hands he held a printed copy of the report of what had happened; although Ichigo wasn't mentioned by name there were only so many orange haired kids who were emotionally damaged and suffering acute memory loss. It had to be him.

"I wondered if you would take an interest in his past."

Byakuya turned around slowly, setting his narrowed eyes on the object of his ire, "Aizen-Taichou."

"So polite. Even now when everything is unravelling before your very eyes." He smirked.

"I am sure I don't know what you mean." The nobleman said calmly, standing his ground as the brunet approached and came to a stop just inches from him.

"Oh I am sure you do though. You did a suitable job of getting Ichigo to talk, better than I had imagined in fact."

"Excuse me?" Byakuya hissed, "You expected this?"

"Naturally, I planned it so it would be so. You see... Ichigo is a valuable and talented soul because of the way he is. As an emotionless wreckage of a Shinigami he is both the perfect assassin and a most excellent source of willing pleasure. However, I require more of him than that." Aizen murmured, "And you can assist me in getting it."

"You cannot expect me to believe that you not only planned this entire event, but also intend to have me assist you?"

"Oh but I did plan it all out, from beginning to end," he clapped his hands together, "You'll assist me no matter what path you take now. In some way Ichigo has allowed himself to trust you by sharing all that information with you, so if you report him you will have betrayed him and it will drive him to the brink of hatred; forcing him to believe that there is no one who he can turn to except me. Yet if you keep it to yourself you will become a conspirator and he may well turn away from you for that very reason, driving him further into my grasp. And if you reveal to him the event which caused his emotions to flee you will either break his mind and drive him to insanity or you will shatter him and be forced to pick up the pieces. Even then, if you do not pick them up correctly he will come to hate you and all others like you. It is that hate I need, the hate is what I want. Only when he comes to hate you all will he become truly powerful."

Byakuya trembled slightly before he raised a hand and struck his fellow captain across the face, "You monster. You heartless, despicable fiend. You are unbefitting the role of a Taichou of the Goeti 13 and I will do everything in my power to expose you AND save Ichigo!"

"So determined. It will be the end of you Byakuya..." the brunet replied, reaching out and ghosting his fingers across the other's lips, "You could convert... Come over to my side of things, and then you can give Ichigo all the support you desire."

"Never." He spat and batted his hand aside, "I will tear your world apart if you hurt him Aizen."

"Ah... That is sweet. You clearly care about him... I'm pleased, that will make what comes next so much easier."

"Scatter, Senbonzakura."

The nobleman's steel grey eyes were mere slits as the pink blossom petals swirled forwards, only to be met by thin air. Aizen had fled, deciding instead to leave him with those haunting words. As Byakuya sheathed his Zanpakto away again he vowed he would do whatever it took to keep Ichigo from that creature's grasp. The battle had only just begun! And he was not accustom to losing!

Ichigo groaned as he stirred and rubbed his eyes, glancing around at the blue haired male beside him, Grimmjow was still flat out unconscious; recovering no doubt from an extensive night of exercise. It had been in the early hours when they had finally finished their bout of passion and it had left Ichigo in deeper turmoil than before! Despite believing that having sex would alleviate his mental frustrations it had instead merely increased them!

And for some reason he felt a welling guiltiness in his gut, churning and twinning in his intestines. He felt shame. Shame was not something he was used to. He had no sense of shame, he was shameless... This allowed him to be bold and forceful in the bedroom... But he felt shy, he felt timid and he felt dirty.

So many things were uncertain. He didn't know what to do...

Why was he so confused? Why was he aching internally? His heart was thumping in a randomised pattern and it hurt. But why? He couldn't comprehend it.

The urge to run away surged through him and he followed it. Tearing on his clothes and ran from Grimmjow's room, no longer caring if he was seen or caught. He needed to run. Needed to escape.

He had no idea where he was going, his legs carried him and his eyes were blurred by unshed tears. He was crying, he never cried, crying was weakness, crying was blackmail, crying was... Wrong.

Why was this happening?

He collapsed on his hands and knees and threw up in the grass, trembling all over as he let out a dry sob; tears breaking free as they rolled down his cheeks. He reached up and grabbed two handfuls of his hair, almost willing himself to rip it out by the roots. He threw his head back and let out a wail, hoping it would somehow lessen the tightness in his chest.

Finally calming enough to gauge where he was, he was stunned to discover himself in the entrance to the graveyard on the outskirts of Rukongai. He didn't realise he had run that far...

It was so quiet and peaceful... Maybe if he lingered for a while he could find some internal harmony. A balm for his internal chaos. A salve for his confusion.

So, in silence, the young Shinigami began to walk among the headstones, not really reading them, but glancing over at the names and dates. Before long he felt his soul regain its lost melody of apathy and he let out a sigh of relief. All those emotions! Did people really deal with them on a daily basis? Ten minutes of them and he was ready to go insane! He was better off as he was! Screw what was right and wrong, he wanted inner peace!

Ichigo paused suddenly at one of the rows of headstones and he blinked. He was certain that his surname wasn't overly popular, and considering this fact he had to ask himself the question.

Who were the four Kurosaki's depicted on the headstones in front of him?

Kurosaki Isshin, beloved father.

Kurosaki Masaki, beloved mother.

Kurosaki Karin, beloved sister.

Kurosaki Yuzu, beloved sister.

Taken from this world before their time, may their souls find peace in the beyond. Forever in our hearts and minds.

Ichigo stared for a long moment before a flash of red crossed his mind.

'Blood spatter. A room soaked in blood. A floor drowning in blood. A small boy sat amongst corpses. A small boy dripping in blood. With orange hair and chestnut brown eyes; painted scarlet by the monster that had ripped through their home. He alone had been left untouched, for reasons unknown even to the Division Two members who had arrived to assess the scene of the brutal crime.

The child spoke not a word to any of them. He made no movement nor sound, and looked no one in the eye. His expression was hollow. His eyes were dead. A boy drenched in blood, scarred beyond repair.'

Byakuya folded the paper up and put it in his pocket as he left the Library, his heart was heavy with concern and his eyes weary with lack of sleep. It would be wise for sleep well before addressing the situation with Ichigo, he would need to remain calm and objective.

Sleep would have to wait, because when Byakuya sensed a vast and violent explosion of Kurosaki Ichigo's reiatsu his first reaction was to flash-step straight to his side.