We have reached double figures ladies and gentlemen! Thank you very much for your constant support, I hope you continue to enjoy the story!
Chapter Ten: Fracture:
Ichigo yawned as he finished his breakfast and stretched, watching as Grimmjow and Szayel exchanged quiet words over the other side of the table; he looked up as Stark sat beside him. He smiled in greeting and pushed his empty bowl away from him so he could rest against the table.
"Good night?" the brunet asked with amusement in his eyes.
"You could say that," he responded with a small smirk, "How did you know?"
"Well you look pretty content with yourself and there is a small bite on your neck." The soldier murmured.
Ichigo sighed and rubbed his neck, "Damnit... The man is an animal I swear."
"Well, considering what he is turning into..." Stark trailed off as the strawberry shot him a look.
"I know but that isn't what I was getting at," he sighed as the man lifted his hands in surrender, "Sorry... Tired."
Patting a hand on his back, "No problem. Ah, here is the man himself I will leave the two of you alone."
Ichigo watched as Stark headed over to one of the open crates to get himself some breakfast, but then turned his attention to the other brown haired man and offered a smile to him as Aizen strode over and sat beside him.
"I was worried when I woke alone." Aizen said under his breath as he was handed a bowl of cornflakes by Stark in passing.
"Sorry, you looked like you needed a while longer, so I left you to keep sleeping." He smiled, "How do you feel?"
"All the better for not having so much pent up frustration I assure you." He smirked slightly and leaned in, kissing him on the cheek slowly, "Nor am I ashamed of you."
Ichigo went scarlet as Grimmjow and Szayel glanced at them but turned his head and looked the man in the eye, "Flirt."
"Only for you." He chuckled and sat back slowly to eat his breakfast.
Rolling his eyes, the strawberry stood up and took his bowl to be washed, grabbing them a couple of small cartons of juice before he headed back over and set one down in front of him, "There. Never say I never give you anything."
"Oh thank you, your gifts overwhelm me." Aizen laughed.
"You're annoying."
"You love it."
"Maybe." Ichigo shrugged.
They both looked up as Szayel excused himself from the table and left the basement to return to his laboratory and Grimmjow ran a hand through his hair, smiling tersely at them both before he got up and followed after him.
"Does Szayel seem a little different to you?" Ichigo asked.
"A little more tense," the brunet agreed as he took a slurp of juice, "I'm sure he's just worried about working on this cure thing."
"Mm... In that case I should go and give him a hand; he might need some more blood or something. I'll see you in a bit yeah?"
"Of course," Aizen pulled him in and gave him a kiss before letting him go.
As Ichigo ascended the staircase to go to Szayel's laboratory again, he peered out of the window at the Infected battering against the barricaded doors and sighed, there were hundreds of them present, probably drawn by the sound of the first dozen which had been there.
A frown formed on his face as he continued trudging up the stairs and he opened the door to the lab, "Szayel got a question for you."
"Only if it is important. If it isn't then get out." The pink haired man replied as he pored over his work.
"Do you think you could ever turn the other Infected back to being... Like us?"
"I don't know," he said honestly, "Most of the original corpses are fetid and rotting, so even if I did it is likely that the person would be in extreme pain. Unless the aging process could be reversed."
Ichigo pushed himself up and sat on one of the lab counters, "Would you ever try?"
Szayel set down his scalpel, "Ichigo, I am trying to concentrate here. Let me at least make a cure before we start talking about reversing the Infection... I may be a perfectionist, I may be a genius, but even I can only do so much!"
"I... Sorry. I didn't mean to pressure you." He said with a small smile, "Are you alright Szayel?"
The scientist sighed heavily and turned away from him, "I lost my brother to this Infection, a disease I helped create. And now my... My brother's lover may die from the same Infection... As will I."
Ichigo slipped off the desk slowly and walked over, "You mean to say... You've been bitten?"
"Yes." He replied truthfully, looking around at him, "Grimmjow bit me... His guilt is consuming him slowly, as is this Infection. He doesn't have much longer, and neither does Aizen. But I can't quite crack this genetic code. I can't seem to get it to work out evenly... I think it is because my mind is becoming clouded by Infection..."
The strawberry reached out and clasped a hand on the other's shoulder, "Szayel, you are the smartest person I have ever met in my life. If anyone can do this you can. You have to keep believing in yourself. Otherwise you will fail yourself. And you would never forgive yourself would you?"
"I... No I wouldn't." He agreed, "I have never failed at anything yet... It would be poor of me to start now."
"Yes it would. Keep believing Szayel, and never stop. You need something that you can hold onto to keep you from falling. Remember that." he smiled at him comfortingly and watched a light flick back on in the scientist's eyes.
"Don't mention this to anyone. I don't want them thinking that I am weak." The pink haired one added.
"Your secret is safe with me."
Ichigo pulled back and watched as he started working again, he paused and picked up a phial of coagulated blood and tilted his head as he saw it was labelled with his own name.
"Oh yes, I was interested to find that your blood coagulated almost as soon as it was drawn out of your body." Szayel commented as he worked.
"Yeah that is a bit weird." He chuckled, "The Infected have coagulated blood..."
"They do yes." He agreed, "Can you go and get someone to come and give me a blood sample, someone who isn't Infected preferably."
"Will do! Keep your chin up!" he added before he dashed from the lab, eager to help.
Szayel watched him go before his face fell again slightly and he rubbed his forehead, his head aching like he had been hung over. Sighing heavily he picked himself up and glanced at the cracked worktop behind him before he considered Ichigo's advice again and forced himself to set everything aside.
Meanwhile, Grimmjow had Nnoitra pinned up against the bathroom wall, his hand around his throat, "Listen good Lanky-Ass, I was amused when you flirted with Szayel to start with but he's told me about last night..."
"Then he will have told you that he tried to Infect me! The crazy fucker stabbed me with a needle of the virus!" the long haired man barked back.
"Only because you started manhandling him. Now I am only going to say this once, you stay away from him and keep your hands to yourself... Or next time I'll tear them off. Understood?"
"He's fair fucking game you pussy! And I want him!"
"He is mine." Grimmjow snarled, "And if you so much as touch a hair on his head I will throw you out of the Infected."
"That's a bit sick... You fucked his brother and now you're fucking him... I don't think I do want him, dunno where he's been."
Grimmjow let out a roar and smashed Nnoitra's head into one of the mirrors, smashing the glass before he kneed him in the gut three times and gave him a punch to the groin to follow. He panted slightly and let the taller man crumple on the floor as he turned away and wiped his hands clean. Anger swirling in his eyes as his heart pumped hard in his chest and drowned out his common sense.
Stalking towards the exit, Grimmjow never heard Nnoitra get back up until his hair was grabbed and his head thrown against the wall. He grunted as he made contact and watched the world spin before he was assaulted by a volley of wild punches and kicks, most of which were targeted to his gut and chest, but a couple broke through and hit his face.
Blood flowed from his nose and mouth and his eyes watered slightly under the pressure of broken bones; Grimmjow gagged and threw up a bucket full of blood which ran across the tiled floor. He balled his fists as his irises flickered gold momentarily before they turned back to their usual blue, if not slightly dulled; his skin paled slightly and grew a sickly grey tinge.
Slowly getting to his feet, he turned to face a stunned Nnoitra - the taller man seemed shocked by the amount of blood he had just seen vomited - and walked forwards, it felt like time itself had slowed, as he reached for the scruff of the man's cloths and picked him up like he weight less than a bag of feathers. He threw him and watched as his body crashed clean through the wall and into the corridor beyond.
Grimmjow followed him and began laying into him again, animal instinct and blood lust driving him, as well as the mingled sense of honour he felt to protect Szayel's pride from this man, who had turned out to be a complete lowlife.
He let out a roar as a pair of strong arms wrapped around him from behind and he thrashed, fighting with the person like a caged beast. His head snapped back as he was punched and he fell, dazed, when his eyes focused he found himself looking up at Ichigo and his teeth clenched.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME! I WANT TO GUT THAT BASTARD!" he bellowed.
Ichigo flinched inwardly but forced himself to remain strong and pin the man down, he heard running footsteps approaching and hoped it was back up, "Calm down Grimmjow! Tell me what's happened! This isn't like you!"
"HE INSULTED SZAYEL! HE INSULTED ME! HE DESERVES A THRASHING AFTER HE TRIED IT ON WITH SZAYEL LAST NIGHT!" he yelled, anger flooding his veins like liquid fire.
"Moron is fucking the guy... Jealous!" Nnoitra said between broken teeth and a several broken facial bones.
"SHUT UP!" Grimmjow raged and almost managed to throw Ichigo off him in his determination to reach the man.
The strawberry swallowed and reached down, squeezing Grimmjow's windpipe until he passed out; he then stood up and turned to Nnoitra with all the grace of a cat.
"You threaten or upset one of my own and I will not think twice to throw you to the Infection." Ichigo told him as he walked over, "I wasn't here when you showed up, and I am certain that you are an accomplished warrior, but if you want to try your metal against those zombies out there all you gotta do is say something bad... One more time... I dare you."
Nnoitra glowered at him, "I... I don't want to..."
"Good, then get out of here and ask Unohana if she will be kind enough to heal a jerk like you." He murmured.
He watched Nnoitra pick himself up and limp off before he turned and looked into the bathroom, faltering as he saw the pool of blood on the floor, he could sense the Infection in it and he knew it was from Grimmjow.
Szayel had been right, Grimmjow didn't have long left, in fact the increase of his anger and strength only supported that fact. It was saddening to say the least. They were all running out of time now.
Sighing heavily, he looked around and saw Stark, Aizen and Renji stood at the top of the stairs, looking from the unconscious Grimmjow, to the bloodied bathroom, to Ichigo.
"Nnoitra tried to seduce Szayel last night, Grimmjow wasn't a happy bunny. His Infection is spreading and it may not be safe to have him walking around anymore. I think... He needs to be sectioned for his own protection, and for ours." The strawberry told them, "Stark, is there a contamination room we could put him in?"
"Yeah, it's on the same floor as the basement, there is a large room with several different cells, I think they were used to cage animals that the scientists here worked on. We can lock him in there." The blue eyed brunet responded with a nod.
"Good... Renji, I need you to go and tell Szayel. Be... Gentle." He warned, giving his redheaded friend a stern look before watching him go, "I'll carry him, in case he wakes up and starts biting. Lead the way Stark."
They went down the metal stairs which they had travelled down upon their arrival, but instead of leading them into the basement where they had just been enjoying breakfast, he led them in through a different door and turned the lights on.
There were no windows and only one door into and out of the room, there were a total of sixteen separate cells, and Grimmjow was placed in the first along with a blanket and some pillows for the cot in the corner.
Ichigo sighed as they shut the door on him and watched as he slowly began to come around, instantly he was alive with anger and rage, banging on the padded walls and kicking at the cot with fury. He flew at the door and snarled at Ichigo, his eyes wild and speckled with gold.
"Grimmjow can you hear me?" he asked as he called through the door it took several moments but finally, Grimmjow responded.
"Yes."
"Can you calm down please? We've had to put you in here because of the progression of the Infection; you are at risk of attacking the rest of us. I know what happened with Nnoitra and rest assured he won't be getting away with it and he certainly won't be going near Szayel again." He said gently.
Grimmjow closed his eyes for a moment and panted slightly, "I... I couldn't help it... I'm sorry... The anger took over..."
"It's okay, I understand. You just need to try and remain as focused as you can. I understand, honestly I do." He smiled weakly, "Szayel is working as hard as he can, you just need to hold out for a bit longer."
"I know... I know he is... He is so tired..." he looked down and guilt shadowed his face.
"He told me," he murmured, "I know what happened between you and it wasn't your fault... You can't fight the Infection alone and what you did was instinctual. You cannot blame yourself. Keep fighting, and stay calm."
"I'll do my best Ichigo..." the blue haired man agreed before he walked away from the door and sat on the cot, resting his head in his hands.
Ichigo pulled back and looked around as Szayel ran in, a look of utter franticness in his eyes as he dashed to the door and looked through at his secret lover. The strawberry backed up until he felt a firm but gentle hand on his shoulder, and he looked around to see his own lover stood beside him with a comforting smile on his face, only his eyes betrayed his sorrow at Grimmjow having to be locked up.
Without caring what anyone else thought at that moment, he wound his arms around Aizen's waist and pressed his face against his chest, relaxing slightly as he felt the man kiss the top of his head. He swallowed weakly and told himself that even if Szayel couldn't find a cure in time, he would never allow himself to waste a second of the time he had now.