And I have updated once again! Thank you to all who reviewed and encouraged me to write!

Trials and Tragedy

Grimmjow didn't know how long he kneeled before Ichigo. He wasn't aware of anything around him. The sound of the lyre didn't reach his ears, nor did the chatter and music of the ball. The feel of the cold, marble floor against his legs didn't faze him. Even the subtle, sweet smell of the man in front of him did not penetrate his senses. What he was aware of was his heart. It had broken, shattered into a million little pieces. Grimmjow had searched for hours, for days for Ichigo and here he was. Well dressed. Healthy. Unhurt. Grimmjow had unknowingly given his heart to the orange-haired beauty and now it was returned to him, destroyed. What a joke this was. Just when thought that he found a partner, someone to marry, they stomped on his feelings and turned away. Grimmjow felt a crushing pain in his chest. His throat closed up and his tongue was dry. Well of course. Why would Ichigo want to be with him? He was brash and loud, altogether a brute in noble's clothing. The exact opposite of someone like Ichigo who was kind, sweet, and altogether so pure.

Grimmjow's sharp blue eyes turned once again to the silent man in front of him. That look of utter hate and disgust flashed through his mind again. What had he done? What had happened? He racked his mind for an explanation, but his emotions won.

Grimmjow tried to be angry. He really did. What had he done to deserve such coldness from the orangette? But he couldn't. He loved the man before him too much.

Love.

Ah.

What a feeling. What heartache it left behind when the one you love does not reciprocate. He had final found love only for it to be thrown back into his face. Grimmjow continued to stare at Ichigo, transfixed with those elegant fingers, untouched beauty. That feeling grew. Warmth spread through him. He was Grimmjow fucking Jeagerjaques. Fearless hunter, demanding lord. He would not give up. Only until he got a valid reason, or until Ichigo – Gods forbid – died, Grimmjow would pursue the orangette. There was no way someone as sweet and kind as Ichigo could fake what they had felt together. The connection between was real.

Grimmjow kneeled once again, eyes pools of blue fire, determined and unwavering. There must be some reason Ichigo was doing this. Grimmjow would find out about that sadness that always lingered behind Ichigo's cheery attitude. He would soothe that loneliness in the orange haired being's life. He would find it all because he loved Ichigo. Wholly, devotedly, without question.

Ichigo kept his eyes closed, unwilling to look into Grimmjow's defeated, heartbroken eyes. Because he knew if he did look up, he would fall prey to that utter betrayal displayed across his love's face. For Grimmjow. For Grimmjow. He kept up this mantra in his head, not letting the hot sting of tears bother him. Due to this, he did not see as Grimmjow rose to his knees and stared determinedly at the orangette. Nor did he notice Aizen frowning at the other end of the hall. He started as a strong, warm hand cupped his cheek, forcing hidden liquid brown eyes open and straight into clear blue ones. His petal pink lips parted as Grimmjow stared deep into his being; he knew Grimmjow saw the start of tears clinging to his lashes, knew that the hateful façade Ichigo had was only so deep. Ichigo ripped his cheek out of the warm hand and squeezed his eyes shut hurriedly.

From that little contact, Grimmjow knew. When Ichigo tried closing his eyes again, Grimmjow understood. The young lord clasped his large hands over Ichigo's slim shoulders. He gave a gentle shake.

"Ichigo."

No reaction.

The orangette continued to ignore everything around him, eyes clenched shut.

"I know that you can hear me. Open your eyes Ichigo."

Still nothing. Grimmjow growled under his breath. He shook the younger man again, this time a little harder.

"You can't pretend to me…I know this isn't of your own doing, and I will figure out who is making you hurt this way."

He felt a slight twitch under his fingers.

"I care too much to see you hurt."

A tear slid from Ichigo's eye. Grimmjow leaned forward and slowly kissed it away. He moved upwards a little and whispered against the youth's eyelid,

"Stop this, Ichigo. Let go. Let me see your beautiful eyes again."

The lord leaned back again as dark lashes lifted to reveal chocolate orbs swirling with a multitude of emotions. Despair, sadness, hope…love were reflected in those eyes that Grimmjow so loved. Ichigo's shoulders trembled, more crystalline tears falling down his face. Grimmjow pulled the orangette to his chest tightly.

"I'll find the bastard who did this to you. Then, I'll free you from your shackles."

All the while, Ichigo despaired inside. He'd failed. He had opened his eyes, briefly, in surprise and he couldn't take it anymore. Now, though he basked in the feeling of Grimmjow's arms, he feared Aizen's reaction. He needed to push Grimmjow away. Make the lord hate him. But his poor, weary, love-starved heart could not. Grimmjow muttered reassurances into his ear, and for a moment, Ichigo believed the other. He forgot Aizen, forgot his curse. All he wanted was to be with Grimmjow. That is until the hard body against his was ripped away. Ichigo looked up in fear to find Aizen standing before him, Grimmjow's arm clenched in his unwavering grip. Now all eyes were upon the three: the fiery-haired beauty on the ground, and the two men glaring fiercely at each other standing over him. Ichigo watched as Grimmjow ripped his arm from Aizen, ice blue and blank brown locked in heated glares.

"You."

This was spat with so much venom and hate from Grimmjow's mouth that Ichigo shivered.

"I trusted you! And all along you were the one who kidnapped Ichigo!"

Aizen, calm as ever, laughed. It was a cold, chilling laugh that set fear into the hearts of all who were present.

"I merely took what was mine. Other factors were…irrelevant."

Grimmjow growled and lunged at the king. Aizen dodged and the men took stances against each other, pacing a circle around their forms.

"You dare say such a thing?!"

The crowd gasped as Grimmjow once again made to lunge and Aizen raised a hand, sword grasped in its grip. Metal clashed against metal. They jumped back and circled again. Aizen gained a half crazed, half gleeful look in his eyes.

"Such a being should belong to me!"

Grimmjow snarled and went at the king only to be shoved onto his back several meters away. Ichigo finally stood, trying to think of a way to stop this. Grimmjow fighting Aizen would only end in pain, something Ichigo desperately wanted to avoid. Aizen laughed again, smiling triumphantly.

"An insignificant, powerless human can do nothing to stop me."

The young lord, from where he had been thrown back by Aizen, grit his teeth and gave a look that would have smothered any other.

"What a pitiful creature you are."

Here, both men started towards each other. Ichigo ran between them, closing his eyes in preparation. The crowd gasped as both men realized this and stopped short as a certain orangette stood between the two of them. Grimmjow's knife stopped in front of the younger's face and Aizen's sword rested a few centimeters from the orangette's tangerine spikes. So many emotions flitted through those eyes as both men let loose an "Ichigo."

Grimmjow quickly withdrew his weapon, scowling as he continued to glare at Aizen.

"Ichigo! How could you do something so dangerous?!"

Aizen similarly lowered his weapon. Ichigo turned fully towards the young lord suddenly. Grimmjow's breath shook at the pain in the orangette's eyes. The demigod shook his head, slowly backing up into Aizen. The King grinned, wrapping his arms around the beauty. Grimmjow's heart stopped. Ichigo wanted to go with his kidnapper? He looked into sorrowful, anguished orbs. A silent apology. Tears rose to those warm eyes and Ichigo shook his head again at Grimmjow.

He didn't understand! Why would Ichigo want to do such a thing?! What would he possibly gain from this?

"He doesn't want a weak human. He knows what he needs." Aizen kissed Ichigo's neck.

Tears fell from those sad, sad eyes. There was something wrong here and Grimmjow wasn't about to let Ichigo take the burden alone. He'd fight to keep such pain from Ichigo. And if that meant getting rid of all obstacles, Grimmjow would do it.

Knife gripped tightly, the light of a hunter, no a predator, gleamed in his eyes. Grimmjow charged with intent to kill. Aizen saw this and smiled coldly, simply holding Ichigo closer to himself. Once the young lord reached them, Aizen placed a hand on the younger and Grimmjow froze. In a movement too fast to detect, Aizen stabbed a cold, wicked looking crystal deep into the blue-haired man's gut. The black crystal glinted maliciously as blood trickled down along its length.

Brown met blue.

One, horrified; the other, pained. Ichigo's mouth was open but no sound emerged. His hands moved jerkily, shaking, as Grimmjow looked straight at him. The Lord's hand reached up slowly. Oh so slowly, as if he were moving through water. Up it went and brushed a bloody hand against the demigod's face.

"I-I love you."

At this, the man dropped and Ichigo fell to the ground, sobbing silent yet heaving sobs. He gasped for air, tears overflowing. He made no sound, shoulders shaking with grief as his hands tried to keep pressure on the wound. He frantically pushed, wishing he could speak, to reassure Grimmjow that he'd live…that he too, loved Grimmjow. Oh how his curse could hinder his life so! Hot tears burned his eyes and blurred his vision. Suddenly, cold hands brushed his veiled head.

"Do you understand now, my dear demigod?"

Ichigo ignored the King.

"Do you realize that the union of any God or their children will end in sorrow? Only I can sooth your pain, live with you without tragedy."

Aizen attempted to pull the younger away, but the demigod refused. Ichigo pulled away and continued to struggle, as blood bubbled up from between his fingers. Aizen frowned and grabbed a slender arm in a bruising grip, angry that the demigod would disobey. Finally, the King had enough and called a servant. He directed his next question at Ichigo,

"If he lives, will you stop this nonsense?"

Ichigo nodded quickly. Aizen gave the slightest incline of his head in understanding and ordered the maid to find a healer. He then stalked away. As healers rushed into the lavish room, the demigod sat numbly, blood covering his hands, a streak on his face. Grimmjow's blood. He watched with his eyes as they lifted his love onto a stretcher and carried him away.

He sat there for some time, staring at the pool of blood on the ground. It was silent: the ballroom having been evacuated by the frightened occupants who scattered to the wind. Ichigo's knees burned and his tears dried long, salty streaks down his face.

This was his fault. Aizen had been right all along. He was a cursed child. First his mother, then his father, then finally, Grimmjow. When he'd first seen the lord, Ichigo had wanted to drive him away. He had understood that none who stayed near him ever escaped misfortune. Kaien and the Shiba family was proof of that. But he couldn't deny the young lord. There had been an instant…connection between them that Ichigo couldn't ignore. Besides, Grimmjow's brash, yet caring nature swept him off his feet and never let Ichigo focus on reality.

And that was his undoing.

Losing his perspective, believing that maybe, just maybe, the curse had been lifted. Perhaps Grimmjow would be able to stay. The short days they had had together instilled a spark of home within the child of Aphrodite. He had let that spark grow and grow – and now see where that had gotten him. Ichigo looked down at his hands. The blood had dried and now cracked against his skin.

Grimmjow had nearly died.

He knew that the other would live, as Aizen was a man of his word and though he was a manipulative bastard, he would deliver on his promise. Ichigo reveled in the thought of Grimmjow alive for a couple moments before he closed his eyes to the world and hugged himself.

What had caused Aizen to become this way? What had happened to make the man so hungry for, so obsessed with a child of Aphrodite? Why go so far as to kill a man to obtain a demigod? The orange haired being lifted his head, eyes still closed. He prayed. He prayed to the Gods and Goddesses. He prayed that no other would be hurt because of his curse. He prayed to his mother. Though he wished he understood why she had placed such a curse on him, all he prayed for was a love-filled life for Grimmjow. He pleaded not for his own life, but he desperately wished a prosperous life for his love.

Such a selfless act should have been rewarded, for Ichigo was a truly selfless, caring soul. The demigod should have lived happily, but that was not to be. For he had overlooked one small thing: perhaps the true curse was not upon him. There was another, more sinister being who was changing the outcome of this play and Ichigo could do nothing to stop it.

Or was there?

Hope you liked this! I meant to write this earlier but I had written parts of this chapter on different pieces of paper and I lost them. .; haha anyways,

As usual, first three to review get a preview of the next chapter and can give me a possible title!