Helloo again folks, glad i've got back to this story, its getting quite excited. This chapter came out in a rush, so please forgive any mistakes, i have read over it but i also know how little time it took me to type 4000 words so i may have to revisit it.

Thank you to all the reviewers, it really keeps me going and all the peeps following this or me, (feels good to know someone else enjoys this as much as me). I'm never sure whether to reply to reviews or not, either here or on PM, i like to but i'm not sure on the etiquette, do i only reply if asked a question?

Anyway, a bit of a rant at the end, which you are welcome to skip but I'm pretty sure some of you will have been in a similar situation.

let me know what you think!

Chapter 10

The next day Ichigo had to return to his full time job. He'd managed to have short shifts and days off at first but he knew he couldn't continue letting his department cover all the time. He got out of bed with some regret, the cold morning hitting his exposed skin but he made sure to flop the cover back down to keep the other occupant cosy. He didn't see the point in both of them getting out of bed at 6am so he snuck out of the room to quickly run through some rough exercises before a shower and coffee. When he ventured back into his room he smiled at the sight of Grimmjow cuddling his abandoned pillow to his chest. Even being as quiet as he could be, Grimmjow eventually woke to the sounds of drawers and cupboards opening. Ichigo decided to lift his clothes out before bed, to not disturb the other.

"'orning." Grimm spoke round a yawn, trying to blink the sleep out of his eyes. He saw Ichigo standing nearly dressed and ready to go to work. "You didn't wake me?"

Ichigo approached the bed and ran his fingers through the brown hair that was squashed over to one side. It showed a hint of blue at the root and Ichigo smirked at the sulk Grimm would take about dyeing his hair again. "I didn't see the point in waking you stupidly early. Go back to sleep, I'll be back before dinner. Shinji is coming over with his kit to have a look at the hard drive. He'll do a better job than me probably, plus he's a nosy bugger, when I told him about it he was quite excited."

Ichigo didn't mention that Shinji had a personal vendetta against Ichimaru. Gin had taken a personal interest in the blond once he'd grown out of the adolescent awkwardness. Shinji was in his late teens and Gin had forced the blond to participate in intimacy. Thankfully Shiro was aware of the silver fox's intentions and had stopped the situation before he'd manage to rape the boy. It was one reason why Shinji was so attached to Ichigo, and the reason Ichi wouldn't leave his friend there defenceless. Ichigo was protected by Shiro's reputation and Gin didn't retaliate.

Ichigo left after a few more words and Grimmjow did as he was told, rolling over and sinking back into the heat of the bed, and the smell of his berry.

iiiiiiii

Shinji turned up before Ichigo had even got changed after work, buzzing for entry into the apartment. Grimmjow had been exercising when Ichigo had got home and the sight of the larger man clad only in loose shorts and sweating was enough to have them both entwined on the couch until the blond arrived.

He was straddling the larger man, one knee either side of his hips, while his hands were fisting in the damp brown strands. Grimmjow had one hand on Ichigo's bare back under the crisp shirt and the other fondling his backside through the suit trousers. Ichigo's head dropped to the other's shoulder and he clenched his teeth, willing for even five more minutes before he had to return to the real world. The third buzz had him jerking off the couch and stomping over to the panel in the wall. He pressed the acknowledgement button and his door swung open.

Shinji had a baggy beige cap on his head, white trousers and a black shirt, as well as a small suitcase on wheels dragging behind him. He was looking a bit gloomy until he saw the state of the two men in the room, one on the couch, looking totally debauched and the other by the door, looking frustrated and mussed. Shinji's face broke out in a shit eating grin, white teeth on show as he smugly enjoyed the situation. "Hey boys, I'm not interrupting am I?" The grin had not dimmed.

Ichigo glared at him slightly. "Keep talking like that and I will go back to what I was doing a moment ago, whether you are here on not."

"Ha, as if you would. Any way you invited me round did you not? And offered me dinner." Shinji waved his hand dismissively, knowing his friend was a bit of a prude when it came to intimate situations. Shinji wasn't even sure if he'd had a partner since leaving Aizen.

Grimmjow had got up off the sofa and was heading for a shower, saying as much as he left the friends to it. Ichigo stopped him as he headed down the corridor. "Just cause you've known me longer doesn't mean you know me better." Ichigo thumped Grimmjow against the wall, tackling his lips, making the other gasp. He ran his hands down the trim body, ghosting over the exposed skin until he fisted the waistband of the shorts, pulling the two groins together with a jolt. Grimmjow's eyes blackened for a second and he broke away from the kiss, laying his head on the wall. Ichigo took the opportunity to run his tongue down the long column of throat in front of him, making eye contact with the blond on the sofa.

"So dinner and a show, well that's nice. And do you have a spare pair of boxers I can steal? I think I've just cum in my pants." Shinji's voice was laced with sarcasm but it was only to hide the fact that he had been majorly turned on by the sight. Ichigo would never look at him in all the years they'd been friends, mainly due to the fact the other saw him as someone to protect. Ichigo had always gone for tall men, equals usually in strength so that it would be a fight, and it would be hard and fast. Shinji's five foot seven frame was probably too small for the six foot orange haired man. At least that's the reason Shinji had been using for years.

Ichigo had let Grimm go for his shower, whispering he'd explain later before joining the blond on the sofa.

"He's really got you would up hasn't he? Why haven't you fucked him yet?"

"I don't want to rush it."

"You don't want to fall for him and him leave you is more like it."

Ichigo knew it was already too late for that, he'd fallen for the other so hard he knew he'd never be the same without him, but he remember his release from his old life. His real worry was that Grimmjow was just clinging to his rescuer while he was transitioning and when he was sorted, he'd realise there was more out there than a damaged ex-visored. Ichigo still couldn't say no to Kisuke.

Shinji started unzipping his case, humming as he did it, pulling out cables and boxes as well as a laptop. He connected the laptop to a secure feed, and into a processing unit as Ichigo pulled out and extension cable to power it all. Ichigo was very good with computers in that he could break into secure places and hack sites but he didn't have the hardware knowledge Shinji had. It had been his specialty. It was also the reason that Shinji had been so high in their unit, the blond having a sever dislike for field work, he'd taken on a behind scene role, supporting his team.

Ichigo produced the hard drive, watching it get hooking into the processing unit and the scanning program kicking in. Now it was just a waiting game to see what was viable from the beaten up kit. Grimmjow made an appearance just as the set up finished and Ichigo gestured for him to join him on the sofa.

After ten minutes of silent waiting, a window popped up on the laptop screen, signifying the hard drive was now available. Shinji's grin popped back on and he whizzed over the keyboard opening files, all of which were encrypted.

"I'm assuming Aizen had some little computer whizz tucked away somewhere that would have set up all the systems?"

Grimmjow just nodded, remembering his old friend that seemed so far away now.

Shinji just nodded and went to work, breaking into the files. "Ichi, need junk food for this, and energy drink. Be a dear."

Ichigo just rolled his eyes and grabbed his keys off the coffee table. Grimmjow wanted to go with him but they knew he still had to keep a low profile in the area, leaving him stuck with the blond hacker.

Ichigo gave him a tender smile as he walked out the door, pulling on his dark green jacket and stuffing his hand in the pockets. Grimmjow was staring at the closed door for a moment of so before Shinji piped up. "Since you met Yoruichi last night I don't really need to say this, but if you fuck this up, if you let him get hurt in any way I will kill you. I don't look like much and didn't like it but I was a vizard, not as good as Shiro but no one is. The warning still stands."

"You mean no one was as good as Shiro, he's not the same guy anymore."

Shinji stopped what he was doing and turned to the former bluenette, an incredulous look on his face. "Are you really that stupid? I know you look it; I just thought you used that in your favour." He smirked at the anger in the others face. "Shiro is a killer wrapped up in an Ichigo package. He has chosen to not be like that anymore, it doesn't mean it's not still there. Take the bloke in the hospital last week; he's lucky to not have had his limbs ripped off. All I'm saying is he will go back if he has to, just don't be the reason for it. You have no idea what we went through when we came out." Shinji turned back to the screen, muttering the last part.

Grimmjow was taken aback by the statements, and not satisfied by them. "Tell me then, cause the way you're talking, you're making it seem like I'm stuck being the brute Sexta for the rest of my life, and I don't believe that. People change."

"You were taken when you were nearly an adult, you did what you were told to advance yourself, to make yourself better, it was for you." Shinji paused, not looking for a reply, just trying to keep a reign on his temper. "Ichi was a child, an unloved child who was stripped of all emotions to function the way his master demanded it. Somehow a glimmer of humanity survived and he always looked out for me. I think it started there; having someone to look after and care about made him care. That and he had a crush on you. We were tools for Aizen to use the way he wanted, whether it was murder or thievery Ichigo was always the best due to some natural quirk that made him damn near perfect. The tolerance training was the worst."

Grimmjow waited for the other to continue, speechless at all the information he was getting even though Shinji was only sharing because he was pissed off. "What's tolerance training?"

"It's reaction training to stop your body going ape at pain, basically building up a tolerance to taking hits. It's not pleasant. Don't you espada go through something like that?"

"Well, we spar a lot and you build up immunity to pain that way, or at least you get some strategy on how to finish the fight even if you're in pain."

"Well be glad, having your head held under water to stop the drowning panic is the most fun part of it. Ichigo has an amazing pain tolerance, something that pissed Ichimaru off."

The name made Grimmjow's hackles rise up. "Gin got to hurt you to train you? That would be right up his street."

"No, other visards take you through the training, but they are trying to find your end point, when you can take no more and record it. Mentors and all you know. Ichigo had long learned to repress pain and emotion and he wouldn't break. He was my mentor and I was made to watch. I'd been reduced to tears and near unconsciousness but Ichigo stood proud, hot, cold, blunt and sharp didn't stop him. Aizen had to step in eventually to stop Gin damaging him beyond repair but he was a mess. I was there after he'd come back to himself and when he was lying tense as a wire at night, holding in the pain.

"He had to learn to supress all of his training, how to function in the real world without ending up in a psych ward. He wanted to help people so we sorted him out with a qualification and he got a job, one that he is surprisingly good at. He deserves a bit of happiness, god knows why he's picked you."

"Jealous?"

Shinji turned to him again, animated face blank. "No, not anymore. I just don't think you're good enough for him." He turned away, ignoring the bigger man.

Grimmjow scowled and turned away as well, looking out the window, watching the sky darken. He was clock spotting for a while and after half an hour he grew restless. "Shouldn't he be back by now? The pizza place is only down the road."

Shinji glanced round at the clock and frowned, realising the lapsed time. "Yeah, I'll give him a buzz. Maybe there is a big queue."

Grimmjow watched as the blond fished a phone out of his trouser pocket and held it to his ear. After a few rings the phone was lowered and he frowned at it.

"No answer."

The two men stared at each other for a moment when a crash grabbed their attention. Shinji pressed a few keys and his laptop instantly died. Reaching into the open case next to him he produced a small black handgun, complete with silencer attached. Shinji gestured for Grimmjow to keep down and get away from the window as he made his way to the wall, peering out quickly. A metal tube lay on the floor just in front of the glass, smashed hole just above it showing the entry point. Shinji toed the tube toward him and lifted it carefully. Glancing at Grimmjow on the other side of the French windows, he turned the lid carefully, all of his "it could be a trap" senses jangling at the same time.

Inside was a simple letter, signed by an italicised capital A, a signature both men knew well. Shinji bolted from the window and swept his laptop and the hard drive into his case, throwing the back pack straps over his shoulders. He grabbed his shoes and Grimmjow's arm and dragged him out of the door, not stopping even as the larger man protested.

Grimmjow was surprised at how easily the smaller man moved him, bodily forcing him out of the flat. At the first turn of the stairs, Shinji stopped to put his shoes on, checking up and down the well.

"What the fuck?" Grimmjow didn't get to fully vocalise his displeasure when Shinji pressed the muzzle of his gun into the soft flesh of his throat.

"Shut the fuck up. I promised him I'd get you away if I had to. Aizen has found him probably due to you and we are leaving. Don't give me an excuse to leave you in a puddle."

Shinji started down the stairs again, dragging Grimmjow after him. Once they were on the street level, Grimmjow managed to get his head together and start running with the blond. Shinji was more natural at sneaking as they ran but for pure power and speed, Grimmjow could out pace him. Even his healing leg didn't bother him. Problem was, Grimmjow had to follow the smaller man, hoping that he'd lead him to Ichigo eventually.

They ended up at the Shoten, Grimmjow's eyes widening at the sight of the man in green waiting for them. He stood to the side, inviting them in without a word. Grimmjow was limping slightly, his leg objecting to the abuse, as well as his sock clad feet aching after running without shoes. He was glad he'd not stepped in anything. Walking into the living area, Grimmjow noticed the three cups sitting on the table, with only Yoruichi sitting in place. His head jerked to movement at the other corner and let out a deep sigh of relief at the sight of the orange haired man in the corner. He rushed over and wrapped his arms around the other man, relief bleeding from his pores. It took him a second to realise he wasn't getting held back and he pulled away, confusion written on his face. His berry's usual scowl was missing, along with every other emotion on his face. Grimmjow ran his hands down the other's arms and clasped the hands in front of their chests. He glanced and saw one hand was coated on drying blood, dribbling down from some unknown wound further up the arm. Ichigo had splatters of it on his face and his jacket but it was the look on his face that was really worrying the larger man.

"Ichigo, tell me what happened? Where are your hurt?"

Ichigo looked him right in the eye and pulled his hands away. Grimmjow straightened and backed off a step at the cold gaze, Ichigo's eyes looking almost golden in their harshness. Grimmjow felt his arm being pulled, and he allowed the blond to move him back, taking the space right in front of the orange haired man.

"Shiro are you functional?"

Ichigo nodded, still stoic.

"You must allow me to check your injury. And you need to come back to me. Shiro isn't needed anymore."

Ichigo blinked in reply, extending his arm out, showing the ragged tear in the sleeve at his bicep. "I am needed, this one is in danger. I must protect him."

Grimmjow was taken aback when the cold gaze swept over him once more.

"No Shiro, we will work together but we need to speak to your other, you will be called for when we need you."

Grimmjow was watching as the cold, golden eyes went unfocused, then warmed up to the usual caramel before sliding shut, the body collapsing under itself. Grimmjow jerked forward, catching his lover before he hit the ground, cradling his limp form. Shinji helped him lay Ichigo out and strip his jacket off. The crisp blue shirt was rumpled and sweat stained, blood stained at his arm and they wasted no time in ripping the sleeve off. Yoruichi had joined them, muscling in to give her expertise in patching up her friend and the men let her. She had said nothing, neither had Kisuke, both watching from the rear as Ichigo clawed his way back to himself. It was something they'd both seen before, the battle for Ichigo to repress his darker side to the point that it had become an alter ego for him.

Yoruichi was rolling a white bandage round the cleaned would when Ichigo came back to himself. He groaned from the floor, instantly pushing himself up and away from the others around him. His eyes flashed gold for a second before he screwed them up and rubbed at them, forcing himself to focus.

He opened them to see the four worried faces of his closest friends, the piercing blue of his lover desperate in front of him. He leaned on the wall to keep him upright as he reached for Grimmjow's hands, knowing he needed reassurance the most, the others could wait.

"Hey, I'm sorry if I scared you. Are you alright?"

Grimmjow spluttered for a moment. "You scared me alright! What the fuck happened to you? And I don't mean just the weird gold eye alter ago thing, I mean the popping out for dinner and ending up here."

"I was approached by the Company, offered a job. They didn't react too well when I declined. They said I'd get one more chance to choose to come. I didn't want to lead them to the flat."

"Too late Ichi, they know where you live, this came through your window, it's a personal invitation from the boss. I'm guessing they don't know who you are."

Mr Kurosaki,

It has come to my attention that you are a skilled medic and trained fighter. I have need to skilled professionals on my team and would like to meet you to discuss the possibility of you joining us.

A

Short and to the point, Ichigo wondered if anyone would take him up on this offer, especially if it came through the window. Ichigo glanced at his partner, wondering how he was taking all of this.

"I'm fine; I'm just worried about you. They will just lift you off the street next time."

"You mean they will try to lift me off the street, the boys who delivered the first message personally will not be returning to their jobs, I was very good at mine after all." The flash of gold in Ichigo's eyes gave Grimmjow chills and leaned against his lover heavier, just to reassure himself a bit.

Kisuke had called them all to the attention after that, insisting on feeding them and sending them to bed early, the events of the day proving too much for any of them to bear. Shinji had been set up in a small guest bedroom, the last sight they had of him was him setting his laptop up again, the glow of the screen eerie in the low light.

Ichigo was lying being held by Grimmjow on the futon in his old room. He'd stayed there for six months after he got out, Shinji staying with him in the room to keep them together but Grimmjow had obviously needed the other side of Ichigo's bed that night.

Neither man spoke as they laid there; just satisfied they had each other close. Grimmjow was vowing silently not to ever let the other out of his sight while Ichigo was setting his plans down in concrete.

The next night he was going out and finishing this once and for all, he was going to end Aizen using the training the man had given him. He was going to finally free himself and his lover from the man's clutches.

Please review! The story won't survive without them.

##Rant## - skip if you like

So i went to visit my sister, older and living in London (600 miles away). Now like all sisters, we had a rough time growing up, falling out and fighting and stuff (she liked to scratch and pull hair whereas i would punch her, making her cry and run to mum to get me in trouble even though she started it!) but we got over it.

Now, i know i could be considered as too old to be writing fanfiction, can you see where this is going yet? - and i tend to be fairly private about the whole thing but i have been doing it for years and only recently have i really posted anything. Anyway, my dear sister found me checking my emails on my phone, and i was checking the folder of stuff from this site and she spotted the originating address. Well that turned the holiday into a slagging match with her basically ripping me to shreds for doing something "as pathetic as that". I didn't mention that i didn't find it stimulating when she and her flatmates were staying up till 4am getting pissed while moaning that they hate their jobs and never have any money, but to be honest, who can stay up to 4am on a work night and actually get a good paying job, or at least keep it?

I was a good girl, nonjudgmental and non moany as i sat listening to these people complain, while taking slack about the writing thing. Now i have a job, and it pays well, i have a mortgage and everything, and while i am not rich by any means, i can afford to keep hot water running in my house.

So i ask fellow writers and readers, have you ever felt a bit judged for enjoying this? I have come to the conclusion that it's like all things people don't understand, they don't get it so therefore it must be evil.

They can all get to fuck, and when they get there, they can fuck off.

##Rant over##

Please review!